Everyone thinks the mane six is the most powerful but they raised brilliant sisters and younger friends. When the mane disappears and all helpful adults.
Everything seems lost, but survival skills have away of kicking in alliances are made, and the reader may wonders if I a walking dead or unfortunate event fan...
and how the heck the story could end well.
but things have a way of looking a little more hopeful then they can appear or dun dun maybe they do not.
Either way the characters are now dipped in chaos especially there front flank
This story is getting back up after years. Because I want to finish it.
Please check the recent chapters before hating story or tell me whats wrong with it so I can improve or just hate that's fine too :P
The path we do not try to travel Chapter 1 Scotaloos chapter
Scootaloo had a feeling that this morning, was only another normal day in Ponyville.The Cutie Mark Crusaders are all sitting down next to each other on the tree-house floor. Was she wrongs he wondered? How should something so idyllic leave?
They were silent as they tried there best to think of ideas on what type of cutie mark they could get today.which they have done many times before. Like always, they could smell the hard crisp aroma of apples from Sweet Apple Acres wafting around our tree-house.
"What does everpony want to do today?" said Said Sweet Belle in a quiet sing songy voice.
Scootaloo turned her head. She then took a peek at the window ,I could see the sky filled with clouds. Rainbow Dash was probably dashing around that sky like a dart in the sky, as awesome as ever. All scootaloo could think of is if she would visit her today.
"We could see what, Rainbow Dash is doing!" She said
'That's all we have done this week that and talking." said Apple bloom.
"How about, hanging out at Sugar Cu--" Sweetbelle paused.
The entire tree-house shook. Scootaloo watched in shock. The light of the wooden lantern tied to a sturdy rope on the ceiling flickered on and off swaying violently. The green pencil holder cup on top of the window sill fell down without warning down taking three green pencils that it was holding with it.
Scootaloo stood up and at her friends, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom different colored were eyes locked on the floor.
"Something's causing the tree house to shake we better leave!" said Apple Bloom standing up.
Touching her hooves against the wood.
Scootaloo wondered if it was just a unplanned storm made by the weather ponies.
"Yeah. We should definitely head home," Sweetie Belle said with a squeak.
" Now." She gulped.
Scootaloo spoke up. "Come on. It's just a little storm we don't have to--
"Krak! Boom! Krak!" The thunder bellowed. The two open glass windows painted, a frightening slash of golden lightning..
"-- Go home yet..." Scootaloo finished then frowned and ran toward the door with the others.
Scootaloo ran and screamed as the window curtain flapped wildly. The wind was powerful and howling. With It came some sawdust. Sawdust blocked Scootaloo's vision.
Shaking it away she spotted Applebloom. But soon more replaced it. Scootaloo moved slowly the sawdust building on her hooves and her full body.
"What!? Help where is every-pony!" Scootaloo yelled.
Then Scootaloo shrieked.
A bulky object had fallen on her wings.
Scootaloo could here Sweetie Belle yelling even louder but could not hear or see Applebloom.
Scootaloo had always loved thunderstorms. They reminded her of Rainbow Dash's cutie mark and how she was the most amazing coo pony. Now if Scootaloo made it out of these death trap of a tree house alive, I'm not sure Scootaloo was not sure she ever would love them again.
Scootaloo tried to crawl but could not do it.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!" She Could here while in agony.
"W-hats going on now!?" Said Scootaloo.
"Crash!"
"Rainbow Dash! ... Please help!" She said as her eyes dimmed and she lost thought.
Scootaloo could hear it. Scootaloo's sound filled Scootaloo's eardrums it was louder than the thunder had been. The sound seemed important Scootaloo didn't feel the same. Infact Scootaloo didn't feel anything. Scootaloo couldn't feel anything
.Scootaloo wasn't falling anymore She knew that much.
Where was I? She thought These place didn't have any color. How was there a place without color? Scootaloo's questions do not feel important but nothing felt important anymore. Scootaloo was just here.
Scootaloo could see black only black so black that it wasn't black, it was grey and red sea of never ending darkness. Scootaloo could feel something. It felt over. Something felt over. Scootaloo could feel everything. There was still no pain, Scootaloo's skin was just skin was pricked with a enjoyable cold feeling.
I'm not sure I was in Ponyville anymore or anywhere was I dead was I alive some different plane of emotion, some different universe entirely, I felt different I was I freezing. Did that mean I was alive? I couldn't tell anymore, I cant even cry It felt wrong very wrong. She thought.
It whispered, "My slaves,"
Words in these place even if they were shallow should feel comforting, but it was just terrifying to Scootaloo.
Where was Rainbow Dash where was Ponyville? Thought Scootaloo.
Then somehow somewhere some things started up again like fireworks. Darkness loomed once again and Scootaloo eyes fluttered shut. But she saw something it had only been a glimpse, but that's all Scootaloo thought she needed.
There was a rainbow.
Groups have big shadows- Diamond Tiara Babs seed Silverspoon
It was storming in Ponyville, I hate the rain can't those dirty Pegasus do anything right, Its infuriating despicable waste of space, Its like a Blank Flank. I was in one of are many mansions, In one of my many difrrent purple, cashmere beds with the giant pink teddy bear, the wall paper fancily designed to fit my Cutie Mark, chest of toys with intricate designs and shapes that i've never used, were tossed in neat rows, and other things that Apple Bloom and her other Blank Flank crybabies would call “fancy” like velvet curtains, and a silver vanity from, Prance.
“Lady Diamond!” A maid called it could have been my dress maid, my fitting maid my butter maid, they were all nameless in my book. These one had hair curly hair, that resembled thick yellow icing, she was mostly red, had golden eyes, I had not seen her before.
Why should I care about remembering them? There just here to replace the next one, they roll by like the rain or some type of modern factory system, that makes my Daddy money just there here to leech money sure they work, but not enough to give them a bit.
"Do you have my the breakfasts that I get on Tuesdays? My crispy waffle, drenched with honey? My delicious whipped cream milk shake well shaken, with the special cinnamon that Daddy ordered from Prance? My vegetarian omelet with the crisp of the egg flame torched mildly on the edges?"
“No ma’am I ... do not. She said weakened.
‘Then why are you speaking! Do you think your pretty little “feeling’s” will fix these ?’ I proclaimed defiantly, “No excuse for a maid, will deprive me of my breakfast. “
My dad then walked in, at the wrong time to, its the first time he caught lashing at the “help” they dont really deserve to be called that either, actually they dont really help that much.
“Diamond Tiara I've taught you better, wheres your senses gone? Apologize to her at once.” Its in his you better do these now face its effective,to a point i've practiced it a lot in Ponyville, it makes all the blank flanks squirm.
“But Daaaaaaaaaad!” I plead, I already know its too late, his look is to effective.
“No, Diamond now apologize, and put on a scarf, were going to your psychologist meeting in Canterlot, you might see Silver Spoon there she's got the same one.”
Oh great, that means Daddy’s being cheap again, using a different psychologist instead, of paying my regular one out of that little “incident” that I caused her.
“I apologize,”
A normal parent would have gone further, but he had won, I had apologized that almost never happened. Dad left followed by the maid, I was left alone.
I took a white porcelain hair brush from my vanity, with my hooves, I brushed my hair slowly It was a way to deal with the apology I just bestowed to that dirty maid. With each delicate stroke it slowly calmed me down.
Was I sorry? Not in the least.
Bab's seeds point of view
_______________________________________
“Hi! Is your name, Babs?” A Unicorn that fairly resembled a strawberry said from the seat above mine, she even had green eyes that looked like pointy stems.
“Yeah, i'm Babs Seed. How did ya know that?” I said curiously.
“Oh, I'm from Cheerilee's class, I sit behind Apple Bloom, she was talking about you there. My names, Ruby Pinch,” She said.
“Pleasure to me ya, Ruby Pinch.” I said sweetly, testing out the name.
I was on a train heading to Ponyville, away from the reckless streets of Manehatten, away from a bunch of parents wine glasses, and frequent bullies. Sisters orders I was allowed to stay in ponyville again for a day or so. Things had been tough in Manehatten even for me, and seeing my best Cousin Apple Bloom again, would be a whole lot of fun, and the best part is, that i'm almost there.
“Hey its storming! I'm sure Mom said something about the Pegasi, not making it even so much as rain today.” Ruby Pinch nervously dictated.
“It'll probably be fine, it not like rains is gonna stop a train, anyway little storms are kinda fun huh?” I said reassuringly.
