Carnival of Shadows
*****************
"Oh c'mon sis, please," begged a little cream colored filly with a red bow in her mane.
The orange elder sister sighed as she tossed a bag oats to the side. "For the last time Apple Bloom, no I will not take ya'll to the carnival this year," the orange mare awaited her younger sister's poor response.
"But Rarity is out in Canterlot, Rainbow Dash is in Cloudsdale, you're our only other adult we can trust," Apple Bloom gave a pout at AJ.
"What 'bout Twi, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie?" she listed her good friends.
Apple Bloom lowered her head at the question. "Well, Fluttershy is with Rainbow Dash, Twi she is studying as usual for the princess, and Pinkie isn't exactly allowed in the carnival," Apple Bloom yet again pouted.
"Well, ya'll just gotta wait until next year, ya'll survive," AJ smirked. She still saw a pout on the filly's face before she stated to walk off. "Do ya think she'll stay out of trouble Big Mac?" she said worried slightly.
"Nope," he simply stated.
"Ya right," she sighed before looking back at the filly then to the apple trees.
*****************
Apple Bloom very slowly opened the clubhouse door. She saw a very eager Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "So what did she say?" Scootaloo asked first to break a small silence with a slightly girly tone.
"She's not goin' for it," Apple Bloom lowered her head in sadness.
Scootaloo flailed her arms around for a moment. "I waited too long, too long to not go just because an adult refuses to go," Scootaloo said in her deeper voice one that rivaled Rainbow's.
"Remember Scoots, we need an adult to go," Sweetie chimed in as Scootaloo finished her statement.
Scootaloo plopped to the ground in anger. "This is so unfair, we are so old enough to go," she crossed her forehooves.
"I know Scoots, I wish we could too but, well, we need an adult and since AJ, RD, and Rarity aren't around we have to face the facts, we aren't goin'" Apple Bloom sighed putting her left hoof on Scootaloo's left shoulder.
"I know how ya feel Scoots, I was looking forward to this too, but look at it this way: we have more time to find our talent," Apple Bloom brought up. That sort of cheered up Scootaloo. "I guess, you're right," Scootaloo rose to her hooves.
"What should we try?" Apple Bloom asked her friends wanting their input.
Scootaloo smiled. "We could be Cutie Mark Crusaders Everfree forest explorers!" Scootaloo raised her voice highly.
Apple Bloom tapped her muzzle; is that really a good idea? Cutie Mark Crusader Everfree forest explorers. Though she thought badly of it she also knew that this could be it. This could be their talent. She nodded slowly. AB rose to her hooves and trotted alongside the other CMC. She was smiling slightly. Her cape was hanging behind her. The stopped as they came to the Everfree. Scootaloo gave an auditable gulp as she slowly approached the forest. Scoots, scared she ignored it though walked right into the forest. She was followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. They walked slowly Apple Bloom in front, next was Sweetie Belle, then Scootaloo, whom was slightly regretting this idea. She heard loud howls, though there was no smell. Scootaloo was frantically looking about the forest in fear of something jumping out at her. She heard a rustle in the bushes she gave a loud scream. To her happiness it was only the wind. She looked and saw AB and Sweetie way ahead. She gasped and rushed to the sides of Sweetie and Apple Bloom. She sighed with relief she hadn't lost them. Scootaloo blushed slightly. "Uh...hold up," her blush deepened.
"Why?" Apple Bloom asked looking at her orange friend.
Scootaloo chuckled nervously. "I kind of need to use the little fillies' room," Scootaloo blush deepened. "Just stay there a moment," she pleaded.
"Okay," Apple Bloom nodded and blushed slightly. "I could use a break too," she admitted as she walked away from Sweetie Belle. Sweetie's teeth chattered she was all alone.
"Whoa! Come here gals!" Scootaloo yelled in shock at something.
Sweetie wasted no time to run to Scoots' side. Apple Bloom was slightly more hesitant but still walked to her. "What is it Scoots?" she asked pushing away a bunch of branches.
"That." Scootaloo pointed her hoof at a bright, flashy carnival.
"What is this?" the fillies stared at the carnival.
They were about to walk away when they were stopped by a stallion. "Hello there," the stallion called out. The CMC looked back at the oddly dressed stallion. "I'm glad to see fresh faces in this carnival," he smiled.
"Uh... thanks," Apple Bloom was unsure what to say.
"So, you here for the carnival?" a slightly formal earth-pony stallion with a suit on asked. "Tickets just three bits," he added.
Scootaloo questioned the location and the fact no-pony was there. "Uh... well, we can't we have no adult," Scootaloo said though chattering teeth.
A light smile came from the black coated earth pony stallion with a white mane and a large top hat. "No need for that, name's Shadow Carny, but you can call me Shadow or Carny, all you need is just three bits," he tapped a cane he had on him on the ticket booth.
For some reason Apple Bloom jumped to the offer same with Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo saw something strange with the earth pony; his suit was off it was more of a full body suit then just an upper body suit.
"Wait, how long have you been here?" Scootaloo asked her curiosity getting the better of her.
Shadow Carny smiled with no problem with the question. "I come every year for a night... or two," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I just got here," he smiled sheepishly. Scootaloo looked at the stallion's dark red eye then to his dark blue one.
"I've never seen a pony with two eye colors, care to explain?" Sweetie asked following Scootaloo's gaze.
"Huh? Oh this?" he pointed at his eyes. "I was just born this way," he tipped his hat up with his black and white cane.
"Really, that’s odd," Sweetie still followed Scoots' gaze.
Shadow Carny chuckled at Scootaloo. "Are you going to stare at me, or are you going to enjoy yourself?" he said nudging the filly to the ticket booth. "Uh... well, I didn't bring my bits," she sighed she was always a little forgetful of her bits.
He smiled with a slightly father like smile. "Fine, this one's on me," he handed Scootaloo a ticket. "Have a great time," he tilted his hat down Scootaloo swears she has seen him before. She gulped still uneasy about being in this carnival. Maybe she should be scared.