"Sleepover Party!!!" The siblings exclaimed through the phone: A magical device that was able to transport the very words spoken from other ponies from one area to another.
"Sounds fun!" Eddie replied, "I'm in!"
"Sure thing! Now I get to visit your house!" Bear agreed,
"Really? Thanks for inviting me!" Lucas replied, "This is my first time."
"Cool Beans!" Alex replied, "I can come!"
"Why not? I accept!" Sarah replied,
"Yes, yes and yes!!! Thanks so much for inviting me along!" Meg exclaimed,
"Yep!" Scootaloo closed the phone, "all of our friends so far said they're coming!"
"You certainly seem to be back in full play-mode after your lift." Flash chuckled, "do remember that you still have school to attend."
"We've already done all our homework ever since you grounded us!" First replied, "what can I say? A blessing in disguise!"
"Strange, I think two of your friends haven't been called yet."
"You mean Nate and Katie?" Scootaloo replied, "They're already coming! Reason is, that they're coming over to help us!"
"But Nate..."
"He's off the hook." First laughed, "sure, he got into a lot of trouble, but punishment revolves around more chores. It's like you said big bro, its better off to own up sometimes. Right?"
"It... Depends on your situation." Flash hesitated, "I mean, would you trade betraying your own country for your life?"
"Well..." Scootaloo shifted, "it also depends on what you're giving to the enemy too. Some things are not worth risking your life for, while some are. If it's tied to family and those you love, then that's--"
"Another complicated thing that takes long to put into words within your mind." Flash replied, "you are getting very good with your words."
"Nothing is black and white, and every outcome is unpredictable." Scootaloo replied, while the doorbell rang.
"Got it!" First called, galloping towards the door,
"Must be Nate and Katie." Scootaloo joined her brother to welcome the earth and unicorn foals, bags packed with sleeping gear, and many other goodies.
"Scoots! First!" Katie greeted, "hope most of the work hasn't finished!"
"Actually, we were just beginning!" First replied, "Come on in!"
"Good afternoon Flash!" Nate called as they entered the living room, "thanks for letting us sleep over!"
"Good afternoon to you too, Mister Nate and Miss Katie. No problem at all, would you like me to relieve your load? I can take your bags to where you're staying."
"Sure!" Katie smiled, placing her bags onto Flash, "thanks a lot!"
"I live to serve." Flash replied as he trotted up the stairs.
"You've got a really nice house you know!" Katie turned her attention to her surroundings. The beautifully glazed flooring, the numerous picture portraits of the Sentry family, old and new, around the wall, the delicately clean carpet, couches, and what not, it was a sight to behold.
"Yeah, almost feels like living in a castle!" First joked,
"Oh, that reminds me! I can't believe your brother is one of the Princess' Personal Guards!"
"He isn't!" Scootaloo laughed, "He's the head of Twilight's Guard at the time before moving here, not to mention originally being the Captain's Lieutenant. You could say he takes his duty as serious as a personal guard though."
"Well then," Katie replied, "it's still cool that you know Princess Twilight of all ponies by her first name!"
"That's because the CMC and the ladies of Ponyville go a long way back. Way back before Princess Twilight even became a Princess." First explained,
"Oh!" Nate spotted a peculiar old picture, a young orange Pegasus foal with light-and-dark blue hair, standing proud with two other ponies. The Earth pony had ferocious sideburns of blue connected with a strong beard and a spiky bold manestyle, eyes of blue, and a brilliant mane of yellow. The other pony, a Pegasus, had a coat of brilliant red, with her eyes of purple blending with her luscious and wavy mane of pinkish-purple. "Does this happen to be your parents with Flash?"
"Yes." Scootaloo nodded, "that's Flash when he was old as we are today."
"Your parents are very handsome and beautiful." Katie complimented,
"And they're strong warriors to boot." First added, "But it's a shame that the three of us received our sharp, spiky manes from our dad. If only Lady Rarity can copy this beautiful hairstyle."
"That reminds me..." Nate noticed, "do you talk about your parents much?"
"No..." Scootaloo replied, "in fact, we've kept the fact that First, Flash and I were related by blood almost secret from anypony, our best friends included. Only Captain Shining knew."
"Do you know their names?" Katie asked,
"Ayuvir Falchion and Scarlet Razor." Flash answered, coming down the stairs. "Believe me, it's hard to think that a healer of war would have such a battle-like name and the cutie mark of a crimson rapier cutting through the wind."
"Is she?" Nate asked,
"She was actually a dominant and powerful fencer for the Equestria games before a nurse. Very few could match her precision and agility in the ring of honour, quickly thrusting the foil the moment when 'allez' was announced."
"And how did she end up meeting your dad?" Katie asked,
"It was after a painful battle in war, where most soldiers ended up in one of the local hospitals. My mother came for her regular health check-up, a plea of helped required somepony with nimble abilities. Out of curiosity, not of concern, she went to see what was going on. A soldier, writhing in pain with shrapnel lodged in his front leg. With so many doctors tending to other casualties, they couldn't find any more assistance, but the common folk. Regardless, all she had to do was pull the shrapnel out, it hurt the pony greatly, but it was a successful operation."
"And your dad?"
"The injured soldier was a close ally of my father, and he came to give his thanks. I wish I could entertain you with our memories, but we don't have much time." Flash replied, "I still have things to prepare for the rest of your friends."
"A later time then?" Nate asked,
"Promise." Flash replied, placing his hoof on his chest. "Perhaps you and Scoots can help prepare the fillies' place, while Miss Katie can work with First with supply preparation down here?"
"... Are you trying to put us together?" Scootaloo raised an eyebrow and demanding tone,
"Why would I do that?" Flash joked, "don't you have a coltfriend already? And I thought you were only interested in Pegasi!"
"Oh stop it!" Scootaloo yelled while blushing, "and I'm not a species-ist either!" The other ponies laughed,
"Apologies." Flash replied, "Gallop along now."
Galloping up to the bedroom, Nate was met with two familiar faces.
"Why hello there Nate!" Whisper greeted, "charmed to see you once again!"
"Whisper!" Nate greeted back, "and Jibanyan, was it?"
"That's me!" Jibanyan replied,
"Aside from Katie's stuff, it seems like this whole place is tidied up and ready to party in." Nate inspected, "much cleaner than my room. Don't tell me you uh... Used your Yo-Kai friends, did you?"
"You tell me..." Whisper moaned, "I didn't sign up for this when I became her butler. We had to move heavy items and polish the floor."
"I call animal cruelty!" Jibanyan cried,
"Oh it's not THAT bad you two!" Scootaloo laughed, "I had to do my part as well! Not to mention everypony else! Besides Whisper, think of this as punishment for all the times you DIDN'T help us whenever Yo-Kai was involved!"
"Everypony else?" Nate picked up, "you mean it's not just you three?"
"Oh! Well isn't that a coincidence!" Scootaloo pulled out her watch, "I have yet to introduce you to my other Yo-Kai friends!" Showing the lens to Nate, the young foal looked all around the room to uncover a horde of Yo-Kai flying or walking around the entire room, with either mops, cleaning cloths, dusters, and numerous cleaning tools destined to polish the room from top to bottom.
"Woah!" Nate gasped, "you've got tons of Yo-Kai friends! Though, there's not a lot of similarities when they're depicted in stories."
"Yeah, I thought it was weird at first too. But listening to their side of the story, they're just hopping along with society like we are." Scootaloo replied, "and unfortunately, it's not enough Yo-Kai to close Flash's case, or rather, the Yo-Kai mainly responsible for them. At least I've got plenty to help clean the room for tonight's sleepover! Mundane utility, but awesome as heck!"
"Wow, you really sound like you're treating them as your slaves rather than friends." Nate noted, "I'm pretty sure this isn't like those monster shows you see on TV or on video games. Yo-Kai are actual spirits that have passed on from living, shouldn't you treat them with a little more respect than just house servants?"
"Why thank you Nate!" Whisper butted in, "at least somepony has concern about us!"
"Well..." Scootaloo chuckled while sweating a little, "it's just lucky if you think about it, I called every single one of my Yo-Kai friends to help, and they seemed to be all free and happy to do so! Except for the Dancing Trio though... Besides, I did a lot myself, and everypony here is a witness to that. Right?" She asked the Yo-Kai. One by one, the Yo-Kai present raised their hands, paw, wing, or just jump around since some lacked any of those features, and gave a proper nod and smile. Yo-Kai that can smile that is: Dismarelda, Dulluma, Buhu and others to name a few continued looking depressed.
"Okay then." Whisper sighed raising his hand "I will not overlook the fact that you also did help."
"Even so," Nate continued, "I'm sure cleaning up a room as big as this wouldn't be that hard by yourself."
"Maybe, but I may not be able to finish everything without giving up during the way!" Scootaloo replied, "you know how much I loathe cleaning and fixing, I'd probably give up after a few minutes."
"This is a pain... I GIVE UP!!!" A loud moan came from below.
