//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: "Abacus is here." // Story: A Pop Star, a Princess, and a Prisoner // by Raptormon132 //------------------------------// Night time came soon enough. When Applejack went to bed, she could not help but think about today, about the townsfolk, but most of all, about Abacus. She even thought about the possible encounter her sister Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo had with him. If it was Abacus, was he safe, and where could he have gone. Can’t think about it now. She thought to herself. Ah’ll think about it in the mornin’. But right now, Ah need some shut-eye. She then pulled the covers over herself, turned over on her most comfortable position, and let herself be taken over by the clutches of sleep. Suddenly, Applejack was awoken by a noise. The noise sounded like objects falling, and it came from inside the barn. Winona began to bark immediately afterwards. “…Wha…What was that?” Applejack said groggily. She then got out of bed and quickly glanced at her clock, which read 3:42 am. The noise also woke Big Mac, as he stood outside Applejack's bedroom door looking at Applejack with a “you-heard-it-too” look on his face. “Let’s go check it out.” Applejack said quietly to Big Mac, being careful to not disturb Granny Smith and Apple Bloom who were still asleep. They made their way down the stairs and out the front door, being careful not to make a sound, and quietly made their way towards the entrance to the barn. “Someone in there, Winona?” Applejack whispered. As Winona continued to bark and growl at the barn door, Applejack and Big Mac thought to each other that someone, most likely someone from the crowd, had decided to go snooping around in the barn to see if Abacus was hiding in there. They quietly crept towards the barn door, and placed their ears on it to listen in. Though hearing nothing, Applejack decided to investigate anyway, especially since there were creates full of apples in there they had harvested earlier. “Ah’m goin' in.” Applejack whispered to Big Mac. “Ya stay out here in case anypony decides ta run out.” “Eeyup.” Applejack opened the barn door slowly, being careful not to make a sound, and slipped inside. The inside of the barn was dark, but somewhat lit-up from the moonlight seeping in through the windows, so she could see shadows. She quietly crept towards the crates of apples at the other end of the barn. She stopped to see the pitchfork was on the barn floor with a broken pieces of a pot, which she figured it was what made the noise. Suddenly, Applejack heard a tap sound against the barn wall, and then turned her head in the direction to where the noise came from. As she saw the spare wagon wheel resting against the barn wall with an open create full of apples, she immediately saw a shadowy figure sitting next to it. Though it was dark, she could tell it was a pony. Applejack charged at the pony. “Get away from my apples, ya thievin' varmint!” The pony jumped in fright and tried to run. Applejack tackled the pony hard to the barn floor before it could make it to the door. “Gotcha!” Applejack said as she stood on top pinning the intruder in the dark. The intruder struggled. “No! Please don’t hurt me!” Applejack could make out that the pony intruder was male. A stallion in his late 20s or early 30s. Big Mac opened the barn door wide to help Applejack handle the intruder. The light from the moon shone through, lighting up the dark parts of the barn as the barn door opened, until its shine came onto Applejack and the intruder, revealing the intruder’s face. Applejack was shocked and confused to see the apple thief’s face, as it was a male dark brown earth pony with grey hair. Applejack recognized who the pony was, even with those horrible scars on the left side of his face, scruffy coat and mane, and his cutie mark. “…Abacus?” Applejack said. ” Abacus whimpered. “Yes, it’s me. Please, Applejack. I mean you no harm. I had nowhere else to go. It was the only place I could hide. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t turn me in to the townsfolk. You heard what they’ll do if they get their hooves on me.” Applejack looked at Abacus with a smile and a look of pity, for seeing him in the state he was in after all he had been through made her soft hearted, like Fluttershy seeing a frightened, defenceless animal begging for mercy. “Ah ain't gonna hurt you.” Her voice was in a caring, sympathetic tone. “Ah’d never do any of that ta an old friend.” Hearing those words, Abacus slowly looked up at Applejack. Applejack saw that he was still unsure and fearful, but at least she knew that her question was answered. He was safe. Moments later, Applejack and Big Mac brought Abacus inside, and had him sat down on the sofa. They then moved in front of him, and began to talk to him. “So what were ya doin' in our barn?” Applejack asked. “Hiding...Like I have been for the past week. After I was released, I ran away to hide from the outside. I travelled for days, until I came back to Ponyville last night during the storm." Abacus sniffled and sobbed. "But I feared the town would try to run me out. So I took shelter in a tree house on your farm, where I survived on eating some apples from your apple trees on the edge of your orchid. But then the next day, I was attacked by two little fillies who tried to capture me. So I ran, and snuck into your barn to hide. Then later on, I heard an angry mob came looking for me.” “Alright! Where is he?!” “Where’s who, Caramel?” “Don’t play dumb with us! You know good and well who we’re talking about!” “We know Abacus is here!” “What are you talking about?” “A little filly told us that Abacus was here snooping around, and that he assaulted her!” “Now where are you hiding him?!” “He must be in the barn!” “Abacus! We know you’re in there!” “You’re so going to get it when we ever get our hooves on you! You hear us?!” A sudden realization came over Applejack and Big Mac as they recalled the incident that afternoon. “So ya were hiding in there?” Applejack said. “It’s not a wonder ya did. Ya must’ve heard everythin'.” Abacus dropped his head down, with some small tears shedding out of his eyes and running down his scarred and scruffy cheek. “And now...since I’m no longer welcome, I have nothing to look forward to. No place to go. No job. No home. No family. No…friends.” Applejack placed a heartfelt hoof on his shoulder to comfort the scruffy, depressed brown earth pony stallion. “That ain’t true, sugarcube. Ah’m yer friend. Big Mac's ya friend. Ya got lots of friends. An' they all wanna help ya.” Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup.” “There are some ponies who believed ya wouldn’t kill anypony. W'all believe ya were innocent. An' w'all missed ya.” Abacus looked Applejack in the eyes as a kind smile parted Applejack's lips. Then both Applejack and Big Mac wrapped their front hooves around Abacus, and embraced him in a gentle, heartfelt hug. “It’s great ta see ya again, sugarcube.” “Eeyup.” Just then, they found themselves interrupted by a tired Apple Bloom who walked down stairs to see what was happening at this time of night. “Hey.” Apple Bloom yawned and rubbed her eyes. “What’s goin' on? All the lights are on, an' it's four in the morn-” Apple Bloom paused to see Abacus sitting on the sofa. Seeing his face, she let out a shocked gasp, for she recognized him as the pony that was in the paper, as well as the pony that she and Scootaloo encountered earlier. Seeing this, Applejack quickly grabbed Apple Bloom before she had a chance to say anything, and dragged her into the kitchen to talk to her. “Hey!