The posse of mares and fillies were finally closing in on their destination, nervous but eager to see this great dead of liberation done. No matter how harrowing and daunting this obscure task seemed. All were in high spirits; for what seemed like an eternity there had been one melodramatic sob-story, confrontation, or bombshell after another and, as Rarity said herself, it was getting stale.

Rainbow and Fluttershy hovered above the two other mares while the fillies trailed behind a bit, deviating from the paved path and romping through the open fields on their way to the thick and saturated woodlands ahead.  Rarity and Fluttershy had prepared some food for them to eat once the reached the perimeter of the forest, a sort of lunch-supper kind of affair considering the next few hours would be almost exclusively devoted to hiking, evasion, and who knows what else.

The ponies said nothing to each-other, if for any other reason to preserve the subline aura of relief and general happiness they all fealt, not for the situation before them of course, but considering all of the ridiculous things they had endured, they managed to stick together. This resolve alone pushed them to assume the unthinkable and undoable to be anything but that.

Once they arrived to the point where the trees began to cluster into sizable partitions, the mares assembled the fillies and prepared to eat. It wasn't much, a spread of sandwiches, pie, and some chocolate delicacies as well. Most of this feast was for the fillies who would need it the most considering the four mares were more than capable of handling the trip ahead, whereas Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom could only attest to a failure while zip-lining to be their most harrowing, hardening experience.

Following this food, Twilight decided it would be best to rest while they could now so as to stave off any kind of excess tiredness on their “journey”. While Canterlot certainly wasn't as far as it was when they had to detour to Dodge City, the roundabout ascent they had to make was going to more than make up for the lack of horizontal distance.

Tents were pitched, said tents had been purchased with the remaining bits they had. Enough for the four mare apiece and one for the fillies.  

Sweetie Belle made herself comfortable in her sleeping bag as her companions had already lay claim to their part of the tent and she could now peacefully plop down somewhere. The unicorn was beyond exhausted. The food and drink was nice but she had a headache. All of the nonsense they had endured over the last few weeks was catching up with her head.

Add to this that Sweetie Belle was somehow roped in to being Scootaloo's conscience, guardian, and who knows what else. It certainly didn't fit her personality, abilities, or temper. Scootaloo was supposed to be the fearless kamikaze of the trio, with Apple Bloom as the stubborn yet cautious adventurer, leaving Sweetie Belle to be the quiet, resourceful one. These general roles had taken quite the shift some time ago and the filly couldn't quite grasp why.

These behavioral changes began to form long before Twilight introduced them to the revolutionary doctrines that set them on a course of no return. Her and Scootaloo's axis shift came into bering in an odd series of events. Sweetie Belle slipped into dreaming, re-hashing the stories that lead to this point.

***********************

The Crusaders previous attempt at being 'Cutie Mark Crusader Storm Chasers' hadn't gone so well...not only was the no tornadic activity ever scheduled for the Ponyville region, the only storm they managhed to run into was they one they caused when they set up a “lightning rod” on top of their clubhouse which set it on fire. Scootaloo seemed incredibly desperate to put the flames out, which along with Apple Bloom's quick witted use of a watering machine from Sweet Apple Acres managed to put the fire out without raising suspicion from the ponies of Ponyville—which of course was their main concern.

“That was close!” Apple Bloom said, still bouncing in excitement as they headed to Twilight's Library to return some books on meteorology they had check out.

“You could say that again!” Sweetie Belle replied. “I thought for sure the club-house was toast! Good thing you thought to use the hoses!”

“Ah know right? Ah remember when Apple Jack told me how ta make 'em go far out into the orchard to water some new saplin's we had. Figured Ah could use it here too.”

“I don't think I've ever seen you panic like that before Scoots.” Sweetie noted. Scootaloo, one who was normally one to boast her achievements and triumphs, was visibly silent.

“You alright Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked, concerned by her friends' odd behavior.

