//------------------------------// // Shall We Begin? // Story: When the Earth Ponies Rule // by Faith Everlasting //------------------------------// "Does anypony know where Apple Bloom is? I've got this new trick that I want to show her, but I haven't seen her all week!" Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle, staring intently towards Sweet Apple Acres. "I haven't seen her or Applejack!" Sweetie Belle affirmed, nodding her head vigorously in agreement with Scootaloo. "What are you, a bobblehead?" Scootaloo teased, placing her hoof on Sweetie Belle's head to keep it from nodding again. Sweetie Belle smiled at Scootaloo's joke, but then it was quickly replaced by a look of concern. "Do you think we should go check on her? I know you said to give her some space, but a week is really pushing it!" Sweetie Belle nervously stroked her purple and pink locks as she typically did before she performed. Scootaloo rubbed her hoof underneath her chin in deep concentration. "Maybe we shoul-" She was interrupted by a familiar sight that was approaching them. "Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo shouted, quickly galloping over to her side and embracing her friend. Sweetie Belle joined in and even tried to fix up Apple Bloom's tangled mane in the group hug. "Where have you been?!" Scootaloo shouted, breaking up from the tight hug. "Have you been sick?" Sweetie Belle asked, placing her hoof on Apple Bloom's forehead. "No," Apple Bloom sighed. "Is something wrong?" Scootaloo pressed. "Do you have a headache?" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "No." Apple Bloom answered, becoming agitated. "Did you eat a bad apple?" "Did you fall into a coma?" "Did you sleep in the barn?" "Did you-" "NO!" Apple Bloom screamed, covering her ears with her hooves. "Make it stop! Make it stop!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle chuckled and then helped their friend back to her hooves. "Why are you so sad, Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked. "No reason." Apple Bloom's eyes started to water as Scootaloo placed her hoof on her back. She glanced from the orange pegasus to the white unicorn and felt her lip start to quiver. "No amount of acting can keep me from realizing that somepony is hurting inside!" Sweetie Belle declared rather loudly. "Now what's wrong?" Apple Bloom did not say a word, but she embraced her friends tightly and started to sob. "If there was only another way..." She muttered. "What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked. Suddenly, a large stallion with synthetic wings and a unicorn horn approached the trio. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood up to greet the stranger, but eventually fell silent under his gaze. He glanced from the pegasus to the unicorn and smiled deviously. "We'll take the little ones first," He said to somepony behind him. Soon, another stallion with the same horn and wings stepped forward and quickly approached the trembling ponies. "Who are you?" Scootaloo asked, backing away from the ominous strangers. "Your ruler." The lead stallion said. Suddenly, the other stallion leaped onto Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, tying their hooves together so tightly that blood started seeping from the pressure of the ropes. Sweetie Belle cried out briefly, only to be silence by a handkerchief that was tied securely around her muzzle. Scootaloo tried to bite the stallion when he got close, but he kicked her forcefully in the head making her black out instantly. Sweetie Belle's muffled screams reached Apple Bloom's ears and made tears cascade down her face. "I had no choice!" She yelled at Sweetie Belle. The pale unicorn's screams turned to silence as she stared at her friend. Her eyes gazed at Apple Bloom in shock and bewilderment. "I... I'm sorry." Sweetie Belle looked at the large stallion and then back to Apple Bloom. The stallion approached the yellow earth pony and caressed her back with his burnt hoof. Then he planted a big kiss on Apple Bloom's lips. Sweetie Belle felt the anger well up inside of her. She screamed, infuriated, at Apple Bloom until the other stallion hit her as well, making her eyes roll into the back of her head and then eventually close. Apple Bloom pulled away from the stallion's kiss and smacked him across the face. He only laughed as the yellow earth pony fell quietly to the ground and started to sob. He then walked over to the other pony and high-hoofed him with glee. "That was rather simple, Scorched Shoe. What now?" The other stallion asked the leader. Apple Bloom lifted her head and waited for Scorched Shoe's response. "Shall we begin?" Scorched Shoe answered, nodding towards his companion. The other stallion snickered under his breath and proceeded to lift Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle up with his unicorn magic and take them away. Scorched Shoe approached Apple Bloom and smiled down at her. "Let's get you fitted for your new wings and horn."