Many Feathers Make a Bed
Years of living on the street had trained Scootaloo to rise with the sun. Today, however, the sensation that woke her wasn’t her hooves tingling from frostnip, but the light tickling her eyes. She tried to turn away from it, but that only woke her up further, so she stretched and sat up against the headboard. A soft snore told her Spike was still sleeping and a quick glance down confirmed it. The clock on the wall told her it was too early to expect Spike to wake up and she didn't hear any sounds from elsewhere in the castle either. With nothing better to do, Scootaloo decided to read some of the comics she hadn’t gotten to last night. Not wanting to wake her friend, she carefully hopped down on the opposite side of the bed.
The windows were framed with a layer of frost that had built up overnight. Just seeing the icicles hanging from the branches outside the window made her shiver.
Spike kept his Power Ponies comics chronologically ordered, in a bookcase on the far wall. As Scootaloo crossed the room it hit her just how much Spike was, well, loved. There were pictures of him with his friends and momentoes from his travels mixed in with the useful things. He didn’t have a broken heater in his room, he didn’t have to scavenge junk on the faint hopes it would prove useful. Scootaloo forced down a pang of jealousy.
Scootaloo searched the shelves for the comic Spike recommended last night, until she found it laid out thoughtfully on the desk. Second Chances had Fili-Second violate her oath not to affect the timeline; going back in time to save her mother’s life. Only to return to a future where the Masked Matter-horn is evil, Radiance had been murdered, Saddle Rager never got her powers and Zapp is a cold blooded mercenary. She put things right in the end, of course. The Power Ponies always saved the day.
Closing the comic, Scootaloo couldn’t help but wonder if she would change the past if she could. Maybe there was a timeline where she was never dropped off at that orphanage, where her parents loved her, but it wasn’t this timeline.
The sound of Spike stirring broke her chain of thought. “And I thought I was an early riser,” he said, rubbing his eyes through a yawn.
Breakfast was oatmeal, and while this time Scootaloo was careful not to wolf hers down, she did eat as much as she could. To her great relief, the conversation was light, and Twilight didn’t ask any probing questions.
She also levitated a scarf and small knit cap over from a nearby closet when Scootaloo announced she was leaving. “I don’t want you to get cold walking home.”
Scootaloo took the clothes, but hesitated to put them on. “Thanks,” she said, “but aren’t you going to need these later?” Scootaloo did things she wasn’t always proud of sometimes, but stealing wasn’t one of them.
Twilight began putting on her own scarf and earmuffs. “That’s okay, you can just give them back when we get to your house.”
The answer stopped Scootaloo dead in her tracks. “What!”
Twilight tilted her head, and that puzzling look reappeared. “I thought Spike and I would walk you home.”
“That’s okay, you don’t have do that,” Scootaloo answered quickly.
“It’s no problem. Spike and I have a shopping trip scheduled this time every week.”
“Yeah Scoot, it’s no big deal,” Spike chimed in, securing his own green hat and scarf over his purple jacket.
“I’m not going home though. I thought I’d practice my scootering.”
“In this weather? Don't you want to at least grab a jacket?”
“My house isn’t really anywhere near the market,” Scootaloo tried.
Twilight chuckled. “Ponyville isn’t that big, it can’t be that far.”
Nerves frayed, Scootaloo threw both the hat and the scarf back at Twilight. “You don’t have to walk me home!” she shouted. Tension hung in the air. Even Spike was at a loss for words. Scootaloo fought to control her breathing. “I’m sorry,” she said, feverently hoping the whole thing could just end there.
Twilight levitated the scarf and the hat back off the ground and toward the trembling filly. “It’s OK, Scootaloo, we won’t walk you home. Just bring these back whenever you can.”
Scootaloo took the items from midair and put them on, looking anywhere but in Twilight’s eyes. “I’m sorry, really. Thanks for having me.”
“You’re always welcome here, Scootaloo,” Twilight said, her eyes drooping.
Scootaloo only nodded and hopped on her scooter, fleeing the library as fast as her wings would let her.
Twilight replayed the events since finding Scootaloo in the library over in her mind on the way to the market. She opted not to say anything until she was sure that there was something she must have missed. “Did Scootaloo seem odd to you last night?” she asked Spike halfway through picking the oranges.
Spike continued to fill his basket. “Nah, last night she was fine.”
“That kind of reaction isn’t normal, Spike.”
Spike nodded. “Maybe she just woke up on the wrong side of the bed?”
“I don't know. I think something might be really wrong.”
Spike tossed the orange he was holding back on the pile and set his basket down. Usually when Twilight said something like that, it meant that serious trouble was afoot. “Is your flank glowing? Did the map light up?”
“No, it’s just a feeling I have.”
Spike breathed a small sigh of relief. “I don’t know, Twilight. Poking around in ponies’ lives is the kind of thing that gets you in trouble.”
