Painted Gold

The wonderful smell of cinnamon filled the Apple family kitchen as the oven's door opened, revealing a pan of freshly made treats. Sliding a hoof into an oven mitt, Apple Bloom reached in and carefully grabbed the tray out from the oven.

“I have to admit, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said from her sitting position at the kitchen table, “everything that comes out of this kitchen seems like it deserves to be on a magazine cover.”

Apple Bloom smiled as she placed the tray on a counter. Sweetie Belle always admired her ability to do almost anything perfectly, even to the point of jealousy sometimes. Age was kind to her, and even though it had only been seven years since they met, Apple Bloom was now a beauty to look upon. Even without the cute, red bow, the decision to remove it being entirely based around it being a work hindrance, she was gorgeous to the eye.

“Mighty nice thing for you to say, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom spoke with a smile that beamed with pride. “Say, what have you been up to lately?”

Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to speak, but was suddenly cut off. “Well!” Scootaloo began from across the table with an over-exaggerated smirk etched onto her face. “I got a job!”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle could hardly believe it. Though she wasn’t going to say it to Scootaloo’s face, Sweetie Belle always thought Scootaloo shot too high when it came to her future. Always talking about how she’d become the next great Wonderbolt like Rainbow Dash; never letting a ‘under paying’ job get in her way.

Unlike Apple Bloom, Scootaloo hadn’t changed much from childhood. She kept the same hair style and general psyche, leading some ponies to regard her as an overgrown version of her younger self.

Leaving the tray to cool off on the counter, Apple Bloom trotted over to the table and pulled out a seat for herself. “Well, what did you get?”

Scootaloo shrugged. “I pack the wagons at the post office.” Sweetie Belle could sense a hint of displeasure in her voice. “It’s a job… Whatever.”

“That’s wonderful, Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom nearly jumped out of her seat with joy. “Ah thought you’d be livin’ off your parents foreve-…” Realizing what she just said, Apple Bloom smiled sheepishly. “Errr, no offence.”

Scootaloo shook her head. “Nah, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have been so dumb to think I’d just get into the Wonderbolts without anything on my resume.”

“Oh?” Apple Bloom raised a brow. “You need to pad your resume?”

“Yeah?”

Sweetie Belle resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Apple Bloom leaned closer to Scootaloo, putting on the same salesmare expression she’d seen her wear numerous times around Ponyville whilst selling apples.

“Well,” Apple Bloom began before pointing at an open window behind Scootaloo, “How would you like a job raisin’ that barn outside?”

Scootaloo turned around to face the window. Outside, in the clear summer day, the bare frame of a barn stood proudly on top of a small hill. Piles of wood, shingles, fencing, and even some panes of glass surrounded the build site.

Scootaloo’s felt flustered. “I-I don’t-”

“I’ll be payin’ everypony working on the barn five bits a hour,” Apple Bloom quickly interjected, “Heck, with that kind of pay, mixed with your new job, I bet you could get you own place, Scootaloo.”

Rubbing the back of her head, Scootaloo tried speaking, but it came out as a mumble, “M-maybe there’s other ponies you could get…?”

“Nah!” Apple Bloom chuckled. “This is right up your alley! I’ve been havin’ a awful time tryin’ to find ponies. It’s seems they’re all going to Canterlot or some other big city in the search for better paying jobs.”

Wearing a broad smile, Apple Bloom patted Scootaloo on the back. Ignoring the newly formed perspiration on her friend’s fur, she said, “Of course, you can just work when you can. No need to lose your other job in the process. Here, let me write up the schedu-”

“Come on, Apple,” Sweetie interrupted, giggling. “Don’t you think she’s already being punished enough with her new job?”

“Ah don’t see why she can’t help out with this. She’s very strong, you know.” She nudged Scootaloo and added, “It’d also look great on that paper when the Wonderbolts want to do some recruitin’.”

Scootaloo swallowed heavily. “Errr, can I think about it over some cinnamon rolls?”

“Oh!” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened as she stood up from her seat. “Dang, I almost forgot about them!” Going over to the counter and making sure the rolls hadn’t been attacked by any insects who might have wandered in, Apple Bloom hardly noticed as Scootaloo let out a sigh of relief.

Sweetie Belle patted her on the shoulder. “You doing alright?”

She wiped her face clean of sweat before replying, “Yep. I’m just a little scared of going to work, you know?”

Sweetie Belle cocked her head to the side. “Why?”

“You have Rarity to work for, and Apple Bloom has Applejack. If you two screw up, it’s not like you can get fired or anything… But if I screw up like I normally do…”

“You’re not going to get fired, Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said as a reassuring smile formed on her face. “In fact, I might be able to help you with that very problem.”

“Getting fired?”

While giggling at Scootaloo’s response, Sweetie Belle reached down to grab for her saddlebags which was propped up against her chair. Opening up a flap, she pulled out a rolled up piece of paper and placed it on the table in front of herself.

“What’s that?” Apple Bloom asked as she placed the tray of sweets in the middle of the table and sat back down in her seat. It took no time for Scootaloo to grab two of the rolls and quickly stuff them inside of her mouth.

