[}—–{ Cutie Mark Dream Invaders }–—{]

Don’tcha mean “Dream Protectors?

No, I don’t.

Princess Luna, known also by her titles such as Princess of the Night and Protector of Dreams, was slowly trotting down the streets of Ponyville.  Much to her dismay, the streets had been evacuated when she arrived at the small little town without much announcement besides her guards’ flapping wings.  Luna couldn’t help but let out a sigh as she spotted another window shutter clattering shut when she turned her head.  It appears that despite our previous visit to Ponyville, everypony is still terribly frightened of us.

What the Princess of the Night did not know, however, was that there was a different reason for the Ponyvillian evacuation.  Earlier that day, Applejack had spotted the trio of troublemakers notoriously known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, CMC for short, rigging themselves with skates and harnesses with small rockets attached to them.  Not having the heart to stop the little fillies’ quest for their Cutie Marks, Applejack instead galloped as fast as she possibly could to the town, shouting about how the Crusaders were going to be blasting through town.  

Of course, the words “blasting” and “Cutie Mark Crusaders” put together was enough to instill fear in the strongest of stallions.  Needless to say, most of the ponies in Ponyville were not the strongest of stallions.  So, naturally, they all dropped what they were doing and began to gallop madly back to their homes or loved ones.

Unknown to the Ponyvillians and Princess Luna, far into the hills of Sweet Apple Acres stood three fillies, shaking on their roller skates as the comprehended the scope of their task.  As Sweetie Belle worked to ignite her horn, Applebloom was the first to voice the three’s collective anxiety.  “So… uuh… we’re about to… um… what is it we’re gonna do again, Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo’s voice shook just as much as Applebloom’s as she turned to reply.  “Well, first we’ll light the… the rockets.”  A moment of ominous silence descended before the pegasus continued.  “And then… we’ll go really, really fast through Ponyville.”  Scootaloo’s voice died out relatively quickly as the weight of what she said finally hit her.  “Sweetie Belle!  Sto-“

Just as Scootaloo expressed the urge to cancel their latest scheme, Sweetie Belle’s horn touched the fuses of their rockets.  Needless to say, the three fillies took off like multi-colored rockets.  The triple screams of fear and surprise were ripped out of their mouths as they shot towards the fortified Ponyville and the unsuspecting princess within.  As the Cutie Mark Crusaders passed the first few houses in a blur, they suddenly found themselves heading straight for a wall of midnight blue.

Princess Luna couldn’t help but feel a little put-out that the ponies of Ponyville had reverted back into their ways of suspicion as to her being reformed or not.  Her ears twitched as they detected something akin to a far-off explosion but Luna, still engulfed in her slight depression, disregarded their warnings.  As she trotted back the way she had entered the town, towards her carriage that awaited her, Princess Luna could hear the sounds of screaming getting steadily louder with every second.  

“Aha!  Somepony is scared of us?  Perhaps we should scare them again so that they like us once more!”  The naïve Princess began to gallop towards the sound, mistaking it for screams of delight at a chase.  The last thing she remembered was seeing three blurs, one orange, one white, and one yellow, jet up to her, as well as the immense pain that was brought about by their collision.

“She looks like an angel.”  Sweetie Belle’s voice permeated the silence that enveloped Luna’s mind.  From within the blackness, the princess began to stir.

“Nah, she looks like she’s dead.  Is she, doc?”

“Scootaloo!  How could you say that!?”  Applebloom’s shrill voice cut across the doctor’s deep one as she admonished her pegasus friend.  “She’s just… er… sleepin’… yeah.”  After a moment, within which Scootaloo let out a snicker, Applebloom exploded again.  “You’re jus’ bein’ a dodo bi-“

“Girls, if you don’t calm down I’ll have you escorted out of the hospital.”  The stern voice of the doctor cut across the others’ as they were tipping over the edge of an argument.  Luna’s eyes cracked open slowly, letting in the blinding light that is so common in most hospital rooms.  As her vision focused, she was greeted with the sight of the three Crusaders and the doctor standing around her bed, Applebloom and Scootaloo being held up in the doctor’s magical grip.  “Ah, Princess, you’re awake I see.”

After a brief examination of her surroundings, Luna turned back to the doctor with a wondering stare.  “What in the name of the Moon happened to us?”  Her voice was groggy as her gaze shifted between the four ponies that were accompanying her.

“Don’t worry, Princess, let me go get you something to help wake you up.  I’ll only be a moment.”  The doctor checked off something on the clipboard at the end of her bed, which was only just big enough for a pony her size, before walking out of the room and leaving Luna with the three fillies.  Sure enough, they jumped up the second the door closed.

“Do you need any water?”

“Want me to get you another pillow?”

“Are ya gettin’ hungry?”

All of their words blended together as Luna, still groggy from being unconscious, leaned backwards from the assault of helpfulness.  “W-we think th-that we are-“

“Do you want me to comb your mane?”

“I can blow some extra air on you if you’re hot?”

“Do ya want to buy some apples?”

Luna shuffled around uncomfortably as the three fillies darted around her bed.  “No, please, it is quite all right…”

“Do you want me to make you a new gown?”

“Want me to get some extra feathers for your pillow?”

“Want me to get you some cash or credit?”

“Silence!”  The curtain’s rustled as Luna’s outburst blew past them.  After a few moments of silence, which Luna used to reclaim her usual demeanor, the princess spoke again.