The Sisters of Loyalty

by Keeper of time RD


Chapter 1: The Wayward Crusader

“Uh oh,” the orange pegasus filly with a purple mane said.

“What’s wrong Scootaloo?” the white unicorn filly with a pink and purple mane asked in response.

“Apple Bloom’s got that look again,” Scootaloo answered, motioning to the earth pony in question.

“What are ya talking about?” the yellow earth pony filly with a red mane asked, frowning all the more.

With a slight sigh Scootaloo shared her observation, “You’ve got that same really sad look you had after Mr. Kingpin banned me from the bowling alley.”

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow over her green eyes, and she asked, “Did he actually say you were banned from the bowling alley?”

The gaze of Scootaloo’s purple eyes turned to the ground as she responded, “He didn’t have to. I know that look in a pony’s eyes.”

A long moment of walking in silence later and Sweetie Belle had to agree with her pegasus friend’s observation. Aside from not bothering to respond to said observation, even Apple Bloom’s pink bow seemed to be moping over their latest failure to earn a cutie mark. “Uh oh, I think you’re right,” Sweetie finally conceded out loud. “Is there anything we can do to cheer you up Apple Bloom?” she added in a soft voice.

Apple Bloom shook her head and moaned, “Only if you have an idea that actually gets us our cutie marks.”

Bloom’s lament bought a moment of silence as the trio walked along, not really heading anywhere. Wishing she could come up with something better to comfort her friend with, but unable to do so, Scootaloo settled with saying, “You know there’s more to life than just getting a cutie mark, right? I mean, we had fun trying didn’t we? So does it really matter that we didn’t get our cutie marks?”

“That’s easy for you to say! But you don’t understand!” Apple Bloom nearly shouted back. “You’ve got your flying lessons with Rainbow Dash! She’s got her magic lessons with Twilight!” Bloom motioned to Sweetie Belle, and then continued with her rant, ”But what do Ah have? Nothing, that’s what Ah have! Earning my cutie mark is the only way Ah can show Ah’m making any progress! The only way!”

“That’s not true!” Sweetie Belle said, her voice squeaking a little as she made her assertion.

Bloom started walking a little faster as she pouted, “Just leave me alone.”

Shaking her head, Scootaloo responded, “Not happening. We’re your friends and fellow cutie mark crusaders, and we’re not leaving your side until you cheer up.”

“Oh yeah?” Apple Bloom said, sounding more like she was calling a bluff than issuing a challenge.

Scootaloo’s eyes went wide, her wings stopped flapping, and her scooter came rolling to halt as she realized that Apple Bloom hadn’t been leading them randomly through Ponyville. Instead, the path they were treading led right into the Everfree forest.

“Apple Bloom! Come back!” Sweetie Belle called out, as she too had come to a stop once she’d seen what was before them. But the farm filly continued to march forward, into forbidden territory.

With a tone of determination in her voice Scootaloo said, “No, not this time. Come on Sweetie Belle. We have to go after her.”

“But that’s the Everfree forest. I’m not allowed in there without asking permission first,” Sweetie protested.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow as she responded, “Neither am I. And I don’t think Apple Bloom is either, but that’s not stopping her now is it? Now come on. We have to show her that she can’t just ditch us whenever she wants by going in there.”

“But we haven’t told anypony we’re going in there. What if we run into a cockatrice or something?”

Scootaloo knocked her scooter onto its side, and hung her helmet on the skyward handle. Finally, she quickly drew an arrow in the dirt pointing right at the Everfree forest. “There. If somepony comes looking for us that’s a pretty big clue. Now come on, before we lose her!” Scootaloo said to rush her friend, taking note that Apple Bloom had already disappeared into the trees.