>Looking towards the direction of the noise, you see two girls about the same size as the one before you
>One of them, dressed in a pair of jeans and a green jacket is waving threateningly at you, the red ribbon in her hair complimenting its rosy color
>The second one looks like she'd rather be anywhere but here at this moment, her lavender-and-pink curls flowing in the wind, clearly done by a professional
>You can't help thinking that you'd seen one of them before
>Echoing the red haired girl's cries, she yells at you
>''Y-yeah! And, uh, don't you even think about, uh, doing stuff? To her, I mean.''
>The ginger girl sighs loudly and face palms, still keeping her pace towards you
>''Sweetie, y'all are supposed ta sound assertive! How can anybody take us seriously when y'all act like ya do?''
>The familiar-looking girl on the receiving end of the tirade gasps in shock
>''Act like I do? Well, you're just, just being a big, old, me-''
>The purple-haired girl beside you waves at the intruders, a huge grin fixed on her face
>''Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Hey guys, what's up?''
>Stuck somewhere between confusion and panic, you stand your ground quietly
>As the girls reach you, the farm girl rounds on you, anger and worry clear on her face
>''Alright, ugly, what th' hay have y'all done to my friend?''
>The nervous lavender-haired one stays quiet, scanning your face intensely
>''Uh, girls?''
>The battered teen in front of you looks nervous, her eyes flitting between all three of you
>The red-haired one takes your silence as an invitation, and leans closer, hands balled into fists
>''Ah swear, if ya'll so much as touch her, Ah'm gonna-''
''I didn't even-''
>''Girls!''
>The purple-haired one yells out suddenly, stepping between the farm girl and you
>''Come on you guys, he's my friend!''
>''Oh. Well then, how come Ah've never met him before?''
>Despite the red-haired girl's tone softening, her voice still has an edge to it, and you can't help feeling nervous
>''Because I just met him, Apple Bloom!''
>Standing behind the inquisitive country girl, the lavender-haired one meekly pulls on her friend's sleeve, clearly nervous
>''Oh? Well Ah-''
>Turning around in a quick 180, the cowgirl rounds on her friend
>''What is it, Sweetie? Can't y'all see Ah'm-''
>Following the girl's finger, the girl named Apple Bloom lands her gaze on one of the unconscious teens on the tarmac, eyes widening in shock
>''What th' heck? Jus' what happened here, Scootaloo?''
>As if on cue, the two floored teenagers start groaning loudly, finally waking up from their stupor
>''Who are these guys, anyway? Did they do this to y'all?''
>Scootaloo shrugs nervously, keeping her eyes on the ground
>''Y-yeah, but they didn't mean nothing by it! It was just, uh, a misunderstanding.''
>Apple Bloom turns to Scootaloo, completely shocked
>''A misunderstanding? Scoots, y'all look almost as bad as that guy!''
>Pointing at your face, you can't help fidgeting nervously, replying in a small voice
''It ain't that bad…''
>Marching decisively towards the shorter boy, Apple Bloom ignores you
>Motioning for her friends to join, you decide to tag along just in case
>''Now, Ah don't buy all that about 'misunderstandings'. Ah think there's more to this than y'all are saying.''
>As the red-haired girl crouches down, narrowing her eyes, the girl named Sweetie Belle pipes up, her tone clearly nervous
>''So, uh, what do you think we should do?''
>Turning to Sweetie with a glare, Apple Bloom' tone turns immensely threatening
>''Eggs-trackt some information, that's what we'll do.''
>''So, uh, how? Are you gonna ask them? They look scary...''
>Grabbing the boy's middle finger in a vice-like grip, she slowly twists it with a determined look on her face
>''Ah'm not just gonna ask, Sweetie! We're gonna beat th' intel outta them! Trust me. Ah've seen this on TV.''
>''So, uh. Specific Skill Zealot torturers? I don't think that's a good idea…''
>''Come on, it's easy! Ya just twist right here, and-''
>The girl's rambling is cut short by a painful scream from the floored teen, the expression on his face a rictus of pain
>Going pale, the girl's pupils narrow in panic, her grip loosening
>''Wh-why did y'all attack Scoots?''
>The boy curls up in a whimpering ball, and you see Sweetie Belle looking decidedly ill
>''Apple Bloom! Calm down!''
>Scootaloo finally breaks her silence with a panicked look on her face, physically pulling Apple Bloom away from the whimpering ball on the ground
>Judging from the sounds the farm girl's ministrations caused, the teenager's finger may be broken, in addition to the small cut on his temple
>You wince quietly despite yourself
>You know all too well that the middle finger is the most painful one to break
>Looking up at you with a terrified look on his face, the boy suddenly jumps up, bolting away from you and the girls with adrenaline-fueled speed
>''Hey! Y'all better come ba- oof!''
>Taking off after the boy, Apple Bloom's chase is cut short by Scootaloo's arms wrapping around her midsection, the purple-haired girl holding her back for dear life
>''Lemme go, Scoots! Ah can take him!''
