One night, at the First National Bank, the night guards were watching over a large vault at the back of the bank basement. The door opened and Sapphire came walking in. "Hello sirs, may I get some deposit from my stash please?" she asked. The guards stepped aside to let her through when she instantly knocked the two guards out! Using her laser pen, she made a small hole around the lock, breaking the vault and it creaked open. Inside were lots of dollar bills, so many you could hardly count them all. "Hehehe, prefect." she hissed.

She took three large bags of the cash and pressed her neck, revealing that she wasn't Sapphire at all! She now had long red hair and and freckles on her cheeks. "And I know just how to keep this a secret." she hissed.

---

The Next Morning...

The news had reported money from the bank stolen and they had a picture of the red headed girl on camera. Sunset and the others saw it on the news and were discussing it with each other at the cafe. "Now why would anyone want to rob a bank." Sunset wondered.

"Probably to get rich quickly." Lightning grumbled.

"I'm just glad they didn't think it was me this time." Sapphire shuddered, remembering the last time she was framed.

"Sapphire, darling, we'd never let something horrid like that happen to you again." Rarity said.

"Yeah." Rainbow added. "If those cops wanna get you they'll have to get through us first."

"You mean they'll have to get past Mr. Grandruler and Principal Celestia first." Lightning added.

"Yeah, those two are kinda protective of Sapphire." Sunset added.

"But it's so sweet, seeing how much they care about you." Fluttershy cooed. Sapphire blushed and smiled at her friends. She was very grateful to have friends and family like them.

---

Meanwhile, at the mansion, Mr. Grandruler and Principal Celestia were getting ready to go to work. Luna had left earlier. They rubbed their Zippleback. "Now boys, keep an eye on the kids while we're at work." Celestia said.

Dusk and Dawn warbled and licked their owners. "Hehe." they both laughed.

"Come on honey." Celestia said. Celesto nodded and the two exited the mansion when, "Hehehehe." The two froze and looked around the area. "Whose there?" Celesto called.

"Oh.. I'm hurt you two don't recognize me." a feminine voice said. And out of the shadows came a female with red hair and freckles wearing jeans and a white shirt. Celestia gasped, "You're the girl on the news. Who stole from the First National Bank?!" Celestia exclaimed.

The girl chuckled, "Yes, the name is Ruby and I see I have a reputation."

"Yes and give me one reason why I shouldn't call the police right now?" Celesto interrogated.

"If you do call the police then I'll have no choice but to blame all of this on the little hybrid daughter of yours." Ruby stated.

"WHAT?!" Celestia and Celesto exclaimed in shock.

Ruby laughed, "How can you blame Sapphire?" Celestia growled.

"Easy, I disguised myself as her for the cameras and planted the stolen loot in her castle and if you call the police, I'll lead them straight there and they will arrest your poor daughter." Ruby explained.

Celestia and Celesto growled. "But... I'll let her go free if you two do me a favor."

"What favor?" Celestia growled.

"If you want your daughter to not go to jail, then you'll allow me to do whatever I want to do to you. NO matter how gross, painful, embarrassing, obnoxious or humiliating." Ruby proposed.

"What? Forget it!" Celesto exclaimed.

"You daughter will be framed~" Ruby sang. Celesto growled. He cared about Sapphire very very much and Ruby was using that as a weakness. She knew that he and Celestia would not let anything happen to Sapphire, especially when it came to crime. The two looked at each other and nodded, "Fine... Ruby, have it your way."

"Oh good, we'll start when you two are done with your work and and one more thing tell absolutely no one or else.." Ruby laughed before walking off.

At the college, Luna noticed her sister and brother-in-law acting a bit... skiddish for some unknown reason, but whenever she tried to talk about it with them, they wouldn't talk about it, making her a bit suspicious.

After their meetings and work, the two of them were walking back home together when Ruby appeared in front of them. "What do you want, Ruby?" Celestia asked annoyed already.

"Oh just wanted you to enjoy this first moment when humiliate you both." she said. Ruby walked into a dark alleyway, "Follow me." Celestia and Celesto looked at each other before walking into the alleyway. They followed her to the end of the alley. "So what are you gonna do?" Celestia asked

"Oh, I'm not going to do anything." Ruby said. The two suddenly felt something behind them. Slowly turning around, they saw two large, burly guys cracking their knuckles. One of them was dark brown with many tattoos on his body and short brown hair and the other had a mohawk hair style and had face jewelry on his ears, nose and lips. "... They are." Celestia and Celesto stared at the two guys in fear before backing up with them approaching the two. They were forced up against the back wall and the two burly guys actually smiled before grabbing the two by their collars and lifting them off of the ground. "Um... can we talk about this?" Celestia whimpered.

