https://youtu.be/gnVEG_waiqg

A couple of days after my duel with Trixie and my ax getting an upgrade, I decided to test what it can do. I set up a few training dummies, a large brick wall, and a large wicker troll in an open field next to where we kept the cows. Since I was testing something new and possibly dangerous, I had a small audience to witness Frostbite's new abilities. As always, my beautiful brides sat to the side with our sons watching with great interest. Rainbow said she would be by soon once she got a drink from her favorite vendor, but she was taking too long so I decided to go on ahead.

" Alright, I'm tired of waiting, let's get this going." I unsheathed Frostbite and aimed down at the first five targets. " Okay, let's try that ice beam." With a little effort, I aimed the ax like one would use a shotgun and sent a beam at the group of wood and straw dummies. I kept the beam going until the small group was encased in ice. The spectacle made my wives holler in celebration.

" Most excellent Dear."

" Very impressive Sugarcube. What else can you do with that thing?"

" I thought we decided not to talk about our bedroom activities in front of the kids?" Luna giggled while Jackie sputtered at my jab. " Just kidding Honey." I looked at the brick wall and came up with a new technique. " Okay mister wall, time for you to come crashing down." I channeled some more frost into the head of the ax, making it look like an oddly shaped hammer, and tossed it towards the wall. Once the ax made contact with the brick wall, it shattered an explosion of brick and ice, leaving not even the foundation of the wall. My Valkyries cheered at the destruction while Jack and Orion tried catching the falling shards of ice.

" Nicely done brother, now try that technique I told you about on that wooden troll over there."

" With pleasure head." I ran over to the makeshift troll while summoning Frostbite back to me. Once it was back in my grasp, I slid between the legs of the oaf while slicing the earth with the ax beneath it. Once I turned around to face the back of the dummy, a large ice-spike went and impaled the troll through the groin, and came out the top of its head. " Heh, call me, Joe the Impaler."

" Maybe later tonight dear." Luna came over with a sultry look while fanning herself with her wing.

" We can't tonight Lulu, remember we have that camping trip with Bloom and the boys."

" Oh, of course, how could I forget our first family camping trip like that?" Been thinking too much about other nightly activities.

Before more could be said, we heard a crash coming from where we kept the hay for the cows. We all went to investigate the disturbance, only to find that it was only Scootaloo who landed in one of the bales of hay. " Hey, Scootaloo, you alright?"

Scootaloo emerged from the bale and dusted herself off before answering. " Yeah, I'm good."

" What was it Y'all were doing, to cause such a wipeout?" Jackie came over and started brushing off some of the hay from Scootaloo's mane.

Not deterred from the brushing, she told the tale. " Well, I was racing through the streets to get to our club meeting. On my way over, I see an overturned cart and decide to use it as a ramp. I was able to get some major air from that jump and I would've stuck the landing, but then I saw this awesome explosion. I made the mistake of admiring it and it caused me to stall, making me fall in the hay." She looked down with embarrassment.

I rubbed the back of my head, knowing the explosion was caused by my attack on the wall. " Sorry about that Scoots, that was me that caused the explosion. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

As Scootaloo pondered how I could repay her, Mimir spoke up. " Why not invite her on the camping trip with you?"

" That ain't a bad idea Mimir, we could also get Sweetie Belle to come along, though I don't reckon Rarity will join."

" Well, what do you think Scoots, wanna join us on our way to Winsome falls?"

" I'd love to!"

" Awesome, and just to sweeten the deal, I'll even invite Rainbow Dash." Not even a moment later, my neck was being squeezed tight by the orange filly. " Alright, let up so I can ask her to join us." I wheezed out before she let me go.

" Thanks, Joe!" She got back on her scooter and started buzzing her wings. " I gotta tell the others before I pack." With that, she zoomed off to meet the others at the clubhouse.

I smiled at the enthusiasm she gave off. As we waited for Dash to get here, Luna came over and kissed my cheek. " That was very nice of you Dear."

" It's the least I could do," I told her as I watched Scootaloo disappear in the distance. " though maybe I can do a little more."

I stood with my family, along with Scootaloo, at the edge of the Whitetail Woods where our journey would begin. Dash had gone ahead of us to our first campsite to get the area ready. While we waited for Rarity and Sweetie Belle to get here, we checked over our gear. " Got the canteens, Jackie?"

" Right here, darling. Got the bug spray Applebloom?"

" Got it right here Sis. Did you bring the trail mix Princess?"

" I have it right here Bloom, and I keep telling you, call me Luna." She stuck her tongue out at her, making Bloom giggle. " Did Rarity say when she and Sweetie would be here?"

Scootaloo answered. " Sweetie said Rarity had to pack some essentials." Within a minute, we were a witness to what Rarity considers to be essential.

Coming up from the lip of the hill was Rarity and Sweetie with a huge cart of suitcases, with Sweetie pulling the damn thing. " Heeey, so good to see you all." I gave her a disapproving look. " What?"

Without saying a word, I went over and unhitched Sweetie from the cart while giving Rarity an even dirtier look. " Bringing all this crap is one thing, but having your little sister pulling the cart is damn near monstrous!" Rarity looked ashamed for what she did as I started pulling the cart along the trail. " Also, what did you pack in these suitcases? Let me guess, you went and packed the kitchen sink?"

