The streets of Magiville were mostly empty, with the residents electing to remain close to home if not in their own homes. Seizing the opportunity before, Scootaloo had manifested her wings and started to beat them, to the point they could have been mistaken for the as she stepped on her scooter and started down the road. It didn’t take long for her to get up to speed. She cried out with a “Whoo-hoo!” As she traversed the streets she spotted Granny Smith Apple. The sage waved her left hand with a beaming smile as she tapped the ground with her staff causing the earth to raise and form a ramp. Scootaloo beamed her own smile and gave the sage and matriarch of the Magiville branch (well technically the trunk) of the Apple Clan a thumbs up which the older woman returned. Scootaloo took a breath as she focused on gaining speed. She knew she could do a double flip and could remain airborne for five seconds, but she had been practicing and training. Maybe, just maybe, today she’d pull off a triple and remain airborne for six seconds. She closed her eyes and took a breath as she hit the ramp and launched into the air. She lept off her scooter and leaned forward as her body spun around her waist once, then twice then thrice… wait she was still airborne and had plenty of space to flip fourfold. A quadruple flip! And she was still in the air, it had to be about ten seconds now.
As the young skyborn planted her feet back on her scooter and began to target her descent, she was caught from under her arms with, “Killer moves, kid.” Scootaloo looked over her shoulder as she saw it was Rainbow Dash that was guiding her to the ground and bringing her down safely. “When I was your age, I could barely pull a double.” She then patted Scootaloo on the head, “AJ would kill me if I didn't say what I am about to say, but for the future, you might want to do some recon the day of.” She said as she pointed to where Scootaloo was trajected to land and Scootaloo saw that she would have crashed right into the ground of Sweet Apple Temple.
“Where’s the haystack?” Scootaloo asked as she looked around. Rainbow just shrugged her shoulders before there was a series of small beeps.
Rainbow looked at her left wrist, her eyes widened slightly as she recalled she was short on time, “Shoot!” she all but cursed. “Gotta go. But keep it up kid, and you’ll be a Wonderbolt in no time!” Rainbow then bolted back into the air and flew away.
After Rainbow left, Scootaloo’s mouth hung open for about a minute in awe, “Rainbow Dash said I’ll be a Wonderbolt!” Scootaloo cheered before she picked up her scooter and dashed to the Cutie Mage Crusaders (CMC) clubhouse, which was a hop, skip and jump away from where she was standing.
About half an hour later, “And Rainbow Dash said,” Scootaloo was relaying this morning’s event to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and paused as she cleared her throat and as close as she could get her voice to match Rainbow Dash’s “‘Killer moves, kid!’”. Sweetie and Apple Bloom could only smile, happy for their friends eupariha. “She even said I could become a Wonderbolt too! It’s like she was asking me to be her little sister!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie’s faces soured slightly as they turned to face each other. They each opened their mouths as if to say something in turn, but the words died in their voice boxes. This was not lost on Scootaloo. The skyborn girl sighed, “I know, I know, Rainbow and me don’t know each other that good.”
Sweetie was the first of the other two CMC to speak, “First, it’s ‘Rainbow and I don’t know each other that well’. We’ve been over this at least twenty times!” Sweetie had tried and tried to help her friend with her grammar. Scootaloo just rolled her eyes, clearly she wanted to dismiss Sweetie’s concerns.
Apple Bloom was the next to speak, “And second, yah jumpin’ tah conclusions about Rainbow, Scoots.” the young farming Earthborn pointed out. Scootaloo sighed as she had no means to rebuff or ignore or dismiss that point.
Sweetie turned to face Apple Bloom as the two felt much less forlorn then their friend but still felt bad about Scootaloo not having an older sibling that was actually in her life like them. Sweetie spoke up first, “Aren’t you and AJ going camping on a camping trip this weekend.”
“Yeah, tah Innocence Falls.” Apple Bloom answered. “AJ said this trip would have been Pa and mah if Pa was here, but Ah think Ah can get her tah invite RD.'' Scootaloo raised her head as an open-mouth smile formed on her face. “Ain’t gonna makah any promisahs, Scoots, AJ’s a bit persinkady about family traditions.”
This time it was Sweetie that sighed in slight sorrow. The two turned to the young Magicborn girl as she looked to the floor, “It would be so nice to go, Dad would gladly take me, but Mom’s business keeps them away.”
Scootaloo was the one to speak up to provide some comfort to her friend, “Well, maybe we can convince Rarity?” she asked.
About an hour later, the three girls found themselves in Rarity’s boutique as she handed a package to Brighteyes as the postwoman left. “I am sorry Sweetie Belle, but I am not cut out for camping. And that’s not even addressing that Applejack would be okay with it, as Apple Bloom pointed out this camping trip would have been just Apple Bloom and their late father.” Rarity pointed out with a sigh.
