Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony; Friendship Is Magic

Title: Through The Shadow's Of Boredom The Past Can Emerge

Summary: During their late teens, the Cutie Mark Crusaders fled from Ponyville in the middle of the night to escape their problems. Now adults, the trio rebuilt their lives in a deadbeat town, juggling work, their social lives (or lack thereof) and raising a young filly. The past, however, has a way of creeping back in ways someone least expects it to.

Warnings: None, really. Most likely my second-shortest chapter yet?

Chapter Title: A Not-So-Typical Lunch

...

decode9- Back to Scoots and AJ, actually. =) I just wanted to build on the scar on Scootaloo's wing I mentioned in the first chapter (it was only a small part of a sentence, so no one probably noticed) explain the armor in the closet a bit more, as well as how they got to the 'Middle of Nowhere.' It was more or less a chapter to expand on the struggles they went through on their own, Scoot's especially.

...

Scootaloo blinked at the earth mare in front of her owlishly, jaw hanging heavily on its hinges.

Applejack didn't look much different, but managed to recover before the Pegasus did. "Scootaloo? This is yer store?" She paused, tentatively adding. "Ya'll live here?"

Scootaloo blinked a few more times, then, with certain kind of easygoing grace the earth mare could never manage herself, she hooked the top of her bent hoof under her jaw and closed it. Suddenly, the shock had passed, and the awkwardness came full-force to replace it. "Uh, yeah." She coughed, bending down to gather her discarded parts. "For a couple years now. You said something about a busted carriage, right? I can fix that. Just... let me finish this real quick."

"Uh, sure, take all the time ya' need, Scootaloo."

Scootaloo made a face, muttering under her breath as she stacked parts into the box. "No one calls me Scootaloo anymore."

"Oh. Uh, sorry, Scoots. Just, uh... It's been awhile, huh?" She tipped her hat.

Neither mare brought up the muttered "Not long enough" as she shoved the last part into the box, but Applejack winced.

Scootaloo stood and stretched. "Alright, everything is stacked and out of the way. Show me this carriage of yours."

For what it was worth, Applejack was patient.

She hardly said a word as Scootaloo repaired her damaged vehicle, content to watch the impossible become possible and wait for the younger mare to simply disappear. But Scootaloo stayed visible and touchable, if the random hoof-claps on the shoulder she got from the odd passerby were any proof, and as the minutes passed she found herself becoming more and more convinced she was seeing the real thing.

By the time Scootaloo packed up, pushed her mane out of her face, and told her everything was fixed, Applejack's mind was buzzing with questions. She kept her composure, however, and calmly thanked her for her help.

"No problem. It's on the house- for an old... acquaintance." She finished hesitantly.

"As much as Ah'd like to accept yer kindness, Scoots, my pride won't let me." She paused thoughtfully, eyeing the sun. "Ya' know, it looks like it's almost lunchtime."

"I'd say so..." She broke off, not sure if she liked where things were going.

Applejack perked up. "That'll do!" She dug through her saddle bags and pulled out a bag of bits. "And there's more'n enough bits here."

"Applejack?"

"How about this, Scoots. Ah noticed a little cafe on the way here, and Ah'm more than able to treat both of us to lunch. Whattya say?"

"Well..." She swallowed. "Alright.. But only because I don't want you to feel guilty about not paying."

"Ah must say, Scoots, this is the last place Ah ever thought Ah'd find you." Applejack commented as they sat down at their table. The waiter took their drink orders and trotted away. "Small, kinda deadbeat, no real excitement. Not ta' mention bein' on the far side of Equestria."

"Yeah, I guess." Scootaloo shrugged and took a drink of her water. "I got placed here awhile ago, and we just kinda... stayed."

"Placed?"

"I was in the Royal Guard." She shrugged, brushing her shocked look aside. "It was no big deal. I didn't do much of anything."

"Ah see." Applejack sat back and scanned her face. No one said a word as the food was brought out. Scootaloo was halfway through her salad when she finally spoke. "Ya'll know what Ah wanna know, Scootaloo."

Scootaloo looked up from her food and shrugged. "Not really."

"Applebloom. Is she here? And what about Sweetie Belle?"

Scootaloo look her over awhile before looking back down at her salad. "I'm here, Applejack. Isn't that all the answer you need?"

"Ah suppose it is." The earth mare looked almost smug, spurring Scootaloo to take a large bite of her food to stop herself from saying anything.

The waiter came and took their empty plates. Applejack paid, and followed Scootaloo out the door.

"Scoots?"

"Yeah?"

"You know Ah'm gonna have to tell the others about this, right?"

Had she been younger, Scootaloo might have argued her. But she wasn't, and she'd known that their days of peace were numbered the moment Applejack stepped through her door.

Not, it was farther back then that. It was the night they left Ponyville, knowing deep in her heart that even if they didn't like them anymore, their sisters and idol would chase them to the ends of the earth and back, that she knew their days were numbered. She'd just never admitted it to herself.

Not to mention that Applejack was the element of honesty, and was never one to keep secrets. Especially ones like this. "I kinda figured that, Applejack."

"Alrighty then." She stopped and put a hoof on her shoulder, expression serious. "You know that runnin' away wasn't exactly the best option, right?"

"Yeah, I know." It was the only option.

"And you know it wouldn't kill ya'll to try and reconnect with us and meet us halfway, right?"

Scootaloo paused. Her gaze turned to the sidewalk for support. "...I'll think about it." She said after a minute.

"Good." Applejack nodded. "Now, Ah'm gonna head to the rodeo, then take the fast route home. Ya' got 'till then to decide yer course of action. Good luck."

Scootaloo went back to the shop long enough to turn the sign to 'closed' and numbly lock the door before fast-jogging, not-quite-running, home. Getting the attention of their neighbors wasn't a good idea at a time like this, or any time, honestly, so she made it seem like she was trying some new kind of exercise plan. No one ever kept to those things long, right?

As subtle as she tried to be, however, it seemed oddly appropriate to slam open the door, and the noise awakened her from her numb state enough to realize she was exhausted and pant like a dog.

She noticed Applebloom staring at her from the couch, and waited until Sweetie Belle poked her head around the kitchen doorway to gather herself and stand with purpose.

"We need to talk. Now."

Author's Note; And so, it begins. =)

Applejack's heading back to Ponyville as soon as possible, and Scootaloo has been burdened with telling her friends that the jig is up. Not to mention that Applejack, and, in turn, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and the others, have no clue about Dawn Flyer, or about the golden seal on the wall.

No flames! Don't like don't read! Review!