Button kept looking over at Sweetie Belle as they traveled. She didn’t notice though, to amazed by the sights of The Land of Sweets. They had stuck to the gingerbread road for a while and Sweetie Belle stopped.
“C-can we take a little break? We’ve been walking for miles!” She moaned.
Button nodded and slowly sat down next to her.
The filly suddenly lifted her head. “What is that amazing smell?”
The children got up and Sweetie Belle perked her ears up.
“Do you hear that?” She gasped.
“It sounds like… Ballet music?”
The two followed the sound until they came upon a valley of flowers.
They both gasped in wonder. It was stunning, like nothing they had ever seen. They heard the music again and went behind a tree nearby.
Sweetie Belle made a shh signal and they peeked.
“Ah’ don't know about this, Taps!” Groaned a southern accent. It belonged to a young earth pony filly with a red mane. Her mane was in a ponytail and tied with a pink bow woven out of flowers. She had on a pink flower dress to match.
“It's okay! Give it all you got! Now, shall we begin our pas de duex?” An orange colt with a purple mane asked, wearing a white shirt and black pants
The filly gave a nervous smile and nodded.
The child gently took the hoof extended to her.
Sweetie Belle watched in longing as she raised her leg and put out her other arm.
The foals looked at each other. Tender Taps grinned and the girl blushed.
She let go and did a pirouette almost perfectly. The boy did the same and they joined hooves again. The filly raised her top left leg again. Tender Taps went around her, turning her with him.
Then, the filly gracefully ran from him then twirled back.
He caught her by the waist after she ran and lifted her up.
“Oh…” Sweetie Belle breathed, watching Tender Taps turn her.
He put her down and they repeated the motions from before, but on the hold up, the filly suddenly gasped and fell.
“Applebloom!” Tender Taps cried, rushing up to her.
Sweetie Belle gasped and couldn't hold herself back.
She rushed to the fallen filly and the pair looked at her in horror.
“Sweetie Belle! Are you crazy?!” Button hissed, running after her.
“W-who are you two?” Tender Taps asked, going in front of Applebloom who was taking off her ripped ballet shoe.
“Um, I'm Button and this is Sweetie Belle. We're friends of the princesses and are traveling to rescue them, we heard your music and-”
“Can you teach me?!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.
Suddenly, a pony grabbed Sweetie Belle and Button from behind!
Fluttershy shook with fear as she finished scrubbing the floors. She dropped the sponge in the bucket and it landed with more water sopping on the floor.
The pony picked up the bucket with her wing and turned.
The pegasus then saw a staircase and glanced around.
“I haven't seen any of my friends in months. I'll be gone for just a few seconds…”
There was a sudden blast from the lockets and they tumbled away.
The stallion cried out and just for safety, threw a net over them.
“Who are ya’?” A yellow pony with a brunette mane wearing tightly woven vine pants and shirt, camouflage, gasped.
Applebloom raced to him. “Cous’! I wanna talk to ‘em!”
Her cousin scooped her up though and put her on his back.
“Applebloom! You know you can't leave camp!”
The boy, Tender Taps ran up. “It was me, sir, I-”
“With all the time she's tried to escape? Sure ya’ did.” Braeburn snarled, pushing the colt behind him.
He turned to the foals. “Now you two. Who are ya’?”
“They're helping the princess, Cous’!” Applebloom cried.
“Hush!” Her cousin said.
He picked up the bag with his mouth and dragged them back to the camp.
“Are ya’ really gonna save the princesses?” Applebloom asked, bending down at the camp to the foals’ eye level back at camp.
“Well,” Sweetie Belle gulped. “I hope so!”
The other filly smiled, showing her teeth. “Me too.”
“Applebloom!” They heard a pony growl.
The filly gasped and turned.
An orange pony with a blond mane wearing a brown hat, green vine pants and a shirt which looked like it was made out of black brambles walked up. Her followers came as well, a big stallion and an elder pony also seemed in front.
“Oh, h-hey Applejack!” Applebloom chucked.
“Ah’ told ya’! A've told ya’ time and time again!” Applejack cried, stomping up.