"Flash?" Scootaloo poked out of the door, "was that you?"
"I'm not doing this anymore!" Flash announced.
"What's going on?" Nate asked as the two galloped down the stairs.
"I don't know!" Katie replied, "the three of us were busy cleaning and stacking certain items. We were nearly finished until Flash decided to throw whatever he was doing and just pout!"
"I don't want to do this anymore." Flash explained with a huff,
"Flash, what is the meaning of this?" Scootaloo reasoned, "Aren't you always the dedicated Guard as most of Ponyville says? Or was that a lie?"
"Sis, I don't think it takes a genius to know what or rather, who's behind this." First answered,
"Oh... There's a Yo-Kai for that?" Nate asked,
"Y-Yo-kai?" Katie jumped at the sound of those words. "Did you just say Yo-Kai?"
"I didn't stutter Katie, I did say Yo-Kai."
"B-But..." Katie shivered, "I thought Yo-Kai are make-believe! Fairy tales and folklore!"
"Ah, right..." Scootaloo remembered, "I forgot that this is the first time hearing about Yo-Kai, not to mention getting creeped out with spooky stuff."
"Don't worry about it Katie," Nate replied, "it's not much of your concern. Everypony acts out-of-normal now and then."
"Like you?" Katie asked, "Because you'd be the last pony I'd think to do something like that."
"Stop implying that I'm average!!!" Nate wailed within as he fell into a mental whirlpool of shame.
"To counter that argument," First replied, "our brother would definitely be the last pony to act out-of-normal."
"So in this case," Nate asked, "I assume you've got a Yo-Kai friend to help you?"
"Yep! And it doesn't take a genius to know who to call." Scootaloo laughed, "Blazion?"
"Rawr!" Blazion came charging down the stairs, his lion stature full of vigour and power.
"Looking motivated as ever, I see!" First greeted, "luckily, we need some of your fiery pep talk. You good?"
"Rawr!" Blazion raised his hands in agreement,
"Umm..." Katie pointed out, "should I be knowing something? Are you being crazy? Am I being crazy? Do Yo-Kai actually exist?"
"Don't worry!" Scootaloo laughed, "Yo-Kai do exist, but in spirit! Fortunately, just a few words of motivational spirit will work!" She trotted up to Flash and gripped his shoulders, "Flash! Surely you haven't forgotten the words of your training! What is the most important role of a Royal Guard?"
"To protect the nation of Equestria, simple as that." Flash replied,
"Okay then, what makes a guard?"
"Devotion and perseverance to the bitter end..." Flash continued,
"You've survived countless trials of war and service, and you think a mere setup of the house that is near completion is going to hold you back?"
"No?... I mean, No..." Flash's tone began rising in confidence,
"Then you can do it Lieutenant Sentry!" Scootaloo rallied, slapping her hooves on his shoulder again, "show everypony the Royal Guard within you! The most unique Royal Guard is one who is fully devoted unlike the others! Show them that the Royal Guard does their best, and are just not placed there to be the average force of justice! Show them that you outshine them all!"
"I... I... I WILL NOT SURRENDER!" Flash roared as he was set ablaze with fury and motivation. "As a Guard of Equestria, I shall complete tasks assigned by the Princesses, as well as my family!" And with that, he furiously polished, stacked, and carried everything to it's responsible area.
"Rawr!" Blazion roared for joy while atop of Flash.
"See?" Scootaloo showed Katie, "a little pep talk, and he's back up and running!"
"Oh... Okay..." Katie spoke, a little shaken, but relieved. "I... Think I should wash my face."
"Allow me to show you the bathrooms." Flash galloped to her side and pointed to the door opposite the door to the living room.
"Thanks." Katie replied as she left the room.
"Wow." Nate applauded, "that was a good distraction."
"Experience when dealing with Yo-Kai hidden from ponies are always helpful. Now, who's responsible?" Scanning the room with the Yo-Kai lens once again, the watch revealed a particular Yo-Kai that was pooped out. Wearing some black monk-like robes, and was resting his knees and lower legs on a floating cushion. The most interesting feature however, was its head.
"Strange... Who is this?" First asked,
"His head looks like one of those Wooden Fish instruments in the music classroom." Nate pointed out.
"I don't wanna! I don't wanna do this anymore!" The Yo-Kai complained, "I hate it when I have to go against Yo-Kai that are more powerful than I am!"
"Oh goodness..." Whisper read, "this Yo-Kai is known as D'wanna. He can cause anypony's resolve to dwindle, which causes them to give up, even at the last moment of completion."
"Hey! Sounds a lot like you when you've been tasked to clean the house Scoots!" First joked,
"Shut up little bro." Scootaloo pouted in embarrassment, "That was of my own doing. A Yo-kai did not supplement my mental resolve."
"That wasn't what you said back then at Triangle Park a month ago. You were so feeble in your resolve that Cutta-Nah of all Yo-Kai inspirited you!"
"That was something else!" Scootaloo defended,
"Wow, to see siblings squabble with each other." Nate laughed, "is there a Yo-Kai responsible for that?"
"As a matter of fact, there actually is!" The siblings answered in unison.
"Wow, and I honestly thought that as a joke..." Nate gulped,
"The Purple Blob? She's called Dismarelda, and she's just that." Scootaloo explained,
"But there's something I'd like to point out Nate..." First replied, "back at the time of the court case, a Yo-Kai was what inspirited you to be against us."
"Really?" Nate asked,
"But after hearing Flash's words, you seemed to overcome this inspiritment and said you weren't our enemy... Do you have some resistance to Yo-Kai powers?"
"I do?" Nate asked, "I thought you'd be the ones who would have such resistance!"
"You dolt First!" Scootaloo laughed, "if you're trying to be philosophical and mysterious, it's not working! We already know that Yo-Kai can be convinced without the use of other Yo-Kai's help. Haven't you forgotten about the days when we first moved to Springdale?"
"Oh..." First gulped, realisation hitting his brain, and drooping in shame.
"You crack me up little bro." Scootaloo ruffled First's hair,
"Huh?" D'wanna picked up the conversation "did you just say Yo-Kai? You can... See me?"
"Yes D'wanna." Scootaloo replied, "yes, we were the one who called Blazion over here to stop inspiriting our brother."
"No way!" D'wanna jumped, "You're friends with Yo-Kai?"
"A ton of them in fact." Scootaloo continued, "and we're a strong bunch. If I were you, you 'D'wanna' mess with us. Got it?"
"G-Got it..." D'wanna gulped,
"Was that pun necessary?" Nate asked,
"Maybe, maybe not. Can't I have some fun?"
"I don't wanna do this anymore, I wanna be friends with you!"
"Now?" Scootaloo replied, "but if you really want to become proper friends, then why don't we do something for you?"
"You're so kind, but showing me that you've got a strong bond with other ponies and Yo-Kai has convinced me to join you. I mean it! I don't wanna be alone!"
"Then how can we tell?"
"Well... There's..." D'wanna thought about it.
"Don't worry D'wanna. We forgive you for that incident, but why don't you come back later to think about what we can do for you. Then, we can become proper friends!"
"Okay then..." D'wanna sighed and unhappily floated out the balcony door.
"Hmm... I feel sorry for the guy." First replied,
"You know, even if Katie's gone, are you sure Flash won't get suspicious about this?" Nate asked,
"He's inspirited, so he can see and think that Yo-Kai are normal. Unlike Helmsman, Blazion also changed his personality, so he's do focused on being what Blazion does. Once Blazion lets him go though, he'll forget that he's ever seen Yo-Kai in the first place..." Scootaloo explained,
"Oh..." Flash groaned as he plopped to the floor in immense exhaustion. "Now I really don't want to do this anymore... At least I finished everything..."
"... And that he'll also grow super tired from working so hard due to Blazion." Scootaloo finished. The group burst into laughter.
"Sorry guys." Katie galloped back into the room. "Did I miss anything?" She looked at Flash, "perhaps I certainly did!"
"He's just tired from working so hard. He's a Royal Guard after all!" First joked, and the group laughed.
"Don't worry. He'll be back to normal before the rest of the crew gets here. So let's go through one final rundown of the house!" Scootaloo instructed.
"Ding Dong..." The Doorbell rang,
"They're here!" Scootaloo grinned as she opened the front door to reveal the remainder of the invited friends. "Welcome welcome!"
"It's great to see you all!" First greeted,
"Yeah, thanks for inviting us over." Alex replied as the group trotted in.
"Say, you've got a nice house here!" Meg complimented,
"Well, we try to maintain it as clean as possible!" Scootaloo replied as they converge into the living room, where Flash, Nate and Katie reside.
"Nate! Katie!" Bear greeted, "so you guys decided to come early?"
"Yep!" Nate answered, "we came to help out!"
"It's wonderfully nice to meet you all, friends of Scoots and First." Flash announced, "My name is Flash Sentry, and I'm the elder brother of both of them. I'll be your party organiser for tonight, and uh..." He pulled out some flash cards, "... I'll make sure that things will go smoothly..." He continued flipping a few more, "if you have need of any assistance, or refreshments, feel free to call on me. I will make sure that your stay here is enjoyable and memorable."
