What Truly Lies Beneath The Surface...
“Your turn, Sweetie Belle!”
The unicorn dropped the dice onto the gameboard. “Ughh, snake eyes again! That’s the fourth time in a row! At this rate, I'm never gonna get my cutie mark in gambling. How come you keep winning, Scootaloo?”
The pegasus rolled her eyes and turned the other direction. "I don't know, but this game stinks! It's soooo lame. Where did you even get this?"
"Rarity got it as a gift from somepony, then gave it to me because she didn't like it. I didn't know what to do with it, so I brought it here."
Scootaloo trotted to the other side of the room and stared out the window. "I wish Rainbow Dash wasn't coming back from Canterlot so late, she's been gone on some sort of royal business for like an entire week! She'd definitely have something AWESOME for us to do like she always does."
Sweetie Belle nodded. "Yeah, and hey, speaking of royal business, did you hear the princesses's bird was stol..."
The unicorn filly was interrupted by the door to the treehouse suddenly flying open, knocking over their Craps table. Their heads shot over in the direction of the doorway, where Applebloom stood with a small wagon attached to her back.
“Look what I found out in the apple-orchard!” She motioned to her fellow crusaders to come take a look at the wagon.
Believing their friend had discovered something amazing and fun for them to play with, the fillies excitedly leaped over to the side of the wagon. However, when they gazed down at the three objects inside, their good feelings quickly disappeared.
“SHOVELS?” screeched Scootaloo.
“Yeah Applebloom, what the hay! I thought you had something cool to show us,” seethed Sweetie Belle.
Scootaloo rolled her eyes, “If you think we’re going to help you with your chores again, think again!”
“GIRLS!” Applebloom yelled at the top of her lungs, “These things here ain’t just shovels, they’re spades!”
Confused, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. “Spades?”
“Yeah! They’re kinda like shovels, but only a whole lot better!”
The other two crusaders remained skeptical. "How do you know they're spades and not just shovels?" asked Sweetie Belle.
Applebloom brought one of them up close to Sweetie's face, so she could read the tiny word written on the handle:
SPADE
“Why are they soooo much better than shovels?” inquired Scootaloo sarchastically.
Applebloom trotted over to the pegasus filly, a smug grin appearing on her face. She expected this.
“Well, ya see, I didn't know where they came from, and I found them just lying in the orchard out by... something I'll show ya later. ” Applebloom pointed at the spades, "But they looked kinda funny, so I took 'em to Twilight since she knows everything, and she said these things are a whole lot better than shovels, so I reckon we'll be able to move the ground quicker than.... umm.... a Diamond Dog! Think about all the new cutie mark opportunities we'll have!”
Her friends’ faces lit up. They were beginning to understand and comprehend the full spectrum of possibility with Applebloom’s discovery.
“Yeah! We could be Cutie Mark Crusader Buried Treasure-Hunters!” said Scootaloo.
“Or Cutie Mark Crusader Tunnel-Diggers!” said Sweetie Belle.
“Toooooold yaaaaa you’d like it,” retorted Applebloom.
“Yeah, I'm sorry I doubted you, Applebloom. These spades are coolest things ever! We’ll have our cutie marks in no time with these babies, the possibilities are endless!” rejoiced Scootaloo.
“It’s alright girls, what are friends for anyway?” Applebloom gazed out the window of the clubhouse, and noticed the sun going down behind the mountains in the west. “We’ll start our crusading tomorrow. For now, let’s just call ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusader... well what do ya call somepony who uses a spade?”
They thought about it for a few moments, before Sweetie Belle wailed, "A spader!"
"Of course, we'll be the Cutie Mark Crusader Spaders!"
“How about the Cutie Mark Cru-Spaders?” suggested Scootaloo.
“YEAH!” rejoiced all three at once.
"And since my big sister is out of town tonight at a fashion show in Canterlot, and Scootaloo's already staying with Applebloom tonight, we could have a big sleepover!"
"That's a great idea, Sweetie Belle! Then we could wake up at the crack a' dawn for maximum crusading... Ah mean cruspadin'!"
The three fillies giggled before exiting the clubhouse. They gleefully cantered together in the direction of the farmhouse.
…
The Cutie Mark Crusaders awoke just as Celestia’s sun was beginning to rise in the east.
“Today’s the day we're gonna earn our cutie marks!”
They ran out the door of Applebloom's room, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Applejack and Big Macintosh sat at the table, happily chomping away at their favorite breakfast food: toast with... Zap-Apple jam? That struck Applebloom as a little odd, since the last harvest was months ago, and they finished selling and eating it all up within a few weeks. However, Applebloom didn't think much of it. She assumed Applejack or Granny Smith probably found another jar in the back of the pantry that was misplaced during harvest-time.
