A short knock sounded in the dark clubhouse. Scootaloo opened the door a crack and said,
“What’s the password.”
“You never told me about a password buzzbrain.”
“Oh, it’s you.”
Scootaloo opened the door to allow Diamond Tiara access to the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Entering the room, Diamond tiara took note of the gayly decorated room. Drawings, materials, and any number of things littered the chaotic space. She grabbed the nearest paper and read in icy tones,
“Totally Awesome Ring of Fire?”
“Hey, that plan would have worked if I had a bigger ramp!”
Diamond Tiara gave Scootaloo a blank look before turning to her saddlebags and removing a pair of lanterns. Giving one to Scootaloo she said,
“Idiocy aside, I believe we have somewhere to be going?”
Scootaloo pouted at Diamond Tiara before replying,
“Yeah, when is your marefriend getting here?”
“Silver Spoon couldn’t make it and I can assure you that she is single.”
Stopping to glare at Diamond Tiara, Scootaloo took the proffered lantern and left the small clubhouse. Rather than head in the direction of the Everfree, she turned and walked to the rear of the clubhouse.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“I’m getting my scooter. I’m assuming that you want to get this done before morning?”
Diamond looked warily at the waiting wagon. A minute passed as she considered the merits of walking all the way there.
“Oh just hop in already you foal. Honestly, who’da that after all your chicken taunts you’d be the scaredy cat?”
“I’m not scared, I’m just worried that you won’t be a good driver.”
“You’re not fooling anyone, hop on.”
With one more glance at her hooves, Diamond Tiara climbed slowly into the wagon. The moment she was in, Scootaloo took off. Rocketing backwards, it was all Diamond Tiara could do to keep from falling out. Tightly gripping the sides, she let loose a scream.
“Scootalooooooooooooo slow down!”
Ignoring this, Scootaloo plowed on towards the Everfree. Diamond Tiara continued to scream bloody murder until they reached the edge of the forest where Scootaloo stopped. Turning back she saw the prone form of Diamond Tiara shaking at the bottom of the wagon.
“Uhh, you okay there?”
Without responding Diamond Tiara started to crawl out of the wagon, tipping it over as she did so. Completely out, she attempted to stand but was unable to due to her shaking. Scootaloo rushed over to help but was pushed away.
“...Never... again.”
With that, Diamond proceeded shakily down the path. Scootaloo gave an anxious look at her scooter before rushing after Diamond Tiara.
“Hey, I didn’t mean any harm by that, it was just a joke.”
“Maybe you should learn a thing or two about humor.”
“How was I supposed to know you would react like that?”
“Applebloom didn’t tell you? I thought you three shared all of my weaknesses with each other.”
“What does Applebloom have to do with this?”
“I’m not going to talk about it with you.”
“But-”
Before Scootaloo could finish her sentence, Diamond turned her head away and began to speed up. Scootaloo rushed to keep up, but found that Diamond Tiara was surprisingly fast. Every time she got near, Diamond would increase her pace. It wasn’t long till they were both running full speed through the dark forest. Diamond Tiara, now running blindly did not see the approaching blue flowers, but Scootaloo, who was very familiar with their effects skidded to a halt and shouted,
“Diamond, don’t run into those flowers!”
The pink filly paid this no mind and plowed full tilt through the mischievous plants.
“Ponyfeathers”
mumbled Scootaloo as she began to pick out a path around the patch.
---
Stupid Birdbrain, why’d she have to go and do that? Diamond Tiara slowed to a halt and gazed around the dark forest. The trees that she had so readily ignored in her mad dash now seemed to lean towards her, blocking the sky from sight. Glancing back, she realized that she didn’t know how to get back to Ponyville, or how to get to Zecora’s hut.A cold breeze blew in and Diamond Tiara realized, she was alone. There was no sign of Scootaloo anywhere. In fact, Diamond Tiara couldn’t see any sign that ponies had ever been here at all.
“Scootaloo?...”
Diamond Tiara waited, but received no reply. The filly glanced once more around the area lit by her lantern. There was no movement save for the rustle of leaves in the wind. She looked at the ground, searching for any sign of a path. The only thing she found was the unforgiving stare of the cold soil. Diamond Tiara kicked the dirt and muttered to herself,
“Why’d she have to do that? Now I don’t where I am. She should have just dropped it.”
Giving the dirt another kick for good measure, Diamond turned back towards where she thought she came from and began walking.
