Running through the woods on the outskirts of Ponyville was generally considered to be a bad idea in broad daylight. At night, it was considered to be signs of a death wish, confusion, or other mental instability. Scootaloo did not have any of these excuses. However, she rationalized that anypony who caught sight of the pony-turned-monster chasing her would be at least a little understanding.
The teen filly hurdled over a bush, only to find herself faced with a steep slope on the other side. She winced, her undersized wings extending on reflex, but she was simply incapable of gliding. Scoot covered her head with her forehooves as she tucked and rolled through the bramble.
She bit her tongue, wincing through the soreness and thorns.
Gah! Crap, crap, I gotta… gotta keep moving.
Her ear twitched at the faint sound of something in the air. That was all the motivation she needed to force herself to her hooves and get back to running.
Gotta get help. I gotta get back to Ponyville and— wait, no! The freakin’ curfew! I’ll just get arrested or something, and that’s if Rainbow doesn’t beat me there… And I don’t want her to get in trouble either…
Scootaloo made a sharp turn just in front of a tree trunk, and mere seconds later, the bat-winged figure silently dove through a clearing just beyond said tree. Scoot’s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of this, yet she kept running as fast as her hooves would take her.
That’s Rainbow Dash. Remember that. She’s just… sick, or something. Yeah, that’s it. Why would she ever wanna hurt me, her sorta-sister?
Scoot swung around another tree just as the blurred figure of a pegasus zipped by leaving a small shockwave in her wake. The teen filly’s heart was pounding painfully in her chest.
J-just Rainbow Dash. With glowing red eyes. And sharp teeth. And some sorta demon wings. Yep, nothing wrong with her whatsoever.
She slipped over a small creek, eyes looking everywhere for signs of her hunter.
I still need help. Where can I go though? Somewhere near Everfree without going through Ponyville… Fluttershy’s place? No, she’d just lock up as soon as she saw me being chased by something that wasn’t cute and fuzzy and stare-able. What about… Oh, Sweet Apple! Apple Bloom! Bit of a hike, but—
A twig snapped somewhere behind her. Scoot gasped and backed away from the source, or at least where she thought the source was. She frantically scanned the forest for any signs of movement or life.
There was a rustle in the bushes. She took cover behind a bush of her own.
For the next few seconds, there was no sound save for the natural blowing of the wind and the young mare’s own heartbeat.
Then she heard breathing.
Scoot whipped around, expecting to see a fanged, blue mare. Instead, she saw a fanged, starry bear. Funny how language works sometimes.
The ursa’s eyes were halfway open, glancing lazily around. Scoot tried to duck behind cover, but there was none to be found. She locked eyes with the massive creature, and it bared its teeth in a deep snarl.
Aw crap.
RRRAAWWWWOOORRRRR
Scootaloo rolled as the beast slammed its claw down. Unfortunately, she was a half-second late, and her tail was caught under the creature’s paw. She whimpered, begging for mercy in unintelligible, desperate babble.
The Ursa raised its free paw. Scoot braced for the end.
Then she heard a heavy wing-flap, followed by a heavier thud and ursine groan.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw a deep red blur whipping around the ursa, pausing occasionally to hiss at the creature. Rainbow Dash lashed out at the hulking constellation faster than it or Scootaloo could comprehend. Eventually she outright toppled the beast, sending it bounding deeper into the Everfree.
Rainbow hovered down towards the ground on her leathery wings. As she turned to make eye contact with Scoot, she licked a strange blue substance off her lips.
She then promptly broke into a coughing fit, retching up the ectoplasm.
“Eugh! Okay, not blood. Definitely not blood!” Rainbow croaked between heaves.
Scootaloo took a few wary steps closer. “... Rainbow Dash?” she said, her voice quaking. “What are… what did you…”
Rainbow’s piercing eyes locked with Scoot’s. “Kid,” she said, “we need to talk.”
Scoot trotted over, offering a hoof to help Rainbow up. “What’s going on, Rainbow? Why are you, erm, like this?!”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been asked that,” Rainbow scoffed. She took the teen pony’s hoof graciously. “I’ll tell you all about it. But first, you’ve gotta do something for me.”
“Do something? Like what? You seem to be able to handle yourself,” said Scootaloo. She was staring in awe.
