> Cutie Mark Bandits
>  by Twi-Fi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> All Gone Wrong.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ponies on the side of the street cast curious glances at a mysterious black stagecoach, the windows were covered and barred, but none approached it. It wasn't everyday a prisoner transport came though these parts, especially one bearing the Equestria coat of arms. Sure, there was the occasional outlaw that tried to escape into Caballo but into the little boarder town of El Potro? And to think those were Equestrian marshals... must have been serious to have them all the way out here. 

It was dark out and the sound of creaking and rumbling could be heard as the stagecoach rolled along through the small town. Two ponies in front were pulling the stagecoach and one on each side marched along silently. All were wearing the same uniform of long black dusters with a silver star pinned to their chests, ignoring the onlooking townsfolk they trudged through the town center.

The stagecoach rocked as it moved along, a little yellow filly with a red mane sat against the wall watching the oil lamp swing slowly. She looked down at the shackles on her legs. They were uncomfortably tight on her fetlocks. She moved her legs trying to stretch. It has been a long ride so far, much longer than she had thought. Squirming around she rattled the chains, the sound of mettle clinking together and low thunks as it smacked against the wooden floor added to noise coming from the creaking of the suspension.

"Stop moving around! You are in big trouble missy." A stern commanding voice said from the other side of the stagecoach. A unicorn stallion sat eyeing the squirming filly. 

"Sorry sir, can't ya losen them a little?" 

"Nope." 

"Ugh buck." The filly spat. 

"Such language! Didn't your parents raise you right? I suppose not, that's why you are in this mess."

The filly flattened her ears and glared. "Whatever, have we crossed the border yet?" 

"Nope, we just cleared the town of El Potro. Got an other hour at least." The stallion said looking out the window. "Why do you want to know anyways? Nothing waiting for you except a cell in Canterlot." The stallion sneered.

That's what you think.

"We got a long ride ahead so lets take this from the top. Name?" 

"Go buck yourself." 

"Okay smart ass, no more games. Tell me why you did it and where I can find those other two brats. Your accomplices. My deputy tells me you gave them some cryptic instructions before they jumped. Tell me! Or you will be in even bigger trouble when we get back." 

"I ain't sayin' shit." The filly shot back, her eyes glaring daggers at the stallion. A look of exasperation in his face, he returned the glare. 

Suddenly there was a loud thud as the entire stagecoach shifted violently to one side. The filly and the stallion were both thrown different directions. With the stagecoach leaning to a sharp angle, the stallion struggled to his feet paying his prisoner no attention. 

"That's the last time I let them two idiots drive." The stallion groaned. "What the buck are you guys doing out there?" He shouted through the window.

"Lieutenant, we hit a pot hole... broke an axle." 

"Of for the love – alright I'm coming to lend a hoof. We can't have too many delays." 

"Sir what about the prisoner?"

"She's a little filly in shackles! Now open these damn doors so we can fix this thing. That's an order constable!" 

There was a click of the lock and the door opened revealing the desert night. In the distance the filly could make out the lights from the town in the background. The cool air rushed in delivering the sent of sagebrush as the stallion left the stagecoach. In the distance the filly could see shadows moving, creeping up silently, moving with haste. They darted off the road, not making a sound, as soon as the stallion turned his head to look around. 

"Don't you go no where." He jeered at the filly before slamming the door shut. 

The filly smiled. Right on time girls.




One month ago...

* * *



"See ya tomorrow Sweetie! Later Scoots!" Apple Bloom called out. She had walked with her friends to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. 

"See you Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle called out over her shoulder as she trotted away. Apple Bloom sighed watching her trot down the road so care free with envy. 

"Still fighting?" Scootaloo asked. 

Apple Bloom jumped, startled to find Scootaloo still standing there. "Yeah. It's getting worse. Scoots, Ah don't know what's goin' to happen." 

"Don't worry, we'll be here for you." Scootaloo embraced Apple Bloom firmly. "I went through a rough time a few years ago and both of you were there for me." 

"Yeah Ah know... Ah just want things to go back to the way they was before... ya know?" Apple Bloom said taking solace in Scootaloo's warm embrace. She let out a sigh, "Thank you Scoots for trying to cheer me up. Ah'll see ya tomorrow and maybe some crusading can get my mind off things." Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo a quick nuzzle then they broke apart. 

""Yeah, crusading will solve everything! I'll see you tomorrow." Scootaloo said as she donned her helmet, jumped on her scooter and rode away at top speed. 

That silly filly is gonna get a speed demon Cutie Mark! Hmmm now Ah guess it's back to my train wreck of a family... Apple Bloom turned around and slowly begin her walk to the house. She wasn't even inside before she could hear the shouting. She opened the door to a wall of sound then slammed it behind her. 

"A'm tellin ya Applejack we have no more options!" Big Mac's voice boomed through the house. 

"You ain't even trying no more! Ah made one hundred bits today!"

"And how many did you make yesterday?"

"Ten –"

"And the day before that?" He cut across her with an angry tone.

"N-nothing." Applejack said solemnly. 

"Exactly! Face it! We've lost everything, we have to sell the farm!"

Apple Bloom's head shot up at those words. She was trying to sneak up to her room and drown out another nigtht of arguing. Her heart was pounding with dread. "Sell the farm? No we can't! We just can't!" She said aloud to herself. She knew if they sold they would probably have to move away from Ponyville. 

"We ain't selling Mac! You might have given up but this place still means something to me!" 

"Don't you dare! Don't you fucking dare!" Big Mac bellowed at the top of his lungs. There was a loud bang and a crack, it sounded as though Mac put his hoof through another pantry. "Ah've been working my ass off and this place means the world to me. Ah've been working the orchard before you were even born! How dare you!" A loud crash and the sound of breaking glass. "Ah've worked – so, hard..." The rest of what he was saying was drowned out by his loud sobs.

"A'm sorry brother. Ah know it means a lot to you, it's been in our family for generations. It's everything... it's all Ah know. Is there anything we can do? Anything?" Applejack pleaded. 

"At this rate... we have one month. Ah've tried to get in a partnership with some of the local growers in Canterlot but they all went under last week. They all sold their land, at less than it was actually worth. We can't sell any apples to the supermarkets until we've had the department of agriculture do an inspection, then we have to apply for a license. And they won't even give me a time when they can come out to do the inspection. Even if we did get the inspection and pass, we just can't beat Cortland's prices, no pony can."

"Ah know there's something funny goin' on at that Cortland farm, their apples taste funny and their labels don't actually say where they grow them at. They are under cuttin' the market, farms go under, can't afford to lower prices, they lose customers then they are left with nothing... broke. Then Corland offers to buy the land for less than it's worth and ponies take it because they are desperate and starving. It ain't right, it just ain't honest."

"Makes ya kinda miss the Flimflam brothers, doesn't it?" Mac said sarcastically. 

"Ah can handle those smooth talking scheming sales ponies any day! But this? Some pony has gone to a lot of trouble to stay hidden and put every apple orchard in Equestria out of business, and that scares me. It ain't right brother, is there anything... at all?"  

"Cortland will partner with us and sell our apples on consignment but it's not very many... not enough to make a living let alone support a family. And the worse part... they would take our family logo off and sell it as generic farm apples." 

"Ah know big brother... A'm still holdin' out. At the end of the next month if nothing's changed... Ah'll sell." Applejack sniffed. "We'll have no where to go. Ah know one of our cousins will take us in... but leaving Ponyville? This is my home. And Apple Bloom, what of her? She's doing so good and she has the best friends in the world. Oh Mac, what are we gonna do?"

"Ah don't know sis but we will get through it together. Ah promise." 

Apple Bloom's eyes were full of tears. This was it. One more month in Ponyville, one more month on the orchard. Fear sank deep in her heart, the orchard was all she knew and loved. Images of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle flashed though her mind. Would they still be friends once they moved away? Would they come visit where ever they ended up? Even if it were under some bridge in Manehatten? Apple Bloom shuddered just thinking about it. Never before had she felt so alone, so scared and so powerless. She fell face first onto her bed and cried harder than she ever had in her life.


* * *


Apple Bloom stumbled down into the kitchen. Thoughts of last night still in her head; it had been a horrible night. She wan't sure when she stopped crying and when sleep took over, or if she even slept. Everything was a blur and nothing seemed to matter anymore. 

The kitchen was totally sparse save an old wooden table and a single chair, the kitchen was littered with broken glass and bits of wood from last night's argument. Apple Bloom didn't bother sitting in the chair. She mindlessly grabbed an apple from the table, it was the only food in the house. It was the one thing they had an abundance of. Tons and tons of unsold apples. 

Apple Bloom left the house, walking slowly. She wasn't in the mood to meet up with her friends. She just couldn't break it to them. She couldn't handle having to tell them she was going to be leaving them. But she had nothing else to do and she didn't want to hang around Applejack or Mac, the've been at each other's throats. Oh buck it! To Sugarcube Corner Ah go.

"Hey Apple Bloom! Hey! Over here girlfriend!" A familiar voice called out. 

Apple Bloom turned her head to see Diamond Tiara coming out of one of the high class shops she used to go into. "Oh hey Di." She said unenthusiastically. 

"Hey, check these out, they are the latest." Diamond opened her bad and extracted a pair of sunglasses. "They were five-hundred bits but I talked him down to four fifty. Oh my gosh where are your lovely heart shaped ones? I haven't seen you wear those in ages."

"Oh Ah – um don't have them anymore."

"Oh right, they are like so last year." Diamond Tiara says waving her hoof through the air. "So my daddy is going to Manehatten again without me, ugh like seriously. So I'm having a huge party at my place. You all should come, it will be fun." 

"Um, when?" Apple Bloom asked pretending to be excited.

"This weekend." 

"Ah wouldn't miss it." She replied putting on her best smile. 

"Great, well got to go. I got to spend this allowance so daddy will give me more money. Love ya, bye." 

Apple Bloom shook her head watching her snobby friend prance away. It pained her that she used to be somewhat like that. It's strange how money changes a pony. A part of her wanted to be back in that life but another part of her was a little disgusted. Ah miss the days Ah could've blown through five-hundred bits on sunglasses. Now we ain't got about one hundred bits and we don't know if we'll eat tomorrow.

Slowly making her way down the avenue, Apple Bloom approached Sugarcube Corner. She couldn't help but groan, the place represented cheer and happier times; everything she wasn't feeling. As she walked through the doors she saw Pinkie Pie cheerfully bouncing from table to table taking orders. She spotted her friends sitting in the corner eating pie, there was an extra piece in the spot where she would sit. Apple Bloom approached the table and silently took a seat.

"Hey Apple Bloom, how are you? You look terrible." Sweetie Belle said with concern. 

"Ah feel terrible." Apple Bloom said flatly. 

"I got you a piece of pie. That should cheer you up." Scootaloo said moving the pie closer to Apple Bloom.

"Thanks but – Ah don't think that's gonna do it..." 

"Chocolate cake! What a super duper good choice!" Exclaimed an over excited pink mare as she bounced from a nearby table back behind the counter. 

"Can we get out of here? Ah don't think Ah can handle this place right now." 

"Um sure, come on Sweetie, let's go." Scootaloo said.

The three fillies left sugar cube corner together not saying a word. They walked down the main road toward the train station with no particular destination. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak.

"So, um Apple Bloom, what's wrong?" 

"Mac and Applejack had another argument last night."

"Again? Is business really that bad?" Sweetie Belle asked with concern.

"It's worse... we are totally broke. They are thinking about selling the farm." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stopped walking, they looked at Apple Bloom in shock and fear, knowing full well what it meant.

"No, they can't sell the farm! It's part of Ponyville. Where would you all go?"

"Ah don't know probably Appaloosa... where my cousin lives. We'd have nowhere else to go."

"But what about all your sister's friends, couldn't they help out?" Scootaloo asked sounding almost desperate. 

"They could lend us money but my sister would never ask. Besides they wouldn't be able to keep the farm afloat." 

Sweetie Belle looked on the verge of tears, Scootaloo had a look of only half wanting to believe it. The three fillies stood to the side of the road weeping softly. Apple Bloom could look at them any longer. She turned her head looking ahead, she watched a bunch of workers unload crates of apples from the train, all stamped with the Cortland logo. Apple Bloom flared her nostrils and gritted her teeth. 

"It's just not fair! It's all gone wrong! How could they have taken everything from us? How?" Apple Bloom shouted, causing her friends to jump at her sudden outburst. "They ripped my family apart!" She stomped her hoof on the ground as hard as she could. "My family has no bucking money!" She stomped again. "And now we ain't gonna have a home!" Apple Bloom stomped her other hoof completely breaking down into tears. 

Scootaloo embraced Apple Bloom tightly. "Shhh, it's okay. We'll work this out. It's just like with me a couple years ago. I thought my life was over and I had lost everything. Remember? You two stuck by me. And when I thought I was moving to Fillydelphia you guys promised to take the train every weekend to see me. This is no different. I promise." Scootaloo nuzzled Apple Bloom's neck as Sweetie Belle patted her shoulder also with tears in her eyes.

"Ah know! You two are the best. It's just so hard... everything is just falling apart. Ah guess everything was too good..." They broke apart. "Thanks guys, you two are the best. Ah don't know what Ah would have done without you two." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo smiled at her. 

Scootaloo turned her head back to the train station, watching the works unload crate after crate. "Ugh, I hate Cortland. I refuse to buy from them. I bet their apples taste like manure." Scootaloo said, making Apple Bloom smile weakly. 

"How do they sell so cheap?" 

"Ah don't know Sweetie. Ah don't know."

Scootaloo giggled a little, "manure." Then she burst out in maniacal laughter falling to the ground. 

"Geez Scoots, it ain't that funny." Apple Bloom said a little confused. 

"Are you okay?" Sweetie Belle asked, taking a step back a look of uncertainty on her face.

"No, it's not that." Scootaloo's eyes gleamed with mischief as an evil smirk formed across her mouth. "Girls... I have an idea..." 
> Elevated Social Status.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One year ago...