" Nooo! One only should bring their portable sink when camping." This caused me and surprisingly enough my boys, facepalmed at Rarity bringing a sink on a camping trip. " So, are we ready for the trip?"

" Since we've been waiting for you, yes we're ready." We headed off for our first campsite of the trip.

While we walked the trail, we had to endure the horrible agony of Rarity's complaining. " Ugh, all this dirt is really messing with my hooficure. When are we supposed to be there? Can we please take a break? I'm thirsty. Where's the mare's room? I need a restroom break." After only five minutes of this bullshit, I had enough of it.

" Rarity! If you don't quit your complaining, I'm gonna stuff you into one of your suitcases till we get there. Do you understand me!?" Rarity quickly shut her trap and we continued on our way to the campsite. Feeling that my outburst put some tension on everyone, I tried to lighten the mood. " Hey, how about I tell you all about Beowulf's last battle?"

The Crusaders were all excited to hear about that, while Rarity had a confused look. " Isn't that the name that red dragon called you?"

" It is. Since they didn't know me at the time, I decided to go with an alias. Anyway, here's Beowulf's last battle, with a fire-breathing dragon."

( This is just to save some room for the rest of the story.)

https://youtu.be/YWmwAdK48vg

" And when Beowulf passed into the halls of Valhalla, Wiglof took the throne, and from then on, Beowulf's name would be remembered till Ragnarok." My audience was captivated by the story behind the greatest hero of the old Herot.

" I can't believe he ripped out a dragon's heart like that!" Rarity was a little sick at the mention of having something having their heart ripped out.

" Why's it so hard to believe? Shit, I ripped out a dragon's heart."

" We know dear, but Beowulf was just a man, not a werewolf with enhanced alicorn powers." Luna went and bumped my thigh with her flank as we kept on walking.

" Still, I think what Joe did to that dragon was awesome!" I tussled Scootaloo's hair as she praised my name.

Our walk came to a halt as we came upon our first campsite, where Dash was setting up a few things. She flew towards four trees at high speeds and performed a kung fu kick that clear cut the middle of the trunks. With them, she placed the logs in a square in the middle of the clearing. She then dove into the river and retrieved some stones for the campfire. Once she landed, we had the start of our campsite. " Sup Chumps."

" Not much Chumpette, nice display though." She blushed at my compliment while Scoots went over to her.

" Hey Rainbow Daaaa-" Scootaloo tripped over one of the logs, making her do several somersaults which launched her into the air for a bit before landing hard on the ground. She held in her tears to complete her greeting. " what's up?"

Rainbow went and asked why we were so late while Luna and I went over to see if Scoots was alright. " You alright Scoots? That was some wipeout."

Luna went and checked to see if she had any blood coming out while she answered my question. " Yeah, I'm alright, I just hope I was able to impress Rainbow Dash." She said with a hint of hope.

Luna responded to that while finishing her examination. " I'm sorry to say this Scootaloo, but I'm afraid Dash wasn't all that aware of your feat." Scootaloo seemed upset at that, luckily Luna came back with this. " Though if it's any comfort, your tolerance for pain is extraordinary."

Scoots gave her a small smile after that and embraced her in a hug. " Thanks, Princess."

Luna then returned the hug. " Anytime little one, and please, call me Luna." They broke the embrace and Scootaloo went to join the other Crusaders while Luna came over to my side. " She really is a strong filly."

" That she is." Before I could say more, the sound of something being inflated drew our attention. It seems the noise was coming from Rarity and the tent she had brought, well I say tent but it was more like a miniature mansion made of fabric. " What in the hell is this?"

Rarity appeared on the second story balcony. " This Joe is the highest quality tent in all of Equestria. Sweetie, be a dear and fetch me some flowers for my bedside vase." She dropped a vase that Sweetie quickly took and went to get flowers for it.

Jackie just shook her head while Rainbow did an impersonation of Rarity to Scootaloo. " Scootaloo, would you be a sweetheart and gather some firewood?" Scoots and Bloom giggled at the impression. " Seriously though, could you get us some firewood?"

" Right, on it." She went to go get some logs for the fire while I went about setting up a tent for me and my family.

That night.

We were all gathered around the campfire to enjoy a nice dinner, in mine and the boy's case, an open fire bratwurst on a roll. While we were eating, the girls were jumping all over the place thanks to the soda I provided them. " Woohoo! This is great! Whadda you call this stuff?"

I took a sip of my beer and answered. " It's called Big Red. Kinda tastes like liquid bubblegum if you ask me."

" Oh dear, they'll be up all night at this rate." Rarity complained while she watched her sister bounced around the camp as Pinkie would.

" Don't worry about it Rares. This will get them to calm down." Rainbow flew to the top of Rarity's tent to make a proclamation. " Gather around for a truly awesome story!"

Scootaloo stopped her zipping around to ask a quick question. " Is this the story about when you saved Rarity from becoming a stain on the ground from the young flyers competition?" Rarity looked embarrassed by the mention of that little adventure.

" Nooo, that's not the story I was thinking about."

" Is it the story of when daddy saved Mom-mom and Pop-pop?" Orion asked Dash while Luna squeezed him with a hug.

