//------------------------------// // The Cutie Mark Crusaders Crumble // Story: Time is Forever // by MysteryMelt //------------------------------// The Cutie Mark Crusaders Crumble “Why do we tell our foals that they ought to forgive their enemies – they ought to forgive their friends.” ~ Star Swirl the Bearded Apple Bloom ran for her life. Sombre and uncomfortable thoughts of being chased raced through her tiny heart, it beat with such unfathomable power it nearly tore from her rib cage. Her eyes twitched left to right, she scanned each street and planned her next move, she knew it would be crucial. The shadow of a pony chased her through the early hours, the chasers eyes were white from the reflection of crescent light from the moon. Apple Bloom dared not look back for fear it would slow her down. But the chasers eyes burnt holes in the back of her head. Her last mistake was to turn left, down a dead end. It was a dark alleyway. She didn’t know the streets of Ponyville as well as she thought. Apple Bloom was backed into a corner, a five metre high brick wall trapped her from the next street over. She tried to clamber up the wall, but her hooves could not get the leverage she so desperately sought. There was nowhere left to run, nowhere left to hide... Her chaser closed in, their white teeth beamed in the dark to form a cocky grin. They reached out their hoof... “Tag, you’re it!” Scootaloo shouted triumphantly and stepped into the light, she bounced up and down a few times for her victory. “Awww dang it, no fair.” Apple Bloom deadpanned as a trickle of sweat dropped from her brow. “I took a wrong turn,” she then mumbled. Sweetie Belle lagged behind, she huffed tirelessly after she had finally caught up with her much quicker friend. “Wow Scootaloo, you ran way too fast for me to keep up!” “Just call me the tag master,” Scootaloo boasted. “Yeah right,” Apple Bloom returned. She too shared in a few deep and calm breaths. Apple Bloom had taken the game a little too seriously; the thrill of the chase had really made her blood burn. This was something the three fillies had never done before, they had wake up early to play just before the sun arose, with nopony in the town, empty streets and the full protection of the moonlight, it was practically a giant playground without any limitations. Just as the three friends shared a hearty laugh and walked back out into the open street, the sun rose up above the horizon. Back at the crusader clubhouse, the trio sat on small cushions as they watched the sunrise. Sweetie Belle picked up her things and packed her school bag, without the other crusaders knowing she hastily packed a small white teddy bear with buttons for eyes. She flung the bag over her back. “Huh? What’s this?” Sweetie Belle’s hoof crushed a small envelope. “We’ve got... mail?” Sweetie Belle sounded surprised and consequently puzzled at the same time. “Uhhh, ummm...” Apple Bloom snatched the parchment and held in high up in her hooves. As she tried to decode it she held it in every direction, even upside-down. “It’s from cousin Babs!” Her face lit up with a smile of glee. ‘Dear Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Yo, how’s it goin’ cry babies? Heh, only jokin’. Got your cutie marks yet? I sure haven't, mom said we gotta keep in touch and share pointers. I’m not gonna stop searching, but I’ve looked all over Manehattan. I just don’t know what I’m good at yet. You better make sure youse tell me when you've all got yours... alright?’ ~ Babs Seed “I dun’t think any of us will ever get our cutie marks,” Apple Bloom said with a defeated sigh. "We'll have to get our cutie marks eventually...” Sweetie Belle replied. “Anyway, let’s get get goin’, we’ll be late!” Scootaloo said, she was already atop her scooter with her helmet on, eager to get going. Contrary to most foals, the Cutie Mark Crusaders enjoyed school. The trio dash out of the crusader clubhouse and into the summer air. They sailed down the hill and towards their school. The playground of the school house was a place of wonder for the school foals, a place to let their wonderful imaginations run wild. They were slides and hanging vines all of which were painted in all manner of vivid colours. The playground was surrounded by the sound of cheerful fillies that played during break time, stomping, running and laughing all accompanied by the rhythmic creaking of swings. The Cutie Mark Crusaders played hopscotch in the playground beneath a tall apple tree. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched as Scootaloo went first and tossed the bean bag into the chalk-drawn grid. “Having fun?” Fluttershy’s voice called out from across the playground. “Hey Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom said happily with a wave. “Good morning,” Fluttershy replied merrily. She flew up to tend to a group of birds in their nest high up in a apple tree. Fluttershy was dressed in a custodian outfit and held a small feather duster and container, she was working here to help to tend the school grounds as a side-job especially since they discovered a that some baby birds were living here. Scootaloo jumped along the hopscotch squares. “Hey, blank flanks!” Diamond Tiara said snootily and interrupted her fun, both her and Silver Spoon galloped up alongside the crusaders. The tiara on her head reflected the sun that shone in Scootaloo’s eyes and caused her to trip onto the hard concrete. “Diamond Tiara, what're you doin’ here?” Apple Bloom said with disgust but she already knew the answer to her own question, all Diamond Tiara ever did was mock them for not having their cutie marks. “C’mon you guys, they’re not worth our time. Let’s get out of ‘ere.” Scootaloo suggested as she got back up, she gave Diamond Tiara the daggers of her eyes. The three friends turned to leave but as they did something loose fell out of Sweetie Belle’s saddlebag. A white teddy fell rolled along the ground and got stained in the dirt. Diamond Tiara gasped. “Sweetheart!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “Sweetheart?!” Diamond Tiara repeated under a petty laugh and then looked down at the white teddy bear. It had buttons for eyes, two large ears, freckles on it’s cheek and a large pink heart stitched onto the centre of it’s stomach. “Well, well, well it looks like the baby blank flank still plays with cuddle bunnies.” Diamond Tiara said with a snooty laugh. She picked up the teddy and squeezed it’s fluffy white fur, one of the black button’s used for it’s eyes popped off. “Hey! Give it back!” Sweetie Belle shouted and tried to grab it back. Diamond Tiara threw it Silver Spoon and then she it back again so Sweetie Belle couldn’t get it. By now a small crowd of school foals had gathered in the playground. “N-no...” Sweetie Belle’s faced burnt with embarrassment. Everypony would know her secret. “Hey! There’s nothing wrong with having a cuddle bunnie...” Apple Bloom said but even she sounded unsure, she would never be caught with one herself. “Leave her alone! Charrrrge!” Pipsqueak pushed through the crowd of foals and shouted out of nowhere. He charged forward, jumped up and snatched the teddy midair after Silver Spoon had thrown it. “Here you go, Sweetie Belle.” Pipsqueak said and handed it back to her with a slight blush. Sweetie Belle would’ve thanked Pipsqueak, but she was