* * *


It was that time of morning when the sun had been up for only a few hours, the sky still a little orange; a gentle chill breeze in the air and dew on the grass. Before the morning hustle and bustle of ponies rushing to work or to the local markets to make the morning sales, another peaceful morning in Ponyville. In the calm cool air of almost prefect stillness the crow of a rooster could be heard through Apple Bloom's open bedroom window.

"Ah'm awake." The filly grumpily moaned into her pillow. She rolled out of bed to slam the window shut: with a loud chatter as it vibrated against the frame. "Dang rooster." 

Apple Bloom looked herself over in the mirror, her think red mane hung tangled and her eyes were half shut. It's ma birthday. She stretched as the sleepiness wore off and excitement surged through her. It's ma birthday! Ah'h supposed to sleep in on ma birthday... oops. She looked back at her bed, now fully awake, she couldn't sleep any longer if she wanted to. 

Figuring it was best to just go downstairs and get breakfast, Apple Bloom rushed out of her room. Dashing through the hall and bounding down the stairs, Apple Bloom crashed into the kitchen to find Applejack and Big Mac already up cooking breakfast. 

"Hey, there's the birthday girl! What are ya doin' up sugar cube? We was gonna give you breakfast in bed." 

"Eeyup." 

"Sorry sis, rooster woke me up." Apple Bloom responded a little annoyed that she ruined the surprise. 

"It's all right. We can all eat at the table." Applejack smiled and waved it off as no big deal. 

"Ah made pancakes with chocolate chips: just the way you like it." Mac said putting a plate in front of his little sister. An overexcited Apple Bloom dumped half the pitcher of syrup on her pancakes, downing them completely.

"Do ya want some pancakes with that syrup?" Applejack teased. "Save some for the rest of us." 

Mac joined the table shaking his head at Apple Bloom's plate. "You used to do the same thing." He said to Applejack making her blush. Apple Bloom grinned. 

"You hush brother." Applejack, doing her best to hide her blush, cleared her throat loudly then turned to Apple Bloom, doing her best not to look her brother snickering in his plate. "So what's the plan Apple Bloom, what crusading are you doing today?"

"Ah don't know. Sweetie Belle is coming back today so Ah hope we get to do something fun."

"Well, Mac and I are working the south orchard today, we are a little short-hoofed today but we will have a party for you at Sugarcube Corner tonight." 

"Short-hoofed again?" Apple Bloom asked. It seemed that no matter how many workers they hired, there was still a labor shortage. 

"Yup, we can't hire enough. Sales keep going up and up. We got so much money Ah don't know what to do with it." Applejack said a little nervously.

"Applejack, we should buy up that land behind us and expand. We are almost over extended anyway, soon we won't produce enough apples to keep up with demand." 

"Yeah Ah recon you're right brother." Applejack sighed. It was talked about many times before, to buy more land or not. At first Applejack was against the idea, fearing they would lose sales and not be able to pay off the loan and afford the labor to till and plant trees. However, as sales continue to increase and with nowhere to go but up, she had to agree it was the right course of action. 

"Now, come on in here sis and get your presents." 

Apple Bloom followed her sister into the living room, her hooves clopping on the wooden floors as she went. The living room had been remodeled and added onto, making it open up to an impressive view of rolling hills of the south orchard in a massive angled bay window. The furniture had also been replaced with more high-end furniture. The coffee table was a deep mahogany that matched the floor. The couch and love seat were of a dark cherry wood with thick black cushions. The ceiling had been redone so massive wooden rafters protruded through the sheetrock, giving the room a rustic appearance. The rafters extended out of the house meeting with part of the roof that came down to cover a stone mozaic patio. 

Applejack sat on the couch and pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Ah love ya little sis." She nuzzled her. Applejack picked up a brush and started to brush Apple Bloom thick mane. "The first gift requires Ah brush your mane." Applejack said and she brushed away, occasionally tugging when the brush got caught up in a tangle. "You have such a beautiful thick red mane, just like momma's." 

Although the brush hurt every time it got stuck, Apple Bloom really liked how it felt to have somepony hold her so lovingly and care for her. It was these moments Apple Bloom loved the most. "Tell me about mother." Apple Bloom asked. Her older sister and brother never talked much about their parents. It was never clear to the filly what exactly happened and she tried not to ask so much because of how easily it upset her older siblings. 

"Well, mother was very beautiful, very smart. At first she wasn't much of a farm pony but it grew on her when she fell in love with daddy. She helped get Sweet Apple Acres to be the farm it is today, excellent business pony –cut throat, but she always kept to what was important. She always said family first, and everything will follow. It was probably that saying that won granny over –"

"Granny didn't like Momma?" 

"Not at first, not at all. She wasn't good enough for her son. But he loved ma very much and granny put up with it. Over time she grew on granny. She was the best, she was fun and caring. Always knew the right things to say to cheer me and your brother up." Applejack wiped some tears from her eyes, she held Apple Bloom closer to her. "You are more like your mother than you know." Applejack exhaled slowly. "Sorry, thinking about them still hurts sometimes."

"How -how did they... die?" Apple Bloom asked quietly, tears forming in her eyes. 

"Someday Ah will tell you, when you are older. Just know if mama could see you now, she'd be proud. Ah'm proud of you too, Ah know it ain't always been easy for you." Applejack said sadly. She nuzzled Apple Bloom again. "But you know what?" 

"What?"

"You are one tough little filly." Applejack said playfully while trying to give Apple Bloom a noogie. Apple Bloom ducked out of the way giggling. "You ain't gettin off that easy. What about your birthday spankings?" Apple Bloom shrieked with giggles as Applejack playfully swatted the filly's flank. 

"Alright, alright..." Applejack exhaled, catching her breath. It was hard work restraining her little sister. When did she get so strong? "Here is your first gift." Applejack lifted a small box off the coffee table.

Apple Bloom tore it open anxiously. She pulled the lid off then peered inside. She let out a small gasp. Inside was a pink bow like she normally wore except this one was lined with several small diamonds. "Oh, my. Wow, thanks sis."

"Thank your brother too, he picked it out." Applejack said as she began to pull Apple Bloom's mane back so she could put the bow on her.

"Thank you big brother!" 

"Eeyup." Mac answered from the other room. He poked his head through the door. "You look stunning little sis. Do you like it?"

"Ah love it!" 

"And here's a gift from me." Applejack pointed to another small box on the table.

Apple Bloom picked it up and shook it a little, this box was smaller than the last. The filly tore it open. In her zealous she turned the box upside down and dumped out a pair of sunglasses on the floor. She dove down quickly to retrieve them. "Oh wow sis, these are so cool!" 

"Well put them on, let's seem them on you."

They had a thick black frame that looked like two sideways hearts, the points meeting at the bridge of the nose. The glass was tinted a dark lilac color. Apple Bloom pushed the sunglasses on her face beaming.

"With the help of Rarity Ah was able to find these." 

"Ah like the color, it makes everything look purple-ish." 

"Ah'm glad you like it." Applejack released her sister from her grip, beaming. "Well, better get to work."

Just then Mac came through the door with a stack of mail in his mouth. He spat it out on the table. "Mail's here. We got more contracts too."

"Yeehaw, ponies just love our apples."

"We even got one all the way from..." Mac trailed off as he opened the envelope. He extracted a think bunch of folded papers, examining it closely. "Okay it's a supermarket chain in –" He paused for dramatic effect. "Saddle Arabia."

"We are celebrating tonight! My sister's birthday and a contract from over seas!" 

Apple Bloom left the room smiling as her two older siblings cheered and danced around. She was almost to the stairs when there was a knock on the door. "Got it!" She shouted then opened the door. 

"Happy birthday!" 

"Umph." Was all Apple Bloom managed to say as a tangerine and purple blur rushed through the door, hugging her tightly. 

"Scoots, can't breath."

"Sorry – wow nice bow and shades." Scootaloo let go of Apple Bloom her cheeks flaming a little as she took in the new accessories her friend was wearing. "Sweetie Belle and Rarity should be getting back soon, so I thought I'd come get you so we can meet her at the train station." 

"Okay, let's go. Applejack! Ah'm going out with Scootaloo see you at the party!" Apple Bloom yelled, her voice echoed through the house.

"Eeyup." 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked side by side through the orchard. It took longer to get into Ponyville considering the farm has nearly doubled in the last year. As they walked they could see various ponies working the orchard, bucking trees, pulling carts. One of the workers looked up at the two passing fillies. 

"Hola Apple Bloom. Feliz cumpleaños." He said in his thick Caballo accent.

"Gracias señor, gracias." Apple Bloom responded, smiling and nodding at him.

"Who's that?" 

"Señor Manzana Buck. Him and his family were some of the first to come work for us." 

"Wow cool. Could I get a summer job?"

"Ah don't think we can legally hire you... yet."

"Darn, how old do I have to be?" 

Scootaloo continued to bombard her friend with questions about working on a farm for the rest of the journey. In town a few ponies greeted Apple Bloom, commenting on her new bow and sunglasses. They saw a couple of their classmates including, much to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's disliking, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. 

"Hey Silver look, two blank flanks – Huuuu oh-my-gosh where did you get that bow? Those are twenty carat diamonds!"

"Um, okay?" Apple Bloom was a little taken aback by Diamond Tiara's sudden change in demeanor.  

"Well, they are. I would know, diamonds are my special talent." 

"Look at her sunglasses." Silver Spoon said moving in closer.

"Oh my gosh, those are Prada! Where did you get all this?"

"Um, from ma sister."

"From your sister... wow business must be good over there."

"It's my birthday."

"Yes whatever. You are like totally in! I mean you don't have a cutie mark but whatever, you got that bow and amazing sunglasses. I'm going to ask daddy to get me the same ones. Oh my gosh, I'm having a party tomorrow. You should like totally come or whatever." 

"Um, maybe."

"You can bring your other blank flank – I mean your other friends too. There are going to be lots of cute colts and some fillies for you." Diamond said to Scootaloo. "Well gotta go, lots of shopping to do, bye." 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood there frozen in place, both of their mouths were hanging open, dumbstruck. "What – what just happened?" Apple Bloom asked, finally breaking the silence. 

"I don't know but why does everypony always assume I'm a fillyfooler?"

"Really? Diamond Tiara is nice to us and invited us to a party and... that's what you are asking?" 

"I just get tired of ponies assuming, just because I have my mane cut short and ride a scooter doesn't mean – ah screw it, it's true, I'm into fillies." Scootaloo looked down at the ground. 

"Ah'm not sure how to break this to ya but Ah think we already knew... look, it's okay. Ah mean Ah am too... so what?" Apple Bloom clapped a hoof over her mouth but it was too late. She had never told anypony before, not even Applejack. She had wondered for a while why she never founds colts interesting like many of her classmates did. At first she just figured she was shy around colts like many of the fillies when they were around a colt they found cute. However, she found she never acted that way around any colt and all the ones that most fillies sought after hungrily, never struck her as remotely attractive. For some reason though she acted in that same manner most fillies acted around colts they had a crush on, around her own gender; always finding other fillies cute. 

"Really?"

Apple Bloom exhaled with a sigh."Yeah Ah think so... Ah don't know. Ah've never found any colt interesting but Ah've found several fillies attractive."

"Who?" Scootaloo asked, her wings buzzing with excitement. 

Are we seriously going to do this now? Here? "Well... Dinky is cute –"

"Dinky? Seriously?" 

"Well, she is." 

"She's straight."

"Ah know but she – you know what? No, we are off topic. Diamond Tiara was nice to us! Ah think we should go to this party." 

"What? Are you serious?" 

"Yeah, Ah mean if she's mean we can just leave..." Apple Bloom trailed off. She half expected it to be a trap of some kind, knowing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon; however, part of her was still curios to see if this was the starting of something. A friendship? Maybe they grew up. Teasing and bullying classmates for not having a cutie mark seemed so pointless, if Apple Bloom really thought about it. Maybe she finally got a life or just became colt crazy and doesn't care about cutie marks anymore.

Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo with pleading eyes. She could tell her friend was thinking it over. "Come on Scoots, Ah'm curious but Ah won't go unless you and Sweetie go, so it won't be all awkward and such."

"Oh buck it, Im in! It's worth a shot at least. Now let's get Sweetie, I bet she'll faint when we tell her Diamond Tiara was nice to us." They both giggled as they walked into the train station, their hooves clunking dully on the wooden platform. 

The ground began to shake a little as a massive steam locomotive rolled into the station, plums of steam came from the massive pistons down by the wheel, the brakes squeaked as it slowed to a stop, bellowing steam as it did. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched as the locomotive passed them, slowing down until it stopped. The doors on the many passenger cars opened and ponies came rushing out onto the platform. 

"Knowing Rarity, she's probably in the first class section." Scootaloo stated, walking toward the front of the train. She had only takes a few steps however, before she spotted them. "There they are!" 

Apple Bloom spotted Rarity and Sweetie Belle walking the platform, Rarity looked annoyed and Sweetie Belle was huffing angrily. "Um what do ya suppose happend?" 

"The usual." Scootaloo shrugged. "Sweetie, over here!" Sweetie Belle's ears perked up and she trotted over to her friends happily. "Hey, welcome back. How was Manehatten?" 

Sweetie Belle's ears went back. "Ugh, I couldn't get back soon enough!" Her voice cracked. 

"That bad huh?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Have you traveled with Rarity?" she snapped back at her friend. "Sorry, it's just being stuck on that train for four hours with her. She wanted to polish my hooves and give me a makeover because she was bored. I refused then we got into an argument... anyway, happy birthday Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle sighed then hugged Apple Bloom. 

"Sweetums, won't you help me with the luggage?" Rarity's voice sang out. Sweetie Belle ignored her. 

"So how is everything, nice bow by the way. Those sunglasses look good on you. I was with Rarity and Applejack when she picked them out." 

"Thanks –"

"Hey tell her about what just happened." Scootaloo interrupted. "You won't believe this." 

"Oh Sweetie Belle, I'd like to go home now." Rarity said impatiently from across the platform next to two carts piled high with luggage. 