" I don't know how that happened little dude, plus I was thinking of a scary story to tell." She made her voice deeper to try and make that sentence seem scarier. It didn't work for most of us. " It all happened on a night just like this. In a forest...just...like...this."

" Oh, gods, Mimir wake me she's done."

" Will do." I started leaning against the log and tuned out the crappy story Rainbow was about to spew out.

" You've got it!" I was woken up from my nap by Dash screaming in my ear. Unfortunately for her, the wolf inside me, as well as a couple of years of Marine corp training gave me some extremely rapid reflexes. Which, is why Dash was once again being strangled for what seems like the millionth time since we met. " Joe...please...let me...go."

After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I realized what I was doing, and continued doing it with more vigor. " Rainbow. Do you know the expression? Don't poke a sleeping bear. Well, it's infinitely worse with werewolves."

After I let her go and she regained her breath: " I'll try to remember that next time." Her nervousness melted and she put on her bravado again. " Alright Joe, time for you to tell a scary story."

" Nooooo!" We all looked to Jackie and Rarity as they shook with fear after yelling.

" Please darling, not another story from that Vincent person. I still tremble when I hear my clock ticking." Rarity proclaimed while looking around the woods.

" Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." They just looked at me with a stern gaze. " Okay, how about if I promise to just show a small illusion before we retire, would that ease your mind?"

" Yes Sugar, it really would." Jackie eased her stare on me and came over to snuggle with Luna, the boys, and me.

" Alright, now this is a parody of a horror movie, done by the greatest creation of Matt Groening." I put up a screen in the middle of our dying campfire and let the show begin. " I give you, The Shinning!"

https://youtu.be/JUY6K_gI8ew

When the illusion was over, the kids were rolling on their backs with laughter with Rainbow joining them. " Well, I believe it's bedtime for the youngins." I grabbed my boys and headed for our tent. " Goodnight girls. Lulu, Jackie, care to join me?" They went inside the tent with Applebloom following behind them. I stepped into the tent and put the boys in their sleeping bags, tucking them in before placing a kiss on their foreheads. " Goodnight my little pups, mama Luna will make sure you have sweet dreams tonight."

Luna came over to the boys and gave the boys a kiss. " Goodnight my angels. I'll be with you in your dreams soon."

Jackie came over to say goodnight to the boys. " Mama will see you two in the morning." She gave them each a kiss on the forehead before heading for our large sleeping bag.

They both told us goodnight before slipping into dreamland. I joined my wives in our joint sleeping bag and got comfortable. " Goodnight Bloom."

" Goodnight yall." she slipped into her sleeping bag next to the boys and let sleep take her as well.

" Goodnight my beautiful valkyries." I got in between my wives, gave them each a kiss, and allowed myself to slip from consciousness.

The realm of dreams.

I was lounging in a chair on a beach with a double shot of rum and coke just watching the waves roll by. I was on the beach just outside the city of Corpus Christi, listening to the sounds of the waves and the smell of the sea. I made for a swig of my beverage until I heard the familiar sound of a door opening to my side. I put on a devious smile and addressed the new arrival. " Hello, my little Moonpie. Care to join me for a drink?" Luna materialized a chair beside mine and sat down while she produced herself a hurricane to drink. " Taking a break for a bit?"

She took a big sip from her drink before answering. " It's been a quiet night so far. But I suspect the story that Dash told will have one of the children have a nightmare." She took another swig before looking out at the vast ocean before us. " This is a very lovely spot dear."

" Thank you. This is actually where my parents and I had our first vacation together." A sad smile graced my face after saying that. This did not go unnoticed by my lunar wife.

" Joe, how come you never talk about your mother?" She gave me a worried look, telling me that she wanted to know so she could help. I was about to tell her the sad story of my mother when all of a sudden, a crimson mist rose from the sand below us. Over time, and a brief explanation from Luna, I've learned that the mist had meant someone in the dreamworld was being plagued by a nightmare. Luna took a quick note of this and got up from her chair. " I'm sorry my love, but I'm afraid duty calls." She made for the door that led here in the first place and was about to go through, but then she had a great idea. " Joe, would you care to join me?"

Replacing my sad smile with a genuine one, I hopped out of my chair and was by her side without a moment to spare. " As if you really had to ask." I gave her a kiss before holding the door open for her. " After you, Your Highness." I gave her a cheeky grin which she returned.

" Why thank you, Your Highness." She went out the door with me following. Once we were out the door, we were greeted by a starry hallway with doors lined on both ends, each one leading to a different ponies dream. On the ground below us, the red mist trailed off to the right. " Follow me, dear."

I gave her an eye-roll before following her sweet flank. " You forget, I was the one who helped you with the post-invasion nightmares. Surely whatever we have to face won't be as bad." We continued our path through the doors, till the mist ended at an orange door with a purple framework. " Why does this door seem familiar?" I looked to Luna for answers

" It's because it is the door to our dear camping friend, Scootaloo." My focus went back to the door and urgency to help came over me. " Ten bits says it's because of Dash's story."

" Fifteen says it's a combination of hers and mine."

" Done!" We kissed on the deal and stormed through the door. When we entered the dream, we were in a huge mountain lodge common area. We were on the stairs above, overlooking the place when we saw Scootaloo walking up to a typewriter on a desk.

Scootaloos Pov.

