A Filly In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush


                                            From another prompt based on a picture in the filly thread.

                                            >>39896268

                                            >>39896287


                                            >Another unsuccessful day of crusading.

                                            >The Cutie Mark Crusaders had spent most of it working on getting their hooficure cutie marks.

                                            >To no avail, it wasn’t their special talent.

                                            >They were finishing up their disappointing meeting in the club house before turning in for the evening.

                                            >Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all trotted outside and left the clubhouse behind.

                                            >They all waved goodbye to each other and went their separate ways.

                                            >But after one of them was sure the others were out of sight she turned back.

                                            >It’s Scootaloo.

                                            >Unbeknownst to her friends she had been sleeping in the clubhouse.

                                            >She planned on keeping it that way.

                                            >Right as the sun and moon changed, Scootaloo darted under the changing light back to the tree playing host to her home.

                                            >An old scratchy blanket and some hay tied together with rope sat hidden in a knot at the base of the trunk.

                                            >It was all she could find without stealing from somepony.

                                            >Well it was more like borrowing.

                                            >She “found” them inside the Apple’s barn.

                                            >Technically still on their property so it’s not even like borrowing.

                                            >More like she just moved some things around.

                                            >She took her bedspread out and hid her scooter in their place.

                                            >Not that she was expecting Applejack or Big Mac to come snooping around but she’d rather not risk them spotting it.

                                            >With her things in hoof she went up into the clubhouse to lay down for the night.

                                            >There was no mattress to speak of but sometimes Scootaloo could finagle her hay pillow and blanket so she could lie on top of them while staying warm.

                                            >She moved the soapbox from the corner and set herself up.

                                            >Curling up into the corner she let the ambience of Sweet Apple Acres lull her to sleep.

                                            >At the very least the sound of wind blowing through the orchards helped her sleep.

                                            >She nibbled on her pillow as she drifted off.


                                            —----------------------------------------


                                            >Scootaloo had gotten pretty good about waking up early.

                                            >Earlier than the farmers who owned the land she was squatting in.

                                            >But not this time.

                                            >She had eaten too much of her pillow in her sleep and was in a little food coma.

                                            >As fate would have it, that very same morning Applebloom was planning on going to the clubhouse early to get some fresh ideas brainstormed.

                                            >Bloom had a dream about telling jokes while wearing cute dresses and thought there might be something there for a cutie mark.

                                            >They tried comedy before but being cute at the same time?

                                            >Ideas were running through her little head a mile a minute as she trotted up to the clubhouse.

                                            >She thought to herself how she can’t wait to tell the girls.

                                            >As she opened the door she saw Scootaloo still asleep in the corner in her makeshift sleeping nook.


                                            “Scootaloo!”


                                            >Applebloom yelled her name and rushed over to shake her awake.

                                            >Scootaloo in turn shrieked at being woken by the pony she was hiding from.


                                            “Ah got this great idea for a new cutie mark! We’re gonna put on these frilly outfits and… Why are ya sleeping in the clubhouse?”


                                            “I’m not- I don’t know- Why are you here so early?”


                                            “Is that blanket from the barn? That thing is so old it could have ponypox!”


                                            >Scootaloo in a panic throws the blanket and half eaten hay pillow out the window.

                                            >Although she gets them stuck in the frame.

                                            >She is attempting to push them out now.

                                            >Applebloom notices the chewed up straw.


                                            “Scootaloo, are ya living in the clubhouse?”


                                            “No!”


                                            “Ah I mean, we’ve been to Sweetie Belle’s house all the time and we’re on my family farm right now. We’ve never been to your house though.”


                                            >Scootaloo gives up on trying to fit the evidence through the window.

                                            >She starts to cry.


                                            >Bloom gently trotted over to her friend.

                                            >She laid a friendly hoof over her.

                                            >Pretending like she isn't suffering from waterworks, Scootaloo sucks up her sniffles.


                                            "Aw it's alright Scoots."


                                            "Are you gonna tell your sister? Please don't tell your sister."


                                            "What are ya kiddin'? This is great. It's like a never ending sleepover!"


                                            >Scoots turns around to face the yellow filly with her back on the hey and blanket.

                                            >She wipes a tear from her face.

                                            >As she smiles, Scootaloo leans too hard against the window.

                                            >She falls through it with the scratchy mess onto the balcony outside.

                                            >It's a little loud.

                                            >Too loud actually.

                                            >The voice of a certain orange big sister calls out in response.


                                            "Trenderhoof Ah swear to Celestia if that's you again Ah will break your horn right off."


                                            "Quick, hide!"


                                            >Applebloom speaks in a stressed whisper to Scootaloo.


                                            "Huh? Is that you Applebloom?"


                                            >Bloom throws the blanket over her pegasus friend.

                                            >She pops up from the balcony in plain sight of her sister.