"Yeah, one second! Ugh, see? Anyways... what happened?" 

"Diamond Tiara was actually nice to us today. She invited all of us to her party tomorrow." Apple Bloom said quickly a grin forming on her face.

"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked slowly.

"Yeah, she really likes my bow and sunglasses then she invited all of us to go. She even stopped herself from calling us blank flanks." 

"Well, it makes sense." Sweetie Belle said nonchalantly.

"What! Isn't any of this a bit surprising?" Scootaloo asked in slight outrage.

"A little but think about it, the Apple family is of a higher social status now. They probably have more money than Filthy Rich if you count all the land they own. Heck, the land alone is probably worth more than he's got." 

"What are you a real estate agent?" Scootaloo asked.

"I'm just saying, Apple Bloom is very, very rich. A lot of ponies are probably going to treat her differently." 

"Well, Ah guess it's a good thing. We won't get bullied anymore."

"Sweetie Belle! I'm not going to ask again!" 

"I'm coming, sheesh!" Sweetie Belle shouted at her sister. "I'll see you two tonight at the party." She turned on the spot and stormed over to her older sister. 

"Ah guess there's not much point in crusading without Sweetie. The way things are going Ah'm guessing she's gonna be grounded. Ah hope she makes it to the party." Apple Bloom mused watching Sweetie Belle and Rarity snipe at each other angrily as they left the platform. 

"I know, there isn't much to do. Rainbow Dash is busy until later today and she won't let me have anypony over while she's gone... and I want to hang out. Let's go to the clubhouse." 

"And do what?" 

"I don't know... it's better than the train station though." Scootaloo shrugged. 

"Ah suppose you're right. Ain't much else to do around here." 


* * *


Apple Bloom stretched herself out on the couch. It had been a great party, even though Granny Smith told embarrassing stories of her, much to every other pony's amusement. Lots of ponies came: all her sister's friends were there, many of her classmates including Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Although they insisted they had walked in by mistake and meant to enter a saddle bag designer store. Diamond Tiara wished Apple Bloom a happy birthday then they left shortly after. To Apple Bloom that was progress. It seemed she was, in her own way, trying to make amends for all the hard times she's given Apple Bloom and her friends. Ah wonder what her party will be like.

"Don't get too comfortable, it's almost your bedtime." Applejack entered the living room, looking at the filly stretched out on her back taking up the entire couch, her mouth hanging lazily open. 

"Aw... but Ah ain't tired."

"Ya sure look it. Even the birthday girl has a bedtime." 

"Okay..." Apple Bloom rolled off the couch and stretched just as her brother walked in the room smiling. 

"We did good this month." Mac said, sitting on the couch where Apple Bloom was laying moments ago. "Twenty thousand bits in profit." Mac said mostly to himself but Applejack and Apple Bloom both jumped with excitement. He didn't seem to notice though as he picked up the newspaper. 

"That's great news brother! Ah never thought our farm would take off like this."

"I guess it helps to be friends with a princess..." He responded absentmindedly as he flipped through the paper. "Hey sis, what's Cortland?"

"Ah think they are an apple orchard or something, Ah don't know. Ah've heard that name around but where... why?"

"Oh, just this article here. It's saying something about them rapidly expanding. They are some kind of massive corporation in southern Equestria, they own supermarkets... and they are a major apple producer." 

"Hmm, well they are in the south, most of our customers are local or up north. So long's they stay down there it ain't a problem." 

"But sis Ah thought you said a little competition is good for business." Apple Bloom spoke up only to regret it instantly as Applejack gave her a 'what are you still doing here' look.

"You! Bed!" Applejack said sternly.

"Okay." Apple Bloom left the room feeling a little annoyed. In truth she was extremely tired but she wanted to stay up with her older siblings as they celebrated. From her room she could hear music coming through the floor, making it vibrate rhythmically. Laying in her bed Apple Bloom smiled to herself, thinking life couldn't be better. Her family was happy, the farm was doing better than ever, she had the best friends ever, her birthday party was amazing and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were trying to be nice to her and her friends. Feeling like life couldn't get any better, Apple Bloom drifted off to sleep. 
> A Place to Hide, a Taste of Wine.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I can only cast one spell at a time!" An angry stallion's voice yelled into the night. "You four hold this thing up and I will cast a spell to mend the axle." 

The stagecoach shifted as it was lifted out of the pothole. Apple Bloom heard them grunt and moan under the weight. "Now move it back a little, get it out of this hole." 

"Oh is that all?" One of them asked, his voice huffing and straining. The stagecoach rocked and shifted around as it moved back at an uneven pace. 

Apple Bloom looked down at the shackles on her legs, she couldn't wait until they were off. They had been on too long and were really hurting. Any time now... She put her ear against the wall listening to the agitated grunts of her captures now bearing the weight of the stagecoach but she was also listening for something else... something faint, like tiny hooves on gravel or –

Click.

Her head shot up and she peered at the back door opening slowly. At first she couldn't see anything, just desert. Then a small figure crawled into the stagecoach silently. The figure was very small, wearing all black but a puffy pink and purple mane and tail could be made out. The small pony was a unicorn; however, the pony's face was concealed behind a thick black masquerade. 

"Sweetie, hurry." Apple Bloom hissed.

"Shh." Her horn lit up and a green glow formed around the shackles, her eyes squinted and her tongue stuck out a little for extra concentration. "This lock is tricky" She whispered. After a few seconds there was a soft click and the shackles opened. Apple Bloom took her time to remove them without making a sound. She massaged her fetlocks, the feeling was liberating to have those shackles removed. 

There was a soft tap on the wall. Sweetie looked up with worry. 

"That's Scoots' warning, lets go." She hissed. 

Apple Bloom, more than happy to oblige sprung to her feet silently. She looked out to the open desert, the cool air was inviting. She jumped out the back of the stagecoach landing softly, Sweetie Belle right behind her. 

"About time. They are almost done." Scootaloo hissed, she too was wearing all black and a masquerade. "It's good to have you back." Scootaloo quickly hugged Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom peered around the corner of the stagecoach to see four ponies huddled underneath, lifting it while the unicorn stallion was casting a spell. She turned to her friends and gave the silent 'let's go' look. 

They darted off the road into the desert. In the night it was hard to see only having the stars above for light. Only a crescent moon was in the night sky, making barley enough light to see the sagebrush, Creosota brush, the occasional cacti and yucca trees. They focused on the lights coming from the small town of El Potro off in the distance as they galloped as fast as their little hooves would carry them through the soft sand. 

"When we make it to El Potro we can hide there." Scootaloo said as she dodged a massive yucca tree. 

"Where?"

"I will think of something Sweetie, let's just get there before they find us." 

After running through what seemed like miles of thick desert brush, it started to thin out to sagebrush scattered sporadically, the soft sand now full of big rocks. They heard yells in the night air and they all knew what they were. The marshals have discovered Apple Bloom had escaped. They entered the outer parts of town and slowed to a trot. After a short time they entered the town square. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quickly removed their black outfits and masquerades. They stashed them under a bench, up against one of the concrete blocks holding it up.

The town square was a wide open cobble stone area at the center of town. It often held several festivals during the summer. In the center stood a massive fountain featuring several tiers to it with the statue of a pony on top, looking over the town as if protecting it. Banners of a festival from earlier that day hung from lamp posts, confetti and empty beer bottles littered the cobblestone square. 

"We need somewhere to hide." Apple Bloom panted, still catching her breath. She looked around the square to make sure no pony was around.

"You need somewhere to hide, they aren't looking for us." Sweetie Belle corrected. 

"They probably are now. They asked me about you guys, they know you two are out there and they probably figured out you two helped me escape." 

"Okay, we have a hotel room but they will probably search that –" Scootaloo was interrupted by loud ringing of the church bells, loud two-toned bells that could be heard for miles. 

"FUGITIVE BELIEVED TO BE HIDING IN EL POTRO!" A stallion's voice boomed loudly, magically amplified. The three fillies shook with fear. 

"I have an idea. We have to be quick though." Scootaloo whispered. Ponies began to fill the street as the bells continued to ring. "They've only had a good look at Apple Bloom right, so we just need to hide her in the one place they would never look. Sweetie and I can easily blend into the chaos in the town square." 

"Sounds good, where's the one place they'd never look for her, though?" 

"In a wine cellar."

"What?" Apple Bloom said outraged. "Scoots that is the dumbest thing ever! They are going to look in somepony's wine cellar."

"Yeah I'm gonna have to agree with Apple Bloom on this." 

"Yes, they will look in all cellars but will they open up a wine barrel?" Scootaloo asked. 

"If it's empty then yeah that would be a pretty obvious spot to hide." Sweetie Belle said. 

"Who said anything about an empty one?'

"This is totally crazy. No way am Ah jumping into a barrel full of wine."

"No, I think Scoots is right, no pony would look in a barrel they believe to be full of wine."

"No." Apple Bloom said flatly. 

"Do you have a better idea?" 

There was a long pause before Apple Bloom responded. She could hear the sound of hooves cantering on cobblestone, she knew the marshals were getting closer. She sighed in defeat, "no, Ah don't." 

"There's a big house and winery on the outside of town, hurry." Scootaloo didn't even wait for an answer as she bolted off the main road into an alley way. She could hear her friends on her tail, their hooves clopping loudly on the cobblestone. She could also hear the chaos of the townsfolk as the Equestrian marshals began their ponyhunt. Scootaloo made a sharp turn down a small avenue, ahead she could see the local policía patrolling the edge of town. She quickly dashed to a big adobe-styled mansion near the end of the street before the policía noticed. She pushed the rod-iron gate open then dashed to the side of the house. Scootaloo skidded to a halt in front of a cellar door on the side of the house.  

"Quick, Sweetie... open this lock." Scootaloo said staring at a padlock on the cellar door. There was a green glow of light and a click as the lock opened. Scootaloo pulled the door open revealing a wooden stairwell descending down into a dark cellar. She paused at the darkness feeling a little uneasy, she didn't want to trap Apple Bloom in such a dark creepy place. 

"Come on Scoots, hurry." Sweetie Belle hissed. "I think the police are coming this way." 

Scootaloo needed no more encouragement. She slowly took the stairs lowering herself into darkness. Suddenly the lights clicked on and Scootaloo froze, her heart pounding. She looked behind her to see Apple Bloom with the same expression.

"Sweetie, did you t-turn on the lights?" Scootaloo's voice shook a little. 

"N-no I thought you did." 

"A- Ah think they are automatic." 

"You sure?"

"Yeah, we use to have those fancy lights too. They come on when they detect movement." 

"This could be a problem. If they come down here and see the lights on –"

"Don't worry about it, I'll make it shut off." Sweetie Belle said. 

Reassured, they began to look around the cellar. The cellar was dry and cool, the air stunk sweet rotten fruit, the smell of fermenting grapes. There were tons of wooden racks full of dusty wine bottles and several large oak barrels. Scootaloo softly kicked one of the barrels resulting in a dull thunk.

"Sounds full." She whispered, moving on to the next with no luck. 

"Over here, I found one." Sweetie Belle said pointing to a barrel in the back of the cellar. It was close to the stairs leading up to the house. "This one has probably half." 

"There's just one problem. Ah ain't gonna fit through that little hole." Apple Bloom said jabbing her hoof at the tiny cork in the barrel.

"Not to worry. This whole top part comes off." Sweetie Belle said, lighting up her horn. A few seconds later there was a loud pop as the top of the barrel flew off. She released her magic and the pice of wood crashed to the ground with a clatter.

"Be quiet." Scootaloo hissed. "Apple Bloom get in, quickly."

Apple Bloom looked into the barrel, there was a little more than half a barrel of dark red liquid. She swung her hind leg over the barrel, straddling it. She looked down again and the smell hit her. "Ugh, this stuff smells horrid." 

"I know. I'm really, really sorry. We'll get you out as soon as possible." Scootaloo gave Apple Bloom a long meaningful look. 

"Ah know." Apple Bloom returned the stare then lowered herself into the barrel. The liquid came half way up her neck. The smell making her gag. The lid above hovered in a green aura, the light slowly diminished... then blackness. Apple Bloom inhaled sharply, she couldn't get enough air. Her body tensed up, shaking with fear. 

"Apple Bloom, are you okay? Just breath okay." Sweetie Belle's muffled voice could be heard off in the distance. Apple Bloom focused on that, reminding herself to breath. She exhaled slowly, then inhaled. Her body relaxed a little as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She could see little rays of light coming through the cracks. 

"I think we need to get her out of there." Scootaloo said with a hint of urgency. 

"Ah'm okay. Just stay with me, as long as you can. Please?" Apple Bloom's voice echoed. 

"We will." Sweetie Belle's voice said in the best comforting tone she could muster. Apple Bloom knew they were worried too.

"Just hang in there, I will go check the town. Sweetie will stay with –" Scootaloo broke off abruptly. Apple Bloom heard it too, movement coming from upstairs. 

"We'll be back as soon as possible." Scootaloo whispered. Apple Bloom heard soft hoof steps moving away from her. "Get the lights Sweetie." There was a click then a soft plump, the sound of the cellar doors being closed. The room was totally dark now and Apple Bloom's anxiety started to return. However, she didn't dwell on it too long. There was a loud bang and the sound of muffled voices. The voices were getting louder and louder, she could make out what they were saying. 

"Wake me and my wife up in the middle of the night! And you want to search my home! How dare you sir! We have rights!"

"Ah, but under Caballo law in the event of an escaped prisoner, we can search any building, any time. I apologize for the intrusion but if you cooperate this will be over quickly." A stern stallion's voice spoke quite clearly. Apple Bloom tensed up, she recognized that voice, she could almost see the sneer on his face. 

"There are no fugitives hiding here! This is my summer home, my wife and I just arrived a few hours ago after a long train ride from Canterlot and an even longer delay at the station!" The angry stallion's voice shouted. Apple Bloom's heart twinged, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty. She knew her and her friends were part of the reason the train was delayed.

