"Sweetie Belle!!!" Rarity yelled upon entering the hospital room. Sweetie just ignored her sister and continued to watch Applebloom for any signs of her waking.
"May I have a word with you?" Fluttershy said in a surprisingly firm tone. Normally she would cower after saying something like that for fear of retaliation.
"What is it!" Rarity said in a low angry voice. Fluttershy silently led Rarity out of the room. Sweetie Belle could hear angry whisper yelling coming from beyond the door. This went on for minutes, both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo paying little attention to it. A few minutes later it stopped and the door creaked open. Rarity walked in without even looking at Sweetie Belle. She was obliviously angry that they had snuck out of the hotel room. Rarity just sat in the chair just next to Fluttershy. Moments later Applejack walked in. Despite hours of crying her eyes were still watering.
"H-hey girls." Applejack tried. There was no response from either of the fillies. Applejack moved to the bedside. She looked at her little sister momentarily before turning her attention to Sweetie and Scootaloo. "I know your sad, I really, really do. But Applebloom needs her rest now. I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on her. You two go out and try to have fun. No need to worry yourself." Applejack said to them. Applejack didn't even notice that Rainbow Dash had entered the room and heard her talking to Sweetie and Scootaloo. "Like I have." Applejack whispered to herself with another tear falling to the floor.
With a much softer attitude Rarity lifted Sweetie Belle up in her magic, set her gently over her back, and headed for the door. Rainbow followed Rarity's lead and flew over to pick up Scootaloo in her hooves carefully and headed out the door with Fluttershy close behind.
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"Come now Sweetie Belle you must eat something." Rarity pleaded with her little sister.
"I'm not hungry." Sweetie Belle said as she shoved her plate away. "How could I eat when I put my best friend in the hospital." She asked walking away from the table.
"It really isn't your fault Sweetie. You really mustn't blame yourself." Rarity said hoping Sweetie Belle would change her mind. She didn't, she just headed for the door and left the Boutique. Rarity followed behind her. "Well you should at least know they moved Applebloom to Ponyville long term care today." Rarity tried. Sweetie Belle picked up the pace slightly headed in the direction of Rainbow Dash's home without even acknowledging her sister's remark.
Sweetie Belle looked up at the cloud home way above her head. She then looked around to see if there was anypony around who could help her get up there. There were no pegasi around aside from Bulk Biceps. Reluctantly she trotted over to him.
"HI SWEETIE BELLE!" he said in is usual loud deep tone. He immediately changed his expression upon seeing Sweetie Belle so depressed. In seconds he started bawling. Sweetie Belle backed away in confusion.
"Uuuh, Bulk?" Sweetie Belle began.
"Wh-wh-what's wr-wrong Sweetie Belle?" Bulk said behind his tear filled eyes.
"I think I should ask you the same thing." Sweetie Belle said after cocking her head to the side.
"You look so sad. I hate it when fillies are sad. It makes me wan-wan..." Bulk said in an actually quiet voice before he began crying fountains again. Sweetie Belle thought it would probably be best to just walk away. Before she could however, she found herself being hugged so tight she literally could breath. "DON'T WORRY I'M HERE! NO ONE WILL EVER BE MEAN TO YOU AGAIN!" He said his yell returning to him. A gasp was all Sweetie Belle could reply. Hearing her lack of breath he immediately dropped her to the ground.
"Nnghuuuuu..." Sweetie Belle drew in as much breath as she possibly could. After she eventually caught her breath she looked up at Bulk with a look that said, "Why did you do that?!?"
"Uhh, sorry." he said with an embarrassed smile.
"Look, I just need to get up to Rainbow Dash's place." Sweetie said pointing a hoof to the cloud house in the sky.
Bulk looked up then back to Sweetie Belle. "YYEEAAHH!!" he replied as he carefully scooped up Sweetie Belle in his huge front legs. "NN-GGEE-RRGH-AHHH!" He screamed as his tiny wings strained to lift himself into the air. After about a minute he was high enough to land on Rainbows cloud porch. "THERE YOU GO SWEETIE BELL!" he said after landing.
