//------------------------------//
// 23 - Downtime 
// Story: The Apple Falls Far from the Tree 
// by David Silver 
//------------------------------//

The next morning, Scootaloo took flight with Sunflower over the city. Their first stop was the hole they escaped from, but it was gone. There was nothing but smooth sand, as if the terrible place had simply never been.

Scootaloo poked around the area, looking for it, but they both had to admit after a while that they just weren't going to get down into the ruins again with anything short of shovels.

Sunflower shrugged a little. "I can think of worse things. That place was dangerous, to everyone!"

Scootaloo gave an uncertain nod in reply, poking the sand. "Yeah, maybe, but I was hoping to look for Shale if nothing else..." She flopped onto her haunches. "That part kind of sucked. She was awesome, and she really came through in the end."

Sunflower moved beside Scootaloo and took the same position, sitting on his haunches. "It was her choice. We should... respect that, Mom said. Come on, let's go to that bar."

They spread their wings and took off. Louis was hidden in the back as usual, and looked up at them as they approached. He spoke before they did. "You look as if you've seen a ghost. Was your dig better than expected, or worse?"

Sunflower wobbled a paw. "A little of both. There's no way we can make that guard assignment tonight."

Scootaloo nodded and gestured towards the manor. "Applejack's hurt real bad, and we're all shook up. We appreciate the work though, thanks!"

Louis sucked air through his teeth. "That's a shame. Fortunately, I had a feeling this might happen and over-hired for the guard job." He pulled the papers before him into a somewhat-orderly stack. "New adventurers often get in over their heads on their first 'true' run. So, how did it go?"

Sunflower smiled as he rocked in place. "Mostly good? We found some valuable things to sell, and more trouble than I even knew existed."

Scootaloo raised a hoof. "Oh! The cat that hired us is kinda dead? He turned into an undead thing and there wasn't much choice about it. The hole's all filled up."

Louis raised a brow. "Well, it's a good thing he paid upfront then. Go, relax. Come back in a week or so when you're feeling better if you want another job." He raised a furry finger towards the bar. "Why don't you get a drink. You've earned it, as true adventurers, and I don't see your matron around to say no."

Sunflower and Scootaloo shared a look. With a silent agreement, they approached the bar.

They returned home an hour later, a little tipsy, but with their self-assigned missions accomplished. When they landed, the butler was in view and approached them. "Little Apple Bloom has been given permission to borrow books from our library and is reading in their room with her friend, Sweetie Belle. Miss Applejack is stable and well. I'm told she woke up. We've secured a buyer for that book you found and your mother should be seen to immediatly."

Scootaloo bobbed her head. "Thanks for the update! I'll go join them." She moved off towards their room as Sunflower discussed matters involving his mother's return.





Earlier, Apple Bloom carefully pulled a vial free from her little workshop and stepped over to the sleeping Applejack. She turned Applejack's head back with her hooves and slowly poured the potion into her mouth, waiting long enough for a swallow between pours. Slowly, the vial was emptied.

Apple Bloom set the vial aside for use later, then hopped up onto the bed. Sweetie Belle watched from the side. "Do you think it'll work?"

Apple Bloom bobbed her head. "We stopped the bleedin', she should be fine. Wake up, sis. Ah miss you."

As if on command, Applejack made a soft groan and stirred under Apple Bloom. Her eyes opened a crack, then snapped open. "Huh? What? How'd we get here?" 

Her words were cut a little short as Apple Bloom tackled her and hugged tightly. "Don't ya ever do that again!"

Applejack hugged Apple Bloom back gently, looking a bit confused. The mugginess of sleep slowly faded, and, with it, she seemed to remember how things went. "How'd I live through that?"

Sweetie Belle pointed at the sniffling Apple Bloom. "She saved you. She was like a real doctor and wouldn't give up. You were... bleeding everywhere."

Applejack grimaced at the mental image. "Well shoot. I didn't think ya could make me any prouder, but then ya go and do somethin' like this." She lifted Apple Bloom easily into the air from under her forelegs and kissed over her face. "You wonderful little filly."

Apple Bloom smiled. "Ya can thank me by not dyin' anytime soon. Ah want mah big sister! Are ya feeling alright?"

Applejack nodded. "Feels like ah got run over by somethin', but ah'm alive."

Sweetie hopped up onto the bed, joining the others. She laid a hoof on Applejack and sung of the renewal of spring, chasing away some of the worst hurts in Applejack. Apple Bloom squirmed until she was put down. "Ah'll cook up some more medicine for ya. Just relax." She hopped down and eagerly got to work on her little lab.

Applejack watched Apple Bloom curiously, one hoof grabbing Sweetie and hugging her gently. "So what happened after ah blacked out? Did Shale leave?"

Sweetie tilted her head. "Sort of...? She stayed behind while we ran with you and we barely got out in time."

