Big Siblings

Chapters

Chariot-Racing around Ponyville
Break Time at the Spa
Boxing at the Bar
Fort Battle at the Library
Survival in the Everfree Forest
Game Over; Time for Bed
We Wanna Play!
Hide-n'-Seek at Sweet Apple Acres

Chariot-Racing around Ponyville

The wagon began to descend, and soon it began to bounce off the straw roofs of Ponyville houses. Sweetie Belle and Rumble made “whoas” after every bounce, until they stopped bouncing. They were on a roof, but instead of bounding to the next, they rolled down this one. The wagon fell onto the cover of a stall, which bounced them lightly and safely onto Ponyville Square. Once they came to a complete stop, they began to laugh.

“That was amazing!” Sweetie Belle said with a crack in her voice. “So that’s what it’s like to fly.”

Rumble hopped out, and his legs began to wobble. “Yeah, sorta. We didn’t do any tricks, though.”

“Well, yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “But still, it was fun.”

“Yeah, it was.”

“Hey, Rumble!” a voice called. The two looked over to see two pegasi, Cloudchaser and Flitter, walking towards them with two steaming cups. “What’re you doing out here in this kind of weather?” Cloudchaser asked.

“And who’s your fillyfriend?” Flitter asked coyly.

Rumble’s eyes widened. “What? She’s not my fillyfriend!”

“Rumble’s got a fillyfriend! Rumble’s got a fillyfriend!” Flitter stomped her hooves in time as she sang. There was a clap of thunder, and Flitter whooped and danced around, still singing with her cup on her back.

Cloudchaser rolled her eyes and looked at Sweetie Belle. “Don’t mind her. She gets energetic when she gets hot cocoa… or sugar, for that matter.” She grinned. “You’re blushing.”

It was Sweetie Belle’s turn for her eyes to widen. “What?” she squeaked. “I-I’m not blushing!”Rumble turned to look at her, and she quickly turned away. “I’m not!”

“It’s okay if you two are ponyfriends,” Cloudchaser said reassuringly.

Rumble shook his head and fluttered up to nuzzle the mare. “Aw, you know you’re the only mare for me, Miss Cloudchaser.”

The mare chuckled. “Now Rumble, you’re much too young for me. Maybe when you’re older. Besides,” She continued, turning his head, “you have a pretty filly right here that’s your age who likes you.”

Rumble pushed her hooves off. “She’s not my fillyfriend!”

Sweetie Belle stomped the ground, face pink. “I’m not his fillyfriend!”

“Whatever,” Cloudchaser said. “What are you two doing out here in the rain?”

They heard two voices in the distance. “Sweetie Belle!”

“Rumble!”

The foals looked at each other. “We’re playing a game with Thunderlane and her big sister.”

Flitter stopped dancing around with a smile on her face. “Ooh, a game! What kind of game?”

“We’re running away from them!” Sweetie Belle chirped.

Cloudchaser raised a brow. “Running away?”

“Not running away, really, but running away, you know?” Rumble took the wagon handle in his mouth. “’nd vwe gutta run ergern!”

“Hold your reins, Rumble,” Cloudchaser said taking a mature tone. “It’s really starting to rain, and you two are going to get sick.”

Rumble patted her foreleg. “Don’t worry about us, Miss Cloudchaser. We’ll be done as soon as they catch us.

“And when will that be?” Cluodchaser asked with a raised brow. The foals looked at each other, unable to answer. She sighed. “I’m just looking out for you foals, make sure you don’t hurt yourselves or get sick.”

Flitter raspberried. “Aw, let them have their fun, Ceecee!” Before she could say anything more, Cloudchaser cut her off.

“Sorry, Flitter, but I’m your older sister—“

“By about five minutes…”

“And I say that we, as responsible adults, have to make sure they don’t hurt themselves.” She looked at the two younger ponies. “We’re going to wait for them and make sure you get home.”

“Aw!” All three of the others sounded.

Rarity’s body was covered with sweat and rain when they reached Ponyville Square. Thunderlane was flying above them; they somehow made it to the square at the same time. Thunderlane was looking on the roofs, while Rarity began walking, panting from the run.

“Oh, that Rumble,” Rarity muttered under her breath. “Taking my sister on a wild chase and putting her in danger. When I get my hooves on that colt, I’m gonna—“

“Excuse me!”

Rarity looked over to see a pegasus mare waving at her. “Sorry, dear, but I’m kinda busy right now.”

“You looking for your sister?”

Rarity stopped and looked at her. “Y-yes, how’d you know?”

“Where’s Thunderlane?”

She looked up and saw him about to head to the Everfree Forest. “Thunderlane!” she yelled. “Down here!”

Thunderlane flew down and joined her. “D’ya find ‘em?” He glanced over at the mare. “Hello, Cloudchaser.”

Cloudchaser nodded at him. “Rumble got away from you again?”

Thunderlane chuckled. “Yeah. Have you seem him?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen him with a unicorn filly.” Cloudchaser looked at Rarity, who nodded. “Are they special someponies?”

Thunderlane prepared to think about that, but Rarity answered with “That’s not important right now. We just need to get them home.”

Cloudchaser nodded. “I understand. Yeah, the storm looks like it’s about to become really bad.” She pointed a wing behind her. “They’re right there.”

They looked behind her. “Um, darling?”

“Yes?”

“They’re not there.”

Cloudchaser’s eyes shot open. “What?” She looked back; the only thing that was there was a steaming cup of hot cocoa. “Bu-but I don’t understand! They were just right here a second ago!” She darted this way and that. Her eyes went to the cup again, and then her gaze narrowed. “Ugh, Flitter, why now?”

Suddenly, they all heard a bump. Right by town hall, almost out of their sight, they spotted a carriage. And in that carriage, a tuft of poofy mane was sticking out.

“Sweetie Belle!”

The tuft lifted to reveal the filly peeking out of it. “Oh, hey, Rarity. I was just, um…” she turned away from them. “Go go go!”

There was a scrambling of hooves, and then Sweetie Belle and the carriage were gone. Thunderlane flew up over Town Hall.

“They’re using that to get away!” He darted down. “Come on!” He harnessed himself up to a carriage close by and motioned for Rarity to get in.

“Wait, can’t you just fly after and catch them? It would be much eas—“

“There’s no time for that,” Cloudchaser interrupted before scooping Rarity up and dumping her in the carriage. She put on the other harness and nodded to Thunderlane.

He looked back at a wobbly-eyed Rarity. “You might wanna hang on!”

Rarity shook her head clear and glared at him. “This is ridiculous! Running around in a carriage—“ A crash of thunder. “In the rain, no less, when you could just—“

Before she could say anything more, the two pegasi reared up and launched off. Rarity fell to the ground of the carriage, hitting the back with an oomph!

The race was on.

Their carriage leaned on its right side as Thunderlane and Cloudchaser went around Town Hall; Rarity slid to the side, just barely stopping herself from completely crashing. It leveled out, and the pegasi were in a straight sprint after the other carriage, which was just rounding a corner. Rarity had to latch herself onto the front to keep from bouncing around, and the rush of air and rain was beginning to sting her eyes.

They turned the corner, and saw the foals and Flitter galloping away. Flitter looked back at them and gasped. “We hafta pick up the pace!” she said to Rumble.

“This way!” He turned right, steering the carriage along with him. Sweetie Belle yelled with glee, giggling along the way.

“Come on, Thunderlane,” Cloudchaser said with a grin. The older pegasi gracefully turned to the right, finding that the foals were farther ahead. Rumble turned down a left alleyway, and Thunderlane did the same.

“Go right!” Rarity yelled.

“Yes, I see them going right!” Thunderlane yelled back. They went right.

“Go left!” Rarity yelled.

“Got it!” Cloudchaser responded. They turned left.

The race continued like this for some time. At times they would be in the open, allowing for the older ponies to gallop and close the distance on the younger ponies; at other times, Rumble would take them around buildings and alleyways, getting farther away from them. Lightning lit up the sky and thunder roared as if cheering for this event, wanting to see more.

Rarity stared on with grim determination at Sweetie Belle, who was giggling and shouting “Whee!” whenever they turned. Sweetie Belle would shout her own commands at times, and Rarity watched as they obeyed. At one point, when Thunderlane almost had her in hooves’ reach, Sweetie Belle made them turn at the last second, taking the older ponies off guard and sending them in another direction. Rarity groaned with frustration, but couldn’t help a small smirk play on her face with the cleverness of her younger sister.

They passed the library, and Sweetie Belle looked back at them. “When’re you foals going to give up?”

Thunderlane smirked. “Oh, just you wait, Sweetie Belle. When we catch you—“

“You might wanna go slower,” she said. “You may get Rarity’s mane dirty.”

Rarity glared at her sister. “Ooh, Sweetie Belle! You’re not going to get away from me, even if I have to get mud on me!”

“That’s good,” Flitter said ahead of them. “Because we’re headed onto a muddy trail!” Sweetie Belle raspberried, and then looked ahead.

They entered the park, where instead of staying on the trail, the younger pegasi decided to run on the grass, with Thunderlane and Cloudchaser not far behind. The carriages bounced this way and that, sometimes lifting right off the ground after going over a small hill. Rarity caught sight of her picnic basket, grabbing it with her magic and setting it next to her, putting the two-headed kite inside.

They then galloped on the path to Sweet Apple Acres, along the now-muddy trail. The rain was beginning to pool at Rarity’s hooves, and the pegasi’s galloping was kicking up a lot of mud.

“Eek!” Rarity ducked, narrowly avoiding a glob of mud. “Would you mind not flinging so much mud around?”

The two pegasi, who themselves were covered to their knees in mud, didn’t pay her any mind. They were closing in on Rumble and Flitter, who were muddy to their bellies. Sweetie Belle looked back, and stopped laughing.

“You gotta go faster!” she yelled at Rumble.

Rumble was panting. “I-I’m trying, but I’m getting tired.”

“Come on, Rumble,” Sweetie Belle said. “You’ve been doing so good! You can’t quit now!” Rumble began to stumble, and she leaned in towards him. “You’re not gonna let me down, are you?”

Rumble looked back at her, saw her pleading look, and then swallowed and surged forward, almost making Flitter tumble down.

“Yay, Rumble!” Sweetie Belle yelled.

Rarity grinned. Well, Sweetie Belle, looks like you know how to manipulate colts.

“Alright, Rumble,” Flitter said. “Let’s leave these old-timers in the dust.”

Rarity’s eyes shot open. “Who’re you calling an old-timer!?” She looked at Thunderlane, who was himself beginning to slow down. “Thunderlaaaane,” she whined. “Catch them. Catch them so I can make her pay!”

She didn’t notice the mud until it was too late. A large splotch of mud hit her right in the face, covering her eyes and muzzle. She spurted, wiping it off. “Ew!” She was even less prepared for what came next. They were almost at the end of the trail that would bring them back to Ponyville proper, but instead of finishing, the pegasi made a hard right, sending the wagon on one wheel, Rarity flying to the other side, and the mud cascading onto her coat.

She glowed red. “What are you doing?” They were currently going through a patch of trees.

“We’re taking a shortcut,” Thunderlane yelled as they dodged bushes. The carriage went over them, covering Rarity in leaves.

“Pfft puh!” Rarity spit to get the leaves out of her mouth. “Couldn’t you just catch them on this road?”

“It’ll be quicker this way.” The pegasi leapt over a rock, and the carriage hit it, sending Rarity flying almost out of it. They found themselves on a street in the edge of Ponyville proper, the one where the dirt road led to.

“Now we’ll just wait a second and—“

It was literally a second before two younger pegasi, a carriage and a unicorn filly turned into view. They were laughing to themselves, but upon seeing the older ponies standing in front of them, tried putting on the brakes.

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Rumble blurted.

“We’ve got you this time,” Thunderlane said triumphantly.

Rarity looked up at them, and saw that Sweetie Belle’s mane and face were dappled in mud. “And when I get my hooves on you two, I’m going to—“

She didn’t get to finish. In a last-ditch effort, Rumble jumped into the air, carrying Flitter with him, and began to fly. The carriage lifted along with them, and soon they were clear over the older ponies, flying up and away.

Rarity stared in disbelief before narrowing her gaze. “Oh, you’re good, Rumble. You’re good.”

“All right!” Cloudchaser yelled, beginning to turn with her companion.

“Here we go,” Thunderlane said.

Rarity blinked as she felt the carriage turning. “Wait, what!?” They all began to gallop after them. “Wait, I don’t want to fly. It’s too high, let me out!” But it was to no avail. Before she could climb out, the two pegasi had already launched themselves into the air, taking the carriage with them. Rarity screamed and dropped to the floor. Higher and higher they went, getting closer to the storm clouds. They didn’t go too close to them, though, and soon they were having an aerial chase.

Rarity peeked over the edge and saw Ponyville Square whizzing by, their shadow gliding over the rooftops. She had flown before, in Princess Celestia’s personal chariot, but it hadn’t gone as fast as they were going now. Rarity couldn’t help but begin to whimper.

I could fall, she thought. And then another thought pressed into her mind. Sweetie Belle could fall!

She looked at her sister, who was staring down and then up and all around in wide-eyed wonder. She reached out to touch the rain, and the bolts of lightning flashed, she oohed. Rarity’s heart almost leapt out of her when Sweetie Belle glanced over the edge, forehooves dangling.

“Sweetie Belle!” she yelled. The filly didn’t look back. “Get away from the edge, you’ll fall!”

Sweetie Belle looked back at her. “Look down, Rarity! Isn’t it great?”

“Yes, it is,” Rarity said quickly. “It is a nice view—“

When she looked down again, she gasped. She knew Sweet Apple Acres was big, but when they were above it, she could see just how vast it was. The tops of the trees glistened with rain, waving with the wind, almost singing voicelessly with it. There was a rainbow of color in the western orchards, along with a large red figure looking out. She saw the mill and the barn, and when she looked again at the sea of treetops, she spotted Apple Bloom and Applejack waving at them, shouting
something indistinguishable. She waved back.

“Oh my stars.”

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Cloudchaser asked, looking back at her.

“Breathtaking,” Rarity said. She looked back at Sweetie Belle, who had finished waving.

“You liking this?” Rumble asked.

“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “I’m actually flying!”

Flitter whooped. “Well, how’s about we do some tricks now?”

Rarity’s eyes shot open. “Oh, don’t you dare, you! That’s my sister!”

“She’ll be fine,” Flitter said as she and Rumble began leaning back.

Rarity watched aghast as the carriage out front soon became perpendicular to the ground, with Sweetie Belle holding on to the front. They continued leaning back, and soon they were upside down. Sweetie Belle looked down at Rarity.

“Hi Rarity!”

Rarity couldn’t speak before they began leaning back as well. “What are you doing?”

“Hang on.”

“What are you doing!?”

There was no answer, and soon Rarity found herself experiencing a backflip in the air. Her stomach churned and her head spun, and she soon found herself upside down as well, watching the other finish their flip and flying off. She barely managed to snag the basket with her magic. The rain fell out of the wagon.

“Yyyyaaaaaaaaaaah!”

And then it was over.

Rarity opened her eyes and found them right-side-up again. Rarity gasped for air, her heart pounding. “Pleeeeease don’t do that again,” she whined. When they were right again, something stirred in her. Something she hadn’t experienced before. She tried brushing it away, but she couldn’t. And then voices sounded in front.

“Come on, Flitter,” Rumble said. “Let’s do a barrel roll.”

Flitter nodded, and soon Rarity was watching aghast as they younger ponies were rolling to the right, and then to the left. Thunderlane and Cloudchaser watched without doing it. Sweetie Belle’s head bobbed this way and that.

“Whoawhooooawhoooooooooa!” Sweetie Belle didn’t look back at Rarity as she spoke. “You gotta try this, Rarity!”

The feeling came back, Rarity’s stomach churning pleasantly. She was confused, and her body tightened, and she sighed quickly. “All right, Sweetie Belle. Just one.”

The pegasi looked at her, and then nodded, rolling their bodies to the right. Rarity felt herself spinning, quickly going upside down before becoming right again. Rarity couldn’t suppress her giggling, and soon found herself rolling to the left. They
stopped and continued on, Rarity laughing.

“This is wonderful!” she yelled, keeping hold of the basket. The pegasi smiled, and Sweetie Belle joined her sister in laughter. Rarity had wondered what Rainbow Dash found in going fast and doing flips and dives and rolls in the sky, and now she understood the rush felt.

They made it to Ponyville proper, where the younger pegasi made a risky decision. They began flying close to the rooftops, dodging in and out of the chimneytops. The older pegasi tried following them, but it was harder for them to maneuver.

“Rumble!” Thunderlane yelled with a tinge of worry in his voice. “Pull up! You’re going to get hurt!”

“Okay!” There was no argument from any of them, and they pulled up as a wheel skimmed the top of the chimney. The older ponies pulled up, but Thunderlane’s foreleg hit the top.

“Gah!”

“Are you alright?” Rarity asked.

“He’s bleeding,” Cloudchaser replied.

“I’ll be fine.” Thunderlane looked up and saw that Flitter and Rumble were beginning to lose speed. “Aha! I’ve got you now!”
Sweetie Belle looked back and saw the older ponies gaining ground fast. “Uh-oh.”

“What’re we gonna do?” Rumble panted.

Sweetie Belle thought for a moment. “I have an idea. Go to the lake.”

They obeyed, and soon they were all heading towards the lake. It wasn’t too far away, and they reached it in seconds. The rain was becoming a downpour.

“Give it up, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said. “It’s over.”

Sweetie Belle looked back as they reached the lake. “Fine.” She stood up.

Rarity leaned forward. “Sit back down, Sweetie Be—“

“But you gotta catch me first!” And she leapt out.

Rarity’s heart stopped as she watched her sister plummet towards the lake. She made to jump after her, but there was a turn to the right, and she was thrown down. She quickly got up and looked out, and saw the foam where Sweetie Belle had landed in the water.

“Sweetie Belle!” The carriage began to descend as Rarity felt tears burn her eyes.

They were heading straight for a field. Cloudchaser unlatched herself a dove straight into Flitter, leaving the carriage to descend to the ground ponyless. Thunderlane struggled to stay upright, and he and Rarity were heading straight for the ground.

“Thunderlane! Pull up!”

“I’m trying!”

They came to the ground, and Thunderlane just barely managed to get his hoofing, and he galloped on the ground, the carriage steadying itself. Rarity closed her eyes, praying it would go well. Eventually, they came to a halt in the middle of the field. The carriage next to them crashed and broke, the wheels bouncing and rolling off into the forest.

Rarity leapt out, ignoring her stomach and her wobbly legs, and began galloping towards the lake. “Sweetie Belle!”

Thunderlane threw the harness off and ran towards the wreckage. “Rumble?”

“D-don’t worry about him,” Flitter said under her sister’s weight. “He got out before it crashed. He went to the lake.”

Thunderlane flew up.

Rarity reached the lake and dove in, washing the mud off. She swam to where the foam was, and plunged in. The bottom was clear save for some rocks; Sweetie Belle was nowhere to be found. Rarity soon ran out of air, and kicked back up to the surface.

“Sweetie Belle?” She looked around, seeing no sign of her baby sister. “Sweetie Belle?”

Thunderlane flew down to her, causing her to scream. “It’s alright; your sister’s okay. I saw her and Rumble running into Ponyville, towards what I think is the spa.”

She didn’t wait for him to reply, and swam to shore began galloping away. Thunderlane flew next to her and joined her in galloping.

“Your sister’s okay,” Thunderlane reassured her. “It wasn’t that high of a drop. She couldn’t have gotten hurt unless she belly-flopped.”

Rarity turned to him. “She shouldn’t have—“

“I know,” Thunderlane said, giving her a light nuzzle. “But she’s fine. Let’s just find her.”

Rarity looked at the rapidly approaching view of Ponyville, and galloped faster. There was something about this that was firing something in her, making her eyes burn and her hooves feel light.

Am I mad that she jumped? Or am I mad because she got away?

The two sisters finished dragging the wreckage to Town Hall and set it down. Not a word had been exchanged between them. Cloudchaser had glared at Flitter whenever she looked up, prompting the younger mare to look at the ground the whole way.

“There,” Cloudchaser said with finality. She walked over to Flitter, who didn’t look up. “It’s over.”

Flitter nodded wordlessly. Then, without warning, Cloudchaser wrapped her neck around Flitter’s.

“What are you doing?”

“I just want you to know that there are no hard feelings,” Cloudchaser said. “We had fun, and it got out of hoof.” Flitter looked up and saw Cloudchaser smiling at her. “Don’t beat yourself up over the fact that in the end, the carriage was destroyed and you lost.”

They looked at each other for a second, and then Flitter scoffed. “I did not lose!”

Cloudchaser shook her head with a smirk. “You did too. I caught you.”

“Did not!”

“Oh yeah,” Cloudchaser said in a challenging tone. “If you still have some energy, how about a race home?”

Flitter blinked. “In this weather?” She pointed at the sky. “It’s beginning to rain pretty hard, and—“

When she looked back, Cloudchaser was gone.

“Huh?”

“Yo, Flit!” Cloudchaser was leaning against the candle on the cupcake of Sugarcube Corner. “We gonna race or not?” She blew her a raspberry and began flying off.

Flitter had no idea what to think at the moment—after the wreck and the hug—but one thing went through her mind immediately:

“Yeah, of course you’d need a head start!” She galloped and took off past the cupcake, soon catching sight of her sister and giving chase.

Break Time at the Spa

Sweetie Belle and Rumble reached the door as more lightning flashed. They knocked on it furiously. A few seconds later, a blue-coated mare with a pink mane answered.

