Chapter 11
Scootaloo was seriously annoyed.
How long can she hang on this tree ?
When she slipped from the Twilight's wing's grasp, she surely did not expect to end up in the Royal Gardens.
That was the most horrible position she was throughout her entire life. Her butt was stuck between tree branches and she was hanging there, twenty meters above the ground.
" Seriously ? Something epicis happening and all I get is being stuck on a tree ? Really ? This is humiliating ?" Scootaloo thought, struggling with the branches clenching her flanks.
If there was some danger, Scootaloo wanted to be in the first line of the battle, impressing everypony around. Now, everypony was probably facing some evil monster, villain or anything with evilness inside. Scootaloo, on the other hoof was just lamely hanging with her butt stuck between the branches.
She knew that the situation was serious.
She knew that this was probably "threat on Equestria" league and she should not feel the way she felt.
But she was bored and annoyed from the lack of...well, any action around. She could not help it.
"Think, Scootaloo, think ! Don't let some stupid tree beat you" she hissed, trying once again to change her position and fell to the ground.
She then stopped herself. She hated to admit it but she needed a better plan for this. Freeing herself will not change a thing. If she falls down from that height, she will probably break her spine. Or worse.
It would not be a problem if she was a normal pegasus.
But she wasn't...
Scootaloo was starting to have a headache. She could not be upside down for much longer. She sighed and tried to fold her body, pulling herself up
"Hyyyyyyyppppp!!!!"
She find a place for her head to rest. But now her body was now shaped into an asymmetrical letter U and she knew that she won't be able to remain in that position either.
It was a good thing that Rainbow Dash wasn't around. Scootaloo would be so embarrassed
Scootaloo sobbed quietly. For some reason, her emotions were resurfacing since she got into the castle even though she did not wanted them here. Not when she was fighting for her life.
But as always in her life, fate did not know the art of proper timing.
Her emotions exploded inside of her as a volcano.
Scootaloo burst into tears. She could only cry, she did not have the luxury of moving.
She cried for hopelessness of current situation. She came a long way since she met Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. All of the three craved for a not-broken, happy family. Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's parents were unconsciously but consequently shuffling them away and Applebloom's parents were dead. After Crusaders met each other, they became closer than friends, even closer than sisters. Scootaloo usually didn't like to be all softy and caring, but the truth was that there was no words that could express her emotions towards Applebloom... and Sweetie Belle.
Beside family, she also wanted an acknowledgement she never received. And she wanted it even more since that faithful day... Her eyes widened as the memory consumed her...
************************
"Scootaloo, you can go to the park and play with your friends. I will check on you later." said Summer Blaze, rubbing Scootaloo's head.
Scootaloo was trying to keep her smile up, when she heard that sentence. They never checked on her... she had to head home all by herself.
Maybe her mommy didn't care after all. She didn't even realize she had no friends in fillygarten.
Scootaloo recently turned 7 and sometimes her parents let her play with other fillies. Except there was never any others. She was sitting there and wished to not know why she is avoided. Unfortunately, she had a rather good explanation.
She still could not fly. Of course, no one tried to tease her in public, but she knew that everypony was whispering and giggling behind her back. Even her own parents. Scootaloo could not understand why nopony could understand her. If anypony did care, they would brought her to the doctor, tried to fix her up...if there was anything that could be fixed.
But her parents noticed and did not do a thing. How could that be ? She was not a freak. Right ?
Right ?
She didn't do anything to this world. She did not ask for this. So why nopony could understand ?...
" Watch out !!!"
Scootaloo snapped out of the dullness of her thoughts to see a grey silhouette flying with incredible speed towards her.
"Take cover !!!"
Luckily, Scootaloo had a time to duck and the flying pony collided with a nearby tree.
Scootaloo closed the distance between her and the crash-landed
"Miss... are you all right ?"
After a few moments of struggle, a grey head with a messy blond mane emerged from a hole in a tree. The mare shook her head
"Whoa...that certainly was something" she giggled
She flew down and landed in front of Scootaloo. The face with two amber wall eyes was now adorned by a big grin.
"Sorry for that, I did not mean to scare you. Sometimes I am losing control of my flight." she reached a hoof, still smiling widely " My name is Ditzy, Ditzy Doo. But you can call me Derpy. My friends call me that and you seem like a nice filly"
Scootaloo smiled timidly
"Thank you, miss...Derpy. This is nice, not many ponies are saying a good stuff about me"
Derpy's smile slowly turned to a frown.
