Equestria: Underground Assualt

Chapters

Prologue: The Seeds are Sown
Chapter 1: Enter the Twins
Honesty: Why?
Chapter 2: What are you? Chicken?
Chapter 3: An Unwelcome Awakening
Loyalty: Ferret interrupts Boredom
Chapter 4: Alleyway Troubles

Prologue: The Seeds are Sown

"We've ruined all of our friendships, and we still don't have our cutie marks."
"This is the worst day ever!"
"Oh yeah? Wait till tomorrow. Our most embarassing moments are about to be published for everypony to laugh at!"
"So what do we do?"
"I don't know, but we're not leaving this clubhouse until we think of something!"

'Easier said than done.' Applebloom thought as she paced around the clubhouse. It was hours later and they still didn't have any idea on how to rectify their situation. Although nopony had said anything about it as of yet, it was clear that her two best friends are just as nervous and depressed as she was. Just take a look at them.

Sweetie Belle hadn't left her spot at the window for a couple of hours, but Apple Bloom can tell she was trying to hold back tears. Well, that's what she guessed, judging by the way Sweetie shakes slightly everytime she takes a breath. Once or twice, she turned her head looking like she was going to say something but then changed her mind and looked back out the window.

Scootaloo wasn't that much better herself, staring at the wall in concentration as she desperately racked her brain for anything that can get them out of this mess. On the occasion, Scootaloo could have a great idea during our other Crusading days, where she decided what we'll do to try and find our Cutie Marks. Figures, the first time Apple Bloom chose an idea, she makes all three of them end up being blackmailed.

Apple Bloom, however, coming from the prideful family of the Apples, was trying to assess the situation calmly in her head. But in any way she handles the situation, ends up being in a disaster. Such as the mind of the anxious, it had never occured to her just to apologize to everypony. The Apples had always handled their own problems with nopony's help. But even so, they would know when to ask for it normally.

Sighing, Apple Bloom sat down at the window opposite of Sweetie Belle and sadly looked up at the Celestia's Moon. 'Luna's moon, yah silly filly.' Apple Bloom corrected herself. It was a few months since Luna had returned, and someponies can't shake off the habit of calling Luna's Moon, Celestia's. It should be easier going but that's not the issue at the time being.

'Canterlot,' Apple Bloom thought absently, smiling for the first time that day. 'I've always wanted to go there. All those fancy restaurants, the shows, the Wonderbolts and plus, you can see forever up there! Too bad Applejack don't want me anywhere near them 'Prissy Canterlot Folk.' Sounds like such a nice place to live.'

"Perhaps we can run away." What this statement caused wasn't what Apple Bloom expected.

"WHAT!?" Scootaloo shouted, instantly jumping up, wings spread in agitation. "We can't just run away from our problems, it's not what Rainbow Dash would do!"

"And Rarity would simply worry her head off if I had suddenly disappeared!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. "And Applejack would be so angry at you, Apple Bloom!"

"Unless you haven't noticed, everypony in Ponyville hates us!" Apple Bloom couldn't help pointing out. "Even my own brother and sister refused to talk ter their own kin! Namely, me!" That much was true, if you could recall.

"We don't wanna talk to any y'all right now, so take your little gossip column and your embarassing photographs and just go away!"

"Why should we stay in a place where we're hated?" Apple Bloom hung her head as she said this, remembering when they had simply walked through town. Truthfully, the option of running away was looking great right about now. "And you two can't mean ta say ya want ta be embarrassed forever while we are still here, do ya?"

"Well, when you put it like that..." The unicorn trailed off, obviously thinking over what her earth pony friend said. With all that has happened over the course of their short career as journalists, it must be the karma of publishing everypony's secrets (and lies) coming back to them.

"And Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash treated you like my own kin treated me, but worse! Your kind and 'all-knowin' Rainbow had turned on us the instant we were revealed as Gabby Gums!" Scootaloo sighed, hoofing at the ground.

"But...but where should we go? We haven't got any bits to take the train, and if we went on the road, what would we do for food?" Scootaloo asked, looking up at Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom hummed, as she thought it over. "Well, we can just stock up on apples, there's so much ta spare from the farm here. As for the bits, perhaps we can, erm, 'borrow' some from Rarity. Running that boutique, she's not gonna notice if some bits goes missing, right?" Sweetie Belle gasped.

"We can't steal from my sister! Not only is it wrong, it's illegal to take anything from anypony without permission! That goes for the apples too!" Sweetie Belle did have a point there, but what else could they do? Wait around for those pictures to get out? No way Apple Bloom was going to let that happen.

"No pony has to know that we did it. We'll be quick about it and take the train ta... ta somewhere other than here. Scoots, Sweetie, are ya with me on this?"

"Alright, I am so in!" Scootaloo, being a pony of action rather than thought like Sweetie Belle after all, was safely on her side.

"I don't know guys, what if Featherweight is working through the night too? I mean, we'll be wanted ponies if he catches pictures of us doing all those things."

"Everypony has to sleep sometime Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo countered, "besides, it's night time, it'll be hard for anypony to even see us. What do we have to lose?"

"I suppose if you two are going to I'll do it too..."

"Great!" Apple Bloom leapt in the air and immediately began going over the plan. "Now, Sweetie Belle, bein' Rarity's sister, you should know where she keeps all those bits she earns, I'll do the same and scrounge around the farmhouse for anything that we might be able ta use. Scootaloo, using yer scooter, you should be able to get to the train station and back, bringing news of any trains that are cheap; we want ta save all these bits we borrow, okay?

"Right!"

As each of the three fillies ran off to do their jobs, they didn't notice the two hooded figures jumping off of the roof. Chuckling, one of the stallions brought out a large jar full of clear liquid while the other brought out a pair of flintstones.

"Well, since their not going to use this 'clubhouse', we might as well make use of it ourselves."

"It's not often that we find so much valuable firewood either." His companion laughed as he struck the flintstones together, getting a successful spark.

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders huh? Let's just do this quickly. We have a train to catch."

