//------------------------------// // Help Me Find My Daughter // Story: Stripped Away // by littlebrony //------------------------------// *Scootaloo, Scootaloo.* Sweetie Belle called, as she tried to locate her friend that had been missing for a week now. Her voice becoming weak from the constant calling. Sadness and despair could be heard in her voice, and bags began to hang under her eyes. From lack of sleep, and constantly crying. *Where could she be Apple Bloom? I am so worried about her. It's not like her to disappear like that.* Sweetie Belle said, with her ears lowered. Apple Bloom placed a hoof on Sweetie Belle’s back. *Don’t worry, I am sure we’ll find her.* Apple Bloom said. The doubt she felt, showing in her voice. Apple Bloom stopped in her tracks. *Come on Sweetie Belle think. Where would Scootaloo go? You know, to be alone.* Both fillies looked at each other. Only to sit down and hang their heads. They had been friends with Scootaloo for awhile, and still only knew so much about her. Scootaloo was not one to talk about her past. It was always like there was something that she didn't want anypony to know about. Meanwhile at Twilight’s castle. Twilight was running around, trying to find a tracking spell. She knew that she had one, when she lived at the library. But now, even though she still had a lot of books. She had only read about 70% of them. *Spike, have you found anything yet?* Twilight asked, only to find the little dragon sleeping in a pile of books. Her heart ached, she had been so concerned with finding Scootaloo, that she worked Spike like a slave. Her horn lit up, and Spike began to hover in the air. Twilight used her magic to carry Spike back to his room, and put him to bed. On her way back into the library, a book caught her eye. Once Lost, Now Found. The book title read. Twilight’s eyes lit up. *Oh my gosh, this has to be it.* she thought, as she got to work studying the books contents. Rainbow Dash was scanning the skies looking for any trace of the little filly. Ever since she heard that she had gone missing. Rainbow had tried everything she knew, to find the filly she considered a sister. She remembered going to the orphanage, the morning she went missing. To drop off Scootaloo's birthday present. She really wanted to see her, but was already running late for work. And the Wonderbolts, did not take tardiness well. Now she was blaming herself, for Scootaloo's disappearance. *Oh squirt, where are you at?* She thought to herself, while flying over the town for the hundredth time. Even the tough mare that Scootaloo looked up to. Started to shed tears. She was lost without Scootaloo. *Hey Rainbow Dash.* A voice called from below. Rainbow Dash looked down to see Apple Jack. Rainbow Dash was quick to loop around, and land in front of her. In hopes that she had found something. *What's up AJ?* Rainbow asked. *I looked the farm over, and came up with nothing. I even gave Zecora a visit.* Apple Jack removed her hat. *Even she can't find her, or conjure up anything to find her.* Apple Jack said, as she hung her head low. *Girls!* A voice called from the distance. Rainbow, and Apple Jack turned to see Twilight. She was running at full speed towards them. *I think I found a way to find Scootaloo.* Twilight yelled as she approached her friends. Instantly their faces showed a new life, when they heard the good news. *What did ya find Twilight?* Apple Jack asked as Twilight reached them. *I found a tracking spell!* she said, gasping for breath. She was not used to running, and always found herself weak after a hard run. *A tracking spell?* asked Rainbow Dash. *Yes a tracking spell. I found it in the new section of the library. It was in with a the cooking enchantments, I have no clue how it got there. Unless Spike got preoccupied with food again. And that could be the case since….* *Twilight!* Apple Jack yelled. *Could you tell us about the spell please.* Twilight blushed, realizing that she was rambling again. *Yes, the spell. Well in order for the spell to work, I am going to need an item from Scootaloo. The reason being. Is that the item will have traces of magic, that only Scootaloo’s body can produce. And this Magic is only attached to things that means a lot to her.* Apple Jack ,and Rainbow Dash looked at each other. *The only thing she really has, is her Scooter. And she was last seen riding it.* Said Rainbow Dash. *Come on Rainbow Dash, you two are like sisters. You gotta have a idea where she might have went.* Apple Jack said, knowing that if they didn't find her soon. She could very well die. Rainbow Dash sat down, and stared off into the distance. Her mind drifted back to a conversation, she had with Scootaloo a few years back. Then an Idea hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt so stupid, that she didn't remember it sooner. *Girls i think that I may know where she is.* Rainbow said quickly jumping to her hooves. The girls looked at her waiting for her to continue, only to watch her take off towards the forest. She was moving so fast she formed a Sonic Rainboom that shook the ground. This alerted everyone that Rainbow Dash was hot on the trail of Scootaloo. Soon Rarity, Apple Jack, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were following a rainbow trail in the sky. Rainbow Dash landed next to an old murky pond. Her eye began scanning the area for any signs of the orange filly. Her eyes soon fell upon the sight of Scootaloo’s scooter, propped up again the entrance of a small cave in the rock. *Squirt!* Rainbow Dash yelled as she made her way over to the cave. She looked inside only to find a few stray hairs from her mane, and a hoof print in the dirt. She fell back on her rear, and the dam broke. She was sure that she would find her here. But seeing Scootaloo’s scooter there without her. Made her fear the worst. Her mind flashed back to all the memories her, and Scootaloo had shared over the last few years. One stuck out to her. She had just took Scootaloo out for some sister time at the park. She had been play hard with her all day, and decided to get Scootaloo some ice cream. Upon giving the orange filly the cone. She said thanks mom. Before realizing what she said, and quickly turning towards her cone, and devouring it. The word mom Began to echo in her head. And she realized that she cared more for that filly than any sister, She cared for her like she was her own. Like she was Scootaloo’s mother. Rainbow drug herself off the ground and stepped out of the cave. *Scootaloo if I ever find you. I promise I will quit the wonderbolts and become your mother.