//------------------------------// // Finally Erupting // Story: Replacing Scootaloo // by I am not a Dalek //------------------------------// Chapter 16- Finally Erupting Rainbow Dash and I trot through the town as we gather the last of my school supplies. I feel guilty about the fact that Rainbow is buying me everything, from my quills to my lunch bag and she even bought me a new saddlebag, telling me that it's her treat to me. I do have to admit, my old saddlebag was becoming frayed and torn, so I am thankful that she did this for me. Still, all I can think about is Cloud Chaser and wonder what he is planning to do. Now, I need to be even more cautious when I am around him and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, but knowing that he is going off like this behind Apple Blooms back, makes me so angry. I could hurt him without feeling an ounce of guilt. "Hey, squirt, are you awake?" Rainbow glances down at me, making it obvious that she knows something is up. Smiling sweetly, I nod at her. "Yup, sorry, just thinking." Rainbow Dash laughs and ruffles my mane. "Wow, that's worrying." I roll my eyes as I continue to walk, knowing that Rainbow is only joking around with me; I don't take her insult to heart. I challenge Rainbow to a race without wings, knowing that I will lose by a long shot. She agrees and gives me a head start, nonetheless, she still manages to shoot ahead of me and win in ten seconds flat. Strangely, I am not so upset about losing. Maybe it's because it was against Rainbow and I knew I had no chance, or maybe it's because I just enjoyed the thrill of the race itself. Either way, I am still happy. Finally, we have collected all my school supplies, so we stop off in Sugar Cube Corner. We find Rarity and Applejack stuck talking to Pinkie as she blabbers on about some new cupcake recipe she's got. Rainbow Dash walks over to her friends and I follow close behind. "Why hello, Rainbow and Scootaloo, it is lovely seeing you both here, darlings," Rarity says, and she smiles her beautiful smile to greet us both. Applejack looks away from Pinkie to greet us both too. "Howdy girls, how are y'all doing?" Rainbow Dash smiles and ruffles my hair. "I've been doing good, just hanging out with the squirt here." "Oh my gosh, hi guys, it's so good to see you. I love seeing my friends, did you come and visit me? that's so nice! Have a cupcake!" Pinkie Pie beams and hooves us each a cupcake before going off in a tangent about the recipe again. I blink in confusion before looking around the group, Rarity smiles at me before pointing over to a sofa booth in the corner of the shop. "The other crusaders should be over there, darling, I know you wouldn't want to be stuck listening to our boring old conversations," she laughs. With that, I'm off running towards the booth as I call back to Rainbow. "I'll see you later, Dash!" Sweetie Belle smiles at me with a look of relief across her face. Apple Bloom and Cloud Chaser must have been leaving her out again, which makes me hate him even more. He's causing both of my best friends to hurt and I hate him for it. Still, I have to resist the urge to punch him since I know that he will use his silver tongue to talk his way out of my accusations. "Hey Scoots, how're you doing?" Sweetie smiles sweetly, I'm glad I had a chance to save her from being alone today. "I've been doing good, hanging out with Rainbow and stuff. How about you?" I shoot a look towards Cloud Chaser, who is gradually leaning closer to Apple Bloom. "I've been okay, do you want to come crusading with us later?" She asks and I instantly nod, knowing that I can't leave her alone with Cloud Chaser and Apple Bloom. Pinkie Pie bounces over to take our orders. "Hey guys, how can I help you today? Do you want the regular?" "Yes please, Pinkie, 4 strawberry milkshakes and chocolate muffins, please!" Sweetie grins as Pinkie bounces off to get our drinks for us. I watch Cloud Chaser as I think about the events which happened earlier on today. I hate the fact that he is sitting so close to Apple Bloom, I hate the fact that he's doing this to her. He can hurt me, but he can't hurt my friends. I hate him for this. "Why are you looking at me like that, Dodo?" Cloud Chaser sneers, bringing me back to reality. I frown and glance at Sweetie. "Looking at you like what exactly?" "You were giving me a dirty look, don't you dare look at me at all," he growls under his breath, causing me to instantly look away. Pinkie Pie returns with our orders and places them down in front of us before bouncing off in her usual fashion, leaving us all to awkwardly eat in silence. A thought suddenly crosses my mind and I realise that my Cutie Mark Crusader cape had been torn that night I crashed on my scooter, and