“Last time on Total Drama: Friendship is Tragic, our thirteen contestants stepped up on stage and tried to give us their best talents, and the two teams had to send up the three most talented of their own. Cheese Sandwich used the opportunity to confess his love to somepony on the show, while Big Mac sang in place of a scared Sweetie Belle. Twilight Sparkle, uh, did some kind of dance, or at least, that’s what she said she did. Some of the ponies rocked it, some of them socked it, some of them burned down the entire stage! Because of a certain somepony, the Elements of Harmony lost, while the Draconequui of Discord won, but didn’t get a reward because we used the money we were going to spend on it to rebuild the stage. As much as the Elements of Harmony and me wanted to see Trixie go home, she dodged a bullet thanks to the non elimination episode. Can Trixie win her team’s trust back? Will Cheese Sandwich confess his feelings directly? Will the hot dog bun makers put ten buns in each bag instead of eight to go with the number of hot dogs? Seriously, will they? Find out the answers to some of those questions right now on Total Drama: Friendship is Tragic!”
Campfire Pit
Chris McLean gathered all of the remaining passengers around the fire pit in preparation for the challenge which has not been announced to them yet. They sit next to each other regulars less of teams, so the rest of the main six together, the CMC together, and the remaining campers essentially sit amongst each other.
“Today’s challenge will test your teamwork, your nature skills, and your survival skills,” Chris announced, “it’s basically colt scouts today. Our writers wanted to get creative and send you through an amazing corn maze with a few trust building activities on the way.”
The ponies all gave a cheer.
“But then they got lazy, so instead we’re just going to send you into the Everfree Forest for the night.”
The ponies all gave a groan.
“That’s right!” He throws a map and compass to Applejack and Spitfire. “On the map is where your campsite is. First team to make it back to this pit in the morning wins invincibility, and a prize. Provided of course a certain somepony doesn’t burn everything again.”
Chris shoots an evil eye at Trixie, who winces as almost everypony else looks at her with similar reactions.
“(Trixie) Trixie considers herself lucky to still be here, so until she gains at least a little bit of trust back, she’s going to lay low and put her plans into action behind the scenes.”
“And of course the losing team may be sending somepony home. Any questions?” Everypony raises a hoof. “None? Great! Good luck and I’ll see you in the morning.” With that Chris took off leaving the ponies alone in awkward silence.
“Uh, Ah guess we should be going Elements,” Applejack said, breaking the silence, motioning for her team to follow her while she looked at the map, with the Draconequui following closely behind.
Forest Trail
As the Draconequui and Elements started to trot into the woods along the same trail through the Everfree Forest, most of them started to look around apprehensively. The woods were most spooky at night, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t always spooky.
“(Sweetie Belle) There’s a reason why everypony says to stay away from the Everfree Forest. If Chris is trying to kill us, this is the way to do it.”
“(Chris McLean) We here at Total Drama value the safety and well being of our competitors, and also Celestia told me that I’d get a penalty from my paycheck for every major injury and death. I managed to talk my way out of the penalty for Applejack’s injury, but I have a feeling I won’t get anymore freebies so those ponies better not get hurt!”
“Which way do we go?” Rainbow Dash asked as the two teams came up to a split in the trail.
“It says on the map that our campsite is to the left,” Spitfire answered. “We’re about halfway there.”
“Well, it looks like this is where we split up, y’all,” Applejack said, “C’mon, Elements, to the right!” Her team followed her as they ran to the right and further into the forest. The Elements followed suit, running up the other pathway.
Forest Trail- Elements
Fifteen minutes later the Elements of Harmony were still walking through the woods, with Applejack and Twilight Sparkle leading them, holding the map and the compass respectively.
“I think we’re almost there,” Applejack announced, “just a little further before we reach a clearing with a couple tents.”
Apple Bloom’s stomach growled. “Does anyone know if there’ll be any food there? Ah’m starving.”
Twilight shrugged, “We may have to find our own. Since this is a wilderness survival challenge, I’d say that it’s a pretty strong possibility.”
Trixie’s ears perked up. “Fear not, for the Great and Helpful Trixie shall help to find the food if we need to.”
Everypony turned to Trixie with looks ranging from confused to disgusted.
“Yeah, yeah,” Twilight groaned, rolling her eyes, “I bet that you’ll cast a spell to make a five-star meal appear in front of all of us, right?”
“Trixie doesn’t need your sarcasm. She can do anything she sets her mind to.”
“(Apple Bloom) Except to win a 100,000 bit competition. Apparently.”
The rest of their team just shook their heads and continued the walk forward.
“(Trixie) Trixie does have a plan, and a pretty good one at that, but she needs to get at least part of her team’s trust back first, and that could take a while, especially with Twilight Sparkle singling her out everytime she makes a mistake, no matter how small.”
Draconequui’s Camp
The whole team has just arrived at the campsite, where they see only a few small things. There are three brown tents, not set up yet, matches, a few flashlights, and seven canteens for water.
