After making her vow, Apple Bloom trotted as fast as she could to the CMC clubhouse, where Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were waiting. The youngest Apple burst in, panting hard as the other crusaders looked at her. "What's the big news AB?" Scootaloo asked. "Y'all gotta help me! My poor sister is locked in her room all sad because Midnight can't see her at all today!"
The other crusaders gasped in shock. "What?! But it's Hearts and Hooves Day! And Applejacks his special someone!" Sweetie cried, summoning the dramatic skills of her sister. "What could he possibly be doing that's more important than being with AJ?" Scootaloo demanded to know. "He's going to see Rainbow! Can you believe that?!" Apple Bloom complained.
But instead of taking her side, AB watched as her friends nodded. "What?!" Scootaloo shrugged. "I mean, this is the first Hearts and Hooves that Dash can see her brother without wanting to kill him! If she wants to spend time with him, he should!" "And come on, no ones more of a special someone than a sibling!" Sweetie pointed out, but Apple Bloom was having none of it.
"Oh yes there is! My sister is Midnights special someone, and we have to make sure he goes to see her!" The filly declared. "Why is this so important?" Sweetie asked. "Okay also I said if Midnight doesn't see Applejack Celestia can take my cutie mark, so I'm kinda in a pickle."
"You did WHAT?!" Sweetie and Scoots exclaimed. "What? She won't actually take it." "Of course not, but Luna sure will!" Scootaloo assured her. "What are you talking about?" Apple Bloom asked. "She's right Apple Bloom! The legend says that when a pony swears on a cutie mark and doesn't keep their promise, Luna swoops down at night and takes their mark right off their flank! And you can never ever earn it back!" Sweetie Belle said, terrifying her friend. "N-N-Never?" Apple Bloom stuttered. "Never."
The young Apple gulped before steadying her nerves. "Well that's just more of a reason to make sure Midnight and Applejack are together! We just have to convince Rainbow to let her brother go see her!" AB decided. "Right. Because as everyone knows, Rainbow is VERY negotiable when it comes to what she wants". Scootaloo said sarcastically. Apple Bloom smirked at her sarcastic friend. "She is when her prodigy asks her." Scootaloos eyes widened as she realized that meant her. "No WAY! Not a chance! I love Rainbow, but even I know that's a terrible idea!" The young Pegasus argued.
"Please Scoots?" "No!" "PLEASE?" "No! Finally Apple Bloom threw herself down and started screaming. "PLEEEEEEAAAASSSSE!" "Oh for the love of Celestia, fine!" Scootaloo sighed as AB instantly calmed down. "Yes! Let's go!"
The CMC made their way to the center of town where Dash was waiting for her brother. "Okay, so what's the plan?" Scootaloo asked. "You go over there, ask the question, and don't get distracted!" Apple Bloom declared before pushing her winged friend forward. The filly rolled her eyes and made her way over to Rainbow.
"Okay, act cool. You just need to ask this question and it'll all be okay." Scoots said to herself as she finally reached her hero. The smaller Pegasus gulped before speaking. "R-R-Rainbow? Can I ask you something?" She stuttered as Dash settled on the ground. "Sure rookie. I'm just waiting for Midnight to get here so we can hang out." The older pony explained. "What's up?" "Uh, actually, that's kinda what I wanted to ask you. Ya see-" But before Scootaloo could finish, a bright light appeared in Canterlot, brighter than she had ever seen.
"Yeah?" Dash implored. "Huh? Oh! Me and the the other crusaders were at Sweet Apple Acres, and AJ seemed pretty sad." Scootaloo said, trying not to be distracted by whatever the light was. "Really? Should I do something about it?" Dash asked. "Yes! See she really wants to have a good Hearts and Hooves, but her special somepony can't see her!" Rainbow raised an eyebrow as the light got even brighter. "Whose her special somepony?"
Scootaloo went to answer, but before she could a massive sound wave was heard, rippling across Equestria, and was struck silent by Midnights entrance. The colt got from Canterlot to Ponyville the only way he knew how: as a physical bolt of lightning. Rainbows brother came speeding down and struck the ground, scorching his name into the dirt. He was a cocky bastard, there was no doubt that arrogance was a family thing.
"Dashie!" Midnight laughed as he bear hugged his little sister. "Hey Mid! You remember Scootaloo right?" Rainbow said as she hugged back. "Oh yeah. The rookie right?" Scootaloo was almost to awestruck to speak. "Me. That's me. I'm rookie. Rookie is me." "Did I break her?" Midnight whispered as Scoots continued to stutter. "Good question. Anyway, she was trying to tell me something when you showed up."
The young Pegasus's eyes widened at the mere thought. "Me?! No no no! I just wanted to say hi! Bye!" and then she ran off without delivering her message. "Well that was weird." Midnight declared. "Yeah. Come on, let's go!" Rainbow implored, brushing off the odd encounter.
"Way to blow it Scootaloo! All you had to do was tell Rainbow, and you got distracted!" Sweetie complained back at the clubhouse. "I'm sorry! I was going to, but then he flew in and it just looked so cool! And Rainbow was so happy to see him and I just couldn't bear to take Midnight away from her." Scootaloo whined. "You had ONE JOB. It's her fault, right Apple Bloom?" Sweetie declared, but got no response from the third CMC. "Apple Bloom?" Sweetie and Scootaloo looked and saw AB scribbling away on their chalkboard, and appeared to be planning something.
"You got another plan?" Sweetie asked. "You bet I do! If we can't ask Rainbow to give up her ONE brother, we just need TWO!" Apple Bloom declared. "Uh, okay. How do we get two Midnights?" Scootaloo asked. "Simple! We're gonna break into Princess Twilights castle while she's gone, find the spell that makes clones, and Sweetie's gonna zap a second Midnight up for my sister!" The earth filly explained. "Huh. That's a great idea!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Let's do it!" Sweetie agreed. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SPELL HEIST AT TWILIGHTS CASTLE!" The all yelled in unison before running off.