I woke up the next day and I wasn't sure why, but I felt like seeing Rarity and talking to her, even though I'm in love with Trixie despite every other pony not knowing this...shaking my head, I put on my genuine smile and left my house with my shades on. I walked through town, on my way to Rarity's home when I spotted Fluttershy walking by, holding a basket in her mouth, but she didn't seem to be alright.

"Hey Fluttershy, are you alright?" I asked, walking over to her.

She put down the basket and snuffled, "Ah-choo!" she sneezed.

I guess not, good thing I had my bubble shield spell mastered.

"Oh hi Bond, I was taking Opal here back to Rarity's, from her grooming session, when I caught a cold from somewhere." she answered, whilst snuffling.

"You don't look so good, Fluttershy, you should go back home and get some rest." I advised.

"But what about Opal?"

"Leave it to me, I was on my way to Rarity's home anyway." I insisted, "It would be nice for me to help you."

"Alright...thank you Bond, you're a true friend." she complimented, "I'll go and get some rest."

"Good, now take it easy for the day." I added as she walked to her home.

I smiled back as I picked up the basket and trotted along towards Rarity's home. When I arrived, I opened the door and then walked upstairs since Rarity wasn't down here. I rung her bedroom/outfit design doorbell and opened it.

"Oooh, what now?!" Rarity exclaimed.

I then placed the basket down, "Oh I'm sorry Rarity, am I interrupting something?"

"Oh goodness, Bond Racer, what brings you here?"

"I was on my way to see how you were doing when I saw Fluttershy taking Opal back from her grooming, but she wasn't feeling well, so I took her job of taking your cat home instead." I explained with a smile.

"Well, aren't you a sweet dear and forgive me for my outburst when you walked in. I was so wrapped up in my work that I forgot Opal was being brought back from her grooming."

"Oh I'm sure it was no trouble at all, she's right here in the basket as well."

Opal than jumped out and was looking very clean.

"Oooh, she looks great." Rarity commented, "I just don't understand how she's able to do it. I can't get near her without getting a swipe from her claws." she then moved her head close and nearly got swiped by Opal's claws, "Did she use...the stare on her?"

"Umm, what's the stare?" I asked in confusion.

"Oh, you don't know what it is?"

"Not really..."

"Well, from what I know, Fluttershy has a deep dark ability of using the stare, it happens very rarely and it seems to effect all kinds of animals. But she seems to have no control over it and it just happens." Rarity explained.

"I see." I said, although I wasn't sure to believe it, unless I saw it myself. "At least she's very good with animals, since it's her speciality."

"Well, maybe Fluttershy should have Opal as a cutie instead of those butterflies."

We shared a giggle, cause I knew she was joking.

"Oh oh oh oh!" Sweetie Belle intervened, "Maybe I can be good with animals too."

Opal then swiped a bit off Sweetie's mane, that's probably Opal's way of saying 'fat chance'.

"By the way, I was hoping Fluttershy could help me with looking after my little sister and her friends. I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew with this order."

"But you're not eating anything." Sweetie said in confusion.

"No Sweetie, it's an expression. It means that I've taken on more work than I can handle. I've got 20 of these special robes to make tonight and they're due in Trottingham tomorrow morning."

"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?"

"These are pure golden," I compliment, "But twenty by tonight? How will you get it all done?"

"Well, I, uh..." Rarity tried to explain.

"Oh, oh oh!" Sweetie Bell cried out. "Maybe I could..." Rarity gave her a cold and irritated stare. "…just... just stand over here and watch." She walked over to a corner.

"I'll manage." Rarity answered.

"Well, maybe we should get out of your mane so you can work." I replied as she began walking out the door.

A couple of fillies suddenly rushed through the door, saying Hello to each of us.

"Hello, uh, girls..." Rarity grew another worried expression.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" They stopped and greeted her. It was Applebloom and Scootaloo.

Sweetie Bell changed her gloomy look to a joyful one. "Scootaloo! Applebloom!" She exclaimed.

"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yup! Cutie mark planning session is a go!" Sweetie Bell answered, giving a salute.

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

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

"Ah'm ready! You ready?" Applebloom asked Scootaloo.

"Very ready!" Scootaloo replied confidently.

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Rarity's!" The three of them shouted loudly. "Yay!"

"And... look what I made us!" Sweetie Bell represented a velvet cape with their insignia on it.

"Oh, wow!" Scootaloo and Applebloom replied as they combined laughs and gasps.

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

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders! Yay!" They shouted.

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

"To find our cutie marks!" Applebloom added.

"Yup. And look. I lined them with this special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?" Sweetie Bell finished.

My expression instantly changed to a shocked one when I heard the words "gold" and "silk". I looked over Rarity to see her eye begin twitching. She rushed over to her desk and pulled out her other gold fabric to reveal square holes in it. "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."

