As the sun sets Arc and his little family sit around the kitchen table eating dessert. Dinky looks over at the refrigerator which is covered from top to bottom in leaf art.
“Do you think we went a little overboard, dad?”
Arc shakes his head. “Nah.”
Derpy raises an eyebrow. “But we’re out of tape now.”
Arc shrugs. “I’ll add it to the shopping list.”
Apple Bloom grins. “That was really fun though!”
Sweetie Belle giggles. “Yeah! Not sure why we didn’t think to do it before!”
Scootaloo puts a hand to her chin thoughtfully. “I don’t think wax paper exists in Equestria.”
Brightwing flutters up onto the table. “Friends bring some home then!”
Arc chuckles. “Right. We’ll bring back some wax paper and show this to the foals at the orphanage.”
“Good idea, dad!”
“Glad you approve, sweetheart.”
Derpy motions to the refrigerator. “We should probably go shopping tomorrow too, Arc. The milk and bread are getting really low.”
“Fine. Tomorrow after breakfast then.”
Scootaloo appears hopeful. “How about visiting Shelly too?”
Apple Bloom nods. “Yeah. She seems like a really nice lady.”
Sweetie Belle turns to Arc. “Can we come too?”
“I don’t see why not. But just like last time, I’ll have to make sure she’s doing okay before the rest of you enter the room.”
Derpy nods in approval. “That’s for the best. After all, I wouldn’t want a lot of visitors if I was having a bad health day.”
Arc motions to the last two slices of pie. “Maybe we should bring Shelly and Lily some of the pie we made too.”
Dinky smiles. “I’m sure she’d like that. After all, the food in hospitals isn’t the greatest.”
Scootaloo raises an eyebrow. “When where you in the hospital?”
“That’s what the television shows all say.”
Arc tousles Dinky’s hair. “True. But it’s not exactly real life they’re portraying.”
Apple Bloom looks to Sweetie Belle. “The food we got from Doctor Lighthoof was pretty good though.”
“It was, yes. But if you two recall they made it mostly with the ingredients that WE gave THEM.”
Derpy shudders. “I’m glad you three ate well over there. However please don’t ever do that again.”
“We’ll try not to, mom.”
Arc stands. “Actually, I think I’ll run over the leftover pie this evening.”
Brightwing licks her plate. “Tasty!”
Apple Bloom shrugs. “Well, it is better fresh.”
Sweetie Belle nods. “And warm.”
“Can I come too, Big Brother?”
“I’m only planning to be there for a few minutes. After all, it is getting pretty late.”
Derpy smiles at the little girl. “And you’ll see her in the morning.”
“I’d still like to come though.”
Arc shrugs. “Fine.”
Dinky looks at the clock. “Better hurry then, dad. Visiting hours will be over soon.”
Apple Bloom walks over to the sink. “We’ll get started on the dishes while you’re gone!”
Sweetie Belle nods. “Yeah!”
Derpy heads over to a cupboard. “I’ll get you some clean plates and silverware to take over there.”
“Thanks.”
A few minutes later Arc and Scootaloo step out of the portal on the roof of the hospital. Blinking down to ground level they head to the main entrance. Scootaloo looks to Arc as they enter.
“Big Brother?”
“Yes?”
“I… um… never mind.”
“You can tell me when you’re ready.”
“But I’m sure you already know what I’m thinking.”
Arc shakes his head. “Not this time.”
“Huh?”
“I try to stay out of your head unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“But why?”
“Because you deserve a bit of privacy. Especially in that regard.”
“I trust you though.”
“And I appreciate that. But you’re still a living, feeling creature that deserves to be more than just a slave to those above them.”
Scootaloo grins. “You do take really good care of me though. I’m okay being your thrall, or slave as you put it.”
Arc frowns. “Well I’m not okay with being your master.”
“Big Brother?”
“If there was a way to sever that connection, I’d gladly do it.”
Scootaloo gasps. “But why?!”
“To free you.”
“Please don’t!”
Arc stops and turns to her. “Why not?”
“Because I really enjoy being your thrall! Our connection makes me feel secure!”
Arc sighs. “Well it makes me feel like an overlord.”
“I… I’m sorry, Big Brother. I didn’t realize it was such a burden for you.”
“It isn’t so much a burden as it is… well… morally ambiguous.”
“What does that mean?”
“That a human shouldn’t be in such a position of power over another human.”
