"Where'd I put that? Ohh, I thought I already…Ohh, and I can't forget I've got to- oh, how am I ever gonna get this done?" Rarity began worrying about a project she has to do and is late for running back and forth.

"Are you sure I can't help? I could-" Rarity's sister Sweetie Belle offered.

"No!"

"Maybe just a-"

"No thanks!"

"How about-"

"Just stand over there."

"But-"

"Where you'll be out of the way. Ribbon, ribbon! Where's the ribbon?!" Rarity started panicking.

"I got it!" Sweetie called out as she tries to reach for a spool of ribbon on top of a shelf but loses her balance and sends the spool flying to a mannequin and making it topple a couple times before finally falling onto a ironing board catapualting several balls of yarn to sheets of fabric on the shelves also sending them flying. Soon fabric and sewing equipment were flying everywhere making a mess all over the place. As soon as it was done Rarity stood in the middle of the room dumbfounded with her eye twitching with Sweetie standing sheepishly.

"Um, I-I'll just go and stand over there, where I'll be... out of the way." Sweetie stuttered sheepishly and zoomed off leaving Rarity sighing in exahustion seeing the mess she has to clean up again.

-Main music plays-

A few moments later Rarity was almost done cleaning while she picks up some fabric to put them back in their previous location.

"Won't you at least let me help you clean up?" Sweetie asked.

"No. You've helped me quite enough." Rarity declined irritatedly.

"I'm sorry, sis! I just thought that if I could help, I might find my special gift and finally earn my cutie mark." Sweetie complained looking at her blank flank.

"I understand. It's just that... I need this time to fill this order without any... complications. Okay, all done. Now, back to work. I've lost a lot of time, and I cannot have any more interruptions." Rarity said as she got back to her sewing machine just as the doorbell rings.

"Oh, what now?!" Rarity whined and in came the door Fluttershy with a basket near her.

"Oh, sorry. I thought the 'open' sign meant you were open, but I must have been mistaken." Fluttershy apologized as she makes her way out.

"[gasps] Fluttershy! Forgive me! I was so wrapped up in my work that I forgot you were bringing Opalescence back from her grooming!" Rarity apologized.

"No worries, Rarity. I've left her there in the basket." Fluttershy said and out came Opal from the basket looking cleaned and groomed purring and nuzzling Fluttershy's leg.

"Oh, she looks great! I just don't understand how you're able to do it! I can't get near her without getting a swipe from her claws." Rarity admitted as she closes up to Opal and gets a hiss and swipe from her paw at her and gave the cat a dissaproving look.

"Did you use... The Stare on her?" Rarity asked uneasily.

"Oh, no! I wouldn't! I couldn't! I-I don't really have any control over when that happens. I-It just happens. No, I'm just good with animals. It's my special gift, you know?" Fluttershy said.

"Well, you should have a picture of Opal as a cutie mark instead of those butterflies." Rarity joked.

"Ooh, ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh! Maybe I can be good with animals, too!" Sweetie Belle mentioned but as she gets close to Opal the cat swipes her mane cutting a part of her mane clean off.

"Or not." Sweetie mumbled getting a cheshire grin from the animal and the two grown ponies laugh.

"I'm sorry I can't invite you to stay and chat, Fluttershy. I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew with this order." Rarity apologized.

"But you're not eating anything." Sweetie pointed out.

"No, Sweetie, it's an expression. It means that I've taken on more work than I can handle. I've got twenty of these special robes to make tonight! They're due in Trottingham tomorrow morning." Rarity explained and shows a golden sparkling fabric which made Fluttershy gasped in awe.

"See? I've lined them in a special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?" Rarity asked.

"These are lovely, but twenty by tonight? How will you get it all done?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.

"Well, I, uh..." Rarity stammered.

"Oh, oh oh! Maybe I could..." Sweetie was about to volunteer but got a glare from her big sister getting the message.