Chapter 1: Enter the Twins

"Wow, that there's a lotta bits Sweetie Belle." Applebloom remarked, adding up all of the bits said filly managed to grab. Roughly ninety bits, much more than the three fillies had ever had at one time, and all that had come from Rarity's safe. Apple Bloom herself had managed to swipe twenty-three bits along with several apples and black cloaks, which would be enough to cover their expenses for a train and cover their food and disguises.

"Well, at least we'll be able to stay hidden if they come to the town we're in. Anyway, Apple Bloom, the most cheapest train is the one to Apploosa." Scootaloo informed her. Not good at all.

"More of the apple family live there. Heck, the family even built that town this year, why do you think it's called "Apple"-oosa, Scoot?" Apple Bloom asked. The Apple family must be quite into their birthright if they make a farm on what's basically a desert Apple Bloom had thought when she was told of the place.

"Well, if you want to save our bits, that's our best bet at five bits per ticket." Goody, she remembered AJ saying Apploosa tickets were two bits per ticket. Seriously? Something must be going on.

"You guys, the two cheapest tickets on the trains are five bits to Apploosa, and ten for Canterlot. Anywhere else is like twenty and higher." Sweetie Belle squinted at the numbers. "Check that, twenty-three and higher, Filly Delphia and others."

"Well, we can't go ta Canterlot then, that's right under the snout of Princess Celestia, who would surely send us right back ta Ponyville. Manehatten and Filly Delphia are kinda iffy, Applejack says bad ponies live there."

As the three quietly discussed which ticket to take, two cloaked stallions trotted up to the train scedule board. It wasn't exactly hard to eavesdrop on the three.

"But we have ta go somewhere! We can't go by road, Applejack and the others would just track us down, if they even bothered ta at all."

"But Apple Bloom, taking a train anywhere farther than Canterlot would drain our bits that we would need for food. A pony can't live on apples alone."

"You guys, the train is going to leave in ten minutes, we have to make our decision quickly."

"Dear Celestia, I thought they were going to miss the train because of their little debate." The earth pony whispered to his companion pegasus, who snickered in response.

"Well, maybe they could've used some help. Too bad they come from bad clients." The pegasus flared his wings, accidentally clipping the other stallion, who growled and roughly pushed the pegasus away.

"Ouch. Sorry bro. But still," The pegasus stretched, grunting as he heard a couple of pops. "You've got to admit, She was asking for some new blood, so why don't we give it to her?"

The earth pony nodded in understanding and turned, lowering down his hood to reveal he has a blue sapphire coat with a short coltish blueish green mane. "If you want to get outta town so badly, why didn't you just ask us for help? We'll gladly pay for your tickets." Scootaloo whipped around immediately, her small wings flaring in surprise and aggression.

"Yeah, what do you take us for? Foals? We can't talk to strangers, so why don't you take a hike?" The Earth Stallion chuckled as he heard this, shaking his head.

"Looks like you don't have a choice if you want to save that bit of change you have on your hooves there. That, and you are foals, no offense." Not getting much of any response for the earth stallion at that statement, the pegasus lowered his hood as well. His color scheme was just reversed, having a blue sapphire mane and blueish green coat.

"Just be glad we're not asking what you're doing at the train station at this time of night. Just where are you going to go?" That question didn't get a response right away. It was true enough that train tickets were extremely expensive during certain times of the year, but recently they started charging more and more.

'And all because of what's called a crime wave in some other town, whatever that means.' Apple Bloom thought, rolling her eyes. But then, a wave of her own washed over her. They would never guess that the three of them had went to that place, and these two were offering to pay for their tickets. Well, AJ admittedly thinks everything other than Ponyville, Canterlot and Apploosa has bad ponies in it.

"Wait, where are yew two fine gentlecolts going?" Apple Bloom asked the two in front of them, who raised their eyebrows in unison and smiled in amusement.

"My, oh my, I've heard the Apple family wasn't much for manners." The Earth stallion did a light bow, the fillies not exactly sure wether the tone was mocking or not. "The name's Hood Wink, and my brother here is called Shady Deal. You three seem to be good fillies, so we'll tell you where we are going."

"We actually live over in Stalliongrad, so that's where we're going." Shady Deal said, looking awfully smug. "We used to live in Canterlot, but then our current boss found us there and offered us a chance to show off our stuff. Needless to say, we have a new job and earning more bits than we have ever dreamed of!"

"Shady, calm the hel down." Hood Wink shook his head and turned back to the Crusaders. "Excuse him, he tends to get over-excited at times. So, where were you going exactly?"

Apple Bloom instantly pulled Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle into a huddle at Hood Wink's words. She can't very well accept the tickets without at least checking with her friends can she?

"Why don't we just go with them? It'll be so much cheaper and they'll never guess where we've gone." Apple Bloom paused when Scootaloo raised her hoof.

"I don't trust these ponies. Hood Wink seems alright I suppose," Scootaloo stole a quick look at the duo, who smiled all friendly-like. "but I don't like Shady Deal, I mean, have you even heard his name? "Shady" doesn't sound like a pony anypony should trust!"

"Scootaloo's right Apple Bloom; we can't trust strangers with names like those. And what do you mean go with them? Surely you don't mean all the way to Stalliongrad?" Sweetie Belle scrunched up her face. "There's a major crime wave that had started there, or at least around that place."

"Oh yeah, I remember you telling us about that a few weeks ago." Scootaloo said, narrowing her eyes in distrust at Shady Deal, who waved with that smile on his face. Seems like they were having a little talk of their own. "The train's going to leave without us if we're not going to make this decision right away."

"Alright, alright. It's decided." Apple Bloom withdrew from the huddle, breaking it up as she went up to the ponies. "We're going to Stalliongrad too!"

While her friends were in shock, the two stallions smiles grew bigger as they herded the three of them into the train. "Fantastic!" Hood Wink had said, picking up Sweetie Belle by her tail while Shady Deal lightly pushed Scootaloo and Apple Bloom unto the train.

