Broken Scooters

by LightFeather

Scootaloo to the Rescue

It was a week after the pageant. Cherrilee thought it would be a good time to do something fun for a nice class trip. She took suggestions and it was voted that they go camping, as well as make it a study trip. The class was split into two groups. This group had the Cutie Mark Crusaders, as well as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Snips and Tails, and Twist. They were led through the Whitetail Woods by Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight Sparkle. Applejack's dog, Winona, barked as she happily ran alongside the group. The other group had Cherrilee, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, and they went into the northern half of the forest.

The forest itself was split in half by the pathway used for the Running of the Leaves. While Cherrilee's group went towards the northern half of the woods, the other group decided to venture into the southern half. After some time, they were led to a clearing in the trees. It was wide and spacious enough for everyone's sleeping bags and tents, had small stream along the edge, and a good view of the sky.

Rainbow Dash flew up and kicked the few clouds that were in the sky away. This would give them a better view of the night sky, since the trip's a learning experience as well. Applejack went to work gathering a few fallen branches and breaking them into smaller pieces before making a small pile in the center of the clearing, then proceeded to gather more wood. Twilight smiled and was going through one of her many checklists while the children were setting out their sleeping bags.

They smiled as they sat and ate some of the food they brought with them, small apple pastries and sandwiches. As they ate, they watched as the golden glow of Celestia's magic slowly lowered the sun, as Princess Luna rose the moon. Since they were far from town and any major city, the stars seemed to shine more brightly than they noticed.

Twilight stood, smiling at the children. "Now everypony, gather around. This is another reason for this trip. I'm going to teach you some basic Astronomy, or in better words, some of the easier to find constellations and even using the stars to find your way back home."

Diamond Tiara grumbled softly, turning her head away. She didn't want be outside, didn't want to sleep on the ground, didn't want to listen to an egghead talk about the stars. She just didn't want to be there at all. However Daddy Rich had thought it would be a good idea for her to go.

Twilight smiled at the young colts and fillies that gathered around her "Now these are some of the easiest to find stars and constellations. That one up there is Orion, the Hunter. Can any class tell me what makes that constellation one that is easily identifiable?"

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. "Oh! Is it those three stars right there?"

Twilight giggled and nodded. "That's correct. Those three stars are called Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. They make up what's known as the Belt of Orion. The other stars the make up Orion are Betelgeuse, Rigel, Bellatrix, and Saiph. The constellation is most easily seen in the winter months."

Twilight scanned the night sky as her eyes widened, grinning as she pointed her hoof. "Now that group of stars there. It's called the Big Dipper. There's a lot of special facts about it, but you can see why it's called that because it's in the shape of a spoon. One interesting fact about it is that it also makes up a part of another constellation that has the same name of one of the Great Celestial Beasts. Snips? Snails? Do you know which one I'm talking about?"

Snips and Snails blinked and backed away before Snails finally spoke up. "Uhh... t-the Ursa Minor?"

Twilight smiled and shook her head. "Nope, but you are close. The last star in the tip of the handle makes up the nose for the constellation Ursa Major. Now, look at the two stars that make up the edge of the bowl of the dipper. If you follow those stars due north, you'll find the brightest star in the sky. Does anyone know what that star is called?"

Applebloom raised her hoof this time. "Ah know Twilight! It's called Polaris."
Twilight nodded "Very good Applebloom. That is indeed Polaris. Not only the primary navigational star in the he sky, but also part of two constellations: The Little Dipper and the Ursa Minor. Now to find your way home if you don't have a compass, is to look to the stars and look for Polaris. It hangs high in the north, high above the Crystal Empire."

Twilight continued to talk about the stars and constellations, with the attention of the school children, but also Rainbow Dash seemed interested as well. After all, if something WERE to happen, it would be nice to find a way back home. Applejack spent the time shifting the dirt in the middle of the clearing to make a shallow pit, with which she filled with wood.

After the minor lessons had been completed, Twilight lit the small pile of wood into a basic campfire, the flames casing a soft flow in the middle of the clearing. Dash took two buckets and brought them back filled with water for later.

The CMC were talking to each other, how to help Scootaloo get her cutie mark, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were talking, and Snips, Snails and Twist were roasting marshmallows. It wasn't long until they gathered around the fire to tell some ghost stories.

Rainbow Dash spoke up first. "So, who's going to go first for the stories?"

Applebloom raised her hoof. "Why don't Twilight go first? Ah'm sure that she's read lots of ghost stories!"

Everyone nodded and looked towards Twilight, who lowered her head in embarrassment before smiling and nodding. "Ok. I think I know of one."