Sweetie Belle pushed the tray closer to Scootaloo to make room for the paper. Scootaloo didn’t dare protest her good fortune. Apple Bloom eyed the old and tattered paper. It reminded her of something that she might have seen in the more ancient categories of Twilight’s library.

Chewing loudly on the treats as she continually stuffed more into her mouth, Scootaloo asked with a muffled voice, “Yea, wha’s that?”

“This is our ticket to freedom, girls.” Small dust particles jumped into the air as Sweetie Belle unraveled the map on the table, revealing drawings of hills, mountains, sprawling tracts of grassland, and vast expanses of desert. The varied biomes mixed together seamlessly into one large and unique landscape. Towns and cities were haphazardly placed around the region to create a picturesque view if one was to look down upon it, causing even Scootaloo to stop her excessive chewing long enough to awe at the colorful map.

“Wowy!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Ah can’t say I’ve ever seen anything that looks like this. How old is it? Hundreds of years?”

“Actually, it’s only ten years old. I managed to get a donated copy mailed in from Canterlot.”

Scootaloo swallowed the contents of her mouth before leaning in closer. Squinting at some of the marked towns, she asked, “Is this Equestria? It looks nothing like any map I’ve ever seen…”

Shaking her head, Sweetie Belle placed her hoof at the top of the map. “Again, this copy is really screwed up. I know it’s hard to see.” She tapped her hoof on a pair of faded words. “But it’s a map of the Zebra Tribes.”

“Zebra Tribes?” Apple Bloom raised a brow. “What you doin’ with a map like that? You planning on goin’ to school there?”

“No, I’m not going to school,” Sweetie Belle said plainly before quickly reverting back to her chirpy smile. “I have a big plan that involves this map. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you two until I was sure I had it next to me.”

“Well!” Scootaloo started as her eyes scanned the map eagerly. “What is it?”

“You know how we disbanded the Cutie Mark Crusaders after we all got our marks?”

“Yeah! I remember how surprised I was when I finally figured out that I had a real skill at building things. After helping Applejack rebuild my uncle’s house, I didn’t know what hit me!” Apple Bloom chuckled before pointing to her flank. Her cutie mark depicted a hammer and paintbrush dabbed with red paint crossed in the foreground of a roofless, half-built home.

Scootaloo groaned, “I wish I had it that easy! Do you know how long I was on that stupid scooter before it finally decided to spit out my mark? It’s outrageous!”

“It’s a nice story, though,” Sweetie Belle chimed in. “That whole ‘skate tricks’ event you entered still holds up to some of the Wonderbolts’ stunt shows, if you ask me.”

“Yeah…” Scootaloo blushed furiously as she brought a hoof behind her head to rub her mane. “If it wasn’t for Rainbow Dash cheering me on in the speed trial, I don’t think I would have gotten my mark, or the event trophy.” Now beaming, Scootaloo added, “I still have the thing sitting beside my bed.”

Sweetie Belle smiled warmly as she looked upon Scootaloo's cutie mark. It showed off a rubber tire surrounded by flames. She remembered the very moment Scootaloo received it; Sweetie Belle never heard the end of the tale after that day, and even though Scootaloo liked to overhype the whole thing, usually adding Rainbow Dash doing a sonic rainboom, Sweetie Belle never minded listening to it over and over again at school. In fact, she had heard another version of the continuously-changing story the week prior.

Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom. “Remember how we had to stay in the club because Sweetie Belle couldn’t get her mark?”

Apple Bloom’s expression drooped slightly as Scootaloo began to laugh, “She was so scared about not having one!” The thought of nudging Scootaloo in the side flashed through Apple Bloom’s thoughts, but she shot it down instantly as she knew Sweetie Belle would see her warning.

“Then she entered that awful singing show! Remember that?” Scootaloo shoved the last of the cinnamon rolls into her mouth while eyeing Apple Bloom, expecting her to continue the story.

A bead of sweat rolled down Apple Bloom’s face as she coughed dryly in a desperate attempt to catch Scootaloo’s attention. When Scootaloo raised a brow at her unusual behavior, Apple Bloom began motioning towards Sweetie Belle with her eyes. Unfortunately, all attempts fell on deaf ears as Scootaloo swallowed and happily continued speaking.

“She blew everypony away!” Scootaloo turned to Sweetie Belle. “It was so cool!”

“Yep,” Sweetie Belle hesitantly agreed. Her broad smile melted into a weaker, forced grin. “They never knew what hit them…”

On Sweetie Belle’s thigh was a single microphone with tiny yellow bolts of lightning shooting out from the receiver. It was a beauty; a mark some ponies would kill for, as it usually signified fame and fortune in their future.

Apple Bloom winced as her eyes subconsciously followed a thin scar sloppily traced around the handle of Sweetie Belle’s microphone cutie mark. Though it was a crude cut, there was no doubt that it was deliberate. Stitched to almost perfection, no pony could tell it was even there unless they were informed or had a very keen eye.

