Cutie Mark Crusaders Trilogy

by Limelight02

Chapters

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Two
Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Three
Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Five
Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Six
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part One
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Two
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Four
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Five
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Six
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part One
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Two
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Three
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Four
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Five
Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Six
Alternative Ending
Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part One
Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Four
Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Three
Epilogue

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Two

After training, the boy came over to Scootaloo.

"Thanks for saving my flank back there."

Scootaloo stared ahead and said, "I'm just following the book."

"Well, thanks anyway. I'm Scar Wing."

"Scootaloo. I'm guessing you were born into becoming a Shadowbolt."

Scar Wing gave a nod and said, "And I'm pretty sure you weren't."

Her pink mane and orange coat stood out against the Shadowbolt-born initiates black and blue manes and coats.

"I stand out. So what?"

"Well, in the arena it was a pretty big deal. You outflew every one of those recruits."
She kept walking as Scar Wing trotted by her side.

"Where are you staying?"

Scootaloo replied, "A shack just inside Shadowbolt territory line. You?"

"I ain't really got a place to stay."

"You can hang at my place. Help your fellow Shadowbolts."

"You are the nicest person I have met."

Scootaloo swung towards Scar Wing and said ferociously, "I'm not nice! I'm just trying not to make enemies with my team!"
They turned onto a path and went into a mane salon.

Scootaloo went to the front and said to the unicorn working, "You know what I want so make it quick. I've got places to be."
The unicorn went and came back with a bottle of black dye. She styled Scootaloo's mane and tail with one black stripe. Then she left and went next door. She walked in and talked to the pony working. She came back with earrings and tall, black boots. She pierced Scootaloo's ears with a stud and hoop on each. Scootaloo threw her a bag of bits and walked out without saying a word. Scar Wing started to ask a question.

Scootaloo chimed in, "New place, new look."

They walked along a path that lead outside of Shadowbolt property. They stopped at the shack where Scootaloo lived and went in. The shack was bigger than Scar Wing had thought.

"I noticed that you don't have you Cutie Mark."

Scootaloo looked up and said, "Why would that matter?"

"'Cause I don't have mine either."
Scar Wing lifted his armor off his hip to reveal his light blue coat and black tail.

"Why did you even become a Shadowbolt."

"I lost one of my only true friend during the Great Pony War. She was a pegasus just like me. She was the one who made me believe I could actually accomplish something."
A tear rolled down Scootaloo's cheek.
"I used to be part of a group that was devoted to finding our destiny and gain our Cutie Mark. After the war, we all lost someone special to us. My other two friends lost their sisters. We decided to go to a life of solitude and forget. We became the bad guys."

"Oh," said Scar Wing regretting asking the question.

"And we knew if we didn't become the bad guys we would have become slaves like the pony and unicorn we saw working."

"Where are you friends, then?"

"Sweetie Bell, a unicorn, now uses dark magic and is creating portals to ban enemiesin and is a spy. Apple Bloom, a pony, is tending to Everfree Forest by keeping the plants alive and also has become a spy."

"How do you know all this?"

"What is this, an interrogation!" Scootaloo shouted, "I know all of this because the are my friends and I don't have to worry battling them. We're on the same side."
She shoved a bowl of soup towards him.

"Dig in."
They both ate in silence. Once they were done, Scootaloo walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Scar Wing asked.

"That depends. Are you coming or not?"

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Three

Scootaloo took off and flew towards the unicorn base towards the edge of the Everfree Forest. Scar Wing took off after her. They quickly arrived at the base and were greeted by two armored unicorn guards.

One of them said, "Who goes there!"

"We are from the pegasus base."

"Enter."
As they stepped in they saw Sweetie Belle. She had on dark purple and black armor with a diamond crest. Her mane and tail were straight and she had dyed the pink parts of her mane and tail black and left the purple. Her horn had been tattooed with a band of purple.

"Hello, Scootaloo."

"Hello, Sweetie Belle. This is Scar Wing. He's in the disabled Shadowbolts group with me."

"Hello, Scar Wing."
Scar Wing smiled as another unicorn approached Sweetie Belle.

"This is Stormcloud. He is my partner for when we open portals. We'll open one to the pony base and don't fight me because I know that's where you two are going next."
Their horns flickered as the portal opened.

"Thanks, Sweetie Belle."

"I'll see you later, Scootaloo."

They arrived at the pony base and were greeted by Apple Bloom. She had dyed her mane black and green, but did leave strips of pink. Her hair wasn't in a bow, but was pinned up by leaves. Her armor was lined with green and had a leaf crest.

"What brings you to my part of the forest?"

"I would like you to meet Scar Wing. He is in the disabled Shadowbolts group with me."

"Yes, indeed. And this is Thorn. He has been assigned to me. I get to watch over him while he learns to control plants."

"I'll be seeing you around, Apple Bloom."

"Same with you, Scootaloo."

Scootaloo took off, Scar Wing on her tail. They flew over the treetops until they arrived at the pegasus base. They returned to the shack and fell asleep. They were quickly awoken by the sound of thundering hooves between nearby trees. They both quickly put on their armor and prosthetics. They arrived at the arena as the first recruit took off. She was dragging a barrel with a rope tied around it. Inside the barrel was another pegasus.

The instructor said, "Today's lesson is all about trust. You must trust your partner to round you safely around the arena five times. If you decide not to trust them, you will be leaving your training and will become an outcast."
They stared at each other.

"Scootaloo and Scar Wing are next. Scootaloo, you're going in the barrel."

"But I won't be able to lift the barrel!"

"Scootaloo is going in the barrel and that will be the last I hear of it!"
Scootaloo heart began to pound. She just figured out how much she didn't trust Scar Wing.

"Are you ready, Scootaloo?"

