>You are Echo.
>And you haven't had any food all day.
>And you were feeling the effects. 
>The sound of your hooves against stone path was the only sound aside from the forest around the Hollow Shade.
>You could only hope that Anon or somepony would conveniently appear around this corner.
>The things you'd do for a good lychee, or even a fruity granola bar.
>With a flick of your tongue, a short kee reports through the trees, it's echoes returning to your ear from everything it passed.
>The sound of your trotting hooves stops as you listen for a response from one of your friends.
>The only response you get is the wind blowing through the trees and across your coat and wings.
>An involuntary shiver runs through you. 
>Starting to get late. No matter, home isn't so far anyways.
>The shiver hits your wings and you let them flap a little.
>Should've brought your sweater, but you had to fly to your post today. Wingwarmers wouldn't have let you do that.
>The stone path audibly announces that you've started walking again with a higher pace than before. 
>But there's a glint in the corner of your eye and you come to a halt with a loud clop.
>Hanging from that tree.
>An apple.
"Woah."
>That apple's gonna be your apple.
>No questions asked.
>Before you even realized it, the apple was in front you. You'd trotted off the path subconsciously without even noticing.
>Your fangs pierce the skin of the apple, and it snaps off it's stem with relative ease.
>You're lost in it's taste.
>But your illusion of bliss is interrupted by a tap on your shoulder.
"Ohf, uh, h-hey Amnon" you say with a full mouth as your eyes meet his questioning expression.
>You're doomed.
>His face doesn't change.
>A shit eating grin peaks from around the edge of the apple and you cringe with your eyes.
>He raises a brow and points to the tree trunk.
>A sign reads: "Please do not touch these apples, they are the property of Anon's confections and bakery."
>Your eyes dart between him and the tree.
"Oops, keehee~"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Anonymous' expression still does not change, even through your awkward chuckle.
>His glare thickens and you can feel it on your face.
>A bead of sweat forms on your brow.
>Of course, he is still unmoved.
>Apple still in mouth, you try to open a little wider so your fangs will let the fruit go.
>It doesn't budge.
>Uh oh.
>Anon's expression lightens and a smirk forms on his face.
>At least  he lightened up.
>But now you have another problem.
>He sighs. "You can keep the apple Echo, and if you're wondering what I was going to do about this, I'm not going to do anything yet. You've got that covered 

yourself."
>Your ears fall back as you realize what he means.
>You got the apple, and can keep it. But you can't eat it too.
>Your expression changes to worry as you fumble with the apple with your hooves.
>The apple stays firmly in place against your effort, your hooves simply can't get a grip.
"E-EEE-" escapes your mouth as you panic.
>In a desperate attempt to free the apple from your maw, you thrash your head from side to side, mane flailing helplessly.
>Still no budge, and your cheeks were starting to hurt.
>Anon turns away and leaves in the direction of his bakery, which is not far from the edge of the Hollow Shade.
>As he walks, his footsteps fade into the distance until they leave your earshot.
>You sit on the ground next to the tree and cross your eyes to see the top of the apple extend past the end of your muzzle.
>The apple mocks you. It took away your speech and dignity. You would bite until the apple was crushed under the force of your mighty fruit-slaying teeth.
>But your mouth was too widely open to work.
>You lift your forelegs and lean back and try again to free the apple from your teeth.
>Still doesn't give.
>You fiddle with it for a minute, but give up. Your hooves fly into the air in despair.
>You never eeee'd so desperately in your life.
>You are Echo.
>And an apple has your tongue.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Ok.
>You just EEE'd at the sky and probably disturbed someone far away to the point of running home to hide under the covers thinking a monster got somepony.
>The thought of that pony's face made you giggle.
>But ponies would giggle at you if they say you like this.
>With a big red apple lodged in your mouth.
>You can't go back to town like this...
>There's a way out of this.
>Your eyes cross to meet the apple stuck in your muzzle as your face furles into a scrunch out of frustration.
>Biting down as hard as you can, you try to bite through it. 
>It doesn't work.
>The apple is so well lodged, your mouth is fully stuck open.
>Desperation washes over you as you realize that this isn't working.
>The only way out was to wedge the apple into a crevasse, then pull and hope for the best.
>None of the nearby trees have branches that fit.
