Chapter 5
Scootaloo leaned back in her chair, turning her eyes to the ceiling as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle focused their attention on her. "Do either of you know what it means being born into a noble family?" she asked carefully. "Being a child of a noble family?"
Apple Bloom blinked thoughtfully. "Umm...nope."
"Doesn't it mean being super privileged?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Never wanting for anything?"
"Maybe that's what it means now on the other side of the mountain," Scootaloo grumbled irritably, "but as I was taught...being born a noble means Duty. The Royals watch over all of Equestria, keeping us safe and thriving, but their eyes can't be everywhere. The Noble caste was created to aid the Royals, to oversee smaller portions of Equestria so the Royals can handle the Big Picture. That means the first Duty of every Noble is their Charges." The capitals in her speech were plainly audible, carrying the extra meaning of the significant words. "The higher your rank as a Noble, the more Charges you oversee, and the greater your Duty. That is what it means to be Noble."
Sweetie Belle blinked as she took that all in. "...how does that explain Prince Blueblood?" she asked in confusion. "I mean, Rarity had a lot of nasty things to say about him after that first Grand Galloping Gala she attended."
"Unfortunately, most of the nobles of Canterlot aren't Noble," Scootaloo observed, "which makes the Charges of those who are all the more important. Blueblood and most of his family are nobles." The pointed absence of a capital spoke volumes. "My family - the House of Wingshadow - has remained Noble from the day of our founding, because our Charge - our Duty - is one of the most important...and one that earns us no renown." She fell silent, uncertain if she wanted to go into any greater detail.
"Why's that?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.
Scootaloo made her decision. "It is the job of the House of Wingshadow to keep Equestria's citizens safe. We are the Royal Watchdogs...and if we do our jobs well, not only will no one ever know we did anything, no one will ever know there was anything that even needed doing." She looked her friends right in their eyes. "Please...I'd rather not explain further as far as that goes."
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both nodded as Sebastian brought out the salad and dessert. "So...is that why ya hadn't told us about all this?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.
"Not entirely," Scootaloo explained as she took a few bites, eating daintily with her fork in stark contrast to her normal behavior back in Ponyville...such contrast in fact that Apple Bloom sheepishly pulled her own head back from her plate to reach for her fork as Sebastian moved in with a napkin to wipe her face. "I've always been a bit of a free spirit, desperate to fly-"
"We know," Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle interrupted with friendly, teasing grins.
Scootaloo managed a chuckle. "Anyway, all the talk of Duty and Charges and all I'd have to do as an Heir...it was more than I could handle when I was younger. One day, it got to be too much...and I ran. I ditched the fancy dresses, grabbed a scooter and some bits, and took off as fast as my wings could make me go. Made it all the way to Ponyville in a single day, and just curled up in the library to sleep that night. I got mistaken for a rambunctious student the following morning, and was sent to Ponyville Elementary. I spent an entire day just being an ordinary kid, not having any responsibility laid on me...and I loved it.
"Of course, it didn't last." Scootaloo toyed with her fork as she stared into her salad. "Mom and Dad found me that evening, and they were worried sick. But when they found me, I just started going on and on about what a wonderful day I'd had, how cool ponies were in Ponyville, how much fun the school playground was...with this huge grin on my face like they'd never seen before. I guess seeing me so happy for the first time in my life forestalled any scolding. But when I was being tucked in for the night, my smile started to fade."
She took a few bites and a drink, letting her friends take it all in. "When my Dad asked what was wrong, I said, 'I'm never gonna get to go back there, am I?' The look on his face..." She shook her head. "The following morning, they bought me that house I have down in Ponyville, and sent me there at least two weeks a month, and they only insisted I be up in Canterlot for lessons about my Duty and my Charges."
"Wow," Apple Bloom murmured softly. "Yer folks were real nice..."
"Yeah..." Scootaloo agreed, playing with a few leaves and a bit of carrot on her plate.
"I'm surprised you didn't get punished for running away," Sweetie Belle observed. "Rarity'd say that wouldn't give the right lesson."