too distraught. Sweetie Belle looked at Sweetheart, now covered in dirt and mumbled to herself. The school foals split apart and the confrontation ended just as the bell rang for class to start. Miss Cheerilee wiped the blackboard clean of simple mathematical equations. “Okay settle down my little ponies. For the last couple of school days before the summer holidays we have a most-important visitor, possibly the most important visitor we’ve ever had here at the school.” Cheerilee said. The classroom door whisked open and the radiant Princess Celestia entered with a welcoming smile. “Wow, Princess Celestia!” Featherweight said and quickly took a picture of her as she entered; the whole class was in uproar, surprised at the very least. The princess was the visitor they had least expected. Her swirling mane and tall stature was even more impressive in the small classroom. The princess stood silently at the front of the class. “The princess will take any questions you may have, about Canterlot, the other princesses, or anything related for that matter.” Cheerilee pointed to each foal. Every single classmare raised their hooves enthusiastically. “Oh, oh! Pick me, pick me!” Apple Bloom was so eager she felt her hoof would drop off. Afterall, she was special, her big sister is acquainted with the princess more than most. Celestia should know Apple Bloom, shouldn’t she? A snooty voice called out from the back of the classroom. “I heard that you can claim any plot of land in Equestria you like. Wouldn’t that make you... a tyrant?” Diamond Tiara was the first to interrupt all others. Her arrogant tone of voice didn’t falter even when she spoke to a princess. “The land of Equestria is for everypony, equally.” Princess Celestia replied sternly, that put Diamond Tiara in her place. “Tell us about how regal Canterlot is!” Sweetie Belle said. “Tell us about how you learnt to fly!” Scootaloo was eager to get flying tips from the princess. The class all appointed questions to the princess, all of them were equally excited save for Diamond Tiara who turned to look away in the darkness at the back of the classroom. The spoilt filly signalled for her friend Silver Spoon to do the same... she reluctantly followed. “Now, now class, it’s rude to shout out.” Cheerilee tried to calm them. “It’s perfectly fine, Cheerilee.” said Celestia warmly, “it’s important that we keep in touch with the foals however eager they may be as they will shape the future of Equestria.” “Tell us about Nightmare Moon!” Another voice blurted out above all others. Everypony gasped. They knew Nightmare Moon was the toughest subject for Celestia. It was Pipsqueak who had asked the question, ever amazed by the story of his favourite princess. But regret filled his heart immediately after he had asked the question, he gazed around to notice how silent the classroom and his fellow foals had become. “Luna,” Princess Celestia said with a worried look. “My sister was afflicted by something we now call the Nightmare Forces." Everypony squinted their eyes deep in thought; they had never heard the story quite like that. Apple Bloom lowered her head and took notes, she wrote down everything Celestia said, down to the last letter. “Luna once became a creature beyond control. She tried to make the night last forever. She was stopped.” Celestia paused for a minute to become deep in thought, “for a thousand years we both waited, separated by the empty schism of space. For a thousand years we were both lost, neither one of us knew who felt the strongest regret.” “But Luna wouldn’t do all dat, would she?” Pipsqueak replied, he sounded disappointed. Princess Celestia walked up to his desk and bobbed her head down to speak to him directly. “I’m sorry little one... if it’s any consolation, it was the Nightmare Forces that manipulated her into doing the things she did. Deep inside, Luna was truly sorry.” Her head raised again and as the princess took her leave she said one last thing: “But what we should all remember is that if somepony is truly sorry — whether it be Luna or anypony else — we should always find it in our hearts to forgive them.” Princess Celestia looked at Apple Bloom when she said this and gave the foal a nod. Apple Bloom gave a puzzled look... what could that possibly mean, and why was it directed at her? Sweetie Belle seemed flustered, she looked high and low, under her desk and out the windows. “She’s gone! Sweetheart’s gone!” Sweetie Belle shouted in distress. Her cuddle bunnie was nowhere to be seen. “Are you sure you didn’t just leave it in the playground?” Scootaloo replied. “No...” Sweetie Belle said and then turned to Diamond Tiara who laughed at the back of the classroom. “Diamond Tiara took it!” “I did not! Besides, you can’t prove that, blank flanks.” Diamond Tiara retorted in return. “Oh yeah, well how do you explain that!” Sweetie Belle said and pointed to Diamond Tiara’s hoof. One of the black button’s used for Sweethearts eyes was stuck to the bottom of her hoof. “Okay then class. If there is truly no other way of determining who took the toy. I suggest we make today’s class into a pretend trial. Sweetie Belle can be the prosecutor while Diamond Tiara can be the defendant. The rest of the class can be the jury,” Miss Cheerilee said. “If Diamond Tiara is proven with evidence that she had stolen from another classmate... she will be suspended.” Everypony gasped. Suspended?! Nopony had ever being suspended for anything before. Diamond Tiara looked around with worry. She tried to be nice and smiled at everypony, with all of her classmates as the jury, she’d have no chance. “Daddy taught me once that court proceedings dictate that I can pick someone to help defend me. I pick Silver Spoon as my lawyer.” Diamond Tiara said and pointed to Silver Spoon. The school foals all charged to the ‘lost property’ box to find white wigs and other clothes to make them look the part. Sweetie Belle even found a small worn suitcase. The classroom was rearranged into a courtroom as all the desks were moved to the sides. The lights in the classroom were dimmed when the curtains were closed, that created a dense atmosphere. Miss Cheerilee sat at the front desk as the impartial head judge, she wore a long white wig and looked quite silly. She slammed a heavy hardwood gavel onto the head desk. Sweetie Belle stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Imagine this, said filly brings a brand new cubble bunnie to school, something she has cared about and loved. Then Diamond Tiara approaches to mock said filly. It’s seems to be the perfect crime; Diamond Tiara takes Sweetheart and use it against it to mock said filly for being babyish.” “Objection! Diamond Tiara, could you explain where you were on the day said 'Sweetheart' went missing?" Silver Spoon adressed her friend calmly. "I was right here with—" "A-ha! Just as I thought," Sweetie Belle cut her off. Apple Bloom bashed her hoof against her face. "What I was trying to say before I was rudely interrupted, was that I couldn’t have taken Sweetheart, I was with Silver Spoon the whole time. She'll vouch for me.” Diamond Tiara replied and bashed her hooves against her desk. "It's true. She was with me." Silver Spoon replied. “And how dare you accuse me of something so low! But you’re right you know, having a teddy is babyish.” Diamond Tiara