> One year
>  by PonyFromSpace
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1. New in town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. New in town




The streets of Ponyville were foggy and moist when the carriage arrived. The wheels creaked under the weight of what it carried. The weather ponies had driven clouds into the town, in an attempt to catch the dust and dirt in its moist. After that, a group would be cleaning it all up with mops.The town librarian had had a little accident with a desert spell, but that was of no importance to the little colt in the back of the cart. 

No, Early Stride had other things on his mind. He took a deep breath. Let it go. His red mane hung in front of his left eye. He remembered he should probably ask his mom to shorten it a bit. There was no mark on his flank. A bit of a late bloomer, dad had said. After the events in Manehattan, he was glad his parents had brought him to Ponyville. If things went as planned, he'd have a calm and quiet year. 

A calm and quiet last year. No more worries, grumpy doctors or annoying class mates. Just life as it should be. He smiled a bit at the thought. Yes, life as it should be. His mother was exploring the boxes they had brought, desperately trying to figure out whether they had forgotten something. When Stride broke into coughing, his dad immediately handed him a bottle of water.

"It'll be better now, son," the stallion said. He looked pained, crooked under the misery his son had had to endure.
"We're here so you can rest. Have fun," he continued.
His son nodded, faking his own strength.

It was peculiar, really. The father was a unicorn stallion, the mother a pegasus mare. The son however, had neither a horn nor wings. According to his medical records, he was pegasus though. His wings were removed. It was part of his condition. 

They had started calling him an earth pony. He didn't have the muscle of the average earth pony, but it saved them a lot of explaining.
The carriage stopped in front of a lovely little house. Its curves surreal and joyful.
In the fog, it looked more like a haunted mansion. The curved bars of wood dark and overshadowing in the mystic glow. Stride hopped out of the cart. Dad used his magic to carry part of the luggage inside. The colt enthusiastically explored the house.

"How do you like it, Stride?" Storm, his mother, asked.
"It's great!" their son answered.
The parents sighed in relief.
"Glad you like it son," dad said, "do you want to go pick your room?"
Stride nodded.
"Let's go then!"

Storm carried her son's favourite toys inside. A joyboy, an old stuffed bunny puppet and a ball. In the same box was a bundle of paper, Stride's hoofwriting on it. Storm didn't look at it however, because Stride had specifically asked her not to.
A tear well up in her eye. She had offered him more toys, wanted him to feel normal. He had told her not to waste the money. When she had persisted, he had locked himself in his room for an entire day. He only came out when she promised she wouldn't buy him any more toys. 

After Storm had unloaded the rest of the things off the cart, she paid the chauffeur. He tipped his hat and pulled his carriage away. As she pondered on what she would make for dinner that evening, Storm saw a pink blur in the thick mist. When she saw the blur was coming right at her, she took a few steps backward.

"Hi there! I'm Pinkie Pie, are you new here? Of course you are new here, I have never seen you here before and I know everypony in this town! Just visiting, moving in? Here for a party?" the pink pony said with a wide smile that would make any serial killer cry for his failure. 
It took Storm a while to realise Pinkie Pie had asked her a friendly question.
"Uhm, we are here to move in," the terrified pegasus uttered.
"Oh welcome in Ponyville! I should give a welcome party, yes I'll give a welcome party! I have to go organise a party, see ya!" the mare said, after which she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. 
Storm was trying to figure out what Pinkie had just said whilst she walked inside and started unpacking. 

Meanwhile, upstairs, Stride had picked his new room. It was L-shaped, with a window at the farthest end, gazing out on a huge tree in the middle of town. It had a door in it, so Stride figured it was hollowed out. What was inside however, he didn't know. In the part of the room facing the door, there was a small, comfortable looking bed. If you entered the room, you couldn't see the window, but you could see the bed and the large wardrobe covering the entire wall on the left. Storm entered the room with his things and started unpacking. He quickly grabbed his papers and pencil and fled to the bathroom, after saying: "Thanks mom!"
He had found the bathroom on his search for a bedroom and found the cupboard next to the sink was large enough to write on. 

He picked the bundle that contained his diary. Reflecting on his day, he wrote a new entry. 
"Today, I came to Ponyville, today starts the last year of my life."
Stride stopped writing and thought about that sentence. He used the gum on the back of his pencil to erase a word, and wrote a new one.
"Today, I came to Ponyville, today starts a new year of my life."
He smiled at the result. Much better.

His 'condition' the doctors had discovered, was a strange one. An anomaly had blocked his wings from growing when he was a foetus. The doctors had had to remove both wings and anomaly. Sadly, a small part of his wings couldn't be removed, connected to his spine. It had started growing inwards.

After many years of unpleasant tests, the doctors agreed they couldn't cure him, and he had only one more year to live. One year. Occasionally, the wings would press against his lungs, causing him to cough loudly. His parents, Storm and Burst, had promised him a year of being spoiled. He didn't have to go to school, do any work. The last few years, he had been putting a lot of effort in numerous songs. He had one he really wanted to record before the time came. His swan song. Now, after he had finished his diary entry, he didn't really feel inspired to write the lyrics.

Burst suddenly knocked on the bathroom door.
"Stride? Are you in there?"
"Yes dad, I am!"
"Can I come in?"
"Sure."
Burst opened the door. He held a small bag of bits.
"Perhaps you want to go take a look around town? Have a milkshake while we wrap up in here?"
Stride's eyes widened. Alone?
"Can I? Alone?"
"Sure you can boy", his father nodded, "you're old enough."
Stride hugged his father.
"Thanks dad!"
"Now go out and show this place what you are made of."





He slowly breathed in the fresh fog air. It filled him with energy. The mist made everything look mysterious. Stride loved mystery. He trotted over to a building. A shop: sofas and quills. A strange combination. The grumpy stallion behind the counter didn't seem to be in the mood for chatter, so Stride walked on. This was an opportunity to see what that weird tree was about. Searching his way through the low hanging cloud, Stride finally arrived at the door. He tried to read the board hanging from the side. Was it a library? He carefully tried the door. It opened up immediately. Stride hesitantly paced inside, only to meet a dragon.

"Hi there! What are you here for? Need a book?" the small purple creature asked.
After swallowing his fear for the little baby dragon, Stride stuck out a hoof.
"Hi, I'm Stride. I just moved here from Manehattan. I saw this tree and I wanted to go check it out."
The dragon shook his hoof using a claw.
"I'm Spike. I'm the librarian's assistant. If you ever need a book, here's the place to be," he replied.
Stride gazed through the racks. Books, books and more books. This was amazing.
"This is great! Can I have a look around?" he asked Spike.
"Sure, feel free to browse."
Stride looked in all the racks, taking out every book and carefully reading the first chapter of each book. Finally, he found one he liked.
"Can I borrow this?" he asked.
Spike looked at the cover.
"Publishing records" Spike read.
He frowned. Not really the type of book a foal of that age would borrow.
"Eh, sure, take it. I don't think Twilight will need it any time soon."
Stride froze. Twilight?
"Twilight as in Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship?" he stammered.
"Yes, princess Twilight Sparkle. She owns the libary," Spike answered.
The colt stared at the book. He'd really have to keep in mind the princess was only one block away from his house. 
You never know what can happen with somepony like that in the neighbourhood.
"Thanks for the book! I'll return it by the end of the week."
"Nah, don't worry about it. Return it whenever you want."
"Jee, thanks."





Scootaloo was in a hurry. Her wings moving at the speed of light, as she burst through the fog.
She felt on top of the world, narrowly avoiding collisions with ponies on the streets. If this was her price for being late for a crusader meeting, it was worth it. Her scooter under her hind hooves, her wings at top speed. The wind in the curl of mane sticking out from under her helmet. She was unbeatable. Nothing could stand in her way. Or at least, everything jumped out of her path when they heard her buzzing by. Everything, except for that one guy. Of course, he had to ruin everything. With a loud thomp, she was launched off of her scooter. Usually, avoiding ponies was easy peasy. This time though, the fog was thick enough for her to see nothing before she passed by. Her helmet left her head. Try not to forget closing the band next time, Scoots, she thought to herself whilst she rubbed her forehead. She picked up her scooter, but it was broken. The colt who hadn't moved laid on the street. He was moaning and trying to get up. At first, Scootaloo wasn't keen on helping him up. He had wrecked her scooter, after all. Then, she realised it wasn't purposefully, since he got hurt so bad himself. She lifted him by his front leg.

"Are you okay?" she asked.
He had a beige fur and red mane. 
His mane hung in front of his left eye, so she couldn't see that one. She did see his right eye, however. 
She had never seen an iris so deep red.
"I'm fine," he said, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
"I broke your scooter, didn't I?" he nodded at the combination of wheels and broken planks.
"No, I broke my scooter. I'm sorry I hit you."
The colt looked around a bit confused.
"No problem, it's a thick fog."
He got back up on his legs.
"I haven't seen you around here before," Scootaloo said, "are you new in town?"
"Yeah, just moved in. I'm Stride. Early Stride."
"I'm Scootaloo."
They shook hooves. He didn't really have a firm hoofshake.
Scootaloo noticed his blank flank.
"So, I see you don't have a cutie mark yet?"
The colt quickly turned his flank away.
His cheeks a bit red, like his eyes and mane.
What a strange guy.
"Well, uh, no. My dad says I'm a late bloomer."
"Don't worry, I don't have one either" she said and she turned her flank so Stride could see.
The saddlebag on his back was ripped, a big hole gaping in the top.
"Uh, there's a rip in your saddlebag."
The colt took it off. He looked inside. He picked out a bag of bits.
"Well, this is intact," he managed to say with his mouth full.
He kept on searching.
"No, nonononono," he panicked.
"What's wrong?"
"The book! I borrowed a book from the library, from the princess and it's gone! I'll be thrown in a dungeon for the rest of my life!"
Scootaloo raised her brow. Weird guy indeed.
"Twilight isn't that grudgy, you know. I don't even think they have life-long punishments for foals."
He was scanning the area for his book. No matter how weird the guy was, Scootaloo felt guilty for crashing into him, so she helped searching.
"So, were are you from?" she said whilst she checked the pavement.
"Manehattan," Stride answered.
"Have any interest in finding your cutie mark sooner?"
Stride stopped searching and gave her an interested glare.
"How?" he asked, clearly willing to get his cutie mark.
"I'm part of a club, the Cutie Mark Crusaders," she said, "we strive towards getting our marks as fast as possible by exploring our talents!"
The colt smiled.
"Something like that exists? Wow, that sounds amazing!"
Scootaloo lifted her shoulders.
"It sure is. Wanna join?"
Now, doubt streamed over Stride's face.
"I don't know, eh. I'm not exactly comfortable in large groups," he said, scratching the floor with his right front hoof.
"That's fine! There's only three of us."
He brightened up.
"Then I'd love to join!"
Scootaloo found the book. She dusted off the cover.
"Publishing Records?"
Stride quickly snatched the book.
"Uh, yeah, a little research I'm doing," he spoke as he put the book in his saddlebag.
Scootaloo chose not to go in on the subject. He clearly didn't want to talk about it.
Suddenly, she realised the time.
"Oh no, I'm late!" she yelled.
"Late for what?"
"The meeting with the CMC. I have to go."
"Wait, can I come with? I don't have anything to do right now anyway," Stride uttered.
"Uh, sure, let's go!"
They spurted to Sweet Apple Acres.





When they left central town, the fog cleared. Stride smiled at the collection of clouds behind him.
They ran past fields and orchards. The sweet smell of the growing fruits caressed his nose. He had to remember coming here more often. The fields were beautiful in the sunlight. A few birds twittered in the tops of the trees. Singing their songs. 

Stride looked at Scootaloo. She had no idea how beatiful this place was, did she? She just looked in front of her, not around her. She didn't notice the ouzel washing up in the pond near the road. She didn't notice the green grass dancing in the wind, the flowers in full bloom.
The orange pegasus was probably used to all of it. He noticed she had left her helmet with her scooter, so now the curl of purple mane was dancing along with the grass, as if it was waving goodbye at the fields they were passing. Her tail was trailing behind her, almost horizontal due to her speed.

He kept watching her mane dance. It's funny how hypnotising the effect of the wind can be.
She turned her head towards him.
He could see her irises properly now, he hadn't been able to distinguish the colour in the fog. Even now he had trouble determining what the colour was. Was it lavender or purple?
"Hey, what're you looking at?" she suddenly said and she looked around her, "what're you looking at? I don't see anything."
Stride answered, "Oh, nothing, I was just thinking."
He didn't dare talk to her about the beauty he saw in everything just yet. She wouldn't understand, maybe call him crazy. The fact he was just staring at her mane didn't help that.

Soon, they arrived at a small tree house in the midst of a tree garden. It was gorgeous.
In Manehattan, Stride hadn't seen much beautiful scenery and crafty buildings. This place had both. The thick tree carried a colourful little shed. A stairwell led up to it. This was probably the most wonderful place Stride had ever seen.
"Here we are," Scootaloo sighed.
They trotted up the stairwell. Scootaloo carefully knocked on the door. A yellow filly opened up. She had a large pink bow, a red mane and large orange eyes.

"Scootaloo! You're late!" she said.
"Well, uh, yeah. Something happened on the way here," Scootaloo answered.
"What kind of a something, Scoots?" a white filly had appeared behind the yellow one.
She had a split purple and lilac mane. She was a unicorn. Her eyes were bright green.
"Well, I kinda bumped into someone," Scoots answered. She stepped aside and pointed at Stride. The fillies finally noticed him. He waved his hoof.
"Hi, I'm Early Stride," he said.
"Hi, I'm Sweetie Belle," the white filly replied.
The yellow filly stuck out a hoof.
"I'm Apple Bloom," she said.
Scootaloo tried to warn him. Too late.
Stride eagerly gave her a hoof to shake, but instead of just the hoof, his whole body was swung up and down, bumping into the floor repetitively.
"Nice to meet ya," Apple Bloom said when she finally let go.
"What happened?" Sweetie Belle said, curiously.
Stride was too dizzy to reply.

Scootaloo scratched the floorboards with her front left hoof.
"Well, I kinda hit him with my scooter in the fog. He has no cutie mark, so I thought he could maybe join."
Apple Bloom frowned.
"He WANTS to join? That's new."
Stride raised his shoulders.
"Just aching to get my life mark," he said.
They all raised a brow.
"Life mark?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, uh, that's how my dad calls it."
"That's like, really old. Ah heard Granny Smith say it from time to time," Apple Bloom added.
"Just aching to get my cutie mark, then," the somewhat agitated Stride corrected.
"Okay, welcome!" Sweetie Belle said. She stuck out her hoof.

Stride was hesitant to reach for it, after Apple Bloom's firm hoofshake.
Apple Bloom jumped in before he could do so though.
"Hold on a second," she protested, "we don't even know this guy, we can't just say he's a crusader!"
Scootaloo turned her eyes.
"Of course we can't, Apple Bloom, we need to do the ritual first."
"That's not what Ah meant, Ah think we should give him a trial period and see if he's got it in him to be a crusader."
The three fillies nodded at one another.
"All right. Stride, you are now a mot!"
"A mot?"
"Member on trial."
"Uh, sure."
The three stuck their heads together and shouted.
"Now let's do some crusading!"
Stride smiled. This was going to be great.

Scootaloo felt like she'd die of boredom. They had been sitting in the thinking spot for hours now, but still hadn't had a single idea. Stride was looking out the window. What was that silly colt looking at so intensely? He seemed to have a dreamy look on his face. She decided to ask.
"Hey, Stride. What are you looking at?" she asked.
He didn't avert his eyes from the orchard.
"The trees," he replied.
"The trees? What's so special about the trees?"
He finally turned his head.
"I can show you," he said, a sad reflection in his eyes.
Strange guy.
"Sure. It's better than sitting around and doing nothing."
The two other crusaders had gathered up behind her.
"Maybe we can get our cutie marks in tree observing?" Sweetie Belle uttered.
Apple Bloom wasn't so keen on it.
Scootaloo was curious now, though. What did Stride see in those big lumps of wood?
She lifted her shoulders.

"Let's give it a try."
Stride smiled widely. Not a creepy smile, like Pinkie Pie tended to give them. No, a truly glad smile.
He walked to the door.
"Let's go then!"
The trio followed him outside.

Stride walked over to one of the thickest trees. He closed his eyes and put his hoof on the stem.
"Perfect. Scootaloo, can you come over here?" he said.
"Uh, okay."
She hesitantly walked closer. He nodded to encourage her. As she reached the stem, he took a step aside.
"Stick out your hoof," he said.
Scootaloo put her right fore hoof on the wood.
"Now follow the lines."
She tried to follow the lines, but shot off of them in a straight line.
He shook his head and put his fore hoof on hers. He was now behind her.
He pressed her hoof against the wood. Old oak. The forest smell reached her muzzle. She closed her eyes. He moved her hoof over the curves in the wood. It moved in many directions, twirls and curls. She felt vibrant, alive with the melody of movement she felt on the wood. Each line they followed was unique. She breathed in slowly as the sweet smell of apples and tree sap filled her muzzle.
He moved his hoof away, but she kept following the bark. Her breath going slower and slower. She was calm, relaxed and still very alive. 
The silent melody took her away, like a lullaby for a child too energetic to sleep. When she retracted her arm, she felt content.
She opened her eyes and turned around. Stride seemed proud to share this knowledge of the trees. Her fellow crusaders however were freaked out.

"That was weird," Sweetie said.
"Yeah, were you just petting a tree?" Apple Bloom asked.
Scootaloo facehoofed, then shook her head.
"It's really nice guys, you should try it!"
Sweetie Belle raised her brow.
"No thanks, I contact tree sap way too much already when we crash into trees."
Apple Bloom nodded in agreement.
"Uh, forget it. You guys are hopeless", Scootaloo moaned whilst she trotted back into the clubhouse.
Stride looked up at the sun.
"I should probably go home. It's getting late."
"Guess we'll see you at school tomorrow?" Sweetie Belle said.
"Uh,yeah, at school tomorrow."
Apple Bloom sat down and groaned.
"We haven't even done any crusading yet!"





The fog had been cleared when Stride arrived at home. Storm was at the window. She was relieved her son had come home safely.
"Stride, were have you been? I've been at the coffee shop, but you weren't there!"
"I was walking and suddenly somepony crashed into me," Stride said.
"Oh my, are you okay?"
"Yes, mom. I'm fine. Now, it was this filly..."
"A filly?"
"Well yeah, ponies can have two genders. Some are born male, others female and..."
"I know that, continue."
"She said she was part of a club. They go out on adventures to get their cutie marks."
Storm sighed and lay an arm around her son's neck.
"Oh, Stride. And you wanted to get your cutie mark this year?"
"Well, that too. I also wanted to have some friends," he said, chin down, "and their clubhouse is in this beautiful apple orchard nearby."
"Well, I guess it would do you good. It's better than staying here all day."
"Thanks mom!" he brightened up.
"Don't worry honey, now what do you want for dinner?"
"Hayfries and oatburgers?"
"Okay."

Storm grabbed a few bits. There was a grocerie store nearby, so it would be easy to get food. She wouldn't be making food the day after, no, they would take Stride out to Sugar Cube corner for pancakes! Also, Pinkie Pie had come by and said she was throwing a welcome party next weekend, but it had to be kept a secret for the little one.
"Oh, and mom?"
Storm turned her head.
"Yes honey?"
Her little boy looking at her with huge begging eyes. Was he going to ask for a new joyboy game?

"Can I go to school tomorrow?"





> 2. Leap of faith
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Leap of faith.




Cheerilee looked over the papers once again. Inscription form, medical records, identification. She hadn't really read the medical records, mainly because it would be strange to send a sick foal to school, wouldn't it? Last evening, a unicorn stallion had walked into her office. Burst, he called himself. A late time inscription for a new student. A VERY late time inscription. The day before school starts. Now, it was only one more hour until the lessons would start. She was comfortably waiting behind her desk till the bell would ring. Cheerilee thought about all the students she'd see again. Now, a new face would be between them. She could only hope Diamond Tiara wouldn't target him. No matter how many lectures that filly got, Cheerilee had never been able to convince her to change. The magenta mare sighed. She memorised the data.

Name: Early Stride
Gender: Male
Tribe: Pegasus
...


The sound of the school bell made her flip her ears. Time to go. She put the papers in her saddlebag and carried it through the hallways. At first, her hoofsteps echoed through the building. By the time she had reached the classroom, the sounds were being overruled by the cries, moans, laughter and chatter of dozens of foals. All tribes, colours, genders. She had to slow down a bit as the children sauntered in the way. Inside the classroom, they took place at their benches. Cheerilee carefully put down her bag next to the desk. The sounds of chatter hadn't died, however. It was like the buzzing of thousands of angry bees.

"Silent everypony, playtime is over," Cheerilee declared.
The tattering continued. Only a few foals had listened to her remark. The new colt immediately caught her attention. Red mane, covering his left eye. Beige coat. Where were his wings? He was sitting on the farthest bench.
"Silence," she demanded again.
This time, a silence ruled the room.
"Okay, welcome to the new school year!" Cheerilee continued, "I know we had some long summer holidays, but now is a time for learning."
Half the class groaned.
"Now now, learning can be fun too! Aren't you ever curious about what's out there?"
The new colt in the back nodded furiously. Most pupils dropped their heads in boredom.
"Now, most of you are familiar with each other, but since we have a new student this year, we'll be using the first term for introduction, isn't that fun?"
Diamond Tiara sighed deeply.
"You can start, Diamond."
"Ugh, boooring."
Diamond Tiara walked out front. The pink earth mare elegantly swayed her mane.
"I am Diamond Tiara and I am the most important filly in town. Be ready to bow for me."
Cheerilee facehoofed.
"What? It's true!" Diamond protested.
"Just sit down," the teacher replied, her hoof still covering her forehead.

When half the class had introduced themselves, it was finally Stride's turn.
He shyly walked to the chalk board. He had trouble with crowds.
He breathed deeply before he spoke.
"Hi, I'm Early Stride. I'm new in town."
"Where did you come from?" Cheerilee asked.
Stride looked at the desk before him, unable to face the ponies in the classroom. His ears were folded.
"Manehattan."
Cheerilee turned her head towards the class.
"Does any of you have any questions for Stride? Yes Snips?"
"Have you ever seen Trixie perform in Manehattan?" Snips asked.
Stride shook his head.
"No, I haven't."
Cheerilee turned at the class again, waiting for somepony to raise their hoof.
A brown colt did so.
"Do you like video games?"
Stride nodded.
"Yes, I play them from time to time."
"Awesome!"
Now, more foals were lifting their forearms.
"Yes, Twist?"
"Do you like candy?"
"Most, but not liquorice."
Even whilst answering the questions, Stride didn't turn his eyes towards his audience. It bothered Cheerilee. Was it so hard to face a bunch of foals?
"Yes, Scootaloo?"
Stride's posture changed completely. He looked up at Scootaloo, stood straight and raised his ears.
"Have you ever ridden a scooter?"
He shook his head.
"No, I haven't."
Suddenly, Diamond Tiara joined the little question-answer game.
"Why are you a blank flank?"
She gained a murderous glance from the crusaders. Stride merely tilted his head.
"I have no idea," he replied, "Dad just says I'm just running a bit late."
Diamond laughed.
"Running late? Every 'normal' pony in here got their cutie marks already!"
Cheerilee stomped the floor to intimidate her foul mouthed student.
"That's enough."
Diamond shrugged, "I was just telling the truth!"
"The truth? You little...," Apple Bloom started.
A battle of words commenced. Ponies throwing insults at one another. The teacher desperately trying to regain the order. Stride paced back to his spot. Nopony even seemed to notice. So far for a head start.

He sat down and looked around. There was no chance this would stop any time soon. Their insults were getting nastier and nastier. He picked up his book and held it in front of his face, hiding his tears.  It became harder and harder to keep his sobs silent. Soon, the colt sitting next to him noticed.
"Don't worry, Tiara's always like that," the brown colt said. It was the one that liked the video games. He hadn't been called out front to introduce himself yet.
Stride wiped away his tears and lowered his book.
"I'm Button Mash," the brown colt stuck out a hoof.
"Stride, but you already knew that," Stride replied. They shook hooves.
"So, you like video games?", Stride continued, his throat still hurting from his repressed cry.
Button grinned, "More than anything! Do you play Minecraft?"
"Uh, no, I don't know that game."
"You should come by sometime! I'll show you."
"Sure!"
After a lot of struggling, the teacher had finally calmed her students.
"Well, now that's over, let's start the lessons, shall we?" she demanded.





Stride sat comfortable in the shadow of a tree. He read his book. He was a quick reader. Already had he reached the third chapter. It had been hard to find a good spot to sit, though. After the fog clean-up, many puddles of mud had remained. The playground was more of a swamp now.
He enjoyed the songs of the birds above him. He slowly rocked his head to the melody. Reading and listening to the music, he gently forgot about the world around him.
He was interrupted as the birds were brutally scared off by the sound of a voice.

"Hey, Stride!" Scootaloo yelled.
Stride looked up from his book. He saw the crusaders at the other end of the playground. Sweetie Belle was waving.
Stride quickly stashed away his book in his still ripped saddlebag. He spurted over to his friends.
Scootaloo raised a hoof.
"Look out! There's a..."
SPLASH!
"... puddle."

The poor colt slid through the mud. His book sailed through the air.
His eyes grew in desperation. The princess' book.
Luckily, Sweetie Belle caught it in a green aura of unicorn magic.
Scootaloo speeded over to Stride and helped him up out of the mud. His mane was dripping and his coat was completely covered. It was also seeping out of his saddlebag.
Scoots was down to her knees in the dirt. He wanted to thank her, when she was rudely pushed from behind. She landed on top of him and with a splash, they submerged in the mixture of dirt and water.
After an unpleasant struggle to get back up, Stride cleared his ears, only to hear the laughter of two ponies. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon seemed to be having a lot of fun. Too much fun.
Laughing about his flank, he could handle. Laughing at him rolling in the dirt, he could handle. Pushing Scootaloo in a puddle of mud? Not so much. He had tried so hard not to make enemies, so hard not to get into trouble. He was sick of it and they would feel it.

He scooped a hooffull of mud from the swampy ground.
With a roar, he launched it at Diamond's laughing face.
Perfect hit. The pair was no longer that jolly.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!", Scootaloo grinned, soil goo dripping from her chin.
She quickly did the same, giving Silver Spoon a mud mask of her own.
With laughs, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle joined them, launching the mud balls of doom  at their most hated bullies. Diamond sputtered as she tried to get it out of her nose.
"Oh Celestia, get it off of me!" Spoon panicked.
They were now all covered in mud.
Stride was feeling a lot better. Standing up for himself, for his friends. He felt great, until a magenta hoof grabbed his shoulder.
"Uh, hi Miss Cheerilee."





"This is inacceptable! Bombarding other students with mud balls. I could suspend you four for this!", the teacher raged.
"They deserved it...", Apple Bloom mumbled to herself. It wasn't really meant for the teacher to hear it. She did anyway.
"Deserved it? It doesn't matter what they said to you, nopony deserves that!"
"They pushed Scootaloo in a puddle of mud!", Stride protested.
"Then you come tell me and I'll punish them," Cheerilee remarked.
"Punish them?" Scootaloo uttered, "all you do is give lectures and it never even works!"
The magenta mare closed her eyes and sighed.
"I'll let this go for this one time," the exhausted teacher said. 
Scootaloo tilted her head towards Stride. "Told you she doesn't punish," she whispered.
Cheerilee heard it but ignored it. The trouble with Diamond and Spoon had always been a huge problem. She couldn't afford to punish the wrong party here.

She turned back towards her students, still covered in dirt. They had sat through four hours of lesson in a coat of mud. She hadn't had time to lecture them before the bell rang, so they attended her desk after class. The teacher tried to use her strict expression.
"But if I catch you doing it again, you will feel the consequences! Now go."
The four foals got up and trotted over to the door.
"Not you, Stride."
The colt folded his ears. He walked back towards her desk.
He glanced at his friends for one last time.
"We'll see you at the clubhouse," Scootaloo assured him.
He nodded.

The three disappeared. Stride turned his gaze at Miss Cheerilee.
"Take a seat, Stride," her voice sweet and friendly. 
A whole contrast with the previous version of the mare he had seen. She picked a few papers from her bag and laid them out on the table. She turned his identification towards him.
"There's something I don't understand," she said, as she pointed at his tribe clarification.
"Are you a pegasus?"
Stride looked down at the floor. He nodded.
Cheerilee raised a brow.
"Where are your wings?"
The red maned colt looked up at her, his eyes huge and watery.
"Amputated," he whispered.
A lump of terror formed in her throat.
"Amputated?" she stuttered.
The little colt turned the medical record towards her.
"Amputated," he repeated.

Cheerilee stared at the text in front of her. Why hadn't she read it?
It held diagrams, pictures. One foto was a magic scan. A green picture that showed his skeleton and organs. It showed stretches of muscle in the place his wings were supposed to be, pieces of tissue growing inward, suppressing his heart valves and pressing against his lungs. She didn't know what to say. Her shock only became deeper when she noticed one small sentence at the bottom.
"The subject has been found incurable and is expected to pass away approximately one year from now."
It had been signed two weeks ago.

"This... this...", she brought out.
The colt merely shook his head.
"Please, just spare your words."
"O.... okay."
"Can I go now?" he asked. He was surprsingly calm. How could a guy that little handle such a thing? Cheerilee decided she would ask his parents about this.
"Yes, yes you can", the startled mare stuttered.
He trotted over to the door. He turned his head towards her one last time.
"Oh, and, please don't tell the students."
"I... I won't..."
"Thanks."





Storm scrubbed and scrubbed. The mane of her son was still riddled with soil. They were in the bathroom. In a desperate attempt to clean Stride up.
"This really isn't the time to get into fights, Stride."
"I was muddy before the fight, mom."
"No, I don't mind cleaning you up, Stride, I just don't want you to make enemies."
The colt sighed and shook his head.
"They made themselves enemies, mom. There was nothing I could do about it."
"Well throwing dirt at them isn't going to help."
She lifted her little boy from the bath tub. He grasped a towel and dried himself.
His mane spiked in all directions.
"Mom? Could you shorten my mane a bit? It hurts my eye."
"Sure, Stride."
She grabbed some scissors with her mouth and carefully cut down the hair from in front of his eye. He brightened up. His whole face was visible now and Storm considered it a great improvement.
"Can I go to the clubhouse now?"
"Sure you can, my boy."
"Thanks mom!"
She smiled, "You don't have to verify everything with me, you know?"
"Just being polite," he smiled back.
He picked up his saddlebag, then dropped it and jumped back. It was ripped and dirty. Good thing he had carried the princess' book home with his mouth.
"Do you need to bring anything with you?" Storm asked.
"Not really, I just thought my bag might come in hoofy."
"I'll have it cleaned and fixed by the time you are back."
"Thanks mom! Ooh, almost forgot!"
He trotted out of the bathroom.

