//------------------------------// // Chapter seven: Down The Rabbit Hole // Story: Higher Senses // by Manes //------------------------------//  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOOTALOO! Never before would she think she would vomit at the those words. That day wasn’t happy at all. It wasn’t anything but happy. She wondered if her birthday wasn’t thrown out. She would be surprised if hadn’t already or at least got themselves a piece. “Hello?”Scootaloo listened for any sudden movement, but she heard nothing. Weird, everypony was here just a moment ago. Jeez, how long was I out? It was painful to recount what happened earlier. She wanted to push all that behind her and move on. Scootaloo took a step on the stairs, a crack emitting from the wood. She listened again for any moments. She was met with silence again. She thought she would love the headache-free zone, but it was kinda lonesome in the quiet air. The muggy afternoon air only added to the heavy stillness enveloping her. She sighed and trotted up the stairs. Scootaloo reached the top of the stairs and stood in the middle of the hallway. She expected to hear Granny Smith snoring, sighing from Big Mac or Winona’s collar dangling around she wandered. It was odd walking though this place when it’s normally filled with activity. She wanted to enjoy the no-headache area, but she couldn’t with Apple Bloom's absence. She trotted to Apple Bloom’s door and ran a hoof over the Wonderbolt stickers she had plastered over the little, tiny apples on the door. Apple Bloom had always complained about that. The nostalgic memories, the knowledge that Apple Bloom would have been there for her even when she was acting like a total nut only increased the guilt weighing on Scootaloo’s heart. The image of Apple Bloom’s frightened face had her on the brink of tears. Apple Bloom coughed. “Scootaloo, please…” That mistake haunted her. If it weren’t for Luna pulling her from the rabbit hole she was plummeting down through, she would have reached the end. She held onto the hope she would fix her friendship before it too late. With a deep inhale, Scootaloo knocked on the door. Not a single creak from the other side. “Apple Bloom?” Not even the slightest of movement that came from the other side.  She face hoofed. She’d forgotten Apple Bloom would avoid her by acting like she’s not there. She almost punched her for pony’s sake.  Her hoof shook like a leaf as she prepared to knock again. What am I doing? Apple Bloom would probably be scared out of her fur if she sees me. As the thought crossed her mind, her hoof had retreated back to the ground. Get real here, Scootaloo. You messed up. She frowned at the thoughts. She shook it off and faced the door. She held her breath and channeled into a series of knocks.  Again she waited. Again, no answer came from behind her door. “Ugh, Apple Bloom, are we really—” She stopped mid-sentence. “Just, can you open the door?” She threw her head in the air as she groaned. She raised her hoof in the air to knock again. She turned her head when Winona stood at the stairs, growling at her. She wasn’t barking happily and pouncing her onto Scootaloo for another lick session. No, she was growling at her like she would usually do to squirrels who tried to steal some apples. Scootaloo slowly reached for the door at the same time she looked at the dog. “H-h-hey girl, it’s me…” she gulped. “Scootaloo, remember?” Her heart skipped when Winona snarled, baring her teeth. Oh no. Winona barked and ran towards Scootaloo. “Ah!” Scootaloo twisted the knob, but the door wouldn’t budge. Her attention darted between the door and Winona. Oh crap! Oh crap! OH CRAP! Time slowed down when Winona sprung into the air. The bat pony looked down at her hoof on the doorknob as she twisted it. Time resumed when she pushed the door open and slammed it right into the face of the unexpecting Winona. A loud whimper came from behind the door followed by a scratching sound. “Jeez, Winona, what’s gotten into you?”  Her fears were confirmed as she looked around: no Apple Bloom in sight. “Apple Bloom?” she walked to the closet and swung the door opened as she looked inside, finding nothing but a heap of clothes. She pulled her head back and sighed. “She left.” She hung her head low as she dragged herself to the bed and flopped her back on it. She buried her face in her hooves before dragging them down her face. She stared at the bottom of Apple Bloom’s bed, tracing her hoof over the apple sheets. She always remembered waking up them. Apple Bloom would always pull her out of bed and literally drag her down to breakfast because she loved to point out, “Breakfast cannot start unless the whole family is here!” It felt awkward every time Apple Bloom reminded her she was a part of the Apple family. She flipped to her side and saw her Spitfire action figure on the desk near her bed. She reached over and picked it up as she stared at it in her hoof. “So how would you fix things with your teammates?” The action figure remained silent. She placed the figure on the desk. “Where the heck is she!” She threw her hooves up. “She could be with that do—” She stopped herself. “Twist. ” She rubbed her chin.. “Or maybe, she’s in the market...selling apples? I guess that’s as good a place as any to start.” She got off the bed and trotted over to the door, but froze when the scrapping grew louder. She turned around and spotted a window across from her. “At least I’m not going to get yelled at for going out the window this time.” She darted towards it and swung it open. Instead of wind cooling her face, sunlight struck her  eyes, making her fall on her back. “Ugh!” She picked herself up and dusted herself off. “Stupid sensitive eyes!” Scootaloo stomped  towards