                                            "Yup! Just me!"


                                            "What in Equestria are ya doin' out here so early?"


                                            "Just gettin' a head start on crusadin'. Ah had this crazy dream with-"


                                            "Oh that's alright Bloom. Ah'm just makin' sure nopony who ain't supposed to be around is."


                                            "Uh huh. Nopony like that around. Just me."


                                            >Applebloom waves energetically at her big sister with a nervous smile.

                                            >Applejack, with her mind elsewhere, doesn't notice her sister's fibbing.

                                            >Instead she wanders off to start her day's chores.

                                            >Once the coast is clear Applebloom frees Scootaloo from the old blanket.

                                            >She coughs and gasps for air.


                                            "Wow that blanket really isn't great huh?"


                                            "It's not so bad. I've gotten used to it."


                                            "Ah could get you a nicer blanket from inside. Actually, you know who could get you the best blanket in the whole world?"


                                            "Rainbow Dash!"


                                            "What? No… Ah'm talking about Sweetie Belle."


                                            "Oh yeah. Well that would have been my second guess."


                                            >Applebloom rolls her eyes and Scootaloo playfully hits her shoulder.

                                            >She's surprised how well her friend is taking this.

                                            >Scoots wasn't exactly proud of hiding out here.

                                            >But the alternative was under a tree rather than in one.

                                            >She had some reservations about asking for help.

                                            >Even from her friends, maybe even especially.

                                            >It wasn't a very cool thing to do, asking for help.

                                            >She started to feel her eyes well up again.

                                            >But with a helping hoof from Applebloom she picks herself up and the tears disappear.

                                            >The two fillies gleefully gallop down the ramp with their stubby legs.

                                            >Scootaloo grabs her scooter out from its hiding place.

                                            >The two fillies awkwardly fit on it together.

                                            >They're too excited to get the wagon for it.

                                            >Together they zip away towards Rarity's boutique.


                                            >Early morning Ponyville is a sleepy Ponyville.

                                            >Most mares and stallions are still sleeping at this hour.

                                            >Save for the light sleepers woken by the sounds of little wings fluttering past their doors.

                                            >Scootaloo was going as fast as she could carrying her friend.

                                            >She couldn’t wait to tell Sweetie Belle now.

                                            >The two fillies parked the scooter just outside the boutique.

                                            >They trotted up to the door.

                                            >And face planted into it, expecting it to open.

                                            >The door was locked.


                                            “I guess the boutique is closed.”


                                            >Applebloom looked around for something to help.


                                            “Ah got an idea, gimme a boost.”


                                            >The yellow filly got in position to climb a nearby tree.

                                            >Scoots understood and prepared to hoist her friend up.

                                            >After a couple falls they finally got Applebloom up high enough to steady herself and help Scootaloo up too.

                                            >Together they jump onto the roof of the boutique and clamber up to the second floor balcony.

                                            >Through a window they can see Sweetie Belle sleeping.

                                            >The window is also locked.


                                            “Wait Applebloom. I have an idea too. Knock on the glass”


                                            >After speaking Scootaloo plants her face onto the window with her mouth open wide on the glass.

                                            >She breathes heavily, causing it to fog up.

                                            >Applebloom shrugs and very gently… bangs on the window.

                                            >Sweetie slowly reacts in her bed to the sound.

                                            >As she turns over to face the commotion she sees Scootaloo’s face horrifically flush against her window.

                                            >The unicorn filly screams.

                                            >Her two friends almost fell off the building laughing.

                                            >Sweetie comes over to the window to let them in.


                                            “What the heck!”


                                            “Sweetie Belle. Ya swore!”


                                            “Well you both really scared me.”


                                            >The three of them stare at each other in silence for a second before giggling and hugging it out.

                                            >When they step back Sweetie is the first to ask.


                                            “So why are you here so early?”


                                            “Cause we gotta help Scootaloo.”


                                            “Help her with what?”


                                            “Maybe she should tell ya?”


                                            >Scootaloo is looking at her hooves, fidgeting.

                                            >She had lost a bit of her nerve after actually seeing Sweetie.


                                            “I’ve been uh, having a sleepover in the clubhouse.”


                                            “And you both didn’t invite me?”


                                            “Well, I uh… didn’t invite anyone. And I’ve been having it for a while now.”


                                            “What Scootaloo MEANS to say is, she’s been living in the clubhouse.”


                                            >Sweetie lays a hoof over Scootaloo’s shoulder.


                                            “Why didn’t you tell us before? This is great news. It’s like we can have a permanent sleepover!”


                                            “That’s basically what Ah said.”


                                            >Applebloom comes up to the other side of Scoots and places her hoof over her too.

                                            >Scoots is once again getting misty eyed.

                                            >But she’s also getting better at holding back the tears.

                                            >Or maybe she’s dehydrated.