"I found you at last!" the storm cloud lunged forward shattering the sky. How? Scootaloo watched her wings being torn to shreds. It was so sudden that she didn't even feel it; no pain, no loss, just confusion as she watched her feathers float away in slow motion. This was supposed to be the most traumatic experience nice of her life, and yet all she could think about, falling to the ground, was And I just learned to fly an hour ago...
"Aw!" Scootaloo shouted. Waking on the floor never was a fun experience. For one thing the pain was far more memorable. "Damn it" she whispered through her teeth. Everything seemed to be in place: her room, her bed, even her wings... her annoyingly small wings. At least, this time I didn't get eaten by monster trees. She stood up and slowly went to the window.
Four nights, fifteen nightmares. This had to be some sort of record. It started Sunday. First she would have the most amazing dreams—being a Wonderbolt, the greatest hero of Equestria, Rainbow Dash's little sister—only to end up losing it all and painfully killed. The worst part was that after she woke up, the whole experience would repeat time and time and time again until it was finally morning. If this is puberty, I hate it! Scootaloo opened the window and climbed on the sill.
So tired... The filly yawned as she relaxed her head against the side of frame. Maybe, I'll talk to Luna about this... The fresh night air felt nice in her mane. Calm and relaxing, it almost made her feel she were flying. And the moonlight was so soft. Just like a cloud bed.
"Hello, Essence," a nearby voice said.
"Mmm, hello," Scootaloo murmured softly, flapping her wings half-asleep. She could sense the sweet smell of ozone mixed with honey.
"You've grown," the voice continued, moving closer. "So much like your mother."
"Mmhmm." Scootaloo cracked an eye open. The silhouette of a stallion was standing there, a few steps outside her house. "Huh?" The shock hit her like a jolt of adrenalin, lifting her to her hooves. "Who are you?" What are you doing here?
The stallion just shook his head, as if the question didn't matter. Under normal circumstances, Scootaloo would throw the nearest thing at him, or shut the window and run like Tartarus. Yet, her body refused to cooperate. She just stood there, frozen as a statue.
"And forgotten everything," the stallion sighed in disappointment. "I should have come sooner."
What the hay is going on? Who is this pony? And why can't I move? Scootaloo tried to force herself to tear herself away. She couldn't. Every muscle in her body belt as if had been cast in iron chains.
A nightmare! she thought. It has to be a nightmare! That would make so much sense. And still, every sense was screaming it was real.
"Let's go, Essence." The silhouette reached for her. "We're wasting time."
"No!" The word burst out of her mouth. The stallion seemed taken aback, his foreleg freezing in place. "I'm not going anywhere!" A blink later the stallion was gone, and Scoots found she was curled up on the window sill.
"Another dream," she grumbled, fighting her eyelids open. "Why can't—"
"Scootaloo!" A loud yell came from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready! Hurry up or you'll be late for school again!"
Wonderful... Scootaloo tried to get back to sleep, her instinct to avoid school stronger than any amount of nightmares. The smell of fresh waffles and butterspice made that impossible. As much as she tried she couldn't keep her eyes shut, or fight the gathering saliva in her mouth.
Fine, you win! She jumped to the floor. Yawning, she stretched, then, one eye open, went in the general direction of the door. A poster with Rainbow Dash hung there, declaring "Do your morning stretches!" in large red letters. Scootaloo did her best to ignore it. Even a poster hadn't been able to get her into the habit of morning exercises.
"Please don't use up the shower cloud, Orange," Scootaloo's mother said the moment the filly's door creaked open. Moooom! Not that nickname! I mean, it was cute when I was a filly, but I'm all grown up now! Still, shower was a good idea. Hopefully, there would be some hot water left. Her father had the nasty habit of using it up after returning from his night shift.
Dragging herself groggily into the bathroom, Scootaloo went into the shower cabin and kicked the lower part of the cloud with her hind legs. Icy cold water poured onto her, causing both eyes to pop open.
"Daaad!" she yelled, shivering as the water drenched her mane. "You used up all the hot water again!" Scootaloo had lost count how many times she had been subjected to this. And, unlike what they taught at school, after so many times she still hadn't got used to to the experience. All it did was make her feel cold, grouchy and annoyed. I bet Rainbow Dash has hot water. She quickly shampooed her mane and wings, racing with the quickly shrinking cloud. Need to finish fast! by the time she was done only a quarter of the original cloud remained. Still, better than nothing.
And of course the towels are gone! Usually, Scootaloo would be shouting her head off by now. Instead, however, she just sighed deeply, shook off the water best she could, and went down to the kitchen.
"Morning, Orange!" her mother greeted her with a smile. "Enjoy your breakfast. It'll be a beautiful day today."
"You'd know. You're the one writing up all the weather schedules," Scootaloo mumbled under her breath. "Will dad come? Or is he sleeping again?" A wing smacked her on the back of the head. Despite all their support and care her parents were strict, her mother especially. Bad language and lack of disrespect would not be tolerated. "Sorry." The filly took her seat. "I... it won't happen again."
