//------------------------------//
// Leader 
// Story: Scootaloo's Flight 
// by alai20 
//------------------------------//

	I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window. I didn’t know what time it was. I went to Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s room to see that Robbie was still asleep. I stood, leaning on the doorframe, and said,
“Robbie, what time is it?”
He woke up and immediately started blubbering about how late it was, I was supposed to be at Twilight’s library by now, I haven’t eaten, Stitch was going to be mad, and a lot of other things. I left his room and went to the kitchen to find Stitch had left a backpack full of food and toiletries. It had a note on the front, reading:
I’ll expect you to be at the library at 1:00. I have something to discuss with you.
-Stitch
Ok then. I looked through the backpack to find a watch. I put it on and saw that it was only 12:30. Robbie came down the stairs and told me to get a move on.
“Stitch left a not telling us we had to meet at one, what time did he tell you?”
“Oh. He told me we were supposed to meet at eleven.” Robbie said. 
“He must have rescheduled,”
I said. I wasn’t going to worry. Stitch needed me. I didn’t know what came over me suddenly, but I realized I could find a way out of this. I didn’t want to, but I had to.
I reported to Twilight’s library at 1:00, just like Stitch asked. He didn’t say anything, he just motioned to me and I followed him, not sure about what we were doing, but I made sure my head was high and my hoof steps were sure on the tile hallways. 
I was lead into the throne room, and Stitch sat in Twilight’s chair.
“So,” He said.
“I’ve decided that you are going to be my second-in-command.”
He really was crazy. What had I done that was remotely in his favor? When he had captured me, the only thing that I had done was struggle. I spent one night in a house with a weak Siren, and the only reason I hadn’t escaped is because I had no food before I slept, and I was too exhausted to try to make a run for it in the middle of the night. How is this even happening?
“Do you accept?”
I was speechless. 
“I will. On one condition,” I said. I knew what I had to do.
“I get to free my mother, and my friends. No questions asked. They each get guards, they all get fed three meals per day, nice houses to live in, and no more song torture. That’s the only agreement I’ll take. Another thing, I get control of half this whole operation. I want to help you get to the top.”
The lie stung as it came out of my mouth. I knew I needed to say it, or he wouldn’t trust me. I knew it wasn’t true, but I still felt horrible about it. Stitch considered the offer, and said, 
“You’re one determined pony. Fine. Just one thing- since you have half of this operation, I’m giving you the part of organizing the fillies, since they already know you. I’m going to give you profiles on all the Sirens I have on that shift, and you will pair the fillies with the appropriate Siren. Per say, if one filly is known to be very smart and knows how to get out of these situations, give them the scariest, most powerful Siren to keep them in check. You will also have the part of charting how many ponies we have at the beginning and the end of the day. I will take care of the rest. Now, let’s get you to work.”
This was awful. I don’t think I could do this. I kept as best of a straight face as I could and followed him back out of the throne room into another room I didn’t recognize. There were about a dozen of them, and all of them bowed to me as I walked in the room. 
“Oh Celestia, get up already. Don’t play goodie-goodie every time you meet somebody important. We have work to do which strictly requires no groveling. “ Stitch said. 
He inhaled like he was about to say something, but then he just held his breath, standing completely still. He stayed like that for about a minute when he blinked and continued his conversation like he hadn’t paused. He turned to me and said
“You know what to do, Ash Fall.”
“That isn’t my name.” I said.
“You’re funny. I’m not in the mood for it today. Get it over with so we can meet up with Neon Letter later.”
I had no idea who Neon Letter was. I didn’t even know if they were a mare or a stallion. It could be a diamond dog for all he cares. I ignored it and went to work with the fillies.
It was hard, knowing what I was sending these fillies off too. I put the weakest fillies with the nicest Sirens (as nice as Sirens could get) and put the strongest fillies with the other Sirens. I couldn’t even apologize to them, or try to comfort them, or anything. It took me hours. Each time I thought I was going to be finished, I got a new shipment of Sirens and fillies. I must have sent twenty of them away to torture. Finally, Stitch came back in and congratulated me on my work. He said that I had gotten much more done than he ever had when it was just him here. He told me to go home early today, and the last thing he said convinced me that I couldn’t act like I was loyal for any longer. He said,
“I’m so glad you sent them. It’s been a wonderful week for you! I can’t believe you’ve been working here for a whole month! Oh, how time flies…” 
He trailed off, staring just past my shoulder. I couldn’t believe the Sirens actually followed someone who was obviously delusional. I told him good night and left him standing there. I trotted back to Sugarcube Corner and saw that Robbie wasn’t there. I ignored the fact that he wasn’t there and went in the bathroom. I put both hooves on the edges of the sink and looked at my face in the mirror. I saw the fillies that I had sent away and turned away.
I’m going crazy. I can’t even see my own face in a stinking mirror. Wait…
The more I thought, the more something made sense to me. I knew what I had to do.
I rushed back downstairs back to Twilight’s palace. It was a blur as I ran down a hallway to the throne room. Stitch was still in there, and I ducked into a shadow when I saw who he was talking to. It was Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.