“But I’m not a…”
Arc interrupts her. “Or pony in your case.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m extremely happy with you being my master, Big Brother.”
Arc sighs as he motions for Scootaloo to follow. “I’m glad. But I still wish I could free you.”
Coming to Shelly’s room the pair enter quietly. Shelly is lying on the bed asleep as Lily dozes in a nearby chair. Their footsteps awaken Lily whom sits up and looks to them happily as she speaks in a hushed tone.
“Hey there, you two.”
Arc holds up the Tupperware case with the food in it. “We made some pie this afternoon and thought you and Shelly would like some.”
Lily sighs. “Shelly can’t eat regular food, remember?”
Arc groans. “Crap, I forgot! Lily, I’m sorry about this!”
“It’s alright. Mistakes happen, after all.”
Scootaloo walks over to the bed. “How’s Shelly doing?”
Arc grimaces. “Bad day?”
Lily nods sadly. “Very. She’s been asleep almost all of it.”
“Hopefully it’ll pass soon.”
Lily sighs. “Normally, yes. But lately the bad days have been more often and last longer.”
Scootaloo turns to Lily. “How much longer?”
“It used to be a day in the past. Now it’ll probably be at least two.”
Arc frowns. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Scootaloo appears hopeful. “Anything we can do to help?”
Lily shakes her head. “No, Scarlet. The doctor says that rest is the best thing for her right now.”
She sighs and takes Shelly’s hand before continuing.
“After all, it’s not like we can do any more for her ourselves.”
Arc joins Lily in standing next to the bed. “Anything else the doctors can tell you?”
“Just that they’re administering as much medicine as fast as they can. But there’s only so much she can take.”
“I… guess I should have known that.”
“No need to be ashamed of asking a question, Arc.”
Scootaloo tugs at his shirt. “We should probably be getting home, Big Brother.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
He turns back to Lily before continuing.
“Sorry about the pie mistake.”
“Don’t be. I’m sure it’s amazing.”
“Would you like to try it?”
Lily shakes her head. “I… don’t really want to leave Shelly out of something like that. Thank you though.”
Arc puts a hand on her shoulder. “Okay. We’ll come back in a day or so then.”
Lily smiles as she puts a hand on Arc’s. “You’re welcome here anytime though. I know Shelly would approve.”
“Sure. I’ll stop by tomorrow morning then.”
“See you then.”
Arc turns to leave. Motioning to Scootaloo to follow him they walk slowly down the corridor together. Scootaloo looks up at him.
“Big Brother?”
“Yes?”
“You’re scared.”
Arc sighs. “Worried would be the better term for it.”
“I’ve felt you being worried before. This is definitely different.”
“Guess I am then.”
“I… have to admit that I don’t really know what you’re going through right now. My only real loss was my mom. And that just happened so fast. Can’t imagine what it’d be like to have to watch someone go downhill like this over such a long time.”
“Pray that you never do.”
The pair return home. Dinky, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Derpy are watching television on the couch as they come up from the basement. Dinky grins as she presses the ‘mute’ button on the remote.
“Welcome home!”
Apple Bloom points. “Wanna watch television with us?!”
Scootaloo walks over. “What are you watching?”
Derpy giggles. “A very interesting show called ‘Dirty Jobs’.”
Dinky nods. “Right! This human, Mike Rowe, he tries out all these really dirty or hard jobs!”
Apple Bloom grins. “He’s really brave!”
Arc shakes his head. “No thanks. In fact, I think I’m going to lie down upstairs.”
Derpy nods soberly. “Oh… okay, Arc. I’ll see to it the little ones get to bed at a decent time.”
Arc calls out sadly as he heads for the stairs. “Thank you.”
Derpy and the others turn to Scootaloo as Arc leaves. Dinky is the first to speak.
“What happened over there?”
“Shelly was having a bad day.”
Derpy grimaces. “Was she in a lot of pain?”
Scootaloo shakes her head. “She was unconscious the whole time we were there.”
Apple Bloom shudders. “That sounds bad.”
“Lily said that she had been like that all day.”
Sweetie Belle groans. “And there isn’t anything the doctors can do?”
Scootaloo shrugs. “Sounds like they’re doing all they can right now.”
Derpy sighs. “Poor Arc. He and Shelly have known each other for years.”
Dinky bows her head. “And he’s been watching this happen for so long.”
Scootaloo looks to the stairs as she speaks. “It’s really starting to get to him too.”
