Swallowing as much of her fear as she could, Scootaloo knocked twice on the door to the Boutique and stood back, waiting for the horror that was to come. While she had been expecting Rarity to be the one to answer, Sweetie Belle was the face that met Scootaloo when the door opened.
"Hey Scootaloo, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" Sweetie asked her as she walked past her friend and into the Boutique. "Um, why do you have a bandage around your head that's covered in blood?"
"Because I decided to headbutt a rock and the rock won," Scootaloo said without thinking, her mind still on how Pumpkin had been acting earlier. Then she realized what she had said and looked back at her friend with sorry eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that. I've just been having a rough couple of nights and the pressure is starting to get to me. Plus, Pumpkin isn't taking her training seriously, and I'm starting to think that the only reason she wanted to learn in the first place was that she could look cool beating up the boys in her school. Cheerilee told me before that she's been having issues with her, and that they're only growing worse as time goes on." Sweetie Belle motioned for her friend to sit down on a couch as she went into the kitchen to get some refreshments. She came back a few minutes later holding a tray filled with snacks and drinks, which she placed on the table in front of them, sitting down next to Scootaloo.
"By all means, go on. Celestia knows that we don't get to talk much anymore," Sweetie said with a smile as she picked up her drink and started to sip it.
"I'm just worried about her. I know that she gets picked on because she looks like a cake, but I taught her so that she would be able to ignore and overcome the bullying, just like I did," Scootaloo said with a frustrated sigh, placing her head in her hooves. "Sometimes I feel like I'm failing her, and that she doesn't listen to me. Am I doing something wrong?" Sweetie placed her drink down and looked at her friend with thoughtful eyes that also had a tinge of sadness.
"Pumpkin never had the Batman as a teacher, "Sweetie reminded her. "You got to become close to a person that Equestria had never seen before or will again. And in the few months he was here, he chose to become close to only one pony, and that pony was you. Pumpkin will never know the fear of staring into his eyes or the joy that comes of spending time with him. Only you know that. He didn't just live his teachings in you, he left you hope. And even though he's gone...you honor him in another way." Scootaloo looked at her friend with a bit of suspicion in her eyes, but Sweetie Belle's were emotionless.
"You know?" Scootaloo asked with uncertainty. Sweetie Belle didn't respond, but the small smile that spread on her face was more than enough to tell Scootaloo, who sighed and placed her head on the back of the couch. "Well, if you know, you probably know why I'm doing this. When Batman left, he left Equestria without a guardian. And when the scum of the nation saw that the princesses were vulnerable, they wasted no time in trying to bring them down. You've heard the reports of the fillies that went missing? Well I'm finally tracking down the scum responsible for doing it. I will bring them to justice." Sweetie looked at her friend's determination with a frown, not sure how to respond to that.
"Scootaloo...are you sure that this is what Batman would want you to do?" Sweetie asked her.
"Not this again."
"Think about it. You're the only pony in our class that still doesn't have her cutie mark and you don't seem to care about getting one anymore. You're constantly up late and are often late for work. And whenever you do show up, you look like you were beaten with sticks and set on fire."
"I was only set on fire twice," Scootaloo mumbled, not helping her case any.
"Scootaloo, what you're doing is killing yourself," Sweetie said with a sigh. "I talked to Twilight about how many times you've gone to her or Zecora to get your wounds repaired, and she said that some of the stuff she's seen done to you is terrifying. And this is only after a year. Imagine what will happen to you if you keep this up. You'll end up broken beyond repair or worse. Why do this?"
"Because I have to..." Scootaloo whispered to herself. "As for the cutie mark, I no longer care about that because it doesn't matter. I don't care about finding my special talent, only stopping those who seek to hurt others."
"And what will you become in the process?" Sweetie asked her. "Will you become like Batman? Or will you destroy Scootaloo to become the Batmare?"
"If that's what it takes."
"Do you hear yourself? You're so determined to be like the hero that Batman was, that you've forgotten about the other side of Batman--the side he showed around you! He was kind, compassionate, and I think I even saw him smile on occasion. He wasn't trying to turn you into him, he was trying to help you heal. But instead of letting the wounds heal, you continue to hurt yourself! Why?!"
"Because the world needs a Batman," Scootaloo whispered, looking down at the floor so that she didn't have to look Sweetie in the eyes. "And the fillies need somepony to help them from these freaks who are constantly trying to hurt them. Batman gave me the tools to fight against evil and injustice, and I will NOT fail him! He placed his faith in me, nopony else! I have to do this; it's what he would approve of." Sweetie closed her eyes when she heard the last line, not hearing what Scootaloo was saying, but instead what she really wanted.
