//------------------------------// // Chapter One: A River's Lullaby // Story: Ace Combat: Shattered Feelings. // by CallofDutySoldier123 //------------------------------// Chapter One: A River’s lullaby. June 6, 1997 Spitfire’s ground house, Ponyville. “And I'll be with you when you dream.” “I'll be with you when you dream…” “MOM!” Scootaloo shot up from her bed, sweating head to hooves. She looked around and saw that she was in her room. She then looked down on her covers and mumbled, “Why did you leave me?” Scootaloo’s door opened and a yellow mare with a fiery mane trotted in with a worried look on her face. She trotted to Scoots bed and looked at her. “What is it, sweetie? Is something wrong?” Scoots took a moment before she tentatively answered, “It was just another dream… of her.” Spitfire wore a frown and put her hoof on her adopted daughter’s shoulder, “It’s alright sweetie. It was just a dream,” “I don’t understand!” Scoots screamed, pushing Spitfires hoof off her shoulder. “Why am I remembering that memory of HER!” Spitfire put her hooves around Scoots, hugging her while stroking the little filly’s mane and whispered to her, “Scoots... I don’t know why you’re remembering the memory of your real mother, but I know from your description that your mother loved you very much.” Scoots finally smiled and hugged her adopted mother back. “Thanks mom. I really needed you here.” “Don’t worry, sweetie, mommy will always be here for you.” With that, Spitfire tucked Scootaloo back into her bed and whispered, “Goodnight my little angel.” She kissed Scoots on her forehead, and left the room, closing the door behind her. Though reassured, Scoots was still awake, tossing and turning. Scoots had been having that same dream of her and her possible birth mother leaving her in an alleyway for awhile. However, despite that, Scootaloo eventually managed to fall asleep. //////////****////////// Inside of Scootaloo’s Dream. Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked around, and she found herself being carried on the back of a mare who was running through the streets of Ponyville, chased by a group of ponies. ‘What did you do?’ The mare turned into an alleyway and hid behind a dumpster, and waited till the group that was chasing her passed. The mare sighed and turned her head back to look at Scoots with watery eyes. She got up and trotted to a cardboard box, shakily put Scoots in it, turned around, and began walking away. ‘NO! Please don’t go!’ But then everything froze, and Scoots found herself cast out of the foal’s eyes and was now in the midst of complete darkness, broken only by a multitude of stars. Scoots wore a confused look and thought, ‘This has never happened before.’ Scoots was starting to become afraid of this new situation, until she heard, “Do not be afraid, young Scootaloo.” Scoots turned around and saw a tall dark purple alicorn, silhouetted against the starlight, her ever-shifting mane forming the perfect compliment to the dreamscape around her. “Princess Luna!” The orange filly ran headlong towards the princess of the night, gave her a massive hug, and said, “I’m glad to see you again.” The princess put up a smile and answered, “We are also glad that we can see you again,” Scoots stopped the hug and stepped back a foot or two, but Luna trotted up to her and put her hoof on Scoot’s shoulder, “but we sensed that something is troubling you.” Scootaloo opened her mouth but no words came out. Scoots breathed in and out and finally managed to tell the princess of the night, “I’ve… been having the same dream every night of my real mom leaving me.” Luna looked back at Scootaloo, and asked a question that would be difficult for her to answer: “May we see the rest?” Scootaloo thought for a moment, looking at the scene. After about two minutes, she finally manage to answer, “O-okay.” With that, Luna’s horn lit up and cast a spell that resumed the memory. Both Scootaloo and Luna turned back to the scene to watch. Scoots was crying out for her mother, when she quickly came back and leaned over her daughter, beginning to sing as tears flowed down her face. After hearing the song, the tiny Scootaloo fluttered her eyes a couple of times and yawned adorably before falling asleep. The mare backed away and heard the group running back towards them. She looked back one last time before finally leaving her daughter to fend for herself for years. Everything went black, and only Luna and Scoots were visible. Luna looked down and saw Scootaloo quietly sobbing. Luna wrapped Scoots in her wings to comfort the little filly and said, “Your mother must have loved you very much.” “Then why did she leave me?” Scootaloo asked, still crying while she hugged Luna. “Why did she leave me all alone for years if she loved me?” Scootaloo buried her head in Luna’s fur. Luna bent her head down to look at the filly. “She was in trouble from whoever was chasing her and had to leave you behind for your safety,” Luna then began lifting Scootaloo’s head up with her hoof below Scoot’s chin to look her in the eye with caring eyes. “and it was hard for her to leave you behind. That is why she loves you, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo smiled with watery eyes and hugged Luna more. “Thank you, Princess Luna.” “You’re welcome, our little pony.” Luna hugged Scoots back but then pulled away with a serious face now. Scoots was puzzled for a sec till Luna spoke. “But the real reason we are here is to ask you something important.” Scoots listen carefully to see what Luna wanted to ask of her. “First, have you ever heard of the Shadowbolts?” Scootaloo put her hoof under her chin to think then answering. “Well, I remember Rainbow Dash dressed up like a Shadowbolt, but I didn’t know why, so I asked her. She told me that she got the idea to dress like one when she and her friends went to get the Elements of Harmony.” “Yes, those were just illusions that we created to try to stop Rainbow Dash,” Luna trotted around the filly, “but a few days ago we came up with an idea, involving the Shadowbolts.” Luna stopped, facing away from Scoots. “It is our intent to make a squadron of our own called the Shadowbolts.” “That is so COOL!” Scoots exclaimed but was back of being confused again. “Wait, so why are you telling me this?” Luna turned back towards Scootaloo again and answered. “To enlist you as a future Shadowbolt member.” “Wha-what, really?” Scoots said unbelievably. “Yes, we want you to be a future Shadowbolt.” Luna answered. “But why me? Aren't there bigger ponies that would be better at this?” Scootaloo questioned. “Like Rainbow Dash, right?” “Yes, there are, but tell me: which team would Rainbow Dash choose,” Luna took a few steps towards Scootaloo, “the Wonderbolts, which has been around since time immemorial, and which has worldwide popularity, or the Shadowbolts, which hasn't been created yet, and which has not even been heard of until today?” Scoots was about to give the obvious answer, but then realized what Luna’s question meant and decided to stay silent. Seeing the recognition on Scootaloo’s face, Luna continued, “Exactly. Both Dash and other pegasi would choose the Wonderbolts in a heartbeat. Thus, we came up with an alternative.” “What kind of alternative?” Scootaloo asked. “The alternative is that we will find young fillies and colts who have heart, courage, and honor to be the first Shadowbolts.” Luna put her hoof on Scoots shoulder. “We have chosen you, Scootaloo, as you are in possession of all these traits, but we are not forcing you into this commitment. This is your choice to make, Scootaloo.” Luna backed away and spread her wings wide preparing to fly off. The dream world was starting to collapse, leaving Scootaloo just a little bit of time to decide on an answer. ‘What should I do?’ Scootaloo thought frantically, seeing the world begin to disappear around her. ‘This could be a once in a life time opportunity, I can’t just say no…’ After a few seconds, Scoots finally made up her answer. Before the princess and the world around her disappeared she said two life changing words. “I accept.”