Author's note: Haunting Hour

Chapter 5: Sleepover

For the past two weeks I have been traveling around Ponyville watching the goings on, and learning some of the locals' names. I check up on that crazy group of ponies that went up to the mountain often. And I have learned a good deal about them. But today I saw something that has be befuddled.

Who gave pegasus the power to move the clouds. That is all I want to know. I have been watching as dozens of pegasus have been moving hundreds of clouds together to create a storm. So can pegasus do magic too? Is this weather manipulation their form of magic? I...I think I'm just going to go to the library.

As I drift through Ponyville, I end up at the library just before the rain started. I looked around the main room of the library and saw no sign of Twilight. I just shrug my shoulders and go pick one of the books, and I look at the title: Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super. I set the book on the table and started reading the book, and I was surprised at what kind of things existed in this world. There was even a blue flower that could cause practical jokes onto ponies, weird.

I stopped reading when I heard Twilight come down the stairs, and watched her go to the door. "Applejack! Rarity! Applejack! Rarity!" she called out the door "Come inside girls, quick."

I saw both Applejack and Rarity enter the library, both with damp coats from the rain. What were they doing outside in this weather?

"Whoa, nelly. Is inside a tree really the best place to be in a lightning storm?" Applejack asked. That is a very good point; won't this thing be one giant target for the lightning?

"It is if you have a magical lightning rod protecting your home like I do. Come on in!" Twilight answered. Of course, if it doesn't make any sense, then magic is the answer.

"Hah! We are most grateful for your invitation," said Rarity.

"Thank ya kindly for yer hospitality," Applejack quickly following with her thanks.

Rarity then seems to notice the mud covering Applejack's hooves, "Uh, do be a polite house guest and go wash up please, won't you?"

Applejack goes outside to wash off the mud off of her, mumbling "If I gotta spend one more second with that fussbudget Rarity today, I can't be held responsible for what I'm gonna do." I guess the two don't get along well

Twilight then attempts some small talk with Rarity, "Some storm, huh? The Pegasus ponies sure have outdone themselves this time. I hope you and Applejack don't have any trouble getting home."

"It may indeed be a problem."

"Well, you're welcome to stay if need be. Spike is away in Canterlot on royal business. I'm home all alone tonight," Twilight then seemed to get excited about something, "You and Applejack should totally sleep over! We'll have a slumber party! I've always wanted one of those."

"Oh! Uh, goodness. Uh, I do believe I have another engagement scheduled for this evening that completely slipped my mind until just now," Note to self, ponies are bad liars, "Ah, silly me, I can't possibly stay here all night - with Applejack."

Twilight was not taking no as an answer when she shoved a book in Rarity's face.

"Slumber 101: All You've Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask," Rarity read.

"My own personal copy. It's a fantastic reference guide. You should see the table of contents. I've been waiting for a chance to use it, and today is the day! This is gonna be so great!" Wow Twilight is really… well planned.

"Yes, uh, great," Rarity gives a nervous chuckle

When Applejack reenters the house she finds them doing something that makes no sense to, "What in tarnation... Now wait just a goll-darn minute. Ya make me wash the mud off my hooves, but its okay for y'all to have mud all over yer faces?"

"Silly! This is called a mud mask. It's to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion," Rarity answered. That is for skin, these ponies make no sense sometimes.

Twilight just seemed exited that they were having fun, "We're giving each other makeovers! Eee-hee! We have to do it, it says so in the book." She then shoves that book into Applejack's face for her to read.

"Slumber 101: Everything You... Oh hey, heh, would'ja look at the time. I gotta skidaddle on home quick. I'm powerful late for, uh, fer somethin'. Uh, g'night," As Applejack attempts to leave lightning strikes nearby, "Or maybe I'll sit here for a spell."

"Hurray slumber party!"

Rarity then starts putting that mud onto Applejack's face and cucumbers over her eyes, "Blahch. What in the world is this for?"

"To reduce the puffiness around one's eyes, of course," Rarity explains

Applejack then removes the cucumbers from her eyes, and begins to eat them "Puffiness-schmuffiness! That's good eatin'!"

"Hee-hee! Isn't this exciting?" Twilight states, "We'll do everything by the book, and that will make my slumber party officially fun."

"Did you hear that, Applejack? You certainly would not want to do anything that would ruin Twilight's very first slumber party, would you?" Rarity said. Is she trying to purposely agitate Applejack?

"Of course not, 'n you wouldn't either, I reckon?" Applejack counters back at Rarity.

"So do we have an agreement?"

"You betcha," Applejack spits on her hoof, and holds it out for Rarity to shake.

"Oh! Gross! You know, there's messy and there's just plain rude." Rarity says at Applejack's actions.

"You know, there's fussy, 'n there's just plain gettin' on my nerves."

"Fortunately, I can get along with any pony, no matter how difficult she may be."

"Oh yeah? Well, I'm the get-alongin'ist pony yer ever gonna meet."

"That's not even a word."

Twilight then speaks up to the others, "This is going to be the bestest slumber party ever! Yay!"

Applejack and Rarity give a weak, "Yay."

This is not going to end well any bit. Just ignore them and continue reading.

I ended up ignoring them while they do all of those sleepover activities. This book is really informative. I did still stop to see what they were doing every so often. I almost laughed when I heard of the "Headless Horse" story. Our version is much better.

They ended up also making some s'mores, and had a pillow fight. I got to say that magic is unfair to use in a pillow fight. Twilight dominated the whole thing. I ended up finishing the book, when I heard something that Twilight said.

"Hey girls, there has been something odd going on in the library recently"

"What do you mean?" asked Rarity.

