//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 A Crucial Choice // Story: In The Twilight of Harmony’s End // by Leonofsweden //------------------------------// In the Twilight of Harmony’s End Chapter 4 A Crucial Choice **** Scootaloo was wrenched out of her sleep with a startle. Miss Bad Winnie had yanked the door to the shed open and wrapped Scootaloo’s neck in a forceful telekinetic hold before dragging the bewildered filly out into the harsh light. With a smug grin she purposefully dropped the filly on her back, ensuring the she was now fully awake because of the pain coursing through her mangled wings. Groaning through clenched teeth, Scootaloo rolled onto her stomach and glanced up at a glaring Miss Bad Winnie. “Get up, you good for nothing layabout!” Bad Winnie barked out and took a threatening step towards Scootaloo, who immediately scrambled up on all four hooves. “Better… Now, go do your chores I've listed for you and then clean up the house. I'll be back later this afternoon, and when I return, this place better be spotless!” Bad Winnie said in a stern voice and scowled down at the little orange filly. “Yes, Miss Bad Winnie,” Scootaloo said with a lowered head while she set off for the orphanage. Behind her, Bad Winnie gave a snort and set off towards Ponyville to see if she could knock some sense into that imbecile of an earth stallion that stood her up yesterday. When Scootaloo had retrieved the list Miss Bad Winnie had prepared for the day, she almost gawked at the length of it as she noted that it actually touched the floor from where it hung on the noticeboard. “You… You have got to be kidding me? How am I supposed to finish these chores before she gets back?” Scootaloo asked out loud in absolute horror, before realizing that that might be the point of it actually. She would never be able to finish this even if she had a whole day, let alone a half day. With a defeated sigh, Scootaloo set to work with the impossibly long list of chores. She worked furiously, anger spurning her on through the endless list, and when she finally got to the last point she gave a sigh of relief when she read it. Water the new trees in front of the orphanage. Wow, that was actually an easy one… Scootaloo thought and went to the shed out back to fetch a bucket to carry the water in. As she filled it up at the hoof water pump, she lifted it up in her mouth and carried it to the front where she suddenly stopped as she, for the first time that day, really looked at the newly planted trees. What the… They were definitely not this big yesterday, were they? the orange Pegasus filly thought while she dumped the first bucket over the first tree in the newly planted row. The roots of the tree had definitely taken a very firm hold in the soil, and both the trunk and limbs of the tree she was now studying were definitely sturdier than yesterday. Odd… Scootaloo thought absentmindedly while she continued her work of watering the new trees. Maybe that's what the Timberwolves were doing yesterday… They could move outside of the Everfree because… because these trees are now the border of the Everfree! Scootaloo’s realization rattled through her brain while she dumped the last bucket of water on the last of the sapling trees. “Finally…” A very tired Scootaloo panted from the very long and hard labor of the day… Come to think of it, shouldn't Miss Bad Winnie be back by now? she thought. Checking the Sun's position, Scootaloo could see that it was rather late in the afternoon now; or rather it was early evening. Scootaloo's stomach gave a loud growl making it known just how hungry she really was, and she clutched at it when a the hunger caused a wave of pain to pass through her. Already knowing there was nothing to get in the orphanage, Scootaloo retrieved her scooter and shot off towards Ponyville in the hopes of finding something to eat there, also hoping her secret bits stash at the CMC clubhouse wasn't as empty as she remembered. **** After making sure the coast was clear, Scootaloo rocketed into the clubhouse of the CMC. Breathing heavily as she glanced out of the windows and once again checked that she was alone, she carefully moved over to a loose plank amongst the floorboards and lifted it up. Below, a very empty looking wooden box was revealed. She carefully lifted it up and undid the fake bottom. As she glanced into it, she could see two gleaming bits on the bottom. With a sigh, Scootaloo dumped the two gleaming coins onto her hoof and inspected them. Well… At least I'll be able to get a muffin at the Sugar Cube Corner, Scootaloo thought with a relieved sigh. Those things were huge, and sugary delicious, so hopefully she would be somewhat sated after eating one. She carefully