Chapter 10

"So where are we going?" asked Sweetie Belle, confused about the direction her friends were heading in. She hadn't been able to catch up with her friends, so instead followed behind them, just about avoiding totally trailing behind them. Had they found out something new about Derpy? Had they just given up on trying to find her? Sweetie Belle hoped that wasn't the case- no, wait Scootaloo and Apple Bloom would never be that selfish.

"Well my memory is a little hazy, but I think they're going in the direction of Derpy's house," said Twilight. "I think."

"Huh Derpy's house? Maybe she just went home then- I hope so, I just want this to end now. I hope she's there Twilight!"

"Don't worry about it too much Sweetie Belle, I'm here to help you," said Twilight, concerned about just how worried the young filly continued to sound. It was not particularly pleasant to see such a young pony get so worried.

"I guess so Twilight."

"And don't forget, if it comes to it I could ask Princess Celestia for help," said Twilight, the effort of speaking and running at the same time starting to catch up with her.

"You'd really do that for me?"

"I'm sure Princess Celestia would be happy to help out if I asked her- some ponies get really worried around her but she's really very kind and helpful and kind," gushed Twilight. But hopefully it wouldn't have to come to asking the Princess for help- what would Celestia think of her student having to ask for assistance? Especially if it turned out to be something simple!

"Well…ok then," said Sweetie Belle, not use to seeing Twilight act quite so-strange. This really had been a very odd day for the young unicorn. Derpy acting strange, an argument with her friends and now Twilight getting all starry eyed.

"Oh yes she is kind. I've already told you my cutie mark story haven't I? Princess Celestia was involved in that too," said Twilight continuing on as the duo followed the other two thirds of the cutie mark crusaders.

"Which house is it?" asked Scootaloo, colourful buildings surrounding the ponies on either side of the street.

"That one- no wait not that one, it's three more houses down," said Apple Bloom. The young pony hadn't been down this part of Ponyville for some months.

"Are you sure?" asked Scootaloo, not sounding especially confident about her friend's directions.

"I'm pretty sure," said Apple Bloom, again not filling her friend with confidence.

Scootaloo stepped back out of the front garden she had entered, and marched down the street with Apple Bloom by her side. The duo came to a stop in front of the house, Apple Bloom certain it was the one they were looking for. She approached the front door, Scootaloo following just behind her down the narrow path, trying to avoid stepping on the slightly overgrown lawn on either side of the pathway. Apple Bloom turned to her friend for reassurance and then tapped on the wooden door with her front hoof.

No response.

"Well, maybe she isn't back yet," said Scootaloo.

"But look there's some muddy hoofprints right there," said Apple Bloom pointing down at a fresh set of tracks right by the front door.

"Huh…maybe she couldn't hear us?"

Apple Bloom tapped on the door again, more loudly this time.

"Hey Derpy are you in there?" called out Scootaloo. "We've just come by to say…hello…?"

Once again there was no response from inside the house.

Apple Bloom bit her lip- for some reason she found herself feeling very worried. Though it was purely a gut feeling, had no proof to back up how she felt, the filly felt that something bad was taking place. She didn't know what; just that she didn't like it.

She gave one final tap on the door- which promptly slipped open faintly with a slight creak. The now open door offered a crack with a view of the inside. Apple Bloom again turned to her friend.

"Do we go in?" she asked.

"Well, maybe, but would it look bad? Going into somepony's house without being invited wouldn't look very good would it?" said Scootaloo. "But if Rainbow Dash or Derpy are in trouble…"

"Do we wait?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Knock the door again," replied her friend.

Apple Bloom obliged and the door promptly slid further open. An empty hallway greeted the duo. Scootaloo nervously took a step forwards, passing in front of her friend and placing one hoof inside the house.

"Scootaloo!"

"I have to find out," replied Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom sighed. She had to know too. They had been the ones to cause all of this after all. Quietly she followed her friend inside- she hoped they wouldn't regret this.

Derpy took a tighter grip of the rope in her mouth as she slowly approached Rainbow Dash, walking far more quietly then she had ever managed before. For a moment she almost dropped the rope as she smiled to herself. She took hold of the other end of the rope, holding it down to the floor with one hoof as she reached the chair and stood behind it, a rainbow mane sitting right in front of her.

"So Derpy…do you have a big choice of snacks to eat?" asked the blue pony hopefully.

Derpy shook her head, still holding the rope tightly, hoof unmoving just like her mouth.

"Hey Derpy are you still there?" asked Rainbow Dash, sounding a little confused. Normally Derpy was very talkative and active. And accident prone. She hadn't heard any smashes or accidental falls. Yet.

"Yes," said Derpy, leaning over Rainbow Dash's shoulder and dropping the rope. It landed neatly around her stomach.

At first the pony didn't respond, almost not noticing what had happened. And then Derpy suddenly pulled the rope taut, holding both ends in her mouth and pulling back with the might of all four legs.

"Hey Derpy you didn't say anything about pranks!" said Rainbow Dash laughing. Behind her Derpy tied a knot in silence.

"What are you going to do huh Derpy?" she asked. "Hold snacks just in front of me, just out of reach? I never took you for a prankster!"

"Not quite a prank," said Derpy as in a blur of grey she quickly tied down one of Rainbow Dash's front legs and then grabbed the other, tying it down to the solid arm of the chair.

"Hey Derpy you're making them a bit too tight there," said Rainbow Dash, still slightly amused.

She suddenly kicked out with her free legs jokingly as Derpy took her place standing in front of the pony.

"Oh no look at me I'm so scared," said Rainbow Dash playing along with the suspected prank. "Of course you do know I let you do that, if I'd wanted to I could have stopped you…"

"Just stay right there," said Derpy turning away from the trapped pony.

"So when do I get the snacks?"

"You stay there- no snacks yet," replied Derpy. "Not yet."

"You know Derpy you are kinda creeping me out a bit now," said Rainbow Dash as the grey pony pulled the curtains half closed. "Just saying."

"Oh don't worry Rainbow Dash, this will be fun- I promise," said Derpy, briefly turning back to show off a grin. It sent a faint shiver down Rainbow Dash's spine- which she tried to hide of course. It looked more like the slasher smile of a villain from the short lived Daring Do comic than the smile of a pony of Ponyville.

"Come on just let me go," grumbled Rainbow Dash as she struggled slightly against the rope. "I don't want any of your snacks now."

"Not yet," replied Derpy.