>So you go back to the stone path, intending to lay your head to the floor and use your hoof to pin the apple to the ground in hopes of crushing it.
>And allowing you freedom.
>The sound of hooves meets the cooling pavement as the sun sets on the horizon.
>It's getting late and you still haven't been able to actually eat.
>Cold air grows nippier still as well.
>You bow your head and upper body to the ground and prepare for the possibly futile effort to remove the apple.
>And it hits you.
>If the apple touches the ground, it will be ruined!
>Your stomach begs you to save the apple from it's wasteful demise.
>It was very persuasive.
>Lifting yourself from the cold ground, you have no choice.
>You must go back to town with a mouth full of apple.
"Eeeeuhg." Escapes your mouth as you know what is coming.
>And thus begins the trot of shame.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Be Speck.
>Nice day today, got errands done.
>Groceries for home in your saddlebags and a bag of bread hung on your right wingclaw.
>With a spring in your step, you head for home around the corner of the market.
>Nimbly making your way through the sparse crowd of other ponies still shopping, you make it look easy.
>It's time to go home and dice these pineapples for the pizza Anon is making.
>You were positive four pineapples was enough. Right?
>Surely Anon won't be disappointing for not having enough!
>Everything was perfect.
>Errands done, and you have enough pineapples to make two pineapple pizzas.
>Except..
>Is that...Echo?
>The sound of your hooves comes to a stop and you squint, trying to see what is wrong with her.
>She's being very shy and defensive, her head pointed at the ground. She's holding a red object in her mouth as well.
>Hugging the wall, the apparently embarrassed mare slinks around the corner of the street toward where her house is.
>Conveniently enough, your house was in the same direction.
>Might as well find out what's up.
>Your hooves pick up again, pineapples bouncing in their bags at your sides. Your target was losing distance.
>As you approach Echo, she hears you and glances back through the corner of her eye as she moves.
>You hear her eep and she quickens her pace slightly.
>The object in her mouth is still unclear, and the mystery is nagging.
>Two ponies briskly walking on a stone sidewalk echo off the houses as you pass them
"Hey Echo! Whatcha got!" 
>She says something but you can't make out what it is, she was talking with her mouth full of something.
>Her pace increases immediately after.
>So does yours.
>Closing the gap between yourself and Echo, you say.
"Are you okay Echo? Is something wrong?"
>She finally stops with a clomp of her hooves and looks back to you, with pleading eyes and red cheeks.
>She quietly eee's at you as if she has a problem and doesn't want to talk about it.
>The problem being, she can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>There's an apple wedged in her mouth.
>Stifling a giggle, you scrunch your nose and raise a hoof to it.
>Echo's face grows redder by the second and she groans as though she had to do a chore she didn't want to.
>She attempts to word something out, but the obstruction stops anything from being intelligible.
>"Hwp ee -et -is a-pl-e ou- m- -mouf." She attempts to say, but to no avail.
>What she was saying? Not sure.
>But you think it's about the apple.
"IS that apple stuck in your mouth Echo?.." A giggle forms in your throat and you can't hold it back.
>Your bags come off as you roll on the ground laughing at Echo's misfortune.
>What you don't notice is two of the pineapples have strayed out of one of your bags and are now sitting in the middle of the sidewalk.
>As you continue laughing, Echo remains standing there with a crimson red face and her nose is about to implode from her scrunch.
>Laughing turns into labored EEheee-ing as your core muscles start to ache and you finally stop laughing.
>Echo is still standing there, expression unchanged.
>After you finally calm down, you have an idea.
>You'll help her get the apple out, and you'll see if you can keep half the apple.
>Fair enough, right?
>But you have to help her out first.
"Ok Echo, if I get that apple out of your mouth, I get to keep half, got it?"
>She is taken aback at your proposition and her eyes cross and lock on the apple in surprise.
>Her eyes dart from the apple, and to you, several times.
>Finally, she signs and slowly nods.
>Perfect.
>Free half-apple.
>A good half-apple too, you were impressed.
"I know."
"How about I bite the apple and we both pull." 
>The look on her face says she doesn't think she has another option.
>She spreads her forelegs apart as though she's ready to pull weight.
"Ready?"
>"EE-" Probably means yes.
>You stand up from your laughing fit and stand in front of Echo, ready to go.
>Eying the apple, you open your mouth to bite it. The taste is unreal when you make firm contact.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>With a muffled voice, you count down from three.
