More Than They Expected

Chapters

Fears and Temptations
What it Means to Fly
Accidental Discoveries

Fears and Temptations

Chapter 2: Fears and Temptations

Sweetie ran down the path towards the clubhouse. “I’m sorry girls, I’ll be right there!” She raced up the ramp and opened the door. “I’m sorry, I got held up at Rarity’s…” She stopped, surprised to find that nopony was there.

It looked like nothing had been touched since the previous night. She moved the podium and checked to make sure the box with the amulet was still there. She sighed when she saw the box was right where they had left it. She muttered to herself, “Good. I’d hate to have to explain what happened if somepony had wandered into town with this again.” She turned to the sound of her friends coming up the ramp.

“I told you we were takin’ too long. Sweetie’s been waiting on us!”

“Sorry Sweetie, but we had to make it look convincing.” Scootaloo dropped the heavily loaded saddlebags she had been carrying. They made an impressive thump, as they hit the wooden floor.

Sweetie shook her head. “I just got here. Rarity wanted me to stop by after school to check in. I’m really lucky I just have to check in for the next couple of days, and didn’t get grounded.”

“That stinks. I hate we got you into trouble.” Scootaloo flipped open one of flaps on the saddlebags and began to pull out book after book from the pouch. “These should make you feel better.”

Sweetie began browsing the titles. She named them aloud, “Advanced Transformation Spells, Teleporting Long Distances and You, Illusion Spells That Will Dazzle Your Friends.” She glanced up at them. “What are you doing with these?”

“We were thinkin’ you should use the amulet once, before we put it back.” Apple Bloom rubbed one foreleg over the other. “It might help you get your cutie mark. If you have some more magical power, maybe you could cast a spell that would be enough to earn it.”

“You gals did this for me?”

“Yeah, we told Twilight we needed some advanced magic books for a project we were working on. What’s wrong?”

Sweetie waved her hooves towards Scootaloo. “Nothing at all, I promise! It’s just even with the amulet; I would never be able to cast these spells.” Sweetie flipped open the spell book on illusions to a random page and pointed at one of the spells. “Look how complicated this spell is.” She turned the book so that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom could read the text.

Apple Bloom whistled in amazement. “Land sakes, I had no clue that magic was that complicated.”

Scootaloo growled, “Then we nearly got caught and hauled all these books for nothing.”

“You didn’t carry them for nothing. You were trying to help me, and I really appreciate it.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Don’t go getting mushy on me. You would have done the same.”

A thought came to Apple Bloom. “Wait a minute. What about spells you already know?”

“Levitation and gem-finding?”

“You could use those! We could go gem hunting like Rarity and Spike do!”

Scootaloo was caught up in Apple Bloom’s excitement. “Yeah, then we could see you use some wickedly powerful magic!”

“We don’t have anything to dig the gems up with. We can’t exactly ask Spike to help us either.” Sweetie shook her head and closed the book. “It’s a nice idea, but I don’t think we can pull it off.”

“You should be able to pull them right out of the ground with that much power, just like carrots.” Apple Bloom started towards the podium. “I can’t wait to see how many gems you can get.”

As Apple Bloom started to lift the box from its hiding spot, Sweetie’s magic surrounded it and held it against the floor. “What gives?”

“That thing is dangerous. You know what it did to Trixie. I don’t want to take a chance with it at all.” Sweetie looked to the floor. “I’m scared of it.”

Scootaloo patted her on the back. “It’s alright Sweetie, we’ll be right there. Besides, Trixie wore the thing for days before she cracked. You won’t go nuts like she did.”

Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. “You can take it off any time you like. Just think how much better Rarity will feel, if you bring home a bag full of gems to apologize.”

“Alright, I’ll try it.” Sweetie looked back and forth between her friends. “Promise me, you’ll stop me if I start to go crazy.”

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom both made full Pinkie Pie Swears of their promises.

Sweetie released the box from her magical hold. “You gals better bring the wagon.”

*****

Apple Bloom looked around the desolate area. “Sweetie, you sure this is the right place?”

“Rarity and Spike talk about this spot a lot. We may have to move around for a bit to find some gems. They’ve dug all around here, and I don’t know how many gems are left.”

Scootaloo patted the box containing the amulet. “That shouldn't be a problem with this thing.”

Sweetie swallowed, took a steadying breath, and then opened the box. Before she could pause to think about what she was doing, she quickly snapped the amulet around her neck.

Sweetie turned toward the barren land. “Let’s see what I can do.” She concentrated and formed the gem-finding spell. She could not see for a moment, as a burst of light turned her world white.

Scootaloo’s and Apple Bloom’s mouths dropped open at the result of the spell.

“Sweetie, I think you just lit up every gem from here to Canterlot!” Apple Bloom cheered.

Sweetie blinked a couple of times. She looked around and held a hoof to her mouth. “I did this?!” Every gem as far as she could see was lit up.

Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, as she hopped up and down in excitement. “You sure did! Let’s get those gems!” She winced, as her right wing cramped up and snapped down to her side.

“You alright?” Sweetie asked.

“I’m alright. I’m glad we didn’t try taking the amulet back today. I don’t think I would have made the flight.”

The trio went from gem cluster to gem cluster. Sweetie used her enhanced telekinesis magic to pull the shining gems from the ground, Scootaloo would gather them and place them in bags, and Apple Bloom pulled the wagon.

Eventually, the gem-finding spell began to fade. The gems stopped glowing and the landscape returned to its lackluster and gray appearance. After a little coaxing from her friends, Sweetie recast the spell. “Girls, I don’t think I can cast that again. Something feels wrong.”

Scootaloo held up one of the two remaining empty bags. “That’s alright. We’re nearly out of bags anyway.”

“The wagon’s getting a might too heavy for me too,” Apple Bloom added.

At the next cluster, Sweetie began to have trouble controlling her magic. She began ripping the gems from the ground rather than pulling them up. Sweat began to form on her forehead and coat as she tried to reduce the amount of magical force she was applying.

“Hey, let’s stop after you pull these up. You’re not looking too good,” Scootaloo suggested.

Sweetie’s magical grasp became so strong that the gems she had been levitating shattered. Sweetie gasped in horror at what she had done. She tried to take the amulet off, but in her panic, it took her several attempts to undo the clasp. As soon as she got it loose, she tossed it to ground.

“I can’t control it anymore! It’s making me feel horrible.”

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom hugged her in an attempt to calm her down.

“It’s alright. You didn’t hurt anythin’, beyond a couple of gems. Everypony is fine.”

Sweetie shook her head. “If I had lost control, I could have hurt both of you.”

Scootaloo tightened her hold on her friend. “You did the right thing. You took the thing off as soon as it started really bothering you. You didn’t hurt anypony, and we got the gems we wanted. You don’t have to put the thing on again if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t.”

“Then we stop everythin’ right here and now.” Apple Bloom hooked herself up to the wagon again. “I don’t want to see you gettin’ upset or havin’ anypony hurt. Let’s get out of here; it’s gettin’ close to dark.”

Sweetie carefully levitated the amulet and placed it back in the box. She tucked the box back into her saddlebags and shivered as she felt the comparatively distant touch of the amulet’s power against her side.

The young trio started to make their way back. After a couple of minutes, Scootaloo began to help Apple Bloom with the wagon by pushing on the back of it with her hooves. “Too bad there isn’t a way to make this easier.”

“Hang on just a moment.” Sweetie levitated out one of the books that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had checked out. She perused the book’s table of contents for a moment and then flipped to specific section.

“What did you bring that for?” Apple Bloom asked.

“We needed to know as much about the amulet as possible if it started to give me trouble.” She pointed a hoof to the section under the illustration of the Alicorn Amulet. “Here we go. It says, ‘whoever wears the amulet is blessed with untold power.’ I thought I remembered Rarity saying something like that.”

