//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Friendship Is Magic! ... Unless You Are a Human // by Huk //------------------------------// “The tracks end here…” Sweetie Belle said. “She must be somewhere nearby…” “She better…” Apple Bloom glanced at the sun and shook her head. “It’s going to get dark soon, and we’re a good twenty minutes away from Ponyville...” She began glancing around… On her right, some distance away, a river was flowing, filling the air around them with a quiet, soothing sound. On the left, there was a patch of tall trees stretching to the horizon, but Scootaloo was nowhere in sight. She perked her ears up, listening for any sounds that could give away the location of her friend, but aside from chirping birds and buzzing bees, there was nothing. “Hey, over there!” Sweetie Belle suddenly said, pointing her hoof to the left. “I think I can see the scooter! Come on!” They ran in that direction, to see the antiquated contraption in one of the bushes, and the helmet lying some distance away. Their ears perked up again, and this time a quiet sob got their attention... Scootaloo was hiding under the protective shade of a leafy tree, sobbing and sniffling. Her eyes were puffy and damp from the tears, and her hooves were soaking wet. She sat with gaze fixed apathetically to the ground, gently rocking back and forth. “Hey, Scoot!” Apple Bloom’s voice snapped the pegasus back to reality. “You, OK?” “I... I didn’t mean to do it… I swear...” “What happened over there? All we saw was a mob trying to bust the door to Cheerilee’s house—” “I didn’t mean for Cheerilee or that human to get hurt! I just... I just wanted to be normal!” Scootaloo yelled, hitting her head on the tree, with enough force to shake it. “Why can’t I do anything right...” She sniffled and glance up. “Why did you have to send her after me? Why couldn’t you just... stay away...” “Because we’re your friends, that’s why!” Sweetie Belle said. “The CMCs never leaves friends hanging, remember? We want to help you, but we need to know what’s going on first.” “Help me? You just, don’t understand—” “Because you’re not talking! I mean... what the heck Scoot?! Ever since Pinkie threw that party at the end of the school year, you’ve been acting strange.” “Yeah, Sweetie’s right! First, you were doing some crazy stuff, then all of a sudden you were disappearing for days, and now... you’re stealing?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “This isn’t the Scootaloo we know... What’s bugging you?” “Y-you wouldn’t understand...” “Try us, Missy!” “I’m telling you - you wouldn’t understand!” Once again, Scootaloo forcefully hit the tree she was under, sending a powerful shockwave that shook the entire plant. “Just… leave me alone—” “Darn it, Scoot! I’ve had it!” Apple Bloom shot her a glance, arching her eyebrow. “We went through some crazy stuff together, I thought we trusted each other!” “That... that’s not the issue—” “Then what is?!” Sweetie Belle interjected. “Tell us!” “I... don’t wanna! Leave me alone!” “Not happening! We’re not going anywhere until you tell us!” Apple Bloom growled, angrily stomping her hoof, but Scootaloo just frantically shook her head, her eyes not leaving the ground. “Darn it, Scoot! Tell us so we can help you—” “You can’t! You can’t help me or understand me! You’re not a pegasus!” Aside from the sounds of bees buzzing somewhere nearby, everything went silent. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other, then back to the pegasus just as tears of anger and despair flooded her face. “Scoot... I...” Apple Bloom bit her lip, trying to hide her embarrassment, but the blushing cheeks were a dead giveaway. “Your wings?” Scootaloo nodded. “They say, I won’t be able to fly...” “I... I’m so sorry...” “Me too...” Sweetie Belle said with an embarrassed voice. “Do you know what’s the worst part?” Scootaloo glanced up to see CMCs shaking their heads. “They lie! All of them lie! There’s a cure, but... my parents don’t want me to have it...” “What?” Apple Bloom cocked her head. “That... doesn’t make a lick of sense... Why wouldn’t they?” “Why?” Scootaloo let out a dark chuckle, and her lips curled into a crazy smirk. “Because they’re embarrassed!” “Scoot, when we met your parents, they seemed proud of you!” “I heard them saying it, Apple Bloom! I heard with my own ears how they said I let them down... They despise