Cutie Mark Corruption

by ShadowSteed

Rating: teen
Tags: Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy
Length: 14319

The Cutie Mark Crusaders take out their frustration on those who told them to be patient.

The Cutie mark crusaders believe they have tried everything to earn their cutie marks. When they go around asking for ideas, all they hear is "be patient." They get furious and frustrated with hearing those two words & decide to silence those who told it to them... Permanently!

Published 2012-06-12 02:24:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-11 21:02:30 UTC

Blank Flank Rage

This Is The 1st Chapter Of My 1st Fanfic. Don't Hate Me. D:

It was a bright early morning in the beautiful city of Ponyville, Equestria. In a small little farmhouse just outside the city lies a little filly named Apple Bloom. She lay sleeping peacefully and soundly in her little bed with a little smile on her face. She dreams of one day earning that which has eluded her for so long, her cutie mark, the one thing that depicts her one special talent, she would give anything to have it. Sadly, this is still, only just a dream. In the midst of her slumber, her sister, Applejack, comes in to wake her to this most sunny of days.

"Wakey wakey Apple Bloom" Applejack said with a bright smile on her face, "It's a beautiful day today."

Apple Bloom groaned and shifted her body to the other side of her bed. She clearly did not want to be disturbed.

"Come on you silly filly" Applejack said with a chuckle as she pulled off Apple Bloom's Blanket, "It's time for school."

Apple Bloom laid motionless as to motion that she was obviously ignoring her.

"Fine, we'll do it your way" Applejack said.

Applejack was only going easy on Apple Bloom with pulling on her blanket, but now it was time to get serious. Applejack bent down on her powerful legs to prepare her next move. With great force, She leaped 20 feet into the air with a hearty "GERONIMO" and landed, strategically, on the foot of Apple Bloom's mattress, sending the little filly flying across the room and into the wall. Apple Bloom slowly slid down the wall onto her flank and fell back, her pupils rotating around her eyes and her tongue sticking out of her mouth. With a few shakes of her head she stood up, awake, alert, and anxious to get the day over with. Applejack walked over to the tired Apple Bloom and chuckled.

"Sorry sugarcube, got a little carried away."

Apple Bloom wordlessly went to straighten up herself and headed for school. While on the way there, she looked around to see all the different kinds of cutie marks on everyponys' flanks. She admired each one and wondered if her talent could be that of each she saw, yet was envious that she could not obtain hers. Finally arriving at school it was even worse, seeing ponies her age that have already discovered their special talents caused a great fire to burn inside her. Suddenly, a little colt who just arrived to the school shouted "Hey everypony, look what i got! All the little fillies and colts gathered around to admire his incredible discovery, he had discovered his special talent and earned his cutie mark. All the ponies, except Apple Bloom who was still jealous with envious rage, were OOHing and AHHing and congratulating him, Until the "Popular Fillies", Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara showed up.

"So, you finally earned your cutie mark." Diamond Tiara said with a scoff. "Big whoop, it's still not as fabulous or as glorious as mine!" Diamond tiara swished her body around and put her flank up as high as she could to show off her sparkling diamond tiara cutie mark. Her classmates, even the one who was just being admired were mesmerized at the fabulosity of the gleaming piece on her flank. Diamond Tiara was loving the attention, giving off a great big smile. Suddenly, Apple Bloom heard a familiar voice behind the crowd.

"HEY!" said the familiar voice.

Apple Bloom looked behind her to see her two best friends, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, marching into the classroom, their faced red with rage and jealousy as they watched what had just happened and didn't have their cutie marks either.

Scootaloo went up to Diamond Tiara and said:

"Listen here you, just because you got your precious little cutie mark doesn't mean you can go off showing it around and steal the attention from somepony. He worked hard to earn that cutie mark! What gives you the right to just steal his thunder like that? It's like, disrespectful in the highest meaning of the word!"

Diamond Tiara just stood there with a smug look on her face. The colt who just earned his cutie mark said "It's okay, her cutie mark is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than mine anyway."

Scootaloo's mouth was agape with disbelief as she heard the words that came out of the little colt's mouth. She ran outside to avoid doing anything fowl to him, and instead, took a deep breath, and let out a big, loud, long, roaring scream from the bottom of her lungs that woke up half of Ponyville who was still sleeping and practically shook the school itself. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ran to check on their friend. When they arrived, Her face was redder than the apples on Sweet Apple Acres and she had an intense expression on her face that was sure to give her wrinkles when she got older. She stuttered trying to find the words to express her flabbergasted emotions to her friends. Before she could, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and the rest of the class came out of the building and approached them. Diamond Tiara just chuckle with joy at the confused trio as she approached closer to them with Silver Spoon.

"You three just don't get it," Said Diamond Tiara with a superior expression on her face. "Cutie marks are only given to a select handful of ponies who are LUCKY enough to get them. Lets face it, you just don't have what it takes. Unlike me." With those last two words, she swished her body around again to show off her cutie mark to them, this time wiggling her tiny tushie directly in their faces. This enraged Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to the point of no return, but Scootaloo had finally been pushed to her limit.

She lunged for the pink pony's flank with great speed, her little wings fluttering as fast as they could. Scotaloo brought her down and sunk her teeth into her flank trying to rip off the cutie mark that laid there. Diamond Tiara screamed with great pain as blood started to run down her flank and practically into Scootaloo's foaming mouth. Diamond Tiara could feel the teeth digging into the side of her flank and her skin being removed from it. The pain was even more intense as tears started to drip from her eyes. She tried at every opportunity to try and crawl away from the enraged, insane psycho-filly, but it was no use. Scootaloo got hold of a chunk of her skin and pulled back with all her might. Diamond Tiara tears turned to blood as her stomach started knotting up and her heart started skipping beats. This convinced a VERY frightened class of little fillies and colts to go back into the building for their own safety, for fear they could be next. Silver Spoon attempted to assist her friend & rip the attacking pony off of her, but Scootaloo gave her a swift right hoof to the face, knocking her down and knocking the glasses off her face. Silver Spoon laid on the ground unconscious with a bloody nose and missing teeth. This left a screaming Diamond Tiara at Scootaloo's mercy.

Apple Bloom & Sweetie Belle stood a few feet away in shock at what their friend was doing. When they finally came to their senses, they worked together to rip their friend off Diamond Tiara. They succeeded and dragged her FAR away from the school. Diamond Tiara laid there, in pain, with dirt in her mane and blood still seeping from her wound. Her cutie mark was not only gone, the whole left flank was nothing but a big chunk of meat and dirt. Diamond Tiara trembled in fear at the thought of what could have occurred if Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle didn't stepped in when they did. She finally passed out from the blood loss beside her unconscious friend, hoping she would be found and taken care of soon, for she finally realized she needed everyponys' help just as much as she wanted their attention.

Dark Arts Demeanor

As minutes pass, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle still drag their enraged friend as she struggles to go back, determined to finish what she started. The little fillies wouldn't let her go and matched that determination as they arrived at their clubhouse. They dragged Scootaloo all the way to the back of the clubhouse before Sweetie belle darted to the door to quickly shut it. Just Apple Bloom alone was not enough to hold Scootaloo back for long, and she quickly darted for the door. She was no Rainbow Dash though, and could not reach the door in time. Sweetie Belle quickly shut the door and Scootaloo smacked into it face first. Sweetie Belle than locked the hatch and grabbed Scootaloo by the tail with her mouth, and flung her with all her might to another side of the building.

Apple Bloom approached her friend cautiously, but with a stern look on her face.

"What the actual buck Scootaloo?!?" Said the little filly concerned over her friend's actions. "You could've killed Diamond Tiara back there.

"HEY! That little bitch had it coming!" Said Socotaloo defensively

Sweetie Belle stepped in to say her piece "I understand getting a little angry and wanting to slap somepony across the face Scootaloo, but THAT, THAT WAS JUST BRUTAL!"

Scootaloo stood up for her actions. "How would you feel if that was one of us who just got our cutie mark and got our thunder stolen?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had sudden looks of realization on their faces. They had never thought of it that way.

Scootaloo continued "If one of you had gotten your cutie mark, I would've done the same thing for you. Diamond Tiara has had her cutie mark for months now, yet she still flashes it around like it's brand new or something! If we had our cutie marks, wouldn't you want everypony to admire it as well?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pondered on this question for a while and discovered how accurate she was.

Apple Bloom broke the silence: Well. . . I reckon you're right Scootaloo, but still, what you did back there was wrong. Now ah want you to stay here and relax. We're gonna go into town and think of some new ideas to earn our cutie marks."