"Just... just stand over here and watch." Sweetie said sheepishly and walks away.

"I'll manage." Rarity assured.

"Well, maybe I should get out of your mane so you can work." Fluttershy said and was about to leave until a rushing surprise came by.

"Hi, Fluttershy! Hi, Rarity!" Applebloom and Scootaloo and rushing by passing the two mares.

"Hello, uh, girls..." Rarity greeted nervously feeling something bad was going to happen.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" the two fillies greeted their third friend.

"Scootaloo! Applebloom!" Sweetie cheered happy to see the others there.

"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asks.

"Yup! Cutie mark planning session is a go!" Sweetie answered.

"Tonight is the night we each try to find our own special talent." Applebloom said.

"Even if it takes us all night!" Scootaloo added.

"I'm ready! You ready?" Applebloom asked.

"Very ready!" Scootaloo answered.

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Rarity's! Yay!" the three fillies cheered loudly making the two grown mares flinched in surprise.

"And... look what I made us!" Sweetie said and the group looked at her to see a red cape on her with a blue shielded patch with a yellow pony on it which made the other two filles gasped in awe as they comment the cape.

"What does that patch on your cape mean?" Fluttershy asked.

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders! Yay!" the three cheered loudly again making Fluttershy cover her ears.

"We're on a crusade, a mission!" Scootaloo explained.

"To find our cutie marks!" Applebloom added.

"Yup. And look. I lined them with this special gold silk. It took sooo long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?" Sweetie said the exact same thing that Rarity said about the golden silk and shows the same material under the cape which made the two fillies gasped in wonder while Rarity was not pleased by the sight as she twithces uncontrollably. Rarity zooms to the golden fabric to find three small rectangular holes on it which made Sweetie smile sheepishly.

"Sweetie Belle! What have you DONE? That was the last of the gold silk! Oh, now I'll have to make more! Oh, I hope I can make more. I'm gonna have to work all night! Which means... sorry, girls, I'm afraid the Crusaders sleepover is cancelled." Rarity announced.

"WHAT?" Sweetie screamed in disbelief.

"I just won't have any time to watch you if I want to get these robes delivered on time."

"But-"

"No buts this time. I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle, it's just the way it has to be." Rarity said shamefully and the crusaders lowered their head and sighed in dissapointment seeing their fun whisked away. But Fluttershy had an idea.

"I, ah, I suppose I could take them for the night." Fluttershy offered which made the three raise their heads and smiled at Rarity beggingly.

"I couldn't ask you to do that." Rarity objected.

"Oh, it's no problem at all."

"Have you met my sister and her friends? A problem is all it would be."

"Did I have a problem with Opal? You've seen how well I handle small creatures!"

"I suppose that's true... and I do have a lot of work to do..."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"I assure you, they're quite a handful."

"These sweet little angels?"

"Well... all right."

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Fluttershy's cottage! Yay!" the three fillies cheered loudly again and ran out the door.

"So cute. W-wait for me!" Fluttershy shouted and flew over to catch up leaving Rarity to tend her work but also worried that Fluttershy won't be able to do it. Soon the pegasus and fillies were rushing towards the cottage to have their sleepover while Fluttershy thinks about the fun they're going to have.

"Oh, won't this be ever so fun. We can have a nice little tea party, and braid each other's tails, and sit quietly and color, and tell each other fairy tales, and-" Fluttershy said to herself and notices the three rush by Zach Lanson and Twilight Sparkle spinning them a little but as they regained their focus the watched the three play by a water well and couldn't help but smile while they play and laugh together. As they turned they noticed Fluttershy floating by.

"Hello, Fluttershy." Twilight greeted.

"Hi, Fluttershy." Zach joined.

"Oh! Hello, Zach and Twilight. Where are you off to?" Fluttershy asked.

"We're heading to the Everfree Forest, to Zecora's, to get some of my favorite tea." Twilight answered.

"Th-the Everfree Forest? Ah, you'll be careful, won't you?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.