me!” Gritting her teeth and with tears of anger rolling down her cheeks, Scootaloo hit her head on the tree. “It’s... not... fair!” She continued assaulting the trunk, with more and more force. “Scoot, stop before you hurt yourself!” Apple Bloom said. “Maybe that would be for the best!” “Stop saying things like that! We’re gonna figure it out!” “There’s nothing to figure out! I’m a flightless pegasus, that’s only good at causing trouble and hurting others! It would be best if I just... disappeared!” Sweetie Belle wanted to say something when a bunch of bees hovering around her muzzle interrupted her. She waved her hoof, chasing some of them away, but the buzzing was intensifying. Following the sound, she slowly glanced up, to see a humongous beehive hanging from one of the branches, swaying back and forth. Her eyes widened, and she glanced back to realize that Scootaloo began angrily bucking the tree with her hind legs. “Scoot... you must stop!” “You stop, Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo shouted, bucking the tree again. “You don’t know how it’s like!” “No, Scoot! It’s not what I—” “You have normal parents, and sister and... everything!” “No! Stop kicking the tree! There are—” “Stop telling me what to do!” Scootaloo hollered, sending one more mighty kick against the trunk – her buck powerful enough to make Applejack proud! Before Sweetie Belle could say another word, something splattered nearby, covering all three of them in a sweet and sticky substance, and filling the air with a noisy buzzing sound. “B-bees...” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened, at the swarm coming out of the ruined hive. “Not the bees!” Scootaloo grabbed her scooter and helmet in a blurring speed. “Quickly, hop on!” The CMCs didn’t need to be told twice. As soon as they were aboard, Scootaloo put the pedal to the metal, dashing from the scene and leaving a cloud of dust behind them. “Phew... that was a close call!” Scootaloo said. “Don’t celebrate yet! They’re still on our tails!” “Relax, Sweetie Belle! There’s no way they’re going to catch...” Scootaloo’s eyes widened, as a vibration began coming from the front left wheel. “No! You can’t do this to me, you piece of junk!” “What’s wrong?” “Girls, brace yourselves! We’re about to—” The wheel fell off with a loud snap, sending the scooter and screaming ponies into an uncontrolled spin down a slight slope, and into a patch of brambles. “Ugh… You OK, girls?!” “We’re fine... but we’re stuck!” Apple Bloom said. “Me too...” Scootaloo began painfully dragging herself out. “Darn blackberries!” “We need to get out of here before…” Apple Bloom said, just when a loud buzzing filled the air, and a second later, the sky went black from the swarm covering the sun. “Oh, nelly! This is gonna hurt...” *** John quietly crawled out from under a patch of thick bushes, scanning his surroundings and the sky with caution. When Rainbow Dash went for Cheerilee, the confused mob couldn’t decide whether to go after him or her. Their momentary distraction allowed him to break free and get to the Everfree... where the game of cat and mouse continued. Pegasi were flying over the forest, scanning it like vultures looking for a prey, while a bunch of earth ponies and unicorns were trying to track John down on foot. Following his tracks, they drove him almost all the way to the ruins of Castle Of Two Sisters, before giving up. “Ugh, damn ponies...” John said, breathing heavily and clenching his chest. “Fuck, that hurts...” He glanced at the sun, that was now almost touching the horizon. “If that moron doesn’t find me in time, I’ll need to a place to stay... Hmm, those ruins look cozy...” After scanning his surroundings one more time, John began walking towards the ruins, until he reached the antiquated bridge. “Huh, looks all right...” John took a step forward, only to frantically grab the rope a second later when a plank broke under his weight, hitting the ground below with a loud thud. “Shit! That was a close call...” Feeling his aching body, he cocked his head, gaping at the rocky bottom below in silence, when a morbid thought hit his mind… “Thirty or forty meters... Not exactly Golden Gate, but the sharp rocks at the bottom should do the job... How did that rhyme go again?” Breathing heavily, he started mumbling something to himself. “If you’re feeling like a jerk… ‘Cause your project just won’t