Master of Shadow's Comment
As you scream your entire cart gets covered in black smoke causing you to both to cough.
"Aw Crud! I forgot to wait till 2 to push on the gas!" you yell as your cart stalls, and all the other racers pull ahead, even AJ's slow one, and you hear their laughter at your expense.
You and Nightshade exchange glances at this as the crowd gives you both awkward looks as you sigh and say,
"Well...that could have gone better."
Nightshade just pouts before she says,
"We can look back at this mess-up later Daddy! Let's get this thing GOING!!"
You nod, but as you do, you can't help but notice that another cart has done the same thing you've done. It's pink, and looks like it was professionally built. In it sits Diamond Tiara and her butler Randolph.
"Oh, I gassed it too late!" she wails.
"Hit it now Ma'am," the butler calmly says...and they immediately shoot out of the gates filling your face with black smoke.
Your eyes widening you yell,
"Holy Buck we got some competition!"
You then quickly jumpstart with a shock of your power glove and drive off to catch up.
As you gun it, you mostly stay in the wake of DT's pink bullet, but then you and Nightshade notice that once she reaches the traditional carts in the back, she looks like she is deliberately ramming into them.
Kichi's Comment
Shocked, you shift gear and get along side her cart, only for her to start ramming into your Dragula. Nightshade seems confused by this.
"Diamond Tiara? Cut it out. I thought you weren’t a bully anymore?" she asks as the Butler holds onto his hair piece.
"I'm not doing this on purpose! This cart is too much to handle!” she screams in panic.
“Hey you made it, you can figure it out!” Diamond shouts.
“Actually, Madame Rich had the designs and parts for this cart commissioned weeks ago. I just put them together today,” the Butler says as the pink cart swerves and hits you again.
“Really? Really? She’s gotta show off her money for this competition?” you balk.
“But aren’t we showing off?” Nightshade asks.
“Yes, but we built this out of love and care, her mom had someone else build it and didn’t test it out just for the sole purpose of winning!” you grumble at that mare. Then again she did order this back before you fixed her nose, so she was probably at the height of her snootiness and b!%#@iness.
As if to emphasize that, Diamond accidentally knocks into Snails and causes his cart to start wobbling.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she yells.
“Don’t worry! I can help you!” you yell.
“Really? How?” asks the pink filly.
You point your glove at the spot where her engine is.
“Would You Kindly have some engine trouble?!” you yell as you send out a bolt of electricity which shorts out whatever professional wiring she has, causing her cart to sound like it’s got a cough. It eventually starts slowing down, cruising along with the others at a way more reasonable speed for a little filly.
“Thank you Mr. Tennant!” she cries out in thanks as her Pink Cart coughs black smoke and looks like it wants to die.
“No problem kid!” you yell as you gun your own engine and leave her behind with all the other slow losers.
“Daddy, was that cheating?” Nightshade asks.
“Nope. We were doing her a service by ensuring her safety, and the safety of others from rich mother negligence,” you say as you cut off a colt and his mother in a creative cart, causing them to hit the brakes hard.
“Uh-huh…” Nightshade says conflicted.
"Don't worry honey, it will all be worth it when we do one thing,” you reassure.
"What?" she asks.
"Winning with style" you say offering a hoof bump to Nightshade as you make your engine growl. This causes her to not look conflicted anymore.
"Yeah!" she yells, bumping your hoof and pulling a pair of shades down over her eyes.
"Wait... Where did you got those sunglasses?" you ask in surprise.
“The Fillyfooler. She left them on her work table.” she responds.
This causes you to both laugh as you finally pull ahead of the back group, made up of traditional and slower creative carts. As you leave them behind in the dust, you shout out,
BrownDog's Comment
And for good measure, you gas out those behind you with your exhaust pipes.
As the competition coughs, you see you still have a bit of a crowd to get through if you're going to take first.
At one point, you even pass Derpy...who is with some young colt that looks like her.
"Hey! I thought you only had a daughter?!" you call out.
This gets her to look to you, "I do. This is my little brother. His name is,"
"Tell us later!" Nightshade yells as you swerve around Derpy who thinks that was awfully rude.
You can't dwell too much on that though, as Nightshade brings something to your attention.
"Hey Dad, the crowd is singing," Nightshade points out. You strain your ears, and even above the roar of your engines, you realize she's right.
The crowd is singing some sort of song, you even catch a glimpse of Cheerileader singing it. It's upbeat and catchy...but it doesn't really fit your War Colt mood.