Scootaloo shrugged. “Big deal, we already knew that it would make your magic more powerful. That’s what it was made to do, make unicorns’ magic stronger.”

Sweetie gave Scootaloo a sly smile. “It says ‘whoever’ wears the amulet; it doesn’t say that the pony has to be a unicorn.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes widened. “You think that it could be used by ponies other than unicorns?”

“I think so. Twilight has been teaching me that all ponies have magic; it just comes in different forms. If alicorns have magic like all three types of ponies do, I don’t see why the amulet can’t work on all three kinds of ponies too.”

Scootaloo looked at Sweetie’s saddlebags, and then to Apple Bloom. “Want to give it a try? It would make getting these gems back a whole lot easier.”

“I don’t know. After seein’ what that thing did to Sweetie, I’m not too sure I want to try it.”

Scootaloo reached into the saddlebags and pulled the box out. “You don’t have to wear it as long as Sweetie did. You can take it off as soon as we get back to the clubhouse.”

After a moment of thought, Apple Bloom opened the box, picked up the amulet, and placed it around her neck. The surge of power hit her instantly and she slightly recoiled at the sensation.

Scootaloo started to reach for her friend. “You alright?”

Apple Bloom suddenly had the widest smile the other two had ever seen come across her face. The red maned filly responded with two words, “Race ya!” She took off; making it seem like the wagon weighed no more than an apple.

Sweetie froze in amazement at the display of strength. “It does work on all kinds of ponies!”

Scootaloo yelled, “Apple Bloom, slow down or you’ll spill the gems!”

*****

After they made it back to the clubhouse, Apple Bloom immediately took the amulet off. “I don’t want to push anythin’. Besides, I can try it again tomorrow.” She placed the amulet back in the box and hid it back under the podium. She looked over at Sweetie. “Now I know why you took it off. It’s like you’re just comin’ down with somethin’ really nasty.”

“That’s what it feels like at first and then it really makes you feel horrible.” Sweetie shuddered. “I don’t’ know how Trixie stood having it on that long.”

“Maybe because she’s a full grown pony, she could handle the power better. I bet the thing wasn’t made for foals,” Scootaloo guessed.

“Makes sense to me. Foals can’t take full doses of medicine, magical artifacts may work the same way.” Apple Bloom shoved the podium back against the wall. “Maybe the amulet will let you to fly like Rainbow Dash, Scoots.”

Scootaloo tried to extent her wings fully and winced. “Not today. It would be cool if I could though.”

Sweetie put a bag of gems into her saddlebags. “I have to go. Trying to apologize for last night won’t go too well if I’m late again.”

“Come on. We better not stay here too much long either.” Apple Bloom paused as she noted that Scootaloo was looking towards the podium.

Scootaloo softly asked, “Do you really think I will be able to fly with the amulet?”

“Scoots, I’m sure of it. You can almost fly by yourself as it is. With the amulet helping, you won’t have any problem at all.”

Scootaloo did not say anything and continued to look towards the podium.

*****

The next afternoon, the trio made their way to the far side of Sweet Apple Acres and set up for Apple Bloom's turn with the amulet. Apple Bloom slipped the alicorn amulet on once again and shuddered as the thing's power took effect. Before she started bucking, Sweetie tied a bandana around her neck.

"Just in case your sister comes looking for use," Sweetie explained, "we don't want her seeing the amulet."

"Good thinkin' Sweetie." Apple Bloom walked over to the closest tree and gave it a solid buck. The apples fell from the tree as if she had been harvesting apples all her life. "Maybe now I can harvest the whole orchard by myself!"

“That would look a little strange. Let’s just stick to the trees around her,” Scootaloo suggested.

Appleboom bucked trees non-stop for almost an hour. “I can see why Applejack and Big Mac love to do this. It’s a lot more fun when you can actually knock down the apples.” She sat down as a wave of dizziness came over her. She could not tell if it was her exertion or the amulet was making her feel queasy. “I’m not feeling so good.”

Sweetie winced as she looked at the last couple of trees Apple Bloom had harvested. Apple Bloom’s kicks had marred the bark of the tree and injured the softer wood underneath. “These trees aren’t feeling so good either.”

Apple Bloom looked over at the trees. When she saw what she had done, she immediately began to fumble under the bandana. “I didn’t mean to do that! I promise!”

Sweetie helped her by undoing the knot holding the bandanna around Apple Bloom's neck and removing the cloth. “It’s fine. You didn’t do too much damage. I’ve seen worse after storms.”

Apple Bloom, emotionally raw from wearing the amulet and seeing the wounded trees, almost panicked. Her trembling hooves would not work the clasp. “I’m supposed to help care for the trees, not hurt them!”

Scootaloo stepped in front of Apple Bloom and gently put both hooves on her shoulders. “Calm down. Take your time or you’ll never be able to get that thing off.”

Apple Bloom managed to calm down enough to get the amulet from around her neck. She let the thing drop to the ground and raced over to check on the injured trees.

Sweetie wrapped the amulet in the bandana and levitated it over to Scootaloo. “Will you take this back to the club house? I’m going to stay here with Apple Bloom. I know how she’s feeling right now, and I think I can help her calm down.”

“Sure thing, I’ll be right back.” She turned and raced off towards the clubhouse.

Sweetie tried to get Apple Bloom to come sit by her, but she refused. “I have to do something!” Apple Bloom blanched. “What if they die? How am I goin’ to explain it to Applejack and my brother?!”

Sweetie tackled Apple Bloom to the ground. “Apple Bloom, it’s alright!” She gently prodded Apple Bloom in the chest. “Your family has that mixture that seals wounds on trees. All we have to do is spread that on the marks. They’ll be fine.”

The frantic look left Apple Bloom’s eyes. “You're right.” She craned her neck and took a better look at the trees. “It’s really not that bad. Caramel has done much worse with the wagon. I’m sorry for goin' nuts on you.”

“I know you didn’t mean to. It’s the amulet.” She helped Apple Bloom back to her hooves.

“Thank you.”

Applejack heard raised voices, from where she had been working, and came to check on the fillies. “You alright Apple Bloom? You look right upset.”

Apple Bloom pointed towards the trees she had hurt. “I barked these trees. I got upset about it and Sweetie and Scootaloo helped calmed me down.”

Applejack looked at the relatively minor mars on the trees and shrugged. “It happens sometimes when you’re buckin’. You must have given them a good lick.”

Apple Bloom answered truthfully, “It was an accident.”

Applejack looked at the nearby trees and noticed they had been harvested as well. “You tellin’ me you bucked all these apples down by yourself?”

“Sweetie and Scootaloo helped.”

Applejack rubbed her head, under the brim of her hat. “I can see Sweetie helping with her magic and all, but what did Scootaloo do?”

“I helped gather any apples that didn’t land in the buckets, and I helped haul the apples back to the barn on the wagon. Just because I can’t fly up and get the apples down, it doesn’t mean I’m completely useless.”

Applejack turned to newly arrived filly and laughed kindly. “I never thought anythin’ close to that. I was just wonderin’ if you ran back and forth pulling the wagon with that scooter of yours. That would have given your wings a workout sure enough.”

Scootaloo slowly tried to extend her wings, but they still would not go to their full span. “I would have, but I did too much with them a little a couple of days ago. Dash showed me some stretches this morning that should have them ready to go by tomorrow.” Scootaloo expression fell. “Well, as ready as they can get. I still can’t get off the ground with them.”

Applejack hugged the dispirited filly to her chest. “I don’t want to hear talk like that come out of you again. You’ll fly soon enough. With as much exercise as you put into your wings with that scooter of yours, you’ll probably take off like a Wonderbolt.”

Apple Bloom gave her friend a knowing smile. “You never know. You might even be able to fly tomorrow.”

Scootaloo turned her head a little and nodded to Apple Bloom. I will fly tomorrow, sore wings or not, she promised herself.