With a lump in her throat she answered, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Five

Scar Wing caught up with Scootaloo just outside the market.

"Look, Scootaloo. You shouldn't be mad at me. It's not like that's what I told everyone," said Scar Wing, "I doubt they even know my name."

Scootaloo slowed her pace to let Scar Wing catch up.

"I know you didn't. I'm just scared that this could ruin my chances to end up in higher command than soldier. I want to be the general. Not second best. It's what Rainbow Dash would of wanted."

Scar Wing was going to ask who Rainbow Dash was, but decided not to.

"Just to see her one more time. That's all I'm asking for."

Scootaloo started to cry very hard. She started to run blindly and then started flying. She brushed along the treetops. Others looked up and saw her sweeping the leaves off of their branches. She had escaped the boundaries of the pegasus base and was leaving the Everfree Forest. She hit a branch and fell just outside the trees. Along the horizon she could see the remnants of her past. She weaved through the fallen walls and torn furniture. She came upon a stream. The bridge had collapsed and only the base was left. She closed her eyes and turned her head towards the sky. She imagined Rainbow Dash laying on a cloud and herself buzzing around on her scooter.

She opened her eyes and said, "Rainbow Dash! When did y-"

Scootaloo realized that she had been imagining and jumped across the stream. She moved the rubble to find an upright stone. She pulled out a chisel and very neatly carved Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo cried and hugged the headstone.

"I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Six

Scar Wing was scanning the ground below.

"Scootaloo!"

She gazed up at the sky, still hugging Rainbow Dash's headstone. She quickly picked a flower and laid it in front of the grave. She flew up into the sky and rounded Scar Wing.

"Why did you take off like that?"

Scootaloo stared at him and turned away. They both flew back to the shack and went inside. Scootaloo started to cry again.

"Hey, I know what it's like. I lost my brother in the Great Pony War. I visit his grave every morning while you're still sleeping. Believe me, mourning doesn't help. You need to make a change that would make them proud."

Late at night, Scootaloo and Scar Wing left the Everfree Forest. They went out into an open area and took off their armor. Scootaloo washed the dye out of her mane and tail and took out her piercing. She dug around until she found her scooter. She rolled it around and then hopped on. She beaconed Scar Wing to join her. He hopped on the back and the rod around, laughing. Scootaloo stopped the scooter and they both stepped off. They stared into each other's eyes and inched closer to each other.

"Thank you, Scar Wing. You helped me see the light."

Scootaloo pulled him closer as they kissed.

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part One

Sweetie Belle entered the training arena.

"Lady Belle! Word has spread that one of your dearest friends, Scootaloo, abandoned the Shadowbolts to elope with a pegasus named Scar Wing."

"This is urgent news, indeed, but do keep the army from sending a search party. We have bigger problems."

"As you wish."

The guard galloped away to tell the general. Stormcloud entered and joined Sweetie Belle on the balcony.

"How are the new recruits?"

"My most faithful unicorn, why must you harass me with such nonsense. You know what I think."

The recruits were terrible. They couldn't even control their horns or open a portal.

"Go and help them. I am needed in the control room."

"Yes, Lady Belle."

Sweetie Belle entered the control room. The other unicorns bowed down in her presence.

"We have heard of trouble with the other bases."

"What trouble?"

The guard led her to a giant panel labeled Everfree Forest. On the screen was pegasus fighting the unicorn guards and ponies sending plants around the others hooves.

"We believe that your friend's rebellion has started the war."

"What did Apple Bloom do?"

"She was spying on the pony base and killed off the more dangerous plants."

"Why should I care? This is my kingdom and no one can take this away from me."

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Two

Sweetie Belle walked along side Strormcloud through the forest. They made it to the pony base and entered.

"Why are we here, Lady Belle?"

"Protection of my kingdom. We must find Apple Bloom or Thorn. They can always tell us where the other is. Or we may have to beat it out of them."

Sweetie Belle smiled and used her horn to pick up a nearby branch. Stormcloud was scared, yet continued to follow Sweetie Belle half-heartedly.

"Sweetie Belle, the map, please."

"What?"

"The map in your saddle bag."

Sweetie bell thrusted the branch at Stormcloud and violently hit him again and again.
H

"You were supposed to grab the map, you careless unicorn!"

Sweetie Belle dropped the branch and galloped away. She scanned the the area, looking for Apple Bloom and or Thorn. Her line of sight was blocked by vines. She started to strike them down with her hoof. The vines came back and started to wrap around her hind hooves. Sweetie Belle pawed at the ground, trying to keep from being dragged away. She used her horn to send up a beacon.

Sweetie Belle started to yell, "Stormcloud!"

Stormcloud heard Sweetie Belle yell. He wiped the blood from his forehead and started to limp towards the direction of her voice. He turned his face towards the sky and saw her beacon. His horn flickered as he strained to send up his beacon. His horn sparked and then stopped. The end of his horn turned black. He touched it and winced at the pain. He struggled to get to his feet, but continued on his way to Sweetie Belle.

Stormcloud reached where Sweetie Belle was struggling to hold onto a tree.

"Stormy! I need help!"

He galloped over to Sweetie Belle and stepped on the vines. He strained his face as he used his horn. But nothing happened. Stormcloud tried again, but still nothing. He looked up at his horn and remembered the black mark. The mark was starting to spread and take his magic with it.

Stormcloud stooped down and started to jab at the vines with his horn. When he jumped, more vines crept out of the trees and grabbed him around the neck. Stormcloud pulled at them as he gasped for air. He lost consciousness and his hooves fell. Sweetie Belle screamed as vines wrapped around her mouth.

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Four

"We need to get something for your horn, but I don't know the way back. Even if we had a map, we wouldn't know because the vines carried us when we were unconscious."

There were rustling leaves. The two bobbed their heads up. A unicorn guard jumped out of the brush and pointed a spear at Stormcloud's muzzle.