"He's new to this." First joked, and the foals and fillies giggled.
"Oh dear, I should have gotten some advice from Lady Pinkie Pie." Flash sighed to himself, "A-Anyway, I thought we should start off this party with a military activity that I have learnt from training."
"Are you kidding me Flash?" Scootaloo turned in shock, "we aren't here to train for war!"
"B-But I haven't explained it yet!" Flash reasoned, "it involves maintaining our composure through the toughest of situations. These situations can involve fear, distraction and exhaustion, and in this case... Laughter!"
"Laughter?" Nate asked, "you mean like a 'try not to smile or laugh' game?"
"Yeah! Exactly!"
"That sounds like a good idea!" Sarah replied, "I'd love to play!"
"In that case, how do we play?" First asked,
"All of us shall stand in a circle, and one pony will come forward and present to us the one of their jokes or funny actions..." Flash flipped to the next card, "anypony who cracks under pressure will be out. Anypony who survives will have their turn next, if they so happen to stand to the left of whoever had their performance. The last pony left in, shall win! Are these instructions clear?"
"Clear!" Lucas replied,
"Alright then," the group huddled into a circle, "who wants to go first?" Flash asked,
"Me! Me!" Meg volunteered, "I know just a great joke!" And she trotted in the middle, "alright, why did the chicken cross the road?"
"..." The entire group fell silent,
"To get to the other side!" Meg answered,
"umm... I think we all know that joke already." Scootaloo replied,
"Oldest of the old Miss Meg." Flash replied,
"Oh consarn it!" Meg pulled a shocked pose, "that is such fowl play!"
"Pfft!" First covered his mouth in shock and stifled laughter,
"Got you First!" Meg perceived, "you're out!"
"Dang it!" First burst into laughter, "was that the punchline!?"
"Yep, and you fell for it." Nate replied,
"Wow, that really was tricky..."
"Now Scoots, I believe it is your turn." Flash announced, "please step forward."
"Here goes then..." Scootaloo started, "Knock Knock!"
"Who's there?" The rest asked,
"The Great and Powerful!"
"The Great and Powerful who?"
"Behold!" Scootaloo ridiculously posed, "Ze Great and Powerful Trixie!!!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" First and the rest of the neighponese kids burst into laughter, only Flash stayed silent.
"And yep! You guys are out!"
"Aww... You're good Scoots, nice trick." Bear complimented,
"I know right?" Eddie added, "it's almost as if you know how to force us to laugh!"
"Force us to laugh!?" First paused while laughing. Peering behind Scootaloo, he saw a familiar eel laughing his head off.
"A moment please Scoots?" First asked as he continued chuckling under the eel Yo-Kai's spell.
"Yes?" Scootaloo asked. First grabbed her face and glared straight into her eyes.
"Since when did the game involve cheating?" First growled,
"Oh... Eh... I'm not cheating though... What's your proof?" Scootaloo chuckled nervously, giving a very bad poker face.
"I can see Heeheeheel behind you. Thankfully, only Nate and I can see Yo-Kai like you. Can you please be an honest player, and not use Yo-Kai to your advantage?"
"Okay okay..." Scootaloo replied, "I'm sorry... Heeheeheel, jig's up."
"Ha! I knew you're going to get caught cheating sooner or later." Heheheel laughed, "getting caught immediately just makes it funnier!"
"Yeah yeah, whatevs..." Scootaloo moaned, "Flash? Looks like it's just you and me!"
"Very well then," Flash nodded, "I shall accept the challenge, perhaps a few impressions of the ladies and Princess of Ponyville would suffice?"
"Can we pick then? Even if we're out?" Alex asked,
"Since there's two of us left in the game, I think that decision lies to me." Scootaloo replied, "How well do you know and copy the actions of Rainbow?"
"Lady Rainbow you say? Then prepare yourself." Flash replied and pulled some of his hair to the front to match Rainbow's hairstyle.
"Hey everypony! You know who I am?" Flash copied Rainbow's tone, cracking his voice most of the time, "I'm the one and only Rainbow Dash! Equestria's Fastest flier!!!"
"Ha ha ha ha!!!" Lucas, Bear, Eddie, Meg, Sarah and Alex cracked up. "Your voice, I just can't even!"
"Oh don't worry," Flash strutted around like Rainbow, "I'm more than just one fast pony, I'm a proud friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the element of Loyalty!"
"Pssh, dang it!" First laughed, "I can't help myself! It sounds so accurate that it's so wrong!"
"Honestly, I think Rainbow sounds awesome when Flash's impersonating her. I like this!" Alex shared,
"Oh I know you can do better than that Big Bro." Scootaloo taunted, "Let's see what else you have!"
"Ponies dream of racing me, and I hope that I can race you someday too. But if you're not cool like me though, keep on dreaming. You have to be fast, daring, and only then I may think about racing with you! Not to worry..." Flash pushed his cheeks in and gave a small familiar puffy face, "It's going to be SO AWESOME!!!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Scootaloo finally laughed, "I can't believe it! I actually lost!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Katie joined in the entire hall of laughter,
"And I win once again!" Flash continued the impression with a wink, "that's why I'm called Rainbow Dash!"
"Not bad Flash! Not bad!" First sighed with laughter as the noise died down. "What do you think guys?"
"Ha... Ha... Ha..." The Neighponese students continued laughing, only that he was doing it very hoarsely and without any genuine giggle. Their tones of laughter continued going down and down, until they collapsed with exhaustion and a sigh, their faces drained of colour.
"Why do I feel so tired...?" Nate moaned,
"Yawn... Too much laughing..." Sarah moaned,
"I... I can't do this anymore..." Flash also let loose his act, and began to fall exhausted and drained of life.
"Argh..." Lucas collapsed,
"Man... This isn't funny anymore." Bear replied,
"I know..." Eddie added.
"Woah..." First yawned, "suddenly, this doesn't seem so fun."
"He he he. I know right?" Katie smiled while still laughing, "It's a shame that all of your jokes are lame. I think it's time to show you that truth."
"Wait... Katie? What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked,
"I drained all the laughter from your friends and brother." A distorted voice spoke, "now all your jokes are completely lame! Ha ha ha ha!"
"Oh that's a lame excuse to avoid giving away your position..." Scootaloo sprung into action, pulling out the watch and scanning a new silhouette, "Yo-Kai!"
"As if it even matters now." The Yo-Kai giggled. It was a small bipedal figure that was clothed but had the most disturbing of faces. With a small hairbun at the tippy top of the head, what seemed to be the ears of the Yo-Kai were the eyes, with all features on the face replaced with a large mouth with the thickest of purple lips and dual pairs of black buck teeth.
"Eww!!!" First cringed, "who the heck are you!?"
"I am Lafalotta, you insulting foal." The Yo-Kai greeted, "and I am the true judge of jokes!"
"The true judge?"
"Only jokes that I can laugh at are genuine! Everything under that? Unacceptable!!!" Lafalotta announced, "and you ponies never know what a good joke is supposed to be!"
"Give us back our friends' and brother's laughter!" First demanded, "this is supposed to be a fun time, and you ruined it!!!"
"Me? Ruin this party? First you insult me with your face and words, and now you want me to give back the laughter to your friends? It seems Ponykind really is going down the drain with their manners!" Lafalotta growled, "Don't look onto me, all of you ruined it in the first place. All of your jokes were lame. Man, if this was supposed to be a sleepover party, I'd rather be at home enjoying tea and burgers."
"Why you--!"
"Save it First." Scootaloo held her brother back, "they may be a pain, but these are ghosts we're dealing with. One wrong move, and we may end up like them!"
"Well aren't I flattered?" Lafalotta laughed, "to think that I am part of those Yo-Kai that are full of murder and vengeance, I wish! You're lucky you didn't run into the snow lady. She would freeze you to death instantly!!!"
"Then if you're not..." Scootaloo replied, "surely we can do something for you to stop inspiriting our friends, we all want to have a good time you know."
"Well... Since you can see me..." Lafalotta spoke while thinking on the spot, "... Okay then, a very simple game. All you have to do is to make me laugh. Your friends will act as your marking criteria."
"Laugh? That's simple." Scootaloo grinned, "hey Heheheel, you still there? Somepony needs their funny bone tickled!"
"Really?" Heheheel jumped from behind with excitement, "well let me crack them up! Hee hee hee... Ha ha ha ha!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Lafalotta laughed until she stopped with a serious grin. "... No." With Heheheel continuing to laugh, a stream of energy emerged from Heheheel as was sucked into Lafalotta's mouth. As more as this energy continued streaming out, Heheheel began to slow down on his laughing, until the last bits of laughter left the eel all pale and grey.
"My... I can't... Laugh..." Heheheel croaked in horror, "help me..." And the defeated eel shrank into his pot which also turned grey in accordance with Heheheel.
