Chapter Seven
It had been a week since Scootaloo's blackout, and she and Rainbow Dash had pretty much forgotten about it. On Friday morning, Scootaloo found Rainbow Dash laughing over the comics while eating a bowl of Candy Coated Cloud flakes(1).
Dash looked up over the comics at Scootaloo. "Hey Scoots, glad you're up. We've got something new to do today."
"You mean besides trying to not get electrocuted by storm clouds?"
"Yup. We got ourselves a new job for next week."
"Please promise me it won't involve rouge hailstorms this time."(2)
"Nah, it's gonna be a pretty easy gig. Apparently, some kid at the Academy got a hold of some dragon spit and put it in the Coach's coffee. Luckily he wasn't too badly burned, so he'll live, but anyway, Twilight wants us to sub... Hey Scoots, you okay?"
Scootaloo had gone pale, looking startled and uneasy. "D-did you just say... the Academy?!"
"Yeah, so?"
"Nothing... Hey Dash, have you seen my mechanical wings?"
"They're over in the closet... we gotta be there in an hour, so come back soon, 'kay?"
"Later, Rainbow Dash."
***
Scootaloo landed softly on her cloud, buckling her mechanical wings to her side as she descended. This place was special to her; it had been her sanctuary ever since she started living with Rainbow Dash.
Without this place... I don't know if I could have gone on.
Before she found this place, Scootaloo had been looking in vain for a place to settle her mind; to have a rare feeling of peace, no matter how temporary it was. Every now and then, she still came here to clear her mind.
Scootaloo sat down and thought of what Dash had told her about subbing at the Academy. She had always known that Rainbow was Twilight's on call substitute, and that she could she and Dash could be called in any time. But when we actually get called in, thought Scootaloo, It becomes a lot more complicated.
The only other time that Twilight had called Rainbow Dash in to sub was when a group of pegasus students studying flight science had come and she had needed Dash for demonstration of a Sonic Rainboom. Scootaloo had only recently dropped out at that time, and had decided not to tag along.
I wish I could just pretend I'm sick this week, she thought hopelessly,but Rainbow would never buy it.
Besides, between my blackouts and my stupid wings I've missed enough work lately. I need to show her that I'm not completely useless, she reasoned, even if I don't like it.
Scootaloo pondered this a while more, then prepared her wings for the flight home. Like it or not, she was going to the Academy.
***
BRRRRIINNGGGGGG......
Finally.
Apple Bloom slipped her textbooks into her saddlebags, grateful that class was finally over. After an hour-long lecture on Griffon Wars, she was actually questioning whether or not she should follow Scootaloo's example and drop out.
Miss Inkblot stood at the front of the class, erasing the chalky blackboard. Suddenly, she turned around, staring straight at Apple Bloom. Not noticing this, Bloom continued to gather her supplies.
Moving silently towards Apple Bloom, Inkblot continued to glare menacingly towards her. In one swift movement, she had snuck up behind the filly, boring her eyes into Apple Bloom's skull. Without warning, a steely growl escaped from her mouth.
"You there, where do you think you're going?"
Apple Bloom walked on at first, oblivious to her teacher's sharp query. Grumbling, Inkblot rose her voice from a harsh mutterment to a fierce interrogation.
"You! With the red mane(3)! Get over here, now!"
Startled, Apple Bloom whirled around, coming face-to-face with her sour-looking teacher.
"H- Hi, Miz Inkblot..."
"Don't 'Hi' me, pon- I mean, filly." snarled the furious mare. "Just what exactly do you think you're doing?"
"A-Ah'm jus' goin' on ta my next class, ma'am..."
"Exactly." spat Inkblot. "Didn't I tell you that I wanted you to stay after to clean erasers?!"
"What? I-I don't think so-"
"It doesn't matter what you think, filly! Now, shut up and quit interrupting!"
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
"Now, for disrespecting me and deliberately disobeying a direct order by a teacher-"
"But-"
"Silence!!!"
Apple Bloom was silenced.
"As I was saying," growled the mare, "For insolence towards a teacher and ignoring a direct order, you are going to have after school detention for a week."
Apple Bloom gasped in bewilderment. "B-but, Miz Inkblot! I've never had a detention before!"
