//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Growing Up 
// by mintgreenconspiracy 
//------------------------------//

"You stay here!" Twilight commanded the three fillies turned adult mares. "I need to see who that is," she thought to herself, feeling at least a little disappointed in the young unicorn. Didn't she tell Sweetie not to dabble in advanced magic? Especially without permission! "Fillies these days!" Twilight remarked to herself in jest. "What can you do?" She asked herself as she left the kitchen, with the smile she usually reserved for Rainbow's or Pinkie's antics.

"Hello!" Twilight exclaimed, giving her most polite smile. "Welcome to the golden oaks! How may I help you?" She asked, quickly noticing her friend Fluttershy standing around anxiously. Boy was she a sight for Twilight's sore eyes, causing her smile to quickly broaden. This was the first bit of good news she'd had all day -- and the day was just getting started! "Oh hey Fluttershy!" Twilight said eagerly to her friend. "How may I help you?" She continued asking, politely.

"Hi Twilight." Fluttershy squeaked at a level she normally reserved for strangers, tax collectors, and Iron Will. "Could you get me 'Everfree Animals: A Reference Guide', I mean if it's not too much trouble," she squeaked softly, blushing softly.

"Certainly!" Twilight responded, with a smile, trotting over to one of the reference aisles. "So What do you need it for Fluttershy?" She asked, curiously. "Everfree monsters bugging your little friends again?" Twilight asked, looking through her books -- she knew she had just the book for the pegasus, and --

"Not this time." Fluttershy responded calmly. "You see I kind of found a strange creature in the Everfree! And -- " she started saying in her kindest voice.

"Oh Fluttershy!" Twilight exclaimed in bemusement, doing a doubletake or two. "Another Everfree creature?" She stated, rolling her eyes playfully. "Do you remember what happened the last two times you brought creatures in from the Everfree?"

Fluttershy opened her mouth in denial. "Oh it couldn't have been that bad couldn't it have, Twilight?" She said, with a bemused smile.

"Well!" Twilight smiled playfully, taking a deep breath. "First there was the whole parasprite thing," she said, entering a lecturing mode. "You know: the thing who ate everything -- including the town, come to think of it!" She said, contemplatively. "I think we're still replacing some of the things they ate!" She said, remembering that day down to the point where she had, in abject panic, suggested they build the town somewhere else. "And, come to think of it, I think the cakes, just yesterday, found another pocket of them in their attic!" Twilight continued, her smile getting almost mischievous. "And then there was that time you brought in that electric -- whatever it was... Pika-something-or-another and it almost ended the world!"

Fluttershy retorted, kindly -- holding her hoof up against her mouth. "Actually, that was Sweetie Belle. And the poor thing was hurt pretty badly, and -- " She said, apologizing profusely, before stopping when she realized that her friend was simply trying to remind her to be careful of what she brought into her cottage -- and the last two times had been pretty bad, in retrospect (not that she still wouldn't do it again -- after all, they really needed her!)

"I'm sorry too Fluttershy!" She said, looking away. "I've had some trouble today myself," she said, trading her smile in for a distant stare. Sighing at the gravity of the situation.

Fluttershy turned to her friend supportively. "What happened?" She asked, eager to find a way to help -- so long as it wasn't too scary.

Twilight frowned. "I'll tell you later Fluttershy, after all losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend -- " She said, being interrupted by a voice shouting in the distance.

"FOREVER!" Pinkie's voice shouted, booming over the horizon -- no wait! She was just outside the window! At least she was, until she vanished again -- just as mysteriously as she appeared!

**********

"Can ya hear them Scoots?" Apple Bloom asked her pegasus friend. "Aye'r they talkin' 'bout us?" She asked nervously, getting up close and personal with her friend's face. "Ah'm startin' to get nervous!" She said, starting to crowd the doorway instead -- getting so close that, at one point one could swear that she was flattening up against it.

Scootaloo shook her head. "Not really!" She said, straining her ears. "Though I thought I heard something about Sweetie Belle!" She said, giving Sweetie a teasing grin -- and jabbing the air, like she was jabbing the unicorn's shoulder.

Sweetie Belle simply froze in the corner pretending that she could still hide there. Shaking slightly, and muttering to herself nervously. She was already imagining what Rarity was going to say, and she was pretty sure it wasn't pretty.

"But Scoots!" Apple Bloom protested, turning back to her friend. "Ain't all pegasi got like super hearin' or somethin'?" She said, starting to bicker anxiously with her friend.

Scootaloo also turned belligerently to her friend -- as tensions continued to mount. "And maybe I can't hear so well when you are shouting right into my ear?!" She said, almost shouting -- her face starting to turn red.

Apple Bloom sighed -- making a motion to calm herself down. Her friend was right! But what was she going to do? She was just so nervous. What was her sister going to think when she found out that not just had she sneaked away from their 'sleepover' at the clubhouse, but that she had also been experimenting with advanced magic!? And her sister was certainly going to be unhappy when she realized that she was talking to her younger older sister now!? "What ah we gunna do?" Apple Bloom asked, waving her hooves and arms wildly. "Applejack'll ground me forever!" She shouted hysterically. "And then ah'll never be free of all of them bike helmets she has!" She said with a sigh.

Scootaloo looked at her with a quizzical expression. "Didn't she get rid of all those?" She asked, remembering Apple Bloom's little delivery adventure earlier.

Apple Bloom crossed her arms -- as best she could -- and shook her head. "Nope she only said that!" She said with disgust.  "She's still got a closet full of them things!" She started to shout at the top of her lungs.

"Quiet!" Scootaloo shouted, grabbing her muzzle, only to realize, mid rear, that her center of mass was different now -- and that her all grown up and definitely not shrimpy wings were much heavier.

"Don't worry I've got you!" Sweetie shouted heroically, grabbing Scootaloo's tail in her mouth to help prop her up -- only to realize that all three of them were a lot heavier now -- and that most of her strength was still missing from the spell she had just cast.

And just like that, one second the three were at a delicate equilibrium, and then, within a split second all three crusaders were toppling over into a roll -- rolling right into the main room.

Before them stood a very cheesed Twilight, and a very puzzled Fluttershy.

"Oh hi Fluttershy." Apple Bloom said sheepishly. Apparently, by the look on Twilight's face, she either didn't want the reveal now, or she was none too happy at them eavesdropping on her and Fluttershy's conversation. All three crusaders guessed a little bit of both.

**********

"Hi... Um?" Fluttershy stuttered, brandishing her 'I'm nervous because you are a stranger' voice, being very careful to back up uncomfortably. Which, actually, kind of hurt slightly -- especially because of the fact that she was normally so friendly to the three fillies, and now it was like she didn't even recognize them -- and to make things worse, they didn't even have a cutie mark to show for it.

Twilight sighed. She was kind of hoping to wait till she got an opportunity to talk with Rarity, the Apples, and whomever Scootaloo's guardian was before she started revealing their condition to anypony else, but that was impossible now. Twilight sighed again, this time an exasperated sigh. "Apple Bloom," she said, motioning at the yellow earth pony mare. "And this is Scootaloo -- " she said as her hoof changed direction to point at the orange pegasus mare -- whose wings had increased in size from half the normal size for her age to double the normal size for her age (making them less pegasus sized, and more alicorn sized). "And Sweetie Belle," she said, swallowing an exasperated sigh as she turned her hoof to point at Rarity's little big sister.

"Um... I don't mean to argue Twilight -- " Fluttershy said softly, backing off apologetically. "But the crusaders are cute little fillies, and these are full grown mares." Fluttershy said, correcting Twilight in the most polite possible way.

Twilight frowned. "Guess again, Fluttershy," she said, matter-of-factly -- her face looking slightly apologetic. "Take a look at their cutie marks, and tell me if you're still not convinced," she said pointing at the trio's flanks.

"Oh... Ok." Fluttershy said, looking at the marks with great attention, only to come to a sudden realization of something. "Um... Twilight? What am I supposed to be seeing?" She said, blushing in embarrassment. "None of them seem to have any cutie marks."

"And -- " Twilight said, using her lecturing voice. " -- who else do you know that doesn't have their cutie mark?" Twilight asked, hoping to connect the dots for her friend.

Upon further examination of the mares Twilight's question became obvious. "The Crusaders!" Fluttershy's exclaimed, gasping in horror. "But how did this happen?" She asked, walking around the crusaders, her eyes filled with wonder. "I mean they were fine when I saw them yesterday afternoon," she said, backing away like the three fillies were diseased or cursed.

"Well!" Twilight said, blushing slightly. "I might have accidentally left The Swirlnomicon out yesterday night by mistake... And the .... Is girls still the right word?... In any case the girls might have snuck in here and gotten a hold of it and... Kind have..." She said, thinking of how much detail she dared go into. "Cast some extremely advanced magic," she said, turning away -- her face blushing a dark red.

"Oh dear!" Fluttershy's said, with a concerned frown. "Can't you just reverse the spell or something? I mean you are an alicorn princess and the element of magic."

