Actually running away had been easy, but with no idea where to go and no plan for what to do, Scootaloo's new-found freedom quickly turned into several hours of boredom. She avoided Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, figuring that they wouldn't want to spend time with her anymore, and Applebloom would probably just tell her to go home anyway.
As it got dark outside, Scootaloo started to consider going home because she had nowhere to sleep. But going home would be to admit defeat, and she'd have to put up with Honeydew forever. After some deliberation, Scootaloo made her way to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' treehouse. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had already gone home for the day, so Scootaloo had it all to herself. And that's where she settled down for the night.
"Scootaloo? Scootaloo, wake up. Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo's eyes snapped open; she rolled over and stood up, surprised to see Applebloom and Sweetie Belle staring at her. Bright sunlight shined in through the windows of the treehouse.
"What in the hay are you doing here? Did you sleep here?" Applebloom asked. "We went to your house to see if you wanted to join us today, but Honeydew said you were grounded. Just what is going on with you?"
Scootaloo blinked a few times, her eyes still adjusting to the bright daylight. "Sorry," she grunted. "I meant to leave before you two showed up. I'll just go. . ."
"Go where? Home?"
"Pffft," Scootaloo snorted. "Where Honeydew can yell at me and ruin my life? Forget that. I'm flying solo from now on. See you later . . . maybe. I'll try not to be here when you get here tomorrow."
Applebloom blocked the way toward the door. "Now hold on a second there. This treehouse is for all of us, but if you're just gonna ditch us, then I don't think you should come here anymore—and you definitely can't be living here, Scootaloo."
"You can't tell me what to do."
"Well, I reckon I just did. What are you gonna do about it?"
Scootaloo had enough. She struck out with her forehoof and connected squarely with Applebloom's cheek. Applebloom fell over, but she got up quickly and hit Scootaloo back hard enough to knock her down in turn.
Sweetie Belle shrieked. She went to try to help Scootaloo up, but Scootaloo shoved her away to get up on her own. "Okay, you both hit each other. Now you're even. No reason to keep fighting, right?" Sweetie Belle said. "Right?"
Applebloom and Scootaloo both lunged at each other and tumbled around on the floor, kicking and screaming at each other. When Sweetie Belle nearly got kicked herself, she gave up on trying to pull her friends apart and instead ran outside to get a grown-up to help. And she didn't have to go far before she spotted someone; lazily drifting by on a small cloud above was Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow!" Sweetie Bell yelled up at her. She waved her forelegs and yelled again, "Rainbow! Help!"
Luckily, Rainbow Dash wasn't napping or she might not have heard the young filly calling out to her. When she saw the scared look on Sweetie Belle's face, she knew something was wrong and quickly flew down to meet her. Sweetie Belle was too upset to be able to explain what was wrong, so she just ran back to the treehouse with Rainbow Dash right behind her.
Back inside the treehouse, Applebloom and Scootaloo were still fighting and their struggle had knocked over all the toys and furniture they kept there. Rainbow Dash saw what was happening and rushed over to pull the two apart. Sweetie Belle got in Applebloom's way to keep her from charging back in while Rainbow Dash had to wrap her forelegs around Scootaloo and hold her until she calmed down. Both fillies were bruised and bleeding—Scootaloo from a split lip and a notch torn in her ear, and Applebloom from a broken nose.
Once everypony quieted down, Rainbow Dash asked, "What's going on here? You girls are supposed to be friends."
"Some friend you are!" yelled Scootaloo.
"You're the one who's been ditching us so you can be alone and smoke all day," blurted Applebloom.
"Smoking?" Rainbow Dash looked down at Scootaloo. "You're smoking?" Her tone struck a note of shame in the young pegasus filly; it wasn't accusatory or angry—Rainbow Dash was disappointed.
Scootaloo suddenly couldn't bear to be around her idol anymore. She wriggled her way out of Rainbow Dash's hold on her and ran out the door before anypony could catch her. Scootaloo ran. Blood and tears trickled down her face. She didn't care where she was going. She just picked a direction and kept running.