"Free, thwo, un, -oo!"
>The both of you EEEE and pull as hard as you can, hooves slipping on the pavement.
>You both stop to take a breath, no budge.
>What an apple.
>Opening your jaw, you-
>Uh oh.
>You can't open wide enough to let go.
>You are Speck.
>And you are with Echo.
>And you are both stuck on the same apple.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Be Echo.
>Speck just tried to get the apple out of your mouth and failed.
>She is also stuck in the same boat you are.
>On this apple.
>This delicious apple you got from Anon's tree.
>That you, unknowingly, stole from him.
>Anon is probably at his home on the second floor of his bakery, laughing about your problem.
>Looking at Speck, she is trying to gnaw at the apple still, but has the same luck you do.
>Fangs stuck, and she can't bite through the apple either.
>Thinking back, maybe Anon did something to this apple...
>But that didn't matter now. 
>You needed to get off of this thing before you and Speck starve to death.
>Or freeze.
>It's still starting to get darker.
>Indicating to Speck that you want to try again, you EEE at her and give a very light tug on the apple.
>She tries to nod, but mumbles what you think is "OK."
>Both of you brace again, and begin to pull.
>EEEing fills the air once again, and Speck ends up winning the tug of war and dragging you on your hooves.
>Speck stops and pants, out of energy and probably starting to have her cheeks hurt.
>The apple remains unmoved, it's hold on both of you as firm as the apple itself was perfect and ripe.
>Speck pipes up something unintelligible.
>"E-ho we haff -o -ut i-." The words are hardly there.
>The statement tries to sink in, but it's utter chicken scratch.
>But you think she means you need to cut it?
>You do your best to gesture with your hoof in a cutting motion across the apple and she nods.
>You nod too, because the apple holding you together said so.
>After your semi-voluntary agreement, you look to the floor at Speck's bags.
>She sees this, and her eyes turn to disappointment as she realizes that one of her pineapples has fallen out of her bag.
>Her eyes look to the apple, and back to you in a concerned manner.
>You roll your eyes and EEE at her. You'll help her get her pineapple back in the bag.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>In the greatest lack of coordination since alcohol induced vertigo, Speck pulls you down to the ground with her. 
>You both screech and fall on the ground next to the loose pineapple.
>Ouch.
>Your wing is spread out so you wouldn't fall on it.
>But it still hurt against the cold ground, as if someone were pinching it along it's length.
>The pain causes you to sharply inhale and you try to hold back a tear.
>That really hurt...
>Looking sharply at your involuntary partner, you furl your eyebrows and make a short EE at her.
>She rolls her eyes back at you.
>This was going to take a while.
>Speck reaches out with her wing to pull the bag closer to put it on he back.
>She can lift it, but can't get it over her back.
>She gets frustrated and grunts while futility trying to get the back to swing over her back.
>You squeak and she stops, and you gesture her to get up.
>After getting off the cold ground, you spin around to her left side, turning both of your heads as you go.
>Using your wingclaw, you hoist the second bag over her side.
>With that out of the way, there is still the loose pineapple and the bag of bread lying on the ground.
>You spin back around to face Speck directly again.
>Eying the bread, you point at it with your wing.
>She also reaches with her wing to pick the bag up and deposit it on your wingclaw
>Guess you were carrying the bread.
>There was of course, the final loose pineapple.
>It wouldn't be taken so easily.
>You pull Speck until you are alongside the pineapple to scoop it under your wing.
>Doing the same as a moment ago, you rotate to Speck's right side and dump the pineapple right in the bag.
>That was easier than you thought.
>But the both of you still have this apple.
>That was a problem.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>And you were going to need help to get it off, so you could finally eat something.
>Both you and Speck had food in your mouths, and all you need is a knife.
>It was time to go.
>You reach to Speck and tap her on the shoulder with your wing and point in the direction of your house, which is a block away.
"-et's go too -y houf" 
>Speck makes you shake your head in disagreement against your will.
>"-y houf isf clofer" she tries to say in defiance of your suggestion.
>She points in the opposite direction of your house to hers, which is about the same distance the other way.
>The two of you stare at each other for a moment. Speck furls her brow.
>You do the same.
>Speck lets out a short kee.
>You kee back.
>Your nose scrunches, as well as Speck's.