“Goodness, me!” she cried. “What are you foals doing out here in this storm?”

They were shivering. “We-we’re playng hide-n’-seek from m-my big b-b-brother and h-her big s-sis-ster,” Rumble said.

“And we n-need a place to hide,” Sweetie Belle said, scooting to lean against Rumble. He began blushing. “C-can we come inside?”

“Of course!” The mare widened the door and beckoned the two inside. Once inside, she went to the back. “Aloe!” she called. “Aloe, fetch me some towels!”

There was rustling in the back, and then a pink-coated mare with a blue mane came out, saw them, and began to wrap a towel around each of them.

“There we go,” the blue pony said upon return. “Now, you two come back here and get in the tub. We need to keep you warm.” The two foals, still side-by-side, obliged.

“But what if they find us?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Rumble nuzzled her on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t think they saw us come in here.”

Sweetie Belle had to turn so he wouldn’t see her face turn pink. She looked up to see Aloe grinning at her. “He’s not my coltfriend!”

“Besides,” Rumble said, his ears falling slightly. “At least we’ll be warm.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the steaming tub in front of them. “Yeah, that’s true.”

They had sprinted most of the way there, but Thunderlane was beginning to fall behind. The rain was coming down hard, drenching the two ponies outside. Thunder rumbled continuously, and the wind was beginning to slow them down. Rarity continued to gallop, while Thunderlane began to limp.

“Darnit, my leg!” Thunderlane said as he almost fell on his underside. His foreleg continued to bleed, the blood flowing down his foreleg. “How much farther to the spa?”

They passed the library when Rarity answered. “It’s that building right there,” she said, motioning to the blue building in front of them.

“Good, ‘cause I don’t think I can—Gah!” His left foreleg gave out, sending him tumbling over.

Rarity stopped and looked back. “Thunderlane!” She cantered back to him, her lungs catching up to her. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said. “It’s just my leg.” He lifted it up to find that the cut had gone deeper, and more blood poured out.

“Oh, dear,” she said, looking back at the spa. “They’ll have bandages in there,” she said. “Can you walk?”

He pushed himself up and steadied himself. “Yeah, I think so.” Without waiting for a reply, he began walking towards the spa. His leg almost gave out again, but Rarity trotted up to him and supported him with her body. Thunderlane soon found himself leaning on her. “You don’t have to do that—“

“Please,” Rarity said softly, walking in time with him. “We just need to get there.”

“I can get there all by myself.” He tried pushing himself off and began to walk, but his leg gave out again. “Darnit!”

Rarity lifted his body up with her magic, and stood next to him again. “Stop being so stubborn about this.” They began walking in tandem again. “We’re just going to go inside and get you bandaged up, get our younger siblings and then get out of this storm.”

Thunderlane sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Rarity stopped for a moment. “Whatever for?”

She barely heard him say, “For being a burden.”

Rarity was quiet for a moment, and then she shifted his body to where his neck was close to hers. “You hurt yourself. I’m helping you. That’s not being a burden. You have a good reason to get help.”

Thunderlane didn’t reply. Rarity looked at him, but he just kept his gaze at the ground. Not pressing further, she stopped and knocked on the door.

A moment later, Lotus opened the door. “Oh, you are looking for your brother and sister?”

“Yes,” Rarity answered quickly, walking inside. “But he’s hurt.” She lifted Thunderlane’s foreleg to show her. “Do you have any bandages?”

Lotus backed away from the bleeding leg, turning a shade paler before nodding. “Yes, I can bandage this up. You must follow me.” She opened the door to the main part of the spa, and guided them inside. The two ponies saw their siblings sitting the hot tub, but before either of them could speak, Lotus pushed them in a darker area surrounded by curtains. It had one bed.

“Lay him down here,” she said, attempting to lift his hindquarters onto the bed.

“I got it,” he said quickly, throwing himself onto it.

Lotus nodded. “Okay, now you wait here and hold this on the cut—“ she laid a towel over the cut and pressed down; Thunderlane gasped, and then used his other foreleg to hold it there. “—while I go and get some supplies from my room.” With that, she dashed out. They heard her say something, and then heard hoofsteps going up.

Rarity looked at Thunderlane, who watched the white towel become pink, and then red. They did not speak to each other, so Rarity looked out to check on the others. Sweetie Belle’s back was to her, but her head was leaning back; Rumble’s head was leaned back as well, but she could see he had cucumber slices over his eyes. She bit back a chuckle, remembering why they were here at all. When Lotus returned, Rarity went out of the curtain and walked over to the filly, who sighed.

“Isn’t this great, Rumble?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We get to sit in a hot tub while Rarity and your brother are looking for us.”

Rumble hesitated before speaking. “I hope they’re okay… and they’re not too mad at us.”

“Pssht!” Sweetie Belle waved playfully at him. “They’re fine. I’m sure once we’re done here, we can either just wait here for them, or run off again. We can outrun them again.”

“Oh, can you now?”

Sweetie Belle squeaked and turned around, revealing that she, too, had cucumber slices. Rumble shot up and removed his slices, staring at her in shock. “Rarity?” Sweetie Belle gasped, shrinking back.

“That’s right, sister!” Before Sweetie Belle could speak, Rarity grabbed her with her magic and brought her snout-to-snout. “And once Thunderlane’s better, you and I, dear sister, are going to have a talk.”

Sweetie Belle gulped. “A-a talk?”

“Yes, a talk.” Rarity took a deep breath, and then her eyes narrowed. “Like how you could’ve died jumping out of a carriage in the middle of the sky into a lake! Care to explain that?”

“Wait a minute.” Rumble swam himself over to them; Aloe, meanwhile, watched from the stairs. “What do you mean, ‘once Thunderlane’s better?’ What happened to him?”

Rarity glared at him. “Your brother hurt himself while we were—“

“WHAT?” Rumble flew out of the tub and in front of Rarity. “Where is he? Is he alive?”

“Yes, he’s still alive,” Rarity said, motioning to the curtains. “He’s in th—“ Before she could finish, he flew past her, disappearing behind the curtains.

“Is he hurt badly?”

Rarity looked down at Sweetie Belle, who had genuine concern in her eyes. Rarity’s expression didn’t soften. “It’s just a cut on his foreleg. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the floor. “I’m sorry—“

“Oh, no, little sister,” Rarity said, startling the filly. “You’re not getting out of this that easy. We’ll discuss your punishment when we get home.” Rarity then turned her attention to Aloe. “Thank you for keeping an eye on them while we got here.”

Aloe merely nodded, scuffing a hoof on the floor.

“They didn’t give you any trouble, did they?” Rarity saw Sweetie Belle cringe. Aloe shook her head. “That’s good.” Rarity turned without looking at Sweetie Belle and went into the curtain.

She saw Thunderlane, bandage over his leg, hugging his sobbing brother. He patted him on the back a few times, but that did little to stop the crying.

“Come on, buddy,” Thunderlane said. “Stop that.”

“B-b-b-b-but I hurt yoooooooooou!” Rumble sobbed louder.

“Sure, I got hurt, but—“ He wrapped his leg around his little brother, holding him close. “I didn’t get hurt too badly.” That quieted the crying, but didn’t stop it. Thunderlane sighed and looked at Rarity. “Can you three give us some time alone?”

Rarity looked down to see Sweetie Belle at her side, staring with her ears drooping. She laid a hoof on her back, and signaled to follow her. They left the brothers to themselves.

Once outside, Sweetie Belle sighed. “I’m really, really sorry, Rarity.” She began to nuzzle her sister’s foreleg. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

Rarity moved her foreleg to bring Sweetie Belle closer. “I know, dear. Still, you two were reckless and, unfortunately, somepony did get hurt.”

“I just wanted to play!” she cried, burying her face in Rarity’s leg.

“I know, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity replied sternly. “Things just got out of control.” She looked up to see Lotus’s ears drooping as well. “I’m glad this is all over.”

Instead of agreeing with her, Lotus turned her head. “Aloe used to like playing in storms as well.” Across from them, Aloe silently wiped around the tub, drying the area. “But then something like this happened.” She sighed. “I miss those times.”

Rarity raised a brow. “Whyever would you?”

Lotus leaned in. “Because Aloe doesn’t like to play around much anymore.”

Rarity looked at Aloe, who showed no signs of taking notice of the conversation. “So she works a lot?”

“Not really.” Lotus moved to stand next to the sisters. “She keeps to herself a lot.”

Sweetie Belle looked up from crying. “Why?”

Lotus sighed again, and, in a voice akin to storytellers, she began,

“When we lived in our old village, far south of Ponyville, Aloe and I would run away from the village and go hiking—or Adventuring, as we called it. I, being the older sister, would lead, and Aloe would follow behind. I’d give the orders, and she’d follow along obediently, like a good little sister—even though she’s younger by only five minutes. But at times, she, much like Sweetie Belle, she would become excited and run off on her own. She was a bit reckless, and we had almost been hurt a few times.

“One evening, when it was raining, she was in her excited mood, and she ran off along the edge of a canyon. She was skipping merrily from rock to rock, and I tried to keep up. Then, as we were almost to the end, I slipped.”

Rarity looked up, and noticed that Aloe was no longer working.

“I had to grab onto a sharp rock to keep from plunging to my death. Thank Celestia Aloe noticed. She hopped right back and grabbed me just as I lost my grip. She was able to pull me back up, and we went back to the village after that.”

Lotus sighed. “She hasn’t played with me since.”

Rarity shook her head. “Wait, I’m sorry, I think I missed something. You miss those times?”

When Lotus looked back at her, she was smiling. “Yes, it was reckless, but I got over it. We make mistakes to learn how the world works. Ever since the accident, Aloe hasn’t gone hiking with me, nor has she tried playing anything else. She won’t socialize with anypony—and I don’t mean talk, because she has no voice—”

“She’s mute?” Rarity asked.

Lotus nodded. “Yeah, she is. But anyway, she won’t even indulge anypony in conversation. You know how I’m usually the pony that works down here? That’s because she’s always working somewhere else, either repairing something or cleaning, or just staying in her room doing the finances again.” She looked down to see Sweetie Belle staring at Aloe. “Dear, if you take anything from this, learn that some things are reckless, and you’d probably be better off avoiding them. But don’t let that separate you from your sister.” Lotus turned, trotted to Aloe, and pulled her into an embrace. Aloe gripped her.

Sweetie Belle looked up at Rarity, another tear in her eye. “We’re not gonna stop playing, are we?” She hugged Rarity. “This doesn’t mean I can’t see you, right?”

Rarity pulled her in. “Of course not! We’re sisters, and we’re always be sisters.” She nuzzled her sister’s nape. “Always.”

Suddenly, the curtain moved, and they saw Rumble come out. His eyes were red, but his crying had stopped.

“Thunderlane wants to talk to you,” he said to Rarity.

Rarity nodded, hugged her sister again, and went inside. Thunderlane perked up.

“So how’d it go?”

Thunderlane arched his back. “We’re cool.” He stood up and arched his back. “It takes a lot to get Rumble to calm down, but it takes even more to make him stop crying.”

Rarity sighed with a smile. “It’s quite the opposite with Sweetie Belle.” She leaned in as Thunderlane stepped down, and seeing that he was fine reclined. “So why don’t we end this and go home?”

Thunderlane nodded. “Yeah, that’d probably be best.” He used his wing to open the curtain and beckoned for her to go first.

“What a gentlecolt.” She stepped outside, with Thunderlane right behind her. “Sweetie Belle? It’s time to go home.”

They were nowhere in sight.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity looked around.

“Rumble?” Thunderlane looked in the hot tub and found nothing.

“Lotus, dear?” Rarity asked. Lotus turned to her. “Have you seen the kids?”

Lotus shook her head and returned to comforting Aloe.

“Where could they’ve gone?” Rarity asked aloud. She stepped around before noticing a piece of paper on the front desk. Picking it up, she read:

Dear Miss Rarity,

I have foalnapped Sweetie Belle. I am taking her to somewhere you won’t look. She’s mine, and I intend to marry her and have many foals with her and have a really big family and stuff! I dare you to find us!

Love,

Rumble

The note was set down ver y slowly. It quivered as it made contact with the desk. It sat there for a moment.

And then it burst into flames.

And then Rarity’s mane turned into fire.

“OOH, WHEN I FIND YOU, RUMBLE, YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL MY WRATH!”

“What, what’s going o—“ But before he could finish, Rarity sped out of the spa. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, and then looked at the sisters. He winked, and Lotus winked back. With a neigh, Thunderlane galloped after Rarity, following the cloud of steam left in her wake.

“I don’t even know how the paper caught on fire,” Lotus said, giggling as she swept the ashes off the desk. She looked at Aloe, who offered a half-smile in return. Aloe averted her gaze to the ground, and began walking away.

Lotus nickered. Aloe turned around and found herself in a hug. She waited for her to say something but she just took a seat and pulled her in. She also took a seat and leaned inward, hugging her sister.

They stayed that way for a whole minute.

And then there was a knock at the door.

“I got it.” Lotus kissed Aloe on the cheek and sent her away. “I’ll be up to read you a story, okay?” Aloe nodded and skipped upstairs. Lotus got up and walked to the door. Upon opening it, she saw a light-grey pegasus with a basket.

“Hi there,” she said. “Is Rarity here?”

“No, you just missed her.”

“Oh.” She didn’t react for a moment, staring at the cloud of steam that went into the distance. Then she spat the basket out and left it in front of Lotus. “Well, if you see her, tell her she left this there.”

“I will.”

“Flitter!”

“Coming!” Flitter walked away to another light-grey pegasus, and they both began to pull a mangled carriage away. Lotus looked at the basket, and thought about opening it. In the end, she took it in her mouth and closed the door.

Author's Note

Next Chapter: Boxing at the Bar

This chapter was probably the most difficult for me to write so far. It's not as exciting as the others, but it is better than the ideas I had before it, which just didn't come through well. Anywho, I do hope you enjoyed this chapter.

And yes, in my headcanon, Aloe is a mute.

Boxing at the Bar

The rain was pouring down as Rumble sped away from the spa. Ponyville was beginning to look blurry from the storm, giving him less options for places to hide. He almost began to fly towards the school playground, but was knocked on the head by the filly on his back.

“Rumble!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “What are you doing!?”

He shook the pain away and began looking at the surrounding buildings. “It’s all part of the game.”

“Didn’t you hear Rarity? The game’s over.” She twisted herself off of his back. “Thunderlane got hurt and I almost died!”

Rumble shook his head. The game isn’t over, we weren’t caught. Besides, you didn’t die!”

Sweetie Belle blinked. “So? I almost did! And what about your brother?”

Rumble’s eyes narrowed, and he looked away. “Well-he-he...”

The sky lit up, and thunder clapped. “Well, I’m cold, I’m soaking wet, and Rarity’s going to be furious at us! I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna go home before I get into anymore trouble.”

She began to walk away, but Rumble jumped in her way. “No, you can’t!”

“Why not?”

Rumble began to fiddle with his hooves. “Because... because—”

Sweetie Belle began to walk around him, and Rumble, in a last-ditch effort, threw himself at her.

She froze. Their snouts were touching, and Rumble rubbed his furiously with hers. Her cheeks warmed her face, and Rumble tilted his head back, allowing for their lips to brush. And then he pulled away, and a goofy grin unraveled on her face.

“Um...” She turned away from him, twisting her hoof in the wet dirt.

“Ooh, looks like somepony’s got herself a coltfriend!”

They both turned to the bar, where, in the window, a filly was watching them with a grin. Sweetie Belle blinked, and then what she had said registered. “He’s not my coltfriend!”

Rumble nodded. “She’s not my fillyfriend!”

Sweetie Belle looked at him, mouth agape. “What?”

Rumble looked at her. “What?”

“RUMBLE!”

They both looked in the distance, where a cloud of steam was moving like that of a train. Rumble’s eyes became pinpricks. He turned to the filly. “Hey, can we hide in there?”

“Hide from what?” she asked.

“We’re running from my big sister and his big brother,” Sweetie Belle said, still glaring at Rumble.

The filly’s confused expression turned into a cocky smirk. “Yeah, you can hang out in here.” With that, she hopped down from the windowsill and, a few seconds later, opened the door. They both ran in at the same time.

When they were inside, the two soaking wet foals shook themselves off. The filly tried shielding herself from the rainwater. “‘Ey, not in here!” she yelled. “I’ll run up and get you guys some towels—”

“Piña Colada!” They looked up and saw the filly’s older sister, Berry Punch, slam a glass mug onto the counter. “What’s all this?”

Sweetie Belle and Rumble prepared for more chiding, but Piña was relaxed as she answered. “It’s cool, sis. They just need to chill from their brother and sister for a while. I’mma take ‘em up to my room and—”

“Now hang on a moment, filly.” Berry Punch stepped around the counter and looked at them. She blanched. “You’re Rarity’s li’l sister, right?”

Sweetie Belle nodded.

Berry shook her head. “Oh, no. I’ve dealt with Rarity when she’s pissed off, and that ain’t happenin’ again.”

Piña knocked on Berry’s flank. “They don’t hafta know they’re in here—”

“NO.” Berry turned the two around. “You all better go on an’ get your rumps outta here before—”

She didn’t finish. There was a thud.

“RUMBLE!”

Rarity’s mane was no longer on fire, but for a few seconds the rain that fell on her coat sizzled and evaporated on contact, leaving her steaming. Thunderlane followed the steam to where she was looking everywhere, and landed next to her.

“It doesn’t look like they’re here,” he said.

Oh, really?” She facehoofed. “And what gave you that idea?”

Thunderlane back away. “Whoa, easy. Relax.”

She froze. “Relax? Relax?” She stomped to him, butting heads with him. “How can I relax when my sister was foalnapped—by your brother, no less—and could now be in even more danger than before?”

He laid a hoof on her shoulder, but she threw it off. “Look, I know things look bad, but getting all flustered isn’t going to help anypony. Now, take some deep breaths and relax, or else you’re going to pass out.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, and with a final sigh, opened her eyes, looking depressed. “Y’know, maybe I wouldn’t be so nervous if it wasn’t raining.”

He nodded. “Yeah, it’s raining pretty hard right now.” He looked at her and saw her mane glued partially over her eyes. “Here, let me get that outta the way.”

She raised a brow. “Get what out of—” Before she could finish her question, Thunderlane had pressed his cheek on hers. She stood, stunned, as he grabbed a portion of her mane and moved it behind her. He slid his face over hers, almost touching muzzles, and did the same thing on the other side. He moved back.

“There. All better.”

She was speechless for a moment, and then Thunderlane wiped his now-flat mohawk from his face, putting it behind him. She controlled the blood that rushed to her face. “Thank you.”

He nodded, smiling. “Now, you begin by searching around these houses. I’ll fly up and—”

There was a thud.

“Hurry, before she gets up!”

They looked to the source of the noise, the window of The Punch Bowl, but couldn’t see inside. They heard a few sets of small hooves scrambling on a wooden floor.

“They’re in there,” Rarity said.

“Yeah.” Thunderlane flew over and opened the door. “Remember: be calm.”

Rarity didn’t answer as she went inside. He walked in after her and shut the door.

It was dark inside, with only a lantern lit at the bar. It cast a faint light in the room, and they could see that there were no patrons sitting down, and the tables and stools had been wiped clean. The floor was spotless, and the bar itself was immaculate. The only noise coming from the building was something being rummaged in another room, and a groaning on the floor in front of them.

“Oh, my head.” It was a mare.

Rarity crept forward, keeping her eyes on the floor. “Hello?”

“We’re closed.” She pulled herself up with a table, holding her head. “You’re gonna hafta leave now.”

Rarity wouldn’t have any of that. “Berry, is my sister here?”

“You’re Rarity, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Berry Punch groaned. “Yeah, your little sis is here. She’s—AGH!” She stood up and rested her cheek on the table. “Dang, that brat really popped me good. That’s gonna be a shiner. I need some ice.” She ambled to the bar.

Rarity, meanwhile, had walked to the stairs and strained her ear upwards. “Is she upstairs?” Suddenly, as she finished that, there was a loud THUD! on the first floor. “What was that?”

Berry Punch laid a bag over her eye. “By the sounds of it, the foals are gonna be boxing.”

“WHAT?”

“Relax.” Berry poured herself a glass of bourbon. “Piña Colada knows how to box. She’ll make sure they don’t get hurt in the ring.”

“My Sweetie Belle’s going to box?”

“You have a ring?” Thunderlane asked. He looked at Rarity and, seeing her deadpanned expression, smiled sheepishly.

“Some ponies get riled up when they’re drunk, so I have a ring to let them blow off some steam.” She turned her head to Rarity. “And no, they’re in that room right there.” She pointed to a door across from the bar.

The two ponies trotted to the door, hearing some things moving, and then some muffled hoofsteps. They looked at each other, and nodded. “Alright, Thunderlane,” Rarity said, taking a shakily deep breath. “Let’s calmly handle this.”

“Right,” he replied. Thunderlane opened the door and stepped inside.

There was a full-scale boxing ring in the middle of the room, complete with three ropes surrounding it. The light that was on cast the ring like it was in the spotlight, illuminating it and the four corners. At the far corner, Piña Colada was fitting what looked like boxing gloves on Sweetie Belle’s forehooves.

Thunderlane fluttered up and landed in the ring, and cleared his throat. “Hello, fillies.”

The two fillies whirled around, staring at him with wide eyes. “Ah, crud, it’s him!” She pointed at Thunderlane. “Get ‘im, Rumble!”

There was a sound of wings, and before Thunderlane could turn his head to the right.

THWACK!

The stallion was launched into the ring, tumbling and stopping on the canvas at another corner. He groaned, but quickly shook himself off and hopped onto his hooves.

