//------------------------------//
// A Town Called Appleoosa 
// Story: The Master Game 
// by WanderingPhysicist 
//------------------------------//

        Sweetie Belle groans as she makes her way through a train. She is careful not to let anypony too near her new dress from Rarity, and her new hat is fitted with a hole for her horn. She has another long mission and has a car all to herself. That is what she thinks until she reaches her car.
        ‘Hey, Sweetie Belle!’
        The unicorn stares into her formerly private car with a combination of surprise and annoyance. Waiting for her, an orange pegasus sits on one of the benches. The guest smiles and removes a rainbow wig from her purple mane.
        ‘What are you doing here, Scootaloo?’ Sweetie huffs.
        ‘I saw ya on the platform,’ Scootaloo replies, ‘so I got on the station’s network and added one to your car.’
        Sweetie groans and sits on the opposite bench.
        ‘So, where ya headed?’ Scootaloo asks.
        ‘I have a, uh, meeting in Appleoosa.’
        ‘Sweet! I’m off to the Wonderbolts show in Appleanta. Dash is hooking me up with backstage passes and stuff.’ She squishes her cheeks together. ‘So awesome!’
        Sweetie groans, drops her saddlebag and settles into her seat, pulling her hat over her eyes.

        The overnight train ride is relatively calm. The two friends spend the time gossiping and sharing the bags of Neighponese snacks Rei gave to Scootaloo. A few hundred kilometers from Buffalo territory, the young mares relax in their private car. Scootaloo plays a hoofheld game while she holds a whole box worth of Pocky in her mouth. Sweetie Belle rests in a trance-like state. Suddenly, the unicorn snaps to attention and dives to the ground.
        ‘Take cover!’ she shouts.
        ‘Huh?’
        There is a loud whistle and a snap. The train car starts slowing down.
        ‘Crap. That was just the warning shot. Get down!’
        Scootaloo looks around confused. There is another whistle and a large explosion knocks the train car off the tracks. The two ponies tumble around. Sweetie ends up hanging from her bench; Scootaloo, kissing the nearest window. Sweetie drops and pulls a cloak from her saddlebag.
        ‘Get up. We have to get out of here.’
        Scootaloo looks up, her head spinning. ‘No, Featherweight. You have to be on top sometimes...’
        ‘Scootaloo!’
        The pegasus turns to her friend. ‘Yo.’
        Sweetie shrieks. Scoolaloo’s face is streaming blood from a gash going across her forehead. Scootaloo blinks and stares. Sweetie immediately starts digging through her supplies.
        ‘Something wrong?’
        ‘Your face! It is bleeding. We have to stop it.’
        Scootaloo touches her head and looks at the blood on her hoof. ‘Nah. I’m good. Just give me a moment.’
        ‘But you’re..!’ Sweetie stares as she sees the wound on her friend’s face visibly close. ‘How did you..?’
        ‘We all have our secrets, Miss Assassin.’
        ‘How did you know!’ Sweetie gasps.
        ‘The Daring Support Network works with the Trio all the time.’ Scootaloo wipes the last of the blood from her face. ‘Now, what are we doing about that friend of yours?’
        Sweetie Belle goes to side of the car and peeks out the damaged door. A glint in the distance gives her her target. A bullet whizzes through the capsized car.
        ‘Assassin! Come out and pla~y~!’ a voice taunts.
        ‘Damn it. He has us pinned down,’ Sweetie grumbles. She starts charging a spell. ‘I know a shield spell, but it might not be enough for both of us.’
        ‘Got ya.’ Scootaloo nods and stretches her wings. ‘I run distraction, and you catch the creep.’
        ‘That is not it at all! You stay here where it is safe’ -- a bullet whizzes through the car -- ‘and I’ll take care of him. You could get shot!’
        ‘Don’t worry. I had a big breakfast. Oh! When you do make a run for it, make sure you bring my bag. I’ll definitely need snacks afterwards.’
        Scootaloo slides open a window on the roof of the car and bolts out. Sweetie swears, pulls her hat down, casts her spell and dashes out of the car. She gallops for the nearest rocky formation. Another bullet impacts the shield before she gets to cover.
        ‘Hey! Jerkface! Up here!’ Scootaloo taunts.
        ‘Bonus round,’ the attacker grunts.
        Scootaloo dodges a bullet and starts doing complex aerial maneuvers to avoid more incoming fire. Sweetie growls and charges for her target’s hiding place. Bullets fly as the attacker tries to pick off both targets.
        ‘I didn’t think they would send the child,’ the attacker taunts and Sweetie gets close. ‘I would have thought I was a higher priority.’ An explosion causes the charging unicorn to take cover. ‘Or maybe you are no longer their golden child.’
        ‘It is over, Card Switch!’ Sweetie shouts as she adjusts her dress around her forelegs. ‘We have you surrounded.’
        A steel grey unicorn with mechanical wings steps out from under an outcrop. He is levitating a high-powered rifle to his eye. ‘Please. What is the worst your silly friend can do?’
        A stream of liquid lands on the stallion, causing him to scream in disgust.
        ‘Ah! Much better,’ Scootaloo sighs from above. ‘I was trying to hold it until we got to town, but, well...’
        Card Switch swings his gun upward. ‘You are disgusting!’
        Scootaloo laughs and dodges the bullets that are fired at her. Sweetie levitates several daggers from her robe and shoots them at Card Switch. They clip his wings, drawing his fire back to the hiding unicorn. As pieces of Sweetie’s rock fly off, she presses herself down as low as she can. She shoots the rest of her daggers, most of which go wide. Card Switch advances on the rock and levitates his gun over the barrier. Sweetie rolls out of the way and extends her hidden blades. Before she can stab her target, a barrage of laser fire cuts a line leading up to the Assassin and her victim. The two unicorns stop their attack and gallop back to Card Switch’s hideout.
        ‘Friends of yours?’ they accuse.
        ‘You know I work alone,’ the stallion retorts.
        ‘And it was just dumb luck I ran into... Scootaloo!’
        ‘On it!’ the pegasus shouts before flying away.
        ‘No! Get back here!’
        Card Switch laughs. ‘I’d go after her, but somepony decided to turn my wings into a cutting board.’
        ‘Blow it out your ass!’
        Sweetie Belle gallops after her friend. Card Switch steps out of hiding, shrugs, picks up his rifle and turns to trot away. A large shadow looms over the unicorn. He lowers his sunglasses to get a look at it with his good eye.
