//------------------------------// // Burning Resolve // Story: Monsters & Other Foalish Things // by _Medicshy //------------------------------// Scootaloo enters the hallway, looking up at the pure white walls. So clinical, so clean... they'd been home for a long time now, but now they seemed to be filled with dread. After what had happened, those visions... She'd smashed down her door to get away, curled up in Firebug's room, and cried until the older yellow filly had come to comfort her. She'd run an incredibly hot hoof through her mane, soothing and shushing her into an uneasy sleep. She’d gone, and following her Scootaloo found herself walking the halls, waiting for a vision or a monster to appear. She finds not a monster, but her closest friend. “Firebug!” she calls out, running to her. The earth pony jumps, turning around, her red mane tied back in a ponytail and her copper eyes seeming to glow with an inner heat. When she sees who it is her look softens, but only barely. “Scootaloo... You can't follow me. Remember that book I showed you? Go get it, and then go find the others.” Scootaloo is confused, looking up to the larger filly with sad eyes. “But... The house is so scary now. I'm afraid of the monsters...” Firebug almost tears up for a moment, her smile radiant, but sad. “Scootaloo, don't be afraid of monsters. You, me, the others... we were made to stop monsters, whatever form they take.” She looks over at the door to the 'Adults Only' section of the orphanage, her tears beginning to flow but her face determined. “I'm going to do exactly that.” Scootaloo sees Firebug's tears and hugs her leg, looking up at the other filly's face. “I'll help you! Let me come!” “No!” The word comes immediately and Scootaloo is pushed away by a gentle, firm hoof. “No... I'm doing this for all of us. Grab the book, get going. I'll... I'll meet you outside.” Scootaloo starts to cry, looking at the fierce gaze in Firebug's eyes. “But Firebug... I don't want to be alone again...” Firebug's sad smile deepens as she leads Scootaloo down the corridor, a caring hoof on her back. “You won't be alone, I promise. You'll have the others, and as soon as I'm done here I will find you. I promised I'd be watching over you, and I always will.” She hugs the small orange filly tightly, tears from both falling on the other's coat. “Firebug, I-” “I love you, sis. Remember that.” She opens a door gently, disengaging herself from the hug. “Scootaloo...” The younger orange pegasus looks to her friend... no, her sister, and it seems to sap Firebug's willpower for just a second. But her determination doesn't leave, and she is as strong as ever. “Get out of here. Go.” She gently nudges Scootaloo through the door, then shuts it, a soft click letting them both know it’s locked. Scootaloo stares at the door, slightly confused tears in her eyes, but knowing that Firebug had a plan and a reason. She'll have to to trust her sister. She walks down the hallway, doing what she was told, when fire rushes her from behind and an explosion shakes the house to its core, throwing Scootaloo against a wall. Her vision blurs on impact. Scootaloo turned over in her bed, feeling the tears running down her cheek, but not doing anything about it. This was the first night she'd returned to one of her 'normal' dreams... A 'restful' night without that horrible monster. Even though she still had tears down her cheeks, she smiled. At least my dream's acting normal for once. With a tired yawn only a Pinkie Party could bring on, Scootaloo turned over in her bed and tried to go back to sleep, the party replaying in mind in her few waking moments. The party was as wild as any Pinkie Pie had ever thrown, even though it began with Bluebell showing up on the brink of tears, her knees scraped and her doll missing from her hooves. Everypony yelled 'Surprise!' which caused her to brighten up after the initial shock. She said she'd tripped on the way there and hurt herself and that her doll was at home. When asked if she wanted somepony to go with her and get it she shook her head, not wanting to leave the amazing party just for her. And it was amazing. Cake, music, streamers, punch, and not an unhappy face in the house. The only ponies missing in town seemed to be the ones that were always too grumpy for a Pinkie Party and the terrible twosome, who nopony except Snips and Snails really missed. It went late, later than normal for most of the parents, who didn't want to take their foals away before Bluebell got picked up, but her father never arrived. Eventually the party broke down like it normally did, and while Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were taken off by their sisters, Scootaloo ended up helping Pinkie Pie clean up while Cheerilee talked with Twilight Sparkle over something or other. Those two always seemed to be talking about something, and Scootaloo was well used to it going on forever. However, three other ponies seemed to be hanging around as well: Bluebell, Twist, and Dinky. Despite being tired and in the middle of cleaning, Scootaloo couldn't help but wonder why they were there, so she moved over to a table near them and listened in. “I dunno girls, I don't think that my papa would be too happy if I just showed up with two more ponies... He worked hard to keep Ms. Pinkie away.” Despite her words, Bluebell didn't seem fully convinced, tapping a hoof against the ground, her voice sounding very regretful. Twist shook her head. “Nonthenth! What kind of dad wouldn't let you have a thleepover? Bethideth, I