Chapter Seven: Cutie Leader
Twilight followed Samantha directly to Rarity’s home and boutique. Her heart rate increased for the moment, until she remembered there wasn’t much at stake. It’s not as if Samantha still had the job. She skidded to a halt and slowly opened Rarity’s front door using a bit of magic. Inside she saw Samantha waiting at the front counter. Curiously she noticed what clearly appeared to be a broken off door handle laying on her counter.
“Um, Samantha?” Samantha turned around, her eyes wide in surprise. “What happened to that?’
“Oh, uh, it kind a broke off.” Samantha smiled nervously at Twilight, who looked like she wanted to respond, but thought better of it.
Not like I haven't done that before.. though I was a child when I did. Twilight levitated the doorknob away from Samantha and started the tedious task of placing it back on the front door.
Samantha looked up and spotted Rarity walking downstairs, with a few clothing pieces grasped in her magic. “Oh? Samantha? I thought I said you were no longer needed. What brings you here?” Rarity looked to Twilight who seemed to be busy doing something to her door.
“Yes, I just wanted to apologize for my rude behavior when…” Samantha tried to remember what she had been doing for her. Was it work? A job? That must be it. She coughed to continue. “When I was on the job. It was entirely rude and I just hope I didn’t ruin your dress in the process.”
Rarity looked surprised, but nodded all the same. “Well dear, it’s perfectly fine and I appreciate the apology.” Rarity seemed to be deep in thought for a moment while Samantha waited patiently for her to finish. “Perhaps if you come by next week I can have a few tasks for you to do, not as a permanent job, but as some errands for pay?”
“Sure, that sounds fair.” Samantha smiled, though, behind her Twilight couldn’t help but notice that her tail had wagged a few times. Twilight really didn’t know what to think of that so she kept quiet. The two waved and Samantha turned around. “Sup?”
“Sup? Uh, you mean what’s up? Nothing, I suppose.”
She nodded. “Alright, I’ll see you back at the library?”
“Oh Twilight, I’ve been meaning to show you my new dress line.” Twilight’s worried look switched to a smile when she walked away from Samantha and neared Rarity.
Seeing the two were busy and not wishing to intrude, Samantha turned around and attempted to leave. She watched her hoof slip off the doorknob at least four times. “How in the heck do they do this?” She hissed in irritation.
Twilight’s and Rarity’s conversation were quickly interrupted as Rarity looked above Twilight. “Is something wrong with the door?”
Samantha cursed in her head. “Uh, no, just sneezed here.”
Rarity didn’t seem convinced, but nodded all the same. Samantha carefully pressed her hoof on the door handle with as much force as possible, attempting to keep her hoof in one place. Slowly the door handle turned as her hoof turned, making her push harder to keep the hoof on. When she heard a click, she pushed and the door flung open faster than the speed of sound, or so it seemed. She was about to cheer, when she noticed her hoof was stuck to the door handle now and it was not on the door. Nice one… I really hope this is a dream. She turned around, seeing Twilight looking on in astonishment and Rarity simply seemed too shocked for words. Those are the same. She reminded herself. Samantha tried to shake the doorknob free, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to go.
“Heh, sticky door handles?” Twilight facehooved and Rarity quickly helped her out.
When Twilight and her got back to her home, she quickly had Samantha sit down. “Okay, Samantha, I’m sorry to ask this, but I need to know. Do you know how to operate your hooves properly?”
Someone seems grouchy. Samantha noted. “Yes and no. I can walk alright.”
Twilight nodded, taking the situation very seriously “Do you have some kind of disability I should know about?”
“...No. Let’s just call it bad luck, alright?” Samantha pleased and hesitantly the unicorn nodded. “So, about--”
Before Samantha could finish her sentence, the front doors to the library practically slammed open revealing three small ponies.
“Twilight! We’re bored!” A small pegasus called out.
They seem familiar.
Behind the pegasus a small white fluffy unicorn smacked the back of her head. “Scoots! That’s rude. Twilight’s our friend, not our mom.”