“But what if AJ is okay with it?” Scootaloo asked the question in the trio’s minds.
Rarity didn’t hold back her laughter, which left the three girls bemused. After a solid minute, Rarity collected herself, “If that stuck-in-her-ways traditionalist agrees to Apple Bloom’s request, then I’ll carry all the gear.” she then had another laugh, “But that’s a sucker’s bet.”. The scene changed from Rarity’s shop to one of the less dense and more hospitable parts of the Everfree Forest, “And I’m the sucker.” Rarity said as she wiped her brow before she adjusted the shoulder straps of the gear pack. The pack itself was a hiking backpack pack with three small two persons tents and six one person bedrolls and tools for starting fires along with other small short camping trips.
Walking next to the enchantress was the paladin older sister of Apple Bloom. “Well normally yah’d be right,” the paladin said as she held out a canteen of water for Rarity to drink. Rarity accepted it a little too greedily. “But if Pa was still here and Apple Bloom asked him to invite half of creation…” Applejack trailed off as she took the canteen back and capped it off.
Rarity sighed, “Yes, yes, Bright Mac would augment this trip to fit Apple Bloom’s wants.” Rarity’s tone hinted to her being annoyed about things but with the sweat on her brow it she was exhausted. “I know I asked you a thousand times, but…” Rarity trailed off.
Applejack smiled as she pointed a head of the group of two women and three girls a few meters, “Well, this time it’s actually yes.” Applejack then took the pack off of Rarity’s back, “Ah think yah could use a break.” She then walked to a clearing next to a brook that followed nearby.
Applejack then started to unpack and was joined by Apple Bloom as Sweetie Belle fetched a full canteen to Rarity. Scootaloo looked around trying to find someone. “Where’s Rainbow Dash?” she asked.
Applejack had a soft laugh, “Don’t frit sugarcube, she’ll be here in…” Applejack looked into the sky in the break of the canopy. She raised her left hand with three fingers up and started to count down, “Three, two, one.” She counted down and then pointed to the canopy as Rainbow swooped down and made the pit for the fire, collected three logs for seats and placed them around the fire pit.
“And time!” Rainbow called. “How was that, AJ?” she asked the farmer.
Applejack held out her left hand flat and rocked it back and forth. “The descent was flawless and the seating logs were placed pretty much perfectly,” she complimented. “but the fire pit’s a little shallow and is a little too far from the shore.” The paladin pointed out the shortcomings. Rainbow only silently rolled her eyes at the critiques. This was not lost on Applejack, or Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle. However Rarity was still recovering from carrying the pack all the way to the campsite for the night and thus missed most of it.
As for Scootaloo, during this time she was looking away trying to collect herself. She spoke softly to herself so that only she could hear her voice, “Alright, Scootaloo, just play it cool.”. She took a deep breath and turned back to everyone. She then cleared her throat as she tried to get Rainbow Dash’s attention, “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” She called as she closed the distance between her and Rainbow, “What's up?” she asked.
“Not much, kid.” Rainbow answered as the duo watched as Applejack and Apple Bloom set up the tents. “Looks like you'll be sharing a tent with me, huh?” she asked with a slight elbow to the younger Skyborn.
“Heh” Scootaloo laughed lightly glad to be able to spend that much more time with Rainbow, granted it will be them sleeping but sharing a tent was something, “if that's okay with you.” She collected herself and tried to act cool.
Rainbow rubbed the top of Scootaloo’s head, “Sure!” she declared at first only to stop and look at Scootaloo with slight concern, albeit it was a shallow self-interested concern, “Long as you don't snore.” she stated her condition. “You don't snore, do you?” she asked.
Scootaloo closed her eyes, “Nope. No way. Not me.” she replied, shaking her head with closed eyes as if to compound the negative so that it was clear that she didn’t snore. “Never snored a …” the young monk tailed off as she tried to find the right word. “Night” she settled on, “in my life.”
Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle slightly as she patted Scootaloo on the head again. “Then you and I are gonna get along just fine.” the older elementalist declared. After taking a second to observe what the others were doing. Applejack and Apple Bloom had started to set up the camp for the night as Rarity finally recovered from the trek, with Sweetie Belle looking after her. She then turned back to Scootaloo, “Before AJ starts on about it, can you help get us some wood for the fire?” she asked. Scootaloo didn’t respond as she bolted to the nearby brush looking for dry sticks and tinder. ‘Cool kid’ Rainbow thought to herself.
As the sun was passing the western horizon, the fire was lit and reached the desired height and other factors for the night. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo used the same log, roasting marshmallows. Applejack was giving Rarity a massage, mostly because the enchantress’ back was still sore from the trek and would need to be loosen up for sleeping on the ground tonight. Rainbow looked into the fire for a brief second and a small grin formed on her face. “Okay, everybody get comfortable, 'cause I'm about to tell you the best story you've ever heard.” Rainbow declared as she got up from her log and was hovering the excitement she felt for the story she was about to tell was inescapable.