"It is the Duty of Wingshadow House to safeguard the Equestrian common people," Sebastian observed softly. "Though I was not in the employ of the House at the time, I can only presume the Earl and Countess' thought was that it could only be to the Heir's good to have a strong connection to the citizens she was meant to protect."
Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, that's what they said." She blinked her visible eye, holding back tears. "They wanted to nurture my fiery spirit, so anytime my antics got me in trouble and they had to 'punish me' for the sake of appearance, they'd 'exile me' from Canterlot for a month or two." She smirked mischievously.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle caught the grin. "Meanin' ya got a couple months uninterrupted time in Ponyville?"
"Yup!" Scootaloo crowed happily. This sparked laughter amongst her friends, and she joined for a time. However, her joy soon left. "So yeah...that's why I wanted to keep my Canterlot life separate from my Ponyville life, even to the point of not telling you girls. It meant...I could actually be two different ponies. In Ponyville, I didn't have to worry about Duty and Charges. I didn't have to be Countess Sunrise Wingshadow. I could just be Scootaloo, stunt filly and Cutie Mark Crusader. But...now I'm the head of House. I guess...my time as a silly filly having fun is over."
"Doesn't hafta be," Apple Bloom offered. "Maybe ya can't be down in Ponyville as often, but whenever ya can take the time, we'll be there for ya!"
"And if you can't take the time to come all the way down, maybe we could make the time to come up for an afternoon!" Sweetie Belle offered. "Sebastian could probably get us back and forth in a jiffy."
Scootaloo managed a small smile. "Thanks, girls," she responded warmly, reaching around the table to rest her forehooves on theirs.
Apple Bloom suddenly giggled. "...Scoot, I know ya wanna keep it all separate...but can ya imagine..." She stuffed both forehooves into her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"Imagine what?" Scootaloo asked curiously.
"Th' look on Diamond Tiara's face if'n she found out!" she finally burst out, unable to hold it in any longer.
Scootaloo's eyes widened, and she burst into gales of laughter. "Sun, Moon, and Stars, that'd almost be worth it!"
Sebastian watched the laughter for a time, then cleared away the salad dishes before serving the dessert. As he did, Sweetie Belle looked up at him. "So when were you hired?" she asked curiously. "I mean, you said you weren't here when Scootaloo first went to Ponyville..."
"My Lady brought me under contract herself," Sebastian replied demurely.
Sweetie Belle suddenly gasped. "Are you a demon of vengeance under contract to destroy a secret cult that orchestrated what happened to Scootaloo and her parents?" she asked excitedly, neither her nor Apple Bloom noticing Scootaloo flinch.
Sebastian lightly booped Sweetie Belle's muzzle with one talon. "You read too many comic books, Miss Belle," he chided gently, making Apple Bloom burst into more laughter.
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Seems like Sweetie was channeling a bit of Pinkie there.
Always remember, RL is always more BUCKED UP than any fiction, though Sci-Fi at times can get up there. Then we get to the next chapter to these stories and we have to wonder as they mesh SO FREAKIN' WELL!
WAITING FOR MORE!
GOSH DARN IT SWEETIE STOP CHANNELING YOUR INNER PINKIE!
She may read too many comics, but she sure as hell hit the nail on the head.
A boop for being a little too "on the nose"?
Nice job using that for easy exposition for those of us unfamiliar with the show.
fiery
gales of laughter.
8051519 It's not completely accurate, especially if Tats is using the actual Sebastian.
SPOILERS! DO NOT REVEAL UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW THINGS! SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
Sebastian of Black Butler is NOT a vengeance demon. He is a demon, but not specifically related to vengence. Assuming Tats is using Sebastian's canon history, Sebastian is an ancient being of a parallel reality that may or may not be Hell. And in his case ancient means AT LEAST three thousand years old. He knew an Ancient Egyptian mummy back when it was alive and ruling as Pharaoh.
Demons like him can be bound by a Faustian contract, a bargain that allows the binder to order the demon to do anything they command. The contract takes the form of a mark on both demon and mortal. The more visible the mark on the mortal, the stronger the bind on the demon.
