//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Questions Remembered... // Story: Colts Meet Crusaders // by Dusk_Shine6995 //------------------------------// Colts Meet Crusaders By: Dusk_Shine6995 Chapter Three: Questions remembered... (Hey everypony sorry for the delay but I had mass writers block, busy with school, and this is going to be a rather hard chapter to write so I delayed it as much as possible) Elusive awoke the next morning with an unfamiliar fullness in his chest. He didn’t notice the weight of the filly sleeping next to him at first, just that foreign feeling in his chest. He looked to his left and saw the cute face of Sweetie Belle mere inches from his face. Elusive knew he couldn’t resist what happened next. He leaned closer and nuzzled her muzzle affectionately. Her eyes shot open in surprise but she smiled when the reality of the situation came back to her. She returned his nuzzle in kind and subconsciously kisses his nose, causing a blush to appear on both of their cheeks. “Happy sunday Elusive,” Sweetie Belle spoke to ease the tension. “A happy sunday indeed,” he said coyly. Grr.... there it is again! Sweetie grumbled in her head. She gasped slightly when his hooves wrapped around her waist. Sweetie looked directly into his eyes. He stared into her eyes in return. “Thanks for last night Sweets,” Elusive said losing his usual coyness. Sweetie Belle couldn’t think of any words to describe how she felt, so she relied on impulse. She blushed brightly, leaned closer, and said with a sultry tone, “No pro-” Sweetie only managed that before their lips met. Elusive pulled her deeper into the kiss. Their minds exploded in bliss. The sheer pent up emotion being shared through their lips was almost too much for them. Yet no matter how mind blowing it was they wanted nothing more than to continue. The universe had other plans however. The couple was brought out of their blissful stupor by the sound of faint giggling. They stopped kissing and looked in the doorway to see none other than, Pink Streaks, standing there giggling. “Elusive and Sweetie Belle sittin in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Pink mocked. Elusive’s lips curled into an evil smirk as he dove from the bed and started to nuggie her. “Ahhh, stop it, HELP!” She yelped helplessly. Sweetie Belle had other ideas, however, and it didn’t involve helping the poor filly. Sweetie began tickle torturing the little filly. “AHHHAHAA, STOP IT I TAKE IT BACK!” Pink screamed through her laughter. Elusive and Sweetie let go of her and smiled wickedly at her. “But it was so fun,” Sweetie whined. Pink scoffed and began plotting her revenge but needed room to think, so she retreated to her room. The real reason she left though was because she was scared that they might start the treatment up again. Sweetie turned to Elusive and spoke, “She’s so cute.” “Yeah she is,” Elusive agreed, shaking his head. His smile faded, unfortunately, quickly. “I suppose you want to know more about what happened don’t you?” he guessed. She couldn’t bring herself to answer. Her curiosity got the better of her and she nodded. Elusive let out a deep sigh and began, “It was years ago. They were so excited to be going to see the family again. Years had passed since we last saw our entire family at one spot. Unfortunately, the day before we were going to head out to see them all again Pink got terribly sick. Our parents were so sad, both for her health and that they couldn’t see the family. I insisted that I stay behind and they go.” A small smiled developed on his face as well as tears, “Mom was so worried and told me to call every three hours, make sure Rosetta came by to watch over them every now and again, and worst of all brush my teeth and wash behind my ears.” He gave a pained giggle before continuing, “They were so sad to leave us but so excited to see the family. Everything was going alright for the first couple of days... then I was watching the news one morning. They were at the capitol building of Manehatten, when dozens of masked assailants wrecked the place, injuring hundreds, killing fifty... in that fifty was my entire known family. However, my parents made it to the hospital, but died two days later. We never got to say goodbye.” He couldn’t hold back his tears any longer and began crying. Sweetie Belle was stunned into place. She was watching the news with her sister on that day. All Sweetie could think when she saw it was, ‘Thank Celestia my family is in Canterlot today!’ She sat there dumbfounded and crying at his loss. She suddenly lunged into him knocking him down as she hugged him tight. “NOPONY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ELUSIVE!” she screamed, squeezing tighter. She cried into his chest. Sweetie Belle felt terrible and couldn’t think straight. Much to her luck however she thought of the perfect thing to say, “You are the strongest colt I know Elusive and nothing anypony says or does will change that!” Elusive had stopped crying at this point. He stared down at the filly sobbing into his chest. He gently put a hoof to her chin and made her look into his eyes. “Thank you Sweets,” he said quietly before pulling her up closer to his muzzle. She blushed and closed her eyes, puckering up, wishing to kiss him again. He smiled widely and booped her nose gently. She let out a cute sneeze. “You... what... err... GAH!” she stammered, embarrassed. “You’re cute when you’re flustered,” Elusive teased. “You e-” she tried to say but was interrupted. Their lips were, once again, interlocked in passion. This kiss broke much faster than any others, ending with Sweetie Belle burrowing her head into his chest, and Elusive laying his head happily on top of hers. “You’re still evil!” Sweetie sneered, smirking. This moment would have been more poetic and sweet but somepony had to show up just then... with a bucket of cold water. The couple was now drenched and freezing. “PINK YOU’RE SO GOING TO GET IT!” they yelled in unison. -Meanwhile at Applebloom’s- Applebloom drifted into consciousness slowly and tentatively. She was shocked when she felt her hooves wrapped around something. She smiled when she opened her eyes. She was hugging Rumble, who was still breathing evenly. She nuzzled his underbelly softly, eliciting a content sigh from Rumble. She had to stifle a giggle in order to not wake him up. Rumble stirred slightly but stayed asleep. Applebloom smiled wider and set her head back onto Rumble’s chest. This was enough to wake Rumble up. He took a deep breath and looked at what was laying on him. “Oh, hey Applebloom,” his eye’s widened the moment the words left his mouth. He looked around frantically. Applebloom began giggling at his frantic movements. Rumble looked down at her. “What, Applejack will kill me if she sees us cuddling!” he said. Applebloom nuzzled him once again before saying, “If Applejack didn’t kill ya when ya walked into our house carrying me, she won’t kill ya now.” Rumble blushed brightly at her nuzzle. He then took notice to the fact that they were wrapped in each others hooves. “That makes sense I guess,” Rumble said squeezing her a little tighter. She squeaked and he giggled. “What time is it?” he asked. Applebloom looked at the nearby clock and answered, “About half past nahne.” Rumble groaned. “What’s tha problem?” Applebloom asked. “Elusive, Dusk, and I planned on hanging out at ten today,” Rumble answered. “Why do ya’ll always plan to be together so much?” Applebloom asked, annoyed. “Well it’s the weekend and we want to hang out as much as possible before school tomorrow,” Rumble said. “Oh, well that makes sense,” Applebloom said. She frowned into his chest at the thought of him leaving. “Thinking about it though, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will probably be there, or at least Scoot,” Rumble offered. “YES!” Applebloom practically yelled. When she yelled, she also squeezed him tighter. “A little excited there Applebloom,” Rumble teased. Though he enjoyed the hug, he was still going to torture Applebloom a bit. “So what if Ah am!?” Applebloom retorted as she squeezed him even tighter. Rumble let out an exasperated breath, feigning pain. Applebloom realized now that she was holding him a little too tight and loosened her grip. “So we’ll want to get going then, I suppose, is we want to get there on time,” Rumble said. “Alraht,” Applebloom agreed but made no movement to get up. Rumble went to get up but was pulled back down by Applebloom. “Just... a couple more seconds?” she asked. Rumble smiled and wrapped his hooves around her for an answer. She smiled and nuzzled his chest. They sat there for a few more seconds before Applebloom added, “Ok let’s go.” They left her room and began walking to Dusk’s. Once Rumble and Applebloom made it to Dusk’s house, they were greeted with a blood curdling shriek of a teenager. The busted through the door, saw the horrific scene before them, and laughed, both with relief and by the hilarity of the sight. Dusk was on top of Scootaloo, pinning her down, with her forehooves crossed above