Finally realizing she was the center of attention she snapped from her own issues and stepped into her ego-drenched persona.  “Yeah! Heh, I thought we were pretty toast too. But hey, there's nothing we can't solve right?” Scoots shot a cheesy grin.

“Yeeaaah.” Sweetie Belle was still a but offed by Scootaloo's mood but Apple Bloom didn't seem to notice.

“Ah know! But ah think Storm Chasin' aught ta be left to the pros.” Apple Bloom laughed.

“So what are we doing next?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo, not wanting to draw any more attention, snapped into action: “Ooh! We could be Cutie Mark Crusader......uh.......Musical producers!”

Musical producer? That sounded frilly and artsy,  not Scootaloo's expertise or preference. Again, Apple Bloom remained ignorant of Scoots' odd behavior following the fire, though Sweetie Belle was still on to something.

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom agreed, “We could have costumes, an' props, an'--”

“Didn't we already do this kinda?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Remember the talent show?”

“That...oh yeah.” Scootaloo remembered. “Well maybe we could be......Cutie Mark Crusader....uhh..”

“Clothes washers!” Sweetie Belle chimed in, “Rarity always goes to Canterlot to have her dresses and things cleaned, I'm sure we could do that for Ponyvillle!”

“That sounds like a stupid cutie mark.” Scootaloo said. “What would they even look like, washboards?”

Sweetie Belle, her idea shot down, again looked to Apple Bloom for the day-saving pitch.

“Or, we could be ghost hunters!” Apple Bloom suggested.

“Ghost hunters?” Sweetie and Scoots asked, eyes lighting up. This made both their half-baked ideas sound like complete shit.

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom added, “Mah granny has this weird thing called a Wigi Board. Says y'all can talk to the dead with it. Applejack says that's just foals tales but ah think we can try!”

“YEAH!” The three fillies slapped hooves, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER GHOST HUNERS...YAY!”

Upon returning their previous weather-related books to Twilight, they then scared her that much more requesting books on night-vision, monster trapping, and mythical creatures. Despite her persistent warning they could have nightmares, Scootaloo especially was equally persistent in insisting they weren’t “foals” and could handle this just fine.

After about three hours, several burnt marshmallows, and Sweetie Belle cowering under a blanket for most of the duration, the fillies strained patience wore thin and they abandoned their pursuit. Which consisted of initially going into the Everfree Forest but were stopped by Fluttershy. They then retreated to the clubhouse and played with Granny Smith's wigi board...well Scootaloo and Apple Bloom did. Sweetie Belle watched. From a safe distance, under a mountain of blankets, pillows, shivering like an ice cold dog.

Apple Bloom had gone to the homestead at Sweet Apple Acres leaving Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to clean up their mess. Sweetie fealt this was the perfect time.

“You okay Scoots? You seemed weird earlier.” Sweetie said mattrer-of-factly.

Scootaloo was alarmed by this. “What? Me? Of course I'm fone!” The filly boasted. “What makes you think different?”

“You just seemed....depressed.” Sweetie answered.

“Well I wasn't.” Scootaloo asserted.

“Are you sure?” Sweetie pushed.

Scootaloo wasn't doing this. “I wouldn't be the one asking about being a scaredy pony, you didn't even play with the wigi board, you just hid like a little foal.”

“But it didn't work.” Sweetie Belle added.

“How do you know? You weren’t out here!” Scootaloo barked.

“Oh yeah? Show me proof you talked to a ghost.”

“Can't.”

“Exactly.”

Scootaloo had a look of frustration on her face. She didn't like arguing, or being wrong. If she continued, borh were going to happen.

“Whatever Sweetie Belle. We're still not trying your lame dry-cleaning idea.” Scootaloo huffed as she helped Sweetie with her things and made for the Boutique where Sweetie would be staying with Rarity for a week or so.

“It's not lame!” Sweetie defended, “We could make some bits doing it!”

Scootaloo simply said nothing as they made their way to the Boutique. She said her goodbyes and made her way “home”. Or at least that's what Sweetie Belle and others were lead to beliuve.