"Unicorn, remember." Sweetie said pointing to her horn. Bulk just looked at her confused. "Ugh, you know only pegasi can walk on clouds." she said impatiently.
"Oh right." he said quietly he said as he put her on his shoulders. Bulk approached the door and knocked on it with loud *Thunk*s. In moments Rainbow Dash opened the door to see Sweetie Belle sitting on Bulk Bicep's back.
"Hey Sweetie Belle. How ya feelin?" Rainbow asked trying to avoid upsetting her.
"Is Scootaloo here?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Uh, yeah she's just upstairs in the spare bedroom. I'm sure she'll come out if I tell her it's you." Rainbow said turning away. She headed up the stairs and turned down the hallway out of sight. After several minutes later Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo came around the corner and began down the stairs. Nopony said anything as Scootaloo hopped onto Bulk's back behind Sweetie Belle. "So I'll see you later?" Rainbow asked Scootaloo.
"Yeah, sure, see you later." Scootaloo replied. Bulk began to tear up again after seeing Scootaloo so upset now as well. He held back as much as he could so they didn't notice. He then strained his wings again to gently lower himself to the ground. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo got off his back and began toward their clubhouse.
Neither one said a word along the way. They just stared at the ground only ever looking up to make sure they were going in the right direction. As they walked up the ramp to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse Scootaloo was the first to speak, "I have cried more now than I have in my whole life. I usually never cry." Scootaloo said as she pushed open the doors.
"Neither have I. I think if I cry again I'm going to look like an old mare." Sweetie Belle replied as she began opening the shutters to let sunlight in.
Scootaloo just sighed. "What are we going to do?" They headed over to their idea spot. They sat there quietly for a moment. Sweetie Belle began scanning the room for anything in the hopes that something simple might give her an idea. No luck. Scootaloo brightened up quickly as she had just thought of something. "I got it." she informed Sweetie Belle.
"What?" Sweetie asked doubtingly.
"Zecora of course. She knows about every cure know to ponykind. She'll have to know something that could get Applebloom out of a coma." Scootaloo announced.
"Yeah. She'll know what to do." Sweetie Belle agreed a smile reaching her face.
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"I'm I afraid I must tell you, there is noting I can do." Zecora said to Sweetie and Scootaloo. They immediately lost their hopeful looks causing Zecora to think momentarily. "The only herb that can be used to pull somepony out of a coma lies thousands of mile away. It grows only in Saddle Arabia and that is too out of the way." she said to them.
"Wait, so there still is something?" Scootaloo asked, her hope returning. "What is it?" she asked before Zecora could answer her first question.
"Yes little one. It is called Dust Blossom. But it is much too dangerous for two little fillies I'm afraid." Zecora said.
"How about three?" A familiar voice called from the doorway.
"Babs? What are you doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"My mother knew I really wanted to see my cousin after she was moved from the Manehattan hospital. So she let me come down here to visit as a guest of Applejack's." Babs replied.
"Well, how did you know we were out here at Zecora's?" Scootaloo asked in return.
"Pinkie Pie told me. She said something about seeing you guys while she was hiding under a tree wearing an umbrella hat." Babs said still confused by it.
"Alas even twenty fillies would not be enough for it is knowledge that will get you through the rough of Saddle Arabia's terrain and creatures."
"Who cares about creatures or whatever that other word you said?" Scootaloo said heading for the door to be stopped by a striped hoof.
"I cannot let you go on such a trip alone. It is too dangerous for you." Zecora added.
"But we have to." Scootaloo said shaking Zecora's hoof off of her shoulder.
"I did say you can't go alone. So therefore I will follow." Zecora said in reply. Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were shocked. They didn't expect Zecora to give in, especially in such a way as to help them. Babs just looked confused and remained silent. "Come, there is a train that will be leaving to Appaloosa soon. There are many stops the train will make along our way so be sure to leave a note to your friends and family. We have a long trip ahead of us." Zecora said headed out the door.
The train slowed to a stop. The conductor Called from the front of the train, "Saddle Arabia!" Three fillies climbed off the train followed by a zebra.