her head, and Dusk was tickling her. “Ahaha pleeeeeeeease stooooooop,” Scootaloo screamed then noticed their friends in the doorway, “HEEEEEEEEELP!” They didn’t move to help her, instead they opted to laugh at her expense. Scootaloo scowled terrifyingly, forcing them to obey her, and get her away from the tickles! At least she tried to anyway but couldn’t considering she was giggling uncontrollably. Dusk was laughing with her and taking hit after hit from Scoot’s wings. Every hit caused him to tickle faster. “Ahahahahaha pleeeeeeeeaaaaaase stooooooop!” Scootaloo begged, breathlessly. Dusk finally stopped and allowed both him and her to catch their breath. However he did not move to get off of her just yet. Scoot regained her breath and squirmed underneath him. “Let me up!” she commanded. Dusk now wore a sly smirk, “You’re not in the position to make demands Scoot.” He waved his hoof threateningly and lowered it to her side. Scootaloo gasped and pleaded, “No, no please, please don’t.” She dropped her tough girl facade and wore a hypnotizingly, cute, begging, pout. Dusk tried to resist but it was futile. He caved in no time at all, “Alright, I’ll let you up,” he confided. He stood up and held out a helping hoof. She grabbed it pulled him back down and rolled so she was now pinning him to the ground. Scootaloo smirked, evilly, and then spread his hooves apart over his head, pinning them with her own. She flapped her wings to let him know what she had planned for him. “Don’t even think about it Scoot,” Dusk warned. Without a moments hesitation she pushed her wings down to tickle him. Before she had a chance to make contact he leaned his head up and nuzzled her cheek softly. She jumped up, blushing profusely, and punched him. “How many times do I have to say NO NUZZLING!?” she scolded him. He stood up laughing. Rumble and Applebloom walked up to them, laughing as well. Rumble and Dusk bumped hooves, Applebloom and Scootaloo hugged. “Now that that is outta the way, whatcha wanna do?” Applebloom asked. “Well, Elusive isn’t here yet so we can’t go with what we planned yet, want watch some TV while we wait?” Dusk offered. The other three nodded and took a seat in front of the TV. Scootaloo, still miffed at Dusk, sat as far away from him as possible. Dusk smiled and winked at her. She couldn’t help but blush and smile. Applebloom and Rumble sat next to each other on the couch, Applebloom between Dusk and Rumble. They channel surfed for while before deciding to watch a marathon of ‘The Trotting Dead’. -Back at Elusives- “NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOO!” Pink Streaks screamed. Elusive was holding her upside down in his magic holding her above her biggest fear and enemy. THE BATH TUB! Sweetie Belle was in the doorway laughing like none other. Elusive was smiling mischievously at his sister. Pink was inches from the water, her mane almost touching it. “I’M SORRY I’M SORRY PLEASE PUT ME DOWN,” she begs. Elusive’s serious face dissolves as he gives into his sisters demands. “Ok,” his smirk returns as he says this. He releases his magical hold on her and she falls into the bathtub with a shriek. Elusive then puts a magical bubble around the tub so she can’t escape until she is squeaky clean. Pink tries to jump out of the tub and flattens her face on the bubble. “WHAT GIVES!?” she yells. “Not the magical bubble I put around you thats for sure,” Elusive says coyly. She gave Elusive a death glare and decided to get the bath over with. When Elusive noticed she gave in, he lowered the bubble. Pink hadn't noticed and just kept washing. Elusive and Sweetie Belle gave her some privacy. Sweetie Belle and Elusive walked into his room. Sweetie Belle shoved him onto the bed and began to cuddle with him. Elusive smiled wide and turned his head to look at her. In the background was a large, electric displayed, clock. It read 10:15. “Crap...” Elusive groaned. “What’s wrong?” Sweetie asked. “I planned to hang out with Dusk and Rumble today,” he said. “Oh...” Sweetie began glumly, she perked up when a thought occurred to her. “OH can I come, Scootaloo will probably be there.” The nervousness in her voice betrayed that she really just wanted to spend more time with him. He smiled wide. He nodded, standing up, and holding out a hoof. She took it in her own and they checked on Pink. “Squeaky clean!” Pink beamed, showing off her newly clean coat. “Yes you are, and without all the dirt you look that much cuter!” Sweetie Belle teased. Pink blushed bright and trotted to her room. Elusive