//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Lost Storm // by Pinkietalia //------------------------------// The train suddenly jerked to a stop and woke the sleeping Scootaloo. She looked around surprised and found that they were pulling into the Canterlot station. Well, this was it. The pegasus got out of her seat and headed towards the door. She waited for the door to open and for the train pony to give her the okay. Once she had it, she hopped off the train and started to trot away. Unlike the train station in Ponyville, Canterlot's station had no cover. Scootaloo was caught in the down pour. It was easy getting into the main city of Canterlot. There weren't any ponies around so there was no traffic. There were a couple of ponies here and there that were running to get somewhere, or were trying to pack up items that normally sat out so they wouldn't get wet. Scootaloo noticed that a few of the business were still open. Most of them were covered food stands. The pegasus spotted one that was selling hot coffee. She trotted over and sat down on one of the stools that he had. "One coffee please. Extra suger." The unicorn nodded and started making her drink. "That'll be eight bits." Scootaloo reached into her sidepack and felt around for her bag of money. She pulled it out and dumped out eight bits. The unicorn took her money and put it in his register, then pushed her drink to her with his hoof. "So, what's a girl like you doing out in the rain?" He asked casually. Scootaloo took a sip of the hot coffee and licked her lips. "Joining the Canterlot Sky Patrol. At least, I'm going to try." The unicorn laughed and picked up a coffee mug with his magic. "You and every other pegasus." He started to dry the mug while chuckling to himself. "Excuse me?" Scootaloo asked, swallowed the hot coffee and feeling it burn her tongue. "Ain't you heard? Ever since Celestia declared that the storm was cursed, the weather ponies been quittin'. They figure that they'd be outta a job anyways. Ponies just like you been comin' round and declare they'll make the team." "Have they?" Scootaloo asked curiously. "How should I know? They go up there and I don't see 'em again. Truthfully, I say let the fools on the team. At least ponies 're trying to clear this. Now, what's yer name? Need to know the name of the pegasus that I'll be cheering on." "C-Cheering me on? You barely even know me!" The unicorn shrugged. "Ya seem to have spunk, kid. I like that. Name's Joe." He held out a hoof for her and Scootaloo just stared in surprise. She snapped out of her trance and shook his hoof with her own. "Scootaloo." "Well then Scootaloo, take this." Joe used his magic to bring over what looked like some kind of danish. "We don't want ya starving, Free of charge." The pegasus took the pastry in her hooves and began to eat it happily. She was hungry now since she had neglected her muffin this morning. "Thank you, Joe." She said inbetween bites. The unicorn just chuckled and went back cleaning the mugs. Once Scootaloo had finished eating and finished her coffee, she said goodbye to Joe and headed off towards the castle once more. So Celestia was accepting new ponies onto the team? All the better for her! Truth be told, the pegasus had no idea what she was originally going to do once she got there. Now that she had learned that they were accepting ponies for the Canterlot Sky Patrol, Scootaloo had a reason for the guards to let her inside. The ground under her hooves sunk under weight. The rain water was washing away the walkway and turning everything to mud. After about twenty minutes of continuous walking uphill, Scootaloo finally arrived at the castle. A large smile spread across her face, but soon disappeared. She couldn't celebrate right now. There was still more that had to be done. The pegasus unfurled her wings and fluffed herself up. Scootaloo walked right up to the guards, who immediately stopped her with their outstretched wings. "Halt!" The one guard growled. "State your business!" "I am here to join the Canterlot Sky Patrol." Scootaloo replied, puffing her chest out and trying to look twice her size. The guards looked at each other then retracted their wings. Scootaloo nodded to them thankfully and headed inside. She had only been in here once before back when Princess Cadence and Shining Armor were married, but that was a long long time ago. It could have been because of the rain, or maybe the place really was just getting old, but the castle seemed dark and cold. Scootaloo took a few steps inside and jumped with surprise when the large door behind her slammed shut. Now she was all alone in Celestia's castle with no other pony. Where was every pony? Weren't there others that worked with the Princesses? She took in a breath and continued down the hall. The only sound that was heard was her hooves against the polished floor. The silence was starting to freak her out. Princess Celestia's castle shouldn't be this empty. "P-Princess Celestia? Any pony? My name is Scootaloo and I'm here to join the Canterlot Sky Patrol!" Her voice echoed off the walls, but there was no reply. "Any pony here? Any pony?" Scootaloo called again. Suddenly, she was spun around and the pegasus screamed out of surprise and fear. The pony that spun her around also shouted and the two stood there just screaming at each other. Finally, Scootaloo's cries died down and she opened her eyes. Standing in front of her was Princess Luna. Scootaloo folded her wings and bowed at once. She felt so guilty about screaming now. She had screamed at a Princess! Well, it could have been worse. It could have been Princess Celestia. Who knew what would happen if it had been Celestia? "You're Scootaloo, right?" Luna asked. "Y-Yes your highness.." The alicorn laughed cheerfully. "No need to be so formal young one. You can call us Luna! We do not mind." "We?" Scootaloo asked, standing to full height again. "It is the royal "we." Twilight Sparkle tried to teach us about modern speaking, but we are so used to using it that it just slips out when we're not thinking!" Luna laughed and opened up her dark wings. They were so huge! Princess Luna had gotten bigger since the last time Scootaloo had seen