“Hey,” Scootaloo exclaimed, “where’s the food at?”
“I think we gotta go find it,” Shining Armor said, staring into the woods. “I’ll go out and search. Who’s coming with me?”
“Leave this to me,” Rainbow Dash shouted, flying through the air. “I’ll be able to catch them no problemo.”
When she saw that Rainbow Dash was going, Scootaloo started to jump and down. “I wanna go, too,” she volunteered, raising a hoof in the air.
“We need ponies to stay back and help set up the camp, though,” Shining explained. “I think it should be me, Rainbow, and Fluttershy.”
Scootaloo groaned while Fluttershy shrank back slightly in fear.
“W-what? Me? Why?”
“You’re really good with animals, and if we run into anything wild you would know best how to tame it.”
“Well, alright, when you put it like that,” Fluttershy mumbled.
Shining Armor flashed a smile now that the team was in agreement. “Perfect. So while the three of us go out to try to find some berries or something, everypony else stays here and helps set up camp. We’ll need a fire and the tents set up so we can have a good night and we can race back to camp in the morning.”
The team all nodded in agreement and set out to work on their tasks.
“(Spitfire) I’ll let the Prince have his leadership position for now, but he better not get used to it.”
“(Shining Armor) I think I’m starting to get used to this leadership position! Go Draconequui of Discord!”
Element’s Camp
The ponies have gotten to the camp and split up. Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle have gone into the forest to try to find food and firewood while Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Cheese Sandwich are at the campsite currently building the tents.
“Careful there, Apple Bloom! Those stakes are heavier than they look,” Applejack warned her little sister as she appeared to be struggling to pick up one of the metal posts that would soon hold up the team’s tents.
“Here, I’ll help,” Cheese Sandwich said, rushing over to help the young filly with the heavy pole. Together, the two teammates were able to steady the pole and hammer it into the ground to put the tent up. Cheese smiled and stood back to admire his and Apple Bloom’s work. “There we go! All put up!”
“Gee, thanks a lot, Cheese,” Apple Bloom beamed up at the super duper party pony.
“No problem. How’s it going over there, Applejack?”
“Great,” Applejack replied, “this tents up so it looks like we’re all dandy. So Cheese,” Applejack adopted a smirking expression and walked closer to the orange stallion, “You and Pinkie, huh?”
Apple Bloom’s ears perked up and she trotted over to listen with a face mirroring her sister’s while Cheese’s face went red and he reached a hoof over his neck in embarrassment.
“So you figured it out, huh?”
“Well yeah,” Applejack nodded, “y’all hang out together all the time, and besides, you each have very similar interests. In mah opinion, you two are like two peas in a pod.”
“Really?” Cheese Sandwich asked, and then smiled when both sisters nodded. “Thanks, girls. I hope you're right. Nothing’s come of it yet, but I want to ask her on a date soon enough.”
“Ah just know she’ll say yes,” Applejack encouraged, smiling back at her friend.
“By the way,” Apple Bloom chimed in, “has anypony seen Trixie?”
Forest
Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy have been looking in the forest for berries for about ten minutes with no luck yet.
“So Fluttershy,” Shining Armor interrupted the silence, “do you know where the best place to find nuts and berries is?”
“If i had to guess they would be very close to the ground,” Fluttershy said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know this part of the forest very well.”
The apology made Rainbow Dash wince.
“(Rainbow Dash) Most of the time Fluttershy apologizes for something, she is not at fault, and sometimes nopony’s at fault. I’m not too annoyed by it, but she should seriously stop doing it so much.”
“That’s fine,” Shining Armor replied, “none of us really do.” he turned his head around and almost knocked his snout into a big tree. When he backpetaled he looked up and saw that there were dozens and dozens of delicious looking bananas.
The ponies stood in awe for a few moments before Shining nodded at the two pegasi, who flew up to collect the treasure they had found and they started to carry it back to where they came from.
Draconequui’s Camp
The tents have been set up thanks to Big Mac’s strength and Spitfire’s direction. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have both tried to help, but that basically led to them steadying the poles and almost tripping Big Mac a few times.
“Great, we’re all set for camping,” Spitfire announced to the other three ponies, admiring the work they had done. “Wait! We need wood for a fire.”
“We can do it! We can do it!”
Spitfire turned to the two fillies that were jumping up and down excited. “Are you kids sure you can handle it?” she asked, unconvinced.
“Sure we can,” Sweetie Belle said, “and we’ll even stay close so we don’t go too far.”
Spitfire shrugged and nodded, and the two cheered and ran back down the path they came from.
“Do you think they’ll be safe out there?”
“Eeyup.”
Forest
Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie were doing a similar task to the Draconequui, which was to try to find any type of food possible.
After walking and, in Pinkie’s case, bouncing around aimlessly for twenty minutes, Twilight started a conversation.
“So, Pinkie, see any food around here yet?”
“Nopey dopey!”
“Alright then, just checking,” Twilight giggled at her friend’s response. “Random question, what do you think about Cheese Sandwich?”