Aside from a lecture from Rarity about tampering with spirites and dealing with such unladylike subjects as death, ghosts, and scary things, Sweetie's evening was rather uneventful. Wathing with admiration as her sister wove yet another masterful creation was the rest of her evening.

She finally made off to bed. Since she had arrived she had this elusive nagging feeling about her. Like she forgot something. Rarity retired to bed a few minutes after and night took complete control of the sky. The ambient lights in Ponyville one by one went dark as they sleepy village gave in to the will of the night.

Sweetie however, shot awake.

One of the fabrics they had used to attract spirits was a very bright white fabric. More specifically a very delicate silk that Rarity was looking for earlier. To her fortune, Sweetie was not a suspect..yet.

Sweetie had left it at the club-house. She had to go get it.  Sweetie Belle was not one to facoe veing out and about at night, especially on her own. Though, it was illuminated, and was preferable to the scolding and punishment that would take place if the fabric was found to be “lost” at Sweetie Belle's careless hooves. She quietly made down the stairs and out the front door and towards the clubhouse.

The tree and the wooden structure seemed oddly intimidating at this hour. The moon shining on it just right as it looked like a large, black, colorless silhouette of evil. Sweetie gulped and trotted to the ramp. She slowly approached the door, which was closed. An unusual thing when the trio wasn't there. This heightened her anxiety.  Her hoof trembled as she pushed the door open.

Initially she couldn't see a thing save the back window which was illuminated by the moonlight behind it. The light on the floor shaped by the shadow of the trees behind the clubhouse. Then, as her eyes adjusted, she could see something she wasn't used to. The table in the center was open, something she never knew could be done. On the other side was a large lump, a tad larger than she was. And it was breathing.

If Sweetie's coat were another color, it would have put her own to shame. She stood, frozen in the doorway. The eerie lighting, this unknown thing in the room. Was it a monster? A ghost? Was Scootaloo right about them summoning an otherworldly creature?

Sweetie cautiously approached the breathing thing which was covered with cloths but appeard to be the shape of a filly. Sweetie stood there for a bit longer.

“H—hello?” The filly asked timidly, backing up some.

At first, the pile did not move. Though it began to stir some. Making some groaningh noises.

“A—are you a ghost?” Sweetie asked.

The pile then shot up into a sitting position. Sweetie let our a blood curdling scream and stumbled over the table and into its open hole, causing her to panic further.  An orange hoof grabbed onto her and pulled her up. She saw Scootaloo's tired face. Bloodshot eyes.

“Scootaloo?”  Sweetie Belle was shocked. “What are you doing at the club-house?”

“I decided I was going to hang out here to----se if any ghosts showed up.” Scootaloo lied.

Sweetie seemed convinced however.

“Besides Sweetie, what are you doing out here anyway?”

“Well....have you seen my sister's white silk? I'm ruined if I can't find it.”

Turns out Scootaloo had been sleeping on it. “This soft thing?” She presented it to Sweetie.

“Yeah! Thanks.” Sweetie blushed.

“No problem, it's a lot more comfortable than what I usually sleep on up here.” Scootalooo bit her tongue and recoiled. She wasn't supposed to know that.

“I thought you said you were just staying here tonight.” Sweetie Belle was on the hunt now.

“W—Yeah that's what I meant. Hehe, just a slip of the tongue.”

“No it wasn't.” Sweetie Belle panned, seeing a thermistor, a stockpile of apples, and Scootaloo's saddle-bag, helmet, and scooter inside.

Scootaloo said nothing as she attempted to clean up her little area. Sweetie knew what this was and wasn't going to wait for her friend to fold.

“How come you never told anypony?” Sweetie Belle went right for it.

“Told anypony what?” Scootaloo wasn't going that easy.

“That you're homeless. I'm sure Applejack would let you stay with them.” Sweetie said concerned.

Scootaloo took every inch of this as an insult to her image. She got in Sweetie Belle's face.

“I'm not homeless Sweetie Belle! Take you stupid little silk home and leave me alone!”