"Oh dear..." First picked up the jar and rubbed it, "are you okay?"
"S-Stop this Yo-Kai... She... She...!" Heheheel whimpered from within.
"Do you honestly think using a Yo-Kai would help you?" Lafalotta taunted,
"Then I guess we got to stick to jokes!" Scootaloo answered, "any ideas First?"
"Hmm..." First wondered, "I mean, I can think of a lot of joke ideas: Puns..."
"Boring and stupid." Lafalotta chimed in,
"Funny moment videos?" First added another idea, feeling pressure.
"Fake..." Lafalotta continued chiming in.
"Jumpscares, questions, tales of tricks, a silly dance..." First continued desperately.
"Hold the horse." Scootaloo interrupted, a wicked grin on her face. "A silly dance you say?"
"Yeah, but I can't think of anything else but..." First's eyes widened, "oh no. You don't mean THAT!?"
"Still, I think we're going to need some assistance." Scootaloo pulled out three Heartful medals.
Meanwhile, all the way in the Crystal Empire, three seaweed coloured ponies of green, light green and dark green were happily performing for the various ponies who came by... That eventually danced along with them. After an hour of rigorous but healthy exercise, the audience was cheering for the wonderful dancing.
"Woow! Thanks a lot for dancing with us everypony!" The dark green one announced,
"We'll be taking a short break for about 10 minutes, then it's back to dancing!" The light green one announced,
"Phew!" The green one sighed with relief, grabbing a few water bottles. "That was some good dancing! I guess it does feel better when you take a break!"
"Yeah! Maybe those two siblings had some truth to their words..." The dark green spoke,
"There's something puzzling me though..." The light green brought up, "I feel like that orange filly had some choreography practice or two before we even met. Why did she pull out that dance when we faced off? I feel like she has a lot of dancing potential!"
"Hey guys???" The green gestured to his two friends to certain green portals above their heads. "We can find out now if you want..."
"Just in luck!" The light green clasped her hooves with joy, "let's just hope it doesn't take long!"
"Let's go everypony!" The dark green one cheered and jumped into it, with the other two doing the same.
"Wiglin!"
"Steppa!"
"Rhyth!"
"We're the Dancing Trio! Ten out of Ten!!!" The Dancing Trio posed, back to the true Yo-Kai forms.
"Greetings Dancing Trio!" Scootaloo posed back, "good to see you again!"
"I uh... Hope you weren't busy..." First gulped
"Oh no! We're just taking a break after dancing!"
"Where uh... Exactly did you dance?" First prompted, his face starting to feel uneasy.
"A place called the Crystal Empire! It's a pretty place where Ponies seem to have crystal clear bodies!"
"Nice!..." Scootaloo gave a motivational hoof pump, just to cover the fact that they summoned their friends from a long distance.
"Anyway," Rhyth asked, "what can we do for you?"
"We need a little bit of help." Scootaloo explained, "this Yo-Kai needs to laugh."
"But we're dancers! I mean, we'd like to help. But what can we do?" Wiglin asked,
"It's no problem, this is what I had in mind..." Scootaloo replied, and whispered into the trio's ears.
"Oh! I see..." Steppa replied, "well then why not? Let's do it!"
"You sure?" First asked,
"Of course!" Rhyth replied, "anything for a friend!"
"Hey Lafalotta!" Scootaloo replied, "let's see you laugh to this! One... Two... Three... Go!" One by one, the five of them pulled out very awkward dance moves and poses that were to similar to everypony but the Yo-Kai. It was none other than the legendary dance of Twilight Sparkle.
"WHAT!?" Lafalotta blurted out. Also one by one, the foals around began to giggle.
"Hee hee hee..." Lucas chuckled,
"Tee hee hee..." Meg sniggered,
"Books! Books! Books!!!" The Dancing Trio chanted,
"Er... Stop that right now..." Lafalotta began to twitch, losing her mind, piece by piece.
"Magic! Letters! Spike!!!" First performed a half-baked twirl, and clumsily tossed Heheheel's jar in the air too, before neatly catching it. Meg and Lucas burst out into laughter.
"Stop it...!" Lafalotta repeated, as she began to shake all around in awkwardness.
"The Princess of Magic!" Scootaloo horrendously posed, "sister to the Captain of the Royal Guard! A complete Egghead!!!"
"Pssh ha ha ha ha!!!" Alex, Sarah, Eddie, Bear, Nate and Katie all burst into laughter one at a time.
"Wow!" First thought to himself, "that actually worked! Nice job Scoots!"
"Stop it!!!" Lafalotta pleaded, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Stop it now! I can't take the fact on how stupid you look!"
"But most of all..." Scootaloo flailed her arms, "I am the Princess... Of Friendship!!!" And with an exuberant pose, she elbowed First, which caused him to trip and the vase of Heheheel to fly out of his grasp. This jar turned projectile then collided onto the shameless dancing trio, and knocked them over like blowing pins."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Flash let loose a gleeful laugh of joy. "I can't take it anymore!"
"N-No..." Lafalotta clutched her mouth, "can't... He.. Hee... Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!" Lafalotta burst into laughter after a delayed half a minute. "I can't! Stop! This regal dance is so lame and ridiculous, that I'm laughing for it to stop!!!" And with that laughing, multiple streams of energy shot out from her mouth and each stream made it's way back into their respective pony. Even Heheheel's energy popped out and was collected by his pot. No sooner did the eel pop out himself and laugh uncontrollably like the rest.
"That was a funny show!" Heheheel complimented, "props for winning the game!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha..." Lafalotta continued on laughing until a blue light surrounded her. This light then coalesced into a medal and landed onto Scootaloo's possession.
"And to the victor goes the spoils!" Scootaloo replied,
"Ha ha ha ha..." Flash continued laughing, "that dance perfectly matched Princess Twilight's dance! Without the chants of course... I wish for an encore!"
"Really?" First gasped,
"Yeah!" Flash replied, while on the inside, he dreaded with fear. "I am so dead..."
After the laughing game, Lafalotta decided to leave the group alone after making friends with the siblings, and the group went through a few more rounds, before it was finally time to call it quits and make dinner as the evening comes.
The Dancing Trio? Well, they've got a long travel trip back to the Crystal Empire full of despair and worry. Aside from that, all the Yo-Kai friends, save for Whisper and Jibanyan, made their departure after the game. They did get a good laugh through Heheheel's anecdote about it though.
"Flash, can you pass the salt?" Scooaloo asked,
"Here you go." Flash tossed the bottle over,
"I've chopped the carrots!" First announced,
"Wow..." Nate watched as the siblings got down to cooking business, "they really don't mess around in the kitchen."
"I can smell it already!" Kate added as she sniffs the air, "it's something delicious!"
"How long have you been doing this?" Lucas asked,
"Well, we had to take care of ourselves..." Scootaloo replied, "what, with our brother going to work every day, and us having school... You understand."
"Does it always get lonely?" Eddie prompted,
"Well, big sis normally hangs out with her friends most of the time, while I do with mine." First answered, "Flash mostly does the late meals, but at times when he comes REALLY late, we managed to pick up some skills of our own!"
"Fortunately, we're managing to cook together after a long time." Flash replied, "so we're here to 'spice' things up. Get it?"
"Ha ha ha, you're hilarious big bro." First sarcastically laughed,
"Hey First, are you done with the bamboo sprouts?" Scootaloo asked,
"Bamboo what now?"
"The sprouts, you know... The important ingredient for this dish? Surely you had prepared it firsthand."
"I uh... I don't know what you're talking about!" First answered,
"First... Where are they?" Flash asked, "this is no time for a laugh now..."
"I don't know... I really can't remember whether I've cut them or not, or actually placed around the fridge... I don't think we even bought them... Clumsy me!" First replied, hitting his head and sticking his tongue out as a comedian.
"FIRST!" Flash slammed the kitchen table, "what is wrong with you!? You were responsible for buying those ingredients, and we've already double-checked the supplies before leaving Shopper's Row! We bought them, now where did you put them???"
"Uhh... Are you okay you two?" Sarah asked,
"Both of you stop it!" Scootaloo shushed, "we have guests! Let's not fall apart! But seriously though..." Scootaloo grabbed First by the neck and held him close, "Where is it First? Tell me now!"
"I really don't know!!!" First defended, "honestly! I can't remember!!!"
"Um... I'm pretty sure that answers your question Sarah." Bear replied,
"Is there something we can do to help?" Alex asked,
"N-N-No!" Scootaloo realised what she was doing and chuckled, "we're fine! Just a small food fight!"
"Hey Scootaloo," Whisper floated down to the kitchen area, "what's the ruckus?"
"Oh Whisper! There you are! Can you see if there's any Yo-Kai around?"
"Family fighting again?" Whisper sighed, "for the last time, that's your own problems. Stop trying to blame things on Yo-Kai."
"Just do it!" Scootaloo rasped, "I don't have time to pull out the watch!"
"Oh okay..." Whisper moaned, until something surprising hit him. "Oh! Looks like there is a Yo-Kai after all! Two of them in fact! And your little brother is their target!"
