//------------------------------// // RAGE // Story: Scootalong to the Cheer // by Blackbelt //------------------------------// "Spying? at this time of night? Apology my left hoof, they PLANNED everything......... "Thank you Raindrops." Cheerilee said coldly, keeping her pure unbridled RAGE out of her voice. She then gazed past Raindrops, looking at the two monsters that found themselves on her doorstep. "Explain yourselves. What are you two doing spying on me?" Scootaloo was the first to speak. "We weren't spying! We were just-" "QUIET!" Cheerilee hissed, causing Scootaloo to flinch with fear. "You two were caught red hoofed. Now tell me the truth; What exactly are you two planning?" Cheerilee locked the two fillies with a glare that filled them both with dread. Lyra placed a hoof upon Cheerilee's shoulder. "Cheerilee, aren't you being a bit hard on them? I mean-" "No, Lyra, I don't." Cheerilee said, not taking her glare off of the two fillies. "If anything, I have been far too easy upon these....students. I'll ask you one. last. TIME; What were you planning?" Cheerilee maintained her glare. Lyra kept attempting to get Cheerilee to reconsider. Raindrops watched the scene unfold with curious trepidation. Scootaloo was unable to speak, too afraid of making Cheerilee any madder. And Diamond Tiara carefully considered her next move...... "SCOOTALOO CAME HERE TO APOLOGIZE!" Diamond Tiara yelled. Everypony else stared at Diamond Tiara. But Cheerilee's glare did not soften. "Hmph. Sure. You get caught, so you suddenly decide to apologize for everything. I can believe that." Cheerilee's voice dripped with sarcasm. "There's a gift basket for you sitting in the wagon right over there!" Diamond Tiara countered, pointing a hoof to the wagon in question. The staredown between teacher and student continued, both of their expressions unreadable. ....I am gonna get into so much trouble.....but I can protect Scootaloo.... "Raindrops" Cheerilee eventually said. "Could you go check on their wagon?" Raindrops slowly nodded, and walked off with a sidelong glance. Raindrops soon came upon the wagon, and saw that what Diamond Tiara said was true; there was a small basket, filled with what appeared to be gifts. ....I think I owe them an apology..... Raindrops thought to herself as she picked up the basket in her teeth and walked back to the scene of the staredown. She very calmly put the basket down in front of Scootaloo. Scootaloo picked up the basket and slowly walked up to her teacher. As she gently placed it at Cheerilee's hooves, the young filly risked a glance upwards. The worn and weary mare only stared down at her student, causing Scootaloo to shudder in fear once again as she tried desperately to think of what to say. "...I..." Scootaloo gulped, trying to find her voice. "...I...I'M SORRY!" she finally blurted out. Cheerilee looked at the gift basket in front of her. ...blackcheery drops....my favorite... she thought solemnly ...Lyra was right. I've been wallowing all day, and yet Scootaloo was worried about me all day...I could have just talked to her. After school. Or in the alley. Or instead of yelling at her when she tried to explain things just now......I'm a terrible teacher.. Cheerilee was about to apologize to her young student when a single stray thought of paranoia entered her mind. What if this is all a trick and she tampered with the food? A flurry of images went through Cheerilee's head: Breathing fire from eating a blazing hot pepper. Sneezing uncontrollably. Blacking out. Having to use the little filly's room for hours on end. And finally a vision of a simple tombstone, that bore a most ominous inscription upon it. Here Lies Blackcherry Lee Punch "Curse my love of delicious, delicious candy!" And through all of this, the sound of a certain pegasus filly laughing filled Cheerilee's head. A vile, wicked laugh, full of delight. Delight in Cheerilee's pain. The whole experience made Cheerilee shudder involuntarily. She wanted to scream. To tell Scootaloo to get away from her. She stared down at her tormentor, ready to tell this vile miscreant off once and for all. Ready to expel her from school. Ready to run the little demon out of town, using whatever force necessary to make it happen.... And couldn't bring herself to do any of that when she saw the torrent of tears that was falling from the young filly's eyes. "...And-and you're the best teacher I could ever hope for....you're always willing to spend time to help your students, you always greet everypony with a smile, you helped save the world, and you're nice to everyone....even an idiot like me....." Cheerilee wrapped her front hooves around Scootaloo, pulling the pegasus into a tight hug. "...I should be the one saying sorry..." Cheerilee said simply, tears running down her face as well. Raindrops, Lyra, and Diamond Tiara looked upon the two with relieved looks on their face. Oh, that is so adorable.... Lyra thought, a smile coming to her face. .....I wish I could hug Scootaloo out of nowhere like that......oh great, I'm jealous of my teacher...... Diamond Tiara thought, a small scowl forming on her face....but I'm glad everything worked out..... Oh thank goodness, I was worried I would have to try to subdue Cheerilee.....never again...... Raindrops let out the breath she had been holding. __________________________________________________ Two fillies and their teacher walked under the night sky through Ponyville. Or more accurately, one filly was scooting along on a scooter at a snail's pace, horribly untrained at riding the vehicle, and one was riding on the back of the mare, sound asleep. The filly directing the scooter took the opportunity to tell her teacher of what had transpired. "....and than Snails's big sister saw us and she thought we were spying." Diamond Tiara finished her story, the scooter she was riding wobbling far too much for comfort. Cheerilee was silent for a moment, taking in the story of Scootaloo's day. ...looks like I could have saved both of us a hard day.... she thought bitterly, as she took a moment to look at the young filly who . But something about the story bugged her. "But why were you helping Scootaloo?" Cheerilee asked. "Like I said, I needed a partner for the school talent show." Diamond Tiara said simply. And the fact she's amazing.... "but you spent all those bits! I mean, I don't know how much your allowance is, but it seems like alot..." Cheerilee said with worry. Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. "I can get bits from daddy any time I want." She declared. But Cheerilee still thought there was something else to it. But she didn't have too much time to consider it until the Kart repair shop came into view. Cheerilee knocked on the door, but no one answered. Heavy Roller isn't home? I wonder where he is.... ___________________________________ "And zen the Lovely Lulamoon smite ze the mighty Urza Minaer BACK from wence it came!" "HAHAHA!!! That is so AWESOME!" a very drunk Heavy Roller replied, completely enamored with Lulamoon's somewhat inaccurate story of what happened during the Eventime Festival. ___________________________________ Cheerilee figured Heavy Roller wouldn't mind if she just went in to put his daughter to bed. She went through the door, followed closely by Diamond Tiara, who took the opportunity to ditch the scooter and wagon next to a pile of assorted broken wheels. The teacher headed up the stairs, and turned towards her crowned student. "Stay down here Diamond Tiara." she instructed. "B-...but I have to write a note for Scootaloo." Diamond Tiara responded quickly. and I wanted to wish her good night... Cheerilee shook her head. "I know you want to start early on getting ready for the talent show, but do you really think it would be a good idea to start tomorrow? Especially after how today went?" I know, it's a terrible idea to attempt putting together a whole new performance after a situation this stressful, but it's the only way I can spend time with her....and she looks so cute when she's asleep. "And besides" Cheerilee interrupted Diamond Tiara's inner monologue, "There's some crayons and paper right there." Cheerilee pointed a hoof at what Diamond Tiara recognized as a small mess Scootaloo made in her rush to get to Cheerilee's house once they finished the card they made. Diamond Tiara took one last look at Scootaloo, whispered a very soft "good night" and grabbed a crayon, and began to write.Satisfied that her student would keep busy with her note, Cheerilee carefully made her way up the stairs, doing her best to not wake the pegasus on her back. She made her way up to the second floor, and glanced around the dark room. Wouldn't be the first time I've had to navigate a house completely in the dark. she thought to herself, slightly amused, looking around the living room, until she spied a bean bag chair sitting in the corner of the living room. Thinking for a moment, Cheerilee decided it would do. She poked the bean bag chair with her hoof, ensuring it was sufficiently soft, then laid the young pegasus on top of it. She was ready to head back downstairs and escort her other student back home, until she heard a small groan coming from Scootaloo. "...mommy...don't go...." Scootaloo kicked her hooves in her sleep, looking as if she was having a nightmare. Cheerilee softly patted Scootaloo on the head, which seemed to calm her down. "....mommy...." Scootaloo said again, this time sounding much less distressed, before drifting back into restful sleep once more. With a last look to ensure that her students sleep would be restful, Cheerilee made her way back down the stairs. She saw Diamond Tiara staring intently at a piece of paper with some writing Cheerilee couldn't quite make out. Then Cheerilee saw something very odd. Diamond Tiara grabbed the paper, stuffed it into her saddlebag, and quickly wrote another note, which she placed on Scootaloo's scooter. As much as Cheerilee wanted to ask about this, she thought it better to not ask. Didn't stop her from taking a glance at the note as she headed out though. Hey Scoots, you fell asleep, so we dragged you home. Don't forget that we have to work on our performance for the talent show, so I expect you at my house bright and early. And be ready for WORK. Don't be late, Diamond Tiara ....I'll let Scootaloo handle it. Cheerilee decided. ___________________________________________________ Back at home, locked in the sanctity of her room, Diamond Tiara stared at the letter she wanted to give Scootaloo. ...why can't I just let the words out... Dear Scootaloo, You fell asleep in Cheerilee's hooves, so she carried you home. I'm glad everything worked out for the best, and I appreciate the fact that you let me help. I look forward to preparing for the School Talent Show. You can feel free to come by whenever you feel up to it. I know it's been very stressful for you, so please, don't push yourself too hard. Love, Diamond Tiara She lamented her indecisiveness as she dug through her saddlebags, pulling out the things she had bought that day. ....you have a week DT. A look of determination (accompanied by a small blush at the thought of that cute nickname) came to Diamond Tiara's face. You can do this. All you have to do if give her some gifts, and say what's on your mind. You can do it. you can- Her train of thought crashed immediately when she came across something in her bag that wasn't supposed to be there. She carefully pulled out the small item in her hooves, treating it as if it was the most valuable thing in the world. She marveled at it's splendor, rotating it so she could look at every angle of it, amazed at how it caught the light. Diamond Tiara dared not question how such sheer wonderment would end up in her possession, but she knew better than to question a miracle.Eventually, a yawn escaped her lips, but she did not want to go to sleep. But ultimately, she did succumb to sleep, falling asleep on the floor. A feather from Scootaloo's wings resting in her hooves. THE END. Run Credits.