"Why have you taken Lady Belle hostage!"

He picked them both up using his horn.

"Wait! He didn't do anything!"

"Then why have you fled the unicorn base!"

"Classified work. He is one of my agents!"

He dropped Stormcloud and continued to hold Sweetie Belle.

"There is an emergency at the unicorn base. Lady Belle will come will come with me. You will continue your field work."

Stormcloud reached his hoof out as the guard galloped away, still holding Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle reached back as he disappeared over the horizon.

Stormcloud collapsed as the black of his horn creeped down. His vision started to blur. He tried to stand and go after Sweetie Belle. His breath became raspy and he passed out.

Sweetie Belle and the guard arrived back at the base. They locked her in the throne room.

"Why are you doing this! Stormcloud's in trouble!"

"It is one unicorn's life compared to all of ours. We had to do this."

Sweetie Belle kicked at the door and screamed, "You're all blind! He needs help!"

Eventually she stopped and slowly walked over to her throne. She payed in it, resting her head on one of the arms. She cried as she tried to think of ways to help Stormcloud. About half an hour later, she got up out of her chair and perked up. She started looking under fabric and tables. She found a loose stone and started to use her horn to pull it out. It came loose and Sweetie Belle smiled. She started to hoof the surrounding stones until they came loose. She squeezed through the small opening of the hole to reveal a tunnel. She started to carefully walk through. The path split into three separate paths. Each had a plaque over the opening. The first was a lightning bolt. The second was a diamond. The third was a leaf. She ran through the one with the leaf.

The unicorn general busted through the doors of the throne room. He looked around, breathing heavily. He galloped over to the hole that Sweetie Belle had made. He looked down it. He knew that only a filly could fit down it. He ran out and sent out a message to his family. His wife and son came back. He pushed his son near the hole, nodded, and left the room. The filly crawled in the hole and followed her hoof prints. He made it to the end of the leaf tunnel and opened a trap door. He emerged and saw Sweetie Belle looking around. He sprang up and tackled Sweetie Belle. Stormcloud saw the unicorn muzzle touching her.

"How could you Sweetie?"

Stormcloud's eyes closed and his head fell to one side. The other unicorn's horn turned black and he fell dead. She got up and ran over to Stormcloud. She stroked the side of his face with her hoof and laid her head on his chest. As tears ran down her face, she could feel his soft coat grow colder. She felt warmth and threw her head up. His mane was turning black. The black spread across his body, lastly covering where Sweetie Belle had laid her head. One his body was completely black, it disintegrated. She was completely stunned as she sat there staring at the ashes. Sweetie Belle looked over to where the other unicorn was. Only ashes. She felt a sharp pain in her head. Sweetie Belle fell backwards and put her hooves straight out in front of her. She watched as the black creeped down to her hooves. As the last bit of black covered her hooves, she became unconscious.

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Five

She woke up with a start. She looked around to find she was in a big, dark room. She went to get up to see where she was, but her two hind hooves were chained to the wall. She tried to use her magic to unlock them, but then remembered her black horn. She put her hoof in front of her face. It was black. She looked on each side of her to find Stormcloud and the other unicorn. She smiled and started run towards Stormcloud. When she was about a foot away, the chains stopped. She wanted to see if Stormcloud really was dead, or only unconscious. She walked over the other unicorn. He was rolled close enough for her to reach. She laid her head on his head and felt a pulse. She sighed and smiled. She started to shake the other unicorn awake. His eyes opened and she looked at him. The unicorn clutched his forehead.

"Where are we?"

Sweetie Belle shrugged and said, "Your guess is as good as mine. I'm Sweetie Belle."

"Night Crest."

"I know what happened, but it's kinda hard to explain."

Sweetie Belle told Night Crest about the day she had and the black horn.

"So, what about that other unicorn?"

"Well, his name is Stormcloud, but I sometimes call him Stormy, and he has risked his life far too many times for me and I am afraid that he may not walk away from this."

"Do you know a reverse spell for the black horn?"

"What do you mean?"

Night Crest pulled out a notebook and flipped through the pages.

"I've kept a book of all the dark magic I know of. I think I've written about black horn before."

He stopped at a page near the middle and pushed the book over to Sweetie Belle. She looked at the pages, hoping to find information to help them. She saw that there was no reverse spell. There was an interesting picture that caught her eye, though. It was a picture of unicorns with black horn in front of this great monster. The monster was so black that Sweetie could only see it's outline.

"What is that thing?"

"A shadow dragon. I know that they are very territorial. We must have stepped into it's territory when we all got black horn."

"Then, are we in the shadow dragon's lair?"

As she finished the sentence, the stones in the wall collapsed on them and Stormcloud. Sweetie Belle and Night Crest climbed out of the stones and ran to where Stormcloud was. She started to throw stones crazily, hoping to find Stormcloud alive. She remembered the chain and started to bash the cuff around her hooves with the bricks. They came of and she continued to dig. She saw a glimpse of his blue and green hair. Sweetie Belle started to dig faster. Night Crest saw and bashed off his chains. He went over to Sweetie Belle and helped her pull up Stormcloud. The shadow dragon started to knock down the other walls. They quickly pulled out Stormcloud. Sweetie Belle grabbed Night Crest and held him to her chest and hovered over Stormcloud as the bricks and dust came crashing down over them. Night Crest and Stormcloud were both saved from the rubble while Sweetie Belle took all the blows. Her back was being cut into by the shrapnels from the bricks. She squeezed her eyes closed tight and held Night Crest closer. She knew that if Stormcloud and herself died, Night Crest would not be able to survive because he was much younger than both of them. When Sweetie Belle thought the stones stopped piling on, Stormcloud woke up.

"Where are we?"

