//------------------------------// // The Big News // Story: A Shifted Family // by Lunatia //------------------------------// It was mid-afternoon when Applejack came with the news. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were in their clubhouse located in Sweet Apple Acres, bored out of their minds. Scootaloo groaned as she leaned back on a chair, Sweetie Belle was pacing, and Apple Bloom was reading a comic book of Daring Do. Just as Scootaloo was about to suggest something to do, they all paused as they heard Applejack's voice calling. "Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Y'all get down here, Ah got some news to share. And Ah'm pretty sure you'll love it!" The orange earth pony called. The three fillies exchanged confused looks before heading outside on to the balcony. "What is it, sis?" Apple Bloom called, leaning on the railing. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle watched interestingly. "Guess what?" Applejack said, barely containing her smile. "Twilight's old foalsitter, Princess Cadance, is holding a wedding! And she wants you three to be the flower fillies!" "A WEDDING?" Sweetie Belle jumped in the air, voice cracking in excitement. "I've always wanted to be in a wedding! Ooh, I can't wait! The dresses, the bouquet..." As she listed on more details about weddings, Apple Bloom clapped her hooves in excitement. "We're gonna be in a royal wedding! Wait, why does she want us to be the flower fillies? How does the princess know about us?" She asked suspiciously. Applejack shrugged. "Maybe it's because Twilight's brother is the groom, and she just needed some fillies closely related she could trust." Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "Twilight has a brother?" They all laughed. "Don't worry about it, none of us really knew much about him either." The farmer pony assured her. "Well, I'm in. As long as I don't have to wear any frilly dresses." Scootaloo huffed. "The DRESSES! We're going to wear DRESSES! THIS IS SO EXCITING!" Sweetie Belle pranced in place. "We're going to be in a wedding! We're going to be in a wedding!" The train to Canterlot was short. Usually it took a few hours to get there, however being a part of the wedding party, they were sure to take the quickest route. An hour outside of Canterlot, they took a short pit stop. The three fillies wandered out of the train. "Can y'all believe it? This is so excitin'! In just one day we're going to be a part of one of the biggest events in Equestrian History!" Apple Bloom beamed in delight. "Well, that is until there's another royal wedding." Sweetie Belle gasped. "I wonder if they'll have a royal baby! That would be sooooo adorable!" "Yea, I guess it would be. Let's just hope we're not the ones who have to take care of it." Scootaloo made a disgusted look. "I do not want to change a baby's diaper!" Their thoughts were interrupted as the train's whistle blew. Their faces of joy turned to looks of worry as the train doors slammed shut. "Oh no! Hurry, girls!" Sweetie Belle ran towards the train, followed by the others. However, the train had already started to move, and had left the station in just a few seconds. They all slowed to a stop, catching their breath. "W-Well..." Apple Bloom stuttered. "What now?" Scootaloo bit her lip. The train's tracks went over a large canyon, and there was huge gaps between the tracks. There was no way ponies their size, with no ability of flight or magic, could make it across. "We'll just have to find another way in." Sweetie Belle decided. "There's got to be an underground entrance. Think about it, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Canterlot Explorers!" "YEA!" They all cheered and hoof bumped. And with that, they ran over to the canyon edge, however stopping in panic as they reached the cliff. They all peeked down the large drop. The bottom was about 20 feet straight down. Scootaloo kicked a rock down and watched it directly hit the bottom, splitting in half upon impact. They all gulped. "Here goes nothing..." Apple Bloom sighed. 