The Crime Mares Club

Apple Bloom walked through the arching doorway into the main room of Golden Oaks Library. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were sitting in the corner speaking in far too loud hushed wispers. Applebloom walked to over to her friends who had broken their quite discussion to greet their friend.

"Hi Applebloom, you know you're late right?" Scootaloo asked.

"I know Scoots, it's just that I couldn't get any sleep last night."

"Well you had better get that conscience in check because I know where we are going to start," Sweetie Belle chimed in.

"Oh? What did you have in mind?" Applebloom asked curiously, putting her worried in the back of her mind for now. Scootaloo answered for Sweetie with a hoof wave motioning Applebloom closer. Applebloom leaned her head in and turned an ear to Scootaloo.

"You're going to get Winona and we are going to walk her through the town park without a leash and not clean up after her," Scootaloo then leaning back and gave a smug smile towards her friend. Applebloom looked towards Scootaloo then to Sweetie Belle then gave a determined nod. She opened her mouth to comment on the idea but before she could voice her opinion the library door opened and Twilight walked in followed by Shining Armor and Spike.

"I'm just saying maybe you should stop mail ordering bacteria Twily," Shining Armor said, exasperation evident. Shining Armor was losing the will to continue the debate.

"Well I mean it's not so much the bacteria's fault, frankly after that Everfree debacle the biggest concern is slippery wolves," Twilight pointed out.

"As true as that is I still think it'll save you a lot of trouble."

Twilight nodded to her brother then noticed the onlooking trio of fillies. "How did you girls get in here?"

"The front door was unlocked and since it's still a public library we just, kinda, walked in," Scootaloo answered a little too quickly. Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"Well, while I love seeing you girls take an interest in books I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to come back later. Feel free to take with you whatever books you want but as you can see my brother is visiting and we'd like some privacy to catch up."

"Alright Twi, we were just heading out anyways," Applebloom told her.

"Thanks girls." With that the trio left the library.

"So back to Sweet Apple Acres then?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"I guess that's the plan, come on girls. Maybe we can even break a few rules on the way there," Applebloom said excitedly.

"Yeah, like um, not crossing that main street at the crosswalk," Scootaloo added.

"Is that against the law? I always thought that was just a suggestion, like 'cross here for optimal crossing' or something," said Sweetie Belle.

"Optimal crossing?" asked Scootaloo.

"What?"

"It's nothing Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo said with a smile.

"Well then lets just go and get started then," Sweetie Belle said, more than a little annoyed as she began walking towards Applebloom's home. The three young fillies walked for about ten minutes before they got to the main road that goes through Ponyville and while there is rarely a through traffic at all due to Ponyville's proximity to the Everfree Forest the town council had a crosswalk put in for those rare occasions it becomes necessary. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were looking at the road, as if it would alert the world the moment their hoofs touched it.

"Uh, you should go first Sweetie Belle, y'know, since you said you don't think it's against any rule or anything, " Applebloom said without turning her gaze.

"Nonononononono. I think Scootaloo should get to go first, this was her idea after all," Sweetie Belle answered.

"I'd love to, but, um, you go ahead first Apple Bloom."

Sweetie Belle sighed, "How about all at the same time?"

"Alright, that sounds like a good idea," Applebloom said.

Scootaloo nodded in agreement and added "on the count of three. Ready. One, Two," Scootaloo gave a single audible gulp and said "Three." And with that the three fillies bolted to the other side of the street as fast as their hoofs would take them. Once they were on the other side the looked back and forth from each other and began to break into a fit of giggles.

"That wasn't so bad," Sweetie Belle said.

"I knew it wouldn't be," Scootaloo added.

"Alright girls, come on lets hurry up and get Winona," Applebloom said, pointing a forehoof towards the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Agreed," Scootaloo said.

The three had rounded the first corner when they saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie walking in their general direction.

"How many organic marshmallow farmers do you think there are in the world?" Asked Pinkie Pie.

"Uh, 'ah dunno Pinkie Pie. I don't think ya can even grow marshmallows," Applejack answered the prancing pink pony. Applejack noticed her sister and her friends approaching and decided that would be the easiest way to change the topic before her easily excitable friend went on a rant about the logistics of marshmallow farming.

"Howdy there girls, staying out of trouble?" Applejack asked with a smile.

"Yes! What makes you think we wouldn't be I mean it's no-" Applebloom was cut off by the orange and white hoofs of her friends, who both put on the best fake smile they could muster. Applejack leaned her head back and raised an eyebrow.

"Uh huh, and what exactly are you three on your way to go do right now?"

"We were just on our way to take Winona through a walk in the park." Applebloom said, pushing her friend's hoofs away from her face.

"Well that wont be necessary little sis."

"What, what?" asked Applebloom, honestly curious.

"Big Mac took her with him to keep him company while he works in the west field today," Applejack informed them. The three fillies all looked disappointed at the news so Applejack added "but tomorrow should be fine so you three can try to get your cutie marks in dog walking or whatever your reason for wanting to take Winona that far across Ponyville when Sweet Apple Acres has plenty of space to run around in." The three perked up a little at that then began to give each other meaningful looks. Applejack turned to Pinkie Pie who just shrugged.

After a moment of silent glances Sweetie Belle spoke, "Well we can go to my house, Rarity is at the spa with Fluttershy today so we don't have to worry about bothering her work."

"Yeah, that sound like a good idea, later sis." With that the three ran off to the Carousel Boutique.

Applejack turned back to Pinkie Pie and asked "What do ya think those three are up to?"

"I have no idea," Pinkie Pie answered cheerfully.

"Did ya get a weird feeling about what they're up too? They just seemed so, 'ah dunno, nervous. Like they thought we had caught them red hoofed."

"I only ever get a weird feeling whenever my Pinkie sense is acting up or when I eat a really bad cupcake but then it goes away."

"Right ... ah'm going to find out what those three are up too, wanna help?"

"Sure, sounds like fun," Pinkie answered with a laugh.

Applejack nodded in the direction the three foals had run off in and said, "well we had better get a move on then, they are putting a good bit of distance between us."