the closet and tore the doors opened as she dove into the heap of clothes. After a ton of clothes flying into the air, Scootaloo pulled out a black hoodie. The bat pony wasted no time and tried it on. It took a bit of trying to get her leathery wings to fit through the holes in the back, but she managed to make it fit. She examined herself. The hoodie looked kinda small, covering half of her waist, but it didn’t matter. She placed the hood on, making sure it blocked her eyes. The only purple radiance could be seen from behind the hood and her chin. She returned to the window and lifted her head out the window. No sunlight exposure. “Yes!” Scootaloo moved herself out the window. When her hooves hit the roof, she lost balance and fell on her stomach. She lifted her head. The edge was a few inches away. Scootaloo picked herself up from the roof and looked down.  Her entire body shook as she stepped to the edge. Her hooves landed safely on the ground as she jumped down. The orange bat pony made a beeline towards the barn. Scootaloo remembered when Apple Bloom first brought her here, she would always store her scooter in the barn because Applejack always told her to. Scootaloo couldn’t wait to grip her hooves on those handles like old times. The doors opened to a heap of hay greeting her. There it was. Her blue, rust looking scooter with a wooden handle and wheels. It wasn’t anything special, but it helped her always escape from trouble. And places she didn’t want to be. Scootaloo traced her hoof along the handle as she circled around it. Hey, did ya miss me? She placed her hind legs on the scooter and flared out her wings. The bat pony looked at her flared, skinned wings and froze. “What happened with your feathers?” “They…” Scootaloo sighed. “They fell off I don’t know when. I just woke up to them like this.” “I’m sorry, Scootaloo.” “It’s just feathers. I’ll get over it.” The scooter began to blur as tears was building up. Scootaloo blinked them away and in a moment of rage pushed the scooter to the ground. She flopped down on the hay and hung her head low. She always thought one day she would fly, prove her worth to the pegasi race. She had been a disgrace to them and herself. She dreamed of flying as a pegasus. Now, that dream was taken from her by a sudden transformation. The worst of it was she was going to relive the pain of not proving her worth with the Bat ponies.Her head shot up when something scrapped in her ears. “Applejack!” Her smile dropped when Big Mac stood at the door instead of Applejack. “Eenope,” He said as bent his head over as he pushed the hay over. “I’m not being lazy or anything!” She shouted with forced a smile. She noticed how wet her forehead was from the sweat. “I was just taking a break from..uh...” She saw the hay and scooped up some. “Fixing up the hay for the cows!” “Eyyup.” “Yep, they don’t like they’re hay not handed!” Big Mac looked at her and her smile dropped. “You don’t believe me, do you?” Big Mac shook his head.“Nope.” “Ugh!” Scootaloo pushed herself from the dirt. “I can’t do it, Big Mac! I tried, but it’s too hard!” Big Mac arched an eyebrow. Scootaloo turned her head to avoid his gaze.  “I don’t know what to do. I can’t do the things I used to do now that I’m a…” Her body shivered, about to say the word that sent chills down her spine. "—Thestral.” A shadow fell over her as Big mac stepped in front of her. He stared at her with his relaxed expression, not moving a single muscle in his body except for his eyes. Scootaloo snapped her head to her shoulder when he placed a hoof on them. Their eyes met when Scootaloo looked up. Unlike the others, he had no reaction towards seeing new eyes. He stared at them and nodded before he walked back to the hay. Scootaloo watched as Big Mac’s head pushed the hay with stress. It was strange, usually he would toss them on spot, but he did not. Her eyes widened when she noticed bandages wrapped nicely around his lifting foreleg. She looked at her wings then at his foreleg. Since his injury ruined his routine, he changed it. Scootaloo looked back at her scooter then her skinned wings. “My gosh!” She ran to the scooter and picked it off the floor. “Thanks Big Mac!”  She shouted as she dragged the scooter outside. She placed her hooves on the scooter, gripping onto the rubbery material like she usually did, donned her helmet, narrowed her eyes, and finally, flared out her wings. However, instead of a fast pace buzzing push, her wings lifted themselves into the air. You got this. She inhaled and held her breath as the wind tickled her wings. She opened her eyes and slowly exhaled as her wings flapped with force.  The scooter moved her a little away from the door. She gasped and did it again, the scooter pushing farther and farther until she found herself speeding down the hill. The shiver Scootaloo felt was more real. It wasn’t caused by the excitement alone; she was actually feeling the wind blowing on her coat. The speed of her flight made the air more resistant to her movements, but she kept flying with all her strength. She wanted to grin, to shout her joy to the world, but opening her mouth would cause the wind to abruptly fill her lungs, and make her lose control. Instead, she simply smiled. She held it in, but her giddy feeling was building up in her chest. She had to let it all out. She closed her eyes and screamed, “Woohoo!” A devilish grin appeared on her face when a hill came into view. Her wings continued to flap, building up her momentum. The wind still came strong, but she pushed through it. Her heart pumping like crazy from the excitement burning in her veins. Maybe she was holding it in because of all the crap she went through this past few days or weeks. She couldn’t tell how long she had