Start of October, 1004 A.D. (After Discord)
It was an unusually cold day in Ponyville; fall was coming a little early and most could feel it. The school was well insulated and made sure the students stayed warm just for times like this; most of the students were in their classrooms just like always, waiting to begin learning new things.
It was as Cheerilee was calling attendance that something out of the ordinary happened.
“Scootaloo?” Silence reigned in the room, to which Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle perked up.
“Scootaloo? That's odd, she never misses a day of school... Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, have you seen Scootaloo?” At the two shakes of 'no' the older mare sighed worriedly.
“Hopefully she's just late.... Well, let's continue!” The two Crusaders shared worried glances; they knew how much a proper education meant to their pegasus friend and how she wouldn't be absent unless it was important. Hopefully it was just a one time thing and they would be able to meet at school.
They were still severely grounded from their misadventures at Apploosa over a month ago and Scootaloo had gone into hiding since she didn't want to be questioned as to how she was getting along. This meant that school was the only time they could be sure everything was going alright for the young pegasus.
After three days of absences Miss Cheerilee was about to contact Scootaloo's guardian, which according to her paperwork was Derpy Hooves. The Crusaders knew this to be false and would only cause more trouble for the young pegasus, so they volunteered to try and find her instead.
Once school was over, they found both of their sisters waiting just outside the yard to walk them home; the two fillies shared determined glances and took on a pleading and desperate expressions. The sight of two pairs of pleading eyes put the two sisters on the edge and Applejack gave them a curious look.
“Sis', can we go into town and give Scootaloo all the work she's missed?” Apple Bloom asked as beggingly as she could while Sweetie Belle added to it.
“She's been home sick and Miss Cheerilee asked us to do it.” Applejack raised a brow at their claims and turned to nod to the gray-white mare next to her.
“Ah'll follow what Rarity says; yer've lied before an' Ah'm not coverin' for ya this time.” Rarity raised a surprised brow of her own; when it came to their sisters Applejack was usually the one asking her to be lenient.
“Are you sure darling? You have no thoughts about this?” Applejack nodded towards the unicorn in acknowledgment that she did have thoughts about it.
“Well Ah'd say that they've learned their lesson; ah month is ah long time. But Ah think that they would need tah ask us tah visit other places and they'd need somepony with 'em at all times, if'in they did go some place.” Rarity lit up at the suggestion and gave the farmer a quick hug which left a blush on her face.
“Why that sounds like a marvelous idea! And if they do go someplace without supervision, they shall be grounded for a year if it takes that long.” This last part was said with a threatening look to the two fillies who nodded rapidly; this was better than being grounded like they were. Once they found Scootaloo they could figure out a way around the deal if necessary but first they had a pegasus to find.
The two friends tore out of the yard and didn't slow for an instant; their sisters shared an amused glance at their speed before heading into town themselves.
The fillies slowed only slightly as they came to the market place as they tried to think of anything Scootaloo said that would help identify her new hideouts. As they racked their brains, they started searching the town in the off chance that Scootaloo had been busy and couldn't go to school.
“Wait!” Apple Bloom came to a stop at Sweetie Belle's cry and looked at her hopefully.
“I think she said that one of her hideouts was by a bridge!” The two friends took off once more and followed the shallow river that ran through town, checking under each bridge that they found.
Just as they were going to give up on that idea, they heard something shifting further down a drain pipe that was hidden by the bridge over top.
“Scootaloo!” The two fillies shouted together in excitement. The shuffling stopped before coming closer with a weak response.
“Sweetie Belle? Apple Bloom? Cough, cough.... Is that you guys?” As the orange pegasus crawled into view, the other Crusaders gasped in shock at her state.
The orange filly had bags under her bloodshot eyes, parts of her fur was matted into clumps, her small wings had feathers misaligned, her nose covered in snot and a hacking cough could be heard even when she didn't try to speak. Their speechlessness didn't remain for long as they rushed towards their sick friend, splashing among the small trickle of water to reach her.
“Scootaloo! What happened?”
“Yeah, did ya take anythin' for bein' sick? Did ya go to the hospital?”
“Yeah! They can help, let's go!” The two fillies grabbed a hold of an orange hoof and tried to drag her to the emergency care. Scootaloo, however, allowed her weight to slow them and tried to explain why she couldn't go to the hospital.
“Guys...! Wait..!” The weak call didn't slow her friends but the minute long coughing fit afterwards did make them stop, allowing her to lay on the hill and catch her breath.
