> Scootaloo the Fugitive
>  by Kaidan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1. Escape from Silent Knoll
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scootaloo swerved down an alleyway, narrowly avoiding a trash can. Nearing the end of the alley, she tucked in her right wing. Banking hard right and beating her left wing, she managed a near ninety degree turn, and then sped off down the sidewalk. She had never run from anything half as fast as she was fleeing now. The rain beat against her and threatened to ruin her plans of escape. The train station was just down the road, and the police colts would be clearing the alleyway soon. Looking around, she saw a group of earth ponies and swerved towards it. Putting them between her and the police, she sped downhill towards the train out of Canterlot.

The train station had several trains awaiting departure, and Scootaloo sped towards the nearest one. Several ponies were no doubt watching her, as she could buzz quite loudly when riding her scooter. With expert precision, she banked right again and boarded the first train, then banked left. Water was flung off her hair and wings onto several nearby passengers as she barreled down the aisle. Nearing the end of the car, she banked right and exited the train, then slowed down. Much more discreetly, she boarded the next train and headed towards the sleeper car. Once there she walked into one of the cabins, and crawled under the bed.

Clutching the scooter tight, she shivered in a puddle of cold rainwater. Her fur was drenched from mane to tail, and her wings were numb from slicing through the cold air. Her heart felt ready to burst, and it was all she could do to control her breathing. She heard someone approaching the cabin, then the door slid open and a pony walked in. The other pony flung two suitcases on top of the bed, and then flung themselves onto the bed in the far corner of the cabin. The pony yawned and adjusted her purple sunglasses on her head.  

Scootaloo had never seen a pony with such white fur, or such amazing blue hair. Suddenly she realized she had been holding her breath, and gasped to soothe her screaming lungs. A wave of shivering hit her as her body tried to warm itself back up. Were it not for the sunglasses, she would have realized the mare had been staring at her out of the corner of her eye.

Vinyl saw a small orange Pegasus quivering under the bench across from her. Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and she was clutching a scooter so hard that her hooves were turning white from lack of circulation. Vinyl didn't move since the filly looked like a terrorized, cornered animal. While she sat there wondering what could terrorize a young filly so badly, she heard a knock on the door. A grey mare and a police colt slowly opened the door.

"Good evening ma'am, we're here with Gerda who runs an orphanage downtown. Have you seen an orange pegasus on the train?" The police colt looked polite, however Gerda's stare pierced Vinyl like daggers.

"Hah! Do I look like I've seen an orange filly? I just got done DJ'ing at Club Dredgemane. The only thing I want to see is some vodka and cranberry juice." Vinyl kept her head still, letting her eyes move around behind the safety of the sunglasses. The orange filly in the corner was frozen like a statue.

"Ugh so that's what smells? You're drenched in alcohol you bumbling fool. And no one said anything about a filly, so step aside Officer. I'm going to check out this car." Gerda stepped forward into the cabin, only to be stopped by an irate Vinyl.

Wobbling a little, and making sure to exhale right into her face, Vinyl stared at the grey mare. "I don't know who YOU are but I'm DJ Pon3! One call to my agent and I could get you both fired! Now get the hay out of my cabin!" Vinyl's horn glowed purple, and a subwoofer buried in her suitcase began blasting wubs into the small cabin.

"Why . . . . degenerate . . . . . drunken . . . ." The mare's grey face was now red, flush with equal parts blood and anger, as she expressed her hatred for the young DJ.

"What's that grandma? I can't hear you over the wubs!" Vinyl pushed the two out into the hallway and slammed the door shut, locking it. The grey mare looked livid and ready to strangle Vinyl. The police colt nodded his head politely as they headed towards the next cabin.

The train started moving fifteen minutes later, and Vinyl switched the wubstep off. She and the young filly still lay on opposite corners of the car. While Vinyl had waited for the train to start moving, she thought the filly might be dead. The poor thing hadn't moved a muscle in 15 minutes.

"Why?" Vinyl glanced at the orange filly that she thought just spoke. The filly was still curled up there under the bench.

"Why what kid?" Vinyl turned her head so the filly would know she was looking at her.

"Why'd you lie for me?"

"Would you believe I used to be an orphan too kid? Before I got famous, of course. Also, I wouldn't give that old hag the time of day. She looked like she had some serious daddy issues." Vinyl thought she heard a soft chuckle from the orange filly.

Vinyl's horn lit up and she began rummaging through her two suit cases. Amongst the wires, speakers, and other equipment she was looking for a dust rag. It was about four feet by four feet, and Vinyl used it to clean up messes and keep dust off the equipment. Luckily tonight, she hadn't been pelted by any beer bottles so it was relatively clean. She floated the old rag down in front of the filly.

The filly pushed the rag away. "I can take care of myself."

"I didn't say you couldn't kid. Why don't you dry off and get warm, it's a long way to Ponyville."

The filly finally relaxed, releasing her death grip on the scooter. She pulled the rag towards her and dried off, then wrapped the damp rag around herself in an effort to warm up. "So you gonna turn me in at Ponyville?"

"Depends kid, why did you run away?"





Scootaloo remembered when it had all begun, when she had gotten to the orphanage run by Gerda the Kind.

In the tiny yard of the Silent Knoll orphanage, Scootaloo sat in a corner hoping to avoid the other foals. The yard was barely three feet by eight feet and full of dead grass, so they didn't often look for her back here. She sat hugging her knees in the corner, remembering a time of warmth and happiness. A few months ago, she had two loving parents who always smiled. Now all she had was a scooter and a helmet, rusting under her bed from disuse.

"Hey guys, let's check back here. BAWK. bawk bawk BAWK! Come 'ere chicken!" A burly colt walked into the yard, he had large muscles for a colt his age. "Hey guys I found the chicken!"

Scootaloo growled at him. "Leave me alone Boulder."

"What are ya gonna do? Cry to Gerda? She can't keep you locked in your room forever, chicken." Boulder was joined by a unicorn filly and earth filly.

"Want to see a new magic trick?" The unicorn's horn began to glow, and Scootaloo struggled to stay seated. The unicorn was trying to force her down to the ground.

Cracking his neck, Boulder stepped forward. "Looks like I get to do this the hard way, chicken. Now let's see if you've laid us any eggs!" Boulder walked right up to the filly and hit her with the back of his hoof, then pinned her to the ground.

Scootaloo lay there in the dead grass, crying in embarrassment. The three foals were laughing at her and poking at her wings. All of Scootaloo's primary feathers had been chopped off half-way by Gerda. It was a punishment for Scootaloo attempting to fly over the wall of the yard and escape. Gerda promised that from now on, her wings would be clipped regularly. If Scootaloo tried to escape again, Gerda would remove her pinion joint so she could never grow a primary feather again.

Those had been some of the worst days of her life, but she had escaped, and she had learned to fend for herself.





"Wow kid, and I thought I had it rough. My name's Vinyl, what's yours?" Vinyl looked down at the orange filly, but she had passed out and was snoring softly. "Good idea kid." Vinyl eased herself onto a pillow and counted whiskey bottles until she fell asleep.
> 2. It's Always Sunny in Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo was woken up by a sudden jolt, causing her to bump her head. Opening her eyes, the last images from her dreams faded. Bright light poured into the cabin of the train, and Scootaloo quickly remembered what had happened. She had finally escaped from the orphanage! She would be able to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. As she slid out and gathered her scooter and improvised blanket, she saw the white mare from last night in front of her.

The white mare was passed out and snoring loudly, oblivious to the world around her. Scootaloo unlocked the door and opened it slowly. With a quick glance down the hallways, she saw a few ponies getting up and exiting the train. The signs outside the window said "Ponyville Central Station" in large block letters. Quietly closing the door behind her, she exited the train and stepped out into the warmth of Celestia's sun.

Standing there on the platform, she could feel the infinite possibilities stretching out before her. She would never have to eat dry oats twice a day again. She could run and play, or nap in the sun. She could make friends who wouldn't bully her. Most importantly, she would never have her wings clipped by an old hag again. All she had ever wanted or needed since her parent's passed away was her scooter and the thrill of speed.

Looking around, she realized it was a fairly large village and she had no idea which way to go. She loosened the straps of her helmet, which had been fastened to her head all night. Stepping up on the scooter, she stretched out her wings. A gentle breeze ruffled the feathers, causing them to twitch slightly in joy. A few of her primaries hadn't grown back in yet. Once the majority of them had started to reach full length, she had moved forward with her escape. Now they would all finish growing in, and she might even be able to fly one day.

With a buzz she began beating her wings in the only way she knew how. The air currents around her wings propelled her forward towards Ponyville.





Scootaloo eventually found her way to town square, buzzing along and dodging many ponies and stalls. She had taken her scooter out in Canterlot a couple times before being sent to the orphanage, but the snooty ponies there yelled at her for going so fast. Here everyone seemed friendly, and aside from nearly running over a few of them, didn't mind her rocketing down the roads at unsafe velocities.

Scootaloo pulled over for a minute when she smelled something delicious baking. Every sweet scent she could imagine floated out of a building labeled "Sugarcube Corner." Her mouth was watering and her stomach began to rumble. It had been awhile since she ate, and she considered stealing something to eat. Looking inside several ponies were sitting around enjoying their snacks. It wouldn't do her any good to get caught stealing, in fact she'd end up right back at the orphanage with Gerda if that happened.   

With a sigh, Scootaloo walked the scooter around the corner and got ready to continue exploring. Something in the cloud above her caught her eye. The fluffy white cloud seemed to have grown a prismatic tail. She had never seen such beautiful colors, were they really attached to somepony? Watching in awe, a yellow pegasus with a pink mane landed on the cloud. She looked worried, pointing into the distance and trying to get the other pony to wake up. After a brief exchange, the cloud disintegrated as a rainbow colored blur shot into the distance. The yellow pegasus nearly fell to the ground when the cloud vanished, and then gave pursuit.

"Wow, that was so awesome!" Scootaloo looked around and everypony seemed to have missed the spectacle of the rainbow mare.

Bringing her wings up to full speed, she took off in the direction of the blur. Before long, she had reached rows of apple trees beyond the edge of town. Just beyond the apple orchard, was an unruly forest with menacing looking trees. Something in the dark forest reflected the sunlight into her eyes and caught her attention. Resuming her buzzing, she zoomed off towards the dark forest.

About a hundred feet into the forest there was a run-down barn. The weather vane from the roof had fallen off and landed in the ground. This must have been what Scootaloo had seen as a glint of light. Pulling the weather vane inside with her mouth, she put it out of sight and looked around. The wood was weathered and planks were missing here and there. The wood had not begun to rot, and most of the planks were still attached to the walls. There was a ladder up to a small loft, and a few bales of hay that had mostly rotted and turned to mulch.

Climbing up the old ladder, she found the floor was surprisingly intact. Aside from beams of sunlight piercing through the roof, this would be a perfect place to sleep.

Scootaloo climbed back down and took inventory of what else was in the barn. There were some old tools, some loose planks of wood, and a couple buckets. She stashed the blanket from the mare on the train behind a bale of hay. Her stomach began rumbling again, so she stepped back on the scooter and headed for the grove of apple trees. The whole time she was in the barn, a pair of green eyes watched from the bushes.

Once she had reached the farm it was easy to get over the small fence. Up above her were some of the most delicious looking apples she had ever seen. Scootaloo was against stealing, it's how many orphans got caught after escaping. It also meant admitting she couldn't take care of herself and earn the food. Her stomach rumbled and growled, disagreeing with Scootaloo's ethics in favor of a juicy morsel.

There were so many apple trees that nopony would know if she took a couple to eat. Scootaloo walked up to the tree and tried hitting it with her hooves a couple times, but none of the apples budged. She then spun around and bucked it with all her might, and it still didn't move an inch. Unfastening her helmet, she threw it up at one of the apples. After a few more tries, she had managed to knock an apple off. 

Greedily consuming the scrumptious morsel, she failed to notice a large shadow approaching her from behind.

"What have ah told you fillies 'bout stealin' apples?"

Scootaloo jumped, and turned wide-eyed to face an orange mare wearing a tan stetson.

"Come on now, ah came to Cherilee's class and told ya'll to stop sneakin' onto mah farm."

"Sorry. I'm uh. . . new in town. I didn't know." Scootaloo looked back at her helmet and scooter and began to inch towards them. "So I'll just get off your farm--"

"Not so fast, who are your parents?" 

Scootaloo paused at the mention of her parents as a wave of emotions hit her.





Scootaloo had a happy childhood in Canterlot. Despite the fact that she had been small for her age, she had two loving parents. Her mother was on the Canterlot weather team. She had long held an important position as the blue team leader. Her father worked at the rainbow factory, and commuted to Cloudsdale every day.

Thinking of them, and the comfort of their love, had gotten her through many lonely nights in the orphanage. She had also begun to resent them, blaming them for placing themselves in harm's way. They had died, leaving her alone in a dark, cruel world to fend for herself. Scootaloo had dropped her last name, and had sworn she would take care of herself.





"Nimbus and Autumn Rain." Scootaloo looked at the mare who finally cracked a grin to relieve some of the tension.

"Well now, if ah catch ya sneakin' round the farm again, Ah'll have to go have a talk with your parents. My name's Applejack and ah own this farm." Applejack bucked the tree with enough force to knock down a single apple. She caught it with a hoof, then tossed it to the stunned filly. "Next time, ya'll should try askin' nicely if ya want an apple. Fillies who steal things will end up in lots of trouble."

Scootaloo managed half a smile. "Thanks ma'am" She quickly gathered her helmet and scooter, and headed for the forest with the apple balanced on the handlebar between her hooves.

"HOLD IT! Ya'll can't go in that forest, that's the everfree. It's far too dangerous for fillies." 

Turning around, Scootaloo saw Applejack had closed the distance to a few paces behind her. "Oh I didn't know, thanks again!" Scootaloo turned and zoomed towards town. Once she was sure the orange mare wasn't watching, she circled back to her home in the forest.





Scootaloo spent most of the day cleaning up the abandoned barn. She carried all the hay that wasn't rotted up to the loft, to make a small bed. She had consolidated all the tools into one toolbox, they would come in handy to keep her scooter repaired. She stored the apple in a smaller lockbox and moved it up to the loft with the tools. In one corner she piled all the good wooden planks that had fallen from the roof. In another corner, she left the rest of the odds and ends she might be able to use. Resting her scooter against the wall, she climbed up into the loft.

Pacing around the bed, she tested all the boards by putting some extra weight on them. They seemed sturdy enough, and soon she laid down in the hay and pulled her blanket over her. It was already getting cold and dark as the sun set, and the moon rose high into the sky. She heard a soft rumbling in the distance, and identified it as thunder. It was likely going to rain tonight.

Curling up, she fell asleep and began to dream.





"Nice black eye chicken! Maybe tomorrow we can give you a matching one!" Boulder walked into his room as Gerda glared at him.

"Everyone get in bed, now! If I hear another peep out of you worthless urchins there will be no breakfast tomorrow!" Gerda came to Scootaloo's door, and Scootaloo fled to the safety of her bed. The door slammed closed, and a tumbler in the lock clicked into place. She was now locked in the dark room for the night.

Laying there, she heard a growling noise and smelt something foul. She heard something coming closer. "Boulder? Is that you?" She suddenly saw the pony step out of the shadows with the head of a wolf.





Scootaloo awoke with a start, and continued to hear the growling. Looking down through a small knot in the wood, she saw something crawling around in the bottom of the barn. It was comprised of twigs and branches, and emitted a foul odor. It had a ghastly green glow about it, and was sniffing the scooter and looking around. Scootaloo didn't need instinct to tell her what it was. It was a predator, and it had come for her. 

Laying there as silently as she could, she waited for the beast to leave. After several minutes that felt like hours, she felt a drop of water land on her head. It was nearly enough to make her scream in fright. Soon another drop, then another, fell upon her head. It had begun to rain, and the wolf-creature below left the barn to find better shelter. Scootaloo sighed with relief, now she was wet but safe. She'd have to fix the broken door on the barn tomorrow to keep predators out. For now, she'd try to sleep through the rain.


> 3. My Name is Sweetie Belle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The rain had let up by the time the sun came up. Scootaloo had spent the night trying to find a spot under the roof of the barn with no cracks for rain to trickle through. Eventually she settled for the corner of the loft in the barn. Curling up under the damp blanket, she fell asleep as the first rays of the sun fell on the barn. She was exhausted and fell into a deep dreamless sleep, waking up once the sun was high in the sky.

Scootaloo pushed the blanket off, and stretched her hind legs. The muscles tensed, and then relaxed sending a wave of euphoria over her. She repeated the process with her forelegs, and then walked to the edge of the loft. There was a plank of wood missing here, and Scootaloo could see the area in front of the barn. The bright glare of the sun was scattered by the thick forest canopy of the Everfree. Thorny bushes grew around the trees, choking out all other plant life. The trees had several gnarls on them, and other odd looking protrusions. Several trees looked like they had faces, and all of them shared a dark black bark. The narrow path to the barn was the only area the bushes and vines had not spread to.

Stepping back, Scootaloo stretched out her wings widely. Forcing her feathers apart as much as she could, she stiffened and relaxed her muscles. After several knots had been worked out of the wings, she approached the edge of the loft. It looked about ten feet above the ground, and she was feeling bold. Her wings began to hum loudly as she steeled herself. It's not that far I can totally glide down.

Scootaloo leaped off the loft and hovered for a couple seconds. Just as she began to smile, she plummeted to the ground like a brick. Getting back to her legs, she examined her limbs and luckily had only damaged her pride. Looking around she saw the slanted, broken door to the barn. One door was intact, while the broken door had come unhinged at the lower hinge. The door was slanted inward nearly thirty degrees and could fall at any time. After examining the door, she was able to nudge it until the hinges had nearly lined up again. Heading over to the toolbox in the loft, she pulled out a hammer and looked for anything that might fit the hinge. There weren't any nails, spikes, or other useable items. 

Taking the ladder this time, Scootaloo went back to the floor of the barn. Walking around the barn, she finally found what she needed. There was a rusty nail half-buried in the dirt. Dropping the hammer, she dug the nail out. Walking over to the door, she resumed her poking and prodding to get the hinge lined up. The nail only went in an inch. Heading back over to the hammer, she took it in her mouth and attempted to hammer the nail in. It was a lot harder to hammer something using her mouth than she thought. A unicorn sure would come in handy about now. After breaking a sweat bashing the nail, and every wood plank within a foot of it, she had managed to drive the nail through the hinge. 

Pushing the door shut took the rest of her energy, the rusty nail was not a good substitute inside the hinge. Once it was closed, she tried the other door. It opened and closed much more easily, she could use it instead of the other door. Closing both doors, she saw two hooks on the bottom and two on the top that looked the right size to drop a two by four into. Carrying one of the pieces of wood from the corner, she dropped it in the lower slot. It would serve to bar the door at night.

A short time later, Scootaloo had finished eating the apple from yesterday and inspecting her scooter. Everything looked to be in order, and she could already feel the adrenaline pumping. Every pegasi was built to cherish the feel of wind through their mane, and the rush of speed, as the world blurred past them.

Closing the barn door behind her, she clicked the strap to her helmet and stepped onto the scooter. Buzzing her wings, she rocketed off down the dirt trail leaving a growing dust cloud behind her. She reached the edge of the forest in seconds, and made a wide turn towards town. The apple orchard from yesterday was empty, the owner must have harvested the apples.

Reaching the bridge into Ponyville, she sped up and used a rock for a small ramp. Landing on the guardrail of the bridge, she slid across and then spun through the air, before landing and continuing forward. Two mares were walking towards her, oblivious to the orange missile. Tucking her wings in, she passed between the two with only millimeters to spare. She heard them shout something from behind her, but it was drowned out by the glorious sound of her buzzing wings.

She had no idea where she was going, but as long as she had the energy she was going to turn this town into her racetrack. Rounding a corner, she nearly collided with the orange mare from yesterday whose name was Applejack. Weaving around her apple stand, she dodged behind a cherry stand and through a narrow alleyway. 

Nearing the end of the alley, a white filly stepped in front of it, blocking the exit. She was looking off at something in the distance, and didn't see Scootaloo bearing down on her like a bullet. Before Scootaloo could think, she reacted. Her wings had already spread out perpendicular to the ground, beating furiously to slow down. It looked like she might slow down in time as the white filly turned to see what the buzzing noise was. Scootaloo registered a wide-eyed expression of shock on her face before they collided. Scootaloo jumped off the scooter, hoping to spare the filly some of the force of the impact, and skidded across the dirt to a stop.

"ugh, my wing. . ." Scootaloo glanced at her wing which, though it appeared intact, had taken the brunt of the impact. A couple small orange feathers were still floating to the ground. Checking her wings she was relieved none of the larger feathers had been ripped out. It would probably be sore for a couple days. Remembering about the filly she ran over, she glanced back and quickly went to her aid.

"Hey! Are you alright?" Scootaloo watched the white unicorn's eyes roll around in their sockets for a couple seconds. "I don't usually run ponies over, honest!"

"Oww. . .Whoa what was that?" The white filly stood up and began dusting all the dirt off her white coat, and out of her pink and purple mane.

Scootaloo rubbed a hoof over the back of her neck. "Well, it was a scooter. I was going down the alleyway but you blocked the exit."

"Oh well I suppose I should pay a little more attention to where I'm going. My name is Sweetie Belle, what's yours?" Sweetie picked up the scooter and handed it to Scootaloo.

"I'm Scootaloo, thanks." Taking the scooter she quickly checked the key areas: axles, wheels, and bolts seemed to be in order.

"I haven't seen you around town before, did you just move here?"

"Yeah, well if you're ok I've got stuff to do."

Sweetie's eyes fell on Scootaloo's flank. "Wait! You're a blank flank too?" Sweetie Belle trotted right alongside Scootaloo. "I um. . . My sister wants me to go to this cuteceanera to make friends. I really don't want to go because I don't have a cutie mark. Maybe you can come with me, there will be lots of cake and snacks."

Scootaloo's ears perked up. "Snacks?" Her stomach rumbled in agreement. "Yeah sure, so what's a cuteceanera?"

"Haven't your parents told you about it? When somepony finds their cutie mark you throw a big party."

"I guess it sounds fun, when is it?"

"I was on my way there when you collided with me. Wait, are you ok? It looks like some of your primary feathers are missing."

Scootaloo folded her wings more tightly against her back to hide the few feathers left that had obviously been clipped with scissors. "Yeah it's nothing, pegasi lose feathers all the time! Just uh. . . molting! So let's go check out this party!"

Sweetie Belle picked up her pace and led Scootaloo to Sugarcube Corner. Once there, Scootaloo could smell the many wonderful treats inside. Putting her scooter and helmet away just inside the door, she followed Sweetie Belle in. Not many fillies had arrived, and the adults were still setting up tables and streamers. One pink mare in particular seemed to have an entire roll of streamers, several party hats, and an endless supply of confetti in her mane.

"So I guess you can introduce me to some of your friends Sweetie?"

"Oh, I don't have many friends yet. . ."

Scootaloo grabbed a couple cookies and began eating them. "Why--not?" The cookies were still warm, the chocolate melted before it even hit her tongue. 

"I'm still new myself, my parents moved to Ponyville so I could spend more time with my sister Rarity. I have been studying so much for school I haven't had much time for friends."

"Ha! studying is for eggheads." Scootaloo grabbed some licorice off a nearby tray. It tasted like fresh cherries.

"Well don't blame me when you fail a test. . . Say I haven't seen you in Cherilee's class, you go to school right?"

"No."

"Oh your parents are home schooling you?"

Scootaloo glanced around and many other fillies and colts had shown up. "Uh, maybe. We're really new so I don't know yet." Scootaloo grabbed a cup of fruit punch.

"Oh quick, it's Diamond Tiara." Sweetie tugged Scootaloo's leg and pulled her under a table. "She is the one with the tiara, and her friend with the glasses is Silver Spoon. She's always giving me a hard time for being a blank flank."

"Why? There's nothing wrong with having a blank flank. I've dealt with plenty of bullies, I just need to knock her down a peg."

Sweetie grabbed Scootaloo to stop her from getting out from under the table. "No! You'll get us both in trouble if you pick a fight. Let's just wait a bit until she talks to somepony else and we can go get more snacks."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever."

The music was suddenly interrupted with a screech of the record. Looking over at the fillies that Sweetie had mentioned, she saw them approaching a yellow filly.

"Oh that is an amazing cutie mark." The two fillies appeared to be mocking her, backing her into a corner.

"Nice try, blank flank!" The silver fillies in their frilly saddles taunted the yellow filly in unison. They continued to laugh at her as she stood alone and the whole room watched.

Scootaloo could feel her blood boiling. She wanted to rush out and make them eat their words. Sweetie was right though, this wasn't another orphan picking on her in an orphanage. This was a room full of adult ponies. "Sweetie, follow my lead."

"You got a problem with blank flanks?" Scootaloo stepped out from under the table with Sweetie Belle nervously in tow. Several ponies gasped as the new fillies. "I said, you got a problem with blank flanks!"

"The problem is, I mean, she's like, totally not special." Silver spoon gestured with her hooves and the yellow filly looked ready to cry. Sweetie and Scootaloo moved to stand at her sides.

Sweetie retorted. "No, it means she's full of potential!"

"It means she could be great at anything!" Scootaloo spread her wings to make herself look a little more intimidating. She took on a shrill tone to mock Silver Spoon. "The possibilities are like, endless."

"She could be a great scientist, or an amazing artist, or a famous writer. She could even be mayor of Ponyville someday."

Scootaloo grinned and moved in for the kill. "And she's not stuck being stuck up like you two!" She pointed right at the pair, and now they felt just as alone as the yellow filly had been a minute ago. The ponies were laughing again, but at them and not at the blank flank.

"Hey! This is my party, why are you two on her side!" Diamond Tiara's face was turning red and her eyes narrowing. This was her special day, not theirs.

"Beacuse." Both fillies turned to show their blank flanks to everypony in the room.

"You don't have your cutie marks either! I thought I was the only one." The yellow filly was smiling again, standing on her rear legs in excitement.

"We thought we were the only two!" 

A lavender unicorn stepped forward. "I for one think you are very lucky fillies."

"Lucky?" Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow. "How can they be lucky?"

"They still get to experience the thrill of discovering who they are, and what they're meant to be."

Applejack stepped forward. "And they've got all the time in the world to figure it out, not just an afternoon."

Everypony gathered around to chat with the blank flanks. There was a mass of fillies talking about all the opportunities they had. A few of them even wished they'd gotten a cooler cutie mark.

"Name's Scootaloo."

"And I'm Sweetie Belle."

"Applebloom."

The trio headed over to a table to chat. Once the music started back up everypony started dancing. Scootaloo never had friends, at best she had ponies that would go a week or two without picking on the small pegasus. Standing there at the table with Sweetie and Applebloom, she felt whole for the first time since her parents passed away. That familiar feeling of warmth, once almost forgotten, returned to her. Now she would have something to do aside from racing around town and avoiding predators at night.

"So I was thinking, now that we're friends. I mean, we are friends, right?" Applebloom glanced back and forth at the two fillies.

"How could we not be, we're totally alike. We don't have cutie marks, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon drive us crazy." Scootaloo rolled her eyes for emphasis. 

"Totally crazy." Sweetie chimed in and then laughed with her friends.

Applebloom had an idea to share with her new friends. "Well now that we're friends, what if the three of us worked together to find out who we are, and what we're supposed to be?"

"Oh oh, we could form our own secret society!"

"I'm liking this idea!" Scootaloo waved an approving hoof in the air.

"A secret society, yeah, we'll need a name for it though." Applebloom put her hoof on her chin and stared into the distance for inspiration.

Scootaloo's head sprung off the table. "The Cutie Mark Three?"

"The Cutetastically Fantastics?" Sweetie's high pitched voice cracked a little.

"How about, the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

"It's perfect Applebloom!" Scootaloo and the other two fillies began speaking over each other in their excitement.

"What do you say we celebrate with some of these delicious cupcakes?" Scootaloo balanced a cupcake on her nose before letting it fall onto the table. Her mouth was already salivating at the prospect of more free food. It was too bad she didn't have a saddlebag, or she could carry home enough sweets for a week.

Applebloom stopped Scootaloo with her hoof. "Not the cupcakes! Trust me."

"Let's see if there are any cookies!" The trio headed off to find other snacks, having only narrowly avoided Pinkie Pie's Tobasco cupcakes.

The three danced for a while, discussing what to do first. "We should start looking for our cutie marks after school tomorrow. You're both in Cheerilee's class right?" Applebloom was doing a small square dance, tapping her hooves with the rhythm.

"Yeah, I sit in the back row." Sweetie belle danced along in an awkward two step.

Scootaloo said nothing and just continued to flow with the music. She never realized how fun it could be to just dance.

"What about you Scootaloo?"

"Oh. . . I haven't started school yet." If she walked into class, the teacher would probably insist on meeting her parents. There were probably applications, and placement exams. Then she would be stuck there every day learning. On the other hoof, they might have a school cafeteria, and she would get to hang out with Applebloom and Sweetie every single day.

Sweetie answered for her. "She just moved to town so she hasn't signed up yet. All you need to do, Scootaloo, is show up to class and sign the roster. She has parent-teacher meetings every few months to introduce herself to the new filly's parents."

Scootaloo smirked, in a few months she could think of something. For now, she would get to hang out with her two best friends. "Sounds awesome, what time does it start?"

"Eight in the morning, it's at the end of main street near the park."

"Oh, I haven't been there yet. I uh. . . live near Applejack's farm." Scootaloo gave them a wide, innocent grin.

"That's perfect! Applejack's my big sis, I can meet you in the morning and show you the way to school."

"Why don't we try to get a cutie mark tonight too?" Sweetie stopped dancing to think of something fitting. "Sewing? No. Baking? Nah."

Applebloom looked over at Scootaloo. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Well gee, where are we going to find a 12 foot stunt ramp at this time of night?"

"No Scootaloo, we can be Cutie Mark Crusader Dancers!"

"Awesome! I saw this rad break dancing move once, watch." Scootaloo spun around on the floor, winding up dizzy and out of breath. Odds are it looked pretty cool, so it was totally worth it.

"Hmm we're missing something. . . I know a cheer! Shout Cutie Mark Crusader Dancers with me on three. One. . . Two. . . Three!"

CUTIE MARK CRUSADER DANCERS!!!








> 4. Cheerilee's Playground
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was dark by the time Scootaloo got back to her home in the barn. Spending time with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom had rekindled something deep inside her. She couldn't explain it, for it was such a foreign emotion, yet she knew she had felt it before. Beneath the many walls she had built up around herself to keep out negative emotions, a crack had formed. Through this crack flowed a warm emotion that made her want to turn around right now, and rush back to hang out a little longer. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom had been taken home by their big sisters though, and Scootaloo had to leave the party.

Scootaloo slowed at the edge of the Everfree forest. At night, the moon threw wicked shadows across the ground. Each gust of wind whistled through the gnarled tree branches, sounding a symphony of ominous white noise. The rustling bushes and eerie sounds made every shadow appear as a hungry predator. The pegasus filly stared into the distance at a black shape with a featureless white face before snapping out of her trance. "Well, I've got nowhere else to sleep. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

Accelerating up to full speed she flew down the dark path towards the barn. Her wings drowned out the sounds of the forest, but also attracted some attention from the various fauna of the Everfree’s edge. When she reached the barn, Scootaloo pushed the door open and quickly shut it. There were two hooks in the door to bar it with a plank of wood, but she could only reach the lower one. She dropped a sizeable plank of wood in it and she tested the barrier to make sure it would hold. "Hah! That wasn't so hard." Scootaloo set her helmet and scooter down near the ladder that led to the loft. She climbed up and picked up her blanket, which she had hung over a crossbeam to dry. 

She heard movement outside. Going to the missing plank that was her peephole over the barn doors, she saw a familiar sight. Down below was the timberwolf that had stalked her the previous night. It came up to the door and tried to nudge it open. When it found the door wouldn’t move, it started scratching and pawing at the wood. "You may be bigger, but you're dumb as a rock." The timberwolf looked up with a predatory glare at the orange head sticking out of the hole in the roof, and then began to dig under the door.

"Celestia damn it!" Scootaloo looked around for something heavy that could fit through the window. Scrambling down the ladder she managed to find a couple rocks and carried them back up the loft with her. She took position at the window and aimed a rock down at the timberwolf. "Get lost freak!" The rock flew through its hollow body harmlessly. The timberwolf looked up and she could have sworn it had chuckled through its toothy wooden grin. Aiming the other rock, she threw it down at the timberwolf and managed to knock a couple loose twigs off its head.


Backing off slowly, the timberwolf stepped into the bushes and out of her throwing range and crouched. The two branches that had been knocked off slowly pulled themselves along the ground, surrounded by a green haze. They reattached to the timberwolf, who remained hunkered down and waited patiently for Scootaloo to go to sleep. "Yeah, well two can play that game you mutt!" Scootaloo carried up a dozen rocks to the loft. If the wolf came back, she would be ready. Even if he got in, she should be safe in the loft, unless he had learned how to climb.

With a final glance at her nemesis, she gave him a raspberry with her tongue and proceeded to curl up in the corner. Scootaloo chuckled to herself. I guess this still beats the orphanage. Laying down with her blanket, she rode the sugar rush to its inevitable crash, and fell asleep.





Scootaloo woke up to the sound of pins aligning in a tumbler. That sound means that breakfast is being served. Rolling out of bed, she found herself in the kitchen. Before her is a trough and half a dozen colts and fillies fighting over the dry oats that had been sloshed inside of it. To the side there is a single bucket of water.

Ignoring them, she found herself in the back yard. None of the usual sounds of the city were present, but she knew why she was here. This is the moment she escapes. A unicorn filly appears, her one friend at the orphanage. She had recently learned how to levitate small objects. Using her help and a plate stolen from the kitchen, she would get a boost and hopefully fly over the wall on her tiny wings.

Scootaloo is hanging on the wall, trying to pull herself over. The flightless filly is so close but feels a heavy weight on her, impeding her progress. She hears her friend scream, and lets go. The matron of the orphanage is using her magic to pin the filly, and saw off her horn. She wants to charge, to help, to kill the cruel hag. Her feet are stuck in cement as her friend screams and screams. The mare releases the unicorn and glares at Scootaloo.

Back in her room, Scootaloo is crying into the pillow. She had been pinned by Gerda and can hear the sound of metal lightly scraping together. "You know I had a parrot once? We clipped its wings so it didn't fly off. I think the concept is the same for brats like you."





Scootaloo's eyes jerked and she could feel sweat beneath the blanket. "It was only a nightmare. She can't hurt me anymore. . ." Scootaloo thought talking to herself would help, but the images were still imprinted on her retinas. She hadn't seen the unicorn filly since the escape attempt. Was she dead or adopted? Maybe locked away for months? The guilt still bothered Scootaloo. Looking back at her wings, primaries grown out fully, she finally calmed down. 

Sure, I can just grow my feathers back. But her horn...

Sleep did not come for her again that night, and the sun rose in the morning to find her curled up in the corner. Her thoughts had turned to Sweetie and Applebloom, she would meet them at school today and convince the teacher she was a new filly in town.

She got up and looked around. Everything seemed as it was when she left it. In a flash, she remembered her altercation with the wooden predator the previous night. She hurried over to her plankless position, only to find the timberwolf wasn’t around. She heaved a sigh of relief and prepared to meet her new friends.

Heading out towards the apple farm, Scootaloo waited where Applebloom had told her to. There was a sign that said "Sweet Apple Acres" in large red letters down the road from where she had exited the forest. She noticed two ponies approaching her, and quickly saw that it was Applebloom and Applejack trotting over to her.

"Mornin' sugarcube, you get enough sweets last night?" Applejack tipped her trademark Stetson at the pegasus filly.

"Heh, not even close. Those were some of the best cookies I ever had though."

"Scootaloo! Are ya excited to start school today? I already got some ideas about our cutie marks." Applebloom came alongside Scootaloo, who suddenly realized she couldn't zoom off on her scooter with Applebloom keeping pace. Maybe later she could think of a way to give her friend a ride, then they could talk while zooming around town.

"Yeah I guess I am, are we picking up Sweetie Belle too?""

"Nah, she’ll meet us there." The two fillies suddenly noticed Applejack leaning against the fence, listening in.

"So sugarcube, did ya forget your saddlebag? Ya'll need some school supplies and lunch too. Better head back home and get 'em quick, ‘fore schoolin’ starts.” She righted her Stetson and turned to leave. “Alright you two, have a nice day."

"Oh yeah, thanks." Scootaloo and Applebloom started down the road towards the schoolhouse. Had Scootaloo paid more attention, she might have noticed Applejack watching them walk away with a slightly tilted head and raised eyebrow.





"And then the rope on Big Mac's yolk snapped, and threw 'em all in the mud!" Applebloom pantomimed a mare falling into the mud. Scootaloo started laughing so hard she nearly fell off her scooter. By this time, the two fillies had reached the schoolhouse and were just disembarking the scooter.

Once Scootaloo had recovered, Applebloom led her to Miss Cheerilee. "Mornin' Miss Cheerilee, this is mah friend Scootaloo!"

"Good morning Cheerilee." Scootaloo gave her the best innocent smile she could, raising her eyebrows a touch and showing her front teeth.

"Good morning Scootaloo, you must be new in town. Have you come to sign up for classes?"

"Yep."

"Ok, well you can park your scooter out in the hallway, and there are lockers here to store your school supplies. You did bring any with you?"

"Uh, actually I didn't, I left them at home." Scootaloo noticed the deep pink pony's cutie mark. She had never seen a smiling sunflower before. I wonder if those are real plants?

"Well, we have half an hour until class starts. You can take this form and have your parents fill out your contact information, and then get your supplies."

"Oh." Scootaloo glanced at Applebloom for help, then remembered she was keeping her in the dark, too. Applebloom did manage to pick up on the concern in her friend’s face. "My parents already left for work. . . They commute to Canterlot, being pegasi and all. And they sorta forgot to buy me school supplies."

"It's ok Miss Cheerilee! I'll share my school supplies, and if Scootaloo needs anything I bet my family could help!"

"Alright my little ponies. Scootaloo, you can go ahead and take a seat near Applebloom. Fill out your name and your parents’ names on this form, and your street address if you can remember it. Let your parents know we have a parent teacher conference this week where we can get to know each other."

Scootaloo glanced to Applebloom and whispered in her ear. "I thought you said she only has those every 3 months or something."

Applebloom whispered back. "Well I guess it's been 3 months, just get at least one of 'em to come if they're busy."

Sighing, Scootaloo took the paper in her mouth and headed over to the desk. She was quick to write down her name and the names of her parents. She wasn't sure if the teacher was resourceful enough to figure out her parents were dead, so she made up a surname. Cloud. There were a million pegasi named Cloud.

She turned the paper back in to Cheerilee. That's one problem down, guess I'll just deal with the parent thing later this week. Maybe I can eat some rotten fruit and vomit, make her think I've got the filly flu.

"Come on, Scootaloo! Let's go out and meet Sweetie." Applebloom tugged on her friend’s hoof to get her attention and led her outside. It was a short journey to the playground where they saw an unwelcome sight.

"Please, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those ugly strips of wool your sister calls clothing." Silver Spoon laughed at Diamond Tiara's insult.

"Don’t say that! She's a better designer than anypony, and she even finds gems twice as nice as that clump of mud you're wearing!" Sweetie Belle stood her ground in front of the two fillies.

"Hah, you know what we use your sister's clothes for blank flank?" Diamond Tiara's smile flattened out, and her eyebrows lowered. "Cleaning the dishes."

"You take that back!" Scootaloo stepped in front of Sweetie with fire in her narrow eyes. She lowered herself to the ground and spread her wings slightly, only barely restraining herself from pouncing.

"Or what blank flanks? Come on Silver Spoon, let's get out of here before they start crying."

The two mares turned to leave, and Scootaloo lunged at Diamond's back. She was stopped with a sudden jolt; something had a vice grip on her tail. Turning around, she saw Applebloom spitting out a mouthful of her pink tail.

"Come on Applebloom, I won't let them push my friends around like that!"

Sweetie Belle sighed dejectedly. "It's. . . ok, really."

"No, it's not 'ok' Sweetie. If we don't do something they'll keep picking on you."

"Scootaloo, my sis says that some ponies are just rotten apples that fall too far from the tree. . . Or was it too close? Anyway, they just wanna make everyone else mad cuz they ain't happy. It's not worth gettin' in trouble over."

Scootaloo sighed and felt most of the tension leave her body. It wouldn't do her any good to get in a fight. She already had to think up a reason her parents couldn't attend the parent teacher meeting later this week. If she got in a fight, Cheerilee would probably try to march over to Scootaloo's house and talk to them tonight.

"Alright then, so what are we learning about in class today?" Scootaloo managed a weak smile.

"We're going to learn about the Stalliongrad civil war. It's the last time in history a pony ever fought another pony. Back when they passed a la--" Sweetie Belle was interrupted by the bell ringing.

"Sounds like you already know all about it, egghead." Scootaloo laughed, and the two fillies joined her. Scootaloo could feel the warmth again, it pierced the barricades she had built to keep the sorrow and pain out. 

She would do anything to hang onto moments like this. Being an orphan on the run was worth feeling happy again. 






> 5. Get to The Scoota!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Thanks for meetin' me Fluttershy." Applejack tipped her hat to the yellow mare.

"Oh, anything for my friends. Well, not dragons. . ." Fluttershy cringed just thinking about a huge, gigantic, terrible, enormous, teeth-gnashing, sharp scale-having, horn-wearing, smoke-snoring, could-eat-a-pony-in-one-bite, totally-all-grown-up dragon. 

"Don't be silly, ah just wanted to ask about the sleepover ya'll had last night."

"Oh, Applebloom was very well behaved. I guess I'm just as good with children as I am with animals."

"Now Fluttershy, ah've seen the fillies crusaderin' and ah know that can't be true. But ah actually want to know about Scootaloo. Did anything with her seem . . . well, strange?"

"Hmm. Well there was the broken table, and the singing, and then the chicken hunting, and Twilight being turned to stone, and a cockat--" Applejack interjected.

"Whoa back up there, Twilight was turned ta stone? By a cockatrice, and ah'm just hearin' about this now?"

"Oh well, it was just a misunderstanding. Everypony is alright, and Scootaloo was very brave. The other fillies were hiding behind her while I used the . . . stare."

"Well, movin' right on past how you and my sis ended up in the middle of the Everfree with a stoned Twilight, did Scootaloo talk about her parents at all?"

"No. Well, I haven't seen her around that much, or her parents. Scootaloo seems to prefer being on her own."

"Well shoot, ah can tell the filly is hidin' something. Ah'm just worried it could be something bad that she shouldn't be hidin' in the first place."

"Ok, if you need anything else let me know. She seems like a very nice filly though, please don't scare her."

"Come on now, my coffee mug don't say number one sister fer nothin'!"





Scootaloo was exhausted. It was hard enough going to school, doing homework, and finding creative ways to get food without resorting to stealing. Luckily, Sweetie Belle was able to explain a few of the harder lessons to her, and Applebloom always came to school with lots of extra snacks and apples. Then, she would rush out from school to the field outside Ponyville where Rainbow Dash practiced her stunts. She had barely been in town a week, and already she had found her calling. She still went crusading with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but she already knew her special talent. She was going to be exactly like Rainbow Dash.

Today was the talent show; it was also a very busy day before that. The Cutie Mark Crusaders renovated a clubhouse that was held together by duct tape, spit, and childhood hopes and dreams. They had tried at least a dozen different jobs without getting a single cutie mark. Then they planned and performed at a talent show scoring first place for comedy. Despite their unblemished success, the fillies didn't even get a comedy cutie mark!

Scootaloo could feel the burning in her shoulders, back, and wings. Even her abdomen was sore from standing upright on the scooter all day, and dancing at the talent show. If that wasn't enough, she had spent half the day towing a wagon she had attached to her scooter. Pulling the fillies around was more difficult than she thought it would be, but now she could go fast and hang out with her friends at the same time. She might even be able to pull off a few tricks; they did all wear helmets after all.

There was only one thing on Scootaloo's mind now: Sleep. The cold loft beckoned her, the raggedy blanket promised a warm night of sweet dreams. She could sleep in, even show up to class late, because her aching body demanded rest. Once again, Scootaloo was far too tired to consider the fact that the parent teacher conference was tomorrow. She would probably decide to use the filly flu excuse, all she needed to do was a little acting, and she had proven her talent at that earlier today.

Approaching the barn at about half her normal speed, Scootaloo could already feel her muscles and brain surrendering to the alluring embrace of sleep. She heard a roll of thunder and knew that the Everfree was going to do what it did best: unpredictable weather, and chilly wet nights. It was no longer an issue; she had improvised with a small tarp to keep a corner of the loft relatively dry.

The first raindrops started to fall, causing her to speed up a little. The barn wasn't far, and she hopped off the scooter and took her helmet off. The straps had been cutting into her chin all day, and her mane felt like it had been shoved into an oven. Perhaps she would come out in the rain for a little while to wash off the sweat from a day of hard crusading with her friends.

Carrying the helmet in one hoof, and pushing the scooter along with the other, she opened the barn door. Before her brain could register any other details, a large mass crashed into her and her face collided with the door as she dropped her helmet. She instinctively tried to get back up, but the door slammed shut on her midsection. She could smell something foul, and a faint green pair of eyes were glowing in the dark. Frantically she kicked out at the timberwolf who was using its weight to keep her pinned and helpless. Her wings were pinned against the ground, but she forced them open anyway, squirming and thrashing about. The clever bastard had been waiting in the barn for her to return. 

She felt some kicks connect, but most missed. In a matter of seconds from the initial impact, she had wiggled most of the way out of the barn doors. She had also taken a few cuts from the timberwolf's free claw. Using the scooter as leverage, she forced herself out from between the two doors, and without a moment's hesitation jumped on the scooter and rocketed off as if the gates of Tartarus had opened to spew forth hellfire at her. stupid, stupid stupid. How could I have not thought of that, what good is a door that only locks on the inside?

Scootaloo was too scared to slow down, realizing she should have reached the farm by now. Instead, the forest was getting even thicker. Taking the first path that led away from the trail she was on, she turned right and hoped to circle back to the edge of the forest. If I'm where I think I am, and by Celestia I hope I am, this should at least get me out of the forest and near Ponyville.

Something crashed through the brush, flashing past her mane and missing her by inches. She knew it was the timberwolf without looking. She knew that to survive this nemesis she had to keep her eyes forward, and her screaming muscles working as hard as they could. Each breath of air ignited her sore lungs, and her heart ached as it struggled to supply itself enough oxygen.

Scootaloo burst out of the Everfree forest without even realizing it. One moment there were trees, bushes, and obstacles in her path, and the next there was grass, the rainy sky, and small knolls. She heard branches behind her snap as the timberwolf burst out, still in pursuit of the young pegasus.  Scootaloo spotted a cottage up ahead and she flew towards it. She felt ready to collapse, every muscle in her body burning and begging for release. She would make for the door and try to get inside. If the door is locked. . . well I hope he chokes eating me.

She careened towards the door, quickly gauging which shoulder was aching less at the moment. Choosing the left one, she lept from the scooter and threw her shoulder at the door, hoping to tumble through it and then quickly close it behind her. As she sailed through the air every muscle tightened up, bracing for the coming impact. With a loud popping sound, her shoulder hit the unyielding door. Scootaloo fell to the ground, screaming in agony. She struggled to get to her hooves as she watched the timberwolf. Thirty feet, twenty five, twenty, fifteen, ten feet. . . Scootaloo stared death in the face, and death flinched.

A massive furry paw came out of nowhere, shattering the timberwolf to pieces. Turning to face her savior, she saw a giant grizzly bear. The bear reached down and scooped Scootaloo up. Before she could think of heroic last words, the pain caused her brain to shut down. At least she would be unconscious for the end.







> 6. Rule Six: There is no Six
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo awoke, groggy and dazed. She was slowly coming to, and felt something tugging at her injured left shoulder. She willed herself to wake up faster, but to no avail. She remembered a timberwolf, and a bear, but it was all very hazy. Was this what having a limb pulled off felt like? As the hooves continued to manipulate her shoulder, the pain helped her wake up more quickly. Wait, bears don't have hooves. Scootaloo had regained some control of her muscles and tensed her shoulder up. Something jerked the shoulder and Scootaloo felt a sharp pain, and heard a loud pop.

Finally recovering from her stupor, Scootaloo looked up to see Fluttershy, the mare who only a couple nights ago had let the Cutie Mark Crusaders have a sleepover. Scootaloo noticed she could move her shoulder again and most of the pain was gone.

"Fluttershy! There was a timberwolf, and a bear! We have to get inside!" Scootaloo tried to scramble to her feet, but Fluttershy pinned her down with a hoof.

"Easy Scootaloo, that was my friend Baloo. He helps me keep dangerous animals from leaving the Everfree and bothering ponies in Ponyville."

"What?" Scootaloo looked off the porch to see a bear grinning sheepishly and waving to him.

"You dislocated your shoulder. . . I'm sorry if I hurt you when I relocated it. Now let's get you inside and out of the rain." Fluttershy scooped her up and flew inside. "Oh this is horrible, your parents are going to be so worried!"

"Oh uh. . . they had to work overtime, they won't even know."