The one who seemed to be dubbed Scoots stuck her tongue out at her friend and a third walked in, this one wearing a bow. ‘Oh, hey Samantha.”
Samantha smiled. “Hey” Definitely familiar. What were they called?
“Girls, can I help you with something?” Twilight gently berated the two fillies behind the bow wearing one, for trying to slap each other and stopped their little fight before it began.
“Well, we tried Crusadin’ all day, but nothin’ sticks. We’re… kind a bored.” The filly blushed and the two other nodded as well.
Crusadin’... ah, Crusaders! Huh, I wonder where that towel got to? I can’t believe that’s the only thing I remember about them. Some long lost friend I am. Not that they know that.
Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry girls, but I need to help Samantha here find a job. I don’t really have anytime right now. Unless you want a book?”
The three fillies looked at each other, while Samantha stood up and started to sneak past the two. While Twilight was momentarily distracted, Samantha took the opportunity to see what kind of books the librarian had.
Daring Do? Okay.. Starswirl the Bearded’s favorite Rhymes… no, Equestria and it’s Surrounding Territories? That could help.
“Samantha, what are you doing?”
She blinked and turned around, forcing her hoof down away from the books. “Uh, this is a library, right?” Twilight blinked as well and slowly nodded. “Are they off limits right now?”
“No, of course not. I just think checking out books might be a distraction from obtaining a real job is all.”
Or I could learn more about this crazy world. She nodded. “Well, what did you have in mind?” Samantha’s tail involuntarily wagged once, as if it was venting her own frustrations. Though if the mare felt it, she gave no indication.
Twilight clenched her teeth. Does she have an issue with her tail? Just where did this mare come from…? Twilight shook her head. “Samantha is there anything you were good at doing? You know, before coming here. It’s just without a cutie mark, something that is very important, I’m having trouble deciphering just what you…” Twilight trailed off when she noticed the three starring fillies. “Girls?”
“Twilight,” Apple Bloom rebuked, “that was rude, I’m sure she’s great at lots of stuff. Having a cutie mark shouldn’t matter, she’s an adult. You should apologize.”
“Yeah!” Scootaloo piped up behind her, not fully hearing just what Twilight said, but believing she did something wrong none the less.
The librarian sighed. “I’m sorry girls, I just mean a cutie mark defines your special talent. They usually have to do with a ponies job.”
Sweetie Belle raised her hoof, then quickly shot it down when she remembered this wasn’t a classroom. “But, you’re a librarian and your cutie mark isn’t a stack of books.”
“Hey yeah, Princess Celestia runs a kingdom, what’s that got to do with raising the sun?” Apple Bloom pondered out loud.
“Okay, they usually have to do with a ponies job.” Twilight corrected herself.
“Kind of sounds like to me these cutie marks are like a bonus, they--”
“That’s it!” Scootaloo interrupted Samantha, sounding very excited. “Girls, I’ve got the perfect idea on how to get our cutie marks! C’mon!”
Samantha stared at the empty doorway. “Why do I get the feeling something bad is about to happen?”
Spike walked up and sighed, leaning on the door. “Because it probably is, with those three I’m amazed the town is still standing at this point.”
Twilight looked out at the door with a worried expression of her own, though, the ramification of the Cutie Mark Crusaders going on a Crusade was the farthest thing from her mind right now.
“Should we go after them?” Samantha half suggested. “I mean they’re a bunch of kids.”
Spike quirked an eye scale to that. “Kids? What does goats have to do with them?”
“She means fillies, Spike. Uh, I suppose since we can’t think of anything it wouldn’t do any harm if one of us followed them. Samantha? Since you’re a Crusaders, maybe you should for now?”
“Alright, that like a chore, heh?” She joked, but Twilight looked at her seriously then nodded.
“Yes, I think that works. For now your job can be looking after them, at least for today until we find you something.”
Samantha shrugged. “Okay, cool. Uh, see ya later!” She called out and galloped away.
