The rain pounded furiously against the exterior walls of Ponyville's buildings. It's presence sending the citizens scurrying away into their homes for shelter. The pony's who dared to venture from their shelters had to brave the cutting chill of the icy water. And there sat Scootaloo, watching with all to much interest in the droplets of water that clung to the foggy window of the cupcake shop. Despite her friends two friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle talking loudly next to her. Scootaloo's thoughts were someplace else.
Scootaloo's attention snapped on Pinkie Pie as she brought out a pan of fresh cupcakes for the stranded patrons to enjoy till the storm blew over. She didn't eat any, her stomach was tight from all the cider she had only moments earlier, but they looked quite nice for a last minute gift. Though the mood and the pony's were nice, Scootaloo couldn't wait to get away from the shop. It was not that she found the place dull or even boring, just that the mass of collected mass of heated breaths had made the air bone-dry and... Suffocating, she almost wished she was outside in the sleet and rain. Instead Scootaloo nestled herself in a thick woolen jacket that Rainbow Dash had given her, but now it seemed to be uncomfortable in the shop's collective heat. Lazily she moved her ever sagging eyes towards the window again, the condensation started to pool around the frame of the glass.
The dry air had settled and her friends conversation had droned on to a point where it had merged with the other background noises. Scootaloo could feel herself drifting off into welcomed sleep. But as she was about to rest her eyes something shifted just outside our line of sight. She tried to peer out into the darkness but whatever it was, it was gone. Hopefully it wasn't a pony, if it was, he or she wasn't very smart to be out in a storm. Ridding it off as a trick of her mind she laid her face on her hoofs and silently went to sleep.
Moments later the door firmly opened and a cloaked pony strolled in. Despite the pony being completely drenched in freezing water, they calmly walked in like the storm was just a slight drizzle. Though she was half asleep, Scootaloo raised a ear to the sudden silence, she peeked her head and saw the cloaked pony calmly walk to a booth in the far back row. In the next instant the crowed had forgotten about the stranger and went back to their conversations. But Scootaloo kept starring, their large hood obstructed whatever features they had. The weathered cloak was adorned with an eagle with two heads, she had never seen anything like it before. After awhile Pinkie Pie walked over and offered the stranger one the last cupcakes she had made. They pulled down their hood revealing a tan-coated earth stallion with an ash-black beard and a long mane pulled back into a knot. His face looked rugged, but somehow his smile was very genuine. He accepted the cupcake with gratitude and it quickly disappeared into his beard.
The stallion let out a hardy laugh and sat back in a relaxed manor, he thanked her and closed his eyes. For some reason Scootaloo couldn't keep her eyes off him. For some reason he stuck out from the other visitors in Ponyville. Once Scootaloo thought he had fallen asleep,she studied the symbol on his cloak further. But before she could get a good look the stallion shot a pair of almond towards her way. She jumped back and frantically looked back towards the glossy window like she was starring intently at it the whole time. The stallion smirked and closed his eyes, though he wasn't at all sleepy, just curious on why the filly had been starring at him for the past ten minutes.
. . .
The next day brought a warm glow over the nearly drowned Ponyville, with it the smell of mud. The town was flooded again, this time by ponies trying to get winter supplies in haste. Scootaloo helped Applebloom and Sweetie Belle with painting a sign for Pinkie's new,'' Ghost Pepper Cupcakes '' she had kindly refused to eat the first samples. As she worked she remembered to keep an eye out for that strange stallion that shot her that glance the night before. Hours soon passed by and she doubted that she would see him again, but she had to ask herself why was he so different from everypony else ? The way he smiled ? Or maybe just strange he looked.
As they started to pack up Scootaloo caught a glimpse of the stallion at Applejack's apple stand. After a little exchange he happily walked away with the entire stock of apples loosely strapped over his back. This was her chance to ask him who he was. but jumping out and interrogating somepony isn't the most nicest thing to do. Before she could decide he walked past and said a quick '' hello '' and was off again, disappearing back into the crowed. Scootaloo gnashed her teeth in anger, how could she be so stupid ? She'll have to tract him down tomorrow.
. . .
Scootaloo's mind was on different things that morning, mostly on the stranger . She hadn't seen him a couple pf days, perhaps he left, off to another town ? She had imagined why he had stopped into town, and why he had shot her that glance. Maybe he was some long-lost hero ? A rouge king from another land ? Or maybe a sly thief come to steal the town's wealth ? But most likely just another wanderer... The latter seemed to be the truth. But her mind suddenly snapped back to her friends as a rubber ball connected to her face and bounced away.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle set off a duet of laughter, and this only made Scootaloo's blood boil. She picked herself up off the ground and threw the ball as far as she could. Only after it vanished in the bushes did she realize her mistake. Her friends gave her a surprised look and Scootaloo apologized and trotted towards the bushes. It had landed further then she thought, it actually went passed the bush entirely. Scootaloo sighed and slowly made her way through the bundle of sharp leaves. She was almost out when she felt a quick, but very sharp pain in her left hoof and she collapsed onto the soft grass. Scootaloo quickly examined her hoof and saw a giant thorn sticking out her hoof . Feeling even more embarrassment she bit her lip and pulled the thorn from her flesh with her teeth. It rolled around on her tongue and she quickly spat it out before it could stab her again.
Scootaloo raised her head and froze, standing merely five yards way was that stallion. He didn't notice her, he was too engrossed with bouncing the ball on the ground. Scootaloo tried not to disturb him, she would just go back and them that the ball was gone for good. She put a hoof back in the bush and felt another pinching stab. stopping for a moment she managed to wrangle herself free, but it was too late, the stallion was staring at her, still bouncing the ball.