“Mornin’, sis!”
“Mornin’, Applebloom, mornin' girls! What are y’all doin up at the crack a’ dawn? It ain’t like ya to be up this early.”
“We woke up so we could get some extra crusading in! Scootaloo, Sweetie, and I have a whole lot to do today!”
"Yeah, were gonna earn our cutie marks for sure!" added Scootaloo.
Although she was tempted to make some toast with delicious zap-apple jam, Applebloom knew better. It was a treat, a terrible food to eat before a day of hard work. She knew Applejack was only eating it because it was Sunday, hers and Big Macintosh's day off from working in fields. Thus, Applebloom quickly sliced up some apples for herself and her friends, which they wolfed down quite fast. After finishing breakfast, they ambled over to the front door.
Applejack grinned. She was happy to see her little sister so determined to achieve something. “That’s great girls, what ideas did y'all have in mind for today?”
The three fillies pushed the front door open before turning their heads towards Applejack. “We’re gonna go spading!”
They trotted through the doorway, down the steps, and into the yard.
“Y’all have fun now!” hollered Applejack from inside. She watched the excited, giggling fillies run off in the direction of the orchard, before turning back to her breakfast.
“Spading... huh? Now what in the hay is that again... Do you know Big Macintosh?”
"Enope!"
A few minutes passed, then it hit her like a buck to the head. She remembered exactly what that meant. She dropped the piece of toast in her mouth onto the floor and rose to all fours. Applejack felt an overwhelming sense of fear and dread overcoming her senses.
She had to stop them.
Without even saying anything to Big Macintosh, Applejack galloped out the door and onto the front porch. “APPLEBLOOM!”
No response.
She ran out into the front yard, and scanned the apple trees all around. No crusaders. She galloped as fast as her legs would take her to the clubhouse on the other side of the orchard. But when she arrived, to her great chagrin, there was no sign of the fillies.
Applejack thought about continuing to search, but too much time had passed. They could be anywhere in the orchard by now. A full search of the place on hoof would take all day to organize and carry out. By then, it could be too late.
The mare began to panic. “Oh Sweet Celestia, what do I do now?” Applejack sat on her flank and looked down at ground, tired from all the galloping.
It didn’t take long for the answer to come to her, in a way she didn’t... or necessarily want to... expect. Applejack felt something wet and sticky land on her back. “What the h...” She spun her head around to notice a white, foul-smelling substance on her coat. Then she gazed up at the source.
A fairly small, not very charming red bird flapped haphazardly through the air. It circled above Applejack a few times, before heading off towards a different section of the orchard.
One of its feathers that came off during its wild flapping landed on the grass in front of Applejack. She studied it for a second, then an idea popped into her head. “Of course!”
The earth-pony ascended to her hooves and galloped off in the direction of Ponyville.
…
“Rainbow Dash! Git up ya lazy bum! This is an emergency!”
Applejack stood below a cloud in the Ponyville village square, it was fortunate she knew Rainbow Dash often liked to doze off here. It was still quite early, so the town was deserted. She looked up at the cloud, noticing a rather odd streak of white on the pegasus's tail. However, the mare did not have the time to dwell on such trivial things.
“Wha... what? Applejack?” Rainbow Dash looked over the edge of the cloud and down at Applejack. “What are you doing Applejack? It’s soooo early!” Rainbow gazed over at the sun, which had barely cleared the horizon. “Is this about the gift...”
“Would ya shut up and listen? I think my sister Applebloom and her little friends have gotten themselves into some BIG trouble! They’re somewhere in the apple orchard, and they’ll never be found on hoof with just Big Mac and I searching. I need your wings!”
“Why... what are they doing?”
“No time. Ah’ll explain on the way. C’mon, we gotta find ‘em before it’s too late!”
Without another word or hesitation, Rainbow Dash hopped off the cloud, landing next to Applejack. They took off bolting down the road towards Sweet Apple Acres.
…
“Omigosh Applejack! They’re way too young for that! And for them to do it themselves...” said Rainbow as the two mares galloped through the front gate.
“I know that ya dimwit! That’s why I need y’all to fly over all these trees and FIND them before it's TOO late!”
“Geez, Applejack, you don’t need to be so grumpy.”
They came to a halt in front of the enormous mass of apple trees.
“I know I know, and Ah’m sorry. It’s just Ah’m so concerned about ‘em. They’re so young and fragile, and they have the rest of their lives ahead of them. I don’t want them doin’ something foolish they’ll regret forever. And just imagine how Rarity... and Scootaloo’s folks would react!”