*****

The next day, after school, the young trio met up on the far side of the Whitetail Woods from Ponyville. The open expanse allowed more adventurous pegasi in the area to try risky maneuvers without fear of running into a tree or house. It was far enough away from Ponyville and so seldom used that they thought they had a good chance of not being seen.

The two fillies watched anxiously as Scootaloo put the amulet on.

Apple Bloom gave Sweetie a heavy glance.

Sweetie nodded to Apple Bloom discretely. “I know, I’m worried too. I don’t think I could catch her with my magic. If something goes wrong, we may have to get Applejack or my sister.”

Scootaloo did a couple of slow, deep wing stretches. “My wings feel fine now.” She flapped her wings experimentally. “Better than fine, they feel awesome!”

“I was thinkin’, Scoots, you may want to stay pretty close to Sweetie and me while you’re flying,” Apple Bloom carefully suggested.

Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom and a raised eyebrow. “You think I’m going to crash that quickly?”

“Nope, but you don’t want anypony seein’ you fly with the amulet on. There are pegasi that fly around here for fun too, including Rainbow Dash.”

Sweetie nodded in agreement. “That and it if something goes wrong, we need to be able to get to you quickly.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “The first aid kit in the wagon was a big hint on how well you thought I was going to do.”

“We were on the ground, and fairly safe, when we tried the amulet." Scootaloo pawed the ground. "If something happens to you in the air there’s no way we can help you till you come back down. We just want to be able to help you if something goes wrong.”

“Nothing is going to go wrong, watch.” Scootaloo turned into the wind, got a running start, and leapt into the air. She took off as if she had been flying for years. Scootaloo gave out a cry of pure joy and picked up speed.

Some of Sweetie’s concern was lost at her friend’s exuberance. “She did take off like a Wonderbolt.”

“I think she needed this more than either of us. I just hope this turns out all right. I never want to put that thing back on, but I’m not so sure Scoots is thinkin’ straight about this.”

After a few minutes, Scootaloo attempted a couple of basic flying tricks, but was not able to complete them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie still applauded her attempts.

“I think she’s been up their long enough. This is about the time that the amulet started really eating on us.” Sweetie started to call up to Scootaloo, but stopped in mid breath as Scootaloo halted in midair.

“What in tarnation is she seein’ that got her bristled up like a cat in a room full of rockin' chairs?” Apple Bloom turned in the direction that Scootaloo was looking and gasped. “It’s Rainbow!” She grabbed the handle to the wagon and started making for the edge of the Whitetail Woods with all the speed she could summon.

Sweetie put her head against the back of the wagon, adding her strength to Apple Bloom’s efforts. “We’ve got to hurry! She’ll see us for sure if we don’t make it to the trees!”

To their shock, Scootaloo flew low, took the handle of the wagon from Apple Bloom, and raced into the edge of the woods, towing the wagon half off the ground behind her.

Sweetie and Apple Bloom ducked into the thickest part of the undergrowth and watched as Rainbow landed right where they had been watching Scootaloo. Rainbow scanned the area, looking for the unknown flyer she had seen. After a couple of minutes of scanning both the ground and the sky, Rainbow shrugged and took to the air to begin her practice routine.

The two fillies snuck deeper into the woods and found Scootaloo. Scootaloo was curled up into a small, quivering ball near the wagon. They could hear her ragged breathing even with the distance between them.

Apple Bloom raced over to her. “You hurt?! Talk to me!”

“I flew.” Scootaloo slowly turned to Apple Bloom and repreated, “I flew.”

“You need to get that amulet off right now! It’s really workin’ you over.” Apple Bloom tried to get Scootaloo to sit up, but had her hooves swatted away.

“I don’t want to take it off! You don’t understand! You can still help around the farm and Sweetie can still do magic.” Scootaloo’s pointed to the amulet with a shaking hoof. “Without this I am just a dodo that can’t fly! I need this!”

The glow of Sweetie’s magic grabbed Scootaloo’s cheeks and forcibly turned her head. Sweetie’s heart nearly broke as she watched her friend suffer. “Listen to me Scootaloo. The amulet is making you feel like this, it’s not really you. Remember what Trixie did to Ponyville with that thing.”

Freeing herself of the magical grip, Scootaloo slowly started to slide away from Sweetie’s approach. “I’m nothing without being able to fly. Even Applejack knows it. She didn’t think I could help Apple Bloom with the apples.” She tensed up and her voice became threatening. “You can’t make me take the amulet off and I’m not going to!”

Apple Bloom grabbed Scootaloo in a fierce hug. “You’re not nothin’! You’re our friend, if you can’t fly or not, it doesn’t matter! Please, just take the amulet off.” Apple Bloom put her head on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Please, do it for us.”

Scootaloo slowly reached up and undid the clasp of the amulet. As soon as the thing was away from her neck, she slung it into the underbrush. As she came fully back to herself, she hugged Apple Bloom back. “I’m so sorry.”

Sweetie wrapped her forelegs around her two friends. “It’s alright.”

They stayed that way for a couple of minutes. Scootaloo eventually broke the hug and looked in the direction of where she had slung the amulet. “I guess that was kind of stupid. Now we’ll have to look for the thing.”

“That won’t be a problem.” Sweetie cast the gem-finding spell again. The amulet glowed brightly and she extracted it from the tangle of vines and bushes with her magic. “I’m getting pretty good at that.” She put the amulet back in its box and closed the lid.

“I think we ought to take the thing back tomorrow,” Applebloom voiced. “We’ve all had a turn with it and we’re lucky we haven’t gotten caught. I don’t want to take any chances with the thing again.”

Sweetie nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.” She turned to Scootaloo, concerned at her friend’s silence. “Scoots, say something”

“I’m with you. We’ll take it back tomorrow.” Scootaloo told herself, We will take it back, after I have one more flight.

What it Means to Fly

Chapter 3: What it Means to Fly

Sweetie had to fight with everything she had not to look over at Apple Bloom. She did not know exactly what would have happened had she made eye contact with her friend, but she was sure it would have been disastrous. To keep her eyes on something else she looked at Scootaloo’s empty seat.

Scootaloo had been late for class before, but she had never missed school.Time dragged even more slowly than the typical school day for the pair as they anticipated recess and the opportunity to speak with each other.

As soon as Cheerilee let them out for their break, Sweetie and Apple Bloom raced to the Cutie Mark Crusader’s typical spot near the playground.

“You don’t think she went and got the amulet on her own do you? I know she wants to fly and all, but that would be crazy.”

Sweetie hoped that her friend was wrong. “Maybe she wanted to take it back by herself and got into trouble with the poison joke?”

“I hope you’re right, but my gut’s tellin’ me she’s gotten herself into a real bind.” Apple Bloom looked at the other foals. Her eyes lingered on Feather Weight, who happily buzzed around the playground without a thought about his ability to fly. “Scoots really had to fight the amulet yesterday. It didn’t scare her like it did us.”

Sweetie shivered as she recalled what the amulet had allowed her to do. “She didn’t turn gems to dust on accident or kick trees so hard that it hurt them either.”

Their conversation stopped as Cheerilee approached them. “Do you know where Scootaloo is today? I’ve never known her to miss a class.”

Apple Bloom tried to show that she was concerned without revealing that she knew more about what was going on than she should. “No mam. We were just talkin’ about where she could be.”

Cheerilee sighed and looked towards Ponyville. “I hope the dear isn’t sick. I’ve heard the feather flu is going around again.”

Sweetie tried to keep her face neutral as the thought, We’re more worried she’s feeling too good right now.

*****

The young pair stepped into the clubhouse and instantly knew what had happened. The podium had been moved away from the wall, the box with the amulet was missing, and the wagon had been taken.

Sweetie closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew this is what we were going to find when Scoots' mom said she didn’t know where she was. Now what do we do?”

“We talk to Twilight. If an alicorn can’t help us nopony can.”