"WHAT?" Sweetie Bell exclaimed.

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

"But—

"No buts this time. I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle; it's just the way it has to be."

"Awwww..." They groaned in disappointment.

"I suppose I could take them for the night." I offered.

They lifted their heads and looked excitedly at Rarity.

"I couldn't ask you to do that, dear." Rarity replied.

The CMC's looked at me.

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

The three of their heads continued to shift to each speaker.

"Have you spent a day with my sister and her friends? A problem is all it would be."

"Did Fluttershy have a problem with Opal? Besides, I'm an alicorn and I can handle much more than three hyperactive fillies!"

"Hey, I'm not hyper!" Scootaloo protested.

"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."

"Come on Rarity, you've gone through a lot recently, you need time for yourself with your work, let me do you a favor in return."

The fillies stood proudly and smiled innocently.

"Well..." Rarity thought for a moment. "…all right."

"Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover at Bond Racer's house! Yay!" They shouted out loud, causing our ears to be sore from the volume. They were about to rush out the door when I shut it with my magic.

"Just a minute, fillies. You're not getting away from an alicorn that easily." I then created a big bubble around them which lifted them off the ground.

"See, Rarity? Not a problem, I'll bring them back tomorrow morning after you've done your work."

"Okay Bond, thanks again. Have fun Sweetie Belle."

I then left the home with the fillies still trapped in the bubble. We were walking around town, on our way to my home.

"Please Bond, let us out of here." Applebloom said.

"Are you kidding? The minute I let you three out of the bubble, you're gonna run off and I'll lose sight of you."

"Awww..." they all said.

"But I need to go to the bathroom." Scootaloo said embarrassingly.

"Alright, be quick, because I wanna make sure you three stay safe with me." I then made the bubble disappear and they landed on the ground...only to them create a boundary spell so they wouldn't try and sneak off far away from me.

"Nice try, fillies, but at least you're not stuck in a bubble now." I chuckled, as I was having a lot of fun, messing with them.

Soon, we saw Twilight trotting around.

"Hi Twilight!" The fillies said in unison which nearly caught Twilight off guard.

"Hey fillies...oh hello, Bond." she greeted.

"Oh hey Twilight. Where are you off too?" I asked.

"I'm heading to the Everfree Forest to Zecora's, to get some of my favourite tea." Twilight replied.

"That's quite brave of you." I said in a positive manner "Do be careful, won't you?"

"Of course, what are you doing with the girls?"

"Rarity has a big order to fill tonight, so I volunteered to take the girls over to my house to watch over them."

"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 three little angels?" I smirked as they stood in a row with big smiles. "They'll be no problem at all."

"What about Fluttershy, could she help?"

"I'm afraid she's down with the cold today, I don't think spreading germs to other ponies would be ideal."

"Oh I see, I hope she gets well soon. Her animals need taking care of, after all." Twilight said, "Well, see you around."

"Same to you, Twilight." I answered as she trotted off to the forest.

We soon carried on walking around town and they told me a few stories about how they're to get their cutie marks which I didn't really pay attention to...all the while, I was thinking of Trixie and wishing to see her again.

She did raise a good point, with Fluttershy down with a cold, who's gonna take care of her animals for the whole day? It would be a lot more work needed, but I needed to be a useful friend all the same, I then thought of an idea.

"Girls, there's been a change of plans." I said to the fillies. "We're heading over to Fluttershy's cottage, I completely forgot that she needs help with the animals later tonight."

"Why's that?" Sweetie asked.

"She's not feeling well and needs a lot of rest. So when we get there, try to be quiet if possible."

The fillies nodded as we turned around and walked to Fluttershy's cottage, it was sunset by the time we got there. I opened the door and greeted, "Hi Fluttershy, it's only me and the three fillies." I yelled politely.

I didn't get a response, so I assumed she was sleeping in bed. After we all walked in and closed the door behind me, the little fillies began their hyper activities throughout the home. I had to chuckle a little here, since I know that their despite their high energy, I can put them under control in a bubble.

"No problem at all." I said to nopony, "Okay, fillies, what do you three wish to do?" I asked.

"I'm gonna get my mark first!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Girls?" I asked again.

"Nuh-uh!" Sweetie Belle counteracted.

"Should we—

"I am!"

"Girls, okay, now settle –

"I'm staying up all night!"

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"GIRLS!" I shouted after I couldn't take the ignorance anymore. They all stopped what they were doing and walked over to ,e, in silence."Listen to me, please." I told them politely before clearing my throat, "So! What do you wanna do?"

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

"Yes and..."

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

"And, and, and, we, um- yeah! What they said!" Sweetie Belle struggled.

"Mmm, I don't know. Why don't we check to see if Fluttershy is alright," I suggested.

"Or... we could go adventuring in the Everfree Forest!" Scootaloo offered.