“Scootaloo doesn't even have folks, remember? I once heard from... somepony that Scoot's parents took off a few years ago she was pretty little, abondoning the poor kiddo here. Apparently they ran into some bad business or something, but nopony really knows." A proud smile appeared on Rainbow Dash's face. "It's a good thing I'm around to keep an eye on the little rascal.”
“Yeah, Ah've heard the rumors about them, and they're all a bunch of... ugh... Rainbow! That ain’t the point! What I need y’all to do is fly over the orchard and look for ‘em," Applejack turned and stared Rainbow Dash in the eye, "And quit your boasting! You may spend a lot a' time with the filly, but YOU ain't the one providing for her! It ain't exactly a slice of apple pie for me and Rarity takin' turns givin' her a place to stay.”
Rainbow Dash's smile disappeared. However, to Applejack's surprise, the cyan pegasus raised her right hoof over her head. “Don’t worry, Applejack, I’ll find them in less than ten minutes flat!”
She flapped her wings and sped off like a bolt of lightning over the tree tops. Applejack watched the pegasus soar off into the distance and out of sight, then took a sigh of relief.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Why does she always say stuff like that?”
…
The earth-pony was astonished to see Rainbow Dash return almost instantly. Only a couple of minutes had passed.
“Applejack I found them! I was too high up to see what they were doing, but I managed to spot the kiddos underneath some dense trees!”
“Really, that fast? How far?”
“Not too far. Told you I'd find them in a jiff! They're only a few minutes gallop. Quick, follow my lead!”
Applejack galloped directly behind Rainbow Dash, who was flying low beneath the tree-branches. It wasn’t long after some weaving through the tree trunks that she noticed three small figures straight ahead. As they grew closer, Applejack was relieved to confirm the entities were, in fact, Applebloom and her friends.
They were standing in... a small hole?
…
“At this rate, we’re gonna get to that buried-treasure in no time. In fact, I think I feel something in the ground now!” said Scootaloo.
“Yeah, then we're gonna get our cutie marks in treasure-hunting for sure!” rejoiced Sweetie Belle.
“Well, It’s a good thing I happened to find this white stone X the other day, everypony knows X marks the spot!”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo rolled their eyes simultaneously, “We know, Applebloom. You were right, and you’re the bestest friend we could ever ask for.”
The three fillies dropped their spades whilst giggling and joined together in group hug.
“APPLEBLOOM!”
“Applejack?” Applebloom looked behind her and a saw a large orange mass for split second before it crashed into her.
Sweet Belle and Scootaloo saw the same, except a blue mass.
Before they knew what hit them, the crusaders found themselves looking up at two furious-looking mares.
“GIRLS! How could y’all even THINK about spaying yourselves?”
“Yeah, you guys are SO young! Just because you don’t wanna have foals now, doesn’t mean you won’t later. You’re making a HUGE mistake!”
“Ya also don’t know what you’re doing! Y’all could hurt yourselves or worse!”
The three fillies looked one another, they had no clue what Applejack and Rainbow Dash were talking about.
“Huh?” said the crusaders in unison.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash turn around to face the small hole behind them. There was nothing but three small spades inside. Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, who had a pained expression on her face. Applejack, the most dependable of ponies, started to realize that she... may have screwed this all up.
“Y’all were trying to spay yourselves, right?”
The crusader's usual cheery mood disappeared. “We don’t know what y’all are talking about!” blurted Applebloom.
“Yeah, we don’t even know what that means!” screeched Scootaloo.
“We were just digging for buried treasure so we could get our cutie marks!” retorted Sweetie Belle.
“And get rich in the process.” added Scootaloo.
Applejack couldn’t fathom what she was hearing. “But y’all said in the kitchen...”
“I said I was goin’ spading with my friends! Ya know, like digging a hole with a spade? Not this weird spaying... or whatever ya just said.”
There was a short silence, then Rainbow Dash began flapping her wings. “Well, I can see this actually is a whole lotta... nothing. I’m gonna go now and try to regain my lost sleep. Thanks a lot, Applejack.” Rainbow Dash bursted up through the trees, and quickly disappeared out of sight.
Applejack looked down at the ground. “Girls, Ah’m mighty sorry about my misunderstanding here. I thought I heard Applebloom say somethin’ else, and I thought the worst.”
She was startled to see the fillies wrapping their hooves around her in a big hug.
“It’s alright, Applejack, ya did what ya felt was right. Ah’m glad to know that I have a sister who cares enough about me to do that,” consoled Applebloom.
