Scootaloo lifted up her heavy eyelids, to have her eyes invaded by the rays of the dawn. Her coat was bathing in the rising sun, feverishly absorbing the much-needed warmth. Outside, a light fog was looming over the gorge, covering the nearby trees and rocks with a white mist. A start of a beautiful day.
But for Scootaloo, it was all gray and dull. She turned around with a grumble, hoping to get some more sleep, but her empty stomach let out a gurgle of protest.
“There’s no more food, shut up...” She said to herself, glancing at her empty saddlebag lying in the corner.
It was the third day she spent hiding in that damp cave, and the cucumber sandwiches she took with her were long gone.
“Shut up... Go away...”
She tried not to think about hunger, not to think about anything, but her conscience was like a high-pitch scream, slowly driving her insane.
“Go away... Just, go away...”
“I’m not going anywhere, squirt!”
Scootaloo jerked around to see Rainbow Dash standing at the entrance with a mix of anger and concern on her face.
“R-rainbow Dash? I—”
“Do you have any idea how worried we all are?!” Rainbow’s interjected squinting her eyes. “What the heck, Scoot?! Running away from home, and to the Ghastly Gorge of all places?!”
“How did you find me?”
“By checking one place after another. Your aunts, me and a bunch of other ponies have been looking for you for days!”
Scootaloo’s eyes went to the floor in silence, and a shameful expression filled her face. Her whole figure like a scream of guilt. When she spoke, it only got worse.
“I’m not coming back.”
“Because you stole stuff?” Scootaloo shot her an inquisitive glance. “Yes, Scoot, I know. Cheerilee told me about it.
“She did?”
“Yeah, and about your dealings with Dumb Bell and his gang of misfits, and about what happened during the mob,” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Scoot, what you did was... uncool!”
Uncool. Hearing that word from Rainbow Dash hurt Scootaloo harder than a punch to the face. Her idol’s razor-sharp eyes were only adding to the agony. It was official, even Rainbow Dash hated her.
“G-go...” Scootaloo said, not looking up. “Just leave me, like everypony else.”
“I’m not going anyway, Scoot, how could you even think that?” Rainbow Dash sat next to her number one fan, and let out a sigh. “I just want to understand what’s going on.”
For a moment they sat in silence. Scootaloo was staring at the floor, thinking about what to say. There was one question she wanted the answer to but had no one to ask. Until now.
“Is... Is Apple Bloom, OK?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. I heard that human saved her life after you... ran away.”
“So, you know everything… She’ll never forgive me.”
“Oh, horseapples! Both Sweetie Belle and her were looking for you, Scoot. They’re worried sick.”
“W-what about Cheerilee? Is she OK?”
“Yeah, more or less. Her house and the school are a different story, though…”
With her empty eyes still nailed to the rocky floor, Scootaloo slowly shook her head.
“I didn’t want this to happen...” She sniffled, with tears in her eyes. “I hurt so many ponies...”
“Yeah, you made some mistakes, but it’s not like you’re the only one who did… After I zapped that human, I thought my life was over. No more Wonderbolts, no more nothing... I hid and moped for days, and you saw first-hoof how that turned out. In the end, I had to face the music anyway.”
“But, you didn’t do it on purpose…”
“Maybe, but it changes nothing. That guy almost died,” Rainbow glanced at her wings and back. “And I made him a cripple. Honestly, if somepony would do that to me, I don’t think I would be so forgiving.”
“But… At least you had the courage to face the consequences...”
“It wasn’t courage, it was... resignation. I just wanted it to end, one way or the other. When he proposed that deal with Spitfire, I thought he was pulling my leg.”
“What does she have you doing, anyway?”
“You don’t wanna know, Scoot... But I deserve it, and more. My point is that if a complete stranger can give another chance to a stupid mare like me, you can bet ponies will give one to you, too. If you ask them.”
For a while, Scootaloo kept gaping to the floor in silence, thinking. Rainbow didn’t push her, she was there herself not so long ago, she knew how hard it was. Then, Scootaloo’s lip began to tremble.
“I helped Dumb Bell hurt Cheerilee, left Apple Bloom to die and run away when that human fell from the cliff.” Her whole body was shaking now, and tears of anguish began flowing down her cheeks. “Diamond Tiara was right. I’m a coward, a chicken.”
Rainbow’s right wing grabbed her in a tight embrace, pulling her closer. The sudden contact broke through the dam like a ram, and a river of tears began flooding Rainbow’s coat.
“I’m scared, Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo buried herself in Dash’s coat. “I’m so scared...”
“I know, squirt, I know. But it takes real courage to admit that to yourself. Remember, whatever happens, I’m gonna be with you.”
“Y-you promise?”
“Pinkie promise!” Rainbow nudged her gently and winked, putting some tiny smile on Scootaloo’s tearful face. “Look, I know for a fact that they’ll try to wake up that other human today, and Apple Bloom and Cheerilee will be both in the hospital. Why don’t you go there with me, and apologize to them?”
“I... I don’t know—” Scootaloo’s stomach let out a loud gurgle.
“Hmm. What if I said, I got some food on me?”
Scootaloo’s face turned into a pouty frown. This was cheating, plain and simple!