"Mister Noir. I don't care if it took you a week to get here! My deputy and I will be quick but like it or not we are not asking permission!" The stallion's strong voice commanded, the patience gone from his voice. 

"Honey, just let them do their job." An exasperated feminine voice said. Apple Bloom assumed this must be Mrs. Noir. 

"Constable, take a look on this floor and upstairs. I'm going to check the cellar." Apple Bloom tensed up. She knew it was the Lieutenant coming down to the cellar. 

The was loud creaking of a door opening, the light flickered on and the sound of hooves on wood as a pony descended into the cellar. Apple Bloom held her breath, fearing he would be able to hear her breathing. She only hoped he didn't have some spell that would be able to detect concealed ponies. The sound of hooves grew closer and closer. They stopped and she could sense him looking at the barrel, she could hear his breath. She suppressed a gasp as the barrel vibrated with a loud thud. 

"Hey! Be carful with that! That is my finest Pinot Noir from last year's El Potro wine mixer." Mr. Noir's agitated voice yelled. 

"Can you open this?" 

"Are you insane? No pony could fit inside there."

"I'm assuming the top comes off somehow." 

"Yes but no pony could fit in there." 

"Well, Mr Noir we are looking for a little filly that could very easily hide in one of these types of barrels." 

"You can search my cellar but there is no evidence to suggest a little pony is hiding in my wine barrels." Mr. Noir said with outrage. "A filly escaped you guys?" He laughed a little. "What did she do to warrant Equestrian marshals to arrest her, rob a candy store?" He said sarcastically. 

"We believe she was involved in – well it doesn't concern you, she's in big trouble. But I suppose you're right. An earth pony couldn't open this without leaving signs of tampering. But a unicorn could... this one sounds pretty full though." 

Hoof steps could be heard moving away. Apple Bloom exhaled slowly, her body shaking. Never in her life had she felt that level of anxiety. To be literally less than two feet away from an Equestrian marshall and not be captured. Way to go Scoots! Thinking on your hooves.

"Cellar is clear." Soon after Apple Bloom heard the sound of hooves on wood, the slam of a door then total darkness. She made a soft splash as she shifted her position slightly. Finally the gravity of her situation started to sink in. If Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle end up captured, she was stuck in this barrel. Still, she tried to keep her mind from dwelling on horrible things like dying in a wine barrel but it was hard as she sat and waited. She took comfort in knowing that only one of the marshals got a brief glimpse of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Se knew they were smart and would avoid being seen but she still couldn't help but worry. 





Sweetie Belle slammed the cellar door shut, with her magic she redid the lock to it. Turing her head she saw Scootaloo, flat against the house, her head peeking around the corner. Seeing how still Scootaloo was, Sweetie Belle decided to keep quite, getting against the house too. Just as her coat come in contact with the stucco she heard two loud thuds. 

"Equestrian marshals! Open up!" A stallion's voice bellowed. 

"I think you woke them up this time sir." Another stallion's voice said with uncertainty.

"Let's hope so. I'm getting tired of yelling." Just then there was the sound of creaking hinges. "I'm Lieutenant Ironhooves, Equestrian marshal. We are searching all homes in El Potra for a fugitive." 

"Do-you -have-any-idea-what-time is?" An grumpy voice responded, the anger growing by the second. 

"Sir we apologize –"

"It's mister Noir." The stallion sneered in a grumpy snobbish tone. 

"Yes, of course Mr. Noir. We are looking for somepony that escaped our custody –"

"And you think that pony is hiding in my house?" Mr. Noir cut across rudely.

"Well, anything is possible. We are searching all homes among other places as well." Lieutenant Ironhooves explained in the most patient voice he could. 

"Wake me and my wife up in the middle of the night! And you want to search my home! How dare you sir! We have rights!"

Scootaloo looked back to Sweetie Belle, who looked frightened. "Come on," she whispered, "they will be coming through the yard at some point." She poked her head around the corner seeing the coast was clear. It seemed the argument had moved inside but she could still hear the shouting from Mr. Noir. Scootaloo hoped the hiding place would work, Mr. Noir didn't sound like a very nice pony. Not wanting to be discovered, Scootaloo bolted from the side of the yard at a full gallop, Sweetie Belle not far behind. She ran down the road and back into the alleyway she had taken from the town center. 

"Scoot's – what's–the-plan?" Sweetie Belle panted as she skidded to a halt right behind Scootaloo. They were at the very end of the alleyway looking onto the main road. Down the road the town square could be seen, lots of ponies stood around talking loudly. Some paced in confusion and annoyance, some leaned against a tree in some sort of sleepwear but most seemed to take the opportunity to socialize. Without a doubt, Sweetie Belle figured they were speculating as to what kind of fugitive was on the lose in their town. 

"Blend in, pretend to be part of the chaos and confusion but stay close as possible. We want to hear if they –" Scootaloo couldn't bear to say it. She didn't even want to think about it. Apple Bloom getting caught again, after how far they've come – she wasn't going to let them catch her again. "We want to hear when they finished searching the town and leave." 

Sweetie Belle could tell Scootaloo was worried, she was too. It was frightening, the whole situation. She knew the marshals didn't have an accurate description of her and Scootaloo, yet, but Apple Bloom spent a long time in close proximity with them. She tried to take comfort in knowing that it was unlikely they would be recognized if they stayed in the background. After all it wasn't uncommon to find an Equestrian in El Potro. 

"The town is pretty small, it shouldn't take very long for five of them search it all. Let's get into the town center." Scootaloo stepped out of the alleyway casually, putting on her best sleepy-confused face, she entered the the town square. She could hear ponies jabbering away in Equestrian and Caballan. 

"If you have seen this filly, please step forward. Any information is helpful." An Equestrian marshal walked around the town square, in his magical grasp he help a sketch of Apple Bloom high above his head. He repeated his statement louder. Some ponies shook their heads but most continued to talk amongst them selves and other's complained loudly. 

"Can you believe this shit? I'm here to relax and we are being woken up in the middle of the night on some police raid." A stallion said loudly to anypony that was listening. 

"I know, I'm down here all the way from Manehatten. I come here every summer and never had any problems." A mare responded.

Another mare chimed into the conversation. "I didn't want to leave my suite but the manager forced me out so the hotel could be searched." 

Sweetie Belle decided to join the conversation as to appear she was part of the group to avoid suspension from the marshal or the local police. "Who are they looking for?" She asked. 

"Some little filly... about the same age as you." The mare from Manehatten answered. "It's a shame too. So young – too young to be on the run from the law, especially Equestrian marshals." 

"What did she do?" Sweetie Belle asked innocently. 

"Who knows... and you're too young to know." The mare snapped. "Now be a good filly and find your mother, you don't want to get in trouble now." 

Ugh you got to be bucking kidding me. Just because I don't have a cutie mark doesn't mean I'm a foal! Sweetie Belle pouted and stormed off. She saw Scootaloo walking casually behind the marshal, still pacing the square levitating the picture. 

"If you have seen this filly, please step forward. Any information is helpful."

"Who is that? What's her name?" A stallion shouted. 

"The name isn't important." The marshal responded.

"It is too important! What's your name officer?" 

"I am Sargeant Shielded Saddle!" 

"Sargeant, tell us her name!" The stallion shouted.

"The name makes no difference, just look at the face!"

"You don't know it." He sneered. "You don't know."

"I hear she's a total badass!" Scootaloo shouted, then ducked behind the stallion that had been shouting. He stunk like beer.

"Yeah she must be to have marshals after her!" It was at this time that most of the square had gone quiet to watch the inebriated stallion shout. "We should call her, La potranca sin nombre!" Many ponies in the town cheered. He started chanting, "la potranca sin nombre, la potranca sin nombre!" 

More ponies in the square joined the chant. "La potranca sin nombre! La potranca sin nombre! La potranca sin nombre!" 

The chant died down as two more marshals joined Shielded Saddle in the town square. "Search of the north and west sections of town complete, we didn't find anything. What's going on here Shield? Entertaining the crowd?" 

"Just some drunk that rallied the masses." He sighed. "No pony here was much help, mostly just complaining about being woke up or hungover. And some," Shielded Saddle eyed the drunk stallion swaying back and forth with a goofy smile on his face, his eyes slightly unfocused. "Some are still drunk. Summer festivals..." He trailed off shaking his head. 

"I take it Lieutenant and Constable are still at it?" 

"He should be coming back soon. The houses on the south side are bigger and more spread out." Shielded Saddle said, he looked around to see most of the ponies had gone back to what they were doing before. He lowered his voice a little. "If you ask me, she made a run for the border, we are wasting time here. We probably could have captured her and been back in Equestria by now." 

"Yeah but Lieutenant Ironhooves had to make sure. He is going to look like a fool on this. A filly escaping... and honestly, she was probably just a distraction so the real bandits could make a clean getaway. He is probably going to lose the case." 

"Shh, here they come now." Shielded Saddle put a hoof to his mouth.

Sweetie Belle jumped as she felt a hoof touch her shoulder. Her and Scootaloo had been pretending to be a couple's children by standing close to them while listening to the conversation. She turned to see Scootaloo jerking her head to the side indicating Sweetie Belle to follow. Scootaloo broke into a slow trot straight to the alleyway as the five marshals and the local police stood in the town square discussing their next course of action.

"Hurry, I don't want to leave her in that barrel any longer." Worry began to fill Scootaloo as she realized just how long Apple Bloom had been trapped in that wine barrel. She was slightly relieved to know they didn't discover her but she feared the worse. "How could I have been so stupid! I should have never put her in that! If she dies in there I won't be able to live with myself. I can't –"

"Scoots, get a grip! We aren't going to do this now. She's going to be fine!" Sweetie Belle yelled. Deep down she shared Scootaloo's concerns but she wasn't about to make the situation worse. "Let's just hurry." They broke into a gallop down the alleyway. 

I hope she's okay! I hope she doesn't hate me. I never got a chance to tell her...





As time went by Apple Bloom's mind filled with panic. What if they got caught? Then Ah'm stuck in this thing until Mr. Noir finds me and calls the police. Her breathing became heavy, each breath echoed off the walls of the barrel. She felt cold, not having any idea ow long she's been sitting almost fully submerged in wine, Apple Bloom was getting extremely uncomfortable. Her legs were cramped and the air stunk, she was getting light headed, fearing she might pass out Apple Bloom tried to focus on her breathing.  

Apple Bloom had to move, she just had to. She uncomfortably shifted her position, the wine splashing against her lower jaw as she turned about. As she moved along the outer wall of the barrel she lost her hoofing and balance. She fell sideways, the whole barrel rocked. In her panic she jerked her body back the other way, her forelegs kicking wildly as her back legs gave out she fell sideways into the wine. Something hard connected with her head, sending dull pain through her as everything shifted. Her face was plunged under the wine as the whole barrel fell over on its side with a crash. Apple Bloom flailed about, she had no idea which way was up, left, right or down. In her state of panic she kicked her back legs as hard as she could; they connected with something hard. She kicked again and again, her head was spinning, she felt herself losing focus. She gathered up what strength she had left and bucked her back legs with everything she had. As everything faded she heard a faint crack, it sounded so far away... then blackness. 




The two fillies ran at top speed to the mansion at the end of the street. The rod-iron gate flew open as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo galloped toward it. They came to a sudden halt on the side of the side of the house, not even taking a second to breath. Sweetie Belle focused her magic and opened the cellar door then they raced in, not flinching as the lights flicked on. Then they stopped dead, stricken with horror at the sight before them. 

The floor had red liquid all over, the barrel lay on its side with several holes in it. The red liquid seemed to be coming form the barrel. Scootaloo felt her heart drop like a stone. It was the most horrible sight. 

"Do, you think they..." Sweetie Belle trailed off looking at the floor, she did her best to step around the liquid on the floor.

"Something terrible happened – purple?" Scootaloo was looking down at the floor, her hoof smeared some of the seemingly red liquid that she feared was blood. But after accidently stepping in it, she could see it was actually purple. A wave of relief washed over her as she realized what must have happened. 

"What?" Sweetie Belle shot Scootaloo a look like she was insane. 

"This is wine. See?" Scootaloo dipped her hoof in a little and smeared it around. She put her nose to it and smelled it. "Smell it, it's wine." 

Sweetie put her face up close to it and sniffed. Her head jerked back at the strong fermented oder. "Ew. Apple Bloom, are you okay?" She approached the barrel slowly, there was no answer. There were several cracks and holes where she apparently tried to kick through the barrel. Sweetie Belle used her magic to remove the top. Inside she saw Apple Bloom laying on her side unconscious. "Scoots, quick – help me get her out of here." Sweetie Belle tugged on one of Apple Bloom's forelegs. 

Scootaloo stood transfixed at the sight before her. Apple Bloom was unconscious and she looked terrible. Her yellow coat was stained purple and her main and tail were a deeper shade of red, almost a burgundy color. Judging by the state of the barrel and an unconscious Apple Bloom, Scootaloo figured she must have had some kind of panic attack. 

"Scoots! Help!" Sweetie Belle panted as she tried to drag her friend out of the barrel.

Scootaloo snapped back to what was going on in front of her, she joined Sweetie Belle and helped her drag Apple Bloom out of the wine barrel. Scootaloo held a trembling hoof under Apple Bloom's nose, she felt nothing. Dread overcame Scootalo as tears began to fall uncontrollably. "Sh-she's n-n-not breathing..." She stammered. "Sweetie, she's not breathing! Do something." 

Sweetie Belle's eyes filled with tears. Feeling of horror in her as her heart ached. Doing the only thing she could think of, Sweetie Belle rolled Apple Bloom on her back. She put her hooves on Apple Bloom's chest and pushed down, hard. She pushed again and again but nothing happened. Sweetie Belle gave it one more try, she pushed her hooves against Apple Bloom's chest with all her strength. 

The filly coughed and wine sprayed out of her mouth, her eyes opened wide and she gasped for air. Sweetie Belle sighed with relief, she pushed Apple Bloom on her side to allow her to catch her breath. 