Scootaloo started to wave her hands, “Is it about the time when Rarity had wings, and then they got ruined, and then you saved her from plummeting to her doom?” the young monk acted out the basics of the story of events of The Young Flyers Competition when Rarity pulled an icarus. Rarity gave an exhausted and frustrated sigh as she bemoaned her plummet.
Rainbow gave a weak laugh as tried to regain some face as the wind was stolen from the sails of her story. “Okay, maybe it's the second best story you've ever heard.” she had to concede. However her confidence returned as she landed and rubbed her hands almost menacingly. “But probably still the scariest.” She then looked at three young girls and allowed her voice to take on a, for lack of a better term, spooky tone, as she asked. “You like scary stories, right?” The three girls gulped and nodded, as any child putting on what they thought was an adult’s face. Rarity and Applejack both could tell that the three girls were acting brave, but Rainbow was oblivious to the subtle clues. The elementalist took her seat and looked up into the sky for a second before she spoke, “It all happened on a night just like this one, in a forest, just like this…”
A couple of hours later, the three girls were holding each other, shaking, trying to hide their terror. Rainbow was finishing her story, “...And then, The Biddy asked,” Rainbow’s voice then began to mimic as best she could the voice of an aged woman far older than Granny Smith. "Who's got my silver shoe?" The three girls loosen their hold slightly as there was a break, a pause full of suspense that lasted nearly a minute. The air was saturated with suspense. Until, “You do!” Rainbow declared as she pointed to the three girls. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both screamed as they each bolted, leaving a trail of smoke in their wake, to their big sisters. Rainbow laughed at the sight, mostly in the carsrus of all effort she put into building up the story to that point.
Scootaloo, unlike her friends, remained on the log and cleared her throat to stifle her own scream. “Something in my throat.” she declared as she shut her eyes to dismiss any notion that she was afraid. “I wasn't scared at all.” She lied, highly convincingly, granted Applejack and Rarity were both holding their sisters and rubbing them backs in an attempt to mimic a material soothing tactic and Rainbow’s eyes were shut as she was still snickering at everything. “Good story.” Scootaloo then finished. It was true, the Biddy of Hayseed Swamp was a good story.
Rainbow finally opened her eyes and hovered over to Scootaloo and rubbed the younger Skyborn’s head. “Knew you wouldn't be scared.” Rainbow complimented her. "The way you jumped that ramp the other day with all those four full flips,” Rainbow then gave an encouraging nudge in the upper arms. "you're like me – fearless." She said while placing a hand on both Scootaloo's shoulder and Rainbow's own chest.
Scootaloo gave a smile at the gesture, “Yeah. Fearless.” she declared before her teeths started to chatter after Rainbow flew to the river to get some water to douse the fire. The hooting of the owls were far from helpful.
Between the two sets of biological sisters, “Don’t worry, Sweetie.” Rarity said before she shut her eyes and her focus gems on her tiara started to glow. “I’m here to keep you safe from that vile croon!” she declared while giving Sweetie a reassuring hug, despite everything, Sweetie was still a little girl.
Between Applejack and Apple Bloom, the paladin managed to pry the frightened younger sister that clung to her waist as the little girl trembled. Applejack pulled a small sword she had on her, leaving her main sword back at Sweet Apple Temple. “Don’t worry, little sis.” she said as she tried to comfort Apple Bloom, “Ah’ll smite any ‘arridan t’at would try anyt’ing.” This brought a comforted smile to the younger farm girl as she hugged her paladin sister a thankful hug.
As the two sets of biological sisters went into their tents, the older sisters kept a watch over anything. Scootaloo shocked her head slightly in … she wasn’t exactly sure...was it disgust that her friends needed such comforting or dismissal of the same notion? Scootaloo didn’t think about it for long as she watched Rainbow put out the fire. However, somewhere in her heart she really wanted something else. But she could only laugh to hide some nervousness. “Haa, that sure was funny, wasn't it?” she asked Rainbow as the elementalist used a stick to mix the water and ash so that the fire was fully out. “Heheh.” the young girl added when she finally got Rainbow’s attention, “How they were all afraid of The Biddy?” she asked, dismissing her friends’ fear that came from the story Rainbow told them. “Heh, but not me, heh!” she added as she got up and tried to be brave in front of the older Skyborn.
