//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: Deceit in Everfree // Story: Of Insanity and Discovery // by anonymous_brony //------------------------------// Of Insanity and Discovery Ch. 3 If there was one pony that I looked up to more than Applejack, it was Scootaloo. This orange pegasus was a beacon of light in a world of fear and loathing. She showed me that even a pony like me, a pony with no parents, might survive in this horrid, hate filled world of Equestria. I was so lost in thought at the moment that I almost missed what Scootaloo said next. "Pinkie knew you weren't dead." Scootaloo sighed glancing to my left. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Pinkie thought that Twilight was alive? Didn't she see the blast that destroyed Ponyville? It sounded crazy! But if there was one thing that I knew from my time with Pinkie Pie, it was that she knew things. Things that make no sense but happen to be true. This time however I have proof that she was wrong. "What did you say twilight?" Scootaloo asked looking into my eyes, but seemed to not be looking at me but almost as if there was someone else in my place. "I didn't say anyth-" I was answering when Scootaloo cut me off. "Oh..." Scootaloo said her face falling. "Pinkie Pie died protecting me from the Empire. It happened about two years after the bombing of Ponyville..." "Scootaloo!" Pinkie Pie shouted energetically. "It's time to get up!" Scootaloo groaned, trying to get back to the dream that she was having. A beautiful dream in which her mom and dad were still alive. They were having a Christmas dinner of roasted, cinnamon apples with brown sugar sprinkled oats. In the center of this great meal was a gigantic present, roughly the size of that Blue Box Ponyville used to have. This present was in a bright red wrapping, with golden ribbon, and a note that said: To Scootaloo, The best daughter parents could hope for. Love Mom and Dad Scootaloo knew that inside of this was all her hopes and dreams that she had ever had. She was about to open this gift when Pinkie Pie woke her up, and made sure that she would never know what was inside that present. "Get up sleepy head! You know that little ponies aren't supposed to sleep this late!" Pinkie happily shouted. Even after the destruction of her home town and most of the ponies living there died. Pinkie Pie was still a bundle of overactive energy. "Pinkie, it's not even light out. Why are you waking me up?" Scootaloo responded, groggily rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "The early bird gets the worm silly, you know that." That being said, Pinkie got up and hopped out the door of Scootaloo's bedroom. "Just for once I wish I didn't get the worm." Scootaloo said feeling sorry for herself. Every single day that she had been with Pinkie Pie living in the Everfree Forest, Pinkie had woken her up two hours before the sun rose. Excepting the fact that no one will ever understand Pinkie, and the fact she will never know what was in the gift. She sleepily rolled herself out of bed and glanced around her room. On the wall to the left of the bed was an ornate mirror with expertly carved leafy designs on the edges. And above the door was a picture of Scootaloo's parents hugging a newborn filly, how Pinkie had gotten this picture Scootaloo had no idea. When ever she had asked how Pinkie had gotten not only the fine things in her room, the picture included, but the things that were perfectly placed all around the cabin, Pinkie would just giggle and spout some nonsense about being able to find things. Something hit Scootaloo just then. It was Christmas! No wonder her dream last night was about it. Scootaloo stopped looking around her room and dashed into the dining room. Right in the center of this perfectly decorated room was a table stacked full of delicacies, cinnamon roasted apples and brown sugar oats. Another of Pinkie Pie's powers: dream replication. Not only did she get the food right, but in the middle of the table was a large present, wrapped in bright red wrapping paper with a golden bow, and coming down the side of this great wrapped present was a tag that read: To Scootaloo, The best friend a pony could have. Love Pinkie Pie. Scootaloo was just about rip into this gift when pinkie came up next to her and jokingly scolded. "Scootaloo, you know that you're not supposed to open presents until tonight." "But Pinkie-" Scootaloo started to whine but pinkie cut her off. "Nope, you know the rules silly, no presents until the night time." Although she said this in a cheery voice, Scootaloo knew all too well that slight steely edge in her voice that bid no argument. Realizing the futility of the matter Scootaloo turned her thoughts away from the wrapped gift before her and to the delicious food that was spread out before her; the oats were perfectly roasted and the sweetness exploded on her tongue. And the apples, oh the apples had that juiciness that could have only come from Sweet Apple Acers, which again made no sense considering that Sweet Apple Acers was burned to the ground not long after the bombing of Ponyville. Scootaloo glanced up at Pinkie Pie when she was finished