Apple Bloom frowns. “So no visit to the hospital tomorrow?”
“Big Brother said he’d go over there alone to see how she’s doing.”
Sweetie Belle nods soberly. “Probably give Lily a bit of a break too.”
Derpy looks out the window. “This can’t be easy for her either.”
Scootaloo turns to leave. “Yeah. Um… I think I’m going to hit the sack now too.”
Dinky raises an eyebrow. “It’s a bit early for that though.”
“I know, but… I just need some alone time.”
Derpy smiles sadly. “Good night then.”
Heading upstairs, Scootaloo pauses outside Arc’s door. Raising her hand to knock she stops herself. Shaking her head, the little girl heads for her bedroom. Laying down on her back she kicks off her socks and shoes. Staring up at the ceiling as the sun slowly sets she thinks to herself. Eventually darkness fills the room save for the moonlight shining through the curtains. The sounds of the others heading for bed ring out for a time before silence again reigns. As Scootaloo stares up at the ceiling she mutters to herself.
“This just… it isn’t right. Big Brother deserves better.”
Sitting up, she grabs her small black cloak and throws it over her shoulders. It surrounds her as she walks toward the window. Looking at the moon Scootaloo transforms into her Crimson form and, opening the window a crack, turns into a mist and floats up to the roof. Returning to her human form she looks all around.
“Which way was it?”
Taking a few moments to get her bearings she spots her destination some distance away. Becoming mist again, she floats high into the sky and begins her journey. Arriving at the hospital a short time later she enters via the main entrance, which is devoid of people for the night, and floats down the corridor. Coming to Shelly’s room she looks all around before returning to her corporeal form.
“Okay. Here goes.”
With a deep breath, Scootaloo enters the room. Her bare feet make only small plip-plap sounds on the tile floor beneath her as she closes the distance between the bed and herself. Lily sits in a nearby chair, asleep. Scootaloo looks to her and sighs.
“Guess I’d better take care of you first.”
Putting her hands on either side of Lily’s head, she touches her forehead to the young woman’s temples and concentrates. A few whiffling snores and gasps ring out from Lily as Scootaloo steps back.
“Let’s see if this worked.”
Clearing her throat she gently nudges Lily. The young woman groggily opens her eyes to look into Scootaloo’s face as the young girl speaks.
“Stand.”
Lily slowly does so. Scootaloo steps back as she continues.
“Follow.”
Walking Lily into the bathroom, she turns on the shower and sets the water temperature, never once taking her red eyes off of her victim as she does so.
“Brush your teeth and take a long shower.”
She steps toward the door as Lily slowly heads for the sink. Closing the door behind her, Scootaloo heads for the bed. Looking Shelly over for a few moments, she returns to her mist form and floats under the covers with her. Returning to her human form she takes a deep breath and presses her body against Shelly’s.
“Here goes nothing.”
Closing her eyes, Scootaloo concentrates. A few moments later she feels a warm wind surrounding her.
“Please have worked.”
Scootaloo slowly opens her eyes to see a courtyard filled with children playing. Looking around she spies a group of two boys and two girls. Walking over to them they acknowledge her with smiles.
“Hey there! You new here?!”
Scootaloo nods. “Y-yeah. My name’s… Scarlet.”
“Cool name! I’m Frank! And these are my friends Arc, Lily, and Shelly!”
Lily smiles shyly. Hello.
Shelly giggles. “Nice to meet you.”
Arc grins. “Hi!”
Scootaloo gestures to the building. “So this is an orphanage, huh?”
Arc nods. “Yup. We call it home.”
Frank grins as he gives her a thumbs up. “And I’m in charge here!”
Arc rolls his eyes. “Right.”
Lily looks to Scootaloo. “He likes to pretend.”
Shelly smiles. “That Frank does.”
Frank frowns. “Hey! Don’t make me look bad in front of the new kid!”
Arc clears his throat loudly. “In any case… have they given you a bed yet?”
Scootaloo raises an eyebrow, confused. “A… bed?”
Lily nods. “Everyone’s assigned one. It’s your special place here.”
Arc grins. “There’s a footlocker at the end where you can keep anything they let you bring with you.”
Frank folds his arms over his chest. “We all keep our treasures in there.”
“Like what?”
Shelly sighs. “Momentos from your family or whatever else is important to you.”
Lily giggles. “Frank keeps old valentines from Shelly in his.”
