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: Pinkie Pie shenanigans.

Chapter Title: Home

...

PrincessThunderquake- Honestly, I did too. =) Sassy Scoots is adorable.

WhenInDoubt-RPG- Yeah, I've got a bunch of stories like that- ones I follow and ones from over a year ago that I'll never update. I'm trying not to do that with my newer stories- I like them too much for that. =)

...

"They're almost here! They're almost here! They're-"

"I get it, Pinkie. I figured as much when you came bursting into my room at four in the morning screaming 'they're coming! Man the party cannons!'"

"Well, I had to wake you up somehow, and you're a heavy sleeper after helping out one of the Princesses." Pinkie Pie hopped around her excitedly in a perfect circle. Twilight craned her head to and fro to follow the movements.

"...How do you know I'm a- never mind. I don't want to know."

But the mare didn't seem to be listening. Her eyes were set on the horizon, tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth. "It's... a girl."

"Huh?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"It'sagirlIt'sagirl- It's a girl!" Pinkie bounced even higher than before. "It's a girl, Twilight!"

"What are you- of course it's a girl, Pinkie. They're all girls."

The party mare looked at her in confusion. "Of course they're all girls, Twi. What else would they be?"

The princess groaned and covered her eyes with a hoof in a vain attempt to halt her growing headache in its tracks.

Thankfully for her, the carriage appeared along the trail not much later, and Pinkie Pie's attention shifted from her.

"Ooh, ooh, they're here!" She bounced over to them with glee, watching eagerly as they stumbled out of the carriage. "Where is she where is she where is she?"

"Nice to see you too, Pinkie." Applejack muttered under her breath. Nopony paid her any mind.

"Where is who, exactly?" Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie looked at her like she'd just asked the stupidest question to ever be questioned.

"The filly, of course. Who else?"

"Filly?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Surprised us too."

Sweetie hopped out of the carriage and helped Dawn to the ground. Applebloom hopped out after. Scootaloo, her legs weary from walking most of the way, leaned against the nearest tree with a sigh of relief.

"This is Ponyville?" Dawn looked around. "It's not much bigger than home."

"We know, Dawn. But it's a heck of a lot better." Applebloom nodded. "Lot's more love and friendliness. 'S a real Earth Pony town."

"Speakin' 'a Earth Ponies, all of ya's are welcome to stay at the farm." Applejack stretched her sore muscles. "There's plenty 'a room, and there ain't an Apple alive who doesn't love havin' comp'ny over."

"Out of question." Rarity said. "Sweetie, darling. I must insist you stay with me in the boutique, if it can be arranged. We need to catch up on some things."

"Well... I don't see why not." Sweetie Belle glanced at Applebloom and Scootaloo. "You girls think you'll be able to get along without me?"

"Shucks, Sweets. We can get along when we got to. Give us a little credit."

"Yeah, what Bloom said." Scootaloo paused. "Only without the accent, of course."

"You gotta problem with mah accent, Scoots?" Applebloom asked, enunciating every syllable so she knew she meant business.

"No, no problem. I just don't speak farm pony."

"Darned tootin' ya' don't."

"Now, now, girls. Let us all settle down and go get an elegant lunch together. Maybe visit the spa. Catch up on the times."

"I'll skip the spa, but otherwise it sounds cool. Tomorrow'll work for me." Rainbow Dash glanced around. "Uh, where's Dawn?"

"Right here!" She called. Pinkie Pie stood beside her, all grins. "Ms. Pinkie said she could me teach me how to throw a real party! Can I go, mom? Please?"

"Well... alright. Just be careful."

"Thanks mom!"

Scootaloo trotted over to stand beside Sweetie Belle as Pinkie hopped a full circle around Dawn before hopping away. Dawn hopped along right behind her, wings buzzing to give her more altitude. "I just had a thought."

"And that thought is?"

"What if Dawn ends up with a special talent in party-planning? Could we even handle raising a mini-Pinkie Pie?" She paused. "Could we even afford all the headache potions we'd need?"

Sweetie groaned as though in pain, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "I need a headache potion now. Thanks for nothing."

"Can't handle the images?"

"No, I can't. You're a really sadistic thinker when want to be, you know that?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "It's a gift."

