It was another day of school. Which also meant another day of torture. For Scootaloo. She still hung out with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but they barely got teased, for one reason, they got their cutie marks.
"Hey Blank Flank." said Diamond Tiara to Scootaloo, as she was walking out of school. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had already left the school yard.
"Go away."
She walked away.
"Oh I see, you're chicken. Bok Bok."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
She kept trying to walk away. She didn't want to hit Diamond Tiara, we'll she did, but she was afraid she would get in trouble.
"No wonder you're parents didn't want you. Your nobody. No pony likes you. Sweetie Belle just earned her cutie mark, a purple singing note, and Apple Bloom got hers, a bucket with an apple falling into it. Guess who still doesn't have hers AND can't fly. YOU! I'm surprised Rainbow Dash even speaks to you. Any pony for that matter." said Diamond Tiara smiling, with Silver Spoon by her side.
"Then why are you talking to me?"
"So I can show you the truth hurts. Better learn now then later. See you later Blank Flank!" Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked away laughing.
Rainbow picked up Scootaloo two seconds later.
"Hey Squirt. How was school?"
"Same as always. Boring." she said sadly.
"Are you okay? You're not as enthusiastic as usual."
"Yeah."
"Do you want to go play with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?"
"No. Let's go home."
"No?! Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. Just tired I guess."
"Okay then." said Dash with a worried/ confused look on her face.
When Scootaloo got home from school, she cried on her bed, until Rainbow Dash knocked on her door.
"Squirt. Are you okay in there?"
"Yeah I'm great." Scootaloo said rubbing tears from her eyes, trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Can I come in?"
"Uh. No."
"Do you want to go to Sugarcube Corner and get a treat? I got your report card and you got all A's and B's."
"No."
"No? Okay I'm coming in."
"No!"
"Too late. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Were you crying?"
"Yeah. Uh. Apple Bloom.... uh.... told me a really funny joke. Yeah. It was so funny, I.... uh.... cried." she smiled nervously. Rainbow didn't buy it.
"Come on kid. What's wrong?" she asked concerned.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about my parents again." lied Scootaloo.
"I know how you feel. Come on Pinkie Pie made a special treat just for you." Dash said smiling.
"Really?" Scoots said smiling a little.
"Yeah."
"Let's go." she said smiling, and hopping off of her bed.
"That's the Scootaloo I know." she went on Dash's back and they flew to Sugarcube Corner. Scootaloo still had the dark feelings of sadness inside her.
"There's the pony I've been waiting for!" shouted Pinkie bouncing towards a smiling Scootaloo.
"Hey there Pinkie Pie."
"Congrats on the good grades."
"Thanks."
"This is for you." Pinkie handed Scootaloo a cupcake with orange frosting and was marked with an A+ in black icing. Scootaloo bit into the cupcake.
"This is delicious. Thanks."
"And this is for you Dash." said Pinkie handing Dash a cupcake with a mare holding a foal made from fondant.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Congrats on being a mom."
"Uh. Thanks."
"Mom?" Scootaloo asked confused.
"I was waiting to tell you. Im adopting you."
"WHAT!?" she asked nearly dropping her half eaten cupcake.
"Yeah. I was going to tell you later. I signed the papers while you were at school. I hope that's okay with you."
"Are you kidding me?! I couldn't be happier! I love you Rainbow Da- I mean Mom." she hugged Dash. For a while she forgot all the hurtful words from before. They finished their cupcakes, then went home.
That night Scootaloo tried to fall asleep, but failed. All she kept thinking about was being called a blank flank, nobody, chicken. She believed what they said. She didn't want to talk to Rainbow Dash because she thought she'd be disappointed for being a wimp, and crying. She thought about how she couldn't fly.
"Why did I have to be handicapped?" she asked herself in a whisper. It was 3:30 a.m. according to her alarm clock.
"Come on Scootaloo. Get some sleep." she closed her eyes, cleared her mind, and eventually fell asleep.
"Where am I? How did I get to school?" she asked herself. She stood up. Behind her a familiar voice greeted her.
"Hey Blank Flank."
"Oh no." she said to herself.
