//------------------------------//
// 47 Camp Sunshine and Friendship 
// Story: Moonie shorts [Filly Nightmare Moon] 
// by Eighth 
//------------------------------//

	You staple another poster on the pole with one hand as the other struggles to hold the rest of the pile. Someone's magic grips the pile and adjusts it so you can better handle it. Quickly, you fix the poster up then turn to see Moonie looking up at the poster you placed.
"Sure, I'm a filly but that's high up even for Big Mac," she remarks with a stifled giggle.
Looking at the poster once more, you realise they're at eye level for you, so you sigh and undo the staple so you can lower. Then you let out a groan as you realise you've done the same for all the other posters you've done.
"Where would you be without me?"
"Probably reading these things out to all the ponies who can't see it."
"Yeah... So what's this about a camp?"
"Mayor Mare and I were planning it for the school holidays, that way all the kids will have something do you."
"Oh, I'm sure the Crusaders will be all over this kind of thing."
"They've already said they're coming, which is good. So you shouldn't get lonely."
"Woah, I never agreed to go to this."
"That's because you need a parent or guardian's consent, besides I'll be there to over see all this so you're coming either way."
Moonie protests constantly while you place up more posters, but it all falls on deaf ears.





"Camp Sunshine and Friendship," Moonie reads begrudgingly.
"I didn't choose the name, trust me."
"Oh, that I can tell. Then it'd read, Camp Butthead-who-enjoys-torturing-innocent-ponies."
"I wouldn't tempt me," you jokingly mutter loud enough for her to hear before darting off to the other parents.
"Anonymous deary," calls out one of the mothers you've never even seen before, "I'm looking forward to this camp so much. This is exactly what I, and my little Belle needs."
"Glad to have him, but the thanks should go to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They set all this up, the city hall just came up with the idea and funding."
"Pish-posh. That's nonsense darl. You've been putting a lot of work into this town and it shows."
"T-Thanks," you reply with a nervous laugh.
While you honestly don't think you've done that much, considering Mayor Mare always puts in a ton of extra work compared to you, her compliment still brings a blush to your face. Then you notice a chance to break away from this mare when you notice an orange mare in the distance. She seems the chatty kind plus you need to talk to Dash and AJ anyway.

"AJ," you call out, "Where's Dash?"
"A few folk haven't arrived yet, so she's raced back to check up on them."
"That's great actually."
"Yeah, she's really excited about this. I usually take Applebloom camping every once in a while, and Dash joined the last few times."
"Well, that's why I asked you guys. I never really did the whole camping thing as a kid."
"That's a shame," she replies with a sympathetic face.
"There was one time where I got to sleep in a tent for like... a week," you answer as you struggle to recall the time, "and I've been fishing a bunch of times. I'm kind of the outdoorsy type."
AJ lets out a chuckle before a filly rushes over to tug on her leg.
"Excuse me Miss Applejack, I can't get the tent poles to stay up."
"I need a hammer Miss Applejack," calls a colt.
"Me too!"
"Can we go look for firewood Miss Applejack?"
"Well, I'll let you get to things and I'll help out once I've got Moonie and I's tent up."
"Thanks Anon, I'll see you after," she says as she's dragged off by four foals.

It takes some time to set up the tent. Mainly because Moonie has decided she'd rather be a hindrance than anything else. You have the poles for one half set up and you're about to do the other when you notice in the corner of your eye, a little mare smiling while sitting beside the set up poles. As you work you continue to eye her. Then Moonie mischievously moves more towards it.
"I can tell by your smile what you're thinking."
"Can you now?"
She lifts her leg slightly, preparing to kick it when you point at her with a stern tone.
"Don't. Actually, go over there. Now."
"No fun allowed," she cackles with joy.
You let out a tired sigh and rub your eyes before getting back to setting up this tent. Once it's done, you climb in and stretch out. You still need to inflate the mattress but for now, it's nice. The fabric is thick, so it feels a little private. Even if you can hear the squealing foals outside.