With a scowl and a wish for something more appropriate, you yell out,
"Mangle!" This causes the robot fox to get out of your bags.
"Hit it!"
She nods, and places her claw on the portable record player like a needle. She then opens her maw as a loud record scratch is heard, causing all the singing ponies to stop their musical number, and even a few of the racers to swerve a bit. Acting as an amplified speaker, Mangle starts playing an awesome tune as you and Nightshade start bobbing your heads and rocking out.
Hearing the tune, all the singing ponies from before get into it's rhythm and start banging their heads as well.
Smirking, you put the petal to the metal as you and Nightshade start singing.
Dead I am the one, exterminating son
Slipping through the trees, strangling the breeze
You pass through another group, gassing them, and causing some to pull over.
Dead I am the sky, watching angels cry
While they slowly turn, conquering the worm
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
You then ride dangerously close to a corner, hitting top speed as you pass three carts at once.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
You finally catch up to the lead group, and see Rarity's Swan, which is causing problems. The wings can retract, stalling other cart racers from getting around, including you, Dash and Flash. Grunting, you look to Nightshade.
"Take the wheel honey!" you yell, and she does so.
You then yell, "WITNESS ME!!!" while pulling down your scarf and mask and spraying chrome cake paint onto you teeth, Still rocking out, many of the other racers yell back
"WITNESS!!!"
You then proceed to jump onto the swan with your vice grips.
"What are you doing?" Rarity screeches.
You don't answer as you continue singing
Dead I am the pool, spreading from the fool
Weak and what you need, nowhere as you bleed
Then before hers and Scootaloo's eyes, you disable one of the wings, causing it to fall off, several carts hit it, sending debris everywhere as the other racers cheer. While Rarity screeches in anguish, Nightshade pulls up for you to jump back, as Rainbow and Flash dart ahead.
Dead I am the rat, feast upon the cat
Tender is the fur,
You then make the leap, landing on the hood of the Dragula.
Dying as you purr!
Nightshade then guns it.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
You then hear another crash and see that Derpy has barreled right through Rarity's other swan wing.
"SHE'S DESTROYING MY CREATIVITY AGAIN!" Rarity yells.
Snickering at TackyMcStabFlakes misfortune you continue to sing.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
Nightshade shifts gears, and suddenly you are neck in neck with Flash and Dash, who have been chanting your song as well.
"Ride on Doof Warrior!" you call out. He chuckles but then his eyes are drawn to the side lines as he sings,
Do it baby, do it baby
You look to where he's looking and you see Cheerilee...dancing provocatively in her cheerleader outfit (Or rather just a normal cheerleader routine you perv). Either way, you sing along your agreement, causing Rainbow, Nightshade and Applebloom to roll their eyes.
Do it baby, do it baby
Pointing your glove up you let loose a torrent of flame into the air
Burn like an animal
With this flame distraction, Nightshade pulls ahead, giving you two a significant lead.
Your victory is all but achieved...but then.
BONK
"Ow!" you yell as something hard collides with your head, causing you to lose your balance and nearly fall off the side. Luckily, your hoof catches in one of the smoke stacks and you instead hang upside down precariously.
"Daddy!" Nightshade yells as she slows down trying to get you to get back up.
"What hit me?!" you ask as you struggle
Kersey's Comment
Fireheart 1945's Comment
To answer your question, Tank the flying Tortoise whizzes overhead.
"What?" you ask in confusion, when all of a sudden Rainbow and Flash rush past you.
"Good boy Tank!" Rainbow yells as the tortoise returns to her.
"...That clever B!%$# She had her own Blue Turtle Shell!"
"Tank's not Blue," Nightshade points out.
"Not the point, she still knocked us out of the lead. Gun it honey! I'll be fine!" you yell as you still dangle.
"Are you sure?"
"Do it!"
She complies, and you feel the cart lurch forward again. And even though it hurts, dangling from one leg, you see that you have caught back up to the two. They are neck in neck, taking up the whole road as Nightshade rides their bumper. You realize you need to get past them, and you have an idea.
BrownDog's Comment
TheRutherford's Comment
Dead I am the life, dig into the skin
Knuckle crack the bone, twenty one to win
You point your gloved hoof at the ground.
Dead I am the dog, hound of hell you cry
You ready Bucking Bronco.
Devil on your back,
You let it go and you and Nightshade launch over the top of the two speedsters who look up at you in awe.
I can never die!
As you land in front of them, you are jolted back up into sitting position as you start singing again.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
You then see that the finish line is in sight.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
Nightshade looks back at the competition and gloats,
"Don't worry. It's all downhill from there."