I looked around the place trying to find if there was anyone else. " Hello, anypony here?" I spotted the typewriter and went to see what it said. It read: ' Where is my horseshoe?' and beneath that read: ' Feelin fine.'. " That doesn't look good." All of a sudden, lightning flashed from outside, illuminating the room around me. During the flashes of light, I could see that someone had written on the wall and it was always the same two sentences. ' You've got it!' and ' No tv and no beer make Homer go crazy.'. The writing on the wall suddenly made me afraid. " Yeah, this is definitely not good."

SLAM!! The noise of a door slamming open frightened me to the point I nearly wet myself. When I turned around, I was met by two people I thought I'd never meet. The first one I recognized as Homer Simpson, the character from Joe's tale. The second one was an old mare that fit the description of the Olden Pony from Dash's story. The old pony started walking to me but was stopped by Homer. " Hey, I got first dibs on this one!"

" But she has my horseshoe! And since when did you think it was a good idea to interfere with my victim?"

This seemed to make homer mad. " Why you little!" He grabbed her by the throat and started strangling her. " I'll teach you to talk back to me in front of the one who hid all the beer and took out the cable!" As the two were going at it like that, I decided to make a break for it. " Hey, get back here!" Homer let go of the mare and they both started chasing me down the halls.

" Get her, she has my horseshoe!"

" Forget the horseshoe, she knows where the beer is." While they chased me down, Homer grabbed one of the axes from the wall. " Must...kill...Scootaloo."

After hearing my name and what he planned to do, I just kept running faster. " Somepony help me!"

Joe's Pov.

After watching the scene unfold before us, we decided that action needed to be taken. " Okay, Luna, you take care of the old biddy, I'll go after Simpson." She nodded her head and went for the Olden Mare while I made my way towards Homer. To be honest, I hade mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I needed to save Scootaloo from mental damage from the nightmare, but on the other hand, this is Homer Simpson! How could I do something to my tv idol?

" Tell me where the beer is and I won't hurt you!" Homer was keeping pace with her and was swinging the ax wildly.

" Help!" Alright, the choice is made.

When Scootaloo turned a corner, I teleported in front of Homer before he could turn and continue the chase. Seeing that I just wanted him stopped, I summoned a small tv with Kent Brokman and held it to his face. " Look here boyo!"

At once, the rage that was displayed in Homer's eyes left him as soon as he saw the tv. " Gasp! Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover." As Homer became engrossed with his new toy I decided to see how Scootaloo is doing.

I made my way down the hall, only to find Scoots in a fetal position softly crying in the corner of the halls. I approached her very carefully. " Scoots, you okay?"

Scoots gasped lightly as she heard me approach and call her name. " Joe!? What are you doing here? How did you get here?" She wiped a few tears away as she looked at me with relief.

" Well, having your wife being the protector of dreams really helps in traveling other dreams. As to why I'm here," I pointed around our environment. " it's to stop the nightmare you were having."

Her look of relief slowly turned to one of shame. " I didn't want Dash to know I was afraid of her story. So I put on a brave face hide my fear." At that point, she started to sniffle. " I just want her to think I'm cool." She started breaking down in tears again. I was about to go and comfort her but then-

" You've got it!" The old hag had somehow found her way over to us and scared the shit out of Scoots.

" AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh!" It seems the old pony scared her so bad that she made Scootaloo wake up in fear from her nightmare. In doing so, both Luna and I were expelled violently from from her subconscious.

After recovering from our ejection I looked to Luna. " What happened? I thought you had stopped that old mare?" I asked with a hint of anger in my tone.

She gave me a small glare before answering. " I did capture the mare. After I made sure she was secure, I went to check on how you were holding up with the fat one. After finding him mumbling how his urge to kill was fading, I went looking for you. Perhaps she got out of her bindings somehow?"

Seeing as how anger would get us nowhere, I came over and gave her a hug. " Forget about it, Darling. We did what we could for her and didn't give up. All we can do now is either wait for her to dream again or if she doesn't, we can talk with her in the morning."

Luna returned my hug with more force. " I guess so my king. I just really hate it when I can't prevent a nightmare from happening."

" I know you do, but don't let it stop you from trying." I kissed her forehead before getting up. " I'm gonna head back over to my dream for the rest of the night and I'll see you, Jackie, and the boys in the morning."

Luna gave me a smile before heading down the other end of the hall. " Alright my love, pleasant dreams."

" Well, if they're not, I can always count on you to make them better." This brought an even brighter smile from my wife before she went through another door. Finding my way back to my dream door, which was dark as ebony with a golden knob and my family crest in the center of the door, I went in and once again enjoyed the beach.

The next morning.

I woke up sandwiched between my beautiful wives as the sun started rising from the east. Seeing as I kept hearing the sound snoring, I figured I was the first one up. I got up quietly and made for the campfire to start a nice woodland breakfast of flapjacks and mixed berries fresh from the bushes. As I got the fire started and got fresh water from the river, the tent that Dash and Scootaloo shared was opened by the little daredevil and she looked tired. " Morning Squirt. You doing alright?"

Scootaloo made her way over to one of the logs we used for sitting around the fire and plopped her back on it. " I had a terrible night last night."

" I remember. You had a bad dream involving Homer and that old mare who misplaced a horseshoe." She wiped her head at me and looked surprised by what I said.