Twilight was expecting Pinkie to either blush or stutter over her words or both like in some kind of fanfiction, but instead Pinkie simply kept on smiling and bouncing as she responded, “I think he’s a super terrific pony! He’s really funny and knows just how to have a good time, just like me!”
“But I mean what do you think of him, you know, as a very special somepony?”
Pinkie stopped and looked at Twilight confused. “As, like, a coltfriend?” In response the lavender unicorn simply nodded. “But why? Sure, he’s great, but I don’t really think he sees me that way.”
This time it was Twilight’s turned to be confused, tilting her head slightly and asking, “Are you crazy? Wait, scratch that, but seriously, you don’t know he likes you?” Pinkie shook her head. “Remember that song he sang at the talent show? Well that was for somepony special, and everypony knows it’s you because, like you said, you two have a lot in common with one another.”
Pinkie Pie raised a hoof to chin in thought. “Are you sure that it wasn’t for somepony else?”
“I’m positive.”
“Wow,” Pinkie said in amazement before the excitement and adrenaline both set in at the same. “I’m somepony’s crush! I’m somepony’s crush! I’m somepony’s crush!” She would literally be bouncing off the walls if there were any in the forest, but instead she just ran around in a happy pink blur.
“(Pinkie Pie) Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it! Ma always said that the Paring Stone would pick my soulmate for me, but what if I don’t need it?!”
Twilight stood off to the side happy for her friend, who ran over and trapped the unicorn in a big hug as she squealed in excitement.
After Pinkie’s cheering finished, she realized something and stopped. “Wait, what do I do now?”
“Well, I haven’t really had time to have a coltfriend in the past,” Twilight admitted, “but as far as I can tell, he should be the one to ask you out first and be a gentlecolt of course.”
“So I just have to wait?” Pinkie Pie looked like a foal asking about opening presents on Hearth’s Warming Day.
Twilight simply nodded before turning around and continuing her search for food. “I’m sorry Pinkie, but maybe it will happen soon.”
Pinkie smiled and nodded, starting to bounce away with Twilight.
She heard a russell coming from a nearby bush and a faint “ouch,” and Pinkie turned to look at it.
“I didn’t know bushes could talk! Oh well.” She continued prancing along and humming while a pair of eyes appeared out of the bush.
“(Pinkie Pie) If only Rarity were here to tell me about this stuff. What was it she always said? ‘The best way to pursue a stallion is to be confident, flirty, and most of all let him know you’re interested.’ Yeah, that sounds like good old rarity alright *giggles*”
“(Trixie) Stupid branch! Well, at least I got all the info I need to set a plan in motion behind the scenes. I’d do something more direct, but...yeah. Need to get the target off my back at least a little.”
Draconequui’s Camp
“We’re back, everypony, and we brought food!” The raspy voice of Rainbow Dash shouted as her, Fluttershy and Shining Armor emerged from the woods. They saw three tents, two ponies, and one pit for fire in the middle. Rainbow noticed the absence of her adoptive sister. “Where’s Scootaloo?”
“And Sweetie Belle?” Fluttershy chimed in.
“They went out to get wood for the fire,” Spitfire informed them.
“How long ago was that?” Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow.
“‘Bout fifteen minutes ago.”
Rainbow nodded and scanned the area for a second before going to sit down by the firepit, with the four other ponies all gathering around with her. After a solid fifteen seconds of silence, Rainbow groaned. “That’s it! I can’t take this anymore! I’m going to help get wood and see if I can find them.”
With that, Rainbow shot into the air and hovered into the forest out of sight.
“(Shining Armor) One of Rainbow Dash’s greatest abilities is her inability to sit in one place for a long time while awake. Unfortunately it’s also a weakness.”
The four Draconequui sat around the soon to be campfire and silently looked at each other, the pit, and the surroundings for about a minute before Spitfire asked a question.
“So, what do we do now?”
Element’s Camp
“Hey Cheese! You mind getting some good o’ kindling for the fire since Twilight and Pinkie are still out?” Applejack’s voice asked from the other side of the campsite.
“No problem,” Cheese said happily, jotting into the woods to pick up sticks from nearby trees.
After several minutes of searching, he heard hoofsteps coming from behind him, and he turned around quickly to see a blue unicorn coming up to him.
“Hi Trixie,” Cheese greeted with a smile, “where have you been?”
In response Trixie stepped a little closer and smiled. “Oh, just out looking for food with Twilight and Pinkie.”
“Oh, have you three finished yet?”
“They went back, but they sent Trixie out to get any more that she might see around here. She’s just happy to see a friendly face around here.”
“Me too,” Cheese smiled at the compliment.
“(Cheese Sandwich) I know what other ponies think about that mare, but maybe she’s just misunderstood. It’s absolutely possible that she just had a really bad day and she’s bouncing back.”
“So how was food hunting going with the girls?” Cheese Sandwich asked.