"That's good." Her mother placed a stack of steaming waffles. "Now eat up."
The food was delicious, as usual, but for some reason, Scootaloo didn't feel hungry all of a sudden. Her stomach had curled up, and there was the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Across the table, Silver Lining was cleaning the dishes, as she did every morning. Next to her, the clock on the fridge ticked loudly, its hands shaped like pegasus wings. The calendar stirred gently by the window, weather icons drawn on. By all accounts it was just another morning, yet something was off.
"Anything wrong, Orange?" Silver Lining asked. "You've barely touched your breakfast."
"Uh?" Scootaloo blinked. Strange. I thought I had finished at least half of it. "I didn't sleep too well." She pushed the plate away.
"Nightmares again?" her mother's voice rang with concern. "You're having them far too often. Maybe we should go to see a doct—"
"It's just a bunch of stupid nightmares, Mom," Scootaloo cut her off. "Princess Luna will help if they get really bad."
"You mustn't rely on the princess for everything." Silver Lining frowned. "And it's not good for you. As a growing pegasus you must get plenty of sleep."
"Some pegasus I am." Scootaloo looked down. "I better be going or I'll be late for school." She slipped out of the chair. Without a word, she grabbed her saddlebag, rushed to fetch her scooter and was off.
Why can't I kick this feeling? She wondered, deciding her scooter through Pincylille. It's as if something terrible is about to happen. Like a pack of Timberwolves attacking school, or...
"Am I in a dream?" She suddenly stopped. It didn't feel like a dream. Her surroundings looked real, she could feel slight pain in her rump from the time she fell off her bed, the street signs didn't have weird letters on them...
If you think you are in a dream check your hooves, Scootaloo remembered reading somewhere. Hooves are difficult for the subconscious brain to recreate, so there usually appear with flaws. Often an additional hoof is present, attached to one of the others.
The filly glanced at her forehooves. Everything seemed in order there. Maybe she was overthinking things? Just because she had problems sleeping didn't mean that—
"At least you've not completely helpless," an amber stallion said in front of her. He didn't have wings, yet his features were remarkably pegasus-like. One thing was for sure — he wasn't a Ponyville local. No pony that old was lacking a cutie-mark. "Time to go, Essence."
"Huh? What?" Scootaloo stepped back. All this seemed awkwardly familiar. "I don't know you, so no way in—"
"Your dreams are getting worse, aren't they?" he cut her off. "You've been having nightmares for a week. Each time you end up dead. Have your feathers started falling off?"
"Falling off?" A wave of dread passed through the filly's body. He's no idea what he's talking about! She took a step back. He's just some crazy pony trying to scare me!
"You found a few feathers in your bed two nights ago." The stallion pointed at her wings. "You didn't tell anypony and hid them at the bottom of your desk drawer." How did you know? Scootaloo took a step back. I'm sure I hid them! "You'll lose them all if you don't pick up your game."
"Wha?" Fear pierced Scootaloo like a bolt of lightning. Loser all her feathers? That was the worst thing that could happen to a unicorn! Please. Let this be a sick joke! She looked at her wing. As if on cue, two of her feathers fell off, floating gently to the ground. "No..."
The filly checked her other wing. The feathers there were in even worse condition, colorless and withered, as if they had been dead for days. How didn't anymore notice this before? How didn't I notice them? Scootaloo's head suddenly felt heavy. She took a step back to regain her balance. the filly would have probably lost consciousness altogether, if she hadn't happened to notice it—her back right leg had two hooves.
"Two hooves," she said quietly, her mind close gong to the realization. "Two hooves!" she turned around looking the amber stallion right in the eye. "This isn't real! You're a dream!"
"Still using tricks," he frowned. "They won't keep you safe for long."
"You wish! When I tell Princess Lina, she'll—"
"You think a stupid alicorn can do much?" the stallion snorted. "You really have been gone for too long. She might have given herself that absurd title, but she's just a visitor in the dreamscape. She wouldn't be able to find you if her hooves were tied to your head!" Scootaloo arched a brow, trying to visualize the image. Nope, too weird. "And even if she did, it wouldn't help," he went on. "You'll keep on having nightmares and losing feathers until there's nothing of you left in either world."
"How do I know you're not the one sending me nightmares?" The filly stood up to him.
"How do you know I am?" The stallion shrugged. "Either way you are running out of time. Trust me, or don't, it's up to you. I'm not going to save you anymore."
"You haven't saved me once!"
"Who do you think took care of the nightmares?" he snapped. "Your alicorn princess? You?! You can barely walk in dreams!"
"Oh yea—" Scootaloo's muzzle froze mid-word.
"Worse than a caterpillar!" The stallion spat on the ground. "The sooner you realize that, the better. Only this time I won't be there to help you out." A single stomp on the ground and his colour faded away, replaced by misty white. "If want my help you'll have to find me. If you can." He stomped his hood again. Ponyville shattered.
