Through the Eyes of Nightmare

by Mister E-Nonymous

Chapter 23

Moonlight and Apple Bloom were picked on at Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera. Moonlight being called a freak and her and Apple Bloom being called Blank Flanks. But then the teasing stopped when two more fillies came to the aid of Moonlight and Apple Bloom. It was the pegasus filly that Moonlight met when she was losing her mind, Scootaloo, and the filly that Moonlight met at the playground on her first day of the new school, Sweetie Belle. Then the four of them made a club of their own to find their special talents, calling themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

It had been a couple days since then, and Twilight was reading Moonlight a bedtime story. The name of the story was one of Twilight's favorite stories when she was a filly, 'Nyx of the Night'.

"'And with that final buck, the wolves were driven from the town,'" Twilight read as Moonlight was getting comfortable. "'And the ponies rejoiced. They had once again been saved by the only mare among them brave enough to stay out at night, the village's own black-coated guardian: Nyx of the Night. The end.'" Twilight then looked down at Moonlight, who smiled up at Twilight.

"That was a good story, Mom," Moonlight said.

"It was actually my favorite story when I was around your age," Twilight said. She then kissed Moonlight's forehead.

"Mom?" Moonlight asked. "Sweetie Belle is hosting a sleepover at Rarity's, tomorrow. I'm not sure if it's okay if I should..."

"Hey, I think you should have fun with your friends," Twilight said. "Plus, I'm actually going to be getting some more of my favorite tea from Zecora tomorrow, so I think it'll be fine."

"I just hope I don't lose my mind," Moonlight said. "You know, just like that one day."

"You're a lot more stronger than that, Moonlight," Twilight said. "Plus, Princess Luna is making sure that that won't happen. You'll be fine."

"Okay," Moonlight said before yawning. She then fell asleep.

"Good night, Moonlight," Twilight said before going to her own bed. She then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The next day, Moonlight got ready for her first sleepover in Equestria. But, it's going to be a lot different due to the fact that it's an all girls sleepover, and since she used to be a human boy, it's gonna be really awkward for her. Scootaloo came riding in on her scooter with a wheelbarrow attached to it, and Apple Bloom riding inside.

Moonlight got in, and then was handed another helmet. Then Scootaloo buzzed her wings, and headed over to Carousel Boutique. When they arrived there, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushed into the room where Sweetie Belle, which happens to be Rarity's bedroom. Which Fluttershy was also in.

"Hi, Fluttershy! Hi, Rarity!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said, rushing in, heading towards Sweetie Belle. Moonlight slowly walked in, nervous about this sleepover.

"Hello, uh, girls..." Rarity said to the fillies.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said when they reached Sweetie Belle.

"Scootaloo! Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly. She then looked over at Moonlight and stated, "Hey, Moonlight!"

"Hey, Sweetie Belle," Moonlight said, not as excited as the other two.

"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yup! Cutie mark planning session is a go!" Sweetie Belle stated.

"Tonight is the night we each try to find our own special talent," Apple Bloom said.

"Even if it takes us all night!" Scootaloo stated.

"Ah'm ready! You ready?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Very ready!" Scootaloo replied.

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Rarity's! Yay!" the three fillies shouted. Moonlight got nervous.

"And... look what I made us!" Sweetie Belle said before bringing out a red cape with a logo on it. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were astonished by the capes.

Moonlight then took a look under the cape and asked, "Is that a golden fabric?"

"Golden what?!" Rarity asked, shocked. She then used her magic to lift the cape and saw the fabric on the inside of the cape. She then gasped and said, "Sweetie Belle! What have you done? That was the last of the gold silk! Oh, now I'll have to make more! Oh, I hope I can make more. I'm gonna have to work all night! Which means..." She then looked at all four fillies. "Sorry, girls, I'm afraid the Crusaders sleepover is cancelled."

"What?!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

"I just won't have any time to watch you if I want to get these robes delivered on time," Rarity said.

"But..." Sweetie Belle tried to protest.

"No buts this time," Rarity said. "I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. It's just the way it has to be."

"Awwww..." the three crusaders said, lowering their heads.

"I, uh, I suppose I could take them for the night," Fluttershy suggested, which made the Crusaders smile at her.

Rarity looked over at Fluttershy and said, "I couldn't ask you to do that." That made the Crusaders frown.

"Oh, it's no problem at all," Fluttershy said. Which made them go back to happy faces.

"Have you met my sister and her friends?" Rarity asked. "A problem is all it would be." Then the Crusaders went back to sad faces. They kept switching emotions when the two mares kept insisting.

"Did I have a problem with Opal?" Fluttershy asked, giving an example. "You've seen how well I handle small creatures!"