The rest of the girls agreed and began heading out the front door, but I put up a forcefield around the door, "That wouldn't be fun.. The Everfree Forest is too dangerous for you fillies. It's filled with far too many strange creatures and Celestia knows what."

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

"YAY!" They all shouted again, damaging our ears with the strength of their voices. "Cutie Mark Crusader creature catchers!"

Scootaloo and Applebloom dressed up with a rug and basket to look like a monster. Scootaloo began making noises. "Arrrr... I am a dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest! Rrrarr!"

Sweetie Belle stared at them in confusion for a moment, but then finally realized at what they were up to. "Halt, dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest. I am Sweetie Belle, the creature catcher, and I'm here to catch you!"

"You can never catch me! I am far too powerful and dangerous!"

"You cannot run from me!"

They began chasing each other as they giggled at the same time.

"Come back, dangerous creature, so I can catch you!" Sweetie Belle bounced off of Fluttershy's head.

"Never!"

After seeing them mess around in the house without any regard for safety or destroying things, I quickly took action. "Alright, that's enough." I said, walking over to them and pulling the rug and basket off. Scootaloo fell off from being on Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stopped running.

I placed the three of them in front of me and began trying to talk some sense into them. "Look, I know how you little girls are really excited about well being 'Cutie Mark Crusaders', but you've got to remember that you need to watch what you're doing. Fluttershy and I don't want you girls to be getting into any trouble or harmed. Remember

They sighed and lowered their heads, apologizing.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, shall we play a game?"

"Oooh! How about Cutie Mark Crusader coal miners?"

"YEAH!" The others agreed.

"NO!" I exclaimed.

"Awwww!"

I looked on out the window and seeing night-time beginning, I guess I could try putting them to bed. So I got a few pillows from the sofa and placed them on the rug in the middle of the room. "Girls, I think it's time for bed, don't you think?"

"But we're not even tired." Scootaloo disagreed.

"How about I sing you a lullaby, maybe that will help?" I offered.

"Mm-hmm, yeah!" They agreed.

"Alright, here it goes..." I then used my magic to create and sprinkle sleeping dust on them and it worked, they fell asleep right away on the pillows, I then turned out the room light so they could sleep better. "Sing you a lullaby, yeah right." I muttered.

I went on upstairs quietly to check on Fluttershy,

"Are you okay?" I asked calmly.

"Yes, I'm feeling a little better." she replied, resting in her bed.

"Good, I just put the fillies to sleep, it was no problem at all."

"That's really impressive, Bond. You're truly one of a kind." she complimented.

"Uhh I guess I am." I blushed slightly, "But anyways, you need anything, I'll be outside watching over the animals."

"Thanks you Bond, goodnight."

"Same to you."

I walked back downstairs and through the backdoor to check on the animals...when to my surprise, I saw footprints of a chicken that trailed from the area into the Everfree Forest, I decided to go on in and find the chicken and bring it back. I then noticed a piece of red fabric by the fence...oh god no! Don't tell me the fillies went out to look for it as well. I then flew up above the forest trees and went to look for them, a few seconds later and I found a statue that caught my attention, upon inspecting it closer, clouds began to move away to show a full moon...and I gasped! It was Twilight who was turned into stone, she had a shocked expression...I know what this was the work of, legends say that a cockatrice lives in the forest and if anypony looked at it in the eye, they would be turned to stone.

Luckily, my alicorn magic is more than strong enough to reverse the curse. With my magic, Twilight went back to fully coloured purple and was moving again.

"Twilight, it's me!" I exclaimed.

"Oh gosh, Bond Racer, thank goodness it's you." Twilight said as she got up and hugged me "I was walking through the forest on my way back when a cockatrice came out and shocked me."

"It's okay Twilight, I'm here...but I only found you by luck, I came here because the three fillies went into the forest looking for one of Fluttershy's missing chickens."

"Oh no, that can't be good."

"Too right it's not. That why I need to find them quick before that cockatrice gets them."

"I'm not sure if I can help...my magic is too weak from that stone turning."

"It's alright Twilight, you just get out of this forest as quick as you can, I'll speak to you in the morning when I get the fillies out safe."

"Alright Bond, do be careful."

I nodded as Twilight galloped off towards the exit of the forest.

I flew up and resumed my search for the fillies, but not for long as I then heard screams and I looked at where it was coming from. I then found them huddled up together screaming and close to tears. I flew down quickly and placed a forcefield around them.

"Stay together, fillies, you're safe now." I said to them as I put on my shades, ready to deflect the stare curse...then as if right on queue, a cockatrice appeared out of nowhere and attempted to turn me into stone.

"Get ready to stare your last, you cocky monster!" I yelled as my shades and magic combined together. The cockatrice stared at me, but it had no effect and began to stare even harder and more evil, before it suddenly turned itself into stone, cause of the reflection off my shades. The cockatrice was now a statue as I celebrated on the inside...Everfree Forest - 0 Bond Racer - 1 would be what I shall put on a scoreboard in my house somewhere.