Stride's bedroom was now fully equipped. The wardrobe was filled with rugs and sheets. It also held some ties for special occasions. His bunny puppet lay on his bed. His ball was carefully stashed in the gap between the bed and the closet. Near the window, they had put up a desk. His joyboy and his writings were carefully placed on top. He picked up a pencil and sought a specific paper. His to-do list.

-Publish swan song
-Make friends CHECK
-Buy mom a present
-Buy dad a present
...

He paused at one topic. One he had written down primarily as a joke.
-Fall in love

It was ridiculous, really. You can't force falling in love. He didn't even have any interest in falling in love. Still, he wanted to have lived a complete life. He had once heard his mother talk to a friend. Just chitter chatter, like usual. Only one sentence had caught his ear.
"You haven't lived a full life if you've never fallen in love."
Once again, Stride pondered on whether he would erase it. Really, he had other priorities. You never know, he thought. He put away his list.

DING DONG
He trotted downstairs as his mother opened the door.
She frowned at the little orange filly on the porch.
"And who might you be?" Storm asked.
"Uh, hello ma'am. I'm Scootaloo, are you Stride's mom?"
Storm smiled and nodded.
"So you are the filly who crashed into my son yesterday?"
"Uh, well, uh yes."
Stride had reached the doorway. Scootaloo was wearing her dented helmet. She had a scooter with her. She probably had dozens of those.
"Hi Scoots," he greeted.
"Hey, Stride! Since you've never been on a scooter, I thought you might like to get a ride to Sweet Apple Acres."
"Great!"
Storm smiled again.
"Now you kids be careful. And have fun!"
Stride trotted outside. Scootaloo stood on the scooter. Her wings ready to go full speed. Stride hopped on the back of the scooter. He wrapped his forelegs around Scootaloo's waist not to fall off.
"Have fun!", Storm repeated as her son rode off.





This was the most fun Stride had had in a long time. He felt the wind comb through his hair, as he saw the picturesque landscape flash by in a row of molten colours. The speed divided the real world and a strange new dimension, where all sound is that of the wind and all colour is a grand pallet of joyful tones. The road had many bumps in it, and Scootaloo aimed for one specific bump that made them fly. They flew. Stride felt the sensation a pegasus was supposed to undergo. He felt the floor was far beneath him, the slightest streams of air. He felt alive. The scooter landed back on the road. Stride noticed Scootaloo's wings were buzzing at such a speed they became a blur. He wondered whether she could fly. He had never seen her fly before. He cleared his mind and gazed at the landscape again. This sure was something amazing. The only problem with high speeds is that it doesn't last very long. Stride was almost disappointed when they reached the clubhouse.

They stopped with a slide. The beautiful scenery unfolded before his eyes once again.
"You  can let go now, Stride," Scootaloo remarked.
Stride quickly let go of her and hopped off of the scooter.
"There you are, you're late!" Sweetie Belle called from the tree house.
"Sorry, I had to clean up a bit. It's hard to get mud out of your wings!" Scootaloo replied.
Sweetie Belle disappeared inside.
Stride nudged Scootaloo's shoulder before she could go inside.
"What is it?"
"Thanks. I'm glad I have a friend like you."





"So, let's see," Apple Bloom mumbled. She was holding a list. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat next to her. Stride was standing opposite to them.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"We wrote a little something," Sweetie Belle said, "trials to see if you are a real crusader."
"What kind of trials?"
"You'll see."
"The first trial, is the trial of trust," Apple Bloom said formally.
"The trial of trust?"
"Yeah. To finish the trial, you must do as we say, without hesitation."
"Okay."
"Great! First, let's get you blindfolded."
Sweetie Belle bound a rag around his head, covering his eyes. He noticed it was a rag used for cleaning up paint. The smell of the products hurt his nostrils. He was pushed outside.
"Okay, somewhere in these orchards is a flag. You must find the flag to pass the trial, "Apple Bloom continued, "You can only find it by following our directions."
"Okay."

He strolled for hours.
"Right"
He went right.
"Left"
He went left.
"Lost"
They were lost.
"You're kidding me, right?" he said, still blind as to where they were.
"No," Sweetie Belle replied.
Stride lifted his blindfold.
"So we're lost?" he repeated.
Apple Bloom raised a brow.
"Not really, we just can't find the flag anymore."
Scootaloo turned her eyes.
"Well, if that isn't going to work, let's find another trial of trust!"
Sweetie Belle pondered.
"We could throw him off of the roof and catch him?"
Stride was about to claim that it was not a good idea, when Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded furiously.
"That's a great idea!" Apple Bloom added.





Stride looked down. The clubhouse wasn't very large, but it was up in a tree. The ground was far away. He felt he was losing control of his thoughts when the world started spinning.
Keep calm.
Scootaloo stood next to him. Downstairs, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were holding a large cloth to catch him in.
"So you'll catch me?" Stride repeated.
Apple Bloom spat out the cloth.
"Yeah, we'll catch ya! No probs. Trust us!"
"Okay."
Apple Bloom grabbed the cloth again.
He envisioned what it'd be like to jump. In his mind, he saw the ground coming closr. What if they didn't catch him. What if he'd die?
No, he didn't want to die.
He didn't want to die...
A tear well up in the corner of his eye.
No Stride, this is not the time, he thought to himself, you have to prove your worth as a crusader. You will not die.
You will not die. No, you will, just not now.

He looked over the edge. It felt higher than it did before.
He couldn't do it. Scootaloo raised a brow at him.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked, "we don't have endless time."
Apple Bloom spat out the cloth again.
"Maybe he needs a push?"
Scootaloo nodded, "Great idea!"
She gave him a push. Apple Bloom shouted.
"Wait! I haven't grabbed..."
WHAM!
"...the trampoline."





Stride bit his lip as Scootaloo carefully touched his hurt ankle.
"I'm so sorry," she uttered.
His ankle was broken, of that he was sure. Apple Bloom had gone to find her grandmother to grant first aid. Sweetie Belle was off to town to find his parents. Scootaloo had stayed here, she had brought him inside. Stride breathed slowly.
"I'm a terrible friend," Scootaloo continued. She turned her head away. She didn't feel like she could face him right now. She had pushed him off a tree house and broken his ankle.
"No you're not," he replied.
She turned her head back.
"Huh?"
"You are the best friend I've ever had, Scootaloo, and do you know why? Because you dare admit the contrary," he said.
"I broke your ankle."
"Well, uh, accidents happen?" he smiled painfully.
She smiled back at him. It was hard to believe a pony could be so forgiving.

Apple Bloom opened the door, followed by Granny Smith.
"Let's see what we've got here," the old green mare said. She walked towards Stride and pinched his ankle.
"AAAAH!!!" he screamed.
"Yep, broken," Granny Smith concluded.
Apple Bloom was worried.
"So what do we do?"
"Nothing, for now. I don't even think going to school tomorrow would be a wise thing for him to do."
Voices from outside distracted them.
"Stride!", Burst yelled as he burst through the door.
"Stride! Are you okay?"
The unicorn stallion walked over to his hurt son.
Stride just nodded.
"I'm fine, dad, just a broken ankle."
Scootaloo tilted her head. Had she heard that correctly? 'Just' a broken ankle?
"Thank Celestia," Burst whispered, "Let's get you home, shall we?"
Stride got up carefully, his broken hind leg folded against his belly. He grimaced.
"Alone again," Scootaloo heard him mumble.
He threelegged after his dad. Sweetie Belle stepped aside for the stallion.
Compassion was taking it over from Scootaloo, as she said, "Wait!"
Stride and his father turned around to look at her.
What would she say? She had no idea.
"Uh, maybe I can come with! Help with the chores, keep him company."
Stride brightened up.
Burst noticed his sons enthusiasm.
"Sure, come along," he said.




> 3. Best Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Best friend




Having a cast on your leg is annoying. The problem is not as much the cast as it is the inability to move. Stride hated not being able to move. Laying in the couch for the rest of the day had not been what he'd hoped for. It helped that his best friend was there. It didn't stop him from feeling miserable though.
"This is a really good book, you know," Scootaloo said. She waved the princess' book.
Books wouldn't be good enough to channel the energy Stride had running in his veins. He wanted to go outside. Play. Crusade.
"I'm bored," he told Scootaloo.
She put down the book.
"Let's see if there's something we can do, then. "

She got up and looked around the room. There wasn't really a lot to be seen.
A couch, Stride was currently lying on. A coffee table with two glasses of chocolate milk. A joyboy with a dead battery and a book. Oh, and the chair Scootaloo just got up from.
Her search was interrupted by a question.
"What's up with Diamond and Spoon?"
Scootaloo turned around.
"Just your average snobs and bullies. I like how you handle them with those projectiles, by the way."
"I got angry and threw mud at them," he said flat.
"That's what I meant!  Most ponies are too scared to put up with those two."
Stride laughed.
"Really? Those softies? I've met way worse in Manehattan!"
"Worse than Diamond Tiara?" Scootaloo frowned.
"Really, if that's the worst in town, you guys can consider yourselves lucky."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
Scootaloo continued her search. She noticed how Stride was staring at her wings.
"What is it?" she asked, a bit annoyed.
He didn't take his eyes off her wings. He looked almost hungry. Creepy.
"Do you fly?" he asked, eyes locked on her feathers.
"No," she said, agitated.
"Okay."
Okay? No 'oh, I'm sorry'? No 'that's so sad'? She suddenly felt a lot more comfortable on the subject.
"But one day, I will!" she added, "I go out training with Rainbow Dash every week."
Stride's ears flopped up.
"Rainbow Dash? Fastest flyer in Equestria? Beat the Wonderbolts?"
"Yeah."
"Awesome!" Stride shouted enthusiastically.
"You tell me," the orange pegasus grinned.
A voice resounded from the kitchen.
"Who wants pancakes?" a happy looking Storm announced.
She came in with a hot plate with a tower of pancakes and chocolate sauce balancing on her left wing. She shoved it onto the coffee table.
With her other wing, she shoved a plateau with forks and plates next to it. She picked three plates and three forks. Soon, Scootaloo had a delicious dough treat before her nose.
"Thanks, Mrs Early!" she uttered.
"No problem," Storm replied, "now just let me get you two some milkshakes."
"Thanks mom!" Stride spoke.

It was the most delicious meal Scootaloo had ever had. Storm sure was a good cook.
Her chin dripped with sauce, so she had to use a napkin. When she lowered the napkin, she noticed Stride was looking straight at her. He saw she looked back and quickly turned his gaze back to his plate. She drank the last drip from her milkshake.
"So, are you coming to the play next Saturday?" Scootaloo asked.
Stride tilted his head.
"Play?"
"Yes, the school play. Didn't anypony tell you about it?"
"No, not really."
"Well, the school has organised a big spectacle next Saturday. We've been training all of Summer for it. I'm captain of the third regiment. Sweetie Belle plays main role as lady Vanilla."
Stride's eyes widened.
"Sweetie Belle got the main role?"
Scootaloo shrugged.
"Yeah, what's so strange about that?"
"Well, I would've thought Diamond Tiara would've bought it or something," Stride replied.
Scootaloo laughed, "That does sound really Diamond. No, she was on a trip to Canterlot with her dad, so she couldn't attend any rehearsal."
"Well, I'm coming for sure!"
Storm swallowed a piece of pancake.
"But, umm, we have certain things to do next Saturday."
Stride gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
Storm sighed, "All right, you can go next Saturday."
"Thanks mom!"





Storm had brought in an old projector. Light reflected on the white wall, it was a movie. Daring Do and the Saddle of Doom. Scootaloo and Stride were watching it silently, as the on-screen heroine attempted to save the day once again. Scootaloo had now taken place in the couch, next to Stride. Suddenly, she made a remark.
"Rainbow Dash says the movie resembles perfectly what she read in the book."
Storm looked up from the screen and checked the time. Was it that late already?
"Scootaloo, shouldn't you be getting home? Your parents must be worried!"
Scootaloo shook her head, her eyes still directed at the movie.
"Don't worry, nopony would care if I stayed away for a month."
That must be really bad parents, Storm thought.
"Should I prepare a bed for you, so you can spend the night here?"
Scootaloo turned her gaze away from the screen.
"Really? Awesome! Thanks!"
"Anything for a friend of Stride's, Scootaloo," Storm smiled.
Storm started wondering about Stride's friends. Did they know? Had he told them?
Daring Do tipped her hat at the box containing the dangerous artefact. The credits popped on the screen and Storm decided to hear her son out.
"Stride, can you come to the kitchen?"
"Uh, sure," her son said. He folded his ankle to his belly and followed her out of the living room.
Scootaloo could faintly ear the whispers from the kitchen.
"Do they know?" Storm said.
"No, they don't, I don't know how to tell them," Stride answered.
Tell them what? Scootaloo was suddenly very curious. Stride had secrets? The crusaders would do some exploring on that!
"Don't worry, they'll understand if you wait a bit before telling them. There's still time."
"Thanks mom."
"Now let's get some deserts, shall we?"
After two minutes of kitchen sounds, Storm walked in with three bowls of ice cream.
"Yummy!" Scootaloo smiled.
"Want to watch another movie?" Storm asked.

Storm smiled down at the two foals. The tough action mare Scootaloo was now curled up in a little ball, sleeping like a baby. Stride was laying on his back on the other side of the couch. His legs pointing at the ceiling. A drip of saliva hung from the corner of his mouth.
Storm thought about next Saturday. She had no idea how Pinkie would react. She only knew her for two days, after all. She walked to the door and flicked off the light. If only Burst could see this, too bad he had night shift. Stride finally had friends. Real friends. In Manehattan, everypony  had always avoided him. Now, things had finally changed.





Stride slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the grey ceiling. This wasn't his room. His room had a white ceiling. He looked around. He was in the couch. Of course, he had fallen asleep in the couch last night. He gazed around the room, slightly expecting to see Scootaloo. She wasn't there. He was alone. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his forelegs. He suppressed a yawn. On the coffee table lay a note. He grabbed it and read it.

"I'm off to Sugar Cube corner to take care of something. Scootaloo is at school. She promised she'd come by this evening. It's possible I won't be back by then. Dad's gone shopping.
Love,
mom."

He sighed and thought of how he'd spend the time. To his great relief, Storm had fetched some spare batteries for his joyboy. Enough to fill the entire day. Of course, he wouldn't do so. He didn't consider gaming the whole day as being healthy and he'd get bored quite quick. He decided to write in his diary first. One problem: His diary was upstairs. He limped into the hallway.He carefully placed a hoof on the first step. He slowly paced forward, making his way up the stairs. It was tricky to keep balance, but he managed. He was sweaty when he reached the top. He'd need to take a bath after this. He walked into his room.

"Dear Diary,
Yesterday was a great day. Scootaloo took me for a ride on her scooter. It was amazing. Almost like flying, I imagine. I'd really like to have my wings. I had to pass the first trial to become a cutie mark crusader. I accidentally broke a leg. Scootaloo didn't want to stop apologising. It wasn't her fault. Accidents happen. She even went home with me. We ate pancakes! My mom makes the best pancakes, Scootaloo clearly noticed that. We also played a few word games. We watched some movies and I dozed off. It was so much fun I forgot about my ankle! Can you believe it? Not that I haven't eaten pancakes before or watched a movie before. It's just so much fun to watch it together with a friend. Scootaloo sure is a great friend."

He picked up his to-do list. He didn't really have anything to add, although he knew he should, judging by how happy yesterday had made him. He sighed. He remembered how they had played chain reaction. A little word game. He laughed again as he remembered how Scootaloo had misspelled insubordinance. Not that it is so strange to misspell it, but it was funny how she had persisted it was correct, even after looking it up in the dictionary. Thinking deeply about the events of the evening before, he slowly dropped his head on the desk and fell in a deep sleep.





"Stride?" a voice said.
"Stride?" it repeated.
Stride opened his eyes. He had some saliva on his chin, probably from drooling in his sleep. His face was stuck to his to-do list. He lifted his head. Only after he had shaken his head thoroughly, the paper decided to let go. He turned around and saw an orange pegasus. Nah, still dreaming, he thought, she couldn't have passed the door. She was supposed to be at school, wasn't she?
"I was worried when nopony opened the door, so I searched for your mom. She gave me the house key and asked me to go in as quickly as possible, since Pinkie didn't want to let her go because she was showing her candy collection," Scootaloo rambled, "are you okay?"
Stride wiped his eyes. She was really here. How long had he been asleep?
"I'm fine. I fell asleep," Stride responded. He got up.
"Thanks for your concern. Shall we go downstairs then?"
"Sure."

They made their way down the stairs. Stride almost fell, but Scootaloo was quick enough to grab his tail. They finally reached the living room.
"Do you want something to drink?" Stride asked his friend.
"Water please."
Stride smiled. He trotted into the kitchen, his ankle was still in a cast, but he could walk on it now.
He came back with two glasses of water.
"Coming up," he said merrily as he slid them over the table.
Scootaloo caught her glass with a front hoof.
"So, how are things at school?" Stride asked. He sat down in the couch.
"Boring, like usual," his friend answered.
Scootaloo took a sip and put down her glass.
"Actually, there is some news. One of the main actors in the play is sick."
"Oh, is it cancelled?" Stride asked with a sad expression.
"No, we have a stand-in."
"Who is sick?"
"Rumble was going to play the role of Knight Noble. He got food poisoning."
"How?"
Scootaloo smiled.
"Sweetie Belle made cupcakes with Pinkie Pie to celebrate the last rehearsal. Rumble couldn't come, so she gave him some other cupcakes afterwards."

Stride frowned.
"Sweetie Belle poisoned him?"
"Not deadly. And not on purpose, I think. Anyhow, now Button Mash is taking the role of Knight Noble. I don't know how that'll play out, he hasn't attended a single rehearsal!"
Stride's ears flopped up.
"Button Mash? I know that guy! That's the gamer, right?"
"Yeah, you met him yesterday?"
"Yep. "
Scootaloo took another sip.
"So, how has your day been?"
"Mostly sleeping."
Storm walked in.
"Is everything okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Everything's fine, mom, I fell asleep."





Storm watched gladly as Scootaloo curled up in a ball again. Her silent snores clearly audible.
Stride had dozed off long before. Storm cleaned up their empty plates. It wasn't really good for them to sleep in the couch all the time, but these few evenings wouldn't hurt. She found it too cute to interfere anyway. She tilted her head as she saw the sleeping Scootaloo stretch out and reach in the air with her hooves. Then, the filly turned around and continued grasping in the air until she found Stride's non broken hind leg. She grabbed it as if it was a pillow. That was probably what Scootaloo thought too. Storm fetched a sheet and covered them. She didn't want them to get cold. 
Her son. Finally had friends. If only it had been sooner. If only Stride had more time. She started to feel dizzy. A painfull sting in her throat as she tried to suppress a cry. The pressure of the time taking its toll. Storm left the room after flicking the lights off again. She walked into the bathroom and sat down next to the bath tub. She grabbed some toilet paper to blow her nose. Her son was going to die. She knew it. It hadn't really hit her yet. Stride would be gone. He would never grow up. He would never get married, have a family of his own. She'd never have grandchildren. He'd maybe even never get a cutie mark. As she cried her lungs out, she could only hope nopony would notice. Her cheeks wet, her nose stuffy, she paced into the bedroom and dropped onto the bed, to descend into a deep sleep.





"I am bored!" lady Vanilla sighed, "everypony is out at war fighting, but father doesn't let me go with them."
Her grey unicorn maremaid helped her with her dress.
"It's for your own safety, my lady and you couldn't marry sir Noble if you get lost on the battlefield," she said.
Vanilla shook her head, "I don't want safety, I want glory."
"Oh, mademoiselle, you aren't thinking f disobeying your father, are you?"
"Of course not," the lady replied with glassy eyes.

That evening she sneaked out of the mansion. Her face hidden under a grey hood, one of the guards recognised their mistress. She chuckled as she passed the gates, only to be stopped by a stallion in iron armour.
"Where are you going, my lady?", the intimidating pony said.
"Off to war, I will not let you stop me!" Vanilla replied. She pushed the stallion aside, making him land on his buttocks as she ran past.
"Sweetie Belle, you aren't supposed to actually push me!" the knight yelled.
"Sorry!" Vanilla answered. The armoured stallion followed her. He was hot on her tail. She hopped over a branch and he tripped. Just when she thought she lost him, her leg got stuck in a pit.
"No, not now!" she screamed. The knight appeared behind her.
"I'll get you out if you promise me you won't run off," he said.
"I promise," the mare gave in disappointedly.
He pulled her out of the pit. He made a bow.
"Knight Noble, at your service, my lady."
A shocked expression painted her.
"You are sir Noble?"
"Well of course, lady Vanilla."
"Well, I don't want to marry you. I want to go out and fight. You get back there and tell my father I'm off."
"If you want to go out and fight, my lady, I would advice not taking the route through the Everfree forest. This place is way too dangerous, even for the most skilled combatants. It is impera... imperara...
impiraitif?"
"Imperative."
"It is imperative we leave this instant."
The two nodded at one another and left.





Knight Noble sat in his tent, inspecting the map of the area. Suddenly, a stunningly beautiful pegasus mare walked in. Of course, Knight Noble didn't notice her beauty, but Stride did. She was wearing combat gear. Her helmet coated in gold. It wasn't the gold though that caught Stride's attention. It was her firm, tough posture, like she could handle the world no matter what. It was the determinate look in her purple eyes, or were they lavender? When she took off her helmet, it revealed a purplish mane, pointing upward in a curl.
"We have a visitor, sir Noble," she said after a formal bow.
A fat unicorn. Bluish with an orange mane, walked in. He had two teeth sticking out of his mouth like bunnies have.
"Is it true you have sent my daughter into war?" the angry stallion exclaimed.
"I haven't sent her anywhere, my lord, it was all her choice."
"It was my choice, she's my daughter..."
"... and a grown mare. She has the right to choose or herself."
Knight Noble got up. If you want to talk to her, she is in the seventh regiment stationed near the Woodlands. But don't think you can convince her to come back. The orange battlemare tapped him on the shoulder.
"Yes, Captain Fireshield?" Knight Noble said.
"Actually, the seventh regiment was vanquished during a dragon attack. He only took four prisoners."
Lord dropped his chin.
"A dragon attack?"
Knight Noble frowned.
"Four prisoners? We must save them!"
"From the dragon?" the shocked father asked.
"Yes, from the dragon. Fireshield, gather the troops," Noble replied. He grabbed his sword with his mouth and stuck it in the air.
"For Equestria! For Vanilla!" he spoke, his mouth full.

When they spotted the dragon, the warriors hid behind a piece of debris. They found themselves in an old ruin. There was one tower still intact. Light inside. The prisoners were there for sure.
The group nodded at one another. Knight Noble grabbed his sword. He jumped out and charged the purple dragon with the green spikes.
"For Vanilla!" he screamed.
Behind the debris, Captain Fireshield ordered her warriors to raise their bows.
"Aim, hold, fire!" she yelled.
The brave warriors popped up and launched their arrows at their foe.
The dragon yawned as the arrows bounced off his scales.
Knight Noble thrusted his belly with his sword. Nothing happened. The dragon gave him an angry look. Fire spouted from his mouth. The green flame was just above Knight Noble.
"Aah! Nopony told me there'd be real fire in this!"
The dragon shook his head.
"I'll be careful, Button."
"Oh, okay."
Knight Noble continued bashing the creature with his weapon.
Captain Fireshield jumped on top of the debris.
"Knight Noble! His scales are to thick!" she shouted.
Knight Noble didn't stop attacking. He hadn't noticed Fireshield's shouts.
"How many hitpoints does he have?" he asked.
Fireshield facehoofed.
She jumped off of the debris.
"Stop forgetting your lines Button," she said as she flung an arrow at his helmet. It bounced off, but caught his attention.
She raised her sword, "we'll divert him so you can knock over those pillars."
She pointed at the unstable pillar wavering at the side of the tower. The other warriors jumped out of cover and repetitively fired arrows at the agitated monster. Knight Noble ran towards the pillar.
"For Vanilla!" he yelled. He bucked the pillar down, which landed on a particularly unhappy dragon's head. He fell and roared.
"No! I have been defeated!"

As Noble ran upstairs in the tower, the brave Captain of the third regiment inspected her troops.
Stride knew the things happening upstairs were more important to the story, but he was more interested in what Fireshield was doing. She walked back and forth between her troops, inspecting whether anypony got hurt. Her movements were elegant, but not over the top. It was natural elegance, not the kind of elegance consciously displayed. The way she gazed around her troops held both genuine concern and authoritative distance. Eventhough it was all acted, Stride felt like Scootaloo really was the mare displayed before him, only even more awesome.

Their attention was caught by a high pitched scream.
"What? Nopony told me there'd be kissing!" Knight Noble screamed.
"Then you should've come to the rehearsals, Button!" Fireshield yelled back.
In the top of the tower, Noble hesitantly came closer to lady Vanilla. The three other prisoners gazing expectantly. The crowd started cheering.
"Kiss, kiss, kiss!"
Vanilla blushed and drew circles on the floor.
The Knight gave her a kiss on the lips. Her eyes widened and her cheeks were now a flourishing red. The curtains closed.
Apple Bloom, who sat next to Stride, burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing?" Stride asked curiously.
"The script said on the cheek," she sniggered as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Cheerilee walked up on stage.
"A great story, isn't it?" she smiled, "But don't forget about the actors!"
She pointed at the curtain.
"Dinky, as Vanilla's maid."
The grey unicorn popped up between the curtains. She walked out front and bowed.
"Snails and Feather Weight as the guards.
Snips as Vanilla's dad.
..." she cited the side roles, " and Scootaloo as Captain Fireshield!"
She turned back at the audience.
"Of course, we must also thank Spike the dragon!"
Spike walked out and waved at the audience.
"And not to forget, the two heroes of our story, an applause for Button Mash and Sweetie Belle!"
Button Mash' head showed in the gap between the curtains.
"I need some help here! Sweetie Belle fainted!"

"So, how was it?" Scootaloo asked. Button stood next to her, supporting the dreamy looking Sweetie Belle. She stared off into the distance.
"You were absolutastically amazing!" Stride replied.
"Yeah, it was great," Apple Bloom added, "Want to go celebrate at the clubhouse?"
"Sure!" they all answered, except for Sweetie, who was still staring off into nothingness. She looked overly happy, with the careless smile plastered on her muzzle.
Scootaloo turned around. They trotted in Sweet Apple Acres' direction. Stride slowed down a bit, walking a distance behind the group. He looked at Scootaloo. How glorious she was. He realised his heart was pounding at a rate beyond normal.
She turned around.
"You coming, Stride? Is your ankle okay?"
"Yeah, coming."

-Fall in love CHECK

> 4. Marks for Life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Marks for Life




Autumn took its toll on the trees. The gold and red leaves struggled to hang on to their branch. A breeze or the hoofsteps of a pony were enough to make them drop. Their weakest members covered the floor in a carpet of gold, red and brown. It was soft and colourful. Most ponies considered it sad. 
Stride loved it. He loved how the leaves cracked under his hooves, how the colours painted the otherwise monotonous roads. He loved the regular autumn breeze whirling through his mane. How it finally revealed his left eye. His mane had already grown enough to cover it again. He hopped along the pathway. Before reaching the tree garden, he noticed a batch of high grass. He gently placed his saddlebag at the side of the road. He grinned at the grass again.


Soft material crunched under the wheels of the little blue scooter. The leaves flew up in the air as Scootaloo turned around a corner. She enjoyed the wind playing with the curl of mane sticking out under her helmet. She liked how she saw a tunnel of gold and red. Suddenly, a small beige object caught her eye. She stopped. At the side of the pathway, she found a beige saddlebag. She knew the saddlebag.

"Stride?" she asked. No answer. She searched around.
"Stride? Are you here somewhere?"
She shrieked as the head of her friend popped out from the tall grass.
"Hi Scootaloo!"
She  inspected him. Or at least what she could see, since half his body was hidden behind the forest green. Tufts of grass were stuck in his hair. He was grinning.
"Uh, what are you doing in the grass?" she asked.
"Rolling," he answered.
"You were rolling in the grass?"
He grinned even wider.
"Yep. It's fun, you should try it sometime."
Scootaloo raised a brow. Once again, strange guy.
His head disappeared again.
Scootaloo took off her helmet, unfolding her clamped ears.
"Anyway, are you ready for your last trial?" she asked.
"Almost!" he replied, "just one more thing I need to do."
Scootaloo tilted her head.
"What thing you neeaaaa...", she uttered as he grabbed her forearm and pulled her into the grass.
She saw he jumped out, but by the time she got back up, she had no idea what direction she'd come from. She sniggered as the grass tickled her entire body. Every time she turned around, the green caressed her coat. She couldn't resist. She dropped herself on her back and started rolling.
"Awesome!" she shouted.
"Told ya!" she heard Stride say from outside of the grass.

She crawled in the direction of his voice. She stayed low. She saw he was standing there, waiting for her head to pop up. Instead, she grabbed his leg and dragged him into the green. He chuckled as the grass tickled him too. They laughed and screamed as they rolled in the grass, each trying to escape the grass' grip, only to be thrown back by the other. Time flew by and soon, they were tired. Scootaloo panted as she lay on her back and didn't attempt to get back up again. Stride sat down next to her and extracted some of the tufts from his red mane.

"That was fun!" Scootaloo laughed.
"And mighty weird," Sweetie Belle added.
The two quickly raised their heads from the green, only to see two crusaders with raised brows.
"Uh, hi guys," Scootaloo said.
"You're late," Apple Bloom replied.
Scootaloo looked up at the sun, which was hanging lower than it should've been.
"Maybe Celestia wants to sleep early?" she pondered.
"Anyway, Stride has a trial to complete, so we better get going," Apple Bloom said.
Stride picked up his saddlebag.
"Then let's get going."





"Today, Early Stride must complete his last trial to become a true cutie mark crusader. Today, Early Stride must prove himself in the trial of determination," Apple Bloom said formally. She turned her eyes towards the three headed audience.
"Early Stride, are you willing to travel to the end of Equestria and beyond to find your destiny?"
My destiny is set, Stride thought.
"Sure."
"Early Stride, are you willing to travel to the end of Equestria and beyond to find the destiny of your fellow crusaders.
It's the least I can do, Stride thought.
"Of course!"
"Early Stride, are you prepared to overcome your limits to gain the one thing that will deduce what your real talent is, what you are made for and what you will be doing till the end of your days?"

Stride became dizzy. What you'll be doing till the end of your days. Cutie mark, mark of one's destiny, Life Mark.
He hadn't realised yet. He was no late bloomer. He had no special talent. He had no destiny. He would never have a cutie mark, because he'd be dead. Black spots infected his view.