“Heh, well yeah, but…” Rainbow met Scoot’s gaze, a wild look reaching her eyes.
Scoot found herself unable to look away.
“Stop running,” said Rainbow, her voice somehow echoing in Scoot’s mind. “Promise me you’ll keep quiet. You can’t tell anypony what I am. Now, say it.”
All other sounds faded, then other sights. Scoot stared, frozen, and felt herself begin to speak. “I prom…”
Now, what Rainbow Dash failed to realize was the true nature of a teenager. She could hypnotically influence a raging chimeric beast with no issues, convince her friends she was telling the truth, and even make small creatures lie down and accept their inevitable end without a fight. All of these victims, however, paled in comparison to the sheer stubborn rebellion boiling in the heart of a pony in puberty.
As such, Scootaloo broke free in perhaps the most bullheaded way possible. Literally.
She swung her head down and forward, headbutting Rainbow Dash right in the jaw. Rainbow, in spite of her supernatural strength, doubled over and clutched at her face. Scootaloo took this brief window of opportunity to sprint out of there, off into the forest.
With a loud pop, Rainbow pushed her dislocated dentistry back into place. “Oh, Luna, I’m never gonna get used to that.”
— Well at least you’re learning which Princess to name drop. Filly steps, you know? —
“I just don’t get it. What’s gotten into her?”
— Your guess is as good as mine. Though you may wish to catch up to her before she’s able to spread word of your condition. Or if you’re having second thoughts, I could always lend a helping hoof... —
“I’ve got it under control,” Rainbow growled.
— Are you so sure? —
“I know Scootaloo. One way or another, I’m sure I can get through to her.”
The scattered willows and oaks gave way to a relatively uniform grid of trunks with apples lying by their roots. Scootaloo could see a light up ahead as she crested a hill. She smiled as she caught sight of the farmhouse, only to lose that optimism as she realized just how much further it was.
I’ve got this… Just a little further and I’m home free…
A shadow passed over her. She looked up to see a familiar silhouette against the moonlight.
Without wasting another moment, Scootaloo decided to simply book it. She galloped through the orchard, occasionally weaving between the trees in a vain attempt to shake her pursuer. Scoot could feel Rainbow’s glowing gaze fixed upon her no matter how she moved to evade.
Rainbow herself dove down between a gap in the trees, tailing the land-bound filly by low-lying flight. Her wingspan only occasionally hindered her, but this did slow her down.
Scootaloo caught a glimpse of Rainbow and skidded to a stop. Moments later, the older pegasus blew past her, just as planned.
Not wanting to waste any time, Scoot took a hard left turn into a wide angle towards the Sweet Apple home.
The treeline broke, but she could see her destination. She was so close.
“Help!!” Scootaloo screamed. “Applejack!! Apple Bloom! Somepony, help!!”
Out of nowhere, Rainbow swooped between Scoot and the farmhouse. The teen pony tripped from this startling sight.
As she looked up from the dirt, she could see Rainbow’s red eyes in the dark above, hovering in place. Yet she also saw a light in the corner of her eye.
“Ey! Git outta here!!”
It was Applejack. She stood in front of her now open front door with some wood-and-rope contraption held in her forehooves.
Scootaloo flailed as she picked herself out of the dirt. She dove for cover behind the older mare. Applejack kept her eyes skyward, yet adjusted her stance to better cover the filly.
The farmer shut one eye and raised her device. A green apple impaled on the end of a wooden rod sat atop the device. It was balanced against a taut rope and pointed at the bat-winged figure above.
“Smile, you rat with wings,” she muttered.
And then she pulled on a lever, and the rod was launched into the air. The figure flipped backwards, narrowly dodging the makeshift arrow, then glided away on the wind.
Once the creature was out of sight, Applejack set the crossbow down. She pulled Scootaloo into a tight, loving hug. “You okay, sugarcube? That critter didn’t hurt you, did it?”
“N-No,” said Scoot, still shaking. “Not really…”
“C’mon. Let’s get inside and get you warmed up,” said the older mare.
She escorted Scootaloo inside, then ducked out quickly to grab and reload her weapon. When she went inside herself, she locked the door and the deadbolt, and even pushed a stool up against the handle, just in case.