"Hang on a mo everypony!" Scootaloo announced to the guests, "I'll just do something first. Why don't you guys go upstairs? We've got a lot of things to kill time before dinner!"
"Okay..." Nate and the other agreed and left the room one by one. When the coast was clear, Scootaloo scanned the area above First to find two similar looking hats with swirly eyes attached to their heads along with teeth lining the opening of the hat for some strange reason. One green and one orange.
"Ho ho ho!" The green hat laughed, "looks like somepony can see us!"
"Duhuhuhuh!" The yellow one laughed, "that's a funny joke! Almost like that dance!"
"What about that last dance?" Scootaloo threatened,
"This is Wazzat and Dummkap. Once normal objects given sentient life in the form of spirits!" Whisper introduced, "the green hat Wazzat feeds upon memories of ponies and causes them to forget! Dummkap on the other hand, gives of this energy that causes someone to act very very dumb!"
"Sounds just like what they do!" Scootaloo replied, "hey guys! Can you stop having a laugh? No more funny business!"
"Why not?" Wazzat replied, "we had lots of fun inspiriting those seaweed friends of yours, and making them act dumb and dance to your even dumber dance!"
"I thought it would be a better laugh if we cause more trickery here!" Dummkap finished, and both broke into laughter.
"I see!" Scootaloo fumed, "no wonder why the Dancing Trio were shameless in doing such a silly trick that led them to their dancing defeat! I'll teach you to laugh at something that's funny! Come on out my friend!" Pulling out a mysterious medal, flipped it into the air.
"Calling Lafalotta!" Scootaloo announced, catching the medal. "Yo-Kai Medal, Do your thing!" And finally inserting it into the Watch.
"Summoning Mysterious!" The contraption released a ray of yellow light and played the Mysterious theme.
"Boo-shiggy Boo-shiggy Boogie-woogie! Cling Clang delirious mysterious!"
"Lafalotta! Ahahahaha!" Lafalotta posed, her hand close to her big mouth while laughing. "So soon young foals? How very interesting..."
"We've got a problem. Somepony needs to learn a difference between making ponies laugh and making ponies very VERY angry."
"Then you've called the right Yo-Kai!" Lafalotta deviously grinned, "I'll take away all their stupid laughter!" With a small gesture of her hands, streams of energy were extracted from the hats and into her mouth.
"Ho ho ho ho..." Wazzat's laughing tempo became slower and slower...
"Duhuhuhuhuh..." The same went with Dummkap's.
"..." Both hats fell silent as they stare at each other in thought.
"Well, that should shut them up."
"How dare you!" The hats sharply turned with a crazed glare at the filly. "You dare ruin OUR fun!?"
"W-Well!" Scootaloo shivered in shock, but still stood her ground "this is MY turf... And this is MY party... This is supposed to be fun for MY friends and I."
"Oh really!? Well you certainly like to talk tough!" Wazzat growled, "do you remember what you're messing with!?"
"Yo-Kai. Nothing new actually. I had tons of experience dealing with Yo-Kai under my belt now."
"Scootaloo! Mind your words!" Whisper warned, "they may be Yo-Kai, but they're Yo-Kai that can eat away your memories and make you act like a lunatic!"
"Oh..." Scootaloo pondered for a moment, then realised and remembered the current mood of those Yo-Kai, "oops? My bad..."
"Why you cocky little brat!" Dummkap glared, "how about we show you the feeling, when all that experience is completely forgotten, and that you can act as the dumb lunatic about Yo-Kai!"
"Come here!" Wazzat charged forward, "I'm going to eat all of your memories!"
"Aah!!!" Scootaloo barely dodged the teeth of the green hat in fright, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't eat my memories!"
"Too late!" Wazzat roared as he watched Wazzat tried to get a grip with his teeth. "I'm going to take away those memories! I might as well take away the memories of your entire life!!!"
"No! Don't do that either!" Scootaloo ducked and weaved, "that's even worse!"
"First, you'd better do something fast! Or she's going to forget that she has family and friends!" Whisper warned,
"Sorry about before..." First replied, a little shaken, "was I acting like an idiot again?"
"This wasn't your first time?"
"Sometimes, I do things that are dumb, because I really have no genuine idea or action on what to do." First chuckled, "it would normally annoy the others very much, but that's me!"
"Never mind that! Your sister!"
"I see..." First watched his sister stopping, dropping and rolling away from the grasp of the two hats. "She's not going to last long, she's going to need somepony to protect them."
"Who do you have in mind!?"
"Umm... Oh I know! Let's see them bite this!" First pulled out a medal from his medallium. "Sis! I'm going to slide a medal to you!"
"Who is it?" Scootaloo yelled back,
"Blowkade! The moment he comes out, tell him to block their path!"
"O-Okay!"
"Here goes nothing...!" First took a deep breath and slid the medal across the floor, and near Scootaloo's presence. In a mad dash and swerve, Scootaloo swiped up the medal and pulled out the watch.
"Come on out my friend!" Scootaloo rapidly spoke, "calling Blowkade! Yo-Kai medal, Do your thing!!!" Though under critical conditions, she managed to slip the medal into the watch.
"Summoning Tough!"
"Gruff stuff! Rough bluff! Red band, jacket stand, bling blang, Tough!" Blowkade danced with numerous poses of muscle display and tough growling with his intimidation of his spiky body.
"Blowkade!" Blowkade finished posing in a tough and muscular way.
"HiBlowkadeNicetomeetyou! SorryIcan'tgiveyoumygratitudeforcomingbackCanyouhelpblockprotectmeplease!?"
"Pardon?"
"PLEASE BLOCK THOSE HATS!!!" Scootaloo wailed,
"Oh! No time to waste then... You shall not pass!" Blowkade yelled as he crouched into an unshakable position and thrust his arms forward while expanding his spikes.
"BANG!" The sound of collision revealed that the two hats found their mouths sliding across wall of pulsating orange energy, preventing them from reaching their target.
"Mmmf! What is this!?" Wazzat yelled,
"This doesn't feel like pony flesh!" Dummkap cried, "all I can taste is fugu fish!"
"I... I..." Scootaloo slowed down to a halt, her breath and lungs, heavy with exhaustion. "Did you do it?"
"Do not worry young filly! I shall give it my all to block anything that means harm towards you!"
"I won't give up!!!" Wazzat growled, "I'll bite through this if I have to!"
"Relentless, I'll give you that..." First pulled out another tough medal and flipped it over, "here sis, this should weigh them down!"
"Okay then." Scootaloo caught the medal of Ledballoon. "Come on out my friend! Calling Ledballoon! Yo-Kai medal, do your thing!" Once again, the Watch emitted an orange pillar of light.
"Ledballoon!" The other blowfish Yo-Kai jumped out of the orange summoning light. "It's time to get heavy!"
"Yep!" Scootaloo nodded, "take these hats to the ground please!"
"No problem! Let's see if you can lift this!" Ledballoon taunted and with his inspiriting powers, the two hats felt a great increase in their mass and weight, and directly struck the ground.
"Oof!" Wazzat grunted as he went splat on the ground.
"Ow ow ow!" Dummkap yelped on the floor as if we was crushed by a barren of rocks.
"Why...?" Wazzat moaned, the aura of anger now replaced with sadness "why does everypony hate me? Why does everypony want to forget me?"
"What do you mean?" First asked,
"Do you remember? Wazzat and Dummkap are material objects that are given spirits! You can say that both of them were very good hats, probably left for a hundred years..."
"Too true..." Wazzat began to cry, "I was once the favourite hat of a young girl, and was worn almost every day! But as fashion changes, it caused her to turn away, place me into the darkest of cupboards, and the moment the doors to the light had closed, she completely forgot about me!"
"I can relate too..." Dummkap replied, "there was a very young boy who aspired to be a comedian, and he would always wear me for his skits. He was a brilliant joker and trickster, always using me for his most popular talent, pulling out dumb faces, poses and manners! But however, this made him the target of various bullies, and with every broken bone, he had fully regretted the path he took, called me the most dumbest hat that brought his image to ruin, and threw me into the rubbish dump!!!"
"After for so long, we managed to gain the ability to float around now, as well as having mouths and eyes!" Wazzat continued, "by some stroke of fate, we managed to meet each other. I heard the tale of Dummkap here, and I thought, why don't we become a comedy duo? We could be the great stars! The forgetful one, and the dumb one!"
"But nopony ever appreciates our jokes!!!" Dummkap bawled, tears streaming from his eyes, "we're just ghosts of what we used to be!"
"Oh... I didn't know about that..." First replied, "if that's really the case... Then I'm really sorry for what happened to you."
"You two..." Scootaloo sighed, "you just missed the party. You could have helped us with the laughing game this afternoon, you would have been a big show!"
"R-Really???" Wazzat sniffed,
"Yeah! But it's not like you should be unhappy now, you've been given a very special gift of becoming spirits. You do know that you stay like this for a very long time right?"