"Stride? All you have to do is answer," Apple Bloom said.
Stride was losing balance. He had been fooling himself for two months now, thinking he'd get his mark. Why have a Life Mark if you had no life? The previously so happy colours around him distorted in a grey blur. His blank flank burning. Fate had played cruel tricks on him. No flying, no living. No destiny. His cheeks, eyes and ears burned now as well. His nose clogged. Water streamed over his cheeks. He could hear the others shocked shouts, but he could barely make out the words being said. He curled up in a ball and covered his ears, like he had done so many times in Manehattan. Like he had done almost three months ago, when he had first heard the news. His eyes shut tight. He didn't want to see the world anymore, didn't want to hear the world anymore. He wanted to be alone. Alone. Yes, alone was how he'd take care of things. He didn't need anypony. He didn't want anypony he could hurt. No pony who he had to tell he'd die, no pony he had to tell he was a pegasus. No pony. No Scootaloo.

He choked in that thought. No Scootaloo? No, no Scootaloo.
How would she react if he told her he was pegasus? How would she react if he told her he was dying? How would she react if he told her the other thing?

How was she reacting right now? She was probably looking down at him in disgust. He had thrown himself on the floor, crying, for no clear reason. He had no idea what she was doing, what she was saying. He didn't hear, didn't see. He had locked himself out. He had locked himself out as always when he felt sad. When he had a problem he couldn't overcome. He was running away from the real world. He knew he had to stop. For Scootaloo. For himself. For mom. For dad. He unfolded his ears.

"Stride? What's going on?" a worried voice sounded.
He opened his eyes. He became slightly aware of the hooves on his shoulders. Scootaloo stood before him, holding his shoulders. She looked worried. Not disgusted. Worried. He only loved her more for that. What should he answer? He could tell her the truth. He didn't feel ready yet though. Stop running, he told himself. He was disappointed at his own reaction when he answered:
"Headache, need to go home."
Lying fool, he cursed himself.
"You must've really caught a bad one there," Apple Bloom concluded.
Stride forbade himself opening his mouth, so he just nodded in response.
As Scootaloo walked him home, he looked back at the carpet of gold. The others were right. It did look sad.





The old clock dad had bought ticked away slowly. Each movement echoing through Stride's room. He sat at his desk. He was home alone. Mom was out getting groceries and dad was out to go talk to Cheerilee. Stride had refused to go to school. To his friends. The unfinished lyrics of his masterpiece spread out before him. He stared at them, unable to make up another line. He read over it. Joyful words. An ode to life, a song about happy endings. Embittered, he could hardly believe the words that had once been put down on the paper by his own pencil. Had he written this? With such a happy start, building up to a climax, Stride could not think of any way to finish his song. No words.

It had been going on like this for days now. His anger made his head feel uncomfortably warm. He grabbed the paper and tore it. His life work, he tore to tiny little pieces in that one instant. The shreds floated down like paper snow. He screamed and tilted his desk. It came down with a hard thump, resounding through the wooden floorboards. His pencil, diary and all his other papers creased and torn on the ground. When he realised what had just happened, he became silent. Water streaming down his cheeks. He sat down, looking at the carnage he had caused.

After picking his stuff up and putting back the desk, he gathered the shreds of his work. He couldn't fit them together. It was gone. 

The front door opened and closed.
"I'm home!" mom said.
Stride buried his face in his forearms. Not now.





"Honey, are you okay?" Storm asked when she saw her son poking his food with a fork, but not eating any of it.
No, I'm dying, Stride thought.
"I'm fine. I'm just not hungry."
"Okay," Storm said, not convinced.
She swallowed some salad.
"Your friends are worried about you, Stride. We are worried about you," she said.
"Don't bother, it'll be over soon enough."
Storm gazed at him, wide-eyed, open mouth.
"Stride, don't say that!"
He stared at his plate.
"It's true, isn't it?"
"No, it is not!"
He gave her an angry look.
"Well, I'm not spending my last days alienating ponies by telling them I'm going to die! It's not worth it. I might as well die now."
Storm was worried, really worried. She tried to stand firm. She wanted to convince him to do what he had been doing all this time: enjoying every little thing he could.
"So you are going to spend your last days sitting in your room, grumbling? Whilst the ponies who love you, the ponies who care for you, watch you sink away in self-pity? That's just... Just..."
"Just what?!"
"Selfish!"
Stride screamed and smashed his hoof onto his plate. Breaking the thing and sending the salad flying.
"It's my life, so if you think I'm selfish, so be it!" he yelled. The salad was now all over his mane.
Storm stuck out a hoof, but he shook it off.
"I'm going to wash up," he groaned. He paced out of the room.
Storm stared at the broken plate, the dented table, the spread out food. She was losing him.





The table was still dented. Irreparable. Storm straightened out the table cloth to cover it up. It worked, as long as nopony used the table. She gathered the salad in the bin. She sighed. Stride hadn't come down yet. He had locked himself up in his room again, for sure. He was always like that when he was angry. He would lock himself up in his room, lock the world out until he'd cool down. 

It was a defence mechanism. She knew he didn't only do it for himself. Stride had always been caring for others. He knew he could get irrational. He knew, when he got angry, he could hurt others. Storm had noticed that was the main reason he'd lock himself up. She sighed. Locking himself away was no option. She had to tell him that. She also felt she'd have to apologise. He was dying, after all. Calling him selfish hadn't been nice of her. 

She walked upstairs, to his bedroom. She knocked on the door. No response.
"Stride? Can I come in?"
She expected he'd say, "go away."
No response. She tried the doorknob. Surprisingly, it gave with. The door opened. Storm walked in to her son's bedroom, but her son wasn't there. Shreds of paper on the floor. Wet spots, moist by tears and snot. A huge cack in the floor.
"Oh Stride..."
She looked around. Where was he?
"Stride?"
He had said he had gone to wash up. That would've been a long time for washing alone. 

A fearful idea crept into her mind. As quickly as possible, she ran towards the bathroom. She tried the door, but it was locked. With no time to lose, she bucked it in. Steam rushed past her. As she had feared, as she had hoped would not be, the bath tub was full to its brim. The red strings of a mane barely sticking out. Small bubbles forming on the water.
She grabbed and pulled her son out of the water. He wasn't breathing. She laid him on the floor and pressed his belly. Some water made its way out of his muzzle. He coughed heavily, squirting out water. He turned on his side, regaining control of his lungs.
"Am I... Am I alive?" he hissed, trying to catch his breath. His eyes wide open.
Storm grabbed him in a tight hug.
"Thank Celestia you are."





Stride looked at the colourless, boring ceiling. He was in his bed. He had been there half a day now. He was cold, even though he was covered with three blankets. Dad had said the near drowning had probably gotten him a cold fever or something. His parents were downstairs. Burst had spoken to Cheerilee. Stride had no idea what they had discussed. The ceiling really was boring.

"Stride?" his mother's voice sounded.
"Yes, come in," he replied. Storm carefully opened the door. Behind her stood a unicorn stallion Stride had never seen before. He might not know this particular one, but he recognised a doctor when he saw one.
"Stride, this is doctor Deep. He's a psychiatrist," Storm continued. The doctor stepped forward, a compassionate look on his muzzle.
"Hello, Stride. I'm here to talk to you."
Storm backed away.
"I'll leave you to it."

Deep put down his flankbag next to Stride's desk. He sat down on the floor.
"So, Stride. Tell me what's been bothering you."
Stride laughed cynically.
"I'm dying in ten months."
Deep leaned forward.
"You knew that three months ago already, Stride. What's really bothering you?"
Stride pondered the question.
"Everything," he responded.
Doctor Deep sighed and shook his head.

"Your mother told me about your... episodes. She said you lock yourself up in your room. Why is that?"
"Because I'm a coward and I run away from everything."
Deep tilted his head at the answer.
"A coward, you say? But what are you running from?"
Stride couldn't answer.
The doctor picked his glasses from his flankbag.
"You quite obviously aren't running from death. You also seemed to be okay with company, since you've spent weeks with your friends. Cheerilee doesn't report any bullying, so I wonder. What are you running from?"
Stride still couldn't answer.
Deep picked up a notebook and started making notes.

"Stride, what happened? Why did you turn?"
The foal stared at the crack in the floor.
"The cutie mark crusaders. I was willing to join them. To try and get my mark. When they recited its definition, a mark of one's destiny. I realised. I realised I will never have one, because there is no destiny for me, apart from death. I realised time was running out and one day, I would have to tell them."
The stallion nodded in response.

"So you decided to opt for the quick way out?"
Stride raised a brow at him.
"The quick way out?"
"The bath tub incident."
"No, no, I was having a lung attack. It was an accident."
The doctor wrote something down. He didn't believe Stride.
"You were afraid of telling your friends?"
Stride turned his eyes towards the floor again.
"Yes, I was afraid."

Stride remembered that day. The colours of the carpet. Red, gold, brown and orange. Orange, Scootaloo. He sighed.
"Who does know?" the doctor interrupted his thoughts.
"My parents, the doctors and Miss Cheerilee."
The doctor looked at Stride now, lifting his eyes from his notebook.
"So you haven't told a single friend?"
"No."
"Why are you afraid?"
Stride felt like walking away. He didn't like this doctor.
"I don't know."
"Do you think they'd see you as a pariah? They'd reject you?"
Stride shoved the hair out of his eye.
"No, I don't. I think they'd be compassionate."
"Then what's the problem?"
Stride felt his rage pumping through his veins.
"Because I don't want compassion. I don't want ponies to pat my back. I... I don't want anypony to get hurt."
"Is that what you are running from? You don't want them to get hurt, so you lock yourself away?"
Stride didn't answer. 

A silence descended upon the room. It was broken by the scribbling of Deep's pencil.

"Anypony in particular?" Deep asked.
Stride looked up, "what do you mean?"
"Is there anypony in particular you want to shield from yourself?"
Stride shook his head.
"No."
The doctor scribbled again. He gave Stride an expectant glare.
"You don't have to lie to me."
"What do you mean, lie to you?"
Deep sighed.
"I am a psychiatrist, Stride. I'm pretty good at reading body language. Judging the way you looked at your mother, you really want to protect her badly. That means you should've answered 'mom'. But you didn't, so either you are ashamed for your mother, which you are most likely not, or you are covering up the fact you have a liking for some filly."

Stride didn't confirm. He didn't deny either. Deep nodded and used his pencil.
"What's her name?"
Stride tilted his head.
"Scootaloo."
"Scootaloo, she's a crusader, right?"
"Yes, she is."
"Does she feel the same for you?"
"No," Stride answered, "I don't think she does."
His eyes contorted in deep thought.
"You don't know," doctor Deep concluded.
Stride shook his head.
"You are afraid she'll behave differently toward you?"
"Yes, I am."
"If she does like you, doesn't she need to know?"
Stride dug his face in his forearms.

The doctor continued.
"You are afraid she wouldn't want to be with you if she knew it would only be short?"
Stride shook his head.
"I doubt she likes me now. Sure, we are good friends, but I'm weird," he looked up at the doctor.
"Either I try to be normal and time flies by, or I enjoy life and get weird looks."
Deep crouched before him.
"It is your full right to enjoy life, Stride. These ponies you call normal. They have time. Lots and lots of valuable time. They only realise its value when that time is up. You don't have that time, Stride, but you do have a chance. A chance at being happy. You can see, Stride. Don't blind yourself."
The colt turned his head away.

"That is my problem, doc, I have no time. You say I can be happy, but happiness requires time. Go tell the normal ponies they should be weird, tell them they shouldn't waste any time. Telling me doesn't change anything. I have no time. I have no chance."
Deep put down his pencil.
"Stride, you keep saying what you don't have. Why don't you tell me what you do have?"
Stride frowned at him.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Have you got no parents? No talents? No friends? You have everything a pony should wish for. Of course, we can wish for money. We can wish for time. What really matters is what you already have, Stride. You have love, care. You can have your happy ending, Stride. Don't throw it away."
Stride nodded. His cheeks were moist. His head hurt. After all the crying, he really needed some hydration.
"So what should I do?"

The doctor looked up at the ceiling for a second, like he was consulting the house itself.
He turned his gaze back at the colt before him.
"What you do, is entirely up to you. I can only give you my advice."
"What do you advise?"
The doctor leaned forward.
"Tell them, tell them everything. Don't hold back anything, or it'll eat you from the inside."
The room became silent again.

They didn't speak until Stride turned back at the unicorn.
"Do you know the Elements of Harmony?"
Te doctor nodded, "yes, I do."
"Then you know one of them is Honesty."
"Yes, I do."
"Does that mean I'm a bad friend?"
Deep's face contorted into a frown. He pondered it thoroughly.
"No, that doesn't mean you are a bad friend."
"How? I've been lying, haven't I?"
"The Elements are good guidelines, Stride, but if there's anything I've learned, then it is that not a single pony can live in full Harmony. Full Harmony means balance, no change. Situations like this are... hard, to get a grasp on. The pieces of the puzzle change. You are not being a bad friend if your intentions are good, Stride. You are not being a coward if you think you are doing the right thing."

Stride sighed and stared at the floor once again.
Deep recognised the look on his face. Stride still considered himself a coward.
"You did choose for the easy way out, didn't you?" Deep said.
Stride didn't look up. He just moved his head down, back to where it was and down again.
Deep sighed and noted it down.
"Don't worry, I won't tell your mother about the filly."
"But you will tell her about what really happened in the bathroom, won't you?"
The unicorn sighed again.

"It was wrong to state you don't have time, Stride. You have ten months. Ten months of value, of potential happiness. You can't waste them. Yes, I will tell your mother. You are a danger to yourself because you think you are one to others. We can't risk you losing the little time you have. I need to tell her so she can do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening."
Stride still didn't look up.
"Do whatever you want, don't think I care anymore."
"Do you really not care, Stride? Do you not fear death? Do you not want a proper goodbye? Do you not want to settle everything?"
Stride finally looked up, his bright red eyes drilling into those of the doctor.
"No. I fear death. I want a proper goodbye. I want to settle everything. But more importantly, I don't want to be remembered as the colt who was dying. I'd rather end it in an accident, then I'll be the colt who was unlucky. Now, I'll be the colt who died. The colt who had ten months and didn't know how to spend it. The colt everypony is compassionate about, but who will never stand out for being a real pony, for being strong. No, now I'llbe the pony who was and who went. The sick pony. That's why I quit, doctor. I am nothing, so I'd rather be dead."

The doctor put down his notebook.
"Stride. You have a name. You have a life. You have a home, a room, a family. You have a diary, from the looks of it," Deep pointed at the papers on the desk, "you will never be the pony who was and went. You will always be Stride, the pony who used his time in the best way possible. You will be Stride, the pony who lived in Ponyville, read books from the princess' library. You will be Stride, the pony who LIVED. Not the pony who died. Do you understand that, Stride?"
The foal nodded, but wasn't convinced.

Deep walked to the window.
"Time, Stride, that's what it's about, isn't it? Think of all the time Storm spent on you. Think of all the time Burst spent on you. Think of all the time your friends spent on you, I am spending on you."
Stride shook his head, "time wasted."
The doctor turned around.
"Time spent well. Valuable time, Stride. It's not wasted. It's well-spent, but only if you believe so too."
Stride crawled under his sheet.
"Can you go now? I need some rest."
The doctor considered staying, but chose to leave his patient be. It's never good to force it. He walked out.

Stride stared at the ceiling again. He thought about his friends. About Scootaloo. Tomorrow, he'd tell them. He was sure about it. He remembered how Scootaloo had laughed in the grass, of the fun they'd had. He smiled, for the first time in a long, tough week, he smiled sincerely.





When Stride walked through that iron gate, onto the school yard, he immediately noticed the four foals standing next to a tree. Button Mash focused on his joyboy and the three crusaders were having a chat with one another. Scootaloo saw him and waved. He trotted over to them.
How will I say it? he thought.

"Hi Stride!"
"Hi guys! I, uh, have to tell you something."
Was this really the right time? School yard, mid-conversation?
Sweetie Belle raised a brow.
"What is it?"
"I'm, uh, I'm glad to be back."




> 5. Nightmare Week
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Nightmare Week




Tidy. That was how the shop was to be described. Not like the work area. No, Rarity always kept her workspace messy. Messy, but she knew where to find everything. She couldn't imagine having to tidy everything up all the time. At least not her work area. The clients didn't have to see her raw materials. No, the shop had to be clean, tidy and most importantly: dazzling. If not everything sparkled, then the mop would have to do overtime. 

Tonight was an important night and she could not risk messing this up. Only one week to Nightmare Night and she had a lot of work to do. As the town dressmaker, she was asked to do most of the costumes. She would make them fabulous! But she didn't want clients to think she was just another careless cloth sewer, no, she was a lady and she'd show it. She watched the clock. It was opening time. Just in time, she had just removed the last non-shiny spot. She walked behind the counter. Now it was time to wait. It wasn't long at all before her first client showed up. A pegasus mare opened the door, followed by a young colt. No wings, so that would be an earth pony.

"Greetings," the mare said.
"Hello and welcome to the Carousel Boutique," Rarity replied.
The colt blew his inch-too-long hair out of his eye, only to have it return to the exact same spot.
"Hi, I'm Storm and this is my son, Stride. We're here for a Nightmare Night costume. Do you make those here?"
Rarity chuckled, ladylike of course.
"Well of course I can, darling. Let's get that hair of his done too, free of charge."
Storm beamed.
"Well thank you! That's very generous of you."
"Generosity is what I'm known for," she stuck out a hoof, "Rarity's the name."

Stride looked up excitedly.
"Rarity? Are you Sweetie Belle's sister?"
"Well yes. Now you mention it, the name Stride does ring a bell."
Storm smiled.
"They're good friends. He's a crusader."
Rarity contorted into deep thinking.
"Of course! The tree kid! I can tell you, you'd really get along with Applejack."
Stride frowned.
"The tree kid?"
Rarity noticed he had not taken that well. Better to change the subject.
"So, what do you want to be dressed up as? Mare Do Well is a fun costume."
Stride shook his head.
"Mare Do Well is a bit commercialised nowadays. She showed up for a few days and just disappeared. All that's left is merchandise. No, I'd rather dress up as something else."
"As what?"
"Freedom," Stride said, leaning in a bit.

"You want to be freedom?"
"Capitol F," the young colt added.
Rarity stepped back. She didn't quite understand what he meant.
Storm saw her look.
"Freedom is a pegasus warlord from the past. He is said to be the first and actual Pegasus, but nothing proves that theory."
Rarity nodded.
"So big wings?" she asked.
Storm nodded.
"Big wings and a helmet with a comb."
Rarity noted it down.
"Room for creativity?"
"Feel free, just keep it stallion like."
"Okay. Let's get started then."





The fashionista had to find the perfect materials. If this Freedom person really was as important as he sounded, it was imperative that Strid would look intimidating. She first thought of using red for the cloak, but noticed how it would conflict with his already red mane. Instead, she picked blue. The bright blue went perfect with the bronze plating. She cut Stride's mane shorter, but not too short, so the comb would still work. 
When she slid his hair through the opening in the helmet, it stood up straight. He looked downright intimidating. Just some more flash necessary. He was the warlord. Storm had also cleared out Freedom was half of a demonic creature, so he couldn't look like a normal general. He needed some flair. 

She used bronze and obsidian material to set the sides of the cloak. It was dazzling. Now what was missing? Wings of course! She quickly constructed a rig. When measuring his chest, to see how big the rig should be, she noticed something strange.

"What in the..." she poked Stride's back. He jumped up and screamed.
"That hurt," he said.
Storm pushed his cloak aside. Two little bumps had formed on Stride's back.
"What is that?" Rarity asked.
Storm turned at Rarity, worriedly.
"He fell. On his back. It's still a bit bruised."
Rarity raised a brow. Strange injury for falling, and strangely symmetric too.
"Okay then. I'll try to keep that for account."
She placed the rig higher up, and moved the wing area a bit, allowing the fake wings to be in the same spot.
"There, that's done!" Rarity said. They stepped back to watch Stride. He was nervous.
"A bit more in role, darling, like you can take on the world," Rarity said.
Stride nodded. He thought of how Scootaloo always looked. Tough, strong. He tried to imitate her posture.
"Perfect!" the two mares gasped.
"That is Freedom!" Storm added.
Stride smiled. Storm was glad to see him smile again. He used to do it a lot, but since the bath tub incident, he rarely did. 





When Storm and Stride had arrived home, Storm lifted the cloak again. The two little bumps, barely visible, remained.
"The doctors said this would happen, so don't worry about it. It'll go away soon."
Stride nodded, "but it will be sensitive?"
"Yes, honey, it will. Be careful!"
"I will."





"Cutie mark Crusaders Costume Comparers!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

It had gone dark outside. Time to start Nightmare week, as they called it. School was out, due to a weather accident caused by Rainbow Dash, so the crusaders had decided they'd gather up for a survival week in the clubhouse.
Apple Bloom frowned, hardly visible due to her broad sunglasses.

"You can get a cutie mark for that?"
Sweetie shrugged.
"You never know."
Sweetie was dressed as a witch. She had a black cloak and fake eyeballs in her mane. Apple Bloom was a Follower. Those creepy ponies who are always in black tie and wear sunglasses. Her bow was no longer in her mane. It looked strange, Apple Bloom with no giant pink bow.
They looked around. They were still alone. The place looked empty with just the two of them.

"Do you think Stride and Scoots got stuck in the grass again?" Apple Bloom asked.
Before Sweetie Belle could answer, they found out. Stride walked in, his blue cape behind him, it's dark glass stones reflecting the light of the burning candle in the middle of the room.
His eyes shined red in the shadow of his helmet, his face invisible by the darkness cast.
"Wow, that is one fine costume," Sweetie said.
"Thanks! Your sister made it," Stride answered.
"Where's Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked.

Stride didn't know. Where was she? They looked outside, but saw nothing. It was dark already. If only nothing bad had happened. Stride couldn't imagine what he'd do if Scootaloo got robbed or foalnapped. 

As time passed by, the crusaders became more and more worried. Stride even refused to participate in the games Sweetie and Apple Bloom played, trying to kill time, so he could look outside every seven seconds whether Scootaloo was coming yet. She didn't. His worry took over. He paced back and forth in the room, wasting his energy, he couldn't take it anymore.

"We have to go look for her," he said.
Apple Bloom didn't agree, "Stride, Scoots has been late before. I'm sure she got caught up in training with Rainbow Dash or got slowed down by Pinkie again."
Stride wasn't convinced.
"It's the middle of the night. I don't think she'll still be training."
Sweetie Belle nodded at that. Apple Bloom shrugged.
"Both of them are rather impulsive. Scoots can take care of herself. Nothing to worry about."
Stride gazed out the window again.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay then..."
Apple Bloom took off her sunglasses.
"We should probably get to sleep. She'll be here by morning."

Only half convinced, Stride lay down and closed his eyes. Fatigued by the pacing around, he quickly fell  asleep. Sweetie Belle had fallen asleep already as well.
Apple Bloom took a peek outside. 

The wind ruffled through the last leaves that were bravely holding on to their home branch. From time to time, a sinister object would rise from the floor, turning out to be just another leaf. The moon shone on it all with a grin, summoning the ghosts in every pony's mind. The young Apple wondered where Scootaloo was, what was taking her so long. She was worried. Of course, she had to keep Stride calm. It was pretty clear to her he really liked Scootaloo. Not just like a friend. No, he like liked Scoots. She didn't know for sure if Scootaloo felt the same for Stride. Scootaloo was a lot harder to read, since she'd always pretend she could handle anything.

Apple Bloom stuck her glasses behind the black tie. She gave another look at the sleeping ponies, to make sure they weren't faking. After two minutes, she was convinced. She gently opened the door and walked outside. She had to find Scootaloo. Her friend had been late before, but this was not normal anymore. Ten minutes? Sometimes. Twenty minutes? Maybe. Three hours? No, not really.

The trees cast their  black shadows, making the bottom of the orchard slumber in an impenetrable darkness. Apple Bloom was way out of her comfort zone. The bottom crackled under her hooves. The sounds echoed through the trees, reassuring her she was in fact alone. Alone, yes. Completely fine, nothing to worry about, no serial killers on the loose in Sweet Apple Acres. 
That theory was broken by the hoots of an owl.
Fine, there was an owl. Owls aren't serial killers, right?

She heard her own heart pumping and her breath becoming heavy. She was alert now. Her eyes jumping from one side to the other. It was cold, but the costume did help keep her neck warm a bit. Now she just had to find Scootaloo. Where was that silly filly? She could be anywhere, for all Apple Bloom knew. She felt something on her shoulder. A hoof? Quickly, she turned around and punched straight forward. The redhead before her shrieked and covered his muzzle.

"What'd you do that for?!"
"Sorry! I thought you were a serial killer!"
Stride lifted his hooves, then put them back again.
"I'm bleeding," he said, "first my leg, now my nose. What will the crusaders break next?"
He had a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"I'm so sorry!", Apple Bloom squealed.
Stride waved away her apology.
"Nah, don't worry about it. Who needs noses anyway?"
The two took in their pitch black surroundings.
Stride turned at her again.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
"Notice what?"
"You sneaking out!"
"Oh, of course."
Stride sighed, "Let's just go look for her."
Apple Bloom nodded.
"I think she had flight training with Rainbow Dash today, she might still be at the training grounds."

Stride pondered the idea. Then, he realised something.
"Rainbow Dash is in Cloudsdale! Scootaloo told me Rainbow had to go there today to explain why she dropped a cumulonimbus on the school."
Apple Bloom's eyes widened.
"Then where is Scootaloo? Where do we even start looking?"
Stride dropped his head.
"I have no idea," he raised his chin again, "but I will not rest until we find her."
To enforce his statement, he pointed his hoof at the moon, like he was challenging Nightmare Moon to a box match.

"Ooh, sounds like somepony has a crush," it sounded behind the colt.
A creature in a dark cloak approached them, hundreds of fluorescent eyes watching them in disgust, and two green eyes watching them in joy. Sweetie Belle jumped out of the shadows.
She pointed her hoof at Stride.

"Stride likes Scootaloo, Stride likes Scootaloo," she teased.
Apple Bloom gave her an angry look.
"Sweetie Belle, that's not nice!"
Sweetie grinned, "But it's true! You have to be blind not to see that!"
Apple Bloom nodded in agreement.
"You have a point back there," she said as she stood next to her witch friend.
"Stride likes Scootaloo, Stride likes Scootaloo!" they laughed.

Stride merely lifted a brow.
"True, but there's something else you have to be blind not to see."
Sweetie Belle frowned, "What then?"
Stride grinned, "Sweetie Belle likes Button Mash, Sweetie Belle likes Button Mash!"
He was quickly joined by Apple Bloom.
"Sweetie Belle likes Button Mash, Sweetie Belle likes Button Mash!"
Sweetie Belle stuttered her way out, "well, Apple Bloom, uh, Apple Bloom likes, uh, who does Apple Bloom like?"
Apple Bloom shrugged.
"Why should I like anypony?"
In response, Sweetie shook her head.
"Everypony needs a better half!"
The yellow filly sassily wove her hoof through the air.
"I need no better half. I am complete!"
Stride scratched his helmet.
"We're getting off topic here. Where do we find Scootaloo?"
"We could go to town? The biggest chance of finding her is there," Apple Bloom responded.
Sweetie shrugged.
"Let's go then!"





It took them five minutes to get lost. Apple Bloom knew these orchards very well, by daylight. She barely ever went out during the dark and it was no wonder she didn't find any landmarks. Where to find those in a carefully planted tree orchard where you can't even see the trees properly?

"My legs hurt," Sweetie Belle complained.
"Quiet, I need to think," Apple Bloom snapped.
Stride looked up out of the cover of the trees.
"Does anypony know in what direction the moon is?" he asked.
Sweetie Belle pointed at it.
"That direction."
"Up," Apple Bloom added.
Stride folded his cloak around his boy to keep the warmth inside.
"I mean what point of the compass? The town is west, right?"
"I'm not sure," their guide replied.

The three of them sighed.
"Perhaps we should try and find her tomorrow, when Celestia has risen the sun?" Sweetie suggested.
Apple Bloom agreed, but then facehoofed.
"I don't know the way back, guys. Has anypony paid attention?"

The chilling night carelessly continued its stroll, ignoring the horrified foals searching their way through the orchard. The unbearable silence only disturbed by their pumping hearts, raging breath, hesitant hoofsteps and the hoots of an owl. They reached the top of a hill, hoping to get a better view. Alas, the trees still blocked their sight.

"I'm really starting to distrust that owl. Shouldn't he be asleep by now?" Apple Bloom said.
"Aren't owls creatures of the night?" Sweetie replied.
"Creatures of the night? Why do you have to be so poetic about it? It sounds scarier."
"Sorry, just saying."

Suddenly, Stride, who was out front, desperately trying to find their friend and neglecting the idea of going back to the clubhouse, stopped. He raised his ears.
"Shh," he shushed them.
They instantly went quiet. Not moving another step.

Crunch. Crunch.

Somepony was stepping in the leaves. They watched each other, but none of them had lifted a hoof.
"We're not alone," Stride whispered.
They kept silent, surveying the darkness surrounding them.
A shadow passed through the few spots of light the moon dared cast on the orchard's bottom.
Two sets of fluorescent eyes appeared in the dark, watching them hungrily.

The trio backed up, slowly pacing away from the eyes. Soon, they found their backs against a tree.
The eyes had now gone farther apart, so they were surrounded. Stride braced himself for a fight, seeing the creatures in the unknown sliding closer. It became more and more notable how the set on the left was a lot closer to the ground than the set of eyes on the right.
Two beings in ragged black cloaks appeared, the eyes still locked on their targets.
Step by step, closer and closer. Did Scootaloo run into them too? 

Suddenly, one of them shuddered, only to burst into laughter. The dark creature didn't utter a demonic laugh, an evil laugh or even a mad laugh. Stride recognised the laughter from his welcome party, the second week after he had arrived. Pinkie Pie laughter.

"Hahaha! You should see your own faces! hilarious!" she shouted.
The other one started laughing as well. Stride knew that laugh. He had never been more relieved to hear that laughter. He jumped forward.

"Scootaloo!" he cheered.
Her hood fell back when he jumped her.
"Aaah!" she screamed as they rolled off the hill.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" he said.
"That doesn't mean you need to crush me," she squealed from underneath him.
He was standing on top of her, his hooves restinf on her chest. He was awkwardly close.
"Oh, uh, sorry," he said whilst jumping away.

"Were you out here all this time?" Apple Bloom asked with an angry tone.
"Yeah! Pinkie sure knows how to pull a good prank!" Scootaloo said.
"Where is Pinkie anyway?" Sweetie asked. Where Pinkie had just been, there was now only a void.
"Pinkie Pie?" Scootaloo exclaimed.

She hadn't noticed the tense feel in the air just yet, the darkness' unrevealed secrets. It was finally seeping in how scary the orchards actually were, when something grabbed her tail.