"You'll love it over there! Don't worry, with us, you'll be much safer." Shady reassured Scootaloo. "Who knows what bad ponies would do to poor little fillies like yourselves."

You'd think Apple Bloom would notice how strange the stallions were acting, but no. Instead, she just thought about herself.

Honesty: Why?

AJ sighed, laying in her bed stretched right out. 'Somehow, something just don't feel right around here.' She should've gotten suspicious when Apple Bloom had awoken her big sister with scrounging around, looking for something for some reason of other. Normally, the Apples' family home would've been filled with snoring, but there wasn't any coming from anywhere, not even from ol' Granny Smith's bedroom.

Something was wrong, and the whole family could feel it. Applejack could say that it was simply Apple Bloom was still out of bed and we were waiting for her to return to it, but no. This feeling felt a bit worse than a filly being out of bed. It was a bit like Pinkie Sense in a way. Somewhere on the farm, something was wrong. They knew that much.

Earth Ponies were tied to the earth, much more than the Pegusi and Unicorns will likely ever know. More than some earth ponies will find their special talents in dealing with the earth somehow, likely growing a certain type of crop better than any other pony. With Earth Ponies and farms, it's like they feel that something's happening. Certainly would be useless if they didn't get out of bed to check on it.

Applejack sighed again, this time sitting up on her haunches. Surely, a quick look around outside would end her anxiousness, but her first check would be on her little sister, Apple Bloom's room. If she's not in there then she'll likely be outside somewhere, quite possibly with the other two Crusaders.

Much to her chargin, Apple Bloom's bed was untouched from the morning. Exasperated, AJ trotted outside quickly, eager to be back into her bed, which she could swear was calling for her to come back. "Apple Bloom! You better come back to bed!" No answer. "Ah mean it, Apple Bloom! I'm sick and tired a'-" AJ paused, catching the scent of something that shouldn't be there. The usual smell ould be earth and apples only, but that was the smell of- "Smoke?"

The acrid tang awaken her senses and quickly looked around, seeing a bright orange glow coming from the wrong side of the world. There was no doubt about it. There was fire a growing fire... coming from the Clubhouse... where the Crusaders should be if Apple Bloom was up this late.

From Applejack's point of view, everything afterwards past by in a superheated blur. She remembered galloping towards the Clubhouse, screaming blood murder and very well waking up everyone on the farm. She remembered breaking down the door and rushing in, feeling like she was already getting bad burns just being near these accursed flames. But she certainly did not remember falling unconsious as a result of inhaling too much smoke of the clubhouse.

She didn't know how long she'd been out, but the farm was in flames by the time she had come around.

Jumping up, Applejack had stumbled towards the Sweet Apple Acres, only to be held up in a light purple glow and pulled back away from her burning home, her lively hood, her family. A voice reached her ears as if it was trying to comfort the distressed farmer but she just yelled back. "That's my sister in there! I can't let her die!"

Next thing she knows is a sharp prick in her neck, and everything is black.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Applejack heard the alarm clock, but she didn't feel like moving to turn it off just yet. Times like this, she just hopes that alarm would just quit it's job and stop, and it does not stop unless somepony breaks it "accidentally".

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Would it just stop that infernal beeping already? AJ tried opening her eyes, but she was just too groggy to try and move. And her muscles hurt much more than usual. 'Musta just overworked ma'self again.' She figured.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Okay, now that's just getting annoying. Attemping to lift her forehoof was hard but then she wished she hadn't. Pains she hadn't felt before shot up and down her legs as she let her hoof back down gently as she could. Now she was becoming more awake.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That sure wasn't from bucking apples too much. What happened yesterday? Certainly nothing unusual, that's she was certain of. But what about last night?

Beep. Beep. Beep.

It was foggy sure, but AJ was determined, even with her memories. Highly unlikely that she had druken too much cider and gotten into a fight. She wasn't about to fight anypony soon, that's for sure.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

'Come on, Applejack,' She said to herself mentally. 'Can't be that hard to remember somethin' from last night.' Searching from her senses, she found a smell about herself. What was it?

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Smoke? Now she was getting worried. Where there's smoke, there's fire. But it seems fairly weak, plenty of time to get away. That is, if somepony would just get her outta there. What if... what there wasn't anypony there to save her?

Beep, beep, beep.

Shouldn't she be in Sweet Apple Acres, with Granny Smith calling from downstairs in the kitchen to move her caboose by now? No, there was something more.

Beep, beep, beep.

She definitely felt the "Earth Pony" Sense last night, and was worse than the usual signals that had came with it. Pinkie Sense in a way, but it was more of an instinctual need to protect the land.

Beep, beep, beep.

Come to think of it, that wasn't an alarm clock either. It sounds like one of those hospital things.used to measure your heartbeat.

Beep, beep, beep.

Put this straight here. Smoke, hospital, and it hurts when AJ tries to move, like she was burned all over. Smoke means fire. Fire means burns, possibly serious. Serious burns mean the hospital.

Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep

Sweet Apple Acres was on fire last night. And here she was knocked out for who-the-buck knows how many days in a hospital. Surely, everypony made it out okay.

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

They would've saved everypony right? Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom and Winona. Granny Smith would've been dragged out by Big Mac, Winona could take care of herself but Apple Bloom.... did she...

"I think she's awake, Nurse Redheart. Her heartbeat moniter was speeding up, but it seems to be slowing." Nurse Redheart? Oh, the resident nurse. No doubt she wasn't expecting a catastrophe. Ponyville was an exceptionally ordinary town, with little to no crime at all. The fire could've been an accident after all. But then there's those three fillies, innocent as they are, they are still foalish enough to play with fire. But there would be dire consequences for Apple Bloom when AJ gets her hooves on her.

"Ah, Applejack. You have no idea how glad I am to see you. I am sorry it had to be under such a dire situation." That's what I woulda... Dire situation?

"You can't move unless if you want to exprience pain from those burns you have there." Well duh. I'm no doctor, but even I know when I can't move. but I do have one question to ask.