Everypony gathered around as Twilight began her story, using the magic of her horn to weave a ghostly image of the story just above the fire. "In a far off land, in a castle by the Northern Sea, lived a lord who had two daughters. The elder daughter, dark, and younger fair. As what happens at times, the maidens were rivals. However, the younger sister did not know it, and the elder would not admit it. But soon, something happened between them that caused a ghost to speak."
Twilight paced around the circle, continuing her story. "A young lord came courting. Properly, he paid formal address towards the elder sister, however his eyes strayed to the younger. He rode by her on outings, danced with her in the hall. All the while, the dark gaze of the elder sister followed him, making no complaint, and biding her time."

Twilight smiled, looking over the young fillies and colts. "Early one morning, the elder maiden asked her sister to walk with her by the seashore. As they strolled, the fair sister spoke about the dashing visitor. The elder sister said little, but at a place where the waves beat against massive rocks, she acted. With a swift kick, she knocked her sister off balance, and into the sea."

Twilight continued, walking slowly, her horn glowing softly. "The waves crashed against the younger maiden head, the icy foam washing through her hair. She rose to the surface, gasping for air and screamed to her sister... but there was no response. She only heard the roaring of the waves, and the cries of the gulls as the circled overhead. The dark sister stood upon the rocks, as motionless as a statue. With a steady gaze, she watched her sister hopelessly struggle. The young maiden sank, rose once more and cried weakly once more, and then sank again beneath the water."

Twilight grinned, weaving her tale for everyone. "The dark one kept her vigil for some time, watching the violent waves of the sea with satisfaction. She then ran home to her father's hall and, weeping, spoke a false tale, speaking of how her sister slipped on the rocks and drowned. Everypony searched the shore for her, but could not find her body. They mourned in the following months. Afterwards, the young lord, bereft of the fair sister, sought consolation with the dark, which was gladly given."
Twilight walked once more, speaking softly "However the fair sister's body, having been shifted by wind and tide, had drifted along the shore and into a calm lake, far from her father's lands. A miller at the lake's edge had spotted the golden mane beneath the surface, and gently pulled the body from the water."

"It so happened that a wandering minstrel, a harper famed through the land, was staying with the miller. He helped the kind colt give her a proper burial. However, moved by her beauty, he cut three strands of her golden mane, and strung them into his harp."

"A short time after, the Harper took his leave of the miller and went on his way, traveling from castle to castle to sing before the lords of the land. In the months that followed, the harp played for the minstrel, with a tenderness that brought tears to the eyes of it's listeners, and the Harper grew to cherish the golden strings."

"In his travels, he came to the stronghold of the maiden's father, although the harper did not know it was such. The minstrel was welcomed, and they ate, as was the custom then. Later in the evening, when the fires were lit, and the flames casts shadows within the halls, the man drew out his harp and set it before him, making ready to sing. The dark sister sat upon a bench to listen, with her father on one side, and on the other, the young lord she loved."
"Before the Harper could touch them, the golden strings shimmered in the firelight, trembling on their own. A sweet familiar voice echoed the hall, and when the dark sister heard the words it sang, she grew pale and afraid. Her fate had come upon her, and she knew it."

"Farewell to the lord my father," the harp sang softly. "Farewell to my lady mother."

"The harp paused, everypony watched it in horrified silence. Then the strings spoke once more, loud and wailing this time..."
Twilight cleared her throat, having taken lessons from Princess Luna, she had learned the Royal Canterlot voice, which she used. "AND WOE TO MY SISTER WHO MURDERED ME!."

At the sound of Twilight's voice, the young fillies and colts screamed out, some were shaking before they all laughed. Twilight smiled and giggled as she released her magic, the image over the fire slowly fading into the night.

Applebloom sat back up after having fallen on her back, giggling at her sister who was shaking a small bit. She finally spoke after catching her breath. "That was pretty good Twilight! Ah think Ah got a story too.."

Applebloom stood, beginning to pace back and fourth as she started her story. "There are legends... Legends of terrible creatures... creatures that haunt yer very dreams and nightmares... and this one is no exception."

Applebloom continued while Applejack tossed another log onto the dim campfire, sparks flying upwards into the air. "This creature, nopony knows whether he exists or not, 'cause those that've seen him... seem ta vanish or git spirited away, or even have their very memories taken from them."

"The Slender pony. He is said to have the appearance of a very tall, very thin pony in a black suit. Not scared yet? Well just ya wait. He towers, about as tall as Princess Celestia, or even taller. His face, if ya kin call it that, is white... with no eyes... no nose... no mouth... not even ears and mane, although some done gone and said that he can transform into whatever scares ya th'most."