Spike turned back to Twilight with his arms crossed. “Did you just do that so you could get rid of her?”
“Not exactly, but it should give me ample time to keep up with my schedule and research work for her! It’s perfect!” Twilight expression reflected a relaxed mare, somepony who hadn’t had the chance to in a long while. Even if it had only been a day or two.
Spike looked to the walls of the library was made out of and spotted a tiny bit of tree sap seeping out. “Yeah… perfect.”
Samantha didn’t get far when she remembered that her mental map of the town was pretty much non existent. Also, it wasn’t as if the fillies mentioned just where they were going. Great. I miss the movies. Still unsure if it was a dream or not, she looked around. It wasn’t as if she was going to find a way home anytime soon. How did I do it before? In the old dreams? Or whatever those were… She slowed to a trot and tried to ponder through her memories, but they were far from clear.
Figuring there was nothing else to do, she looked around for ponies to ask. She quickly found a unicorn ‘couple’ prancing about. The two were fully clothed in rather extravagant clothing, ranging from a suit for the stallion and a sort of white dress for the mare. She ignored this and quickly blocked their path. “Excuse me, have you seen three ki- fillies around here?”
The stallion snorted and tilted his head up, apparently not wishing to associate himself with her. The mare mostly did the same, but she at least said something in return. “Sounds like you should watch your fillies more closely.” The two then promptly left her.
“Real helpful lady. Okay, Samantha, just think. Where would three fillies go in a town like this?” She looked around and spotted a small rather boring park of some kind, then town itself and the numerous buildings and then she noticed a large sort of familiar apple orchard. “Would they go to the boring park that lacks any playground equipment?” Then she tried to imagine small horses playing on swings. “Or would they explore the endless trees in a farm?”
“Ah dunno, Scootaloo. This doesn’t seem very safe.”
The pegasus filly squinted her eyes at her friend. “Apple Bloom, I’ll be fine! I can just glide down if I need to!” She buzzed her wings for emphasis.
“Um, but this is really high up! Besides, we aren’t supposed to be on top of the clubhouse! Applejack said so!” Each time she spoke she was required to raise her voice as Scootaloo was practically two, maybe three stories taller.”
Scootaloo scoffed. “I told you, I’ll be fine. I wanna at least try and get my mark in sight seeing!”
Sweetie Belle didn’t look too sure herself and gave a nervous glance to Apple Bloom. I still think pretty mark is better. She thought.
“Eh, maybe they’re the safe kind of fillies…” She edged toward the park then momentarily stopped walking when she noticed who was there.
“Really, these Ponyville ponies need to watch where they’re going.” She heard the mare from before call out rudely.
“On second thought I’ll check the orchard.”
Weaving through the many pathways was a daunting task. “How these ponies get around here?”
“Hey, Scoots, I think I see your mark from here!”
Samantha tilted her ears, something she just found out her new body was capable of, and listened. “Sounds like them.” She quickly turned around and spotted several trees a bushes, each lined in a way as if to block the current path. She looked down however and noticed the dirt pathway kept going into said trees and around them. She squinted her eyes through the bushes and spotted a large club house perched on a tree. “Bingo… what are they doing?!”
“Really?! I can’t see from here though… Here!”
“Uh… Scoots, maybe you should climb back up?” Sweetie Belle suggested, noticing the odd position she was in.
Samantha quickly crawled through the bushes, watching the small pegasus latch onto the flagpole of the clubhouse. Her flank was sticking down, as was the rest of her body. She looked like she could barely hold on.
“Kid, climb back into that house right now!” Samantha commanded in an authoritative tone. She wasn’t an expert on the ponies at all, but judging by the size of the fillies wings she figured they weren’t good for much yet.
The three went silent for a moment, then Scootaloo awkwardly clambered down and climbed in through the window below. They waited in silence for the pegasus to reach the bottom of the tree. Scootaloo looked up at Samantha, seeing her in a brand new light. As an adult. She blushed and laughed nervously. “Heh, what’s up?”
