"Scoots! Scoots!" She shouted. Warmth spread throughout her body as she slowly raised her hoof, reaching for the blurry images in front of her.

"Sweets? Ya okay! That's great news!" She felt a throbbing at the back of her head.

"I told you she'll be fine!" The throbbing turned to a pounding.

"That's not true!" She felt it beating against her skull, in time with her heart.

"Shut up! I've got a bucking headache!" Her friends fell silent as she sat up too quickly, the recently clear image blurring out once again.

"Sorry, we kinda forgot you'd probably have a headache after all that."

"It's okay, sorry I snapped at you. So where are we?" After saying this she glanced around, taking in the room for the first time. They were sat on a large bed in an expansive room.

"Were snowed in at Snowdin's premier inn Snowed Inn. Wait... did you just say the 'B' word?"

"Noooooooo. I wouldn't swear, you know me. So what do we do now?"

"Well, you were out for a few hours and we don't want a repeat of that so we bought you a hat from the shop downstairs..." Scoots reached in the Cresent Saddle Bags and pulled out a green coloured hat.

"What about you guys?" She quickly put the hat on, it slipped down as it was a bit big.

"Ah be fine and Scoots..."

"I'll wear this red scarf that I borrowed off Papyrus!"

She nodded and slipped off the bed. "Let's not waste any more time! Let's go!" As her hoof touched the floor, the coldness caused it to flinch back. "Brr... I wasn't expecting that..."

If the floor had been cold, it was nothing compared to the outside world. After politely thanking the innkeeper bunny (or rabbit…) they walked outside. She gasped, the friendly town was decorated, giving it a winter wonderland feel.

“isn’t it just?” She laughed, Sans had appeared out of nowhere but after spending so much time with Pinkie Pie she wasn’t as easily scared. That didn’t seem the case with Apple Bloom though…

“What in tarination was that for? Ever heard of somethin’ called sayin’ hi?”

“i’m just feeling all jumpy today.”

“Was that a pun? Cause it was bad.”

“i ‘ice’ the winter puns, they’re ‘snow’ problem.”

“Boo! That was bad!”

“wow! was you’re mothers name Apple Boo? cause ya don’t seem to do anything else.” A dangerous glint passed through Apple Blooms eyes…

“Actually, her name was Apple Charm and she didn’t need stupid puns to charm anyone! Cause that’s what you are! A pathetic little jester who needs puns to make friends! To make you anything but a little speck on this world, you don’t even do anything! A lazybones! Like you’re brother said! Now do yourself a favour, never, ever, ever make fun of mah family in front of me. Actually don’t make fun of mah family period especially mah mother! You understand!” Apple Bloom didn’t wait for an answer, she turned her head and trotted off.

Sans looked like he had been slapped… and shot… and a billion other things that hurt very, very much.

“I like you’re puns, if that means anything and um… sorry about Apple…” Scootaloo started.

Sans flinched at the word Apple, his eyes flickering for a moment. “it… it… it’s fine kiddo. i’m fine. Don’t worry ‘bout me…”
With that he disappeared. She wasn’t surprised but rather wondered where he had gone off too. That, too, was answered as a blue light flickered in one of the windows followed by a loud bang.

“Apple Bloom, wait up!” Scoots ran down the road. She curtly followed, trying to look dignified as she had been taught by her sister. Blooms outburst was completely out of the blue and uncalled for but in some ways understandable. The Apple Clan were not ones to be messed with and lost lives were always a touchy subject between them. In particular Apple Blooms mother, who she had just learned was called Apple Charm. That was one mystery solved.
The next was why Sans reacted like he did. The insults flung at him were mild and it didn’t mean anything to him. They were insults from a stranger and he seemed like the sort of guy who would shrug it off. Then why…?

Her face made contact with something hard, she hadn’t been looking or paying any attention to the world around her.

“PONY?! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?! AS I WAS SAYING... ONE PONY IS A PASS TO THE ROYAL GUARD! TWO CAPTURED PONIES AND I WOULD BE THE CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD! BUT THREE? THREE ARE A PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE AND FAME! I WILL SHOWER WITH A MOUNTAIN OF KISSES EACH AND EVERY MORNING. BUT FIRST… I WILL CAPTURE YOU!”

Bones appeared around her, he had expected her to dodge but she hadn’t managed. She hadn’t been paying attention. She hadn’t moved. She felt the bones piercing her lungs and hearts as she slowly faded to darkness…

Author's Note

Sweetie Belle
First blood and Apple Bloom owning Sans. That's two things off my list.

Tell me you're theories! Why did Sans flinch at the mention of Apple?

Also I'm surprised no one picked up on the chapter titles yet, look closely and ignore one of the 'Making Decisions' chapters. See for yourselves...