"No time to talk! I'm Night Crest. Sweetie Belle needs our help! Maybe we can combine the little magic we have left to create something!"

They all put there horns together and thought the same thing. A swirl of all of their colors of magic, green, blue, and purple, started to surround them. Sweetie Belle collapsed, but the bricks did not fall. They had created a force field.

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Six

"We need to help Sweetie Belle, now!"

Stormcloud started to wipe away the blood on her back while Night Crest scrounged through his saddle bag. He handed Stormcloud a big roll of gauze and helped lift Sweetie Belle up. Stormcloud wrapped the gauze around her body from under her front hooves to her hips. They layer her back down on her stomach and laid on either side of her.

"Why do we have black horn, then?"

"The shadow dragon put a curse on us. It doesn't have a reverse spell or any other remedy. Legend says we have to defeat the shadow dragon in order to reverse black horn. If we can't, we will never escape, or worse."

Night Crest's voice started to trail off. Sweetie Belle rolled over and her face cringed. Her eyes started to open and she sat up.

"Are we dead?"

"You can't feel pain when you're dead."

"Then I know I'm alive."

Sweetie Belle looked down and realized she was wrapped in gauze. She put her goof behind her back and felt the blood seeping through.

"How are we going to get out?"

"That's an easy one," said Night Crest, "We'll let the shadow dragon find us and dig the ruins off of the force field. Then we can disable it."

They both stared at Night Crest, stunned that a filly of his age could know so much. They all sat quietly, hoping to hear the dragon or stones crashing together. The white smoke rose from the dragon's nostrils as he looked for the unicorns. He started to scrape his long claws against the bricks as he dug for them. He uncovered enough bricks to uncover the force field. He blew out fire and the force field started to weaken. Fear of being filled their faces as they scrounged through their saddle bags for anything that could help them. Night Crest pulled out two sets of armor and a shield. The two guys put on the armor and Sweetie Belle took the shield. They disabled the shield and ran in different directions. Night Crest ran behind a barrier of bricks. Stormcloud ran behind one of the two standing walls. Sweetie Belle ran under the dragon. She hit it with the shield and sliced open his stomach. The others ran out and threw bricks at the shadow dragon. He shielded them with his wing and spit fire at them. Night Crest ran away and Stormcloud stood in the fire as his armor heated and burned his coat.

"Now, Sweetie!"

She hit the dragon's foot and climbed up it's back. She stabbed at his scales and stood on his head. He stood on his hind legs to grab Sweetie Belle as she jumped on his head. They threw bricks at the gash in his stomach. The dragon stood still, towering over them, and crashed down to the ground.

"That dragon did us a favor by knocking down these walls."

"You can say that again, Stormy."

They stood by each other and Sweetie Belle laid her head on Stormcloud's shoulder. She beckoned Night Crest to join them and he laid down in front of them. They all stared at their hooves and each other as the black horn was cast away. They were left in their natural form. Sweetie Belle's purple and pink hair came back as curly as ever. Stormcloud purple coat and blue main was restored. Night Crest white coat and lime green hair came back. All of them were left with a black stripe through their mane and tail. A sign of their triumphs and unity. The perfect family was born.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part One

Apple Bloom galloped out of the Everfree Forest and looked for shelter from the rain. There was a canopy of leaves just outside the forest. She laid under it and scanned the area. She saw a small shape that she knew was the fort for all the rebels that dared to fight the evil. She knew that that is where Sweetie Belle, her husband, Stormcloud, and their son, Night Crest, lived. She pondered the thought of going to the base and joining them. She stood up many times, trying to get herself to go to the base, but didn't.

"Where's Thorn when I need him."

Thorn had also gone against the ponies who tended to the Everfree Forest. Now Thorn roamed the forest. She longed for his wisdom and understanding. He was younger than Apple Bloom, yet was treated as an elder. As the rain lightened, she headed to the rebels base. She walked in and collapsed in the doorway. Scar Wing went over to her.

"Why have you come? To spy!"

"Please!" she said as she raised her hooves in front of her face, "I've changed! I have lost somepony near to me and now know the consequences of my actions. I have come for revenge."

All of this was true, but twisted. She used to spy on the pony base in the Everfree Forest. They had enslaved her and she now worked for them and was spying on the rebel base. The only pony that she had lost was Applejack and the consequences of her actions had gotten her this job. She had come for revenge on the rebel base.

"Come lay down. You must have been through some stuff that I guess I could relate to. I'll get you a towel."

He left the room and Apple Bloom started to scrounge through the drawers and flip through notebooks. She put some of the things in her saddle bag and laid back down.

"How are you?"

"Meh."

One trait that had carried on from her sister, Applejack, was that she never told a lie. It was all true, but twisted. An example would be if she said her head hurt, it may just mean that too many thoughts whirl around her heads. Scar Wing guided her to a spare room and let her to sleep. He told the others about Apple Bloom.

"You're mad!"

"Maybe I am, but at least I am kind enough to let her in."

Apple Boom was thinking the exact same thing.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Two

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came into Apple Bloom's room and set down a platter of toast next to her.

"Why'd you come back! We thought we made it clear you were not to rejoin us after you lost the gems that Luna gave us."

"I've told you a million time, I didn't loose them! They were stolen!"

"But it's all we had left!" said Sweetie Belle who's voice was shaky.

"It doesn't matter anymore. You know as well as I do that you will not grow strong enough to fight back."

The girls left and Apple Bloom realized that they had chained her hoof to the frame of the bed. She tugged of the chain and only heard it slide around the metal. She payed back down and reached out for a piece of toast. As she ate the toast, she wondered how she would get back to the earth pony base before she was late and they would send and executioner. There was a tap on the window and Apple Bloom swung her head around to see what it was. More like who it was. Thorn came through and pulled out a knife. He sawed the chains and Apple Bloom broke free.

