//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: A New Best Friend // Story: Keeping Secrets // by AkariSakamoto //------------------------------// Scootaloo retreated from her High School, not caring if the free period was almost over. She and Rumble were just friends, why did Diamond Tiara hurt her over friendship? Scootaloo always listened to her big sister's friend, Twilight Sparkle, she said friendship was magic, what if it was just pain? She stopped running when she got in to the forest and farther away from the school. The old clubhouse was here, she always went there when she had problems and pretended Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were there with her, and if she couldn't pretend hard enough, she'd just Skype them. She opened the door and stepped inside the clubhouse. It was empty, apart from the map on the wall and the mini couch Applejack helped them move in about three months ago. Then she remembered. Scootaloo went to the upper floor, which was littered with tattered fabric and paper. They never really used the upstairs, only for storage and possibly a huge garbage can. She went to the corner of the room and saw it. Her old scooter. After Applebloom got her a new one for her birthday, she had forgotten all about her first one. Surprisingly enough, it was in good shape. The handlebars where just a bit dusty, but she brushed it off with her hand. Carefully, she wheeled the scooter down and on to the ground outside of the clubhouse. She put a foot on it and began zooming around, the breeze blew through her hair and eyes, drying up all her tears. She loved the feeling of being on wheels, it was like the wind blew away all her troubles. She came across a steep hill. A bit reluctant at first, she let the scooter carry her down, feeling the wind blow in her hair. She closed her eyes and let all her troubles flow out in the wind behind her, but was taken by surprise when she felt her front scooter wheel bump in to something. She opened her eyes to see Lannie, trying to dodge the scooter as the wheel hit a large rock. The scooter began tipping forward, but Lannie grabbed her and pulled her off just in time. "Are you okay, Scootaloo?" She asked, looking at her with a worried stare in her eyes. "I'm fine, thanks Lannie." Scootaloo replied. "What are you doing here?" "Eve saw Diamond Tiara and the girls hurting you, so she came to get me, but when we got back, we only saw Rumble." Lannie responded. "What did she hurt you for anyway?" She asked. "Because I was hanging out with Rumble." Scootaloo responded, lifting her scooter back on it's wheels. Lannie sighed, patting her back. "I've been there. Hey, if you wanna forget about it, wanna skip school and go to the Museum? I really like it there." Lannie asked. "The Museum?" Scootaloo responded, confused. "Yeah! I always go there when I'm troubled. Truth is, I'm an Artist at heart, but nobody really had the same interest as me, so I started helping Eve in the Gym." Lannie told her. "Why do you hide your talent? I'm sure you'd be a great Artist." Scootaloo smiled. Lannie's eyes widened. "Really?" She asked. "Of course! To me, talents are like Cherry Pie. Once you bake it, you just can't wait to eat it. That meaning once you find it, you just can't wait to eat it. Even if it's not what I'm known for, I think my scooter is MY Cherry Pie." Scootaloo told her, brushing her scooter with the back of her hand. "But, wouldn't it be lame painting, since nobody else does it?" Lannie frowned. "No, it would be original." Scootaloo smiled. "Really? In that case, I'll start painting tomorrow!" Lannie said with the hugest grin on her face. "Great! I can't wait to see it!" Scootaloo said eagerly. All of her troubles were gone, she had a new friend.