“And what if I said it was good food?” Rainbow said, taking out a perfectly shaped hay burger, that was still letting off some steam.
The view made Scootaloo lick her lips, and her stomach let out another loud gurgle. Rainbow heard it, and her lips curled into a smirk. The darn cheater really thought it would be that simple... Turned out, she wasn’t wrong.
“You know... This is just mean...” Scootaloo said, grabbing the sandwich.
She took a bite. Then another, and another. She ate, no, devoured the whole thing in ten seconds flat, leaving Rainbow dumbfounded and staring.
“What? I didn’t eat anything in two days.”
“Yeah, it shows,” Dash chuckled. “We should get you back home, I’m sure your aunts will be glad to have you back and have something good to eat, too!”
The imagined view of delicious snacks and her aunt’s steaming soup washed away any doubts still looming inside Scootaloo’s mind. She nodded to herself.
“All right. We can both go to eat something and then visit the hospital. If John’s alive, I have something I need to give back.”
“That’s the spirit, Scoot! You got your scooter?”
“It broke down... I’ll just walk.”
“Bah! Hop on!” Rainbow motioned at her back, and Scootaloo was on board a second later. “Hold tight, Scoot! We’re gonna go fast!”
For the first time in days, Scootaloo grinned. “Engage!”
***
A fuzzy, shining bright light. That was the first thing that hit John when he opened his heavy eyes. The agonizing drilling sensation that quickly followed forced his eyelids shut again. He let out a groan, a mix of confusion and pain.
“Good morning, or rather, good afternoon.”
“J-James?” John forced his eyes opened, and sure enough, James was standing above with a smile on his face. “Where... What?”
“Hospital. You probably don’t remember, but—”
“I fell from the cliff...” John said with a raspy voice, getting an eyebrow in return. “Yeah, this time I remember. I remember everything... Do you know how’s Apple Bloom, Cheerilee and Scootaloo?”
“Well, why don’t you ask them yourself? The first two I mean...”
Still drowsy from the drugs, John squinted his eyes in confusion, but it was short-lived. Cheerilee, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approached the bed, smiling.
“H-hey...” John smiled himself. “You’re all OK?”
“I think we should be the ones asking that,” Sweetie Belle said. “How do you feel?”
“I don’t know… How do I feel, boss?”
“You stink, and you’re peeing in the bag... Other than that, you got broken legs, arm, ribs, punctured spleen and liver... But nano-tech is slowly regenerating that.”
“Dandy...”
“Fortunately, there was no spine damage, don’t know about the brain, though... How about you recite the alphabet?”
“Ugh... A, B—”
“No, no, I meant backward.”
John arched his eyebrow in silence.
“No? How about something easier then – what’s my name?”
“Cheesy manipulative bastard?”
“I think his brain is working just fine,” Cheerilee said with a little smirk.
“Yeah, I guess it’s hard to damage a brain when you don’t have one...”
“Hrmph, look who’s talking.”
“Hey, my MOS 6502 is working perfectly fine, thank you,” James smile faded a little. “Jokes aside, if you feel any dizziness or headaches, let someone know ASAP, OK?”
“Got it, boss.”
“Good. Look, um... There’s someone who wants to see you, and I need to get her here.”
“Celestia?”
“Her, and... Applejack.”
“W-what?” John’s eyes darted between Apple Bloom and Cheerilee and back to James. “Boss, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Don’t worry, Cheerilee, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle already know everything.”
He was out of the room before John could say anything. When the door slammed behind him, John’s heart skipped a beat, and he began glancing between his guests. A trapped animal looking at the predators.
“W-what did he mean? What do you know?”
“Everything, John,” Cheerilee said. “Both what happened on the first day, and how Applejack... watched you fall.”
“I see...” John noticed anger creeping over Apple Bloom’s face and let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know what else to say except... I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Apple Bloom... I—”
“Both you and Applejack lied to me!”
“I didn’t—”
“OK, maybe you didn’t lie, but you sure as heck were not telling the truth, either!” Apple Bloom’s angry voice boomed through the room. “You could have told me!”
“H-how? How do you tell someone you almost had her sister for breakfast? H-how do you tell her... you really are the monster that everyone says you are?”
His watery eyes went to the ceiling and he closed them shut, but he couldn’t stop his lips and cheeks from trembling. His entire face was a painting of despair and sorrow. The view turned Apple Bloom’s anger into guilt.
“W-wait, I didn’t say that—”
“I knew it’s gonna end like this,” he shook his head and let out another sigh. It was a sigh of resignation. “Please, leave me alone.”
“John, please stop this,” Cheerilee said. “You’re not a monster. We know that was a mistake.”
“Mistake... I almost killed and ate one of you – do you understand that?”
“And would you do it again, now?”
“Jesus Christ, I would never do it in the first place if I knew. No one believes me...”
Then, something he least expected interrupted his tirade. It was a snort, a happy snort to be exact, and it was coming from the crowd.
“Good heavens, you humans really think we’re fragile and scared of everything, don’t you?” Cheerilee said with a chuckle.
John opened his eyes and glanced her way. There was no fear on her face or anything else that would indicate anger or revulsion. There was only a gentle smile.
“You’re not angry?”
