//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: While the cat's away 
// Story: Scootaloo's Big Daddy 
// by DarthVendar 
//------------------------------//




"Poor things… what a life. Marchin’ around playin’ Daddy until some Splicer manages to kill off their Sister… and then if the coma doesn’t take ‘em they turn maniac... nothin’ left to do but scream."
―Augustus Sinclair




Twilight silently laid on her bed still shaken from her encounter with the strange mare. She had been in her room for hours unable to go to sleep even as morning approached, her thoughts would not let her settle down. Nothing about the two ponies laying unconscious in the infirmary, only a few floors below, made any sense. They were the strangest ponies she had ever seen- no even heard of. They shared enough traits that Twilight could deduce they came from the place, both of them were abnormally tall, even for horses, their eyes glowed yellow and empty, they healed at an extraordinary rate, and they possessed powers only unicorns had. However, and to Twilight's dismay, that was where the similarities stopped. The Stallion, that Scootaloo believed was her wish fulfilled dad, was incredibly strong, tough, and violent, he was more an animal than a pony, yet he protected and served Scootaloo loyally and now with his wounds completely healed was in a coma. The Mare was fast, thin, agile, and as Twilight had discovered capable of far more complex thought, yet she attacked Scootaloo and her protector seemingly unprovoked. It was all backwards! Twilight in frustration buried her face in one of her pillows.
Maybe it was just how these ponies were... or far more terrifyingly what they were made... She didn't want to accept it, she didn't even want to acknowledge it, but the idea that Ponies would be so cruel to turn other ponies into monsters with science and magic crawled back to the front of her mind yet again. It made her sick to her stomach. Twilight tossed the pillow aside getting out of bed yet again to pace about her room. Twilight picked up her notes to reread Scootaloo's statement, which she got while from the poor filly while her "big daddy" was being examined, again and contemplated sending a fifth letter to Celestia. She eventually decided against it, after all a double check of her double check of her double check was plenty, Celestia was probably just not awake at 3:47 in the morning. Unable to shake an uneasy feeling Twilight continued to read hoping that somewhere in Scootaloo's story were all the pieces to make sense of the puzzle before her, or at least something that could give her more clues.
Suddenly it popped out at her. It was so obvious she nearly smacked herself in the head with her notebook. The metal box that had arrived at the same time as the mare was still out in the middle of the Everfree. How did she miss it? Maybe it would provide all the clues Twilight needed to solve this whole mess. The purple Alicorn quickly trotted out of her room only too collapse completely exhausted just beyond the doorway in front of a couple of guards that were keeping watch. Twilight mentally face hoofed she managed to take only a single step before falling face first into the ground in front of her personal guards. she couldn't imagine anything more embarrassing besides going back to magic kindergarten. 
"Your highness... are you alright?" Asked a very familiar voice.
'NO! Anypony but him!' Twilight thought to herself, and slowly opened her eyes to look at the light orange pegasus stallion "Flash Sentry?"
his expression rapidly changed from confusion and worry to shock and excitement. "You know my name?!"
Twilight mentally double facehoofed and facedwinged. 'right we haven't met yet... i gotta think of something fast!' For a few awkward silent seconds Twilight blushed bright red while both Flash Sentry and a green unicorn guard on the left side of her couldn't help but notice the struggle. "I recognized you from your transfer file!" Twilight finally announced a bit too loud.
"Oh. I see." Flash smiled taking that answer as satisfactory. Twilight gave a sigh of accomplishment as she finally pulled herself off the floor. She pulled it off leaving Flash Sentry none the wiser and with no consequences.
"Oooooo! Me next! You know my name right?" said the green unicorn guard on her left shattering whatever delusions Twilight had of calling any part of this interaction a success.
Twilight wisely decided to stop digging any metaphorical holes and was honest with the guard. "I'm sorry, but i don't know who you are..."
The expression of devastation that the guard held made Twilight feel like she just kicked a small puppy. "It's Green Horn your majesty.... Green Horn."
Twilight decided that the only thing left to do was to abandon the conversation. tired or not there was a mysterious metal box she needed to get. "Well it was nice to meet you Green Horn, and Flash Sentry, but i have to get going."  
Suddenly green Horn moved himself in front of her and where once was a crushed look of disappointment now a sly grin had taken it's place. "Princess would this task of yours be hugely important that you alone must go? Because you look like you haven't slept in days, and me and flash can go do it if you want."
Twilight had to take a moment to consider his rather odd offer for a moment. it wasn't like she needed to be the one to get the box, and her bed which was only moments ago shunning her from sleep did seem to be inviting her back. "Alright... If you follow the Big pony's tracks they should lead to a boggy area where a strange metal box landed a few hours ago. I need that box here by morning and if there is anything else nearby like it i need that too... okay?"
Green Horn saluted "You got it your highness." and quickly galloped off dragging Flash Sentry with him. 
Twilight glad that the ordeal was over with, went back to her bed for some well needed sleep.