Rainbow gave a light snicker as if to confirm to Scootaloo that she believed the girl, “That's because you're tough, just like when I was your age!” She said as she dumped some more water on the ash-based mud to make sure the fire was out. Scootaloo couldn’t help but see that Rainbow was half-hearted, as if she was only doing this because she didn’t want to hear about not properly putting out a fire from Applejack. Once she was done, Rainbow stretched and cracked her neck before rubbing her right shoulder with her left hand. “I'm hitting the sack.” she said before she yawned and turned to the tent the two Skyborn would be sharing, “Come in whenever you feel like it.” she said.
Scootaloo smiled as she looked around, confident that Rainbow seemed to be viewing her favorably. Unlike Rarity and Applejack, she didn’t view Scootaloo as if the younger Skyborn was a little child scared of the monster on her bed. No, Rainbow viewed her as an adult. Just then Scootaloo heard a twig snap and the leaves rustle in the wind. Scootaloo was somewhat shaken by that. She gulped as she tried to collect herself, “It's, it's nothing…” she said to herself trying to calm her nerves. “Just my imagination running wild…” she said to herself as she tried to recall some of the things Cheerliee told them about how the mind works. Namely about how the mind tricks itself in order to keep the entire being alive through the night. Scootaloo then heard branches creaking. Scootaloo tried to take a calming breath, “And that isn't the thundering stomp of The Biddy…”.
However she trailed off as she then heard the howl of a wolf. Scootaloo’s eyes shot wide open and in a flash she had zipped into the tent and shut it. She started to pant slightly as she collected herself. She then turned and saw Rainbow was asleep with her mouth wide open and snoring. Scootaloo squinted at the sight in disbelief concerning both Rainbow’s own snoring and the older Skyborn asking about her snoring, but waved her hand in front of her chest, a silent sign of accepting that Rainbow was not perfect. Scootaloo crawled into her bed-roll and shut her eyes. But just as soon as her eyes closed, Scootaloo heard muttering in the distance.
Scootaloo slowly got out of her bedroll and looked outside the tent. “I-Is anyone out there?” She asked only to be answered with distance foot stamps and branches creaking. Scootaloo slipped out of the tent and looked around the campsite. She then heard the mumbling of an ancient woman. Scootaloo left the site and started to walk into the nearby forest. But the forest was not the lively green it was when she went to sleep. It was now dry and dead, the trees without leaves, the grass brown, etc. Scootaloo spun her head from left to right and right to left. She heard a woman ask, “Who’s got my silver shoe?” The woman sounded like she had twice the liveliness of Granny Smith, but at the same time hinted to have lived at least twice as long as her friend’s grandmother. Scootaloo gasped and started to run. She started at a light pace, but as she heard something like a metal shoe grow closer behind her, the young girl started to quicken her pace to a near sprint until she bumped into something...or rather someone. Scootaloo looked up to see a woman older than the trees of the forest and yet seemed to have a spring in her step that rivaled Scootaloo's own. The woman's right eye was swollen shut showing only her left eye with its red evil iris. Scootaloo gasped and bolted. She ran so fast she felt like she was… she was flying. But she couldn't focus on that. Fear was all she felt, as the woman's words echoed "Who's got my silver shoe?".
Scootaloo found the camp and went into her tent. She saw Rainbow sleeping. The young girl panted as tears of fear clouded her eyes. "Rainbow Dash–?" She cried.
However Rainbow turned to reveal that it was the old woman, the Bibby. "You do!" The hag declared before Scootaloo yelped and the girl found herself back in her bedroll. Scootaloo turned to see Rainbow still sound asleep and snoring. Scootaloo could only nervously hum.
This humming carried on all night and into the wee hours of the morning. Rainbow yawned upon waking up, "What's that noise?" The older Skyborn asked as she rubbed her eyes. "Is there a bug in here?" She asked as she looked around the top of the tent. She signed before she turned to see Scootaloo, the younger Skyborn sitting up with her back turned away. "I dunno about you, but I slept like a baby." Rainbow said as she got out of her bedroll and started to head out of the tent.
"Best night ever." Scootaloo lied. In truth, her nerves were shot, her eyes were bloodshot, and her eyelids black as the night.
Rainbow seemed to be utterly oblivious to the girl’s state, "Glad you're rested up, because we've got a long trek ahead. Totally gonna be worth it when we get to Innocence Falls." As she spoke she exited the tent taking her bedroll with her.
Scootaloo slowly got out of her bedroll. "Yeah... Totally…" she trailed off as her right eyelids twitching due to the lack of sleep and lingering fear from the story and the nightmare.
Hours later as it neared noon, Rarity sat down on a log, her breath shallow as she tried to continue but couldn't carry on, at least not while carrying the backpack with all the gear. She was soaked with her own perspiration. "Sugarcube, this is getting ridiculous." Applejack berated as she handed Rarity the canteen that the paladin carried.
Rarity panted as she accepted the canteen. She then took a massive swig of the water. She gasped in some degree of relief. "Darling, I wagered that if Apple Bloom could convince you to allow Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Dashie and Myself, I'd carry the pack." The enchantress countered.