"You are going to have Detention and that is final! Now you had better keep your mouth shut, or I'll change that week of Detention to a MONTH!!!"
Apple cowered back, fearful that Inkblot would keep her promise of a month's detention. What will Applejack say...
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
But as Apple Bloom turned to walk out, Inkblot called after her yet again, in a voice that meant she was not bringing good tidings.
"Oh yes, and red-maned filly?" Inkblot called snidely, "One more thing."
"What?"
"Didn't I say that I wanted you to clean erasers?"
***
"I can't believe you, Apple Bloom! A whole week's detention?! What in the wide realm of Equestria has gotten into you?!?!"
Apple Bloom stood guiltily in front of Applejack, who was mad as a hornet. At first, when Bloom had come home over two hours late from cleaning erasers, Applejack had been very worried and was practically smothering Apple Bloom, she was so upset. But now, after Bloom had told her everything that had gone on that day with Ms. Inkblot, Applejack had gone from worried to outraged.
"But Applejack, I already told you-"
"Young filly, I have known Miss Inkblot ever since she came to Ponyville to teach three years ago, and I know fer a fact that she is a good and reasonable mare, if a little strict. And I find it VERY hard to believe that she would do something as underhanded and indecent as trick a student into earnin' thimselves a week's detention!"
Apple Bloom looked shocked. "A-are you sayin' you think I'm lyin', AJ?"
"You know what our family's standards on honesty are, Apple Bloom." said Applejack, her eyes blazing.
Apple Bloom was near tears. She had thought when she told Applejack about her teacher troubles, her sister would be up at the school telling off Inkblot. But no; Applejack was here, chewing out her younger sister for "lying".
"Applejack," choked Bloom, her eyes glittering, " Why don't you believe me?"
"Like I said, Miss Inkblot is a very fair and just pony, if she weren't, then Twilight wouldn'ta hired her. So when I hear that you did something to deserve a week of detention, I'm inclined to believe her."
"But-but..."
"No 'buts' missy. Now up to yer room ta' while I think of a suitable punishment. March!"
Apple Bloom shuffled upstairs, quietly wiping a tear off her cheek. It's not fair! It's jus' not fair! she thought. AJ's never accused me of lyin' before... It's jus' not fair!
When she finally reached her room, she collapsed on her bed, burying her face into her pillows to cry. Absolutely nothing is going raht fer me!
Knock-knock-knock.
"(sniff) Go 'way." was Bloom's muffled reply.
The door opened. In came Granny Smith, a concerned look on her face.
"You've met a terrible fate, haven't you?"(4)
"Granny, leave me alone. (sniff) I don't wanna talk right now. (sniff-sniff)"
Granny walked soundlessly to Apple Bloom's bed and sat down.
There was a long pause, then Granny replied, "U mad bro?"(4)
"Mad?" said Apple Bloom, her voice dangerously low. "I just got a week's detention fer something I didn't even do, not to mention I had to clean erasers fer THREE HOURS after school, and to top it all off, Applejack gets me in trouble when I thought she'd be on my side! MAD isn't even the half of it!"
Apple Bloom continued to rant on and on for nearly ten minutes, with Granny listening intently to her every word. When Apple Bloom stopped for a breath of air, Granny took the moment to pat her hoof reassuringly on Bloom's back. Looking into Apple Bloom's tear-blurred eyes, Granny said, "Keep calm and carry on."
" *Sigh* I guess you're right Granny. I've already done all I can and feeling sorry fer myself ain't gonna change nothing about it. Miz Inkblot maht be the biggest jerk in Equestria, but I guess that I'm gonna have to jus' deal with it." Apple Bloom looked up and smiled for the first time in hours. Brushing away her tears, she said, "Thanks, Granny. You always know just what to say."
***
(1)- The only cereal that will literally rot your insides!
(2)- The last time Dash had told Scootaloo about having a new job for the day was when the pegasai handling the hail storms got the blue flu, and with Rainbow Dash being captain of the weather team, she had to take over. Needless to say, it was not a fun experience.
(3)- Ms. Inkblot didn't bother to learn her student's names. She just called them what she saw.
(4)- Yet another Granny meme 
Be prepared for more in oncoming chapters!