As the sun sets and the sky gradually darkens, controlled by Princess Luna, Sandbar learns that his friends are preparing for a sleepover in the dorm rooms at the School of Friendship. He brings his wagon along as he heads towards Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie Pie, one of the former professors at the academy, works in the bakery and manages party planning and entertainment. Upon entering the bakery, he looks around to find Pinkie Pie, but instead, he encounters Mrs. Cup Cake, also known as Mrs. Cake, who notices him as she finishes up her tasks and walks over to greet him.

Mrs. Cake: Why, hello Sandbar! It's nice to see a customer coming at this kind of hour. Uh, you should know we are going to close the shop right?

Sandbar: Yeah, I noticed. I just need to bring three boxes of cupcakes and I am good to go.

Mrs. Cake: Oh really? Well, perhaps I can give you for free.

Sandbar: W-Wait! You mean it? I mean, can I at least pay for it?

Mrs. Cake: Oh, you silly foal.

She put her hoof on his cheek looking like she was pinching it.

Mrs. Cake: Like I said, we are about to close down this shop to take a rest for a day so it's your lucky day to get free bakery food just for today.

She said in enthusiasm before her mood changed.

Mrs. Cake: Just to let you know, we barely have any customers coming here today after what happened to the news. It really scares me that I have to protect my babies if something happens to them.

Sandbar: Oh yeah... I hear it too.

Mrs. Cake: Speaking of which, are you going outside tonight? You know it's dangerous to go out there alone. You should at least have some company to be with you, just for safety.

Sandbar: Of course, Mrs. Cake. That's why I'm planning to get those cupcakes for my friend's sleepover tonight.

Mrs. Cake: Oh, good to hear. Anyway, I'll go get three boxes of cupcakes. Be right there, dear.

She went to get the three boxes of cupcakes at the kitchen. A minute later, she returns with three boxes of cupcakes carrying over to him.

Mrs. Cake: Here they are. Three boxes of cupcakes.

Sandbar: Oh wow, thanks Mrs. Cake. Oh! By the way, have you seen Miss Pinkie Pie?

Mrs. Cake: She went to visit Fluttershy this morning to do her daily work for taking care of animals in need of assistance. She'll come back tomorrow morning.

Sandbar: Oh okay. Thanks, Mrs. Cake.

Mrs. Cake: You're welcome. Just be careful on the way at night time and please be careful yourself.

She said in a calm motherly tone.

Sandbar: I promise.

He went out carrying three cupcake boxes as he put them on a wagon and he went out to find Spike to accompany him for tonight.

He headed to the castle of friendship as he reached the door. He knocked on the door as he said.

Sandbar: Uh, hello! This is Sandbar. Your student from the school of friendship?

The door opens to see Twilight Sparkle who is surprised to see him on her doorstep.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh! Sandbar, I didn't know you're coming here. What brings you here in this hour?

Sandbar: Well, you see. Me and my friends are planning to have a sleepover tonight and I am just wondering if I have Spike accompany me since, you know...?

Twilight Sparkle: I see... But Sandbar, don't you know of what happened in the past weeks, the little foals and other species' children gone missing, it could happen to you.

Sandbar: I know. I'll be careful. Don't worry about it, Miss Sparkle, or, um, your highness?

Twilight chuckles.

Twilight Sparkle: I'm not crowned ruler of Equestria yet. Alright, I'll get Spike. Spike!

She called out to Spike as he came to her.

Spike: Yeah, Twilight?

Twilight Sparkle: Can you accompany Sandbar for a night?

Spike: Of course! After all, I got nothing else here anyway.

Sandbar: Thank you, Miss Twilight Sparkle. I promise I'll be careful.

Twilight Sparkle: Sure. Oh! Don't forget to say hi to your friends for me.

Sandbar: You got it. Come on, Spike.

Spike: Okay. Later, Twilight.

Sandbar and Spike go out together through ponyville headed to the school of friendship. But first, he's going to head back home to do something first before he can head to his friends.

...

Spike: So where are we going to go first again?

Sandbar: Just simply head to my house to give out a cupcake box to my sister and my parents too.

They've reached Sandbar's house. Sandbar opens the door as he calls out to his family.

Sandbar: Mom! Dad! I'm back.

His mother, father, and his sister came to the room to see him home.

