//------------------------------// // Prologue: START // Story: A Belle's Tale // by Leolionheart //------------------------------// 107344676497136796874472936876659583643649823467869737149179824634732984778632384478376489823663259827973679527971100000298989839978746846873800... ... Protocol start ... in... 3... 2... 1... 0... Begin... Static came first. "Testing, testing, 1 2 3... Testing," said a mysterious voice. "Hhmmm? Maybe just a little bit..." There was a loud beep. "Ah-ha!" The voice exclaimed excitedly. "... Systems now operational, standby function initiated..." Mentioned a computerized voice. "Good. Now for the next part..." <<<<~*~>>>> "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" "Scootaloo, slow down! We might hit someone!" Said a white coated filly with a two-toned purple mane as her and another filly, this one with a red mane and a yellow coat, were riding in the back of the wagon attached to a scooter, speeding down one of the dirt roads of Ponyville. "Hey, you said if we don't hurry we'll be late to school!" Said a orange coated filly with a purple mane. "Watch out!" "Whoa!" As Scootaloo said this, she swerved around a random bystander who was walking in the path of the CMC. "Aaaahhh!" "HEY, WATCH IT!" "Sorry!" Shouted the pegasus as she regained control of her scooter. "Now, will you slow down?" Said Apple Bloom as she regained her own balance. "Sweetie Belle and I want to get there on time, too, but in one piece!" Scootaloo frowned. "Yeah yeah, I hear ya! But look, we're here!" As she said this the school house came in sight, just a short distance away. Unfortunately, there was a problem. "... Uh-oh." "Uh-oh? What do you- oh..." Sweetie Belle panicked suddenly. "LOOK OUT, STOP, DO SOMETHING!!!" "I'm trying!" Scootaloo tried to slow down her scooter or go around, but they were going to fast, and she started to lose control. "I can't stop, I'm losing it! GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!" Many ponies were close enough. Those who saw them, heard them, and knew of their antics started panicking and tried to alert and escort as many ponies out of the way, along with themselves, as soon as possible. "Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!" The three fillies screamed in unison as the scooter and wagon went out of control and they were thrown from their respective means of transport to a crashing halt on the ground - right next to the schoolhouse. Luckily, almost nopony got hurt. "Uuuhhh, my head. Next time tell me to stop." Said Scootaloo, earning a glare from Apple Bloom. "Ow ow ow ow!" Sweetie whimpered as she held her left hoof in pain. Afterward, she started hearing a beeping sound that lasted for about two seconds, then she heard something else. Static. "... -You'll awaken-..." More static. "Huh? What was..." Sweetie whispered to herself, trailing off. After this, she quickly looked around for a moment, but couldn't find the source of the strange sounds, or the mysterious voice she heard. She dismissed it after seeing her friends walking towards her, as she overheard somepony's conversation. The unicorn ignored it, chocking it up to the strange noises. One thing, however, she managed to catch: "What was that?" <<<<~*~>>>> "What's going on out here!" Shouted a maroon pony with a pink mane and three flowers with smiles for a cutie mark. As she said this, a pink filly with a tiara and a grey filly with glasses ran up to her. The pink filly spoke first. "It was those BLANK FLANKS, Ms. Cheerilee! They were riding on that dumb scooter of theirs and almost crashed into every one like a bunch of crazy ponies!" "Yeah," affirmed the grey filly, hesitant. "Thanks for that helpful information Diamond Tiara, but I think I can handle it from here. Maybe you wanted to stay after class for that little comment?" Replied Ms. Cheerilee with a smug smile. "N-no!" The pink filly coughed. "I mean, s-sorry Ms. Cheerilee." Diamond hesitated. "Good. Then why don't you, and everypony else, go ahead and head to class while I deal with the situation?" "Yes, Ms. Cheerlee." Replied Diamond Tiara. As she walked away, she noticed somepony wasn't at her side. She looked back, seeing her friend hadn't moved yet. "Well, are you coming Silver Spoon?" Asked Diamond. "In a moment, Diamond." Silver Spoon said. "You go on ahead, okay?" "Alright, I'll be waiting. Don't take too long. You never know what you might catch, being around those blank flanks!" Diamond Tiara said as she headed inside along with all the other colts and fillies heading to class. At this cheerilee shook her head, sighing. Then she noticed Silver Spoon was still standing there. "Yes Silver Spoon, you needed something?" Asked Cheerilee. "I-I think Sweetie Belle's hurt," Silver Spoon said. At this, Cheerilee looked up and to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and saw Silver Spoon was right, as Sweetie was still holding her left hoof, whimpering. Her friends were trying to comfort her and help after recovering from what happened less than a minute ago. "Silver Spoon, I want you to hurry to class and get the medkit, alright?" "Yes, Ms. Cheerilee." Silver replied as she hurried to get the medkit. While Silver left, Cheerilee hurried over to the CMC to see what she could do. "Don't worry, Sweetie, I'm here now. Can you girls step away for a second while I check on her?" "Yes Ms. Cheerilee." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo replied. "What can we do to help?" Asked Apple bloom, "Yeah!" Scootaloo added. "Just stay there for a moment, okay?" Cheerilee asked. "Okay," they both replied sadly. "Alright Sweetie, can you please show your left hoof for a moment?" "O-o-okay." Sweetie whimpered, still in pain as tears started coming out. As Cheerilee examined at her hoof she saw that it was bleeding, but not that much, as well as she had a nasty scrape from the crash. "I got the medkit, Ms. Cheerliee!" Silver Spoon said as she was running back with the medkit in mouth. "Thank you Silver Spoon, and also for letting me know about Sweetie. Now why don't get to you class and wait there with everypony else?" Cheerilee said as she took the medkit and started to work on Sweetie. "You're welcome, Ms. Cheerilee. Hope you get better, Sweetie Belle," Silver Spoon said as she turned to leave for class. "Th-thanks Silver," Sweetie said hesitantly, making Silver Spoon stop for a moment, but not turn back. "Y-your welcome" was all sweetie belle heard from silver Spoon as she continued back to class. Also making sweeties two friends look at sweetie belle, then to silver spoon and back in confusion. But shrugged it off as repaying silver spoon for her kindness. But also confused why silver spoon, one of the two bullies that's been picking on them for awhile now, would help them. Which created thoughts that maybe silver ain't all bad, but dismissed it for now to help sweetie belle, who also had some of these thoughts. <<<<~*~>>>> After about a short time later, once sweeties injuries were patched up and cheerlee gave the cmc a firm talking to about their actions. They all went to class and started the day as usual. As the day went on sweetie started having a strange tingling feeling in her head from time to time, since the crash. She was wondering what those sounds were, along with the voice and what it said. When the last bell ringed, she was going to ask cheerlee about it until.... "sweetie belle? Why don't I walk you to your home today." "I've noticed you've been limping slightly since earlier, and not just that. I've also been meaning to talk to your sister about what happened earlier. Is that okay with you?" Cheerlee asked, "I guess...looks like I'll see you girls later okay?" Answered sweetie belle as well as to her friends. "Okay, see ya later sweetie! We'll catch up on more crusading later alright? Scootaloo replied. "Okay." Sweetie replied back, "Bye!" The three of them said to each other as they went their separate ways. "Alright then let's get going. You coming sweetie belle?" Asked cheerlee, "Yes, ms. Cheerlee!" As they started walking to carousel boutique. She started wondering on why the voices said. ("You'll awaken? What does that mean?") after this, she decided to dismiss it once more. So she and cheerlee continued down the road. Little did she know, this was only just the beginning!