Apple Bloom wiped the sweat from her brow, adjusted her bow, and looked over the freshly clean clubhouse with a job-well-done grin.

Applejack always tried to make a game of the farmwork, and Apple Bloom loved her for it, but there were only so many times you could play a game before it too started to wear on you. So this particular Saturday morning, Bloom had snuck away for a little break from working the south field, heading for the Cutie Mark Crusader's "Secret" clubhouse.

She'd been shocked to find the place a wreck. Scootaloo must have held another one of her Rainbow Dash fan-clubs in it yesterday, and as usual they hadn't bothered to clean up after themselves. There'd been multi-coloured hair scattered about the floor (doubtless lost from those ridiculous wigs they wore), pamphlets of the flying ace's current and future competition schedule, and the odd popsicle stick from snack time glued to this or that random surface.

The little filly had almost turned right back around and ignored the whole thing. It wasn't like they needed the clubhouse this weekend. Sweetie Belle was having a Spa weekend with her sister and Scootaloo was doubtless watching her idol's practice, so there wasn't any Crusading to do until next week. Still, she wasn't one to leave a task that needed doing undone, and accomplishing something productive with her break helped ease her conscience and would provide a ready excuse if Big Sis came callin.

"Ah really ought to get back, afore ahm missed." she mused to herself. A gentle breath flowed from the open window, caressing her pale, butter-colored coat and carrying away the tiniest bit of sweat from her labours.

"Maybe a bit longer..." She followed the breeze to its origin at the south window, leaning out to get the most flow through her damp mane.

Few knew it, but from its vantage in a tree upon a small hill, the clubhouse commanded breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, and the southern exposure was her favorite of all. On a clear day, she could see the Everfree looming to the East, and Ponyville's (relative) bustle to the South. Today her eyes were drawn West, to the simple dirt road that wound its serpentine way between their apple orchards and an old abandoned farmstead across the way. There was an unfamiliar cart trundling north behind a bay colored mare with a pink and blue striped mane, it's bed heavy-loaded and covered with a canvas tarp.

It wasn't unusual for the Apple family to cart their wares to and from town, but they almost never had anything delivered to the farmstead. Money was tight, and anything too heavy for Pegasus post charged two legs to deliver out here in the country, so Applejack always made arrangements for Big Macintosh to pick deliveries up in town. As far as Apple Bloom knew, nobody else lived out this ways, at least not since the Pears had moved away long before she'd been born.

Apple Bloom squinted, trying to make out more detail. The cart and it's driver turned off the road, heading towards the old farmstead, and she briefly lost sight of them under the thick canopy of untended pear trees. The cart soon emerged and pulled up to the dusty stone cottage, where it was met by two familiar figures who began helping the mare unload.

"Ol' Mr. Pear musta finally found somepony to rent his cottage, which means we got a new neighbor! If mah eyes'r good that's Silver Slice an' his Pa!" Apple Bloom could hardly believe her luck. Not that she didn't appreciate her other friends, but it was a long trek from the farm to town and it sure as sugar would be nice to have another pony her age nearby.

"What're they doin' now?" Apple Bloom felt a brief spike of excitement, a voyeuristic thrill as she watched another mare emerge from the house with a platter of drinks. They were far too distant to hear what was being said, but the three adults seemed to be chatting amiably and nursing their drinks, leaving Silver to slowly amble around the corner. Once out of sight of his parents, he took off at a gallop into the orchard.

She tsked and shook her head. "He must be tired'a haulin' things in and decided to play hookie." The colt briefly flashed into view crossing the road and entering her family's south grove, which reminded her of her own unauthorized break. "Not that ah can speak, mind." Apple Bloom guiltily remarked. "Still, where the hay're you goin'?"

Her reverie suddenly shattered as a familiar voice called out from the bottom of the hill. "Aaaapple Blooooom!" Big Sis' words echoed through the trees, carrying a warning. "You best not be slackin' off up there, missie, or Granny's gonna tan yer hide!" It wouldn't be the first time. All thoughts of her classmate and his family fled Bloom's mind as she raced to think of a good excuse for Big Sis.

Time up, the little filly frantically rushed to close the window and hurried for the exit. The door clattered shut as Apple Bloom cantered away, leaving the clubhouse empty save for the gentle, doomed breeze now trapped within.

Author's Note

Been a while since I last posted! When I started this story, I hadn't seen or heard about the CMC getting their marks in the show (though I think the episode may have already aired), so when I learned of that I was more than a little disheartened. As you'll see eventually, Cutie Marks play a large role in this story, and the CMC lacking theirs will be a pretty major plot point!

So what's a writer to do? I considered trying to rewrite things to accommodate the new canon, but ultimately it would have altered the nature of the story I want to tell too much. So I guess this is an AU story now!

Still going to try to keep it close to current timeline in the show, but I won't be acknowledging anything for the younger ponies from Crusaders of the Lost Mark onward. Look forward to more nasty Diamond Tiara in future chapters, for example!