---
An eerie silence enveloped the world as Diamond Tiara picked her way across the forest floor. Each crinkle of leaves and crack of a branch that she made seemed to echo across the world. Diamond felt her muscles tense up with every step she took forward. The silence shattered as she heard a loud crack followed by a screech. Diamond Tiara froze in place and listened in horrible silence for any further sound. A faint scrabbling came from further along her path and she desperately tried to make herself move. Her hooves felt glued to the spot, as the sound grew closer with each passing second. Movement came, but to her horror, Diamond Tiara found that it was her legs buckling underneath her. The sound was now a steady beat and Diamond Tiara tried desperately to crawl into hiding. Her legs felt like jelly as she forced all of her strength into pulling herself towards a nearby bush. Each thump of the approaching sound made her heart pick up it’s pace until it was a constant sound in her ears. With a final push of effort, Diamond rolled into the concealment of the waiting bush.
---
Scootaloo looked dejectedly at the gorge in front of her and the old rope bridge that crossed it. Of course it’s an old, broken down bridge. It couldn’t have been a simple path or maybe a good stone bridge.
“Diamond had better appreciate this.”
Scootaloo began to creep across the decrepit wooden planks. The creak and sway of the bridge reminded her of all the times that Daring Do had crossed a rope bridge and inevitably had it break apart underneath her hooves. Step by careful step, she made her way along. Halfway across, the bridge gave a loud creak and Scootaloo shot a glance back at the beginning of the bridge. The old ropes showed no signs of breaking and she let out a sigh of relief. Carefully, she resumed her journey, now feeling a bit more confident in her steps. Despite the threatening strains and groans of the bridge, she made it to the other side no worse than a raised heart rate. Scootaloo let out a sigh of relief and surveyed the path before her. The trees nearly blocked out the sky and the various plants were growing over an aging path. Seeing the way forward to be relatively clear, and being a bit creeped out if she was honest, Scootaloo began a quick trot. To keep her mind off of her surroundings, she tried to figure out where she was.
“Let’s see, Zecora showed us where the Poison Joke grows in the forest, and we had only just entered, the patches on the other side. I’m on some kind of trail, so this is probably a path Zecora takes. Maybe the Northern patch? Wait, which way is north? Gah, this is too hard! Maybe I should find a higher vantage point.”
Scootaloo slowed down a bit and looked around. The trees around her were too tall to climb, but she could just make out a fallen limb a slight way off the path. Creeping carefully, she made her way over to the branch and tested its strength. Gently, she stepped onto it and began to ascend. The timber was thankfully free of moss and she managed to pull herself up onto a nearby limb. She gazed out into the night and saw a faint glow in the distance.
“Is that Zecora’s hut? I can’t tell.”
Still looking forward, Scootaloo began to climb up towards the end of the branch. Just as she spotted the familiar decorations of Zecora’s tree, the limb she was standing on broke with a loud snap. Scootaloo screamed as she fell into a pile of leaves. Grunting, she shifted the leaves out of her way and pulled herself to her feet. She gave her head a shake and groaned.
“Diamond had really better appreciate this, that hurt.”
Scootaloo turned towards where she had seen the light.
“Okay, so Zecora is that way and that patch of poison joke connects to the path up ahead, so I should be catching up with Diamond Tiara soon.”
With her path confirmed, Scootaloo set off again down the path. The path now seemed more familiar as she recognized various trees and landmarks. Just as she approached the last turn before Zecora’s hut, she heard a rustle of leaves. Wordlessly, she crouched down and began to creep towards the bushes. The Colt scout manual she had read had had all sorts of options for what could be the cause for that noise, and she didn’t want anything to do with any of them. She kept her ears perked as she slipped under the cover of a bush and peeked out. She looke towards the path, then towards the forest. She waited. After a minute or so, nothing came, so she began to poke her head out of the top of the bush. From her new vantage point, she was able to see a cotton candy tail sticking out of the same bush she was standing in. Ducking back into the bush she moved around until she was able to see the prone form of Diamond Tiara. The filly was curled into a ball and was quietly crying. Scootaloo bit her lip and quietly sidled up next to her.
“Hey.” Diamond jumped made to flee, but Scootaloo pulled her into a hug. “Listen, I’m not good with this touchy feely stuff, but I really didn’t mean to upset you this much. Even if you are a jerk, I don’t want to make you this sad. Nopony should be crying alone in a bush.”