work… Go ahead and take the leap…” He raised his leg. “Then you’ll finally get some sleep…” Standing with his mouth opened and one leg dangling in the air, he blinked, cocked his head to the left and blinked again... tilted his head to the right and blinked one more time. As he repeated the cycle, his lips began involuntarily curling into a gentle smile, that transformed into a smirk. A few seconds later, he fell to his butt and burst out into hysterical laughter, that went on, and on, and on... After what seemed like an eternity, he finally stopped and took a deep, slow breath. “This is so... stupid!” He chuckled to himself with a smile. “No! I’m not gonna give those pricks the satisfaction... or leave Cheerilee alone with this crap!” He picked up his metallic arm, arching his eyebrow. “As soon as I get the replacement, I’m gonna squeeze the life out of every bastard that tries something funny again! No more mister nice guy—” “Help!” A loud outcry interrupted his tirade. John cocked his head to the direction the sound was coming from but shook his head a second later. “Fuck it, man! Over here no good deed ever goes unpunished...” He said to himself, to hear the cry for help yet again. “No way... This may be a trap, just ignore it…” Sitting on his butt, he tried enjoying the sun and ignoring the pain that was radiating through his entire body, but his head involuntarily moved in the direction from which the scream came from just a few moments ago. “Ignore it... Just... let it go—” Another desperate outcry filled the air, hitting his conscience like a speeding bullet. He shook his head and rolled his eyes in frustration. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?” John stood up, sighed deeply, and started running towards the source of the sound, cursing under his breath... *** “Ow… I won’t be able to sit for a week…” Apple Bloom said as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle pulled her out of the thorns. “I think, more like a month... all of us...” Sweetie Belle added, rubbing her flank. “And I thought bee’s stingers are not long enough to get through pony’s coat…” She arched her eyebrow at Scootaloo. “Why the heck didn’t you listen to me?!” “I... You should have told me you meant bees!” “It’s always somepony else’s fault, isn’t it?!” “That’s not what I said...” “You don’t talk to us? It’s our fault! You steal? It’s your parent’s fault! And now, when you bucked a darn beehive off the tree, it’s my fault!” “I didn’t say that! But—” “Girls, drop it!” Apple Bloom jumped between her friends. “It was an accident, OK? No pony is to blame!” “Tell that to Miss magical! Why didn’t she just vaporize that entire hive with her magic?” “I’m gonna vaporize you in a moment!” “STOP!” Apple Bloom shouted, and her front hooves hit the ground with force, sending it flying in all directions. “Both of you calm down, or I swear to... Celestia, I... I’m... I’m gonna kick both of your flanks!” She cleared her throat and shot her friends a cold glance, only to notice confusion on their faces. “What?” “You OK, Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo said. “Your lip is... puffy.” “I’m fine... I... think—” “Your hoof!” Apple Bloom glanced at her leg and cocked her head in confusion. It was swollen like a balloon, she glanced at her other hoof and notice it expanding as well. “This is... odd...” Apple Bloom said with a raspy voice. “Something’s... wrong...” Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had noticed her breathing becoming more wheezy, with every passing second. Suddenly her eyes shot wide. “Oh... no...” “What’s going on?” Scootaloo said, just as Apple Bloom began gasping for air. “Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom! What’s happening?!” “Allergy... Can’t... breathe...” Suddenly, Apple Bloom’s mouth opened, and panic filled her face. She fell to the ground clenching her chest and thrashing about like a wounded animal. “Apple Bloom?! Apple Bloom! Help! Somepony, help us!” Sweetie Belle shouted with horror in her eyes. “Scoot, we need to get her to the hospital!” She said, but Scootaloo stood paralyzed with fear, just watching her friend convulsing on the ground. “Scoot! Help me! We can’t just...” Apple Bloom’s spasms ended as abruptly as they started as her body went limp and eyes rolled to the back of her head. “No, no, no, no, no, no! Breathe! Apple Bloom, breathe… you must breathe! Help!” Sweetie Belle yelled again, trying to jerk Apple Bloom up. “Scoot, help me get her on my back!” She shouted again to notice the pegasus backing away. “What are you doing?!” “It’s my fault... It’s all my fault!” Scootaloo shouted in horror, frantically shaking her head. “I didn’t mean to...” She turned around, and with tears flooding her face began running away. " It’s all my fault!” “No! Get back here! Don’t leave me alone! Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle yelled, but her friend’s silhouette disappeared in the bushes. “No… what do I do? Help!” Sweetie Belle nervously glanced around trying to recall the path to Ponyville, but with sweat pouring down her forehead and adrenaline flooding her veins, she lost the sense of direction, seeing nothing but trees and bushes. “Help, someone! Help me!” She hollered once again as water began rolling down her face. “Apple Bloom... get up! Please get up... Please...” Sweetie Belle was shaking Apple Bloom’s body and pleading for her to wake up, but as seconds passed her hope began to wane, and a few moments later died down like a burnt-out candle, leaving the wailing unicorn resigned and broken. She rested her head on Apple Bloom’s chest, flooding her coat with tears. “I’m sorry Apple Bloom... so very, very sorry...” *** “Miss Belle?!” Sweetie suddenly jerked her head to see John, running towards her. The view was like gasoline poured into the dying flame, rekindling her hope in a blink of an eye. “Help! Help me! Please, help me!” “What’s the prob... Apple Bloom?!” John’s eyes widened. “What happened?!” “There were bees, and the next second she couldn’t breathe—” “Is she allergic?!” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Christ! How long?” “I don’t know... a minute, or... two?!” John’s jerked his head from left to right and exhaled sharply. “Look for something sharp! Like a rock or a branch!” Sweetie nodded, and they both started scanning their surroundings, but there was nothing appropriate nearby. “Sweet Celestia, her lips! Her lips are turning blue!” Breathing heavily, John glance around one more time, and an epiphany struck him like lightning. He grabbed his disconnected metallic arm and started forcefully bashing it against a nearby boulder. “Break! Fall apart! Break you son of a bitch, break!” John was striking the contraption against the rock, but aside from a few dents, the arm was in one peace, with no signs of falling apart. “Come on, break! Please...” He suddenly stopped, breathing from exhaustion. One of the hits, tore off a warning sticker, revealing a small piece of metal with a flask symbol beneath it. “I added a little surprise if you can find it.” Gastovski’s words were playing in John’s mind as he pressed on the icon. A hiss filled the air, and a second later, his arm opened, revealing a small hidden compartment housing a glass bottle, with a note attached to it. ’Daddy’s little helper – enjoy!’ Clenching the bottle in his hand, John let out a chuckle. “James, you goddamn drunkard! I love you!” He took a sip, poured the rest on Apple Bloom’s throat, and smashed the bottle on the nearby boulder, picking the largest piece of glass that remained intact. “Miss Belle, no matter what I do now, you must trust me, understand?!” Sweetie nodded. “OK, hold her down, tight!” Sweetie Belle grabbed cyanotic Apple Bloom by the head and watched in horror as John placed the piece of glass against her throat with a shaking hand. She glanced at his face, and he glanced back, with a terrified expression. “I... never done that to a pony...” I never done that to anyone! “God, please make it work...” Holding his breath, he pushed the sharp piece of glass, vertically against Apple Bloom’s throat, and dark red blood appeared a moment later, and a few seconds after that a large enough opening was made. Sweetie Belle bit her hoof to restrain herself from throwing up at the sign. “She’s still not breathing...” John frantically shook his head. “We need a... tube or... something, to blow the air inside!” “Wouldn’t that work?” Sweetie Belle pointed her hoof at John’s neck, or rather at one of the things hanging around it. He ripped the ‘World’s Best Dad’ pen and scanned it from top to bottom for a second and nodded frantically. A moment later, the pen was lying in pieces, and the tube was down Apple Bloom’s throat. Biting her lip, Sweetie Belle observed