"Anon," calls Dash.
You groan as you sit up. As you climb out, Moonie leaps in and sprawls herself out.
"Say hi to Dash for me," she pokes.
As you try to find the speedy mare, you think over how for the last week you've been running yourself ragged with all the final paperwork, gathering equipment, chasing up participants, and organising events. While you thought it was nice to finally get here to relax, you haven't been able to. The hike here and Moonie constantly being Moonie, has seen to making that impossible.
"Yeah Rainbow?"
She spins around and smiles up at you.
"Hey, just wanted to check in with you. AJ said you got here not long ago."
"Yeah, I was just setting up my tent," you answer while pointing to it.
"Should have figured yours would be the second biggest."
Dash laughs a little and ribs you before pointing over to the largest pink tent that's about as tall as you and donned with a silver tiara.
"Why, I wonder who ever could that be," you state in a feigned dramatic tone.
"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon," Dash replies, oblivious to your sarcasm.
"Thanks. So, everyone here?"
"Rumble and Pipsqueak are the only latecomers, they're still making their way here. So that makes all accounted for aside from Featherweight, who can't make it. Poor kid got sick and needs to rest up."
"Ah, shame."
"Yeah. Well, now that your tent is up, let's go help out some of the foals."
She bumps your shoulder before darting off. You nod in agreement as you look around for who is having the most trouble. Which happens to be Snips and Snails who seems to not only have tangled their entire tent like a ball of wool but is also getting hassled by Moonie.

"You just have to cut this line."
"Are you sure that's what we do?" slowly asks Snails.
"I'm trying to help you, why would I lie?"
"Hmm, okay. Hey Snips, cut this like here."
"Oka--"
"Don't cut anything."
"But--"
"No buts."
"He said butt," Moonie snickers to Snails quietly.
Snails lets out a laugh that has that weird slow distortion to everything he says. It's weird.
"Look," you state as you tug the very line they were planning to cut.
The whole thing unravels it's self and lies in a heaped mess on the ground.
"That doesn't look like the picture at all Mr Anon," Snails says as he magically shoves the diagram into your face.
"Yeah, it's meant to be more, poofy, ya know?"
"I know eyebrows. I'm not done," you say as you get down on your knees to set their tent up.
"Eyebrows?" Snips questions Moonie who sinisterly smiles and shrugs.
As you're setting up the tent, you notice Snips is checking his eyebrows out in a shiny rock. You feel a little bit of a pang as you realise you've just made the colt self-conscious about something unnecessary. Then again, for a pony, they looks pretty freaky.





Once that's done and you've told Moonie off for agitating various ponies, including yourself, you go to take a break in your tent. Only to be called out by two little fillies that are like the blue and green long lost cousins of Scootaloo.
"We're bored," they whine in unison.
"Find a game to play or something then."
"The poster said there'd be games for us."
"Yeah, but," you pause while you think of an excuse to shirk this responsibility.
Looking over to Dash who is playing chasey with a few foals and AJ who is setting up the area of the bonfire, you let go of that train of thought.
"Alright, any ideas?"
The two argue over what games to play, a few other nearby foals even end up jumping into the debate while you sit there trying to throw up ideas for them to agree too.
"Tug of war," one suggests.
"Well, that'd be unfair for whoever's team I'm on."
"Not if it's us versus you."
"You're on."

You pull up a long rope and find the centre to tie a flag to. Then using a rock as a marker, you go to take one end. Tying the rope around your waist, you smile. The fillies and colts are all trying to get a good grip, still arguing over the order of things like it somehow matters who is tugging where. To hurry them along, you start counting. The minute you call out, "ONE," the fighting stops and they all co-operate for the sake of victory. It's a nice sight to see, shame how you're going to have to beat them all.
"TWO! THREE!"
All of them tug right away, and you don't try to fight back. There's only six of them, and none of them are strong enough to move you. You beam widely, gloating to all who look your way about how strong you are compared to a few foals.
"H-Help," Pipsqueak calls out.
A few of the nearby foals shout out themselves and then all of a sudden, the horde come rushing it. There's now too many to grip onto the rope. So you put the game on hold to readjust the rope of they have more to grip onto. You're feeling cocky now, so they can have the handicap. Some of the unicorns are planning to pull physically and use magic as they are all fired up to beat you. This time you intend to hold tight, there's many more so you'll have to actually pull but they don't have a chance to match your strength. You're about get your grip adjusted when you notice Moonie sitting behind you.
"Planning to join? Go over there then."
"You mean the losing side?" She snickers.
"Come on, just get involved. I promise not to beat you all too badly and who knows, you might make a new friend."
"I don't want to make new friends. I've already got way too many ponies thinking we're friends."
You roll your eyes and decide to leave her be.

