“Rarity what’s all the noise about?” Sweetie Belle asked, noticing her sister who seemed on edge.

“Why are there random ponies screaming outside?” I peaked out of the window of our home, looking at several ponies running around outside.

“Oh it’s nothing dears! Quickly do as your told and hop in the laundry basket!” Rarity grinned nervously, seeming out of breath and fairly weak.

“Oh do we have to?” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“Can we at least know what is going on and –“ I stopped talking and reflected on the last thing Rarity said.  “Wait, what do you mean laundry basket?” I asked.

“JUST GET IN THE BASKET!” Rarity cried.

“Okay I’ll just ask this,” I spoke, pushing a piece of fabric out of my face as me and Sweetie Belle sat in the dark closed wooden laundry basket. “Why the hay did Rarity tell us to get in here?” I asked confounded.

“Well that’s kind of Rarity’s way of protecting us,” Sweetie Belle responded.

I stared at my cousin, still confused.

“It started before you came to Ponyville,” Sweetie Belle continued. “Way back when Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon –“

“And so while we are away we would love for you to spend time with your little sister, all our love, Mommy and Daddy,” Rarity read the letter, before looking down at Sweetie Belle.

“Mom and dad said I could stay with you for as long as I want!” Sweetie Belle beamed.

“Oh… joy” Rarity grinned nervously. "This will be fun I'm sure," She tried to convince herself. "What could go wrong?" She whispered to herself.

“Oh what to do, what to do?” Rarity panicked to herself.

“Rarity, what’s going on?” Sweetie Belle hopped in to the front room of Carousel Boutique.

“Oh nothing Sweetie! No eternal night or evil Nightmare Moons around here!” Rarity panicked, grinning whilst trying to keep calm.

“Nightmare… Moon?” Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry! There’s a new pony in town her name is Twilight Sparkle, she seems to know what’s going on and I’m sure she’ll sort it out!” Rarity reassured her sister.

“I don’t want an eternal night! or Nightmare Moon!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes started to fill with tears.

“Okay Sweetie, how about we play a game to pass the time!” Rarity hurriedly stopped her sister’s tears.

“How about hide and seek! I’ll hide!” Sweetie Belle perked up and galloped away.

“Don’t leave Carousel Boutique!” Rarity called after her.

And so Sweetie Belle found Rarity’s old laundry basket, full of dresses and materials that had just been freshly washed.

“She won’t check in here, she knows I can’t stand the smell of fresh fabrics!” Sweetie Belle laughed evilly.

And so Sweetie Belle jumped in to the basket, shutting it as she did so and then…

“Sweetie! This isn’t funny anymore!” Rarity panicked searching the same place she’d gone past several times. "Oh gosh... oh gosh" She began to panic. "Two hours of looking after my little sister and I've lost her already!" Before she gave up hope she heard the sound of snoring coming from the laundry basket, carefully she opened it and saw her baby sister asleep.  “Awh Sweetie Belle, you’re such hard work to look after. Thank goodness you’re only here for a few days and you wont end up living with me at any point in the future.” Rarity laughed, muttering that last part.

“So, ever since I moved in before you came here, whenever there is danger Rarity made me jump in to this laundry basket where she washes her fabrics and dresses and I usually just fall asleep!”

“Well that’s kind of weird, why not just ask you to go to bed?” I was fairly puzzled, despite the fact the story made sense.

“It’s totally weird, but here is rather cozy, almost makes you forget that the whole of Ponyville is in chaos and danger,” Sweetie Belle snuggled up to a white sheet of fluffy material and closed her eyes.

I couldn’t really argue with that, so I did the same as Sweetie Belle and began to drift off to sleep.

.

Apple Bloom stood angrily on mine and Sweetie Belle’s bed “So then Applejack was all like, oh no y’all can’t come outside Apple Bloom it’s too dangerous, and then she told me to just - just -” She ranted, stopping before finishing on the brink of a breakdown.