        ‘Buck me.’
…
        Scootaloo chases after her target as fast as her wings can take her. She almost catches up to what looks like a winged, balloon-less airship, barely the size of a pony. It appears to be propelled by rotable rockets at the end of the wings. The craft rotates a turret and fires a laser burst at its pursuer. The pegasus screams and tries dodging, but her wing gets clipped and she plummets to earth. Her fall is stopped by a magical cushion. Sweetie Belle catches up to Scootaloo, panting.
        ‘I thought you were trained to run forever or something like that,’ Scootaloo jokes.
        ‘Shut the buck up! You could have died.’
        ‘Thanks for the catch, by the way.’ Scootaloo gives her friend a peck on the cheek and trots back towards their wreck. ‘Did you bring my snacks?’
…
        Scootaloo flies a perimeter around the wrecked train car before waving her friend over. Sweetie Belle is amazed at how her friend can fly so soon after being shot in the wing. When the unicorn gets to the car, a Pocky stick is shoved into her face. Scootaloo devours the sticks she dropped during the crash.
        ‘A little dirty, but still good,’ the pegasus says as she gobbles the snack.
        ‘How can you eat at a time like this?’ Sweetie asks.
        ‘Gotta keep the strength up if I’m going to fly for help.’
        ‘Speaking of which, how can you be flying? You were shot by a laser!’
        ‘And then I healed. Duh.’ Scootaloo laughs and looks around nervously. ‘It isn’t like anypony said I might never be able to fly or anything. You were there when Nurse Redheart gave the class examinations. She said I just needed to develop muscle mass.’
        ‘What? No. I always knew you could fly. You’re a pegasus.’
        ‘Then why are you surprised I can fly now? Nothing weird about that.’
        Sweetie groans. ‘Whatever.’ She levitates more Pocky sticks from Scootaloo.
        The two friends sit and eat more of Scootaloo’s snacks before deciding they have had enough. Scootaloo steps outside and stretches her wings again. She is about to take off when she sniffs the air.
        ‘Trouble,’ the pegasus growls.
        She turns toward where Sweetie left Card Switch. Sweetie comes out of the shelter and looks. Card Switch slowly limps forward until he collapses a few hundred meters from the wreck. He reaches and tries dragging himself forward. The two young mares slowly creep towards the injured unicorn.
        ‘Help me,’ Card Switch rasps.
        ‘Why should we?’ Scootaloo demands. ‘By the way, you smell like piss.’
        ‘Gee. Whose fault is that? Just help me you, twa...’
        Scootaloo steps on Card Switch’s good hoof and turns away.
        ‘Scootaloo, if you know anything about my group, you know we seek legal justice first. I must help him.’
        ‘Whatever. I’ll tell Sheriff Silverstar to come with the rescue team to lock him up.’
        ‘Actually, you won’t.’
        Card Switch levitates a small sphere from under one of his damaged wings. The sphere activates, and a holographic projection of a scarred, hairless ape appears.
        `Greeting, equine creatures,` the projection states. `If your friend has lived long enough to deliver this, then he will attest to my ability to cause harm. If not, then that is an even better example. I was hired by one of you calling himself “The Master” or some such garbage. It doesn’t matter. The pay is enough. I am to eliminate the pair of you before moving to my next target. Something called a “Rainbow Dash”.`
        Scootaloo stomps the ground and growls.
        `Since I am a sporting gentleman, I will offer you this: you survive for three days and I let you live, reporting back that you are dead. Simple as that. Killing me is another way to win, but that is nearly an impossibility. Oh. And if you think you have a choice...`
        The projection changes to one of Appleoosa. There is a shimmering dome around the town.
        `I have your town as a hostage. Only way to deactivate the force field surrounding it is for one of us to win the game. I’ll give you some time to regroup and prepare yourself. Since I am nice, I’ll give you, oh, ten hours. Good luck. Oh. This message will self-destruct.`
        Sweetie Belle uses her magic to launch the sphere into the air before it explodes. She stops and looks down at Card Switch. ‘Where did you leave your gun?’
        ‘That thing destroyed it. Custom built parts everywhere. I could kill that thing. What was it anyway?’
        ‘It was a human.’
        ‘Pfft! No such thing as humans. Just superstitious nonsense. They barely teach you how to kill, and I guess they barely teach you anything else.’
        Sweetie steps over to the prone unicorn and extends a hidden blade right in front of his eyes. ‘How much of the horn do you want to lose? My big brother told me he'd rather be gelded without painkillers than crack it again.’
        Scootaloo trots away and spreads her wings. ‘You two stay here. I’ll be right back.’
        ‘Where are you going?’ Sweetie asks. ‘We can’t go to Appleoosa. It is sealed off. And Celestia knows how far it is to anywhere else.’
        ‘That is why I am going to find that hunter and take care of him first.’
        ‘Scootaloo, that is just insane! First of all, you don’t have nearly a third of the combat experience as either of us. Second, your only “intense” flying training is with Rei. You don’t even work weather patrol outside of Winter Wrap Up. I’m the only one in any condition to fight this guy.’
        ‘So, what? While you are out there, wandering the canyons trying to find him, me and pisshead are supposed to wait here for him to send the drone after us again? You need airpower!’
        ‘I can do this!’ Sweetie screams. ‘I was picked to go after Card Switch for a reason! I can handle some crazy alien in my sleep!’
        ‘You couldn’t even stop Card Switch without my help! Now this whole situation has gone to hell, and he smells worse than when you and Rarity would have burrito night!’
        ‘Again, whose fault is that?’ the injured stallion moans. ‘Now, can one of you get me some medical attention. It pains me to say it, but I think the only thing keeping me from infection is the annoying one’s urine.’
        ‘Hey! Sweetie Belle isn’t that annoying!’
        Sweetie clocks her friend on top of the head. ‘Let’s just get back to the train car. We can plan everything from there.’
        Scootaloo groans and trots back, leaving Sweetie Belle to levitate the injured pony.

