> Filly Scouts > by L_Wolf > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER 1 A small filly was on her way to the Filly Scout recruitment office to join. She had a pale amber coat, with an amber mane and tail with darker amber streaks through it and light purple eyes. She was excited since she was finally old enough to join, it had been her dream since she first a poster for them. She was still a blank flank but she though joining might help her earn a cutie mark. Once she reached the office she reached up and open the door heading inside looking around pushing the door closed. "Hello, is anypony here?" she called out as she went over to the desk to look around. The building wasn't very big, there was a desk in a corner near another door, and a few posters on the wall of different filly scouts preforming various activities. After a few minutes another pony in from the other door and looked over at Noi. It was another filly scout, a few years older the Noi, she was a unicorn with a pale blue coat, light pink mane and tail with red streaks in it and gold eyes, her cutie mark was of a black berry and a raspberry. "You must be the new member, Noi was it? We got your application. My name is Mixed Berries," she spoke with a soft smile and nodded for her to follow leading her into the back. "Yes Mixed Berries, my name is Noi, thank you for allowing me to join." Noi said smiling happily as she followed her into the back. The other door lead back outside into the large open camp grounds behind the recruitment office, "Wow this place is amazing," She said her eyes moving to take in everything at once. Mixed Berries glanced back at Noi and smiled letting her look around before leading her off to another building and inside. It was a smaller building then the recruitment office, and held boxes of supplies and equipment. She used her magic to take out a small bag and floated it to Noi. "This is for you, your uniform and hand guide. Be sure to read up on everything in the guide alright?" She said to Noi who took the bag in her mouth nodding at her. "Now, your free to head home now so you can read up on the stuff in the hand book alright?" Noi nodded and smiled happily around the bag in her muzzle giving her best salute. Mixed Berries just smiled and giggled softly. Noi made her way out of the supply room and left the Filly Scout headquarters, happy and excited to have joined the Filly Scouts finally. Noi made her way to her home, it was a small farm compared to Sweet Apple Acres. But it was large enough for her families need, it had one main house in the front with a handful of small fields in the back growing carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, and other vegetables. In the back was also a storage shed for tools and a small crop barn for the harvest. Once she gets home she opens the door and heads inside looking around quickly before putting the bag down. "Sis! I got in!" She called out jumping up and down alittle happily. "I got in!" She called again looking around more before seeing her sister coming into the living room. "Oh that's great news Noi, I'm so happy for you." Her sister said, an yellow earth pony, with an orange mane and tail and green eyes. "So your finally a filly scout?" She asked smiling at her little sister who nodded and picked up the bag in her muzzle again carrying it over. Carrot Top smiled and ruffled her mane softly before speaking to her again. "I'm glad to hear it, now go get washed up for dinner, my friend Roseluck is going to be joining us as well." She said shooing her off to go get cleaned up. Noi smiled and gave her an awkward salute with her hoof before heading to her room on the second floor to put the bag away then headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up before she headed back to her room. It was a small room but nice. There was a picture of Rainbow Dash on the wall, from her time in the Rainbow Dash fan club as well as a picture of Mare Do Well, she had gotten caught up a fan of both and she kept a picture of both. She also has a camera on the dress for when she tried out as school photographer for the paper, but Featherweight got the job, she still likes to take pictures though so she kept the camera. She took her stuff from the bag and looked at the uniform before putting it away and took out the book. "Filly Scout Hand Guide." She read the title and smiled before getting on her bed and started to read the book to herself. It wasn't to thick of a book but she read it slowly so she could remember as much as she could. About an hour later her sister called up to her. "Noi, dinner is ready." Noi looked up from the book and smiled putting the book on her bed she hopped down from the bed and trotted down stairs to the dining area of the house. Her sister's friend Roseluck was already here at the table so she joined her. Roseluck, a pale yellow earth pony with light green eyes and a raspberry colored mane with lighter shade streaks, looked over at Noi and smiled at her. "Hello Noi, I heard you got into the Filly Scouts today, are you excited to be a member?" She asked smiling at her. "Yes I am, very excited to be a member." Noi said with a big grin. "I can't wait to get started helping out ponies as a member and earning badges." She continued as her sister came into the room with the dinner setting it on the table. A simple dinner of vegetable stew and fresh bread. Noi's father had left shortly after finding