“Just what?” Scootaloo sat with me and the others on the opposite end of the bed.

“She told me to...“ Apple Bloom took a deep breath  “Stay in my room,” She shuddered.

“That’s it? We were told to lay in a laundry basket full of freshly washed dresses and materials, that smelt like fresh flowers on a Sunday morning, with a hint of lemon from the fabric softener Rarity uses.”  I started. “Actually for us it wasn’t that bad,” I grinned at Sweetie Belle.

“I went along to go and help Rainbow Dash and her friends, and Rainbow Dash called me hero!” Scootaloo nodded proudly.

“What? You helped Twilight and her friends stop this Tirek guy?” Apple Bloom’s mouth dropped wide open, as did mine and Sweetie Belle’s.

“I don’t buy that for one second!” Sweetie Belle shook her head.

“Guys I’m telling you, I heard the noise, found Rainbow Dash and the others and – “

“Oh thank Celestia you’re here Scootaloo! We were doomed without you!” Rainbow Dash galloped over to Scootaloo.

“I got here just in time!” Scootaloo looked proudly up at her idol.

“Okay look kid, how about you use your powers of awesome to blast this Tirek guy in to next week, I mean we’re all strong, but not as strong as you,” Rainbow Dash looked back to see Twilight and the others helplessly weak.

“Where is this bad guy?” Scootaloo frowned determinedly.

“There he is!” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof to the huge Minotaur who looked down at the small ponies with rage.

“I WILL DRAIN ALL YOUR ENERGY AND THEN NOTHING CAN STOP ME!” He roared.

“I don’t think so! Hurry kid, use your powers of awesome and create a totally legit explosion that is actually possible to blast this guy away!”

“Awesome powers ACTIVATE!” Scootaloo jumped in to the air soaring up high.

“And then there was a huge explosion and Rainbow Dash hugged me, cause I saved the day!” Scootaloo finished, smugly sitting back on the bed.

“Really, that really happened did it?” I looked over to my friend.

Scootaloo smiled nervously.

“Scootaloo, what in the name of Celestia are you doing here? You’re doomed if you stay here!” Rainbow Dash ran over to the small pony who’d bounced along excitedly.

“I came to help Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo grinned.

“Okay… look kid, how about you use your powers of awesome to - ”

“What do you need Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo looked up to her idol.

“Run to Sugarcube corner and get six milkshakes, we’ll be done here soon! Okay kiddo?” Rainbow Dash smiled nervously. “We need somepony with awesome powers to make sure we get our milkshakes and that’s you!”

“Sure thing Rainbow Dash! Awesome powers activate!” Scootaloo beamed and galloped off quickly.

Rainbow Dash gave a sigh of relief.

“I hope next time we actually are part of the adventure,” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“My mother always told me, everything can change when you least expect it, and that always seems to happen, all my big moments have happened when I’ve not expected them to,” I recalled my moms advice. “So when we least expect it, something might happen, and we’ll be the ponies to sort it out!” I nodded confidently.

“Okay awesome! I don’t expect anything awesome and adventurous to happen right now!” Scootaloo hopped up awaiting something to happen.

“It doesn’t exactly work that way.” I shook my head.

“Things will change soon, I’m sure of it” I nodded.

“Can’t something just happen now, please?”  Scootaloo sat in the exact spot on the bed she’d sat two days earlier. "Any sort of crisis that we can solve and earn our cutie marks would be nice! I'm sure it'll happen soon and - "

I frowned over at my friend and slowly shook my head.

“I mean, wow what a normal totally not adventurous day today is, nothing can possibly happen!” Scootaloo corrected herself.

“It’ll take longer than that, we just need to live our lives, try to find our cutie mark and eventually, something will happen when we’ve forgotten all about it! But we know for sure it’s not going to happen today when we clearly want it to,” I tried to lift the mood.

“Waiting is boring!” Sweetie Belle groaned.

