Friendship is, after all, truly magic

It had been a long day at school for Sweetie Belle. The class had just returned from a field trip and, since they had returned early, everypony was standing around waiting for the school day to finish. All around the classroom, young foals mingled, talking together happily about the day's activities. All except for one colt in the back who had fallen asleep on his desk.

Sweetie Belle sat next to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in their usual seats. Both of them were chattering about how much fun they had had. Sweetie Belle wanted to join them, but was feeling worn out after the long day of walking. She felt her eyelids starting to droop as her head slowly tilted down. Maybe she would just rest for a little while....

"Hunh...wha?" Sweetie Belle muttered as she opened her eyes. Scootaloo was in front of her, smiling. Sweetie Belle lifted her head and glanced around the room. All of the desks were empty. Ms. Cheerilee was in the back trying to wake up the colt who had fallen asleep. Sweetie Belle looked back towards Scootaloo tiredly.

"C'mon! It's time to go!" Scootaloo told her. Sweetie Belle stood groggily.

"Oh, ok." She was still somewhat tired, but she started to feel better once she started walking.

"C'mon y'all!" Apple Bloom said excitedly as she joined the other two fillies, "I've got a new plan ta get our cutie marks!"

"Well what are we waiting for then?" said Scootaloo, "Let's go!" and with that, the two fillies started dashing off to Sweet Apple Acres. Sweetie Belle smiled and started off after them.

Sweetie Belle pushed open the door to the Carousel Boutique as she returned home from the clubhouse. The door slammed shut behind her. "Oh! Sweetie Belle!" Rarity greeted Sweetie as she walked into the room. "How was your day?"

"Great!" Sweetie Belle said with a massive smile. "I had lots of fun but," she yawned, "I'm REEEAALLY tired now."

"Oh is that so? You best be off to bed then. I would hate for you to fall asleep in class."

A little late for that. Sweetie Belle thought as she started walking to her bedroom. As soon as she reached her bed, she flopped down and closed her eyes. "Ah....." she sighed as she bundled herself up in blankets. Within minutes, she was asleep.

Sweetie Belle was awoken by a loud clanging sound outside. What was that? Sweetie Belle wondered. She got up and walked over to the window. The moon had not risen far in the sky yet: the night had just begun. Sweetie looked down at the area outside. She could not see anything that could have made such a loud noise. She continued starting for a while, then heard the same sound, but much quieter this time. It was accompanied by a soft shuffling sound. Whatever was making the sound, Sweetie Belle could not see it. She turned towards her bedroom door. It was dark. Rarity must have already gone to bed. Sweetie Belle wondered if she had heard the sound too. Sweetie decided to go take a look outside, just in case. Who knows? she thought, maybe a raccoon got into the garbage or something. I'll be doing Rarity a favor if I take care of it for her.

Carefully, Sweetie Belle opened her bedroom door, slowly pushing it so as not to make a sound. She pulled it closed behind her bit did not latch it. Very quietly, she tiptoed down the stairs and through the rest of the boutique until she reached the door that led outside. she took one last glance towards the rest of the house to make sure Rarity hadn't heard her, then stepped outside. The night air was cool, and the stars twinkled in the sky like glittery sprinkles on a dark blue cake. Sweetie Belle glanced around. There was nothing out of the ordinary outside the boutique. She decided to take a look below her room. She cautiously headed to the back of the building.

Sweetie Belle froze. There was some......thing behind the building. Sweetie Belle realized what had made the noise. Two trash cans were tipped over in front of a tall figure obscured by shadows. The "thing" ducked behind the two trash cans in an attempt to hide. Items had spilled out of the trash cans and were now scattered across the ground. Small scraps of unusable fabric blew in the gentle night breeze. Food scraps spilled out of one container, tainting the air with the smell of slightly rotten food. Sweetie Belle could see one of the creature's hooves poking out from behind the trash can. Potato peelings stuck to it like decorations. Sweetie Belle tried to hold still so she wouldn't startle whatever it was that was hiding behind the trash cans. as she waited for something to happen, two green eyes peeked out at her from behind the pile of garbage. They eyed her nervously, then ducked back behind the cans.

Sweetie Belle wasn't sure whether she should try to scare it off, or if she should just go back inside. Whatever it was was clearly much larger than her and probably knew how to fight. Sweetie took a step backwards. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea. She wanted to be safe back in her bed. She took a glance backwards. Nothing to block her path. Good. Sweetie glanced back at the creature, no, the monster behind the trash cans. Only, it wasn't behind the trash cans now. Sweetie Belle stared in horror as the creature stood up to it's full height, towering over the cans and staring Sweetie Belle straight in the eye with two massive green irises. The creature's crooked horn started to glow with a green aura, and Sweetie Belle suddenly knew that running was no longer an option.