"Sorry little lady, we have our orders." the dark brown guy said. The couple gulped nervously as the two guys readied their other fists. The two of them closed their eyes, preparing for one serious pounding and boy did they get one!

POW!

BAM!

WHOMP!

THUMP!

When the two guys were finished, Celestia and Celesto were upside down in two garbage cans, groaning in pain. Ruby came over and kicked them over, revealing the battered couple. They both had black eyes and multiple bruises and scratches on their faces, bodies, arms and legs.

"Haha, that was so entertaining." Ruby laughed. "See you tomorrow. Hehehe." Ruby then walked out of the alleyway while Celestia and Celesto staggered to their feet and limped all the way back to a mansion and a frantic Luna. "Oh my goodness. what happened to you two?!" she exclaimed, seeing the two battered and bruised. She quickly brought them in where the maids and servants treated their injuries.

"Ugh.. thanks Luna." Celestia said, propped up on the couch along with her husband. Dusk and Dawn came over and nuzzled the two on the side of their faces, "Thanks boys." Celesto added before wincing a little, "Ow."

"Okay..so what happened?" Luna asked with a raised eyebrow. Celestia and Celesto's eyes widened remembering Ruby's threat; "Tell absolutely no one or else."

"We.. uh.. fell.. from the uh.. top of the school roof!" Celestia blurted out, earning a shocking expression from her husband. "Why in the world were you two on the roof?" Luna asked incredulously.

"It.. uh.. was for a uh... fundraiser!" Celesto added.

"Yeah, we raised some.. uh.. money for the schools by... jumping off the roof, yeah." Celestia said and she and her husband gave Luna big smiles. Luna narrowed her eyes at the two of them before saying, "... Hm... alright then." then she walked away from the two get them some ice packs. The couple sighed in relief. "Honey, what do we do?" Celestia asked.

"There's nothing we can do as long as Ruby threatens to frame Sapphire for the robbery." Celesto stated.

"But I don't wanna get beaten to a pupil for the rest of my life." Celestia added.

"Well... maybe things will get better, hehehe." Celesto said nervously.

The Next Day....

"Or not..." Celesto finished. He and his wife were both tied together, sitting in a massive catapult on the west side of the island! Ruby laughed, "This is gonna be fun." she said. She was holding the trigger rope. "Fire in the hole!" Ruby pulled the rope and the two were sent flying out of the catapult. "WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" they both screamed.

The two of them were sent crashing into a honey tower (a water tower but filled with honey, for some unknown reason), a feather factory and then a yarn tower!

At Applejack's Farm..

Applejack was busy feeding the pigs who were all covered in mud. "Alright boys, chow time." she said.

"YYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

"What in tarnation?!" she exclaimed.

She took covered as something crashed into the pigs mud pit. She rushed and pulled the figure out. It shook its head and to reveal a very dazed and dizzy, "Mr. Grandruler?! Principal Celestia?! What the hay happened to you two?!" Applejack exclaimed only to get a groan from the two of them before they passed out. The two were covered in honey, feather, yarn and mud.

When the two woke up again, Applejack doused them with her hose, washing them off, "Thanks Applejack." Celestia moaned, holding her head.

"No problem, I'll get you both some ice packs." Applejack said before walking into her house.

The couple then heard clapping and laughing when Ruby came out holding a camera. "That was hilarious. Hahaha!" she laughed. Celestia and Celesto stared at her with anger in their eyes. "Now now, remember what I said~" Ruby reminded the two.

"Fine.. you humiliated and embarrassed us, are you done?" Celesto questioned.

"Oh, please, this is only the beginning." Ruby hissed making a smile on her face.

---

That Night...

Celestia and Celesto were in their night clothes and climbed into bed together. "Well... night honey." Celesto said.

"Goodnight." Celestia said and they both fell asleep.

Suddenly, the two felt the wind in their clothes and hair, they opened their eyes and saw... they were flying over the city?!

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!" they both screamed and they crashed in front of the college. "Ooooohhh." they groaned as they lifted their heads and find Ruby staring down at them. "Hello again."

