Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat in the Crusader Clubhouse, their faces scrunched up with worry. Yet again, Scootaloo wasn't there with them. It had been this way for quite some time. Admittedly, this was nothing new in and of itself. Scootaloo lived alone in Ponyville and often would spend a great deal of time somewhere else, never telling anyone where that was exactly. She'd even said she'd be out of town a few days last time they met up. The only problem was that was a month ago, and nopony had seen fur or feather of her since! The adults may be shrugging it off as something taking up extra time, but Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were both certain something was terribly wrong.
"Scoot still ain't back," Apple Bloom murmured finally. "Do...do ya think she's okay?"
"I...I don't know," Sweetie Belle replied. "I...I hope so. Do you think we should ask Princess Twilight again?"
"No," Apple Bloom responded sadly. "She's still so busy figuring out what she's gotta do as a Princess, and what that box means. Applejack told me she ain't really got time fer much else." She frowned irritably. "Discord, maybe? He might know-"
"I tried," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "I went over to Fluttershy's two weeks ago and asked to talk to him. When I asked Discord about Scootaloo, he said he couldn't tell me anything about her." She glanced away, her eyes clouded with worry.
"How come ya didn't tell me sooner?" Apple Bloom asked worriedly.
"It's...the way he said it," Sweetie Belle explained. "He said...'That filly is beyond my power now.' I...I don't know what that means, but...it's scary."
Apple Bloom stifled a whimper, doing her best to try and be strong. "It's...it's gonna be okay, Sweetie," she said, moving over to her friend to pull her into a comforting hug. "Scoot's...Scoot's really tough. She'll...she'll come scootin' down the trail to the clubhouse one o' these days like nothin's happened, and everythang's gonna be okay again."
Sweetie Belle sniffled as she returned the embrace, her eyes staring out towards that path Apple Bloom had mentioned, hoping and praying she might see Scootaloo coming down it any moment now. Her eyes were so tear-blurred that at first she missed the flash of orange amongst the autumn leaves. The accompanying purple, however, quickly caught her attention. Releasing Apple Bloom, she raced over to the window and stared out. "No way..." she murmured hopefully.
As Apple Bloom joined her at the window, the figure could barely be made out. Scootaloo was indeed buzzing down the path on her scooter, but her movements lacked their normal excitement. Her entire stance seemed bowed down with the weight of the world, she looked slimmer than when they last saw her, her mane was long enough that the back hung to her shoulders instead of being cut short, and she wore a black eyepatch over her right eye. "S...Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle gasped out in shock.
As the figure's head lifted, the visible eye lit up at the sight of the Clubhouse and the two waiting fillies, and her movements became more energized.
"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom screamed out, and the pair of fillies charged down the ramp to greet their friend, tackling her off her scooter and pulling her into a tight hug. Scootaloo returned the embrace just as fervently, doing her best to hide a few winces as the tight embrace apparently brushed a few sensitive points on her barrel and legs.
"Missed you too, girls!" Scootaloo replied warmly. As the embrace finally broke, she rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry I was gone so long. Things...kinda came up." Seeing her friends about to bombard her with questions, she held up both front hooves desperately. "Please, don't ask! It's...let's just say I've had to take up some family responsibilities which...aren't entirely pleasant to think about. It also means the time I get to spend down here in Ponyville is more limited than before...so every moment is precious."
Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion, but Scootaloo winced at the look of almost instant understanding and empathy that crossed Apple Bloom's face. "Okay Scoot, we won't ask," she promised. "We'll just have fun together, like we always do."
"But...what about this?" Sweetie asked, pointing at the eyepatch. "What happened to your-"
She was cut off as Apple Bloom gently pushed her hoof aside. "Let's not ask, okay?" Though Sweetie remained confused, she nodded assent.
Scootaloo managed a soft smile. "Thanks girls. I promise, I'll send you as many answers as I can as soon as possible. But for now...let's get to crusading!" She glanced towards her blank flank. "Let's see if I can get something awesome on here before I'm stuck with something responsible." All three girls stuck their tongues out together with a concerted 'Bleh!' at that idea, before giggling and rushing off into the orchard to find something 'awesome' to Crusade in.
As such, none noticed the pitch black figure collecting Scootaloo's helmet and scooter before sauntering into the Clubhouse.