Button flinched, thinking the mare was about to slap the girl but instead, the elder embraced the filly.
After it, they parted. Applejack frowned at her sister. “I can't believe ya’ though! Y-ya’ know why ya’ can't go out! Ya’ know that!”
“No, ah’ don't!” Applebloom cried.
“Ya’ have to stay safe!”
“Mama would let me! Mama would let me dance! Tirek doesn't care what ah’m doin’! He cares about what yer doin’!” Her sister snarled.
“Yes, well, seeing ya’ out in the open, Tirek will not only find me but all our resistance! Don't talk anymore sass to me, do ya’ hear?!” Applejack yelled.
The filly gasped.
Her sister sighed, “Ah’m sorry, Applebloom.”
The filly only sniffed, looking like she could cry and ran to her grandmother, who was the elder in the front. The filly glanced at Tender, who looked concerned.
“Now, you two….” Applejack snarled, turning to look at the other foals.
“Who are you?” The big red stallion growled, stepping forward.
“Please! Don't hurt us! We just.. We're just…” Sweetie Belle bit her lip.
“Look!”
Tirek watched with interest as the child showed her locket. “So, it hurt everypony, good or bad, except its owner… Interesting.”
“Yeah. Only the owner can take it off and the locket will only allow itself to be touched by any other if it's bearer truly and sincerely wants it to go to that creature.” Pinkie murmured.
Tirek heard the group gasp and turned away from the pink mare.
“Wh- How?!” Applejack cried.
“I have one too! Tirek cursed me to be a nutcracker!” Button said, showing his own.
The leading mare that seemed to be of great importance, Applejack, squinted.
She bit her lip and turned to the others in her group of resistance.
“Young ‘uns! Release the prisoners and go have some fun, you hear?” Granny Smith asked.
The children of the group, including Applebloom and Tender Taps helped Button and Sweetie Belle out and they all ran to play in the valley.
“So… The foals are in the Valley of Flowers, are they?” Tirek whispered. “That's where the earth pony was hiding… Oh, the look on Twilight’s face when I show her I'll only have one more of her friends to catch! And my queen's face when I only have two more of her lockets to find…” The king chuckled.
Pinkie looked up from her crystal ball and gave a sigh. If she knew her powers over time and space were going to get her here, she wouldn’t have studied them at all!
“As for you, my dear, anything new?” Tirek asked.
“Of course not…” Pinkie said, jer stright mane falling in front of her eyes.
“Take her away.” Tirek demanded Flash.
The stallion offered his hoof to her, which suprised her greatly. She slowly took it and he led her off to her cell.
Flash sighed as he locked the door.
“Hey, it’ll be okay.” He turned to see Pinkie giving a weak smile. “A great thing will befall upon you. Maybe not on the rest of us, but that’s alright.”
“How-”
The mare hugged her straight tail. “My tail’s twitchimg!”
Meanwhile, Fluttershy snuck up the tower stairs.
“Please let no pony find me… Please let no pony find me!” She pleaded to nopony.
“Halt!” She heard behind her and she jumped so high she almost hit the ceiling.
“Ghaa! It's not what it looks like!” She squealed out quickly.
Flash cocked his head. “You're… not going to see Princess Twilight?”
“No! I would never! I… I… No!” Fluttershy cried, panicking.
Flash’s face fell.
“Oh… Um, why do you want to know?” The peguses whispered.
The stallion hesitated but opened a saddle bag. He took out a rose, a golden ring around a chain, and then a small rag doll of a gray pony with little pants on it.
“Oh! Er, the…rose is pretty, and the ring.” Fluttershy said, then gasped. “I didn't mean the doll’s not lovely-”
“It's fine. The rose is from me to Twilight, the ring is from Shining to Princess Cadance and the doll is for their baby… He never learned her name before… Can you give it to them? If it's not any trouble… I'd hate to put such a burden on you-”
The peguses gingerly picked them all up with her wing. “I understand. Tirek must keep you two on a tight leash, being so close to the princesses.”
Flash sighed and nodded. “Thank you.”
In the Valley of Flowers, the foals played among the sweet smelling plants but Applebloom was sitting down.