Scootaloo just sighed, "Fiiiiiiine."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went outside and shut the door. Feelings of guilt immediately entered their little hearts as they walked away from the clubhouse leaving their poor friend behind, but feelings of fear that they will be next to feel her wrath gave them the will to walk away from her. As they walked into town, Scootaloo's words were still fresh in their heads. She would've done the same for them; Would they have done the same for her? Could they have protected the integrity of their friend if she had gotten her thunder stolen while showing off her cutie mark? Could they really have stooped so low as to attack Diamond Tiara like that? The answers remain a mystery.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle soon arrived at the large tree in the middle of town where Twilight Sparkle lived. The little fillies faced each other and nodded with agreement that Twilight, if anypony, will give them an idea of what to do for their cutie marks. They knocked on the wooden door and waited, with great anticipation for a response. When they heard the lock click, their hearts jumped; they just knew they were one step closer to earning their cutie marks. The door opened, and in the doorway stood the purple pony, with a welcoming smile on her face.

"Good morning my little ponies" Twilight said joyfully, "How may I help you two?"

"Mornin' Twilight" Apple Bloom responded with a exciting demeanor, "We were just wondering if you had any ideas on how we could earn our cutie marks, we're out of ideas."

Twilight had heard this question from them a million times before, so she gave them her usual response, "Girls, you know what I always tell you."

"Yeah yeah yeah we know, "be patient" Sweetie Belle replied with quotation hooves, "but we really wanna try something"

"But -"

"PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE" Said the little fillies with big eyes.

Twilight sighed "Fine, let me think."

Twilight Sparkle pondered for several moments, she eventually looked behind her and saw her library was a mess. Dust collecting on the racks, Books misplaced and out of order, junk food all over Spike's bedroom, Spike had been lacking in his duties lately to go out and party all day and she had been too busy studying to notice it until now. She had an idea that would benefit her and PROBABLY them.

She finally responded, "Have you girls tried your hooves at various types of cleaning?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had confused looks on their faces.

"Cleaning?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"Yes!" Twilight Sparkle said enthusiastically, "There are many different ways to clean, dusting, wiping, picking-up stuff, all kinds of different opportunities to earn your cutie marks. Apple Bloom, you look like you could be good at dusting out stuff"

"Really?" Apple Bloom Inquired.

"YES!" Said Twilight, "And you, Sweetie Belle, you look like you're an expert at organization

"Well. . . Rarity does let me put her stuff away after she gets done making dresses" Sweetie Belle reminisced. "Okay Twilight! We'll give it a try!

Apple Bloom nodded her head in agreement with a little smile in appreciation for her suggestion.

"GREAT!" Said Twilight excitedly, "And hey, You could start right here in the library!"

"REALLY?!?" Said the excited fillies.

Twilight responded, "Of Course! Well you two little fillies get to it. I'll be up in my room stu-" Twiight reminisced back to the incident with Fluttershy's desk "On second thought, I'll grab a good book and keep an eye on both of you."

The little fillies ran inside the enourmous tree and immediately searched for messes they could clean.

"I'll get that spider web at the bottom of that bookshelf!" Apple Bloom said.

"I'll take out the trash from the kitchen!" Sweetie Belle replied.

Little by little, job after different job, hour after hard working hour, they made each individual part of Twiight's home sparkle with little to no words or assistance from Twilight Sparkle, While Sweetie Belle was organizing the books, Apple Bloom had, by mysterious means, made a large crash in another room, causing the house to shake and a loose book to fall on Sweetie Belle's head. Sweetie Belle dizzily fell back.

"Sorry!" Apple Bloom yelled from a distance. Twilight went to go check on the crash.

Sweetie Belle recovered from the blow on her head seconds later and noticed the book that fell on her. It was black, gloomy, and had an eerie aura about. The title read "The Dark Arts For Fillies." Sweetie Belle picked up the book and pondered why Twilight would have such a book, but that moment was very brief. She opened the book to a random page and upon reading the first word, her eyes started to glow greener than they already were and her horn started to glow with the same bright lime green aura. Darkness engulfed the entire room as Sweetie Belle's brain was fed with information of various spells and mystic powers that could make anypony tremble in fear. This went on for a minute or so. Everything returned to normal and the book mysteriously floated back to it's original spot. Sweetie Belle didn't remember a thing.

"OW" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "What hit me?"

Twilight Sparkle came back into the room. "Sweetie Belle, are you okay? Sorry I left, Apple Bloom dropped my grandfather clock trying to move it.

Apple Bloom blushed with embarrassment.

"Yeah, i'm fine" Sweetie Belle responded.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom immediately got back to cleaning. Finally, the entire house was spotless. The two fillies' eyes met with large excited eyes, and mouths agape with anticipation.

Ready! On Three! "Apple Bloom enthusiastically yelled, "One. . . Two. . . THREE!"

On three, they swished their flanks around to each other with a heart pace so quick it could beat rainbow dash in a marathon, and stared at each other tushies. To their stunning, yet unsurprising disappointment, they did not have their cutie marks. They hung their heads low with great misery for they had failed again. Twilight Sparkle walked over to the sad little fillies with a sympathetic look on her face, but a satisfied feeling in her heart.

"I'm sorry my little ponies" Twilight said sounding sympathetic

"It's okay Twilight." Said Apple Bloom, "It's not your fault"

"Well the best thing to do is what i've told all along, and that is to be patient"

At the mention of those last two words, Sweetie belle perked up. She reminisced back to all the times she has heard those two words, but each time she had heard it she was doing something she thought of. Now that she was doing something somepony else wanted and heard the words "be patient" the fire she had felt back at the school had returned. She thought she had just been tricked and trolled! Her expression changed and she was visibly trembling and turning red.

Apple Bloom noticed Sweetie Belle's demeanor changing "Uhh Sweetie Belle, you okay?"

Sweetie Belle did not respond, She slowly stomped towards Twilight Sparkle. Apple Bloom realized Sweetie Belles anger and grabbed her by the tail.

"Oh no! not you too!" Apple Bloom said with concern.

Sweetie Belle's eyes & horn started to glow green. Apple Bloom mouth was agape with amazement. She has never seen her horn glow before. Sweetie Belle looked behind her and cast a powerful push spell on the little filly, pushing her back head first into a wall, she slid down, and laid unconscious on the floor. Sweetie Belle than focused on Twilight whose mouth was agape with astonishment at what had just occurred.

"Wha... H - How... When...?" Twilight was flabbergasted at Sweetie Belle's action. She was even more surprised that she attacked Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle looked at her with her piercing light green glowing eyes.

"Sweetie Belle, What...?"

"SILENCE!" Said Sweetie Belle in a demonic voice. "You're like the ten MILLIONTH pony to tell me to be patient! NO MORE WAITING! I'm tired of being patient and I'm tired of being told to be patient! If I can't have my cutie mark, than i show everypony the CRUSHING feeling of not having one!

Sweetie Belle's horn started to glow again, this time, black squirming tentacles rose from the floor surrounding Twilight. Twilight desperately look for a way out but they were all around her. The tentacles wrapped themselves tightly around the poor purple pony's limbs. She struggles to try and free herself; When she was unsuccessful, she tried blasting magic at it, she tried magic cancellation spells but it was no use. The aura around her was simply too strong. The squirming tentacles wrapped tighter around the poor pony's limbs as she screams in everlasting pain.

Sweetie Belle just laughs with maniacal joy as the life is squeezed out of Twilight. She begins to cry as the tentacles wrap around so tight her bones begin snapping into halves, than thirds, than quarters until they are nothing but tiny pieces of rocks. Blood begins to seep from Twilight's eyes as Sweetie Belle's horn glows brighter. Another tentacle appears behind Twilight and wraps itself around her center. It immediately starts squeezing around the lower half of her body, causing her insides to move out of place, and up her throat. The Purple pony coughs up her liver right out of her mouth causing her to puke up blood and stomach acid. She ends up choking on everything else as she refuses to let them exit her body.

Finally, the center tentacle squeezes so tight, Twilight's eyeballs gouge out of her head. The agony was too intense for her to hold back screaming any longer. She had to scream, and as she did, her intestines, blood, and puke spilt out of her mouth. The purple pony's body had had enough and finally exploded into scattered small bits all across the room. Blood spattered all across the freshly cleaned and organized shelves of books and small pieces of bones scattered around Twilight's last stand. Sweetie Belle chuckled with joy as she came to the realization of what has just happened.

It was over. Twilight Sparkle was dead.

The tentacles soon receded back into the floor and Sweetie Belle stopped glowing. She swooned dizzily and shook her head to regain consciousness. She looked around to see the entire house covered in blood, bones, and bile.

"What...? What happened?" Sweetie Belle inquired not remembering anything about what just happened. "Where is everypony?"

She looked into the next room to see an unconscious Apple Bloom on the floor with a large bump on the center of her head. Sweetie Belle rushed over to help her friend.

"Apple Bloom? APPLE BLOOM! WAKE UP!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

Apple Bloom awoke and weakly responded "Who are you?"