already athked my parentth and they thaid it wath fine! For the whole weekend, if we want.” Dinky hopped up beside the other two. “And I asked Auntie Harvest and she said it was alright too, as long as we were safe and I was back before dark Sunday night. So can we? Please?” Bluebell looked at her two friends’ pleading faces, her own showing how little she was sure of her decision. “I really don't think papa would like it, and my house is all the way by the Everfree, and then there's Nightshade...” Dinky just laughed. “We're not going to tease you over the doll! We didn't at school, right?” “And if your dad didn't want you over, he thould have thaperoned you here! Thinth he didn't, I don't think he thould get a thay.” Twist adjusted her glasses, nodding an affirmative to her own argument, which caused Dinky to giggle a little more. “I think that settles it. So can we come over?” Dinky had a huge smile, Twist was still looking definitive, and both were looking expectantly at Bluebell. Bluebell continued to hesitate, seeming to weigh her options. “You know... I... Um...” As she looked at the others, however, her face slowly set itself into an almost defiant look. “You know, you're right! You can come over if you want, and if somepony doesn't like it, then tough cookies!” The three had a small celebration over their impromptu slumber party and Scootaloo, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile. Sure, she still didn't know if Bluebell was the pony from her dreams, but she had learned two things: Bluebell had a father, whether or not he'd shown up, and Bluebell was social enough to come to a party and even have friends as close to her as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are to Scootaloo, and neither of those fit the image of the blue pony she didn't remember nearly well enough to be obsessing over like she had been. As she took an empty tray off the table to the stack Pinkie was forming near the kitchen, Scootaloo made up her mind. The investigation was off, and starting now she'd try to work her way back to normal. She was almost disappointed at how easy that decision was. When Cheerilee called her over a few minutes later, asking if she was ready to go, Scootaloo didn't complain or hang around or stall or anything. She saw the other three asking Twilight to walk them to Bluebell's house and smiled a tired smile as the day caught up with her, heading home with her guardian. Saturday morning had started with the normal weekend meet up at Apple Bloom's for Crusading at the clubhouse. Scootaloo walked into the room, feeling lighter than she had in a while, though reality seemed intent on crashing into her. “What is he doing here?” She pointed at the offending interloper, face shooting from flushed surprise to tough anger. Sweetie Belle innocently nudged the pegasus in question towards Scootaloo. “I don't know what you're talking about.” “You know exactly what I'm talking about Sweetie Belle! Where's Apple Bloom? She can't have agreed to this.” “Umm... If you don't want me he-” “Apple Bloom had to help Applejack with some last-minute chores, but she wouldn't mind at all,” Sweetie said with a defiant pout. “There's no rules against inviting guests.” Scootaloo huffed angrily, running over to Sweetie Belle and doing her best to fight down the heat in her face. She was starting to blush, and worse than that, that energy she always felt when threatened was starting to rise again. She wasn't going to be weird, especially not in front of him. She grabbed Sweetie's cotton candy tail and swung her around, putting both of their backs to the confused guest. “Sweetie Belle, it's in the second article. 'We will not cause any one of our gal pals, crusaders, compatriots, compadres, bosom buddies, best friends...' right, well, we don't bring in anything or anypony that might distract them from crusading!” Sweetie Belle fixed Scootaloo with her most devilishly innocent look. “How could Featherweight possibly be a distraction?” Scootaloo could feel her wings standing on end, her blush beyond hiding from Sweetie, though luckily hidden from the wiry colt behind her. She grit her teeth angrily, voice dangerously low. “Just get him out of here!” “Oh, come on Scootaloo! After all that attention you've been paying Bluebell I thought-” Scootaloo slapped a hoof over Sweetie Belle's mouth, sending a quick nervous smile to the chestnut-maned hunk behind her, who seemed to be entirely puzzled at the situation. She then ducked low, hissing into Sweetie's ears. “I've stopped watching her, alright? I'm done with that! And I was never in love with her, so don't do this to me!” “On't oo aht?” Sweetie mumbled around the hoof in her mouth. “You know exactly what you're doing, so stop it!” She pushed Sweetie Belle over to the pillows stacked in the thinking corner, then turned to Featherweight, her smile beaming. “Look, I'm really sorry for the confusion, but Sweetie Belle forgot the number one rule of the Cutie Mark Crusaders: no Cutie Marks allowed.” Featherweight fixed those dreamy brown eyes on Scootaloo and shrugged. “Right, club things. Whatever.” He fiddled with his front hooves, and it was only then that Scootaloo noticed the camera he'd brought with him. He slipped its harness over his neck. “I was just out photographing birds anyway when Sweetie grabbed me. I'll just go back to that.” “Are you sure there isn't anything you want to say to our guest before he leaves, Scootaloo?” Scootaloo froze, her eyes darting to the side to where Sweetie was laying, still smiling