//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders Nightmares, Yay! // by LostUmbrella //------------------------------// She couldn't believe it, yet she had failed. She, the last of nightmares, the one who had subdued an immortal goddess to her will and had almost conquered the whole Equestria, the most evil side of the terrible Nightmare Moon had failed miserably. She had been sure her power would suffice, but she had made a grave miscalculation: those three fillies, taken singularly, wouldn't have proven a problem. But they were three. That meant splitting her considerable powers into three parts, none enough to subdue any of those fillies, their desires being too strong to be overpowered. And now she was slowly fading, her consciousness lost in those youngsters hyperactive minds. But she couldn't let go like that, not without her revenge: she planted an idea in those young minds, a germ that would surface in due time, turning those three innocent fillies into the tools of her will. --- The days passed without hearing anything from Night, and nothing seemed to change in the three crusader's lives. "I think that dumb cloud tricked us and is now laughing wherever clouds like her live..." muttered Scootaloo as they walked toward the school. They were pacing slowly, their heads hanging low to reflect the state of their morale. "And today there's the math test too..." added Apple Bloom with a sigh "Did ya study?" "Yes, it shouldn't be too hard," said Sweetie Belle with confidence. "It's today?! Shoot, I forgot!" said Scootaloo facehoofing "I'm so doomed..." "C'mon Scoots, Ah tried to study but Ah'm totally lost, we'll fail in two," said Apple Bloom trying to cheer her up. If only that djinn powers wern't a fake she could have helped us... thought the pegasus letting out a deep sigh. "Yeah, she could have been useful," said Apple Bloom with a nod. "Who could be useful?" asked Scootaloo rising an eyebrow. "The djinn, you were talking about her..." said Sweetie Belle. "I did not say anything, I was thinking that..." said the pegasus stopping in mid sentence as realization struck the trio. She and Apple Bloom shared a sly grin and turned towards their friend. "No, forget it, I won't help you cheat!" said the unicorn shaking her head. The other two put on their best puppy eyes. --- The answer to the ninth question is four, right? mentally asked Scootaloo eager to finish. No, it should be three! thought Apple Bloom. Really girls, how can you think that two times nine divided by three makes those numbers? It's six... thought Sweetie Belle as she shook her head. And the last one? asked Scootaloo. Five. Are ya sure, Sweetie? Ah think it should be ten... You're right Apple Bloom, it's ten: I forgot to multiply! thought the unicorn as she corrected her answer. --- After school, in the afternoon, the trio of fillies went to Sugarcube Corner to celebrate the success of their plan with a milkshake. "That was awesome!" said Scootaloo as Pinkie Pie placed a chocolate milkshake in front of her. "Yes, it was nice, but we won't do it again!" said Sweetie Belle in a stern tone. "Aww, c'mon, Sweetie, we can git good grades and make our families happy, what's so bad 'bout it?" asked Apple Bloom grabbing her treat. "Well, if something gives you good grades and makes your family happy, it cannot be a bad thing," intervened Pinkie "Unless it's cheating, that is bad... But you three wouldn't cheat, right?" It's definitely cheating... thought Sweetie. "No, we were talkin'bout..." started Apple Bloom. "A study group, nothing like cheating," said Scootaloo coming to her resque. Thanks Scoots! Don't sweat it! "Ah, I agree with Sweetie: studying is so boooring," said Pinkie in a knowing tone "But you need it, and if you study with your friends it's more fun!" "Pinkamena Dianne Pie, where did you put the last batch of cupcakes?" came the voice of Ms.Cake from the kitchen. "Uh-oh, gotta go girls, see you again!" said the pink mare before bolting upstairs. "See, Pinkie is okay with it," said Scootaloo. "You just lied to her!" protested Sweetie Belle. "What else could we do? Tell her we're teletip... Teletapi... We have some super awesome mind powers?" "I believe the word you were searching is telepaths, anyway you have a point there..." "And it would be a pity to waste those powers, don't ya think?" insisted Apple Bloom. "Fine, but you'll keep studying anyway, deal?" "Deal!" agreed the other two rising their milkshakes in the air. --- That night the weather squad had scheduled a heavy storm, complete of thunders and lightnings. Sweetie Belle stared silently at the ceiling of her room, silently bracing for the next lightning to strike. A flash illuminated the room and a second later came the roar of thunder. She cuddled up under her blankets and hugged her favorite plush, a small but detailed princess Celestia her sister had sewn her. If only I wasn't alone... Hey there, problems sleeping? the voice of her pegasus friend echoed in her mind. Scootaloo? The one and only, would you like some company? Yeah, but why are you awake? Are you scared too? Me? N-no, of course not... A thunder fell near my house and woke me up... It was a lightning, the thunder is just the sound. Wow, are you sure you're not a pegasus? joked Scootaloo. I'm pretty sure I'm a unicorn, chuckled Sweetie Belle. Sweetie, do you think we recived any other power thanks to Night? I don't really feel any difference, that said, I'm having a chat with my friend on the othes side of the town... I guess we can expect something more. We can try to discover if we have any other cool mental power and try to get our cutie mark as mentalists tomorrow! For some reason, I think that mentalists isn't the right term, yet we can try. Scootaloo? asked again the unicorn after a little while. Yes? Thank you. Hey, you helped me ace the math test, keeping you company during a lousy storm is nothing! mentally said the pegasus You can always count on me and Bloom when you're sad or scared! You promise? Absolutely! Pinkie promise? Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, recited the pegasus voice We'll be always together! Thank you, Scootaloo. And with that, the two fillies slowly drifted to a peaceful sleep.