>''Calm down, AB!''
>Following his friend's example, the taller one shambles unsteadily away as quickly as he can, staunching the flow of blood from his nose with his hands
>Stopping and turning around roughly thirty feet from you, he points at Scootaloo with a blood-soaked finger, drawing his thumb across his throat in an universal gesture of ill will
>''You're fuckin' dead, Sgoodaloo! You hear be? Dead!''
>In response, you take off towards him, satisfied to see the boy's eyes widen as he turns around and scrambles off with newfound speed
>Stopping and calling out after him, you cup your hands around your mouth as an improvised megaphone
''Come over here and say that, fuckboy!''
>Turning around and walking back to the girls with a satisfied look on your face, you are once again met with an inquisitive stare from Apple Bloom
>Reaching the three and picking up your tray again, you narrow your eyes at the farm girl in response
>Breaking the impromptu staring contest, Scootaloo takes her place beside you and puts an arm around you, thumping your back with a slightly too wide grin on her face
>You put on the prettiest smile you can muster, and hold your hand out to the red-haired teen
''I'm Anon. What's up?''
>After some awkward seconds of Apple Bloom intensely scanning you, your smile falters
>Finally, after what feels like hours, she finally gives you a smile and shakes your hand with both of her's, large dimples forming on her face
>''Ah'm Apple Bloom! Nice ta meet ya!''
''Uh, yeah. Sure. Now, I'll just-''
>''Wait! Y'all haven't met Sweetie Belle yet, right? Come on Sweetie, introduce yourself!''
>The lavender-haired girl hesitantly steps forward, a worried look on her face
>You hold your hand out to her with an encouraging smile
>''Uh, hi. Again. I'm Sweetie Belle, in case you didn't catch that.''
>She shakes your hand timidly, her pale green eyes only briefly meeting yours
''Again, huh? Anyway, I'm Anon.''
>She gives you a hesitant smile, the snow on her red pea coat shimmering in the light of the street lamps
>''Yeah, I think I saw you at six-F. You had the, uh, chicken waffles, right?''
''Oh yeah, that's right. Well, it's been nice meeting all of you but I really got to-''
>''Wait, mister! Y'all haven't told us anything about what happened!''
>Jesus Christ
>You sigh, lighting a cigarette, ignoring the small cough from Sweetie Belle
''Well, long story short, I saw those two guys stomping her-''
>You point at Scootaloo, the purple-haired girl sporting an embarrassed blush
''Jumped in, decked both, almost got strangled, decked the motherfucker again.''
>The girl in red flinches slightly at your profanity, and you can't help feeling slightly bad about it
>She is a kid after all, and looks fairly sheltered, unlike the other two, having a nervous, slightly skittish air about her

>Judging by her looks, you assume she's from a fairly upscale kind of place, maybe even one of the gated communities near the river
>Apple Bloom, in turn, seems more curious than anything
>From her demeanor and accent, you assume that she's from one of the farms just outside of town
>Nevertheless, the dirt and muck of Emerald Hills don't seem to faze her that much
>She exudes an air of reliability, much like an old American muscle car
>Scootaloo, on the other hand, seems, unsurprisingly, completely at home here
>Carrying herself with a kind of fluid swagger despite her cuts and bruises, she almost reminds you of some of your more rough-and-tumble childhood friends

>''But why'd they do it? I mean, she's a girl! You just don't do that!''
>Sweetie Belle speaks up again, breaking your short-lived trance
>You shrug in response and spit, the saliva mixing with the red droplets spattered on the ground
''No idea. I mean, I don't see any motherfu-''
>You clear your throat, slightly embarrassed
''I mean, any good reason for them to do what they did.''
>''So, Scoots, what do y'all think that was about?''
>Apple Bloom pipes up again, her tone tinged with suspicion
>Scootaloo fidgets nervously, scratching the back of her neck, eyes fixed on the crimson spatter on the tarmac
>''I have no idea. But, hey, they're gone now, right? Anyway, what are you planning for-''
>''But Ah'm worried, Scoots! What if they come back? Ah mean, he did say he was gonna kill ya!''
>Scootaloo gives a nervous grin, shifting her attention to the drawstrings of her hoodie
>''Don't worry about it, Ay-bee. I mean, they don't even know me, right?''
>Narrowing her eyes at her nervous friend, Apple Bloom finally gives up with a sigh
>''Ah swear, sometimes y'all are just so difficult… Anyway, how about we have a sleepover at the farm tonight? Granny can make some cocoa, and we can-''
''Alright girls, it's been a pleasure. But, as I said, I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I'll just-''
>''Oh. Well, alright mistah, pleasure meetin' y'all!''
>Scootaloo walks up to you and gives you a short hug, a small smile fixed on her face
>''Bye Anon, see you around!''
>Echoing their friend's farewells, the two girls wave at you
>''Bye mistah!''
>''Bye bye sir, see you.''
''Uh, yeah. See you.''
>Taking off as fast as you can without spilling your drinks, you jog around the corner towards the car