“It went all right,” Trixie said, before turning her head away and looking slightly downcast. “We just talked about some things,” putting emphasis on the last word hoping to get his interest. Lucky for her, that’s exactly what happened.
Cheese tilted his head curiously for a response. “What kind of things?”
Trixie turned to face him looking alarmed as she sputtered out, “Oh, Trixie is so sorry! She wasn’t supposed to say anything. Forget about it, it’s fine!”
“Trixie,” Cheese stepped forward and placed a comforting hoof on the mare’s shoulder, “you can tell me anything.”
On the outside, Trixie looked scared, and even close to crying, but on the inside she was cheering.
“(Trixie) Hook, line, and sinker.”
“Well, while we were walking, Twilight and Pinkie were gossiping about you and they said some pretty awful things…”
“(Trixie) The Great and Powerful Trixie worked some of her magic on poor old Cheese. She told him Pinkie was going to exploit him to get further in the game. Hopefully this will get a major target off Trixie’s back, and she lives to see another day.”
Forest
While Rainbow Dash was flying over the Everfree Forest looking for a sign of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, the two crusaders were still trying to find berries or some other kind of food.
“How much longer until we get back?” Sweetie Belle asked the orange pegasus beside her.
“I don’t know, but it’s starting to get late,” she pointed a hoof at Celestia’s sun as it began to kiss the horizon that could be seen slightly.
“Should we turn back?”
“Yeah, we just have to go back from where we came.”
Sweetie Belle nodded before realizing something. “Uh, where did we come from exactly?”
“That’s easy, we just head up that hill, turn right at the, uh, two trees sticking out of each other, and then...go by the tree-”
“Which one?” Sweetie Belle asked alarmed.
“Uh...just...ok fine, we’re lost.”
Sweetie Belle suddenly looked more scared than before, as she and Sweetie Belle tried to find their way back.
“(Scootaloo) I accidentally turned at the wrong tree.”
“(Sweetie Belle) She had no idea what tree was the right tree.”
Element’s Camp
Everypony except for Trixie and Cheese were back at the camp, sitting around a fire with wood brought by Pinkie Pie and started by Twilight’s magic. It was getting to be dusk, with the sun about halfway down the horizon. At the moment they had all been sitting around the fire listening to a story from the pink pony.
“And that’s how I set the Equestria record for most cupcakes eaten in an hour.” The Pink Pony smiled and looked around at the flabbergasted ponies.
“(Apple Bloom) And Ah thought Ah liked cupcakes!”
“That sure is impressive there, Pinkie,” Applejack admitted, although her face didn’t seem all impressed.
“(Applejack) That pony has probably set records that only exist in her mind. The limits of Pinkie Pie are...well...there are none.”
“Thanks, AJ,” Pinkie said before her ear perked up and she turned to her right toward the source of the sound. The bushes rustled and out popped the two ponies who had been absent up to this point came trotting out. “Hey Trixie and Cheese.” a faint blush could be seen on her muzzle.
“Salutations, Pinkie Pie,” Trixie greeted with a confident air in her voice, while Cheese barely acknowledged the greeting. He looked unusually sour and resentful, and he trotted down to sit by the fire, away from Pinkie.
“Did you ponies have fun?” Pinkie asked.
“Oh most certainly,” Trixie said, while Cheese only turned his head away with disappointment.
“So, Cheese,” she said, scooting closer to the stallion, “where did you originally come from?”
Cheese turned his head slightly toward Pinkie, who had an almost flirty look on her face. “Manehattan,” he replied simply and coldly
“(Cheese Sandwich) Deep down, I felt butterflies when she asked me that question, but Trixie informed me of some very interesting things that were said about me today. If that’s really what Pinkie takes me for, I won’t let her take advantage of me.”
“That’s great! Did you like it there? It seems like a handsome stallion like yourself could only come from such a big and beautiful city.”
Cheese felt a little color come to his cheeks at that statement, but he continued to stare off and mumbled, “It was fine.”
The questions continued while four other ponies sat around in disbelief.
“(Applejack) So the guy gushed about the gal the whole afternoon, and now he barely says two words to her? This is just weird.”
“(Twilight Sparkle) Maybe Pinkie’s going about this in the wrong way. She’s not exactly subtle with flirting.”
Forest
By now night had fallen on the forest, and all should have been back at their campsites by now, seeing as how dangerous it could be at night.
“We should have turned around hours ago!”
“Well I’m sorry that all of the trees in here look the same!”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were not at the campsite, and were very much in danger. For the last hour or so they had been arguing back and forth, trying to find the best way back, but could never come to an agreement.
“Well I’m sorry you decided to pick one tree to remember when they all look the same,” Sweetie Belle yelled back.
“I wouldn’t have needed to if you hadn’t taken us off track,” Scootaloo shot back.
“We wouldn’t have gone off track if we had found anything where we looked at first.”
“Well whose fault is that?”
“...Yours. You’ve picked where we went all day, and now all night!”
“Fine!” Scootaloo exclaimed, turning around and beginning to walk forward. “How about you just go ahead and make your own direction decisions without me.”