" You mean you were actually there? I thought you were just part of my dream. Though you usually play a different roll in them." She whispered that last part, hoping I wouldn't hear it. But, do to my heightened senses, I did hear her and chose to feign ignorance for the moment.

" Yes, I was there and I'm sorry Luna and I were unable to stop that old mare. Though I did have a fun time meeting Homer, even if it was to stop him from chopping you to bits." My attempt to cheer her up with humor didn't have the effect it should have, but I guess it has something to do with her looking like she hadn't slept after the nightmare. " Scootaloo, did you get any sleep after that nightmare?"

" No, I was too scared that I would wind up back in that creepy place with those two, that I stayed awake all night." She slumped back on the log and closed her eyes to get a small glimpse of sleep. Seeing that she looked exhausted, I sat next to her while hovering over her head, a plate of flapjacks with crushed berries acting as syrup. She quickly woke up from the smell and took the plate from me and started digging in with the fork I offered her. " Thanks, Joe." She said after swallowing a massive amount of hotcake.

" Anytime Squirt." I went back to making breakfast while Scootaloo kept eating. After the fourth stack was about done, I directed my attention back to her with a concerned tone. " You know, if you were scared of the stories we told last night, you can tell us, Alright?"

She paused her eating to look at me. " You mean that?"

" Of course, there's no shame in admitting your fears. In fact, I find it quite liberating." She smiled at my honesty and wrapped me in a hug. I smiled and returned the hug just as my boys came out of our tent, no doubt smelling the pancakes cooking in the skillet. " Morning boys, wake up the others for breakfast, alright."

" Okay, daddy." They said in unison while banging on all the tents, waking everybody up. They all came out to enjoy a hot breakfast to start the hike to our next campsite.

" And that's how I came to know the mighty warrior, Siegfreid. Slayer of Fafnir and stealer of the Valkyrie Brunhilde's heart." Mimir finished telling us of the story of the second greatest hero of the Norse.

Rarity was the first to say something. " He certainly seems like a capable fighter, but it makes me feel sick to hear about that dragon's death."

" I know you and Spike are in a relationship, but not every dragon is going to be like Spike. Plus, Fafnir started as a dwarf." Once again I was lugging the cart Rarity brought with her so Sweetie wouldn't have to. Not only was I pulling the luggage but also a sleeping Scootaloo. I kept it quiet so she could get some sleep so she could have fun with the others around lunchtime. Before we left, I told Jackie what Luna and I did for Scoots in the dream realm, and she said she would keep silent but still help in whatever way she could.

" He reminds me of you a little Sugar." Jackie smiled back at me while continuing our trek. " Let's get a move on, otherwise we'll be on the trail after dark."

" What!?" Scoots jumped out of the cart and got on her scooter. " I'll just, go on up ahead and scout the trail." Before anyone could protest, she zipped down the trail and out of sight.

Rainbow looked ahead and asked this. " What's up with her?" Luna picked up a small pebble with her magic and chucked it at the back of Rainbow's head. " Ow! What was that for?"

" Thought I saw a mosquito near your head and my aim was off." Luna chuckled at the half-baked excuse that Rainbow actually bought.

" Alright, just warn me next time." Rainbow continued flying ahead and forgot about her original question. When no one was looking, I gave a quick pinch to Luna's flank, saying she did a good job. A couple of minutes of walking later and we were treated to the sight of Scootaloo sleeping on top of a bush. " Hey, Scoots. Whatcha doing?"

The question quickly woke her up and she tried to play it off cool. " Oh, um, don't come this way." She got up from the bush in the ditch and got back on the path. " Best to keep on the trail, it's much easier and safer than going through the bushes." She continued walking with us before we could really ask why she was in that ditch.

She walked along with Applejack while I retrieved her scooter for her. I had just caught up to them and was about to give her the scooter back, but I stepped on a branch and the sound frightened Scootaloo. " Aaaaahhhhhh!" She rocketed up into the sky and held onto a nearby cloud for dear life. The part of the cloud she hung on to, didn't last long as it broke off and she started plummeting toward the ground. She would've made a huge crater in the dirt, had I not caught her before she landed.

" Scoots, you okay?"

" Yeah, I'm fine, totally." She was convincing no one.

Applejack quickly put in her two cents. " Scootaloo, you're more nervous than a worm in an apple on cider making day, what gives Sugarcube?"

Scootaloo looked to me, asking if she was in the loop about her fear of Dash's stories. I gave her a slight nod which quickly dissolved her fake bravado. " I'm sorry Applejack, it's just that I really didn't get much sleep after the nightmare scared me awake. Now I'm just trying to stay awake and not get spooked by every little thing." Off in the woods, an owl gave off a hoot, scaring the crap out of her. " See what I mean."

Jackie came over to give her a hug. " It's alright Sugar, we all get scared from time to time. Like the time I thought this knucklehead went and got himself killed, I was afraid that Luna and I would lose him forever." She nuzzled my nose with hers, before breaking the hug.

" Here, try and catch some sleep before we get there." I placed her back on the cart while trudging forward.

" Thanks, Joe." Scootaloo then closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

Satisfied with my work, Luna came over with Jack sleeping on her back and kissed my cheek. " That was very nice of you sweetie." I returned the kiss and we kept going, that is until Luna noticed Orion playing with a wasp nest. " Orion! Get away from that. Now!"