"Why would they ever..."
Scootaloo sadly pointed at her undeveloped wings.
After a moment, understanding flashed in Derpy's eyes.
"Oh, I see. Do you have a time to sit with me for a while ?"
Scootaloo hesitated for a while, remembering all the times her parents told her not to trust strangers. But then she felt the anger burning inside of her. If she reasons that way, she will have to exclude her parents as well since their level of care for her daughter was...well, pretty low.
She sighed and answered bluntly
"Sure"
Derpy gently wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo and they flew to the spot on the nearby tree, designed especially for pegasi to sit on.She sat next to Scootaloo and they started observe the park from above.
"So, little one, does anyone tease you for being not like everyponyelse ?" asked the grey mare.
Scootaloo gave her an irritated glare and then shouted
"What do you think ? Of course they are !!! Those jerks are treating me like a trash even though I did nothing to them, to the world, to anypony anywhere !!! Why can't they just see who I really am !!!"
She closed her eyes and began to shake, tears dropping down to the wooden platform.
Suddenly, she felt a motion in the air and felt a hoof touching her back.
"Hey..."
"Get off me !!!!!!! You are all the same !!!! Just leave me be !!!!" Scootaloo yelled again.
Derpy was silent.
...
...
...
...
What was that smell ? Scootaloo carefully opened up her eyes. She was been lying on the platform, crying, yelling and bucking the air for ten minutes before she finally calmed down.
And now it was that smell...
Scootaloo looked around and noticed Derpy, reaching to her. In her hoof was a muffin
"Do you want some ? A muffin is always a good medicine when a pony feels blue. "
Scootaloo dried her eyes and accepted the treat.
"You stayed... you really stayed ? Normally ponies are freaking out after a show like this. And I really...can't blame them."
Derpy giggled
"Oh, I've seen worse. I did worse. You see, I only want you to know that I do understand. I really do. I know what it's like to be different and not liked because of it " each of her eyes looked at the different direction "I know what is like to be frustrated to not be who you want to be. But I am not going to tell you I am sorry for you, this never truly works." She throw her hooves into the air " I am here to show you there is always hope, no matter who you are."
SNAP!
"But firstly I will get you out of here " she said, pulling Scootaloo up just before platform collapsed and fell to the ground
Scootaloo's jaw dropped
"Was...was it you ?"
Derpy laughed nervously
"What make you say that ? Now, let's go, I want you to take you somewhere"
"Scootaloo" said Scootaloo softly
"Wha ?" Derpy did a barrel in the air
"I said *ugh* that my name is Scootaloo " Scootaloo explained, trying not to puke with all of her force.
******************
"Well Scootaloo, here we are ! I want you to meet my friends !" exclaimed Derpy when they entered to a small cottage outside of Ponyville.
The room inside was cosy and small but in the same time very welcoming. There was a whole bunch of mixed up things lying on the tables close to the walls. There weretwo beds with two desks by the side of each one. First was filled with a candy formulas, the second was adorned with a beautiful lyra and the sketches of some weird, five pointed-limbs that Scootaloo has never seen.
This first room had only two doors, one to the bathroom and the other to second bedroom/living room. Derpy and Scootaloo entered the room. The room was splitted in half. One side was covered with all sorts of electronic units, vinyls and pizza slices. The other half was perfectly clean, painted in a shades of brown. The working desk was filled with perfectly organised books about classical music.
Derpy looked around, disappointed.
"Oh, I thought Vinyl should be here by now. Well, I can show you my room or make you something to eat..."
But then the pile of discs, laundry and pizza boxes near the door exploded and somepony resurfaced from underneath.
"Hi Derps " Said Vinyl Scratch, her mane in punky style was messy, telling right away that she was sleeping "What's up ?"
Derpy pointed at Scootaloo
"Vinyl, I want you to meet Scootaloo. Scootaloo, this is my friend Vinyl Scratch. She is a DJ in Ponyville."
Scootaloo stared at blue-manned pony in amazement.
"Wow, this sounds pretty cool."
Vinyl smiled widely
"I know, right. It is really an awesome thing to make everyone shake their tails and loose themselves in this rhythm. One day..."
"What is going on here ?" came a new voice from behind.
