//------------------------------// // Episode 3: Goodbye // Story: No Matter Where // by Clean Karma //------------------------------// I was listening to this while working. "Don't worry. She's going to be here later this afternoon." "Uh...isn't the lass supposed to be 'ere at aboot twelve ten?" "This is Scootaloo we're talking about. Factor in her internal clock and how her family will feel about this." "Understood boss. I'll have everything ready four. Is dere anything else ya need?" "Hmm...actually, there are a few things I'd like you hide." "Do you really have to go Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked pleadingly. Scootaloo turned around from her suitcase to look at her sister. Rainbow stood behind her with a sad look on her face. Rainbow seldom ever showed her emotions but Scootaloo could see dried tears on her mentors face. Scootaloo smiled and walked over to Rainbow and hugged her, "I know you're going to miss me, and I know you wanted me become a Wonderbolt like you did, but--" "Captain of Wonderbolts. I wanted you to become captain. There's a difference." Rainbow choked out as tears began to form in her eyes once again. Scootaloo chuckled at her sisters persistence and having a point before continueing, "Okay, Captain. But you need to understand, this choice is mine to make. I'm not a little filly anymore. I'm a grown mare who can make her own decisions. I need you to respect." This time Rainbow laughed, "Scootaloo, I may be sad you're leaving but don't doubt that I respect your decision. I may not fully understand it but..." , she sighed, "...I do respect it." The two racers hugged once more Scootaloo turned to finish packing. Rainbow left her to it and trotted back through the hallway glancing to her sides. Trophies of all kinds were there. Big ones, small ones, slightly-weird-shaped ones. Rainbow was proud of her accomplishments but one stood out among the rest: a single silver trophy that stood next to a larger gold one. The silver read "Second Place Winner of the Race Around the World: Rainbow Dash". With her packing finished and her goodbyes made Scootaloo opened the door to the home she had shared with Rainbow for years. As she did she was met with a sudden face full of confetti. "Surprise!" Scootaloo removed the confetti from the different parts of her face to see nearly the entire town on the ground and Pinkie...on the cloud with her? Wait...that's...that's not possible. "Yes it is!" Scootaloo looked at Pinkie confused, "What is what?" "Nothing!" Pinkie jumped off the cloud and landed on the ground unharmed, "Come on down, we're sending you off with a party. It's the Scootaloo-Is-Leaving-But-We-Are-Happy-For-Her-Party or as I call it: S.I.L.B.W.A.H.F.H.P.!" Scootaloo laughed and jumped off the cloud, gliding gracefully in front of the audience of ponies. There was banner that read Welcome to the Scootaloo-Is-Leaving-But-We-Are-Happy-For-Her-Party BTW there wasn't much room to write this I'm sorry. What grabbed her attention though was a familiar face in crowd. "Sweetie Belle!?" Scootaloo took off at top speed, nearly running into her fellow Cutie Mark Crusader. She hugged her friend tightly almost in tears, "I haven't seen you since your last tour!" Sweetie managed chuckled through her friends death grip, "I'm happy to see you too Scoots." The two remained in their hugging stance for some time before releasing each other. They searched for Applebloom and upon finding her conversed about their lives for a bit. "So Sweetie, how's it going for the Belle of Elysian Plains?" Applebloom laughed at the use of such a formal title. "Pretty well if I do say so myself." She replied, "And I do." the three fillyhood friends laughed and talked about the farm. "Big Mac's been good, especially since he and Cheerilee got married. Ah don't think he would've made it through Granny Smith's death otherwise." Applebloom sighed sadly, "Applejack acted like she was okay with it but...Ah don't think she was. Ah think losing her legs was the biggest part. Ever since that day she's been...Ah don't distant." The three went silent for moment. Applebloom forced a chuckle and tried to smile, "Ah'm sorry 'bout this girls. I'm destroying the mood. Sweetie Belle, maybe you should Scoots the big news." Sweetie Belle's face brightened up, "Oh yes of course!" Turning to Scootaloo she smiled and spoke, "Scootaloo, as we all know, you're going to be going to that place we went to as fillies correct? Final Resters...or something?" Scootaloo clarified, "Final Resting Place." "Ah yes. Well guess what? Me and Applebloom are going to accompany you!" Scootaloo was silent for a