Another sad chapter. I'm sorry but I need these to show character development. I'm a monster for killing my favorite CMC but... *tears up* I had to do it. I'm so sorry Scoots. Rest in peace.
Gunfire was heard as the orange filly lie on her side. Her vision swam, coming in and out of focus. She could vaguely see the outline of her friends looking over her with worried expressions. She willed her vision to focus again and looked up at the other two Crusaders who were distraught, yelling at each other over what to do.
"We need ta get her out of here!!" shouted the red maned filly over the sound of an explosion.
"Are you crazy? If we move her we might make it worse. Oh... I don't know what to do. We can't just leave her here. She just saved our lives."
The bleeding filly looked at them and gave them the best smile she could muster. "G-girls... you need to leave. Leave me behind. I'm done for and I'll only slow you down."
"No don't say that! Stay with me Scootaloo, you here me?! Stay with me!"
"Girls... really. You need to leave. If you get hurt then I did this for nothing. Look I'm not sad. I'm actually not in pain." Scootaloo said trying to comfort her friends. She was in pain but she didn't want them to stick around. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt. *cough* Can you girls do something for me?"
"Anything Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said leaning in close to hear.
"Tell Dash, I love her. Tell her... I always though of her as a mom. Can you do that?"
"Of course Scootaloo."
"Now I want you to leave. I don't want you both getting hurt." she said. The two weren't leaving but Scootaloo wasn't having it. What she was going to do wasn't right but it was the only way. She decided to fake her death although she was already dying. Ignoring the pain and her body's need for oxygen she slowed her breathing and then stopped it all together. She left her eyes cracked just enough to make sure she could see.
"Sc-sco-Scootaloo? Scootaloo? Scootaloo!? SCOOTALOO!?! WAKE UP! WAKE UP WAKe up wake... u-u-u-up!" Sweetie Belle sobbed. An explosion rocked the streets.
"Sweetie Belle, she's gone! We need ta go!" Apple Bloom yelled promptly grabbing Sweetie Belle and dragging her back.
"NO-no-no-no-no-no! We can save her!! LET GO OF ME!! WE CAN SAVE HER!!!!!"
"No we can't and ya heard her! She ain't gonna want us stickin' around much longer anyways. Come on! We gotta go. Do it for her! Its what she woulda wanted!" she yelled. Sweetie Belle stopped struggling and looked at her solemnly and nodded. They quickly galloped away. Sweetie Belle looked back one last time before disappearing in the distance.
The filly gasped and filled her lungs with life giving air. Scootaloo opened her eyes but only had the strength to do it half way. She hoped her friends would be okay. She then remembered what her idol had said days prior.
"...We can't have you dying before me now..."
"Well Dash I never did promise not to die before you." she said chuckling darkly as her vision started to fade. "Hey it looks like I finally beat her at something. I died first." she laughed before falling silent and lied in the pool of blood that drained away from her body. She felt herself begin to slip out of consciousness and looked up at the sky for one last time. She hadn't flown much but the sky was still calling to her... even in death. The sky was filled with ugly black smoke but admits the black was the skies magnificent blue which calmed the filly as she closed her eyes and slipped away. The last thing she saw was the image of Rainbow Dash smiling at her before bringing her into a tight hug. It was bliss.
The two Cutie Mark Crusaders held their heads low as the walked to town hall. They wore their capes and Sweetie Belle had Scootaloo's cape and carried it with them. They watched Rainbow Dash fly away crying. It added to the depression that the CMC faced now that they down a member... now that they were down a friend. The went into town hall and Walked past their sisters not even acknowledging their existence. They found Scootaloo's coffin and looked over it sadly. Sweetie Belle put Scootaloo's cape over her coffin ceremoniously and backed away. Apple Bloom then placed a picture of the three crusaders all standing to together, smiling on top of the cape. "Once a Crusader, always a Crusader." the remaining CMC said in unison. They looked down and had a moment of silence before Sweetie Belle broke out into a fit of crying. Apple Bloom pulled her into a comforting hug and held her there.
The main six and I had watched the CMC pay their respects to Scootaloo. Not one eye was left unwatered by this display. Applejack and Rarity looked at each other both deciding whether they interrupt the CMC's ceremony to go comfort their younger siblings. They both nodded and started to walk forward but were stopped by an arm. "No. I know you want to comfort them but they need to do this. Trust me. They need to do this." I say remembering Josh. Sweetie Belle regained her composure and looked to the ceiling in a futile attempt to halt the flow of tears coming from her eyes. The two fillies then stood back in their original positions.
Apple Bloom broke the silence. "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. We'll go out into the world and discover our talents. We'll leave no stone unturned..."
"...No mountain unclimbed..."
"...And no meal uncooked."
The two Crusaders looked at the ground again. Sweetie Belle looked at the picture of them. "I'll miss you Scootaloo. Thank you." And with that Sweetie Belle walked away.
I looked into her eyes. They were hollow. They were empty. I then lowered my arm and turned to Rarity and Applejack. "They will need your help through this, but for their sake let them have a little time. I'd say by the time they get home they will need you more than ever but they won't act like it. You know what to do."
I looked again at Sweetie Belle. She looked sad but then again... angry. I feel for her. She reminds me of myself when Josh died. Of all ponies she reminded me of myself... God, what is Equestria coming to?