Sweetie Belle gasped at the suggestion before furrowing her eyebrows. “Fine!” she yelled running in the opposite direction
“(Sweetie Belle) Alright, I maybe could have handled that a little better, but I just needed to get away from Scootaloo at the moment.”
“(Scootaloo) She seriously made me mad. I figured if she was going to be like that, she could get lost in the Everfree Forest for all I care.”
Draconequui’s Camp
“It’ll heeeeeeeelp, it’ll heeeeeeeelp, if you just sang ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!”
The four Draconequui at the campsite fell on the ground laughing as they concluded the famous Campfire Song Song.
“That was great,” Fluttershy said between soft giggles. “I didn’t know you knew that song, Spitfire.”
“Are you kidding me?” the wonderbolt captain asked, laughing, “It was one of the most popular songs in Cloudsdale at one point. All of my friends listened to it a few years back.”
“Cadence mentioned it once or twice to me,” Shining Armor recalled, “either way it was really surprising to me how good it was.”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed.
The laughing and banter concluded and Spitfire threw back her head and let out a loud yawn. “I’m beat, ponies. I’m going to hit the hay. See you all in the morning.”
“Wait,” Shining said, turning around to gaze into the forest, “don’t you think maybe somepony should wait out here for the three girls?”
Spitfire gazed over her shoulder and shrugged. “Rainbow Dash has an eagle eye and is amazingly brave. She can find those girls and handle anything the forest can throw at her, so as long as we leave the fire lit, they can find their way back.” She yawned once more before raising the flap on the closest tent. “Good night Draconequui, we wake up early tomorrow.”
With the reminder in place Shining Armor and Big Mac both turn to each other and nod, going into the opposite tent. Fluttershy stood outside for a few moments longer before slowly making her way into the tent.
“(Fluttershy) Rainbow’s such a brave pony, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t worry about her when she goes out to do things like this.”
Element’s Camp
The Element’s strategy was very different from the Draconequui apparently, as it was now 11:00 at night and none of the members were asleep. All of them were preferred to stay up late and sit around the fire and tell stories.
To the shock of the team, aside from the occasional monosyllabic response to one of Pinkie’s attempts at flirting, Cheese Sandwich stayed nearly silent and isolated throughout the night.
“Ah have never seen a bigger apple in mah whole entire life as Ah did on that day,” Applejack said, recounting her last stay at Appleloosa with her cousin Braeburn. “It would have been better if Ah didn’t have to phony up ten bits for losing our little bet.”
“Little?” Apple Bloom sputtered, “Ah don’t know if Ah’ve ever seen ten bits in mah life.” Applejack chuckled at Apple Bloom’s pouting face.
“I once had a really nice pony give me a tip of ten bits!” Pinkie exclaimed. “He was so satisfied with my service of offering him so many delicious baked goods that he gave it to me to leave him alone!”
“I don’t think it’s for the reason you think, Pinkie,” Twilight explained, shaking her head with a small smile.
“Well what other reason could there possibly be?”
Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Twilight heartily laughed at the question while Trixie sat looking bored and Cheese sat looking depressed.
“Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie needs to get her beauty sleep,” the illusionist announced, going to one of the tents.
“Goodnight, Trixie,” Apple Bloom waved.
“Ah think Ah should be getting to bed, too,” Applejack said, stretching her limbs. “How about you, Apple Bloom?”
“Ah’m not tired at all,” Apple Bloom lied, and that lie was revealed as she let out a loud yawn and rubbed her eyes.
Applejack laughed and put a hoof around her younger sister, “C’mon, AB, we need to be ready to run back to camp tomorrow.”
“Goodnight everypony,” Twilight said, following Applejack.
“I’m going to stay out a little bit longer,” Pinkie motioned to Cheese and blushed. Twilight sent a wink her way before she disappeared into the tent.
A period of silence followed as the stallion and mare were left alone by the fire.
“(Pinkie Pie) I was just trying to find the right words to say to him. I never usually worry about this kind of thing, but this is different.”
“So Cheesy,” Pinkie started, her head turned away to hide her less pink, more red face, “what’s the best party you’ve ever thrown?”
“I don’t know,” the stallion mumbled.
“Oh, I get it! So many parties that you can’t even choose one?”
“Eeyup.”
Pinkie giggled for a second before silence fell over them again for another moment before she spoke again. “So, Cheesy, after this challenge do you maybe want to-”
She was cut off by a faint howl coming from the woods, getting the attention of both of the ponies. Pinkie turned back to see Cheese get off of the ground and walk toward the direction of the source of the sound. He went into the woods to look and just moments later he ran like the wind out.
“TIMBERWOLVES! TIMBERWOLVES! EVERYPONY RUN FOR IT!”
Forest
Rainbow Dash soared over the forest, eyes glued on the treetops below for any sign of her young teammates. She stopped to gaze closer at what she thought was Sweetie Belle, but it was only an oddly shaped bush. She yawned before continuing her search flight.