"So. . . how did you get attacked by a timberwolf? If you don't mind." Scootaloo kept getting lost in her smile, slowly being disarmed by her kindness. She relaxed onto the sofa and felt her stress melting away as her limp legs dangled off the edge.

"I was riding my scooter back home, and it jumped out of the Everfree and chased me here!" Scootaloo sighed, this was going well.

"What about your helmet? And the bruises? And the cuts. . . I'm sorry, I should slow down. You are not in trouble, but this alcohol is going to sting while I disinfect your wound."

Scootaloo thought over how to reply, and was interrupted by a stinging sensation over her flank. There were some scratches similar to what Opalescence had once given her. These scratches were larger, and deeper. She clenched her jaw tightly and tensed her sore leg muscles to keep them still. Every millimeter of exposed flesh from the cuts felt like a fiery inferno. The stinging didn't last long before the nerves began blocking out some of the pain signals. She started relaxing her jaw as the worst of it was behind her.

"You took that well Scootaloo, you're a very brave pony. Now, please, Baloo saw you come out of the Everfree. He sent his cousin Gryll into the forest to check for more timberwolves. Why would you go out there at night? I thought after the cockatrice. . . I don't know what I'd do if you had gotten killed." Fluttershy was crying gently now, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

Scootaloo was speechless, and she couldn't think of a lie. How could this pony she had only spent one night with care for her so much? All the adults she had ever known treated her like a child, who needed to be told what to do and how to act. Well, to be fair, Dash has never told me what to do.

"Why? Why are you being so nice to me? Why aren't you yelling or taking me to my parents?"

"Scootaloo, everypony deserves kindness. Especially when they are hurt." Fluttershy smiled again, wiping away any trace of the tears she had shed.

Scootaloo looked down to see her flank had been wrapped with a bandage, and Fluttershy took a towel and began to dry her hair.

"I'm going to have to tell your parents what happened, you know. I. . . I don't want to get you in trouble, but you can't be doing stunts in the Everfree. And if you don't want to tell me why, then I'll tell your parents what you told me. However, you have to pinkie promise never to go in the Everfree again."

Scootaloo's last wall around her emotions broke and she began to cry. Is this what my mother would have been like if she hadn't died? Is this the life their death denied to me? "You take pinkie promises very seriously around here? Sweetie Belle was telling me about them."

"Yes Scootaloo, and Pinkie Pie has a sixth sense that allows her to tell when someone is about to break a pinkie promise. She can be. . . very persuasive." Fluttershy took out a brush and began to brush Scootaloo's mane. "When I look at you Scootaloo, I see myself as a filly. So lonely, and afraid to get close to ponies. If you pinkie promise to stay out of the Everfree and not repeat it, I'll tell you my story."

Scootaloo was too sore and tired to even consider resisting Fluttershy. If this was it, if this was the night she got sent back to the orphanage, there was no stopping it now. "Ok, cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She tried to make the gestures but her sore muscles didn't comply. "I still don't get why you're doing all this. You already know I was lying."

Fluttershy smiled. "It's okay, just listen for now. When I was a filly in flight school, I wasn't a very good flier. One day, a bunch of bullies were picking on me and Rainbow Dash came to my defense. She challenged them to a race, and when they started, I was knocked off my cloud at the starting line. I was falling through the air and I couldn’t use my wings to slow me down because I was just too scared. I thought I was going to hit the ground, but a gentle cloud of butterflies caught me and slowly set me down on the ground. It was my very first time on the ground, and I was still very scared from the fall. But, when I looked around, I saw a bunch of my animal friends gathered around to see if I was okay. The ground was so wonderful, and all the cute little animals were so nice, I never wanted to leave. I knew that day that I wanted to spend my life on the ground, caring for them. Just then, I felt a tingling on my flanks, and when I turned around, my cutie mark had appeared! When the instructors found me, I didn't want to go back.

“Once they got me back to Cloudsdale, I told my parents I was dropping out of flight school. I was going to study to be a veterinarian and return to the ground. They. . . weren't pleased. Up until the day I was old enough to move out, they kept telling me it was a mistake. They tried to get me into college, and into other flight camps. My whole family had a proud legacy of Wonderbolts, weather team leaders, and managers at weather factories across Equestria. 

“When I finally got old enough and left, they told me if I walked out that door. . . that I was dead to them. They considered me a failure for not living up to their legacy. It was so cruel, but I knew what my cutie mark meant. I was meant to spread kindness, to help those who can't help themselves. That was nearly ten years ago, and it still hurts. I've been alone since then, the only friends I’ve had had been Rarity and Rainbow Dash until Twilight came to town.

And when I look at you Scootaloo, I see that same loneliness."

Scootaloo sat in silence as she absorbed her story. She couldn't imagine anyone else was as lonely as she had been. "Why did you give up your family? I'd do anything to have my parents back."

"I left because I knew it was my job to be kind to animals, and ponies like you Scootaloo. Now, I pinkie promise not to tell anypony about your parents. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. How did they die Scootaloo?"

"How. . . how long have you known?"

"I've been suspicious. . . not that I was spying, oh I would never do that. My animal friends saw you going into the Everfree several times and um. . . no one in town has seen your parents even once."

"Ugh, alright, you got me. I doubt I could get up and leave even if I wanted to. I'll tell you how I became an orphan, and why I will never let anypony send me back.”





Scootaloo was asleep when her aunt woke her up. "Scootaloo, I need you to come with me to the hospital."

"It's late, why do I have to go?" The tiny filly yawned and tried to disappear back beneath the sheets."

"There has been an accident. . . Please come with me."

"What?" Scootaloo rolled over to face her. "Who got hurt? Was it mommy and daddy?"

"Please Scootaloo. . . Just come to the hospital and I'll explain there."

"What happened to mommy and daddy! Tell me!"

Her aunt was crying, and scooped Scootaloo up in her arms and flew towards the hospital in silence. Scootaloo kept asking what was going on, but her aunt would not answer. Finally, they got to the hospital and went inside. The doctors and nurses parted before them as they approached a room no different from any other.

Entering the room she saw a few other distant relatives were gathered around. "Where's mommy and daddy! What happened!" Scootaloo squirmed out of her aunt's grip, falling to the floor and running over to the bed. She could see the familiar orange coat of her father under the bed sheet. Everypony in the room looked away and began crying as Scootaloo approached the bed.

Scootaloo had to hop up to reach the sheet and uncover her father. "Daddy, wake up daddy." Her father didn't answer. He lay there with a tube down his throat, several wires and machines had been hooked up to him but were all turned off now. He was bruised and cut, and so cold. "Daddy?" Scootaloo hugged his neck, and saw her mother's beautiful pink mane on the bed next to her.

Leaping to the bed, she uncovered her mother to a similar sight. She was badly hurt, cold and unmoving. The iv needles and tubing still taped to her arm, tubes in her mouth. . . Scootaloo couldn't believe what she was seeing. "No! NO! WAKE UP! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!!"

"Scootaloo. . . they're gone now." Her aunt approached her, and Scootaloo realized the others were murmuring in the background. "I need to take you home now."

"NO! YOU'RE NOT--MY MOMMY! I--WANT MY--MOMMY!" Scootaloo was hysterical, and as soon as her aunt touched her, she jumped off the bed and bolted out of the room. She ran from the pain and the anger. She ran until her legs could not carry her any further. She ran until she was so exhausted that the only thing she could do was collapse in the embrace of sleep. Curled up in a cardboard box in an alleyway, she cursed Celestia for taking her parents from her.





Now Fluttershy was crying again. "Scootaloo. . . I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

Scootaloo wasn't faring much better having just relived her worst memories. Sobbing, she replied. "Why are you sorry? You--didn't take them from me! You--weren't stuck--in the orphanage." Scootaloo curled up and burst into tears. "The worst—part is—nopony—ever came—looking—for  me—they just—left me—all alone—" Fluttershy slowly patted her mane and began to sing a lullaby, until Scootaloo was gently snoring.

Scootaloo awoke in the morning to the smell of cinnamon mixed with hay and the odor of a dozen different animals. She was still on the sofa, but she had a pillow and a warm bed sheet. The sun was shining through the windows, and no sooner had she woken up, Fluttershy came in carrying some breakfast.

"Scootaloo. . . I want you to stay here with me. . . um if you don't mind. I won't let any pony take you back to the orphanage but. . . I don't know if I can ever replace your parents."

Scootaloo smiled, and began to move her stiff muscles. "Thank you, but what's the point? I can't go to school like this, Cheerilee will worry about me. Then my parent's won't show up to parent-teacher night because I don't have any. . . and I'll have to go back." Scootaloo was on the verge of tears again, but Fluttershy lifted up her chin.

"You let me worry about Cheerilee. You are going to stay here and rest, and if you need anything Angel will get it for you. And Angel," she turned to stare at the bunny. "You won't give any attitude to our guest."

Angel nodded submissively. He had a penchant for mischief, of which both ponies were well aware.

"Thank you. You've been so kind. . . I accept. I'll stay here until we can figure something out" Scootaloo smiled and Fluttershy returned a warm smile of her own.

Scootaloo had never opened up to any pony, and now that she had, she felt so good. A huge weight had been lifted off of her. She felt the same blissful feelings she felt when hanging out with Applebloom and Sweetie, only a hundredfold stronger. Despite not knowing what the future would bring, she had this wonderful moment with Fluttershy. For that whole day the thoughts of her parent's death and Gerda did not haunt her.

> 7. What You Leave Behind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy had a few books in the “Daring Do” series that Dash had been trying to get her to read. She left them with Scootaloo as she went out to feed the animals. Time passed quickly, and soon she was at the schoolhouse to excuse the filly from class for the day. Fluttershy hated to lie, it was unkind. At the same time, it would be kind of her to help Scootaloo get well. Her conscience eventually convinced her to cover for Scootaloo.

Walking into the school she quickly found Miss Cheerilee. “Good morning Cheerilee”

“Good Morning Fluttershy. What brings you to the school?”

“Well you see.” Fluttershy glanced around to make sure the room was empty, and then took a deep breath. “Scootaloo’s parents went out of town for work to deliver some weather clouds to Fillydelphia, and Scootaloo is staying with me and she got really sick with the filly flu.” Fluttershy smiled, and then fidgeted with her hooves.

“Oh Fluttershy there’s no need to be so nervous. I’m sure you’ll take excellent care of Scootaloo. She can come back to class on Monday, and I’ll reschedule the parent-teacher conference to next Thursday.”

“Thank you.” Everypony in town was so trusting, and Fluttershy was always so nice. Cheerilee had accepted her story without question. “Well I have some other errands to run.” She quickly shuffled out the door.

“Tell Scootaloo to get well soon.”

Fluttershy walked out of the school and breathed a sigh of relief. She headed back onto the road and ran into Applejack and Applebloom. “eep!”

“Well howdy, Fluttershy. What brings ya to the school?”

“Oh it’s nothing, really. I just wanted to say good morning to Miss Cheerilee. It’s such a lovely day. . .” Fluttershy began to use her familiar tells. Her voice trailed off to silence, she turned her head to hide partly behind her mane, and gently fidgeted with her hooves. Applejack had known her long enough to read her like a book.

“Why don’t ya go on ahead Sugarcube, have fun at school.”

“Bye sis, bye stare master!” Applebloom trotted off to put her bags down under her desk.

“Fluttershy, Scootaloo didn’t walk ta school with Applebloom like she usually does. Then ah find you at school as nervous as a fly in a spider’s web. You found out something ‘bout Scootaloo, didn’t ya?”

“Oh no.” Fluttershy began backing up slowly. She knew there was no lying to the element of honesty, so she came right out with it. “I made a pinkie promise not to say anything. Scootaloo is fine.”

“That’s a load of hooey, ah need to know who mah sis’ is spending so much time with.”

“I couldn’t possibly break a pinkie promise.” Fluttershy looked around, and realized how softly she had spoken. Remembering what Dash had taught her about cheering, she tried again. “I said I couldn’t possibly break a pinkie promise!” It wasn’t much louder, but it had the desired effect.

Pinkie Pie leapt out of a nearby bush. “What? Someone’s about to break a pinkie promise! You can’t, that’s the fastest way to lose a friend!” 

“Gah! What in tarnation Pinkie, how are yah always doin’ that?”

“It’s easy, I have an underground network of tunnels I keep all over Ponyville in case of pinkie promise emergencies!”

“Ah ain’t got time for this, Ah’ve got to start apple bucking. Well played, Fluttershy. Ah just hope you’re not hidin’ something bad. Honesty is always the best way to help a pony out.”

Applejack trotted back to the farm, and Pinkie turned to the yellow mare. “Wow Fluttershy, what was that about?”

“I made a pinkie promise to Scootaloo. Applejack has been worried about her since she caught her stealin’ apples and hanging out around the Everfree.”

“Oh, I can’t possibly let her get such a sweet little filly in trouble. She always volunteers to be my taste tester! One day she ate over a dozen different cupcakes with me.”

“She is really sweet.” Fluttershy smiled, remembering the look of joy and innocence on Scootaloo’s face as she was sleeping on the couch. At the sleepover where she saved them from a cockatrice, Scootaloo had stayed distant from her and guarded her emotions. To see her last night, so vulnerable, yet at such great peace, had reminded her of her early childhood.

Dash flew down to the pair of ponies and interrupted their conversation. “Hey, have you two seen Scootaloo?”

“Why, what’s the matter?” Pinkie smiled, revealing a rainbow of sprinkles in her teeth. Dash often wondered how she had never gotten a single cavity.

“I was pushing some rogue weather clouds back into the Everfree, then I was going to take a nap. But I looked down and saw this on a trail near the edge of the Everfree.” Dash reached into her saddlebag and produced a blue helmet with two white racing stripes. There was an obvious claw mark that had gouged deeply into the helmet. “It was near an old barn and it looked like. . . like somepony had run into a timberwolf.”

Pinkie was first to gasp. “That looks just like Scootaloo’s helmet!”





It had been a great morning for Scootaloo. She had never felt so safe and secure since her parent’s passed away. Already she had gotten a warm breakfast, a nap, and an adventure book to read. The house was warm, sunlight poured through the windows, and a variety of animals ran around the house playing. Angel even played some pranks on a family of mice to entertain her. It turned out he could be a rather nice rabbit when he wasn’t pulling the pranks on the cutie mark crusaders.

Now she sat on the sofa talking to Angel. If she recalled Fluttershy correctly, almost all animals could understand the Equestrian language. The opposite was not true, as only Fluttershy could hope to have animals communicate to her.

“So then we tried being cutie mark crusaders snorkelers. We ran into this giant octopus living in the lake, I thought it was cool but then it started chasing us. It was still tons of fun.” Angel was giggling on the table. It had turned out he was a big fan of all of her mis-adventures.

“As soon as I get well Angel, I’m going to start crusading again! We’ll find our cutie marks, just wait and see.” Angel nodded his head up and down in agreement.

“Want to play twenty questions?” Angel tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “It’s simple, you think of an animal, vegetable, or mineral. I ask you twenty yes or no questions, and if I guess it right I win. But there’s no cheating!” Angel looked around the room, and finally nodded his head. “You’re ready?” He nodded his head again.

“Hmm. . . is it Rainbow Dash!” Angel sighed and shook his head no. “You’re right, I guess that would have been too easy.

“Is it an animal?” Angel shook his head yes. “OOOH, does it live here at the cottage?” He shook his head in agreement. “Aha, is it you?” Angel put a paw to his forehead and sighed, then shook his head no.

“You are a worthy foe. Hmm.” Scootaloo looked around at some of the various birdhouses, burrows, and other animal homes built into the walls of the house. “Can it fly?” Angel shook his head no.

The door opened up slowly as Fluttershy and Dash walked in. “Really Dash, see she is fine?” Pinkie followed them in and closed the door.

Scootaloo glanced around nervously, biting her lip. She scooted back in the couch, and Fluttershy quickly added “its ok Scootaloo. I told them about the timberwolf that attacked you on the way to meet Applebloom for school. Dash found your helmet during her weather patrol.”

Scootaloo sighed and melted back into the comfortable cushions. “Hmph. Well I don’t see why you had to go and make up a story about flu, Fluttershy. You could have just told Cheerilee and me the truth, we’ve known each other since we were fillies!” Dash looked at Scootaloo carefully. The bandage on her flank could have hidden any number of horrible wounds. Other than that, a few bruises had darkened overnight on the filly.

“Well, that’s where the pinkie promise comes in. But she’ll be better soon, and you two can visit as much as you want. You just have to keep your pinkie promises that nopony gets to know about the timberwolf. It would scare all the fillies and colts.”

“I guess you’re right, I wouldn’t want to scare the kids. I’m still going to warn the weather patrols to keep an eye out. The last thing we need is another timberwolf getting hungry and trying to eat another pony.” Dash and Pinkie walked over to Scootaloo’s side.

“Hey squirt, Fluttershy told me about some of those rad moves you used to escape the timberwolf. I’m impressed; I bet you’ll be almost as fast as me one day.” Dash patted her on the mane.

“Th. . . Thanks Dash!” Scootaloo was radiating joy at getting to be this close to her idol. She had always wanted to approach her and hang out more, but she was still afraid that Dash would think she wasn’t cool enough.

“You take care, and if you need anything you know where to find me, napping on the clouds.” Dash yawned and headed for the door. “Oh, and here. I got you something.” Dash pulled out a new helmet and set it down. Fluttershy thought she saw her blush, but she flew off before she was sure.

“Now’s the best part!” Pinkie jumped up and down, showering the filly with confetti. “Fluttershy still has lots of animals to feed and errands to run, so I get to throw you an ‘I Got Attacked by a Timberwolf and Lived!’ party!”

Scootaloo started laughing at the absurd party name, and felt the bruises on her sides from the barn door aching. “I think I’d like that, but I’m pretty sore so maybe it should also be an ‘I Don’t Feel Like Getting Off the Couch’ party too.”

“Woo Hoo! This is going to be the most ultra-super-funerific party ever!” Pinkie bounced into the kitchen. 

“I need to ask her how she bounces so much sometime. It’s like she has rubber hooves.” Scootaloo looked at Fluttershy who was being the ever quiet wallflower.

“I told her not to get you too excited. You still need your rest.” Angel started tapping his foot on the table.  “Oh, and I think Angel wants you to finish your game.” Fluttershy jerked her head towards the wall twice. Scootaloo followed the direction she had nodded to see a squirrel perched above the window, watching them. She saw Fluttershy wink and leave to do her morning chores.

“Ok Angel, is it a squirrel!” Angel’s jaw dropped and his foot stopped tapping. He shot an accusing glance at the door. “yeah! I got it!” Angel headed off into the kitchen, probably to get his fix of sugar from Pinkie Pie.

Scootaloo sat on the couch, thinking about the day. Fluttershy had found out she was an orphan, and didn’t care. She still wanted to be Scootaloo’s friend. Now Dash and Pinkie had seen her, and they didn’t seem angry either. Maybe if she let everypony know she was an orphan, they would accept her after all. The only pony still worrying her was Applejack. It was like she could see through every lie the filly had told.

She knew what she had to do next. She would work up the courage and prove to Dash she was cool enough, and then ask Dash to teach her how to fly. She could tell the ponies slowly about her true past, and maybe one day she could be happy all the time and not just around the Cutie Mark Crusaders.



Fluttershy went around the outskirts of the cottage feeding the animals. “Oh dear, first I had to lie to Cheerilee, then Applejack, then Pinkie and Dash. This is horrible, what am I supposed to do? I was only trying to get her out of class.” The blue jay in front of her chirped a few times.

“But I made a pinkie promise, I can’t break it, but I can’t tell the truth either. . . oh dear.” The blue jay chirped a few more times. “Oh I don’t know about that. Maybe I can convince her to tell Dash the truth, but I don’t think Scootaloo trusts the other ponies yet.”

The blue jay flew to her nest on the next branch, landing near her chicks. They began chirping for their mother, and the blue jay chirped a final comment at Fluttershy.

“Oh, I wish I could give her a family too, blue jay.”
> 8. Valentine's Day Bonus Chapter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


This Valentine’s day bonus chapter is presented to you by the CMC, and the letter Y.


“Then we had a race to the top of the rainbow falls! Dash held me and I got to fly for the first time and it was so amazing! We won of course, and now Dash is totally my big sister!” Scootaloo was jumping all over Fluttershy’s couch, re-enacting the epic race. Angel was helping too, playing the role of the distraught ponies that were losing the race.

“Wow Scootaloo, I’m so happy for you. You’ve finally started opening up and making a real home for yourself in Ponyville. Your parents would be proud.”

Scootaloo missed her next jump and landed on the couch, and her smile vanished. “She. . . still doesn’t know I’m an orphan. I don’t know how to ask her what I really want to ask. I don’t want her to be like a big sister. . .” Scootaloo sniffled.

“It’s ok Scootaloo, I know. I’m sure when the time is right you can ask her, and I know she would love to adopt you.”

“You really think so? You think I would get to be her sister for real and learn all about flying? And then we could both get into the Wonderbolts!” Scootaloo was bouncing around the couch again with Angel. Her laughter was contagious and half the woodland critters were in the room watching the excited young filly.

“When you’re ready to ask her, I’ll go with you. I’m sure she would love to have such a brave filly for a sister.”



“Hey Krupke! Check this out.” He handed a flier that had just come in the mail to Krupke.
“Another runaway T.J.? Wait a minute. . . this one actually looks kind of familiar. “Orange filly, pink mane, Pegasus. Last seen, Canterlot train station. May still be using a wooden scooter. Wanted for petty theft and arson. Will resist arrest. Contact Silent Knoll orphanage if found.”

“Yeah what are the odds of that? It sounds just like that Scoota-something filly.”

“You mean the one in the Cutie Mark Crusaders that we’re always cleaning up after? That would explain why most of their cutie mark hunting ends with property damage.”

“Well it’s not that funny, I hate to say it but we’ve got a duty now to go find her. If she is the same filly as in this flier, we’re going to have to send her back up to Canterlot.”

“And what if she’s not?”

“If she’s not an orphan, she’ll have parents. Then, we’ll let her go.”

“Ah, good thinking T.J., that’s why you’re the sergeant. Looks like it’s time to eat donuts and track down a fugitive, and I’m all out of donuts.”

T.J. sighed. “I swear I’m never giving you a Colt Nukem game again, it’s been non-stop action-hero quotes ever since.”




“Wait up Scootaloo!” Fluttershy was struggling to keep up with the filly on the scooter. “When I said I’d come—with  you to ask, I—didn’t mean right now!”

“But I want to know if she’ll adopt me before school! And I know where she takes her morning naps, and I might not get a chance to ask again until tomorrow!”

“Ok. I’m running—out of breath—now. Can we—find her—a little slower?”

Scootaloo slowed down, and Fluttershy was able to walk and keep up. Slowly catching her breath, the two neared the town hall and saw a rainbow tail on a cloud near town hall.

“Now sweetie, just try not to be too excited.”

“Hey Dash! Dash! Wake Up!” Scootaloo saw her roll over in the cloud, but she didn’t wake up. She took off her helmet and started banging it against the metal handlebar of the scooter. clink clink clink “Daaaaasssssh! Wake up todaaaayaaaayy!”

A cyan head poked through the cloud. “Wha—Is that you Scootaloo?” Dash pushed herself through the cloud and floated down to the ground. “Hey squirt, what’s up.”

Scootaloo suddenly regretted her decision to come here and ask right away. Maybe she needed more time, maybe she could just ask tomorrow. She backed up. “Well, actually. . .” She bumped into Fluttershy. Turning to face her, she had a large smile that gave her confidence.

“Dash, I wanted to ask you something really important.” The memory of the voice in her head gave her another boost of courage. Face your fears.

“Ok Squirt, what is it?” Dash smiled and sat down in front of the filly.

“Well you see my parents aren’t—what I mean to say is I am an—there was an accident—“ Fluttershy put a hoof on her back and gently rubbed it. Scootaloo smiled. “I’m an orphan. My parents are dead, would you please please please adopt me? We could be real sisters!”

Dash’s brain kicked into overdrive as her jaw fell open. This revelation hit her like a bombshell. Scootaloo was an orphan this whole time? She knew the filly worshipped the ground she walked on, but she was a young athletic mare who didn’t know the first thing about being a parent. She hadn’t even been on many dates, or had siblings, or ever tried babysitting. Scootaloo’s grin was slowly fading as the awkward silence hung between the trio.

Dash recovered, but her brain was still lagging behind her tongue. “Squirt I’m flattered. . . but I don’t know anything about being a parent. Wouldn’t Fluttershy be a better choice? She has been taking great care of you.”

Now it was Scootaloo’s turn to stare in shock as her brain re-assembled what had just been said to her. Dash didn’t want her. Her relatives didn’t want her. She loved Dash so much, but Dash clearly didn’t love her back. Dash was just as awful as everypony else.

Before Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash could blink, Scootaloo had jumped on her scooter and took off towards the school playground.

“Was it something I—“ Fluttershy interrupted.

“You! How Could YOU!” Fluttershy stared into Dash’s eyes, and Dash suddenly felt as small as a mouse. “She worships you! She could have chosen anypony, she could have asked me, but she wants YOU to be her big sister!” Fluttershy stomped her hooves, and took off after the filly.

“But I really don’t know how to be a parent. . . by Celestia, what did I just do?” Dash sat there, reflecting on what had happened. Scootaloo had just caught her off guard, that’s all it was. She could go back, and tell her she’d be happy to adopt her. But would she even be able to take care of a  kid? It’s not like she had anypony else to turn to.

She stared off into the distance, lost inside the jumbled thoughts in her head. She needed advice, but who could she talk to? She barely even knew where to begin. Rarity had a little sister, but the two of them weren’t nearly as close as Applejack and Applebloom. Dash was afraid to ask Applejack, they had a friendly rivalry but Dash was still hesitant to admit to Applejack when she had made a mistake. That left Pinkie, and Twilight. Pinkie probably would want to throw a party, and Twilight would want to lecture her.

Standing up with a sigh, she lifted off and headed towards the library. She was nearly halfway there, when she noticed she was flying so slowly, Pinkie was keeping up with her at a slow trot underneath her.

“Hey Dash, why so serious?”

“Hey Pinkie. I think I just hurt Scootaloo’s feelings, real bad.”

“Oh, I’m sure she will forgive you.”

“She asked me to adopt her, and I panicked. I don’t know how to be a parent! It was just me and my dad, and flight competitions for most of my childhood.”

“Oh Dash, nopony knows how to be a mother. The Cake’s had to learn it all for themselves, just like I learned how hard it is to babysit a foal. But you know what? Every time their foals see me come into the bakery and they smile, it makes my day. I can’t explain how to be a family. I just know that the Cake’s treat me like family, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in Equestria.”

Dash looked down at the pink mare to make sure it wasn’t a changeling. “When did you get so deep Pinkie?”

“About the same time you stopped smiling.” Dash looked down at the party-pony turned wise-mare. “Now watch out!”

“Wha—“ Dash rammed into the wall right above the door into the library. 




“Scootaloo! Oh thank goodness, there you are.” Fluttershy landed behind the school, where Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were trying their best to console the quivering filly.

“Fluttershy, it’s horrible! Scootaloo won’t tell us what’s goin’ on!” Applebloom pleaded with her. “She just keeps mumbling ‘Dash’ and askin’ us to leave!”

“It’s ok girls, I think I better take care of this. Go let Cheerilee know she’ll be late to class.”

Fluttershy sat down next to Scootaloo and put a wing around her. They sat there silently until Scootaloo was ready to talk.

“Why doesn’t—she want me?” Scootaloo clung to the side of Fluttershy, crying into her soft yellow fur.

“Scootaloo, she loves you very much. She’s just—“ What was she? A tomboy, an athlete, inexperienced? How can you let a filly down gently at a time like this? Maybe Applejack was right, and the truth really was the best option. “She’s confused. Do you remember when she won the best young flyer’s competition with a sonic rainboom?”

Fluttershy felt the filly nodding yes into her side.

“Well, she would never admit it to anypony else but me. . . When I couldn’t cheer her on, she lost confidence. She told me she was backstage, curled up in a ball, crying. She thought she would fail the sonic rainboom, and we wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore. She thought Celestia would banish her and the Wonderbolts would never accept her.

Dash’s cutie mark symbolizes her love of competition and winning. Her weakness is her fear of losing. I think she was so afraid of failing you, of being a bad mother, that she couldn’t tell you how she really felt.”

“But—I love her—and I don’t care—how good a mother—she is. We could—still be—happy.”

“I know Scootaloo, we just need to give Dash a little time and she’ll realize that too.”

“Miss Fluttershy?” Cheerilee stepped out behind the school house. “There are. . . two gentle colts here to talk to Scootaloo.”

“Good morning ma’am, I’m Officer Hooker, and this is Officer Krupke. You can call me T.J.” The two police colts stepped out from behind the building.

Fluttershy stood up and shielded Scootaloo. “What is the meaning of this?” There were two things that could make Fluttershy assertive. One of them was somepony threatening one of her friends. The other was somepony threatening an innocent filly.

The officer’s took a second to respond to her. “Well. . . we did a background check to be sure, and we hate to do it ma’am. The filly there matches the description of a runaway orphan, criminal, and a fugitive. We’ve contacted the orphanage and we have to take this filly to jail. Once the orphanage’s matron gets here and confirms the I.D., we’ll be sending her back.”

“NO! You can’t!” Scootaloo clamped onto Fluttershy’s leg like a vice grip, causing her to wince in a great deal of pain.

“She’s right, she’s not going back.” Fluttershy stared at the two ponies. “That ‘matron’ is known as Gerda, and she tortures the fillies. She. Will. Not. Have. Scootaloo.” Fluttershy had never even considered trying the stare on a pony before. Had somepony told her should would do it, she would have giggled. However, somepony had to stand up for the orphan filly. It was time somepony proved they cared about her.

“You are very persuasive.” Fluttershy could see the doubt in their eyes. “But unless you have proof, our hooves are tied. Step away, or we’re arresting you too.”

Fluttershy had failed, the stare hadn’t worked. She felt horrible. She knew that Twilight could help. She hated using Twilight like a glorified mailbox to ask Celestia for help, but she had no choice. If she got arrested, nopony would send for help until it was too late.

“Do you trust me Scootaloo?” Fluttershy glanced at the filly, who stared back with dilated pupils. “I said, do you trust me?”

“. . .Yes.”

“Then do as I ask. Let go. You have to go with the officers.”

“No! Please don’t!”

“You said you trust me. It’ll be ok, I’m going to get help.”

Scootaloo slowly released her grip and stared into Fluttershy’s watery eyes. Scootaloo had only just stopped crying herself, and now she started to weep again. “o—ok.”

Scootaloo trotted over to the police colts with a bravery that would have put anypony to shame. Without a glance back, she trotted off with them willingly towards the prison.





Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash were sitting in the library talking. So far they had been giving Dash advice and comforting her.

“Dash. No one could have told me how to take care of Spike, and I was only a filly when he hatched. I had my parents to help, but they couldn’t be there all the time. Spike turned out fine, and if you adopt Scootaloo you’d have all of us to help you.”

“I know you’re right. . . But what if I mess up? If I hurt Scootaloo I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. If I turn out like my mother. . .” Dash froze realizing what she had just revealed.

“You’ve never once mentioned your mother Dashie.” Pinkie Pie was still smiling, trying to lift her spirits. Twilight was amazed, Pinkie hadn’t sat in one spot for so long since she was forced to watch paint dry.

“I. . . I still can’t talk about it. I was scared I would fail a sonic rainboom. If I ended up failing Scootaloo. . .” Dash started to cry, which shocked both mares into silence. Dash coughed “There seems to be some dust in the air.” She wiped her eyes.

The three sat there awkwardly for a second, unsure what to ask next. Hearing a loud noise, they turned to the window. It looked like Fluttershy had just crashed hoof-first through a window into the library. It looked like a demon straight from Tartarus was out for blood.

“Twilight, we need to write Celestia now!” The three mares just sat there staring at Fluttershy. 

“uh oh Twi, I think she’s been talking to Iron Will again!” Pinkie glanced around  to make sure they were safe.

“Twilight, Scootaloo is an orphan and the orphanage she was at, Silent Knoll, is run by an evil mare. Her name is Gerda and she would clip Scootaloo’s wings, lock the fillies in their rooms for days with nothing by dry oats. She’d even rip the feathers off of her sometimes! But the police won’t help because there’s no proof! Only Scootaloo’s word against hers!”

The three mares were still staring in disbelief, muttering. “Clipped wings, that’s barbaric!” “wait she’s an orphan?” “Locked in their rooms?”

“Girls. Spike. Celestia. Now!”




Scootaloo sat on the bed in a prison cell, dangling her hooves over the side. Fluttershy asked her to trust her. She promised they would come for her before Gerda took her away again. A shiver went down her spine as she imagined how angry she would be. Would Gerda go so far as to lock her in her room until she starved?

She wanted desperately not to panic, but she couldn’t help it. She heard the door to the prison open and could hear somepony walking in. Scootaloo ran to the bars. “Fluttershy! I was so worried.”

A grey mare walked into sight, with malevolence in her narrow eyes. She grinned, and Scootaloo could feel her contempt wash over her.

“No! No! NO!” Scootaloo ran and hid under the bed, only to be dragged out by Gerda’s telekinesis. 

“When I get done with you sweetheart, you’ll be begging for death.”

The police colts walked up behind her, missing the last comment. “Is she giving you too much trouble ma’am?”

“No it’s quite alright, I’ll just need a pair of hoofcuffs. This ruffian used to be the biggest bully in my orphanage, I don’t want to hurt her. I just want to help her.” Gerda smirked at Scootaloo, and dozens of thoughts of revenge flashed through her mind. To her, the children were the worthless scum dredged out of the cities gutters. It was her job to keep them segregated. As a fringe benefit, it also paid well.

Scootaloo struggled, but the earth pony police didn’t know the first thing about magic. Scootaloo appeared to be floating their tranquilly, but the reality was quite different. The mare was holding her mouth shut, and pinning her wings. She could barely breath, let alone scream for help. She felt the first pair of hoofcuffs click on, then the second.

The police escorted Gerda outside to the police wagon she had brought from Canterlot. Despite its futility, every muscle in Scootaloo’s body was struggling to escape the death grip. Ponyville wasn’t used to much police activity, and already it looked like everypony in town was gathered around to watch what was happening.

“Scootaloo!” She recognized that high pitched voice as Sweetie Belle. She wanted to look at her friends, but couldn’t turn her head. “No! Let me through! It’s a mistake!”

“Ah knew there was somethin’ off about her! Stay back girls!” Applejack. That had to be her.

They were halfway to the police wagon when a meteor fell from the sky, impacting the ground. A wall of dust and air buffeted every pony present. A pony emerged from the small impact crater. Gerda had dropped Scootaloo in shock, but quickly pinned her back to the ground.

“STOP! You let her go this instant!” Scootaloo couldn’t see or smile, but she knew that voice. Dash had come for her! “Or I swear I’ll rip you apart limb by limb!”

“My, officers! You have such violent ponies in this town.”

“Miss Dash, what is the meaning of this?” The two officer’s stepped up alongside Gerda. “We made it quite clear to your friend Fluttershy our hooves were tied. This orphan is being sent back.”

“She’s not an orphan!” Dash’s tone of voice sent a shiver down Scootaloo’s spine. She sounded like she wanted Gerda to give her a reason to be beat to death. Had Fluttershy told her about how Gerda had tortured her?

She heard some faint shuffling, and then Dash again. “These forms, approved by Celestia herself, prove that I am her mother!”

“That’s absolute nonsense. You couldn’t possibly have flown to Canterlot and back. These are a forgery, this ruffian is trying to corrupt this poor filly.”

Scootaloo felt Gerda let go of her grip. As soon as she realized she was free, she ran and dove beneath Dash.

“What’s the meaning of this! Officers, arrest them!” She looked around for the unicorn who was countering her magic. She finally found the lavender mare, panting alongside a yellow and pink mare.

“Twilight, what in the hay is goin’ on?” Applejack walked over to her friends. Despite being in the dark, she knew her place was alongside them, and not on the side of whoever this ‘Gerda’ was.

“It’s over Gerda!” Dash continued to crouch low over Scootaloo, her teeth bared and wings spread. “If we had an ounce of evidence of what you’ve been doing to those poor orphans, Celestia herself wouldn’t be able to save you from me. Scootaloo is my daughter now, and if you ever come near her again, I will kill you.”

Everypony there gasped. No pony had killed another pony in decades, and making such a threat was no joke. Everypony there could see clearly Dash was not joking, including Gerda. 

Gerda carefully weighed her options. There were 5 angry mares, and a crowd of nearly 50 poinies. Scootaloo had obviously told them about the wing-clipping and measly rations she fed the gutter-rats. This battle was lost.

“Very well, ‘Dash.’” She injected every ounce of malice into her voice she could. “You may have adopted her, but this is far from over.” She walked over to the carriage and got in. The crowd parted to let them pass. Everypony just stood there in shock at what they had just witnessed. Had Discord and Chrysalis just done a square dance together before saving Equestria from King Sombra, they would not have looked half as shocked as they did now.

“Hey Squirt, are you all right?” Dash looked down, no longer looking like a pegasus ready to go to war.

“I—thought—you didn’t—want me!” Scootaloo was sobbing softly, curled up on the ground still. Dash nuzzled her to get her to stand up.

“I never said that. I. . . Well I was shocked and confused, I don’t know how to be a mother. I’m willing to learn how, if you’re willing to forgive me. I love you Scootaloo, if you’ll let me adopt you I’ll make sure you are never alone again.”

Scootaloo jumped up and hugged Rainbow Dash, knocking her to the side. “Yes!”

“You can stop crying now Squirt, let’s get those hoofcuffs off.”

“I’m crying because I’m so happy.”

The officers came over and removed the hoofcuffs. They examined the adoption papers and apologized profusely. Before Scootaloo knew it, she was riding towards the library with all six of the elements of harmony. She had fallen asleep before Dash had taken twenty steps.

“Dash!” Rarity had recently arrived to see what the commotion was about. “Is it true?” She looked at Scootaloo sleeping on her back. “Oh this is so wonderful darling! I knew somewhere under all that competitiveness was a gentle, loving soul. You absolutely must let me fashion her some saddlebags and a blanket.”

“And ah reckon ah owe the Sugarcube an apology when she wakes up. If somepony,” she looked at the other mares, “had just been honest with me ah’d of helped out.”

“Oh it was horrible Applejack. . . I was so worried about Scootaloo I just couldn’t let anypony find out and send her back!” Fluttershy spoke through her mane, avoiding her gaze.

“It’s ok girls, this has been an exhausting day. Why don’t we all get some sleep and I’ll work on the friendship letter by myself.” Everypony started laughing at Twilight. “What, I’m serious. This has to go in a letter! Celestia will have her eye on Gerda now!”

“Thanks gals, for everything, for giving me the courage to open up and accept Scootaloo as my own. I can never repay you. And Twilight one last favor. Omit the part about me hurting Gerda from the letter. Wouldn’t want Celestia thinking I’m half as crazy as that old hag.” Everypony laughed again.

“Ah reckon you’re already a better mother than you think. A good mother would do anything for her child. Scootaloo is lucky ta have ya.”
> 9. Who am I to Disagree?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Soundtrack to this chapter


Dash landed on the porch to her cloud house with Scootaloo curled up on her back. Stepping in and closing the door, she headed upstairs to her bedroom. She had a large bed made out of a special grade of cloud that was softer, and yet firm enough that you couldn't push completely through it. Carefully, she leaned over and managed to slide Scootaloo off with her wing. Taking a step back, she noticed the filly shivering. It took Dash a moment to realize why, at this altitude it could get quite cold. She couldn't really close the windows of a cloud house, pegasi had adapted to be used to the cold and the altitude. Scootaloo had lived her whole life on the ground, and wasn't used to this yet. 

Dash rummaged around through her closets until she found a blanket folded up in a box. Dash smiled as she looked at the forgotten heirloom. Her father had given her this blanket after an airshow. It was light blue, adorned with several lightning bolts and the distinctive figures of several Wonderbolts. She had used it until she moved out to live in Ponyville. Smiling, she took it over to Scootaloo and gently wrapped her up until only her head and mane were sticking out. Scootaloo grinned in her sleep, and then opened her mouth and let out a gentle yawn.

Dash stood there for a moment just watching her sleep, as the hectic day caught up to her. She knew if she had to do it all again, she would have done the exact same thing. Dash had been loyal to her friends to a fault, often threatening to run ponies out of town for being a spy. When she realized how much Scootaloo meant to her, she had not hesitated to protect her. There was something more to it though, Dash realized. When she looked at Scootaloo, she saw herself as a filly. She had never known the gentle love of a mother, never had a sister. Dash would protect Scootaloo not just from cruel ponies, but from loneliness as well.

The adoption had been sudden, and her actions swift to protect Scootaloo. When Twilight sent the letter detailing the secret life of Scootaloo, at the hands of Gerda, Celestia had promised to arrest Gerda if she returned to Canterlot. While the officers of Ponyville may not have trusted Scootaloo's word, Celestia trusted the Elements of Harmony completely. Dash was willing to protect her friends at any cost, but it was not until she had defended Scootaloo that she realized she would gladly die to spare the filly pain. Was this what it meant to be a mother, to love another more than yourself?

Yawning loudly, Dash realized how sore her muscles were. She had exhausted herself with her show of pegasus magic earlier, reaching near supersonic speeds before decelerating and slamming into the ground. The shockwave created undoubtedly looked awesome. She'd have to ask the other ponies about that some time. Right now though, the only thought left was sleep. Dash climbed into the bed next to Scootaloo, and pulled up some cloud to act as a pillow. Looking at the filly, she suddenly felt the urge to pull her in close and never let her go. She slid over and pulled the filly against her chest and slid a wing over her. 

Scootaloo was warm now in the blanket, and Dash could feel the rise and fall of her chest through the loose blanket. Every so often a leg would twitch, or a wing would flap under the blanket. Her eyes were moving around under the eyelids and Dash fell asleep thinking about what wonderful dream Scootaloo must be having.





Scootaloo had sweet dreams of being crowned a princess, and having everypony love her as much as Dash did. She never had to be alone again, and became a Wonderbolt. Stirring under the blankets, she felt a wing reflexively pull her in tighter. Opening her eyes, she saw that it was morning now. She slowly realized that Dash had fallen asleep holding her close and keeping her warm. Scootaloo smiled, and nuzzled Dash. She saw Dash start to stir, and quickly closed her eyes and rested her head against Dash's chest. She could hear her heart beating, and Scootaloo wanted this moment to go on forever. Laying still, Scootaloo waited to drift back to sleep in the protective embrace of her new mother, sister, and best friend.





Dash felt something stirring around and flexed her wing. She felt something come in close and start nuzzling her. Stretching her legs gently, she opened an eye to see who was in bed with her. She saw Scootaloo and happy memories of their brief time together came back to her. Scootaloo had curled up closer to Dash and appeared to still be sleeping. Smiling, Dash closed her eyes and rested her head above Scootaloo's head. Dash would stay here perfectly still, so long as Scootaloo was happily asleep in her embrace. Dash never realized how special it would be to have a daughter, sister, and best friend all in one.





The pair slept peacefully until late into the afternoon. At one point Fluttershy came to check on them, and saw the pair curled up together in bed. It melted her heart to see the two of them sleeping there. Dash, finally opening up to somepony, and Scootaloo, getting the love she deserved. Fluttershy quietly glided down to the library to let everypony know they were doing just fine.
> 10. Falling with Style
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		It was around noon that Dash finally had to get up. She had taken the weekend off from the weather team; it was scheduled to be sunny anyway. As she rolled over to get out of bed, she saw Scootaloo wake up and climb out of the blanket.

"Good morning squirt." Dash smiled at the filly whose short hair was knotted and tangled up from the long night's sleep.

Scootaloo yawned and looked around. "We're in your house? This is so awesome!" She jumped off the bed and began examining everything. The furniture, floors, and walls seemed to be made of a dense cloud material. Scootaloo flung a wardrobe open and saw a couple gala dresses and a Wonderbolt costume.

"Heh, best not go messing around in another pony's closet Scoots. I'll get a room built for you soon enough." Dash's cheeks had a hint of redness to them as she blushed. "What do you say to some breakfast?"

"Oh, that'd be awesome Dash! What are you going to cook?"

"Well. . . I don't really cook, Squirt. I've got protein shakes, protein bars. . . you know what I think we'll just eat out. The Café next to Sugarcube corner has amazing hay fries and eggs. After that we'll go visit Pinkie and get some cupcakes."

"Wow! This is going to be so cool, I used to have to wait and eat some of Applebloom and Sweetie's lunch. . ."

"Well, you won't have to go hungry anymore! If I'm going to get you flying you're going to need lots of protein and three meals a day. Not to mention a rigorous exercise routine!"

"Awesome! When do we start?"

"Right now Squirt, we're far above the café and you're going to have to glide down."

Scootaloo's smile faded as her eyes widened and her mouth opened to speak. "But. . . You mean, I have to fly right now?"

"You make it sound so hard, we were born to fly! We'll just fix that mane, preen your wings, and you'll be set to glide down."

Dash spoke with confidence, helping the young filly mentally prepare herself. "Ok, but I've never preened before. . ."

"Oh right, so no one has taught you about preening Squirt? Well I guess it's your lucky day! You don't get to be the best flyer in Equestria by neglecting your feathers."

"I have never seen Pegasi preening, it's got something to do with oils in spit or something?"

"Yeah, us Pegasi have special oil in our saliva that helps protect and waterproof our feathers. It's the same as taking a bath or combing your mane, we usually do it in private. Sometimes I'll do it in front of Rarity for fun, she freaks out and starts using big words like 'uncouth' and 'uncivilized.'"

Scootaloo chuckled a few times at that. "Alright so can you show me how?"

"Alright watch closely, you want to get as many of the primary and secondary feathers as you can. You don't want to bite the feathers, just gently run your teeth over them. If you're molting, this is when you'll notice a feather or two come out as another will begin to grow in. If you don't take good care of your feathers, they won't be much good for flying. A Pegasus who doesn't preen is like an earth pony trying to fly."

"Pinkie flies." Scootaloo stuck her tongue out and gave her a raspberry.

"Pinkie doesn't count, I bet if I broke a pinkie promise she'd find a way to hop out of my closet without a cloud walking spell. So, start like this." Dash extended her right wing and tilted it, allowing her to reach her feathers. She began running them through her teeth gently, and a slight sheen was appearing on the feathers. Soon, her right wing looked freshly combed. Each feather was aligned, smoothed out, and water proofed.

"Ok now I'll try!" Scootaloo stuck out her wing, tilted it and took a mouthful of feathers in her mouth. Half a second later she was coughing. "Eww they taste horrible and fuzzy."

"Well you did say you've never preened before, and I doubt you've had many showers either. How'd you like to clean up first?"

"Ok!" Dash pointed Scootaloo to the bathroom, then finished preening while the filly cleaned up. Dash heard some singing in the shower, and it sounded like a rock ballad she had once had the misfortune of hearing. Then she heard the filly get out and start drying off with a towel.

"Once we get you flying, the best way to dry off is in free-fall. Now you usually want to preen when the feathers are dry so let me make sure." Dash took the towel and rubbed at her wings. "Looks good, try again."

Scootaloo took a mouthful of feathers in again and fought the urge to laugh from the strange sensation. "Scootaloo, you don't have to do them all at once. Try to get one or two at a time."

"Oomph—kay" Scootaloo spit some feathers out and tried again.

"Good, now just pull back gently. . . easy. . ."

"OW!" Scootaloo spit the feathers out and one drifted to the floor. "Aww shoot."

"It's okay, they get loose before molting and that feather was probably about to fall off anyway. Now, just keep going on the other feathers gently, try and think about some ice cream or something to get the saliva flowing."

Scootaloo slowly picked feathers out of her wing, and coated them in the saliva. "This—ish sho—weird." She quickly finished her right wing, and proceeded to her left. It only took a few minutes and a few loose feathers before she was done.

"Great work, let me take a look." Dash walked around the filly that stretched her wings out proudly. "Pretty good, you got most of them. It's harder as a filly since your wings aren't at their full size yet." Dash ran her teeth over a few stray feathers, and soon the filly's wild wings looked smooth and uniform. "There that should do it, gliding should be a cake walk now!"

"Awesome! So, where are we going to practice? Maybe the staircase?"

"Please, there's only one way for Pegasi as awesome as us to learn. It's an old trick my dad taught me. Follow me."

Scootaloo followed Dash out to the front porch of the home, and took in the majestic view of Ponyville spread out below them. It was beautiful, she could not remember having ever seen anything from this bird's eye view. The ponies were tiny dots moving around a town the size sugar cubes.

"Now, watch closely." Dash waited for the filly to face her. "The key things to know about flight are speed, drag, gravity, and lift. We just took care of drag by fixing your mane and feathers, keep your legs tucked in and you won't slow down as fast. Next is speed, you'll gain speed going down and using gravity, or by flapping your wings. For now, we're going for a nice glide so just hold your wings open and level like this. Last thing is lift, you can gain altitude or turn by tilting the wings like so. Now, spread your wings out to glide."

Scootaloo spread her wings out and Dash inspected them. "Very good, tilt them down just a little. Now, this isn't like riding a scooter. If you try and fly like a hummingbird, you're going to get tired. Our goal isn't to beat the air into submission, it's to slice through it." Dash approached the edge and looked down, and nodded to Scootaloo to do the same.