mocked with a snigger. “Urg... I’ll destroy you! Uh... I mean, no further questions.” Sweetie Belle smiled innocently. “Well Sweetie Belle, did you see the crime take place?” Miss Cheerilee said. “I didn’t actually see her take it.” Sweetie Belle had to admit. “But she’s so mean; it’s just like her to do something like dat.” Apple Bloom shouted out. “Objection, again!” Silver Spoon shouted with a growl and pushed her glasses up on her nose. “That is all pure speculation.” “How do you explain the button on her hoof then?” Sweetie Belle replied. “The button fell off in the playground, remember? I must have stepped on it after you got your cuddle bunnie back.” Diamond Tiara replied in her most snooty voice. The crusaders couldn’t provide any decisive evidence. The school bell rang for class to end. “Well class, since neither a guilty nor not-guilty verdict has been proven, the court case will be postponed until tomorrow, so everypony can gather more evidence.” Miss Cheerilee explained. The Cutie Mark Crusaders all scowled at Diamond Tiara, they were going prove she did it without a shadow of a doubt. Apple Bloom collapsed on her bed, tired after a longer day than usual. She stared up at the ceiling of the barn, as a filly does she tried to make patterns or connections out of the dimples in the ceiling. Her notes on Princess Celestia had splayed out across the bed sheets from her backpack. Still, as early as it was, she still wondered about what the princess had directed at her... “Apple Bloom, get yur flank out ‘ere.” Applejack’s firm voice shouted in from the outside window. Was she in trouble? What had she done wrong now? Apple Bloom groaned before hastily galloping back outside. “Well you know I said that work was no fun, well I want to make it up to you. C’mon Applejack, Plleeeeaasse. Pretty please with a caramel chunk on top?” Pinkie Pie stood with Applejack and jumped up and down excitedly, as the little filly Apple Bloom approached the friends her bigger sister yanked her to one side, and whispered to her. “Apple Bloom, did you tell Pinkie Pie she could... uh... be here?” “Yeh! I invited her to help.” Apple Bloom smiled and remembered back to the time she asked. Pinkie Pie smiled innocently. “Alright Pinkie Pie, since you’re here to stay, you can help. An extra set a hooves should be no problem for the apple family.” “Woohoo! Alright!” Pinkie Pie looked around: hay... pitchforks... apples. “What do I actually do?” She looked back up at her friend. Applejack skilfully kicked up a spade and passed it to Pinkie. “Tell you what, since yer not spooked by the Everfree Forest an’ all. There are some apples that need picking on the orchid behind the school. Think you can handle it?” “Sure thing boss!” Pinkie Pie saluted and bounced away merrily. Applejack smacked her hoof against her face. “You best consult me next time you invite somepony to help out Apple Bloom, its hard doin’ work around Ponyville. If you don’t ya job properly, ponies could get hurt, ya understand?” “Alright.” Apple Bloom groaned. “An’ with that, you’re grounded until further notice.” “W-whaaaat?!” Apple Bloom’s face dropped to one of horror. Lively crickets chirp happily as nightfall descend upon the unwary. Apple Bloom, after an exhaustive day, tossed and turned in bed. She snored, if only slightly. Her bedroom window was slightly ajar to let in nighttime air to cool the temperate. “Moo...” A voice called out from the cold outside. “Moooo!” Apple Bloom mumbled and pried open her eyes, they were slightly glued together with sleepydust. “Pssst, hey Apple Bloom. Moo!” Apple Bloom threw back the bed covers and full opened weary eyes in bed. With a tired but quiet grunt she rolled out of bed and looked out of the window to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo down in the night below. Sweetie Belle was mooing... again. Apple Bloom looked at her bedroom door, from the small gap under the door she saw the light was still on in the corridor but she saw no shadows, the coast was clear. She climbed down the side of Sweet Apple Acres along vines which run up along the back of the farmhouse. “Hey Apple Bloom, we’re heading out to do some snooping on Diamond Tiara, you know like when we gabby gums? We need to get as much evidence as possible, you wanna come?” Scootaloo said. “Hey Sweetie, Scoot. I’m sorry... but uh... I can’t go out, my stupid sister grounded me.” Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes with a yawn as the crickets chirped around them. “What?! You know I can’t sleep without Sweetheart, right? And besides, we’re just not complete without you; you’ve always spent time with us since well... ever.” Sweetie Belle spread her hooves wide to demonstrate a giant space of time. “I know but I just can’t. Applejack’s only mah big sister, yet she treats me like she’s my ma. Not that I ever knew my mama.” Apple Bloom said. “Well, that’s just great,” Sweetie Belle spoke up, “are you trying to avoid us or something? Do you want me to lose Sweetheart forever?!” “Naw, it’s not like dat at all!” Apple Bloom scowled, was her best friend really accusing her of that? “It’s only a cuddle bunnie thought, Sweetie Belle, can’t you just let it go?” “Says you Scootaloo, all you do is ride yur scooter all day, imagine if you lost that you’d never be sane again!” Apple Bloom suddenly complained in reply. “Don’t be such a worrywart,” Sweetie Belle shouted next. “Well you and Rarity don’t care about us either.” Scootaloo replied. “Well at least I have a family!” Sweetie belle shouted at both Scootaloo at Apple Bloom, after that it all went silent, even the crickets stopped to gasp. “Uh, oh... Wait! I didn’t mean that—” Sweetie belle suddenly regretted saying anything. “No, you said it, it’s out there! Maybe...” Scootaloo teared up, “maybe we shouldn’t be friends anymore!” Scootaloo suddenly turned to run away with tears swelling her eyes. “Sc-sc-Scootaloooooo!” Apple Bloom shouted into the distance, it was met with no reply. “Nice going Sweetie Belle, now look what you’ve done.” “Wait... this is my fault now?” Sweetie Belle replied and had heard enough, she too left Apple Bloom to stand wearily in the night. Was this the end of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, were they disbanded? Apple Bloom saw Scootaloo running off into the Everfree Forest, in the daylight it’s hard to see but in the night it’s near impossible, why would she go in there, unless...? Scootaloo was intentionally running away. Apple Bloom panicked and rushed to tell her sister. But if she told her sister, then Applejack would find out that she was outside with her friends. She’d get in even more trouble. No, she had to tell someone she could trust... Sweetie Belle charged through Ponyville, but this time it wasn’t for fun, it was because she wanted to stay away from her friends. Smash! Sweetie Belle burst through the Carousel Boutique door, through the main hall and past her big sister Rarity, all without a word. She dived into a violet pillow and sobbed her heart out. It was at times like these she would have Sweetheart to cuddle and to love... but now she was alone. “We were the Cutie Mark Crusaders On a quest to find out who we are And now we’ve stopped the journey We’ll never have our cutie marks” She sang into the pillow as she sobbed, the singing helped her to calm