        The wrecked train car has been made into a small camp for the three ponies. Card Switch has been bandaged and rests against a wall. The two young mares retrieved some supplies, notably water and a map, from Card Switch’s camp and are planning their next action.
        ‘I chased the drone over the desert, but I bet it came from the canyons,’ Scootaloo states.
        ‘Right. Because that makes sense,’ Sweetie groans.
        ‘Which one of us is a flyer? We can travel great distances and use that to redirect our enemies.’
        ‘Unless, of course, he was thinking that and wants us to trot right into a trap.’
        ‘That’s what I’d do,’ Card Switch interjects. ‘Rig the canyon with explosives and bury you.’
        ‘Listen, if we can knock down the drone, I can get into its flight recorder,’ Scootaloo says. ‘We eliminate the drone threat and get a leg up on the human.’
        ‘Not a human!’
        ‘Shut up, pisshead!’
        ‘That is a good idea...’ Sweetie hems, ‘but how do we get it down? You’re not a fighter, and I don’t know any offensive magic.’
        ‘Stink boy will help us.’
        ‘How? By acting as a stationary target while they shoot me to pieces?’
        ‘You buried explosives around your hideout, right? We just dig them up and...’
        ‘No map of where they are. I just spread them around willy nilly. I think I was drunk at the time.’
        ‘Okay...’ Scootaloo growls. ‘Plan B. I just use this.’
        The pegasus holds up Sweetie’s foreleg and pulls it down to reveal one of her gauntlets. The gauntlet has a gun built-in.
        ‘You don’t know how to use it,’ Sweetie complains.
        ‘I don’t need to. I just need to get close enough to put a bullet in the engine.’
        Sweetie frowns. ‘I don’t like that idea. It is too dangerous.’
        ‘Well, unless you can hit a target that flies faster than Rainbow Dash, it is the best we have.’
        Sweetie Belle grumbles and takes off her gauntlet. She gives it to Scootaloo who instantly straps it on.
        ‘Geez! You have skinny legs.’