“Yes, I guess.” More ease showed in her expression.
_______________________________________
Silver Spoons Point of view
I was reading in the library of the Silver Hope Mansion, the place my family luckily lived, nothing much was there, it was pretty barren but it was the perfect thing to distract me from the thunder, I wasn't afraid of thunder only weather not controlled, which is what the newspaper was claiming, apparently it was supposed to be a nice bright sunshine day but it wasn't.
I took the book called “That Cutie Mark is my Chaos” and headed to the hallway.
The maids in the hallway hardly noticed me walking, I didn't talk much without Diamond Tiara there. Are comments mixed in sink, without that alone without her wasn't very fun at all. Through its not as if, I did everything with her, I cooked without her, she refused to do that saying it was “for the maids” i'd never eject though, it just didn't fit are formula. I even applied to be a Nurse, part time in Ponyville hospital alone, Ponyville never had any legal system on how old to do a job, I heard Manehatten did though.
My room is small compared to Diamonds, it has a old but not worn wooden desk, which has a shelf of regular books, some playing cards, A pink- purple hair brush, my room is cramped, there is a bunk bed, it is also wooden with a white ladder, the wallpaper is a pearly blue, with spoons as its mane theme the floor, is tiled white and glossy there aren't many signs of wealth in the room or even my age for that matter.
“Miss, Silver spoon.” A strict maid with a light blue coat a periwinkle mane and standout purple pinkish eyes spoke, her name was shoeshine and I consider us “frenemies“.
“Yes,” I asked in a slightly threatening tone.
“Your train to your Canterlot Psychologist is coming, you should leave Ma'am if you wanna catch it that is... ” She said in a calm tone, I could tell she was in one of her “good days”.
I threw the book down on the bottom bunk bed, its not longer important just something to read I hadn't even had a chance to cuddle with it, in the imaginary safety of my comfy bed that's meant for two ponies but theres only me.
“Ok,” I don't really like trains, especially one that looks like little multicolored wafer cookies, and my Psychologist is pretty dull and anything I talk about, no matter how cryptic, she seems to turn into some type of Physiological Disorder I may be a rude lacky which i'm quite aware of, but i'm not some type of densely filled vault of problems. Through even through, Shoeshine say’s that I have a choice, I have none my life is controlled like that.
I carefully brush my hair like Diamond does, as a stress reliever.
Then I headed straight, out the door, and directly into the eye of the storm.
The start of the end? Diamond Tiara, Babs seed and Derpy Hooves
Ugggh raindrops they kept pittering and pattering constantly, with there annoying rhythmic beat throughout Ponyville, If its one thing I hated the most it was rain, it didn't help that the wind was terrible, or that a certain adult pink out of control party animal, was singing her terrible revolting song about smiling, again.
“Hi! Diamond Tiara! Isn't these these pretty weird weather? I love surprises. She annoyingly Proclaimed while dancing around a multicolored umbrella she was using as a pole.
I would have, argued lashed and teased her, if she was a normal Pony, but she had never seemed to not care about my insults, the millions of times I had she had shrugged my exploits away awayor thought of it as a compliment she even, took most of my sarcastic comments without listening to the tone of my voice, but I couldn't resist trying again.
“Yes great destructive, tormenting, weather, for pegasus's to mess up on.” I mutter sarcastically.
“Yep its brilliant surprises always are, you know my Parents said I was even going to be named to be Surprise because I sure was a surprise! Surprise! Happy 77 days before your birthday!” She yelled cheerfully, with a extreme upbeat attitude she then blows a giant horn. I still don't how she got that thing out of thin air, but that's not all that she did because idiotic confetti blows out the instrument.
As much as I hate her, she sure knows how to lavish a Princess the attention is all on me for a minute, and then everyone returns to there normal lives. Like always...
I continue, to the Train Station, my Daddy's probably there waiting, he still cross with me about the Maid incident, not that its my fault that that Maid didn't have rougher skin our any business sense, not that any do except one. One special one.
The Train Station was close off now, and I see my friend Silver Spoon or Servant which I love calling her that behind her back. Bumps and sugar lumps don't mean anything, I don't have a friend, I have a smartly chosen business servant, if I do so say so myself there as my Henchmen.
_______________________________________
Bab seeds point of view “See, Ruby Pinch everything’s fine, thanks for talkin’ to ya!!!“ I happily left the train waving my hoof in a goodbye at Ruby hopefully we would meet again, one day.
“Bye, Babs Seed you're the baddest.” New courage founded, she also left the train to a new location.
I can't say the same about mine though, When I stared at the the Ponyville scenery, I normally saw a cheerful scene, of nice ponies like Ruby Pinch, or my greatest Cousin Apple Bloom but all I saw, were the only two ponies in Ponyville, that I never hoped to ever meet again.
Not that I suspected Apple Bloom and Applejack to come like they did before, they did not even know I was coming, the mail system in Manehatten had been closed to unusual circumstances, involving a blonde ditzy mailmare, that had made the paper. But my Sister knew these side of the Apple family and assured me they'd, let me come without them being prepared for it and it wasn't like a train with strangers, was anything to a Filly in touch with the rough side of Manehatten.
We stared at each other, nopony moved. It was a stare down, for a good while I realized, I had no fear, they were nothing compared to the big City bullys in Manehatten, that I had decided to get away from again my new friends hadn't been enough, to match the constant verbal lashings they had provided me.
“Hey, Silver do you see something on that Filly”s flank?” Diamond Tiara said in a mocking tone. “ Theres nothing there Diamond.” Silver Spoon said dramatically with a bit of shock she must of not thought that Diamond Tiara would not think to challenge Bab’s after the warning she had gotten last time.
"Oh thats right because she's a-” Diamond said in her sassy comeback.
“Blank flank!!!” They rudely chime, at the exact same moment the sound of thunder could be heard. Silver Spoon shrieked.
“Didn’t I tell you get it last time?” I did my best menacing eyes my sis’ once said, that they resembled a venomous snake.
“Only one thing has changed, thats still not how ya talk to me, or my friends i'll tell your Mothers all about your bad attitudes, just like I said I would !!” Shockingly only Silver Spoon looked threatened, she had retreated even more behind Diamond Tiara ready to make a break for it, when Diamond was ready.
Thunder was raging, lightning was striking, the streets of Ponyville next to the Train was now mostly empty, the rain was thickly pounding the ground, and I noticed that papers were swiftly moving in the breeze, and us three Filly were mostly, the only ones not indoors, besides the places that I hadn't checked something was more threatening, about ponyville, and it was just Diamond tiara.
“Oh you're a riot Blank Flank, thats not gonna work anymore. "She said in a snarl, I was confused.
“Its not?!” Silver Spoon piped up, it sounded like a combination of a statement, and a question.
“Why not?” I said foolishly.
Diamond had a crazy look in her eye, she was about to answer but then I saw a black tunnel slowly engulfing me, before I collapsed I saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoons shocked faces, then one strange looking rainbow.
_______________________________________
Derpy Hooves point of view
I'm not the brightest Pegasus mare, but when I see weird unscheduled storm clouds, engulfing the horizon I do somthing, I fly in the opposite direction, not because I meant to or anything, it just happens.
“Really I just don't know went wrong.” I shout to no one in particular, It doesn't matter not many ponies would hear anyway.
Then I have a eureka moment, because I know how to be useful today, I will make some apple muffins and pack them in my mailbag I mistakenly bought, my mail mare days were over long ago. Oh yeah that was last tuesday.
“Ok first thing first I need Apples !” I shout oh yeah earth to Derpy, i'm in Sweet Apple Acres in a thunderstorm easy enough.
I look down from my flying, most of the trees looked like they had survived the storm that had torn through, but some seemed like they were about to fall, while others already had, there was a huge crater next to a Tree House, that looked was shockingly newly made, burn marks marked the jagged edge.
I looked in the giant crater, there were three Filly's unconscious, lying on a small rain puddle they seemed perfectly intact, like they had fell asleep in the storm, And I should know ive done it before many times infact.What had had happened to them, were they ok? I knew one thing, the apple muffins could wait.
Not what I looked like in the mirror this morning. Derpy hooves chapter
“What should I do!” I mumbled under my breath frantically.
It took me awhile but now I could now identify the unconscious Foals, I've never been good at remembering names but I was sure it was Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle they had asked me how I got my Cutie Mark only yesterday.
