“Completely filling the palace concert hall
It’s warm and golden like an oven that’s wide open
It has melody both happy and sad
Built on victorious young triads
You enter the room with great caution
Thought no one in hall is even watching
They are transfixed, they are forgetting just to breath
They are so taken by your symphony… “
~Cake
“Scootaloo… why are you such a problem child.”
“Maybe my parents raised me wrong…”
“Well I had figured if you’d been on your own for so long you’d at least be able to put on your own clothes.”
“HEY YOU watch what you are prodding at!”
“If you don’t like how I’m doing you can put this on yourself”
“Why should I have to dress up at all? It’s not my freaking show!”
“You have to put this on because last week you said you would come, and if you don’t dress up they aren’t going to let you on… I thought you wanted to go so you could drink and play slots all night…”
“I dooo want to drink and play slots all night, but I shouldn’t have to wear this prissy dress to do it.”
“Don’t fight the dress. Scootaloo, stop fighting it… stop.”
________________________________________________________________________
“Your name ma’am?” the unicorn asked. He was dressed from head to hoof in fancy staff attire.
“Sweetie Belle” she chirped.
“Ahh, of course. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He gave a modest bow. “I hope that you will find tonight’s accommodation’s enjoyable. The River Dolphin is fully staffed tonight and the buffet and bars are all free.” Scootaloo’s pupils widened. “Also, do not forget to check out the casino. I am most certain you find something that suits your fancy.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are very welcome.” The unicorn turned to look at Scootaloo. “And your name… uh,” the older unicorn took a second to compose himself. “Your name, please?”
“Its Scootaloo.”
The unicorn peered down at the long list of names in front of him. His coattails dragged on the ground and he shifted uneasily, back and forth. He wanted her name to be on the roll of parchment but he simply could not find it.
“Her name won’t be on the list I’m afraid” Sweetie Belle said very forwardly. “I was told that I could bring a guest… this won’t be a problem, will it?”
The unicorn gave Scootaloo another once-over. She was wearing a short purple dress with two pairs of matching studs, a set for each ear. Her mane was wild as always, but it had clearly received a great deal of artistic attention to bring it to its current state. Scootaloo relaxed her wings and let them shimmer in the river lights, just like Sweetie had told her to do earlier.
He had been specifically instructed to only allow those on the list in, and no one else. “I’m sure tonight’s host would be… delighted to have you on board.”
The two mares giggled as they ran up the wooden docking ramp onto the riverboat casino. “Maybe Rarity made the dress a little too well… you almost gave that old pony a heart attack!” Sweetie Belle couldn’t controller her smiling as she gave Scootaloo a discrete kiss on the cheek.
“Heya… you gotta watch it with that,” Scootaloo squeeked.
“Maybe I can’t resist the dress either,” teased Sweetie.
“Well don’t get used to it. I’m no prima donna.” Scootaloo looked at the dress she was wearing in disgust. She then made a few exaggerated adjustments.
Sweetie placed a hoof in front of her muzzle and snickered. The week had been unsettling for Sweetie Belle, but for the first time in a long while Sweetie finally felt that she could breathe easy. Scootaloo was being Scootaloo. Tonight was going to be fun. She could feel it.
________________________________________________________________________
“Hello there, how are you this evening?”
Initially, Scootaloo figured the pony addressing her was a waiter looking to attend to her drinking needs. When she looked away from the stage she was disappointed to see that it was a young gentlecolt who had apparently taken a fancy to her.
“I’m doing fine” Scootaloo gave a fake smile. “This is something special, eh?” She hadn’t anticipated that anypony would come and talk to her if she just stayed to herself. That’s rich folk for ya, always coming to socialize… why is everyone staring?
“It really is,” the young unicorn replied. “My father bought out this whole riverboat for the night to host this party for wonderful ponies such as you.” Surprisingly, Scootaloo didn’t find his haughtiness to be too overwhelming, but she was in no way interested in trying to fake conversation with him. “The name’s Andrew, might I have yours?”
“Umm, it’s Scootaloo. Very nice to meet you.” She stared intently at the stage, trying her best to seem uninterested.
“Ah, I see you can’t wait for the performance to start. I’m assuming you are a fan of Sweetie Belle?”
“Actually she’s my best friend, and probably the only reason I was allowed on here,” Scootaloo admitted. It felt nice to say the truth. Scootaloo hoped that by breaking any façade of aristocracy that Andrew might be less inclined to continue interacting with her.
“Really now? You will most certainly have to introduce me to her after the performance.”
“Sure, why not?” Just as she finished saying this, the lights in the showroom began to dim. Sweetie stepped out from the back of the stage and past her menagerie of accompanying instrumentalists.
“Good evening everypony. I’m glad you could all make it out this evening, and I’m also thankful, as I’m sure you all are, for Mr. Carnegie hosting this event. Please enjoy.”