Sweetie winced, knowing they were going to get in trouble, but it would be worth it to make sure Scootaloo was safe. “We better get to the library quick. Who knows where is or how much the amulet has gotten hold on her.”

Apple Bloom led the way out of the clubhouse. She paused as a thought occurred to her. “We may want to get Rainbow in on this too. If Scoots will listen to anypony it would be her.”

“We can get her after we talk to Twilight. At least we know where she is this time of day. Celestia only knows where Rainbow is right now.”

Apple Bloom pointed towards Sweet Apple Acres. “She’s probably takin’ a nap in one of our trees again. You’re right though, we don’t know that for sure and we can’t waste time looking for her."

They ran to the library and quickly darted inside.

Spike looked from his shelving, surprised at the speed with which they came in. “You alright? You look like you’ve run from the other side of town.”

Apple Bloom wheezed, "We’ve got to talk to Twilight; Scootaloo may be in real trouble.”

Sweetie added, “Magical type trouble.”

Spike quickly pointed towards the library’s kitchen. “She’s talking with Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow right now. I’m sure they’ll help too.”

The two wasted no time and dashed into the kitchen.

The four older ponies turned toward them as they entered.

“I think the answer to our questions may have just come to us.”

“Really, Applejack, how could have they made every gem in Ponyville light up? Twilight is the only unicorn, sorry darling, force of habit, alicorn that could use that much magical power for miles.”

Applejack looked at Apple Bloom with a scrutinizing eye. “Sis, you’ve been hidin’ somethin’ haven’t you?”

“Where is Scootaloo?” Rainbow asked.

“We don’t know and we need help finding her! It’s all my fault!”

“I’ll tell them, Sweetie, just calm down.” Apple Bloom told them everything, starting from their visit to Zecora’s and finishing with the missing box at the clubhouse that afternoon.

“Now I know I wasn’t seeing things when I saw somepony flying in my training spot yesterday. I would never have guessed it was Scootaloo.” Rainbow grinned as she remembered watching the unknown flyer. “She looked pretty good for it being her first time.”

Rarity fussed, “Sweetie, you know better than to use magical artifacts that could be dangerous!”

“She wouldn’t have, if Scootaloo and I hadn’t pushed her. She stopped when she started to feel bad and she got you those gems for you too. Please don’t be mad at her.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Now you don’t go gettin’ in the middle. Your tail is in enough trouble as it is.”

Sweetie bowed her head. “We knew what we were doing was wrong. We didn’t do anything bad with the amulet; we just used it to make Rarity feel better or help with the farm.”

Applejack’s expression softened a little. “That still don’t make what y’all did right.”

Rarity turned to Twilight, looking for royal support. “Twilight, say something, you have to agree that what they have done is foolish at best.”

Twilight stared at the tabletop. “I would never have guessed that the amulet could be used by any kind of pony. The ramifications of that are staggering.”

Applejack gave a short, gruff laugh. “Twi, you need to focus with us here for a moment.”

Twilight raised her eyes from the table. “What? Oh, sorry, you’re right.” She turned to the guilty duo. “I don’t know what that amulet can do. You can’t use such a thing without knowing exactly what will happen or somepony could get seriously hurt.”

Rainbow pushed back from the table. “You guys can chew on these two later. I want to know where my honorary sister is.”

Sweetie offered, “She may be back where she flew yesterday.”

“That’s good enough for me. You guys can catch up; I’ve got a squirt to talk to.” Rainbow started to head out the door, only to have her tail grabbed by Twilight’s magic. “Twilight, what gives?! We’ve got to get there in a hurry, and I’m the fastest one of us!”

“If we teleport that’s not the case.”

Rainbow’s ears drooped. “Oh, horse apples. I’m begging you, don’t…”

With a flash of magical power and light Twilight zapped them to the far western edge of the Whitetail Wood’s running path. “I was off by a pony's length. I’m still not used to having this much power.”

Rainbow’s coat was standing on end and her wings were fluffed. “Twilight, you know I hate teleporting! It feels three shades of weird!” She shook herself to get her coat and feathers to settle back down.

Applejack poked Rainbow in the side. “You don’t do too well goin’ through magical barriers either.”

Rainbow blushed as she recalled her reaction at the sensation of going through Shining Armor’s warding spell. “It was just a little more invasive than I thought it would be.”

Twilight looked towards the setting sun, guessing the general direction they would need to go. “Alright girls, where do we need to go from here?”

“This way,” Sweetie told her. She and Apple Bloom lead them to the edge of the woods.

As the canopy of leaves thinned, Sweetie pointed up. “There she is!”

Rainbow trotted just ahead of the group and stopped their progress with a gesture of wings. “Let me talk to her. I might be able to get her to come down without too much drama.”

Rarity grinned at the pegasus’ concern. “You’re going to try a chat from honorary sister to honorary sister and flyer to flyer to get her to see reason?”

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. “Something like that. Don’t go making a big deal about it.”

Applejack teased, “Don’t worry, we won’t tell anypony you’re gettin’ soft.”

Rainbow stuck her tongue out at Applejack and then turned and made her way past the edge of the woods. As Scootaloo flew close, she yelled, “Pretty good flying!”

Scootaloo almost fell out of the sky when Rainbow called to her. Knowing she had been discovered, she flew to where Rainbow was sitting and landed close to her. She started to cover up the amulet, but then stopped. “I guess you’ve already seen it so I don’t have to hide it.”

“It looks awesome on you. It doesn’t clash with your coat like it did with Trixie’s.” Rainbow smacked her forehead with a hoof. “I’ve been hanging around Rarity too much. That was so uncool to say.”

Scootaloo took off the amulet and laid it on the grass.

“It’s alright; Sweetie’s turning me into a dictionary.”

Rainbow thought Scootaloo taking off the amulet was a good sign until she noticed the filly was shivering and having trouble standing. “You know that thing is dangerous, why are you using it?”

“So I can fly. Wouldn’t you use it if it was the only way you could fly?”

“I would have done the same thing, I’ll admit, but you can’t use this thing. Look at what it’s doing to you.”

Scootaloo sat down, exhausted from using the amulet. “I’ve been really careful. I only fly for a little bit and then I take it off and rest. I can handle it.”

“How many times have you taken it off?”

“I don’t know, half a dozen at least.”

“Has each time flying and resting been the same length?”

Scootaloo’s ears folded back.

“You’ve been flying more and more and not resting as long each time.”

Scootaloo reluctantly nodded.

“Scoots, I know you want to fly. I wish there was some way we could make this work, but it’s going to make you sick like it did Trixie or worse. This thing wasn’t made for foals.” She started to get up to move towards the filly, but stopped when Scootaloo tensed up and drew back like a cornered animal.

“I want to fly with you! I want to fly with Mom and Dad! Using this thing is the only way I can.”

Rainbow slowly sat back down. “Scoots, it’s not worth the risk.”

“There’s something wrong with me. I know it. I should be able to fly by now and I can’t.” Scootaloo began to have trouble forming her words through her tears. “You understand what this means to me. Please, Rainbow, help me!”

“There is nothing wrong with you. You’re just a little late taking off.”

“Can you swear that you’re right?" She leaned towards Rainbow, daring her to break eye contact. "Can you Pinkie Promise there is nothing wrong and I’ll be able to fly?”

Rainbow licked her suddenly dry lips. “I’ve never heard of a pegasus that could not fly.”

Scootaloo shook her head. “That’s doesn’t answer my question. Am I going to be able to fly?”

“I don’t know.”

Scootaloo barely breathed, “I knew it.”

“There is no evidence that there is something wrong with you. Even if there is, we’ll help you however we can. You have to give up the amulet first though.” Twilight and the others stepped from their hiding spot. “I give you my word as a princess of Equestria that I will do all that we can to make sure that you fly again.”

Scootaloo got to her hooves and shakily stood her ground. “Are you sure, one hundred percent, that you can fix me?”

