The next morning, Fluttershy woke up feeling two warm bodies on her sides. At first, she thought she was a little filly again, sleeping beside her parents, but that wasn't the case.
She opened her eyes and yawned. Her room lit up by the sun's light. She looked to her left and saw Playtime sleeping peacefully, cuddled up to her side.
She then gently covered her with her wing, causing the filly to moan and moved her head closer to her.
She smiled, and then looked to her right. There, the younger version of Nebula slept under her wing. He looked rather adorable to her.
She felt obligated to keep them close to her and keep them safe. She didn't know why exactly she felt like this, but she just went on with the feeling. She felt… happy. She felt more company, her little animal friends were enough to keep her company, her friends as well, but, this was more… something. What was it?
Well, that aside, she needed to lead them to their proper place in Ponyville. She was their guide to their new lives after all.
She stayed in bed for an hour more, not wanting to wake them. But then she heard Playtime yawn and stir to her side. She looked and saw her blinking her eyes and looking around, a little dazed from her sleep.
She smiled at her, "Good morning, Playtime" she greeted quietly. Playtime smiled back with sleepy eyes, "Good morning" she greeted back and yawned again.
Playtime rested back down and rubbed her head on Fluttershy's side with affection. Flutteshy smiled and nuzzled her back, causing the filly to giggle.
Playtime closed her eyes, "Nighty night, Mommy" and went off to sleep again.
"Mommy?" Fluttershy thought to herself, a little surprised. She then thought back to when she was created. She first went to her creator, her father she guessed, then right to her. She showed a little more love to her then her own crea… father, then her own father.
But more than surprised, she was a little happier she called her "Mommy". She blushed, but why can't she? No pony ever called her that.
She then leaned down and gently kissed Playtime's forehead.
After a few more moments, she heard Nebula yawn. She looked at him and he just melted her heart just how adorable he looked when he woke. This wasn't the first time her heart melted, she seen a lot of waking adorable animals in her life, sometimes little foals, but this was one of the best ones she seen.
"Good morning" she greeted quietly.
He looked up at her; "Good morning" he replied and stretched his little body.
He then looked around the room and both heard his stomach growl. "Gonna have to go in town to stock up on food" Fluttershy said. Then an apple appeared in a flash and he started eating.
After spending one more hour in bed, Playtime finally woke herself up. Fluttershy didn't see Angel in his little bed or in her room. The three got down and Fluttershy gasped.
Her little animal friends were all there, the room decorated and even managed to make a hanging sign saying, "Welcome Back" on top of the entrance. She then saw Angel waving at her with a smile.
She started stepping closer, looking around the room in awe and euphoria. She looked at Angel, "Did… did you…?" she said and he nodded happily. She smiled and tears started to form, "Thank you so much…" she thanked him, pulled him close to her and hugged him. Then all the birds and critters went to her to join in.
So in the morning, she took care of the animals in need like old times, Playtime entertained them by doing funny and random things like the pink party mare of Ponyville. And lastly, Nebula fed and took care of them like he did with Fluttershy in the Everfree forest.
After lunch, they were getting ready to go in town to stock up on food. She went to get her bits in her room and was surprised she wasn't robbed, yet again; the ponies in Ponyville weren't thieves and robbers.
The three got to the main entrance, Fluttershy had her saddlebag on. When she opened the doors, almost all the animals closed it shut.
She looked at them, a little confused, "What's the matter?" she asked. All of them shook their heads, crossed their arms and stood their ground.
Fluttershy thought for a moment, than figured out why they blocked her path. "Don't worry, I won't be long, I promise. We need to go get some food" she said to them.
They all looked at each other for a moment, then at Angel and he nodded, they then opened the door for them. Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you" she thanked them and the three got out.
Playtime looked at her, "What happened? Did you get lost or something?" she asked.
Fluttershy looked at her and nodded, "Yes, I got lost in the Everfree Forest" she answered.
As they reached Ponyville, few ponies were a little surprised about the young looking dragon walking beside Fluttershy and Playtime. He didn't really look dangerous anymore, so they relaxed and went back on whatever they were doing.
They got to a stand and Fluttershy started looking around and brought out her list. Playtime looked around and saw a yellow filly with a pink bow, struggling to push a large basket of apples.
She looked back at Nebula and tapped him. He looked back at her, "Yes?" he said in his childish tone.
"Can I go help her?" she pointed to the still struggling filly. He looked at Playtime and nodded.
She then started going towards the tired filly, resting on the ground. She then pushed her hardest one last time and slumps down on the ground, letting out a breath.
Playtime went up to her, "Hello" she greeted with a smile.
The tired filly looked up at her, "Oh, howdy" she replied and got up on her hooves.
"Need any help?" she asked.
"Um" the filly looked at the pile of apples, "Sure" she answered.
Playtime smiled, "To where?" she asked.
"Right over there" she pointed to a stand full of different apples and then saw a familiar mare selling apples.
"Okay, do you want to be on the top?" she said to her.
"What? This thin's heavier than it looks. You know that, right?" she said to her. Playtime nodded with a smile. "Well, okay then" she carefully got on the pile.
Playtime put her forehead on the basket and started pushing the basket easily and quickly. "Whoa!" the filly almost fell off the pile.
