//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Something to Uncover // Story: Something's Happened to Scootaloo // by inside_joke //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Something to Uncover What was real and what wasn’t melded into dissolution. Sweetie Belle ran down hallway after hallway, blinded by something she couldn’t describe. Pictures flashed across her eyes: Giant, imposing figures, a gentle snowfall, and tall, naked trees. It all coincided with muffled screaming, cries for help and mercy. She could no longer tell where she was. Powered by pure, unadulterated adrenaline, Sweetie Belle peered into reality. Children jolted out of her way, staring as she passed. She slammed into lockers and doors, yet her speed never faltered. A teacher yelled out from somewhere, demanding she stop. Sweetie wouldn’t listen. She could hear earth-shaking footfalls, closing in from behind. Whether this was a part of her vision or a perusing adult, she couldn’t say. All that mattered was getting out of there. Turning a sharp corner, Sweetie collided head-on with someone. Amidst the confusion, she couldn’t tell who it was. They both collapsed; papers and textbooks spilling from their saddlebags. Sweetie laid there for a moment, face pressed against the wooden boards. Rolling over, she tried to see through the dizziness. The other child fumbled to his hooves. It was Rumble. “Sweetie Belle?” he said, his voice quaking. She couldn’t reply, and their gazes held firm for what might’ve been a decade. “A-Are you OK?” He extended a hoof. In that moment, Sweetie saw something in his eye. Something buried behind a façade. He was stripped of his innocents, cold and shaken to the core. Wordlessly, she gripped his hoof, standing back up. “Thank you.” She sounded a million miles away. Her screaming headache subsided, as did the visions and voices. “I’m fine,” she said, snapping from her trance. “I was just- Just in a hurry, is all. Let me help.” Sweetie knelt down, picking up the fallen papers. Rumble did the same. Among them was the tarnished scooter wheel. She was quick to grab it before he had a chance to notice. “No, it’s my fault,” he said. “I really shouldn’t be here, anyways. Big brother’s probably waiting on me.” Sweetie jumped to her hooves. “Wait! I… Uhm…” He stared at her oddly. Sweetie wasn’t sure how she’d go about asking anything. She'd been planning this conversation all day, but in the surge of the moment, she got tongue tide. Rumble’s confusion keeled over into nervousness. “What is it? I don’t really have time to talk… I-I need to get going.” He waddled around Sweetie, trying to build some distance. “It’ll only be a second. I just wanted to ask you something.” She could smell the panic seeping from him. His wings stuck so firmly to his sides, they might’ve cracked apart. Grey feathers rippled off of them, forming a small cluster on the floor. “Hey!” A voice called from down the hallway. It was Apple Bloom. “Sweetie! Gosh, what took ya’-“ She froze in place, staring wildly at Rumble. He stared back, that alien look in his eye. “Oh, howdy Rumble,” Apple Bloom said, hiding away her franticness. She nonchalantly approached him. “Hey, you wouldn’t mine’ givin’ Sweetie an Ah’ a sec, would ya’?” He didn’t move, nor did he reply. Without awaiting an answer, Apple Bloom put an arm over his shoulder, gently ushering him forward. “Like Ah said, it’ll only take a sec.” Rumble wasn’t in a position to relent, and stricken by some sort of shock, he unwilling nodded. Sweetie grimaced, following behind. She didn’t approve of Apple Bloom’s method, but had she not arrived when she did, Rumble might’ve bolted. They hurriedly trotted out the front door. Outside, a foreboding silence clung to the air. There was no breeze and no falling snow, just absolute stillness. Not a soul wandered the streets ahead. Seldom were all the children gone this quickly. “So, Rumble,” Apple Bloom said. “You like ice cream? ‘Cause Ah’ sure as shoot do, too. Same goes for Sweetie! What ya’ say we go get us some. It’s on me.” Sweetie could see through her smile with ease, but Rumble was none the wiser. “I… Well, I’m not hungry.” “Not hungry?!” Apple Bloom bent over laughing. “What kinda’ colt like you can go by with an empty stomach? Please, Ah’ insist.” There a hint of harshness in her demand. “Rumble,” Sweetie interjected, “You don’t have