//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Fabulous Adventures of Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara // by Mattricole //------------------------------// Despite my better judgement I decided to humor Apple Bloom. We were now boarded onto the couple’s wagon, heading down the road that hopefully lead to Ponyville, and our salvation. “So did she, like, lose a bet or something?” the mare asked Apple Bloom. “Ah’m startin’ ta wonder that mahself,” Apple Bloom muttered as she looked at me, no doubt plotting ways to have her way with me. “Fer the last time, ah’m not-” “It’s getting pretty dark,” the stallion muttered as he looked in the sky. “Looks like we’re going to delay our trip to Ponyville.” I narrowed my eyes as a chill ran up my spine. It wasn’t that dark, and I could have sworn I saw Ponyville just up ahead. Just what is he plotting? “I’m not plotting anything!” the stallion said, a bit too hastilly for my liking. “It’s dangerous at night. We have a cottage nearby. We’ll go there to spend the night and in the morning we’ll leave.” “Ah’m fine with it,” Apple Bloom said foolishly. She turned to me with a glare. “And ah’m sure that we’ll all have a great time and be on our best behavior. Right, Diamond Tiara?” I’ll behave as long as they don’t try to eat me. Apple Bloom finally turned away from me with a sigh. Most likely she was upset at how easily I defeated her in our battle of wits just now. We travelled in silence for the rest of the trip to the couple’s cottage. Thankfully it didn’t take long to get their, and in no time we were all sitting down to a nice, hot meal. The female was currently speakng with Apple Bloom, asking her about her farm life, what her diet was, and how often she exercised. Foolishly Apple Bloom answered all questions honestly. I, however, kept my wits about me. I didn’t tell them about my home life, my diet, or anything else along those lines. I haven’t even told them about how I come from an incredibly rich family. “Oh, you’re from a rich family? That explains the tiara.” ...Good job, Apple Bloom. “...” Apple Bloom said nothing as she glared at me. She then turned away from me and returned to her earlier conversation with the mare. “So, Diamond Tiara,” the stallion said as he poked my shoulder. “Just how rich is your family?” Well, I don’t like to brag- “Tch, yeah right,” Apple Bloom giggled annoyingly. I quickly reprimanded her with a kick to the shin. Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I remember. My father is Filthy Rich, the second richest pony in Equestria. He owns a chain of stores known as Barnyard Bargains. It’s basically the Equestrian version of Walmart, with my grandfather being Sam Walton. I quickly regretted stating this, as now everypony at the table was giving me confused stares. “Uh, what’s a Walmart?” You don’t need to know that. “Who the heck is Sam Walton?” You’ll speak when spoken to, Apple Bloom! “Yeah, yeah,” Apple Bloom huffed as she turned away with an adorable pout. “Adorable what?” Anways, all you need to know, Mr. Stallion, is that I’m extremely rich and the last pony you want to eat. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a small grin. Though that sounded kinda ominous, I didn’t really care. If these two really are cannibals then their interest lie in Apple Bloom. After all, they would want to keep me alive as I can serve as a good bargaining chip. Apple Bloom, as one would expect, was useless to them alive. If either of us were to die and get eaten it would undoubtedly be her. “Ya know ah can here ya, right?” As expected of an idiot. She thinks I actually care. “Alright, you two. Settle down,” the mare stopped our impending argument. “Nopony is getting eaten or taken hostage. Now, it’s getting pretty late and I do believe now’s a good time for the two of you to go to bed.” The mare then began to usher us into a nearby bedroom. They, for some reason, had a guest room with two beds on opposite sides of the room. After a nice bedtime story and a kiss goodnight the mare left us for dreamland. I awoken from my slumber by the sound of a creaking door. I opened one eye carefully, but alas, the room was far too dark to see anything. However, judging from the creaking floor boards and the hoof that was suspiciously rubby my belly, I was quite certain somepony was in the room with me. “Hello, Diamond Tiara,” I heard the voice of the mare that took us into her home call out to me. “I must say, I find your narrating...fascinating.” Though I could still see nothing, I felt the bed shift around as she climbed on top of me. I could feel her breathing above me, her breath smelling nice despite living in the wilderness. Breath such as hers couldn’t possibly belong to a cannibal. “Oh, you’re are half right, Diamond Tiara,” she whispered against my ear. “I am indeed not a cannibal.” Half right? What could she mean by- It was then I heard the floor creaking, though it was from across the room. I quickly turned towards Apple Bloom’s bed, my eyes just now adjusting to the dark. There, I saw the stallion, hanging above Apple Bloom, a knife in his mouth, seconds away from ending the farmers life. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Diamond Tiara,” the mare said as she gently turned my head, forcing me to look her in the eyes. “Just ignore them and allow me to give you a very special treat.” She wasn’t pushing her weight against me. I could easily slip away and save Apple Bloom. However, doing so would mean I don’t receive this treat of hers...what is a mare to do? >Give up the treat, save Apple Bloom >Apple Bloom got herself into this mess, take the treat.