The paladin groaned, "At this rate it's gonna be dark before we get to the campsite! Just give mah the pack."
Scootaloo's eyes shot wide open. She gasped before she was able to stifle a scream of a question, "Dark?!" Her wings started to even buzz as she took her scooter off her back. "I'll just ride ahead and make sure the path is clear." Her voice almost betrayed her fright. "We don't wanna be out here after dark, right?" She asked too forcefully. However Applejack was solely focused on Rarity, or rather the two continued to argue about the pack and who to carry it. Apple Bloom were silently placing bets on who would win this contest of wills.
Rainbow elected to lean against a nearby tree and stretched her arms with a yawn, “Doesn't matter to me.” she said without a care in the world.
Scootaloo gave a frail titter, “Well, y'know,” she started before she stepped on to her scooter and started off. She hushed her voice as she started to beat her wings. “it's for the scaredy-cats, heheh.” Scootaloo tried to keep her eyes open as she traveled, but she could not focus on anything. After a few seconds she yawned only to just realize that she was about to bump into a tree. After she narrowly avoided it with a gasp, “Don't fall asleep now..” she told herself as she tried to stay awake but her voice trailed off as she struggled to stay awake. “We've got to get to that campsite before dark…” Scootaloo could not keep her eyes open and started to snore as she continued to travel. Either by fate or dumb luck, Scootaloo just pasted a Cragadile and it tried to snap her. The stoney crocodilia missed Scootaloo and growled at his failure. Elsewhere the slumbering Scootaloo passed by a brown bear. The ursine licked its lips and then chomped at her. However the bear missed and grunted in fury as Scootaloo evaded him.
Scootaloo woke as she found that she had gone around in a circle and was heading back to the path but on the opposite side from where she started. She knew that had happened as Rarity’s voice faded in, “... I concede.” the fashionista said, in dictating that she had lost the contest of will with Applejack and the group was heading on.
Scootaloo ended up bumping into Applejack. The girl gasped as she recovered from the impact, which seemed to leave nothing on the older farmer. As everyone turned to face her, “Um... don't come this way!” she said as she pointed behind her, “Take the path!” she almost shouted as she tried to contain herself and throw off the idea of her being scared. After a few seconds of her friends and their sisters looking at her as if she had grown three more heads, “It's, heh, way better than going through the bushes.” she added. Rainbow showed no interest and started ahead. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom shrugged their shoulders and headed. Scootaloo however failed to notice Applejack and Rarity sharing a glance. Rarity started after her sister and Applejack took up the rear. All the while the paladin’s focus was on the young girl.
After a few meters Applejack deliberately stepped on a twig causing it to snap. Scootaloo yelped and all but jumped out of her skin. She was caught by the paladin. “Rainbow’s take on the Biddy of Hayseed Bog get tah yauh last night?” The farmer asked as she placed Scootaloo back to her feet. Scootaloo tried to form an answer but the paladin covered her mouth. “My grandpa once said ‘Bravery ain’t the absence of fear, that’s Stupidity’s domain.’” Scootaloo tilted her head to her right side and squirted both her eyes slightly as she raised the left side of her upper lip. “You're more nervous than a worm in an apple on cider making day.” Applejack said as a matter of fact. Scootaloo’s perplexity remained. Applejack gave a sigh, “Trying to be brave ain’t gonna convince Rainbow to see you like a little sister. If you haven’t noticed, she’s a little dense. You gotta have to spell it out to her.”
Scootaloo’s face shifted as she shut her eyes and started to laugh. “That’s funny AJ.” Scootaloo declared, “You should do a comedy show.”
“Pinkie and Ah do ‘Who’s on first?’ every other Wednesday at the Town Hall ‘Comedy Nights’. Still the best show.” the paladin informed. Scootaloo gave a weak ‘ha-ha’. “Listen, Scoots” Applejack’s voice sounded… maternal, “Adlector: 7:7” The paladin patted Scootaloo on her shoulder and started on the trail.
Scootaloo was confused and stood there and would have remained there but after hearing an owl’s hoot, she bolted after Applejack.
Hours later, as it was getting close to time to set up camp the group arrived near a cave. “Rarity, stay with the girls, RD and Ah will check out that cave.” Applejack said as she took off the backpack and went to the cave.
“Wait, we’re camping there?” Rarity asked a twinge of fear in her voice.
“Pa and Ah, Pa and Big Mac, camped in that cave, but after Pa went to see if anything was using it or used it for a while.” Applejack said as she drew the sword she brought with her. Rainbow shrugged her shoulders as she followed the paladin. After a few minutes the two returned, “All clear, looks like it hasn’t been used since Pa and Mah did.” the paladin informed.