“So what if I do?!”
Arc frowns. “It’s kinda creepy, man.”
Shelly blushes slightly. “Well, I think it’s sweet.”
Frank points a finger. “See?! Shelly likes it!”
Arc shrugs. “More like tolerates.”
Shelly smiles and looks to Scootaloo. “Why don’t we go inside and get you situated?”
“Okay.”
Shelly takes the little girl’s hand and leads her inside the building. Walking past several sleeping security guards they enter the office. Looking over a desk nearby Shelly picks up an envelope and motions for Scootaloo to follow her. They walk down several corridors before entering a large room with innumerable bunks on either side of it. Leading Scootaloo over to a bed Shelly stops and points.
“This will be your bed.”
Holding out the envelope to her, Shelly smiles.
“The combination to your footlocker is in here.”
Scootaloo takes it. “Thanks. But I don’t really have anything to put in it.”
“You will eventually, trust me. Now then is there anything else you need?”
“Actually, yeah. Can we talk about something?”
“Sure.”
Shelly and Scootaloo sit down on beds across from one another.
“First off, I know this is all just a dream.”
Shelly nods. “Yes it is, Scarlet.”
Scootaloo looks around. “Can I ask why this though?”
“Because it was a happy time for me.”
“You mean before you found out you were sick?”
Shelly shakes her head. “No. I was still sick at this age. They just didn’t know what was wrong with me.”
“Then why…?”
Shelly stands up and takes Scootaloo’s hand. Walking her over to a nearby window they peer out as she talks.
“Look out there. What do you see?”
“A lot of kids.”
“Yes. However I see Arc, Frank, and Lily. We were really good friends back then.”
“Like you are now?”
“True. But this point in time is still my happy place.”
“Why though? I would have thought it would have been when you and your friends grew up and moved in together.”
“That was a nice time too, yes. Sometimes I dream about that as well. But this… this is what made me the most happy.”
Scootaloo raises an eyebrow. “Living in an orphanage?”
“Helping other kids.”
“I don’t understand.”
Shelly sighs. “It always made me so happy when we were kids. That’s really the only thing I miss about my childhood. Being there for others when they needed me.”
“You could always go back and volunteer though.”
Shelly shakes her head. “Not anymore. My condition has made that impossible.”
“So now you just dream about it?”
“Almost every night, yes. And I want to continue doing so until my end comes.”
“That’s why I’m here actually.”
“Oh?”
“I need to know something. What if you didn’t have to die?”
“That would be wonderful, yes.”
“You could live a full life with everyone you care about. Walk normally again. And... maybe even do things you didn’t even know you could.”
“But how would such a thing be possible?”
“It’s… complicated. All you have to know is that you would most likely recover from everything very soon.”
“What would the catch be though?”
“You… would probably have to leave Angel Grove behind forever.”
Shelly turns away. “That’s asking too much.”
“Just the town though. Not your loved ones.”
“So I would have to relocate?”
Scootaloo nods. “You could say that, yes.”
“Anything else?”
“The only other thing is that you’d have to get used to a new body.”
Shelly raises an eyebrow. “A new… body?”
“It’ll look identical to your current one for the most part. And you’ll be able to do certain things that no one else can.”
“That sounds like it would be hard on everyone.”
“They’d manage.”
“And there’s no real guarantee that it’d work, right?”
Scootaloo sighs. “Honestly, no. But it’s your only hope at this point. All you’d have to do is accept my powers.”
Shelly raises an eyebrow. “Your… powers?”
“It’s complicated. However the short version is that you would awaken as a Crimson. It’s a creature of the night.”
Shelly frowns. “That… doesn’t sound very nice.”
“It’d only be at night. And even then only if you looked at the moon to transform.”
“And you could turn me into one of these… Crimson things?”
Scootaloo nods soberly “Yes. The only catch would be that you’d be bound to me.”
“Like a servant?”
“I’d give you full freedom at all times though.”
Shelly shakes her head. “Thank you, but I think I’d rather just be myself.”
“But I can make you so much more!”
“I’m sure you could, Scarlet. But I have the freedom to refuse, don’t I?”
“Technically no. I could force you to undergo the metamorphosis.”
“Would you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because of something Big Brother taught me. That everyone needs the freedom to live their lives as they see fit.”
“Agreed. And that’s why I choose not to accept.”
“But…!”
