//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Strange Ways // Story: What was Meant to Be // by P0nies //------------------------------// Things aren't always as they seem. Sometimes it is just an illusion behind smoke and mirrors, hidden behind yet another screen. Are the things we see every day what our mind makes of it, or is it what they want us to see? That is the question of time and power; one that only the ponies who created these illusions know. What they want us to see, the things they fabricate to hide what need be, are always there no matter how real it seems. Facts, are not always true as they should be. Lies and deceit, they are often the only truth that we can trust. Life wasn't something that Scootaloo often found herself thinking about. Some things just seemed to fit into place too well at times, and sometimes they fell out of place in strange ways. She didn't think much of it though, most fillies thought everything to be strange when they looked at the world two feet shorter than every other pony. Even if the little things seemed strange, life was actually looking up on her. She had two great friends that cared about her more than anything, and she had six mares that watched over her as if they were her parents. It was a good feeling, to have something like a parent at times. Because all a pony needs at times is a shoulder to cry on, and somepony to talk to. It was usually Rarity or Applejack that she would talk to because of the fact that they watched over her best friends, so she was around them more often than not. Even though she felt happy and content with the world around her, she still couldn't help but shake the feeling that somepony had an eye on her everywhere she went. It was one of the many strange feelings that she had to deal with, but there was no reason for anypony to be following her. She had never done anything wrong, except for the multiple houses she had accidentally set fire to, the farmers market that nearly got destroyed, the destruction of some of Twilight's favorite books... Now that she thought of it, there was plenty of reason for somepony to be following her. Whether it was just to watch over her, or just to keep her from destroying something else valuable, it was just so eerie. Scootaloo walked the streets of Ponyville alone, both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom off in Canterlot with their sisters. Sisters... something that she wished that could have been in her life, but was never there. It was one of the things that she wished for every night a star shot across the eternal night sky. All of her friends has sisters, or at least a brother that they could call their own flesh and blood. They had it all, and even though she was actually happy where she was in life, that was one of the only things that she wanted. Sure, they treated her as if she was their sister, but it didn't feel like it would be the same had they actually been her real sisters. It was one thing to be treated like a sister, but it was another ballpark entirely to be related by birth to somepony, because no matter how mad you would get at them, they would always love you. And no matter how mad they could get at you, you would always love them. And that was what she wanted. Somepony who meant the world to her, and received the same affection back. It wasn't a lot to ask for, but for a pony who had no parents, no siblings, and only a select few best friends, it would have taken the world to accomplish this seemingly simple task. You just can't create a sister or something to act like one. The only way to become a sister is based upon your parents decisions, and that is the only thing that could have changed this. That didn't explain the way she felt around Rainbow Dash though. The way her emotions flowed around those who considered her a sister felt much different than that of what she felt around Dash. Something felt lost, and something felt like it needed to be discovered... A tear formed in the corner of Scootaloo's eye as she thought of the sister she never had, and the parents that would never be there. She walked along, her vision blurred as a few more tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. With a sudden impact, a large lavender shape engulfed her vision as her face planted itself in the neatly kept coat of the purple pony. She was sent tumbling back onto her haunches as papers crumpled and flew into the air, coming back down to the earth with a graceful swaying motion. Scootaloo brought a hoof up to her eyes and wiped them, clearing her vision to the mess in front of her. Sitting back and rubbing a hoof on her chest, Twilight Sparkle sat in a pile of books and papers, as well as a couple journals and notebooks. Twilight groaned and shook her head, still trying to regain her orientation after the collision with some unknown pony, and she was a bit mad that somepony wasn't being careful enough to watch where they were going. She had very important things to do, and mathematical calculations to verify and... “Scootaloo?” Twilight asked, bringing her hoof down from her chest and giving a caring look towards her. “Are you okay?” She sniffed and wiped her nose before replying, “Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing wrong here.” “Wait... are you crying? Did you get hurt when you fell?” Twilight asked with a sense of worry. “No, I didn't get hurt, but thanks for caring,” she replied. “It's just something else...” “I'll tell you what, how about you help me pick this up and you can talk to me all you want. Sound like a deal?” Twilight asked Scootaloo. With a small sigh she replied, “Yeah, I guess that will be