The Secret I've Hidden

Chapter 3: Sugarcube Corner and the Secret

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU THE CHEST IS MISSING!?” Rainbow Dash yelled, flying up from her seat. Her anger got the best of her as she was throwing a fit.

Rarity sighed, knowing Rainbow Dash would be like this. After all, Rainbow can’t hold her anger… very well. She levitated a cup of tea to her mouth to soothe her anxiety as began to explained what had happen. “After getting some help with cleaning, I realized that the chest was in the box in the attic. I went to go check it, but it wasn’t in the box where I first left it. I don’t know where it is, that is why I’m saying it’s missing.”

Applejack’s hoof took her Stetson from her head and her expression showed a worried face. “Rarity, if we don’t find it before our youngins, we’ll be rotten as a dead apple on the ground.” Applejack’s mind wandered to the reaction of Apple Bloom finding out: the anger building up in AB’s heart, her little sis ignoring her forever, it truly scared AJ to the core.

Derpy ate another muffin—the last one of her batch. Her eyes still “derped” and her face showed a little confusion. She tapped Rainbow Dash’s shoulder and asked, “Hey, Rainbow Dash. What chest are you guys talking?”

Rainbow hoof-faced. Realization dawned on her face, remembering Derpy’s not all fast on everything as most ponies are. She sighed as she repeated what Rarity had said.

“Oh.”

“Oh yes is right. We need to find this chest. Only our families, Fluttershy, Scoots’ parents, and the Mayor knows about what’s in the chest!” Rainbow panicked, not in a girly way though, more like in a shocked way. “We need to tell someone.”

“Rainbow’s right. We need ta tell th’ mayor ‘bout this,” Applejack said in a serious tone.

 Rarity nodded. “Agreed.” She galloped to the phone, picked up it, and dialed the mayor’s number. She then waited for the ringing. Rainbow Dash and AJ sat down patiently as Derpy frowned. She ran out of muffins and she needed more—her addiction for them was telling her to get muffins and you know addictions of something cannot be stopped. The phone gave her an idea of calling Pinkie Pie for some more.

“Hey, Rarity, can I use the phone after you? I need to call Pinkie Pie for some muffins.”

Rainbow hoof-faced again. “Derpy, you need muffins now? You realized th—you know what, nevermind. Forget I freaking asked.”

“Okay.”

Minutes passed, Rarity was done chatting with the Mayor. She put the phone back and Derpy flew to it, picking it up, and calling Pinkie. Rainbow rolled her eyes as she thought how typically Derpy is and Rarity slightly smiled as she was ready to tell them the news.

“Mayor said she’ll ask some parents and the hospital. She’ll make sure Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Dinky don’t find out. Although, the Mayor mention we should tell Fluttershy about the problem…” Rarity stopped talking and she realized Pinkie Pie and Twilight don’t know about the truth (but Pinkie has actually known the whole time.) “Also, Pinkie Pie and Twilight.”

Applejack nodded in agreement. “Rarity’s right. We haven’t told our best friends yet now that ya mentioned it.”

“Whatever,” Rainbow Dash. “Let’s just hurry this up. I wanna take my nap!”

“Okay, okay.” Applejack turned to Derpy and pointed to her. “Let’s just wait for Derpy to finish her call; it might only take a minutes.”

Rainbow groaned as Rarity levitated the cup of tea to her mouth. She look a lady-like sip, closing her eyes and Rainbow groaned again as if she was reading one of Twilight’s science books or Rarity’s romantic novels. Rarity peeked an eye towards her cyan-colored friend, analyzing something. Her mane, it was very messy. She peeked at Applejack, even more flabbergasted. AJ had a lot of grease near her mouth. Rarity took the opportunity to “fix” them as they would barely visit the shop.

Rarity quickly moved around the shop, and before the two athletes could complain, she had them both in heels and beautiful stitched dresses/outfits. She also was able somehow put some lip gloss and change their hair style. Rainbow Dash groaned even louder than before as looked at the fabric around her.

