[Third, again. Who could've guessed?]
Scootaloo paced the hallway in front of the auditorium. Her bag sat on the chair by the door, everything she needed inside. She should know, she triple checked the night before. She just wanted to get in there and get the bonding done. She thought back to last night to distract herself from the waiting.
The Ralts had stayed by Sweetie's side, refusing to move more than a couple of hooves away from the white filly. According to Sweetie, Eros could speak with her tala... telapak... mind to mind. Eros refused to think-talk at anypony but Sweetie, however.
"Scootaloo?" Runic snapped Scootaloo from her thoughts. "You ready?"
"Born ready!" Scootaloo buzzed to her bag, grabbing it from the bench. "Let's get this going!"
"Somepony's eager." Runic smirked as he stepped back to let the filly in.
"I'm the last of the Crusaders to do this." Scootaloo paused as she set her bag by the circle. "Unless Silver wants to get in on this." With a shrug, she began pulling out her reagents.
"Even after what she and Diamond did?" Runic asked as Porter popped into existence.
"Silver is repant- sorry for what she did." Scootaloo pulled a jar of red liquid from the bag. "Diamond isn't."
"That's-" Runic was cut off as Porter took him to the observation room. He landed where he wanted to, for once. The polar bear summon from Apple Bloom's bonding spared the stallion a glance.
Another one?
With a shrug, Scootaloo went back to her preparations. First, she took a bundle of her own molted feathers and dipped them into the red liquid. Red extract is expensive to get from the Rainbow Factory, especially without the rest of the colors. Thankfully, summoners get a discount, as some recipes require color extracts.
How often is this going to happen! How often has this happened?
No one's ever tried to use a full rainbow.
I need eyes out in this new world. what's this one supposed to, oh... that'll work
Red tipped feathers were placed under candlestick holders. Pulling a matchbox out, Scootaloo carefully lit each red candle. Once done, she began her chant.
Here, go to her.
"Byrarc xo cqn Qrmmnw Fjh,
Vjbcna xo cqn Inyqha Frwmb,
Vjbt xo Qrmmnw Qxwxa,
R ljuu cx cqnn.
Kh oran, R krwm cqnn,
Kh frwm, R rwextn cqnn,
Kh cqn ljuu xo cqrwn lqrumanw,
R twxf cqnn.
Lxvn cx vn, Byrarc xo Vxcrxw."
Scootaloo barely squinted as the familiar flash brought her summon onto Equis, before it vanished in a blur of motion. From the brief glance she had, Scootaloo could tell it was easily twice the size of the Eevees, at least, those that still were. The insect had four white wings, the front two with three red triangles on their edges. A mostly black body with light grey legs, it had a golden yellow carapace covering it's upper thorax and head. Red eyes gleamed from it's mask-like face.
It's as fast as the tome said a Tekkanin would be. Scootaloo thought. Her eyes, accustomed to watching Rainbow and Leo train, could barely follow the Ninjask's movements. Glad to see it's not leaving the circle. She watched it for a little while longer before clearing her throat. "Come here, please."
She flinched back as the insect seemed materialize an inch from her face. <<:Yes! What you wish? Wow, this compulsion thing is weird. What's your name?:>>
"Right, energetic." Scootaloo muttered to herself. " So, how do I bond you?"
<<:Can you go fast?:>> It said, flickering from place to place around the filly.
"You re~ally like to move, don't ya?"
<<:Yes, but can you go fa~st?:>>
"Yeah," Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head, "Don't really think I will be able to keep up with ya."
The Ninjask vanished. <<:Then we're done.:>>
"But..." The filly let the word hang as the insect stopped, hovering in place. "I might know somepony and her Eevee that could help us get faster. All I ask is that you bond with me."
<<:Nah.:>> It vanished again. <<:I'mma find this somepony an' Eevee, whatever that is. They sound fast!>> It began to screech.
"Stop!" Scootaloo commanded. The Ninjask only paused for a moment, before buzzing off again. "Huh. That usually works." She tracked it as best she could. She watched it bounce from wall to corner to ceiling to wall to floor to glass to door. A new dent was added with each ricochet. It wouldn't stop moving, nor would it stop it's screeching. Scootaloo, flared her wings and crouched low.
When she saw her moment, she jumped.
She latched onto the Ninjask, squinting her eyes against the sudden wind. Great, now what? Scootaloo glanced ahead, her pupils becoming pinpricks. "Buck, Left! Now, now!" The Ninjask obeyed, just skimming the wall, before blitzing across the room.
"STOP!!" Scootaloo was nearly thrown off by the suddenness of the stop. "Great. Now listen, you obviously like going fast." She risked waving a hoof at the surrounding room. "But you just as obviously don't have much control. You've been focusing too much on going fast, you might've passed your own limits! If you bond with me, I will help you regain that control, and we will go even faster, together." The Ninjask drifted to the ground, allowing the filly to get off. "I may not be able to ride around on you forever, but I will do what I can as I can do it. And after, I will ride beside you.
"And we will get even faster. What do ya say, Zephyr?"
<<:We go faster, by going slower?:>> The named Ninjask tilted its head. <<:How? Little Mistress teach, I learn good!:>>
Steel turned to Runic. "Well?"
"They are three for three." He stated will a smile.
"Interesting." Steel tapped her chin with a hoof. "Usually, it takes a few tries for students here to get a bond. Where did Twilight find them?"