Several hours later, just before 4 o'clock, the three fillies staggered back towards the Clubhouse, laughing, stumbling, and covered in tree sap. "Well, no Cutie Marks," Scootaloo spoke up, "but that was definitely a good day! Thanks girls."
"Anytime, Scoot!" Apple Bloom promised, resting a hoof on her friend's shoulders. "Anything ya need, Scoot. Anything."
"Same here!" Sweetie promised, though her confusion returned as she glanced back and forth between her friends.
Scootaloo smiled warmly as the trio staggered towards the clubhouse. Her smile turned into a confused frown as she saw her scooter tied up to the ramp with the helmet hanging off the handlebars, both freshly polished. "...what the...?" she murmured in confusion.
Sweetie Belle suddenly sniffed the air. "Do you girls smell quiche?" she asked curiously, remembering when Rarity had made it for breakfast once.
Curious, Apple Bloom sniffed the air. "It's coming from the Clubhouse?" she gasped in shock.
While Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked confused and worried, Scootaloo took one whiff at the air and became...incensed. Angrily stomping up the ramp, she threw the door of the Clubhouse open with a bang. The other fillies followed her up, only to gasp in shock.
Their stout little table was covered in snowy white linen, with the finest porcelain set up with three place settings. In the center of the table, a delectable quiche sat wafting its heavenly aroma through the small room. A pitch black creature was pouring steaming, fragrant tea into three mugs as they entered, and it took a bit for the girls to realize it was a griffon. His feline portion was a panther, and his avian portion was crow. His hooked beak clicked idly as he carefully measured the tea into each cup, his black wings folded tightly to the suit jacket he was wearing, framing his slim build. White gloves shaped to his talons, leaving only the very tips of those lethal claws free as he held the pot. His calm crimson eyes watched the steam curl in the air. Setting the teapot down, he turned towards the door, his eyes immediately locking on Scootaloo. "Oh, Countess," he murmured softly in a pleasant, subservient voice, "you've made such a mess of yourself. Would you care to wash up before your afternoon tea? I have enough for your friends as well."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's jaws hung freely. They turned slowly towards Scootaloo. "Countess?" they gasped out in shock.
Scootaloo's eyes blazed in anger. "Sebastian!" she growled in inarticulate fury.
THis has my attention Tat! anything I should be come familiar with before reading this?
8014983
Nope. Just about anything you need to know will be covered in story.
You might consider reading the manga/watching the anime "Black Butler" to get some of the referential humor, though.
Hold on! Does this mean Scootaloo is Celestia's watch dog?!
. . . I don't think even Ponyville can handle this kind of group.
BLACK BUTLER!!!
images.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw1179_large.jpg
Stop! I'm still excited as hell from Jack coming back, and now you drop this on us?!
a delectable quiche sat wafting it's heavenly aroma
1. Its.
If I had to guess why Scoot's angry, the butler did it.
Okay how much do you want to bet that Sebastian will make Tirek wet himself in fear?
Confound it Tats! Now you helped stir my brain into a creative-thought-frenzy!!! *Dreamy-Wavy-Harp-Chord-Sequence*
Wait, I can't make a good scene/joke that incorporates Scootaloo, Alucard, Uncle, and Sebastian! I never actually watched Black Butler! Okay, someone more funny and talented, make it happen!!! Involve that zipper-fan Riku of Kingdom Hearts if you have to!
Is this an AU
Also wonder how the elements will react to her title and lifestyle?
8015061
How about 5 bits
8015105
Technically yes...so I'll just slap that tag on there to be on the safe side.
8015106 Oh wait how about when Spoiled Rich insults Scootaloo in front of him?
8015160
Never watched Black Butler so i think that Spoiled would be served deep boiled and served with tartar sauce
8015111
And what about the mane 6's reactions
I was honestly expecting Sebastian to be in his human form, but this it highly appropriate. I'll bet he's happy to be part cat.
I know nothing of this 'Black Butler' of which you speak, but if this story requires little to no background knowledge, I'm happy to fave it. Sounds interesting...
This is going to be one hell of a story. Scootaloo is no Ciel Phantomhive after all.
the moment i read the summary, i knew what this was gonna be. and i like it.
8015111 good idea
So this doesn't require any knowledge of the material? I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes then.