“Yay, Rumble!” Piña shouted.

Rarity looked from Thunderlane to Rumble, who was wearing his own pair of gloves, as well as a pair of shiny red shorts. He flexed in front of her.

“That was great, huh Miss Rarity?”

In response, she stood on her hindlegs and crossed her hooves. “And just what do you think you’re doing?”

“We’re boxing!”

She didn’t change her pose. “Yes, I know that. But—oh, nevermind.” She turned to Sweetie Belle. “Young lady, it’s time to go home.”

For a moment the filly hesitated, but then Sweetie Belle began to pull the gloves off. Piña forced her hoof away from it. “What’re you doing?”

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Sorry, but I-I don’t think that boxing’s really my thing.”

Rarity lowered herseslf. “Right, so why don’t we just end this now and head home?”

Sweetie Belle didn’t reply, scuffing a hood on the ground.

“Sweetie Belle?”

“Um...” She glanced at Rumble. “Do you think we could watch Rumble and Thunderlane box? ‘Cause then we could all go home together.”

“Darling,” Rarity began, “whyever would you want to watch ponies beat each other up? Boxing is nothing more than a sport for stallions to release their pent-up anger—”

“Hang on just a moment,” Piña interrupted. “Mares also box, y’know.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Anyway, it’s getting a bit late, and I think the storm’s just going to get worse.” She lifted Sweetie Belle with her magic and began pulling her. “Now let’s go home and—”

Sweetie Belle hadn’t protested, but Piña grabbed onto her. Rumble flew in between the sisters. “I told you she’s mine!” he yelled.

Rarity glared at him. “Move.” He didn’t budge. “Fine.” She quickly shook Sweetie Belle until Piña couldn’t hold on, and carried her over Rumble. “Now we’re going home.”

"Oh, come on, Rarity!" he whined. He chuckled and moved in her way, putting his hooves up. Rarity saw this and, being the proper lady she was, threw up a leg in defense.

“RUMBLE!” It was not Rarity, but Thunderlane who had yelled. “We do not hit fillies!”

Rumble stopped mid-punch. “But—”

“No buts.” Thunderlane stepped towards them and pushed Rumble back. “Now apologize.”

Rumble’s ears dropped, and he sunk to the floor. “Sorry, Miss Rarity.”

“Oh no,” came the venomous reply. “You’re really going to be sorry when we leave.” Rarity stroked her sister’s mane. “Now come, dear. Let’s—”

BAM!

She staggered backwards, clutching her nose. It was bleeding. Looking down, she saw Piña Colada in front of her, poised for a fight. “How dare you!?”

The filly threw a few ghost punches. “Hey, colts may not be able to hit fillies, but there ain’t no rule on fillies hitting other fillies!” She stopped punching and held the gloves in front of her. “Put ‘em up!”

Rarity was at a loss for words. Instead, her eye began to twitch, and her breathing became ragged. Her face began turning a dark red.

“Why you-you little beast! When I get my hooves on you—”

BAM!

She flew to the ropes, where she bounced off and landed in the ring. She groaned, holding her cheek. Before she could say anything, the door opened and Berry Punch entered.

“How’s everythin’ in here?” She looked from Rarity to Piña, and then back to Rarity. “Oh, boy. You caught one of her hooks, didn’t you?” When she didn’t answer, Berry went to the cabinet. “Alright, just hang in there, an’ I’ll lend you a hoof.”

Rarity stood on her hooves just as Piña threw another punch. She managed to duck that one, and began to canter around the ring, dancing around the filly’s punches and screaming for somepony to help her.

The other three ponies were engaged in their own little battle in the middle of the ring. Thunderlane had grabbed his own gloves and begun to throw jabs at his younger brother, who dodged most of them and connected his own jabs and crosses. Thunderlane had the advantage of being able to block more effectively, but most of his punches were missing. It was an even fight between them. And all the while, Sweetie Belle watched with the gloves still on her hooves, wondering if she should just leave the ring altogether. Thunderlane caught sight of her a few times, but before he could reach her, Rumble would regain his position and begin his assault all over again.

“Er, I think I’m just going to leave now,” she said quietly. “So...”

Before she could reach the ropes, Rumble was sent flying to the opposite side of the ring, and Thunderlane flew in her path.

“And where do you think you’re going?” he said, putting his hooves up. “Don’t you wanna fight?”

Sweetie Belle gulped. “No, not really, no.”

Thunderlane chuckled and raised a hoof. She curled into a ball, waiting for a lot of pain. Instead, she felt a somewhat light punch on her back. She looked back up and he threw another punch. It was just as weak as the other ones.

“Um...” Then Thunderlane threw them in rapid succession. “Please stop that.” He socked her in the cheek, causing her to frown. “Okay, stop that.” Another hook to the opposite cheek. “I said stop!” But he wouldn’t. He kept punching her in the back, and then Sweetie Belle snapped. She lifted her hooves and swung as hard as she could.

It made contact, sending him twirling into the center of the ring. He danced dizzily before suffering an uppercut from Rumble. The colt flew over to her as Thunderlane hit the canvas.

“Alright, Sweetie Belle!” he yelled, high-hoofing her. “That was a nice punch.”

Sweetie Belle looked at her glove, and then at Thunderlane, and then a giggle came out. “Heh, that actually felt pretty good.”

Thunderlane pushed himself to his hooves. “Is that all you got?”

The two foals looked at each other, a manic grin appearing on their faces. “Let’s get him!”

“Yeah!”

And the two charged at him.

Meanwhile, Berry Punch finally jumped into the ring. “Alright, Rarity, I’m in. I’m comin’.”

“Berry Puuuuuunch, heeeeeeeelp me!” Rarity was flailing her hooves in front of her while Piña shifted from side to side, looking for an opening.

“Alright, you li’l devil,” Berry said, tapping her little sister on the shoulder. “Take this!” She threw her away from the post, then swung with a left hook and sent the filly towards the ropes. Rarity gasped behind her, but then Piña stood up again.

“Alright, sis,” she said, walking towards the mare with her gloves up. “Let’s go, then!”

Berry Punch obliged, throwing a jab but missing and being struck by Piña’s own jab. They circled around, staring straight at each other, beating each other.

Rarity snuck away from them and looked at the other fight, gasping when she saw Sweetie Belle taking on Thunderlane. What shocked her even more was how well the filly was doing.

“Keep your hooves up, Sweetie Belle!” Thunderlane barked, throwing another sluggish jab.

Sweetie Belle threw her hooves up, and upon seeing that the gloves took most of the impact, let out a squeal of delight. She then put on a serious face and wound up her foreleg in preparation for a very hard punch.

“Oh, it looks like that’s gonna be pretty powerful,” Thunderlane said almost mockingly. He threw his hooves up for preparation.

Now Sweetie Belle, fighting in a ring for the very first time, had no idea how to control her glove. She had seen a few fights before, and these kinds of punches would usually knock the other pony down. So she spun her foreleg around, perhaps to get enough power in it. She still had no idea how to throw a proper punch like this, so when she launched at him, her hoof didn’t go for his face, but past it. Under it, to be precise.

It made contact directly between his hindlegs.

Thunderlane’s eyes bugged, and the groan he let out was voiceless, with a very faint high-pitch rasp emanating. His body trembled, his forelegs shook. His face contorted into a pained smile, drool dribbling out, tears welling up. He fell to his stomach, one foreleg holding himself up, the other clenching his private area.

Rumble flew to his side, and Sweetie Belle walked up to his face. “Are you okay?” she asked. He wheezed. “I-um-I didn’t mean to hit you down there. I was just trying to—”

He threw a solid punch, and she flew and hit the canvas.

She lay there, paralyzed for a moment, and then her eyes began to water. She sniffled, throwing off the gloves and covering her bleeding snout. She kicked her hindlegs rapidly, and then she began to bawl.

Berry and Piña stopped their fight to see what the noise was, and ran to Sweetie Belle’s side. “Oh, boy,” Berry said, moving Sweetie’s hoof to see the damage. “You bopped her pretty bad.”

Thunderlane grunted. “Hello? I’m in a lot of pain here.”

Rumble, not knowing what to do, hugged his big brother. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Just take deep breaths.”

Thunderlane sighed raspily. “That won’t work, Rumble.”

All of this was lost on Rarity, who stood in the corner. She didn’t hear Berry Punch play the responsible adult and comfort the crying Sweetie Belle, nor did she hear Thunderlane and Rumble begin to argue. The only thing she registered was her sister crying and the blood coming out of her nose.

And then her vision went red.

Steam began to come out of her nostrils with every breath.

Her legs trembled below her.

The air around her began to warp.

And if somepony looked in her mouth while she spoke, they would see a glowing yellow light like that found in furnaces.

“You-you brute! You beast! When I get my hooves on you...” Her body shook with rage, the canvas vibrating violently.

The other four looked around and saw her, while Sweetie Belle kept crying. Berry Punch’s eyes widened as she saw the ropes around Rarity bang together. “Whoa, nelly, we gotta go.” Without anypony else registering, she slid Piña across the canvas and under the rope, shooed Rumble out, and grabbed Sweetie Belle and jumped out of the ring.

Thunderlane watched them all leave in a flash. “Hey, where’re you all going?”

“I’ll destroy you!”

He turned just in time to see a hoof connect to his jaw. He spun around, only to have another hoof hit him square on the snout. He groaned, but still more hooves came.

“Calm down, Rarity!” he yelled.

She didn’t stop. “Do you think I’m going to let you get away with hurting my baby sister!?”

“Listen, it was an—” he was bucked in the gut, and staggered backwards. He soon felt himself being trampled, each stomp directed on his underside. Her hooves were getting dangerously low, so in a last-ditch effort to save himself, he twisted to the left and tried rolling out of the ring.

“Oh no you don’t!” He soon found himself being levitated, and pulled toward her.

“Listen, it was an accident! I’m sorry, I’ll tell her I’m sorry!” He was flailing around, trying his best to get out.

For a moment all these was was the violent breathing; then Rarity took a few deep breaths and was soon just angry. “One more, Thunderlane. And then it will be over.”

Thunderlane agreed readily, but then he gasped. “But not there! Not there, anywhere but there!”

She appeared to consider it for a moment, and Thunderlane’s eyes became pinpricks. “Fine, then.” Thunderlane closed his eyes, awaiting the final blow, but soon heard her hooves hitting the canvas, leaving her on all fours again.

“Wait, what’s going—”

She turned and raised her hindlegs.

“Oh buck me.”

CRACK!

With that kick, Thunderlane was launched into the air, almost going straight through the ceiling, but only getting his head stuck. His body swung in place, and then went limp.

Rarity took a deep breath. “That felt good.” And then with grace, she levitated the various pairs of gloves and placed them neatly inside the cabinet. With her magic, she went under the ropes and let herself out of the room.

At the bar, Berry Punch was placing a bag of ice on her sister’s shoulder. “Hey there,” she said as Rarity made her way to the bar. Berry poured her a glass of red wine. “How’d things go in there?”

Rarity took the cup and downed it in one gulp. “Oh, the same way it went last time.”

Berry sighed. “I have a hole in my wall, don’t I?”

“Not exactly.” Berry raised a brow. “In the ceiling.”

Berry poured herself some more bourbon. “Well, it’s not the first time.”

“I feel giddy,” Rarity said calmly.

“That’s what happens when you fight.” Berry put the bag of ice on Piña’s other shoulder. “Don’t worry about your sis. I took care of her while you were handlin’ your business. I gave her a li’l cider to ease the pain, and she’s all good.”

Rarity passed her the glass. “Well, normally I’d object to her drinking, but she did get hit pretty hard. I’m sure a little won’t kill her.” She chuckled. “Where is she?”

“Oh, she left with that colt.”

Silence.

“Did they say where they were going?”

Piña spoke up. “They’re heading to Twilight’s.”

Rarity nodded. “Thank you, dear.” The door to the ring opened, and Thunderlane staggered out. “How’re you feeling?”

“Huh? What?”

“Come along now, Thunderlane,” she said. “We need to be off again.”

He sighed. “Can’t we rest first?”

“Here.” Berry passed him a bottle of whiskey. “On the house.”

“Thanks.” He drank it in one go, slammed the bottle down, and walked behind Rarity. “After you.”

They didn’t say a word to each other as they left the bar.

“Yep, there’s a hole in the ceiling.”

“An’ now you know why I don’t want to deal with Rarity when she’s pissed off.” Berry adjusted the bag of ice, placing it on Piña’s cheek. “Cheerilee’s gonna wonder what in Celestia’s name happened to you.”

Piña chuckled. “I’ll just say I was beating up my sister.”

Berry shook her head, giving the filly a noogie. “You’re all sweaty, you know that? You run on up an’ get in the tub. I gotta fix that hole before the rain floods this place, an’ then I’ll come on up an’ read you a story, ‘K?”

“”K!” The two sisters hugged and Piña, still holding the ice to her face, walked upstairs. Berry walked in the ring and looked at her reflection in the puddle of rainwater forming. Her cheeks were both red, and her eye was beginning to darken.

“Dang,” she said quietly. “She’s gettin’ pretty good. But...” She chuckled. “She still has a ways to go before she takes me down.”

She heard the pipes creaking, signaling the bath being filled up. With another sigh, she grabbed a ladder and prepared to get to work.

Author's Note

Next chapter: Fort Battle at the library.

Fort Battle at the Library

They just barely managed to run past the town fountain and make it to the library. The sky was still blue, but only slightly, and the rain soaked them almost to the bone. They saw that most of the buildings, including the spa and the bar, were now lit by candles. The light inside was on, so they knocked vigorously.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and there stood Spike. “Sweetie Belle?” He looked to her right. “Rumble?”

“Hey, Spike,” Rumble said, hoofbumping the drake.

“Hey…” Spike looked behind the two foals. “What’re you two doing out here? Where’s Thunderlane, or Rarity?”

“Nevermind that, Spike,” Sweetie Belle said, shivering. “May we come in?”

He looked behind him, and then back at them. “I dunno. Twilight has a visitor, and—“

At this, Sweetie Belle began sniffling. “B-but we’re so cold… and Rarity would be devastated if she found out you wouldn’t let her little sister out of the rain.” Spike took on a look of worry. “She may never speak to you again.”

That was it for Spike. He flung the door open and motioned for them to enter. They did so, not leaving the other’s side. There was a large amount of light in the library, the storm not making them resort to lighting candles.

“Wait here while I get some towels,” Spike said, rushing off upstairs.

Sweetie Belle continued shivering while she dripped, so Rumble pulled her close. “A-are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She leaned on him, her snout going under his chin. Her eyes were closed, so she couldn’t see Rumble’s face turn red. “Y’know, this has been really fun.”

Rumble didn’t answer, instead lightly pulling her snout to rest on his neck. Her breathing lightly tickled him.

“But why did you decide to up and foalnap me?”

Rumble chuckled. “Believe me, I wouldn’t have done that if Thunderlane hadn’t suggested it.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes shot open. “What?”

“Well…” Rumble began stroking her withers with his hoof. “I think you’re kinda cute—“

“Kinda!?”

“Okay, really cute!” There was silence, and Sweetie Belle returned to the position. “And, well…I think Thunderlane wants me to try and win your heart.”

There was silence between them, and then a towel draped over each of them. Sweetie Belle looked up to see Spike not in the room. “Spike?”

“Up here,” they heard the dragon say. They looked up to see not only Spike, but Twilight Sparkle, as well as their visitor.

“Hey,” the visitor said. “You were one of the flower fillies at my wedding, right?”

Sweetie Belle gasped. “Shining Armor!”

“Hey, kiddo,” he said. “What’re you doing here?”

“We’re running away from our big siblings!” Rumble said, flying up enthusiastically.

“Who are you?” Shining Armor asked.

“Oh, my name’s Rumble.” The colt flew up to the stallion and began shaking his hoof. “Nice to meet you, Mister Shining Armor Sir.”

“Er, yeah,” the stallion replied as he grinned nervously.

After the exchange was done, Twilight cleared her throat. “You said you were running away from your brother and sister?”

Sweetie Belle scuffed a hoof. “Well, yeah. At first we were playing hide-n’-seek, but now we’re just playing ‘catch us if you can’.”

Twilight raised a brow. “So basically, you’re just running away when you should be safe at your homes?” The foals nodded. “I can’t let you continue.”

Rumble started. “What? Whaddaya mean we can’t continue?”

Twilight went downstairs and stood over the two. “As a responsible adult, I have to make sure that you two are kept out of harm’s way.”

Rumble looked like he was about to say something, but instead dropped to the ground. “Okay.”

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on his shoulder. “It was fun while it lasted.”

Rumble nodded. “Yeah How’s your nose?”

She attempted to wiggle it, and winced as she did so. “It still hurts, but not as much.”

From upstairs, Shining Armor watched the two carefully. They fell silent, so he walked down to them. “So when will your brother and sister be here?”

“They shouldn’t be too far away.”

The stallion smiled. “Well, hey, while you’re waiting for them, why don’t I show you guys how to make a fort?”

They looked up with large smiles. “Yeah!”

Rarity sustained a light-spell so they could find their way in the dark. The lanterns and lightposts couldn’t be lit, and there was little light from the sky. Thunderlane, having regained part of his strength by now, trotted behind her with a slight limp. After a while of walking, the library came into view.

“Hey.”

Rarity turned. “Yes?”

Thunderlane opened a wing to cover her. She looked up at it, no longer feeling the rain on her head, and smiled. “Thank you, but I think it’s a little late for that.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, I should’ve thought of this sooner.” He held his wing out. “Sorry about that.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright,” she said, letting her body touch his. “We’ve been in such a rush trying to get my sister and your brother, respite from the rain was probably the last thing on our mind. Sweetie Belle is going to be in so much trouble when this is all over.”

Thunderlane’s wing drooped, and Rarity blew it out of her face. “Well, we can’t really blame them, can we?”

Rarity stared at him.

“I mean, they’re just kids, right? It’s, um, instinctual that they’d want to play.”

Rarity raised a brow. “Instinctual? Yes, it may be, but still, they have a sense of reason, and know how to behave an older pony’s orders.”

Thunderlane looked away. “Yeah, but…”

“But?”

“But haven’t you been having fun?”

Rarity blinked as they reached the library door. “Well… yes. I had been having fun up until Rumble foalnapped my sister and you gave her a bloody nose.”

He withered from the glare she gave him. “Right. I’m sorry about that.” He knocked. “Actually, I need to tell you something.”

Rarity’s brow furrowed. “Yes?”

“You see, when I was talking to Rumble at the Spa, I told him—“

Suddenly, the door opened, and Spike stared up at them. At once, he began blushing. “Oh, hey, Rarity.” He then looked at Thunderlane, and his blushing face transformed into a scowl. “Dearest Rarity, you look ever-so-cold and soaked to the bone. Why don’t you come out of the rain and out of the embrace of this stallion?”

Rarity giggled and walked in. The two males stared at each other, one glaring and the other staring trying to figure out what this exchange was about.

“Well?” Spike motioned. “Are you coming in or not?”

The stallion started, and rushed inside. Spike shut the door and walked over to Rarity, pulling her tail to get her attention. “Wait here, while I fetch you a towel.”

“Oh, that’s alright,” Rarity said, brushing a strand of hair off her muzzle. “We’ll just pick up our siblings and be off.”

Spike blinked, and sagged a little. “Oh. Well, in that case, they’re upstairs building a pillow fort.”

Rarity’s eye twitched. “Oh, I don’t like the sound of that.” With that, she rushed upstairs. Thunderlane trotted after her. She knocked on the little door leading upstairs. “Twilight, dear, are you in there?”

“Just a second.” A second later, the door lifted, and the two ponies went inside.

The room was neat and orderly as was expected from Twilight Sparkle, with the exception of next to her bed. There, a small structure made entirely of fluffy pillows sat, with a pile of pillows next to it. It had a tower with binoculars, a drawbridge, and an opening.

Rarity really didn’t like where this was going.

One muzzle popped out of a “window,” and two green eyes saw them. “Oh, hi Rarity!”

Another muzzle and a pair of purple eyes peeked out. “Hey, big brother!”

Thunderlane waved, but Rarity didn’t make any attempt at a greeting. “Sweetie Belle, we’re going home.”

“Okay, Rarity.” Sweetie Belle poked her head out of the opening at the top. “I need to head home, Mister Shining Armor.”

Thunderlane cleared his throat, and Rumble got the message. “Hang on, Sweetie Belle. The fort isn’t finished.”

Rarity stepped forward. “Well, you’ll have to finish it another time. We’re going home.”

Sweetie Belle then gasped. “Wait a minute! It isn’t Rumble’s fault! It’s Thunderlane’s!”

Everypony blinked and turned to Thunderlane, who was shrinking away.

“Thunderlane,” Rarity began. “What’s going on?”

“N-nothing,” he quickly said, then cleared his throat. “Rumble, I think we should leave now.”

Rumble tilted his head. “Wait, now you want to go home? But we were having so much fun!”

“I know, but—“

Before he could finish, Shining Armor chuckled. Everypony looked at him. “It looks like you’re confusing him.”

Thunderlane groaned. “I know, and I’m sorry, buddy, but I’m in a hard spot right now?”

“How so?” Rarity asked.

“It appears as though there’s more to this mischief than mere child’s play,” Twilight said from her desk.

“Well, uh—“

Before he could finish, something hit him in the face. This object plopped on the ground with a tiny thud!, and then it was still. They looked up to see Sweetie Belle pointing a hoof at him.

“That was for my nose!” she yelled in a nasally tone before picking up another pillow. “And this is for my kite—“

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity took the flung pillow in her magical grasp, setting it down on Twilight’s bed. “That’s enough, we’re going home right now!”