"Hey that's what I asked!" Exclaimed Twilight's number one assistant, sauntering in from the kitchen. "But then Apple Bloom said -- " Spike started, before getting interrupted by one of the three fillies.

"Yeah but then she would end up a filly too." Apple Bloom said, joining in the conversation.

"Not necessarily." Twilight responded, opening her mouth for a lecture. "But -- "

Scootaloo's frowned flapping her wings wistfully. "Dang it! I was hoping to see what these girls can do now that they aren't all shrimpy!" She said, sighing again. "Oh well! Maybe this means that they'll actually grow in some day."

Twilight's face grew more stern. "And you might get your wish Scootaloo," she replied. "Because, it's not so much that the casting of the reversal spell would turn us into fillies, as there's no telling what it will do!" Twilight said, frowning sadly. "I've never seen this many cantatas in a spell before, and it looks like Star Swirl weaved multiple spells together to produce this one. And if I make a mistake..." She said, as her ears started to drop. "Bad things might happen..." 

"But, why can't you just cast it?" Sweetie asked Twilight.

"It's not so much that I can't cast it, that I'm not sure I can cast it safely. Even I, as the Element of Magic, don't fully understand this spell. And add to that, that age spells are the most difficult spells that a unicorn can cast. And... well... you get the point. " 

"But you're the element of magic." Sweetie said, in shock. "You should have no trouble with this spell."

"Just because I'm the element of magic, doesn't mean I'm perfect at magic, Sweetie. And, to be frank,  I'm not sure I can even cast it correctly to begin with." Twilight said, firmly. "And Sweetie?" Twilight said, getting her student's attention -- making double sure to have it, as the point was important. "Truth be told -- " she said looking at the young unicorn with a combination of both extreme pride and bitter disappointment. "I'm surprised that you were even able to cast this spell!"

Twilight thought for a minute longer before frowning again, followed by yet more thinking, and finally nodding -- her face becoming extremely stern. "And this is why I'm so disappointed in you," she said, trying to get her point across without getting too firm. "When I started teaching you magic, in Twilight Time, I thought I explicitly told you to stay away from advanced magic! In fact, I thought I told you to stay away from any magic that I didn't explicitly condone!" She said, turning around with disappointment.

Sweetie looked down, sighing sorrowfully. "I'm sorry Twilight," she said, shaking slightly. "I kind of got over eager to get my cutie mark," she said, looking up into Twilight's eyes, her eyes leaking slightly. "I'm sorry Twilight. I knew better, but I let my enthusiasm get the best of me," she said, trying to mouth off another apology, but finding herself unable to do it -- her lip quivering instead.

"You're forgiven Sweetie." Twilight responded, with a smile, turning to the other two fillies, her face growing stirn again. "And what do you two have to say?"

"We're sorry!" The other two crusaders said, in unison -- deadpan.

Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "I guess that's good enough," she thought to herself, turning back to the young unicorn in the room. "And Sweetie. I need you renew your promise  again, this time as a Pinkie Promise, and promise me that you won't be casting any more magic while under my tutelage unless I give you permission to. "What I mean to say, is that there are spells in this book -- " She said, motioning to the book, with her hoof. "That you could get into big trouble if you cast them without being really, really, sure of what you are doing," she said taking out the book Celestia had given her a short while before. "And some that you should never cast, even if you are certain of your ability."

"But... Um... Twilight..." Fluttershy responded, recognizing the book. "Isn't that the book with the spell that turned you into a princess?"

Twilight nodded slightly. "Close, but not quite -- that spell doesn't actually create princesses. For example, it would have been very bad if she had cast the spell right before it, because it's very, very, dangerous!"

Fluttershy looked at Twilight puzzled. "Very dangerous?" She said, in utter befuddlement. "You don't want her to be a princess?" She asked, doing a double and triple take.

Apple Bloom tilted her head in a thinking pose. "Princess... Eh......" She turned to Scootaloo. "'ave we tried gettin' our cutie marks as? CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS PRINCESSES!!!! YAY!!!!" All three crusaders shouted in unison, at the top of their lungs.

"Nah!" Scootaloo said, shaking her head, in disgust. "Too girly!"

Twilight looked on, for a second, before shaking her head again. "Actually neither spell makes princesses, and it's just that that particular spell -- " She said, flipping to the last page, and pointing to the page before. " -- is called 'The Unicorn Death Spell' for a reason," she said, as Fluttershy's face paled.

"Oh dear! 'Unicorn Death Spell'!" Fluttershy responded. "That sounds scary! What are we going to do Twilight?"

Twilight smiled. "Don't worry about it Fluttershy, I just need to find Rarity, the Apples, and Scootaloo's guardians," she said, with a smile. "And, at that point, hopefully, I'll have a better idea of what the best course of action should be," she said, putting the book into Fluttershy's saddlebag using magic. "But you have an animal to attend to. So why don't you go, Fluttershy --" Twilight replied politely. "And I'll deal with this," she said, using telekinesis to open the door.

Fluttershy shook her head, her expression showing resolve and conviction. "I'm sorry Twilight, but I can't just leave the crusaders like this. I mean what will they do now? Where will they go?" She asked, shaking her head, stretching out to her fullest -- normally she cowered or slumped in fear. "And I'm certain, that, all this not knowing is scary for them! And besides -- " She said, with a motherly smile. "I'm sure Angel is doing a fine job of caring for the creature," she said, volunteering her services, as she was in the habit of doing sometimes. "And you can probably use all the help you can get," she said, causing Twilight to stand there rethinking things for a minute.

Twilight smiled again. "Very well," she said, plotting their next move. "I appreciate this Fluttershy. I really do!" She said, with a thankful smile. "Why don't you go find Rainbow Dash, and ask her if she knows who Scootaloo's guardians are, and where they live? Since, I believe, she's the only one of the six of us, besides the crusaders, who's ever been to Scootaloo's house before. Meanwhile I'll go and get the -- "

Scootaloo interrupted. "Nonsense! I can find them," she lied, unconvincingly. "So, I'll just go ahead and get them for you and -- " She said, galloping straight into a door that Twilight had quickly closed with her magic.

Twilight shook her head, struggling against the desire to laugh at their piteous attempt to deceive her. "Sorry... Is girls the right word?... Girls! But you to stay here while Fluttershy and I go find Rarity, The Apples, and Scootaloo's guardians!" She said, fighting hard to keep her serious voice. "Consider this your punishment for sneaking into my library without permission and casting spells that I explicitly told you not to!"

"Awwww!" The crusaders whined in unison -- feeling defeated and at least a little deflated (don't worry, they'd be back to their old tricks soon enough.)

Twilight turned to Spike, smiling slightly. "Spike," she said, as the dragon sprung to attention, dutifully taking a military pose for extra effect. "Could you do me a favor, and make sure that the ... um... girls? ... stay here while Fluttershy and I are out?"

Spike nodded eagerly, keeping a stern military expression. "Certainly Twi! I've got it covered!" He said, eagerly. "Now how about the three of you head out while I play board games with the girls keep everything under control!"

Twilight smiled, feeling encouraged. "I knew I could count on my number one assistant," she said, gratefully, rubbing his head affectionately, before she and Fluttershy trotted out the front door closing it, carefully, behind them.

**********

"Scoots." Apple Bloom whispered, turning to her pegasus friend. "We've gotta get outta here! You know what Applejack's gunna do when she sees me like this?" She said, growing ever more hysterical. "She'll ground me for a month!"

Scootaloo joined in, commiserating with her friend. "Yeah, I agree! And if mom and dad see me like this, they'll probably ground me for an eon. I'll be as old as Celestia by the time I get out!"

Sweetie joined in. "Actually Celestia's not that old, I think you'd only be grounded for a millennia or two!" She said, correcting them innocently.

The other two looked at her with nonplussed expressions, before looking at each other. "What are you? An encyclopedia?"

"Maybe we can convince Spike to let us go." Apple Bloom said, looking at Sweetie Belle mischieviously. "Ah mean we've been able to convince him before. An' doesn't Sweetie remind you ah've somepony?"

"But just in case, we should have a backup plan." Scootaloo cautioned. "Maybe the Equestrian Foreign Legion, or, perhaps, the Griffonian Army?"

Meanwhile, upstairs.

Spike took special care to make sure that the door he barricaded remained shut. That way he would have time enough to run up to his room to pick an appropriate film reel for 'Spike Time' -- or whatever he would call it -- real fast (hey with Sweetie's magic busted for a little, he should have at least a little time, right?) Course then there was the matter of that board game, but that was something he would figure out second (why? Why because he felt like watching a film first! Naturally!)