Scootaloo was curled up on Alpha's chest glaring at the unconscious mare restrained in the bed beside them. That creepy thin mare had done this to her dad, she knew it. She also knew that many of the doctors twilight had dragged in from their beds though he would never wake up. She was going to make her pay if that mare woke up and her dad didn't she silently swore it! 'Nothing will stop me from getting my revenge.'
Suddenly Pinkie troted in with two small cakes balancing on her back and a big smile on her face. "Suprise!"
Scootaloo couldn't believe what she was looking at. "Pinkie.... What are you doing?"
Pinkie paused for a second confused as if it wasn't obvious what she was doing. "I'm throwing their welcome to ponyville party." Pinkie Then placed a cake at each of their head tables. "Chocolate for him, and vanilla for her."
Scootaloo took a moment to get over her shock. "Pinkie... why of all times do you think that right now is a good time to throw a party for a mare that put my dad in a coma and is practically in a coma, and my dad who is in fact in a coma!? Also why did you bring her cake?!" Scootaloo shouted in frustration.
Pinkie just smiled wider "So that they have another reason to wake up, and so that when they do wake up they can have cake. Now as for her..." Pinkie looked at the unconscious mare. "Not all mean ponies are evil. sometimes they're just mean because they are scarred and alone. If that's the case with her then when she wakes up, she doesn't have to be mean anymore."
Scootaloo rolled her eyes still plotting revenge finally deciding to stop trying to reason with Pinkie. She looked down at her protector and wished he would wake up and enjoy his own cake. she tried her best to fight the inevitable to stay strong and be brave but it wasn't enough to stop the tears that started streaming down her face. She had only a couple of days ago got a dad, and now he was being taken away from her for no good reason. She felt so helpless, out of all the things she had done, all the adventures she had with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all she could do was cry. Suddenly a very comforting and soft pink hoof wrapped around her to give a gentle hug as Pinkie sat down beside her. The usually talkative and over excited party pony didn't say a word and just tried to be as comforting as possible. Scootaloo didn't know if she appreciated it or hated it. After what felt like forever Scootaloo finally managed to calm down enough to stop crying. "Pinkie? Do you think he'll wake up?" She asked dreading what the pink mare's response might be.
Pinkie gave a big smile, and responded. "Of course silly. Nopony ever dies in My Little Pony."