returned the box to its proper place and laid the loose plank back in place to conceal her hiding spot. As she turned around, Scootaloo spotted something she had forgotten about. A bright red apple was situated on the crate that made up the central table of the clubhouse. Feeling how her mouth started to salivate, Scootaloo quickly trotted over and picked up the leftover apple from their last CMC meeting yesterday. Apple Bloom had brought over six of them. But, as usual, Sweetie Bell could only eat one before she was completely stuffed, and left her second apple right where it now resided on the makeshift table. Smiling with satisfaction Scootaloo took a bite out of the sweet apple and started heading back out of the CMC headquarters. Just as she jumped on to her scooter, Scootaloo heard a voice from behind that made her completely freeze in place. “And what do you think you're doing around these parts, Scootaloo?” a very agitated voice wondered. Slowly, Scootaloo turned back towards Applejack, who was standing in the shadow of a tree just a few steps away. “N… not… nothing!” Scootaloo stammered out, making Applejack narrow her gaze at the little filly. “You wanna try again?” Applejack retorted with a voice of steel. Scootaloo immediately look down into the ground, not daring to meet Applejack accusing eyes. “I… I was just getting my stuff. I’ll leave now, okay?” Scootaloo answered hastily and turned around starting to buzz her wings. A loud thump sounded from behind and her whole scooter rocked as Applejack pinned the scooters back wheel against the ground not giving the little orange Pegasus any chance of escape. Scootaloo who hadn't expected it yelped in surprise and fright as she whipped around looking straight up at the still glaring Applejack. “Looks to me like some filly is stealing…” Applejack retorted in a very cold voice. “What?!” Scootaloo answered in surprise and true fear, knowing there was nothing Applejack dislike more than somepony sneaking into her orchards to steal apples. “Don't try it, Scootaloo. I've caught you red hoofed!” Applejack yelled, pointing at the half-eaten apple Scootaloo still had clutched in her right forelimb. “No! That was from-” “I don't want to hear your excuses, Scootaloo! I told you that you were not welcome on my farm anymore, and the very next day I find you in here stealing apples!” Applejack roared and snatched the apple out of Scootaloo’s grasp before turning around and flinging it off into the distance. Mouth agape, Scootaloo could only watch as half of the first thing she'd eaten in almost two days went sailing through the air and then disappeared behind the greenery of the apple trees foliage. “NO!” Scootaloo cried out and then looked up at Applejack with pure rage! “WHY DID YOU DO THAT!!!” she yelled back at Applejack who only answered by gritting her teeth together and stomping her hoof into the ground with such force it actually left a crater. Scootaloo immediately shuffled backwards, now definitely very much afraid when she thought about Applejack doing what Miss Bad Winnie most often did when she was angry. The thought alone almost made Scootaloo wet herself since Applejack was easily ten times stronger than Miss Bad Winnie, at the very least! “I won't have a thief eating my produce! Now leave my property before I really lose my temper with you!” Applejack hissed through her still gritted teeth at the now cowering Scootaloo. “Now, up on your hooves, you Celestia forsaken, good for nothing, troublemaker!” Applejack growled. If there was one thing Scootaloo had unfortunately learned because of Miss Bad Winnie it was how to follow orders even when she was scared stiff, slowly, ever so slowly, Scootaloo forced herself to stand up in front of Applejack while still keeping her head low. “Now, if you get off my property, like right this instant Scootaloo, then nothing will come of this. But don't let me catch you here again, and definitely don't let me hear you've been bothering my little sister either, or I'll have to have a serious talk with Miss Bad Winnie about your behavior,” Applejack said coldly while she pointed off away from the acres. With stiff legs, Scootaloo recovered her scooter. As soon as she was on it, her wings started pumping furiously, making her quickly zip off into the distance while tears streaked down her face. **** After almost an hour of hiding in the bushes outside of Ponyville, Scootaloo had gathered herself enough to stop snivelling. The growling of her stomach had also helped her along her way to Sugar Cube Corner. She was now finally sitting at a quiet table in Sugar Cube Corner eating her first of two muffins. Derpy Hooves had apparently taken Dinky to visit her grandparents in Canterlot, and