"Right..." Dummkap replied,
"I think it's really cool that you guys get to live forever! But with that life, you could always find some comedy duo around Springdale. You can make them shine brighter than they ever can!"
"Are you sure???"
"Yes..." Scootaloo held the hats together, "I understand where you came from. After all, I've gotten a firm grasp on what Yo-Kai are all about, so you can have my utmost support. I can be your friend! If I happen to stumble across some good comedy talent, I can give you a call and see if you like it!"
"..." The two hats looked at each other, then back to the filly. "O-Okay then, we trust you..." And once again, the two hats glowed blue, with the light turning into medals.
"Thanks for putting your faith in me you two." Scootaloo smiled as she held their medals, "I'll put my faith in you too."
"Well, I think that was a really great show!" Whisper applauded,
"Wait a minute!!!" Scootaloo remembered, "what about Flash!? Did he hear everything!?"
"Ooh..." Flash grumbled as he picked himself from the ground, "why does my head hurt?"
"Oh! You're awake! That's good to know!" First picked up his brother.
"<What did you do First?>" Scootaloo mouthed to her little brother. First just simply pointed to the back of his head and gave a whacking gesture of his hoof, followed with a sleeping gesture.
"<You're kidding me! You hit Flash on the head to knock him out!?>" Scootaloo mouthed in anger, throwing up her arms in confusion and rage. First just put his hoof to his lips and shushed desperately.
"Hey guys???" A knock on the living room door, "are you okay in there?"
"Y-Yeah!" Scootaloo called back, "we're fine! Did we take too long???"
"Not at all!" The voice replied, "you've got plenty of things to keep us entertained up there, along with a few intriguing questions. We wondered if you were still alright."
"It's all okay." Scootaloo opened the door to her friends, "sorry about the small family scuttle, it's nothing too big. Just a joke gone wrong."
"Well then," Eddie suggested, "just make sure the joke comes at the right time." And the group piled back in,
"<Yo-Kai?>" Nate mouthed to Scootaloo, Scootaloo responded with a disappointed nod.
"Sorry about everything guys!" First replied, placing the neatly cut bamboo shoots into the cooking pot. "Dinner should be ready in about half a minute!"
"Where did you find that by the way?" Lucas asked,
"It was at the back of the fridge all along!" First replied, "my bad!"
After a very filling meal, the foals and fillies split into their own groups, ready for bed. Whilst the fillies were upstairs spreading gossips about things in Springdale and Equestria, with some board games to play, the young foals were downstairs with their sleeping bags pulled out, and were completely engrossed on the TV watching random shows or playing random games that Eddie brought along to play. Flash thought this would be a good time to let his young siblings have time with their friends and hit the sack early for tomorrow's work.
"You all know when to sleep right?" Flash asked the fillies,
"Yep!"
"Okay then, Goodnight and have fun!" Flash replied as he closed the door, only to hear the giggling from within to resume.
"And you guys?" Flash turned to the foals, who were all engrossed on a video game where it involved ponies racing with each other in mysterious wheeled motor contraptions. "You all know when to sleep right?"
"Yes boss!" Bear replied,
"Okay then, you have fun too. Goodnight!" Flash smiled back, as he retreated to his room, and slid the door closed.
"Ah, youth..." Flash sighed to himself, "how I envy to have a life as fun as this, instead of working all the time. Bah, no use complaining... Got a lot of work tomorrow, something that isn't as excruciating as a paranormal activities." He closed his eyes in prayer, "Goodnight Father... Goodnight Mother... I hope you are watching over us with Celestia..." And as he stretches himself out on his bed, he drifted away to sleep...
"..."
"..."
"... Bro..."
"... Big Bro?"
"BIG BRO!" A voice snapped into his mind, waking the slumbering stallion up.
"Ahh!" Flash flailed around, "what time is it!? Am I late!?"
"No you're not Flash, its 11pm, and your work starts at 7am tomorrow."
"O-Oh..." Flash calmed down, "that explains why it's still so dark..."
"That's exactly what we want to talk to you about..." The voice explained as the stallion fumbled for the light switch, only to realise that after a few toggles, the light would not illuminate, "... All the lights and TV were immediately shut down."
"Whai... What?" Flash raised his head, "you mean... A blackout?"
"If that's what it's called, I think the others were saying the same thing."
"It is," other voices replied in chorus.
"Ah, what an unexpected occurrence." Flash noted as his legs reached for the ground, "is everypony okay? First?"
"Right here," a voice replied,
"Scoots?"
"Over here!" Another,
"Nate?"
"Here!"
"Katie!"
"Yep!"
"Bear?"
"Alive!"
"Eddie?"
"Fine over here!"
"Alex!"
"Present!"
"Sarah?"
"I'm okay."
"Meg,"
"HERE!!!"
"And Lucas!"
"I'm good..."
"Okay then everypony, stay close. Do you have a light source that doesn't require magic to the house?"
"Well, I have my phone, but..." Alex's voice rang out, "... I got nothing, no battery power at all..."
"Hmm..." Flash pulled out a pager, "I just got this due to my work job. Let see if it works." But after a few button inputs, there was no response. "Strange, my pager isn't working either!"
"What should we do???" Katie asked, "all our current light sources don't work!"
"I'm afraid you're right... My trusty flashlight seems drained of battery..." Flash added, "but let's not panic... We do have a light source if I'm not mistaken... Can all of you see the moon?"
"Well, only faintly..." Bear replied, "but I don't know what's in front of me..."
"Use your peripheral vision." Flash instructed, "look to the sides of your eye. It may be a black and white image, and it is hard to get it on the first try, but try your best and huddle towards the window. I've got another alternative light source.
"Okay then..." First replied as the kids started huddling towards the balcony windows.
"Woah!" Nate slipped on his footing while in the darkness,
"Eddie, that's my foot!" Sarah growled, "watch where you're going!"
"Sorry..." Eddie moaned,
"Is... Is everypony here?" Nate asked, his silhouette blankly reflected by the moon, "T-Try to follow my voice."
"I can hear you Nate!" Bear carefully trudged, "I'm coming!"
"Everpony here now?" Lucas asked,
"I think that's all of us, I can see a little of your silhouettes. Hope it doesn't stay like that."
"It won't," Flash replied as a small flame was ignited on a matchstick, which rested itself onto a white surface. The flame passed a bigger flame onto the white surface and illuminated the red face of Flash.
"Big Bro! A candle! Who would have known?" Scootaloo smiled,
"Hey, there's got to be an alternative." Flash laughed, "I've got a few other candles here. Anypony needs to hold something?"
"I got it..." First volunteered, holding the base of the candle and sharing some flames off Flash.
"Well that's a relief!" Alex laughed with her face lit up by the red flames. "Wonder what's going on?"
"Then I believe we need to step out. Single file? Candle holders out at front." Flash replied,
"Got it..." First nodded.
Opening the door, the group piled out to a completely dark street with multiple sources of noise coming from every direction.
"Oh dear," Meg perceived, "this blackout is not just affecting us, but everypony else too!"
"This is a problem." Flash replied, "we need somepony to make contact with the electrical magic department. Otherwise, the magic here will go awry..."
All of a sudden, all the electric poles began to make cracking and sizzling noises, until it unleashed a fury of ferocious lightning sparks and strikes all around the wires that connect from pole to pole, as well as striking the ground. Although it provided a small light for everypony enough to see, it scared them all to the bone. What became silence of confusion turned into screams of horror and desperation for safety.
"Be careful everypony! Retreat back into the house now!" Flash commanded. The group wasted no time and quickly slammed the door away from the vicious electricity.
"What just happened? Tell me that that was just a freak accident!" Eddie gasped with fear,
"Wh-What's going on now?" Nate whimpered, "I-I didn't sign up for this!"
"Nate, get a grip!" Alex scolded, "You're not a crybaby!"
"I've never seen something like this before..." Flash gasped, "did I perhaps jinx us?" The moment Scootaloo heard the words about 'something new', her mind immediately changed her thinking to 'Must be a Yo-Kai!'.
"First! Nate! Over here!" Scootaloo gestured, with the two foals crawling towards her, the filly opened the watch and peered through the lens to see a horrific sight. Miniature little creatures that had the colour of yellow and black were happily hopping around the wires and carrying bits of the electrical energy all around the place. Some even threw them down on the ground to create a lightning strike at some unsuspecting ponies, causing them to scream even more and run in different directions. This figure laughed like crazy as it saw the ponies freaking out at their own work.
"Why that no good little--!"
"Wait! Not just them... Look over there!" First pointed towards a few of the mini creatures carrying some energy past some creatures that look similar to them, but chubbier, and placing their energy before a chubby version of the creature in blue. Who began monstrously munching down on the electricity.