"In time fer what?" Applejack raised a brow, turning her gaze onto the nervous-looking Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie shook her head. "I don't know! It was like a thousand shadows! We ran off with you back to here as quick as we could. Uh, Scoots and Sunflower are looking it over right now, to see if it's as serious as it looked yesterday."

Apple Bloom called out from her workshop. "They're also reporting we won't be making it ta guard duty. Today, we relax."

Applejack nodded at that, releasing Sweetie Belle. "Well, ah can't disagree wit' that." She sat up in bed and stretched towards the ceiling. "Ah'm gonna get up now. Ya made me good enough fer that, ah reckon."





Scootaloo pushed the door open to find Applejack nursing a drink of something. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were seated side-by-side, reading a book together. Scootaloo waved at all three. "I'm back! Looking good, AJ. How're you feeling?"

Applejack smiled warmly. "With a little sister like Apple Bloom, how can ah feel anything but great?"

Apple Bloom went red, but looked pleased at the words. Applejack went on. "Ah hear we got more than enough ta fix up Sunflower's mom good as new. Shoot, the way the butler was goin' on about it, maybe there'll be some left over fer us."

Scootaloo clopped her hooves together joyfully. "That's great! Sunflower will be so jazzed up when that's done." She moved over to sit with the other Crusaders. "Do you think he'll stay here?"

Sweetie tilted her head thoughtfully. "He might. I doubt his mom wants him adventuring any more than his grandmother did."

Apple Bloom waggled her brows. "Why? Are ya waitin' for him?"

Scootaloo went quickly red. "What? No! He's just cool. He's a part of the team now, right?"

Sweetie giggled softly. "It's OK if you like him."

Scootaloo shook her head furiously. "Stop that! I can like a colt without like liking a colt, sheesh! We're friends, not colt and marefriends." She crossed her forelegs in a pout. "What are you reading anyway?"

Sweetie tapped the book in front of her and Bloom. "A book about monsters that like the taste of ponies."

Apple Bloom nodded. "We're brushin' up on things we might run inta, so we'll be prepared next time."

Applejack frowned a bit. "I'd rather there not be a next time, if ya know what ah mean?"

Scootaloo looked around. "Well, if you know how to get home, I'm all ears."

Sweetie nodded. "As long as we're stuck here in this world, we should be prepared." She tapped the book. "Which means knowing what wants to eat you and how to not get eaten."

A soft knock came from the door before Lady Longtail peeked inside. She smiled as she slipped in. "I hope I'm not disturbing. I wanted to thank you all. I'm told you went through great pains to secure that tome. It's hard to believe a single book could be worth so much."

Applejack nodded a little. "How valuable are we talkin' here?"

She looked thoughtful a moment. "If I remember correctly, we could easily get at least thirteen thousand for it. Adding in the gems little Sunflower retrieved and we can get his mother up and restored easily."

Apple Bloom raised a hoof. "What's ta stop somepony from doin' that all over again?"

Lady Longtail frowned at the notion. "The rats have agreed to guard the house. They've learned all the ins and outs and will patrol during the night. They're darlings once you get to know them. They won't let anyone hurt my kin again."

Applejack tilted her head. "Well, that's mighty fine. Ah guess that did work out then. Ah gather that covers their room and keep, right?"

"And an allowance to spend as they please." Longtail nodded. "Thank you for rescuing them, and me, from each other. How are you feeling? You were quite hurt yesterday."

Applejack stretched a little. There were still pains and aches, but nothing she'd let keep her down. "Ah got the care of two skilled doctors right here. They pieced me togetha better than new. Reckon we're ready fer round two."

Apple Bloom snorted softly. "Stop joking around, AJ. You have to rest up, 'doctor's' orders."

"Yes ma'am." Applejack saluted with a soft snicker. "When's dinner served?"

The rest of the day passed in peace. They were informed Sunflower's mother would be raised with the coming of the dawn the next day, a fortuitous time for such rituals. Some of the diamonds Sunflower had pried free from the trap would be used directly for the spell, a fact that seemed to please Sunflower greatly.

Dinner was delicious and shared with all the residents of the manor, rats included. There was no animosity to be found at the table that day as everypony, cat, and rat, talked freely and happily. The future seemed bright.

Applejack raised a hoof. "Say. If we wanted ta get to Viljatown, what'd be the best way fer that?"

The butler replied first, pointing northerly. "The most direct way is to board a caravan headed in that direction. It's a long journey from here to there, and not one without more than a little danger..."

Scootaloo thrust a hoof upwards. "We can handle it! It can't be worse than a hole full of shadow things."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Not much choice, is there?"

Lady Longtail shook her head. "If you paid enough, a wizard could transport you across Everglow to the pony capital." She looked over the ponies thoughtfully. "But that would be thousands of coin for the wizard to transport a few of you, come back, teleport the rest, and get himself back."

The butler cautioned as he brought out dessert on a large tray. "That assumes you find a skilled enough wizard. Such tricks are not commonplace."

Sweetie cycled her hooves in the air lightly. "Sounds like we're hoofing it."