out her mother was pregnant, and her mother had taken ill shortly after her birth and didn't make it so her sister took care of her. "Noi would you be a dear and get the drinks?" Her sister asked while setting out the bowls and filling them. "Sure thing sis," She said as she went to kitchen to get a container of apple juice, carefully bringing it to the table and placed it on top before going back to get the cups. She was careful not to drop the cups as she carried them into the dining room and placed the on the table. After she had that done she got back in her seat smiling. "Very good Noi," Carrot Top said pouring the drinks and placed them in front of each of them. "Enjoy, there is plenty if you want more." Dinner went by smoothly, Carrot Top and Roseluck spoke with each other about gardening and flowers for the most part. Noi joined in the conversation as well on topics she knew about, though she didn't know that much about gardening or flowers. Once dinner had finished Noi and Roseluck helped Carrot Top clear the table and Noi went to her room to read more of her guide book on the Filly Scouts, though she soon started to feel drowsy and feel asleep. When Carrot Top looked in on her she smiled and put the book on the side table and tucked her in before heading back down stairs. "Is she asleep Carrot Top?" Roseluck asked while sitting on a couch sipping from a cup of tea smiling over at her. "Seems rather quiet up there." "Yes, she must of fallen asleep reading her guide book," Carrot Top said sitting in a chair across from Roseluck. "She's been so exited to get in lately, I'm glad she finally did." She took a sip of her tea smiling. "I just hope her excitement doesn't fade when she finds out how much hard work it takes to be a good filly scout." Roseluck nodded at Carrot Top softly smiling. "Mmm things sure have changed since we were members. Was a lot of camping, cookie selling, and fund raising. But now they also help build buildings, put on shows and a cart and carriage washes and other activities." She said looking at her cup taking another sip of her tea. "I guess fillies today just have more energy then we do." She continued with a giggles over at Carrot Top. Carrot Top giggled back and smiled at Roseluck nodding in agreement with her. "I guess so, Filly Scouts today do keep pretty busy. But if it makes her happy. I'm happy for her." Carrot Top said smiling again taking a sip of her own tea. "So long as she doesn't get disheartened by all the hard work she'll do fine. I know she will." > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 Noi got out of bed the next morning excited and ready to start the day. She went over and got into her filly scout uniform before she made her way down stairs looking around. "I'm going to the Filly Scouts headquarters sis." She called out looking around. "Sis?!" She called again before hearing movement outside. "Alright Noi, have a good time, just don't forget to have breakfast before you go alright?" Carrot Top said, she was wearing her gardening hat and saddle bag set. She was standing by the back door smiling in at Noi. "The uniform looks nice on you." "Thank you sis." Noi said with a big smile at Carrot Top. "I'll have breakfast right now then I'll go," she said heading to the counter and looking up at the fruit before reaching up and getting an orange, using her teeth to carefully peel it. "Alright Noi, I'll see you when you get home. Be back before dinner if you can." Carrot Top said smiling at her before heading back to work on her garden some more humming softly to herself. Noi smiled before finished getting the orange peeled and started to eat it. "Mmm juicy orange." She commented to herself being careful not to get any of the juice on her sash or tie. Once she finished the orange she cleaned her hooves and muzzle before making her way outside the front door and started down the road to the Filly Scout headquarters. The walk to the headquarters wasn't to far from where she lived, but she took her time looking around smiling. Once she got to the building she went inside closing the door behind her looking around. It was empty again so she moved through the building and went out the back to the large camp ground areas behind it. "Hello, is anypony here?" She called not seeing the others she started to wonder if she was early. "Ah, Noi there you are," She heard Mixed Berries call to her from a different building across the field. It was larger then the supply room and recruitment office. "We're all in here," she said smiling and waving a hoof to her. "Oh, okay." Noi said smiling trotting over to the bigger building and heading inside following Mixed Berriers closing the door behind her. Inside was a bunch of cushions for sitting and a raised platform. "What is this building?" She asked quietly so not to bother any of the others. "This is the meeting hall, we start the day here with a meeting, announcements, and we do our badge ceremonies here," Mixed Berries told her just as quietly smiling over at Noi before turning her attention back up front. Noi did the same as another pony came up to stand on the platform. "Greetings Filly Scouts, I can see some new faces in here today so let me introduce myself. My name is Shimmer, and I'm the leader of this branch of Filly Scouts. If you have any questions feel free to ask me," Shimmer, a pegasus with a sky blue coat, violet mane and tail and green eyes spoke looking over