We arrived at our campsite just as Luna raised the moon and started making up camp. Since we were camping near a cave and nothing was living there, we decided to sleep in there instead of pitching up tents. I unhitched myself from the cart and headed for the tree-line. I unsheathed Frostbite and called back to everybody. " Hey, check this out." I channeled power into the ax and sliced the air four times, sending ice blue waves to a tree on the far side of the camp. After that, I sheathed my ax.

As I watched the tree, Dash went ahead with a question. " Um, what was that supposed to do?" I held up three fingers, that went from two, then finally one. Soon the tree I sliced at, gave off a whine and slid down into three logs that will serve as our seats while the top will make an excellent bonfire. When I turned around, Dash had a slack jaw and I'm not sure, but I think she almost had an orgasm. " That. Is so. Awesome."

" You're welcome." I gathered up the wood and placed them around in a circle and lit the branches to start a wicked blaze. Once we had the fire going, we all sat down to roast marshmallows for the smores. After we had our campfire treat, we all talked into the night, the kind of talk you have when you're a kid, and seemed important until you discover girls. " Did you ever notice how in Supernatural, that every season one of the brothers keeps sacrificing himself so the other one can keep going, only for everything to return to normal for them at the beginning of the next season?"

Only my wives, boys, and Applebloom understood what I was talking about, so Luna gave the first theoretical answer. " I believe they do that because they have no other way to go about the storyline."

Jackie responded with this. " I think they do that as a reoccurring gag, kinda like how they keep trusting, then mistrust Crowley every few episodes." Since none of the others were following along with the train of conversation, Jackie changed the topic. " Hey Dash, did you ever get that reply from the Wonderbolts Academy?"

Dash swallowed her third Smore before answering. " Not yet. They said to wait two weeks for a reply, and I sent that letter before we left, so I've got some time before I hear from them." She ate her fourth Smore and rubbed her hooves in anticipation for the next campfire activity. " Now, since we already ate, how about another story of terror to stiffen our spines?"

When she asked the question, I looked over to Scootaloo to see that she was very uncomfortable with that idea. In order to save her the embarrassment of having to ask to skip the story, I volunteered my services. " I'll go ahead and tell the story Dash."

" Ugh, fine. Just don't do the Simpsons again, it's not scary."

" Don't worry, I have a story in mind that's actually a continuation of the story I told one evening. I know that Jackie and Rarity are quite familiar with it." I looked at both of them as they held their sister while quaking in fear at the remembrance of my horror story. " Rest assured my love, this one is not as intense as the first but still quite entertaining."

" Ahm not scared! I just...uh...don't want you scaring our sons is all." She then grabbed Orion and Jack and held them close to emphasize her point.

Jack just came back with this. " It's okay mama, mommy let us watch The Lost Boys when you and daddy went to the crystal place to stop that bad pony."

Orion went and joined his brother's point. " Yeah, but it was more funny than scary."

Jackie looked between the boys in disbelief that they had teamed up against her. " Alright fine, just hurry up and get it over with." She pouted while I took the boys from her.

I sat the boys on my lap and got comfortable. " Okay, here we go with The Sphinx, narrated by Vincent Price." With practiced ease, I conjured a screen in the middle of the dying fire, and let the show begin.

https://youtu.be/XbhZr_--YRc?list=LLCzG2W-JN2NHN-SokErZefw

After the story, the Crusaders giggled at the absurdity that a grown man was afraid of a small bug. As for the others, they gave a small giggle at the end, though Dash was in a fetal position and covering her ears. She had been that way since the Sphinx's second description and sight. Payback can be a real bitch.

Once Vincent was done telling the tale, Dash plastered on a brave face and put up an act. " Not bad, though you could've made it about twenty percent scarier."

Even though I knew she had been frightened by my story, my pride took over and made these words blurt out. " Well, if you think you can do better than please, scare me."

Dash immediately gained a shit-eating grin. " Gladly." And she was off telling her tale.

As she was telling her story about the Headless Horse, I caught a glimpse at Scootaloo hiding behind the log she was sitting at earlier, and she trembled at the crappy story. " Aw shit." I fucked up and most likely need to visit her dream tonight after Dash's story's over.

Dream realm.

Luna and I were once again in the dream realm, waiting to see if my goading Dash into telling a story gives Scootaloo a nightmare. While we waited for any sign I paced back and forth in front of her door, while Luna tried to reassure me. " Honey, you mustn't blame yourself if Scootaloo does indeed have another nightmare. For all we know, she's dreaming about earning her Cutiemark again."

I just shook my head while I continued my pacing. " No, no I saw how she was acting when Rainbow told that story. She was fearful and did everything in her power to keep us awake so she wouldn't have a nightmare, hence the singing. If we don't stop the nightmares, she could become timid and fear what is not there!" I yelled out the last part because I went through something similar, and Luna could tell.

Luna stopped my pacing with her hoof and made me look in her eyes which were filled with concern. " Joe is there something you wish to tell me?" I looked back in her eyes and sighed before turning from her. " Darling please, you know you can tell me And Applejack anything. So please, tell me what's bothering you and why you feel the drive to make sure Scootaloo no longer has nightmares?"

