//------------------------------// // Where's Scootaloo? // Story: The Headless Horse // by GhostQuill //------------------------------// Dawn was breaking over the horizon, not that it did any use in the Everfree forest, Headless couldn’t tell at all if it was day or night. So he didn’t let it bother him, next to him though was probably one of the biggest annoyances he had recently had the absolute pleasure of knowing. She’d had fallen asleep not long after he said he’d watch over her. But not before she’d made him do some ridiculous “Pinkie Promise”, to make him promise that he wouldn’t leave through the night. What had this world come to when “getting a cupcake to the eye” was the punishment for breaking a promise? It seemed a bit redundant to him, he didn’t even have eyes. But she’d made it sound so foreboding the way she’d said that you could never EVER break a Pinkie Promise. Some filly thing probably. So he sat there, the whole time with the young filly next to him on the ground sleeping. He got bored and wanted to just leave quite a few times, but he didn’t. To him promises were an important thing, it proved if you could put your trust in someone or not, and although he cared nothing for if this foal trusted him, it was just something he honoured from his days alive. The area around them seemed to be lighter than it was before so he guessed that day had probably begun, if anything it was a few hours after dawn. Looking down at the foal he said, ‘Hey Scootaloo, get up.’ His voice was loud and she moaned as she tried to hold onto her sleepliness. ‘Get up already.’ He said louder and this made her flicker her eyes open a touch and look wearily to where the voice had come from. Suddenly her eyes widened and she attempted to run off, only to cry out in pain and fall flat on the ground. ‘I was going to ask you could walk yet but that’s clearly a no.’ Looking back at the Headless Horse, realisation crossed her face and she calmed down, sitting back up carefully she said. ‘Heh, I forgot about you.’ She said rubbing her neck sheepishly. ‘I scare you or something?’ ‘What?! No! I’m not scared of anything, I’m brave like Rainbow Dash!’ Scootaloo puffed out her chest at that and gave Headless a brave face. ‘Pfft, that’s not what it looked like from here, last night’s a great example.’ Her chest fell and her ears went back as she stared at the ground sadly. ‘You won’t tell anyone will you? Especially not Rainbow Dash!’ ‘Who’s Rainbow Dash?’ He asked confused. ‘You don’t know Rainbow Dash?! She’s the most coolest, most awesome Pegasus to ever fly! She even made a Sonic Rainboom!’ ‘Huh, a Sonic Rainboom you say… I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a couple of those a while back, cleared all the clouds above Everfree for a little while.’ ‘That was Rainbow! She’s the only one around these parts to ever have done a Sonic Rainboom. So you promise you won’t tell anyone I was scared?’ ‘You’re not going to make me do another of those ‘Pinkie Promises’ are you?’ ‘But you have to! It’s a Pinkie Promise!’ Sighing heavily he said, ‘Fine, I’ll do it, but only if you Pinkie Promise never to make me do another one again, just the normal promises from now on.’ ‘Okay, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.’ Scootaloo went through the movements then looked over at Headless expectantly. ‘Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my non-existent eye. There happy?’ She nodded her head a few times but then there was silence after that, Headless didn’t really know what to contribute to the conversation and the foal wasn’t much of a conversationalist herself. During that silence was when Scootaloo started listening to the surrounding forest. A cricket chirruped near her and made her jump back. More and more odd noises sounded and Scootaloo found herself edging closer and closer to the ghostly horse. Something in the darkness cawed and she was shivering with fear as she said, ‘What… What was that?’ ‘Not scared are you Scootaloo, I thought you said you were brave.’ ‘I am brave!’ She said angrily, before returning to her crouched state. ‘I was just asking what that noise was.’ ‘It was a bird.’ Another noise in the darkness made her jump. ‘What about that?!’ ‘That was a squirrel.’ ‘And that?’ ‘Just the stream. Seriously, are you going to ask me to tell you the name of every noise that freaks you out?’ ‘I am not freaked out!’ ‘Sure you aren’t.’ Sarcasm thick in his voice. Scootaloo looked at him annoyed and was about to say something when she heard another noise, only this one wasn’t a squirrel. ‘What’s… That…’ She said cowering behind him. ‘That’s just a…’ He trailed off as he realised what it was, looking into the darkness he saw two large red eyes glow back at him through the darkness. A deep rumbling growl echoed through its chest and it stepped out into the clearing with them. Before the two of them, towering above them; was a massive manticore. It looked at the young filly with drool dripping out its lips, Headless saw that look and suddenly he stepped up in front of the manticore between it and the young filly. He didn’t know what he was doing, it’s not like he could actually physically stop this thing, but like he promised the filly, he said he’d watch over her. Which meant protecting her from manticores. The manticore stood before him, towering above him by a full metre at least. It looked curiously at the lack of a head on the pony but ignored it, the idea of a meal too appetizing. Suddenly, its chest rumbled and it opened its mouth to shout a loud roar right in Headless’s non-existent face. The force of the roar was so severe that Scootaloo felt it vibrate the ground where she sat behind the Headless Horse. But he was unfazed. Going to show this manticore all he had, he stood his ground, puffed out his chest, then shouted a whinny with the voice of a thousand. Scootaloo thought her ears might pop from how loud it was and she wasn’t even getting the full force of it. The manticore’s mane blew back like a rough wind was beating it and he even started sliding back from the force. But that manticore wasn’t giving up, he dug his claws into the ground and tried to advance on Headless. Seeing that his whinny wasn’t going to be enough to stop this creature’s advance, he tried the only other thing he had. Still keeping this whinny up he felt a burning sensation within him, it got hotter and hotter and burned his insides, except it didn’t hurt. When the burning feeling was within his entire body, and every limb, he let it out. In a burst he was covered in flames from neck to hoof. Even his spectral tail billowed like red hot flames. Rearing up he kicked against the manticore’s front with his hooves as they passed through its body and it shrieked in pain as fire burned its chest. It tried to lash out at the fiery pony but its paw only passed through the body of the headless pony and was granted a burning paw in return. It didn’t know what to do, it stood unsure what to do and that’s when Headless gave it another whinny. It fell back from the force and ran off into the forest like the overgrown kitten it was. The fire disappeared and Headless stood defiantly and proud that he had managed to keep the filly safe, turning to look at her, her eyes were lit up with something he hadn’t expected to see. Sure fear or surprise or something, just not that weird look of admiration she gave with her eyes wide and that smile plastered on her face. Finally she said, ‘That. Was. AWESOME!!! You beat that monster! You were on fire! How did you do that?! It was sooooo cool.’ Before he could answer through, a strange rainbow blur from above was suddenly coming towards him, before it passed right through him and crashed into a tree behind him. It was morning, Celestia’s sun was rising, and Rainbow Dash was getting breakfast ready in the kitchen. ‘Hey Scoots you up yet?’ She yelled up the stairs to the bedrooms. ‘Breakfast is ready, its oatmeal!’ Still no answer, probably fast asleep still. Flying up to Scootaloo’s room she knocked on the door and cracked it open a bit. ‘Scootaloo, breakfast is ready, are you up…’ She stopped because she was standing in the doorway to Scootaloo’s bedroom, and there was no Scootaloo. ‘Scootaloo? Scootaloo? You in here?! Come on out, stop messing with me and come out now.’ Still nothing. ‘SCOOTALOO!’ From every room of her house you could’ve heard her voice but still no Scootaloo. Then she saw something, half of Scootaloo’s blanket was hanging out of her window. Rainbow Dash flew over and looked out hopelessly. Flying down like a bullet she found herself at the ground below her home and was frantically searching for any sign of Scootaloo. Just when she thought that maybe she hadn’t fallen out the window and was just messing with her, something caught her eye. Flying over to it, she plucked a single orange feather from atop a bush. At least this meant that Scootaloo hadn’t crashed, she would have to do something about her home so that Scoots didn’t fall from it again. But to that later, she had to figure out where Scootaloo was. If Scootaloo had made it safely to the ground as she hoped, she probably would’ve gone to the closest home of one of her friends. And from here, that would be Sweet Apple Acres. Blasting away she rocketed to the farm pony’s home. Applejack was bucking apples near the barn when a rainbow streak rushed pass her and blew the leaves from many trees around her. ‘Con’sarnit Rainbow! Ain’t ya got better things to do than blow leaves everywhere.’ Her angry look dropped when she saw RD’s face. ‘What’s tha matter sugarcube?’ ‘Scootaloo, did she come here last night?! I can’t find her.’ ‘Now calm down sugacube, no she wasn’t ‘ere last night, but I’ll help ya look.’ ‘Thanks Applejack. You go check Fluttershy’s, I’m going to Rarity’s, we’ll meet up at Sugarcube Corner. Hopefully she’s at one of those places.’ Speeding off Rainbow made her way to town while Applejack raced to Fluttershy’s. Barging through Carousel Boutique Rainbow Dash crashed into Rarity’s mannequins not for the first time and quickly pushed them off of herself. ‘Rainbow Darling! What do you think you’re doing! Those were a part of my new line of summer designs.’ ‘Oh sorry Rarity, is Scootaloo here?!’ She blurted out. ‘I’m sorry dear, I haven’t seen her.’ ‘I have to go ask Pinkie. Sorry Rarity!’ ‘Wait Rainbow Dash! What’s the matter? Is something wrong?’ ‘I can’t find Scootaloo! I’ve looked everywhere! But I can’t find her. I just hope she’s okay.’ ‘Oh Rainbow Dash! If there’s anything I can do to help I will!’ ‘Thank Rarity.’ She said with a smile forming. ‘Can you ask Sweetie Belle if she may have seen her.’ ‘Of course dear.’ Running off Rarity went to find her sister while she shot over to Sugarcube Corner. Flying through the door and locating Pinkie in the kitchen she said desperately. ‘PinkiehaveyouseenScootaloo?!Ican’tfindherandIthinksomethingmighthavehappened!’ ‘Sorry Dashie,’ said Pinkie, somehow understanding Rainbow after that speedy question, ‘Scootaloo hasn’t been here, but you can have one of the cookies I just baked! They’re scrumptiddlilyumptious!’ She said popping a couple into her mouth, ‘Choc chip and everything!’ ‘I can’t Pinkie, I have to find Scootaloo.’ ‘I can help! And maybe she’ll want one of my choc-chip cookies!’ Flying out of the bakery shop with a bouncing pink pony following happily behind, they made their way to the centre of town where Rarity, Applejack Fluttershy and the other two members of the cutie mark crusaders were standing. ‘Anything?’ Rainbow asked. ‘Sorry sugarcube, she wasn’t at Fluttershy’s or at their club house.’ ‘And I’m afraid Sweetie hasn’t seen her either.’ ‘What could’ve happened to her.’ Asked Sweetie ‘Yeah, she wasn’t miss’n yesterday. Where’d she’d go?’ asked Applebloom. Rainbow’s face was downcast and it looked like her insides were having a fight. Suddenly with a yell she stomped the ground and paced in frustration. Without another word she flew off to the library close by. Twilight was peacefully reading a book when the door to the library was practically broken down and a rainbow maned pony sped through. ‘TWILIGHT!’ ‘Rainbow Dash! You can knock!’ ‘Sorry Twilight, but I need your help. I can’t find Scootaloo!’ ‘Are you sure you aren’t overreacting?’ ‘I’ve looked everywhere Twilight and I can’t find her. Something must’ve happened.’ At that moment all of her other friends with Sweetie and Applebloom came into the library, Spike had also come down from upstairs after hearing the commotion. ‘Alright Rainbow, just tell me what happened? When did you find her gone?’ ‘This morning I was getting breakfast ready and when I went to get her, she wasn’t in her room. Her window was open and it sort of looked like she may have fallen out…’ ‘Pardon Rainbow, can you repeat that last part?’ ‘I think she fell out the window alright.’ All of her friends gasped, it even made Pinkie’s grin fall from her face. The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked especially shocked. ‘But I looked all over the ground and couldn’t find her! All I found was one of her feathers. So I think she’s alright but I just don’t know where she is!’ Pulling herself together Twilight could see that Rainbow was very concerned for her little friend. Standing tall and putting a determined look on her face, she said, ‘Don’t worry Rainbow, we’ll find her. Take us to where you found the feather and we’ll look for anything that can tell us where she is. Spike, I’m leaving you in charge of the library while we’re out.’ ‘Okay Twilight.’ Running out of the library, everyone followed, even Sweetie and Applebloom followed Rainbow to where she found the feather. ‘I found it right…. Here.’ She said pointing at a short bush. ‘Alright girls, spread out and look for anything that might lead us to Scootaloo.’ Said Twilight. That morning was filled with everyone frantically searching for their beloved orange Pegasus. At one point Fluttershy found another feather in a bird nest and they all spread out again heading in the direction the feather was found, towards the Everfree forest. None of them had found anything for around an hour now and everyone was starving because they had been interrupted by Dash before they could have breakfast. That is except Pinkie and the fillies. She’d had some extra cookies that she and the fillies ate. Nopony really mined at the time because they were fillies, they needed the food. But as soon as their stomach growls got louder, they very much wished Pinkie had more food. Just when most where ready to give up and search somewhere else, a sound unlike any other reached their ears, and made their legs go rigid. It was a horse’s whinny, a noise they all knew very well, but this one was different, threatening. It echoed around them from the Everfree forest louder than it should have if it were any other pony’s whinny. It was like all these different ponies, with the same voice, yelling at once. It chilled their bones and shivers ran down their spines. Suddenly Rainbow Dash shot off, flying towards the source of the whinny. ‘Wait Rainbow Dash! STOP!’ But she didn’t listen. Turning to Fluttershy Twilight said over the yelling of that whinny. ‘Fluttershy! You have to follow her!’ ‘Me?!’ she said probably as loud as her voice could go over this whinning, Twilight strained to hear her. ‘I.. I can’t…’ ‘Come on sugarcube, you’re the only one who can follow her!’ Rainbow was already disappearing from sight. ‘But.. I…’ Applejack was pushing her already and said, ‘Ya don’t want anythin’ happenin’ t’ Rainbow do ya? Don’t worry we’ll be right behind ya!’ Pushing her off, Fluttershy slowly followed after Rainbow, but when she feared she might lose her, she sped up and attempted to at least keep an eye on her so she knew where Rainbow was going. Her friends galloped behind her through the forest. As they galloped, Pinkie looked around and noticed a few odd trees around them, she seemed to almost recognize them. ‘Hey girls? Does this place look familiar to any of you?’ ‘Pinkie this place all looks the same!’ Twilight yelled back. ‘I know but it seems familiar.’ They reached a wooden bridge and ran over it, ‘Very familiar.’ She added. ‘Wait… Ain’t this the way t’ that there castle?’ said Applejack. Coming to a stop the four of them came face to face with the old castle they’d travelled to when they’d stopped Nightmare Moon. They had little time to stare though, because Fluttershy was already travelling off through the gardens to where she’d seen Rainbow go. Flying high over the trees of the Everfree forest, Rainbow searched the place for the source of that ear wrenching whinny. As she got closer her ears were straining not to go deaf from the piercing sound of it all. Suddenly as she looked down searching for the source, her eyes caught a flash of light and she skidded to a halt in the air. Spinning around, the whinny has stopped and whatever that light was had disappeared now. The only thing her eyes focused on, was a shadowy shape of something heading towards a certain orange filly. Without thinking she dived at the being at full speed. Instead of crashing into it and pushing it over like she’d thought, she passed harmlessly through the thing and suddenly came face to face with a large oak tree. Slamming hard into it she was dazed for a moment. What caught her off guard was the manner this monster treated her. ‘Do you mind?!’ Headless was not amused, a shiver had ricocheted through his body when she’d passed through him, caught him a bit off guard. ‘It’s incredibly rude to pass through somepony without so much as a word.’ ‘How.. Whaaa!?!’ She couldn’t understand how she missed him, she was sure she’d hit him, but it was like he wasn’t even there. Rainbow turned and was shocked to see a headless pony, she could see the opening on his neck where his spine cut off and his windpipe opened. But her protective instincts overrode her fear and all she could think was protecting Scootaloo. ‘By that stupid look on your face and that obvious mane of yours, I’m guessing you’re Rainbow Dash.’ It spoke to her in an echoy voice, it had no direction, sounding all around. ‘Scootaloo has told me about you. Didn’t mention you being brash and rude.’ ‘Scootaloo! Get away from it!’ Rainbow said speeding around him to in front of the little orange filly. ‘Oh please,’ He said waving a hoof at her, ‘You really think you could do anything to me? You wouldn’t have a chance against me.’ ‘Oh yeah?! I’ll show you!’ Leaping forward she went to push him again but found herself passing through him again, she scraped against the ground and came to a halt. Another shiver jolted through his body and he turned on her. ‘Would you mind not doing that?! If it didn’t work the first time then it’s not going to work the second time! Do you understand nothing about ghosts?!’ ‘A ghost?’ She looked at him dazed, stars floated around her face. ‘Yes I’m a ghost, which means I can’t touch anything, see.’ He waved a hoof through Scootaloo emphasizing that he couldn’t do anything to her. ‘But I can deal a lot of damage when I want to.’ ‘You just get away from her.’ Rainbow said spreading out her wings and bringing her head down. ‘Oh yes yes, there’s no need to get huffy about it.’ Turning to leave he said, ‘See ya kid, looks like you don’t need me to watch you anymore. Just try not to fall out of anymore trees again.’ ‘No wait-’ Scootaloo tried to go after him but yelped in pain as she fell over. Rainbow was instantly at her side checking her over like an overly obsessed parent. Headless didn’t even looked back, he just disappeared into the forest. After a moment the rest of the gang appeared. Her friends all ran up to Scootaloo and were shooting questions at her. ‘What happened?’ said Sweetie Belle. ‘Did you get hurt?’ ‘Are ya okay?!’ Asked Applebloom. ‘How did you get out here?’ Scootaloo couldn’t register all the questions and sat there unsure what to do. ‘Hey easy up there girls, give her some time ta breathe. How are ya sugarcube?’ said Applejack ‘Uh, I’m okay, but my legs hurt.’ ‘Come up here Scoots, I’ll carry you.’ Said Rainbow Dash as she plucked up the orange filly and planted her on her back. ‘You won’t believe girls, but THE Headless Horse was here!’ exclaimed Rainbow Dash. ‘The Headless Horse? But Dash, he’s just an old filly’s tale dear.’ Rarity said not believing her. ‘No he’s real!’ exclaimed Scootaloo, ‘I met him last night and he stayed with me all night! He even chased off a manticore! It was soooooo cool!’ ‘Are you sure you didn’t bump your head last night? You look pretty done up.’ Said Twilight. ‘No it’s true you guys, he was here!’ said Rainbow. ‘You must’ve just been seeing things sugar, you’ve been stressing all morning so it was probably ya mind playing tricks.’ Said Applejack ‘But he was here!’ Scootaloo and Rainbow said in unison. ‘Can’t… can’t we continue this… somewhere safer? If that’s okay?’ the meek yellow Pegasus said barely audible. ‘Fluttershy’s right, I’d rather not spend any longer in this disgusting forest than I have to.’ Rarity said staring at a puddle of mud near her. They all started heading off back the way they had come through the dark Everfree forest. Headless was glad he’d left those two, that damn feeling he got when she’d passed through him had finally gone away and he could finally be left in peace. It was the same sort of feeling he’d gotten when he was near those ponies who’d freed his Princess, he guessed she was one of them. He seemed to remember an odd multi-coloured pony. Although he didn’t care much about that rainbow mare, he couldn’t help feel a tad bit of disappointment in leaving the little filly. The first contact he’d had with anyone in years and someone who didn’t run away soon as she’d seen him. Alright she had tried but it amazed him that she would also try to follow him when he left. He missed that sleeping little filly, the one who’d looked