"Did... did my family get out? Safe?" This had gotten some silence for a few moments. At first, I thought I was the only one who made it. But I wish I didn't ask.

She sighed, as if she didn't want to say, but consented anyway. "Almost all of your family members made it out safely and few minor burns, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh should be fine and good as new in a few days. Your dog, was singed in a few places but her fur will grow back. Apple Bloom, however... we couldn't find her anywhere, along with the fillies Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle."

I could've started crying right there, but it seemed I was bandaged right to ears to my hindhooves. Explained what tightness I was feeling anyways. Somepony had walked in at that point and requested, no,downright ordered Nurse Redheart to get out of the room along with everypony else. To my surprise, they complied.

"Can I help you?" Sounded appropriate, and I had managed to squeeze a weary chuckle from whoever was in the room with me. Unfortunately, this pony was all business.

"Miss Applejack, my name is Ferret Flatfoot, Private Investigator from Marabama. I was in Canterlot looking for any cases-" why would you go and look for crimes here? It's outside of Central Equestria you want to look at. And Marabama? That's quite a ways away to just be looking for work, especially in the most crime-free place on this planet too. "-when I heard about the fire at Sweet Apple Acres. I'm sorry for you're loss, but your sister doesn't seem to be anywhere."

I sure hope he isn't saying what I think he was going to say. "Along with those two fillies; Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle I believe? The local blankflanks, last in their class to not have a cutie mark? Wouldn't you say that the three would go for the most dangerous roads to get a cutie mark? Legally, they've been almost over the line. But we have reason to believe that it was Arson, and it was those three fillies that caused total destruction of your farm."

Total... destruction? Everything really was destroyed in the farm?

"I know it is so much to take in, but it is suspicious to say in the least, that nopony's bodies remained." So she wasn't dead. But why do I feel a cold dread? Surely... they could've just been playing with fire.

"I know you think they were playing with fire, but then, the fire could've just destroyed one or two fields of your farm, wouldn't it? Recent tests have resulted that the fire was triggered by gasoline and possibly a fire spell or flint. Lots of gasoline surrounded by hundreds of trees and some sort of spark to light it, would be a death sentence in the hands of innocent fillies. What if they had succeded and earned their cutie mark that way, by being arsonists?"

It can't be true, it just can't! My sister would be a known criminal throughout Equestria, she would be on the run forever!

"I'll go over what evidence I have and look around Ponyville some more. I'm sorry about this whole situation, but it's my job to look over all the possibilities, no matter how far-fetched they seem. Should your sister and those fillies be found guilty... they'll be hunted down to be brung to justice. And you know the law. Criminal activity is to be punished severely for an example." With that, he left me alone with what I just heard.

It was true that those three fillies were going to cross the line with the law sooner or later, but as her big sister, she would've put a stop to that before it had gotten so far as that. But she had failed to see what lengths they would go to get their cutie marks. Had she just failed her sisterly duties?

And the more she thought about what Ferret said, the more it seemed plausible. Feeling drowsy, she relaxedd and slowly fell asleep, wondering why. "Why?" AJ mumbled out before blackness slowly enveloped her.

Chapter 2: What are you? Chicken?

Just what in the hay was Apple Bloom thinking?! First, she convinces us to run away because of our fear and then she just accepts the offer of two very suspicious ponies, both having kinda strange names. Although, "Shady Deal" doesn't cut it. It's just plain wrong is what it is. What were his parents thinking when they named their little colt? Or colts. They're twins probably. Their parents must've been really strange, among other things.

And parents. The one thing Scootaloo was sure she didn't know, and felt sure will never find out what it means to be cared for. For most orphans on the streets, it's generally really tough and it is for Scootaloo on some days. To be honest, she was getting by just fine in Ponyville, what with kind and generous ponies that are willing to help most of the time.

And who knows, maybe somepony will feel like adopting an orphan (or three) in Stalliongrad. Probably not. Stalliongrad was likely filled to the brim with bad ponies. It was outside of Central Equestria where international news found its way into this continent's newspapers.

Different ponies and others have different reasons for doing what they do for various reasons. Scootaloo had thought that when the Foal Free Press had gotten ahold of some news in another part of Equestria. She didn't pay attention to the exact specfics, but she caught most of the important parts.

An earth pony stallion named Mono Rails had "mercy-killed" a filly that had just gotten her cutie mark. And as that turned out, the filly somehow had extremely painful disease the doctors found out in an autopsy. The crime still stood, and Mono Rails had already been hanged when they found out. It then goes to where it questions the system which they use to punish criminals, boring as it was.

Here comes another "Scootaloo asks," montage.

Who knows, maybe that idiot just killed for the fun of it? How should a train pony know when somepony has what seems to be a fatal disease before the hospital ponies? Exactly why Scootaloo questioned why those two would pay for their tickets. Maybe they're planning to kill them, or worse.

They should've stuck to the ideas Scootaloo came up with, even though they somehow get covered in tree sap.They wouldn't have gotten into this in the first place.

Apple Bloom comes up with this fantastic way of getting their cutie marks by getting jobs as journalists, which had put them in the presence of Diamond Tiara. At first, it was fun finding out some stories as innocent as they were when the three fillies had first started. But as with all gossip with good-natured fillies, they wanted to stop but everyone did seem to want to read their gossip column.

Sighing, Scootaloo took a look around their car(with those beds, as it'll likely be at least one day until they reach Stalliongrad) so to take her mind off of those somewhat depressing thoughts.

So far, the only one that was sleeping was Shady Deal, that stupid looking colt. Sweetie Belle was writing stuff on a few parchments, which was likely a budget. Once or twice, Scootaloo would hear her mutter "Dumb paper," and then she would scribble out something. Apple Bloom, although looking a bit tired, was chattering to Hood Wink.

"Hood Wink-" Apple Bloom started, but had her mouth covered with a gentle hoof. The stallion chuckled and very lightly corrected her. "Please, just call me Hoody, or Winky, if you wish." That is quite a strange nickname. 'If you'd like to be seen as an idiot, I have no reason to complain.' Scootaloo thought, smirking a little.

