//------------------------------// // Chapter 01 - We Begin // Story: The Scoota Finale // by thedarktome //------------------------------// Ponyville. Home of the Elements of Harmony, all brought together by Princess Twilight Sparkle. A very historic town that has between one and two thousand ponies all trying to live their lives. Including three fillies currently discussing Cutie Marks and clientele. "Cutie Mark Crusader meetin' now in session!" Apple Bloom yelled, banging her hoof on the podium. They were situated in the CMC clubhouse—that definitely needed renovations—once again to have another meeting, which has become the overall theme of the group for awhile. "We need more ponies who are lookin' for cutie marks! ASAP! Do we have anypony lookin' for anything, actually?!" Scootaloo shrugged while Sweetie Belle only closed her eyes and shook her head. This has become the life of the famed Cutie Mark Crusaders. Going into their clubhouse and discussing plans and ponies trying to find their cutie marks. Unfortunately, they haven't been getting any requests for the past few months. And they were feeling bad. Unused. Unwanted. "We can't really do anything unless a pony comes to us," Scootaloo reminded them. "Why don't we relax and take it easy? Chill?" "Relax?!" The other two asked in horror. "You know what, never mind, I can already see where this is going to lead," She responded, shaking her hooves at them. "We need to help SOMEPONY!" Sweetie Belle argued. Scootaloo was just looking at her blandly before she replied. "Yeah but we can't really do anything if nopony needs help." The other two looked at each other before glancing back at Scootaloo. "Then we'll go to another city!" Apple Bloom responded. Scootaloo sighed. She was going nowhere with this. "But for now that'll have to wait. We have to help with the party down at the square." "Yeah, let's get going," Scootaloo agreed. They ended the meeting and walked out the clubhouse, headed back to Applejack's farm. "So what is this party for exactly?" "Princess Twilight's twenty-first birthday bash!" Apple Bloom answered enthusiastically. "The Princesses, all of 'em, are comin'. As well as ponies who supported her over the years." "So I take it Pinkie's going to be very busy," Scootaloo assumed. She ducked under a tree branch that nearly got in her hair. "Oh no, Pinkie's sick with hay fever," Sweetie Belle informed her once they walked back onto the farm. "A real bad case. That's why everypony's downtown, pitching in." "Well let's go help out!" Scootaloo trudged toward the Scooter-pulled wagon and hopped on while her friends got in the back. Once they were situated, Scootaloo buzzed her wings determinedly and took off, making their way towards the center of town. 'Tis the life of a Cutie Mark Crusader. It was like this at least once a week. Going through the summer heat, where the randomly timed cool breeze cooled them down enough to actually trot to a nearby Ice Cream parlor, grab a scoop, and continue their jobs. Of course that was when they were actually crusading. But right now, they had a special kind of crusading planned. Setting up the surprise, town-wide, birthday party with all the other ponies of ponyville. And a few from out of town. Including her parents. Twilight was turning twenty one. A full grown adult. Which meant full blown party! The scooter slid to a stop at the base of the stage in the square where there would be a performance by a DJ, as well as the Princesses throne for when they arrive. Right now, the elements were helping set that up while everyone else were setting up the town. "There ya'll are!" Applejack cheered from beside the throne, spotting them hop off and out of the vehicle. They trotted up to the stage and smiled up to her. "Hi, Applejack!" Sweetie Belle greeted. "Hey, girls. Glad ya' could make it. We need banners set up all over town on every street." She pointed above her at the banner above the stage that read, "Happy Birthday, Princess Twilight". "Think you can do it?" Rarity asked. She was decorating the throne with lavender flowers. "Yeah, we can!" Scootaloo responded enthusiastically. "Great! All you have to do is pull the string and it'll shoot up so fast you won't even notice you put it up. Ah'll demonstrate." She walked towards a banner on a nearby street and grabbed a rope with her teeth by the corner. Then tugged on it before it instantly shot up and attached itself to the buildings nearby, displaying purple flowers. "Easy as bitin' into an apple." "Okay, we can do it!" Scootaloo yelled before she and the other Crusaders trotted to some more on the street, getting to work. Applejack chuckled at their enthusiasm before she herself went back to reinforcing the stage. "Hope those fillies got as much energy today as they do everyday. They're going to need it." After two hours of tugging on rope with their teeth, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were nearly wiped. They were currently dragging their hooves in front of Sugarcube Corner, panting not only from the heat. But the stifness of the muscles in their mouths. "I can barely feel my mouf," Sweetie complained. "Me neifer!" Apple Bloom agreed. She walked to another one, grabbed it in her teeth, tugged, and