"Of course! That's why I'm coming along, to make sure she stay's safe." Zach added.

"Zach, I can take care of myself. You don't have to be my personal bodyguard." Twilight assured.

"I know, but you know as well as I do the forest has many dangerous predators." Zach reminded.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. How about you, Fluttershy? What are you doing with the girls?" Twilight asked.

"Rarity has a big order to fill tonight, so I volunteered to take the girls over to my cottage for a sleepover." Fluttershy answered.

"Wow. Sounds like everypony has their hooves full today. Taking care of those three fillies all by yourself? You sure you can handle it?"

"What? These sweet little angels? They'll be no problem at all." Fluttershy assured.

"Alright then. You four have fun!" Zach said as he and Twilight take their leave while Fluttershy and the fillies head to her home. Later that night as they arrived the three were already looking like they were going to make a mess already as they throw their backpacks almost hitting a blue jay bird and a squirrel as they study every inch of the cottage.

"No problem at all. Okay, girls, uh, what should we do?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm gonna get my mark first!" Scootaloo stated ignoring the question.

"Girls?" Fluttershy called.

"Nuh-uh!" Sweetie countered also not paying attention.

"Should we-" Fluttershy tried again.

"I am!" Applebloom said.

"Girls, okay, now settle-" Fluttershy tried to calm the three down but still was unsuccessful.

"I'm staying up all night!" Scootaloo announced.

"Me too!" Applebloom also said.

"Me three!" Sweetie joined.

"I-I know you're excited, but- girls, oh, oh, careful with the- oh, ah, girls-" Fluttershy tried to call but was trying to stop them from getting themselves hurt from either falling from an unbalanced chair or got their heads stuck in a bird house. Fluttershy blew the long strand of mane from her face to get a better view.

"So! What do you wanna do? Play a game?" Fluttershy asked.

"We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo reminded.

"And we want to crusade for our cutie marks!" Applebloom added.

"And, and, and, we, um- yeah! What they said!" Sweetie stuttered unable to think of anything else.

"Mmm, I don't know... how about a nice quiet little tea party?" Fluttershy suggested.

"Or... we could go adventuring in the Everfree Forest!" Scootaloo pointed out and the other two agreed and were about to make their way our the door until Fluttershy blocks the path.

"Oh, no. The Everfree Forest is much too dangerous. It's filled with far too many strange creatures." Fluttershy warned.

"But you could go with us and we could catch those creatures. We could be, umm... creature catchers!" Sweetie announced.

"YAY! Cutie Mark Crusader creature catchers!" the three fillies cheered loudly. Then Applebloom and Scootaloo grabbed a basket and carpet and disguised themselves as an imaginary creature with Applebloom on the bottom and Scootaloo on top so they can have a great height.

"Arrrr... I am a dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest! Rrrarr!" Scootaloo roared with the basked on top of her head in a deep voice as Applebloom walks towards Sweetie. She had a confused look but then understood what the plan was.

"Halt, dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest. I am Sweetie Belle, the creature catcher, and I'm here to catch you!" Sweetie said in a brave tone.

"You can never catch me! I am far too powerful and dangerous!" Scootaloo stated still acting like a monster.

"You cannot run from me!" Sweetie countered and the fillies started chasing each other giggling and roaring playfully.

"Um, oh, maybe that's not such a- now, girls, how about we do some nice coloring. Dhh-" Fluttershy grunted as Sweetie jumped on her.

"Come back, dangerous creature, so I can catch you!" Sweetie demanded after hopping off a table making it wobble.

"Never!" Scootaloo refused still being chased around the cottage.

"Careful... you don't..." Fluttershy tried to warn but then came a crashing sound.

"...break anything." Fluttershy finished. The three accidentally broke the table and gave shameful looks.

"Sorry, Fluttershy." Sweetie apologized shamefully.

"Yeah, sorry." Scootaloo joined.

