//------------------------------// // Night 16 // Story: Nights on Horlick's Hill // by RarityEQM //------------------------------// Star-meets were fast becoming one of Scootaloo's favorite activities during the summer. Perhaps it was the warm night air, or maybe it was the absolute quiet of the evening. The intoxicating knowledge of not having school the next day vastly helped, of course, or maybe it was the slim chance that the stars over head might grant her wish and flight would become a reality. Whatever the reason, Scootaloo found herself racing down the road almost every Friday night, the rush of sneaking out of the house combined with the speed of her scooter whipping her mane behind her drove her to highs she'd never felt on the ground before and tonight was no different. Idly, Scootaloo caught herself wondering if perhaps Sweetie Belle or Applebloom might appreciate the majesty of the universe swirling above them in Luna's distant ebony canvas. Perhaps, but it felt somewhat special just to have it belong to her and Diamond. Their hill where they talked about their missing parents, and lack of flight, the hardships other ponies wouldn't get, and found solace to their loneliness. Something that, perhaps, might be lost to Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. Mulling over the concept, Scootaloo hopped off her scooter once she reached the base of the hill and climbed towards the summit, toting the vehicle along with her on her back as she climbed. From the top, she could catch some really great speed when it was time for her to go home, and the decent on her Scooter was always quite the rush. When she reached the top of the hill, there was no boisterous greeting, or cheerful squeak of excitement at seeing her. There was no silver smile, or sprayed sparkles of a 'Crystal Trick.' there was no Diamond Dancer. Scootaloo frowned. Had she forgotten? No. They always met at the top of the hill on Fridays. It was two am on the dot, and normally, Diamond would be waiting quietly for her under the tree at the top of the hill, where they made wishes and each other giggle under the starry night sky. From the top of the hill, the tree overlooked Ponyville to the west, and to the east, the Everfree Forest. It was the forest, where Scootaloo caught sight of a flash of silver light. She knew that light: Diamond's contrail. Scootaloo winced, and shook her head, trying to wrench away the sensation of ice racing down her spine at that burst of light. Diamond's contrail only appeared behind her when she was going at a certain speed, or when she hit something particularly hard. The densely packed forest had too many trees in it to allow Diamond to speed along quickly for long periods of time, and since Diamond didn't have full control of her speed, that left Scootaloo with one conclusion: Diamond was hitting something hard. Or, something was hitting Diamond. Either way, Scootaloo found herself gripping her scooter tightly in her hooves, and making her way down the hill, rocketing towards that flashing light that burst through the trees. As she got closer, her ears perked, picking up new sounds that trickled through the roar of air racing by her ears. Sounds that forced Scootaloo to kick herself into gear, maneuvering her scooter as fast as she could go. Sounds that made more of those icy shivers race down her spine: Diamond was screaming. "Get OFF of me! GET OFF! NO! I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU!! LET GO!! LET GO OF ME!!" came the shrill shriek from somewhere deeper in the woods. Diamond's voice. Scootaloo pulled up to the edge of the forest and stopped, gazing into the dusky gloom that blanket the trees. There. Another flash. To her left. Quietly, the little orange pegasus crept past the underbrush, making her way into the depths of the darkness. The flashes were coming from a place that wasn't terribly far in. Creeping closer, Scootaloo paused, her gaze grasping hold of something that didn't belong in there. A tiny wicker basket, overturned on the ground with a number of red and purple flowers spilled around it. It was Diamond's basket. The one she used when picking flowers for the princess in the depths of Everfree. One of Diamond's errands, as Scootaloo had come to understand it, was to collect flowers for Luna. Ones she used to collect herself in the forest, when the Princesses resided in the Castle of the Two Sisters. Quietly, Scootaloo stepped around it and continued on, where another flash beckoned her, and more screams rang out into the indifferent trees. "I SAID NO! I SAID NO!! LEGGO OF ME! I SAID LEGGO!!" More screams. More cries. Scootaloo crept closer still, keeping herself low against the foliage and only paused when she reached a tiny grove of trees. Well, more accurately, she paused when she caught sight of what was in that tiny grove of trees. Scootaloo had never actually 'seen' Diamond Dancer in action before. For all the bragging she'd done, the little ten year old had never once made any attempt to drag Scootaloo on one of her missions where something like 'combat' might be taking place. Surely, Scootaloo had imagined, that all of Diamond's tall-tales about fighting Timber Wolves and various monsters of the forest were simply that: tall-tales. Surely, Scootaloo imagined, that Diamond would go fleeing at the first sign of 'actual' danger. Sadly, Scootaloo discovered, neither of those things proved true. The little crystal filly was laying on her back, kicking a hind leg wildly at a Timber wolf. A much larger ragged monster, made up of dark forest magic, and logs and twigs. It had managed to grasp onto one of Diamond's