"Boooh!" Pinkie shouted.
Scootaloo screamed like her life depended on it.
Pinkie fell to the floor and laughed for another twenty minutes.
"That one never gets old!"





"Rise and shine! Celestia sure told the sun the same thing!"

Stride rubbed his sore back. Sleeping underneath a tree is not as comfortable as it might sound.
Apple Bloom was excitedly hopping around. Perhaps she was glad she could finally find her way through the orchard, or maybe she had Pinkie fever. Her black tie was creased and her glasses blurred. Sweetie Belle had curled up in a little ball. The eyeballs were starting to loosen. She had lost four already. Scootaloo, still wearing her shadow costume, still lay fast asleep, about half a leg length from Stride. He suddenly felt very cosy.

"I know where we are! Wake up everypony, time to get back to the clubhouse!" Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie Belle lifted her head.
"Where's Pinkie Pie?" she said in between yawns.
Apple Bloom gave her the look. The 'really?' look.
"You still question that?"





The four ponies soon arrived at their base. Stride felt this strange urge. He had had the urge before and as usual, he gave in. He walked up to a thick apple oak tree. He put his hoof on the bark and began moving his hoof down the lines.

"He's doing that weird thing again," Sweetie Belle said.
Apple Bloom nodded, "almost as creepy as my sister with her favourite tree."
Scootaloo sighed, "Just give him a break, guys. Come on, let's go inside, he'll be busy for a while."

The colt indeed sat there almost like a rock, the only part moving was his hoof like a needle on a record. It looked even stranger with the big helmet on his head and the fake wings on the sides of his back.

The crusaders minus one entered their trusted little house. Sweetie Belle picked up a mirror and tried to rearrange the eyeballs in her hair.
"Let me help you with that," Apple Bloom said. She walked up to her and starting fixing the mane.
Scootaloo paced over to the window and looked outside, where Stride was thoroughly enjoying the silent music of the tree.
"Do you think..." she started.
Her friends turned around.
"Think what?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ah, never mind," Scootaloo replied.
Sweetie Belle was curious now. Too curious to leave it be.
"What is it?"
She got an angry look from Scoots.
"I said it was nothing!" she replied.

Outside, Stride retracted his hoof.
Scootaloo pondered asking her question after all, but it was too late, as Stride walked in.
"So, what will we do today?" he asked.
"Costumed Crusading?" was Apple Bloom's answer.
Sweetie Belle hopped on top of the workbench.
"Cutiemark Crusaders Fruit Bat Catchers!" she shouted.
Apple Bloom frowned in response.
"Fruit bat catchers?"
"Of course! If we can catch vampire fruit bats, that means we're useful on the farm!"
"They have their own section, no need to catch them," Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo took Sweetie's side.
"You said sometimes, bats would sneak into the other orchards and eat forbidden fruits, it's useful to catch those, right?"
"I suppose..."
"Come on, it'll be fun!"
"Okay then."





Scootaloo kept bragging about Pegasus Athletics School in Cloudsdale again. She had told it many times before, how she wanted to go to this fancy school for 'cool' and 'sportsmarelike' pegasi, and how she'd learn to be a professional flyer there. After that, she'd continue in the Wonderbolt academy. Stride was a bit tired of the story, but he enjoyed listening to her voice.

"Shhh, I think I've spotted one," Sweetie whispered, interrupting Scootaloo's monologue about sonic rainbooms and ponies in tights.
"Now how do we catch them?" Scootaloo remarked.
Apple Bloom shrugged, "You guys tell me, I didn't come up with this."
Stride joined conversation, "I know how to catch them."
The three turned their heads.
"You do? I thought you were from Manehattan!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"Last Wednesday, Cheerilee's class, netting techniques used by orange farmers?"
He received a blank expression from all three of them. Eventually, Sweetie Belle spoke.
"You actually paid attention in class?"
"Well, yes, that's what we're there for, isn't it?"
Again, their faces contorted into a blank expression.
"Ah just go ta school cause ah have to," Apple Bloom replied. Stride had noticed how her accent tended to fade from time to time. Was she purposefully forcing herself an accent, to sound more farmer like?

Stride facehoofed. Not because of them, but because of himself. He had always been quite keen on learning. The fact his friends were at school had been what completely convinced him to go too. How could he forget they weren't there because they wanted to?
"Anyway," he broke the silence, "if we can find or make a net, we can catch that fruit bat easily."
Scootaloo looked around.
"Does anypony see a net?"
"No," Apple Bloom responded, "but we do have twigs!"
Sweetie hopped up.
"We can make a net! Cutiemark Crusaders Net Makers, yaay!"
The sound of her voice was audible throughout the entire orchard, thus it was no surprise the fruit bat fled when she shouted.
The unicorn turned at the empty spot the bat had just been.
"Uh never mind."





They spent the rest of the afternoon crusading. When Luna raised her moon again, they decided to go back before even Apple Bloom would lose track of where they were. They were all a bit disappointed for not gaining their cutie marks, except for Stride. He didn't even expect he'd ever get one.

Before going inside, Stride went to the tree again.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went over their checklist of things they'd do during Nightmare Week.

"We can do a torch stroll," Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Or roast marshmallows, we still have some stored here," Apple Bloom added, "Scootaloo, do you have any ideas?"
The orange filly at the window looked up and turned around.
"Uh? Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"Scoots, are you okay? You've been a bit... off, all day, Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo looked down at the floor, then outside, then at her friends again.
"It's just, ehm. Maybe, ehm."
Sweetie encouraged her, "We're your friends, Scoots, you can tell us anything!"
"Do you, ehm, do you think Stride likes me?"
The room became silent. Scootaloo felt more and more desperate about what their reaction would be.

"Of course he does, he's your friend!" Apple Bloom responded, after a deadly dose of soundless minutes.
Scootaloo looked outside again, making sure he wasn't listening.
"I mean, do you think he like likes me?"
"Like like?"
"Yeah, like like."
Sweetie Belle smiled.
"He most definitely...", she got a kick from her yellow fellow crusader, "... has the possibility that he does, perhaps, maybe in fact might like you."
Scootaloo looked outside again.
Apple Bloom walked up closer to her purple maned friend.
"Do you mean that you do like like him?"
She dropped her chin on the window sill.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
Scootaloo's ears flopped down.
"Rainbow says there are two ways to like like a pony. Just an ending crush, or real lasting love."

Her two companions gasped. They had never expected a sentence like that to come from Scootaloo. 
Scootaloo, who had never shown any interest in colts whatsoever. Scootaloo, who was always so certain of herself. Scootaloo, who yelled 'yuck' at almost each and every love story, except for that time with Cheerilee and Big Mac, but they'd figured that was just the spirit of the holiday.

This couldn't be 'just a crush'. Apple Bloom knew enough about that sort of stuff to know that. Elseway, Scootaloo would be able to keep it from them a lot more easily. She was like that, Scootaloo. That made her so hard to read.

"I want to tell him, but I don't know how," the pegasus continued.
The cowpony pondered how she would help her friend out. She couldn't just leave her hanging, after all.
"We have a hole in our schedule on Nightmare Night," Apple Bloom said, "Maybe you can ask him out, go drink a milkshake. Then tell him the truth."

Scootaloo turned her lavender eyes at her friend.
Lavender, Apple Bloom was sure. Sweetie Belle had always claimed they were purple, but what did she know about colour? Sweetie didn't even know the difference between red and cinnamon. Apple Bloom felt really sorry for Rarity on that one.

"Do you think that'll work?", Scoots asked.
"Work for what? Just give it a try, see where it turns out!"
Scootaloo nodded. She reassumed her usual cool.
"Let's do this!"




> 6. Nightmare Night (Rewritten)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Nightmare Night

Stride was cold. Having been in their costumes the entire day had kept the crusaders from freezing in the autumn breeze. Now, in bare coats, they shivered at Luna's crescent moon. 

With only two blankets to warm themselves up, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were sharing one. Stride frowned at their whining about him having a blanket all for himself. After all, the trio's body heat would keep them warmer, but he would be cold. He kept his muzzle shut about that of course. He didn't want to inspire them into thinking he'd want to lie together. He wasn't surprised to hear them all snore in unison soon. His back sore, his body cold, his mind constantly working. There was no way he could fall asleep like this.

"Hello, Stride."

Stride was startled. He had fallen asleep so quickly... He recognised the voice, but couldn't really pinpoint who it belonged to. He silently gazed around. It was a black void. Luminous star like spheres floated around, forming pathways and pillars. It was lonely. 

It seemed familiar, but far away. He didn't feel like he was really there. He could feel the timber of the clubhouse underneath his back, even though he was standing upright. The sheet carefully draped on his body. Looking around though, he saw nothing of it. He took a step forwards and it felt more real in an instant. Two more steps and the feeling of the bed was gone. Two more steps and he felt a refreshing breeze float towards him between the pillars. The place felt more and more familiar. He was certain he'd been here before.

"Of course you have been here before," the formal voice sounded again behind him.
He turned around and stood face to face with the princess of the night.

"Greetings, Stride. Welcome to the Dreamscape."
"Why am I here?" Stride asked.
The princess carried a gentle smile, before elegantly pacing away. 
Stride assumed she wanted him to follow her, so he did. It was strange walking on a path of stars, but also pleasant.

"I thought it was obvious. This is a dream," Luna said.
Stride looked around him, "Why is it so familiar?"

Luna waved a hoof. A whole load of tiny squares appeared, almost like screens but more alive.
Stride knew nearly every one of them. Memories. His memories. He reached for one of them, but it flew away.

"How..." he stuttered.
Luna grasped one with her magic and floated it over to the foal.
It was something Stride did not remember. He appeared to be in some sort of caged bed, looking up at his smiling parents.
He tried to estimate when it was, only to come to the conclusion he must've been a baby, due to the sizes.

"I don't remember this," he said.
"Oh you do," Luna smirked, "You just don't know it. It's the day you were born."
She let go of the image and it floated away again.
"Do you know what dreams are, Stride?"
Stride pinched his forehead and thought deeply.

"Communication between the sub conscience and the conscience," he cited from a book he once read,
"The conscience is our working being whilst our sub conscience sees and hears a lot more."
"And remembers a lot more," Luna added.
She nodded, pleased with his knowledge.

"Why do we dream?" she now asked.
"So the sub conscience can tell us about important details we've missed, what's going on and what will probably happen next,"
Stride continued, euphoric about the fact he could finally bring that knowledge to use.
"But sometimes it needs a push," Luna said, " that's where I come in."

Stride raised a brow, "But why me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why would you visit my dreams? I won't be here for long to benefit from your help and there sure is another foal out there that needs it, asleep right now."

Luna gave him a warming smile, "That's the whole point, Stride. That other foal has a whole life ahead of them. You, on the other hoof, are running out of time. I can help that other foal some other time, but you need it now."
Stride looked away from the wall of memories. It gave him the chills. So many events at a time were more than he could handle.
Luna waved her foreleg and the images disappeared.
"Why are we here, Luna? What are you helping me with?"

Luna gave him a malevolent smirk. Not the kind of smirk an evil creature would have. The smirk your big sister has when she's about to tease you with an embarrassing secret. Unless you consider your big sister an evil creature.
"Looks like you have some filly trouble."

Stride felt like he could rip out his own manes. He was dying, he met the love of his life and now the deity of night had come to tease him about it? Luna noticed his frustration. It wasn't hard to notice either. The fluorescent, star like orbs all extinguished, the blue background turned a hellish orange.

She kept her calm demeanour as she spoke, "Stride, please, let me help you."
She kneeled down so their eyes would be at the same height. She gave him a warm smile. The kind of smile his mother always gave him. His anger faded. So did the sky.

"So, why are you so desperate about Scootaloo? Why are you on top of my list?" she said, her voice still soothing. Stride shrugged, "You tell me. I'm not important at all. Your list is wrong."
She clicked her tongue, "I see the problem here." She got up again, Stride felt small. The contours of the platform became larger.
"You don't value yourself," she said bluntly. He grimaced. His muzzle opened to form words.

"What are you talking about?" that strange pony shouted. Apple Bloom shook her head. She'd never get used to having Stride at the club house. He looked bewildered as he gazed across the room, slowly realising he was awake. Apple Bloom continued sowing more eyes into Sweetie Belle's costume. That filly really needed to be more careful. They were running out of foam eye balls.





The streets of Ponyville were riddled with costumed ponies, each and every one of them in search for candy to offer Nightmare Moon. Luna had put her moon high in the sky, shining bright upon the ancient rituals below. Soon, all one could expect to find behind the doors was empty baskets. There was no more candy. Well, behind all doors except one.

The crusaders had taken an arrow route straight there, since they knew their best chances were there and they didn't want to be out driven by somepony else. On their way there, Scootaloo finally found the courage to ask a question that had been on her mind almost the whole week they had been playing games at Sweet Apple Acres.

"Stride?"
"Yes, Scootaloo?"
"Sweetie is playing some games with Button tonight and Apple Bloom is going to help Applejack with the hayrides. I don't really have anything to do, so, eh, want to go drink a milkshake?"
Stride pondered the idea. Drinking a milkshake with Scootaloo. Alone, with Scootaloo. Nopony eavesdropping.
The perfect time to tell her. To tell her everything.
"Sure."
Her ears perked up and her eyes gleamed.
Yes, he agreed.





They soon found themselves at the door of a particular sweet tooth pink mare.
Of course, you didn't have to wait at the doors of Sugar Cube Corner, no, you had to wait at the counter.
The four of them drooled at the sight of those colourful, delicious treats behind the glass.

They were so hypnotised by how expertly those pastries were baked, by how beautifully those cakes were decorated, they didn't notice the two fillies appearing behind them.

"Look what we have here, the blank flanks," Diamond Tiara said.
Silver Spoon chuckled at her remark.
Stride turned around, his bright red eyes ghostly from under the shadow of his bronze helmet.
"Yes, blank flanks, have a problem with that?"

He got a bump on the shoulder from Sweetie Belle.
"Don't try to reason with them," she whispered, "it doesn't work."
"Of course not, because you're too stupid to come up with reason," Diamond laughed.
The two bullies high hoofed.

"Sweetie Belle!" a familiar high pitched voice sounded.
"Oh, hi Button," the witch filly replied.
Button Mash was dressed as a zompony. Ragged clothing and red stains here and there.
He had appeared behind the bullies, which gave Stride an idea. He walked over there as well.

"Oh, too scared to keep with the crusaders?" Diamond grinned.
Stride shook his head.
"You should be the ones scared, Diamond," he said.
Diamond frowned at that.
Scootaloo seemed to get his plan.
"Yeah, we might be blank flanks but we have the power of the group!"

Spoon stopped giggling.
"The power of the group?" she said, not really getting the point, she gazed at the ponies surrounding her.
"Of course," Stride continued, "As you can see there's five blank flanks in the room. Four of them really pissed and one probably willing to help his friends."

Button Mash had no idea what was going on, but he did realise Stride had just said Button was a fighter.
"Now hold on a second," he started, but he was interrupted by Apple Bloom.
"Ah think we should break every little bone in their body."
Sweetie added to it, "Or make them gobble up so much dirt they explode!"

The two bullies were starting to back down a bit.
"Hold on, aren't you a bit overreacting here?" Diamond uttered nervously.
Button didn't say a word. He was watching it happen and still had no idea what this was about.
"I think anything that makes you two shut your stupid faces is worth it, none of it overreacting," Scootaloo replied.

Silver Spoon turned at her friend.
"Doesn't Derpy still have some candy? We could go there instead of this dump," she squealed.
Diamond nodded," Yeah, this place is just a dump anyway."
The look she got for that was devastating. Not by Button, not by any of the crusaders.
A pink mare had appeared behind the counter, her usually curly mane now hanging flat in her neck.
"Dump ejh?" Pinkie said, a murderous tone in her voice.

Stride reminded himself never to get Pinkie Pie angry.
Whilst Pinkie continued giving them the death stare, the two beaten bullies fearfully backed away towards the door. 
They lacked the words to escape this situation, they just fled.

Stride was glad this was all there was to the bullies in Ponyville. 
These don't attack when you open your mouth, they are even too caught up in themselves to see through a pure bluff.
Pinkie's mane rapidly went back to its usual, jolly style.
"So, what can I help you with? Candy?"
The five foals nodded.
"Yes please."





A nervousness had been crowding Stride's mind for a while now. On their way to the donating to Nightmare Night's statue, he was swept away in thoughts. What did Luna mean? Why seek him out? He felt like the least significant pony in the universe. There seemed to be no reason for her to step inside his dreams. 

Besides that, how would he tell Scootaloo? More importantly, what would he tell Scootaloo? Should he tell her how he liked her? Wouldn't that be cruel? His head started spinning. Dizziness and nausea were overwhelming. He suddenly lost his taste for candy. He decided not to get lost in those thoughts. Live in the moment, his dad had told him so many times.

He let his gaze wander over the pack of ponies walking about. Numerous foals and no-longer-foals trotting about in various costumes. He saw a couple Mare-Do-Wells. Behind a small stand, a gruesomely realistic Discord was handing out chocolate bars. When Fluttershy gave him an angry look and the dragonesque creature poofed back somepony's wallet, it became clear it wasn't a suit at all. Stride shivered.

Scootaloo had been subtly scooting closer towards Stride. She slowly closed the distance between them, now almost walking shoulder to shoulder. She gently tilted her head in his direction. Not much, but enough to feel his warmth. He didn't seem to have noticed, thus he didn't seem to mind. 

Whatever was going on in his head, Scootaloo couldn't seem to figure it out. His lips, usually in a dreamy smile, now had their corners pointing downwards. His eyes jumping from one place to another, almost as if big warrior Freedom was expecting an ambush.
Of course Scootaloo knew Freedom. All pegasi do.

She thought of something Rarity once told her. She hadn't payed much attention to it at the time. 
She might've even said yuck, she couldn't remember, but she did remember Rarity's words.





It was at the Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle had invited her to come over and play, but big sister Rarity soon claimed Scootaloo to take measures for her new filly fashion line. Scoots hated it, but somehow Rarity had talked her into it. 

The purple maned mare usually sprouted gossip, but not this time. She was almost bitterly silent. 
Suddenly, she opened her mouth, "There you go, much better. See Scootaloo? You make sure you look beautiful for the young colts."
A sigh escaped Rarity's muzzle, "After all, you don't want to end up like me. A lonely mare, I am."
She dramatically swayed her hoof across her forehead, 
"What a filly really needs is a colt to call her own. Someone to spend her entire life with. Someone to have foals with..."





Scootaloo snickered. She already imagined a bunch of orange redheads hopping across her living roomShe, fat as a walrus, sitting in the couch with a pot of chocolate.
"Where'd that useless husband of mine go. Afraid the kids 'll bite?" she grumped as she caressed the clear bite marks in her wings.

No, she wasn't really the type for children. Sharing a life with him though?
She realised she was making derpy faces when Sweetie Belle frowned at her. 
Live together, forever? Maybe it was a bit early to decide that kind of stuff. 
A bit early? No, way too early! Scootaloo could handle things on her own! She didn't need some colt!

The thoughts slowly drifted through her as she stared at Stride with a derpy face.

> 7. Milshakes and Mistakes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Milkshakes and Mistakes

Uncomfortable. Stride never thought he'd link that word to Pinkie Pie. Jolly? Definitely. Annoying? Quite so. But now? Now she just made him feel uncomfortable. She was just sitting there, staring. Her puffy hair had a mind of its own, as it moved up and down in the opposite direction of Pinkie, who's only movements were provoked by her heavy breathing. 

Sitting still was also something he'd never imagine Pinkie Pie to do. The bubbly mare would usually be unable to stop hopping around, even if you were to hold her down with magic. He tried to keep focused on why he was here in the first place, but Pinkie was just so... so obvious. 

In the corner of his eye, he saw Scootaloo facehoof. 
"Pinkie, could you maybe excuse us for a second?" she groaned. 
Pinkie tilted her head sideways, stretching her neck. 
"Okay," she answered in a chipper fashion. 
No, in the chipperest of fashions. The mare, however, did not leave the spot she sat.
"I meant as in you move away and we stay here," a rather agitated orange filly remarked.
"Okay," Pinkie repeated. Exactly the same. It sounded exactly the same, almost as if you'd replay a recording. 

This time, she skipped her way back behind Sugar Cube Corner's counter, leaving the two at their table with their superawesomelicious milkshake menu. They both had a rolled up pancake laced with warm chocolate sauce. Towering above their heads was as large glass cup. Chocolate mixed with vanilla. A huge tuft of whipped cream on top, covered in colourful sprinkels. Two straws stuck out the cup.

A silence filled the room. Scootaloo noticed Pinkie had disappeared into the kitchen. Good, the less witnesses, the better. She opened her mouth to say something, but drew back on the last second. Was she ready for this? She didn't feel like it. Outside, costumed ponies of all shapes and sizes were retreating home. 

It was very late in the evening. No problem, none of them had a curfew. Storm had stressed Stride was allowed to stay out late on Nightmare Night and on Scoot's side... Well, let's just say she didn't have a curfew either.

"What is it?" Stride yanked her out of her pondering. She gave him a sheepish smile.
"Nothing..."
"You were about to say something," he persisted as he shoved a large piece of pancake into his mouth.
The young mare turned her head and tried to think of something.
"I just thought the menu gave us both a milkshake, not one big one," she lied. 

At the time it had appeared as befitting the situation, but now it just felt all the more awkward. Stride seemed as if he was having a great time though, chomping away at the pancake. He didn't look as if he had even considered the milkshake anyway. She decided chocolate's always a good way to take away the pressure. She smiled as the substance filled her mouth. However, after having had a taste of Storm's cooking, she decided not to call them the best pancakes ever yet.

Soon, she was staring at an empty plate. Her eyes shot towards the delicious looking milkshake. She slowly moved her gaze towards Stride and saw that he too was considering the totem of deliciousness before him. He seemed reluctant to share a milkshake with anyone. Not for the greed but for the weirdness, she thought. Thus he just licked his lips and looked back down. Scoots decided she was too cool to drink from it either, so the piece of magic would just have to stand there between them, untouched... 

She quickly tried to think of something else, like her mission at hoof. 
Before she knew it, the words had already leapt out of her mind and into the blender, "Stride, talking we need."
"I beg your pardon?" his joyful expression gloomy and ignorant as usual.
"Stride, we need to talk," she repeated.
He deadpanned. His eyes shot downwards and he nodded, whispering to himself, "Yeah, I guess we do."

Immediately, guilt overwhelmed her. What had she said to make him feel so sad? 
Maybe he had expected more fun coming to Sugarcube Corner for a milkshake?
"We need to sort out how to fix the milkshake issue," she said with her happiest voice.
Nice save, now how are you gonna tell him?
Stride's ears perked up, "Well, we could ask Pinkie for another glass."

The ever present detection system connecting to the anomaly named Pinkamena Diane Pie had apparently picked up on that, as her head now peaked over the counter.
"Sorry, I've got no more cups for the milkshake," she utterd, before going back to sorting clean milkshake cups in the cupboard. 

"Well, uhm," Scootaloo admitted, "I have no other solution, other than you get the milkshake."
Stride shook his head, "I'm full anyway."
Scootaloo could see the disappointment on his face. The only reason he declined the shake was so she could have it. 
No way I'm drinking it on my own now.

A certain anger crept over her. Why was this so darn hard? It was just a milkshake, nothing more. A milkshake.
"That's it," she cried out, "I've had it."
Stride shrunk back into his seat, his eyes wide open. The comb of his helmet fell sideward, making him look a lot less impressive than he had done in the woods earlier.
"We are both going to drink this milkshake and we are going to enjoy it!" she commanded. She was sick of awkwardness.

Stride exclaimed with a squeacky voice, "okay," and quickly rose his head to the straw. Scootaloo replicated the action. There they were, both sitting across eachother, sipping a straw. Their faces a lot closer to each other than Scootaloo could handle. Especially with the red blush she felt covering her face now, she quickly regretted her decision. This is even more awkwardness, stupid brain. Next time I see an organ trafficking agent I'm going to sell you for two bits!

The sweet taste of the milkshake however soon extinguished that feeling. She did no longer mind the fact she was enjoying Stride's presence. She was still the coolest pony around, she was sure of that!

"Oooooooh," an unwanted but familiar voice exclaimed. The orange pegasus hadn't noticed she'd closed her eyes. Opening them, they widened as two hoof lengths from her was a second face being way to close. Pinkie grinned at the pair. Both Scootaloo and Stride quickly jolted back into their seats. Pinkie trotted away with a guilty smile.

"We will never speak of this," the startled filly uttered. The colt across her nodded.
"A secret I will take into my grave," he confirmed.
Wow. He suddenly got very grim. What a time to be thinking about graves.

The sudden sound of explosions filled her ears like music. Three colourful blasts in the black sky confirmed the start of the fireworks.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"Yes, it is," he confirmed pensively. He didn't look all that happy anymore.

The pegasus suddenly felt worried. she'd seen Stride depressed before, shortly after that incident with the third trial, but didn't see any reason why he'd look sad with the fireworks now. What was the reason for him being so depressed after the trial anyway? She decided she'd hear him out. After she'd told him her feelings, of course. She relaxed the muscles in her tense neck as her brain and her heart finally agreed. She didn't have to rush into talking now. She had all the time in the world, right?





"Are you kidding me?" Apple Bloom cried out, "You had him right there! All you had to do is say something!"
"Well, hello to you too," Scootaloo grumbled.
She had just opened the door and already she regretted doing so. What was Apple Bloom's deal anyway? Scootaloo lifted her chin, " How do you know what happened in the first place?"
Apple Bloom froze. The left eye of the yellow filly began to twitch.
"I wasn't eavesdropping if that's what you're suggesting," she claimed.
"Nooooo, of course we weren't," Sweetie Belle added. They weren't very convincing.
A sigh flew past Scoot's lips as she shook her head, "Please don't tell me you dragged Button into this."
"Of course not," Sweetie Belle said, "you know he's a little dim, he never knew what was going on!"





Button Mash watched the two crusaders peak through the window of Sugar Cube Corner. He lifted an eyebrow.
"Are you spying on someone again?"
"Nope," Apple Bloom answered.
"You're eavesdropping on someone again."
"Maybe."
"Who is it?"
"Nobody."
"Is that Stride and Scootaloo?"
"Nope."
"You sure?"
"Yup."
"Okay! Can we go play games now?"
"Nope."





The pegasus crusader was about to leave the clubhouse when Apple Bloom jumped in front of her. Bloom slammed against the door with so much force, Scootaloo felt the floorboards creak under her legs.
"Oh, you ain't goin' nowhere until we know everything!"

Scootaloo's face felt hot. She was blushing. She noticed it didn't go unnoticed, since Sweetie Belle chuckled.
"I figured I need some more time to figure this out," Scootaloo admitted.
Apple Bloom shook her head, "But you had him right there-"
"Don't think this is easy, Apple Bloom," Scootaloo shouted, "What if he doesn't like me? Or worse, what if he starts avoiding me?"
"Ah don't think that's very likely," Apple Bloom frowned.
"What do you mean? Why would he not not like me? I mean, I like the idea of him not not liking me, but he might not not not like me, right?"

Sweetie Belle tried to count nots on her hooves, her face sinking farther into confusion, "Say what?"
Apple Bloom frickled her bow, carefully picking her words, "Scootaloo, I don't think he'll not not not like you. He'll rather not not not not like you- or wait is it the other way around? Not not not not not? Never mind that. Do I really have to remind you who the coolest pony in town is?"
Scootaloo raised a brow, "Rainbow Dash?"
"No, you, ya silly filly!"

Oh, of course it's me she's talking about, Scoot pondered, or what if he does like Rainbow Dash more? No, that would be silly. Rainbow Dash is way older. Maybe he likes older mares? How much do I actually know about him?
"But, what if I don't know him well enough? What if I ask if we could go catch some hayfries and he doesn't like hayfries..."
She was interrupted by two yellow hooves resting kindly on her shoulders.
"Then get out there and get to know him better."





Papers, oh so many papers. There was a stack of papers on the desk. A whole load of papers in the drawer and a closet full of papers. There were also papers spread out across the floor. Did I mention the papers? One tip: never let a banker inside a teacher's office. Especially not when it's a unicorn with a spontaneous magic disorder. 

Cheerilee felt like the unluckiest pony in the world: Having to deal with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon all day, not to mention that brat Snow Flux... Then, an angry banker walking in and accidentally flooding her with paperwork and after that, her ready-made meal had exploded all over her desk, because the town librarian was so smart as to accidently switch the regular magic book for the unicorn class for, you guessed it, a spell book that makes things spontaneously combust. 

She looked sad at one of the papers catching fire by itself, before agreeing she wasn't the unluckiest pony. No, having a case like Stride in her class, she knew better than to wallow in self pity. She reassumed her passionate mind and started cleaning up. (After bringing the book back of course. You should've seen Spike's face when his duster turned to ashes without any provocation.) 

As soon as the place was clean, she smiled at how everything was shiny again. Her special talent wasn't cleaning, but she sure was good at it. The universe seemed to think she had gotten the wrong cutie mark though, as a ball of mud smashed into the window. 
Children, they never bore you do they? 

Her expression unhappy, she watched as the mud slowly but surely made its way down to the window sill. She outed an unladylike shriek when she heard a sudden knock on the door. Straightening her hair and promising herself never to shriek like that again, she opened the door. 

There stood the skinny, wingless pegasus. In the beginning, she nearly didn't believe his wings were removed. Now however, she began to notice how his body had those same slim contours often occurring with pegasi.

"Hello, Stride," she said sweetly, "Come in. Why are you here?"
Stride slowly stepped past her. He seemed nervous about something.
"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me more about life... about cutie marks, actually."

> 8. Truth (or dare)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Truth (or dare)

The hills were covered in deep green grass. On top of one of the smaller hills, named Jason by Rainbow Dash, a large tree was slowly losing all its colourful leaves. As Scootaloo stood atop the Jason Hill and scanned the sky for her mentor. Why Dash had dubbed the hill with such a name, she had no idea. Something about a sports in Cloudsdale called  "Odd-shaped-ball". Flying had always seemed a lot more interesting to Scootaloo than ball sports. 

It wasn't long at all before a familiar pegasus pony zipped through the air, landing near Scootaloo in an almost elegant fashion. 
Almost, as she hadn't taking the pile of leaves into account, making her trip on the not so solid ground.

"Rainbow Dash! So glad to see you! How was Cloudsdale?"
Rainbow shook the leaves out of her hair.
"Yuck, I hate autumn," she exclaimed, before righting herself and rubbing a hoof through the little filly's mane,

"Glad I'm outta there, squirt. All there was there was some boring pony with a wig yapping on about restraining orders and therapy. That guy was such a buzz kill."

Sitting atop the Jason Hill, they looked about across the sky, puffy clouds floating about. Clouds never had worries. They were just there, not minding anything really. Scootaloo imagined it would be amazing to be up there with them. Careless, high up above all that was unpleasant-

"So," Rainbow Dash said, "Wanna do some flight training?"