“You dodo, there’s nothing to fix!" Sweetie stomped the ground in frustration. "You’re Scootaloo! Even if you never fly, you’re one of the most awesome ponies in Ponyville! Not even Rainbow could pull off the stunts you do on your scooter!”

“Yeah, she’d just tangle herself up and end up crashin’ like she does with a new stunt!" Apple Bloom pointed down at the amulet. "You don’t need that thing to be amazing!”

“Hey, watch it! I don’t crash every time I try a new move.”

Scootaloo did not even turn in her friends' direction. She kept her eyes locked with Twilight’s. “Can you promise I’ll fly again?”

“No I can’t. I can promise I will do everything I can to help if something is wrong.” Twilight lit up her horn and started to levitate the amulet with her magic. “You have to trust me.”

Scootaloo lunged and grabbed the amulet. “I’ll find a way to make this work! I can’t take a promise that I may fly when this will let me fly!” Scootaloo frantically snapped the amulet back around her neck and shot into the sky.

Rarity and Twilight both tried to grab Scootaloo with their magic, but the amulet’s power would not allow them to get a grip. The filly raced into the air ignoring the desperate pleas of her friends for her to stop.

“I’ve got this.” Rainbow leapt into the air, blasting the others with a gust from her takeoff.

*****

Rainbow tore through the air and caught up to the straining filly. “You can’t out fly me, even with the amulet. Please, just land and we can talk this over!”

“I can’t, they’ll take the amulet!”

“We left them in the dust miles ago; it’s just you and me.”

“You’ll take the amulet!”

“To keep you from getting hurt, yes I will.” Rainbow started to gain altitude on the filly. “I’m hoping I don’t have to and you’ll just give it to me.”

“I can’t!” Her frustrated tears blew back and stung her eyes. “I can’t give you the amulet! I know you’re trying to help me, but it’s not worth saving a pegasus that can’t fly!”

“We don’t know that you won’t fly! If you keep using the amulet, I know you won’t! Look what it’s done to you already! You’re addicted!”

“I’ve been careful! I’ll…” Her words were cut short as Rainbow grabbed her from above and started a steep dive towards the ground.

Rainbow angled their decent so they fell towards the ocean. “You can’t fight me right now or we’ll both end up as stains on the beach.” Rainbow pulled up sharply and completed the maneuver. “I’m going to set us down. Landing in sand at speed like this is not fun.”

They skidded down the beach and managed a tumbling landing. Rainbow lost her grip on Scootaloo and the filly was flung from her hold.

Scootaloo made one last attempt to get away as soon as she got her hooves back under her.

Rainbow pounced Scootaloo with practiced ease. “Gilda taught me that one.”

Scootaloo struggled to get free for a moment but then stopped, knowing her efforts were futile. Instead, she pounded on Rainbow’s chest with her hooves. Between the limited distance between her and her mentor and her exhaustion the only thing Scootaloo accomplished was getting some of her ragged emotions out. “Rainbow, please just let me go. If you care for me like a sister, you’ll let me go.”

Rainbow pulled Scootaloo to her chest, wrapped the filly in her wings, and gently rocked her. “Scoots, I can’t do that. It’s because you’re my little sister that I can’t let you go. That amulet is doing horrible things to you.” Rainbow kissed the top of her head. “Please, take the amulet off. Knowing it’s hurting you is killing me.”

It took a little while of Rainbow holding and rocking the filly, but Scootaloo’s tears eventually stopped.

Scootaloo gathered herself, reached up, and took the amulet off.

Rainbow all but snatched the thing from her and then slung the amulet down the beach.

Scootaloo leaned against her hero. “I just wanted to fly.”

“I know.”

*****

Twilight watched intently as Luna's spell formed around Scootaloo. "Thank you again, for coming on such short notice. I couldn't detect anything wrong with her myself, but I wanted to be sure. I don't have that much experience dealing with the magical after effects from artifacts."

"Scootaloo and I have faced adversity together before. When Celestia told me of her plight I felt compelled to render what aid I could." She turned to Scootaloo. "Hold still and hold shut your eyes. This spell is a delicate thing and I want to be certain that no harm has befallen you."

Scootaloo closed her eyes and stood still as Luna’s magic felt over her and then through her. She trembled at the strange sensation but did not move from her spot.

“Thou art a young, healthy, and lucky filly. That amulet could have done you grievous harm had it stayed around your neck.” Luna patted Scootaloo’s head. “I can find nothing that speaks of you being ill or being unable to take to wing. Worry not about taking flight, it took me longer to fly than Celestia, but I mastered my magic faster.”

Scootaloo raced up and hugged the princess. “Thank you so much!”

“You are most welcome. Now, I believe you have a penance to complete.”

Scootaloo withdrew from Luna. “Yeah, I’m helping Apple Bloom and Sweetie at Sweet Apple Acres.”

“You should not let them toil without you.” Luna suggested to the filly, “As we make our way there, try leaping and working your wings as if to take flight. I found it was a good way to practice getting aloft.”

“Just wait till I tell them I got training suggestions from a princess!” Scootaloo whooped.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at Luna. “Did you really have trouble getting the hang of flying?”

“Verily, it was most vexing. Sister taunted me viciously for it.” Luna gave Twilight a smug smile. “I got my satisfaction though; I turned her coat pink with a spell she could not reverse.”

Scootaloo grinned in appreciation of the prank. “That’s an awesome idea. I bet she freaked out.”

Twilight tried to hide her laugh behind a hoof, but failed miserably. “I wish I could have seen that.”

Luna’s smile grew. “It was a horrible color for her. Her wrath was spoken of for many years. Eventually, I did turn her coat back to its original alabaster tone.”

“How long was ‘eventually?’”

“A couple of moons,” Luna casually answered.

Twilight’s mouth dropped open at the mental image of Celestia sitting on her throne attempting to be regal and gracious while ponies snickered at her new and horrible coloring. “She had to hold court while she was pink?!”

“No, neither of use held court at the time. We were too young for such things. Taunting or no, I would not have put her through such humiliation.” Luna waved a hoof for Twilight to follow her and led them out of the library.

Scootaloo immediately tried Luna’s suggestion and took running leaps into the air as she flapped her wings with all her might.

Twilight shook her head at the filly’s practicing. “I’ll give her this, she’s determined.”

“How go your own attempts to fly?”

Twilight blushed. “Horribly, to sum it up, I can’t seem to get off the ground. I guess my flight at the coronation was some kind of fluke.”

“Most likely you are overthinking the act. If you relax and let your instincts direct you, you will fly without difficulty.”

They made their way to Sweet Apple Acres where Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie waited anxiously at the gate.

Rarity bluntly asked, “Princess, is she alright?”

“Are you concerned for her due to the amulet’s power or due to a more physical malady?”

“Both.”

“That is not for me to tell.” Luna prodded Scootaloo with a wing. “It is for this young one to speak of.”

“I’m fine! I’ll be able to fly!”

Sweetie and Apple Bloom promptly tackled her to the ground in a euphoric hug.

Rarity let out the breath she had been holding. “Thank Celestia and you both.”

Luna gently shook her head. “Neither I nor my sister had anything to do with this. However, there is another matter that has been brought to my attention that needs addressing.” Luna looked skyward, towards an oddly and conveniently placed cloud. “Rainbow Dash, I would speak to you. Come down.”

Rainbow knew she was caught and reluctantly flew down and lit before Luna. Rainbow rubbed her face in a vain attempt to hide the fact that she had been crying.

“Got yourself a little worried over your ‘sister’ didn’t you?” Rarity asked kindly.

“A little,” Rainbow admitted.

Scootaloo untangled herself from her friends’ hug and ran over to embrace Rainbow. “Everything is fine. We’ll get to fly together.”

“You’ll soon be flying with somepony else as well. Rainbow, I’m putting another ward in your care so that you may teach her to fly.” Luna tilted her head towards Twilight. “It has come to my attention that Twilight is in need of your training.”