"Who are those guys?" Nate asked,
"Can you get Whisper to check the Yo-Kai Pad?" First asked,
"He's freaking asleep!!! I tried to wake him up so many times! That blasted butler of ours! But I'll take the Yo-Kai Pad off him!" Galloping up the stairs, she grabbed a hold of the sleeping, floating Whisper and pulled his top head out to grab the Yo-Kai Pad from within. Tapping at the screen, the Yo-Kai Pad refused to turn on. In frustration, she held down the on/off button on the side of the Yo-Kai Pad, but a screen had never appeared.
"Damn it!" Scootaloo bellowed, "even the Yo-Kai Pad isn't working!" She rushed downstairs to report the results. "Yo-Kai Pad is out of energy! I bet those things are behind that, and the light sources too!"
"First! Scoots! Nate! What on earth are you talking about!?" Flash called out to them,
"It's nothing!" First replied, "quick, call somepony!"
"Come on out my friend!" Scootaloo complied, performing her summoning sequence, "Calling Jibanyan! Yo-Kai medal, Do your thing!"
"Summoning Charming!"
"Alarming! Boom Boom! Walla Walla, Dance dance! Charming!"
"Jibanyan!" Jibanyan posed, before being groggily tired and dizzy,
"What's the myatter guys?" Jibanyan moaned, "I was having a nice dream! Aren't you supposed to be sleeping too?"
"We could but..." Scootaloo pointed at the endless group,
"Oh! So that's why!" Jibanyan replied, "nyo worries! I'll tyake them down for ruining my beauty sleep nya I'm a gonna sock that Blue beast!" And kicking the balcony window open, Jibanyan mightily pounced towards the Statiking, ready to pummel the blob.
"Paws, of, fuwaaa!!!!" Jibanyan's attack was interrupted as multiple lightning bolts struck the ferocious feline, and dropped him on the ground, leaving behind a very charred body."
"Ooh... This hurts so muccchhhhh..." Jibanyan twitched, "I feel so numb... And dizzy..."
"Oh dear," Scootaloo quickly closed the door, "I don't feel like recovering him. Maybe I'll call him back using the watch."
"What's going on!?" Flash demanded, "why did the window open?"
"It's nothing!" Scootaloo replied,
"We need some plan to take down those things. I don't think we can attack them all!"
"But what can we do?" First asked, "... Oh I know! We've got our own tactician!"
"Pardon?" Flash asked, the siblings turned around with the most innocent of smiles,
"Hey Flash, say somepony is causing a problem like this, using his magic to make the electricity go haywire, but he's got a lot of goons protecting him, who can control a minor amount. What should be the plan of attack?"
"Well..." Flash replied, "It's dangerous with all this electricity in the way, but perhaps if you enter in sneakily..." Flash assessed the situation outside, "you need to find a way to distract the goons, and come out alive if possible, then find some way to make the leader refrain or absorb all of his electrical magic back. That's pretty much it,"
"Okay then, thanks!"
"Are you wanting to try this plan of attack?" Flash asked with curiosity, "I mean, I can tell you've placed yourselves in very dangerous situations, but when I'm around, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Don't worry Flash..." Scootaloo laughed, "why would we?"
"Okay then..." Nate whispered, "plan time. So we need something to distract those guys... Do we have anything or anypony that can do that?"
"Hmm... Actually, I can think of a few..." First smiled as he took his medallium and scrolled through the pages. "I think two should suffice, assuming they don't directly contact them..."
"Okay then, and what about the big guy???" Nate asked, "Something to make the big beast eat everything..."
"Eat everything???" Scootaloo gasped, "That's easy!!!"
Towering over the residential district, the numerous little figures known as Signibble were gleefully having fun with all of the unstable energy, whether it's eating some, taking heaps and bundles to carry, or just throwing them down on the frightened ponies all around.
"Zap zap!" One Signibble laughed,
"Hee hee hee!" Another sniggered, "scaredy ponies go zap when we zap them!!!"
"Ha ha ha!!!" A third Signibble chomped down on the electricity "so delicious!"
"No!" A fourth slapped the third, "we're saving this for our master Statiking!"
"Hoy you lot!" A chubby version of the Signibble, known as a Signiton hopped over, "feeding first, pranks later! Fork all you've collected over! And they'd better be the best!"
"Yes foreman Signiton!" The Signibbles replied as they dumped a pile of energy onto a special basket slung over Signiton's shoulders.
"Alright lazy bums, get back to work!" Signiton replied as he walked along the wires to the blue Statiking.
"Here you go master," the Signiton offered, "best of the best." The blue beast took a small piece of electric and popped it into his mouth. Crunching and munching it whole to savour the taste, the Statiking immediately wolfed down everything that the Signibbles gathered.
"Delicious!" Statiking burped, "I want you to commend the ones who collected these energy... By giving them more work!!! That also means you too, get on with it!"
"Yes sir!" Signiton saluted and quickly hurried back,
"Zap zap!!!" The four Signibbles continued collecting and piling up their salvaged bolts of electrical magic, until the third one decided to have fun, and toss a bunch at another, frying him with surprise.
"Hey!" The first Signibble growled, "what was that for?"
"Zap zap!" The third Signibble laughed, "it's fun seeing ponies get zapped, but I think it's even better when you get zapped!"
"Why you! You won't get away that easy!"
"Oh please!" The Third Signibble pulled a cute face, "please forgive me love doughnuts!"
"D-Doughnuts!?" The first Signibble blushed, "w-well... I-I guess there's no problem done..."
"Thank you! Heh heh heh..." The Signibble sniggered once again, and tossed a few more at his other co-workers.
"Hey! What's the big idea!?!?" The group replied in chorus,
"Oh! Forgive me love doughnuts!" The Signibble replied, making the same face again.
"Hey! That's a one-off incident, but you don't get to use the same trick twice!" The first Signibble noted,
"What on the Yo-Kai World is going on here!?" The Signiton foreman came back, "the master wants more energy! So hop to it!!!"
"Hey Foreman???" The Signibble called, "I QUIT!!!" And grasping a stream of electricity like a hose, he unleashed a splash down of high volatile energy and swung it all around. Zapping and charring the Foreman, and every other electric Yo-Kai in the surroundings.
"HOW DARE YOU!!!" The foreman replied, seething with anger along with the other victims of the hose down, "A cute face isn't going to save you now!!!"
"Ha ha ha!!! Try and catch me love doughnuts!!!" Signibble laughed as he ran away with the angry electrifying horde chasing him down.
"What's going on over there?" Another Signiton foreman watched the incident,
"It seems to me that one of the Signibble is getting tired of working and beginning to prank others." Another spoke,
"Oh... It's that guy again. Is it?" The first Signiton replied, "sucks to be that guy..."
"Yeah, speaking of which..." The second spoke, "you look really electrifying tonight."
"Really? Why thank you!"
"I don't know... There's something about you that wants me to know about you a lot..."
"You think so?"
"Yeah... Can you... Can you teach me on how you look so cool?" The second Signiton pleaded up close,
"Woah! Back off a little! I can smell your breath!"
"Hey foreman!" A third hopped by, "you looking real good today!"
"I-I see... Can you help get this guy of me?"
"Why?" The third asked, "he's got the hots for you,"
"WHAT!?"
"As do I..." The third one grinned. One by one, the Signiton foremen became enamoured with this sole Signiton, and little by little, he felt very VERY uncomfortable.
"Guys... Please... Can you stay away from me?"
"Of course not!" The Signiton replied, "You're so popular!"
"Gahh!!!" The Signiton ran for his life, "Please! Stop! Get away from me! Argh!!!"
"We just want to know how popular you are!" The Signiton replied giving chase. With two big incidents involving all Signibble and Signiton, Statiking was all left alone
"H-Hey!" Statiking roared, "where are you blokes going!? Get back here and work and... Ooh... There's so much unstable electricity around here... And I'm feeling VERY hungry!!!" Standing up, the blue beast began devouring all the wild electricity around the electrical poles and wires, moving as quickly as a cheetah. With every path he takes, no stray bolt of electrical currents were left behind on the wires and poke as the beast chomped down every Volt and Ampere down.
"Munch munch munch!!!" Statiking gobbled as he savagely grabbed fistfuls of electricity and shoved it down his mouth without taking the time to chew. "Yummy!!!" By the time Statiking decided it was too much to eat and to take a break, every single electrical pole and wire was quiet without any more sparks.
"Ohh... I think that was too much... My stomach hurts..."
"Now Jibanyan! Do your worst!" Scootaloo commanded from the house.
"All right!!!" Jibanyan pounced one more time, fully healed from his injuries.
"Yep!" First punched the air in support, "it's time--"
"--For the--" Nate added,
"PAWS OF FURY!!!" The three boys yelled together.
"NYANYANYANYANYANYANYANYANYA!!!" Jibanyan cried as he unleashed his signature move against large beast, pummelling him with the hardest of paws.
"Aargh!" Statiking yelped in pain as the finishing punch sent him a few centimetres back. "Caught me off guard... When I was full."
"Nyo more messing with electricity nyan!" Jibanyan commanded, "it's time you are 'grounded'!"
"I heard that Jibbers!" Scootaloo hollered,
"Hey! That's my nickname for him!" First replied,
"But you rarely use it now... Can't we share?"