As both occupants of the "fast cart," as well as a few other spectators cringe at the bad pun, you look at her with a tear in your eye.
"That was beautiful....
Do it baby, do it baby
You encourage her so she says,
"I guess you could say their flashy dreams have been dashed..." more groans follow this, but you sing in enjoyment.
Do it baby, do it baby
Burn like an animal
You then notice up ahead that the intersection before the last stretch has Applejack's slow as heck cart making a beeline for it, so you hop onto the back of your cart.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
You spin a knob, and suddenly you both rocket forth as the Nitro hits the engine.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
With your added speed, you miss Applejack and Sweetie Belle by inches, and seconds later, you and Nightshade cross the finish line. Hitting the brakes and skidding in triumph, you both declare to the crowd.
Dig through the ditches
And burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
Dragula!
This causes all of the spectators to start whooping and hollering and clapping their hooves as you and Nightshade smile and bow to them...which lasts for about 2 seconds before multiple crashes are heard.
With shocked gasps from the crowd, you and Nightshade look behind you and see that Rainbow and Flash weren't so fortunate in missing Applejack, broadsiding her and causing all the other racers to barrel into them like a painful conga line.
"Oof, that looks painful," Nightshade winces. Luckily, it seems nopony is hurt as the adults and fillies all get out and look at the wreckage.
"Well, at least we got to race our way," Scootaloo shrugs.
"Yeah, we may not have finished, but it was fun," Applebloom agrees.
"Yeah, still it kind of stinks that our carts got smashed," Sweetie muses as Rarity weeps over her destroyed swan and Flash, Dash, and AJ scream to the skies.
Watching this scene unfold you can't help but snicker.
Kersey's Comment
"Sweet Luna, it feels weird seeing a disaster I didn't cause for once," you comment.
True. Although the decision to make the racetrack clover-shaped makes me more surprised there wasn't a crash sooner, the musical number and your barbaric racing maneuvers notwithstanding, Selena adds.
Yeah...Cheerilee kind of dropped the ball on that one. She must have been too focused trying to catch another stallions eye now that she's divorced.
"Well good thing nopony's too hurt," Nightshade says aloud.
"Eyup. And on the bright side we've won Nightshade!" you smirk under your scarf.
"Yeah, we did didn't we?!" she smiles.
"And not only that, our cart is the only one left standing, so It just goes to show how with grit and determination, we can make something sturdy that will last forever!"
As soon as you say that, your cart comedically falls apart on its own. Both you and Nightshade's eyes unfocus at that, before you finally lose it.
"Fury Dragula! WHHHHHYYY!!!" you yell to the heavens on your knees.
"Um, Dad. Did you use duct tape to hold all the insides together?" she asks as she points to the burnt and torn pieces of grey tape all over.
"Yes! Duct Tape fixes everything! It's supposed to have no equaaaallll!!!!" you yell and sob while Nightshade facehooves.
After that, you and Nightshade were in fact given the prizes for all three categories since your cart was the only one to make it over the finish line before falling apart. The prizes...Ribbons. Yup. You all went nuts and rode historic on the Fury Road over three ribbons. Somewhere in Valhalla you think the Immortan may be facehooving.
But anyway, the cart debris was all cleared up, Spoiled Rich half heartedly scolded you for ruining a thousand bits (her breath not smelling of booze surprisingly) and you begged Cheerilee to not dress so sultry while children were around, causing her to roll her eyes.
Later, you and Nightshade went to lunch with the CMC, their sisters, Flash and First Base. While the kids got to know the colt better, the elder siblings forlornly talked about how they still felt guilty about how they didn't listen to their little sisters earlier and nearly ruined the day for them. Since they all switched out partners, they didn't get that special sibling bond, and in the case of Rainbow, Fan bond that would have made the day the best.
You then suggested, "Why not just make it up to them? All of you do something together that will bring you closer as sisters."
They in turn thought that meant as soon as possible, also since this is last weekend Dash knows for certain she'll have off before she goes to Wonderbolts Academy. They also decide that this has to be done as a big group, so they decided that over the weekend they would hike with the girls to Rainbow Falls and camp. And somehow this meant that you and Nightshade had to go along.
Really it was a guilt trip. Mostly from the CMC who wanted Nightshade to come too. Nightshade even brought out the puppy dog eyes, so you relented. She did deserve it after bringing your scarf back to life and her sick driving moves.