Cider Cure

Sweetie Belle looks at her friend, dumbfounded that she would ask such a ridiculous question. She manages to give a small smirk and a slight chuckle at the humor of that sentence.

"Come on Apple Bloom" Sweetie Belle said with a chuckle, "You know who i am."

Apple Bloom tilted her head with a confused expression. "I've never seen you before in my life, and who is this Apple Bloom?"

Sweetie Belle started to get annoyed with her "act". Her horn momentarily glowed, "Okay Apple Bloom, enough. We gotta go find more ideas to earn our cutie marks."

Apple Bloom perked up at the mention of a cutie mark and stared momentarily at her blank flank. She looks back at Sweetie Belle, "Well all right stranger. If you say so."

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes at the statement and they started for the door. As they got to the library room, Apple Bloom looked around at the gore around her. Blood dripped from the walls, the odor of intestinal fluids with just a hint of undigested lunch coated the room, and the sound of crunching bones beneath her hooves rung in her ears. Apple Bloom had a disgusted look on her face.

"You have mighty weird tastes in decoration stranger" Apple Bloom said.

"What?" Inquired Sweetie Belle, "This isnt my house. It's Twilight's."

"Oh. Well whoever this Twilight is should REALLY consider changing her decor style."

Sweetie Belle turned around to Apple Bloom with a stern look on her face, her horn glowed a little brighter than before for a brief second.

"Look Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said angriy, "Enough with the act. Okay? You're starting to piss me off!"

Apple Bloom's face looked more confused than ever. "What act? I really don't know you."

Apple Bloom's face finally convinced Sweetie Belle that she might have been telling the truth after all. Sweetie Belle looked concerned.

"I think we may have a problem here." Sweetie Belle said concerned, " We should get you to Applejack."

"Who is Applejack?" Apple Bloom inquired.

Sweetie Belle groaned.. "Just follow me!"

As the two fillies walked to Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom inquired Sweetie Belle about everything she saw. She asked about school, her family, even what she had for lunch last Thursday. Sweetie Belle answered the first few questions, but after Apple Bloom started firing questions at her like a machine gun, Sweetie Belle put a hoof in Apple Boom's mouth.

"SHUT.....UP!" Sweetie Belle demanded in a slightly demonic voice as her horn started to glow.

Apple Bloom shut her mouth and they walked the rest of the way to Sweet Apple Acres in silence. When they arrived to the farm, they saw Applejack doing her daily tree bucking duties. Sweetie Belle debated on whether or not to disturb her while she was working.

"What is this place?" Apple Bloom inquired.

Sweetie Belle suddenly decided it was worth the small distraction for this big emergency and led Apple Bloom to her sister.

"Well howdy there girls" Applejack greeted them with a welcoming smile.

"Hi Applejack" Sweetie Belle greeted back, "I think there's something wrong with Apple Bloom, she doesn't remember anything."

Applejack happy demeanor suddenly turned to concern as she took a close look at her sister and noticed a bump on her scalp. Applejack barely tapped it with her hoof.

" OW OW OW OW OW..." Apple Bloom exclaimed while jumping around in excruciating pain.

Applejack gasped with horror, "MY SISTERS GOT AMNESIA!"

Sweetie Belle look at Applejack questionably "What's Aliesha?"

Applejack responded in a calm, yet shaky tone, "Am-ne-sia is a condition where a pony loses his or her memory. They can't remember anything, their name, their family, even what their favorite kind of shampoo is. Sweetie Belle," Applejack said to her as she grabbed her by her shoulders, " I need you to tell me EVERYTHING that happened today before she got hit on the noggin. Spare NO detail."

"Well..." Sweetie Belle started, "Not much happened today. Me, Apple Bloom And Scootaloo-" Sweetie Belle paused at the realization that Scootaoo was still inside the clubhouse. "Oh Celestia! I forgot about Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle dashed off to the clubhouse at the back of the farm.

"Wait!" Applejack yelled to Sweetie Belle "You didn't tell me what happened!"

Sweetie Belle was too far to hear the orange mare's words and her concern for her friend made her even more incapable to do so. Applejack sighed and thought of another option. Suddenly, she had the answer! She faced Apple Bloom who was sitting on the ground rubbing the skin around her bump.

"Follow me Apple Bloom" Applejack said.

Apple Bloom did as she was told despite being oblivious to her identity. Applejack lead her to a dark cellar that was only used once a year to make apple cider. Applejack remembered an old recipe she learned a long time ago about a special drink that could cure most foul conditions. She hoped amnesia was one of them as she rummaged through some boxes and pulled out ingredients. She was careful not to grab any apples as she remembered the essence of apples null and voids the cure. She than put the ingredients in an large, old apple cider machine. This machine used blades, metal mallets, and side panels to crush and squeeze the essence out of anything that was put in it's big gaping hole. After a few minutes, the cure was finished.

"Come here sugarcube" Applejack said to Apple Bloom, "and drink this."

"No thanks. I'm not thirsty. and who is sugarcube? I thought i was Apple Bloom... I think."

Applejack sighed "Apple Bloom, drink this. It will make you feel better."

"I feel fine. Why would I need to drink medicine I don't need? Unless..." Apple Bloom gasped, "You're trying to poison me!"

Apple Bloom made a mad dash for the cellar door convince she was in danger. Applejack chased after her. Her powerful legs allowed her to catch up to the little filly quickly and she grabbed Apple Bloom in her hooves. Apple Bloom put up a struggle as she tried with all her might to escape her grasp.

"LET ME GO!" Apple Bloom demanded.

"Now Apple Bloom," Applejack responded, "I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm only doing this because I love-"

Before she could get the last word out, Apple Bloom threw back her elbow right into Applejack'e eye. Applejack let the little filly go to put her hoof over her sore eye. Apple Bloom had just realized what she had done.

"I-I-I'm sorry miss" Apple Bloom said apologetically. "I didn't mean to do that."

Applejack didn't hear her. Her ears were ringing from the pain she was in, but judging by Apple Bloom's face she saw with her good eye, she knew she didn't mean to do it.

"Ok sugarcube," Applejack said as she took her hoof off her eye. "Now lets get you that cure."

Apple Bloom looked at Applejack in horror. Her eye was now swollen all around, practically bulging out of her head, and had blood coming out of each direction. She must have hit her pretty hard. Apple Bloom screamed as she thought she had unmasked an imposter.

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!" Shrieked Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom made another dash for the exit, but once again, Applejack caught her an they were in a struggle. Apple Boom fought as hard as she could but could not free herself from Applejack's powerful grip.

"LET ME GO YOU MONSTER!" Apple Bloom demanded once again.

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack said, "Drink the cure so you can remember your loving caring-"

Before the last word was said, Apple Bloom threw her head back and hit Applejack right in the nose. Applejack released Apple Bloom and stumbled backwards holding her nose. She reached the edge of the hole of the machine and started to lose her balance. She tried with everything she had to not to fall in. She was successful... for a brief moment. Applejack felt a tickling sensation in her nose. She instinctively knew what was about to happen. She did everything she could to hold it back. She was unsuccessful. She let out a big "AAAAA-CHOOO!", and with that, fell backwards into the machine.

The machine immediately set out it's task & harvested the essence of what was put into it. The blades started to cut into Applejack from all directions, slicing into every part of her body and her swollen eye. Applejack shrieked with incredible agony as her swollen eyeball popped out of it's socket before going to the mallets which proceeded to beat and tenderize Applejack's skin and crush her guts she was nothing but slabs of raw intestines and undigested apples. Her shrieks were finally silenced. All that could be heard was the machinery at work. Strangely enough, all the mallet strikes missed the extracted eyeball. Finally came the side panels which slowly started to close into each other and flatten what was left of the poor orange mare. As the two walls met, The eyeball finally popped and blood spattered all across the room. Apple Bloom watched the entire event unfolded in horror as she too got caught in the path of the spattering red goo. The essence was poured into the unmoved cup with the cure.

Apple Bloom just stood there, mouth agape with terror at the horror she had just witnessed. She than looked at the cup and, after pondering on it a few moments, figuring all the kind words she said to her, decided she had nothing to lose, and drink it. The little filly took a whiff of the drink and nearly passed out from the severity of the odor, but she stood strong and chugged the fowl liquid down to the last drop. When she finished it, she gagged uncontrollable and nearly puked it up, but she knew that if she puked it up, the "cure" would not take effect. So she did all she could for the next couple of minutes to hold it down. When it finally settled into her stomach, nothing happened. She still didn't know who she was or where she was at. She only knew that she regretted drinking that vile liquid.

Apple Bloom nauseously made her way to the cellar door. When she was outside, she heard a familiar voice.

"Apple Bloom!" The voice said.

Apple Bloom ran is the direction and found Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looking for her near the barn.