After a moment or two had passed, I relented and looked back to my wife. " Do you remember, after Mimir told the story of this world and your parents, and I comforted you and your sister about your mother?" She nodded her head, remembering the event. " And do you remember how I said that I knew how it felt to lose a mother?" She started to understand what I was talking about as a couple of tears started to leak from her eyes.

Luna placed her hoof on my cheek. " Honey, what happened to your mother?"

I placed my hand around her hoof and gently rubbed my thumb over it and told her my story. " My mother was Emily Lee Huffstutler, one of the most beautiful women in all the nine realms. She was a Texas ranger and she was very good at what she did. She would go after the nastiest criminals that walked the streets of Austin and put them away for a long time. She would always make me happy whenever I came home from school after I was teased. And I'll never forget the lullaby she sang to me every night."

" But then one day, something bad happened. Mom and I were home one day while dad was working. She was reading me a story in my room when a man came and busted down the door. He was one of the many criminals that mom put away before I was even born. He had escaped Travis county prison a couple of days before and went looking for revenge. After he came through the door, he shot her three times in the chest."

" I watched all of this from my hiding place in the closet she shoved me in before he could find us. After he shot her, I started crying for her to be okay, that's when the guy found me. He was about to shoot me as well, but then his head was blown off before he could point the gun at me. When he fell to the ground, I saw that mom had fired her gun that she always kept with her, and shot him before he could try and kill me. When the danger was over, I ran over to her and held her while she tried to cling to life. Before she passed, she left me with these words, ' Protect the innocent, punish the guilty, and always treat the ones you love better than any treasure the world can offer.' after the last word, she kissed my forehead and her life was over. I held her for many hours, crying into her neck, hoping beyond hope that she would wake up. But she didn't."

Luna had tears flowing freely while I told my mother's story. " Since that day, I would wake up in the middle of the night, screaming at the top of my lungs at the nightmare of that man who took my mother away. The nightmares made me fearful of the world around me, so much so that I wouldn't speak for three weeks. After six months, I overcame my fears and vowed to live by my mother's dying words, becoming the man that I am today." After my story, Luna grabbed ahold of my neck and held me close while she wept.

" Darling, I'm so sorry that happened to you." She and I held each other while we tried to stop our crying over a past event. Finally, after a few minutes, we broke the hug while wiping away our tears. After Luna composed herself, she went on with what was on her mind. " So you think the nightmares that Dash has been giving her for the past two nights will effect Scootaloo's psyche as it did yours?"

" Yes well, not to that great extent, but enough that she'll become paranoid over the little things. Like when she got scared when that branch snapped and sent her launching into the air, clinging to a cloud. If we can prevent the nightmares, then hopefully we can solve one part of the problem. The other part will have to be done in the waking world."

Luna smiled and nuzzled me. " Don't worry, if she does have another nightmare, we'll be sure to stop it." No sooner had she said that the red mist appeared before Scootaloos door. " Well, it seems you were right."

" Unfortunately. C'mon, hopefully, this won't be too hard to handle." We went through the door and prepared ourselves for the worst. When we went through the door, we were met with a foreboding forest, complete with knarled branches and a red atmosphere. " Really hope we're dealing with the Headless Horse and not the paranoid version of that bug."

" Why, you afraid of that little bug?" She teased me as we went searching for Scootaloo.

" The way Vincent told it and the music really brought that bug to life. Hell, I had nightmares about that thing when I first heard the story the first time."

" Hmph, big baby." We continued on our way through the dream forest, looking either for Scootaloo or the nightmare monster, whichever comes first.

" AAAAAAhhhhh!" As it turns out, we heard Scoots before we saw her such is the basics in hunting.

" Luna, take to the skies, I'll go on foot." I wolfed out and got on all fours. " Good luck."

" You too." She took off and went for the source of the scream.

I started for the source of the noise and ran full speed. Hopefully, I can take that thing down before it gets to her.

Scootaloo's POV

I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is trying to get everyone to do some more stuff to do, instead of going to bed. Now I find myself walking down a dark forest with creepy looking branches. When I stopped to look around, I kept hearing hoof-steps, meaning there was somepony else out here too. As the noise got closer, I was reminded of the Headless Horse.

I started trotting away from the noise but it kept getting closer, so I went into a trot but the hoof-steps just kept getting closer. I looked over my shoulder, only to see the shape of a horse without its head chasing me. " AAAAAAAhhhhh!" I looked ahead and ran for my life. " If the Headless Horse catches me, I'm never gonna be heard from again. And I wanna be heard from!" I kept running, hoping to get away from that monster. While running, I tripped on a root and tumbled down a hill.

" Waaaaah oof." I landed face-first at the bottom and it really hurt. As I was rubbing the dirt off my face, I could hear the monster stop at the top of the hill. I turned around to see that the creature was making it's way down the hill, right towards me. As it got closer, I backed away from it until I was backed up against a cliff. I looked for any way out, but I had to face the fact that I was doomed. When the Headless Horse got within a few feet of me, it reared up and got ready to attack. " It's all over!"

" Rooooaaaaarrrrr!" I heard a roar off to the side and looked to see what made it. To my surprise and relief, the roar came from Joe in his werewolf form. The roar also caught the attention of the creature that was chasing me. " Leave her alone you headless bastard!" He then launched himself over at the headless monster where they started to fight.