“(Rainbow Dash) Man, those ponies must have gotten really lost. I couldn’t find them for hours.”
The blue pegasus quickly swooped down to get a closer look near some trees, and while doing so she noticed something out of the ordinary.
For the entire search Rainbow had seen nothing but green and the occasional brown of the dirt ground. Now she was looking at something that was orange, with hints of lavender.
“Scootaloo? Is that you down there?”
The orange spot looked around a few times before raising her head to look at Rainbow and wave her down. She quickly landed a few yards away with a weight lifted off her shoulders.
“Thank Celestia I found you! Our team would have killed everypony if you had gotten lost out here, how did you get all the way out here? How-” she stopped as soon as she saw the look on the filly’s face, one of serious distraught. “What’s wrong?”
Scootaloo sniffled a few times and rubbed a few tears out of her shiny eyes. “M-me and S-S-Sweetie had a f-fight about d-directions, and I told her to find her way back without me.”
The orange pegasus broke down in tears, crying over getting mad at her friend over being lost. She sobs loudly and curls up into a ball before feeling a pair of strong hooves hug her frame. Rainbow Dash tried to comfort her.
“Look, I’m not as good at comforting as other ponies,” she admitted, “but Sweetie Belle will forgive you. You just got a little heated because you were both scared and lost, that’s all. As soon as we get back to camp, you two can talk and hug it out and make up, and it will be like nothing ever happened.”
Scootaloo choked back a few more tears before looking up and her metaphorical sister. “Really?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yeah,” Rainbow said, giving her another hug, “how many times have you gotten into a fight with your other crusader friends?”
“Plenty of times.”
“And how many times have you three gotten back together?”
“Plenty of times.”
“See?” Rainbow asked, raising her head to look at the younger pegasus in the eye. “You may get in fights with them, but if you three are really best friends, you’ll forgive and forget every time.”
Rainbow Dash waited a minute for a reaction from Scootaloo, her face slowly losing sadness and changing to a small smile of relief and hope.
“(Scootaloo) Rainbow Dash is so awesome! Not just at sports and personality, but she’s also the greatest role model ever, or at least that’s what Miss Cheerilee calls her.”
Rainbow gave her one last hug before letting go, standing up, and leaned down. “Jump on,” she said, motioning to her back, “I’ll give you a ride and we’ll look for Sweetie Belle together.”
Scootaloo nodded gratefully and jumped on just before Rainbow took off into the night sky again.
Forest
Somewhere deep in the forest, Apple Bloom and Applejack were running through the greenery, followed closely behind by Twilight and Trixie, trying to get away from the camp. After hearing both the howls and Cheese’s warning, they all took off in the same direction together.
“D-did we...lose them?” Apple Bloom asked as all four ponies slowed down to catch their breaths.
“Ah…Ah think so,” Applejack half panted half responded. “Ah haven’t heard them for a while anyways.”
“Well that’s good,” Twilight said, looking at her surroundings. “So how are we supposed to get back?”
“Don’t worry, everypony. We’re close to the campsite.”
The three other ponies turned to Trixie who was looking at the forest floor with a confident grin. Applejack and Apple Bloom looked at each other confused while Twilight raised an eyebrow. “How do you figure,” the alicorn asked the illusionist.
“See the clay deposits on the soil?” she asked pointing at the ground and acting like it was obvious to the other ponies that it was obvious. “This type of clay is common in forest clearings, which is where the campsite is, and since it’s a mixture of regular forest soil and the clay, we should be almost by it.”
“How can you be so sure though?” Twilight questioned, “We could be by the Draconequui camp for all we know.”
“Trixie saw the same clay type back at the campsite. She’s completely confident in her judgement.”
“(Trixie) Pinkie’s sisters taught the Great and Powerful Trixie a lot about geology while she was working at their crummy farm.”
Pie Family Rock Farm
Limestone, Marble, Igneous, and Cloudy Quartz are working on one of their fields when suddenly Limestone’s head perks up and she looks off into the distance.
“What’s the matter, fair daughter?” Igneous asked, noticing the odd behavior.
“I don’t know,” Limestone said blankly with an equally blank look on her face. “I sense a disturbance in the force.”
Forest
Trixie then turned to Twilight with a smug look. “Could you please fly up in the air and see if you can find anything, your majesty.”
Twilight groaned and flew up in anger, with the full intention of proving her wrong. Instead, she indeed saw the campsite about a third of a mile into the thick forest.
“(Twilight Sparkle) She’s...good.”
Twilight flew back down, nodded silently, then pointed a hoof in the direction that she saw the site, avoiding eye contact as much as she could with Trixie.
Bonfire Pit
All was silent at the location of the dramatic elimination ceremonies, or at least until a pink mare and orange stallion ran out of the forest amid the howling of timberwolves.
They skidded to a stop, dirt flying from the ground, and looked behind them.
“Are they still following us?” Pinkie asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“What are you two doing here?”
