//------------------------------// // Episode 14: Momma Bear Comes Out // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// The dead of night in Ponyville. For most, it was a time to rest and dream, with Princess Luna watching over them. But two ponies had other plans that night. Sparky and Misty popped out of a bush that was directly behind their target’s current residence. They smiled evilly. “Hehehe. The brat thinks he’s safe in there.” “I think it’s time we proved him WRONG!” They lit their horns, touched them together, aimed at the house, and shot a beam that collided with the dual layer magical barrier put up by Twilight and Sparkler. The ground also lit up due to the multitude of other defense spells put in place. After a solid minute, the shield shattered, and down went all other defenses. Sparky smirked. “And THAT’S why we’re master defense breakers.” Misty nodded. “Now let’s pay that brat a visit.” ”Mom!” Kicker cried out as he ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. Sparkler saw him coming and smiled as she sat and opened her forelegs to catch Kicker in a loving embrace. “Hey there kiddo! Kicker looked up to Sparkler and beamed. “Did you see how fast I was going? I was cruising down the path!” Sparkler nodded. “I saw sweetie. It was amazing! You did a good job building that cart.” Kicker nodded. “Only because you helped me. Thanks mom!” ”Anytime son.” Kicker smiled as he basked in the moment. Being here with his mother. At that moment, he heard laughing and turned to see two ponies that he DIDN’T want to see. Sparky and Misty. Sparky chuckled. “Well. Aren’t you just a little momma’s boy. It’d be a shame if something happened! Kicker suddenly felt Sparkler’s hooves leave him and he turned to see a truly terrifying sight. He saw Sparkler laying on the ground, motionless. He gasped. “Mom!” He rushed to Sparkler and tried to get her to get up. “Mom! Wake up!” Nothing happened, tears started rolling down Kicker’s eyes. “Mom?” He whimpered. He heard chuckling and turned to see Sparky and Misty with their horns glowing. “That Alicorn couldn’t protect you you brat. And now you pay for running!” Kicker saw them aim their horns at him and he trembled in fear. He got on the ground and covered his head with his hooves. “No! Please! Don’t do this! Some pony help!” ”Fear not My Little Pony. For this is only a dream.” Kicker heard the voice, and saw the scene change, now instead of Sparky and Misty aiming to strike him down in front of a motionless Sparkler, it was...actually the scene didn’t change that much, Sparky and Misty just disappeared along with dead Sparkler. Kicker looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. He turned his head to see a tall dark blue Alicorn standing beside him. He jumped and started backing away. “W-who are you?” The Alicorn offered him a warm smile. “Fear not little one. I assure you I am a friend. You may call me Luna.” Kicker gulped and nodded. “D-did you make them go away?” Luna nodded. “‘Tis my duty to watch over Equestria in the realm of dreams and assist when they have nightmares.” Kicker nodded. “So...this was a nightmare...it felt so real.” Luna nodded. “Indeed. Nightmares can often reflect our greatest fears, and manifest themselves into very realistic scenarios.” Kicker shivered. “I’m just glad it was only a nightmare...rather than reality...” Luna smiled and walked up to him. Getting down on her haunches to be more level with him. “She means something special to you doesn’t she. Kicker nodded. “She took me in after I got away from...them. She gave me shelter, food, friends...she’s everything I lost when...” Kicker trailed off. Luna saw his eyes starting to water and she reached out to pull him into a comforting embrace. “Fear not young Thunder Kicker. Sparkler is not going anywhere. She cares about you just as much as you care about her. Kicker looked up at Luna. “Really?” Luna nodded. “She cares about you very much. To the point where she is— At that moment, the ground began shaking and the scene around them started to shatter. Kicker pressed against Luna in fear. “W-what’s happening?!” Luna frowned and stood up. “You are waking up. Abruptly.” Kicker gulped. “W-why? Luna what—“ That was as far as he got before Luna suddenly vanished and he was suddenly surrounded by a bright light. Kicker’s eyes snapped open, and he