"Huh!" Scootaloo's head shot up. Across the table her parents looked at her with concern. I'm still here? But it seemed so real... The kitchen was just as she remembered it. Looking down, she could even see her plate with a half-eaten waffle inside. Could any of this be trusted, though?
"Is everything alright, dear?" Her father asked. "You seemed—"
"Just remembered I might have a test today," Scootaloo lied. She didn't want to talk about her nightmares, and especially not the stallion. At best they'd think it was puberty acting up. At worst, they'd take her to a hospital. "I might have skipped a few lessons." Worst defense ever, yet at least it'll keep them off the right track. Parents always freak out about school.
"Oh," Night Rider said, taking a sip of tea. He didn't seem bothered at all. Maybe it's all the night shifts, Scootaloo thought. "I'm sure you'll do great. And remember, if there's anything you'd like to ask or share, your mother and I are always here for you."
"Yeah, I know." Scootaloo took another bit of her waffle. No way I'm telling you my feathers are falling off. That would be gross!
"As long as you know, Orange," her mother chirped in. "We're sorry we don't get to spend as much time with you as we'd—"
"No worries, Mom." The filly forced a smile. "I'm love you both. It's just—"That I'm freaking out like heck right now!"—that this is a complicated time for me. I'd rather..." She paused. That last sentence might have been a wrong turn. "I better get going. Don't want to be late again."
She finished what was left of her breakfast, then endured the obligatory kiss on the forehead. Talk about embarrassing. At least there were no talks this time. Just a quick "goodbye and take care," and Scootaloo was on her way to school... again. Thankfully, nothing unusual happened. That didn't keep her from glancing at her wings every minutes, on one occasion almost crashing into Mare Mayor as a result. Maybe this is puberty? the filly considered. It was possible that everypony went through this. Her friends would know. At least she could trust them with her secret. All but the falling feather's of course.
School was measured in blinking. Five blinks for Scootaloo to get the courage to knock on the door and come up with an excuse. Three, for Cheerilee to sigh at the excuse and tell her to go to her desk. Two for the class to laugh at her. Ten to whisper a few words to Sweete Belle and Apple Bloom. Another four for Cheerilee to cough, displeased. Then seven hundred blinks to endure till lunch recess. Finally, ten blinks to be sure that everyone except her friends had left the classroom.
"Ya doing okay, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ya've been looking mighty sad all mornin'."
"Yes, did you break your scooter again?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"What do you mean again?" Scootaloo frowned. How did that even come up? "Ans I wasn't sad... Was I?"
"Yep," Apple Bloom said, while Sweetie nodded beside her. "Ya were sitting all quiet like, blinkin' all mornin'. Even Diamond Tiara went all 'what's with Scootaloo today?'"
Have to tell them. They'll understand! "Sorry, girls. Just trouble sleeping lately." Scootaloo, you coward! "Say, have you been having any weird dreams lately?"
"Weird? How weird?" Apple Bloom looked at the ceiling. "Ah was dreaming Ah was left in charge of the farm, but then the barn ran away and Ah had to lasso it back. That seem weird?" She turned back to Scootaloo.
"Err, a bit." The pegasus stared at her friend. Last time I ask you that question. "Sweetie?"
"Umm." The unicorn's face turned all red. "No, no interesting dreams here. Not for weeks. Months! Not in months!" She smiled guiltily, sweat forming on her forehead.
"So none of you had any nightmares?" Scootaloo ignored her. "Being changed by clouds or devoured by trees?" Both shook their heads. So much for that idea. Whatever it is, only I'm affected.
"Scoots, maybe it's because of..." Sweetie Belle started hesitantly. "Because of you know what?" she whispered as she moved closer. Scootaloo arched a brow. "Your wings." An even fainter whisper came through.
"Really, Sweetie?" Way to make me feel way worse Belle! "We've been through this! I know I'll never get to fly, so I—"
"Not that." The unicorn pulled Scootaloo's wing with her magic. "That."
Scootaloo turned white. One of her feathers was wilting. Dry and drained of colour, it stood among the others like a broken branch. The pegasus' heart stopped. A dream. She desperately started checking her hooves. Just another dream!
"Err, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle took a few steps back. "What are you doing?"
"Just a dream!" Scootaloo glanced at the nearest book, then flipped the page. "Just a dream!" Im not losing my feathers! I am not! She kept turning the pages to and fro, but nothing changed. The text was exactly the same morning geography nonsense they had gone through the entire morning.
"Scootal—" Apple Bloom began, but Scootaloo pushed her out of the way, dashing for the door.
He said it was related to dreams, thoughts raced though her mind. Or did I come up with that? At this point it was impossible to tell. The only thing she knew for certain that he mentioned nightmares and her loosing her feathers. There was nopony she could go to regarding her plumage loss, yet there was one who knew dreams.
"Hey, watch it!" some pony yell, as Scootaloo nearly dashed through him. Even without her scooter, she was a force to be reckoned with.
