//------------------------------// // Scootaloo // Story: A Cold Quarantine // by The Crusaders //------------------------------// Scootaloo carefully slid the last net into place, peering back into the room for the tarps and pads she had seen earlier. She grabbed 5 tarps, which seemed quite heavy, and tossed them onto her aching back. Then grabbed 5 pads, which had previously been used for softening the falls of young fillies and colts, and added those on top of the tarps. There. She thought. Pillows and blankets. Done. She peered over her shoulder to see Applebloom talking to Pinkie Pie. Applebloom said something, and Pinkie answered, then shrugged. Rainbow Dash flew over and lifted Scootaloo onto her back with a smile. Scootaloo felt Rainbow's warmth against her cold body, filling her with a wonderful tingling feeling as her eyes closed. Day 2 When she awoke, she found that everypony else was already awake. She looked around the room, trying to remember where she was. Sweetie Belle was nervously and cautiously sneaking into the equipment room. Scootaloo found this questionable, but looked away. Applebloom was laying in her makeshift net bed, making some sort of little contraption out of random things from the equipment room, Rainbow Dash was angrily pounding on the door, occasionally bodychecking it as hard as she could. Pinkie Pie was waiting outside the equipment room, jogging on the spot and biting her lip. Pinkie and Sweetie were definitely up to something, and Scootaloo wanted to know what is was. Slowly staggering off her net, she slid steadily over to Pinkie Pie. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Just waiting for the bathroom." Pinkie replied. So Sweetie wasn't up to anything after all. But where were they "going"? Just on the floor? Or maybe in a bucket or something? Scootaloo had to know. She stepped into the line behind Pinkie, who was bouncing like a jackhammer at this point. "Oh, I can't wait any longer!" Pinkie yelped as she banged on the door. Sweetie Belle slowly stepped out, Pinkie racing in. Scootaloo moved up in line, just as Rainbow Dash, who had a large red mark on one side of her body, flew down and landed beside her. "Who's holding up the line?!" she huffed. Scootaloo was a little shocked. She had never seen Rainbow so angry before. "I-it's Pinkie Pie." she explained. Rainbow rolled her eyes, but then her face softened. "Scootaloo, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Are you cold? Do you need your tarp? Are you hungry?" she asked. Scootaloo shook her head. Just then, the loudspeaker crackled to life, and Fluttershy's voice echoed through the rink again. Please inform the staff if you develop any of these symptoms: Chills, Nausea, Rapid coughing, Rapid sneezing, Heartburn, Stomach pains, Migraines, Dizziness Sudden pains, or Itchy sores. If you have developed any of those symptoms, please report this to staff. You may be infected with toxin. The sound of the speaker crackled out. Rainbow's eyes filled with tears, but the wiped her eyes and continued to wait. Pinkie Pie walked gingerly out of the Equipment room and over to Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, leaving Scootaloo to do her business. She walked in and closed the door behind her, looking for where the others had been "going". A black garbage bin caught her eye, and she trotted over to it, wincing at the rancid smell coming from it. This was definitely the place. She hopped up onto the rim and sat down, letting her business happen before leaving Rainbow Dash to hers. Scootaloo stared solemnly at the overbearing door keeping them locked up like this. Something in her suddenly snapped, something keeping her sane. Tears started pouring down her face. She tore off her skate and hurled it at the window with of great force. She gasped. The window. It was broken. She raced at it, leaping as high as she could, fling through it and landing in the main room at the front counter. "HEY!" Guards. Scootaloo began running, having no idea where she was going. The guards raced at her, two grabbing her firmly. "NO!" she screamed, bucking one guard in the face. He shouted in pain and dropped her, giving her the chance to escape from the other. Her breathing sped up as she raced through the unknown hallways, guards just a hoof behind her. She turned her head, only to find a mess of corridors. It must have taken Fluttershy a long time to memorize those paths. She dove down the first one she could get to, disappearing into the dark and leaving the guards to play in the wrong path. She took a deep breath, then exhaled quietly. Her hoofsteps were completely silent as she trotted further into the dark, peering around. A dim light shone in the distance, illuminating the path slightly. The shine of the light made something sparkle, shine. She couldn't tell what it was from this far away though. Taking a step forward, she instantly recognised the shine oh a royal guard badge. With a scream, she instantly tried to fly away, but it wasn't fast enough. "Ow! Let go of my mane! Grab something else!" he yelped, flailing in an attempt to escape. Rainbow smiled and tousled Scootaloo's hair. "You're a smart kid, Scootaloo. That was a really good try." she praised. Scootaloo smiled happily and nuzzled Rainbow Dash. "Thanks Rainbow Dash, I was so close!" she beamed. Sitting here nuzzling Rainbow Dash, the escape failure didn't seem so bad. Applebloom sat crying in the corner while Sweetie tried to comfort her, Pinkie laid on her net, her hair deflated, her pink turned a pale pinkish grey. With all the sadness and worry around her, it was hard to keep a positive outlook on things. The window had finally been repaired, even though Twilight had argued to the guard for hours, and still wasn't stopping. "But the window already opened! It's equalized now! The fumes are being pumped into every room anyway!" she stomped her hoof down. "Mam, please stop. Calm down and please go back to your assigned cot." the guard demanded. "No! Let them out!" Twilight growled, then sighed, and slowly walked away. Scootaloo poked Rainbow Dash in the chest. "Rainbow, listen! I hear Twilight!" Scootaloo rushed, racing over to the door and plastering her ear to the window. "Spike, take a note!" Twilight commanded. "Dear Princess Celestia, the window to the rink was broken today for an hour. We've been exposed to the toxin in it, besides, the toxins are pumped into both rooms anyway. Why can't my friends leave the room and join us? Please respond as fast as possible. Your student, Twilight." Scootaloo bit her lip nervously. Were they going to get free? Just then, the sound of flames and a light thud indicated a letter had arrived.