//------------------------------//
// Architects and Night-terrors 
// Story: Kicked 
// by Teq 
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Scootaloo tapped her hoof on the desk absentmindedly. She looked around the room. It hadn’t changed a lot since she’d last been there, but most of the posters and notices had been swapped for more mature, more modern ones and the wall at the back had been extended slightly to fit more ponies in. It was a little off putting at first, but Scootaloo had gotten used to it. She only half listened to what was being said as she retreated inside herself, thinking. This was not the sort of place she wouldn’t have seen herself in a few months ago. Nor, indeed, could she believe she was here now.

Yes, despite everything that steered her away, Scootaloo had done the unthinkable. She had gone to school. She couldn’t quite believe it herself, but here she was in the classroom, with her classmates and with her teacher, with Sweetie Belle on one side and Apple Bloom on the other, just like old times. She surprised herself. The notes seemed to be making themselves, the knowledge was just sticking. In fact, she’d barely even exerted herself. After the amount of time she’d spent away, Scootaloo had expected to struggle at first, but here she was, filling in maybe her tenth sheet of notes with numbers and words and diagrams, colourful underlining and careful labelling and all. She’d never been this studious.

Even Cheerilee, the embodiment of all her sorrow, had proved to be little bother. They had both compromised with each other and both come to accept the things they’d done wrong in the past, and they’d moved on. Scootaloo may even have said she’d kind of liked her now. Scrawling onto the blackboard at the front of the class, she balanced with unmatched expertise on her hind legs, both simultaneously writing and explaining like a true tutor. Scootaloo hummed to herself as she worked, firing off another few sheets of notes before she could even comprehend what she was writing.

It was incredible; Scootaloo couldn’t even remember a time when she’d been this intent on learning. Actually, come to think of it, she couldn’t even remember coming into school that morning. Everything prior to the lesson beginning was just a black haze, as if it had never existed. The lesson had been passing incredibly quick as well. Scootaloo looked down at her work, and when she looked back up a whole hour had passed. Maybe it was the thrill of being back, and having not had to deal with Diamond or Silver Spoon. She smiled to herself. It was about time the two of them were expelled.

Scootaloo looked up at the blackboard, which seemed so far away from her seat. She sat and watched for a moment, content in her note taking ability by this point and simply taking a moment to relax her hoof. Cheerilee wrote out an equation, circled it a few times, drew a diagram, labelled it a bit. The teacher stopped for a moment, not writing not drawing and just looking at what she’d put up for her class to see. In her current pose, she was blocking a large portion of the board from Scootaloo’s perspective, but she didn’t mind that much. With a slight nod, Cheerilee resumed her work. Scootaloo still couldn’t see past her, but she seemed to be drawing up another diagram.

Her hoof circled for a while, around and around, trailing off upwards and curving back down. She added a few dashes here or there. Scootaloo leant to one side a little to try and catch a glimpse at it, but it seemed that wherever she moved, Cheerilee moved as well. Scootaloo waited patiently, a full five minutes passing before Cheerilee dropped her chalk to the floor and stepped back. With an artistic flourish, she turned to the side and revealed her creation to the class, ready to explain and to instruct.

And in that moment Scootaloo’s stomach dropped.

“Now look, class, see how it curves around here to just the right diameter to fully encompass the neck. If it’s too big then it won’t work. Also note the adequate length of the extension. The extension should be at just the right length in direct proportion to the distance to be travelled. Now, there are several ways you can do this, none of which are very easy to explain, but I’m sure at least one of you should be able to give it a go,” Cheerilee briefly scanned her audience, before her icy stare fell on. “Scootaloo. You’re quite knowledgeable in this subject. Why don’t you tell us all about the optimum size of knot to use?”

***

Sweetie Belle blinked drowsily in the cold, misty morning. Winter had descended upon Ponyville for sure, and the sun, low in the sky, was masked behind a screen of translucent mist. The air was bitter cold, biting at Sweetie’s face pinching at her skin. She groaned softly as cradled her forehead in one hoof, sleep still desperately trying to retake her. Her muzzle buried deeply into her scarf to protect her nose from the harsh bitterness. Why were the school doors always locked? More importantly, why was she always ten minutes early? In summer it was nice to chill and chat with Applebloom before lessons begun, but it wasn’t the same when their conversations were limited to mumbles through heavy, padded clothing.