“I gotta say it, your two's dancing was beautiful! I've always wanted to dance like that!” Sweetie Belle gushed, sitting down next to her.
“I still can't believe she didn't get her cutie mark for it!” Another filly cried. She was light pink with a purple and white mane with a silver rose wreath on her head and a purple flower dress on her that was the same design as Applebloom’s. Her friend came with her. She was silver with a white mane tied with a pink vine in a braid. She was wearing a blue flower-woven dress.
“Oh, thank ya’.” Applebloom giggled, blushing.
“Sweetie Belle, these are mah’ friends, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”
“Pleased to meet you!” The fillies stated together, curtsying to her at the same time.
“Oh! It's good to meet you too!” Sweetie Belle cried, brushing off her plain pink nightgown and clumsily curtsying back.
“Ah’ hadn't dance outside the camp in so long…,” Applebloom muttered. “Ah’ really missed it.”
“Well, Applejack won't mind you dancing here!” Silver Spoon offered.
Applebloom smiled.
The filly stood and got on her hind legs.
“Copy me, okay?” She asked Sweetie Belle.
The other grinned and bounced up.
Applebloom sidestepped gracefully in a dance and gestured to Sweetie Belle.
“Oh…” The unicorn gulped. She didn’t think she really had to try it.
The other foals stared at her.
“Well… Er…”
“Hey, don't worry, we'll dance with you!” Diamond Tiara said.
“I guess so!” Silver Spoon laughed.
The three fillies who knew how to dance demonstrated again and Sweetie Belle tried.
Button smiled watching the fillies dancing. He hadn't seen ballet dancing in such a long time. The princesses used to dance for and with their subjects all the time. Button had been a natural.
Sweetie Belle leaped in time with the other girls and twirled to her delight, almost perfectly. They danced in a circle togther, swaying and twirling.
She joined hoofs with Applebloom and spun together, giggling.
Tender Taps came into the scene and leaped to Applebloom.
“May I cut in?”
Sweetie Belle gave a giggle and stepped back to Diamond and Silver.
“So romantic!” Diamond whispered.
“Yeah…” Silver Spoon sighed.
Sweetie Belle suddenly felt a hoof touch her shoulder.
Button blushed. “Do you mind if... we danced too?”
As it happened, Sweetie Belle and Button were naturals together and could soon do ballet side by side with Applebloom and Tender.
Button lifted Sweetie Belle high in the air with his strong arms and he put her down. She hopped away.
She ran to him and he wrapped his arms around her. He dipped her and staring into each other’s eyes, everything seemed beautiful.
“They have no idea I'm coming, do they?!” Tirek laughed, watching Sweetie Belle twirl away and the couple continued to dance as if they had no trouble in the world.
The door opened and Discord casually strolled in.
“What did I miss?” He yawned.
“You're late.” The king hissed.
“You didn't set a time to meet.” Discord retorted.
“Shining Armor,” Tirek said.
The captain who was by the side of his throne sighed but looked up.
“Prepare our troops to go to the Valley of Flowers.”
Fluttershy was surprised to find no guards at the top of the stairs and opened the door.
The princesses looked up, they had seemed out of it.
“F-Fluttershy?!” Twilight whispered through tears.
“Twilight!” The peguses cried, dropping her items. They rushed into a hug full of happy and sad tears and when it finally stopped, the alicorns noticed the gifts.
“Oh! I think you can guess who the gifts are for.”
“My wedding ring!” Cadence gasped. “Even when Tirek told him to get rid of it, Shining kept it…”
The pink alicorn used her hooves, not having magic, to clasp the necklace around her neck.
Flurry Heart gurgled with joy as she hugged the doll.
Fluttershy looked at the rose then at Twilight.
“What? It can't be for me. It's Luna's, right?” The young alicorn turned to Luna who shook her head.
“I fly solo, thank you for the thought though.”
“It's from Flash Sentry… That Flash Sentry.” Fluttershy giggled with a wink.
Twilight’s cheeks went as pink as the rose and Cadance squealed in happiness. Even Luna managed a small chuckle.