Pinkie and Cheese turn toward the first trail that leads back to the Express, and they see the angry form of their host wearing pajamas, a face mask, and bunny slippers. As soon as Pinkie saw his face she screamed and ran around the area.
“Zombie! Chris is a zombie! He’s gonna eat my brains!”
“Pinkie! Stop screaming!” Chris yelled. Almost immediately the pink party pony froze and turned toward him, acting like nothing everything happened. Chris just raised an eyebrow at her antics before scowling again. “You two aren’t supposed to be back until tomorrow!”
“Wait,” Cheese interrupted, “what time is it?”
Chris looked at his watch. “11:59.”
He stared at his watch in silence for ten more seconds before the display switched and his expression brightened. “Welcome back, guys! It’s officially tomorrow today so feel free to go back to the train and wait for the rest of your team.” He turned around and walked up the trail again.
“Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie said with a smile. She turned to her right to see her newfound crush walking silently past her and back up the trail. “Wait, Cheese,” she called out to him before running up to catch him. “So I never got to ask my question, I mean we had to run from the timberwolves, but I wanted to ask you something,” she paused for a moment while blushing. “Would you maybe, sorta like to do something tomorrow, like grab a bite to eat, or walk through Ponyville, or just sit on a park bench and stare into each other’s eyes?”
“(Pinkie Pie) What? Rarity recommended one of her romance books to me.”
Cheese froze and turned to the excited mare next to him, his expression unreadable.
“(Cheese Sandwich) I know that I should feel fireworks going off in me, and at that moment I definitely did, but instead it felt like a war going on inside of me, and my common sense won. So there was only one thing that I could say to her, and that was…”
“No,” Cheese shook his head sadly. “I’m really sorry Pinkie Pie, but I’m just not interested.”
Pinkie gasped loudly and tears started to fill her eyes, and she turned and ran away as quick as she could away.
“(Chris McLean) I was on my way back when a pink blur came back and knocked me over, giving me a skinned knee. No, Celestia, that doesn’t count as a serious injury.”
Forest
Sweetie Belle emerged from the darkness, panting and obviously tired. She found an opening in the forest and saw the light of a campfire, and she decided to lay down and fall asleep by the warmth of the fire.
Element’s Camp
Morning has broken like the first morning, and Twilight, Trixie, Applejack, and Apple Bloom were waking up and coming out of their tents, yawning, stretching, and in Trixie’s case, mumbling about how hard the ground was.
“Hey gals, look,” Apple Bloom said pointing toward the fire. The other three followed where the hoof was pointed to see a familiar white pony sleeping soundly.
“What’s Sweetie Belle doing here?” Twilight asked, with worry in her voice.
“Ah don’t know,” Applejack stepped forward, “but we had better ask her to find out.” She stepped forward to put a hoof on the white unicorn’s shoulder, shaking her calmly with the attention of not startling her as much as possible.
It only took a few seconds for Sweetie Belle to come back to consciousness and look around several times before her eyes fell on the source of her disruption. “Wha-? Applejack? What are you doing here.” Her eyes moved over and fell on the others. “What are all of you doing here?”
“We wanted to ask you the same question, sugarcube,” Applejack said.
At that question Sweetie Belle’s ears fold over her head and she looked guiltily at the ground. “I got lost.”
Applejack turned around to glance at the three ponies behind her before sticking a hoof forward for Sweetie Belle to take. “Well c’mon then, Sweetie Belle, looks you’ll be going back with us.”
Sweetie Belle looked up at the smiling earth pony before taking it and hauling herself up with the help of Applejack. The Element then turned to her team, determined as ever.
“Alright team, let’s go!”
“Wait,” Apple Bloom interrupted, “what about Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie?”
“We’ll just have to hope they made it back to the pit alright,” her older sister responded, breaking into a sprint while being followed by the Elements and Draconequus.
Bonfire Pit
All of the Draconequui have made it back within five minutes of each other. Big Mac, Fluttershy, Spitfire, and Shining Armor had all safely gotten back, while Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash had just arrived, both incredibly tired.
“Where were you two?” Spitfire asked as they landed.
“Trying to find Bweetie Sell,” Rainbow Dash loopely responded.
“Wait, she’s not with you?” Spitfire’s commanding voice turned into one of anger mixed with furry. “We have to go back. Nopony left behind.”
“Wait,” Fluttershy’s voice somehow cut through, “what’s that?”
Spitfire turned around and saw the four Elements of Harmony running into the campsite.
“Oh no, we lost!” Twilight wined, “The other teams here already.”
“Actually, you didn’t,” an enthusiastic voice said. Twilight turned to see Chris’ bright smile and an ice pack on his leg. “Pinkie and Cheese made it here last night, so your whole team is here. And since Sweetie Belle was behind you guys, she was technically the last pony to cross.”
“Wait, what?” the Draconequui shouted in unison as they turned toward the other team, who parted themselves to see the white filly with leaves and sticks on her coat.
“Sweetie Belle, where did you run off to? You had me worried!” Rainbow exclaimed, giving her a hug.
