//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Awakening // Story: Silent Past // by Speedy //------------------------------// Silent past Chapter 2:The Awakening Scootaloo landed muzzle first into the ground. Ignoring the pain, she tried to stand as the shock set in. Looking around wild-eyed with fear she watched the sky darken and the landscape around the path burst into flames. Scootaloo couldn’t help but look on in complete terror and fear. Backing away as the flickering flames crept closer she bumped into something. In fear, she covered her head with her forelegs and curled into a ball. “NONONONONONONO. Please don’t hurt me!” she cried out. “Hey are you alright??” a familiar voice asked. Trembling, she slowly moved her hoof to see Rainbow Dash back to normal. “R-R-Rain...” she tried to say the mare’s name but the shock still held her. “What’s with your screaming and running off like that?” Rainbow asked, obviously worried and a little upset with the filly’s behaviour. “D-Don’t you see what’s happening!?” Scootaloo said, before getting extremely confused by the normality of her surroundings. “T-The trees...caught fire...the sky..?” “Did you hit your head hard or something?” Rainbow asked a little worried, but Scootaloo ignored the question as she continued to list off the horrifying visions. “The Cakes...you were eating them!” she yelled. “Wait WHAT!?” Rainbow asked, getting worried as Scootaloo continued. “The room started to rot...and the Cakes...oh Celestia you were EATING them!” “I don’t follow...didn’t you say red velvet cake was your favorite? Mr. and Mrs. Cake helped Sweetie Belle and Applebloom make the cake specially for you. Where did you get the...” Rainbow was cut off as Scootaloo suddenly hugged her. “It was so real...I got scared a-and...” Scootaloo went silent as she hugged Rainbow even tighter. Being confronted with such a fragile pony, Rainbow awkwardly patted Scootaloo’s back, unsure of how to proceed. “Maybe it was all the sugar you ate, you gulped those cupcakes down like there was no tomorrow.” Rainbow suggested, hoping she was doing this comforting thing right. “B-But...” Scootaloo replied looking up into her face. “Hey it’s OK! It was just your sugar high playing tricks on you.” Rainbow said, hoping it made sense. “Let’s head back, I’ll show you everything is alright.” Scootaloo looked up at her idol. She felt safe with Rainbow, so with a slight nod she agreed. As she turned to retrieve her scooter she noticed Rainbow do a quick hoof pump and mouth, “nailed it!” After they returned to Sugarcube Corner, Scootaloo apologized for her strange behaviour. She felt embarrassed as she explained why she’d run away because everything seemed normal just like Rainbow said. The Cakes were alive and well, and her friends were only covered in small flecks of icing, well except for Pinkie. The party pony had a beard of frosting on her face. “Guess you special talent isn’t eating cupcakes?” Applebloom joked, as she and Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo a group hug. “You gals are the best. I‘m so glad your my friends.” Scootaloo said, enjoying the comforting warmth. “Let’s turn that frown upside down, she still needs to open hhheeerrr PRESENTS!” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted, upturning a bag full of brightly wrapped gifts over the fillies. With bright eyes, Scootaloo started ripping the wrapping paper off of the various gifts, giving thanks everything before was a hallucination. After another hour, Scootaloo’s party was finally over. Even though the party had started a little awkward, she still felt it was the best. She’d even tried some of the cake her friends made, it had been delicious. Now that the party was over, Scootaloo and her friends started to clean up, while Rainbow Dash dragged Pinkie Pie home. The mare had partied herself out and fallen asleep, with her head in a cupcake. Using her wings to create a draft, Scootaloo quickly blew the confetti into a dustpan and emptied it into a trash bag as a knock came from the bakery door. “Seems like they had a pretty swell shindig. Did you see Dash carrying Pinkie, and here I was thinking she didn’t have an off button.” Applejack exclaimed to Rarity as they entered the room. With a quick farewell hug, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said goodbye and trotted over to their sisters. Giving a sigh, Scootaloo watched as her two PFF’s left, remembering painfully what was waiting for her. “Thanks for the party... sorry about slipping out earlier...” Scootaloo said to the remaining guest, packing her last birthday gifts into the scooter wagon Cheerilee had given her. “Ah it’s alright, just be careful with the sweets next time.” Cheerilee told her with a smile. “I will, hope to see you tomorrow in class.” Scootaloo said, putting on her helmet and zooming away on her scooter, wagon in tow. Now that it was getting dark, Scootaloo zoomed along slowly as she squinted into the darkness. Looking ahead, she barely