        It is dark by the time the ten hours are up. The wait is wearing on the two mares as they become increasingly restless. Scootaloo watches the sky from atop the wrecked train car in between rounds of the hoofheld game she plays. Sweetie Belle patrols around the car, whistling a new song she is composing. The unicorn stops her patrol and groans. She steps towards the car to get a snack when a loud roar fills the air. She looks up to see the contrail of the drone passing overhead and Scootaloo taking to the sky after it. Scootaloo does not get far before the drone comes back.
        The drone hovers around the camp before it lowers its laser turret and fires at the ground-based targets. Sweetie uses her magic to shield herself and shoot back. Scootaloo charges at the drone, but it backs away and shoots at the pegasus. One of Sweetie’s bolts hit the drone. The drone performs a series of maneuvers to get away from the defenders and launches a number of small explosive charges. Sweetie hides under her shield. Scootaloo flies over the attack and aims the leg-mounted gun. She gets a shot off that hits the drone in an engine. The laser swings up and fires a volley at the pegasus. Scootaloo dodges and gets another shot off, shooting through a wing. The drone dips a bit, allowing it to get hit by another magic bolt. It launches more explosives, rotates its engines and takes off in the direction it came.
        ‘Wait here,’ Scootaloo says before chasing as fast as she can.
        ‘Get back here!’ Sweetie shouts as she chases after her friend.
        Scootaloo flaps her wings as hard and as fast as she can. She raises the gauntlet and takes aim as she slowly gains on the drone. Suddenly, the laser spins around and fires. Scootaloo is hit at the joint between her right wing and her body. The pegasus screams and falls. The drone retracts its laser and increases its speed.
        Scootaloo spirals toward the ground. There is a loud explosion overhead. Scootaloo looks up to see a rainbow-colored shockwave spreading and a rainbow streak heading right toward her. Seconds later, the falling pegasus is caught by her mentor and adoptive sister, Rainbow Dash.
        Dash raises her flight goggles. ‘Hey, squirt. Try not to bleed on the uniform. Dry clean only.’
        ‘Dash? After that.’
        ‘Hold on a se...’
        ‘We need part of it or we might die.’
        ‘Okay. I hear ya. Hold tight.’
        With another burst of speed, Rainbow Dash takes off after the drone. Even with her passenger, the Wonderbolt catches her target. Scootaloo raises her foreleg again and fires, hitting the drone in an engine, sending it spiraling to the ground. Rainbow Dash lands by the wreckage. Scootaloo hops to the ground and starts tearing through the drone.
        ‘Yo, squirt, do you really think you should be do that now?’ Dash asks. ‘You’re practically missing a wing.’
        ‘This?’ Scootaloo holds up her limp wing. ‘Just a flesh wound. I’ll be fine. Right now, we need the data recorder before this thing blows.’
        Sweetie Belle gallops up and pants beside Rainbow Dash.
        ‘Thought they trained you to run forever or something?’ the pegasus asks.
        ‘Bite me,’ the assassin pants.
        ‘Aha! Right here!’ Scootaloo turns back. ‘A little help, Sweetie?’
        Sweetie sighs and uses her magic to remove several computer components from the drone. Scootaloo folds her wing up and trots over to the others.
        ‘Once we get back to camp, I can use my computer to access the flight data and find out where this has been.’ Her friends stare at her. ‘What?’
        ‘You nearly lost a wing. That’s what,’ Dash states.
        ‘I’m fine. See.’
        Scootaloo flaps her wing. She is able to move it a little, much to her friends’ surprise. Sweetie stares at the wound for a moment before turning and vomiting.
        ‘Sorry,’ the diva apologizes, ‘but I can see your bones and muscles and...’
        The unicorn pukes again and sits while she catches her breath.
        Scootaloo looks. ‘Oh, wow. That bad? You don’t happen to have any snacks on you, do you?’
        Sweetie forces her stomach back down.
        ‘How can you think of eating when..!’ Dash gasps. ‘Did your wing just regrow skin instantly!’
        Scootaloo grimaces and looks away. ‘I guess it had to come out sometime... Come on. I’ll tell you on the way back.’