"Ready?"
"Yes!"
"Let's go!"
"You're going down Anon!"
"One... Two... THREE!"
Again the tugging starts up, and you almost weren't ready for their new combined strength. They move you forward a little bit, but with a bit of centring your feet and pulling back, you've got it back to a dead-heat. You're not planning to outright beat them, it'd take all the fun out of things for them if that were the case. So you pretend like it's taking all you've got, giving them a little bit of leeway then taking it back. 

After some time, you notice AJ has finished and Rainbow is getting the last of the foals to jump in. With every single foal, save for one, in the camp now on one end, it is in a dead-heat. You could probably put all your strength into it and take it slowly, but you're far too warn out. Just thinking about putting in that much energy right now demotivates you.
"Anon, really? Just let them have this," Applejack sternly tells.
"Not a chance," you laugh in response.
She rolls her eyes then gestures to Dash. They go to the other end and get ready to pull. You watch and just as they prepare themselves to give one large heave, you let go.
"Oh no, the rope slipped!"
All the foals, AJ and Dash take a tumble. The foals all buy it. They cheer, hug, and bump each other with pride while Applejack and Dash just look at you with unimpressed smiles. You smile back and then head over to the bonfire to get ready to make dinner for everyone here.





You've run yourself ragged trying to get dinner to everyone. You did it, but you're exhausted now. It was a tall order to make, made increasingly difficult as everyone made all their demands, requests, and a few even told you about allergies you had no idea about. So at this point, nothing seems nicer to you right now than just sitting down and relaxing. However, fillies and colts keep jumping up to talk to you and just generally not leaving you alone. Your food even ends up going cold and your bread goes stale because you can't get a bite in without having to reply to someone.
For most, this is the first time they've had to talk with you so they want to know about the alien creature that's been a mystery to them for so long. A few of them seem to have gotten it in their head you have super strength after that game of tug of war. You could clear it up and say it's because foals just have no strength, but you like the idea of being some kind of super being in their eyes.
Moonie can be seen across the way playing fluffy bunnies with Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara and the crusaders. While you told them not to waste the marshmallows, you're not in the mood to be a stern authority figure right now. Besides, AJ and Dash don't seem to care. Applejack is singing songs and Dash is telling stories. 

Bored, you do a quick headcount. You've been making these every so often throughout the day. It seems like a good habit to get into. With so many heads to watch and only three adults to keep track of them all, it puts you at ease. Once you reach your final tally, you fall one short. Nerves set in but you try to reassure yourself.
"Probably miscounted. What with all these bobbing heads," you mutter under your breath.
"What was that Anon?" Rumble asks, who is sitting beside you.
"Nothing kiddo, just trying to count everyone."
"Oh, Pip might not be back yet."
"Where is he?"
"We were playing truth or dare earlier and he got dared to go into the woods alone."
"How long ago was this?" Your tone is much more serious now, but Rumble seems oblivious to it.
Typical of kids to be unaware of anything serious, you think to yourself as you head off.
"Shortly before tug of war but he didn't leave until after dinner."
"Thanks Rumble. Watch the fire for me, alright? Call Dash or AJ if it gets low and make sure nobody gets close."
He salutes then eyes the dancing flames as you head over to Applejack.
"Pipsqueak is missing. Apparently he was dared to go into the woods alone about half an hour ago," you whisper to her.
"What do we do?"
"Hopefully he hasn't gone far. I'm going to make a quick search but you and Dash stay here to watch the foals. If I can't find anything soon we'll send out Dash."

You wave to Moonie who tries to ask where you're going even though her mouth is full of marshmallows, so all of them spew forth from her mouth in a river or pink and white. Diamond Tiara, whose the only one with marshmallows in her mouth still, cheers before doing sugar lump thing with Silver Spoon. Just as she finishes the last part, all the marshmallows spew forth from her mouth. Leaving her embarrassed. But the group all laughs.

You take with you a lantern, and begin to search the area. Every so often you call out Pip's name. Not so loud that it gets back to camp but loud enough so if he's in the general area, he'll hear.
"So Pip is missing?" Moonie asks, finally revealing herself.
"What are you doing here?"
"Wondering what you were doing?"
"And what if I came out here for a... bathroom break?"
"Then things would have gotten very awkward. Also, bathroom break? You can just say poop or wee, we're both technically adults here."
"Are you sure about that?"
She pokes her tongue out at you while you continue to search.
"So, have you found him yet?"
"Does it looks like it?"
"Hm, what about now?"
"If you just came out here to be a pain, then go back. This is serious, Pip is missing."
You wander through the woods, circling the entire camp site to find nothing. Moonie the whole while continues to be Moonie. Which doesn't help your stress levels in the slightest. You also find yourself getting pretty mad at this point. Not a Moonie, but at how you came to this camp hoping to relax not to gradually build up more stress. The tug of war has been the only thing that you enjoyed doing so far, which was short-lived.
"Guess we'll have to send Dash out. Come on, we're heading back."
"You know Pip was hiding in a bush back near the camp, right?"
"What?! No. Why didn't you say anything?"
"I thought you were enjoying the stroll," she prods with a cheeky grin.
"Are you sure?"
"Wait till we get back to camp. Pip is a coward."