Applebloom stood, waving her fore-legs in the air slowly. "His legs, they can grow, and stretch to grab his victims... and bend in un-natural ways, and kin have claws that he uses to scratch at the windows of children. While he haunts everyone that's got th' misfortune of seein' him, he prefers to devour those that are sixteen or younger. He is also said to have wings of shadowy tendrils, that he can use to ensnare anypony that he seems interested in."

"He's a silent stalker, and likes hidin' in plain sight, en' usually spotted in wooded areas. It's these areas where he can blend in, hidin' with the trees and dark corners in a forest. When he finds his victim, he follows them home. And if you see him in a window, he can hypnotize ya t' walk into his hooves. When seen it's from a distance... but when he's close enough t'git a good look at, that's when he slinks into yer home, appearing in dark hallways."

"Some forests that he may go in, jus' like this one... a pony may have th' misfortune of finding papers. Papers that are clues to Slender pony's existence.... or they may be traps, hiding with the strange scribbles a form of magic, that helps him track ya down even faster. Ya see, there's nopony... that has been able to return with the papers to study them."
"When yer captured, ya will wake to see Slender pony standing above you. He will ask ya one question... and if yer lucky and git it right... he breaks all yer legs. If yer wrong.... then he slowly sticks his fingers down yer throat, and slowly pull out yer heart.... and ya won't ever... be seen... again."

Snips and Snails hugged each other as they trembled, but they didn't tremble as much as Diamond Tiara. Scootaloo giggled. "That was a great story Applebloom!"

Applejack looked towards Rainbow Dash, who was already asleep in her sleeping bag. "It sure was. An' ah think that Rainbow has th' right idea. It is late and time to hit the hay. To yer sleepin' bag."

All the children groaned but nodded, slowly moving to each of their own sleeping bags and sliding into the warmth. After making sure everyone else was asleep and making sure that the campfire was completely out, Twilight slid into her sleeping bag, while Applejack slid her's next to Rainbow Dash, laying with her before drifting asleep.

At a point in the night the wind had picked up. Over in the other camp, everypony was sleeping comfortably in their sleeping bags. Cherrilee, ever the teacher, had brought some papers with her, some homework assignments that she's been needing to grade. As the wind picked up, the papers had been scattered and carried off in the wind.

Diamond Tiara tossed and turned in her sleeping bag, muttering incoherently in her sleep. She trembled and woke up with a yell, having woken up with a nightmare. She looked around and calmed down with a sigh. "Only a dream.... stupid camping trip...."

Looking around she picked up her own saddlebags and started walking into the forest, back towards the direction they came from. As she walked, she looked towards the sky, sighing as some clouds covered parts of the sky. She continued walking, looking around, unsure of where she was going now. Still she walked.

Diamond shivered as another gust of wind blew by, yelping out as one of the papers from Cherrilee's camp smacked into her face. She pulled it off and looked at it, but unable to see it for what it was, she yelled out and dropped the paper, running. "AHH! SLENDER PONY!"

She ran, looking behind her on occasion and finally saw the forest open up. But as she was leaving the forest, she looked behind her once more and stumbled on a rock, her tiara falling to the ground as she tripped and fell, rolling down a steep incline until she finally came to a stop with a groan, knocked unconscious. And there she stayed through the rest of the night.

As was custom every morning, Princess Luna lowered the moon, and Princess Celestia rose the sun. Applejack was the first to awaken, having lived on a farm her whole life she was used to waking up at dawn. Applebloom was the next to awaken. While Applejack woke up Rainbow and Twilight, Applebloom woke up Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

Rainbow flew up to start clearing a few of the clouds from the sky and Applejack went to gather some of the fruit they brought for breakfast. Twilight started to wrap each sleeping bag. She blinked as she looked at Diamond Tiara's sleeping bag, then did a quick count of the students. "No.... no, no, no ,no, no. This can't be happening!"

Applejack walked over to Twilight. "What's wrong sugarcube?"

Twilight looked towards Applejack, panic on her face. "She's missing. I can't believe it! How can I let this happen? She's my responsibility! If they find out, I'll have to move! I'll be banished! And Mr. Rich will own the library!"
Applejack struck her hoof across Twilight's face, just enough to sing and snap her out of her panic. "Thanks AJ. I needed that. But what will we do? Where could she have wandered off to?"

Rainbow Dash returned, and went over to the other two. "What's going on?"

Applejack looked towards Rainbow. "Diamond Tiara's gone missin'. Me an' you are gonna go find her. You can look from th' sky and I'll cover th' ground with Winona. She'd be able to pick up her scent. Twilight, ya stay here with the young'uns."
While Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash talked, the rest of the children gathered around to talk amongst themselves. "Why do ya'll reckon she ran off in the middle of the night?"