“Then come with me.” Sweetie challenged. “I don't think I've ever met your parents—I don't think Rarity has either.”

Scootaloo froze. She was caught. Though she tried one more maneuver.

“You wouldn't want to.”

“Why not? Are they mean?”

“Well---No.”

“Than why not? I'll just say 'Hi!' and then be on my way. I'm sure they'd like to know who you're friends are...we're friends right?”

“Yeah but—just leave me alone!” Scootaloo pouted.

“Not until you tell me the truth Scootaloo.” Sweetie was surprised at the firmness in her voice as she stared down her pegasus friend. She did not like being lied to, and she knew this was happening.

Scootaloo said nothing. She moved her paw upon the wooden floor and stared at it as if she were entranced. She finally looked up and her bravado was shattered.

“I'm homeless! I have no family! There happy Sweetie Belle? I said it, you're right. Now bug off!”

Scootaloo stamped her hooves though Sweetie Belle wasn’t going anywhere. She pulled Scootaloo inot a hug which the pegasus initially squirmed, though with time she gave in and silently surrendered to the embrace.

“There's no reason to be ashamed Scootaloo, we're all you're friends.” Sweetie assured the filly.

“I'm fine.” Scootaloo lied.  “Can we please talk about this some other time? I'm really tired.”

“Fine.” Sweetie Belle surrendered. She had to get home as to not cause suspicion. She certainly couldn't bring Scootaloo as that would lead to questions of its own. She left the clubhouse and went back home. Fabric in hoof.

The concerned unicorn could not shake that night out of her head, to the point where it began to bother her. She never brought it up at school or during crusades as she didn't want to lose Scootaloo as a friend, though it was more than obvious something was on her mind. Rarity had noticed this as well and when it had been a whole week of unusual mopiness, she opened the can of worms:

“Sweetie Belle, is something troubling you dear?”

Sweetie Belle was sitting slumped on her bed at Rarity's boutique. She hadn't moved for some time, staring out the window and sighing occasionally. She was startled by her sister's sudden presence and let out a weak squeal before turning around.

“Can I talk to you about something?” Sweetie asked.

“Of course dear, of course!” Rarity cooed as she made her way to sit on the bed beside her sister.

“If you wish to keep this confidential I can certainly do so.” Rarity smiled.

“Confidential?”

“Nopony else has to know of what we talk about.”

“Cool.” Sweetie sighed again. Readying her story. She knew she'd have to explain some things, things like sneaking out at night, the fabric, but at this point she didn't like being melancholy and bothered.

“Uh...well, remember that night your silk went missing?” Sweetie played with the comforter and stared at her hooves, this was going to be tough.

“Go on...” Rarity was slightly concerned.

“Well...you didn't misplace it—I took it. We we trying to get our cutie marks in ghost hunting and so...we needed fabric that looked like a ghost, to try to lure them.”

“And I assume that was less than successful.” Rarity sighed.

“Yeah. Sorry. “

“Is that all Sweetie? The silk was fine, made the order and the client was very please--”

“No.”

“Oh....then continue darling.”

“Well...I went back to get it after you started looking for it—I was scared . I had to sneak out and go to the club-house at night and...when I got there I found Scootaloo all by herself, living there.”

“In the club-house?” Rarity was interested now.

“Yeah. I tried to ask her why she stayed there and not with the Apples and she got mad. She told me she has no parents or a family.” Sweetie Belle grew sad thinking of this.

“I never would have guessed..” Rarity whispered to herself.

“I'm really, really worried about her.” Sweetie Belle said, “Remember what Rainbow Dash said when we were at Twilights giving her that weird book you brought from Trottingham?”

“A rather harsh and long winter if I can recall.” It hit Rarity soon after. “Oh...”

Sweetie wasn't crying but was upset. “What can we do? I don't want her to be miserable, she

s my friend!”

“It seems she isn't quite ready to accept help. I'm afraid forcing her will just make her even more unhappy. I hate to say it but we just have to give it time. Surely now that she knows she has a concerned friend she will come out of the woodwork and take the opportunity when she sees it.”