innocently. “It might help you get your cutie mark~!” she sing-songed sweetly. Cutie Mark in what? Awkward silence? Featherweight was there, right in front of her, and it wasn't a secret that she'd had a crush on him for a while now, ever since she'd gotten into a fight with him over the whole Gabby Gums thing. She started out by threatening him over the pictures, then they got to arguing, then they were talking, and then he'd shown her some of the photos he'd taken more recently and smiled just the cutest smile... Scootaloo turned to butter whenever she thought of it, and hadn't dared to talk to him since. Sure he was a twiggy brainiac, but something about his little grin just- She stopped that thought right there. “Nope. Sorry. It's against Crusader policy to even let you be in the clubhouse. Afraid I'll have to ask you to leave, Featherweight.” Scootaloo led him to the door, pushing him out and about to close it behind him when she paused. This was going to look bad no matter what, but maybe... “And show me whatever pictures you get sometime. You're really good with a camera.” She shut the door after that, knowing for a fact that he'd be looking at it and smiling, the gap in his front teeth completing his cute face so- “Sweetie Belle! What was that?!” she exploded with bright red cheeks, only the knowledge that he was so close keeping her from actually yelling. Especially knowing how stealthy he was taking pictures. Sweetie was still smiling, though it had grown a little more mischievous. “I thought that, since you were so focused spying on Bluebell, maybe if I showed you another option you'd snap out of it. Unrequited love isn't healthy, you know.” “I don’t love her!” Scootaloo stomped across the clubhouse, feeling the energy seeping into her hooves... she had to calm down, but Sweetie Belle was pushing buttons she really didn't want pushed. “I wasn't spying on her because I loved her. It was... It was for something else.” “And what might that be, Scoots?” said a familiar voice from the door, causing Scootaloo's angrily spread wings to visibly droop. “And anypony mind tellin' me what Featherweight was doin' at the bottom of the steps with a big dopey grin on his face?” “Scootaloo just set up a date with him, and-” “I did not!” Scootaloo glared at Sweetie Belle, then at the smile appearing on Apple Bloom's face. “I didn't set up any date with him! I said...” She hoofed the floorboards nervously, a blush appearing on her face again. “I said he took good pictures.” “Aw, ain't that sweet? Scootalove. Maybe now you'll get that freaky doll pony outta your head.” “It's not-” Scootaloo started off angry, but sighed in defeat a moment later, realizing she'd have to explain. “I'm not in love with Featherweight! And I wasn't with Bluebell either. I had a dream and a pony that looked like her showed up in it and I wanted to know if they were the same pony.” Apple Bloom didn't look impressed as she walked over. “Pony of your dreams, huh? No wonder you've been actin' so weird.” “She was the pony of your dreams?” Sweetie Belle ran over, her eyes shining and her face apologetic. “I'm so sorry! I wouldn't have pushed you towards Feather if-” Scootaloo pulled away from both of them. “It's not that kind of dream! The normal, not romantic kind!” The kind that Twilight said I should probably visit a therapist for... The kind you'd go mad seeing nightly... She turned around, pouting at a wall and trying to get her thoughts straight. “I'm not into all that mushy stuff, alright? But I've stopped 'being weird.' I don't think they're the same pony and I'm not gonna focus on her, so can we just stop this?” Apple Bloom smiled at that. “Well, you sound about right, I'll take ya at your word. Welcome back Scoots.” Scootaloo sighed, but smiled nonetheless. “Glad to be back. So what's the plan for today?” “I dunno, Sweetie Belle was in charge of planning for the weekend. What'd you come up with?” The two crusaders looked over to their unicorn comrade, seemingly puzzled as she mulled something over. After a few seconds, she frowned and poked Scootaloo in the chest. “Are you sure you don't want to ask Featherweight out? You've been blushing a whole lot around him, and-” “Can we just drop it, Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo groaned. “Fine! Fine! But don't come crying to me if you missed your chance~,” Sweetie called. Apple Bloom laughed at both of them, and for the first time since Bluebell entered the class, something lifted and the three of them felt like a real team again. Eventually Apple Bloom stopped laughing, smiling a genuine smile. “Enougha that! It's time to get Crusading. What's first?” Sweetie Belle pulled out a list, pointing to the top slot. Scootaloo rolled her eyes, knocking Sweetie's hoof down a line from 'Bird Watching' to 'Fire Twirling.' The unspoken signal ran between them, moving them all in unison. ”CUTIE MARK CRUSADER FIRE TWIRLERS, YAY!!!” By Sunday evening the Cutie Mark Crusaders were almost done with that week's list of things to attempt, the last one getting burned off the list by its failure. They were singed, sore, and covered in tree sap from the bush they'd all hidden in once they got outside, but at least they now knew why Applejack had been so against the Cutie Mark Crusader Pyrotechnicians. “I didn' even know sawdust exploded like that,” said Apple Bloom as she looked at the smoldering remains of the old shed. “I always thought it would just kinda burn.” Sweetie Belle was holding her tail, tears in her eyes as she looked at the charred black remains