"...Well that's peculiar," Sweetie Belle said, staring intensely at the door which had just closed in their faces, as if expecting Applejack and Macintosh to suddenly change their minds and emerge once more with tales of grandeur and answer all their questions. In fact, the more she stared at it, the more hopeful she became. Surely the older ponies wouldn't just leave them standing out here.
No such luck.
Apple Bloom pressed her large ear up against the door, hearing frantic whispered mutterings along the lines of "...asking questions we can't answer?" "...don't learn it from us, where are..." "...why should ah be the t'tell em?!"
Bloom pulled away. "I think they're fighting."
"Is Macintosh saying anything?"
"Macintosh never says anything."
"I don't get what the big deal is," Scootaloo sighed. "They're acting like it's a big secret to a secret club or something."
"Maybe it is," Sweetie Belle said. "Maybe it's one of those adults only clubs."
"Well this stinks!" Bloom stomped her hoof. "Applejack is th' Element of Honesty, so we ain't never gonna get the truth out of her."
"Maybe not her," Scootaloo said. "But I think I know someone who can."
"Who's that?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Follow me," Scootaloo declared, racing off towards town. "I have a plan!"
"This isn't gonna get us in trouble like your last plan, is it?" Sweetie said hesitantly.
"How was I supposed to know catapulting watermelons was dangerous!?" Scoots shot back. "Besides, you were the one who was gushing over how awesome a catapult cutie mark would be."
"When has using a catapult ever NOT resulted in us breaking something? How do we even keep finding catapults?"
"There's a first time for everything," the pegasus said.
---
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Soft wings lifted the pegasus from her restful daily nap, awakened by the frantic knockings of someone outside who seemed very much impatient. Three particular someones, to be exact.
There was the soft click of several locks being unlatched, and a timid hoof swung open the door.
"Hi Fluttershy!" Scootaloo announced. She had her two little friends backing her up, and with their frantic knocking and serious faces, they almost appeared intimidating.
"Oh, hello girls," Fluttershy smiled. "This is certainly a surprise. I really wasn't expecting you so I'm afraid I don't have any snacks ready..."
"Aww..." Apple Bloom pouted. "You always make the best cookies."
"Oh, don't be mad!" Fluttershy gasped. "I'll go make some right now!" She turned to flitter off, but Scootaloo grabbed her by the tail.
"Eep!"
"Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of time. We're on a mission."
"From... um... Celestia," Sweetie Belle added. Just to be safe.
"Well if you're trying to get the band back together, I'm afraid I don't quite do that anymore," Fluttershy apologized.
"What? No! Nothing like that. We're trying to find out where foals come from, and Applejack won't tell us."
"Wait for it..." Bloom muttered.
Sure enough, Fluttershy paled, and her ears swiveled backwards. "Oh..."
"Can you tell us?" Scootaloo asked.
"I really don't think that's something I should be doing," Fluttershy said. "Oh, would you look at that, I think I hear Angel calling me..."
"Because if you don't, then we're going to have to go to Twilight," Scootaloo continued. "And Twilight will be very upset that you made us waste her time asking silly questions when you could have just told us yourself."
Fluttershy looked very uncomfortable now, shifting her weight awkwardly. "I don't want to make Twilight angry, I really don't. But I don't think I'm supposed to be telling you things like that. It's... it's an adult thing."
"I knew it!" Scootaloo said, and slowly made her way towards the door, with her friends behind her. "Well, I guess we're just going to have to go bother Twilight then. I sure hope she isn't too angry with you... boy, I wouldn't want to be you when that happens."
"No, wait!" Fluttershy squeaked.
Just like she planned. "Yes?" Scootaloo asked.
"Um... foals... okay... um... well, you need a stallion, and you need a mare, and magic happens, then you have to take a class before you can have them," Fluttershy said quietly.
"Do they have to be unicorns?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What?"
"Y'said they have to do magic, do they have to be unicorns? Then how do earth ponies have foals?"
"I... um..."
Sweetie Belle started writing things down in blank scroll.
"Did Mrs. Cake take that class?"
Fluttershy perked up. "I don't know, but I'm sure she did. Every mare has to. Can I go now? I don't like this game."
"Not just yet," Bloom cut in. "What is this class? Where is it?"
"Well..." Fluttershy continued. "You can sign up for it at the Town Hall, the classes are run there in one of the empty rooms."
"Thank you," Sweetie Belle said. "You've been very helpful."
Fluttershy just squeaked and as the three left, the fillies were once again confronted with a door rapidly closing in their faces.
"I can't believe we just did that," Sweetie said.
"Sometimes deception is necessary for information," Apple Bloom said. "But we have a lead! Come on, it's off to Town Hall!" Once more the three junior detectives were on the run, pursuing the newest lead in their investigation.