//------------------------------// // Chapter two: Resolve // Story: The Crusade For Love // by JPTrixie-Fan //------------------------------// Oaktree library was shrouded in the thick veil of night with only the small flicker of a candle to break through the darkness and light Sweetie’s way. As the white filly drew closer to the library she heard a commotion coming from inside, from the sounds of it Sweetie guessed that Spike was refusing to take a bath… again. Still, the filly was on a mission and no amount of distractions could stop her. As she reached the door she took a deep breath and thought to her self. ‘Am I really ready to do this?’ the filly closed her eyes and thought of her orange friend, her purple mane and her beautiful little wings, even the way her face looked when she was embarrassed it was like a dream forever out of reach until now. A sudden pain flashed through her heart as she remembered what Scootaloo had said earlier ‘Fillies can’t love other fillies’ that was it, the final push she needed to steel her resolve. If she couldn’t be Scootaloo’s filly-friend then she would become her colt-friend instead. Sweetie knocked on the door to the library and waited; nothing. Again she knocked on the door, louder this time, still nothing. Sweetie was getting impatient and knocked again this time it was accompanied by shouting. “Twilight! Can I come in?!” This time the door flew open and a purple dragon with green spikes barged past the unicorn filly into the darkness pursued by a lavender unicorn mare that also ran straight past her. After Twilight and Spike ran away into the darkness Sweetie took her chance and snuck in. She was in luck; it seemed that Spike had recently re-alphabetized the book shelves making it very easy to find what she was looking for. “Let’s see… aha! Transformation spells for beginners or maybe Morph spells for novices.” She thought aloud and finally decided to take both just to be safe; time was running short, she could hear Twilight returning and so taking the books Sweetie stole away into the night. *** Scootaloo finally reached the Carousal Boutique, but by the time she got there Rarity and Fluttershy had gotten home. “Maybe she’s already gone to sleep?” Scootaloo wondered as she approached the front door to the shop, but before she could raise her hoof to knock a noise came from behind. It was the sound of hoof steps; Scootaloo turned to see a small white filly emerging from the darkness. It was Sweetie Belle and she was carrying something, a book? Scootaloo thought, but that didn’t matter right now she was just glad her friend was looking better. “Hey Sweetie! What’re you doing out at this time?” she asked while waving her hoof to her friend. Sweetie’s heart stopped, but it was only for a moment when she saw the object of her desire waiting outside of her sister’s store at this late hour; it was like a dream come true. She slowed to a stop and tried to hide the books that she’d ‘borrowed’ from Twilight’s home before Scootaloo had chance to see them. “Oh… Hey why are you out so late?” she asked trying to hide her red cheeks, of course in the darkness she didn’t need to, still she tried out of habit. “I just came to check up on you, your hay fever looked like it was really bad earlier.” ‘Hay fever?’ Sweetie thought for a moment then it dawned on her, Scootaloo must have meant when she ran off crying. “Yeah it’s cleared up a bit, thanks for checking up on me…” “That’s great, what’s with the books?” Scootaloo asked pointing at the books that the white unicorn had placed behind her. “Oh these? ... ermmm…” Sweetie tried to think of a lie, but there was nothing in her mind but the overbearing urge to kiss the filly in front of her. Her lips pursed and she leaned closer… “Oh! I get it!” the orange Pegasus interrupted. “You… you do?” Sweetie asked, both worried and excited at the same time that her heart’s desire might be fulfilled. “These books must have spells for relieving hay fever, right?” Sweetie blinked at the statement then chuckled slightly. “Yep, that’s it; Twilight figured they would help as summer sets in. Anyway Scoots I’ve got to get to bed it is a school night after all.” With that she picked up the books and retreated into the shop. She watched Scootaloo through the letter box for a few moments before heaving a sigh in relief that her plan wasn’t foiled before it had begun; all she had to do now was put it to the test and so she made a B-line for her bedroom to practise the spell. *** When the school bell rang Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were already in the classroom looking for the note that Cheerilee had thrown in the trash yesterday. “Have you found it yet?” “Keep ya feathers on Scoots, Ah’m looking as best Ah can.” “Where’s Sweetie Belle? She’s great at finding stuff like this.” “Ah went by her house this morning but she wasn’t there.” “That’s cause she was sleeping at her sister’s place last night, I think it was cause Rarity keeps the place so clean that it helps with her hay fever.” “Ya mean that’s still buggin her?” “Yeah, but she said she was going to try a spell to clear it up for good… Aghhh where is that note?!!” Finally the two ran out of time and had to sit at there desks prompting yet another annoyed grunt from the orange filly as she slammed her head against her desktop. The other foals filtered into the classroom followed quickly by their dark