>The air around becomes stiff as you stare at each other in fierce disagreement. 
>Tunnel vision sets in.
>You were going to screech at Speck until she would give in.
>After all, your screech was disorienting when you wanted it to be.
>But a mare breaks both Speck's and your concentration.
>You both snap to attention with wide eyes on the giggling unicorn.
>She was that new pony who moved in recently, you don't know her name. But she was a unicorn wearing a green apron.
>She was trying so hard not to laugh at two bat ponies joined together at the mouth by an apple, one carrying a bag of bread.
>The other, carrying enough pineapples to host a party with.
>The reality sets in at how ridiculous you both look.
>Your attention snaps to Speck. Then to the passing unicorn.
>And back to her.
>Her face grows bright red. You could feel the heat of her embarrassment spread to your face.
>The unicorn was losing it.
>You whimper a subtle eee and Speck catches this.
>She looks toward the corner behind you and raises her eyebrows to get your attention.
>Through the corner of your eye, you look at the corner and agree.
>Get away from the hysterical mare so she provides a distraction!
>You both get on your hooves and attempt to walk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>With the teamwork and synchronization of an Olympic rowing team, Speck tries to walk around you
>The apple insists that you come along
>Caught off guard, you awkwardly bowl over your hind legs and the apple brings Speck with you
>The both of you got well-acquainted with the ground today
>At this rate, you would cause the poor unicorn to laugh herself to death
>She was on her back, holding her tummy with her forelegs as though her sides were about to explode
>They already did, basically
>She begins to slow down after a moment. A blush rus across her face now
>And it hits you what she was seeing
>Speck standing over you while you were on your back, locked together at the mouth
>Speck is standing over you
>Oh dear
>Her eyes are wide and darting between you and the other mare
>You start EEEing and flapping your wings for Speck to get off of you
>She obliges quickly and she allows you to stand again
>You, very awkwardly, scramble to your hooves
>You're both standing there with furious blushing on your faces
>The tan-colored unicorn went back into hysterics
>Speck blushes harder and glares at you
>How embarrassing
>It looked like something much lewder than what it really was
>The mare is still laughing and rolling on the ground
>Speck takes a step back and you do the same, slowly starting to walk backwards toward the corner
>Your involuntary partner trips and her hoof claps on the ground to keep from falling
>The loud clop makes the mare stop laughing, but she's completely winded and can barely say anything
>"O-Oh Celestia *gasp* haha!" laughing in between words, she continues
>"D-Did you get -hah- that apple from Anon's tree? Without his permission?"
>Speck gives you a stern look as if this were your fault
>But this apple...
>She starts again. "Hah! How long have you had it?"
"-ifteen -inutes?" It's still hard to speak
>"I put a spell on it for him."
>"Theives have twenty minutes to return it or apologize, or it sticks to their mouth and turns to salt!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Whelp
>Speck doesn't hesitate for even a moment and starts walking.
>You don't, but end up walking anyways.
>If you could call it walking, it was more of a very awkward stumbling.
>Which turned into dragging. 
>Speck was a strong pony.
>You learned that quickly, as she was dragging you on your haunches across the ground.
>By your mouth.
>With an apple.
>On your flanks.
>Ouch.
>While being helplessly dragged around by Speck, your eyes are darting around the area.
>Ponies are looking.
>You see Aux, another bat pony whom you haven't seen before wearing a scarf, and Midnight Blossom among the group.
>Even Aux is snickering.
>Speck picks up the pace and rounds a corner, walking off a curb and into the street.
>It's cobblestone surface makes you bounce.
>Your EEEing is made rough by the divoted surface, like talking and riding in a cart on a rough road.
>Except your flank was the suspension.
>And it was starting to hurt.
>Speck yanks you up the other side of the street, heading back to where you came from.
>Anon's bakery.
>Eh.
>Couldn't hurt much more than having your flank pummeled and dragged on the ground.
>Even though it was actually starting to hurt.
>You protest by flapping your wing and EEing for Speck to stop.
>She does, but you are met with an annoyed glare.
>"-et up." she mumbles, obviously very impatient.
>She seems pretty salty. You snicker at the thought aloud.
>Speck firmly kicks you in the flank, thinking you were messing with her.
>Standing up, your flank is sore. You would be feeling that tomorrow for sure.