“Yeah, and these pillows aren’t for throwing,” Twilight added. “They are only to be used for resting your head on to sleep.”

“Now hang on a moment, Twily,” Shining Armor said. “They may be used to sleep with, but they also make good pillow forts, wouldn’t you say?” The foals inside the fort nodded. “And besides, I remember a certain little filly that would sneak up on me with her own pillow. Something about ‘playing the enemy to train her big brother’.” He began to laugh, and Rarity and Thunderlane began to chuckle.

Twilight’s face deadpanned. “Well, that was just training! We didn’t know what threats you’d face. It was helpful training!”

“Oh, really, ‘Princess of the Dragons’?” Twilight gasped. “’Now go, savage beast, and take me to the kitchen so the Princess can claim the elixir of chocolate milk!’ And then I’d take you on my back around the house—“

“What’re you getting at?” Twilight asked, halting Shining Armor’s ramblings. “What does this have to do with Sweetie Belle and Rumble going home?”

Shining Armor nodded sagely. “I’m just saying that pillows can be used for fun. And I came here to visit and hang out, see the town, but this storm kinda put a damper in our plans. I think,” he continued with a smirk, levitating a pillow, “that having a bit of a pillow fight would be fun.”

Rumble and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, and then at their siblings, wondering what they should do.

Rarity stepped in. “My sister has already hurt her nose,” she said, casting a glance at Thunderlane. “I don’t think she needs to experience another fight.”

Shining Armor looked at the filly, who looked at her own snout. Then, with a deft motion, he tossed the pillow at her face.

Rarity looked, aghast, as Sweetie Belle clutched her muzzle. “Sweetie Belle! Are you all right?”

Sweetie Belle was motionless for a moment, and then her eyes shot open. “Y-yeah, I’m fine. That didn’t hurt at all!” She smiled. “It didn’t hurt!”

Shining Armor chuckled. “Of course. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, and it’d take a very fast pillow to hurt you.”

Rumble interrupted. “But colts aren’t supposed to hit fillies.” He looked to Thunderlane, who nodded.

“Well, that’s true,” Shining Armor said, “but I didn’t really hit her. I just tossed a pillow at her. Pillows are almost perfectly harmless, and it’s all just for fun.” He picked up the pillow again and whacked Rumble with it, messing up his mane.

Rumble stood there for a moment, and then he burst into a fit of giggles. Rarity, whose coat had almost completely dried while standing there, raised a brow.

“See? Harmless.”

Twilight shook her head. “Shining Armor, this isn’t the time for games. They need to get ho—“

Before she could finish, she was hit with a pillow square in the face. Rumble gasped, and even Sweetie Belle’s eyes went wide.

“Uh…” Sweetie Belle shrank back. “Are you two gonna have an argument?”

Twilight spit a feather from her mouth. “No, Sweetie Belle, this is play-fighting. Very foalish play-fighting.” She picked the pillow up and set it on the bed. “Now, Shining Armor, why don’t we stop thi—“

Whack!

Twilight blinked as another pillow hit her, but continued nonetheless. “Rarity and Thunderlane have been chasing these two for Celestia-knows how long and—“

Whack!

“—And I’m guessing these two are in serious—“

Whack!

“—Trouble! It’s only responsible that—“

Whack!

“STOP THAT!” She yelled. “I’m trying to say something important and you’re not letting me finish. Let me finish!”

Another pillow was launched at her, but this time she threw a force field to deflect it. It landed on the ground with a Thud!. “Ha! Now, as I was saying—“

Shining Armor cast a spell on the force field, and it appeared as though nothing happened. Twilight blinked, bemused, and then began talking again.

At least it looked like she was talking. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out of her. Everypony looked at Shining Armor.

“Silence Spell,” he said nonchalantly. “I wonder how long it will take her to realize we can’t hear her.”

Twilight continued to talk, waving her hoof like she was giving a grand speech. They sat there and waited, Rarity trying to get the rest of the water out of her mane and tail. Sweetie Belle and Rumble fiddled with their hooves, while Shining Armor kept glancing at the clock. After eight straight minutes of talking, Twilight waited for something, and then tapped the glass, mouthing “Are you even listening?” When no one answered, her face was twisted in anger. And then the force field was dissipated.

“I cannot believe you let me—“

She didn’t get to finish, as a deluge of pillows fell on her at that moment. Shining Armor and the foals began to laugh.

It was with a burst of pillows that one flew straight at Shining Armor’s head. It smacked him square-on.

Twilight smiled. “Ha-ha! Now will you listen to me?”

Instead, Shining Armor reared up. “Lieutenant Twilight Sparkle has declared war on us!” The foals gasped, legitimately shocked. “Head to your posts!” With that, he dove into the pillow-fort, levitating other pillows to them.

Rarity backed away from the growing mass. “Twilight? Why do you have so many pillows? And what’s your brother doing?”

Twilight, meanwhile, was rummaging around in a chest. “Come on, where is it?”

From the pillow fort, the other two ponies heard a conversation going.

“Brace that wall over there! Put your ammo up here, so Twilight won’t be able to take it from us! Place the catapult there!”

Thunderlane looked at Rarity. “Catapult? Just what in Equestria is he planning?”

“A war,” Twilight said grimly. “It was like this when we were foals. We'd erect out forts and then plan our battle strategy. Aha!” She pulled out a roll of blue paper. “Here it is!” She unraveled it on the floor, and it contained blueprints for a type of building. “Spike!”

The dragon, who had been watching this whole time, jerked to attention. “Yeah, Twilight?”

“Open the door to the main room.”

“Got it!” He scrambled to get to the door, and flung it open. Rarity and Thunderlane watched as Twilight’s horn glowed, bringing in book after book from the library. They watched as they began forming a wall, and then another, and soon there was a four-wall structure built. But it didn’t end there. Another story was built, towers were formed, a drawbridge and a fence, and then a few more books went inside the massive fort.

The drawbridge lowered, and Twilight looked at the two. “Alright, come on in.” The two looked at each other. “Quick, before the barrage begins!”

Rarity was still awestruck at what was happening, but Thunderlane grabber her hoof and pulled her in. When they were both in, the drawbridge closed.

The inside of the fort was surprisingly cramp, leaving the two standing right next to each other. They looked at each other and began to blush.

“Hey!” Twilight barked. “This is no time to go all googly-eyed on each other. I’ll man the second-floor defenses, while you go to those two windows over there.” She began climbing her book-stairs, and shot a glance at them. “Move it!” She disappeared.

They were left on the first floor, wondering what was going on, so they each picked a window and peeked out of it. The pillow-fort was just as large and complicated as the book-fort, and for a moment activity appeared to have ceased inside. Rarity and Thunderlane looked at each other, a smirk of confidence shared between them; books were much stronger than pillows, so they would easily collapse the opposing structure and be done with the game once and for all.

They heard a noise behind them, and looked to see pillows being stocked in their grasp. “We’ll need all the ammo we can get,” Twilight said above them. “Now we wait.”

“Darling,” Rarity began, keeping her eye on the opposing fort. “How did you manage to build this?”

“I’ve been drawing those blueprints for years,” Twilight said, “and I’ve been revising them to achieve the perfect book fort. A big change came from the discovery of the Castle of the Royal Sisters, and that’s where the medieval touches came from. Can’t you tell?”

The two looked around at the interior, but all they could see were books and pillows. They looked out and saw Spike staring at them.

"Spike!" Rarity waved him over. "Come join us, help me win this fight."

Spike looked at the two groups, and then sidled over to the bed. "Er, that's okay. I think I'm just going to watch. " He sat down, waiting for the war to begin.

It was then that Thunderlane spoke. "Hey wait a moment." He pointed at Shining Armor. "Aren't you Twilight's older brother?"

Shining Armor nodded. "Yeah, so?"

"So shouldn't you be fighting with us, the older siblings?"

Shining Armor put a hoof to his chin. "Hmm... you have a point. What do you kids think?"

The two foals grabbed onto the stallion's forelegs. "No, we want Shining Armor on our team!"

"Yeah!"

Shining Armor looked up. "Well, there you go. Good luck!" They disappeared once more inside.Rarity and Thunderlane looked at each other, and with a resolute sigh, they waited for the attack to begin.

They didn’t wait five seconds before a pillow was launched at the book fort. It hit the wall above Thunderlane’s window, sending a few books fluttering downward.

“FIRE!” came from both sides, and in a flurry Rarity and Thunderlane began tossing pillows as fast as possible, while pillows came flying from the other side.

The pillow-fort held its ground, being barraged by the others but just shifting back into position. Some were flung from the window up front, but most came from where the courtyard would be. They were sent either individually or five at a time, and books kept falling down, but the structure held.

“You see?” Twilight shouted from above. “I structured the books so when some fall down the entire structure stays standing!” There was a squeal of delight from above. “Now keep firing!”

Rarity and Thunderlane continued to do so, tossing them out while some flew into their windows. These the two used to retaliate.

From the other fort, they could hear conversations:

“Reload the catapult!”

“That tower isn’t gonna hold much longer. Evacuate, Private Sweetie Belle!”

“Rumble, are you wounded?”

And a small voice would pipe up, “No sir, Captain Shining Armor sir! I can still fight!”

Rarity looked over to Thunderlane, who bore a proud smile. Looking over, she made her own conversation. “Sweetie Belle, are you alright, darling?”

A voice piped up. “Yeah, Rarity, I’m fine.” There was a peal of laughter. “This is fun!”

Rarity couldn’t help but smile. And then a pillow hit her in the face. “Oh, it. Is. On!” With doubled fury, she began launching them in her own clusters.

“That’s the spirit,” Twilight yelled from above, launching her own volley. “For Sparkleland!”

Rarity stopped and looked at Thunderlane, who had also stopped. Then, instantaneously, they broke out into a fit of laughter.

“Focus!” Twilight barked. “They’re casting spells over there… and it’s not funny! I was only a filly when I made that name up!”

They attempted to stifle their laughter as they looked over; indeed, spells were being cast. That couldn’t stop Rarity from gasping for breath.

I-I’m sorry, darling,” she wheezed. “It’s just so precious! Sparkleland, the domain of Miss Sparkle!” she broke into laughter again as a pillow climbed onto her back and began beating her.

She stopped cold, her eyes becoming pinpricks. Wait a minute…

She turned her head to witness a pillow standing up, slamming its “head” onto her withers. It stopped, looked up at her, and, after “staring” at her, growled.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Rarity jumped out of the window, trying to buck it off of her. She stopped again as she saw more pillows scaling the fence, heading their way. From behind her, Twilight was flinging her own pillows at them, and they pretended to fall and claw their way towards them. She immediately jumped back inside, stomping in place as the one on her back began beating her nape.

“Thunderlane!” She cried. “Getitoffme!”

He grabbed it with his teeth, holding on for dear life as it writhed in his grasp, and flung it out the window. They both ran upstairs.

“Twilight!” Rarity began taking pillows and covering the entrance to the second floor. “Do something!”

“On it!” Twilight cast a spell of her own, making the fallen books come to life. They began flying to the pillows, clamping down on them. The animate pillows ran around in agony, some falling over on the spot.

“You think you could win that easily, big brother?” Twilight asked under her breath. “I’ve been practicing animation as well.”

The fluffy army wasn’t to be defeated so easily. Some waited for the tomes and texts to come down, and then slammed them to the ground with one deft swing of their body. These books retreated to the shelves outside. The pillows that were defeated crawled to the beds, stacking up in a neat pile.

Owlowisius flew in from the outside window, and upon seeing what was going on, and almost being hit with a pillow, he flew out of the room.

And so the battle raged, with thunder outside shaking the house as if an actual army were doing battle inside. They continued flinging pillows at each other, via hooves, telekinesis or catapult, and the pillows and books waged war below. Rumble and Sweetie Belle would make exaggerated noises when they were hit, but they still kept fighting with smiles on their faces.

Thunderlane dared to fly out of his fort and fling a pillow at the foals. Sweetie Belle saw it coming and braced herself for the hit, but in an overdramatic heroic fashion, Rumble flung himself in front of her, and took the pillow. He fell next to her, groaning.

Sweetie Belle knelt next to him. “Are you alright?”

Rumble chuckled, pretending to cough out his life. “At least I got to s-save you, Princess.”

Sweetie Belle embraced him. “You can’t die! You can’t! We have so much to do, and we have a fight to win. Get up.” Rumble lay there, his body going limp and his tongue sticking out. “Get up!”

Shining Armor touched her shoulder. “It’s too late.” He bowed his head. “He’s gone.”

“No, he’s not.” Sweetie Belle picked him up and placed a kiss on his lips.

Rarity gasped at the sight, her pillows falling on the ground. Twilight continued bombarding the pillow-fort, making one tower fall over with an agonizingly loud Thud!, but she was the only one. The other three ponies watched as Rumble’s eyes shot wide open, his face becoming a shade of red. Sweetie Belle held it for seconds more, and then released it with a mwa sound.

Rarity looked up at Thunderlane to see how he was reacting to it, and saw him smiling at the two. Figures he’d find this amusing, his brother being kissed by my baby sister. Why of all the—

“Are you alive yet, Rumble?” Thunderlane picked up another pillow from inside. “We still have a war to win.”

It was then, with that statement, that everything made sense. Everything that had happened after the Spa, the note, the fighting for Sweetie Belle—it was all there. At this sudden revelation, Rarity became enfuriated.

How dare you mess with my sister’s fate like that, you-you… She couldn’t bring herself to get angry at that moment, one reason being what was playing out in front of her, the other being the crumbling floor.

“Rarity,” Twilight said. “The structure is failing. Get your head back in the fight! Thunderlane, what are you doing?” Twilight continued to fling futilely as neither of the mentioned ponies moved to fight.

Rumble, on the other hand, launched himself into the air, a pillow in each forehoof. “You’re going down, Thunderlane!”

“Oh, I don’t think so!” Thunderlane threw the pillow up in the air and bucked it at the colt. Rumble ducked under it and launched one of his own, therefore launching an aerial dogfight.

Twilight, meanwhile continued her assault on the castle, and Shining Armor pushed Sweetie Belle under the “roof” of the castle. “Okay, kiddo, how’s about we end this?”

Sweetie Belle looked at the almost-destroyed book fort, watching as Rarity began throwing pillows at the animate pillows, and Twilight continued vaulting pillows at the castle. She looked at Shining Armor. “They’re not gonna get hurt, are they?”

He sidestepped a pillow. “Meh. The worst that’ll happen is a small fall and a few papercuts.”

“Well…” She looked around at their fort, which had one tower remaining, and the main wall began to crumble.

“Don’t worry, kid.” He stood straight up. “They’ll be fine.”

Meanwhile, over on the other side, Rarity was desperately trying to stave the killer pillows away from her. She had been flanked and bombarded for a while, leaving her in a state of frustration. Feathers were stuck in her mane.

“Thunderlane!” she yelled. “Get him!”

Thunderlane, meanwhile, was engaged in a mid-air club-fight with his brother. He had whacked him a few times, but Rumble had deflected a lot of blows and got some strikes in. “I’m working on it!”

Rarity looked around; her reserve of pillows were become short. “Okay, Rumble,” she said under her breath. “Let’s end this.”

With one flick of her magic, she sent a pillow flying towards the colt. He didn’t see it until it was too late, and it hit him in the gut. He clutched his stomach, and for a moment everypony thought he had been seriously injured.

“Oh, I’m dead,” he said, staring at his brother. “My ponies, they will fight on.”

Everypony, save Twilight, smirked as he fell to the floor, being caught by a pile of pillows. He lay there, tongue lolled out.

“Alright, little filly,” Thunderlane said, staring at Sweetie Belle. “It’s time to get you!”

Sweetie Belle backed away. “Shining Armor, hurry!”

“Almost done,” the stallion grunted. Already, Thunderlane dove down to take the filly from her fort, signaling the end of the game. “And—gah—there!”

Thunderlane had almost reached the front wall when something erupted from within. He had to spin around just to avoid it. When he regained his bearings, he looked up at what could only be a giant pillow staring down at him.

“What the—“

With a sluggish motion, the pillow giant slammed its upper half down on him, spiking him to the floor, where another group of pillows waited to breah his fall. He landed next to Rumble.

“Well, buddy,” he whispered. “It looks like this is it.”

Rumble didn’t say anything, but inconspicuously shimmied himself and pulled Thunderlane in a hug, tongue still sticking out. Thunderlane pulled him in, and caught the sight of Shining Armor staring at them, a grin on his face.

“Where are you Thunderla—oh my stars! what is that?” As she finished her exclamation, the giant threw a corner out, kicking the fence to nothing more than textbooks scattered across the floor.

Twilight, meanwhile, had sent a murder of horror books its way, but they stood no chance to the swipe of the giant. They all fell with a thud to the floor.

“Oh, this is bad,” Twilight said. “Rarity, we need to—“ The wall to the left was sent careening to the wall. “Jump!” With that, Twilight leapt from the second story, falling into the embrace of pillows.

Rarity saw the giant get ready for another strike, and looked outside to see pillows staring at her from the window. “Ooooh!” The giant bent back, getting ready for the final blow, and Rarity launched herself out of the fort.

With a fwoomph, she landed on a pile of pillows like the others. With a crash!, the book fort was obliterated, sending texts tumbling down. The pile spread outward, some of the covers hitting the ponies’ flanks or hocks. At last, the calamity stopped.

Rarity closed her eyes and sighed. It’s over. She opened them again, and was staring up at Sweetie Belle.

“Are you alright?”

Rarity did her best to smile. “Yes. I’m not too hurt.”

With that, Sweetie Belle reared up. “We won!” The pillows that were left alive bounced around in triumph.

“Yes, you did.” Rarity brought herself to stand. “And now it’s time to go home.”

Sweetie Belle stopped her cheering and smiled up at her big sister. “Okay.”

The two pegasi stood. “Rumble, I say it’s time to head home.” The colt nodded.

“Oh!” Rarity turned to Shining Armor. “Will you need help cleaning this mess?”

Shining Armor shook his head. “Nah, you guys go on ahead. I’ll get this.” He looked at Twilight, and soon they all saw that she was sitting, staring at the rubble of her fort, dumbfounded.

“Alright, dear.” Rarity motioned for Sweetie Belle to go first. “We shall be leaving now. Have a good night.”

“See you!” The two pairs of siblings left the room, walking downstairs and out the library.

”That was awesome!” Sweetie Belle yelled through the rain. “We won!”

Rumble joined her at her side. “I know, and I got to fight my big brother!” He turned around. “I did good, didn’t I, big brother?”

“Yeah, champ, that was a good fight.”

Rumble smiled. “So are we headed home?”

“Actually,” Rarity began, “why don’t we all go to my place? I’d like to have a word with Thunderlane.” The pegasus didn’t shrink away, but instead nodded, accepting his punishment.

“Hey, I’ll race you there!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Oh, you’re on!” Rumble launched himself forward, and soon the two foals were galloping away.

“Sweetie Belle!”

“Don’t worry, Rarity!” Sweetie Belle yelled behind her. “We’re just going to the boutique this time. Promise!”

The older ponies said something, but it was lost to a roll of thunder. The two foals ran side-by-side, trying to outrun the other. They ran over a bridge and through bushes, under trees and across large puddles. When they passed a large rock, Rumble spoke.

“So how far is the boutique?”

Sweetie Belle looked around, and then abruptly stopped. Rumble stopped himself as well, trotting next to her. She looked around frantically. “I, uh, actually don’t remember this being on the way to the boutique.”

She whirled around, and then stared at Rumble, wide-eyed. “I think we’re lost.”

As if on cue, a twig snapped near them. They looked there to see a pair of bright green eyes glaring at them.

Author's Note

The next chapter update will be the final one. There are two chapters remaining, but they will be released together. It will also be some time before they're released.

Thank you for reading up to this point; I truly appreciate the time you took to do so.

Survival in the Everfree Forest

It was dark.

Rarity had to keep her horn lit throughout the entire way home, and Thunderlane kept his wing over her head to keep her dry. The only things visible were outlines of houses and lampposts. Sweetie Belle and Rumble had disappeared in the distance on their race to get to the Boutique, and the two older ponies cantered to meet them there as quickly as possible. The rain was now a deluge, and the wind was howling.

Finally, Rarity saw the outline of the Boutique a few yards away. “Look, Thunderlane! That’s where I live! Just a bit further now.”

Thunderlane sighed as the building came into view. “Do you see them?”

Rarity squinted. “No, I don’t.” She turned to him with a smile. “They’re probably already inside. Sweetie Belle knows where the spare key is.”

Thunderlane nodded. “That’s good. If they ran off at this time of night...” He remained silent as they reached the front door.

Rarity tried opening it, but it wouldn’t. She went to her left and felt around the closest column for something, and picked out a key from it. “I’d call for them to open the door, but they probably wouldn’t hear me anyway.” She unlocked the door, placed the key back into the column, and opened the door.

The power was out, so Rarity kept her horn lit as she went to a drawer. She removed a few candles and lit them, placing one on the kitchen table and two around the main lobby. While she was trotting upstairs to light the other rooms and calling the foals, Thunderlane stayed below and looked around.

“Huh,” he mused to himself. “So she’s a seamstress.” He looked over some of the more ornate ensembles. “Not bad.”

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity called from upstairs. “Rumble? If you two are still playing Hide-’n-Seek, then just stop and come out. this isn’t fun anymore.” Trotting, and then a door being opened. “Yes, I know you’re hungry, Opal, but right now I need to find Sweetie Belle. Have you seen her?” No response.

