"What do you mean she wants to quit!?" Rainbow shouted after Twilight explained why Applejack wasn't there. It was later that night, and the girls were near the edge of the Everfree ready to do boarder control.
"Listen, I think Applejack's is just having a hard time adjusting to all of this." Twilight tried to calm her down. "Maybe it's best if we give her some space for a little bit."
"Listen, aside from the extra homework, this is a dream come true! What's not to like about being heroes.?"
"Um..maybe the danger, the scary monsters..." Fluttershy listed.
"Going to dark and dirty places at all hours of the night and missing out on vital beauty sleep?" Rarity continued.
"People always judging you and and the constant fear that you'll let everyone down?" Pinkie said, getting in Dash's face before stepping away and smiling as usual.
"To be honest, I sometimes wish I could quit too." Fluttershy said softly. Rainbow looked shocked at this while Twilight nodded in understanding.
"I'll admit, I wasn't completely thrilled at the prospect either, but what matters now is that we have a responsibility to protect people. We might not have signed up for this, but this is the task we've been given. I'm sure Applejack will come around eventually, but for now let's focus on our job and be there for her as her friends, alright?" Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy nodded eagerly.
"Hmph! Fine." Rainbow grumbled, still not understanding how anyone could not be excited to be a chosen one.
The next day, Saturday, was bright and sunny, just how Applejack liked it. She was out in the fields getting everything ready for Applebuck season. She had finished her chores and had even managed to get a head start on her homework last night, so she felt relaxed for the first time in a while, all things considering.
She was on her way to the barn to get more baskets when she noticed Flash Sentry's care pull up in front of the house. Flash, along with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle got up and went to the house.
"Howdy ya'll! How can I help yah?" AJ greeted them with a smile.
"Hey Applejack, I'm just dropping off Sweets and Scoots over." Flash said, just as Apple Bloom got out. Just before the three younger girls could run off, Applejack stopped them.
"Now where are ya'll off to?" The three stopped and gave each other nervous glances before turning to the two older teens.
"Oh, we're just gonna hang out at the club house today, right AB?" Scootaloo, nudged Apple Bloom.
"Uh...yeah! Just comin' up with more ideas we want to try." AB said, hoping they believed her.
"Yah, I mean it's not like we're gonna sneak off to an area you told us not to go to right?"Sweetie said before being elbowed by her two friends.
The two older teens looked suspicious, one because he could tell whenever his sister was up to something, and the other because she could tell whenever someone lied to her. She could tell these girls were up to something, but what? They gave them a trio of nervous smiles, hoping to set them at ease.
Finally, AJ just nodded. "Alright, you girls have fun." The girls quickly thanked them and ran off before anyone could get a word in otherwise. Applejack just shook her head.
"Ah just hope those girls don't go overboard in whatever cockamamie scheme they have this time." Flash could only nod in agreement. They just stood there awkwardly for a minute before Flash Spoke up.
"So..how have you been? Being 'the chosen ones' must be pretty exciting." Flash said, trying to get a conversation going.
AJ sighed. "Fine ah guess..." She started heading to the barn. Flash, sensing something was off, followed her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah'm just...not sure ah'm cut out for this."
"What do you mean?"
"Look at me! Ah'm a farm gal through and through! Ah grow apples, ah corral livestock and ah participate in every rodeo that comes to town! Now ah have to take care of every bad guy that pops up, Sunset, the sirens, ah feel like a dead tree ready to collapse any day now."
Flash thought about it for a moment before answering. "I can't say I understand what you're going through, I mean, I'm not even a mage, but I can see that this is a big responsibility. Heck, I'd be terrified if it were me or Scoots. But I've seen what you girls can do, and I know that whatever comes, you girls can handle it."
AJ was flattered. "Thanks Flash, that mean a lot. But..." Before she could continue, Flash's phone rang. He gave an apologetic look to her before answering.
"Hello? Oh hey Twilight, what..." As he listened, his eyes widened. "What!?"
"What's goin' on?" AJ asked, worried.
"Theres been an accident. Apparently a timberwolf made it's way to a mining camp this morning and caused the mine to start collapsing. They managed to drive it away and nobody's hurt yet, but they really need your help. They tried to call you earlier but you weren't picking up."
AJ gulped nervously, she had left her phone in her room so she wouldn't be disturbed this morning. But all that did was cause even more trouble.
"Ah've gotta get over there, now."
Flash told her he could drive her, as it wasn't too far from here. As Flash drove, AJ could only hope they didn't arrive too late.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders were just outside of the old mine shaft, preparing to head in. They had to pry away a few boards nailed to the front. Once they got that out of the way, they looked inside and saw the dark, ominous cave.
"Ah don't know about this." Apple Bloom said, her doubts popping up again.
"It looks scary in there.." Sweetie Belle said, shuddering at the though of what creepie crawlies lied within.
"Aw don't be such chickens! I have a flashlight, besides we'll only go a few feet." Scoots said confidently, entering the cave. Sweetie and AB, after a shared glance, quickly followed her inside. Scoot's flashlight did little to ease their nervousness as they jumped every time the support beams groaned.
After a few feet Scoots turned to them. "See? What I'd tell ya? We're perfectly fine!" They took a moment to look around: it was just as scary and dusty as it had looked on the outside.
"Alright we checked it out, now let's head back..." Apple Bloom said. Sweetie eagerly agreed while Scoots rolled her eyes. They had just walked a few feet when the entire cave shook.
"W-What's happening!?" Sweetie Belle panicked panicked. Bats flew over their heads as they escaped the mine before the support beams started breaking.
"Cave in!" Apple Bloom realized in alarm. They tried to hurry to the exit, but the scaffolding collapsed before them, bringing down several large and heavy rocks. The same thing happened behind them as the girls huddled together in fear. Finally the shaking stopped.
The girls looked around in panic, they were fine, but they were trapped. Realizing this, they did the only thing they knew how to.
"HELP!!!"