"Ah'll tell ya', girls, Ah can't wait to see the farm again." Applebloom paused in thought. "Wonder if Mac'll be there? Ah know Granny'll be waitin' fer us on the porch steps, but..."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged a look. "Uh, Bloom?"

"Yup?"

"I hate to burst your bubble, but Granny Smith was ancient back when we were fillies. She's gotta be, like, dust by now."

Applebloom trotted with her head held high. "Please, Scoot. Everypony knows Granny Smith is immortal."

"Immortal?" Sweetie Belle echoed, eyebrows raised.

"Eeyup. From eatin' almost nothin' but earth pony grown veggies all her life."

Scootaloo snorted. "That's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever-"

"Hi-ho, Youngin's!" A familiar voice called. "'S about time ya'll came back fer a visit!"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle's jaws dropped. Applebloom, however, didn't seem the least bit shocked to see the old green mare on the front porch, waving.

"See, what Ah tell ya'?" Applebloom walked a little faster and raised her voice. "How's the orchards?"

"Oh, they're growin' like weeds as always, only better for yer garden. Hasn't been as lovely these past few years as they are this time 'round, though." Granny pulled her granddaughter into a hug. "Ah think they knew you was comin' and wanted to show off."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shut each other's mouths in tandem with a hoof each. Scootaloo blinked and shook her head violently. "Sweetie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm officially a believer."

"Seconded."

Granny waved her hoof for them to come closer. "Why, Ah'll be darned." She said, examining them both. "Was it a filly or a colt?"

"F-Filly. How did you know?"

"Years 'a practice." She said smugly, winking. "You still gotta bit 'a fat from when you were carryin'. Don't you worry now, doll. It's the most beautiful thang any stallion in his right mind'll ever see." She paused, then continued, voice filled with wonder. "Who'd a thunk it. Ah'm a great-Granny Smith now."

"Uh, I'm not technically a-"

"Technically, smechnically. Yer sisters an Apple, yer an Apple, and yer littleun's an Apple." She stamped her hoof with every 'Apple'. "That's how its always worked 'round here, ya' hear?"

"Yes, ma'm."

"Gee, Granny Smitth. What are you now, a hundred and fifty?" Scootaloo broke in with a grin.

"Closin' in on two hundred, actually." She chuckled wickedly at the pegasus's shell-shocked expression. "Ah was kiddin', youngin'. Ah'm old enough, how's that sound?"

"Agin' like fine apple cider." Applebloom piped in, having heard it all before.

"Ah sure hope so." Granny Smith nodded. "Come'on in. Ah'll make us some proper food and you can tell me more 'bout mah Great-grandfoal. How's that sound?"

"Sounds like it doesn't get much better, Granny. Thank you for the hospitality." Sweetie Belle answered honestly.

"Ain't nothin'. 'S how any real earth pony should be, and, if they ain't, then you've been livin' in all the wrong places."

After lunch, the trio politely excused themselves from Granny Smith's with the promise to come back for dinner (with Dawn, of course) and maybe help out a little with the applebucking. (Definitely with Dawn.) ("Apple's ain't real Apple's 'till they know how to properly buck a tree, ya' hear?")

"You sure it's still here?" Sweetie Belle asked. "We've been looking for over fifteen minutes now. It shouldn't be this hard to find."

"Ah built it to last. 'S probably just got covered with ivy, is all. Makes it blend in better." Applebloom squinted. "Wait, Ah see it. They planted some trees in front of it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yup. Let's go."

They breathed a collective sigh of relief when the clubhouse came into their view. They got the door open after a few tries (rusty hinges) and stepped inside for the first time in years.

The inside, having been closed off from the elements, looked no different from the way it did the day they left it. The only tell it had aged at all was the fine layer of dust coating the floor and walls, not to mention the things on the floor and walls.

Applebloom kicked open the windows to let more light in. Sweetie Belle picked up an old photo frame and wiped the dust off. Scootaloo clicked on the old lantern. All at once, an unnoticed tension left their shoulders, leaving them tired but pleased.

"We're home, girls."

Author's Note: So, uh... I'm not dead? =)

I've been meaning to update this for over a month now, honestly. I've just been busy with my other stories (and to lazy to put in some extra effort).

I really like this chapter, honestly. The humor seems a bit more MLP-like than some of the other chapters, and the plot furthering, while not much further than that of the filler chapter, is important to me.

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