Diamond Tiara pressed into Scootaloo’s chest and sobbed harder.
“You-you’re the jerk. I told you to slow d-down. I’m afraid of going fast. And now we’re lost in the Everfree forest, and I’m going to die out here with the meanest pony in the world.”
Scootaloo hesitantly patted Diamond Tiara on the back and listened to the filly cry. After a while, she sighed and said,
“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry I did that. I could see that you were scared and I still went fast. If it makes you feel better, I’m actually afraid of swimming.”
Diamond Tiara raised her head. “Really? But I thought you always say that you aren’t afraid of anything.”
Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head. “Weeellll, I’m kind of terrified of swimming. I’m find with bathtubs, but anything where I can’t touch the ground and I am out.”
Diamond Tiara wiped her eyes and smiled.
“Thanks. For a jerk, you’re pretty nice.”
“Yeah, well don’t go spreading it around. I have a reputation to protect.
“Same.”
Diamond Tiara took a moment to collect herself before saying,
“What makes you say I am a jerk?”
Scootaloo gave her a look of disbelief.
“You really don’t know?”
“Of course I don’t! I wouldn’t ask if I did!”
Scootaloo took a breath and said,
“I think you are a jerk because you spend all day flaunting your cutie mark and proclaiming yourself to be better than everybody just because your dad buys you stuff. Your head is so far up your own ass that you need and oxygen tank to breath, you bully me and my friends whenever you think you can get away from it, and wear a piece of jewelry to school everyday like it is a pair of horseshoes. Also, you smell like lemons and I hate lemons.”
Diamond stared at Scootaloo, then at her hooves, then at nothing.
“Really?”
Scootaloo turned her eyes upward and mumbled under her breath. Then she looked back to Diamond Tiara and said,
“Yep. Pretty much.”
Diamond Tiara turned away from Scootaloo and let her head sink.
“Well now I actually feel like a jerk.”
“Excuse me?”
“I did that stuff because I really thought I was better than you. I thought that you and the rest of your club were a bunch of dumb losers not worth the time of day.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes and said,
“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re not, though. At least, I don’t think so anymore. A worthless pony doesn’t hold their sworn enemy until she stops crying. They wouldn’t tell her what they were afraid of to make her feel better.”
At this, Diamond Tiara began to sob again.
“If anyone’s worthless h-here, it’s me. You’re a better pony than me.”
Scootaloo stared at her wide-eyed before pulling her into another hug.
“Ponyfeathers Diamond, what’s gotten into you? I never thought I’d hear you say that if I lived as long as the Princesses.”
“Shu-shutup.”
Scootaloo let go of Diamond Tiara and looked her in the eyes.
“If you don’t stop crying, I may have to think that you’re not a heartless monster. Now come on, we need to get going.”
With a sniffle, Diamond Tiara pushed herself to her feet, only to immediately stumble into Scootaloo.
“What’s the deal, did you break your leg or something?”
“My legs feel weak.”
Scootaloo looked at her disbelievingly before giving up and saying,
“Fine, lean on me. Zecora’s place is just a little way away.”
Diamond stumbled over to Scootaloo and attempted to find a comfortable position. After a minute of shifting and squirming, Scootaloo grabbed Diamond Tiara’s leg and placed it over her shoulder. With a nod of the head she began to walk. Diamond Tiara murmured a thanks and limped alongside her. The two walked in silence down the dirt path until they reached a tree decorated in tribal masks and lit with torches. Scootaloo nodded towards the home.
“This is the place. Just a little bit longer.”
As they approached the door it was opened by a somewhat tired looking Zecora
“You’re out quite late my fillies two. I see the mother’s story was true.”
Scootaloo nodded to Diamond Tiara and said,
“Yeah, none of the others could come but we wanted to check on Buzz and his mom.”
Zecora smiled and stepped out of the doorway.
“At my home, you’re free to be. Though I see that you may need me. What folly has this foal committed that she would be be this way admitted?”
Diamond Tiara scowled and said, “Are you insulting me?”
Scootaloo quickly interjected, “What Diamond means is that I scared her and she ran through some poison joke.”
“Though fun in name and gay in color, Poison Joke is quite a bummer. What prized trait that she held dear causes her to lean on you here?”
Diamond Tiara scrunched up her face and looked at Scootaloo.
“What’s Poison Joke?”
