//------------------------------// // Apprehensions... // Story: The Encounter // by Winter_Solstice //------------------------------// “This dog really is just going for a walk!” said Scootaloo. The little group had been wandering for some time now, following Winona. They had no idea where to begin looking, so they’d hoped the dog could pick up a strange scent on her own. So far, nothing. Apple Bloom had been unusually quiet the entire time, and had kept glancing back in the direction of her home. At Scootaloo’s outburst, she looked up and said, “It ain’t her fault.” She sighed. “I just knew this was a bad idea. Let’s go back afore them Guards see us.” “You worry too much, AB,” said Scootaloo. “They aren’t searching for us!” “But, what if we do find whatever they’re looking for first?" asked Sweetie Belle. “What if it is dangerous?” “Don’t you start, Sweetie! I told you, we’ll be fine: if we spot it, we’ll just run off and tell one of the Guards or Twilight where we saw it.” Apple Bloom stopped and planted her hooves. “No.” The other two stopped and looked at her. “Apple Bloom? What’s wrong?” asked Sweetie Belle. She looked straight at Scootaloo and said, “This is as far as I go. I lied to my family, I’m hungry, my dog ain’t found a thing, and you ain’t got no idea what you’re doing!” “Don’t you yell at me!” said Scootaloo. “We need to be bold and brave, just like Rainbow Dash, if we’re ever going to get our cutie marks! You know that!” “Girls, please don’t fight!” squeaked Sweetie Belle, as she tried to step between them. They took no notice. “What I know is we been out here wastin’ our time! What kinda cutie mark would we git? Bein’ lost? Bein’ hungry? Lyin' to my family?! I don’t want none of those!” Scootaloo started to make an angry retort of her own when Apple Bloom’s last words sunk in. She backed off a few steps and lowered her eyes. “You…you’re right, Apple Bloom. I’m sorry. I know how much your family means to you. I just…I just want my cutie mark so bad.” Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them angrily away. Apple Bloom stepped back as well. “I do too,” she said, “but I just don’t think this is workin’.” “We all do,” added Sweetie Belle. “C’mon, we can try something else. Let’s go home. We can have breakfast at my house.” They got to their feet and started back when Apple Bloom noticed Winona was missing. “Winona? Here, girl!” She whistled loudly. The border collie came bounding out of some bushes and began to bark excitedly. “What’s going on, girl? Did you find something?” asked Apple Bloom. The dog barked again, and then ran off a few feet, then looked back at them. The three Crusaders looked at each other. “C’mon!” yelled Scootaloo. They chased after Winona, who ran off, stopped and sniffed, then ran off again. “She’s got the scent! We’re gonna find it!” yelled Apple Bloom. All thoughts of going home were forgotten as they followed the dog. Soon, they came to the bridge that led to Fluttershy’s house. The dog would have run up to her door, but Apple Bloom grabbed her collar with a hoof before she could cross the bridge. Winona whined and tried to pull away. The Crusaders exchanged glances. “This cain’t be right,” said Apple Bloom. “We been searching all this time, and it’s in Fluttershy’s house?” Scootaloo huffed, “Does that dog even know what we’re doing out here?” “Don’t you make fun o’ my dog!” “I’m not, I’m not!” said Scootaloo hastily. “It’s just…well…unlikely she’s found what the Guards were looking for in there. You just said so.” Before Apple Bloom could answer there was the sound of leathery wings above them, as two Night Guards swiftly landed. The three backed up in fear. Bat ponies tended to be frightening at first, and they’d never seen any up close before. “Don’t be alarmed, young fillies,” said one. "We saw you running in this direction from the Forest. Is something wrong?” “We’ve been looking for—” began Sweetie Belle before Scootaloo suddenly stuck a hoof in her mouth. “No, no problem, officers! Just taking our friend’s dog for a walk!” She smiled her toothiest grin. The Guards looked at her, glanced at each other, then looked at the dog, who was still trying to get away and cross the bridge. “Your dog seems pretty excited about something,” said one. “Is that a border collie?” Apple Bloom spoke up. “Yes, she is, officer. Her name’s Winona.” The Guard smiled. “I had a border collie when I was a filly. They can get pretty worked up when they want to.” The Crusaders couldn’t keep the look of shock off their faces. “You had a dog for a pet?” Sweetie Belle blurted out after she’d removed Scootaloo’s hoof. Both Guards turned their cat-like gaze on her. “Yes. Is that so strange?” Sweetie Belle seemed to realize she’d misspoken, for she stammered an apology. The Guard smiled and waved it off. “No offense taken, young pony. But you three had best be getting home. It may not be safe to be outside right now. Take care.” With that, they both flew off. Once the Guards were out of sight, Sweetie Belle turned on Scootaloo. “What’d you do that for?! I thought we were going to tell the Guards if we found it!” “We can’t say we found it if they do first! We need to investigate on our own. C’mon!” With Winona straining to get away, they each crossed the bridge and stood at Fluttershy’s door. “Hush, Winona! Down!” whispered Apple Bloom. The dog quieted herself but looked dejected. She really, really wanted to get whatever was inside. Apple Bloom turned to the others. “So, now what? Do we knock?” Scootaloo thought for a moment. “Let’s look inside one of the windows first. That way we can tell if there’s something weird in there, without bothering Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom frowned. “That seems really sneaky. We should just knock. What do you think, Sweetie?” “I’m with you. Let’s just get this over with.” “Fine!” said Scootaloo. “But I think this is a mistake.” Even so, she approached the door and knocked loudly on it. There was a pause, during which they could hear a voice being raised, and another answering, and then the door slowly opened a crack and Fluttershy peeked out.