Downstairs Spike could hear arguing -- he guessed it was because the crusaders had probably, just now, figured out that they weren't going anywhere. But, enough of that, the more important question quickly percolated to the top of his mind: Which film reel should he use? Well, maybe since they were technically adult mares now, he could show them one of the comedies that he liked to watch when Twilight wasn't home, right? Nah... Twilight would definitely get wind of that, somehow, and she'd give him no end of grief. And, then, she'd probably take his precious comedies away -- all of them! (And all while giving him the tired old line about him being 'just a baby dragon'.)

Downstairs he could hear shrieking and struggling, and possibly a little crying. Man the crusaders must have been having a heck of an argument down there -- either that or they decided to become Cutie Mark Crusaders mane artists or something.

However, he wouldn't let himself be distracted -- this was much too important! Maybe he could show them something more age appropriate? Of course, by the time they got halfway through he'd be asleep on the coach -- and the girls would probably be out the door. Nope wouldn't work!

Of course, maybe, he could always split the difference, and find a video halfway between their real ages and their current physical age -- maybe a nice action movie? Naturally, Scootaloo would love that and --

"Excuse me Spike?" Sweetie said, trotting up the stairs slowly. Her mane and tail had been both painstakingly straightened (albeit unsuccessfully, considering the amount of hair she had missing), with her mane, and her tail all carefully curled at the end (well as careful as a crusader's could be anyway.) The top of her mane had been hung over her head, just over her eye, and the back of her mane had been hung over her wither. All in all, the style looked vaguely familiar, if, albeit, poorly executed.

She stood there, bracing herself against one of the guardrails of the stairway -- using it to prop herself up -- her legs wobbling, and her knees bent almost to ninety degree angles. She panted, heavily, ready to collapse in the stairway -- apparently the large amount of magic she devoted to that spell really took it all out of her (though at the time, she thought it would be easy.) She turned to the dragon, making sure to bat her eyes (in a display that made her look like some sawdust got into them.) 

"But could you let us go?" She asked, as sweetly as she could, trying her best Rarity impression -- batting her eyes again, and holding her head at an uncomfortable angle. "I need to get back to my parents." Sweetie lied (she was visiting Rarity while her parents were out of town for the week -- again, for like the fifth time in the last month), waving her hair back and forth in an ineffectively flirty manner. 

"Pretty please!" She pleaded. "... Spikey Wikey!..." She begged, of the dragon, resisting the urge to vomit -- as she left her eyes half open (like she was either tired, or taking an experimental cold medication), and puckering her lips like she had just sucked on a lemon. "I mean, I was supposed to be home already!" She said, switching to her biggest frown, and saddest puppy dog eyes. "And I would really feel better if you were to let me go..." She said, trying to rub the underside of his lips, only to crash onto her face in front of him due to her lack of energy, and new center of mass.

"And I bet they're worried sick," she said, all while trying to look sad and pathetic, looking up at him with her face, and body still laid flat against the floor. When that didn't work, she tried the surefire method she had left: performing the dreaded squee (the crusaders instrument of horror, a look who's cuteness simply couldn't be ignored, or avoided.) Yes, the squee, the one thing that could be counted on to get them out of messes like these (how? By causing the mind of the adults to melt on sight, of course.)

"Yeah..." Spike replied, deadpan. "Doesn't really work for me," he said, with a serious expression. "Good try though!" He said, with a friendly smile. "Course maybe it would have worked, you were still eight..." He said, with a wink.

"Awwwww!!!!" Sweetie moaned -- foiled again. She sighed, scuffing her hoof. "I thought that would work for sure!" She remarked to herself, her head turned to the side -- now all she had to look forward to was her sister telling her how 'disappointed in her she was'.

"Look I'm sorry Sweetie." Spike said, sympathetically, suddenly noticing Rarity two stand before him. "But... I'll tell you what... Why don't you help me pick the reel we're going to see?" He said, hoping for a smile from the young unicorn. "Think of it as one last fun thing to do before you get put on permanent lockdown for casting 'illegal magic'," he said, sarcastically, in jest.

"Ok." Sweetie chirped -- once again, never letting her bad moods linger -- her frown quickly turning upside down, and the rest of her filling with enthusiasm.

**********

Twilight paused for a second, contemplating whom should she visit first, and, equally importantly, how fast she should get there. 

But since she didn't even know who Scootaloo's guardians are, and since Rarity would probably take it a lot easier than Applejack would. The most prudent course of action would be to go to Sweet Apple Acres and then, after she had finished there, visit Rarity at the Carousel Boutique, while Applejack cooled down slightly. 

So, with that decided, the next question was whether she should gallop or trot over? Now galloping was definitely the most expeditious way to get to Sweet Apple Acres, and she was sure that her friends would appreciate her punctuality, especially when they realized that she rushed over to give them the news -- not to mention that they would probably wish to be informed in a timely manner. 

On the other hoof, galloping might cause panic and worry -- especially for Rarity, who tended to be excitable. So taking that into careful consideration, she decided that the trot might be better. Not only would it prevent her from wearing out too quickly, it would also prevent any possible panicking that might be caused by her coming to Sweet Apple Acres huffing and puffing.

Not to mention, that she didn't want Applejack or Granny Smith to panic, or, worse still, switch into 'big sister: savior of the universe mode', which would certainly not be helpful. 

But the most important question was... Why in Tartarus name was she debating canter vs. gallop? (She guessed that she kind of got obsessed with details when under pressure -- a bad habit she learned while training at Celestia's hocks.)

In the end, she decided on a compound plan: she would gallop until she got within eyeshot of Sweet Apple Acres, and then canter most of the rest of the way! And then finish with a short trot to the farmhouse (this plan was, after all, almost entirely foolproof.)

In the end, though, the time for worrying about how she would get there was over. Because, apparently, for good or ill, Applejack was already up, and doing some apple harvesting in the early morning -- her jovial mood decried the fact that she hadn't checked up on the 'crusaders' sleepover' yet.

This realization caused Twilight to bite her lip slightly. There was only one solution: she had to figure out what she was going to say to her friend! So naturally she turned her entire intellect to carefully weighing the different possibilities. 

She could rush up to her friend, and tell her the bad news up front? Nah not a good idea! She knew full well, that Applejack might get excited (she could be as excitable as the white unicorn, just not in the same way; and, not to mention that, she could also occasionally suffer from a bad case of mother bear syndrome), and if Granny Smith was around, the old earth pony might not be able to take it. 

On the other hoof, maybe she could slowly introduce the problem, maybe even downplay it a little. Nah! Another bad idea! Applejack could, on occasion, be like a lie detector, and she would probably figure it out, eventually, and would probably be none too happy. Plus when Twilight finally got to the punchline the orange earth pony would probably be fuming, because she realized that Twilight had been hiding bad news about her sister from her; and she would probably be saying something like "Mah sister is in trouble an' y'all went and held out on mah! Thanks ah ton Twi'!" 

Ok third plan. She would introduce the problem, making sure not to bring out the fine details until she could get everypony to the Golden Oaks, and then drop the bomb, at that point. That could work, or it could, possibly, be the worst possible choice. And, to top things off, it was very indecisive.

Maybe she could do something else? She did, after all, have so many ideas percolating... And no time to execute any of them! (As Applejack got the first word!)

"Well howdy, Twilight! What brings ya here ta Sweet Apple Acres so early in the morning?" She said, stepping over from a barrel that she had put under a tree -- probably planning to fill it with apples.

"Um... Well... You see..." Twilight said, chokingly. "I have something I need to -- " She started saying solemnly, trying to think how to put it. "'Apple Bloom, and her friends managed to cast advanced magic, and are, now, full grown mares! And I don't think I can change them back!'... Nah won't work! That would be too direct! Maybe 'there's been a tiny incident with your sister, and I'd like your attention at the library -- not that it's major or anything!.' Nah that makes it sound even worse! What about 'Hey Applejack, could you come with me to the library please? Your sister's been doing some crusading behind your back, and I need you to pick her up!'? No that won't work either! Because, for one thing, It makes it sound like nothing has happened! what about?--" Twilight, carefully, swallowed a shriek. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought! In the end, though, she didn't get a chance to say anything anyways -- as Applejack was, once again, quicker on the trigger then she was.

"Hold that thought!" Applejack said, putting a hoof to Twilight's mouth, and giving a friendly smile. "Where ah're mah manners?" She said, wrapping one of her front hooves over the other. "Ah fergot ta ask ya if ya wanted somethin' to eat?" She said, looking into the distance. "'Course ah should probably wait till granny gets 'Bloom an' the others out of the clubhouse!" She said to Twilight, who's eyes went as big as saucers -- she had to wait until Granny came back from the clubhouse?

Twilight started to go pale. She had hoped (and wished) that Applejack would reprise her customary role of chaperone -- though, she should have guessed that, with the harvest, Granny Smith might brave her aching everything and pitch in. "Actually Applejack, --" Twilight said, hesitantly. "-- it's about the girls," she said, gulping noticeably. "You see -- " She started saying, laughing nervously -- while awaiting for friend's eventual reaction.

