//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - Yes // Story: Mystery Scootaloo // by thedarktome //------------------------------// Scootaloo blinked her eyes, getting the drowsiness out of her head and focusing on the purple pair of eyes in front of her face. Wait...eyes? "Gah!" She yelped in surprise, flapping her wings and shooting backwards out of the bed. She hit the wall and fell on the floor face first while Rainbow just laughed. "Oh my Celestia, that was too funny!!" She bawled, flapping her wings and falling on her own back. Scootaloo groaned and lifted her head from the cloud, glaring at the wall in front of her. After a few more seconds of laughter, Rainbow's cackles died down and she trotted over to see what was holding Scootaloo up. "So what'd you dream about?" Scootaloo sighed and finally righted herself, looking at Rainbow Dash with uncertainty. Rainbow Dash returned the look and sat down in front of her, then used her wing to pull her into a side hug. "I...I saw mom again," Scootaloo whispered. "Did you talk to her?" Rainbow asked quietly and calmly. "Don't you like talking to her?" Scootaloo shot her a look of disbelief. "Of course," Scootaloo replied, as if it were a stupid question before turning her gaze back to the ground. "It's just...she wants me to become a princess of Equestria. And I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to disappoint her and let her down. But I'm not sure I can be what everypony wants me to be. I'm not Twilight, Celestia, Cadance, OR Luna. I don't know anything about magic. Everything that I do know was what Celestia taught me and even that was really confusing. So many symbols and words. Mom wants me to become the Princess of Magic. But...I know nothing about magic." "Well your parents do. You'll be a great Princess. Wait a second." Rainbow reached up and tapped her chin with her hoof, deep in thought while Scootaloo gazed at her curiously. After a few more seconds, Rainbow pointed a hoof at her. "Hey...your mom and dad went missing in the midst of an experiment, right?" Scootaloo nodded her head. "Well if I know experiments—and I do because Twilight is always conducting one at least once a week—there were materials out at the time. Notes, papers. When Celestia discovered they went missing, she more than likely retrieved the research.. But knowing her, she didn't just toss them out." "She put them somewhere," Scootaloo finished. "Yep. I'm super positive that if you asked her, she can give them to you. Or at least let you have access. They were your parents' materials. Their property. And you can have the egghead be your tutor. I'm super positive that she'll say yes to that, she would never turn down an opportunity to be somepony's teacher. Not to mention, your parents' family probably got some more of their materials. all you need to do is ask, and I'm super positive they'll help you out to fulfill your mother's last wish." Scootaloo blinked and raised an eyebrow at her idol. Rainbow scoffed and rolled her eyes at her expression. "What, I can't be smart sometimes?" Scootaloo shook her head slowly. "What do you mean I can't be smart?" "It's just...weird sometimes. But I get what you're saying. I'll ask Celestia if she can let me have access to my parents' notebooks...and stuff. Now...can you stop hugging me?" Rainbow pulled her in tighter and gave her a nuzzle to the head. "You know," she whispered. "I'm proud of you squirt. More proud than when you got your cutie mark." Scootaloo widened her eyes. "What are you talking about?" Rainbow pulled away and looked Scootaloo in the eye. "Well for one, you have matured overnight." Scootaloo shot her a nonchalant look. "Don't give me that. And you're actually considering being a princess of Equestria. That says a lot about your personality. That you are willing to try and take this huge step. A lot of ponies would've flunked out on the spot, but you, Cutie Mark Crusader, are willing. I'm proud to call you my friend...and number one fan. Closer than my sister." Scootaloo smiled and hugged her back. "Thanks, Rainbow Dash!" She squealed. "Your welcome, squirt. Now it's time for school." "It's Saturday." "It's time to head to the castle then." "This is actually a nice place to visit every now and then," the twins said at the same time while they walked down the center of Canterlot. Blue Wave suggested she and Golden Flutter go and check out this doughnut shop Luna was obsessing over recently while everyone else was talking with the Princesses. Celestia and Luna closed their courts for three days while they were there, giving them as much attention as they needed. The twins decided to get away from all the craziness and mourning to venture out and explore. They had never been to Canterlot before and were anxious to see what was there. Let alone any other city in Equestria. "Now where is this Doughnut Joes?" Golden Flutter muttered to herself. She looked around the area closely to locate the building before she stared straight into a pair of faded magenta eyes. "Gah!" She backed up instantly as Scootaloo laughed and floated back to the ground. "That WAS hilarious!" She cheered, pointing a hoof at the surprised twins. Rainbow Dash landed next to her and chuckled. "Hey, ladies," she greeted. "I was just teaching squirt here about surprise and she went all...out of control. Doing it to anypony available. You just happened to be caught in the crossfire." Blue Wave and Golden Flutter shared a glance before taking a deep breath at the same time. Scootaloo wondered how in Equestria were they always in sync. It was a little freaky. "It's alright," Golden Flutter responded. "We just didn't expect