The Secret of a Rainbow
By Little Brave Heart
A sequel to "The Rainbow Factory." By Aurora Dawn.
Scootaloo was on her last link of sanity, like her dear friend Rainbow Dash. Well, not really anymore. She half forgave and half hated the cyan peagasus. They had always promised each other that no matter what problem or challenge or bad thing they had done, they would always forgive each other. But murder? "I just need some time." The orange filly muttered under her breath. "Maybe I'll be able to forgive her completely if she ever has the bravery to tell her friends shes a murderer. She also needs help so she can regain her sanity."
The word 'murder,' brought back horrible memories that nopony her age should even have the slightest thought of thinking about, and experiencing it was out of the question. She remembered breaking free of the chains in anger, and with the thought of being murdered and never flying again. She was lucky that the big spectrum machine was so old and still hadn't gotten much needed repairs on the chains and gears. The second reason was that training with Rainbow Dash had made her ten times stronger and faster. She shook the thought away, frightened of becoming like Rainbow Dash; insane. Maybe that's what made the poor pony go mad, thinking of killing ponies, trying to push away the thought of herself being an actual murderer? But Scootaloo didn't want to think about it anymore. Her last resort was telling anypony about her secret, she couldn't even tell Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle, knowing they probably couldn't hold the secret in either.
That reminded her of something. She needed to tell Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle how the test went! Scootaloo decided she would not tell them the truth, she would just tell them that she passed the test with a perfect score, and describe the excitement of the test, making it convincing, and tell them that Rainbow Dash was so proud of her for passing the test, and that she knew she could do it. The orange peagasus sighed. "If only that were the truth." She said as she walked down the dirt road in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
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Scootaloo had reached the little family farm, which she had visited so often with her friends. It brought back good memories of them crusading, sometimes angering Applejack, but then they all laughed about it afterwards. This brought a smile to the fillies face. She knew with good memories and friends, she would stay sane; at least she hoped. Scootaloo flew over to the apple orchard, looking for Applejack, knowing that she was a round the clock worker. Sure enough, she found the farm pony bucking an apple tree. The orange filly trotted over to greet the apple farmer.
"Hi Applejack. Do you know where Apple Bloom is?" Scootaloo said casually. "Scootaloo? What happened to ya?" Applejack replied examining the scars and bruises on her forelegs. The wounds were caused by struggling and eventually breaking free of the chains. "Oh, nothing really." "Then what are these scars from?" Applejack questioned her, giving her a concerned stare. "I....kind of had a bad landing?" The peagasus gave a smile, sweat dripping from her forehead. Applejack continued to stare at the filly. "So...wheres Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo gulped, quickly changing the subject.
"Well, I'll let that one pass, being the dare devil ya are. Ya'll been acting like Rainbow Dash more and more!" The farm pony said and rubbed the little ponies head, ruffling her hair. "Apple Bloom is in the club house. She was really worried when she found out that if ya didn't pass yer test, you'd be deported! But that didn't happen, cause yer here. I reckon you better flap those wings and get over there." "Okay, thanks Applejack!" Scootaloo said before flying off as quickly as she could. She wiped her head with her hoof as she said, "Phew. That was a close one."
Scootaloo flapped her wings as best she could, there was a cut alongside her wing, but she ignored the pain. The tree house eventually came into view. Scootaloo had been flying faster than she had realized. She landed promptly on the ground and walked up the ramp to the club house, her hooves making a little clicking sound. Scootaloo peeked in the doorway, seeing Apple Bloom sitting on the floor with a piece of paper. "Hey, Apple Bloom!" The yellow filly instantly looked up upon hearing her friends voice.
"Scoot! Ya passed the test! How was it?" Apple Bloom said giving Scootaloo a hug. "Oh, it was great! First, I leaped off the platform, and then I had to clear the clouds! Then, I had to fly, and at the last second, open my wings, then land." The orange peagasus said going into every detail, putting a huge smile on her face. "Wow! Impressing me with one of yer flying stories as usual. But, what are those scars and bruises from?" Apple Bloom asked suspiciously. "Oh, well I kind of had a bad landing, but I still passed because I cleared the clouds before the time was up." she replied casually. "Ah get it, see, ah always thought the landing platform was a cloud. Is it?" "Well, yeah, it is. But you would be surprised what damage it could do if you land with an impact. One pony broke her wing with a bad landing!" Scootaloo knew she was referring to Aurora. She wondered what happened to her, she would never know, she couldn't risk going back in the factory.
"Well, we better go see Sweetie Belle and tell her every things alright." Apple Bloom said breaking Scootaloo out of her thoughts. "What? Oh, yeah. That would be good." The yellow earth pony cocked her head at the orange peagasus. "Ya'll sure every things alright Scoot? Ya'll seem a little....different." "Nope, every things fine!" Applejack was right, she really was becoming more and more like Rainbow Dash, she was the element of loyalty, and she NEVER lied, and when she did, she had a very hard time doing so. But now that she re thought it, she had lied to all her friends about her job, very easily. She was the only worker in the factory allowed out in public.
"Are ya sure? Cause, ya'll look a little sweaty." Apple Bloom once again interrupted her thoughts. "I told you, everything is fine. These cuts just need some bandages. I'm trying to hide the pain." Scootaloo made up a lie, which she thought was pretty convincing. "That sure is you, Scoot. Trying to be so tough, Rainbow Dash's personality is really rubbing off on you." Apple Bloom sure bought the lie, and Scootaloo heaved a sigh of relief. "Well, maybe ya'll should stop at the doctor before we tell Sweetie Belle the good news." "Yeah, sure." The two friends walked out of the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse and out onto the dirt road. Scootaloo was still thinking of good memories of her friends, and only one thought was going through her head: "I need to keep this secret."