The near-accident didn't even cause her to flinch. Speeding on, she went straight for the castle. Spike, Princess Twilight, I hope you are there! Scootaloo banged on the door, lacking breath to even call out. Please open. She paused to catch her breath. There was no telling how much time she had left. A quick look at her wing revealed that the tip of another feather had started to lose colour. Anither? In five minutes?!
"Princess!" Scootaloo croaked, still gasping for air. "Please open—"
Her wish was instantly fulfilled. The door opened, causing to lose balance, plopping on the floor, right in front of Twilight's hooves.
"Hello, Scootaloo," the alicorn smiled, politeness mixed with confusion. "Nice of you to drop by."
Please not with the puns. Scootaloo groaned on the inside. "Is Spike here?" She jumped to her hooves eagerly. "Can I see him?"
"Calm down." Twilight levitated the filly back. "Spike is on business in Canterlot." Scootaloo's ears drooped. "But surely I can help you if there's anything," Twilight quickly added. "I am quite knowledgable in a vast number of areas and—"
"Nightmares," Scootaloo said firmly.
"Nightmares?" Twilight twisted her lip as she thought. "Nightmares," she repeated sagely. "Not exactly my area of expertise, but that's what libraries are for!"
A flash of her harm and the two were instantly transported there. The experience made Scootaloo slightly nauseous. Is all teleportation like this? She leaned against the nearest bookshelf for support.
"So, what exactly did you wish to o now about Nightmares?" Twilight began surrounding herself with books. "History? Definitions? Reasons? The Mare in the Moon?"
"How can I talk with Nightmares?" The filly jumped to the side, avoiding a large Rome that levitated its way to Twilight.
"Talking to Nightmares? Interesting that you would mention that." Twilight moved the mass of the books aside, levitating one open. "I remember Lina sharing a fascinating account about beings in the dreamscape. Dream Ponies, they were called." Pages flipped wildly. "I don't remember if they were nightmares or if they lived among nightmares. I really must ask her again next time I see her... Ah, here we go! It is speculated that there is a tribe of ponies that lives in the dream world. Unlike other ponies, they cannot enter the material world and can only communicate with other ponies in their dreams. Hmm. It's a bit unclear who's exactly dreaming."
Communicate in dreams? That sounded frighteningly similar to what the strange stallion had done. Both times Scootaloo had spoken to him she had been asleep. Maybe, if she tries a third time he would appear as well? Yet he had said she'd have to find him on her own.
"Can I borrow that book, Princess Twilight?" Scootaloo asked eagerly.
"Please, don't start with the Princess thing," the alicorn said annoyed. "And of course you could borrow the—"
"Thanks, Twilight!" Scootaloo grabbed the book and rushed out of the library. Sorry, but I don't have any time She glanced at her wing. Three feathers had wilted. I must get in the dream world and find that dream pony. How, thought? She couldn't get home, or to the CMC clubhouse. The girls would probably go there right after school. Carousel Boutique and Sweet Apple Acres were also out of the question. Sugarcube Corners was too noisy...
Her uncertainty growing with every step, Scootaloo stopped running. She needed a moment to think. I could go to Fluttershy's cottage, she mused, sitting on the ground to get some rest. But knowing how she'd react, I'm not sure. She is a pegasus, and good with animals, so she might be able to help me. I think.
"Don't count on it," the amber stallion said beside her. "She's as clueless as the rest."
"You?!" Scootaloo felt her mane stand on end. "How are you here? Are you supposed to..." she stopped. Slowly she opened the book she had borrowed from Twilight. The pages were blank. "I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
"You don't need tricks to tell you that," the stallion sighed deeply. "What am I going to do with you? Nearly of age and still clueless. I'm sorry Essence."
"I'm not clueless!" Scootaloo pouted. "And don't act as if you know everything!"
"If you think it's an act." He shrugged.
"Just tell me what's wrong me with so I fix it and get home!" I still don't trust you! For all I know you could still be the one causing my feather loss! "My parents are probably worried, and—"
"Your parents are dead." Never before had Scootaloo heard something as significant be said in such a dismissive fashion. Falling silent, she looked at the stallion expectantly. "Your parents, your real parents were killed by the nightmares, Essence. Those who you think are your parents, are nothing more than a couple that adopted you outside the dreamworld."
"But..." Scootaloo felt a lump form in her throat. "That can't be possible! You are making this up! You don't know what you're talking about!"
"I know perfectly well what I'm saying." He shook his body. Large transparent wings grew out of his sides. They were bigger than any wings Scootaloo had seen. "I know because I brought you here, Essence. Just as I promised your mother... and my sister."
"You're my uncle?" Scootaloo gasped. Does that mean I get to have wings like those? Let me see anypony make fun of me then! I'll be able to go to Cloudsdale and back in, like, one minute! "Year, right!" Despite the temptation there was no way she would believe such a story. "I know I'm not adopted! I've seen photos and everything."
