//------------------------------// // In the Dust // Story: Enclosed // by TwizzleDragon //------------------------------// Rarity’s horn glowed a bright, light blue aura, dragging her towards the nearest gems. Spike followed closely behind, ready to sneak a snack of rubies that they had dug up earlier. “Here.” Spike dug his claws straight into the ground that Rarity had deemed to be abundant with jewels. The hole was not deep when Spike reached the first gem, a rugged sapphire. He picked it up, giving it to Rarity. “Good job, Spike!” Rarity cheered, encouraging the dragon to dig faster. No luck, the deposit carried only that sapphire. “Rarity, shouldn't we wait for the fillies?” “Not now, Spike! You have a job to do. You can eat your share later” Rarity said, paying no attention to what he had actually said. Sweetie Belle came running with a large emerald in her mouth, panting from the long run, she struggled to communicate. “I-I did it...” She dropped the emerald, trying to catch her breath. Rarity turned around, gasping at the large gem. “Good job, Sweetie Belle!” Rarity gave her sister a hug, squeezing the filly. She gathered up the gem, putting it in her pack. “D-Did I... beat them?” “You sure did!” Spike sneaked a ruby fragment into his mouth. “Here.” Once again, Spike dug into the firm rock. This time the deposit gave way to several gems of various types: rubies, sapphires, emeralds, onyx, and diamond. This continued for quite a few more deposits. Applebloom came back gemless. Her face was in a frown due to her loss in the competition. Her hooves were covered in dirt, cuts, and scrapes all the way down from her body. “Appleboom!” Sweetie Belle ran for her friend, “You alright?” She put her hoof around Applebloom, trying to support the tired pony’s weight. “Y-Ya... Ah’m alright, Sweetie Belle,” she began a slow, tired pace towards the central area that they were grouped at. “Here,” Rarity said once more, clearly ignoring the filly that needed attention. “W-When we going back?” Applebloom panted, wanting to go get rest. “Soon as Rarity has her gems, I figure.” “Will that ever happen?” “No,” Spike interjected. The fillies let out their chuckled laughter with one another. Hours passed, and Scootaloo had yet to return. Rarity had collected a bountiful amount of gems, a large portion already ate by Spike. The night grew over the day, sending the cold air across the lands of Equestria as always. Spike’s claws began to ache, they had dwindled down to nothing but bare scales, the gem hunt had come to a forced cancellation against Rarity’s whim. Rarity sighed, “Alright girls,” she placed the last gem back into her already filled pack. “We best be getting you all home.” Sweetie Belle gave a confused look. “But...” “But what?” “Scootaloo still isn’t back.” Rarity’s eyes widened, realizing her responsibilities as a foalsitter had been a failure. Scootaloo jumped at the voice, believing it was just a figment of her imagination. She walked closer to where she believed this mysterious voice to come from, seeing the silhouette with a strange green background flash for a mere second. Scootaloo rubbed her eyes, making sure this was not a mirage. “Hello?” she asked again. “Yes, who’s there?” “M-My name... my name is Scootaloo...” “Scootaloo? Nice to meet you, my name is Coal Dust,” The pony emerged, or tried to. The crystal’s glare blocked most physical features from being describable. She appeared to be tall, not a mare but just under the age of being accepted as one. Her fur and mane all appeared to be black and shaggy. “I’ve never heard of a Scootaloo ‘round here before, you new?” “Ye-yes, I don’t exactly know where I am exactly.” “You don’t know?” Coal Dust moved turned towards the crystal, her now showing face had been covered in dirt and other filth, hence her name. “You’re in the outskirts.” “Outskirts?” Scootaloo spurted, confused. “Yeah, outskirts of Perdition.” Scootaloo’s stomach rumbled. “Come on, you must be hungry.” “You have any apples on you?” “‘Fraid not.” “I-It’s alright...” “Ya sure? City shouldn’t be too far from ‘ere.” Coal Dust spit into the ground. “We don’t got much apples, but we sure got us the best food you’ll ever find in our land.” “Well, I suppose company would be better than before...” “Great!” Coal Dust leaned down for a hug, only for Scootaloo to not even notice due to her eyesight being blurred by darkness. “Follow me, they’ll be really happy to see a new face in the city, at least I hope they will.” Coal Dust went off in the city’s direction, barely waiting on Scootaloo to process and react. Rarity was crying, unable to grasp the situation fully. Scootaloo’s disappearance was on her hooves, nopony elses. The guilt was killing her as she sat waiting for Twilight in the library. “I was just so caught up with my work!” Rarity whined. “It’ll be okay, Rarity, we’ll find her.” Twilight reassured, thinking of the dangers the gem field has held in the past. “What if the Diamond Dogs got her? Scootaloo couldn’t handle them!” “Hey!” Rainbow Dash barged into the library, unable to close the door after entering. “Scootaloo can take on any challenge she tries!” “Rainbow, I know you have every statistical reason to believe in Scootaloo, but we don’t know where she is anyways. Even the strongest ponies need to get out of the cold.” Spike, who was divulging himself in gems from the book ladder, finally spoke up. “Have any of you even checked if she went home yet?” Rarity’s head rose. “Uhh... No...” “Don’t you think you should have?” Twilight smirked. “Dashie, be a dear and check the house for the girl, I’d do it myself but-” Rainbow Dash bolted out the door, never speaking a word. “I’m sure she’s fine, Rarity, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Just go home, rest, and we’ll figure it all out by noon.” “Oh, Alright.” Rarity started for the door. “Spike,” he turned his attention towards the diva. “Thank you for your time this evening, I really hope I got enough gems to make it worth losing...” Twilight slammed the door. “Well, you best be heading to bed, Spike. I got a lot of studying to do, night!” Twilight headed upstairs, leaving Spike with his feast of gems.