Chapter 4

"Hey Granny Smith where's sis?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Applejack went off into town for supplies- just after she left this darn whippersnapper turned up and started pouring rain everywhere but the field!"

Apple Bloom allowed herself a faint sigh of relief. At least with Applejack off the farm and in town they might have some time to catch Derpy and then figure out what to do. They might even be able to get out of this situation without sis or any other pony finding out what had happened. And without any other pony moaning at them. She knew her teacher Cheerilee would be disappointed as would Applejack. And Apple Bloom really didn't want to have to do any chores as punishment!

"I keep telling that dang pony to stop," said Granny Smith.

"Is she listening to you?" asked Scootaloo, a second before half an afternoon's worth of rain was dumped on her head. "I guess not huh?"

"What do we do now?" asked Apple Bloom, who found herself trying to stifle a laugh.

"Maybe we could try and catch her?" suggested Sweetie Belle, noticing the evil eyes Scootaloo was casting in the direction of her friend.

"That could work I guess," said Scootaloo, brushing her rain soaked mane out of her eyes.

Catch Derpy? But with what? Apple Bloom found herself pondering. The only thing they could really use was-

"Granny Smith, where's all of sis's rope?" asked Apple Bloom. She guessed it was time to start making up a plan as they went along. Because that always seemed to go so well in the past…

"Around back young 'un, if that grey pony ain't taken them," was the old pony's reply.

"Come on let's go get some rope," said Apple Bloom.

"Are we climbing something?" asked Sweetie Belle. "We aren't climbing the house to get to Derpy are we?"

"Nah we're gonna try and catch Derpy."

"Can we do that? Will it work?" asked Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom's shrug didn't answer her question.

"But how do we get her down here Apple Bloom? She's up there and none- I mean only one of us can fly," said Sweetie Belle, hearing the faint humpf from Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom's eyes flicked from one friend and back as they all tried to think of what to do. Suddenly Scootaloo lifted her head. Apple Bloom waited for what Scootaloo had to say, curious about her plan, but instead she turned to the old pony.

"Hey Granny Smith do you have any muffins indoors?" she asked.

"Sure do Scootado," said the older pony, Apple Bloom groaning. "Enough for you, Apple Bloom and even little Tweety Spell."

"Thanks Granny Smith," said Scootaloo smiling politely. "I'll go get the rope, you get some muffins," she said turning to Apple Bloom.

"How do we know that'll work?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Everypony knows Derpy loves muffins- I bet she'll still like them even after what's happened. We just need…wait you or Applejack didn't make these muffins right?" said Scootaloo, interrupting herself.

"Nah, Granny Smith made the muffins. Why?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Oh that's good."

"Hey wait what does that mean?" asked Apple Bloom, even though she had an idea. She didn't think it fair that her cooking ability should be judged on the standard of her older sister…just because of what happened last time…

"So we get muffins to draw her down here," said Scootaloo, ignoring her friend's question. "And then when she's down here we wrap the rope around her and catch her and keep her down."

"Lasso her," corrected Apple Bloom.

"Fine then, lasso her."

"And then what Scootaloo?"

"Well we…let's not try to overthink anything just yet, we need to catch her first."

We're doomed Apple Bloom couldn't help but think to herself. Catching Derpy would be difficult, but even if they did nopony would know what to do next. She almost found herself starting to hope that Applejack would return home early and stumble across what they were doing. Her sis might have a few ideas. Maybe her sister's friends too. But she knew better than to suggest this to Scootaloo just yet- she suspected her friend would be very grumpy to hear such a suggestion.

"Come on cutie mark crusaders, let's go!" said Scootaloo trying to lift her friends spirits. "Sweetie Belle you stay here and keep watch."

As Apple Bloom ran for the front door she heard Granny Smith refer to Sweetie Belle as 'Sweetly Mell'. Apple Bloom nudged the door open and ran inside. The smell of fresh muffins almost instantly filled her nostrils, so she ignored the ones on display on the table and rushed for the kitchen. She was certain newer muffins would be better- they would have a much stronger smell! Derpy was quite high above them; anything that could help would be useful…

Grabbing the plate holding the fresh muffins Apple Bloom ran back to the door, frowning as a couple of muffins fell from the plate to the floor. Three remained in place- that should be enough, right?

"Dere dis she?" muffled Apple Bloom upon spotting Sweetie Belle outside, remaining on watch as she had been told.

"Still up there," said Sweetie Belle pointing.

"She still there?" asked Scootaloo running back holding rope in her mouth- with a lot more tangled around her torso as well as her hind legs. Apple Bloom guessed you needed proper experience to handle the rope correctly. She sometimes got tangled up like that too- but she'd never seen Applejack do that. Or oddly enough, Granny Smith. Though she had managed to trap Big Mac once before when she was younger.

"Ok, let's get started!" said Scootaloo shaking her head and body, trying to free herself of the rope. She promptly failed, falling over and managing to face plant sideways.

"Can't you kiddies handle a piece of rope?" asked Granny Smith quickly untangling the orange pony, before her hip suddenly cracked. "Dang it I'll be feeling that all afternoon," mumbled the old pony.

"Why don't you go back inside and rest?" suggested Apple Bloom. Who knew what would happen out here when catching Derpy? Derpy might accidentally fly into Granny Smith- and she certainly wasn't a young pony anymore. Plus with Granny Smith inside there would be no witnesses- no pony to accidentally mention what happened to Applejack. She knew Granny Smith would agree not to say anything to the other ponies- but she also knew that Granny Smith would promptly forget about such a thing and let it slip two weeks later.

Delayed punishment chores sounded even worse!

"I could do with a rest I reckon, it is almost two," said Granny Smith limping back to the house.

"Oh, I hope she's ok," said Sweetie Belle.

"Good work Apple Bloom, no witnesses!" said Scootaloo, evidently on the same wavelength as her friend.

"What do we do now?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Catch us a mail mare," said Scootaloo deviously.

"Or try to at least," added Apple Bloom.