"Flying is in our blood Squirt, it's like magic with the unicorns or freakish strength with the earth ponies. We're born knowing how to do it, the only thing stopping us is our fear. Are you afraid Scootaloo?

"Um. . . no?" Scootaloo was shaking on her hooves, her wings folded tightly against her sides.

"It's okay to be honest, sometimes fear helps us know our limits. Even I was a bit scared my first time. It's a natural thing, and once you feel the wind through your feathers you'll never want to walk anywhere again."

"Ok. . . it's a little scary, I mean look how high we are!"

"Good! Facing your fears, I like it. Now, spread your wings like I showed you."

Scootaloo spread her wings open wide. "But. . . Dash. . . is this a good idea?"

"Let's find out. Geronimo!" Dash pushed the filly off the edge of the porch and dove after her.

"OMIGOSH OMIGOSH AAAAAHH" Scootaloo was flailing around and flapping her wings madly. Her legs kicked out in various directions as she tumbled head over flank.

"Hey Squirt, didn't we just go over this?" Scootaloo looked to see Dash in a relaxed pose, plummeting beside her. "Wings out, level, slice through the air!" Dash spread her wings and rocketed forward without having to flap once.

Scootaloo gulped at the rapidly approaching ground. She closed her eyes and spread her wings as widely as she could. She felt the wind whipping up past her, then it began coming from the side whipping her mane and tail back. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was now flying straight towards Ponyville and descending rapidly.

"Awesome Squirt! You're flying!" Dash was flying along beside her, watching her glide down to the earth.

"Dash! That was awesome! Except the part where you shoved me!"

"Heh, like I said, I taught you just like my dad taught me." Dash stuck her tongue out at Scootaloo.

"What do we do now?"

"Well, once we get closer to Ponyville we just. . . land."

"Uh Dash?"

"So, I may have forgotten one tiny detail. . . how to land. The trick is to turn your wings nearly upright like this." Dash turned her wings, slowing down, then flew back up to Scootaloo. "And start running before you hit the ground! And remember to tilt to turn because the ground is coming up fast Squirt!"

Scootaloo took her eyes of Dash and faced forward. Less than a hundred feet away a large tree was directly in her path. "Tilt your left up and right down Scoot! Turn!" Scootaloo tried adjusting her wings, resulting in a barrel roll. She then began flapping them madly and flailing again, when she felt Dash grab her.

The pair collided with something solid, and skidded to a halt. There was a sound of something falling off countless shelves. Scootaloo hadn't felt the impact, and immediately began cheering.

"YEAH! That was so awesome! Let's do it again!" Scootaloo looked at Dash, who was sitting amidst a pile of books. Dash's head wobbled around for a bit as the dizziness cleared up.

"Uh oh Squirt, we better get out of here fast!" The pair heard hoof steps coming from the other room.

"Not again! I just finished re-shelving this room!" Twilight looked over at the pair of Pegasi.

"Heh, you know me." Dash smiled at Twilight and shrugged her shoulders.

"It was awesome Twilight! I flew down from Dash's house all by myself!" Scootaloo spread her wings to show her how well groomed they were now.

"Hmph. More like falling with style. I just hope you don't make a habit of crashing into my library like Dash does." Twilight began levitating books back onto their shelves.

Dash elbowed Scootaloo in the ribs "That's our cue squirt, we leave now or we'll be stuck around for a lecture." The pair quickly and quietly walked over to the door and left.

"Well I suppose since you want to learn about flying I can explain some of the laws of aerodynamics and thermodynamics while you're—" Twilight turned around to find an empty room. Sighing loudly, she called out. "Spike! We have some more re-shelving to do!"


> 11. Flying with style.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
The door to the basement unlocked and light flooded in. A unicorn filly strained to see through the light. "What do you want?"

A colt trotted down the stairs towards the unicorn. "It's your lucky day, you're free to leave the orphanage."

"Where's Gerda, this is another cruel trick isn't it?" The filly backed away against the bars of the cage she was in.

Boulder walked up and unlocked it. "Nope, Gerda left instructions in case she didn't return with Scootaloo. I run the orphanage now, and you're free to go. She said you would know what to do."

"Scootaloo."

"Huh what about that loser?"

"All these years, she escaped and left me behind. Gerda told me all about it, and now I'm going to make Scootaloo suffer." 

The unicorn ran up the basement steps and out of the orphanage. Boulder just stood there in shock for a moment. Looking around the dank basement, he realized just how twisted Gerda was. This went beyond skimping on meals to make more profit, or harsh discipline to ensure good order.

He walked out of the orphanage and headed for the outskirts of Canterlot. "I did what you asked. Consider the orphanage mine now, the guards have been snooping around and if I see you in this city again I'm turning you in. Goodbye Gerda."






Dash and Scootaloo were on a hill near the ghastly gorge. It was far enough away from any of the dangers, but still had a decent downhill slope. It was here that Dash had been teaching Scootaloo some of the finer points of flying. Dash had often wondered what it would be like to have a sister, and hadn't really considered that she would ever get married and have foals. Having this situation thrust on her had turned out to be fun. Scootaloo still idolized Dash, and Dash still got to enjoy the hero worship. There was also something new, a deep sense of caring for each other. If all families were like this, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad to settle down one day.

Scootaloo had finally walked back up to the top of the hill. "How was that?"

"That was good Scoots. Remember not to flap too quickly, you just need to keep your speed up and let the wind do most of the work for you. It'll help you fly farther until we get your muscles built up."

"Ok, so what next?"

"Well, I'm going to have to figure out a training schedule. We'll have flying practice before school; I usually take care of the weather and take a nap in the morning. After school I guess you can do whatever, but we'll have to do some flying in the evening too."

"That sounds great!" Scootaloo was sweating, and could feel her muscles aching in her back. She was used to using a certain group of muscles to propel her scooter. Now she was using a different set of muscles to learn to fly. They were burning now, but it was too fun to quit now. She would probably be too sore to move in the morning, but she would gladly be sore for months to experience the thrill of flight.

"So you ready to head home Squirt?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry."

"Well, climb on I'll give you a lift."

"Actually, I want to try it myself." Scootaloo grinned and spread her wings, hiding the soreness as best she could.

Dash chuckled. "Pretty brave words there Squirt, I like it. There's an air current near the mouth of the gorge that'll help us get altitude. Follow me, we'll glide up and then fly over to my home." Dash jumped into the air and lazily glided down the hill.

Scootaloo gave herself a running start and jumped in the air. She held her wings steady as long as she could, gliding towards the air current. She saw Dash start flapping and gaining altitude, until it looked like all she had to do was glide in circles while she rose in the air.

Following her path, she gained altitude on her small wings, intent to keep up with her hero. She could feel some of the warm air around her and started circling, but didn't seem to be gaining much altitude. Scootaloo had nearly exhausted her energy, when she finally relaxed and started to glide. She thought she would end up back on the ground, but by taking it easy the current finally began to life her up.

Before she knew it, she was high in the air alongside Dash. "Good job Squirt, air currents are important for long distance flight. Now we'll just glide back to the house." Dash drifted out of the air current and angled to cross Ponyville.

Scootaloo followed on exhausted wings, loving the feel of the wind through her mane and already thinking about going to bed early. She would have never imagined that some preening and encouragement from a good friend would be all she had needed to fly. After being beaten up and having her wings clipped at the orphanage, she thought she might never fly. It turned out that she just needed the confidence to dive in.

Dash was getting further ahead and Scootaloo couldn't maintain her glide. She began flapping to gain some speed, when she felt a muscle seize above her shoulder blade. Within seconds the cramp was unbearable, and Scootaloo had to fold in the wing to try and relieve the pain.

"Dash! Help!" Scootaloo was falling towards the ground, barely controlling her descent with one wing. She struggled to prevent spinning out or falling like a brick, but it was a losing battle. Looking around she couldn't see Dash, and then something came up from behind and under her. Dash lifted upwards catching the filly on her back.

"You ok Squirt?"

"Yeah." Scootaloo tried to flex her right wing and cried out in pain. "I think my muscle is cramped, I can't extend my wing."

"Hmm, I probably pushed you a little hard today; this was our first day flying."

"It was so awesome though, we should do it again tomorrow!"

"I like the enthusiasm; you'd make a great Wonderbolt someday. I think first you need to learn your limits. I won't be upset if you're too sore to fly yourself home after training. And if you get hurt, you won't get to fly at all."

"I guess you're right." Scootaloo frowned, but cheered right back up when she saw Ponyville passing by below her. The only thing that mattered was that she was flying, and the world was hers now.

"We're here. Head on up and take a hot bath, as hot as you can stand it. It'll help relieve your sore muscles, and if you need I'll get some ice afterwards. Believe it or not, I know a thing or two about sports injuries."

"Huh, I thought you were more into flying and stunts and saving ponies lives."

"And what do you think I do after I crash land in Twilight's library? I still have plenty to teach you Squirt; now get going while I reshape some clouds to form a room for you."

"Ok!" Scootaloo trotted up the stairs and into the bathroom. Before long she had drawn a hot bath, and felt like she would dissolve in the hot water. It was so relaxing that every ache melted away, until she floated there in pure bliss. She nearly fell asleep, before climbing out and deciding to find a place to curl up and sleep. She quickly dried off with a towel. Yawning, she wiped her eyes and grabbed a toothbrush off the counter. She decided Dash wouldn't mind, so she brushed her teeth with her toothbrush. Heading downstairs, she found Dash kicking a few last clouds into place.

"Wow, you can reshape clouds just like that?"

"Yeah it's pretty easy. The only hard part is getting the right type of cloud to build with this far from Cloudsdale."

Scootaloo examined the room. It was small, but still bigger than anything she had before. The bed was the same fluffy cloud from Dash's room, and her scooter and helmet rested in a corner. There was a set of clouds that were shaped, and functioned as, a set of drawers.

"Are you ok Squirt? You look pretty tired."

"Ye--" Scootaloo yawned. "--eaah. Do you have that blanket?"

"It's upstairs, here I grabbed you a protein bar. They don't taste great but they've got all the oats and stuff your muscles will need to rebuild stronger."

"Sure." Scootaloo flopped on the bed and took a bite out of the snack. "Ew, peanut butter."

"Heh, I'll get you some water too. I'll be right back with the blanket."

Scootaloo laid on the bed marveling at how good the soft, fluffy cloud felt on her sore muscles. She stretched her wings slightly, and rolled over. Scootaloo was used to it being hard to find a comfortable position, Pegasi had several pressure points. On a normal bed, it was hard not to pin your wings against the bed. It was not only uncomfortable, but most Pegasi quickly panicked when they couldn't stretch their wings. The cloud allowed her to push her wings out to a comfortable position.

Scootaloo still felt the knot in her sore muscle, but it was easy to ignore. She was so relaxed, and the day had been so wonderful, that she fell asleep before Dash returned.

Dash walked back into the room to see Scootaloo passed out on the bed. She had finished half the protein bar, and the other half laid on the bed. Picking it up, Dash brushed off the crumbs. She then lifted the blanket up and tucked it around Scootaloo. Dash set the glass of water on the dresser in case she woke up.

Standing there, Dash watched the slow rise and fall of the filly's chest. "You did well today Squirt, you made me proud." Dash wondered what more she could say or do for the filly, before remembering what her father had always done. Leaning over, Dash kissed Scootaloo on the cheek. "Sweet dreams."

> 12. Allons-y
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo felt like she had been run over by a cart. Every muscle in her body, including ones she didn’t know she had, were stiff. Laying there on the cloud bed, she resisted the urge to wake up for as long as she could. Eventually the urge to stretch became too great to ignore. Stretching her wings and legs, she gasped as the muscles tensed, and then relaxed. It was a start.

“Hey Squirt, thought you’d never wake up.”

“Dash?” Scootaloo opened her eyes and tried to sit up, realizing just how sore her abdominal muscles were. “Ugh, how’d my stomach get sore? It isn’t even next to my wings.”

“Those are your core muscles Scoots; they assist in everything from flying to walking. And as your wings got tired, they tried to pick up the slack. Congratulations, you just had your first workout. Ready to go again?”

“You’re kidding right?” Scootaloo rolled onto her stomach and buried her head in the bed.

“Haha, yeah. You were actually asleep so long I went to check on the weather team. I had the perfect idea on how to loosen up your muscles.”

“More bed rest?”

“Better, did you know Fluttershy is a masseuse?”

“A ma—what?”

“Um. . . I give massages.”

Scootaloo craned her neck to look over towards the door. Dash was sitting there with a gleefully smile; probably proud of how hard the filly had pushed herself. Fluttershy had her normal look, somewhere between concern, fear, and kindness.

“Never had one, but I guess it can’t hurt.”

Scootaloo heard Dash laughing, before Fluttershy cut her off. “Well, it may actually hurt a little.”

“It’ll be worth it Squirt, just try not to wake me up when she gets to your wings!” Scootaloo could hear a flap of wings and assumed Dash had gone off to nap.

“Alright Fluttershy, what do I have to do?”

“It’s actually quite easy and I’ve had plenty of practice on Dash. Just lay still on the bed while I pack the clouds in a little more tightly. Then I’ll apply pressure to your muscles to work some of the tension out, and increase circulation.”

“Um… that’s the long version for ‘it’ll feel good’ right?”

Fluttershy giggled. “Yes, it should.”

Scootaloo lay there wondering if Dash felt like this after each day of stunt practice. Could a pony get used to working so hard, or was she sore because it was her first time ever flying? Scootaloo hardly noticed the pair of hooves on her hind legs.

Fluttershy kneaded the small legs. “Don’t tense up, just relax.” Scootaloo took a few deep breaths, and the muscles around her thigh loosened up. It was a wonderful and relaxing feeling, and soon both her legs were relaxed. Fluttershy worked her way up to her back, and began pushing much deeper.

“Ow, not so hard.”

“It’ll feel much better in a moment. There are a lot of muscles attached to a Pegasi’s shoulder. Leg muscles, wing muscles, intercostal muscles. . . I need to push hard to reach the deeper ones.”

Scootaloo sighed and let her continue, and soon her back began to feel at ease. “So do you do this a lot for Dash?”

“Usually after new stunts, or crashes into the library. It’s important to take care of your body. I never really built my muscles up, but if you keep working out you’ll be able to fly just as fast as Dash.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course, after all she is going to teach you all her secrets.” Fluttershy took her hooves off Scootaloo’s back. “That should be good for today. You’ll still be sore but you can probably move around now.”

Scootaloo rolled over onto her back and stuck her legs up in the air. They were sore, as she had expected, but the stiffness had faded. Hopping to her legs, she flexed out her wings. Her back muscles weren’t as co-operative as her legs were.

“So what should we do now Fluttershy?”

“Dash is taking her afternoon nap. I suppose I could take you for something to eat, and I bet the crusaders would love to see you.”

“Oh I almost forgot! We’re supposed to do some crusading this weekend. Let’s go!” Scootaloo hopped off the bed and grabbed her scooter and helmet. “Hmm, how am I supposed to fly down with these?”

“I’ll take them for you Scootaloo, I’d rather you glide down nice and easy.” The pair glided down to Ponyville, and ate lunch at a café. Scootaloo thanked Fluttershy for the meal and headed off to start crusading.





“Wait Sweetie, ah think ah hear her now!” Applebloom looked down the road towards the source of the buzzing sound. Over a small hill came Scootaloo on her scooter, stopping in front of the fillies. 

“Hey, ready for some crusading?”

“Yeah, let’s hook up the wagon and get ready to go.” Sweetie Belle pulled the wagon towards the hitch on the scooter.

“I don’t know, I’m pretty sore from flying.”

“You were flyin’! Way ta go Scoots!” Applebloom stuck her hoof up for a hoof bump, which Scootaloo quickly returned.

“I just walked over here from Rarity’s, she kicked me out of the house again. Come on, give us a ride.” A mischievous glint appeared in Sweetie’s eye. “Unless. . . you’re chicken!”

Scootaloo glared at her. “Hey! No pony calls me chicken!”

“Yeah she can fly now Sweetie.”

"Scoot--Scoot--Scootaloo!" Sweetie flapped her arms in the air.

“Alright! get in and I’ll teach you a thing or two.” Scootaloo looked Sweetie right in the eye. “Unless, you’re chicken!”

“No way! I just don’t want you to get a cutie mark in being a taxi driver.” Sweetie stuck her tongue out and strapped her helmet on. Applebloom hooked up the wagon and the two jumped in.

“So Scoots, how ‘bout ya show us how fast you can go now?”

“I’ve got the perfect idea in mind.” Scootaloo began pulling them forward at a slow pace. It was just quick enough they wouldn’t want to jump out. “I’ve already turned an apple cart into a ramp downtown. Cutie Mark Crusaders Stunt Ponies!”

Scootaloo began flapping full force. Luckily it was downhill from here towards the town, and the scooter made it much easier on her sore muscles. She just had to buzz the wings to build and maintain her speed until she got to town.

“Wait Scootaloo! We agreed no more stunt cutie marks!”

“Well if you want a chicken cutie mark feel free to jump out now!  Allons-y!”

“What does that even mean?” Applebloom looked to Sweetie.

“It’s French for ‘let’s go!’, I’m surprised Scoots can remember such big words.”

“And I thought we agreed no more arguing cutie marks, now hold on girls! This is going to be the most wicked jump ever.”

Sweetie looked over to Applebloom. “I’ll bail out if you will.”

“Ah reckon it’s too late for that! Hold on!” Applebloom gripped the handles that she had built into the inside of the wagon. Sweetie did the same as the Scoota-missile rocketed down the final stretch of street into town. Several ponies were standing around looking at the over-turned apple cart, trying to figure out who it belonged too.

“It must be one of Applejack’s, but how’d it get out here?”

“I don’t know, has anyone seen her? Hey what’s that noise?” The crowd turned as one towards the sound of buzzing and ricocheting wheels.

“It’s a gryphon!”

“No, it’s a train!”

“No, it’s the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Everypony gasped, and dove for cover. A mint green mare tripped and didn’t make it behind the bushes. Screaming in horror, she curled up in a ball and shielded herself with her lyre.

Scootaloo had never gone this fast on the scooter before. The wheels were starting to lift off the ground as her flight training, and history of scooter riding conflicted. She was now half-flying half-scooting, and trying to stay in control of the scooter. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, but she had never bothered to build breaks onto this thing. Hopefully she could stick the landing or she’d never hear the end of it.

Risking a glance back, she saw Applebloom grinning like a mad-pony and Sweetie screaming for Celestia to intervene.

Eyes forward she covered the last twenty feet to the apple cart ramp. She saw a green mare blur past, and then she was on the ramp. The impact nearly shook the handlebars out of her grasp. Flapping down hard, she lifted the scooter and wagon up the ramp. With a loud crack, the trio launched off the apple cart just as it shattered under the impact.

Scootaloo was in her element. They were soaring down main street over several market stalls. Time had slowed down to pay its respects to the daring trio of ponies. This time, she had to earn a cutie mark. Behind her, Applebloom was risking a glance out of the wagon. Sweetie had closed her eyes and her horn was sparking. Whether she’d admit it or not, Scootaloo knew she loved the feel of the adrenaline pumping through her.

Scootaloo continued to fly the oddly shaped missile through the air, as the wagon began to sag beneath its weight. It pulled on the scooter, and began to angle downwards. The wind began to drag on it, slowing them down. Scootaloo looked down to gauge her landing. She realized they had flown much higher then she had intended. Beneath her a stray cloud with a blue dot sailed by.

“Hang on!” Scootaloo angled the scooter down, leveling out wagon. Time started to speed back up as the wagon wobbled, and the ground quickly approached. Scootaloo saw her salvation ahead, there was a cart full of hay. Scootaloo slammed into the ground on her scooter, the wagon thudding as it impacted behind her. She spread her wings to slow down, which was something she had never tried with well-groomed wings before.

It turned out that holding her wings perpendicular to the ground was a little too effective at slowing them down. Before she realized what had happened, she face planted into the ground and bounced up into the cart of hey. She saw an orange and white blur sail by at one point, into the distance.

It took Scootaloo a second to recover from the shock of what had just happened. It had been the most awesome stunt she’d ever done. Then she remembered the other crusaders.

“Sweetie! Applebloom!” Scootaloo clawed her way through the hay until she reached the edge of the cart. She looked around but couldn’t see them. Then she heard somepony gasping for air.

“Yee-haw!” Scootaloo glanced over at the fountain in the center of town square. Sweetie and Applebloom had landed in the water, and the splash had drenched a white and a brown mare.

Scootaloo felt something land on the back of the wagon. Turning, she saw Dash frowning at her. Scootaloo suddenly didn’t feel quite so awesome.

“Scootaloo, are you alright? You fillies could have been hurt, and those two can’t fly like us.”

“Yeah, I guess I just went a little faster than I thought I was going.”

“I’d say so, you sailed clear over the cloud I was napping on. I was at least fifty feet in the air.”

“Wow! Fifty feet! I bet I could jump over the town hall!”

Dash sighed. “I think I know what my dad must have felt like now. Alright, go check on your friends, and take it easy! We’re going to workout tomorrow and I don’t want you breaking a wing.” Dash smiled and jabbed her shoulder.

Scootaloo watched Dash fly back up to her cloud to nap. She jumped out of the wagon to survey the damage. Applebloom was shaking her mane and flinging water everywhere in an attempt to dry off. Sweetie belle was still curled up in a ball.

“Hey Scoots, ah think you broke Sweetie.”

“Huh? I doubt that. Hey Sweetie you got a daredevil cutie mark!”

Sweetie gasped, and sat up in the water mumbling. “no. . . please no. . . too fast. . . the horror. . . .” She looked down at her flank, and then glared at Scootaloo. “You’re not chicken, you’re a mad pony with a scooter!”

“Come on Sweetie, ah reckon we can think up a way for her to make it up ta us.” Applebloom helped her friend out of the fountain, and the trio walked up to Scootaloo.

“Hey, it’s the filly from the train! That was a pretty sweet move.” The white pony with a blue mane and purple glasses walked over and shook Scootaloo’s hoof.

“Sweet? Did you say Sweet Vinyl? She nearly killed the unicorn and earth filly.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t Octy, thus it’s sweet!” Vinyl was dripping wet from being splashed by the pony projectiles.

“Heh, I guess so. Hey, uh I never said thanks for the train. My name is Scootaloo.” Scootaloo shook Vinyl’s hand. “This is Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, and we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“I’m Vinyl Scratch and this is my sister Octavia. Back when I was an orphan her family adopted me, and boy are they boring!”

“I’m standing right here Vinyl!” Octavia glared daggers at the white mare. “And it wouldn’t have been so boring if you’d stopped blasting that music at night and getting grounded.”

“See kid? Boring." Scootaloo could just make out Vinyl rolling her eyes behind the shades. "So I saw the whole mess in town square with the cops, you got adopted now too kid?”

“Yeah by Dash, she’s the fastest most loyal pegasus ever!”

“I hear she’s saved Equestria a few times too. Well, feel free to stop by any time to hang out, we live in the house with the wubs.” Vinyl began to walk away and was stopped by Octavia.

“Wait, they ruined my bow-tie! We need to tell their parents before they crash through the side of some pony's house!"

Vinyl looked back at Scootaloo and winked. Scootaloo wondered what she meant, when Vinyl suddenly used her levitation to knock Octavia into the fountain.

“Vinyl you are so dead!”

“You’ll have to catch me first!”

The two mares ran off and were soon out of sight.

“Wow that was really weird. Rarity says Vinyl is usually too hung-over to come out during the daytime.”

“What’s a hangover?” Applebloom and Scootaloo looked to Sweetie.

“Uh it has something to do with dance clubs and a colt named Daniels, and adult beverages.” Sweetie shrugged. “Well, now that you’re done trying to give me a heart attack, how about we get back to our real crusading?”

“What did you have in mind?” Scootaloo grinned and looked back towards the wagon.

“We’re going to the day spa and trying to get makeover cutie marks! Rarity takes me there all the time and it looks really easy. They just keep the baths warm and bring in fresh mud, and they even have a masseuse.”

“Sounds lame, back me up here Applebloom.”

“Well, ah reckon we’ve tried skydivin’, zip linin’, and nearly dyin’. So let’s work on some cutie marks that don’t involve unsafe velocities.” 

“Alright.” The fillies put their hooves together.

”Cutie Mark Crusader Makeovers!”

The trio headed off towards the spa with the scooter and wagon in tow. Off to the side of the road, Rarity sighed. “Well Opal, looks like we won’t be going to the spa today after all.”


> 13. The Ponyville Day Spa Massacre
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Come on this'll be fun! What could possibly go wrong?" Sweetie smiled and approached the door.

"Ah reckon it's such a quiet, peaceful day in Ponyville we're sure to get our cutie marks!"

"If I get a spa cutie mark I'm gonna slap somepony. Come on! Just one more time." Scootaloo pointed over to the wagon.

"No!" Scootaloo jumped back as both mares snapped at her.

"Heh, ah mean no more stunts for today."

"Alright, and I guess you're right. With Lotus Blossom and Aloe to help us, how could we possibly mess up a bubble bath?"

Walking through the door the trio was met by the owner of the day spa. "Hello fillies, you're here to learn about the spa?"

"Yeah, we want to see if we've got the talent for running a spa."

"Well, if you can promise to follow directions, I guess I can let you help out."

"We'll be on our best behavior Ms. Lotus" Sweetie smiled and pulled the other two fillies in tight. Together they gave the owner the most innocent look possible.

"All right, well first thing is first. Put on these small aprons, it'll let everypony know you're new workers helping out at the spa. Now, I suppose the first thing we need to do is drain the mud bath."

Aloe stepped in from a back room. "Sis, we need more water for the sauna."

"Ah'll help get some water." Applebloom trotted off towards Aloe.

"I guess me and Scootalunatic can help with the mud bath."

"Come on! It was one little jump." Scootaloo jabbed at her playfully.

"Alright girls, I'll open the drain to empty the mud bath. You just need to drag in a couple of bags of French Mud Flakes. They're in the brown bags next to the kitchen." Lotus and the two fillies walked towards the mud bath. Reaching under the spa, she started draining the mud out. "It's right down that hallway."

Sweetie and Scootaloo walked down the hallway. "I wonder why people pay to get muddy; I can do that for free."

"It exfoliates the skin Scoots, it's how Rarity and I keep our coats so pristine." Sweetie puffed out her chest and threw her mane back over her shoulder.

"You keep them white by getting them muddy? I'll believe that when I see it." The two reached the end of the hallway and all the doors were shut. "Which one was it?"

Sweetie opened the door to their left, seeing a dark supply room. Opening the door in front of them revealed the back yard. Sitting near the door were some brown bags. "Look, there they are! Come on." Sweetie managed to maneuver a bag onto her back, and Scootaloo followed suit.

"I wonder if I could get a cutie mark selling mud to ponies. All I would need is some dirt and water."

"But it has—to be certain—type of mud." Sweetie was huffing under the weight of the bag.

"Looks like somepony needs to work out more." Scootaloo bumped into her, nearly causing her to fall over.

"Not—funny Scootaloo."

Reaching the top of the stairs, they set the bags down next to the two small bathtubs. "Lotus must be busy; I think this is the water." Pushing down with her hoof the tub began to fill. "Yeah, just pour the dirt in and add water."

"Sounds easy enough." The duo poured the bags into the tubs by tearing a hole at the end, slowly filling the tubs with a warm mixture.





"Ok Applebloom, the sauna works by heating water into steam. You just pour a couple buckets over these hot rocks for me, and if Ms. Bon Bon asks you to adjust the temperature you use this dial here." Aloe pointed to the dial which had a range of 1 to 10 for adjusting the temperature.

"Ah can handle it, ah carry buckets 'round the farm all the time."

"Good, let me know if you have any questions."

After aloe was gone, Applebloom filled up the first bucket of water. Knocking on the door she heard a pony say "enter." Entering the room she saw Bon Bon, wrapped in a towel. She immediately inhaled the hot, damp air and felt like she couldn't breathe. Quickly emptying the water over the rocks, she went back out to get another bucket. The fresh air was a welcome relief. After emptying the second bucket over the hot rocks she turned to leave.

"Applebloom? Be a dear and turn the heat up for me. You let most of the steam out."

"Sure thing Bon Bon!" Applebloom closed the door and looked at the knob. It was a little high for a filly to reach, so she turned over the bucket and stood on top of it. Grabbing it with both hooves, she turned the dial. It clicked past seven, eight, nine, and rested on ten. Losing her balance, she fell to the ground with a snapping sound. Looking upside down at the floor behind her, she saw the dial.

"No problem, ah can fix anything." Applebloom took the dial and turned the bucket back over. Standing up she put the dial over the small metal knob, and hit it with her hoof. The dial clicked back into place on the number two, and Applebloom turned to leave not noticing that fact.





"Now that Mayor Mare is here, you need to wrap her in seaweed. it's very simple, just take the long strips of seaweed and drape them over her back." Lotus demonstrated by placing a piece of seaweed over her and tucking it in. The fillies had brought in two stools to aid them.

"So my little ponies, working on your cutie marks again?" The mayor smiled down at the fillies through the hole in the bed she was resting on.

"We sure are!" Scootaloo feigned interest in the strips of kelp. Turning to Sweetie she whispered. "First mud now crud from the ocean?"

"Shhh. At least help me get a sophisticated cutie mark"

The pair began draping seaweed over the mayor. It was much more slippery than it looked. "How are we supposed to keep it on?"

"Just wrap more of it on, it's like paper mache."

"Paper what?"

"Wait here." Sweetie went out to the front area to grab something out of her saddle bag. Returning she held out a tin can full of paste. "Here, this is what helps set paper mache, it'll help the seaweed stay still." The pair began dipping the seaweed into the white paste. It stuck to the mayor much better now.





Aloe returned to check on Applebloom's progress, but the filly was gone. Looking at the sauna she saw how low the setting was. "Oh dear, at a two it won't even get to steaming." Clicking the dial up six times, it rested on eight. "There, that should get it nice and steamy in there."

Walking back towards the front she saw Applebloom laying in a chair with a bored look on her face. Aloe stepped in front of her. "Want to help me with laundry?

"Ah reckon so. Ah think Sweetie picked the fun jobs."

"Come on, I'll show you how to do a massage after we start a load.

Following the mare into the laundry room, she saw several piles of white towels. Some were stained with mud, others with facial products.

"Just grab a pile and load it in, here take this pile." Aloe picked up and dumped a pile of linen on Applebloom. "And I'll open the door."

"oom—kaay" Applebloom balanced the load on top of her and walked forward. She could barely see Aloe's hooves from under the mountain of linen. Reaching the foot of the washer, she bucked forward and most of the linen landed inside.

"Now just put in one thing of soap, and meet me by the other piles of clothes." Aloe went back towards the dirty linen.

"Huh, one thing?" Looking down at the box full of power it clicked. "Ah get it, one box of soap!" Applebloom lifted the box up, pouring it and the small plastic scoop into the washer. Closing the door, she hit the big green 'start' button.

Reaching Aloe, another load of towels was unceremoniously thrust on her. Following Aloe's voice this time, since she couldn't see at all, she reached the next washer.

"Ok just straight ahead, wait just one second."

"Mmph?" Applebloom heard "straight ahead" and something about "right this second." Shrugging, she bucked the laundry into the washer. It all landed inside this time, and Applebloom slammed the door shut. She looked around, realizing Aloe had left again. She was also out of soap, so she left the room in search of another box of detergent.





"Good work girls! Now Sweetie, why don't you go to the kitchen and heat up some water. Then, just pour it over the towels in the sink to make hot towellettes. Carry them on the wooden tray and pass them out to patrons." Lotus turned to Applebloom. "And I have a surprise for you; Big Mac came in for his massage. Why don't you go help him out?"

"But ah don't know how to do a massage."

"He's your brother, he'll understand. Just push down on the muscles in his back and he'll tell you if you're doing it right."

"Sounds kinda creepy, but alright." Applebloom trotted off into the masseuse room and began laughing right away. "Big Mac—haha—you look so—hahaha—ridiculous!"

"Eeyup." Big Mac sighed; he was nearly twice as big as the masseuse table. "Why don't ya just hop up on my back and try pushin' on my sore shoulders."

"That sounds easy, ah reckon." Applebloom nudged a stool into position and hopped up onto his back. She began rubbing at his shoulders. "Ah still think this is kinda creepy Big Mac, next you'll wanna Sweet Apple Manicure."





"Hot water, check. Towels, check. Cutie mark—" Sweetie glanced at her flank. "Negative." 

Carefully lifting the towels she tossed them into the hot water, making sure not to splash. She turned up the burners on the stove to heat the towels. "That was easy, just boiling some towels, what could possibly go wrong?"

If fate was a stallion named Murphy, it couldn't have picked a better time to correct Sweetie Belle.





"Lotus Blossom! Help!" Twilight struggled in the mud bath, her face covered in mud and two cucumbers over her eyes.

"Don't panic Twilight, just giggle at the ghosties! The mud has to get hard before it can cleanse our pores." Pinkie began giggling out loud.

"This isn't mud Pinkie!" Steam was rising out of Twilight's ears as her volume rose. "It's cement! We're stuck in blasted cement!"

"Oh, well that's ok then. I keep cement thinner all over Ponyville in case of a cement emerg—" Pinkie was interrupted by a loud angry mare.

"Horse manure! There is no way under Celestia's sun you keep cement thinner all over Ponyville!" Twilight's face was red with fury and each exhalation shot steam out of her nostrils.

"Fine then, if you want to be a party pooper I guess I'll just have to go to Rarity's picnic without you." Pinkie reached down and pulled the cucumbers off Twilight's eyes and ate them. "I only had enough cement thinner for one, anyway." Pinkie jumped off the spa and trotted out the door.

"Wha. . ." Twilight blinked her eyes as Pinkie vanished from sight. Straining to look to her left, she saw a tub half full of cement and an empty can of cement thinner. Groaning in utter defeat, Twilight laid her head back. "I swear to Celestia when I get my hooves on whoever did this. . ."





Pinkie was bouncing towards the door when she felt her Pinkie sense. Her knee quivered, lip curled, and eyelid twitched. That was Pinkie sense for "Bon Bon got locked in the sauna again." Making a slight detour, she skipped over to the sauna and unlatched the door. As the door opened, a wave of burning heat and thick steam caused her eyes to water.

Coughing, Pinkie reached in to pull Bon Bon out. "Wow Bon Bon, how hot did you have it?"

Bon Bon weakly crawled along the floor. "Appl—Apple—"

"You want some apple sauce?"

"No—water—kill—bloom"

"Hmm, I'll give you a minute to cool off because I can't understand a word you're saying.





Pounding furiously against the glass door of the washer, Aloe continued her desperate screams for help. "Lotus! Anypony! Please!" Seated amidst a large pile of white towels, she had been knocked into the washing machine. All that she could think about was somepony accidently starting the washer while she was in it. Aloe was far too young to die.

Smiling in triumph, she saw Lotus walk in the room. "Lotus! Over here!" Aloe resumed her pounding to get her sister's attention

Lotus walked into the room to check on her sister. She saw the large pile of towels that hadn't been put in the washer yet and sighed. Aloe was probably napping again. She cranked a radio up to its max volume and turned it on. "Wake up Aloe." Lotus grinned, and grabbed a pile of laundry. If she had to do her sister's chores, then her sister would be in for a rude awakening named "rock 'n roll."

Getting to the washer she tossed the load of towels in. Reaching above the machine she grabbed a scoop of soap and put it in. Hitting the green start button, the washer started to tumble around. Looking to her left she noticed one machine was running but the other one had towels, and hadn't started. She slapped the green start button and trotted off towards the door.

Lotus could swear she heard a scream of sheer terror. Turning around, she saw too pink hooves and her sister's face rotating around behind the glass door. "Aloe!" She rushed to the washer and tried to rip the door open. "Hang on, I'll get you out!" The door had locked at the start of the cycle. Looking around, she saw the power outlet on the wall. "I'm going to pull the plug!" 

Lotus galloped over towards the power outlet. The washing machine Applebloom had loaded exploded in a wall of foamy suds. It had been overloaded with soap, and flung Lotus against the wall. Sliding down the wall into the sea of bubbly doom, Lotus blacked out.





At the masseuse table, Applebloom was bouncing up and down on Big Mac's back. It looked like he was her trampoline.

"This is—so much fun—brother!" Applebloom was giggling giddily and she landed with all her weight on the large, sore muscles.

"Eeey—yuuuup." Big Mac had a large, sloppy grin on his face as his tongue hung out. He had never had a massage quite like this. Each impact on the large muscles actually felt pretty good. He heard a splintering sound and was brought back to reality.

"Noooope." The masseuse table snapped beneath him, sending the duo crashing to the floor. Applebloom rolled away, and Big Mac faceplanted into the ground, passing out.

"Macky? Ya'll alright?" Applebloom slapped his cheek a couple times. "Hold on, ah'll get some cold water." Applebloom turned and ran into the kitchen.





As Applebloom opened the door to the kitchen, a wall of black smoke and heat poured out. She began hacking as she inhaled the fumes.

"Swee—tie Belle?" She felt like a lung was about to be forced out of her mouth. "Stay l—low." Applebloom crawled into the room, glancing around for Sweetie. She found her curled in a ball under a table.

"App—Blooom" Sweetie was wheezing. "The wate—r caug—fire."

"Hang on—Sweetie!" Applebloom grabbed her hoof and dragged her out of the burning room. The door swung closed, halting the spread of the toxic smoke for now. After a minute of coughing their lungs clear, they began to speak again.

"We've got to find—Lotus and get help!" Sweetie was blinking rapidly to ease her dry eyes.

"Ah reckon you're right, where's Scootaloo?"

"No idea."





"Hello? Lotus? Aloe? Anypony?" 

Mayor Mare lay on the table in the seaweed wrap. Once the fillies had finished wrapping her in seaweed she had drifted off into a light nap. When she woke up, the seaweed had hardened into a cast. If she didn't know better, she'd think the fillies had mixed the seaweed with glue to help it stay on. She had smelt smoke, and began to struggle and call for help. Uselessly pinned to the table, she continued the futile effort.





Scootaloo ran around a corner and collided with Sweetie Belle.

"There ya are!" Applebloom hugged Scootaloo.

"No Time! Bad hooficure, Cloud Chaser is furious!"

A shrill scream echoed down the corridor. "Scootaloo! Get back here this instant!"

"I may have kinda, sorta, just a little. . . I cut the whole hoof off."

The two fillies gasped in horror.

"We can't just leave, we've got to get an adult!" Sweetie looked around but didn't see any.

"Ah don't think there's time, the adults musta got out already."

"Scootaloo!" the sound of wings flapping were getting louder. "Scootaloo!"

"No time girls, let's bail!" Scootaloo took off towards the back door, and the other two fillies followed suit. 

Bursting out into the backyard, the three fillies looked around. They heard an explosion behind them, and took off running towards the fence. They jumped over it landing in the neighbor's garden. They had annihilated some petunias, roses, and daises. "Say Sweetie, isn't this Cherilee's garden?"

The fillies heard a door clicking open, and instantly bolted out of the yard. Like a herd of stampeding cows, they just picked a direction ran. Finally Applebloom spotted an old oak tree with a large hole that had grown into the trunk. 

"Quick girls, in there!" The three fillies jumped inside the oak tree. The entrance was narrow, and once they had all squeezed through a very angry squirrel crawled out from under Sweetie's rump.

"Uh sorry squirrel." Scootaloo flung the squirrel out of the tree. She heard what must have been some very foul language in squirrel tongue.

Breathing heavily the girls finally relaxed.

"So anyone get a cutie mark?" They all looked at their flanks and answered in unison, "Nope."

"Eww, what's that?" Applebloom reached up above her. The squirrel had been clawing at the trunk, because tree sap was leaking out of the walls. It was now stuck all over their backs and manes, and dripping on them.

"Gross! We have to leave!" Sweetie reached for the entrance when she heard a voice outside.

"Ah'm gonna tan her hide when ah find her Big Mac!"

Applebloom yanked Sweetie Belle back and put a hoof over her mouth. The three fillies knew they were in for it now, and chose to stay in the relative safety of a hole in an oak filled with tree sap.





Aloe was getting dizzy, and each breath felt like swallowing a damp towel. Finally the door swung open and she spilled out into Lotus' hooves. Aloe began coughing out bits of water.

"Aloe, we've got to get out, the place is on fire!"

"What, how?"

"I don't know, let's just run!"

The duo sped out the door and took a short cut through the seaweed wrap room.

"Lotus! Thank Celestia, get me outta here!" Mayor Mare was shaking violently, trying to break free of the seaweed glue wrap.

The two mares stood there in absolute shock, wide eyed and mouths agape, until the Mayor glared at them ending the stupor. They started to pull and pound on the seaweed wrap, breaking it apart slowly. Once they had finally broken the mayor out, the trio ran outside.





Twilight was well and thoroughly panicked now. There was smoke pouring into the room, and she was stuck in a block of cement. She hadn't wanted to do it, but it looked like she would have to teleport out. She had never tried a teleport in such tight confinement and wasn't quite sure what would happen. Charging up her horn, she closed her eyes and focused on landing a few feet from the cement.

The normal feeling of teleportation was like slowly stretching until you were in two places at once, then rubber banding to the destination. This time, she could feel the concrete holding her, pulling back on her as she reached for her destination. Channeling more magic, she finally snapped and completed the teleport. She landed on the floor traveling much faster than she had planned and rolled into the wall. Quickly righting herself she ran towards the door.

In front of her was Pinkie Pie, with Bon Bon draped over her back. "Pinkie you left me!" Twilight noticed the disheveled mare on her back. "Wait, what?"

"Bon Bon got trapped, I had to help her!"

"No, I meant what the hay is going on!"

"I don't know, and I'm not sure I wanna!"





Outside the day spa was a curious assortment of ponies. Twilight Sparkle's lavender fur now had millions of flakes of dried cement in it. Pinkie was slowly working clots of cement out of her mane, as Twilight mumbled on about how everypony in the town was crazy.

Pinkie's coat looked slightly bleached from the cement thinner. She seemed to be the only pony finding the whole situation funny. Every time she laughed, several ponies would glare at her. Applejack had come over to ask Pinkie and Twilight what had happened. It didn't take them long to figure out it was the cutie mark crusaders. Applejack wanted to 'tan Applebloom's hide,' but Pinkie had a better idea. She just told Applejack to send them to her house to make cupcakes later.

Mayor Mare still had a few pieces of seaweed glued to her coat. She looked like she was still in shock, the victim of some horrific tragedy. In reality, she was one of the luckier mares to suffer no damage to her dull grey coat. Then again, she could have just dyed her mane grey again had it gotten stained.

Big Mac was helping the firefighters try and stop the blaze. Thanks to good earth pony building regulations, and well trained fire ponies, they were able to contain the fire before the damage became unrepairable.

Bon Bon lay in the shade, being doused with cool water by Lyra. She looked like she had shrunk several sizes in the sauna. She knew it was Applebloom that did this to her, and as soon as she recovered enough to speak, the filly would be getting an earful.

Aloe sat next to a vomit bucket, having been through quite the dizzy ride. Lotus had a small bandage over her head where it had banged into the wall. When they told everypony the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been at the day spa, they had all panicked. They were afraid they were trapped in the blaze. After the fire was under control, they were relieved to find the back door open and hoofprints leading through the neighbor's backyard.





The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat silently inside a tree. Scootaloo tried to stretch her arms and noticed the tree sap had been hardening.

"Uh girls, this tree sap is getting really sticky." The other crusaders looked at Scootaloo, then tried to move too.

"Yuck, I can barely move!" Sweetie kept straining against the tree sap.

"Ah reckon it's safe to get outta here while we still can." Applebloom was using her powerful hind legs to try and break free, but the sap was like molasses.

"I can't believe we went through all this for a spa cutie mark! And you said stunts were stupid! I didn't nearly burn the town square down!" Scootaloo was filling the small tree with her shouts.

"Shh, ah think some pony is coming!" The trio quieted down.

A squirrel hopped up into the tree and began squeaking at them.

"Get lost punk!" Scootaloo tried to kick at the squirrel, but the sap slowed her kick enough that the squirrel just chuckled and stepped aside.

A yellow face with a flowing pink mane poked its head into the tree. "Oh my, I see what you mean Sam."

"Who is sam?"

"Oh, he's the squirrel. He came to get me when you kicked him out of his home."

It occurred to Scootaloo there may be a way out of this. "Sorry Sam. Now Fluttershy, will you please get us out before our sisters find us? This sap is getting hard and it's embarrassing."

"oh. . .  well, everypony is looking for you three, I think it's best if I just—" The three fillies interjected. "No!"

"Ah reckon we're in trouble but just let us hang out at the cottage a little 'til every pony calms down. Please?" The fillies gave her the widest, wettest puppy dog eyes Equestria had ever seen. "We'll do anything!"

"Well, it wouldn't be very nice to let you get yelled at. Maybe just an hour? But you'll have to do some chores."

"Sure!" The fillies chimed.

"Well, somepony needs to scoop the stables, and I haven't cleaned out my shed in months."

"Deal! We'll clean the animal stables and the shed!"

"Ok, I'll pull you out, but I want them spotless!"

Fluttershy grabbed each filly in turn and pulled them out of the tree. Scootaloo's wings were covered in sap and useless for flying. Applebloom seemed the least distraught over the sap. Sweetie looked just like Rarity when she got dirty. She grimaced and recoiled each time a splotch of the sap on her fur came into view.

Together Fluttershy and the three fillies walked towards the cottage.










.

> 14. Wrath of Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"But sis, ah already scrubbed the kitchen floor twice!" Applebloom held forward her wrinkly hooves and soapy mouth as proof. She had spent the last two hours washing the floors with a brush, by mouth, for her part in burning down half the day spa.

"And ah reckon when you've done learned your lesson ah'll let you get back to your chores. Now what did you learn about not burning day spa's down?

"Ah told you! That was Sweetie Belle! All ah did was sorta mix some cement and knock somepony into a washer."

"When ya are ready to apologize for yer crusadin' and done moppin' the floor, let me know."





"Mom and dad were absolutely livid! 'Why weren't you watching her Rarity? Why was your little sister off burning down a day spa? We told you to babysit her not ignore her!"

Rarity stitched away at two dresses at once. When she got angry, she liked to make dresses. Quickly, with large angry strokes of the needles and thread. She could even send Sweetie Belle on a guilt trip at the same time, without taking her eyes off the mannequins and dresses.

If she did take her eyes off the mannequins, she'd realize Sweetie had left the room nearly twenty minutes ago to play in her room.





Wisps of cloud continued to be thrown in the air as Dash brought her hooves down. Thrashing about on the ground in a fit of laughter, she could hardly breathe. Breaths came rapidly between laughs.

"And—and—haha—then—haha—what?"

"Well after that, Pinkie says 'fine then I'll just leave you here.' She knocks over the cement thinner, takes the cucumbers off Twilight's eyes, and leaves."

Laughter echoed off the cloud walls as Dash's diaphragm contracted, forcing out deep laughter. Her eyes were watering furiously, and she continued to roll around hitting the floor. "Hahahaha—haha—And—Aloe?"

"So Applebloom says she fell into the washing machine and the door locked. But it didn't turn on, later her sister Lotus walked in and accidently turned it on. She ran to turn it off when a washer exploded with suds!"

"Stop—haha—can't—hahaha—laugh—ha—anymore." Dash's laughter was starting to sound painful as her face flushed even redder. "Best—haha—pranks—hahaha—ever!"

"That isn't even the best one, you should have seen how pruney Bon Bon was. Lotus says they found the sauna set to 16! It's only supposed to go up to 10."

"hahaha—how on—haha—Equestria—hahaha—do you—haha—always—haha—cause so—haha—much chaos—haha—crusading?" Dash struggled to hold a coherent conversation with Scootaloo.

"I don't know, but you'd think I'd at least have gotten a little Discord cutie mark by now. The amount of chaos those two get me caught up in…"

"Even if—haha—it wasn't on purpose—ha—you're gonna be a great prankster!" Dash was finally settling down.


 ——————————


30 minutes earlier


When Dash had been woken up from her nap, she looked down to see a half-burnt day spa and several ponies in various states of filth. Using her keen intuition, Dash deduced the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been in the day spa. Also thanks to her keen intuition, she knew by now they were as far away from the day spa as ponily possible. Heading over to Fluttershy's cottage, her suspicions were proved correct.

Scootaloo was dragging a rake through hay, piling up animal droppings and scooping them into a bucket. Applebloom was inside a yellow shed, cleaning Dash hoped. Sweetie Belle was covered in mud as she tried to wash some pigs.

Gliding down gently, Dash surprised Scootaloo "Hey Squirt, burn down any day spas lately?"

"Gah!" Scootaloo jumped in the air and spread her wings. In their current tree-sap covered state, they proved useless for flying.

"Heh, easy there Squirt. Mind telling me what happened?"

"It was an honest mistake! I didn't know I was mixing cement into Twilight's mud bath."

Dash cocked her head sideways before bursting out in laughter. Noticing Sweetie and Applebloom staring at her, she quickly composed herself. "Haha—Um. . . I mean, that's horrible Scootaloo you should be ashamed! Come on, we're going home." Dash grabbed Scootaloo by the tail and tossed the filly on her back. Taking off, the two flew to Dash's home.

At first Dash wasn't even sure how to punish Scootaloo. As details of the story unfolded, she started laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it. Even Dash, Gilda, and Pinkie together couldn't have pulled off a better set of pranks, and these three fillies did it by accident.