“Big time,” Apple Bloom commented playing with the bow in her mane.

“Anyway, I need to go and pick up Fuzzy from Fluttershy’s place, she promised to look after him every so often so I get to spend more time with you guys, but instead you’re all being miserable and bored, I’d have more fun with my pet ferret than you guys!” I teased, I noticed my friends angry stares. "Kidding, I'm as loyal as can be now, remember? Anyway be right back."

“Fluttershy’s cottage, what an adventure,” Sweetie Belle spoke sarcastically.

“Wait! I know where we should go!” Scootaloo stood up suddenly. "Come on guys!"

"But I need to get Fuzzy from - " I attempted to talk but Scootaloo grabbed me. "No time!"

Scootaloo did that annoying thing where she dragged us all somewhere without even telling us where we were going, so we ended up in -

“Okay why exactly are we heading all the way out here?” I panicked as we entered the dark forest, the eery atmosphere made me increasingly paranoid.

“Because I know who can help us find the danger we’re looking for!” Scootaloo led the way as we followed her.

“And who would that be?” I asked slightly out of breath from walking through the dark forest, breathing quickly as fear built inside me.

“Isn't it obvious? Zecora!” Scootaloo jumped excitedly.

“Err, who?” I asked.

“Flick, this is Zecora!” Apple Bloom was happy to see her zebra friend.

We entered the small hut; I immediately was greeted by the tall Zebra looking down at me. “Oh yes a young talented unicorn of which I have no doubt, so tell me young ones, what is your visit about?” Zecora looked down between the four of us curiously.

“Well we were just wondering if you’ve seen any evil creatures lurking around here in the forest, perhaps something super evil that we could all team up together and beat down to show our skills!” Scootaloo asked.

“Ya know, maybe some crazy super villain who has some super evil plan!” Apple Bloom added excitedly.

“That we can show whose boss! Give Rarity and her friends a rest for once!” Sweetie belle squeaked determination burning in her eyes.

“I don’t believe I have seen what you seek, but why look for danger who prays on the weak?” Zecora asked.

I frowned slightly puzzled, noticing her habit of rhyming; did she rhyme everything all the time?

“Hey just ‘cause we’re young it doesn’t mean we’re weak!” Scootaloo gasped.

“You misunderstand Scootaloo, I just say it is not wise to do. There are beings and creatures who hunt ponies like you.” Zecora stared down at Scootaloo who stepped back slightly.

“Yeah but come on Zecora, you’ve surely seen all that stuff that happened recently,  Applejack and her friends always stop these bad guys and the whole of Equestria praises them for it, and we four are still stuck at home, and we haven’t even found our cutie marks yet,” Apple Bloom groaned.

“Beating bad guys might be our talents!” Sweetie Belle added. "We're the elements of harmony, the next generation."

Zecora shook her head before averting her gaze to me. “The new pony here seems somewhat shy, tell me young friend, do you really wish danger was nigh?”

“Um, yeah sure, I mean I want me and the crusaders to step up and help once in a while, I guess I’m just...” I started, my voice trembling.

“Scared! Flick is scared again,” Scootaloo laughed.

“No no, do not mock your friend, I see in his eyes, he’s seen evil to no end!” Zecora continued to gaze at me intently, reading every flicker of my eyes.

“He saw a changeling once!” Sweetie Belle spoke up.

“Can we not talk about that, lets talk about something different instead, danger can wait,” I shook my head, shaking away the bad memory.

“But it’s so boring, we want danger and adventure, but Flick says if we expect it, nothing will happen,” Scootaloo moaned.

“That fact is quite true, expecting something greatly is not what you should do. However maybe you’ll find you expect it wont happen so much, that you’ll look around soon and you’ll be surprised as such," Zecora turned around mysteriously. "You four ponies are eager to prove, yet night time approaches, you should make a move."

“Hey can I ask something off topic from the whole danger thing, Miss Zecora, why does everything you say –“ I started before being interrupted.