Seconds later, the basket reached the stand. "What the? How'd ya do that, Applebloom?" Applejack asked, confused.
Playtime then went around, "Hi, Applejack!" she greeted happily with a smile.
"Oh, that explains it" Applejack said, "Good afternoon, Playtime. How's Fluttershy doin'?" she greeted.
"Good" she answered. She then looked at the stand and got closer, "What are you doing?" she asked, looking at each apple.
"Sellin' apples, sugar cube" she then gave an apple to a pony and grabbed the bit from a cult, with an hour glass for a cutie mark.
The cult noticed her, raised an eyebrow, and then went off.
Then Fluttershy and Nebula went up to the stand, "Hi, Applejack" she greeted, her saddlebag somewhat bulging.
"Howdy, sugar cube" she greeted back, and then wondered where the other was, "Um, here's Nebula?" she asked and started looking around for the dragon.
"Down here" he answered.
Applejack leaned over her stand and saw the little dragon standing beside Fluttershy. She stopped herself from laughing out loud and tears started to form.
"Awwwe, you look sooo adorable! What's your name?" Applebloom went up to him and squeezed his cheeks.
"Nebula" he answered, his cheeks and face scrunched up by her hooves.
Applejack wiped her tears away and chuckled a few times, "Sorry, but that was jus' so unexpected" she apologized.
"It's okay" Nebula said, being hugged tightly by Applebloom.
"You're so soft!" Applebloom said and squeezed him harder, causing Nebula's eyes to bulge out.
In Canterlot, everypony went back to their lives after yesterday's beastly brawl. In the castle's throne room, Luna walked back and forth, her sister sitting on the throne.
"Calm down, dear sister. The dragon has been moved to a new, faraway location" Celestia said to her, watching her go back and forth.
"It's not the dragon I'm worried about" Luna said to her, and continued to walk.
"What is it then?" she asked.
Luna stopped and looked at her, "Nightmare is back, and stronger than ever. The dragon's body was taken over by that thing. I asked that dragon if he was angered or jealous of us and he had no problem with us. We have to prepare for another attack. Nightmare won't stop for anything, it will destroy anything that gets in its way to get to us and the elements of harmony" she said to her and started walking back and forth again.
Celestia sighed, "Then we must prepare" she said. She then took out a letter and quill dipped in ink, "My dear student Twilight Sparkle" she started.
Playtime was helping out Applejack and Applebloom selling apples and lifting heavy items easily, while her guardians shopped for food.
Playtime then heard a crying cult and filly nearby. She looked and saw two young babies crying on their baby cart, their mother and father trying to calm them down.
"Ooh, are you two hungry?" the mother asked, and took out two bottles of milk, stress now taking its toll. "Please stop crying, Pound, and, Pumpkin" she said to them both.
Playtime thought for a moment, and then smiled. She slowly went up behind the parents, than jumped up and down, playing peekaboo with them without the parents knowing.
They both stopped crying and watched as they saw Playtime making funny and weird faces, jumping up and down. They both smiled and started giggling and laughing at her. The parents looked a little confused and looked back.
Before they looked back, Playtime quickly went back to the stand and helped the two out like nothing happened.
"What just happened?" the mother asked and looked around.
"I don't know, dear. But at least they stopped crying" the father said.
They then started going. Playtime peeked and the babies looked back at her and waved happily at her. She smiled and waved back.
After a few more minutes, Fluttershy's saddlebag was full and Nebula carried two bags of food with his magic. They both got back to Applejack's stand, "We're going back now, Playtime" she said to her.
"Okay" she turned, "See you later" she said to the sisters.
"Thanks for the help, Playtime" Applebloom thanked her.
"Anytime" she replied and went beside Nebula.
As they were going back, they saw Twilight galloping towards them with Spike holding onto dear life on her back. They stopped, "Oh, hi, Twilight" Fluttershy greeted.
She got to them; "The Nightmare forces are going to invade Equestria!" she said to her and took her breath.
"The what?" she asked, a little confused.
Twilight exhaled, "The Nightmare forces are the reason why Princess Luna turned on Celestia. They are a danger to everypony in Ponyville" she said to her.
Playtime then caught something at the corner of her eye and looked towards the Everfree forest. There, she saw a dark looking pony with a black robe on, its hood darkening its face, but its eyes glowed a menacing red.
"Um, Fluttershy. Who's that over there?" she tapped her, still looking at the figure.
"Hmm?" she looked at Playtime.
"That pony over there" she said again and pointed at the dark figure at the edge of the Everfree forest.
They all looked, Fluttershy and Twilight first thought of the shaman Zebra of the Everfree forest, but something was wrong about the figure. Its body smoked, eyes glowed red and glaring straight at them.
All of a sudden, twelve large, black creatures came out of the forest and stood beside the mystery pony. Fluttershy knew those things all too well and took a step back.
The pony then disappeared in a swirling inky smoke and one of the creatures howled, causing the rest to run in different directions in pairs. Four were going towards them.
"Um… Nebula" Fluttershy, Twilight and Playtime started backing away.
Nebula was then engulfed by swirling blue flames and grew in size rapidly. The flames subsided and he spread his large wings to try and intimidate the creatures, than roared loudly at them.