//------------------------------// // Trauma // Story: A Compass to the Soul // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// Rainbow yelled in disbelief, "That was the pirate that attacked your home?!" Scootaloo sniffled and just nodded. "Aw, Scoots…" she hugged her daughter as she cried. Soarin questioned Rumble, "And that was the pirate that attacked your village?" Rumble sadly nodded. "You poor kid…" he also hugged the colt. Dash then glared at the ship and Soarin did the same. "As much as I wish we can help out and destroy those monsters, we got a bigger mission to fulfill." Her fiancé agreed, "But I swear one day we'll catch that pirate and make him pay for all he's done." Dash called to the helmsman, "NG, take us hard right to starboard." "Aye-aye, captain!" and she turned the wheel. The ship was able to keep away from the smoking ships and were soon out of eye's view. Moments later Scootaloo and Rumble were inside the galley wrapped in blankets and were drinking hot cocoa from Pinkie. Dash inquired, "I know this is a terrible topic to talk about but we would like to know what happened to you two when the Storm King attacked your homes?" Scootaloo looked unsure and hesitated to share until Rumble spoke up. "I don't remember much other than that he was standing a few feet from me with his glowing blue eyes. I can never forget those eyes… I never told Thunder this because I know how much it hurts him to remember the day we lost our parents and half the village when it got burned." Scootaloo suddenly said, "I remember the eyes too… it was so scary to watch him destroy everything… And…" she cried, "When he used that scepter and pointed it at my parents!" she sobbed harder causing Rainbow to quickly embrace her to calm her down. Rumble looked at her sorrowfully; never had he thought he could meet someone that would have the same experience as him when it came to the devastation of the Storm King. Dash told the filly, "Let's go into the cabin and catch a nap that should help you." Scootaloo sniffled, "Okay…" and was led away by her adoptive mother. When they had gone, Soarin faced Rumble, "I'm proud of you." The colt was shocked to hear that, "Proud of me why?" "I'm proud of you for admitting the truth. I know that was hard to tell us that but I'm glad you did." "I feel more bad for Scootaloo." Rumble confessed, "She saw her parents getting killed in front of her while I was told by Thunderlane that our parents were gone because of the fires…" "Yeah… it is awful that happened to her." "I want to help her, but I don't know what I can do." Soarin smiled at this, "I think the only thing you can do is just be her friend." "Her friend? Really?" "Yes, really. Cause believe it or not, Rumble, but that just might be the best thing anyone can do after learning someone has had a traumatic experience in their life. I know I needed our friends back on the island to help me get by when I thought I would never see my beloved Rainbow Dash again." Rumble pondered on his mentor's words wondering if it was possible. Scootaloo rested her head on the pillow as Rainbow hummed her lullaby. The filly asked, "Mom…?" "Yeah, Scoots?" "Do you think I'm weak?" "What?! Whatever gave you that idea?" "It's just I get so helpless whenever I think about that night… and I cry like a baby…" "Let's get this straight, no I do not think you're weak, in fact I think you're the opposite. You're stronger by telling us what happen and that's better than what I've done, when I was kid I kept things bottled in because I didn't want to burden my parents with my problems since they always gave me everything they had and I didn't like to disappoint them or have the heart to tell them the truth where they were concerned. Heck, I still did that after I became a pirate. I hid their letters away so I couldn't see what they said. I was scared that I disgraced them by becoming this. "But that all changed the night you told me about your past… I read their letters and it turned out that they still support me and that they want me to keep fighting in what I believe in! They also think that I was framed and that they've been doing all they can to lift the bounty on my head! So really Scoots, you have taught me a thing or two and I can't thank you enough for that." The young pegasus felt touched by these words. "Now scoot over, I could use a nap too." She giggled as she made room for the mare and they cuddled together before falling asleep. A couple of days later, the ship stopped where it was supposed to on the map. Soarin, Capper, Spike, Flash, and Big Mac could see of the distance of clouds being gathered and being menacing. "Well