“Oh…studying what the flowers mean, this means he…” Twilight shook her head.
“Oh, nevermind.” She whispered.
Luna stood and walked to Fluttershy. “I owe you my thanks.”
“Oh, I just delivered the gifts….” The peguses suddenly gasped, “I don't have anything for you!”
“I'm so sorry, you're the sugarplum princess, I should have thought of getting you something-”
“The fact that you are even here is a gift, my dear,” Luna said.
Fluttershy blushed. “Oh, well, you're welcome?”
The princess smiled softly. “It shows I have some hope… some chance somepony can save us.”
The peguses nodded.
Suddenly the door opened behind her.
“Flash! I di-” Fluttershy bumped right into a diamond dog.
“Oh dear! Not again!” She gasped.
“No!” Twilight cried as the guard grabbed Fluttershy by her long mane and started pulling her away.
“Let her go!” Luna snarled.
“Please!” Cadence pleaded.
Flurry Heart started wailing.
But the guard pulled her away and slammed the door.
“Discord,” Tirek said, turning from the pool. “Tonight, you will go to the Valley of Flowers, capture the nutcracker and his dance partner, and take that resistance as well!”
The king smiled then, “But you will go on your own, of course.”
The creatured raised his eyebrows. “On my own? Without you or any diamond dogs?”
“Yes, can you manage that?” The king asked.
Discord snapped his claw and two pairs of hoofcuffs appeared.
“I'll get those foals right now!” He chuckled.
“You know what I said about your chaos powers?” Tirek asked.
“Don't use them unless you say…” Discord said, like a scolded child.
“Exactly.”
The hoofcuffs disappeared.
“Now go, and be quick!” Tirek growled.
“Got it!” Discord said, walking out. With no supervision, he could get Fluttershy that night and run away!
“Oh, and Discord?” Tirek asked.
“Yeess?” Discord dragged out.
The door suddenly opened in front of him and two diamond dogs walked in but they weren't important. The real thing of value was the yellow buttercream peguses between them.
“Discord!” Fluttershy cried, trying to escape.
“Fluttershy?! What-”
“I must admit, I was a bit worried about you,” Tirek said, walking up.
“I thought you might run away if I left you to your own decisions. And you were about to abandon this good cause, weren't you? Just like that...”
Discord snorted in disgust.
“But now, you can't leave. If you ever try to disobey me,” The king grabbed Fluttershy’s chin. “Well, I’d hate to destroy such a lovely face.” His whispered, looking at Discord.
Fluttershy’s breath was quickening. “L-let me go!”
The king threw her back to the diamond dogs
“How dare you?!” Discord snarled, running to her.
Fluttershy gasped and ran to him, pushing the guards away. They hugged.
“I-I'm so sorry!” She whispered.
“Don't be.” Discord said, stroking her mane.
The two had grown up side by side. When she was younger, Fluttershy was a snowflake pony, being a peguses, but one day, while ballet dancing, she found the creature shivering and almost dead in the snow. She nursed him back to health. The filly, however, had made new friends over time, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and even the Princess, Twilight Sparkle. Peace had rained until Tirek had come….
“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted!” Tirek snarled.
The diamond dogs suddenly tackled Discord to the ground.
The centar looked down at him. “Now that I have her, you're my slave, forever.”
The door suddenly opened and Flash came in.
“My king,” He started but saw Discord pinned to the ground and Fluttershy trying to escape the diamond dog that held her. “What's… going on?”
“Oh, none of your business. What news do you have?”
“Er…t-the troops, they're in the Valley…” The stallion locked eyes with Fluttershy.
“Excellent…”
The dancing foals slowly turned their heads to see they were dancing without Applebloom or Tender Taps beside them. The other foals put their hooves together for them. Sweetie Belle and Button laughed. The filly curtseyed, much more gracefully this time.
Applebloom seemed to be looking down at something in her hooves but she jolted back into reality when Tender nudged her.
She clapped too but a yell echoed through the valley.
“Children! Come back now!”
The foals got there and saw Applejack turn to them with a look of worry.
“Come here, sugar cubes,” Applejack said, motioning for the foals to get behind her along with the rest of her group.