down and vent her frustration. “Sweetie Belle, whatever is the matter?” Rarity said and trotted up to her “We’re not friends...” Sweetie Belle’s muffled voice replied from the pillow. “You mean you and your little gang of cutie mark chasers?” Rarity replied. “It’s crusaders!” Sweetie Belle turned upward to shout. Sweetie Belle looked into a nearby vanity mirror, she was still angry, really angry. As soon as she saw her reflection, it forced her to calm down, for the filly she saw in the reflection was not her. “Yes...” Sweetie Belle finally answered calmly, “we’re not friends anymore.” Sweetie Belle charged through Ponyville again, but this time it was not for fun, it was because she wanted to stay away from fighting with her friends. Smash! Sweetie Belle burst through her home door, through the main hall and past her big sister Rarity, all without a word. She dived into a violet pillow and sobbed her heart out... “Sweetie Belle, whatever is the matter?” Rarity trotted up to her. “We’re not friends... no more.” Sweetie Belle’s muffled voice replied from the pillow. “You mean you and your little gang of cutie mark chasers?” Rarity replied. “It’s crusaders!” Sweetie Belle voice cracked up as she turned up to shout. The filly looked in a nearby mirror, she was still angry, but as she looked at her angry reflection, it forced her to calm down. For the filly she saw in the reflection was not her. “Yes...” she finally answered, “we’re not friends any more.” Crackle! A short thunderclap rumbled. Scootaloo ran into the Everfree Forest, her head pointed down, she charged through the forest with little care or worry for the darkness that descended around her. Second later the clouds burst, the trees served as little protection from the rain as the droplets splashed upon the young fillies head, all the rain did was hide the tears. Scootaloo charged past even Zecora’s house. Zecora had a fruit basket and a giant bottle of water... “Little one, where are you goin’?” Zecora shouted as another clap of thunder erupted in the sky above. Puddles formed in the Everfree Forest, but Scootaloo just kept running, and running, and running, she ignored the zebra. Scootaloo ran farther than any pony before her, past the ruins of the temple of the moon, past many gorges and over jumbled bridges, past all the dead trees which looked like they have ungainly fingers for branches. Her emotions powered her and stopped her fear. Besides, she knew Rainbow Dash wouldn’t be scared of such things, so why should she? Eventually the young filly tripped over a twisted tree branch root. She tumbled down a small incline, her body smashed against the ground. To her horror, bushes of green and black thorns filled the valley. She screamed as she rolled through the canopy of thorns that scraped her fur and torn her skin. Slam! She landed face first. She grunted in pain as she rolled over and stood. Several thin cuts penetrated her body and stung with a pricking pain. When she looked around, she didn’t recognize where she was. She was lost. “Well this is big mess you’ve got yourself in now Scoots.” She spoke to herself. Scootaloo had reached the other side of the Everfree Forest; she was surprised to find it even had an end. Scootaloo slipped through a small opening between a small cliffside and into a small clearing, it involved carefully pushing thorns out of her path, her hoof could handle it. She pushed past and behind a rambling rock ridge... The sound of roaring water could be heard as it crashed upon rocks. The rain slowed to a drizzle as Scootaloo nervously walked across... sand?! The darkness cleared and Scootaloo looked out at. It was a sight she had never seen before. It was a giant lake, with water as far as she could see until on the horizon it merged with the deep blue sky above. She was on a circular beach that surrounded the lake. The sand though was a grey rather than it’s typical colour. She held the grains of sand on the end of her hoof and watched as they sprinkled off. Perhaps it wasn’t sand, but a more dissolved state of ash instead. The crackle of thunder emanated from one point: the centre of the lake. Scootaloo had to turn her head up to get full view of what stood before her. Her neck arched so far up she nearly toppled backward. It was a castle. It stood out like a shadow against the skyline, like a nightmare. Erected on an island of sharp rocks at the centre of the lake. The waves of the lake crashed upon the rocks with great force that the spray reached high up into the clouds. Scootaloo’s eye followed the castle upwards, it had countless black towers which looked like changelings horns. A thunderstorm crackled in a maelstrom around the highest point of the castle. The castle didn’t look safe and moreover, it looked haunted. The lake wasn’t part of the ocean, and Scootaloo was curious as to how a lake had waves. Scootaloo charged down to the water. She tripped into the water... “Blerh! Ahk! Arhhhh!” Scootaloo screamed and spat it the water out almost immediately. Saltwater?! She hissed in pain, the saltwater had gotten into her open wounds. It took her a moment to shake off the damnable pain. The salty taste stuck on her tongue and only made her even thirstier than before. Surprisingly though, the saltwater had worked as an abrasive to clean her wounds and after the initial pain, they had become bearable. Was the lake once connected to the ocean, Scootaloo thought. Unable to drink such water, Scootaloo toughened-up and waded her way through the water, and used her full weight to press against the waves. The water splashed in her face as she used her hooves to push into the water to try and swim. The waves acted against her, and she struggled only slightly. The lake wasn’t too deep and she eventually found some black steps which were partly submerged into the water. She clambered her way up and turned to look from the centre of the lake... The entire valley was surrounded by tall rocks and Scootaloo had found the only entrance into it. Perhaps she’ll be heralded for finding a new landmark, maybe even Rainbow Dash will congratulate her. No... what was she thinking? She wanted to run away, but not like this, now she had found her own adventure, without her friends... The onyx gate had a message etched above it. Scootaloo nudged open the massive gates, they opened with a clash. “Helloooo? Anypony in here?” Scootaloo’s voice stammered with a sprinkle of fear. A flock of squawking crows flew out of the open gates. The entire castle was giant, long corridors with high ceilings, huge tall pillars of black rock which got thinner the higher they ascended. The walls were thrift with rot and red moss. The castle was old... incredibly old. Ancient. Scootaloo dared to explore the castle. It was cold and lonely, much like how Scootaloo felt inside. She trotted her way into a large silent hall. On the wall was a huge stained-glass window of a centaur that shone colourful transcendent light into an otherwise bleak room. There was an old cracked throne made of onyx. Scootaloo laid down in the centre of the room. Finally a moments rest... She could stay here for as long as she liked, this was her discovery, a place where she can vent in peace, her new hangout. Apple Bloom must have taken a wrong turn. How long had she being in the Everfree Forest? It felt like an