"I guess we aren't creature catchers." Applebloom assumed sadly as the three lied down on the floor.

"Oh, girls, it's okay. I-" Fluttershy was cut off by another strange idea from the crusaders.

"I know! We could be Cutie Mark Crusader carpenters!" Applebloom suggested excitedly.

"C-carpenters?" Fluttershy stuttered to herself in fear and the three rushed out and returned with doctor head mirrors and stethoscopes looking at the wrecked table.

"Hammer!" Applebloom ordered.

"Hammer." Scootaloo repeated and grabbed a hammer and she and Sweetie passed it to Applebloom.

"Hammer!" Sweetie also ordered.

"Hammer." Scootaloo repeated again and passed it to Sweetie.

"Hammer. Hammer!" she then said to herself and grabbed her own tool. The three looked at each other and nodded and began their work only making loud obnoxious sounds intimidating Fluttershy and the animals. As soon as the noise was over Fluttershy looked to see the table the complete opposite of fixed as the pieces were put at the wrong places.

"Um ... that doesn't look like a table." Sweetie pointed out.

"We were making a table?" Scootaloo asked in confusion.

"Somepony needs to put this thing out of its misery." Applebloom mentioned.

"We are definitely not Cutie Mark Carpenters." Scootaloo said.

"Who wants a picture of a hammer on their flank anyway?" Sweetie asked.

"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, how about a game?" Fluttershy asked.

"A game?" Applebloom repeated as the crusaders made their way to the couch.

"It's called 'Shhh!'" Fluttershy said.

"What's that?" Scootaloo asked confusingly.

"Well, it's a game about who can be quiet the longest. Sound fun?" Fluttershy asked but the three had disappointed looks on their faces.

"I'm the world champ, you know. I bet you can't beat me!" Fluttershy said and gave out a cute smile and took a deep breath holding it in.

"I lose!" Scootaloo shouted.

"Me too!" Sweetie joined.

"Me three!" Applebloom also said and the three began going around the house looking for something else to do to find their own talents with Fluttershy sighing letting go of her breath.

"Okay, now what can we do? Oooh! How about Cutie Mark Crusader coal miners?" Applebloom suggested popping her head from the fireplace with soot covering her.

"YEAH!" the other two cheered also sticking their heads out with soot on them.

"NO!" Fluttershy declined forcefully and the three moaned in disappointment with puppy eyes.

"I mean, it's time for bed, don't you think? Aren't you excited to get all toasty and warm in your snuggly-wuggly widdle beds?" Fluttershy cooed.

"Snuggly-wuggly? But we have more crusading to do!" Applebloom pointed out.

"We've got plans!" Scootaloo added.

"And capes!" Sweetie reminded showing her their capes.

"Um, okay, um. Maybe the crusading can wait until morning? When it's light? And not so... dark?" Fluttershy suggested the four made their way upstairs.

"How are we gonna find our special talent in our sleep?" Applebloom asked as the three lie in Fluttershy's bed while she blows out the candle light.

"Maybe you'll have a lovely little dream about your special talent." Fluttershy predicted.

"But we're not even tired!" Scootaloo complained.

"How about I sing you a lullaby?" Fluttershy suggested.

"Mm-hmm, yeah!" the three agreed and Fluttershy cleared her throat and began to sing her lullaby.

"Hush now, quiet now

It's time to lay your sleepy head

Hush now, quiet now

It's time to go to bed." Fluttershy sang in a beautiful harmonizing voice. The three fillies began yawning and looking tired.

"I know this one!" Sweetie admitted.

"Oh, how wonderful! Why don't you sing it with me?" Fluttershy offered. Sweetie cleared her throat and gave sly smiles to the other two and they got her message as they covered their ears as Sweetie began singing in a bouncy jazzy tune.

---

[Sweetie Belle]

"Hush now! Quiet now!

It's time to lay your sleepy head!

Said hush now! Quiet now!