"Hey stranger from earlier" Apple Bloom greeted

Sweetie Belle looked at her with a disappointed expression. "I guess Applejack didn't help with your aliesha"

Apple Bloom shook her head.

Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom with a concerned expression. "You look horrible. What happened?"

"Don't ask." Apple Bloom answered, "Who are you again?"

Scootaloo just sighed. "Now what do we do?"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle pondered the question, and after a few moments, simultaneously came up with the same solution. "ZECORA!"

A Stitch Too Far

The two girls looked at each other with glee as the realization finally hit them. If anypony could them, it was the zebra they all knew and love, Zecora.

"Who is Zecora?"

Well, almost all of them.

"Come on Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle said, "We're gonna go get your aliesha cured!"

Apple Bloom jumped back in hesitation.

"Oooooh no!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, "That strange orange pony tried to help me and..."

She reminisced back to the events that occurred just minutes ago and suddenly felt a sickening sensation in her stomach. She started to turn green in the face. She held her hoof to her mouth in effort to relax herself but it was no use. She began retching up the foul liquid she once thought was a cure. The ground was stained with undigested food particles. Her friends watched in utter disgust but total concern.

Scootaloo cautiously walked closer to her "Apple Bloom, are you..."

The yellow filly recoiled a few moments until the odor of the liquid hit her nostrils. She began to puke even harder, the extra contents of the liquid came out of her mouth. She spewed up chunks of the remains of Applejack in Scootaloo's direction. Scootaloo stepped back as the fowl odor hit her nostrils as well. Apple Bloom puked for a few more moments before running away to escape the fowl stench. When she was out of sight, her friends tried to run after her, but suddenly found themselves surrounded by a field of unicorn magic. Their helpless bodies were being forcibly pulled back. When they looked behind them, they saw Rarity with Miss Cheerilee, and they didn't look very happy. Rarity had them both trapped.

As they approached the two mares, Miss Cheerilee said in an angry tone, "You two are in BIG trouble when we get back to school!"

The two filly beg and pleaded to be let go but their cries fell on deaf ears all the way back to the school. Miss Cheerilee opened the door and Rarity used her magic to push the girls all the way into the building. They suddenly flew face-first into a wall, and slid to the floor with dizzy expressions. When they came to their senses, Miss Cheerilee walked to them, turned back and said "Thank you Rarity, now go find Apple Bloom so we know they're all safe."

Rarity nodded and ran off in search of the filly. Miss Cheerillee closed the door and "calmly" told the girls to take their seats. The girls did as they were told. The classmates sitting next to scootaloo moved away. Miss Cheerilee went on with class.

"Sorry I arrived late class, I had some business to take care of. Anyway, can anypony explain to me why Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara were in the condition they were in? Why happened to them? Silver Spoon with a broken nose & Diamond Tiara..."

Miss Cheerilee gagged at the thought of Diamond Tiara's exposed wound where her cutie mark once layed.

"Well, can anypony tell me how she got that way?"

Nopony spoke a word. The room was deathly silent as everypony turned to Scootaloo. Sweat ran down everyponys' face and their heartbeats quickened as they reminisced to the indescribable horrors that occured just that morning. Each pony recalls the shrieks of the poor filly, the sight of her flank being torn from her little broken body. The feeling was mutual all across the classroom, but nopony said a word. Miss Cheerilee could feel the tension in the classroom and decided to drop the subject.

Class went on throughout the day, but with an intense aura throughout the air. Nopony could concentrate with Scootaloo so close. Everypony flinched every time she made a move to look around or when she raised her hoof to answer a question. Scootaloo didn't quite understand everyone's fear. She just ignored it all.

A few strange, fearful hours later, class ended and everypony except Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle bolted out of the building . The two fillies made their way for the exit.

"Wait just one minute you two!" Miss Cheerilee exclaimed, "I want an explanation for why you two were skipping class and caught all the way at Sweet Apple Acres."

The fillies hesitated to answer the question, but Scootaloo quickly thought up a story.

"We were going back to our clubhouse to get our supplies, but we got sidetracked because we were hungry. So we stopped somewhere for a quick bite. After we got our supplies, Apple Bloom forgot something back at the clubhouse and ran off to go get it. She was taking too long so we tried to run and check on her, but than you and Rarity showed up and stopped us. Who knows where Apple Bloom could be now?"

Miss Cheerilee immediately felt guilt fill her heart.

"She could be halfway into The Everfree Forest by now and it's all your fault Miss Cheerilee!"

Miss Cheerilee believed every word that came out of and started to panic.

"Oh no oh nono ohnonononononono! This is bad!" Miss Cheerillee was taken all aback at the thought that she may have just put a student's life in danger. Tears started flowing from her eyes. "We have to find her!"

"Don't worry Miss Cheerilee" Scootaloo exclaimed with a reassuring smile. "We'll find her and bring her back safe and sound!"

Miss Cheerilee smiled at the girls bravery. "Go on girls! Please bring her back safe"

"We will!"

With those words, they ran out the building into the town.

Sweetie Belle expressed her amazement to Scootaoo, "That was a great story Scootaloo! She really fell for..."

Suddenly, the girls smacked into something and fell back. They looked up to see a white mare with purple curly hair standing before them.

"Hi Rari..."

Rarity stopped them in mid-sentence, "Just where do you think you're going?"

Sweetie Belle hesitated to answer, but thought up a quick story, We're going to Sweet Apple Acres to visit Apple..."

"No you're not!" Rarity cut-off, "Apple Bloom is still missing. I can't find her anywhere, but my first priority is you, and you've got ALOT of chores to do Sweetie Belle. Consider it a punishment for skipping school today."

Sweetie Belle was astonished.

"Don't worry" Scootaloo reassured, "I'll go find Apple Bloom."

The orange filly ran off and the white filly followed her sister all the way home. When they arrive, Rarity almost immediately bombarded her sister with a list of chores.

"Now, I want you to wash the dishes, dust the furniture, find my missing necklace, the one with the 3 gems on it, and clean your room. Now little missy!"

"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine" Sweetie Belle sighed as she stepped towards the kitchen

"I'll be upstairs working on a new dress if you need me. I'll be back down later to check on your progress."

An hour passes as Sweetie Belle does what chores she could, but she could not find Rarity's necklace. She looked up and down, high and low, far and wide, but couldn't see any piece of jewelry with 3 gems around it. Rarity soon came down to check on her sister.

"How goes the search for the necklace dearie?"

"Not good, I've looked EVERYWHERE!"

Well you can stop looking, There was no necklace."

"WHAT?!?!?" Sweetie Belle's mouth was agape with astonishment.

"I made that part up to teach you a lesson, with hard work comes rewards, you would be wise to remember that if you want to earn your cutie mark" Rarity pointed to the 3 gems on her flank, and gave a little giggle as she casually walked back upstairs. Sweetie Belle was enraged by her sister's little trick and her eyes and horn started to glow even lighter than before. She had felt betrayed by her own blood. She slowly walked up the stairs and up to her sister's room. Sweetie Belle barged the room door open as Rarity was sewing up a dress on her sewing machine. She looked at the white mare with an intense expression and she was breathing very hard.

Rarity was surprised "Sweetie Belle! Haven't you ever heard of knock..."

"HOW DARE YOU!?!?" Sweetie Belle said in her demonic voice. "How dare you make me look like a fool with something as precious to me as a cutie mark! Have you not forgotten my quest? Have you no shame for fooling your own sister?"

Rarity had a concerned look on her face, "Sweetie Belle, do you have a sore throat? Your voice is awfully deep and..."

"ENOUGH! Lets see if the color white is in style this season!"

"Well actually this season's color is..."

Before she could speak her next words, Sweetie Belle's horn glowed bright as almost every pair of scissors in the room floated with a green aura around them, each snipping and taking dead aim at the white mare. They flew with great speed into her direction. Rarity tried to dodge each that came after her. She jumped, she dodged, she ducked, her heartbeat was racing as quick as Rainbow Dash on Cider Day. The very last pair of scissors managed to take a big chunk of hair off her head. Rarity looked up in horror as her mane was now disfigured. She tried to yell at her sister, but as soon as she looked down, two more scissors were headed straight for her face. The scissors hit their mark and plunged themselves into Rarity's eye sockets. The white mare shrieked in agony as the scissors pierced into her pink, squishy brain. She suddenly felt very dizzy and started leaning against a wall. Sweetie Belle just chuckled.

Almost immediately, needles with thread and a green aura rose from where they laid and took aim at Rarity. One by one they lunged for the white mare's torso. She screamed with great pain as each sharp sewing tool hit. It felt like being shot by a machine gun at point blank range. When it was over she white mare was on her knees, weak & woozy
from all the pain.

She pleaded with her sister "S-s-sweetie Belle. P-please...I l-l-love..."

Before she could speak another word, Sweetie Belle picked Rarity up with her magic, and began strangling her body with the thread from the needles inside her body. She than put rarity on her own desk.

