Spike and the girls

The mood in the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse was highly concentrated. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had immediately gathered in the small tree house on the Apple family property after saying goodbye to Spike to consult on the upcoming investigation.

To illustrate the seriousness of the situation, Apple Bloom had used a little of the school's drama. She stood at attention behind the podium, her red hair pulled back under a barrett and her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm from behind sunglasses. Although the Cutie Mark Crusaders had always shown the same enthusiasm in all their previous tasks, this mission was particularly dear to Apple Bloom's heart. It was probably the most important task they had ever been given. She banged the tip of her pointer against the board on which the faces of Spike, Twilight and Rarity were shown, and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, who were crouched on the floor, flinched.

"So, where do we start?" asked Apple Bloom. "What's the best way to find out what Twilight and Rarity are arguing about?"

"We could just ask someone," suggested Sweetie Belle. "Fluttershy, for example. I don't think she could hide anything from us if we asked her directly."

Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle. "Declined," she said shortly.

"Why?" asked Sweetie Belle indignantly.

"Because we have to investigate," explained Apple Bloom, as if the matter were obvious. "We can't just go up to anyone and ask questions. You shadow and eavesdrop and collect clues and stuff like that."

"If we're detectives, why do you look like a soldier?" countered Sweetie Belle. "And don't detectives question other people too?"

"Oh, right," Apple Bloom had to admit.

"So we're detectives now?" Scootaloo interjected. She apparently hadn't noticed. "I thought we were on a secret mission, like spies. Should I get us some big hats and long coats then? I think there are still some like that in the theater box at school. Oh, and a tape that says: This message will self-destruct. We'll probably need binoculars and magnifying glasses too!"

Sweetie Belle frowned. "I don't think we need all of this. Most of it would probably be unnecessary anyway."

"Ladies," Apple Bloom said, clapping her hands before Scootaloo could reply. "We can talk about the equipment later. For now, we need to figure out how to help Spike."

All three thought for a moment.

Until Scootaloo finally groaned loudly. "Ugh! All this thinking is making me hungry. Sweetie Belle, I'll take an apple from your bag, OK?" she said, rummaging through Sweetie's shoulder bag, which she had placed against the wall, until she found one and found it in her hand.

Sweetie Belle immediately jumped up. "Wait, Scootaloo, that's mine!"

"Oh, come on, don't be so stingy," said Scootaloo, opening her mouth first to take a bite of the apple, then to cry out in shock as a small bolt of lightning sent the apple flying from her hand. "Hey!"

Sweetie Belle caught the apple out of the air and held it safely in her hands. "That's mine," she said firmly.

"Oh man, you could have just picked a new one," remarked Scootaloo, shaking her hand even though the bolt of lightning had been no more painful than a small smack of the fingers.

"You pick one yourself," replied Sweetie Belle.

"As if this apple is so special." Scootaloo took a closer look. "Isn't that the apple with the spike..."

"It's not!", interrupted Sweetie Belle. "It's a normal apple. And it's mine." She stomped over to her bag, slung it over her shoulder and shoved the apple back in.

"Now you're exaggerating," said Scootaloo.

Before Sweetie Belle could reply, Apple Bloom had already walked to an open window. "If you really want an apple," she said, stretching out, "then take this one." When she slid back in, she was holding a bright red apple in her hand, which she deftly threw to Scootaloo.

"Can we get back to business now?" Apple Bloom asked, ignoring Scootaloo sticking her tongue out at Sweetie Belle before she took a bite of the apple.

"Maybe," Sweetie Belle finally said hesitantly, "we should talk to Spike first."

"But Spike wants us to find out because he doesn't know," Scootaloo smacked her lips.

"I know," Sweetie Belle quickly agreed. "I just thought maybe he had some idea or guess or something. He is our client after all and..."

"True, that's a good idea," agreed Apple Bloom, nodding her head. "But it would be too conspicuous if we all went to him at once."

"Then I'll go alone," suggested Sweetie Belle immediately, her eyes shining. "It was my idea after all and..."

"I actually thought I was going to Spike," Apple Bloom protested.

"Why?"

"Because you're going to Rarity."

"Why is that?"

"Well, to question her, of course."

"Why do I have to do that?"

"Because she's your sister. Of course."

"But it would be too conspicuous if I were the one questioning her."