stopped her and hugged her. She returned his hug and continued on towards her room. “Alright lets go Sweets,” Elusive said. Sweetie Belle nodded and followed him to the door. Elusive held the door open like any gentlecolt would. Sweetie Belle knew Rarity was going to adore him. She pecked him on the cheek before continuing out the door. Elusive blushed but smiled as he followed her. -Back at Dusk’s- “We live day to day now, we stick together!” said the actor on The Trotting Dead. The fillies and colts were getting drowsy because this was a rerun they saw 5 episodes earlier. Only differences between then and now are that Applebloom was leaning on Rumble dozing in and out of reality, and that Scootaloo and Dusk had, slowly but surely, drifted to each other and were currently cuddling on the loveseat, ironically. Scootaloo had her eyes closed, hooves wrapped around Dusk, and head on his chest slowly falling asleep herself. Dusk and Rumble looked at each other, then the fillies sleeping on them, and air brohoofed. After their average teen boy ritual was done they looked at the fillies sleeping on them. Dusk smiled wide and wrapped his hooves around her neck, pulling her closer. Scootaloo sighed happily. She nuzzled his chest and put her ear to his ribs and let his heart rock her to sleep. Applebloom was leaning into Rumble, her head buried into his neck, hoof on his chest, and her other hoof around his back. Rumble was smiling the dumbest teenager smile anypony has ever seen... in the last five minutes. She nuzzled his neck and and fully drifted to sleep. Rumble smiled and laid his head onto Applebloom’s, nodding off as well. Dusk smiled at his friends. He did everything he could to stay awake. He almost failed before he heard a soft knock on the door. He was going to get up and get the door but Scootaloo had him pinned to the couch. The knock recurred again, only louder. His friends stirred. He did not want them to wake up so he used his magic to open the door for the unknown visitors. When Dusk saw that it was Elusive and Sweetie Belle, he waved them in. Elusive and Sweetie Bell walked in with confused smiles. Elusive whispered into Dusk’s ear asking what was going on. Dusk’s answer made him stifle a laugh. Sweetie Belle was still standing there confused as Elusive returned to her. “Apparently we are taking a nap before we go out and have fun,” Elusive said, a hint of laughter in his voice. Sweetie Belle mentally giggled. “I guess we should join them,” Elusive coyly added. Sweet Celestia AGAIN WITH THE VOICE!? Sweetie Belle screamed in her mind. Elusive made a move to sit on a chair but Dusk stopped him with his magic. Elusive tilted his head at Dusk’s actions. Dusk wore and evil smirk as he levitated two body pillows and a blanket to his friend. Elusive caught on and smiled at Dusk. Sweetie Belle caught on as well. She blushed brightly when Elusive put the pillows down next to her. He plopped onto the pillows covering them both. Sweetie Belle’s face morphed into a slightly seductive pout, “You aren’t gonna share?” she, rhetorically, asked. Elusive blushed and moved himself so she had room. Sweetie Belle laid down, more on Elusive than the pillow, and closed her eyes. She nuzzles his chest before she said, “Much better.” Elusive’s blushed brighter when she wrapped her hooves around him, pulling herself closer to him. He wrapped his hooves around her and drifted off to sleep. Sweetie Belle traced a hoof up and down Elusive’s chest, slowly but surely drifting to sleep herself. Dusk looked around the room, wearing a toothy grin. This was perfect. His two best friends being cradled by girls who, clearly, love them. They looked so content and happy. Dusk sighed. Too bad I don’t have somepony who loves me... he thought sadly. Well there is Scootaloo, but nah she doesn’t love me... Dusk thought, dumbly oblivious to the fact that she was sleeping on him. He smiled still happy for his friends. He looked down at Scootaloo, who was blushing faintly and smiling. He nuzzled her mane, which cause Scoot to subconsciously grumble about nuzzles, and kissed her forehead. She smiled, blushed brighter, and snuggled in closer to him. Dusk smiled wider at her and slipped into a dreamland, a dreamland that has Scootaloo as it’s main topic. Dusk was the first to wake of the ponies. He shook his head softly, some of his mane fell into his face. He moved the hair from his face and looked around. Everyone was still asleep. His smile returned with force. His mind wandered as he sat there in silence