As you begrudgingly agreed, the older mares added their two bits.
"Come on Baker, it will be loads of fun. Us together. Under the stars. All peaceful like," AJ says, but as she does her eyelids droop more and more.
"Yeah, plenty of awesome openess where ponies could have any amount of privacy they'd need," Rainbow adds causing you to sweat.
Luckily, you have a shield.
"Flash, You've got to come camping with us man! Bring First Base with you."
"What? But this weekend is the last I'll be here. I got to get back to Canterlot and train some more with the new systems and..."
"Flash, you've got to be a bro here. You CAN'T leave me alone with those three in the middle of the woods. They might try something even with the kids there," you said in a panic.
"Wait, Three? I though only AJ and Rainbow were stalking you?"
"Yeah, well McStabFlank might take this opportunity to finally get rid of me and dump me in a shallow grave for my crimes against fashion."
After a bit of guilt tripping on your behalf, you were able to convince him to come along on the trip, much to the dismay of Rainbow and Applejack. You and him even cemented the agreement with a toast of your pill bottles.
"Oh Luna help me this coming weekend," you grumbled.
The Weekend
It's early in the morning again, and you can't believe how much sleep you've been losing since coming back to Ponyville. When you were bounty hunting, noling got you up early! But now you stand with your usual saddle bags on, and you've even given Nightshade back her own now that you don't need them for hauling prisoners. You are at the edge of the White Tail Woods with all the others (sans Rarity and Sweetie Belle), ready to go hiking then camping.
As if I didn't get enough of this the last year, you grumble.
Eventually McStabFlank and Sweetie arrive and...
"What the buck is she doing with all that luggage?" you say aloud. They are hauling a wagon that is stacked twenty feet tall with designer bags.
"Good morning everypony. Are we ready to begin?" Rarity asks.
"Depends, are we all moving to the woods and I just wasn't notified?" you ask sarcastically.
Rolling her eyes, she starts walking the path, as do the rest of your group, with you sticking close to your bro and his little bro.
"A camping we shall go I guess," you grumble as you trot along.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I say we scorn Rarity for making her little sister pull all of their luggage.
"She's half your age!" You yell at Rarity.
"B-but she wanted to help." She said nervously. Sweetie Belle was just panting beside her barely listening.
"So helping means 'giving her the whole job' now? Damn, first you screw up your sister's kart and forced her to go with Applejack and now this?"
"..."
"Oh, Luna. I don't want to imagine treating my baby like a slave." And then you, with the help of Nightshade, take their luggage one by one and put it in Nightshade's inventory. You don't want to mix your stuff with theirs.
Once you and Nightshade were done, you turned your back from a shocked and hurt Rarity. "Cmon Sweetie, we're almost there!" You say happily.
"Okay!" Sweetie Belle and Nightshade say together, looking at each other with amused faces before laughing out loud.
You chuckle yourself and continue to trot down your path.
Somehow, the question made me think of the vacation of the first pokemon movie, not sure if it works
---------------------
As for the suggestion part, I don't really know how to put it... I tought about the CMC minus Nightshade having a crush in First base and trying to approach him making favors to him and catch his attention, a second optional thing I tought was for him to act like if he don't see it, and then in private go with dates with the three of them until they fight over him and Nightshade discover it making them join to teach first a lesson.
But I don't think it really fits so I'm not sure about what to put... Maybe in a future I edit this answer or put it in another answer.
Three minutes into the hike, Bugze gets annoyed at Rarity.
"Oh to Tartarus with this!" Bugze cries out.
He whips off his saddle bags, leaps on top of Rarity's mountain of luggage, and shoves his saddlebags on top of them, causing him to fall to the ground with the massive luggage stored safely within the backs. Bugze then casually puts his bags back on. The others minus Nightshade stare at him strangely.
"What?" Bugze asks.
After the first day of hiking, you all set up camp, and you think Rarity might have bought from the same place that made yours and Nightshade’s inventory, because a two story tall elaborate tent pops out, looking like something out of a renaissance fair.
“Really? This and Luna knows whatever else is what you were going to have Sweetie Belle haul?”
“Oh enough shaming already, I apologized!” she huffs and you just roll your eyes.
“Hey Baker, can you help me set up the tent?”
“Nope!” you call out, not wanting to be in any enclosed space with her.
“How about me? You got a sec?” Rainbow asks.
“Fraid not. Got my own tent…plus I think Flash needs more help than I do.”
“It says place pole A through clasp C,” First Base reads off the directions.
