“I suppose you’re right, Craig. A little vacation would do us well” Lauren spoke to her husband as they rode on the car to a campsite for a little break. They had just been sent on a break by Lauren’s boss. She had been seemingly tired lately and was lacking inspiration for a new story. He decided to allow them a week off so long as she comes back with inspiration.
“Glad you said that. I mean, Autumn seems pretty excited” he pointed to their daughter.
Their daughter was swinging her feet as she couldn’t contain herself for the thought of being outdoors. “Mom, dad, will there be bunnies and butterflies?”
Lauren smiled to her. “Yes, honey. There will be bunnies and butterflies”
“Yay!”
Both parents smiled from that; their daughter was just too cute. Right then, Lauren noticed something move from the corner of her eye. She could’ve sworn she saw something.
“Are you alright, Lauren?” Craig asked with worry.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I think I just keep seeing things”
“No wonder your boss let us off on a break”
“Well, it’s not really easy with directing a new movie. And the viewers are just getting too excited and on edge”
“They did seem too reactive when they heard about our daughter Autumn”
Lauren smiled at that. They soon made it to the campsite. It was like a lodge area, really. It was camp, but most necessities were already provided for. The host was very welcoming, although something was a bit off about the assistant. Tents looked pretty well done. Autumn immediately looked around, filled with glee as she was excited to go find flowers to make wreaths for her parents.
Lauren and Craig were placing their things in the tent. Lauren was already arranging the objects in the bags for when they needed it. At one point, she found something that caught her eye in the bag. It was a small, flat box. How did that got there? She opened it and found a familiar object: the necklace she was given after her trip to Wonderland.
Wonderland, she thought.
Wonderland. She wondered how that place was doing. She hadn’t been there for quite a while. How were her Children doing? Her fans? The OCs? Have they been doing well? How are Twilight and the others? Is Sunny Shores getting enough rest? Have Hazel and Hester been alright? Has Queen Faust returned?
“Lauren!” Craig called out, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Come on! Autumn’s getting anxious!”
“Coming, Craig!” she called back. She stole a glance at the necklace again. It was a gift from one of the Pegasisters, probably Hazel’s real-world counterpart. She smiled at it before putting it on. Wearing it, she went out to meet with her husband and daughter.
“Come on, Autumn. Let Daddy see!” Craig practically begged his daughter.
She shook her head mischievously. “Not until Mommy’s here”
Lauren went over to them. She noticed her daughter’s hands were cupped into an orb. Something was inside her folded hands. “What have you got there, sweetie?”
She opened her hands to reveal a small butterfly. It had brown wings and a pink tinge on the sides. It opened the wings a few times. “Pretty” she cooed.
The butterfly fluttered its wings and took to the air. It then fluttered infront of Lauren. She was confused as to why. Yet, somehow, there was something familiar about this butterfly. It then flew away. Lauren swore she saw a pink mist trail from behind it.
Things were getting really boring now. The ones in charge of the camp had called everyone, including Lauren and her family, to the Main Room. There was a huge seminar since they were new to the campsite. Just the usual things. Same old mumbo-jumbo. It was getting really boring. At one point, the children present had fallen asleep on their parents, among them was Autumn. Lauren could feel herself getting drowsy but also felt like she needed to use the restroom. She excused herself and went out.
This wasn’t going the way she hoped it would. It was supposed to help her find inspiration for the movie she was working on. Now, it was just making her bored. As soon as she got out of the stall, she remembered about making her movie and also the seventh and final season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Taking a seat down on a bench at the campsite, she thought over.
It worried her deeply about it. She knew about the time, but she was scared about it. She made several cartoons and movies over the years for every age to enjoy. But when she stopped on a certain cartoon, that cartoon seemed to move on and go to another person. They even recreate them into something off and even change their language and sometimes, personality.
She remembered what happened to Powerpuff Girls. They were remade, and then turned into something else. The villains barely made any sense anymore. Matter of fact, who made a pillow the villain? But then, if they don’t live on, they go extinct and forgotten. Foster’s Home of Imaginary Friends was never really heard or spoken about in a long time since the last episode. Barely anyone could even remember Coco.
But My Little Pony, oh they were a prize to be held. When she first designed them from her old toys, she thought that only little children would love them. She was surprised when even adults would love them. It was disturbing at first, but she soon got used to it and grew to be fond of them all. The fans just adored her for it. They made their own versions and several websites dedicated to it, and several Fanfictions and crossovers. Before her episode was even finished, one would tell the other, and the another, and then another, until all knew. Haters were no match to for the love of her Fans. And because they had children to tell about it, she was well-assured that this one will live on in her name. And one day soon, her daughter, Autumn’s.