Scootaloo looked back and forth between her friends. "Well, it gives you the feeling that you just want to see Spike," she said.

The other two Cutie Mark Crusaders froze, their faces turning red.

"What nonsense," muttered Sweetie Belle.

"I'm just trying to be professional," Apple Bloom coughed.

"If you think so," said Scootaloo, but still had some objections of her own. "I don't think we should go to Spike. Let's give him some rest. He's been through a lot today." She looked clearly at Apple Bloom to remind her of Spike's near-suffocation, which she had caused.

Apple Bloom put her fingertips together, embarrassed.

"Besides," added Sweetie Belle, who had to agree with her friend. "He's with Twilight right now."

The other two shuddered aswell.

It was clear that they had to leave Spike out of it for the moment. Twilight would take up all of his time. Starlight Glimmer was also out of the question. She was too close to the Princess of Friendship.

"So what do we do then?" asked Scootaloo. "We have to start somewhere."

Apple Bloom thought for a moment.

"The best thing to do is just ask around," she finally decided. "Someone must have heard something."

"We could ask Rainbow Dash," suggested Scootaloo enthusiastically.

"Wouldn't it be a bit obvious if the three of us suddenly went out and started asking questions?" objected Sweetie Belle. "I mean, this is still a secret mission."

Sweetie Belle was right about that, of course. They had to think of something to avoid attracting attention.

"Then let's do it like that," suggested Apple Bloom. "We split up and each question someone else. Spike and Twilight are out, but we can always question the others."

Sweetie Belle crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I already told you that I won't question my own sister."

"You don't have to. Each of us will question someone else. So no one gets suspicious. Sweetie Belle, you go to Apple Jack. And Scootaloo goes to Rarity."

"Why do I have to go to Rarity? Can't you do it yourself?"

"No way," said Apple Bloom quickly and muttered: "Rarity can be really scary. Nothing against you, Sweetie Belle."

"It's fine. Why do you think I didn't want to question her?"

"But why should I do it then?" asked Scootaloo, who was just as scared of Rarity as the others. The whole thing sounded to her as if she was a stupid pawn sacrifice.

"Come on, Scootaloo. Someone has to do it."

"Yeah, but it won't be me," she insisted.

Sweetie Belle decided to intervene. "Oh my God, just flip a coin or something."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other.

"Okay, I'm all for that," said Apple Bloom.

"Me too," said Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle fished a coin out of her pocket and placed it on her thumb.

"The loser has to go to Rarity, got it?" she said and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded.

"Ready?" asked Sweetie Belle and flicked the coin into the air with a tinkling sound.

"Heads," said Scootaloo.

"Tails," said Apple Bloom.
The coin fell to the ground between the three of them, where it spun around excitedly. Slowed down and slowed down. And finally lay still.

"Tails," said Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo groaned "Oh no!" and ran her hand over her stunned face while Apple Bloom clenched her fist in satisfaction.

"Sorry, Soots, but that's the rules," said Sweetie Belle as she picked up the coin again. "You have to go to Rarity."

"Fine, I'll do it," Scootaloo said reluctantly, turning to Apple Bloom. "But who are you going to see then?"

Apple Bloom smiled triumphantly. "I'm going to ask Zecora a few questions. Twilight has been visiting her a lot lately. Maybe she knows what happened. Besides, we'll be less conspicuous if we don't focus on Twilight and Rarity's immediate circle of friends."

"That's a good idea," Sweetie Belle said approvingly.

"Okay, then it's a deal," said Apple Bloom, holding out her hand. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo put theirs on it and the three of them said: "Cutie Mark Crusaders on a secret mission - Let's help Spike settle Twilight and Rarity's argument!"

With that, they threw their hands up.

"The title is much too long," Scootaloo remarked dryly as she turned to the door.

"It's just what we do," said Apple Bloom.

"But isn't that kind of stupid? If what we're doing is a secret mission?"

"True, you're right about that."

The two giggled. Sweetie Belle had stayed behind to get her bag. As she picked it up, she felt the apple that she had argued with Scootaloo about. She took it out and looked at it briefly. White lines were visible under a red peel where the apple had been stuck between Spike's teeth.

Sweetie Belle smelled it briefly, then took a bite. She had eaten many apples before, but never had one seemed so wonderfully sweet.

Almost like a kiss.