The clouds had always seemed so far away. No, Scootaloo didn't feel like she wanted to train today. The farthest she'd ever gotten above ground on her own had only been a few metres and that had cost her all of her strength. It'd take centuries of training to ever get to the clouds. 

Right now, she wanted to talk about a topic she'd never ever thought she'd wanted to talk about with her 'big sister'. 
She wanted to talk about a boy.

Scootaloo's thinking must've left a weird expression upon her face, cause Rainbow caught up on her heavy thoughtq.
"What's the trouble, kid?" she asked worriedly.
Scoot's ears flopped down, "Well, uhm, actually I don't really feel like flying right now."
Rainbow Dash looked even more worried.
"Actually, Rainbow Dash, I would really like to just talk."

Her big sister who wasn't really a sister nodded, changing her usual 'I'm so cool face' for her 'I'm all ears' face.
Okay brain, now we need to find a way to put this to words without embarrassing ourselves.
"I think I have a crush."
Okay brain, I understand your failure there, but we can still save this. We have to find a way to-
"Like, a really, really bad one."
See? That was not too bad.
Rainbow Dash lifted a brow, "Who is it?"
"Someone really, really cute."
Brain, I give up on you. Those low grades should've warned me something like this would happen and I've had it. I'm done with you.

An imaginative choo choo train drove by and picked up Scootaloo's brain.
The blue mare in front of her gave her a warm smile, "Tell me everything, I can keep a secret."
"Aguh a-buh"
Okay brain, I'm sorry I overreacted. Could you come back now? Great! Let's try this again.

Scootaloo was about to try and say something again, but Rainbow Dash was first.
"Let me guess, it's that Rumble kid again, is it?"
It felt like a jolt of electricity powered up Scootaloo's head.
"No it's not! Wait, what do you mean, again?"
"I saw how psyched you are every time you talk about him."
Scootaloo's cheeks went red, "That was never a serious thing! Besides, I'm over that now."

The Dash shrugged, "Sure sure. But who is it then?"
Scootaloo shifted on her hooves, a bit startled as the fact came to mind she was actually talking to Rainbow about this. Luckily, her only witness was Jason Hill and he seemed like he wouldn't be telling anyone any time soon. She decided to just say it. Forget all the formalities, forget all the ego. Just say it bluntly.
"Early Stride."

For a second Rainbow's left eye twitched.
"Stride like in that colt who likes touching trees?"
"Well, yeah."
"Stride like in that colt who rolls in the grass like a puppy?"
"Pretty much."
"Stride like in that colt who's actually mad enough to join you on your insane quests to get your cutie marks?"
"Quite so- Insane?!"
Rainbow Dash shrugged again, "Hey, I ain't judging. I've done far worse when I was a kid."

She leaned in closer towards Scootaloo, as if she didn't want Jason Hill to hear her talking, "So, when are you gonna tell him?"
The filly grimaced, "I don't really know. When the time is right?"
Her mentor shook her head, "Scootaloo, it's never a suitable time for something like that. Don't believe what the movies tell you."

The orange filly had never really seen a romance in a movie. The only movies she had seen were Daring Do films. The only slight hint of romance that had ever occurred in those movies, was one of the bad guys screaming the name of a long lost goddess he had always admired as he felt into a pit of lava. Thus, Scootaloo had never learned anything about romance from film. Songs however, had taught her a true lover would always stalk their partner even if they aren't wanted. She didn't think much of that idea.





There was a tense atmosphere in the cerise coloured teacher's office, as Stride sat their across her, slowly figuring out how he would best pose his question. Fed up jumbling with words, he decided to keep it simple.
"Will I ever have a cutie mark?"
There you go. plain and simple. Easy to answer, right?

Miss Cheerilee uncomfortably moved back and forth on her seat, trying to think of the best way to put it.
"It's not because you don't have a cutie mark that you'll never have one, Stride, you're just a late blommer, like your friends. That's all," she decided.

The foal wasn't convinced, "I mean, cutie marks supposedly show our destiny, right? But since I'm dying, doesn't that mean-"
The teacher stopped him mid sentence by putting a hoof on his shoulder. Her eyes were watery.
"A destiny is a destiny, no matter how short."

He dropped his chin and thought about that.
"But, is it still possible that I'll never get my cutie mark?"
"Stride, every year dozens of foals are taken from us by accidents or by monsters in the forest," Cheerilee turned her head, shaking off a painful memory, "Some of them never get their cutie mark, that's true."

She turned back to look straight into Stride's eyes. The deep red irises were a bit disturbing, as she could see dozens of emotions floating through them like various coloured flower petals in the red water of a current rich pond. It reminded her of her own cutie mark, three happy flowers, only these petals weren't all as jolly.

"You still have seven great months ahead of you. It may seem like it's not much and of course it's less than you deserve, but a lot can happen in seven months. I can't ensure this, but you can still get your cutie mark."

Stride looked down at the floor again. Cheerilee preferred Stride looking at the sky, like he always did when he was dreamy. She'd noticed that dreamy look had melted the hearts of some of the fillies at school, but she decided not to rat them out on that.

"But if cutie marks tell you what you'll be doing for the rest of your life, then what's the point? I mean, I don't really have much of a lifetime left to practice a trade, so why would a cutie mark appear in the first place?"
Cheerilee bit her lip, not knowing the best way to answer this. She had long ago vowed to herself not to give this definition to her students, as it worked best if they found out themselves, but this child really needed her help and that was something she couldn't turn down.

"Stride, cutie marks don't really work like that."
She sighed and tried to clear her voice of pity, as it wouldn't ring well with the boy who'd probably had to endure enough compassion as it was.
"A cutie mark is a projection created by your own mind. It symbolises your fate, yes, but that's not all. It symbolises the fate you've come to terms with, the aspect of yourself you realise is one of the things that makes you who you are."

Stride lifted a brow and pouted, "So if anything, my cutie mark will be like a gravestone or something, because I have to come to terms with my fate?"
Cheerilee flexed her neck.
"No Stride, not that kind of fate. The fate you choose for yourself, the thing you want to do, because it's what you love doing."

Realisation seeped into the young pony's mind.
"Like dad got his axe, because he found out how much he actually liked being a lumberjack," he said, "not because he was meant to be."

The teacher gave him her warmest smile, "Well, if was ever meant to be is another discussion. But yes, it's pretty much about coming to terms with who you are yourself. Be it a lumberjack, be it a teacher... That's why nobody ever disagrees with their cutie mark."

Something jumped in Cheerilee's chest as she saw the relief on her student's face. Even though she'd had her doubts from time to time, she was once again confronted with the fact that she had made the right decision, becoming a teacher.





In the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse, two little fillies were sitting underneath an unlit light bulb. The place they had called 'the thinking corner'.
"How are we going to tackle this problem," Sweetie Belle whispered.
Apple Bloom shrugged, "The light bulb ain't burning just yet. In other words: Ah ain't got no clue."

There was no way they could force Stride and Scootaloo to confess to one another. Apple Bloom felt pressed however. For some reason, she felt like it had to happen quickly, or it'd never happen at all.

A faint knocking on the door disturbed the thinking corner, making Sweetie Belle hiss like a snake. Nobody disturbs the thinking corner. The door opened and a brown face with a helicopter cap above peeped in.
"Hi, guys. Would you like to come and play?"

Sweetie Belle's hiss changed into an awkward choke. Nobody disturbs the thinking corner, except for her knight Noble.
"Oh, hi there, Button! Of course we'd like to-"
She was abruptly interrupted by her fellow crusader, "Get out, we're busy scheming."
"Okay," Button said as he quickly closed the door and vanished.
Apple Bloom received an explosive glare from her friend.
"That wasn't very nice!"
The bow wearing filly shrugged in indifference, "He sure didn't seem to mind. Do you have any good ideas yet?"
Sweetie Belle shook her head, "No, none. Scheming? Really?"

The girls sighed in unison. This was going to be harder than they thought. Sweetie Belle was starting to get bored to the hooves. She forced out another exaggerated sigh, hoping Apple Bloom would pick up on that and start feeling the boredom too.

"Apple Bloom, can't we play a game or something? We've been thinking more today than I've done in the last five months and I'm starting to get a headache."
Apple Bloom shook her head, "We have to do this first, Sweetie Belle, this is Scootaloo's special somepony we're talking about."

The marshmallow coat unicorn wasn't pleased with that answer. She decided to try again, "Really? I mean, we could play guess who or we could play truth or dare..."
Apple Bloom's ears perked up, "That's it!"
She jumped up and turned on the light bulb.
"Sweetie Belle! That's genius! All we have to do is play truth or dare..."
"Sounds fine-"
"...and pick dares so absurd and insane they'll have no choice other than to pick truth!"
"Uhm..."





Squeaky clean. The window to Miss Cheerilee's office was now clean as could be and Stride felt very pleased with himself. He dropped the sponge back into the water. Or at least, in the thick brown goo that used to be water. Whoever had thrown the mud ball at the poor teacher's window was long gone, but that didn't matter. 

Through the glass he saw her friendly face smiling at him, then turning around. Shortly after, she appeared next to him on the abandoned school yard.

She granted him her usual warm charisma, "Really, Stride, you didn't have to do this."
Stride shook his head, "Anything to help my friends, Miss Cheerilee."

A bit of a blush appeared on the school teacher's cheeks. After all, it was unusual for a school kid to come here on a holiday. It was even stranger for them to spontaneously start cleaning up the place. But the rarest thing, the rarest thing was the student calling her a friend.

"Well, you sure have done your good deed for the day," she told him. Not only because he'd cleaned up. Also because he, despite having a bit of a depressing aura to those who knew of his condition, had really cheered up Miss Cheerilee's day. She realised it was supposed to be the other way around, but he seemed happier now than when he'd entered the building, so she considered her work done.

"Now go and play with your friends. I bet they're already waiting for you at your clubhouse.





Stride couldn't resist trotting through the field instead of on the road, enjoying the tall grass tickling his body. He didn't stop to admire the trees or to play in the grass though. He was too excited to see his friends. Too excited to see Scootaloo. 

He quickly arrived at the clubhouse. For a few seconds, he stood still. The sun was already hanging a bit low, casting a flare through the corner of the roof. Stride stuck his face in the beam, enjoying the heat of the afternoon sun, before it slipped away into evening's long cast shadows. 

He carefully made his way up the stairs, shivering at remembering how he'd once fell off the roof and hurt his leg. Tripping and tumbling down the stairs however was the least of his worries, he'd soon find out. He could hear the voices of his fellow crusaders. They didn't sound overly jolly though and it seemed a dispute was going on. He gently nudged the door. Nopony noticed. 

In the middle of the room, a very confused Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between a devious looking Apple Bloom and a very unhappy Scootaloo.

"Ah'm telling ya," Apple Bloom said, "Either you switch to truth, or you'll have to do as Ah say!"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"If you don't want to do the dares, then don't take 'em anymore!"
"I'm not setting my tail on fire!"

> 9. Can't stand the heat? For Celestia's sake put out the fire!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Can't stand the heat? For Celestia's sake put out the fire!

Scootaloo had never thought she was insane enough to put her own tail on fire. Apple Bloom had never thought Scootaloo would be stubborn enough to put her tail on fire. Looks like they were both wrong. A very scared little filly ran in circles in the suddenly a lot less peaceful clubhouse. Her tail a giant bundle of flames, creeping closer to her blank flanks.

"Put it out, put it out!" she screamed, "Sweetie Belle, put it out!"
"I can't," the unicorn cried, "Twilight only taught me how to start fires!"

Panic quickly overtook them. The fire was consuming Scootaloo's tail. Luckily for them, after the last few times they'd exploded the house or put it on fire, the clubhouse was now covered in fireproof paint. Even if Scootaloo would go up in flames, the rest of them were safe.

Stride jumped towards the closet and yanked open the doors. He grabbed one of the custom made capes Rarity had provided. He thought where he could find water, but with no time left he figured it'd have to do.

"Scootaloo, lay down on the floor!" he exclaimed.
"It's chasing me!" she cried out, "It's chasing me!"

He managed to intercept her and push her down on the floor. She covered her head with her hooves, her watery eyes closed shut. Stride quickly covered Scootaloo's tail with the blanket using his mouth. Coming so close to the source of heat, his eyes teared up. Luckily, it had the effect he had hoped for. The fire was gone.

He sat down next to her and tried to console her. She was crying into her hoof.
"It's over now, Scootaloo," he said.
Her pinkish tail had lost half its length, he had noticed removing the blanket, and the end was scorched black.
Her flank had some mild scorch marks, but he was pretty sure they'd heal.

He shot an angry glare at the other crusaders.
"Are you out of your mind?!" he shouted, "You could've killed her!"
Apple Bloom pouted, "She's the one who went through with it! I just wanted her to pick truth!"
Stride shook his head, "Then you should've stopped her!"
"Stride, that's not how truth or dare works," Sweetie Belle said.
Stride helped up Scootaloo, she stood wonky on her legs.
"Com'on, Scootaloo. Let's get out of here."

The burns didn't seem that bad, but it was still a good idea to have somepony take a look at them. Also, he figured she'd like to visit the day spa to make her tail a bit less... obvious. After all, the last thing they'd want was for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to mock her with it.

As Stride and Scootaloo walked out the door, Sweetie Belle turned her head towards Apple Bloom.
"This is by far the worst idea we've ever had."





The fur on Scoot's cheeks was still a bit sticky from crying, but her mind was a lot clearer now. Her shorter tail felt strange and uncomfortable. She was glad Stride was around. He however gave her a pensive look, "Why would you go through with something like that?"

She swallowed a chunk in her throat. She was afraid he'd ask that question and she was pretty sure the answer was going to sound really, really silly.

"Actually, I uh, I'd seen ponies do that before in the circus so I thought I knew what I was doing.
I kind of thought Sweetie would be able to put it out."

Stride shook his head in concern, "I know friends are ponies you'd entrust with a lot, but perhaps you should check what they can and can't do first next time."
Scootaloo let out a relieved sigh. She was glad he hadn't called her crazy, even though she was pretty sure she was crazy and she was pretty sure he knew that.

"Do you live close by?" he asked, "Perhaps your parents would like to take a look at this themselves."
"Do you think your mom would help?" 
"Yes, but-"
"Then let's go to your place!"

She realised she hadn't thanked him yet. After all, he might've actually saved her life back there.
Okay, brain. It's time for you to get back on duty. How are we going to thank him?
No response.
I hate you, brain.
Knowing she lacked the words to say enough, she resorted to her everlasting impulsiveness. She leaned towards him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She quickly drew back, her own face a luminescent red. Stride blushed and gave her a surprised look.
"Thanks for saving me," she said.

They entered town. It was a busy day today. There were ponies cleaning up after the Nightmare Night festivities and numerous salesponies offered their goods on market stalls. Scootaloo caught a glimpse of Applejack offering two apples for the price of three. The chocolate stand Discord had manned yesterday was now a stand for oranges. A grey pony with a ginger moustache looked shocked at his oranges as they sprouted wings and flew off towards freedom. Celestia's sun was already quite low on the horizon, causing the clouds to reflect many shades of pink, orange, red and yellow.





There was a degree of worry on Storm's face which could only be matched by Rarity looking at a bad dress. She quickly slid towards her medical cabinet and picked out some bandages and ointment. Scootaloo frowned at the bandage.

"I'm not walking around with a bandage diaper all day, thank you very much."
Storm shook her head, "You wouldn't want to walk around with scars for the rest of your life, would you? We need to make sure this doesn't get any sunlight!"
Scootaloo groaned, "Fine, but I'm not leaving the building as long as there are bandages."
Stride lifted a brow, "In other words, you might as well not have the bandages?"

"Well, I suppose you could sleep over for a few days, but you kids both have school again next week," Stride's mom suggested.
Scootaloo sighed, "I don't suppose we could use some healing magic?"
Storm put down the medicinal tools on the table.
"I guess if Burst were to work his magic, they'd be fixed by then..."
"So, I'm staying here then?" Scootaloo asked, her voice filled with hope.
Storm grimaced, "But what about your parents-"
"No problem," the filly said.

The mare took another look at Scoot's tail.
"Perhaps I can take you to the spa to get that tail fixed before school, next week."





"Sleep well," the soft voice of Stride's pegasus mother sounded through the room, before she turned off the light and closed the door. Stride didn't feel sleepy at all. Especially with Scootaloo lying on the mattress on the floor next to his bed. He had slept in the same room as Scootaloo before, but they'd never been alone together. He felt like he had to strike up conversation somehow. A little voice in his head said, "Tell her, tell her everything. About your condition, about loving her..."
He didn't listen to that voice and instead opted for something different, "How was flying training today?"

The light of Luna's moon falling through the split between the curtains was just enough to see Scootaloo grimace, "Well, we didn't really train today, we uh, we just sort of talked."
"About what?"
"Nothing," Scootaloo answered. She bit her lip, "Girl stuff."
It was a bit strange to hear Scootaloo say she had been doing 'girl stuff', but Stride decided to drop the subject.

"What did you do today?" the filly asked.
Stride shrugged, "I helped clean up Miss Cheerilee's office."
Scoot's left ear perked up, her right ear folded. She stared at him with a large frown,
"You helped Miss Cheerilee clean up her office?"
"Well, it was just cleaning mud off the window, actually."
"Oh, okay."

It became silent again. Stride turned in his bed so he could face her better. She sat up in her mattress and scratched her neck.
"Stride, can I ask you a question?"
Stride shrugged, "Sure."
"Have you ever been afraid of dreaming?"
He thought about that. Had he ever? Yes, yes he had.
"Well, there was a while I had a lot of nightmares. I was afraid to go to sleep."
Scootaloo nodded, but didn't seem satisfied with that answer.

"It's just," she looked out the window, "Sometimes my dreams are just too good."
Stride didn't really understand what she meant by that.
"Sometimes my dreams feel so much better than," she sighed, "So much better than real life I don't want to wake up anymore."
Her chin rested against her chest.
"I mean, in dreams there's so much more I can do."

Stride lifted up her chin with his hoof, forcing her to look straight into his  eyes.
"Like what?"
She gently flapped her wings, "Like flying."

It felt like a sword went straight through his heart. He'd had that kind of dreams before. Dreams in which he had his wings. Dreams in which he grew older, in which he could exit his adolescence, go senile... The kind of dreams that made him cry when he woke up. He'd never considered somepony else might be having the same problem.

"Scootaloo, I've had dreams like that too," he said. Of course, for all Scootaloo knew he was an earth pony, so he couldn't start talking about flying dreams.
Unless you told her. No, he thought, she's had to endure enough today.

"Perhaps it's something you shouldn't be afraid of," he said, "Perhaps it's something you should be looking forward to."
Scootaloo nodded. She broke eye contact and only then, Stride realised how much he had enjoyed looking straight into her eyes.
"You're right," she agreed, "Let's sleep then."





The Dreamscape was nice and warm tonight.
"Sorry I couldn't show up yesterday," Luna said. She appeared behind him.
"Some foal was having a really heavy nightmare about video game characters trying to eat him. Where were we?"

Stride shrugged, "You'd just said I didn't value myself."
Luna nodded, "Of course! Stride, you don't value yourself."
"I still have no idea what that means."
"Oh. Makes sense."

The princess of the night made another image appear. An image he'd rather not see again, because it showed Scootaloo's burning tail. The Dreamscape was now uncomfortably warm, almost burning hot.

"Can't you make it stop doing that?" Stride asked, looking around at the appearing flames worried.
Luna shook her head, "I'm powerful, but limited. The owner of the dream is always stronger if their emotions get the best of them."
Stride nodded. He tried to calm down. It was just a memory, nothing was burning. The fires around the platform vanished.

"All this time you spent thinking of yourself as not important," Luna said, "But how important is Scootaloo to you? How important are your friends?"
Stride tilted his head. They meant the world to him.
"They're everything to me," Stride answered.
Luna nodded, she nudged his head so he looked straight at the image.
"You saved her life today, Stride," she said.
"It was luck," Stride answered.

She shook her head, "Everything you've done in your life had a purpose. Your birth created the happiest years of your mother's life. What you told Scootaloo earlier, it has helped her beyond your imagination."
"How do you know all these things?"
"Dreams are memories, Stride."

Stride rolled his eyes. Great. Someone who knew his every secret.
"Do you understand this, Stride?"

He turned away from the image. If he hadn't been there, who knew what might've happened? Perhaps he was making a difference.
"I think I do," he muttered. Luna lifted his chin and winked, "Great, then my work here is done. See you around, Early Stride."
The Dreamscape faded. The orbs of light dimmed down, shortly afterwards being replaced by a beam of sunlight cast between two curtains.





Stride didn't feel like getting up. He stretched his arms and flexed his neck. His eyes were still a bit heavy. He rolled over and looked at the mattress they'd stalled out for Scootaloo to sleep on. She was still asleep and Stride could see her dreams were sweet from the broad smile across her face. She was lying on her side, her face directed towards Stride's bed. He noticed her wings would occasionally flap. 

He felt the bumps on his back. They were already diminishing a bit. The doctors had said this would happen. If Stride would've been a normal pegasus, his wings would've been getting their full wingspan at this age. The bumps were the result of a few joints switching. He could see Scootaloo's wings were fully grown, despite their small span. After all, girls' bodies go adolescent faster than boys'. 

The beam of light Celestia's disk blasted through the room was soon interrupted by a lonely cloud. It became colder, so Stride pulled up his sheet over his shoulders. He heard a faint yawn as Scootaloo stretched inelegantly, her mouth wide agape. She rubbed her eyes and grinned at him.

"Hiya, Stride!"
"Good morning."
"What time is it?"

Stride opened the drawer and picked up the clock he kept there. It was very early in the morning. His parents probably wouldn't be up yet, so he saw no point in going downstairs just yet.
"Way too early," he answered.

Scootaloo scratched her mane, "So, what are we going to do today?"
After all, she couldn't go outside till her scorch marks had healed.
Stride didn't recall telling her much about himself. Of course, the orange filly had quite often told him about her awesome adventures, but he was sure she hadn't told him all of her adventures quite yet.

"Perhaps we could just, you know, talk," he answered. And maybe tell her the thing.
Scootaloo sighed and fell on her back, "But that's so boring!"
Stride shrugged, "Come on, it'll be fun! You can ask me any question."

Scootaloo's eyes shimmered, "Any question?"

> 10. A Day at the Day Spa
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. A Day at the Day Spa

The landscape still bathing in the dawn, two little fillies speeded across town. Apple Bloom's pink bow swayed back and forth in the late autumn breeze.
"Come on, Sweetie Belle, hurry up!" she urged her friend.
It wasn't long before they reached the house they were looking for.
"Are you sure she didn't just go home?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Spike said she'd be here, so Ah think she's round here," Apple Bloom replied, "I trust Spike's judgement."
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, "Yeah, Spike's judgement..."

Apple Bloom grunted and stepped up towards the door. She knocked. No answer.
"Apple Bloom, don't you think we might be a bit early?" Sweetie asked, looking around worriedly. 
The streets were near empty. The only person they'd passed was Spike and he was out cleaning the sidewalk to escape Twilight's early morning magic testing. Sweetie Belle felt uncomfortable for perhaps waking up Stride's parents so early in the morning.

"Don't worry, Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom replied, "They're probably just havin' breakfast! Applejack and Big Mac were already bucking trees."
Sweetie Belle was about to make a remark on them being farmers when a grumpy stallion opened the door. Burst had his eyelids hanging low. His black mane was messy, as if he'd just gotten up.

"Hi there, mister Burst!" Apple Bloom said cheerfully, then, her face contorted to a guilty look, "I'm sorry if we disturbed your breakfast. Is Scootaloo here?"
The dark brown unicorn rubbed his eyes, then held his forehead trying to shake off a headache.
"No, no, you didn't disturb my... breakfast," he groaned, attempting to look friendly but failing at doing so. Sweetie Belle shrunk at his annoyed face. The stallion noticed and as if he was being struck by magic, he turned cheerful and chipper. Perhaps he couldn't bare the look of a sad child.

"Yeah, she's here. What's it for?" he yawned peacefully.
"We kind of made a mistake," Apple Bloom answered cheepishly, "We came to apologise."
Burst nodded, "Storm mentioned something happened, but," he yawned, "I was a bit too tired to hear her out. Come in, please."

He stepped aside so the fillies could pass. He guided them to the living room, after which he went to the kitchen. 
He quickly returned with a large pitcher of chocolate milk.

"Anypony up for a hot beverage?" he asked.
"No thanks, Ah'm fine," Apple Bloom replied. Sweetie Belle nodded fiercely, "Yes please!"
Burst smiled as he used his grey aura to lift up the pitcher and poured her a cup, "Great to hear! Storm's been saying I should give guests warm beverages. Finally, I can put this chocolate milk to use."
He floated the cup over towards her.

"Do you have any idea how time consuming it is to have a warm pitcher available all the time?"
The fillies shook their heads. Apple Bloom fidgeted her bow.
"So, uhm, is Scoots here?"
Burst nodded, "She's upstairs with Stride. I think they're still asleep."





"Any question?" Scootaloo asked.
Suddenly, it didn't appear to be such a good idea anymore. However, Stride nodded.
"Any question."
Knock knock.

Stride's ears perked up. Who would visit at this time of the day? He heard his parents' bedroom door open as his father trotted downstairs. He shrugged. Probably taxes or something.

Scootaloo seemed a bit absent. Her ears were halfway flopping down. Her eyes half closed. Her wings were straight.
"Are you okay?" Stride asked worriedly.
Scootaloo looked up at him, "Uhm, yeah, sure. I was just thinking."

She tilted her head, "Okay, first question. What'd you like most for a cutie mark?"
Stride pouted and pondered. He hadn't really considered such a thing.
"I'm uh, I'm not really sure," he answered, "Maybe pancakes?"
Scootaloo frowned, "Pancakes? You can do way cooler than that! You can be like an explosion or something!"
Stride lifted a brow, "Sure, an explosion."

He suddenly felt a jolt of pain through his chest. He started coughing violently and struggled to cover his mouth while doing so.
The filly next to him was startled. She hopped up from her mattress and looked around for anything that might help.
"Stride! Are you okay?"
He tried to nod, "I'm, ACHUM, fine, AGH, just need so- UCH, some water."





Sweetie Belle nervously rocked back and forth in the sofa.
"Soooooo, when do you think they'll get up?"
The second after, the door slammed open and Scootaloo dragged a coughing Stride into the living room. He seemed pretty bad as the coughs sounded painful and his eyes were red.

"Need some help here," the orange filly begged towards Burst.
The dad quickly jumped up and helped move Stride to the kitchen. He kindly asked Scootaloo to join her friends in the living room. Hesitantly, the filly walked towards her fellow crusaders. They heard the coughing lighten and eventually stop, but Stride and Burst still didn't come back.

"Hi," Scoots said bitterly.
"Hello," Apple Bloom answered uncomfortably.
Sweetie Belle looked sad at her empty cup. She turned towards Apple Bloom and nodded.
In sync, they both said, "We're sorry Scootaloo."

The pegasus looked up at them surprised.
"Don't be," she replied, "I was the one who agreed to setting my tail on fire."
Sweetie Belle shook her head, "But I was the one who went through with it."
Apple Bloom joined in, "And Ah told you to do it and Ah didn't try to stop ya."
The three fillies switched looks and Scootaloo smiled, "Let's just say we're all in the wrong here."
She leaned in closer to the rest, "And perhaps never do such a thing again."

Stride came back from the kitchen, followed by his dad.
Scoots jumped up, "Is everything okay?"
Stride nodded, "I'm fine."

The filly sighed in relief, "I thought you we're dying there for a second."
The colt bit his lip as his ears flopped down, "I uh, wasn't going to die there."
Scootaloo frowned as she saw the ever so friendly Burst shoot Stride a disappointed glare. The colt looked down at the floor.

Apple Bloom looked across the room, "So uh, we goin' crusadin'?"
Her pegasus friend shook her head, "Sorry, can't go out the coming few days," she answered. She showed her flank to her friends. It still had scorch marks and her tail was still in a pretty bad shape.
Burst frowned, "I can have those burns fixed in no time! Did Storm tell you otherwise?"
"Well, she said not to get into the sunlight until next week."

Burst shook his head whilst his horn glowed grey, "My ever so loving wife, always overreacting to everything."
They watched in awe at the place where the marks had been. Her flank was as blank as ever. A blush crossed her face as Scootaloo realised everypony was staring at her backside. She quickly turned. In front of her, in the door opening, a rather agitated mare stood.
"Always overreacting to everything?"
Burst's ears flopped down, "Well, uhm..."
She glared at him, "I'll deal with you later, she grinned wide, "Ever so loving husband of mine."

She turned towards the fillies, "That fixes the burns, but not the tail," she remarked.
Apple Bloom put up wide eyes, "But can she go outside now?"
Storm nodded askant, "But I think perhaps Scootaloo and I should make a little trip to the spa together and get that tail fixed."
Scootaloo bit her lip as she wondered what she'd best do.
Sweetie Belle nodded fiercely, "Sure, we can crusade some other time!"
Storm bumped Scootaloo on the back, "Come on, some girl time together, what do you think?"
Girl time? Let's just hope Rainbow Dash doesn't disapprove. What's you advice, Brain?
...
Yeah, Why am I not surprised?
"Uhm, okay then."





Stride groaned at the two fillies before him. They were on their way to the clubhouse, but Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had been keeping ahead for a while now. He couldn't hear what they were talking about and all he could see was their behinds. A sight he'd rather not behold. They were whispering and giggling.
"I'm still here, you know," he pointed out. No response.
Apple Bloom whispered towards Sweetie Belle, "Why did you encourage them to go so quickly?"
Sweetie Belle shrugged, "What better way to form a couple than having the filly bond with the mother?"
They giggled, "Great idea, Sweetie Belle."





Scootaloo uncomfortably sat down on the chair.
"So, uh, how does this work?" she asked. 

Lotus Blossom, the blue, pink maned beautician, gave her a reassuring smile, "Just relax and you'll have a good time."
Storm lay on the chair next to her and was already having her hoof clipped. She had a broad smile across her off-white face.

Scootaloo lay down on her belly and frowned as she tried to look behind her. She felt the beautician taking hold of her tail and spraying on some colouring. After that, the mare used some extensions on it. She seemed quite busy puffing the tail and curling the mane. Storm was enjoying a massage.

"So," Storm said, "What've you and Stride been doing on these 'crusades'?"
Scootaloo lifted a brow, "Doesn't Stride tell you that?"
"Yes, but I'd like to hear your side of the story."
"Well, we try to get our cutie marks by doing numerous things."
"What kind of things?"
"Things like baking, acrobatics, jousting..."