fine. Just don't tell anypony about this, okay? I don't want the other Crusaders knowing I was being all sappy and stuff.” Twilight stifled a small giggle and ran her hooves through her purple mane, messing up what style she had left in her hair. They both got back up on their hooves, Twilight craning her neck from side to side in an attempt to rid of a slight soreness that had developed. Opening her mouth to say something, Twilight's mind completely blanked as to what she was going to say. “I was going to ask you something Scootaloo, but I totally –” Twilight stopped mid-sentence, staring down at Scootaloo. Scootaloo sat on her haunches, a small pile of papers she had gathered sitting in her hooves. She had her eyes squinted as she tried to read the nearly illegible writing of Twilight Sparkle. It was amazing to her how anypony could write in scribbles and still be able to understand what was on the paper. There was already enough trouble trying to read through normal hoofwriting, but this. This was a totally different level of messy. However, there was one thing on the paper that was neatly written inscribed in the top left corner. SC-7410 It was most likely some strange scientific name Twilight had for some creature, or a bug. Whatever it was, there was no doubt that it was something that had to do with her studies. There were graphs riddled across the paper, with lines dipping up and down with varied patterns. Near the bottom of the page was a diagram of a pony, one that looked to be about the age of a filly, maybe a bit older. It was labeled at different parts that were apparently supposed to mean something to whoever drew it. She wasn't able to get a good look at the paper except for some of the more minor details that stuck out from the rest before Twilight pulled the papers from her hooves. “Heh, these are more of my... private studies, Scootaloo,” Twilight told her with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, but that's just the way it is. Nothing against you, but it is just how it needs to be kept.” Scotaloo sighed at the fact she was never aloud to see anything cool. She looked up at Twilight, opening her mouth to ask one question. “But why was there a pony on that paper?” She asked, pointing a hoof at the mess of journals and crumpled papers that Twilight held. Twilight lifted a hoof and rubbed the back of her neck, thinking about what exactly she would say. “Well... it was for some experiments that I was just doing. I can't tell you about it though, that was the one rule that I have to follow.” Twilight started on her way back towards her home, turning back to the young orange filly who stood in the middle of the side-walk. “You coming Scoot?” Scootaloo's ears perked up and she broke into a sprint, catching up to Twilight quickly and walking side-by-side with her. She glanced up at Twilight, looking into her deep purple eyes. “I'm glad to have some other pony I can count on, Twilight.” Twilight sat in a stool, looking across the library at Scootaloo, who also sat in a stool similar to hers. Books lined the shelves, not one out of place or put away upside down. A heavy scent of aged paper and cardboard filled the room. It was one of the few smells that could calm Twilight, but for Scootaloo, she felt different about it. Her nose was scrunched up with a miniscule frown on her face, the odor of the books overbearing for somepony who wasn't constantly around them. The walls held the grain of the tree it was built into, giving it a truly unique look as pictures broke the flow now and then. “So, Scootaloo, you wanted to talk about something?” Twilight asked with a truly caring tone. Scootaloo shifted in her hair, her mind reeling over what she really wanted to talk about. “Well, it is a couple things,” she told her hesitantly, a grin creeping onto her face, “One thing is about Rainbow Dash, and the other, is something that I'm kinda scared of...” “Oh, well okay...” Twilight said, gazing up to the ceiling, pondering about what she could possibly fear and what issues she would have with Dash. “What is wrong with you and Rainbow?” “No, nothings wrong with us, but I just have some feelings lately,” Scootaloo said as she hunched over her hooves. “Oh... well... that's not something to be embarrassed about Scoot. Everypony goes through this,” Twilight told her as she thought to herself This isn't good... Oh no oh no oh no... “You sure? Because I'm just don't know Twilight. I mean, I love her and all, but it isn't that kind of love. I kinda feel like she and I are related somehow... I just don't know how to explain it.” Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that isn't all to uncommon. Most ponies get a great attraction that makes them feel like they should be sisters or brothers, but that isn't really explainable to why it happens,” She tried to explain to Scootaloo. “It's not something that you should worry about, okay? If it is meant to be that way, then fate will make it so.” Scootaloo hung her head with a bit of sorrow, the hopes of having a sister crushed. She knew it was very unlikely, but she had still set herself up for a fall. “Okay...” “Wasn't there something else too?” Twilight asked as she stood and made her way to Scootaloo, placing a hoof on her back, moving it in a circular motion. “Well... yeah,” She replied, looking back up to Twilight and straight into her eyes. “I know the other fillies don't think of this stuff, but I kinda do...” “Yes?” “I'm afraid, Twilight. We're all going to die someday, and I don't want to leave everypony when I do. It'll hurt someone when I do, and I don't want anypony to be sad because of me,” She told her. “I