Sugar Cube Corner had found itself with a quite large amount of muffins left over when the market for muffins suddenly dropped by three quarters. Therefore, there were several left over from yesterday that only cost one bit per muffin, much to Scootaloo’s overjoyed surprise. She had just finished her first muffin when a pink whirlwind entered Sugar Cube Corner. Before Scootaloo even knew what had happened, the interior of the shop had completely changed in what looked like the preparations for a party. “Hi, Pinkie! What are you doing?” Scootaloo asked curiously. The pink mare in question came to a sudden halt in front of the orange Pegasus. “Oh! Oh! I just had a request for a super-duper fun-olicious big-aruny all-out birthday party for Silver Spoon!” Pinkie Pie said joyfully and bounced off to continue her party preparations. “Silver Spoon? Why would you throw a party for her? She's just… mean.” Scootaloo said with a none too pleased expression on her face. “Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me! I know! I know!” Pinkie yelled, hopping up and down with her hoof in the air. “Pinkie, we’re not in Cheerilee’s class. You don't have to raise your hoof to answer anything…” Scootaloo informed Pinkie Pie with a raised eyebrow. “Oh! Right! Silly me!” Pinkie said and giggled. “It's probably because she's a really nice pony even though she can do some mean thing sometimes but that’s mostly because of the so-called friends she has which wasn't her own choice to begin with but rather her parents and all she really wants to do deep down inside is be nice and happy and have fun with lots and lots of ponies!!!” Pinkie Pie said without even stopping for breath once. Scootaloo shook her head to clear the rant out of it. “You could just have said you think Silver Spoon is nice, and that you really really like throwing parties Pinkie,” Scootaloo answered, dumbfounded. “Oh yeah, that too!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily and bounced off to continue her preparations. After sitting quiet while eating her last muffin in deep thought watching Pinkie Pie go about her mad business at a quite literally impossible pace, Scootaloo took a deep breath as she came to a rather decimal conclusion. “So… don't you like me Pinkie? Am I a bad pony?” Scootaloo asked in barely a whisper, thinking about all that had happened in the last two days. Pinkie Pie ground to a complete halt immediately, even though she was currently situated on the other side of Sugar Cube Corner. “What do you mean Scoots? You're not a bad pony. I like you very much. I really like all of you CMC a lot!” Pinkie Pie said from right next to Scootaloo, even though she had no idea how Pinkie had gotten their from the other side of the store without her noticing. “Then why… why haven't you ever thrown me a party?” Scootaloo wondered and looked up at Pinkie Pie with a heartbroken stare. “Wait, what?! Noooo that's just silly, of course I have thrown you a party! We didn't last at… at… you know with the… haven't I……… That's impossible!” Pinkie Pie's eyes went wide when she realized she didn't have a single memory of throwing Scootaloo a party. Pinkie's face scrounged up in concentration, then she turned towards Scootaloo with a frown. “Why aren't you on the list? Every pony is supposed to be on the list?!” Pinkie shouted at the filly, being a bit frazzled at the realization she had missed several parties she could have thrown for Scootaloo over the years. “What! What list?!” Scootaloo answered, quite surprised at seeing Pinkie Pie’s mane go flat. “The list Mayor Mare keeps in her office of every pony living in Ponyville! It has everypony's birthday on it; that's how I remember all the birthdays! It would be really hard remembering every single pony's birthday one by one! So I just remember the list the birthdays are on, then I can read it off the list which is much easier! But you're not on it! Why are you not on it?! And why didn’t I notice it anyway!!!” Pinkamena screeched at Scootaloo in a half-panic while shaking the little filly furiously desperate to get an answer out her. “What?” Scootaloo answered, not understanding anything Pinkie was going on about. “Why aren't you on the list of ponies in Ponyville the mayor keeps in her office?” Pinkamena asked again. “I technically don't live in Ponyville…” Scootaloo said desperately, trying to get Pinkamena to stop shaking her. “What?!” Pinkamena cried out in disbelief. “But you’re here all the time! How can you not live in Ponyville and be here all the time?” the now rattled pink pony stated, not understanding how that could be. “The orphanage isn't part of Ponyville; it's outside the city limits,” Scootaloo said, looking dejected. “You don't live in