“Can she stay here?”

Rarity thought about that. This was likely the last place that Pegasus would want to be and the last pony she would want to answer to. They had nothing in common, hardly knew each-other, and were the polar opposites at almost every level. Though as the 'Element Of Generosity' it was her obligation to help a friend in need—Scootaloo was a friend....right? Besides, seeing her sister like this was nothing short of painful. How could she say no?

“That is her choice to make Sweetie Belle. Perhaps you should find Rainbow Dash, does she know of this? Honestly if Scootaloo would want to be with anypony it would be her.”

Sweetie had never thought of that. “That's a great idea sis!” The filly hopped off the bed and made a mad dash out the door to find Rainbow. Not of course before thanking her sister.

She was out on the main road of Ponyville which was busy but by no means crowded. N ever was save the occasional special events and attractions that came through. She scanned the skies above homes and shops for any sign of Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo seemed to have the sight of a hawk and then some when it came to spotting the famous wonderbolt-wannabe, sadly for Sweetie Belle, she could not claim the same ability and found herself growing more disappointed with each cloud she passed. There weren’t many.

She came to a small cafe near 'Quills and Sofas'. Twilight and Applejack were sitting at an outdoor table. Applejack wasn't wearing her famed stetson, and both mare looked to be deep in a rather unpleasant conversation—or at least not one that would warrant a smile or two. Sweetie initially hesitated but figured a quick question wouldn't be too rude.

“Twilight?” Sweetie Belle had made it to the table.

“Oh—Hi Sweetie Belle, what do you need?” Twilight was caught off guard. Hopefully she wasn't asking anything too specific.

“Do you know where Rainbow Dash is? I need to ask her a really important question.”

“I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, she is in Cloudsdale fetching me some academic literature.” Twilight looked to Applejack who nodded.

“But, whatever it is, I will be sure to let her know when she comes into town tomorrow morning....Or perhaps I could be of some help?”

Applejack look interested as well, anything to deviate from the morbid subject the mares were discussing. Sweetie Belle grew nervous. She didn't want anymore ponies involved in this as to avoid embarrassing Scootaloo or worse.

“N—No thanks it's okay. Thank you though.” Sweetie Belle turned to go back to the boutique.

Sweetie gave up and went to sleep later that night—or at least tried to. The wind this evening was rather noisy, she had heard some ponies in town talking about some early snow to help with some excess snowflake supply in Cloudsdale. Ponyville had a reservoir that was running dry as well. An early snowpack to melt in and produce surplus water made this a perfect time to offload the excess.

Though what this meant for anypony unlucky enough to be unable to evade the near-freezing temperatures and the harsh elements was something Sweetie Belle couldn't stand to think—especially since one of her best friends was among those unfortunate few.

Rarity was unaware of this weather though she did not like the idea of her sister sneaking off into the night again as it was getting colder. She poked in through the door to bring Sweetie some cocoa.

“Now sis I know you likely have plans to leave later this evening and tend to Scootaloo but--” She had to think of something other than 'I don't want you out there'. Got it. “If you keep bringing her things she will assume she can stay in that rickety club-house for who knows how long. You need her to become...how shall we say, wary of the scant resources and the degrading conditions. Create an incentive. Am I understood?”

“Understood sis.” Sweetie sighed.

“Your heart is in the right place Sweetie, the last thing you want is for her to take advantage of your kindness.” Rarity kissed her sister on the forehead and made her way to the hallway.

Sweetie Belle finished her cocoa and lie in her bed, staring out the window to se the wild branches flying about and listening to the howling wind. Frost was slowly covering the window as well.   Sweetie herself was shivering from the cold air that seeped in through the thin glass. She tried her darndest to sleep but the cold and the constant worry prhobbited any such thing from happening until her mission was complete.  

She gave some time to let Rarity convince herself Sweetie had heeded her words—not to say she didn't, she just didn't feel she was right. Once she felt it was safe to leave, she slowly opened her door, having stuffed a pillow under the blanket to make it appear as if she was there. She made her way to the front door and slowly made her way out.