"I suppose that's true... and I do have a lot of work to do..." Rarity said, nervously.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Fluttershy insisted.

"I assure you, they're quite a handful," Rarity said, trying to convince Fluttershy not to do it.

"These sweet little angels?" Fluttershy asked. The two of them looked at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who gave wide smiles and halos appeared over their heads. That made Moonlight confused.

"Well... all right," Rarity said, giving up.

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Fluttershy's cottage! Yay!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shouted. Then the three of them went out of the room, rushing past Moonlight.

"So cute," Fluttershy said with a smile. Then she remembered. "W-wait for me!" She then chased after the three fillies, grabbing Moonlight on the way.

Moonlight and the other Crusaders were laying in Fluttershy's bed. Fluttershy just went down when the four fillies closed their eyes. After she left, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo opened a single eye each to see if Fluttershy wasn't in the room. Then the three of them got up, making Moonlight open her eyes.

"Okay, so what kind of crusading do we do next?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"There's not much we can do from this room... unless we become Cutie Mark Crusader cottage cleaners," Apple Bloom said, looking around Fluttershy's bedroom.

"N-no, thanks," Sweetie Belle said.

"Well, we have to think of somethin'," Apple Bloom said, walking around the room. "We can't just waste this opportunity to find out what our special talents are." She then looked out the window and noticed some chicken tracks heading out of a part of Fluttershy's yard. "Hey, girls! Look! Some of the chickens may have escaped!"

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Moonlight looked out the window. Sweetie Belle then said, "Into the forest!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders chicken rescuers are go!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shouting in a whispering tone. Then they headed towards the door. Moonlight then got in front of them.

"No!" Moonlight shouted in a whispered tone.

"Moonlight!" Scootaloo quietly shouted. "What are you doing?!"

"We agreed to stay here for the night," Moonlight said. "Nothing too dangerous. Especially what Mom said."

"Oh, c'mon, Moonlight," Scootaloo shouted in a whispering tone. "This might be our chance of getting our Cutie Marks! We gotta go get that chicken."

"I'm not going out there," Moonlight whispered. "It's too dangerous. Even for someone our age."

"It's okay, Moonlight," Apple Bloom whispered. "Ya don't have ta come with us if ya don't want." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quietly went downstairs, Apple Bloom following.

Moonlight looked around, hoping that she wouldn't get in trouble. But then that emotion went away when she had to use the bathroom. Moonlight then opened the bathroom door and headed towards the toilet.

"Girls!" Fluttershy's voice came from outside the bathroom door.

"Fl-Fluttershy?!" Moonlight asked, nervously.

Fluttershy slammed open the bathroom door and said, "Moonlight!"

"Whoa! Little privacy!" Moonlight said, covering her private area.

"Sorry!" Fluttershy said, closing the door. Then she asked from behind the door, "Where are the other girls?"

"They saw some chicken foot prints coming from your yard and heading into the forest!" Moonlight said. "They thought it was a good idea... to..."

"The Everfree Forest?!" Fluttershy asked, shocked. "We gotta go in there and get them!"

Moonlight then finished and flushed the toilet. She then washed her hooves. She then thought of something as she headed out of the bathroom and said, "One day, we really gotta find out why we wash our hooves if we're gonna walk on them?"

Fluttershy thought about that and nodded. She then put Moonlight on her back and headed out of the cottage. She then said, "Those girls have really done it this time! They've really bitten off more than they can chew! Oh, just like me! I never should have offered to watch them." She then took a deep breath, and walked in, with Moonlight on her back.

Fluttershy, with Moonlight on her back, walked through the Everfree Forest, looking for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Moonlight was getting scared, but not as scared as Fluttershy. But then they noticed something.

"Mom?" Moonlight asked, looking towards what was in front of them.

"Oh, Twilight, it is you," Fluttershy said, walking up to it. "Thank goodness you're here. I need your help. The girls are out here somewhere, and I'm afraid that they're..." When they walked up to it, it was confirmed that it was Twilight. Too bad that Twilight was turned to stone. That made both Moonlight and Fluttershy gasp. "Oh! What's happened to you?"

"Mom?!" Moonlight said, jumping off of Fluttershy's back, running towards her stoned adoptive mother. "Mom! Mommy!" She tried to hug Twilight, but the statue fell on it's side. "What... what happened to her?"

"If Twilight was turned to stone, it must mean..." Fluttershy started explaining, but then she got worried. "Oh no, the girls!" She then looked back towards Moonlight. "Moonlight, you stay here. I'll be back."

"But, what if something's out here?" Moonlight asked.