instantly inflated it. "I've just been using my hooves," Scootaloo chuckled, confusing the other two. She walked to a nearby banner and wrapped the rope around her hoof before she gave it a firm tug. It inflated immediately. The other Crusaders looked at her with their mouths wide open while she laughed and shook her head. "You've been yanking your teeth out with these things. After the first time, I started using my hooves. Which is far less stressful on the body." She moved onto another one while they continued to stare. "We could've been using our hooves this whole time," Apple Bloom said through gritted teeth. "And you didn't say anything?!" Scootaloo pulled another one before she responded. "I....thought it was obvious." Apple Bloom was fuming! She knew and she didn't say anything?! She was about to yell at her before she got an even better idea, giving her an evil smirk from behind. She looked over at Sweetie Belle who was just as angry and waved a hoof to grab her attention. The filly glanced at her and trotted over briskly before Apple Bloom whispered the plan in her ear. The two pulled back and looked at each other with grins on their faces before walking quietly towards Scootaloo, who was walking towards another banner. They snuck up quietly before Sweetie Belle pushed her hard onto the banner, forcing her to slide onto the cloth by the stomach. "Ow! What was that for?!" She yelled with her chin to the ground. "This is payback!" Apple Bloom yelled before she yanked the rope. Before she could react, the banner inflated and sent her flying into the air, way above the town. Sweetie and Apple Bloom watched her fly before they glanced at each other and chuckled. *** While the Cutie Mark Crusaders were doing their thing, Applejack had called for all the ponies to meet in the square for an announcement. Once they were all present, she, along with the other Elements got on the stage and told them the good news. "Thank you, everypony. For helpin' us prepare for Twilight's party! We are now officially finished!" They all cheered, grabbing Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom's attention from across town. They looked towards the square then at each other. "Should we go to the square and listen in or should we go after Scootaloo?" Sweetie asked. Apple Bloom scoffed and started walking towards the square. "Are you nuts?! She made us look like idiots for over two hours! We can at least embarrass her for five minutes!" Sweetie followed after her with a chuckle. "Yeah I guess you're right." They ran along the dirt path, kicking up dust while on the way to the center of town, unaware that Scootaloo was about to land. Hard. She screamed as she descended towards a hill that was looking over the town, but screamed even louder when she realized she was going straight into a left behind wheelbarrow. "NO NO NO NO NO—" She crashed inside and hit her head on the metal, stunning her and putting stars in her eyes, groaning from the headache, more than likely from a minor concussion. She remained immobile, hoping to recover from that dreadful experience. That really hurt! What were those two thinking pranking her like that?! While she was pondering, the wheelbarrow began to move and roll downhill. But she was too starry-eyed to notice. It picked up speed and flew over the grass before it rolled at high velocity into town, eventually rolling down the main street towards the square. Finally getting her bearings a little, Scootaloo peeked over the edge and gasped. But before she could scream, the out-of-control wheelbarrow ran straight into a stack of bricks on the side, flinging her once more into the air. She screamed and soared straight over Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who looked up at the noise. "Wait. Wasn't she just flyin' that way?" Apple Bloom asked loudly, pointing behind her. "Oh no," Sweetie Belle responded before running after the pony projectile with Apple Bloom right on her tail. While Applejack was speaking, she was abruptly interrupted by a loud yell from above. Everyone looked up at the orange object in interest when Scootaloo stopped her screaming once she slammed into the top edge of a four story apartment. "OOOHHH!" Everyone grimaced. She peeled off and fell down face first right into a muddy puddle with a wooden board in it, created by the rain the night before. "Ugghh...wha..."She muttered before a loose brick from above fell down from the impact and onto the board, flinging her back into the air. "Aw, come on!" She flew through a clothing line, snagging off a pearly white towel that wrapped around her head. Everyone was just watching her screaming and sailing through the air, intrigued in the outcome. Rarity had her lips pursed and eyes widened. After awhile Scootaloo angled down and crashed into a vegetable stand face first, landing directly on sliced cucumbers. Everyone stared at her open mouthed, no movement whatsoever. And no sound. Not even a cricket. She lifted her hooves up first before she fell off and onto the ground with her face to the sky, groaning in frustration and pain. A stallion looked down at her and snorted at her predicament. "Wow, that's....that is something," he chuckled. A few other ponies looked at him oddly