of her favorite curl. She let out a quiet huff. “At least we didn't actually get our hooves on real stuff. I might be missing a hoof too...” She looked over towards Scootaloo, who was sitting near a tree, eyes locked in the distance. “Thanks for pushing me out, Scootaloo. I think I'd be in much worse shape if it weren't for you.” Scootaloo said nothing, watching the burning building with horror as the energy left her system. We can't do anything with fire ever again... I'm not reliving it anymore. Every night is enough. She continued to stare at the house, mind miles away, until a hoof collided with her back, making her jump. It didn't hurt, no part of her did, but it did kick up the ash that had settled into her fur and feathers. “Yeah, thanks for blockin' the blast like that. You sure you’re alright? I could have Big Mac look ya over if'n ya don't wanna go to the hospital.” Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom with haunted eyes, shaking her head slowly. It sped up soon enough though, her face looking a little more normal by the time she responded. “Don't worry about it. I'm fine. It didn't get me hardly at all.” It wasn't true in the least. She could still feel the heat washing over her, the flames licking over her wings and at her face as she stood in front of the others, blocking them with herself. It had been an automatic reaction when she saw the danger: protect her friends. Energy built up, time slowed down... she'd seen the gates of Tartarus open up before her, the flames bursting and blooming in front of her, eating at the building. For just a moment, she was a younger filly, the building altogether different... She realized she'd been shuddering when Apple Bloom's hoof returned to her shoulder, comforting instead of congratulating. They looked at each other and Scootaloo could see the question in the other filly's eyes. It was cut off, however, by Sweetie Belle's magic pulling lightly on Scootaloo's mane. “It didn't even burn your mane or feathers! You must have been in just the right spot once you got us out.” Apple Bloom, with the image of Scootaloo wreathed in fire still burned into her eyes, frowned a little and looked curiously at Scootaloo. “Musta been...” Something wasn't adding up. The way she'd broken that wall a few days ago, the speed she'd shown, the focus on Bluebell, and now this. Between her being untouched by the fire and that ingrained fear those purple eyes had shown her... There was something Scootaloo was hiding, and Apple Bloom didn't like it. Before she could go anywhere on her hunch, Sweetie Belle was talking again and the moment passed. “Anyway, the fire took care of fireworks making, fire twirling was a failure, as was underwater basket weaving, garden farming, professional wrestling, and bird watching, though I think we could have done better if Scootaloo hadn't hidden behind a tree every time Fea-” “I already said I was sorry,” said the orange pegasus, a lot less conviction in her voice than her denials normally carried. “Just... is there anything else on the list? Or should we call it a night and tend to our burns?” She was getting tired, or maybe drained was the right word for it... either way, Scootaloo wasn't sure how much she was up to. Sweetie Belle looked at the lightly charred scroll she had with her. “Umm... we could try stargazing. By the time the smoke clears the stars will be out, and I know it's a school day tomorrow, but mom's going to have a cow when she sees my mane and I'd rather not face that quite yet...” She sighed a little. “It's going to take me weeks to get it perfect again...” Apple Bloom, already thinking about her stargazing cutie mark, didn't have time to think of what her own sister would do when she saw the shed. “Alright, I'll get the telescope from the clubhouse, you two find a good spot.” The three set about their respective tasks, leaving the remains of the shed to burn itself out. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle traveled through the apple orchard until they found a clear hill near the Everfree Forest and waited for Apple Bloom. When she showed up, sunset was just starting to fade away, the deep, brilliant orange of the sky turning into the purple tones of night. “Okay... so stargazing's just looking up at them right? With a telescope and stuff?” Apple Bloom asked as she set up the telescope Twilight had given them for their clubhouse. Sweetie Belle shrugged. “I have no idea. I think you're supposed to look for constellations and name stars and things.” “What, like givin' the stars names?” Apple Bloom looked through the telescope at a distant white blur. “'Cause they all look like they'd be named 'Twinkly.'” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “No, I think you're supposed to take the names from a book or a star map. I think Twilight had one with her at the meteor shower.” She then looked through the telescope, turning a knob on the side and making the glowing fuzzy dot a glowing fuzzy blob. “Besides, that star looks a lot more like a 'Madame Shinysides.'” Sweetie saw the incredulous look Apple Bloom was giving her and frowned. “What?” Apple Bloom just shook her head. “Nothin'. I ain't thinkin' that's the silliest name I've heard for a star, no way.” She then looked at Scootaloo, still sitting tiredly, eyes not really focused on anything. “How about you, Scoots? What d'ya think the star's called?” Scootaloo snapped to attention from the drained haze she was in, looking at the star the telescope was pointed at from where she was. The stars... didn't