“Damn it, Rares! What the freaking hell?” she yelled. She fidgeted and tried to shook off the sapphire-colored dress, she did luckily got the shoes off her hooves. “WHY AM I IN A STUPID DRESS!? I HATE WEARING A DRESS AND YOU KNOW IT! GET IT OFF ME!”

“And the diamond dogs say ‘I whine,’ ” Rarity muttered, remembering. She went back to reality to answer RD’s question. “Rainbow Dash, you’ve barely visited my shop over the week and you do owe me for—”

Rarity’s mouth was covered by somepony’s hoof and Rainbow’s face showed horror. She looked at Rarity with pleading eyes saying “don’t you dare say a word, I’m keeping it a secret." Rarity shot a glare to RD, telling her to keep the deal they made after something.

“Fine. I’ll come by your shop tomorrow.”

Rarity grinned as if she won the pony lottery. She used her knowing glance on Applejack to see if she was also fidgeting with her dress and might be causing rips. AJ was not doing anything as she was standing there, knowing that was going to happen. Now, all was to wait for Derpy to finish her call.

“Derpy, dear, are you done with the phone?”

Derpy, on cue, put the phone away and nodded. “Yes, Rarity.”

“Great, we shall leave to Fluttershy’s cottage first. Then, we’ll tell Twilight and Pinkie. Agreed?”

“Agree,” the other three said.

A while later.

In Sugarcube Corner, the CMCs were busy eating a slice of Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness* (or M.M.M.M. for short) and having milkshakes for their reward. When they arrived at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie was actually busy with a sweets contest and she was running out of ingredients for the fifth round. The CMCs thought of being “Kitchen Helpers” would help them get their cutie marks. So, they ran to the food carts and collected all the ingredients Pinkie requested.

“Thanks again for helping me!!!” Pinked thankfully cheered. She just popped in front of the CMCs out of no where, which made Dinky kinda scared. Scared, Dinky hugged the closest thing beside her: Sweetie Belle.

“Welcom’, Pinkie, glad we could b’ o’ assistance,” Apple Bloom said. She continued to eat the slice of the cake she had as Pinkie Pie “popped” back into the kitchen.

Dinky let go of Sweetie as she spoke: “So, what do we do next?” Sweetie Belle checked to see if Pinkie was insight. Sweetie knew if Pinkie heard this, she would report this her sister and she would be in really big trouble.

“Ah dunno know?” Apple Bloom said. Her mouth was filled with the M.M.M.M. and Sweetie Belle looked in disgust.** She swallowed her pride as she took another delicious sip of her vanilla milkshake.

Scootaloo had an idea. A small grin appeared on her face, she was storming up something very bad. “How about opening”—she turned her head, making sure Pinkie or somepony wasn’t listening—“the chest,” she suggested.

The fillies gasped as the idea was spoken. You could hear water drip from the tap as some silence came. Dinky shook her head after recovering from the said idea.

“No, we might get into trouble. I don’t wanna risk it.”

Scootaloo sighed and pouted. “Fine.” She couldn’t argue since Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle also seemed to side with Dinky. Scoots loudly sighed before taking another sip onto her chocolate shake.

“But we need to open that box sooner or else will be questioning soon or later it’s like a… a… Sweetie Belle, what’s that idiom explaining if we do something early we don’t have to worry about it later?”

“The phrase is “a stitch in time saves nine”, you dodo,” Sweetie Belle reminded, rolling her eyes as if it was the easiest thing ever.

“Oh yeah! Rarity sang that phrase in “The Art Of A Dress” number; not the reprise though, the original one,” Pinkie said, breaking the fourth wall once again. The little fillies all shrieked as they were surprised by Pinkie bursting out again.

“P-Pinkie, why didja scare us?”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, Apple Bloom.”

“It’s fine.”

“Wait!” Scootaloo interrupted warily. “Did you hear what we were saying?”

“Yep-er-rooney.”

The CMCs’ eyes widened.

“Pinkie, pinkie promise you won’t say this to Rarity,” Sweetie begged.