Sweetie Belle looked around at the unusual sight before her. There were many buildings around them but some of them were made from clay. All of the ponies around here wore weird cloths around their faces. She soon realized why. "Ow." Sweetie yelled as sand began flying into their eyes. With one squinted eye Sweetie headed into the train station to escape the sand. She found the inside was just as sandy as the outside. Relieved to be out of the calm, sand filled wind Sweetie cleared her eyes. She turned to find her friends had the same problem. Zecora chuckled.
"Goggles may be a bobble but your eyes may bey on fire if they are not required." Zecora said.
"We left ours in Ponyville." Scootaloo replied.
Zecora just chuckled again. She approached a counter. "We would like from you three from shelf two." she informed the yellow unicorn sitting behind it.
"Ok. Sure thing. Just six bits please." she said with a perky smile. Zecora paid the mare and she handed the goggles to the Crusaders.
"Thanks Zecora." Scootaloo said.
"Thanks." the other two copied.
"It is the least I can do, for you must save Applebloom." Zecora stated as she walked toward the door putting on the goggles she brought from home. The crusaders followed behind outside again. "Come little ones. We shall go to town and see who can help us on our journey or we may end up in a gurney."
"But the town is right there." Sweetie Belle stated.
"That is merely a camp. The real town is much more cramped." Zecora replied.
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"Why does it have to be so hot here." Babs complained. Zecora continued on expecting Babs to not want an answer.
"Maybe because the sun is so close." Scootaloo replied trying to look as close to the sun as she could without burning her eyes. "The town was no use at all. It's a good thing Zecora's friend knew where some of those flowers are."
"It's all so... desolate. How can anypony even live here." Sweetie Belle said looking around to the miles of sand around her. There were a few dry plants here and there, some hoof-size cacti, and rocks everywhere. The sand was as orange as autumn leaves.
"Do not be fooled by what you see before you Sweetie Belle. The green forests in Saddle Arabia are quite swell." Zecora stated.
"There are forests here?" Babs asked.
"There are afar." Zecora repeated playfully mocking her. The trek began heading down many sand pathways. The red roaring sun beating down on them. There were heat waves as far as the eye could see. So many dried dead plants scattered the deserted wasteland. Scootaloo could see a tree in the distance. It had no leaves like she expected, just branches. So many branches in fact that it actually provided a bit of shade. Beneath it were small patches of greenery. Beyond it... just more desert. "Come, we will rest here." Zecora sat down in the shade of the tree and closed her eyes as if she were meditating.
"I thought the trees were supposed to be green. This one looks like it could fall on us at any minute." Sweetie Belle stated. Zecora remained silent. Sweetie Belle trotted up to the tree and put her fore-hooves upon it. Carefully and gently she shook the tree to see it did not move. She tried again, harder this time. It shook ever so slightly. "Huh, I guess it... iiiiis, kinda strong." Sweetie Belle moved over to sit by her friends. *Paff*, Babs gently tossed her saddlebag on the ground and began searching through it. Eventually she pulled out a bottle of water and began drinking from it.
"Good idea." Scootaloo mused. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle copied Babs and began to drink their own water bottles.
"Drink lightly little ones. We have miles ahead of us and having a thirst should not be first." Zecora said without opening her eyes. The Crusaders put away their water bottles and slung their saddlebags over their shoulders once again.
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"Uuuugh, how big is this desert? Scootaloo complained. "It feels like we've been walking for days."
"Do not worry yourself Scootaloo, we are nearly to the tropical brown forests so we must move." Zecora said despite having to repeat herself multiple times. Babs began to cough. She stopped walking and coughed at the ground with a dry throat. Sweetie Belle began for her water bottle but was stopped by Zecora. Zecora approached Babs with a tablet in hoof. "Try this and you will no longer feel amiss." She stated.
Babs coughing paused momentarily so Babs could speak in a crackly tone "It looks like candy."
"You see, it looks like this for that is what it is." Zecora replied. Babs tried to laugh in order to hide her embarrassment but failed. Babs then began the process of eating the candy. Zecora handed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo candies for themselves as well and they copied Babs.
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"Zecora? What's this big, shiny, purple rock doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked kicking an old grey rock. Zecora turned to look in Sweetie Belle's eyes.