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Keep yer voice down!” “But Applejack. That’s him. That’s the pony that was in our clubhouse. It’s the murderer.” “He’s NOT a murderer!” Apple Bloom cringed at Applejack yelling at her. She could clearly see that Applejack was angered, for she had not gotten that angry in a long time. Realizing she was being too aggressive, Applejack sighed, and put on a calmer tone. “Listen, sugarcube. Yes, it is Abacus, but ah promise ya he means no harm.” Apple Bloom tilted her head. “Well, what was he doin’ in our clubhouse? What’s he doin’ here?” “He’s been hidin’ since he was released from prison, an' he’s very depressed. Ya see he’s been trying ta remain out of sight from anypony, because he knows that the townsfolk are not real happy about him comin’ back. He was in yer clubhouse ta take shelter from the storm last night when ya, an' Scootaloo tried ta catch him. Then he secretly took refuge in the barn. An' he was hiddin’ in there until now.” Apple Bloom looked out the kitchen entrance to the living room towards Abacus. The sight of Abacus's ugly scarred face made her scared, but seeing him so sad, Apple Bloom's fear at the sight of him quickly changed to pity. She could not help feeling sorry for him, for she realized that he had lost everything in that tragedy, and suffered when he got locked up for a crime that was not to be. “That poor stallion.” Apple Bloom said. Applejack leaned down eye-level with Apple Bloom. “He’s gonna need a lot of support from his friends. Ah’ve gotta go, an' get Twilight, an' the others ta let'em know he’s here. Just stay here with Big Mac, an' try ta help keep Abacus company. Ya think ya can do that fer me, sugarcube?” Apple Bloom nodded. “Okay, Applejack.” Applejack smiled. “That’s my little sis! Now ah’ll be back as soon as ah can. An' don’t be scared ta talk ta him. Ah promise he won’t hurt ya.” “Alright.” Apple Bloom said. Applejack patted her little sister’s head, and lead her out the kitchen and into the living room. She then put her hat on, and walked towards the front door. “Ah’ll see y'all later.” As Apple Bloom watched Applejack trotted out the door and into the early morning darkness, she looked at Abacus, and slowly walked towards the sofa where he was sitting. When she was about a metre away from him, his eyes turned to her. That made her briefly hesitate, but Apple Bloom remembered not to be scared of him like Applejack had told her. “Hey, Mr Abacus.” Apple Bloom stammered, trying her hardest not to be scared. “Mind if ah sit down?” Abacus did not answer, only looked, and put his head down depressingly. Due to him not answering, Apple Bloom took it as a "yes". She climbed up on to the sofa, and sat down right next to him. Apple Bloom hesitated for a moment before speaking to him. “Hey, Mr Abacus? Ah’m... Ah'm really sorry about what happened at the clubhouse earlier. Ya gave me an' my friend, Scootaloo quite a scare. We thought ya were a burglar.” Abacus closed his eyes in shame. Apple Bloom noticed this, and tried to comfit him. “Hey, it’s alright. Ah understand ya were tryin’ ta hide an' seek shelter." She thought for a moment, trying to bring up a subject. "But anyway, Me, Scootaloo, an' another friend, Sweetie Belle own that clubhouse. An' we formed our own group. We call ourselves “the cutie mark crusaders”. Ya see me, an' my friends are on a crusade ta find, an' earn our cutie marks." Apple Bloom looked down to look at his flank to see his cutie mark. She saw that his cutie mark was of a wooden abacus counting frame with five rods, each having a different coloured set of beads on it in a ordered row. Blue, red, yellow, green, and purple. “Well, whaddayaknow. A counting frame cutie mark. Miss Cheerilee has one of those doohickeys at the schoolhouse fer teachin' math, but ah don't understand how they work. So ah just play with it.” Seeing that he still did not respond, Apple Bloom try to reassure him that everything was alright. She placed her little hoof on him, causing him to flinch, and began to stroke him gently. “It’s okay, Abacus. Nopony’s gonna hurt ya anymore. My sister, Applejack, an' her friends will help ya. They’re the best.” “...Tiger Lily.” “Huh?” Apple Bloom asked. “Whatcha' say?” “My wife...Tiger Lily...” Abacus opened his depressed eyes, and looked at Apple Bloom face-to-face. “...Her eyes. ...you have her eyes.” Apple Bloom blinked. “Ah... Ah do?” Abacus slowly nodded. Even though he did not speak very much, Apple Bloom still felt achieved that she at least got him to say something. She smiles at him for complementing her about having the same eyes as his wife. She then wrapped her little hooves around the scruffy coat of the depressed