"You're just like Trixie was all those years ago," Sweetie said as she opened her eyes again. "You continue to seek Batman's approval even after he's gone. You want him to approve of you."
"He was my mentor."
"No, he was your father, and as a father he would want what's best for you, not this...vigilante nonsense." Scootaloo was saved from answering by the appearance of Rarity, who opened the door with a smile when she saw Scootaloo.
"Scootaloo! I'm glad to see you here and I'm even happier to see that you and Sweetie are talking again," she said as she closed the door behind her and walked inside. "You two haven't spent any time together in so long, I was beginning to think that you were no longer friends. By the way Sweetie, weren't you supposed to help Twilight and Spike with the library today?"
"You're right, I need to get going," Sweetie said as Rarity walked into the back, looking at Scootaloo one last time before she got up. "Think about this Scootaloo. Batman wanted you to be happy, but is this really the way to do it? Dressing up like him and fighting crime? Do you think he'd be happy if you wound up dead?" Scootaloo didn't answer, so with a sigh Sweetie picked up her things and walked out of the Boutique, leaving Scootaloo alone with her thoughts. She should probably tell both Sweetie and Applebloom about Batman still being alive, but if he thought it was best that they thought he was dead, she probably shouldn't go against his wishes.
"So Scootaloo, what can I do for you today?" Rarity asked as she sat down next to Scootaloo on the couch. "The only times you come by to see me is either when your suit needs to be repaired or you run out of the diamonds that you use for your flash grenades. But since you don't have your bag with you, it must be something else. So what is it?"
"Rarity, I need you to..." Scootaloo began through gritted teeth, the thought of what she had to say next hurting her worse than any weapon or injury could. "...teach me how to be a sophisticated pony." Rarity's eyes widened in shock as Scoot's words reached her ears, and for a moment she stayed completely silent in shock. Then with speed that Scootaloo wouldn't credit her with, Rarity jumped off the couch and levitated Scootaloo up with her magic.
"Who are you and what have you done with Scootaloo?" Rarity asked as she narrowed her eyes and floated her scissors over beside her. "Scootaloo would rather face a manticore than spend any time learning how to be fancy. She HAS faced a manticore instead of trying to become fancy, actually."
"Rarity, put me down," Scootaloo said in the Batmare voice, a voice which Rarity knew could not be duplicated so perfectly. She slowly placed Scootaloo back on the floor, but didn't drop the scissors. "Look, I know that this might seem completely out of character for me, but the Canterlot Ball is coming up tomorrow and I need to learn how to be a lady fast, or else odds are I'll embarrass myself while I'm there," Scootaloo grumbled. Rarity narrowed her eyes again, trying to see through Scootaloo's lie. Rarity had known Scootaloo long enough to know that there was always something she was hiding when she asked for favors; she had learned from the best, after all.
"Why do you want to go to the ball?" Rarity asked, not bothering to try to hide the suspicion in her voice. Scootaloo had suspected her to be suspicious, Rarity was a sharp one, after all. But she had come prepared with a reason that should throw Rarity off her trail, but it was one that she didn't want to give.
"Because..." Scootaloo began, saying the rest in a hesitant whisper.
"I'm sorry Dear, I didn't hear that. Could you please speak up?"
"Because...there's a stallion there that I like and I want to impress him," Scootaloo grumbled as she looked away from Rarity, but turned her gaze into one of the mirrors so that she could still see her face. Just as she had predicted, the moment Rarity found out that a stallion was involved, all of the suspicion was washed away and a gigantic smile spread across her face and she started to squeal with delight.
"Oh Scootaloo, you finally found a special somepony!" Rarity exclaimed with a laugh of joy as she pulled Scootaloo into a massive, hug, not hearing Scootaloo grunt in pain as she started to crush her ribs. "I thought that after Batman died, you would turn into him and spend the rest of your life staying away from other ponies, but to think that you would find your somepony before Applebloom or my sister...sort of, is just incredible!" Rarity squealed again as she dropped Scootaloo and pulled a chair over to her, sitting on it excitedly with eyes full of curiosity. "Oh, you just have to tell me who it is!"
"Sorry Rarity, but I can't," Scootaloo said with fake embarrassment as she hid her face. "But I haven't seen him in a while and I want to make sure to impress him when we meet again. Or else things might-"
"Not another word," Rarity said as she stood up with a fierce determination in her eyes, grabbing Scootaloo by the arm and dragging her across her Boutique and into the back, sitting her down in a chair as she started to go through her things. "I swear, on the power of love, that I will turn you into a lady that no stallion can resist or so help me I will shave my mane! Prepare yourself Scootaloo, tonight, you become a princess!"