Scootaloo looked back and forth between Luna and Rainbow in disbelief. “I get to train with a princess?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I’m not going to argue with her and I can’t think of a reason why not.”

“Let’s start right now!”

“Nope, you’ve got some chores to do. Trainin' comes after you get them done.”

“Aw, come on!”

Luna had to work to keep from grinning. “Go little one. You must make amends for your misdeeds first. You can train at another hour.”

Applejack led the Cutie Mark Crusaders towards the barn, giving them instructions as they went.

Luna asked, “What of the gems they amassed?”

Rarity cleared her throat politely. “The girls agreed to split the gems and put them away to help pay for their education. What about the Alicorn Amulet?”

“It shall remain with Twilight for the time being. She has voiced a desire to examine it more thoroughly.” Luna gave Twilight an approving look. “She desires to use its properties to creating something with the potential to greatly help those in need.”

Rainbow looked at Twilight. “What does she mean?”

“If I can isolate the properties that allow the amulet to enhance a pony’s magic I might be able to create copies that help injured or disabled ponies without the horrible side effects.” Twilight smiled with self-determination. “It will take a while, but I’m sure I can do it.”

Rainbow looked towards where Scootaloo and the others were working to put out buckets around trees for Applejack. “So she will be able to fly one way or the other.”

“You doubt my ability to determine her state of health?”

Rainbow quickly faced Luna and waved her hooves. “It’s not that. I’m just worried for the squirt. It’s always good to have a backup on things like this.”

Rarity teased, “Darling, you're getting soft.”

“We’re talking about a filly’s dreams here!” Rainbow pointed towards Scootaloo. "I know what it’s like to want to fly so bad that I could taste it. I don’t want her to face that for the rest of her life.”

Luna smiled at Rainbow’s words. “Dreams are something that I understand intimately. I assure you, given some training; she will soar when the time is right.”

Twilight hugged Rainbow around the shoulders. “Now will you relax? She’ll be able to fly soon enough.”

“I’ll make sure of it. It might even been sooner than you think. That goes for you too.” Rainbow poked Twilight in the shoulder.

Seeing the determined look in Rainbow’s eye, Twilight worried about what she had been signed up for.

*****

“I haven’t been training you two for three months for nothing. You can give me ten more! Push those wings! They’re not there just to attract colts you know.”

Twilight gasped for air. “I can’t do ten more!”

“What I have told you about using that word? You don’t say that word while training!”

Scootaloo counted the last of her wing ups and got back to her hooves. “I’m ready for another try!”

“Stretch out a little first. You’re going to have to wait for your buddy here to catch up.” Rainbow leaned down and looked Twilight in the eye. “If she can finish these last five wing ups, that is.”

Twilight ground her teeth at the taunt, dug deep, and finished her last wingups.

“I knew you had it in you.” Rainbow raced them to the top of the hill to where Apple Bloom and Sweetie were seated.

Applebloom asked, “How far you think she’ll make it this time?”

“She’ll do better than Twilight at least.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the two fillies. “Enough comments from the peanut gallery. Making snide remarks is my job right now. Twilight, go!”

Twilight took a running start and leapt. Her wing beats were clumsy, out of rhythm, and her form was horrible. Despite her miscues, she managed to remain in the air until she reached the bottom of the hill.

Twilight did a small jig. “I did it!”

Rainbow yelled down the hill to her, “You were supposed to glide, not try to take off!” Rainbow whispered to Scootaloo, “You glide well enough and run back up her before she makes it back, and you can try to take off.”

Scootaloo needed no more encouragement and raced down the hill. She leapt, formed her wings into perfect shape, and gracefully glided to the bottom of the hill.

Twilight smiled as the filly ran past her. “That was great Scootaloo! You make that look so easy!”

“Thanks Twilight!” Scootaloo made it back to the top of the hill and quickly stood beside Rainbow.

Rainbow noted how tired Scootaloo was. “You sure you want to try right now? I’ll let you go when Twilight gets back up the hill if you want to wait.”

Scootaloo looked down the hill and tried to envision what she needed to do. “You said so long as we didn’t put ourselves or others in danger, we could push ourselves. I want to push.”

Rainbow nodded. “Good to hear, but this is the last time today. I don’t want you getting hurt trying to do too much. You’re pretty washed out right now.”

“Just one more time.”

Sweetie leaned forward.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie, noticing how focused she was. “You’re gettin’ a little tense there. Is there somethin’ wrong?”

“She’s going to do it.”

Apple Bloom looked back to Scootaloo. “You think so?”

Sweetie nodded.

“Go!”

At Rainbow’s signal, Scootaloo raced down the hill. She flung herself into the air, flapped her wings in sync, seemed to gain a little height, and then struggled for a moment.

Rainbow yelled, “Don’t give up!”

Scootaloo stopped fighting herself and went higher into the air.

“She did it! She took off!” Apple Bloom hugged Sweetie. “You were right, she made it!”

Rainbow’s eyes filled with tears as she watched Scootaloo. “Sorry gals, but I have to go. I’ve got a friend to go flying with.” Rainbow took off and joined Scootaloo in air for their promised flight.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading my story. If you were kind enough to add it to your favorites, or just liked it, please consider giving it a positive vote as well.

Remember, comments are like authors' food, they give us the fuel to keep writing. Constructive criticism is always welcome. It's what allows me to improve my writing skills.

Accidental Discoveries

More Than They Expected

Chapter 1: Accidental Discoveries

“That’s it! You’ve almost got it!” Rarity cheered.

Even with the amount of effort she was putting out, the spell failed with a pop. “Horse apples, I’ll never be able to cast your spell!”

Rarity gave her sister a harsh look. “Sweetie, language, a proper lady never uses such vulgar words.”

“Applejack does.”

“As I said, a proper lady does not use such vocabulary. Take a break for a minute. I want you to try one more time, for me. You were so close I’m sure you can do it next time.”

“Alright, sis, I’ll try one more time.” She dropped her head in disappointment at herself. “I don’t know why this is so hard. You cast this spell all on your own without anypony showing you how when you were a filly. I guess I just stink at magic.”

“You forget I had used spells on gems for quite a while before that day. I was well practiced in using spells to clean gems and using little enchantments to make them shine and dazzle." Rarity put a foreleg around her sister. "I could even check them for hidden flaws that could ruin a setting. My casting the spell was an accumulating point after a lot of practice with similar magic.”

“Great. I’ll need to learn a dozen spells just to learn the one that I want to cast. I bet you I can’t cast one of them either. I don’t have enough magic.”

“You have more than enough power. In fact, you are putting a bit too much into the spell at times.” Rarity hummed a soothing tune as she tried to come with a way to explain to Sweetie how to think about casting the spell. Inspiration hit her. “Think of the spell like a song you like to sing. If you try to force it, the note comes out shrill.”

Sweetie’s eyes sparked as she got the idea. “I have to make sure not to be sharp or flat when I cast the spell, but be controlled and supportive of it as it comes together. Just like my voice when I sing.”

“That’s exactly the right way to look at it.”

Sweetie stepped away from Rarity’s embrace. “I’m going to try again.” She turned toward the small group of gems that Rarity had provided and began to focus her concentration and magic.

“Sing with your magic, Sweetie. You can do it.”

*****

“I hope she’s alright. I don’t think Sweetie has ever missed gettin' together with us before. Heck, I don’t think she’s even been late before.” Apple Bloom’s voice shook as she rode in the wagon behind Scootaloo’s speeding scooter.

Scootaloo did not take her eyes off the path. “That’s why we’re checking on her.” Scootaloo leaned over the handlebars of the scooter and coaxed more speed from her wings. “It can’t be too bad or somepony would have come and told us about it.”

“I hope so.”

The pair made it to Carousel Boutique in record time. Scootaloo stretched her wings slowly and winced as they resisted her efforts to push them to their full spread. “My wings are going to be sore in the morning.”