* Rainbow said, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. *Rainbow Dash where are you?* Twilight yelled as they trekked along the old overgrown path. Hoping that Rainbow Dash had found Scootaloo. *I’m over here egg head.* Rainbow yelled, from just beyond the bushes. Twilight pushed through the bushes and out into a clearing. Where Rainbow Dash Stood. Signs of her crying still evident in her coat. *Rainbow did you find anything?* Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash pointed over to the small cave where Scootaloo's scooter stood, propped up against the rock. *I found her scooter, but she is nowhere to be found.* Rainbow said, still trying to hold back another round of tears. *Scootaloo are you there, Scootaloo.* Sweetie Belle called. With nothing more than a cool breeze to answer her in return. Apple Bloom walked up to Twilight and looked up to her. *Twilight please find Scootaloo, cause without her. We are not the Cutie Mark Crusaders. And I really miss my friend.* Twilight placed a hoof on Apple Bloom. *Don’t worry, I know that we will find her. This spell is made for this kind of thing.* As much as Apple Bloom wanted to take comfort in Twilight's words. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. *Ok Somepony bring me the scooter. We need to do this now, quicker we do this, the quicker we can find Scootaloo.* Twilight said, as Apple Bloom quickly brought the scooter over. *Ok so this should only take a moment.* Twilight said, as she positioned herself in front of the scooter. Her horn began to glow a deep purple and the scooter began to glow as well. A beam came from the scooter and projected itself in front of the ponies. Making a screen, and on the screen was Scootaloo. It showed her jumping from the rock and trying to fly, only to land in the pond below. And her trying time, and time again. Only to fail every time. She then tried one more time, and once again fell into the point. But this time when she did, the pond began to glow a bright white. It showed Scootaloo falling through this portal, and being ejected out of a pond on the other side. This one in another world. Everypony could tell that Scootaloo was scared for her life. It was then shown as she sprinted head first into a tree trying to run from something in the woods. Twilight saw the figure approach Scootaloo. *Oh my Celestia, it's a human.* Twilight said in shock. *A Human!!!* All the ponies said simultaneously. *Yes a human. You know the thing I become every time I go through that mirror in my castle.* *Hush everypony I want to see what it's doing with Scootaloo.* Rainbow Dash yelled. Every pony watched as the events unfolded in front of them. Time then began to go faster until it came to a scene where Scootaloo, was sitting and a porch, Wearing a hooded sweat shirt and a light blue short skirt. *This is what she is doing right now everypony.* Twilight said. Rainbow Dash began to walk forward. *Rainbow what are you doing?* asked Twilight. *Maybe I can touch her somehow. Let her know we that know where she is.* Rainbow said, as she approached Scootaloo. *Rainbow Dash that won't…….* Twilight said, as something began to happen. Rainbow’s hoof began to glow as it touched Scootaloo. Everypony watched as Scootaloo’s fur reacted to Rainbow’s touch. A tear came to Rainbow’s eye. *Don’t worry squirt, I will find a way to bring you home. Rainbow Dash said, as the magical barrier around them started to fade, and break apart. Rainbow Dash stared at the fading image, of the little filly she cared so much for. Her fur now wet with tears. As the Image faded away, Applejack approached Rainbow Dash and placed a hoof on her shoulder. *Don’t ya worry there sugar cube. We will get her back home, before ya know it.* Rainbow Dash turned to look at the others. *Thanks everypony for helping me find my daughter.* She said, before blasting off into the sky. Leaving a rainbow trail behind her. *Do you think she is going to be ok?* Rarity asked. *Yeah I reckon she will be fine. She just needs to clear her head for a bit.* AppleJack said, with a smile as she watched Rainbow Dash vanish into distance. …………………………………………………………………………… *Mike that felt really good, why did you have to stop? Scootaloo asked. Mike looked at Scootaloo with a puzzled look on his face. *What are you talking about Scootaloo? I have not even touched you.* Mike said in confusion. *It kinda felt like, when Rainbow Dash would rub my back after a good workout.* Scootaloo said, closing her eyes. Recalling the workout she had with Rainbow Dash, just a few weeks ago. *Don’t worry squirt, I will find a way to bring you home.* Rainbow’s voice said as it seemed she was right behind her. Causing Scootaloo to turn around quickly. *Rainbow Dash!* She screamed as she turned around. Only to see there was nothing there. Scootaloo’s ears folded back in disappointment. *She was right here. I just heard her, I know I did.* She said as she collapsed in a fit of tears. Mike could not stand seeing the little filly like that. He slowly walked over to Scootaloo, and picked her up in his arms. Scootaloo nuzzled up close to his chest, and all that could be heard was her muffled cries. Mike held her close and walked slowly with her around the house. Stroking her mane along the way, trying to calm the poor filly down. He soon found himself laying down on her bed. He thought that possibly it make calm her down, if she was in a place where she felt comfort. Hey laid there for awhile, until he heard her sobs turn into little sniffs. Scootaloo's body was beginning to relax again. He could her breaths become slow and rhythmic. He moved slowly, so he could get a better look at her. She was fast asleep in his arms. Once again sucking on her hoof. Mike’s heart melted. *This must be what it's like to be a parent.* He thought to himself. Instead of trying to slip away from Scootaloo, he decided that he would just stay with her tonight. Just incase she woke up needing comfort. Mike just laid there until sleep finally overcame him as well.