With a soft grunt, Sweetie shuffled about and pushed her saddlebags into a more comfortable position on her back. Why so many textbooks? Despite her ears being cosily smothered beneath a large fur hat, Sweetie could hear the incoming trudge of hooves behind her. A quick glance over her shoulder brought a pony so heavily clad in winter gear into her field of vision. Until they were right up alongside her, Sweetie wouldn’t have been able to tell who it was. Beneath a hat surprisingly larger than hers, Apple Bloom’s face glanced to the side to meet Sweetie’s gaze. Her cheeks, nay her entire face, were a bright scarlet, already feeling the full force of the unnaturally cold winter.

“Mornin’.”
“Hey. Cold, isn’t it?”
“Eeyup. ‘Tis that.” Apple Bloom shivered violently for a moment, trying to get some blood flowing through her legs. “Ya’ll doin’ okay?”
“I’m… I’m very tired. Scootaloo had a real bad nightmare last night and… I didn’t really sleep very well myself.”
“How is Scoots? She ain’t mad at me or nothin’?”
“No, Bloom, she’s not mad at you. I’ve told you that before. She’s told you that before.”
“Still can’t help feelin’ the guilt, though. Just want ‘er to be back t’ normal, s’all.”
“So does she.”

So do I. Sweetie couldn’t help tacking that on in her mind.

Apple Bloom fell back onto her haunches and squirmed her way out of her saddlebags, furiously rubbing her forelegs together. Sweetie remained standing, not trusting that she’d be able to get back up again if she sat down. She was groggily combing her brain for something to talk about other than Scootaloo. As much as she loved her and everything, and as much as she cared for her, she just… didn’t want to think about her at that moment. She played around with the collar of her coat for a while, trying to angle it against the light but piercingly cold breeze. Her nose suddenly lit up and she sneezed loudly, rubbing her nose back into her scarf short afterwards.

“So how’s the scholarship going?”
“What? Oh, that. Meetin’ with somepony next week to talk it over. Can ya believe it? Never thought they’d even consider somepony from mah background. Who knows, if things go well I could be studying up in Fillydelphia this time next year.”
Sweetie nodded, “You were always the practical type. Deft with a hammer and nails. I suppose architecture was just the next logical step, huh?”
“Ya’ll said it. Still, I think I’ll miss the farm’n all. I’ll miss this stupid little town. I’ll miss you and Scoots. And mah sis, and Mac,” she sniffled and toyed with her gloves. “If I get it that is. Don’t think mah sis nor I could afford to pay fer it. Suppose I’ll just stay ‘n work the farm if I don’t. It’s what I’m used to, after all.”
“Mmm.”

There was maybe a minute’s silence between the two. In that time, a rather wide eyed Cheerilee approached them, either desperate to get out of the cold or itching for her third coffee that morning. “Morning girls. Good to see you here as usual.”
“Morning, Miss Cheerilee,” Sweetie chimed, admittedly a little half-heartedly. Apple Bloom didn’t reply.
“How’s the scholarship going, Apple Bloom?”
“Fine, thanks.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Brrr, as much as I love the winter, I don’t much enjoy this chill. Oh, this lock always gets sticky in this weather.” Cheerilee fumbled with the key, dropping it several times trying to keep hold of it with her thick gloved fore hoofs. Eventually she managed to get the key inserted and lock unlocked, letting the door to the senior block swing open. “In you go, girls. No sense in freezing to death out here.”

Sweetie gratefully accepted the invitation, hurrying inside and into the not-so-warm interior of the building. Cheerilee was close behind, and Apple Bloom stumbled in last, dragging her saddlebags behind her having evidently not bothered trying to put them back on. Cheerilee voiced intentions towards putting the heating on and waved Sweetie and Apple Bloom into the common room until school started for the day. They were only too happy to comply; the common room was definitely warmer than most of the other rooms in the building. Sweetie threw her saddlebags onto a shelf and collapsed into a chair, already feeling exhausted despite having only just gotten into school. Apple Bloom was quick to follow suit, also removing most of her heavy winter clothing in the process and hanging it onto one of many hooks.