Apple Bloom found herself staring, and before long, Sweetie Belle switched her gaze over to her. Scrambling to shift her eyes away, Apple Bloom smiled nervously as Sweetie Belle sighed and continued to talk.

“Back to what I was saying,” Sweetie Belle stated with some of the past joy missing from her voice. Despite it being evident, Scootaloo failed to take notice. “When we were crusading for our cutie marks back in our filly days, it’s like we were always on an adventure. But since we’ve grown older, and, well- the Equestrian bit isn’t what it used to be, we’ve been all work and no fun.”

Apple Bloom cleared her throat to catch the other’s attention “There’s a good reason for that, Sweetie Belle. Me and Applejack gotta do whatever we can to try to keep the farm afloat.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “They keep openin’ new farms up north. I’m not sure how they can ship their stuff down here and still sell for less than us, but me and AJ are determined push through this. They’re going to have to send Discord down here to take us down.”

“It’s not easy, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said in an apologetic tone. “But what if I told you I can make us all rich?” She motioned to the map.

Folding her hooves, Apple Bloom smirked, “How do you plan on doin’ that?”

Sweetie Belle leaned over the table. “I ran into Derpy last week.”

“The cross eyed pony?” Scootaloo asked.

Apple Bloom frowned, “Is that really all you know about her?”

“Na.” Scootaloo waved a dismissive hoof. “She interviewed me for my job at the post office. Real nice pony.” Scootaloo squinted and retracted her hoof to rub her chin. “Didn’t she have a kid we went to school with?”

“Dinky,” Sweetie Belle answered.

“Yeah, that’s it! What’s she doing now?”

“Well, from what Derpy told me, she’s making thousands of bits each week.”

Scootaloo’s and Apple Bloom’s eyes widened as the room fell into silence. A new, but genuine smile creeped onto Sweetie Belle’s face. Moving her hoof slowly down the face of the map, careful not to rip it, she stopped over the middle of a long strip of mountains marked: Deacon’s Hole.

“She’s here,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“What’s she doin’ way out there? Did she find some job workin’ with the royalty in some big, golden palace?”

“Mining for gold,” Sweetie Belle replied simply. “This is the mine. Unlike pyrite-”

Scootaloo scratched her head. “Uhhh, sorry, Sweetie Belle. Pyrite, what the heck is that?” She looked over at Apple Bloom for affirmation.

“Don’t look over here, ah got no clue.”

“It’s known as fool’s gold and it’s what our bits are made out of. It is quite common and can be found all over Equestria. But unlike pyrite, the gold in the mine is for real, and nobles buy it up like it’s candy.”

Sweetie Belle traced her hoof down a short, thin line leading from the mine and over a small set of marked houses. “And this is where she lives.”

Scootaloo gulped, “How much gold is still there…?”

“Tons, and it’s all lying on the ground, waiting to be cashed in.”

Scootaloo clumsily stumbled out of her seat, landing on the floor with a loud thump before standing back up. Working her way around the table to Sweetie Belle’s side, she quickly scanned the map.

“Let me see!” Scootaloo had to restrain herself from ripping Sweetie Belle’s hoof away. With a chuckle, Sweetie Belle lifted her hoof.

Scootaloo silently worded out the small town’s name as she found its spot on the map. She looked back over to Sweetie Belle, slightly confused. “Feather Dust?” she asked. “Why haven’t I heard about this place?”

“That’s the thing, no pony has ever heard of it! It’s like it doesn’t even exist outside of word of mouth. And if we all go down there before more ponies catch wind of it, we’ll be rich for the rest of our lives!”

Apple Bloom flashed Sweetie Belle a skeptical look, “How can you trust her?”

“Derpy?”

“Yeah. Ah mean, she’s a good pony and all, but how do you know she’s not lyin’ right to your face about all this?”

“She showed me one of the packages Dinky sent her.” Sweetie Belle leaned back on her chair, letting Scootaloo have full reign over the map. “It’s the real deal, Apple Bloom. A box totally filled to the brim with bits delivered that same day.”

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to raise another point, but was instantly cut off by Scootaloo.

“There’s a train that goes right there?” she blurted out as she eyed the thick solid line that snaked its way across at least half of the map. Following the one exiting the town, Scootaloo found that it lead to the border of Equestria before the map cut off entirely.

Sweetie Belle shook her head, “That’s right, we can be there in two days.” She licked her lips.

Moment of truth, she thought as she took in a deep breath. “I’ve got three sets of gear waiting at the train station,” she said confidently. “They’re packed with picks, small flags, food, and the rest of the bits I have to my name. I bought three tickets to Feather Dust, and I want you two to join me.”

Scootaloo’s mouth hung open, while Apple Bloom continued to stare at Sweetie. After clearing her throat, Scootaloo asked in a soft tone, “Is this going to be... you know… hard work?”

Sweetie Belle giggled, “Derpy said that chunks of gold are laying around on the ground like rocks. All we’d have to do is find them, stick flags all around to claim the area, then break them with a pick. Easy!”