members filly scouts. Shimmer had a cutie mark of sparkling cloud. "My second, Mixed Berries is also here if you need help. Remember we're here to have fun and help the community, so don't be afraid to offer other ponies help if it looks like they need it." She continued before reaching up and saluted the crowd of filly scouts who saluted back. Noi doing her best to not look awkward in her salute. Once Shimmer had finished speaking she left the platform and everypony started to file out of the meeting hall. Noi not sure what to do she followed the rest of ponies out. Mixed Berries following after her. "So Noi, let's get you started on your first badge, how does that sound?" She asked smiling at her. "That sounds great, what badge should I work on?" She asked looking up at Mixed Berries smiling at her. Mixed Berries considered for a moment then smiled at her. "There was a fire the other day that burned down part of the forest, we've been replanting some trees. You can earn a nature badge by helping to clean up the area and planting trees to help get the forest grow back." Noi tilted her head for a moment then smiled nodding. "That sounds good, I would love to help." She said following Mixed Berries as she lead her to were the fire had broken out and a bunch of other filly scouts were helping to clean up the area. Mixed Berries pulled over a small cart and hitched it to Noi for her to pull, "Just put the branches and other things in here, once you have an area cleaned out you can plant some saplings alright?" She said smiling at her and Noi gave her an awkward salute. "We'll work on your salute later." Mix Berries said blinking at her before going to check on some other ponies who were working in a nearby area. Noi took a deep breath and smiled. "Alright Noi, time to earn your nature badge!" She told herself before starting to move, grunting a bit the cart heavier then she expected. She strained and pulled before getting to roll forward and shove her face first into the dirt. "Owww...." She rubbed her forehead. "Dumb cart...." She muttered glaring at it before getting up and dusting herself off. She took a deep breath and backed up abit before galloping forward pulling the wagon loose of the rocks lodged in the wheels squeaking abit as the force behind the cart kept her going when she tried to stop sliding her across the ground a few feet. Mixed Berries saw her having trouble and face hoofed coming over and looked down at her. "Maybe it'll be easier if you left the cart in one area and just brought stuff over to it." She said unhitching from the cart and helping her up. Noi nodded dusting herself off a little again. "Yea... I think your right. Guess I wont get a cart pulling badge." She said pouting softly. "But I wont give up, I'll get this done." She said smiling at Mixed Berries, free of the cart she started to trot around her marked off area and pick up broken branches and other stuff from the fire putting it in the cart. Mixed Berries smiled watching her as she got back up and went back to doing her best to get the area cleaned up. "At least she has determination and heart." She said to herself softly watching the little filly work. "Most give up after a few minutes." Once the cart was full Mixed Berries called over a different filly scout to come and pull it away and bring in an empty cart for Noi to fill up. It didn't take her to long and the area was cleaned up enough for her to start on the planting part of the recovery effort. "You did very good Noi, this area is looking great." She told the small, now dirty filly, "Lilac bring Noi some of the saplings." She called to one of the filly scouts who nodded and brought over a wagon fully of saplings. "Now I'll show you how to plants these." She said using her magic to get two she brings them over to a spot. "We need them spaced out evenly." She digs a small hole and places one of the saplings before moving and places the other. "About this far enough apart should be good enough understand?" She said looking at Noi who looked at the two saplings then smiled nodding. "Good once you get all the saplings done that should be enough to earn you your badge." Noi smiled and nodded before starting to do the rest taking her time to make sure each is spaced right. Once she had them all done she goes back through and checks to make sure each had been done right before going to get more saplings. She knew she was done enough to get her badge but she wanted to finish her area first. Mixed Berries just watched and smiled seeing her not stop when she finished that load of saplings, she had actually been testing her to see if she would stop or not. She would of still got her badge, but Mixed Berries would of been disappointed in her for not finishing her area off. Once Noi had finished off her whole area planting all of the trees Mixed Berries goes over to her and smiled patting her back softly. "You did a very good job Noi, you more then earned this." She said floating the nature bag, which was a symbol of a tree and put it on her sash using her magic to attach it into place. "Now, it's starting to get late you should probably head home." Noi smiled looking at the badge before blinking. "Wait... late?" She looked up seeing it was starting to get dark. "Oh no! I was suppose to be home for dinner." She said looking at Mixed Berries and bowed before giving her the same awkward salute. "Thank you very much for the badge and letting me help." She said before turning and galloping as fast as she could home. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Noi got home quickly after leaving the recovery area for the fire. It had taken her longer then she though to get all the work done. But she was proud of herself for sticking it out and finishing the whole area. Instead of stopping after the first wagon load of saplings. Once she got back home she saw her sister, Carrot Top, standing near the door waiting for her. "My goodness Noi, what have you gotten into. Your filthy." She said looking the filly over. She was covered in dirt and soot from where she had been replanting trees. Noi looked up at Carrot Top smiling at her. "I was helping to replant the trees where the forest fire was." Noi said smiling happily up at her. Turning she showed her the badge. "I got my Nature Badge for doing it to." She grinned at her sister. Carrot Top looked her over and just smiled, she couldn't be mad at her for being out late or coming home dirty for something like that. "Alright sis, hurry upstairs and get cleaned up. I'll get you something for dinner." Carrot Top said going back inside holding the door open for her. Noi smiled and went in heading upstairs to get cleaned up. It took quiet a bit of scrubbing to get all the dirt and soot out of her fur. Specially around her hooves from trying to pull the cart and digging in the dirt to plant the new trees. Once she was finally cleaned off she dried herself before going down stairs and into the kitchen watching her sister get her dinner ready smiling. Carrot Top placed a plate of hay fries out for Noi, as well as some slice carrots and a sandwich. "Thank you sis, it looks good." She said smiling at Carrot Top before starting to eat. She had worked up quiet an appetite and quickly finished off the sandwich before starting on the plate of hay fries. Carrot Top smiled and watched as Noi enjoyed her dinner. She went to get her a glass of apple juice to go with it. "So you had fun your first day as an official Filly Scout?" She asked sitting across from her. Noi nodded at Carrot Top smiling at her, her mouth stuffed full of hay fries. She managed to swallow the mouth full before speaking, "Yes I did sis. It was a lot of fun, and hard work. But I don't mind at all!" She said smiling at her sister stuffing another hoof full of fries in her mouth. Carrot Top smiled again watching her younger sister. "Well, I'm glad you had fun. Just don't over do it sis, you don't want to tire yourself out, or start to feel like it's something you have to do." She said nodding to Noi before getting up. "Remember, above all else the Filly Scouts should be about having fun." Noi nodded at Carrot Top smiling as she swallowed the fries. "I will remember sis." she said smiling and gave Carrot Top her awkward salute. Carrot top chucked softly at that and smiled. "Alright Noi, once you finish dinner head to bed. You did get home pretty late." Carrot Top said and Noi nodded at her working on the carrot sticks now. "We have a busy day tomorrow, we have to take some of the crops to the market." "Alright sis, I wanna learn how to pull a cart better." She said smiling at her, remember how much trouble she had earlier. "Think you can help me with that?" Carrot Top smiled at her and nodded. "Of course I can, I'll show you the proper technique on pulling to keep you from getting tired. Now, off to bed." She said seeing Noi had finished off her dinner. Noi nodded getting up and taking her empty plate to the sink putting it away before making her way up stairs to her room. She looked at her uniform, it was pretty dirt as well. "Hmm I should clean that before bed." Noi said going over and picked the uniform up taking it to bathroom. She searched around until she found the wash board and soap used for washing clothes. She never washed clothes before but she seen Carrot Top do it, so she figured it shouldn't be to hard. She filled the tub with some hot water, she rubbed soap onto the uniform and started to scrub it against the wash board a few times. She smiled seeing the uniform start to get clean. She scrubbed it more and soon had it cleaned up, though the bathroom was a big mess, water on the floor and soap bubbles floating around. She drained the tub and rinsed the uniform off before hanging it up to dry. She left the bathroom and dried her hooves before going to bed. Carrot Top came up stairs and went to go take a shower herself before going to bed. Her eyes went wide seeing the mess in the bathroom Noi had left and was about ready to call her to clean it up before sighing softly shaking her head smiling. "That silly filly," She said seeing the uniform hanging up to dry. She moved the uniform to dry in over the sink before starting to clean up the mess left putting away the wash board and soap. She found it hard to stay mad at her sister when she just trying to be more independent and grown up. Once the bathroom was clean she started the water so she could take her own shower. After she finished her shower she dried herself off and made her way back down stairs, getting herself some carrot juice sipping it quietly. She watched her fields from the back door quietly. "Well, mom and dad. Little Noi is growing up, I hope I'm doing you two proud." She said looking up at Luna's Moon taking another drink of her carrot juice smiling before heading inside and closing the door putting her cup on the counter before going to bed.