//------------------------------// // Feburary 15th-19th: Marked // Story: Boundaries // by Fniff //------------------------------// 15th (Early Morning) I dragged Scootaloo down to the Apple family basement as she regained consciousness. She was propped up against a wooden pillar as she opened her eyes. Her eyes were already open, but I knew she was not truly sentient. Her light violet eyes were filled with a strange surprise, and I could see a sad sort of smile form on her face. "Applebloom...?" She said weakly, ending with a coughing fit. "I didn't die, did I? You saved me..." I frowned. I was sure she would have remembered the afterlife. What was it like? I guess I shall never know. "Did you see anything?" I asked. "After... it happened?" "I..." She drew a blank. "I just remember... falling." I had to consciously stop myself from crying in happiness. I had done it. Scoot was alive and well. My theories were correct. Perfect, didn't miss a detail. "It's okay Scoot." I walked closer and lay a hoof on her shoulders. "It's just that we thought you were dead, and gave you a premature burial. I realized that you were alive, cos I saw you breathing. No-one believed me." Her eyes widened. "I was buried alive, and no-one knew?" I put on my best smile. "Except me." "You... You saved me. How could I ever thank you? Applebloom, thank you!" She stood up with an energy I did not expect from a recently dead corpse, and hugged me. I could feel her beautiful warmth. "Applebloom, you are the best friend ever!" I think it's alright to lie to a friend about raising her. Some things need to be taken to the grave. I think I'll end this diary, this was bad enough already. I tampered with what should not be tampered with. I guess I'll burn this and replace it with something else more mundane and less intelligent sounding. I don't know how I'm going to explain this, but I have to. Will the burial method work? I don't think oxygen lasts that long in a coffin. I'll have to use the magic excuse or something. I have to say one thing, though. This ends here, on this page. Goodbye for the last time. 18th Looks like I couldn't resist. I'm far too deep into this anyway, I need to know one more thing. What was this source of inspiration? I suppose it might have happened to ponies in the past, but I don't know. Maybe this only happened to me and I am truly alone. But that's unlikely. Some doctor, some mad scientist, somepony must have gotten curious and tried what I call the Bloodbloom method (Since the blood causes a new bloom --rebirth or revival-- in the corpse. Not related to me) and discovered the integral properties of blood. Scootaloo seems fine. I told her she has to stay down here to avoid surprising anypony too much and giving them a heart-attack. I almost said cardiac arrest, but I best not give-away my accelerated intelligence. It would be unwise. She can stay down there a long time, since my method of sneaking food away seems to be working, but I'm not concerned about that. How long can she stay down there before she gets curious? How long can Scoot take being alone in the basement? How long before Applejack hears noises? How long before Rainbow Dash is visited by a lonely Scootaloo? How long before she learns she has been dead and buried for a fortnight? I don't want to know. I truly do not want to know. In other news, they discovered the defiled grave. The whole town is in grieving. I passed by Mrs Cake explaining to Ditzy that "Stuff like that just... doesn't happen here!" Even worse, Pinkie tried to cheer me up by throwing me a surprise party. She doesn't understand what I have seen. Giggle at the ghosties? Sister, I raise the ghosties using blood and a straw, I am knee-deep in the dead. Nothing much happened at the party. I'm currently up in my room, wondering if Applejack is going to the basement or something. It's about 6:30 PM. It's cold. I'm just glad my cutie mark hasn't come in as a skull or something. That'd be a big give-away. Why do they call it a cu Sorry, diary. Slight interruption due to me tempting fate. I now have a cutie mark of a broken scythe. The symbolism is so obvious. I haven't heard of a cutie mark that makes you bad at what is depicted, so that leaves just one alternative. How will I even explain? I need to burn this or keep it on me at all times. This is too insane. I'm falling. I can't get out of this now. I am trapped. I should be jumping for joy. I feel sick to my stomach. This isn't going to be easy at all. 19th Applejack is rather confused at my newly gained “Cutie” mark. "Applebloom, why is your cutie mark a broken scythe?" She asked, in that country tone that I also have, and that I am wondering I should phase out. I mean, it simply isn't the tone you expect. Plus, gotta find some way of making my voice sound older. It's even worse with this stupid childish pitch. Drat this infernal problem of appearance. "Oh, I dunno." I shrugged nonchalantly. "I just got it." I winced internally. Improvisation is hard. Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?" "Um..." I pretended to remember. "Oh, just wandering about. I think it's a mistake." "A mistake?" She chuckled. "That's strange for a cutie mark. Celestia missed "Breaky Scythes and it landed on you? I guess that's a boon!" "Yeah, it kinda is!" I laughed, secretly glad that she doesn't suspect me. I love my sis, and I would love somepony I could tell this to, but... how can I explain this in a way that doesn't make her terrified or furious? I also kinda insulted her accent, so yeah... Sorry sis, if you are reading this. Well, I best check on Scoot. Scoot’s gone. Oh Celestia, she’s gone. This is going to be terrible...