“Alright!” Scootaloo jumped into the air, extending and flapping her wings in excitement. Barely hovering about the ground for moment, she landed and exclaimed, “I’m in!”

“That fast, really?” Apple Bloom scoffed. “Do you know the first thing about the Zebra Tribes?”

“There’s not much to know. It’s not like we’re heading out into the middle of the grasslands to camp out with them, Apple Bloom. Feather Dust, along with the mine, is all pony. There isn’t going to be any problem regarding safety.”

“Ah still don’t like it,” Apple Bloom protested.

“Oh, come on, Apple Bloom! It’ll be fun!” Scootaloo pointed at the small town on the map. “It’s like farming, but instead of apples, it’s gold! We’re going to be rich!”

“Yep!” Sweetie Belle chirped before turning back to Apple Bloom. “I’ve got everything ready for us. We’ll be out of here tomorrow.”

“We won’t have to work anymore!” Scootaloo added in. “You’ll be able to keep the farm going along with Applejack, and I can go fly with the Wonder Bolts!”

Apple Bloom shook her head before pushing out her chair and standing up. Glaring at Sweetie Belle, she asked, “Sweetie Belle, can I speak to you in the other room?” She motioned to over at the living room with a hoof.

Raising a brow, Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to speak, but as soon as she saw the conviction gleaming within Apple Bloom’s stare, she snapped her jaw shut.

“Now,” she ordered as she began trotting out of view and into the living room. Scootaloo glanced at Sweetie Belle with a puzzled expression.

“Wh-?”

“Just stay here and look over the map, Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said before smiling. “I was thinking that we might as well do some sightseeing while we’re there, right?”

Scootaloo slowly turned her gaze back over to the map. “I guess…”

“Take a look over here.” Sweetie Belle placed her hoof in the middle of the map, pointing at one of the larger group of houses scattered around the general area. “This is one of the largest cities in the Zebra Tribes. Not many ponies are allowed in there, but we might be able to get a small tour if we’re lucky.”

Scootaloo’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Sweetie Belle pushed herself out of her chair and stood up. “After we find some gold, we’ll be able to pay to get in.”

“Awesome!”

Leaving her friend looking over the map with newfound excitement, Sweetie Belle made her way into the living room. As soon as she turned the corner, she came face-to-face with Apple Bloom. Her frown was replaced by pure anger as she grinded her teeth.

“Now just what do you think you’re doin’ out there?” Apple Bloom hissed.

Sweetie Belle cocked her head sideways in confusion. “What the heck are you talking about?”

“You know full well what I’m talkin’ about, Sweetie Belle,” she whispered angrily, making sure nopony else heard. “You can’t just come in here and dump some news like that on us. It’s bad enough Scootaloo constantly thinks she’s going to join the Wonder Bolts, but right when she gets a real job, you drop this bomb?”

“I’m not trying to hurt you guys,” Sweetie Belle replied in the same hushed whisper as her face scrunched up. “This is for real, not some game. If she wants to come, she’s old enough to make that decision! We’re seventeen, for Celestia’s sake!”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Why can’t you just stay home and work with Rarity?” She instantly regretted her retort as Sweetie Belle's eyes widened.

Sweetie Belle snorted and leaned in closer to Apple Bloom’s face. Apple Bloom fought the urge to shutter as Sweetie Belle’s warm breath brushed against her fur and her friend hissed, “Don’t you dare suggest I go back to that… that witch! If you don’t want to come, fine, but don’t try to keep Scootaloo here. If she wants to come, let her.”

Taking a step back, Apple Bloom’s expression turned apologetic. “Sorry for bringing up Rarity,” she said. “I’m just looking out for Scootaloo. She’s very impressionable, I think she might just be following you blindly…”

“You have to let her make her own choices.” Sweetie Belle relaxed her scowl. “I have to do this.”

Apple Bloom took in a deep breath before smirking, “Just be careful out there, will you?”

A small smile replaced the frown on Sweetie Belle’s face. “Sure thin-”

“I’m home!” the front door to the farmhouse swung open. Stepping inside and away from the blistering sun’s rays, Applejack wiped off some sweat before taking off her saddlebags and placing them on a bench beside her. With a smile on her face, she trotted into the kitchen.

“Howdy there, Scootaloo,” she greeted as she opened up the fridge’s freezer, pulling out a medium-sized icecube. Rubbing it on her forehead, she looked over at Scootaloo. “Whatcha lookin’ at there? A map?”

“Yep!” Scootaloo said as both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom entered the room. “Sweetie Belle and I are heading out to the Zebra Tribes tomorrow.”

Before Applejack could ask why, Sweetie Belle said, “We’re heading down there for a gold rush. A lot of bits are to be made by just being there right now.”

Applejack smiled before shrugging. “As long as y’all are goin’ to be safe down there, I wish you two luck. Ah think it’s good you’re tryin’ somethin’ new. Speakin’ of which.” She turned to Apple Bloom. “A lot of apples just ripened out there. If you’re not too busy, ah could use some help.”

“No problem, sis.”