"Oh thank Celestia! I was so scared." Scootaloo said with teary eyes. "Sweetie, you saved her. You saved her." Scootaloo hugged Sweetie Belle tightly, kissing her on the cheek. 

"Ugh what happened?" Apple Bloom asked, her voice was hoarse. She attempted to stand, her legs wobbled and she lost balance falling over on her side.

"Easy, easy. Just lay there for a little." Sweetie Belle said softly. She put a hoof on Apple Bloom's side to hold her down. "We found you unconscious. You swallowed a lot of wine." 

Scootaloo kept her distance from Apple Bloom. As relieved as she was, it was still her dumb idea that got them in this mess. She was sure it was matter of time before her friend started shouting at her. She almost wanted her to, it would help her feelings of remorse anyway. 

"They were so close. That Lieutenant Ironhooves. He stood in front of this barrel forever. It's like he could sense Ah was in there." Apple Bloom looked at the barrel, she noticed all the holes in the side. "Ah kinda got freaked out in there... Ah never want to be in a small dark place like that again. Ah was so scared... but it worked, they ain't found me yet." 

"Can you stand?" Sweetie Belle asked. "We should probably get out of here. I don't think anypony will recognize you lookin' like that. I'm just going to take that bow out. It's icky anyways." Sweetie Belle pulled it off with her magic as Apple Bloom rose to her feet slowly. "You need a bath, you smell like wine." 

Apple Bloom deadpanned. "Ya don't say?" Sweetie Belle backed up a little, her ears drooping. "Look, Ah ain't mad at y'all okay. We did what we had to. Ah just... Ah don't know, let's get out of here. Ah don't like this place." 

Scootaloo couldn't help still being mad at her self. This whole thing was my idea. This whole dumb thing almost got her in serious trouble. Then my even brighter idea almost got her killed. Scootaloo thought miserably. She kept her distance following her friends out of the cellar. I only hope we get home and somehow everything will be fine... after Rainbow kills me for leaving home of course.When this is all over I hope she understands what we did... what I did.
> La Potranca sin Nombre.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another brisk morning in Canterlot, before the morning rush, a few ponies could be spotted roaming the streets, walking into coffee shops, or reading the morning paper, paying no attention to where they were walking or who they were running off the sidewalks. Among those ponies was Sundance, a pale gold colored unicorn stallion with a dark greyish blue mane and tail, his  cutie mark a puzzle piece with a magnifying glass covering part of it. His build was slim, with toned muscles rippling under the skin and piercing green eyes.

The sky still had some pink in it even though the sun had risen a few hours ago. Sundance stopped by a park to inhale the morning-fresh air; the sweet aroma of damp grass and dew. A slight hint of woodsmoke from some nearby chimney, a fire from last night still smoldering. Sundance relished in the tranquility, letting the senses put his mind at ease; mornings likes these were his favorite. Mornings like a cool early autumn morning, just after sunrise.

A soft breeze rolled in, chilling the air. Sundance had to pull himself away from the park to return to his walk down the street, now steadily becoming busier by the minute. It was about that time, morning commute time, and ponies were starting to leave their homes with haste, still half asleep, rushing to work. Sundance took a turn up some stone steps leading to a tall building. He opened two glass doors to a vast open atrium of marble flooring. His hooves clopped loudly on the stone floor as he crossed the atrium to the elevator, jamming his hoof over the button. The elevator doors opened a second later. Sundance entered and mashed the number five button on the elevator panel. A few seconds later the elevator opened to the fifth floor with another marble atrium with glass doors and massive black lettering stamped across it. Equestrian Department of Investigation. Foreign and Domestic.

Sundance walked through the glass doors into a lobby. It was a waiting area with a couple of benches, a coffee table and magazines. On the other side of the lobby were two wooden doors that only ponies employed there could open. Upon the benches were two ponies with brief cases. Their ears perked up when they saw Sundance enter.

"Good morning sir." One of the ponies stood up to address Sundance.

Sundance groaned audibly. "What do you two want now?"

"Our client feels there was some evidence that was overlooked, some that will help exonerated him."
Sundance sighed. "Unbelievable, your client is not only guilty, he's incredibly guilty. Sorry, case closed. Celestia denied the appeal yesterday."

"That deny can be overturned if we reopen the case –"

"Your client is an idiot. Stealing ATMs is a pretty stupid crime... they have magical trackers on them. When we tracked down the missing ATMs, we found your client in a room trying to break said ATMs open."

"See, that is the technicality I thought we'd talk about. Those ATMs had tracking spells on them but we can't seem to find any authorization for that spell to be placed on them."

"Banks have a right to protect their assets, they don't need authorization. Look it up under Search and Seizure, section three Magical Tracking clause B. The clause specifically says banks need no written authorization from a judge or princess to magically track any assets in their possession. Clause C allows them to track their ATMs, safes and armored stagecoaches. Seriously, how did you two pass the bar exam?" The two stallions looked at each other then back at Sundance.

"Our client, demands we go through the case, page by page with you."

"Look, Celestia isn't happy the whole thing made it to her level, there's no chance of reopening. It's pointless for me, I didn't make the arrest, I got more important things to do than look through a case that's open and shut. So, if you please show your selves out." Sundance said trying to keep his tone level. It was unbelievable to him, these lawyers were a joke, any pony with a law degree should know by now that the case was closed, for good. These jokers are fresh out of law school. Probably thinking they got their first big one. Shouldn't they be chasing an ambulance or something?

"We aren't going anywhere." The stallion said, sitting back down on the bench.

Sundance shrugged, "make yourselves comfortable." He said nonchalantly, walking past them to the main entrance to the office.

Sundance reached out with his magic and opened the massive wooden double doors, revealing an office filled with several cubicles and ponies sitting at desks inside them. Nopony seemed to notice him walk in, as they continued staring at documents on their desks or at their coffee mugs. He puffed out his chest and strolled the front of the office, clearing his throat he spoke loudly and clearly. "Okay team, look alive!" Several heads poked up out of their cubicles. "Immigration department, I need a copy of that report today. Calla, coffee on my desk, then file the documents on the Manehatten bank robbery case. Also, get those fucking lawyers out of my lobby, if they give you any trouble, please remind them that their client is an idiot and Celestia denied his appeal."

A small white mare with a golden mane got up from a desk in front of a door off to the side of a wooden door with the words Chief Inspector, on the window. "Yes, sir." She said and made her way to the back of the office, where the coffee machine was.

"Who solved the robbery case?" A mare asked from her cubicle.

"Ironhooves brought him in a couple of weeks ago, it was only a matter of time. He was clever but not enough for our marshals. The court found him guilty yesterday, shortest trial I have ever been to." There was a loud roar as ponies stomped their hooves in approval. "Alright, alright. Get back to work, let’s go catch us some criminals." He smiled and turned to walk through the door when he stopped and turned to see a sandy colored mare entered the main office. He smiled at her, "Just in time, Sandstorm, my office... when you get a second."

"Of course Sundance, just give me a minute to gather my notes." Sandstorm replied warmly.

Sundance smiled then entered his office, closing the door behind him. He looked around his office at all the awards hanging on his wall, the massive mahogany desk in the center facing a thickly draped window. Bits of light could be seen coming in through the sides of the drapes. He strode across his dimly lit office, stumbling on a chair in front of his desk. "Ahh, shit!" The drapes glowed blue as they were forcefully flung open, blasting the office with light. "Ahhh!" He yelled shielding his eyes. And my morning started off so good. Looking up, his eyes finally adjusting to the light, he looked out his window to see the royal palace in all its glory towering over Canterlot. That view never gets old... He took a seat at his desk, ignoring the throbbing pain in his fetlock, Sundance pushed a bunch of folders off to the side of his desk just as the door opened. A young white mare walked in levitating a mug of coffee.

"Your coffee sir." She smiled, setting it down on his desk.

"Thank you Calla." Sundance smiled at her warmly. He levitated the mug, taking a sip. "Mmm, of all the secretaries I've had, only you can make coffee the way I like it." Calla's face instantly turned a bright shade of scarlet.

"I used to be a barista, before college..." She trailed off. "Sir, I know I'm only a secretary but I'm studying law and would like to get some more experience, it will greatly help my studies. I hope to get a job as a detective after I graduate. I would do it on my off time of course." She said, her face burning like the sun.

"Of course, I think that would be great. The more exposure the better. I'll speak to some departments and see what I can get you involved in... after you graduate, come see me again."

"Oh thank you, thank you sir. I won't let you down." Calla said with glee.

"I know you'll do good. Now, take these for me," Sundance pushed all the folders toward her, "and don't forget about those lawyers. If they demand to see me, tell them I'm in a meeting – all day." He smiled as the excited mare stumbled mare left his office. Not a second later Sandstorm entered with a thick folder, followed close by another tall dark, sturdy built stallion with four hoofcuffs chained together as a cutie mark.

"Ironhooves! What a surprise!" Sundance exclaimed.

"Just got back." He said simply, a grouchy look on his face.

"Here is everything on our international task force... however, since Ironhooves is here, this won't be much use." She plopped the folder down on the desk.

Sundance opened it eagerly, flipping through files and files until he reached something that made him stop and stare in confusion. "What the buck is this? Some kind of joke?"

"No, what do you mean? It's what it looks like." Sandstorm said calmly, Irohooves just glared, standing in the corner of the office.

Sundance raised an eyebrow at her. "That's a lot of apples but –"

"Three fillies did that."

"Impressive but hardly worth our time."

"Ironhooves thinks otherwise." Sandstorm said with a smile, she knew that would catch his attention. "He caught them in the act. Two got away quickly but he captured one of them. Her picture is on the back page."

"Oh? Iron, you didn't tell me you caught somepony. Wait – he caught a filly?" Ironhooves and Sandstorm exchanged awkward glances at each other.

"Well..." Sandstorm began but trailed off, looking at the floor.

"We are not foal services but since you caught her, might as well go speak to her." He looked down to the colored sketch of a yellow filly with a pouty face and big pink bow holding her dark red mane back. "She's cute..." He said quietly to himself.

Sandstorm looked away, uneasily. She didn't want to say what happened but not saying anything was just as bad. "Not exactly... you see... she sort of escaped."

Sundance looked at Ironhooves questionably, never in his time working with Ironhooves did any pony escape him. No pony was ever daring enough to try. "Care to weigh in here?"

"Okay so the real thieves got away but this filly and the other two are involved. We had it on good word from our snitch that the job was going to happen that day, this was four days ago. We didn't know when but we thought we go check and see if they found a way to bypass the new security. We get to the end of the hall and find the guard can't get the door open to do his routine check. So after we blasted through it, we found La Potranca sin Nombre –"

"Hold up! You found what?"

"La Potranca sin Nombre. It means filly with no name, I'll get to it – let me finish my story. We found her and apparently two others. We know one was a pegasus because she grabbed another white filly and jumped, we didn't get a good look at them but we grabbed the earth pony filly and took her into custody. We questioned that foul mouthed little brat all the way to El Portro, but we couldn't even get a name out of her. Unfortunately, the stagecoach hit a large pothole and broke an axle, leaving us stranded. So as we tried to fix it, she escaped... of course we didn't notice until we had finished the repairs and I went back inside to find her missing. Then I began to think about this massive pothole and how conveniently it was placed. I realized that maybe somepony put it there to get her out, before she told us too much. We searched the entire town of El Potro, I was sure she was there... but, she disappeared without a trace. The name comes from some drunk stallion in the town square who decided to call her that after Shielded Saddle accidentally revealed we didn't know her name. He started chanting it and well... it caught on I guess." Ironhooves shrugged, "whatever it makes a good case file name."

"So to recap, you captured her because you think she's involved with a gang of thieves?" Sundance looked down at the picture. He considered himself to an excellent judge of character and this filly didn't seem to strike him as a bandit, certainly not associated with the dangerous gang they have been working hard to stop.

"Gangs have used young ones before, post them as look outs, do their dirty work... you name it."

"Iron, is it possible these fillies were playing some kind of prank and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?" Sandstorm asked to which he simply shrugged.

"Maybe, but why was the door jammed? Why was this little filly so tough, she didn't freak out and start crying? Where are the other two, and what kind of prank is that??"

"You make a good point but still, there's something that doesn't make sense here... nothing was taken, all the money is still there –"

"Maybe the bandits were warned off by the look out?" Ironhooves said unconvincingly as he tapped his hoof over the picture of the filly.

"I don't think so... this report says the safe was never tampered with and judging by the amount of apples I see in this photo and this one and this one... holy crap... yeah they were at this for a very long time." Sundance flipped through photo after photo of smashed crates and tons of apples scattered all over an open field of dry grass. "She was definitely Equestrian?"

"Without a doubt, had a country twang and everything. I'd say she came from Appaloosa or somewhere near that area."

Sundance considered her picture for a moment, trying to imagine the motives, but nothing made sense. It seemed she had a lot of spunk and wasn’t easily intimidated. To him this all added up to a filly who had nothing to lose, possibly a runaway. No, there's something else to this... it doesn't make any sense why a runaway would do this.. "Well, she shouldn't be too hard to find. What's her cutie mark? We can check the registry and –"

"She doesn't have one." Ironhooves replied.

"She's a bit old to be a blank flank, hmm. Well, check with immigration and passport control. She crossed the border it will be on record.

"She might still turn up though. I left Shielded Saddle in El Potro to keep an eye on the town. I still have that gut feeling that she was there... in that cellar. We should look into a Mr. Noir too, he may be connected." Ironhooves added. Sandstorm let out a fit of giggles, she put a hoof over her mouth to try and silence them.

"Sorry, it's just funny you mentioned him." Sandstorm said, still laughing a little. She noticed however, Sundance and Ironhooves were still looking at her with puzzled expressions. "Mr. Noir is sort of a running gag over in the department of agriculture. A long time ago, when I worked over there, he put in for a tax credit. Him and his lawyers found some kind of loophole in the law. He technically qualified for agricultural subsidies even though he only grew grapes... to make wine. Since wine was the product he made a living off of, he doesn't qualify as a farm. So to create this loophole, he started selling some grapes in cartons on the side of the road – I don't know who in their right minds bought them, wine grapes taste awful... but ponies sure did. Him selling grapes as produce made him qualify for the tax credit.