"What do you want? It's midnight." Celestia groaned, rubbing her eyes.

"So, it's time for your next humiliating act. Hahaha. Boys." Ruby snapped her fingers and the two men from before came up behind Celestia and Celesto and grabbed the two. The two men attached the two to the rope that was used to pull up the flag by their pajama pants. "What the-? Hey!" Celestia said.

"Going up." Ruby smirked and the two boys pulled on the rope, pulling Celestia and Celesto up, up, up until they were at the top of the pole! Talk about humiliating! "Hey, get us down this instant!" Celesto yelled, struggling to get free.

Ruby laughed, "Why would I do that? There's eight hours until your college starts."

"What? You're gonna left us here all night?!" Celestia cried. Ruby and the men turned away, "Yep, see ya in the morning~" she said. Celestia and Celesto struggled to detach themselves from the rope but no luck and by morning the two of them were completely exhausted. Luckily...

"Oh my stars!" The two groggily looked around and saw Rarity and the girls. "Pinkie, get them down!"

"Okie, dokie!" Pinkie moved the rope up, letting Celesto and Celestia down onto the ground. "Principal Celestia, Mr. Grandruler, what in the world happened?" Starla asked.

Rainbow detach their pants from the rope, "Why were you two dangling on the pole by your pants?"

"Now, now girls. We can ask them questions later. Right now, these two need a good long rest." Rarity said. The girls could see the two were exhausted and in a bit of pain. "Right, come on girls." Applejack said. The girls helped the two back to the mansion where they layed them down and placed ice pack on them as well.

As the two were sleeping, the girls discussed with Luna. "Something is going on with them. I just know it, but whenever I try to ask, they won't answer me." Luna explained.

"Sounds like someone is forcing them to be quiet." Rainbow said.

"Who would do that?" Pinkie asked.

"Someone who did something bad and wants to keep it quiet that's who." Applejack asked. "But we can't just ask them who it is. We need... a spy."

"But who can we get to spy on them?" Pinkie asked.

"I think I know someone or someones." Fluttershy said with a grin.

---

The Next Day...

Celestia and Celesto were feeling better and were now in the park by themselves. The two of them were feeling wiped from all the stuff they've been through. "I don't think I can take much more, Celesto." Celestia groaned.

"Me either, but we can't let Ruby framed Sapphire." Celesto stated. "We just have to stay strong."

Ruby then came in through the bushes. "Time for fun~" she sang. Celestia and Celesto groaned.

"Oh don't worry, it won't be as bad." Ruby said.

"Yeah right." Celestia stated. Ruby whistled and a large herd of cows came out of the brushes... and they looked a bit aggressive. Celestia and Celesto stood up nervously. "Uh.. what's with the cows?" Celesto asked nervously.

"Easy, they're gonna chase after you two and do what they want with you." Ruby stated bluntly. Celestia and Celesto blinked once and looked at the cows. "Alright boys, have at them!" Ruby called.

The cows mooed and charged Celestia and Celesto. "GGGAAAAAHHH!" the two ran away for their lives as the cows chased them and they did not want to know what the cow wanted to do with them if they caught up with them.

Meanwhile, the minions disguised as three birds flew around Mystic Island looking for Celestia and Celesto, "Hmm... where could they be?" Marla asked.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The trio looked down to see the couple being chased by cows. "What in the world?" Bronc asked. The trio flew after them and found the two pinned underneath a large male cow. The cow herd circled the two of them. "Um... n-nice cows, hehehe." Celesto said nervously.

The cows mooed and turned their backs to their majesties and... raised their tails. "Oh dear." Celestia whimpered.

"Brace yourself dear!" Celesto said as he and Celestia braced themselves. And soon enough...

BOOM!

A large green cloud engulfed the area, missing the minions who were shocked and disgusted by that. "And they say we have no manners!" Marla exclaimed.

"That's definitely gonna leave a mark." Keto sympathized.

Soon, the couple was sitting in a clearing with a small trail of green smoke coming from them. The two of them sighed miserably. "What are we gonna do, darling?" Celestia asked.

"I don't know, but at least things can't get any worse right?" Celesto added. Ruby then appeared before them, "Alright you two time for some more fun."

"Fun for you." Celestia grumbled. Ruby had the two follow her to a hill on the east side of the island. "And we're here because?" Celesto asked.