“Shoot,” Scootaloo said as looked outside the window. “I got to get home for dinner.” She stood up from her seat and began trotting to the door. “I won’t forget to tell them, Sweetie Belle. What time are we meeting at the train station?”

“Be there right when the sun rises. That should give us enough time to get everything together.” Sweetie Belle made her way over to the kitchen table and carefully rolled up the map.

“Sounds like y’all have a plan.” Applejack chimed in. “I hope you told Rarity first, Sweetie Belle.”

“Y-yeah,” Sweetie Belle hesitated under Applejacks stare. “I told her everything.”

The front door creaked open, signifying that Scootaloo had left. Applejack smiled warmly before also making her way out the door. As Sweetie Belle passed her saddlebag, Apple Bloom tapped her on the shoulder, “Be careful out there. Remember to write to me when you can.”

“I will.” She rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry for hissing at you… I’d rather not leave on a low note like that.”

“You know, you’re goin’ to have to talk to her sometime.”

Sweetie Belle strapped on her saddlebag. Still smiling, she said, “Hopefully, the only time I’ll have to see her next, is her own funeral.”

She brushed past Apple Bloom without another word, pushing open the front door, and stepping out into the bright afternoon day. She daydreamed of wealth, fame, and adventure as she passed the boundaries of Sweet Apple Acres.

Something to call my own... Something that’s not given to me, but earned in time...

Scootaloo peered out the cabin window of the train as it roared through the flat, open stretch of land. “It’s so dry out there,” she commented as she tapped the window. “The only thing I can see is grass.”

Looking up from her book, Sweetie Belle looked outside from her seat beside Scootaloo. A smile formed on her face as she watched another lonely tree pass by. “We’re getting closer. The map showed Feather Dust smack down in the middle of this type of land.”

Scootaloo nodded, keeping her eyes locked on shapes of mountains towering over the landscape far in the distance.

When they met at the crack of dawn that morning, Sweetie Belle could recall how energetic and excited Scootaloo was. But after collecting their oversized saddle bags from the holding office, which consisted of little more than a small, numbered cubby system, Sweetie Belle visibly saw her friend's expression droop.

The train wasn’t much help to their morale either; instead of being the clean, comfortable, and colorful cabin usually supplied to ponies on trips to Canterlot or anywhere else around Equestria, this one was different beyond belief. The seats, unlike the soft, feather-stuffed cushions they were used to, were nothing more than plain two-by-fours to sit on. Smells of other passengers whom had been received from earlier stops insulted their snouts endlessly with the fresh scent of unwashed fur and wet dog. Even the bright colors of the train’s interior were drowned out by a depressing brown tint.

After Sweetie Belle relieved Scootaloo and herself of the mining packs by placing them in the compartment above their seats, they both felt content with breathing through their mouths for most of the trip as the smell was just too much for the two of them.

A six-hour ride later, the train ride evolved into nothing more than a grueling wait with no end in sight. The scenery hardly changed as they passed the border out of Equestria. What used to be huge swaths of forests with trees which stood over the train like giant sentinels, gradually changed into the landscape that represented all that is dry and excruciatingly dull.

Scootaloo, though, had hardly made a sound the whole way. Other than occasionally asking if Sweetie Belle could get her a snack from her bag or commenting about something new she saw outside, Scootaloo stayed deathly silent. Sweetie Belle arched a brow, sensing something might be wrong.

“Scootaloo?” she asked in a low voice, making sure the ponies in the seats in front or behind them couldn’t hear.

“Yeah?”

“Something up? You’ve been quite quiet since we left.”

Scootaloo let out a sigh, “My parents said no… I asked them at dinner, like I said I would, but they just kept saying no.” She turned towards Sweetie Belle with a worried expression. A hesitant breath followed before she continued, “I left without saying anything after I woke up.”

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You wanted to do this, Scootaloo,” she assured softly. “We’re old enough to make our own decisions in life. If you wanted to come out here with me, who are they to say no?”

Scootaloo covered her face with her hooves. “They must be worried out of their minds though! What if they think I got murdered? What if they’re around Ponyville shouting my name?”

“You told them where you were going.”

Scootaloo sniffed, “Yeah- but -”

Sweetie Belle cut Scootaloo off, “When we get to Feather Dust, you’ll be able to mail them all you want.” Leaning in closer, Sweetie Belle whispered into Scootaloo's ear, “Think of how proud they’ll be once you start sending back home hundreds of bits. They may not know it now, but they're wrong about not wanting you down here, alright? You’re going to make them proud.”

After wiping her nose and sniffling again, Scootaloo lowered her hooves. “You’re right.” She nodded as an confident smile formed on her face. “Once we get off this train, we’re going to do what we came here for. Nopony is going to stop us.”

Sweetie Belle looked around the cabin before shaking her head in disgust. “I also reserved us some of the best rooms they have in Feather Dust. We’re not going to live like this-” she gestured towards a cockroach scurrying across the train cabin. ”-while we’re becoming rich.”

