It's almost Hearth's Warming Eve, and everypony is looking forward to spending the holiday season at home with their families. Everypony, that is, except Scootaloo. Her two best friends are about to learn that sometimes friendship is the best gift you can ever give.

It could have been just another night. Instead, Vinyl Scratch leaves a show to find herself suddenly presented with a chance to make a difference in the life of a filly no one else will look twice at. Now if only she can convince Octavia she's not making a huge mistake...as usual.

Note: This story now has an indirect sequel set several years in the future in The Most Unlikely Places. Cover art by SonicDash777.

Rainbow Dash is dead.

Scootaloo knows this, but that does not mean she will accept it. Equestria is a land of magic and hope—what is one more miracle among hundreds? This is the question that drives her forward when she stumbles upon a Daring Do book that seemingly shows her a means of bringing back the dead. Driven by painful memories and a desperation to make up for her own mistakes, Scootaloo ventures on a quest to bring her fallen idol back to the land of the living. Embarking on a journey far from the world they know, Scootaloo and her friends find the line between fact and fiction—reality and delusion—blurring with each step.

Originally envisioned and published in 2012. Resurrected in 2019. Be wary of potential spoilers in the comments

Cover by the awesome and talented Conicer

Scootaloo has never really cared much for Pinkie Pie, and she definitely doesn’t like the way Pinkie calls her hero “Dashie.” But for some strange reason, Pinkie seems fixated on her and insistent on meddling in Scootaloo’s life. Whether Scootaloo likes it or not.

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Though Scootaloo normally appears to be a happy and lively little filly, every once in a while she reacts in a way that catches other ponies attention. Especially the ponies she spends the most time with, Rainbow Dash and her friends, seems to take notice of these little things.

When she finally reacts in a way that cannot be ignored, it is up to Rainbow Dash to find out what terrible secret Scootaloo is really hiding.

Scootaloo and her friends have long been crusading for their cutie marks, but after a long string of failures, Scootaloo is more desperate than ever. Desperate enough to try something as namby-pamby as - ugh - dancing. Will Scootaloo find that dancing's more fun than she expected, or will she end up once again covered in tree sap? Read this to find out!

Featured on Equestria Daily on 7/25/12.

I have always been alone in this forest. I have always feasted in this forest. I call this forest home and those ponies that travel through it are my prey. I devour all those who fear me, all who come to face me. They fear me for I am Fear incarnate. But now...I have met one who does not fear...and I am unsure of what do with her...

Image by the very awesome thewraithofwolf

After realising that Scootaloo has never been to Cloudsdale, Rainbow takes the filly to the citadel of the pegasi, much to Scootaloo's excitement.

A short sketch for Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo; gentle friendshipping.

Update: It was translated into French! Have a link: Scootaloo à Cloudsdale
Update 2: And then it was translated into Russian! Wow! Скуталу в Клаудсдейле

One night, an amazing display lit up the sky over Ponyville. A comet, brighter than any in living memory, was making its way through the sea of stars. The residents of the town gathered en masse to witness the spectacle. As was the tradition for such an occasion, many ponies made a wish on the celestial body, hoping that maybe, just maybe, some of them might come true...

Hearth's Warming Eve has come once again, which means fun in the snow, warm food, and spending time with family. At least, that's what it means for most ponies. For Scootaloo it means a day off from crusading, loneliness, and the coldest night of the year. When Discord begins to whisper to her from his stone prison, she questions the beliefs held by many. What was so great about Harmony? What could be so bad about a world where chocolate milk fell from the sky?

Thanks to The Band Brony, Gsppcrocks10, Inkscrawler, TheBuggiest, and minjask6572 for help with editing. Thanks to SStwins for the awesome cover art.

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