It was a sunny day like everyday else as the Pegasi where doing a wonderful job on the weather as
always.

Everypony was quite as busy as every other of these days. The Pegasi had done their job for the day and played with each other in the sky or took a nap on one of the few remaining clouds. Earth ponies and Unicorns alike were still busy getting their things done running their errands though taking a break at some of the wonderful cafes and bistros in Ponyville.

The three little mischievous fillies that were already known and feared as the Cutie Mark Crusaders throughout Ponyville however had just finished their latest misdeeds.
Smoke was ascending from Sweet Apple Acres making Ponyville's inhabitants wonder what might have happened although many could take an quite accurate guess. Their worries however soon faded as they saw the Fireponies running off to extinct the fire.

“How does one starts a fire on an attempt to obtain their Cutie Mark in apple bucking?” Rarity screamed at her sister Sweetie Belle over the noise of the Fireponies putting out the flames.
“Y'all in big trouble little sis” Applejack pointed out to Apple Bloom, not screaming but in a very disappointed voice “Y'all be grounded for quite a while”.
“But..” the little filly tried to defend herself being cut off by her bigger sister. “No buts just go to your room and stay there!”
“You too will be grounded for quite a while Sweetie Belle. Though I still cannot imagine how it came this far.”

Rarity went off towards Carousel Boutique a little white filly trotting after her in a depressed manner and with a lowered head.
Apple Bloom also started off towards her room that would hold her contained for quite a while as she knew that her sister could be ridiculously stubborn with pulling through the punishment.
She turned her head to give her friends a last look but quickly decided otherwise as Applejack cast her a crushing glare.

Wondering what punishment was waiting for Scootaloo looked at her two best friends that were walking away in turn. If someone was to blame for the incident it would be her although she had herself no idea of what had happened back there and why.

“Hey! What punishment do I get?” the orange filly asked puzzled as everyone started to walk away disregarding her. “Oh..”Applejack turned around and replied puzzled herself. “Ya know sugarcube we are not responsible for ya and all. We can't really punish you. But I reckon 't will be enough punishment for ya to be unable to see ya friends for some time”. With that the blond Mare turned around and walked home to see if her little sister was already where she would stay for the next few weeks.

It wasn't long before the fireponies had finally extinct all the flames and with the expiration of the last spark it suddenly came to Scootaloos' mind. The fireponies had heroically hasted to put out the fire and had done so very fast. So what could be a better Cutie Mark than whatever Cutie Mark you get for putting out fires.
Somehow she would have to get her two friends out of their temporary prisons. This idea was too good to wait with testing it, after all they had already spend what seemed like centuries but was actually only a couple of weeks on crusading for their Cutie Marks.

It was just the next day and the sun was about to set. Soon everypony would go to sleep and then she would free her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders.

First she went to Sweet Apple Acres as the apple family always went to bed soon because they had to start working early. The orange filly climbed up the rain drain up to Apple Blooms window and knocked gently hoping it wouldn't wake Applejack or Big Mac.
There was no response. After five minutes she knocked again this time slightly harder.

She heard a noise from the window. Though it was just a feint noise it was enough to wake her but not enough to make her get up.
Several minutes later as she was just about to slip back into her dreams there was another noise slightly louder than the last. This time she stood up and walked to the window and was pretty shocked to see Scootaloo staring at her.

“Hey Scoots what's up what ya doin' here this late at night?” the red haired filly asked still puzzled.
“Shhhhht!” sizzled Scootaloo bringing a hoof up to her muzzle “Keep it down or you'll wake your family. We're going to get our cutie marks tonight for sure so just follow me”
“OUR CUTIE MARKS?” the now bouncing Apple Bloom shouted.
Scootaloo shoved her hoof in her friends mouth to silence her.
“Which part of 'keep it down' did you not understand? Now come already we still have to get Sweetie Belle”
And with that the two fillies climbed down the rain drain and sneaked away from sweet apple acres towards Carousel boutique where Sweetie Belle was locked up in her room.

