Chapter 2: Tainted Memories
(Jacob's Point of View)
Well, for the next couple of days, I showed the Crusaders all of the episodes of the show up to the Crystal Empire. And of course, there were a lot more things in the show that never happened then I assumed. For example, the appearance that Luna looked in the pilot episode after she came back, she's been like that since then and not the appearance she was like in Luna Eclipsed. And then I showed the girls the Past Sins story. On Canterlot Comics, there was a comic of Past Sins. And on YouTube, there's a user who goes by Nimbus Productions, and he and some other people read Past Sins from the Prelude to Chapter 12. I wonder why they stopped doing that story.
Anyway, during Chapter Four, when Twilight told Scootaloo that her mom had got to be worried why she wasn't home, and Scootaloo said that her parents were gonna flip, Apple Bloom said, "Scootaloo didn't say that."
"She didn't?" I asked. "Well what did she say?"
"She said, and I quote," Sweetie Belle said, "'Uh... uh... yeah. I... should probably get home.' Then she just ran out the door, heading off somewhere."
We then looked at Scootaloo, and I asked, "Scootaloo? Is there something you aren't telling us?"
Scootaloo was blushing, trying to keep in something. But then she started shedding a few tears. She then sighed and said, "Okay. I'll tell you. Just... just promise me that you'll keep it a secret."
"Cross My Heart, Hope to Fly, Stick a Cupcake in my Eye," said Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
"We'll keep it a secret for as long as you want," said Nyx.
Scootaloo then sighed and said, "Okay. Here it is. When I was four years old... my parents died." That made me, the other three crusaders, and my mom gasp. "My mom and dad traveled across Equestria, studying exotic plants and creatures. Especially herding them for safety of other ponies." She then sighed. "Then one day, they were... killed. By an unexpected cragadile. I was distraught from what happened. I was to stay with my aunts, Lofty and Holiday. A year and a half later, aunt Lofty passed away. A month later, Holiday died as well."
"Where did they live?" I asked.
"They lived in a small house in Canterlot," said Scootaloo. "After that, I was sent to an orphanage. An orphanage that was run by an extremely cold hearted mare named Cinch."
"Abacus Cinch?" I asked.
"Y-yeah," said Scootaloo. "How did you know that?"
"She... sorta made an appearance in this show's franchise," I said. "Was she... mean, didn't want anyone to be anything but what she wants them to be, and threatens those who disobey her?"
"Yes!" Scootaloo nearly shouted. "Sorry. I just don't want to remember those awful memories. I've been there for almost two years. I grabbed my scooter, which was the last present I got from my mom and dad, ran away from there when I got the chance. I got on a random train and ended up in Ponyville."
"Was there anypony there to take care of you?" asked Apple Bloom. "Somepony should've been taking care of you."
"There was," said Scootaloo. "Mayor Mare found me and when I told her about what happened, she allowed me to stay in the guest room of her house. She promised me that she wouldn't tell anypony."
"Well," said my mom, "I don't blame you for running away from the orphanage. But you had the right to run from that awful lady that owns that orphanage. If she treated orphan foals that badly, she shouldn't be qualified to watch you, or any orphaned child."
"Yeah," said Scootaloo, still sad. "But, she shouldn't have treated me like that. And what about my mom and dad? Would they be ashamed of me for running away like that?"
"Your parents would've wanted you to be happy," said Mom. "They would understand why you ran away from that awful orphanage." Scootaloo smiled to what my mom said.
"Cooper!" I called out. Then Cooper came right on up. I then patted Scootaloo's left shoulder and said to him, "Give her some lovin'."
Then Cooper came up to Scootaloo, put his paws on her legs, and then started licking Scootaloo's face, making her laugh. "H-hey! St-stop it! That tickles!"
"Sometimes, all you need is a little love," said my mom. "Sometimes, all you need is help from those around you."
"And maybe you should ask Rainbow Dash to help take care of you," I said. "After all, you look up to her a lot. Like that fan club. She even knows how much you care for her. Surely, she would care for you whenever you were in trouble."
Then Cooper got off of Scootaloo, and she said, "Yeah. She did. When I almost went off that cliff, Rainbow Dash caught me before I landed in that cart full of cacti."
"Well, why didn't you fly?" asked my mom. "Weren't you a pegasus?"
"Scootaloo can't fly," I said. "Her wings aren't big enough."
Scootaloo looked towards me and asked, "Did I ever fly in the series?"
I shook my head, saying, "No. Well, only in your dreams. Literally."
"I guess that makes sense," said Scootaloo. "My wings are pretty small."
"I'm sure... that you'll find... a loving... family," my mom said to Scootaloo. She seemed to be sad for some reason. "Excuse me, I need to be alone right now."
Mom then walked into her room. I was worried about her. I got a little worried about her. Apple Bloom then asked, "Hey, can we... continue with the story until we're caught up?"
"Sure," I said. "But, just to let you know, in the series, Spoiled Rich didn't show up until season 5 on the same episode you three got your Cutie Marks. But Pen Stroke didn't know what her name was or who she looked like. So... well you'll see."
I then continued Nyx's story.
(Third Person Point of View)
Kathy walked into her bedroom, closed it, then locked it. Then she closed all the window blinds and closed the door to her bathroom that leads to another closet that was on the other side of the bathroom. She then walked into a small closet, and she went to a shoe holder, and pulled down a box in a shoe shelf. She then carried it over to her bed and sat on the edge. She then opened up the shoe box, and inside were pictures, and old junk that was special to her and a couple of her friends.