Ponyville because the orphanage is outside the city limits?” Pinkamena repeated as it all started to fall into place for her. Suddenly, her mane went all poofy again, but a gloomy little smile still met Scootaloo. “Oh, that's just so sad... I didn't know you lived at an orphanage Scootaloo. I didn't even know there was an orphanage!” Pinkie Pie said, looking up at the ceiling, contemplating what to do next. All of a sudden, Pinkie somehow made a snapping sound with her left hoof. “Of course! I'll just make them redraw the lines so that the orphanage is inside of Ponyville! It's so obvious! Then you'll be on the list and I can throw a lot of parties for you!!!” Pinkie Pie cried out in triumph before shooting off out through the door of Sugar Cube Corner, only leaving a pink outlining where she had just been. Scootaloo looked from the quickly fading pink outlining to the door where Pinkie had disappeared out. “What just happened?” Scootaloo wondered out loud. Well, never mind. It's just Pinkie being Pinkie after all… Wow, it's starting to get dark outside. I better get back to the orphanage again… Scootaloo thought with a shudder and set off towards her so called home. **** When Scootaloo finally walked through the door of the orphanage, she was met by a very oppressive feeling. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Hesitantly, she stepped further into the house while her instincts screamed at her to get out. As Scootaloo came into the kitchen, she found Miss Bad Winnie sitting calmly at the table sipping from a cup of tea. When she finally took notice of Scootaloo, she only frowned distastefully at the site of the filly returning. “So… Just decided to leave the chores unfinished did we?” Miss Bad Winnie asked scornfully. A chill went down Scootaloo’s spine at that statement. Whatever she had forgotten, it would give Bad Winnie the excuse she needed to torment Scootaloo for the rest of the evening. Not that Miss Bad Winnie usually needed an excuse to do that lately, so what she would do when she actually had one now, Scootaloo didn't even want to imagine. “I heard what you did yesterday, Scootaloo,” Miss Bad Winnie said. Scootaloo also noticed that Miss Bad Winnie’s usually spiteful gaze was on a completely new level of coldness and disdain. She was actually looking at Scootaloo with real hatred in her eyes. Reflexively, Scootaloo started backing away from her caretaker. “Oh no you don't, you miserable little turd!!!” Miss Bad Winnie yelled as her horn lit up and flung Scootaloo into the kitchen to land harshly in front of the now extremely agitated unicorn. “You almost killed a unicorn yesterday with your idiotic stunts, you insufferable, worthless sack of manure!” Miss Bad Winnie screamed down at Scootaloo, who now only lay shivering on the floor in front of the fuming mare. Bad Winnie’s horn lit up again and in the next instant Scootaloo found herself tied up on the floor in a very uncomfortable position. “I see I have been too lenient on you lately! But don't you worry! I will rectify that immediately! I think a couple of hammer blows to the wing joints will keep you from ever taking somepony up into the air again!” Miss Bad Winnie shouted down at Scootaloo. “NO! NOOO! Please don't! I'll never do it again! I promise!!! I'll do whatever you say forever just don't! Just don't hurt my wings! Please!!!” Scootaloo screeched in absolute terror before she started bawling her eyes out in front of Bad Winnie, whose eyes seemed to sparkle at the terror she was inflicting on the little orange filly. “Oh… you've had your chances, you worthless rat!” Bad Winnie said with glee and grabbed Scootaloo’s mane in telekinesis so she could drag the now wildly kicking and crying filly behind her as she made her way through the house to the back door. She stopped dragging Scootaloo behind her and let her fall so that her head thumped down against the floor, electing groans of pain, which was much to Miss Bad Winnie’s amusement. “You just stay right here like a good little Pegasus and I'll be right back to take care of those pesky wings. I just need to get a few things from the shed. I think that's where I left the hammer if I remember correctly…” Miss Bad Winnie said, seemingly pondering where it was, absentmindedly, while she opened the back door and stepped out of the orphanage leaving a completely terrified Scootaloo behind. No, no, no, no, I've got to get out of here! She's completely lost it! She's going to kill me! Scootaloo thought in terror as she watched Miss Bad Winnie casually walk out to the toolshed and disappear into darkness. Scootaloo heard several loud thumps and saw different tools go flying out through the open door while Bad Winnie searched through the shed