Silver Spoon looked towards Applebloom. "She didn't want to come in the first place. Her daddy made her and said she could learn something."

Scootaloo shook her head. "I'm gonna go looking for her. I'm faster than Applejack on my scooter so I can cover more ground."

Applebloom nodded. "Good idea. the rest of us will stay here. You move in the direction mah sister and Winona goes.
Sweetie Belle nodded and smiled. "Just don't get too far. We don't want anything happening to you too.

Scootaloo nodded and strapped her helmet on and pulled the wagon off her scooter, buzzing her wings as she watched Winona sniff Diamond Tiara's sleeping bag before howling and running off, Applejack chasing quickly and Rainbow already in the sky, searching. Scootaloo waited a moment before speeding past Twilight and after Applejack.

Twilight held her hoof out and yelled "SCOOTALOO! WAIT!" and let out a sigh. "Well... at least she'll be with Applejack. What could possibly go wrong?"

She looked towards the remainder of the children. "Ok everypony. Let's get everything else together and make our way to Cherrilee's camp, to let her know what happened."

They nodded and worked together, cleaning and packing the campsite.

Scootaloo had managed to beat Applejack to the edge of the forest and turned to follow the ravine towards Ponyville, her wings buzzing behind her and wind howling through her ears, with her practicing and training with Rainbow Dash, she began leaving behind an orange, purple, and blue blur behind her. She spotted a small glimmer ahead and skid to a stop, hopping off her scooter to pick up the object: a silver and diamond encrusted tiara.

"Scootaloo! What in tarnation are ya doin out here? Ah thought we told ya'll to stay with Twilight!"

Scootaloo turned and looked up at Applejack. "I'm sorry Applejack, but more of us looking the faster we can find her. And look. I jut found this! It's Diamond Tiara's. Think she fell in there?

Applejack looked at Scootaloo and sighed, shaking her head. On one hoof, the filly disobeyed them, but on the other hoof, if she was in Scootaloo's position, she would have done the same. She then looked at the tiara and down along the ravine's edge. "Ah reckon' she might've. There's some skid marks that she could'a made..."

That was all Scootaloo needed to hear before hopping on her scooter and started down the ravine, using her wings and scooter to control her momentum. Applejack gasped and called out. "Scootaloo! What in tarnation are ya doin?"

Scootaloo, now at the bottom of the ravine looked around, seeing some hoof prints nearby. "It'll be easier for you to pull us out, And she was here... looks like she went.... that way! She might be hurt."

Applejack called back. "Jus' be careful sugarcube! I'll follow ya from up here!"

Scootaloo nodded and started to follow the hoof prints, Applejack following the edge of the ravine and chasing after Scootaloo. Scootaloo sped along the floor of the canyon, smiling as she finally stopped next to Diamond Tiara. "There you are! Everypony was worried about you? You ok?"

Diamond Tiara wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo and sobbed softly. Scootaloo smiled and held Diamond Tiara till she sniffed and stopped. "It's ok Diamond. We'll get you back."

Diamond Tiara looked up at Scootaloo and nod, but they hugged each other tightly as they heard a loud roar. As they looked up, they trembled at the sight, a four headed hydra slowly making it's way towards them. They scrambled to get to the Scooter, Scootaloo looking at Diamond Tiara, the latter limping slightly. "Your gonna have to get on the front part so I can use my wings!"

Diamond Tiara nodded and got onto the scooter, holding onto the handlebars near the center. Scootaloo got on behind her and used her hoof to start herself as her wings slowly started buzzing as she used them, beginning to make their way down the ravine with the hydra chasing.

Diamond Tiara trembled as she bit her bottom lip. "Scootaloo! I thought you said you could go fast!"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, her eyes narrow as her wings continued to buzz, gaining speed slowly. "I did, but I'm carrying you on here too!"

With that, Scootaloo narrowed her eyes, swerving to avoid the larger rocks as her wings continued to buzz louder and louder as they traveled faster and faster. The wind howled in their ears as Scootaloo's eyes closed tightly. Soon they were speeding by, narrowly avoiding rocks and branches, leaving behind a trail of orange and blue flame in their wake. Scootaloo spotted Applejack and called to her. "APPLEJACK! GOT DIAMOND! HYDRA CHASING!"

Applejack ran to the edge and saw Scootaloo speed by, leaving behind the fire trail. Trailing behind them was the hydra. Her eyes widened at the sight of the beast. She whistled loudly and within seconds Rainbow Dash flew down. Applejack called out to the pegasus, "Rainbow! Go git Fluttershy and Twilight! I'll try to slow the hydra!"