“It ain’t very deep, but it will be dark!” Rainbow added. “Perfect for the story I’ve got for tonight. All we need is a campfire and we’re good to go. Tent’s not needed.” The elementalist couldn’t help but smirk at the story she had planned.
While none of the others seemed to show any terror of the story to come, Scootaloo could barely stop from gulping. “Uh, of course…” her nerves were not shot or frayed, they were atomized. Just then they heard a wolf’s howl. This gave Rarity and Sweetie Belle a clear fright.
“Don’t worry,” Apple Bloom said, “Granny took mah out a couple of months ago to learn why wolves cry and what each one means.” The younger farmgirl stated. Apple Bloom pointed in the direction of the howl. “That little fella just lost. Wait a minute.” Apple Bloom held up her hand and they heard three more howls, but they were farther off and seemed more like becking.
“And that’s some of the others guiding ‘im ‘ome.” Applejack added. “Bloom, yah mind helpin’ me get some firewood.” the older farmer asked the younger. Apple Bloom nodded. The two then left as Scootaloo followed Rainbow along with Rarity and Sweetie Belle, this time Rainbow taking the backpack.
Not long after, as the sun was starting to set, Applejack and Apple Bloom returned with plenty of firewood. The two placed the wood down so that a fire could be made with them. Applejack and Apple Bloom both rubbed their upper arms, “Bbbbrrr! Hoo-wee! It's colder than a timberwolf's toenail. Bbbrr!” the farm girls said in unison, clearly they were close. They turned to each other and laughed.
Rainbow picked up the wood and started to build a fire as Rarity and Sweetie laid out the sleeping rolls. Close enough to the fire to keep warm from the radiated heat once the fire was out but close enough that no ember would cause them to catch fire. Once the fire was lit. Rainbow stood between the entrance and the fire as the two sets of sisters sat together with Scootaloo in the middle opposite of Rainbow. “Now, where was I?” Rainbow asked.
“You haven’t even started anything, Dashie.” Rarity pointed out.
Rainbow was about to counter, “Hey, I have an idea! How about I tell tonight's story?” Scootaloo asked, waving her hand. Rainbow’s ego deflated but she sat down and nodded to Scootaloo so that she could tell her story. Scootaloo cleared her throat. “There once was a really really nice girl who lived in a bright and sunny land, where there are rainbows every day, and lots and lots of happy friends, and–” As Scootaloo began her story, it became clear to the others that they weren’t going to enjoy this. The story was cut short by Rainbow getting back up.
The older Skyborn sign, “Listen Scoots, but a real campfire story needs someone to be shaking at the end.”
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun, by the men who moil for gold;” Rarity spoke as she looked into the flame of the fire. Her focus gem glowed and projected an image of men panning in a river under a sun that seemed out of place, like it was midnight.
“The arctic trails have their secret tales, that would make your blood run cold;” Applejack added as the images morphed to a vase empty by frozen landscape that seemed to be at the top of the world.
Rainbow groaned, “No. We’re not doing The Cremation of Pam Banshee.” Rainbow requested. Rarity and Applejack only glared. “Fine, tomorrow night.” she recanted.
“Cremation?” Scootaloo asked.
“It’s a way to bury someone by first reducing the body to ash.” Rarity informed. This shocked Rainbow, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
Rainbow cleared her throat, “Okay, well…” Rainbow cleared her throat so that her voice could take on a spookier tone, “I've been told that these very woods are haunted…” she paused and allowed her voice to trail off letting the terror set in. Scootaloo gulped as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom scrunched a little closer to their respective older sister. “...by The Dullahan!” she declared. “Riding it’s nightmare, this fey gallops only at night looking for little lost children–” She stopped as she looked into the fire. “Fear was dripping from the air…” Scootaloo’s vision shifted to the fire as she started to see the story play out as Rainbow’s voice faded out. As the story reached its end almost two hours later. Rainbow’s voice retained as spooky as it started “...and they were never heard from ever again!”
Sweetie Belle was the one to gasp in fear, “Never?” She asked as she squeezed Rarity’s hand.
Rainbow leaned in closer, staring at her through the fire, “Never.” The fire then sparked and the two younger sisters screamed at first but after a few seconds the two then started to laugh as they were hugged by their sisters. However Scootaloo could only tremble in silence, with no one to hold her in her fear and bring out a laugh.
Rarity shut her eyes as her focus gems on her tiara glowed. “Don’t worry, Sweetie,” she said comfortingly.
“Ya’ll be safe with me, tonight.” Applejack said as she drew her sword before she whispered something on it and the blade started to glow. Everyone then started for their bed rolls, save Scootaloo and Applejack as the paladin started to put out the fire.
“It's not time for bed yet, is it?” Scootaloo asked as she pulled on Applejack’s arm in an attempt to stop her.