 ——————————


Back in the present


"Alright Squirt. I assume you've learned your lesson?"

"Yes ma'am."

"You catch on quick, and what will you tell Lotus and Aloe?"

"I apologize for all the trouble I caused you ma'am."

"And Applebloom and Sweetie?"

"That you made me fluff every cloud in the house."

"Good. And what will you say if anypony claims they heard loud laughter coming from my house for half an hour?"

"That they're crazy!"

Dash held out her hoof and Scootaloo quickly bumped hooves with her.

"Good job Squirt. Be more careful in the future, and if you want to get a prank cutie mark just come to me. You've got potential kid." Dash smiled and hugged Scootaloo.

"Oh, and go take a shower. You're getting tree sap all over my clouds."

"Oh yeah Dash? You're getting clouds all over my tree sap!"

The two began laughing again. It had been a good day.









> 15. Mudder's Milk
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Excuse me, I'm new to town and I'm trying to find my friend Scootaloo. Have you seen her?"

Fluttershy lower her head and her voice. "oh, hello. . . um I think she is at school with all the other fillies."

"Thanks."

"Are you. . . do you need help finding it?"

"No thanks."

Fluttershy continued up the road to meet Rarity at the Day Spa. It had been rebuilt with a generous donation from Applejack. She had just returned from winning another set of rodeo prizes. Rarity had assured Fluttershy that the Day Spa was safe now. In fact, Rarity walked Sweetie to school to make sure the Cutie Mark Crusaders were very far away from the spa.

"Oh Fluttershy, there you are. Who was the little grey filly?"

"She's new in town, she was looking for Scootaloo."

"Did she have a cutie mark yet? If the fillies get more members in their club, they might destroy half the town."

"Oh I'm sure they wouldn't do that. . . on purpose." Fluttershy smiled. "And if they do, I'll save you a room at my cottage."

"Oh so generous, and I'll show you some kindness by ensuring that doesn't happen."





It took a while for the grey unicorn filly to find the schoolhouse, and then she had nothing to do but wait until school was out. She would need to get Scootaloo alone for what she had planned. At last, fillies started pouring out of the schoolhouse.

She spotted the orange filly easily, and began shadowing her from a distance. Scootaloo had two other fillies with her; however they were headed out of town. If she had too, she could probably disable the other two. There had been plenty of time in the accursed basement to practice her magic for this day, and it was going to be perfect.





"Ah don't know 'bout that Scootaloo. Ah reckon ah'd rather fluff clouds then scrub floors anyday."

"You both had it easy, Rarity talked for hours about what a horrible travesty burning half the spa down was. 'Oh Sweetie, a lady must always look her best! And now the whole town of Ponyville will suffer from . . . dirt.' "

"Well look at the bright side, we've eliminated arson, day spa's, pranking, cement mixers, sauna operators, laundry mares, masseuse, and hot towel cooker from our list of cutie marks to try."

The three fillies shared a laugh as they walked off towards Sweet Apple Acres. "Oh, I almost forgot. Dash taught me a new trick I wanted to show you!" Scootaloo took off and hovered near the fillies.

"How'd ya have time for learnin' new tricks if ya were in trouble?" Applebloom raised an eyebrow and made eye contact with Scootaloo.

Scootaloo looked away and rubbed her neck, "Oh um. . . after I finished the chores of course!"

"A'hem." Applebloom continued to stare skeptically "Well, out with it then. Show us what ya got, and try not to throw us in a fountain this time."

Scootaloo waved a dismissive hoof at her. "Alright, she showed me how to form a twister. It's too dangerous for me to be doing any of the cool weather stuff yet. Still, I'm going to go out over the field and closer to the Everfree. I don't need a twister ramming into a house, if I ruin any more buildings we might get run out of town."

Applebloom had to stop her skeptical stare to laugh. She knew what it was like to watch a building you love be destroyed. She had seen the Apple family barn destroyed no less than six times. As much as she loved to build things, it got pretty boring rebuilding the barn after the third time. If there was an seventh time, she'd throw in the towel.

Returning her attention to Scootaloo, she saw her flying in a tight spiral closer to the Everfree.





The grey filly was glad for coincidences. When they happened to others, they were quite useful. Scootaloo had decided to fly off on her own to show off some sort of stunt flying. The other two fillies were a very safe distance away, at the other end of the field.	

Levitating some rocks along with her, she quickly reached position near the forest. With the small pile of ammo, she waited for Scootaloo to slow down so she could aim. At last, she slowed down to a hover as the twister spun around in the field.





Scootaloo looked with pride at her twister. It was bigger than when she had tried it with Dash. Dash did say the less accurate your spiraling, the larger the twister would be. If it got too big, it'd dissipate, so the trick to using it as a stunt was a very tight spiral.

A whistling noise flew past Scootaloo's left ear. Looking around she couldn't see anything. She glanced to Applebloom and Sweetie, who were still at the other end of the field. Something sharp hit her back hoof with force, sending a shock through her leg. For a second she examined her hoof in mid-air, before realizing she should take cover. Before she got a chance, another rock hit her wing followed closely by one that hit her head, causing her to spiral down to the ground.

With a loud thud, Scootaloo slammed into the ground. It was much harder to recover after a crash you didn't see coming. By the time she got to her feet, a grey filly stood in front of her.

"What did you—" She was interrupted by a rock hitting her in the jaw. Scootaloo spat and tried to take off, only to feel magic yanking on her left wing like a blunt instrument.

"Impressive magic for a jerk, get lost before you make me angry." Scootaloo crouched back low to the ground. If the filly released her grip to grab another rock, she could tackle her.

"You don't remember me do you?" The grey filly walked up to her.

"Why would I? What did I ever do to you?"

"What did you do?" The filly began cackling. "What did you do!" The filly had a fire in her eyes as her grin turned feral. "I'll tell you what you did, you abandoned me! For years I suffered while you played with your friends here!"

"What are you talking about? I've only—" The filly slapped Scootaloo with a hoof. I didn't think of that, she can just punch me while pinning a wing. And if she's that close. There was a glint in Scootaloo's eye when she swung her own hoof up, knocking the unicorn to the ground.

Scootaloo started to hover a few feet off the ground, feeling a pain in her wing. It would make it hard to fly, but not impossible. As she turned to fly away, she heard the unicorn behind her.

"Go ahead, run away you chicken! I'll find you again, you were a chicken at the orphanage and you're a chicken now!"

Scootaloo stopped in mid-air, and then dropped to the ground. She marched over to the grey unicorn filly. Her brow wrinkled as she narrowed her eyes. "No. Pony. Calls. Me. Chicken. Who the hay are you?"

"Everything she told me was true wasn't it? After you escaped Gerda you never came back for me, for us! All the fillies she tortured, and me, trapped in a bucking basement for years!" The unicorn's horn was glowing, fueled by her rage.

"Wait, you're D—" Another rock interrupted Scootaloo, sending her to the ground clutching an eye.

"Why didn't you come back for me? We were friends! I would stand up for you, I helped you escape!" Tears were running down the unicorn's cheeks. "You can't even remember my name."

Scootaloo looked at her, thinking of what to say. She'd have to stall until Applebloom and Sweetie made it over to help. She'd also have to stop pissing her off, because those rocks really hurt. Scootaloo considered taking another swing at her, but now that she knew who the filly was, she didn't want to hurt her.

"Whatever Gerda told you was a lie." Scootaloo saw a large rock hover up, and she gulped. "I only escaped a few weeks ago. She clipped and ripped most of my feathers out for trying to escape!"

The grey filly stood there pondering what had been said, holding the large rock in midair. "She sawed off my horn; it took months to grow back. Do you have any idea how painful and embarrassing that is? And then, after she threw me inside, I heard you shouting! She said you had gotten away! If you lie one more time, so help me I'll kill you!"

"She suffocated me, by the time I woke up you were gone, we never knew what happened. And then the punishment, she did clip my wings. Please Dinky, don't turn into her."

The rock fell to the ground and Scootaloo's wings stopped glowing grey. She was no longer pinned to the ground.

"Like her? How—How could you think I'm like her?" The rock levitated up again.

Scootaloo slowly walked forward under her careful gaze. "Dinky, no pony should have to go through what we did. If we let those painful memories convince us to hurt others. . . We will end up like Boulder, like Gerda, Masking our pain with the pain of others."

The rock fell back to the ground and so did Dinky. "I don't—want to be in pain—anymore." She was crying into the grass.

"You can stay here, Twilight will get some pony to adopt you and we can all be happy. Gerda won't ever be coming back. The ponies here ran her out of town. One of them is Celestia's student, and the princess herself put out the arrest warrant!" Scootaloo sat down beside her and draped her good wing over her.

Dinky looked up. "So that's why Boulder is running the orphanage. I can't go back, but I don't know if I can stay. . ."

Scootaloo was about to reply when she smelt something foul in the air. She knew what it was, there was something about the scent that made it unique. She would know it anywhere. It was the timberwolf that had stalked her for her first two weeks in Ponyville. Scootaloo could fly off safely, but Dinky wouldn't be so lucky.

She heard the cracking branches before she saw the green eyes at the edge of the forest. 

"Dinky, run."

Dinky looked up, her emotions a mess, her mind confused, and a filly she had almost killed standing between her and the forest. "What? What's—" Her question was cut off by a loud growl.

"So you've finally come back for me huh? Re-assembled all your twigs, but I'm not defenseless anymore!" Scootaloo hovered low to the ground to show the timberwolf she had the mobility advantage. Despite their differences, Dash had taught her the meaning of loyalty and she would not leave Dinky to the fate that she had nearly punished Scootaloo with.

Scootaloo had been reading Dash's action novels, and had been dying for a chance to say a certain line. "You shall not pass!"

The wolf started to circle Scootaloo with steam shooting out of his nostrils. It wanted more than anything to kill the filly it had stalked for weeks, but it knew how hard a Pegasus is to catch when they know you're coming. It would wait, and pounce her when she was not suspecting it. The grey filly though, such succulent meat, the wolf rarely got to eat a pony. It was something of a delicacy, and it would grab the weaker pony and drag her into the forest.

Scootaloo risked a glance back, Dinky hadn't run yet and not much further away she saw a red bow and white horn peaking over a ridge. The crusaders had come to help, and saw the timberwolf. The horn disappeared, hopefully to go get help. Applebloom remained, as fearless as her big sister despite being outmatched.

"Dinky, I said run! I'll be fine!" Scootaloo continued his dance with the timberwolf. If they kept circling, it would end up over by Applebloom. If Dinky didn't run now, Applebloom would be in just as much trouble.

Time slowed for Dinky as soon as she saw the wolf. She had known pain, but never fear of death. This was true fear, not twisted threats. She had never seen a beast so frightening; there were no animals that ate meat for fifty miles around Canterlot. The beast had sharp teeth, and Scootaloo was the only thing holding it back. The same filly she wanted to punish for abandoning her. Dinky had believed the stories Gerda had told her, about Scootaloo escaping, being adopted, and never coming back for her. The Scootaloo she saw now was not that Scootaloo.

"Scootaloo, duck!" Scootaloo flew a bit to the side and glanced back quickly, and saw several more rocks flying towards her.

"You gotta be kidding—" Scootaloo folded in her wings and fell to the ground. The wolf saw his chance and pounced her, just in time to get nailed by a large boulder and several pebbles to the head. 

"Quick, for Celestia's sake run you fool!" Scootaloo and Dinky took off up the hill towards the safety of the farm.





Applejack and Big Mac vaulted over the fence while Sweetie ran under it. The trio were headed straight for the everfree, as three fillies booked it for the farm. Applejack and Sweetie joined them, while Big Mac continued up the hill towards the forest. 

With years of experience and unrivaled strength, the wolf never stood a chance. He sprinted over the hill, and straight into the hind legs of Big Mac. Shattering into dozens of pieces, the glowing green sticks began to roll back towards the forest. Mac stepped on as many as he could, but some of them would doubtless make it back into the Everfree and reassemble. At least it wouldn't be back anytime soon.





"Ah want ta know what you fillies were doin' at the Everfree and ah want the truth!" Applejack had corralled the kids into the clubhouse, including Dinky who had no idea what the hay was going on.

"Ah told ya sis, it was just a stunt—" Applejack glared at her, and Applebloom knew she saw through her lie. Sweetie and she had made it to the hill in time to see the end of the fight, and Scootaloo was already developing a shiner on her right eye.

"Scootaloo? And whoever you are." Applejack looked at the grey filly, who shrank back.

"I was showing them a stunt, my friend Dinky here saw and came to watch. But the timberwolf saw her, and I had to fight it off while she ran."

Applejack stared straight into her eyes. Scootaloo used a trick Dash had taught her, meeting her gaze and locking eyes with her. To avoid eye contact was an admission of guilt.

"Is that true Dinky?" Applejack carefully kept both fillies in view to gauge their reaction.

"Uh. . . yes." Dinky was still trembling from the prospect of being dog food.

Applejack sighed. "Alright, ah'm just glad no pony was hurt. Ya'll head on back to your parents now. Applebloom, show 'em to the edge of the farm. We're not finished yet."

Applebloom gulped. Her sister was stern but fair, and would likely ask a few more questions. To her credit, AJ would then spend the night making her sis feel better. In fact, she'd probably get out of chores for the night. The two sisters were closer than probably any other pair of sisters in town.

Once the four fillies had gotten far enough away, Dinky spoke up. "Why'd you lie for me?"

"Why'd ya try ta kill our friend!" Applebloom stopped and glared at her.

"Applebloom! It was a misunderstanding. Dinky is my friend from the orphanage, that's all you need to know." Scootaloo shot back the same glaring look.

"Girls please! If Scootaloo says she's okay then she's okay. Any friend of Scoot's is a friend of mine." Sweetie stood smiling at Dinky, and between the two less even-headed fillies.

"Ah reckon you're right. Just don't go tryin' to give her anymore black eyes." The four walked in silence to the edge of the farm.

"See ya at school tomorrow." Applebloom turned and headed back home.

"Looks like this is goodbye, my home is the other direction." Sweetie nodded and walked away.

"Scootaloo. . ." Dinky just looked at her, unable to finish the question.

"What is it Dinky? Anything I can do, I will. You shouldn't have had to be stuck there."

"What is it like? To have a family?" Dinky's eyes were starting to water up, so she looked away to maintain her tough appearance.

Scootaloo was startled by the question. How do I put into words something that comes so naturally and feels so right? "It's wonderful. I didn't believe it at first, I thought I could do everything myself. But when I let somepony adopt me, somepony I cared about, it all changed. I feel safe now, I'm happy, and loved. . . Words don't do it justice, but I know even if Gerda did come back, Dash would give her life to protect me."

Dinky couldn't hide her tears any longer as she looked back. "You—" Dinky swallowed the lump in her throat. "You said you knew a pony who could get me adopted?"

"I did, and this is her house." Dinky hadn't noticed, but the two had walked right up to a large house built inside an oak tree. "Let's go inside and get you cleaned up."











> 16. A tale of Two Orphans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Gerda snuck through a dirty alleyway, avoiding the attention of the ponies still awake this late at night. Her whole life had been taken to her when her scam had been exposed. Children required strict discipline, orphans more so than most. If the rod was spared, the child would end up spoiled and rotten. When you're good at something, you should never do it for free. Unfortunately, the stipend paid to her per orphan she housed was pitiful. It required her to cut corners on expenses like meals, toys, and blankets to turn a profit.

For 40 years she had run an orphanage in Canterlot, only letting children get adopted when they had learned to respect their elders and follow orders unquestioningly. The fact one spoiled orange filly had ruined everything she had worked for ate at her sanity. She had never failed to reform a child before. Now the filly had corrupted an entire town, turning her into the villain. 

With no orphanage left to return to, rehabilitation was out of the question. Perhaps there was still one mare in Equestria who would show her kindness. Her first failure, the filly who refused to obey her mother.

Knocking on the door, Gerda waited for it to open. It was late at night, and after knocking a few more times a light finally came on. A mare came to the door and opened it.

The door cracked open to reveal a sleepy-eyed mare. "Who is it?"

Choking back a lump in her throat, it took a moment to respond. "Daughter? It's your mother."

"Gerda! What are you doing here?"

"Please, I have no where left to go. I'm broke and—" Gerda never admitted she was wrong, until tonight. "I was a bad parent, happy? I just need some place to stay for a while."

"If you weren't my mother I'd already be calling for the police. You're a wicked woman and the best thing that ever happened to me was when dad left and took me with him." The mare had tears running down her cheeks. "Just—go. Please, don't come back."

"Cheerilee—" The door closed in her face and the lights went out. Gerda had nothing left now. Nothing, but thoughts of revenge.





Twilight knocked on the door to a non-descript house. It was in the residential area of Ponyville, where a dozen houses were lined up along a dirt road. This house in particular belonged to the town mail mare. There wasn't an orphanage in Ponyville, but Twilight recalled Ms. Hooves asking her about that once. If anypony in town might be looking to adopt it would be her.

The door opened slowly. "Oh hi Twilight, what brings you by?"





School had gotten out and Scootaloo walked Dinky over to the library. When they got there, Twilight walked them over to Derpy's house. 

"Now there is no pressure Dinky, Ms. Hooves has wanted to adopt somepony, so you're just going to chat and get to know her."

"Thanks, uh can I talk with Scootaloo?"

"Sure thing." Twilight picked up the pace so the two could have some privacy.

"Scootaloo, I don't know about this."

"You have nothing to worry about; the ponies in this town are really friendly, even when I burned down a day spa." Scootaloo smiled as she remembered Twilight's cement mud bath. Luckily, she was a forgiving mare. It was either that, or she was so busy reading books she just didn't have time to be angry.

"What? You burned down a day spa?" Dinky looked equally amazed and terrified, taking a couple steps away to size Scootaloo up.

"Not on purpose, Applebloom and Sweetie made me try getting a spa cutie mark. One thing led to another after the cement bath we gave Twilight and Pinkie, and the spa burned down.

"Wow, no wonder they call you the Cutie Mark Catasto—" Dinky giggled and rubbed her neck. "Hehe, nevermind."

"It's cool, and if you want to see some awesome stunts you should come back by Sweet Apple Acres later. Dash and I will be practicing for the 'Best Young Flier's' competition."

"Thanks I might do that, if things go well. . ." The pair had stopped in front a house while Twilight knocked on the door.

"Dinky, come meet Ms. Hooves." Twilight held the door open for the filly.

"You've got this." Scootaloo bumped Dinky's shoulder to usher her forward. Dinky and Twilight went into the house to talk to Derpy.

Scootaloo heard something coming from across the street. It sounded like thunder, but with a rhythm. The windows of the house were shaking and before she knew it, she had walked right up to the door to listen. There was definitely some loud music playing inside. Scootaloo considered knocking, but it was unlikely any pony inside would hear it.

Opening the door a wall of air blew her mane back. The bass rattled her teeth, and Scootaloo stepped inside to find out who lived in a house full of such great music.





"Hello Dinky, my name is Derpy Hooves." Derpy fixed her eyes on Dinky, before one wandered off.

"Hi." Dinky stood there fidgeting with her hooves.

Derpy motioned to the couch. Dinky hopped up onto the far end of the couch. "Twilight tells me that you're an orphan. I was an only child and it was awfully lonely, I can't imagine how that would make you feel. My husband and I have wanted a child for the longest time, but we haven't had any luck."

Dinky looked around for the alleged spouse and saw a brown stallion sitting at a workbench. He was tinkering with a watch, and on the wall behind him were several clocks. "Is that your husband?" Dinky pointed a hoof at him.

"Yes, that's Doctor Whooves."

"Hey Doc! What are you doing?"

The Doctor looked up, noticing the two visitors for the first time. "Hmm? Oh, hi Twilight, hi little filly. I'm repairing this watch—eh it's all boring timey wimey stuff anyway."

"Honey, this is Dinky, she is looking for some nice ponies to adopt her."

The Doctor glanced back over, and his eyes grew wide. "Dinky. . . Dinky. . ." The Doctor pulled out a brown notebook from his vest. He flipped through some pages before a look of recognition appeared in his eyes. "Ah yes, I'll be right back dear." The Doctor trotted up the stairs and out of sight.

"He's a little odd, but he's kind and always helps ponies when they need it most. . ." Derpy's eyes diverged as she reminisced.

"What with watch emergencies?"

"Oh no, Pinky has plenty of watches stored around town for watch emergencies. My husband has had to start repairing clocks and grandfather clocks. He keeps insisting grandfather clocks are cool, but honestly, I only know two ponies who own one."

"Heh, you make it sound like he's pretty funny. What about you? I mean, you don't even know me and you would let me live here?

"Oh of course! Like I was saying I've always wanted a filly, some pony precious to me that I could care for. When I was young and bullies would pick on me for my cross-eyes, my Mom would always make me feel better. I've always wanted to return the favor, and since she has passed away I've been so lonely. . ."

"But you have the Doctor."

Derpy returned her eyes to the filly. "Oh, yes, it's just not the same. A mother and daughter is such a wonderful thing. . ." Derpy continued to get lost in memories when she mentioned her mother.

There was a loud thump upstairs, and soon the Doctor walked down the stairs in a new vest. "Alright Honey, I took care of the bedroom."

Twilight cocked her head to the side. "Bedroom? What do you mean?"

"I think he means, if you would like to stay here Dinky, that he has finished your bedroom."

"Well, I don't know. . . Twilight, will you stop by once and awhile to check on me? I'll still need some help learning to read and you and Scootaloo are the closest things I have to friends right now."

"Sure Dinky, anything to help you get comfortable here."

"Ok Derpy, I'm willing to try this if you are. I never thought I would actually get adopted; I even became afraid of it. . . When I look at Scootaloo though, I see how happy she is and maybe I can be happy too."

"Oh Dinky, I wouldn't have it any other way."





Scootaloo had advanced to a set of stairs leading down into a basement. The music continued to get louder, and when she opened the basement door it seemed to redouble. There was some excellent sound-proofing in this house, and Scootaloo soon discovered why. An entire wall of the basement was covered in speakers. There was a mess of wires, and machines Scootaloo had never heard of. Behind a table stood a white unicorn with a blue mane controlling the music with her horn.

The music stopped when Vinyl saw Scootaloo. "Hey kid! What brings you by?" Vinyl shouted at Scootaloo, unaware of how loud she was after finishing the music.

"I heard the mus—" Vinyl cut her off.

"What? Speak up!"

"I heard the music outside!" Scootaloo flew over and landed on the table.

"Not the turn tables!" Vinyl shooed her off the expensive equipment like one might a bird.

"Oh, sorry. Is this what you do for fun?"

"Fun? I guess my job is fun. You don't get a music cutie mark unless you're pretty talented!"

"Or obnoxiously loud." A grey mare descended the stairs behind them. "Scootaloo isn't it? I'm Octavia, the mare you drenched before burning down the day spa."

Vinyl whispered to Scootaloo. "Good job kid, I can't stand those snooty spa ponies."

"What? Hey that was an accident!" Scootaloo blushed.

"Yeah Octy, give the kid a break! She just wants to find her cutie mark. I know just how. How about you, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle stop by tonight before bed. I'll show you how to throw a real party."

"That'd be awesome!" Scootaloo hovered in the air with a big smile.

"What? Those three in our house? Have you gone mad Vinyl?" Octavia glanced at her. "Well, madder than normal?"

"Come on, the basement walls are solid concrete. You think I can't handle three fillies and a couple dozen ponies dancing? As long as Pinkie doesn't catch wind of this party, I'm sure nothing messy or crazy or day-spa-burny will happen."

Scootaloo gave Octavia her best innocent eyes.

"Ugh, alright. Just promise me we won't have any more stray orphans moving in around here."

Scootaloo landed, mouth agape, before realizing she was joking.

"Hey Sis, you better take that back!" A white blur sprinted past Scootaloo towards Octavia.

"You'll have to catch me first! And for the love of Celestia, leave the music turned off!"

Scootaloo escorted herself out of the house as the adopted sister and Octavia chased each other around the house. The mares were grown adults, and yet they still acted like fillies. It was amusing, and perhaps Scootaloo would take her up on her offer to stop by later. 

A smile appeared on her face as she pictured Sweetie Belle with a Sub-Woofer cutie mark. 

	

> 17. Why won't anypony listen?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party had gone well at Vinyl's house, and for a moment there Sweetie thought she might actually get a DJ cutie mark. That was a story for another time though, as Scootaloo and a worried Applebloom approached the Carousel Boutique

"Ah'm tellin' ya Scootaloo, she's probably just sick."

"And I say it doesn't seem right, she never misses school. And I could swear that somepony has been following us around lately."

"They probably just want to make sure we aren't doin' anything crazy for cutie marks."

"It doesn't feel like that, it just feels like I'm being watched."

"Well we're here so let's just see what Sweetie's up to."

Applebloom knocked on the door to the store. After a couple minutes, the door swung open. Rarity stood there holding several pieces of cloth and needles in her telekinesis.

"Oh hello girls, terribly sorry but I'm too busy right now to chat."

"We're looking for Sweetie; she didn't meet us to walk to school this morning."

"She probably just went to school without you, now run along." The door swung closed in the fillies faces.

"But we already checked the school." Applebloom sighed; sometimes talking to Rarity was like talking to a diamond dog. They either didn't care or couldn't understand.

"Well if she were at school I would have seen her when I flew by on my way to Sweet Apple Acres."

"Nothin' we can do now, let's just go back before class starts."

"You go ahead; I'm going to take a look around from the air." Scootaloo flew away without waiting for a reply. Ever since she got done trying out the DJ equipment with Vinyl, there had been a pit in her stomach. It was the same each time; there would be a movement in the corner of her eye. When Scootaloo turned to look, the culprit was gone.

Scootaloo couldn't see anything from the sky, despite the naturally excellent vision of a pegasus. She landed at school and stood around outside waiting for Applebloom. She should have been here by now, so Scootaloo looked in the classroom window. There was still no Sweetie Belle.

"Well, if it isn't our favorite sewer rat. They'll let anypony into school these days." Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked up to Scootaloo.

"I'm not in the mood, buck off." Scootaloo didn't even turn around to acknowledge them.

"Such vulgar language from such an uncouth rat, no wonder you're still a blank flank." Silver Spoon laughed obediently at Diamond's joke.

Scootaloo spun around to face them. "I said I'm not in the mood." She advanced and stared Diamond Tiara right in the eye. "Buck. Off."

Silver Spoon did back up, but Diamond was too ignorant or snobby to notice the threatening tone of Scootaloo's voice. "Like you'd do anything, everypony knows you’re a chicken. Probably had Twilight cast a spell to help you fly so you could get adopted by Rainb—" Diamond probably had a witty joke about Dash, sewer rats, or chickens. She wasn't able to finish her sentence due to a hoof smacking her square in the jaw.

Diamond Tiara lay on the ground wondering what had just happened. The world was spinning, and no pony had ever hit her before. Spitting out some blood, she struggled to stand back up. "Now you're going to get it, when my fathe—" Silver Spoon interrupted her.

"Diamond please, just leave her alone. Her friends aren't here and I think she'll hit you again." Silver didn't dare get any closer to the pair.

"For once I'm going to agree with Silver Spoon. Get lost!" Scootaloo was still staring into her eyes when she heard the last voice she wanted to hear.

"Scootaloo! Come here right this instant!" A livid Cheerilee had walked outside after witnessing the short lived fight.

"Come on! I don't have time for this, Sweetie and Appl—" Cheerilee marched up to Scootaloo.

"My office, now!" Cheerilee moved to grab Scootaloo, as Diamond smiled at her misfortune.

Before either mare could react, Scootaloo was fifty feet in the air and climbing. It was just one of the benefits of being a pegasus. She was going to figure out why Applebloom wasn't there yet, and why Sweetie was neither sick nor there. The first place she headed was back to Rarity's.

Ignoring the formality of opening the door, Scootaloo barged right in. When Rarity didn't acknowledge her, she flew right in front of her.

"Rarity! Sweetie isn't as school and now Applebloom's missing."

Rarity nudged her out of the way. "I don't have time for any games darling; I'm falling behind on an order due this afternoon!"

"I think something happened, I just have this feeling that something is wrong."

"MMhmm." Rarity continued sewing, obviously ignoring the orange filly.

"Fine, when Sweetie doesn't come home tonight I'm telling everypony you didn't even try to look for her!" Scootaloo kicked open a window and flew outside. Something had to be wrong, aside from the elements of harmony; ponies just didn't vanish in Ponyville. If Twilight just up and vanished, it would be royal business. But for her friends to get lost?

Scootaloo landed in a crowded neighborhood far from the school to gather her thoughts. She slumped down next to some pony's porch, not even caring if they were home. The door opened without her noticing when Derpy stepped out. 

"Oh Scootaloo, shouldn't you be in school? Dinky had her first day today and she should have met you there."

"Oh, I uh. . . I'm sick I didn't go today. I didn't see Dinky either when I flew by."

"Oh I hope she isn't lost. I better start my mail route early today; she could be wandering around town square for hours! Oh my dear muffin!" Derpy vanished back into the house for a moment, and then flew out with her saddlebags.

"Well this just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Three fillies don't show up to school and Diamond picking a fight. I must have just woken up on the wrong side of the cloud today." Scootaloo sighed and smashed a flower growing next to her.

"Three fillies playing hooky? I don't suppose you've seen any angel statues around town?"

Scootaloo looked over to the doorway. "What? Why would I see statues around town? I can't find my friends and I'm worried."

"Did you try going back to the school? Maybe you just missed them." Mr. Whooves sat down next to Scootaloo.

"I can't, I sorta punched a filly in the mouth."

"Oh well, I see the dilemma. What happened?"

"Sweetie was sick or something and didn't meet us for school, we went to Rarity's but she ignored us. I flew ahead of Applebloom, and then she didn't show up. And Diamond was being a Donkey's a—was being a jerk, so I tried to knock a couple teeth out. I decided to hide here, and Derpy doesn't even know where Dinky is!"

"Interesting." The Doctor was staring at something in the sky only he could see. "Four gone missing, four will see. In the forest, they will be. . ."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're a mad stallion?"

"I am a mad stallion, with a blue box. But I hardly see how that is relevant. I think you should head to Applejack's apple stand. Say hi to her and Fluttershy for me." The Doctor walked back in and closed the door.

"Maybe we should have found Dinky a different family . . . " Scootaloo flew up into the air towards town square. At least Applejack would care that Applebloom hadn't shown up to school. It didn't take her long to get there.

"Applejack!" Scootaloo landed next to her. "Oh, and hi Fluttershy." The yellow mare nodded meekly.

"Scootaloo, ya look awful worked up. What's wrong?"

"Sweetie didn't show up to school, and then Applebloom didn't either, and Dinky must have got lost . . . ugh I'm getting tired of explaining this. Fillies didn't show up to school! It's bad! I can feel it!"

"Slow down darlin', so your friends didn't show up to school. You sure they're not there no waitin' for ya?"

Scootaloo slapped a hoof to her forehead. "This is starting to piss me off."

"Eeep! Language, Scootaloo." Fluttershy somehow stared at her with both authority and shyness at the same time. Scootaloo wasn't sure if that was a command or a question.

"There you are! Applejack, grab her!" As soon as Scootaloo heard Cheerilee's voice, she was taking off through the air again.

Scootaloo was gaining altitude when she recalled an important fact. Cheerilee asked Applejack to catch her, a world class rodeo champ—Scootaloo folded her wings in and dove for the ground just as a lasso soared past where she had been a second ago. Opening her wings at the last second, she flew low through an alleyway. If Cheerilee was here, then she could check the school real quick. By the time they caught her for giving Diamond a well-deserved hoof to the mouth, she'd at least know her friends were safe.

Scootaloo was flying blind through the alleyways to stay out of sight, when she rounded a corner and flew straight into a frying pan.





"And then she hit Diamond and knocked a tooth out. Her, Applebloom, and Sweetie are all ditching school and I can't figure out what must have happened to make them so upset." Cheerilee walked down the street with Applejack and Fluttershy.

"Ah reckon we'll find out soon enough. Applebloom knows better than to play hooky, and she knows she can't hide from her sis."

Fluttershy walked along quietly, the gears in her brain turning. Most ponies assumed she was quiet only because she was shy. She also understood that you could learn far more from listening then from speaking. Fluttershy had been the only pony today to truly hear Scootaloo's words. The fear in her voice, the concern for her friends, the sense that something was just off. . .

"I uh, forgot my saddlebag, I'll meet you two at the school." Fluttershy flew off towards Dash's house.

"Fluttershy? How'd ya lose it way up there. . ." AJ and Cheerilee shared a confused glance, and continued on towards the schoolhouse.

It didn't take long for Fluttershy to find Dash. "Rainbow, I think we have a problem. Sweetie, Applebloom, and Dinky have gone missing, and I'm afraid Scootaloo is next."

The cloud Dash was on vanished as she woke up, instantly flapping her wings. "Tell me everything, Fluttershy."





Scootaloo had crashed into plenty of hard objects in her time doing stunts on a scooter and learning to fly. This felt about . . . 20% worse than all of them combined. Her ears were ringing so loud she was convinced two whistles were lodged in them. A throbbing knot on her head was flush with warmth and pain. Her vision was blurry and doubled as she blinked her eyes to see what she had run into.

"Rise and shine my little chicken." Scootaloo felt a feather ripped out of her wing, jolting her to her senses.

"Gah, where am I?" Scootaloo looked around and saw spinning wooden walls.

"You're right where you belong, under my care until I say otherwise. And you have been very naughty."

Ice gripped Scootaloo's heart. She knew that voice, and in an instant she knew who she had been seeing stalk her in the corner of her eye.


























> 18. Demon's Run
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Thanks for coming so quickly, the weather team are already out looking for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They disappeared earlier, possibly after a fight with Diamond Tiara. Somepony," Dash shot a look at Rarity. "Didn't realize what was going on until it was too late."

"Really Dash? With all the shenanigans they pull I'm supposed to believe they're being foalnapped just because Sweetie didn't walk to school with them?"

"Girls, what's done is done. If the six of us split up and help search we can find out who took them."

"I already know who took them, and Celestia help her if I'm the one who finds her." Dash took off to resume searching from the air.

"Ah reckon Dash is gonna do something foolish. We better get to lookin' and hope the fillies are just out Crusadin.' " Applejack walked away from the group, as they split up to search. 

Twilight turned to Spike. "We better let the princess know something is up,  especially if Dash is right about Gerda."





Dash scanned the fields and woods around Ponyville. Scootaloo had been first to notice something was wrong. When Cheerilee and Applejack scared her off, she likely hid to stay safe. "Oh Scootaloo, where in Equestria would you be hiding?" 

Dash had already checked their house, the cottage, and the club house. If Scootaloo was worried about flying and being caught in the open, there was only one place left to check. Recalling the helmet in the forest, she flew off toward the orphan's first home in Ponyville.





Scootaloo glanced around and was horrified by what she saw. "I knew you were a crazy old hag but this is ridiculous!" They were in a large wooden structure, likely a barn, and Gerda had captured 5 fillies. Applebloom, Sweetie, Dinky, and one that she had never seen before.

"Gerda, what could you possibly stand to gain from this?" Scootaloo tested her restraints while waiting for a reply. They were tied tightly.

"Gain? Did it never occur to you that you deserve this? Runaways and orphans, thieving on the streets and tainting our society. You think you can just leech off two ponies and call it a happy family?"

"Dash loves me, and even Dinky found a family after you sent her to do your dirty work you cowa--" Scootaloo was interrupted by the back of Gerda's hoof.

"I had a good thing going. I kept the filth off the streets, I reformed fillies, and I got paid to do it. Did you never wonder about my cutie mark?" 

Scootaloo glanced at her flank, seeing the familiar mark. It still struck terror in her heart. "So what? You think you can just ship the whole lot of us off to an orphanage?"

"That was the plan at first. Use Dinky to weaken you, then set up a new orphanage... But no. I've realized you aren't a symptom I can cure. Fillies like you are a cancer and need to be cut out of society." Gerda unlatched a toolbox and began levitating several sharp and blunt objects. "But who says I can't have a little fun doing it?"

"You'll never get away with this!" Scootaloo struggled hard against the rope as a knife reflected the sun at her.

"Oh, but I already have. I placed a large order to keep Rarity busy, I let loose Apple bats on the farm, and your beloved Dash is doubtless enjoying a nap. You ruined my life, and now you're going to watch me ruin yours. Only then will I consider letting you go."

Gerda walked over to the four fillies she had bound and gagged. "So Scootaloo, which one of your friends do I kill first? I want their last moment alive to be spent wondering why you betrayed them." 

There was something different about Gerda. The way she talked, the gleam in her eye, even the way she walked. It was as if something had snapped inside her brain, and Scootaloo wasn't sure what could be done to stop her. Glancing around she suddenly recalled where they were. This was the barn she had spent two weeks living in. If she could stall Gerda, surely Dash would think to check here.

"Wait. I don't even know that colt, let him go."

Gerda walked up to the colt. "This one?  Well I suppose you wouldn't know him. He is a tailor's son, probably a tailor himself judging by the red shirt that is his cutie mark. I think I'll kill him first. Like you said, you don't even know him." Gerda raised the knife above the colt who tried to squirm away.

"Drop the knife and let the fillies go!" Scootaloo was the only filly not facing the doorway. When Dinky's eyes lit up with joy, she realized it was Mr. Hooves.

"How about I drop you?" A hammer flew out of the toolbox, hitting the Doctor in the head. "Now Scootloo, while I tie up this interloper, I want you to look at red shirt over there in the eyes. Tell him you're sorry, and that his life isn't worth as much as your friends.

Gerda started tying Doctor Whooves up. The rescue had failed, leaving Dinky and the colt in tears. Even Applebloom and Sweetie were sobbing at this point. Scootaloo's mind raced. "Where are you Dash?"

"There, now that he's taken care of, I have a colt to kill. It has been so long since I got to do this. That is how I found my cutie mark, you know. I was never good enough to please my father, so I slit his throat when he was drunk and asleep. How ironic I got my cutie mark for that—however I have been punishing delinquents ever since. Isn't it poetic?"

"Last chance Gerda, let the fillies go and I'll still have mercy. I can't stand to see children cry." Doctor Whooves looked up at her from the ground.

"Are you okay Doctor?" Scootaloo spoke to the stallion behind her.

"Yeah I just forgot about the telekinesis. Stupid, always forgetting, there is so much to remember."

"Shut up you two! Doesn't anypony realize how much trouble you're in? I'm about to kill you all and anypony else that bursts through that door!"

"Then start with me."

"Who the hay are you anyway?"

"I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"Whooves."

"What have hooves got to do with this?"

"It's my name."

"Your name is hooves?"

"No it's the Doctor."

"Doctor Who!"

"Whooves. Seriously what part is so hard to understand?" The Doctor rolled his eyes at Gerda.

"It must be the core concept." Scootaloo chuckled until Gerda glared at her, waving the knife around.

"I don't have time for this, I need to wrap this up and get out of here. Why don't I start with the pretty white filly then."

Gerda walked over towards Sweetie with the knife high in the air in her telekinesis. Just as she began the down stroke the barn door shattered into thousands of pieces as a blue blur collided with Gilda.

The pair slammed into the wall of the barn, splintering the wood. The knife fell to the ground, as Dash stood up and got ready to strike again. "I told you what I'd do if you came back!"

Gerda recovered as Dash brought her hoof down to crush her horn, moving it aside and levitating the entire toolbox at Dash. The pegasus was thrown against the wall by the force of the impact, but threw herself at Gerda blindly before another spell could be cast. Tumbling to the ground again, Dash got in a couple punches before she heard a whistling in the air. 

Dash dove forward, off Gerda as a knife sliced through her mane. A few green and blue hairs fell to the floor as Dash barely dodged the attack. Looking back quickly, Dash saw more objects flying towards her. With a strong beat of her wings she rocketed through the ceiling of the barn.

"Ha! That was too—" Gerda was cut off as the wall behind her shattered, and she was hit right in the ribs. Gerda fell to the ground with the wind knocked out of her, and Dash took the opportunity to stomp on her horn until it broke off.

Gerda continued to scream as Dash assaulted her, until Dash heard someone shouting at her.

"Dash! Dash stop!" Scootaloo was trying desperately to get her attention. "It's over Dash! You won!"

Dash panted heavily and looked down at Gerda. The mare made no attempt to get up as Dash stood over her. Looking around, Dash saw the abandoned toolkit. Reaching in she found some hoof-cuffs and attached one to Gerda's leg and another to a support beam in the barn.

"You're lucky Gerda, after all the evil you've done, Scootaloo doesn't want you dead." Dash spat at her and moved over to the fillies. Dash untied Scootaloo and they untied the other fillies. 

There was a raspy laugh coming from the other side of the barn. "You're—no better than me. Fools—all of you fools. . ."

"Mercy is the mark of the mark of a great mare." Dash walked over to Gerda, and kicked her in the ribs. "I guess I'm just a good mare. . ." Dash hit her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious. "Well, I'm alright. Come on kids, once I get you to Sweet Apple Acres we'll come back with the police for her."

Dinky heard a sound between whirring and screeching outside the barn. "Hey where'd dad go?" Dinky was looking over at where her adoptive father had been a minute ago. Mr. Whooves had disappeared.

"Not our problem kid, he got out and right now I need to get you out of here." Dash lead the fillies out of the barn and noticed the colt. "Uh, who is the new guy?"

"I'm—I'm—Bolt."

"Well come on Bolt, your parents are probably worried."

It didn't take Dash long to lead the children to safety. Once they reached the farm, it seemed like everypony knew about it. Soon Applejack, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, the Mayor, and half a dozen other ponies had come to check on the fillies. Several offered apologies, including Cheerilee and Rarity. Diamond Tiara was not in such a forgiving mood, having a black eye that would likely last a couple weeks.

Dash lead the elements back to the barn with Spike to take Gerda into custody. "Hey fax machine, can you send Celestia a letter and let her know we've caught Gerda?"

"Come on Dash, you know I hate that nickname!" Spike gave Dash his best manly stare, yet it had little effect.

"Heh, calm down. She's right in her—" Dash froze in the doorway to the barn.

"Dash what's wrong?" Rarity walked up alongside her and quickly regretted it. "Oh my—" Rarity turned around quickly and vomited. 

Inside the barn there was a hoof cuffed to a support beam. It had been cut free of the mare it was attached to, and said mare was nowhere in sight.






soundtrack for the ending	

Gerda stumbled along through the Everfree muttering obscenities. Each failure stoked the hatred in her heart. She imagined all the horrible things she would do if her horn grew back after the blunt trauma. This time, it would start with Dash and end with Scootaloo.

"I did give you a choice. They always get upset and say I didn't, but I did."

Gerda turned to face the pony who had found her stumbling, bleeding through the Everfree. "Doctor." Gerda still had a knife in her mouth, but would be unable to do much more then slice butter in her current state. A coil of rope was wrapped around what had used to be a front leg.

"I suppose you had this coming. You can come with me now and accept your punishment, or you can stay with your new friends there." The Doctor pointed a hoof to the thick brush to her left. Gerda followed the Doctor's eyes until she saw two timberwolves crouching in the bushes.

"Who the hay are you?"

He adjusted his bowtie. "I'm the reason demons run and angels fear to tread in Equestria.


I'm the Doctor."
















	

> 19. The Other Side of Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo was zooming towards school on her scooter. She was running late, and could only hope to sneak in unnoticed.

Pulling up to the school, she noticed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon waiting for her. "Great, what do you want?"

"Oh us? Nothing." Diamond glanced at Silver and smiled. "We just wanted to welcome our favorite chicken to school."

"Nopony calls me—" Scootaloo was interrupted as an egg hit her in the face.

Laughter filled the air as the two rich, spoiled fillies pelted Scootaloo with eggs. "Haha Chicken! Lay us some more eggs!"

"Stop it!" Scootaloo was getting furious, when she heard something zoom through the air from behind her.

"Leave her alone! Nopony threatens my Scootaloo!" 

Scootaloo's mouth fell open as Dash began pummeling Diamond Tiara into the ground. Her fists landed over and over on the poor filly. "No stop Dash!" Dash didn't hear her, quickly turning and finishing off Silver Spoon too.

Dash turned and stared into Scootaloo's eyes. "Are you trying to hurt my little sis? Are you!" Dash leapt at Scootaloo, tackling her and smacking her in the face.





Scootaloo woke up with her heart pounding in her chest. She looked around, realizing she was safe in her bedroom. This was the fifth time this week that she had a similar nightmare. Ever since she watched Dash mercilessly beat Gerda to within an inch of death. . . Scootaloo had never imagined Dash capable of it.

Dash did it to protect me, she pondered.  Does that make it right? I've never seen any pony act so violently. Why does that scare me? She would never hurt me.

"Hey Squirt, another bad dream?" Dash walked in rubbing a hoof over her eyes.

"Oh Dash, yeah. It's really nothing. . ." Scootaloo felt her heart race as her mind wandered back to the barn.

"You still not ready to talk about it?"

"No." Scootaloo averted her gaze towards the window.

"Well I'm here for you, when you're ready to talk about whatever she . . . did to you." Dash turned and walked silently back towards the stairs.

Get ahold of yourself Scootaloo. She's my big sister, I need to put this all behind me. I've got to be brave like Dash, and handle this on my own. Scootaloo closed her eyes and waited to drift back to sleep. Part of her was bothered by Dash's actions, yet what scared her most was the part of her that wished she hadn't asked Dash to stop.





Morning came quicker than Scootaloo had wanted. The night had been restless after her nightmare, and she just wanted to get to school and get the day over with. It was hard enough to focus in class without being exhausted. 

Scootaloo was grateful that Dash was out working with the weather patrol. She grabbed a bagel and her saddlebags and left early for school. She glided down to talk to the only other adult she trusted as much as Dash.

The cottage had a plume of smoke rising out of the chimney. The weather had been getting colder, and several of the animals were still in their burrows. The large oak door rattled as Scootaloo knocked on it.

A soft voice from inside answered. "Come in."

Scootaloo walked inside to find Fluttershy tending to dozens of small creatures. "It's amazing how you seem to know everything about every animal."

"That's very kind. It did take a lot of study, as well as talking to many different animals. What brings you by so early, isn't it a school day?"

"School starts in an hour. I needed somepony to talk to."

Fluttershy put down a bag of feed and turned to look at her. "May I ask. . . um if it's alright with you. . . why not ask Dash?"

Scootaloo took of her saddlebags and jumped on the couch, lying on her back. "That's just it. It's about Dash. I need someone else to ask."

"Then I'm glad you came to me Scootaloo, I consider you just as much family as Dash. We Pegasi have to stick together, after all, especially since all three of us are so far from our families." Fluttershy sat on the couch next to Scootaloo.

Glancing up at Fluttershy, Scootaloo felt a lightness and tingling overcome her as she got nervous. Taking a deep breath, she settled her stomach and addressed her. "I've been having nightmares since. . . since Gerda kidnapped us."

Fluttershy immediately frowned and looked away. "Oh, I'm sorry Scootaloo. I can't imagine what horrible things she did to you."

"It's not her it's—" Scootaloo hesitated, trying to find the right way to tell her that Dash scared her. "It's Dash. She nearly killed Gerda, and I've never seen anypony hit another like that. Part of me was mortified that Dash could do that, and the other part was cheering her on to finish Gerda. . ."

Fluttershy stroked her chin while figuring out how to answer such a profound question. "Dash would never hurt you Scootaloo."

"But what about somepony else? What happens the next time I'm being bullied or Dash loses her temper. . ."

"Do you remember when one of the bears came to me to give birth? I told everypony to not visit for a week because bears are very protective of their children. When the cub is threatened, the mother will defend them violently. That's not just for bears, Scootaloo. All good mothers love their foals just as much. "

"This was different, there was a look in her eyes. She—Dash enjoyed watching her suffer, just like Gerda used to enjoy watching me suffer."

"Scootaloo, I'll always be here for you. These nightmares are something you will have to talk to Dash about. She did what she did to protect you, and yes it could have killed Gerda, but it didn't. . . There's nothing I can say that will fix this."

"How am I supposed to tell Dash I'm afraid of her? I love her."

"The same way you asked her to take you under her wing. You'll have to face this fear and let her know how you feel, then you will be able to sleep again."

"And Gerda? Dash said the police took her away. Diamond Tiara says her father told her they found nothing but a leg when they went back to the barn."

Fluttershy wasn't prepared for that question. The elements had decided to tell the fillies Gerda was arrested. The thought that she might be out there, crippled and awaiting further retribution, would have been cruel to tell them. Even though Fluttershy knew the animals of the Everfree had probably eaten her before she made it half a mile, would it be right to just assume that and lie to Scootaloo?

"Fluttershy? Why are you so quiet?" Scootaloo sat up to look at her.

"Oh me? . . . No reason, just thinking about the rabbits. I really should feed them. . ." Fluttershy started to get up, and Scootaloo stepped on her tail.

"You're a horrible liar Fluttershy, what's going on?"

"I really can't. . . it's not my place. . . oh dear." Fluttershy sat back down. "Please, it's best if you talk to Dash. Would you be more comfortable talking to her here, with me?"

"Only if you pinkie promise to tell me the truth, Gerda got away didn't she?" A hint of anger had crept into her voice.

"I pinkie promise we'll tell you the truth, but you have to tell Dash about the nightmares, and you'll have to wait until after school." Fluttershy smiled, and then swallowed back a lump in her throat as she wondered what she had just gotten herself into.