hind legs, and was currently dragging her deeper into the forest. They must have been scuffling before hand, because Diamond was a mess. Her fur was in shambles, her mane stuck out in multiple directions and she was covered in dirt. Scattered around the clearing were numerous sticks and twigs, twisted branches and gnarled logs of wood. More Timber Wolves, Scootaloo realized, but ones that had somehow been dismantled. The one dragging Diamond, however, seemed undisturbed by the 'corpses' surrounding them, and more interested in taking Diamond back to its den. Diamond, however, offered protest in the form of a wild frenzy of kicks. The creature didn't seem to notice, or simply did not care, doing its best to pull the young filly into the darkness. Diamond refused, trying to turn over onto her belly and crawl away, but the beast was much stronger than she was. At first, Scootaloo's instincts told her to offer assistance. To race in and hammer her forelegs at the creature's side until it let her friend go. It was fear, however, that overrode that particular desire, and rooted her to the spot. Well, fear and a healthy dose of curiosity. Diamond didn't sound so much terrified, as she sounded frustrated. Irritated to be displaced from her nightly routine by the creature that was dragging her along. She also didn't cry out for help. She wasn't screaming for some pony to come and get her, or to take her away from this nightmare she found herself in. She was simply screaming in growing rage. Was that what Scootaloo was hearing? Was that rage that was straining her voice like that? Scootaloo kept quiet and still, narrowing her eyes through the gloom as the dark figures tugged at one and other. Diamond managed to finally kick herself free, her next blow dislodging the Timber Wolf's lower jaw enough for Diamond to slip her leg out of its grip. Immediately the filly began to scoot away on her rump as fast as she could, kicking herself along the ground, while keeping an eye on the Timber Wolf. For a brief second, the wolf's jaw hung haphazardly off its mouth and it leaned back on its hind legs and using its forelegs, it reached up and adjusted its lower jaw, snapping it back into place. It flexed its mouth once, twice, opening and shutting it to make sure it worked properly before it turned towards Diamond, and a low, terrible growl ripped its way out from its clenched fangs. It lunged forward before Diamond was ready for it and seized the girl's face in its jaws, crushing Diamond's skull with one clean snap. At least, that's what it tried to do. At least, that's what it was used to doing. Diamond's crystal skin proved far to tough for it to even leave a scratch, let alone make a meal out of the girl. If anything, it would have had an easier time chewing on actual diamonds than trying to eat Diamond. The silver filly squealed and writhed, trying to free herself from the beast's wicked fangs, tugging and kicking, and anything she could do to get some distance. When she realized her options had been exhausted and the wolf was starting to drag her into the deeper forest again, she did something desperate: Diamond made a wish on the star around her neck. Diamond had always claimed she only used the star in emergencies, and surely this counted as an emergency. Her voice had changed from irritation to panic, once the monster that her head gripped in its teeth, and Scootaloo couldn't blame her. 'Invulnerable' as Diamond often claimed to be, it was one thing to boast about your exploits, but another thing entirely when you were actively going up against something that intended to murder you. "I WISH I WAS ANYWHERE BUT HERE!" Diamond hollered. Immediately, the star around her neck glimmered brightly, and Diamond vanished in a cloud of smoke. Poof! Gone. Just like that. And just like that, Diamond appeared six feet to the left, collapsing onto the forest floor in a silver heap. Anywhere but here apparently meant anywhere. It was at this point, Scootaloo expected Diamond would turn tail and flee. Now. Now when she had the chance to escape, the wolf looking dumbfounded that its meal simply disappeared from its jaws. It would have been easy for Diamond to sneak off without it realizing where she'd gone, but Diamond did not crawl away like Scootaloo had expected. Diamond, instead, climbed to her hooves, lowered her head and splayed her wings. She scuffled her right foreleg against the ground with a low growl of her own and shot hot steam from her nose. Was she getting ready to charge? What was that crazy filly up to? "DAZZLING DASH!!" Diamond was off like a shot, her shrill, squeaky voice echoing off the surrounding trees and her wings tucked in. Her hooves were beginning to glitter underneath her, going from disfigured black to glowing gleaming silver. She was picking up speed, and in only a few feet, Diamond burst forward with unnatural acceleration. The creature turned in surprise, only given a moment to react, and in that moment, it did not react fast enough. Diamond hit the wolf with a ferocious headbutt and tore through its frame like a bullet, dispelling whatever dark magic was holding it together with the force of her impact and she tumbled through to the other side, leaving snapped branches and twigs in her wake. She'd tripped on her own hooves when she collided with the wolf and now lay sprawled on the forest floor, breathing heavily and stationary. Almost immediately, though, Diamond pulled herself to her hooves and back into a combat position, wildly looking around for her assailant. When she noticed the twigs and branches which were the remains of the Timber Wolf she'd destroyed, the