“I am!” Apple Bloom said. “But not because you attacked Applejack... Well, OK, maybe for that too. But what angers me is that both you and she were hiding the truth from me! It was like when mom and dad died! Back then, Granny and the others, only let me see their closed coffins, because ’I was too little and their bodies were burnt.’ They decided to spare me the view, and because of that, I...” She sniffled, and some tears appeared in her eyes. “I never said goodbye...”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“It’s OK, it was years ago... It’s just, Applejack and you reminded me of that, and of the stupid feud between our families. I’m not little anymore, the girls and I are helping others discover their destiny, and Applejack still treats me like a foal.”
“Apple Bloom... Please, believe me. I wanted to tell you, but everyone kept telling me that your sister and I could resolve this on our own. There’s really nothing else I can say except... I’m sorry.”
“You could say you’ll never do it again...”
“Jesus, I swear! I would never try to eat a pony if I knew!”
“And?”
“And...” John repeated, making Apple Bloom arch her eyebrow. “And... I’m sorry for lying to you?”
She added squinted eyes to her commanding tone. “And?!”
“And, um,” John smiled sheepishly, like a kid in front of his parent. “I never do that... again?”
“Phew, finally,” Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “You’re catching almost as fast as Snips and Snails.”
“Huh, why do I have a feeling this wasn’t a compliment,” his comment made both ponies chuckle. “So, you don’t hate me?”
“You forgave Rainbow Dash, defended Miss Cheerilee from those bullies and saved my life... That makes you a good person in my book.”
“Good person...” John smiled gently, but it quickly faded away. “Thank you, but I don’t think others will see it that way.”
“You would be surprised, John,” Cheerilee said. “I know it’s hard to believe after what you’ve been through, but Ponyville is a very friendly place.”
“I take your word for it, but if I live through this, I’m—”
The bang of the opening door interrupted him, and a second later, James walked inside, with Celestia and Applejack behind him.
***
“That was fast.”
“Thank Celestia, Johnny. She used her magic to teleport us around. I liked it!”
“Do not get used to it. I am a Princess, not a taxi service. Anyway... Applejack, we are here. You can begin—”
“Hold on...” James interjected. “Just so you know, Jackie. I’m standing right here, you try anything funny, and Celestia’s gonna need another Element of Harmony. Get it?”
“Do you truly believe that Applejack would try to harm John with all of us present?”
“I wouldn’t think so... Then again, I would never think she would just let him fall from the cliff in the first place, so...”
James knew where to jab so that Applejack would feel it. Her shameful expression was proof of that. With a sigh, she took off her hat and turned to John, but words escaped her. She stood there, gaping like a statue until he broke the silence.
“Why did you come? To get an absolution? Forgiveness? What?”
“I… I would like to make amends, but... I don’t expect you to agree.”
“So NOW, you want to make amends? When I asked for the same, you told me to go to hell... And a few hours later you sent me there yourself.”
“I’m sorry...”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are. Tell me, how many years are you facing for watching me fall?”
“Zero, Johnny,” James interjected, getting an eyebrow in return. “According to Equestria’s codex, she broke no law.”
“Seriously? Huh, I guess we’re even then. I tried to kill you, and you tried to kill me... Well, that’s not accurate. You ‘just’ watched me fall, with a nice smirk, I may add,” John let out a dark chuckle. “You were enjoying it, didn’t you?”
Applejack couldn’t get the words out of her throat, but her bobbing head confirmed everything.
“See? Give me one reason why I should accept the apology of someone who wanted me dead over her own goddamn mistakes?”
“It... It wasn’t... about the farm.”
“Ah, let me guess… You heard I’m a child molester and decided to take matters into your own hands?”
“No...”
“What then?! You wanted me dead so that I would not expose you?”
“No!”
“Then, why? What the hell did I do to you?”
“Not to me. I thought...” Applejack sighed. “I thought you tried to kill Apple Bloom.”
Her statement turned some of his anger into bewilderment, leaving him stunned with a confused expression. It wasn’t something he expected to hear – some lame excuse, maybe, but not this. Applejack continued.
“I heard what happened to Cheerilee and went to the hospital. I was tired and angry at everyone and everything. Then Sweetie Belle brought Apple Bloom in with that darn tube down her throat. When she told me you did it, I... I don’t know. It’s all a blur... I honestly don’t remember much after that. I do recall anger, talking with Scootaloo, and then... relieve, when I saw you hit the floor. As if all the problems fell with you.”
“Jesus... You have a sister with a severe allergy, and you didn’t know what the tube was for?”
“At the time, I didn’t put two and two together. When I learned what really happened I...”
She lowered her head, clenching her hat like a lifeline, and her big greenish eyes filled with water. A figure of pain and despair.
“I know what I did, heavens, believe me, I know... I don’t expect forgiveness, but I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry for everything.”
She stopped talking and the air filled with silence. Everyone’s eyes were on John. His mind went to the land of confusion, leaving his body gazing into the ceiling. For Applejack, the half a minute it took him to process everything, seemed to drag on for an eternity.
“I don’t know what to say…” John finally answered. “I don’t even know if I should believe you.”
“She’s telling the truth,” James said. “She almost strangled Stables when he said you did a good job with the tube. And when we told her what happened, she had this ’what have I done?!’ moment. It was pretty cool.”