"So, that went, round and round for like ever. Until, internal revenue comes to us and says we need to seize his assets right away because he owes back taxes. It all became clear what he was doing but it was too late. He had this tax credit and he got out of paying almost a million bits to the internal revenue department."

"Wow, I didn't like him right off the bat but... wow. What a scum bag." Ironhooves said.

"You'd think we would have been furious but at this point the whole thing was getting so ridiculous that we gave it a 'well that figures, we should have seen it coming.' Since then the laws have been written more clearly and they've arrested tons of ponies trying to do the same type of fraud. He's somewhat of a legend, I guess. The funny thing is, his wine... it isn't that good." She giggled a little to herself then composed herself again. "Anyway, Mr. Noir is a sneaky, clever, crooked business pony but he isn't the type to actually steal something. He likes to see what kinds of things he can get away with. Besides, they've kept an eye on him after that, if he were involved, we'd know." Sandstorm looked down at the picture of the filly then sighed. "I don't think she was involved with the bandits we are after though."

"It stands to pretty good reason that she isn't, but still I'm a little curious why the actual robbery didn't happen. The amount of chaos those girls were making would have made it an opportune time to do it. I got the perfect mare for the job to look into this... you two, talk to our snitch but don't grant him shit... not until we catch the rest of his gang."

Ironhooves left the office quickly, avoiding eye contact. Sandstorm looked at Sundance with a confused expression, silently asking, 'what's his deal?'

"He's just sulking." Sundance said waving a hoof through the air, to wave it off as nothing. "The first pony in history to escape one of the best marshals out there and it's a little filly with no cutie mark." Sundance laughed a little. "Hey, can you send Calla in?" he asked Sandstorm as she left the office.

"Yes, sir?" Calla asked eagerly, standing in the office threshold.

"Come in." Sundance beckoned her inside. After she entered and closed the door he pushed the files Sandstorm had given him over to her. "Today is your lucky day. This is your first case, now I know it's not as exciting as bank robbery or embezzlement but I think this is a good start." He flipped over the pages to the picture of the filly. "This is La Potranca sin Nombre, I need you to find out everything you can about her. This file has everything known about her now, which really isn't anything. I need her name, where she's from and possibly two others her age that traveled with her... one is a pegasus and the other is white... yeah that's about it." Calla stared at him blankly.

"This is, wow, my own case, this is so amazing..."

"This is going to be tricky, finding a pony isn't always easy. She's Equestrian, country accent and was found in Caballo."

"Okay, so check with passport control?" Calla asked excitedly.

Sundance smiled at her. "Very good, where else might one check?"

Calla thought for a second before answering. "Immigration? Oh, and the department of transportation."

Sundance leaned back in his chair, nodding and grinning. "I'm impressed, all good places to start. As I won't be needing a secretary for the rest of the day, I think the it'd be a good idea to start right now."

"Oh thank you , thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity." Calla backed out of the office beaming and and jumping with excitement.

Sundance shook his head still smiling at the over enthusiastic mare. I need more of her, these other ponies here are too dreary.





"Miss Belle!" The secretary behind the desk of the El Potro Inn called out upon seeing the little unicorn cross the lobby. "While you were out, the police searched your room... well, everypony's room. If anything is missing or broken please let me know."

"Will do." Sweetie Belle responded.

Apple Bloom did her best to keep her distance from the front desk, knowing she stunk like a brewery. She could still taste the foul liquid in her mouth; it's strong, acidic, putrid taste. Apple Bloom would never know how older ponies liked it so much. She followed Sweetie Belle up a flight of stairs then down a long hall. They entered a room at the end, their room. "How long have y'all been here." She asked as soon as they entered, waiting a few seconds for a sulking Scootaloo to enter, not saying a word, before closing the door.

"Yesterday. We got out and explored a little, but we tried to lay low most of the time. We didn't want to bring too much attention to ourselves." Sweetie Belle said, she walked passed Apple Bloom scrunching her nose. "You should wash up."

"More than a simple shower is what Ah need. Ah think Ah'm going to make a bath and soak... forever because –" A loud sound of a door slamming interrupted her. She peered down the short hall in the room, where the sound came from. She could see one of the bedroom doors had been slammed shut. Apple Bloom leaned in closer to Sweetie Belle, lowering her voice. "What's up with Scoots?"

"She – she just needs some time alone, I think." Sweetie Belle looked unsure, although she had a pretty good idea she knew what was wrong. "Just take your bath, we can try to talk to her later."

Apple Bloom made her way down the hall, she paused by the bedroom door Scootaloo had slammed shut, contemplating it. She considered opening it and comforting the pegasus but she pressed on. The bathroom was small but it had a decent sized tub, big enough for what she needed. She hastily turned the taps on and watched the tub fill with water. She adjusted the temperature and took one of the miniature hotel Mane 'N Tail and Body bottles and emptied it into the tub.

When the bath was nearly full and suds were threatening to spill out the sides, Apple Bloom turned the taps off then eased herself in to the tub. Immediately she felt the gratifying effect of the hot water on her body. She relaxed herself, laying on her back, her head against the back of the tub, the scent of the soap and the warmth were soothing. She let her head roll over to the side as she nodded off, sleeping softly.

Apple Bloom awoke suddenly with a gasp, the water was cooler and the suds had settled. She looked down at the water in the tub to find it purple. "Wow." She said aloud, she had no idea she had soaked up that much wine in her coat. She stood up and flicked the stopper with her foreleg, making the tub drain. When the tub was empty she turned the overhead shower on. She cooed a little as the warm water slashed down on her back, washing the rest of the soap and purple stains out. She put her face under to wash off the wine that might have been on her face.

The steam rose from the tub floor and filled the bathroom. Apple Bloom relished the hot water pouring over her. As time went by though, another feeling took over. Loneliness. She sat on her haunches, her head hung low as the water poured over it. She missed Applejack and Mac, more than anything she just wanted to go home and forget about all of this. But she couldn't forget about it, she wouldn't have a home to go back to. She never thought Scootaloo's plan would actually work but she went along nonetheless, giving it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, just maybe it kinda worked. Ah just wish it all worked out according to plan... She turned off the water and got out. She pulled a towel around her back and dried herself off. She grimaced at her fur fluffing out, she didn't have a brush with her to flatten it down like she normally did.

Apple Bloom left the bathroom and entered the first bedroom door she saw. She meant to plop herself down on the bed and sleep, except there was already somepony there. She could see the mound in the blankets. Apple Bloom backed up slowly as Scootaloo's head poked up from the blankets, she smiled weakly at her friend. "Sorry, Ah didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright." Scootaloo responded. "I think you are sleeping in here anyways. They only had rooms with two bedrooms and I took the bigger one." Scootaloo moved to the side of the bed, making space for Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom approached the bed then hopped on it. She looked over at Scootaloo who was avoiding her gaze. Scootaloo's eyes drooped and her face was somber, an expression of sadness and guilt. Apple Bloom moved closer to her friend. "Scoots, what's wrong?" Scootaloo looked away from Apple Bloom.

"Nothing." Scootaloo replied harshly.

Apple Bloom scooted closer, until she was right next to Scootaloo. She put a hoof on her shoulder, rubbing it back and forth. "It's okay, you can tell me Scoots. Ah know something is botherin' you, you've been in here since we got back. Ah'm here for you." Scootaloo's eyes welled up with tears and to Apple Boom's surprise she reached out with both forelegs and embraced Apple Bloom tightly. Scootaloo's tears turned to loud sobs as she held Apple Bloom snugly, she buried her face into Apple Bloom's shoulder and cried, soaking her mane and shoulder.

"I'm s-s-sorry." Scootaloo wailed between sobs. Apple Bloom, doing the only thing she could think of, embraced the distressed pegasus, her forelegs rubbing Scootaloo's back.

"Sorry for what?" Apple Bloom continued to rub Scootaloo's back softly, trying to console her. A few minutes passed by and Scootaloo calmed down a little. Her crying reduced to sniffles.

"I'm sorry for making you come on this crazy adventure and getting you into so much trouble, getting us all into big trouble."

"Don't be sorry, Ah wanted to come. Ah thought it was a great idea. It didn't go as planned but we are still here, safe and sound. And tomorrow, we’ll go home." Apple Bloom tightened her grip on Scootaloo.

"We got lucky. When we pulled you out of that barrel, I- I was so scared. I thought I had lost you... and I never got to tell you how much –"

"Shhh, shh, shh." Apple Bloom pulled back a little putting a hoof over Scootaloo's mouth. She stared into those sad magenta eyes, their noses nearly  touching. "It's okay, Scoots. It's okay, Ah know." She pulled Scootaloo in again, planting a soft kiss on her cheek then nuzzling her, she laid her head on Scootaloo's shoulder, taking comfort in Scootaloo's warm embrace. Slowly she fell asleep in her hooves.

The bedroom door opened and Sweetie Belle walked in, her eyes met with Scootaloos. She paused at the sight of the two of them cuddling, she smiled brightly at Scootaloo. "Hey, sorry Scoots. I was just feeling a bit lonely so I thought I'd come in and –"

"Shhh," Scootaloo nodded down at Apple Bloom who was sleeping soundly in her hooves, tightly snuggled up against her body.

Sweetie Belle hopped on the bed next to Scootaloo. "She's asleep?"

"Yeah, we kind of had a – um, I don't know... A thing, a talk. This is how it ended." Scootaloo whispered.

"Aw. See Scoots, I told you everything would be fine, didn't I?"

"It isn't though. We still have to get out of here. Everypony in town has seen her face. I can't bear to lose her again, no more stupid plans, we have to get her out of this town, first thing tomorrow."

"Scoots... just – just calm down. I know you’re feeling guilty, and a little lonely and sad, I am too. I miss Rarity and home. But just for tonight, live in the moment. You have her in your hooves... now be with her. If you want me to leave, I will..." Sweetie Belle trailed off. She didn't want to be alone but she wanted to respect her friend's desire to be alone.

"You're right Sweetie, for once I just need to live in the moment like I used to... ever since we started this thing I've been the one always thinking our next move, always planning how things were going to happen. Tonight I won't think, I'll just hold her tightly. And no, you can stay. I don't want you to feel lonely too." Sweetie Belle laid down on the bed, snuggling up against Scootaloo's back.

"Scoots, I think we are all feeling a little lonely right now. We have never ventured this far from home. While we were swept up in all the excitement, none of us really had a moment to stop and think about just how far away we've gotten from everything we know. Not until now."

"Yeah, I just hope what we did counts... " Scootaloo trailed off in thought as she laid there holding Apple Bloom, she ran a hoof through her mane. Apple Bloom, you are so beautiful… Even if your fur is all puffy right now. Scootaloo smiled and rubbed her foreleg over Apple Bloom's side trying to flatten the puffy fur but it just fluffed out again after he foreleg passed. Actually, it's kind of cute...

"You know what? I’ve got a good feeling about all this. I think everything will work out." Sweetie Belle stood up from on the bed then hopped off. "I'll leave you two alone now."

"Hey, I thought you were feeling lonely?"

Sweetie Belle sighed and looked down at the floor. "I am but being in here isn't helping any, if anything it makes it worse because you two remind me of everything I miss." Sweetie Belle said sadly. "Because, in a small way, you make me think of Ponyville."

"We'll be home tomorrow and we can put all this behind us and we can go back to crusading and hanging out and having fun, like we used to." Scootaloo said reassuringly. Sweetie Belle didn't seem too convinced though as she left the room, walking with uncertainty.

Scootaloo laid her head down on the pillow, pulling a sleeping Apple Bloom, still clutching her tightly up to her shoulder. She drifted off to sleep, completely exhausted from a day of digging holes and running from the law.


* * *


Apple Bloom awoke late morning in her cozy bed to somepony holding her tightly. She opened her eyes to a mass of soft orange fur. She smiled warmly, she snuggled against the warmth closing her eyes again.

"I was wondering when you were going to wake up." Scootaloo said softly. She squeezed Apple Bloom a little.

Apple Bloom didn't respond right away. She was enjoying the soft fur, the firm embrace and warmth too much to muster a response. She cooed a little, nuzzling against Scootaloo's shoulder. "You make a good pillow, Scoots." Apple Bloom muttered into Scootaloo's shoulder.

The peacefulness was interrupted by the sound of a knock coming from the front door. Apple Bloom's head shot up at the sound, her ears forwards listening. She heard the door open and she jumped up, darting under the bed in one swift motion. A few seconds later the bedroom door opened and Apple Bloom could see white hooves on the floor.

"Breakfast is here. I got room service." Sweetie Belle's voice cracked, she spoke with excitement. "Hey... where's Apple Bloom, I thought you two were –"

"Ah'm here." Apple Bloom poked her head out from under the bed.

Sweetie Belle frowned, but didn't ask. "Well come on, it's huevos rancheros and it's getting cold." Apple Bloom crawled out from under the bed as Scootaloo rolled off the side, landing on her feet. They followed Sweetie Belle into the main room where three plates sat on a table. "Can you believe this only cost two bits? Our money goes so far in this country."

They sat in silence as they ate, Sweetie Belle was contemplating how they were going to get back home. She figured they'd hop the train again but she began to realize a major problem with that idea. Everypony in town has seen Apple Bloom's face, they wouldn't be able to get anywhere near the train station, let alone leave the hotel. She knew there was only one train that stopped in El Potro and if they missed it, they would have to wait another day. Sweetie Belle didn't think that was a bad thing except money was running low, they couldn't stay in the hotel much longer. Maybe if Apple Bloom had a good disguise...

"Hey so we got kind of a problem." Sweetie Belle started to say. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at her. "Everypony in town has seen Apple Bloom's face, we can't get anywhere near the train station. Unless we find some kind of disguise for you." Sweetie Belle said, looking at Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom shrugged. "No problem, some big sunglasses and a bed sheet and maybe a hat."