look like much of anything to Scootaloo. They were really pretty, the night sky always was, but trying to name all of those stars out there seemed like a silly idea. And what if somepony else had named it first? “I dunno... Why don't we ask Twilight. She always seems to-” Scoootaloo's ear twitched, her head turning towards the Everfree. She wasn't sure about what she'd heard since she was talking at the time, but it sounded suspiciously like a filly screaming. She turned to the other two to ask if they'd heard it, but the attentive, slightly frightened look they were also giving the forest answered it for her. After a moment, Sweetie Belle spoke. “Did either of you hear a scream too?” They all nodded as they sat in silence, listening for another sound, but quiet covered everything like a cold mist. Even the bugs of the night had shut up, the tense, heavy chill in the air tangible. Try as they might, the three fillies' ears couldn't pick up another sound from the dark woods. It took a long while, but Apple Bloom finally broke the spell fear held over all of them. “It musta been nothing. Just one of the weird critters of the Everfree. They always make noises like that.” “I never heard one like that when we found the cockatrice...” Neither of the others wanted to confirm Sweetie's story, but just because nothing had screamed before didn't mean it couldn't now, right? After an awkward pause, Sweetie Belle spoke again, ever the one to voice what everypony was thinking. “Maybe it was a monster...” Apple Bloom frowned at her. “You've been listening to Pinkie Pie too much. There's no such thing as monsters!” After a nervous look at the dark and twisted branches of the Everfree, suddenly uncomfortably close to her orchard, Apple Bloom started to pack away the telescope. “Still, after the fireworks thing I reckon we should all be headin' home. Don't wanna keep family waitin'.” This seemed like a sensible idea to everypony, and in no time at all the telescope was taken down, returned to the clubhouse, and Apple Bloom left at the path to her house. This just left Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle alone on the long, dark walk back to Ponyville. Sure, Scootaloo had her scooter, but something told her that she didn't want to be going along the path alone, no matter how fast she was doing so. The same something seemed to be talking to Sweetie Belle as they turned to each other in unison. “Do you think we could go back together?” “Mind walking with me back to town?” The two of them let out a nervous laugh at what just happened, then nodded to each other, setting off down the road to Ponyville on hoof. Even though Scootaloo had one hoof on her scooter to guide it along with her as she walked back, she couldn't help but notice the way Sweetie Belle was huddling close to her. She wasn't going to complain, even the few inches separating them seemed like an impossibly cold distance with the eerie chill in the air, but... she couldn't help but think Sweetie was hiding behind Scootaloo like one hid behind a bodyguard when things got tough. She also didn't know whether to be worried or take pride in that fact. Still, the two traveled back to town in silence, fearfully watching for the monster both of them internally knew lurked in the night. Scootaloo walked into her home and immediately heard Cheerilee talking to somepony in worried tones, and while she wasn't nearly as stealthy as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo did her best to sneak over and catch some of the words. They were in the dining room, Cheerilee and a silver maned, grey stallion Scootaloo was sure she'd seen before. Cheerilee seemed much more worried than the stallion did. “Are you sure that they've been missing that long?” The stallion nodded. “I am afraid the young mistress and her friend both disappeared on Friday evening, and while it is not uncommon for the young mistress to disappear on weekends, it is almost unheard of for Master Rich to have no account of his own daughter. The young mistress may be prone to pleas for attention, but Mistress Tiara is given much more attention by her father.” Cheerilee's kind brow furrowed at the words. “And you really think they both ran away?” As Cheerilee spoke, Scootaloo connected the dots on the stallion. It was Silver Tray, the butler to Silver Spoon and her parents. Come to think of it, Scootaloo hadn't ever seen Spoon's parents. It was always Tray that picked her up and came to Cheerilee when conferences were held... The butler's face was impassive. “It is not above the young mistress to run away, sometimes for days at a time, but she always tends to turn up by the third night at either Master Rich or my own master's house. This time that has not been the case.” He let a weighty silence settle between the adults as he looked to the door, noticing the purple mane sticking out from behind the frame. With a small nod to himself he addressed Cheerilee once more. “I do believe there was mention of a party by Miss Pie, which I assumed the young mistress would be attending. I was wondering if you or perhaps Miss Scootaloo had seen her before the event?” As Scootaloo heard her name mentioned she walked into the room, greeted with a distracted nod from Cheerilee. “I didn't see her at the party, but I do know that she left the schoolyard with everypony else. Scootaloo, did you see Silver Spoon or Diamond Tiara while crusading this weekend?” Scootaloo shook her head. “Haven't seen them since school let out on Friday. Did something happen?” “They've