"Heh, okay Winky, what's Stalliongrad like?" Apple Bloom had giggled at the surprisingly patient stallion, asking the question the three were wondering. Sweetie Belle halted her quill to listen.

Hood Wink paused, but then hummed for a second before answering."Well, there's lots of guilds-" Yeah right, that's probably gangs. "-that work in the shadows, like ninjas."

"Ninjas?!" Apple Bloom gasped, "What do they do?" Yes, Apple Bloom was asking the right questions now. Sweetie Belle had busied herself with making a budget (or whatever that is), and Scootaloo just plain didn't want to talk to them.

Now, the stallion stared absently out of one of the windows for some time, obviously thinking before speaking again. "Most guilds would do very bad things to get money, while very few, if more than one, are looking to take down the one that dares to let it go on, like the one my friend and I are apart of."

"In order to do that, however, my own guild has to do some bad things so that we can reach that goal. Lots of ponies are hurting out there Apple Bloom, and our leader is working herself to the bone to make sure everypony will never know that pain again. But we need help, the other guilds won't cooperate, and unless we stop it, everything that is bad will reach Central Equestria, and the ponies in your town will feel that pain, likely worse."

That struck the Cutie Mark Crusaders with silence. 'Very bad ponies,' Scootaloo's mind thought, sharply in focus now. 'Will reach Ponyville, Canterlot, anything that has been governed by peace will be hurting worse than the rest of Equestria.'

"So.. are you trying to recruit us for that goal?" Apple Bloom asked carefully, her tone suggesting... something. It was likely that she wanted to help.

"It did occur to me," Hood Wink bowed his head, looking a bit ashamed. "Since you're running away into a harsh world, I wanted to at least offer you a place in my guild, if at least for a couple of days permitting."

Scootaloo felt light-headed. Hood Wink and Shady Deal, no, a gang is trying to protect Central Equestria from a pain that the rest of the world feels. That, and the fact that these two ponies were kind enough to offer a place within their group. And even if that didn't work out, they had a place to stay in for a couple of days. It seemed too far-fetched, yet, this stallion seems to be the real deal.

Scootaloo shook her head. 'No!' She thought furiously. 'Don't let Hood Wink get into your head! He's just a foal-napper! They both are!' But the words were echoing in her head, and the more she heard them, the more she began to believe that Hood Wink was speaking the truth.

'What sorts of bad things?' Is what a rational part of her asked, breaking the echoing line of words. Scootaloo decided to speak up for the first time in a few hours.

"What sorts of bad things?" She asked, the same thing that's in her head. The stallion sighed at this, but not as if he was tired of being questioned.

"It's just so we can get enough resources to possibly put a stop to everything, and for that, it'll take a lot of stuff, and we will need to have a larger... guild."

'Okay, doesn't exactly answer my question. Was that not direct enough?' The speedster thought, and her face must've shown her emotions because Apple Bloom spoke up next.

"Scootaloo, yer not thinkin' a' refusin' a place to stay, where we can stay possibly indefinitely are ya?" Damn, she got Scootaloo there. But no, she doesn't want to join a gang.

"Course not, but these two ponies are strange and you can't deny that Apple Bloom! And we still don't know what they actually do!"

The yelling of the filly had awoken the sleeping Shady Deal from his slumber. Sitting up slowly, he yawned and smacked his lips. Apparently, he caught on to what Scootaloo had been yelling about.

"Supposing you're talking about what we do for our group," He paused to stretch, yawning yet again. "We are a little like advisors, but unlike most, we actually do some of the things we suggest to everyone else."

This confused the three fillies. The part with "Everyone else". Surely he meant everypony? "Excuse us Shady Deal," Sweetie Bell started, looking a bit suspicious for some reason or other. "But don't you mean 'everypony'?"

The smile suddenly slid off of Hood Wink's face and a glare took it's place. It was the same, if not worse with Shady Deal, the pegasus flaring his wings so that he actually looked threatening.

Hood Wink shook his head and spoke with disappointment in his voice. "There isn't only ponies in the world you know."

Shady Deal took a deep breath and folded his wings back into his sides once he noticed the three fillies were frightened. Sighing, he facehoofed and looked up the Crusaders with determined calmness.

"Sorry about that. But you three should know better. There's intelligent and peaceful Dragons who know better than to resort to violence. There's Zebras that come from Southern Equestria are just as good at ponies at doing things, if not better. Ever heard of "Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cures that are simply Super"? A zebra had actually found out all of those cures for strange illnesses and put them on paper. The Deer that originate from the east are much better at growing most things than the earth pony, and can often run faster as well. And finally, the Griffons that come from Northern Equestria are better at aerial flight than most, if not all pegasi. That, and some of them have found a way so that they can use the magic that runs throughout this planet. So think before you say "everypony". It might just cost you-"

It was then that Hood Wink covered his brother's mouth. "Why don't we all just go to sleep? We'll have a big day tomorrow and you'll want to be in tip-top shape." Hood Wink said as he urged Apple Bloom unto a cot while Shady Deal tucked in the unicorn and pegasus.

Scootaloo had learned an important lesson about living outside of Ponyville. Be careful about what you say, you could get hurt for your ignorance.

Chapter 3: An Unwelcome Awakening

"Scootaloo," There's that angelic voice again. It's always calling out to the young pegasus in her dreams. Scootaloo could feel the angel's hooves caressing her side, making her sigh with relaxation. "You have to get up."

"Don't wanna." Scootaloo mumbled, grunting as the hooves starting poking her. Suddenly, the dream didn't seem much like a dream anymore.

"She's not waking up, is she?" Who's that? It sounded like an older colt's, or a young stallion at most. 'Come to think of it,' Scootaloo thought, still sluggish as she tried to open her eyes. 'This doesn't feel like my bed either.'

"No, she isn't waking up at all Winky." A colt named Winky. That made Scootaloo snort with amusement as she stretched, yawning soon after. But then, she felt something pulling at her tail.