It's time to go to bed!"

---

Fluttershy: "Okay Sweetie, that was..."

---

[Sweetie Belle]

Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!

The exciting day behind you!

Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!

Let the joy of dream land find you!

---

Fluttershy: "Thank you Sweetie, um..."

---

[Sweetie Belle]

"Hush now! Quiet now!

Lay your sleepy head!

Said hush now! Quiet now!

It's time to go to BED!

OW!" Sweetie sang so loud that it even frightened the chickens outside. Sweetie than went back into the covers getting ready for bed while the other two lay under the sheets. They then heard clucking from outside.

"What is that?" Scootaloo asked and the three were curious to find out. After Fluttershy finished cleaning up some of the mess from the vibrating singing she sees that the three fillies disappeared from the bed and looked outside to see them in the chicken den.

"Girls!" Fluttershy called out from the window.

"Fluttershy, your chickens are on the loose!" Applebloom pointed out as the chickens run around in panic.

"I wonder what could have caused that..." Sweetie said and the other two looked at her in disbelief.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy, the Cutie Mark Crusaders will handle this!" Scootaloo assured.

"Cutie Mark Crusader chicken herders! Yay!" Sweetie cheered and the three rushed over and chased the chickens scaring them even more.

"No, I don't think that's a- ah, come back! Please!" Fluttershy begged but they ignored her and continued on chasing the chickens and Fluttershy flew down to get their attention from there.

"Come on, girls, the chickens are fine- oh, girls, um..." Fluttershy continues to struggle for attention until a stray chicken landed on her head and was starting to irritate her.

"GIRLS!" Fluttershy shouted which finally caught the three's attention thus stopping the chase. She then made some clicking noises and urged the chicken off her head and takes the rest back to their den.

"Come on, in you go." Fluttershy ordered as three remained outside disobeying her command. She then decided to use her secret talent the stare. She give a big intimidating look at the chickens which began to actually frighten them. The three fillies looked in surprise seeing how Fluttershy is doing this. Soon the three chickens backed their way inside the den and Fluttershy went back to the fillies.

"There's some good chickens. Okay, you three. Isn't it about time you got into bed?" Fluttershy asked.

"BUT-" the crusaders cried in unison.

"Please?" Fluttershy begged and the three looked down in defeat. Seeing this as an agreement Fluttershy smiled and sent the three back to bed.

"So, no more crusading for tonight, all right?" Fluttershy said.

"Yes, Fluttershy! Scootaloo answered closing her eyes.

"We promise, Fluttershy!" Sweetie guaranteed doing the same.

"Goodnight, Fluttershy!" Applebloom said also closing her eyes.

"Okay, goodnight." Fluttershy responded and went downstairs leaving the three in bed. Soon as she was out of sight the three crusaders peeked open one of their eyes to see her gone.

"Okay, so what kind of crusading do we do next?" Sweetie whispered.

"There's not much we can do from this room... unless we become Cutie Mark Crusader cottage cleaners." Applebloom suggested quietly.

"N-no, thanks."

"Well, we have to think of something. We can't just waste this opportunity to find out what our special talents are. Hey, girls! Look! Some of the chickens may have escaped!" Applebloom said and at the den was a hole from the fence with chicken claw marks imprinted on the ground leading to the Everfree Forest.

"Into the forest!" Scootaloo pointed out.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders chicken rescuers are go!" the three chanted again only silently this time clapping each others hooves. Bringing their capes along with them they peeked their heads from the staircase to get a better view of the living room and sees Fluttershy resting on the couch.

"[sigh] It really wasn't THAT hard ... I mean, all I needed to do was just show them who's in charge. Nothing's gonna get past Fluttershy! Good with animals, good with kids." Fluttershy said to herself proudly as the three were able to sneak pass her behind the couch and made their way out the door. As they make their way for the path to the forest Scootaloo's cape got caught on one of the yard fence poles and ripped it.