been in a coma. All she knew was she was back and maybe, just maybe better than before. The hill sent Scootaloo into midair before she landed back on the ground. Rainbow Dash told her that it may appear like five seconds to a pony watching, but for the flyer in midair, time seems to slow down. That happened to Scootaloo. The millions of trees scattered around, the birds flying into the skies and the cutie mark clubhouse and even Big Mac as he carried baskets of apples to the house. She saw it all under five seconds. She missed riding the scooter. She missed her daredevil lifestyle. She missed this feeling and sometimes nostalgic moments aren’t that bad. Scootaloo slowed her pacing down as she entered the food court. The place was packed with ponies, there was little to no space for scootering so she had to walk. She rode off into an alleyway behind a cart of oranges and stopped when she was at a good distance. She got off her scooter and leaned it against the wall as she breathed in  then out. She took off her helmet and looked at her reflection. If anypony happened to pass by an alleyway across from the market, they would see a purple radiance shining through the darkness. She sighed and placed her helmet on the handle, letting it hang before she walked out the alleyway and joined in the crowd of ponies. Her hood covered most of her face, casting a shadow over her eyes. The only part that could be seen was her fangs. She wondered if she might bump into another bat pony along the way. She hoped she would, but the chances of that happening were slim to none.  Her time as a Pegasus proved that. Everytime she went scootering, a bat pony was never around or even mentioned. She never felt so out of place. So out of order. The anxiety was kicking in. She found herself trying to catch the breath she had before as more and more ponies kept coming into the crowd, merging their conversations all into her head. Despite the conversations coming through fast, a conversation between two stallions ahead of stood out the most. Mostly because it was about her friend, her princess. “Ugh, what is up with Princess Twilight lately?” “What you mean?” “She’s been trapped in that castle for over two days now!” “Woah, really?” “Yeah, I think last time I saw her when that orange and yellow pony left.” “Oof!” Scootaloo rubbed her head as she recovered from the collision. “Watch where you’re go—” her words failed her as Sweetie Belle stood before her. She looked different. Her mane wasn’t as curly as before.  She couldn’t describe it, but somehow, it was different. “Scootaloo?” Scootaloo pulled on her hood and kept her head down as she walked away. She got out as fast as she could before Sweetie Belle could see her.  “Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “Scootaloo, please!” Scootaloo kept pushing through the ponies, trying to get as far away from her as she could. “Scootaloo, come back!” Her body ache for her to turn away and hug her friend, but her doubts kept her moving forward. The image of Sweetie’s reaction when she finds out about what happened kept her from doing something she would regret. Her head kept turning back to see if Sweetie Belle was following her. Sadly, no curly mane stood out from the crowd. She didn’t hear her shout her name anymore, probably because it was drowned the voices that surrounded her. She slowed her pace down and continued her walk. Her heart was pounding from the adrenaline pumping into her veins. Sweetie Belle almost saw her. She hasn’t seen her since her birthday to now pop out of nowhere. Her timing couldn’t had been any worse. Sweetie Belle would had ask questions about how how it felt waking up to this, and most importantly, why hadn't she and Apple Bloom come to see her. Scootaloo wanted to avoid the answering that. Sweetie Belle would have done her best to fix the problem that wasn’t her’s to begin with. Scootaloo wanted to fix this herself. To mend what’s broken. Time with Applejack was really affecting her. She could really use a cold drink with all this heat bearing down on her. Thankfully, Sugarcube Corner was just across the street with the open sign hung on the door for all to see. She pushed through the crowd before she made it to the other side. She pushed the open the door, making her way inside Sugarcube Corner. Despite the bad luck that had been raining on her, the colorful bakery always made her forget. The place was like one would see out of a fairytale. It was just so...happy.  Her mouth watered in anticipation as the aroma of strawberries and chocolate baked sweets wafted through the air. After a milkshake, back to the mission. She walked to the counter and waited. She smacked her lips when at thought of a strawberry swirl scoop. Scootaloo’s ears flicked as something clanked into her ears. She looked around for the noise, but the place was mostly empty. She groaned and looked behind her to see a family huddled up, enjoying a bowl of ice cream at the table. She would have returned to her seat if it wasn’t for the birthday filly with her hat on and that birthday smile. She wanted to puke because of the memory of the day her life changed. Instead of entering into casual puberty, she entered into a transformative kind. Literally. Her innocent look had been altered into something frightening. When she thought it couldn’t get worse, everypony broke out into song. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Berry. Happy birthday to you!” The song ended as Mrs.Cake placed the cake in the middle of the group. She remembered her audience awaiting as she blew out the candle. The wish that never came true even though she kept it to herself. The filly breathed in, closed her eyes shut and then blew the fire until had vanished.  