//------------------------------//
// Lies 
// Story: Et Deficiens In Nobis 
// by Silver Melodies 
//------------------------------//

     Twilight didn't know what to do. She knew Rainbow Dash was hiding something, especially after their most recent encounter. The way Rainbow had backed out, urgently and hastily. It wasn't just that one day either. There had been several instances where not only Rainbow Dash but the rest of her friends had backed out of a conversation or left in hurry without saying why or after coming up with lame excuses.


~O~O~O~O~O~


 Applejack had finished hauling her cart of apples to her apple stand, ready to sell the whole lot of them away. Her family needed the money, and with winter approaching, they were running out of time. Twilight was wandering through the busy market when she spotted her friend's stall among the many there. and decided to say hello.

"Hey Applejack." Twilight said. "How's the farm doing?"

Applejack picked up an apple and handed it to the unicorn. "Oh, it's all doin fine. Jus a little short on money is all."

Twilight gladly took the apple, biting into it with a bit of haste, as she was hungry, having not eaten all day long. "Mmm." She swallowed her bite before proceeding. "And how's Apple Bloom? She's doing better in her studies."

"Oh, she's jus busy doin other things." Applejack took a small stack of bits from a customer in exchange for a bag of apples

"Oh? She has seems a bit distracted to me. What has she been doing?"

Applejack's eyes widened for a second, seemingly shocked at the question. "Uh... she's doin, uh... farm work, of course. Yep, that's what she's doin!"

Calling Applejack a good liar would be like calling Discord the Element of Harmony. If her stuttering and rushed voice wasn't enough conviction, Applejack eye's darted back and forth, like they always did when she lied. Twilight leaned in closer.

"Applejack." Twilight set her apple down. "Why are you lying to me?"

"Ah'm not." Applejack stomped her hoof. "Now staph askin questions, ya hear?"


~O~O~O~O~O~


Twilight trotted down the street with a bit more speed in her movement. She had some questions for a certain ground bound Pegasus, and she wanted answers. No more hiding, no wondering, no more mystery. Twilight's friends were hiding something, and she needed to figure out just what it was.

With her goal set in mind, she determined not to return to her home until she got at least one answer out of them. If she was lucky, she'd get at least an idea of what was going on, something she could look into and study. Maybe even a mystery. That'd would be fun! She'd read many books about mysteries and detectives and knew just what to do. All she needed was clue, a lead, a little line to grasp onto.

Seeing as how Rarity was currently at the spa with Fluttershy, it wouldn't be nice to barge in and question her out in public. After all, the secret could be dark or personal... or both! Rainbow Dash was working, so she was out of the question. Pinkie Pie was a little crazy, and Twilight wasn't sure she'd get any credible information out of her. That left the one and only Applejack. She should be able to wrangle information out of her easily enough, given how terrible a liar the farm pony was.

The sun had reached its highest peak when Twilight arrived at her destination. Putting on a determined glare, she stomped up to the door and gave it a firm rap. After waiting for a minute, she gave it another knock, then another. Still no answer. This time she pounded on the door several times. Maybe they were all upstairs and couldn't hear her? 

Just as she was about to pound on the door again, it swung open rather quickly, almost causing her to swing at the air. She looked down to see Apple Bloom standing there, a frown on her face. Her hair was a bit disheveled, and her eyes drooped. 

She finished mumbling before addressing Twilight. "...never get any rest. Oh, hey Twilight." She looked up at her intruder with tired eyes. "Ah was jus takin a nap, you can come in, Ah guess."

Twilight stepped inside and took a quick look around. "Is Applejack here?"

Apple Bloom yawned. "Nope, she's off sellin apples ta ponies in different towns." The filly plopped down on the couch. "Ah'm home alone, and Ah finished ma chores, and Ah was gettin some rest when ya came bangin... Ah mean, knockin on the door."

Twilight could easily detect the anger in Apple Bloom's voice, but she realized what a perfect opportunity this was to finally question Apple Bloom about what was going on. As a filly, she should easily crack. Granted, is was a bit underhanded and a little mean, but she was done with living in the dark. She had to know, and she would know, through any means.

"Actually, that's good. I need to ask you some questions, and it'll be easier without Applejack around." Twilight sat down opposite of Apple Bloom, who was no looking more or less interested if somewhat confused.

"Okay, like what?"

"Well, I was just curious, because Applejack won't tell me. I noticed you seem a bit distracted with your studies and have even turned in a few late assignments."

Apple Bloom nodded meekly, giving an over exaggerated sigh. "Yeah, Ah'm just so busy these days."

Twilight smiled internally. Score. "Which I was going to ask you about. What are you doing that makes you so busy? Maybe I can help?"

The last part was, of course, a lie. She didn't want to help, she just wanted to know, and she had hoped that throwing that bit in would get the filly to open up.

Apple Bloom nearly reeled in shock at the question before quickly recovering, settling for a small gasp instead, but one easily heard by Twilight. The filly looked around for a minute before staring back at Twilight with a quizzical look. "Uh, why do ya need ta know that?"

Suppressing an eye roll, Twilight answered. "I told you. I want to help, so you can keep getting good grades in your studying."

"Ah'm gettin graded? Ah thought it was like a private tutor...er...y thingy." Apple Bloom seemed even more confused. "Where do ya enter our grades, anyway?"

Sensing the filly was about to chase the rabbit, Twilight tried to refocus the subject. "Listen, you do get graded, and I don't want to see you fail, so..."

"Ah don't get it. Here Ah though we were, well, special or somethin, an then ya tell me Ah'm gettin graded? What kind a cool school grades ya?!" The filly threw her hooves up for emphasis.

"Apple Bloom, I..."

"Ah guess Applejack's gonna be upset now. Seein as how Ah'm gettin graded, Ah'm probably gonna find out Ah'm failin next, an she'll be mad at me!"

Twilight tired to intervene. "No, no, you're not failing, you're just..."

Apple Bloom looked on the verge of tears. "Do ya know what she can do when she's mad? She'll lock me up, throw away the key to ma room, board up the windows, chain me to ma bed..."

Twilight was beginning to think this was bad idea, and tried to excuse herself from the house. "um, well, I gotta, uh... go read a book, yep!"

"Okay, you go read a book! Ah'll just sit her and fail ma grades! Applejack will be so upset!" The filly let out an exasperated moan mixed with a cry as Twilight excused herself, quickly shutting the door and leaving the farm at a brisk pace.

"Well..." Twilight glanced back to the farm. "Seems like that was a bad idea. Next time, I'll press a pony who doesn't break down like that." She just hoped she hadn't hurt the poor filly.

Now she didn't know what to do. She had no other friends to turn to today, and she had nothing on her to-do list. Her whole day was empty and she couldn't do anything. She had no way of finding out what she needed to know.

She stopped suddenly, standing between the opening of the fence surrounding Sweet Apple Acres as a devious grin spread across her face. A plan began to form in her mind, and soon, she had all the details worked out. If she couldn't talk to them, maybe she could spy on them! Rarity and Fluttershy would be at the spa for several hours more, so she could just sneak in and listen! They might unknowingly spill some information she needed to know!

With her plan in mind, she set her sights on the spa, and more specifically, those inside it. She would find out something today, and she wouldn't stop until she did, even if it killed her.

Which hopefully, it would not.