Thunderlane stopped his looking and began to trot around, looking behind curtains, under dresses and around anything that could hide the foals. “Rumble? Hey, buddy, it’s time to stop playing.”

He combed the entire lower part of the boutique, but found no trace of them. He trotted upstairs, where Rarity had emerged from a room on the right. “Find ‘em?”

She shook her head. “They ran off again.”

The words came out emotionless, any sense of fright or panic crushed. She hung her head, eyes closed. Thunderlane looked to a window, just in time to see it light up from lightning. Thunder shook the building. “Maybe they overran, and they just need to be brought back.”

Rarity shook her head. “No, I doubt Sweetie Belle would pass the Boutique, as she comes here every weekend. She’d be able to find it.”

Thunderlane scuffed a hoof. “I don’t know. I mean, it is dark—”

He soon found his vision being obscured by her. “You know what I bet happened? I bet your little brother decided that the game wasn’t over, and decided to whisk Sweetie Belle off to Celestia-knows-where. I bet Rumble has a nice secret clubhouse where he’d hide her and do things to her, while she wonders where she is and why she’s not back here.”

Thunderlane’s brow furrowed. “Look, I know Rumble may be playful—”

“And I know, dear sir, that you were the one that convinced Rumble to foalnap her in the first place. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“No!”

“Then what is it!?” Rarity butted heads with him and stomped forward until he was trapped between her and the wall behind him. “What did you tell Rumble? Why did he foalnap my baby sister?”

Thunderlane could see the tears in her eyes; with a sigh, he straightened up and looked her right in the eyes. “I didn’t tell him to foalnap Sweetie Belle.” She huffed, but he continued. “I told him to continue the game.”

Rarity turned away. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”

Thunderlane walked to the window and scanned the outside. “Look, I... Can’t we talk about this when we know the foals are safe?”

Rarity stomped a hoof. “I know they’re safe, because Rumble took her away, and they’re probably hiding in a clubhouse somewhere making out! I want to know, and—”

Suddenly, they both heard a scream. They jerked their heads and bolted to the window.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity whimpered, pressing her head against the window. A second later, another scream could be heard.

“That’s Rumble!” Thunderlane cried. Without a moment’s hesitation, he bucked the window open, letting in a gust of wind, and bolted out the window.

“Then that means...” Rarity sat there in disbelief until a bolt of lightning cracked in the sky. With the candles extinguished from the wind, Rarity galloped out of the room, downstairs, and out the door; it closed on its own, from the force of it hitting the wall on its way out.

“Rumble!” Thunderlane yelled over the din of the rain. “Where are you?” A clap of thunder sounded overhead, making it impossible to hear anything for a few seconds.

“Sweetie Belle!?” Rarity cried out, running around town trying to find them. There was a scream a distance away. “Sweetie Belle!”

“They’re in the Everfree Forest.” Thunderlane flew back to her. “Listen, get back inside. I’ll go in there and find them.”

“What?” Rarity yelled. “Go inside while my little sister is in danger? No way am I going to do that! Besides,” she continued, lighting her horn. “It’s too dark, you’ll never be able to see in there.”

Thunderlane looked at the bright light coming from her, and tried to think of a way to protest. “But if you get hurt—“

“If they got hurt, I would never be able to forgive myself.” She began galloping towards the dark forest. “Now come on! We’ve wasted enough time standing here and talking.”

Thunderlane floated there for a few more seconds, and then braced himself. He darted forward and with absolutely no hesitation, he dove into the canopy of the forest. Rarity followed with a war cry. “We’re coming to get you, kids!”

Creatures scattered immediately as they entered the dark place. Rarity’s light only went so far, but the creatures buzzed around it with a frenzy that momentarily halted her. She was not going to be defeated, though, and with a grunt she pushed herself through them, ignoring the few that persistently chased her.

Thunderlane, meanwhile, had his entire attention on seeing as far ahead of him as possible. Rumble and Sweetie Belle had to be in here somewhere. He could see small movements in the distance, but nothing large enough to be a foal. He looked left and right, straight into the dark and back to Ponyville, but there was no sign of them to be had.

“See anything,” Rarity asked under him.

“Nothing yet—“

Another set of screams, this one much more faint than the others.

“This way!” Thunderlane began flying deeper into the Everfree. “They’re running away from us!”

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity yelled.”

“Rarity!” It was faint, but it was definitely her.

“Sweetie Belle, where are you?”

“I’m—AGH! Go, Rumble, go!”

“Sweetie Belle!”

They pressed onward, past large puddles of mud and leaves. The trees became more twisted, the branches jutting out and the tips sharper. Bushes crowded this area, making it hard to press through.

“Look,” Rarity said. “Hoofprints!” They looked at the ground and saw two sets of hoofprints leading through the bushes.
“They definitely went this way.”

“Alright,” Thunderlane said quickly, flying over them. The bushes posed no threat to him, but the branches above kept catching his wings, as if trying to cage him. Rarity was pushing bushes out of the way, making the same sluggish progress he was.

Suddenly, both of them lost their temper. Rarity began uprooting bushes and throwing them to the side, making a path for her to get across. Thunderlane began bucking the branches out of his way, sending them flying on top of the bushes, just a bit to the side of the path Rarity was tearing.

With many scratches and bruises, they both managed to make it to the other side. They panted, their energy drained from the task. At that moment, a fainter scream sounded.

“Rumble!” Thunderlane began flying forward.

“Wait!” Rarity called. “The hoofprints go this way!”

He watched as Rarity began galloping to the right of where he was going, and followed after her. The hoofprints definitely led that way, and there were a few feathers laying on the ground.

“Don’t worry, dears,” Rarity said under her breath. “No matter what, we’re going to find you and make sure you come back safely.”

”Faster, Sweetie Belle!”

The filly picked up the pace, with the timberwolves still behind them. They were both beginning to tire, while the wolves, older and more experienced to the chase, picked up the pace. They still had little idea where they were going, but with the threat behind them, it didn’t matter.

“I-*huff*-I’m trying, but-*huff*-I-I-I don’t think I can go on much longer.”

Rumble dared to fall back and run next to her. “Don’t think like that! Just keep going!” He nudged her forward, but that did little to spur her on. “Keep going!”

“I’m trying!” she yelled. She looked behind her, and saw them inching closer to her. One locked its eyes on her, and went faster, closing the distance between them.

“Rumble,” Sweetie Belle said as it snapped at her tail. “Help!”

All the wolf had to do was snatch her tail and that would be it. It continued to snap as it came closer, and for a moment it looked as if the filly would be done here. The others joined it in going after her. She screamed as they lunged forward. She closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she was flying. “A-Am I dead?”

“N-No!”

She felt herself sag and begin to fall, but was lifted up again. Hooves were wrapped around her. She looked up and saw
Rumble, face a mixture of exhaustion and determination, flying. Looking down, she saw the ground speeding past her.

“Rumble!” She couldn’t help it: she smiled. “You-what?”

“I’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you,” he said, panting. “We’re gonna get out of this. You just wait and see!”

The filly dared to hazard a glance behind her, and saw that the timberwolves had fallen behind by a large margin. They were still on their trail, though. “We’ve gotta lose them, Rumble!”

He grunted. “And how do you plan on doing that?”

“Hide in one of the trees!”

They looked at the branches and, thinking of no better alternative and feeling Rumble droop down more, he hoisted her up
and placed her on the nearest branch. The timberwolves raced towards them, no doubt happy their prey was stationary. When they were a few feet away, the foals hugged each other and braced for the attack.

They saw one leap up… and fall back down, missing them by a good three feet. The others leapt straight up, and met with the same failure as the other. They tried to climb up the trunk, but fell when they barely made it halfway up.

Seeing this, the foals sighed. “We-*huff*-we’re safe.” Rumble took a few deep breaths. When he regained his breathing, he found himself pulled into a hug.

“Thank you, Rumble.” Sweetie Belle rested her head against his. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d be eaten right now.”

Rumble felt her heart hammering against her chest, and he knew his was doing the same inside of him. It’d take a while for that to stop, when the timberwolves were no longer a problem, and when they weren’t so close to each other, keeping each other warm from the rain and the wind. For now, though, they were content to rest in each other’s hooves, with the threat unable to get them.

After a while, Sweetie Belle looked into his eyes. “Hey, Rumble?”

“Yeah?”

She fidgeted with her hooves. “Do you think our big brother and sister will find us?”

They strained their ears to hear if the older ponies were still calling their names, but they heard nothing of the sort.

“Maybe… maybe they’re lost like us.”

“Or maybe they were eaten,” Sweetie Belle added.

“Or maybe they were captured.”

“Or maybe they were turned to stone by a cockatrice.”

“Or maybe they’re just a little bit away from us!” Rumble added with enthusiasm.

Sweetie Belle thought, and then her ears drooped. “Or maybe they just went home.”

Rumble tilted his head. “Why would they do that?”

She sighed. “Well, we are far away from Ponyville, and they have been chasing us all day. Maybe… maybe they’re sick of chasing us, and they decided to just go home out of the storm.”

When she had stopped talking, Rumble couldn’t say anything. That hadn’t been a possibility for him. “B-but Thunderlane has always been there for me. He’s done everything to make sure I’m always safe, even when we’re doing dangerous things.

He—“ He sniffled. “He wouldn’t do that.”

She didn’t reply.

“I mean, he told me to keep playing, because he was having fun.” He put on a trembling smile. “He-he wouldn’t just stop and
go home without me…” He looked into the darkness. “He wouldn’t.”

She sighed. “I hope Rarity doesn’t either.”

Rumble was trembling, and tears ran down his face. He took a deep breath.

“Thunderlane!”

“That’s Rumble!” He whirled around and around. The yelling echoed from the trees around them, and pinpointing a direction to run to was impossible.

“At least we know they’re safe,” Rarity said, although she knew that only Rumble had yelled. Sweetie Belle’s voice didn’t follow; her heart beat loudly. “Come on, we need to keep following the hoofprints.”

Whereas Rarity cantered while keeping an astute eye on the tracks, Thunderlane sped along them, eager to get his brother back. He had to stop a lot, in order for Rarity’s light to illuminate the path again. His breathing was ragged, now more from anxiety than physical exhaustion.

“Come on, Rarity,” he yelled as the tracks turned sharply to the left.

“Alright, alright!” she yelled, beginning to gallop. “We need to be more careful! Who knows what’s lurking around, and we can’t lose the track—“

“Thunderlane!”

“HURRY UP!”

Rarity couldn’t resist him after hearing Rumble again, this time a bit louder, and they continued on in the slightly-more-spacious forest. “I’m coming, I’m coming—“

“Rarity!”

It was her turn to speed forward. “Sweetie Belle!” It was closer, they could hear it. As they sped forward, they began to hear a howling in the distance.

“Timberwolves,” Thunderlane said. They didn’t continue the conversation, but sped along.

This newfound reassurance of their safety made them run until they overshot the tracks, and they had to turn and search for them again before they continued to speed on. They continued to call for them, and the yelling gradually became clearer, closer. The two looked at each other, knowing they were almost there.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot down and made contact with a tree branch. It burst into flames and fell to the ground. That had barely concerned them—they didn’t see the foals fall along with it—and their attention was drawn to something else.

“Rarity,” Thunderlane began desperately. “Where are the tracks?”

She looked around, but only saw the hoofprints end abruptly. There was a small patch where it looked like something large and massive had fallen. They looked behind the bushes, but found no hoofprints there. The pawprints of the timberwolves, though, light as they were, continued on.

“What do you think happened?” Rarity asked, looking back at the lost trail.

Thunderlane looked into the surrounding distance, and then at the patch. “Either they had flown away before they were caught, or they didn’t get away and—“

“Stop!” Rarity shrieked. He closed his mouth, waiting for the trembling mare to continue. “Didn’t you hear them? They’re still calling for us! And there’s no blood here. It’s just rain water and mud.”

He nodded. “I didn’t mean to get your hopes down. I just blurted out what could’ve happened.”

“Well, control your mouth, please.” She huffed. “No doubt they’re still around here—“

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!”

It came from the southwest, and they galloped forward to follow it, their conversation now utterly forgotten.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity yelled. “I’m coming, sweetie ! Just hold on!”

“Rumble!” Thunderlane yelled. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’m on my way!”

The screams became fainter, and the sounds of barking and howling grew louder. The two ponies went on faster,

Thunderlane flying out of the comfort of the light, Rarity galloping over sharp rocks and roots, around various creatures that were found this deep in.

Rarity’s breath became ragged, and her vision began to blur; she began to feel sick. The burning in her legs was almost unbearable, but she pressed herself on. That is, until she lost her balance altogether and landed in a large puddle of something.

“Thunderlane!” She began to sink, and no matter how hard she kicked or flailed, she couldn’t get out of the sticky substance. “Help!”

The stallion had flown much farther ahead, but when he saw the forest become dark again, he panicked. “Rarity?” He heard her screaming, and backtracked. “Rarity! Where are you?” He couldn’t see her, but he heard a sloshing, and soon the sounds of splashing. “Rarity!” He looked down, and soon saw two legs sticking out and clawing at air. With a swoop, he dove down and grabbed them, pulling them clean out of the sticky puddle.

It sputtered. “Th-thank you!” It attempted to shake itself off, but most of it refused to come off on its own. Fortunately, the rain from above continued to come down, and it began to wash the muck off of her.

Thunderlane stepped forward and began to wipe it off of her. She remained motionless as she did this, her eyes staring at the ground. Soon it was out of her coat, and a few moments later it was out of her mane and tail.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Of course,” he said briskly, flying up again. “We need to move. Rumble!”

There was no sound.

“Rumble!”

Rarity ran around the puddle, looking this way and that. “Sweetie Belle?” There was no answer. She ran into one of the few openings in the deep Everfree, where the little bit of moonlight that made its way through the clouds beamed down on her.

“Sweetie Belle?” The only sound was thunder, and the lightning lit up the place, showing the area devoid of any other life.

“Sweetie Belle!” She screamed this to the point where she became hoarse. There was still no answer, and Rarity’s legs finally gave way. She collapsed on the ground in the open space and began to sob. Thunderlane, at a loss for what to do, walked over and stared down, trying to figure out what to say to her.

”Do you see anywhere safe?”

Rumble looked this way and that, anywhere for a place to hide. The trees would do no good; the branch they had been on had been struck by lightning, and had sent them running away from the timberwolves yet again. Rumble hadn’t recovered enough to carry her quickly, so they had to run for their lives.

“I don’t see anywhere,” he said. “Maybe we can hide in one of the trees—“

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle caught a root, and she fell to the ground. The timberwolves maniacally sped forward. “Rumble!”

He looked back and darted to the sky, turning around and speeding after her. As one of the timberwolves latched onto one of her legs and began to drag her away, causing her to scream, he reached her and kicked it in the face. He picked her up and flew away from them, just narrowly missing the jaws of the other wolves.

“Okay, somewhere to hide, somewhere to hide!” He continued saying it, looking left and right.

“There!” Sweetie Belle yelled, pointing to a dark hole in a few boulders. Rumble could just make it out, it being pitch black rather than a very dark grey.

“But what if there’s something in there?” he asked. He didn’t get an answer, as the timberwolves leapt up and almost got Sweetie Belle’s tail. Without thinking about the unknown dangers that could lie in it, he flew to the hole and landed on the rock.

The timberwolves began to climb up the rocks scattered around, and Rumble began to push Sweetie Belle inside. She got halfway inside, but soon stopped.

“Rumble!” she yelled. “I’m stuck!”

He looked at her backside, and saw her hindlegs trying to push her into the hole. He began pushing at her, looking back as the beasts were almost upon them. A few more jumps and they would be done for.

He continued to push, his vision becoming blurry from the tears forming from panic. Sweetie Belle grunted and pulled, trying to fit. The timberwolves jumped up once twice, and then they were one away from devouring them.

Then, when lightning illuminated the forms of the wolves making a final pounce at them, Sweetie Belle’s body disappeared into the hole, and Rumble sped in after her.

It was completely dark inside, and the only thing visible were the eyes of the timberwolves clawing at the entrance, trying to fit inside.

“Are you okay?” Rumble asked, feeling around for Sweetie Belle.

“I-I’m fine,” she whimpered. “I’m fine.”

“Are you hurt?”

“It bit me!” she began to wail. “It bit me!”

Rumble’s breathing quickened. “Look, don’t worry, we’ll get out of this!” He felt around, but found that he could only go back a few inches. There was very little room to move around, so the timberwolves’ growling and Sweetie Belle’s crying echoed loudly. He tried to flatten his ears, tried to nuzzle and console her, but she wouldn’t stop.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a trembling voice. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see. Everything… will be…”

He couldn’t hold it in anymore. He began to cry as well. They both lay against each other and began to cry, terrified of where they were, in pain, wondering if they would ever make it home.

The noise carried through to the opening. It rang in Rarity’s ears like a bell that signaled for her to follow it. The crying reverberated in her head, and she ceased her crying.

“What am I doing?”

Thunderlane looked at her. “What?”

“What am I doing?” She began to stand. “I’m lying here, bawling like a foal, while my little sister is crying for my help!” She began to snort in anger. “What kind of a big sister am I!?”

Thunderlane didn’t attempt to argue; he trotted next to her. “We’ve been after them all day, and yes, they ran off again.” He launched himself into the air. “But we’re their big siblings, and we’ve got to be there for them!”

Rarity nodded. “Sweetie Belle!” she yelled. “I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you! You just hang in there, I’m on my way!”

With that, Rarity circled the opening, straining her ears. She picked up where the crying was coming from, and galloped away.

“Rumble!” Thunderlane yelled. “I’m coming for you, don’t you worry. Just hang in there, and I’ll find you!” With that, he took off after Rarity. They travelled side-by-side, the light a warning to the creatures of the Everfree to beware of the big siblings.

Author's Note

Final Chapter coming out May 19th, 11:00AM EST/8:00AM PST. This message will disappear tomorrow.

Game Over; Time for Bed

Would they find them? Would they even be looking for them?

These were the questions that ran through the foals’ mind as they sobbed in the little hole in the rock, while the timberwolves clawed at the entrance and snapped their jaws. Sweetie Belle’s leg hurt from the bite.

There appeared to be no hope.

“Rumble?” Sweetie Belle piped up.

The colt wiped his tears away, sniffling as he looked to where Sweetie Belle would be; they couldn’t see each other in the dark. “Yeah?”

She snuggled up next to him. “I wanna go home.”

He nodded. “Me too.” They nuzzled closer to each other, Rumble placing his head over hers in an embrace. “I miss Thunderlane.”

She sniffled. “I miss Rarity.” They moved themselves further back into the cave, avoiding the long leg of the largest timberwolf. Their rumps touched the back of the hole. “I wanna see her again. I don’t care if I get in trouble. I just wanna go home.”

Rumble sighed. “I’m sorry I got you into all of this.”

Water began to pool at their undersides; the rain had been falling down a tiny hole in the back, which was now blocked by the foals. The thunder and lightning didn’t stop.

“It’s okay.” She stroked his ear with her hoof. “If anypony’s to blame, it’s Thunderlane.”

“Well, yeah, but…” Rumble sighed. “I can’t be angry at him. We were just having fun, and now, we’re stuck in a hole. I should’ve been more careful.” He curled into himself .

“Hey, let’s not think about that.” She pushed her head towards him until his chin was resting on her nape. “Let’s just wait here, and hope they find us.”

He nodded. “Yeah. They won’t give up. They’ll find us!”

They looked outside, wondering if what they were saying was true.

Would this be one time where the recklessness of younger ponies would lead to their demise? Would their rambunctiousness make them fall prey to the dangers of the world?

This is what Rarity and Thunderlane wondered as they pressed onward, towards where the crying was coming from. The rain beat at them mercilessly, and the wind continued to push them, but they remained steadfast and continued onward. Thunder and Lightning could do nothing to frighten them; no threat in the Everfree would dissuade them from continuing.

It was a do-or-die mission.

“Do you hear it anymore, Rarity?” Thunderlane asked from above, his breath catching up to him.

Rarity looked around. “No, I don’t.” She stopped and strained her ears, hearing only barking and clawing. “Sweetie Belle?”

Almost immediately, they heard a voice. “Rarity?”

She smiled. “Sweetie Belle! Oh, thank goodness! Where are you?”

“We’re in a hole!” They were distant, but they could hear them.

“Are you hurt?”

“I got bitten by a timberwolf!”

Rarity gasped, almost losing her balance. “Are you bleeding?”

There was silence for a moment. “No, but it hurts!”

Then another voice piped up. “Thunderlane?”

The stallion smiled and began to shake. “Rumble! Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he yelled. “I didn’t get bit!”

"But we can't get out!" Sweetie Belle yelled. "There are timberwolves right outside, and we're trapped in here! They can't get us, but we're trapped!"

Something moved in the bushes near them, and the two ponies nodded to each other. “Look, just stay where you’re at. We’ll find you.”

“Okay!”

Thunderlane flew forward, with Rarity galloping under him. They were able to avoid many obstacles, as the branches, bushes and other nuisances were sparse, and where was here was open space and rocks gathered under a dark canopy. The rain was less constant here, but it still came down. The light from Rarity’s horn traveled farther, illuminating more.

What they came across were a gathering of large boulders. They lay scattered around in a large row, some full-grown, some broken in half, others crumbled into mere rocks and pebbles. That wasn’t what had caught their attention, though. What caught their attention were a gathering of green eyes along the boulders, all staring right at them.

“Timberwolves!” Thunderlane yelled. He dropped to the ground and positioned himself in front of Rarity. “Listen: you search for them. I’ll distract them.”