Another pony entered the room. It was a grey mare with an ebony coat with a towel on her back.
She scanned the room and found Scootaloo staring at her, her jaw dropped once again
"You are...you are...so...pretty..." little pegasus whispered.
Vinyl rolled her eyes
"Duh, she is my marefriend, course she is gorgeous. I am well known for my good taste. Scootaloo, this is Octavia. Tavi, please cover yourself. I do not want to see those eyes staring on you like that"
"My dear, Vinyl, she is only a little filly. I cannot believe you are jealous of her" Octavia protested, dramatically raising a hoof into the air.
"I am not jealous of her, I just don't want her to get hurt. When you are taking a walk after shower, percentage of accidents throughout the population of Ponyville increases by 100%.It is mainly the stallions, but there are some exceptions. Me and the little one here."
"Oh, all right, I will get decent. But only because I want to, not because you told me." Octavia marched out the room.
"Of course you did. "
Derpy winkedto Vinyl
"Now where are..."
One of room's walls exploded.
When the dust came down, Scootaloo found herself in front of the remainings of some strange machinery.
A green unicorn slowly slipped down of the machine. She cleaned out her protective glasses and squealed
"Nailed it !"
Vinyl approached the unicorn and shouted
"This is a third wall in a month !!! Lyra, what was that now ?"
The unicorn called Lyra frowned and made the puppy eyes
"But Vinyl, I was so close. That was a prototype of something humans called a "jet" and I was so close to discover its true purpose. But I suppose I should test it elsewhere. I am sorry, I didn't meant to cause any harm"
"I am sure it was an accident darling, but you need to be extra careful " exclaimed Octavia, entering the room. She looked at the big hole in a wall and smiled " Though we can keep that hole. Fresh air is supporting my creativity with violin"
Vinyl facehood
"Unbelievable" she muttered
Another pony galloped into the room. It was an earth pony with a cream coat andindigo and pink mane
"Lyra Heartstrings !!! Come here, you" she grabbed a unicorn by the ear and started to pull her across the room
"Ow,ow,ow,owowowowowooooo,ayyyy, Bon Bon, stop it " hissed Lyra.
Bon Bon dropped her and looked her deeply in the eyes
"Don't ever blast yourself like this again without me knowing ! I was so worried..."
Bon Bon drew Lyra closer and kissed her carefully
"I am just glad that you are okay."
She turned around and noticed Scootaloo. She smiled and moved closer to the pegasus
"Hi there. My name is Sweetie Drops, but you can call me Bon Bon. And that show off over there is Lyra"
" I am not a show off" muttered Lyra. She trotted to Scootaloo and started shaking filly's hoof
"My name is Lyra Heartstrings, I am an anthropologist and a musician and I am really, really glad to meet you"
Scootaloo nodded, smiling back
"My name is..."
"Scootaloo, you are living near the east outskirts with your portents, Summer Blaze and Thunderfall, you are 7 years and 2 months, you're a great fan of the Wonderbolts and you always loved taking risk and being a tomboyish mare" completed Bon Bon
Scootaloo's eyes narrowed
"I don't know if I should find it creepy or impressing. Are you like a spy or what ?"
A droplet of sweat flew down Bon Bon's cheek
"Whatever do you mean ? Spy, me ? Nah, just crazy talking"
Suddenly there was a series of a strange noises from upstairs and soon enough a chestnut coloured stallion with a brown messy mane fell downstairs. He quickly raised up and fixed his gaze on Derpy.
"Derpy, I need your assistance. There is a potential problem with a Weeping..."
Then he noticed Scootaloo and his faced changed into a some weird mix between understanding and confusion
"...ponies outside the house. Some big bully smashed their cupcakes and they are soooo sad. I thought you can, uhm,bake them some muffins to cheer them up" stallion smiled, touching his red tie on a blue suit. Scootaloo rarely saw ponies wearing clothes and this outfit was rather weird.
This whole house was a crazy place.
And she loved it.
"So, Derpy, you wanted to show me something..." Scootaloo said, watching the grey mare.
Derpy nodded
"I just wanted to introduce you to my friends and show to you that no matter who you are, there will always be somepony who will not judge you and love you just for who you really are. You are perfect in your imperfections. When I was your age, I was always alone. I spent days making soap bubbles and watching butterflies. I was sick of living alone and one day, I wanted to leave this place and never come back. But I got lost and I nearly got eaten by the Timberwolves. But then Lyra found me and hypnotized the beasts with her music so we could run away."