Later That Day. . .


"Alright class, your reading assignment is chapter twelve of Huckleberry Filly. I want you to pay special attention to the way the filly treats the colt when they're on the river raft. There will be a quiz tomorrow." The class groaned collectively at Cheerilee. "None of that, it'll be an easy test."

A bell rang and the students began to file out of the classroom. Once outside, Diamond Tiara spoke up so Scootaloo could hear. "Silver Spoon, did you hear about Gerda? Daddy says they saw her down at the train station earlier, hobbling around muttering about skinning a chicken." 

Applebloom quickly grabbed Scootaloo and walked the other direction. "Don't give her the satisfaction."

Sweetie Belle walked up on her other side. "Yeah, just wait until she grows up and realizes she can't make a living selling diamond tiaras, what a ridiculous cutie mark."

"Thanks girls." Scootaloo let out a long sigh. "Can I ask you something?"

Applebloom took her foreleg off from around her shoulder. "Ya can ask me anything." 

"Back at the barn. . . did it bother you seeing Dash acting so violently?"

"Ah reckon' my sister woulda done the same, and ah doubt anypony could survive a kick from my sis." Applebloom smiled and looked to see if she had eased Scootaloo's mind.

"I didn't like seeing her act like that," Sweetie added. "I don't like anypony resorting to violence, but if she hadn't what would have happened to us?"

"That's what I expected you both to say." Scootaloo kicked a pebble off the road as they walked towards the farm. "I've been having nightmares though. Sometimes it's Dash beating up Diamond Tiara. Sometimes it's me beating up Gerda with Dash. What worries me, is that I'd enjoy it. Every time Diamond runs her mouth, I imagine punching her in the jaw. What if she was right, and me and Dash are just like her?"

"Hold it right there, that just ain't true! Ya'll are two nice ponies who don't run around hurtin' people."

Sweetie was quick to agree with Applebloom. "Yeah Scootaloo, I don't see how you could be making that assumption." 

"Do you ever wonder if ponies are born like that, or if they learn to be so cruel? What if it's just a matter of time. . ." Scootaloo looked off towards the path into the Everfree.

"Once ah saw Applejack do somethin' ah thought was horrible. One of our best pigs had been injured, course ah didn't know that at the time. Poor thing had broken two legs and been getting' worse for a week. All ah saw when ah walked in the barn one mornin' was Applejack. . . putting it outta its misery. Ah was dead terrified for weeks, and every time my sis would ask why, ah'd lie. Ah was miserable for a month before ah finally told her what ah saw."

"That's horrible, how's that supposed to help?" Scootaloo looked at Sweetie for support, but she appeared to be just short of vomiting.

"That's just it, life ain't always black 'n white. That pig was old, and sufferin' for a whole week. If there was anything she coulda done, she would have. She told me how it's broken ribs had punctured the lungs, how it couldn't walk. All ah saw at the time was what ah wanted to see. Ah saw my sis. . . ah saw somethin' fillies ain't s'posed to see. Ah think Dash was doin' right by you, and ya need to talk to her so she can explain what ya saw."

The trio walked in silence until they reached the fork in the road to the apple farm. "Thanks, I guess Fluttershy was right. I just need to talk to Dash."

"Would you like me to come with you? Rarity is probably too busy making dresses to do anything fun anyway."

"Thanks Sweetie, but I think I can handle it on my own."





"Really Fluttershy? You tell me I have to come over to talk to Scootaloo and you won't tell me why?" Dash continued to pace around the living room.

"Please. . . She is still traumatized by some of the things she has been through. Scootaloo just wants to talk about the nightmares somewhere she'll feel safe."

"Safe?" Dash marched right up to Fluttershy. "I nearly killed somepony to keep her safe!"

Fluttershy flinched away for a second before remembering her assertiveness training. "That's just it Dash." She stood back up and made eye contact. "You almost killed somepony, Gerda almost killed Scootaloo. You have to talk about things like this, the poor filly is afraid what'll happen if you lose your temper aga—"

"Lose my temper!" Dash advanced on Fluttershy again. "She should know bett—" 

Fluttershy interrupted her, using a tone she rarely had to use with Dash. "Dash, stop. Look at yourself right now. How many times in flight camp did you teach a bully a lesson for me? You're loyal to a fault and have a temper. You just need to tell Scootaloo you would never hurt her. And um. . . don't tell her I said anything, I kind of Pinkie Promised."

Dash walked around trying to get out the rest of her nervous energy. "So—does that make me a bad parent?"

"Of course not! I wish my mother felt the way about me that you do about Scootaloo. I'd rather worry about her temper than be told never to come back for disgracing the family."

Dash looked over and saw the pain in Fluttershy's misty eyes. "Come here." Dash held out a wing, and wrapped it around her once she approached. "They don't deserve a daughter as awesome as you. All the family you need is me and Scootaloo, and you have 4 more of the best mare friends anypony could want."

Fluttershy stood there nuzzling Dash. "Thank you, I guess I was the first sister you adopted."

"Heh, I never thought of it that way. We have been pretty inseparable since flight camp, huh?"

The pair heard a knocking at the door behind them. "I guess that's Scootaloo." Fluttershy stepped out from under Dash's wing. "Come in Scootaloo."


An orange head poked through the door, followed by a pink mane, and then the rest of a timid young filly. "Hi sis, Fluttershy. . ."

Fluttershy shot one last glance at Dash, and somehow just making eye contact seemed to calm her down a little more. The pair sat on a couch and waited for Scootaloo to sit on the opposite couch.

Dash smiled and relaxed her muscles. "Hey Squirt, I heard you were ready to talk about the nightmares, and you can tell me anything. I won't get mad."

Scootaloo shot a glance between the two, Fluttershy was intently examining a hoof, and Dash seemed calm enough for the moment. "Yeah, I've been thinking about what happened in the barn. . ."

"With Gerda?" Dash quickly quelled the tide of anger in her, keeping control of her infamous temper for the filly she loved.

"No, with you—" Scootaloo flinched as she thought she saw something in Dash's eye. "I mean, when you attacked her to save me—it really scared me. It scared me because I thought you were going to kill her, and I wanted you too."

Dash dropped her jaw as her brain tried to devise new methods of thought in order to answer this question. Of all the things bothering the filly, this had never occurred to her. She finally managed to mutter a few words. "I—would never hurt you."

"I know, but what about other ponies? Or what if I end up beating up Diamond Tiara? The only way I've ever known to settle differences is violence."

Dash sighed as she finally figured out a way they might be able to relate. "You remember how I met Fluttershy? Well bullies didn't stop picking on her just because I won a race. I used to get in fights and get in trouble for my temper. I learned from it though, and I had my dad there to teach me. A temper isn't something that just goes away, and I'd feel horrible if—if she had died."

"Diamond was right then? Gerda did escape." Scootaloo deflated, sinking further into the couch. She had hoped she was dead and it was over, and she felt guilty for wishing that.

"Scootaloo. . . We didn't want to tell you, because there's no way she made it out of that forest. Her trail ended a hundred yards deeper in the forest. She was missing a leg, and the predators can smell blood for miles. . ."

Scootaloo glanced back at the two pegasi. "Are you sure?"

Fluttershy stopped examining her hoof. "Not a single animal has seen her."

"And if she does come back—which I highly doubt. . . Look I'm not going to hurt you or anypony else that doesn't deserve it. When I think about losing you I get this feeling—it feels like. . . if I lost you it'd be worse than losing my wings, worse than being banished out of Equestria. You're the most precious thing I have now, more than the elements of harmony or the Wonderbolts."

"You mean it? I'm that important to you?" Scootaloo didn't move a muscle as she hung on Dash's next words.

"Yes, you are." Scootaloo began crying and rolled up on the couch. Dash looked at Fluttershy and whispered, "was it something I said?"

Fluttershy pushed her off the couch, whispering "she's happy, go."

Dash walked over and sat next to Scootaloo, scooping her up. "Thank y—you Dash."

"No problem Squirt, that's what family is for." Dash rubbed Scootaloo's head with her hoof. "You have any more nightmares you let me know, alright? And I Pinkie Promise to work on that temper, after all, if everypony really was a spy, I would have caught one by now."

Scootaloo laughed and cried as the bottled up emotions of her recent traumas were lifted from her shoulders. "It feels good to be honest and tell somepony else how I feel."

"Oh um. . . I almost forgot, but Pinkie dropped off some supplies to make s'mores, and I got a couple extra sleeping bags out. Would you two like to stay for a sleepover?"

Scootaloo looked up at Dash for an answer. "Of course Squirt, the clouds aren't going anywhere."








> 20. A Wild Story Arc Appears!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"It was a sunny day in Ponyville. . . no that's a horrible way to start my essay." Scootaloo  picked the pen back up in her mouth and crossed out the sentence. "Applejack was heading to the market. Suddenly there was an explosion!"

Scootaloo crumpled up the paper and threw it at the overflowing waste bin. If the assignment weren't due in thirty minutes, it might be a little easier to finish. She was expected to write an essay about a 'normal' day in Ponyville. Unfortunately, Scootaloo couldn't recall having a normal day in Ponyville yet.

Sighing, she settled for an elaborate lie about how she spent a whole day being an outstanding citizen. Scootaloo wrote about how the Cutie Mark Crusaders had gone crusading and nopony got covered in tree sap. Next came some bits of fiction and fantasy to pad the word count. She hastily wrote a bit on the end where Dash taught her how to do a sonic rainboom.

"Finally!" Scootaloo stuffed the paper into her saddlebag and headed out into the living room. School would be starting soon, so she grabbed her scooter and helmet. 

Dash lay sprawled out on a cloud sofa snoring and with a leg hanging off. Winter was fast approaching and the hardest part for the weather team was cooling down the air and storing up enough rain clouds for the snow.

Scootaloo put her helmet on and grasped the scooter in her teeth. Despite being able to fly, it was still exhilarating to do stunts on it. It had the same feeling of speed as flying, but with the added element of being on the ground with the other ponies. After all, what pony doesn't like having a crowd?

She landed below the house and zoomed towards the school. It had been awhile since Scootaloo had used the scooter, and her more powerful wings were able to propel her nearly twice as fast. An added benefit was being able to use the smallest bumps in the rode as a launch ramp. It was easy to hide where riding ended and flying began, enabling her to soar for hundreds of feet in a single jump.

Arriving at school she saw that several of the students were outside still. She pulled up and went over to Applebloom and Sweetie. "Hey, what's going on?"

"A new student moved into town, everypony is over there talking to her." Sweetie gestured over towards the crowd.

"Neat, did you go say hi yet?"

"No. . . She is hanging out with them." Sweetie pointed over to Diamond and Silver Spoon. "And she has her cutie mark, so I don't see that ending well." The orange filly had a light blue mane and a grey streak through her hair. Her cutie mark was a tornado.

"Come on, she's a pegasus! She can't be that bad."

Scootaloo headed over towards the crowd to introduce herself. It took her a second to head around the gathered ponies and push past Snips and Snails. "Hi I'm Scootaloo, what's your name?"

The new pegasus glanced over at Diamond Tiara. "This must be the chicken you were talking about who can't fly? Nice scooter chicken."

Scootaloo could feel her temper flaring and fought to keep a level head. "I could beat you in a race anytime, anywhere."

"It'd hardly be fair with me flying and you on that plank with wheels." The filly stepped forward. "I'm Gale Storm, my father owns the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation. And you're not worth my time, chicken."

Scootaloo took a deep breath. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Diamond and Silver smiling. It looked like the rich kids had a new member of their insufferable entourage. Had it not been for the two snobby ponies smiling, she might have controlled her temper. "No. Pony. Calls. Me. Chicken."

"And what are you going to do about it? You blank flanks are hardly worth my time." Gale turned to address Diamond. "Come on, let's get to class."

Well past her breaking point, Scootaloo leapt right after the fillies had turned their backs. With a familiar sharp pain in her rump, she felt her tail being held fast in somepony's mouth. Turning around she saw Sweetie and Applebloom, once again preventing her from doing something she'd regret.

"Ah reckon once she gets ta know them, she won't be wantin' to hang around with 'em anymore." Applebloom smiled and spit out a few strands of pink hair.

She tossed the scooter against the wall of the school. "Why does every pony I meet have to be such a jerk?" Scootaloo looked back at the other crusaders. "Well, almost everypony. It's like they just keep showing up to antagonize me until I learn some lame lesson about friendship. That could really drive somepony mad!"

Sweetie and Applebloom shared a knowing glance, recalling a certain purple mare and a 'want it need it' spell. "Ah reckon it could."

"Thanks, by the way. I guess I'll just have to wait until after school to show her who the better flier is."

Sweetie glanced away nervously. "Well. . . you weren't here when she was showing off. She's pretty good." She looked back to Scootaloo and quickly added, "but not as good as you and Dash!"

"We'll see. Dash is training me for the Best Young Flier's competition coming up in Canterlot. Once I get my routine down, I'll mention it to this Gale, and then I'll win first place. We'll see who is a chicken then!"

"That's. . . one of the more reasonable things ya have suggested. Ah might even get Twilight's help to come watch ya compete."

Sweetie heard the bell ring. "We better get seated for class, I can't wait to share my fifteen page essay on a normal day in Ponyville."

In perfect unison, the other two crusaders facehoofed.





School couldn't get out fast enough. At lunch, Applebloom had agreed to take Scootaloo's scooter to the club house. The pegasus filly ran over several stunts in her mind to impress the new student. At the very least, she wouldn't be caught dead walking or riding instead of flying again.

Sweetie had cautioned her against putting so much weight in the opinions of others. According to her, it was 'a source of un-ending frustration for Rarity.' Scootaloo didn't see the correlation between proving she was the better flier, and a mare that cared so much about her physical appearance.

The bell finally rang, the entire lesson before it had passed in one ear and out the other ear of Scootaloo. Just as she was about to leave and fly off in the most impressive fashion, a voice beckoned her back.

"Scootaloo, can I have a word with you?" Cheerilee took a seat behind her desk and waited for her to walk over.

"What is it Miss Cheerilee?" Scootaloo stayed standing as the classroom emptied out.

Once the other fillies had cleared out, the teacher returned her glance to the student. "Scootaloo. . . Your grades have been suffering lately, and I can't help but notice you don't pay attention in class. Some days you even look exhausted from your practice flying. I need you to tell me if there is anything I can do to help. Otherwise, if you don't study and improve your grades, I'll have to assign you a tutor and extra schoolwork."

Scootaloo took a moment to compose herself and close her gaping mouth. "How bad can it be? I wrote the essay like you asked."

"Yes." Cheerilee pulled out the essay. "Let me read a small excerpt: 'Then the raggedy doctor climbed back into the smoking TARDIS, before vanishing to save Equestria from the gryphon armies. . .' "

Sweat started to bead on Scootaloo's brow. "Ok, so I may have exaggerated a little. Dinky keeps telling me these stories, and I couldn't think of anything else to make it two pages long!"

"Indeed. What about this? 'That was when the timberwolf attacked me, nearly tearing my head off. After thrashing free from the barn, I lead him to his demise at the hands of a fearsome grizzly bear.'"

Scootaloo chuckled nervously. "Come on, at least that part is true!" She pointed to her flank, only to notice the scars had faded completely under her coat of orange hair. "Ugh. It's not like I have had many normal days in Ponyville! I've barely been here a month and nearly been killed twice!"

"I know Scootaloo. And that's why I want to do anything I can to help. You've made great strides learning, considering you started school late. I can't shake the feeling though that you're not taking this seriously and things like this don't help." Cheerilee handed over the paper to her. "Go out, relax, and just write about something normal. Not heroic, not a sonic rainboom, just a day with the crusaders or a trip to the library."

"Alright." Scootaloo stuffed the essay into her saddlebag. "I'll try harder." She walked out without taking her eyes off the floor.

Sweetie was waiting outside. "What's the matter?"

"Cheerilee said my grades are too low. If I don't do better I'll have to get a tutor and extra homework."

"That's horrible." Sweetie walked alongside her out of the school. "I bet I can help you with the homework today, and get those grades fixed right up."

"Thanks Sweetie. I think I'm just going to go relax with Dash today. I need to do something 'normal' and re-write the essay. Maybe I can write one about taking a nap on a cloud."

Sweetie wanted to point out writing two pages about not doing anything and napping wasn't what Cheerilee had in mind. She could see Scootaloo was in a bad mood from the new filly unexpectedly calling her out, and the news that her grades had been suffering. "I have a better idea, why don't we go to Sugarcube Corner first? I'll buy you a cupcake and then you can go take that nap with Dash."

Scootaloo smiled over to her. "I'd like that."






> 21. Admiral Coltbar Says. . .
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dash whistled. "I see what you mean, the new filly has moves. I'd heard rumors a new family was moving into town. I'm surprised she would choose to hang out with Diamond though."

Scootaloo lay on the cloud looking down at the filthy rich mansion. "Yeah, so I was hoping you could teach me some tricks for the Best Young Flier's competition. We could totally beat her if she decides to enter."

"I don't see why not, as long as you get your grades up."

"Really? The history of Equestria and math are so boring. I'd rather be training to be just like you."

Dash chuckled. "First off, we all have to go through school. It'll come in useful someday. Second, you shouldn’t try to be just like me. I bet you could be an even faster flier than me one day."

"Maybe, but not anytime soon. I haven't even figured out my cutie mark."

"It'll come, you just need to have fun doing what you love. And you haven't tried to get a prank cutie mark yet." Dash grinned wickedly. "That's fun."

"Oh yeah! We should prank everypony in town, starting with them." Scootaloo pointed at the rich fillies playing in the courtyard below.

"You have much to learn, my apprentice. If we prank all the other ponies before them, the anxiety will drive them mad."

"So what's the first step?"

"First," Dash chuckled. "We go to the prank store to replenish my stocks. We'll have to get Pinkie first, she knows how I work and if she catches on we're goners."

"So how do we prank Pinkie Pie? According to Miss Cheerilee the laws of fiscals don't apply to her."

"I think you mean physics Squirt, and yeah, that's why we're getting her first."





Thirty minutes and a joke shop later.


"Alright, that's everything." Scootaloo stood next to Dash in a dangerous mission outfit. Rarity had passed out the black catsuits to all of her friends, for use in the frequent mishaps they often dealt with. It was a simple thing for the Cutie Mark Crusaders to get their own set when they wanted to try for spy cutie marks.

"Not quite." Dash dipped her hoof in a jar of rainbow, and smeared it under her eyes. "We need our war paint."

[img] https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/313772_10200749892096628_1503670295_n.jpg[/img]

"Awesome!" Scootaloo smeared some under her eyes. "So, what's next?"

"Pinkie should be baking cupcakes, let's initiate Operation Bubble Gum."

Scootaloo snapped to attention and saluted. "Aye aye!"

The pair headed to the balcony of the cloud home, and started to glide down to Sugarcube Corner. Dash's rainbow tail made the dangerous mission suit ineffective, so she had dipped it in the golden powder the crusaders had used to decorate a float. Scootaloo decided to do the same. Anypony who saw the duo would think that two black and gold pegasi were just enjoying a flight around town.

They landed on the roof of Sugarcube Corner. "Alright Scootaloo, head down to the kitchen window and distract Pinkie. I'm going to find the party cannon and get it loaded. When you hear a rooster's crow, get her to stand in front of the door to the kitchen."

"Okay!" Scootaloo floated down to the window of the kitchen. Inside Pinkie was singing a song while baking. She began the distraction by tapping on the glass, and ducking out of sight in a bush.

The window popped open after a small delay and a pink head popped out. "Anypony there?" A second later Pinkie went back inside, leaving the window open. 

Scootaloo came up to the window slowly. Pinkie was reaching into the oven to get a tray of cupcakes. The filly darted into the kitchen, turning the sink water on, and hiding behind a counter. After a few minutes, Pinkie noticed the sink running and went to turn it off.

"Hmm that's weird, I don't remember turning the sink on. My blood sugar must be getting low!" Pinkie popped two cupcakes in her mouth. A rooster crowed, causing Pinkie to look around in confusion. "That's strange, it's not morning." She went to the window and closed it.

Scootaloo jumped out from the counter and ran to the doorway of the kitchen. "Look out, it's a spy!"

Pinkie jumped in the air and spun around. "A spy? They're trying to steal my lucky cupcakes!" A large gasp escaped her mouth. "There you are spy! Prepare to taste sugary justice!" Pinkie bounded over the table and began flinging cupcakes.

Scootaloo hadn't been expecting the cupcake assault. She barely dodged them as Pinkie got even closer to her. At the last second there was a loud booming sound as a party cannon went off.

A giant pink blob of bubble gum flew past Scootaloo, scooping up Pinkie, and flinging her across the kitchen. There was a wet smacking sound as it adhered to the wall, pinning Pinkie in place.  "Oh I love bubble gum!" She began eating her way out, but judging by the amount of gum it could take a while.

Scootaloo heard laughter behind her and turned to see Dash rolling around laughing. She decided to join in, before seeing Mr. Cake come to see what all the fuss was. "Let's roll!" The two pegasi jumped up and zoomed out the kitchen window, knocking it off the hinges.

After ducking behind a nearby house, they recovered from their laughing. "That was awesome Dash!"

"You haven't seen anything yet! Let's get over to Twilight's house." The two began to fly towards the library. "Scootaloo, you remember the plan?"

"Yep. I've got the net gun loaded."

"Alright, Twilight's probably upstairs so you go in through the kitchen and find Spike."

Scootaloo flew to the kitchen window. It was cracked open; she pulled it open then readied the net gun. Slowly she entered the kitchen and looked around. Spike was making some lunch, and Scootaloo didn't waste any time. "Hey Spike!"

Spike spun around. "gah! It's a ninja!" He hiccupped, sending out a small burst of flame.

Squeezing the trigger, the net flew out and ensnared him. She heard someone crashing around in the main library, followed by laughter. 

A moment later, a confused Applebloom walked around the corner. "Quick Spike, ah reckon we're under attack!"

"Run! Save yourself Applebloom!" Spike shouted.

Applebloom turned around confused, with the farmer's almanac she had been sent to get balanced on her back. She finished turning just in time for the reloaded net gun to fire, tangling her up in the ropes.

The racket was getting louder as two mares burst through the door. "Rainbow Dash! I know it's you! Get back here!" Dash ran through the door, followed by Twilight. Her horn was limp just like when she had touched poison joke. In this case, it had been a prank that softened the horn for only half an hour.

"Quick Squirt, grab that last pair of scissors!" Dash flew out the window, followed shortly by Scootaloo with some scissors in her mouth.

After a familiar round of laughing, and no cutie mark in sight, the pair headed over to Rarity's house. Her house had been the simplest prank; however Sweetie was there when they arrived.

Scootaloo hovered next to Dash. "So what should we do about Sweetie?"

"I think the water paint bomb will do nicely. You want to handle it while I set off the stink bombs?"

"Okay." Scootaloo pulled out the paint bomb. "This'll be sure to get a pranking cutie mark!"

She opened up the window and watched as Dash snuck in the one next to her. Scootaloo tip toed down the hallway until she got to the main room, where she had spotted Sweetie practicing her singing. 

Tossing the paint-filled balloon up in her hoof a couple times, she took aim. Stretching back her leg, she flung the bomb at her. It splattered, covering her in a rainbow of color.

"Aaahh!" Sweetie spun around. "It's a foalnapper! Please, take Rarity I'm too young!"

Scootaloo rolled around on the floor laughing, before remembering this was the part where she was supposed to run. Opening her eyes, a furious Sweetie stood over her. "Uh. . ." Scootaloo flipped up and zoomed out of the room.

Flying downstairs she was hit by a wall of foul odor. The stink bombs had gone off and the front door was open. Zooming out, she saw Rarity shouting and shaking a hoof at the sky. "It'll take days to get that smell out of my mane! Get back here hooligan!"

Scootaloo reached back for the other paint balloon, and dropped it on Rarity and she soared over head. She laughed as she gained altitude towards the cloud Dash was on.

"This is the. Worst. Possible. Thing." There was a faint thud as Rarity fainted.

When Dash noticed Rarity with a rainbow coat of fur, she redoubled her laughing. Once she calmed down, she turned to Scootaloo. "Great work Squirt. Next it's off to Fluttershy's."

"Ok, but you're sure Operation Nasal Storm won't scare her?"

"Nah, she'll just wonder what's going on with all the critters."

It didn't take the pair long to reach the cottage, where they pulled out sneezing powder and began to dust the ground around the cottage with it. Several animals were caught in the fallout, and began sneezing. The animals that were fast enough hid in their burrows. The ones who could fly made attack runs on the pegasi. After a suitable amount of chaos was unleashed, they saw Fluttershy standing on her front porch.

"Leave the animals alone!" Fluttershy stared at the two pegasi.

"Quick Squirt, bail! Don't let her stare at you!" Dash zoomed off over the Everfree with Scootaloo following close behind.

They were still laughing as they reached the farm. The panicked sneezing animals were hilarious. 

The pranksters landed in the south field where dozens of wicker baskets were laid out. Applejack would be coming soon to buck the trees and harvest the apples. The two went to work, setting the baskets on top of the trees. They painted a few of the apples to look like zap apples, and went up to a cloud to wait.

The pair waited for ages to see Applejack come to the south field. After what must have been an hour, they decided she must not be coming.

"So Squirt, I guess we can't get Applejack. We've been out here waiting so long, I think we should head home. You do have school tomorrow."

Scootaloo sighed. "Yeah I guess you're right. Still, I would have liked another chance at a prank cutie mark."

"All that matters is that you had fun." Dash smiled and nuzzled the filly. "How about I whip up some pancakes for dinner."

"That'd be great!" Scootaloo leapt into the air and flew towards their home. It didn't take the two long to get there and head inside.

Dash walked into the house, pulling off her dangerous mission outfit. She bucked a cloud near the front door, quickly pouring rain on her washing the gold dust and sweat off her. Scootaloo followed and did the same, before the pair walked into the kitchen.

"So you think Pinkie Pie chewed her way out of the gum by now?" Scootaloo jumped up on the couch and made herself comfortable.

Dash laughed. "I don't know, let's just hope she didn't chew her tail off."

A pair of orange forelegs poked out of the couch, ensnaring Dash.

"I'm here to kick flank and chew bubble gum." Pinkie stepped out from behind the couch as AJ held the struggling pegasus. Pinkie spit out a large wad of gum. "And I'm all outta bubble gum."

"Quick Squirt, run! They've come to prank us back!" Dash was still wiggling her way loose when several feathers floated towards her in a purple aura. They began tickling her hooves mercilessly. Within seconds, the pegasus could do nothing but laugh. She never let anyone touch her hooves for this exact reason. She was extremely ticklish. 

Scootaloo snapped back to reality, quickly flinging herself towards the nearest window. Halfway there, a paint balloon exploded in her face. The non-toxic water soluble mixture coated her from head to hoof, and caused her to fall to the ground.

"Shoot me with a net gun, will ya?" Applebloom stepped forward. "Well three can try to get prank cutie marks."

Scootaloo rubbed her eyes. "Three?"

"Yep." Sweetie stepped out from behind a coffee table with her own net gun. "It just got revoked." 

"Nopony set you up for that jok—" Applebloom saw Scootaloo crouch. "Quick, fire!"

Sweetie squeezed the trigger, sending a ropey prison flying at Scootaloo. Scootaloo took off, but didn't make it out of the way in time. She found herself wrapped up in the net as the crusaders began to tickle her too. It was a far worse prank then any they had pulled. Her sides ached as her sensitive hooves were tickled, until she thought she would burst.

At last the tickling stopped, and the crusaders helped her out of the net. Rarity came over with a jar of lotion, and quickly dabbed some on Scootaloo's wings. "As the last bit of our prank, Twilight would like us to remind you it isn't only horns that can go limp."

Scootaloo felt her wings go numb, as if she had slept on them until they fell asleep. She was no longer able to stretch them out. "Aww really!"

"Yes . . . and if it's okay with you, no more pranking. Please." Fluttershy smiled meekly.

Dash had been let go and walked over to stand next to Scootaloo. "Alright girls you made your point, now take your hot air balloon and cloud walking spells and get on home. Me and Scootaloo have some payback to plan."

Scootaloo's jaw fell open as she looked at Dash. "Are you crazy?"

Dash just continued to grin with a hint of mischief in her eyes. The other ponies looked around nervously for a bit.

"Well I do need to get back to take care of my animals, bye!" Fluttershy zoomed out a window.

"Yeah and. . . I need to feed gummy." Pinkie hoped on her candy cane helicopter-bike and flew off.

The remaining ponies began to file out towards the balloon, when Twilight turned around. "You know Dash, if you keep these pranks up, I could learn a few new spells. Pranking spells. They used to be popular in magic kindergarten. I could turn your hair green from a hundred yards away." Twilight tried to return her own mischievous smile.

"Bring it on, I'm not the best prankster in Ponyville for nothing."

"Alright then, until next time." Twilight walked out the front door and cast off the weather balloon before hopping in.

"So Squirt any cutie mark?"

Scootaloo wiped away the rainbow paint. "No, but I had tons of fun!"

"Heh I should hope so, because nopony touches my hooves. I have just the perfect plan to get back at them, and you have an essay to write."

"Come on Dash, I hate writing essays." Scootaloo gave her the puppy eyes.

"Nice try kid, but if you want to learn any tricks for the Best Young Flier's you'll have to do your schoolwork." Dash grinned and patted her damp hair. "And a shower wouldn't hurt."







> 22. Talk to me Goose!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Okay, close your eyes." Sweetie waited until Scootaloo and Applebloom closed their eyes to get her surprise.

"Keep your eyes closed. I'm sure this time at least one of us is going to get their cutie mark!"

Scootaloo sighed. "You say that every time and it hasn't been true yet."

"Any many miny moe, pick a filly by her hoof. If they holler let them go. My sis said to pick the very. Best. One. And. It. Is. You!"

"Gahh!" Applebloom made some gurgling sounds.

"Uh Sweetie, do I open my eyes now? What's going on?" Scootaloo cracked an eyelid to see what the surprise was.

"I did it! I did it! I got my cutie mark!" Sweetie was jumping around in sheer ecstasy. "Now Rarity will have to let me help her in the basement! Best. Day. Ever!"

Scootaloo was frozen in horror as Sweetie jumped around. Her coat was stained red and a knife cutie mark adorned her flank.

"I told you two I'd do it. Gah hahaha!" Sweetie's face twisted into something to horrible to be described.





Scootaloo bolted upright in bed. "Dang it, I wonder if Twilight can send Luna a letter. I'm getting tired of all these grim, dark nightmares I'm having. I'm still afraid to be alone around Big Mac."

Sighing, she flopped back down on the cloud. She had spent the last couple of days after the 'prank catastrophe' training hard with Dash. She was determined to win the upcoming Best Young Fliers competition. Scootaloo looked out the window, seeing the first hints of sunlight. 

"Great, I bet Dash will come down right when I fall asleep to begin training." Scootaloo lay down, and closed her eyes. She waited a minute and peeked one eye open. There was still no sign of Dash. Exhaling with relief, she rolled over and wiggled her way deeper into the cloud.

"Rise and shine Squirt! Today is the day we put the routine together, I just finished setting up your own personal cloud obstacle course!" Dash waited a minute as the filly shoved a puff of cloud into her ears. "I said wake up Squirt!" Dash jumped on the best, bouncing Scootaloo out of it.

"Bah, worst coach ever. The sun isn't even up."

"With that attitude you'd have to enter the Best Young Whiners." Dash walked around to the grumpy Scootaloo. "Oh, you didn't sleep well again?"

"It's nothing, I'm plenty brave to handle a few nightmares. After all, I know if they were real we could totally kick their flank." Scootaloo stood up and began stretching. "Though I may take a quick nap during the free-fall stunt, so be ready to catch me." Scootaloo giggled and launched out the window before Dash could reply.

Scootaloo flew up above the cloud home, headed for the impromptu obstacle course they'd used the last couple days. Dash let her stay in the lead as they reached the obstacle course.

"Alright Squirt, this is as close to Cloudsdale Stadium as I could get it. Between all the sporting events and flying competitions, there are a wide variety of stunts to choose from. You've still got time to substitute some stunts if you'd like."

"So, agility, precision, weather control, and then speed. Seems like a solid routine to me."

"Just remember to save energy for the speed bit, you'll have to do a 200 meter sprint pretty fast to impress the judges. After all, a sonic rainboom occurs at 760 miles per hour, not that I expect you to go that fast."

"I still think I could pull one off, not a rainboom but breaking the sound barrier."

"Maybe when you're a little older, I've heard of other pegasi breaking the sound barrier but none of them can pull off an epic rainbow at the same time."

"Because breaking the sound barrier involves our innate pegasus magic and every pegasus is different. I know. It still doesn't help me find my cutie mark." Scootaloo looked down to her flank.

"Scootaloo, you're doing this for fun, for the thrill of competition. If you're just doing this for a cutie mark, you're going to end up disappointed. I wish I could just tell you what your talent was, but you really just need to stop trying to get it and let it happen."

"Alright enough talk, I've got 6 hours of Cheerilee talking to look forward too, and that's plenty for one day."

"Alright Squirt, let's put that attitude to use. Show me what you've got!" Dash slammed a hoof on the nearby radio.
The first set of obstacles was ahead. It was a slalom course, with each pair of gates 9 meters apart. Scootaloo thought it was plenty of space her first time through the course, but as she gained speed it began to take everything she had to stay on course.

Seventy pairs of slalom gates were scattered, zig sagging left, right, up, down. The Best Young Flier's rarely even attempted the slalom. If Scootaloo could master it, and stop clipping the gates, she could make history.

Scootaloo flew through the first gate, the wind whipping her hair straight back. She leaned left and flung her hind legs out in front of her. Tilting her wings, she caught the wind just as her body weight from her flanks spun her ninety degrees. With a quick flap of her wings, she zoomed towards the next gate in a hairpin turn.

Scootaloo reversed the procedure to make it through the next gate. That was the easy part. The gates turned into circles of cloud as the vertical ascent began. Flying straight up wasn't hard, at first. After one hundred meters of it, however, it strained her muscles to a point of sheer exhaustion.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of her head, she took the first six gates easily. They were only spread at a forty-five degree angle from one another. As her wings began to tire, the gates stretched to sixty, seventy-five, then ninety degree angles. As she crested the final gate at the peak of the one hundred meter ascent, she flung her head backwards.

Tucking her wings in after a single stroke, she let gravity carry her backwards in an arc towards the next gate. It came out of nowhere, vanishing in a puff of clouds as she missed her mark. Scootaloo had messed up her trajectory again, flapping quickly to correct it. The goal was to reach the highest point in the course, and free-fall in a perfect curve down through ten more gates. Any slight miscalculation meant using your wings to correct your trajectory, and losing points from the judges.

Scootaloo put her head back in the game as she neared the final gate. By now she had slowly rotated from upside down to pointing straight down. Throwing her wings out, she strained against the extreme g-forces and wing trying to pull her wings out. Slowly her wings converted her momentum from terminal velocity into an orange missile. Holding fast, she quickly found herself darting forward at blinding speeds, weaving through more gates. 

If the uncontrolled descent was hard, then this was Tartarus. She felt like she would break the sound barrier at any minute. The speed was so great that any stray thought would distract her long enough to miss two to three gates. It took all her focus and willpower to dodge up, up, down, down, left, right, left, left. . . dang that was supposed to be right. Scootaloo quickly got back on course. 

If nothing else, she'd only missed three gates out of the sixty she'd passed. That was a dramatic improvement from yesterday. Angling her wings careful, she pulled up into a tight loop, then approached the final gate. She heard Dash cheering her on. "Quick, do a barrel roll!"

Scootaloo added the flourish as she passed through the final gate.

"Yes! Woohoo!" Dash flew over to her as she reached the finish line. 

Scootaloo collapsed against the fluffy cloud at the end of the slalom course. Her heart was beating so fast she thought she was having a heart attack. Only now did she realize the sweat drenching her fur. Dash considerately pulled a towel out of her saddlebag, and a small raincloud. While Dash wiped her off, Scootaloo greedily squeezed the fresh rainwater out of the small cloud. She had never been so grateful for pegasi magic, she could make this cloud rain until her thirst was quenched.

"Not too much Squirt, you don't want to cramp!" Dash batted the cloud away and smiled. "Come on Squirt, the competition is timed! Go go go!"  Dash turned on the next song. Vinyl had promised her that the song alone would ensure Scootaloo's victory.

Scootaloo groaned, then flipped into the air and took off towards the precision obstacle course. There were twelve rings suspended from small puffs of cloud. Each ring was just big enough to fit a hoof through with half an inch to spare. It was a hold-out from the militaristic days of the Pegasi, when the ability to joust with incredible precision had lead the Pegasi to victory over the Griffon armies. To this day, the Griffons were still sore about that defeat.

Scootaloo sped up the required speed. The small rings were difficult to see, even with the keen eyesight of a pegasus. The starting line was a wall of clouds, and as she burst through it she had a split second to react and spear the first ring. Reaching out with her right hoof, she barely managed to get it onto her foreleg. Darting left she closed her wings and fell ten feet spearing another ring, before using her momentum to launch her back upwards,

She continued to bob and weave, looking for the floating rings. Any ring knocked loose was a five second penalty from the time it took to collect all twelve. It took Scootaloo forty seconds, with a ten second penalty for two missed rings.

In a familiar ritual, she quickly plowed into the rest zone for a quick break before Dash would send her off to the next set of obstacles.

"Strong work Squirt, you keep this up and you'll put Spitfire to shame. You just need to be—" Scootaloo interjected.

"20% faster, yeah yeah. I'd like to see you do the slalom."

"Heh, there's a reason I did a sonic rainboom, Squirt. No pony since Spitfire had gotten a perfect score on the slalom."

"No pressure then, huh?" Scootaloo stood up to shake all the rings loose from her legs. "Well on the bright side, I'll either win or fall like a rock when my wings cramp.

"That's the spirit! Victory or death!" Dash collapsed laughing on the cloud.

"Yeah, you would think today's a good day to die."

"Come on—haha—next obstacle now!" Dash gestured at her as she finished her laughing, and Scootaloo reluctantly took off.

The next part was the calm before the storm, literally. Several clouds were scattered around, and it was her job to quickly group them up, kick the storm clouds to spread the lightning across the whole mass, and then force a torrential downpour out of the clouds. Unfortunately for Scootaloo, weather control didn't come that easily. More often than not, she'd end up zapping herself like the town mail mare. Yesterday she had messed up and turned the thunderhead into a hurricane. Dash still couldn't explain how she pulled that off.

Scootaloo circled around the clouds, edging them towards each other. She had to gently nudge the thunder clouds lest she be shocked. Once they were close enough together, she spun and bucked the storm cloud. The lightning arced, darkening the other clouds. 

This was the moment of truth. If she had packed the clouds properly, she could land in the dead center and start a downpour. If she hadn't. . . 

Scootaloo dove down into the center of the clouds. She heard a loud crack of thunder as she landed, and expected to wake up smelling like singed chicken. Fortunately for her, it had worked for once. She could hear the rain beneath her. 

"Dash! Dash! I did it!" Scootaloo looked around for her teacher but couldn't find her. Peering over the edge of the cloud, she saw wisps of smoke and a rainbow mane sticking out of a cloud below them. "Dash!"

Scootaloo quickly landed to find Dash and a grey filly laughing together.

"Wow, I've never seen a pegasus take a lightning strike and stay in the air like that!" Gale complimented Dash, and then noticed Scootaloo hovering there.

"Gale."

"Scootaloo, nice aim. You nearly took Dash's head off." Gale laughed, and was joined by Dash.

"Don't worry squirt, my cutie mark isn't a lightning bolt for nothing. I'm nearly immune due to the good ol' pegasi magic. Gale here just saw the flash and thought I might be in trouble."

"Oh that's nice of you, thanks." Scootaloo was still a little uneasy around her.

"Oh no problem, I was actually coming to see if me and my dad can come out and borrow your obstacle course later. I've been training for the Best Young Flier's competition."

"Oh." Scootaloo looked at Dash who was sitting up behind Gale. Dash was making a strong arm pose and flexing her muscles, as if to tell her to be strong. "Yeah sure, I've already got this contest in the bag. Nopony is faster than Dash and me."

Dash smiled as Gale made a calculated reply. "Is that so? Well have you done the speed run yet? Five bits says I beat you in a race."

Scootaloo gulped, and even Dash looked taken back. Dash quickly winked at Scootaloo to give her some confidence. This was how rivalries started, it was also a great way to get humiliated at school if she lost. She took a deep breath. "You're on!"

The trio began to fly up to the top of the course. If there was one thing every pegasus loved, it was flying at unsafe velocities. The speed run was usually twelve to twenty-four miles, allowing the fastest pegasi to reach speeds at or near the sound barrier for a minute or two. The Best Young Fliers had a significantly shorter speed run. The replica Dash had built was little more than a starting gate, and a finishing gate down at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack had agreed to let Dash position a large catcher's-mitt shaped cloud over her south field. In case anypony lost control at the finish line, they could look forward to a soft cloud instead of a spine-shattering collision with the ground.

Gale and Scootaloo lined up at the start line. It was only a matter of miles to the farm, and the best speed of the young fillies it might take them a minute or two to race there. The two did some quick stretches.

"Alright I want a good clean race, no physical contact and no deliberately spiking your slipstream to send the other pony into a spinout. First one past the finish line wins." Dash clicked the radio on

"I feel the need. . ." Dash looked at Scootaloo, who joined her in their chant. "The need, for speed!"

"Racers, on your mark!" Dash pulled a flare gun out of her saddlebag.

"Get set!" Fluttershy, Derpy, and Cloud Chaser had taken seats on a nearby cloud to watch.

The trigger on the flare gun clicked, snapping the hammer into the blasting cap. "GO!" A red flare shot out of the gun, visible to anypony in Ponyville who looked towards the south end of town.

Scootaloo kicked hard off the cloud. The race was designed to be at a forty-five degree angle, helping the younger pegasi gain speed. She was thankful for this as her muscles were already burning from Dash's relentless training regimen. 

Ahead of her, Gale looked back and Scootaloo could see her grin. It was no ordinary grin, oh no, this was the you've already lost you chicken! grin. And nopony insinuated that Scootaloo was a chicken.

Scootaloo looked deep within herself, reaching for every last bit of energy. Her muscles almost seemed to stop burning, as the second wind kicked in. She quickly gained on Gale, whose grin vanished when she looked behind her.

Scootaloo was mere feet behind Gale and off to the side. Neither pegasus could see anything beyond their tunnel vision towards the finish line. All that existed was the stretch directly in front of them, and their opponent. Gale used some foul sorcery to gain another boost of speed. Scootaloo tightened up every muscle in her legs and abdomen, forming the most aerodynamic shape possible. Her legs screamed at her as she tried to shape herself into a living bullet.

Gaining slowly on Gale, she was amazed at the wind resistance. Squinting hard allowed her to almost see where they were going. The grey blur was her opponent, the large green blur with the tiny white dot must be the south field. Scootaloo forced her mouth closed as the wind threatened to flap her cheeks right off her face.

Finally alongside Gale again, Scootaloo was almost able to flash her own smile at her. The duo were so engrossed in the race they didn't notice the other pegasi waiting at the finish line, the velocity at which they were traveling, of the fact that the finish line was barely a few hundred yards away and not a few miles.

Scootaloo's body felt numb as she willed every muscle to help her put the pretentious Gale in her place. She couldn't even remember why she wanted to beat Gale, her whole mind fully absorbed in micro-managing each wing beat.

She could swear she was pulling ahead as the air got turbulent. Scootaloo didn't want to look around, it would mess with the aero-dynamics, but it felt like Gale was messing with her slipstream. The air was beginning to feel solid, rough, bouncing her around between wing beats. She wanted to stop for safeties sake, but that part of her mind was quickly silenced. This was her victory, and if Gale wanted to take that from her she'd have to do better than a little turbulence.





Dash, Fluttershy, Derpy, and Cloud Chaser were sitting on a cloud near the finish line. They were all wisely out of the path of the racers.  Down on the ground, Applejack, Big Mac, Applebloom, Sweetie, and even Granny Smith were watching.

The two blips in the sky were indistinguishable at this distance. Only Dash and Cloud Chaser as trained weather ponies were able to discern which one must be Scootaloo. Dash smiled in pride to see them flying neck and neck. Were she not the fastest flier in Equestria, Dash wouldn't have made it to the finish line in time to see her little sister win.

Everypony was cheering as the two neared the finish line.

Everypony but Dash.





Scootaloo had brief thoughts flash through her mind, and she quickly squashed each to maintain her focus. I've never gone this fast! She tightened up her core muscles. can't see, eyes watering. Scootaloo strained her eyelids against the win. I'm so awesome! Scootaloo brought the image of Gale up in her mind's eye, silencing the stray thoughts. It's time to win this!





By now Dash had a look of horror on her face. She turned to Cloud Chaser, who was just now beginning to realize the danger. "Cloud, they shouldn't be going that fast!"

"No ****, I haven't seen a filly fly that fast since, well, you!"

"I'll take Scootaloo, you take Gale."





The turbulence was increasing. Scootaloo could feel Gale close to her, eddies forming between them. She wanted to get a little further away for safety, but doing so would cost her the race. The turbulent got even more violent as a white haze filled her vision. She pushed her hooves together and strained them to stretch out as far and straight forward as possible.

First she noticed her wings seemed to be. . . wrong. The air felt different, between compensating for the turbulence, the wind flow felt so different over her wings. The resistance of the air doubled than tripled. Scootaloo strained to figure out what was going on, when a snippet of a conversation she once overheard came to mind. It was Dash describing what it felt like to break the sound barrier.

A moment of doubt entered her head, as she recalled the hundred plus attempts it took Dash to do it without crashing. She opened her mouth to yell a warning to Gale, useless in the wind.





Dash and Cloud were poised at the finish line, muscles taught and ready to step in if the fillies lost control. To their horror, the turbulent air of the juvenile mach cones exploded, sending the two fillies off in separate directions. They had been far too close together to safely go that fast, not that anypony expected them to be capable of such a feat.

Dash took to the air like a bullet fired from the head of a missile being carried on the back of a meteorite. Scootaloo was tumbling through the air like a rag doll, and Dash knew exactly what that was like. She had felt it hundreds of times perfecting the technique to safely break the sound barrier. There was a reason she was world famous for being able to break it.

The tangled orange missile was closing in on the ground, as Dash scooped her up at the last second. Careful not to arrest her momentum too quickly, she slowly angled them away from the ground and began a wide turn around towards AJ and the others. If a pegasi turned too fast at high speed, they could black out. Dash also had a great deal experience with black outs and red outs from the g-forces. If only Twilight would believe Dash that it wasn't her fault for always crashing into the library, it was gravity!

Were it not for the grace of Celestia and a pegasi's anatomy, Dash wouldn't be here today. But Scootaloo wasn't Dash, she was her sister, and the most precious thing she had. All she could think about as they landed was how horrified she was. The thoughts of pride at the amazing display of speed were choked by the strange new motherly feelings of concern.

"Scootaloo! Scootaloo are you ok?" Dash shook the filly who had blacked out during the descent.

"Easy there!" Applejack ran over quickly and pulled something out of her saddlebag. "Smellin' salt from mah first aid kit."

The small white ampule was waved under Scootaloo's nose, causing a remarkable, and agitated, regaining of consciousness.

"Bah! Stop it!" Scootaloo batted a jello-like hoof around. "Gah whoa I'm all numb and tingly."

Dash sat down with her, keeping her legs propped up. "Easy there squirt, are you alright? What happened? How could you be so reckless!"

"Whoa now Dash, ah reckon ya ought to slow down a little. Ain't no way she seen that comin'." Applejack smiled at Dash as Applebloom trotted up.

"Wow Scoot, that was so awesome!" Applebloom was beaming at her friend. "Ah never thought you'd go from scootin' to turnin' into a meteorite!"

"Heh. . . thanks. Uh, water?" Scootaloo licked the sandpaper like roof of her mouth. Applebloom ran off to get some water.

Dash had calmed down a little, as the adrenaline and sheer motherly terror faded. "Thank Celestia, Scootaloo. I didn't think either of you would get going that fast. If you didn't nearly turn into a Scootapancake, it would have been quite impressive."

Scootaloo just nodded. "Gale!" Scootaloo tried to struggle to her hooves to check on her rival. If something happened to her. . .

"Ah saw her with Cloud Chaser, filly is lucky we had a couple o weather ponies here to spectate. Ah doubt Fluttershy or Derpy could catch a butterfly." Applejack chuckled.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Derpy walked up behind them, with Dinky following.

"Ah shucks, I didn't mean no offense Derpy." Applejack took her hat off.

"Heh, none taken. I know my special talent, and it isn't catching fillies." Derpy smiled as her left eye drifted skyward.

"Uh. . ." Scootaloo swallowed, which helped dry her throat slightly. "What—your talent?"

"Oh, I thought I'd told you." Derpy looked back at her flank. "You ever seen bubbles float in the wind? There is so much more to the air then we see. Air currents, columns of warm air rising, things the birds use to migrate hundreds of miles. I'm able to sense the air currents much better than most pegasi, I could glide from here to Cloudsdale without flapping once."

"Oh really? I think you and I ought to try that out sometime Derpy. If that's true you may have a thing or two to teach me for a change." Dash smiled at her.

"Heh, just because I can't stomp on some storm clouds doesn't mean I can't fly, Dash." Derpy stuck her tongue out.

