The Outsiders

The train ride to Appleloosa had felt like it had gone on for years. When the train finally reached the CMC's destination, they snuck out of the boxcar. The walk to the hideout took roughly 10 minutes. The hideout was very obscure. It seemed like the perfect hiding place. Sweetie Belle regularly stepped out and went to the town to purchase groceries and necessities.

"Water, some apples, bread, a deck of cards, a lantern, some books, and some bleach," Sweetie Belle said when she returned.

"Bleach? Why bleach?" Apple Bloom asked.

"We can't fit our descriptions in the paper. Soon, it'll spread to all of Equestria. People will know what we look like," Sweetie Belle replied.

"You're not gonna...?" Scootaloo wondered, looking concerned.

"Yeah. We're gonna bleach our manes. We'll be able to get their color back by the time this is all over. We could probably ask Twilight to use her magic to get their color back," said Sweetie Belle.

"...If she even trusts us after this..." Scootaloo doubted.

"Okay... Let's get started," Apple Bloom replied.

The process was started. Sweetie Belle was surprisingly good at dying manes. It was a skill Rarity taught her to do long ago. The three fillies felt awkward with their new colors.

"We're done," Sweetie Belle implied.

"We look awful," Scootaloo replied.

"At least the authorities won't find us easily," Sweetie Belle said.

Over the next few days, the Crusaders read their books and owed each other over 20 bits from card games like Blackjack and Poker. On the 4th day, Apple Bloom received a letter from Big McIntosh:

Dear Apple Bloom,

Me and your bis sis have been worried about you. It's hard to get Granny Smith to bed; she just worries too much about you.
Applejack keeps up hope that you're alive and well. Word on the street is that you accidentally killed one o' them rich snobs or
somethin'. We'd really like you to come home safe and sound. Nopony knows where you are. Please come home.

Your brother,

Big McIntosh

The other two Crusaders could almost see tears in Apple Bloom's eyes.

"We're turning ourselves in," Sweetie Belle said.

The other two Crusaders looked on in fear.

"What?! Are you crazy?!" Scootaloo implied.

"I think if we turn ourselves in and plead manslaughter, we'll be let off easier," Sweetie Belle replied.

"We'll spend at least 6 months in Juvenile Detention!" Scootaloo said, hoping to get Sweetie Belle to reconsider.

"6 months is, at least, better than a year," Sweetie Belle implied.

The three incognito Crusaders headed to Appleloosa to pick up more supplies. Surprisingly enough, nopony knew that those were the same fillies as in the newspaper, which didn't even get there yet. The three tried their hardest to stay out of the sight of Apple Bloom's cousin Braeburn.

When they returned to their hideout, some other young fillies who decided to check out the hideout were caught in a fire there. They had accidentally tipped over the lantern and the spilled oil ignited. Scootaloo remained outside as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom went and tried to get the fillies out. Their mother was nearby.

"Why didn't the mom come? Too scared?" Apple Bloom asked, practically choking on the smoke.

"Yeah. *cough* Too scared," Sweetie Belle coughed.

The fillies were scared of both the fire and of the two Crusaders. One of them bit Apple Bloom. She cried out in pain, but continued relaying the fillies to Sweetie Belle and got them out. There was a creak in the ceiling, and it gave way. The board struck Sweetie Belle's back. She cried out in pain, and fell to the ground outside the hideout. Apple Bloom reported to Scootaloo, not realizing there was a fire on her back, and Scootaloo struck her there to put it out. Apple Bloom fell to the ground, unconscious...