While Rainbow sped off to get the other girls, Scootaloo tried her best to continue to weave and dodge, but the terrain was getting worse. It didn't take long before they struck a rock and were sent flying, tumbling across the hard ground and rocks as her scooter smacked into a boulder, the handle bending while the young girls lay on the ground unconscious.

Applejack had ran along the ravine in time to get in front of the charging hydra. She spotted the girls, laying on the ground and took her rope, making a lasso and tossing it onto the ground. As the beast stepped into the lariat, Applejack pulled the rope. She had hoped to try to trip the beast, but was yanked with it, being pulled along the ground as she held the rope, her hooves digging into the dirt and mud as she tried to restrain the beast.

Applejack felt the rope's burn as it slid from her hooves, looking on in horror as the beast raised it's heads above the unconscious fillies. Each of it's heads licked it's lips and began their rapid decent, intent on easy prey. Applejack covered her eyes with her hooves, unable to watch as the beast's bared it's sharp teeth.

As the heads lowered towards the fillies, they were stopped at the last moment by a shimmering purple barrier. Applejack opened her eyes when she heard a familiar voice. "Awwww yea! Good goin' Twi! I couldn't have planned it better myself!"
Twilight looked over the ravine, holding the barrier, using all her strength to do so. "Fluttershy. Your going to have to go down there. It's taking everything I have to hold this barrier."

The butter-colored pegasus nodded as she went down in front of the hydra. "oh... uhm.... excuse me Mr hydra, but would you be so kind as to go back home? That is... if you don't mind?"

The hydra's three heads just glared at her before roaring loudly into her face. Fluttershy tumbled back a bit before straightening herself and flying back back towards the hydra, her eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh no, you did NOT just roar at ME mister! I came here to help these children get home, and what do I find? YOU CHASING AND SCARING THEM! WHAT do you think your MOTHER would say if she saw you acting like this?"

The hydra tried to turn it's heads away, which only aggravated Fluttershy further. "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU! ALL THREE OF YOU!"

The three heads looked at Fluttershy, staring at her glaring eyes before whimpering softly and beginning to cry, letting out small roars that Fluttershy seemed to understand. "There there. We'll get you back to Foggy Bottom Bog where you belong, ok?"

The beast nodded before starting to walk back the way it came, Fluttershy smiling at the other girls and nodding to them as she flew beside the hydra. "Get the girls and take them to the hospital. I'll take him home."

Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash just stood there at the scene, their mouths gaping open before nodding, Twilight using her magic to levitate the injured fillies and the scooter out of the canyon, starting towards Ponyville with Applejack. Rainbow went back to tell Pinkie and Cherrilee that the girls have been found and were going to the hospital.

Several days later, Scootaloo let out a light groan as she slowly opened her eyes, Everything was blurry but slowly came into focus. She recognized the room as the hospital room, but her vision was still hindered by a bandage over one eye. She slowly closed her eye before sitting up with a gasp. "Diamond Tiara!"

Scootaloo heard a voice coming from the doorway. "Jus' ya simmer down a bit. Both you and Diamond been through alot. She's jus fine. She's in another room with her daddy."

Scootaloo looked to the door and saw Applejack before laying her head back upon the pillow, her eye closing partially with a yawn. "I'm glad she's ok."

Applejack nodded before almost being knocked over by Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. "See? Ah told ya she was awake!"
Sweetie Belle just rolled her eyes at Applebloom. "Ok, ok. I was wrong."

Scootaloo smiled at her two friends. "Glad to see you too girls. How long was I out for this time?"

The other two girls went over to the bed. Applebloom thought for a moment. "Ah reckon that you were out for about.... four days this time Scootaloo."

Scootaloo nodded and sighed softly. "I had to help Diamond Tiara. If it was anyone else, I'd still do the same."

Sweetie Belle smiled and hopped up and down. "Yea! And it got ya yer cutie mark too!"

Scootaloo opened her eye at that and sat up, looking towards her friends. "What do you mean?"

Sweetie Belle pulled a small mirror from her saddlebag and gave it to Scootaloo, who positioned it to see her flank as Applebloom talked to her. "Yea! My sister said you were goin' so gosh darn fast, that ya make the ground catch fire behind ya and that she had a hard time catchin up with ya!"

Scootaloo looked towards Applebloom before looking through the mirror at her flank Her eyes brightened as she smiled, a tear coming from her eye. Upon her flank, was her cutie mark... a wheel like what was on her scooter, with a flame coming from behind it.

And leaning in the corner of the room, at least for now, was a blue scooter with a broken handle.