“Saying it again and again won’t make the tent any less bucked!” Flash growls, as he is somehow tangled up in a jumble of tent parts.
“Come on Flash, it’s like the tent we always set up in the yard.”
“Granddad was the one who set that up! I don’t know how to tent at all!” he whines.
“Oh what a drama queen,” Rarity muses causing you to look at her with a slack jaw.
“…Relatively speaking…” she titters.
Later, as the camp fire and cooking is getting set up, you and Flash go about cooking the Carrot Dogs over the fire.
You look up and see First Base looking a bit nervous amidst the girls conversations, plus their inquiries into how he got his cutie mark, and how if he can teach them baseball.
“You know,” Flash speaks up, “I know those three are all gung ho about getting their marks, but Nightshade doesn’t seem to harp on it so much.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s high on her priority list. The day she gets it though, I’m going to guess she won’t shut up about it,” you joke.
After a laugh, you then see First Base and the girls picking up sticks and Pine cones and playing a mock game.
“Hey Flash, I’ve always wondered something.”
“Yeah? What is it Baker?”
“Well…we all know how you have your little um…outbursts now and again right?”
He looks down at that, “Don’t remind me,” he grumbles as he takes a pill out and puts it in his mouth.
“Kind of hard to ignore. But yeah, you’re always going on and on about how you just picked it up from your grandpa…but you’re little brother is an earth pony so…how does that all work out?”
He sighs at that. “Look, Granddad was many things, not all of them good, but even still he loved First Base with all of his heart…and the more I think about it, the more I think that Granddad wasn’t so much a bigot as he was just a hater.”
“Huh?” you ask in confusion.
He sighs again, “Grandad had many marriages before my grandmother, and most of them left him for someone who wasn’t a Pegasus…or even a pony in some cases. It left him jaded. Add onto the fact that his own dad was an earth pony who left him and his mother, he had some anger. Oh sure he would say some pretty speciest things…but really he didn’t hold anypony above as a pillar. I swear, he would even say hateful things about other pegasi. And I guess little me kind of sponged up those words subconsciously.”
“So wait, are you saying your Grandpa was an equal opportunitist hater?” you say trying to piece together his point.
“Yeah…I mean, he never said anything like mud pony or any other derogatory terms whenever Base was born…I guess that’s something.”
You nod your head, “So do you have your outbursts under control?”
“For the most part, I’ve got calming meds, and now that I’m in Shining’s new project, I’m not really out in public anymore. The headaches have stopped and I haven’t said anything speciest in months. I think I’ve made huge progress.”
“Good on you buddy. Now all we have to do is get rid of those murderous voices and things will be great.”
He sighs at that, “I’m trying. Zecora says they’ve mistakenly bonded to me thinking I was someone else…I don’t get it…”
Later
The older mares decide to tell ghost stories, and Rainbow wants to tell the tale of the Olden Pony
“Really? The olden pony? Where’s my rusty horseshoe and all that?” you ask sarcastically.
“Yeah, it’s a classic,” she responds.
“Nah, you want a real scary story that will make even YOU afraid?”
She takes the bait, “Oh as if! I ain’t afraid of nothing!”
You smirk and then tell them all to settle down. There is a legend amongst the Changelings, that not even the ponies know.
“Let me tell you the tale of SlenderMane…”
Suffice to say, all of your audience is shaking a bit, and not from the cold. Even Flash, First Base and Nightshade.
I bet this will give them nightmares…
Later That Night
“Daddy, I think Scootaloo is having a nightmare,” Nightshade wakes you up in the middle of the night.
“Huh?”
“Scootaloo. I think your SlenderMane story is giving her a nightmare. I could feel it while I was asleep.”
“Then why are you telling me about it, can’t you go into other’s dreams?”
“I can…but when I tried, I sensed another presence, like mommy only different, and I got scared.”
You are about to respond, when Selena takes command of your voice,
“Do NOT go into her mind!” she cries out in alarm.
“What is it?” Nightshade asks.
“It seems Luna has been drawn to that crippled pegasus’s night terrors, do not venture in lest she see you too.”
The next day, Scootaloo is tired and looks sleep deprived, but you all continue hiking till it’s time to camp again. Sweetie Belle even sings the most annoying song in the world.
