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// Page 81 
// Story: The Purloined Pony 
// by Chris 
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You quickly gather together all the ponies out searching the woods. Applejack’s group is waiting practically right outside the cave, and with Rainbow Dash’s incredible aerial speed it takes little time to track down everypony. You all meet back at Twilight’s library.



“...So now we have to come up with three times Applebloom’s weight in gold by sundown.” you finish. Looking out the window, you add, “We have only a few hours left. Unless you’ve all been hoarding bits, I think we’re gonna have a problem.”



As the group goes around figuring out what little wealth they have, it becomes painfully clear that all your bits, jewelry, and tooth fillings combined wouldn’t be a fraction of the wealth you need. “Well, shoot!” exclaims Applejack. “We don’t need to bribe these boggies to give back my Applebloom. We know where they’re camped; I say we bust in and rescue her, and any of those hairless monkeys that gets in our way can suffer the consequences!”



Without any obvious alternative, the rest of you agree to help. Soon the lot of you are running towards the boggie’s cave, ready for a fight.



When you reach the cave, you motion the others back. “Let me go in first. They’re expecting me, in any case.” The others nod, and you lead the procession of ponies down into the cavern.



Inside it is conspicuously empty. You reach the main chamber, where the fire has burned down to embers. Twilight tosses a few nearby logs on as the rest of you look around with apprehension and confusion. Once she’s built up the blaze, its light reveals a message scrawled on the wall with charcoal. It reads:






Stupid ponies; you think we didn’t know you’d try to trick us? 


Now you’ll never see your foal again!






You all gape in stunned silence. It looks like you came too late.






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