this is it." the cat said. The others agreed before turning to everybody on the ship and with the hippogriffs being at the ready. Skystar said, "Alright everyone, join hooves or talons, or whatever you have!" Everyone joined appendages and with that the hippogriffs used their pearl magic and in one giant glow it moved them to the ocean and everyone soon found themselves changed into seaponies and sea creatures respectfully. The newly formed seaponies were in awe of the change especially Scootaloo who was reveling in the feeling of swimming with fins and commented, "This must be just like flying!" she twirled vertically around. Sweetie Belle however was less than thrilled. "How can you keep from getting pruny?" she asked. Rarity rolled eyes, "Oh Sweetie, don't be such a downer, I mean just look at this tail?!" showing off her fins, "Is it not one of the most divine things you've ever seen?!" Rainbow watched happily as Scootaloo kept swimming around having the time of her life then she spots her fiancé ogling her and smirked, "What are you looking at?" He chuckled, "When I first got transformed like this, I thought about us being like this and how good you would have look and I was right!" "Well duh!" she exclaimed as she swam around him, "Though I gotta to admit you don't look so bad yourself hotshot." and she used her tail fin to bush against his nose. That made him have a determined look and started to chase after her. She avoided him and laughed while playfully taunting him. "Oh-ho, trying to get me underwater when you can't on land or air?" she swam off. He called back, "Maybe!" and kept on chasing her. The others were having their own enjoyment under the sea as they explored the wonders the ocean had to offer though Capper was annoyed of being a catfish again and saw Sweetie Belle wasn't having any fun either giving him an opportunity to get in good with her sister. He went up to her and inquired, "Not a water fan too, uh?" "It isn't that, but when I look around there's not much sunlight and there's no grass to run on and no hooves to run on it with." "I hear ya. I miss having my beautiful paws and natural good looks and water is something we cats like to avoid as much as possible." "Really? Then it must have been hard you for you to travel the way you did before meeting us." "Oh it was! But I knew I had to stick it out for my friends." The filly smiled, "Wow, that was very admirable of you." "Why thank you!" They kept on talking just as Spike eyed them nearby and frowned in thought, What is that cat up to now…? He turned to Flash and asked, "Why do you suppose Capper is talking to Sweetie Belle?" Flash shrugged, "Could be that he's just being friendly." "Yeah… maybe…" but the water dragon had a feeling it was more than that and he was going to find out what. Off on the side Skystar and Pinkie were playing with colored clams they named Shelly and Sheldon until suddenly a loud shout happen that made Skystar freeze in fright. "PRINCESS SKYSTAR!" Everyone stopped with their fun to turn to see a tall white and purple seapony that gave off a commanding presence. Skystar wavered, "Mom! Y-you're back!" Queen Novo yelled, "Yes I am back! But when I did I found out that you were missing and to discover that you went behind my back! How dare you do this sort of thing without my authority!" Terramar and Soarin came to Skystar's rescue, with Terramar starting, "It was my fault Aunt Novo, I asked Skystar for help." "No it's my fault, I asked Terramar to ask on my behalf, so please don't take it out on your daughter and nephew they were only trying to help us when we needed it the most especially me, because if it wasn't for them I would have never been reunited with the one I love whom I was separated from for two years." Novo looked at him in surprise and spotted General Seaspray and Sky Beak coming to her as her brother-in-law said, "It's true, Novo." Seaspray nodded in agreement. There was a pause as everyone waited to see what the queen would say until she spoke. "Well then I guess since there was no harm done, and can understand it was for a greater cause…" she smiled. Everyone sighed in relief and Skystar looked like she about to flip for joy until her mom said. "But you're still going to be grounded." Her joy deflated and remarked, "Aw poo…" Eventually the large group emerged from the lagoon that the boys remember starting their journey from. "Rumble." Soarin beckoned. The colt faced the stallion as he produced the vial containing the Water Rose cure. "Why don't you go ahead and get this to Zecora." Rumble gasped happily and quickly hugged his mentor before taking the vial and flew