*opens up the story*
*reads the description*
*realizes it's going to be a Black Butler story*
Well, this has now been rectified via watching
twofour episodes. I'm a bit curious as to some of the choices and descriptions you gave for his other staff, but who am I to question? I'm sure you'll cover everything later on. It'll be interesting to step out of your PWNY-verse again.... Is this an independent story, or part of your multiverse stuff?
To paraphrase the collab video done by Manga Kamen, Crimson Glow, Arrow, and Blaze: Dead Demon now Dead Bird definitely walking. I'm thinking Scootaloo didn't want her friends finding out about her title.
http://youtu.be/PZhkm0rhttw
Very nice.
Looking forward to this.
8014991 Damn you for making me look into even moar places to monithor
8015615 it is a independent one that has a cameo in one of his Multiverse stories it is in Three more things
The official story for the Crusaders is "Three more things".
Oh my, this looks like it's going to be all kinds of interesting, especially since you seem to be breaking form by having at least part of this taking place in Ponyville. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where you take this.
8015869 He mentioned in a blog that he was considering making it canon to that, but reading this I don't see how it could be. That's honestly probably a good thing overall since it gives him a lot more freedom to try different things and makes things a lot less predictable for us.
Black Butler crossover? Could be good fun, but I fear much OOC-ness, canon-breaking Grimdark, and Sebastian-wankage lie ahead. But perhaps I am judging prematurely; surely Scootaloo won't turn into a Ciel-clone, Celestia won't put pre-Cutie Mark foals in charge of taking down violent criminals, and Sebastian doesn't scare Discord...oh, wait, that happened.
Ah well. Hope springs eternal, and I shall await the next installment with some interest.
8015962
"Starlight Falls" is the story that may or may not be canon to PWNY.
This absolutely is not canon to PWNY.
Sebastian's cameo in "Three More Things" - and his paying more attention to Scootaloo - was a reference to this story, not yet written.
8016056
As for Sebastian scaring Discord, it's not quite 'scaring', but I have a reason why it would.
A demon under contract can do anything as long as it's part of the contract orders. If the demon is powerful enough, they could even kill God if the one they're under contract to ordered it. And canonically, Sebastian is one of the most powerful demons in existence. Discord, on the other hand, anything he does always must be chaotic.
But what Discord said was that Scootaloo was "beyond his power"...meaning that now that Scootaloo has Sebastian under contract, Discord's power can no longer touch her because she's shielded by Sebastian's.
only skimmed through the description and saw "One devil of a butler"........already tracked it before reading
All I had to see was "Devilish Butler" and INSTANTLY knew I was hooked! HOORAY, SCOOTS HAS BASSIE FOR A BUTLER!!!
... Wait... if that's the case....
Oh. OH NO...
... Now you have me wanting to make a broccoli quiche. Thanks a lot, now I'm gonna be craving it for a week.
This looks promising. Course, now I probably have to go binge watch Black Butler now to understand what will come up in this story. lol
Definitely tracking and liking this.
so long as u dont pull the same dick ass WTF move that the actual Black Butler pulled...ill be happy (no i havnt watched the show or read the manga, but i did see a spoiler of just what happened between season one and two of Black Butler and just what killed the show as a result!)
8017007
Are you referring to the bit with the Angels, or the bit with the other contract demon? Cause both bits were actually made just for the show and aren't canon to the manga.
8017028 im referring to the one that made it impossible for the guy to actually finish the contract and claim the kids soul, since the kid became part demon, he was forced to serve the kid forever, even though he won the contract from the other demon
8017051
Ah, the 'Season 2' finale. That's the part that's completely non-canon.
More. Please.
i'm guessing this is canon to the manga?
...and the third season i suppose
Yes all the way with this and please dont use the tv show it was poop.
please tell me this will only be loosely based on black butler. i never finished the series but i hear it got weird and dropped the ball at the end. great concept though
8031605
I just hope that if it is based on Black Butler that its the first one and not Black Butler 2 because that one apparently took a turn for the worst by introducing one of the most annoying characters in Anime as the antagonist.
8031605
8031726
Anime takes too many liberties and adds filler arcs to stretch out material ... hence why, 9 out of 10 times (save for special cases), I read manga more than watch anime these days. Less nonsensical turns, just the main story arc (and connected character mini-arcs), and true to the manga-ka's original vision.
YES!!!
I have to say that you did a great job 'griffonizing' Sebastian. The imagery is so in line with the charicter.
Real shame with the anime. The first season held such promise. Ciel and Sebastian’s voice actors were impeccable.