before looking down at the filly while she got up. She got back on her four hooves and tried to look around. But instead of with her eyes, they were replaced by sliced cucumbers. Some more of the ponies laughed at her before everyone started laughing. She looked like she had went to some sort of exotic spa! She was covered in mud on her front and she had a towel wrapped around her head, as well as the cucumbers over her eyes. "Wow, darling! That must've been some relaxation attempt!" Rarity joke before breaking down in laughter. Rainbow Dash herself was trying her hardest not to laugh, but eventually she did, fully falling on her back and holding her sides while her wings flapped around. "What's so funny?" Scootaloo asked in wonder. "I can't see anything!" They all started laughing harder at her voice. She sounded so confused! Eventually she felt all over her muddy face and grabbed hold of the slices and peeled them off. She smiled a little bit and chuckled, trying to figure it out. "What is so......" She lost her smile when she saw the whole town up in cackles and giggles. Then she realized what was so funny. It was her. A stallion in front of her was pointing a hoof and guffawing at her while even...her idol, Rainbow Dash, was banging her hoof on the ground. "Oh my Celestia, somepony make it stop!" She laughed. "Are you....are you laughing at me?" She asked them quietly. Scootaloo was looking around with her mouth partly open and eyes displayed in sadness. "Stop laughing at me." They didn't even stop rolling around on the ground. "Stop it! Stop it, right now!" They didn't even falter. How is it that somepony could laugh that long?! Scootaloo shed small tears and whimpered. Her limbs shook in embarrassment, the worst feeling a pony could ever have. She felt like she was going to wet herself. Right before she locked eyes with...Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. They had emerged through the crowd, trying to figure out what was so funny, and were now staring in shock at the flightless filly covered in mud with a towel wrapped around her mane and one cucumber on her eye...before Apple Bloom busted out in laughter too. Sweetie Belle snorted before she too fell back, rolling around on the ground while waving her hooves around. Scootaloo walked backwards, looking at them in shock. Everypony in Ponyville, her friends, and her idol, except Princess Twilight...was laughing at her because of something they caused. And they themselves were laughing right along with it. She whimpered before turning around and running through an alleyway, trying to get distance between herself and those ponies still laughing. They had embarrassed her and were proud of it. And they didn't even care. They laughed right along with them. They were just like Diamond Tiara before she became their friend. Now that she mentioned it, she was pretty sure she saw her and the rest of the foals there laughing right along with them all. Everyone in the class! She continued running, thinking about her future, not even caring where she was headed, which apparently was the forest. She would become the laughing stock all because of her friends! The towel flew off her head and landed somewhere before she past the town entrance and made her way towards the dank and damp forest that was the Everfree. After awhile, she slid to a stop and looked behind her at the town. By now, they probably stopped laughing....or not. She sobbed some more before she darted past the treeline, and continued to run, leaving everything, and everypony, behind. After around twenty minutes of running, she ran out of steam, eventually causing her to slow down to a trot, and soon fall and sob loudly into her hooves. They had made fun of her. The whole town. And they didn't even care. It was like....like she didn't belong in the first place. Was that all she was? A laughing stock? Well even if she wasn't, she sure was now. And it was all thanks to....Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They had started the whole thing. And laughed right along with them. Nobody cared. Nobody questioned how she had been flying through the air in the first place. Instead, the second they looked at her, they busted out into a fit of giggles. They didn't even try to help her. Rolling around all over the floor and laughing. Or in Rainbow's case, rolling around on the floor, laughing, and banging her hoof critically. They...humiliated her. Embarrassed her. They took her out. After a few more minutes of crying, she begrudgingly got up and limped over to a nearby pond to wash up. She still had a massive headache from those impacts, and she had also hurt her rear leg when she crashed into that food stand. And it hurt. Bad. She threw herself into the pond, or what she thought was a pond, and just laid there, floating on the water. She closed her eyes, completely unaware that it was actually a river that was currently on the move and pushing her down the current. And it was fast. It was a few seconds when she lifted her throbbing head and saw the trees passing. Gasping, she thrashed about once she realized she was being carried away, trying to find something to grip onto. Eventually, she grabbed hold onto a large hollow log that got caught in