"Lets see if I remember how to sew!" Sweetie Belle said with a chuckle.

Rarity shrieked as the thread was put through her automatic sewing machine. She could feel as each needle tugged inside her. The needles were intertwined with each other from the thread inside her and were unable to exit her body. Blood seeped through every little hole. As the sewing machine did it's work and the needles were tugged harder, Big wounds started to open as the result of her flesh being torn apart and removed from her. The poor white mare shrieked as she lost even more blood. After what felt like an eternity, The needles were finally tugged hard enough to rip all the flesh right off the poor white mare's body. Rarity was now nothing more than slabs of raw muscle and blood. She fell down to her stomach in immense pain. The sewing machine went on with it's work as Sweetie Belle approached her trembling sister. Rarity used what strength she had left to look up at her tormentor. It would be the last move she makes. Sweetie Belle used her magic on the very heavy closet right next to Rarity. She easily tipped it over and let gravity do the rest. Rarity took one last look at what her sister had become and shed one last loving bloody tear before being crushed by the one ton piece of furniture. Blood spattered all across the room and onto Sweetie Belle.

It was over. Rarity was no more.

Sweetie Belle walked to the sewing machine and watched as her magic did it's work sewing & stitching Rarity's dead flesh together. When it was finally done, what stood before her was a gorgeous new white dress with purple fluff around the edges and a rough red interior. Sweetie Belle tried it on, it fit as snug as a glove. She was very satisfied with it. Suddenly, her glows disappeared and she was back to normal. She looked around to see a blood stained room cluttered with supplies and debris.

"Oh my Celestia!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed "Rarity made me a new dress! I've gotta show the others!"

Sweetie Belle ran out the house as happy as she can be with her new dress and went to go find her friends. She knew they were gonna be sooooooo jealous of her brand new outfit.

Spectral Lion

The fillies ran as fast as they could to the outskirts of town. When they all saw nopony was around, they all stopped to catch their breath. Sweetie Belle looked behind her and said, "I think the coast is clear girls." There was no response. Sweetie Belle turned around and saw her friends frozen yet visibly trembling. She walked over to them wondering what was the matter. She turned in the direction they were facing and she too froze in fear at the sight of the scariest place known to pony-kind.

The Everfree forest.

The fillies trembled as they reminisced of all the stories they had heard of this forest. One in particular was told of a mare who had wandered into this forest looking for food on a cold winter's day. She searched high and low for any scrape of sustenance she could find. Until she eventually came upon this one tree that held the biggest, smoothest, most radiant mangoes she had ever laid her eyes upon. She had never see anything like it. The fruit seemed to light up the grim, damp, dark areas surrounding it with a glow comparable to Celestia's Sun. She was in awe at the majesty of the tree and thanked Celestia for it's existence.

She counted her blessings too soon.

He mouth was watering as she advanced towards the tree. She was imagining all the varieties and possibilities of flavors she would encounter on her first bite. Maybe it tasted like a regular mango, maybe the juices within the fruit would gush into her mouth and fill her taste buds with the sensation of a flavor not yet known, or better yet, maybe the mangoes were a pastry filled with sweet cream or another rich filling. Oh the possibilities were endless. She finally arrived at the tree and took another moment to revel in it's majesty, when she finally came to terms with it's beauty she carefully plucked one of the fruit from a branch and sat down. She gazed upon the fruit with great desire as she licked her already soaked lips. She opened her mouth wide and slowly moved the mysterious, succulent fruit towards it. As soon as the fruit touched the very tip of her lip, suddenly there was a rhythmic quaking within the ground. The shaking caught her by surprise and the fruit fell out of her hands and rolled away. She immediately ran after it, eager to taste the mysteries of it's flavor. The rhythmic shaking of the ground made it near impossible to keep her balance, but she stayed tall and kept her pace, easily keeping up with the fruit for a half mile.

Suddenly, the quaking stopped, and so did the fruit. She immediately dove for it and wrapped it around her hooves, cuddling it with it. She began to open her mouth again when suddenly she heard a low groan from nearby. She assumed it was just her stomach and began to eat it again, but the groan was heard again, this time much louder. She looked in front of her and saw what looked to be orange gelatin. She looked up higher and figured out just how correct she was. What she beheld was, in fact, a giant, orange blob-like creature that stood 200ft tall with a pointed head. The creature looked down at her with a furious expression. The mare started to shake with great terror. She gave a loud shriek, dropped the fruit and ran as fast as she could away from the monster. The monster gave chase and caught up to her quite quickly. The monster put his large, blobby hand down on the mare's back, pinning her to the ground. The mare was helpless as she was dragged into the vines and trees deep within the Everfree forest,

Nopony has heard from her since.

The girls tremble as they wonder what happened to the mare, but they simultaneously return to their senses and look at one another.

"W-Well girls," Sweetie Belle started, "L-Lets go and find Zecora."

Scootaloo chuckled nervously "Y-Yeah. Ready to go Apple Bloom?"

Apple Boom took a big swallow and just nodded her head. In retrospect, she had no idea why she was there or even what they were doing, but she knew the dangers of The Everfree Forest all too well.

Sweetie Belle cautiously stepped to the front and and look behind her with a terrified look on her face. "F-F-Follow me girls."

The two fillies were hesitant, but cautiously followed their friend into forest. They were no more than 20ft in and they heard various creatures and strange sounds in every direction. There were even crimson eyes peeking at them from dark caves that suddenly gave them scary, pointed smiles. The girls did their best to keep their cool and kept walking into the forest.

Scootaloo was in the back of the line, but easily staying close due to great fear of what might happen if she should fall behind. Suddenly, she felt a light, hot breeze on her flank. She immediately looked behind her only to come face to face with a ferocious lion. Scootaloo's eyes opened wide, but she dared not shriek for fear of alerting the whole forest. She let out a high pitched whimper to alert the girls. The girls were a good bit ahead, but the sound caught their attention, their expression was the same as Scootaloo. There was stun silence for a long time until Apple Bloom finally let fear get the better of her and yelled out "RRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNN!" The Crusaders ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction of the lion as he gave chase. Sweetie Belles horn started to spark green as she ran. Great emotion filled the little filly's body, fear for the lion, sadness due to the event that's occurring at the moment, and anger and concern for the outcome of what could happen if one of them is caught. Sweetie Belle abruptly stopped and faced the lion; Her eyes lit bright green as she walked towards it. The other two looked back at their crazy friend.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Scootaloo yelled, "WHAT THE FLANK ARE YOU DOING!?! RUUUN!"

Sweetie Belle ignored her friend's plea as she approached the lion. The lion gave a low growl at the filly, but she wasn't moved. Sweetie Belle's horn glowed bright as she spoke in her demonic voice: "You will not lay harm to this body or any others. Witness and experience the pain thy has wrought upon this land!"

Sweetie Belle's expression was intense as her horn sparked and she levitated into the air. She was soon surrounded by a bright glowing sphere that enclosed her within and began to morph into the form of a giant lion twice the size of the lion before her. Sweetie Belle was in full control of the shell around her, whatever she did, her new body copied with great power. The lion confident and scary expression was immediately wiped away as he witnessed what had just occurred. He started to slowly back away, but the little filly was in no mood for surrender. She picked up her giant paw and rested it atop the lion. The creature was helpless as it could provide no motion, taking away any chance of escape. Sweetie Belle chuckled sinisterly as she was very satisfied with what she was doing. "Now you see the pain you have wrought, NOW FEEL IT!" Sweetie Belle picked up her other paw and released it's spectral claws. She gave a quick whip of her arm and sliced up the lion's face, removing an eyeball & severing it's nose. The lion roared with unimaginable pain as his tormentor pushed down further onto his body crushing it's bones and flattening it's guts. The lion's eyeless socket immediately became a waterfall of blood. The bright green executioner was ready to deliver the final blow. She opened her mouth wide causing her spectral shell to open even wider and put it's jaws around it's head and closed them slowly. The lion gave one last, eardrum shattering holler to the sky before the teeth reached the sides of it's head. Sweetie Belle gave a forceful tug and the lion's head swiftly came off it's body. The body squirmed and jerked under her spectral paw for a few seconds more before finally laying motionless. She had a satisfied smirk on her face.

It was over, the lion would bring harm no more.

Sweetie Belle looked to her left and spat the head across the forest not caring where it landed. Her spectral body diminished and she slowly levitated toward the ground. The glow from her eyes and horn dissapeared. Sweetie Belle swayed for a moment before coming to her senses, looking around and seeing her friends with their mouths agape so wide they nearly touched the ground. Sweetie Belle walked towards them curious to the reason behind their expression.

"Uhh girls?" Sweetie Belle inquired, "Are you...