stallion, and cuddled him. “Ah admit that ah was scared of ya.” Apple Bloom said as she snuggled her head on Abacus. “But ain’t no more. Ah ain’t scared of ya.” Though Abacus was still sad, he was touched that the little filly was truthfully not afraid of him. Big Mac, who was watching from the kitchen smiled, for it made him proud to see that his little sister was really trying to make that full grown stallion feel better, even the smallest little bit. Soon enough, the crack of dawn came. Applejack, along with the rest of the Main Six made their way towards the barn as the sun began to come up from the distant hills of Sweet Apple Acres, and shined brightly to begin the new early morning. “Right, y’all,” Applejack said. “Abacus is inside.” “Well, you could’ve at least wait until later this morning to tell us.” Rarity yawned and brushed her hair with a hair brush in her magic. “A pony needs to have their well needed beauty sleep.” Applejack turned to the others. “I’m sorry ta get y’all outa’ bed this early, but this here’s mighty important.” “It’s okay, Applejack,” Twilight said. “From what you told us, I’m glad you did.” Before long, the Main Six made it to the Apples front door. Applejack walked in first, and saw her brother, Big Mac standing there to greet them. “Howdy, Big Ma-” “Shhh!” Big Mac tilted his eyes in a come-take-a-look-at-this fashion at Applejack. Applejack got curious as to what Big Mac wanted her to see without making a sound. She peered into the room to see Abacus sitting in the same spot on the sofa asleep with his head resting on the arm of the sofa, along with Apple Bloom asleep with her little hooves still wrapped around him, and her head resting on his lap. “Well, ah’ll be," Applejack said. "Isn’t that sweet.” Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup.” Applejack turned to her friends who were standing at the entrance to the front door. “Y’all wait out here.” Applejack walked quietly over to Abacus and Apple Bloom on the sofa. She then leaned down towards Apple Bloom, and gently shook her with her hoof. “Apple Bloom. Wakey-wakey, sugarcube.” Apple Bloom made a faint, cute, nosey snort sound as she woke up with a yawn. She then rubbed her eyes of sleep, and looked up at Applejack who was smiling at her proudly. “Hey, little sis.” Applejack said. “Mornin’ Applejack.” Apple Bloom said, still a bit groggy from sleeping. Apple Bloom's hoof accidentally bumped against Abacus’s thigh as she rose up. This caused Abacus to jolt awake, and jump all startled. “Whoa there, Hun.” Applejack waved her hoof in reassurance. “No need ta be all jumpy.” “Ah'm sorry, Abacus,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah didn't mean ta startle ya.” Abacus quickly calmed down, and quickly returned to his old depressed posture. Applejack sighed. “Well, now that ya’re awake, ah went, an' got my friends ta see ya. Most of them ya already know, an' they all wanna see ya. An' ah promise they ain’t here ta hurt ya. Can ah let’em in?” Abacus put his head down and shut his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, until he slowly nodded his head. “Alright then, sugarcube.” Applejack walked over to the front door and called out to the others. “Alright, everypony. Y’all can come in now.” The rest of the Main Six began to walk towards the door to enter, save but the pink blur of Pinkie Pie that rushed right past the others, and peered into the living room. “Abacus!” Pinkie Pie excitedly rushed over to Abacus like a pink blur, and wrapped her hooves around him in a big, tight hug before Abacus even realized it. “Oh, it’s so good to see you!” Applejack rushed over to stop Pinkie Pie from getting carried away, for she could tell Abacus was somewhat distressed and probably suffering from lack of oxygen. “Easy there, Pink! He ain’t a stuffed animal. Give’em some air.” “Oh, sorry.” Pinkie Pie said. As Pinkie Pie let Abacus go, he gasped for air from the pink pony's tight hug. And just as quickly, put his front legs up fearfully as if to protect himself. Pinkie Pie tilted her head in confusion. "What's wrong, Abacus? Don't you remember me? It's