"Such limited thinking," the stallion sighed. "Let's take care of your wings first."
Scootaloo tensed up. In her mind she was imagining bright lights and powerful magic, maybe even the rainbow Twilight and her friends often used. Instead, the stallion bonked her on the head.
"Hey!" She recoiled back. There was hardly any pain at all, but the action felt unpleasant. "What'd you do that for?"
"Just look at your wings." His annoyance was starting to show.
She did. All feathers were in place and in perfect condition. Whatever he had done seemed to have an affect. Unless, of course, it was an illusion. Cautiously, Scootaloo spanned her wings and flapped several times.
"How do I know I'll be like this outside the dream?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Essence, if I wanted you crippled I wouldn't have gone through all the trouble to find you." By the looks of him, it wasn't obvious whether he regretted his decision or not. "Not that you bothered to do anything about them yourself. You had more spirit in you when you were five. Look at you now, a pathetic excuse of a dream. If your parents were alive, they—"
"My parents are alive!" Scootaloo couldn't keep her rage. To her astonishment, it manifested as a flaming gust of wind, destroying everything it touched. Buildings were reduced to ash as the wave passed through them continuing to the horizon. The sky melted out of existence, even the ground collapsed into an endless white.
The stallion didn't seem impressed. With a single he removed the gathered flames off his body. The annoyance with which he did it, made it look as if he was shaking off mud. A blink of the eye later, Scootaloo found herself lying on the floor of Twilight's library.
Not this again! She groaned. I don't want to relive things twice! not when I can't tell the difference between reality and a dream!
"Truly magnificent!" Twilight said, a giant book obscuring her face. "Also, there are a few things mentioned in Starswirl's correspondence with Clover. If it is to be believed, he actually got to meet an entire herd of dream ponies and even became friends with one. Naturally, some researches argue that was all metaphors and the event never took place. But only imagine if they were real!"
"Umm, thanks, Twilight, but I think I should be going." Why do my legs feel so stiff? "It's getting late." And my parents are probably worried.
"Late? But we just started?" Twilight emerged from her book fort. "You were so eager just a moment ago..."
I bet. A minute for you reading means a day for the rest of Equestria. Mom is probably worried crazy by now. The girls as well. Do I have lots of explaining to— She made an attempt to step forward, but stumbled on the ground instead. This was unexpected. Never before had her legs just spontaneously given up on her.
"Scootaloo, what's wrong?" There was alarm in Twilight's voice. Why are my hooves like jelly? The pegasus lifted one of them, then slowly pressed it into her face. So soft... Her mouth twisted in a smile. Moments later, everything lost form.
* * *
"You can fight it!" the colt shouted. Blue sparks passed through his white mane. "It'll devour you!"
"That's for me to worry about," the mare said patiently. She was twice his size and, unlike him, covered in a magnificent mist of molten gold. "You just make sure Essence is safe."
"But he'll destroy you!" The colt wouldn't back down. "I don't care what Mesmer says! The nightmare is way too strong for—"
"Whisper!" The mare's coat flashed a warning.
Why are they yelling at each other? Scootaloo wondered. She knew they had always been close, although Whisper did have a nasty temper. Everything he did was to impress his sister. Even the stupid things. This time, it seemed different. Scootaloo couldn't understand why all of them were so tense. Even her father stood beside her, not saying a word.
"Go get ready," the mare said through her teeth. "You will take Essence away and that is final!"
"See if I care!" Whisper shouted and jumped into the air.
Scootaloo watched him enter a passing dream and vanish from view. I hope he's not upset. She liked Whisper. They would often play when her parents were away, riding through the dreamscape, or exploring dreams. Once, Whisper had even shown her nightmares in the distance. Worried, Scootaloo turned towards her father. He patted her gently on the head.
"I hate it when he's like this!" Scootaloo's mother stomped on the ground with her forehoof. A flaming cradle emerged from nothingness.
"He'll come back," Mesmer said calmly. "It's against his nature to disappoint you. Even if you lied to him."
"He doesn't need to know," the mare carefully picked up Scootaloo with her mist and placed her into the cradle. "Why worry him with the inevitable."
* * *
Scootaloo's head was thumping. Feels worse than that me time I ran into a brick wall. She stirred. Something was restricting her movement, and it felt soft. Oh Celestia, not another dream! There had been far too many of those, so many that she wasn't even sure that last week had even been real. What if her entire life had been a dream? What if Everything was just my imagination? Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, my cutie-mark, even Ponyville.
"Thank you, Mister!" She spat out every word. Could I get back to worrying about puberty, please? She opened her eyes.
A hospital room. This never was a good start. Moving her head, Scootaloo tried to get a better idea of her surroundings. A few empty chairs, a nightstand, a bed—everything expected from a place like this. Fortunately, no IV solution.
"Hello?" Scootaloo said as loud as she cloud. "I'm awake." After the amount of times she had woken up here, she had determined this to be the best approach. Then again, she usually knew the reason for her visit.