second as her friends smiled at her. After a few more seconds she shook her head and asked, "What!?" "Now don't get yer undies in a bunch Scoots." "Applebloom! That is very uncouth. Plus ponies don't even wear...under...garments..." Sweetie looked at herself in horror while Applebloom rolled her one good eye. "Anyways, the thing is Scootaloo, I need to pass through that town on my way to a friends house. Sweetie Belle is do'en some tour shindig in that thar same town so we planned on making the trip with ya." Scootaloo beamed, "Thank you guys so much. I'm glad to have your support in this." The other two ponies went silent and their smiles slowly morphed into more nervous ones. Scootaloo was confused for a second until she realized what was wrong, "You don't want me going there either do you?" Sweetie put a hoof on Scootaloos shoulder, "It's not just that dear. We do still fear that place a little bit, especially after what happened last time." Scootaloo looked up at Sweetie Belle curiously, "Do...do you remember what happened?" Applebloom frowned, "Well of course we do Cupcake. I'll never forget getting lost in there. We're lucky that changeling guy found us when he did. We mighta been stuck in there forever." Scootaloo sighed but didn't bring the matter up anymore. How could they not remember what really happened? They were there, they were screaming. You could almost smell the fear in that little room they were stuck in. The stench from that creatures very presence lingered in her mind like... "Scootaloo!" Scootaloo jumped and almost screamed at the sudden jolt but calmed herself down, "What?" "You okay? You started staring off like you saw a ghost or something." Maybe I have, "It's nothing. Let's just get going. I'm supposed to be there by twelve ten and it takes a few hours to get there from what I've heard." "Scootaloo." "Yes?" "It's eleven forty." "...crap." Three fillies trekked down the road but they weren't as jovial as normal. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had each been lost in thought for most of the journey. After their quick departure, the three had been quiet for some time. Each had thoughts running through their mind. Ah wonder what's up with these two Applebloom thought It's like they don't want to talk. Sweetie's thought's were similar Why haven't they said anything yet? Scootaloos thought's were much farther away I wonder what he wants. I haven't been there in years and for good reason, and for good reason. Maybe I should stay in Ponyvi...NO. I refuse to slink away now. Especially after sacrificing so much. I can't let something that may or may not have happened determine what my future will be. But...isn't that what I'm doing right now? Letting this letter control me? Maybe that's it. I'm being drawn into something I don't want to be a part...who's touching my shoulder? Scootaloo was cut off from her inner monologue and looked to her left at Applebloom's one eye, the other eye covered in her eyepatch. Applebloom looked concerned, "What's wrong sugarplum? You're sweating like a cultist in Celestia's courtroom." Scootaloo smiled slightly, "For having one eye Applebloom you're awfully observant." "Come on darling. we've been walking for hours and haven't said a word." "Neither have either of you!" "True but you've always been the one to start the conversation when we start getting quiet. Please dear, we want to help." Scootaloo sighed and lowered her head, "It's...it's nothing. I just...ugh...why does life have to be so damn complicated!?" she yelled with a low growl. Her friends were a bit taken back at the sudden outburst but the Pegasus wasn't finished, "I've been training my whole life to be just like Rainbow Dash. I wanted to become a Wonderbolt like her. Then she gets an incredible promotion after Captain Spitfire passed. I felt like there was no way I wouldn't get to be one, especially after my wings finally grew in. But now...now..." tears began to stream down her face, ones she hadn't let go of for months after telling everypony her decision, "Now I'm going off to a museum I went to as a foal because of some stupid letter!" Scootaloo stopped, her eyes wide at the realization of what she had said. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom asked simultaneously, "What letter?" Scootaloo began to speed up to a trot to avoid her friends gaze, "No letter! I said some stupid let her. Yeah! I just didn't finish my sentence. heh heh. Let's go girls." Applebloom and Sweetie Belle watched Scootaloo suspiciously but didn't voice their concerns. Then again, what was there that Scootaloo needed to hide from her friends anyway?