---------------------------------------------

        In Ponyville park, Scootaloo flaps her wings like mad and hops in order to only get a few centimeters of air before landing. The frustrated filly pants and growls before her next attempt. She falls to the ground and screams.
        ‘Can you keep it down?’ a voice asks. ‘I am supposed to be relaxing away from the store now that I have an employee.’
        Scootaloo growls and looks up. The Wandering Physicist sits at a nearby bench with his laptop and mobile out. A recent trip to The Power Block where the stallion sold her a rated ‘M’ game, over Lucas’ denial, possibly out of sympathy for the black eye Scootaloo had gotten from her father that morning, plays back in the pegasus’ mind.
        ‘Sorry,’ Scootaloo grumbles as she picks herself up.
        The Concerned Physicist watches the filly. ‘Hey. What’s bugging you?’
        ‘Nothing... Just my stupid wings! They won’t let me fly!’
        ‘Come here.’
        Scootaloo groans and goes to the adult. The Technological Physicist slips a device on his hoof and points it at the filly. The device shoots a beam that covers the young pegasus. The stallion nods and goes into his bag.
        ‘Just underdeveloped. You’ll grow into them naturally. That is unless you want to be flying tomorrow.’
        ‘Uh, duh,’ Scootaloo grunts. ‘I want to fly now.’
        ‘I might be able to help you,’ the stallion holds up a cylinder, ‘but it might hurt a bit.’
        ‘Just give it!’
        ‘Okay....’ The Wandering Physicist presses the cylinder to Scootaloo’s back. ‘And by “a bit”, I mean “excruciating pain”.’
        Scootaloo screams as the cylinder discharges. She spins around and flies in the stallion’s face. ‘That bucking hurt, flankhole! What the buck is wrong with you!’
        ‘When you notice it, you’ll thank me.’
        Scootaloo stares, confused. Then it hits her. She is hovering almost a meter off the ground.
        ‘Oh. MY! CELESTIA! I can fly!’
        ‘And there are other benefits. Just eat healthy and your body will do the rest.’
        ‘Thank you so much!’
        Scootaloo grabs the stallion’s head and gives him a big kiss. She flies away, dropping a bit before gaining air again. Twilight Sparkle trots past the excited filly to meet with her friend.
        ‘I never expected the first pegasus to kiss me would be a foal,’ The Shocked Physicist comments.
        ‘What was that?’ Twilight asks.
        ‘Nothing.’ The stallion shakes off the shock. ‘Well, I’m outside. Now what?’
        ‘Well, we just hang out and stuff,’ Twilight groans. ‘You’re new to this, aren’t you?’
        ‘A little.’
        ‘Anyway, what was that about?’
        ‘Oh. I just had to give Scootaloo an injection in her backside.’
        Twilight raises an eyebrow.
        ‘No! I meant that I had something to put in her.’
        The alicorn shakes her head.
        ‘No! I mean, I have this thing and it goes inside ponies and...’
        Twilight facehooves and groans.
        ‘Nanomachines! I gave her a shot of nanomachines that will help with her health and well-being.’
        Twilight pats her friend on the back. ‘Mr Wanderer, one day we’ll make you a normal pony like the rest of us.’
        The Wandering Physicist sighs. He holds up a hoof with a piece of candy on it. A white and blue streak takes the candy without touching the hoof.