High Tide: Son! You came home late. And, Oh, you have somepony with you.

Spike: Hello, miss uh...

High Tide: Please call me High Tide and this is my husband, Beachcomber, and his little sister, Coral Currents, but we do call her Coral.

She said, introducing her family to him.

Spike: Right. Nice to meet you.

Sandbar: Hey Mom, Dad, I brought a box of cupcakes to drop by.

He brings out a box of cupcakes and gives them to his father. Sandbar's sister, Coral, makes happy sounds to have cupcakes.

Beachcomber: Drop by? Why? Are you planning to go somewhere?

Sandbar: Actually, Dad, I'm heading to School of Friendship in the dorm room to meet my friends there for a sleepover hangout.

High Tide: But dear Sandbar, have you heard the news of what happened in these recent events? Something could happen to you or any somepony else.

Spike: That's why I am accompanying him to ensure he gets there safely.

A purple dragon replied.

High Tide: Are you sure you are going there at night?

Sandbar nodded.

Sandbar: Of course, mom. I promise, I'll make sure I'll be safe as long as I have Spike with me and my friends once I get there.

His mother felt a bit hesitant at a moment of thinking, and then after that, she replied with a smile.

High Tide: Okay. I hope you'll be safe on the way there, dear. Just don't get in trouble.

Sandbar: I know. I won't.

He looked at his little sister.

Sandbar: Coral, be sure you share the cupcakes with mommy and daddy while I'm gone, okay?

Coral made a baby sound as she nodded her head.

Sandbar: Okay. Well, I'll be going out.

Sandbar and Spike turn around as they are headed to the School of Friendship.

Beachcomber: Just be careful on the way there, Sandbar!

High Tide: Take care, son.

Sandbar's parents said to him at a distance. But unbeknownst to them, a shadowy rabbit figure hiding in the darkness, spying on them before he makes an evil chuckle and disappears into the darkness.

...

School of Friendship

The Young Six Dorm room, Dormitories area

Meanwhile, the Young Six are preparing the things in their dorm room for a sleepover hangout. They've already talked to Headmare Starlight and she allowed it. While they are preparing the things, Gallus starts to feel bored.

Gallus: Man, I wonder where is he? He should've been here right now.

Ocellus: Hey, don't be impatient. He just visited his parents to give out a box of cupcakes. I'm sure he's coming here.

Yona: Yona hopes Sandbar will arrive soon. Yona happy to eat cupcakes. So yummy and flavorful!

A teenage yak said.

Silvermoon: Uh, do you think he's safe out there at night? What if something happens to him?

She said in concern of her friend.

Smolder: Don't worry, Silvermoon. He's a brave pony. I'm sure he's fine. Plus, he has Spike with him.

An orange teenage dragon reassures her.

Silvermoon: Well, if you say so...

...

Sandbar, carrying a wagon, and Spike walk through the nighttime streets of Ponyville. Everypony has retired to their homes, and the lights are off. The royal guards will soon arrive to begin their night patrol. As they chat while heading towards the School of Friendship, they suddenly hear something, prompting Sandbar to halt the wagon.

Spike: Sandbar? What is it?

Sandbar: Do you hear that?

Spike: Uh, I don't hear it.

The echoing sound of a whimpering child has been heard again.

Sandbar: There it is again!

Spike: Yeah. But where does it come from?

Sandbar: Only one way to find out. Come on.

Spike: W-Wait!

But he was ignored as Sandbar dashed out to find the source of the sound, bringing along a wagon. Unable to convince him to stop and call the royal guards, Spike decides to follow him. They run through the town until they reach the source of the sound, which leads to a dark alleyway between two business shops, creating a significant gap.

Sandbar: It came from there.

He removes himself from the wagon to leave it here.

Sandbar: I must investigate there.

As he goes into a dark alleyway, Spike stops him from entering it.

Spike: Wait! Don't you think we should call the Royal Guards when they get here?

Sandbar: Spike, we don't know when they will come for starting the night duty. Somepony might've been in trouble. It could be a foul or something.

Spike: If it's something... It could be a trap. We have to call the Royal guards or police.

Sandbar: Look, you can either stay here and watch it over a wagon or come with me, because I am going to find the source of that sound.