"Scootaloo's a chicken. Scootaloo's a chicken." Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom chanted. She covered her ears, but the chanting only got louder. She was crying.
"Stop! STOP!" Scoots screamed.
"Dumb filly. You're never going to fly. Toughen up and stop crying." she heard a familiar voice say. Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo was now fully sobbing. The 4 fillies and the mare starting beating her up. They punched and kicked her. She was sobbing and screaming. She tried to run, but it was no use. She was bleeding, and she was in pain all over her body.
"Scootaloo! Scootaloo! Wake up!" Dash shouted, looking worried. Scootaloo screamed. She was breathing heavily and fast, and she was all sweaty. She looked around her room, and took a breath of relief.
"Are you okay?" Dash asked looking terrified.
"Yeah. I think so. Why?" Scootaloo said, rubbing the back of her head.
"You were crying and screaming. I woke up. I thought you were being murdered for a minute. Come here." she said. She embraced Scootaloo in a hug.
"It was just a bad dream."
"Ok."
"I'm sorry I woke you up."
"No problem. I get up at 6:00 anyways."
"What time is it?"
"5:15. Well, since we're up, we might as well eat breakfast and get ready." Rainbow said walking out of Scootaloo's room and into the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Can I stay home from school today."
"Why are you feeling sick?"
"No. I just don't want to go." lied Scootaloo.
"I know. I hated school too. You need to go though. I want you to get a good education."
"Okay." Scootaloo got out of bed and got ready for school. She took a shower, brushed her mane, had waffles for breakfast, and brushed her teeth, then watched the news. Rainbow did the same thing.
"Ready to go?" Rainbow asked at 7:30.
"Yeah." she got on Rainbow's back and got dropped off.
"I know you're my mom now, but can I still call you Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked.
"Sure Squirt. I'll pick you up later." Rainbow said smiling.
In class Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sat behind Scootaloo. Diamond Tiara passed Scootaloo a note.
"Hey Chicken. Want to go for a flight? Oh wait! You can't fly. You'll NEVER fly! Too bad. Then you'd be able to be in the sky. Experience what it's like to fly. I can't, but at least I have family. People who care about me. No pony cares about you. BLANK FLANK! BLANK FLANK!" was written on the note in light pink cursive.
"Chicken. Chicken." Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon kept whispering over and over again to Scootaloo. Scootaloo was filled with anger and hurt inside. You could see the pain and anger in her face.
"Are you okay Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo didn't answer her.
When she couldn't bare the chanting anymore, she turned around and punched Diamond Tiara in the face, causing her to fall down. She had a bloody nose. She cried. Scootaloo also starting crying.
"STOP TORTURING ME!" Scootaloo screamed to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Miss Cheerilee turned around and saw what happened. Scootaloo had hot, angry tears coming out of her eyes.
"SCOOTALOO! WAIT OUTSIDE FOR ME!" Miss Cheerilee yelled at Scootaloo. Some of the students laughed. Silver Spoon helped Diamond Tiara up. Scootaloo held onto the note for proof. Scootaloo ran out of the classroom, sat on a swing on the playground, and let all of her emotions out. She sobbed until Miss Cheerilee showed up. She hung her head down so Miss Cheerilee couldn't see her face.
"Scootaloo! Why in the world of Equestria would you punch Diamond Tiara in the face! She handed her the note. She noticed it was Diamond Tiara's writing.
"She gave this to you?" Scootaloo didn't answer. She was still crying quietly.
"Scootaloo. Look at me." Cheerilee said seriously. Scootaloo looked up, her eyes were light red from crying.
"Were you crying?"
"Maybe."
"Scootaloo. Tell me what's been going on." Cheerilee said seriously, while sitting down.
"I.... I can't t.... tell you." Scootaloo said in between sobs. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approached them.
"Scootaloo. What's wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Girls go back into the classroom."
"No Miss Cheerilee. Scootaloo here is our best friend. We wanna help." Apple Bloom said seriously.
"Let Scootaloo decide."
"I want to speak to Miss Cheerilee alone."
"If that's what you want Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle said, then she and Apple Bloom walked into the classroom.