Storm's eyes were now wide open, "Jousting?"
Scootaloo nodded, "But we're not going to do that anymore. Last time, the joust turned out to be a bit too sharp and Sweetie Belle accidently pierced Button's helicopter cap. We were lucky she didn't aim a bit lower."
She grimaced, "Button's mom is one mare you don't want to see angry. So far for having Button join the club."

Suddenly, a pair of hooves touched her wings, "Hey, what are you doing?"
Lotus Blossom smiled at her, "We'll have to wait for your tail to be finished, so I thought I'd massage your wings.
It's always easier to fly after a good massage."

Scootaloo nervously flapped, "I'm not really one for being touched."
The spa pony shook her head, "A good flier needs to rest her wings from time to time."
"I can't fly."
Lotus grimaced, "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
The filly rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Of course you are."

Stride's mom moaned in delight as the spa pony massaged her wings, "Don't worry, Scootaloo. Just don't think too much and enjoy the massage. It's free."
The orange pegasus frowned, but then nodded.
"I'll give it a try." She lay down her head on the pillow before her and felt the clean hooves moving through her feathers. Indeed, it was enjoyable.





Meanwhile in Canterlot Castle, horrors occurred. A large centaur like creature walked the halls with Discord along his side.
"The princesses are going down," he groaned.
Discord frowned, "Might I ask, my friend, what you plan on doing after you've consumed their magic?"
The centaur grinned, "How about I mind my business and you get to have Equestria as your playground."
"Yes, well you've said that before..."
"Then stop questioning my honesty and I will not question your loyalty."
"I'm thankful for your generosity, but-"
"Drop the matter or I'll lose my kindness, dragonequus, and then there'll be no more laughter for you."
Discord crossed his arms. At least Fluttershy didn't mind me teleporting around all the time. This guy's so boring. I want to go back to pranking ponies, that was fun.

> 11. Corner Cowering 101
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Corner Cowering 101

Scootaloo stretched her wings when they left the spa.
"So, did you enjoy it?" Storm asked.
The filly nodded happily, "I sure did. Thanks, Storm."
"Now you go to your friends and show off your tail," the mare replied, "And tomorrow, I'll take you all out for ice cream."
"Yaay!"
Storm watched gladly as Scootaloo trotted away. She was a bit worried about what these kids would get themselves into, but at least Stride was with friends.





On the way home, Storm gazed at the streets and realised they were nearly empty. Where did everypony go? Suddenly, the entire colour spectrum caught her eye. It was Rainbow Dash, that mare who'd dropped a cumulonimbus on the school for some reason. Storm had no idea which reason, but the Element of Loyalty must've had one, right?

"Ma'am," Rainbow uttered urgently, "I'm afraid you're going to have to go inside. Monster on the loose and all that."
Storm's eyes broadened.
"Monster?"
Rainbow nodded and glared at the sky, "Some mad centaur called Ti'rek. He's been sucking magic from everypony he comes across, so you'd better get inside."
"But Stride and is friends... Do the crusaders know?"
Rainbow Dash saluted as if she was talking to a major.
"Don't you worry about it, ma'am, I'm on it."
With a huge explosion of rainbow colours, she shot across the sky at a speed Storm could never have flown. Even though she was thoroughly concerned, she felt a bit more comfortable with one of the most powerful ponies in Equestria looking to it that her child would be okay.





Stride looked out the window, Apple Bloom was in the thinking corner and Sweetie Belle was practicing magic on a flower pot. 
Her green aura exploded the pot and now she was covered in dirt.

"Sweetie Belle, be careful! Ah'm trying to think of something for crusading here!" Apple Bloom whined. 
Stride sighed, "I've got no ideas either."
"Then maybe you should come sit in the thinking corner."

He turned his head and looked at the thinking corner. It wasn't very big. Having to sit there, close to Apple Bloom... 
He didn't like sitting close to ponies.

A large explosion of colours filled the sky. He recognised the sonic rainboom from pictures. He'd never seen one for real. After all, there was only one pony who'd ever pulled it off, far as he knew. But there was no show in Ponyville today, was there? Why would there be a sonic rainboom now? Why would Rainbow Dash want to fly that fast?

He heard a knock on the door. Sweetie Belle opened it with magic and there stood aforementioned pegasus mare. She looked exhausted, her sweaty multicolour mane sticking on her forehead.

"You guys can't leave the building, okay? Don't go close to the windows either."
All ears in the room perked up, "Why?"
Rainbow looked up at the sky.
"Some macho man called Ti'rek is going about wrecking things."
She grinned at the foals, "I'm going to take him down."
After that, she turned dead serious again, "But it's too dangerous for you kids to go outside, so please stay inside, don't go near the windows, don't show your face."

"You can do it, Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom said.
"Don't you worry about it," the blue mare smiled, "Oh, and uh, Applejack and Rarity will be there too, just so you know it," she said switching her gaze between the fillies in the room. Apple Bloom seemed confident about it, but Sweetie Belle was now worried.

"Where's Scootaloo," Rainbow asked, scanning the room.
"She's at the spa with mom," Stride answered.
Rainbow grimaced, "The spa? I was just there. No Scootaloo."
The crusaders switched glances. Apple Bloom tilted her head back, 
"Then they must've gone somewhere else. Or perhaps Scootaloo's on her way here?"
"I'm on it," Rainbow said with a hint of worry in her usually confident voice.





Luckily, Rainbow Dash was not only one of the quickest fliers in the trade, she also had pretty good eyes. 
She soon noticed Scootaloo on the road towards Sweet Apple Acres.
"Hey, squirt!" she exclaimed, "Up here!"
She landed near her 'little sister' and gave her a firm hug.
"Look, kid, you need to get to your clubhouse as quickly as possible and stay there. Your friends will explain the rest, okay?"

Scootaloo first seemed confused, then she looked up at her hero, "There's something dangerous again isn't there?"
Rainbow nodded, "Yeah, but you know I can handle it!"
She hugged Scootaloo, but the filly wasn't convinced.
"Just be careful," she said.
Rainbow nodded, "You know me!"
She flew off in another burst of light. Scootaloo felt something bad was about to happen.





Arriving at the clubhouse, Scootaloo saw someone she didn't expect to see there. Stride was in the corner, as small as he could make himself, as he stared at their visitor. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle however seemed completely fine with the dragonequus' presence.

"Oh, hello there dear Scootaloo," Discord said kindly, "I thought one was missing."
He turned towards Stride and pointed, "Now who is this guy?"
"S- Stride," Stride replied.
Discord pinched his chin and thought deeply. Suddenly, the top of his head came off and another Discord popped out, "Of course! Early Stride! I remember that name!"

His big self disappeared and his small self flew towards the colt, "Your mom and dad were really persistent on my help. I'm afraid however I'm useless for your cause."
Discord poofed back next to himin full size and wearing a lab coat. He rubbed throught Stride's mane with his talon.
"After all, I'm not a doctor."
Scootaloo frowned, "What are you talking about?"
Discord's coat went up in flames, "Oh, so you don't know? Never mind that."

He turned around and watched the fillies, "I'm going to have to ask you to stay indoors."
Sweetie Belle nodded, "Rainbow Dash already said that."
Discord's face turned to something unbefitting of the dragonequus: confusion.
"She did now? Oh, she must've known he was coming then. Oh well. Don't go out until I come get you, okay? Don't listen to anypony else."
Apple Bloom lifted a brow, "But what if Big Macintosh comes for us?"
Discord shook his head, "No ponies. Only trust me if you want to survive this."

Scootaloo was glad to see good old Discord, but the more he spoke the more him being there concerned her.
"What's going on, Discord?"
The spirit of Chaos teleported outside the window, "I'm sorry, fellow crusaders, but I had to choose," after which he disappeared.





It was Sweetie Belle who spoke first, "What was that all about?"
Stride got up, "How do you know Discord?!"
Scootaloo shrugged, "He's an honorary crusader. Didn't we tell you?"
"You most certainly didn't."
"Do y'all think he's goin' to betray us?" Apple Bloom jumped in.

Sweetie scratched her back, "It would explain why he'd apologise. Or specifically tell us not to side with the ponies."
Stride shook his head, "So what do we do?"
Apple Bloom sighed, "Ah guess we wait..."
They gathered in the corner away from the windows. Stride suddenly didn't mind sitting close to anypony anymore. 
An explosion rocked the ground.

Scootaloo jumped towards the window even though she was told specifically not too. A large cloud of smoke arose from the direction of town.
"Guys, I think that's the Ponyville."
Her friends soon joined her at the window.
"This is bad," Stride remarked.
"Where's Rarity? And Applejack and Rainbow Dash..." Sweetie Belle added.

They saw some light at the horizon, but they had no idea what was going on. The sky went darker. The lights stopped.
"What's happening?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
They heard a knock on the door.
"Don't answer it," Sweetie said.

A familiar voice sounded, "It's me, Big Macintosh."
"Is that really you, brother?" Apple Bloom uttered.
"Eeeeyup."
No doubt.

Apple Bloom trotted towards the door. Discord had said not to listen to ponies. They were however all pretty sure ponies were a better bet than Discord when it came to trust. Apple Bloom opened the door and Big Mac came in. His red coat was covered in mud. His mane was messy and his eyes stood troubled.

"What happened?" Apple Bloom asked, "Is everypony okay?"
Big Mac shook his head, but before he could say anything, a rainbow coloured wind struck them. 

They all felt happy for some reason, but they had no idea why.
Looking outside, they saw the sky had cleared. It wasn't clear what had happened, but the idea everything was fine was overwhelming. 
The smoke was still rising from where the town should be. Next to town, something peculiar happened. They ran outside and past the orchard, seeing the explosion must've happened somewhere near the Golden Oak Library, judging by the direction the smoke came from. Stride hoped it wasn't his home. His parents had to be fine. With a strange noise, a large crystal construction rose from the ground near town. It was a crystal castle.

"It's so sparkly," Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
"It's hideous," Stride added.

> 12. Weather
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Weather

The fields were a soft gold. The early sunlight caressed the tops of the hills. A little filly trotted up the hill. The now leafless tree cast a long shadow across the golden curves in the landscape. Scootaloo lifted her head and enjoyed the strong wind of late fall stroking through her mane. The wind was strong and even dangerous. Even though she knew Rainbow wouldn't let her practice flying in this weather, she was still happy with the autumn breeze. It felt good. No, it felt great.

Her eyes slid across the landscape in search of her favourite hero and mentor. 
She didn't see the blue blur anywhere yet. She figured it was probably the wind stalling Rainbow. 

The weather ponies had been working off schedule since Ti'rek destroyed half of Cloudsdale with a magic beam. The pegasi were devastated. Three months of hard work down the drain and a lot of property damage to repair. Then again, Equestria had had its fair amount of destruction. Even though the weather ponies had a disaster plan for this kind of event, they still wouldn't be able to reach all deadlines without accidently setting off an ice age. Miss Cheerilee had announced in class how winter was going to be postponed a few weeks, thus autumn was going to be long this year. It had really upset some of the animals. Most of the inhabitants of Ponyville chose to stay indoors. Despite the weather, the Cutie Mark Crusaders weren't cancelling their meeting in the afternoon.

A smile crossed Scootaloo's face whilst she leapt through the tall grass. She didn't mind having grass for a bit longer instead of covering it in snow. She recalled romping through the fields of Sweet Apple Acres with Stride. They hadn't done that ever since his breakdown. She still wasn't sure what had happened back then, when Stride had curled up in a ball in the CMC clubhouse after Apple Bloom had simply asked a question. 

He seemed to have cooled down a bit since then, but he still wasn't really the same. Despite his everlasting dreamy demeanour still being there, she'd noticed he would be down more often. It was like something made him sad, but she couldn't pinpoint what. She didn't have the nerve to ask about it. He had such a fragile air to him she feared breaking him.

Her pondering was interrupted by the gasping of one particular Rainbow Dash. 
The high flier leaned against the naked tree. She was sweaty.
"W... Wind," she panted.
Scootaloo walked over towards her.
"Got caught in the wind," Rainbow repeated. She sat down and wiped the sweat off her brow. She didn't look too well.

"The weather ponies really outdid themselves, didn't they?" Scootaloo remarked. 
Rainbow sighed, "And they better keep outdoing themselves. Do you have any idea how hard it was to get the team to work?"
Her eye twitched. Scootaloo had never considered how hard it must be to keep Equestria's climate in order. Rainbow Dash spent the larger part of her time managing the weather team's schedule. She even cut her Wonderbolts training for it multiple times.

"I kept on urging them to get on the job! It's like they never want winter to come at all!" the mare continued in the most agitated voice.
Scootaloo scratched her neck, "Well, I guess part of them just lost their homes..."
Rainbow softened and nodded, "I know kid. I let them go home. It's the other ones that are slacking off."
She rubbed through Scootaloo's mane.
"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think we'll be doing a lot of flight training today."

Scootaloo nodded, "It's okay." Her eyes shot down to the ground.
"Do you ever think it's all, you know, useless?"
Rainbow frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that... I've been practicing so hard and I still can't fly. Even Pound Cake can fly and he's just an infant."
The look on Rainbow's face switched from confused to somewhat angry.
"Scootaloo, you are not giving up!"
Her wings stretched stiff as she gave her a firm right eye.
"I am going to get you to fly if it's the last thing I do, have you got that?"

The wind blew her mane upwards. She looked at how the leaves that had fallen from the big tree were now again flying through the air, now carried by a heavy breeze rather than the force of gravity. Rainbow sighed, "But I guess we better wait till next week for that."

Scootaloo nodded. She turned her head to follow the leaves as they were blown so  high they left view before coming back down. It became unbearably silent, apart from the violent wind of course. 

Rainbow was the one to break the silence, "So, have you conquered your colt yet?"
Scootaloo lifted a brow, pondering  on what Rainbow meant. She agreed with her brain on an answer.
"What?"
"You know, stunned the stallion, bedazzled the boy?"
"Do you mean telling Stride?"
Rainbow nodded, "Yeah, that!"
"No..."
Rainbow lay her forehooves on her hips as she flew up in a straight position, but the wind caught her and threw her back down.
"Then you shouldn't waste another second! Life's too short to spend waiting," the Dash exclaimed as she picked some grass tufts from her mane.





Scootaloo was certain her plan was flawless. Go to Stride and tell him you like him. Simple as can be.
Simple, until it got complicated. 

She was on her way to the CMC clubhouse as usual. The wind was still grasping anything light enough to lift. A pony with a monocle frantically chased his bowler hat. He was wearing some sort of fancypants suit. Probably the kind of wear Rarity would recommend. He groaned something about terrible holidays as he ran past Scootaloo over the sidewalk. 

She lost balance and was about to tumble over, when she was caught by a colt. The grey pony helped her stand up and gave her a roguish smile. His mane was equally grey. His eyes weren't. They were some sort of purple with a strong grey tint. He flapped his wings and nodded to the pony who'd pushed her over.

"Rude fellow, ain't he?" he said. Scootaloo tried to hide her blush. She'd told Rainbow Dash she was completely past Rumble, but that was not entirely true. The colt still had a strange effect on her. His roguish behaviour, his natural looks. She knew however they weren't meant to be. 

He hadn't given her any look other than a straight one for years now and had never defended her when she had been called blankflank, chicken or groundhog. He had never stood up for her. He'd refused to be a crusader because he found it 'childish'. No, Scootaloo knew he wasn't for her.

"Bad idea being out in this wind, if you ask me," Rumble said, "But then again, you really know how to make a bad idea sound good."
He grinned wide. Was that a complement or an insult? Scootaloo wasn't sure.
"I uh," She started, "I was just on my way to the clubhouse. Besides, if you think it's so stupid then why are you out here?"
"Let's just say I'm always up for a bad idea," he smiled with his white teeth. Scootaloo fought hard not to swoon.

Relax. It's just Rumble. The moron probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a cupcake and a muffin. Wait a sec, what IS the difference between a cupcake and a muffin?

"Really, Rumble, what are you doing out here?" Scootaloo asked resuming her way. Greatly to her surprise, Rumble followed.
"Well, uhm, I just thought I'd find you out here somewhere with you liking wind so much and everything."
He knows I like wind? Wait, did he just say uhm? 
The wind was playing roughly with his gelled up mane.
She shook off the idea. Rumble was a ladies stallion. He had seduced so many fillies in the last years... He had even managed to keep Diamond Tiara from mocking his blank flank by grinning at her every so often. Rumble could have any girl he wanted. He would never go for chicken filly. Besides, she was not interested.

She was just about to curse herself for such thoughts even popping up in her head, when he caught her completely off guard.
"I just wanted to uh, I just thought you might want to uhm... Would you like to go for a drink tomorrow afternoon, after school?"
Scootaloo's face turned red. Was he really asking this? She shook it off. She already had her mind set. She liked Stride. She like liked Stride. She was not going to let Rumble interfere with that. He was a tramp anyway.

" I'm kind of busy," she replied as she picked up her pace. She saw big sport Rumble was starting to have trouble running against the wind. She chuckled. She couldn't fly, but she could run for sure.
"Then maybe later?" he panted. He slowed down and stopped. He quickly shouted, "Let me know if you change your mind," before she was out of range. The wind had won its battle with the gel and his mane now furiously danced back and forth.





Every time. They are always late. Apple Bloom closed the window to keep out the wind. It had completely ruined her bow and puffy mane. She sighed as she tried to straighten it. Sweetie Belle was in the thinking corner. The light bulb showed no light yet.
"So, do you have a plan?" Sweetie Belle asked, fiddling with her horn.
Apple Bloom shrugged, "Well we ain't gonna be doing much crusading with all this wind around."
Sweetie Belle shook her head, swaying her mane in the process, "No, I meant with the ScootaStride issue."
"ScootaStride?" Apple Bloom gave a disgusted expression, "Sweetie Belle, you sound like my sister in her crazy fanfictions."
Sweetie Belle frowned, "Fanfictions?"
"Yeah, she keeps going on about this Broken Mountainback thing or something like that... Anyways, Ah thought we'd dropped that idea?"
Sweetie Belle pouted, "But what if Scootaloo loses her chance of happiness?"
Her friend gave her a strange look, but did not reply.

The unicorn sighed, "There must be something we can do..."
"Ah've got nothing," Apple Bloom admitted, "Maybe we should just get on with our lives and get back to crusading."
Her fellow crusader hopped up and down in delight, an enthusiastic expression on her face, "That's it! All we have to do is crusade!"
Apple Bloom was pretty sure something would follow. She was also pretty sure it would be something really bad. But she was even more sure she would like it.

"We have to convince them to kiss for their cutie marks! Then they'll feel a connection and they'll confess for sure!" Sweetie exclaimed.
Indeed, Apple Bloom was right: she liked the plan. 
One problem struck her though, "But we always do everything together! She'll know something's up if we only get the two of them to do something!"
Her friend seemed to have thought of that, "It's plain and simple! We get them to kiss first and then when they admit their limitless love to one another, we reveal our intentions! They'll be grateful for it!"

Outside in the whistling wind between the near bare trees of Sweet Apple Acres, one could surely have heard the faint giggling of the two fillies, thinking up their master plan.





Three warm cups of tea rested on Storm's wing. She gently put them down on the table before Stride and her guest. The mare gave her a thankful nod, before sipping the tea.

"Well thank you, ma'am," the earth pony said.
Storm winked at her son, "No problem, Miss Apple."
"Please ma'am, call me Applejack," the cowpony replied. Her blonde mane was bound together and rested over her shoulder.
"Then call me Storm instead of ma'am," Stride's mother replied.

Her son impatiently rocked back and forth on his stool.
"So, can I go to the meeting now?"
"Just a second now dear," Storm answered, "I'm not letting you walk through this wind alone and believe me when I say I know wind."
Stride sighed, "I know mom. Please don't tell your cutie mark story again."
Applejack chuckled, "Don't you worry Stride, it ain't gonna take much longer."

She turned towards Storm, "So, why haven't you got it yet?"
Storm shook her head, "Burst said it's going to be two weeks late. Some trade routes are blocked off completely with the repairs going on everywhere. Sorry."
Now it was Applejack's turn to sigh, "But it'll be here before winter?"
The pegasus in front of her nodded firmly, "Most definitely."
Applejack smiled, "Good. That's the first good news Ah've had in days."

She turned towards Stride, "So, we going or what?"
Stride jumped up quickly and ran for his saddlebags. He had gotten new ones since the unfortunate rip it had gotten in that faithful fog. Applejack finished her cup of tea and stood up.

"He'll be safe with me, Storm, Ah swear."
Storm nodded, "I have no trouble believing that."
She watched gladly as her chipper son skipped outside followed by the apple farmer straight into one of the biggest windstorms she had ever seen. She liked windstorms.


> 13. Bad Timing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Bad Timing

The wind was still raging between the worn down apple trees. The door creaked violently when Apple Bloom opened it. 
Scootaloo quickly leapt inside so it could be closed. Sweetie Belle chuckled in the corner. She gained a frown from her orange friend.
"Why are you laughing?"
The unicorn shook her head, "Nothing. Insider."
Scootaloo frowned harder, but decided to drop the matter. She sighed and leaned against the yellow planks. 

Apple Bloom seemed to have noticed the concern on her face.
"There a problem, Scootaloo?"
There shouldn't be, the filly thought. 

She had decided she would tell Stride her feelings. How hard could that be? But now, now her two oldest friends sat near her and her old crush had shown some form of interest, she felt miserable. It was all just such bad timing. She pondered what to answer Apple Bloom and figured she might as well tell her the one thing she was absolutely certain of.

"Rumble asked me to go catch a drink after school."
Her friends both lifted their brows. In sync. Creepy.

The first to react was Apple Bloom, "Wait, Mister McDreamy? You do know he's bad news, right?"
Then Sweetie Belle chose to join in, "Wow! He's like the cutest guy in school! After Pipsqueak, but that's a totally different kind of cute... And after Button Mash of course, but who could beat that? So, what did you say?"

"I said I didn't have time to talk right now."
Bloom bit her lip, "So he expects you to answer him later."
The pegasus nodded, "Probably."
"Well then," Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "You can't turn down an offer like that!"

She was given a scowl by Apple Bloom, who then turned to Scootaloo with a softer look,
"You know what he's up to, Scootaloo. Ah've known ya for a long time and Ah know Stride's the real deal for you, not Rumble."
She didn't expect the scowl she got from Scoots.
"Not being interested doesn't mean I can't have a drink with him, Apple Bloom. Why do you always have to be so black and white?"

They heard a thorough knocking on the door. Apple Bloom opened it and revealed her prized sister.
"Well, Ah hope Ah ain't disturbin' yer crusadin' business here, but Ah've got a package for ya."
She stepped aside and let Stride pass. He gave them a faint smile, then walked into the thinking corner with a troubled look.
"Have fun, kids," Applejack said before leaving the door frame empty, "Don't go too far out in the wind!"
The door slammed shut. 

Scootaloo breathed in a huge gasp of air. This is it. I've got to say something.

Now, Sweetie Belle, stick to the plan.
"Guys, I have an idea!" she shouted. Stride was phased by the sudden outburst. Scootaloo appeared startled.
Did I do it wrong? No matter, stick to the plan.
"Oh gosh, Sweetie Belle, what idea would that be?" Apple Bloom said in a manner that could hardly be called subtle. 
Sweetie disapproves, Apple Bloom, Sweetie disapproves.

"Rarity told me something you can get you cutie marks in, something we haven't tried yet!" she explained.
Stride scratched his red mane, "Can it be done inside?"
Scootaloo was biting her lip and looking nervous. Did she have something to say maybe? 
That wasn't important. Getting them to confess was important.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle uttered chipper.
Stride gazed confused at her enthusiasm, "What is it?"
"Well, Rarity once said she thought Big Mac might be a good kisser..."
Apple Bloom made a vomiting move.

"But then she said the best kisser probably has a cutie mark for it!" Sweetie Belle disregarded the motion.
Apple Bloom smiled confirming. Scootaloo and Stride exchanged glances of disbelief.
"I think we should try getting cutie marks for kissing!"
The yellow filly in the room nodded profusely. The others stood concerned.

"Uh, I don't think this is hygienic," Stride answered.
"Wait, who's supposed to be kissing who here? We're one boy and three girls," Scootaloo added. She nervously glanced around, "Are you suggesting everpony kisses Stride, or are you two into fillies?"

Apple Bloom facehooved, "Scootaloo, we aren't all into Stride either, so what does it matter?"
The two scared ponies were still both scared. Now, Scoot's muzzle scrunched as well, as she realised she'd suggested she herself was into Stride. Had he picked up on that? She was planning on telling him but not like this.

"Guys, I don't like this idea," Stride answered.
Sweetie Belle leaned forward, "But do you refuse?"
"Well-" he started, but Sweetie launched her voice.
"I take that as a no!"
"But-"
"So, who goes first?"

Now her muzzle scrunched too. She'd just destroyed the part of the plan where Apple Bloom and her just wait until Scoot's and Stride had kissed before revealing their intentions.

"How about you go first!" the orange filly grinned, seeing a way out, pointing at the earth pony near the door.
Apple Bloom's ears flopped down, "Wow, I'm not sure..."
"Come on, just kiss Sweetie Belle. You said you didn't have a problem with that, right?" The pegasus now flapped her wings in victory.
Sweetie Belle's horn glowed in frustration, "Hey! I've kissed Button before! I don't count!"

Scootaloo remembered that time.
"Actually, he kissed you and he didn't even want to, so I say that doesn't count."
"All right, then why kiss me and not you!" the unicorn exclaimed.
Apple Bloom shook her head. This was ruining the plan entirely.

"Because-" Scootaloo started, but she choked. She had no answer.
Suddenly, a word came from an unexpected corner. 
Stride stepped forward hesitantly, "Actually, I've been kissed before, so does that make me not count either?"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle yelled in unison, "No!"

His ears moved down whilst he moved backwards. Nothing was as scary as the CMC. 
He'd rather go on holiday with Discord than make them angry.

"I think Scoots should start by kissing Stride," Apple Bloom said.
"No," Scootaloo bit, "You should kiss Sweetie Belle."
Sweetie Belle lifted her chin, "Apple Bloom should kiss Scootaloo."
Stride looked down at the floor, "Maybe nopony should kiss at all?"

The fighting didn't end there. Stride suddenly regretted showing up, but with this harsh wind outside, he couldn't leave safely either.

"Scootaloo Apple Bloom!"
"Stride Sweetie Belle!"
"Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle!"
"Wait, did Stride just say he's been kissed before?"
"Sweetie Belle Scootaloo!"
"Apple Bloom Scootaloo!"
"Apple Bloom Stride!"
"Fine!"

The sequence of bickering came to a sudden end. Stride saw his life flash by when the filly stormed at him. 
Apple Bloom had strength, muscle, so if she came running at a pony, most would doubt whether he'd survive. 

She grabbed his shoulders with her firm hooves and pressed her lips against his. He had had no time to run away, nor did he have the strength to struggle. He was shocked seeing her face so close to his. Her eyes less than a hooflength away from his. Her moist lips felt alien. 

Yes, he had been kissed before. On the cheek that was. He didn't know what to think of this. It felt somewhat pleasant, the strange sensation on his mouth, but it also felt wrong. He didn't want it to feel good. He tried to shut off his senses, like he had done so many times before, but ignoring her was impossible. 

When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were a distinct pink. She looked away. 
Her front legs were crossed as she stared at him diagonally. 

Suddenly, after a long second of silence, she jumped back and scraped her throat.
"So, who's next?" she said as if nothing had happened.





Stride couldn't do anything but watch with his mouth wide agape. His mane hung before his face while he stared into oblivion. Scootaloo noticed his legs were shaking. 

Sweetie Belle uttered an exasperated sigh, "Great job, Apple Bloom, you just broke him."
"Hey", Scootaloo cried angrily, "He's not a toy!"

The yellow filly furrowed her brow as she thought of things to say. Evidently, she lacked the words.
Whilst Sweetie shook her hoof in front of Stride's eyes, Scootaloo moved closer to Apple Bloom with an aggressive glare.

"Yeah, you broke him," the unicorn confirmed when she didn't get any response from the colt.
Apple Bloom backed away from the aproaching mare , a drop of sweat forming on her forehead. 

She glanced at the twitching wings with fright. Despite being small, Scootaloo's wings could be intimidating when spread. 
Especially when paired with that destructive look.

I just had my first kiss, Apple Bloom thought, and now I'm going to be murdered over it.

An abrupt gasp startled them all. Stride's eyes narrowed and he grabbed for his back, crashing down on the floor. Apple Bloom was relieved when Scootaloo's attention shifted and she speeded towards Stride. Worry filled the room however. Bloom didn't want her survival to go at Stride's expense. 

Luckily, he noticed their worry, sat up and grinned sarcastically, rubbing his sore back. 
"Sorry for that," he admitted, "My back always twitches a bit when I get kissed forcefully."
He met with looks of disbelief. Could he truly joke about such a serious matter?

The colt stretched and smiled, "Hey, guys, I'm fine, really."
They kept exchanging glances. Apple Bloom shrugged.
"See, no big deal!"

She got an unexpected glare from Stride, "Don't think I'm okay with that."
The filly shifted on her hooves, feeling hostility from every corner of the room. S

weetie Belle stepped forward and waved her hoof at Stride again, causing him to frown.
"Jee, Stride. For a second, I thought you were going to die."
His eyes grew and he scratched his mane.
"Uh-"

Before he could speak, Scootaloo shouted. 
They all jumped back in shock, stumped by the suddenness and persistence in the filly's voice.

She spoke the words she had been holding back for a long time. She couldn't wait anymore.





"Stride, I like you!"
He lifted a brow, "Of course, we're friends."
"I like like you."

He breathed faster and his heart raced. He felt the pain in his back rise up again. If he would've had his wings, they would've stretched out. Had Scootaloo really just said that? Was he dreaming? No, couldn't be. he would never dream of Apple Bloom kissing him. That thought was just too alien for him. 

No, this was real. This was good, right? Or was it? He panicked. He felt his muscles twitch. he knew he'd start coughing again soon.

"Stride," Scootaloo concluded, her wings folded against her body, her beautiful eyes begging for confirmation, her lip quivering at the thought of being rejected, "Would you be my special somepony?"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were silent. They blended with the shadows. It was as if they weren't there anymore. 

This is it, Stride thought, say it. He knew he loved her. He wanted to say yes. He wanted so bad. But would it do her good? Would it do her right? Everything was just so wrong. He was dying. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be Scootaloo's somepony. But what would hurt more, tears of loneliness or tears of loss? She had to know first. She had to know before he answered. But how would he tell her? How could he tell her? 

His lungs slammed shut and he gasped for air. He coughed and coughed. No more room for thought, no more room for speaking. he needed to breathe first. The fillies looked at him worried. They stepped forward, but he motioned for them to keep their distance. They wouldn't be able to help. He had to keep control himself. He focused his mind and forced his chest to move properly. 