"If you hear something that almost sounds like a chicken, close your eyes," Fluttershy said. "It's a cockatrice. It's what turns a living creature into stone just by looking into their gaze. If it's something else..." She then thought about it. She then asked, "Twilight has taught you how to make a barrier around yourself, didn't she?" Moonlight nodded. "Alright. You surround a barrier around you and Twilight until I get back with the girls."

Moonlight nodded, and then Fluttershy ran off, searching for the other Crusaders.

Moonlight waited for Fluttershy to come back while laying near Twilight's stone body. She had tears in the corners of her eyes. But then, she heard something. The sounds of her friends screaming.

Moonlight looked towards the noise and saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo running towards her, and they tackled her.

"Girls!" Moonlight said, recovering. "What are..." She then saw the expressions on their faces. But they weren't looking at Moonlight, they were looking at Twilight's stone body. They then screamed and started running around that area, then Fluttershy ran towards them.

"Girls, please. Girls— now listen to me, girls, I— please!" Fluttershy said, trying to calm the girls.

Just then, the sound of something squawking came to their attention, and a cockatrice came towards them.

"Girls! Behind me, now!" Fluttershy commanded, and the four fillies got behind Fluttershy. They were all scared. When Fluttershy looked back at the cockatrice, angry, and using the stare. "You should be ashamed of yourself. I have a mind to find your mother and tell her what you've been up to, young man." The cockatrice got scared, but then he tried using it's glare to turn her to stone, but it was working slowly. "Now you go over there, and turn Elizabeak and my friend Twilight back to normal, and don't ever let me catch you doing this again. Do you understand me?" The cockatrice got scared, and walked away, turning everything it turned to stone back to normal. Fluttershy looked towards the four fillies and asked, "Are you girls all right? I was so worried!"

"Yeah, fine!" Scootaloo said.

"Thanks to that stare of yours," Sweetie Belle said.

"You're like the queen of stares," said Scootaloo. "You're the..."

"Stare Master!" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shouted.

"We're sorry we snuck out of the house and into the forest," Sweetie Belle apologized.

"Yeah. We'll listen to you from now on," Apple Bloom added. "Even if Moonlight isn't okay with it."

"You kidding me?" Moonlight asked. "This place is as creepy as the Shu Swamp Nature Preserve at night. Miss Sheers hid that diamond that transported me here and made me this way." She motioned her hoof to make the others look at her body.

"We promise to listen," Scootaloo said.

"Oh, you do, do you?" Fluttershy playfully asked. "Well, you better, or I'll give you... the Stare!" She then used a fake stare towards the four fillies, making them giggle, with Fluttershy joining in.

"What... what happened?" came the voice of Twilight. The five of them looked towards Twilight, seeing her recover.

"Mom!" Moonlight said, running up to Twilight. She hugged Twilight tightly. "I almost thought you were gone."

"What? Gone? What do you...?" Twilight asked, confused of Moonlight's words.

Fluttershy walked up to Twilight and said, "You were turned to stone by a cockatrice."

"A cockatrice?!" Twilight asked, shocked. "Well, that explains why I'm a bit woozy." She then fainted.

Moonlight got worried, and then she looked back up at Fluttershy and asked, "Is that a side effect of being purified by a cockatrice's glare?"

"It'll pass," Fluttershy said. "I'll... carry her on my back and she'll be back to her normal self in the morning." She then looked at Moonlight and asked, "You mind levitating her onto my back?"

Twilight was having tea with Fluttershy, writing down a report to the princess. Moonlight stayed with her throughout the night to make sure she'll be alright.

"Well, I'll take Moonlight back home," Twilight said. "I'm sure that things will be alright from now on."

Rarity and Fluttershy nodded, and then Twilight and Moonlight walked away from the cottage.

Twilight looked down at Moonlight and said, "I'm sorry that I worried you last night, Moonlight. But being turned to stone by a cockatrice was not on my list of things to do yesterday."

"I know," Moonlight said. "It's just... after you were turned to stone, I almost thought you were... you know."

Twilight nodded and said, "I understand. It would've been a lot tougher for you. Since you already lost your birth parents. But, you're not going to lose me that easily. Now, how about we do some mother/daughter activities today? Just you and me?"

"Okay," Moonlight said, hugging her. Twilight smiled and hugged her back.

"TWILIGHT!"

The two of them were shocked to see Spike, who was riding on Stan's back, heading towards them.

"Spike? Stan?" Twilight asked.

"We were worried!" Spike said. "You didn't come home last night!"

"I was going to run out to follow your scent," Stan said, "but I missed all my naps during the day time yesterday."

"It's okay," Twilight said to the two of them. "I'll explain on the way home." Then the four of them headed on home. "It all started when I was on my way to Zecora's. When all of a sudden, Fluttershy was..."