It's been half an hour they had knocked on their friends window several times but to no avail, the white filly just wouldn't wake up.
As everyone trusts one another in Ponyville no window and no door was locked so getting in was no problem but it was just plain rude Apple Bloom thought to herself but Scootaloo had already opened the window and climbed in.

Inside Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked up to their friends bed silently but there was no Sweetie belle. Puzzled they stood there wondering what could have happened.
Just as they were about to climb out the window they saw the white filly in the distance and she wasn't alone.

“Oh spike that was wonderful.” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “Where have you learned all these things?”
“Well I live in a library that should be enough of an answer” spike stated braggy.
“Ohh Spike” the filly planted a kiss on her dragon lovers cheek making him blush.

“Sweetie Belle are you and Spike...? Are you a couple?” Scootaloo asked curiously having processed the first shock while gaping mouthed Apple Bloom was still watching from her friends room.
Sweetie Belle suddenly felt her face grow hot. She thought her head would explode from the blushing. “Scoots what...what are you doing here?” Spotting Apple Bloom looking at her through the window of her room she grew slightly angry. “Have you been in my room?”

“Yeah we wanted to get you. Tonight we are going to get our Cutie Marks for sure”
“OUR CUTIE MARKS?” Sweetie Bell shouted now bouncing.
“Ahhm Sweetie? Whats with our plans?” Spike asked turning his head towards his fillyfriend with a worried look on his face.
“Oh Spike I'm sorry but it's about our cutie marks. You can come with us by the way.”
“Yeah that is a great idea” Scootaloo interfered still wondering what the strange couple had been doing and what they were about to do.
Now Sweetie Belle was growing puzzled in return at the curious expression on her pink maned friend's face especially as her wings grew erect. Sweetie decided not to call her on the latter and rather ask her why she would appreciate Spikes companionship.
A yellow red maned filly however prevented that “WHAT ARE Y'ALL WAITING FOR? LETS GO GET OUR CUTIE MARKS!”
Having nothing to add on, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike left for their task.
“Where are we going by the way?” Apple Bloom asked ceasing to jump.
“I'll explain it on the way” Scootaloo explained.

“Lemme get this straight. Y'all want to set a fire and put it out again to gain a Firepony cutie mark?” Scootaloo just nodded. “Sounds good with me” Apple Bloom said a mischievous grin forming on her face.
“And where do you want to set a fire? Every pony in ponyville will see it and smell the smoke and I don't think they like the idea of us setting fires intentionally. Besides how are we supposed to create a fire we don't have any matches” Sweetie Belle asked unable to comprehend how they could get their Firepony cutie marks without getting into trouble.
“Well duhh. We just go into the Everfree forest where we are currently headed anyway. And for the latter.. that is why I wanted Spike to come with us. Sweetie you're so slow sometimes”
“I'm not so sure whether this is such a good idea.” spike stated worried
“Oh come on Spike what could possibly go wrong?”Sweetie calmed her dragon lover

Somewhere in Ponyville a pink pony was woken by a twitch. It was unlike any other twitch she had ever felt and it wandered through her body. It was similar to the combo she felt when they encountered a hydra in the Everfree forest. She knew that something was about to happen. Something big and terrible.
At that realization she rose from her bed as far as she could and went to Ponyville's library. Twilight would know what to do.

“I hope they're safe, I really hope they're safe. How could I cease to notice her escape?” a white mare sobbed. She looked awful. Unlike usual her mane was messy and her make up was smeared all over her face.
“Stop it Rarity it's not your fault. Besides Apple Bloom and Spike are also gone so at least sweetie Belle is not alone” Twilight tried to comfort her.
“THAT exactly is what I am afraid of”
“So Pinkie what does all this fancy twitchin' tell ya?” Applejack wanted to know.
“Not much actually only that it is something really terrible” she answered the last part in a spooky voice.
“Of all things that could happen this is THE WORST” Rarity said in her common, theatralic manner and unlike any other time she did this, her friends took her serious this time.
“We should probably head out and look for them. Pinkie, you and Applejack search around Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity, we are going to look for them in and around Ponyville. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash will search from above as best as possible in the darkness.”
With that the six mares headed out hoping that it wasn't too late already.