Meanwhile in the frozen north

Three diamond dogs brothers trudged across the frozen tundra loaded with gems they had secretly mined from beneath the Crystal Empire. Pup struggled with his bag as his older brothers Dogwood and Boss continued their steady march without any struggle. Even though he was only a pup, in both name and age, he was expected to carry just as much as his brothers. He didn't find that very fair, but they had voted on the issue sometime ago and it had passed 2 to 1 for equal hauls. He didn't find the voting really fair either.
They were nearly halfway home when Pup could no longer hold his sack of gems his paws burning in pain. Dogwood casually faced him still walking towards home. "Come on Pup. Pick up your bag and start moving. Or do you want to be left behind again?" Pup glared at his older brother remembering how last time they left him during a blizzard. He had come with a beard of icicles and so cold he had to thaw out for a week. Pup quickly rubbed his aching paws in snow to numb the pain and ran after his brothers, his sack dragging behind him. Just as he was about to catch up to his brothers the ground shook beneath their feet. It lasted only a moment but it was long enough to send pup face first into the snow, and his brothers on edge.
Dogwood and Boss sniffed the air their ears twitching, while pup tried to get snow out of his nose and ears. "Boss, could that have been an earthquake?" Dogwood asked tentatively. Boss scanned the horizon his eyes cold and serious. "There has never been an earthquake here in all of our family history. Dogwood stay on guard, something doesn't smell right." Boss answered the hackles of his neck standing on edge. His nose finally free of snow pup sniffed the air, and immediately understood what boss meant. The air was unnatural it was as if the air was uneasy yet unable to go anywhere like there was a thunderstorm overhead that crystal clear morning. Boss suddenly faced Pup a grim look on his muzzle. "Pup Leave the gems we need to go now!" Dogwood stared at Boss as if he had just watched his brother turn into a strawberry. 
"Leave the Gems?! Boss have you gone crazy?!" Boss silenced any further questions with a glare so fierce the air itself seemed to turn to ice, leaving Dogwood's only response as a nervous gulp.
The three of them ran across the barren valley of snow as fast as Pup could run. Not even on the final stretch did Pup's feeling of dread lift until without warning a pair of massive purple crystals shot up through the ground directly in their path. Boss managed to roll ahead of them in time, but Dogwood was caught between them as lightning arched across. Pup skidded to a halt just in time to watch his brother be electrocuted. Dogwood seemed to struggle between those crystals for an eternity, though in reality it was only a few seconds, before he finally collapsed his unblinking eyes starring directly at Pup.
Just as suddenly as the first two had sprung up six more rose from the snow, surrounding Boss in a cage of lightning. Pup could only watch as at the center of the cage darkness itself seemed to come together shaping into the form of a pony. Boss didn't need an introduction to the murderer of his brother, and charged the living shadow that was still coalescing itself. only mere inches were between boss's fist and the creature when the final and only blow came. a sharp crystal shot from the ground and impaled Boss as one would an interesting insect. Pup watched the blood drip down the crystal, the Dark gray stallion finally materialize his curved red horn, as the stallion gloated to his dying brother, before he did the only thing he could.

He ran...





Meanwhile in Dodge Junction

Diablo loved the moments before he played the part he was born to play. He was a terrifying beast, his black coat and mane only contrasted by the scars across his body and his white face. Appearance meant a lot to him it was why he always wore a black duster and stetson where ever he went, it was why he glared at every pony he saw and imagined all the things he could do with them. Unfortunately his Brother Lucifer had no such feelings about appearance and reputation. 'That thin tan stallion with dark blonde hair could blend into a crowd of zebras, no pony ever recognized him, nopony ever shook with fear because of Lucifer. No one cares about a stallion wearing a brown duster. EVERYPONY WORE A BROWN DUSTER!' But they were brothers and Lucifer was good at what he did, he was a planner, Which was exactly what Diablo needed this morning.
Lucifer opened up a pocket watch in his hoof before announcing the greatest two words in the history of words. "It's time." 
Diablo put out his seventh cigarette since they started waiting outside the Bank of Equestria. "It's about damn time." together they walked up the steps as if it had been rehearsed. "You sure these contraptions will work?"
Lucifer gave a harsh look back insulted that He would suggest anything he made would not work. "I'm certain." he spoke through gritted teeth.
Diablo chuckled, nothing else needed to be said. Today was going to be good. As they reached the main doors of the bank Lucifer stayed behind while Diablo went in alone. slowly and calmly he walked up to one of the two bank tellers, both were pretty mares that looked like they weren't paid enough to run the first shift of the day. from the pockets of his duster he pulled out a denim bag and laid it out in front of her. Show time. "I want every bit you have in the bag. now." 
The mare went into shock and confusion, she even looked around the bank at the four royal guards who were stationed nearby and all of them heard what he said. With a smile she pushed the bag towards him. "No sir. I don't believe i will." The four guards moved in to apprehend him as if he was a joker. A vein in Diablo's forehead nearly burst in frustration. He lifted up his right hoof and pulled back the sleeve of his duster revealing the hand cannon and pump shotgun strapped to the side of his hoof. The first to die where the guards on his right they couldn't fathom what was going on when the hand cannon rounds punched through their armor, their chest, and proceeded to leave a spray of blood on the wall behind them. The guards on his left were dispatched with a shotgun round while they were still in shock from seeing their friends die in mere seconds. they weren't as fun with just little bloody holes appearing all over there bodies. it was the bank teller that was something else entirely it all seemed to move in slow motion. he swung his body around fired off the hand cannon and watched the bullet fly right for her forehead. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life as what had once been a pretty mare's face suddenly was ripped apart and flung all across the room. skull, teeth eyeball, and brain it all went everywhere It was glorious, and then it was over and her body was slumped against the floor with an eyeball hanging onto her head by a thread. Diablo turned to the poor remaining bank teller covered in her coworkers blood and gave her the bag. Diablo smiled. "Now you give me every bit you can fit into this bag." she of course did as she was told. and when she gave the full bag back to him he simply turned around and walked away. Diablo had entered the bank simply a pony, now he exited the master of life and death. 
Outside Lucifer stood near the door frost escaping his every breath. "You got the bits?"
Diablo handed him the bag and admired his brother's handy work. "looks like you had fun" a museum of frozen statues were running up the stairs of the bank Diablo counted ten before he got bored.
Lucifer looked at the bloody money bag. "it seems so did you. now lets get out of here we now have enough for our plans."
Diablo nodded to his brother and lifting up his left hoof watched as a ball of fire formed. with a short toss he lit the bank aflame before joined his brother in leaving town. Not that it really mattered.
Nopony could stop them.

