//------------------------------// // Home Stretch (Miles 10-11) // Story: 11 // by Thunder--Dash //------------------------------// By now, the air was at its coldest. Anything that stepped foot out of the car would be instantly frozen. Scootaloo continued to drive. However, the shadow figures were all lined up on either side of the road. They were simply watching us. Scotaloo kept her eyes forward. She was panting a little. However, she started to hum a song out of nowhere. "What's that song?" I asked. "Oh, it's a song I heard when one of my friends, Pinkie Pie, was dealing with a swarm of these pests known as parasprites. They may look cute on the outside, but they can cause a lot of havoc. You see, they are attracted to food and once they eat a certain amount of food, they multiply...and don't stop multiplying." Scootaloo explained with a little shiver. "Oh jeez...glad your friend drove them out." I stated. "You know what's coming after this right?" I asked. "Y-yes..." Scootaloo said with a sniffle. "You got this Scootaloo." I said. Scootaloo smiled. "You know Ken, you're one the bestest friends I've grown to know. I know what it feels like to have a true friend, but now...I know what it feels like to have a TRUE true friend. In fact...that reminds me of a song. A song that Twilight Sparkle taught me one day..." Scootaloo said. "How does it go?" I asked. "Well...it goes like this..." Scootaloo said taking a deep breath in. "A true true friend helps a friend in need A friend will be there to help and see A true true friend helps a friend indeed To see the light that shines from a true true friend" "Sounds pretty easy..." I said. The shadow figures disappeared. Mile 10 was complete. A red light began to glow in front of us. The Ford Focus RS completely shut off, but it was still going. The unknown force was pulling it forward. Scootaloo looked at me, and I looked at Scootaloo. This was it. The final mile. We nodded to each other. We closed our eyes and covered our ears as the red light became brighter and brighter. We crossed into what was described as...hell. This was...the Final Mile. "ONE TWO THREE FOUR!" I counted off. "A TRUE TRUE FRIEND HELPS A FRIEND IN NEED A FRIEND WILL BE THERE TO HELP AND SEE A TRUE TRUE FRIEND HELPS A FRIEND IN NEED TO SEE THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM A TRUE TRUE FRIEND!" We sang at the top of our lungs as the horrid scene unfolded...the scene of a pony wielding a chainsaw about to slice another into pieces...the scene of a deranged pony collecting others and throwing them into some sort of device that could cut them all up in to bits and pieces...the scene of an somewhat older pony ripping young ponies apart. Screams of horror and suffering could be heard...but our singing had blocked all of that out. The cold air was replaced by a scorching heat...so hot that it felt like our skin was burning right off. However, we didn't feel a thing...for some reason. We sang through the chorus one more time...and everything...fell silent. The scenes disappeared and the Focus regained power. I opened my eyes to the night. "You can open your eyes now..." I said. Scootaloo opened her eyes. She panted. "Just one little kilometer to go." I said. Scootaloo drove the final kilometer with a smile on her face. There was a dead end up ahead. She brought the focus to a stop and put it in park. I extended my hand out for Scootaloo. She took my hand. We closed our eyes and thought of the wish. The power of our friendship had boosted the wish. We opened our eyes 5 seconds later...to find ourselves at the start of the road. Scootaloo made a u-turn and got back on our main road. "You did it Scootaloo!" I cheered. Scootaloo sniffled. "I...I can't believe it...I can't believe I faced my own fears like that..." Scootaloo said sniffling more. "You overcame everything back there. And now...we head to bed for the night and head up to the peaks tomorrow..." I said with a happy sigh. Scootaloo felt a jitter in her wings. She grinned...for she could feel a certain new power rising...which will await us...the next day.