“(Rainbow Dash) That and Rarity would’ve killed me.”
“Either way, you guys lose, Elements win. Great! Yay! Whoop Dee Doo,” Chris announced getting less and less enthusiastic as the sentence went on. “You ponies will be getting an all expense paid trip to...the tuck shop!”
“The what?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Some kind of food store, but I heard it’s really good. As for you guys,” he said turning to the losing team, “I’ll see your sorry flanks at the elimination ceremony.”
As most of the ponies trotted away, Apple Bloom went up to her crusader friends. “Hey guys, Ah’ll get you some stuff at this so called tuck shop if y’all…” her voice trailed off as her two best friends failed to look at each other in the eyes, both having a downtrodden expression. “Hey, what’s wrong gals?”
After the question hung in the air for several seconds, Sweetie Belle walked away and Scootaloo turned toward Apple Bloom.
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
Bonfire Pit
Later that night, the fire is burning, the timberwolves can still be heard howling somewhere in the distance, but most importantly, seven ponies are sitting around the aforementioned fire pit, eyeing their host and the six marshmallows on a silver platter.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ain’t next to each other, although both refuse to acknowledge each other. Rainbow sits between Fluttershy and Spitfire, giving both nervous glances, and Shining sits next to Big Mac in the back corner.
“Well, this one’s a nail biter,” Chris announced, “very close voting tonight, but one of you must go, so if I call your name get up here and claim your marshmallow.”
“Fluttershy.”
The shy pegasus slowly trotted up and got the first marshmallow of the evening.
“Spitfire.”
Spitfire nodded to Rainbow for good luck before stepping forward.
“Big Macintosh.”
The big stallion wipes a bead of sweat off his forehead and steps up.
“Rainbow Dash.”
She smiled confidently, acting as if she was never scared of going home.
“Shining Armor.”
The stallion nervously glances at the fillies up front as he walks by them.
“Ladies, this is the final marshmallow of the evening.”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo each eyed the final marshmallow. Scootaloo with sadness and worry.
“Hey, what’s wrong gals?”
After the question hung in the air for several seconds, Sweetie Belle walked away and Scootaloo turned toward Apple Bloom.
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
Sweetie Belle’s face was terrified, and she was shaking uncontrollably.
“And since Sweetie Belle was behind you guys, she was technically the last pony to cross.”
“Wait, what?” the Draconequui shouted in unison as they turned toward the other team, who parted themselves to see the white filly with leaves and sticks on her coat.
Then, just as the final name was about to be read, they each looked at each other, silently gazing at each other in equal fear, and their eyes both sent messages of regret and sadness.
“Sweetie Belle.”
“What!” Rainbow Dash shouted in disbelief. “How could you guys vote for Scoots?”
“No,” Scootaloo said, making the cyan pegasi turn to look at her. “It’s fine. I had a blast being here.” She turned to look at her unicorn friend. “I’m sorry I yelled at you last night. Kick some flank, Sweetie Belle.”
Sweetie Belle bursted into tears, hugging Scootaloo and murmuring a barrage of apologies and farewells. After a minute Scootaloo broke free and walked the trail back to Ponyville, a tear falling from her eye at the last second.
“(Scootaloo) I really thought I was going to be the last pony standing and winning all that money, but I guess fate has other plans for me. Oh well, I really did have fun, even if my time was short. Crusaders forever!”
Car 4
Twilight Sparkle is going back to her car after saying goodnight to Fluttershy, Applejack, and Shining Armor. Rainbow Dash was steaming from her little sister’s elimination, and nopony had seen Pinkie Pie all day. As soon as she got close to her door, however, she heard sniffles and sobs coming from behind it.
“What’s going on in here,” she asked herself, opening the door with her magic to find the pink pony curled up into a ball on her bunk and crying, a rare sight indeed, so it caught Twilight’s attention.
“Pinkie? Oh my gosh! Pinkie what’s wrong?” she went over and gave her friend a hug.
After a minute of incoherent babbling, Pinkie rubbed one of her eyes and looked straight at Twilight. Twilight was surprised to see her mane was straight and her eyes were completely bloodshot.
“I asked Cheese on a date and…” she sniffles a few times before finishing, “and he rejected me!”
Votes for Scootaloo
“(Big Mac) Scootaloo.”
“(Fluttershy) Scootaloo got herself lost today, and I think it rattled her a bit.”
“(Shining Armor) I know Sweetie Belle got lost and officially cost us the game, but it was Scootaloo that made her even more lost.”
“(Sweetie Belle) You were really mean last night, and somepony that mean shouldn’t be a rich pony.”
Votes for Sweetie Belle
“(Rainbow Dash) Cost us the game, what else do I have to say?”
“(Scootaloo) I know what I said was wrong, but Sweetie still shouldn’t have gone off on her own.”
Votes for Shining Armor
“(Spitfire) I can’t work with this guy anymore. He hasn’t done anything bad, but he hasn’t done much in general either.”