//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Stronger // by Night Princess //------------------------------// "What a day," Scootaloo thought as trudged towards the guest bedroom Princess Celestia had given her. She had no idea how many people would pretend to be her parents just to make a few bits. The princess and her had interviewed over thirty couples who had all claimed to be her parents, and not one had DNA that matched her's.  "We might as well give up now," Scoot sighed, opening the door to her bedroom. Inside was a glamorous room fit for, well, a princess. The four-poster bed was plated with gold, and the sheets were silk. A beautiful mural was painted on the ceiling, showing the defeat of Nightmare Moon, Discord and a creepy-looking black alicorn Scoot didn't recognize. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and their other friends were shown, triumphantly standing over their foes. "If only Diamond Tiara could see me now," the filly whispered. "She would take back anything nasty she ever said to me." Scootaloo flopped into the bed,, which was softer and warmer than anything she ever felt. She fell asleep instantly, dreaming of her parents and what would happen if she found them. ### Scootaloo woke up to find the princess shaking her arm, trying to get her out of bed. "Wake up, dear!" Celestia was saying.  "I'm up, I'm up," Scootaloo yawned.  "I think we've done it! We found them!" The filly almost fell out of the bed. "What?" "We found your parents! The DNA matches, and they look almost exactly like you. Come quick!" The filly followed the princess into the parlor as fast as she could, not knowing how to feel. Excited? Scared? She was about to meet her parents for the first time, how would a normal pony react? Sitting on a sofa were a mare and a stallion. The mare was a pale pink earth pony with purple, wavy hair. Her eyes looked like Scootaloo's exactly. The stallion was an orange Pegasus with red, spiky main. Both of them had bright green eyes. "Scootaloo, this is Lightning Flash and Daisy Doo. The DNA results came in moments ago, and it's confirmed that they are your biological parents." Celestia gestured to the couple.  The mare ran up to Scootaloo and wrapped her arms around her. "My little baby! I've found you!" Scootaloo didn't know what to think. She hugged her mother back, wondering why she didn't feel as happy as she expected. She found what she was looking for, didn't she? Her search was over. Her life was complete. Was it? The stallion ruffled his daughter's mane and smiled at her. "Glad to see you, princess. Ready to go home?" Home? She hadn't thought about where they would go once she found her parents. "Where?" "In Fillydalphia. We've become mug richer since we...lost you." The stallion's eyes went to the floor. "W-what happened? How did you lose me?" "We'll tell you during the ride home. For now, I just want to hug you one more time." After an awkward hug, Princess Celestia came up to them. "Congratulations, Scootaloo," she said. "I'm so glad I helped you find your family." Scootaloo opened her mouth to speak, but her mother was pulling her out the door where a chariot was parked. "Let's go, dear, we don't want to be late!" "Wait," Scoot said, pushing away. She ran to the princess and embraced her. "I'm going to miss you." "As will I, child. I'm sorry our visit was cut so short. Will you write to me?" Scootaloo nodded. Her parents pulled her out the door and helped her in the chariot. In moments, they were flying above the clouds, heading towards Fillydalphia, where a new life waited for her. It all seemed so rushed. Just when she was beginning to accept ponys' charity, she whisked away by her parents. If only she had a little bit more time with the Princess. The way that she was willing to do anything to help her find her parents was just... Amazing. It was like Princess Celestia wanted to act like a mother to Scootaloo. And Cheerilee! She would probably never see her again. Lots of ponies came to mind as well; Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, her best friends. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and everypony else who had offered help when she most needed it.  How could Scootaloo just ignore all the help being offered to her? These ponies were worried about her, and what had she done? She had decided she was an island. And now she would never see those ponies again. She looked up, her eyes shining with tears. Her mother and father were talking to each other in low voices, but glanced at Scootaloo once in a while and smiled. Bored and a bit heartbroken, the filly looked over the edge of the chariot and gazed at the buildings coming into view. She could see Sugar Cube Corner, Rarity's Boutique, the schoolhouse...  Wait. Those buildings weren't in Fillydalphia. They were in Ponyville. But why were they heading there?  The chariot landed in a strange place, the middle of the Everfree Forest. Strange. Very strange. The family jumped out of the chariot, which raced off as soon as they were out. They were in the middle of the forest, standing very still in the dark. "Um, mom? Why are we here?" "Hush, child," the mother said sternly.  Suddenly, two figures emerged from the shadows, one larger than the other. When they came closer, Scootaloo saw that they were a stallion and a filly. The stallion had a brown coat and mane, which was styled professionally. The filly shocked Scootaloo the most, as she was pink with a magenta and white mane. A tiara was perched in her hair. "Diamond Tiara?" The spoiled earth pony shot Scootaloo a glare that said "Shut up." "You said we would receive payment for this?" Scoot's dad asked impatiently. Filthy Rich, Diamond Tiara's father, pulled out several bits and handed them to her parents, who admired them greedily. "Thank you. Now, where are those five thousand bits?" Filthy smiled deviously. Scootaloo's mother handed him the money Celestia had awarded them.  "Your work is done. You may leave." Filthy Rich stuffed the money into his coat pocket.  Then Scootaloo's parents did something that haunted her for years to come: they transformed into black monsters, with insect wings, jagged horns, and glistening fangs. They reminded her of the black alicorn painted on her bedroom ceiling in the Canterlot Palace.  The creatures flew off, buzzing like bees. Scootaloo was a puzzled mess. It seemed like Diamond Tiara's father had paid these creatures to pose as her parents for the money. Just five hundred bits to break a filly's heart. "What about me? What are you going  to do with me now that I'm homeless again?" Filthy Rich was a greedy pony, and had a heart only for money. A homeless filly was worth nothing in his mind, so leaving one alone was no problem. He beckoned to his daughter and lead her back into the shadows, after Diamond Tiara managed to stick her tongue out one last time to Scootaloo. She could hear them getting into a chariot and flying away, back to their home in Ponyville. It was dark. And so cold. Scootaloo had no food, no water, and certainly nopony to help her. "It's okay," she told herself. "Somepony is bound to come sooner or later." She waited. And waited. The sun went down and it became even darker. Drops of rain fell from the sky and splashed onto her face. She had been waiting for hours, and she hadn't eaten since the night before. And with wild creatures roaming the forest, it was evident that she wouldn't last very long. Tears began streaming down her face. "Now I truly am alone," she said softly. Exhausted, soaked, and starving, Scootaloo fell into a troubled sleep.