//------------------------------// // The Beginning // Story: Scootaloo's Nightmare // by Applecrisp //------------------------------// The Beginning Riiiinnnnggg The bell rang indicating school was out. "Alright class, I will see you all tomorrow." Cheerilee said with a smile on her face. The Cutie Mark Crusaders zipped straight out the door into the bright sunlight of the afternoon. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle headed for the clubhouse, while Scootaloo went the opposite way. "Scootaloo, where are you going?" Sweetie Belle asked in confusion. "Yeah, we always meet after to school for our Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting." Applebloom added. Scootaloo looked really excited bouncing up and down, with a giant smirk on her face. "I'm going to meet with Rainbow Dash for flying lessons today!" She shouted in excitement "Oh well, have fun Scootaloo," Applebloom said with slight disappointment in her voice. "Yeah, like Rainbow Dash has anytime for a blank flank like you!" A familiar voice laughed. The three fillies turned around laying there eyes on a pink earth pony, Diamond Tiara and her friend Silver Spoon. "Leave her alone!" Sweetie Belle squeaked "Yeah, Rainbow promised we would hang out and practice!" Scootaloo said in anger attempting to fly in the air "I bet you will get there and she won't have time for you," Said Diamond Tiara sticking her head in the air walking away with her friend. Scootaloo's ears flattened against her head and she slowly walked away. Doubts about her friend Rainbow Dash entered her head, which was new for her, she always had faith in Rainbow. But Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were right for the past week about Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle walked towards Scootaloo until Applebloom stopped her with her hoof. Sweetie Belle looked at the yellow filly who was shaking her head and knowing what that meant. The two fillies decided to head to their club house. Scootaloo's bad mood finally vanished once she saw her favorite pegasus fly above her at super speed. She quickly smiled and ran after her as fast as her little legs could carry her. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!" The orange filly shouted hovering a few feet in the air. "Hey, squirt what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I'm here for my lessons. You said you could teach me today." Scootaloo beamed with excitement. "Oh, sorry kid, but I got some last minute weather assignments. We need a thunderstorm today and somepony, I'm not saying who,(Derpy) wasn't ready with the rain clouds on time. Maybe next time, okay squirt." She said with a wink. "Alright..." Scootaloo said walking off, her bad mood returning in full force. Scootaloo decided to head to the Cuite Mark Crusader’s Clubhouse hoping that her friends could cheer her up. As she walked into the clubhouse her friends looked at her, knowing what had happened for the fifth time this week. Scootaloo attempted to hide her frustration and sadness but her friends could clearly see it. "So...um, what's on the crusading list today girls?" Scootaloo said, nearly mumbling out the words. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle shared a worried look. They knew her friend was disappointed but they hadn't seen her like this before. "Well, we were thinking about being Cutie Mark Crusader weather forecasters!" The two shouted trying to lighten the mood. "Well then, that's perfect, there’s going to be a thunderstorm today!" Scootaloo shouted angrily crossing her front legs sitting on the floor. "We don't have to be forecasters Scoot." Sweetie belle said, trying to comfort her friend "Its fine, we can." She scowled. They went outside and stood under their umbrellas. The dark grey clouds started coming in slowly, but they were coming in. The three crusaders started to set up their equipment. It was a lot of work but if they got their cutie marks it would be worth it. "Ha ha ha, what do you plan on doing with that... junk?" Diamond Tiara said coming out of nowhere like always. "Yeah, are you going to be garbage ponies?" Silver Spoon laughed. "For your information, we are goin’ to be weather forecast ponies," Applebloom said, fiddling with the instruments. "Uh huh, more like weather losers. You even have a pegasus who can't fly! What will she know about the weather?” Diamond Tiara said with a glare. "Yeah, and weren't you supposed to be with Rainbow Dash or something?" Silver Spoon said looking at her hoof. Scootaloo flattened her against her head, her anger boiling inside. Her face started to turn red and she was ready to attack the two snotty brats! Her eyes started to water and she trembled in anger, but ran into the club house rather than attack. "What is the matter with you two?!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both shrugged and started off to wherever else they were going. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle quickly followed Scootaloo into the clubhouse. Inside Scootaloo was laying on the floor looking like she was about to bust into tears, her face was still red and she looked furious. "Scootal-" Applebloom attempted to say when she was cut off by Scootaloo. "Why? Why can't we be appreciated for trying something? Just once I would like to do something that everypony will remember! That ponies want..." she said in anger and in sadness. "Scootaloo, we try all the time," Applebloom said trying comfort her friend. "No we always cause disasters. Don't you remember Fluttershy's cottage the talent show! We don't do anything that helps anypony..." she continued. “But everpony always remember our disasters.” Applebloom joked. “Very funny,” Scootaloo responded, obviously unamused. "Well, we um... did that thing!" Sweetie Belle said trying to cheer her friend up Scootaloo looked at her friends with watery eyes, her ears down and she started heading for the door with her head down. Scootaloo started down the stairs and headed towards the Everfree Forest. The rain had finally started, soaking her completely, though she was to depressed to care. She finally got to the Everfree borders and stood there looking deep into the woods. She took her first step in and kept walking and didn't look back. It was dark in there and she was soaked, but at least the rain clouds didn't reach past the Everfree. She wasn't in the forest long until she started hearing noises and cracking branches. "It’s alright Scootaloo," she said to herself, "there's nothing out here, just your imagination, you're just thinking about the branches and breathing and howling... Howling!?" A loud howl dashed that was definitely real resonated through the forest and a strong stench filled her nostrils. She turned around to see a pair of glowing green eyes staring right at her. Then another pair appeared, and another, and another, until there were seven pairs of eyes locked on to her. She shook in fear as the first timberwolf stepped from the shadows. *Gulp* She slowly started walking backwards, until the Timberwolf howled. "AaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhH!" Scootaloo turned and ran as fast as she could. She jumped over rocks, hovered over bushes and leaped through split tree branches but she couldn’t shake the timberwolves. She ran until she got to a cliff, where she dug her hooves into the ground and skid to a stop at the very edge of the cliff. Scootaloo barely stopped herself from falling over the edge. She looked around quickly for an escape route but there were none. The timberwolves burst through the forest surrounding her. She was trapped.