She picked up one picture of her and her two friends from her freshman year of High School. One girl was a blonde with red streaks, and she wore cowgirl hat with a white, button up shirt, giving her a cowgirl look. The other girl was of a teenage Lauren Faust. The two of them were posing for a picture. Then she remembered old memories from back then.
"Ya think we'll all stay best friends?" came the voice of a southern accent girl. "Ah sure love hangin' 'round with you two."
"Don't sweat it, Penelope," came the voice of a younger Lauren Faust. "Our friendship is very strong. No matter how far away we are, we'll always stay best friends. Our friendship is like magic."
"I'm going to Florida," came the voice of a younger Kathy Malcolm. "I heard it's a popular place to live in."
"Ya mind if Ah stay close to ya?" came the southern girl's voice. "Ah could live in yer own neighborhood. If that's alright with ya."
"Tell you what..." came Kathy's voice from her old memory. "If you're ever in trouble, or if you are in need a helping hand, you can come over to my place for as long as you want."
"And hopefully, we'll stay best friends," said Kathy's voice. Until she used her real words. "Forever."
Then she remembered another moment. A memory from about 20 years from before this time.
"Well, I guess this is it," said Kathy in a memory.
"Miami, Florida, here we come," said Penelope.
"Hey, maybe one of these days, we should get together," came Lauren's voice. "Perhaps... one day, we'll reunite for one day and talk about what we've missed."
"That's a promise," came Penelope's voice. "See ya in 20 years."
Then she remembered another old memory. One that happened almost ten years ago.
"Kathy," came Lauren's voice in a phone. "I heard about what happened to Penelope. Are you okay with what happened?"
"I'll be fine," came Kathy's voice from a memory. "I'm just a little upset that she's gone now. We've been best friends since we were eight years old."
"What about the kid?" asked Lauren in the memory. "How's the kid doing?"
"I'm taking care of him," said Kathy in the memory. "I'm doing my best to take care of him."
"What about the boy's father?" asked Lauren in the memory. "I'm sure he's upset that he should help take care of his own son."
"Richie didn't even want the kid," said Kathy in the memory. "He wanted to have the kid aborted. No wonder their relationship didn't go so well."
"I hope I'll get to meet Jacob one of these days," said Lauren in the memory. "Talk to you later, Kathy. Hopefully, you'll raise the boy right."
She then put the pictures back in the shoe box, and closed it up. She then looked towards the bedroom door, tears coming out of the corners of her eyes and said, "I am."
(Jacob's Point of View)
After we finished up chapter 9 of Past Sins, Mom got dinner ready. It was a spaghetti meal. Mom made it with a lot of vegetables for me and the girls to eat.
"Wow," said Apple Bloom. "Well, at least we were sent here before Princess Celestia got to take Nyx away."
"Yeah," said Nyx. "I don't wanna be like that ever. No way I'm going to let some sick minded ponies make me a wicked mare."
"No way we're gonna let something like that happen," said Sweetie Belle. "I'm sure that they'll be taken down before they come look for us."
"What are we going to do until then?" asked Scootaloo.
"Well, Summer just started," I said. "Although, I got to do something besides sit in front of the TV."
"I'm..." Mom said, but stopped to catch her breath. "I'm sure we'll find something for you all to do."
"I hope so," I said.
"Hey, Jacob," Apple Bloom said. "Did ya and yer mom come up with our cover names for when we're in this world?"
"Yeah, actually," said Mom. "In fact, all of your names would sound close to your names. Apple Bloom, we'll start with you, since you're the one who started this group."
"Understandable," said Apple Bloom.
"Apple Bloom, your cover name will be Barbara Apple," Mom said.
"Okay," Apple Bloom said.
"Sweetie Belle, we thought about this for the past two days," I said. "You're cover name is Susan Belle."
"I can go with that," said Sweetie Belle.
"Scootaloo," Mom said, "this was very difficult to find your cover name. We decided to give you the name Scarlet. And, I think we should give you the same last name as your mom."
"Scarlet Allgood," said Scootaloo. She then smiled. "Alright. I can live with that."
"And Nyx," I said, looking at her. "Your cover name will be Nicole Moon."
"I guess that's okay," Nyx said. "So, what are we going to do?"
"I'm sure we'll find something to do," said Sweetie Belle.
"Indeed," said Mom. "Now, with more mouths to feed, we're going to have to go grocery shopping. And I could use all your help to help get the stuff."
"We don't mind helpin' ya," said Apple Bloom. "It's just like mah granny says: it's a lot easier when ya have somepony to help."
I saw my mom smile. She then said, "You know, I had a friend who said the same thing. Except, it was her mom who told her, and we have a different lexicon."
"What's a Lexicon?" asked Apple Bloom.
"It's a way of speaking," said Nyx. "We might have to use human lexicon when surrounded by other humans."
"Okay," said Apple Bloom. "We'll try. But Ah doubt it'll be easy for us."
"You're all going to have to get used to this," said Mom. "Try not to worry too much. Now, who's in the mood for some homemade apple pie."
"Sounds good," said Sweetie Belle.
"Mind if I help with making the pie?" Apple Bloom asked.
"That depends," Mom said. "Did you really burn those cupcakes the day you formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
"Hey! Ah got better with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Nyx the last time we went for bakin' Cutie Marks!" Apple Bloom said. "Why wasn't that in the story?!"
"It was," I said. "It was basically a flashback from after the Children of Nightmare got Nyx."
"Oh, okay," said Scootaloo.
Mom and Apple Bloom then went to the kitchen counter, and started making some apple pie. I just hope that Mom would be able to teach Apple Bloom about keeping the desert from being burnt.