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.

Next Chapter: Terrible Burns Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes