//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Broken Wings & Fractured Dreams // by NobleQuickSilver //------------------------------// Scootaloo made her way among the tree’s of Sweet Apple Acres orchard slowly making her way to the spot where the treehouse the Cutie Mark Crusaders used as a clubhouse was located. As she made her way there the events of that day played constantly in her mind especially the image of seeing her hero lying broken and bleeding on the floor. The thought that she had caused it, and that she was to blame for Rainbow’s current state weighed heavily on her heart and mind. She had been so lost in thought that she almost didn’t notice that she had already arrived at the clubhouse. She could see that the lights were on, and she could also make out the sound of two ponies talking and laughing. “Well, it looks like Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom are already here. I wonder what they’ll want to do today.”, she wondered as she started to make her way up the ramp that lead to the entrance of the clubhouse. As she got closer to the door she could clearly make out what the voices were saying, and could tell that they were arguing about what they were going to do today. “How about lava divi-wait....no that’s a horrible idea. Maybe we could try to get a cutie mark in gardening?”, said a voice from inside which she guessed was Sweetie Belle “Nah, Roseluck’s still mad about tha last time we messed with her garden.” responded another voice this one with a slight southern accent, confirming that it was Apple Bloom “Oh, yea.... how about Cutie Mark Crusader Scientists? We can use the stuff Twilight has in her basement.”, said Sweetie Belle “Hmmm, yea that sounds like ah great idea, we just need to wait for Scootaloo to get here, an then we can head over.”, responded Apple Bloom excited for another chance to earn her cutie mark. At the sound of this Scootaloo allowed herself a smile, even though she blamed herself for what had happened to Rainbow, crusading had been one of the only escapes she had. While crusading she was able to forget about all her troubles, she was able to enjoy spending time with the others, and pretend like she didn’t have a care in the world. Knowing what lay in store for them today Scootaloo pushed open the door and walked in before letting it swing close. Hearing the creak as it swung open both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom turned from where they were sitting at the small table covered in lists of the many of their previously failed attempts at obtaining a cutie mark. Seeing that it was the their fellow crusader they both got up to greet her, and to tell her about the days plans. “Hey, Scootaloo!”, chirped Sweetie Belle “Hi, Scootaloo we’ve been waiting for ya, we’ve already have an idea for what we’re gonna do today.” said Apple Bloom as she got closer to the pegasus “We’re gonna go over to the library an use the stuff Twilight has in her basement an see if we can get ah cutie mark in science.” “That sounds great, c’mon let’s hurry and get going then.” responded Scootaloo. “Hmmm I wonder what a science cutie mark looks like?”, asked Sweetie Belle as the trio made their way out the door, and into town with the town’s library as their destination. *****         The trio soon reached the outer edge of the town, and slowly started to make their way to the center of town where the town’s library resided. They were talking amongst each other mostly discussing exactly what they were going to try to do once they got to the library. “First of all do you think Twilight’s gonna let us use her stuff?”, asked Sweetie Belle as they got closer to the library. “Don’t ya worry, I’m sure she’ll be fine with it.”, answered Apple Bloom as the library started to come into sight. “Look we’re almost there, c’mon girls let’s hurry up!.” said Scootaloo as she broke into a small run. “Wait, don’t leave us behind.”, yelled Apple Bloom as her and Sweetie Belle started to chase after their fellow crusader, but as they got closer to the library they could see that the lights were off, and that there was no sounds coming from inside. The three stopped outside the door to the library, and knocked on the door waiting to see if either Twilight or Spike would answer the door. When nopony came to the door they knocked again to see if there was any kind of answer. “It looks like nopony’s here, I guess we’ll hav- Hey! Apple Bloom what are you doing!”, yelled Sweetie Belle as Apple Bloom started to open the door and head inside. “You can’t just go into somepony’s home when their not there.”, she said as her fellow crusader walked inside. “It’s a library. We can go in if we want, remember Twilight just lives on the second floor of the building. As long as we don’t go upstairs we’ll be fine.”, responded the yellow filly as she stuck her head out and motioned for her fellow crusaders to come inside. “Well, I guess you do have a point.”, said Scootaloo as she also walked into the library. “I dunno you, it feels wrong to just walk in without anypony here.” said Sweetie Belle uneasily. “Cmon it’ll be fine, I promise you Twilight won’t mind as long as we don’t make ah mess.” said Apple Bloom as she tried to coerce Sweetie Belle to go into the library. Reluctantly the unicorn filly slowly made her way into the library, while Apple Bloom closed the door behind her. They all looked around the library for a bit trying to see if they find a reason why no pony was there, but once they found nothing they decided to move on to the reason for the trip to the library in the first place. “Alright so where does Twilight keep all the sciency stuff anyway? I don’t see it anywhere.”, asked Apple Bloom as she looked around the library. “I think I heard Rarity say she keeps it in the basement. She was complaining about how she was spending too much time down there?”, responded Sweetie Belle looking up from the small stack of books she was looking at, at one of the tables. “Ok, where is it then?” “Ah, think it’s through here.” responded Apple Bloom as she opened a door that revealed a stairway heading downwards. “Yea, I think this is it, cmon lets go check it out.” she said as she slowly started to make her way down the stairs. The other two quickly follow after her, and then the three start to follow the stairs further down hoping to find the object of their goals at the bottom. After a short climb down they manage to get to the bottom where they find a medium sized room filled with dozens of different weird devices that fill up the room, along with a set of different sized bottles and other glass containers filled with different types of liquids. “I wonder what kinds of things all this stuff does?” said Sweetie Belle in awe as she scanned the different machines that filled the room wondering what each did. “How about we find out.” said Apple Bloom as she walked up to one of the machines and starts to press the different buttons on it hoping that one of them would make it do something. When nothing happened she moved back looking disappointed that nothing had happened. “Maybe there’s a book on how to make them work.” “I’ll go look you, girls stay here, and see if you can figure it out.” said Scootaloo  as she started to make her way back up the stairs. Once she got back up to the main part of the library she started to look  among the bookshelves hoping to find a book or something that would tell her, or explain to her how to make the stuff downstairs work. “Cmon there has to be a book about that stuff around here somewhere.”, she thought as she slowly started to make her a way a bit deeper into the book shelves. As she searched among the different titles trying to find something that could help her, she heard the sound of the front door open causing her to stop and hide afraid she would get into trouble if she was caught. “Oh, I’m going probably going to get into a lot of trouble if they find me here, I’ve got to make my way back downstairs and warn the girls.”, she thought as she slowly started making her way back to the door leading to the basement when she couldn’t help but start to overhear the conversation that the two ponies were having. “So Twilight darling, what did you need to talk about that was so urgent?”, said highly elegant voice that Scootaloo could tell belonged to the towns resident dressmaker Rarity. “Oh, Rarity it’s just terrible. I just have no idea what to do?” answered a slightly panicked voice that came from the resident librarian. “Well, first of all you need to sit and calm down, then you can tell me what’s on your mind,” replied Rarity as she made her way to one of the tables and sat down on one of the cushions laying next to it. Twilight unsteadily made her way to the table and sat down across from rarity, and took a few breaths doing the best to calm down. “Alright dear, now that you’re a bit more calm will you please tell me what’s going on?” asked Rarity curiously as she saw that her friend was still slightly agitated. “Well, it has to do with Rainbow Dash.” answered Twilight once she was calm enough to think clearly. At the sound of Rainbow’s name Scootaloo quickly stopped trying to make her way to the basement, and started to instantly pay attention to the conversation they were having. “Wait, what did she say? Did something happen to Rainbow Dash!?,” she thought as silently tired to get closer to see if  she could listen in on the conversation more clearly. “Well, you know about her accident right? The one she got into on the day Scootaloo went missing?” asked Twilight. “Yes, how could I forget that dreadful day. Poor Rainbow got hurt saving Scootaloo, I still remember how she was afterwards, the poor dear kept blaming herself for it.” responded Rarity frowning as she remember the events of that day. “Yeah, well I decided visit, and ask her doctor how she’s coming along, but when I asked him he told me they had run tests on Rainbow to see the extent of the damage her fall had caused her.” Twilight falls silent and starts to look at the table before continuing, “When I asked what the results were he told me that the crash caused extensive damage to her spine, and most of her lower back, along with some damage to the nerves and muscles as well.” “What does that mean? How will that affect Rainbow?” asked Rarity with a hint of worry in her voice. “Well the doctor said that because of all the damage that there’s a chance that Rainbow might not be able to walk, and that she’ll never be able to fly ever again.” responded Twilight before placing her head on the table and covering it with her forelegs. This caused a gasp to come from Rarity before she covered her mouth with a hoof, letting the information slowly process through her mind. After a while she cleared her throat and said, “Tha-that’s horrible news....does Rainbow know any of this yet?” “No we decided to tel-” the rest of Twilights answer was cut off as the two ponies suddenly heard the sound of something bumping into a bookshelf followed by the sound of books hitting the ground. The two mares headed to where the sounds came from, and when they got there they were greeted by the sight of a small orange pegasus sitting on the floor eyes wide with shock. “Scootaloo? What are you doi-” whatever else Twilight said Scootaloo didn't hear as she quickly got up and ran to the door. Pushing it open and running as fast as her tiny legs would allow her, not caring where she was heading, tears flowing from her eyes, and with only one thing repeating in her mind. “She’ll never be able to fly again.” she thought, and she knew that she was the one to blame.