I noticed when, life wasn't so jolly, or I had a big shock my brain seemed to work faster, it must be some type of brain adrenaline or something but I still didn't know what to do, I couldn't carry one filly much less two, and even though strangely they didn't look hurt at all, they definitely shouldn't be out in the rain these long.
“I have a mail bag silly me I can fly them somewhere safe.” My eyes weren't crossed like normal as I hitched them out the puddle, and into my mailbag then I flew fast as I could to the Sweet Apple Acres Barn, house.
The path even when flying was dark and dull, every apple tree seemed kinda grey, or starting to become it, something kept telling me to slow down, to give up, to let the little fillies get even more drenched in the cold, but I wouldn't allow it, they were the only things around me that seemed to be full of life, and yet they were unconscious.
Something hit me hard in the head, “Oww!” I started to groan, but I hardly cared I had to save these fillies from the cold cold rain, that seemed to never top pouring, more objects pelted me these time I didn't groan, these time but I started to realize they were apples, they seemed so heavy though and how they got out the trees, proved that these wasnt a storm any longer it was something unimaginable that I only remember being mentioned when I was really little a hurricane.
“Whoops!” As the wind called I giggled then bit my tongue, “Wind do you wanna play! With un derped derpy?” These was suddenly fun now somehow, but the more I fought the wind, there more the more I felt frantic again.
I wasn't just flying anymore, I was battling against wind and rain, and the forces of nature, It wasn't just to get out the rain, these was serious.
“Derpy, don't you just wanna stop.” The hurricane howled in the back of my ear, how was it talking and why did I wanna listen.
“Derpy, don't you just wanna give those, dead weights to me atleast lift your burden?” I wouldn't listen to the voice, soon it would go away, I bet its just my mind playing weird tricks on me.
“Ditzy, put them down, let them die, why should you care? The voice sounded suspiciously like my Mother, good thing we didn't have the best relationship but It unhinged me regardless I hadn't realized I had been flying slowly downwards, I fell head first into a thick tree branch
“Thunk!” The tree branch broke on impact, with all my klutziness, there was one good thing, I had a very high pain tolerance.
More apples flew at me, it was starting to hurt, the air smelled tart and it seemed to waft at me, I was hungry and even colder than possible, I felt raw like I was dead, yet I wasn't I could fly faster, the problem was that I didn't want to.
I checked on the fillies in my mailbag, you're supposed to not bend when you fly, but they reminded me of life, and somehow so quickly I had lost it. The fillies were fine there cute little sleepy faces lift my spirits.
“Derpy!” The voice of the storm said in a sing song voice, I knew these voice it was my Dads. I still don't know what happened to him he had been lost so very long ago, I had to have been four, I couldn't have remembered these voice, my subconscious couldn't be that strong the voice if the voice of the storm wasn't my brain going insane than what was it.
“Derpy Ditzydoo Hooves!” The voice said in my fathers voice. Only one person called me that my dad, but the voice couldn't be him, it just couldn't be I wanted to looks back, but thats what it wanted me to do.
I decided not to, I speed up, I wondered if I was going in circles.
“Drop them Ditzy. Look at me. At my face i'm here. You are no hero.” My fathers voice echoed. I knew it was all a facade, my long lost Father couldn't be chasing me in a storm un derped derpy understood it wasn't possible, but the rest of me didn't.
Luckily the Barn was right next to me, I had been too busy contemplating to notice, there was a faded light in the door, even the light looked like it had seen better times.
I scrambled in the door, I placed the Cutie Mark Crusaders in my mailbag carefully down in the room.
Two figures greeted me, they looked a mixture of shocked happy and scared they looked grimly colored like the Apple Trees but I didn't greet them.
I took one look at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they looked untouched, breathing and still colorful the only vivid thing left, but they hadn't woken up, not even once but I knew there were some ponies, to take care of them now.
I moved to the window and looked.
I looked at who it was what it was, what pony, what creature because I knew it wasn't a hurricane a storm or wind anymore.
There was a shiver down my spine, when I saw the thing it was my only regret on what I had done, I had had a clue on who it was but the clue wasn't right, it was something else.
Something filled, with darkness something there to caress my hopes and dreams, and crush them flat not just just inner, but outer as well I felt it all of it, I suddenly I didn't even feel like a 100 muffins would ever fill the void, the darkness had called and I had answered.
You think finding a needle in hay is hard? Try looking in a hurricane then get back to me!- Apple Blooms chapter
Death. Death everywhere. Wait…I thought death didn’t have really soft, comfortable blankets; or does it?” I mumbled dizzily.
I opened my eyes. I could see my bedroom, the sturdy clearly designed room, the very room that I had a hoof in mixing and matching. I was piled high with apple-themed blankets, in my very own canopy bed.
“It really can't be; I was supposed to be dead.” Before I knew it, I was skipping around the room examining every nook and cranny for something that might be out of place. I didn't even know what I was looking for, really.
Was I alive? Was the tree-house breaking, the face, and the darkness that engulfed me only just a really bad dream? But my friends were there too; somehow I had seen them last in my inspection of the room. Sweetie Belle was softly sleeping and hugging Scootaloo, while Scootaloo wasn't just sleeping, but snoring awfully loudly on the other side of my canopy bed.
I didn't remember asking Applejack if we could have a sleepover, so it hadn't been a dream. “We’re alive!” I squealed. I was finally starting to believe it.
But how had we gotten out of the mess? Where were the wounds that had been inflicted during the avalanche of the tree-house crumbling and falling right on us?
Too excited to let them sleep, I jumped on the bed, grabbing the corners of the blanket with my teeth. “Wars aswive!!” It sounded like, since my teeth were firmly clenched on the covers, waiting for my fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders’ shocked reaction.
“We’re sleep deprived? Yes. Yes I am.” Sweetie Belle said annoyingly. I had forgotten that Sweetie Belle was surprisingly not a morning pony, or at least didn't like being woken up. She dunked her head defiantly onto the pillow, then shot up again after realizing what she had said. “Oh sorry, I thought you were Rarity.” She said lowering her head, embarrassed at her own behavior.
“We’re alive?” Sweetie Belle asked, now fully awake. Sweetie Belle jumped up on the bed, waking up Scootaloo. “How are we-?” Scootaloo stuttered, absolutely shocked. Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, had jumped on it repeatedly, taking care not to crush Scootaloo. She was so excited, a green spark of magic ignited as she jumped. I stood on the bed, also bursting with excitement.
“I don't know either, but we are!!” I started to hop on my bed with Sweetie, full of absolute shock and excitement. It’s not every day that us foals celebrate just being alive, but when you see things that show that you're dead and really horrendous faces, you start to see differently.
“I thought…I thought we were dead!” Scootaloo said, still coming to turns with the fact that we were really alive. She tested her wings by doing a helicopter-like attempt at gliding her wings.
“But my wings, they’re were crumpled or something, like they’re broken!” Scootaloo stated quizzically.
“Maybe we must’ve missed-judged, or some-thin’." Granny, Applejack and Big Mac there are probably all here too!” I was getting ready to bolt out the door, but before that I stared routinely at my flank.
“You know, I think we would get our Cutie-“ Scootaloo suddenly stopped talking.
“What, how? This has got to be a dream!” Sweetie Belle chimed, dazzled. She must have been the first one to see it.
What we saw was shocking. Instead of our flanks being blank like normal, there was a tiny circle on it. The circle changed color rapidly, like there was no real pattern, though it seemed to be a Cutie Mark. There was no way it was though, because cutie marks don't flash.
Scootaloo looked proud, but she made sure she couldn't get the circle off by plucking it with her hoof.
Sweetie Belle cheered. She was now jumping on the floor, changing position with her excited leaps. “We did it! We got them!”
“Uh girls.” I didn't want to take their morale away, but I couldn't just not tell them that these might not be our Cutie Marks. They didn't seem to hear me over their excited, joyous victory leaps that now Scootaloo was participating in.
“Uh, I hate to be a Debby Downer, but since when do Cutie Marks flash?” I asked, perplexed.
“Well what else could they be?” Sweetie Belle stopped hopping to ask. She looked sad that she had gotten her hopes up.
Scootaloo also stopped jumping. “Maybe they mean that our talent is, uh…flashing?”
“Maybe they just mean we’re extra special?” Sweetie Belle then visibly hunched her head slightly, resembling a sad puppy dog.