“I... Can't... Cough cough... Go to... Gasp... The hospital...! They'd ask... Where my family... Is..” The unicorn and earth pony glanced at one another with scrunched faces; they had forgotten in their haste of how nosy hospitals were.
“But … But you have to get medicine! You have to visit someone, you're really sick!” Sweetie Belle tried to stress how it was needed but Scootaloo couldn't focus all that well and the unicorn wasn't sure if she heard properly.
“Ah've never seen anypony as sick as you are, Scootaloo; you've got tah see someone fer it.” The wave of dizziness passed for a moment, allowing the sick filly to hear her friends and their fear for her.
Determined, Scootaloo shook her head softly after getting a headache from trying to give it a rough shake.
“I can't go to the hospital... I just... Need to rest... For a moment...” The pegasus slumped on the hill and fell into a fitful daze; her two friends looked at the shivering form before looking back at one another.
“She needs help!” Sweetie Belle stomped a hoof while Apple Bloom nodded agreement.
“If she won't go tah the hospital, we'll bring someone here.” Apple Bloom suggested to which Sweetie Belle lit up with hope before it faded just as quickly.
“But who would we get to help?” The two fillies tried to think rapidly, the pegasus' failing health weighting on their minds.
Just as they about to give up and get their sisters to help, they saw a yellow butterfly land on Scootaloo's cheek.
“Fluttershy!” At the double shout, Scootaloo shifted in place and groaned lightly. They shushed one another and then grinned ecstatically.
“I'll stay with Scootaloo to make sure she doesn't go anywhere and you get Fluttershy; she takes care of lots of animals, I'm sure she can help!” Apple Bloom nodded and took off to the small cottage on the side of town while Sweetie Belle hunkered down by the shivering filly.
“Please be ok... It won't be same if you're not here, we're the THREE Crusaders...” Sweetie Belle tried to share her warmth with the shivering filly, trying not to imagine what would happen otherwise.
Apple Bloom ran through town, trying to take the shortest route to the timid mare's house. Ponies shouted in alarm as they were pushed aside or knocked into, their cries falling on deaf ears while Apple Bloom continued on.
It was with great relief that the two storied yellow cottage came in to view that had animals flying and running about. Apple Bloom paused only for a moment to catch her breath before knocking rapidly on the door, desperation making her bang rather loudly.
Fluttershy rushed to answer, concerned as to what was wrong; after opening the door she was very surprised to find Apple Bloom panting in front of the doorway, fear showing across her whole being.
“Apple Bloom! What's wrong? What's, what's happened?” Fluttershy crouched towards the filly who was leaning over, trying to catch her breath.
“It's, Scootaloo! She's sick an' we need your help!” Fluttershy's eyes widened at the shout and she drew closer to the young girl.
“What do you mean? Where is she?” Apple Bloom pointed back towards town as she replied.
“She's sick, very sick. We found her by the bridge an' she won't go to the hospital, please come with me an' help!” Fluttershy snapped upright and picked up the filly in her hooves taking to the sky rapidly, heading to town.
“Where is she?” Apple Bloom was surprised at the firm command but didn't pause to question it.
“She's by the north bridge!” Fluttershy nodded firmly and flew a little faster, searching for a bridge and orange filly.
Due to her unusually fast speed, Fluttershy soon saw the orange and gray-white fillies on the hill next to the bridge leading to the park. Dropping dramatically but keeping a firm hold on the earth pony in her hooves, the canary pegasus pulled up to the girls on the ground and quickly started to check Scootaloo's condition.
“What happened?” Sweetie Belle jumped slightly at the firm tone from the usually reserved mare but answered as best she could, fear and cold making her voice waver.
“She, she didn't say. She was hiding in the pipe under the bridge... We hadn't seen her for days and Miss Cheerilee was going to contact her parents but we told her we'd find her instead.” Apple Bloom nodded to the statement as the two girls watched nervously while the older mare checked pulse, eye response, breathing and temperature; within moments Fluttershy stood once more and glanced around to orient herself to where the hospital was.
“Come on girls, we're going to the hospital.” Before the older pegasus could take off, the non-sick Crusaders grabbed hold of a hoof to prevent her from taking off with the sick filly.
“Wait!”
“Ya can't take her there! Ya know they'd ask where her family is!” Fluttershy looked at the two girls in surprise, before she remembered exactly who she had in her hooves.