It made her grimace to admit it, but her assistant wasn’t wrong. Twilight could list off several instances where her meddling had made a manageable situation worse. “Keep an eye on her for me then? I’d hate to think that there’s a pony who needs my help and I ignored the signs.”
“Sure thing, Twi.”
The hat and scarf Twilight leant her were preposterously soft and warm. Of course they were. Princess Twilight probably didn't think twice about having Yakyakistani wool scarfs to loan out, Scootaloo mused caustically.
The warmth and fullness from breakfast quickly wore off and once again Scootaloo was forced to consider how she would make it through another night. None of her usual jobs had panned out yesterday, but perseverance had always paid off for her in the past.
Sturdy Craft was perched in his usual spot, behind the counter of his hardware store, a ball of hay wedged in his right cheek. “Hiya ‘Loo,” he said with his unmistakably thick Dodge Junction drawl.
“Hiya Mr. Craft. Need any help today?”
“I might. Got some boxes in, could use some help unloading them. Should take a couple-a hours. Eight bits for your trouble sound fair?”
Scootaloo quickly considered the offer. Eight bits was a fair price, but not enough to fix her heater. “How about six bits and you let me borrow a soldering iron?”
The counter offer prompted a low chuckle.“Now what’s a li’l filly like you need soldering iron fer?”
Simple lies work best. “Thought I might go for an engineering cutie mark. Won't know unless I try right?”
Another chuckle. “Well when you put it that way, how ‘bout eight, I let you borrow the iron, and you invite me to your cuteceñera.”
Scootaloo grinned. “Deal!”
The work took just over two hours, and left Scootaloo’s coat sweaty and caked with dust. But as she set the last of the boxes of nails on the shelf, pride swelled up inside her. She had earned more bits for her coin purse, more goodwill from Mr. Craft and a chance to not be so cold tonight. I don’t need anypony’s help, she thought triumphantly.
As he always did, Sturdy counted out his payment two bits at a time, pushing each pair across the counter. Out of habit, Scootaloo counted out the bits along with him, and when he was done, pushed two back. “You gave me ten.”
Sturdy pushed the bits back with a smile. “Yep, sure did. Call it a bonus.”
“Wow, really?” Sturdy nodded. “Thanks again, Mr. Craft!”
Scootaloo hurried back to her cellar, eager to try and fix her heater. She unscrewed the back to find a section of burnt copper wire fused over a jagged-looking crack. The book she had borrowed didn’t have specific instructions, but it did have a diagram of a heater that looked close enough. If she was reading it right, she would need to remove the wire, replace it, and solder the crack closed so the wire wouldn’t fuse again. Replacing the wire was easy, she had some more in her scrap box. Soldering it in place and repairing the crack was harder. She burned her hoof twice on the iron.
But when she finally screwed the back piece back on, plugged the heater in, and felt it start to warm the air in front of her, Scootaloo couldn’t help but jump for joy. “Ha!” she said out loud with a celebratory hoof pump, before quickly covering her mouth. Quills and Sofas may have been closed on Sundays but it wouldn’t do her any good if somepony heard her down in the cellar.
Scootaloo’s jubilant mood was temporarily dimmed by a dull hunger pain. She was flush with cash, for her anyway, and she considered treating herself to a real meal. A vision of a hot sandwich with fries and a glass of ice lemonade danced in her head. Scootaloo sighed, took four coins out of her purse and dropped them in the small jar that served as her rainy day fund. She had eight, now twelve, bits that she resolved only to use in the most dire of circumstances. It had taken a few hard learned lessons for her to not let her present happiness impact her always uncertain future.
So instead of scooting towards Bon Appetite, she fastened her helmet and sped off toward Ponyville’s restaurant row in search of a less satisfying but cheaper option. Olive’s Garden usually let her wash dishes when one of their employees called out, but as luck would have it they had a full staff. The dumpster behind Honey’s Bake Shop was bereft and Cheesy Grits was closed for a family gathering. So much for saving some more bits. Not wanting to spend the night hungry, Scootaloo bought herself a bowl of spaghetti, to go of course, and turned her scooter around back toward her cellar.
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employees (apostrophes are for possessives, not plurals.)
Great chapter. I am eager to see the next part.
Good to see Twilight's getting suspicious. Let's hope you didn't actually cause an electric fire with your soldering, Scoots!
(Also, though it's pretty much spring already, now I want a Yakyakistani wool scarf and beanie!)
I'm not a member of the group, so I can't vote. However, I would like to recommend Working Towards the Future by Dasponi. Be warned, it's the sequel to his story I'm Tired of All This.
Here's the short description (spoiler is for the prequel):
I'll just say it's a heartfelt roller coaster of emotional ups and downs with a happy ending.
As for this story, I am just going to bide my time until Scootaloo slips, is found out, or comes clean.
Nice to see Twilight noticing odds about Loo. Also, is the other M6 and CMC going to be in the story or is this more focused on Twilight and Scoots?