The timberwolves slowly stepped down from the boulders, slowly crawling towards them. Thunderlane pushed Rarity behind a large rock, and flew towards them. “Hey, you!” he yelled, bucking a timberwolf in the face and sending it into a boulder. “Come and get me!” He flew right, along the line of rocks, and the wolves, on instinct, chased after him.

Rarity peeked out from behind the rock; there were no timberwolves there. With a sigh of relief, she emerged and began her search. “Sweetie Belle? Rumble?”

“Rarity!” It was close; not right next to her, but very close.

“Sweetie Belle, Rumble! hang on! I’ll find you, and we’ll go home!”

“Rarity,” Sweetie Belle began, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry for running off again. We meant to get to the Boutique, honest! We just passed it and—“

“Don’t worry about that right now, dear.” Rarity hopped onto a boulder and began looking over it, finding nothing but a steep patch of earth that ascended past her vision. “We must be near a mountain.” Shaking that thought from her mind, she began her search again. “Keep talking to me, dears. Let me know where you are.”

She heard Rumble. “Are we in trouble?”

She ran forward and hopped onto another boulder, looking around the sea of broken rock. “We’ll talk about that later. For now, let’s just get you out of here and back to Ponyville.”

“Are you mad at us?”

She peered down a crevice, but saw nothing. “Well, yes, I’m mad that you made us run around after you, but I still don’t want you to get hurt!” There was silence. “Keep talking!”

Sweetie Belle’s voice was calm. “I love you, Rarity.”

Rarity sighed and smiled. “And I love you, Sweetie Belle. We’ll talk about your punishment later, but know that I will always love you, little sister.” She heard more clawing and barking, and hopped to another boulder. There was excited gasping.

“Rarity! We-we see your light!”

The mare moved frantically around, looking for any sign of them. She couldn’t see anything. “Where are you?”

“Over here!” The shouting was coming from the left, but she couldn’t see anything.

“I can’t see you!” Rarity strained her eyes, and saw something. “Wait, is that—“

It was. A timberwolf was sprinting right at her.

“Aaaah!” Rarity scrambled and began to run away from the timberwolf, trying to figure out what to do. Its footing was steadier than her hooves, and soon it caught up to her.

“Rarity! The light’s fading!”

Hearing that gave her a boost of strength. What am I doing? I’m running from my sister! I can’t let that happen!” With a swift movement she raised her hindlegs and bucked as hard as she could at the timberwolf. It made contact, and it was sent flying away from her, falling into a crevice and disappearing from sight.

“Sweetie Belle?” She called, hopping back. “Can you see it? Can you see the light?”

“A little.”

Rarity took a deep breath and, looking around herself, began to trot around, trying to see them.

The light kept fluttering, once peering at one side, and then at the other, and then disappearing. “Rumble, she can’t see us!” Sweetie Belle stomped her hoof as hard as she could. “What’re we gonna do?”

“We’ll think of something,” he said. He watched the light come around, listened as Rarity called out again, and Sweetie Belle answered again. The progress was slow. “How’s she supposed to see us when we’re down here?”

“Let’s see” she began mumbling. “We’re in a hole just below the top of the rocks, a distance away from the other boulders. Rarity isn’t able to see the timberwolves’ eyes, because they’re looking at us and not out at her. There’s no light inside, so Rarity wouldn’t be able to see us—

Sweetie Belle’s eyes suddenly went wide. “That’s it!”

He stopped mumbling to look at him. “What?”

“My horn!” She felt him reach up to touch it, brushing against her mane, and then finding it. “I’ll use my horn to shine some light so she can find us!” Her exuberance then died down. “But… No, that’s stupid. Never mind.”

“What?” Rumble raised himself up, hitting his head against the ceiling. “Why?”

There was a sound of a scuffing hoof. “I can’t use magic yet. I don’t think I’d be able to get my horn to light up.”

Rumble reached out and pulled her into a hug. “Look, I really really need you to do this. If you don’t then we’re done for! Do it for me, for us, for Rarity!”

Sweetie Belle perked up, and turned her head outside. “… You know what? I’ll do it!” She pushed herself up. “Or, at least I’ll try.”

He rubbed her wither. “I know you can do it.”

Sweetie Belle tentatively crawled forward, getting within inches of the timberwolves’ reach. With a deep breath, she began to focus. At first there was nothing, and then a spark flew out. A few more sparks flew out.

“Yeah, Sweetie Belle!” Rumble cheered on. “You can do it!”

She pushed herself more, until her head was dizzy. Her horn began to glow, casting a white light in the eyes of the timberwolves outside. Then, after a few seconds of concentration...

She collapsed, the light going out.

“I-I can’t, Rumble.” Sweetie Belle began to cry. “I just can’t do it!”

“Don’t give up,” he said, crawling up and nuzzling her. “I know you can make a light.”

“No I can’t,” she sobbed. “I just can’t.”

Then they both heard a distant voice. “Sweetie Belle?”

She lifted her head. “Rarity, we’re over here—“

“Sweetie Belle, can you give me some light?”

She sighed. “I tried, Rarity, but I can’t do it.” She almost returned to sobbing, but Rarity spoke again.

“I know you can do it, dear. You just have to concentrate.”

“Rarity—“

“I really need your help, Sweetie Belle. I know you can do it, dear. Just concentrate. Please.”

“But—“

“Please, Sweetie Belle! I need to get you out of here, away from these timberwolves!” They heard her scream, and there was a scuffle between the mare and a stray timberwolf.

“Rarity!” She heard her sister whinny and the timberwolf whine, and that did it for her. She wiped her eyes, raised herself, and began to concentrate again.

“You can do it,” Rumble said quietly.

At first, there was nothing. Sweetie Belle grunted, but nothing happened. Then, just as Rumble was ready to say it wouldn’t work, a spark flew out. A few more flew out, and the tip of her horn began to glow.

“It’s working!” he yelled. “Keep going!”

She kept at it. “We’ll get out, Rarity. I’ll do this for you.” She pushed herself harder, and more of her horn glowed. The timberwolves looked at it and began to retreat from the hole. With a cry of pain, she pushed herself harder, and the entire hole lit up with a brilliant white.

“Rarity!” Rumble yelled. “Can you see it?”

A brilliant white light shone from a hole near the trees. Rarity bucked the timberwolf off and began to cry. “Yes, yes I see it! Fantastic, Sweetie Belle!”

With the timberwolf off of her, she leapt from boulder to boulder, determined to reach the light and the foals. The timberwolves turned to stare at the approaching threat, but they had no time to react. She lifted one and threw it off of the boulder, and the other tried to charge, but was trampled by the mare. With a buck, it was sent careening off the boulder.

“Rarity!” Rumble flew out of the whole and latched onto her neck for a hug. “I knew you’d come and save us!” He looked around. “But where’s Thunderlane?”

“Rumble!” The two turned to see Thunderlane galloping towards them, limping on an unbandaged leg.

“Thunderlane!” The colt launched himself and latched himself around his neck. “I knew you’d come and save us.”

“Of course, little bro,” the stallion said. “What kind of a brother would I be if I didn’t make sure you were safe?”

While all of this was going on, Rarity walked to the hole and peered in. “Sweetie Belle? Are you in there?”

“Y-yeah,” the filly wheezed, staggering out of the hole. “J-just let me catch my breath and I’ll be good to go.”

Rarity shook her head and lifted her little sister onto her back. “Sorry, Sweetie Belle, but you’ve done enough for now.” She looked at her sister’s leg; there was a mark, but no blood. “Just lay back there and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Yeah, about that,” Thunderlane began as he lifted Rumble onto his back. “I managed to lose the timberwolves, but they’ll be back here any second.”

“Then I guess we better get a move on back to Ponyville.” Rarity nuzzled Sweetie Belle. “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll handle it from here.” In the distance, they could hear howling, and it was getting closer. The timberwolves there were beginning to regain consciousness as well. “Let’s go.”

With the two foals safely on their backs, Thunderlane and Rarity began to gallop off back down their path. Their hoofprints were still fresh, so following it back was easy with Rarity’s light. They went as fast as their legs could carry them, as the timberwolf pack had found them and began to give chase.

“Stay back!” Rarity yelled, using her magic to roll a small boulder in their way. It gave them a few seconds to gain ground.

They passed the open field, and continued to follow the hoofsteps. The adults’ breathing became heavy, but they showed no signs of slowing down. Sweetie Belle hung on to her sister as best she could, while Rumble hung on to his brother, urging him onward.

They jumped over the burnt branch, and raced through the field where the bushed and trees had been decimated. The foals’ hoofprints came into view again. “We’re almost out of here!” Rarity yelled. Thunderlane nodded with a grin, and they both pushed themselves onward.

It wouldn’t be that easy, though, as the timberwolves had caught up to the exhausted ponies. Rarity was heaving while she ran, the rain almost blinding her. She continued to follow the prints, but the mud made her lose her balance, allowing the timberwolves to gain a few inches each time. Soon, they were snapping at her tail.

The mare looked behind her, and saw one pounce at her. She screamed, managing to buck it away just in time. More came and pounced, and for a moment, Rarity feared that would be the end of her and her sister.

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted into the air, and taken away from the timberwolves. They fell far behind, and no matter how much quicker they ran, they couldn’t catch up to them. Rarity looked up and saw Thunderlane carrying them.

“Hang on!” he grunted, flying forward with great speed. The few branches that were in his way were broken down when he rammed into them; Rarity and Sweetie Belle were low enough to avoid them.

A few seconds later, they broke out of the forest and saw buildings. Sweetie Belle and Rumble began to cheer on their sibling’s backs, and Rarity sighed as she was put back on the ground.

“We’ve made it!” she cried. “We’re back in Ponyville! Oh, Thunderlane, I don’t know how you did it, but—“

She didn’t finish, as an utterly exhausted Thunderlane collapsed on the ground.

They were inside the boutique, and the first thing they saw was Opalescence coming down the stairs to greet them. The cat saw how wet and rough they looked, so she just settled on meowing loudly for her dinner. Rarity shot her a look that shut her up immediately.

With that settled. Rarity quickly and deftly relit the candles around the room, and also did so in the kitchen. Sweetie Belle ran upstairs, and came back down with towels. Rarity set the limp body of the stallion on a couch in the corner of the room. Sweetie Belle soon came back with the towels, and soon the three conscious ponies set to drying themselves. Rumble and Rarity worked together to dry Thunderlane’s body.

With their bodies now dry, Rarity trotted into the kitchen and, quickly dealing with Opal’s dinner, began to rummage through her refrigerator. She pulled out a large pot and set it on the stove. With a few clicks, there were flames, and the pot was set over it.

While it was warming up, Rarity grabbed the towels and placed them in the washroom. Having that done, she pointed upwards. “Bath.”

The two foals didn’t argue. They ran upstairs and to their left. Rarity listened, and soon heard water running. Satisfied, she dimmed the fire under the pot and trotted upstairs. There was the issue of the broken window, but Rarity paid it no mind at that point; it would take some money to have it repaired, but right now, she needed to get into her own room.

Once inside, she went straight to her bathroom and turned the faucet on. She didn’t have time for a full-length bath, and stepped into the steaming shower. The initial jolt of heat made her gasp, but then she relaxed and went under the running water. It warmed her to the bone, and for a moment she stood there and let the heat wash over her.

But she knew that dinner was cooking, and she couldn’t relax just yet. The muck and sweat washed off of her body, but that left her mane and tail. They had been exposed to the rain and wind far too much for her liking, and it was time to fix that. With her magic, she squeezed a sizable amount of shampoo on both her mane and tail, and then proceeded to scrub them as hard as could.

“Oh my,” she said, feeling her hooves along her scalp. “I definitely need a hooficure.”

Meanwhile, in the other bathroom, Sweetie Belle and Rumble were in the bathtub with just water—no bubbles or bath toys as was normal for the filly—and they were eager to get the cold rain and dirt off of them. Their coats were the first to be washed, and they were quick enough.

Then their manes were next. Sweetie Belle grabbed the blueberry-scented shampoo and dabbed a blob directly onto her mane, and then passed the bottle to Rumble. He squeezed a large blob onto his hoof, and then slammed in into his mane. They both scrubbed hard, and then they both went underwater to wash the soap out.

When they emerged from the water, they were touching noses.

They blinked, stared at each other for a moment. And then Rumble moved forward and embraced Sweetie Belle. She hugged him back. The only sounds heard were the humming of the pipes running water through them to Rarity’s private shower.

“Rumble,” Sweetie Belle said. “We still need to clean our tails.”

He broke the hug, but before they began to work on their tails, he moved in and smooched her on the lips. It was quick, but it left both of them blushing.

Soon the pipes stopped humming, and they knew the bath had to end. With a quick pull of the plug and drying themselves off, they emerged from the bathroom, ready for their punishments.

At the same time, Rarity emerged from her room, her mane and tail wrapped around in a towel. She looked them over, sniffed both of them, nodded, and beckoned them to come into her room. On the bed was a roll of bandaging. She levitated it and began to wrap it around Sweetie Belle’s hindleg. Once it was snug, she nuzzled it. Sweetie Belle didn’t flinch, and actually smiled. With that done, Rarity trotted downstairs, the two foals in tow.

Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Thunderlane groaned and rose from the couch. He looked around. “What the? Where am I?”

“Oh, good, you’re awake.” Rarity came into view with her towels, and Thunderlane stared at her in disbelief. “Come on, it’s time for dinner.”

He babbled. “Wait, what happened? Did we make it out? Was it all just a dream?” He rubbed his head, and winced. “Was I knocked unconscious or something?”

Rarity turned and stared at him. “No, it wasn’t a dream. You weren’t knocked unconscious, you fainted from exhaustion. And yes, we made it out.” She trotted over to him and nuzzled him. “We made it out, thanks to you.”

He giggled. “Well, I had to, y’know?”

She shook her head, and her expression immediately became stern. “But we are going to talk about this whole thing.” She turned to the kitchen. “Right after dinner.”

Thunderlane’s stomach growled, and he stood upright. “Yeah, dinner sounds good.”

Rumble and Sweetie Belle giggled, but stopped as Rarity passed. They followed her into the kitchen, and Thunderlane followed after them.

Opalescence had finished with her dinner and headed off to her bed, and the pot was steaming, the lid quivering. Rarity shut the stove off, and lifted the lid, allowing the steam to waft around them. Thunderlane, not having taken a shower, shook with delight as his body warmed with it.

The ponies took their seats at the table, and Rarity placed four bowls in front of them. She took her own place, but just before she could lift the pot off the table, there was a knock at the door. She stood and trotted to it. Opening it, she saw Aloe, covered with an umbrella and holding a basket. She recognized it as the picnic basket from earlier, and took it inside.

“Thank you, dear,” she said. Aloe nodded and trotted off merrily to her own home.

Rarity brought the basket into the kitchen—once Sweetie Belle saw it, she gasped—and set it down next to her. She inspected the contents, and took out what dozen remained of the sandwiches and set them in the middle of the table. Sweetie Belle craned her head and looked at the basket, and Rarity took out the kite. It was undamaged.

With that matter taken care of, Rarity took the pot from the stove and set it next to the sandwiches. A ladle was procured, and soon the four bowls were each filled with soup. The four ponies each took two sandwiches and set them next to their bowls.

At that moment, with the aroma of potatoes and carrots and other vegetables wafting up, with the sandwiches right next to them, with their stomachs rumbling, Rarity realized that she hadn’t brought out the silverware. She didn’t get a chance to, either. Rumble’s muzzle dove into the soup, and the others could see the soup-level lowering around the swiftly moving jaws. Thunderlane looked up at Rarity, who watched with wide eyes.

Then, unable to resist anymore, she dove her own muzzle in and began to suck up the soup. Sweetie Belle and Thunderlane looked at each other, and with a simultaneous rumbling of their stomachs, they too dove their muzzles in and devoured it. Any etiquette was thrown out the window; as ponies who had been expending energy all day and who just went through peril in the Everfree Forest, they had neither need nor time nor patience to use them.

In mere seconds, they had all devoured their servings. Without hesitation, Rarity poured another hearty helping in each one, and they were at it again, at a slightly slower pace. Sweetie Belle had the control to use a sandwich to scoop up vegetables before she devoured it in a few bites, while Thunderlane had the decency to lick every wallop of soup in the bowl before going for a third serving. Their stomachs began to stick out, but that didn’t matter.

They ate and ate, the soup warming them from the inside, the sandwiches a nice snack along with it. This went on for five minutes, and then they stopped. There was no more soup in the pot, nor were there any sandwiches on the table. They had all devoured four servings, and when it was all done, they all gave a collective sigh of contentment.

“Right then,” Rarity said, levitating the utensils to the sink. “Now, we can have a talk.”

All three of the other ponies looked at her with worry, and at her urging they all began to walk upstairs. “In my room.” Sweetie Belle opened the door to her sister’s room, and soon all four of them were inside. Rarity closed the door and motioned for the foals to get on the bed. They did so, and sat side-by-side, awaiting what she had to say. Thunderlane walked next to her.

“Now,” Rarity began. “You both know you’re in a lot of trouble.” They nodded, shrinking away from her. “You both sent us on a wild chase, and then you both went into the Everfree Forest, and almost got yourselves killed.”

“But—“

“Sh!” They stopped. “Sweetie Belle, not only did you run around when I told you it was time to go home, but you also jumped out of a carriage into a lake. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” Sweetie Belle nodded.

“And you, Rumble.” The colt shrunk further. “You foalnapped my little sister! Do you realize how angry I am at that?” Rumble looked to his brother for help, but Rarity brought his attention back on her. “And don’t think Thunderlane’s getting out of this!” She turned on him. “We’ll be having our own little conversation.”

Instead of backing away or shrinking, he simply nodded.

She turned her attention back to the foals. “You both have done some bad things today.” They both looked down in shame.

“However.”

They both looked up, confusion etched on their face.

“However, Sweetie Belle, when you were in danger, you used your wits to light your horn, making it much easier to find you guys.”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head. “But… but I couldn’t have done that without your help.”

Surprisingly, Rarity placed a hoof on her head. “True, you needed some encouragement, but I wouldn’t have thought of it. And you did manage to produce light.” She pulled her baby sister into a hug. “I’m proud of you.”

Sweetie Belle had no idea how to respond. “Really?”

“Of course!” Rarity stared at her with a smile. “You did do some bad things, and you are going to be punished, but I’m very glad that you’re safe, and you helped us get you here safely.”

Tears began to form in the filly’s eyes, and soon they were both embracing in a hug. “Thank you, big sister. But I would’ve been eaten if it weren’t for Rumble!”

The colt had up to this point remained silent, but now he piped up. “Huh?”

“Oh?” Rarity looked at him. “Really?”

“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle scooted herself closer to him and wrapped a hoof around him. “I tripped and fell, and just when they were gonna eat me, he came and carried me away to safety! Twice!”

Rumble fiddled with his hooves, looking away. Before he could look back, he was being embraced by the mare.

“Thank you, Rumble,” she whispered, planting a kiss on his cheek. “If it weren’t for you, my sister wouldn’t be here. I don’t think you realize how big that is for me.”

Rumble was blushing. “Well, I had to. I couldn’t leave her there, right? She’s my friend!”

Instead of answering, Rarity hugged him again. “Thank you.” She ended the embrace and stepped back, looking at the two. “You both did very good things today, and I’m proud of both of you.”

“I’m proud of you too,” Thunderlane added, looking at the two foals. “You both did some pretty awesome things today. Sweetie Belle, that was smart, using your magic like that!” The filly blushed, and bashfully high-hoofed him. “That must’ve been hard.” He turned to Rumble. “And you, champ! You actually saved her? That-man, I’m so proud of you right now!” Rumble didn’t hesitate to high-hoof him.

“And,” Rarity added, “even though we did run around everywhere trying to catch you miscreants… we did have fun doing it, at times.” She looked at Thunderlane. “We did have a nice game of hide-n’-seek, and I did get to fly around Ponyville. That was nice.”

She noticed a faint blush appear in Thunderlane’s cheeks; she took a deep breath, hoping the blush in her face wouldn’t be visible. She turned her attention back to the now-beaming foals. “Now, to decide your punishment.”

Immediately, the smiles disappeared.

“I say… three months of being grounded will suffice.” She looked at Sweetie Belle. “Mom and Dad will know about this.” She opened the door. “Now there will be no more playing tonight. Sweetie Belle, get ready for bed. Rumble, please follow her. I need to have a word with Thunderlane.”

The foals looked at each other, but instead of slinking away in shame, they ran up and hugged their respective siblings. “Thank you, Rarity, for spending the day with me.”

Rarity hugged her back. “You’re not getting out of your punishment.”

“I know. I just want to tell you I love you.”

Rarity kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, too.”

Rumble hugged his brother to the point of choking him. “Thanks for playing with me all day, big brother. You’re the best.”
Thunderlane didn’t try and get him to hug looser. “Hey, it’s good to hang out with my little brother every once in a while.”

“Love you, bro.”

“I love you too, Rumble.”

With that, the two yawned at the same time, and began walking out of the room. Once they had went inside Sweetie Belle’s room, Rarity shut the door.

“They’re good kids,” Thunderlane said.

“Yes, they are.” Rarity turned to Thunderlane. “Now, you have some explaining to do.”

Thunderlane didn’t flinch or shrink, or even avert his gaze. “I’ll explain everything.”

“Firstly,” Rarity began, pacing around him. “What did you tell Rumble at the spa?”

Thunderlane shook his legs, and began. “I told him I was having fun.”

“And?”

“And that I wanted him to find a way to make the game go on. That’s it, nothing more.”

“Even with your leg being hurt?”

Thunderlane scuffed his bandaged leg against the carpet, but not with a shy air about him. “Yes, even with my leg being bandaged. I didn’t mind; I was having too much fun with him.”