"It was nothing, just a cheap trick with a freaquency" said Lyra with a wide smile.
Derpy continued her story
"Lyra showed me very much compassion and understanding, more than I ever encountered. She introduced me to her friends and each of them gave so much to me. Thanks to Vinyl, I came to me first party ever. Octavia was playing music to calm me whenever I felt down. And thanks to Bon Bon's candy formulas, I started to bake sweeties and discovered the magic of muffins. Those ponies mean everything to me and we love each other, no matter who we are but what we feel inside. And I can assure you that if you will have hope in your heart, friendship will come to you one day"
Scootaloo nodded and looked curiously at the chestnut stallion
"What about you ? How did you met Doctor ?"
Derpy chuckled and blushed slightly
"Doctor and I share a very special kind of a bond. Our first encounter is really interesting story but..."
Doctor raised a hoof
"If I may interrupt, I just want to say that I am well assured that your future will be great, Scootaloo. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. It is very good that you are with us, cause after exactly fifteen seconds something will change your life and life of many others in Equestria... forever."
Derpy gasped
"Are you talking about..."
Doctor smiled and nodded
"Yes, yes I do. Now come on !!! To the hole !"
Seven ponies galloped to the hole and looked up
"Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one !!!" Doctor counted down.
There was a loud thunder throughout the sky and suddenly, a ring of multicoloured fire appeared out of nowhere, spreading itself across Equestria.
Scootaloo watched with wide eyes as the Sonic Rainboom painted the sky as a kaleidoscope
"I need to find the pony who did this"
"And you will, dear Scootaloo. And then you will find peace of your lonely soul. You will get a sister" said Doctor softly
"What ???!!!" Scootaloo looked at the Doctor with confusion.
"Nothing, don't listen to me. I was just a bit carried away" Doctor stepped back between his friends.
Scootaloo faced the six other ponies
"Thank you all for giving me hope for the better future. I will never forget it."
"It is nothing, Scootaloo. Now you have six ponies who can be your friends." said Derpy
"Yeah, you can come here whenever you want. I can show you some cool tricks with my base cannon." exclaimed Vinyl
" I will gladly see you again Scootaloo" added Octavia.
"You will find somepony your age to play but for now..." Bon Bon smiled
"You have us !" finished Lyra.
Scootaloo smiled back, her heart warmed by the kindness of recently met group.
Derpy winked to Scootaloo
"And before you go, we have a little gift for you"
She whispered something into the Doctor's ear. He thought a minute and then galloped up the stairs. A peculiar sound was heard
"What's that ?" asked Scootaloo
"It is just...the pipes. He had to went to the toilet." answered Derpy
After a moment, a sound repeated itself
"Oy, something must be really hard to flush" Lyra muffled her laughter
Doctor came down and took his place next to Derpy
" It is done" he said, pulling from behind a colourful box. " Open it."
Scootaloo slowly opened the package. Inside of it was a brand new scooter.
"Woow!!!" her eyes lightened up as she gazed at the gift " A scooter...but I don't know how to drive a scooter".
" I am sure that you will learn it. This scooter will allow you to move fast and maybe even fly without wings. We built it together for you, added some gadgets. And this is super cool" Vinyl lifted the scooter with magic and left it in front of Scootaloo"
"But how did you manage to built it in such a short amount of time ? I know you for like half of an hour !"
"What do you mean ? Doctor told us to built it a week agah" Lyra was silenced by another of Derpy's muffins.
"Doctor is wonderful in time management, it is indeed his talent." Octavia explained.
Scootaloo nodded
"I am really happy. This scooter is awesome. Thanks for giving me hope guys. Maybe I will achieve something big after all"
Doctor smiled
" One day, Scootaloo. One day..."
**************
"No...I can't give up...I will not lose hope. For all my friends, who always believed in me"
Scootaloo focused her will. Just move a little...Just move...move...
She will get out of here for the ones she loved.
Break free...
Suddenly, the tension around her waist and under her neck disappeared.
Scootaloo screamed, expecting a fall that will break all of her bones.
But when she opened her eyes, she immediately considered the situation as a dream.
She was almost at the bottom of the tree. And to make it even more weird, she was floating above the ground.
"What the..." she shouted before the earthunder her opened with a crack and she was sucked into black void.