pink coated teacher who smiled and greeted her students. “Good morning class.” She said in an almost song like tone as she scanned the faces of her students suddenly stopping when she noticed that Sweetie’s desk was empty. “Girls?” She turned to face Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Where’s Sweetie Belle today?” “Well ya see we don’t know, Scoots thinks that she might be out with hay fever though.” The yellow filly answered. “Oh dear I do hope she’ll be alright, oh well we’ll just have to continue the lesson without her.” Cheerilee continued and turned to face her chalkboard. *** The rest of the Cheerilee’s class was boring and uneventful; finally the lunch bell rang and the students were dismissed for their break. Scootaloo stepped out of the school doors and began walking towards the jungle gym. “Hey Scoot why’re ya out here all alone?” Apple Bloom quizzed as she caught up with her orange friend. “I’ve got some stuff to think about, I just want to be alone for a little while if that’s alright.” Scootaloo stated and continued walking to the jungle gym, eventually taking a seat on the sand beneath the barred structure. ‘Who could’ve sent that note?’ The questions from yesterday returned and began to plague her again. The orange filly became so lost in thought that she’d completely failed to notice the handsome earth pony colt that stood waiting for her behind a nearby tree, until now. He was a few inches taller than she was with a pink and purple mane and a solid white coat; he had a familiar air about him that was hard to place almost like she’d met him before, finally she found her eyes drawn to his flank. It was bare. Whoever this colt was a blank flank just like her; she felt herself blush slightly as he walked towards her. “Hey there, I’m Silver Bell what’s your name?” Sweetie had disguised herself rather poorly due to her low level magic, but it seemed to have fooled Scootaloo so it wasn’t all bad. “I’m Scoot… Scootaloo…” She stammered as the handsome earth pony shook her hoof. ‘It’s working.’ Sweetie thought as the memories of last night ran through her head. The first few attempts didn’t work all that well because her magic wasn’t strong enough, however after several failed attempts and charred sections of her coat she’d gotten good enough to cast a slightly weaker spell that was more like a costume that only lasted long enough for a few hours. Now all she had to do was make the orange filly love her back. “Do you want to eat together? I made too much for just myself.” The ‘colt’ asked as he sat next to Scootaloo. “Erm… sure.” The Pegasus filly found herself quickly put at ease and even charmed by the white colt that was opening his saddle bag to get his lunch. The lunch Silver had brought with him was indeed too much for one foal and as Scootaloo only had coupons for food that wasn’t very tasty she accepted the rather generous portion Silver gave her. It was full of her favourite foods, from apple bread with raspberry jam to deep fried, honey coated carrot fritters. It was almost like the colt had made this dinner especially for her, but she knew that was impossible after all they’d only just met. Sweetie’s heart melted with each smile that Scootaloo gave as she enjoyed the meal that she’d prepared; it was like a dream, to see the filly she loved delighting in the food she’d been learning to make just for her for several months. She smiled as she slipped into fantasies of living with the orange filly and cooking for her everyday; finally she’d say ‘Sweetie these oat pancakes are almost as sweet as you.’ Then they’d inch closer until finally their lips would touch and… her fantasy was interrupted when Scootaloo waved a hoof in front of her face. “Hey you ok?” She asked, her mouth still full of food. “Yeah… yeah why?” Sweetie answered in her best male voice. “You looked like you were zoning out, you know like you were lost in thought.” The orange Pegasus filly explained as she took another bite of the sweet carrot fritters. “I… I was just thinking…” Sweetie looked at her friend’s face for an explanation. ‘I was thinking how cute you look with crumbs around your mouth.’ She thought. “You have a few crumbs on your cheek.” She gestured, but each time Scootaloo brushed her cheek she would miss the crumbs entirely which prompted several laughs from her companion. “Look, I’m starting to feel kinda stupid can you get it for me?” Scootaloo asked. Silver’s face turned red. “What?” “Pleaaasee?” Scootaloo asked again. ‘Dang she’s so cute.’ Sweetie thought and moved closer to brush the crumbs away, but as the she did Scootaloo giggled and she panicked blushing a bright red as she did so. “Sorry, I’m kinda ticklish.” Scootaloo said with a grin, suddenly the bell rang for the end of lunch leaving the pair startled. “I guess we gotta go to class now, aren’t you coming?” the orange filly asked only to be met by Silver shaking his head. “I’m in a different class on the other side of the school, but erm… can we do this again tomorrow?” The white colt asked, his question was quickly met with a smile and a quick nod before the filly ran into class. Silver waited for a few moments until Scootaloo had gone back inside before he deactivated the spell, once again returning to the original filly that was hiding beneath its shroud. “I did it!!!” Sweetie yelled before running home to practice the spell in hopes it would last longer.