At a slow gallop toward their destination, the purple protector of Ponyville was feeling a bit more refreshed. Her three assistants had needed a potty break a half mile back, during which she had managed to collapse onto the ground for a much appreciated rest. After getting her second wind and making sure that all hooves were washed, the small herd had continued on. Wisely bypassing the local Star Bucks' and saving all of Equestria from the dangers of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Coffee Drinkers (YAY!), the costumed mare paused, causing a babbling Scootaloo to stop short and fall over as Applebloom crashed into her. Raising a hoof to her chin in thought Bluebottle took a moment to consider that she really didn't know what Flim and Flam were planning.
"Hmm, you know what? I think you're right Scootaloo. Swooping in from the roof would be better than walking in the front door. I'll have to try that one day." Mare-Do-Well said after a few moments of thought.
Researchers say that this would be when all semblance of common sense in Ponyville committed suicide.
While speaking to the pegasus about the logistics of not dying after jumping from the tops of nearby houses an errant breeze passed by her head. Interrupting the youth's thousandth utterance of the word "awesome" while describing a stunt decidedly not foal safe, our hero remembered the task at hoof. Looking up at the setting sun and darkening sky, Mare-Do-Well ushered her charges onwards towards the last known location of Flim and Flam.
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Meanwhile, at the dog cave...
Spot was busy marking a stalactite larger than he was. He would have marked a stalagmite because they were cooler but he just couldn't reach. Fido and Rover were discussing their duties while trying not to look at their diminutive friend.
"So we need to keep other ponies away from bacon tailed ponies? How we do that?" Rover asked his smarter companion.
Fido thought deeply about the problem, causing the family of fleas living on his head to worry for a moment about the unnatural heat. After a few exhausting seconds of the intense mental labor he was rewarded by what any other species would have regarded as a half baked plan. Naturally he was delighted. Though, as leader he couldn't begin cavorting around in victory. He had to play it cool.
" We set trap for them. We trap ponies that get close and bring them back to cave. Then we makes them get gems for US! We can use gems to buy bacon ponies' deed to Canterlot, and sell it back to pony princesses at half price. Flawless plan! Rover! Get ropes. Lots of ropes. Like three ropes." Ordered the madly dancing leader.
As the large dog lumbered away in search of the needed tools he wondered just what that odd flushing sound was behind him.
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After what seemed like far too much running on Mare-Do-Well's part, the hero with the fashionable cape and the cape-less crusaders arrived at the mouth of the cave serving as campsite for the Flim Flam brothers. The Super Cider Squeezy 6000 was parked nearby the cave entrance. Applebloom was scowling as she recognized the machine.
"So whats the plan? Do we bust in there and fight with the bad guys? Do we have to rescue a hostage? Can we use something from your utility saddle to break in?" the still excited Scootaloo asked her number two hero.
"Ah bet you don't even know why we're here 'n th' first place." muttered Applebloom who was still understandably annoyed at the two stallions who had nearly made her homeless.
"Why ARE we here? Do they have ice cream?" wondered Sweetie Bell causing the other two to look at her with an odd expression before Mare-Do-Well replied.
"Girls, I'm going in to talk with Flim and Flam. Things might get out of hoof so I'd like you to stay out here. If I need backup, I'll be counting on you to go find someone in Ponyville." Mare-Do-Well instructed the fillies, hoping that it wouldn't come to that.
"Can do Miss Mare-Do-Well! You can count on us!" the trio assured her as halos appeared above them.
With that assurance Mare-Do-Well went into the cave. As the fading light from the evening summer sun faded while she trekked deeper in, Bluebottle reminded herself to be on her guard. Even a moment of distraction could cost her in this cave where even Celestia's gift could not be seen. Even the shadows on the cave walls seemed sinister. Fortunately the path was well lit by luminous mushrooms, which filled the cave with enough light to see. Certainly more than enough to spot the incredibly obvious snare located in the middle of the path.
Predictably, Bluebottle found herself quite dizzy from her totally unexpected relocation to the cave ceiling. She wondered which cunning criminal set up this unavoidable trap.
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Laughing to themselves at the genius of their plan, the three gem hounds heard sounds coming from the mouth of the cave. using one of the side entrances to get around the unsuspecting potential work force, the three snuck around until they were able to get a good look at their victims. They smiled at their haul. Two more forced workers. Satisfied they were about to leap out when Spot turned pale and began shivering. Wondering what panicked him, the two larger dogs took one last look out of the leaves and noticed one more pony they hadn't before. Then they knew what was wrong.
"No! White pony is bad! The noise! Can't take the horrible horrible noise!" Rover told his friends.
Fido agreed fully but his own greed stopped him from reconsidering their plan. In order to calm the other two he told them that this time would be different.
"White pony is small pony. Small ponies make small noises. Small noises are not scary. We will get small pony."
Unsure of his claim but equally unsure of how to counter this airtight logic the other two agreed.
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The Crusaders' patience was being pushed to the breaking point. It seemed like they had been standing outside of this "dumb cave" forever. By far the most patient of the three, Applebloom figured that it had been about five minutes by then and proceeded to check if she had gotten her pacing cutie mark. When the customary check of the flank failed to reveal her life's purpose as lifting both hooves on the same side at the same time, she glanced around. A sort of rustling sound came from the bushes nearby making her a bit skittish. Calling over her two bored friends, the filly got closer to the rattling shrubbery.
When the frightening forms of Fido and Rover and the slightly threatening form of Spot jumped out of the bush Applebloom scrambled back towards the others. The dogs advanced on the foals as they huddled together in fear.
The ever brave Scootaloo asked what the dogs were going to do to them.
Spot replied "Quiet pony! We take you to our lair with one in funny cape. Then you dig for gems for us!"
At that moment Sweetie Bell's fear had reached critical levels. Taking a deep breath she...
Thanks to *GoodStNero for the picture.