Applejack smiled, putting a hoof to Twilight's muzzle. "Hold that thought Twi'! Granny's already back," she said, her smile turning to puzzlement as Granny started coming up at canter speeds (that's fast for Granny Smith) her face filled with panic.

Applejack frowned. "What's the matter granny?" She asked, a frown starting to form. "Somethin' happen?" She asked, her voice filled with concern.

Granny started to babble uncontrollably. "It's th'eh girls!... They're gone!..." She shouted, getting (and spitting) in Applejack's face. "Ah went to the clubhouse, and they tweren't there!" She said, as Applejack used one hoof to steady her, and the other to give her a half hug. "Ah... Ah... Ah can only imagine what happened to 'em!"

Applejack frowned, turning to Twilight. "Let meh guess. Ya found the girls, an' you were hopin' to be the one ta break the bad news," she said, with a frown, to a soft nod by Twilight. 

"Well Twi..." She said, with mild frustration. "Yer a little bit late." Applejack said, the concern starting to show in her face, as she sobbing slightly -- her voice warbling with sadness. "Tell me one thing though?" She said, her voice shaking. "Ah're the girls ok?" She asked, turning to Twilight -- her voice sounding like she was pleading with the princess.

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, they're ok," she said, to relieved sighs from the two apples in attendance. "It's more that ... Well... I think I'd rather explain after we pick up Rarity, and Sweetie Belle's parents. Because, it's kind of hard to explain without showing you myself," she said, her voice far from happy -- the Apples exchanged concerned expressions themselves. "And then I have to get Scootaloo's guardians. Assuming that Fluttershy can find where Rainbow is at, so she can tell us where they live."

"That much trouble eh?" Applejack said, deadpan -- with a slight hint of concern. After a few seconds, the orange earth pony put on a resolute face. "We'll we'd best be going." Applejack said, steadfastly, even though her voice kept alternating between steadfast resolution, anger, and deep concern. "If ah found out that that girl done got herself hurt doin' some dang fool stunt! Then -- " She said, with a shaking hoof. "Ah'm gunna ground her till she's Granny Smith's age!" She said, storming off.

She didn't get far though, before Twilight stopped her with her magic. "Actually!" Twilight said. "I think we should go together! You know how Rarity is, and how fragile she can be." Twilight lied, hoping that the two's off-again-on-again quarrel over Rarity's over-attention to detail, and Applejack's lack of attention to detail would convince her not to run off.

"Ah 'suppose!" Applejack said, surrendering to the Princess of Friendship's wisdom, with a look of suspicion. "Though, I suppose we should -- "

"And ah'm a commin' too!" Announced the matriarch of the family. "Tain't no way ah'm gunna let you leave me in the dark on this one!" She said, with a scowl. "Not when somethin' happened to my grand daughter! No siree!" She said, starting to follow.

"But granny!" Applejack cautioned, trying to dissuade the stubborn old apple.. "Yer heart!" She said, with concern. "What about yer -- "

"Is fine!" Granny Smith retorted. "Good as the day ah was born!" She said, showing some of the stubbornness the apples were known for. "Now let's git goin'! This ain't gettin' any easier!"

**********

Rarity smiled merrily -- not just was this an excellent opportunity for her and Sweetie to bond over one of her passions: fashion. But it was also a once in a lifetime chance for her to produce an extremely exclusive line for the most important pony in Canterlot (well next to Celestia herself) -- her friend: Fancy Pants. 

Ohhh!!! This was just so splendid!!! She just had to squeal! This was just so... She just couldn't describe just how great it was! Oh! Sweetie and her were going to have such fun! She thought to herself, screeching into a pillow. Heck, She was in such a good mood that she might even grit her teeth and find something dirty that she and Sweetie could do together (not would, necessarily -- might just...) -- wouldn't that be so... much... fun? Rarity frowned slightly. However, she decided to press on. She did make a promise to Sweetie, just before that whole Sisterhooves Social fiasco, after all!

But first she had much to pack, and very little time to pack it in. She sighed to herself. How could she possibly have ended up working until the very... last... possible... moment!? It was enough to make her shriek -- though she was too much of a lady for that. Heck, she wasn't even sure there would even be time to talk, let alone send the seventy or eighty (and I'm not exaggerating here) bags, that she absolutely positively needed, to the train station.

Rarity started over in exasperation, as a soft knocking could be heard at the door. 

Her face changed suddenly, as she recalled something very important. "Splendid!" Rarity thought, happily. "That must be Sweetie! And just in time to get going!" She thought, walking over the the door. "You can just come in Sweetie! The door is open!" She said, frowning to herself. "That filly, always showing up at the worst possible times (this time late) -- whatever shall I do with her?" She thought.

Only the ponies at the door weren't the one she was expecting. "Why hello... Applejack!" She said, greeting the orange earth pony -- coldly, feeling gypped that the wrong pony had showed up at her door when she could least afford it. "And Twilight?" She said, greeting her alicorn friend with a confused expression -- what was going on? Why was everypony here but the one she was expecting! "What brings you here at this hour?" She asked, trying to get to the root of the matter. "Is something the matter?" She asked, fearing that some kind emergency had occurred -- like another dark lord, beastly monster, college leftist, con artist duo, or insurance salesman.

Twilight and Applejack looked at each other anxiously. What would be the best way to explain this? Naturally, Twilight had insisted on taking it easy on the white primadona -- easing her into the crisis slowly -- though Applejack had opted to take the direct approach, telling her after the hellos had been dispatched. So as a result, Twilight just stood there motionless, her lower lip quivering.

"Well... Ya see Rarity -- " Applejack decided to interject, rubbing one hoof against the other -- her ears held back -- trying to formulate how to put this, only to be interrupted, mid thought, by her fashion focused friend.

"Hold that thought Applejack," she said, politely. "I apologize for the cold reception, but Sweetie and I simply must be going, and I was expecting to see her. And I do, dearly, apologize dear," she said, with an apologetic smile -- looking up at the clock. "And I don't mean to interrupt," she said, packing a bag with her magic, while taking another stare at the clock -- calculating distances and travel times. "But could you do me a favor, and bring the dear here quickly, please?" She said, motioning ostentatiously at the door.  "What I mean to say, is that, I have a train to catch in an hour, and I simply have too much to do and too little time to pick the dear up myself, right now! So, I apologize for saying this, but ... " She said, swallowing slightly -- feeling the urge to press her point. "Chop! Chop!" She said, motioning for emphasis.

Twilight responded back with a bewildered expression. "Why don't you just drop her off at her parents?" She said, to bewildered expressions from the other ponies. "I mean wouldn't it be easier?" She said, blushing slightly -- once again putting her hoof in her mouth.

Rarity sighed, sadly. "Well it would, and I don't mean to imply that that they don't love her -- they love her dearly, and would give anything to help her -- but that is the problem, because they often end up staying very busy providing for the needs of a growing filly," she said, giving a distant look. "But no more on that!" she said, cracking a fake smile -- this was a joyful occasion, not a sad one! "They're... just... away on business for ten days!" She said, flinching slightly, her ears flipping back. "So she's staying with me until then," she said, with an anxious giggle. "I consider it kind of an adventure," she said, smiling warmly. "You know family bonding time!" She said, giving an enigmatic smile -- either she was genuinely happy, she felt imposed upon, or she was upset at her folks, no pony could tell which.

Applejack frowned, holding her hat to her chest. "Rarity... We have somethin' we need ta tell you." Applejack said, solemnly. "Ya see -- " She said, up until the point where Rarity interrupted her mid sentence, with a slightly perturbed expression.

Rarity gave an impressed smile. "Well Applejack, are you actually worried about Apple Bloom? I didn't think you would react this way -- but not to worry! Sweetie is not leaving forever! She's just simply going on a trip with me to Canterlot for one week!" Rarity said, putting a reassuring hoof on her friend.  "And think of it this way," she said, giving an upbeat smile. "It'll give Apple Bloom a chance to catch up on her homework. After all, I did hear from the grapevine, that their teacher, Cheerilee, is coming to visit your brother -- or so I'm told," she said, blushing slightly. "And that means that little Apple Bloom shall, most likely, be able to get her full attention," she said, walking towards the door. "But for now, I apologize, but we simply must be going! Sweetie and I have a train to catch."

Applejack sighed, gritting her teeth -- this over attention to minutia (of fussing as she called is) is why she sometimes couldn't stand the prissy mare (she still remembered that one miserable sleep over, which is why she only did one or two others with the white mare -- usually with two, or more, of their other friends.) She turned to the white unicorn mare, making good and certain to speak louder than her. "Well yer gunna have to  get a refund on those tickets 'cause something happened to 'Bloom and Sweetie, but Twi' won't tell us -- "She said, giving a mildly perturbed expression to the purple alicorn, who blushed back. " -- so ah'm assumin' it's not good!" She said, giving Rarity a fierce stare, which caused her to freeze in place, her mouth finally shut.