---------------------------------------------

        ‘So it took me a while to figure out what happened,’ Scootaloo explains, ‘but I found if I ate right, my wounds would heal faster, like when my dad hit me and stuff. I’ve gotten into the habit of always having a lot of snacks on hoof in case I get hurt and need a quick boost.’
        The pegasus takes a long swig of the energy drink Rainbow Dash had with her. Her friends stare in shock, but seem calmer.
        ‘That’s Jimmy for ya,’ Dash comments. ‘Always helpin’ but still doing it weird.’
        ‘Can-can we catch those nanomachines from you?’ Sweetie asks.
        Scootaloo shrugs. ‘Don’t know. Never gave blood in case they spread like that. If they are in other fluids, Diamond and Featherweight ain’t caught them.’
        Sweetie Belle blushes and squeaks when she realizes what her friend is implying. Rainbow Dash gives the other pegasus an examination. Scootaloo’s wing is mostly healed. All that remains of the wound is some scarring and a lot of missing fur and feathers.
        ‘Who else knows about this?’ Dash asks.
        ‘Just Mr Wanderer, Rei, Daring, maybe Twilight. I never told anyone. I didn’t want them thinking I was a freak or a science experiment.’
        ‘Good call. If anypony finds out or comes after you, tell me and I’ll have The Wonderbolts and Celestia protect you.’
        ‘Thanks, Dash. You’re the greatest.’
        ‘I knew that already,’ the humble pegasus brags.
        ‘Are-are you immortal now?’ Sweetie asks.
        ‘I... don’t know,’ Scootaloo replies. ‘I think I can die normally if I just stop eating. If this wound is any proof, I can take a lot of punishment, but I can still be killed.’
        Sweetie squeaks even louder at the thought of losing her friend.
        ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. It is just one more trick up our sleeve when we face the human. He won’t know what hit him.’
        Dash stops. ‘A human? In Equestria? Do you know how dumb that sounds?’
        Sweetie shrugs. ‘Perfect cover. Nopony will ever believe or even want to hear a story about humans in Equestria.’
        ‘Yeah, that is just dumb. I hardly believe it myself,’ Scootaloo agrees. ‘Now, if we were all humans, that would be a cool story to tell.’
        ‘I don’t know,’ Dash hems. ‘Sure it is good on occasion, but it might get played out if it is done all the time.’
        The three friends stop and sigh in unison.
        ‘Anyway,’ Scootaloo holds up the computer components. ‘Let’s get hacking.’

        Scootaloo sits outside of the train. She has finished hacking the drone’s flight data. She stares up at the night sky as she keeps watch. Sweetie Belle trots out of the car and sits by her friend.
        ‘So, we’re going after the human in the morning,’ the unicorn says.
        ‘Shouldn’t be that bad.’ Scootaloo nods. ‘We have his location. I think we can drive him off.’
        ‘Yeah... Are you sure you want to come? It might be dangerous.’
        ‘I’ll be fine. You saw that I can heal. You know I can fight.’
        ‘Right...’ Sweetie Belle sighs. ‘Sorry for earlier.’
        ‘Why?’
        ‘For my reaction to hearing about your healing. I just lost control of myself.’
        ‘Nah. It is all good.’ Scootaloo hits her friend on the back. ‘I did the same thing when I found out.’
        ‘You did?’
        ‘Well, not exactly, but I still freaked.’
        ‘What happened?’
        Scootaloo groans and leans back. ‘My dad caught me clopping one night. He called me a demon while he beat me. When I was checking my injuries in the mirror, I could feel my teeth resetting themselves and saw my black eye disappearing. I thought he was right.’ She stares at the ground and sighs. ‘When I started figuring it out and asked Mr Wanderer about it, I was a lot less worried. I learned to eat right and took better care of myself so everypony wouldn’t see and freak out. Dealing with the pain still sucks, but I’m tough.’
        Sweetie wraps her forelegs around her friend. ‘I’m so sorry. You always get it rough.’
        ‘Nah. Diamond and Featherweight are usually pretty gentle and caring.’
        Sweetie glares at her friend. ‘Are you talking about sex?’
        Scootaloo grins. ‘Still curious about what comes after kissing?’
        The unicorn grimaces. ‘I live with Rarity. I knew what was in for Spike his first time long before he did.’
        The pegasus laughs. ‘Good times.’
        Sweetie scowls and punches the ground. ‘I almost cracked my hoof training that day. I prefer not thinking about it.’
        Scootaloo gets up and kisses her friend on the cheek. ‘You’ll find a special somepony one day. You’re too great to remain single.’ She trots away. ‘BT-dubs, you’re on watch now.’
        Sweetie Belle sighs and stares at the sky.