gone missing...” said Cheerilee, whose face continued to show concern for her pupils, concern that only grew when she saw the ash on Scootaloo's coat, though she said nothing. The butler sighed. “Thank you anyway, Miss Cheerilee, Miss Scootaloo. If you could ask around for them it would be greatly appreciated. I shall continue my inquiries elsewhere. Good evening.” With a polite bow to the other occupants of the room, Silver Tray left neatly, closing the door behind him. Cheerilee continued to sit at the table with a frown on her face for a little while, eventually saying one thing. “I guess I'll have to ask the class about them tomorrow.” She then looked at Scootaloo, noticing the ash once more. “Are you hurt? Or either of your friends? Do I need to contact the hospital?” Scootaloo shook her head, pulling herself up into the chair Silver Tray had emptied. “I'm fine. There was a small accident while we were crusading but nopony was hurt. The worst injury was Sweetie's mane getting a little burnt.” Cheerilee's look changed for a moment, almost as though she were going to go into a lecture, but then it froze there. Scootaloo had gotten dozens of lectures on being safe while crusading, but she was never the one that was hurt during them. In fact, she always seemed the most safety oriented for her friends, even if she was the most reckless when actually crusading. So, while Cheerilee was worried about Scootaloo's safety, right now a lecture wouldn't help with anything, and she knew it. Especially not with a filly run away from home. Giving another filly reason to, no matter how unlikely she would, would not be a good idea. The moment passed, a pleasant smile making its way onto the teacher's muzzle. “Well, if you're all alright, then no harm done. I finished making dinner a little while ago, I'll go heat up your portion.” Scootaloo smiled, glad Cheerilee hadn't pushed the issue and even more glad to be back in her safe, warm home after the monstrous chill outside. “Thanks Cheerilee. You're the best.” She smiled from the table, her own mind running over the butler's words, the uneasy feeling outside, and the scream she'd heard earlier... I wonder who went missing just now? She abandoned that frightening train of thought when her food arrived. Scootaloo began to eat as Cheerilee headed to her study, the way she walked showing the news to still be affecting her. The news was affecting them both, and had their minds running, but nothing was going to be solved tonight. Scootaloo awoke in a cold sweat the next morning, her same dream returning, ending abruptly as her younger self hit that wall. The fire had been extra strong this morning, probably a remnant of last night, but there was still no sign of the monster... With how scared she and Sweetie Belle had been, she'd almost been expecting it... However, as Scootaloo began to contemplate going back to bed, she heard voices trailing up from below. She looked out the window, the light of dawn only barely beginning to fight against the darkness of the night, and yawned. Who could possibly be talking to Cheerilee at this hour? She rolled out of bed, curiosity getting the best of her as she made her way to the top of the staircase. One of the voices was near tears, and as the door came into view, she saw the orange mane she knew at once to be Carrot Top's. Or, well, Golden Harvest, but Dinky never called her that, only Cheerilee did. “Golden Harvest, please, calm down for a second and say it again slowly.” Carrot Top sniffled a little, then nodded slowly, looking into Cheerilee's face with eyes that hadn't slept all night. “I think that Dinky might have run away from home. She didn't come back last night.” Cheerilee's face darkened, the thought of another filly out there somewhere filling her with dread. Carrot Top then worried her hooves against the ground, her tired eyes roaming without really focusing. “I just don't know where she could be! Ditzy will be livid if I let her out of my sight again, but I didn't think there'd be any harm in a sleep over!” She looked over her shoulder, like Dinky would just be walking along the streets. “I don't know what to do, but I was hoping you might be able to ask the class today if they saw her?” Cheerilee nodded. “I'll be sure to ask around and look for her. I don't like the thought any more than you do, Golden. But go home and try to calm down a little. There's not much you can do while worked up like you are.” Carrot Top nodded. “Right... right... I need to calm down. I need to be thinking calmly.” She smiled quickly and extremely nervously, circled herself on the doorstep, then sighed into the early morning air. “I am so sorry to bother you. I tried not to.” Cheerilee smiled kindly, hiding her worry to bolster the other mare. “Don't worry about it, Golden, I understand how you feel. But we'll find her. I promise.” Golden smiled back, slightly more genuinely, then set off for her home. Cheerilee watched the yellow mare go, then closed the door, turning around and puzzling on the news. Scootaloo was thinking it over as well, but her thoughts were much darker than her guardian's. Dinky went missing last night... Was it her that was gotten? And if she was gotten by something, what's to say Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara hadn't been? Scootaloo sat at the top of the stairs, an icy chill starting to descend her spine as she heard Cheerilee call out to her. “I'm sorry, what?” Cheerilee repeated herself. “You didn't see Dinky last night, did you?” She knew the answer