//------------------------------// // Scootaloo -- Gives To -- Blueblood // Story: Collab Cage Mini-Monthly December -- Secret Santa Hooves // by The Collab Cage //------------------------------// Written by: JJ GingerHooves Once again, the peace and quiet in Ponyville had been disturbed by a certain pegasus filly riding her scooter. Scootaloo zipped through Ponyville, weaving between obstacles such as ponies and carts like a born natural. She ignored the protests of annoyed onlookers, grinning as she felt the wind blow onto her face. She loved the exhilaration it made her feel, her heart pumping faster in order to keep up with the demands put on the filly and, most importantly, the freedom it gave her. If scooting was like this, she couldn’t wait to see what proper flying was like. She grinned, taking her forehooves off the handlebars for just a moment. No hooves! She was such a daredevil. Then something smacked her in the face. Her vision darkened and she yelped, putting her forehooves back firmly on the handlebars. She quickly put a hindhoof on the ground, dragging it along in the dirt. It wasn’t an elegant brake but at least she was still in one piece. Once she had come to a stop, Scootaloo took off whatever was masking her eyes. It was merely a piece of paper. She dismissed it as stray trash but raised an eyebrow as she sure that words were written on it. Her curiosity was truly aroused when she saw that it was addressed to her. Scootaloo, As I’m sure you’re aware, Hearth’s Warming is coming up soon! Keep up the good behaviour and you may just get that special something you wanted! Now, Hearth’s Warming isn’t all about receiving presents, it is also about giving them. Therefore I would like you to give a present to somepony you’ve never met but I’m sure you know about: Prince Blueblood As soon as she saw that name, the filly tossed the paper behind her and set off into the distance. “Pretty lame prank if you ask me...” she muttered to herself. At least it was out of her mane. Now she could continue on to the clubho-- “Aargh!” Scootaloo screamed as something new hit her in the face. She rapidly braked again and checked what it could be this time. “Again?!” The pegasus shook her head in disbelief. The words on the paper were the exact same as the one from last. So it was the same one really. Deciding not to take any chances, Scootaloo went over to a nearby dustbin standing by a house. She smiled to herself in satisfaction as she slammed the lid on the bin, the pesky paper now trapped inside. Then she went back to her scooter and propelled herself along the road. Scootaloo smirked. At least it’ll make for a funny story, she thought. Then she got swatted in the face again. “Oh that is it!” she yelled, coming to a halt and throwing the notorious letter to the ground. She stomped on it and tore it up to pieces and stomped on them too until it was nothing but scraps. Then she stomped on them too for good measure. “Hah...can’t follow me around anymore...” she said with heavy breaths. “Erm...” Scootaloo blinked, looking to her left to see a green stallion staring at her with widened eyes. “Um...” she laughed sheepishly, “That was...er...bills.” The stallion slowly nodded his head, and Scootaloo awkwardly got onto her scooter, making a swift exit. She looked back, sighing with relief when she couldn’t see him anymore. Thereafter, she focused back on the open road in front of her. She wasn’t even surprised anymore when the paper hit her again. She stopped, frustrated with all the stop-starting she was doing, and gave a deadpan look at the letter. “You’re not going anytime soon, huh?” she asked it. Of course it didn’t respond so she held it in her mouth and went along her way. She didn’t think anypony would approve of her setting alight to it in the middle of the street anyway. “Blueblood?! Are ya serious?” “Uh-huh. Take a look.” Scootaloo hoofed over the letter to Apple Bloom. The earth filly scanned  the letter, then gave Scootaloo a grim look. “My thoughts exactly.” Scootaloo moaned, “That thing must be cursed.” Sweetie Belle trotted over and took the letter from Apple Bloom, giving it a quick read. The three were all in their clubhouse, and Scootaloo had just explained to the others what had happened. Of course they laughed, although they probably would have laughed harder if she told them about that stallion... “Nope!” Sweetie chimed after looking through the letter. “Don’t you know who sent this?” Scootaloo shrugged. “I just stopped after seeing ‘Prince Blueblood’.” Sweetie turned the letter, putting it close to Scootaloo’s face while pointing at the signature at the bottom. “Santa Hooves!” “Lemme see.” Scootaloo snatched the letter and scanned it with her eyes. Blueblood certainly...likes himself, so perhaps give him something that glorifies his image? The choice is up to you; I know you’ll pick the right present for him. You’re a good filly, Scootaloo. I’ll see you (or rather, I won’t!) on Hearth’s Warming. Santa Hooves P.S. I’m aware of the fact that you’ve yet to receive your cutie mark. Perhaps if you slow down, you might see the truth. P.P.S Remember to leave me cookies. “Great. So I have to do this!” Scootaloo moaned. “Got any idea of what to give him?” Apple Bloom asked. “I don’t know! What do you give a Prince?! I don’t have the kinda money he has!” Scootaloo collapsed on the floor, hiding her face. “And if I don’t do it, I won’t get a Hearth’s Warming present...” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged worried looks. “I’m sure you’ll think of something!” Sweetie chimed. Her optimism didn't seem to help. “Something awful probably...” Scootaloo slammed a hoof on the floor in frustration. “We can help if ya want,” Apple Bloom suggested but Scootaloo just waved a hoof dismissively at her. “No, this probably one of things I have to do myself.” Scootaloo got up on her hooves, blowing her mane out of her face. She trailed towards the door, head hung low. “I guess I’ll start at the library. There’s bound to be a book on what Princes like.” “Sorry Scootaloo, Twilight isn’t here. She’s gone to Canterlot to get her Hearth’s Warming shopping out of the way,” Spike said, leaning against the doorframe of the library’s entrance. “Can I look at some books anyway?” Scootaloo looked into the main room, trying to see where a ‘Prince’ section could be. “Sure.” Spike let the filly in but gave her a sharp glare before letting her roam free. “Don’t mess anything up.” “Well obviously.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes and entered the library proper. She glanced at the many bookshelves, speedily giving up looking through them herself. “Is there a section on Princes?” Spike scratched his head. “Er, not exactly. There’s a section on royalty though, right there.” He pointed at an upper bookshelf to the right of the pair. “Hold on, I’ll grab a ladder.” The whelp went over to the far left of the bookshelf and pushed a ladder over to the royalty section. It wasn’t terribly big, but every book looked pristine. Spike climbed up the ladder, inspecting the books’ spines. “What are you looking for exactly?” “Something--anything--about Prince Blueblood.” Spike scoffed. “That guy? Got a crush on him or something?” “No! What do you think?!” Scootaloo yelled, flaring her wings. “I’ll never tell.” Spike snickered, tracing a claw along the books. “Ah! This will probably suit your tastes just fine.” He grabbed a navy blue book and climbed down the stairs. Scootaloo peered at the cover once Spike handed it over. The book was titled The Extravagant Lifestyle of a Perfect Prince. As if the title wasn’t gag inducing enough, below it was a picture of Blueblood, clearly posing with a smug grin on his face. Scootaloo stuck her tongue out in disgust. “Yeah, this will be perfect.” She looked up at a smirking Spike. “It’s not for me!” “Who then? I don’t know anyone who is a fan of the guy.” “Well er...” Scootaloo rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s for him.” Spike gave her a look that just screamed ‘really?’ “Well, you can only borrow it.” Scootaloo blinked. “Uh, I--he kinda needs it.” “Yeah and I need something that’ll sort out the claw cramp I get. We don’t always get what we want, you know.” Spike folded his arms, frowning. “But I have to give it to him!” Scootaloo protested. “Or I won’t get any Hearth’s Warming presents from Santa Hooves!” Scootaloo shouted, falling back on her haunches Spike jerked his head back in disbelief. “Who says?” “He did!” “Sure he did,” Spike muttered sarcastically. Scootaloo began to grovel at Spike’s legs, looking up at him pleadingly. “You have to believe me!” Spike wasn’t deterred. “Sorry, but this is too far-fetched. You can borrow it, but not keep it. It’s a valuable book that deserves to be available for every--wait a minute.” Spike’s eyes trailed upwards and he moved a claw to his head, retrieving a familiar object from ontop. “What the heck is--ah.” “What is wha--oh yeah. That,” Scootaloo said, getting up and pointing at the letter from Santa Hooves. “I guess that’s proof then.” He stopped, unable to say anything else. “Sooo...can you help me wrap it?” Scootaloo requested with a sweet smile. “What do I look like? A gift-wrapper?! Do it yourself!” Spike protested, giving the letter back to its rightful owner. “Fine,” Scootaloo said bluntly. “I’m thankful for the book though.” “I’m sure you are.” “I am, trust me,” Scootaloo said sincerely, then gazed at the door. “Well I gotta go wrap this up. See ya!” In a flash, she was out of the library before Spike could even say goodbye. Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes, concentrating hard on the task at hoof. She had to do this quickly but precisely. Carefully putting her hooves towards what she needed to do, she counted to three out loud: “Three, two, one...” “Ow!” Sweetie Belle squeaked as Apple Bloom ripped the tape off her cheek. She rubbed the sore patch of skin, eyes watering from the pain. “I don’t know how you got tape on your face, Sweetie Belle. We’re only wrapping up a book,” Scootaloo commented, biting off more tape from the roller. “I don’t know either!” Sweetie responded, leaving Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to wrap the present up themselves. Scootaloo had managed to acquire some golden wrapping paper from Rarity on her way to the clubhouse and was literally wrapping things up. “Aaaaaaand...done!” Scootaloo proclaimed, the book now neatly wrapped up. Thanks to Apple Bloom’s help, the package looked quite neat. Scootaloo bit her lip, staring at the gift. “I really hope he likes it.” “He won’t like it. He’ll love it. It’s about him after all,” Apple Bloom assured. “I guess. Now I just gotta deliver the thing and I’m home free.” “Er guys...I think the letter has other ideas,” Sweetie Belle cried, pointing at the letter which was seemingly crawling across the floor. All the fillies stared at it in horror. It looked downright unnatural to see a piece of paper moving like that. “I’m not touching that. Nope,” Apple Bloom firmly stated. They all sat there, watching as the letter went over to the present. “Wait! Don’t touch that!” Scootaloo exclaimed, extending a hoof towards the moving paper. Before anypony could do anything though, they all watched in complete shock as the letter grew and enveloped the present. It was then surrounded by a red magical aura and, soon after, exploded. The fillies covered their faces, despite the fact that they weren’t in danger at all. The explosion was only a small one. Still, it was enough to make both the letter and present disappear. A silence fell on the clubhouse. All the fillies were completely stunned. “Well,” Scootaloo managed to say, “I think that saves me on posting charges.”