Everypony cheerfully stomped their hooves and filled the place with laughter. Seeing the family all joyful sent Scootaloo back to the dream or nightmare she had about her parents. They were monsters, but some odd reason Scootaloo pictured them a happy couple. Her mom was like the typical motherly housewife while the dad was tough and the bread winner. It was strange because she never met them, yet that’s how she saw them. Did she had a life with them before they decided to dump her at the orphanage? How could she not remember such a life with her parents? Was it so traumatizing her brain shut out those memories? Scootaloo screwed her eyes shut and grimaced. All these questions were giving her a headache. Her thoughts were a tangled in her mind like a ball of string; all around her brain it wrapped, back and forth.  She towards the window and gazed at the busy ponies passing by. How she wished she could just be in bed, it wouldn’t have been that difficult to just get up and trot home. She turned back around to see the family leaving, finally she could breathe. She was alone again.  Her ears twitched when the tiny bell on the door ringed.“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.” Scootaloo eyes widened as a tongue tied voice echoed in her ears. She turned around and gasped. She never seen Apple Bloom so down, how her head was swinging along as she followed Twist to a table. Her heart rate increased when Apple Bloom brushed up against her. She swore Apple Bloom saw her when she turned around, but Scootaloo’s head shot down before she could see her face. She looked up when they sat down in the table across from her. She remembered that table. She remembered burnt cookies and cupcakes being on that table. Scootaloo chuckled at the memory of Apple Bloom warning her not to eat it. The thing she remembered most was all they had formed their little team, Apple Bloom dubbing them, “The Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Now Twist was sitting there with her. Twist looked around while Apple Bloom had her eyes on the table. “So what are you getting, Apple Bloom?” Apple Bloom sighed. “I’m not hungry.” “Smoothly then? Or maybe a milkshake!” “No, thanks.” She wanted give Apple Bloom a hug to show how sorry she was, but her doubts kept her pinned to the chair. “I’m sorry.” “What?” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said in unison. “I didn’t mean to cause all this. I was just trying to protect you.” “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.” “Huh?” Twist and Scootaloo said in unison. “I should have just told Scootaloo what happened instead of lying to her.” “It’s not your fault. It’s mine for getting spooked from that nightmare you told me about.” “Yeah...the Apple orchard one.” Scootaloo arched an eyebrow. “Yeah that other bat pony was scary and hissing…” she paused. “You don’t think Scootaloo’s like her?” “Yeah...I uh mean no! Ugh!” Apple Bloom groaned. “Can we just forget about it!” “Okay…” Twist sniffed. “I think my nose is broken.” Scootaloo couldn’t help but feel a tad guilty for breaking her nose. “Hi!” “Gah!” Scootaloo shouted as she jumped back and fell to the ground. She rubbed her head and looked up to see a pinkie muzzle and big blue eyes. She felt uncomfortable as Pinkie leaned very close to her face, giving her no space to breathe. She groaned and pushed the mare away as she got up. “Pinkie!” Pinkie Pie pulled away as she giggled. “Sorry, I just thought I’d take your order since you were eavesdropping on your friends!” “Huh?” “Well you didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your friends! It’s just you heard their conversation with your super hearing because you’re a bat pony and everypony knows bats have very good hearing which you now have!” Scootaloo opened her mouth to speak, but her brain failed to think of a response to Pinkie’s randomness. “So, what you wanna order!” Pinkie Pie shouted with a huge smile. “You know what I recommend? The super icecream supreme! I named it that because of the tons and tons of ice cream! Mrs. Cake wanted to call it something else, but I insited! Because who wouldn’t—” “Pinkie!” The sight of Pinkie Pie’s smile dropping placed a ton of weight down her stomach. She was unfair to one friend, she couldn’t do that to another. “Yes okay, I’m eavesdropping, but only because I’m trying to find a way to be a friend to Apple Bloom and I don’t know how.” Pinkie’s eyes beamed with stars. Literally. She jumped on the counter and screamed, “Pinkie Pie friendship solving is here to—” Scootaloo yanked Pinkie down and placed a hoof over her mouth. “Sssh, are you trying to make them see me!” She looked behind to see Apple Bloom and Twist seemed to not have heard them as their attention were still at themselves. Scootaloo removed her hoof and sat down. “Sorry,” Pinkie whispered. “Pinkie Pie friendship solving is here to help.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Pinkie Pie, no offense, but you’re kinda—” she stopped herself when Pinkie Pie’s eyes and smile grew. “The best at what you do, heh.” Pinkie bounced up and down. “Thanks!” She stopped when confusion washed over her. “Wait, why would I take an offense to that?” Scootaloo blinked. “Uh.” “First step to Pinkie’s friendship plan: Approach friend and give her a big super duper hug!” “Wait? Do what nooooow!” Scootaloo screamed as Pinkie Pie dragged her along. Scootaloo’s tried to stop the earth pony with her hooves, but it only provided an ear piercing screech. Apple Bloom and Twist turned to face Scootaloo as Pinkie Pie presented her in front of them. The bat pony could barely stand as Apple Bloom looked at her. Pinkie Pie wiped her sweat. “Apple Bloom, your friend wants to give you a big hug!” The only response from Scootaloo was her heavy breathing. Pinkie turned to Scootaloo and poked her on the shoulder. “Uh, Scootaloo?” “Uh, Pinkie, do you think—” “Oh silly me! She probably can’t see with that hood!” Pinkie Pie bounced behind Scootaloo and placed her hooves on her head. “Let me take that off for you!” Scootaloo’s senses snapped back as the hood was being pulled. “Pinkie, no!” “Tada!” Pinkie shouted as she took the hood off from Scootaloo. A collective gasp came from Apple Bloom’s table. All of them, mostly Apple Bloom, stared with horrid expressions. Their eyes had shrunk down and mouths were dropped. Twist’s glasses fell to her muzzle. She could barely stand as her body shook. She probably was remembering the punch Scootaloo had given her early. Now she was afraid of her like a victim to a bully. However, Twist wasn’t the victim in this story.   