The two talked for a few minutes, Sweetie trying her hardest to steer conversation away from Scootaloo, despite Apple Blooms ‘subtle’ attempts to bring it up. She loved Scootaloo and all, but she just… didn’t want to talk about her now. Not after the night she’d had to endure with her just before. Ponies filtered into the room in dribs and drabs over the course of the next fifteen or so minutes. Some merely poked their heads round the door to see who was in before vanishing on some personal errand, whilst others unpacked and set themselves up for last minute homework or revision.

Apple Bloom had been trying to explain various architectural principles to Sweetie for the past five minutes (most of which made no sense to her), but the farm pony as well as the majority of other ponies in the room hushed somewhat when a certain infamous somepony arrived. Diamond Tiara was quick to throw a small group of her fellow students off the desk they were using, claiming it for herself and her close friends. Or friend, as it were. Sweetie didn’t immediately notice, but she was gritting her teeth rather painfully hard. She felt tense, expecting Diamond and her slowly growing posse to confront her at some point about some issue or other. What would it be today, DT?

Sweetie’s instinctual tensing was not from lack of experience, and her fears were only too quickly founded when over came trotting the very young mare herself, pride of place before her as though she was expecting to be worshipped, “You two are still here, huh?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Sweetie was very careful with the words she chose, taking great care not to let slip anything Diamond could use.
“Only, since the orange one disappeared, we kinda thought you’d soon do the same.”
“Well we’re still here, Diamond. Sorry to disappoint.”
“Speaking of disappointments, what ever happened to the little chicken? She’s not still sick is she? What’s she got like, pneumonia or something?”

Out of the corner of her eye Sweetie could see Apple Bloom slowly beginning to turn red. She was about to say something to try and diffuse the situation, but before she could Apple Bloom rounded on Diamond with malice in her voice, “Actually, since ya’ll are askin’, she attempted…” Sweetie quickly brought to bear what little magic she knew and gave Apple Bloom a sharp jab in the ribs. Their eyes met for a moment and Sweetie gave her head the slightest of shakes. Apple Bloom bit her lip.
“Well? She attempted what?”
“She… attempted to come in last week but… but we said she weren’t well enough to come back.”
Sweetie piped up from the side lines with her own little input, “But she’s getting better. Not that you really care, of course.”
“No, you’re right, I don’t really care. This was a waste of time, as usual. Come on fillies, let’s see if we can copy Rumble’s chemistry work.”

And thus the fleet sailed off, with the flagship standing tall and proud above the rest. Apple Bloom gently massaged her ribs where Sweetie had shocked her, quietly seething. “Sorry about that, Apple Bloom. I had to stop you telling them.”
“Why can’t we tell ‘em? If they knew the truth they’d stop.”
“No they wouldn’t. Believe me, it would only get worse. It’s best that they don’t know the truth… for now. Not until Scootaloo’s ready to tell them herself. I think it’s better this way.
“She’s a real bitch, ain’t she?”
“Mmm. I don’t think it’s her fault, though. I heard somepony say her father hits her.”
“I heard that ‘n all. Do ya reckon it’s true?”
“I hope not. Nopony should ever beat their own foals, I know my parent’s didn’t.”
“Try growin’ up as an Apple then, Sweetie. Ya’ll ‘ll soon know the meanin’ a’ discipline.”
“You’re sister’s lovely though.”
“When I’m not misbehavin’ she is.”

Sweetie shrugged to indicate she was done talking about it. Whatever the reality of the situation, Diamond was still dangerous. She’d shot Scootaloo down before, in the most brutal of ways, too. Telling her the truth would only give her more ammunition. It wasn’t worth taking that risk, not in Sweetie’s eyes anyway. She could stand Diamond’s teasing. She’d hardened somewhat over the years, numbed to it. It was Apple Bloom she was more worried about. That young mare had a short fuse at the best of times, and when the teasing turned to Scootaloo that fuse was even shorter. All Sweetie could do was keep an eye on her for now, and make sure she didn’t say anything she’d later regret.