“Speaking of that,” Scootaloo spoke up as she shied away from the roach, “when are we going to get there? And when we do get there, how long until we start working?”

“Shouldn’t be long now. The mine is outside the town, so we’ll have to check into our rooms before heading out. All in all, it’s going to be two days before we will be able to start working.”

Scootaloo nodded her head in confirmation and turned back to the window. Smiling, Sweetie Belle turned her attention back to her book. She didn’t even get halfway down the page before she heard Scootaloo speak up again.

“Erm, Sweetie Belle, can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“Back at the station, why was there only two gear packs on hold?”

Sweetie Belle exhaled and glanced at Scootaloo. Her smile deflated into a weak grin. “I knew Apple Bloom would never come with us.”

A rustle caused by another pony in the cabin made Sweetie Belle’s ear twitch. She thought nothing of it, as she’d become accustomed to other ponies checking their packs over the course of the ride. She turned another page in her book as whispers filled the air around her.

The sounds of metal pots and pans clanging together within ponies’ mining packs broke her concentration. Somewhat annoyed, she curiously turned to look at the source of the sound.

A brown earth pony, whom Sweetie Belle deemed responsible for the awful smell, was reaching into the compartment above his seat and tugging on the strap of his saddlebag. Next to him, a blue unicorn stallion snored deeply as he laid his head on the stiff, wooden seat.

Clean and well groomed, the unicorn looked nothing like his fellow passenger, who was dotted from head-to-hoof with several patches of dirt and dried mud. It was clear he hadn't bathed in a long time.

The earth pony scowled as he gave his bag another pull. “Dang it,” he hissed. Lowering himself down to his seat, he slapped the unicorn in the face. “Get up, you.”

“Wha?” the unicorn groaned, rubbing his cheek. “What was that for?”

“We’re not even two minutes out, and you're still sleeping. Get your stuff together, you lazy bum, or I’ll have to rethink the deal of leading you through the mountains.”

The unicorn rolled his eyes and remarked, “Yeah, yeah, I’m helpin’.”

Sweetie Belle stretched her neck and scanned the rest of the cabin; most of the ponies were either waking each other up or getting their saddlebags on. Feeling a bolt of excitement course through her body, Sweetie Belle used her magic to retrieve both of the mining packs.

“Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle said, nudging her on the shoulder. The whole cabin was lit up with the sounds of yawning, rustling of equipment, and booming conversations.

A long yawn resonated from Scootaloo as she opened her eyes for the first time in three hours. She had absolutely no time to ask even a single question as Sweetie Belle dropped her saddlebag on the floor beside her.

“Put it on! Hurry, we’re almost there!”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened as some ponies completely outfitted with equipment moved out of their seats and into the cabin’s hallway. Sparing no time, Scootaloo hops out of her seat and hastily began strapping on her saddlebags.

Pulling down her own pack from the compartment, Sweetie Belle was taken back by all the grime it accumulated. Slapping some of the dirt off with a hoof, she levitated it in front of herself and chocked the grime up to the fact that the compartment was probably never cleaned.

Sweetie Belle heard a loud crunch followed by some profanity. Looking over to the seat next to her, the brown pony was gritting his teeth as he picked his saddlebags off the hallway floor. “I told you to get it down, not slam it on the damn floor!”

The unicorn shrugged uncaringly. “Not like it matters; you said you wanted it down anyways.”

“You Canterlot folk are all the same, aren't you?” he snorted. “You ask your rich daddies to buy you all the best gear so you can go off on some adventure to prove to yourselves that you don’t live boring and empty lives.”

“Apparently my daddy isn’t rich enough to hire a guide who knows when to shut up.” He flashed a smug look at the dirt pony before putting on his own pack.

“I can see it!” Scootaloo jumped in joy before pointing at a window across the cabin. The small wooden buildings and rickety old platform making up the train station were in view as the train made its speedy approach.

Sweetie Belle adjusted her saddlebags before making her way into the hallway. Holding onto the corner of the backboard for support, a broad smile formed on her face as she caught sight of the town a bit further behind the station.

It looked just about as she had imagined it. It was made up of brown wooden houses, devoid of all color but brown, just like the picture on the map indicated. From the distance though, she couldn’t make much more of it out. Most of it was large groups of building haphazardly clustered together. Most of the taller buildings that stood out among the rest were usually the more fancy ones that she could spot upon first glance.

Her eyes darted around the buildings before they locked on to a large clock tower looming over the rest of the town.

She nudged Scootaloo. “That’s the hotel I picked out. The one with the clock. I know that all you can see is behind all the houses, but I swear, it’s the best in town.”

“I can’t wait to see what their beds are like!” Scootaloo stretched her forelegs. “That board did leave a number on my back…”

Sweetie Belle giggled, “I’m sure they have the best, just like I ordered.”

“Somethings not right,” the earth pony said to himself. Sweetie Belle looked over at him and a worried expression greeted her gaze.

“What’s wrong?” the unicorn asked, his voice drenched with boredom as he brushed his mane with a levitating brush.

“We’re not slowin’ down.”