“You do realize that your fun is what caused them to almost be killed, right?”

There was a minute movement in his face that suggested a rebuttal, but it died down. “Yes, I realize that.”

“Tell me, was it your idea that they play hide-n’-seek in the first place?”

“No.” Rarity scrutinized his face, but couldn’t find a twitch of the mouth or of the eyes to suggest a lie. “That was entirely them that decided it.”

Rarity nodded. “And when we were flying? You could’ve caught them, right?”

“Yes, I could’ve.” Thunderlane shifted, and stifled a yawn. “But not as easily as you may think. Rumble may be small, but he has a pair of wings on him. He wouldn’t have been able to handle that hurricane otherwise. I also could’ve ended it at the bar.”

“And at Twilight’s?”

“You mean at the library?” Thunderlane sighed. “No, that stallion had me beat pretty good.”

She nodded. “Did you tell him specifically to foalnap Sweetie Belle?”

“No. I just told him to find a way to continue playing.”

“But did you enjoy his dragging her around and her getting hurt?”

At this, Thunderlane betrayed a sign of anger. “I’d never want to see a pony hurt, and I’m sorry that Sweetie Belle was punched in the face—“

“And bitten.”

“…and bitten. I’m sorry about that. As for enjoying it… yes, I liked seeing him try and woo her.”

Rarity huffed. “Is that so?”

“It is.”

Rarity stopped pacing. “Here’s what I have gathered: you, ultimately, are the reason this whole thing continued, and you enjoyed that my sister was dragged around in all of this? You, ultimately, are responsible for her being hurt twice? And almost a third time, when she jumped out of the carriage?”

Thunderlane didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.”

Rarity sighed. “Very well, then. One more question.” She stepped towards him. “Why did you do it?”

At this question, he sighed and slumped. “Listen: me and Rumble, we don’t hang out that much. I’m usually off working while he’s in school or playing, and I’m usually too tired to play with him. Don’t take this as a sob story, but he looks up to me, and I’m usually asleep when we hang out together. Still, he looks up to me, thinks I’m a great pony. So when this opportunity came, I decided to go along with it, have fun with my brother, y’know? Hang out with him while I could, before I have to go to work again.” He straightened up again. “That’s why.”

Rarity’s expression didn’t change, but she began to pace again. He watched her walk back and forth, her brow furrowed. He remained straight; whatever punishment was coming, he was ready for it.

“I endangered the foals, I accept that.” He bowed his head. “I’ll take responsibility for it all.”

“Three months.”

Thunderlane looked up. “What?”

“Three months,” Rarity repeated, stepping towards him. “Three months, you are to be in my service. You will do my bidding, from carrying gems from the mountains to carrying me around in a carriage. You will engage in grueling work to pay for what you’ve done.”

He nodded. “I can accept that—“

“That’s not all,” she added sternly. “Apart from that, you will be helping Rumble with his schoolwork, and I will be checking.”

He raised a brow. “I don’t see how that’s a punishment—“

“Uup, uup, uup! Don’t argue with me.”

“But I wasn’t—“

“Zip it!” She waved a hoof in his face. “Is this understood?”

Thunderlane’s brow was still raised, but he nodded regardless.

“Good.” She trotted to the door and opened it. “Now let’s get some sleeping arrangements set up for you and your brother.”
Thunderlane did a double-take. “Wait, what?”

Rarity looked back, a smirk on her face. “Do you honestly believe that I’m going to let you and your brother do any more flying in this dreadful weather? Certainly not! Little Rumble’s been through enough tonight.” She trotted to the door on the left. “Rumble, dear, come on out—“

She gasped. Hearing this, Thunderlane sped over to her. “What, what is it?”

What he saw was Rumble, on the bed, under the blanket, cuddling with Sweetie Belle. Both the foals were asleep. Sweetie Belle had her legs wrapped around Rumble, who had his hooves hugging the blanket close to him. His neck had her pulled into its own embrace.

Thunderlane slowly walked into the room, followed by Rarity. He stopped next to Rumble while Rarity went around the bed to Sweetie Belle. He couldn’t help the grin that appeared on his face.

“Well, isn’t this cute?” he said, looking up to the mare. She was smiling.

“This is precious,” she said. She used her magic to put the blanket over her sister’s shoulder, leaving only her head above the blanket. “They look so adorable.”

“Yeah, they do.” Thunderlane moved to nudge his brother.

“No, stop,” Rarity hissed. “What are you doing?”

He looked up, confused. “I’m waking him up, of course. We need to discuss sleeping arrangements, right?”

Rarity blinked, and then shook her head. “No, let’s leave them. They look so peaceful.” She yawned. “And we’ve all had a long day. I’ll be treating myself to a trip at the spa tomorrow for sure.” She giggled, and lifted the covers. When they went down again, Rarity was lying next to her sister, the towels having been placed on a chest in the corner of the room, and scooted over until Sweetie Belle was nestled against her side. Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and looked over at her. Rarity smiled and nuzzled her, and Sweetie Belle tiredly nuzzled her back.

“Hey, Rarity,” she yawned. “Are you sleeping with us?” Rarity nodded. “Okay, then.”

Thunderlane chuckled. “So, where do I sleep?”

Rarity looked up at him as if that was a really dumb question. “Well, there’s the couch downstairs. Or…” she patted the space next to Rumble.

Thunderlane got the hint, and, closing the door behind him, went under the covers and lay next to Rumble. The colt opened his eyes and turned his head.

“Hey, buddy,” Thunderlane whispered. “It’s time to sleep.”

Rumble nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I know,” he yawned, nuzzling Thunderlane’s barrel. The stallion hugged him back. Then Rumble turned to Sweetie Belle and resumed his position of hugging her with his neck. “Good night, Thunderlane.”

Thunderlane kissed him on the forehead. “Good night, Rumble.”

Sweetie Belle nudged Rarity’s barrel. “Good night, Rarity.”

Rarity kissed her on the cheek. “Good night, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle turned her head. “Good night, Thunderlane.”

He ruffled her mane. “Good night, Sweetie Belle.”

Rumble looked up at Rarity. “Good night, Rarity.”

She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek as well. “Good night, Rumble.”

Sweetie Belle wrapped her legs around him once more, and Rumble hugged his neck around her. “Good night, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle sighed. “Good night, Rumble.”

There was one last good-night that needed to be exchanged. Thunderlane looked at Rarity, who looked up at him. He nodded his head. “Good night, Rarity.”

Rarity leaned across the pillows. Thunderlane did the same, and they rubbed noses. “Good night, Thunderlane,” she whispered, kissing him softly on the lips.

With that, the older ponies lay their heads on their younger siblings, and closed their eyes. They were battered, they were bruised, and they were exhausted, but at this moment, they were at peace. The rain continued to pour down, the wind continued to howl, and the thunder and lightning didn’t cease, but in this room, at this moment, they were all content, and soon they all drifted off to sleep, the young ponies in the comfort of their big siblings.

Author's Note

And there it is: the end of this story.

So what did you think of the ending? Was the punishment not severe enough? Did the ending let you down? Is it good enough? I did my very best with it, and I'm willing to hear what could've been better.

And what do you think about it overall? Did it entertain you? Did you have problems with it? Please let me know.

In any case, I thank you deeply for taking the time to read this story all the way through.

We Wanna Play!

Rumble was beginning to pant, while Thunderlane, in a full-blown sweat, was on the verge of heaving. There were a few other ponies at the park, but not as many as usual this time of day; the cool humid air, mild wind and slowly gathering grey clouds had warned Ponyville of an upcoming storm. This had left the brothers to themselves for a good hour now, doing nothing but playing catch and, on occasion, playing a quick one-on-one tackle game.

He took a quick deep breath and swallowed, positioning the ball in front of him again. Thunderlane lifted his head and braced himself for the ball. Rumble turned around and dug his forehooves into the dirt. With another deep breath, he kicked his hindlegs and sent the ball speeding in the opposite direction.

It went to Rumble’s right, causing Thunderlane to gallop left and jump just to snag it in a wing, sending him spinning counterclockwise. When he regained his hoofing, he took a moment to catch his breath.

“That was great!” Rumble yelled, throwing his hooves up. “I knew you’d catch that.”

Thunderlane shook his head and kicked it back. “You bet it was, Rumble.”

Rumble didn’t even have to move as the ball went straight into his grasp. “You think I’ll be as good as you one day?”

Thunderlane chuckled raspily. “Maybe, Rumble.” He caught another stray hoofball and sighed. “Are you gettin’ tired, buddy?”

Rumble shook his head. “Nope, not at all!” His enthusiasm died down a bit. “Are you?”

Thunderlane fiddled with the ball. “Nah, I can go for a few more catches.” He set the ball down and glared at Rumble. “Now get ready, ‘cause this one’s goin’ out the park!”

Rumble smirked and lowered his body, digging his hooves in. “Ready!”

The wind sped up as Thunderlane stared at the ball in front of him. Rumble waited for him to turn around, but he just stood there. Then, suddenly, he kicked the ball straight up and took off to the sky with it.

“What are you doing?” Rumble shouted at him. Thunderlane continued flying up with it. Rumble was about ready to take off after him before he saw the ball leave his hooves. It continued going up while Thunderlane began doing an inside loop.

“What the--” Rumble started. “Whoa boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!” He scrambled to launch off the ground and flew as fast as he could away from Thunderlane and the ball. He looked back and saw Thunderlane finishing the loop with the ball coming at his level. Rumble frantically flew away from them.

A boom! sounded off, and Rumble flipped around to see the ball flying at him. It was moving fast, and he realized a second too late that it was going higher than he was. He reached up for it and it flew right past his hoof, sending him into involuntary backflips. Now dizzy, he heard the whooshing sound becoming quieter, and he sped after the ball.

It slowly began creeping downwards while speeding ahead as Rumble inched closer to it. The whistling of the air reached his ears, and he tilted his body to the course of the ball’s path. It ran right through a cloud, and Rumble just barely dodged it. When he saw the individual seams on it, he proceeded to glide on his back, coming ever closer to it.

He was just under it, and he stretched his hooves up with a smirk. It drifted downward towards him. “Gotcha.”

And then it vanished.

“Huh?” He flipped himself over and came to a halt. The ball was no longer on its path; he spun around looking for any sign of it. “Where’d it go?” There was a noise down below, and Rumble looked down to see movement in some bushes next to a tree, and something white disappearing in them. “What the?”

He flew down to the bushes and tried peering in to see what it was, but it didn’t move again. All was quiet as Rumble slowly parted them until he saw something. For a moment Rumble just stared at it. He lowered himself in to get a better look at it, but then he noticed something under the object.

“There you are!” Rumble reached under the thing and grabbed his hoofball, moving a few sticks in the process. The ball hadn’t been damaged at all, and neither did the white thing. He watched it wave limply in the wind, it being weighed down by something. One of the long thin appendages drifted to Rumble, who swatted it away with a hoof. It rested on the ground. Rumble gasped.

It was a head.

“Wh-what?” He picked up the other neck and found a head on that as well. He spread the rest of the body out to find two large flimsy wings on the sides. Rumble couldn’t believe his eyes: it was a two-headed bird.

“Wow,” Rumble gasped. “A two-headed bird.” Both heads flapped back with the wind. “...And it’s hurt. Oh no.” He began to sweat. “I gotta find help!”

Before he could fly off, there was a sound next to him. He jumped as the bushes to his right began to rustle, several grunts being heard from them. The heads flopped back down. Oh no! What if that thing’s a pony, and they think I killed it? I gotta-- suddenly, something broke through and came into vision. Rumble froze in place as the thing shook itself of the leaves and twigs in its mane. It was a pony--a unicorn filly, to be precise, with a white coat and a poofy purple-and-pink mane. She looked at Rumble and gasped, and he saw that her eyes were green.

For a moment she was motionless. Rumble looked down at her legs and noticed something. “Um, you’re bleeding.”

She blinked. “Huh?” She looked at her left foreleg; indeed, there was a small cut. “Oh, boy.” She then looked at the bird and gasped. Her body began trembling as she picked it up with her hooves. “B-b-b-b--”

“Please don’t cry!” Rumble stepped closer to her. “I don’t know what happened to it but--”

“It’s all your fault!” she yelled, stifling a cry. “Your st-stupid hoofball crashed into our kite and now look at it!” She shoved the bird into his muzzle. “Look at what you’ve done!”

There was no stopping it: she was crying. Rumble panicked, looking around for somepony that may hear her. “I’m sorry. Really really sorry about this. I didn’t mean to--” he stopped, realizing something. “It’s just a kite?”

Her eyes widened, and she glowered at him. “It’s not just a kite. Me and my big sister made it, and it’s the best kite ever!” She whacked him with the tangled, dangling support sticks. Her voice became quiet, strained by sobs. “And now look at it. It’ll never fly again.” She buried her eyes in the silky skin and cried.

He didn’t know what to do. He could’ve just left her there to deal with her own problems, or he could’ve taken her to Thunderlane to see what was wrong. Meanwhile, she continued crying into the breast. Rumble’s attention turned to the hoofball on the ground, and felt guilty. He had to help her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go and get help, okay?” Rumble put a hoof on her shoulder; she looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “I’ll get somepony who can fix this.”

She stifled another sob. “My sister... I need to get to my big sister.”

Rumble nodded enthusiastically. “Okay! Here, I’ll take you there.” In a split second, he flung the pony onto his back, the kite in her hooves. “Where’s your sister?”

She sniffled. “Probably where we were flying the kite.”

Rumble was about to inquire further before he noticed a yellow piece of yarn protruding from the sticks; it trailed off from on top of the bushes and went off somewhere else. “Okay, just hang on. Everything’ll be okay. Just wait and see.”

With that, Rumble took off with the filly on his back, flying above the bushes before landing on the ground to follow the yarn. The filly continued to cry, although it was more subdued than before; she didn’t yell at him anymore. They walked mostly in silence, passing a pony sitting on a bench and reading a book. Only the wind and the soft sobbing broke the silence.

He checked back on the filly, who looked away immediately. Her eyes were becoming red from the crying. Her underside heaved on his back, which was a bit uncomfortable to him. A few moments later he checked back again, only to have her look away again.

After two minutes of trotting, they came to a white-coated unicorn mare with dark blue hair in an elegant curve. She was tapping her hoof on the checkered blanket she was on; Rumble’s stomach began to churn.

“Is that--” he gulped. “Is that your sister?”

She looked up, and her eyes widened. “Yeah, that’s her.” He shifted his body to help her climb off. “Thanks,” she said bitterly. He began walking off when he suddenly heard a loud noise.

“Rarity!”

Both Rumble and the mare jumped in place, scrambling to their hooves. When they were both in control, the mare glared at the filly. “Sweetie Belle! What have I told you about yelling in public?” She looked at her leg. “You’re bleeding! What happened”

Without responding, Sweetie Belle laid the kite in front on Rarity. Rarity stared at it for a moment, and then at Sweetie Belle. “I take it it’s broken?”

Sweetie nodded. Rumble stepped forward. “It’s my fault, Miss. I was chasing my hoofball and it crashed into your kite.” He lowered himself, his ears splayed. “I’m really sorry.”

The kite was taken into Rarity’s magical grasp, and twisted and turned in front of her. She turned the sticks with her hooves, bringing them closer to her. Rumble, meanwhile, was still crouching down with his eyes closed, awaiting his punishment.

After a few moments of this, he felt a hoof raise his chin up. Rarity did the same to Sweetie Belle’s. She smiled at both of them. “Not to worry, dears. I can fix it easily.”

They both brightened. “Really?”

“It didn’t do anything serious,” she said. “It just knocked the supporting sticks apart. It didn’t break them in half or anything.” She set the kite. “First, though, I’ve got to bandage your cut, Sweetie Belle.” She used her magic to take out a napkin, a spray bottle and a packet of bandages from a basket behind her. “Come here.”

Sweetie Belle walked over to her sister, sitting down and holding her leg up like a cat with a sore paw. Rarity wiped the cut and the trail of blood on her leg, then sprayed it, causing the filly to flinch. “Sorry, Sweetie Belle, but I have to disinfect it.” She then procured a bandage from the pack and deftly placed it over the cut, covering it in bright yellow flowers. Sweetie Belle looked down and smiled.

Rarity then put those away and took out a ball of yarn and some scissors. “Just a second.” She moved the sticks carefully under the body, then took a piece of yarn, cut it, and tied it around them. Tilting it from side to side, then shaking it, Rarity placed the kite down. “There!”

Both foals stepped closer to it, Sweetie Belle picking it up. Rumble now saw the heads looking straight out proudly, and now noticed a plastic horn on each of them. The body was now straight as an arrow, and the wings were now spread straight out; each wing had six feathers--two a dark blue, two a light purple, and two a rosy pink--and was lined with small sapphires. The tail was also adorned with three feathers of each color.

Rumble jumped when he felt something brush his hoof. He looked down to see the yarn travelling to Rarity, and Rarity rolling it up in a spool. When it was done, she gave it to Sweetie Belle. “Here you go. Good as new.” Rarity looked at Rumble. “We were lucky your hoofball didn’t tear any of the fabric.”

He nodded. “Sorry again.”

Rarity was about to say something when she was tackled into a hug. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou! You’re the bestest big sister a pony could ask for!” Sweetie Belle nuzzled her sister’s neck until Rarity began to laugh. “Okay, I’m gonna go play with it now.” Without another word, she took the kite and the spool and ran off.

Rumble watched her before he felt a hoof run through his mane. “See, dear? Nothing to fret about. It’s fine.” Rarity went into a picnic basket at her side and pulled out a sandwich. “What’s your name, by the way?”

“Rumble.” Rarity held a sandwich in front of him, and he took it into his hooves, taking a seat on the blanket. “Thank you.”

“Don’t give him a sandwich!” Sweetie Belle shouted as she ran with the kite flying low to the ground. “He broke our kite!”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “I can understand why she’s angry at you; she--we worked on that kite for a week, and she was just angry that it broke.” She lay down and beckoned Rumble to come closer; when he did, she brought him even closer and nestled him against her warm side, caressing his flank with her hindleg. “Still, that’s no excuse for yelling and throwing a fit like she did.” She lifted the sandwich in front of his face. He took a bite and tasted daisies and something sweet. “So how did your ball come to end up so high?”

Rumble swallowed. “Well, I was playing with my big brother Thunderlane and he did this very cool trick. He kicked the ball while in the air, and it went right past me. I tried to catch it, but then... you know.” He pointed his hoof at the kite, splaying his ears. “Sorry about that.”

He felt a hoof begin stroking his back; he arched up, eyes closing. “It’s all fine now. Your brother sounds like a very strong colt.”

Rumble nodded. “Yeah, he’s very strong. He’s a stallion.”

Rarity raised a brow. “Oh? Well, dare I say, with how you are, he’s quite the gentlecolt?”

“Hey, Rumble!”

He turned his head to see Thunderlane flying towards him. “There he is! Hey Thunderlane!”

Rarity looked up and blinked. “Oh, of course.” She tensed.

Thunderlane landed in front of them. He was panting, and his wings drooped. “Rumble, where have you been?”

“I--”

“I’ve been worried about you, kid!”

“I--”

“And where’s the hoofball?”

Rumble hid in his hooves and stared at his brother’s glare. He felt the comforting hoof return to his back. “It’s not entirely his fault,” Rarity said. “You see, he was chasing the hoofball you kicked, and it crashed into our kite.”

“Wait,” Sweetie yelled from a distance with the kite in the air. “He kicked that ball?”

Thunderlane looked at her and grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Er, sorry about that, kid.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I’m going to get you back for this, you—”

“Ahem,” Rarity sounded. “Would you like to speak up?”

It was Sweetie Belle’s turn to sheepishly smile. “Er, no thanks!” She continued to fly the kite. “Hey, you!”

“His name’s Rumble.”

“Right, Rumble!” Sweetie Belle motioned with her hoof. “Come here. I want to show you some tricks.”

Rumble looked up at his brother. “Um, is it okay if I go over there?”

Thunderlane nodded. “Yeah, sure.” In a split second Rumble was up and flying away, sandwich in mouth, to the filly.

“Hey,” Sweetie Belle began calmly. “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier. If I had known he--” she pointed a hoof at Thunderlane, “was the one that sent the ball into our kite, I would’ve yelled at him instead of you.”

Rumble shrugged, taking the sandwich out of his mouth. “It’s all better, though, right?”

She smiled. “Yeah.” She extended a hoof out to him, using the other to control the kite. “I’m Sweetie Belle, by the way.”

He proceeded the hoofshake. “Nice to meet you.”

From across the open field, Rarity and Thunderlane watched the two younger ponies as Sweetie Belle turned the spool one way, sending the kite veering to the left like a diving bird; the sapphires sparkled in the sparse sunlight peeking through the grey clouds. Rarity broke the silence between them. “Your brother’s very polite.”

Thunderlane chuckled. “Yeah.”

Rarity chuckled a bit nervously. “Um, would you like to lie down? I have rose-and-daisy sandwiches and iced tea, if you’d like some.”

Thunderlane whooped and flopped himself onto the blanket. “Well, thank you very much! I actually wouldn’t mind some iced tea.” He plunged into the basket and pulled out two sandwiches. “Mmph--you wouldn’t believe it, but Rumble can tire a pony out pretty quickly.” He took a big bite of one of the sandwiches. “Huh’s vurry unurgudich.”

Rarity forced a chuckle and used a napkin to wipe the food flung from his mouth off her face. “I can relate. Sweetie Belle can sometimes be a hoofful by herself, and don’t even get me started when her friends come over.”

Thunderlane laughed. “I bet things get crazy when she has her friends, am I right?”