don't want other ponies to leave me alone here either. I don't want to hurt anypony, and I don't want to be alone...” She said as a tear fell from the corner of her eye. “Scootaloo... I don't know why you're thinking of this kind of stuff at your age, but it will all be okay, I promise,” Twilight said with a hint of panic in her voice. “Oh no... this isn't good at all. Oh Celestia, what am I supposed to do...” she mumbled under her breath. Twilight was beginning to panic in her mind, unsure of what she should do at a time like this. This was never supposed to happen, so how should she have ever prepared herself for such a situation? Yeah, she was the one who basically did this to herself, but the only way to fix the problem that was starting to arouse was one thing... and that was something that she only wanted to do as a last resort. She was beginning to get restless, and began to fidget. There was one pony who may be able to help, and since Scootaloo was here she could go and get her. After all, she was her favorite pony and Twilight needed to stay at her home to try and fix the situation that she had created. “I sure hope it will be,” she sighed, and hear slight murmurs coming from Twilight. “You say something?” “Huh? Oh, no. Would you care to do something for me?” Twilight asked trying to cover herself. “Sure! Maybe I can even get my cutie... No, I have to do that with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Bah, why not?” “I need you to go and get Rainbow for –” and before Twilight could even finish her sentence, Scootaloo had already darted out the door and headed onto the hunt for Rainbow Dash. Twilight hoped this bought her enough time. “UGH! Celestia, what am I supposed to do?” Scootaloo pranced through Ponyville, ducking between the legs of unsuspecting ponies and nearly toppling some. Her eyes darted about, scanning the sky and looking through various groups of ponies hoping to find that fabled rainbow mane. It was just following the orders of Twilight, but she was more than willing to comply with what she wanted if that meant being able to be around Rainbow Dash. This was also an excuse to prance around town carelessly without taking caution for any other pony, even though some wouldn't even consider it an excuse. The thing was though, she had no idea where to start looking or even the faintest idea where she could be. It seemed like she had been searching Ponyville for hours and her labors went unrewarded, the fruits of success no where soon to be found. The search for a pony like Rainbow Dash would probably be the most difficult search that anypony could attempt to do, and very few have ever actually succeeded when trying to find her. At other times, they had accidentally ran across her and happened to need assistance that only Rainbow could give them. Being a pony like Rainbow Dash, needed and favorited by most, usually meant that a lot of ponies would have liked her assistance at one point in time. But due to her lazy nature, most nothing ever actually got done and very few ponies were able to use her for their own chores. Scootaloo walked around the outskirts of the town, her eyes becoming weary as they scanned the sky for the thousandth time. This was most likely the most work she had ever done outside of the repairs that were required for the destruction she caused from time to time. A large tree hung its leaves in a massive circle in the distance, a great portion of shade casted underneath it as the midday sun beat down upon it. There was nothing for it to care about, but it just stood there like a careless child watching others play across the schoolyard. The day wasn't all too warm, but running around town for hours under an overbearing sun took its toll on the mind as well as the body. She was tired and fatigued, ready to rest and sleep through the rest of the day. Even though she had no reason to be relatively tired, some of the farm ponies in town did more than she had in her lifetime thus far in a single day. With little concern for her shaking legs and the beads of sweat pouring off of her forehead, she broke out into a sprint for the shade that welcomed her from so far away. It looked so nice... and just imagining how it would feel gave her that extra motivation to push on. Scootaloo pressed on, eventually making her way under the cooling cover that it coincidentally provided. As she entered the cover from the beaming sun a small breeze blew through the foliage and the tree, wicking away at the sweat on her body and providing a gentle cooling sensation. A sigh of relief escaped her lungs as she enjoyed what the gentle breeze had to offer, making the most of the little things for once. She was never one to necessarily enjoy the 'smaller' things in life, but from time to time the smallest thing made the biggest difference in the end. And right now, the breeze made all the difference in her semi-distorted reality. Heat and exhaustion were beginning to overcome her mind, and she was slowly falling asleep as she walked. It could have just as easily been heat stroke, but it was more than likely just a tired filly falling asleep. She stumbled around the tree, leaning against to not only provide her some support but also to find a suitable place to fall asleep. Sleep was a magical thing really, it rested the mind and body, along with letting one explore worlds they create as they sleep in their dreams. Scootaloo's eyes began to fall shut as she began to stumble around more, falling to the ground and refusing to get up. She did try and get up, but she just felt to tired and let the fatigue overcome her as her eyelids shut. It wasn't normal for her to