Samantha snorted. “Hopefully not you for a while. Do you three always do crazy stuff like that?”
Scootaloo quirked a brow and inspected the flagpole from her position. “That was crazy? Huh. Last week I saw Rainbow Dash whoosh through the orchard at breakneck speeds then she did a few corkscrews and then she did a Sonic Rainboom!” Scootaloo breathed in and out a bit, trying to catch her winded breath. “How was what I did cr--?”
“To be fair, Scoots, I don’t think the flagpole was meant for climbing on.” Apple Bloom interjected.
Scootaloo scoffed. “Whatever, pegasus ponies weigh less. Remember?”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “You still shouldn’t be doing what you did. Pegasus or no, I doubt your folks would appreciate it if ya fell from there.”
“No…I guess not. We’re just so bored!” Scootaloo through her front hooves up in frustration. She then turned to her unicorn friend. “Sweetie Belle, you got any ideas?”
This is it, Sweetie, this is your time to shine! She nodded slowly, while smirking a bit. “Yes! We will be… Draconequus tamers!”
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Samantha blinked in confusion. “What the heck is a Dracon- Dracone- whatever you just said?” Apple Blooms question was mentally shared amongst the group.
“It’s what Discord is! I asked him once and he said Draconequus… actually his first reply was ‘hotter than Sun Butt’. I wasn’t sure what he meant though.”
“Uh, okay. You want us to tame Discord? How exactly?”
Scootaloo’s question raised a good point, she also neglected to ask why. Samantha stood off to the side and watched the three slowly begin to talk out some form of plan, only for one of them to bring up a moot point on how it would never work. Then the bickering and yelling started.
“Kids…” Samantha quickly stood up and placed a hoof on the unicorn which separated the three. “How about instead of trying to tame… um, Discord, how about we try something else?”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo scowled at each other, then their anger quickly vanished only to be replaced by curiosity. “Like what?”
Samantha wracked her brain for an idea. Kids are pretty easy to please… usually. What would my mom do in this situation? Drawing a blank, she quickly decided to take action.
“How about... “ She looked all over, but the only things she was were their clubhouse or countless trees. She caught sight of the inside and couldn’t help but walk closer to take a peek inside. The place was a huge mess. It didn’t help that the front door appeared to not close fully considering all the stuff littered around it. “Cleaning up.” She finally decided.
“Awww…” All three of them chorused.
“Look, your door doesn’t even… look like it works.” Samantha hesitated, but decided to just go for it and stumbled onto the step ladders. She slowly climbed up and tested the door in question. It didn’t budge. She looked back at them with a quirked brow. “How do you expect to do anything in this clubhouse if you can’t even walk in it?”
Scootaloo scoffed. “Pfft, we can walk fine!” Her two friends didn’t seem so sure and gave each other a nervous smile and nod. Scootaloo ran up past Samantha and started to tentatively walk around the occasional trash pile, metal parts from Celestia knew where and random pieces of food. She made it to the other side of their clubhouse in only two minutes time. She turned around and smiled cheekily. “See?”
“Ah dunno, Scoots. Maybe we should do a little cleaning up…”
Scootaloo looked out the doorway to her friends, each giving her hopeful smiles. She sighed and muttered something under her breath. “I better not get a cutie mark in this…”
Sweetie Belle inwardly cheered, she doubted she would ever get her pretty mark with their clubhouse looking and smelly that dirty. The four joined up and Samantha began to bark out orders in an even tone.
“Alright, Scootaloo, sort out those metal parts. Uh, what are they from exactly?”
The filly blushed. “I tried taking apart my scooter once, I thought I could put it back together and earn some kind of cutie mark… my parents had to buy me a new one.”
“...Right, so gather up those parts, since they seemed to have came from you.” Samantha studied the debris and noted it wasn’t too dirty inside. “Alright, it’s a toss up between discarded food and trash. “Apple Bloom, you can help me gather these papers and throw them in the bin here.” The filly smiled and nodded. “THat just leaves you, Sweetie Belle. You can get the food.”