'What have I done?' Scootaloo thought to herself as Rarity began talking about all the proper ways to stand and pose while in the presence of much richer and important ponies. Scootaloo had to endure two hours of being told proper poses and ways to look and not look at other ponies, along with...
"Alright, greetings time. What would you do if a pony walked up to you and stuck out their hoof," Rarity asked as she looked up from her note book where she was grading Scootaloo.
"I'd grab their wrist and flip them over my head," Scootaloo responded with a smile, remembering the time she did that to a fancy pony. Rarity sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, looking at Scootaloo with stern eyes.
"No, that is wrong. So very wrong. I know that might be how you treat half the stallions you met during your...night job, but this is the uppercrust of Equestria and an action like that will be frowned upon," Rarity said as she stood up and tossed her notebook to Scootaloo. "Now watch carefully. Oh, hello there my good sir. I am Miss Rarity. May I enquire your name?" Rarity said with a flirtatious eyelash bat as she bowed. "THAT is how you introduce yourself."
"I think I got it, but I still don't know why I have to bat my eyelashes like that," Scootaloo said with a sigh, gaining a growl from Rarity.
"Do you wish to impress this stallion or not?" Rarity asked with a huff, nodding as Scootaloo nodded her head. "Then you have to learn how to be a proper lady. Now then, come with me and we'll pick out a dress for you. Having good manners is only half the battle, you must look the part as well."
"Got anything in black?" Scootaloo asked with a smile, only to have the smile knocked off her face by the glare that Rarity gave her.
"Make your jokes, the dress is important," Rarity said as she whipped open her wardrobe and let a sea of clothing crash down upon Scootaloo, who was helpless to defend herself against the torrent of fabric. "Now then, what would look good on a pony such as yourself? Blue? No, that won't work, it will go against your eyes. Green? Heavens no. How about...red?" Rarity asked as she pulled out a frilly red dress that looked like something that only pampered ponies in stories wore.
"I will fight you to the death before I let you put that thing on me," Scootaloo said in all seriousness. Rarity got the hint and put the dress away, grabbing a dress in the closet that made her wince as she pulled it out.
"Oh heavens, not this thing," Rarity said as she pulled out a sleek black dress, one that made Scootaloo's eyes widen. Rarity saw where her eyes were looking and immediately pulled the dress away. "Oh no, you are not wearing this dress. I haven't even begun the final touches to this dress. I wouldn't dare let you go out in public with this on." Rarity looked down at the dress to realize it was gone and she looked around the room to see that Scootaloo had taken it and had already put it one, looking at herself in the mirror with a smile.
"So, how do I look?" Scootaloo asked as she turned around to Rarity with a smile, striking one of the poses that Rarity had shown her.
"You...wear that dress perfectly," Rarity said with a smile. The dress did look perfect on her, as much as Rarity didn't want her to wear it. Rarity figured she could swallow her pride and let her friend wear it, especially since this was for the perfect stallion.
"So I can keep it?"
"Yes, you may wear it. Now if you'll excuse me, I to need to pick out my dress for the ball," Rarity said with a happy smile as she walked by Scootaloo, whose heart had stopped beating.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I need to pick out my dress for when I go with you to Canterlot," Rarity said with a smile as she started to go through all the dresses again.
"Why are you going?" Scootaloo asked, using all of the techniques she had learned to remain calm, despite the fact that she was freaking out inside her mind.
"Oh Scootaloo, didn't you know? I attend this ball every year, hoping that one year I'll meet the stallion for me," Rarity said with a sad sigh as she looked off wistfully into the distance. "But for now, you are the one who is going up to meet your perfect stallion, so of course I will be accompanying you along the way." Scootaloo didn't know what to say as her thougths raced through her head like lightning while she tried to think of what to do. She might have gotten the information she needed from Rarity, but Rarity was a good friend of hers who would freak when she found out that she had been lied to, especially since Scootaloo had lied about the stallion. She'd kill her for that. And she couldn't talk her out of it, since she knew that no force on Equestria could move Rarity when her perfect stallion is involved.
"I'm so happy to have you come along with me," Scootaloo said with forced happiness, hoping against hope that Rarity would change her mind, but she knew it wasn't to be. So Scootaloo had to brace herself in preparation for going to a ball with one of the most fashioned-crazed ponies out there.