Ruby pulled out two large white cat costumes, "I want you two to wear these and get into this barrel.

"What? Forget it!" Celestia growled.

"You daughter will face jail time~" Ruby sang. Celestia and Celesto growled at her. They were sick of her playing that 'Sapphire will go to jail card' but the two couldn't let their daughter wrongly go to jail. ".... Fine Ruby." Celesto stated. The two of them put on the costumes and climbed into the barrel. It was kinda cramped inside.

"I've got a bad feeling about this dear." Celestia said with worry.

"Yeah, me too." Celesto stated. They heard Ruby laughing and then say, "Have a nice roll."

"WHAT?!"

The barrel started to roll down the large hill and really fast, spinning the couple inside. "WOAH, GAH! YAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The barrel rolled onto a ramp and flew through the air for a moment before falling to the ground. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

THUD!

The crash left a small hole in the ground and Celestia and Celesto staggered up to look around. Their costumes were ripped and they two had bruises and scratches on them.... and the two were met with a large pack of vicious dogs! Turns out they landed in a vicious dog pound.

The two held each other in fear. "Uh, any ideas, honey?" Celestia asked with fear.

"Um... just one... RUUUUUUNNN!" The two shot up and ran for their lives with the dog pack chasing after them. The minions saw this from above. The two made a dash for the exit but they saw the gate was locked! "Oh dear. " Celestia whimpered.

The two heard growls behind them and saw the dog pack snarling at them. The two gulped nervously and held each other, "Well honey, if this is the end, then I'm glad I'm with you." Celesto said.

"Me too honey." Celestia added. The dog pack closed in on the two humans and they both screamed, "SOMEBODY, HEEEEEELLP!" they both screamed. The dog were about to pounce when Marla and Bronc appeared and blasted the dogs away. "Marla, Bronc?!" Celestia cried in relief.

The two minions defeated all the dogs. "You two alright?" Bronc asked.

"We are now." Celesto said. Bronc and Marla carried the two out of the pound and they saw Sunset and the others coming towards them. "Celestia, Mr. Grandruler, thanks goodness you both are alright." Fluttershy said.

"Keto came and said you were both in big trouble." Buddy added.

"What in the world were you doing in there anyway?" Sunset asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That would be my doing." Ruby said as she made her appearance.

"Who are you?!" Lightning exclaimed.

"I'm guessing she's the girl who stole the money from the bank?" Artie added.

"Yep." Marla said.

"Haha, I was just having a little fun." Ruby smirked.

"Almost getting our friends mauled by dogs is fun?!" Lightning exclaimed in anger.

"What do you even want with them anyway?" Buddy hissed.

"Easy. She's been blackmailing them to do whatever she wants to do to them so she could keep the money a secret. She said if they called the police, then she'll pin the blame of Sapphire cause she planted the stolen cash in her castle and disguised herself as her so she could get her jailed." Bronc explained, much to the gang's anger.

"Why you little-" Rainbow fumed.

Ruby laughed, "And they'll keep doing that as long as they don't call the police." she smirked.

"Too late for that." a new voice came. Everyone saw the chief of police coming from behind Ruby along with Sapphire. "What? How'd you get tipped off" Ruby asked.

"Easy, I told them." Sapphire smirked. "I knew something was wrong so Sunset sent the minions to spy on them. When Keto came and told us what was wrong I called the chief of police right then and there." Sapphire was also holding the stolen cash in her magic and gave them to the cops. Two of his men cuffed Ruby. "Thanks Princess." the chief said.

"No problem." Sapphire saluted and the cops took Ruby away. Sapphire then came over. "Are you okay mom and dad?" she asked.

"We're good honey, just bit shaken and bruised." Celestia groaned.

"Come on, let's get you two healed and give you both a bath." Sapphire said. Sapphire took the couple in her magic and she teleported everyone to the mansion. Celestia and Celesto were immediately given a bath to get rid of the smell using some of Rarity's shower gel and shampoo. When that was done, the two were laying in bed with bandages on their injuries. "Thanks for saving us." Celesto said.

"Of course, you two were always there for us. Now it's our turn." Lightning said. Luna caressed her sister's hair. "Now get some rest you two." she advised. Celestia and Celesto nodded and they were both knocked out. The gang giggled and quietly exited the room, letting the two get some well deserved rest.

Next Chapter: Episode 23: Journey to the Center of a Dinosaur Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 19 Minutes