me, Pinkie Pie." “...Pinkie Pie.” Abacus said. “You do remember me!" Pinkie Pie bounced up and down with glee. "Whoo-hoo!” The rest of the Main Six all enter the house and into the living room to greet Abacus. “Abacus. So lovely to see yo-.” Rarity let out a shocked yelp at seeing Abacus's horribly scarred face. "Oh my goodness, darling! Whatever happened to your beautiful, handsome face?!" Abacus sadly winced, and turned his head left to keep his scarred left side of his face out of view. Applejack growled. “Rarity, Ah told ya in advance that he had a scar on his face." "I know you did, but you didn't say how bad it was." Rarity turned her attention back to Abacus. "You poor dear. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive me. You remember who I am, don't you?" Abacus slowly looked back up. "Rarity." Rainbow Dash stood proudly in front of Abacus. “How about me? You couldn’t forget about somepony as awesome as me, could you?” “Rainbow Dash.” Abacus said. Abacus turned his attention to the butter coloured pegasus standing there quietly waiting for her chance to greet him. “Fluttershy.” “Hi, Abacus.” Fluttershy said. Twilight walk forward to get closer to Abacus so that she could introduce herself to him. “Hello there, Abacus Sum. You don’t know me yet. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and my friends have told me a bit about you.” “…Friends?” Abacus asked. Twilight nodded. “Yes. They did. These are my friends.” Pinkie Pie began bouncing up and down with joyful glee. “Oh-Oh, that’s right. She moved to Ponyville from Canterlot. Amazing what you can miss out on while in prison, huh?” Abacus cringed, whimpered, and depressingly put his head down with his eyes closed at Pinkie Pie’s mentioning him being in prison. All of the rest of the Main Six noticed this and turned to Pinkie Pie. “PINKIE!” Everyone yelled in unison at Pinkie Pie, giving her an angry glare. “What?" Pinkie Pie asked. "What did I do?” The others irritation increased at Pinkie Pie’s lack of sensitivity, combined with her lack of realization and understanding what upset Abacus. Apple Bloom, who was still sitting next to Abacus, began to stroke his back to comfit him. “It’s okay, Abacus.” Fluttershy then came forward to help Apple Bloom comfit the distressed stallion. She began to hover above the floor, and began to stroke Abacus’s mane. “There, there. It’s okay. Pinkie Pie didn’t mean it. She didn’t know any better.” Abacus soon began to calm down soon enough. Applejack smiled proudly seeing Apple Bloom trying to help calm the traumatized stallion. Applejack’s proud moment was interrupted by a certain green elderly pony calling from the top of the stairs. “What in the hayseed is goin’ on down there?!” Granny Smith began to walk down the stairs towards the entrance to the living room. “Now, what are all ya youngins doin’ here so early in the mor-“ Granny paused as she noticed Abacus sitting in the living room. “Well, bless my apples! Abacus. How nice of ya ta visit. When did he get here, Applejack?” “Since the night before last.” Applejack said. Granny Smith tilted her head. “The night before last? But how did he get here?” Applejack sighed. “A long story, Granny.” The conversation was interrupted again, this time by a growling, rumbling sound. All eyes turned to Abacus, for the noise turned out to be none other than his stomach growling. Abacus felt very embarrassed. Applejack chuckled heartily. “Oh, Ah know that here sound. Well, since y’all here, how’s about we all have breakfast. Does pancakes sound good ta y’all?” “Hey, yeah!” Rainbow Dash said. Apple Bloom licked her lips. “Oh boy!” “Yippee!” Pinkie Pie bounced with glee. “Pancakes! With cream, butter, and syrup!” “How simply divine.” Rarity said. Big Mac smiled. “Eeyup.” Applejack nodded. “That’s settled then.” Before long, everyone at Sweet Apple Acres was enjoying a wonderful breakfast of hot, delicious smelling, homemade pancakes, with cream, butter, and syrup. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and enjoying themselves while eating, all except for Abacus. When he took the first bite of one of the pancakes on his plate, the delicious taste of them made him cry silently, for it had been the first real home cooked meal he had in a very long time. Apple Bloom noticed this, but did not say anything. “Who’s up for seconds?” Applejack asked. “Oh, yes please.” Twilight said. Rainbow Dash raised her hoof. “Heck, yeah!” Pinkie Pie chewed loudly. “Abso-defi-posi-lutely!” “Right then,” Applejack said. “Be right back, y’all.” Applejack picked up some plates, and walked into the kitchen to make more pancakes. Apple Bloom soon walked in after Applejack, standing behind her just as she was pouring some batter onto the frying pan. “Hey, Applejack?” Applejack turned her attention towards Apple Bloom. “Yes, sugarcube.” Apple Bloom nervously sighed. “Umm… about earlier. Ah’m sorry fer what ah said... about Abacus. Ah didn’t mean it.” “It’s alright, sugarcube.” Applejack placed her hoof under Apple Bloom’s chin. “An' ah’m sorry ah yelled at ya like ah did. Ah was just frustrated by this whole thing about Abacus.” Apple Bloom nodded. “Ah understand.” “And while we’re at it.” Applejack smiled proudly. “Ah wanna say that ah’m a might proud of ya, little sis.” Apple Bloom tilted her head. “What for?” “For how ya treated Abacus while ah was gone. Big Mac said ya were so caring ta him, an' kept him company.” “Thanks, Applejack.” Apple Bloom blushed. “By the way, ah’ve noticed that Abacus got distressed earlier from ponies mentioning his face, an' prison. An' how when he started eatin’, he was tearin’ up crying. Why is that?” Applejack sighed. “Well, sugarcube. Prison can be a real awful place ta be in fer anypony. Abacus must’ve suffered when he was sentenced there. Most likely got into a lot of fights, an' beatin’s. Which may explain the horrible scarring on his face.” Apple Bloom looked at Abacus from the kitchen entrance. “Golly. Ah wonder what they did ta him in there.” “An' as for him cryin’ when eatin’. It’s most likely because these here pancakes are the first good, home cooked meal he’s ever had in quite a long while. An' he’s very depressed, hurt, an' traumatized because he lost his loved one in the fire, an' bein’ wrongly convicted of her murder.” Apple Bloom raised a concerned eyebrow. “How long is he gonna be that way?” Applejack sighed. “Ah don’t know, sugarcube. But what ah do know is that he’s gonna need a lot of love, care, an' support from his friends ta help him get through this. An' ya definitely showed that this morning bein’ there fer’em.” Applejack pulled her little sister towards her with her hooves, and embraced her into a hug. “Ah’m so proud of ya, Apple Bloom.” Apple Bloom poked Applejack after seeing smoke coming from the frying pan. "Uhh... Applejack. The pancakes are startin’ ta burn.” “Whoa Nelly!” Applejack quickly turned back towards the stove, and grabbed the spatula with her mouth to flip the mildly burnt pancakes on the frying pan. “Ah hope Pink doesn’t mind her pancakes a little burnt.” Applejack said. “Ah think when Pinkie Pie puts cream, butter, an' syrup on'em, she won’t know the difference.” Apple Bloom said, remembering the time she made horrible cupcakes with Pinkie Pie. Applejack chuckled, with Apple Bloom chuckling along with her. “Ah guess so. Why don’tcha help me cook these here pancakes.” Apple Bloom nodded. “Sure.” About ten minutes later, Applejack and Apple Bloom came back with four more big serving plates of fresh, hot pancakes. “Alright, everypony.” Applejack put the four plates down. “Grubs up.” Just when everyone was about to dig in, they were all halted by a sudden knock at the front door. “Now who could that be?” Applejack asked. Applejack walked to the door, reached the door handle, and opened the front door. There, she came face to face with a dark grey unicorn mare, with a chocolate brown mane and tail, light brown eyes, and wearing black-framed glasses. Her cutie mark was of an opened eye that was the same color as her own eyes. “Is this the Apple Residence?” The unicorn mare asked with a serious look. Applejack nodded. “Umm... yes ma'am. What can ah do ya for?” The unicorn mare adjusted her glasses. “I'm looking for