Pinkie Pie cocked her head side way, blinking very slow. She couldn’t tell if it was her heart beating in her ears or theirs. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub! Lub-dub! “Everypony run!” Twist shouted as she bolted out the door. “Oooh, we playing a game? Okay!” Pinkie Pie giggled as she bounced outside. Scootaloo turned back to find the seat Apple Bloom was in empty. She looked at the direction Apple Bloom was heading.  Mr. Cake had a tower of dishes on his back, wobbling about as he walked towards the kitchen. He panted and his heart pounded at an intense rate. Time slowed down as Apple Bloom ran towards the door while Mr. Cake walked, both unaware of each other’s presence. Mr Cake kept his head down while Apple Bloom’s kept looking over her shoulder. Scootaloo knew where this was heading. Time resumed as she shouted, “Apple Bloom, wait!" It was too late for Apple Bloom. Scootaloo watched helpless as Apple Bloom turned around and crashed into Mr. Cake. Her eyes followed the dishes as they flew up the air and then when they came crashing down on poor filly. Apple Bloom had time to only gasp before her screams were muffled over the dishes smashing down on her. Her eyes grew wider as she watched it happen. Scootaloo screamed Apple Bloom’s name as she ran towards her. Mr. Cake grunted as he stood up from the floor. He had only minor cuts on his foreleg, unlike Apple Bloom, who took the most damage. “I’m so so, sorry! I-I-I, she came out of nowhere!” “What’s going on?” Mrs. Cake asked as she poked her head out from the kitchen. “Stay in the kitchen, dear!” “What are you shouting on…” Mrs. Cake placed a hoof on her mouth. “Oh my.” “Get in the kitchen, dear!” Mr. Cake shouted as he walked in the kitchen. He placed a foreleg over Mrs.Cake and walked her into the kitchen. Their shouting could be heard from here. “A-A-Apple Bloom?” She reached her hoof out to Apple Bloom. “I’m so so sorry, Apple Bloom!” She touched Apple Bloom’s face where a red thin line traced on on forehead. She pulled her hoof back as Apple Bloom whimpered. “S-s-sorry!”Scootaloo’s hooves shook at the sight of the blood on her hooves. She had a flashback of Applejack’s limbless body as she stood over her with blood stained fangs. Now her friendly face was disfigured, shattered by a cut on the top of her forehead. Her ears picked up on hooves stomping into the ground. She couldn’t count how many, but it sounded like a lot. When the sound stopped, Scootaloo turned around to see a crowd of faces staring at her with wide eyes. She was froze in place as they did nothing but stare at her and crowd the doorway, blocking her potential exit. Scootaloo’s attention returned to Apple Bloom as her yellow foreleg clung onto the bat pony. “Apple Bloom, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you! I didn’t mean to—” her voice started cracking as her muzzle quivered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” “Somepony please help my friend!” Her face as she searched for any help, but all the ponies just looked at her with shock in their eyes. Her ears twitched like crazy as they mumbled. “Did she do it?” or “Oh my Celestia that poor filly! That monster should be put away!”  “Do something!” Scootaloo shouted at the crowd, but none seemed to move from their spot. All they did was stare and judged. As if her pleas were called, two stallions pushed through the crowd and rushed to Apple Bloom. “I need you to stand back!” Scootaloo stepped away from the two stallion as they did their work.  “Is she going to be okay?” “I need you to stay back, little one.” “But is she—” “Little filly, listen. I know you’re worried about your friend, but I can assure you we’ll do our best, okay?” the stallion asked in a calm tone, Scootaloo couldn’t help nodding to. She turned to the crowd. All their eyes were planted on her. She was the main attraction right now, watching her like a curious freak. It was just like Luna predicated. She could even hear her voice as she said, “You must learn to accept yourself. If you do not, then those around you will also see you as something abhorrent.” All of them moved to the side as she walked outside. All of them looked on with mouths agape and a horrid expression as the bloody filly walked away from the crime scene. Her crime scene. A swarm of floating eyes surrounded her, followed her every step. Every turned she made, every corner she crossed, somepony glanced at her. “I knew she was trouble!” or “Oh my celestia, look at her face!” was all they said. “I’m not going to lie, Scootaloo, there are some ponies who hate what they do not understand and many who are afraid of it.” Scootaloo had a feeling Luna was right when those words were said. However, she wished the meaning didn’t become her reality. Twilight read book after book and still had no origin or explanation for Scootaloo’s sudden transformation. She had read so much she built her own gallery