The three fillies crept down the halls as quietly as they could. Going at a pace that was half the speed of a normal trot, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle made there way through the Rich family house searching for wherever Filthy Rich kept important items.
After retreating from a recently searched room, that turned out to only be for storage, Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo and whispered.
“You sure Mr. Rich even has this evidence yer lookin’ for? Wouldn’t his lawyer have it or somethin’?”
Scootaloo shook her head. “No way, he’s definitely got it.”
“How do you know?” Sweetie Belle questioned with a brow raised.
“Think about it, if he’s going through all this trouble to try and get mom and dad punished or whatever he’s gotta be keeping the important stuff with him.”
Apple Bloom sighed. “Maybe, but Ah still think all this is a bad idea.”
Scootaloo chuckled. “You worry too much Bloom. Just focus on finding the evidence.”
Sweetie Belle tilted her head. “Would it be in a safe or something?”
“Probably. But enough chatter, we’ve got work to do.”
After that statement Scootaloo peeked into another room while her friends took different ones and the search continued.
=====================================
Time dragged on as the fillies continued their search. Through tea rooms, sitting rooms, closets, a kitchen, a den, a dining room and even a rather large home library there was no sign of anything, anywhere that Filthy would keep what the three friends were looking for.
Scootaloo sat on the plush carpet of the foyer with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. All wore similar looks of fatigue.
Scootaloo groaned quietly in frustration. “I didn’t find anything. What about you guys? Any luck?”
Apple Bloom shook her head. “Nope.”
Sweetie Belle sighed. “Me neither. What now?”
Scootaloo rose a hoof and pointed behind the two. “Lets try upstairs. I read in Daring Doo: A Nobles Secret, that rich ponies live on the upper floors of these big houses. Maybe Filthy Rich has an office or something where he’s keeping the evidence.”
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “it’s worth a look but won’t it be harder to look around up there?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah, if they live on them upper floors then that means they sleep there. Explains why no one came runnin’ when we blew that door Ah guess.”
Scootaloo stood and made for the stairs, throwing a smile to her friends.
“Don’t worry, if we’re quiet then they won’t even know we were here.”
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle followed after their friend. Both equally worried that something could go wrong but determined to help Scootaloo no matter the risk.
Once at the top of the stairs the trio was faced with a three way divide. Ahead of them was a short hall that led to a pair of double doors. To the left and right hallways went around the staircase and branched off to other parts of the house.
Scootaloo scratched her head while looking from one path to the next before going forward.
“Let’s search this room first. Since it’s the only one this way, it shouldn’t take too long.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom nodded as they followed Scootaloo to the large doors. Using her magic Sweetie quietly turned the handles of the doors and eased them open. When the doors fully opened Scootaloo smiled.
At the back of the room facing the door a desk sat between a pair of pillars that held a bust of Filthy Rich. And above the desk was a large portrait of who Scootaloo guessed was Stinkin’ Rich, the founder of the Rich family fortune.
Aside from that the room housed a few end tables and chairs as well as a safe to the left of the desk. All in all Scootaloo was sure this was an office if she ever saw one.
“Come on, let’s get at that safe.”
Apple Bloom rushed in front of her friend and fixed her with a hard stare.
“Scoot, Ah know yer only trin’ to help yer folks and Ah can respect that but don’t ya think this’s gone to far?”
Scootaloo tilted her head. “Huh?”
Sweetie Belle stepped up and stood beside Apple Bloom.
“She’s right Scootaloo. I mean what are we gonna use to get in the safe anyway?”
Scootaloo nodded to Sweetie’s saddle bags. “Lemons.”
Apple Bloom huffed and rolled her eyes. “Oh sure let’s do that. Come on Scootaloo, if Sweetie explodes them lemons Ah just know someone’s gonna hear us. Face it, we can’t get the evidence so let’s get while the gettin’s good.”
Scootaloo grit her teeth in frustration. “I didn’t come this far to...”
Suddenly Scootaloo turned her head towards the open doors and pitched her ears forward. After staring for a few seconds she turned to her friends with a look of panic.
“Someone’s coming! Close the doors and hide!”
Sweetie Belle lit her horn and closed the doors then joined her friends in franticly looking for a hiding place.
Apple Bloom turned in a circle before focusing on Scootaloo. Her voice hushed but thick with panic.
“There ain’t nowhere to hide! What do we do!?”
Scootaloo scanned the room and noticed the pillars beside the desk. They were decorative and wide. Wide enough to hide behind safely if no one looked to closely.
Hearing faint hoof steps outside the doors Scootaloo pointed to the pillars.
“You two hide behind those. I’ll just hover close to the ceiling and hope whoever’s coming doesn’t look up.”
Her friends nodded and scurried behind the pillars just as the door began to open. Not wasting a second more, Scootaloo shot up and hovered over the door frame.
The door opened and Filthy Rich strolled in dressed in a nightshirt. The stallion yawned and headed for his desk. Not wanting to risk being seen Scootaloo followed Filthy just overhead and out of sight, hoping that nothing made him look up.