at the speed of light. He soon found himself in the village where others saw him especially his friends as Pip called out, "Rumble what are you-" "No time Pip! I got to go wake my brother up!" The pegasus zipped on and landed into Zecora's hut. She was about to say something regarding his surprise return when he held up the vial and said, "Here! This will cure my brother!" She questioned, "Of this, you are quite certain? If it's not the cure, it might double your heart's burdens." "But it's from the Water Rose! It's supposed to cure anything!" "The Water Rose?! We must make haste! Come with me! There is no time to waste!" She took him to the adjoining room where Thunderlane still laid unconscious and Rumble felt a pang of guilt again but watched with hope as Zecora took the vial and poured the contends on his head to rub on it. She then stepped back as they waited. At first nothing was happening but then Thunder let out a groan and slowly his eyes began to open! Rumble's eyes welled with joyful tears as he witnessed his brother's awakening. Thunderlane saw his brother, "Rumble? W-what happen? How did I…?" Before he could finish the colt leapt at Thunder and embraced him tightly. Thunderlane was confused as he also saw Zecora's expression being happy but tearful. Then came in Soarin followed by a mare with rainbow-colored hair he didn't recognize. They were overwhelmed with emotion as Soarin exclaimed, "It worked it actually worked!" "Which means Celaeno will be cured too!" proclaimed the mare. "Cured?" Thunder questioned, "Soarin, what has happened, what is going on?!" But instead of answers he got laughs. When Thunderlane was finally brought up to speed he couldn't believe that he was stuck in a coma all this time and that Soarin had to take of care of Rumble and they went on an incredible journey that resulted with Soarin finding his fiancée who had been a pirate since her love's disappearance. And in doing so they found the Water Rose that was able to heal him from his coma and now here they were gathered around a large fire as a luau-like feast was before them in celebration of his curing, Soarin and the others to be back with loved ones, and as a tribute to the hippogriffs for helping when they did. Discord was at the head of the table and addressed the large crowd, "Well this is certainly a fine picture. We have friends that have come back to us and have brought even more freeloaders to my island." Laughter went around the area. "But seriously, there's a lot we have to celebrate especially since this knucklehead here," he pointed to Soarin, "was able to find his fiancée after all and amazingly she didn't jilt him for another guy!" Some laughed but others didn't especially Rainbow Dash as she glared and whispered to her special somepony, "You really had to put up with this guy for two years?" "Uh-ah." he nodded wearily. Discord then said, "But if I must be honest, I'm happy for them, it just shows that even the impossible can always be possible which is what I am! So you're welcome!" More laughter while Soarin rolled his eyes. Once everything had calmed down and everyone of Rainbow's crew was given a place to stay thanks to Discord's magic. Dash had finished tucking Scootaloo in when Soarin motioned her to follow him and was taken to the waterfall where he showed her his special place behind it. Dash saw the chalk marks on the cave walls and saw Soarin hanging his head. "I counted for so long that I never realized how many there was until now." "Yeah… seeing it now of how long we've been apart makes me see that Twilight was right. We're never going to get back what we had, will we?" He shook his head, "No I don't think we will. Our friends were right, I think I have been replaced at this point that it's not going matter if I go back now. Not without you anyway. I can't stand the thought of us not being together again…" She nuzzled his head and he did the same then he suggested. "Let's stay here." Her eyes widen, "Really? You think so?" "Yes, it's the perfect place to start a new life together. After all I've lived here for two years, I got a hut that's perfect for us, Scootaloo and the rest of our future kids, there's wonderful neighbors… most of the time… plenty of food, water, you name it! There's no better place than here as long as you are here." he held her hoof. She slowly smiled, "Weellll I did tell Scootaloo that we would get our own place after Celaeno was cured but since you're offering…?" He smirked, "I am. I want us to finally be a family Rainbow Dash. We've waited forever for this moment so let's just do it." She quickly kissed his lips before uttering, "You're… on."