Chapter 5
Arrival
As Scootaloo walked home she thought about how Rainbow Dash might feel seeing her gone after the rainboom. She decided that it didn’t really matter she was going to be leaving soon anyways, and now was the time for her to be strong for her own sake. When she arrived at her house, she looked around the outside to make sure everything was still in place as it should be; then walked inside to see Princess Luna standing inside with something wrapped in cloth next to her. When she thought about what it might be Luna interrupted her thoughts. “We are glad to see you back already, we thought you might have taken longer to say goodbye than you did.”
“No, I didn’t really say goodbye, I didn’t want them to know I was leaving. Instead I had planned on faking my death to prevent them from knowing that.”
“Fake your death? Well we didn’t think of that, but that is one of the reasons why you are our second in command. You are resourceful and cunning and that is why we got you something for all your help.” Luna said just before lifting the object in the cloth up with her magic. “This is a sort of armor we had made for you; it was crafted to fit your body perfectly. You wear it sort of like saddle bags, but with one small difference.” She pulled the cloth of to reveal a pile of metal and leather, some of which looked like wings. “It will fit over your wings making them larger and allowing you to fly with ease. It is also sharpened to cut through most objects so you can defend yourself when it is needed, but will not cut you when you relax.”
“So this will let me fly? Wow that is fantastic! I’ve been wanting to fly for so long now but my wings have never grown like they were supposed to. Wait, won’t it be heavy though? I thought armor was supposed to be heavy.”
“No it is a lightweight but very sturdy metal; it will not hinder you at all. In fact it will be like your wearing your saddle bags with nothing in them. Now let us get this on you so we can leave.” Luna said as she unfolded the armor and prepared the straps. She slipped it onto Scootaloo and placed the straps on her belly and wings. After making sure everything was in place she tightened the straps until they were snug against Scootaloo’s body. “How does it feel my faithful one?”
Scootaloo shifted around and spread her wings which in turn spread the metal out simultaneously. It was like she wasn’t wearing anything at all and the straps were hardly noticeable. “This feels great! Like my whole life is going to be so much better thanks to you Princess.” Scootaloo leapt forward and gave Luna a hug who gratefully returned it.
“Now let us take flight and head to the camp we have introductions to make.”
Scootaloo grabbed her stuff and prepared her bombs for detonation. After going through the door she lit the fuse and started to run into the woods with Luna right behind her. “Watch this princess and see what I did to Fluttershy.” She said as she stopped and turned around to look at her house. After a few seconds the house seemed to bulge outward just before a massive bang reached their ears. The whole house suddenly blew apart into an unimaginable amount of blazing pieces, leaving a hole in the ground and burning rubble surrounding it. Luna gazed at the scene with wide eyes and a small smile on her face before turning back to her protégé.
“I like the result, we shall use that again later, but now we must take to the skies before anyone sees us.” She said before leaping off the ground and taking flight. Scootaloo looked after her, and then glanced at her new wings. Spreading them she jumped and started to flap, feeling the metal catch the air she started to rise into the air with ease. Looking down Scootaloo felt a sense of wonder, amazed that the wings work. Getting a hold of herself she took off after Luna catching up easily making sure she kept a distance away so as to not cut her mentor.
“This is wonderful Princess Luna I don’t know how I will ever repay you for this but I will do my best to make sure I never let you down.”
“It is fine you have done so much for us already, which is why we had them made for you. Tonight we will make a speech in front camp so the ponies know who you are and where you stand in ranks.”
“Yes Princess I look forward to it and the training I will be receiving from both you and the other trainers.” Scootaloo said before they both fell silent for the rest of the trip to the camp.
***
As Rainbow Dash looked at the smoldering remains of Scootaloo’s house she felt tears start to well up and tried to hold them back. Not wanting to look soft she took off into the air and headed towards the Library, she needed some comfort from her friends. She flew in through the window and landed next to the couch then sat down, placing her hooves on her face she began to cry. Fluttershy just looked at her trying to think of something to say when Twilight walked in. “Dash? What are you doing here and where did that explosion come from?”
Trying to get a hold of herself Rainbow Dash wiped her eyes and looked at her friends. “Scootaloo is dead.” It was all she managed to say before she started to cry uncontrollably. Fluttershy placed her hoof on Rainbow’s back trying to soothe her.
“Oh Dear Celestia. That explosion, it was Scootaloo’s house wasn’t it?” Twilight said looking shocked and now sure that the princess was right. She needed to find a safe place for herself and her friends before things got worse.
Rainbow Dash merely nodded her head, when she suddenly heard loud crying across the room from her. Looking up she saw that Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom holding each other and she instantly regretted saying the news right out. She knew there was nothing she could do about it now so she walked over to the girls and held them while they all cried together.
Twilight held back her tears and walked over to the table where some papers were strewn across. The papers were flyers she had picked up around town that she had realized were recruiting ads for the New Lunar Republic. She had studied them hard trying to figure out who had written them and why they would be aimed against Princess Celestia. She had come up with nothing; she didn’t recognize the hoofwriting at all.
Rainbow Dash looked over at Twilight to see her holding a piece of paper that bore some kind of symbol on it. She didn’t know why but the symbol seemed familiar to her, like she had seen it recently. She couldn’t place her hoof on it but she knew that whatever it was, it had something to do with what happened to Scootaloo. She couldn’t focus on it for long though as she was torn apart for losing somepony who was like a sister to her.
***
Scootaloo still couldn’t get over the new feeling of flying; it was the best thing she had ever experienced. She didn’t have to worry about clouds either because her new wings would slice right through them with no effort. She did start to get nervous about when she was going to stand next to Luna in front of the entire camp, but Luna reassured her that it will all go well. When she noticed Princess Luna starting to descend she followed her down into the tree tops and landed in the middle of the biggest camp of ponies she had ever seen.
The ponies that were nearby when they landed saw the Princess and bowed deeply as she walked by. Scootaloo walked by noticing all of them staring at her pendant and her wings but they didn’t say anything to her. Following Luna they walked into the largest tent in the camp that was filled with maps and other paperwork. There was also another pony in the tent who looked menacing. He had a gray coat and a white mane and running down his side was a long twisted scar. A grizzled beard puffed out of his face along with a long-stemmed pipe that was stuck between his teeth.
Princess Luna looked at him then her second in command. “Scootaloo this is our general, Strong Arm, he is in charge of the training all the ponies get when they come here.”
“Pleased to meet you it’s always good to see a new face here and I have heard a lot about you.” The old pegasus said as he held out his hoof.
“It is good to meet you too sir; I look forward to working with you.”
They shook hooves and when they finished Luna spoke up, “Strong Arm go inform the camp that we will be making a speech tonight with Scootaloo.”
“Yes your majesty, I will always follow you.” He gave a deep bow then straightened and headed outside.
Luna turned back to Scootaloo, “Put your stuff down in here, your tent has been arranged and it will be taken there soon.” She glanced at the maps while she waited for Scootaloo. After she had put down her stuff Luna said, “Come, follow us, it’s time for your introductions.”