“What?”

As the train sped by the station, Sweetie Belle’s face contorted into a cocktail of confusion and horror as ponies started to turn to each other. Soon, the cabin erupted in in a flurry of questions.

“What’s going on?”

“Why aren’t we stopping?”

“Did we just pass it?”

Sweetie Belle felt a tap on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?” Scootaloo asked, obviously worried.

“I-I…” She searched her mind desperately for an answer. “I have absolutely no clue.”

A bead of sweat trailed down Scootaloo’s face as she glanced over her shoulder and out the window. The landscape was passing by them at increasingly insane speeds. The few lonely trees she spotted were now flying past them like a Wonderbolt on a sugar high.

“Out of my way, damn it!” Sweetie Belle heard the earth pony roar as he began to push and shove his way to the front. Like a hot knife through butter, he easily carved himself a path through all the other passengers, uncaring of the death stares he received after pushing some of them down.

Reaching the door, he began to jiggle the handle. The handle didn’t budge as he repeatedly tried to force it to turn. “What the hay is wrong with this thing?”

Sweetie Belle swallowed hard. She could feel the blood rushing from her face as she whispered to herself, “It’s locked… we’re locked in a speeding train.”

She felt another nudge on her shoulder. “Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo cried, panic ripe in her voice. “What are we going to do?”

Before Sweetie Belle could respond, the sound of the cabin’s front door swinging open caught her attention. The earth pony took a step back as three imposing griffons entered the cabin and positioned themselves in the doorway, blocking it from the passengers.

“Everyone sit down!” one of them called out, silencing the majority of the passengers in the span of a few seconds. He was taller than the other two and his pure white feathers made him stick out like a sore hoof among his grey colored companions. Scanning the room with his yellow eyes, he scowled as the ponies stared at him, unsure of what to do.

“I said sit down, you dumb ponies!” Sweetie Belle turned her head as she heard the sound of Scootaloo’s saddlebags dropping to the ground. Scootaloo was sweating like a pig as she sat on the bench and watched the trees outside whip by the train.

“What the heck’s goin’ on out there?” The earth pony stomped his hoof. “Why are we moving so darn fast,” he shouted. “I demand to know!”

“Sit down!” The griffon raised a claw and swiped the pony’s face. Stumbling backwards, one of his accomplices grabbed the pony by his brown mane and threw him to the ground. Sweetie Belle didn’t dare stand idle in the hallway as the sounds of vicious kicking and slashing mixed with muffled screams of pain boomed throughout the cabin. She quickly took off her saddlebags and floated them up to the compartment above her before taking her seat.

The white griffon took a step down the hallway and everypony rushed back to their seats.

“Stop, please!” the earth pony yelled out in pain as another claw swiped his face. Blood rushed down his cheek and forehead from the fresh cuts. With a final kick to the side, the two griffons backed off and one said in an authoritative voice, “Get to your seat.”

Struggling to get to his hooves, he collapsed to the floor. The white griffon snorted before grabbing him by his mane again and forcefully dragged him across the floor. The unicorn's eyes widened with horror as the griffon shoved his bloodied hired help beside him.

Sweetie Belle winced as she caught sight of the stallion’s face. He covered some of the larger cuts on his face with his hooves and groaned. Watching the griffon make his way back to the front of the cabin, Sweetie Belle ripped a few pages out of her book and levitated them over to him.

“Here, use these.” He grabbed the pages out of the air and wiped his forehead. Nodding, he lipped out ‘thank you’.

“Listen up!” the griffon demanded. His voice was that of a leader, and it commanded attention. “Contrary to what just happened, I rather not hurt any of you. But, unfortunately, if you want to raise your voice at me,” He pointed at the bleeding pony, “you’re going to meet some stiff consequences.”

Sweetie Belle glanced at Scootaloo. She was in a frozen-like state, keeping her eyes locked on the outside world as it sped by her. “We’re going to be fine, alright Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle whispered. She didn’t get a reply or even any sign of acknowledgement.

“This train is being occupied by the Griffon Patriot Freedom Fighters. My name is Owl Eye, and you shall all treat me with respect, got that?” He dipped his stubby beak down and scanned those in the front row to his presentation. They all nodded out of fear.

“The GPFF is running low on funds to keep up the arduous struggle to free the griffon lands invaded by the Mud Tribes. Now, I understand that most of you have nothing to do with this fight, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t stepped into it. The mines you’ve all come here to claim your gold from, along with their town, are truly part of the Griffon Kingdoms, and as such, we demand our land back.”

“We can’t give you that!” a pony spoke up from the back. “We’re not politicians!”

“I know that.” Owl Eye puffed out his chest and beamed with pride. “All we ask of you is to give us all the supplies you can muster. If you’re willing to donate all your belongings to our cause, we’d be more than happy to overlook this piece of land, and if we feel like you’ve flattered us, stop the train.”

Without a second of silence, the other griffons began shouting orders whilst marching up and down the cabin. Passing by one of the many confused ponies in the cabin, a griffon ripped a saddlebag out from the hooves of its owner and screamed in a deafening tone, “Bags on the ground!”