"Wait up!" Scootaloo called out quietly as she rushes to catch up with the other two as they entered the dangerous forest. Fluttershy rests peacefully on the couch unaware of what has happened.

"Mmm, peace and quiet. [gasps] Too quiet." Fluttershy said to herself sensing something was wrong. She flies up and gasps only to see the bed empty. She then checks outside to see if they haven't gone far.

"Girls? Girls?" Fluttershy called and checked the den and notices an empty nest in it.

"Elizabeak! She's missing! GIRLS?" Fluttershy called again and something caught her eyes and notices the hole in the den fence, claw and hoof prints, and Scootaloo's torn cape.

"Oh, no! They must have gone looking for my missing chicken! Which means... they must have gone into... [gasp] [gulp] The Everfree Forest!" Fluttershy said in fear.

"Those girls have really done it this time! They've really bitten off more than they can chew! Oh, just like me! I never should have offered to watch them." Fluttershy said and looked at the forest and took a deep breath before venturing into the deep dark foggy forest. The three fillies meanwhile were going deeper in the forest searching for the missing chicken.

"Here, chick-chick-chick-chick-chick! Brawck, brawck brawck brawck, brawck!" Applebloom called out imitating a chicken cluck.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asks in confusion.

"Calling for the chicken!"

"That is not how you call a chicken."

"Oh, and you know how to call a chicken?"

"I know that's not the way."

"Then show me."

"I don't have to show you!"

"You're just chicken!"

"Am not!"

"Oh, wait, now I know how to call a chicken! Scootaloo! Scoot-scootalooooo!"

"That's so funny I forgot to laugh."

"You also forgot how to call a chicken."

"Why, you..." Scootaloo grumbled irritatedly while Applebloom sticks out her tongue at her producing a rasberry.

"Come on, guys, we're not gonna find the chicken or our cutie marks by arguing." Sweetie assured just a branch that looks like a monster hand nearly grabbed her from the wind.

"Maybe that's our special talent. Arguing!" Applebloom mentioned.

"Is not!" Scootaloo opposed.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too! Anything yet?" Applebloom asked and Scootaloo checks her flank to see nothing.

"Nope." Scootaloo answered.

"Darn." the two began giggling at their silly argument and continued to search for the animal.

"Heeeere, chick-chick-chick-chick, bwock, bwock bwock bwock bwock bwock b-bwooock!" Applebloom called out in the imitation of a chicken. Fluttershy walked through the forest fearfully still looking for the missing trio.

"Girls? [gulp] Girls?" Fluttershy calls out quietly and squeaked as the wind picks up.

"Oh! Get a hold of yourself, Fluttershy. Just put one hoof in front of the other." Fluttershy instructed herself and stepped on a twig breaking it in two making a cracking sound.

"Ahh! What was that?" Fluttershy said shakingly as she backs into a tree and bumps into it and screams in horror runnning away in fear. She then notices two familiar figures in a clearing in the distance.

"Zach, Twilight? I-is that you?" Fluttershy called out as she approaches to get a closer look. As she was close enough to see the figures it was Zach and Twilight standing there but motionless.

"Oh, Zach, Twilight, it is you. Thank goodness you're here. I need your help. The girls are out here somewhere, and I'm afraid that they're-" Fluttershy paused as the clouds in the night sky moved from blocking the moonlight and revealed Zach and Twilight standing not in their colored appearances but surrounded by gray cemented stone. She gasps in fear from the sight as Zach stands in a protective position with an fierce look on his face in front of Twilight as she looks on fearfully looking like she was looking at something horrifying.

"Oh! What's happened to you?" Fluttershy asked and poked the two which made them toppled to the ground slamming on the ground like real stone startling her.

"Oh, no! If you've been turned to stone, it must mean- oh! Oh no, the girls! Don't move, I'll be back for you two. GIRLS!" Fluttershy called as she takes off for the air resuming her finding for the three as quick as she can before it's too late from whatever it is that put Zach and Twilight in the condition they're in. The crusaders continued following the tracks still trying to find the chicken while Applebloom and Scootaloo continue to argue hoping that their cutie marks will appear.

