Author's Note

I'll be honest up front: I didn't have much success trying to AU Apple Family Reunion. While Pepper could've kept Applejack in check to a degree, the episode is meant for Applejack to learn what the tradition is about by hoof as the ponies would say. And my week off last week due to everything that had happened didn't help me come up with any better ideas then the intro you're going to see. So instead, have an episode that focuses on things going on in the background.

Oh, and here's to the return of this fanfic after the week-long hiatus that I had to go on because of last week's issues with the internet and fanfiction.

Extra note: As a reminder, some of the episodes from this point forward in season 3 will have some references to things from the Slade's Downfall story. While you can technically enjoy this story without reading that one, the events of that story do effect this one. So, if you haven't yet, go check it out: Rise of Shade: Book 1 - Slade's Downfall - Fimfiction

Season 3: Episode 17 - Apple Family Reunion Background

At Sweet Apple Acres, there was some talk between Applejack and Pepper.

"An apple family reunion huh? Being put in charge of that sounds exausting." Pepper said.

"Eeyep. So, got any advice for me this time?" Applejack asked.

"Unsure if there's any I can give outside of just try not to overthink things." Pepper said. "Besides, I think there's a certain pegasus who may need some of my advice more."

"Ah don't think Rainbow Dash--wait, you mean Scootaloo, don't you?" Applejack asked.

It was just a week ago, but the events of what occurred are still fresh in every pony's head.

"Yeah, I wanted to go check up on her; see if she's holding up okay after she...well...you know." Pepper said.

"Ah will say this much: That Pegasus sure did surprise the heck out of me. To comfort some pony that was like that took guts ah just don't have." Applejack said.

"And that's saying nothing about her heart." Pepper said.

"Yeah, you can say that again." Applejack said.

Pepper joined up with the other ham hams at the CMC clubhouse. The only member currently absent was Apple Bloom due to the Apple Family reunion.

"I keep telling you Pinkie, I want to wait until the others get their cutie marks." Scootaloo said to Pinkie Pie who was there as well. Somehow.

"Why are you so insistant? It's not every day I get to host a cutecenara!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Um...actually, from what my sister said, you've thrown every single one in Ponyville." Sweetie Belle said.

"Chill Pinkie; let Scootaloo wait. It's her decision." Diamond Tiara said.

"...Wait, what's Diamond Tiara doing here?" Pepper asked.

"What am I; expired hay?" Silver Spoon asked.

"Silver Spoon too? Must be a warm day on Pluto." Pepper said.

That got confused looks from four of the ponies in the room. "Uh...excuse me but what's a 'Pluto'?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"Silly, it's a planet from the world Hamtaro and his pals come from. Well, I say that but--" Pinkie Pie suddenly stopped herself. "WHOOPS! I almost said too much. Cupcake?" Pinkie Pie then stuffed a cupcake into her mouth.

"...That was random. I suppose Pinkie Pie knowing what Pluto is isn't the craziest thing in the world." Pepper said.

"True that." Hamtaro admitted.

"Honestly, that's seeming to be par for the course when it comes to Pinkie Pie. I've fully accepted that Pinkie Pie will just know everything at this point. Though, she said that we should avoid going home at all costs. Not sure why." Maxwell said.

"...Yeah that's just Pinkie Pie being random again." Sweetie Belle said.

"Speaking of whose here; how you holding up Scootaloo?" Pepper asked.

"Is this about what happened last week?" Scootaloo asked. "I'm fine. I know what I did shocked every pony there; as well as every hamster there; but I wouldn't change what happened for the world."

"Did I miss something? I know you ponies went to confront a certain attacker of Spoiled Rich a week ago, but you told me you wanted me to stay out of it." Shadow Skull said.

"Yeah...things about that got out of hand. I'll fill you in later." Harmony told her father.

"I'll hold you to that. Because I don't want there to be any secrets between us anymore." Shadow Skull said.

"I still find it odd that this guy who looks so evil can actually be so good." Diamond Tiara said.

"Darkness and Evil don't always go hand in hand young pony; Light can be just as evil as darkness is." Shadow Skull said.

"That's disturbing to think about..." Sweetie Belle said.

"Take it from me, Darkness and Light can only be as evil or as good as the one who uses it. And well, I wouldn't exactly say I'm a good person, but I'm not an evil person. You could call me somewhere in-between." Shadow Skull said.

"So, speaking of last week, what do you think that light particle effect meant that got absorbed into Scootaloo?" Sparkle asked.

"...Pardon? What's this about absorbed light particles?" Shadow Skull asked. "Okay, after that comment, I need to know everything."

Some time later...

The apple family reunion had been underway, but then...

"ARE YOU INSANE?!"

Shadow Skull was starting to do some panic breathing in the CMC clubhouse. "Do you have any idea what this means? If this news gets out, Scootaloo's life is going to be in danger." He said. "Because if this news gets out, thousands of assissns are going to come out of the woodworks."

"Chill father. No one has even said anything specific about what happened." Harmony said.

"Yeah. We are on purpose being vague about it." Hamtaro affirmed.

"...I-I guess that's clever..." Shadow Skull said. "I may be immortal, but that doesn't mean I'm immune to getting a heart attack. Gah...and what a way to almost get one too..."

"I thought being immortal meant you can't die of desiese and could just get beat up?" Scootaloo asked.

"Not...exactly. See, my dark magic keeps me immortal. But I can still get sick, which would interupt that flow of magic. Why do you think I study ways to prevent illness? I have to keep myself in perfect health, otherwise, I'll turn to dust in the wind for how long I've been alive." Shadow Skull said.

"Oh. So then a heart attack would be just as fatal to you as it is to us then huh?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yeah that's basically correct." Shadow Skull said.

"And let's be real, so long as we keep things vague, no pony is going to find out about what happened." Scootaloo assured the dark mage.

"Yeah...yeah your right." Shadow Skull said.

But unbeknownst to the group, while it was true that no pony was going to find out, some hamster did.

A very particular hamster.

A very devilish hamster.

And evil, and very mischievous hamster.

As said hamster flew away, he began laughing evilly.