Why do they make such deals? Because every single one gets the same thing out of it. Once the demon has fulfilled the original requirement of the contract, they EAT the soul of the mortal. Canon Sebastian's reason for being a butler? The opportunity to devour the soul of a 12 year old boy that Sebastian feels will be "perfectly exquisite" after the boy gets his revenge for the murder of his parents. Demons like Sebastian, no matter how well behaved, are nightmarish horrors that enjoy the suffering of others.
Never underestimate the imagination power of comic-loving children!
Sebastian: *internally* "Okay what pact has she made to keep hitting that proverbial nail on the head?"
is one of the most important.,,and one that
about my Duty and my Charges.,"
1. Meant to fullstop.
2. Extra comma.
Sweetie Belle is always hitting that little 'sweet' spot of the truth ain't she?
I like how he neither confirmed nor denied Sweetie Belle's accusation. Now Sweetie Belle will think he denied it, hopefully Apple Bloom will pick up on it and stay quite about it.
You know, I just realized... Bon-Bon/Agent Sweetie Drops would fit in perfectly with this story.
8051827 see is probably one of their field agents.
Okay did one of Sweetie's CMC incidents wind her up in the hospital where she got a infusion of Kanassan blood by mistake?
8052034
Yes, most likely.
8051515
I'm not sure if I can
Nopeareno
I like how in typical Sebastian style he either confirms nor denies what Sweetie Belle said.
8051512 Oh no.
She just read Black Butler.
Or t he ponified version of it.
In this world, it's called White Maid.
...
Yyeah. Sweetie Belle's into just a LITTLE bit of Yuri.
8053103
ホワイトメイド (howaito meido), because there's not a Japanese word for maid, all in katakana so it matches (and that's what Google gave for "white maid"), and because I'm a huge nerd.
8053150 Nice
8053150
Shiro Kasei-fu, written as 白家政婦. Shiro meaning white, Kasei-fu meaning Maid/Housekeeper.
Though, it would concern him that somebody might actually now who they are and wrote stories about them.
Or something.
i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/006/039/shrugging-pinkie-pie.png
8053252
Huh. I knew shiro, but I've never heard that word used for a maid, it's always meido.
Edit: Then again, as I learned in Japanese class, the actual word for milk is "gyuunyuu", but that's hardly used anymore, in favor of "miruku". Probably the same deal.
Edit2: Google disagrees on that last point. Whatever, you know what I mean.
Not knowing the BB universe... I'm going to guess YES and I hope it happens.
I so want Diamond Tiara to inadvertantly find out about Scootaloo's status as a noble. Also, I'm thinking Fancy Pants is a Noble, it would be cool to see him be a mentor figure to Scootaloo when she needs some advice and it's not something she needs Princess level help with.
8053768
8053768
*Facepalms* Someone stick spoiler warnings on Sweetie Belle already!
~I didn't hear a denial!~
8099368
~Neither did I!~
8051559
Hands in the air. Who has to keep reminding themselves of fact no. 3? I sure have to every few minutes when watching/reading Black Butler
Darn it, Sweetie, how do you know?
8361890
Dammit Scootaloo, did you sell your soul for vengeance?
8451554
She's essentially channelling both Pinkie and Spike. Remember who this is; she is a filly that can burn toast so bad that toxic waste would be safer to eat.
She knows too much. Now we have to eliminate her.
Seriously, though. I really hope that she can work out a loophole on that contract. Maybe he takes her enemies' souls, she makes herself unkillable/immortal, or Sebastian decides he likes her too much to steal her soul? Otherwise the story is secretly depressing. (More so than it is that she already had to take over a rather crappy-sounding job after her parents were murdered...)
How is Twilight's mark on the heraldry if Scootaloo apparently was a child of the family before Twilight's arrival? That speaks of either disturbing levels of planning (possible, actually...) or a change in the design recently.
8879494
Based off the Tree of Harmony, rearranged post Moonfall (the Nightmare Moon incident) to avoid anyone accusing the House of treason against Celestia based on her symbol being equal to the Moon and below some other symbol.
Despite that being a randomized potshot... I get the feeling that's what Sebastian is...
8051519
… doesn’t mean she’s wrong… they are not going to like what Scootaloo must give up once said cult is destroyed… not unless this story changes things for the better?