“Cross my heart”—she crossed her chest—“and hope to fly! Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Pinkie covered her eye with her hoof, sealing the promise. The CMCs let a breath of relief out as they know Pinkie isn’t the type to break a promise, especially since Pinkie made it herself.

“Thanks, Pinkie,” Apple Bloom thanked.

“No problemo. I bet the readers would want me to keep your secret a secret anyway!” Pinkie broke the fourth wall once again and suddenly remember the order of muffins Derpy wanted.  “Dinky, here’s the muffins your sister wanted.” She handed the package of blueberry, chocolate, and strawberry muffins to her.

“Thanks, Pinkie.”

“Welcome once again!” Pinkie’s clock clucked, yeah it clucked, literally. “Oh, I gotta close up the shop. Today, I close up at six fifty because of bowling night with Twilight, Spike, and Fluttershy. So, you better get going. Rares, Dashie, Derpy, and Applejack are picking you up in ten minutes.”

Apple Bloom checked the clock and it read: 6:50. “Darn it, we have to get to the clubhouse. Scootaloo, can you get there lickity split?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Yep! Ride on!”

The fillies bolted out Sugarcube Corner as Pinkie closed up the shop. Scootaloo climbed onto her scooter and Dinky, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom jumped into the wagon. Scootaloo’s wings fluttered as the vehicle started moving quickly.

Just in time, they arrived two minutes early and luckily, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, and Derpy didn’t come yet. Scootaloo took the chest out of her bag and hid the chest under a loose floorboard Apple Bloom was going to fix today; Dinky and Sweetie packed their school backs with textbooks and papers of homework; and Apple Bloom messed up the clubhouse with some dust to make it look like they used it for hours.

Two minutes came and the door opened. The big sisters clopped in and looked for their younger one. Lucky for them, Dinky, at the last minute, took out a game of “Ponies Questionnaire”. The sisters stopped talking and they looked at their sibling.

Rarity skedaddled to Sweetie Belle and smiled. “Alright, Sweetie Belle, darling, let’s go. I’ve made your favorite dinner tonight.”

“Really?” Sweetie’s eyes twinkled as she thought about the delicious food. It made her feel so happy.

“Thank you, Rarity.” She hopped to Rarity and hugged her. Then, said her goodbye to her friends. Rarity also said goodbye before slowly walking to the entrance.

“Bye, Sweetie Belle. Bye Rarity,” the Apples and Hooves said. Rarity and Sweetie Belle waved their hooves goodbye before leaving the clubhouse’s inside. Applejack nudged Rainbow as Apple Bloom nudged Scootaloo.

“Bye,” Rainbow and Scootaloo said. They heard a slight goodbye from outside.

After the sentimental goodbye to SB and R, Derpy also had to go. “Let’s go home, too, Dinky,” Derpy suggested, her eyes “derped” as she picked up Dinky and put her on her back. “Bye, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Bye Applejack and Apple Bloom.” Derpy flew out of the clubhouse with Dinky.

Rainbow Dash also decided to leave at the moment also. “C’mon. Scoots. I gotta get you to my house so I can call your mom about how you are doing.” Also because I have to tell her about the chest.

“Okay. Bye, Apple Bloom. Bye, Applejack.”

“Yeah, bye, Apples,” Rainbow Dash concluded.

Applejack smiled. “Bye, Rainbow. Bye, Scootaloo.”

And the last goodbye of the night. “Bye, Rainbow Dash. Bye, Chicken***.” Apple Bloom snickered as she said the funny nickname.

“I am not a chicken!” Scootaloo shouted. She grunted as she climbed onto Rainbow’s back.

“Whatever, Chicken.” Apple Bloom kept giggling on as Applejack was about to scold her.

Rainbow and Scootaloo left the clubhouse, leaving a trail of dust.

“Sugarcube, let’s go home. I heard Granny Smith is going to cook some apple fritters.”

Apple Bloom squeaked. “Yay! I love eating apple fritters.”

“Yeah, I can see.” Applejack chuckled as they left the clubhouse. AJ thought about what happened at Fluttershy’s cottage. Let’s leave it with saying Discord is going to have to keep a secret.