        Sweetie Belle trots through the canyons south of the wreck. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo fly overhead, the younger pegasus leading them towards their destination. The unicorn watches her friends, trying to keep her worries in check.
        ‘Are you sure it is safe leaving the pisshead back there?’ Dash asks.
        ‘His legs were pretty busted,’ Scootaloo replies. ‘ ‘sides, Sweetie was sent to off the bucker anyway. Right, Sweetie?’
        Sweetie jumps at the question she was not paying attention to. ‘What?’
        ‘You were really on a trip to take out Card Switch, right? No need to hide that from us anymore.’
        ‘I’d rather bring him in if I could...’
        Rainbow Dash drops to the ground. ‘Don’t worry, kid. We’ll all make it out okay. Or my name ain’t...’
        ‘Rainbow Dash!’
        The ponies look up too see Scootaloo going eye to laser cannon with another drone. The pegasus growls as she faces down the threat.
        ‘You are quite amazing for tiny horses,’ a voice says.
        Rainbow Dash searches around and spots the human stepping to the cliff face near Scootaloo and the drone. He appears to be using a sheathed sword as a cane. Rainbow Dash growls and prepares to launch herself at the alien.
        ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ the hunter warns. ‘At this range, I doubt this one would survive another hit from my drones. In fact, I am shocked it is alive right now.’
        ‘I’m a lot tougher than you think,’ Scootaloo spits.
        ‘Yes... It makes me wonder how much you might be worth on the open market...’ The human gets a scanner from a pocket and points it at Scootaloo. ‘Hmm... Not that much, but some intergalactic collector might be interested. Fire.’
        The drone shoots Scootaloo in the chest. The hunter swings his sword out and uses it to catch under her wings and pull her to him.
        ‘Oh, my Celestia!’ Sweetie shouts. ‘He killed Scootaloo!’
        ‘You bastard!’ Rainbow Dash adds.
        The hunter rolls his eyes as he holds Scootaloo by the neck. ‘I never said what collector would want it. Should yield enough meat for the right gourmet.’
        Rainbow Dash growls and moves slightly. The drone’s turret swivels around and aims at her.
        ‘Please don’t try anything,’ the human sighs. ‘This bounty is the closest thing to a vacation I have had in a long time. I want to draw it out as long as I can. If I am forced to kill you so soon...’
        Suddenly, Scootaloo coughs and lets out a big gasp.
        ‘Dear sweet bucking Celestia on a pogo stick! That hurt,’ the injured pegasus moans.
        ‘Scootaloo!’ Sweetie calls.
        Scootaloo tries to look toward her friend and smiles.
        ‘You’re alive?’ The human examines his victim. ‘Well, you seem to be intact, if a little cooked.’ He shrugs. ‘Oh, well. I’m not a butcher. I’ll let them do you in.’ He turns to leave. ‘I’ll be back for the rest of you soon.’
        The hunter walks away, dragging Scootaloo behind him. Before Rainbow Dash can give chase, the drone fires several shots into the cliffs, causing a rock slide. The pegasus turns and flies back down. She lifts Sweetie Belle to her back and carries her away from the falling rocks. The drone fires more volleys into the cliffs behind the retreating pegasus. Rainbow Dash bursts from the canyons and loops around, landing on the nearest cliff. The drone and human are nowhere to be found. Sweetie Belle falls to the ground in shock.
        ‘He has Scootaloo,’ the unicorn mumbles. ‘This wasn’t supposed to happen.’
        ‘Don’t worry,’ Dash assures. ‘We’ll get her back.’
        ‘He shot her. In the chest. He will kill her!’
        ‘Not if we get her back first.’
        ‘She’s as good as dead! So are we! It is over!’
        Rainbow Dash turns and slaps Sweetie Belle. ‘Geez! What does Octavia teach you at that school? Even if it isn’t part of your killing lessons, your acting lessons have to have included “The show must go on”! You are supposed to be a lot tougher than what I am seeing! I bet they arranged your assignment since they knew you would need Squirt’s help catching Card Switch.’
        ‘That’s a lie!’ Sweetie shouts. ‘I am the best student they have ever had!’
        ‘Two problems with that. One, if you wanted him arrested, you let the nearest military figure, me, leave him unguarded, near a rail line, where he can easily escape. Two, if you wanted the other option, he has been in range for over a day now and’ -- she kicks Sweetie’s foreleg from under her, tripping the young mare and extending her hidden blade -- ‘he is still alive. I’ve seen what Lyra and Vinyl can do with a computer. They are more killers with their hacking then you are at this moment.’ She turns and spreads her wings. ‘I’m going to save my friend. You can wait here, where it is safe.’
        Rainbow Dash launches herself into the sky and flies after the drone. She looks down and smiles as she sees Sweetie Belle galloping ahead of her.