Camping. The only real one I can think of is Camp Lazlo and I was not really a fan of it. Well, that and the whole EQG: Legend of Everfree. (The one case where Flash lost his title of waifu stealer to the creepy camp counselor)
When you first set up camp. As it turns out, with enough concentration, you can start fires with your mind...powered through your horn. (Take that Spike! Why did I just think that?) With that done, you all decide to relax and eat marshmallows roasted over the fire. For some reason when you said that Rarity blushed, not that you noticed with your back turned rummaging through your saddlebags, but Rainbow and Applejack sure did and are now glaring at you, again not that you can see them. When you turn around, their glares turn sheepish as they see you holding a large bag of marshmallows.
Bugze: "Um, did I miss something?"
Flash: "Don't worry about it. Do we have skewers or are we going to use sticks from the woods?"
Nightshade: "I have the skewers in here. Daddy, don't forget the chocolate and graham crackers."
Bugze: "On it."
After Rainbow Dash's "scary story"
You and Nightshade look around to see everyone but Flash quivering , the young foals clutching to their siblings (and idol).
Nightshade: "That is not really that scary. Daddy and I saw worse when we had to leave Ponyville."
Flash (Pointing to AJ and Rarity): "Not to mention, what we saw in the Crystal Empire was far worse than that."
You cringe at that along with the everyone else who was there before you pitch in.
Bugze: "Plus I heard from Crimson Vengeance some of what he went through defeating the Crimson Knights. The two in the Asylum was a particularly disturbing account."
Rainbow crosses her forelegs and pouts: "Well then BST, why don't you tell us a scary story."
Bugze: "Like which one? I know quite a few and I really don't want to traumatize any of the younger ones."
Applebloom: "How about the zombie fight in Sunny Town? Ya know when you saved me from the zombies, and helped to set Ruby's soul free?"
You and everyone else stares at her in shock.
Applebloom: "Whoops Ah was supposed to keep that quiet huh? Sorry Nightshade."
Applejack: "What do ya mean when he saved you from this Sunny Town?"
Flash: "There is no such place! The last records of any place even similar to that was aver a thousand years ago?"
Bugze: "Well, I guess that secret is out now. I will tell you that story on one condition. I get to tone down some of the violence, and there was a lot of violence, and none of you can repeat what you hear to the others. I do not want to hear of Twilight trying to find that cursed place and accidentally resurrecting the zombies. And I want a Pinkie Promise out of all of you deal?"
After a bit of begrudging murmuring, everyone agrees and performs a Pinkie Promise.
Bugze: "Ok, so according to Zecora, this actually happened shortly after the Crystal Empire's return. For whatever reason, Nightshade and I found ourselves in the Everfree Forest...."
One Abridged, Less Graphic, Less Gorey, Explanation Later
Bugze: "So we buried Ruby's remains where her spirit thanked us for freeing her and potentially the zombies' souls. I took Applebloom to Zecora's hut and asked Zecora to return her home and to keep our involvement a secret, since I did not want anypony to catch wind of us being nearby. As we left, I could only hope that one day we would be able to return."
You look around the campfire to see everyone is looking scared except you, Nightshade, and Applebloom, who both helped explain some parts of the story, such as why Appleblom was there and Ruby's part in it.
Flash: "That is quite a story. I don't think I really want to go any further into the forest than Zecora's hut again if stuff like that haunt there...at least not without a platoon of guards."
Sweetiebelle: "So is that Pyramid Head guy still out there?"
Bugze: "Perhaps, but since he only goes after evil peoples like the zombies in Sunny Town, I think you should be safe."
First Base: "I can't believe you really fought Pyramid Head with a Chainsaw and lived! He is like impossible to beat in all the games I've played."
Bugze: "Well, I would not really call it fighting. Any damage I caused him regenerated really quickly, all I did was stall him until we could escape."
This whole time Scootaloo has been really quiet and pale, shaking like a leaf in the wind. At this point, you declare:
Bugze: "Well, this has been fun and all, but I think it's time to turn in for the night. We still need to get to Rainbow Falls tomorrow."
With that, you all turn into your respective tents. You are about to sleep when you hear the worst sound to ever grace your ears. You run out of the tent about the same time Flash does. Nightshade and First Base poke their heads out looking spooked. Quietly you and Flash walk to each other and whisper:
Bugze: "What the Buck is that?"
Flash: "I have no idea, but it seems to be comming from Rainbow and Scootaloo's tent. Let's see what it is and if it is dangerous, we can take it down."
Bugze: "Sounds like a plan." Not a good plan, but a plan.