Applebloom got back with the water and Scootaloo greedily drank it. After a few more minutes everypony seemed to be doing better, so they headed over to check on Gale.

Gale stood there like nothing had happened, and Scootaloo couldn't tell if it was an act.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"So nice flying up there, chicken, didn't think you had it in you." Gale smiled, and somehow Scootaloo could tell she hadn't meant it in a cruel way, but a sort of almost-friendly rivalry.

"Thanks, not so bad for a grey old mare either." Scootaloo cocked half her grin up, giving off a hint of wickedness.

"Heh, we'll see who is laughing at school today. You look like you can barely stand. Until the next race, Scootaloo." Gale turned and flew off towards school. 

Scootaloo could tell Gale was exhausted, though she hid it much better than her. "Dash, I don't suppose I could take a day off school? Does nearly getting turned into a puddle count as sick?"

"That depends Squirt, do you want to tell Gale you were too tired to go to school or should I?" Dash flashed a knowingly evil grin at Scootaloo. She just wanted to make sure Scootaloo didn't miss any more homework and get a lower grade. Instead, she had used the new rivalry to trick Scootaloo into going to school.

Who knows, Scootaloo might even stay awake during class for once, if only to spite Gale.







> 23. What Does That Make Us?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The school bell rang, signaling the start of lunch. The filles quickly filed out of the room to play and enjoy their snacks. 

Cheerilee opened up a letter, sighing before tossing it in the trash. Sweetie was naturally curious, and decided to approach her. "What was that Miss Cheerilee?"

"Oh nothing, just an invitation to a funeral." Cheerilee smiled.

"Oh that's horrible, are you okay?" Sweetie walked around the wastebasket.

"I'm fine, it was just a. . . distant relative."

Something in her tone of voice made Sweetie more curious. She was using that condescending tone adults take when they want to make it clear to a kid something is none of their business. That was unlike Miss Cheerilee. The letter lay half open in the waste basket, so she grabbed it with her telekinesis. 

"Sweetie, put that down. Now." Cheerilee rose from the desk as the filly quickly scanned the letter.

Sweetie's mouth fell open as she began to mutter. "You're. . . Gerda's funeral? She's your mother?" Sweetie back up, shocked at the revelation.

The two ponies heard a gasp from behind them, and turned just in time to see a horrified orange pegasus bolt out of the doorway. "Scootaloo!" Sweetie took off after her friend, but she had already flown off towards the Everfree.

"Sweetie, what's goin' on?" Applebloom walked over as several other confused students looked on.

"Sweetie Belle!" Cheerilee marched out of the classroom. The furled brow and red cheeks broadcast her anger for all the children to see. The students all fell silent as if in a library. Cheerilee never got mad.

"Me? This is your fault! You're Gerda's daughter!" Gasps echoed across the playground, and students began to murmur.

"Sweetie Blossom Belle! You're coming with me right now to talk to your parents!" Cheerilee marched over and herded her towards town.

"No but Scootaloo—" Sweetie was cut off.

"She'll be fine, but I'm very disappointed in you. Snooping through another pony's trash to steal a letter? Really?" 

"Applebloom, find Scootaloo!" Cheerilee and Sweetie vanished over a hill towards the town.

"Great, she could be anywhere from the farm, to the clubhouse, to the Everfree. And she can fly." Applebloom sighed, then sprinted off to find her big sister.





Scootaloo sat alone in a barn in the middle of the Everfree. She was amazed it hadn't been torn down after what happened here. Some blood was still splattered on the walls, crusted and black, from the fight between Dash and Gerda. A couple muddy feathers, once orange, lay half buried in the ground.

A rumbling noise from the bushes outside perked up her ears. Something was approaching the barn. The door slowly creaked open a bit as a timberwolf walked in.

"And here I thought this day couldn't get any worse. Go ahead, try to eat me and I'll fly off and you'll go hungry." Scootaloo flared her wings and stood, facing a window overhead.

The timberwolf twisted her head and made a soft moaning sound, as if considering the validity of the statement. After a tense moment, the timberwolf sat down by the door and made a soft grunt.

"What, you want to be friends now? Or maybe you want to hear about my day?" Scootaloo relaxed her muscles but kept her wings ready. 

The timberwolf shrugged her shoulders and a breath of foul odor wafted from her mouth towards Scootaloo.

"For once, I'm not gonna complain about the whole 'stalker thing' you've got going on for me. It's getting kinda ridiculous after all. So did you ever run into a grey old hag named Gerda out in the Everfree? Cutie mark was a law scale—a bucking law scale, as if she ever cared about justice."

The timberwolf perked up and barked.

"Well I don't suppose you ate her for me, did you? Was about this tall" Scootaloo raised a hoof up high. "Was missing a leg."

The wolf seemed to smile. Scootaloo assumed this meant she ate her, or at least knew her fate.

"Well, that's awful nice of you. In fact, I think you've just earned a name. . . I'll call you Nymeria. So, Nymeria, you remember when I started sleeping in the barn?" Scootaloo gestured up but didn't wait for it to nod in acknowledgement. "I had just run away from Gerda, figuring I'd be safe in a new town. 

"Come to find out, my school teacher is Gerda's daughter. All this time I wondered how she found me, how she kept lingering around town undetected. The whole time one of the ponies I thought was my friend must have been helping her catch me.

"At least you I understand, you're a carnivore. You don't have a say in the matter, you eat meat, or branches or something, or you die. I still don't know why Gerda did what she did, or why Cheerilee would hide the fact she was her daughter. She must have known sooner or later I'd find out, and expose her to the town."

Nymeria whimpered, surprising Scootaloo.

"I suppose that's as close to sympathy as I'm likely to get from you. So what do you think I should do?"

Nymeria picked up a two by four in her mouth and bit it clean in half.

"Well I can't do that, and I don't want to hurt anypony. I guess I should head home and talk to Dash. She always knows what to do."

If the whimpering surprised Scootaloo, the sight of Nymeria sobbing made her wonder if Discord was hanging around outside, toying with her.

"What in Equestria? Are you sad for Dash?"

Nymeria looked up and nodded.

"Ugh, what'd you eat her or something? Where's Fluttershy when you need her?"

The timberwolf nodded again and headed towards the door, pointing with her head.

"Applebloom fell in the well? Quick Lassie, let's go!" Scootaloo chuckled, while a very confused timberwolf tried and failed to understand the reference. "I mean, lead the way. You seem to know where Dash and Fluttershy are, you show me they're safe and I'll find some way to make it up to you. Maybe ask Fluttershy's bears to stop mauling you."

Nymeria lead the way out of the barn as a very skeptical Scootaloo flew ten feet above her, just below the tree line. Just as they were getting further away from the barn, they heard a voice behind them. "Scootaloo? Are you there?"

Applebloom was sprinting down the road followed closely by Big Mac. Nymeria turned and growled at them as they got closer. Applebloom stopped, however Macintosh just sped up towards the timberwolf.

Scootaloo landed in front of the wolf. "Stop! She's with me." Scootaloo turned around. "And you stop to, they're my friends."

Big Mac slowed down but continued to advance. "Nope."

"Brother! We don't have time. We've got to find Applejack, her and Dash were supposed to be seeing who could buck the most apple trees but neither showed up today."

"Eeyup."

"Dash is missing?" A realization dawned on Scootaloo. " What about Fluttershy?"

The apple siblings looked at each other and shrugged.

"This is bad, but I think somehow Nymeria. . . the timberwolf, knows where they are."

"Scootaloo, is that the wolf tried to eat ya like ten times?" Applebloom walked up towards them but stayed behind her brother.

"Yeah, but now that Mac's here it's even safer for us to see what it wants. Plus, you want to find the girls right Mac?"

"Eeyup."

The three ponies followed the wolf down winding trails into the heart of the Everfree. "Run away to Ponyville, she said. I hear nothing strange happens there, she said. You can live a normal life, she said." 

Scootaloo continued to mumble until Applebloom interrupted her. "Uh who said?"

"Oh, one of the orphans. When I was planning my escape, she recommended Ponyville. Short train ride, friendly ponies, normal life." Scootaloo laughed loudly. "She got adopted the next day, looks like she was the lucky one. I'm stuck hiding from super villains, burning down day spas, and now following a predator deep into the heart of the Everfree because it nodded at me."

Big Mac and his little sister just looked at her confused. "Don't ask," Scootaloo added.

They remained on guard as they got deeper into the forest. At this point, Scootaloo was the only one with a snowball's chance in Tartarus of finding her way back out of the forest without help. That was only because she could fly. Where ever Nymeria was leading them, it had to be close.

"Hey Applebloom, this reminds me of one of Featherweight's riddles. How far can you walk into the Everfree?"

Applebloom pondered it for a while as they walked along. "I give up, how far?"

Before Scootaloo could reply, Big Mac answered. "Halfway. After that you're walkin' outta it." He put a smug grin on his face as Scootaloo looked back in amazement.

Nymeria barked softly to get their attention. In front of them was a cave leading underground.

"Alright I appreciate you not eating me, but no way I'm letting you lead me deep into a dark cave."

Nymeria placed a paw against her forehead, and then walked over to a bush. She rummaged around in it for a second before dragging out the corpse of a changeling.

The large muscles on Mac's shoulders visibly tensed at the sight of the changeling. Applejack had told him all about what happened in Canterlot. "Applejack's in there?" He reached back into his large saddlebag and pulled out a torch, and some flint and steel.

"Wow brother, ya sure do think of everything!" Applebloom smiled as he lit the torch.

"Yeah that's oddly convenient. 'Quick we gotta save Scootaloo Mac'y! Let's pack some torches and go buck some wolves' brother!' " Scootaloo pantomimed as she re-enacted the odd thought process that must have led the pair to pack survival supplies before rushing to save her.

"Well, ah reckon if you're too chicken to go in the cave, you can stay out here and I'll save sis." Applebloom smiled widely revealing her teeth. She already knew Scootaloo could not back down from that.

"Ugh, you're as bad as Diamond. You keep calling me chicken and one day I'm going to try knocking you over the head for a change." Scootaloo headed towards the cave. "Come on, let's get this over with."

Big Mac lead the way with the torch in his mouth, with Scootaloo and Applebloom behind him. In the rear Nymeria followed at a respectful distance.

"Hey Applebloom, do you know how fast you have to run to escape a timberwolf?" Scootaloo glanced back at her to watch her reaction. "Faster than an earth filly." Scootaloo stuck her tongue out.

"That ain't funny!" Applebloom glanced back to see Nymeria chuckling. Her green glowing eyes cast odd shadows about the walls.

As they got nearer the central chamber, it began to light up. At this point the torch wasn't even necessary. The walls were covered in a green goop. A black material formed anchor points for the goo, and there was bioluminescent goo on the ceiling.

"Changeling goop?" Scootaloo approached to touch it. There appeared to be a baby changeling inside it. Nymeria barked at her. "Huh?" Scootaloo retracted her hoof, instead grabbing a stick and poking the goo.

"Why do ya got to poke everything with a stick Scootaloo?" Applebloom rolled her eyes

"Well, look at him. I mean, look at him!" Scootaloo poked the baby a couple times with the stick, only then did she notice how sticky the goop was. Had she touched it, she would not have gotten her hoof back.

The fairly odd party continued towards the source of the light. To this day, Scootaloo's classmates do not believe her version of events when she tells them what happened next.





In the middle of the central chamber were several sacs, almost like eggs, with ponies inside them. The rainbow mane made it clear that Dash was in the near egg. Applejack had been looking their way, and began to push against her prison with renewed force. Soon Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie had all wiggled around to face their saviors. 

So had a couple dozen changelings.

"Well look at this, appears we got here just in time." Scootaloo turned to face Applebloom. "What does that make us?"

"Big damn heroes," Applebloom responded.

"Ain't we just." By now a semi-circle of changelings had formed around the three ponies and a wolf at the entrance of the cave. The changelings had begun buzzing and chittering amongst themselves. 

"Sorry to interrupt, changelings, you've got something that belongs to us, and we'd like it back." Scootaloo stepped into the space between the two opposing forces.

A changeling stepped forward, taking on the form of Scootaloo. Behind it, the elements struggled with renewed vigor to break out and help the fillies. "This isssss the Queen'sss will. You cannot hope to thwart Queen Chrysssalissss."

"You see the pony with a torch and the really big muscles? Now I'm not saying you weren't easy to find, but it was kind of out of his way and he didn't want to come. Big Mac's looking to kill some changelings.  So really, it's his will you should be worried about." Scootaloo looked past the changeling to Twilight. "I've got to say, Twilight, your talent for getting into trouble is near miraculous."

"I've heard enough. Changelingssss, attack!"

The wave of changelings began transforming to match their opponents. A dozen big macs, and half a dozen Scootaloo's and Applebloom's surged forward. In the confusion, everypony was soon not sure if they were attacking the right ponies.

Scootaloo took to the air, maneuvering her smaller form with ease around the confines of the cave. Her time training with Dash made her more agile then the changelings that took flight after her. She carefully maneuvered to kick them and knock them down within reach of Big Mac, who was pulling no punches. She wasn't sure if changelings had ribs, or an exoskeleton, but from the cracking sound below she could only hope Chrysalis provided excellent medical coverage.

Applebloom stayed near her brother, or at least she thought it was until he kicked her across the cave. Rising back to her feet, she ran into a crowd of Applebloom's and began fighting them, getting lost in the confusion. She had never been a fighter, nor did she have much talent, but she would not fail her Big Sis.

Big Mac stuck to only attacking the other Big Mac's. One of the real fillies might mistake him for a changeling and attack him, and if he bucked one of the kids. . . Putting his head back in the fight, he continued to smack away the stallions and clear a path towards Twilight. He could really use some magic right about now.

Nymeria wove through the changelings. They smelt wrong to her canine senses. It was easy for her to tell the ponies from the changelings. She viciously attacked them, not even pretending to care for their safety like Big Mac was. While the other ponies struggled to pick out targets, and incapacitate without killing, Nymeria was on a rampage. In only a couple minutes there were only three ponies left. The real Big Mac, Applebloom, and Scootaloo. The rest of the changelings were defeated, fleeing if they were still able.

As Big Mac and Applebloom worked on freeing the elements of harmony, Scootaloo followed Nymeria towards the back wall of the cave. She began digging into the wall, moving some rocks and dirt aside, until a small alcove was revealed. Out of the hole in the wall walked five timberwolf pups.

Fluttershy landed over next to Scootaloo. "Fluttershy, she lead us here to save her pups."

Fluttershy walked over to Nymeria and held a conversation only she could understand. "That's right Scootaloo. The changelings scared off the rest of her pack. She saw them bring us in here, and when she smelt you in the forest she figured you were her last hope."

"Heh, well tell her thanks. I'm just glad she's done trying to eat me." Scootaloo grinned sheepishly.

"Oh Scootaloo, she says her family will stay away from ponies from now on. In fact, she said to tell you that you're part of her pack now." Fluttershy smiled at the mother and her pups rested in the corner of the cave.

"I guess stranger things have happened." Scootaloo turned to see Twilight. "And I hope these 'strange things' stop before they give me an aneurysm."

"Scootaloo, that was very brave of you. I'll be sure to include this in my next friendship report. . . wait, what day is it? Oh no, I'm late! I'm late!" Twilight started hyperventilating at a crisis only she was aware of, until Fluttershy went to calm her down.

"Good work Squirt, I guess I owe you one now. I totally could have handled it, if I hadn't been napping. Those cheaters. . ." Dash scooped up Scootaloo and hugged her. 

"Best. Sister. Ever!" the two pegasi cheered.






> 24. It's been a long day's night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"I'd like to tell you all a story now." Pinkie Pie sat down in front of her bedroom wall. "It is a story all about how Scootaloo's life got flipped, in fact, upside down. So go ahead and take a minute, just sit right there. I'll tell you how she dealt with the whole Cheerilee affair."





Dash and Scootaloo were flying above the Everfree, keeping an eye out as the rest of their friends walked below. They had just been rescued from changelings by Scootaloo, a fact she would not let her fellow crusaders forget about until well into her forties.

"Dash, we need to talk. The whole reason this got started is because Sweetie stole a letter from Cheerilee. She is Gerda's daughter."

Dash gasped in shock, nearly forgetting to flap her wings. "Wow, I never would have guessed. . ."

"I know, she must have ratted me out to Gerda. This is all her fault!"

"Scootaloo, I've known Cheerilee for a while, and Rarity went to school with her. I've never heard anything bad about her. In fact, Rarity says she lived alone with her father."

"What? How can you not believe me?" Scootaloo looked away towards the ground.

"Now hold on," Dash replied. "I believe you, but I think we should go get the whole story. Has she ever done anything to you that makes you think she would rat you out to Gerda?"

Sootaloo frowned and waited a minute to reply. "I guess not."

"Okay, so when we get back you and I'll have a talk with her.  You need to be careful jumping to conclusions. It's funny though, if you hadn't stormed off we'd still be back there captured by changelings."

"Now that Twilight sent the princess a letter, they're sure to find the rest of them." Scootaloo grinned as they neared the edge of the forest. "Looks like we're home."





Cheerilee was marching back to the school to pack up her things and head home. From the direction of the Everfree, the elements of harmony, Big Mac, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were walking straight for her.

"Oh dear," Cheerilee mumbled. "What on Equestria did Scootaloo tell them to get them so worked up?"

Scootaloo and Dash walked towards her. "Hey Cheerilee, how's it going?"

"Hello Dash, what brings all of you out here this late in the evening?"

"We fought off some changelings!" Scootaloo was grinning from ear to ear. "It was so cool; I got to shout out all kinds of action hero lines. Then I remembered who you are. . ."

Cheerilee grinned, not rising to her bait. "I would like to have a word with you two, in private." She led them into the classroom of the school.

Dash cleared her throat and began once they were inside. "Scootaloo got a little worked up, I don't suppose we could put her mind at ease? Half of the ponies in town have known you since you were a filly."

"That is true." Cheerilee turned to address Scootaloo. "Are you sure you want to know about my mother?"

Scootaloo bit her lip, and looked over to Dash. "Yes. I don't want to sound rude, but how do I know you weren't the pony who told her where I was?"

Cheerilee frowned, and began the story she had been rehearsing for the past hour. "Scootaloo, I would never have done that. Gerda used to be a judge, just as I used to be an innocent foal and my father a member of the royal guard. Father would always be going on deployments, training exercises, or guarding foreign embassies. He wasn't around much for us back then.

"Gerda wasn't always so cynical. She was one of the youngest judges to serve in the courthouse in Canterlot. She claims that day after day felons got off easy. Big shot lawyers, new laws from the princesses, even bribery. Try as Gerda might, she seemed obsessed with a level of justice she could never get. She continued to get more and more bitter as years went by.

"By the time I was six, my father finally returned home with the guard. Our home wasn't as he had left it. His wife spent all day at the courthouse, returning only to sleep at night. She had a short temper, and left me to fend for myself. My parents began arguing. My father couldn't understand her obsession with justice.

"I was told by my father that the case that finally broke her was a sexual assault case against a six year old filly. She could see that the accused was guilty, yet it was not her place as judge to condemn a man without a trial. For weeks the defense attorney argued on his client's behalf. He convinced the jury of his innocence.

"When the verdict came back 'not guilty,' she assaulted the defendant with her magic in the middle of the courtroom. She was so furious they had to restrain her and throw her in jail. Once an investigation was launched, Celestia discovered her nephew Blue Blood had tried to hide his trial from her. I don't know what happened between them, but Gerda was given a full pardon.

"By the time she got home, however, my father had already packed our things and brought me here to Ponyville. From that day forth until two weeks ago, I had not seen or spoken to her."

Cheerilee had started to cry, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.

"Wait," Dash interjected. "You saw her two weeks ago? She tried to kidnap Scootaloo a month ago."

Cheerilee sobbed between breaths. "I k-know. She found me, at my h-home here in P-ponyville. She begged me to take her in out of the cold. She told me she had lost everything. But I w-wouldn't."

Dash realized where this was going. Looking to Scootaloo, she could tell it was too late to change the subject. She was going to figure it out sooner or later.

"That n-night. . ." Cheerilee grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. "I t-told her I never wanted to see her again, and the next day she kidnapped four of my students. I was so angry she had the nerve to track me down, I didn't realize you were telling the truth until it was too late Scootaloo."

Scootaloo sat there mortified, her eyes nearly doubling in size. She had feared Cheerilee had told Gerda where to find her. Instead, she had seen Gerda in town the night before Scootaloo had almost been killed, and didn't tell the police.

"How?" Scootaloo stood up in the chair. "How could you! You knew she was wicked and let her walk away to kidnap us."

"Scootal—" Dash was interrupted by Cheerilee.

"It's okay Dash. You're right Scootaloo, I should have told somepony. I should have listened when you told me Sweetie hadn't walked to school with you. I'm sorry. After you hit Diamond—I was already so upset—" Cheerilee wiped her cheek off with a hoof. "It's been bothering me ever since. If Dash hadn't rescued you fillies, I would have had to live with that knowledge the rest of my life."

"And that's supposed to make it better? For all we know she's still out there hopping around on three legs!" Scootaloo shouted.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about that," a voice from the back of the room stated.

Cheerilee looked to the back corner of the room. "Mr. Hooves? This is highly inappropriate! What are you doing, eavesdropping?"

"No, haven't dropped any eaves lately." Mr. Whooves sat forward and entered the light. "I Just figured Scootaloo could use a little peace of mind."

"How are you going to give me that?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, I happen to know Celestia banished Gerda to a distant planet, and had her locked in prison there." Mr. Hooves smiled.

"Celestia can do that?" Scootaloo cocked her head to the side.

"Well. . ." He sat back in his chair. "She had some help. Don't worry. You, your friends, Dinky, and this whole town is safe. Trust me, I'm a Doctor."

"Ahem if you're done showing off Mr. Hooves, I'll kindly thank you to get the hay out of my classroom." Cheerille gestured to the door. "This was a private conversation."

"Forget him." Scootaloo flew towards the door. "Come on Dash, I'm finished here."
Dash smiled at Cheerilee. "Don't worry, I'll calm her down and she'll be back Monday. 'Ah reckon you're honesty has earned ma trust.' " Dash chuckled and flew out of the school.

"There was one more thing," Mr. Whooves replied. "Before her incarceration, she wanted me to pass along a message. Gerda said she's sorry, for everything. Also, that you're the only good thing to come from her life. As a man who has been around a while, I can assure you that you're one of the best ponies I've known."

Cheerilee looked back to the corner Mr. Hooves was sitting in, but he had vanished from the classroom.








> 25. The End of All Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was unusual for so many ponies to be outdoors during such a heavy downpour. The somber atmosphere and the smothering layer of clouds added to the dismal grey landscape before Scootaloo. In front of her was a crowd of ponies, Rarity and the other fashionable ponies dressed in all black. Several of the simpler ponies wore a black bow on a hoof in honor of the fallen.

Scootaloo inched her way up through the crowd, tears streaming down her face. It was all too much to comprehend.

She breached the crowd and stepped forward towards the black mahogany box. It was the first and last time she would view this casket. It lay closed, the body within crushed beyond recognition. Despite this, Scootaloo could not help but approach and place a hoof on it.

The coffin reacted to her touch, slowly swinging open. The foul stench of death seeped from the casket, and she found her legs rooted to the ground. Scootaloo's eyes grew wide with horror. She could not look away, not now.

Before her in the coffin lies the broken body of an orange filly with purple hair. The flattened face turned towards her, bones snapping with sickening crunches. The eyelids opened to reveal two bloodshot, violet eyes. Her gut turned as a hollow laughter emanated from within.

Scootaloo shot forward, wide awake in panic. She found herself sitting in the coffin. Clawing at the sides, she tried desperately to crawl out. The desiccated doppelganger stood with the crowd of mourners, laughing. 

The coffin lid closed.

She screamed and pounded against the wood. The heavy lid slid open an inch, over and over again. Scootaloo could just make out the tombstone overhead. "Scootaloo 1995-2010. Died, Best Young Fliers."

The next time the lid flipped open, the doppelganger stood mere inches from it. With sickening thuds, nails were driven into the coffin. Scootaloo was plunged, screaming into the darkness.

Ethereal hands gripped her, pinning her in the coffin. She redoubled her efforts as the fingers burrowed into her flesh. She bit at the foul ghoul, thrashing wildly and continuing to scream.

She awoke gasping for air, drenched in cold water.

"Scootaloo!" Dash screamed "Dammit, Scootaloo wake up!"

The darkness faded and the icy grip of death vanished, but the horror of the dream remained.

"Scootaloo, thank Celestia. Are you ok?"

Scootaloo was breathing heavily, gasping in breathes between sobs. She had watched her own funeral after dying at the Best Young Fliers contest. "I. . . the competition—I was dead."

"Scootaloo, it was just a nightmare," Dash whispered.

Turning to Dash, the filly clutched onto her side and began crying.

"It's okay Scootaloo, I'm here for you."

The two sat there embracing each other until the sun rose. Dash attributed Scootaloo's nightmare to nerves, remembering her own near breakdown trying to impress everypony at the contest. Scootaloo did not fully understand her own fears.

"Why Dash? Why would I dream such horrible things?" Scootaloo released her grip to look into her guardian's eyes.

"I don't know, but I'd never let anything happen you squirt."

Scootaloo laid her head on Dash's lap. "I—I can't die. I'm not a bad flier, I'm going to win. . ."

"I know you are Scoots, me, the girls, and the crusaders will all be there to cheer you on."

"Then why am I so afraid?"

"You don't have to be," Dash cooed. "I was so scared when I did the sonic rainboom at the competition. I was convinced I would lose to Rarity, and my friends would disown me. That will never happen to you. You're going to do great, and you're going to teach Gale a thing or two about how a real pegasus flies."

"Thank you, Dash. You're—You're even kinder then my own mother was. It's so hard to remember her anymore. . .it's been so long. . ."

"Scootaloo," Dash whispered. "I love you. Get some sleep, ok? I have to take the weather team to stop the storm coming out of the Everfree."

Scootaloo rolled over onto the bed and lay perfectly still. Dash tucked a blanket around her, and drew a cloud in front of the window to darken the room. While Dash left to do her job, Scootaloo waited for her body to calm down and drift back into sleep. 





It was late in the afternoon when the exhausted filly awoke and finally went out for practice. The cloud obstacle course high above Ponyville had fallen into some disrepair. Now that Dash, Scootaloo, and Gale were all frequenting it to practice for the competition, it wore down quickly.

Scootaloo had been able to see some of Gale's routines, and didn't doubt Gale had done her share of spying. The two didn't talk much, unless Diamond Tiara and the crusaders were present. In that event, things quickly turned ugly as the two groups of fillies began name calling.

She had tried to reach out to Gale, to be civil if not friendly. When they were alone, Gale didn't seem so opposed to the idea. As athletes, they had some professional courtesy, and as the only two pegasus fillies with aspirations of being on the Wonderbolts, they felt a slight bond.

They had also been, according to Dash, nearly as fast as her when she was a filly. By now, everypony in town had chosen sides. Where most of the elements of harmony believed steadfastly that Scootaloo would win the competition, the rest of the town seemed to favor Gale. Whether it was for her family's wealth, her cutie mark, or just the fact that they thought Scootaloo was damaged.

This only gave more motivation to the orange filly to practice harder for the event. She had been asking Dash to teach her everything, including begging for tips on breaking the sound barrier. Though Dash thought it was far too dangerous, Scootaloo continued to practice for it.

She had not wanted to admit it to Dash, but Scootaloo thought that was the source of her nightmares. The only way for her to regain the speed she had in the race with Gale was to fly straight down. Using gravity and her wings in tandem, she had come close to breaking the barrier several times. Each time ended up with her losing control, and barely pulling up in time.

Whether or not she could break the sound barrier, she had to try. Scootaloo had to know what it felt like, what it would look like. Each day it became less and less about Gale. She had to prove she was as good as Dash.

"Hey Scootaloo, you going to practice or sit there staring at me all day?" Gale asked.

"Huh?"

"You okay? You're not gonna wimp out and claim you have the bird flu two days before the competition are you?"

"What? No way," Scootaloo quipped. "I'm just thinking."

"You sure you don't mean moping? I've seen thinking, and that looks a lot more like a pity party. It won't be fun to beat you if your head isn't in the game." Gale sat down next to Scootaloo on the cloud.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "I was fairly certain you didn't like me, in fact all you ever seem to do is brown nose to Diamond Tiara."

Gale laughed loudly. "Please, you should see her when she's not saving face at school. 'Oh gale you simply must let me come to your house later for tea!' "

Now Scootaloo chuckled. "I suppose you're not too bad for a rich snob."

"And I've known plenty worse blank flanks. Maybe if you try hard enough you'll get a cutie mark, even after I blow you out of the sky at the contest." Gale smirked.

"Yeah, I wouldn't get your hopes up. I have a secret weapon."

"The sonic crash? I've seen you try and break the sound barrier a couple times. Our race was a fluke, you're going to get yourself killed."

Scootaloo sat silently for a few minutes, neither party comfortable breaking the now awkward silence. Gale had learned quickly, and the slalom course was the only stunt event Scootaloo could still outperform her at.

Gale had age, skill, and experience. Scootaloo had a fierce heart and a desire to prove herself. Whatever happened at the Best Young Fliers contest in two days, for better or worse, would change Scootaloo's life forever.

> 26. The Perfect Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo and Gale continued to practice various stunts until the sun began to set. It was then they noticed the storm moving out of the Everfree. It was much larger than the stray weather patterns that normally emerged from the wild forest.

"Nice tricks, Gale, except now I know all your secrets," Scootaloo mocked.

"I'm not worried; I bet you couldn't pull off half of them. Say, do you know if Dash scheduled a storm or something? Those clouds don't look right."

"I don't think so; we get storms out of the Everfree occasionally. Pegasi can't control the weather over the forest. It has something to do with the wild creatures and dark energy or something. I'm sure Sweetie Belle could explain it to you."

"Well I'm heading home, wouldn't want to be up here in the open when the storm hits. Try not to get killed before I beat you Sunday."

"As if," Scootaloo scoffed.

It didn't take her long to glide down to the cloud house she shared with Dash. Once she got home, Scootaloo realized the house had risen even higher from the ground.

"Scootaloo, there you are!" Dash sighed in relief.

"Dash, what's going on?"

"The storm system moving in is too large, we're going to be doing our best to break it apart tonight. I raised the house to a safe height; I need you to stay here. No matter what, don't leave; it'll be too dangerous to fly."

"Why don't I head down and stay with Fluttershy?"

"It's too late, Squirt, storm is already over Ponyville. Just find a book to read, it'll be morning before you know it." Dash rubbed her mane with a hoof. "Now, I have a town to save."

Scootaloo was left alone and decided to gaze at the storm for a while. From this high up, it was little more than a mass of grey clouds. It didn't look very threatening at all. Sighing, she grabbed a Daring Do book and curled up on her bed.





She awoke at night, drooling onto an open book. Scootaloo didn't recall falling asleep while reading. She rolled over and wiped the drool from her mouth. Her first thought was to relieve herself at the restroom. Her next thought was to check on Dash. 

Checking the house revealed that Dash had not returned from clearing the clouds. Scootaloo went to the window and looked out over a sea of black clouds. There was thunder in the distance, and she couldn't see any pegasi from up here. She did not envy the weather team down there, flying was difficult enough without the risk of being electrocuted or running into an eighty mile per hour wind gust.

Returning to her bed, she began tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. Each roll of thunder woke her up and increased her worry for Dash. She was an expert flier, surely she would be okay. Each time sleep almost reached Scootaloo, another flash of lightning lit the room up. The sun rose and she barely noticed it. Having not slept well the whole night, she got out of bed.

Scootaloo went up to Dash's room to check on her. The door was open so she went in. Dash wasn't in the bed, causing her to panic. She ran down stairs and would have flown out the door to look for her.

She stopped when she saw the tangled mass of rainbow fur on the sofa. Dash was soaking wet, her mane and tail frayed from the storm. Scootaloo calmed down and approached her. She was shivering, and it looked like she was exhausted and sleeping heavily.

Scootaloo took a few deep breaths in relief, before retrieving the blanket from her bed. She carried it downstairs and draped it over Dash. It'd likely take her awhile to warm up, not to mention get enough rest.

Glancing out the nearest window, she could see that the town was surrounded by mud. It had rained heavily, and most of the dots moving around below were likely Pegasi. Ponies didn't like to run around in the mud, if Rarity was any indication.

It was clear there wouldn't be much to do on a Saturday except practice for the competition tomorrow. It would be the day Scootaloo won best young fliers. She had dreamed of earning a cutie mark while winning a competition. She hated to get her hopes up, but with half of Ponyville likely to attend, it was hard not to.

Scootaloo sighed, without her idol to train her and give her advice for tomorrow there was not much left to do. She ate a few Hay Tarts, unfortunately they only had s'mores flavor left. Walking back out she checked on the sleeping pegasus.

Dash was still shivering under the blanket. It must have taken a lot out of her to keep the storm from getting too far out of control. Scootaloo shrugged, she had nothing else to do today.

She lifted up the blanket and crawled underneath. It was warm, but still damp, underneath the blanket. Scootaloo carefully slid under Dash's foreleg and poked her head out the top of the blankets. She could feel Dash's cold, wet fur on her back. It sent a chill down her spine.

She felt Dash pull tightly on her, and wondered if she had woken up. Scootaloo held still and realized she was curling up around her for warmth. She closed her eyes and waited to drift back to sleep, hoping there would still be time for flight practice when they woke up.









> 27. Flight School - The Cliff Notes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Alright Scootaloo, the Best Young Fliers is tomorrow," Dash lectured. "The most important thing is to stick to your routine. You'll either feel nervous, or invincible. Lots of ponies have failed because they tried a stunt they hadn't practiced, such as Rarity trying to touch the sun. Others were too nervous, and failed their routine, kind of like this other pony I know." Dash blushed slightly.

"Anyway, your best bet is to make sure you decide tonight what your routine is and stick to it," she continued. "Now, Pegasi magic is different from the earth ponies and unicorns. Can you tell me how?"

"Uh, we don't have as much?" Scootaloo answered.

"Heh, a rich snob in Canterlot might think like that. The correct answer is, it's both passive and active. Unicorns have to actively focus and cast a spell to use their magic. Earth ponies are stronger, faster, and can encourage the growth of plants. They don't control it, they just are.

"Now, we Pegasi have the best of both worlds. We can directly manipulate the weather. Depending on your skill with clouds, you'll be able to make it rain, thunder, snow, and more. Any Pegasi can manipulate clouds to some degree.

"The cutie mark can have an effect on that magic. For instance, I can emit a rainbow contrail. It's what makes me unique, just like Spitfire's lightning and the Wonderbolt's signature black storm cloud contrail. You won't know what yours is, if any, until you get a cutie mark.

"Last is the passive magic. We're not the most aerodynamic creatures out there, you know. Sure, we have lighter frames and slightly hollow bones. If you've seen a Pegasi like Snowflake or Pound Cake fly, you realize their wings aren't big enough to provide enough lift. Some Pegasi rely entirely on that passive magic to help them fly, others like me have practiced and built our muscles up.

"Anyway that's really not relevant, you've trained and you've maintained a good weight. What is really important is your passive ability to sense wind currents, direction, speed, and even collide at high speeds with solid objects without dying.

"So that's flight school in a nutshell, any questions?"

"Yeah, Dash, could you say it again but less boring?" Scootaloo inquired.

Dash laughed, "Not really. If you want, I can send in an application for you to Jr. Speedsters Flight Camp. They teach all sorts of useful stuff, and teach you some tricks. It's like the Wonderbolt's academy I went to, but for fillies."

"That'd be awesome, but first I need to win the Best Young Fliers!"

"Indeed, that's why you'll have to keep your strengths in mind. I've seen you fly the slalom course, your ability to sense your direction and speed is excellent. You've been learning how to predict the wind currents. I think that's your best bet."

"Yeah, but it's pretty boring. I was really hoping you'd teach me to break the sound barrier."

"One does not simply 'break' the sound barrier, Scoots. It takes months of practice, or a crazy amount of luck."

"And if I decide to try anyway?"

"You'll probably end up flinging yourself clear out of the arena, and getting grounded by your mother."

"Aww, come on," Scootaloo whined.

"Hey, you really want to learn to break the sound barrier, you'll be patient until you're a stronger flier. Just because you and Gale almost got lucky doesn't mean you should try it on purpose."

"Man, that takes all the fun out of it! What happened to your sense of adventure? Your recklessness!?

"You did, Squirt. I don't want you getting hurt."

"Ugh, now I see why AJ gets so angry when I take Applebloom hang-gliding or parachuting."

"To be fair, Applebloom can't fly. You're lucky the crusaders haven't gotten cutie marks in crashing or having bones set from all the stunts you pull."

"At least then I could stop doing the dumb crusades like 'cherry picking' or 'Frisbee throwing.' "

"Don't be in too much of a hurry to grow up, once you get your cutie mark you won't get to explore dozens of fun new things."

"I guess. . ." Scootaloo shifted around in the cloud sofa.

"So you excited?"

"Of course! I'm going to beat Gale and let everypony in town know I'm the best young flier!"

"Great attitude, Squirt. Twilight's already been teaching every unicorn in town the cloud walking spell. Celestia has loaned us some hot air balloons and chariots to get everypony up to Cloudsdale."

"Wait, everypony?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, half the town wants to cheer you two on. Vinyl's dragging Octavia up there, Lyra's going because she is convinced they are hiding humans in Cloudsdale. Of course the elements and crusaders will be there, the Cakes, Mayor, Cheerilee, Richy Rich, even your classmates from school."

Scootaloo gulped. "Heh, no pressure, right?"

Dash rubbed a hoof through her mane. "Exactly, just have fun. Even if you lose, you'll still prove to yourself and me what an excellent flier you are."

Scootaloo smiled, "Thanks, Dash."

"So what do you want to do on your last night before practice?"

"I thought I'd take my scooter around town and relax, maybe talk to everypony."

"Ok, don't push yourself too hard."





Scootaloo sped through Ponyville towards Vinyl's house. It was late enough that even she would have woken up by now. She hopped off her scooter and looked at it longingly. One of the bolts was loose, and the normally polished handle bar had water stains on it. Not too long ago, she had loved this Scooter more than anything. It felt so odd to be outgrowing it. In spite of learning to fly, she still wanted to feel the rush of racing along the ground, to hold onto her childhood.

After knocking at the door, Vinyl answered it. "Perfect luck, hey Vinyl!"

"Hey Scootaloo, I thought you'd be out practicing tonight," she stated.

"I have to rest up for the big contest. I heard you are coming?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't miss it. In fact, if you'd like, I'll DJ while you fly."

"That'd be awesome!"

"Yeah, you're sure to win now. I'll just have to do it from backstage, wouldn't want to get mobbed by the fans. It's really hard to escape the paparazzi when they can fly."

"I guess so." Scootaloo glanced back at the scooter.

"Something on your mind?"

"Huh? Oh. I was just thinking about how much fun I've had on the scooter. Now that I can fly I don't use it much anymore."

"Growing up I see. You know, I used to have this ridiculous leather jacket when I was an orphan. This guitarist gave it to me when he saw me watching his outdoor concert from an adjacent alleyway. I kept that thing with me for years, long after I'd outgrown it. I was my favorite thing as an orphan."

"What happened to it?"

"I still have it in my closet. I can't wear it anymore, but I'll always have it as a reminder of all the cold nights it kept me warm. Growing up doesn't mean you have to forget the good times, you'll just have to find new things that excite you."

"Thanks, I just wish I could do both. Fly and ride a scooter."

"Why can't you do both? Why not do stunts on the scooter and fly at the same time, you'd get some wicked air."

"I'd never thought of that, it just seems like cheating."

"How many flying scooter-riding Pegasi have you met? I think it'd make you unique and look awesome."

"Hey, you're right!" Scootaloo cheered up considerably.

"Of course I'm right, I'm DJ Pon3. Just don't go telling Octy about the leather jacket. Can't have her thinking I'm a softy." Vinyl lifted her sunglasses and winked.

"Sure thing, I've got to go now!" Scootaloo hopped on the scooter and sped off.



Scootaloo knocked on the crusader clubhouse.

"Who is there?" Applebloom called.

"It's me, Scootaloo, why's the door locked?" she asked.

"Scootaloo! Don't come in, it's a surprise!" Sweetie exclaimed.

"What's a surprise?"

"Your surprise, we're still workin' on it," Applebloom said.

"I just wanted to chat for a bit before the competition."

"Oh." There was some muffled whispering inside. A moment later Applebloom cracked the door open and slipped outside. "Hey Scoots, what's up?"

"Hey Applebloom. So you going to give me a hint?"

"Ah reckon you should know that it's for the competition tomorrow! It'll let everypony know you're the best," Applebloom stated.

"It's not fireworks, is it? They're forbidden in Cloudsdale. It gives the Pegasi royal guard flashbacks or something to the Griffon war."

"No, not fireworks, though ah wish ah'd thought of that. Fireworks are awesome!"

"Yeah, when you're on the ground and not being peppered by bits of burning plastic."

"Ah guess ah can see why you wouldn't want to fly near 'em."

"Well, I'm going to go then. You keep working on my surprise, and remember, it has to be cool!" Scootaloo flipped backwards, landing on the scooter and zooming off.

The door cracked back open. "Is she gone?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah that was a close one, but what are we gonna do with all the fireworks now?"

"I don't know, Applebloom. I guess we'll have to make her a different surprise."




Scootaloo was jumping off hills and boulders, doing tricks. She landed near a bush only to be tackled.

"Surprise hug!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Ahhh! Somepony help, Pinkie is trying to eat me!" Scootaloo screamed.

"No silly, I'm trying to greet you. I mean, you might taste good with barbeque sauce but I don't even eat meat, nopony does! I suppose Griffons might eat cupcakes with meat in them, or maybe a meat pie, but they surely don't eat ponies. Only chickens and stuff."

"I'm failing to see how any of this is relevant."

"Oh, I wasn't talking to you. Now I am, though! Good luck at the contest tomorrow! I brought you two cupcakes. . ."

Pinkie pulled out a blue and a red cupcake from her mane. "Listen closely, Scootaloo."

"If you take this red cupcake, you'll wake up in bed tomorrow, as if nothing has happened. You won't remember the orphanage, or our meeting, you'll live a normal, relatively happy life as a scooter-riding orphan in Canterlot.

"If you take the blue cupcake, I'll show you exactly how deep this rabbit hole goes. . . also, there's tons and tons of caffeine in the blue cupcake," Pinkie exclaimed.

"Dash told me what to do if this happened. You're so random Pinkie!" Scootaloo grasped the scooter tight, and flew up into the air like a bat out of Tartarus.

Looking behind her, Scootaloo saw Pinkie gaining on her with her candy cane helicopter. "Hey! You didn't eat a cupcake! Get back here!"

The two raced towards Dash's house. It was a close race, but Scootaloo managed to get inside to safety.

"Dash!"

"Scootaloo?"

"CUPCAKES!!" Pinkie shouted.

"Gah! Dash, she's trying to make me eat cupcakes that'll make me go insane!" Scootaloo cried out.

"Huh, that's ridiculous. Those are just her special sleep aid and caffeine cupcakes. You take the red one for a good night's sleep, or the blue one to get wired for ten to twelve hours," Dash stated.

"Dash! That takes all the fun out of it. I was trying to offer Scootaloo an existential, life altering choice!" Pinkie whined.

"Wait, sleep aid? Hmm… I would like a good night's sleep. You Pinkie Promise if I eat the red one I'm not going to wake up strapped to a wooden table in your basement?"

"Why on earth would you think that?" Pinkie asked.

Dash blushed furiously. "hahaha, yeah, why would she think that. Silly Scootaloo."

Scootaloo looked at the two mares, one confused, the other hiding the embarrassment of a nightmare they had once had. "Oh, my bad. Alright then, got any normal cupcakes?"

"Hmm, I suppose the purple one is normal. It's got caffeine AND sleep aids," Pinkie stated.

"How about, a cupcake with nothing but sugar in it?" Scootaloo questioned.

"Hmm, but without flour, eggs, and some other stuff, then it's just sugar shaped like a cupcake."

"Pinkie, please, it's getting late and me and Scootaloo would like to sleep sometime tonight. Just give the kid a normal cupcake."

"Aww alright, but as soon as you win the best young fliers, you're going to eat one of the cupcakes! Red or blue, live or die, your choice!" Pinkie cackled and set a box of cupcakes on the floor. She then leapt onto her helicopter and flew away.

"Dash?"

"Yes Scootaloo?" she asked.

"Pinkie scares the living daylights out of me sometimes."

"I know, Scoots, I know."



Scootaloo had been lying in bed for about an hour. It was a particularly cold night and her blanket wasn't warm enough. Even after sealing the windows in the house up with clouds, the chill was still nipping at her.

It didn't help that she was nervous, in fact, she was incredibly nervous. She regretted not eating fifty red cupcakes. Scootaloo got up to seek help from the one mare who always had her back.

Scootaloo knocked on Dash's door, and heard her mumble 'come in.'

"Dash?"

"Yeah?" Dash set down her Daring Do novel. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"I can't sleep, it's because it's cold, and totally not because I'm nervous."

"I see, and you've come to the most awesome bed warmer in Equestria for help?"

"Heh, yeah. You don't mind when I sleep with you, do you?"

"Not at all, Squirt. Just don't go telling anypony what a big softie I am. I have an image to maintain."

"Thanks, Dash. I love you."

"I love you too, Squirt."

Dash turned out the light and waited for Scootaloo to curl up next to her. She positioned her mane and tale, then placed her wing over the filly.

"Sweet dreams."








> 28. Rainbow Factory & Best Young Flier
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Over here, Sweetie,” Scootaloo shouted. “This is the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation, it’s where all the rainbows and weather is made.”

“Finally, are you sure we have time before your competition to take a tour?” Sweetie asked.

“Of course, just try not to get lost, you may be the first non-pegasi to get weather cutie marks!”

Applebloom, Sweetie, and Scootaloo huddled and shouted. “Cutie Mark Crusader Rainbow Makers!”

A pegasus in a yellow hardhat walked over to the fillies. “Hello there, I’m foreman Altitude, but you can call me Al.”

“Hi Al,” Scootaloo said warmly. “We’re here for the best young fliers competition and I wanted to show my friends how rainbows are made.”

“Ah, a rainbow’s easy once you get to know it,” he responded.

“Is it made with magic, or the help of a pegasus device?” Sweetie inquired.

“Follow me and I’ll show you. I’ll take you beyond Cloudsdale’s mythology and teach you all my rainbow philosophy,” he stated.

“Ah wonder why he’s talkin so funny,” Applebloom whispered.

“Shhh, don’t ruin it,” Scootaloo scolded.

“With all great things comes a great responsibility, that of Cloudsdale’s is weather stability,” Al explained.

“How,” Sweetie asked, “are you up to the task?” 

“The answer lies in this simple facility, the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation. Follow me inside, we make all the weather here, not just rainbows.”

The fillies followed Al inside. “To our left is the snow room, it’s shut down right now since it’s we haven’t had any snow planned for a couple months.”

Scootaloo glanced inside the massive room. There were some large machines sitting in the dark, and a layer of dust on the floor.

“To the right is the Tesla chamber, where lightning is generated. It’s used for everything from thunderstorms to electroshock therapy.”

Sweetie’s hair stood up from the static electricity as she walked past.

“Then we have our cloud factory, where we make industrial strength clouds for building homes and floating cities.”

They looked inside at conveyor belts moving clouds around, and through machines.

“And last, behind this completely-innocent looking black wall of clouds is the rainbow factory.”

Applebloom led them inside and beheld dozens of vats containing every color of the rainbow. They were being poured slowly into several pools where pegasi mixed the colors to form perfect rainbows.

“Here is where all the spectra is formed into perfect rainbows. Just don’t try to drink any of it, we had a mare try that once. It’s not pleasant.”

“Cool, look at this!” Scootaloo shouted. She was adjusting one of the machines that was creating a rainbow. Applebloom and Sweetie hurried over to it.

“Whoa, ah ain’t never seen nothin’ like that,” Applebloom giggled. “Ah want to get a zap apple cutie mark, can ya set it for that?”

“Maybe, let’s see,” Sweetie responded. “Hmm, if we adjust the voltage up high enough with the mixers at maximum, it’s possible. But we’ll need some apples.”

“No problem, girls!” Pinkie shouted, appearing out of nowhere. “I keep apples stashed around Cloudsdale for apple emergencies!”

The three fillies facehoofed. “Thanks, but can you stop popping out of random places? It’s getting kinda old. Maybe you should surprise us by not popping out of a random place,” Scootaloo deadpanned. 

“Oh, um. . . okie dokie loki!” Pinkie dove into the spectra and vanished.

“Wait, did she just? . . .” Sweetie walked over to the edge of the pool.

A large siren went off as red lights began to whirl. Panicked pegasi ran around searching for the source of the problem, and found the three little fillies.

“What did you girls do?” one asked.

“Quick, get them!”

“Ahh! They’re gonna grind us into rainbows!” Sweetie screamed.

The three fillies bolted out the nearby door and didn’t look back until they reached the hotel that all the spectators from Ponyville were staying at. They arrived just in time to hear a large explosion. Looking back, the weather factory had vanished in a large rainbow cloud. the prismatic mist began to blanket the city, as the girls took refuge indoors.