"Letsh just drag her outta bed then!" With a slightly painful tug, Scootaloo was hoisted into the air, somepony carrying her by her tail to... somewhere. She, meanwhile, was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she slowly felt around with her hindhooves. If this was somepony she knew closely, Scootaloo didn't want to end up apologizing later. Whoever was carrying her does seem to have quite the bulk. A stallion, not unlike Big Mac.

"Let's go you two. Welcome, to your new life." There's Winky again. And to a new life? How long has Scootaloo been asleep? It was then, when Scootaloo's memories of the previous night returned. Flashes of her in the clubhouse, zooming to the station and then being... picked up by two very strange stallions, one of which she was probably being carried by. Thinking, her panic evaporated. The two did seem to have good intentions, as they didn't hurt the Crusaders at all. Not yet anyway.

Just then, things got much brighter for Scootaloo's eyes, even though they were closed. The group must be just coming out of the train.

"Whoa!" That's Sweetie Belle, isn't it? Everything in Stalliongrad must be quite sparkly and clean, or maybe dreadfully dirty by the way she sounded.

"Everything's so... big!" Hm, Apple Bloom seems surprised. Maybe she has't been to any big cities like everypony else.

'Everybody.' A new, small voice inside her head whispered.' Don't want to be making that mistake of being racist, do you?''

Scootaloo shook her head. After what happened last night, she'll make a point to be careful about what she said from now on. There was only a spare few other species that even visited Ponyville, and that was for sure donkeys. There's even one that had been in Ponyville for years and that was Matilda. Matilda's a nice donkey from what the Crusaders heard from Pinkie Pie when she goes on a "never-stop-talking" tangent.

"Scootaloo, wake up." Hood Wink muttered, poking at the upside-down filly with a careful hoof. "Come on, Pap's coming, and she'll never accept you if you're asleep when she sees you!"

"Pap?" Came the muffled reply from Shady Deal while Scootaloo stretched, trying to wake herself up. "Surely you mean-Ooh!" The filly became confused at this. Pap? Now that name just doesn't make any sense at all. Usually, pony names are used so that it would match a cutie mark.

The next unwelcome surprise is when Shady dropped Scootaloo on what seemed to be cement. Nevermind her hurt pride at being carried by her tail, the new bump on her head feels like it could turn into a unicorn's horn if it gets any longer.

In a few quick seconds, Scootaloo had managed to get on her hooves and whirled around on the pegasus. "What the hay!? You don't just drop a filly on her head to wake her up!" Even with one eye open, Scootaloo could see that the stallion wasn't bothered by her words. As she opened her mouth to start yelling at him again, the filly noticed that he was partially hiding Apple Bloom behind him while Hood Wink spoke to her in a hushed tone.

"Don't talk at all until we say you can," He was saying, "we don't want you to get hurt." Things were getting weird. Well, weirder. Let's see, run away from home, get picked up by two stallions, go to another part of Equestria, the names, and now they don't want Apple Bloom to talk. 'Just what is the problem here?' Scootaloo asked herself mentally. 'It's not like nopo- nobody would hurt an innocent filly, right?

A mare's voice interupted her thoughts. "There you are! Starbuster sent me to force you two to get your motherfu- who are these three?" Scootaloo turned around more slowly this time to make sure she wasn't dizzy as she looked at the newcomer.

It was a neon green earth pony mare, with a midnight green mane that looked like it had highlights. The mane reminded Scootaloo of someone else's mane. It was strickingly similar to Apple Bloom's. Had this mare had a cream coat and red mane she would've mistaken her for Apple Bloom's older look-a-like sister. And if she had a cutie mark with something related to apples. This pony had a stethescope for a cutie mark, signalling she was a doctor.

"Ah Pap!" Hood Wink hastily walked up beside me, bearing a strange smile. "These three are called Scootaloo," He ruffled Scootaloo's mane, which earned him a glare from the small pegasus. "The little unicorn is Sweetie Belle. And the earth filly is called-" He hesitated for a moment. "Crimson Cream."

'Pap' raised an eyebrow at the stallion, and looked over the three fillies. "Crimson Cream huh? I thought -ahem- somebody took care the Crimsons a few years ago." Her eyes lingered on Apple Bloom, who seemed to stiffen up at the attention. "Doesn't seem to be one of them by just judgin' her body language and coat." After a few seconds she rolled her eyes. "She's young yet, and could possibly be a distant cousin. She passes. For now anyway."

Hood Wink relaxed at that moment as Pap grumbled, searching through her saddle bags which surprised Scootaloo. She swore she didn't she them before. But then again, Scootaloo was just waking up after all.

The mare threw a large pouch over Hood Wink to Shady Deal. "There's your motherf-feathering pay for your mission. Don't spend it all in one place." Does she always stutter like that, or was she going to say a bad word? 'Hard to say,' The voice said, 'You shouldn't trust her anyhow. You're out of Central Equestria remember?'

'You talk as if we're on a whole 'nother continent.' Scootaloo replied to the voice. To her surprise, it talked back to her. 'You are on another continent. You'll be surprised at how much is different.' It paused, before letting out a sigh. 'You can only hope that you'll be able to survive.'

'Wait!' Scootaloo called out to whoever was speaking. But wether the voice heard her or not, it wasn't letting her know. It bothered the speedster, just knowing she had heard the voice before, even if it didn't remotely sound like anyone she knew. But there were more pressing matters at hoof, as the mare called Pap was looking straight at her expectedly.

"W-what is it?" Scootaloo asked, the penetrating gaze making her feel so... vunerable. And much smaller than she already was. Was this how Apple Bloom felt when the mare was staring at her?

"I asked you, is it true that you can't fly despite your age?" Ah, Scootaloo must've missed a big part of the conversation if she was asking about her wings. Not eager to possibly annoy this intidating mare, Scootaloo nodded.

"Tch," Wrong move, Pap already sounded irritated. "Why did you even bring these three here? They won't be of any use."