eternity. They were no clocks in the castle, you couldn’t record time here. Not even the sun’s light could be used to predict the time of day. The Everfree Forest was so dark, the canopy of trees blocked out of the light. It was unlike her to get lost in the forest. Her hoof crunched as it twisted into a tree root and the foal’s face planted straight into the ground. Her body got stuck in a pit of vines. When she untangled herself and got up she was in a small clearing. She had found it. Knock! Knock! Apple Bloom bounced outside on the doorstep impatiently. There was only one outsider she could trust. The wooden door opened and Zecora squinted in surprise. “Zecora, I need your help, there’s no time to explain!” Apple Bloom bounced inside. “Dis iz about Scootaloo, I suspect? Your friend ran away last I checked.” “Yeh! Wait... how do you know?” Apple Bloom tilted her head as she walked into Zecora’s home. “I saw her run into the Everfree.” Zecora replied cockily. “I guess you'd find out sooner or later. We all had an argument, and Scootaloo ran off and now I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m gonna be in sooo much trouble!” Apple Bloom stomped her hooves in a panic and forgot to breathe as she belted words as a hundred miles an hour. “Calm yourself, little one.” Zecora took a potion of blue and smashed it on the side of the cauldron like an egg. The cauldron bubbled strange liquid at the centre of her house. "Nafasi ya kivuli," Zecora chanted. An image bathed in a green aura swriled to reveal a tall and pointed castle. "Usiku wa manane," Zecora's face changed, she seemed fearful and took a moment to slow her heart. “Scootaloo is in da castle, the one of black. She is in great peril unless she turns back.” “Castle of black?” Apple Bloom stared into cauldron, at the magical liquid in the cauldron, the liquid churned into the mixture and then swirled around to create images... “I see a lost pony with Scootaloo, a stranger... Oh no! It is her. Scootaloo is in great danger!” Zecora stomped her hooves as the clouds from her cauldrons exploded into a silvery smoke. Two bright white eyes flashed in the clouds, Zecora showed great fear and grabbed Apple Bloom as the hut filled with filled with smoke. “Oh no! NO! It’s my fault, what do I do? What do we do?” Apple Bloom charged up and down. “You can always tell ze truth.” Zecora stared at the younger filly. “NO!” Apple Bloom returned. “I can’t tell mah sister. I just can’t. Please don’t tell her. I’ll get in so much trouble. Just tell anyone but Applejack, tell... tell Twilight! Yeh, she’ll know what to do, Twilight always knows what to do!” Scootaloo had invented her own game, she had to toss small stones across the cobblestone floor in an effort to to get them to rest within the cracks in the cobblestone floor. Each stone throw caused a great echo across the castles many tall corridors. “You... shouldn’t be here.” A cloaked pony said as she emerged in the room. “Huh? WHOA!” Scootaloo jumped up with such force she flew a little to the back of the black room. The cloaked pony parted with a slight chuckle. Her face was covered, but the cloak had tares ripped into the back for her ponies fairy-like wings. “This castle is very old and very dangerous.” The cloaked pony tapped on the black rock wall as she spoke. “Huh?” Scootaloo tilted her head and looked up at the pony. “Oh...” She took a deep breath and calmed herself. “I know... but I don’t care.” She wanted to sound tough. She continued to chuck more onyx pebbles along the cobblestone floor. Although there was something strange about this cloaked pony. She had appeasing fairy-like wings but she seemed... taller, and more fragile than an actual pegasus. “Did you run away too?” asked Scootaloo. “In a fashion. Yes. You could say that.” The pony paused and smiled under the hood. She kept a pain inside herself, a sadness she neglected to show on her face. “I was lost, so very long ago.” Crash! The iron doors burst open with the force of magic. “You were right Zecora, she’s in here... Scootaloo!” Twilight Sparkle addressed the young filly and galloped inside, Zecora followed closely behind. Their manes weren’t soaked from the trek through the saltwater lake, Twilight must have teleported them here. “You’re okay! Thank Celestia. I heard voices, who were you talking t—” Then Twilight saw her too. The pony pulled the cloak off her back. The pony was yellow in colour... with a long pink mane. She had kind eyes and a distinct feather in her mane for decoration. Twilight’s eyes widened even more, for a moment she that the pony was Fluttershy. However this pony was... transparent, she was the ghost of a pony who once lived. “You’re a... ghost?! I knew this place was haunted but this is ridiculous.” Scootaloo stammered. Twilight and the nameless pony gazed at each other up and down. Was it really that simple? Twilight thought. A spirit... or perhaps she was something more? “...I can’t tell her the truth.” The spirit eventually said and was relieved soon after she spoke, a relief that made everypony think she had waited an eternity for this very moment. “Excuse me?” Twilight said and smiled awkwardly, she slowly stepped back and signalled with her hoof for Scootaloo to get behind her. “I am not allowed to speak with her.” The spirit said warmly. She had a calm and collective voice. Her voice was warm on the inside but had a hint of mysteriousness wrapped around it. “Urhmm... who?” Twilight asked. “Fluttershy. I can’t tell Fluttershy, but I can speak with you, Twilight Sparkle...” The pony concurred and hoped to gain a reaction. “Wait... how do you know my name?” said twilight as she tilted her head in confusion. She had no idea what the yellow pony was on about. “We’ve met before, you and I,” she said as her fairy wings fluttered brightly. “Tsh. I-I’ve never seen you before in my life. We’ve never met before.” Twilight jetted her eyes around awkwardly. Just who was this pony? “Oh... of course. I’m sorry. It hasn't happened yet. You see we keep meeting in the wrong order, you and I, the next time you see me will be the first time I see you. It’s complicated. But Twilight... you’ll understand very soon. And I’m so sorry, but that’s when it all ends.” The yellow pony explained. She never rose her voice, she never got angry. Twilight didn't reply, she merely blinked. Her mind flickered with knowledge. Was this pony telling her about the end of Equestria? Was she from the future? Twilight thought, left with more questions than answers. “Just who are you?” Twilight said with a hint of anger as she stood firmly infront of Scootaloo. There was a brief moment of silence, like eons had passed for the sake of this one moment. “Rosedust... I am Rosedust," she named herself with great sadness. She was the pony with a cutie mark of three pink roses, seven pink and green rosebuds. Rosedust faded away into thin air. Gone. “T-twilight.” Scootaloo was terrified and worried, the fear clearly showed on her face as she looked up at Twilight. “That was a Spiritmare. I’ve never seen one like that before... I... I never thought.” Twilight paused to calm herself and swallow the lump in her throat. A Spiritmare was an entity which ponies with strong wills can become when they have had their time in the world. “Perhaps I, should respond?” Zecora stepped forward. “That was