When Filthy reached his desk he pulled a stack of papers from a drawer and flicked on his desk lamp. Retrieving a pen from its holster to his right Filthy began filling out paperwork while muttering to himself. Unaware that he had three sets of ears listening in.
“I can’t believe the bits it took to set up this trial. But I guess sending a warning to these changelings is worth it. Anything to keep my town safe from those monsters.”
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle listened as Filthy kept working and muttering to himself. Each sentence the stallion uttered was either related to the trial or the changelings in general and made Scootaloo wonder, was Filthy really just trying to ruin the changelings lives? Or did he believe he was doing the right thing.
Scootaloo shook her head lightly as she watched Filthy.
Maybe I was wrong about him but either way I need to do something to stop this trial.
Scootaloo’s thoughts were derailed as a voice came from the doorway.
“Daddy, what’re you doing up so...”
Scootaloo starred, eyes wide at Diamond Tiara. Diamond was standing in the doorway and staring right back. Scootaloo clenched her eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
It’s over. I couldn’t help mom and dad. I failed.
Filthy Rich looked up from his work and rose a brow at his daughter who seemed to be staring into space.
“Diamond, what’s wrong?”
Diamond Tiara blinked and focused on her father.
“I, uh.... What do you think of the changelings?”
Scootaloo opened her eyes and stared questioningly at Diamond. Of all the things Diamond Tiara could have said, that wasn’t anywhere near what Scootaloo thought she’d say.
Diamond Tiara flicked her eyes up to Scootaloo and winked quickly before focusing on her father.
“The changelings?”
Diamond nodded. “Yeah. Why do you want to get rid of them so bad?”
Filthy walked around his desk and sat in front of Diamond.
“I want to get rid of them because they could hurt someone. I know the Princesses want to make peace with them but they’re just too dangerous to trust. Why so curious?”
Diamond shook her head. “Just asking. Could you get me a glass of water?”
Filthy smiled and ruffled the fillies mane. “Sure thing sweetheart. After that it’s back to bed ok.”
Diamond nodded as Filthy left. When her father was out of sight Diamond motioned for Scootaloo to come down.
Giving Diamond the benefit of the doubt, Scootaloo fluttered down next to Diamond Tiara.
“What was that about?”
Diamond Tiara glanced at Scootaloo before trotting to Filthys desk. After rummaging through a drawer for a few seconds Diamond came back with a large folder.
Diamond put the folder at Scootaloo’s hooves. “Here’s the evidence for the trial. I found it after you and I.... talked in the park. You’re here for this right?”
Scootaloo looked from the folder to Diamond.
“Yeah, but why’re you...”
Diamond waved a hoof dismissively.
“No time right now. Just take this and get out before Dad get’s back.”
Scootaloo nodded and put the folder on her back.
“Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle let’s go.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom left their hiding spots and rushed out the office doors. As Scootaloo went to follow Diamond Tiara spoke up.
“We’ll have a talk about you breaking into my house later.”
Scootaloo was about to defend herself but settled for a quick nod and a smile before turning and following after her friends.
=========================================
When the three fillies made it outside Scootaloo put the folder in Sweetie’s saddle bag then flew up to the cloud she’d left over the rich house. Getting her friends secured to her body with rope again Scootaloo navigated the cloud back to their clubhouse.
Once inside Scootaloo set the folder on the table and looked to her two friends.
“Well... That wasn’t how I thought things would go but I’ll count this as a mission success.”
Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yeah. It was nice of Diamond Tiara to just give this to you.”
Apple Bloom just shook her head as she gave the folder a quizzical look.
“It sure was. But what Ah cain’t figure out is why she did it.”
Scootaloo shrugged. “We’ll have to ask her later.”
Receiving a nod from her friends the three began getting out of their jumpsuits.
Sweetie Belle got out of her jumpsuit first and glanced at her flank. Heaving a sigh she turned to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
“No cutiemark. Oh well.”
Apple Bloom chuckled. “What? You wanted a breaking and entering cutiemark?”
Scootaloo brought a hoof to her face. “Aww! I didn’t even think of that! We could have gotten cuttiemarks in like spy stuff or something!”
Apple Bloom shook her head. “Heh, if it’s all the same to you Ah’d rather not have a cutiemark for that kinda thing. Way too stressful. Anyway, why don’t you pop open that folder and see what’s in it?”
Scootaloo nodded and reached for the folder. Flipping open the cover She began reading through some of the papers.
“Yep, looks like everythings here.”
Sweetie Belle yawned. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I can’t understand most of this stuff but it’s got mom and dad’s names in here so it must be it.”
Sweetie yawned again. “Well then I’m going to get some sleep. Night you two.”
Apple Bloom followed after Sweetie Belle and helped her set up the sleeping bags the three kept in the tree house.
After skimming a few more pages Scootaloo closed the folder and crawled into her own sleeping bag.
Before she fell asleep Scootaloo gave the folder a final look and smiled.
“I love it when a plan comes together.”