//------------------------------// // Things Get Worse // Story: Fly Like You // by Jinzou //------------------------------// “Alright Twi,” Rainbow sighed, walking into the library. “I got Ice Pack all situated in one of the guest rooms. She’s still insisting she leave first thing tomorrow morning, though.” Rainbow peered up, eyebrows raising as she saw Applejack sitting with Twilight. “Hey sugarcube.” Applejack greeted lifelessly. “I was just telling Twilight here that the crowd has gone for the night. But I’ll bet my left hind leg they’ll be back tomorrow. I’m real sorry I couldn’t convince them to just leave y’all alone.” “It’s fine, Applejack.” Twilight replied quickly. “We can handle it then. Do you want to stay over tonight too? It’s already getting dark.” “No I… I still need to get some things done at the farm. It weren’t fair for me to just throw all my responsibilities onto Big Mac like I did. But I’ll be back tomorrow to try and handle them, while y’all try to handle telling Scootaloo about… well, y’know.” “Applejack…” Rainbow hesitated. “You really don’t need to do that. I already told you, I forgive you. We’re square.” Applejack gave off a small chuckle. “I really do appreciate that, Dash. But you’re not who I’m trying to make things up to now. Considerin’ she won’t even let me talk to her, least I can do for Scootaloo is try and manage the crowd so her family can be focused while trying to pass this hurdle with her.” “I appreciate that.” Twilight smiled. “And I’m sure Scoots will too.”  Applejack exhaled slowly. “I sure hope so. Well, that’s enough of that, I really do need to get going. See y’all tomorrow.” “Bye Applejack.” “Take care, Applejack.” Twilight and Rainbow watched Applejack leave, and Rainbow turned to glance at Twilight. “Here Twi, I brought you this.” Rainbow pulled out an apple that was tucked under her wing. “I know you haven’t eaten recently and you need to keep up your strength.” Rainbow deftly threw the apple into the air. Rainbow watched the apple fall in midair, then promptly stop as a purple aura surrounded it. Just then, she heard a scream from Twilight as she dropped the levitation field and clapped both hooves over her horn. A moment later, she had made herself as small as possible and was breathing rapidly.  "N-no! Not again! I can't lose control!" Twilight started trembling, eyes tightly shut as her breathing became labored.  Oh no, she's freaking out! I need to wake he-Wait! When you try to coax Scootaloo out of an episode, she can't tell what's real for a moment. I should... Rainbow gently draped a wing over Twilight's shivering form, pulling her in and gently placing a kiss on her cheek.  "Twilight, you're safe. You're in control. Everyone is okay."  Twilight cracked open an eye, and upon recognizing Rainbow Dash, quickly relaxed.  "I-I'm sorry, I just-"  "You're going to see Doctor Kind Mind."  "Rainbow Dash, I don't need to see her. I'll be fine-"  "You just had the start of a PTSD episode. You're going."  "No, Rainbow, I-"  "No kisses or cuddles till you agree."  “That's torturing yourself too."  "Twilight please, just..."  "Rainbow, really, I'm fine." "Twilight, I-I..” Rainbow hesitated, ears flattening themselves to her skull. “I’m sick of seeing you like this. I-I love you too much to see you continue to ignore this. To continue to be in pain. There. I said it. I love you. Now please get help. If not for you, and not for me, do it for Spike and Scootaloo."  Twilight stared at the floor silently for several moments. She slowly lifted her gaze to match Rainbow's. Twilight pulled her into a soft winghug.  "Okay... okay. I'll do it. For Spike, Scootaloo, and you."  Twilight gave off a small smile as Rainbow sighed in relief.  "And um... Rainbow Dash?"  "Yes, Twilight?"  "I love you too." It had almost been an hour since Twilight and Rainbow talked. Rainbow Dash had rushed off to go find Doctor Kind Mind and make an appointment for Twilight, and Twilight was sitting quietly in the library, trying to distract herself with a book and utterly failing. There was the soft clip clop of small hooves reverberating off the crystals walls that pulled Twilight out of her stupor. “Mom? You in here?” Twilight’s head popped over the couch, regarding a young orange filly. “I’m right here, Scootaloo. What did you need?” I should wait until Rainbow Dash comes back to tell Scootaloo. We should both be there. Just please don’t have her ask about her. “Well it’s just uh…” Scootaloo rubbed one foreleg with the other. “Next Wednesday is my mo- uh, my birth mom’s birthday. Heh, That’s kinda confusing when you think about it, I have three moms. But I was wondering if it’s possible to like… arrange a meeting? Just so I can tell my mom happy birthday, and that I’m doing well, and just… that I love her and miss her?” Twilight suddenly felt all the color drain from her face as a chill made its way up her spine. Oh… Oh Celestia no. How do I… I can’t just lie to her. “Scootaloo, honey…” Twilight chewed on her bottom lip. “Come sit next to me on the couch.” “Uh…” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “Okay…”  Scootaloo walked over to the couch and hopped up on it. Twilight made her way over to the filly and wrapped her in her wings, slowly running a hoof through Scootaloo’s mane. “Twilight, are you okay? Have you been drinking again?” Oh gosh, this would be better handled by somebody like Dash. She was always better at this than me. “No honey, I haven’t been drinking.” “Then why are you acting like this? Did something happen?” “Yes, sweetie, I’m afraid… your mother didn’t make it. She passed this morning.” Scootaloo’s eyes suddenly shot open. She pushed her way out of Twilight’s embrace and started into Twilight’s eyes frantically. “No…” Scootaloo breathed. Twilight’s breath quickened. “I just learned about it. I-I’m… so sorry. I’m so so sorry, sweetie.” “...No…’ Scootaloo repeated, looking down as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. “Not her too…” “I’m so sorry.” Twilight repeated, fighting back tears of her own. Scootaloo flopped onto her side, curling into a ball as tears silently made their way down her face. “Who… How? How did it happen?” “She… She took her own life.” Scootaloo let out a wet sniffle. “W-why would she do that? I thought… did she not love me anymore? Was it because I didn’t visit her?” “No honey, no, it’s not that. I’m sure she still loved you with all her heart, she just… felt like there was no other option left. Sometimes when a lot of bad things happen to a pony they fall into a wrong, damaging mindset. And then it’s like their mind is their worst enemy. If another pony is being mean, you can just go away from them, but you can’t run away from your own thoughts. Eventually they just sort of… take their toll on you. It’s very exhausting when your worst enemy is in your head.” Scootaloo sat up and stared at the fabric of the couch silently for a few moments. Then she sat next to Twilight, leaning against her. Twilight wrapped a wing around the filly. “So…” Scootaloo sniffed. "She just got to the point where she had no will to carry on, and just wanted to... stop being?" Twilight sighed. “Well, yes. I can't pretend to know exactly what was running through her mind, but that's... usually how suicidal ponies think."  Scootaloo was silent for a few more moments."I uhm... I sometimes felt that way too after dad was done with me. Is that bad?" Twilight didn't say anything, electing to sweep the filly up and hug her tightly to her breast, slowly rocking back and forth.  "Don't worry about it Scootaloo. You're safe now. You're... you're fine the way you are. Great, even. You're perfect and I... and Rainbow both love you so much." Scootaloo silently buried her face into Twilight’s fur, slowly dampening it with salty tears. “I just… I’m so sorry honey.” Twilight felt her own tears make their way down her face, hanging off her chin and falling to Scootaloo’s mane. “I’m just so sorry. I love you so much. I’m so sorry.” The pair stayed that way for the rest of the night.