//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Something She Saw // Story: Something's Happened to Scootaloo // by inside_joke //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Something She Saw The school day had gone by almost seamlessly. Lectures and assignments were brushed aside and ignore by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, whose minds lingered on other matters; one of which being Rumble. However, neither girl discussed their “telepathic” experience, as Sweetie called it. The dreams and the voices were put on hold. What replaced them was a small, lanky grey colt. Most of the class was spent watching him from behind, feverishly waiting for something. They just didn’t know what. From what they gathered, Rumble was timid and quiet. He seemed well-acquainted with the other boys and indulged himself in his work. Only that day, his approachable demeanor evaporated, and a ghost filled its void. He didn’t speak, didn’t move, and sometimes, Sweetie swore he’d stopped breathing. A dark shroud followed him throughout the day, and she wasn’t the only one to notice. Button Mash, Snips and Snails confronted Rumble a couple times, speaking in hushed whispers. Apple Bloom’s eavesdropping brought little light to the situation. His friends were clearly concerned, proceeding to bombard him with questions. They’d ignore Rumble’s request to leave, and as a result, he’d snap at them. Viciously, he screamed during art class. Everyone turned in surprise as Rumble pushed Button Mash aside, running down the hall. Cheerilie was quick to chase him down. Upon their return, Rumble was forced to apologize. He refused, staring brokenly at his ex-friends. Unsatisfied, Button Mash kept away. Snips and Snails happily followed his example. All the while, Sweetie and Apple Bloom’s suspicions heightened, as did the voices in their heads. “He knows. He knows.” Five minutes remained before the school day ended. Packed and ready to head home, everyone kept to themselves. Unlike most days, there was no gleeful anticipation. Children would usually discuss their evening plans, or pass around jokes. There was silence, that day, and the heavy air weighed upon everyone’s faces. Sunken and tired, they waited quietly to leave. Even Cheerilie felt a distinct aura of negativity. She’d never expected it from this class. Sweetie and Apple Bloom slung their saddlebags over their backs. “So, what’s the plan again?” Sweetie asked, monitoring her voice. “Ah’ hardly call it a ‘plan’,” Apple Bloom replied. “We’re gonna’ follow Rumble out, and when we get deh chance, we’ll ask him ‘bout Scoots.” “What if he doesn’t know anything?” “Well, he’s must. Ah’ mean, the voices-“ “Let’s not… Let’s not talk about those.” Sweetie interrupted. Her stomach swam at the mere mention of them. “Right. Sorry,” Apple Bloom replied, scratching the back of her head. “But ya’ do know we’ll have to tell somebody eventually. Maybe Twilight or somethin’. There’s gotta be some sciencey answer behind it.” Sweetie didn’t like thinking about the voices. Their origin, their purpose, their existence; it only served to build upon her worries. What mattered was talking to Rumble. But, then again, she didn’t like that idea much either. “I just wish today could’ve been normal,” she said, frowning deeply. Apple Bloom blinked, pursing her lips. “Ditto. But the… the thin’s in our heads, er whatever, are tellin’ us somethin’, and Rumble’s clearly got that somethin’ on his mind.” Sweetie wouldn’t make eye contact, staring absently out the frosty window. Apple Bloom placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Hey. We’ll get through this. Easy as pie. And before ya’ know it, we’ll be with Scootaloo again.” Sweetie looked up, drained and beyond tired. “Ok.” She nodded, forcing a smile. On cue, the bells rang. As the children idly fumbled out the door, Apple Bloom and Sweetie lulled behind. They watched Rumble slump out of his desk, following the group. Waiting to build some ample distance, they prepared to trail him. “Sweetie Belle,” said a voice from behind. Both girls jumped out of their skin, turning to meet Cheerilie. She stood over them. “Do you mind if I have a moment with you? I’d just like to discuss the day. Apple Bloom, could you give us a second?” Sweetie began choking on her words, tilting uncomfortably on her hooves. “We’re kinda in a hurry,” Apple Bloom interjected, a flustered look in her eye. “Can we do this tomorrow?” Sweetie kept quiet, biting her lip. It wouldn’t be long before Rumble escaped, and neither had the patience to wait another day. “Let’s let Sweetie speak for herself,” Cheerilie countered, somewhat aggravated. “Besides, it should only take a moment.” She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and both girls knew it. “Ah’ll meet you outside,” Apple Bloom whispered in Sweetie’s ear, trotting out the door. Cheerilie smiled tenderly, looking down at the filly. “I’m glad you’re giving me the time, Sweetie. Please, take a seat,” she gestured to one of the desks. “I’d rather stand,” she replied. The doorway loomed in her peripheral. Staying in that room was a torture of its own. “Alright,” Cheerilie said. She knelt down to Sweetie’s level. “I noticed how off you’ve been acting today. It isn’t like you to outride ignore your assignments.” “Yeah, well. It’s nothing. Just a stomach ache.” Her eyes were darting about the room, yearning for an escape. “Please don’t lie to me, Sweetie Belle. I only want you to succeed in this class.” Cheerilie words fell upon deaf ears. Sweetie’s attention drifted to the voices. “Leave her,” they said. “Leave her. Find him.” She could only suppress them for so long. Combined with Cheerilie’s speech, a pounding migraine kicked in. Sweetie begged for it stop, for her to leave. One more second spent standing there would destroy her mental health. Cheerilie stopped speaking, awaiting a reply. Sweetie couldn’t muster a response as she struggle to thwart the monsoon of sounds in her head. Closing her eyes and in a state of panic, she saw something. Something she never expected to see: A vision. For the briefest second, Sweetie stood in the woods, snowy and dead. Before her was a long glade, where a pair of giant figures came running. She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t fight. In a flash, they were upon the defenseless girl, grabbing at her. Sweetie snapped her eyes open, screaming hysterically and flailing her hooves. Falling to her haunches, she kicked and yelled. “Get away! Get away from me! Please!” “Sweetie! Sweetie, it’s me! What’s gotten into you?!” Cheerilie shouted. She wrestled Sweetie Belle down, taking a few punches in the process. Upon the sound of her voice, Sweetie stopped, staring in utter shock. “No…” she muttered. “No. That… that didn’t just happen…” She slipped free from Cheerilie’s grasp, fumbling to her hooves. She had to get out of there. She had to find Rumble. The two met eyes briefly before Sweetie bolted out the door. That wouldn’t be the end of her visions.