Seconds later passed in silence, then the door swung open and the room was filled with ponies. In the instants of freedom, Scootaloo managed to recognize her parents, the CMC, their sisters, as well as Rainbow Dash, who had come in her Wonderbolt uniform. So coo—
"Orange!" her mother shouted, making Scootaloo blush with shame. Not in front of Rainbow Dash, Mon! You're making me look lame. "Thank the clouds you are alright! When Princess Twilight told us you were ill, we were so worried!"
"I'm fine, Mom." The filly tried to push her mother's wing away. "Why am I here?"
"You fainted in Twilight's library, squirt," Rainbow explained. Scootaloo could tell she was worried as well, despite trying to remain cool and collected. "What have I told you about eating and sleeping properly? Skipping breakfast and lunch? Missing sleep for two nights in a row?" Four, Scootaloo corrected. "You're lucky you're not a Wonderbolt yet, or I'd have you..." Her words trailed off as she ruffled the filly's mane. Best near-big sister ever!
"So I fainted, huh?" Scootaloo asked. That was one possible explanation, thought in light of recent events, not a very convincing one. Bet it has something to do with dream walking stallion.
"Isn't that enough?" Her mother frowned. "Were you hoping it to be something more serious?"
Scootaloo was just about to answer, when Nurse Redheart entered the room. With a glance and a cough she quickly managed to bring silence, get everypony outside, and make Scootaloo feel guilty for being here yet again. The irony if it was, that this time it really wasn't the filly's fault.
"Silver Lining's gotten old," a voice said. A stallion was sitting in one if the chairs nearby. His coat and mane were a shimmering blue. The voice, however, was quite familiar. "Didn't think she'd remain attached to you for so long."
"Great... you're back." With a grumble, Scootaloo turned to the other side of the bed. Which means this is another dream. I'm really starting to get tired of them.
"Then stop playing around a come with me!" the stallion said sharply. "I need to prepare you. You're no use weak."
"Hey, now!" If this is a dream, it means I'm in no pain. It also means I can do anything I choose. A flap of her wings and she was sitting on the bed. Another and a bowl of caramelized tulips appeared beside her. Two can play at that game! "Who says I'm weak?"
"I do." The bowl vanished replaced by a block of ice. "You think the nightmares will be as kind? Essence, they'll shred you to pieces before you get a chance to think. If you want to avenge your parents everything must come naturally."
"Again with my parents thing! I told you I'm not adopted!" Scootaloo expected her reaction to be as destructive as the last time she yelled in a dream. Instead nothing happened. The room, the extremely fake room, remained just as it was, the annoying dream pony sitting nesrby.
"You're doing yourself no favors denying it."
"Look! They were right here. Well, no because this is a dream, but I know my parents! They've been taking care of me since I was a filly."
"Ask them." For the first time the stallion smiled. "Go ahead and ask them. Shatter this dream, return home, and see what they tell you."
There it was again, that feeling of uncertainty that made her stomach twist and turn. Until this morning Scootaloo had been certain Silver Lining and Night Rider were her parents. Even now she was convinced that they were. But what if she was wrong? For one thing she also remembered having another set of parents. Could those have been real? Or was she just going crazy?
"They'll prove I'm right!" The filly jumped to the ground. "You'll see. And then you'll leave me alone!"
"Show me and I will." He nodded in agreement. "Now shatter it."
Shatter the dream. Scootaloo looked at her hoof. It didn't sound difficult. I just have to focus. Taking a deep breath, she slammed it into the floor. A thin line emerged, passing through ceiling, walls and everything else in its way, including the stallion himself. Scootaloo waited for something to happen. Nothing did.
"Come on!" she shouted. "Why doesn't anything cool happen when I d—"
A deafening crack split the room into oblivion. Sure! Now it works!
"Scootaloo? Scootaloo! Are you alright?" The filly felt somepony shaking her. Opening her eyes, she focused on the still blurry purple face. Twilight "Thank the stars! You had me worried!" The alicorn hugged her tightly, making Scootaloo instantly regret she wasn't in hospital.
"Okay?" She attempted to break free.
"Have you been eating well? I think there are some leftovers in the kitchen."
Enough with the eating already! "Thanks, Twilight, but I really need to get going. My parents are probably worried about me." This sounds so familiar. Have I said it before?
"Yes, that's perfectly understandable." Twilight nodded like a responsible parent, which she wasn't. "Do you want me to teleport you home? That way you can be sure you don't faint again on the way back,"
"No!" Scootaloo nearly screamed. "I'll walk... Thanks, Princess!" She dashed out of the library before Twilight could change her mind. Dreams, teleportation spells, there really was no telling which was worse.