"Oh dear." Rarity gasped, her face filled with horror. The poor mare looked like she was going to faint -- holding her hoof to her face. She staggered around hopelessly for a second, before she just stopped -- a mischievous smile slowly creeping up her face. "Oh Applejack!" She chuckled daintily, gesturing like the earth pony was kidding her. "You almost got me Applejack!" She said, with a catty expression. "But aren't you a little old for childish pranks like this? Did Rainbow put you up to it? -- " She said, preparing to dress her friend down.

She didn't get to finish. As Applejack's face became even more stern. "Ah'm serious!" She barked,feeling indignant at being called a liar -- an insult with no peer in her book. "Do ah look like ah'm kidding?" She said, seriously -- raising her voice slightly. "And have you ever know me ta kid around 'bout family?" She shouted, at the top of her lungs.

Rarity repeated a familiar phrase for the second time. "Oh dear!" She said, as she hit the floor, fainting dead away -- her usual fainting couch, nowhere to be seen.

Twilight frowned, looking to see if her friend's heart had failed her. She turned to Applejack. "This has to be serious!" She said, with concern -- looking at Applejack, her returned the expression. "She never faints without her couch!"

Applejack frowned herself. "Ah s'pose maybe ah got a little bit too firm," she said, looking sorry. "Ah s'pose we should get teh smellin' salts!" She said, galloping towards the door.

Twilight gave a belated smile to her friend. "That won't be necessary," she said, powering up her horn. "I've got this!" She said, giving a quick bolt of magic to her prissy friend, waking her up immediately.

And immediately sending her bolting out the door. "Don't worry Sweetie!" Rarity shouted, galloping out the door at top speeds. "I'm coming for you!"

**********

Meanwhile back in the library...

Apple Bloom grew ever more anxious, as the minutes went on, and Scootaloo's current choice in movies: Transbormers wasn't helping much -- because, let's just face it, the new Transbormers movies were pretty dang bad! (Spike tried to warn them that the new reels were no good compared to the old ones, but they wouldn't listen! He was probably wondering, by now, why he didn't burn those things while he had the chance!) And that left Apple Bloom with nothing but time to think about her predicament (and worry her tail off.) "We haffa get outta here!" She finally shouted, pacing violently -- her eyes beginning to dart around. "Ah just cain't stay here! Ah jus' cain't!" She said, looking at the door longingly. "Applejack's gunna be commin' through that door any second now! Aind she's gunna be furious!" She said, conspiratorially.

Scootaloo, however, remained the picture of calm -- smirking mischieviously, a plan slowly materializing in her mind. "Hey Spike's probably asleep already watching that lamo golem movie, -- " She said, with a malevolent smile. "we can probably just sneak past him." Scootaloo said, scoping out the scene. "Plus we're small, and he's not very attentive," she said, starting to tip-toe towards the door.

"Ya'all planned this when ya picked that movie?" Apple Bloom asked, giving a congratulatory smile to her friend.

Scootaloo nodded. "Of course? Do you think an awesome pony like me would want to watch a lame movie like that?" She said, giving Apple Bloom a hoof bump.

Halfway to Spike, Scootaloo turned around -- trying to figure out where Sweetie was, only to see her still lying belly down on the floor. "You ok Sweetie?" She said, with concern. "You know Rarity's going to have a cow when she sees us!" She said, expecting to goad Sweetie into action, as usual. Instead the unicorn mare simply lay there like a lump. Moaning quietly.

"Look guys, I'm still kind of tired," she said, like a child who didn't want to be called outside for the baseball game. "Why don't you leave, and I'll get you when they're done being mad," she said, laying on the ground -- still feeling completely spent from the spell. Why did she feel so tired? Was Twilight right, when she said Sweetie shouldn't be casting advanced magic like this? But how was she supposed to find out what her cutie mark was otherwise?

Apple Bloom frowned, looking at Scootaloo. What should they do? Should they really leave Sweetie behind? "What should weh do?" She said, thinking for a second.

Sweetie simply gave them a silent nod. Causing the other two crusaders to nod at Sweetie's brave sacrifice.

"Good ehdea!" Apple Bloom said, referring to Sweetie's original plan -- though still feeling pretty uncertain about it. "Ah hope we're makin' the right decision Scoots," she said, quietly to her pegasus friend.

Scootaloo shook her head -- changing her mind. "The crusaders don't leave a mare behind," she said, dramatically quoting a movie she had seen. "Help me lift her," she mouthed to Apple Bloom, as both galloped back to the white unicorn, hieving her onto their backs.

Oh well! This would be easy, they'd just sneak past the dragon, and then they'd be out. Even carrying Sweetie on their backs. No problem! Their small, and so is he! It should be a piece of cake. He wouldn't even notice that they were gone until they had a chance to go into hiding -- maybe camp out in the everfree.

One small problem -- they weren't small anymore, not one little bit! So instead of sneaking past the dragon -- and missing him entirely -- Scootaloo ended up hitting him in the head with her giant oversized wings, causing him to wake up with a start. And then, to make matters worse, they misjudged the height of the door -- causing them to bump Sweetie's head into the door when they tried to pass out of it, which naturally caused them to drop her when she cried out in pain (preventing them from making it out the door before the dragon could sound the alarm.)

"Dag nabit!" Apple Bloom said, swallowing the more choice words that she had floating through her head. "Ah thought we were gunna be able ta pass him!" She said, with a frown.

Scootaloo simply stood there, apparently swallowing her own collection of choice words -- stamping her hooves angrily. They were so close too! So very, very close!

Spike, however, didn't seem as upset as they thought he would be. "Good plan girls!" He said, with a mischievous smile. "I'm actually impressed!" He said, with a chuckle. "Though you probably should've taken your new sizes into account," he said, with a smirk. "Especially those oversized wings of yours, Scootaloo," he said, with a chuckle -- impressed with his own wit.

Spike immediately shuttered at his own words expecting a good smack from the flight obsessed pegasus, instead Scootaloo smiled -- proudly, fanning her wings. "Hey, don't worry about it." Scootaloo said, turning to spike. "I'm actually really proud of how these girls turned out," she said, turning her head to stare at her fanned wings. "I think I should try these babies out later!" She said, with the biggest smile that anypony had ever seen from her -- already imagining herself in the air, flapping the wings for all to see.

**********

"Hey Fluttershy!" Twilight shouted, catching the pegasus halfway between, presumably, Rainbow's house and the library. "Did you manage to locate Rainbow, by chance?" She asked her friend, earnestly -- hoping for good news. Because, maybe, just maybe, If she had found Rainbow, then she would also know where to find Scootaloo's parents, and then Twilight could tell them what's happened -- and she could get all these unpleasantries over with.

"Actually Twilight." Fluttershy said, quietly -- feeling like a failure. "I did, but I don't think -- " She said -- on the verge of tears -- before being interrupted by the raising of Twilight's voice.

"So did she know where Scootaloo's parents live?" Twilight interrupted, eagerly, barely hearing the pegasus talk. "Was she able to tell you?" Twilight said, getting ever more earnest, getting ever closer -- her smile slowly getting bigger and bigger and more eager.

"Um... Actually yes, but  -- " The pegasus continued -- anxiously, cowering backwards from the ever approaching alicorn of friendship. "They kind of  -- " She said, with a silent swallow -- Fluttershy was sure Twilight wouldn't like what she was about to say, not one little bit!

"Great!" Twilight said, with enthusiasm. "Let's go and find them!" She said, planning her banter. First, she would introduce herself to Scootaloo's guardians. "Hello. My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle -- " She would say professionally, and then she would graciously explain the situation as she had done with the others -- avoiding the nitty gritty details until they have come back to the library. "There has been a situation... No! Don't worry! Your daughter is ok; but it would be best if you saw her right now! It would be hard to explain her situation otherwise," she would say, followed by a quicky to the library.

Sadly Twilight's continued banter and her careful planning were stopped dead in their tracks, when the yellow pegasus opened her mouth. "Actually Twilight." The pegasus said, swallowing first. "They aren't home," she said, with a frown. "They're up in Canterlot on official, and apparently secret business for the crown," she said, softly -- worried about being charged with disclosing government secrets. "And I couldn't find out any more from their neighbors, but -- " She said, apologizing quietly when Twilight interrupted her.

"They just left her here? In Ponyville!?" Twilight asked, in confusion -- causing the pegasus to apologize, again, with a squeaky voice. "And why didn't I hear anything about this 'royal business'?!" She said, fuming slightly.

"Actually." Fluttershy said, with an apologetic frown. "She was supposed to go to go to the Perins today after the crusaders sleepover. She's supposed to be staying with them a few days -- because, apparently they are close friends of Scootaloo's parents," she said, backing up as Twilight's expression darkened.

Twilight frowned. "So who are these parents anyways?" She fumed, probably planning whom to mention in her call to the FPS and -- 

Fluttershy frowned. "The Sunbirds... Sorry!" She said, mistaking Twilight's agitation at Scootaloo's parents as full blown anger towards her.