It saddened her deeply when she was running out of ideas for even her next movie. She was worried about her fans the most. She wondered how they would feel once the last episode was over. She met her fans once in Wonderland, but she knew she couldn’t live forever. Wonderland, her friends, the OCs, her own Creations, who would look after the kingdom once she was gone? She could only hope for Autumn to follow in her footsteps, meet Twilight, and watch over them.
“Wonderland is my Kingdom. I am its Queen. But will Autumn accept becoming its Princess and Queen too when she’s grown?” Lauren sighed, putting her hands over her face to sulk. “What if she doesn’t? Without Wonderland, who will I be?”
Wonderland and she were one the moment she was crowned its Queen. But every kingdom needs an heir. Without one, it would fall apart. Her name was well-known because of her My Little Pony show. Without it, who will she be called?
“You’re Lauren Faust, and you always will be” a familiar soft voice replied.
Lauren flinched from that voice. Could it be? She looked up from her hands slightly to see a small butterfly on the flower infront of her. It was the same butterfly that Autumn caught and set free earlier. She recognized it.
“Hazel?”
________________________________________
Lauren walked with Hazel and Hester through the Gardens of Sites. Each tree that joined another to resemble a portal would take them to a Site of the Fandom world. Right now, they were looking for the Fimfiction one.
“Hey, Lauren, want to see a trick?” Hester asked.
“I don’t suppose why not” Lauren smiled that the Familiar. It was good to see them happy.
“Okay, Hazel, show her”
The young Pegasister smiled. “Now I’m human…” she then turned into a small butterfly. “Now I’m insect”
Lauren stifled a giggle from that. Hazel then flew infront of her to let Lauren see her form closer. She was brown with pink at the edges. She also noticed a pink mist flowing from her wherever she went. Finally, the Pegasister turned back to normal.
“Guess that left me a…flutter” Lauren joked, making her two companions laugh.
________________________________________
At that, the butterfly flew infront of Lauren, slightly ticking her nose with its wings. She smiled at it. When it backed up a bit, she could make out a pair of tired, hazel-nut colored eyes. The butterfly then flew a bit of a distance off, as though to lead Lauren.
“Hazel” she called to her as she followed her. An old friend would always be of help.
She had to follow her through the clearing of the camp and out into the forest around itself. She jumped around to follow her and tried to keep up. It was like Hazel really wanted to show her something important. She finally managed to see that she lead her to some old cave. She was aware Hazel loved animals, but she was scared of caves if heights were involved. Why she led her here she had yet to find out.
She went inside and looked around to find her friend. The cave was dark and musty. It was very hard to see. She could only rely on Hazel’s pink mist to help her find the way. She stepped soft and fast, in case any bats were present. Soon enough, she found another source of light that Hazel was directing her to.
There was a huge part in the cavern that was wide. It had several different stalagmites and stalactites that took the forms of several things. Some of them resembled animals but others looked like plants or structures. Finally, she was being guided to a certain form that resembled a door. Hazel’s butterfly form showed her to a part of it that resembled a doorknob. The knob’s key hole looked rather peculiar. It looked like…
Lauren looked at the necklace on her. It looked the same. Taking it gently, she put the locket to the hole, fiddled with it, and it soon unlocked.
“You’ve been gone too long, Lauren” Hazel spoke softly, she sounded like she was about to cry.
Lauren looked at the butterfly child. “Why? What’s wrong, Hazel?”
“Friends can’t be neglected. For now, you must hurry” she pointed a small insect leg to the door.
Lauren grasped at the handle, and was close to opening it.
“And mind your step”
Lauren tilted her head at that. She opened the door and took a step…not looking where. She only realized what the child meant when she began to fall.
Lauren screamed as she fell down. She fell before during the first time, but going down from the sky was way worse. She hoped help would come and save her before she reached the bottom.
“Sometimes sadness weighs out fear” Hazel sobbed out. Wait, when was she crying?
The adult dove forwards to try and grab hold of the crying Pegasister. She was a friend, and she couldn’t let her get hurt. She was scared of dying herself, but she didn’t want to risk a friend dying, let alone one who was still a child. It took a lot of effort, but she was finally able to grab a hold of her. She remembered how much the girl was afraid of heights so it may have been the cause. She held her closely to try and calm her down, but also to try and calm herself down.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the fall, and landed in a bed of flowers. Lauren was dizzy and felt like she were about to pass out. The last thing she heard was Hazel’s sobbing and some familiar voices calling her name.