immediately felt something heavy pressing against his small body. He also felt something pressed against his mouth. A hoof?! He glanced upward, and saw the same two ponies from his nightmare, SPARKY AND MISTY! They were here! He immediately trembled in fear and started squirming and screaming as Misty smirked. “Hello there you little runt! Miss us?” She whispered. “Mmmmmph!” Kicker screamed and squirmed, desperately trying to alert Sparkler. Sparky, who was the one pinning him down, just giggled. “Oh, she won’t be coming to help you. And now it’s time to go home.” He got off Kicker, but Misty quickly immobilized him in her magic and also used it to keep his mouth shut. That didn’t stop him from trying to get out as tears started falling. Misty just smirked. “Oh don’t worry. It won’t hurt a bit...it’ll hurt A LOT.” “Hmmmmlph!” Kicker trembled as he floated helplessly in Misty’s grip, fearing what was coming. Back in the dream realm, Sparkler was flying in the air, with Kicker on her back, Flappy on one side, and Twilight on the other. Flappy smiled as he glanced at Kicker. “Squawk! Hey Kick, wanna see something cool? Squawk!” Kicker nodded. “Yeah!” Flappy nodded and picked up speed. He collided with a cloud and started weaving in and out. Eventually, Flappy came out of the cloud. Leaving behind a cloud sculpture of what kicker recognized was the four of them. He smiled. “Awesome! Twilight giggled. “It’s our little family.” Kicker nodded. “The best family ever! I love you guys!” Sparkler smiled. “Aww! We love you too!” ”Sparkler! You must wake up!” Sparkler saw Flappy, Twilight, and Kicker disappear. She turned to see Luna appear from a bright rectangular light. Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “Luna? What are you doing here? And why do I need to wake up?” ”I fear that the foal you recently took in, Thunder Kicker, is in trouble.” Luna replied. Sparkler’s eyes widened. “What?! What happened?” Luna glanced back to the rectangle. “I was paying him a visit in his dreams, when suddenly, he was woken up and I was forced out. I had stopped his nightmare so he should not have woken up from that.” Sparkler’s blood ran cold as her mind raced with what could’ve happened. She near immediately came to a conclusion. “Sparky and Misty...” She whispered. It HAD to be them! “Luna, I’m sorry to have to ask this but could you visit Ponyville in the waking world? And bring guards?” Luna nodded. “My sister has clued me in on the current investigation surrounding Thunder Kicker. I shall be there in no time flat.” Sparkler nodded. “See ya soon.” Sparkler’s eyes snapped open and she bolted upright. She didn’t bother trying to be quiet as she bolted out of bed, out of her room, and went to open Kicker’s door, but she found it was locked. “Consarnit!” She charged up her horn and blasted the door to pieces. She rushed in and much to her horror, Kicker was GONE! “No.” Her breathing quickened as she lit her horn again. After a few seconds, she dimmed it and grumbled. “They actually broke mine and Twilight’s defenses!” She rushed out and re entered her room. “Flappy! Get up! We got a SERIOUS problem!” Flappy was stirred awake and he rubbed his eyes with his wings. “Squeak! Sparkler. What’s going on? Squeak!” “Kicker’s gone! Sparky and Misty got him!” Sparkler frantically shouted. Flappy’s eyes snapped wide open and any remaining drowsiness left him. “Squawk! WHAT?! Squawk!” Sparkler nodded. “They broke through the defenses me and Twilight raised and took him!” Flappy nodded and launched into the air. “Squawk! You can still track him right? Squawk!” Sparkler nodded. “Of course I can! Flappy, get Nosey, River, and Twilight and tell them Kicker’s been foalnapped. By then I’ll have launched a flare into the sky.” Flappy nodded as he watched Sparkler throw open the window. “Squawk! And what are you gonna do? Squawk!” Sparkler opened her wings and turned back to look at Flappy. And for the first time in his life, he saw actual murder in her eyes. “I’m gonna save my son!” She declared as she rocketed out the window. Flappy watched her go and shivered. Holy Tartarus. That’s a terrifying sight. He nodded and took off through the window and set course for the castle. Sparky and Misty. You are SO in for it. He giggled at the thought. Knowing that nothing was scarier than a momma bear protecting her cub. To be continued...