the current as well, and held on tight. She watched the forest pass her by, eventually becoming so fast that it was pointless to even watch. The water eventually took her out into the middle of the current and became faster. Looks like the river was turning into rapids! "Help!" She yelled desperately. "Somepony! Somepony help me! Please! Somepony help—" A large amount of water, splashed her in the face, causing her to lose her grip on the log and go underneath. She held her breath once she was dunked, afraid of drowning. Was this....was this how she was going to die? After raw and hopeless embarrassment and humiliation? Was this how she was going out? She was only eleven, she couldn't go out like this! She flapped her small wings, hoping that'll help. And by some unknown force, she was able to propel herself using them and get back onto the surface of the water. She took in a huge lungful of air and looked around through the water in her eyes. The area around her was becoming farther and farther away before she looked forward. Was that a pipe sucking in the water? "Huh. Looks like I'm going into a pipe....wait..." She gasped and screamed once she saw what was in front of those pipes. Sharp things rotating around. They must've been there to chop up anything that could clog it up! "Buck!" She turned around and flapped her wings, hoping to put some distance between her and the spinning fans of death. She looked over her shoulder at the log she was holding onto that just went through. It was being shredded, completely torn apart before the pieces flowed into the pipe with the water. She screamed louder and desperately tried flapping her wings harder and faster, hoping to make some leeway. But the current was so strong, it was pushing her closer and closer to the fans of death. So close that she could hear the engine. Tears sprang from her eyes before she started using her hooves, hoping to swim over to the side. But something had hit her right in the face, another piece of wood, causing her to lose focus and slow her flapping. Enough to be pushed back. She screamed as loud as she could, her voice heard for miles, before she went underneath the current, which carried her through the blades. To her future. Back in Ponyville, everyone were trying to repair what happened and get their wits back after that event. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were looking around trying to find Scootaloo to make sure she was alright. After everyone had gotten done with their laughs and giggles, they discovered Scootaloo wasn't at the same spot before and decided to look around to find her. So far, they were having no luck. She wasn't at the clubhouse, behind the school, nor in any of the alleyways. "Do you think...we might've went a little too far?" Apple Bloom asked aloud in worry as they walked around. "I thought I heard her cryin'. I didn't mean to laugh at her." "Well....maybe a little," Sweetie Belle agreed. "I didn't think she was going to start flying through the air. I thought she was just going to land nearby. Instead, she went flying that way, flew back, and caused a whole bunch of chaos. I was not expecting that." "Me neither. I mean, I was mad at her, yeah. But I don't think....I don't think that was cool of us. At all. We need ta' apologize." "Yeah." They both stopped for a moment and looked down in shame before something loud, terrible, and frightening tore through the air over Ponyville. A scream. A loud, high pitched, and agony filled scream that caused every pony in the town to stop what they were doing and look up and around. Rainbow Dash stopped her flying and observed the area, trying to find the source. As well as any other Pegasi around her. Rarity dropped her gems to the ground and looked up while the animals Fluttershy was speaking to ran away to hide. In the Castle of Friendship, the scream echoed through the halls, causing Twilight to stop her Princess duties and look up in worry, Spike the same. That sounded like a foal's scream! They shared a glance before she jumped out of her seat and quickly made her way towards the entrance of the castle. It sounded like someone was going through agony. Horrible pain. She burst the doors wide open and took to the air, looking around to try and find the source. So far, everything looked normal. But so did a flower until it grabbed hold of your hoof. Which was common in Equestria. Rainbow spotted her from a few yards away and flew over to her, clearly worried. "Twilight! Did you hear—" "I did, I did," she answered quickly. She look around and spotted Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, giving her an idea. "Rainbow Dash. Check and count all of the foals in Ponyville. Have them all put into one area and hold them there. Go." Rainbow nodded and went back down to the ground to fulfill the request while Twilight looked towards the ground. Somepony screamed. And it did not sound good. And it wasn't. Back at the river, the twin blades had stopped rotating from a wood clog, stopping the water and preventing the rapid, as well as standard flow. But on two of them...you could see two small orange wings. As well as a lot of blood and and orange fur that was matted to it by the water. This was not good indeed.