Shady Deal stepped up on Scootaloo's other side, his wing hugging the filly protectively. "They are just fillies, you can't expect them to have especially spectacular talents." He rolled his eyes at Pap, who shook her head at his words.

"You also can't expect Starbuster to accept them and possibly risk blowing the whole thing up!" Pap raised a fore hoof making Scootaloo flinch further into Shady Deal's wing clutch, which seemed so much more welcoming than this dangerous mare. The voice was right, Pap could not be trusted. It was also wrong to have run away. Why didn't they just have stayed in Ponyville? They were safe from any sort of harm there.

Scootaloo's fears were unfounded as Pap simply came closer to the pegasus so that she was right in his face. "Even if they were recommended by you two pyro dancers, she'll never think to put foals in dangers anyway." She snorted, backing off. "She's a total sap like that. Put something that remarkably resembles cute in her path and she'll make sure it doesn't get hurt."

"And there's your answer." Hood Wink said, a smug look on his face. "They won't be in any sort of danger if they are just going to train. Also, it's pyromancers." Pap had a look of shock, before it gave to anger.

"You're going to be sorry when they get killed on their first mission." She smirked when the stallions showed the signs of shock and slight panic. She turned her back on the now fearful group, snickering as she trotted away.

But before she got out of hearing range she turned her head back towards them. "Get a move on before Cheer Seed closes his resturant. He'll want to meet the new dogfood as well." With that, Pap left. Scootaloo felt she wasn't supposed to her that hushed arguement, even though Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had heard that last part.

Suddenly, what little excitement at moving Scootaloo felt had disappeared, leaving a sense of dread and longing for Ponyville, where there was no danger to behold, and everyone was trustworthy. Mostly anyway.

There wasn't anything to be done now, as it was too late to go back to the way things were. That was true for the ones back at Ponyville, where everybody was hurrying to solve this case, and all the evidence was pointing to The Crusaders as the biggest criminals on that continent.

Loyalty: Ferret interrupts Boredom

Rainbow Dash just sat beside Applejack's bed, ears drooped as she looked over the former farmpony. Not being able to do anything but lay in a hospital bed for days all wrapped up like a coccon. She herself would've gone crazy after a few hours. Add that with the loss of Sweet Apple Acres, and well, adds up to the worst time of her life. Rainbow couldn't pretend to act like she knew what that felt like though.

She figured it must be like if the cyan pegasus had ever lost her wings for any reason.

Her wings were her lively-hood. She couldn't possibly live without them. She needed them for her line of work. Being the manager of the weather in Ponyville was one of the easier jobs out there, especially when she had to bust the stray clouds over Ponyville. But then, she'd need her weather team in order to make the occasional storm to make up for the rare draught.

After all, it was much easier to destroy than to create. Nearly everything required teamwork it seems. A sinch when you have good teammates.

It was more than that though. Rainbow loved the way the wind felt when she went top speed through the air and the elation and awe when she looked over the world. You can really see forever if you just went high enough. It is breathtaking. She couldn't stand being grounded for long when her happiness laid up in the clouds. Plus, she needed them in order to join the Wonderbolts someday.

Rainbow Dash sighed, not for the first time that day. Really, she didn't mind but it does get boring waiting. It doesn't help that AJ was seemingly asleep and everything was white. Plain, boring white. White naturally goes with any other colour, but that doesn't mean it went with itself. The pegasus could see why most insane ponies would go even more crazy since they are surrounded by those pure white walls all the time. Would it kill anypony to paint the walls a different colour?

Normally, Rainbow would have borrowed one of the Daring Doo books from the hospital ponies, but sadly, they don't seem to be in a hurry to check up on her earth pony friend. That didn't leave for lack of imagination though.

The speedster wasted her free time imaging that she was on one of Daring Doo's adventures while she dutifully guarded Applejack. Yep, she was alone with the cocconed mare if you didn't pick up on that.

Let's see; Fluttershy has her animals, Twilight her library and Spike, Rarity her Boutique, and Pinkie Pie has to work at Sugarcube Corner. Rarity would've had her sister to take care of, but she disappeared on the night of the fire along with the other Crusaders. They sure didn't waste time naming them the prime suspects, that's for sure.

Dash here just can't believe the three innocent fillies would ever do such a thing. Surely they wouldn't turn to crime as being their cutie marks? And arsonists or some other thing like that to boot? Now that was serious. Not only somepony had nearly killed the whole Apple family, they, he or she had single-hoofedly (or otherwise) destroyed them in another way. Harvesting apples was what they do, and take that away from them, what do you have? Washed up, desperate ponies looking for work.

But it wasn't all that bad for Applejack's family, as they had relatives to turn to. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were out in good ol' Apploosa, helping out Braeburn with his orchard. Certainly much better than waiting for AJ to recover, which could take weeks in her current condition.

"I'm so bored." Rainbow quietly whined, quite mindful of the fact that her friend was likely sleeping. But almost immediately, that colt returned with his fancy glasses and clipboard. And no, it wasn't a doctor, it was that detective, Ferret Flatfoot. He was the most ordinary unicorn pony you could find. With that boring hair-do, gray coat, black mane and eyes so dark brown it looked black (Yes Rainbow was so bored she noticed). Overall, too plain and dark for lack of a better word. Having a maginifying glass as a cutie mark, it would be kinda obvious he was a detective.

"I see you're having a lovely evening, Miss Dash," He commented, raising an eyebrow at the barely attentive pegasus. It was night already? How long was she even there anyways? "Don't you have a job like the rest of your companions? Or are you a moocher?" Already getting a bit too personal there bud.

"I've already taken care of the clouds today," Rainbow growled in indignation. "and the next storm isn't sceduled until next week." Ferret simply nodded at this.

"I was hoping to ask a few quetions about a certain filly. I expect you knew the foal known as Scootaloo?"

"Nah, we weren't all that close. But yeah," Rainbow added, drawing up memories when she interacted with the bouncy filly. "We've talked a few times. Why are ya asking?"