as he began blowing air inside, and Apple Bloom’s chest started rising, then falling. “You did it! She’s breathing—” “No, she’s not! I’m breathing for her...” John put his ear up to her chest. “I... think her heart is still beating, but barely...” John blew more air inside her chest once again, and it contracted a second later. He repeated the procedure again, with the same result. For the next minute, the whole world became just the tube, and Apple Bloom’s chest, the tube, and the chest. “Come on Apple Bloom, start breathing! Come on—” “Look!” Sweetie Belle suddenly shouted, pointing her hoof. They both leaned in and observed as Apple Bloom’s chest began rising on its own, and fell down a second later. It did it again… and again… and again... They glanced at each other, then back at the breathing earth pony, then back at each other one more time when the wheezing sound around them intensified. “It... worked... It really worked!” Sweetie Belle shouted enthusiastically, and before John knew what was happening, she grabbed him in a tight embrace, flooding his clothes with the tears of joy. “Thank God...” John returned the embrace, letting out a few tears of his own. “I’m getting too old for this...” For a while, they just kept watching the breathing Apple Bloom, but it still wasn’t over. “Miss Belle... we need to get her to the hospital. Hold on... I’ll get this contraption that James gave me working... unless you know the way?” “Hmm...” Sweetie Belle squinted her eyes and glanced around, to point her hoof a second later. “There! That wrinkled-looking rock! We need to get there and turn right.” “All right...” John gently placed Apple Bloom on his shoulder. “Lead the way...” *** When they reached the outskirts of Ponyville, the sun was touching the horizon, painting the sky with red and orange. “There, I can see the hospital!” Sweetie Belle smiled and pointed her hoof. “We should be there in… You OK, mister?” “I’m... fine...” John lied, gasping for air. His body was aching all over, and sweat was pouring off his forehead like a waterfall. “Just... tired... Give me a sec...” He sat behind one of the many trees, inhaling deeply and at the same time glancing at the destination. He squinted his eyes and slowly shook his head a moment later. “Miss Belle... I can’t go there – you’ll have to carry her the rest of the way...” “What? Why?” “I can see ponies near the hospital, and something tells me that if I go there... I’m not coming out alive...” “Why would anypony attack you?” “It’s a long story. Let’s just say that Cheerilee and I were accused of something we didn’t do...” John let out a sigh. “We don’t have time for this... Will you bring Apple Bloom to the hospital?” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Good... I would have a favor to ask, though... After you deliver her, could you find James, and tell him I’ll be waiting near those ruins to the south?” “Sure, no problem—” A quiet groan interrupted them… *** Apple Boom slowly opened her eyes, glancing at John and Sweetie Belle in confusion. A second later, a mixture of fear and pain filled her face, and she jerked her hooves. “Easy, easy! Sweetie Belle, help me out here!” John said, blocking Apple Bloom’s attempt to pull the tube out of her throat. “Apple Bloom, look at me! Please, look at me!” She glanced at John with horror in her eyes. “You’ve been bitten by bees, you’re OK, but we’re taking you to the hospital...” She opened her mouth, but when no sound came out, she tapped the tube with her right hoof. “I know it hurts, sweetie, but the tube must stay for a few more minutes...” Apple Bloom bit her lip in confusion. “We don’t have time to explain... I need you to be brave for a while longer, OK? Can you do that for me?” Seeing a reassuring smile on John’s face, she nodded. “Good girl!” “Apple Bloom, I’m gonna take you to the hospital...” Sweetie Belle said. “Just, please... don’t stop breathing again, OK?” She turned to John. “I’m ready.” Gently, John placed still swollen body of the earth pony on her back and sighed. “You’re good to go... I know it’s only five minutes or so, but... good luck. And please, remember about informing James, OK?” “I will, and mister...” Sweetie Belle glance at him, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. “Thank you... Thank you so much...” “No problem,” John winked with a smile. “Just... get her to the hospital.” Sweetie Belle nodded with a loud sniffled, and with Apple Bloom on her back headed towards Ponyville. John waited until their silhouettes disappear, before turning back himself, and heading to the south... *** Meanwhile, at the hospital emergency room, Rainbow Dash was arguing with a bunch of ponies. “I’m pressing charges!” An earth pony said painfully clenching his hoof. “Go ahead!” Rainbow Dash shouted back. “I’m sure Princess Celestia will be pleased to hear from you! Oh, and don’t forget to add how you beat up the human and wanted to do the same to Cheerilee!” “She’s a fillyfooler—” “Says who? Dumb Bell and his gang? And you bought that?” