San Palomino Desert. The lack of clouds on the sky above allowed Celestia's sun to glow with full strenght. The heat was unbearable for most creatures, but a single figure seemed to cross the desert without trouble. The creature's face couldn't be seen, for the pony-shaped tall figure's face was covered by the hood of its cloak. Even though the creature was considerably taller than an average pony, the fact that its hooves wouldn't sink on the soft sand was a hint that the cloaked figure was also lighter.

In the horizon, the cloaked figure could see a small town surrounded by trees. A small smile appeared on the hooded face of the "pony".

"A nice place to take a break." the cloaked figure thought. "Who knows? Maybe somepony in this town has what it takes for what I need!"

Appleloosa. West apple orchard. Five blank flank colts, three earth ponies, a pegasus and an unicorn, were wandering around, looking at the trees. Most of them were dead and the few ones still alive were about to succumb as well.

"This sucks!" said the first pony, a tall, slender maroon colt with green, dishevelled mane while rubbing his scruff. "What the hay is going on with the orchard? It's getting harder and harder to find some food around here."

"Yeah, we have to relay on that fancy food exported from other towns!" said the second pony, a short, yellow coated colt with red, straight mane. "And that stuff tastes weird."

"Stop whining!" the third pony, an indigo, chubby unicorn colt with light blue, curly mane. "At least we have something to eat. Would you rather starve?"

"Something to eat, alright!" said the fourth pony, a brown colt with aquamarine mane, while snickering before poking the side of the pudgy colt. "Specially you, huh, Jasim?"

"Very funny, Farhan." Jasim said, while stepping away from the colt's reach. "You know that's not true. My bones are just too large! Isn't that right, Aladdin?" he asked, turning around to look at the fifth colt who was lagging behind his four friends.

Aladdin was a red coated, small pegasus colt with a black mane hidden under a white turban. He was looking around at the dead trees with concern on his eyes.

"Aladdin?" Jasim called again.

"What?" the smallest colt asked. "Oh, I'm sorry, were you guys saying something? I was kind of lost in thoughts."

"Watcha thinking about?" the tallest, maroon colt asked.

"The orchard, Nijad." Aladdin said. "Until a few months ago there were apples around here to choke a herd of elephants, but now we're down to just a few trees. Don't you guys think this is kind of odd?"

"All I think it's kind of odd is that food they force down our throats." the yellow colt said, while looking around. "If I have to eat another one of those fancy dishes with weird taste, I'm going to die."

"I still don't know how Jasim is the fattest of us when Jal is the one that can't stop thinking about food!" Farham said.

"I'm not fat!" Jasim shouted before pouncing on his joker friend.

"Cut it out, guys! It's the third time this week." Nijad said while trying to break up the fight. "A little help, Jal?"

"Are you kidding? Five bits on Jasim!"

Ignoring what was happening right in front of him, Aladdin finally saw what they were looking for.

"Guys! Look! I found one!"

The fight suddenly stopped and Jal frowned at Aladdin. They followed the red colt's gaze, who was staring at an apple tree. But this one wasn't dead like the others surrounding it. It was still green and filled with red and delicious looking apples. The five colts surrounded the apple tree, their eyes shining and their mouths watering.

"Alright, like we rehearsed!" Jasim said, standing in front of the tree. The other four nodded. Jal stood beside Jasim. Farham and Nijad stood on them, Nijad supporting his forelegs on Farham's back. Being the smallest, Aladdin was also the lightest, so he could jump on Nijad's head without hurting the tall colt, who used himself to give Aladdin a boost. When the pegasus colt reached the highest point the boost could take him, he started flapping his wings as hard and fast as he could. The few second his tiny wings could keep him ariborne were enough for him to grab on a branch and climb on the tree. The four friends started cheering!

"Way to go, Aladdin!" Jasim said. "Now make rain food!"

Aladdin smiled and nodded at his friends before grabbing an apple, rubbing it on his coat and shoving the whole fruit in his mouth, angering his friends.

"Come on, Aladdin. Stop being so selfish!" Jal shouted at his small friend. "We're all hungry too."

The pegasus snickered before he started grabbing the other apples and letting them fall toward his friends. Jasim made sure to magically grab the fruits before they hit the ground and then levitate them into the saddlebag on his back.

The five thieves were oblivious to the cloaked figure watching them from behind a dead apple tree, analyzing each colt individually.

"They seem to work well together." it thought. "But only one pony at a time is allowed in the cave, therefore I must choose. The three earth ponies seem fit, but they rely on their friends' abilites to achieve what they want. The unicorn appears to be quite skilled with magic, but his weight would slow me down. This leaves the pegasus. He appears to be determined and quite bold to do that jump without even being able to fly properly. Maybe--" its trail of thoughts was interrupted by a shout:

"What the hay are y'all doin' here?!"

"We've been spotted!" Farham shouted. "Everypony, scatter!"

The four ponies galloped in different directions, leaving their winged partner stranded on top of the tree.

"Wait! Everypony! Help me down!" Aladdin shouted, but his friends didn't slowed down or returned for him.

"Sorry, Al!" Nijad shouted. "But sacrifices sometimes are called for."

"It was a pleasure working with you, pal!" Farhan shouted.

"Oh, ponyfeathers..." Aladdin said, while looking down at the foot of the tree, where a light gold stallion with orange mane and wearing a brown jacket and a hat was staring at him with his green eyes with a disapproving gaze.

"Land sakes, kid!" he said with a sigh. "Ah already told ya and yer friends, if y'all want some apples, all y'all need to do is ask, not go around, stealin' the few we have!"

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Braeburn! I promise, I will never steal another apple for as long as I live, just please, please, please don't tell my mother!"

"It's ok, kid. Ah am no snitch! But only as long as this never happens again, otherwise Ah'm going to suggest yer mom to tan yer hide!"

Aladdin gulped before nodding. "Never again!"

Braeburn smiled. "Jump down, kid. Ah'm takin' ya home!"

The pegasus colt smiled and nodded again before jumping down, on Braeburn's back. The stallion then started trotting back to town.

"Well, the book of rules never said I needed a colt." the cloaked figure, still hiding behind a tree, thought. "This one looks strong and determined, also he is glowing with the love and respect he is receiving from the ones around him." the creature licked its fangs. "Not to mention his dashing good looks and strangely attractive accent! I'll be watching you, young Braeburn."

Author's Notes:

Here's something interesting: the meaning of the names of the colts!
Nijad, the slender one. An Arabic name that means "tall".
Jal, the one that hates foreign food. Another Arabic name that means "resolution, firm will".
Jasim, the chubby one. Yet another Arabic name that means "big, huge".
Farhan, the one who makes fun of Jasim's weight. Arabic name that means "happy".
And, of course, can't forget the most famous, the little thief Aladdin. It means "nobility of faith".