“We should ask somepony what they are.” With that I walked out the door, and they both followed behind.
“We should probably also ask how we got out of the tree-house?” Sweetie Belle prompted. I had forgotten for a moment about the tree-house.
“Yeah, and how our wounds are all…fixed.” Scootaloo put in.
“And what time and day this is.” Sweetie Belle looked around. While saying it, she seemed suddenly more concerned, so she took a look around the barn.
“Yeah, all that!” I replied. The barn house looked duller than before. I realized my room had to, though it seemed only slightly different, the barn was no longer well lit. There was no more thunder to it. Even in the dark it had never looked this dull, like a bit of the color had been zapped up. Maybe I was paranoid from all the strange events, but I was almost sure there were more shadows than before.
As we walked in the living room we met two ponies. They were two of my family members, or at least they were. Granny Smith’s and Big Mac’s coat was the first thing I saw. They looked dead, but they weren't. They weren't zombies exactly, but their coats were pale; they looked like they hadn't gotten enough sleep for years. They were milling, and didn't seem to notice us anymore. They looked tragic. They even moved slowly without purpose, like living puppets without an owner.
“Big Mac! Granny! What happened?” I was really scared, and worried. Were they still in there?
I ran to them, flinging myself at them in a drastic hug.
They seemed off. They acknowledged my presence, but didn't hug back quite as tightly as normal. They also kept still for longer than a normal hug. After I broke up the hug (which was normally, a different Apple Family Member’s responsibility), I asked a question.
“Where is Applejack?” I practically screamed.
How long does it take for a rainbow to turn black? Apple Bloom second lone chapter
The normally vividly-colored barn house had gotten increasingly dark as my question was slowly answered. Like even nature itself was predicting a terrible outcome to my sister’s fate.
I could have asked how long we had been asleep, or how we had even gotten out of the tree house. Why did they look so raw, like their coats have been dyed in dust, or even the mysterious Cutie Marks resting on our flanks? But when I had seen them, it wasn't just the looks that made me worry, it was their obvious expressions, like all the happiness had drained away and would never come back; an unquenchable drought of emotion. It was the look that many tears had been shed, but there wasn’t any less heartache. It was a look that I've seen before out of them only once, but not at this scale.
Granny Smith spoke. “She's just gone somewhere. Right Mac?” She said with no emotion. Something was plaguing her, but it didn't seem to be Applejack.
Big Mac replied with his standard, ”Eeyup.” He also did not seem worried about that, but something else.
“Where?!” I asked, surprised and shocked at their lack of caring. They were now like stone statues; they seemed to have no emotion, then their expression would switch to deep sadness, like a windup toy.
“Oh ah, just in the apple field, half-pint probably got shocked by lightning or something.”
I was shocked and exasperated. I stood stiff, not believing what had come out of my Granny’s mouth. What had happened to my brother and my Granny? The other Crusaders in the background seemed to be in various degrees of shock. But my jaw was the widest in the room.
Scootaloo was the quickest to recover. “Um…Ma’am, how did we get out of the tree-house?”
“Oh, that’s easy. A Mail Mare carried ya’ll in her bag while everypony else fled from the weather. It saved us the trouble. Now she's lounging in my room.” She darkly deadpanned.
“Granny, snap out of it!” I pleaded, while crying. Scootaloo speedily pushed me and Sweetie Belle away into the kitchen, away from them.
“What the hay’s wrong with mah’ family? Why are they acting like this?”
“I don't know. But maybe the Mail Pony will?” Sweetie Belle comforted.
We headed to Granny’s room. We needed to find out what happened, though the rooms were getting darker, and something told me the sun was still up. We desperately needed to get to the bottom of this.
“Maybe Discord’s gone bad again and ‘discorded’ everypony? Like Rainbow Dash's Elements of Harmony stories?” Scootaloo said hopefully.
“Didn’t his victims get turned…grey? Granny and Big Mac look raw.” I sadly debated.
“Is it me, or is the room getting really dark?” Sweetie Belle pointed out.
“Yeah I think, it’s been doing that for a while.” Scootaloo noticed skittishly.
“I thought it was just me!” I chimed. We slowly huddled together, shivering in fright like we did in the Nightmare Moon incident before we had been properly acquainted. We then slowly trotted, but stayed close together.
The old door to Granny’s room looked slightly more menacing in the darkness that seemed to surround us.
“We should probably knock. We don't know if what Granny said is exactly factual now.”
We knocked on the door. After several knocks, nopony answered.
“Hey, can you open up?” Scootaloo questioned.
The door was opened by a grey pegasus with a blond mane that everypony in town knew. She walked into Granny’s chair at first sight. She looked even more tragic than my family members. She wore the expression of a tired old lady, yet she seemed to be bawling. Her eyes and her coat also looked dusty and raw like my family’s had.
“You're awake. You have to leave Ponyville now!” She said while crying. Her eyes were constantly crossing and not crossing; it seemed to be her own doing, like she was combating an invisible force.
I was starting not to doubt that there was something big going on. The several perplexing things that seemed to not make a lick of sense. But we could just leave her or everypony else.
“Why can't I just leave you and mah’ family?” I said, perplexed by her persistence.
“Are you okay Derpy?” Sweetie Belle kindly asked.
“N-no. And I won't be unless you run far away from this place, you're one of the only ponies not affected!” Derpy sadly stuttered.
“By what?” Scootaloo asked.
“By-…ugh, it hurts to think now. But it seems to be the only way to fight it. It has an S. Now go!” She face-hoofed in frustration while rocking Granny’s chair, squinting her eyes, and crying violently like she was attacking something within herself.
“But we can't just leave you!” Sweetie Belle persisted.
“Yeah we just can't. You saved us!” I put in.
“Well, I'm not exactly me anymore. It’s like there’s anything to try to make me do something, and he’s…he’s coming back. Please just run, and don't look back. He’s too strong! One look and you're like me, fighting this thing.”
“We just can't leave you here like this!” Scootaloo put in.
“There’s nothing you can do here. You need to run far away and find somepony to help you, then come back. You’re scared, but I'm more scared that they'll be nopony left to undo this!”
“Rainbow Dash is right. You're the greatest pony ever! We are coming back!” Scootaloo hugged Derpy. Derpy twitched during it, but affectionately accepted.
“Scootaloo, we still can't leave her!” I argued.
There was a heavy amount of thunder rumbling. Huge cracks could be heard! It awakened today’s past. We had to leave. Derpy was right there; there really was no other way out this time.
“Thank you for doing this for us!” I hugged her admirably. I desperately hoped she'd be alright.
“We can't leave her! There’s gotta be another way!” Sweetie Belle protectively blocked the door.
“Look Sweetie Belle, there isn't. He almost killed us the last time!” Scootaloo said calmer than you’d expect, because of the circumstances we were in.
“But don't you see! She helped us, so we gotta help her!” She protectively whimpered.
I pushed her out of the way for her own good. Scootaloo grabbed her tail, and we ran faster than I've ever ran before. Out of the barn, away from my family, and away from Sweet Apple Acres. We couldn't let that thing get us. It had tried to before, the storm was it, the darkness was it, the thing Derpy was fighting was it. We had to leave.
“We have to go back! We can't just leave her!” Sweetie Belle wailed and shed tears the whole way. But she didn't look back, because Derpy wanted it that way. Her new Cutie mark, the flashing circle, seemed to glow bright green.
I tried not to listen. This was the only way, even with how bad it seemed. You could say a Cutie mark meant you were growing older, that was probably the truth, or at least it was for me. Because this was one of those times that I've done something that I'll always regret. I was running away from a storm, a new friend, and my closest family, even if we would one day come back.
We were just at the barrier where Sweet Apple Acres met the town. Never have I felt that it was wrong to leave somepony, but she looked so hurt, both inside and out, that there had to be a better way. Maybe adult intervention. Maybe we weren't the only ones in Ponyville who weren’t raw? Maybe there was still hope.
But all hope was crushed when I saw some of Ponyville. The normally warm, welcoming, blissful kind town of Ponyville looked like a hollow copy of its former self. Most of the houses had been broken, like they had fallen down like dominos, only not as graceful. Some of the trees in Ponyville had small branches that had snapped down or looked partially burnt. Hopefully nopony had been hurt. All of this had happened because of the storm that had shook and broken are Cutie Mark Crusaders tree-house.
Even the landmarks of the town where Rarity’s friends lived were affected. Sugarcube Corner’s cupcake top now looked like a burnt cupcake, likely because of a lightning bolt. The tree-house library that Twilight Sparkle lived in had somehow gotten a window on the top floor broken, likely from strong wind.
And that wasn't the worst of it. The “big ponies” of Ponyville were all unconsciously walking in circles, drained of some of their color. Though I wasn't as good at noticing simple details, but the expressions on there faces looked half-alive one minute, and the next, tragic like all of them, like they had been robbed of something important. They all looked like Applebloom’s family. I recognized a couple of them, but I didn't see my sister her friends or my parents.
I realized that my mind had wandered. With the apocalyptic feeling, I had probably walked around the town in circles, not keeping track with my friends. They were probably around town. I breathed in a gulp of fresh air.
“I hope, at least.” I muttered under my breath. I then stopped running to catch another breath. I'm not very used to running so long without stopping, even if I had a lot of energy.
For a moment there was a feeling of breeze, then a mild painful impact. That sometimes reminds you that you're alive. I had realized in all my looking around that I had run into somepony, or some dragon, or better yet, a dragon with a familiar cute bunny on his back.
“Sweetie Belle? You're not like them?” He asked in disbelief. Both him and the bunny seemed like their normal selves, yet shaky.
“Spike! You're not like them either?” I asked in shock. I snapped out of looking at the broken town, and the guilt image of leaving Derpy.
“Twilight’s gone, as well as all of her friends!! I was just sleeping when it happened. Now everypony left is crazy! Whatever this is, it seems to only affect ponies.” Spike explained.
“Maybe this is just some kind of spell. Derpy did say whatever it was had an S.” I ecstatically mentioned. With this new enthusiasm pumping through me, I forgot for a moment that Spike had no prior knowledge of my time in the barn.
“Derpy Hooves? What does she have to do with this?” He questioningly replied.
“Oh, she saved us from our tree-house, which crashed somehow, and him-…” I trailed off. Something felt wrong.
“And we…we abandoned her!” I squeaked. My voice had a habit of repeating my thoughts, and this was no exception. Spike seemed to not notice.
As much as I understood, there was no other way. My mind lit up with ‘what if’s. The worries were like Rarity’s dramatic exploits. They would not stop coming until it was through, or like a musical with really bad singers. The worst thoughts were, “What if she’s in a condition where she couldnt get anything to eat?” Or that if the S thing could make this storm so strong that even the rough Sweet Apple Acres farm house would cave in, making it not just terrible for Derpy, but Applebloom’s family.
“I'm going to write to Princess-…” He stopped in mid-sentence. “You got your Cutie mark?”
I blushed a bit. I had forgotten that I had gotten it in the obscene events that had taken place recently.
“Yeah. It’s kind of strange though.” Then I checked it myself, because I had almost forgotten that I had gotten it anyway. The cutie mark seemed to be flashing randomly in epilepsy, causing rates, but mostly it seemed to be red and green.
Angel bunny, which judging by the cute bunny’s expressions, confused me. Angel’s patience had run thin. He ran and pointed to Twilight Sparkle's library, and we both followed willingly.
“When did we split up?” I asked myself, muttering aloud.
As a pegasus reflex my neck craned suddenly, admittedly looking at the sky, which was now bland like all of Ponyville. The sun was there but there was just a faint glow like something very bright being shielded, like with wax paper or grey tinted glass. Rainbow Dash had shown me her trademark Sonic Rainboom, and the sky desperately needed it.
The sky also needed her and the other pegasi’s cloud-kicking abilities to get rid of the hurricane-like storm that seemed to be wild and free with nopony to control it. Of course, the storm was a creature that started with an S, but couldn't Rainbow Dash handle that by being extra heroic? In short, Ponyville needed her, so I had to find her.
As I optimistically daydreamed, Applebloom’s presence stopped me.
“Scootaloo, there you are! I was runnin’, and must of lost track of you and Sweetie Belle.”
“Yeah, me too.” I said while staring at a green bush.
“Huh. I don't remember putting my scooter there.” I withdrew my scooter from its hiding place in the burnt streaked hedge.
The scooter had been unusual to say the least. After the camping incident it had just shown up next to my house. My parents hadn't even paid for a new one, because they didn't have that type of money. So I was glad that someone had given it to me. But I often wondered who had been so kind; it even looked exactly like the old one.
“Where do you think Sweetie Belle went?” Applebloom wondered.
“Rarity’s?” I pointed out more as a fact, and not a guess. Her parents were having another vacation, so that could only be the place where she was.
“That’s kind of far from here.” She replied worryingly.
Normally it would be fine, but the storm through we had successfully ran from was imitating.
“Maybe we should keep going in any direction till we find her?” I suggested.
“That sounds good.” She exclaimed, staring at the storm clouds in the distance that we were outrunning earlier.
We walked up north in the town for a while. There was more damage there, even the gravel walkways seemed badly damaged, but the colors seemed a bit less diluted, strangely. We were almost near the train station when we discovered something.
A rough oval fissure with scorch marks had formed in the ground. Three familiar heads peaked out, and their color was not changed.
A clock chimed made of silver Sweetie Belle and Silver spoon pov
I wasn't quite sure why Angel had brought us here in the first place. The library though, was a complete wreck. There were dozens of piles of water. It would be an understatement to call them puddles or pools; they were more like ponds. In those ponds were hoards of books tossed in every direction. If Twilight Sparkle was here, she may have had a huge fit, what with the amount of books that were ripped apart. Strangely though, as many books as there were, none of them seemed majorly soggy; it looked like a reading river.
It was a bit strange seeing something caused neither by me or our group (the Cutie Mark Crusaders), but after the weird frightening day I was having, it didn't faze me as much as it could have.
“That’s a big mess.” I said; my voice half-squeaking as my eyes stared.
We were positioned next to the doorway where there weren't as many stray books and puddles. Not that I don't like getting dirty, but most of the uneven splayed book piles were bigger than me. If I had had any type of claustrophobia, it would have set in by now. Spike, Angel Bunny and I were all crammed tightly together.
“They all scattered when the storm came. Twilight must have left a window open.” His expression looked slightly annoyed at the mess. He probably would have to clean it himself though, so it was understandable.
“You must have had a really hard time getting out of this!” I exclaimed curiously. I pointed to my hoofs, automatically gesturing to the sea of books.
“I'm used to it. This is nothing compared to the time Twilight learned how to magically duplicate books”. He pointed out dryly.
“Oh!” I exclaimed, interested. It must be hard for Spike sometimes to live with somepony so magically gifted.
“If I were quills and scrolls, and was tossed around in some type of weird hurricane thing, where would I be?” He said, while walking around a trail in the library where the rough book piles weren't as tall.
I followed quietly, thinking about what a song would be like about this strange, nightmarish adventure. “Do two ponies in a library alone...” I sung softly. Spike was too far away to hear, which is what I counted on.
But I didn't count on Angel Bunny hearing. He hopped on my back. His normally agitated face had an unmistakable smile. I beamed. Angel’s smiles must be as contagious as Pinkie Pie's.
Then suddenly the whole room was thrown into pitch black darkness.
“Spike!!” I alerted him worryingly.
I realized that the thought of the others being alright had made me far too comfortable. I was still on the run from the beast thing. Come to think of it, both of our names had an S in it, although S names were very common among Ponyville.
“Sweetie Belle!” He responded. His tone felt very comforting to me, or was it just hearing his voice in general?
“Uh, Spike, let’s get out of here! We could find the Crusaders instead! The S thing is probably still here!” I said while trying to remember where both Spike and the door were.
“The rest of the Crusaders are not affected either?” He replied. His voice sounded shocked.
“Oops, I forgot to tell you!” My mind had been a bit boggled earlier. What else had I forgotten to tell him that desperately needed to be said?
“Did you all get that same cutie mark?” He asked loudly.
How did he know that?
Before I could respond, my hoof collided with a stray book. My body splayed forward, landing on a giant book. I could feel the fluffy bunny still holding on tightly to back.
“What's happening?!” I shrieked. I felt a lifting sensation; some type of magic was propelling me and the big book upwards. Angel Bunny was clinging on desperately to my back like you would on a scary rodeo ride.
“Ahhhhhhhh!!! Spike, help!” My hooves were slipping from the piece of literature. Finding a grip I tugged, and managed to hold on; my fore-hooves were free in the breeze. However, I wouldn't be able to hold the position for long.