Twilight swallowed hard. "You mean the Sunbirds right? AS in the Sunbirds, Sunbirds?" She asked, Fluttershy nodding repetitively. "As in the Sunbird family? The most important clan in Cloudsdale?" Twilight asked, in utter awe. The Sunbirds lived here? In Ponyville? Since when?

"Oh yes." Fluttershy said, smiling and nodding accordingly. "I met them once as a little young filly, and they seemed to be really, really, nice ponies," she said, calming down -- her father had worked for the Sunbird family, for a time, allowing her the once in  a lifetime chance to meet them.

Twilight frowned, this would make things more difficult. She figured that the Sunbirds wouldn't be quite as forgiving as the Apples or Rarity had been. And, for that matter, it meant that she wouldn't be able to get the news to the Sunbirds in a timely manner, and she was sure they wouldn't like that. Then there was the matter that Blue Perin could be just as easily driven to panic as her cousins Daisy, Lily, and Rose. And Twilight really, really, didn't want Scootaloo's condition floating into the broader community, and Twilight was certain that Blue Perin would be tempted to spread the juicy gossip to her cousins, and from there the rest of the town would know. On the other hand, they couldn't leave her in the dark! She might worry that Scootaloo had gone missing!

She turned to Fluttershy. "We can't just tell the Perins about Scootaloo's condition can we?" She said to her scared friend, getting cold hooves. "It might scare them."

Fluttershy nodded. "And being scared is no fun at all," she said, with a frown. "What will we do Twilight?"

Twilight stood around and through for a second. "I'll send a letter to the Perins after we have a chance to come up with our plan," she said, frowning apprehensively. "It's a shame that we'll have to do this without Scootaloo's parents," she said, sternly. "Maybe I should see if I can use the spell I use to send the princess letters, though I really shouldn't be using it for non official business..." She said, chastising herself for the thought.

"AND why would you want to do that?" Asked a determined voice from above. "You think the squirt's honorary sister can't represent her?" Rainbow asked, making sure to hover between all four of her friends and the sun -- for maximum effect. "I mean, she needs to know that there's no way I'd leave her hanging!" Rainbow declared, making dang sure to announce it for all to hear.

Applejack, quirked an eyebrow. "Ya think Scootaloo's folks would appreciate ya'all leavin' them out o' the loop?" She asked, impatiently. "Ah mean -- "

Rainbow frowned, raising her voice -- making dang sure to interrupt loud enough that she was heard over Applejack (there was no way she was letting the squirt down on this one.). "Well tough! 'Cause the squirt's parents aren't home!" She said, crossing her forelegs, determination growing in her voice. "So it's pretty much me or nothing! 'Cause I'm pretty sure Blue Perin is probably already out gossiping to the rose trio!" Rainbow said, sternly.

Twilight frowned, now having to bring her friends and their feelings into this -- which was something really hard for her, just like the whole ticket fiasco. Maybe she would do something uncharacteristic, and take a risk. "Fine," she said, turning to Rainbow Dash. "But I'll still see if I can contact them, at least so they know what's going on -- until we can figure out what our course of action should be."

"In the meantime." Twilight said to them, with a smile. "Why don't you two come in, and I'll show you what happened to your sisters."

"And the squirt!" Rainbow continued, interrupting Twilight, who gave Rainbow a unimpressed expression. "I mean, she's my sister too..." She said, with enthusiasm. "Well... sort of..." She said, blushing slightly.

"And you too, Rainbow Dash." Twilight responded, to her friend, deadpan -- rolling her eyes.

**********

"So... Twilight?" Rarity asked anxiously. "What horrible fate has befallen our dear Sweetie Belle?" She asked, overacting slightly. Whipping her head back dramatically -- throwing the scarf she was wearing around her shoulder with effect -- and wiping her brow with her hoof for good effect. "Don't worry Sweetie! I'm here for you !" She shouted, like her sister was in a coma or deaf.

"An' she ain't even in teh room yet!" Applejack exclaimed, rolled her eyes. "That mare!" She thought to herself. "Always oversellin' everything," she said to herself, internally, turning to Twilight. "But ah was wonderin' that mahself! What did 'Bloom go an' do to herself again?" She asked, her face betraying her anxieties.

Rainbow decided to chime in -- her bravatto showing. "Well, if you ask me -- with all this worrying and crying, the squirt better be looking something like that Mulia Mild joke!" She said folding her front legs -- a general unimpressed expression on her face. "I mean I can't be here! I have important stunts to do!" She said, making sure to float up slightly to show off her superior flying form. As everypony stared at her with terrified expressions.

"Rainbow!" Twilight shouted, in shock at how thoughtless her friend was being. "I'm surprised at you!" She said, with disappointment, her eyes looking like she had sucked on a lemon.

"Well!" Applejack replied, bluntly. "Nopony said you had ta' be here! So yah could've stayed out, an' we could'a found somepony else ta help!"

"Nonsense!" Rainbow said, bluntly -- shaking her head. "I would never leave the squirt hanging," she said, waving her hoof to the side. "Now when are you going to get to telling us Twi'?" She said steadfastly.

"Well..." Twilight said, nodding in agreement. "It might be easier to show than to tell," she said, turning slowly towards the kitchen. "Spike!" She shouted to her number one assistant. Bring in the girls!" She shouted, causing her assistant to open the door, being followed behind by three adult mares, all looking like they were marching to the gallows. First a yellow earth pony with red hair and orange eyes, followed by a orange pegasus with oversized wings, purple eyes, and a purple mane, and finally a white unicorn mare with green eyes, and a purple and pink two color mane -- who looked like she was about to collapse all the way out of the room -- and, further, looking something like she was suffering from a hair disaster and a very poor attempt to duplicate Rarity's signature style.

Rarity, however, didn't seem to notice, turning to Twilight with at least a little discomfort. "Twilight? -- " She asked, in dismay. " -- Darling. You are kidding me right?" She said, looking very confused. "Is this some kind of royal joke? Did Rainbow put you up to something -- " She said, getting a healthy cry of protest from the blue pegasus. " -- these look like perfectly healthy adult mares to me!" She said, looking over at Sweetie and blushing. "Well -- except for that one! She looks a little green under the gills," she said, looking over to Applejack. "You agree right, Applejack?"

Meanwhile, the young apple's face had seemed to lose it's orange, going pale instead. "ya'... better... look again pard'ner!" She said, struggling with the words -- making sure to grab granny, incase her legs failed her. "Ah mean, just look at 'em Rarity!" She said, with concern. "Twi?" She asked in abject panic. "They ain't gunna keep gettin' older right?" She asked, wringing her hooves.

Rarity turned to her friend, and gave her 'my friend is being silly' laugh. "Oh Applejack! Oh come now! There's nothing to see. They are perfectly healthy mares down to their ... " She said, looking down, and wobbling slightly -- her legs starting to fail. "Blank flanks..." She said, barely holding what was left of her composure.

Applejack turned to Twilight, looking very concerned for her sister's health, and future. "Ah'm gunna ask this once -- an' only once!" She said, getting serious. "What happened Twi'?" She said, looking none too happy. "Wha' happened ta mah sister? Did ya' try some magic again?"

Twilight turned to her friend, and shook her hooves and head with great gusto. "Oh no! I would never cast magic on the girls without your approval! And, if it will make you feel better, I think the spell has already aged them all it will!"

"So..." Rarity said, laughing a fake laugh. "Twilight, what, exactly happened to my sister, then?" She asked, parrotting Applejack, beginning to sound perturbed herself.

"Well you see." Twilight said, rubbing one hoof against the other. "The girls kind of snuck in last night, and found a book on super advanced magic, that I had, kind of, left out while studying it for the princesses, and kind of cast one of the spells on themselves... and well... you see the results!"

"Oh dear!" Rarity said, rushing over to her sister to feel her mane. "You can reverse this right?" Twilight. "I can't have Sweetie running around looking like this!" She said, with concern. "I mean, Just look at her mane!"

Applejack rolled her eyes again -- oh that mare. "But Rarity is right Twi'," she said, finding herself in agreement with the prissy pony. "Ya can reverse this right?" She said, putting her hooves together, in a begging position. "Ah can't imagine that magic like this would do 'Bloom any good!"

Twilight blushed. "Thank you for your confidence girls, but the spell is extremely advanced, and I don't want to try any counterspells until I'm one hundred percent sure that I can reverse it safely," she said, entering her lecturing mode. "I mean I can't risk the girls safety unless I'm very sure that it can be reversed safely."

Sweetie frowned, and chimed in, quietly, still dragging herself around. "But Twilight I said I could simply reverse it once my magic comes back!"

Twilight frowned. "I know Sweetie, but with how advanced this spell is, I'm worried that cancellation wouldn't be as easy as that, and I really don't want to risk that something bad might happen if you were to make a mistake," she said, seriously. "Tell you what Sweetie." Twilight said, reassuringly. "You can definitely try, but I want to be there when you do -- so I can intervene if there's a problem."