I've had it in my saddlebag ever since. I've been meaning to ask Apple Bloom to fix it for me, since she is better at sewing in comparison to the rest of us. "Hey, Apple Bloom, I ripped my cape the other day, do you mind fixing it for me?" I ask before taking a sip out of my milkshake. Apple Bloom smiles at me, "Yeah, sure, chuck it over now and Ah'll take it home with me." I lean down and reach into my saddlebag, before carefully pulling out the torn cape and chucking it over to Apple Bloom. However, the cape falls onto Cloud Chaser's milkshake, and knocks it onto his lap. He jumps up in shock and sends me a glare, before Apple Bloom reaches over and tells him to calm down. "It's okay, Chase, y'all can share mine," she smiles sweetly before taking my cape and putting it into her own saddle bag. Cloud Chaser smiles thankfully at her before cleaning up the mess I made with a napkin. I continue to watch as Cloud Chaser begins leans closer and closer to Apple Bloom, and without knowing it I kick my hoof forward and hit him on the knee. Suddenly, he buckles over and falls out of the chair, hitting the ground with a thump. Apple Bloom is up instantly, helping him back to his hooves. "What happened, Chase?" "Somepony kicked me." He glares at me and I smile at him sweetly. "Whatever do you mean, Chase?" I say, as I flutter my eyelashes innocently. It all happens in a flash, Cloud Chaser has pounced at me and now has me pinned to the ground. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are yelling out in shock. Out of instinct, I bite down on his foreleg as hard as I can, so hard that I cause blood to flow out of the wound. He yelps in pain and I use this as an opportunity to kick him off me and punch him as hard as I can, over and over again. I can't hear anything around me; all I can see is Cloud Chaser with his bleeding nose and bruised face. I feel him punch and kick me in the stomach, but at this moment I can't feel pain, the adrenaline is pumping through me and I savour this moment of revenge. I'm not just doing this for myself; I'm doing this for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle too. Suddenly, cyan hooves are wrapped around me, pulling me off of Cloud Chaser's body. I look up to find Rainbow Dash, holding me as tight as she can as I struggle to get free and make Cloud Chaser suffer. The dark blue colt jumps towards me and tries to swing at my face, but Applejack has now grabbed him and pulled him back, restraining him as well. My senses all begin to come back to me as I realise that I have the eyes of everypony on me. The taste of blood finally fills my mouth and all the pain rushes through my body. Apple Bloom is crying hysterically as she asks Cloud Chaser if he is okay. My heart clenches when I realise that I've gotten the blame for this. This is the one thing I didn't want to happen, still, it was worth it. I hope that someday soon, Apple Bloom realises how bad of a pony this guy really is. "What in tarnation was that all about, Scoots?" Applejack asks as she continues to restrain Cloud Chaser, even though Apple Bloom is begging her to release him. "He started it, he jumped at me first!" I argue, anger rising in my voice with every syllable. Cloud Chaser looks up at Applejack, his eyes full of fake hurt. "Well, that's because she kicked me, and she's been tormenting me all morning." "I did it because you're cheating on Apple Bloom!" I blurt and the moment it's out, I want to take it all back. Everypony stares at me in complete shock, and Apple Bloom looks between Cloud Chaser and I. "Chase, is that true?" Apple Bloom's voice wavers as she gets to the verge of tears. "Of course not, Bloom! You know how much she hates me, she just wants to break us up, and after all, she did just pick a fight with me." Cloud Chaser does exactly what I expected him to do: smooth talk his way out of this. Sighing, I look at the floor and kick it with my hoof. "Apple Bloom, you know I'd never want to hurt you, we've been friends for almost three years now." "Who are you going to believe, the victim or that crazy psychopathic filly over there?" Cloud Chaser asks. I feel Rainbow Dash's grip tense around me, but I gently shake my head, I'm not going to fight back. It's what he wants. Still, I can't help but shake with anger at his words. "Ah don't know what to believe anymore!" Apple Bloom cries and runs out of the shop. Rainbow Dash silently picks me up and flies me out as well, knowing that I need to get away from all of that. "Scoots, can you please tell me what happened now?" Rainbow says as she places me on a cloud and sits before me, looking deep into my eyes. Finally, I give in and begin to tell her the whole story. I just hope that it's not too late to seek help from her.