“In all seriousness, though, how is she?”
“Hmm?”
“Scootaloo. Ya’ll keep sayin’ she’s doin’ fine an’ all, but how’s she actually doin’?”
Sweetie thought for a moment, then passively shrugged again, “She’s… just fine. I dunno what else to tell you.”
“She’s not havin’ no more a’ them nightmares is she? From what ya’ll said they sounded bad.”
This made Sweetie shuffle about uncertainly. Should she tell her? Apple Bloom was just as much Scootaloo’s friend as she was, but maybe some things like this were best left unsaid? Would Apple Bloom be able to cope, knowing that one of her best friends was still being tormented by some inner demons? After a while she reasoned that her silence was making it rather obvious that something was up, so she decided to spill.

“Well… not exactly. She’s still having the occasional nightmare. She had one last night actually, and it was pretty bad. I actually think it was worse than the ones she was having only a few weeks after. She woke up in the middle of the night and I only knew she was awake because she fell out of bed. She told me she’d been trying to scream but for some reason she felt like she was choking, or being strangled or something like that. I was up for most of the night comforting her. Probably explains why I’m so tired now.”
Apple Bloom was silent. She just gazed at Sweetie, her eyes completely void of emotion, her face barren and expressionless. Sweetie felt quite uncomfortable for a while, unsure of how that had gone down, until Apple Bloom finally spoke, “Damn Sweetie. How could ya have not told me ‘bout that? That’s some nasty stuff. I dunno what to say. I wish I could be there fer her, like ya’ll are, but… I dunno. You seem to be doin’ a good job an’ all, or at least better than I could ever do. I’m still feelin’ pretty powerless though, you sure there ain’t nothin’ I can do?”
“Just… just make sure that… when she does finally get back into the swing of things… make sure you’re there to welcome her back. Eventually she’s gonna be back out in the world, and she’ll need even more help and support than she’s getting now. You just gotta… we… just gotta stay strong and wait and… hope for the best I suppose.”
“If ya’ll say so.”

A moment of awkward silence fell between the pair. It shouldn’t have been awkward, but for some reason Sweetie felt it was. Simply over-analysing, probably, but it felt that way. Apple Bloom eventually broke the silence by approaching her with another question, “And how are the two a’ ya doing? Like, relationship wise an’ all?”
“Fine thanks, yea.” Sweetie sank slightly deeper into her chair. She still couldn’t shake this feeling. This feeling that something was off about the whole relationship. What annoyed her most was that she couldn’t figure out what it was, whether it was something she felt deep inside herself or a vibe she was getting from Scootaloo. The fact remained, though, that something didn’t feel right in the air. Maybe she should talk to Scootaloo about it? No, she did that too much, and every time she did the feeling still didn’t go away. Maybe it was just a temporary feeling? Maybe it was just that her mind was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that she wasn’t straight? Or maybe, and this thought worried her, maybe her mind was trying to tell her that she was, and she was only lying to herself for Scootaloo’s sake? She didn’t like any of those thoughts.

“Ya’ll planning to do anything nice?”
“Hmm?”
“I said are ya’ll planning anything nice? Like, a date or something. I ain’t seen you two out together much.” Sweetie pondered that thought for a moment. Maybe that would help? It would provide a little extra stability, help to prove that this wasn’t just in her head and it actually was real. A sign of commitment, a display of sincerity. Would that put her mind at rest? It was certainly worth a shot, and even if it didn’t work, she could still have fun anyway.
“Well not really, but now you mention it I reckon it’d be nice to go out for an evening. Yea, I’ll pitch it to her this afternoon, see what she says. She’s getting a lot more confident with going out again, so it shouldn’t be too much trouble for her.”
“Well ya’ll keep me in the loop, ya hear? I don’t wanna be left out.”
“You’d rather be a third wheel instead?”
“Shut up.”

The two didn’t speak for quite some time after. They just sat in silence, letting everything sink in. Sweetie knew how Apple Bloom felt, that feeling of wanting to help but not knowing how. That’s about how they’d both felt just before Scootaloo’s… incident. Sweetie yawned loudly, last night starting to really catch up on her. She just hoped she’d have the energy to make it through the day. And she’d just realised she’d forgotten her lunch. And her chemistry homework.

“Hey, Rumble, can I ask a huge favour?”