you back so soon after everything that happened." "Cool. Wanna hang out?" Scootaloo offered then pointed to the castle. "I was on my way to the castle and noticed you walking so...wanna hang out?" "Eh, sure why not?" Blue Wave responded. "Maybe you can tell us where this Doughnut Joes is." Scootaloo chuckled and pointed back towards the castle. "You passed it. It's in front of the castle. Directly in front of the castle. Hold on, I'll take us there." She lit her horn and teleported them in front of the designated location, although with three dizzy ponies in tow. Rainbow groaned and fell on her side while the twins were just still, trying to get their own bearings without moving. Rainbow moaned from the ground and gave her wings a little flutter. But she didn't move in the slightest besides just that. "Scootaloo," Golden Flutter muttered, grabbing her attention away from poking Rainbow Dash's buzzing form. "The next time you decide to teleport...warn us." "Please," Blue Wave added. "Yeah, sure. We're here!" She pointed her hoof at the building behind the twins. it was obvious she didn't pay any attention to their request, so they just went along with the moment. "I don't know how you girls could have missed the smell of Doughnuts wafting out of here!" She commented in disbelief. "Come in!" She walked into the restaurant with the twins in tow, stepping into the cool atmosphere scented with sugar, dough, chocolate, and so much more. While Rainbow Dash was still outside groaning and buzzing her wings. While Scootaloo and the twins were out and about, the princesses were in the Castle's Royal Throne Room, discussing everything that had happened in Ponyville. Celestia was troubled greatly by it, evident by her loud voice. "These...humans came to Equestria to try and take one of my ponies!" She announced. "And brought weapons nonetheless." "Humans are really strict when it comes to laws," Twilight clarified from beside Cadance in front of the thrones. "They do exactly what Equestria does actually. It's just that they don't know their limit. They walk into a place and declare it theirs immediately. Especially when they have better weapons. However in this round they were clearly outnumbered and outmatched. They had absolutely no say so on the matter. And I have a feeling they will be back for a second round. Sunset will more than likely let me know when, how, and why." Luna sighed and nodded in agreement. "I believe that Scootaloo is in for a rough time with these humans if they do not get their minds on straight. We must place guards inside your castle Twilight. EUP to be precise. They have the skills needed to stop them shall they ever come back out, more so than the standard Royal Guard." Celestia hummed and nodded her head. "I agree. Same thing with you Cadance. You have a portal in your castle too that could very much be used to infiltrate from the other side. We do not want that. Especially in the Crystal Empire." "I understand," Cadance agreed. "Have you heard from Scootaloo since the event?" "No. Although I am sure she is doing some deep thinking about some things. Particularly the Equestrian Princess role." About that," Twilight spoke up. She took some closer steps to stand beside Celestia. "Are you absolutely sure about Scootaloo, Scootaloo, being a princess?" "It wouldn't matter if I wasn't. By law, an Alicorn that is fit to be a princess is...a princess. Even a foal. Your niece is prime example. She has no health issues, therefore she is fit to lead. In the future of course." "But......it's Scootaloo." Celestia chuckled and nodded her head. "And she bears a lot of relations to her mother and father. Those two ponies have influenced many of Equestria's scholars at the same amount as Starswirl the Bearded. I am sure Scootaloo has picked up on a few things. The door to the throne room suddenly opened. The group turned and witnessed Scootaloo walk in with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, having a conversation. "Are you sure about this?" Apple Bloom asked her. "That's a lot of responsibility." "Definitely," Sweetie Belle agreed. "Mom would want me to do it," Scootaloo responded. "She does want me to do it. But I need to learn first. Wait here please." They stopped and waited while she took a few more steps and stopped at the foot of the throne. "Princess Celestia? I need to talk with you." Celestia looked towards the other ponies with confusion. They gave her the exact same look. She got off her throne and made her way down to her. "Yes, Scootaloo?" "Umm...I-I was speaking with Rainbow Dash this morning. And I told her about the dream I had. Mom.....she wants me to take this role. As the Princess of Magic. But I don't know a single thing about magic! So Rainbow thought that you may have some of my parents' possessions." "Of course you can have access to them," Celestia interrupted. "Did you take the role?" Scootaloo bit her lip and glanced at the ground in thought. Just like her mom said, while on the throne she had to be serious. But off, she could continue to be herself. But question was...will she lose herself in the process? She decided to take a gamble. If Scootaloo tha adventurous filly who hurt herself trying to pull of Rainbow inspired tricks disappeared, than so be it. This was for her parents. "...yes." Twilight nearly blanched. "I...I want to make my mom proud. And...the ponies of Equestria." Celestia smiled at her then pulled her into a hug. Which she happily returned. "You......are indubitably Frozen Fire and Bright Magnus' daughter," she whispered into her ear. "If there was any doubt before...then there is definitely none now." "Thanks...Aunt Celestia."