"Could work, but there are a couple of problems: one, they are still looking for you. The local police are probably on the lookout for you, maybe some the townsfolk too. Two, I think there may be a marshal or two looking for you as well. I overheard them talking about some other case they are working on, they think we are involved in. Something about being a distraction so the real thieves could get away. They seem to think we are a bunch of bandits." Scootaloo explained calmly.

"We are bandits, Cutie Mark bandits." Sweetie Belle said cheerfully to which Scootaloo face hoofed. "We should at least try the disguise, otherwise there is no quick way out of this town, we'd have to sneak across the border then walk to the next town."

"Okay, before we go tryin' to walk back to Equestria, Ah want to try a disguise."

"Whatever you say La Potranca Sin Nombre." Sweetie Belle said playfully. Apple Bloom cocked her head to side, unsure she heard correctly. "It's what they were calling you last night. I think it means filly with no name."

"But Ah got a name!"

"And let's hope they never figure it out, La Potranca sin Nombre." Scootaloo added, with a smirk on her face.

"Okay, I'll go out and get sunglasses and a hat for you. They have a bunch of cheap stuff at the market. I'll be back." Sweetie Belle said then trotted out the door.

Apple Bloom looked at Scootaloo, she could feel heat on her face as her heart fluttered. "So... about last night –"

"Apple Bloom, I'm sorry... I was a mess. That was the scariest thing I had ever seen –"

"It's okay, Scoots Ah understand. Ah was scared too. This has been hard on all of us, Ah have never been so far from home before. Even though Ah got lonely, Ah'm with you so Ah ain't truly alone. But Ah was talking about what we did. Us... you know, cuddling and such. Ah – Ah liked it." Apple Bloom said, her face matching her mane.

"I, uh, I, um glad you liked it." Scootaloo said lamely, she looked away from Apple Bloom, fixing her eyes on the floor. "I liked it too."

"So... uh... what does that mean?" Apple Bloom moved in a little closer to Scootaloo. "Does it mean what Ah think it means?" She scooted closer and closer. Scootaloo backed herself against the wall but still Apple Bloom continued her advances. She puckered her lips and leaned in close to Scootaloo, closing her eyes she planted a soft kiss on her lips.

Scootaloo sat frozen, transfixed. This was the moment she has always dreamt about, fantasized about. She had longed for this for ages – and her lips, as sweet as candy. Scootaloo's heart was racing, her legs were trembling. She leaned forward, and returned the kiss passionately as she embraced the earth pony with her forelegs.

"Apple Bloom, I've been wanting to tell you for so long –" Scootaloo hastily broke her embrace with Apple Bloom as the door opened with a bang then slammed shut as Sweetie Belle stormed in.

"I don't believe this!" Sweetie Belle yelled, huffing and flaring her nostrils. "Not only are they still here but they are guarding –" Sweetie Belle stopped abruptly at the sight of Scootaloo against the wall, Apple Bloom up close to her, her neck extended toward Scootaloo, both of their horror stricken faces looking at Sweetie Belle. "Really? I was gone for less than ten minutes."

"What?" Apple Bloom said as she backed away from Scootaloo, blushing profusely. Sweetie Belle's eyes met with Scootaloo's and she grinned at her pegasus friend. "It ain't what it looks like."

"It's okay... I just thought she'd make the first move... " Sweetie Belle trailed off as she brought her thoughts back to what was important. "We can't leave through the train station. That Sergeant is here poking around and the local police are guarding the train station. They have a wanted posted of you up, five-hundred bit reward if captured. Your face is everywhere... we are so screwed."

"I always did like bad girls." Scootaloo giggled under her breath but it was still loud enough for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to hear.

"Hey! Ah ain't bad."

"Total badass!"

"Will you two shut up! We need to get out of here! Now, help me think of a way out!" Sweetie Belle said sternly, clenching her teeth. She quickly loosened up though, shooting her friends an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I'm happy you two are finally together. I'm just a little scared, you didn't see what they were like out there. They are determined to find you."

"But Ah thought that they thought we left town?"

"They did, until they found the wine barrel in that guy's house."

We should have cleaned up that mess. "Okay, we wait until tonight then we make a run for the border." Scootaloo said. "We take the train from the next town."

"Cactus Junction?" Apple Bloom asked. "That's miles from here." Apple Bloom crossed the room to the window, overlooking the street and main entrance below. On the street she could see a pony she knew only too well walking by, stopping to talk to another pony passing by.

"What choice do we have? Sit around here and get caught? Cactus Junction is the first town across the border." Scootaloo paced the room, thinking. "But what if they are looking there too?"

"Maybe, but they are pretty convinced Apple Bloom is still hiding here."

"Okay, it's a plan. Tonight we make a break for the border. Sweetie, start gathering supplies, we are gonna have to camp along the way."

"I'm way ahead of you. I bought us some food and water to take with us."

"Ah hope y'all are ready to leave now,” Apple Bloom said, pulling her face away from the window  “because Shielded Saddle just walked into the building."

> Unknown Unicorn. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"No, it's not that." Scootaloo's eyes gleamed with mischief as an evil smirk formed across her mouth. "Girls... I have an idea..."

"Huh?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle asked at the same time. 

"I have an idea. A great idea, it's genius it's –"

"Are ya gonna tell us sometime today?" Apple Bloom interjected. 

"Um, no."

"Scoots, what exactly was in that cake you had?" Sweetie Belle asked. She kept herself distanced a little, thinking her friend had lost it completely.

"The usual tons of sugar. Anyway, this idea is so awesome – I can't tell you here, no, this is top secret Cutie Mark Crusader business. To the clubhouse!"

"Look, Ah know y'all trying to cheer me up n' all but Ah don't want to crusade right now."

"No, this isn't some crazy idea to get a cutie mark, this is something else more important." 

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared confused looks. Nothing was more important than getting their cutie marks right? "Okay, let's go. Beats hangin' around here." Apple Bloom said with a sigh, although she was more than intrigued at this point. 

Upon entering the clubhouse, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat on their haunches, eying Scootaloo as she paced the entire length of the clubhouse. They alternated between exchanging confused glances and watching their pegasus friend.

"So are you gonna tell us? Or are we here to watch you pace a hole in the floor?" Apple Bloom asked, deciding to break the silence. Scootaloo ignored her, continuing her pacing.

"Can you get a cutie mark doing that?" Sweetie Belle asked quietly. 

"We are about to find out..." 

Scootaloo stopped her pacing, to see her friends staring at her intensely. "So, here it is. My idea, that is so top secret we can't tell anypony. Only us three can know about this. And if we do this, we have to plan it to the last detail. This is a plan more important than getting our cutie marks, this is a plan to keep us together, this is a plan to save Sweet Apple Acres." 

Silence, not even the wind through the trees could be heard as Apple Bloom processed everything the pegasus said. "How are we going to do that? We can't make any money, no pony will buy from us. There is nothing we can do to make ponies want to buy from us." 

"You sure about that?" 

"Ah've told y'all Applejack and Mac can't sell cheaper than Cortland, nor can anypony else." 

"What if I told you there was a way to get everypony to buy from Sweet Apple Acres?" 

"Well, Ah ain't seeing no way but if you know of a way then tell us." 

Scootaloo thought for a second, she knew there would be no easy way to convince her friends of what she had in mind. "How far would you go to save your family? What lengths would you stride to, to hold onto everything you hold dearly as it crumbles before you?" 

"Ah would do anything for them just like Applejack has done everything for me, Ah'd do anything for her, Mac, Granny Smith and Sweet Apple Acres." 

"Anything?" Scootaloo asked.

"Scoots I don't like where this is going." Sweetie Belle said. 

"Yes, Ah would." Apple Bloom added, ignoring Sweetie Belle's concerns.

"Okay here it is... The problem is simple, Cortland floods the market with their cheap crap, so cheap that ponies will buy them and nothing else. Since no other farm can afford to beat those prices, then it's just a simple matter of removing the cheap stuff from the market. To level the playing field again." 

"So you want us to steal all the apples out of every store and get rid of them?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Scoots, that's stupid. One, if that even worked it would only last about a day before they just get more apples from the warehouse. Two, we'd get caught and go to jail. Stores have all kinds of security and alarms. I know because I accidentally set one off with a levitation spell." 

"You're right Sweetie, it would only last a day at best and we'd probably get caught. But if we interfere with the shipment to the warehouse, it would cause a much bigger shortage, we'd be cutting off almost two months worth of apples to an entire region. I don't think even Cortland could stand to lose that much."

"And just how are we going to do that?" Apple Bloom asked skeptically.

"Easy, we find out which train the next shipment is going to be on and get rid of it by pushing it out the door in the middle of nowhere." 

"Ah don't think that's a safe idea. Ah get it... and it might work, but there's no way we'd do this and not get caught. Ah don't know if you know this or not but trains ain't exactly easy to rob." 

"Actually they are pretty easy to rob. Have you read the paper recently? Trains are always getting robbed by bandits. But we aren't going to steal anything, we are just pushing all of Cortland's cargo out the door. The easy part about all of this is we don't have to hop a freight train, all the produce is moved with the passenger trains in one of the cars in the front. We sneak in, at night probably, we push everything off then sneak back, no pony will ever know who did it. The stores in the region will run out of apples and ponies will start looking elsewhere to buy apples or stores will be forced to buy from other farms. Cortland will have trouble replenishing that many apples. It might even put them out of business." 

"It's an interesting plan..." Sweetie Belle trailed off thinking it over. "I don't think that would put them out of business, it would just delay them a little but we can't stop them forever. If that worked it would just buy Apple Bloom a little more time." 

"Sweetie, you do realize how big the region here is? Ah think Scoots isn't talking about Ponyville, she's talking about taking out the shipment to all of central Equestria, including Canterlot. That would set them back months, maybe even a year. Back when business was good, we shipped tons of apples to the central region. If we had lost one of those shipments we'd be in very bad shape, worse than we are now." 

"This... could work..." Sweetie Belle said slowly. By the time Cortland caught up with its losses it may be too late and the Apple Family could be saved.

"Are y'all serious? The trouble we'd get in. If by some miracle we didn't get caught, Applejack would kill me." 

"I'm serious. Apple Bloom, we care about you and I don't want you to move away." Scootaloo said putting on a pouty face. 

"Ah know but y'all can visit and all, where ever we go."

"That's how it starts but then our lives go different ways and we grow apart. Look at what happened to Snips and Snails and they are just going to different schools in the same town. I don't want that, I want us to stay together. You two are my only friends and I'd do anything for you guys."

"Ah know Ah'd do anything for my family... anything legal. Ah wish there was a legal way to do this."

"I do too but I thought it through, this will work."

"Scoots, Ah don't know if it's worth the risk. If we fail, it will make everything much worse." 

"So, you'd rather move away? You'd rather your older brother and sister keep fighting? You'd rather not be with your friends?" Scootaloo's eyes filled with tears. 

Sweetie Belle put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. "I was skeptical at first but I think this will work. Twilight gave me a book with some really useful spells... spells that are advanced, spells that can hide us, move things, spells that can help keep us safe and from getting caught. I have some money saved, we can use it to buy things we need, food, whatever." 

"Apple Bloom, Cortland is a horrible, horrible farm. They stole the business, ponies livelihoods, ripped families apart. I think it's time somepony did something about it! I think it's time somepony sent them a message! I think it's time we tell them that we don't like what they are doing to us! We need to stand up to them, tell them to back off, they can't buy Equestria! As the Cutie Mark Crusaders it's our duty to do what's right, to tell them to stop destroying families across Equestria! WE WILL MAKE THEM RUE THE DAY THEY DECIDED TO MESS WITH THE APPLE FAMILY! WE WILL MAKE THEM PAY!" Scootaloo deflated, panting. She felt so refreshed after venting her anger.

Chills ran down Apple Bloom's spine, as she listened to Scootaloo's speech. She was flooded with overwhelming emotions of strength and pride. It was the most inspiring thing she had ever heard. She couldn't rationalize her emotions, she couldn't even begin to understand the strong feelings for Scootaloo she was currently feeling, she didn't even know why she was crying. But with a new sense of hope and determination she looked Scootaloo in the eyes and spoke softly, barely more than a whisper. "Ah'm in."





"Excuse me ma'am, I'm Sargeant Shielded Saddle with the Equestrian Marshals. Last night we searched the town for a little filly with a red mane. We have reason to believe she is still in this town. Have you seen this filly?" Shielded Saddle pushed a picture on the receptionist's desk. 

"You all searched this hotel last night and upset a lot of my customers. No I haven't seen her, if I did I'd turn her in so you all would leave... it's bad for business to have this much police hanging around." The pony behind the desk said not making an effort to hide her bitter tone 

Shielded Saddle sighed, he knew it was frivolous. Most of the ponies were annoyed at him and his colleagues for their late night raid of the village. Others found it a bit strange to be chasing down a little filly, others were a little scared that such high ranking law enforcement were chasing her down yet she still eluded them. "I figured. We are also looking for two other fillies, one is a pegasus and the other is unknown but I'm pretty sure she's white." 

"Strange you mention that. Just yesterday morning a white unicorn filly and a orange pegasus filly checked in here." 

"And you rented them a room?" Shielded saddle asked as if the the mare behind the desk was insane.

She shrugged, "they were paying customers. Laws are more lax here in Caballo." 

"Did you get her name?"

"She gave me a name, let me check." She opened a book on her desk and began flipping through the pages. "Ah okay, I have a her in room 208 booked under the name Sweetie Belle." 

"208? Are they in there now?" 

"I think so, I mean I haven't seen them come through the lobby yet." 

"Perfect. Thank you ma'am, you've been a huge help! Finally some progress!" Shielded Saddle darted out of the lobby and bounded up the stairs arriving at the second floor a few seconds later. He walked the hall slowly, making sure his hooves didn't make a sound. He stopped in front of room 208 to knock only to find the door was ajar. 