Abacus Sum. Is he here? I was told he’s here.” Applejack glared at the unicorn mare, thinking it might be another hater of Abacus here to possibly cause trouble. “Who wants ta know?” The unicorn mare’s horn began to glow as she magically levitated a badge in front of Applejack that looked like a police badge with a stern look. “Investigator detective Lawful Eye. That’s who.” Before Applejack could respond, Twilight, who had come over to listen in, appeared from behind Applejack, realizing who it was. “Hey! I know who you are. You’re the investigator detective from Fillydelphia who got Abacus released from prison and cleared his name. I read about you in the paper yesterday.” “Are ya sure, Twi?” Applejack asked. “Your friend is correct.” Lawful Eye said. Twilight smiled. “He’s here inside, having breakfast.” “But Twilight...” Applejack started, but Twilight placed an assuring hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Applejack," Twilight said. "I think we can trust her.” Applejack looked at Lawful Eye, and then looked back at Twilight, who gave her a confident nod. Though she was still untrusting towards the dark grey unicorn, she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Come right on in.” She said to Lawful Eye, stepping away to clear a way for her to enter into the house. Lawful Eye walked right on in through the front door, and into the house. All the ponies in the living room turned their heads, and locked their eyes on the unicorn visitor. Lawful Eye looked toward the depressed, dark brown, earth pony stallion. “Abi!” Lawful Eye rushed over to Abacus, and embraced him. “Oh, Abi. I’ve been looking all over for you. I was so worried. Why did you run away?” Abacus did not answer, he just lowered his head down depressingly. Everyone looked on, shocked, and surprised at someone in the police profession was acting so caring towards someone else. Fluttershy and Rarity looked at each other, and spoke quietly. "Abi?" Fluttershy asked. Rarity tilted her head. "Isn't that what Tiger Lily, and his mother called him?" Twilight, hearing Fluttershy and Rarity's words, quickly paid no mind to it, as she came forward to Lawful Eye to explain. “Abacus didn’t want to show his face in public. He was afraid that the townsfolk would try to chase him out when he got out. So he went into hiding.” Lawful Eye turned to Abacus. “Is that true, Abi?” Abacus sobbed “…yes.” “So how did you know Abacus was here?” Twilight asked. Lawful Eye got up and turned to Twilight. “I came here on a suspicion he would come here. I just got here this morning, and went around town asking about him, until somepony told me about how a little filly was assaulted by him, and that he was hiding here.” “Little filly?” Apple Bloom said. “Ya must mean Scootaloo.” Lawful Eye raised an eyebrow. “Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah. She’s my best friend. Or one of them anyways.” “And where is your friend?” Lawful Eye asked. “Oh, she lives in town.” Apple Bloom said. Lawful Eye raised an eyebrow. “Well, I’d like to talk to this Scootaloo.” Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash. “Hey, Rainbow. Do you think you could go, and get Scootaloo to come down here? We know how much she looks up to you.” Rainbow Dash saluted. “Sure. I’ll just eat-up my next plate of pancakes, and I’ll-“ Twilight pulled the closest plate full of pancakes away from Rainbow Dash with her magic. “No. I mean right now.” Rainbow Dash groaned in frustration, and took her napkin off. “Alright, fine. I’ll go. But save some pancakes for me when I get back.” Rainbow Dash began to fly above the others, and shot out the door with a loud "WHOOSH!", leaving a rainbow coloured trail behind her. Lawful Eye then took a seat where Rainbow Dash was previously sitting, and levitated the plate of pancakes with her magic. “Do you mind?" Lawful Eye asked. "I didn’t eat breakfast when I arrived here this morning. And these pancakes do smell delicious.” Applejack nodded. “Help yerself.” Everyone in the room continued to eat the pancakes, with Pinkie Pie stuffing her syrup, cream, and butter smothered face.