Equestrian City - Scootaloo · 11:32pm Mar 1st, 2018
This week's Butterfly Effects is..Scootaloo!
Part of the survivors of The Canterlot Disaster, Scootaloo immediately lost her right arm as the wave hit her and her group of friends near the stage.
Waking up in the hospital in Equestrian City, the immediate effects of her exposure to the blast wave became apparent. She complained of a constant whistling in her ears that became unbearable after prolonged consciousness. The only way she was able to cope with it was to be sedated, which the medical professions began to worry would lead to serious complications. Jumping from specialist to specialist, she became lost in the health care system, one that was already trying to deal with regular casualties and injuries on top of the new magical ones.
Finally she was told there was no cure and to learn to adjust. Left with desperation as any hope of silence was gone, she received word that there was a scientist experimenting on magical injuries. The only catch was it was out of the country, in the Eastern Empire. A brief moment of whistling was all that it took to get her on the next boat to Sombra’s lands.
There she was escorted through processing and countless hoops to jump through to apply for citizenship. Passed from one scientist to another, each gave their approval that she was indeed beyond their abilities, sending her further and further up the testing line. It was just when she began to lose hope, that she became the next experiment of Professor Midnight, formerly known as Twilight Sparkle.
Little care for her safety was given, but Scootaloo was willing to take all the punishment needed to make the wind stop in her head. She gave herself to Midnight’s experiments, and after several weeks of endless prodding and poking, slicing and grafting, she woke up one day to silence. The genius that was Professor Midnight had cured her, and better still, harnessed the magic inside her to power a prosthetic arm.
Not expecting her to survive, Midnight was amused and continued to tinker with her latest toy, finally routing the wind through the arm she had been fitted with. Coupled with the earpieces she had made for her, Scootaloo became fiercely loyal out of gratitude. Assuming the role of assistant and bodyguard, Scootaloo now protects Professor Midnight from any would be threats, or lunch, whatever she requires.
Behind the Scenes
Scootaloo was actually brought into a scene early on by co-author Alisia! As I was mainly busy with the main cast, she was give. Free reign to define our lovely little chicken, Scootaloo!
Alisia put forward the idea that Scoots got wind power by absorbing a elemental spell. I loved the idea once we discussed it more and enjoyed taking Scootaloo's arm as it stayed in homage to her having disability. Several Mega man jokes later, we worked with Khuzang and took some time to flesh out her arm design. The Eastern Empire technological look had to be a mesh of both modern and ancient and I think we finally struck it right with the final image.
Not so much a villain but clearly not a hero, she walks a fine line between both mentalities. Fiercely devoted to the one person who gave her peace and quiet, time will tell what side, if any. She choses.
Art by Khuzang
Scootaloo by Hasbro
Equestrian City concepts by DarkMalcontent & Alisia
I really like this concept and idea. Scoots is like a mix of an airbender and the Winter Soldier (at least in regard to the mechanical arm thing)! Well, if she's morally ambiguous, that kind of ties in with some versions of the Soldier too, I guess XD
4808082
I totally didn't think about the winter solider! Good catch!
She turned out great n.n
4808099
These associations just pop into my head!
I'm a comic-book fanatic.
4808100
Good to know some of my in jokes and references will be well met then ;)
Hehe I'm very glad you had liked my idea for her and that this has worked out. I'm also hoping readers also enjoy her ^_^. It was the first thing to pop into my mind when I was writing with the Eastern Empire and Professor Midnight. It just struck me she would have an assistant and I wrote out about Scootaloo then told Mal about it and was glad he approved!
I also like how her design turned out as well with the artwork ^-^ I try to think of all characters, even secondary or background and since nothing had been said about Scoots as I had been writing the Eastern Empire section, the energy just showed me that for Scoot and showed me an idea for her having lost an arm and about the whistling from a never ending wind in her ears. It's good when the energy gives aid to revealing a character's current standing and history.
I can sympathize with Scootaloo on that part as I suffer from a similar condition. That sound is all you hear and it makes it extremely hard to focus or relax. She went to some great lengths to find a cure and she ended up with much more than she bargained for. Maybe it's for the best. With what we've seen from Midnight, can't really say one way or the other. Scootaloo feels she owes her a debt of gratitude. Only question is: How far is she willing to go before that debt is truly repaid?
4808306
My goodness that's awful. Yes when pain sets in lokng enough well do anything to make it stop. I too had severe bouts with this idea myself.
Indeed the only thing to do now is wait and see how Scoots adapts to being the bodyguard to a monster. Only time will tell. Thanks for the thoughts!
4808082
i thought more of the pied piper from dc
4812884
I can see that too. Totally, with the noise thing and all.
But the metal arm is VERY Bucky/Winter Soldier.
4808306
Just a question of if we'll see her confronted by Shadowstrike. That reunion ain't gonna be pretty.
5763998
It's inevitable...but when is the question :)
5764211
I know it'll happen, but will we see it? Offscreen encounters don't count, my friend.