        The human presses some buttons on a wall after entering his spaceship. The sound of the drone landing elsewhere in the ship can be heard as he drags Scootaloo to an empty spot. He goes to a chair by a console and gets out a flask.
        ‘Yo,’ Scootaloo calls. ‘If ya want me to be healthy for market, you could try getting me some food and water.’
        ‘Shut up, you... whatever you are,’ the hunter groans.
        ‘I think the term you are looking for is “pegasus”.’
        ‘I prefer thinking of you as “giant buffalo wings”. I am betting you taste like chicken.’
        Scootaloo groans, ‘Right. Because a horse totally tastes like chicken. The pony who hired you chose a bucking winner.’
        The human growls and gets up. He goes to a small mess and gets a cup of water and an apple. He sets them in front of Scootaloo.
        ‘Here’s your damn food,’ the human grumbles. ‘If putting that in your mouth doesn’t shut you up, I have something else you can put there.’
        ‘Pfft. Only in your dreams,’ Scootaloo scoffs as she eats her meager meal.
        The hunter goes back to his console and drinks from his flask. He turns away from his captive to go over recent scans of the area. He laughs at Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle searching aimlessly for his ship. Scootaloo pats her chest after eating and smiles when she notices the scarring disappearing.
        ‘So, this is a spaceship, huh?’ Scootaloo asks as she silently rises to her hooves.
        ‘I know your primitive, ass-backward mind can’t grasp the concept, but yes, this is a spaceship. If I had the will to do so, I could probably subjugate this world in a matter of hours.’
        The pegasus starts digging under a wing. ‘I don’t know about that. You probably saw my friend’s magic. There are a lot more unicorns with better magic than hers.’
        ‘Ha!’ the hunter laughs. He drinks from his flask. ‘Magic. Such nonsense. Unlike my drones, this baby has shields capable of deflecting a point-blank assault from a Sontaran cruiser. Your magic wouldn’t even scratch the hull.’
        Scootaloo pulls her muzzle from under her wing. She has a small pistol in her mouth. ‘Well, what if we teleport in and attack you directly?’
        ‘Tch. Teleportation. More insanity. There is no way you would be able to ambush me.’
        ‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that...’
        The hunter turns to face his prisoner. His eyes go wide with shock when he sees the gun in Scootaloo’s hoof.
        ‘Surprise, mother bucker.’

        Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle rest under an outcrop. They have not seen any sign of their friend, the hunter or the drones. Sweetie levitates a canteen to Rainbow Dash after taking a drink. The pegasus puts a foreleg around the younger mare.
        ‘Don’t worry. We’ll find her,’ Dash assures. ‘Hell, she could come flying up right now.’
        A form appears in the distance. It waves after spotting the ponies at rest. Sweetie immediately jumps to her hooves. She gallops out and hugs Scootaloo as the pegasus lands.
        ‘Scootaloo! I can’t believe you are safe!’ Sweetie cries.
        ‘Told you I was tough,’ the pegasus laughs.
        Rainbow Dash comes out of the shade and puts a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. ‘Great to have you back. Hope you weren’t followed.’
        ‘Nah. We don’t have to worry about him anymore.’
        Sweetie backs away. ‘Huh? What happened to the human?’
        There is a giant explosion from the direction Scootaloo came. ‘He died.’
        Sweetie stares at her friend in horror. ‘You didn’t...’
        ‘Sweetie, you ain’t the only one with some dark secrets. You think I didn’t pick up any “special skills” with all of the time spent living and working with Daring Do?’
        ‘Well, uh...’ The unicorn kicks at the ground. ‘What about the ship? Or his body? Shouldn’t we have saved it?’
        Rainbow Dash sighs and shakes her head. ‘Kid, anypony in the military can tell you, unless the artefacts can be easily retrieved by Trotswood, standing order is to destroy any alien technology. Don’t want everypony freaking out.’
        ‘Stupid Trotswood.’ Sweetie shrugs. ‘Captain Jack is cute, though.’
        Rainbow Dash starts trotting away. ‘Come on. Let’s get back. The recovery crews have probably arrived by now, and I really should be reporting back to the rest of the squad.’
        Scootaloo gives her friend another hug. ‘We can talk about everything on the way back. Oh, and no telling Apple Bloom.’
        Sweetie shudders. ‘Agreed.’
        The two young mares gallop after Rainbow Dash.

        Sweetie Belle sleeps on the train ride back to Canterlot. Rainbow Dash brags about the adventure to everypony that will listen to her. Scootaloo has her mobile out.
        ‘So, what do you think, Featherweight?’ Scootaloo asks. ‘Do I have a story?’

        A skinny pegasus stallion types on a keyboard as he sits on a bed. He is barely holding a mobile to his ear.
        ‘Sounds a little made up,’ Featherweight replies. ‘I’ll show it to my editor, but I doubt it will make it to publish. … Just be safe until you get back to Ponyville. Love you.’
        Featherweight hangs up his mobile and finishes typing.





To: Harpflank
From: ParkerReilly

Ms Lyra. Do you think this story has any merit in the usual circles?

Seriously! Scootaloo met an actual human! How crazy is that!