The room had grown silent the brief moment, but soon filled again with soft chatter. “What a charming lady she is. You are very fortunate for knowing her,” commented Andrew.
“You’re telling me, kid,” Scootaloo blurted haphazardly. “Ehem,” she blushed, “pardon my, um, lack of formalities.” A gentle snare rapping came from the stage pair coupled with the soft plucking of an acoustic guitar. Scootaloo redirected her attention to the stage. Sweetie Belle started to sing.
“I waited till I saw the sun
Don’t know why I didn’t come
I left you by the house of fun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
Don’t know why I didn’t come”
I’d love for you to come.
“When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling against the wall
Catching teardrops as they fall”
Please look at me while you singing.
Scootaloo got her wish. When Sweetie picked Scootaloo out of the crowd and locked eyes with her, Scoot felt a pang of love rip through her body. She couldn’t believe what was happening. It was too wonderful.
My heart is drenched in wine
But you’ll be on my mind
For
Ever”
The next two hours were a haze to Scootaloo. When the lights began to un-dim, she looked around to find that Andrew had left, probably a while ago. Scootaloo kinda remembered him trying to talk to her during the show, but responding didn’t seem all so important at the time. Sweetie Belle hopped off the stage and started walking towards Scootaloo.
“You doing ok?” Sweetie asked. “I saw you conversationally stiff-hoof that one guy.”
“Yeah, he’s actually Carnegie’s son, and he seemed pretty excited to meet you.” Scootaloo scanned the showroom for him.
“Well, seeing as I have no more singer obligations for tonight, perhaps you would like to go hit up the bar before he comes looking for me?”
Scootaloo loved the sound of that idea. “I will lead the way” Scoot said, instilled with the timeless determination of a thousand suns.
________________________________________________________________________
“Whhattaa mean that the slots aren’t free?!?”
“Ma’am I…”
“Looky here pal, the food is free, the booze is free, and you’re telling me that just because I’m out of bits that suddenly I am no longer entitled to the pleasures of this here boat? You know what? I know the son of the guy that bought this place out for tonight, how about I go have a word with him, aye?”
“Ma’am, I do not have to put up with this childish behavior.”
“What seems to be the fuss over here?”
“It seems this pegasus has run out of bits.”
“Heyyy, you look like the kinda colt who wouldn’t miss a few bits. You think that you could find it in your heart to lend this pretty lady some coins? I’ll pay you back double. I swear, I’m like, realllyyyyy good at slots.”
________________________________________________________________________
“Yo Scotch, we need another batch of tomato brushettas,” yelled the head cater chef. “Those rich fuckers throw up in the stalls and then keep coming back for food.”
“Gotcha gotcha,” Scotch yelled. He was a young earth pony and a recent hire-on brought aboard specifically for this party. Where do they keep the extra loaves again? He opened up a few draws and cabinets before deciding to head to the back pantry closet. He could hear some movement inside, and as he opened the door he saw a two mares, both very beautiful, young, and intoxicated, making out on the floor. It took a while before either of them noticed him staring at them.
“Oh, hey there”, said that white one on top when she came around. She fumbled around for a few seconds before tossing a small purse bag that spilled with bit coins when it landed by Scotch’s hooves. “If you don’t say a word, you can keep all of that.” She made a pointing gesture with her hoof at the bag before resuming where she had left off with the orange pegasus underneath her.
Out of courtesy, Scotch closed the door for the two. He yelled back to the kitchen “Sorry boss, we are all out of the little bread loaves.”
________________________________________________________________________
You can’t have her, I won’t let you take her from me!
Scootaloo was not with Sweetie Belle.
You fucking monster do not take a step closer!
The hellish figure continued to encroach on her. The ground was left charred and burned where it stepped. It bled profusely from the gashes on its legs and body.
Scootaloo peered off the edge of the nightmare plateau. She didn’t think there was a bottom.
You fucking monster…
She was crying. The being’s steps fell closer and closer. She could not look at its face. Scootaloo peered back over the ledge. She turned back, screaming as loud as she could. She hacked and wheezed from trying to scare this demon back. But it would not yield.
Nearly paralyzed, she pulled herself over the side and fell. To her dismay, so did the demon. She could feel it coming. It was falling towards her. It was screaming into her brain. She covered her ears and closed her eyes. She could not fall fast enough. She so dearly prayed, prayed to be bashed lifeless against the earth… killed before this monster would reach her.
It snagged her wings in its jaws.
“Scootaloo?”
She opened her eyes to the image of a messy-maned Sweetie Belle lit by the afternoon light that filled their bedroom. Scootaloo hugged her and began to gently kiss her face.
“Hey what’s all this about” Sweetie said, half jokingly. “Why are you trembling like that?”
“It’s just… last night I realized… how much you mean to me.” She kept her eyes closed to try and hide the fact that she was crying.
“Is that, that’s all it is?”
No.
“Yeah, I love you. That’s all.”