“Yeah, I bet it was,” John shook his head and sighed. “This is... messed up. I don’t know what to think, or what to say to you, Applejack. If James says you’re sorry, then I have to accept that, and I would really want to say that all is forgiven. But I can’t...”
“I understand...”
“No, you don’t. You don’t know me, but I usually don’t hold grudges. But when I look at you, I feel things I don’t want to feel. I don’t want to be angry with you, but I would be lying if I said I’m not.”
“You’re not gonna accept her apology?” Apple Bloom said.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. It’s too early.”
John was ready to hear her scream how she hates him, and run away, but Apple Bloom just nodded in silence. Her sad face was telling him she was expecting this.
“I understand, and I know you hate her, but please give her a chance. Applejack’s really a good pony.”
“Wow, hold on, Apple Bloom, I didn’t say that!”
“Y-you don’t hate me?” Applejack said.
“I don’t want to be your friend, but that doesn’t mean I want to be your enemy. I need time to let this body heal, and for this anger to burn out,” he glanced in her big greenish eyes. “Yeah, I’m pissed off, but I don’t hate you.”
She glanced back at him, looking for something, anything that would indicate deception, but found nothing. He was telling the truth, there was no hatred in his eyes, only some well-deserved anger. Ironically, this only made her feel worse for what she did.
“Thank you...” Applejack whispered. “I really needed to hear that. Maybe when I get out of prison, we can try one more time.”
“Wait... You just told me you won’t get punished for not helping me.”
“Yes, but I’m gonna take the blame for the farm’s trouble. All lawyers I talked to told me I’m gonna face prison time. I made my bed, it’s time to lie on it.”
“I see,” John sighed in sympathy. “Well, no matter what, I wish you and your family luck—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. She put you through hell, and you wish her luck?!” James rolled his eyes, letting out a groan of annoyance. “Can’t you just hate others like a normal person? At least punch her in the face, or something.”
“Sorry, my mom never tough me how to hate properly. I guess I’m too old now.”
“This is not funny, man. Maybe I should take you out of here until there is still time!” James cocked his head and nodded to himself. He suddenly got an epiphany. “You know, jokes aside, maybe that would be a good idea.”
“You want to leave Equestria?” Celestia said.
“More like Ponyville. A trip to the Crystal Empire or even another Equestria’s city could do John some good. Besides, Cheerilee wants to bail out of here too, right?”
“W-what?!”
Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted in unison. They glanced at Cheerilee with wide eyes and jaws hanging low. A mixture of confusion and dread.
“I’m sorry girls, but... James is right. I will probably leave Ponyville soon.”
“But why?” Celestia said, as confused as the fillies. “I thought you were going to stay. Did something happen that I am not aware of? The school shall be fixed before the start of the year.”
“It’s not that, it’s the... rumors. I thought they’ll die down, but some parents still believe in them. I heard they’ll not send their children to school as long as I’m the teacher,” Cheerilee let out a tired sigh. “As much as I would like to stay, I have to think about my students first.”
“But you... You didn’t do anything?!” Apple Bloom yelled, shaking her head. “This is wrong!”
“I don’t see another way. But don’t worry, I’m sure Ponyville will get another teacher soon—”
“We don’t want another teacher!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “We want you!”
Both fillies rushed her, and a tight hug quickly followed. Her rapidly darting eyes were a dead giveaway that she wasn’t expecting that. The sobbing assault pushed some tears out of her own eyes, and she returned the embrace.
“It’s OK, girls. It’s OK...”
“No, it’s not! You’re leaving and...” Suddenly, Sweetie Belle broke the embrace and clenched her teeth. “It’s all Scootaloo’s fault!”
“Sweetie Belle—”
“No, Apple Bloom! Don’t even try! If it weren’t for Scootaloo, none of this would have happened! She better not cross me, or I’m gonna give her the piece of my mind!”
“You already have.”
Sweetie Belle cocked her head at James’ and following his motion, turned to the door to see Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash standing there.
***
“Well, speak of the devil!”
“I think it’s not a g-good time!” Scootaloo tried backing away, but Rainbow’s wing blocked her.
“Scootaloo, you can’t run from this forever. I’m with you, let’s do this.”
Scootaloo shot her an imploring glance to let her go, but Rainbow Dash gently shook her head, not moving her wing even a centimeter. Scootaloo was trapped, with only one way to go, and she knew it. Defeated, she let out a sigh and turned around.
“H-hey...” That was all she could muster before her throat went dry. But then she saw a ghost. “Apple Bloom! Y-you, OK?”
“I’m fine Scoot.”
“See? I didn’t lie,” John said.
“Y-you’re OK, too?”
“Well, more or less,” John’s face winced painfully. “I think less... but I’ll live.”
“I... I’m so—”
“Don’t say it, please. Scootaloo, after our chat back then, we’re OK. Besides, I think we both know you owe someone else an apology.”
It was the moment Scootaloo dreaded the most, but there was no turning back. She turned to Cheerilee with eyes glued to the floor and sighed again.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen—”
“Yeah? Miss Cheerilee will have to move out because of your stupid stunt!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “First stealing and now this? How could you say things like that?!”
“I’m with Sweetie Belle on this one,” James said. “Do you have any idea what you accused them of?”