When it was over, I turned behind and evaporated the forcefield.

"Are you three girls alright?" I asked.

"Much better now that you saved us."

"Yeah, that was so cool!" Scootaloo agreed.

But I wasn't happy, I was disappointed in them, cause I had to myself at risk in order to save them.

The fillies looked back with a bit of guilt.

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

"Yeah, we'll listen to you from now on." Applebloom agreed.

"We promise." Scootaloo added.

"Oh you will? I may not believe that for a second, but I'll give you a chance on that one. Cause if you don't obey me, you'll get 'the stare'!" I then winked.

We all giggled before I picked them up on my back, they held on tight as I flew up and we left the forest and back to Fluttershy's cottage. Flying down on the ground, the fillies got off me and we walked back into her home.

"You three have a goodnight, you're in safe hands with Fluttershy." I said to them.

"We will, goodnight, Bond." they all said as they went to their bed I made and fell asleep. I was tired myself, but I didn't wanna walk back to my house, so I slept on the sofa through the night.

The next morning, I woke up and noticed that the fillies had just woken up and were playing innocently around the garden, I then headed on out and saw Fluttershy and Twilight discussing about last night with Twilight writing it all on a scroll.

"And that's when Bond Racer brought Twilight back from stone." Fluttershy said.

"This is gonna make quite a letter to the princess. I have to admit. Bond Racer certainly knows how to handle those fillies." Twilight responded.

Fluttershy looked a little embarrassed. "Oh, I wouldn't go that far."

"Hmm? How so?"

"Well he assumed that he'd be just as good with kids as I am with animals. But I think we both learnt that sometimes, it's best not to bite off more than we can chew."

Twilight finished writing her letter and rolled it up. "You and Rarity both."

I walked over to them and greeted. "Good Morning you two."

"Oh good morning Bond, we were just talking about you." Twilight said.

"Yeah, I kinda figured that out and you know what, I think I can handle them well, "

We then heard footsteps behind us and turned to see Rarity. "Good morning, Rarity."

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

Rarity gave a sigh of relief. "Just delivered them. I have to admit, if Bond hadn't come along, I might not have." she then looked at me, "Thanks again."

"Won't you stay for some tea?" Fluttershy offered.

"I really must get back to the shop and clean up. Girls! Get your things. Time to go." Rarity called. However, the girls were too busy running around and giggling. "Girls! Girls! Time to- Girls! Your things! Girls! It's time to- GIRLS!" Rarity struggled with the little ones.

I walked over to Rarity. "Allow me." I cleared my throat. "Girls?"

The fillies immediately stopped talking and ran over to me.

"Yes, Bond." Applebloom answered.

"You called?" Scootaloo asked.

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

"Of course, right away!" Sweetie answered politely and ran with the girls to grab their things.

Rarity stood dumbstruck. "Ah, huh, ah, how did you...how did you do that?"

I winked over to Twilight and Fluttershy. "I guess I'm just as good with kids as I am with animals."

The girls ran out of the cottage with their capes. "Thank you, Bond! Bye! Thank you Stare Master!" They said as they headed towards home.

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

"Of course." Fluttershy responded. "How about later today?"

There was a fierce meow as Rarity revealed Opal, who was clinging on to Rarity with her claws. "How about now?" Rarity strained.

Twilight walked over to Fluttershy and me and observed this as well. They began giggling at the sight.

"I guess I could do that." Fluttershy pulled Opal off of Rarity. The cat began to purr sweetly around her.

"Oh, thank you so much, Fluttershy! I should take the girls home now." She began running after the fillies. "Girls! Wait!"

"I should probably head home too… I need Spike to send the letter I just wrote."

"Ok, goodbye, Twilight!" Fluttershy responded as I waved to Twilight.

She waved to the both of us as she walked home.

Fluttershy looked at Opal. "Let's get you groomed, shall we?"

Opal released a meow along with a purr.

"I should probably go back home and get something to eat, I'm vanished."

"Alright Bond, see you soon." Fluttershy said. "Oh and thank you for all you've done yesterday." she then gave me a hug which I accepted.

"Anything I could do to be a true friend."

"And I wanna thank you too, Bond, you saved me a great deal of trouble," Rarity added as she hugged me too before she resumed running after the fillies.

"It was no problem, I'm just glad to be of use. See you girls."

They waved back as I went on home and it was very different, it wasn't nightfall this time as I got back home. Looking after those three fillies was quite a challenge and learning a lesson about taking on more than what I could do was quite a useful lesson. But with that out of the way, all I wanted to do was to get some lunch from my home and ponder about what to do next. Next Chapter: Exchanging Pasts Estimated time remaining: 25 Hours, 45 Minutes