Sweetie watched some pudding (if you could call it that) fall from the edge of their table which came down with a loud splat. “Perfect…” The filly grunted, but nodded.
By the time they were finished the four had exhausted their energy reserves, obvious to all by their panting states.
“Finished…” Sweetie uttered out, shaken and fearful that her hooves would smell like rotten pudding for weeks.
“Yeah, that wasn’t very fun…” Scootaloo nodded, quickly agreeing with Apple Bloom.
Samantha smirked. “I never said it was gonna be fun, I said something else. Least your clubhouse is pristine now. You acted real mature you three.” Samantha complemented, observing their newly buffed wooden floorboards. The place practically sparkled. She actually wasn’t sure why she put so much effort into cleaning the place, but it felt good to help out.
Scootaloo, and soon her two friends examined their flanks. “Well we didn’t earn a cutie mark in that, thank Celestia.”
“We could have at least earned a cutie mark in being mature.” Scootaloo pointed out, the other two simply shrugged.
Sometime later Samantha found her way back to Twilight’s library. Inside she found Twilight busy working on some kind of math equation which was scribbled on several different chalkboards.
“No, that won't work. Already thought of that…”
“Uh, hello?”
Twilight jumped in surprise and whirled around. “Uh, you weren’t suppose to be here for another hour. It isn’t ready yet!”
Her mane and tail looked frizzled, as if she hadn’t actually moved in hours, or moved much. Her eyes were wide in shock and manic. Samantha coughed nervously. “Uh, I could go for a walk?” She half suggested and half questioned.
“Well--”
“Twi? You and Samantha in here?” They both heard a familiar mare speak from behind the door. It was quickly opened. In walked an earth pony mare wearing a stetson hat. She smiled upon meeting Samantha’s eyes.
“When I heard Apple Bloom and her little friends claim they cleaned their clubhouse, ah had to see it to believe it. When they fessed up and claimed you were part of it, ah was surprised. Uh, you were, right?”
Samantha met her worried gaze, but nodded. “Yeah, the place was worse than… well, I shouldn’t say.”
The mare nodded. “Believe me, I know. Ah’m just glad somepony around town did something without us requesting to, or… well, let’s just say folks ‘round here have been gettin’ used to us six doing cleanups and charity work and all sorts of things. It’s nice to help out, of course, but it’s nicer when somepony is generous in return. Thanks again!”
Twilight watched her leave, her silent gaze almost seemed eerie to Samantha. Which is why she nearly ducked under a table when the unicorn suddenly spoke quite loudly.
“That’s it! I know what your job can be!”
I’d rather get home. She quirked a brow anyway. “What?”
She didn’t like that the manic look had returned or the fact that Spike, who had remained silent this whole time, quickly ran out of the room.
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Samantha, like many of us you have to deal with your past mistakes and actions, but your unique situation guarantees you shouldn't take the value of children's decision making highly.
Also entertaining is that the increased mental aptitude of Samantha is thus far uninvestigated (or knowingly investigated) or raises a few eyebrows.
Nice update.
I usually don't point out grammar mistakes unless it's so rampant and horrible that it is unable to be read without being holy hell distracting or incomprehensible. However, you asked.. and only one mistake I saw that I actually remembered.
5365530 I have failed you all as a writer...
iambrony.dget.cc/mlp/gif/192380__UNOPT__safe_pinkie-pie_animated_happy_wonderbolts-academy_cry.gif
Pfft, thanks for pointing it out. It's an old habit of mine, I hold down the shift button for too long.
5365501 I don't know why, but your comment didn't show up in notifications... weird. Anyway, I figured that would be a bit funny in a subtle way. Though, Twilight certainly notices something is a miss. She just doesn't want to have to deal with it.
Darn it now I can't get the image of Discord saying that with a cheeky grin and wink out of my head.
Also I think spell check my have gotten you. AJ wears a stetson hat, and not a stencil hat.