He was in pain and had always been. He didn't want to share his pain. He scanned for a way out, but there wasn't one. He had been put before an ultimatum. Many times had he wondered whether it wouldn't be better to just get out of their lives. To just go away and take a step back. Reality had no need for him. 

Princess Luna was right, he didn't value himself. Sitting there, in the middle of the small wood room in an apple orchard near Ponyville, he felt like crying. Bursting into tears, that's what Stride wanted. A little colt who would stay little forever. He had no future with Scootaloo. He had no future but misery and pain and he didn't want to transfer that to anypony.





"I can't do this anymore," he growled at himself, realising he had said it aloud too late. 
The eyes before him changed from hoping to disappointed. Tears welled up in them as they closed and turned away.
"I understand," Scootaloo answered. She walked towards the door looking defeated. 
Stride gasped for air again, "No wait, I didn't mean... I meant I..."

She turned around. Her ears perked up.
The colt stumbled towards her, "I can't be your special somepony because-"
She stopped him from speaking by putting a hoof in front of his muzzle.
"You don't have to explain, Stride. I understand if you don't like like me."

She ran out the door with a burst of speed, not looking back, straight into the wind. She was crying loudly. The wind blew the door into Stride's face. He pushed away the resilient planks with all his strength. Standing at the top of the stairs, he could see her sprinting away. 
Her mane fluttered in the storm.

"Wait!" He shouted, but the howling skies swept away his voice. With one large breath, he made one last attempt to reach her, "I love you!"
Alas, her tears stained the dirt of the orchard. She could not hear him, deafened by the violence of the weather.





Stride fell into another bout of coughing. He crashed down towards the stairs, but was caught by an aura of green light. Apple Bloom pulled him back inside. The door slammed shut on its own. Sweetie Belle panted from the great effort of magic she had just performed. Stride leaned against the wall, his face pale and his breath irregular. Apple Bloom grabbed his shoulders and forced him to look at her.

"Breathe, Stride, like this," she said.
"In..................out..................In..................out.................."
He managed to synchronise towards her example. 

He calmed down a bit. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes. He started gasping again. A
pple Bloom didn't let go of his shoulders, "Don't cry just yet. Breathe first."

He levelled his breath. Sweetie Belle looked outside, but Scootaloo had long gone. She turned around, "It looks dangerous out there."
Apple Bloom joined her at the window, leaving the colt to come to his senses. The trees were bending over. 
In the distance Thunderlane, one of the weatherponies, could be spotted spinning out between the clouds.

"Scootaloo's a lightweight," Apple Bloom said, panic in her voice, "Stay with Stride."
She pushed the door open and ran outside before Sweetie Belle could've said 'eep'.

Sweetie Belle turned her head towards the sad colt.
"Why can't you be special someponies?"

The colt's beige expression showed consternation, "Because I'm dying."
> 14. An Unbearable Truth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

14. An Unbearable Truth

Apart from the raging storm outside, the room was silent. Stride leaned against the wall. He was breathing fine. The white filly sitting by the window stared at the roaring sky. They didn't speak a word. Stride felt he had to go after Scootaloo, but it was too dangerous. The wind could sweep him away. Luckily, Apple Bloom was already on the case. His gaze shifted to the door. He hoped they'd be back soon.

"How long do you have?" his friend at the window suddenly asked without turning her head.
"Until somewhere around the end of summer." 

She looked down and started patting the floor with her right front hoof. Stride felt more and more uncomfortable. He really should've said it more subtly. He felt stupid for being so blunt about such a delicate situation. On the other hoof, what choice did he have? No, he didn't feel stupid for saying it. He felt stupid for holding it back for so long. The mare turned her head.

"How long have you known?" 
"About a month before we met. I've been ill ever since my birth, but until then there was hope." "There's always hope."

Stride shook his head. He knew what was about to come. She was going to try and think of dozens of ways to save him. None of them would work, let alone make sense. Ponies always did that. Even though he hadn't even told her exactly what the problem was, she was going to try.

"Maybe we could ask Twilight for help," she said.
Stride sighed and leaned back against the planks.
"That won't work."

He watched sadly how her breathing sped up, fighting the idea of losing a friend. Fighting the idea of being powerless. Stride liked to think she had no reason to truly care, but he'd seen how she was around him. She was a friend, so there was no use in telling himself she wouldn't mind losing him.

"Then maybe princess Celestia?"
"That won't work either."

She turned her entire body. She looked angry, "How are you so sure of that! Have you asked her?!"
Her chest was beating. Her otherwise always puffy mane was losing its texture in her rage.
"You can't just give up like that! Don't do that to us!"
Now, it was Stride who was starting to boil inside.

"Don't do that to you?! Do you have any idea how much it does to me? How much this means to me? I'm the one who's never going to grow up! I'm the one who'll never get married, never have a family! I'm the one who'll never get a job, who'll never achieve ANYTHING in his life!"

He realised he was making himself large. His back hurt, probably because he was supposedly spreading his wings now. Sweetie Belle shrunk down a bit, her earlier anger had stepped aside for fear and sadness. She wasn't crying though. Stride remembered mom had cried. Storm had never really stopped crying. Secret moments, in the bathroom, in the kitchen... Stride had noticed. 

He felt bad now for yelling at Sweetie Belle. He felt bad for leaving everypony in the dark for so long. He stood back like his usual self. 
A somewhat reserved posture.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that," he apologised. 
The mare nodded silently, seemingly collecting her thoughts. That silence retook its hold of the room. It didn't let go.





"Scootalooo!" Apple Bloom shouted. The wind dragged her voice away. Her bow was torn to shreds and she had trouble keeping balance. Apple Bloom was stronger and heavier than Scootaloo. Worry seeped in. What if the weather had smashed her into a tree? Scootaloo could've easily been taken by surprise by this wind. She gazed around, looking for any signs of the orange filly, but other than the road she had nothing to go on. She decided to resume her path to Ponyville. Perhaps she'd find Scootaloo somewhere along the way. The grassy fields were tired down under the strain of autumn. The apple trees were troubled by the extreme weather and Apple Bloom was starting to worry they'd snap. She stopped in her tracks. Did she hear voices? Sounds could only come from one direction with weather like this, so the voices must've come from wherever the wind came from. She searched the grass for its owners and thankfully recognised the raspy voice of Rainbow Dash.

"I told you not to go so high today!" the mare exclaimed, "Now see what you've done. Don't say I didn't warn you."
A groaning stallion replied and Apple Bloom quickly realised it was Thunderlane. The cerulean pegasus mare came out of the grass, carrying a sweaty and tiresome weather pony.
"My wing hurts."
"You've said that already. Now stop being such a wus over it."

Rainbow noticed the filly standing in the road, "Hey, Apple Bloom. Can you help me bring Thunderlane to Sweet Apple Acres? I don't think he'll make it all the way back to town without whining."
"Ah'd love to, Rainbow Dash, but Scootaloo's somewhere out in this storm and Ah need to find her."
Rainbow dropped her colleague with an ungraceful thud.
"How about you bring baby boy over here to Applejack and I search for Scootaloo?" Rainbow said, her voice implying it wasn't a matter of choice. Apple Bloom picked up the moaning stallion and held him up with her shoulder. Rainbow Dash quickly zapped away low to the ground, zigzagging as the wind tried to get a hold on her.

She dropping off the piteous pegasus at home. Granny Smith immediately got him a bandage for his wing and his hind leg. Apple Bloom galloped back to the clubhouse, hoping Rainbow Dash had found Scootaloo and dropped her off there. Alas, she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was received with the depressing sight of two sad fellow crusaders, not speaking a word. She slammed the door shut and took off her shredded bow. She placed it on the little desk and turned back to Stride. She had a really important question to ask him.

"Stride, why di-"
She was interrupted by Sweetie Belle, who held her shoulder.
"Let me tell. Please."

It went about as well as one could expect. At first the earth pony thought it was a bad joke and yelled at them for making fun of death. She had lost her parents and wasn't unacquainted with it. Then, she asked for details. What was going on? She grew more and more bothered with the fact he had kept it silent and didn't shy back to say so. She accidently threw him into a fit of tears. After trying to console him, she tried to think of numerous ways to help. Maybe Twilight knew something? Or Celestia? All was in vain.





The wind was lessening in power and Storm saw her last shot at having some fun with the weather. She flew through the air and made loop-de-loops where most pegasi would be thrown away like paper props. Storms were her favourite. She giggled at the empty streets, flying slowly past Sugar Cube Corner. She saw a few ponies were stranded inside, watching her in confusion. Suddenly, somepony grabbed her tail and pulled her down. It was Rainbow Dash, that cerulean pony. She had a troubled expression.

"You shouldn't fly so hard in a storm like this," Rainbow said, "You could get swept away."
Storm shrugged and smiled, "I already got swept away. I should probably be home making dinner."
She flew up and did a pirouette, "But this is too much fun."
Rainbow Dash snickered, "Well, I can't say extreme weather like this doesn't get awesome..."
The mare scanned the streets, "Have you seen Scootaloo anywhere? Apple Bloom said she ran out."
Storm lowered herself to the ground, "A filly that weight would be tossed around so quickly! We have no time to lose. Where was she last seen?"

> 15. In the Blink of an Eye
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the end of all life, there is death, for without death life is not life. It is existence. 
Many have tried to prevent their own death, but little did they realise that would contradict their very intention.
If you make sure you can never die, you put an end to your own life. Therefore, you kill yourself.

Take a flower and watch it bloom. Is it not beautiful to watch it grow? To watch it bloom? A flower always open misses its magic.
Look at the stars. Which ones are the ones you prefer, those that always stand high above, always taking the same place? Or the ones that shoot past in the blink of an eye? Eyes glisten in the light of those who shine the brightest, no matter how short.

Should death be wanted? No. Death should be acknowledged. Accepted. Without darkness, you cannot see the light. Without death, there is no life.

I would not tell you not to cry or fear. Value life as a shooting star and know it will fade as quick as it came.


15. In the Blink of an Eye.

The trees of Sweet Apple Acres bended over far. The startled farmers galloped around the crooked house, tying up the dangerous trees with large sails. Big Macintosh, the disquieting big brother he was, abandoned the protecting of the home and went into the hazardous orchard. If one of these trees fell down on the crusader clubhouse, his ignorant little sister and her friends could be hurt. The distance was not very long, but a lot could happen in the mere minutes it took to travel there.

It was strange to think this storm was created to fix the problems with the climate and would now destroy everything else. Mac wondered what Rainbow Dash thought about this. The mare was probably the greatest motivator of the weather team. He knew the braggy cerulean pegasus had organised this in the first place. Of course, he also knew Applejack's friend liked to act without thinking. Act without thinking to the point where ponies got hurt. If something happened to Apple Bloom now... Big Mac wasn't sure whether he would ever be able to forgive Rainbow Dash.

Many of the leafless trees made horrible noises. He heard the wood splitting. Months, years of work caring for these trees had made them all precious. It was painful to notice them under such stress. The piles of dying leaves were slowly clearing out of the orchard's lanes, disappearing into the Everfree Forest and the Woodlands, where they would become the problem of the wild world.

Halfway the path, he suddenly met with an unexpected visitor. The pegasus flew abnormally high in the current conditions. Storm carried Sweetie Belle in her forelegs. She did not seem bothered by the tugging wind streams. She had that look. An expression Big Mac recognised. An expression Big Mac had not imagined he would ever see again. A mother's look. Her eyes firm yet emotional. Determined and scared. Big Mac had come to respect that look. When he was left alone with old Granny Smith and a young Applejack and baby Apple Bloom, he knew he had to live up to that look. Seeing that look on Storm's eyes, he was certain she knew what she was doing.

The mare gave him the anxious foal and flew back in the direction she came from. Mac did not question it. He knew Stride's mother from the market and from picking up Apple Bloom at the colt crusader's home. No doubt the lady was here to get the children to safety. There was however, one question lying on the tip of his tongue. Why not get her own child to safety first? After all, a parent would always see to their own kin first... It didn't matter. He would not have been able to ask in the first place. In this weather, only trained pegasi could hear one another.  He, on the other hoof, was barely able to keep his eyes open.

Big Mac held the thankful filly close with his left foreleg and walked her to the house, where Applejack struggled with the resilient sail. Her eyes said one thing: hurry. A large rip formed in the sail and the cowpony was nearly hit by a flying branch. Mac pushed open the door and let go of Sweetie Belle inside the house. The wounded pegasus Apple Bloom, helpful child, had dropped off was sleeping in the couch. His bandaged wing and leg looked to be under quite some strain. The wrinkled visage of Granny Smith looked disapproving. She disliked not being allowed to help out on the basis of the idea she was too old or too weak, or it was too dangerous. Nevertheless, Big Macintosh motioned for her to stay inside and quickly walked out. He closed the rebellious door behind and got back en route to the clubhouse. 

The ripped sail lay to pieces, hanging from the mad treetops. Applejack had given up on tying up Sweet Apple Acres property and ran past Big Mac. She had always been the faster runner. It was more dangerous to let Apple Bloom stay in the clubhouse than simply hope no tree would crash into the house. Storm appeared again, this time carrying Apple Bloom. A large branch nearly hit the pair. Big Mac ducked when more debris came his direction. Storm motioned for the Applejack and Mac to go back to the house. Applejack shouted something inaudible, but Storm seemed to understand what she meant. The mare flew towards Mac and nodded at the house. The filly in her arms was pale and terrified. Mac ran to the house with the pegasus in his wake. Applejack disappeared into the orchard.





The house was a stressful mess. Thunderlane, still out cold, took up the entire sofa. A grumpy Granny Smith gazed out the window, into the whirlwind of danger and debris. She muttered something about old age. Near the fireplace was Big Mac, who tried to get a fire going. The two fillies sat next to him, repetitively glancing at the door, hoping Applejack would bring in Stride soon. 

Storm was at the door, willing to head out again, but knowing there was nothing more she could do. Applejack was going to get Stride. Even though she would've preffered getting her son herself, following Applejack could only slow things down and mean more risk. As for Scootaloo's disappearance...  Finding Scootaloo in this weather wasn't like finding a needle in a haystack, it was like finding a string of hay in a pile of venomous needles. Even if Storm could easily hold steady in the wind, she was still susceptible to flying branches. Rainbow Dash was more experienced with evasive manoeuvres and surely knew the filly a lot better. Rainbow would find her for sure. Right?

The opening of the door shattered that thought, Rainbow walking inside with an injured Applejack over her shoulder. The pony had long lost her hat in the wind and her mane was completely messed up, the ribbon binding it in a tail completely torn. She had blood on her forehead.
"Need some help here," Dash's raspy voice uttered with concern. She dragged her friend towards the sofa and gracelessly pushed Thunderlane off. The stallion landed with a loud thud and got up with a confused face. Big Mac already appeared with the medical supplies to tend to his sister. Applejack groaned.

"Why is the world purple?" she muttered. Rainbow Dash carefully placed her down on the couch. Thunderlane glared at her.
"What'd you do that for?"
"She needed the sofa more," Rainbow shrugged, a hint of a mischievous grin on her face, teasing her colleague. She quickly deadpanned again and turned to Storm.
"Where's Stride?"
Storm swallowed a chunk, "Applejack was supposed to go get him. Scootaloo?"
Rainbow shook her head, "We can't give up now. Let's go."

They pushed open the door and ran outside. Immediately, dozens of little twigs blew in their faces.
"The CMC clubhouse was ruined when I got there," Rainbow Dash exclaimed, barely audible even for Storm, "A big tree fell on it. No sign of Stride or Scootaloo, only Applejack was there. Not in a good state."
A metal bucket missed Rainbow Dash by a hooflength.
"Wow, not cool!"





Stride could feel the wind trying to lift him from the ground. He dug his hooves as deep in the dirt as he could, bracing himself again with every step. He tried to find the house. After the tree had crushed the little building, he had barely made it out alive. He did not see anypony around, so he guessed he had to get moving by himself if he didn't want to get impaled by a flying broomstick. The problem was, with the wind forcing him to close his eyes and the orchard losing all its landmarks, Stride didn't know how to get back. He tried to follow the paved path, for as far as he could make out a path. 

A large tug at him made him lose balance. He was thrown into a tree. After he got over his dizziness, he managed to make out an orange speck in the air. There was no way... No, Scootaloo couldn't fly and surely the wind wouldn't have pulled her so high. Then again, the orange speck was sitting on a cloud and he knew they had found some places where clouds were reachable from the ground. He saw the cloud moving down in the distance. With nothing else to go on, he decided that would be his best bet.





The two mares desperately searched the orchard. They decided to stick together, in case one of them got hurt.
"Rainbow Dash, this storm is way too strong!" Storm shouted.
"I know," Rainbow replied, "It was never supposed to be this strong."
A twig whipped into her face, leaving a small wound across her eye. The mare ignored it, but her eye was going tearful.
"Can't we stop it," Storm called back, inspecting her companion's eye. 

Rainbow swatted away her caring hoof and pointed at the orchard, claiming they shouldn't let her wounds distract them. It was then Storm realised the pegasus had endured a lot of hits from branches and twigs, to thepoint where she was covered in cuts and bruises. Storm herself didn't seem to be bother by the debris that much, even though she had taken just as many hits, if not more. Perhaps she was less susceptible after all.

"We can't stop the weather and it'll be at least twenty more minutes before it's over," Rainbow Dash answered trying but failing to rise above the treetops.
"Twenty minutes, that's not so long, is it?"
"It's still too long."

The screams were the first thing Stride noticed. He knew he was getting close to where he had last seen the cloud. He had been lucky with how few times he was lifted up or hit by something, but he was pretty sure something had cut his ear. The screaming was most definitely Scootaloo's. His heart jumped up in his chest. Turning around the corner, he could see her cloud floating in circles a short distance above the treetops. She was holding on for dear life.

"Scootaloo!" he shouted. Of course she had gone to a cloud. That was what nearly every pegasus did when sad. Even the flightless ones could usually somewhat steer the thing. He started wondering whether or not he could manipulate clouds, or whether that ability had bailed on him along with his wings. Scootaloo tried to reach for a tree, but didn't quite make it. Noticing him, her eyes went from fear to worry.

"Stride! Get out of here! It's dangerous!"
"I'll get you down!"
Stride ran to the tree nearest to where the cloud was going on its wild repetitious trajectory.
"Don't be silly!" Scootaloo uttered, "You wouldn't be able to even touch the cloud."

The stubborn colt started climbing up the tree, losing his footing multiple times and nearly tumbling down. 
His face stood determined. His left ear was chipped.

"Stride, stop! You're gonna get hurt!"
Her friend reached the top of the tree and was now reaching for the cloud.
"Go back!"
"I can do this!"

Stride jumped. Scootaloo shrieked and thought he would most certainly fall through the cloud.
This was it. His chance to be the hero. The first time in his life something he did actually mattered to him. The first time he felt like he would make a real difference. It didn't matter anymore whether or not he was dying. It didn't matter anymore. All that mattered now, was Scootaloo. All that mattered now- His eyes went wide as the ground came closer. Did his magic not work? Could he not work the weather? He braced himself for the end of the line.

Instead, his forelegs hooked onto the cloud and started dragging it down with his weight. After a second of confusion and hesitation, Scootaloo grabbed him and pulled him onto the slowly lowering platform. His weight, however, wasn't enough. Soon, the cloud starting moving upward again.

"How..." Scootaloo began, but she was interrupted by yet another unexpected move from the foal. He reached for the tree again and held it with his forelegs. Now, with his hind legs on the cloud and his forelegs on the wooden anchor, he started pushing them downward. He grinned.

That's when it all went wrong.
A large tug completely flipped their fluffy vessel. The filly managed to somewhat sften her fall, fluttering her wings in an attempt to overcome gravity. She still came down with a loud clap and a lot of pain, but apart from that she was fine. She watched as the cloud dissolved completely. Her flanks were sore and her wings hurt. She tried to get over her blurred vision and gazed around to find Stride. She did not see him anywhere.

Something hit her in the back of her head. It was a plank, apparently from a broken apple crate. She cried out in pain and frustration. A moaning caught her attention. It came from behind the tree. She ran towards it. There was Stride, half buried in the dirt from his long fall. His hind leg was twisted in a strange way and his planed coat revealed a scar on the left side of his back. His eyes were wide open. 

Scootaloo realised this wasn't just impact damage. The colt was trembling at an alarming speed, grasping for his chest with his left forehoof. Almost as if he was trying to dig into his chest, straight to his heart. A stream of foamy saliva came out of the corner of his mouth. Scootaloo panicked. She had no idea what to do.

"Help!" she screamed, vaguely in the hope somepony could hear her, but mostly because she couldn't do anything else.
"Somepony, please! I need help!"
She looked into Stride's eyes and saw the fear in them. Panic matching hers.
"Heeelp!"
To her surprise and relief, two flying mares appeared in the distance. 
The wind was calming down, go figure, and their talking was clearly audible.

"Is that them," she heard Storm's voice in the distance, at which the fastest pony in Equestria raced towards them with a Rainbow trail. The look on her face went from joy to terror when the colt came into view.
"No no no," Rainbow exclaimed, landing near Stride's trembling body and writhing through her mane. 

Storm landed near them, immediately going into action. She seemed to know how to massage Stride's chest in the right way to make it stop. He no longer trembled. His hoof stopped clawing at his chest. The colt's eyes closed and the foam stopped coming.
"We need to get him to the hospital," the mother's voice cracked. Her eyes were all teared up.

Rainbow Dash lay the colt on her back. The storm had come to an end and now she had the ability to roam freely, so she went straight towards the hospital. Scootaloo looked at them move away at large speed. Storm lifted her on her back, "I feel you'll want to come too," the mare said. Scootaloo nodded.





It took a long time before they were allowed to enter the room. It was mostly silent in the hallway of the hospital, apart from the occasional injured pony passing by. The storm had claimed its victims, luckily not as many as Storm had initially feared. Rainbow Dash held her adopted sister close. The child was crying. Despite the urge to try and console her, Storm knew she better leave Scootaloo be for now. The doctor had given Rainbow Dash an eye patch. One of those white cushions taped to your head with a bandage. Her eye would most likely take some time to heal. 

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Applejack appeared in the hallway. Applejack had to be checked for a concussion, but appeared to be fine. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hugged their fellow crusader, who had now stopped crying. She did however still look a bit down.

Directly after Scootaloo had explained what had happened to her friends, nurse Redheart came trotting towards them. 
She turned to Storm, who listened attentively.

"He has a few minor fractures in his forelegs," the mare started. Storm nodded and motioned for her to go on.
"His hind leg is broken. He did suffer a heart attack, but he is in no immediate danger."
Storm nodded again, a blank expression on her face. 
If only Burst weren't on duty right now. She preferred handling the medical info together.
"His second left shoulder is snapped and his wing bone splintered."

The ears of everypony in the room flopped up.
"He is currently unconscious and will probably be so for a while. I suggest he stays in the hospital for a few more weeks and then he needs a month of rest at home. I disadvise school. You can visit him tomorrow."
The mare turned tail when Storm didn't appear to have any more questions. She trotted back to Stride's room to make sure he was comfortable.

"Second shoulder?" Scootaloo said, "But Stride doesn't have wings!"
Apple Bloom shook her head and turned toward Scootaloo, "He could walk on clouds, Scootaloo."
The filly frowned, not understanding, "How did he do that?"
Storm gave her a sad motherly smile, "He's a pegasus, Scootaloo."
"But... No wings," Applejack muttered, still a bit dozy after the fiasco.
Rainbow Dash sighed deeply, "Were they removed? His wings?"
"Yes, they were."

Rainbow lowered her head between her hooves, as if trying to get rid of a painful memory.
"But... Why?" Scootaloo now asked, "Why would somepony's wings be removed?"
Rainbow leaned backwards and gave her a depressed look, "Sometimes wings start growing inward and have to be surgically removed, or they will kill the pegasus."
She turned her look towards Storm compassionately, "It happens most when tribes cross."
Storm nodded confirming. 

It was silent for minutes. Nopony felt like getting up and walking away. The chairs they sat on held them like magnets. Scootaloo turned to look towards the ceiling.
"Why did he go after me?" she thought aloud. She felt Apple Bloom lay a hoof on her shoulder.
"Scoots, do you know the last thing he said when you ran out?"
Scootaloo turned her head, her ears flopping down.
"He said he didn't want to be my special somepony."

She didn't care so many ponies were sitting around her anymore. She wasn't embarassed anymore. She was hurt. Of course, she would never grudge him for not liking her. After all, the first time they had met, she had crashed into him with a scooter. That only made her surprise greater when Apple Bloom spoke again.

"He called out after you. He didn't say he liked you. He said he loved you."
It felt like a huge weight was lifted off her heart. Scootaloo's ears perked up as she frowned in confusion.
"But... Then why..."

A large sigh from Storm prompted her to stop. The mare showed a broken smile.
"Of course he would do something like that," Storm talked to herself, "Just so typically Stride." She turned her gaze towards Scootaloo. The pain in the mother's eyes was visible and Scootaloo felt the weight return to her chest. Bad news was coming.
"When Stride's wings were removed, something went wrong," Storm explained.
"W- What went wrong?" the filly asked, knowing the answer wouldn't be pretty.
"What was left of his wings kept growing inwards. The doctors- they couldn't-"

The mare's voice sounded like she was about to break. Rainbow Dash, who sat in between her and Scootaloo, wrapped an arm around the sad mare and did her best to console her.
"They couldn't make it stop. They couldn't help him and- and now, he's-"
She now sounded like she was crying rather than speaking.
"He's dying."

It felt like the weight on Scootaloo's chest crushed it completely. She couldn't accept this. For months, she had been wondering whether or not Stride liked her. She had been thinking of what house they could live in, what kind of cutie marks they would get together, what kind of life they would have together... What kind of future they would have together. Then she had been turned down. She had been heartbroken, seeing everything fall into an abyss of despair. She had run, she had run like she did from everything. She had run from being a blank flank. She had run from being flightless. She had run from Stride. Now, now he had caught up with her. Now he had stopped her from running , all the while giving her yet another thing to run from.

Applejack stood up and tapped her sister's shoulder.
"Come on, Apple Bloom. Mac'll be worried sick thinkin' Mah head's goop."

The two walked out, Apple Bloom giving Scootaloo a regretful glance. A silent way of saying we'll talk later, promise. Sweetie Belle was the next to leave, knowing both Rarity and their parents would be looking for her. 

Rainbow Dash looked down on Scootaloo, who was frowning in disbelief. The cerulean weather pony was also not untouched by the revelation, but managed to stay stoic. Storm gazed out the window silently. Instead of prompting her adoptive sister to leave with her, Rainbow Dash grabbed her for a tight hug. Holding the child close, she turned her look towards Storm.
"Would you, perhaps, uh- How about we head to my place and I get us some coffee? It's been a rough day."





The sight before Stride's eyes was familiar. Large orbs of light danced through the Dreamscape, along with many little screens of the past. Stride reached out for one of them. He saw his mother smile down at him. She picked him up from his cradle and gently rocked him back and forth. Stride could feel her warmth around him. A calming warmth. Soothing. He stared at the picture. It was so simple. So normal. So everyday. It wouldn't let him go. No, he didn't want to go. Suddenly, a deep sadness overwhelmed him. He hardly felt he deserved it.

"She loves you very much," a voice sounded behind him.
It did not take him long to recognise who's voice it was. He kept his gaze locked on the memory.
"I know," he said, bitterness in his voice.
Luna walked closer. She stopped next to him, her eyes also turned to the screen.
"Then why are you so sad about it?"

Stride turned to look at his visitor. The screen disappeared in a short flash of light. The princess turned her head towards him, looking straight into his eyes. He could feel it. She was ancient. Older than his house. Older than Ponyville. Older than Manehattan. But despite that age, that wisdom, she still looked young. She still sounded young. She still acted young. She still had the emotions of a young mare. It felt strange. He was a boy, struggling to grow up in time before the inescapable caught up with him. He wanted to experience the comings of adulthood, age. Yet here before him stood a mare with centuries behind her tail, who never seemed to have given up on a young mind. Granted, she wasn't childish or immature, but she had this aura. An aura of a pony who had so much more to learn, alongside the aura of a pony with so much to teach. Stride frowned at the idea he knew her so well after only having met twice. Perhaps it was her alicorn persona. The princess gave him a reassuring smile.

"Will you answer my question? If you know she loves you that much, then why are you sad about it?" Luna asked again. Stride bit his lip in thought.
"Because I don't deserve it."
The mare shook her head, "Now now, Stride. I thought I had told you this already?"
"I don't value myself, I know," Stride groaned, "But maybe I'm right to do so."
"What for?"

Stride was starting to feel angry. Not with princess Luna, but with himself. The surroundings changed around him. he barely noticed.
"I am their only child," Stride said, "And I'm already taking that away from them."

They were in the maternity ward of the Manehattan hospital. Stride turned his head away from the sight of his mother talking to the doctor. She held a little foal Stride in her forelegs. Burst stood next to her, a distraught expression on his face. Behind the doctor was a large picture of Storm's womb. The doctor motioned towards it, but everything was mute. At first, Stride wondered why. Then he noticed his foal head was covered with a blanket. His confusion was short. He realised his thoughts would change the dream, so he just continued speaking to Luna, trying to ignore the scenery.

"They took me here to enjoy life. Not to have to worry about school or social issues."
They were outside in the fields of Sweet Apple Acres, in the bare land that was being readied by Big Mac for the planting of new trees.
"The first thing I did when I came here was go to school and get into trouble with bullies. I tore up the only thing I ever did well-"
They were in his room, the flipped desk laying in a pile of shreds from what used to be a music sheet. Water came running underneath the door. Traces of foam and soap were visible in the thin stream.
"- and soon after, I nearly drowned myself."

The scenery was blown away by a fierce wind, but Stride stood in the middle of it all without enduring any effect. Luna stood before him, looking straight at him.
"Now I tried to play the hero and just got myself hurt again. Now I hurt mom again. And I hurt Scootaloo. I always hurt everypony. I don't deserve for them to love me."

Luna kneeled down before him and lifted up his head with her forehoof. Tears streamed down his face.
"Then tell me, Stride, if you aren't worth loving, why do they? Because they're fools? Because they're blind? No Stride. You are a good person. You are a good friend and you have made your parents proud in so many ways."
"But... I've been so bad to them..."
Luna raised above him. Her flowing mane glittered starlight.
"Do you really think a bad pony would realise that?"
Stride pondered on that, then shook his head, "Well... No, not really." His face contorted into a confused expression. 

The princess gladly reached him her left front hoof.
"Waltz with me."
"Huh?"
Luna winked at him as if she knew something he didn't.
"Let me show you how to dance. I sense you'll be needing it soon enough."

A bit doubtful, Stride accepted her hoof and let her drag him into a long peaceful waltz across the Dreamscape. They waltzed through the nothingness, on pure starlight. Memories around him starting to form a large blend of blackness and white light. Stride forgot all his worries. The little colt even forgot about the princess' presence as slowly but surely, he descended into a dreamless slumber.





