Chapter 11
Apple Bloom
When the five of them had arrived at Zecora's hut the night before, Zecora had been in shock. The aging lady asked many questions of the newcomers, and particularly scolded Diamond Tiara. Zecora fussed over the twins, and then told Apple Bloom to start cooking more dinner for their new housemates.
There had been some new room arrangements. Ever since Zecora had taken in the CMC, she had expanded the size of her hut, so that everyone at least had their own small room. Now the hut was crowded more than ever. Apple Bloom moved her things into Scootaloo's room, and the twins took over her room. Diamond Tiara settled into Sweetie Belle's room for the time being. Apple Bloom was sure that Sweetie Belle was going to be just thrilled to be bunking with Diamond Tiara.
Diamond Tiara had bitched and complained for most of the night. It had started as they began to enter the Everfree Forest. She complained about her shoes getting dirty, about leaves falling into her hair, and numerous other things that Apple Bloom had blocked out.
"If you're going to keep complaining on and on and on the whole time, then just do us a favor and go back to your big dumb mansion and stay there," Scootaloo had said, "You were the one who wanted to come with us, so why don't you shut up, and be grateful that Apple Bloom decided to take you in, instead of letting me punch you in the face."
That had shut Diamond Tiara up for a little bit, but not forever.
The next morning, after breakfast, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Diamond Tiara went back to the library. Zecora insisted that the twins stay with her, and she began to home school them, something which the twins had never heard of before.
"So, just what exactly are we trying to find?" Diamond Tiara asked, as Apple Bloom opened the door to the library.
"We're tryin' to find anything that will help us unfreeze everybody," Apple Bloom explained, "Or anything that will tell us just what kind of creature did this."
"So, you basically have absolutely zero ideas and are starting from scratch?" Diamond Tiara said, "What have you been doing the past thirteen years?"
"Hey, don't flippin' start, ok?" Scootaloo snapped, "We've been coming to the library for the past thirteen years, trying to figure out just how to save Earthica. What have you been doing the past thirteen years? Hiding in your big mansion?"
"Hey, just because I—"
"Will you two please stop bickerin'? We need to work together, ok?" Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo opened her mouth to argue, but Apple Bloom just gave her a stern look. Diamond Tiara crossed her arms and huffed loudly.
"Good. Now come on. Everyone get out their flashlight and follow me," Apple Bloom said.
She cautiously led them down the stairs and to the door. Just for good measure, she tried to open it again, but it still didn't move.
"Get out the crowbar, Scoots," Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo passed her flashlight to Apple Bloom and took the crowbar out from her bag. She wedged it between the door and the wall and began to push hard. The door creaked and moaned. Scootaloo grunted as she tried harder, the door creaking louder. Finally there was a loud snap, and the door budged open slightly. Scootaloo turned the handle, and the door opened.
It creaked loudly and swung open heavy, hitting the wall with a loud thud. Dust swirled in the air, causing the three young women all to sneeze. Once it settled, Apple Bloom handed Scootaloo back her flashlight, and led the group into the room.
It was a circular room, and about as big as the one above it. Shelves upon shelves lined the walls, all full of dusty books. There were also numerous tables cramped into the rooms, all of which had odd trinkets on them.
"I wish we could see better," Apple Bloom said, as she stepped into the room.
Suddenly, the room came to light. Apple Bloom jumped, slightly startled. She turned around to see Diamond Tiara's hand hovering above a light switch. She looked just as surprised that it worked.
"What is all this..." Scootaloo said, voicing the exact same thing Apple Bloom had been thinking.
The room was bigger than Apple Bloom had initially thought. On the tables were various vials and containers, filled with different objects and liquids. Most of them were connected with tubes, and now, with the power turned on, currents of electricity could be seen moving in the tubes.
"It looks like some sort of laboratory," Diamond Tiara said.
"Do you guys think Twilight knew about this place?" Apple Bloom whispered. She wasn't entire surely why she was whispering. It just seemed appropriate.
"It looks like it hasn't been used in a long time. Look at how dusty everything is," Scootaloo said, as she dragged a finger across a table.
"Where do we even start?" Diamond Tiara asked, her quarrel with Scootaloo obviously forgotten.
"I say we each take a bookshelf, on opposite ends of the room, and work our way around clockwise," Apple Bloom said. "Pull out anythin' you think might be useful, anythin' at all."
"Wouldn't it be weird if we found the answer down here? After all these years, the answer was right beneath us and we never knew?" Scootaloo said.
"We never would've known if Pound Cake hadn't been able to fly up to that bookshelf, and seen those secret books up there," Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo looked away as Apple Bloom mentioned flying. Apple Bloom reached out and touched her arm.
"I didn't mean it like that," Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo moved away and began to search a shelf.
"I know," she said quietly.
Apple Bloom sighed and moved across the room. Diamond Tiara did the same, but made a face immediately as she reached out to touch a dusty book. Apple Bloom scanned the room and took a deep breath. They were in for a long day.