“'Fraid so, Scootaloo.” Applejack answered as she yanked her arm free so that she could effectively put out the fire.
“Uh, but we haven't even sung any campfire songs yet!” Scootaloo pointed out.
A distinctive squeak of joy came from Sweetie Belle as she dashed over to be in front of the fire. “You don't have to ask me twice!” The three older girls’ eyes shot wide open. Sweetie cleared her throat and started to sing, however she was out of rhythm and out of tune. “Ninety-nine bottles of cider on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of cider! Take one down-”
Rarity was quick to cover Sweetie Belle's mouth with her magic, “Good night, Sweetie Belle.” She said as rocked Sweetie Belle lawling the younger girl to sleep before taking her sister to her bed roll.
Applejack and Apple Bloom both yawned and stretched, “Good night, y'all.” They said as they headed to their bed rolls.
Rainbow also stretched as she headed to her bed roll, “Sleep tight.”cthe older Skyborn declared.
Scootaloo looked around in a slight panic, “Oh, just one song!” she seemed to plead. “Anyone?” she asked only to hear a whoosh from outside. After a couple of seconds, “How about a dance contest?” she asked, trying to get the others to stay up. “I know you love to cut a rug, so how 'bout we mess up a cave floor?” She asked with a faint degree of desperation in her voice. “I have a brilliant idea! Hide and seek! Who's with me?” she continued to prod.
Rainbow groaned, “Listen Scoots, those are cool and all, but every girl needs her shut-eye and if you try to keep us up, it will be your lunch break on your first day back from this break before we get back. And frankly, I don’t want Cheerilee to chew my ear off because you missed the first period.” Rainbow rolled over in her bed roll.
Reluctantly, Scootaloo got to her bed roll, “Ugh, this is so unfair…” she spoke just above a whisper. She then yawned. “I'm falling asleep…” There was panic in her voice, but her eyes could not hold out as she began to snore. Before Scootaloo could realize she was running, her wings beating in a desperate attempt to pick up speed. She gasped as she panted as she heard the neighing of a horse, but it was demonic. This was followed by a laugh, one that seemed to come right out of the throat. “If The Dullahan catches me, I'm never gonna be heard from again!” she shouted as she tried to speak over her pants and her thumping heart. “And I wanna be heard from!” she screamed before she tripped over a root. “Woah, woaaah! Ugh!” she called and grunted before she looked up to see a horse with a mane of fire with a man on it’s back. But it wasn’t a man really, it was shaped like a man, but was covered in steel armor with no head on his shoulders. In one hand was a head, most likely it’s head and in the other was a whip that looked to be made out of a spine. The horse reared, “It's all over!” Scootaloo realized before she could only cry hysterically. But before the whip could crack and strike Scootaloo, a silver light appeared and in an instant the Dullahan morphed into another being of the night, “Princess Luna?” Scootaloo asked at the site, feeling relief. “But the Dullahan… I thought…” Scootaloo looked around unaware.
Luna had a slight giggle, “A warm welcome to you, young Scootaloo. You are mistaken, but We hope not disappointed.” she said as she handed her left hand out and helped Scootaloo to her feet. Scootaloo gave a sigh of relief. She was about to say that she was glad that it was Luna and not The Dullahan that she met. However another thought crossed her mind. Why would Princess Luna be here in Scootaloo’s dream? Shouldn’t the princess be in Chantalot? This confusion was not lost on Princess Luna. Luna had a slight smile, “You seem to forget that We are the princess of the night.” Princess Luna started to explain away Scootaloo’s unstated but ever present confusion. “Thus among Our duties is to come into the dreams of our subject to help them sleep better as the realm of dreams can be just as real as the waking realm and what happens in the waking realm affects the dream realm and vice versa. The more imaginative the mind the more real the dream feels.” Luna continued.
“So that’s why it feels so real. So my nightmare is over?” Scootaloo asked.
Luna shut her mouth and shook her head. “Not exactly, young Scootaloo.” she answered with great reluctance. “Once We leave you will either wake or your dream will restart unless you address your true fear.”
“But you just destroyed the Dullahan!” Scootaloo countered in protest.
Luna started to float up towards the moon, “The longer you deny it, the worse it will get both in the waking realm and the dream realm.” Scootaloo looked up as Luna seemed to take on elements of both a hare and a bat. “Everybody has fears, Scootaloo. Everybody must face them in their own way.” Luna spoke in a voice that sounded both far away and drifting farther away but will always be close. “But they must be faced, or the nightmares will continue.” Luna continued to speak as her form continued to change as if she was becoming some sort of humanoid rabbit-bat hybrid as she got closer and closer to the moon, “Face your fears!” Luna shouted as she seemed to merge back into the moon.