“Scootaloo didn’t accuse us of anything!”
“You can argue semantics all you want, Cheerilee! They asked her if you and John hurt her, and she said ‘yes!’ Seems like a fucking accusation to me!”
“Hey! Back off, pal!”
“Fuck you, Dashie!”
“Stop! All of you!” Cheerilee eyes scolded them as if they were her students. “This is not productive at all. Let Scootaloo speak.”
Whether it was her teacher’s gaze or something else, it worked. Everyone shut up, turning towards Scootaloo, waiting for answers. She could feel the forest of eyes around her, their intense stares were shooting chills up her spine. There was no turning back.
“Sweetie Belle is right. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have stolen, I shouldn’t have lied, but you,” Scootaloo glanced at Cheerilee. “You shouldn’t have lied to me, either…”
“Scootaloo, believe me, I wanted to tell you, but my hooves were tied. I told your parents they should tell you, but they were afraid.”
“And that’s why you decided to send me away?” Scootaloo face began filling with anger. “Send the cripple to be a circus attraction?”
“W-what? Scootaloo, I don’t understand.”
“I heard your conversation with my parents. Everything! How they’re embarrassed by my condition, how I let them down, and how you and they were planning to send me away!” Tears flooded her face, turning her anger into despair. “W-why? I know I’m not the brightest, but I’m trying! What have I ever done to you? Why do you hate me so much?”
This time Cheerilee was the one feeling everyone’s gaze piercing her like a knife. It was a dreadful sensation, but seeing the figure of Scootaloo bawling her eyes out was even worse. And she had no idea what Scootaloo was talking about.
“It makes no goddamn sense...” James broke the silence, shaking his head. “It would go against Cheerilee’s psychological profile.”
“Her what?”
“A stack of information containing various things: her likes, dislikes, sexual preferences, and stuff,” Cheerilee’s glance was ready to cut him in two. “Oh, don’t give me that look. The AI in my armor generates a profile for each person I talk to. They designed it to find spies and saboteurs. Besides, your profile is pretty normal, you should see profiles of some other ponies,” he lowered his voice. “It’s always the quiet ones.”
“I make sure to let Fluttershy knows that.”
“Oh, she knows, Cheerilee, believe me... Anyway, my point is, either that billion-dollar software is wrong, or Scootaloo is wrong. I’m betting the latter.”
“I know what I heard,” Scootaloo said. “My parents said they are so ashamed they want to send me to a freaking circus, and she said it would be a good idea! I guess I should become one of the attractions, huh?”
“Good heavens, this explains so much. Your reckless behavior, the jumpiness, the anger...” Cheerilee shook her head. “All this time, you thought your parents and I were scheming behind your back?”
“You were! I heard it!”
“Scootaloo, I don’t know what you think you heard, but it’s not true.”
“They said they were ashamed! True or false?!”
“Yes, they said that, but they meant of themselves, not you,” Scootaloo cocked her head, confused. “What happened was that they came to me with the news of your condition. They know how you adore Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts, and since this ugly illness is genetic, they were ashamed, blaming themselves for ruining your dreams. But they never blamed you.”
“But they said... B-but, the circus?”
“They asked me for alternatives based on what you like. When I told them about your stunts, your father came with an idea about sending you there... for professional training. But only if you would want to! He thought it could be something you would enjoy.”
“That makes sense,” Rainbow Dash said. “You love doing stunts on the scooter, Scoot. Imagine what kind of tricks you could do if one of those circus ponies trained you. It would be awesome!”
“Y-you think so? But I would never see you again.”
“Scootaloo, the training would only last a month or two, and then you would come back to Ponyville,” Cheerilee said. “Besides, if that doesn’t suit you, what about one of the other alternatives I mentioned?”
“Alternatives?”
“You heard the whole conversation... right?” Scootaloo answered with a sheepish smile and burning cheeks. “You got to be kidding me…”
“I kind of ran after I heard the first part. And with that party Pinkie organized outside the school, it was hard to hear clearly through the window...”
Cheerilee facehoofed, shaking her head. “I need to tell my replacement to start the semester with a lesson about the eavesdropping. Scootaloo, we discussed many possibilities based on your interests. Circus pony, stunt pony, a mechanic.”
“Me? But that’s for smart ponies like Twilight...”
“Remind me who likes tinkering with her scooter and other devices? I know how much the three of you improved your skills since that ‘Twilight time’ disaster.”
“Cheerilee’s right, Scoot,” Apple Bloom said. “You’re working on that scooter of yours, or building contraptions for your stunts all the time.”
“Exactly! You’re not a stupid pony, Scootaloo. Maybe a bit lazy at times,” Cheerilee arched her eyebrow, giving her a stern look. “But not stupid.”
“But, if that’s all true, they why didn’t my parents said anything?”
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess based on their reactions, they probably wanted to look into the things I mentioned first, to spare you the disappointment if something didn’t work out. Believe me, Scootaloo, they were terrified about how you would take the news.”
“Huh, I guess, after all I did, they had the right to be,” Scootaloo said with a bitter chuckle.
“I guess so,” Cheerilee chuckled gently herself. “But to think that all this trouble was because of a misunderstanding...”