“Not you two.” Button and Sweetie Belle stopped.
Applejack then walked up to them.
“Listen, young uns’,” She said, bending down to them. “The camp and ah’.... We can't let you stay here. The king will come and-”
“We completely understand… Thank you for the shelter.” Button whispered.
The foals looked at each other than at the gingerbread path.
“No!” They heard suddenly.
Applebloom ran out of the crowd around Applejack despite Diamond, Silver Spoon, and Tender trying to stop her.
She ran to her sister.
“Ya’ can't! They're the only ponies who are tryin’ ta’ do something! We need to help them-”
“It's okay, Applebloom.” Sweetie Belle whispered.
The other filly gave a whimper and they hugged.
“We're friends, best friends, okay?”
Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened for a moment. She had a friend, a best friend!
“I-I'll never forget you.” She said through tears.
Applebloom smiled weakly. “Don't forget to practice your dancing.”
Sweetie Belle glanced at Button who motioned it was time to go.
The resistance watched as the foals walked to the edge of the forest until they were gone.
“Ah’ can't believe ya’all!” Applebloom cried, looking at the group.
“Young ‘un, we had to.” Granny Smith said, a bit stern.
“E’yep.” Big Mac said.
Applebloom looked at her other friends, Tender, Diamond, and Silver Spoon.
“Ya’ can't think it was for the best too!”
Her friends stayed silent.
The filly gave a huff. “Why?! Why do you all think that?! They're the only ponies with the princess’s magic and we don't help them?!”
She didn't notice a light blue glow from her neck as her emotion rose.
“Well, Ah’m goin’ to go help and nopony’s stoppin’ me!” The girl cried.
She turned and ran along the gingerbread path.
“Applebloom! Wait!” Applejack yelled.
The filly stopped in front of the forest that led out of the valley suddenly. She took a step back.
Applejack frowned and ran up to her.
“Are you okay? What's wrong?” She asked.
“Something doesn't feel right….” Her sister murmured.
The sisters looked out into the forest and saw yellow glowing eyes.
“TIREK!” They cried together, falling back.
“So this is where you've been hiding them…” He growled.
Applebloom slowly looked up at Applejack.
“Who are ya’ talkin’ about? We have nothing you want.” Applejack snarled, lying.
Tirek narrowed his eyes and looked around. He expected to see the children hiding in the crowd or bushes but didn't see anything. It was uncharacteristic of the leader to turn away ponies in trouble, especially foals. Then again, they did lead him and his army here but why wouldn't they be prepared to protect them? Unless she had something of her own she didn't want him to have….
The king then saw the shaking filly who had been pushed behind her sister.
“Well, who’s this then?” The king cooed, taking a step closer.
Applejack grabbed her sister’s hoof and motioned for to go with the group.
The filly glanced down at something and looked up at her sister.
Tirek then saw the thing he hadn’t expected. A gold gleam came from the filly’s neck. It just kept getting better and better….
The group watched as his army came out of the bushes
Sweetie Belle hung her head in sadness as she and Button followed the path.
Button kept alert though.
“I'm so sorry, Sweetie Belle. I shouldn't have had us follow that music…” He sighed.
“No, you told me not to get close to anypony, I didn't listen.” The filly muttered.
“At least they're safe. Now that we're gone, there would be no reason for-”
They suddenly heard a yell, “WHERE ARE THEY?!”
“Tirek!” Button gasped.
The foals turned to look back at the direction.
“Let's go!” The filly cried. They raced back.
Applejack whistled at Tirek’s yell and her rebels ran to their prepared shelter. In their homes, they chucked apples at the king.
“How dare you!” The king snapped.
Applebloom gasped as she was grabbed by Applejack, put on her back and ran away.
“Applejack-” She started but her sister shoved her in their own little cottage. She heard the lock click.
“No fair! Let me out!” The filly growled, pounding on the door.
“Ah’ can't!” Was all the mare cried. Applebloom heard her run away.
Tirek glared down at the opposing ponies, looking for the nutcracker.
“Go, find me that boy!” He snarled to the diamond dogs.
They ran into the camp and the villagers kept strong.
