//------------------------------// // Famous Last Words // Story: 30 Days/ 30 Stories // by Fenton //------------------------------// “Thanks again for coming on such a short notice, Scootaloo.” “No problem, Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo checked her harness one last time, slightly tugging at the ropes. Satisfied, she looked down from the catwalk at the stage below. “I would have felt bad to let Tender Taps down,” she added. Apple Bloom frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “No no no,” Scootaloo quickly replied , seeing her friend’s face. “Don’t get me wrong, Taps is a cool guy, that’s all.” Apple Bloom’s frown deepened and Scootaloo started sweating. “Well, maybe not cool, just… nice, hehe. A nice guy I’m glad to help, just like anypony else.” Apple Bloom took a step forward, and Scootaloo gulped hard. Since she was hooked to the catwalk, she had nowhere to flee. “You know, now that I think about it, you’re the one I’m helping,” said Scootaloo. “If you hadn’t told me about this, I probably wouldn’t have come.” “I much prefer that,” said Apple Bloom with a smile. Scootaloo sighed with relief, wiping her head with her hoof. “Are you two still going to Sugarcube Corner after the show?” she asked. “Sure thing. And maybe we’ll finally go to the third base,” replied Apple Bloom, lost in her fantasy. “Ewww.” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “You have somethin’ to say, Scootaloo?” “No,” she gasped. She then noticed the music was ending. “Well, that’s my cue, be right back.” She jumped from the catwalk, ready to grab the cardboard panel used as a background. However, while she had carefully checked her harness, she had forgotten to tie one of the ropes with a clove hitch. Too late did she notice that her fall was too fast. She crashed into Tender Taps, and everything went dark. When she regained consciousness a few seconds later, she felt something wet and awkward on her lips. She opened her eyes and found herself mouth to mouth with a blushing Tender Taps. Her eyes widened. She tried to immediately back up, but, because of the rope, they were both entangled in a body mess. Scootaloo flailed, and after two minutes of intense struggle, she finally managed to get her mouth away from Tender’s. She took a huge breath of fresh air. “Ugh! Gross!” she spat. Then she heard a threatening growl above her. She took a look at the catwalk. Apple Bloom was drooling, her eyes filled with hatred. “Eeeep” “SCOOTALOOOOOOO!” The scream echoed throughout Ponyville while a young pegasus was running for her dear life. Why didn’t I bring my scooter?, she cursed herself. There is no chance I can outrun her! She turned right after the Toy Shop but came to a dead end. She turned back and started to run but stopped when she saw a figure looming in the shadows of the small alley. “Scootaloo!” Scootaloo stepped backwards until she felt the coldness of bricks on her back. She was cornered. “It was an accident!” she shouted. “I promise!” Apple Bloom was slowly walking towards her, releasing murder wish from all of her body. “I never meant for this to happen, I swear! Please, Apple Bloom, we’re friends, remember? Cutie Mark Crusaders forever,” she said, pointing at her flank. Apple Bloom kept walking, ignoring her pleading. “Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks. Now he will have some experience when you two will kiss.” Apple Bloom only grunted in response. “I’m too young to die! I never had the chance to fly yet. Please, spare me!” She hid her head between her hooves, pointlessly hoping it would make her disappear. “Any last words?” asked Apple Bloom. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered. She braced herself for the fatal blow. Maybe it would be painless, maybe Apple Bloom would be quick, in honor of all the things they had shared as friends. When she didn’t feel anything after a minute, she carefully opened her eyes. There was another figure next to Apple Bloom. “... looking for you. Weren’t we supposed to meet at Sugarcube Corner?” Scootaloo didn’t hear Apple Bloom’s reply but she saw Tender Taps smiling. He then leaned forward and kissed her. Still too shocked to react, Scootaloo watched them leaving the alley. She couldn’t believe  in her luck and did the only thing she could do after all the emotion. She fainted.