looking at his sleeping friends. He leaned back and let out a content sigh, now staring at the ceiling. He felt a weight shift on top of him, followed by seeing Scootaloo’s tired, smiling, face. He noticed her eyes were half lidded, hinting that she may still be a bit asleep. “Hey Duskie,” Scootaloo said, smiling wider. “Hey Sleepaloo,” Dusk retorted with a smile of his own. She shook her head and leaned a bit closer to him. She whispered, “Clever.” Dusk blushed at the tone in her voice. She leaned closer and nuzzled him. He was about to go off on another, she can nuzzle him but it can’t work the other way around, rampage, when Scootaloo put a hoof to his lips. “Shh,” she hushed. Dusk’s eyes widened, blush brightened, and heart beated faster. Scootaloo smiled at the effect she was having on him. She leaned closer and nuzzled his cheek. He was, once again, going to make a comment only to be stopped when Scootaloo kissed his cheek. She looked at him with half lidded eyes. Dusk looked at her smirking. “Can’t resist, can you?” Dusk teased. “No, no I can’t,” Scootaloo answered with a sultry tone. She leaned closer to him. Their lips were inches apart. Dusk smirked when he saw Scoots lower lip quivering, just begging to be kissed. He made no move to oblige. Dusk loved torturing Scootaloo, it usually lead to him getting hit but he didn’t mind, she was so cute when she wanted something but couldn’t get it. Normally he would end up giving her what she wanted but not until he enjoyed seeing her squirm and complain for what she wanted. Something about Scootaloo right now that made him want nothing more than give her what she wanted. Dusk didn’t notice that now his lip was quivering too. Scootaloo noticed this. Sweet Sweet revenge. She mused in her mind. Dusk however would have none of that. He leaned up and kissed her softly and pulled away. Scootaloo gasped and blushed bright. She then smiled wide and leaned down to kiss him back. She almost made contact when his hoof came gently to her lips. “Not here, not now,” Dusk said. He motioned his hoof around the room. Scootaloo realized why he didn’t want to continue kissing her. Their friends were waking up. Scootaloo managed what could only be described as a frown and a smile at the same time. “Ok...” she whispered into his ear, “but I’m not done with you yet.” Dusk blushed at what she said and waited for what she was about to do. He waited... and waited... and waited. She put a hoof over his mouth and punched him, hard, in the chest. His yelp of pain was muffled by her hoof. He pulled her hoof from his mouth. “Ow, not cool!” He complained. She just smiled, moved down his body, and lay her head on his chest. His heartbeat lulled her into a daze once again. Dusk tried to stay mad but knew he couldn’t. He looked down at Scootaloo’s purple mane. Just as wind whipped as I’ve ever seen it. He thought, smiling. His eyelids grew heavy and he drifts off once again as his other friends wake up. Elusive, Rumble, and Applebloom woke up just as Dusk slipped back to sleep. They all looked around from their spots, seeing if anypony else was awake. Applebloom was the first to notice she wasn’t the only one awake when she felt Rumble looking around. Without so much as a forethought she nuzzled his neck, not caring who saw. Rumble blushed and smiled, squeezing Applebloom a little tighter. She squeaked softly and continued to nuzzle his neck. Elusive didn’t notice really, he was focused on the filly sleeping on him. Elusive nuzzled the top of Sweetie Belle’s head, that foreign feeling from earlier has returned. Not that he minds, he likes the feeling, it’s just new to him. Sweetie Belle felt his nuzzle through her dream which cause her to wake up. She moved a little, then realized that she had been sleeping on Elusive. He smiled and nuzzled her again, showing that he was awake. She nuzzled his chest in return. Sweetie Belle leaned up and kissed his cheek. Elusive blushed and looked down at the filly. Sweetie was wearing an impish smirk. He leaned down and nosed her forehead. She laid her head back on his chest. They laid there in each others hooves, waiting for anypony else to make a move until they broke apart. Scootaloo woke up next. She looked up and Dusk, noticing he was still asleep. She looked around the room and saw that the others were awake. She got off of Dusk and made sure he stayed asleep. He stirred, grasping for where Scootaloo had been. She grabbed a pillow and put it in his hooves. Scootaloo tiphoofed to Rumble and Applebloom. “Hey guys you