"Is not!" Scootaloo disagreed.

"Is too!" Applebloom assured.

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Girls! Our special talent is not arguing. Besides, what would the cutie mark of somepony whose talent is arguing even look like?" Sweetie asked making her point.

"Girls? Girls?" they then heard Fluttershy's voice call for them as she flies above the forest.

"Fluttershy?" Sweetie called getting her attention and lands near the three.

"Girls? Thank goodness I found you!" Fluttershy sighed in relief.

"Fluttershy, what-" Applebloom was about to ask.

"Girls, we have to leave the forest at once!" Fluttershy urged.

"But... we haven't found the chicken yet!" Sweetie pointed out.

"There's no time for that. There's a cockatrice on the loose!" Fluttershy warned.

"A cocka what now?" Applebloom asked in confusion.

"A cockatrice! It's a frightening creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a snake. Now, come on!" Fluttershy ordered but sees the three continuing into the forest.

"The head of a chicken and the body of a snake? That doesn't sound scary, that sounds silly!" Scootaloo said.

"Well, if I ever saw one of them cockathingies face-to-face, I'd laugh at how silly it was." Applebloom said and bumps into Fluttershy.

"NO! Never look one in the eye. If you look a cockatrice in the eye-" Fluttershy was about to explain until the three sees the rogue chicken running out of a bush.

"The chicken!" Applebloom pointed and the fillies began chasing for it.

"Girls! Wait!" Fluttershy called.

"Here, chick-chick-chick-chick-chick!" the three shouted. They immediately stopped after hearing a menacing growl come from the bushes. Sweetie then notices the chickens head popping out of another bush.

"There he is!" Sweetie pointed. Suddenly another chicken head pops out.

"Two chickens?" Scootaloo said in confusion.

"I thought only one escaped!" Applebloom reminded.

"Grab them both!" Sweetie ordered and the three tried grabbing the two birds but they both hid back into the bushes. Just then the second chicken comes out flying in the air revealing the rest of it's body not in feathers but in scales like a snake scaring the fillies. It then opened it's dragon like wings and roared. The real panicking chicken then found itself cornered by the beast. It's eyes began glowing red and in just a couple seconds the chicken completely turned into stone as well. It landed half buried in the ground and the cockatrice turned it's attention to the girls readying for it's next target. The girls screamed and ran as fast as they could with the creature following. On the way Scootaloo accidentally tripped on a rock falling to the ground with the other two. They then noticed Zach and Twilight's statued bodies with snails crawling on them.

"See? Now we have to-" Fluttershy was about to say but cut off by the girls screaming and running around.

"Girls, please. Girls- now listen to me, girls, I- please!" Fluttershy tried to calm them down but they continued screaming. She then notices the cockatrice coming out of the bushes and ready to attack.

"GIRLS! Behind me, NOW!" Fluttershy ordered covering her eyes and the crusaders stopped screaming and did what they were told. The creature approaches waiting for Fluttershy to open her eyes as she struggles to keep them closed. She then opened one of her eyes and sees the the fillies standing behind her in fear. She knew she had to do something to protect them even if it's risking her own life and she exactly knows how to do it.

"YOU! Just who do you think you are, going around turning others into stone?" Fluttershy opened her eyes and came up to the beast staring at it with an unlikely bravery from her. The cockatrice flinched for a moment and used it's powers on her turning her to stone from the back and making it's way up.

"You should be ashamed of yourself. I have a mind to find your mother and tell her what you've been up to, young man." Fluttershy threatened making the creature worry even more trying to pick up the pace on casting her into stone.

