Author's Note

After her time in the Murder Hotel, she gets to watch a friendly game.

July 31-Blather ‘Round

In the hotel where Apple Bloom and her friends had another encounter with the Trivia Psycho, the six girls were in a restaurant having breakfast, compliments of the hotel staff. This is to make up for what happened last night.

"Man! That Trivia creep was brutal." Scootaloo said as she munched on a muffin. "Those mini games were worse than the first time we played his game."

"I agree." Diamond replied as she enjoyed a cheese omelette. "The six of us are going to feel a little uneasy after that."

Apple Bloom enjoyed pancakes with hot apples and cinnamon on top. Silver Spoon was impressed. "That look good."

"It taste good too." Apple Bloom told her. "When pancakes are topped with fruit or embedded with chocolate chips, you don't need to put syrup on them."

"That's a good thought. I should try chocolate chip pancakes one day."

Later, after Apple Bloom said goodbye to her friends, a magenta skinned woman with white hair watches from her car as she's on her phone. "I see her, Amy. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I'm positive." Amy said over the phone. "Apple Bloom needs something to help her recover from her experience at the Murder Hotel."

"Good point. Talk to you later."

As Apple Bloom passes the car, the woman gets her attention. "Good morning, Apple Bloom."

The farm girl looks over and recognized the woman. "Opaline Arcana? What are y'all doing here from Maretime Bay?"

"Your guardians told me that you had another round of Trivia Murder Party. Must've shook you up good."

"It sure did."

"That's where I come in. Your guardians gave me permission to take you to a friend's house. I know a way to help you."

Apple Bloom does have a feeling about this. "If Kevin and Amy can trust ya, I can too."

"Excellent." Opaline cheered. "Let's go."

The two ladies went across town to a place Apple Bloom recognized. "I've been here before. I helped celebrate a girl's Sweet 16."

"I heard about that." Opaline said. "Come on."

The two girls were greeted by Mrs. Krink. Soon Apple Bloom saw six other young people.

"Apple Bloom," Opaline said, "here are some youngsters from my home in Maretime Bay. Sunny Starscout, Izzy Moonbow, Pipp Petals, Hitch Trailblazer, Zipp Storm, and Misty Brightdawn."

The six youngsters looked at her with interest.

"So, you're one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Sunny said. "I always wanted to meet you guys."

"You do?" AB wondered.

"Sure." Misty Brightdawn added. "You three guys rose from your past nicely."

Then, they heard a young man coming in the room. "Hey! Why do you have that gossip maven here? She part of the evil Anon-a-Miss trio! She should be removed!"

This got Apple Bloom upset. "Who's that?"

"That's Sprout Cloverleaf." Hitch explained. "He's a bit stubborn."

Opaline got everybody's attention. "Okay, folks. Let's settle down. Hitch, Izzy, Misty, Pipp, Sunny, and Zipp. It's time for a game of Blather ‘Round. Each of you will think of a subject. Then, give out clues to what you're thinking of. And try to guess who's thinking of what. Me and Mrs. Krink will be watching you guys."

Apple Bloom and Sprout watch the action as Pipp Petals steps up.

"The category of my prompt is Person." Pipp announced. "She's an energetic person. Now, start guessing."

SUNNY: Barbie!

IZZY: Oprah Winfrey.

HITCH: Chanel West Coast.

ZIPP: Sailor Moon.

MISTY: Becky Thatcher.

"Maybe another clue can help." Pipp said. "She's not so colorful."

The others are a little confused.

HITCH: Wednesday Addams.

MISTY: Betty Boop.

"Boop boop de doop, Misty." Pipp called out. "You're right!"

The group cheered for Misty's right guess. Even Apple Bloom and Sprout clapped.

"Betty Boop." Sprout said. "I never thought of that."

"Well done, Pipp." Opaline praised. "Izzy, you're next."

Izzy steps up to make her mark. "My category is Thing. This is a colorful thing. Go!"

ZIPP: Swirled lollipop!

SUNNY: Curtain Lights.

MISTY: Pinwheel.

PIPP: Finger Paints!

HITCH: Rainbow.

"Here's another clue." Izzy told them. "Oh, so square!"

SUNNY: Building Blocks.

HITCH: Rubik's Cube!

"You must be a fan of 80's fads, Hitch." Izzy said. "Because Rubik's Cube is correct!"

The crowd clapped for Hitch. Sprout was very happy. "Way to go, Hitch!"

"Hitch is quite the gamer." Apple Bloom said. "Isn't he?"

"He sure is." Sprout cheered. "He taught me all I know."

Zipp got everybody's attention. "Okay, gang. My category is Place. First clue: It's so far off. Here we go!"

PIPP: Grand Canyon.

HITCH: Great Barrier Reef

MISTY: Japan.

IZZY: Africa.

SUNNY: London?

"Right you are, Love!" Zipp said with a British accent. "Jolly good show!" Back to her normal voice. "London is the right answer."

Everybody cheered for Sunny as Misty now has a go as a presenter.

"Ready, gang?" Misty told them. "My category is Person. First clue: A funny guy."

SUNNY: Drew Carey.

IZZY: Kenan Thompson

HITCH: Andy Griffith. Bless his soul.

PIPP: Adam Sandler.

ZIPP: Chris Rock.

"Here's your next clue." Misty told them. "He's so good at playing so bad."

HITCH: Jimmie Walker.

PIPP: Jim Carrey.

"You are correct, madam!" Misty called out. "It IS Jim Carrey!"

This made Sprout's eye widened. "When did Jim Carrey play bad?"

"Misty meant bad guys like the Grinch and the Riddler." Apple Bloom informed.

"Oh yeah, right."

Hitch steps up for his turn. "Okay, girls. My category is Thing. First clue: Very curvy."

PIPP: Candy Cane.

IZZY:Plush Snake.

SUNNY. Two piece bikini.

Everybody chuckled at that response. Even Opaline and Mrs. Krink.

MISTY: Mannequin.

ZIPP: Fish Hook.

"You caught the right answer." Hitch cheered. "It's fish hook." He then went to the two spectators with anger in his tone. "That's what you'll get, Apple Bloom, if you get dirt on us! You'll get THE HOOK!"

This left Apple Bloom shaken. It was Sunny's turn for a presentation. "I'm the last one. My category is Place. First clue. It's so dark and dreary."

MISTY: A haunted house.

ZIPP: A swamp

IZZY A graveyard.

PIPP: A dark cave.

HITCH: Detention. Where APPLE BLOOM AND HER COHORTS STILL BELONG!!"

Opaline was upset. "Hitch!"

Hitch got a little nervous when Opaline spotted him getting mad. Sunny continued her presentation. "My next clue is so many stories."

IZZY: A tall tower.

HITCH: Transylvania.

"Transylvania is right." Sunny said. "But, no need to make our guest feel like she's in a nightmare."

Later, the Maretime Bay kids sat at a table to have lunch. Mrs. Krink served lunch to Apple Bloom, who was sitting outside in the backyard.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Apple Bloom said as she was given a cold cut hero.

"You're welcome." Mrs. Krink replied. "I'm sure Opaline will tell Hitch's folks about what he did. As least Sprout behaved himself."

As Apple Bloom munched on her hero, she wondered why Hitch would lash out on her. Hopefully, he'll realize the error of his ways.