managed to avoid colliding with a stallion, on an evening gallop “Watch where you're going.” Scootaloo shouted over her shoulder, feeling like she’d seen that brownest jacket and hat somewhere before. As the orphanage came into view, she could feel the loneliness creep into her heart. “Guess I’m all alone again.” she said, parking her scooter in it’s usual place and placed her helmet on the handlebars. She ignored the silence of the orphanage, she made her way into her room and jumped into bed, hating the fact she had to sleep another night here. Turning on her side she suddenly noticed a gift. Investigating, she noticed that it had a card with familiar handwriting. “Sugar Snap can be pretty awesome sometimes.” she whispered with a smile, letting the unopened card fall as she unwrapped the gift. Underneath the wrapping paper, was a small hoof-carved box with mysterious symbols engraved in it. Opening the lid she noticed it held a small disk. Scootaloo was trying to think what it could be as she took it out and stared at it, it had such weird markings and writing she couldn’t make out. “What is this?” she finally blurted out. turning the disk over a couple times, she finally noticed that the markings could be moved around. “A puzzle? Well it’s the weirdest puzzle I ever saw.” Scootaloo laid down in her bed as she started to move the markings around, trying to solve it. Nearly an hour past without notice as the markings started to fall in place as a larger symbol started to take shape. “Just a little bit more...Ah ha!” with an excited shout she set the last marking in place, fully making a symbol that made her head ache slightly. “I know this symbol...” Scootaloo said, trying to remember where she’d seen it as the markings started to glow. As she tried to remember, an ear piercing sound started to keen. “AH!?!?” trying to mute the noise, she dropped the glowing disc and covered her ears with her hooves. Barely changing anything she heard the sound increase in volume. Becoming unbearable she put her head under her pillow trying to muffle the noise even further, knocking the disc off her bed in the process. Immediately the noise stopped and she heard the muffled thud as the disc hit the ground. Keeping her head under the pillow, she waited for the noise to start up again. After a few silent minutes passed, she noticed a chill crawl up her back. Lifting her head the first thing she noticed was that the pillow was gone and replaced with cotton candy. Then with a gasp she took in the rest of her surroundings. Her room in the orphanage was gone and what replaced it was a festival with a grinning clown for an entrance. I must be dreaming, she thought. Startled to feel a hoof on her back, Scootaloo quickly turned. Beside her was a mare with a white coat, pink mane and a cutie mark that was blocked by a saddlebag, smiling warmly at her. “Scootaloo, you’ll need to hurry to get on all the rides” the mare said to her. “Who are you?” Scootaloo asked with a confused look. “Why I’m your mother of course, you silly filly.” the mare answered, giving Scootaloo’s nose a playful bop. A feeling of euphoria came over Scootaloo when she heard those words. Galloping towards the festival entrance she gave a shout. “Best. Dream. EVER!” Slowing to a trot, she entered the festival with the mare and proceeded to enjoy the various games and rides. As they walked from one of the roller coasters to a small fishing game, Scootaloo felt somepony calling out her name. Looking around she noticed a strange ride. It looked like a merry-go-round but had pony statues for seats and seemed to be powered by a clockwork stallion. Giving the mare’s leg a quick pat, Scootaloo pointed out the strange ride. “Can we try that ride?” she asked as the other mare gave a small grimace. “Why would you want to ride on that. Theres so many other wonderful rides here in Silent Hill.” the mare responded, her voice strained. Feeling someone call her name again, Scootaloo was sure it came from the bizarre merry-go-round this time. Glancing around she suddenly noticed how the other ponies at the fair were slowly walking towards her, eyes staring hungrily. “Yes stay with us Scootaloo. It’s so much fun here in Silent Hill.” Backing towards the merry-go-round, she truly believed it would be the only thing that could save her from these ponies. Stepping onto the ride she heard a muffled groan from the clockwork pony as it started to move. As the merry-go-round turned faster and faster a wall of flames sprung out of the ground, burning the approaching ponies to ash. Seeing the horrific deaths she tried to look away, but every way she turned she could see the ponies burning in droves. That’s when she got a better look at the rides seats. They were impaled ponies fashioned into poses using steel rods. Jumping as a hoof landed on her shoulder, she fearfully turned to see...herself. “Leave this place. You are not welcome here in Silent Hill.” her twin said, as an unknown force drew Scootaloo away.