"Heh heh heh..." Statiking grinned, "you think, just because I ate more than I should, that I'm a weak spot?"
"Well I'm always ready if you're looking for a gruesome beatdown!"
"Fool!!!" Statiking bellowed, his body emitting countless streams of lightning. "You forget that electrical magic is my power, my energy, my fearsome strength!!!" He pointed at Jibanyan, "and I have yet to show you my power with Electricity!!!"
"Uh oh..." Scootaloo gulped, "we did NOT plan for this..."
"My electricity powers run different than the Signibble and Signiton. Wheras they unleash all their electrical fury, mine absorbs and converts the electrical magic of your life!!!"
"Uhh..." Jibanyan began to lose confidence,
"But now that I've eaten, I'm all fired up!!!" Statiking replied, "enough to keep me going and for you to feel the wrath of my power!!! Kaaaaa!!!" With a tough pose, the enemy Statiking began to charge. The electrical energy surrounding him began forming around and pulsating dangerously. The sounds of electricity crackled all around, like the loudest of firecrackers, causing everypony to cover their ears in desperation.
"I shall sizzle you to ash!!!" Statiking yelled, "Giga---"
"RUN JIBANYAN!!!" First screamed as loud as he could,
"I don't wanna! I don't wanna!!!" A familiar voice echoed over everything as a small plume of smoke made its way into the beast's nostrils, causing him to freeze in his movements and in turn, snap his concentration.
"Wait a minute..." Scootaloo uncovered her ears to hear that the electrical echoes were not deafening to the ears anymore, not to mention that the electrical storm around Statiking and dissipated.
"I... I don't want to do this anymore..." Statiking moaned, "I'm so hungry, and tired... I'm going to go to bed!" And disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
"Are you guys okay?" D'Wanna floated over to the foals,
"D'Wanna! You, you..." Scootaloo gasped,
"I saw everything," D'Wanna replied, "how the Signibble began causing trouble, as well as the distraction of the popular Signiton, not to mention the ever gluttonous Statiking. All your Yo-Kai friends had helped prevent this electrical chaos from causing dangerous harm to ponies!"
"Well... We got our friends to thank for that, not to mention our big bro for his tactics." First replied,
"But I wasn't expecting Statiking to go like that. I didn't want any of your friends to be harmed by that no good electrical bug, so I did what I did best."
"Oh D'Wanna, you actually saved us!" Scootaloo replied,
"Well, I'm still trying hard be your friend!" D'Wanna replied,
"I think you've done more than that!" Shmoopie, Cupistol, Hungramps and Jibanyan returned to the house, "saving us just because you want to be our friends?"
"It may sound selfish when you say it," Scootaloo replied, "but I can tell you legitimately want to be friends. Here's the catch. Will YOU be OUR friend instead?"
"I don't wanna--- NO. NO! Or I mean, YES!" D'Wanna smiled with joy, "I DO wanna be your friend!!!"
"Then it's settled!" Scootaloo smiled back "Welcome to our team! Friend!"
"Yeah... I wanted to be your friends..." D'wanna wept, tears of joy streaming down his face. As proof of a new friendship, a blue light surrounded D'Wanna and it formed itself to become a medal. Scootaloo caught the medal as it fell, and held it to D'Wanna to repeat the fact that they are friends.
"Oh!" First remembered, "our pals and brother!" He turned to the group, "guys... I'm really sorry about how this sleepover turned out... It was supposed to be a fun party but... With all these incidents, I don't know how to apologise."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, "cheer up First! There's always next time!"
"Besides," Bear replied, "It's a very rare occurrence that we get to see this mysterious incidents, especially that blackout and electrical problem! I'd say that's, although weird and dangerous, is exhilarating to see!"
"Besides, we'll have plenty of time in the morning to do other things before we actually have to go back." Sarah replied,
"So... Are you guys actually having fun?" First asked,
"Yeah!" Katie replied,
"Of course!" Eddie agreed,
"Yes siree!" Meg answered,
"Well... I'll say things did turn out really weird. But it's fun that I haven't felt for in a long time." Lucas extended, "thanks for inviting me."
"First, Scoots and Nate, may I have a word with you?" Flash asked, the three huddled away from the group and came to a very quiet discussion.
"I just can't help but see how you were constantly looking outside at the Electrical storm..." Flash noted, "and you seemed to be yelling out at something..."
"Well... Maybe there are some brave ponies who came up to stop this!"
"Or it could be supernatural beings once again. However, your case seems to be the most unlikely, because instead of yelling for help, you were yelling commands. It looks like you were expecting certain forces to stop this incident. Something that I can't see."
"Uh..." First gulped, "yeah, it's supernatural activity. What about it?"
"Nothing really, since it somehow is the answer to most of the cases now. I'm concerned about something else..."
"What's your question?" Scootaloo asked,
"This may sound like a very childish question, but were you yelling outside the window, because you can... See the supernatural?"
"Uh..." First replied, "what's your depiction?"
"Like I said, it's a childish question, but it's the only simple thing that I can come to that requires your answer. Of course, another tidbit is about who you're yelling at. The supernatural responsible for the blackout, or the supernatural that was trying to pre-"
"FORGETABOUTIT!" Wazzat appeared from behind and chomped on the Guard's head.
"Woah! Argh!!! Ahhh ha ha haha... Ooh..." Flash's eyes spun as he stumbled and flailed around in dizziness and laughter. Spitting it out, Wazzat took a breath as steam poured out of his hat eyes...
"Huh..." Flash replied, "the electrical storm's over! Thank goodness... These supernatural really are mischievous as stated in the folklore..."
"Wazzat?" First turned back his older sister, holding out her Yo-Kai Watch, as well as the medal of Wazzat. "Oh no..."
"I didn't know that he was observing us!" Scootaloo reasoned,
"You erased his memories!!!" Nate bellowed, "why!?"
"Only just the part where he noticed us!"
"Sis... That was cruel beyond measure. Don't use Yo-Kai to cover up for us, even if it's for the best for both sides."
"I know what I did. And I'll receive my punishment in the form of Terror Time." Scootaloo replied,
"Ow!" Nate winced as a bright flash of light illuminated the entire household, as with every other in the district.
"Ah, looks like the lights are back to normal." Flash noted. Aside from the lights, the T.V screen also turned back on, revealing a show that the fillies and Flash would have least expected to display.
"Stay tuned on the after hours channel!" The Next HarMEOWny members announced, "cause we're going to have some real fun!" And began giggling.
"Uhh..." The foals stood still in sheer terror.
"..." Flash's jaw dropped in silence.
"Eh... Heh heh heh..." Eddie chuckled,
"YOU INSOLENT, INSENSITIVE FOOLS!!!" Flash roared,
"AAAHHH!!!" The boys screamed,
"Well?" Scootaloo asked, "was it bad?"
"Naw, not really. Flash did say that well... It's natural for a stallion to have interest in a mare sometimes, so we're sort of off the hook. He will try to make sure to create some security measures on the TV next time."
"You know, there's a word for that the girls taught me... I think it was called 'Pervert'? Yeah, don't become one. Mum and dad wouldn't be happy, Flash wouldn't be happy, and I'd sure as Tartarus wouldn't be happy to have a family member like that."
"Okay okay, I get the idea. I'll try to resist temptation next time."
"But I'm curious, what did you watch? I mean, ponies don't always wear clothes and all but..."
"To be honest, I still really didn't know what was going on either. Either the others know about mature things, or they're just what you say they are 'Perverts'."
"Oh! I forgot to mention, you know that Signibble that Shmoopie inspirited?"
"What about it?"
"He found out from Shmoopie that we were Shmoopie's friend, so he wants to give his thanks for forcing him to leave his job. It comes with his medal too."
"That's awesome! Pity we can't see it now, it's only just the two of us!"
"Well, since we're all alone, we can relax and ponder and share our bad conduct!"
"Garga..." A dreadful voice echoed throughout the grey, cloudy atmosphere.
"... Or maybe we can save that for another time, and focus on getting out... Wonder if we'll bump into Suspicioni and Leadoni?"
"We are friends, but they have a duty to carry out. So let's not get them into any trouble with their boss."
"Sounds like a great idea!"
"THERE YOU ARE!!!" A red hulking beast stood towering over them.
"Oh! Gargaros! I didn't know you can talk!" Scootaloo greeted, "good to see you again!"
"... Do you honestly think I just say my name all the time?" Gargaros asked with a disappointed look,
"Sorry, it was just first impressions." First apologised, "why don't we get to know more about each other now?"
"Right here right now? Sure!" Gargaros calmed down "I'm happy to share where I came from, my family, my job, the glory of King Enma, I can tell you everything about myself and my life." Suddenly, he dangerously swung his giant, spike-studded club, "AND I'M GOING TO START WITH THIS!!!"
"RUN!!!!" The siblings yelled in fear and they immediately bolted away from his surroundings.
"GARGA!!!" Gargaros roared as he gave chase.