“But she must get help!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle nodded at the cream-yellow mare's statement and looked back to her.
“That's why we got you!” Fluttershy froze and looked in the direction of her cottage, trying to decide if she had the right kind of medicine to help.
“Alright girls, I'll take her to my house. Come along, I'll need your help as well.” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom lit up in gratitude and followed closely behind the older mare who flew quickly but slowly enough that the fillies could keep up. It was a speed that grated on on her nerves as she wanted to help Scootaloo but knew her friends would want to know what was happening.
They reached the two storied cottage and Fluttershy soon had her animal friends set up the house to be ready to care for the sick filly. They gathered clothes, blankets, a basin of warm water, as well as soap and shampoo; all the needed supplies to take care of the sweaty, dirty and very sick foal.
The two friends watched in awed silence as Fluttershy ran around, trying to get the filly into a stable condition. She washed the sweat and snot off, dried her off rapidly, wrapped her in blankets and tried to find out what exactly was wrong.
“Scootaloo... What happened?” Fluttershy rubbed the orange filly's back as she leaned forward, trying to look Scootaloo in the eye as she laid on the couch.
“Where... Am I...?” Scootaloo regained consciousness of her surroundings as she realized she was warm and dry, the shivering slowly turning into a slight tremble.
“Yer in Fluttershy's cottage; we found ya and got Fluttershy tah care for ya... She's gonnah make you better.” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle tried to get into Scootaloo's sight, which she was barely able to turn her head to do. Scootaloo gave her two best friends a weary smile of gratitude.
“Thanks guys...” Fluttershy also smiled at the two girls; they had indeed done the right thing for their friend.
“Yes, they were very brave and smart.... You'll have to stay here for a little while Scootaloo until you get better.” As the filly laying on the couch began to squirm, trying to physically and verbally protest, Fluttershy unleashed the Stare, freezing the filly in place.
“You will need to stay here for now Scootaloo; you'll just get worse if you go out before you're completely better. What happened that made you get so sick?” Fluttershy lessened the stare slightly, allowing the orange pegasus to release her tension and lay back down.
“.... The orphanage almost got me....” Three sets of eyes widened; the two Crusaders suddenly shifted positions and stared at the doors and windows while keeping their back to the sick filly to which earned a surprised brow from Fluttershy.
“Are they comin' after ya still Scootaloo? We'll stop 'em!” Apple Bloom promised as Sweetie Belle agreed, they weren't going to allow their friend to be taken from them.
Fluttershy thought it was a nice sentiment but wasn't sure how effective they would be; she decided to just keep searching for answers in the meantime.
“What happened?” Orange ears flipped down, Scootaloo had hopped that the subject would be dropped quickly.
“... She, Pepper.... Found me hanging.... Around Ponyville.... She cased me around... Town.... And the only way I was able to hide.... By using the river to... Cover tracks...... Found the pipe and stayed there....” Fluttershy frowned more as she listened, concern over the various aspects arising, though she could see how much it cost the filly to talk at the time.
“... I have one last question then I want you to rest, alright?” At the weak nod, Fluttershy continued.
“You didn't dry off at all did you? You stayed in that pipe for days, soaking wet?” At the shifting of purple eyes and the small nod, the usually timid mare sighed softly and nodding in return.
“Alright, now I want you to stay here and stay warm; I'm going to get certain herbs and things and I'll be right back. Girls, I want you to stay with her and help make sure she doesn't need anything... Please don't make a mess and I'll be right back!” Fluttershy quickly trotted out and flew to the forest near her home.
The animal caretaker got her friends to search for the herbs that reduced fever and pneumonia while she went in search of a certain cyan pegasus.
Fluttershy found Rainbow Dash high in the sky of Ponyville having just rounded up some stray clouds that wanted to build into a storm that wasn't on the schedule. After giving her hooves a dusting off, the cyan mare turned to find the timid one flying up to meet her.
“Well hey Fluttershy, wasn't expecting you to be up this high and in this weather; what's up?” Rainbow was a little unnerved by the serious face on her friend but assumed it had to do with one of her animals.
“Have you seen Scootaloo lately?” Blue ears flipped back in embarrassment at the lack of results on her task.
“No...But I haven't stopped looking; I always keep an eye for the squirt. Why, did the Crusaders do something again?” Fluttershy frowned at the response and seemingly nonchalant attitude from the other pegasus.
“No, it's not that they did anything wrong. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle did the right thing this time and got help.... Scootaloo is really badly sick.” Dash started to wonder what happened but upon hearing that the young filly was sick she waved a dismissive hoof.