"Thanks for coming back. I don't really see you as that kind of pony."

Thorn was a pony of few words and dramatic actions. He stroked his hoof against the side of Apple Bloom's face and gazed into her eyes.

"What was life like before this? I'm starting to forget."

Thorn's voice drifted from reality and he stared out the window. Apple Bloom that Thorn's question was rhetorical. Most any questions he asked were. Apple Bloom ran over to the open window and stood on the frame.

"Gotta go. Don't wanna be late for my report."

Apple Bloom kept out the window and Thorn was right behind her. The galloped all the way back to the earth pony base and Thorn left Apple Bloom outside it's gates.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come back? Have a safer life?"

"Slavery is not safer than dangerous freedom."

Thorn quickly walked away and Apple Bloom went to the slave quarters and reported to the master pony.

"The rebels have plans for war."

She pulled out some of the maps and pictures that she had stolen.

"Very good. Keep up this kind of work and you'll be only a hop, skip, and jump away from freedom."

Apple Bloom smiled at the master pony and went back to the rebel base. She climbed back through the window. Apple Bloom massed up her mane and tail and gashed her cheek with a piece of glass from the window. She sprawled on the bed as Sweetie Belle opened the door.

"We thought we heard voices and came up to see what-"

She gasped as she saw was what an injured Apple Bloom and broken window.

"By Celestia's beard, what happened in here!"

"Some kind of monster broke through the window and cut me. I passed out and don't remember the rest."

As Apple Bloom lied, her stomach started to knot and pain shot all around her body. She wrapped her arms around her midsection and her head lowered.

"Is something wrong, Apple Bloom?" said Sweetie Belle sarcastically, "I've know you your whole life and I know when you lie! What really happened!"

A look of pure rage spread across both of their faces. Scootaloo walked past the door and heard the staggering of glass inside the room. Her hoof reached out towards the door and she slowly pushed it open. Scootaloo stared through the crack and watched as they hoofed each other and tumbled across the room. Scootaloo dropped what she was holding as her hooves slowly rose to her mouth. She lost balance and one of the two hooves she had been standing on shifted and opened the door. They stopped fighting and watched as tears flooded Scootaloo's eyes. She ran off and Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom chased after her.

"I can explain!" Sweetie Belle pleaded.

Scootaloo swung around, tears streaming down her face, her voice shaky, "I came here to escape all of this fighting! You have just crushed everything I've worked for! Believe me, this is one debt you can't repay."

She ran out and Scar Wing followed. Scar Wing looked at Sweetie Belle. His face was angry, but his eyes were sympathetic. Sweetie Belle ran to the door and watched as the ran into an uninhabited part of Everfree Forest. Apple Bloom was still leaning against the door frame, wishing she had never come. Wishing the executioner would have found her. Wishing the war would have killed her. Wishing that she had never met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle turned and face Apple Bloom.

"You monster! How could you do that!"

Sweetie Belle's gaze fell to her hooves and her voice became soft.

"You've done this all your life, and I'd been to blind to see it."

Sweetie Belle went over to Stormcloud and whispered something in his ear. As she backed away, Night Crest grabbed Stormcloud's leg and crawled onto his back. They walked out of the base and towards the remains of what used to be Ponyville. Apple Bloom had singlehandedly torn apart her friends.

Apple Bloom made it back to the earth pony base and went to the master pony. She gasped for air and her words were spaced.

"The...rebels...they...called off...the war..."

"How did you do it! You singlehandedly brought down our only enemy. You have earned you freedom."

The master pony ripped up Apple Bloom's file. She smiled and immediately darted out of the forest.

The master pony called in the distance, "Hey! Come back! We'll get you if it's the last thing we do!"

Apple Bloom continued running, adrenaline shooting through her. She could barely breath by the time she made it out of Everfree Forest. She collapsed and laid on her back.

She stared at the sun and whispered to herself, "Take me, Celestia," and she became unconscious.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Three

When she woke up, she was in Zecora's house. Apple Bloom was still laying on her back and to her right side was Thorn. She sat too fast and became dizzy. Thorn set his hoof on her chest and gently pushed her back down.

"How long have I been out?"

"About a week."

"What happened?"

"Come see."

Apple Bloom stood and Thorn pulled back a curtain where the door should be. Outside on the path lay two letters. Apple Bloom picked the and sat back down. One was from Scootaloo and the other Sweetie Belle. She teared the top off of Scootaloo's and read:

My dearest Apple Bloom,
Things have changed more than I knew. Our base has fallen as well as our friendship. Scar Wing and I know your location and also Sweetie Belle's. We are a threat to you safety and must stay hidden and continue to move. I would tell my location, but by the time you arrived we would be gone. Do not reveal your location in any form. I'll see you in the club.
-Scootaloo

She put the letter next to her and opened Sweetie Belle's. It read:

Apple Bloom,
Night Crest is dead. Stormcloud has a broken leg and can barely walk. Scootaloo has met up with us and is traveling with us. If you want to know more, meet us where we used to be friends.
-SB

She looked up and tried to think. Thorn took the note and read it. Apple Bloom got up and ran to the exit.

"Thorn, let's go."

Apple Bloom dashed out of the house and towards where Sweet Apple Acres used to be. She zigzagged through the trees, Thorn on her tail. The master pony came and unicorn were behind him.

"Shoot them already!"

The unicorn blasted beams of dark magic. Apple Bloom turned as one neared her head. Thorn ran in front of her and took a blow to the chest. The unicorns left, thinking they had killed her. Thorn's body fell backwards and Apple Bloom tried to catch it. His hooves laid where he was struck. Apple Bloom gently lifted them off. Under his hooves was a rose with a single thorn.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Four

Apple Bloom picked up the rose and it lay limply in her hand. She ran her hoof up the stem and stopped at the thorn. She put the rose behind her left ear and covered Thorn's body with leaves.