Talk about the most messed up day ever, Scootaloo thought as she rushed out of the castle. And it was only going to get worse. Ponies passed by her, yet even now she couldn't tell how many of them she actually knew. She looked at Derpy gathering letters from the ground and shoving them into her saddlebag. The mailmare had been doing that for years. Ever since Scootaloo was old enough to go to school on her own, she would see the clumsy pegasus get in one mess or another... And there were the flower ponies. Scootaloo never missed an occasion to snatch a flower zooming by on her scooter. Their flowers always tasted fresh and sweet, just as the filly liked them. Were those mares part of her imagination? There was no way of knowing.
The walk home felt far faster than she had hoped. Standing in front of the door, Scootaloo stared blankly at it, afraid to continue. Okay, now what? I wake them up and go "Mom, Dad, am I adopted?" She cringed at the thought. There was no right way to ask such things. To make matters worse, she was absolutely sure they'd take it the wrong way. A long talk about puberty would follow, them the dreaded "birds and the bees."
Maybe I'll wait just a minute longer. The minute became five, then ten, then thirty. When the sun finally set, Scootaloo knew she could delay no more. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. A strong smell of pineapple hit her right in the muzzle. Her mother was making her favourite—caramelized roasted pineapple with mango trimmings. That made the filly's task all the more difficult.
"Hello, Mom." She entered the kitchen. Her father was there as well, getting ready for his shift. "Dad," the filly added, going to her seat.
"Hello, Orange." The usual happy greeting. "You're a bit late. Had fun with your friends?"
"Err, yes. Yes, Mom." She stared blankly at t he table in front of her. No! Can't do this! A plate with steaming pineapple slices was placed in front of her. Seconds later her mother tapped her gently on the back.
"Eat up. I don't know when I'll have the time to make this again," Silver Lining said. "I'll be starting work on next season's planning, and with the increased farmland in Equestria weather patterns will keep me busy for a while."
"Okay." Scootaloo took a bite. Nice, crisp and sugary. "Mom, Dad, can I ask you something?"
Both her parents looked at her. Damn it, "Uncle"! Why did you have to put me thought this? A few seconds passed in silence and stillness. Scootaloo hoped that one of they would say something, anything to make her change her mind. Instead, they waited patiently.
"Am I..." This is really, really stupid! "Do I have an uncle?" She changed her question. And I wonder why Apple Bloom calls me chicken. I can't even ask one simple question!
"Uncle?" Night Rider glanced at his wife before turning back to Scootaloo. "No, Princess, you don't. You do have an aunt, but she's never come visit us."
"Oh." Scootaloo looked back down at her plate.
"Is anything the matter, dear?" Her mother asked. "You have been behaving strange all morning."
"It's just that—"Come on, me! Just spit it out!"—I had a dream last night. And in it Mayor Mayer told me I was actually adopted."
"Is that it?" The relief in Silver Lining's voice could be felt throughout the entire room. "Oh, Orange, we all have nightmares sometimes. You should have just told us." She went to the filly and gave her a wing hug. "Of course you are our child. I had you right in Ponyville Hospital. Your father was a nervous wreck, of course."
"Right, right." Night Rider nodded tensely.
"You really have nothing to worry about. It's normal to have these thoughts. Just a normal stage of puberty."
"I guess so." There we go again. Also, in your face, "Uncle!" That was that. She wasn't adopted. Everything she thought was real, was indeed real. Now she could go back to her normal teenage life, and pretend this never happened... Except she couldn't. If everything was as nice and simple, then why was she having these strange dreams? "I'll go to bed early." She suddenly left the table. "I'm not feeling to well."
Nopony stopped her as she went to her room. Nopony even said a word. Not that she could imagine that they would. After such an awkward conversation she was lucky they didn't start yelling at her, or crying. Seeing her parents crying would have been worse.
"Buck you to the moon!" She flopped on her bed. "Told you they are my real parents!"
"Everypony lies," the familiar voice said above her.
"Go away!" Scootaloo buried her face in the pillow. I didn't even feel falling asleep.
"You aren't asleep. Just slowly remembering things," the voice said. "Far too slowly, though."
"Can't you just leave me alone?!" Scootaloo felt her anger envelop her like a flame. "You say I am, they say I'm not! Who do I trust?"
"Not yourself, that's for sure." Scootaloo grit her teeth. She really hated him right now. "How about I ask her?" the voice suggested.
"Huh?" The filly hunted around. How is that even... You know what, I don't even care anymore! Sure, why not?
The instant she thought about it, her room disappeared replaced by a lush cloud meadow. Whiteness extended as far as the eye could see, occasionally broken by a patch of rose bushes. Looking in amazement, Svootaloo was sure of two things: she had no idea where she was, and she really hated when others read her thoughts and acted on them without permission.
"Your mother's dream," the stallion said. He was in his winged firm again, this time entirely white with flickers of blue lightning rushing through his mane. "Not very imaginative. She's been having it ever before she adopted you."
"I'm telling you—"
"That gazebo over there." He pointed his hoof towards something that Scootaloo could have sworn didn't exist a moment ago. "That's where she's at. How about we have a word with her?"