out of books scattered around the floor. So many sheets of paper were also scattered around her a pony would mistake it as snow. She rubbed her eyes and sighed as she flipped yet another page. The part of her mind that doesn’t allow magic to exist without condition kept her searching for answers. A Pegasus couldn’t just transform into another race out of the blue. This couldn’t had been puberty’s work and if it was, she never seen it changed a foal this way. This was a new kind of puberty. One that would haunt her until she had answers for it. She closed the book and levitated onto her pile. This headache really was wearing her down—she felt like a thousand drums were being pounded on in her skull. She groaned and gritted her teeth. It hadn’t stopped since this morning. Nothing she tried seemed to make it go away, it only seemed to make things worse. She didn’t have to do this. She acted like there wasn’t another option, but she didn’t want that to be the one she chose. She already told Scootaloo there was no clue for her condition, no alternative. She remembered how disappointed Scootaloo looked hearing that. “So you’re saying there’s no way out of this? Twilight snapped out of her thoughts when Spike placed a tray with tea and a plate of biscuits in front of her. She looked up at him and flashed him a smile.“Thank you, Spike.” Spike noticed the books laying around Twilight. “So let me get this straight. Scootaloo, that little Pegasus who likes to break things with her friends, is now a bat pony!” Twilight put a book down and levitated another one in front of her. “I know it sounds ludicrous, but—” “Ludicrous?” Spike asked. “Twilight, maybe you didn’t hear me the first time. Scootaloo turned into a bat pony!” “See?” She turned to him with a smile. “Ludicrous.” Spike rolled his eyes in reply. He groaned when he tripped over a stack of papers.“Twilight, I think it’s time you get some sunshine.” “I’m fine.” “Uh...you kinda don’t look like you're fine.” He thought for a moment. “Actually, you look terrible.” Twilight took her eyes off the page for a second and scowled at Spike before positioning the book in front of her face. She flipped another page before a gasp came from behind the book. “Twilight?” Spike placed his claws on Twilight’s shoulder as he gave her a little shake, but the princess remained in trance. “Twilight, you’re acting weird again.” Twilight stared off in space, mumbling to herself. “Twilight!” Spike jumped as a million of books coated in a purple aura came hovering above them. A ring made out of books circled around them like planets in an orbit. Twilight’s eyes kept switching from another book to another as she mumbled something. Spike blew his breath and flicked Twilight’s horn, cutting her magic off. All the books dropped to the floor, making Twilight snap out of her trance. “Spike, what’d you do that for!” He crossed his arms and arched his eyebrow. Twilight blushed. “Right...but I just thought of something. I read some books and I think that spell I casted affected more than one pony. What if my spell did this to Scootaloo?” “Huh?” “My spell! The one that changed Fluttershy into Flutterbat, what if somehow the spell’s radiance reached Scootaloo and affected her. Maybe she was in the farm when I casted it!” “Twilight’s that—” “Princess Twilight!” The doors burst open as a filly rushed  towards her. She stopped in front of Twilight, covered in sweat and panting like a thirsty dog with its tongue out. Tears trailed from behind her big, red glasses and down to her cheeks. “What’s wrong?” “Apple Bloom!” “What happened?” Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. “Where is she?” She panted, holding a hoof up. Twilight rolled her eyes as the filly had trouble catching her breath.“Sugarcube Corner!” “Twilight?” Twilight turned to Spike as he stepped forward. “Be careful.” Twilight smiled. “Get this filly some water.” He nodded. “You’re the best!” Twilight slammed the doors opened with her magic and ran outside. Her wings flared open as she sprinted at full speed. She sprung into air as she took flight. She looked down from above as she flew over the market.  There was a crowd of ponies scattered around Sugarcube corner, there was even an ambulance parked out front. She landed on the ground and ponies all came up to her face with their questions and voices of concerns. A mare came up to Twilight as she shouted. “Princess, something terrible has happened!” A stallion shoved the mare’s face away as she gotten into Twilight’s face.“One of those rotten Bat ponies attacked that poor little filly in there!”  She pushed her way through inside the bakery. Mr. Cake greeted her at the door, but he looked anything but cheerful. His friendly smile was replaced with a quivering muzzle and his well kept mane looked like he ran through a fan. Twilight looked over his shoulder.  Two stallions in blue uniforms that had a red cross on their shoulders lifted something up. Twilight walked over to see one the stallion quickly lifted Apple Bloom up, getting a whimper from the filly. “Hey, be careful with her!” “Sorry Princess,” the stallions said. “Hang in there Apple Bloom,” Twilight said before the stallions hauled her off outside. Twilight walked over to Mr.Cake who shook like a leaf, his hind legs wobbled around as he stood in place. Mrs. Cake stood close to him, holding him in her forelegs and nuzzling him for comfort. “Hello Mr. Cake and Mrs.Cake.” “Hello, Princess,” Mrs. Cake said. Mr. Cake murmured in response. “Are you two alright?” Twilight asked. “I’m fine, thank you Princess.” He shook his head. “I...I did that to, Apple Bloom.” “It’s not your fault, okay, honey?” Mrs.Cake placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Why don’t you explain to the Princess what happened?” “Princess Twilight, I’m so so sorry! I...I was clumsy and Apple Bloom came straight at me! I should have looked where I was going.” He looked Twilight in the eyes as she placed a hoof on his shoulder. He exhaled and continued, “All the dishes fell on her...it hurt her really, really bad.” A slight heastion of her voice as she said,“I heard a bat pony attacked her. Was Scootaloo here?” Mr. Cake shook his head and kept mumbling things. “It’s okay, honey, calm down.” Mrs. Cake sighed. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I’m afraid he needs some time to calm down.” Twilight sighed. “Thank you anyway. You’ve been a great help.” She swung the the door open and walked outsides  where the ponies still stood. “Do any of you know where a orange purple-maned filly went?” Her eyes searched the crowd for even the slightest movement, but all the ponies had their eyes darting and their heads turned when her gaze met theirs. “You mean the bat pony!” she heard somepony shout in the background. Twilight rolled her eyes.  “Do you know where she went?” All she heard were “No’s”, passing around. She couldn't help but chuckle at that. “It’s funny because a second ago you’re attention was on that ‘bat pony’. “ She glared at the ponies as if they were misbehaved foals. Twilight shook her head. “I thought we were passed this. I’m very disappointed in you all.” All of them bowed their heads as she walked away. She spread her wings and took flight. Twilight looked down from above as she flew over Ponyville. She turned both ways as flew across an intersection. She slowed down as she looked towards the left, seeing the dirt leading all the way towards the forest. She groaned. “Ugh, where is she!” “Princess Twilight?” Twilight looked down to see a mare. She wore a big hat Rarity usually wore on a sunny day. “Are you looking for that bat pony everypony talking about?” “Wha...yes!” Twilight smiled. “Do you know which direction she was headed?” She looked to the right, where the mare pointed. A train hollered in the distance. “Please be there.” She flapped her wings as hard as she could, speeding towards the train station. She spotted a couple of ponies near the train tracks and hovered down to land on the platform. Twilight walked up the steps and dove into the crowd of ponies. She groaned when a pony bumped against her while she walked through. Looking around, she saw fillies standing next to their parents. Twilight turned around as train came rushing into the station. All ponies shoved  her as they rushed inside. She stood on the tip of her hooves as she looked over them and searched for Scootaloo. Where is she? Her head swished back and forth as she looked from both sides. A stallion wearing a blue uniform and a cap walked up to her. “Princess Twilight,” he said, bowing. “Are you looking for somepony?” “Do you know where a orange little filly with a purple mane is?” Twilight asked. The stallion shook his head. “Did any trains come before this one?” He tapped his chin then nodded. “Yes I believe a train that come by not too long ago. As for the filly. I’m sorry, but I don’t know.” Twilight held a hoof to her head. “She could be gone by now!” She groaned. “Thanks anyway.” “You’re welcome, Princess.” He bowed before he took off. Twilight looked up as a thunder clapped into the skies.The platform became soaked as rain came pouring down. Ponies ran back and forth, jumping into spots to shield themselves from getting wet. Twilight found herself alone after the stallion had left. All the the ponies had left, she feared Scootaloo was in the crowd. For all she knew, Scootaloo could be anywhere, next to a stranger, or hiding inside a suitcase, or something. “Ugh!” “T-Twilight?” “Scootaloo?” Twilight spun behind to face a shadowy figure. The only part of the figure’s Twilight saw was the two purple eyes glowing. “Oh thank Celestia!” She started to walk towards the filly. “I was worried for a second you—” “Don’t come near me!”Scootaloo shouted, pulling Twilight to a stop.“I’m not going back there….I don’t wanna go back there.”  “I’m worried about you; your friends are worried about you,” Twilight said, her lip quivering from the cold rain. “They’re probably better off with me gone.” “No they’re not. They’re all back at home waiting for you,” Twilight said. “Come back with me and let’s talk this out.” Scootaloo stepped out the shadows, revealing her stained hoodie and her tired eyes. Twilight was more interested in the bloodstained hoofprints on her hoodie. “I don’t wanna go back! I’m leaving and leaving coming back!” Twilight eyes widened at the sight of the blood.“Is that—” a loud whistle interrupted Twilight. A train came rolling into the platform. The rusty wheels screeched into air as the train came to a stop. A huff of smoke came shooting out the train as a stallion came out the door train. “All board to Manehattan!” Twilight watched as Scootaloo walked towards the train. “Scootaloo.” She tapped her chin then smiled. Her horn glowed as she closed her eyes. Twilight teleported close to Scootaloo and grabbed the filly in her magic before she could run. Scootaloo’s hind legs kicked as she struggled to break free, but it was no use as Twilight calmly walked to the bench. She sat down and placed Scootaloo next to her. Scootaloo grunted. “Let go!” “You’re not going anywhere, little filly!” “No, let me go!” The sweet sound of the train whistle came to her ears. The train started moving at a slow pace until it quickened its speed. The train disappeared in a heap of smoke, leaving only Twilight and Scootaloo at the station. “Noooo!” Scootaloo shouted. In a swift turn, she snapped to Twilight. “Ugh, why’d you do that!” Scootaloo growled. “Because I’m your friend! I can’t just let you run away!” Twilight shouted. “We’re going to sit here and talk this out!” “I don’t wanna be here! I don’t want to!” Scootaloo sniffed as her eyes became moist. “Ugh, I hate you!” The sound of the wind blowing mixed with the rain hitting the floor was soothing. It helped calm Twilight’s heart after the intense shouting match she had with Scootaloo.