And sure enough, once you're back at the camp you see Pip beside Rumble happily chatting away.
"Hey Anon, I was just about to come looking for you," Dash says as she flutter up to your eye level.
"He's alright?"
"Yeah, Applejack gave him a scolding but it seems he was just hiding in a bush while he waited out the time for his dare."
You shake your head in irritation as Moonie gives you a knowing nod. She darts off to her friends while Dash goes back to telling spooky stories. For a moment, you look back out to the forest and contemplate going back out there to be alone but two colts catch up to you asking to play more games. You just give them a smile to try hiding your exhaustion and annoyance as best as you can while you follow after them.





It's late at night. Shortly after midnight judging by the moon's position. Moonie is fast asleep beside you. You however, can't sleep. You'd think after such a tiring week you'd fall asleep no problem. Nothing you try seems to work, not that you tried much aside from laying there and waiting. So you rub your face down a bit and climb out of the tent to stretch. Beside your tent is a few things you brought for activities and such, like your fishing rod which does catch your eye. You pick it up and a the tackle box as you set off to the nearby river.

While you were never much of a fisherman before your arrival in Equestria, you did get the hang of fishing soon after. With nothing like a computer or TV, you found yourself trying a huge range of things to keep yourself occupied. You tie the knot for the hook and cast it out gently. The river is rather small so you can't let it fly out too much. You watch the lure through the clear water dance and bob as the current pushes it around, then you cast your eyes skyward. As you gaze over the stars, trying to imagine your own constellations, you finally let out a long breath of relief.

This is more of what you were after. Actual peace and quiet. Ever since you got that new job, you haven't seen any peace. Well, ever since you decided to look after Moonie, you've never seen any peace. The thought does cross your mind to leave her with a babysitter so you can go off for a few days, but you can't really think of any ponies that could handle it properly.
The Cakes, the Apple family, Twilight, and Rarity are always so busy. Dash can't stay in one place long enough to watch anything unless it's a sport. Pinkie would just encourage Moonie, leading to more havoc. You don't know Mayor Mare well enough to ask for that. Berry Punch couldn't keep sober long enough even if you paid her. Fluttershy might be the only one you could turn too, if only she weren't such a push over. And that's about all the ponies you know.
"Hm, there is always the Princesses," you mumble to the sky.
Or perhaps there's someone who runs a foalsitting service. Which would probably be expensive, they'd probably ask for a deposit for therapy once you mentioned the former tyrant's name. 

Bored and feeling an urge to break the silence, you blow a raspberry. Which is echoed by someone behind you.
You quickly spin around to see Moonie looking at you, still groggy from having just woken up.
"I didn't wake you when I left, did I?"
"No. I woke up," she yawns mid sentence, "just a moment ago and saw you took your fishing gear."
While you're relieved you didn't wake her, you can't help but be annoyed she came looking for you.
"You should head back to bed, there's plenty of stuff going on tomorrow."
"What about you?"
"I'll be back shortly. I'm just enjoying the night air for a while."
"Oh, I always enjoy that," she remarks as she takes a seat beside you.
Again you feel that pang of irritation. She just doesn't quite get the hint.