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Those three are a lying bunch of losers!” “Scootaloo herself confirmed it!” “Yeah, I heard how that ‘confirmation’ looked like—” “Rainbow Dash!” Apple Jack said, joining the conversation. “I came as soon as I heard what happened! How’s Cheerilee?” “She’s fine... A few bruises, a cut on her hoof and pretty shook up, but she should be OK. Her house is a different matter, though...” “What about you?” “Me? I’m not the one who almost got beaten up by a bunch of losers!” Rainbow said, turning her head back to the group of ponies. “Idiots! All of you! I hope Celestia’s gonna kick your flanks!” Murmurs filled the air, but no pony responded, either too afraid or too ashamed after what happened. Applejack kept glancing between angry Dash, and the bunch of injured ponies, shaking her head in disbelief. “How could that happened... One accusation and the whole town went crazy?” Applejack noticed Rainbow Dash arching her eyebrow. “What?” “It’s just funny coming from you, AJ...” “What do you mean?” “Nothing...” Rainbow shook her head. “I gotta dash and tell Twilight what happened here if she doesn’t know already. See you later...” Applejack sat down on one of the chairs and with a confused expression on her face, tried to understand what Rainbow Dash could have meant. After a minute or two, the hospital’s door burst opened, interrupting her pondering and revealing Sweetie Belle with Apple Bloom on her back... *** “Help! Somepony!” Sweetie Belle said. “Apple Bloom needs help!” “W-what?!” Applejack’s eyes shot wide, and she ran like crazy towards her sister. “Apple Bloom, what happened! Talk to me!” “She can’t talk, she has—” “What’s this?!” Applejack pointed at the tube in her sister’s throat. “What happened?!” “What’s the problem here?!” Doctor Stables interjected, his eyes darting from left to right in a blurring speed. “Sweet Celestia... Redheart! Get that filly to the ICU, stat! Who brought her in? I need to know what happened!” “I did,” Sweetie Belle said. “We were bitten by bees and—” “Allergy?” Stables interjected, and Sweetie Belle nodded. “And you put that... Hey, Applejack, you can’t go in there!” “Like heck, I can’t!” Applejack snapped. “She’s my sister!” “I understand, but she’s in ICU now – medical staff only.” “B-but—” “No, buts!” Stables said, but seeing the determined look on Applejack’s face added. “Look, I may make an exception for you... but first, we need to take care of her, OK? Come back in an hour or two.” “Hours?! But—” Applejack wanted to protest, but seeing the stoic expression on Stable’s face, let out a sigh of defeat. “Fine...” “Doctor Stables, we need you!” Nurse Redheart said. “Coming!” Stables said, turning to Sweetie Belle. “Thank you young lady, that’ll be all, you can go home—” “Is she gonna be OK?” “We’re going to do everything in our powers to make her OK, Sweetie Belle. Now, if you’ll excuse me...” A second later, Stables disappeared behind the door to the ICU. “That’s... not an answer... “Sweetie Belle murmured, only to be forcefully turn around by Applejack. “Who did this to her? Who put that... thing inside her throat?!” “You mean the tube? John did! If it weren’t for...” Sweetie Belle cocked her head, noticing Applejack’s lip trembling and brow twitching. “You OK?” Breathing heavily and gritting her teeth, Applejack slowly turned her head towards the confused unicorn and shot her a cold, intimidating glance. Sweetie Belle took a step back. “Where... is... he?” Applejack said, her eyes burning with rage. “H-he said he’ll be waiting near the ruins of old Celestia’s castle, but...” Applejack dashed through the hospital’s door like a mad bull, knocking several ponies on the way. “Applejack, wait! He didn’t do anything!”