Shelly interrupts her. “My death is coming. I can feel its approach drawing nearer with each passing day. However I’ve done that which I want to do in this life.”
“Everything?”
“Just one thing is left undone. And that’s to see Lily get married.”
“Then you could…!”
Shelly shakes her head. “It’s fine. I can die knowing that she’ll be cared for by Frank and Arc. Lily won’t be alone. Not by a long shot.”
“Is that your final answer?”
“Yes.”
“But Big Brother wants you to live so badly!”
“As do I. However I won’t put everyone else through the wringer in terms of forcing change on them for my sake.”
“I… very well.”
Shelly smiles. “Thank you for understanding.”
Scootaloo frowns. “I really don’t.”
“Someday maybe you will. Then we can talk about it.”
“About that. You won’t remember any of this. At least not the particulars. Just the general gist of someone whom looks like me being here.”
Shelly sighs. “Such is the nature of all dreams.”
“Right. Now then, you do what you want... and I’ll do what I have to.”
Shelly nods soberly. “You do that. But I want you to remember one thing, Scarlet.”
“What is it?”
“Would you like someone to do something to you against your will?”
“If it was for my own good, yes.”
“Then there’s nothing more that I can say to try and dissuade you.”
“I guess not.”
Shelly stands. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s still quite a few things I want to experience tonight.”
“Sure.”
Closing her eyes, Scootaloo vanishes. When she opens them she finds herself lying next to Shelly in the hospital bed again. Sitting up, she looks down at the young woman before her and sighs.
“I’m sorry, Shelly.”
Scootaloo bares her fangs. She puts her small hands on Shelly’s shoulders and leans into her. Slowly moving toward her neck, Scootaloo inches closer and closer. Eventually the tips of her fangs touch Shelly’s throat. They press into the soft skin gently but do not break it. Shelly gasps and shudders slightly but does not open her eyes. The little girl stays in that position for a few seconds before sighing and pulling back. Sitting up, she looks over the unconscious woman for a long moment before shaking her head.
“No. Shelly, she… she doesn’t want this.
Leaning down, Scootaloo gives Shelly a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Pleasant dreams, Shelly.”
Turning back into her mist form, Scootaloo drifts out of the room and down the corridor. Heading back the way she came, the little girl leaves the building and floats up to the roof. Rematerializing, she sits down in front of a vent which is blowing out warm air and stares up at the moon.
“I just don’t understand you. With my help you could have become a Crimson, Shelly. Then your body would have repaired itself just as Big Brother’s did after my dad stabbed him.”
Shaking her head, Scootaloo looks down at her hands.
“But you turned it down. Instead of pain and weakness you could have been strong and healthy. As my thrall you would have been free to enjoy your life with Big Brother and I along with your other loved ones.”
Sitting there for some time to think on this, Scootaloo eventually groans.
“I don’t understand why you flatly rejected my offer. But at the same time I’m equally confused as to why I didn’t just bite you and save your life. After all, it was certainly for your own good.”
Frowning, the little girl stands and looks at the moon for a few moments before turning back into a mist and floating over the edge. Making her way back to Shelly’s window she looks inside for a time before leaving the hospital grounds as she thinks to herself.
“While I would have given you all the freedom in the world as my thrall, just like Big Brother does for me, for some reason I chose to give you the greatest freedom of all. The power to say… ‘no’.”
Meanwhile, Brightwing flutters down the hallway of Arc’s second floor. Coming to the room that Dinky shares with her mother she slowly pushes the door open. Finding the pair asleep, Brightwing flutters over to them and lands on the nightstand next to Dinky. Carefully reaching forward she slowly picks up a lock of hair between two claws. Rubbing them together slowly she eventually cuts through the hair and flutters quietly out the door and down the hall to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s room. Spotting the girls asleep, she does the same to them. Making her way downstairs with the locks of hair in both palms, with the third held in her tail, she concentrates as a portal forms. Hopping through, Brightwing returns to her office in Canterlot Castle.
“Another reagent down!”
Putting the hair neatly into the potion, Brightwing begins stirring. It glows as the little creature grins happily.
“Yes! More magical power! Potion amplified! Will increase Brightwing’s final chances of success!”
She watches as the potion stops glowing. Frowning, Brightwing growls.
“Potion powerful! But not HOLDING its power! Needs something to help power STAY in there!”
Tapping a claw on her chin, Brightwing thinks for a time as her tail continues stirring the potion absentmindedly.