“Phhff, is that all? I've been sick before too; she's a tough kid, she'll be fine. Have you found where she's been hiding?” Fluttershy's frown deepened at the apathetic attitude and tried to convince the brash mare that it was serious.
“No, Rainbow Dash, it's not like when you were sick; Scootaloo is very badly sick and if she had been hiding in the drain pipe under a bridge any longer she may not have made it.” Rainbow Dash frowned in turn at Fluttershy's tone of voice and almost use of the Stare.
“Oh yeah? Well, she'll be fine; you're taking care of it right?” Fluttershy kept her frown as she reached forward and pulled on Dash's hoof to show her exactly how bad it really was. The canary mare flew at faster than normal speeds which surprised Dash enough that she remained silent during the trip; she was starting to wonder if perhaps it was as bad as Fluttershy thought it was.
When the two friends reached the cottage, Fluttershy didn't pause for a moment as she led the way inside and showing the still slightly shivering filly to the now pensive pegasus. Their entrance was noted with a tightening of muscles from the other two fillies until they saw who it was; after that they had relaxed their fighting stances before the older mares noticed.
“She was much worse when Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom found her; she's stabilizing now but she was in very real danger. If you want to ask her yourself about what happened, speak quietly and don't expect her to answer loudly.” Fluttershy half-whispered to the other mare who nodded solemnly before slowly making her way to the couch.
Scootaloo noticed the approaching presence due to it being bigger than her friends and woke slightly; at the sight of her hero, she tried to sit up and couldn't quite do so, sticking to merely raising her head slightly and giving Rainbow Dash a weary smile.
“He-hey Rainbow Dash... What's up?” The cyan mare smiled sadly back as she took in the condition of the filly before her.
“Hey squirt, I hear you got sick?” Scootaloo wiggled a hoof in a dismissing manner, not having the energy to actually wave it.
“Yeah, but I'll be fine; it's no big deal.” Fluttershy frowned at the similar attitude of filly and mare and leaned forward to whisper in Rainbow Dash's ear.
“She has pneumonia and a high fever; had she not been found for a few hours longer, she would have died.” Dash frowned at this new information and glanced to the caretaker before nodding slightly.
“Say squirt, how'd you get so sick anyways? Is it because you were afraid we'd make you go back to the orphanage? 'Cause if it is, we won't make you do that.” Rainbow Dash leaned towards the filly as she tried to keep her tone soft, something she wasn't really used to doing.
“I was making a... Grand escape! Yeah, some of the orphanage ponies almost caught me so I had to follow the river to hide my tracks... Pretty neat right?” Scootaloo tried to put in some energy as she attempted to impress the cyan mare who grinned slightly back.
“Yeah, good trick... Look, uh, why didn't you go to the hospital or to somepony who could help? Your body needs to stay healthy if you want to do anything cool, and being sick and not doing anything about it is NOT cool.” The athlete tried to stress this point but could tell that the young filly's mind was too fuzzy to completely understand.
Fluttershy gave a rueful smile as she recalled all the times that she had to take care of the speedster who didn't want to go to the hospital or stay grounded for long. She continued watching to make sure that the orange filly wasn't getting worse as the two continued to talk.
After a bit more of light conversation, Scootaloo fell asleep once more with her friends still watching for those in the house and for anything that may try to get in. Rainbow stepped back and sat next to the timid mare who watched the sick filly in concern.
“You were right, she's pretty bad off.... Do you know anything about this orphanage she was talking about?” Fluttershy shook her head no and looked at her friend pleadingly.
“No, it must be really bad to run and stay sick to avoid getting caught.... Do you girls know anything about it?” Fluttershy turned to the two other fillies who weren't surprised that the topic and focus turned in this direction, bringing their own involvement to attention.
The two girls shared a hard look and silently agreed, they couldn't tell the older mares anything. They turned back resolutely and shook their heads in denial. The older ponies felt that they weren't talking on purpose and tried again.
“Guys, it's really important; do you know anything about the orphanage that Scootaloo went to?” Another firm no caused the cyan pegasus to growl slightly in annoyance; before things could escalate, the orange filly shifted as she felt the tension in the room and harsh voices, causing everyone to freeze in place.
Once they were sure that the young pegasus was still sleeping, the older mares turned away from the fillies and conferred with one another.