"That... was... AMAZING!" Scootaloo exclaimed, "Sweetie Belle how did you do that?"

Sweetie Belle looked confused, "Do what?"

"Th-That thing! You turned into a lion, b-but you had your body in it, a-and you squished the lion, and..."

Scootaloo continued to describe the events she just witnessed, but Sweetie Belle just looked at her friend concerningly.

"What are you talking about Scootaloo? If you're trying to describe impossible events with me included in it to make me more than confident enough to travel through these woods....." Sweetie Belle giggled "It worked."

"B-But Sweetie..."

"Come on Scootaloo, thanks for the confidence boost, I think we can get to Zecora's place now with no fear at all. Come on Apple Bloom"

"Sure thing Miss Superhero!"

Apple Bloom followed Sweetie into the forest. Scootaloo was dumbfounded that her friend could not recollect the astonishing events that just occurred. "Something is definitely wrong here, I hope Sweetie Belle is okay." and she advanced with her friends deeper into the forest.

Rainbow Dash & The Dissapearance of Daring Do

The filies continued their descent deep into The Everfree Forest in search of Zecora's hut. The incident with the lion was still fresh in their heads. Sweetie Belle was the most confused about it though so she decided to question her friends about it.

"Hey Scootaloo?" She called to her friend. Scootaloo turned around to her.

"What was that story you were telling me a few minutes ago? About a lion and a magical lion?"

"I told you Sweetie Belle, you turned into the magic lion. Your horn glowed and you crushed and beat that lion like it was nothing."

"How come I don't remember anything like that? Are you sure you didn't have a quick nap and have a dream like last time?"

"Hey! That time was before! I'm telling the truth. Ask Apple Bloom, she saw it too. Tell her Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom looked around in utter confusion.

"APPLE BLOOM!" Scootaloo yelled at the yellow filly.

Apple Bloom looked at her. "Oh me? I'm Apple Bloom right?"

Scootaloo groaned in frustration. "YES! Now tell Sweetie Belle i'm not lying!"

Apple Bloom looked around and, a few seconds later, pointed to the white filly. "She's Sweetie Belle right?"

Scootaloo was ready to explode and swear her little head off at Apple Bloom until she heard a scream in the distance. The scream seemed to get closer and closer as every second passed. The little fillies ran away from the direction of the scream, but it still seemed to get closer. Eventually the scream was audible from above, they looked up and saw a bright blue spec get bigger and bigger as it was heading straight for them. The fillies moved out of the way before the spec lander creating a dust cloud around than. When the smoked cleared, the blue spec turned out to be none other than Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash sat up very dizzy from her fall and exclaimed, "Ow! Those wolves sure can put up a fight."

Scootaloo gasped with excitement at the sight of her hero unhurt, "Hey Rainbow Dash!" She exclaimed as she embraced her, "Boy am I glad to see you! It's really scary out here."

"Heh. Yeah..... Say, why are you three out here anyway?

"We're on our way to Zecora's hut to find a cure for Apple Bloom's aliesha.

Rainbow Dash looked very confused. "A-lie-sha?"

"Yeah. You know, when you can't remember anything? Aliesha?"

"Ohhhhh! Amnesia. How did that happen?"

"Well... It all started..."

Before Scootaloo could reminisce and tell the story, a loud growl was heard nearby and everypony tensed up. Rainbow Dash silently signaled the fillies to follow her to a nearby cave where they laid low until the growling stopped. They all breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the feeling of safety overtook them.

Rainbow Dash turned to Scootaloo. "Now, ya mind telling me how Apple Bloom lost her memory?"

Scootaloo put up a hoof and opened her mouth to begin, but Sweetie Belle quickly put her hoof in the orangge filly's mouth and turned to Rainbow Dash.

"Maybe later Rainbow." Sweetie Belle said, "but would you mind telling us what YOU are doing here?"

Rainbow Dash put on a serious face and looked outside the cave into the forest. "It's because of Daring Do."

"Daring Do?" Sweetie Belle said, "How did she make you come to The Everfree Forest?"

"I'm looking for her. It all started a couple days ago when I got a copy of the latest book. I was so stoked. It told about her latest adventure out here into Everfree looking for the Wing Charm. It was supposed to give the wearer flying abilities beyond imagination. It told of many traps and obstacles she both easily and not-so-easily overcame, and also how she found it in the main chamber of a tomb. But...."

There was a long pause as a tear came to Rainbow Dash's eye.

"But what?" Scootaloo said, "What happened?"

"There wasn't an ending."

The fillies gasped.

"It didn't say if she escaped, if there was another obstacle, or if it was the real charm. It just..... ended. I even remember the final sentence, "the wing charm, the object of amazing power that she had delved deep into the unknown to find, had been found." That was it. I know Daring Do would never end a book with a lame ending like that. I think she's in danger. I think she needs help. I'm out here to find her."

The crusaders all shared a glance at such a story and all thought it was very noble of her to do such a thing. Scootaloo, unsurprisingly, was the most touched of all of them, and saw an opportunity.

"Hey Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo said, "Why don't we come with you to help look for her?"

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Rainbow Dash all quickly glanced at the orange filly looking both concerned and surprised.

"What are you, nuts?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "We don't know what we're getting into if we go there."

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash said, "Have you even read the book? This stuff is dangerous."

"Ah agree with these two." Apple Bloom spoke up. "You should think before you say things like that Scoolatuu!"

Rainbow Dash looked at Apple Bloom and burst out laughing at the name that just came out of her mouth.

"Scoolatuu???" Rainbow Dash asked gasping for air. "Oh thats a good one!"

Scootaloo blushed bright with embarrassment as Rainbow Dash laughed at her, but managed to speak the logic in her idea.

"Listen, if we helped Rainbow Dash find Daring Do, we could possibly have a spot in the unfinished book if we succeed! It's also another way to earn out cutie marks! CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS TOMB RAIDERS!"

Sweetie Belle perked up at the explanation. "That actually makes sense."

"See? So can we come with you Rainbow Dash? Please? Please? Please?

Rainbow Dash pondered on the idea for a while and thought about the pros and cons. By taking them, she would be putting her life, their lives, and maybe even Daring Do's life in danger and she could be wrong about Daring Do being in danger, on the other hoof, she could have the chance to meet Daring Do, be in the same book as her, make the fillies happy, and have the honor, glory, and fame of completing an adventure with Daring Do. The very thought of such an accomplishment push out every con from her head. She came to a conclusion.

"Alright." Rainbow Dash said, "I'll take you with me, but you have to stay close and do everything I say."

The crusaders jumped for joy as they were on the verge of another adventure. Rainbow Dash looked for detailed landmarks explained in the book and, in the span of an hour, was able to find the tomb. They slowly, and cautiously ventured into the bowels of the ancient setting. They braved through cobwebs, various amounts of dust and decay, insects of various kinds, and many a sarcophagus which contents remain a mystery to this day. The traps, strangely, didn't bother them. It seems they had all been sprung recently as if someone had already ventured through.

Or worse, they were being expected.

As they grew closer and closer to the main chamber of the tomb, a low groan was heard inside. Everypony stopped abruptly and shivered with fear.

"W-W-What was that?" Apple Bloom asked, "That didn't s-sound like a wolf."

The low groan was heard again; this time it was much more clear. They all peeked inside the main chamber, it was vaguely empty except a small pole that seemed to have something attached to it..... and it seemed to be moving. The group slowly advanced towards it. The groaning seemed to get louder and louder as they walked towards it. When they got close to the object, Rainbow Dash pulled out a convenient light and shined it towards the object. Rainbow Dash's surprise was immediate.

"This...." Rainbow Dash started after a brief pause, "This matches the description of the Wing Charm."

The little fillies just stared at it for a while imagining all the unimaginable wing power it could give any pegasi. The most excited of all was Scootaloo as she was the only one of the three who had wings. She began to daydream of wearing the charm herself and soaring through the sky by Rainbow Dash's side. The thoughts of flipping, racing, performing, possibly even becoming Wonderbolts were endless. As the thoughts ran through her head, she didn't notice she was inching towards the charm and reaching to hold it; Her daydreams were about to become a reality. Until a deafening screech snapped her out of her fantasies and back into reality. Everypony held their ears as the long, monumental, eardrum shattering screech continued to ring & rock their little heads before finally stopping. Everypony fell to the ground in immense pain as they looked around for the source of the sound. All that could be found was a figure crawling & swinging at blinding speeds across the shadows of the room.

Than it suddenly came to a stop.

Everypony trembled as they stared at the mysterious figure. They used whatever sense of confidence to back up to the entrance, but every inch they backed away the figure moved an inch towards them exerting the same low groan from earlier. They eventually backed up enough to bring the shadow figure to a light. In that light stood Daring Do. She was clearly in no condition to be walking at all. Her entire body was filled with cuts, blood, and dirt. Her eyes were so bloody & dialated they appeared to have been rolled in the back of her head. Her hooves were nearly nothing but bone as they were clearly riddled with bite marks. Lastly, her mouth appeared to be moving as if she was mumbling inaudibly to herself.

