“Sweetie Belle!” I exclaimed, dropping my poker to help the unconscious pony out of her dreadful situation.
The cage was unlocked, thank God, but as I reached for the little thing, her eyes snapped open. I wasn’t even able to register what happened before the broke the leather restraints that held her in place and leaped onto my face, scratching blindly and roaring like a maniac. I cried out and fell backward at the sudden weight and impact on my face, but feeling her sharpened hooves scraping into my cheeks and brow brought forth another cry and forced my arms into motion. I rolled about, grappling with my young assailant for several moments before finally managing to throw her off. She went into a phlegm-filled coughing spell as she got to her feet, glaring at me.

“Sweetie Belle, what’s the matter with you!?” I demanded, wiping the blood from the new cut over my left eyebrow.
Much to my surprise, a loud thud sounded at the door. Before I could manage to turn my head, a hoard of police descended upon us. I was cuffed as well as Sweetie, but she put up one heck of a fight. The wild filly managed to do to an officer what Apple Bloom did to me and swallowed the larger part of the right side of his face. The officer was still wailing and rolling about when we were escorted out.
After a short investigation of the scene and a drawn-out taking of my statement, I was released. The officer that released me told me that if I wanted to speak to Sweetie, to head to Sweet Apple Acres. The trek out to the town’s resident apple farm was one done in silence. I still hadn’t gotten over what I did to the Apple Family. Apple Jack had cast me a knowing look when the news was broken to her about Bloom’s death. She knew something was wrong with her sister, but could never explain what. The chunk of my cheek that was missing when she saw me after the incident had told her all she needed to know. She never cried, but the sadness was heavy in her eyes…

Apple Jack had met me at the door of the stables, still wearing her mourning dress and hat. The black, lacey thing spoke of a slightly gothic Lolita style, and complemented her natural curves. The hat was quite literally an exact replica of the ten-gallon she always wore, only dyed black. She looked good, even in mourning.

“Hey there, Seb.” She greeted with a smile.

“Hey, Apple Jack.”

“Here tah talk to Sweetie Belle?”
I nodded solemnly, awaiting the horror that I was to be met with on the other side of the bright red door. She led me in, bringing me to a stable made of reinforced glass. The high-grade bulletproof kind that was used only in making windows for the cars and houses of government officials.

Jeez. High grade for such a small filly…
Sweetie Belle had been strapped down to a table of sorts, made from several old planks that had been sanded smooth. The rough leather that held the little devil in place were obviously makeshifts from Big Macintosh’s of saddle stirrups. Her eyes fixed on me as though she could bore a hole in me with them, and beneath the muzzle, I could just make out a wicked smile.

“Sebastian.” Sweetie Belle greeted with a nod.

“Sweetie Belle.” I returned the nod.

“I know, I know, you’re really mad at me for biting you. I was just playing.” She began, but I cut her off. I was running short on time and patience.

“Where is Pinkie? Where has she taken Rarity?” My voice was gruff and my brow set in a very intense stare. If this little gremlin wouldn’t tell me, I could easily just invade her mind and take the answer and even make it an unpleasant experience for her.
The blank-flank scowled and tilted her head at me.

“What’s it matter to you?”
That put me just a little bit on edge.

“WHERE IS RARITY!!!?” I roared, slamming my fist against the glass.
Sweetie apparently found this amusing and burst into sadistic laughter.

“You really care, don’t you!? Fine, I’ll tell you. You remember where you fought last time, don’t you?”
I nodded, knowing where this was going.