“I think the phrase you’re looking for is FUBAR, Cheerilee,” surprisingly, she smiled and nodded at James comment. “OK, Scootaloo. That messed up mindset explains your weird behavior, but why the hell would you hang around Dumb Bell and his two moronic friends?”
“They were selling me medicine.”
“Medicine...” Cheerilee shook her head. “Scootaloo, I finally understand what you were going through during the past weeks, but taking drugs is never the answer.”
“W-what drugs?” Scootaloo arched her eyebrow in confusion. “Wait, you think I was... I would never touch that stuff!”
“But, you just said they sold you—”
“Medicine, for my wings!” Scootaloo said but got confused looks in return. “What?”
“Scoot, in my head, I have entire Equestria’s medical database, and if I’m querying it right, there is only one known condition affecting pegasi wings, and there is no cure for it,” James said.
“You’re wrong! It’s a powder from Griffonstone that you can’t get in Equestria for some twisted reasons. It makes your wings grow. Of course, now I won’t get it anymore, all I have left is an empty container...”
“You have it with you, perhaps?” Scootaloo nodded. “Show me.”
With a few quick moves, Scootaloo opened her saddlebag and pulled out a small plastic-like medicine bottle with a cap on top. James opened it and shook it, getting some leftover powder on his hand.
“Time for a magic trick!” He said and licked it off, spreading it around his entire mouth with his tongue.
“Um, you run out of amphetamine, boss?”
“Nah, it’s brewing nicely in Twilight’s basement. My stuff can put any brain into overdrive. This, on the other hand, can do that only if you’re addicted to sugar,” Scootaloo shot him a confused look. “According to my scans, this powder is nothing more than three different types of sugar, mixed with something bitter for the taste. No medicine in here.”
“But it can’t be! After I started taking it, I could hover for a longer time. It was working!”
“That’s a placebo effect, Scoot. Your mind told you what you wanted to hear. Sorry kid, but this won’t fix you.”
“You’re lying!”
“No, Scootaloo he is not,” Celestia said. “I am aware of the condition you have, and I am afraid that James is correct. There is no known cure. Those three lied to you.”
“But why would they—” Suddenly epiphany struck her like lightning. “Money... They did it just for bits?”
“I am afraid so. I am sorry.”
For a moment it looked like Scootaloo took the news well, just gaping at the floor with a slightly opened mouth. But then her lip began to tremble, and her cheeks quickly followed. She shut her eyes and started to wail. A cry of pain and anguish.
“I spent my entire savings on that, I stole hundreds of bits, I even sold my scooter, and it almost cost Apple Bloom her life. And it was all for nothing?! I’m so stupid!”
“No, you’re not!” John said angrily, his monitors began beeping faster and faster. “Those bastards used you. They’re the ones to blame!”
“Hey! Easy there, man!” James’ eyes widened. “Your body’s not ready for the stress!”
“Fuck that! Do you know what they did to her? Do you know what she asked me to do when we were near that old castle?!”
“N-no!” Scootaloo’s eyes shot wide. She was frantically shaking her head in fear. “Please, don’t say it!”
“Scootaloo, they need to know so they can help you.”
“N-no no no! P-please! I’ll be a freak for the rest of my life...”
“Scootaloo, I asked you to trust me that Apple Bloom was fine. You’ll have to trust me again. You can hate me all you want after that.”
“What are you talking about?” Cheerilee said.
“Huh, where to begin... When I arrived here, I was kind of down. When Applejack sent me flying and marked me as a monster I decided this wasn’t for me,” he sighed and shook his head. “I took my rope and… went looking for a nice tall tree.”
“John...”
“I know Cheerilee, I know... A book example of depression and what it can do. Anyway, I was standing with a noose around my neck, ready to end it, but a certain Princess had other plans.”
James smirked. “So what you’re saying is that’s all Celestia’s fault?”
“Of course it is,” Celestia said ironically. “And I do not regret my decision, John.”
“Me neither. Problem is, Scootaloo witnessed it all. And later, when I was standing near that damn gulch, she thought I was going to try again. She asked if I could take her down with me.”
“W-what?! Scoot, you wanted to...” Rainbow Dash glanced at her with fear in her eyes. “Why?!”
“I’ve seen no way out! I thought I killed Apple Bloom! And those stealings? Every time I took something, it felt horrible. I didn’t want to do this anymore. I didn’t want to hurt ponies anymore, I just... I just wanted the pain to stop...”
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier, Scoot?” Sweetie Belle said. “If we knew how you feel, we would work through this together!”
“I thought my parents wanted to leave me, I feared you would do the same. Who would want to hang out with a cripple coward thief? Even more so now, after what I did...”
Scootaloo felt Sweetie Belle’s magic, pulling her closer. Both fillies were glancing at her with angry faces. Expecting the worst, she covered her face, but instead of a punch she felt a bunch of hooves around her neck.
“Darn it, Scoot! If we told you once, we told you a thousand times! The CMCs never leaves friends hanging!” Sweetie Belle said, tightening the embrace.
“E-even the crazy ones?” Scootaloo said with tears in her eyes.
“Especially the crazy ones!” Apple Bloom said, hugging her closer.
