//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: The Cutie Mark Crusaders Get Lost in North Carolina 
// by totallynotabrony 
//------------------------------//

	“My sister and Beth aren’t here!” called Apple Bloom.  She’d just opened the apartment door and taken a quick look inside.
“Maybe they’re still out looking for us,” suggested Sweetie Belle.
“Or maybe they’re lost!” added Scootaloo.
The three fillies looked at each other.  Thunder rumbled in the background.
“The taxi’s still outside…” said Sweetie Belle.
“But what if we leave here and they come back?” questioned Apple Bloom.
“We can leave a note,” pointed out Scootaloo.
Each of them stared at the others.  It was time to make a tough decision.

“Ah don’t believe this,” muttered Applejack.
“What, the fact that the street’s blocked, or the fact that it was caused by donut truck losing control in the rain and running into a coffee shop?” asked Beth.
“Either one,” said the pony.  “This is the last thing we needed.”  They picked their way around the assembled emergency vehicles and headed for a cross street to go around the accident.
“I think my pen’s bleeding,” said the woman.  The rain had been coming down steadily for a while now.
“Does it show on that camo uniform?” asked Applejack.  Her hat was sopping wet and her mane hung limply, dripping water.
“I guess not.”  Beth took the offending writing instrument out of her pocket and dropped it down a gutter.
“My sister and her friends may lack common sense,” said Applejack, “but I’m sure they managed to get themselves safe and dry somewhere.”
“If they’re the ones who lack common sense, then what are we?”  Beth laughed.
Applejack chuckled.  “Soaked, that’s what.”
A few minutes passed.
“Do you think we should go to the police?”
“Ah don’t know.  Ah don’t want to make a fuss, but Ah’m worried sick.  We probably should.”
The two of them navigated around the road closure and returned to Applejack’s place a short while later.  The mare hoped with every bone in her body that the fillies would be waiting there.
The door clicked open to reveal a darkened apartment.  “Have they been here?” asked Beth.
The pony and the human ventured past the threshold, dripping water on the carpeted floor.  Neither one of them cared.
There was a note lying on the kitchen counter.
AJ and Beth – We’re OK.
“That’s it?” shouted Applejack.  “Ah’m gonna—”
“Surprise!” cried three young voices.  The lights flicked on.  The mare and the Marine looked stunned.
“What in tarnation—” began Applejack.
“Donuts?” asked Beth, spotting the box the fillies had carried in.
“A whole dozen!” confirmed Sweetie Belle.  “These are for dessert, though.”
“Why don’t you two get dried off while we heat up supper?” said Apple Bloom.
“And try not to make a mess of the carpet,” added Scootaloo.
“What just happened?” muttered Applejack as she and Beth headed for the linen closet to get towels.
Beth shook her head.  “I’m lost.”