"Back to nature."

She continued on her journey through Sweet Apple Acres.

"Over here!"

Sweetie Belle was flailing her arms above her head. Apple Bloom ran over to the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse and it was untouched.

"It must have been so hidden it wasn't destroyed during the war."

Scootaloo, Scar Wing, and Stormcloud were waiting inside. Sweetie Belle walked over to Stormcloud who looked to be in pain. No one here even knew that Thorn had been with Apple Bloom which made it harder to explain everything that had happened since she was enslaved.

"He saved my life. And what did I do for him. Get him killed?"

Apple Bloom out her head in her hooves and Scootaloo's put her hoof on her back.

"Hey, it's not your fault. That could just have easily been you instead of Thorn. It could have been any one of us."

Apple Bloom smiled while her eyes still lay drooped. She put her hoof under her muzzle and wiped away the tears.

"OK, I feel sorry and all but we're all gonna die if we can't think of a way out of this," said Sweetie Belle with crossed arms.

There was a knock on the door and an earth pony yelled, "Open up! You can't hide forever!"

They scrambled around and Apple Bloom dropped to the floor.

Scootaloo whispered, "What are you doing! You can't just lay around at a time like this!"

"I'm playin' dead so when they come in, they'll think we're dead already and'll leave!"

The others dropped as the door burst open and two earth ponies walked in, both carrying spears. One of the guards went over to Sweetie Belle and lifted her arm with the spear. Stormcloud sat up as the guard started to jab the spear around her face.

"Well, we better make sure."

The guard lifted the spear above his head and Stormcloud lunged at his midsection and knocked him down. The guard wrestled with the guard as the other ran out of the treehouse. The other guard ran to Stormcloud and speared him through the chest. They pulled out the spear and walked through a pool of blood as they ran after the others. Sweetie Belle started to pant and her running slowed. Apple Bloom ran back to Sweetie Belle and tugged on her front arm.

She grunted, "We need to go!"

Sweetie Belle answered, "It doesn't matter. They've taken everything I really need in life."

"Well, we need you! Surrendering would only give them the upper hand. Now let's go!"

Sweetie Belle nodded and they ran back to the rest of the group.

"What do we do now?"

"Not die?"

"Thanks, Scar Wing. Now does anyone have an actual idea?"

"Well, we can take care of those guards."

Scootaloo cut in, "Or we can literally take care of them. Who knows? Maybe they'll even join us!"

Apple Bloom walked over to the guards. They pointed their spears at her as she slowly raised her right hoof. Tattooed on the bottom of it was the earth pony leaf crest.

"She bears the mark of obedience."

The guards bowed and Apple Bloom said quietly, "I am working as a spy. I have befriended these rebel ponies and am waiting for the perfect time to strike. Please, offer me and these rebels protections unless you would like to be killed."

The guards nodded and followed Apple Bloom back to the group. The guards walked in front of them through Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Five

Sweetie Belle whispered, "Wow. How did you do that?"

Apple Bloom showed them her hoof.

"It's a mark of an earth pony gets when they have served their base."

"So what did you do?"

"Drove you apart. I found a couple blueprints that showed routes to the different bases. They thought they were war plans."

"War plans! Those were emergency escape routes."

"All this time? They were going to kill you because you knew which door to exit out of there was a fire!"

"Well, now that we know how the bases act, we know what can bring them down."

"What do you mean, Scootaloo?"

"Come on. I'll show you."

Apple Bloom ran to the front and spoke to a guard, "We need to stop somewhere else before we return to the base."

Apple Bloom and the others passed in front of the guards, Scootaloo guiding them. They turned around and walked towards Ponyville.

Sweetie Belle pointed to a roof that had caved in and said, "Isn't that my old house?"

Scootaloo gestured for her to walk over to the remains of her house. Apple Bloom walked over to the spot where Applejack had always set up her apple stand. Scootaloo looked at the sky and her eyes followed a giant patch of clouds. They all reminisced for a while and then met up with Scar Wing.

Scootaloo explained, "This reminds us of what makes us happy. This is what makes us tick. If we can find what makes the rebels tick, we can destroy it and they will fall."

"What would that something be?" asked Scar Wing.

"I know," said Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom dashed into the forest, the others not far behind. The guards could not catch up and were separated from the group. They ran wildly through the brush until they made it back to the rebel bases.

"Come on! I know what we need to do!"

Apple Bloom dashed to the main headquarters of the rebel bases.

"This is where their government is run. This is what keeps them from falling into anarchy. This is what makes them tick."

Apple Bloom ran down the hall of the main headquarters and into the gathering room. In the middle was an orb of dark magic serving as the rebel's power source. Apple Bloom walked around the pedestal it was sitting on and examined it carefully. It was not sitting on the pedestal, but floating. Apple Bloom swiped her hand underneath the orb and it remained floating. She slowly lifted her hands and grabbed the edge of the orb. As she did, the orb erupted into shards of dark magic that swirled around the room. Apple Bloom spun around watching the dark magic when there was a sudden pain in her chest. She looked down and saw a black mark positioned where her heart was. It spread through her veins, Apple Bloom watching as her coat started to crawl with black markings. She fell to the ground, weakened by the magic. One of the black veins creeped up her neck and hit her forehead. Then, Apple Bloom passed out.

Apple Bloom the Spy: Part Six

When Apple Bloom woke up she was in a dark room with one window. She smiled and walked over to it, but his something. She reached out her hooves and felt the invisible wall that separated her from the only exit.

A voice said to her, "This is a force field made of all your inhibitions and fears. The only way to get through is to overcome your fears. Good luck."