"But wouldn't you get caught in the spell, and become young too?" Sweetie asked, wondering if her magic mentor had thought everything through.

"Let me worry about that." Twilight responded, with a wink -- channeling her mentor, for a moment. "Besides, there's things I can do if something like that was on the verge of happening," she said, feeling sure of her abilities (and hoping that Star Swirl's old spell wasn't too complicated, for even her.)

"So why don't ya cast it now?" Bloom asked again.

"Because I'm not ready to yet Apple Bloom." Twilight responded. "I want to learn more about this spell first, before I attempt something like that! The reason I went with your suggestion, is because a week should be more then enough time for me to get the ins and outs of this spell!... I hope..."

"'Course you know Twi's right." Applejack responded to her sister, giving her a reassuring smile. "The worst thing ya' can do, girls, is cast magic ya' don't know anything 'bout," she said, turning her frown to her sister. "'Cause that's how ya got inta this mess in the first place," she said, with a scowl. "Meanwhile Twi's got more magic than she knows what ta do with," she continued, a smirk showing on her face. "Now... Twi', 'bout this whole messy business. What should teh girl's -- " She said, before the apple matriarch chimed in.

"Ah phooey Applejack!" Granny Smith responded, sternly. "Ah know them girls made a mistake an all, but they gotta make their own decisions eventually! 'Sides ain't anywhere as bad as ah was expecting," she said, firmly. 

"'Course those decisions should have consequences." Applejack continued, firmly. "Now what would be the best punishment fur ya' young lady?" She said, avoiding a smirk, as her sisters piteous condition began to become more funny than frightening.

Apple Bloom, simply stood there defiantly -- she had done what she felt she had to do in her pursuit of her mark, and she wasn't going to back down now. She scuffed her hoof -- fuming quietly, feeling indignant.

Rarity turned her gaze to her sister disapprovingly. Giving her a shortened version of her lecture, as it looked like her sister's condition wouldn't be able to handle the extended version. "Sweetie!" She said, firmly. "I am very disappointed in you! I thought, when we agreed to allow Twilight to teach you magic, that you would follow some basic rules and stipulations," she said, with a stern expression (and a thesaurus hidden right behind Sweetie's head.) "Meaning that you would only cast magic that she condoned." Rarity said, her voice containing disappointment.

Sweetie nodded silently still sobbing silently. Not just was she feeling weak and tired, but she also messed everything up again, and made everyone angry at her again. She just felt like a total failure.

After a couple of minutes Rarity's countenance began to crack. "You are forgiven Sweetie." Rarity said, her anger and disappointment beginning to falter, as well. 

After a few seconds, Rarity smiled -- feeling her sister had apologized enough. "Though I am just as proud as Twilight, of how your magic has progressed. It amazes me how much, both you, and your magic have grown!" She said, feeling legitimate pride in her sister -- maybe she was wrong about what her sister's special talent should be. "Maybe Twilight wasn't so crazy to keep teaching you magic in Twilight Time after you learned basic unicorn magic," she said, proudly, winking slightly.

"Does that mean I'm not in trouble anymore?" Sweetie squeaked, unable to jump for joy like she wanted.

"Oh no!" Rarity said, with a smile. "You are still, very much, in trouble -- but I'll figure out an appropriate punishment for you after our adventure to Canterlot!" She said, trying and failing to use a stern expression. "Does this seem fair?"

Sweetie didn't have a chance to respond before Rainbow raced up, in full rainbow colors (if she had gone much faster, than the library would've been wrecked by a sonic rainboom.) "Awesome Squirt!" She said, making sure to give an impressed whistle at Scootaloo's wings. "Just look at those wings!" She said, exuberantly. "With wings like those I should stop calling you Squirt, and maybe come up with a cool name like 'Thunderbolt', or 'Phantom wing' or 'Highflyer'... or something!" She said with enthusiasm as her number one fan gladly joined in -- herself bouncing along eagerly. "I mean, -- " She said, having to rear up to give the squirt a noogie. " -- no more platitudinous nonsense like 'you're awesome just the way you are' or 'you're you and I'm me' or any other such demeaning drivel!" Rainbow said, motioning her hoof as best she could to mimic the movement of her lips as she talked about Scootaloo 'being awesome just the way she was'. (By the by, Rainbow and Twilight were both very impressed with how well the studying for the wonderbolts exam helped her vocabulary.) 

She turned to her number one fan, putting one hoof on her side, and motioning with the other. "Nope Squirt you and I are going flying! And I won't take no for an answer! I can't wait for us to go out and break those beautiful babies in!" She said, flaring her own wings, for effect. "Maybe I could teach you some genuine pegasus only pranks; or maybe some of my signature stunts, and -- "

Twilight turned to Rainbow, with a stern expression. "RAINBOW!!!" She shouted, forcefully -- making sure that her expression and eyes said 'don't encourage her!' as clearly as possible!

"Oh sorry..." Rainbow said, with a blush. Turning to Scootaloo, she opened her mouth to mouth the harshest sentence of disapproval that had been given all day. "I'm very disappointed in you squirt... blah blah blah..." She said, deadpan (ok maybe the level of disappointment in that sentence was overrated.)

Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack rolled their eyes in unison. They were probably going to need to get the Sunbirds involved, unless they wanted Scootaloo to get into the habit of breaking and entering. (Which reminded Twilight.)

"Girls." Twilight said, as calmly and politely as she could. "Could you go back into the kitchen while the Apples, Rarity, and I discuss this matter," she said, hoping the girls would comply this time (and preparing how best to chastise Rainbow for encouraging Scootaloo's bad behavior.)

"Hey!" Rainbow shouted angrily. "I'm here too!" (Silly Rainbow! Twilight wanted to talk to the adults!)

Once again, Twilight, Rarity, and the Apples rolled their eyes.

"Ahem...." Twilight said, clearing her throat. "Could you go back into the kitchen while the Apples, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and I discuss the matter," she said, making good and sure to add emphasis to the words 'Rainbow Dash' (hopefully Rainbow was happy now!)

"Sure Twilight." Apple Bloom said, dragging the other two back into the kitchen to finish the game of Marenopoly they started with Spike. Yeah it felt bad to be banished back there, but at least she had her winning row of hotels to look forward to -- that and wiping her win in Scootaloo's face.

"Hey Spike!" Twilight said, stopping the dragon, before he could leave the room. "Take a letter," she said to her number one assistant.

"Sure Twilight!" He responded dutifully. "Who do you want me to take it out too, the princess?"

"No Spike!" Twilight responded, clearing her throat. "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sunbird,..." She started dictating.

"Well! This definitely complicates things!" Rarity responded, sadly. "I had hoped to be in Canterlot already, and hiding Sweetie's condition is going to be very difficult," she said, with a frown.

**********

"So what  do you think they'll decide?" Scootaloo asked curiously, turning to Apple Bloom. "You think we're going to get grounded? Or do you think they will cancel Twilight Time instead or something?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ah don't know! But ah worry about what mah sister will recommend -- 'cause if she slips inta 'big sister world savior mode' then ah'm finished!" she said, still smarting about that whole get to take care of her chores by herself, but not really, thing.

"I don't think it matters." Sweetie said, with a sigh, still looking really, really, tired -- laying spread out on her belly.. "It doesn't really matter to me," she said, laying her head on the ground, along with the rest of her.

Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom looked at each other, passing concerned expressions. Wondering if Sweetie was going to be ok.

"Ya ok Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked, wondering if she should race out and get the adults. "Ya gunna be alright?"

Sweetie nodded. "I'm fine! Just really tired," she said, with a yawn. "Casting spells like the one we cast last night takes a lot of magic! And the spell took more out of me then I thought it would. Add that my magic capacity suddenly quadrupled, and you see now that I'm dealing with a quarter of nothing.

Apple Bloom still looked unconvinced, but Scootaloo had already moved on, having fallen in love with her own wings. "Ok! Will do!" She said, with obvious enthusiasm -- and being obviously distracted. "Besides!" She said, feeling like her honorary big sister was out there defending her to the last. "Did you see how much Rainbow likes my wings!?" She said, bouncing off the walls. "Maybe we'll finally be able to actually do things together as honorary sisters?" She said, buzzing her wings like she normally would -- except this time, instead of staying put, she slowly levitated higher and higher. After a few seconds she stopped, and gradually drifted down using what little she knew about flying. "Heck!" She said, eagerly. "I'm not going to wait!" She said, planning on a bold escape plan. "I want to try these babies out now!" She said, getting into the takeoff position that she had seen Rainbow use so many times.

"Ah... Scoots!" Apple Bloom said, suddenly taking notice. "Ya sure this is a good idea? Especially since we ah're indoors an -- "

"Nah!" Scootaloo said, with a wave of her hoof, and a flap of her wings. "It'll be fine! I know how my wings work!" She exclaimed, buzzing her wings as she normally would -- if not with extra vigor.

