//------------------------------// // 2: Desperation of a Lonely Heart // Story: The Antimark // by Dash The Stampede //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Desperation of the Lone Heart Celestia's sun sank further towards the horizon, stars slowly revealing their presence as though they were ethereal fireflies, dotting the endless skies with beauty. Scootaloo sat alone in the empty clubhouse, its old wooden walls showing a generation of wear and tear, adventurous times long past... "I miss them so much..." she whispered sadly. She reached an orange hoof up to a collection of tattered and faded fabrics, once the symbol of a group dedicated to finding the mark she would never have. As she ran her hoof over the capes of the former Cutie Mark Crusaders, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Her sight drifted and settled on an old photo of the three fillies, dressed in Royal Guard uniforms, posing proudly in front of the Princesses in the center of Ponyville. She closed her eyes as the scene unfolded again before her... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Come on, Applebloom! We don't have all day!" A certain orange pegasus said, annoyed. "Ah'm trying, but ah just can't get the helmet on!" Came the reply from within the treehouse. A third voice joined in now."Maybe if you took the bow off?.." Sweetie Belle began to suggest before being rejected immediately. "Ah ain't takin off mah bow! It ain't the problem!" Scootaloo rushed into the clubhouse and started to argue with Applebloom. "Your bow IS the problem!" "Is not!" "Is too!" "Is-" "GIRLS!" The small white unicorn managed to holler. "We need to hurry before the Princesses get here if we wanna be Cutie Mark Crusaders Royal Guards!" "Ohmygosh, you're right!" Scootaloo said, in a style not unlike Rainbow Dash. With a firm push, she managed to get the helmet over Applebloom's bow and mane before hauling flank into town with Sweetie Belle in tow. "Hey! Ah'm coming too, y'all wait up!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scootaloo slowly faded back to reality, noticing a tear dripping down her face. She turned to her right and set her gaze on a different photo, this one newer than the last. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were on a stage in Cloudsdale together, both ponies smiling happily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Thanks for coming today, squirt!" Dash said, looking at the teenage mare beside her in the tunnel below the stands. Just meters ahead lay the opening to Cloudsdale Coliseum, full to the brim with fans and her friends alike. The speakers crackled as the speech began.."Welcome to Cloudsdale Coliseum! We are here today to welcome in a new era for the Wonderbolts!" Cheers roared through the stands and the speaker began again. "Today, the Wonderbolts welcome a new leader, one who embodies loyalty and devotion at its best!" More cheers. "And now, fillies and gentlecolts, i present to you the Wonderbolts!" The crowd grew silent, anticipation oozing from all corners of the cloud stadium. A faint roar became slowly louder as the cheers ushered in the streaks of smoke and flame that now circled the stands. Scootaloo could feel her heart rate rise greatly and Dash seemed to be nervous as well. The Wonderbolts landed on the stage and all but Spitfire sat back from the podium. "Thank you, fans, family, and friends alike for joining us here today in Cloudsdale!" Spitfire's voice was inspiring but calming. She continued.."Today I am announcing our newest member of the team...but first, I, Spitfire, hereby resign as captain of the Wonderbolts, effective immediately." A crushing silence echoed through the stands as a soft gasp escaped everypony's mouths. Dash flew out to the stage to confront her hero, Scootaloo following close behind. "Just what in the hay is this?!" Dash called out to Spitfire as she alighted on the stage. "I am not getting any younger, Rainbow Dash, and the years are catching up to me quickly. Celestia knows I won't last long here in this profession." "But...but..." Dash began. "No. It is my decision and it is final." Turning to the podium again, she began once more. "Rainbow Dash, bearer of Loyalty and the only pegasus to master the Sonic Rainboom, I induct you as permanent captain of the Wonderbolts here today." She smiled softly at Scootaloo. "Also, I nominate Scootaloo to begin training for the team under the trusted wings of miss Dash." The filly's eyes shot open as she questioned what she had just heard. She would get to be a Wonderbolt, along with Rainbow Dash! "Congratulations, kid, I'm proud of you." Dash said to Scootaloo. Never one for emotions, she quickly hugged the younger pegasus quickly as tears of joy formed on their faces... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She was brought back to reality once more, staring solemnly at the case in front of the photo. Within the case was the Wonderbolts uniform and flight goggles. Her uniform... "I couldn't do it..." she said sadly, looking down at the floor. "It was her dream, and I didn't want to get in the way...it wasn't my dream..." she felt the tears coming back, stronger now. "It never really mattered anyways..." she whispered, glancing back at her flank, noticing the void both outside and inside for the hundredth time that day. She pounded a hoof into the wall, leaving a small dent, and ran from the clubhouse that she called 'home'. She galloped past the Apple's orchard, past the sleepy town of Ponyville, the tears flowing freely now. She ran until she reached a hilltop overlooking the town she had lived in her entire life. She collapsed on the ground and began to sob openly into the grass beneath her. That night, the orange pegasus felt truly alone...despite knowing she wasn't...felt lost and unable to reach back to where she came from.. She fell asleep under the clouded skies, tears fresh as morning dew drenching her coat and the grass beneath her, a sense of loss filling her dreams and her heart. For tonight, Scootaloo was truly alone.