“Wait I have a great idea, lets just hunt in the forest ourselves!” Scootaloo beamed. "Like you said Zecora, night time approaches, so does the danger!"

“We are not going around the forest alone!” Sweetie Belle shuddered.

“You’re more scared than Flufftail over there is!” Scootaloo rolled her eyes, flicking her eyes between Sweetie belle and me.

“Hey I’m not scared, it’s just so different to the safety of Ponyville, the town is so calm and peaceful and this forest is… just full of horribleness,” I shuddered.

“You can’t compare Ponyville to this forest, the town is boring and any danger there we’re never allowed to get involved in,” Scootaloo was getting angrier.

”I’m not comparing them! I mean that’s like trying to compare, gosh what is that phrase?” I asked purposely despite knowing the answer, “Apples and… arm something?” I sniggered to myself.

“I believe the phrase you are looking for is comparing apples and oranges, a phrase that speaks of difference and – “ Zecora stopped and her eyes widened.

“Okay Miss Zecora you try rhyming something with orange, guess you can’t tell us about any danger now, lets go home!” I spoke quickly, leaving the hut.

I was proud of that plan.

“Well Flick you never cease to amaze me," Apple Bloom shook her head after we left the small hut in the forest. "Well that was a waste of time."

“Come on don’t be like that, who wants to come with me to Fluttershy’s place to pick up Fuzzy?” I asked, but was greeted with silence. “Well okay,  you’re all missing out on a nice, peaceful none drama or danger filled walk through Ponyville!”

And so I headed on my own to pick up Fuzzy.

“Thank you so much for looking after Fuzzy miss Fluttershy!” I beamed happy to see Fuzzy again and blushing while Fluttershy smiled down at me.

“Oh it’s no problem at all Flick, I meant what I said, I’ll happily take him off your hooves every few days so you have time to spend with your friends,” Fluttershy's voice calmed me down after the hectic day.

“Thank you so much! It’s great to see you again pal!” I nuzzled the small brown ferret who was sniffing around.

“So what are you doing with the rest of this beautiful day sweetie?” Fluttershy asked. "It's getting dark now."

“Well, nothing exciting is going to happen..Certainly nothing dangerous and adventurous, so I guess I’ll go grab a milkshake from Sugarcube corner and check in on Miss Pinkie!” I laughed.

“Well take care Flick sweetie!” Fluttershy smiled adorably at me.

“Thank you, you too miss Fluttershy!” I blushed and headed on my way.

And so I left the cottage and headed to Sugarcube corner.

“Here’s your order Mrs. Cake! I hope you make some more muffins with these super ingredients and make them tasty and muffin-licous!” The derpy eyed mailmare dropped the large brown box on the counter.

"Thank you very much!" Mrs. Cake smiled.

“EEK!” I squeaked upon seeing the mailmare in front of me.

She turned around and looked at me, one eye looking at me, the other lazily looking around.  “Hello! I hope you try some of the muffins Mrs. Cake makes, they’re super and muffin-licous!” She smiled at me contently, and clumsily left the building bumping in to the door as she did so, one of her eyes gazing at me.

Mrs. Cake studied me as I approached the counter.

I remained silent, catching my breath for a few moments. "Come on Flicktailus keep it together..." I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Mrs. Cake, I came here for a milkshake I just...didn’t expect to see the mailman," I walked backwards, watching the grey blonde Pegasus walk away. “I kind of have a fear of mailmares...mail ponies...long story it, well it was involving a horrid creature I encountered once.” I shuddered. “I think Twilight said the creature was called a –“

I turned to face Mrs. Cake who suddenly was consumed by a bright green glow, before I could react, I was facing a dark horrific, green eyed creature like I did back in Manehatten, the very face that brought me nightmares to this day, staring at me viciously from behind the counter of Sugarcube corner.

Next Chapter: Chapter 13: Cutie Mark Nark Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 54 Minutes