Scootaloo so much wanted to say no, yet her muzzle help like lead. As monstrous as it was, part of her actually wanted to witness the conversation. She could blame the dream pony all she wanted, she could blame the dream they were in, the nightmares she had been having, but all that would be a lie. She wanted to know.
"Will you pull the gazebo here, or must I?" the stallion asked annoyed.
"What's in it?"
"Your mother, of course."
"If my mother was there, you would have just brought her here," Scotaloo said. "There's something you want me to see inside. What is it?"
Her reaction made the stallion smile. "Will you look at that? Little Essence is starting to think, after all." He stomped on the cloud ground, causing the gazebo instantly moved in front of them. "Answers. Go inside and you'll learn everything."
Scootaloo hesitated. The gazebo looked empty. There was no sign of her mother, or anything else, for that matter. The feels could see right through it. Then why was she so afraid? It was only wood after all. Wood in a dream that she had full control over. Trembling, her hoof moved up, then stepped on the wooden floor of the gazebo.
There's a trick. With you there always is a trick. Question is, what exactly is—
"Infertile!" The ghostly image of a mare appeared. "I am Infertile! The words were soaked with sadness.
"I'll get us an audience with the Princess." Another ghostly figure appeared, this one a stallion. "She'll be able to—"
"If she could, don't you think somepony would have mentioned it by now?!" the mare snapped in anger.
Mother? Father? Scootaloo wanted to take a step back, but her hooves had glued to the floor. What in Tartarus are you making me watch? There was no doubt, these were her parents, a much younger version of them, at least. They were having an argument before her very eyes, an argument as how to go on with their lives.
"No!" Scootaloo shouted. "I don't want to watch this!"
"Hey, you two!" A colt appeared. He was much younger, but in him Scootaloo recognized her uncle. No, not just her uncle. It was Whisper, the same that had looked after her in the dreamscape. On his back was a cradle of living fire. "You want a baby, right?
"What are you?!" Scootaloo's father asked. "How did you appear like that?
"Make it stop!" Scootaloo turned to look away, but Whisper's older self pushed her head back towards the scene.
"You must watch it to the end," he said firmly, as the scene unfolded. "A desperate childless couple, a foolish colt that made a promise to his sister. Don't turn away! Look as the offer is made!"
"She's not safe place for her in the dreamscape," the younger Whisper urged. "But you can hide her in reality.
"No!" Scootaloo's father refused.
"Yes! Scootaloo's mother said at the same time. It wasn't a surprise that her views wouldn't match his. "We can't have a child, she put her hoof in Night Rider's. And the dream will die if we don't help her.
"Silver, I won't let you give birth to a dream..." Night spoke the words, but it was clear he had lost. It was written all over his face.
Scootaloo's head was pounding again. The more she watched, the more memories flooded her mind. Memories she had left in the dreamscape. And they hurt so much! As if somepony had torn a tree in two and tried to put it back together again ten years later.
"I could have stopped him," the older Whisper said. "But I didn't. I was an idiot who just wanted to get rid of you for what you did to my sister." A glint of cold hatred flashed in the corner of his eye. "By giving birth to you she made herself nightmare bait. In whatever dream she'd go the nightmares would follow. Until the day she decided to stop running." Tears were running down Scootaloo's cheeks. However, that didn't stop Whisper from continuing. "That's why I searched for a childless, desperate pair. I wanted to get rid of you, to cast you into reality. And I did."
"I wasn't born here," Scootaloo sobbed despite herself. All the tears the five-year old dream had kept locked for fifteen years now wanted to get out. "I was adopted..."
"You were both. Adopted and born into reality thought those two," he pointed at the ghostly couple. "That's why your wings don't grow. Reality can't handle them, so it doesn't allow them to exist. That's why you rarely talk with anypony about your parents; because you know they are not your real ones."
The dream scene came to its conclusion. Scootaloo watched as the younger Whisper gave the fiery cradle to her mother, her adoptive mother, then vanished out of existence. That was Scootaloo in there, sixteen years ago, an year before she was born in Ponyville. She remembered how scared she had felt, but also how strongly she trusted her uncle. She remembered thinking he would never do her harm.
"Why?" she asked. "Why do this to me? I believed in you! Do you have me so much that you want to cast me out of reality as well? I was happy before you came! My greatest fears were would I be able to fly and how would I survive puberty. I didn't need this! I didn't need any of if! I would have remained simple Scootaloo and nothing more!"
"And you would have destroyed yourself." Whisper removed his hoof from her face. "Until you remembered how to be Essence, you would have kept sending nightmares to yourself until they devoured your mind." He stepped away, not wanting to look her in the eye. "I made a promise and I kept it. You are safe now. The nightmares won't bother you again."
"But what am I?" She kicked the ground. The gazebo instantly disappeared. "What am I, Whisper? Am I an a pony or a dream? Am I an orphan or not? How can I tell anymore?"
Looking over his shoulder, the stallion smiled. "Such limited thinking," he said softly. "You are both."