"Now you go over there, and turn Elizabeak and my friends, Zach and Twilight back to normal, and don't ever let me catch you doing this again." Fluttershy warned after using her stare power until finally the cockatrice's will was broken and let Fluttershy go from stone imprisonment. The crusaders were surprised by this act of bravery.

"Do you understand me?" Fluttershy asked and the cockatrice uneasily nodded and went over to free Zach and Twilight squawking in fear.

"Are you girls all right? I was so worried!" Fluttershy asked concernedly.

"Yeah, fine!" Scootaloo answered gratefully.

"Thanks to that stare of yours." Sweetie added.

"You're like the queen of stares. You're the-"

"Stare Master!" the crusaders said in unison

"We're sorry we snuck out of the house and into the forest." Sweetie apologized.

"Yeah. We'll listen to you from now on." Applebloom said.

"We promise." Scootaloo assured.

"Oh, you do, do you? Well, you better, or I'll give you... The Stare." Fluttershy said giving her a one eye look at the three giving them a couple of scared looks but they all started giggling. Soon Zach and Twilight were approaching back to their normal selves.

"What... what happened?" Twilight asked confusingly.

"And why is there snail slime on us?" Zach asked irritatedly and they heard clucking going on from a couple yards and sees the missing chicken back to normal as well struggling to get out of the buried upside down condition. The next morning the group returned to the cottage after getting the tea Zach and Twilight were after from Zecora's while the three fillies run around playing with each other.

"And that's when it brought you two back from stone." Fluttershy explains her story to Zach and Twilight while they have tea at her backyard table while Twilight writes it down.

"This is gonna make quite a letter to the princess. I was wrong about you. You certainly do know how to handle those girls." Twilight assumed.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far."

"Hmm? How so?"

"I assumed that I'd be just as good with kids as I am with animals. Boy, was I wrong. I really learned the hard way not to bite off more than I could chew."

"You and Rarity both."

"Yep, but you did manage quite well for yourself. I guess I still have to practice more to be more stronger. Some protector I was." Zach muttered disappointedly.

"Oh, Zach, it's okay, you tried your best. You were right about coming along yesterday." Twilight said giving a thankful smile to him which he returned. Just then Rarity approaches the table.

"Good morning, Rarity." Twilight greeted.

"Did you finish all those capes?" Fluttershy asked.

"[sigh] Just delivered them. I have to admit, if you hadn't come along, I might not have. Thanks again." Rarity thanked nuzzling Fluttershy.

"Won't you stay for some tea?"

"I really must get back to the shop and clean up. Girls! Get your things. Time to go. Girls!" Rarity called again but the fillies ignored her and kept chasing each other laughing.

"Girls! Time to- Girls! Your things! Girls! It's time to- GIRLS!" Rarity struggles to get the three's attention.

"Allow me. [clears throat] Girls?" Fluttershy called and just like that the crusaders aligned in front of the two mares and just shocks Rarity in disbelief.

"Yes, Fluttershy." Applebloom responded.

"You called?" Scootaloo asked.

"Go and get your things. Rarity is here to see you home." Fluttershy ordered.

"Of course, Fluttershy, right away!" Sweetie said and the three rushed off to grab their belongings.

"Ah, huh, ah, how did you... how did you do that?" Rarity stuttered in disbelief and Fluttershy looks at Zach and Twilight giving them a wink making them smile.

"I guess I'm just as good with kids as I am with animals." Fluttershy assumed and the crusaders come out with their backpacks saying their goodbyes.

"Ah, uh, speaking of which, I could use your help with Opal." Rarity said.

"Of course. How about later today?" Fluttershy asked and just heard a cat yowl and Rarity turns to show Opal clawed onto her ribs.

"How about now?" Rarity strained trying to take the pain and it wasn't long for Zach and Twilight to see the sight and the three couldn't help but laugh despite the events that happened but everything turned out alright in the end.

[This will probably be the last update until I get the rest of the season done. Sorry to keep you waiting but I hope the patience will be worth it and I'll do my best. Thank you and enjoy.]