eating. Pinkie Pie, also having finished her breakfast, was standing up to leave. "Do you really have to go today?" Scootaloo pleaded. Every day for the two years Scootaloo had been there Pinkie Pie had left to go deeper into the Everfree Forest. "Uh huh." Pinkie answered, her face falling slightly. "But it's Christmas!" Scootaloo argued. "Who could be so important to meet that it can't wait one more day!?" Scootaloo had started shouting now. Pinkie Pie was in charge of the largest black market at the time, supplying the rebellion with things from weapons to water closets (Yes I said water closets, don't question Pinkie Pie!). "Scootaloo if it was anypony else I could just go and tell them 'Sorry I can't work today because I'm going to have a supperdy dupper, funnerific day with my best friend' but I can't do that today because… because today it's a friend I haven't seen in a really long time." Pinkie's face grew long at the thought of leaving Scootaloo, but her mind was made up, she would go. "Then at least let me go with you this time." Scootaloo said her voice quavering at the realization that it was futile trying to convince her to stay. "Not this time." Pinkie answered, a rare sad tone entering her voice. "This time I want you to get a party ready for tonight; (giggle) that present is going to be an ultraly huge surprise." With that pinkie got up and hopped out the door with a big, fake, smile on her lips, thus leaving Scootaloo all alone in the cabin. Scootaloo looked around at the now empty cabin, hating Pinkie pie for leaving her. It's was Christmas. How could she leave me here on Christmas! Scootaloo thought. Her gaze coming to rest on a pair of snow shoes, a small grin crossed her face as she knew what she was going to do. She was going to find out who this pony was that was so special that she could pull Pinkie Pie away from her on Christmas. Gathering up all the tracking equipment needed Scootaloo set out determined to find were Pinkie Pie had gone. (Now let me tell you something tracking Pinkie Pie was not as easy as one would think.) It started off easy for Scootaloo to follow the mild bouncing that was Pinkie's preferred way of travel, notice the word 'started', because after a while of following the bouncing, the track started to get a little hectic. No longer was the path a bouncing trail that was easy to follow, oh no, this path started to run through rabbit holes and under bird nests, over lakes and through trees. Yes, her path was a little hectic. After about an hour of this random trail she found herself coming toward a perfectly round clearing. The exact center of the Everfree Forest. Scootaloo was about to run out into this clearing and demand to know who Pinkie Pie was waiting for, but before she could, a light orange pony came out of the other side of the Everfree Forest. Scootaloo gasped as she realized that the orange mare was none other than Apple Blooms older sister Applejack. "Hi Applejack!" Pinkie Pie shouted, fake happiness emanating off her like a picture of a flame, but she still faked it well enough to make Applejack believe otherwise. Applejack on the other hoof, was in no way as good as Pinkie Pie in hiding her feelings. Scootaloo could see that even though Applejack had a smile on her face, it was forced, not to mention she was shaking like a leaf. "Howdy Pinkie Pie, you got the information ah ordered? " "Yep, Macintosh and Apple Bloom and doing fantasticaly good in Canterlot!" Pinkie exclaimed true happiness in her voice once again. "Macintosh is still the unquestioned leader of the rebellion up there . Oh and Applebloom got her cutie mark!" "Really!?" This outburst had taken Applejack by surprise. "What is it?" "It's a big sparkly torch!" Pinkie responded joyfully "A torch?" Applejack asked skeptically. "Why'd it be a torch? What's her special talent? Fire startin'?" "Truth! You know how she was always absolutely wonderfully good with her Imagination and creativity? Well now she's the number one interrogator pony who can get anypony to not only talk but to tell the truth!" Applejack was utterly horrified by the prospect. "You saying that Applebloom is now torturing ponies for information!?" Applejack shouted, hating the thought. "Oh no Applejack. Applebloom has found out that if she uses the kung fu of hers, she can hit different nerves and pressers points to shut off blood to all lying sections of the pony brain." Pinkie explained trying to calm down Applejack. "Wow for a second there ah thought that Applebloom was hurting ponies and ah just couldn't stand that thought." Applejack slumped staring at the ground in defeat. With a deep breath in Applejack asked. "Trixie, are you ready yet?" As Scootaloo watched, Trixie walked out into the open, her official Empire uniform blending into the surrounding foliage. "I was ready a longtime ago, but this was such a beautiful reunion I just couldn't break it up." Trixie said, a smirk as large as her ego plastered on her face. "Oh and just to let you know Applejack." She said as she levitated the sniper rifle off her back. "The name is The Great and Powerful Trixie." On the word Trixie, she shot Pinkie Pie through the heart.