"Well, I figured I might pick out a motive for anything other than cutie marks. I've already talked to Miss Rarity, Miss Applejack seems to be asleep for the moment, and I've heard tell that you were close to the filly in question. Can you tell me anything about her?"

Rainbow Dash racked her brain for what she noticed of Scootaloo. "Well, she has a lot of spirit for one thing. And that she always seems to be zooming around on that scooter of hers." She said, waving her hoof absently as she thought. 'Also a bit eager to please.' But she kept that to herself. Not really any reason to tell this colt that, as Scootaloo reserved that just for Dash. But it surprised her just how little she knew of the filly. Dash just knew she was one of her biggest fans, not much else.

"Really?" Even Ferret sensed her emotions. "I thought you would've knew more about your biggest fan." He raised an eyebrow as he jotted down a few notes. As he looked upon his notes, he tutted. "It isn't looking too good for the three."

"How bad is it?" Rainbow Dash asked, her ears perking up to hear about their case. What kind of pony would she be if she didn't care about the bouncy fillies everypony knows?

"Let's just say they'll be lucky to get a trial." Ferret turned and walked out after that. It was clear that AJ wouldn't be going anywhere, so he'll probably be back in the morning. But that made Rainbow Dash feel uneasy as she trotted out, ready to get back home. That was bad news, and if they were ever found, the Crusaders could be killed. That is, if they even performed the crime at all.

Although, currently Sweetie Belle had bigger problems at hoof.

Chapter 4: Alleyway Troubles

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," A sweetly tinged, venom filled voice rang through the alley, sending shivers down a unicorn's spine.

"You're only making this harder on yourself." Said another, just passing Sweetie Belle's hiding place, making the scared filly shrink further into it.

How she had gotten into this situation, she would never know. All she knew right now, is that she either had to bolt or tay there and hope that the ponies didn't find her. Most likely the latter, as they were all over the alley, and they would catch her the instant she revealed herself.

One of her stalkers, if they could be called that, had stopped in front of the dumpster she was hiding in. "I can hear you breathing."

Sweetie Belle can almost hear him smiling one of those cruel smiles, taking in the pleasure of frightening such a young, innocent filly. Said unicorn could swear they knew where she was, and they were still drawing out whatever sick fun they found out of it.

"Guys, we have to go or we'll get caught by this stupid unicorn's mom." The flapping of wings and an unexpected thump nearly made Sweetie Belle squeak, making her stuff her hoof in her mouth. No, she couldn't get caught, otherwise, it was curtain call for her short life.

'Please, go away, please, please, please,' The scared filly mentally begged, a few tears sliding down her face as she squeezed herself into a smaller ball.

"We'll never find the little horn mugger in this mess. Would be nice to have magic now, actually."

"Aw come on! We didn't even have a chance to-" A resounding smack was heard, instantly silencing the voice.

"Home. Now."
_______________________________________________________________________________

A pegasus was slowly trotting along the streets of Stalliongrad, not expecting to see anyone he knew rushing around calling what seemed to be a filly's name, and protectively keeping a couple of other fillies close. That was suspicious enough as it was.

'Those dunderheads.' He thought, trotting down another street. 'They should know better than to bring foals into this city.'

Just as he was spotted a gang of adolescent pegasi exiting an alleyway, all with varying speeds. He arched an eyebrow, speeding up slightly to check on what poor foal was unfortunate enough to have been spotted by these certain ruffians.

He carefully stepped into the "scene of the crime" as it would be, had they manage to do that much damage. But there wasn't a body there, alive or otherwise at first sight. He could see why they had given up on finding their would-be victim. Thankfully for whoever was chased into the alley. it was filthy, and filled with objects, thereby making for too many hiding places.

If they had cared to be quiet, they would've heard the muffled sounds of crying.

As the stallion crept near the hiding place, hardly making a sound, his ears leading him towards one of the dumpsters. 'It must be a filly,' He thought, peering behind it. At this angle, he could just barely see the horn. 'A filly unicorn, probably seven to nine years judging by how she just barely squeezed in there.'

The stallion rolled his eyes and decided just to get it over with. "Hey, you there."

Apparently, that had been the wrong greeting, as the unicorn let out a quick scream and scrambled out the other side. Too quickly as it seemed, as she promptly face-planted right into the hard cement.

______________________________________________________________________________

"Are you alright?" There was the sound of wing flaps and then the clop of hooves beside the unicorn.

Sweetie Bell carefully stood up, both scared yet embarrassed at what just happened. Slowly, she looked up at the pegasus, taking in his features.

He was well built, yet not as much as Big Macintosh. Although, he was very... unusual. He drew the eye just with his color scheme. With that red, purple, and orange mane and tail and that off-white coat, it's like he was supposed to be the center of attention. But that wasn't the strangest thing. His eyes were the weirdest feature of the pegasus, blue eyes with barely noticeable pink swirls.

"Who are you?" Was what the filly asked.

"Prism Luck." He politely answered. This made Sweetie Bell tilt her head in confusion. This place was strange, having met only three ponies from this city, now four, he seemed to be the strangest yet. Prism Luck chuckled at her response.

"It was only Prism until I had gotten my cutie mark." He said, turning so that she could see his cutie mark. It was a four-leaf clover, and it seemed like it was supposed to be surrounded by wind.

"Anyway, I saw some young pegasi exit this alley. I'm supposing it was you they were trying to harass." Sweetie nodded.

"Why were they being so mean? I didn't do anything to them." She looked around the alley, as if any of the ponies were still in hiding, waiting for her to be alone.

Prism sighed, nudging the filly out of the filthy alley. "They were racists. A sad sight to see to be sure, but it's the norm outside the central continent."

"The Central Continent? You mean Central Equestria right?" She asked, trotting out into the sun, and the hustle of the street.

"Yup. Over-Night Express is that fast. Now, let`s see if we can't find those stupid stallions."

Author's Note

Ah, I'm sorry for those that have been waiting for me to upload a chapter for months. Schoolwork piled up and this chapter lay half finished for quite some time. It doesn't even have 1000 words. Oh well.