//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Scootaloo's Parents // by russspruce //------------------------------// Everything was fuzzy, as if looking through an evening fog. Scootaloo took a look at what she could see, realizing that she was in the clouds. Looking yonder, she saw the outline of two pegasi. She wasn’t sure why, but they seemed… familiar. “Scooooootalooooo….” She heard someone call from afar. The pegasus couldn’t help but feel drawn to them, whoever they may be. What started as a trot soon became a full-blown gallop. “Scooooooootaloooo…?” She heard the call again. The orange filly tried ran faster, but it appeared that she was never getting closer. “Wait!” She called out to them. “Don’t go!” Just as she was about to get to them, when they turned to look at her. Their outlines were engulfed as the sun shined brighter than ever, setting the sky aflame! “Scootaloo! Hey Scootaloo!” The young filly opened her eyes, woken by the shouts of her friends. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to reorient where she was. She soon remembered she was in the Cutie mark Crusaders clubhouse, taking a quick nap after hanging out with her surrogate sister, Rainbow Dash. Blinking a few times to regain focus, her thoughts shifted back to the fading images of the ponies in her dream. Just who were they? Why could she possibly be calling to them? There wasn’t any reason for her to call out to two strangers… unless they weren’t strangers. Her attention was drawn back to her fellow crusaders, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Both looked at her with worried looks. “Are you okay?” Asked Sweetie Belle, her voice filled with concern. “You were talking in your sleep.” “I was?” Asked the pegasus, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Was I saying anything weird?” “Nah, not really,” Commented Apple Bloom, whose expression changed to a more, relaxed one. “Although you did look… “ “Look what?” “… Sad.” Scootaloo looked confused for a moment, not sure why she would even look sad. “Sad, me? Ha, do I look sad to you?” Retorted the pegasus, starting to become defensive. “I was just having a weird dream, that’s all.” “How was it weird?” Ask Apple Bloom, tilting her head slightly in curiosity. Scootaloo was silent for a moment, trying to recollect her thoughts from what had occurred as she slept. Who could they possibly be that they were her…? No way, why would she be possibly be thinking about them? She was very happy with how things were, why would she go looking for something that could change it? The purple maned pony took a breath and asked her friends what has been occupying her thoughts. “Hey girls, have you ever thought of where you came from?” She asked finally after a minute of mulling it over. The two looked at each other, a little confused about what their friend have asked them. “Well,” began the young unicorn. “Rarity told me that when a mare and a colt love each other very much, they-“ The yellow filly immediately put a hoof to her friend’s mouth before she could finish her statement. “Ah don’t think that’s what she meant, right Scootaloo?” The orange filly shook head vigorously, silently thanking her friend for her quick thinking. “I don’t know why, but I’ve been having these weird dreams lately….” As she trailed of, the two fillies once again exchanged worrisome looks, still sure not sure what their fellow crusader was asking. “Scootaloo, are ya okay? You’re startin’ to scare us.” “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about …” She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath for what she was about to say. “… My parents.” For the third time, the pony and the unicorn exchanged looks. But instead of worry, it was confusion. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.” Replied Sweetie Belle, noticing that her friend seemed very down. “What? No!” Responded Scootaloo, jumping slightly in the air with her wings fluttering. “It just feels… weird.” She stated defensively. Scootaloo hated showing any kind of weakness or being sappy. Seeing it as being uncool. “There’s nothing wrong about that.” Said Apple Bloom, being reassuring of her friend. Scootaloo hovered in the air for a moment, caught off guard by her friend’s response. She landed and took a seat on the floor, although it was a bit too hard. “I mean, ah think about mah folks from time to time as well. Ah can always talk to mah Sis or Granny about them if ah want to talk about them.” As the pegasus rubbed her throbbing flank, she couldn’t help but admire her friend for being able to speak her mind, no matter what it is. “Yeah, but you have your family to talk to. Who am I going to talk to about that?” “What about Rainbow Dash? She would be good to talk to.” Scootaloo lowered her head and stared at the floor. “I don’t think she would understand. She’s not the kind of pony to talk about that kind of stuff.” “Well, why don’t cha just ask the orphanage? I’m sure they would know who you’re folks are.” Asked Apple Bloom, hoping that her advice would cheer her friend up. “That won’t work. One of the other ponies asked them, and they said that they don’t know anything like that.” Responded Scootaloo, her head now hanging low to reflect her rising frustration. “Well then, what about the hospital?” Chimed the unicorn, a hopeful smile on her face with shining eyes. “They would have to put down who your parents are in your file.” “They would never let me look in it, it’s only for doctors.” Scootaloo began to feeling even more depressed than before. She never realized that this topic would have such an impact on her. “Well… why don’t we borrow it?” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both stared at her, wondering if she was serious. “Sweetie Belle, we’ll get in a lot of trouble if we’re caught!” Rebutted the young pony, knowing full well what would happen if her sister found out about her taking something that didn’t belong to her. “Don’t worry, I have an idea!” The pegasus and earth pony both exchanged looks of concern, since not all of Sweetie Belle’s plans have been entirely successful in the past. But they soon noticed that she was sitting in the designated spot for good ideas. So far, the spot has not failed anyone yet, so why doubt it now? “It’s perfect!” She said, bringing the other fillies in for a huddle. “Alright, this is what we have to do.” ------------------------------------------ At Ponyville General, Nurse Redheart had been taking a moment to reflect on her day so far. She had fed all the patients, gave out the medication, organized the pharmacy, checked on Screw Loose to see how she has been doing on her own, and refilled Dr. Horse’s lollipop jar for the foals that came in for appointments. The mare took a moment to enjoy the peace that has fallen upon the hospital, since it is a rare occurrence. She couldn’t help but be a little happy that everything was quiet. Suddenly, the doors burst opens, shaking the white mare from her daze. “Quick, mah friend’s sick!” She shouted, tears about to burst from her eyes. The nurse pony quickly rushed to the two fillies, preparing herself mentally for whatever the situation may be. Upon getting a closer look she noticed the young unicorns face was green, something she hadn’t seen in quite some time. “What happened to her?” She asked, hoping it wasn’t what she was thinking at the moment. “She ate one of Pinkie’s surprise cupcakes.” Redheart rolled her eyes. This was the fifth one this month to come in since Pinkie Pie had begun experimenting with different ingredients to put in her confections. While her attention was focused on Sweetie Belle, she failed to notice Apple Bloom give a signal. Getting the all clear, the purple maned filly tiptoed across the room without being noticed. Distracted by unicorns moaning and groaning, she hardly saw the young pegasus. It seemed that no matter how many files she went through, none of them were hers. She saw Rainbow Dash’s, Cheerilee's, and oddly enough Pinkie Pie’s at least three times, but she could not find hers for Celestia’s sake. “Scootaloo?’’ The orange filly jumped a little and gave a small yelp in surprise from her friend’s unannounced presence. She turned to the red maned pony, frowning in disapproval. “What is taking so long, Sweetie Belle is running out of noises to make.” “Well sorry for not finding my file.” She responded in a sarcastic tone. “I’ve looked through this thing twice, and can’t find it anywhere!” Apple Bloom looked at the assorted piles of folders and files strewn across the floor. After a moment, she picked up one and showed it to the flyer. “Is this it?” Sure enough, in her hoof was the file, scrawled across the top in blue lettering, Scootaloo. The winged pony couldn’t help but give a sour expression. Somehow Apple Bloom was always the best at finding things. “Hey! What are you doing?” The two fillies looked up to find one of the doctors looking down on them, his expression certainly not a happy one. “You’re not suppose to be back here!” Acting fast, Apple Bloom reached into her saddlebag and pulled out an apple. Reaching back, she threw it at the colt, hitting him right between the eyes. With a dazed look, he collapsed on the floor, eyes spinning wildly. “ABORT! ABORT!” Shouted the yellow filly, waving her arms fervently to let her friend know that they were caught. Immediately, Sweetie Belle got up and ran out the door along with the other two crusaders. Nurse Redheart looked on as the group charged back to town. Looking back at the doctor, knocked out ironically from an apple, she could only sigh and walk over to the fallen medic to make sure he didn’t get a concussion. ------------------------------------------ Back at the clubhouse, the crusaders were catching their breath for what seemed like an hour. But they managed to get what they wanted: Scootaloo’s medical file. And within it, the answer that she had been looking for. “I can’t… believe… we did… that.” Huffed Sweetie Belle, completely sprawled on the floor of the clubhouse. “We’re going to be in so much trouble!” “Yeah, but it was totally worth it!” Smiled Scootaloo, reaching into her saddlebag and pulling out the folder. All three fillies gathered around it, ready to examine the contents within. “So… who d’ya think it’s gonna be?” Asked Apple Bloom, looking to her friends for an answer. “Hmm.” Pondered the orange filly. “Not sure, but I bet they are totally awesome, like me.” “I bet it’s Wildfire!” Smiled the unicorn. “Huh, why her?” Asked Scootaloo, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. “Well… she has a wheel for a cutie mark, and you’re really good with your scooter.” Commented Sweetie Belle, shrugging and giving a joking smile. Scootaloo frowned at her friend, even though she knew she means well. Taking a deep breath, she once again turned her focus onto the folder. She hated to admit it, but she was starting to feel nervous. Calming down and taking a deep, slow breath, she opened the file. All three ponies looked at the various papers collected in the container, scanning for anything that would have the answer they are looking for. After a moment, Apple Bloom began to chuckle a little. “What?” Asked Scootaloo, eyebrow still raised. “You had the chicken pox.” Snickered the yellow pony. The pegasus blushed slightly and dragged the folder closer to her. That was when she saw it, her birth certificate. She scanned it quickly and saw on the top of the page in bold the information she wanted. Father: N/A “Well that’s weird, who puts down ‘N’ and ‘A’ in for that?” Asked the unicorn, unsure of what the term meant. “What do you think, Scootaloo?” She didn’t respond, the orange filly didn’t even hear her friend. Her eyes were fixed on the next line, and it said all. “Scootaloo, what is it?” Asked Apple Bloom, her voice filled with worry. She looked down and realized why the pegasus was in such a state of shock. It was there, clear as day. Mother: Spitfire