The cutie mark crusaders had piled up some dry branches and other stuff that looked like it would burn well. They made sure not to get too close to any trees or bushes as they didn't want the fire to get out of control.
“We're all set” Scootaloo exclaimed grinning in anticipation “You can start the fire now Spike.”
“I really don't like this idea but Ok.” spike said and set the pile of combustible material ablaze.
“So how are we going to put it out? We don't have any water and nopony here is a pegasus who could get a raincloud?” Sweetie Belle asked shyly as she was afraid Scootaloo would make fun of her again.
“Ahhhhhhhhh.... “ came it from the orange filly while she stared into the fast growing fire.
“Y'all have no idea have ya?” Apple Bloom mused.
“Hey am I supposed to do all the thinking? You could have thought about that earlier too” Scootaloo was getting angry while the flames grew even bigger unnoticed by the three arguing fillies.
“Uhhm girls I think we should do something. FAST!” Spike panicked
The three fillies' eyes grew wide as they turned to the fire that was going out of control.

Sweetie Belle was the first to react and stepped forward to extinguish the fire. But as she kicked some dirt into the fire an unexpected dust explosion dashed towards her. Unable to escape the fire's red wrath she tried to protect her face but the fire was too fast and flickered over her beautiful face in the blink of an eye.
Slowly comprehending what had just happened the other two cutie mark crusaders and Spike stood there watching Sweetie Belle sobbing and writhing in pain screaming. Spike was the first to step up to her but when he saw her disfigured face he stepped back in disbelief.
The cute beautiful face of his fillyfriend that he had cherished so much was barely recognizable. It was a mash of exposed red flesh with black burned spots and partially exposed bones.

“The pain was unbearable. Never before had Sweetie Belle been in so much pain. But the pain from the burns subsided slowly being replaced by an even greater pain as she saw spike back away from her. She realized that she must look hideous. Another pain suddenly struck her with the realization that her sister Rarity above all else was unable to cope with things that were not fabulous and perfect. Rarity would never accept her as a sister with a disfigured face. They would be unsisters again.
Unable to cope with this she turned and ran. She didn't exactly know where or why but she had to run. It was her only possibility to cope with this overpowering emotional pain.

As Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Spike watched their friend's emotional breakdown the fire had slowly crawled over toe forest's floor devouring small plants and sticks growing steadily. “C'mon we gotta find her.” Apple Bloom said with tearing eyes. The others didn't add anything to that and got going.

“So Scootaloo have you ever been in love with somepony?” the red haired filly asked her eyes still tearing.
The way the filly spoke told Scootaloo that the situation was really getting to Apple Bloom.
“Yeah. I've been in love with a certain somepony for quite some time now but she'd never like me anyway. Why do you ask?” But Scootaloo cursed herself for that last question. She should rather try to comfort her friend that ask her out. “Oh sorry Apple Bloom I didn't..”
“It's ok Scoots. I've been in love with Sweetie but I'm not so sure now. I mean it's the personality that counts. Applejack has always been telling me that. But is actually her appearance and her cute face that I fell in love with.”
This struck the orange filly hard. She'd always been in love with Apple Bloom since they became friends. It was obvious to her that none of her friends were like and that her friend would never feel the same for her. But that Apple Bloom would be like that, a fillyfooler, and be in love with her other friend was beyond her imagination.
At first this was just hard to comprehend but then emotions began to well up inside of her. Confusion: Why did nopony love her?
Envy: Why wasn't she as beautiful as Sweetie Belle?
And in the end came the anger. She started to feel satisfied that her rival was disfigured.
Shortly after her emotions got the better of her she regretted her thoughts. Nopony deserves such a fate.
Now with Scootaloo being pretty depressed too an awkward silence started to rule as they still searched for Sweetie Belle.