The view of three fillies put a smile on everyone’s faces, even Gastovski’s. It was one of those heartwarming moments to remember. At least until Sweetie Belle opened her mouth again.
“All that said, Scoot, I need to make one thing clear... You leave me like that ever again, and I swear to everyone in this room that I’m gonna rip those wings of yours and shove them up your butt so far that they’ll stick out of your nose! Get it!?” Scootaloo bit her lip and nervously bobbed her head. “Good!”
“Sweetie Belle, stop talking like that when adults are around,” James said. “If Rarity hears you, I’m gonna get another bawling.”
“Like the last time?” She shook her head. “I still don’t understand why she freaked out over some rubber cucumber and pearls in her room.”
All adults in the room glanced at James, biting their lips. Their eyes screaming the obvious question.
“What? It’s not what you think! Rarity sent me to her room to get some fabric from under the bed. Not my fault I had to pick up the box with a… 40 cm black rubber cock...umber and, um... ‘pearls.’”
“Yeah, and then she was screaming at him for ten minutes, with a red face,” Sweetie Belle said. “I still don’t get what’s the big deal.”
“Me neither. It must be one of those weird ‘ladies’ thingies... Right Cheerilee, Celestia?” Both ponies just stared away in silence. “I take that as ‘yes.’”
“Ugh... Maybe we should get back to the matter at hoof?!”
“Which is what, Cheerilee? John’s alive, Scootaloo got here and apologize, we know what she did and why. Heck, even Rainbow Dash redeemed herself a little.”
“Huh? I did?”
“Well, from what I heard, you saved John’s ass, and then pulled out Cheerilee out of her house when the mob broke the door. Quite a comeback indeed.”
“Yeah, thanks for giving me a hand back then, Dash, and for pulling Cheerilee out of there. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, anytime!”
“She took your arm first, but then gave you a hand, interesting…” James’ comment put some embarrassment on Dash’s face. “Then again, from what Sweetie Belle told me if it weren’t for the metallic arm and my drinking habits, Apple Bloom would be dead. I guess it worked out in the end... Anyway, is that all?”
“Wait! I almost forgot,” Scootaloo rummaged through her bag and pulled something out. “Here.”
It was John’s golden locket. It’s dull and scratched surface shining in the light. John grabbed it and froze, gaping at the item with empty eyes.
“I found it at the bottom of the gulch when I was looking for a place to hide.”
“Thank you, Scootaloo...” John whispered, clenching his hand hard around the medallion. “I didn’t even know I lost it.”
“You, OK?”
John’s arm was shaking, face trembling, and water began collecting in his eyes. No, he wasn’t OK.
“It’s nothing. Just... this brings back memories.”
“What is it?” Apple Bloom said.
John sighed and clicking sound filled the air. The locket opened, revealing a small picture inside. Seeing the photo pushed more water out of his eyes. His crying grim face was also a picture. A picture of agony and pain.
“John is that...” Cheerilee already knew the answer.
“My wife, Mary and my daughter, Lillian. That is all I have left of them. That day when I tried to... It wasn’t Applejack’s fault. I just wanted to be with them.”
“You miss them, don’t you?”
“Y-yeah, I d-do,” John sniffled. “Being alone hurts so much...”
“And my actions only made it worse,” Applejack said.
“Well, they certainly didn’t help. I guess Scootaloo and me, both felt so alone that stupid ideas came to our heads.”
“I’m sorry, John,” Cheerilee said and put her hoof on his arm. “But remember, you’re not alone.”
John smiled gently. “You’re not scared to hang out around someone who almost ate a pony?”
“No, as long as you promise not to do it again.”
“It’s a deal!” John said, but notice James smirking. “What?”
“It’s just... You just promised never to eat a pony again, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“What if somepony, Cheerilee for example, would ask you, really, really nicely to eat her?”
Hearing his comment, John facepalmed and froze, Cheerilee was a different story. She turned towards James’s smirking face with a gaze so cold, he felt it freezing his very soul. Her eyes were narrowed, like the eyes of a beast before the strike.
“You, mister are a PIG—”
“I don’t get it,” Apple Bloom interjected. “Why would Cheerilee ask him to eat her?”
Cheerilee rolled her eyes and buried her face in her hooves. Her cheeks were burning with rage and embarrassment. Mostly rage.
“Cheerilee is right,” Celestia shot him a cold glance. “You are a pig.”
“The pot calling the kettle black... Oh, by the way, how is that book of yours coming along?”
“It... went to print yesterday.”
“Well, then. Let’s wait a few days and see who’s gonna be called a pig, shall we?”
“When I rise from that bed, I’m gonna bust your teeth. But for now, what I would like to know is what will happen to those three bastards that used Scootaloo?” John said, but the expression on Celestia’s face wasn’t what he expected. “Don’t tell me you don’t have laws for such things over here?”
“We do, and my royal guards are already looking for them...”
“But?”
“Since they did not sell Scootaloo drugs, but only some sugar, we will have to drop that charge. And, Scootaloo, correct me if I am wrong, but every time you were passing the stolen goods, you were meeting in a secluded place?”
“Yeah, that ruined villa on the outskirts of Ponyville.”
“I feared that. If they are smart, proving their guilt may be impossible.”