There was a grinding of stone and Apple Bloom looked back to see the wall moving closer to her and the force field. If she didn't make it in time, she would be crushed. She quickly started to feel around the force field with her hooves. She started to panic and slipped. Her head hit the force field and she was sent into her mind.

The voice spoke to her again, "Stage one. Fear of drowning."

The wide space had enclosed her into a small glass box that was rapidly filling with water. Apple Bloom watched as it rose over her legs and she stood. The water creeped up her neck and she started to swim to the top of the box. She tried to even her heavy breathing as she tipped her head up and took a deep breath. The water filled the box and she relaxed her body as the box turned dark. She woke back up in the room with the force field. The wall had moved much closer. She sat down and caught her breath before setting her head back against the force field.

The voice came back and said, "Stage two. Fear of heights."

Apple Bloom opened her eyes to see herself balancing on a small pedestal, ropes connected to buildings on both sides of her.

Apple Bloom looked down and said, "It's not so much a fear of heights. It's more of a fear of falling."

Apple Bloom wrapped herself around the rope and slowly crawled along it. She didn't go very fast and knew this would only allow more time for the wall to crush her body. She started to hit her back hoof against where the rope was connected to the pedestal. The rope came loose and fell down towards the side of the building. Apple Bloom clutched the rope tighter. Her back hooves smacked against the side of the building and she used the rope to scale the side of the building. She made it to the top and it once again turned pitch black. She woke up and the wall had not moved as close as she suspected, but it was still moving rapidly. She set her head against the force field and got ready to face her next fear.

The voice said, "Third and final stage. Fear of losing."

Apple Bloom wasn't sure what it meant until she saw her sister sanding next to a rebel. Memories of the war swirled through her head. She reached out for her, but was restrained by shackles on her hind legs. She watched as the rebel hung her sister using a vine, thorns cutting into her skin. The blood pooled under Applejack's body and the rebel sneered at her body.

Apple Bloom screamed, tears rushing down her cheeks, "No! That's my sister! No!"

Applejack and the rebel disappeared. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh, her grandmother and big brother, appeared in the same spot. They were in a cage along with Twilight's parents, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence. Granny Smith was choked by one of the rebels and another pushed Big Mac to the floor and broke his neck.

Now, Apple Bloom had started screaming violently, "Monsters! Monsters!"

Hot tears streamed down her face and rage filled her eyes. A fire inside started to burn in her chest and erupted into violence. Her shackles snapped and she ran over to the rebels and started to kick them. Her fighting inflicted no damage because it passed through them. Apple Bloom turned and set her hand on the bar of the cage and it fell through. The projector clicked off and she woke up, the wall pressing her body against the force field.

Apple Bloom erupted, "You said that was the last stage! This force field should be gone!" Her voice turned to a quiet sob, "It should be gone."

The dark magic in the force field flew to the wall and pushed it back into its original position. Apple Bloom ran to my he wall and climbed out the window. She jumped and fell for a while before slapping the ground. She laid there and the two guards came and started to shake her. She sainted her eyes closed and when she opened them, Sweetie Belle was shaking her violently.

"Wake up, Apple Bloom! Wake up!"

Apple Bloom groggily looked at Sweetie Belle and said, "What happened?"

"You almost killed yourself using the most unstable dark magic in all of Equestria! It got into your head and I though it killed you!"

"Why didn't it?"

"It wasn't a direct hit. Did you have any hallucinations?"

"You don't know the half of it."

Scootaloo burst into the room and shouted, "Apple Bloom, you did it! We've destroyed the rebel bases!"

They ran out and watched over the balcony. The bases had collapsed and ponies were scattered in every direction.

Sweetie Belle smiled and said, "Our mission is complete."

Alternative Ending

Scootaloo walked back into the building along with the others and leaned over the railing. Apple Bloom stood behind her with her hand on her back.

"I can't believe we did it, Scoots."

Sweetie Belle walked up behind them and put her hooves on their back as she said, "Oh, this is so sweet," she said sarcastically. "Only if I could let you live."

She shoved them over the railing and they crashed into the ground, blood splattering everywhere.

"This was just too easy. If only everypony was this easy to manipulate."

Scar Wing came up behind Sweetie Belle and frozen.

"You're a monster."

Sweetie Belle turned around to see Scar Wing, "No, Scar Wing, you don't understand! This was-"

"What! An accident?"

"Scar Wing," was all she could say.

Scar Wing started to tear up, "I should have known better than to trust you. I should have known better than to trust any of you."

Scar Wing ran out onto the deck and jumped over the railing. He struggled to flap his one wing, and flew crooked. He started to fall down and crashed into one of the treetops.

Sweetie Belle slammed her hoof down and said, "Who cares about him? It's not like he's gonna get in my when when I take over Equestria."

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part One

Scootaloo grabbed her boots and pulled them on. She put her goggles and brace in her saddle bag and walked along the path in Everfree Forest. She trotted as she secured the brace on her left wing and strapped on her goggles. As she walked onto base camp, she locked the brace on her wing. Another pegasus walked along with her. He was about the same age as her and was missing a wing. It had been replaced with a fake metal one. Scootaloo knew they would both have to go to Shadowbolts Training Camp together and learn how to control the special wing pieces they had given them.

They walked into the arena and were greeted by a pegasus that had a scarred wing and was missing feathers. They stood with the other disabled recruits and waited for instructions. As the instructor entered, Scootaloo push her goggles up onto her forehead.

"Greetings, young recruits! I will teach you to use your new wings and become a Shadowbolt. Remember this is a high honor. If you don't take your training seriously, you will be thrown out of the academy."

All of the recruits stood up straight as the instructor paced in front of them. He pointed at the boy without a wing.

"You. Go and fly. Let's see how well you know your wings."