“You trained with Rainbow Dash today too didn’t cha?” Apple Bloom began gently rubbing her friend’s wings. “You might have done too much today.”

Scootaloo giggled as Apple Bloom’s massage began to tickle. “Don’t do that!” she laughed. “I’m really ticklish on my wings.” Scootaloo realized what she had confessed. “Don’t tell anypony, alright?”

Apple Bloom withdrew her hooves and grinned. “Not one word.”

The two fillies turned as a flash of light lit up all the windows in the lower floor of the boutique. They looked at each other, sharing a startled look.

“What the hay was that?!”

Scootaloo quickly removed her helmet. “I don’t know, but we need to check on whoever is in there.”

The duo raced to the shop’s door and opened it fast enough that the shop’s bell almost fell from its hook. The sight that greeted them was not what either of them expected. The whole of the shop was bathed in vibrant colors. Every gem in the shop glowed with magic. A light humming noise issued from each, adding a strange musical aspect to the scene. Rarity was hugging Sweetie to her so tightly that the younger pony was having trouble breathing.

“I told you, you could do it!” She released her hold on Sweetie and made a sweeping gesture around the shop. “Look at this. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“You did this? I thought you said you couldn’t cast spells like this yet.” Scootaloo looked around the shop, amazed at the sight.

“Looks like you’ve been pullin' the wool over our eyes a little, Sweetie,” Apple Bloom kidded.

Sweetie blushed at the attention. “It’s my first time casting it. I’m as surprised as you are.”

Rarity gently shook her sister’s shoulders. “I’m not surprised at all. Twilight told me you had improved a great deal in the last little bit. She’s the one that suggested that I try to get you to try the spell.” Rarity turned to her two visitors. “Hello you two, I take if you’re still planning on seeing Zecora?”

Sweetie gasped. “I’m sorry! I didn’t realize what time it was! I was so busy trying to learn the spell I forgot what time it was.”

“We can still make it, if we run. Scoots is give out, so we’ll have to hoof it.”

Scootaloo puffed up with indignation. “I am not ‘give out,’ my wings are just tired.”

Sweetie smiled at her friends. “It doesn’t matter; we can’t use the scooter and wagon in the forest anyway. Let’s get going. We don’t want to keep Zecora waiting.” She quickly gave Rarity a hug. “Thanks sis, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

Rarity levitated Sweetie’s saddlebags over and put them on the filly. She added the small cluster of gems that she had gotten out for Sweetie to practice the spell. “You’re welcome. Now you can show Zecora what you have learned too.” She gave Sweetie a soft push towards the door. “You mustn't be late. Go on. Tell Zecora hello for me.”

“We will!” Sweetie assured her.

The three fillies raced out the door, leaving Rarity smiling after them. With a small bit of her magic, Rarity shut the door. “I’ve got to get back to work. These orders won’t finish themselves.” As she turned to head to her workroom, the gem-finding spell faded, returning the shop to its typical appearance. On a whim, Rarity used a bit of magic and cast the spell herself. She grinned as the gems in the shop shone once again. “I always did like that effect.”

*****

The three fillies made it to Zecora’s hut with moments to spare.

“I can’t believe we made it,” Sweetie gasped.

“It was close.” Apple Bloom adjusted her bow back to its proper place. “If we keep this up, we’re goin' to get a runnin' around Ponyville cutie mark.”

“Nah, we would have gotten that one by now if there were one.” Scootaloo knocked on the door and settled back on her haunches. “I don’t think running of any kind is what we’re really good at.”

Apple Bloom nodded and took a deep breath. “You got that right.”

The door swung open. Zecora smiled at the three fillies. “Hello my friends three, I’m glad that you’ve come to see me. You look as if you’ve been in a race, you did not have to rush to my place.”

Sweetie raised her hoof as if she were in school. “It was my fault. I was practicing a spell with Rarity and lost track of what time it was.”

Zecora’s eyes shown at the thought of Sweetie practicing her magic. “Learning is what life is about. You will have to show me what you have learned before you head out.”

“I’ll try, but I’ve only cast the spell once.”

“Then you know you can succeed. The second time should be easier indeed.” Though her tone was stern, a wisp of a smile played on Zecora’s face. “You should not give room for fear and doubt. You must learn to let your talent pour out.”

Apple Bloom watched the exchange and her ears drooped at some inner thought. Zecora caught her expression but decided hold off asking about what Applebloom was thinking.

Scootaloo’s stomach rumbled. The noise drew three sets of eyes to her mid-section. “Sorry guys, I’ve been going at it pretty hard all morning. I guess I’ve burned off breakfast.”

“I have ingredients for a meal. For the moment, your belly will just have to remain still.”

Apple Bloom pointed to Sweetie’s saddlebags. “You don’t have to fix anythin’. Rarity fixed us all lunch.”

“You sister is a wonderful friend. I will have to make a trip and see her again.” Zecora led them into her hut and helped them lay out the lunch. She noticed the gems in the saddlebags. She noticed the gems and asked, “Such gems of wonderful color, what are you carrying them for?”

Scootaloo poked Sweetie in the ribs. “Show her what you can do.”

“I’ll give it my best.” She levitated the gems onto the table and stood up to brace herself for the effort. She thought about holding the right ‘tone’ as she pulled the spell’s components into place. The gems on the table began to glow, as did several smaller gems around Zecora’s hut.

“I’ve seen this spell cast by Rarity. It is always something to see!”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom glanced at each other, having seen something they were not expecting. Almost directly behind Zecora's back, there was a strong glow. Sweetie could not see the light as Zecora’s position at the table blocked the possibility. The source of the light seemed to come from outside the hut and its intensity was enough to set it apart from the lesser sources of light and color from the other gems. Through a shared look, the pair reached a mutual agreement not to mention what they had seen.

*****

“Thank you three. I hope you learned something by helping me.” Zecora dipped a ladle into the caldron and carefully withdrew a portion of the steaming, purple mixture. She carefully poured the potion into an earthenware bottle. She tucked it into Sweetie’s saddlebags. “This is a special brew. It should help Granny Smith’s hip feel like new.”

“Thanks Zecora! Granny has been complainin’ about her hip more. She says it’s the weather turning cold.”

“She knows of what she spoke. Weather changes can be tough on older folk.”

“Thanks for showing us all that you did today. We better get going. We don’t want to still be in the forest when night falls.”

Scootaloo shuddered as she remembered the last time they had been in the forest at night. “Yeah, one round with a cockatrice was enough for me.”

The pair of friends made their way out the door, but Apple Bloom lingered.

Zecora turned to the red maned filly and smiled knowingly. “Something has been on your mind. Speak up, and I will see what solution I can find.”

“I was wonderin’ if you could help me. Your potion to help with my tooth really got me to thinkin’ that I want to learn more about what you do. I don’t have anypony to show me about earth pony magic. Applejack and Big Mac are can’t teach me beyond takin’ care of the farm, and Granny is too hard to understand.”

Zecora raised an eyebrow in amusement. “A zebra who speaks in rhyme is easier to understand that a pony with whom you spend most of your time?”

“I guess you could put it like that. Scootaloo gets flyin’ lessons from Rainbow Dash. Sweetie has been gettin’ help from Twilight and Rarity to help her with her magic.” She could not maintain eye contact with the zebra, as she stated, “I need help figurin' out if I have any magical talent and I don’t have anypony that can teach me.”

“I would be happy to lend you aid. So let your worries and frown fade.”

Apple Bloom rushed over and hugged Zecora. “Thank you! I won’t be a pest and I’ll help however I can. I promise!”

She gently returned the hug. “I would never consider you a pest. Of my friends, you are one of the best.”

Scootaloo called from outside, “Come on Apple Bloom!”

“Your friend is right. You do not want to be in the forest at night.” Zecora released Apple Bloom and patted her back. “Come back when you can. Then we can start to form a plan.”