He said determinedly as he dashed past him and headed toward a dark alleyway. Spike felt uncertain about what to do, feeling a little scared of being alone out there, so he decided to follow him.

As they made a left turn, a sound emerged from the darkness ahead of them. The night obscured their vision, making it impossible to see through it, with no lights to illuminate the area. Suddenly, another sound reverberated from the darkness directly in front of them.

???: *Whimpering sound*

Sandbar: Hey... You alright? Are you lost?

???: Hm? You found me?

Sandbar: Yeah. Uh, what are you doing there? It's getting dark here.

No response from a little foal from the other side of darkness.

Sandbar: Um, hello?

Spike: Hold on. It's too dark here. Maybe I can let out a fire.

Spike spits out a fire from his mouth, hitting the ground to illuminate the area and allow them to see more clearly. However, what they saw next shocked them beyond expectation.

The animatronic bear, instead of a little foal, features a white and purple color scheme. Its body exhibits a primarily white hue with purple accents, notably on its muzzle, stomach, shoulders, elbows, and knees. The bear possesses segmented face plates that allow its face to open up, revealing inner mechanical components and contributing to a more eerie and unsettling appearance. Its eyes are blue, and it sports a small black top hat and a purple bowtie. Visible mechanical joints and servos adorn its body, particularly at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, emphasizing its animatronic nature. Additionally, there is a circular speaker on its chest. Towering over them, the bear creates an intimidating presence.

This animatronic bear is identified as Funtime Freddy, capable of switching from the voice of a child to a normal, yet frightening animatronic voice. It can mimic sounds to lure in victims, a tactic that has proven successful.

Funtime Freddy *switch to ordinary voice* You found me!

Sandbar: What the!

Spike: What the heck is that!

Then Funtime Freddy emits a loud, mechanical, distorted screeching sound, creating a jumpscare effect. Sandbar and Spike feel a shock coursing through their entire bodies, frightening them to the core.

Spike: Quick! Get out of here and warn the others! I'll handle this.

Sandbar: But-

Spike: Go!

Sandbar reluctantly complies with his word, turning around and dashing out of the dark alleyway. Spike prepares to face the funtime bear animatronic, mustering a brave face to dispel his fear.

Spike: Arlight, you big buckling bolt! I don't know where did you come from and how you able to mimicking the voice, but you'll be sorry-

His taunting was interrupted when Funtime Freddy emitted a loud screech, forcing Spike to cover his ears. Suddenly, an animatronic bear swiftly grabbed Spike's head and swung him against the wall, rendering him unconscious. Spike lay motionless on the ground. Sandbar, who had just attempted to run away, witnessed Spike being knocked out.

Sandbar: Spike!

He turns around and tries to save him, but someone has grabbed Sandbar's mane, gripping it tightly.

Behind him stood another animatronic, this one a fox. Its predominantly white body was striking, with its face split into two distinct halves: one half white with a pink snout, the other pink with a white snout. Its large, piercing yellow eyes, adorned with long eyelashes, stared intently, while its triangular, pointed ears boasted pink insides. With a slender, feminine build, it was often depicted wearing a pink bowtie.

That animatronic is Funtime Foxy.

Funtime Foxy: Sorry, my dear fella. But we can't let you go right now.

Sandbar winced as a masculine voice echoed around him, the impact of the ground hitting him hard. Suddenly, a fox lunged forward, delivering three powerful punches to his face, rendering him unconscious. With Sandbar incapacitated, Funtime Foxy burst into maniacal laughter, poised to strike again until someone intervened.

???: Stop! You imbecile!

The two animatronics turn around to see Shadowtrap appear from the darkness in the alleyway. He showed a mad expression at them attempting to kill them.

Shadowtrap: Don't kill him. I said to injure him, not kill him. The master needs to bring him alive.

Funtime Foxy: Oh! Sorry there. Kinda carried away.

A funtime fox said.

Funtime Freddy: Hey. What about this friend of his? Should we bring him along or kill him?

A shadowy bunny groaned.

Shadowtrap: He knows too much. Might as well bring him along. Put them inside.

Both animatronics complies with his order. They open their stomach hatches and put both Sandbar and Spike inside and close it.

Shadowtrap: Now then, let's get out of here before more will come.

Shadowtrap casts the shadow magic to consume them into the shadow and teleport them away from this place.