The boy walked out and started to run around the edge of the arena he flicked his head up and lifted off the ground. He reached the top of the arena that was closed off by a canopy of chains. He glanced along the top and his metal wing snagged on the chains. He hung there helpless. Scootaloo crouched down in a takeoff position and the instructor nodded at her. She took off and tried to stabilize her wing as she gained altitude. When she reached him she unlatched his wing and grabbed his hoof. She pulled out the wing and latched it back onto his back. She let go of his hoof and he fell about fifty feet before he regained control of his wing. They both dove down to the ground and landed back in their places in line.

The instructor turned towards Scootaloo.

"Good job." He turned to all the recruits and said, "Help your fellow Shadowbolts, but have no mercy against the enemy. That would show disloyalty and you would be killed either by the enemy or by us."

Scootaloo readjusted her wing brace and watched as the other recruits tested their wings. Many
could not even lift off the ground. The ones that could didn't even come close to where the chain canopy started. Scootaloo knew that no one came close to her and the boy's flying ability.

Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part Four

Scootaloo took off her wing brace and climbed in the barrel. Scootaloo crawled in and closed her eyes. Scar Wing started to lift off the ground and within moments the were several feet in the air. She wanted to leap out and fly off but even if she did she wouldn't make it very far without her wing brace. Scootaloo held her breath as Scar Wing picked up speed. Scar wing looked back and slowed his pace. When he turned his head back around, he crashed into the chain canopy. His hooves were caught and he knew that no one would help them because it was supposed to be a team effort. He pulled a knife out of his saddlebag. He started to saw at the chains. Scootaloo popped her head out of the barrel and saw Scar Wing trying to release his hooves. She climbed on top of the barrel and clung to the chains. Scootaloo out her hooves around the rope and started to climb. She got to the top and secured her bottom hooves between a hole on the canopy. She helped Scar Wing to untangle his hooves. When his hooves were out, Scootaloo slid back down the rope and stood atop the barrel.

"Kid, you've got guts. More guts than I've seen in a long time. Maybe I should move you to advanced training or just send you right out to the field."

"Actually, I would prefer staying here for a while. I'm still getting used to my wing brace."

"Suit yourself."

He turned to Scar Wing and said, "You have crashed into those chains so many times you should be dating them and not Scootaloo."

"Wait, what! We aren't dating!"

"I just assumed since you live together and you are always by each other's side."
Scar Wing rolled his eyes and galloped out of the arena.

Sweetie Belle and Dark Magic: Part Three

They woke up in a ring of trees, vines wrapped around all of their hooves and necks. They looked at each other.

"These are death trap vines. The more we struggle to break free, the tighter they wrap around us."

As Stormcloud finished the sentence, Sweetie Belle watched the vine squeeze tighter around his neck. She layer completely still and they sat in silence. In the distance were stomps of ponies. They both debated the thought of yelling for help.

Sweetie Belle stared at him and then yelled, "Help! Help!"

The vines around all of her limbs and necks tightened and her heart began to pound. Her breathing became fast and they kept squeezing tighter.

"Calm down, Sweetie. You're gonna get hurt!."

She closed her eyes as the vines loosened. She opened them, amazed. The vines loosened more and her hooves slipped out. Her head would not slip through, so she relaxed more until they opened enough. She fell on her back and laid still. Stormcloud looked at her body at room on the ground and thought she was dead. He started to panic and the vines tightened. He realized that if he relaxed the vines would release him. He relaxed and fell to the ground. He crawled over to Sweetie Belle and tried to shake her away. With every move he made, the vines grew closer. He closed his eyes and threw himself over Sweetie Belle's side. The vine disappeared and They started to whisper to each other.

"This place is more dangerous than we know, Stormcloud. We need to get out of here, fast. Apple Bloom or no Apple Bloom. Thorn or no Thorn."

"Agreed."

They both started to slowly creep along the forest floor. The vines still crept through the trees, following them. Stormcloud covered his mouth to keep the screams of the pain from his horn inside. They had made it into a clearing where Sweetie Belle pulled a first aid kit out of her saddle bag. She wrapped the cut on his head with gauze and tried to find something for his horn. He wrapped gauze around her hooves and neck where the thorny vines had cut into her skin.

"I am so sorry for giving you that cut. Really, I feel terrible. I got us into this mess and this is all my fault!"

"Shh, Sweetie Belle. This isn't your fault. I could have saved you if my horn hadn't turned black. I don't even know how this happened."

Sweetie Belle pulled out a lotion and put it on his horn.

"Dose that make it hurt less?"

Stormcloud shrugged and tilted his head to one side. More black ran down his horn and he let out a squeal of pain.

Epilogue

Scootaloo Scar Wing stood at Scootaloo's side, watching for their acquaintances to walk up the path and knock on the door. Scar Wing saw part of Apple Bloom's pink mane and ran to open the door. Sweetie Belle knocked and Scar Wing opened the door and held it for her and Apple Bloom.

"Hello Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom."

"Hello, Scar Wing. It's nice to see you again. Where's Scoots?"

"She's in the kitchen."

Sweetie Belle left and walked into the kitchen to help Scootaloo with dinner. Heart Beat, Scootaloo and Scar Wing's daughter, walked up to Apple Bloom. Her long, black hair looked dark against her pink coat. She had been born with no wings, only stubs where they should be.

Apple Bloom smiled at her and asked, "How have you been, Beat?"

Heart Beat smiled so big her eyes shut, "Great! Mommy took me out to the grove and showed me how to pick berries. We picked wild raspberries and ate them for lunch."

"Oh," Apple Bloom said with a small smile on her face. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo walked into the living room and sat down.

"Look at us," Sweetie Belle said, "Here, together, just one big happy family."

"You can say that again," Scootaloo said as she rested her head on Scar Wing's shoulder, "I wouldn't give it up for anything."