//------------------------------// // 16: Now You Don't // Story: A Do-Over // by Pip232 //------------------------------// Moonlight swam to consciousness immediately noticed several things. She was lying on a cold surface, but the chilling feeling didn’t go all the way to her back hooves. In fact, she couldn’t feel her back legs at all. She also felt something on top of the body she was borrowing. It was light and thin, and she soon realized it was a sheet that stopped just below her head. It’s time to get out of here. I just need to- Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a door open and a voice coming from that direction. “Here she is, your highness.” Damn you, Scootaloo! If you hadn’t hesitated we’d be out of here already! Now there’s a chance that I will be discovered! Scootaloo couldn’t hear her, which did nothing to dampen Moonlight’s annoyance. As she heard hoofsteps approaching, she was grateful for her current condition. Scootaloo’s body was just barely alive. Moonlight had been sparing enough magic to maintain its vital functions, and right now that was a blessing. Minimal heartbeat, breath so shallow it would be virtually impossible to notice, and she was likely cold to the touch. Now our entire fate rests on them not noticing my presence. If they do, it will be the end for both of us. She listened to Twilight and Palliate talking to one another, and had to fight back a smile when she said it was ending as badly as it possibly could. It’s not over yet, Twilight. In fact, it’s just getting started. I just need some alone time to get out of here. A feeling of nervousness washed over Moonlight when Twilight stopped talking mid-sentence. Holding what little breaths she was taking, she heard retreating hoofsteps, joined by another pair, before the distinct sound of a door being closed. As soon as the door closed, Scootaloo’s eyes opened the tiniest amount, but she wasn’t the one looking through them. Moonlight scanned the room through the narrow slit of vision she’d given herself. When she saw nopony in the room, she allowed a smile to cross the face of the body she was borrowing. Purple light enveloped her, and she began dissolving into a mist. She quickly entered a vent near the ceiling, heading through the ductwork. Outside the hospital this mist collected together, forming a glowing silhouette that resembled Scootaloo, but differed in several ways. Her ears were longer and more pointed, she’d developed a pair of fangs, and her remaining wing had transformed to resemble that of a bat. As the light faded her mane and coat were a much more muted color than they had been. Moonlight attempted to take off running, but as soon as she did a sharp pain ripped through her body inside and out, causing her to inhale sharply through clenched teeth. It radiated through her bones and especially across her left side. She looked herself over, and saw Scootaloo’s left wing was indeed missing. Checking the other side showed that while the right one had changed from the spell, it was still small and useless. It seems her internal injuries were a challenge even for the spell to heal. No matter, it still succeeded, and I would have endured many times worse for a chance like this! Clenching her teeth, she forced herself to take a step forward, feeling another blossom of pain in her body. I feel your pain, Scootaloo, I really do. She took some breaths and took another step, and another, and another. As her small steps turned into galloping, the pain got worse before slowly beginning to subside. A wonderful feeling of freedom washed over her as she ran. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the sensation of control over my own body. With a blazing speed, Moonlight entered the Everfree Forest. She had a lot to do, not much time, and a long way between each of her tasks, but with the night still young and with the mobility afforded to her now she was confident she could make it. Moonlight arrived at Zecora’s hut, approached the door, and found it unlocked. She opened it slowly, hearing a small creak as a result. The only active source of light inside was a fire burning beneath a large cauldron in the center of the hut. She stepped in, shutting the door behind her. Her sight cut through what darkness the fire didn’t illuminate. She could see every detail and every object as if it were a bright day, and the detail she liked best right now was that Zecora wasn’t home. Now where could she have put it? Moonlight moved as quickly and quietly through the hut as she could. Moonlight methodically looked through the hut, ignoring objects that would be too small to hold what she was looking for. She looked under Zecora’s pillow, beneath her bed, and behind her books and masks. She became increasingly frustrated at her lack of progress and meticulously put everything back as she found it. I can’t risk her knowing someone has been snooping around in here, especially at such a crucial time. But I can’t afford to dawdle around here too much longer, either. If I can’t find it soon- Her ears twitched, the sound of hooves clopping against wood drawing her attention. Reacting quickly, Moonlight dove beneath Zecora’s bed. It was a bit of a squeeze, and she was thankful Scootaloo’s body wasn’t any bigger. No sooner had she hidden than she heard the door creak open, hoofsteps entering. Moonlight stayed