You two poke your heads in to see Scootaloo wide-eyed and tense until she realizes that it is you two. As she starts to get up, you hear the unholy sound coming from Rainbow Dash's Sleeping bag. She rolls over in her sleep and unleashes another deafening whinny. You two look at her then each other before looking at Scoots, who has grabbed her stuff and she nods. When you two back out of the tent enterance, Scoots comes out and asks:
Scoots: "Any chance I can sleep with Nightshade? No offence to Rainbow Dash, but I doubt I could get any sleep with that in my ear all night."
Bugze: "No problem. I'm sure she'd love that. And I'm sure we can get Rarity to make us some form of earplugs tomorrow."
The Next Morning
After you have all woken up and broken down your camping equipment, you start your journey to Rainbow Fall again. Rainbow decides that she will take point and lead the way. You agree and as she zooms ahead, you and Flash fall back to walk beside Rarity and Applejack.
Bugze: "So how did you two sleep?"
Applejack: "Like a stone. How about Y'all?"
Rarity: "Well it was not nearly as soft as my bed back home, but I do feel well rested. Why? *She looks at you, flash, First Base, Nightshade, and Scootaloo* Oh Darlings! Did you get any sleep at all?"
Flash: "Not really."
Nightshade: "Rainbow snores like a wild animal. How did you not hear that infernal noise?"
At this Rarity and Applejack look at each other, towards Rainbow Dash, then back at each other before smirking.
Applejack: "Shoot sugar-cubes, Ah forgot to tell you she snores like a demon from Tartarus didn't Ah? *mumbles: Should have told him that sooner. He'd be mine already.* We got earplugs for us and our sisters. We brought extra for y'all but I forgot to give them to ya after that scary story last night. *She blushes and brings a foreleg to the back of her head* Sorry about that."
After you secure a pair for you, Nightshade, and Scoots, you continue down the trail. You realize that you have not "spoken" to Cadence in a while. Maybe tonight you can write a letter to her. Just because you caught the Knights doesn't mean that you don't have to talk to your first real friend.
I would have said Total Drama Island, but;
A. Sensual references (despite being on daytime Cartoon Network)
B. Kind of like the Survivor show rather than pure camping.
Also, while camping, this happens, only between Bugze and Nightshade;
In the Library, after the adventure, you (Bugze) are hit in the head by the 'Elements of Harmony: a Refrence Guide,' knocking you out. When you wake up, you find yourself naked (GASP! Oh, wait, naked is the norm...) in the Everfree, without Nightshade, and you can't hear Selene or Sombra. Not only that, your scar is gone. You approach Ponyville (stealthily, like a box!), and are shocked to discover the Doctor is there, but not a Time Lord (he doesn't respond to your hidden cries of 'Exterminate!'), there isn't a mention of the Hooded Offender, Diamond Tiara is extremely bullying, and the newspaper fills you with a nameless dread ('My Little Humans: Sapiens Boys' is coming out!). Then you see the date: it is the day you desired to become a hero in the first place! Was that all a vision of the future? Was it a fever dream (there were some suspicious mushrooms where you woke up...)? Are you in a coma? Or is something sinister in play? One thing is for sure: "Buck You, Lady Luck!"
Answer: Ernest Goes to Camp.
You never thought it would come down to this, but after several failed attempts to tell a scarier story than Rainbow Dash, you've had enough.
Selena?
Yes, my little bug?
You might wan't to cover your ears for this one.
You then hear her start to cry out in laughter.
Selena?
Haha... Yes... haha...
This story is called: The Nightmare
Haha, of course it i-
Silence.
Selena?
...Bugze, you don't possibly mean-
Desperate times calls for desperate messures.
...Just... just be careful about what you say.
You smirk, know this will be great. Oh, I will.
"In the end, there was nothing left... Princess Cadence was all alone. No pony left for her to love, care for, and even speak to..." You look around to see everyone, excluding your brave badflank daughter of course, giving you a horrified look. "That's the end of the story guys... Good luck sleeping." You say evily.
7897121
After another day that Scootaloo seems that did not sleep, Nightshade look to the sleeping Scootaloo. She is tempted to enter in her dream to help but at the same time the warning of her mother is in her head.
"I wonder if it's really Princess Luna, if it's her, she is not doing her job" Mutter Nightshade
Just then Scootaloo wake up again from a nightmare
"Slendermare! No!" Shout Scootaloo as she wake up
Scootaloo look around, just to notice Nightshade looking at her
"Ummm, I'm not scared, of course not, I'm not a crybaby" Say Scootaloo
"Umm... Yes, of course" Nod Nightshade
As the night continue, Nightshade decides to do it.
