The color of bright red filled the filly's eyes as Apple Bloom walk down the red halls. She started to feel a bit calm as she found herself in a room with paintings and sculptures. Her heart felt like its at ease as she look at each painting with calmness until she reach one of the painting that was at the gallery: The Red Mare. Apple Bloom turn around so she could go to the door she saw earlier when she heard the sound of shattered glass. Her eyes only need to glance back for only a second and she ran for her life. Not wanting to know what would happen if it caught her.
The Red Mare was alive. The base of the upper half of her was attach to the frame as she crawl towards the little filly. Her look didn't look kind, but more psycho. Her long, brown mane was a bit of a mess as her red eyes stare at the filly.
Apple Bloom notice a key that nearly blends into the red room, but the Red Mare was blocking it. Her orange eyes was only on the key as she try to dodge the mare painting. Taking a turn from the red sculpture, she went to the key and grab it with her mouth, trying to run away from the mare, even though she got scratched by the mare a few times in the process.
Go in! Go in! GO IN! Apple Bloom thought as she try to put in the keyhole, but couldn't from her fright.
Once she got the key in keyhole and unlock the door, the Apple filly ran in and close the door behind her. Her heart beat faster as she could hear the Red Mare bang on the door, wanting to get in. She felt like the painting couldn't get her in this room for some reason.
Why? Not that it's a bad thing. Apple Bloom thought.
The little filly realized that she's in a room full of books. It wasn't as much as full as Twilight's library, but there was kind of a lot. Apple Bloom went to the closest bookshelf and read one of the books. This one is about the scary mare from before. It told her that there are more than this painting, they chase after what they want, and one good thing is they can't open doors.
Apple Bloom went to another bookshelf and read one of its books. This one is call Candy Careless and Galette des Rois.
It was about a filly name Candy, she was having a birthday party with her friends. Her friend served them a dessert called Galette des Rois. In the dessert was a coin and the one who gets it will be have happy forever. After they ate it, Candy swallows the coin. Her friend goes to the kitchen when she found her mother, looking worry. She was mumbling about the key to the study and Candy's friends notice the coin that was suppose to be in the dessert on the table, meaning Candy ate the key by accident. To only was to get it out is... to cut it out.
Apple Bloom quietly shut the book and put it back in the bookshelf.
"That didn't have a good ending." Apple Bloom said to herself.
There was a click, like a unlocking door. Apple Bloom look at the door that she haven't touch yet and walk towards it. With a turn of the door knob, the filly was able to open it to see a vase and a painting. She happily put her rose in the vase, letting it grow its petals. She smiled and went to the hallway to his right.
To her surprise, she now know she's not alone. On the middle of the floor of the hallway was a pair of fillies. One filly was white coated unicorn with a pink and purple mane. The other was a orange coated pegasus with a purple mane and a torn-up black coat that have holes for her wings. Apple Bloom's orange eyes widen when she realized who these ponies are.
"Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom shouted, running towards her friends.
She slow down and tap Sweetie Belle's head. All she said was, "Ungh..."
She walk over to Scootaloo and massage her back a little. All she said was, "Ugh... Stop it... Ow..."
Apple Bloom knew her friends are in pain. She notice something poking out of Sweetie Belle's mane. A key.
"Don't worry. I'll find a way to get out of here." Apple Bloom said, then pick up the key with her mouth.
She went towards the end of the hallway and found out a statue in front of the door that might be able to get her and her friends out of this room. When she was about to pass her friends, she realized something as she glance at her red rose. They might have roses of their own. She searched her friends to find their roses, but nothing was around them.
Where is it? They have to have their own roses. Maybe its in the other room. Apple Bloom thought.
She left to the left side of the hallway. Her eyes notice something blue that stood out of the red room. Rose petals. The Apple filly follow the petals to a spot of something red and a sign that says, The Blue Mare.
There's more of them!? I have to find my friends' roses. Apple Bloom thought.
She remember the door she passed. It was locked until the filly remember the key. She slowly enter the room to find something she feared to see. The Blue Mare. The painting looked just like the Red Mare, only with a blue coat. The Blue Mare was picking petals off of two blue roses, saying, "He loves me... He loves me not..."
Apple Bloom froze. How is she doing to get those roses? They must be her friends'. She doesn't want those roses to run out of petals for her friends' lives. So she knows what to do.
"Hey!" Apple Bloom shouted, getting the Blue Mare's attention.
Of course, the Blue Mare chase after her. Apple Bloom went after the blue roses and scoop them up into her mouth. With only one scratch from the Blue Mare, she exit the room. Apple Bloom took in deep breaths until she heard the sound of banging against a window, then shattering glass. Apple Bloom screamed when the Blue Mare crash out the window. Apple Bloom ran out the room as fast as she could.
Apple Bloom slam close the door behind her once she reached the room with the vase and the painting. She slowly walk towards the vase to restore her rose's petals. She quickly remember the two blue roses in her mouth! She put the roses of a different color in the vase and was able to restore the petals.
She eagerly went to the spot where her friends are. Just in time for them to wake. Apple Bloom stood in front of them as her friends slowly stood up on their four hooves.
"What's this? The pain's gone..." Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah." Scootaloo said.
The two ponies suddenly took a step back when they noticed Apple Bloom. Kind of.
"Eek!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
"What is it NOW!? T-There's nothing left for you to take, I tell you!" Scootaloo shouted.
"Guys, it's me." Apple Bloom said, muffled by the roses in her mouth a bit.
The two ponies slowly started to realize it was their friend and let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness." Scootaloo sighed.
"So, do you know why are we here?" Sweetie Belle ask.
"Nope." Apple Bloom said.
"Ah man..." Scootaloo said.
"Hey, our roses!" Sweetie Belle said.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo took a blue rose from Apple Bloom and tuck it behind their ears, just like the filly earth pony did with her rose.
"I thought we were goners, so thanks." Scootaloo said.
"Yeah, thank you." Sweetie Belle said.
"It's no problem. Although I was almost a goner with the Blue Mare over there." Apple Bloom said.
"We better get out of here as soon as possible. I think I'll become mad if I stay here any longer." Scootaloo said.
Before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle could go to the next room, they were surprised when the painting with the moving tongue spit its familiar blue liquid at them, making them fall down.
"HYEEEEEK!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shouted, as Apple Bloom try her best to hide her laugh.
"We were a bit startled! R-Really, that's all it was!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah." Apple Bloom said, passing them with a smile.
It's great to have the Cutie Mark Crusaders back together again. Apple Bloom thought with a smile.
To the room with the blocked door, Apple Bloom said, "How are we going to move this thing?"
"Don't worry. Rainbow Dash gave me some special training to my wings stronger, but it doesn't work with my wings much. Maybe I can do!" Scootaloo said.
Scootaloo press her head against the headless statue and begin to move the statue only a little bit. She stopped and ask, "Maybe you can help me a little."
With their three strengths combined, they were able to move the statue out of the door's way.
"Now we can proceed!" Sweetie Belle said, as the three enter the gray room.