just from the way Scootaloo was thinking. She was worried for her classmates too. If only Cheerilee knew just how worried Scootaloo was. She shook her head, walking into the kitchen. “Three missing fillies in one weekend... I'll have to help organize a search party after school...” Breakfast that morning contained no love, steeped in the foul mood the house had fallen under from the news. And while Scootaloo didn't go with Cheerilee early to school this morning, she did not return to her room for sleep. She reached into her hiding spot, pulling out Firebug's journal. The monsters were coming... she needed her big sis there to fight them off. And, for once, Scootaloo didn't think Rainbow Dash would do. Things were tense at the schoolhouse too, everypony on edge from an uneasiness in the air. The worst off, however, seemed to be Bluebell, who looked really angry, and Twist, who spent the entire class time staring at Bluebell's bag, situated much further from her chair than it normally was. Twist had the look of a rabbit about to flee a wolf, and all three Crusaders noticed this, nodding to each other to do something about it when recess came around. Only Scootaloo, however, noticed Twist's hesitation as Cheerilee asked about the missing fillies. She looked moments from speaking, but looked at Bluebell's bag and stopped, her pupils dilating behind her glasses. When nopony had any information for Cheerilee, she released them for recess to lighten the tension her announcement had caused. Scootaloo saw Bluebell take her bag and walk to the tree she liked to sit under. She thought it odd how far Bluebell threw the bag from her, but decided to ignore it for more important matters as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle corralled a very flighty Twist against the school wall. Apple Bloom was the one who started the conversation, hoping to help her old friend. “Twist, what's wrong with you? Why d'you look jumpier than a salmon in spawnin' season?” Twist looked at the three fillies effectively walling her off from the rest of the school yard and sat down, realizing she wouldn't be running while they were talking to her. “I... I thaw thomething that I don't think I ever want to thee again...” “What was it, Twist?” “Yeah. You can tell us!” “Was it something to do with your sleepover at Bluebell's?” Scootaloo drew the connection before the others, though her being the only one that knew Twist had stayed there probably helped. Twist seemed to jump at Bluebell's name, looking around and instantly zeroing in on Bluebell over by the tree. She didn't look at the filly, though. Her eyes focused on the bag sitting a meter or so away. “No... The thleepover was fine, we had a great time even! It was when I wath walking home. I...” She placed her head in her hooves, cradling it in guilt. “I thould have thaid thomething! I jutht felt tho thtupid! It'th not pothible!” “What's not possible?” Apple Bloom prompted, not wanting to push Twist too hard. The others just nodded behind her, urging for the answer. Twist's head didn't leave her front hooves. “We were walking home latht night from Bluebell's houth on the edge of the Everfree and right as we got to the edge of the foretht... Dinky wath...” Last night? In the Everfree? No... “She was the scream...” Scootaloo said in a knowing whisper. Twist looked up, tears leaking from her big eyes. “Dinky wath eaten by a monthter!” She leaped forward, grabbing Apple Bloom and looking into her eyes. “I don't know how it happened! Monthterth don't exitht! But we were thurrounded by darkneth ath we walked, and I thaw thethe tharp teeth and horrible yellow eyeth and then... I jutht left her there! I ran as fatht ath I could, only moving fathter when I heard her thcream! I... I don't know what to do!” The other two Crusaders gasped at Twist's story, each in varying levels of belief but both shaken by it, while Scootaloo was already piecing things together. Dinky is eaten by a monster after going to Bluebell's house, Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara disappear right after picking on her in the schoolyard. My dreams started on the night she moved into town... Is she the monster? Or... what was it that Pinkie said about them? Weren't they bonded somehow? If she's not the monster, then... Scootaloo watched Bluebell, who was looking very angrily at her bag, or more importantly, her doll sitting in the side pocket. “Hey there everypony! You all having fun at school today?” At the school gate stood Pinkie Pie, just the mare Scootaloo wanted to see. She looked to her friends, both trying to calm down and get more information from Twist. She figured she wouldn't be needed as she started running over to Pinkie at the gate, who was waving away some disappointed foals. It seemed Pinkie hadn't brought school day sweets this time and didn't seem intent to play. Well then she's here to help. As Scootaloo ran up, Pinkie smiled at her. “Hey Scootaloo! You been sleeping as well as I have the last few nights? The dream beastie seems to have left.” Scootaloo jumped up at Pinkie's side, grabbing the mare around the neck to lower her head into whispering range. She was a little too on edge right now to be polite. “I think the monster's still around, but I need you to tell me about them again. What did you say about monsters and little fillies?” Pinkie looked confused, lowering her voice to match Scootaloo's whisper. “I said that they had one they were bonded with, and liked to scare other ones more than anything. But it's funny you should say