stock still, even consciously trying to keep her breathing quiet. This is not good, I’m cornered right now! The sound of hoofsteps got closer, and Moonlight felt unease rising within her. What I wouldn’t give to have access to all of my magic right now. When the hoofsteps reached the edge of the bed, Moonlight held her breath. She cursed her loud heartbeat for betraying her position. Anything could happen right now! She could be up late tending to whatever brew is in that cauldron. She could want something from under the bed! At the realization that her cover may soon be blown, Moonlight tensed her muscles, ready to pounce if someone looked under the bed. She heard a groan before the bottom of the bed bumped into Moonlight’s back. She could swear her heart stopped despite hearing a hammering pulse in her ears and her muscles tensing further, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. If she checked under the bed to investigate whatever that bump may have been, she’d have no choice but to make sure she didn’t live to tell about her. Moonlight cursed every second she waited, the tension making them feel like they were minutes. After what felt like an eternity, she heard gentle snoring, and let out the loudest sigh of relief she dared. Now that she had a little time to think, she could almost laugh. The irony of this isn’t lost on me. I’m widely considered to be a monster, I’m hiding under someone’s bed, and I’m only going to come out now that they’re asleep. Under better circumstances, this would be much more humorous. With that thought in mind she carefully began to crawl out from underneath the bed. Carefully standing to her hooves, she looked and saw Zecora asleep on the bed. As she once again took stock of her situation, a fresh wave of annoyance set in. I couldn’t find that damn thing when the hut was empty, and I’d be walking on eggshells if I wanted to find it now. But maybe, just maybe, I can get my answers from her. Moonlight sat down and closed her eyes, intently focusing on trying to enter whatever dreams Zecora may have been having, but when she opened them she found herself exactly where she had been before. An expected outcome, but that doesn’t make this any less frustrating! I’m willing to bet I can’t draw on her fragment in this state, either. The one mare who knows where it is hidden, and I can’t tap into her mind! Allowing herself a huff of annoyance, headed towards the door, timing her steps to Zecora’s snores. She carefully opened the door and slipped out, closing it behind her. Now that she was outside she allowed herself to groan in frustration. This is a fool’s errand! She could have hidden that infernal necklace anywhere in her hut, or she could have hidden it somewhere out here! Moonlight froze at that last thought, a wicked grin crossing her face. Of course! Zecora would want to hide it somewhere obscure, but still close by so she could still keep an eye on it. Moonlight looked at the hut and spotted a number of potential hiding spots. She looked up at the hanging bottles, immediately getting ideas. They were opaque and some were high up, a perfect way to keep them out of reach. Even if this body had both wings, they wouldn’t be any use at that size. I’ll start with the lower hanging ones first and work my up from there. Climbing up on one of the hut’s roots, Moonlight grinned. Scootaloo’s body is recovering well. What was pain earlier is merely discomfort now. She carefully stood on her hind legs and grabbed one of the bottles, shaking it in her hoof. There was no noise and it was too light to have anything in it. The next two she checked were empty as well. She scanned the upper branches and saw more bottles hanging, and knew she needed a better method of searching them. If it’s in one of them, it would need to be in one big enough to hold it. It also likely has something special to it; a seam, maybe some sort of hinges. She didn’t just stuff it in through the top, after all. With that in mind she looked through them, immediately ignoring ones that couldn’t possibly contain what she sought. She spotted a large blue one with a wide base, and some kind of line across it. I just need to get up there. One giant leap, and it’s mine. Taking some steps back on the root and charging forward, Moonlight leapt with a grunt of effort, clutching the top of the upper branch with her hooves. Pulling herself up and balancing on the tree limb, she smiled with satisfaction. It’s quite fortunate that Scootaloo was as active as she was, otherwise I may have had a hard time getting up here. Not wasting any more time, Moonlight saw the bottle she’d spotted earlier and pulled it up, shaking it when she had it. She grew excited when she heard clattering from the bottle, and the seam on the outside only served to heighten her anticipation. Popping the cork out and holding it in her teeth she looked in. She was practically giddy now. A red light coming from the hole at the top confirmed that she’d guessed correctly. I can’t just smash it, Zecora would surely notice it was gone. Thankfully, this has an easy way of opening. Putting her hooves on the top and bottom she twisted it and it unscrewed in her grasp. Setting the top half down on the branch she pulled out the item she’d been searching for with such anticipation. Staring into the glowing gem and single showing red eye, Moonlight