//------------------------------//
// Episode 2: Setting Up Shop 
// Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Camp Little Hooves 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

It was a bright and Sunny day at Camp Little Hooves and while most of the kids were out and about playing, Melody and the occupants of both the Rabbit Hole and what Sunburst affectionately called, the Grizzly House, were in the Rabbit hole, Melody stood in front of a whiteboard. “Alright foals.” She said as she held up a marker in her magic. “Two months and 3 weeks. That is how long we have here to get each and every one of you a Cutie Mark.” She said as she used the marker to write CUTIE MARK IDEAS on the whiteboard. “Now, if anypony has any ideas. Feel free to speak up.” She told her friends and siblings, Refract, Midnight Knight, and Thunder Arrow being her newest friends. “No idea is too crazy.”

“Archery?” Thunder Arrow asked.

“Good one!” Melody responded as she drew a picture of an Arrow on the board.

“Flying!” Sky called out.

“Possible.” Melody said. She drew Rainbow’s cutie mark on the board.

“Sleuthing!” Pearl said. “I always wanted to be a detective.”

“Might need to find a mystery to solve around here but sure!” Melody responded as a magnifying glass was drawn.

“Hey Melody?” Asked Refract.

“What is it Refract?” Melody asked.

“Don’t you think this Cabin is a bit too small for 16 ponies to occupy?” Refract asked.

“What? Two ponies to a bunk bed mattress, it—“ Melody was cut off when everypony heard creaking. They glanced around and saw a bunk bed wobbling. While Crystal, Pearl, Lucky and Sky quickly got off. Melody scratched her head. “Hm. Yeah maybe you have a point Refract.” She admitted.

“You know what we need?” Midnight Knight asked. “We need a dedicated Base of Operations.”

“Yeah!” Lucky said. “A place where we can go and think up ideas and try to get Cutie Marks!”

“And not have to worry about breaking furniture.” Pearl added.

Melody nodded. “Yeah. We should try to find a clubhouse like the CMC. Hm. I wonder if Uncle Shiny knows of any places we can use.” She said.

“Let’s go find and ask him!” Lucky responded.





“You’re doing great guys! Keep it up!” Shining called up to the rock climbing campers, which he was supervising to make sure there were no accidents.

“Hey Uncle Shiny!” He heard his niece Melody call.

He turned and saw Melody and her friend Lucky racing up to him. “Oh, hey there Melody, Lucky, here for rock climbing?” He asked.

“Nah. We were just wondering. Is there anywhere around here that we could turn into a Clubhouse? You know like the CMC in Ponyville have?” Melody asked.

Shining raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking for a clubhouse for?” He asked.

“The cabins are too small and we want a place where we can try to earn Cutie Marks.” Lucky explained.

“Yeah. And me being a Cutie Mark Crusader, it’s my job to help foals find their special talents.” Melody explained.

“Yeah. I have heard of that group.” Shining responded. “And I also heard about some of the insane things those fillies tried to do to get their Cutie Marks.” He added.

Melody laughed, immediately getting what her uncle was saying. “Yeah. They told me. Don’t worry Shining, we won’t try anything dangerous.” She assured him.

Shining nodded. “Hm…well, I know one spot.” He said. He turned to Sunburst, who was helping him supervise. “Hey Sunburst.” He called.

“What is it Shining?” Sunburst asked.

“You remember that one spot at the bank of the lake? Near the old dock?” Shining asked.

“Are you talking about that old abandoned cabin?” Sunburst asked. “Yeah I remember. You me NightMare and Aqua would go there all the time.” He explained. “Cadence too.”

“Ooh. Cool!” Lucky said.

“Is it bigger than the cabins here?” Melody asked.

“Relatively. Not TOO much bigger but it should be good for a clubhouse.” Shining explained. “Wanna show them to the FoalCave?” He asked Sunburst.

Sunburst smiled. “Come on kids.” He told Melody and Lucky.

Melody and Lucky smiled and followed Sunburst. Excited to see the FoalCave.

Meanwhile from afar, Refract watched Sunburst lead Melody and Lucky away. He smiled as he deactivated his superhearing. “Can’t wait to see what this Foalcave is.” He commented to himself. He turned his head and saw Aqua helping a group of foals on the lake. A plan formed in his mind as he discreetly went after the three.





“And here we are! The FoalCave!” Sunburst told Melody and Lucky. The three of them were standing outside a clearly abandoned and rundown cabin not even a two minute walk from the main camp.

Lucky and Melody looked at the Cabin. “Wow.” Melody responded.

“I can see why you say it’s abandoned.” Lucky said.

Indeed, the cabin had seen better days. The windows were boarded up, there were cracks in the roof, honestly? It looked like a haunted house more than anything.

“Yeah. I know it’s not in the best shape, but it’s completely safe.” Sunburst responded. “This is exactly how it looked when your aunts, uncle, Aqua and I used it.” Sunburst said.

“Well, if you’re sure Sunburst.” Lucky said as she trotted up the stairs on the porch. “Come on Melody! Let’s take a look, I think we can fix this up.” She said.

Melody smiled and followed her friend. From afar, Refract was studying the cabin with glowing eyes. “Empty aside from a few tables, a basement, attic, yeah. Quite a few places for an ambush to come from.” He said to himself. He raised his hoof and it opened and projected a holographic list on the ground. “To do list, item 4, scout out structure interior to make sure it’s not harboring Silver Mane.” He said. He was no fool, he knew that Silver Mane and his lackeys could very well be hiding in that cabin. his words were added to the list being projected, and once it was done, the hologram disappeared and his hoof closed up again. “Faust I hate that my thermal vision isn’t working.” He commented. “Just will have to make due with what I have. But for now…to prepare for my rendezvous with a certain Earth Pony Pretender.”

Later on, well into the night, Refract managed to lure Aqua out of her cabin and led her by the nose out to the FoalCave.

Aqua, being the curious pony that she was, was woken up by strange sounds and had followed them. They took her to one of her favorite Hangouts back when she was a camper. “The FoalCave…hadn’t been here in a while.”

She heard a crash coming from inside the abandoned Cabin. Curiosity getting the better of her, she decided to enter, but not before a horn appeared on her head. “Good thing I was adopted by a unicorn mother.” She commented as she entered the FoalCave. She had her horn lit and she moved slowly. Looking around on the inside, and finding nothing. “I wonder what’s making those noises…” She whispered to herself. She then got the sense she was being watched. She stood still. “I know you’re out there.” She called out. “Show yourself.”

“Hello Aqua Blossom.” Refract said, stepping out of the shadows behind Aqua.

Aqua whirled around, and was shocked to see Refract there. “Refract? What are you doing here? It’s WAY past the camp curfew.” She said.

“I know. But you and I need to have a talk and this is the only time, and the safest place to do so.” Refract responded.

Aqua raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Did you lead me out here?” She asked, guessing what was happening.

“I did.” Refract responded.

“Why?” Aqua asked.

“Because this must not reach the Medley’s ears. Under any circumstances.” Refract responded. “Aqua, your triplet sisters have resurfaced, and the darkness that has plagued this world for millennia will soon rear its ugly head once again.” He told her. “The time is near.”

Aqua blinked, before breaking the silence that had befallen the room. “What the watering can are you talking about Refract?” She asked.

To be continued…