Rainbow Dash, clearly horrified by the sight before her, began walking towards her with great caution.

"Daring Do......" Rainbow Dash began after a brief pause, "W-W-What happened to you?"

Daring Do responded with complete gibberish. Only a few words within her speech were comprehensible. "Charm," "mine," "can't have," & "insanity."

Than, without warning, Daring Do lunged herself at the poor blue mare, tackling her & pinning her to the ground. Daring Do had a nightmare-ish grin on her face with teeth as sharp as blades and a obvious hunger to them. Daring Do opened her mouth very wide and took a nice, big bite to Rainbow Dash's neck. The poor blue mare screamed with great pain as the brown mare began to tear the skin right off her. When it tore completely off, Daring Do began to chew it right in front of her face. There were little drips of blood that seeped from her open mouth and drop onto Rainbow Dash's eyes. She tried to fight back & shove her off, but various adventures with many impossible odds made her simply too strong. Daring Do giggles with uncertain satisfaction & swallowed the chunk of skin, than pinned her hooves onto Rainbow Dash's wings pinning them down. She than began to slide her hooves to the sides, slowly tearing them off. Rainbow dash began to cry tears of blood as she was unable to understand what had become of one she had admired so much. After tearing of Rainbow dash's wings, Daring Do's legs snapped in two as the bite marks finally took their toll on her, but before Rainbow Dash could even consider moving, she took another bite to her neck..... her whole neck! Slowly, the insane brown mare tore her head right off of her body. Rainbow Dash gave one last, tearful bawl before her neck was severed from her body, and rolled across the floor. Daring Do once again said, "Charm, mine ca-," Daring Do, without thinking, swallowed the devoured skin, obviously forgetting the neck also holds the spine. She than began to choke on the bones stuck inside her throat. She was unable to do anything to force it out as one of the bones had lodges itself in her windpipe and her hooves were broken. After half a minute of endless suffering, the broken brown mare slowly laid her head down on Rainbow Dash's body and took her final breath.

It was over, Rainbow Dash & Daring Do's adventure had come to an end.

The little fillies watched the entire ordeal unfold mouths agape and stomachs churning at the fowl stench. Scootaloo, however, was crying thoughout it, but her cries were deafened by Rainbow Dash;'s screams. There was a long pause before another voice was heard.

"Well that was quite a bloody fight. Are you three little ones all right?"

Scootaloo had walked towards the bodies while Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom turned around to see Zecora standing before them.

"I came as soon as I heard the screams, but I was not expecting such a scene." Zecora said.

"Yeah..." Sweetie Belle said, "It wasn't very good to see."

"Well let us depart and not stand about, the stench in this place will make you soon pass out."

The grey zebra quickly left the room. Sweetie Belle & Apple Bloom followed slowly, but noticed Scootaloo wasn't moving.

"Come on Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said, "We gotta go."

Scootaloo didn't move an inch.

"You girls go on." Scootaloo said, "I..... I need a moment... alone..."

Sweetie Belle, completely understanding, didn't try to stop her.

"Okay. Well meet us at Zecora's hut."

The two fillies left their friend to mourn the loss of the one she held so dear. She walked towards Rainbow Dash's severed head & picked it up.

"This didn't have to happen. Why did this have to happen? This is all Sweetie Belle's fault!" Scootaloo embraced the head. "If it wasn't for Apple Bloom getting aliesha, none of this would've had to happen. I have a feeling she is the cause of all of this. There is just no way she could've learned all that magic overnight. Something is wrong with her & I promise Rainbow Dash," she looked directly into the head's eyes, "I'm gonna figure out what, and make her pay for this!"

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. Reasons. I hope you continue to enjoy. :3
Back to the story.

Swallow Your Gum

Sweetie Belle walked around town with a huge smile on her face as everypony that crossed her path admired her astounding new dress. Some even whispered with understandable jealousy but she just pretended she didn't hear it and went on her way. She was the happiest filly in town and she definitely showed that she knew it. Nothing could possibly ruin this moment for her.

Well, almost nothing.

As she reached the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres, eyes closed and head held high, she bumped into something, and fell onto her back. As she lay on the ground, she felt a liquid substance splash onto her face which jolted her before she could get dizzy. Before her vision could focus on what was in front of her, there was an unmistakable pink blur in front of her. She could clearly enough see the gleam of the sun behind the blur as it finally came into focus. Before her stood Pinkie Pie with a bright happy smile on her face and holding a brown mug of red liquid in her hoof. She just giggled as she offered Sweetie Belle her free hoof to help her up.

"Sorry about that" Pinkie Pie said, "I didn't see you there"

Sweetie Belle grabbed her hoof & stood up "It's okay."

"Uhh... Sweetie Belle, You got a little..." Pinkie points to her face

Sweetie Belle rubs her face to find red liquid on it.

"Try it! It's delicious!" Pinkie Pie insisted.

Sweetie Belle put her tongue on her hoof that had the red substance on it. It had a bitter and tangy taste to it followed by a sweet-ish aftertaste.

"Yummy!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "What is this?"

"Just some stuff I made in Applejack's cellar" Pinkie explained, "I couldn't find Applejack anywhere, but when I went in her cellar I found some red liquid in her cider machine so I though she was trying a new cider recipe or something. When i tried it, it was horrible! So I added a few fruit and other stuff to it and now it tastes better! Though I can't get the bitter taste out."

Sweetie Belle just closed her eyes and enjoyed the fruity aftertaste of the drink. It truly made up for the bitter taste in the beginning. A visible twist of watermelon and banana with just the right amount of strawberry and a hint of mango. It had to be tasted to be believed. She felt her taste buds dance and her nose perk up with joy at the aroma.

If only they knew the truth.

Pinkie Pie broke the silence "Hey Sweetie Belle, that's a beautiful dress you have on!"

Sweetie Belle perked up at the mention of her dress and regally posed.

"Thank you Pinkie Pie! Rarity..."

She abruptly stopped when she realized a spot on her dress. A spot from Pinkie's spilled drink on her beautiful white regalia, Sweetie Belle gasped at the horror before her. Her dress was ruined! Her horn and eyes began to glow with bright green fury. Pinkie Pie just giggled at her little mistake.

"Whoopsie" Pinkie Pie said, "Looks like I got some on your dress. Sorry about that."

"Sorry?" Sweetie Belle said angrily, "SORRY?!?" Her tone was now more demonic. "You ruined my new dress! I'll tear you in half!"

Pinkie Pie just giggled. "You're voice sounds silly! Here let me tr-"

Sweetie Belle cut her off with a loud demonic roar as she levitated off the ground. Sandstorms began to form around the two ponies as Sweetie Belle's horn started to glow even brighter. Sweetie Belle had an intense expression towards Pinkie; She was ready to release all her fury on her. Pinkie wasn't moved at all, she seemed to be enjoying the events occurring around her. Suddenly, she remembered something.

"Hey Sweetie Belle, Are you and the other girls still able to watch Gummy today?"

Sweetie Belle suddenly had a reminiscence look on her face. She remembered the other day when she asked Pinkie for ideas for cutie marks. Pinkie said she would be in town running a few errands and she needed somepony to watch Gummy. She stopped reminiscing and the glowing stopped. She stopped levitating and dropped to the ground. She was seeing stars for a few seconds before shaking it off and dusted off her dress.

"So are you?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Am I what?"

"Still able to watch Gummy today silly filly."

"Oh! Sure thing Pinkie. Me an the girls would love to if it's a chance to earn our cutie marks."

"Great! Also, how did you do that stuff?"

"What stuff?"

"The stuff you just did a minute ago silly! With your horn glowing green and you going off the ground like WHEEEEEEE and the sand going all WHOOSH all around us and your voice sounding all dark and evil!"

Sweetie Belle just stood there dumbfounded at her speech. "What are you talking about?"

"Come on! You don't have to hide any secrets from you ol' Aunt Pinkie! Tell me!"

Sweetie Belle just brushed it off thinking it was just the usual Pinkie Pie nonsense. "Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... Anyway, i'm gonna go get the girls so we can go over to Sugercube Corner and watch Gummy."

"You want me to wash your dress for you while i'm out?"

Sweetie Belle perked up with a big smile. "REALLY?"

"Sure! It's the least I can do for ruining it."

Sweetie Belle gave Pinkie Pie a big embrace "Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!"

Pinkie Pie returned the embrace. Sweetie Belle carefully removed her dress not wanting to damage it anymore than it already has been and gave it to The pink mare.

"Remember" Pinkie Pie said, "Be at Sugarcube Corner as soon as you get the others."