“Spiiiike!” I screeched. Where was he, and was he okay? The book was revolving around the room, now nauseatingly fast. It would have been fun, if I could see, and if there wasn't a worry of where I would fall and what I would fall on.
The fast levitating book took me on a wild ride, ascending to the top of the stairs. Something was flashing, blinking as fast as lightning. Its speed then accelerated.
“Spike! Are you ok?!” Where are you?” I shouted worryingly. Hot tears were coming down my face. My mind was beating out questions as I rode the piece of literature. Where was Spike? Was he okay? Where were the other Crusaders? How am I going to safely get down? What's flashing? How did Spike know about us all having the same cutie mark? How had we not felt the injuries that the tree-house had inflicted?
____________________
Silvers spoon point of view
I woke up slowly on some kind of gravel dirt road. My eyes fluttered in weak protests. What had happened? The last thing I had seen was some crazy lightning, and then our quarreling had ended in simultaneous faints.
I gingerly peaked to the edge of the schism where the other two already were. I quickly noticed the drop in color to our surroundings, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders that Diamond Tiara and I participate in bullying. I however do not like it, but in a way, I'm only her echo.
“You bit-biters! You will never get my family’s bits, you foal-napping criminals!” Diamond proclaimed in a tired, half-awake tone.
“Applebloom?! You're here too? What happened?” Babs Seed asked, now wide awake.
“Babs! How did you get here? Why are you with those two? Applebloom asked in shock.
“Bit-biters? We are not bit-biters!!” Scootaloo howled, her wings flaring. The conversation was getting more confusing and jumbled as it progressed.
“Oh, it’s just you blank-flanks. It’s a shame really, I’d rather have foal-nappers!” Diamond replied. Reading her face, I could see small uncertainty in her expression. She non-laboriously climbed out the small gravel crater, and I followed, feeling like her shadow. Babs did as well, but headed for Applebloom and Scootaloo.
“I just…fainted somehow, with these guys.” Babs Seed explained, motioning to Diamond and I in a somewhat disgusted expression.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders awkwardly began having a group huddle and a whispered conversation with Babs Seed. That they foalishly, thought we couldn’t hear.
This is going to be one weird day. I stared at the sun, which was slightly visible against the cloud layer. Judging by the sun alone, it was approximately evening time.
Then I noticed the sun was a bland, stark grey.
And even more importantly, I didn't just have a silver spoon on my flank anymore.
Why do we learn to fall first? Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo
My heart pounded like lightning, but it was also slightly intriguing being positioned on the racing book a mixture of fun and plain horror. The book made me think of being on a speedy adult pegasus’ back, or a horrible roller coaster. But it was way too apparent that I would be able to keep this up, I was barely clinging on as it is.
“Sweetie Belle, are you alright?!” He answered, yelling awfully loud. His voice was coming from behind me. It was the first time that he had answered in a while. Cute Angel also thumped me with his little feet softly, probably to show that he was still on my back. I had gotten use to his presence; the bunny felt like some kind of strange pillow backpack.
“C-can you help me?” My stutter was mostly from me feeling breathless. Strangely, I wasn't nervous anymore. One question in my inner monologue would be answered if his voice was of any indication that he was alright.
“When it became dark, some books that were still on the shelf fell on me. It took a while to get free…” He paused. His voice sounded nervous. I was happy that he sounded okay, but the quick erratic levitating book kept moving me away from his voice.
The darkness fell again, and the flashes of light died away.
“You have to get down. Just jump!” Spike’s voice seemed to croak urgently.
Was he hurt more than he had said? I didn't exactly know much about Spike, other than my sister used him as an assistant a lot, so it might be that he could have lied about something like that. Right? And the idea of jumping, now that I thought of it, was tempting, but scary at the least. Who knew if something would break my fall or not?
Suddenly the light flashes started again, kind of similar to a camera flash. I could now see clearly around the library.
“Do I have to?” I asked anxiously. A thousand ‘what ifs’ were now floating in my brain. I turned my neck sharply. I could see Spike’s face. His concerned expression was enough motivation to make me jump, and the slightly scary fact that I was barely holding on helped a lot as well.
Banishing my thoughts, I leaped drastically in a random direction off the giant rapidly-speeding book, yelping the whole way down with my forelegs spiraling downward. The breeze hit my face in a downdraft of air, and I could feel the desperate cling of Angel Bunny, who was feeling heavier than the expected weight of a bunny.
In a moment I had landed on a large uneven pile of books, clumsily in a heap. My hard impact had caused a small portion of books in the uneven pile to wildly scatter. A normal-sized bright, blue book was on the top of my head. Completely through with books for today, I pitched it away from me in another pile with an irritated frown.
I could see Spike coming to me in the distance; he looked alright. I sighed with relief, then tunneled forcefully using my head out the mess of books, avoiding most of the cold wet puddles. Why were the books not soggy?
As I got to the original path that was less littered with books, I collapsed momentarily in a tired heap, my four legs splayed out lazily. I could feel Angel lightly jumping off my back. Spike was a couple inches away, slightly examining me.
“Uh…you okay?” He asked kindly, his tender dragon eyes were showing signs of slight concern.
“I'm fine.” I smiled, then stood up slowly, dusting myself off for an act of self-reassurance.
“Just so you know, your cutie mark was flashing a lot!” He pointed directly at my flank. “It’s what led me to you.” I nodded. That explained it, but was it really flashing unpredictably, or was something triggering it?
“Let’s get away from here!” I pleaded. It was clear that the flying book and the sudden darkness were likely caused by the magic of the S creature. It must have invaded the library. But we could talk about the other things later.
“Alright, I got the quills and paper for the letter.” I hadn't noticed them before in his claws. I was happy he had. The letter to Princess Celestia might save the other ponies from whatever happened to them. She is our princess after all, and Miss Cheerilee had made long discussion to us at school about how immense an alicorn’s power is rumored to be. Not to even mention Twilight and my sister’s conversation about the topic.
Alongside Spike and Angel, I hurriedly exited the library, before my Cutie mark randomly ceased illuminating.
_______________________________
Scootaloo's point of view
We were presently still huddling in a circle, each of us glancing in different moments at the two bullies who had somehow successfully kept their colors. They were also still at the train station, having a conversation we couldn't hear. Applebloom and I had already discussed everything about today to Babs, and Babs had discussed what had happened to her. She seemed the most shocked.
Finally parting the huddle, Applebloom and I noticed something shocking.
“Your cutie mark is the same as ours!” I pointed out. Applebloom and Babs Seed’s mouths largely widened in response; I think we were all connecting the dots on part of this cutie mark mystery.
“I have a cutie mark?” Babs asked in nonbelief, while looking at her flank for concrete proof.
Saying nothing, I headed closer to the bullies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, while Applebloom followed. Babs Seed however, was still staring at her flank in an awestruck expression, speechless by her new very own cutie mark.
It was clear that, labeled on the bully's already-achieved cutie mark, was in fact another circular flashing mark that the rest of us all had, but they probably hadn't noticed yet.
Most ponies with cutie marks didn't look at their flank as much. I reasoned that the design had long been embedded in their minds, their shining moment of having one. Anyway, a cutie mark wasn't like a mane. It wouldn't change much. At least not normally...
“So this whole time our new cutie marks have been somehow guarding us from our moods, changing all quick, like mah family?” Applebloom asked, coming mostly to my same thoughts.
“Yeah, I know. I think you were right before, these totally aren't cutie marks at all.” I deduced a little too loudly.
“So looks like you're still....blank-flanks!” Diamond Tiara chirped hauntingly, moving closer to us and showing an angry evil glare, complemented by the starting of Silvers Spoon’s evil laugh. We had been too close to her. She probably had heard the entire conversation.
Babs had long ago snapped out of staring at her cutie mark, and marched to our aid.
“Look, now that I'm here, no bullying my friends, or I'll tell you parents. Got it?” She began using the frightening expression that she had used during the last time I had seen her. She was positioned very close to Diamond Tiara, so the look was especially effective. I also noticed that Babs’ new circle cutie mark was flashing a bright shade of green.
But Diamond Tiara, instead of backing away slowly, like Silver Spoon was already doing (and what I would do if I ever saw Babs Seed’s terrifying expression), openly directed it to me, grinning sadistically.
“Oh, that’s funny. You blank-flank babies think we didn't hear you? All the adults are acting odd, aren't they Silver?” Diamond Tiara snickered evilly. I definitely didn't like where this was going.