" C'mon Joe, kick that monster's butt!" I started cheering him on as he was putting the hurt on the Headless Horse. " Tear that thing a new one!"

" I believe he very well could." I jumped a little at the noise that came beside me. I turned to see who was beside me, only to sigh with relief when I saw that it was Princess Luna. " It always excites me to see him in combat."

" Princess, what are you two doing here?" She gave me a knowing smile while gesturing all around us. " Wait, is this another dream?"

" Indeed it is. Joe saw how you were reacting to Rainbow's story and thought that we should keep an eye on your door, just in case." I was so happy with that, I just went ahead and hugged her. " Hmm-hmm, you are most welcome Scootaloo." She returned the hug while Joe was shaking the Headless Horse like a ragdoll in his maw.

As I was watching Joe tear that monster apart, a question came to mind. " Luna, why does Joe care if I have nightmares or not?" Her smile quickly turned into a frown and I think I saw the start of a tear in her eye. " What? What's wrong?"

" I think it would be best if Joe told you himself." We both looked back to the beating Joe was giving the nightmare while I pondered why one of my idols would care so much for me.

Guess I'll just have to ask him when he's done mangling that thing.

Joe's POV

I had just finished disemboweling Scootaloo's current nightmare and started heading over to her and my wife. Thankfully there was no blood on me to frighten her even further. When I got close enough, I wrapped her in a hug. " You alright Scoots?"

She nuzzled into my fur and tried her best to return the hug to my larger form. " Yeah, thanks for saving me again." Luna came over and us both in her wings. " And thank you, Princess, for helping." Luna smiled at that, but then she gained a serious expression. " Oh, right. Joe, why do you care so much about preventing me from having nightmares?"

Luna then looked me in the eye. " I think you should tell Scootaloo what you told me before her nightmare began."

" Sigh, you're right, I should. Scoots, there's something I think I should tell you." I sat her on my lap while turning back to regular form and told her the tale of my mother. As I went about my story Scootaloo's mood went from curious to sad and then to full-on sorrow. When I was done telling her, she had tears streaming down her eyes. " And that's the reason why I wanted to prevent these nightmares you've been having, so don't go through the same thing I did."

Scoots sniffled for a bit before she answered. " I'm sorry you went through that Joe. Thanks again for helping me through that." She gave me another hug which I returned.

" You're welcome." Just then, the world around us became fuzzy and everything was being pulled towards the moon, signaling the end of this dream. " Looks like our work here is done." I went over to Luna and held her around her barrel as we flew up towards the moon with the rest of the dream. " We'll see you in the waking world Scoots!" I said to her as Luna and I left her dream.

Joe's tent. The camping tent, not the one in his pants.

" Oof." I was suddenly awoken from my slumber by a small body landing on my stomach. As it turns out, it was Scootaloo that not only woke me up but both my wives as well. I looked at my watch to see that it was only three o'clock. " Scoots what are you doing, it's three in the morning."

" I know, I just woke up from that nightmare you saved me from and wanted to thank you again."

Jackie let out a huge yawn before directing her attention to us. " That's very kind of you Sugar, but couldn't it have waited until sunrise at least?"

Scootaloo gave a sheepish grin. " Sorry Applejack, guess I'll go back to sleep."

She went for the tent flap and was about to head out, but I stopped her with my hand on her shoulder. " Actually, Jackie, Lulu, and I have something to ask you. We were going to ask you at the end of the trip but seeing as we're awake and it would be futile to go back to sleep, I think now's about as good a time as any."

" Um, sure. What did you wanna ask me?" Scootaloo turned to where she was facing all three of us.

" Well, before we left for the trip up here, I discussed with my Valkyries about an important and life-changing decision."

Luna took the conversation from there. " We've talked to Joe about one day trying for another child, hopefully, a daughter. But since he's sure that we would only get another boy."

Now Jackie took the reigns. " We decided that adoption would be the best course of action. And it just so happens we know a filly that could use a permanent home." She smiled slyly over at Scootaloo after that information.

Scootaloo's eyes started to widen at the realization we were hinting at. " Are...are you saying that...that you want me to-."

" Be part of our family? Yes, that is exactly what we're asking." Scootaloo just stared off into space while her jaw was hanging open. " Oh dear, I think we broke her."

Suddenly, she sprang back onto my stomach and openly wept. " Yes yes yes yes yes yes! I do want to be a part of the family." At her confirmation, all four of us squeezed together in a group hug. " You know, I thought I'd get Rainbow Dash to be like a big sister to me. Instead, I get a whole family."

" Complete with two mothers, a father, two brothers, an assortment of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. I think we might be spoiling you here." They all laughed at my joke and we continued the embrace. " Welcome to the family Scoots."

" Thanks...dad."

Author's Notes:

Okay, a few things. First, sorry for the delay but it was worth it. Two, there was no need for Scoots to run off and fall into the river since the cryptic message Luna gave her wasn't delivered. Three, I can hear it now. " Scootaloo has parents that we found out about in season 9." Well, I got news for you. I had already written her in as an orphan before I learned that she had actual parents! And it was too late to change it! Sorry. Anyway, now it's time for the Wonderbolt Academy. The next couple of clips will give you a clue as to how it'll go.

https://youtu.be/ZJNQZ_fot0A

https://youtu.be/34sWazk-ZrU