At that moment, Sweetie Belle and the nutcracker ran in.
They gasped in surprise, seeing, diamond dogs breaking into ponies homes.
The two looked at each other.
“I've got a plan.” Button said.
A diamond dog chuckled as he cornered Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon when he heard a yell.
“Hey, you big brute!”
He grunted and turned to see Sweetie Belle.
She smiled sweetly and cocked her head. “Well? Aren't you gonna come get me?”
Tirek noticed her with surprise then gave a growl as she twirled around and ran away.
“Get the girl!” He yelled.
The diamond dogs all stopped what they were doing to see the girl waiting.
They all ran to catch her and she grinned. The filly galloped away but yelped when one grabbed her by the tail.
“Got you now, pretty filly!” He laughed.
Sweetie Belle shook with fear when the dog suddenly yelped. He turned to see Button growl at him.
“Put her down, fleabag!” He cried.
Then, another ran up and grabbed Button from behind!
“Hey!” He snapped.
“Put us down!” The filly cried.
The dogs saw their necklaces start to glow.
The medium ball of magic hit again and the dogs whimpered and let them go.
The foals ran away and Button pulled Sweetie Belle into the bushes.
“GET THEM!” Tirek bellowed, the foals’ escape annoying him.
The children peeked out and saw the dogs about to grab them, there were too many!
“Release!”
A net fell from the trees and on the dogs.
The foals looked up and saw Applejack land in front of them.
“T-thanks!” Sweetie Belle gasped.
“You saved us?!” Button asked.
Applejack smiled. “Yep. If Tirek chooses to stay here and won't leave, might as well save mah’ sister’s friends!”
Tirek growled in anger.
Shining Armor, who absolutely hated doing this to their fellow ponies, looked around.
He needed something to do or Tirek would get impatient and maybe even hurt the princesses!
He then slammed into a door of a locked cottage and looked around when it came in.
Applebloom gasped in surprise and backed away.
“Y-you! Ah’ know ya’!” She cried.
Shining Armor bit his lip. Perhaps he didn't remember her? It had been a few years since she and her older sister came to visit Twilight…
“Listen, I need you to round up the other children, get them to your sister and-”
He then saw the locket around her neck.
The filly started to gallop past him but he grabbed her tail.
“That locket-” He started before Applebloom interrupted.
“It’s mine to wear until Button, Sweetie Belle, and Ah’ get it back to the princess.” She whispered.
The stallion attempted to swipe it off quickly without her getting too upset but it gave a slight shock.
“How do Ah’ know Ah’ can trust you with such power?” Applebloom asked, looking surprised.
“Ya’ can’t.”
They turned to see Applejack and the two foals.
“Sis’!” Applebloom cried, then cocked her head. “Button? Sweetie Belle? Ya’ came back!”
Her sister gritted her teeth and looked at Shinning Armor.
“Ya’ should be ashamed of yourself! Let my sister go!”
Shining obliged and Applebloom ran to other foals.
“Applejack, sibling to sibling, I’m doing this for my sister, Twilie. My wife and daughter too! Surely you understand?”
“To be sure Ah’ don’t!” Applejack growled.
“Please!-”
“Twi would hate ya’ for doing this!”
Shining Armor was caught slightly off guard. “I’m keeping my sister alive!”
“And Ah’m keepin’ mine,” Applejack whispered.
The earth pony nodded to the little unicorn who lit her horn. She grunted in panic when she heard pounding steps coming near the house. Tirek.
Just as he slammed in, the filly gasped in fear and Applebloom cried out. Then, the unicorn's locket started to glow. The children were transported away in answer to the child’s silent plea.
Applejack smiled then looked at Tirek.
“Where did they go?” He growled.
“Ah’ don’t know.”
The mare glanced out the window and saw all her group had been captured, including Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Tender Taps.
“No matter. At least I’ll have your pathetic little town to lure them out again.”
Applejack knew she couldn’t win this time. But, at least her sister was safe.
Sweetie Belle blinked a few times before seeing where she was. She saw a sparkling frozen lake and felt a coldness prick her muzzle.
“How is it snowing?”