"What's going on? You can tell me."
"No I can't!"
"Why not?" Cheerilee asked concerned.
"I just.... can't." Scootaloo said crying.
"Scootaloo. It's my job to help you."
"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have been picking on me lately. A lot."
"I'll call their parents."
"NO! I mean please. Can we keep this to ourselves?"
"Why?"
"It's personal."
"Will you be okay?" she asked concerned.
"Yeah. Can you call Rainbow Dash and have her come pick me up?"
"Sure."
"Thank you. And I want to wait out here."
"If that will make comfortable."
"It will." Scoots said smiling a tiny bit. Rainbow Dash came two minutes later.
"Miss Dash."
"Yes?"
"She's over there on the swing. You might want to talk to her." Cheerilee whispered. She walked back into the classroom.
"Thanks Cheerilee." Dash said then walked over to a crying Scootaloo.
"No Rainbow Dash! I just want to be alone!" Scootaloo said as she ran off overwhelmed. She was a fast runner for her age.
"Scootaloo! Please come back!" Dash yelled. She was too far away. Dash flew after her. Of course, she caught up quickly.
"What is going on?!" Rainbow asked.
"NOTHING OKAY! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Scootaloo screamed, then ran towards the Everfree Forest. Tears were streaming down her face.
"What was that all about?" Rainbow gasped. She turned around to see Twilight.
"Oh. It's just you Twilight. There's something wrong with Scootaloo, but she won't tell me what. I'm worried about her Twilight." Rainbow said worriedly.
"Wanna talk?" Twilight asked.
"Sure. Why not? Wait, NO! I HAVE TO FOLLOW SCOOTALOO!" Rainbow exclaimed. She flew as fast as she could after Scootaloo. Little did she know she might never be seen again. Twilight rushed after Dash.
"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Twilight shouted, while flying.
Rainbow and Twilight flew faster. They spotted Scootaloo on the cliff, where Twilight almost fell when they had to stop Nightmare Moon. They watched her stand up. They flew down to her. She was at the edge of the cliff. Rainbow's heart was beating as fast as lightning. This was one of the few times in her life, she was actually terrified.
"There's no point in living anymore." Scootaloo said to herself as she stood on the edge of the cliff. This was it. She got ready to jumped.
"SCOOTALOO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Dash screamed, about to cry. She had an idea of what her sister was about to do.
"Rainbow Dash. I just want you to know that I'll always love you. Goodbye." Dash's heart stopped at these words.
"SCOOTALOO DONT!" It was too late. Scootaloo had jumped. She hit a few rocks and you could hear screams. Rainbow was shocked, crying. She came back to reality and Rainbow quickly shot down after her, flapping her wings as fast as she could.
"RAINBOW!" Twilight screamed after her. She was going to fly after her, but fought otherwise. She knew Rainbow could do it.
Dash was crying. Her vision was clouded a bit.
All she could think was "Save your daughter! Save your daughter!"
She was close by Scootaloo, who had her eyes closed. She felt like her heart was going to explode. She reached down with her hooves, as far as they would go, and she finally grabbed hold of Scootaloo's back. She scooped up Scootaloo and shot up the cliff.
She hugged her unconscious daughter tightly, and sobbed loudly. She hit a few sharp rocks, so she was bleeding on her forehead, front right hoof, and her back. Her head was bleeding badly.
"Rainbow D.... Dash." a weak Scootaloo managed to get out.
"Oh. Scootaloo. I'm so sorry!" she said, sobbing. Scootaloo looked up at her mother, with misty eyes.
"No. I'm sorry." Scoots said softly. She then let her eyes close.
Dash shot strait up and flew to the hospital. Twilight followed. When she got there, she looked around for some pony, holding Scootaloo close to her.
She didn't see any pony at the front desk, so she did the only thing she could: scream for help.
"SOMEPONY! HELP ME! PLEASE!" she screamed, crying. Nurse Redheart came out and put Scootaloo on a stretcher.
Nurse Red Heart took Scootaloo into a room. She got hooked to wires, and had an oxygen mask put on her muzzle.
"Miss Dash. I need you to leave the room."
