"Ready or not, here Ah come!" said a young anthropmorphic Earth Pony filly. She had a light yellow coat, a red mane and tail, and wore a brown long sleeved shirt and khakis. Her name was Apple Bloom Parker.
As she prowled the house looking for her father, she noticed a pair of shoes sticking out from a curtain that looked like something was wraped up in it.
"Ah found ya-" said Apple, only to find that it was a cleverly disguised broom.
As Apple Bloom continued her search, she found her father's glasses lying on an entable. She picked up the glasses and tried them on. After a moment, she put the glasses back and entered her father's study.
There, all was chaos. Chairs were over turned, drawers were pulled out, and papers were thrown all over the place.
"Dad," called Apple Bloom. "Dad!"
An Earth Pony stallion who greatly resembled Apple Bloom emerged from his hiding spot. This was Apple Crepe.
Upon seeing the wreckage of his study, Crepe scooped up Apple Bloom and placed her by the door. Then he opened one of the drawers that was untouched and opened a secret compartment. Inside said compartment was a folder.
Crepe picked up the folder and looked through it as his wife, Red Gala, entered and picked up Apple Bloom.
"Honey, we need to get to the Brocks and warn them," said Crepe.
"Why are we going to see Scootaloo?" asked Apple Bloom.
But, her question seemed to fall on deaf ears.
~
About thirty minutes later, the Parker family's SUV was parked outside the Brock residence in the pouring rain. About ten minutes later, four ponies, including Apple Crepe, walked out of the house. With her parents was an orange pegasus filly with a pink mane and tail wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, and black and gray sneakers. This was Scootaloo Brock Jr.
"Hey, Apple Bloom!" said Scootaloo.
"Hey, Scoots!" said Apple Bloom, before lowering her voice. "What's going on?"
"Heck if I know," muttered Scootaloo. "All I know is your dad came in and said 'They're after it,' and the next thing I know I'm getting packed to stay with my Aunt and Uncle."
~
After a short trip, the Brocks dropped Scootaloo off at her Aunt and Uncle Bruckner's place.
Then came a very difficult task for the Parker family: dropping Apple Bloom off at her Aunt and Uncle Orange's.
"We could just send her to Ponyvile to stay with her sister and brother," suggested Red Gala.
Crepe shook his head. "Her on a plane with bad ponies after the research is something we can't risk. Leaving her with Cal and Florida is our best bet," he said.
Mere moments later, they had arrived at the Oranges.
~
While Crepe, Red Gala, Florida Orange, and Cal Orange talked, Apple Bloom watched cartoons.
Finally, the time came to say good-bye.
"So, why are you leaving?" asked Apple Bloom.
"There's something your mom and I need to take care of," said Crepe.
"Well, then Ah want to go with you," said Apple Bloom.
Red Gala, meanwhile, was telling Florida and and Cal things about Apple Bloom.
"She likes to sleep with a little light on at night, and she doesn't like crusts on her sandwiches," she said.
"Come on, Gala. It's time to go," said Crepe.
Apple Crepe and his wife kissed their beloved daughter's forehead, before turning towards the door.
"Dad-" said Apple Bloom.
"Be good," Crepe said, before he and his wife left.
“DAD, WAIT PLEASE!” Apple Bloom called out but the doors had already closed and she was alone with no one but her Aunt and Uncle.
~
About ten years later, a teenage Apple Bloom stood outside a large school building looking at a window reflecting herself. She wore dark clothing mainly and had a blue hoodie over her head.
"Hey, sis," said a voice from behind. Apple Bloom turned to find Scootaloo standing behind her. She wore a similar outfit to Apple Bloom's, only her hoodie was gray.
With Scootaloo was a white unicorn filly around her age with a lavender and pink mane and tail wearing a white shirt, brown vest, black pants and a small smile on her face. Her name was Sweetie Belle.
"Hey, girls!" said Apple Bloom, giving Scootaloo a hug and doing knucks with Sweetie. "Still giving your Aunt and Uncle a hard time?" she asked Scoots.
"Always," said Scootaloo.
"An' how was the tour, SB?" asked Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle sighed. "Dad spent most of vacation locked in Doctor offices and board rooms, so I spent mine boredom. You should've stayed in town, Bloom, you could've done nothing with me and Scootaloo. So," she said. "Are you ponies ready for the torture that is M-Cubed?"
"Ah think Ah am. as long as Ah don't have to put up with-" said Apple Bloom, before a basketball hit her from the side. "Good morning, Silver Spoon," she grumbled.
"Morning, Parker. Brock, and Belle," sneered a a gray earth pony mare, again around Apple Bloom's age, wearing a sportcoat, blue jeans, a gray shirt, blue rimmed glasses, and gray sneakers, before she and her pals brushed into Diamond, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom.
Sweetie shook her head. "What did we ever do to her?" she said.
"Well, I think she has a problem with unpopular ponies. Now, let's get to class," said Scootaloo.
~
"Don't forget, Chemistry test on Friday," Professor Hyde called after his departing students. "Parker, Brock, Stacy, a word."
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and a young Earth Pony stallion with a white coat, a brown mane and tail wearing a white shirt, a navy blue jacket, gray jeans, and white sneakers approached Professor Hyde's desk.
"I wonder if any of you remember a field trip we took last year to the lab of Dr. Kali Mari," said Hyde.
The three ponies made noises of concent.
"Well, it so happens that Dr. Mari is looking for three new interns, and I recommended my three star pupils," continued Hyde.
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and the pony called Stacy broke into huge grins. All their hard work was finally paying off!
~
As the three ponies left the classroom, Stacy turned to face Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "I don't think we've properly met. My name's Pipsqueak Stacy," said Pipsqueak, holding out his hand.
"Scootaloo Brock Jr," said Scootaloo, shaking Pipsqueak's hand.
"Apple Bloom Parker," said Apple Bloom, following Scootaloo's lead.
"Well, I guess I'll see you two tomorrow," said Pipsqueak before he walked.
As Apple Bloom watched, she felt a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Notcing Apple Bloom's expression, Scootaloo smirked. "You just got a crush on him, didn't you?" she asked.
"D-did not!" said Apple Bloom, blushing. "Now, shall we get some lunch?"