“Rainbow, you should try to find out about the orphanage; she seemed so scared of it, it must not be a nice place at all.”
“Alright, alright... Maybe Derpy knows something about it... I'll go and check, you let me know if something else happens with Scootaloo.” Fluttershy smiled in relief as the bold mare took charge, within moments the cyan mare was on her way and the cream-yellow one returned to making sure all of her charges were taken care of.
Within moments, the speeding blue blur arrived at a different cottage on the edge of town. Not even a moment after she landed, Rainbow Dash was knocking on the door and growing impatient. Luckily Derpy was at home since it was slowly heading towards evening and answered with a smile.
“Hello Rainbow Dash, I hope this is a pleasant visit and not... one of... trouble about... Scootaloo...” Derpy trailed off and her smile faded as she saw the serious face of the other pegasus; it was with a sinking feeling that she waited for what the cyan pony had to say.
“Scootaloo got badly sick after trying to run from some ponies from the orphanage she escaped from. What do you know of the orphanage?” Derpy frowned in concern which Rainbow correctly interpreted and answered the unasked question.
“Yes, she's fine now; Fluttershy is taking care of her. Her friends found her and took her to Fluttershy's to be helped.” Derpy nodded relieved and turned pensive as she tried to remember what she had found out.
“... A pony came through a while ago... At the start of the summer I think. She was looking for any runaway orphans and had a short list of profiles on each to help identify them. While I recognized Scootaloo's description, I knew that it was not the kind of orphanage I would send her to. I asked about where she came from and she said the Hudson Orphanage, Manehatten.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin and thought about what she just learned.
“Manehatten huh?”
“Yes; I've tried to get it investigated and they've scheduled a check up on the orphanage. Hopefully they'll shut that place down.” Derpy frowned as she stared into the distance in thought.
“Was it really bad?” Dash raised a brow in curiosity; the orphanage that Fluttershy went to wasn't all that bad, surely this wasn't that bad either. The blue-gray pegasus focused on the other pegasus with a flat look; she may not have heard much, but knew that it was bad enough.
“Yes, it is that bad. I wasn't able to get much from Scootaloo about it, but the pony I came across told me some of the stories as well; she was hesitant to do so, but I promised to not say who I heard it from.” Dash frowned once more, it may be something she'd have to look further in to later.
“Alright, thanks Derpy. I'll let you know if Scootaloo gets worse.” While Rainbow took off into the skies once more, the blue-gray mare called farewell.
“Goodbye Rainbow Dash, and thanks for watching out for her!” Dash gave a wave before flying back to the quiet mare's cottage on the other side of town.
The two fillies watched as the speeding pegasus barged inside and flew over to the timid mare who had looked up from the kitchen counter at the sudden entrance. While Apple Bloom closed the door to keep the area secure, Sweetie Belle listened to the older ponies' conversation with Apple Bloom soon joining her.
“I went to Derpy's; Scootaloo's from a place called Hudson Orphanage in Manehatten. She says that the place is pretty bad and that she put a complaint in, trying to get it inspected or shut down.” Rainbow Dash quietly reported to which Fluttershy smiled in appreciation at the effort.
“That's good, hopefully it's taken care of soon. I'll keep Scootaloo here to get better...” Fluttershy finished the light supper for most while Scootaloo had some turnip soup to get her hydrated and get her strength back.
Meanwhile, the two friends shared concerned looks; it was because of Derpy that the orphanage was getting inspected and so they were trying to round up all the runaway orphans. They knew Scootaloo wasn't going to be pleased to hear that but they decided to remain silent about it until she got better.
The four ponies stayed for supper at the cottage and tried to relax after such a stressful afternoon. It was with great reluctance that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went home and left their friend in Fluttershy's care; they knew she would help her get better but they still worried.
The two Crusaders promised to visit every day after school until Scootaloo was better; something that pleased and made Fluttershy nervous, though she knew that there wasn't anything she could do since she would be just as concerned.
Rainbow Dash also promised to check in every so often and to run errands for the quiet mare since she was taking care of the orange filly; something that Fluttershy tried to insist wasn't necessary but Dash wouldn't hear of it.
Scootaloo was so exhausted and sick that she slept through the night and most of the next few days; Rainbow Dash went to the school to explain what happened to Cheerilee and to say that she was the one to go to if there was anything concerning Scootaloo. The teacher was a little surprised but knew of Scootaloo's idolization of the cyan pegasus and allowed it, grateful that the young pegasus would be taken care of while she was sick.