a mare from the beyond,” the zebra put it in more simple terms. Zecora was unimpressed by the spirit; she was more used to these sorts of encounters with her voodoo magic and had foreseen the spirits appearance in her hut. The next time Twilight see's Rosedust will be the first time Rosedust see's her? How is that even possible if they've met just now? Twilight’s head was awash with confusing thoughts. She shook her skull to clear them away and concentrated on Scootaloo’s safety. “But wait... nevermind that! What are you doing here Scootaloo?! What were you thinking?!” Twilight looked down at Scootaloo with eyes that burn with rage. “I... I’m sorry. I just wanted to be alone... I thought I was brave enough to be on my own for once. I guess I was wrong.” Scootaloo said and looked down at her hooves. Twilight’s eyes reflected hope as she spoke again, “oh Scootaloo, everypony needs somepony. Being alone all the time will just alienate you from the friends you already have.” Twilight found room for a smile, despite the encounter she’d just had. “Alright... let’s get out of this creepy place. Besides, everypony is worried about you... especially Rainbow Dash,” as Twilight spoke she gazed around the castle, she will be glad to see the back of it. “Rainbow Dash was worried about... me?” Scootaloo looked up from the floor. “Yes, now let’s get you home.” Apple Bloom kicked a tin can over. She was propped with her forehooves up against a fence near her school. Zecora wouldn’t let her run into danger... as she was ‘too little’. So instead Apple Bloom, Applejack and Pinkie Pie picked apples up off the nearby apple trees that surrounded the perimeter of the school. Apple Bloom had only noticed just now that her school was surrounded with apple trees, an entire orchid was perched behind the building. It was the ‘duty of the earth ponies’ to help harvest, they were the only species of pony who can grow food from the land. So Apple Bloom had been given a temporary amnesty from being grounded to help out her big sister, but Applejack was still none the wiser to Apple Bloom’s little excursion yesterday. While Apple Bloom didn’t mind to work with her sister, she didn’t know if she was ready to follow in her big sister’s hoof prints. Pinkie Pie bounced around, she was hardly doing any work. Infact, she talked to the apples and even gave them names like Ms. Applehead and Appletaskic. While she played with the apples, one slipped from her hoof and rolled into a nearby cave. Pinkie Pie bounced into a cave, the inner cavern was covered in thorns from the trees of the Everfree Forest. Applejack followed Pinkie into the cave with a concerned scowl. “I hate to say it but as much as you're my friend Pinkie Pie, you’re just getting in the way...” Apple Bloom also approached Pinkie, after she had a small basket of apples. The sound of breaking rock ensued. “Huh?” Everyponies ears pricked up. Crumble! Suddenly the cavern sundered above all three fillies. “Ahhhh!” They all scream in unison as rock collapsed upon them. The entrance crumbled and was destroyed within a matter of moments... The light had mostly fleeted them, the three ponies each gradually recouped from unconsciousness. The dusty pit had bits of dirt and ruined apples that rolled around. In Apple Bloom’s case she was completely covered in a layer of grey dust. “Argh! Fiddlesticks!” Applejack cursed as a thorn cut her fur. She waded her way through the spiky plants, but without the light it was impossible to see where the thorns were. “We’re in trouble, we’re in trouble!” Pinkie Pie shouted, “hellppp!” “Calm down, everythin’ is gonna be alright now, ya hear?” “B-but Twilight is out lookin’ fer Scootaloo. They might never get back!” Apple Bloom replied in shock and ducked under a thorn. She managed to support herself against the back wall where it was safe. “Wait, why is Twi’ out lookin’ for Scootaloo?” Applejack cocked her head. Apple Bloom avoided the question when was flooded with memories of the argument she and her friend had, after all that shouting, she still cared about her best friend. “I-I can’t believe I got mad at her, Scootaloo is ma’ best friend,” the foal whispered to herself. “Shouldn’t we be worrying about more important thiiiings!” Pinkie Pie panicked. The thorns had ceased to be stationary. Shunned from the light they naturally curled inward at an exponential rate and because of their thickness, the space in the cavern was thinning. “It’s gonna become impossible to stay here much longer.” Applejack grunted and tried her best to feel her way through the sharp green thorns. Everypony slogged through the maze and pushed themselves up against the walls of the cavern where it was safer. Apple Bloom coughed again from the dust. In the close quarters of the distasteful pit, movement was impossible. Pinkie Pie was right, they were in trouble, especially is nopony arrived to help. “Well... if this is our last moments out guys. I have a confession. I kissed Prince Blueblood at the Gala. No wait... that’s not right. I mean... I’m sorry that this is a teeny, tiny, little bit my fault.” Pinkie Pie could listen to her conscious no longer. “Not that it’ll matter in a few moments.” Applejack said in an annoyed tone, not surprised in the slightest that Pinkie Pie was behind all this. “But yet right Pinkie, if only you didn’t mess around so much we wouldn’t even be here. We’re all trapped in ‘ere because of you!” “I-I-I’m sorry,” she stammered regretfully, “helpppp!” Her cries only served to aggravate Applejack even more. Apple Bloom couldn’t stand it in here, its damp, dusty, cramped, and if they didn’t escape soon, the answer was getting spiked. “Applejack...” Apple Bloom moaned weakly. “If this is our last moments...” “It won’t be.” Applejack interrupted. “But if it is, then there’s something I need to tell you. I... went out yesterday, even though I was grounded.” “You what?! Aww, Apple Bloom why don’t ya ever listen to me?” “Because am not a baby anymore, and because you’re not my ma!” Apple Bloom’s tone of voice turned into a more assertive one. Another curled thorn cut her shoulder and caused her to hiss in pain. “I know you and yer friends go out and play in the night, I just get worried because... well... Ma and Pa are gone Apple Bloom, and they ain’t ever coming back. You’re mah responsibility now.” Unpredictably, like an angel from heaven, another faint voice is heard. “Can you hear me in there?! Applejack? Pinkie Pie?! We’re going to try and get out of there!” “Twilight!” Everypony shouted with glee. “Apple Bloom! We’re sorry!” “Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom shouted, never had she been so glad to hear her friends voice. They had returned, just in time. Twilight’s horn shone with magic as she carefully lifted each boulder out from the entrance. Big Macintosh helped also, his sturdy arms were strong enough to pull the rocks from whence they fell. Slowly, the light shone into the cavern as all three ponies shielded their eyes. The thorns unfolded in the light and the cavern was spacious once more. There was a brief pause of silence... “Sweetie Belle’s out here as well!” “Hi Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle shouted at the top of her voice, but even then it was muffled. Apple Bloom was closest to the light, she weaved her smaller body through the