“Those blue flowers you ran through when we got separated were Poison Joke. They play some mean joke on you using magic. They made Applejack super tiny and totally messed up Rarity’s coat.”
“So all that stuff that happened was just because I was under the effects of some dumb plant? They made me cry like a foal and share my secrets with some dweeb?!”
Zecora turned and put a hoof to her lips.
“Ponies keep your voices low. The sleeping two don’t need to know. Poison joke will only change, that which it can rearrange. Your thoughts, your mind, that which you do, those remain up to you.”
“What does th-”
“What she means, Diamond, is that Poison Joke only affects your body. Anything you do while under its effects is you and nothing else.”
“Oh yeah, and what makes you an expert on it, huh?”
Scootaloo, rubbed the back of her head and said,
“Well, ever since we all wandered through a patch of Itchweed, Twilight has been drilling us on dangerous plants and what they do. Some of it kind of stuck. Especially after hearing what happened to Big Mac.”
“What happened to Big Mac?”
Scootaloo looked around conspiratorially before leaning over and whispering in Diamond Tiara’s ear. Diamond stifled a giggle and responded,
“I can see how that would stick in the mind.”
She then turned towards Zecora.
“What did they do to me then?”
“As a foal your size is small, and your dose was very tall. If I had to make a place my bits, I’d say that they are why you now sit.”
Diamond Tiara scrunched her face up in thought. She stared at Zecora then at her hooves. After a minute, she replied,
“Sooo, you’re saying it is my legs?”
“I can see you are starting to understand, the dialect of my homeland. The Poison Joke thought it fun to take away your strength to run.”
“Is there anything we can do about it?”
“As it happens you’re in luck. In my house you will not be stuck. I went out to gather Poison Joke, and now I have to take a soak. The bath is bubbling in that tub, hop on in and give your legs a rub.”
Before Diamond could ask, Scootaloo began walking towards the steaming pot of liquid in the middle of the hot. Zecora found a step stool and Scootaloo eased Diamond inside. As Diamond washed herself, Scootaloo looked around for the Changelings. Though she saw many odd objects around Zecora’s hut, she spotted neither Buzz, nor his mother.
“Uh, Zecora? You did say that Buzz and his mom were here, right?”
“Mother and son are in my bed, do not worry your little head. I have a room out of sight where I can sleep throughout the night.”
“Oh, ok. They’re doing fine, right?”
“The mother’s body was greeting death, her iron will has kept her breath. With much time and great care, her chance at recovery is quite fair. The child’s case is much less bleak, he arrived without a squeak. Let them rest for this night, they have many battles yet to fight.”
Scootaloo nodded and sat down. She let out a large yawn and Zecora chuckled.
“I guess that your parents do not know where there offspring go. When your friend’s bath is done, we’ll make the trip back home a bit more fun.”
Zecora left and began to rummage around in her cupboards. As Diamond pulled herself out of the path, she returned holding two small packages and a towel.
“Dry yourself and find your feet, I have for you a little treat. Honey, peach, and a little spice makes a candy treat that is quite nice.”
Diamond gratefully took the towel and patted herself dry. Scootaloo opened her candy and took a bite with a satisfied crunch.
“Come children while the night still looms, we must return you to your rooms.”
Diamond Tiara nodded, placing the towel on the stool and taking her treat from Scootaloo. Zecora grabbed a lantern and led the way down the path. Scootaloo was dawdling a bit behind and Diamond Tiara lagged back to match her pace.
“Scootaloo, can I ask you a favor?”
Scootaloo stopped mid bite and said,
“I guess, what do you want?”
“I mentioned it earlier, but can you please not mention any of this to anyone? It would mean a lot to me.”
Scootaloo looked upward thoughfully, tapping the candy against her lips. Finally, she looked Diamond Tiara dead in the eye and said,
“One condition. You two and the CMC start over.”
“Start over?”
“Well, you’re actually nicer than I thought and it would be a bit of a bummer if we went back to being sworn enemies. You don’t have to hang out with us, but it would be nice if you would stop insulting us all the time.”
Diamond Tiara considered this, then got a devilish smile.
“Deal, but I get to give you a makeover!
“Alrigh- Hey!”
Diamond Tiara stuck out her tongue and ran ahead laughing. Scootaloo made a face and chased after her. Zecora smiled and said to herself,
“The enthusiasm of foals is quite a sight, one wishes that adults would follow their light.