//------------------------------// // The wheels of fate begin to turn. // Story: The Witch of the Everfree Forest! // by FLUTTERxxDASH //------------------------------// The Witch Of The Everfree Forest! Written By Serra Quill "So you got to stay at Twilight’s last night?" Sweetie asked as she brought another spoon of pudding to her mouth with a hum of delight. Applebloom was off to the side of them, looking across the yard since she had already finished her dinner, "So what was it like, stayin’ in the Everfree at night Ah’ mean?" Her bow bobbed as she looked back at her two friends, "Was' it full of creepy noises, or did yah' hear Twilight snorin', cause she said she was' old n' granny can snore for all of Equestria combined." Bloom said with a chuckle. "It was alright, I guess... I mean, it's not like there was any danger in Twi's house, though my Dad wasn't happy this morning but he's always like that, even when I stay at the clubhouse, or one of your houses." Sighing she put her half eaten apple down, and without much appetite it would probably stay that way. Then she looked back at Bloom, "and to answer your second question, Twilight didn't snore, though Spike did," she picked her apple up and placed it back in the small plastic bag before shoving it back in her backpack. Sweetie Belle was currently scraping the last of her sugary goodness out of her pudding cup as she plopped the spoon in her mouth, "Sho, wur yu awright," swallowing the chocolate she put her spoon back down, "this morning I mean... did your Dad do anything?" Sweetie and Applebloom had known what Scootaloo’s home situation had been like for a long time, but no matter what they said to get her to tell someone else about her Dad, even to Rarity or Applejack, neither could convince Scootaloo to ask for help. Scootaloo looked down at the table as she began twiddling her thumbs, "Just the usual really, Mum was in bed, but I at least got to see auntie this morning as she had some deliveries in Ponyville. That's where I got the money for lunch," Scoot smirked, "Not like Dad would ever use any of his booze money on me, plus the fridge was empty this morning," groaning she thunked her head on the wooden bench, "maybe I should take the offer," she mumbled. Bloom looked over to Sweetie, who was also looking over to her, "Well, if'n yah' want, maybe you could come to mine tonight? Ah'l ask Applejack if yo-" "Sorry Bloom but... I really can't, I've got to go see Twi about.. something," she said worriedly, hoping that they wouldn't inquire further, she loved her friends and would usually tell them anything but this was a decision she had to make by herself. Applebloom looked over to Sweetie again to see her shrug her shoulders, "Well, maybe another day then?" "I could even ask my Dad if I could stay over too," Sweetie added with that high pitched voice only early teens have. Putting her chin on her arms, she smiled over at her two best friends, "Yeah, I'd really like that, sorry that it can't be tonight." Scootaloo apologised. Applebloom was about to say something else as the bell rang, making Sweetie groan as she got to her feet, "This sucks, it didn't even feel like forty minutes, and now I have to go to Magic 101..." she admitted, groaning again. Scoots looked at her confused, "I thought you wanted to learn magic? Or am I missing something?" she asked. "No, it's just stupid that I have to sit and listen to lectures about how to use magic without being allowed to actually do any magic, since its Magic 101... practicals don't start until next year in Magic 201." she answered with yet another groan. Applebloom nodded her head in agreement, "Ah feel yah, Ah grew up on a farm. Ah already know what Ah need tah' fer' growin' crops since Sis has already taught me, plus Ah'd have tah' be blind to not learn as I did mah' chores. So when it came tah' Earth Magic class for us Null Magic users, more in-tune with nature... sure, most don't just do crops and don’t practice as much as Ah' did, still don't mean that we can shirk away from lessons." Applebloom said, pointedly making her way to a different building. It finally dawned on her, Scootaloo realised it was that day again, when all the different races in school had specific lessons, meaning she also had to go to her flight class... to yet again feel bad that she would have to try and fail to stay in a hover. So with a groan of her own, she swung her backpack over her shoulder and trudged across the yard. I don't think at this point there really is anything stopping me from making this obvious decision... Steam rose above her cup as she looked down at the newborn Phoenix, sitting in its shell between two other tremendously massive birds that were ablaze, two bright blue eyes stared up into the azure sky for the first time as the baby was nuzzled by its mother. I remember when I first hatched Spike like this, though there was an explosion, as well as being in a cave for many other reasons. It was still one of the happiest days of my life, to finally have someone to hold dear again, to train and to have a family again. Twilight sipped her tea as she looked downstream, a train of ducks were drifting by the side, cleaning off from their trip through the woods. I hope you have someone to hold dear, little sister of mine. Celestia stood calmly by a large carriage, hearing the ruckus of her student and her personal guards coming from inside the castle’s side entrance. She moved slightly to the left of the door, just before it swung open, a guard clattering to the floor with a fiery bird pecking at his helmet. Sighing Celestia stepped in to stop her friend from yet again having to make her order a new guard suit for the poor soldier. "You know that Philomena gets testy when you bug Sunset so much, what was it this time?" she asked, the Phoenix flying to her arm as she held it out, Celestia giggling at the situation, but not at the guard. Brushing his helmet off, looking back through the doors at Sunset was none other than a guard in training, Flash Sentry, who was also Sunset’s childhood friend. "I didn't do anything, I offered to carry her bags, that's all I swear," he replied, his eyes shifting back and forth. "Not mentioning the fact that he wouldn't shut up about how dangerous and blah, blah, blah. What?" Sunset asked, seeing the Princess giving her the look. Celestia sighed as she ordered the Valkyries at the front of the carriage to move Sunset’s bags onto the roof of the vehicle, "He is not wrong though, but you asked to go there. I suggested that you should take your Guards and you immediately said no. I understand you can take care of yourself but it wouldn't hurt to at least take Flash would it?" "No, but I’m still not taking any of them.." Celestia looked to her student who had her arms crossed, "Then I guess there is no changing your mind. I am sorry Flash, we both know how stubborn she is." Celestia said with a smile, "At least try to be careful, for me, and do try to have some fun." she said as she held her arms out. Sunset sighed as she uncrossed her arms, a smile coming to her face as she leant in for the hug, "I will, I promise, I mean c'mon... Pinkie is waiting for me with a party planned already I bet." she said with a laugh. "Quite, that girl knows nothing in the way of normality when it comes to the world. She is one enigma that will probably baffle me for centuries to come." Celestia agreed as she laughed. Looking down at her student once more, she released her hug, letting Sunset board through the side door of the carriage, closing for her before she stuck her head out the window, saying to her, "Remember my faithful student, you always have my full confidence and trust, no matter what." "I know, I won't let you down Princess, I swear I will find the Elements of Harmony," Sunset declared as the carriage began to ascend into the air, pulled by the four Valkyries. I know you will… We know you will... Good luck, it's not long now until she is here. Twilight was writing into a large book, eyes flicking to and from another book, looking at the data she had gathered earlier in the day on a new type of fungus that had appeared near the far north caves, as she heard a knock on the door. Getting up, she moved to her door and unlatched the bolt with magic and opened the door fully to show Scootaloo stood there with a backpack nearly spilling with clothes and another bag tied to her scooter handle bars filled with more stuff. "I've made my decision!" Scootaloo declared as she walked through the door.