thorns and headed into the light. Applejack was in a trance of sadness. Apple Bloom revealed to have betrayed her... “I’m really sorry Applejack, here, let me make it up to you,” Pinkie Pie suddenly found one of the ruined apples, it was covered in a layer of grey dust but Pinkie Pie drew a smiley face in the dust on the side of the apple. “Well, when I get out of here, I dun’ think I wanna’ be friends no more Pinkie. I knew you were just getting in the way.” Applejack sulked. Apple Bloom had heard enough. “Stop it, just stop it!” Apple Bloom shouted from the other end of the cavern. “Listen to ye’ both, you sound just like... just like I did when I yelled at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Friends shouldn’t argue, yeah sure, all friends gets into arguments, but more importantly, friends should forgive one anuther!” Apple Bloom sounded wise beyond her years... ...Crumble! “Apple Bloooom!” Several cries rang out, but no other louder than Applejack’s distraught cry, she pushed her way through the thorns, each one scraping her skin, tearing at her fur, in a desperate bid to save her... The rocks shifted again and crumbled from the weight and pressure. Then a wall of dust blasted Applejack back. Apple Bloom glanced upward. Several rocks collapsed on top of her tiny body, many bashed onto her head and cracked her skull. Her entire body was crushed under all the rocks. Then black... “Apple Bloom! NO! NOT APPLE BLOOM!” Applejack wept as she dug up the rocks again with her bare hooves. She covered in cuts, blood and dust, her entire body stung with pain. Applejack fished her sister out, and brushed her face of the dust. She embraced her tiny body tightly and closely. “Apple Bloom, don’t you dare give up on me now, ya’ hear?” Applejack gently shook her little sister, but her body was lifeless, her head hung down from her shoulders and there no response from the foal once filled with life. “No... no, no, no!” Pinkie Pie brushed up against the pit of the wall in shock, Applejack gulped and cuddled up to her sister nuzzling her and trying to get her back up. “Apple Bloom... I-I know I treat you more like a daughter than a sister... but it’s because we’re all we’ve got. Ma and Pa wanted me to look after you. The apple’s should stick together, and you were right...” Applejack laughed pettily under her tears, “friends should forgive one another.” Applejack shook her litter sister in her hooves... but shook her head. It was over. At the rim of pit, Big Macintosh, Twilight, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle tug with all their might to lift the rocks away. Eventually the rocks were removed and they saw Applejack cradling her little sister... A gentle flash of white light and a slight spark filled Applejack’s eyes. But it wasn’t the light from outside, the beam light came from Apple Bloom’s right flank. The light exploded in the cavern and exploded out of the entrance to blind everypony. It was Apple Bloom’s cutie mark. Apple Bloom regurgitated and jolted back into life, she spat out a hail of dust mixed with mucus. “Oh thank sweet Celestia.” Applejack hugged her sister and brushed the dust from her little sister’s mane. Apple Bloom opened her dust-covered eyelids to see her worried big sister. “Apple Bloom! You’re okay!” Her big sister hugged her tight, “you’re alright...” Everypony breathed a sigh of relief. “Wow Applebloom. You did it; you actually got your cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle looked at the friends rump. “I did it...?” Apple Bloom turned and looked weakly at everypony in the open light. “I did it?! But how? I don’t even know what I did! Uh... but what is it?” “I don’t believe it. It’s a bright pink apple with two blooming flowers beside it.” Applejack burst into laughter under her many tears. “Wow... I did it! I did it!” Apple Bloom smiled and got up. Energy sprouted into her and she bounced around much to the delight of everypony filled with energy as she kicked apples all over. She had finally got her Cutie Mark. One-by-one the three ponies are lead to safety. They were hardly recognized, their manes were messed-up, their fur looked grey from the dust except for the occasional cuts of red blood. They emerged infront of the school house back where they had started to pick the apples. Big Macintosh proceeded to fill up the cavern with by kicking up dirt with his study back hooves so nopony would have to go through an ordeal like that again. “I’m sorry Applejack” Pinkie Pie looked down at her hooves. It was almost because of her that Applejack lost her youngest sister. “I’ll... understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore.” Pinkie Pie jabbed her hoof into the dirt. “D’aaww, come ’ere you.” Applejack suddenly grabbed Pinkie Pie. “I’m sorry I said all that. I truly am. Ah was just angry.” The three Cutie Mark Crusaders approached one another. All of them seemed nervous and shy. “I’m sorry I yelled at y’all,” Apple Bloom spoke first. She had already forgiven the previous argument they had all had. “Me too,” Scootaloo replied. “Me three,” Sweetie Belle added. “But now that you have your cutie mark? Does this mean we’re not friends anymore?” Sweetie Belle asked innocently. “Of course it dun't.” Apple Bloom said and raised her rump to show-off her brand new cutie mark. “I guess mah special talent was with the apple family all along. But just because I have a special talent doesn't mean we can’t be friends no more. We’re still a team.” Apple Bloom twisted her neck and looked down at it, confused by its purpose and meaning. “ But I wonder... what does ma cutie mark represent? I mean... I got in a dusty cavern.” “Nay.” Applejack said, “you got it with yer sister. I think yer gonna follow in mah hoofsteps. You’re growing up Apple Bloom; you’re blooming into a fine mare. But yer still only half-an-apple.” Applejack ruffled her sisters mane with a silly grin. “An’ I’d be mighty proud for you to take over Sweet Apple Acres when the time comes.” Applejack placed her hat onto Apple Bloom’s little head. It still didn’t fit, but somehow, it looked much more appropriate now. “Hey guys, just wait until I tell you about the adventure I’ve just had. There was a dark castle with an actual ghost and total danger. It’ll blow, your, minds!” Scootaloo suddenly blurted out. She explained to everypony about the onyx castle. The Cutie Mark Crusaders skipped together into the sunset, ready for their next crusade. “Waaaait!” Sweetie Belle suddenly shouted out. “Aren't we forgetting something?” “Oh my gosh! We totally forgot the court case! We’ve all being too busy arguing and running off that we never made a case.” Apple Bloom shouted out. Her heart sank in her chest. “Don't worry. While you and Scoot’s were off, I prepared our entire court case for tomorrow.” Sweetie Belle said and flexed her hooves. The desks were rearranged once more, the lights were dim, it had never being to tense within the classroom. This was the final day of term, the day either the Cutie Mark Crusaders or Diamond Tiara would be proven right. Diamond Tiara’s remaining school days hung in the balance... “Sweetie Belle, prosecutor at law! Here’s mah badge!” Sweetie Belle said and held up a badge she hoof-stitched with Rarity’s fabric. She pushed it into Cheerilee’s face until she had to back away. Sweetie Belle