there's a monster around, because last night-” “AAAAAAAAHH! THTAY AWAY!!!!” Twist screamed, pushing aside Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle and sprinting around the schoolhouse. Scootaloo and Pinkie Pie ran over to the other Crusaders, Scootaloo in the lead. “What the hay happened to her?” Sweetie Belle shrugged. “I dunno! One minute she was talking, the next she was screaming and running off!” Apple Bloom was looking towards Bluebell, or more importantly, the bag that had seemed to frighten Twist so much just moments before. Something was missing from it... Something she was sure had been there just a second ago. Pinkie started shaking in place, talking low to herself. “Knee pinch, eye twitch, nose itch, stomach stitch...” Scootaloo remembered the combo and felt that energy rise, matching the fear tightening like a knot in her stomach. “Which way's it coming from?” Pinkie's ears twitched for a moment, as though scanning the air, then she pointed in the direction Twist had run off. “Over there!” Scootaloo ran off that way, rounding the schoolhouse and legging down the hill behind it as fast as she could. The area behind the school was large and clear, just a couple of hills and a few bushes with Ponyville to one side and Whitetail Woods to the other. However, despite, or perhaps because of, the chill running down Scootaloo's spine, she was very worried by something missing from her vision. She couldn't spot Twist anywhere. Seeing a bush near the bottom that looked disturbed, Scootaloo plotted her course, crashing through the foliage like she guessed Twist had not long ago. As soon as she did, her hoof caught on a branch low in the bush, tripping her and sending her into the branches and leaves deeper in the leafy plant, suspending her above the ground, where something glinted at her. She looked up at it, heart dropping when she did. Glittering in what sunlight that penetrated the bush were Twist's glasses, the filly normally attached to them nowhere to be seen. Just as Scootaloo managed to struggle her way free and grab the glasses, Pinkie Pie pushed open the leaves of the bush. “Scootaloo! Did you find the monster?” She then saw the glasses, her trademark smile disappearing. “Are those...?” Scootaloo nodded, a determined scowl appearing on her face. “Pinkie Pie, I know where the monster is. I need you to tell me how you beat it.” Pinkie looked about to say something, but stopped, contemplating for a moment before actually speaking. “Go to Sugarcube Corner, I'll let Cheerilee know what happened and meet you there.” Scootaloo heard the words and started running, anger burning in her chest, boiling the energy as it spread throughout her body. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to wait for Pinkie to get there. This was it. She was angry, and there was one sentence sitting in her mind. That monster has eaten its last. Apple Bloom watched Pinkie Pie and Scootaloo run off, then looked back at the bag, still trying to figure out what was missing when Blubell's own yelling answered the question for her. “Nightshade! Where'd you go? NIGHTSHADE!” Apple Bloom stomped a hoof against the ground. “That doll! I knew it was creepy! It's what scared Twist away!” Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom, frightened. “You... you don't think it's the monster, do you? Pinkie said they were very good at hiding in plain sight.” “There's no such...” Apple Bloom frowned at Sweetie Belle, about to yell at her for being such a fool when she remembered Twist's words. She instead just looked back at Bluebell, glaring at the filly. “I dunno, but we're gonna find out.” Sweetie Belle looked confused. Apple Bloom ignored her. “We're going to follow Bluebell home after school. She's connected to all of this somehow, and I aim to find out how.” At the door to the school Pinkie Pie ran up to Cheerilee, whispering in her ear, which caused the teacher's face to darken. She'd been worried enough when Twist ran off, but to get the news she'd disappeared too... “Are you sure?” Pinkie Pie just nodded solemnly. Cheerilee looked grave. “You tell the others in town to get here. We'll organize a search party.” Pinkie Pie saluted, then ran off down the path from the schoolhouse in the direction of Ponyville. As soon as she was gone, Cheerilee turned to the schoolyard. “My little ponies! I'm afraid I'm going to have to end school early today. Please go to your homes and stay safe, I expect to see you all tomorrow.” Amid the uproar of happy fillies and colts running for the gate, Apple Bloom grabbed Sweetie Belle and jumped into a bush, watching Bluebell slowly make her way in the other direction of the others, heading towards the Everfree. “Now's our chance! We're followin' her.” Sweetie looked worried. “But what about Scootaloo? Shouldn't we wait for her?” Apple Bloom pictured her friend, shielding her from the flames the night before... the friend that acted strange all week around the filly they were about to follow. She shook her head. “We can't get her involved in this one, and we can't wait for her anyway. We're just gonna have to figure it out by ourselves.” Before Sweetie could protest, Apple Bloom's hoof was already covering her mouth. “No time! She's gettin' away!” The two transferred to another bush further down the path, focused on an unaware Bluebell. Apple Bloom fixed the blue filly with a glare, noticing that her doll had reappeared. It still creeped her out, but its presence steeled her resolve. One way or another, I'm gettin' to the bottom of this.