filly stumbled back and crashed onto her rump. "Ha! HAHAHAHA! OKAY! HA! O-OKAY!" Diamond shrieked. Probably louder than she should have. She seemed ultimately shocked that she'd succeeded in her attack, looking at the pile of sticks and then her hooves and the then sticks again. Was she, wait, was she crying? Scootaloo narrowed her eyes, carefully studying Diamond's frame in the clearing. She was convulsing faintly, trying to hold back tears that came anyway. She reached up and wiped her eyes, before she began to strangely slap herself on her forehead with both hooves. "You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It 's okay. You're okay. It's okay. You're okay. It's okay." she chanted, reaching up to wipe her eyes again. Even in the darkness, Scootaloo could make out Diamond's jittery, trembling frame. Timidly, the crystal filly stood up again and took a look around, grumbling quietly to herself. Scootaloo could make out something about flowers, and froze. Of course. She was looking for her basket. The wolves must have jumped her while she was making her way out of the forest. Probably to Horlick's Hill. That made sense. That would explain th- "Scootaloo?" Scootaloo snapped out of her thoughts, and realized Diamond was staring right at her with a puzzled expression on her face. Slowly, Scootaloo stood up and crept out from where she'd been hiding and flashed Diamond a bright smile. "Heh, H-hi Diamond," she sputtered. Why had she been hiding after the fight? It wasn't like Diamond would have been mad that she was being watched, would she? Diamond reached a hoof up and dried her eyes, before returning the smile Scootaloo offered with a brash one of her own, a familiar, glittering, silver smile, that screamed of smug satisfaction. "Heh, heya Scoots. What are you'se doin' out here? These woods ain't to safe at night, cha know?! I just beat up a, uh, a whole pack of Timber Wolves! Yeah! They were trying to eat me, but they weren't no match for the Night's Errant! Luna's chosen best!" Diamond squeaked, throwing her tiny chest out and marching towards the other girl with an arrogant sway to her step. Scootaloo frowned and opened her mouth, only to pause, peering at her companion quietly. Suddenly, everything made a little more sense. Everything fit together a little better. The bragging, the tall-tales, the over exaggeration. The display after the battle was more than enough evidence. Diamond was probably utterly terrified at going into combat. How could she not be? Crystal skin aside, those wolves absolutely towered over her. They could fit her head in their jaws alone. There were grown stallions that had been eaten by Timber Wolves, and certainly members of the guard who'd been toppled by the monsters of the forest. Diamond acted like she wasn't scared of anything in the world, but she'd cried after combat. Was it easier to be brave when you believed your own hype? Was that the plan? Hype herself up so she could face down the monsters in the forest? "I...was looking for you," Scootaloo said quietly. Diamond gave a little snort, and tossed her head back, boldly meandering passed Scootaloo and scanning the ground around her. "Lookin' for me? In these woods? Girl, you'se crazy. But, uh, you ain't seen no basket of flowers round here, have ya? I kinda need to grab those before I head up to Horlick's Hill tonight. I'm sorry I'm late, but you know, heh, I just uh, had ta show them Timber Wolves what's what!" she squawked. Scootaloo gave a snort, and began to roll her eyes, but paused when she realized that Diamond might not have been telling a tall-tale this time. Sure she only saw her fighting one Timber Wolf, but who's to say there weren't more before she'd arrived? She smiled quietly, walking along with Diamond before she nodded her head. "Yeah, actually, back over here a little ways. Say, Diamond I got a question," Scootaloo murmured as the made their way through the darkness. "Yeah? Shoot!" "How do you do that? "Huh? Do what?" "These woods are super scary at night. There's all kinds of stuff in here that could eat you up, but you wander in every night, without armor, a guide, or weapons. How are you so fearless all the time?" Scootaloo asked. She expected some hot air about being the Night's Errant, or how strong she was, but Diamond merely shook her head. "That's easy! The trick to being fearless is to become fearsome. Then all the stuff you'se is afraid of, has to be afraid of you instead!" Diamond explained cheerfully. Scootaloo tilted her head and stared at Diamond for a long few moments. That wasn't the craziest thing she'd ever heard. In fact, it almost made sense. At least, as much sense as Diamond had a tendency to make. "And" Diamond continued, stopping once she reached her basket, where she began to collect the flowers scattered along the ground. "If you say you ain't afraid long enough, hard enough, and actually listen, you sorta start to believe it," she squeaked, her radiant grin lighting up the evening. Scootlaoo had to grin in return, it was all she could do when seeing her friend so cheerful after almost being killed in the line of duty. "So, you're gonna head back to the castle now, or are we goin' to the hill?" Scootaloo asked. "Mmmphm, mpmpmh, mpmmmhm mmhm," said Diamond, her basket of flowers dangling from her lips. She put it down when Scootaloo stared at her and flashed another silver smile. "The Hill! I can get these flowers to Luna at any time tonight, but I only get to hang out with you once a week, and I've already been delayed long enough tonight! Come on, we've got wishin' ta do!" she beamed warmly. Scootaloo wholeheartedly agreed.