then moved into the centre of the room. “Miss Cheerilee, I mean... your honor, and members of the jury, I would like to call a surprise witness... Fluttershy.” Sweetie Belle said and opened the classroom door, there stood Fluttershy who shyly waved to the school fillies. “Eh?!” Everypony gawped in unison. Fluttershy entered the classroom and sat down at the desk, her large body barely fit in the small chair designed for fillies. “Fluttershy was working as a custodian at the time me and Diamond Tiara had our spout in the playground. You were cleaning up... is this true?” Sweetie Belle questioned intently. “That’s right um... yes... I was helping to tend to a rare bird they discovered in the tree outside of the school. Sometimes the little birdies get trapped in the pieces of litter...” Fluttershy said as retraced her steps, she remembered helping the rare birds in the nest. “Then I saw Sweetie Belle getting mocked in the playground. You know... I have several cuddle bunnies, there’s nothing wrong with that. I even have real cuddle bunnie, my pet, his name is Angel...” Fluttershy mumbled she had seen Diamond Tiara mock Sweetie Belle in the playground while tending the birds. Fluttershy remembered the last thing she did yesterday, she approached the ‘lost property’ box. From the pile of junk she rummaged through before she pulled out the cuddle bunnie. “My Sweetheart!” Sweetie Belle shouted in jubilation and gripped the teddy tightly. Its heart-shaped nose squished against the rest of its fur body. “Of course, Fluttershy put the cuddle bunnie in the one place she should have, in lost property!” Apple Bloom said. “Wow Sweetie Belle, that was totally awesome.” Scootaloo said as everypony ran to her in a group hug. “I did it, I did it, I don’t know what I did.” Sweetie Belle said. She was surrounded by her friends and fellow school foals including the loyal Pipsqueak. “Aww c’mon Sweetie Bell, we all know you like Pipsqueak!” Scootaloo teased. “Eep!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “Sorry Diamond Tiara... you know, I'm not sure the jury was completely impartial anyway...” Silver Spoon said and shrugged her shoulders. They weren’t any winners or losers, it was just a case of misplaced property. “Sorry I accused you, Diamond Tiara.” Sweetie Belle said sadly. Diamond Tiara turned her nose up at them, her pride was too great, she couldn’t forgive them. Miss Cheerilee slammed the hardwood gavel against her desk. “Well class, this has certainly being most important and educational day for all of us on the last day of school. I suspect we have all learnt something from this?” She said after a long belated sigh. “I learned that you shouldn’t accuse ponies of crimes they didn’t commit, especially without the evidence to prove it. We accused Diamond tiara of a crime she didn’t commit and the whole classroom pretend to go to court over it.” Sweetie Belle said. "There’s also really nothing wrong with having something soft and cuddly, however old you are, although someponies prefer real pets, someponies are still foals at heart." “I learnt that you can’t always go solo, it's great being brave and all but everypony is much braver when they're with their friends.” Scootaloo added. “You should forgive your enemies... but you should also forgive your friends even more. All ponies will get into arguments.” Apple Bloom replied. “Also, Diamond Tiara, some of the other foals told me you tried to bribe them with Bits you borrowed from your father. Filthy Rich, in a bid to get them to plead ‘not guilty’, is this true?” Miss Cheerilee said. “No... I mean... I didn’t... argh!” Diamond Tiara grunted loudly, she had being caught. The school bell rang for the final time. “Well class, the summer holidays have begun, I will see you all after summer.” Miss Cheerilee said. The school fillies and Fluttershy were free to leave but Diamond Tiara had to stay behind, she grumbled over at Apple Bloom, she had her cutie mark now. Apple Bloom was surrounded by the all the school foals, even Silver Spoon, they all wanted to speak to her now, about her cutie mark and about her special talent and following in her sister's hoofsteps. As the classroom door shut, Diamond Tiara scowled at everypony. This wouldn’t be the last time they’ll hear from her... The cutie mark cusaders, the school foals and Sweetheart skipped together into the sunset, ready for their next crusade. Dear Princess Celestia. ‘Sometimes ponies forgive each other only once, sometimes not at all, but today I learned that everypony doesn’t forgive enough. Yeah, occasionally all friends can get in arguments, it’s only natural, but one true value of friendship is that friends should forgive one another. I think that’s what you wanted me to learn from your visit to the school... My cutie mark is a bright pink apple with two blooming flowers beside it. Yup! I’m certainly growing up into a fine mare, I guess that means now I can help my friends get their cutie marks as well. If we ever get in an argument like that ever again, which I doubt we will, I’ll always remember... ...to forgive them.’ ~ Apple Bloom. Afterward... Zecora meditated in the middle of home, her hooves were crossed, her eyes were closed. Bang! The zebra flinched as the door to her hut was flung open. It ruined the peace and solace of her meditative state. “Zecora, we need to talk. I didn’t have chance to say it before, but I’m damn doing so now!” Twilight’s angry voice called out at the zebra. “What iz dis about?” Zecora replied and opened one of her hazel eyes to see Twilight step in her hut, uninvited. “About that thing you keep locked away in a cavern outside of Ponyville.” Twilight said and marched up to her, “the spider you’re feeding,” her facts were right this time and she knew it. Zecora smiled, she had being caught but she was strangely unthreatened and almost happy that Twilight had found out. She approached Twilight with an open mind. “The daemon of burden named the spider of fear. Sit down to listen and all will become clear...” To Be Continued... My Little Pony: Time is Forever™ will return... Soon... 'The Equestrian Five-Hundred begins...’ Notes: Apple Bloom’s Cutie Mark is now canon in the alternate universe of this fic. You’ll know something important is about to kick off whenever Rosedust appears. The whole pretend court case pays homage to a My Little Pony Tales episode: ‘Stand By Me’ (July 31, 1992). A pony named Teddy was accused of stealing a cassette player from Melody and a pony named Sweetheart defended Teddy in a pretend classroom court. These ponies from MLP Tales are referenced as Sweetie Belle’s ‘teddy’ is called ‘Sweetheart’. Sweetie Belle’s cuddle bunnie is based on a Care Bear. Unlike the show itself, Zecora chants real Swahili in this chapter. All three crusaders have their own individual stories in chapter as they’re always seen together and rarely have a chance to develop their character alone. Apple Bloom’s was in the cave of thorns, Scootaloo’s at the castle and Sweetie Belle’s with the whole cuddle bunnie and court case. The 'afterward' section of this chapter isn't unique, they will be many more of these extra pockets of information on the end of chapters to come. Since Princess Celestia and Miss Cheerilee are both voiced by the same person, I thought I’d have them in the same scene for a change.