wanna see something funny?” Scootaloo whispered. They nodded and waited for whatever Scootaloo was going to do. She walked to Sweets and Elusive, asked the same thing, then went to the kitchen after they nodded. She held a glass of freezing, cold, water, walking towards Dusk. The others caught on and stifled laughs as she drew closer. She tossed the water onto Dusk and watched as chaos unfolded. Dusk woke up with a start. “Ahh, what the buck!” he screamed, his friends burst into laughter. Dusk looked around frantically looking for what had happened. wet coat, wet loveseat, everypony laughing, Scootaloo with a glass. Dusk mentally calculated. “Faust damn it Scootaloo!” he said. Scootaloo looked at him with a devilish smirk and a cocky look in her eyes. He ran to her and made it look like he was going to tackle her. She didn’t even flinch, still wearing the same look. She set the glass down before Dusk said, “You asked for it!” She punched him in the chest before he could nuzzle her. “No nuzzles!” Scootaloo stated. Dusk just smiled. The others were still laughing like none other. Dusk suddenly felt a strange disturbance. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand. “Uhh... I gotta... use the bathroom really quick, be right back,” Dusk said. The others nodded. He left the room as they started talking about random things. Dusk snuck to his room and looked out of the window. Then he saw it. He snuck out the back door. -Outside of Dusk’s house- How dare that slut do this after rejecting me! Bronze Hair thought from behind his hiding spot in the bushes. He’d been there since Rumble and Applebloom arrived. He had a close call and was almost seen by Elusive and Sweetie Belle. Stupid bitch dare to sleep with somepony else after what she did to me! Bronze mentally cursed. He watched Scootaloo’s stupid prank as it went on. Stupid foals. He thought. He watched Dusk walk out of the room saying something about going to the bathroom. Now he watched as his stupid slut chit chatted with the four other morons. What a dumb bi- He almost finished thinking before being lifted into the air by magic. “WHO THE BUCK ARE YOU!?” Dusk yelled at Bronze. “WHAT’S IT TO YOU!” Bronze countered. “Oh, no reason just, YOUR OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE WATCHING MY FRIENDS!” Dusk yelled. “THAT STUPID SLUT IN THERE OWES ME!” Bronze accidentally admitted. Dusk was mad as Tartarus and galloped, carrying Bronze with him, to the front door. He opened it and threw Bronze in, holding him down with his magic. “DO ANY OF YOU KNOW HIM!?” Dusk screamed. Everypony looked at the pinned pony. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Elusive were confused. Applebloom and Rumble, however, were pissed. “Bronze Hair whatr ya doin here!” Applebloom questioned. Bronze went to answer but before he could say anything Rumble had a hoof on his temple, pressing down somewhat forcefully. “THIS BUCKER TRIED TO RAPE APPLEBLOOM LAST NIGHT!” Rumble fumed. Now Sweetie, Elusive, and Scoot were pissed. Dusk, however, had reached a level of pissed he’d hoped to never see again. “Get away from him Rumble,” Dusk said softly, his voice dripping with anger. “But--” Rumble said. “BACK OFF!” Dusk screamed. Rumble knew about this pissed off state that Dusk was in, but had never seen in first hoof. He backed away from Bronze hair and left him at Dusk’s disposal. The three fillies looked at Dusk with fear in their eyes. Elusive and Rumble were ready to pounce on Dusk to stop him from doing something he may regret. Dusk lifted Bronze to the doorway in his magic. Bronze looked at Dusk, back towards the door, seething with rage. “Leave now or regret it,” Dusk warned. This only made Bronze more angry. “Oh yeah, and what if i do-” Bronze almost mocked, before being interrupted by Dusk’s hoof squeezing his throat. “Get. The. Buck. Out. Of. My. HOUSE!” Dusk punctuated every word before throwing Bronze through the doorway. Bronze landed outside of the house on his back, gasping, breathless, and scared. He galloped away as fast as his hooves could carry him. Dusk closed the door slowly. He stood there for a moment bathing in his rage. He turned to his friends calming down. The fillies were scared out of their minds and his two best friends still ready to stop him in case he did something. When he saw Scootaloo standing there scared, his heart sank so low that the anger was gone instantly, followed only by depression and regret. “I... I... I’m sorry,” He said before sprinting to his room tears flowing down his face. Elusive