“I know what it’s like to wanna fix things. I’ve been there too when I hurt a friend. I had hurt her when I left Canterlot out of selfish reasons and I didn’t say good bye.” Twilight sighed. “She was heartbroken. She thought she had a friend, but I was the worse pony to be friends with at the time. So when I decided to visit her after my coronation to fix what I’ve broken, but she didn’t want to accept my friendship.” Scootaloo sniffled.“Why are you telling me this?” “I didn’t give her time to adjust to me suddenly coming back into her life. I tried to force my way back in without giving her time to heal.” Twilight turned to Scootaloo. “You’re not wrong for wanting to fix things with Apple Bloom, but sometimes you need to wait for them adjust. Apple Bloom is still adjusting to you coming back as something different. She was used to the old you, but the new one takes time to adjust to and you being near her is overwhelming her with mixed emotions.” “So what? I leave her alone and that’s it?” Scootaloo asked, a tear slid down her cheek. “What if I did something bad to her? What if I made her afraid of me?” Twilight frowned.“Then you make up for it. Scootaloo, it’s not the end of the world when you make one mistake. That’s why there’s always a second chance for you to make up for the first.” “But...but what if she’s—” “She’s not afraid of you, Scootaloo. She cares too much about you, like I do. Let me prove it to you.” Twilight moved her hooves towards Scootaloo’s hoodie, but stopped when Scootaloo scooted away. “Scootaloo, may I see your face?” “That’s how Apple Bloom got hurt.” Scootaloo sniffed. “I don’t want to hurt you too.” “You’re not going to.” Twilight offered a smile when Scootaloo faced her. “You’re just saying that. I know you’re going to run away just like Apple Bloom did.” Scootaloo said, wiping away any potential tears from her eyes. “You just gotta trust me, Scootaloo.” Twilight said. “Please, trust me when I say I’m here for you.” Scootaloo sighed. “Okay.” Twilight pulled the hoodie down. Scootaloo cringed as Twilight gasped. Scootaloo’s face strange resemblance that of a bat, her ears were taller than before and her eyes were bigger. Her nose was like a rat’s and her fangs were sharper than before. Twilight hid her shock through a small smile. “See? I’m not afraid.” A smile tugged at Scootaloo’s cheek. “R-really?” Twilight nodded. “Yes, but promise you’re not going to scream?” “Why would I scream?” Scootaloo asked, eyes blinking. “Just promise me, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Why would I scream any—” Scootaloo looked down where Twilight spotted and gasped. “Aaaaaaaah!” “Scootaloo--” “My face looks like a bucking bat!” She faced Twilight with pleading eyes. “I don’t wanna turn into a monster!” “Scootaloo!” Twilight shouted. “You’re not turning into anything!” “Uh huh! I’m turning into a bat!” The filly looked a mess with snot running down her muzzle and her tears staining her cheeks. “You walked in a pile of blue flowers right?” Scootaloo wiped her tears away. “What?” “Did you come across a pile of blue flowers?” “I think so...I don’t know!” Scootaloo shouted as she threw her hooves up. Twilight sighed. “You’re fine. The poison joke affected you.” Scootaloo blinked. “Huh?” “When you walked in the pile of blue flowers, their magic effected you and made your face look like that. It’s playing a cruel joke on your insecurities.” “So….I’m not turning into a bat?” Twilight shook her head. “You’re fine. After a hot bath with some remedies you should be back to normal.” “How do you know that?” Scootaloo asked. “From personal experience. I ran through the flowers and came out with a floppy horn that had spots on it.” Twilight giggled. “It kept whacking me in the head.” Scootaloo couldn’t help herself and began to chuckle. “That is kind of funny,” she muttered and fell on her back on the bench with Twilight, as she no longer couldn’t hold her laughter in. They both laughed and cried. Twilight looked at Scootaloo, who couldn’t stop laughing. She hadn’t hear her laugh in a long time because the poor filly was too consumed with her own doubt she had forgotten to laugh it out. Pinkie Pie had taught her that. When in doubt, laugh it out. Something like that. Scootaloo exhaled as she contained her chuckles. Twilight wanted to ask Scootaloo if she had been there on the night Flutterbat terrorized the gang, but she didn’t want to ruin Scootaloo’s moment of happiness. “Apple Bloom’s going to be okay.” Twilight said, making Scootaloo turn to her.“She’s a tough pony. I’m sure certain she’ll pull through this.” Apple Bloom was sweating intensely as she ran. The hairs on her back went up as she heard the bat screech from an unknown location making her bolt in fear, and she felt her breathing quicken as she ran as fast as she could. Her eyes searched for a creature in the trees. She couldn’t let that thing get her. It already got Applejack. The creature hissed at her sister and snatched her sister from the ground. Now it was after her. Her heart skipped a beat when a shadow loomed over her. She fell down and landed on her face. She groaned and flipped over. She gasped when she saw the shadowed figure hovering over her. Glaring at her with it’s glowing blue eyes, it revealed its fangs as it licked its lips. Her tongue stumbled and was silent as the bat pony’s sharp teeth filled her vision as it made for her exposed face.