Does Olive's Garden give you unlimited breadsticks?
It's good to see more of this story. It's easy and nice to read, and I'm eager to see when Twilight might find out.
Also, that Power Ponies issue seems rather dark for a comic made by ponies.
This is one time I wish Spike hadn't talked Twilight out of a freakout. Also, I love Mr. Craft's nickname for 'Loo. I might use it more now, lol
8054454
It's a parody of Flashpoint, where basically the same thing happens to DC with the Flash.
So far things are progressing. Hopefully Scootaloo can be exposed for the dirty rotten liar she is. For her own good, of course.
8054429 No, that's a completely different restaurant.
8054454 Comics can be dark. (Cough* Flashpoint reference)
8054361 I try to avoid crowding my stories. I think having too many characters leads to a lot of muddled scenes. That being said, the other mane six and the CMC will be in this story, it just doesn't focus on them.
8054361
I hope it will be at least somewhat addressed. These stories are usually much better if they give a full picture of how life changes, rather than just a limited "how two people interact changes."
8054504 Like I said, the cmc and the rest of the mane six will make an appearance in due time.
8054333 I'm tempted not to bring this up for a vote, only because Dasponi appears to have left the site. There's no rule that authors have to be active to have their story inducted, but still.....
8054505 I do agree that it does get way overcrowded at times if you don't know how to handle all of them at once. It's nice they'll at least get some spotlight but what I do like to see that wasn't really in much from the Rarity story is having AppleBoom and Sweetie Bell more involved since the CMC are always together and hard to think how they aren't helping their friend when she is struggling.
Balance between Characters is always tough, just be sure not over lap and focused on who you want the story to be focused on.
orig02.deviantart.net/a30d/f/2017/055/2/7/fashionably_resting_by_hillbe-db0abdt.jpg
8054505
Ah. I see it now.
I do agree that having a smaller number of leads is a pretty good decision, too.
8054552 I like to think i gave Sweetie a fairly meaty part in Three Gems.
The parameters of any story nessecitate how characters are used. In that one there wasn't a lot the cmc could do to help Scoots.
In this one Scootalol seems pretty adamant about hiding her living situation. I'm still working on the CMC's role in this one though, rest assured they will have one.
Yes! Yes! Inject it directly into my veins!
Yay for updates. :3 Lot more to go I hope.
8055107 Definitely more to come. Though I'm trying not to make this story too long....
More, just need more!
Yeah, Twilight really shouldn't be heeding Spike's advice on this one (if we are being truthful, he is a child as well) - the way Scootaloo had a legitimate panic attack at the suggestion of being escorted home, coupled with all the red flags she raised during the dinner, should be leaving Twilight pretty convinced that there is something wrong with Scoot's home life. Given the extreme reaction (throwing the scarf back, trembling and yelling? Yeesh), this very much feels like a situation where she ought to feel like she can't afford not to stick her royal snout into, for everyone's peace of mind if nothing else.
8054477 Ironically its pretty tame compared to the actual Flashpoint story... relatively speaking I mean.
So, what is your group's position on stories with Scootaloo arcs? I've seen a few around, like Living in Equestria by Blazewing, Post Nuptials by Darth Link 22, and Three Wishes: The Cutie Mark Crusaders Before They Changed The World by Xepher.
(I actually prefer the other two CMCs -- which is not to say I wouldn't treat her with affection if the opportunity arose, just that the other two appeal to me more -- which is why I'm not just joining the group and posting there.)
8058430 I'm not 100% sure what you mean. The group welcomes all stories that have scootaloo as a major charcter, but to bein the hall she has to be the main one.
8059460 Ah. Well, she's not the main character in any of them, and only a main character in Three Wishes. I guess it'd be your call if she's a major enough character to qualify. (She's more important in Families than in Post Nuptials, honestly, but if you're going to read that, read PN first.
great story cant wait to see more
8054493 Flashpoint Paradox was brilliant.
Twilight chuckled. “Ponyville isn’t that big, it can’t be that far.”
Scootaloo, you're trying to sidestep around an alicorn who is known as an egghead. She's called that for a REASON.
Spike breathed a small sigh of relief. “I don’t know, Twilight. Poking around in ponies’ lives is the kind of thing that gets you in trouble.”
It's also the kind of thing that SAVES LIVES, Spike.
It's "lent."
I love the comic book second chances. It sounds just like DC's Flash comic book Flashpoint.
No, Scoots! No! This is when you write a note to Twilight saying "thanks for letting me sleep over, but I'm going home now, as I'm sure that my parents are back by now"!
9065508
im (fairly) certain it's exactly that
So instead of scooting towards Bon Appetite, she fastened her helmet and sped off toward Ponyville’s restaurant row in search of a less satisfying but cheaper option. Olive’s Garden usually let her wash dishes when one of their employees called out, but as luck would have it they had a full staff.
I see what you did there ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Yeah, it's the canon timeline where you live with your aunts.