at him with admiration as he chased off the manticore and not with fear. If he had one, he would be grinning at that moment. He passed through a bush and suddenly stood stock still at what he saw. There before him was a pack of manticores. The one he’d burned was growling at the group and they all started heading off towards where Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were. It was clear what they were going to do and Headless wanted nothing more than to leave that blue Pegasus alone, but he felt something odd within him. He felt fear for what might happen to that little filly. Spinning around he bolted off to where they last were. Looking around where he’d left them, they weren’t there and he hoped that they had flown off. He was relieved but that feeling died suddenly when he heard hoofsteps not far away. Sprinting off to them he saw a collection of ponies, and that weird feeling rushed over him again. Ignoring those feeling when he saw the little orange filly he sprinted towards her, passing through half the ponies at the same time and came to a stop in front of the blue Pegasus. Blurting out he said, ‘You have to get out of here, NOW!’ All the ponies looked towards the new voice and Rarity shrieked in shock at what she saw. The others all gasped and Fluttershy leaped behind an orange farm mare whimpering. ‘A… a… a headless horse?! How is this possible?!’ said Twilight not comprehending. ‘I’m a ghost alright, but talk about that later. You lot really have to get going now! There’s a pack of manticore heading this way!’ Scootaloo shrunk at the mention of the beasts but Rainbow Dash defiantly said. ‘Why are they coming!’ ‘You’re asking that now?!! A group of angry manticore are coming! There are more important things to be doing! Quickly follow me!’ He sprinted ahead of them but when he turned and saw they weren’t following he trotted on the spot impatiently and said, ‘We really don’t have the time to be doing this now!’ ‘Follow him Rainbow!’ said Scootaloo. ‘I’m not following him! He’s probably going to lead us right to the manticores.’ ‘Come on just follow him! They could come at any moment.’ Rainbow looked back at her about to tell her she wasn’t going to, but the look on Scootaloo’s face stopped her. She was clearly scared and was looking at the Headless Horse like he was the safest thing in this forest. Giving an annoyed sigh, Dash ran after the Headless Horse. The others followed and Applejack dragged the stunned Fluttershy behind her. He lead them towards the castle and the top of it could just barely be seen over the trees in the forest, when a certain yellow Pegasus flew above them dragging a very confused farm pony behind her. Looking over their backs they saw about 4 or 5 manticores heading towards them. That gave them what they needed to burst forward and make it faster to the castle. Headless lead them to the front of the castle where they headed through the broken doors and tried their best to close them again. Twilight pushed rocks in front of the door when a sudden pounding could be heard on them. ‘Hurry this way!’ Headless yelled. Leading them to the back of the room, they headed down a hallway on the left and ran to the end of it. There before them was a large statue of an undiscernible alicorn. Skidding before it, Headless looked over it and finally found what he was looking for when a loud crash coming from the room they’d left indicated that the manticores had pushed through. ‘Somepony pull this lever.’ It was disguised as a four cornered star that the alicorn had her hoof resting on. One point on the floor, another she rested her hoof on and the other two stuck out the sides so that if you pulled on them the star would turn in place. Twilight and Pinkie were pushing it but it wasn’t budging, Applejack joined in and they could hear the growls of the manticores coming closer. ‘Use your powers on them Headless!’ said Scootaloo quickly. ‘I can’t use those in here, I’d bring the whole castle down!’ Scootaloo looked downcast but that was quickly replaced with fear when the growls could be heard just outside the hallway. ‘Arrr! Con sarnit!’ said Applejack before she turned and bucked the star. It finally turned and the statue moved to reveal a secret passage. All of them rushed in, and the statue closed right before the manticores turned into the hallway, having no idea where they’d gone.