Silver Spoon edged her way back, being caught in the act of slowly walking away, her expression quickly changed to an evil smile that she had probably practiced.
“Yes, Diamond.” Silver Spoon answered mockingly. She pulled her glasses back as if to pretend she was examining some pony dramatically.
“I think it looks like they'd never even bothered to punish anypony, even the ones for instance that lame blank-flanks come to whine to!” Then they began chuckling evilly.
The other Crusaders and I looked around, trying to look unalarmed by this, but our expressions were not very convincing, except Babs’ .
“Fine....let’s just leave !” I suggested back in direction of my fellow Crusaders. Babs, Applebloom and I quickly walked away from the bullies before they did their annoying, special flank-shake or more teasing.
Then the sound of thunder hit.
It had apparently even followed us here. We all, even including Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, became jumpy, fleeing frantically back to the safety of the straw-roofed train station like extra scared little foals on Nightmare Night. I found that my forelegs were automatically gripping both Applebloom and Babs in an awkward hug.
Judging by the sudden swift wind and the already pouring rain, we couldn't run away from the storm creature again. We were all trapped, and as if it couldn't get any bad enough…
Scootaloo was no stranger to how hope invaded how everything seemed lost but as soon as she somepony in the distance she thought better of everything being lost even though she thought it was. In fact for years she slept in either the treehouse or a cardboard box into Rainbow Dash had swept her up became her sister even her parent at times. Her parents situation had gotten worse and worse and sometimes they did not have the money for a house in ponyville or her.. Rainbow Dashes love was blinding. She wanted to find her tuck her into a cuddle. But her hope was lost. Rainbow Dash told her one day she and her friends could one day be self sufficient and do there own things in life. But everything they did always failed. Just as her wings did.
"I am back," Said Sweetie Belle emerging with who looked to be Spike and Angel.
The group of Apple bloom and Scootaloo came into a hug. Babs followed last. Apple Bloom cried tears streaming down the hug" I thought you were gone. Not just you all of you."
"Somehow, I was sort of safe, they are too." Said Sweetie Belle.
"This whatever it is does not seem to uhh affect anything outside of ponys it's just a miracle you all are okay." said Spike.
"Oh, Spike you live in the library with Twilight.Do you know what's going on? Twilight normally does." Said Apple bloom when they parted.
"No not fully maybe why you are were untouched. I need to make sure before I tell you. I am just kinda too sad to think about all of this I will tell you when I know for sure." Said Spike.
"Ehh sappy reunion, You stupid blank flanks why could you sisters come at least they could do something you don't deserve to be safe your just little crybaby fillies and you the baby dragons assistant the pet. Sent me a real dragon or your keeper." Said Diamond Tiara
"Leave him alone, Diamond hes much more helpful then you". Said Sweetibelle.
"I am extremely helpful, my daddy's worth a billion bits. I am worth diamonds your sisters only worth one glass slipper and your worth just a shard of it oh Sweetie Belle my money's the only thing that's going to be able to save you. Said Diamond. Her eyes flashing foolishly with the only power she did not have. That still gave her comfort and confidence.
Apple bloom stepped up .Scootaloo watched. "Even if that were true. We are the only ones the can safe the town the town your money's worth nothing right now. Anyway I think hes not himself right now..."
Diamond Frowned then her eyes looked as if the had lost footing on ice. But she recovered herself. And stared blankly then managed another frown of contempt."Well if that's true what would you do think you now."
"What if we touch them," said Scootaloo.
"I think that means we become them." Said Apple Bloom. "Its took risky." She finished.
"No, I did something Celestia should come and get us if it's just Pony villie touched by this," He said.
"Spike I am given up hope on celestia, you said it may not work that it may not reach this time that it was the same as before Its been 2 hours she will probably not come." Said Sweet belle loosing her intensity mid sentence.
"I have given up as well Sweetie Belle but it seems to be everyone's best chance.... so we're waiting."Said Spike his normal youthful expression hardened.
"Anyone wanna play tic tac toe toe," said Apple Bloom.
"This is ridiculous and crazy you think a blank faced person doesn't want money lets go off into the city and touch and give them money they will come around then you will see, money makes the world go around you would understand blank flanks what with your love, and harmony come on Silver spoon we are the only one that understand what makes equestrian go round," Silver Spoon nodded."
"I am going to join Apple Bloom in tic tac toe. Said Babs.
"Lets go, Silver Spoon"
The walked slowly Silverspoon moved as slow as if her feet were frozen and the had scarcely moved. Moments later.
Scootaloo wished Diamond had left for good. She was evil and though she spoke as if she knew what she was talking about structuring if well it was mean and foolish. She was a broken doll that clung to you in a pony horror movie shrieking as if she was the victim. However part of her didn't as she knew she would find nothing but the bits of her past wrecked. Her heart wrenched by thing that seemed worse then death. Her soul shattered as she stared at her now possibly soulless father. Her mind in a thousand questions. Falling fast in them instead of figuring out how to bring him back. Helping the hurricane swallow her before it had eating away at her heart feeling as if someone had bit it wondering where another hole came from into she was a mollted mess trapped in the bottom of a mountain.
Knowing she had heard too many ghost stories yesterday she kept that to herself.
"I can guard here to check for her." Said Scootaloo.
"Okay scout said Apple Bloom. Soon it was a camp. Ponies and other animals talking turns sleeping." A little bit of the idyllic and hearty feeling of ponyville had returned. Accept for Diamond and Silver Spoon who had decided to to stay playing in a chalk circle spinning and saying slightly dirty gossip about the cmc the other animals or there sisters.
"I heard Rairtys shop tanked he he." said Diamond skipping in the circle.
Scootaloo ignored them. Trying to focus on scouting she had heard noise but hoped it was just the zombie villagers stomping.
But soon she could not ignore it.
"Someone's coming we have to run." said SweetieBelle
"Okay, said Apple Bloom so we do not have to panic I came up with a ribbon system we just have to all part in one or two groups and then head to the broken down tree-" Apple Bloom voice came to halt.
A zombie pony was already there it was the train owner. He growled and hummed for food.
"Run," screamed Apple Bloom.
But just as they began.
A golden light weaved next to them.
The pony pounced.
They turned around. To see a train made of only golden light, molded by what could only be called magic or radiance.
Maybe this what they could call hope. For her and her friends smelling of rain, apples ,mold and soot.
Tired and hungry.
Somthing old somthing new somthing not really borrowed but blue? apple bloom
You see a filly that lives in ponyville you think you have seen it all the weird, the ugly, and the magical. That however was about a day ago though its late but it felt like years. Like ehh, 6 years to be exact, maybe more.
Honestly now Apple Bloom knew there is much more to learn and probably why she hadn't found her talent yet or had she? What was the flashing mark on her flank? She thought. What it a puzzle that would ever be solved?
It wasn't really the train that was made out of golden light and was somehow unknown destination that she thought might be Canterlot that was the most shocking.
It was that every adult she met seemed to be infected turning into kinda zombies with no emotion attacking everyone
Apple bloom suspected a touch could turn us into them and how are we to survive this way and can we turn them back? Apple Bloom wondered.
If there aren't any adults she wondered if they were now adults in there place?
But she let the light comfort her and soothe her why had light these few days saved her. She wondered.
And she was wondering was there any hope.
"Equestria to Apple Bloom!" shouted Scootaloo "Did the pony get you did he touch you?"
She seemed to be joking to Apple Bloom but also worried.
"No, it didn't ."she struggled on if "it "was the was the right word
"It's just everything that happened I guess i'm just trying to wrap my mind around it" said Apple bloom.
"Yeah it is a lot" Said Sweetie Belle softly.
" Like this feels so nice to be taken care of but how many adults are left and where are are sisters and family members?" sais Apple Bloom
"I wanted to go to Rarity's house and lie on her fabric till shes come back," Said Sweetie Belle "I also wanna wanna try to make silk roses for her," "And listen to her complain about Apple Jacks hardy choice of fashion and how sometimes she wants to put Apple Jack in a dress but she almost always refuses."
"Hey" said Apple Bloom
Sweetie Belle went on somewhere in the middle of whing and seriously crying but tears fell in dramatic puddles so we knew it was genuine.
"And I miss how she would complain how Rainbow Dash would make a hole in her ceiling-
She does do that a lot said Scootaloo.
