If there was one thing Fluttershy hated most right now, right this moment, it was Tom.
The trip from Applejacks farm to the Carousel Boutique, even with all of the chaos blocking their path along the way, didn't take nearly as long as trying to convince Rarity to help them capture Twilight.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie were waiting outside the front door, keeping their ears against the door to eavesdrop on Fluttershy and Rarity's conversation. Fluttershy had told them to wait outside while she tries to convince Rarity to come with them.
Three hours have passed since Fluttershy had entered into the boutique.
"You can see Tom as soon as we return with Sparkle! I assure you, no one is going to try and steal Tom!" Applejack and Pinkie Pie heard Fluttershy say.
"And how can you be so sure no one will try to steal Tom? No pony can resist such a beautiful diamond like Tom! I bet your trying to get me to leave my home just so you can have the opportunity to steal Tom!" said Rarity
"For the one hundredth time, I DON'T GIVE A SINGLE BUCK ABOUT THE STUPID ROCK!!! I just want you to come and help us capture Sparkle! Is that really so much to ask for!?! We're only going to be gone for a few days! Tom will be nice and safe here until you come back!"
"Well if you would just let me bring Tom with me then I assure you I could assist in your-"
"Oh for the love a! Rarity! You! Can! Not! Bring! Tom! WITH! YOU!!! He's too heavy! He'll slow us down! We need to move as fast as possible if we are going to get to Sparkle before she leaves Appleoosa! Rarity, just . . . listen closely, would I lie to you?"
" I don't think so".
"And would I ever put you into a situation that makes you uncomfortable?"
"Well . . . your kind of doing it right now".
"Well I don't mean to. I know how much Tom matters to you, therefore, I wouldn't want anything to happen to him. Your happiness is my happiness, and if Tom makes you happy, then he makes me happy too. And I know its uncomfortable leaving him, but I am trying to make it as comfortable as possible! I'll keep him safe inside this boutique, In a place where no pony can find him. He'll be locked up and hidden away, and I assure you, he'll be right where we left him when we return. And if that still doesn't help, then we can both find a safe place for Tom, together! Rarity, do you trust me?"
"I . . . I suppose I do".
"Great, come with me, lets find a safe place for Tom".
"Alright".
"Sounds like Fluttershy finally convinced Rarity" Pinkie whispered to Applejack, happily.
"Do you have a basement? Because I think that that would be a safe place to put him".
"It could be, but . . . hold on a second! I know what your up too!" shouted Rarity
"What!?" said Fluttershy. Based off the tone of her voice, Applejack and Pinkie Pie could tell the she was genuinely confused.
"I think you spoke a bit too soon Pinkie" said Applejack, annoyed.
"Your going to take me down to the basement and make me think that your only trying to help. But when you get the chance, you'll knock me out and lock me in the basement! Then-"
"Do you even have a basement?"
"Well, I, uh . . . no . . . But I'm sure you'll find a basement! Then you'll knock me out and-"
"Wait, so your saying that I'm just going to go out and look for the nearest basement, come back, drag you over to some other ponies house, bring you into THEIR basement, knock you out, then lock you up?"
"Exactly!"
" . . . Rarity, why in the wide world of Equestria would I waste my time doing all that?"
"Because you want to steal Tom away from me!"
" . . . Rarity, if I wanted Tom that badly, I would have just killed you".
"Ah hah! So you admit it!"
"What? No! I was just giving an exam-"
"Don't deny it! Your plan this whole time is just to get me to lower my guard so you can steal Tom! I know what this is! Your not trying to capture Twilight! Your trying to capture Tom!"
"I don't want your stupid-"
"Well you can't have him! I have discovered your plan! And I know exactly what this is!"
"I'll bet!"
"Don't say it".
"That this is!"
"Don't say it!"
"A!"
"Don't you dare say-"
"TRICK!"
Applejack gave Pinkie an uneasy glance as she listened closely, nervously waiting to see what'll happen next. For what felt like several minutes, Applejack and Pinkie heard nothing but the sounds of their own breaths, steadily becoming heavier with anxiousness. Sweat slowly dripped off of Applejacks forehead, Pinkie's eyes were wide. Together they listened, ever so closely, they listened.
Suddenly, the sound of glass could be heard shattering.
"I'M DONE! I'M BUCKING DONE! MOTHER BUCKING MARSHMELLOW PRINCESS PRICK DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE HER PRECIOUS DIAMOND FOR A FEW MESELY CELESTIA DAMN DAYS! THREE BUCKING HOURS WASTED TRYING TO GET THROUGH THAT THICK ASS SKULL OF YOURS! GIVING MY BRAIN ANAL THE ENTIRE TIME!!!"
Applejack and Pinkie heard something else break. By the sounds of it, it was glass and furniture . . . or maybe an entire room (they couldn't tell).
"IF YOU WANT TO SPEND ALL YOUR TIME WITH TOM BY YOURSELF LIKE SOME SORT OF PETHETIC LONLY PEICE OF SHIT! THEN BY ALL MEANS! HAVE AT IT! I DON'T CARE! WHY SHOULD I CARE! WHY AM I EVEN HERE! WHERE DID MY SANITY GO THAT I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA!?! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Applejack and Pinkie Pies jaws were dropped to the ground at this point, staring at each other with utter astonishment.
"GO AHEAD! STAY HERE! STAY HERE AN BUCK THAT CELESTIA DAMN ROCK ALL DING DONG DAY! CAUSE I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! I'M DONE! I'M LEAVING! GOODBYE! AND GO BUCK YOURSELF!!!"
"FLUTTERSHY! GET BACK HERE! YOUR GOING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE YOU'VE CAUSED! FLUTTERSHY! FLUTTERSHY GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT! FLUTTERSHY!!!"
At that moment the door swung open and a fuming Fluttershy exited the boutique. She slammed the door shut, walked a few feet, then stopped. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Applejack and Pinkie Pie. "We're done here, time to go get Sparkle".
Applejack, still recovering from what just happened, slowly asked, "but what about Rainbow?"
"What about her!?!"
"Well shouldn't we ask for her help to?"
Fluttershy ran up to AJ and stuck her face into hers. "Look, I'm in no mood to talk to anypony else right now. I swear if a pony so much as even tries to walk up to me, I am going to rip their head off, skin them, and wear their skin to their own funeral! I am done recruiting anypony else for this mission! You, me, Pinkie Pie! That's all we need! So buck Marshmallow! Buck Skittles! We don't need them! All we need is us!" Fluttershy turned away from Applejack and started walking in the direction that lead towards the edge of Pony Ville. "No more games, no more silliness, no more of wasting my time! Its time to go and get Sparkle NOW!"