'' The inquisitive one aren't you ? '' He asked smiling with the ball in his hoof. Scootaloo's heart stopped and for a brief moment she felt faint.
'' Don't worry you can have this back '' the stallion continued as he rolled the ball over to where Scootaloo sat. She greedily grabbed the ball and tucked it under her. She continued trying to move back into the bush, but she was met with over a dozen small thorns. The stallion tilted his head like a dog and trotted over towards her. '' You look like your in some need of help, may I be of assistance ? '' he asked.
Scootaloo breathlessly nodded and the stallion pulled her up with one firm hoof. She could she that his mane grayed at the temples and his eyes seemed tired, but alert. The stallion took a moment to size her up and her drew back towards his camp. After a few moments of awkward silence Scootaloo was about to leave when he returned with two wooden swords.'' Stay a bit, my names Duncan '' he smiled innocently and threw over a wooden sword towards Scootaloo. She caught it with her teeth and gently stuck it in the the grass.
'' I-i'm sorry but I really need to get back before--''
'' So I suppose you don't like challenges ? You've hunted me for the past week. Here's your chance to find out who I am. '' Duncan said, trying to peak her interest. Scootaloo was about to pick up the sword, but then she remembered her friends. If she wasn't back pretty soon, they would likely call out a search party for her. Instead Scootaloo lowered her head and continued into brush, but this wouldn't be the last time she would meet him.
Scootaloo emerged from the bush covered in small stab wounds and dirt. Her friends asked questions on why she took so long but Scootaloo just simply said that the ball got caught in a tree. They shrugged and politely asked for the ball, but when Scootaloo handed it to them it was flat as a road. She examined it and saw that a giant thorn had stabbed in it's thin surface. She rubbed the back of her head and laughed nervelessly. Applebloom let out a sigh but quickly recovered saying it was alright. The trio decided to go back to town and as they made their way Scootaloo looked back towards the brush, she would return.
. . .
Later that day as the sun had started to set, the last remaining golden rays cascaded over Ponyville. It wasn't wise to be out in the cold at dusk, but that didn't matter, Scootaloo was set on finding out who this stranger was. She made her way under the brush, this time carefully avoiding the thorns and was on the other side unscathed. In the distance was a small campfire, and around it sat Duncan. Scootaloo made her way towards him, with her heart pumping in her chest. As she drew near a foul stench gripped her, her eyes started to water and she pressed her snout into her hoof. From the fire's light she could see Duncan munching on a few onions, charming.
The stallion looked up from his mass of onions and smiled as Scootaloo trotted towards him. He got up and swallowed the crushed up vegetable bits that had lingered in his teeth and nodded towards the filly. Confused by his greeting she stopped in place, the tall stallion stood, looking even more intimidating in the shadows. Scootaloo contemplated going back, her thoughts were cut short when she realized a projectile was heading towards her face. She dodged and let it stab into ground, upon further exception it was a wooden sword. Suddenly Duncan shifted and shot towards Scootaloo, but she dodged again having nearly been trampled.
'' You have returned ! And you can dodge, but can you fight ? '' He asked in a taunting manor. Scootaloo looked in shock as Duncan lashed out again, she was too slow and the wooden sword connected with her hoof. A bruise immediately formed and Scootaloo drew back, the strike hit harder than she realized. While she assessed her wound the wooden sword sliced at her cheek, Scootaloo gripped her face and lost her balance, falling to the ground.
Duncan lunged again but Scootaloo managed to roll away before she could step on her. She struggled regaining her balance, sparring was one thing but this was an all out assault. Scootaloo looked up at Duncan expecting to see a face of anger, but instead he smiled determinedly, was he playing a game with her ? Scootaloo was gripped with fear but after a few heart pounding she lunged at him with every ounce of strength she could muster. Despite her efforts Duncan smoothly stepped aside and let Scootaloo charge right past him. She wasn't done yet, Scootaloo rebounded and managed to land a strike on Duncan's forehead.
The two stood there, speechless and paralyzed in awkward positions, with Scootaloo's sword firmly glued to Duncan's head. He drew back and fell to the ground in an overly dramatic manor. Scootaloo stood stupefied at what she had just done, she did she just knock him out ? After a few seconds of confusing silence Duncan started to laugh like a mad Jekyll, he gripped his sides and rolled around in breathless exhaust . After he was done he stood up again and wiped away a tear from his eye. Scootaloo had realized something, perhaps this stallion was completely insane. Despite a long red slash mark on his forehead Duncan still smiled like it was a complement. He bent a knee and came to eye level with Scootaloo and said,
'' So you can defend yourself, well to a point. You have potential sure, but you wouldn't last a second against a Darkspawn '' He said as he combed a hoof through his mane. Scootaloo was utterly mystified, she had never heard of Darkspawn before, but she intrigued by this stranger's words.
'' You told me your name, but who are you ? And what is a Darkspawn ? '' She asked. Duncan's smile waned a bit and his tone seemed sad, like he was remembering something.
'' Well I can't share all my knowledge, but i'll tell you what. Come here every morning for the next week and spar with me. And maybe i'll tell you story or two. '' he said while he handed an onion over to her. Scootaloo reluctantly agreed and shook hooves with the stallion, her whole body shaking as she did so. Scootaloo thought hard on why this stranger was interested in her. She had a thousand questions with not the hint of an answer.