40 minutes later, after many scrapes and bruises, they managed to find a less steep path down the cliff. Not only that, but they were half way to Canterlot. They didn't bother talking along the way, instead let out heavy, panting breaths as they trekked in the bright sunlight. "L-Look girls! T-There's t-the castle!" Apple Bloom pointed a weary hoof up ahead. Sweetie Belle looked up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Oh no... Look!" Sweetie Belle pointed her hoof as well, however not at the castle, but below it. They all groaned as they realised they had to climb a hill as equally steep as the one they had climbed down. "Well, let's get to it, then." Scootaloo sighed. They all mumbled "Cutie Mark Crusaders, Canterlot Explorers." and lazily hoof bumped, then set off. The trek just to get to the mountain took 5 minutes. Getting up the mountain was a different story. About 15 minutes later, after many tumbles half way down, and short rests, they finally made it to the gate to meet two rather surprised looking Canterlot Guard. Their surprise went away as they remained their stern expressions, and held their spears in a magical grasp. "What are young fillies like you doing out here?" One of them asked. None of them replied, however, as they all collapsed on the ground, panting. The two guards exchanged looks, before one of them knelt down. "Erm, excuse me? Hello?" He asked. "We're... Part of... Wedding party!" Scootaloo spoke between breaths, and flung her hooves to her head to wipe her hair off of her forehead. The Guard got up. "I'm going to need identification. You should have been on the train that arrived a while ago." He said with an affirmative snort. Sweetie Belle rolled over. "But we don't have identification! We just need to get into Canterlot, so please just-" "Oh, there you girls are! Everypony has been worried sick!" Both the guards and the Crusaders turned around to look inside the barrier as they heard a voice. Scootaloo's eyes widened in surprise as Princess Cadance herself approached the gate. The Guards bowed, giving dirty looks to the fillies as they simply stood there, gawking at the gorgeous alicorn. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, why don't you two go on inside and meet up with the others at the castle? I want to talk to Scootaloo for a bit." She smiled sweetly, giving a look that nopony could resist. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both nodded, giving Scootaloo confused looks as they entered the gate, which the Guards opened by removing their spears. Scootaloo shrugged back at them, giving them equally confused looks. Scootaloo waited outside of the barrier, waiting for the princess to exit and talk to her. However, to Scootaloo's surprise, the pink alicorn simply stayed inside the city, and nodded as if to tell her to walk along the barrier with her. They stayed silent until the guards were out of earshot. Finally, Princess Cadance spoke. "I'm terribly sorry, Scootaloo. For all the trouble. I can't believe they left you three at the rest stop! But don't worry, I'll have the servants prepare you guys your own relaxing baths, you deserve it." Again, she smiled sweetly down at the filly. Scootaloo blinked. She couldn't explain it, but something seemed so... Familiar, about the princess. "Thank you Princess Cadance. But I've got to ask, why did you want to talk to me alone?" The filly asked, looking questioningly up at her. "Please, you can just call me Cadance. It'll save everypony a mouthful." Scootaloo giggled. "The reason I wanted to talk to you, is just that, well, I haven't met you yet! I just wanted to get to know you a bit more." "But you haven't met Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle either." Scootaloo pointed out. "I've been hearing plenty about them from Applejack and Rarity. Not to mention that we've been searching all around for you guys. Scootaloo, do you have a big sister with you here?" Cadance asked. Scootaloo sighed. "No." She bit her lip. "I'm an orphan. But the Crusaders take care of me, we have lots of fun. Maybe one day Rainbow Dash can be my sister, though." "I'm sorry." Cadance shook her head. "It's such a shame to see a wonderful filly like you with nopony for family. But it's great to hear that you have two amazing friends, who could also count as family." Scootaloo simply nodded as they continued on. Suddenly, Cadance came to a stop, and Scootaloo looked up. "Here we are." The alicorn said. "A secret entrance. A chip in the force field, I like to say. It's too small for me or anypony else to fit in, but it's a perfect fit for a filly like you. Just try not to touch the force field, it might sting." Cadance nodded her head at the ground, where a large flat rock lay over a small hole in the ground, which went under the rock and over, leading into the city. Scootaloo nodded and squirmed under it, careful not to bump the rock. Cadance helped her up, and brushed off the dirt. "Now come on, let's get you cleaned up." Cadance giggled. "I hope they've already prepared a bath, you've got twigs in your mane!" Scootaloo blushed as she swiped the small branches out of her mane, and followed closely beside the pink princess towards the castle.