"We will be, Thanks Pinkie Pie"

With that, Pinkie Pie hopped off into the distance and Sweetie Belle ran off to remind her friends about the petsitting. When she reached the clubhouse where they were, She found Scootaloo holding Apple Bloom on the floor and a hoof in the air ready to drop to her face. When Scootaloo saw Sweetie Belle enter, she slowly let her go. Apple Bloom wasted no time getting up and running to the opposite side of the room. Sweetie Belle just stood there with a confused look on her face.

There was a short silence before Sweetie Belle said, "What happ-"

"Don't ask." Scootaloo responded. "How did it go with Rarity?"

"I'll tell you later, we gotta get to Sugarcube Corner, we promised Pinkie Pie we would watch Gummy while she runs some errands"

Apple Bloom cut in, "Who is Pink-"

Scootaloo let out a loud groan "Whatever it takes for her to SHUT UP! Lets go!"

They wasted no time running along to Sugarcube Corner. The door was already unlocked for them and they went inside. They found Gummy fast asleep on the couch. They gave out a simultaneous "Awwwww" and quietly crept across the room. Apple Bloom lost her footing after bumping into Scootaloo's flank and fell on her face. The noise she made was loud enough to wake up Gummy. He suddenly rose from his slumber. As soon as he woke, he began scampering towards the wide open door towards a mud puddle. The little fillies tried to stop him, but were not quick enough. Gummy splashed into the dirty liquid and rolled around in it. Enjoying the cooling sensation it gave him. The little fillies went up to him but kept their distance as they did not want to get covered in the mud.

Scootaloo just sighed "Now what do we do?"

"Bath time." Sweetie Belle responded.

Scootaloo slowly walked up to the waddling little reptile and attempted to grab him. Before she could, Gummy walked out of the puddle and shook the mud off vigorously. Scootaloo was caught in it's path and was now covered in the dirty brown liquid. Scootaloo look down at herself and the fire inside her slowly returned.She started to grab for Gummy but Sweetie Belle got him before she could.

"Come on Scootaloo, lets give Gummy a bath"

Scootaloo vigorously shook off the mud and angrily followed her to the bathroom. When they got there, Apple Bloom started the water and Sweetie Belle gave Gummy to Scootaloo.

"Here, hold him while I go get the bubbles"

Sweetie Belle turned her back and Scootaloo held the animal up in her hooves and looked at him with a blank expression.

"Hi" Scootaloo greeted.

Gummy responded with a swift, toothless bite to Scootaloo's snout. He clamps down on the little filly's nose and started moving his tongue around inside her nostrils. Scootaloo tried wordlessly, and vigorously to get him off, but the reptile was persistent. After a whole minute of the sloppy make-out, Scootaloo finally ripped Gummy off her snout. Her face starting turning red hot as she held Gummy up ready to throw him onto the ground, but Sweetie Belle returned.

"I found the bub-" Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo's current position with a confused face. "What are you doing?"

Scootaloo slowly lowered Gummy, "Noooooothing."

"Well the bath is ready, put him in."

Scootaloo put Gummy in the bath with no problems. The girls began cleaning Gummy with anything they could find. They shampooed his scaly scalp, they scrubbed his belly, they even massage his webbed toes. Gummy was enjoying the pampering. Eventually, he was all squeaky clean. The girls were very proud of themselves.

Sweetie Belle looked around to see they were missing a towel. "I'll go get the towel." Sweetie Belle said, "Apple Bloom, you get the blow drier, Scootaloo, you take Gummy out of the tub."

Everypony nodded and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exited the room to get their designated items. Scootaloo held her hooves out and picked up the little reptile. She took a moment to revel in it's shiny coat. She was proud that she had done such a good job. Suddenly, Gummy moved his lower body and started whacking Scootaloo in the face repeatedly with his tail. Scootaloo was appalled at his actions. After a few seconds, he gave one final hard swing that turned Scootaloo's cheek bright red. It was the only part that stood out as the rest of her face started to turn crimson with anger. She grabbed the bottle of shampoo and shoved it into Gummy's throat. She gave a forceful squeeze of the bottle and the pink liquid started gushing into Gummy's little stomach. His eyes started to turn red as he gagged and suffocated on the body cleanser. After diminishing the whole bottle, Scootaloo shoved the empty container into his esophagus and forced the little critter into the bathwater. Gummy struggled to free himself as the orange tormentor held him down face first in the tub but she was simply too strong. The running liquid in his digestive tract and the bottle in his throat made it impossible to breathe. Gummy's eyes started bleeding as his body started going limp and soon became motionless under her hoof. When Scootaloo felt no more motion under her hoof, she took her hoof out the water and Gummy's limp body floated to the surface. Scootaloo had a satisfied smile on her face as she watched the reptile lay motionless atop the bathwater.

The other two fillies came back into the room with their designated items in tow.

Sweetie Belle"Hey Scootaloo, did you take Gum-"

Sweetie Belle abruptly stopped her sentence as she looked into the bathtub and saw the unspeakable horror within it. A reptile's body afloat bloody bathwater laying motionless. Not even a twitch. Sweetie Belle put a hoof to her mouth as she backed away from the horrific sight. She than turned to scootaloo with a flabbergasted look on her face.

"S-s-scootaloo..." Sweeti Belle said, "You... You... You didn't..."

"HEY! He had it coming! That little bastard whacked my face!"

Sweetie Belle started to freak out "Oh no! Oh nonononono! Ohnononono! This is bad! This is bad! This is bad! Pinkie Pie will be home in a couple hours! What do we do!?!"

Apple Bloom 's stomach started growling as the last word was said. "Man i'm hungry. I sure am in the mood for some cake right about now."

Sweetie Belle suddenly came up with a plan. "Cake? Cake! CAKE! That's it! We'll bake Gummy into a cake to hide him from Pinkie Pie!"

"Gross! I don't want no reptile cake!"

"We don't have to eat it Apple Bloom! Scootaloo, grab Gummy and lets go to the kitchen!"

Scootaloo grabbed Gummy's body and they all ran downstairs to the kitchen. They each started scrambling for the ingredients, One filly grabbed the utensils, another grabbed ingredients, and another preheated the oven. Following a recipe guide in one of Pinkie Pie's books, they threw Gummy into the mix and baked him into a tall cake with little to no trouble. Sweetie Belle used what decorating skills she learned from her sister to make it look presentable. The cake came out well and the girls were pleased with their accomplishment.

"Phew!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed "Now lets get outta here! I don't wanna be here when Pinkie realizes Gummy's missing."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo dashed for the door, but Apple Bloom stayed and stared at the marvel of the cake. It's decor entranced her with delicious psychedelia as her mouth began watering at it's beauty. She slowly inched herself towards it and savored every moment she was a second closer to taking a great big bite of the pastry. With her mouth open wide, she was just a couple inches away from taking that savory bite when she felt something tug at her hair.

"Come on Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo's voice said, "Lets go!"

Scootaloo dragged her friend out of the building and they dissapeared into the town. Minutes later, Pinkie Pie returned home with Sweetie Belle's coat, and tears in her eyes. She was sobbing as she entered her house.

"WHY?!?" Pinkie Pie yelled across her house, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO RARITY!?! SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS! SHE WAS SO-"

Suddenly, she spotted the cake sitting on the counter.

"Oooooooooooh! Cake!"

She had forgotten all her negative feelings and stepped towards the cake. She marveled in it's entrancing beauty. She wasted no time opening her mouth wide and taking the whole thing in her mouth and swallowing with one big gulp. She licked the pastry's residue off the side of her mouth and had a satisfied smile on her face.

The satisfactory feeling she had only lasted short time.

She suddenly felt a strange rumbling in her stomach and suddenly had the urge to puke. She mad a mad dash towards the bathroom but was stopped short as the pain in her gut made it uncomfortable and nearly impossible to move. It had felt as if something was crawling inside her. Something was moving inside her and knocking everything out of place. She suddenly felt an incredible pain inside her as if her stomach had been split open and the crawling feeling had advanced to other places inside her torso. She felt her organs being forcibly gnawed upon and her bones being knocked out of their sockets. The pain was indescribable. Pinkie pie started crying bloody tears as the pain advanced towards her beating heart. She felt the heart quickly snap out of it's place as she gave a quick jolt and took a deep breath. Her body suddenly became limp and she saw everything around her turn black as she shut her eyes for the final time.

It was over, Pinkie Pie has passed away.

Inside her body lay a conscious and barely breathing Gummy laying down inside Pinkie's torso. He was frantically doing any means possible to dislodge the shampoo bottle from his throat. He was unsuccessful. He finally decided to give up and just laid there. within a few seconds, his breathing became nothing more than tiny puffs of air. His eyes shed one last bloody tear as they closed one final time. Gummy fell down sideways as he gave his final breath.

It was over, Gummy has kicked the bucket.