“Hey, Squirt, what was that?” Dash asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just uh. . . like the day spa but twenty times worse,” Scootaloo admitted.

“Well then, I’m glad you were here with me the whole time.” Dash winked and walked back towards her room, chuckling. “Come on, you’ve got to get ready for the competition.”





A petite pale white pegasus climbed up to the podium of the new and improved Cloudsdale stadium. It was much larger than the last one.

“Good afternoon,” she began. “I am Misty, the host for this years Hunger Game—” an aid stopped her and whispered something. wrong competition? wait, this isn’t the Gryphon Kingdom? Oh dear, sorry. “I am your host for this years Best Young Flier’s competition!”

The crowd cheered for the mare on stage. “This year we are honored to have the Wonderbolts, the royal Princesses, and last year’s winner Rainbow Dash in attendance!”

The crowd went wild again. throwing all manner of streamers and confetti around. Two miles below Cloudsdale, a humble family of rock farmers would have to clean up all the confetti. It was the only time of the year that Pinkie’s family didn’t appreciate a little color in their lives.

“Today we have 24 competitors! Junior fliers from across Equestria, who will divide into teams of two and fight to the—” the assistant poked her in the ribs. “Ahem, who will show us their stunt routine for the honor of spending a day with the Wonderbolts!”

Several smokey contrails erupted from the clouds as the Wonderbolts made a grand entrance. Dash and Scootaloo watched in awe, before saying in unison, “so awesome!”

“Now, without further ado, let the games begin! And may the odds be ever in your favor.”

The assistant slumped his shoulders and shook his head, before dragging her off the stage.

“Alright, Scootaloo, let’s start warming up and going over your routine. Then we’ll check in with Vinyl to make sure she has your music ready.” Dash walked back into the competitor’s area with Scootaloo.





The first few contestant were fairly boring. Scootaloo spent the time stretching and getting ready with Dash. She then checked on Vinyl who would be playing music while she performed.

Next up was a white pegasus. His stunts were going well and Scootaloo heard a commotion and some screaming. She walked over to a window to glance out into the stadium. The pegasus had crashed into a cloud. Kneeling next to him was a distraught stallion screaming ”Talk to me Goose!”

Gale was up next and Scootaloo would be up after her. This was the moment of truth, and Scootaloo nearly fainted when Dash snuck up on her.

“Hey, Squirt, you nervous?” Dash asked.

“Heh. . . no way! What could possibly go wrong?” she replied.

“Your wings could burn off and Celestia could watch and do nothing as you plummit to your death, leaving me to catch you and the wonderbolts with a sonic rainboom,” Dash deadpanned.

“Ha ha, yeah, Sweetie still teases Rarity about that,” Scootaloo chuckled.

“You’ll be fine, after all, we’re family which makes you the best flyer in Equestria too.”

“Thanks, so what do you think Gale is up to?”

They looked out the window and saw a large tornado forming as Gale spun around and around. Once she had fully formed the twister, Gale sliced through the rain clouds above it.

The rain poured into the tornado, forming up into a sphere as it was suspended inside. Gale continued to fly around, controlling the twister, and smoothing out the water. Once it was finished she flew up high above the stadium.

She dove straight down hitting the sphere of water. It splattered in all directions, being thrown by the wind and forming a mist over the entire center of the stadium. The sunlight pouring through it created multiple rainbows for the crowd to enjoy. The mist settled quickly and the rainbows vanished, revealing Gale in the middle of the stadium.

Dash whistled. “Not bad. She still doesn’t stand a chance against you, Scoots.” She rubbed the filly’s mane with a hoof.

“Thanks.” Scootaloo glanced around, and then added, “Can I get a hug?”

“Sure thing.” Dash sat down and pulled her in for a hug. “Now go show Gale what a real stunt pony can do.

Scootaloo thanks Dash and headed over to her Scooter. Sitting next to it was a new helmet that had a tag attached. It read Good luck Scootaloo, from Sweetie and Applebloom. She put on the new helmet, which fit perfectly. It had a cloth lining, complimented her mane nicely, and felt very solid.

She went to the entrance of the stadium to see a team of Ponyville weather fliers re-arranging the clouds to form a skate park. Scootaloo had taken Vinyl’s advice in an off-hoof remark. Lots of pegasi liked to show off how well they could fly, but nopony had showed off how well they could do tricks on a scooter before.

Twilight had enchanted the scooter to work seamlessly on clouds. After the judges had inspected it, she had been permitted to use it in the competition.

This was going to be epic.





”Vinyl Scratch here, are you ponies ready to open a new window and PAR-TAY!?”

Scootaloo stood atop the ramp as the music started. Before her was the first, and greatest, stunt and obstacle course to ever be built three miles above the surface of Equestria. Scootaloo began flapping her wings, and the Ponyville section of the stadium went wild.

With a flourish she leapt off the ramp, gaining a great deal of speed as she sped down it. Now that her muscles were more well-developed, she found her momentum staggering. To the crowd, she was an orange and pink blur barreling towards a large jump.

Scootaloo flew off the jump, twisting sideways as her momentum carried her through two horizontal cloud banks. Her timing was perfect and she landed on the other side, and swerved right. A sharply inclined ramp allowed her to jump and do two backflips before landing. She corrected her trajectory, then leapt off her scooter and tucked her wings in.

She sailed over a twenty foot cloud and landed on the scooter on the other side. She sped up and went through a corkscrew formed of clouds before climbing to the top of the stunt park. 

Scootaloo twisted the scooter sideways and landed on a thin strip of cloud formed to look like railing. She slid down the long rail, carefully keeping her balance with her wings closed. She used her legs and weight to help her jump back and forth between several separate segments of the cloud railing.

Finally she neared the end of the scooter portion of the course. She hit a vertical ramp and flew up into the air, releasing her grip on the scooter and undoing her helmet. Cloud Kicker and Dash were there to catch the scooter and helmet before they landed on anypony.

Meanwhile she tucked her wings in and began to dive straight down for the first cloud rings on the slalom obstacle course.

“Oh!” Pinkie exlaimed. “Here is the best part! The song Vinyl and Octavia made! together!”

Scootaloo took a deep breath as she passed through the first ring. The highlight of her performance was the infamous Pegasi slalom course. It was like flying through a narrow tunnel that twisted and turned like a foal’s twisty straw. If a pegasus could pull it off they would prove their agility, speed, and skill in one fell swoop. The last pony to complete it with no penalties at the competition was Spitfire, several years ago.

The rings began whizzing past Scootaloo as the course carried her up above the stadium. She began the easiest segment, which consisted of drifting forty feet side to side through rings at high speed during an ascent.

Next came the hairpin turns. Each turn required her to flare her wings out to act as an air break, then immediately flap to reverse course before gravity could cause her to start falling. Scootaloo made it through the first two just fine.

By the third hairpin turn, she rolled right and flared her wings. She felt a twinge of pain in her right wing, and ignored it. The adrenaline had her going full speed and she was so close to victory she could taste it.

Scootaloo began climbing straight up, banking in every direction to pass through the rings. She hadn’t hit any yet, she might have a flawless run. As she thought about that, she nearly lost her focus. Scootaloo put her head back in the game.

Her lungs were burning and she wanted so badly to slow down and just catch her breath real quick. Her wing felt a little sore, which meant it’d likely be stiff as a board when she woke up tomorrow.

Scootaloo had finally reached the top of the slalom course and come to the hardest part. She took a deep breath, and aimed down the freefall section of the slalom course.

Twisting upside down, she angled downwards and made a quick adjustment. She tucked her wings in and closed her eyes, letting her body slice through the air like a bullet. Scootaloo could feel the wind speeding up, her body weightless as she fell.

To the ponies in the crowd it looked like she had passed out, and yet she was in full control and experienced a kind of clarity she had never known. Her mind and body were so focused, so in unison, that the sounds of the music and the crowd were drowned out. Each ring she passed through was counted in her mind. She knew exactly when to pull up.

And as she fell, Scootaloo experienced something else. Memories of her parents smiling and playing with her at a birthday party as a foal. Her aunt, looking for her at the orphanage and being turned away. 

The surname of her family.

She nearly lost focus when her last name came back to her. This meant, if she wanted too, she could find her extended relatives.

Her eyes snapped open as her mental clock signaled she was near the final ring in the descent. The instant she passed through came the hardest part, converting all the speed she had built up, and darting forward in a near-ninety degree turn.

Without hesitation she threw her wings out, catching the air violently and throwing her forward. Her muscles all screamed together as they overcame gravity and inertia to send her sailing into the final ring.

Scootaloo held on until she landed at the end of the course. She then folded her wings in as they protested in pain, and sat down. She couldn’t hear it, but the entire crowd was cheering as if Celestia had just exploded the sun and put it back together again.

Dash was by her in an instant, giving her a sports drink. She focused on her breathing and kept moving her legs a bit to keep them from cramping. She would have done the same for her wings but they were already cramping. Dash nudged her gently, and they walked off towards the backstage area.

It was about that time she began to recover from the trance that had turned her body and mind into a well oiled machine.

“—absolutely amazing, Scootaloo! A perfect score, you have to win now!” Dash shouted. “My little sister, my best friend, and now the best young flier! This will be so awesome!”

Scootaloo just smiled until they got to the competitors area and she could slump down on a bench.

“Scoots, you should stay standing and catch your breath,” Dash instructed.

“Huh? But I think I’m getting a cramp. Isn’t Fluttershy around here somewhere?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yeah, I’ll go get her.”

After Dash had left, Scootaloo heard someone coming. She shot up and stood casually as Gale walked in.

“Gotta hand it to you, Scootaloo, that was pretty impressive on the slalom course. After they take away points from that silly scooter stunt show, though, I think I’ll still win,” she mocked.

“Hah! You call making a twister a stunt? Any pegasus can do that. I’d like to see you ride a scooter and ace a stunt course,” Scootaloo shot back.

“Well then, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see who the judges pick. I’ll be sure to tell you all about my day with the Wonderbolts at school,” Gale laughed.

She left the room leaving Scootaloo with her thoughts. I did it. I pulled off something original on the scooter, and I’m probably the only pony since Spitfire with a perfect score on the slalom.

Her next thought was to check her flank for a cutie mark. To her great surprise, she found it blank.

“Aw come on!” Scootaloo cried. “I was totally awesome, I should have like eight cutie marks.

“Oh, I can come back later, Dash, she seems upset,” Fluttershy mumbled.

“Nonsense, she just needs a little patience and a massage before all her muscles seize up,” Dash stated.

“Dash, why didn’t I get a cutie mark? I was so awesome!” Scootaloo whined. Her eyes started to tear up.

Dash rushed over and said the first things coming to her mind to comfort her. “Hey, you were awesome. Your cutie mark must just be even more awesome then your stunts today. You’ll get it eventually, and then you’ll get to spend the rest of your life doing what you love.”

Scootaloo looked up and smiled. “More awesome then that? I wonder what it’s going to be! Maybe a scooter jumping through a burning ring? Or taming a manticore with a whip!”

“Um, Scootaloo, this may hurt.” Fluttershy gently smoothed Scootaloo out onto the bench like a blanket, and then applied pressure on the muscles between her neck, shoulders, and wings.

“Ow, ow, ow!” Scootaloo yelled before regaining composure.

“Oh yes, you’ve gotten quite a knot in there. Don’t worry, though, this happens to Dash all the time. I’ll just help you relax your muscles so they don’t end up cramped or too stiff tomorrow.”

Scootaloo relaxed and the painful massage soon became blissful. Before she knew it, she was asleep and slept through the rest of the competition.





Scootaloo was crusading out in the Everfree when a manticore attacked. She pulled out her trusty whip and a stool. She then began to tame the manticore when she felt a sharp poking in her side.

Another manticore had snuck up and jabbed her! She spun the whip, cracking it on the manticore’s face. Yet another one showed up and started poking her in the side.





“Scoots, wake up!” Dash poked her in the side again. “They’re announcing the winners.”

“Huh?” Scootaloo rolled over, falling off the bench. “Whoa, hey who won?”

“Come on, let’s go to the balcony and listen in”





“In third place, is Goose with his re-enactment of the scene from ‘Top Colt.’ “ Misty waited for him to come up on stage and handed him a trophy.

“The runner up is. . .”

Scootaloo held her breath as the announcer built a ridiculous amount of suspense. She had to exhale and take several additional breaths, and then hold them too.

Twilight and the girls were on the edges of their clouds. Pinkie actually slipped off once or twice. Rarity and Sweetie were prepared to faint ever so daintily. Applejack and Applebloom were hollaring, while Big Mac just said “Eeyup” occasionally.

Vinyl and Octavia were backstage, watching Dash and Scootaloo await the runner up. Lyra and Bon Bon were in the crowd, passing out free samples of their candies. Mayor Mare clapped politely.

Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Miss Cheerilee sat in her classroom and was very bored. She had to be there to give detention to Diamond Tiara for attempting to glue Scootaloo’s wings to her seat a few days ago.

Back in Cloudsdale, Derpy, Ditzy, and Dr. Whooves sat on their own private cloud. None of them cheered louder than Ditzy, who wanted her one-time fellow orphan and new best friend to win. Of course, Dr. Whooves already knew who won, yet he was enjoying the show all the same. Derpy consumed several muffins in silence, she knew better than to talk with her mouth full.

Mr. and Ms. Cake sat on a cloud with their babies. Nearby, Berry Punch was passed out next to dozens of empty bottles.

“. . . Snowflake! For benchpressing the entire stadium!”

Scootaloo slapped a hoof to her head. “Hurry up already!” she shouted. Several other competitors echoed her sentiments.

“And the winner is. . .” 

“Scootaloo!” Misty shouted. The Ponyville section of the stadium cheered twice as loud as everypony else.

Scootaloo was in a daze, hardly noticing as competitors walked by to shake her hoof. Even Gale congratulated her.

Next thing she knew, she was being handed a trophy and meeting Spitfire. She was still so dazed from winning that she hardly noticed Spitfire speaking.

“Hey,” Dash said. She poked Scootaloo. “It’s okay Spitfire, she seems to be zoning out in shock a whole lot today.”

Scootaloo felt something poke her in the side. “omigosh! omigosh! omigo—” another sharp poke. “Oh, hi Spitfire! How’s it going?”

Spitfire laughed. “I know the feeling, welcome back Scootaloo. Dash was just filling me in, I hear she adopted you. I never thought I’d see the day Dash had a kid.”

“Yeah, isn’t she the best?” Scootaloo asked.

“I sure am,” Dash laughed.

“So, we’ll go flying near Ponyville to spend the day with you tomorrow Scootaloo,” Spitfire added.

“That’s grea—”

“Scootaloo!” Sweetie interrupted. Her and Applebloom were charging her.

“Go ahead, Squirt,” Dash whispered.

After Scootaloo ran off and got promptly tackled in a sea of hugs, Spitfire spoke to Dash. “You’re welcome to come tomorrow, Dash. In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t already jumped at every chance to get into the Wonderbolts.”

“Hey, you know I would, but Ponyville would be lost without me. I mean, the elements and the weather team and all my friends. . . otherwise I would have joined and became team captain years ago!” Dash boasted.

“Haha I’m sure you would. Just keep in mind I’ll always be saving that spot on the team for you. You’ve done so much for Equestia and the team when you saved us from Rarity.”

“Thanks, but especially now with Scootaloo I don’t want to be running all over the country doing airshows. I want to stay in Ponyville with her.”

“Wow, I never thought I’d see you go soft.”

“Hey! I could still whip your whole team in a race.”

“You’re on. We’ll see who is soft tomorrow!”

Dash and Spitfire shook hooves. Then Dash headed over to meet Scootaloo and the crusaders.

Scootaloo saw her coming and said goodbye to her friends. “Hey, Dash.”

“Hey, Squirt.”

“Everypony is starting to head back to Ponyville, but it’s a long flight. . . could I catch a lift? I’m pretty worn out.”

“Of course you can.”

“But, we’ll wait until we get out of sight first.”

“That goes without saying, wouldn’t want the worlds’ best young flier to be seen napping on the job!”

The two pegasi approached the edge of the city. Once they were there, Scootaloo climbed up on Dash’s back.

“Heh, I’m getting a little big for piggyback rides. Still, you’re quite comfy,” Scootaloo yawned.

Dash jumped off and started the long flight back to Ponyville. She could feel Scootaloo fall asleep on her back and recalled the many times as a filly she had done the same with her father.










> 29. A Morning With the Wonderbolts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The first thing Scootaloo saw upon waking was a giant golden trophy. On the side was engraved “Best Young Flier: Scootaloo Dash.” She smiled, realizing that she would have the same last name as her idol, and now sister.

A warm blanket was wrapped around her, and the cloud bed was so comfortable. Scootaloo should have been excited to spend a day with the wonderbolts, but all she could think of was taking another nap.

It felt like she had only slept thrity seconds when she heard a familiar voice. “You weren’t kidding, Dash, kid’s out like a light.”

Scootaloo yawned and opened her eyes. It sounded like Spitfire. When her vision came into focus she saw her and Dash in Wonderbolt outfits. She kicked the sheets off and jumped in excitement.

“Spitfire! Dash!” A loud rumbling sound came from Scootaloo’s stomach.

“Just in time for breakfast, Squirt. Soarin is cooking his famous chili omelettes, they’re delicious just make sure you’re not flying behind him today,” Dash said.

“You’re kidding, right?” Scootaloo asked.

“How do you think he makes that black contrail?” Spitfire answered.

Scootaloo tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. Dash then began laughing at the joke.

“I’m just kidding, Scootaloo. So, what do you want to do for your day with the wonderbolts?” Spitfire asked.

“I’ll think about it over breakfast,” Scootaloo said.





After breakfast, Scootaloo had put on her own Wonderbolts suit for her day of flying with the Wonderbolts. Soarin, Spitfire, Dash, and her would practice some stunts. Scootaloo had decided to spend the day learning their signature moves, as well as seeing if she could weasel some tips out of them for breaking the sound barrier.

The four ponies began to fly over Ponyville. Several of the ponies from town were watching as they went about their business.

“Dash, do you think they’ll show us some new moves they haven’t done at a performance yet?” Scootaloo asked.

“Probably, just promise not to run off and start your own team behind her back. You are the best young flier in Equestria now,” Dash said.

Spitfire had stopped ahead. “How about learning some formation flying, Scootaloo?”

“Sure!”

“Alright, you’ll follow Dash to get a feel for staying in formation. All you have to do is follow her. She’ll follow me and Soarin The key to stunt flying is knowing how to do a stunt flying close to another pegasus.”

“That doesn’t sound too hard,” Scootaloo said. She heard Dash chuckling.

“Just try to keep up then, I won’t go easy just because we’re family,” Dash said.

Spitfire and Soarin flew off and did a corkscrew. Dash took off and Scootaloo nearly missed it. She followed Dash closely just behind her right wing. 

When Dash did a wide corkscrew, Scootaloo struggled to match the maneuver while staying near Dash’s right wing. It was a little harder than it looked, but she was confident she could handle it.

Next up the Wonderbolts went through a loop, which Dash and her quickly followed. As they descended and gained speed, she noticed a cone of wind around Dash. If Scootaloo flew in the right spot, she barely had to beat her wings to maintain speed. It made flying so much easier, however if she drifted too far out to the side the air would become choppy and mess up her flying.

As they neared the ground, Scootaloo had gotten a good feel for the slipstream that Dash was creating. She saw Dash look back a couple times, smiling.

They landed once they’d reached the ground.

“Scootaloo that was your first time in a slipstream wasn’t it?” Spitfire asked.

“Yeah, Dash never taught me about that,” Scootaloo said.

“Uh, I forgot.” Dash rubbed her head. “I’m used to flying solo.”

“Heh, you always were a lone wolf. Looks like you’ve got a wingman now, though. You and Scootaloo should practice team flying and do some stunt shows together,” Spitfire suggested.

“Can we?” Scootaloo asked. “That’d be awesome!”

“Yeah let’s give it a shot. Just keep in mind it’d mean even more practice. If you noticed the slipstream, if you get out of position you can be in for a bumpy ride. That’s why you and Gale were able to go so fast, and also why you nearly ended up as pegasus-pancakes.”

“I heard about that,” Sorain said. “Rumor has it the kid nearly broke the sound barrier. Aside from you, most of us have to practice a couple years to go that fast. If she starts doing rainbooms too we’ll never live it down.”

“He likes to be dramatic,” Spitfire explained. “We get a lot of fan letters and requests to do sonic rainbooms. Unfortunately, the only mare who can is Dash.”

“Couldn’t you teach us how to do it, Dash?” Scootaloo asked.

“I tried once before, it seems to be something only I can do. It’s probably because of my cutie mark. Spitfire’s the only one who can generate her own lightning. Maybe if you get the right cutie mark, you can do some sort of Scootaloo-boom,” Dash stated.

“I’m going to have to crusade for years to find a cutie mark at this rate,” Scootaloo said.

Something caught Scootaloo’s eye. It looked like a brown pegasus but the size was wrong. She focused into the distance at the creature flying towards them. Dash must have seen it too, because she took off and flew towards it. Scootaloo followed Dash, and was followed by the Wonderbolts.

When Scootaloo caught up she landed and listened in on the conversation.

“Hey, Gilda. I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Dash said.

“Hey, Dash. I was thinking about it and. . . well. . . sorry for yelling at your friends,” Gilda said.

“Thanks, I expected you would have dropped by sooner.”

“You know me, never was good at admitting I’m wrong.”

“At least you’re back. We’ve had some bad fights at junior speedsters flight camp, but I always wondered whether we could be friends again,” Dash said.

“I’d like that. I missed pulling off stunts for ponies, you’re so much easier to impress,” Gilda mocked.

“Hey, Scootaloo, who is that?” Spitfire asked.

“I think it’s an old friend of Dash’s. She came to town and apparently called all of Dash’s friends lame-o’s,” Scootaloo explained.

“We’ve never had a Gryphon in the Wonderbolts before,” Soarin said.

Gilda flew off and Dash came back.

“Hey, just catching up with an old friend. You ready to do some more flying, Scootaloo?” Dash asked.

“Yeah!” Scootaloo cheered.








> 30. Not With A Bang, But A Whimper
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The day was passing too quickly for Scootaloo. Her day of stunt flying with Dash and the Wonderbolts was nearly over. For once in her life there was no villain, no adversity to rain on her parade. She had spent that day in bliss.

Even the return of Gilda, a gryphon looking to amend her friendship with a childhood friend, could not dampen her spirits. They were to meet her for dinner later and swap stories. Scootaloo wished she could crusade instead. She still wanted her cutie mark more than anything.

Scootaloo was flying along, not paying attention to where she was headed. Fate chose that moment to put a falcon in her flight path. The falcon, diving down to catch a field mouse, hit Scootaloo, gaining momentum for a stunt.

The two creatures collided with a sickening crack. Scootaloo never saw it coming, and tumbled limp towards the earth. After a couple seconds, her inner ear adjusted to the fall. She closed her eyes, feeling the air around her, and flared her wings.

She pulled out of the tumble in time to avoid serious injury. Unfortunately, fate again had different plans. An oak tree at the edge of the clearing chose that moment to swerve in front of Scootaloo.

The world went black as the falcon-sized bruise on her forehead collided with the oak tree.





“Hmm. . . pony?”

Oh Celestia that hurts. I feel like I’m gonna vomit.

“Wakey wakey pony”

Ugh, is that Gilda or something? Who talks like that?

“Hmm, I think we broke the pony”

Hmm, remember Dash’s training. Hind legs? Check. Fore legs? check. Wings? Scootaloo gasped in pain, bringing her a little closer to being fully aware. Negative. Feels like a nasty sprain.

“Look, Sledge, you fixed the pony!”

Ribs? Scootaloo inhaled deeply. Check. Sore but not broken. Neck? She gingerly rolled her neck around, slowly to ensure if she had broken something she would not sever her spinal cord. Thank Celestia, that impact could have broken my neck. Head. . .ugh, throbbing like the dickens, so I’m alive.

“What do you mean I have to feed it and give it a bath? It’s just a filthy pony!”

Wait, just a filthy pony? Scootaloo opened her eyes, they teared up immediately. She waited as they slowly adjusted, filtering out the blurry shapes to replace them with dull browns and greys.

“Well, Boss, I don’t see why I should have to do it!” the voice whined.

“Because I’m pack alpha, Sledge, and if you want to see one of the pack females ever again, you’ll shut up and do as I say,” Boss ordered.

“Hmph. Stupid ponies don’t need to be clean to haul carts.”

That accent, carts. . . Rarity. This all seems so familiar, something Sweetie Belle had told her about Rarity.

Something poked Scootaloo in the rib. She flinched slightly. The dog accidently stepped on her wing in the process, inadvertently digging his gnarled claws into a pressure point on her wing.

“Gah!” Scootaloo screamed, rolling over to shield her wing. She put her legs beneath her, shakily rising to a sitting position. The room was still spinning and her ears began to ring. She had done quite a number on herself.

“Uh. . . sorry pony, boss says I got to clean you up, make sure you don’t go in a coma. No, boss doesn’t like ponies who can’t work.”

The sudden urge to cough filled Scootaloo. She hacked up a bit of phlegm, and wiped it off her lips. She noticed it was tinged with blood.

“Hmm, very lucky pony, or very unlucky pony, Sledge still not sure. Sledge find pony in the upper levels, where the Sun Queen lives, oh yes.”

“I. . . what?” Scootaloo mumbled.

“Concussion, Sledge thinks. Very bad bump on head, seen happen in cave ins. I felt very bad, I did. Brought you to bandage wounds, but boss says only good pony is slave pony, yes. Boss wants me to make you all better to work in mines. Sledge is sad, but at least pony will live now.”

She swallowed back some bile in her throat, resisting the urge to vomit. It made her notice how dry her throat had become. The reality of her situation began to click into place.

High speed impact to head, concussion, injured wings. Unable to escape. Underground, trapped with Diamond Dogs. What did Dash say about high speed crashes?

“If you hit your head hard and feel nauseous and drowsy, don’t go to sleep! You could have a concussion, and if you sleep you’ll go in a coma.”

Scootaloo let out a frustrated moan. I don’t wanna deal with this crap right now. I’m so tired, and that whole sleep idea is sounding really good. . .

Scootaloo closed her eyes and laid her head on her hooves. A sharp claw poked into her side, deliberately aiming for a large, purple bruise.

“Pony isn’t allowed to go to sleep, Sledge thinks pony knows it had concussion. Last time pony refused to work, Boss threw them away. Sad, quite sad, such a friendly pony. Always laughed at my jokes, she did, thought I was nice dog not like the others.”

Scootaloo licked her lips. “Water?”

“Oh, yes, must remember manners. Ponies like manners, and happy ponies pull carts better than sick ponies.”

A dog bowl is slid to the floor in front of her. Ignoring the fact he wants Scootaloo to drink like a dog, how ironic, she dove right in.

The fetid water hits her tongue and Scootaloo instantly regrets it. As the aftertaste begins to fade, she realizes the slightly tainted water is probably the best she’ll get. After all, the diamond dogs drink it and it hasn’t made them blind.

“Very good. Pony can rest now, yes, but not sleep. I’m forced to sit here, Sledge must guard pony ‘til all better, but it’s okay. Boss was going to make me clean latrines, trenches get full and new ones must be made.”

The thought of a trench full of. . . that. . . finally sends Scootaloo over the edge. After creating a small puddle of vomit, she slides away from it towards the wall. She manages a lazy circle, sizing up the perfect spot to lay down.

She makes it half-way to laying down before flopping over in exhaustion. Scootaloo pulls her wings and hooves in and begins to realize how cold the cave is.

“Oh, yes, Sledge remembers now. Ponies not like cold, get shock. Shock bad, shock make ponies sicker. I have blanket here somewhere, but pony promise not to tell Boss. Pack makes fun of Sledge, says Sledge is a pony lover, because Sledge forced to guard and make ponies all feel better.”

“Sledge doesn’t like being made fun of, but Sledge help ponies because they’re usualy nice. Only bit me once, after Boss broke her wing for trying to fly away, he did.”

Scootaloo manages a week smile when she sees a blanket carried over to her by the diamond dog.

“T-thank y-you,” she whispers. “I w-wont t-tell. . .d-dogs.”

“Your welcome, little pony. Sledge likes the nice ponies. Sledge has to watch you now, poke your sore spots to wake you up if you fall asleep. I don’t like when Boss makes the ponies stop moving. I have to protect the nice ponies, make Boss proud.”

Sledge slumps down against the wall across from Scootaloo and stares at her. She found it unnerving and averted her gaze to the side slightly. Picking a crystal formation on the wall to stare at, she made herself comfortable under the scratchy blanket.

As soon as her doctor and captor says it’s okay, she plans to sleep for a week straight. Fate, and Boss, had other plans in mind.













> 31. There Are Four Gems!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dash landed next to a mound of dirt with Gilda, Soarin’, and Spitfire. Scootaloo had crashed out here and vanished. It looked like the Diamond Dogs had stolen the filly. 

“It’s time to launch a rescue mission,” Dash said. She pulled down her goggles. “I’m going to get the elements, I’ll be back in ten seconds flat.”





Scootaloo had awoken with a splitting headache. She had quickly had a collar and harness slapped on, and been told in no uncertain terms to pull carts of diamonds around. Unfortunately, the dogs seemed unable to comprehend this was a small filly and the cart weighed several hundred pounds.

“Look, it’s not gonna happen! I’m not strong enough!” Scootaloo said.

“Pony will pull the cart, or it gets punished!” the dog said. He was missing his left eye and had been aptly named Scar.

“Oh yeah? Well buck you. Any second Dash is gonna be here and kick your flank!” she replied.

“Nuh-uh!”

“Uh-huh!”

“Nuh-uh!”

“Uh-huh!”

“Shut up you two!” Boss yelled. “I swear, if you want something done right you’ve got to do it yourself.”

Boss came over and unhooked the cart. He grabbed Scootaloo by the wings and carried her out into another chamber.

“Ow! Hey stop, that hurts!” Scootaloo said. She tried not to flail too much as he tightened his grip on her wings.

“Talking chicken is annoying, you’ll be taken to the breaking room where we make annoying chickens behave.”

“Hey, nopony calls me chicken!”

Boss laughed. “I’m not a pony.” He tossed Scootaloo into a small room and slammed the door. Against the wall sat a diamond dog.

“Good morning, pony. I’m Spot. As you’re no doubt aware I’m here to break you, and make you obedient, like a good mutt.”

He stood up and began to circle around her. Scootaloo stood her ground, glaring at him. “The only thing you’re going to get is a flank kicking!”

“Tell me, little pony, how many gems are there on the wall?” Spot asked.

Scootaloo tilted her head to the side in confusion. “Uh, that’s easy, there’s four gems on the wall.”

“Wrong, there are three” Spot said. In a flash, his hoof hit her already sore ribs and sent her sprawling to the floor.

“Ow, what the hay?” Scootaloo said. She stood up and leapt at the diamond dog, trying to kick him in the throat. He grabbed her by the neck with one hand, and threw her against the wall with the gems.

“How many gems are on the wall, pony?”

Scootaloo gasped as she recovered. There was a sharp twinging pain spreading through her lungs, making it hard to breathe. “F-four gems.” 

“There are three gems.” She saw his paw swipe at her and curled up, taking the blow on her legs this time. It still sent daggers of pain through her chest.

She lay there in silence for a minute, finally looking up to see him waiting patiently.

“How many gems are there?” he said.

Scootaloo looked at the door behind him. It was a heavy wooden door, likely locked. Also, this diamond dog was easily five times her size and much stronger. Given her injured state, he was no doubt quicker. If what the other prisoners had said, they would not hesitate to kill her.

She thought back to her sister, and asked herself “what would Dash do?” The answer was simple. Dash would never quit, never surrender. She would resist and hang on, knowing her friends would come for her. Scootaloo decided to do the same.

“There are—” Scootaloo cringed,” four lights.”

She opened her eyes after a moment to see Spot shaking his head disapprovingly. He lifted a paw, and Scootaloo cowered back into the corner. “There are three lights.”






Half the town of Ponyville seemed to be out searching for Scootaloo, or at least a way into the Diamond Dog caves. Even if they found an entrance, they’d have to find their way through the maze of caves to find her.

It had come to Dash’s attention that Scootaloo wasn’t the only missing filly. Recently several children, as well as a few adults like Berry Punch, had vanished. At first, they suspected the children had gotten lost playing near Sweet Apple Acres. Now that it had been a few hours, they suspected the Diamond Dogs had the audacity to raid Ponyville.

A letter had been sent to Celestia, but Dash already knew what had to be done. The Diamond Dogs had taken something precious from her, and she was going to beat the snot out of them until she found her sister.

> 32. Blank Flank Redemption
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo wasn’t sure it had been worth it to argue so much with the diamond dog. Did it really matter how many gems there were? Now, she had spent the night sleeping alone and nursing her injuries. Scootaloo knew Dash was on the way, and she just had to hold out a little longer.

She extended her right foreleg and looked at the purple bruise that had formed. It made her look like she had been run over by a carriage, the deep purple discoloring her orange fur. The door to the cell swung open, and she walked out, following the dog.

Scootaloo was led to a mine cart full of gems and hitched to it. She began to haul the heavy load around with dozens of other ponies. Some were also fillies, a few were mares and one or two looked like the ghostly skeletons of stallions. The only food they bothered to bring down was grain. A bland, but nutritious, commodity they could bring down by the bagful. 

Today was passing just like yesterday, only she had not argued with her captors. They had already promised she would be seeing Spot again soon. He thought he could beat her into obedience. He was wrong.

“Scootaloo?” a voice said.

“Huh?” She turned to face the pony speaking. It was Berry Punch, the pony who ran a local vineyard outside Ponyville.

“Oh, then it is true. I heard they had captured you, are you okay?” She stopped pulling her cart to continue talking.

With a smile, Scootaloo puffed out her chest and grimaced at the pain. “Yeah, it’s worse than it looks. How long have you all been down here?”

“Anywhere from a week to a month. . . I don’t know how they’re keeping this operation hidden, but I doubt anypony will find us.”

“Hey, you two! Back to work!” A whip cracked in the air, causing several ponies to flinch.

“Scootaloo,” Berry said, “just do what they say. Stay safe.”

“Dash will rescue me, she always does, and I’m not gonna listen to these filthy mutts!”

The crack of the whip was followed shortly by the feeling of a deep sting cutting into Scootaloo’s flank.

“Gah!”

“Pony,” Boss said. “Are you that eager to visit Spot again? He’s made such good mules out of the rest of you.” He glanced at the nearest ponies. “Isn’t that right?”

While the others looked away, Scootaloo looked up at him with fire in her eyes. “If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that bad ponies get what’s coming to them! I’m not only gonna resist you, but soon enough, you’ll be begging me to forgive you!”

The whip cracked again and Scootaloo turned her head just in time so that it landed on her neck instead. “Pony wants to start a rebellion? It was so fun last time.” He took the whip in both hands and used it to encircle her neck, forcing her to look up into his eyes. “One pony nearly made it to the surface. I skewered her with a spear.” He licked his lips. “Have you ever tasted pony? I hope you do try to escape.”

“Pfft, I’m not falling for your bluffs. You need us because you’re too lazy to mine for yourselves. I doubt you could pull a cart half as heavy.”

Boss tilted his head in confusion, for nopony ever had such a death wish. Usually they just did what he said, and occasionally he’d have to intimidate them. “What makes you special? You’re just a pony.”

Scootaloo blinked, wincing at the stinging cuts on her. “I’m Scootaloo, and I’m nopony’s slave. I’m done hauling your carts, do your worst. Let everypony here see what a coward you are, whipping a little filly because you can’t win a fair fight.”

Boss raised the whip, but this time Scootaloo met his stare and didn’t flinch as it came down across her spine. She grit her teeth and didn’t yelp at all. “Pony you are near the end of my patience. You think I’m scared of a baby pony? I could kill you with one paw behind my back.”

“If that’s all you’ve got? I doubt it. I’ve met mares twice as cruel as you, though at least they took a bath once in a while.”

Several of the ponies nearby began to chuckle. When Boss looked at them, they quickly glanced away and resumed whatever task had been given to them. “Sledge!”

A nearby dog ran out of a small alcove. “Yes, Boss?”

“Take this one to Spot, before I change my mind.”

Scootaloo swelled with pride, and then said something exceedingly stupid. “Yeah, who is the bitch now?”

The entire cavern fell silent just in time to hear Boss’ paw collide with Scootaloo’s jaw. She rolled across the ground and was too dazed to stand back up.

“Wait!” Sledge shouted. Scootaloo saw him spin into focus as her eyes adjusted. He was all that was standing between her and the furious pack alpha. Sledge lowered his voice. “Boss, if you kill pony in front of the others, they’ll think she’s a hero! No, send her to Spot, let them see her broken! Then, they’ll all now Boss is the brightest leader.”

Boss was grinding his teeth as he stared at Scootaloo. From his current vantage point, the filly looked pathetic, unable to even stand. She held her breath as he opened his mouth. “Fine.”

Scootaloo exhaled, and was soon helped to her feet by Sledge. He quickly led her out of the cavern and down a nearby tunnel. She stayed close to him, and occasionally he had to catch her to prevent her from falling over.

“Your welcome, Pony,” Sledge said.

“Huh?” Scootaloo mumbled.

Sledge sat her down on a mat. Somehow she had wound up in his small lab, where he took care of the Diamond Dog’s medical needs. “He almost killed you. Not a good idea, to resist. Sledge thinks you do have a death wish.”

“I’d rather die free than live as a slave to anypony.”

“Noble, very noble, but foolish. Sledge told you, he does not like to bury ponies. The other ponies, Sledge thinks they like you very much. If it’s true and your friends are coming, then don’t provoke Boss, okay? I wouldn’t want you dead, friends would blame me too. Could bring the wrath of the Sun Queen down on us all.”

“Sun Queen?” Scootaloo tilted her head and stared at her hoof as if it held the answer. Finally she realized he meant Celestia.

“Yes, told Boss this was bad idea. Kidnap lots of ponies, Sun Queen will come. Wyvern once told me she vaporized two dozen for eating a pony. Sun Queen is a wrathful ruler.”

Scootaloo couldn’t help but laugh at the image. “I’m sorry, it’s just I’ve met the Sun Queen. We call her Celestia, and she’s a fair and noble ruler. Then again, I’ve never seen how she reacts to ponynapping. . .”

“Hold still, this will sting,” Sledge said. He rubbed something into the cuts she had gotten from the Boss’ whip. “This will prevent the fire from spreading from the wounds. Tell nopony Sledge is so nice, Sledge is not supposed to waste our medicine on ponies.”

Scootaloo smiled as the balm cooled her cuts. Just when she was about to ask why it didn’t hurt, the balm began to burn in the wounds. It stung worse than when she’d had nothing to eat but a lemon, and it’d squirted in her eyes. The stinging got to an unbearable level, before numbing the pain completely.

“And this, go to Spot now you will. This will help with the pain. Sledge does not think you will fall for his tricks,” he said.

Scootaloo took a small cup from him that contained some kind of medicine. “Why are you helping me again? You could just treat us like the other dogs, and nopony would be the wiser.”

Sledge sighed, and looked over to his kit of medical supplies. “Sledge was once a pack alpha, very cruel. Whole pack killed fighting for territory with other dogs, and I was left to die. A zebra found me, healed me, even taught me. She made Sledge promise to teach other Diamond Dogs about medicine, swear to never fight again. Sledge thought he’d even stop all the other dogs from fighting. But I ran into Boss, and he kept all the medicine for himself. Now, I’m as much a prisoner here as you.”

Scootaloo looked down at the medicine, and decided to trust him. It tasted bitter, and made her stomach feel odd.

“So, you're sure there are four gems?” He began to laugh and shake his head. “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you in a couple hours to carry you back to your cell.”

“Thanks, I think. . .” Scootaloo stood up and found that all her sore spots no longer ached. “Whoa, you’re good at this. My foreleg isn’t so bad anymore.”

Sledge opened the door and led Scootaloo down the hallway towards a familiar passageway. As she neared the door to Spot’s torture chamber, she began to feel dizzy. “Just a little further pony, not yet.”

“Huh?” Scootaloo put a hoof against the wall to brace herself.

Sledge propped her up and opened the door. “In, in you go. Sorry, Scootaloo, but this is for the best.” He nudged her in and she stumbled dizzily into the chamber. “Spot, Boss said to give this one another session, yes he did.”

“You remember. . . my name?” she asked. The dogs didn’t seem to hear.

“Ah, Sledge. I see you’re still the bumbling fool who thought a little medicine would make him King of the Diamond Dogs. Now look at you, King of the Ponies.” Spot laughed as he rifled through a container with some of his toys in it.

Scootaloo felt like she was going to vomit. Her stomach was churning and she reached out, trying to grab Sledge. She managed to snag his paw.

“Sledge, did you break the pony?” Spot asked.

“No, pony got in a fight with Boss, see?” He pointed at her wounds. Scootaloo followed his finger until she saw her flank, now stained from the blood dripping from the cut. Scootaloo promptly lost her balance and fell on her side. She was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. She closed them and wondered if this was what he had put in her medicine.

“Damn,” Spot said. “He must have beat her good, I can’t work with her like this.”

“Oh, well Sledge can take her back to cell. Maybe you have better luck tomorrow?” he offered.

“Whatever, I’m tired of kicking her around anyway.”

Scootaloo felt a couple arms scoop her up before falling asleep.

> 33. The Green Mile
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo woke up feeling drowsy, and looked around. She saw a couple other ponies in the small room with her, sleeping on small mats. It didn’t take long before a dog walked in and herded them towards the gem mine. With a yawn, Scootaloo filed out after them.

I wonder what was up with Sledge? I remember him giving me medicine, and I was supposed to get tortured again, but instead I woke up here. Why? Did he drug me to protect me?

Scootaloo felt the leather belt from the harness digging into her wings as she was fastened to the cart. She looked around, noticing every pony there staring at her to see what she would do. Scootaloo felt like resisting, but between the sore muscles and straps that had been put on too tight, she didn’t have the energy.

She trotted forward slowly, feeling like her cuts from the whip were going to tear back open under the strain. A few sighs echoed off the walls as other ponies got back to work. Scootaloo looked up, and saw Boss in the corner with Spot, pointing and laughing at her. He slapped Spot on the back and he joined in on the laughter.

Scootaloo wasn’t stupid, but his mockery was too much. She’d spent long enough being abused and neglected; she stopped and sat down in her harness. Boss stopped laughing, and picked up his whip. Before he could walk over, Scootaloo heard several other dogs shouting out. Looking around, all the ponies had sat down in the cave, and all eyes were on her again.

Boss had made it over to her by now. “What are you doing, Pony? Do you want more punishment?” He cracked the whip in the air.

“It’s time somepony stood up to you, for all the ponies here too weak to fight.” Scootaloo stood up and drew a line in the dirt floor. “It’s time we draw the line, mutt, this far, no further!”

A chorus of cheers erupted from the other ponies, who were emboldened to see a small orange filly that refused to back down. “Stop it!” Boss shouted. “I’ll whip you all if you don’t.”

“Then who will pull your carts? Wh—”

Boss grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up, causing the cart to tilt backwards. “I’ve had about enough of you.” He unfastened the harness while holding her in the air.

Scootaloo struggled, managing to bite him on the arm as soon as the straps were undone. She sprinted over to the nearest pony, fluttering her wings a few times to see if they were still injured. “Don’t waste your time, save yourself and come back!” the pony shouted.


She looked at the brown earth pony who was waving her away, towards a nearby tunnel. Scootaloo turned and ran, hearing the whip crack and hit the ground where she had just been. Several dogs were converging on her position now. She had the training from the obstacle course to aid her, and she began to weave through the dogs.

As she ran down the first tunnel she came to, she realized that every cave and tunnel looked identical. There was no way to gauge her sense of direction, or even know which way led to escape. Scootaloo rounded a corner and saw a large black object on a collision course. She flinched, and felt the full force of a leg catch her under the chin.

She sprawled across the floor when she landed, and looked up at who had hit her. The room was spinning, and Spot stepped over her.

“Still think there are four gems, pony?” he asked.

Scootaloo looked up at the wall, and to her horror could only see three gems. She collapsed and closed her eyes.

Half aware of her surroundings after the blow, she felt herself being carried. They were tying something around her, likely the harness, and it pinned her wings to her side. Scootaloo groaned and decided it was time to pull the stupid cart.

Then she felt her forelegs pulled behind her back and tied together. She opened her eyes to see what was going on. Scootaloo was on the platform with Boss’ fancy throne made of gems and wood. Boss, Spot, and even Sledge were there along with a dozen other dogs, and all the ponies. They were still attached to their carts, but had been allowed to stay and watch.

“Fine.” Scootaloo spat at Boss. “I’ll pull your stupid cart!”

Boss laughed, and Scootaloo had to wait a minute for him to stop. “No, Boss is tired of Pony. Boss will find a new Pony.”

“What?” Scootaloo gasped when Spot picked her up and set her on top of a crate, then put a rope around her neck. He pulled it taut, and she looked up seeing it draped over a support beam that was holding the roof up.

“Well?” Boss asked. “Are you going to beg, Pony? Maybe I will chain you up in the latrine and let you keep it clean if you grovel.”

Scootaloo was balancing on her hind legs, with a rope tight around her neck, and her forelegs and wings tied up. Aside from Spot chuckling in enjoyment, the room was silently watching to see her reaction.

Taking a deep breathe, she felt peace wash over her. It was the sort of serenity that can only be found when a pony has truly found their calling. This was hers. Scootaloo was the pony that couldn’t be broken, the one who inspired others by always rising again. No matter how many times she had been knocked down, abused, and discarded, she always got back up.

“What’s so funny, Pony?” Boss asked.

Scootaloo felt the wide grin on her face, and turned to face him. “There may come a day when a pony more cruel than you breaks me, but that day is not today. No, you can torture a pony, or kill a pony, but you can never take a pony’s freedom.”

“I am Scootaloo! Do your worst!” she shouted out to the Diamond Dogs.

The ponies started cheering, and several began to fight their way out of their harnesses. The dogs scattered to stop the other ponies from getting loose, and Scootaloo felt the crate kicked out from underneath her.

There was a painful tug at her neck as she felt the rope dig into her neck, choking her. She heard a crashing sound from the other side of the cave, and saw two diamond dogs fly out of a side tunnel with a loud crash.

Rainbow Dash walked in and took off her flight goggles, and spit out her gum. “Who’s in charge here?”

Several cowardly dogs pointed at Boss, who had already crossed halfway across the room with his whip in hand. Dash launched herself at him, easily dodging his whip. She bucked him in the chest, and he managed to turn and avoid most of the blow. He fell to a knee, and aimed another whip at Dash.

A few of her primaries were hit by the whip and were cut in half, but it wasn’t enough to stop her from the next pass. She landed on him, knocking him to the ground, before launching at another dog who had picked up a club and run to the Boss’ aid.

Scootaloo was flailing around, trying to get Dash’s attention. She was so busy beating the snot out of the dogs that she hadn’t seen her suffocating in the noose. Her vision was starting to fade out, and her lungs were burning. The burning spread, until it encompassed her flanks, and she thought she would pass out.

The rope snapped, and Scootaloo fell to her side on the floor, gasping for breath. A large feathered form stepped in front of her, shielding her from the nearby Spot. He had a spear in his hand, and murder in his eyes.

“What a lame-o,” Gilda said. She grabbed the spear when he thrust at her, and bit into his shoulder with her beak. The dog raked a claw along her side, which only enraged her more. She dug her talons into his upper arms, piercing deep into his muscle. She threw him back to the ground, and turned around to check on Scootaloo. “You okay, kid?”

Scootaloo mouthed a reply but her throat was still sore. She nodded, as Gilda cut the ropes off her. By the time Scootaloo had gotten up, she saw the rest of the Elements of Harmony in the cave. They were scaring off the diamond dogs, and knocking some sense into the ones who wouldn’t lay down their improvised weapons.

It was during the cacophony of noise from the fight that Scootaloo saw Boss slink down a side tunnel. “Gilda! That’s their boss, we need to get him!” she croaked.

Gilda looked where she was pointing. “Sure thing.” She flew over towards him and Scootaloo ran over on hoof.

Boss had slinked into a nearby room to hide, which is where they found him. “Please, Pony, I’m sorry.”

Scootaloo walked over to him and shook her head. “How many ponies have you killed?”

“Killed?” Boss laughed. “No, big misunderstanding I’ve never killed a pony!” He continued to chuckle as he crawled back away from them.

“Do you even remember their names? Do you even remember my name?”

“Don’t be silly, your name is Pony!” Boss answered.

Gilda puffed out her feathers and stepped forward. “So, you like to prey on ponies?”

Boss growled at the Griffin. “What if I do? Every Diamond Dog knows you ponies won’t hurt anyone.”

“Well, I’m not a pony.” Gilda leaned forward towards him. “And you tried to kill one of my friends.”

Boss gulped and looked back at Scootaloo. “Please, you won’t let her kill me? Ponies don’t kill! I’ll never kill anymore ponies, I promise!”

Scootaloo shook her head. “You’re right, I could never kill you, no matter how evil you are.” She turned and started to walk out of the room. “But, I don’t have to save you either.”

She walked out of the hallway and towards the central chamber as Boss began to scream.

Sledge was backed into a corner, begging with an enraged Dash for mercy. “No, please! I was nice to Scootaloo, Sledge swears it!”