"Whatever, if Luna is not doing her job, I will help Scootaloo... But first I need to make her sleep" Comment Nightshade
"Did you say anything?" Ask Scootaloo
"No, nothing" Nightshade shock the head and try to remember the lesson of a sleeping spell.
Flashback
"Today Nightshade, I will teach you how to make somepony sleep, it's very simple you just need..." Twilight begin to say when she is interrupted by Spike with a scroll
"Message from the Princess!" Shout Spike
"What? Another emergency? Should I take the girls?" Ask Twilight surprised as she read the message.
"My dear student, me and Luna need your help for a emergency problem as I can't open my jar of prickles Signed: Princess Trollestia" Read Twilight aloud
"Emergency! Spike I will be with the girls in Canterlot, I leave you to watch the library, I'm sorry Nightshade but we will continue the lesson in another moment" Shout Twilight as she leave running
Spike look to Nightshade as they look to each other.
"So... How much until she see is a joke and not a true message from Princess Celestia?" Ask Spike
"I think in the middle of the train after she tell the others" Say Nightshade
"I think until she go in front of Princess" Say Spike
"My bet is that Celly is going to let her believe it was a true emergency just to not make her sad" Say a voice as suddenly the scroll transform in Discord
Nightshade just rolled the eyes, after her adventures with her daddy and time in Ponyville, she was not really scared of Discord.
"Deal" Nod Nightshade
Flashback End
"Okay... Plan B" Say Nightshade as her horn light and she hit the back of Scootaloo head with a stone, knocking her.
"I'm sorry Scootaloo" Mutter Nightsade as she get ready to enter in the dream
Cannon dream follow until near the end as Nightshade watch Luna and Scootaloo, after that, when they go away, Nightshade feel something pull her as if trying to take her but she manage to go away and wake up.
Meanwhile Luna also wake up.
"I know there was something there... Not sure who could be traveling the dreams but whoever it is... I will catch you..." Groan Luna
"Luna, just go to sleep" Say the voice of Celestia
"Yes sister" Answer and try to sleep again.
---------------------
The answer to the question is the Crystal Lake.
Some parents and kids get along, while some don't and I think its time Selina and Luna meet to make this family complete.
You pant in exhaustion from scaring away the darkness that tried to swallow your daughter, but you now see something you never thought you would.
"Woah!" You say in amazement.
You see both Selina and Luna comforting a terrified Nightshade.
"This has to be a dream?" you say in disbelief.
Flashback
Earlier you were told by Selina that Nightshade went into the dream realm to help her friend, with the nightmares.
"I thought I told you she was not to enter the dream realm.!" Selina yells in your head.
"Well sorry! I was busy being seduced by three mares who are trying really hard to get me to sleep with them, and hiding from them takes a lot of time to do." You snap back.
You finally stop in a cave and decide to rest. You fall asleep into the dream realm where Selina is waiting for you, and Sombra is just watching with a smile on his face.
"Do you know where she is?" You ask.
POV Change: Nightshade
You and Scootaloo are running as fast as you can, but that scary power keeps getting closer and closer to you.
"Scoots you need to wake up, hurry!" You say.
"I can't, something won't let me." She panics.
We both are out of breath and are trapped in by some wall of fog we can't get through.
"What's going on. What's coming for us!" Scoots scared.
You feel the presence close, and shadow figures come forth from nowhere. They continue to close in when you hear some one familiar shout.
"Halt! Thou shalt not have them." Luna yells in the royal canterlot voice.
Luna uses her magic to blast the figures away and stands infront of us.
"Whatever you are, you will not have these young ones, this is my realm and I will protect them." Luna glares where the evil presence was.
The presence vanishes and you breath a sigh of relief. Luna turns around and comforts us.
"Are you two ok, did that thing harm you?" she asks
"No were fine princess Luna, but I'm still afraid of nightmares." Scootaloo says
"Something very scary tried to grab me, and I don't know what it is?" You say.
"Don't worry my little fillies I will protect you from danger." Luna smiles.
You can't help but smile, because you feel safe with Luna around, just like when mommy is with her.
"Nightshade!" You look and see daddy and mommy.
"Mommy! Daddy!" You yell happily, and run to your parents.
POV change: Bugze
You hug your daughter tight, in embrace glad she is safe, but then you notice that princess Luna is here to and is glaring in your direction, you turn your head to Selina who has the same glare looking at Luna. You can't help but think about what is about to happen.
"Oh no." You thought.
"What are you doing here!" Luna and Selina yell at each other.
Best chapter ever!! 10/10