felt her heart race with excitement. The Alicorn Amulet, finally, you’re mine once again! Securing it around her neck she felt a warmth surge through her body and limbs, a feeling of invigoration accompanying it. As she began to get down from the tree the ground, the gem, eye, and metal on the wings all changed from red to purple. Moonlight’s eyes widened in surprise at this particular color, and a feeling of frustration washed over her. Purple?! It’s supposed to be blue! It must be this body I’m in... But no matter, I still feel stronger. Now to go get a few things from my old castle. In an instant Rainbow Dash was across the room and threw the sheet off the exam table, revealing only the casts Scootaloo had been in. “Where’s Scootaloo?!” she demanded, looking back at the other two ponies. “I- I don’t know!” Palliate rushed up to the examination table. His composure failed him and his normally calm voice was filled with anxiety. “She was here just a moment ago! But what’s baffling is that her casts are here and intact.” “No, that’s not baffling, what’s baffling is how she could have left here!” Rainbow Dash insisted. “I thought you said she had all kinds of injuries.” I also said she was dead, but it’s certainly not a good idea to remind her of that. My back is still hurting from that wall. “Yes she was, but what I can’t understand is how her casts are intact.” “What does that have to do with anything?!” “I’m sure if you let him explain, he’ll tell us.” Twilight told her before giving Palliate a gesture to continue. “Well, if either of you have ever broken a leg, then you know why they shouldn’t be like this. They’re not meant to slip off, otherwise they’d be useless. They have to be cut off, yet they’re completely intact.” He told them. “I know, I had plenty of them as a filly, but I mean what does it matter here? Somepony came in here and teleported her away?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I doubt it, Rainbow Dash. When a pony teleports whatever is in direct contact with them goes with them. It wouldn’t make sense for a pony to go to the trouble of removing Scootaloo’s casts so that they’re somehow intact before stealing her body.” He reasoned. “Then what did happen?!” She demanded. “I don’t know!” Palliate blurted out, taking a step back from Rainbow Dash as his composure completely failed him. “It’s as if she just vanished into thin air! The only way in here normally is the one door we were just outside, so nopony just carried her out, there’s a vent but it’s much too small for anypony to fit through so that only leaves teleportation, but for some reason her casts are still here and intact. I just don’t know what happened! What’s concerning to me right now is that some unseen force just stole a pony and we have no way of knowing if it will do the same with other ponies!” “Let’s find Luna.” Twilight suggested. “I’m sure she can help us figure out what happened and make sure nothing happens to anypony else.” “You won’t be able to find her in the hospital.” He told the two. “She went back to Canterlot after Scootaloo’s passing. She’s probably either asleep or overseeing the dream realm right now.” “What if Luna is the one who took Scootaloo?” Rainbow immediately asked, looking at the empty table. Twilight followed her gaze. “It still wouldn’t make any sense. Why would Luna teleport in, somehow get Scootaloo’s casts off so that they’re in one piece, and then steal her away?” “Yeah, because Luna is totally in a state of mind to make rational decisions right now.” Rainbow Dash’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Palliate looked at the casts as well, and his mind began to quickly replay events from earlier in the day. I never met Scootaloo before today, but Luna must’ve cared a great deal for her to assign me to caring for her. I’ve seen ponies become distraught over the loss of loved ones before, and when they’re foals, it always hurts worse. But her rapid deterioration, Luna’s demeanor, did she do something that was the cause of her death, only to somehow magically steal her body after it failed? He hadn’t given it as much thought as he ought to have before, but now that he thought about it, it fit together all too well. I don’t know of any spell that could summon an object or a pony, but if anypony had access to such a spell it would be Celestia or Luna. It could be, and I will have to look into it, but until then I can’t take any chances. Looking at the two other mares, he finally spoke. “Right now hospital protocol demands that I inform the security staff of Scootaloo’s disappearance, then the hospital will go on lockdown as they thoroughly search the building for her. I suggest you leave before that happens or you’ll be stuck here for some time.” Where is it? Moonlight kept repeating this question in her mind as she browsed the bookshelves in the library of the Castle of the Two Sisters. She’d seen some useful books, but what she wanted continued to elude her. As she browsed over other titles, she finally found the one she was looking for. Ah, here we are: Passages and Pathways. She reached out and pushed the book in, hearing a light click. The bookshelf sank down into the floor, revealing a passageway. Moonlight began to walk in, but a grinding noise caught her attention. The bookcase quickly began to rise up again, slamming back into place behind her.