“Do it now!” Owl Eye echoed. “Celestia herself will not be able to help you poor excuses for life when this train hits a turn!”

Sweetie Belle watched as Scootaloo visibly gasped in horror. Sweat fell like a drizzle from her fur and onto the seat she sat on as her breathing rapidly increased its pace.

Pain twinged in Sweetie Belle’s shoulder and she winced as another griffon struck her and yelled his demands, “Drop the bag in the hallway!” Not even giving her a second to comply, the griffon grabbed her by the mane and shook her violently. “Do it!”

“Stop! It’s above me! It’s above me!” she shrieked as the attacker flung her around like a racket.

Lowering his head to her level and bringing his beak to her ear, the griffon stopped shaking her long enough to hiss, “Now get your friend’s bag, or I’ll gut you like a damn rabbit.”

“Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle begged. “Slide your bag to him!”

Not a moment passed before the griffon turned to Scootaloo and screamed, “Do it you dumb pony!” Scootaloo didn’t budge from her seat. She imagined herself far away from where she really was. She thought of her family and of how they told her not to go.

I won’t allow it, her mother’s voice echoed through her head. You’ll be killed out there, or worse!

I agree with your mother, her father chimed in, it’s no place for a pony like you.

Scootaloo shivered as the scraping of talons on the train’s metal floor neared. “What’s going on here?” Owl Eye questioned impatiently. “Get the bags and move.”

His companion pushed Sweetie Belle’s face into the wooden seat before pointing at Scootaloo. “That one won’t give it up.”

As retaliation, Owl Eye sunk his claws into Sweetie Belle’s back. She let out a screech of pain as she was thrown from her seat. She face planted on the cold floor and felt the world spin around her in a grotesque combination of confusion and agony.

Owl Eye climbed into the seat and reached for Scootaloo. As his talons made contact with her hind legs, she screamed and punched him in the face with a hoof, causing him to lose his grip on the seat and to fall onto the train’s floor.

“Get away from me!” Scootaloo yelled at the top of her lungs. “You’re an animal!”

Sweetie Belle managed to flip herself over in time to see Owl Eye get up and wipe a stream of blood from his newly smashed cheek. He clenched his claws tightly as his eyes burned with rage.

He’s going to kill her, Sweetie Belle thought. What do I do? What do I do?!

Signaling to the griffon beside him, Owl Eye was quickly handed a small kitchen knife, produced from one of the many saddlebags being herded to the front of the cabin.

“You think I’m an animal?” he snorted. “I’m going to gut you like cow and eat your fat.”

He jumped at her with the blade outstretched in front of him. Swinging the knife like a drunken butcher, he missed every swing. Scootaloo kicked at him desperately, attempting to keep him at bay whilst screaming for help with ear-piercing tones.

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle tossed herself at the griffon, landing on his back. Pounding him with her hooves, Owl Eye flailed wildly try to force her off. Catching another kick from Scootaloo, he fell backwards onto Sweetie Belle.

A loud CRACK echoed through the cabin as they both hit the floor. Pain flared up in Sweetie Belle’s leg and she couldn’t resist the need to wail. She didn’t have time though, for as soon as she opened her mouth, she was lifted into the air by the griffon’s grip.

“Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo cried.

Growling like a rabid dog, Owl Eye held Sweetie Belle over his head. “Know your place!” he bellowed before throwing her at the nearby window. The glass shattered as Sweetie Belle made contact and broke through the window, sailing out of the speeding train. Shards flew through the air, cutting Scootaloo’s foreleg as she shielded her face from the debris.

“Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo stuck her head out the destroyed window, cutting her hooves further on the sharp glass still present on the frame. “No, no, no!”

A griffon poked his head out from the front door and shouted, “We need to go right now!”

Tears formed in Scootaloo’s eyes as she shrieked Sweetie Belle’s name into the whistling wind; however, it was to no use; Sweetie Belle was nowhere in sight. Scootaloo gritted her teeth as she began to flap her wings. Barely hovering for a few moments, she merely ended up falling out of her seat and onto the floor.

Owl Eye ripped Sweetie Belle’s saddlebags from the compartment and passed it to his accomplice. Tossing it into a large bag, the two other griffons lifted it into the air before they pushed it out the door.

Before his departure, Owl Eye wiped his cheek with his blood soaked talon and gave a bow. “The GPFF thank you for your service to the cause.” He positioned himself on the other side of the door. “Unfortunately, you’ve haven’t been generous to us. And as of such-” He slammed the door shut.

The unicorn stumbled out of his seat, climbing over the earth pony with the speed of a startled rat. He hastily fiddled with the knob before slamming himself against the door. “Let us out!” he cried between labored breaths. “I don’t want to die!”

The last thing Scootaloo could remember as she lifted herself back to the window, was a sudden, violent jolt. Her whole body went limp as gravity slammed her against the seat in front of hers.

Terrified ponies’ wails filled the air for a single moment before her head slammed into the train’s grimy metal ceiling.