“Hoops and Score are morons that couldn’t tie shoelaces if they were wearing boots, but Dumb Bell is a different story,” James said. “I heard he’s a sneaky bastard. If he’s the brain behind it, you probably won’t find any evidence.”
“Are you saying those assholes are gonna walk free?!” John’s monitors started beeping again.
“Two of them assaulted Cheerilee and you during the mob. They won’t walk away from that—”
“Celestia, I don’t care about me! They should answer for what they did to Scootaloo, damn it!”
“Easy there, John!” James said, glancing at the monitors. “Your heart might pop from the stress! If you die now it would be so anticlimactic...”
Surprisingly, James comment worked. John began inhaling deeply, in and out, and soon his heart rate dropped. He glanced at gloomy Scootaloo and shook his head.
“This is not right, Celestia. They need to be punished for what they did to her.”
“Proving their guilt in that matter may be impossible. But they will still get punished—”
“Yeah, by getting only half of what they deserve!”
“Unfortunately, no law is perfect—”
“Oh, come on! Use some loophole, something!”
“That would set dangerous precedent—”
Celestia and John began arguing loudly. John’s sentiment was shared by most. It was this annoying feeling of helplessness and injustice that screamed for action. Looking at the ongoing argument, James clenched his hand and began turning to the door, only to see Rainbow Dash doing the same. Their eyes met, and a second later they quietly left the room.
“John, I will do everything in my power to bring them to justice, but I cannot guarantee success.”
“Damn it... Hmm, if I can’t help you with them, maybe I can help Scootaloo with her wings.”
“There is no cure, John. I am sorry.”
“There may be no cure, but maybe our nano-tech can help?”
“You think that could work?” Scootaloo said.
“I’m not making any guarantees. But nano-tech is extremely advanced, who knows, maybe it could help you. We can arrange a visit to Twilight’s castle so that Kleiner could take a look at you.”
“B-but, I don’t have any bits...”
“Don’t be silly, he’ll do it for free! Heck, knowing him, he’ll be excited by a challenge. What do you think, boss?” John cocked his head. “Hey, where is James and Rainbow Dash?”
“Oh, no...” Celestia teleported out of the room.
***
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me, as a Wonderbolt I know ponies that can locate them,” Rainbow Dash said and clenched her teeth. “And then—”
A sphere of energy materialized in front of them, interrupting her tirade. It disappeared a second later, leaving behind not so happy looking alicorn.
“Where do you think you are going?” Celestia said.
“I... need to re-arrange my sock drawer.”
“Yeah, me too!”
Rainbow Dash realized what she said a little too late. No way in hell, James would let such opportunity pass.
“You have a sock drawer?” His stupid smirk forced a hot blush on her cheeks. “Kinky Dashie... I like it!”
Celestia, on the other hand, didn’t like it. “Rainbow Dash, you are already on probation. If you do anything stupid you will be expelled.”
“She’s right, you know. We need to be discrete,” James began tapping on his chin with his finger and smiled. “Hmm, APE, how much hydrochloric acid do we need to completely dissolve bodies of three pegasi?”
“James, I am serious!”
“So am I! That acid will take care of everything,” her stern look was telling him she wasn’t in the mood for his humor. “OK, jokes aside. Do you think you can put them in jail?”
“Those two that attacked John and Cheerilee? Probably. Their leader? I am not sure.”
“Oh, come on!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “They should all be rotting for what they did to Scootaloo! She was thinking about suicide, for Equestria’s sake!”
“Agreed, but there may not be enough evidence. They will still get punished for attacking John and Cheerilee—”
“If you get witnesses,” James interjected. “How is that investigation going anyway?”
Celestia shook her head. “Not as well as I had hoped.”
“Ponies don’t wanna talk, huh? We both know that if you don’t find witnesses, they may walk away scot-free.”
“Yes, there is that possibility. What would you have me do?”
“Um... blast them to the moon? No, wait, they would drink the booze I left there. Hmm...” James cocked his head, thinking. “Tell me, if you were using one of those transfiguration spells that alter your appearance, and someone would punch you. How many years would that person face?”
“I do not understand.”
“Just answer the question.”
“Hmm, I think there is no specific law in place here. That person would face the same punishment as if he punched me knowing who I was,” she put on a sinister smile. “That is if that person would live long enough to meet the judge.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not suicidal at the moment... But it gives me an idea if you’re prepared to bend the law a little, and work with Luna.”
“Luna? What does she have to do with this?”
“Nothing yet, but... Look, send her a letter saying that you need to catch three assholes, and you want Moony and Sunny to do it. She’ll explain the rest,” Celestia tilted her head in confusion. “Trust me on this. It will be fun for both of you, and we will put those assholes behind bars for a few years.”
“I have no idea what this is about... But I guess I can at least ask Luna.”
“Good, just make sure to do it before arresting those idiots. Oh, and I think Dash and I need to be with you, to see it.”
“Hmm, fine, if you both promise not to do anything stupid in the meanwhile,” James nodded, but Dash didn’t. “Rainbow Dash?”
After a moment of staring, the pegasus finally gave in and nodded, but not without a scowl. She wasn’t happy.
“All right, it is a deal,” Celestia said. “Now how about we get back to the hospital? The visiting hours are not over yet.”
“Lead the way.”