Dash looked ready to knock him out, when Scootaloo jumped in front of him. “Stop! He’s right!”

Scootaloo could see the tears in Dash’s eyes. She tackled her in a hug. “Oh thank Celestia! Don’t you ever scare me like that again! It took us days to get through this maze of tunnels.”

“Hey, I’d never die on you, Dash.” Scootaloo nuzzled Dash and she seemed to recover from her near-breakdown.

“I—alright. Let’s go find a way out of here and leave these rats with their precious gems,” Dash said.

“Sledge can show you the way out,” he offered.

“I don’t trust mutts, when Celestia finds out how many ponies you kidnapped there won’t be a hole deep enough to hide in,” Dash retorted.

“Dash, it’s okay. He protected me, and helped keep the ponies healthy. We can trust him,” Scootaloo said.

“Fine, but I’ve got my eye on you. If you’re a spy, I’ll know about it, buster!”

Sledge and Scootaloo walked back towards the main cavern as Dash followed from behind, keeping an eye on the dog. She glanced over at Scootaloo and saw something on her flank.

“Hey, Scoots, when’d you get that?” Dash asked.

“Huh, what?” Scootaloo looked back at her flank, recalling how it had burned as she had been choking in the noose. She smiled from ear to ear and began jumping around. “My cutie mark! YES!”























































> 34. Haters Gonna Hate
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scootaloo threw on her crusader cape as soon as she got home. The elements had just returned her and the missing ponies to their homes. She knew that school would be out soon, and she planned to give the crusaders a surprise. They must be worried about her, and they didn’t know about her cutie mark.

It didn’t take long to fly over to the school, and the timing was perfect. Scootaloo landed and trotted up to her friends.

“Scootaloo, you’re okay!” Apple Bloom shouted. Her and Sweetie tackled her in a hug

“Thanks, but relax. I’m fine,” Scootaloo said.

Sweetie got up and helped her friends to their hooves. “So, what happened?”

“Oh, the usual. I got fillynapped, tortured, and nearly killed. Then right when I was about to escape and beat everypony up, Dash showed up.” Scootaloo threw a few punches into the air to show them what she meant.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Sure. Ya always manage to escape and wrestle a wyvern or two when you tell a story.”

“It’s true! I led a prison uprising. Sure, for a moment there they tried to hang me—”

“What?!” Sweetie grabbed her friend and examined her neck. “Did they break anything? Have you noticed any swelling?”

Scootaloo pushed her off. “Hey, seriously, I’m fine. I even got my cutie mark for kicking flank.”

“Come on now,” Apple Bloom replied. “How gullible do ya think we are?”

“You tell me.” Scootaloo took off her cutie mark crusader cape and presented her flank.

“It’s a bird!” Sweetie shouted.

“It’s a plane!” Applebloom yelled.

“No, it’s a loser!” Diamond Tiara quipped. “That’s a ridiculous story. Nopony would believe that you got a cutie mark for choking to death.”

Silver Spoon laughed, and even Snips and Snails looked on skeptically.

“Oh yeah? Well, it’s a phoenix! And it’s way cooler than your special talent: wearing jewelry and being a stuck up bi—”

“Children!” Cheerilee shouted out. “What’s all the shouting for?”

“Scootaloo got her cutie mark!” Sweetie exclaimed.

“Congratulations, Scootaloo! What’s it mean?” she asked.

“Um. . .” Scootaloo rubbed a hoof behind her neck. “Well, Dash says it’s probably on account of me always getting up when I’m knocked down, and Twilight says it’s called tenacity.”

“Ha! So your cutie mark just means you're a tough little tomboy orphan. What’s your real special talent?” Diamond put her hooves on her shoulders and waved her forelegs like wings. “Tasting like chicken?”

Scootaloo was on her in an instant. “You take that back!”

“Or what, you’ll go get Dash?” Diamond looked Scootaloo in the eye and laughed.

“Diamond Tiara! That’s enough,” Cheerilee scolded.

“Anytime, anywhere, Diamond. I’ll teach you some manners,” Scootaloo said.

“Ah’d like to see ya do some tricks or somethin’, and prove her wrong,” Apple Bloom offered.

“She has a point,” Sweetie stated. “If your cutie mark is a phoenix, can you catch on fire when you fly fast enough? Like how Dash has a rainbow trail?”

“I uh, am not sure.” Scootaloo walked back towards her friends, feeling the eyes of all her classmates on her. “I don’t think it’s anything that special.”

“Well have ya tried?” Apple Bloom gestured to the road and they began to walk home, leaving the ill-mannered earth pony fillies behind them.

“Nah, I wouldn't know how. Dash says if it was gonna be anything cool like that, all I’d have to do is fly fast,” Scootaloo answered.

“Then why don’t you try? It’ll be fun!” Sweetie ran around in front of her. “Hey! And maybe you can help us with our cutie marks while you’re at it!”

Her wings fluttered and she looked up into the sky. “I’m not sure I want to find out if I can catch on fire. That sounds painful.”

“Bawk bawk bawk!” Diamond chanted from behind them. Silver broke out laughing.

Scootaloo spun around and glared at her. “You know I don’t like to be called chicken, and Cheerilee isn’t here to protect you!”

“Pfft, I’m not afraid of poor ponies. Besides, beating me up won’t prove your cutie mark isn’t worthless. I say you’re writing checks with your muzzle your flank can’t cash,” she retorted.

The orange filly spat on the ground, and took to the sky. In seconds she had flown up above the cloud layer and out of sight.

“Now see what ya did?” Apple Bloom asked. “This is her special day!”

“Pfft, I hate when ponies make stories up. If she’s gonna spin a fib it needs to be believable. I still can’t believe Dash would adopt that thing out of nowhere!” Diamond said.







High above her friends, Scootaloo hovered with a grim look of determination. She had figured out the direction of the wind, the altitude necessary to reach her desired speed, and positioned herself for the dive.

She took a deep breath, and plummeted towards the ground. Each beat of her wings pushed her closer to the ground, accelerating her until the clouds below were a blur. She hit the first layer of clouds and felt them scatter around her.

Scootaloo continued beating faster and faster, feeling the familiar sensation of a mach cone. This was as fast as she’d ever gone, having not broken the sound barrier yet. Looking behind her revealed nothing. No flames, smoke, or rainbow contrail. Just a boring old filly who was good at taking a hit.

Angry, she angled into a steeper descent and increased her speed again. She aimed for a small storm cloud, spearing through it and destroying it. She felt the static charge trickle down her feathers into her spine. The air warmed noticeably behind Scootaloo.

Looking back, she realized it had worked! Somehow, she had ignited the air behind her. It then dawned on her that she now had a column of flame chasing her. The flames danced along the low pressure zone created as she flied, and left a contrail similar to the Wonderbolts. A deep purple smoke burnt off the orange flames.

Scootaloo panicked. She could feel the skin on her hind legs heating up, and imagined the horrible blisters they must be getting. Scootaloo focused ahead of her and tucked her legs in, turning her body into a spear-like shape. She convinced herself that breaking the sound barrier was the only way to keep the flames from catching up and consuming her.

The mach cone narrowed around her, pushing against her body. The air felt thick and fought to throw Scootaloo out of control. She burst through the final layer of clouds before the ground, and saw the specks of what were her friends.

Her vision blurred and color seemed to drain from around her. She focused on that one point at the tip of her hoof, which was vibrating furiously. Scootaloo held her hoof as steady as she could, watching the mach cone stabilize as she held her leg still.

The cone splintered, and in an instant vanished. Scootaloo flinched as it collapsed around her, then opened her eyes. She could no longer hear the sound of the wind or her wings. The faint crackling of flame was gone, and Scootaloo realized she only had seconds left to pull up.







Seconds earlier. . .

“She’s probably at home cry—”

“Look!” Silver interrupted. She pointed at the sky and the other fillies looked up to see what it was.

High above them they saw something that resembled the meteor shower they had watched a few months ago. A small ball of orange flame was plummeting through the sky, followed by a long trail of smoke.

“Sweet Celestia! Is that Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I. . . uh. . .” Diamond’s mouth flopped open and shut wordlessly as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.

“Is it just me, or is it getting bigger?” Sweetie asked.

“It is!” Silver exclaimed.

“Quick girls!” Sweetie grabbed Apple Bloom and jumped into a nearby ditch. Silver joined them seconds later.

“Where’s Diamond?” Silver asked.

Diamond stood on the road spellbound. The orange mass of flames really was Scootaloo, and the halo of flame surrounding her tail made her look like a monster out of Griffonian mythology.

It continued to grow larger, and Diamond saw a beautiful cone of air shaping around her. The flame danced along the cone as it expanded and lengthened. She smiled as the cone vanished and a beautiful orange and purple shockwave was created.

Diamond gasped, and was hit by the pressure wave of the air from the sonic boom. A second later, she felt the heat against her skin. As she was knocked back into the ditch, the heat of the fiery rainboom singed all her hair off.

She rolled into the ditch, dazed. A loud explosion followed a second later—the shockwave of sound following in the wake of the pegasus traveling faster than it.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie, and Silver peeked out of the trench after the loud boom. They saw the orange and purple fireball  vanish towards Sweet Apple Acres.




	


Dash heard the explosion and knew immediately what it was. It was the sound wave that inevitably caught up with her when doing a sonic rainboom, and it was the most beautiful sound in Equestria. They swiveled and Dash followed her ears to face the direction the sound had come in. She saw an orange fireball in the sky.

“Yes! Go Scootaloo!” Dash yelled. 

Applejack adjusted her hat. “Uh, Dash, ya gonna buy some apples or what?”

“Not now, gotta fly!’ Dash jumped into the air and zoomed off towards the fireball, adding her own sonic rainboom to the dazzling aerial display.

Across the street Max Pane smiled as countless windows shattered. It was quite profitable to be the only window salesman in Ponyville.







Sweetie, Apple Bloom, and Silver walked into the apple orchard. Behind them a foul-mouthed Diamond Tiara followed. Her coat hair had been singed off, as had most of her mane and tail. Without the hair on her flank, her cutie mark had also been erased. She looked like one of the hairless pink gophers Fluttershy had in her garden.

“When I get my hooves on her I’m gonna knock that smug grin right off her face!” Diamond muttered.

“Ah don’t know, ah think the look suits you, blank flank!” Apple Bloom taunted. Silver and Sweetie began laughing at her.

“Silver! You stop that this instant!” she responded.

“Look!” Silver said, pointing ahead.

There was a path leading into the orchard. On each side of it the trees no longer had leaves. The ground had been scorched black. As they walked forward, it only got weirder.

“This is like something out of a children’s book!” Sweetie observed.

Sure enough, orange and purple flames were creating a trail along each side of the scorched dirt. They lead down the path as the ground began to be indented by the force of the impact.

“Do ya think she’s okay?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I think we’re about to find out,” Sweetie observed.

Up ahead near the clubhouse was a large crater, and a huge mound of dirt. The fillies trotted up to the edge of it, and looked inside.

Scootaloo lay on her back, panting heavily. It was at that moment Dash landed next to the fillies and saw her laying there.

“Squirt, are you okay?!” Dash asked.



Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked up at her fellow crusaders, Silver, and Dash.




















	“Best.



	Day.



	Ever!”



























> 35. Elements of Awesome
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Thanks for coming, everypony,” Scootaloo said.

She stood in a clearing outside of Zecora’s hut. Surrounding her were the many friends she had made since moving to Ponyville.

“I can’t believe that lame-o went and got herself captured by changelings. What is it with you ponies and being captured?” Gilda asked.

“Sledge thinks ponies like being mares in distress,” he answered.

“Well, it’s not really that simple,” Scootaloo said. “Usually they hit us over the head or use magic on us.”

“So um. . . you think that we can help you find Dash?” Dinky asked. “But I’m just a filly too!”

“We can all help, including our hired muscle.” Scootaloo pointed across the clearing at Nymeria the timberwolf, and Baloo the grizzly bear. Nymeria had tried to eat Scootaloo, until she had helped the timberwolf save her cubs. Baloo was Fluttershy’s bouncer, and made sure nopony ate her furry friends.

“Well, let’s get going then. I’ve got better things to do then hang out with you dwee—I mean, let’s rescue Dash, okay?” Gilda said.

“Alright everypony, roll out!” Scootaloo shouted. 

Together they walked down the yellow dirt road into the heart of the Everfree. As they walked along, an ominous green pair of eyes watched them from the bushes. A horn glowed briefly, and the party heard growling ahead.

“It’s a wyvern!” Gilda said.

Baloo ran forward and stood up on two legs. The grizzly roared, and swiped at the wyvern, which responded by spinning his tail around, knocking Baloo back.

“I got this,” Scootaloo said. She flew in towards the wyvern and punched him in the nose. He swiped at her with his stinger,  barely missing.

Nymeria ran up next. She was too agile for the wyvern, quickly making him dizzy. The timberwolf then pounced the wyvern, ripping his throat out. As the beast bled out, Nymeria feasted on his thigh.

“Woohoo! You did it,” Scootaloo cheered.

“Yeah, let’s get moving. Sledge thinks we will find Dash soon.” he said.

The party of adventurers continued down the path. Soon they were surrounded by trees. Dinky ran right into one of the trees and fell down, noticing the scary face carved in it. 

“Ahh! Ghosts!” Dinky shouted.

Baloo laughed, and stepped in front of the ponies. He began growling and pantomiming. 

“Uh, Baloo, how is this supposed to help with scary trees?” Scootaloo asked.

Baloo reared up on his back legs, and pushed the nearest tree with his front paws. The tree snapped in two and fell to the ground with a loud cracking sound.

“I get it,” Gilda said, “We need to buck the trees!”

Scootaloo and Dinky began bucking the nearest tree. The scary face laughed at their futile efforts. Then, Nymeria lunged at the tree, slicing it in two with one swipe of her claws. Baloo toppled three trees at once, and Sledge dug under some of the trees causing them to fall over.

“This is fun! Pinkie Pie can forget about laughing at scary things, I prefer bucking them up!” Scootaloo yelled.

“Yay!” Dinky cheered.

All around them lay the splintered remains of two dozen scary trees. Scootaloo turned in time to see Sledge marking his territory on a fallen tree.

“What? Sledge had to piss,” he explained.

The party continued onward, wondering what their next challenge would be. Scootaloo felt a cold breeze pass her by, and realized she had stepped onto a slippery slope. She plummeted down it, screaming the entire way.

After falling off the edge of a bottomless chasm, Gilda caught her while doing a barrel roll and a loop at the same time. Gilda then caught the other ponies and monsters one at a time.

“Radical!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

The party walked out of the canyon and found a raging river. “Great, I have to carry you all across again,” Gilda said.

The party flew over the river. Since they were able to catch everypony that fell over the cliff, flying over a tiny river was easy.

On the other side of the river they ran into their next challenge. It was a small hut with a poorly decorated interior. It belonged to Sledge.

“So, this is the pig sty you’ve been living in?” Dinky asked. “This crime against styleosity can not be allowed!”

Scootaloo and the others ate some s'mores while Dinky rearranged furniture and cleaned Sledge’s den. After an hour of watching Dinky do back-breaking labor, the party continued onward.

“I get the feeling there is only one more test,” Scootaloo stated.

“Sledge thinks they are it!” he observed.

In front of them stood a pack of diamond dogs. “Oh look, pony slaves!”

“No!” Sledge shouted. He stepped in front of the group. “We’re not afraid of you!”

“Oh, okay.” The diamond dogs turned around and started walking away. “What a bunch of losers, dumb ponies.”

It wasn’t much longer before they found a large clearing. In the middle, Dash was strapped to a table and gagged. Next to her stood the last pony Scootaloo wanted to see.

“Gerda!” she screamed. Scootaloo began to charge forward.

“Stop right there, sewer rat! One more step, and Dashie gets it!” Gerda stated.

“You’ll never get away with this!” she retorted.

“I already have. Now tell your pets to get lost, or I’ll cut off a wing.”

Scootaloo looked back at her friends, signaling them to back away.

“But, Scoots. . .” Dinky began to cry.

“Now, just walk over here slowly so I can stab you.”

Scootaloo walked forward slowly. “You’ll let Dash go?”

“I promise.” Gerda walked forward to meet her. “Now die!” She swung the knife down at Scootaloo.

“No!” Gilda shouted. In a flash, all of Scootaloo’s friends had jumped on top of her to protect her. 

“What?” Gerda screamed. The blade shattered as a glowing orange and purple aura surrounded them and lifted them into the air.

“Don’t you see, Gerda, I have something you’ll never have. A power greater than any other!” Scootaloo shouted.

“There is no higher power!”

“That’s where you’re wrong. We passed all of your tests. Nymeria, the Element of Flank-kicking helped us brutally murder your wyvern,” Scootaloo said. “Baloo, the Element of Strength who was able to snap trees in two. Gilda, the Element of Radicalness, who looked radical while saving our lives. Dinky, the Element of Style, and finally Sledge, the Element of Guts.”

Scootaloo opened her eyes and purple flames radiated from them. “By our powers combined, I am Scootaloo! The Element of Awesomeness!”

“No! This is impossibru!” Gerda turned and ran towards the tree line.

“Not today, Gerda!” Scootaloo flapped her wings and instantly propelled herself to mach one. There was a giant flaming rainboom that incinerated Gerda, leaving naught but ash. Seconds later, Scootaloo landed next to Dash.

“Dash, are you okay?” she asked. She loosened the straps and took off the gag.

“I’m fine, Squirt. You’re my hero. Now, wake up.”

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I said wake up,” Dash repeated.

“Did she hit you in the head or something?”

Scootaloo felt the ground begin to shake. “Ah! Earthquake!”

“Wake up, Squirt!” Dash shouted.



Scootaloo snapped her eyes open and saw Dash smiling at her. 

“You’re home, Squirt. That must have been quite the dream you were having,” Dash observed. She pointed a hoof at Scootaloo’s wings.

She looked at her orange wings, seeing them stiff and fully extended. “Omygosh! Dash, I can explain!”

Dash chuckled. “Hey, Squirt, it happens to all of us. It’s just part of turning into a mare. So, you mind me asking what you were dreaming about?”

Scootaloo grinned from ear to ear. “The Elements of Awesomeness.”
> 36. What do you Call a Bald Pony?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo arrived at school early and tried to play it cool. Diamond Tiara should be showing up any moment now, and she had lost ninety percent of her fur, mane, and tail when Scootaloo did a fiery sonic boom near her.

Sure enough, a smooth, pink pony and Silver Spoon walked up to the school. Rumble, Twist, Snips, and Snails were but a few of the fillies present to witness her arrival. The fellow crusaders came up along side Scootaloo to watch.

“Snails, is that a mole?” Snips asked.

“Duh, I don’t know, Snips, aren’t they s’posed to be wrinkly?” he replied.

“Hah, who is the blank flank now, Diamond?” Twist shouted. 

The fillies and colts began laughing, as she walked onto the playground. She had a tuft of mane holding her tiara in place, and just enough tail to identify her as a pony. Her neck to her flank and hooves were absent of hair, with a few scorched black clumps that had been scrubbed clean to resemble peach fuzz.

“Smile!” Feathweight clicked his camera. “This will make an excellent article in the foal free press!”

Silver stayed close to Diamond as they walked towards the school house, as her bald friend choked back tears.

“Serves her right,” Sweetie said. “Making fun of us all those times.”

Scootaloo didn’t feel happy like she thought she would. Instead she felt something else for her. Perhaps it was guilt or pity, but all she could think about was why nopony ever stood up for the crusaders when they were being teased. Now, everyone was teasing Diamond and no one stood up for her.

Part of her wanted to do nothing, and call it justice, but this seemed more like revenge.

“Blank flank, blank flank, Tiara is a blank flank!” the students chanted.

“Hey!” Scootaloo shouted, walking over to Diamond. Everypony turned to look at her. “Who you callin’ blank flank?”

Diamond wiped her muzzle on Silver, as Scootaloo stepped up alongside her.

“Scoots, what are ya doing?” Apple Bloom asked.

“You always talk about how unfair it is we were made fun of for blank flanks? Are you just gonna stand there and let everypony else make fun of her now?” she asked.

“Well, she deserves it,” Apple Bloom said.

“No, she doesn’t. I thought she did, and I thought it’d be fun to make fun of her, but look at her. She’s just as sad as we were all those times nopony stood up for us blank flanks, well I say it stops now. If anypony else makes fun of her, they’ll answer to me!” Scootaloo shouted.

Sweetie and Apple Bloom looked around, and then walked up to join their friend at Diamond’s side.

“T-thank you,” Diamond muttered. She started to say more, but quickly hurried inside with Silver Spoon. The filly felt naked without her fur and mane, and even worse without her cutie mark.

“Are you feeling okay, Scootaloo?” Sweetie asked.

“Yeah, I just realized something.”

Apple Bloom turned around and tilted her head. “What’s that?”

“All that time I spent angry at people picking on me, or at Gerda, or wishing somepony would come along and protect me. . . The only way to keep that from happening again is if I’m not afraid to be that pony that helps other ponies out. Maybe now that somepony was nice to Diamond, she won’t be mean to us anymore.”

“Ah’ll believe it when I see it,” Apple Bloom said.

“Yeah, Scoots, it’s sounds nice but I’m not so sure it’ll work,” Sweetie replied.







“Today’s class is on long division,” Cheerilee announced.

Several fillies groaned and Scootaloo slumped her head on the desk.

“Oh, don’t give me those looks, I know a perfectly fun way to do it!” the teacher stated. “To start we’re just going to get our pencils and paper out.”

Scootaloo turned to Sweetie and noticed Rumble staring at her. He quickly looked away when she saw him. “Hey, Sweetie, got any extra paper?”

“College or wide ruled?” she replied.

“Huh? We’re not in college.”

Sweetie sighed, and tore a piece of paper out of her notebook.

“Thanks! And uh, got a pencil?” Scootaloo smiled.

“Didn’t Dash buy you school supplies for the new school year?”

“She must have forgot on account of us being too awesome.”

“Scootaloo, is there something you’d like to share with the class?” Cheerilee asked.

“No ma’am, I just forgot my pencil,” she replied.

“Here you go.” Diamond tossed a pencil over onto her desk and quickly averted her gaze back to her own paper.

“Thanks, DT.” Scootaloo looked at Cheerilee and smiled. “All set!”

“Right.” Cheerilee turned her attention back to the board. “So, first we see how many times three goes into two, and it goes in zero times so w—”

“See, Sweetie? She’s like 20% nicer already,” Scootaloo whispered.

“Pfft, maybe, but I bet when her cutie marks grow back in she won’t be so nice,” Sweetie said. “I’ve been trying everything and I still can’t get mine! How’d you do it?”

Scootaloo glanced back, noticing Rumble staring at her again before looking away. “I uh—I don’t know, I was just being myself. Like, if you were home right now what would you be doing?”

“I would b—” both fillies quickly focused on their papers when Cheerilee glanced back. The entire class pretended to be paying apt attention. Once she turned around, several hushed conversations resumed. “I’d probably help Rarity with some dresses, sometimes she’ll let me sing while I do. She won’t let me cook anymore, but she loves to make me go crusading with you.”

“Okay, so let’s do that! We’ll make some dresses and crusade!” Scootaloo erased some of the work she had done on her paper and tried to copy Cheerilee’s steps.

“If it were that easy I’d have one already,” Sweetie said.

“It is that easy.” Scootaloo turned to copy the answer off her paper and noticed Rumble staring again. “Okay, Sweetie what’s up with Rumble? He keeps staring at me when I’m not looking.”

Sweetie turned to look at him, and he slid further down into his seat to hide from the two fillies gazes. “Oh.” She turned back around and leaned towards Scootaloo. “Didn’t you know? Every time you’re off on some adventure all he talks about is you. ‘Is Scootaloo okay? Did ya find Scootaloo?’ I think he likes you.”

Scootaloo cocked her head to the side. “Huh? Why would you think that?”

Apple Bloom leaned in and began to sing. “Scoots and Rumble sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S—”

“Apple Bloom! Since you have time to sing perhaps you’ll do this next question on the board. What is 372 divided by 16?” Cheerilee asked.

She grunted and walked up towards the board, having been caught red handed. Scootaloo and Sweetie muffled their giggling. 

“So do I tell him to stop?” Scootaloo asked.

“No!” Sweetie squeaked. “You’re supposed to ask if he likes ornithology or entomology.”

“Who with what now?”

Sweetie rolled her eyes. “You are supposed to go watch birds and bees with him. Rarity says all the ponies who like each other go to the park to watch birds and bees. Then, they go home and check if there are any birds or bees in their bedrooms.”

“Oh, but if there were bees in my house wouldn’t I already know?” Scootaloo asked.

“Rarity says that’s why you have to move all the furniture and check, and it can make lots of noise. She said to be safe, I should stay in my room when she’s looking for bee nests at night.”

“Cool, I’ll totally ask Dash if she has a net I can borrow.”

“Yeah,” Sweetie said. “And then you just take Rumble to the park to practice, and you can go help him and Thunderlane get all the bees and birds out of their house.”

“Awesome! That’ll be so much more fu—”

“Scootaloo, your turn,” Cheerilee said.

With a loud moan, she hopped out of her seat and went up to the board. She grabbed the chalk and hovered in the air in front of the math problem.

“Really? 372 divided by 13? This is the worst lesson ever,” Scootaloo complained.

“Well, it’s three easy steps if you paid attention.” She smiled and stood back.

“Fine, I guess that um... fifteen?”

“Scootaloo, you did pay attention?” Cheerilee frowned.

“I was, but then Sweetie was telling me about the birds and the bees—”

The whole class began giggling and it took a minute for Cheerilee to calm them down. “Children, now, joking aside Scootaloo, do you need a hoof with the question?”

“Well, yeah.”

Cheerilee smiled and helped Scootaloo work her way through the problem.







After school, Scootaloo found Dash sleeping in a cloud over town hall. She flew up under the cloud, and with a quick buck, Scootaloo vaporized the cloud.

As Dash woke up, plummeting towards the ground, her instinct kicked in. She flipped over and flapped her wings, catching herself in the air. Then she landed on the ground.

Scootaloo was giggling and finally managed to stop and land next to Dash. “I guess it’s true, a Pegasus always lands on it’s hooves!”

“You better watch it, Squirt, I know where you live. You ever wake up inside a snow cloud?” Dash taunted.

She gulped. “No. . .”

Dash grinned wickedly “Well then, aren’t you in for a treat? So, how’d school go?”

“Boring.”

She put a hoof in Scootaloo’s mane and rubbed her head, messing it up. “Looks like someone has a case of th—”

“no!” Scootaloo tried to interrupt.

“—e Mondays!” Dash finished.

“Ugh.”

“Come on, let’s have a little race to cheer you up then.”

“I can’t, I need new school supplies,” Scootaloo explained.

Dash raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What’s wrong with the ones from last year?”

“You mean the ones that got buried in the avalanche when the crusaders went spelunking at the end of the last school year?” Scootaloo said. “I don’t know, if I find them I’ll let you know.” She stuck her tongue out at Dash.

“Fair enough. So, you want to go buy some more? You could sell Equestria’s quickest haircuts to make enough bits to pay me back.” She laughed and took off towards the center of town.

“You better watch out or I’ll give you a haircut!” Scootaloo took off chasing her. “I bet I could totally turn you into a bald pony too!”

“There’s my sis, ready to get in a fight with Equestria’s toughest mare. I’d beat you in a race in ten seconds flat.”

The two flew down towards the general store owned by Filthy Rich and went inside. They headed over to the school supply section, and began looking for paper, pencils, and other items.

“Hey, Squirt, what’s this one do?” Dash lifted up a semi-circle with a ruler.

Scootaloo glanced over from the pack of flavored erasers in her hoof. “I don’t know, it’s called a prolapser or something. Sweetie has two of them.”

“It says on here it’s for protracting. Do you need one?”

“Nah, but this one looks neat!” Scootaloo pulled an abacus down from the shelf. “It says the ancient Egyptstallions used it for math.”

“It looks more like a board game.” Dash walked over and lifted it up. She used the protractor to slide the beads around. “Yeah, this is lame. Hey, how about this?”

She pulled an eraser shaped like a baseball out of a bin. “Quick, Squirt, go long!” Dash chucked it into the air across the store, laughing.”

Scootaloo shot into the air after it, managing to catch it on the way down. She knocked over a few rolls of toilet paper on the next aisle. “You’re turn!”

She chucked it back past Dash, who backflipped and zoomed after it. The whoosh of air from the grown mare shook the shelf, causing more erasers to roll off the shelf, and several pencils to spill over the floor.

After Dash caught it, she shouted out, “Four!”

Scootaloo zoomed forward and dove to catch the ball. After catching it, she put her hooves on the ground to stop, but stepped on the pencils and lost her balance. She toppled forward into a nearby shelf, causing cans of split peas to spill all over her.

“Ohmygosh! Scootaloo, are you alright?” Dash flew down and began pulling cans off.

Scootaloo was upside down with her hind legs in the air, as Dash unburied her. She began laughing until she saw a stallion walk up behind them.

“Can I help you two find anything?” Filthy asked.

“Oh, sorry about that Filthy, you see, there was this um—gust of wind that came out of nowhere!” Dash threw her hooves up. “I’ll have it cleaned up in ten seconds flat!”

“Well, if you don’t need help finding anything then I’d like you two to leave so I can clean up.”

“Daddy,” Diamond said. She stepped out from a desk behind the register where she had been doing her homework. “Scootaloo doesn’t have any paper or pencils for class, that’s all they needed.”

“Uh yeah,” Dash quickled added. “And we’ll take a protractor too, how much?”

Scootaloo brushed herself up as she stood up and hoofed a pack of flavored erasers to Dash. “And these too!”

“Squirt, you don’t need those. You’re not supposed to eat erasers!”

“Then why are they flavored?” Scootaloo pouted.

“It’s—because—” Dash sighed. “Fine! But if you eat your erasers before supper I’m not letting you have any ice cream.”

“Yay!” Scootaloo hopped in the air and landed on Dash’s back. “Okay, Filthy, we’ll take ‘em!”

Filthy Rich sighed and looked back at his daughter, who smiled. “Fine, ten bits for paper, three pencils, and the flavored erasers.”

Dash got the bits out of her saddlebag and hoofed them over. “You sure you don’t want a hoof cleaning up?”

“That’s fine, Rumble works here part time to earn some extra bits. Celestia knows what for.”

The two mares turned to the right where sure enough, Rumble was watching them. He quickly resumed sweeping the floor with his dustpan.

Scootaloo suddenly felt embarrassed and hopped off of Dash. She looked over and smiled at Rumble, who smiled back.

“Well, all done then. Let’s go, Squirt.”

The two Pegasi walked out of the store as the sun was setting.

“Hmm, strawberry? Mind if I try?” Dash asked. She began to pull one of the erasers out and nibble on it.

Scootaloo was lost in thought as they walked forward.

“Hey, Squirt, what’s up?” Dash rolled the eraser over to the other side of her mouth. “Hey, these are pretty tasty.”

“Dash, how do I ask Rumble to help get all the birds and bees out of my bedroom?” Scootaloo asked.

Dash tried to gasp, and succeeded only in choking on her strawberry eraser. She slammed her hoof on the ground a few times before managing to spit it back out.

In a raspy voice, she asked “What’d you say?!”







> 37. CMC ALCHEMISTS YAY!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Ah don’t see the point. Even with Zecora helpin’, nopony will trust anything we make,” Apple Bloom complained.

Scootaloo kept her eyes on the road as she drove the crusaders out to Zecora’s cottage on her scooter. 

“Well, it can’t be worse than the day spa, can it?” Sweetie asked.

“My sis told me not to say ‘it can’t be any worse’. It’s bad luck!”

“Nonsense! Why just the oth—”

“Look out!” Scootaloo shouted.

In front of them, Zecora jumped to the side. Scootaloo swerved to avoid her, and hit a rock. While Scootaloo was able to turn right-side up and slow herself with her wings, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle weren’t so lucky. 

They hit the side of Zecora’s hut with a thud. Dizzily they got to their hooves and took their helmets off.

“Cutie Mark Crusader Crash Test Dummies Yablaargh!” Apple Bloom vomited on the ground and shook her head.

“Ew, gross!” Sweetie said.

“Awesome!” Scootaloo cheered.

“Perhaps you three should come inside, and next time choose a safer ride,” Zecora said. She opened the door and let the Crusaders in.

“Cool. Do we get to make potions with anything we want?” Scootaloo asked.

“Take it easy, Scootaloo. Some of those herbs could harm you,” she replied.

The fillies spread out and began to look at the various herbs and reagents on the shelves. In the middle of the room was Zecora’s large cauldron, and some small alchemy sets she got for the fillies.

“Now, sit down my fillies three, and I shall teach you alchemy.”

Each Crusader sat down next to an alchemy set. There was a small cauldron, mortar and pestle, and beakers.

“I bet I’m so good at this I’ll get an extra cutie mark,” Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Trust me, ya don’t want more than one cutie mark.”

“Maybe there’s a potion that’ll help find out cutie marks,” Sweetie stated.

”Cutie Mark Crusader Alchemists Yay!”

Zecora took a moment to recover and rub her sore ears.

“If talent was so easily found, you would not still be crusading around,” Zecora lectured. “Now with sage, herbthistle, and eyes of a bat, we shall soon brew a potion to temporarily make a skinny pony fat.”

“Awesome, prank potions!” Scootaloo cheered.

“What? Ya brought us here to do pranks?” Apple Bloom pouted.

“Children, calm down, you misunderstood. Some ponies are to skinny and this will liven their mood. For every ailment, disease, or trouble, there is a potion to make healing speed double.”

“Oh, so they must have potions to make ponies skinnier too, and maybe taller and shorter, and turn their mane blue,” Sweetie said.

Scootaloo moaned and facehoofed. 

“Was it something I said?” she asked.

“Ah think it was the rhymin’,” Apple Bloom suggested.

“Now girls pay attention and you may learn a think or two. I will teach you the basics of alchemy, and my recipe for pony stew.” Zecora laughed and it took the crusaders a second to get the joke.







As they rode back to town, each Crusader had a saddlebag full of potions they had made. Most of them were simple and would change their hair or eye color temporarily. They had a few more creative ones as well.

“You were really good at that, Apple Bloom,” Sweetie said.

“Ah shucks, ah just know a lot about plants on account o’ all the plantin’ and harvestin’ ah do.” she replied.

“I bet her potions are the only ones that work right,” Scootaloo stated. “How are we gonna test them out? I don’t want to have to drink them all, and nopony in town will want to try anything we cooked.”

“Hmm, I think my sister might try one,” Sweetie said.

“Hah, ya’d have ta sneak it into her oatmeal,” Apple Bloom replied.

“I wonder if we can bake potions in cupcakes?” Scootaloo asked.

“Cupcakes?” Pinkie said.

The girls moaned. “Oh no, she heard ya, speed up!” Apple Bloom shouted.

Scootaloo put her hooves to the wood and beat her wings quickly. She sped down the dirt road towards town going at least eighty miles per hour. Were it not for the rope hoof holds in the wagon, her friends would have flown out by now.

As she neared the relative safety of town, they heard Pinkie behind them. “Hey, get back here! Somepony said cupcakes, and I’m hungry! Plus, I have to throw this whole cutie mark party for you, Scootaloo, so slow down!”

“Wait, why are we running again Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo shouted back over the wind.

“Because ah don’t wanna be stuffed full of cupcakes!”

“Yeah,” Sweetie agreed. “I love a good party but I still feel sick from Opalesence’s birthday party. I must have ate two dozen cupcakes in one night.”

Scootaloo chuckled, and turned into an alleyway. As she rapidly slowed down, the crusaders were thrown about the wagon wildly. They barely managed to hang on.

“Whew, I’m glad that’s over. I’m going to get a drink of water.” Sweetie pulled out her thermos and unscrewed the lid. She flipped it over, turning it into a cup. She then filled it with water.

Right as she was about to life the water up and drink it, Scootaloo stopped her. “Wait.”

The crusaders looked at the water. For a moment, it looked like it had rippled. After a few tense seconds of holding their breath, it rippled again.

“Did ya—”

“I saw it! Sh—”

“—could be here any—”

“Shh!” Scootaloo whispered.

The water rippled again from the vibrations, then again, and again. It was getting quicker. The bouncing was only half a second apart, and the ripples were going constantly. The girls could feel the wagon shaking.

“Ah don’t wanna eat cupcakes!” Apple Bloom screamed.

Pinkie poked her head up out of the nearby trashcan. “Oh, silly, why didn’t you say so? Have some jelly beans instead!”

She leapt out and tackled Apple Bloom to the ground. “Uncle! Uncle! I give up!”

“I didn’t know you had an Uncle. Did you invite him to Scootaloo’s party? Did ya?” Pinkie got off of Apple Bloom and helped fix her bow. “Silly fillies, I was just playing Jurassic Party with you. Come on, let’s go party!”

The girls moaned and Scootaloo had an idea. “Psst,” she whispered, “Let’s spike everypony’s drinks and cupcakes with our potions. That way we can test them out and nopony will know!”

“Ah don’t know,” Apple Bloom said.

“It’s brilliant!” Sweetie stated.

“Then it’s settled by a vote of two to one.” Scootaloo grinned wickedly. “Cutie Mark Crusader Cupcake Spikers yay!”







The party for Scootaloo’s cutie mark had started, and the girls had spiked everypony’s cupcakes. Sweetie was tasked with remembering which potions went where, but they had made at least two dozen of them all together. After pouring the potions onto the cupcakes and letting them absorb the elixirs, all they had to do was watch.

Sugarcube Corner was packed with ponies. Pinkie was already passing out sweets to all of them.

Lyra was the first to notice something wrong.

“That’s the red cupcake, it has the spell in it to make you fat,” Sweetie explained.

She shrieked, and began twitching her nose. Whiskers grew out of her muzzle, and Lyra’s tail turned into a leathery rope. Her legs shortened and grew claws just as she grew fangs.

“Uh, Apple Bloom, I think you were right. This is a bad idea,” Scootaloo whimpered.

“Yeah, now she’s a rat instead of fat!” Sweetie said.

Apple Bloom moaned. “Well, at least I did my potions right, maybe nopony will notice.”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon screamed. “What happened to you?”

She opened her mouth and answered in a high pitched whine. “I just ate a cupcake! I swear, this isn’t another one of my spells!”

“But I ate a cupcake too and I didn’t tu—oh—maybe it isn’t a spell,” Bon Bon said.

She arched her back up and her hair stood on end. She hissed at Lyra, as her mane vanished and her tail turned into a single, long, hairy appendage. Her eyes turned to vertical slits as she grew whiskers and pointy ears. In seconds, she had turned into a pony sized cat.

“You look so tasty, darling, why don’t we see if there’s an open bedroom so I can eat you,” Bon Bon said.

Lyra gasped and backed away. “But I don’t wanna be eaten!”

Bon Bon licked her lips. “It’s about time I paid you back for last night, you were so. . . thorough.”

“What on Equestria are they talkin’ ‘bout?” Apple Bloom asked.

“She’s gonna kill her?” Scootaloo pondered.

Just then they saw her pounce Lyra and start kissing her.

“This is ba—”

“Gah! No! I knew they’d go to my hips! Pinkie Pie!” Dash screamed.

She trudged out into the living room and had put on nearly double her body weight. large fat calves hid her hooves, and rolls of fat cascaded from her back towards the floor. Her mane seemed small in comparison to the tree trunk that was her neck, and her muzzle was nearly hidden by her large cheeks.

“I’m gonna kill you, Pinkie!” She stomped towards the kitchen as Apple Bloom began to laugh.

“Hah! At least my potion worked!”

Scootaloo sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, way to go. You made Dash fat, there’s no way she’ll get mad at me now.”

“Maybe we should leave while we can,” Sweetie offered.

“Leave? But you haven’t had cupcakes!” Pinkie shouted.

Before the crusaders could react, Pinkie shoved cupcakes into their mouths. In their shock, they chewed and swallowed them least the pony shove more in their mouth. That was when they began to feel tingly.

“Oh crap, ah’m too young to be fat!” Apple Bloom cried.

“Of course you are,” Pinkie said. She ate four cupcakes. “Delicious! And such a unique aftertaste!”

As she trotted off they heard Twilight screaming.

“Great what now?” Scootaloo asked.

“Didn’t she have a green cupcake?” Sweetie said.

Twilight was casting spells on herself, trying to change her color. She was now bright yellow with black stripes. “This isn’t possible! This isn’t scientifically possible! I can’t be turning into a bee!”

As she panicked, some of the other ponies began to laugh. She looked hilarious as she ran in circles trying to somehow fix her hideous mane and hair.

Diamond Tiara was the next at the party to scream. By the time Scootaloo turned to face her, all she could see was a giant ball of fur. She looked like a cotton ball, and judging by the screams, Diamond was inside it somewhere.

Silver wasn’t far away, and had swollen up into a blueberry. She wiggled her hooves but they no longer reached the ground.

“Wait, but we didn’t make any potions that do that,” Scootaloo said.

“We must be a lot worse than we thought,” Sweetie observed.

Apple Bloom hit her head with a hoof. “Ya don’t think? Wait—” Apple Bloom hit herself again. “Ah’m rubber!”

The two girls watched as she bounced up and down. She fell on her side, and bounced off it back in the air.

“Awesome!” Scootaloo yelled. “I bet I am too!” She hit herself in the head, and fell onto her back. “Ouch!”

“Girls, help!” Sweetie shouted. Her skin was turning silver and shiny, and her voice sounded like a robot. “This isn’t funny anymore!”

“I’ll help! I’ll haha! I’ll,” Scootaloo burst out into laughter.

“What’s wrong, Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked. She had landed and came over to check on Sweetie.

Scootaloo was rolling around on the floor, being tickled by invisible fingers. “The—cupcakes—potions make—it stop!”

The was a cacophony of sounds behind them. Rarity had been frozen solid and turned into a table. Gummy was now the size of Celestia, and was chewing on Spike. The dragon looked like a bronze statue, and apparently tasted like one because Gummy spit him out. Fluttershy was running around the room yelling as all her feathers fell out.

Big Mac didn’t escape either. He was hiding in a corner, his normally square muzzle looking very round. He seemed to have shrunk and turned more feminine.

Featherweight had been transformed into a paper weight. Snips had been turned into a snail, and Snails had been turned into a pair of safety scissors. 

Then Pinkie rounded the corner. She had eaten more cupcakes then everypony else combined. Her mane had turned to serpents, her tail was that of a wyvern, and each leg belonged to a different animal.

There was a loud laughter in the room and the girls turned to face it.

Scootaloo laughed, Apple Bloom bounced, and Sweetie Belle stared robotically.

“My, my, you girls certainly know how to put on a good show,” Discord said.

“Discord!” Apple Bloom shouted. “But ah thought ya were a statue!”

“Tsk, tsk, didn’t Fluttershy tell you? She reformed me, and I must say. . . behaving might actually be worth it to watch you three destroy the town!” Discord laughed.

“It was an accident!” Sweetie stated.

Discord curled up around her and smiled. “Why of course it was, and what a delightful accident it was. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you three deserve cutie marks in chaos!”

Dash noticed Discord on the other side of the room and started pounding her way over there one hoof at a time. “I should have known! Make me skinny or so help me, I’ll crush you!” Dash said. Her tiny wings were beating furiously but couldn’t support her weight.

“Haha! The Element of Obesity, ordering me around?” Discord said. “My girls, I have a feeling we’re going to be best frie—”

“Discord! Cease this at once!” Celestia yelled.

Discord stiffened up, and turned to face her. “But I did—”

“No excuses! I could sense the chaos here from Canterlot! I’m disappointed in you, after Fluttershy worked so hard to reform you!”

“But it was them!” Discord pointed at the crusaders. “I was just watching, honest!”

“You’d have me believe three fillies could do all this?” Celestia waved a hoof around. “Now, you’ll change them back this instant or I’ll slap the elements on them and turn you back to stone.”

Discord turned to the crusaders for help, but they just stood there awestruck. “Ugh, fine, but it still wasn’t my fault!” He snapped his fingers, turning everypony back to normal. “Honestly, if I can’t even watch chaos then what’s the point?”

“We’re going to have a long talk about your behavior, mister, unless you really do want to go back in my garden to guard the petunias.”

Discord rolled his eyes and snapped a finger hidden behind his back.

He stormed out of Sugarcube Corner with Celestia. With a bright flash from her horn, she teleported them back to Canterlot.

Scootaloo looked down, realizing he had created a business card in her hoof. It listed the address he was staying at in Canterlot, with a short message:




Crusaders, if you change your minds about the chaos cutie marks, now you know where to find me. I promise it’ll be fun!




Dash walked up and hugged Scootaloo. “Thank Celestia you’re alright. And to think, for a minute there I thought this had to do with your visit to Zecora to try alchemy!” 

Dash laughed, and the crusaders nervously joined in.









> 38. All Good Things Must Come to an End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo fidgeted nervously at the dinner table. Across from her sat Rumble as they shared their first date. Neither one spoke as they sat there, stealing awkward glances at the table next to them.

Rarity sat there, occasionally looking at the two children, recalling her own youth. She had just gotten back from the restroom and prepared to finish the second half of her sandwich.

Scootaloo giggled, and Rumble hushed her. They looked away when Rarity peeked at them, then returned their gaze.

She began to chew the bite she had taken from her sandwich, then slowly stopped. She stared down at it, almost spitting it out, before noticing several ponies gazing at her. Rarity had attracted their attention by coughing; a lady never spits out her food.

Scootaloo was trembling with barely-contained laughter, her eyes watering. The ultra-strength dessicated chili powder they had sprinkled on her sandwich was guaranteed by Pinkie to be “hotter than drinking a rainbow.”

Rarity swallowed with tears in her eyes, then smiled. She got up and placed two bits on the table. Then she shot a look to Scootaloo, who gave her the most unconvincing shrug of innocence. Rarity walked towards her house, breaking out in a sprint and shouting for water once she thought she was far enough away to not be seen by the restaurant patrons.

Scootaloo finally broke out laughing, and Rumble soon joined her. Once the laughter from their prank had subsided they began to loosen up. “That was so awesome, Scootaloo!”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said. “Hey, Rumble, we should totally hang out more often. Summer break starts tomorrow and the crusaders are going to the swimming hole. You wanna come?”

“That sounds great. I can show you this new stunt I worked on just for you,” he said.

“Hah, I bet I can do a stunt twice as cool!”

“You’re on! But, if I win you have to give me a kiss.”

Scootaloo blushed and her mouth opened and shut repeatedly as she searched for the words that eluded her. She finally managed to blurt out an “ok” before taking a keen interest in her hooves under the table.

The delivery of their own meals interrupted the awkward silence. After he left Rumble finally thought of something to say and break the silence. “So, you girls any closer to cutie marks?”

“Nah, not yet.” Scootaloo took her daisy sandwich and started eating.

Rumble tasted his grilled-cheese sandwich, and the two shot each other a wide-eye look.

Scootaloo spat her sandwich out, panting for water. “Rumble, you didn’t!”

“What? You spiked my sandwich!”

“It burns!” Scootaloo screamed.

“Yeah!”

“Let’s go to the swimming hole now!”

He nodded his head as his eyes watered from the chili powder.

The two ran off towards the pond half-laughing and half-choking on the chili powder. They hoped to quell the burning with the cool waters of the lake.

Dash burst out in laughter, having hidden more successfully from Scootaloo than Scootaloo had from Rarity.

“Great job, Dashie!” Pinkie said. “We got ‘em good!”

“Yeah, sure did!” Dash smirked. “I’m glad the squirt is so happy now. Her and Rumble seemed to really hit it off.”

“Of course they did! She had her aunty Pinkie to give her advice.”

“You? Advice? What was it?” Dash inquired.

“I told Scootaloo to just be herself and treat him like she’d treat any other pony.”

Dash’s sandwich arrived from the kitchen and she eyed it for a second, and looked into the waiter’s eyes. The waiter shrugged, and headed back for the kitchen. She looked at Pinkie, who hadn’t moved from her spot.

Shrugging, Dash began to eat her sandwich. After half of it was gone she felt the burning in her mouth intensify tenfold.

“Dash?! How are you not coughing and sweating from all that chili powder?” Pinkie asked.

“Hah! I’m Rainbow Dash! A little chili powder prank isn’t going to get me.”

“Darn, and I gave the waiter two bits to spike your sandwich!”

“He did, but I think he could have used more. It’s a bit mild for my tastes.” Dash feigned a smile as she willed herself not to choke on the chili powder.

“Well, at least we got to make sure Rumble and Scootaloo are getting along. I bet they’ll make a cute couple!”

“Yeah, and I’ve already bought a shovel and some tarp in case Rumble tries any fishy business with my little sister.”

“Why, are you going to dig him a pond to put fish in?”

Dash sighed, “No, I mean if he tries to. . . you know. . .”

“Make her eat fish sticks and custard?”

Groaning and rolling her eyes, Dash admitted defeat. “Never mind, the joke is ruined.”

“Oh, okay. Hey, I’ve got cupcakes in the oven. See you later!” Pinkie tossed a bit on the table for her half of the meal and bolted away.

Once she was gone, Dash glanced around, making sure she wasn’t being watched. She then grabbed the vase of flowers in the center of the table, and chugged all the water out of it.

Once her mouth had stopped burning she sighed and leaned back in her chair. Dash knew that after all her hardship and struggle, Scootaloo was finally happy, and that was all that mattered.