was the first to sprint up the stairs, followed closely by Rumble. The Crusaders stood there mouth agape in fear and awe. Scootaloo suddenly felt her own heart sink. “Lets go check on him,” Scootaloo said. The other two nodded and followed her up the stairs only to find Elusive and Rumble standing outside of his door. “Ho-how is he?” Scootaloo stammered. “He locked the door and put a magic field around it,” Elusive answered fearfully. “Then how do we get to him?” Scootaloo hopelessly asked. Elusive just shook his head glumly. Scootaloo began to cry. She banged on the door and yelled, “Dusk! Dusk let me in it’s Scoot!” No answer. Elusive put a hoof on her shoulder. “He can only come out on his own... there is no way in,” Elusive said sorrowfully. “No! No I refuse to believe that!” She screamed. She repeatedly slammed on the door screaming out to Dusk hoping he would answer. He never did. She collapsed onto the floor sobbing. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom tried to comfort her. They did everything they could to cheer her up but to no avail. Scootaloo suddenly shot up and sprinted down the stairs and out the door. The other four stood there exchanging worried looks. Scootaloo jumped and tried to fly. She tried with all her might but she just couldn’t. After all these years she had still not been taught how to fly. She resorted to climbing up to his room using vines that lined his house. She made a leap to his window sill and threw the window open. She dove inside and looked for Dusk. He looked at her from his bed, his eyes red and puffy. Scootaloo galloped to him, her eyes equally as red and puffy. She dove onto him, hugging him. “DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN DUSK!” Scootaloo screamed, “I WAS SO WORRIED!” she squeezed him tightly. She was crying heavily into his chest holding him closer with every word. “DUSK NEVER, EVER, EVER, DO THAT AGAIN! LET US IN NEXT TIME SO WE CAN HELP!” Scootaloo screamed. Dusk was lost, he thought she was yelling at him about what he did to Bronze, not about not letting them in. He just lay there waiting. Scootaloo ran out of words. She leaned her head back and looked at him teary eyed. Dusk stared into her eyes and wiped the tears from her eyes. He placed his hoof on her cheek. She leaned her head onto it, closing her eyes, savoring the contact and progress she made on getting him to open up. She looked past his hoof and into his eyes. He stared back into hers. Scootaloo leaned down and kissed him square on the lips. The sheer, raw, emotion being transferred through the kiss was overwhelming. Their lips were locked for minute after minute. When the abundance of emotion began to wear thin, they broke the kiss and held each other. “Scootaloo I’m sorry,” Dusk apologized. “It’s ok Dusk,” Scootaloo said, with a blissfully happy look in her eyes. Dusk smiled and nuzzled her forehead. For once she didn’t care much, she merely said, “Don’t.” They left the nuzzles at that. They held each other a good long time, smiling all the while. -Outside the door- The other four listened to Scootaloo scream until it came to a sudden halt. They looked at each other. Three of them nervous. Elusive however was smiling. “Wahy are ya smiling?” Applebloom asked. “I know Dusk well enough to know Scoot broke through to him,” Elusive answered happily. The others smiled now as well. The four sat there and waited for Scootaloo and Dusk to come out. After a long while the two finally came out. They were leaning into each other smiling. “Ahehheh, sorry about that guys,” Dusk apologized. “Don’t worry about it Dusk,” Rumble reassured. Applebloom and Sweetie nodded in agreement. Elusive held out a hoof. Dusk bumped it with his own. All six of them walked down Dusk’s home’s hallway. They were all smiling contently. Dusk and Scootaloo brought up the rear. Scootaloo then suddenly remembered a question she’s been meaning to ask. “Hey Dusk I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Scootaloo said. “What might that be Scoots?” Dusk asked. “Where is your dad, I mean I’ve never seen him,” Scootaloo asked. Dusk suddenly stopped walking and stood rigid. Elusive and Rumble stopped as well, with pained expressions on their face. They’ve heard this hundreds of times but it never gets easier to hear. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked at each other nervously. “He... um... kind of...” Dusk fumbled with his words. Scootaloo looked at him anxiously. Dusk cleared his throat before continuing, “He... killed himself.”