Applejack embraced the crusaders. She was relieved they were at least alright.
After a few moments of hugging, the mare happened to look up and notice something familiar. It was the dragged, discarded white stone "X" in the trees nearby. Applejack’s heart sank again for the second time in a day.
No. they couldn’t have...
She broke the hug, and galloped back over to the hole, leaving the once again puzzled fillies behind her.
Applejack didn’t even need to dig. One step into the hole, and her hoof pushed the dirt off the top of a long, white, almost cylindrical object.
It was a bone.
“OH SWEET CELESTIA, Y’ALL... DUG UP MA AND PA!”
"WHAT?" screamed Applebloom before she galloped to look into the hole. She gasped, then galloped over to the white "X" that apparently was the cross representing her parent's gravestone .
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle attempted to join their friend by the stone, but Scootaloo didn't get very far. Applejack placed her hooves on pegasus's back, lifted her off the ground, and swung her around. The furious mare glared directly into Scootaloo's timid eyes.
"THIS WAS YOUR IDEA! YOU'RE THE ONE ALWAYS CAUSIN' THE MOST TROUBLE!"
"Applejack, no! I would never..."
"ONLY A SICK BASTARD LIKE YOURSELF WOULD DIG UP SOMEPONY'S FINAL RESTIN' PLACE!"
Scootaloo, whose eyes were beginning to tear, gazed over at her friends, expecting them to say it wasn't true. They didn't utter a single world.
"Why, when I'm through with ya, Y'ALL ARE GONNA WISH YOU WERE WITH YOUR PARENTS UNDER..."
Expecting the worst, the pegasus closed her eyes. However, she didn't expect to feel Applejack loosen her grip, or feel herself falling and colliding with the ground below.
Scootaloo opened her eyes, and was shocked to see Applejack lying on her side, seemingly unconscious.
"APPLEJACK!" screamed Applebloom. The filly galloped to Applejack's side, placing her front hooves on her side. She shook Applejack a few times, but she wouldn't wake. "Why did she just collapse!" She looked up at Sweetie Belle, who stood right beside her. "This doesn't make one bit of sense! My folks' grave ain't nowhere near here!"
Out of nowhere, a large, magnificent yellow and bright crimson bird glided directly over their heads, depositing white goo on Scootaloo's nose. Too shocked to even notice the goo's rancid smell, Scootaloo and the others watched the bird soar through the orchard in front of them, weaving its way around the tree-trunks, until out of sight.
Whilst all this was happening, the crusaders were too flabbergasted to notice the dark clouds quickly moving in above. The wind began to pick up some speed.
Then it absolutely poured.
"What? It wasn't supposed to rain today! Rainbow Dash would've told me like she always..." Scootaloo stopped mid-sentence. She witnessed as the flat white surface of the gravestone transformed. The white color seemed to fade away, exposing two new colors, each covering about half of the stone. The utterly confused pegasus walked over to take a closer look.
Orange and purple.
Her eyes shot wide open. "Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?"
Scootaloo heard a sudden, loud WHOOSH behind her. The filly spun around and to her complete horror, saw nopony standing behind her.
"Guys? Come on... this... isn't funny!" cried the soaking wet, shaking, and terrified little filly.
BAM! A bolt of lightning struck a tree right behind her, and apples fell all around. Alarmed, Scootaloo ran full speed ahead. The torrential downpour greatly hindered her version, thus it didn't take long for Scootaloo to trip over something large and land face-first into a puddle. She quickly arose, and spun around to see Applejack still lying there, covered in mud.
"Applejack! Wake up! Something really weird is going on, and something happened to Sweetie Belle and Applebloom!"
She shook, and shook, and shook the mare, without avail. "Applejack, please, wake up!" sobbed the pegasus. She continued too shake Applejack violently, but Scootaloo couldn't help but observe the mare's unsusual stillness when she stopped to rest.
Realizing her efforts to wake Applejack futile, Scootaloo decided she needed to get help.
However, as soon as she raised her head, the filly's jaw dropped. Scootaloo stared at the hole she helped dig in front of her. Inside, the rain had washed all the dirt off the rest of the bones, revealing the two skeletons. It wasn't just the mere sight of the skeletons that overwhelmed the filly. It was gazing down at the skeletons of two pegasus ponies.
Scootaloo heard somepony, no, it seemed like two ponies chuckling behind her. Was it two?
Then just one pony.
She knew that laugh... she could trust it. It was the help Scootaloo so desperately wanted in her life.
And that's purely what she gave her...
