The Incomplete Works of Cookie

Chapter 1

      A young pegasus filly was crying on the curb. Every pony who cares is gone. she thought, First Mom, then Dad. Now Dream Chaser. Her name was Cloud Chaser, and she was all alone.

      In Downlife, you didn't make it if you were alone. You needed a group, ponies to rely on, and Cloud had just lost hers. She hugged a rag doll, the only toy she'd ever had. Around her neck was a blue lace, and at the end, a bell. She, had a white coat, and a yellow mane. As well as blue eyes. Her mark, as they called it in her world, was a fire. Meaning she liked being warm. But it was cold in Downlife.

      Cloud thought her life was over, when she felt a hoof wrap around her. She looked. A pegasus, about her age, was staring back. She had a purple mane and eyes, and was orange. Her mark was a bag.

      "Did you lose your folks?" she asked. Cloud nodded. "My friends and I can take you in. You'd like it. I'm Scootaloo."

      "I'd.. like that. I'm Cloud." Cloud got up, and followed the filly.

      Scootaloo led Cloud through some warehouses. "Where are we going?" Cloud asked, being very timid.

      "We have a place around here." Scootaloo said. They trotted for a while, before Scootaloo finally opened one. Inside were two earth fillies. One was brown, with a pink mane and lime eyes, and a leaf for a mark. The other was yellow, with a red mane and amber eyes. Her mark was an apple. They looked related.

      "Girls, I found another!" Scootaloo said. A unicorn appeared came from around the corner. She had a lilac coat, yellow eyes, and a yellow mane. Her mark was a pen.

      "Really?" the filly with amber eyes said, "How?"

      "She was on the curb." Scootaloo replied.

      "Hi," the brown filly said, "I'm Babs Seed, this is my cousin Apple Bloom." She gestured to the other earth pony.

      "And I'm Dinky!" the unicorn said.

      "I'm Cloud." Cloud said timidly.

      "We have an extra bed," Apple Bloom said, "Right Sootaloo?"

      "Sure, somewhere. I'll go look." Scootaloo rushed off.

      "So," Babs said, "Are you thinking about joining our group?"

      "It'll be fun! We're technically family!" Dinky cheered.

      "It's not like I have any other choice." Cloud said, "Most groups aren't so willing to let some pony join."

      "Well," Apple Bloom said, "Then let me be the first to welcome you to... The Pickpockets!"

      Cloud smiled. "Lets show her around." Babs said.

      After a full tour of the warehouse, Scootaloo had found a bed. She placed it alongside the others. Cloud removed her bell, and placed it, as well as her doll, on the bed.

      That evening, there was a bit of food.

      "So, Cloud," Babs asked, "What happened to your group?"

      "Died." Cloud said.

      "Ah can't believe we're supposed to live this way for an opinion!" Apple Bloom said, "It ain't right."

      "It's tyranny." Dinky said.

      "What are their names?" Cloud asked, getting looks from the others. "I was never told. My family just said, 'the princesses'."

      "Oh." Scootaloo said, "Well, it's Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight. I heard their alicorns."

      "Not like they deserve it." Apple Bloom leaned back.

      "I can think of ten ponies who deserve it more than them." Scootaloo said.

      "I can think of one hundred." Cloud said.

      "I can think of one million." Babs said. They all laughed. Life isn't over. Cloud thought, Life just began.

*******

Chapter 2

    "Alright," Apple Bloom said, "The key is to take their belongins when they least expect it."

    "So, like this?" Cloud held a picture of Apple Bloom and an older mare up.

    "Yer good. Now give it back." Apple Bloom held her hoof out for the picture. Cloud handed it back.

    "Alright, you got the hang of it. If yer caught, just lose 'em." Apple Bloom chuckled.

    "I think I can do that." Cloud sat down, tired from training.

    "So, did you know yer family?" Apple Bloom sat down next to her.

    "Yeah. I knew my mom and my brother." Cloud replied, "Never knew my dad. Mom said he died when I was little. I'm not sure though. How about you?"

    "Eeyup." Apple Bloom said happily, "Grew up with mah Ma, Pa, sister, brother, Babs, and Granny. All gone now, except for Babs."

    "What happened? Not to be nosy, but how could a group of ponies that big be diminished already?"

    "Well, Applejack an' Big Mac went away, and didn't come back. Ma an' Pa got sick, and Granny's age caught up to 'er."

    "Cool." Cloud looked up.

    "This world ain't fair." Apple Bloom said after a bit, "Ponies punished for their beliefs. We're just shoved aside, like dirt."

    "Apple Bloom, it's alright. I love you guys. You're like my sisters. And if life was fair, I wouldn't know you." Cloud assured her. Apple Bloom smiled. "I have to go try out my pickpocket skills, see ya!" Cloud ran into the streets.

    Sitting on a bench, Cloud looked over the crowd of ponies. She noticed one. He was wearing a hat and a coat, so she couldn't see most of him. She sneaked through the crowd, looking natural. She quickly reached into his pocket, he didn't notice. She walked off with her loot. She took a look. Nine coins, and a crumpled up piece of paper. She looked at it. A picture, of a mare holding a newborn foal. But the mare... was her mother. And the foal was her. She looked for the stallion, but she couldn't see him. She raced through the crowds, trying to catch a glimpse. But to no prevail, to stallion did not turn up. She trotted back to the warehouse, unable to process what just happened. I need to find that stallion. was ll she thought.

    "So," Scootaloo asked, "How'd it go?"

    "Fine." Cloud was distant.

    "Cloud, what's wrong?" Babs asked.

    "This." Cloud placed the picture on the table, "That's me and my mom, when I was a baby."

    "Ah don't get it." Apple Bloom said, "Why would some random pony have a picture of you and yer ma?"