The two of you sit there quietly as the night air rolls over you. Then there's a light splash from the water. You're not sure what it was, but it wasn't to do with your rod. Moonie however, doesn't know that.
"Hey, you've got a fish," she excitedly clambers for the pole
Just as you're about to say something, she knocks it over and into the water. She steps aside for you to reach in for the rod. You grab hold and try to lift it but it doesn't budge. While the water is clear, there isn't enough light for you to see what. Trying to test the hold, you give it a few tugs which breaks the line.
"S-Sorry."
"No, that's on me... And I forgot to bring more fishing line."
"I can run back to camp real quick."
"It's all at home."
"Oh."
You throw the rod to the side of the tackle box and take a seat where you were. Moonie stands over the water's edge, scanning the water with a very careful eye. Then she bellows as she uses her magic to pull a fish out of the water. Shocked and unable to process why it's suddenly out of the water, the fish flops about in a panicked frenzy. So much so that Moonie can't hold it steady enough. It frees itself from her grip and falls onto the floor. You quickly pick it up and place it into the water. The fish is still in shock so it darts off and out of sight as soon as it's submerged.
"I wasn't out to catch anything," you state flatly.
"Then why were you out here with your fishing gear.
"Something to do," you shrug.
You retake your spot with Moonie beside you who looks up at you with curious eyes. She's looking over your expressions, trying to read you right now so you decide to avoid eye contact by staring at the moon. Eventually she stops and follows suit. More silence follows for some time before any conversation starts up again.

"You know... I actually thought that--"
You stop yourself as you look to Moonie who is looking back at you, wide-eyed and subtly smiling.
"Uh, do you guys have any constellations?"
She looks surprised for a moment, then looks at the sky with a beaming grin.
"We sort of do. Most nights Luna will use the stars to draw... It's kind of nice to see what she'll paint each night but the only regular constellations we have, will be made on important events and holidays."
"Ah."
"Yeah, like Hearth's Warming will have the six ponies who formed Equestria along with some windigos," she adds with a tone of excitement crackling her voice. You nod in reply, which causes the conversation to go silent. A few bugs chirping can he heard in the distance as the two of you sit there quietly. That is, until you notice Moonie open her mouth to speak but stop herself.

"No, what is it?"
"I, um, just wanted... To know you've been so... y'know."
"Moody?"
She nods.
"Guess," you coldly answer.
She looks away for a moment, awkwardly darting her eyes everywhere but at you.
"Me?"
You hesitate to answer at first, before letting out a sigh then the answer.
"Everything really. I'm just worn down by life right now."
"That's not so bad."
"I just want some time to relax, let the weight of everything not be on my shoulders for one night. But I can't. I have too much to do and too many folks to take away what little time I have to be alone."
Moonie shuffles awkwardly in her place which you don't notice.
"I am sorry."
You don't register the apology. It's not intentional, but you're just in a sour mood where it goes in one ear and out the other.

"Why can't you just settle down more often? Is there a reason why you have to bother everyone?
"I don't know, I just do," she shrugs.
"That's not a good enough answer."
You try to calm down, but it doesn't seem to work. Especially as Moonie protests without an answer.
"Well I don't really have a better one. It's just... What I've always done."
"Oh, come off it. You have to know."
"I don't know."
"Yes, you do," you shout.
"No. I don't! Why is it so important to have a reason? Can't I just be something," she defiantly shouts back.
"In this case? No. There must be a reason for why you're always..."
"Why what? Out with it."
You hesitate but as Moonie glares at you, your willingness to hold back drains.
"Why you always have to make my life difficult."
She shakes her head at you and looks away as she sits back down.
"I enjoy causing trouble. I find it a lot of fun. I don't know why, I just do... I thought you did too."
"What?" You question in shock.
"You laugh when you get angry, you get even when someone annoys you, you play around when you're sad. You help me sometimes and have fun doing it."
"That's only sometimes. But you, you constantly."
"Am I really that much of a pain to you? I just wanted to spend time with you."
The question hits back at you. For a brief moment, you think about the answer and it washes away the frustration only to leave guilt. You're still a little angry, but at yourself. For letting yourself get worked up like this and for trying to take it out on Moonie.

"Honestly?"
Your voice is a lot calmer and sober now as your eyes meet with Moonie's. She slightly hangs her head as if to brace for the blow.
"No. You're not."
"Then why--"
You can see her confusion, as she tries to piece what is going through your mind.
"I'm tired. I'm really, really tired," you answer slowly as you hang your head into your hands.
Moonie then crawls onto your lap and uses her magic to push your hands aside so she can make eye contact.
"So am I Anon," she says sweetly as she sweeps you into a hug, "I'm tired too."
Her hooves are warmly wrapped around your neck and you return the embrace instantly. You hold the little filly close to your chest and just enjoy this rare heart to heart. Then the two of you let go. Tired, you lean back into the grass and gaze upwards as Moonie steps onto your chest then curls up.
"We should go back to camp and get some sleep," you softly speak.
"Let's just enjoy the stars a little while longer," she replies with a yawn.
"Sure. Why not."