//------------------------------// // Cutie Mark Chronicles 2 - Zebra Stripes // Story: Lost in a New World // by KingBrony //------------------------------// Scootaloo found herself floating through a cloud. Her wings were stretched out, letting her soar across the open sky. Below her was Ponyville; the mares and fillies below waved at her as she passed by. Beside her was Rainbow Dash. The pegasus picked up speed, egging Scootaloo on. The filly flapped her wings as hard as she could, but she couldn't catch up to her idol. As fast as she could go, it was not enough to reach. Rainbow Dash soon faded into the distance as the sky turned dark. Scootaloo looked up to see meteors falling from the heavens. She did her best to weave in and out of them, but her hind hoof caught onto one of them, dragging her down to the ground. When she looked, Ponyville was on fire. The land she knew had become nothing but ruin. Screaming, the filly woke up to hear her voice echo inside the cave she was taking refuge in. Her heart beat rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the darkness that surrounded her. Scootaloo got up on her hooves and took a deep breath. Just a dream... She thought to herself. "Are you okay?" A kind voice called from the other side of the room. The dim light from outside lit up the figure as it walked towards her. The black and white coat stood out in front of the darkness of the cave. Scootaloo nodded. The two exited the cave to a blistering sun that still sat dead in the sky. A small band of zebras were seen performing various tasks, such as preparing a meal, distributing water, and constructing shelter. Scootaloo, feeling guilty, asked if there was anything she could do to help. "You are still feeling bad, I can tell." The zebra responded. "It is best if you relax until you are well." A mare approached the two with a pouch of water and some hay. Scootaloo took the two gratefully and consumed it. The cold water slid down her throat, making her feel much better. She took a sigh when she finished, handing the pouch back to the mare, who bowed and walked away. In the distance, more zebras were approaching the makeshift camp. The zebra with Scootaloo noticed this and immediately made a sound. The zebras in the distance made a similar sound. "A way for us to tell friend from foe." The zebra said. "A certain response will let us know." As the zebras neared the camp, Scootaloo noticed they were carrying something with them. The red hair on one and the shiny scales on another gave it away immediately. Scootaloo gasped and ran out to meet them. Other zebras made their way to the group as well, carrying food and water with them that was distributed to the returning group. Carefully, the zebras laid Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Spike down inside the shelter. Many hooves moved in all directions, providing water and food to the barely functioning group. Scootaloo did as much as she could to help, like helping her friends drink the water and placing cool rags on their foreheads. The three were conscious, but they seemed unable to process what was going on around them due to their dehydration. "I'm here, guys." Scootaloo began to tear up as she sat next to her friends. Once they seemed to be in a more stable condition, the zebras left them all alone. Scootaloo remained in order to tend to her friends just in case. As what felt like hours passed, Scootaloo simply sat and stared at each of them, watching for any signs of change. They looked as if they slept peacefully, turned away from the reality that had befallen them. However, Scootaloo's eyes began to sag and she fell asleep along with them. ********* "Scootaloo!" A filly's words entered Scootaloo's head, causing her to stir. After a few blinks, Apple Bloom's worried face came into focus. The pegasus smiled weakly as her friend wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo. "Ah can't believe yer alive!" Tears streamed down Apple Bloom's face. Sweetie Belle and Spike soon joined in on the embrace. The group stayed silent, listening only to the sounds of each other's breath gently filling up the room. "I do beg your pardon for my word," a zebra spoke softly, breaking up the reunion. "We do have a feast ready; come join the herd." The zebra bowed and left the tent. The sound of having food made the fillies cheer as they all left the tent. Outside, the zebras gathered around a makeshift table. Hay, grass and fruits lay all across the table as the aroma filled the dry air. The ponies and spike approached the table, sitting in a spot designated for them. Looking all around, Scootaloo could see each zebra's face staring at them, egging them on to have the first bite. "Is it really okay?" Scootaloo asked. One of the zebras spoke up, "Please, please, have the first bite! Eat to your delight!" Scootaloo reached for a juicy apple perched on the table. How the zebras managed to gather these fruits, she did not know, but she accepted it all the same. One bite and she was in heaven. The juice from the apple dripped onto her chin as the fruit trickled her throat. She did not remember the last time she had eaten something so good. After a time, the food was all cleared. Any leftovers and scraps were carefully stored away to be eaten at the next meal. Each of the zebras worked like clockwork to clean up and make sure no scrap of food would be uneaten or left behind. The fillies offered to help as well, but the zebras shook their heads and told them to return to their tent. The crusaders and spike all sat inside the tent, hot from the crisp air. "I'm bored..." Sweetie Belle said after a while. The others looked at her with glaring looks. "Now is not the right time to be bored," Apple Bloom retorted, thinking about her sister. She placed a hoof to the gem hanging around her neck. "We have to do what we can to survive. For our sisters." Sweetie Belle touched her own gem, given to her by Rarity. With a touch, she could feel her older sister's embrace around her body, bringing Sweetie Belle to tears. In response, she began to sing a song. Hush now, quiet now It's time to lay your sleepy head... "May I come in?" The voice of the zebra chief came from outside the tent. He looked at the ponies, remembering the short time they stayed with the zebras before. "Is it okay if we stay with you for a while?" Apple Bloom asked. The zebra chief nodded. "We will be going far south, Saddle Arabia bound. We will bring anypony we have found." "Do you know if it is safe down there?" Scootaloo asked. The other ponies nodded in wonder. The zebra's face turned grim. "I am afraid I do not know. We will carry on though....Our group will be leaving at night. Do make sure to pack light," He smiled again as he walked out, leaving the group alone. "We have no other choice but to follow them," Spike said. "We will be much safer traveling with a big group." He looked at the fillies, but they seemed to be focused on something else. The solemn looks on their faces explained it all: they were too young to handle the gravity of the entire situation. Everything they had already been through had begun to get to them. As the zebras prepared to travel south, one thing caught everypony's attention. "Look at the sky!" A zebra suddenly shouted. Everypony looked up to see an amazing sight: the sun and moon began to move again! It was slowly, but the sun moved enough to immediately change the color of the sky from orange to a darker blueish-purple. The air began to cool in response, causing a cheer among the zebras. Spike's eyes widened. "It has to be Twilight! She had to have moved the sun!" Everypony was immediately relieved as a rush of cold air ran through the desert. The sand cooled down, making it feel nice to the touch. By the time the zebras were ready to move out, the moon had completely take over the sky, making it night for the first time since the world had ended. This change in atmosphere gave many of the zebras hope as they quickly rushed to travel south. "This must mean that the Crystal Empire is doing well," Apple Bloom suggested. "Maybe we should return north? To equestria?" "Those monster ponies are still in between us and safety, remember?" Scootaloo responded. "Even though the changelings are still around us here, it has to be safer going south than north." "Will we ever be able to return? To see Twilight again?" Sweetie Belle looked down as she spoke, relishing the feel of the cool sand on her hooves. "Yes." Spike said quickly. "I won't give up, no matter what." For the first time in a long while, the ponies all felt very hopeful as they traveled along under the tranquil moon.