her. When had that been? Scootaloo recalled her being at the wedding, at least Luna had been there near the end. The alicorn had been watching the skies during the day for her sister since Princess Celestia had to perform the wedding herself. Luna smiled brightly and turned, leading her away down a hallway. "You've come to join the Canterlot Sky Patrol?" She asked. "Yeah, I want this rain to stop." Scootaloo replied. "As do we. Unfortunately for you, our sister has already made up her weather team and has sent them out. However, we would still like to see how good you are at flying. There is something that we think you might enjoy being a part of, but you must be tested first Scootaloo. You would have been tested anyways." Luna lead her into a large open room that had many bright electric lights on the ceiling. The alicorn's wings opened up and she flew into the air. "This is the room where we test our ponies. Whether they are to be guards, weather ponies, or competitors, they come here. We apologize about the lighting. Usually the light comes from the natural light outside, but because of the rain, we had to put these lights in. So many ponies wish to work with us." Princess Luna's horn glowed as she summoned her magic. "Now then, let your testing commence!" Scootaloo opened up her wings and trotted further into the room. She watched as hoops started to float into the air; puffy clouds formed high in the air; and hurdles came up and sat on the ground in a row. Scootaloo looked up at Princess Luna waiting for an explanation for what she was doing. Once everything seemed to be in place, Luna landed next to her and gave a large cheerful smile. "First, you will start running towards the hurdles. Clear them and take off as soon as you jump over the last one. Once in the air, head through the hoops which will be moving once you get there. Then, clear the clouds! Easy!" Scootaloo stretched out her wings and fluffed her feathers. She could do this. All the training with Rainbow Dash and willpower had brought her to this very moment in time. This was were life decided if she was a failure or actually mattered. This was the moment. Scootaloo took off running towards the hurdles. She could do this! She leaped over the first one and found herself soon leaping over a second. Her back hooves gently brushed the hurdle as she leaped over it. The last one was coming and she stretched out her wings. Scootaloo leaped over the last hurdle and pumped her wings down. She soared upwards into the air just like Princess Luna had told her to. So far she was doing fantastic! As promised, the hoops were moving around. Scootaloo angled her wings and flew through the first hoop. She soared downward and turned left sharply in order to just make the next hoop. Up and down she flew. Side to side her body moved. With ease, Scootaloo cleared all the hoops and found herself at the clouds. The final part of her flight test. She had been watching Rainbow Dash clear clouds for as long as she could remember. If she could just copy Rainbow's movements, perhaps she could also clear these clouds. Scootaloo turned herself around and kicked out with her hind hooves. The cloud disappeared with a puffing sound. She laughed and moved onto the next cloud making sure she kept at a fast pace. Kick after kick the clouds vanished. Turning herself around made it take longer however. Scootaloo angled her wings downward and began to just fly straight through the clouds. They vanished just as well as from a kick, perhaps even better. Scootaloo hovered in the air and looked around for the next cloud but couldn't find it. Princess Luna began to clap her hooves together and cheer. "Very well done, Scootaloo! We are pleased with how you performed!" The pegasus landed on the ground and galloped over to the alicorn with shining eyes. "Did I pass? Did I pass?" "We think you definitely passed!" Laughter rolled out of her throat and Scootaloo flew back into the air and flew around happily. Princess Luna watched and laughed happily as well. The pegasus returned to the ground and trotted over to the alicorn. Scootaloo's face was bright and cheerful for once. "What do you have for me?" She asked. "Ah yes. My sister's weather team is already full, but we do have competitive teams. You might have heard of the Wonderbolts?" Scootaloo nodded eagerly. "Rainbow Dash has been trying to get into the Wonderbolts for ages now! They never accept her no matter what she does!" Princess Luna laughed. "That is because Rainbow Dash has not been tested by us and proven to be worthful! My sister Celestia owns the Wonderbolts and I have my own team known as the Shadowbolts. Maybe you've seen them?" Scootaloo shook her head. Truthfully she had not seen the Shadowbolts team. She had heard about them appearing to Rainbow Dash when Luna had first returned. Now that she thought of it, Rainbow Dash had worn a Wonderbolts outfit during Nightmare Night, but the colors seemed much darker than usual. Had seen been in a Shadowbolts outfit? Princess Luna turned and started to walk off a bit as she continued on in her explanation. "Scootaloo, I know you came her to be a weather pony but," Princess Luna turned around and looked at the small filly. "How would you like to be a member of the Shadowbolts?" Her jaw dropped and her wings dropped against her sides. A member? Of the Shadowbolts? What pony would turn down an offer like that? Scootaloo smiled bright and bounced up and down happily. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh thank you Princess Luna! Thank you!" Princess Luna chuckled lightly and lead Scootaloo out of the testing room. "You are from Ponyville right? Where our friends are from?" Scootaloo nodded and followed the Princess into the dark hallway. "Well then, this is a great moment for you. Why don't you head back and share the news and pack your things? With this rain, we think it'd be better if you lived here at the castle." "I can't. They closed the train under your orders." Luna made no reply, just sped up a bit. However, Scootaloo swore she heard the princess say something that confused her and scared her all at the same time. It was one word that scared the pegasus to the bone. "Perfect."