//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: She'll never fly now // by Sullishy //------------------------------// Cheerilee had just finished her book and was just about to head to bed when she heard a swift knock on her front door, she quickly went to answer it, so she could get rid of them and get to bed, she opened the door and found Magnum Glass standing on her doorstep “good evening Magnum, how are you”? Cheerilee greeted cheerfully “good evening to you too Cheerilee, and not to good, I have some bad news for you, can I come in”? Magnum asked her “oh yes of course” Cheerilee answered, stepping aside to let Magnum into her home, “would you like something to drink” Cheerilee offered when they were both sat in the front room “no thank you” Magnum declined politely “so what is this bad news you have to tell me” Cheerilee enquired “this is really difficult for me to have to tell you this and I really wish I didn’t have to, but earlier today, your pupil Scootaloo was found dead in her home” Cheerilee let out a large gasp but didn’t speak to allow Magnum to continue “she was beaten to death by her own mother, and evidence has come to light that she was the victim of abuse for much of her young life” Magnum finished “that is truly awful, she was far to young and sweet for such a terrible act to happen, such a waste of life, she was always such a lovely filly, always there for her friends and classmates, she really didn’t deserve this” Cheerilee told Magnum, her voice cracking, Magnum decided it would be best to leave now and let Cheerilee grieve on her own. Cheerilee saw Magnum out and after bidding him goodnight, she made her way up to bed, she laid down and tried to sleep but she couldn’t, all that kept running through her mind was a memory of a particular day when she had a one on one tutoring session with Scootaloo. FLASHBACK “Scootaloo, can you see me after school please” Cheerilee asked quietly before letting Scootaloo out for her lunch break “of course Miss Cheerilee” Scootaloo answered before walking slowly out of the classroom and into the playground. The end of the day come and Scootaloo remained seated while her classmates all rushed out to enjoy the after school sunshine, Scootaloo moved to a seat in the front row to be closer to her teacher “Scootaloo, is everything okay with you right now”? Cheerilee asked “yes Miss Cheerilee” Scootaloo answered “are you sure? I’ve noticed your grades are dropping and you seem withdrawn and not your usual self and I have to admit I’m getting a bit worried about you” Cheerilee admitted, Scootaloo hesitated on answering “is it anything here at school”? Cheerilee questioned, Scootaloo shook her head “are you having a problem with any bullies”? Cheerilee tried again and again Scootaloo shook her head again “what about anything at home, any problems there”? Cheerilee questioned, no reply from Scootaloo “Scootaloo, you know you can talk to me about anything, anything at all that may be bothering you, you can trust me not to say anything” she informed her pupil, Scootaloo looked at her as if she had something to say, but something was stopping her from saying it “I’m sorry Miss Cheerilee I can’t, I really can’t” Scootaloo half yelled as she ran out of the classroom leaving Cheerilee bewildered and wondering what the young filly was so scared of. It played on her mind for ages after but she put it to one side in her mind and eventually she forgot about it. Until tonight “is this all my fault”? Cheerilee asked herself Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were lying on Apple Blooms bed, both still very upset and both not saying a word to the other, Sweetie Belle sniffed and wiped a tear away for what seemed to be the millionth time “hey Sweetie” Apple Bloom sniffed “hmmm”? Sweetie Belle replied “do you remember they day we all met”? Apple Bloom asked “yeah I do” Sweetie Belle answered, thinking back to the day of Diamond Tiara’s cutesinara FLASHBACK “come on girls, lets get out of here” Scootaloo suggested, she turned around and began to walk out when a voice piped up from the back of the room “can we come with you” “uhh, sure, ah guess” Apple Bloom answered, and with that said everypony quickly ran out of Diamond Tiara’s cutesinara, leaving just her and Silver Spoon alone, back outside Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got away from the group “you realise we just totally ruined Diamond Tiara’s cutesinara”? Sweetie Belle mentioned “yeah, she’s gonna make our lives a misery from now on” Apple Bloom added, a look of worry appearing across her face “girls, you’re worrying for nothing, now that the three of us are friends we don’t have to worry about Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon anymore, we’re gonna be untouchable together” Scootaloo told them confidently “the best of friends” she added, smiling at the other two and with that they went off to play. “she was right you know” Sweetie Belle said, half smiling, half crying “huh, what do you mean”? Apple Bloom asked “we hardly ever had Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon hassle us anymore after that day” Sweetie Belle answered “that’s true” Apple Bloom smiled in spite of the hurt she was feeling. The day of Scootaloo’s funeral had finally arrived and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were getting ready at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity having made them two new dresses for the occasion, again not a lot was said between the two friends until once again Apple Bloom reminded Sweetie Belle of a memory the three friends had shared FLASHBACK It was during the Zap Apple Harvest that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s life changed for good, it was during this time that the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally earned their Cutie Marks. Apple Bloom had finally learned enough in Granny Smiths opinion to finally make a whole batch of Zap Apple Jam on her own, as she finished there was a flash of light and on her flank appeared a heat shaped Zap Apple, “Oh my god! I finally have my Cutie Mark” Apple Bloom beamed “congrats Apple Bloom” Granny Smith smiled, giving her youngest granddaughter a hug “I’m gonna go and tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo” Apple Bloom babbled excitedly as she finished hugging Granny Smith and ran out to find her two best friends, she found Sweetie Belle first “hey Sweetie Belle, guess what, guess what” Apple Bloom called out excitedly “I GOT MY CUTIE MARK” they both yelled at the same time “you too”? they asked, again at the same time “yeah” Sweetie Belle answered, turning to her side to allow Apple Bloom to see her Cutie Mark, it was a pink heart with a microphone in the middle of it with the cord wrapping itself around the heart “wow, this is the best day ever” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. They was on their way to find Scootaloo when they ran into another young pony, the pony was strong, strong enough to send Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle flying, they picked themselves up as the young pony turned around “HEY!” the young pony yelled “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING” he continued to yell at the two Cutie Mark Crusaders “we’re really sorry mister” Apple Bloom apologised backing away from the irate pony “the name is Midnight Shade and yeah you’re gonna be sorry now” Midnight Shade threatened, closing in on Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom who were still trying to back away from Midnight Shade “HEY! Midnight, leave those two alone” Scootaloo called out, drawing Midnight’s attention away from her two friends “or what?” Midnight asked, turning to Scootaloo “or you’ll have to deal with me” Scootaloo replied, unflinching as she stood hoof to hoof with Midnight Shade, who stared her down for a minute before announcing “forget this, I’m out of here” and as he galloped off, there was a familiar flash of light appeared on her flank and she, like her two friends today had finally received her Cutie Mark, it was a tan heart with a sword going through the top of it but unlike her friends, the colours of her Cutie Mark were tan, white and yellow, the coat colours of her and her two friends, she looked over at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle “are you two okay”? Scootaloo asked them “yeah we’re fine… thanks to you” Apple Bloom smiled “and look! You got your Cutie Mark”! she beamed “hey! Yeah I did” Scootaloo smiled looking over at her two best friends “this is the…” Scootaloo began “BEST DAY EVER!” the three of them yelled out ecstatically. “I wish she was still with us” Apple Bloom sniffed “me too” Sweetie Belle agreed, putting her hoof around her friends shoulder, Apple Bloom smiled at the gesture and got up off of the bed as she and Sweetie Belle left Carousal Boutique and headed off towards the funeral of their best friend. 2 MONTHS LATER…. The rain continued to pour as Thunder Runner walked up to his sister’s gravestone ‘I’m here far too soon’ he thought to himself, he sat down next to her and began to talk to her, knowing he’ll never get an answer “hey kiddo, I hope you’re well, nothings the same without you anymore, Dark Wing got sent to prison for life, she’s gonna be in the Canterlot dungeons for the rest of her miserable life, the only problem with that is I’ll have to see her more often than I’d want to… yeah I made it into the Royal Guards” Thunder Runner began, letting his tears flow freely, mixing in with the rain already soaking him “I’m sorry, I truly am, I should have been there to protect you and to keep you safe and I failed, I let her hurt you, but no more, she can’t hurt you anymore now, you’re finally safe now” “he continued, he took off his helmet to reveal a purple streak going though the middle of his royal blue mane “you’ll never be forgotten and you’ll always be with me, flying higher than that evil mare ever thought you would, we’ll be flying high together, like we always promised” Thunder Runner finished, he got up and kissed the top of the gravestone “I’ll see you soon kiddo, love you always” Thunder whispered as he flew off.