to get ice cream with us if you don’t want to.” Both of their heads reared back at her. “Apple Bloom and I just wanted to ask you something. It’s… it’s important. Is that OK?” Apple Bloom withheld her protest, fearing Rumble would reject. But, to her surprise, he lightened up. “No, I mean. I guess I could get some ice cream. But I really have to be home soon.” Sweetie smiled. “Thank you, Rumble.” As they descended the steps, she contemplated. When would she tell Apple Bloom of her visions? One mystery at a time, she thought. *** The walk to Sugar Cube Corner was quiet and uneventful, and Ponyville’s vacantness stemmed well beyond the schoolyard. No one walked the marketplace, and every shop was locked tight. Rumble trotted a few paces behind, looking up as he went. The sky was a stark grey, speckled with wiry clouds. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were playing everything by ear. What they’d ask and how they’d ask their questions wasn’t entirely clear. Before long, the trio entered the village square. A dry, decrepit fountain stood dead center. Ponies carved in stone flew side-by-side, adorned in angel wings and halos. Their surrounding pool carried thick heaps of snow, mixed with mud, dirt and other sediment. Buildings towered around the square, and among them was Sugar Cube Corner. It was easily the tallest and most elegant. Wood painstakingly crafted into giant sugarcanes and gumdrops adorned the roof, topped off with splashes of color. Some of its vibrancy shined through the mist and fog, but it had definitely seen better days. Sweetie sighed as she turned to her companions. “Well, here we are. Thanks again for joining us, Rumble.” “No worries. I just want out of this cold.” With that, he smiled softly and trudged inside. Apple Bloom and Sweetie followed. It felt good to breathe some warm air. The fireplace had been lit, its flames licking their frigid coats. Rows of booths and tables sat unattended, neatly prepared and ready to serve. A long, golden bar stretched across the room’s opposite side, where a pair of metal doors stood, leading to the kitchen. A bell chimed overhead as they stepped in. Pinkie Pie suddenly emerged from behind the bar. “Oh my! Customers!” She dashed towards the group, pulling a pair of smoothies from thin air. “Apple Bloom, I know how much you love our homemade Apple Cider Cream Shake Special!” She shoved the drink into Apple Bloom’s hooves. “And Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie continued. “I’ve noticed your appetite for our classic Vanilla Bomber Ice Pudding Supreme.” In turn, she presented Sweetie with her freshly made desert. “Gee, Thanks, Pinkie. Someone tell ya’ we were coming?” Apple Bloom asked. “Pfft, no silly! I just know what my favorite customers want before they even know they want it! Comes with the territory, you know.” She followed up her statement with a giggle. Her eyes fell upon the grey colt, knelt between them. “Oh. I’ve never seen you around Sugar Cube Corner.” Rumble was shaking, still trying to comprehend what he’d witnessed. Had this mare actually created a smoothie out of… nothing? “Rumble. T-The name’s Rumble.” “We invited him over for a drink,” Sweetie said. Without a word, Pinkie lunged forward, her nose uncomfortably close to his. “Hmmmmmm. You look like a Double Coco Marshmallow Extravaganza kinda guy. Am I right?” “Actually… that doesn’t sound too ba-“ Before he could finish, Pinkie shoved the drink into his face. “I thought so.” She bounced off, humming a tune. “You get used to it,” Apple Bloom said, sipping her smoothie. They made their way to an empty seat. “So, you enjoying your drink?” Sweetie asked. Rumble was already halfway through it, relishing every exploding flavor. “Yeah,” he gasped, fighting back a brain freeze. “Yeah, I am.” For a minute, no one said anything. Had Rumble not been so invested in his drinking, he might’ve left. “So, ya’ do anything over the weekend?” Apple Bloom queried. Rumble released his straw, looking down at the chocolate concoction. “Yeah, Uhm- Nothing special.” Sweetie cringed. He’d already begun to shake. “We’ll have another Double Coco Marshmallow Extravaganza, please!” Pinkie zoomed in and out of the kitchen. In a blink, another smoothie stood before Rumble. “There’s more where that came from,” Apple Bloom smirked, leaning in. “All ya’ gotta do… is answer some questions.”