They didn't exactly know where their friend went so they were just walking straight in the direction where she fled. After some time they came to a cave and heard a sobbing from inside.
“Sweetie c'mon we have to get out of the forest and tell somepony that there's a fire.” Apple Bloom said trying not to speak about the injury that had disfigured her friends face.
“Just leave me ...” “Come on we have to hurry. You heard what Apple Bloom said” Scootaloo shouted the anger and frustration welling up inside her again.
Sweetie Belle didn't answer she just stood up and walked outside making sure not to turn her face towards Spike.
The bunch was then surprised by the huge fire that they could see devouring the forest on its way towards them. Without an exchange of words they ran.

Although it was still dark everypony was awake just as busy as during the day only this time their lives were on the line. There was a huge fire in the Everfree forest threatening to consume it along with Ponyville. Pegasi were diligently gathering nimbus clouds to extinguish the fire while Earth ponies and unicorns alike were clear felling trees trying to create a gap big enough to prevent the Flames from progressing further.
The fire was spotted by rainbow Dash and Fluttershy two pegasi that were searching for three fillies an a baby dragon that had gone missing. And as the three fillies were the infamous cutie mark crusaders everypony knew what caused the flaming catastrophe. Despite that nobody said it out loud as they were also worried about their young neighbors and felt sorry for their relatives.

The cutie mark crusaders were running while the forest around them was drowning in flames but they weren't fast enough. The little dragon slowed them down and if that weren't enough Apple Bloom tripped over a branch that had fallen down.
“HURRY UP AND RUN ALREADY!” Scootaloo screamed angrily not watching her tone. She just wanted to survive no matter what. Without further waiting she ran away abandoning her friends.
Sweetie Belle on the contrary was totally calm. She hadn't spoken a word since they had left the cave. The filly just stood there watching Spike helping Apple Bloom.
“Ouch. I think I sprained my ankle. I can't run like this” the yellow filly cried in terror knowing that this was her doom.
“It's ok Sweetie Belle. Run. I'll stay here and help her. The fire won't hurt me.”
Again Sweetie didn't say anything she just obeyed.

The little dragon tried to support Apple Bloom as best as he could but they were far too slow. The forest around them was ablaze and it was getting awfully hot at least for the injured filly.
She cried more and more terrified by the red wrath crawling closer by the second.
When their escape route was blocked by a fallen tree she gave up any hope and effort to get away.
Spike pulled her into a tight hug as the blaze devoured them.

Scootaloo ran faster than she ever did before, giving herself an extra boost with her wings. She had just left her friends behind and for that she hated herself but she wanted to live.
A bloodcurdling scream caught up with her but she continued running. The screams continued also.
Was it her imagination? Was one of her friends really burning to death or was that her conscience?
She didn't know and she didn't want to she just continued running.

The fire was contained it was no threat to Ponyville anymore. As many ponies were still busy with finishing their tasks six mares just stood at the edge of the Everfree forest. They had no hope that one of the fillies had survived the inferno. They had no hope but still they remained there as if waiting for them to come out of the forest alive.
Just when they wanted to go an agitated orange filly stepped out of the woods. She tried to walk straight past the six mares her gaze fixed on the horizon trying not to look in their eyes.
“Where are the others?” Rarity screamed
But Scootaloo didn't react at all and just when Rarity wanted to stop her forcefully an unrecognizable white filly stepped out of the woods waling straight towards her sister.
Disbelieving Rarity stepped back. This couldn't be her sister. No. Not with such a hideous face.
Crying now she ran away. Her little sister collapsed this final trauma being definitely to much for her.
They all watched in disbelief as the happy world they had been living in collapsed. With Scootaloo uncooperative and Sweetie Belle collapsed nopony could tell Applejack what happened to the third filly that was her sister.
She stood there for one more hour with her friends in complete silence until she went home.

Applejack still couldn't believe that her sister was forever gone. She went to the cutie mark crusader's clubhouse to be alone. When she was there however she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Inside the clubhouse there lay the burnt body of a filly barely recognizable as Apple Bloom and above that the two fillies Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and the dragon Spike hanging from a noose.