Author's Note: As always, thanks for the comments, views and kudos. In terms of this chapter, it makes mention of one of the comics that detail the origin story of the Twinkle Eye ponies. They were forced to mine precious gems for the Jewel Wizard, and had become blind during this. Applejack discovers them and knocks the Jewel Wizard down the mine, setting them free. The gems are scattered and wedge into the ponies' eyes, thus restoring their sight once more. Dark, I know, but that's the 80s for you.
Part 5 – Outside Help
Bright Eyes shifted nervously from hoof to hoof, glancing over her shoulder every few minutes. The sun was setting over the hill, casting shadows for miles. Somehow, despite that she loved the changing of the colours in the sky, the shadows seemed frightening to her, and she shivered.
Her friend, Tic Tac Toe, also seemed anxious. She too moved her weight between her hooves, occasionally pacing and looked between the bushes for the baby pony they waited for.
Rumours had flown around Dream Valley of the strange pale pony Paradise Estate had encountered. The rumours became worrying when they spoke of the deeds the pale pony had committed, terrorising baby ponies, being able to wield magic no Earth pony should've been able to. Worse was the appearance of similar ponies, many trying to entice others to join them, particularly baby ponies.
Bright Eyes knew Tic Tac Toe was worried for her daughter, that she would be taken in by these ponies. She worried even more however, for Baby Bouncy, who had willingly gone in to ensure Baby Tic Tac Toe would not.
And now, here they were. Waiting for Baby Bouncy to sneak out and report back to just what this group was doing, and why they wanted baby ponies.
A rustling between the bushes alerted their attention. Bright Eyes crouched; Tic Tac Toe stepped in front of her. They both breathed a sigh of relief when Baby Bouncy poked her head through the branches. She moved the bushes away and came to stand beside them.
Tic Tac Toe took the bag, rummaged through it and handed Baby Bouncy food wrapped in cloth, fruit and bottles of water.
"What have you found?" Tic Tac Toe asked, kneeling down to the smaller pony.
"They're making us dig," Baby Bouncy told them. She sat down on the ground, unwrapped the food and began to eat. "I don't know why or what we're digging for."
Bright Eyes could barely conceal her shaking. It sounded far too like what the Twinkle Eyed ponies had gone through when they received their sight again after the Jewel Wizard.
"Has anything else happened since?"
Baby Bouncy shook her head. "There seemed to be something going on last night. I heard running and doors slamming."
Tic Tac Toe glanced to Bright Eyes. "You know if you need out of there," Tic Tac Toe said, and Bright Eyes nodded in agreement.
Once more, Baby Bouncy shook her head. "No. I don't want Baby North Star or Baby Tic Tac Toe trying to get in." She looked between the two Twinkle Eyed ponies. "You know Baby North Star would."
Bright Eyes nodded, though this answer drew a sigh from Tic Tac Toe.
"I know. That's what I'm worried about. North Star would kill me if anything happened." She looked to Baby Bouncy. "Just as your mother would if something happens to you."
Baby Bouncy smiled. "I'll be fine. You'll be safe from my Mum." She looked over her should and stood up. "I'd better get back."
Tic Tac Toe also stood, and pulled Baby Bouncy into a hug. "Look after yourself. You know we'll be here if you need us."
Baby Bouncy nodded. She picked up the fruit, the food and the water, then headed back through the bushes. Once gone, Bright Eyes looked to Tic Tac Toe, the yellow pony's mouth now formed into a tight line. She stood a moment longer, before she turned and left, stalking down the road.
Bright Eyes hurried to follow her.
Night fell, the darkness in all its foreboding glory, closed in on them. Behind them, Bright Eyes heard something, a screech in the night. She moved closer to Tic Tac Toe, as she still walked down the path at a pace Bright Eyes could barely keep up with. Tic Tac Toe hadn't seemed to have heard the noise, and Bright Eyes tried to ignore it.
They walked on, Tic Tac Toe finally slowing her pace. Bright Eye jumped when she heard another noise, another screech, loud enough to be noticed, and loud enough to alert Tic Tac Toe. She stopped and looked over her shoulder.
Nothing was there, the noise stopped, though the darkness continued to surround them.
They went onward, back to their homes and back to the rest of the First Tooth baby ponies. Baby North Star in particular would be eager to hear of Baby Bouncy, the two being particularly close. If anything happened to Baby Bouncy, Bright Eyes did not bear to think of the wrath Baby North Star, and Bouncy would inflict.
The two ponies became aware of a third set of hooves. Both stopped, and moved closer together. The hooves continued, walking in the same direction they had been heading.
Bright Eyes squinted through the darkness, then noticed a pony-shape walking toward them. She moved forward, ahead of Tic Tac Toe, and wait for this pony to show herself.
Streaky stepped out of the darkness. Her hair was unkempt, loose hairs poking out from her mane, and she panted, as if having run the entire way.
Tic Tac Toe was the first to approach and checked her over. When satisfied, she lead Streaky to Bright Eyes.
"What are you doing here? Is everything all right?" Tic Tac Toe asked.
Streaky opened her mouth to reply, then tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she dipped her head. "No, nothing's all right," she managed between tears. "Two of the baby ponies from the Rainbow Nursery are gone and I don't know what to do."
Bright Eyes immediately moved forward, nuzzling Streaky's neck and let Streaky lean into her.
"They're missing? What happened?"
Streaky shook her head and swallowed hard. "Baby Sunribbon went missing, then Baby Rainribbon went to find her. Now she's missing too."
Tic Tac Toe frowned. "Missing?"
Streaky nodded.
"We can find out for you," Bright Eyes suggested. "We've been in contact with one of the baby ponies. She might've seen your missing babies while she's been there."
Streaky wiped her eyes. "Really? Are you sure?"
Bright Eyes nodded.
"Where are you going now?"
"We were going home, but not anymore," Tic Tac Toe interjected. "We'll head to Paradise Estate. It's our best hope of finding out what happened with the pale ponies."
Streaky said nothing, and merely gestured with her hoof for them to continue. She fell into step with them when they moved to walk back to Paradise Estate.
Darkness enveloped them like a blanket. With it came screeches from the distance, and more than once did Bright Eyes think something else lurked. There as movement, quick thought it was. She kept close to the other ponies, however, despite this, something came close enough to laugh in her ear.
Bright Eyes jumped.
Streaky caught her and pushed her behind her. Bright Eyes looked out from over Streaky's shoulder, though could see nothing to indicate what made the sound.
Streaky gasped, moving backwards toward Bright Eyes, all the while keeping the Twinkle Eyed pony behind her.
"Something laughed in my ear," she said, looking around them.
Bright Eyes nodded.
Tic Tac Toe turned, then came to stand with them. She too looked around, though could also see nothing. Nonetheless, she nodded once.
"Take Streaky back to Paradise Estate," Tic Tac Toe told her, already moving away.
"Where are you going?" Streaky asked.
"To let Bouncy know her daughter is safe, for now. And to make sure my own daughter, nor Baby North Star get any bright ideas about following us." She turned to Bright Eyes. "If there's anything here, then it should hopefully follow me and I'll lead it away."
Bright Eyes frowned and shook her head.
Tic Tac Toe however, did not let her make any protest, then ran off out of sight into the darkness.