Pain was the first thing. Pain was also the most recognisable thing. Stride decided to ignore the pain. How long had he been out? He wasn't sure. He had been under deep. He blinked in the bright light of the sun, shining through the window into the white room. He felt something strange on his left ear. He soon realised it didn't just hurt, but a piece was missing. A small chip out of it. He groaned. 

What he had not expected, was for somepony to respond to the groan. Immediately, he felt his ribcage being crushed by a way too firm hug. Looking down at whoever was assaulting him, he saw it was Scootaloo clinging onto him. She had dried up tear stains under her eyes nd looked like she hadn't slept very well. In the corner of the room, mom was sitting on a chair. She smiled at him. A relieved smile. She didn't get up however, as she did not want to disturb this moment with Scootaloo.

"How long have I been out," he asked, his voice raspy and his throat sore.
"One day, honey," Storm said.
One day. Scootaloo probably knew what was going on by now, but he felt he had to check.
"Scootaloo, the reason I said I couldn't be your special somepony-" Her hoof blocked his lips. She gave him a mad grin.
"I love you too."

Stride didn't really know what to say. To hear her say she like liked him waas one thing. To hear her say she loved him was entirely different. He decided it best to tell her what was playing his mind.
"But I will be gone soon."
"I know. I still love you. I still don't want to give up on you," Scootaloo replied. She almost sounded as if she was trying to convince herself.
Stride lay a hoof on her shoulder, "I'll be gone in the blink of an eye."

The filly turned to look straight at him and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, tears well up in them, "You're still here." She jumped around his neck. Her chin was on his shoulder, her body so very close. He could feel her trembling more than he was. She broke the hug and held his shoulders so she could get a good look at him, "Besides, that stupid face of yours just has to be eternal."
During those weeks, she barely left the side of his bed.

> 16. Winter's Dawn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been a week now since Stride had been allowed to return home. He was glad to be back in this trusted environment. The nurse checking up on him every hour had been a tad annoying and he had missed his own bed sheets. Now, he was back in his own bed in his own room. The window which used to give him view on the library, now showed a historical site. He would miss the cosy building. Now, if he wanted books, he had to go to Twilight's rather new castle and that thing gave him the creeps. Sweetie Belle really liked that place. Stride would never know why. Nevertheless, library or castle, he was immobile for now. If he wanted a book, he had to ask somepony to get it for him. He  wasn't going to be walking a long distance anytime soon. He grumbled. Valuable time he could be spending with his friends. 

Luckily, Scootaloo would hang around most of the time and the others would visit him regularly. Even Button Mash had come by, though all he ever wanted to do was play videogames with the joyboy. Not that Stride minded. He enjoyed the games a lot too, just not as much as Button clearly did. 

He sat up on his bed to look around his room again. It was strange. The room had seemed so new, so alien when he had first come here. When he came to explore. Now, it was so familiar. So home. However, the room wasn't perfect either. The crack in the floor bothered him and every time his gaze shifted to the bin, his breath ceased. He was still frustrated by the fact he couldn't remember his song, his masterpiece. Even after ripping it apart, he should've remembered the words. He had read it dozens of times.

By the window, Scootaloo was staring at the memorial for the Golden Oaks library. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, but being in her presence was enough to make him happy.

"Stride," she suddenly perked up, "It's snowing!"
She turned around and beckoned him, "When you can go out again, we can make a snowpony with Rainbow Dash and Tank!"

The colt slid out of his bed and trotted to the window at a gentle pace, minding his injuries. Standing left from her, she felt his warmth radiating from him. He looked outside with that smile. When Scootaloo had first seen that smile, that dreamer's gaze, it had seemed so goofy. It was also the smile she had come to hold dear rather soon. Subtly, it had been fading away. Scootaloo hadn't noticed until it was gone completely. Ever since Nightmare Night, Stride's entire demeanour had been shifting. He had gone from that goofy but jolly colt who saw the beauty in everything, to a closed and sad person, who never seemed to smile uprightly. 

Now, he was back. He was enjoying everything he could and that was something Scootaloo found precious, even though she had never done so herself. He was happy, that was all that mattered, but for some reason, Scootaloo didn't feel like she could be happy with him. Of course, she wouldn't let that show. She had silently promised him she would make sure the last months of his life would be a blast. The most fun time he had ever had. That didn't change the fact it broke her. It was like a wolf trap was encompassing her lungs, ready to slam shut the second Stride's last breath passed his lips, if not sooner. She couldn't help but think of what would happen after. What she would do without him. Sure, she had managed for years without him in her life, but the thought of him actually being dead made her shudder. It was surreal, not how things were supposed to work.

"Don't tortoises hibernate?" Stride remarked, still staring at the dozens of snow flakes, each and every one unique, slowly making their way down to the pavements. Scootaloo thought about that for a second, but shrugged it off, "I don't think they do. Rainbow Dash would've known that, right?"

Stride gave her a little sideways frown, "I guess so," before returning to staring through the dampening glass.
She scooted a little closer to him. He didn't seem to notice. She scooted even closer.
"So, what'ya thinking of?"
He turned towards her, his head arching back when he noticed how close she actually stood.
"How do you know I was thinking?"
She softly bumped his shoulder, "Because you never stop thinking. Besides, I know that face of yours."
He nodded, "I was imagining how great our snowpony would look."

Looking through the window again, they noticed a rather agitated Spike swiping snow off the doorstep of the monument. Even after it had been destroyed, that dragon sure took his job as caretaker serious.

"It's been a while since I last spoke to Spike," Stride remarked, "I wonder if he knows about my issue."
Scootaloo cringed at his choice of words. He had been saying 'my issue' every time he was referring to his untimely death. She hated euphemisms like that. Added, she preferred he didn't mention what would come at all. Living in the moment was what she wanted to do, not having her mind drift off into the depressing.

"Wait, I thought you'd spoken to Twilight about that already," she suddenly noticed, "Wouldn't Spike know of it as well then?"
Stride shook his head, "No, we never spoke to princess Twilight herself. There's just nothing in her skill set that could work."
He was noticeably more grim than earlier. The filly didn't like seeing him so.
Scootaloo figured switching to another subject would be a good idea.

"Do you want me to get you another book tomorrow?" she asked. She moved just that little bit closer to him she needed to go so she could gently lay her wing over his back. She tilted her head towards him and was gleeful he returned the motion. Was it seconds, minutes, hours they stayed in that soft winghug? Scootaloo didn't know and frankly she didn't care.

"So, what do you want to do today?" she asked him without breaking the embrace. They had spent time together like this for the whole week now, playing games, eating in his room, watching films and reading stories together. It was the most time and effort Scootaloo had ever put in anypony and for some reason, she felt that was not just a thing a special somepony would do, but what any friend should do.
"I don't know," the dreamy colt replied, "I think we've exhausted almost everything we can do in this place."
He sighed, "Or maybe my imagination is just slipping away. What do you want to do?"

It had been the first time he had asked her that question without being interrupted by dinner time or his mom making an announcement. She was a bit taken aback. The whole time she had just been tagging along, doing whatever he wanted to do, even though he had told her she didn't have to spend that much time on him. now, she had to think of what she wanted to do herself and frankly, what she thought of made her cheeks go pink. Unfortunately for her, he noticed.

"Are you okay? You seem a bit red. Do you have a fever?"
Scootaloo facehoofed at that, "You really are that oblivious huh? I was blushing."
He arched back a bit, "But... Why were you blushing?"

The filly scolded herself for simply stating that and thought of a way out. Then, she reminded herself she didn't need a way out. 
Stride was her special somepony. She could just tell him now.
"Well, you remember that day when the wind was all roary?"
He raised a brow, "Of course I remember that day."
"Well," Scootaloo drew circles on the floorboards with her hoof, her wing fluttered off Stride's back, "I just thought it a bit unfair Apple Bloom got to share a kiss with you and I, uh, I didn't."

She could see the nervousness flowing over his face, "Well, I- I don't really think I want to be kissed anymore." His expression went from being nervous to that of feeling guilty. Apparently, Scootaloo's disappointment was rather evident.
"I understand... I think," she replied. Of course, she could've seen this coming. 

After being kissed so forcedly, it was no surprise he had been left with some sort of trauma regarding the whole thing. She recalled Rumble trying to kiss her seven times during their venture to Sugar Cube Corner. She had laughed at his frustrated countenance when she declined.
"Perhaps we could play riddles," Scootaloo uttered with a forced smile.





The little bell rang indicating somepony entering the sweetly coloured building. Mrs Cake speeded toward the counter to greet the new customer. The mare appearing before her had been the topic of conversation in the shop for a while now. The gossip string through ponyville had caught blaze as soon as the word came out. The confectioner could never imagine such a thing though. Outliving your child? The cruellest thing that can happen to a parent. She was about to give Storm her condolences, when it occurred to her that it might not do her any good. Instead, she continued treating the mare like any other customer.

"Hello and welcome to Sugar Cube corner," Mrs Cake said with a broad smile. Her eyes shifted to the door to the upstairs. The kids were playing with Pinkie Pie. Nothing bad would happen, right? They didn't look ill or anything this morning. Although Pumpkin had sneezed. She mentally slapped herself for her paranoia. Everything was fine.
"Can I buy some cupcakes please," the friendly mare said in the same tone as always, "A dozen will do."
The baker nodded and reached for the mare's order. See? Everything was going normal. This was a normal mare, who had a problem and was dealing with it just fine on her own. Nothing had changed.

"Can you give me some advice? Mother to mother?" the customer suddenly asked. Mrs Cake almost dropped the pastries.
"Of course," she exclaimed. What was it about? Did she need somepony to cry to? Did she need somepony to carry her?
"I was wondering," Storm started, "Ponies say apples are good for your health, but Stride has been eating a whole lot of apples lately and Apple Bloom just keeps bringing them in. Do you think it's bad for a teenager to eat that much fruit?"

Mrs Cake was a bit phased by the extraordinarily normal question.
"Uhm, well, I uh- I don't really know all that much about teenage diets. My foals are still toddlers."
The pegasus wore a sad grimace, "Yeah, well time is suddenly going to pass by real quick, believe me."
Gulping at that remark, Mrs Cake decided to continue wrapping the order.

"Sorry I can't give you any advice, Storm."
"Don't worry about it. I'll ask Rainbow Dash what she thinks. 
She hangs out with Scootaloo all the time, so she might know something about that."
Mrs Cake nodded, "I wouldn't trust the mare too long with my children, but she sure knows how to keep a healthy diet. 
Have you seen those hips? She most definitely manages to stay in shape."

She frowned at her own belly for a second, but shrugged it off. She wasn't a weatherpony, but a confectioner. She didn't need to worry about an athletic body all that much. She cringed when the raspy voice appeared in the doorway.

"Somepony talking about me?" a grinning Rainbow Dash uttered.
Bloody pegasus hearing, Mrs Cake mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that," Rainbow Dash said with the same jolly tone in her voice. 

Storm gave the baker the bits and slid her order down her saddlebag.
"Do you think there's a thing like too many apples?" Storm asked the new visitor. Rainbow Dash tugged a leash that was connected to her belt and pulled in a tortoise with a propeller on top. The reptile looked sleepy, but then again he always did.

"Too many Apples? Well, I do think it's a bit suspicious Applejack has so many family members, 
but I wouldn't start wishing them away," the cerulean mare replied.
"I meant the fruit. Is it unhealthy to eat too many apples?"
"Oh, of course. You can eat too much of anything."

She tugged the leash again, this time drawing in Tank close enough to stop his propeller and put him on her back.
"I'd like two pieces of banana pie and a cider please," Rainbow Dash placed her order, "We'll be eating it here."
Mrs Cake ducked behind her counter again to comply to her client's wishes.
"Winter's gonna be so awesome!" the mare continued, "Tank and I are gonna build snowponies and hold sled races!"

Storm chuckled at the idea. Despite being an independent and dependable mare, Dash was prone to having the most childlike of thoughts. It reminded her a bit of Stride and how mature he could be the one second, how childish the next. Dr Deep had told her that if he would be getting older, he would keep that combination of maturity and childlikeness. However, Stride would never grow old enough to confirm that. 

The blue mare suddenly turned to face her and said, "Hey, wanna join me for a mug of cider? "
Storm contemplated it. Stride would be able to fare well for a few hours and Scootaloo was with him. They weren't exactly waiting for her... Sure, she could stick around a little longer. She nodded.
"An extra mug of cider please. My treat," Rainbow added to her order. 

The mares took place at a table near the window. Outside, a few pegasi were making some lonely clouds drop the first snow to bedazzle the inhabitants of the small town. Storm put the package of cupcakes on the seat on her left. Rainbow Dash sat in an awkward position, on her behind with her hind legs hanging over the side of the seat, so Tank could sit on her lap.

"What a strange way of sitting," Storm remarked. 
Her friend blushed a bit, realising how clear her affection for her pet was starting to get and put the tortoise next to her, sitting up straight.
"Sorry. It becomes a habit when you hang around ponies like Lyra."

Storm didn't understand why her friend apologised, but dropped the matter. She watched as Rainbow Dash licked her lips in anticipation of the incoming baked goods. Soon enough, Mrs Cake walked up to their table and put the two ordered slices of cake and the cider on the table. Rainbow Dash happily started munching on her pastries.
"Can I ask you something?" Mrs Cake turned to Storm.
"Sure," the pegasus replied. Cake sat down with them at the table.
"Well, since you've had so much more experience with raising children, I was wondering. Is it true they become a bit more, how do I put this, hostile as they get older?"

Storm cringed. She remembered that one time Stride had been angry with her. When he had yelled at her. When he had nearly drowned. She shook it off, then turned to the anticipating mare, "I wouldn't know. Stride is a bit different."
"Different? Oh, of course. It must be weighing down on you all," Mrs Cake said. 

For a second, Storm wanted to cut the conversation short. After all, she hardly felt like talking about such a delicate matter. However, somewhere she felt she needed this. She needed to talk to somepony for once. Sure, she had had a few conversations with Miss Cheerilee, but those were usually restricted to school matters. For once, she could lift some of the weight off her heart.

"It's been tough," she acknowledged, "Especially for him. He just keeps asking these weird existential questions I can't answer."
"Like what?" Rainbow wondered.
"Are immortals really alive? Is time relative? Do ponies have souls? Is it wrong to befriend a pony knowing you'll die? Is it worth having a special somepony if you're never going to get old enough to marry..."
"Jeesh, that's some deep stuff," the mare sitting opposite agreed before digging into the second slice of pie. Tank nuzzled her side. 

Next to them, their pink maned friend nervously clamped her hooves together, 
"Storm, have you ever, you know, considered having a second child?"
Rainbow Dash nearly choked on her cake and turned to the baker with a shocked expression, "You can't just replace him like that!"
The confectioner slammed her hoof to her forehead, "That's not what I meant, Rainbow Dash."
Storm gave them a broken smile, "It has come to mind. In fact, the same year Stride was born we wanted to have him a brother or sister. It had always been Burst's dream of having twins."

Mrs Cake frowned, "Then why don't you have a second foal?"
"We needed the money to care for Stride. We calculated when we would be able to have a second foal, but the doctors said I wouldn't be able to have one anymore by then."
"When is that?" Cake asked.
"Three years ago."

Her friends at the table both seemed uneasy hearing that. Mrs Cake bit her lip and gazed out the window whilst Rainbow Dash stared at what remained of her pie. Eventually, she decided to eat it.

"Have you ever thought of having children?" Storm asked her cerulean copegasus.
The mare choked on her food once again.
"Children, me? I uhm-" her cheeks flushed, "Well, I can't say I've never thought about it..."
Her voice died down a bit as her eyes trailed off into an invisible horizon.

"So, what's stopping you? Having a child is the most wonderful thing there is," Cake remarked.
The cerulean mare's muzzle scrunched, "Well, it's just that- You know, I don't really have a somepony to have a foal with in the first place!"
Storm frowned, "What's in the second place?"

Rainbow's eyes were all over the place, shifting back and forth whilst she drew Tank closer to herself, "I just don't think I could do it. All those months of carrying, only to end in agony? It just sounds so horrible."
"Perhaps it sounds like that," Storm answered, "But I can ensure you it is a beautiful experience."
"Being in pain and vomiting all the time? No thanks. I got to experience that when Applejack once gave me cider with alcohol in it. No fun times."

Mrs Cake snickered, "You flew all across town and declared your love for marshmallows."
"I did not need to be reminded of that," Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"I ensure you it is nothing like that," Storm replied.

The rainbow maned pegasus looked at the floor, "It's just not for me. Besides, I've already got Tank and Scoots to take care of."
"One is a turtle and the other already has a home," Mrs Cake stated, "Girl, if you don't get a stallion soon you'll be alone forever." 
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She was now practically squeezing the poor reptile.

"Tank is a tortoise and he's way more to me than any stallion could be," Rainbow snapped at the earth pony. 
Mrs Cake met her anger unphased, "A mare then?"
Rainbow Dash planted her face on the table, "Ugh, why does everypony think I'm into mares?"
She got up, emptied her mug of cider in her mouth in a hardly elegant fashion and motioned for Tank to follow her. 
"Do you have a problem with mares into mares?" her questioner asked.
"No! Just-"
"I'm just saying. You need to get looking fast."

Storm shot Mrs Cake a scowl. It was inappropriate to push a mare out of her comfort zone that far. 
She rose up to talk to Rainbow Dash, but the mare swiftly made her way outside with her sleepy tortoise.

"Don't worry about her," Mrs Cake told Storm, "That mare is hard as rock. I've never seen her cry a single tear." Storm had a hard time believing that. Nevertheless, she hoped her friend to be alright. She wasn't very close with anypony in Ponyville, but even if it was only because of some encounters in perilous situations, Rainbow probably was her closest friend.

"Let her have fun with her tortoise all winter," Cake said almost cynically. It only now occurred to Storm how the mare must've felt offended by Rainbow Dash's blunt remarks regarding pregnancy. Nevertheless, Mrs Cake's attitude bothered her.
"I'll make snowponies with the twins," Mrs Cake continued, already set on her way back to the counter.

Storm gazed outside and wondered what it would be like to be alone. At home, Stride was there every day. Burst had to be away for multiple days quite often because of his service. When Stride would be gone, the house would be empty. Was that what it was like for Rainbow Dash? Did she have a roommate? Did she see her parents often? Not many of her friends would be able to come over to a cloud house. Maybe that was why the fastest flyer in Equestria was so close with Tank. She nuzzled and cuddled the reptile a lot. Especially when she was convinced nopony saw them.

Storm bit her lip when she thought of a cruel fact. Tortoises hibernate.





"Winter is never this beautiful in Manehattan. The snow is sticky and dirty there," Stride commented.
He smiled as Scootaloo nuzzled his cheek, "Not even the first winter's snow?"
The redhead colt shrugged, "No. It's all dirty snow. But the snow here looks so soft and pretty."

Scootaloo turned to look outside, her wing wrapped firmly around her friend's back as far as it could. Of course, being a short wing, she couldn't envelop him completely like Rainbow Dash or Storm could do.

"It's always fun to play in the first winter's snow in Ponyville," she almost whispered, 
barely present in thought but strongly feeling the moment.
"I imagine it is," Stride said with a heartbreaking sigh. 
Scootaloo left their embrace and grinned, "You know what? How about I get you some snowflakes?"
"Won't it just melt before it gets here?" Stride replied, hoping he'd be proven wrong.
His orange companion nuzzled him before saying, "Rainbow Dash showed me a trick to prevent that. A little magic." 
She trotted to the door.

"Prepare for winter, Stride. I'm bringing the snow."

> 17. Reminiscent
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

17. Reminiscent

Through the white snow ran a white filly. She was wearing a white shawl and a white cap. If not for her dual purple mane and tail and her amazing green eyes, Button would've surely not seen her. After all, her coat blended with the background nearly perfectly. A Sweetie ghost, Button imagined. a green aura appeared around her horn, the same green as her eyes. Was she going to do magic? Button didn't recall ever seeing her do magic.

"Hey Sweetie Be-" He was cut short by a hunk of cold material smashed into his face. His scarf loosened at the impact. His eyes teared up.
"Moooom!" he wailed. The perpetrator of his demise simply rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Button. Stop being such a foal."

He sniffed and wiped the snow off his muzzle as she retightened his scarf using an aura of magic.
"But I am a foal," he sobbed.
"Oh, stop using logic on me, you magnificent baby you," Sweetie Belle grumbled.
The brown colt shuffled on his hooves nervously. He looked over Sweetie's shoulder, confirming she was in fact alone. 
The filly frowned at him.

"So, how are you?" he asked. His friend shrugged, then uncomfortable silence fell as they simply stood there.
"Soooo," Sweetie Belle said, turning her face to the white sky, "Where are you going? I was on my way to go see Stride."
The brown colt tapped his chin, "I was going to buy a new game at the store, but... Can I tag along?"
"Sure!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed a little more enthusiastically than she had intended.





The sound of liquid being poured into a cup was most satisfying. Applejack smiled at the hot coco before her.
"Thanks, Storm," the cowpony said gleefully to her host. Stride's mother smiled back and poured another four cups. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Stride all welcomed the sweet beverage.

"How is Rainbow Dash doing?" Storm asked, "I haven't seen her around for a while."
Scootaloo lightly fluttered her wings, "She's been a bit down as of late," she said.
Applejack nodded in confirmation, "Ever since Tank went into hibernating."
The drink was still too hot, so Storm put the cup down.

"I thought Rainbow was okay with Tank sleeping," she remarked.
"She let Tank hibernate, but Ah think she ain't over it just yet. If Ah had wings, Ah'd visit her more often, and balloons ain't cheap to maintain."
Storm ruffled her feathers, "What about Fluttershy and Princess Twilight? Don't they visit her?"
Applejack shook her head, "Too busy. Twilight's done nothin' but planning for Winter Wrap Up since Tank started Hibernating and Fluttershy's been checkin' up on the sleeping critters every two minutes. Ain't nopony visiting Dash.

"What about the weather team?" Stride asked with a frown, "Doesn't she have any friends there?"
The mare pouted as she pondered on that, "Come to think of it, Rainbow really doesn't have all that many friends. Ah've seen her talk to Thunderlane, but it's always 'bout work.
Storm sipped her coco, "I'll be sure to pay her a visit this afternoon."

They heard somepony knocking on the door. Scootaloo got up and skipped towards it. There were Sweetie Belle and Button Mash.
"Hey Scoots," Sweetie Belle said, "How do you do?"
"Great," Scootaloo replied, "And you?"
"No, you're supposed to answer 'How do you do?'" the agitated unicorn marshmallow uttered. 
Scootaloo lifted a brow, "But I did answer it, didn't I?"
"No, you're supposed to repeat me."
"I'm supposed to repeat you?" Scootaloo still didn't understand. 
Sweetie Belle confirmed with a nod.

"Yes. Now let's try again," she started, but soon realised the effect wasn't what she had intended.
"Yes. Now let's try again."
"This isn't working."
"This isn't working?"
"No, this isn't working."
"Okay this isn't working."
They nodded in agreement. Button merely stood there confused. 
His eyes darted between the two fillies, but they didn't notice his questioning gaze.
He'd never understand these crusaders.

As they entered the living room, Sweetie Belle turned to Stride, "Hi Stride! How do you do?"
"How do you do?" Stride answered.
Scootaloo tapped her forehead, "What are you two, dictionaries?"
"I don't think that's in the dictionary," Stride noted.
Button shrugged. Nope, still didn't get it.

Applejack finished her coco before leaving to her farm. She still had to do a lot of work fixing up the house and fences. She was confident it would be done soon though, with Big Macintosh there to help. Apple Bloom was allowed to stay at Stride's place a little longer, but the filly had shied down since the fall storms. She hadn't uttered a word at the table.

"Do you want another drink, Apple Bloom?" Storm asked her, snapping her out of a trance.
"Oh, uh, sure, ma'am."
Storm nodded and poured her some more, "Sweetie, Button, does either of you want any coco?"
Button nodded profusely. Sweetie Belle declined politely.

After serving the drinks, the older mare looked on her list to see if she had any chores left. 
She went to the kitchen to fix the oven. She had always been better at the technical stuff than Burst.

So there they were, five foals at a table. Button Mash caressed his face where he claimed he could still feel the 'brutal attack' Sweetie Belle had launched upon him. She turned her eyes.

"Do you guys want to play a game?" Stride asked.
"Sure!" Scootaloo answered, the others nodding in her wake.
Stride tapped his chin in thought, "So, what do you guys want to play?"
"How about Truth or Dare?" Button suggested, at which Apple Bloom sunk down under the table and Stride stared into the void. The endless dark void of disturbing memories, memories which he'd rather not relive, memories... Okay, it wasn't all that bad, but he didn't like the idea.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Button," Sweetie Belle remarked, prompting Scootaloo to chuckle.
"What?" the unicorn wondered.
"Nothing," Scootaloo said, "It's just funny to hear the queen of bad ideas say that."
Now, Apple Bloom, Stride and Button joined the chuckling.
"Queen of bad ideas?" Sweetie Belle outed angrily, "Where did that come from?" 

She looked around at the faces surrounding her. None of those faces remained straight.
"Using Twilight as a way to get popular," Scootaloo gave an example.
"Setting Scootaloo's tail on fire," Stride added.
"Tryin' to steal mah sister," Apple Bloom now noted.
"Oh," the now chipper Button joined, "And spying on Scootaloo and Stride."
Heads turned. The brown colt suddenly regretted that comment.

"Doing what now?" Scootaloo called out. Stride however didn't look so shocked. It wasn't much of a surprise they would do such a thing. 
After all, they'd done worse. A lot worse.
"I'm not the only one with bad ideas," Sweetie Belle changed the subject, "You guys come up with bad ideas all the time."
Apple Bloom snickered, "Like when Scootaloo broke Stride's leg."
"That was an accident," Scoots exclaimed, pouting.
"Or when Apple Bloom thought we could get our cutie marks in bookkeeping," Stride added, earning a glare from the filly.
It had been one of the most boring exploits they had ever ventured on.

"Sweetie Belle nearly got Button to lose his eye," the yellow filly chirped.
"You almost got Button to lose his leg!" Sweetie Belle retorted.
"Don't forget about that time he nearly drowned in cider," Scootaloo added.
Button shrunk down in his seat more with every reminder.
"And you guys still wonder why Button doesn't want to be a crusader anymore," Stride shook his head.

"Come to think of it," Sweetie Belle sighed, "We've really done some stupid stuff."
Stride bumped her shoulder, "Hey, we've had our fun."
Scootaloo cringed at the comment. She could easily imagine that sentence being repeated near the end of summer. She shook it off.
"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed, "Remember that time we repaired the barn with Big Macintosh?"
"Or that time we beat Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in hoofball," Sweetie uttered.

Storm stood in the doorway, smiling at the conversation. Five friends sitting at the table. She had never imagined Stride would grow so close to so many foals when they came to town. Even though some of the remarks worried her, especially the ones involving limb loss, she was glad Stride had these ponies in his brief life. After all, a good life needs a little magic.





That evening, upon arriving home late after wading through the winter's snow, Apple Bloom went straight to her room and untied her mane. Her bow was wet and sloppy from the snow's moisture and it was refreshing to let the large mass of red hair hang wildly over her neck. She deposited the bow in the laundry bin in the bathroom and was already brushing her teeth, when her big sister appeared in the doorway.

"Apple Bloom, don't just run upstairs without sayin' hi when ya get home. Granny Smith was gettin' worried."

Of course she would. Granny Smith seemed to have a dislike for winter. She thought it crude and dangerous and a bad idea completely. Big Mac had to remind her countless times winter was necessary to rejuvenate the soil, but that was a detail Granny seemingly purposefully forgot just to have something to bicker about. It was either that or the mare was going demented, but Apple Bloom could hardly believe her granny who could repeat every folk song and who remembered every slip up you've ever made would be having memory loss.

"Sowwi, aont doot gain," the filly replied, her mouth full of tooth paste. 
Apple flavoured toothpaste, of course. The fruit, not the ponies.
"What was that?"
"Sorry," Apple Bloom spat out the tooth paste, "Ah won't do it again."
"All right," Applejack nodded, "Ya better don't, or Ah'll have ta reconsider takin' all y'all to Appleoosa."
The poor filly spat the bit of toothpaste she had just reapplied into the washbasin. Appleoosa? Applejack hadn't said anything before about going to the desert town where Braeburn lived.

"We're goin' to Appleoosa?" she exclaimed gleefully."
"Yup," big sis confirmed, "Ah thought Ah'd have to cancel participatin' in this year's rodeo cause of the repairs, but Big Mac said he'd do the rest by himself. Wanna know the best part? All yer crusader friends can come with. Ah've got five free cart tickets from insurance."
"Waw Applejack!" Apple Bloom started joyfully, but then turned a strange expression, "Hold on. Why would insurance pay us in cart tickets?"

If anything the payment would come from Rainbow Dash's purse, not the insurance company. First the overdone wind she hadn't stopped her weather team from causing and then the launching of a snow nuke from Cloudsdale had turned a lot of heads to the pegasus. Whether or not she was actually responsible for the events, Apple Bloom wasn't certain of, but a rumour had been enough for the ponies of Ponyville to put the blame on her. 

Also, the damages should be paid for in bits, not cart tickets.

Applejack shifted on her hoofs, "Oh, Ah'm a terrible liar. Ah've bought the tickets cause Ah thought you would have a lot more fun with yer friends around."
She bowed closer to her little sister, "And leaving you behind would allow Granny here to force ya into helpin' Big Mac do repairs."
She smiled at her sibling's delight.

Apple Bloom forgot the tooth brush in her wrist and hopped around the room, "We're goin' to Appleoosa. We're goin' to Appleoosa..."
Toothpaste landed everywhere.
"Now hold on there," Applejack said, "We ain't goin' nowhere before you clean up this here toothpaste."
She wiped some off her cheek.

The filly stopped hopping. Her red mane fell in front of her face, which reminded Applejack of that horror movie she once showed Rainbow Dash. The cerulean pegasus had never seemed so scared in her life. Of course, she had claimed afterwards the movie had been boring and she would've rather seen an actually scary movie. 

Applejack was pulled out of her train of thought when her sister asked a pretty important question.
"When are we goin'?" she asked, swiping her mane out of her eyes.
The bigger mare smiled, "Ya better start thinkin' about what y'er packin'. We're leavin' in four days."
Applejack hadn't expected her sister's smile to drop. Had she said something wrong?
"Stride can't come. He has to stay home for another week and he probably won't be able to travel far afterwards either."

If there had been a desk in front of her, Applejack would've face planted into it. How could she forget something like that? She shook it off.
"Ah'll go talk to Storm and see what we can do. Maybe his condition ain't that bad?"
She didn't like how her little sis raised an eyebrow at her, "Ah don't think he's fit for goin'."
With those words, she rinsed her mouth and yawned.