-And how she thinks she caught someone with the rainbow cutie mark going to the spa but then the pony bolted."
"Hey wait!" Said Scootatloo.
"I just miss her," said Sweetie Belle. "and everypony where in the hay fries are they?" "Where did those poor pony souls go?" she said sobbing more
Everyone harmonized in so many different ways "I miss them" said everyone on the row of the train besides Babs seed who Apple Bloom was quiet.
"Yall keep talking about sisters but I miss mah family all of em," said Babs Seeds.
"I guess we're thinking are sisters as there the ones who save the day." Said Scootaloo. I think we miss everypony" . "I miss cupcakes, the best" though said Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie belle!" everyone chimed.
"Hunger first family later okay i'm kinda hungry... I feel as if I haven't eaten in 7years! she said.
"I feel its 6"" Babs admitted.
" For me its 45." said Applebloom.
Spike was sitting in the back but Apple bloom saw him get up he had been listening when I got up.
"Okay you might have a point but guys kinda have to tell you something. The reason I feel so strange other then it's just been weird is well before I woke up and Twilight was gone the night . before I went to bed we were reading this book together. I thought it was a fantasy book but you know usually everything Twilight read is real? She kinda all organized and as rainbow dash calls her an "egg head" and usually I don't really read her books because you know if you kinda live with a library book worm it kinda washes the fun down a little but this time like some nights I listened. Like okay maybe I always listen to her bedtime stories but yeah."
"But anyway yeah she kinda might've read this one to me too to go to sleep. Spike blushed.
"Hey dork dragon hurry up and get on with it or I will throw you and the pegasi out the train and teach you how to fly" Said Diamond Tiara "I have been listening to the whole time too you gooey goo now tell me the end I will find you the off myself button.
Though Spike was a little older then diamond.
Apple bloom noticed Spike shaking.
And strangely she noticed Sweetie Belle eyes wide and hooves up about to attack her
but Bab Seed grabbed her then Scootaloo and finally Apple bloom grabbed her with her hooves
Sweetie Belle was strong.
Sweetie Belle could only say fragments of sentences she was speaking very incoherently.
"But she..." "I..." "He..."
and then she broke down. More buckets of water fell on the floor. More puddles to clean up.
and then her strange mark flashed
black
" I cant,.." but..." It's not fair..."
Surprised Apple Bloom let go.
"I just can't... It's too hard.. why?"
and then it started the color grey coming from her tail.
"Why?" "Why are you?"
"I am so confused." " Sweetie Belle," Apple bloom wailed "Calm down," "What's going on? "Are you okay"
Though she knew most of the answers. There was nothing clever she could think of just horror and frustration. Apple Bloom was lost.
"What the hay, said Babs " The grey ponies they haven't touched her!
"We have to throw her off the train!" Said Diamond "Its us or them!"
"No," "what?" I think this is your fault said Scootaloo. "I am not throwing out one of my best friends.
"How is this my fault? She must of been touched by a zombie pony? Words don't do this kind of damage. Shes a goner we have to save ourselves!
"No!" said a chorus of all the Cutie Mark Crusaders
"Don't you touch her honestly you suck!" Said Spike a sudden change came over Spike for a minute he seemed like the dragons in the pony tales Miss Cheerilee read to us fierce.
A word came to her respect.
another determined
"Apple Bloom you cutie marks fashing really bright!" Said Babs Seed.
"Not are biggest problem now said " said Scootaloo.
" Okay fine I will kick her out this shipwreck myself!" Said diamond. "Come to my aid Silver Spoon."
In a small voice Silver Spoon whispered.
Apple Bloom could only make out the first wordt what Silver Spoon said.
"In!" Was the only thing she could make out.
"What?" Said Diamond Tiara.
" In your dreams!" Said Silver Spoon screaming,
"What where is this coming from?" said Silver Spoon
"Everywhere are games are naughty and fun but this is going to far!" Said silver. A strange look spread on Silvers spoons face. "Diamond if I turned grey would you throw me off the train too? "If I was only going to hold me down would you let go?"
"No I... We have too... fine i'll do it myself," Said Diamond.
All the while Sweetie Belle was looking bad and saying "I..." over and over.
She found a broom in the golden light train. It was a little translucent but a normal broom She pointed the broom at the almost completely grey pony and tried to push her out.
"Stop " the Cmc and Spike fought her but she was a strong one as well.
but then they heard a loud voice.
"Stop it." said Silver Spoon and you can see she ducked in Sweetie Belles place hit by the broom and Sweetie Belle's face.
Diamond Tiara was quickest to react.
"Stop it you freak!" "Why are you defending this dirty blank flank." Said Diamond.
Then everything changed. Silver Spoon turned grey so fast and so did Sweetie belle. They were one tone. Like a rock even there eyes.
The train floor turned stark grey.
"See?" said Diamond. "Were doomed!
Everyone not grey touched scattered to the farthest corners of the train made of golden light.
But then Apple bloom cried " Look!"
Blue magic the color of ice and the sky flooded from both Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon there pupils were gone and the were both levitating.
there were radiating a magical aura that bathed and exploded and bathed each other in. It was kinda like the windows in canterlot and then the magic punched everything.
The blue magic for a second enveloped the room Apple bloom felt it in her cells. Everyone fell to the sides of the train who was not directly basking in the magic.
other then Scootaloo who almost fell off the train.
Luckily Owlicious, angel and Spike steadied her.
and then it all stopped. The two foals planted on the floor color pale but returning.
All the small ponies got close to see if they were okay.
Some expressions like stuffed animals others a gaping expression on there face and wide eyes.
."You ponies okay?" Scootalloo broke the silence
Sweetie Belle chimed sounding fresh and well spoken in tone "Never better!" "Silver Spoon giggled." Sweetie Belle had her tongue out making an expression they would normally see on Pinkie Pie
The ponies were close for never being friend let alone not be The ponies were very close to each other for being foes.
Apple Bloom spoke up this time "You sure?"
"Yeah something feels better also I kinda wanna say something to you in private," Sweetie belle blushed like a tomato. Hoof pointing at Spike.
Spike blushed very red. "Okay'' he said.
"I don't know I just feel better like I found hope?" said Sweetie Belle.
But how did this even happen and how did it change? Said Apple Bloom.
"I don't know? But I think we may of discovered world peace!" Said Sweetie Belle
"I don't know if that's quite it but I think we discovered something a little new." said Silver Spoon. giggling again.
Spike walked up to the center of the room. ................................................................................................................................................ "As I was trying to tell you, I think Twilight had these books I think shes was doing that thing where she just kinda goes nuts and goes to twilight world stressing and looking a little weird. I thought it was something small like normal and I couldn't quite get what she was trying to research it was so bizarre but I just tried to get her to see her friends and sleep you know pony stuff(He said with an eye roll) but I knew she had probably started reading her research as a bedtime story.
and I was kinda interested and it feels so similar but at the time I thought it was just a conspiracy theory or something at time I mean it's Twilight she really smart and great but gets herself stuck on stuff and paranoid... I should've trusted her shes my family... but I was worried.
I lied to you sweetie Belle because I wasn't sure if it would make you sad and I didnt know if it was related.
But actually she left that night. I saw her she said she was going with her friends. All of them. There was probably more but I was kinda tired and didn't hear I kinda fell asleep after when I awoke she was gone and in a strange world"
Said spike.
"What were the books? said Apple Bloom," Her heart beating.
"The rise of sombra by the crystal empire" "The tale of the seeds of disharmony the jewels of chaos" "Day and night of princess a thousand years before," "Alchemy a secret edition by Princess Luna princes celestia""
"Most of them had a banned till further notice seal in order of the princess seal. sad Spike.
"It was hard to follow what she was saying it felt so out there it was harder to follow then when she used orders of the planets and moon to catastrophize junk but I think she predicted what was happening."
I don't know what is completely means but we're all most all that's left at least in ponyville I think you may have been given some strangely powerful power. I mean Silver Spoon is an earth pony but she just used magic this is kinda very unusual.
"I did!"" I didn't really think about it but I did.".. Said Silver Spoon "It just felt so natural..."
Diamond Tiara had a far away expression. Apple bloom did not know what it met she couldn't tell if it was longing or sadness.
"I think it may now be are time to save equestria." said Spike
"I felt like that too," Said Apple Bloom
"I agree" Said Scootaloo, Babs, Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon began joyfully giggling again.
and then in the edges of the train they saw a brighter blue sky