“I will!” Apple Bloom ran out the door, only pausing to shut it behind her.

Zecora smiled after the young farm pony. “I never thought I would see the day, when a filly needing guidance would turn my way.”

*****

The three friends had not made it too far down the path leading from Zecora’s, when Scootaloo stopped, spread her wings, and blocked the path. “You think you can cast that spell again?”

Sweetie shrugged. “I guess so, but why?”

Apple Bloom caught on to what Scootaloo was thinking. “There was a really large glow from close by the hut when you cast the spell. I don’t think you were able to see it. Zecora was blocking your view.”

“You think there is a large gem around here somewhere? Gems aren’t typically found around here.”

“That what makes it weird. The light given off by the gem was different too.” Scootaloo looked back towards the hut. “It was like it was stronger than the rest.”

Apple Bloom thought about what she had seen and nodded. “Now that you mention it, the light didn’t look like the others.”

The three turned back and Scootaloo guided them towards where she thought the light had come from. “Cast the spell. We’ll find that gem.”

Sweetie cautioned, “We can’t take too long looking for it.” She cast the spell again. “If nothing else, I’m getting a lot of practice this afternoon.”

Apple Bloom pointed in the direction of the newly revealed glow. “Look how strong it is. We must be pretty dang close.”

They wandered along a game path until they came to a clearing filled with poison joke. In the clearing’s center stood a small gathering of weather beaten stones. They watched as the light faded from a spot somewhere just under the stones.

Apple Bloom whistled at the sight. “I don’t think we can walk over there without getting poison joke all over us.”

Scootaloo smiled. “We don’t have to. You two just have to toss me.”

Both Sweetie and Apple Bloom looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

Apple Bloom asked, “Care to run that by us again?”

“Sweetie can levitate me a little and you two can give me a good throw. I’ll glide over there.”

Sweetie looked back and forth between the pile of stones and Scootaloo. “I don’t know. That’s a long way. What if you don’t make it?”

“I’ve always wanted to know what poison joke would do to me. We’d just have to have some of the cure made, and I’d be fine.”

“It’s worth a shot. You ready Sweetie?”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie got on Scootaloo’s sides and put their forelegs under her. Sweetie started to lift Scootaloo with her magic, but could only manage to lessen gravity’s pull on her friend.

“You sure you want to try this?” Sweetie asked. "It's just a gem."

“What’s life if you don’t take chances every now and then?”

Apple Bloom shook her head in disbelief. “You’ve been hanging around Dash too much, Scoots." She told Sweetie, "On three, we toss her like a sack of apples.” She counted down and they tossed.

Between Sweetie’s magic, Apple Bloom’s strength, and Scootaloo’s determination, the pegasus filly made the distance.

“I didn’t even get close to touching one flower!”

“Great, now see if you can find that gem!” Apple Bloom shouted from the edge of the poison joke field.

Scootaloo ducked out of sight for a moment. She appeared again, afer a moment, and held something up. “I found this hidden under a loose rock! It’s a box with something in it!”

The excitement of the moment got to Sweetie. “Have you looked inside it?”

“Nope, I want you guys to see whatever this is for the first time when I do.” Scootaloo climbed to the top of the rock pile and judged the distance. “I didn’t think about how I was going to get back, but I think I’ve got just enough height to make it, if you help me Sweetie.”

“No problem.” Sweetie pushed her magic’s range and enveloped Scootaloo with her magic. “Ready!”

Scootaloo backed as far as she could on the stone and got a running start. Her landing was reminiscent of Rainbow Dash's lesser moments. She rolled a short distance and came to rest with hooves over appetite. “I’m glad I’m not training with Dash tomorrow, I’d never make it through a whole practice.”

As Scootaloo got back on her hooves, Apple Bloom presented the box to her. “You dropped this after about your third roll. Since you’re the one that went through all that trouble, you should open it.”

Scootaloo took the box and tried to open it. “Drat, it’s locked.”

Apple Bloom took the box back, looked at the lock, and smugly smiled. “I can fix that. Let’s go back to the clubhouse. I’ve got some tools there I can use.”

Sweetie looked up through the forest’s canopy of leaves. “We better hurry too. It’s going to be dark soon.”

“I can’t wait to see what’s in it. I bet it’s a huge gem that will be worth a fortune!” Scootaloo slid the box into Sweeties saddlebags and started to lead them out of the forest.

Sweetie suddenly felt an odd sensation on her coat, seemingly from the box in her saddlebags. “I don’t about this. I’ve got a funny feeling we should put this back. Somepony hid it here for a reason.”

“It’s alright Sweetie. It’s probably just something that somepony forgot they left out here. We might even be able to return it to them.”

Scootaloo nodded. “I at least want to know what’s in the box. Besides, I hate to admit it, but I can’t do that glide again today.”

Sweetie decided to not to press things further despite the voice inside her head telling her something was not quite right.

*****

Sweetie watched as Apple Bloom worked on the lock with a screwdriver. She had tried to get the other two to leave the box alone until the next day, but they insisted that Apple Bloom have a quick crack at it.

“I thought I had it there for a second. This is certainly a Cutie Mark Crusader team effort. Sweetie found the box with her spell, Scootaloo recovered it from its hidden spot with her wings, and I’ll get the thing open. We might even get treasure hunter cutie marks for this.”

Scootaloo moved the candle so that Apple Bloom could have a little more light. “Is that better?”

“A lot better, thanks.”

Sweetie Belle sat back away from the two. “I have this weird feeling I should know what’s in it. It’s like I’ve seen that box before.”

Scootaloo turned towards Sweetie, causing the shadows to play across her face. “Now that you mention it, I think I’ve seen this box too.”

There was a satisfying metallic click from the lock. “Got it,” Apple Bloom proudly announced. “Scoots, the moment of truth is here.”

The three fillies crowded around the box in anticipation. Apple Bloom looked at the box more closely and tilted her head. “I’m with you two. I think I’ve seen this box before and I don’t recall it bein' at a happy occasion.”

“We’ve done too much to not at least see what is inside. We can always put it back later.” Scootaloo slowly opened the box, reached in, and withdrew the sought after item.

Sweetie recognized the amulet instantly and took a step back. “It’s the Alicorn Amulet!”

Apple Bloom flinched at seeing the amulet. “That patch of poison joke must have been where Zecora hid it after Twilight’s duel with Trixie. No wonder it was in a hidden chest instead of in the ground like a regular gem.”

“I’m sorry guys. I messed up. I should have left it right where it was.” A determined look came over Scootaloo’s face. “I’m taking it back right now, poison joke or not.” Before she could even make a move, Sweetie wrapped her forelegs around her to stop her.

“You can’t go back into the forest at night. It’s not safe!” Sweetie tightened her hold on Scootaloo. “I know you want to take it back, but it’s not worth the risk to go right now.”

Scootaloo calmed down and sighed. “You’re right. No reason to get hurt over this thing.” She carefully placed the amulet back in the box. She shut the lid and looked around the clubhouse. “Where should we put this?”

Apple Bloom took the box and hid it in the base of their podium. “If anypony finds it, we can tell them that it’s just where were keepin’ the Rainbow Dash Fan Club signup sheets.”

Scootaloo laughed. “Like anypony would come here looking for the thing, but I like the cover story.” She helped Apple Bloom push the podium against the wall to make it even harder for anypony to see the box.

“It’s getting pretty close to curfew,” Sweetie reminded them.

Apple Bloom nodded. “Sis would have a fit if I came home late, especially on a night before school. Let’s meet back up here tomorrow afternoon and we’ll take the amulet back.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Scootaloo tried to stretch out her wings. She winced as they refused to unfurl. “At least I’ll be getting some more practice in.”

Sweetie Belle put out the candle and led them out of the clubhouse. “You guys have a safe walk home. We’ll take that thing back first thing after school and then we can forget about this whole thing.”