//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: One Small Secret // by MyLittleChangeling //------------------------------// Applebloom knew it. There had always been something 'off' about Scootaloo. She'd never quite been able to figure out exactly what it was, but now she had the chance. If Princess Luna wanted to meet Scootaloo, Applebloom would be there, ready and waiting. Watch your step, Scootaloo. *** The chariot was a swirling mix of black and blue, purple borders accenting the plush cushions for the passenger. Applebloom could see the Royal Guards pulling it were obviously among the best - after all, they worked for the ruler of the night herself. She couldn't believe her luck. Applebloom had managed to convince Scootaloo to take a friend up to Canterlot with her (mainly after she'd 'accidently' let slip to Applejack that Scootaloo was heading to Canterlot alone for a day and the orange mare threatened to go herself if Applebloom didn't). Now she could easily listen in on Scootaloo's meeting with the Princess. Scootaloo, unaware of the dark thoughts swirling around her best friend's head, lowered a hoof to help pull the yellow filly into the chariot. Despite her wariness over her friend, Applebloom accepted the hoof gratefully. The chariot lurched suddenly as the guards brought them up into the clouds, and the fillies watched Ponyville slip away beneath them. "So ... why were you heading up to Canterlot again?" Applebloom dropped the question in as casually as she could, grinning as her doubts melted away when she saw Scootaloo tense. "Um ..." Scootaloo fished around for a plausible explanation. "I was, erm, summoned by the princesses because ... they need to arrange care for me while my parents are gone. Special favour." That'll do. she prayed. Unfortunately for her, Applebloom already knew better. Liar, liar, pants on fire, she sang under her breath. 'Whatever you remember was not a dream.' There's something going on with you, Scootaloo, and I won't rest until I've found out. *** Scootaloo tapped on the heavy granite doors with bated breath. A blue aura enveloped them and they eased open to reveal a large private library, a midnight blue pony hovering amid what seemed to be a localised hurricane of books. After several minutes of silence, the filly cleared her throat as loudly as she could. "Ahem." "Ah, Scootaloo. Take a seat. I think there's one over there." The princess gestured vaguely at a small mountain of books. "At least, there was a couple weeks ago ..." Deciding against chair hunting, Scootaloo perched on the securest pile of books she could find. It wobbled under her weight. "So, um, about my letter." "Yes, yes, that's why I wanted to see you. Being goddess of the moon has certain ... advantages. Stand there." Luna waved her hooves wildly. "No, there. To the left - no, your left - now right a bit ... Perfect." An extremely confused filly stood as instructed, while the princess concentrated above her. A tiny orb slowly manifested itself - an exact replica of the moon, as Scootaloo soon discovered - and set her nerves tingling. Her eyes glowed a sparkling white, lighting the dark room, as the change took over her body. *** She'd seen some strange things before, but this was one of the strangest. Where moments before an orange filly had sat, a furry wolf cub struggled to its paws and yipped in surprise. Luna laughed, a beautiful tinkling sound, like the lilting melody of an intricate music box. The cub spun towards the sound and managed to trip over its own paws, landing muzzle first in the plush carpet. The night princess levitated a messy notepad and quill, noting down the date and time and scribbling a few short observations for future reference. The tiny bundle of fur sneezed unexpectedly and waggled its head adorably. "Scootaloo, you do make a rather cute little cub." *** Scootaloo was embarrassed, to say the least. One minute she'd been politely following Princess Luna's instructions, then the next she had become two sizes smaller and a whole lot furrier. Once the weird orb had disappeared she went back to normal (she hoped) and the princess landed by her side. "Wh- what was that?!" "Don't worry, just some routine checks. Completely safe. Had to be sure before we got started, didn't we?" "Got started? Started what?" "Training, of course! You need to learn to control this, or I'm afraid my sister will lock you up until cows lay eggs, and Twilight hasn't figured that out yet." "Cows-Twilight- what?" Scootaloo was more than a little confused. Luna seemed used to ponies struggling to catch up with her, and opted for the slow approach. "You can turn into a wolf on your own private whims. Don't you think that could be at least a little dangerous? I've made a start on some research for you." She gestured at the library before them. The filly thought she'd probably made more than a 'start'. "Most of what I've found is fictional, but there are a few recordings we can use." "So ... you're telling me I'm a werepony?!" The alicorn sighed, exasperated. *** Applebloom had tailed her friend from the chariot and managed to nudge open the tall doors Scootaloo had disappeared through. From her tiny crack she watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, unable to believe what she saw. Inside, the princess continued. "Werepony isn't quite the right word. Now, if we were being technically accurate, it would be hipposwolf." "Hippo what now?" "Hipposwolf, as in equine-wolf, literally translating as a pony who becomes wolf. However, from what I've found on them, you aren't like the ones previously, ahem, studied. There's only one account I could find where the victim fully transforms - most are mangled combinations of pony and wolf." Luna paused to rummage around in the mess, though what she was looking for, Applebloom couldn't tell. Finally, she produced a delicate roll of parchment and, the citrus filly presumed, a hardier copy. "Here. I made a copy of the text." The princess thrust it towards Scootaloo. "Take it. I'll keep the original with me, and you can keep that. Send a letter if you find anything!" Four pairs of hooves thumped in Applebloom's direction. "Thanks, I guess ..." Scootaloo's voice sounded closer by the minute. Where should she hide? She dithered for a fraction of a second. Too long. Midnight blue magic lit the corridor as Princess Luna smoothly opened the library doors for Scootaloo. Applebloom couldn't be more sheepish if she tried. "Oh, um, hi. I was looking for you?"