The tree that stood before Silver that afternoon seemed large and imposing. The treehouse before her looked something like a small cottage, and would normally look inviting to ponies from the outside. But the nervous filly felt the current residents would want to keep her out.
“Are you sure about this?” Silver asked the white filly next to her.
“You’re the one that told me you wanted to get your apology to them out of the way,” Sweetie answered, with a camera “borrowed” from Rarity. “And I saw you while grabbing the camera we need so we can be Cutie Mark Crusader Photographers, so I decided now would be a good time.”
“I guess. Still, I don’t think they’ll be too welcoming,” Silver said, as they walked up the stairs.
“I’m sure, as soon as you apologize, everything will be fine,” Sweetie answered.
---
“What were you thinking, Sweetie?”
“Why th’ hay did ya bring her up here?”
Their comments about her mere presence in their clubhouse was close to what Silver was expecting. Scootaloo was sitting in a beanbag chair, Apple Bloom in a desk chair, and the both regarded Silver with suspicion. She started to feel like this was a mistake, and was ready to just forget the whole thing and leave.
“She has something to say to all of us. I already heard it, but...” Sweetie started.
“Then why can’t you tell us, instead of bringing her here?” Apple Bloom asked.
“For all we know, this could be some trick cooked up by Diamond,” Scootaloo added, crossing her front hooves and leaning back in her seat.
“S...she doesn’t have anything to do with...” Silver started, before she was cut off.
“Nobody asked you, Silver. In fact, why don’t you leave like that masked character?” Scootaloo cut in, waving a hoof dismissively. “Hi, yo Silver, aw...”
“SHUT THE BUCK UP AND LET HER SPEAK!” Sweetie shouted at the both of them.
The other three fillies glanced at each other in surprise before turning back towards her. They rarely heard Sweetie yell at anypony, and it was the first time they heard a swear come out of her mouth. Granted, it was one of the most mild curses, but hearing it come out of the mouth of Rarity’s sister was shocking to both of them.
“Okay, I’ll give her a few minutes,” Scootaloo said, before turning to Silver. “But if I hear the words ‘blank flank’ come out of your mouth, I’ll be kicking you out the door so fast, you’ll be making your own Sonic Rainboom.”
Apple Bloom merely nodded in agreement, before the three fillies turned expectantly towards Silver.
Having three pairs of eyes on her, in a place that she only was in a few times, made Silver freeze up. Diamond did most of the talking between them, and Silver just went along with whatever she said. Speaking alone, before others, was not one of her strong points. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she let it all out in a rush.
“I want to apologize, for everything. Like I told Sweetie, I’m not going to make excuses for my actions. I...I want to say that...I’m sorry,” she told them.
There was a pause, before Scootaloo said, “I don’t buy it.”
Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo, some shock on her face. Sweetie also turned towards Scootaloo with some surprise, and a touch of anger. Neither of them said anything, and Scootaloo used their silence to continue.
“Seriously, girls. She’s been tormenting us with Diamond ever since we knew them. Now she’s suddenly all apologetic and sorry for what she did? I think this is some trick conjured up by Diamond to let our guard down, before they spring something on us,” she told them, before leaning close to Silver, purple eyes burning into her own violet ones, as she said, “I’m right, aren’t I?”
Wilting under her gaze, Silver just managed to stammer out, “N-no, Scootaloo, i-it's not...”
“Scootaloo, stop it,” Apple Bloom scolded, before turning to Silver. “Can you step outside a moment, while we have a private talk?”
Silver just nodded, as she stepped outside and let the clubhouse door close behind her. Once outside, she stepped around the balcony and watched them through the window. She couldn’t hear what they said, but she could watch their actions and expressions well enough.
---
“Scootaloo, that was unnecessary,” Sweetie said.
“But what if I’m right? And this is some trick?” Scootaloo answered. “After all she’s done, you still believe her?”
“You didn’t see her on Monday like I did,” Sweetie replied. “She looked horrible, she was upset over her breakup with Diamond, and she was worried about being all alone.”
“She deserves it,” Scootaloo answered, then noticed Apple Bloom had been silent the entire time. “Apple Bloom, back me up here.”
After a moment of silence, they heard Apple Bloom whisper something under her breath, before looking up at her two friends and saying, “We should give ‘er a chance.”
Scootaloo just shook her head and stomped her hoof before yelling, “I can’t believe you’re both buying this!”
She reached up and, with a tug, removed her Cutie Mark Crusader cape. After tossing it on the floor before them, she turned and walked out.
---
When Silver saw Scootaloo heading towards the door, she quickly made her way back around the corner to the front, just before Scootaloo opened the door and started down the stairs.
“Scootaloo...” Sweetie started.
“Tell me when you two come to your senses,” Scootaloo yelled back, without turning her head, as she got on her scooter and sped away. The three fillies watched her go, before Silver started for the stairs herself.
“Silver, you’re going too?” Sweetie asked.
“All my apology did was break you girls up,” Silver said, turning back towards them. “And it’s not like I can join you on your crusades, I already have my cutie mark. I have to go and hopefully make things right.”
“Silver, ya didn’t have anything ta do with Scootaloo leavin’. Ah'm sure she’ll come around eventually,” Apple Bloom told her, walking up and wrapping a hoof around her neck.
“Still, I feel responsible, and I have to do something...” she said, then brightened up a bit. “And I think I know what.”
---
An hour after the clubhouse incident, Scootaloo was at a grassy field bordered by a river, near the Apple Family property. It was a spot where she went to think, and kept it a secret from even her closest friends.
Only Cheerilee knew she went here. Apple Bloom may know about the field and river, but not that she used it as a secret area. She leaned against a tree, thinking about what happened back at the clubhouse, wondering if Silver was really sincere...
No, there’s no way she could be sincere. It’s a trick, and the others will see that...
“Scootaloo?” a voice said.
Scootaloo turned around to see Silver spoon standing a few feet away, just emerging from the trees at the edge. Scootaloo jumped up on her hooves and glared at her, the two of them standing only a few feet apart.
“How did you find me?” Scootaloo asked.
“Miss Cheerilee told me where I could probably find you,” Silver answered.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper from her saddlebags, pushed it towards her, then turning and walking away. Scootaloo watched her for a moment, then took the piece of paper and opened it up. It had a sketch of herself and the other two Crusaders, walking together with smiles on their faces. Along with it was a message.
“Even if you don’t trust me, please don’t break up with them,” Scootaloo read.
---
As Silver made her way from the field, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled behind a bush, her glasses flying off her face. She struggled for a moment, her muzzle covered by a hoof. As she tried to focus her eyes to see who had her, she gave a muffled gasp as she recognized her.
“We need to talk,” Diamond Tiara said.