The day the black clouds moved in was the start of a terrible war.
No pony saw it coming. No pony knew it was a sign. A sign of what was to come. A sign of horror, of destruction, of disaster.
Of death.
But it all started on a normal, sunny day, when everything was fine, and everything seemed right in Equestria.
Little did the citizens of Ponyville know what was to come, because sometimes, even the sunniest of days can bring about the most dangerous of storms.
*Five years ago*
The sun shone down on the small town, bringing light to everything in its path. (Except for the Everfree Forest, that is.) And it seemed not a single cloud was in the sky.
Most ponies trotted around throughout the streets, either to get things they needed, or just to take a nice stroll through the small town known as Ponyville.
All except one.
A small filly stood off to the side, observing the scene and watching every pony run about. Her mane and tail were long and curly, and striped with both lavender and pink. Her coat was the color of milk, and was soft and short.
She felt as if she should take part of something. To maybe help some pony in need; perhaps to carry their groceries, or just help them with a daily chore.
Before she had left that morning, her sister had asked her to take a basket of cupcakes to Pinkie Pie, who was at Sugar Cube Corner (which didn't surprise the filly, as the pink mare had to work there most of the time). But the question was, why couldn't her sister have done it?
Her sister Rarity had explained that she had needed to run a few errands, but she never explained why or what those errands were.
"Sweetie Belle!"
A voice shook her out of her thoughts, and she turned her head to see her best friend, Scootaloo, trot up to her.
"Apple Bloom just called a meeting at the clubhouse," the orange pegasus explained hastily. "She told me to come and get you right away."
Sweetie Belle cocked her head. "Why such a rush, though?"
"Heck if I know," Scootaloo replied. "She just said it had something to do with Applejack."
Sweetie Belle had more questions, but Scootaloo had took off running before she could ask any one of them. She shrugged and galloped after her friend.
"Good, you're here," Apple Bloom sighed in relief as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo arrived at the CMC Clubhouse.
"So, what exactly did you went us here for?" Scootaloo inquired.
"I'm worried 'bout Applejack," Apple Bloom told them.
Sweetie blinked. "Why?"
"What's wrong with her?" Scootaloo added.
"She hasn't been sleeping well the past few nights," AB explained.
Scootaloo shrugged. "So? Maybe she's just stressed out about all the things she has to do for Applebuck Season."
"But that's the thing! I haven't been seein' her workin' very much. I mean, sure she does sometimes, but not as often as she should be."
"She could just be taking a break from all of it," Sweetie Belle suggested.
"But that ain't all! I've also seen her sneakin' off to someplace, and I dunno where!"
Sweetie Belle blinked again. "Have you tried following her?"
"Yes, but every time Ah do, she seems to disappear into thin air!"
Scootaloo snorted. "I think you're just exaggerating, Apple Bloom."
AB stomped her hoof in frustration. "Ah am not! If she was your sister, it would be a different situation for ya!"
"Apple Bloom, calm down! I'm sure it's nothing!" Sweetie Belle said.
"How can ya be sure?" Apple Bloom asked skeptically.
"Well, actually, I'm not, but-"
"See what Ah mean!"
"Guys, seriously. This is just nonsense." AB and Sweetie Belle turned their heads as Scootaloo spoke.
"Like Sweetie said, maybe it's nothing," she continued. Before Apple Bloom could interrupt, Scootaloo held up a hoof. "But before you start telling me off, you're right, too. It's unlike Applejack to be sneaking around like that."
"So what do we do, then?" Apple Bloom asked.
"We could follow her!" Sweetie suggested.
Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes. "Didn't Ah tell ya that Ah already tried that and it didn't work?"
Sweetie Belle blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, um, yeah. Never mind."
"What do we do, Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked her friend. "It's really your decision."
Apple Bloom thought for a moment before answering. "...Ah'm not sure. But even so, Ah'm determined to find out 'bout this somehow."
The next few days, the CMC hung out at the Clubhouse more often than usual, to see if either of the three of them had found out anything yet. Likewise, it was always the same answer: No.
They didn't give up, though, because the Cutie Mark Crusaders never gave up. That, and Apple Bloom wouldn't let them.
This continued on for a few weeks, until one day. One cloudy and dreary day, where rain poured down and not a single glimpse of blue sky or sunshine showed through the clouds.
Scootaloo was trotting through the streets of Ponyville, carrying a bag of groceries in her mouth; mainly just carrots, apples, and a container of blueberry pie.
Rainbow Dash, the famous rainbow-maned pegasus mare and wonderbolt (not to mention, Scootaloo's biggest idol) had requested she grab these at Ponyville's food market, but never gave the orange filly a reason why. But, of course, Scootaloo didn't question her and immediately hopped (or galloped) to it.
She had borrowed a few bits from Sweetie Belle. Believe it or not, Rarity's little sister had a huge bank, but never spent the bits on anything, so she was always giving her friends some to spend on stuff, or just to keep for their own banks for safe-keeping.
The way she earned this money was by just doing chores for Rarity, and on occasion, chores for other ponies, too.