Meanwhile in The Everfree

Flash Sentry grunted as he pushed the "Circus of Value", which had well stated it's name for the hundredth time already, while Green Horn pulled it onto a cart Green Horn... "Borrowed." 
"I'm telling you man, this... this is the beginning!" Green Horn announced proudly.  
Flash Sentry rolled his eyes wondering what scheme Green Horn could be coming up with. "The beginning of what exactly?"
A look of excitement Flash didn't like filled Green Horn's eyes. "The beginning... of you... and the princess..." for dramatic effect Green Horn lifted his hooves from the very heavy box and tapped them together making a smooching sound while simultaneously crushing Sentry. Green horn realized his mistake quickly, fortunately, and continued pulling the vending machine up the cart. "I mean I know you like her. like a lot."
Flash Sentry blushed. "Okay yeah true but, that doesn't explain your scheme at all!" he yelled frustrated that they were still struggling with a heavy machine and his love life, or rather lack of one, at the same time.
"But it does! Because I set you up do do tasks for the princess personally and now all you have to do is... well do them, and BOOM PROMOTION! CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: FLASH SENTRY!" Green Horn once again removed his hooves from the machine, this time to make an explosion motion with them. However, unlike last time Flash actually managed to dig deep and push the metal box the last little bit onto the cart.
Flash Glared at his friend panting heavily. "yeah, and?"
"Well isn't it obvious Princesses go for their captains of the guard." Green answered nonchalantly. Flash Sentry took a moment to process what he just heard.
"By Celestia I think you're right...." He announced dumb struck. "But... Do you really think she's into me?" He asked blushing.
"Dude totally! My best friend is going to be a prince by next year mark my words!" Green Horn announced to the world before hopping off the cart. "Well one step to prince hood done."
Flash Smiled for a moment day dreaming of prince hood for a moment before shaking his fantasies away. "Well I'm just glad there isn't anything else to bring back." As if on Que the sky ripped open for a moment letting four large barrel shaped objects to land nearby, before closing back to normal. For a moment Flash Sentry and Green Horn simply stared at the Barrels for a moment shocked at what they just saw. Suddenly they all opened with a hiss.


"MY AIM IS TRUE AS MY EYE IS THE PROPHET'S"






Scootaloo watched as suddenly Pinky's bouncy hair drooped straight and her eyes filled with fear. "Oh.... This is one of those stories..."