"I mean I have been noticing that some of the books around here have been reorganizing themselves, and neither I nor Spike have done it" Oh, so she did notice what I have been doing.

"Is this another ghost story Twilight?" asked Applejack.

"No, it's not, and since we are having a sleepover I have decided to try something" Twilight then pulled out a board with a small triangle piece on it. Is that a-"I got this thing from a specialty story back in Canterlot a while back, it is called an Ouija. It is supposed to allow one to speak to spirits"

"Ya' better be not pullin' my hoof Twilight"

"I'm not saying it works, I just want to try it out," Twilight explains. We have an Ouija board. I am going to have some real fun tonight.

(POV Twilight's)

Ok, I set up the board, and dimmed the lights. Now it is time to see if there is any truth to this thing. "Alright, now each of us puts a hoof on the triangle piece and let it move on its own," I explained. "I call forth any spirits that may reside in this building, speak to us." Nothing happened.

"Um Twilight, nothin' is happen'," said Applejack

"Maybe we should ask it a question," suggested Rarity.

"Yeah, alright. Um… is there a spirit with us?" I asked. I am starting to doubt that this will work. But then the wooden piece started moving towards 'Yes'.

We all watched it transfixed. "Twilight, this better not be a joke" said Applejack.

"This isn't me" I said, not moving my eyes from the piece. "Um, who are you?"

The piece then started to move around, spelling the word 'Chrome'.

I am starting to get worried, what if this is real, will with 'Chrome' be angry that we are talking to it?

"Why are you here?" I asked

The piece moved around to spell 'Books'.

It came to the library for books? Do ghost read books? "Why have you been messing with my books?"

'To organize' the letters spelt out

"How—how did you die?" I just had to ask, my curiosity can be a curse sometimes.

'Wooden wolf.' Wooden wolf, does it mean a timber wolf?

"Oh, the poor pony" Rarity states.

"When did this happen?" Applejack asked.

'2 weeks.' I just sat there, 2 weeks? This pony died so recently, does anyone even know that this person died.

"Did you have any friends?" I asked, hoping that no one would be hurt.

'Yes.' There goes that, but if it has a friend we might as well find the pony to tell them.

"Who was your friend?" I feel sorry for whoever I have to tell

'Not was, is.' Wait, 'is'? Does he mean another ghost, or can he communicate with other ponies.

"Ok, who is your friend?" I asked.

'Fluttershy.' I froze, Fluttershy? This thing was, is Fluttershy's friend. Does she know that he is dead? Oh poor Fluttershy.

"I—I think that is enough" Applejack said, unnerved by the spellings.

"Um, yeah, let's just go to bed" Rarity agrees.

(POV Daniel's)

I was smiling. That was so much fun just scaring those 3 with that Ouija board. But you know I never did really talk to Fluttershy since the Dragon incident, I might as well go over to see her, might even brighten her day having a friend over.

So I left the library and head out towards Fluttershy's little place near the edge of the forest. When I got there I saw that there was still some light on, so I just floated right on it. I saw her on the couch bundled in blankets. I wondered why, but when lightning struck, and she hid in the blankets, I understood. I guess even the controllers of weather can still fear it. I decided I could try to comfort her.

I didn't have any way of writing to her, so I was going to have to speak.

"Fluttershy," I whispered, trying not to startle her. But she still jumped at my voice.

"Wh—who is there?" she asked afraid.

"Your friend from the mountain," I said, hoping she would understand.

"Oh, it is you. Sorry, you just startled me," she said, not as scared anymore. "Why are you here and not in the mountains anymore?"

"I don't live in the mountains Fluttershy, I was following you and your friend incase of any danger. As for why I am here, mostly because I was bored and wanted to check up on my friend," I explained.

"Um, I hope you don't me asking but why can't I see you? I can hear you but nothing else"

"Fluttershy promise me that you won't be afraid" I asked, worried that she might think I am a ghost.

"O-ok, I promise."

"Ok, Fluttershy, the reason you cannot see me is because I am a spirit, not a ghost." I try to explain.

"Ok," she seems to of accepted that quite well.

"Fluttershy, are you afraid of me?" I just had to ask.

"No, you helped me and my friends when I was too scared to face the dragon. You are a nice pony." She said with a small smile.

"Thanks Fluttershy, you know I still haven't introduced myself, my name is Daniel, but you can call me Chrome." I said to her

"It is nice to meet you Chrome" she said.

Lightning struck nearby, and Fluttershy cringed, and hid into her blankets again, "Fluttershy, are you scare of the lightning?"

Fluttershy gave a small "Yes."

"Fluttershy, if it makes you feel better I can keep you company till the storm passes," I offered.

"Oh no, I couldn't ask you to do that," she said.

"Fluttershy, it is no problem for me, I don't sleep anymore, and I would be happy to help you out" I said honestly.

"Um, ok. You can stay."

"And Fluttershy you should get some rest, it isn't healthy to stay up too late"

"No, no I am fine; I can sleep later when the storm is over"

She is going to need to get some sleep. I decided to try to comfort her, or at least put her to sleep. I put my hand on her mane, and stroke it a bit to help her relax. She stiffened from the first contact, but soon relaxed after she knew what was going on.

"Fluttershy just go to sleep, I'll be here to keep you safe"

"Hmm…but the lightning" she said, barely awake now. Who would of guess that would of worked.

"Sleep little one, it is time to rest" I said as I continued to stroke her hair, easing her into to sleep. So I was awarded with the sound of Fluttershy's gentle breathing, showing that she was indeed asleep. "Goodnight Fluttershy."