>You're now parallel to Speck, head still turned to your right, and hers to her left.
>You can see behind or in front of you.
>Now neither of you have depth perception.
>Speck tugs the apple to her right and EE's at you with a scrunched nose and stern face.
>Just like Anon.
>The apple is starting to taste funny, and Speck sees that too.
>So she starts to run, you're just along for the ride.
>After a moment of being pulled, you're alongside Speck.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>She's furious. She definitely doesn't want a mouth full of salt.
>It's getting darker too, and colder.
>No jacket or wingwarmers, and you were going to have a mouth full of salt all the way home.
>That would put you both in a sour mood.
>You both pass another batpony who is walking on the sidewalk and almost bowl him over.
>Hard to steer two batponies as one.
>Through your other eye, he's just standing there, bewildered at what he was seeing.
>The apple tastes saltier.
>You probably only have a minute or two to get to Anon's.
>Which luckily for you, is in sight.
>Anon is actually sitting outside, holding something shiny.
>You can't tell what it is, but hopefully it's something to cut the apple.
>Speck changes her pace and EEE's to get Anon's attention.
>He stands up.
>"Oh! You made it back Echo, and I see you brought Speck!" He laughs to himself.
>The both of you were going to make it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Be Anon.
>Echo took an apple off of your tree that Java put a spell on that she uses for her coffee beans.
>If someone, or something takes from the plant, it gets very sticky. Nearly impossible to get out of the mouth.
>And after a period of time, the stolen item turns into pure salt and leaves the thief with a horrible taste in their mouth.
>Echo took the bait, and you were just waiting for results.
>You didn't think she would bring Speck back with her though, that must have been hilarous to see.
>Knowing Speck, she probably tried to play tug of war with her to get the apple out.
>It sucks you missed that, it was probably gold.
>But on your watch, they had about a minute to get over here.
>You had the knife ready and everything.
>It was probably weird of you to be sitting in front of your bakery with a knife, though.
>But it didn't matter.
>Their hooves grow louder as they close in, they're almost running.
>While joined at the mouth.
>You almost spit out your drink laughing.
>They trot up to you while you're still in hysterics and they both pipe up.
>"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEeEEEEEE" with the most worried look on both of their faces, the vivid red apple starting to turn white in places.
>They learned their lesson.
>You draw the knife and tell them to stay perfectly still, the knife poised above the stem of the apple.
>Moving down, the knife makes contact with the skin of the apple, causing the edge of the knife to glow gold.
"Hold your heads still, nice and firm."
>In a swift motion, you pull the knife back and cut downwards, causing a flash of light.
>The two bats seperate and the apple regains it's vivid red color and juicy interior.
>It was like a murder.
>Apple juice all over the place.
>Echo sits and pulls the apple from her mouth and moves her jaw a little and sighs.
>"T-Thanks Anon...What was with this apple anyways?"
>The apple promptly goes back in her mouth and she starts munching
>Speck removes her half and also tries to relax, her cheeks were probably achy
----------------------------------------------------------------
>"Yeah, what's up with the apple, and why did you take it, Echo?"
>She takes a bite of her apple and savors it to get rid of the saltiness.
>You give the brief explaination on how the apple works and what needs to be done to avoid the salt.
>It can only be freed if the item turns to salt, or the theif returns to the owner and asks for forgiveness.
>Forgiveness being, cutting the fruit directly in half to undo the spell, which only the owner can do.
>Speck just nods at everything and occasionally glares at Echo and explains how she tried to help her by biting and pulling the apple.
>Just like you had guessed.
>You egg them on to tell what they did together and they eventually tell.
>Hilarious.
>But why the hell did Speck buy four pineapples and a bag of bread?
>"What, you haven't had pineapple pizza with garlic croutons before?"
>What.
>Who in the right mind would...?
>Nevermind.
>But why...four?
>I-It's just Speck.
>They told their little story and Speck would jab at Echo every other sentence for getting her into this.
>They were okay though.
>They both got half of one of the best apples to come from that tree, and they learned a valuable lesson.
>Echo learned that grand theft gets you nowhere and you end up with a salty taste in your mouth.
>And Speck learned that you can be an accessory to grand theft without even knowing it and face the same consequences!
>You haven't been here for long, but these two were your favorite little batfelons.
>And you wouldn't have it any other way.
end.