However, her wings were no longer tiny shriveled magicless tumors, instead they were now majestic wings that any pegasus would envy. And, as a result, the result was inevitable.

She shot up like a rocket, hitting her head against the room's ceiling -- her wings still flapping violently. "Ouch!!!" She exclaimed, trying to rub her head. But there was no time for that as she glanced off the ceiling -- her wings still flapping instinctively -- did a series of rolls along the pitch axis, finally hitting the ceiling on the other side of the room. "Oooch!!!!" She exclaimed, doing a corkscrew into the floor -- just missing some dangerously sharp objects, before finally sliding to the stop across the room, on the other side.

"Oh!" Pinkie said, sympathetically. "And you were doing so well too!" She said, suddenly materializing between the three little ponies (from where? Nopony could tell.) "I mean! She was all like woosh!" She said, parroting Scootaloo's motions with her hoof. "But then she was all like bam, and then pow -- " She said, hitting her hoof on invisible walls. " -- and then ouch!" She said, prattling uncontrollably.

"Huh?" All three crusaders asked in unison, turning to look over. "Pinkie?" They asked, only to find out that she was suddenly gone. Off to wherever she came from.

"Do ya think she's gone already?" Apple Bloom asked, turning to Sweetie, who shrugged as best she could.

A thought suddenly occurred to Apple Bloom -- causing her smile to drop. "Are ya ok Scoots? She asked, trotting over to her friend -- once again wondering if she should be talking to the adults.

"I'm ok!" Scootaloo said, shaking her head nautiously. "Apparently!" She said, still shaking her head. "Attempting to fly the way I always have will not work," she said, shaking her head dizzily.  "And apparently trying to fly indoors will only result in pain," she commented, insightfully.

**********

A series of loud thumps could be heard in the other room, that caused almost everypony to practically jump out of her skins.

"What in good Celestia's name was that?" Rarity asked in dismay -- turning to Twilight. "Should we check on the girls?" Rarity said, imagining that something bad had happened, like they were kidnapped by Nightmare Moon, or something.

Rainbow waved her hoof, attempting to hide her enthusiasm behind a layer of false indifference. "That, Twilight was the sound of thunderbolt (aka the squirt) rocking her new wings!" Rainbow exclaimed, proudly. "Just like her mentor!" She said, as tears of joy (aka liquid pride) started to flow, from her eyes. However it was short lived as the proud pegasus blushed -- putting up her walls again. "I mean... good for her," she said, looking back to a room full of scowls. "What?" She asked, as Applejack rolled her eyes again. "Oh!!!" She exclaimed. "I mean... I'm so disappointed in her," she said, disingenuously, putting on a fake frown. "Boo."

Fluttershy finally chimed in, herself. "Um... Maybe we should let them go," she squeaked nervously. "I mean it was just a mistake, and I think they are upset already," she said, cowering when all other turned to look at her. "Sorry..."

Twilight sighed, sternly. "Normally I would agree, but they need to learn that forbidden magic is forbidden for a reason," she said, wagging her hoof. "And Sweetie needs to understand that there's a cost to casting magic that I told her explicitly not to," she said, frowning again.

Rarity rose her hoof, and stuck it in Twilight's face, interrupting her. "Well. I, for one feel that Sweetie has suffered enough." Rarity said, calmly, her eyes glancing back at Twilight in the most down to earth, business like manner. "I think whatever the horrible fate that has befallen her is punishment enough!" She said, her face falling a little, her eyes staring downwards in a sure sign of pity. After a short while, she decided to bring up something that had been nagging at her. "By the by Twilight, should I be seeing the doctor about Sweetie? Her condition seems to be really rough." Rarity said, fidgeting noticeably -- biting her lip slightly. "I mean she looks really, really, really horrid. And I worry that she'll just keep getting tired until -- " She stopped talking, opting instead to sob quietly.

Twilight put a reassuring hoof on her friend's shoulder. "I wouldn't worry yet. I've noticed how weak and tired she is." Twilight said, nonchalantly. "But I believe it's just from the exhaustion. She did, after all, use a lot of magic all at once," she said, giving a reassuring smile to Rarity. "But you should probably take her in if isn't better by morning, or if it gets any worse -- they have medicines they can give a pony suffering from a lack of magic."

Rarity smiled back, nervously. "I suppose," she said, pausing to catch her breath. "Though I do think the dear has had enough," she said, pausing again, for emphasis. "I shall only give her a stern talking to, and then we shall still have our trip to Canterlot, as planned," she said, to a collective gasp from the group.

"Ya' can't just let her git away with this!" Applejack said, with a scowl. "After what she did to 'Bloom an' the others."

"I can and I will." Rarity insisted. "Though we will have to give the dear something to hide her condition. Maybe a dress, or a skirt," she said, contemplatively. "And I suppose the dear won't like it, but, I suppose that, that can probably be her punishment, as well," she said, sternly.

"That's poppycock!" Applejack said, with agitation. "There's no way she should be allowed to git away with that! Ah plan to ground bloom for a  -- " She said, before Twilight raised a hoof to interrupt her.

"Think for a second!" Twilight Cautioned. "I don't think that will work!" Twilight said, the wheels in her head turning quietly.

"An why not?" Applejack asked, feeling slightly indignant.

"Because all it will do is make her indignant." Twilight started, before being interrupted again. 

"Ah hear you Twi'! But there ain't no way she can go 'round school lookin' like that!" She said, with concern. "Then there's the whole matter of scarein' us all stiff!" She said, stamping her hoof. "There's gotta be some kind of re-pro-cussions!"

"Oh!" Twilight said, with a smirk. "There will be!" She said, her expression becoming mischievous.

"Don't tell me your plotting another one of those Mare-do-well style 'lessons'!" Rainbow said, angrily, crossing her front legs, again, -- a scowl showing across her face. "I hated Mare-do-well!" She said, remembering how long it took for her to get her confidence back after that little 'lesson'. She continued. "I mean is it so hard to just ask me to knock it down slightly? Or to tell me I'm taking something too far?" She asked, to embarrassed expressions from the other ponies.

"Sorry about that." Twilight said, with a frown. "I was worried that you wouldn't listen, especially after you interrupted Applejack -- and I kind of over thought things," she said, with a blush.

"Apology accepted." Rainbow replied. "Now what scheme were you up to?"

"Well!" Twilight said, regaining her mirth. "I was thinking that since she's an adult now, that she should be helping with the adult chores."

Granny Smith smiled back, herself looking mischievous. "Sounds like a fair plan ta me! Though ah still think she might need to spend the night in her room ta think 'bout things!" She said, transition from mischievous to stern.

Twilight nodded. "So girls. Any idea what we plan to do about Scootaloo?"

"Why the squirt thunderbolt can stay with me for a few days!" Rainbow said, with confidence. "And I can think of some appropriate punishment," she said, making sure to look responsible -- in a cool way.

Twilight shook her head. "Rainbow! We talked about this!" She said, sternly. "And if I condoned this, we'd have to ask Scootaloo's folks first! And they would almost certainly -- "

"Already have!" Rainbow responded.

"Say what?" Twilight said, her face showing obvious confusion. "What do you mean you already have?"

"Already have!" Rainbow said, repeating herself, for effect. "I had Spike send a letter to them, just after you sent yours."

"Rainbow!" Twilight said, her voice getting louder. "That's an abuse of dragon fire! And I neither I nor them gave you permission to send them mail without permission."

"Relax Twilight!" Rainbow said, getting serious. "I'm the element of loyalty! And I wouldn't feel right about myself if I didn't help Scoots out in any way I could!" She said, standing firm.

"Fine." Twilight sighed, still feeling like her friend had acted out of turn. "But ... I hope, for your sake, that they won't mind!"

"Twilight! Twilight!" Spike shouted, exuberantly. "A letter from the sunbirds!" He said, unrolling the scroll.

"All hail princess Twilight, the Princess of Friendship, the Duchess of Ponyville, owner of the golden oaks, head of the ponyville library, and princess of equestria,"

"Wow!" Twilight responded. "They are laying it on really thick aren't they.

"We are deeply upset to hear what has happened to our dearest Scootaloo -- but we feel that, sometimes, these kinds of mistakes can't be avoided. And, though it goes against our better judgement, we feel that it would be prudent to accept Rainbow's offer -- after all our daughter is now -- "

Twilight looked at the paper, and noticed moisture from, what she assumed to be, tears.

" -- old enough to care for herself.
Please tell her that she will find her way in Ponyville now that she's an adult.
In due awe, and reverence, Royal Sunbird, Countess of East Cloudsdale, Mistress to the mayor of Cloudsdale."

Rainbow stood there puzzling for a second. "Ok Twilight! I think she's confused!" Rainbow said, bristling slightly. "Shouldn't we send her a letter telling her that Sweetie is simply going to reverse the spell in one week?"

"Actually Rainbow..." Twilight responded, somberly. "She might not be able to... It really depends on the nature of this spell..."