Rarity grimaced and wiped a bit of food from her lips. “Please don’t talk with your mouth full.”

His eyes went wide, and he swallowed. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

She procured a teacup and a pitcher of iced tea and filled one up for him. He took it and downed it in one gulp. Rarity blinked a few times, and then poured some into three other teacups. “Here, why don’t you just take the pitcher?”

Thunderlane chuckled. “Thank you very much.” He ended up polishing off the majority of the drink, leaving a bit at the bottom.

They continued in silence, Thunderlane eating three sandwiches while Rarity ate one daintily. Sweetie Belle continued doing dives and loops for Rumble, who watched in amazement and at one point joined the kite in a midair dance. The wind continued to pick up and, in the distance, the rumble of thunder reached their ears.

After an hour, the foals ran to the picnic, with the kite safely brought back down, and split the last sandwich. “That was fun,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yeah, it was,” Rumble said back.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves,” Rarity said. They once again heard thunder in the distance. “Well, Sweetie Belle, it sounds like we should be heading home.”

“Aw!” both foals sounded.

“Yeah, Rumble,” Thunderlane said, getting up and stretching his legs. “It’s about time we start heading home as well. We’ve got a bad storm heading our way, remember?”

“Well, yeah, but can’t we play for just a few more minutes?”

“No.”

"But we're not even tired!"

"No," Thunderlane said more harshly.

“But—”

“Now now,” Rarity interrupted. “We’ve had our fun. Now it’s time to go home.”

Sweetie Belle groaned, and then straightened up. Her eyes went round, and a smirk began coming on her face. “Can’t we play a quick game of hide-n’-seek before we go?”

Rarity groaned. “Sweetie Belle--"

“Please?” Sweetie Belle looked at her sister with pleading eyes that shook with longing.

Rumble joined her side. “Can we, please?”

The two older ponies looked at each other, and then at the foals. “Oh... alright.” Rarity turned from them. “We’ll count to ten, and then we’ll come looking for you.”

“Deal!” Both foals then began running.

Thunderlane shook his head. “Foals.”

Rarity nodded. “I know.” They both turned around and began to count out loud. “One, two, three--”

They heard frantic whispering.

“Four, five,--”

They were running.

“Six, seven, eight, nine--”

The bushes rustled.

“Ten!” They turned around. “Ready or not, here we come!” They both looked at the bushes, and they were still moving as if they had recently been parted. Thunderlane flew over to them. “Okay, we win. Time to head home, guys.” He parted the bushes.

He parted them again.

He threw the bushes this way and that, and then plunged into the tree next to them.

Rarity began to grow nervous. “Sweetie Belle?” To be safe, she began checking the bushes opposite the field.

“Rumble?” Thunderlane shouted. “Come on, Rumble, this isn’t funny.”

There was no response. Rarity began cantering, and the galloping along the park’s path, hoping to catch a glimpse of them somewhere; once she reached the edge of the park, she began galloping back. Thunderlane flew high above, hoping to spot them from the sky. The wind died down a bit, but the thunder sounded closer.

They met back at the open field. “Find them?” Rarity asked.

“No,” Thunderlane replied, concern evident in his voice.

“Oh, what are we going to do?” Rarity began pacing.

“I’ll go up and check again.”

“Excuse me?” Thunderlane had almost taken off when another pony approached them. It had been the mare reading the book earlier. “I couldn’t help but notice you two acting all distraught.”

Rarity nodded. “Yes, Colgate, our younger siblings ran off and we can’t find them.”

Colgate raised a brow. “You mean Sweetie Belle and Rumble?” They both nodded. “They left.”

Both ponies started. “They what!?”

“Yeah.” Colgate pointed to the west. “They looked like they were playing a game, and they ran to Sweet Apple Acres.”

Rarity groaned. “When I get my hooves on that filly...” she took a deep breath. “Thank you Colgate.”

“Happy to help.” With that, Colgate began walking to the other park entrance.

Thunderlane flew onto the path. “Come on, then. We gotta find them before the storm hits.”

As if adding to the reminder, the sky thundered a bit louder. “Yes, of course,” Rarity hastily replied. They both took off, Thunderlane flying and Rarity galloping, to Sweet Apple Acres.

Hide-n'-Seek at Sweet Apple Acres

They reached the orchard and began galloping on the path to the house. Before reaching it, Sweetie Belle pushed Rumble to the left and they both galloped some more before diving into a bush. They both took a moment to catch their breath.

“Okay, so we just stay here for a while until they find us?” Rumble asked.

Sweetie Belle blew a raspberry. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on just waiting here if they come here.”

“Whatcha doin’?”

They both looked up to see a filly staring down at them. “Hi, Apple Bloom! We’re playing hide-n’-seek from Rarity and his brother.”

Rumble waved at her. “Hello.”

Apple Bloom beamed down at him. “Hey there! What’s yer name?”

“Rumble,” he answered bashfully.

She giggled. “Are ya Sweetie Belle’s coltfriend?”

Both their eyes widened, and Apple Bloom began laughing. “What?” Sweetie Belle yelled, her voice cracking. “No! We’re just friends!” She pouted at her. Rumble, meanwhile, was busy trying to control his blush.

After Apple Bloom calmed down, she shook her head. “I’m just messin’ with ya.” She looked around. “But ya know... this isn’t the best place ta hide.” She grabbed their hooves with a smirk. “Follow me.”

They reached the orchard as the air began to chill, the thunder sounding out more frequently. Thunderlane’s heart was pounding as he flew over the trees, while Rarity’s was racing as she ran through the entrance.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity cried out as she broke into the orchard. “We’ve gotta go home now. Get your flank out here!”

“Rumble!” Thunderlane glided from field to field, trying to spot either foal running around. “Rumble, where are you? Come on, buddy, this isn’t a game anymore.”

Rarity continued running around, at first following the pair of little hoofprints in the dirt before it was lost in the grass, and then resorting to running from row to row. Thunderlane began flying in a spiral, circling the entire outside of the orchard before moving closer. Rarity checked the Crusaders clubhouse and found nothing; Thunderlane landed on top of it and went down next to her.

“Any sight of them?” Rarity asked.

Thunderlane sniggered before he shook his head. “No.”

Rarity whined. “I don’t know what to do.”

Thunderlane beat his wings. “Maybe we should get that mud off you”

Rarity whipped her head back to see a trail of mud down her left flank and hindleg. She groaned. “I stepped in a puddle and I guess I got mud on me.”

“Don’t worry,” Thunderlane said from above with a cloud. “I can take care of that.” He turned around and readied his hindlegs.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Wait, what are you—” before she could finish, a downpour came upon her. Soon her entire backside was drenched with rainwater—at least the mud was gone.

“Well, that takes care of that,” Thunderlane said, oblivious to her scowling face.

“Why you—” she cleared her throat, shivering a bit. “Well, like I said, we need to figure out a plan.”

“A plan fer what?” Both ponies looked over to see Applejack trotting over to them. “What’re y’all looking fer?”

Rarity ran down to Applejack. “Oh, Applejack, have you seen Sweetie Belle with a pegasus colt running around here?”

Applejack blinked. “Are they on the farm?”

Thunderlane hovered down next to them. “A pony said she saw them headed this way. Do you think you’ve seen them anywhere?”

“No, sorry.” Applejack looked out to the north. “If I find ‘em, should I round ‘em up or somethin’?”

Thunderlane shook his head. “Hopefully they’re not causing any trouble. We’re just playing hide-n’-seek.”

At this, Applejack gasped. “Hide-n’-seek? Oh, I remember playin’ hide-n’-seek with Big Mac when Ah was jus’ a lil filly! Oh, those were some good times, I’ll tell ya what.”

Rarity sighed. “Well, we’ll look around here some more. If you do see them, please bring them to me. Ooh, when I get my hooves on that filly...” The thought trailed off as Rarity ran to the western fields. Thunderlane and Applejack exchanged nods and he flew off.

“Foals.”

It had been five minutes, and Thunderlane was becoming breathless. “I haven’t seen them anywhere.”

“What if they’re somewhere else?” Rarity asked out loud.

“It’s likely—” Thunderlane began before his ears perked up. “Hold up! Listen.”

Rarity perked her ears up, and she heard something being shushed. “It’s them!”

“Ha!” Thunderlane cried. “We’ve got you!” He flew to his right when a rustling of branches to his left. He darted that way and dove into the tree. A split second later, he burst back out. “You’re not gonna get away from us!” Another bit of rustling came from a ways down; he dove in that tree, and then the next that rustled. Soon he was hopping from tree to tree in a zigzag line until, eventually, he came to the end of the orchard.

“What the?” Thunderlane flew up and scanned the outskirts of the farm. “Horseapples!”

“Thunderlane!” He heard Rarity shout. “They’re over here somewhere!”

She heard him groan and the beating of his wings. She, meanwhile, trotted over to where she had heard the giggling. “Now come on out, Sweetie Belle. You too, Rumble. This game’s over.”

No response.

“I’m beginning to get frustrated, now.” Those words had just left her mouth when she heard the bushes moving. “Aha!” She parted the bushes with her magic. “Come on out!”

Nothing but an apple.

“Urgh!” she groaned, leaving the bushes. “How is this possible?” Another pile of bushes rustled. Rarity leapt at them and parted them, finding nothing yet again but an apple. She began to strain her ears to hear them, but the only thing that came from the bushes was more rustling. At one point, the noise was accompanied by twigs breaking, and Rarity was sure she had them at this point. She found a few apples here.

She groaned loudly. “This isn’t funny anymore!”

Thunderlane flew as fast as he could, trying to spot anything from under the trees. He was not expecting to crash into anything, especially anything large; he had a careful eye on everything that was tall and brown. Alas, he did crash into something large and red... and loud.

Thunderlane and the object rolled a few yards on the dirt before crashing into a tree. Thunderlane groaned and tried throwing the thing off of him, but to his shock it rolled off on its own accord. It stared at him, standing on its legs and braying at him.

“Whoa, boy,” Thunderlane chuckled nervously. “T-take it easy, there. I’m jus-I’m just looking for my brother.”

The beast continued breathing loudly, taking a step towards him staring him directly in the eye. Thunderlane whimpered a bit, shrinking down in front of the stallion towering over him. For a moment neither blinked, the pony growling and Thunderlane trembling.

“Big Macintosh!”

The pony looked up to his right. Thunderlane heard another set of hooves running towards him.

“Big Macintosh, don’t hurt him. He’s a friend.”

The beast, Big Macintosh, looked down at him again, snorted, and backed away, wincing.

Rarity placed a hoof on his dark-red side. “Did Thunderlane fly into you?”

The stallion nodded. “Eeyup.”

Rarity took a closer look at the bruise forming at his side. “Oh, you poor thing.” She looked behind him. “And he knocked over your basket of apples, didn’t he?”

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh turned his head to glare at Thunderlane.

“Oh, don’t be too mad at him.” Rarity laid her chin on his nape, and he rested his head on her back. “You see, Sweetie Belle and his younger brother are running amuck here on the farm, and we’re running around looking for them.” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened, and he looked back at Thunderlane. “Have you, by any chance, seen them around?”

“Nope.”

Rarity sighed. “They’re definitely here—” no sooner had she said this that a fit of laughter coming from one of the trees. “There!”

Thunderlane began to gallop towards the tree, but he was soon overtaken by the blur that was Big Macintosh racing towards it. The bushes a ways away from it rustled, and he turned, momentum dragging him one way while his hooves threw himself the other way. Once his hoofing was regained, he dashed to the bushes and parted them. Like Rarity, all he found there was a fallen apple.

“That’s what happened to me!” Rarity called after catching up to them. “They were in the bushes and then they vanished.”

Big Macintosh stood there for a moment, motionless. Then he chuckled to himself.

Thunderlane huffed. “You think this is funny?”

Big Macintosh held a hoof up, signaling them to be quiet. He perked his ears up, and both did the same. They waited for a minute, a loud rumble of thunder being the only noise for a while. Then the a set of bushes a ways away rustled. Thunderlane was about to dart after them, but Big Macintosh held his hoof up and told him to stop. He turned his head to a tree in particular and eyed it suspiciously; the other two did the same.

Then they all saw it: an apple flying out from the middle of the canopy of a granny smith green tree. Big Macintosh grinned and darted to it. There was a scream and a lot of noise in the canopy, but with one powerful buck the entire thing shook, and something fell out. They all looked at it, and Big Macintosh groaned.

“Apple Bloom.”

The filly looked up with a sheepish grin, chuckling. “Heh, hey there Big Mac.”

He shook his head. “Where are they?”

Her eyes darted around. “Where are... who?”

Rarity groaned. “Apple Bloom, we need to find Sweetie Belle and her friend Rumble before the storm arrives—” Lightning cracked. “And we need to hurry!”

Apple Bloom looked down at her hooves. “Well...”

Thunderlane stepped towards her, causing her to cringe a bit. “Well?”

Apple Bloom sighed. “Look, I’d like to help. I really would. You see, the thing is—”

An apple hit her over the head, stopping her talking. All three ponies looked up and saw a large figure swinging from tree to tree deftly.

“What in Equestria?” Rarity asked. Big Macintosh groaned.

“Applejack.” He swiftly turned to Apple Bloom. “When I—”

She was gone.

“THAT—”

“Shh.” Applejack covered Sweetie Belle’s mouth and untangled Apple Bloom from her lasso. “Ya did good.”

“THANKS—”

“Shh! Dag nabbit, can’t y’all hush up when y’er playin’ hide-n’-seek?” She glanced at Rumble. “Now, we’re gonna move on over ta the barn and get ya lil ones hidden at the house.” He nodded. “Good. Hand me some apples, Apple Bloom.” Soon she had four apples tossed into the air. She whipped around and alternated between Bucky McGillicuddy and Kicks McGee to send them off.

“That might fool them fer a lil while,” Applejack commented as they heard the three below dash after the apples. “That’s a trick I learned as a filly when I needed ta get away from Big Mac. Now let’s head on out, and fer Celestia’s sake keep quiet!” She hissed that last part, and the two fillies nodded. She took Sweetie Belle on her back and began jumping to the top of the canopy. Apple Bloom followed without much trouble, while Rumble flew after them.

“Hey, Applejack,” Sweetie Belle began, “why are you helping us?”

She heard a chuckle from the mare. “I remember playin’ hide-n’-seek with Big Macintosh when I was younger—and boy, this is bringin’ back memories!—and I thought I’d give ya and yer coltfriend some help.” Sweetie Belle blushed. “Jus’ teasin’,” Applejack continued jovially. “Big Mac’s very good at this game, an’ y’all wouldn’t last even a minute with him lookin’ fer ya.” Applejack nodded and motioned for them to continue.

They broke through the top of the tree and looked down; Big Macintosh was peeking through each tree trying to find them, while Rarity and Thunderlane continued to call out to them. “Coast’s clear,” she whispered. She then leapt from one tree to the next, landing noiselessly on the other side. Apple Bloom leapt for it as well, being caught by her sister before she fell. Rumble fluttered over to them. “Just like that.”

They proceeded to jump from tree to tree, going one way while the ponies below went a different direction. Sweetie Belle clung onto Applejack, giving an occasional squeak when she was about to fall off. At one point, she began to whimper.

“Don’t worry, sugarcube,” Applejack said. “I got ya.”

Rumble flew up to them. “Yeah, and if you fall, I can fly in and carry you right back up.”

Sweetie Belle looked at him. “But you’re just a colt.”

“Pfft.” Rumble lifted Apple Bloom from the previous tree and, without much effort, carried her to the next tree. “It’s not hard for me.”

Sweetie Belle clung a bit tighter to Applejack. “Well...”

He sighed and proceeded to drop Apple Bloom onto Applejack’s back, and then carry all three of them to the next tree. It took some effort—especially with Applejack writhing and yelling—, but they made it through.

“Land sakes!” Applejack almost yelled. “I knew pegasi were strong fliers, but that was ridiculous!”

Rumble giggled. “Well, when I heard Thunderlane was gonna be a part of getting water to Cloudsdale, I wanted to watch. Rainbow Dash saw me flying there, and she told me I was a very fast flier for somepony my age, and that if I worked hard, I could be a part of the hurricane team. So I got to spend time with my big brother while getting better at flying.”

Sweetie Belle let out a breath. “Okay, I get it. You’ll catch me if I fall.” She looked back at Rumble as Applejack leapt to the next tree, and he thought he caught a smile on her face.

That was before he felt something jump onto his back. “Well, don’t jus’ stand here! We gotta go!”

Rumble groaned as he began flying Apple Bloom along.

It took them a few more minutes before they made it to the end of the orchard, with the barn just at their reach. “Right,” Applejack said a bit breathlessly. “We made it. Now you two—”

“There they are!”

Applejack looked back to see Thunderlane above the trees, pointing right at them. “Ponyfeathers! Get down!”

“At the farmhouse!” Thunderlane shouted, darting towards it. Rarity and Big Macintosh galloped after him.

“Why didn’t we think of that sooner?” Rarity asked. Big Macintosh didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Thunderlane went straight for the tree they hid in, and found nothing but apples in it. “Darnit, Rumble, where are you?”

A voice piped up from another tree. “You’re cheating.”

Thunderlane whipped around. “What?”

“Yeah,” an accented voice yelled. “Ya got ponies without wings playin’! Ya can’t expect us to avoid ya if ya use yer wings!”

Thunderlane dove into another tree and came up emptyhoofed again.

Big Macintosh caught up to the orchard edge. “Applejack, come on out. We caught ya fair an’ square.”

Rarity finally reached them, breathless. “S-Sweetie Belle! We g-wegottagohome now.” She collapsed.

“Let’s end this,” Big Macintosh yelled, not resisting the urge to smile. “You’ve had your fun, but we’ve found you. Now it’s time to come out.”

For a minute, the only the sound that could be heard was thunder. The three ponies below loomed for some sign of them, Thunderlane continuing to sift through the treetops. Big Macintosh paced back and forth, not once shifting his gaze from the canopies.

Finally, a voice broke the silence. “If ya wanna win, Big Mac... ya hafta catch me first!” Suddenly, Applejack jumped out of a tree close to the orchard entrance, sprinting towards the barn. Big Macintosh neighed and galloped after her. They were headed on a crash course towards each other, Applejack closing in on the barn door and Big Macintosh closing in on her.

Applejack kicked a toy wagon back at him, and he dodged it easily. It flew into the tree she jumped out of. Finally, with one final lunge, Big Macintosh tackled Applejack to the ground. They dragged for a second before coming to a stop.

A second later, they burst out laughing.

“Whew!” Applejack clapped her brother on the shoulder. “Now that was fun!”

Big Macintosh let out a hearty laugh. “Eeyup.”

“I haven’t had this much fun since we were foals.”

“Eeyup!” Big Macintosh got up and off of her.

Applejack got up as well. She turned to look at Rarity and Thunderlane. “Boy, yer brother and yet sister are plenty o’ fun ta play with.” She dusted her hat off. “We should do this agin sometime.”

Thunderlane laughed. “Yeah, Rumble likes to have fun alright.”

Rarity forced a chuckle. “Yes yes, can we get them now?” A drop of water landed on her nose. “It’s starting to rain.”

“Aw, shucks,” Applejack cried. “A lil rain never hurt nopony.”

“Come on now, AJ,” Big Macintosh said. “Let’s get them out.” As he finished saying this, they all heard something like a branch being bent in the tree. “Applejack, let’s get them—” He looked at her to find her smirking.

“I may be out,” she said proudly, “but the game’s not over yet. Ya got that wagon ready, Apple Bloom?”

A shout came from the tree. “All set!”

Big Macintosh’s brow furrowed before his eyes shot wide open. “Are you serious, Applejack!?” She merely smirked in reply. He whipped around to the other two ponies. “The-the tree! The foals! Hurry!”

Thunderlane started, and then darted into the tree. “Rumble?”

“DUCK!”

He had just enough time to turn his head and, seeing the branch coming straight at him, ducked.

Rarity almost missed the projectile that shot out of the tree, zipping straight for Ponyville. She just caught sight of one of them throwing their hooves up while whooping; if that was Sweetie Belle, she told herself...

“Whooo!” Applejack yelled. “We won!”

Apple Bloom jumped out of the tree. “Yeah!”

Rarity’s eye twitched. “Why would you do that!? Can’t you see the storm’s coming?”

Applejack was about to reply, but then stopped, eyes wide. She fumbled for a moment before bowing her head, ears pinned down. “Sorry ‘bout that, Rarity. I guess I jus’ got caught up in the moment, is all.”

“Oh, Applejack! When this is over, I’m going to—” she didn’t finish as Thunderlane began to fly after the wagon.

“Come on!” He yelled. With that, he was gone.

Rarity groaned and ran after him.

Applejack and Apple Bloom continued to laugh to themselves until they caught of Big Macintosh’s face. They stopped as he glared at them.

“Now look, Big Mac,” Applejack began. “I know what we did was a mite rowdy.” He snorted. “Buuuuut we still had fun, right?”

Big Macintosh sighed and ruffled her mane. “Eeyup.”

Apple Bloom hopped onto her sister’s back. “Can we play one more game, huh?”

Big Macintosh watched as both sisters looked at him with imploring eyes. Finally, he sighed. “Eeyup.”

“Woohoo!”

“But,” he began, “no leaving the acre... and you have to find me.”

Applejack’s eyes widened, while Apple Bloom nodded. “Deal!”

Big Macintosh gave them a nod and then ran off. Apple Bloom peeked over her sister’s head. “This’ll be easy.”

Applejack snorted. “Are you kidding? He’s been playin’ this longer than I have. We’ll be lucky if we find him by morning!”