They were larger than even the sun's reflection off the sand should make them. Zecora pulled a small orange phial containing a crimson liquid out of her saddlebag and handed it to Sweetie Belle. "What's this for?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Zecora just motioned for her to drink it and so she did. Her face felt a slight burning sensation. Sweetie Belle shook her head and faced Zecora with a look that said "What did that just do to me?"
Zecora pointed a hoof to the rock and much to Sweetie Belle's surprise it looked like just another rock. "Oh." was all she could say.
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"There it is!" Scootaloo said excited as the many trees began poking their canopy over the hill just away from them.
"You are very perceptive little Scootaloo. But you must calm yourself for much energy is still needed to be able to move." Zecora informed her. Scootaloo did as she was told but excitement still built up inside of her as she didn't want to spend much more time in the desert than she needed to. The trees were beautiful, unlike any they had ever seen before. They weren't too tall and all the branched were at the top of the trees and they weren't exactly branches, rather large leaves made of long thin leaves. Some trees were taller than the others but they were more interested in the short ones. Scootaloo found that if she stood up on her hind-hooves she could almost reach branches of the shorter trees.
They ventured deep into the various trees, they weren't too crowded but just enough to create a lot of shade. There were much more varieties of grasses and other small plants scattering the ground here. Scootaloo stopped suddenly and sat down quickly. Zecora turned around to see this. "What is wrong little Scootaloo?" Zecora asked. It only took a moment for her to figure it out when Scootaloo began crossing her hind hooves.
"I gotta go." Scootaloo replied in a low voice. Zecora pointed a hoof to a large patch of bushes a small way away from them. Scootaloo immediately bolted toward them. She quickly did what she needed to do out of sight. Just before she was about to return she felt a pain in her right hoof. She looked down to see a tan and green snake biting her. It looked like a garter snake she saw in Ponyville all the time but with different colors. She frightfully swung her back hoof up to kick it off herself. She resisted screaming when it tore a bit of skin and fir so her friends didn't think she was a softy. She quickly trotted back to her friends hiding her now bleeding wound.
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"Yes! We finally found it." Sweetie Belle yelled as Zecora identified a dust bloom flower. Sweetie Belle approached the flower with Babs close behind. "Wow! Isn't it beautiful Scootaloo?" she asked looking at the smooth golden flower. "Scootaloo?" she asked again upon hearing no answer. Sweetie Belle turned around to see her friend sitting up against a rock.
"Scootaloo? What's wrong." Babs asked after following Sweetie Belle's gaze. Babs ran up to Scootaloo with Sweetie after her. "What happened?" Babs asked again. Scootaloo groaned and held her leg trying to hide her wound again.
Zecora moved Scootaloo's hoof off her leg to see the small gash just above her hoof. "Do not worry little ones, it is fixable in a hurry." Zecora informed them. She then pulled out a wet cloth from a plastic container and cleaned Scootaloo's gash and covered it with a small cloth. She also pulled another of the orange phials out of her saddlebag but this one had green liquid in it. "Drink up Scootaloo, this stop you from feelong blue." Zecora stated.
"Do you really have a potion for everything?" Babs asked confused.
"Of course not. I just have many for which I fought." Zecora replied. Babs just remained silent and sat down. "She is very fortunate, that snake did not have an outlet." Zecora said looking concerned.
"How did you know it wasn't a bad snake?" Scootaloo asked feeling better almost immediately.
"I live in the Everfree forest, I have seen my share of garter snake bites." Zecora replied. They all turned their attention to the flower once again. Zecora trotted over to it followed by the Crusaders. Zecora gently pulled the flower out of the ground and placed it an a plastic tube. She then put the tube in her saddlebag and headed further into the forest.
"Uhh, Zecora. Isn't the town back that way through the desert?" Babs asked looking back.
"Look ahead and you will see another town beyond the trees." Zecora said in her usual mystic tone. The crusaders looked ahead to see the small town behind the trees. It was just like the settlement outside the train station except more of the homes were made from wood. This town also had a hot air balloon much like the one in Ponyville except tan and was much more tattered. Zecora paid the pony watching the balloon so they could use the hot air balloon to quickly get back to the train station.