for her intended choice for the torture. Suddenly, a joyful exclamation was heard from within and Miss Bad Winnie exited the shed while holding a hammer in her telekinetic grasp, lazily spinning it in the air as she started on her way back. “HELP! ANY PONY PLEASE HELP ME!!!” Scootaloo screamed hysterically while tears streamed down her face. The outcry made Bad Winnie pause for a second while looking around herself in alarm. Then, a great sadistic smile split her face. “Scream all you want, Scootaloo! Tonight, you and I are going to have a lot of fun together!” Bad Winnie called back mockingly. Just then, Scootaloo saw something move at the edge of Everfree forest. With wide eyes Scootaloo watched several Timberwolves slowly emerge from the shadows behind the none-the-wiser Miss Bad Winnie. Scootaloo was about to call out a warning, so Miss Bad Winnie could run back to safety, but then what she was about to do struck her and she couldn't help but start laughing hysterically where she lay tied up on the floor. Miss Bad Winnie immediately started frowning. “Ah come on! Don't tell me you lost it already! That won't be any fun at all!” she called to Scootaloo and started slowly walking while she tittered to herself. Scootaloo went quiet, but couldn't stop grinning as the Timberwolves quietly followed her just a few paces behind. When Miss Bad Winnie was about half-way back to the orphanage, Scootaloo’s manic grin melted away leaving an extremely cold expression looking down at the mare that had hurt her for so long. “It's too bad I can't watch you die, but they might come in here if I don't close the door soon,” Scootaloo called down to a now very surprised looking Bad Winnie. Just as she was about to ask what Scootaloo meant by that, several loud growls sounded from behind her, making her completely freeze in place while every ounce of color drained from her face. Miss Bad Winnie didn't even have a chance to look behind her before she was pinned to the ground by two Timberwolves, who both started to tear at her in different directions. She cried out in inconceivable pain as the teeth and claws of the Timberwolves started tearing into her soft flesh. Frantically, Miss Bad Winnie started fighting back with her still free hooves as she whacked at the wooden faces of the Timberwolves tearing at her hindquarters. Her horn lit up lashing out with magic trying to push the wolfs off herself. Just when she managed to dislodge one of them from her back legs, two more sunk their teeth into her forelegs, once again causing her to scream out in pain and terror. Miss Bad Winnie desperately looked back towards the orphanage and saw Scootaloo, who was still peeking out at her from the door opening. “Help! Help me please!!!” she screamed pleadingly. Scootaloo only looked back at her with cold empty eyes before kicking the door shut with her tied together hooves. With a deafening click, the door locked itself as its swung shut. Scootaloo just lay still inside the door, unable to stop listening to the pained cries and screams of the dying Miss Bad Winnie. Finally, Bad Winnie's outcry stopped with a horrifying ripping sound that indicated that the Timberwolves had finally torn her apart. The silence after that was deafening. It didn't take long before Scootaloo heard the sniffing of Timberwolves at the door, but they didn't seem to make any attempt at breaking through it at all. Just like Scootaloo had seen the night before from the shelter of the shed, they made their way around the house and then continued back into the forest again. When Scootaloo was finally sure the Timberwolves had left, she frantically started fighting against her restraints. She didn't know how long it took, but it was quite a while before she was finally free from the ropes securing her front and back hooves as well as the wings. As soon as she was free she immediately hopped up on her back legs to peek out through the window at the now empty backyard of the orphanage. All that was left of Miss Bad Winnie was a red stain on the lawn. Once again, to Scootaloo’s own surprise, she chuckled uncontrollably. She was free! Free from Miss Bad Winnie and all that entails. Unable to stop herself from chuckling, and even bursting out into sporadic laughter, Scootaloo stumbled her way up into her bed, feeling completely tuckered out and drained by the day's events. With the knowledge that Miss Bad Winnie was definitely not going to burst into her room that night, Scootaloo could relax for the first time that she could even remember, and, therefore, it didn't take long before she was sleeping soundly, content in the knowledge she was finally safe. **** Thanks to Syvvak - pre-reader/editor Thanks to Pen Perfect for the Pre-read/Edit