Shielded Saddle entered the room to find it completely empty, like nopony had been there. He did a quick search of the rooms but found nothing. Returning to the main room he noticed the window and how it overlooked the main street. I guess they could have seen me from the window. It couldn't have been that easy anyways. They were never here, that's why she never seen them cross the lobby. Shielded Saddle turned to leave when something caught his eye. A single thick red hair laying the windowsill. Or... they jumped out the window.





"Hurry, Scoots, gather up all the supplies. Apple Bloom – get away from that window, get the sleeping bags." Sweetie Belle said with panic in her voice. 

"Sleeping bags? When did we get those?" 

"Yesterday, they are in that closet, now hurry." 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo eyed each other before springing into action. Scootaloo rushed over to the kitchen and began pulling bottles of water and food out of the refrigerator. Apple Bloom rushed to the closed and extracted three small sleeping bags, there were packed so small one could easily fit in a saddle bag. 

Sweetie Belle started to clean the room with her magic. She put all the furniture back in its original place then she went into each room and made the beds. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle, she would have never imagined one of Rarity's cleaning spells to have actually been useful. She returned to the main room to find a frantic Scootaloo and Apple Bloom trying to fit all the food, water and sleeping bags into their saddle bags. 

"Hurry up you two. That mare at the desk will probably tell him about us. We don't have much longer."

Apple Bloom flung Sweetie Belle's over stuffed saddle bags at her then quickly donning hers. As soon as Scootaloo got hers on, they rushed to the door. 

"Wait!" Sweetie Belle yelled, making them stop right as Scootaloo opened the door. "Not that way. Out the window." 

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom followed Sweetie Belle out the window onto an awning with a tin roof. Their hooves instantly began to slip. Apple Bloom's legs flared out in opposite directions right as Scootaloo slid into her, knocking her into Sweetie Belle. 

"Oh craaaaap!" Sweetie Belle shrieked as she slid off the roof followed closely by a wide eyed Apple Bloom desperately trying to dig her hooves into the smooth metal. They both hit the ground with a loud thud. 

Scootaloo managed to stay on her hooves as she slid down the roof, unable to stop but she managed to use her wings to slow herself down. She landed gracefully next to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who were moaning and laying on the ground in pain. 

Noticing that lots of ponies were now looking at the three of them with worry and confusion, Scootaloo over dramatically cried out in mock pain and flung herself on top of Apple Bloom, hiding her from the crowd. 

"Are you girls okay?" A concerned stallion stepped forward. 

"Yeah, we're fine. Never been better." Sweetie Belle got to her feet slowly, shaking the dust from her. 

"What they hay were you girls doing?" 

"We thought it'd be fun to stand on the roof. We didn't realize it was so slippery." 

"It seems you learned the hard way. It looks like you all are okay, no broken bones. I remember when I was a young colt and all the crazy things I'd do... made my mother worried sick." He chuckled to himself as he walked away musing to himself all the trouble he got into when he was younger. 

"Um, Scoots? Could you, um, get off of me? Ah don't mind in all but it probably looks a little weird." Scootaloo reluctantly got off allowing Apple Bloom to raise to her feet. She did her best to put her body between Apple Bloom and the street. "Thanks."

"This town isn't very big. I say we run before Shielded Saddle comes out." Scootaloo suggested. She cast a nervous glance at the Inn. "This is the main street but there in a side street that takes us through some houses then loops back to the main road outside of town." Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom nodded then broke out into a fast canter down the street. "Take that street on the right!" 

The three fillies made a sharp turn off the main road on to a narrow side street. It was lined with tall apartment buildings where a vast network or clotheslines criss crossed above. The narrow street was deserted, but music could be heard from some open windows above. As they continued to canter down the street the apartment buildings thinned to small houses that were spread out, bit of desert between them. The edge of town could be seen: an abrupt edge where the houses stopped and there was nothing, nothing but desert. At which point the cobblestone road turned to hardened sand and curved back to the main road. 

Apple Bloom stopped where the two road connected in a T like intersection. A small sign pointing right said, El Potro, and another pointing left said, Equestria. Another sign below that also pointed left said, Cactus Junction. Down the road to her right was another big sign with big bold letters. Gracias por su estancia en El Potro. "Ah don't think anypony saw us."

"It's going to be a very long walk, about an hour walk to the border, past that I don't know. Cactus Junction isn't that close to anything." Sweetie Belle opened her saddle bag with her magic, extracting a map. "Good call on bring this Apple Bloom, anyway I have no idea how to read this thing but the picture makes it look far away." She folded it up and stuffed it back in her bag. 

"How are we going to cross the border? We don't have passports?" Scootaloo asked. "On the train it was easy, since we snuck on it." 

"It can't be all that hard, we will find a way across. We might have to wait until dark and sneak around the checkpoint." 

"I don't think it's going to be that easy y'all." Apple Bloom looked out over the deserted road, in the distance she could see a mirage from the heat. "Let's walk, we have an hour to figure it out." They started their slow trek down the wide well-traveled dirt road the sun beating down on their backs as El Potro shrunk in the distance behind them. 

"This is about where we were last night, where we dug that hole." Scootaloo said breaking the silence after a little while. 

An hour passed and the border wasn’t sight, another hour passed and another, the sun was beginning to lower on the horizon. Yet they kept walking, wondering if they had somehow gone the wrong way, even though that wasn't possible, they've been on the same road the entire time.

"We've been walking forever, where is the border?" Scootaloo panted. 

"Ah don't know."

"Was that one hour walk or one hour canter? Because it's been like all day and nothing is in sight but this endless desert." Sweetie Belle said scornfully.

"You have the map..." Scootaloo shot back.

"I don't – you read it!" Sweetie Belle pulled the map from her bag and threw it to Scootaloo. 

The map landed in front of Scootaloo. She pushed it open with her hooves and stared at it. "Hmm, El Potro is here and Cactus Junction is way up here... where's the key?" 

"Key?"

"Yeah all maps have one, it tells you the scale this is drawn to. Ah here it is... hmm it looks like from El Potro to the border is one hour gallop." 

"Gallop? How long for us walking?" Scootaloo shrugged at Sweetie Belle's question. 

"Obviously all day and then some." Scootaloo folded up the map and put it in her bag. 

"Ah reckon we camp around here. We've been walking all day in the hot sun." 

"Okay, that's a good idea." Scootaloo said. "I'm getting tired and thirsty and hungry and... yeah let's just get a little ways off the road." Scootaloo made her way off the road, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom in tow. She trampled over the dry brush looking for an ideal spot to camp. "There!" Scootaloo pointed with a hoof at a relatively clear spot, clear of sagebrush and rocks anyway. 

"Wait here, I want to try something." Sweetie Belle said before walking past Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. She stood in the center of the clearing staring at her friends. Then her horn lit up, there was a sudden burst of green light then she was gone. All that could be seen was the open desert. 

"Did she just teleport?" Scootaloo asked, her eyes still wide with shock. 

"Ah didn't know she could do that... now what?" 

Before Scootaloo could answer Sweetie Belle reappeared beaming. "It worked!" She squealed then she took a step back and disappeared again. 

"What... what just. How? What did she do?" 

"Come on, Ah think Ah know what she did." Apple Bloom strode over to the clearing, right before she got to it she vanished leaving a puzzled Scootaloo staring at the spot where she vanished. 

"Buck it." Scootaloo approached the spot where Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom disappeared. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. There a flickering of green light, then she saw Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom standing at the center of the clearing smiling at her. 

"It's a concealing charm." Sweetie Belle said gleefully before Scootaloo could ask. "Any pony outside the bubble can't see us. They could stare at us all day but until they cross over that line, they won't see us, hear us or smell us. But we can see and hear whoever." 

"Wow, this is so cool Sweetie. Where did you learn this?" Scootaloo asked in awe.

"It was in one of Twilight's old spell books about old forgotten magic. It's kind of tricky to cast but I'm glad it worked." Sweetie Belle said quite pleased with herself. 

"Cool, we are like invisible." Scootaloo jumped up and down excitedly. 

"Okay, let's eat then hit the hay y'all, we got lots of traveling to do, including sneakin' across the border." 

They ate a can of oats each, then rolled out the sleeping bags. Sweetie Belle tried to start a campfire but was stopped by a worried Apple Bloom after shooting several sparks out her horn. Sweetie Belle was good at many kinds of magic, fire just want one of them. 

"Ah think we can do without the campfire, these sleeping bags are comfy and warm." 

"What about a fire so we can see? Sweetie Belle asked.

"Who needs a fire?" Scootaloo retorted picking up on Apple Bloom's concerns. "It's not like it's really, really dark out and-and s-scary or anything." Scootaloo said nervously. "Right?" She added a little nervous laugh. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances.  

"Scoots, it's fine. You can sleep next to me... if ya want." Apple Bloom said doing her best not to sound too hopeful. 

Scootaloo gave Apple Bloom a stern look then shook her head. She flopped down on her side looking at the other two. "Well, I guess we should sleep so we can cross the border in the morning." 

Apple Bloom moved her sleeping bag next to Scootaloo's then laid atop of hers. She leaned over and hugged Scootaloo tightly, whispering in her ear. "Goodnight Scoots." She released Scootaloo returning to her sleeping bag. She debated with herself as she settled in if she should move closer and cuddle with Scootaloo. But after a few seconds she decided against it. Might make it awkward for Sweetie. 

Apple Bloom laid her head on the hard ground, staring up at the sky. The stars were so abundant, she had never seen so many before. Not ever on Sweet Apple Acres. She wondered how they could be so bright yet the sky was so dark and lonely. Or was she the one who was lonely? She missed her family so much, even though she swore she wouldn't. All the fighting that seemed so meaningless suddenly made sense. They wanted the same thing but neither wanted to accept reality; both too stubborn, too proud to reach out for help. All the fighting wasn't because they hated each other, it's because they cared. Applejack and Mac cared very deeply for what they were losing. It was bigger than just acreage, or making apple butter, it was bigger than money or even having a place to live. It was their livelihood, something that gave life meaning, the very essence of what it meant to be an Apple. She only hoped there was an inkling of hope out there. She hoped that maybe, just maybe, Scootaloo's plan, turned the tables in their favor before it was too late. 

Apple Bloom sat up abruptly, her ears up and alert. While she was mulling her situation she became aware of very quiet sounds. At first she thought it was the wind, except there wasn't any. Then she figured it was some small nocturnal animal but the sound was more distinct, like hooves on soft sand. It became apparent to her... somepony was out there.

"Scoots." Apple Bloom whispered while pushing Scootaloo's shoulder with a hoof. "Scoots!" She hissed loudly giving a particularly hard shove. 

The pegasus startled, gasping loudly. She took a second to calm herself before rolling over face to face with a frightened Apple Bloom. "Wha –"

"Shhhh!" Apple Bloom held a hoof up, to signal to listen carefully. 

Scootaloo strained her ears listening... For almost a minute there was complete silence, she could only hear Sweetie Belle sleeping softly beside her. Figuring Apple Bloom heard some animal, Scootaloo was about to tell her to calm down when she heard it. The soft thump of hooves and the unmistakable sound of brush as it catches on somepony's tail. Her eyes met with Apple Bloom's both wide with fear. 

"W-wh-who's o-out there?" Apple Bloom stammered. She moved in closer to Scootaloo.

"M-ma-maybe it's just so-some pony that got lost." Scootaloo said trying to keep her head level although on the inside she was at full blown panic attack. She had to stay calm... for Apple Bloom's sake. 

They heard the sound again, this time more steps, more brush. They could heard each individual hoof, they could hear the tiny pebbles that connected with the metal horseshoes. Who ever was out there, was getting closer. 

At the sound of a particularly loud clunk of a horseshoe hitting a big stone, Apple Bloom leaped  into the air and with a yelp then wrapped herself around Scootaloo. 

Scootaloo held Apple Bloom tight, running her foreleg down her back. She could feel the filly trembling with fright. "Sweetie!" Scootaloo hissed poking her. "Sweetie, wake up." 

Sweetie Belle rolled over and opened her eyes to the Scootaloo and Apple Bloom locked in a tight embrace. She rolled her eyes, I don't want to watch them make out. But she realized quickly they both had faces of terror. "What's wrong?" 

"Sweetie, shhh. Somepony is out there."

"It's okay, they can't hear us." She said at normal volume. "They can't see us either." 

"Oh, yeah." Apple Bloom felt slightly relieved. They couldn't be seen or heard but it didn't stop a pony from just walking in to their camp and finding them. However that fear was short lived when the area around them was illuminated by a sudden bright light. It was what appeared to be a ball of bright blue tinted light hovering a couple hundred feet away. "Wh-what's that?" 

"Oh no." Sweetie Belle's confidant face faded to horror stricken. "That's n-not what I think it is..." 

"What?" Scootaloo asked with panic.

"That light is a spell unicorns use when they want to find things that are hidden. It's very complicated magic." 

"But we are invisible right?" Scootaloo asked, tightening her grasp on Apple Bloom.

"It took a lot of magic to conceal us. Magic like that tends to leave traces. Even a good concealing spell like this one." 

"Let's not sit around and find out who is out there, let's get out of here!" 

"No, Scoots. If we run we will be discovered." 

Apple Bloom hugged Scootaloo tightly, she had never felt so much fear in her life, not even when she got arrested. The fact that some unknown pony was sneaking around the desert trying to find concealment spells in almost the exact spot they happen to be was very unnerving. 

The light source seemed to be moving away from them, of to another section of the desert. Maybe the unknown unicorn wasn't looking for three fillies after all. Maybe it was looking for something that was coincidentally hidden in the same area. But none of the three fillies really believed that. Still they watched with hope as the the light moved farther away at a slow steady pace. 

Suddenly the light stopped, remaining still for a few seconds before it began to move again, except it swayed from side to side then it started lower itself; projecting light on the ground. It raised up and up until it stopped in the exact spot the the three fillies sat clinging to each other in fright. The light dimmed until it was barely visible. A dark outline of a pony could be seen but the features could be made out. The head moved a little revealing two glowing yellow eyes.