She was shivering beyond belief, it was absurdly cold. Nopony in their right mind was going to be wandering about at this time in these conditions. Exactly what she wanted. She hoped this would be a waste of time, that Scootaloo had come to her senses, threw in the towel, swallowed her pride and was nice and snug in the Apple Family homestead. No such luck. She arrived to a familiar scene, or at least it was for the most part.

Scootaloo was wide awake, wet, shivering, sneezing, the whole gambit.

“Scootaloo?” Sweetie hollered over the wind that had now grown even more brutal.

Scootaloo jumped at the unexpected visit, spurring a violent coughing fit afterwards.

Sweetie's eyes of concern changed to that of determination.

“You're coming with me Scootaoo.”

“No.” Scootaloo replied.

“I'm not about to let my friend freeze to death!”

“Pssh, relax Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo did her best to project invincibility when in reality she wanted nothing short of a warm bed to sleep in. “I'm fine. I'll just ride this out.”

“No.” Sweetie growled. She took a few steps towards the pegasus. She wasn't sure how she was going to corral this stubborn pegasus but if it came to it, she would.

“I'm not a foal Sweetie Belle! I'm fine!” The following coughing was hoarse and wheezy.

“Scootaloo you're being stupid! Not even Rainbow Dash would be caught dead out here! She isn't even in Ponyville—who would want to be in weather like this?”

“Shut up Sweetie Belle I'm fine.” Scootaloo curled into a sleeping position and made the pathetic appearance of sleep. Faux snoring and all.

“Fine....Fine!” Sweetie barked. “I tried to help you—don't say I didn't.” With a huff, she stomped out of the club-house and made her way down the hill. She looked back a few times to see if her friend was following. Not so. She sighed and made her way back to the boutique. She opened the door and had made the motion that would normally shut it, however, something was in the way. She whirled back to see Scootaloo.

A small smile crept on her face as she shut the door behind her and put a hoof around her friend.

“Come one Scoots, I can make some cocoa real quick—Rarity has a guest room you can sleep in.”

“Thanks.” Scootaloo muttered. She looked disappointed in herself for cracking. This wasn't how she wanted to be seen.

Scootaloo followed Sweetie around as she made the drink and then guided Scootaloo to the guest room which was next to her own room. She left Scootaloo to settle herself as the filly seemed to want nothing more than to be left alone. Sweetie retired to bed. Happy that she had finally taken care of her little problem.

********************

Sweetie woke up. It was still late at night but the tent wass already incredibly warm, courtesy of the body heat the three fillies produced. She looked to her right where an orange filly lay, in a peaceful sleep herself.  She scooted to the filly and put her hooves around her. The more body heat the better.

Meanwhile in the other tents, the mares were restless. They had managed to all move to Twilight's tent with a lantern lighting the inside.

“....and so, that is the plan at large.” Twilight concluded. She had spent a good hour going over the specifics of the entire voyage and 'attack' at hand. The underlying hope of course is that they would have some wind at their sails—Cloudsdale reinforcement.

Rainbow Dash loved it, finally some action that didn't contribute some lame drama as well. Some ass kicking was for sure up her alley. Rarity was beyond wary at this point, she had come to accept her new life goal—at least a short-term one. Fluttershy was, well quiet the duration of the speech, she still wanted nothing to do with this and was worried they were taking way too much onto themselves. Pessimism summarized her train of thought. Spike was confident it would work, after all simply because Celestia demoted her student as the 'Element Of Magic', didn't mean there was a possibility, with some assistance, that the element could re-assign itself to its natural bearer. He knew where they were as well, which took a good piece of work out of their whole game-plan.

The crusaders had a part to play as well. Though, Twilight was going to save that for when the time was right. They had it all figured out, mapped, and mentally exercised. It was now time for some sleep.

Tomorrow was going to be a hell of a trip. Next Chapter: Train Dodge, Dig It. Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 39 Minutes