have dreams, they were often something that she was told about but never experienced one for herself. It seemed strange that she had never had the experience that her friends told her about so many a times, but it was just her. She was strange, and there was nothing anypony could do about it. In fact, she was happy with who she turned out to be. Everything was turning out okay, and she even felt as she connected with somepony. Her mind went dark as it usually did, as all went quiet underneath the trees canopy... A sound echoed through her mind, and it was different to say the least. The echo seemed to sound like a log being constantly sawed back and forth slowly. That same sound, over and over again but with drops at the ends as if the log had dropped, and then began to saw away again. There was no reason for anypony to be sawing or chopping away, seeing as she was right there under the tree. What pony in their right mind would chop down a tree with a filly right underneath it? The sawing seemed to stop for a few moments, but it started again just as Scootaloo had nearly entered the realm of limbo. That was all she knew during sleep, but this sound continued to echo in a constant rhythm. She brought her head up and wiped her eyes with her hooves to clear the crusted mucus that formed around her eyelids. Scootaloo slowly woke from her sleep, stretching her hooves out and towards the sky. She had no clear idea on how long she had been asleep and could have even slept into the next day. The same sawing of logs echoed through her ears, but now that she had some sense of reason it became apparent that it was not logs being sawn or trees being cut down. It was rather another pony sleeping, and it sounded like they were fairly close. Stumbling to get back onto her hooves, Scootaloo walked around the wide base of the tree and found nopony else. The only other place that somepony could be was to look up... “Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo yelled at the top of her lungs with a wide smile, both happy that she had found her and was in her presence. “Wha – AGH!” Dash screamed as she fell off the branch that she had been sleeping so soundly on. She tumbled through the air, not having any sense of spacial relation to ground and the sky. She fell towards the earth that gravity always tried to tie her to. On her way down, she fell directly on top of a small, brightly colored, orange filly. The two ponies fumbled on the ground for a few moments as they tried to recuperate from their crash in with each other. Rainbow Dash shook her head, trying to remove the distortion from her vision, and give her mind some sense of direction. With some of her senses acting as they should and her mind cleared, she looked over to whoever or whatever broke her fall from the tree and woke her from the once peaceful slumber. Laying on the ground in front of her was Scootaloo, who was mumbling various slurs that were incomprehensible. Her hooves twitched slightly, along with a small twitch running through her eyes. “Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash asked quietly, reaching a hoof out to her. The filly in front of her continued to twitch, and Rainbow became scared at what she had unknowingly done. She did the only thing that she knew to do, and the only thing that was already in her instincts. She flew. Nothing. There was nothing but pure black grabbing a hold of her mind and pulling her in. Scootaloo could feel her body and all of her extremities, but she felt different. A sense of complete refreshment pulsed through her body with every waking moment, as if she was being fed a constant stream of energy. Nothing made much sense to her right now, or even where she was. It was just so strange to have the feeling that her eyes were open, but nothing appeared. Things had seemed strange when she was around Twilight, but now this was even stranger. A faint clacking of hooves on stone reverberated through her ears, the noise getting closer and then farther away as it passed. Any hooves she heard passed, except for what seemed like two ponies. They stopped at what seemed to be right in front of her, wherever she was. A door creaked open somewhere nearby, and slammed shut just after. The ponies were now walking on some sort of wood, the faint and dull thumping an indicator of the material. “What do you mean you just 'fell on her'?” A hysterical Twilight shouted as she rummaged through what sounded like metal tools and instruments. “I don't know OK? It's not my fault, she woke me up and I fell off of the branch!” Rainbow shouted back, nearly hyperventilating. “I've told you before... You might hurt somepony...” Twilight told her quietly, without trying to hurt Rainbow Dash anymore than she already was. “I just never thought it would happen...” “I think there is something that you should know though,” Twilight said to her. “She thinks of you as her sister.” The room went quiet, the steady and quiet breaths taking over. “A-A... sister?” “She really loves you Rainbow, and I'm not sure how much I can do,” Twilight depressingly spoke. “Ya know, I always did like her. A sister would be nice...” Rainbow replied, her voice trailing off into nothingness. “I warned you about getting attached though Rainbow –” “I know,” She said, cutting Twilight off. “But sometimes, we all need someone to give us hope. And frankly, I love this little filly. I do consider her a sister, Twilight... that's the issue.” Scootaloo spoke up, her voice distorted and altered in a low groan. “I love... love you... Rainbow Dash.” “Do what you need to Twilight, I don't care. Just do what needs done... please. For me. For her.”