Scootaloo reached out “–Princess Luna?!” she called out afraid of the absence of the princess. However Scootaloo discovered that she had woken up. She looked around to see Rainbow, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were both sound asleep. Scootaloo sighed “It was just a dream.” she felt some relief. However she heard water dripping and she screamed and ran out of the cave and into the words. Unbeknownst to her, Rainbow groaned as she woke. “It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream.” She tried to mutter to herself but she could only see the creatures from Rainbow’s stories. Scootaloo continued to run until she tripped and fell rolling down a hill until she managed to grab a root. However the root was over a river. Scootaloo cried as she tried to hold on as much as possible. “Hello?! Is anyone out there?” she asked nervously before her grip falled as she fell into the river. “Heellllp–” Scootaloo cried out before she bobbed under the surface. She gasped as she managed to resurface. She continued to scream until she saw that the river she was failing to stay afloat in became a waterfall.
As she went over the edge and screamed, during her plummet a whoosh flew and caught her. “I gotcha!” Rainbow Dash declared as she brought Scootaloo to safety. As soon as the two were on the ground, “What were you do…” Rainbow started to lecture Scootaloo only to trail off as Scootaloo drove into her lower chest, burying her face into Rainbow’s body… crying, weeping, sobbing. “Um… you’re… okay… there… there…” Rainbow struggled, her words trialling off as she failed to find the right words. “You’re safe now.”
“I just wanted you to hang out with me and see how cool I was so that you would take me under your wing, teach me everything you know, and become like my big sister!” Rainbow barely made those words out from in between Scootaloo’s frightened sobs and breaths to try to hold herself together. After a few seconds Scootaloo was able to actually breathe. “But then you started telling those spooky stories and I got scared.” she could barely say above a whisper. Scootaloo slowly lifted her head to look at Rainbow, her eyes were still full of tears. “I thought I heard The Dullahan so I ran out here by myself, and…” she could no longer hold herself together as the little girl wept as she clung on to Rainbow as tight as she could.
Rainbow was frozen until she finally got it. “Faust, I am dense.” Rainbow whispered as she rubbed Scootaloo’s head and actually hug the girl. After a few seconds of holding Scootaloo, Scootaloo stopped and looked up, this was only a pause not an end. Rainbow leaned down to be closer to Scootaloo’s eye level. “There’s something I need to tell yah, when I first heard those stories I was so scared I wet myself.” Rainbow then gave a weak laugh as she dried the tears out of the corners of Scootaloo’s eyes. “Yeah,” Rainbow confessed. She then stood back up quickly in a panic as if she was afraid to be seen as weak but then stopped as she noticed something, something she couldn’t put a word to, in Scootaloo’s eyes and face. Rainbow then knelt down to face Scootaloo squarely, “It took me a while, but I learned something,” Scootaloo’s eyes looked deep into Rainbow to learn what. “That it’s okay to be afraid, it’s what you do with that fear. Me, I learned how to make myself scarier because those monsters are more afraid of you then you are of them. You just need someone to show you how to scare them back.” Rainbow then smiled, “And that challenge is accepted!” Rainbow declared as she pulled Scootaloo into a hug and got back into the air.
“You mean...” Scootaloo started to ask.
“When I am done with you and you’re my age, you’ll be halfway to be twice the Wonderbolt I’ll be by then!” Scootaloo hugged Rainbow as tight as she could, a massive closed eye closed mouth smile on her face. “As long as you don't go falling into any more rivers in the middle of the night.” She added.
Scootaloo giggled, “Deal, but can have a less scary story tomorrow night.” The two laughed and returned to the cave they were camping that night.
The following day, near noon, the three sets of two neared a small but unmistakable waterfall, Innocence Falls. A few meters away, “I call sister teams! Last one to make it to the falls is a rotten egg!” Sweetie called as she pulled Rarity gently and started to run.
Rarity couldn’t help but giggle at first, “It is so on!” she declared as she and Sweetie started to run. Applejack took off the backpack before she and Apple Bloom took on a runner’s start and then bottled.
Rainbow turned to Scootaloo, “They think they can beat the two of us?” she asked. Scootaloo started to beat her wings before she was lifted up by Rainbow. Rainbow’s hold was just enough to help Scootaloo off of the ground, but Scootaloo wings were what was propelling them. Scootaloo smiled and had her wings beat faster and hard.
That night Scootaloo was again in her dream where Biddy had cornered Scootaloo and asked her, “Who's got my silver shoe?”
Just then Rainbow appeared with a silver shoe in her hands, “Here it is.” she answered and tossed it at the hag. “Now take it and stop all your moaning.”
The Biddy caught it and started to put it on, “Thank you,” she said as the shoe was fully on. Once that happened the Biddy transformed into a silver light and then into Princess Luna, “and have a nice rest of your dream, young Scootaloo.” The Princess of the Night said before she and Scootaloo shared a laugh.