"No! No! Scootaloo!" Twilight tried to pull Rainbow back. Dash put up a bit of a fight. Twilight eventually used her magic and lifting into the waiting room. She kept her glow around Dash, because she knew she would try to go back.
They sat in the waiting room. Dash was going insane. She kept saying why over and over again. Twilight tried to talk to her, but she was zoned out. She slapped her across the face and she came back to reality.
"What caused Scootaloo to do that?" Twilight asked.
"Its all my fault!"
"How is it your fault Rainbow?"
"She was acting strange, but she wouldnt tell me."
"Thats not your fault. Has she been stressed or anything?"
"I think I know why now." she said angrily. Twilight let Rainbow go. She remembered something Scootaloo only talked about once or twice, being bullied. She was enraged. She wasn't angry. She was furious. She felt like her insides were now on fire.
She flew towards Filthy Rich's house. Twilight stayed at the hospital. She knocked on the door loudly.
"Hello Rainbow Dash."
"WHERS YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER?!" Rainbow shouted angrily. She didn't regret it.
"Excuse me?"
"I NEED TO SEE YOUR DAUGHTER!"
"What did she do?"
"SHE ALMOST GOT MY DAUGHTER KILLED! THATS WHAT SHE DID! I KNOW SHE BULLIES HER! I MAY NOT'VE NOTICED IT BEFORE, BUT I DO NOW!"
"Diamond Tiara. Get down here now!"
"Yes Daddy?" Diamond Tiara asked innocently.
"Have you been bullying Scootaloo?"
"Moi? Never!" she lied.
"YOU DID! WHEN WOULD I LIE LIKE THIS! IM FREAKING SCREAMING! WHEN HAVE I LIED WHILE SCREAMING! USUALLY WHEN I SCREAM IM PISSED!"
"Dont scream at my daughter!" Filthy Rich said seriously.
"Have you been bullying Scootaloo?" Filthy Rich asked his daughter, firmly.
"Maybe."
"DIAMOND TIARA! GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!" Rich screamed. Diamond Tiara screamed, and ran upstairs, slamming her door shut.
"I'm very sorry." Filthy Rich said. Dash knew he meant it.
"I gotta go." Dash said, flying to the hospital. When she was there, she saw Scootaloo breathing lightly, her head wrapped in a bandage. Her front hoof and her back had bandaids on them. She stroked Scootaloo's mane, and cried. Twilight walked into the room.
"All I know right now, is that she's not dead." Rainbow said, still looking at the filly, her voice soft and cracking from crying. The hospital monitor started beeping faster. Scootaloo's eyes opened slowly.
"Scootaloo?" Dash said, wide eyed, tears coming down her face. Scootaloo looked at her, eyes half open and smiled lightly. Or at least she thought it was a smile. It was hard to tell from the mask.
"Twilight. Get the doctor." she said, like in a panic, still looking at the moving filly.
Twilight ran and got the doctor. He came in and removed the oxygen mask from Scootaloo. She opened her eyes slowly, fully, and looked at Rainbow Dash.
"I'm sorry Mom." she said softly.
"No Scoots. I'm sorry. I should've noticed your behavior was because of a big reason."
"You did ask. I just didn't want to say anything."
"Why?"
"I was afraid you would be disappointed in me for crying about this." she said, as she sat up.
"Being bullied?" she said seriously, looking into the filly's purple eyes.
"How'd you find out?" Scoots asked, in a panic.
"I took a wild guess." she said as she rubbed her daughter's front hoof.
"I would never be disappointed in you for showing your feelings. Scoots I would NEVER be disappointed! If your having problems I need to know. I can help you."
"Really?"
"Pinkie promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." she said smiling, as she did the motions. Scootaloo giggled at this.
"You better relax." Rainbow said, walking towards the entrance to the hospital.
"Where are you going?"
"It's a surprise. I'll be right back." she said as she flew off, leaving Twilight and Scootaloo alone.
"I'm glad your okay Scootaloo."
"Me too."
"How long did she bully you?"
"Over a year. It got worse when Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got their cutie marks."
"I'm just glad you're okay now." Twilight said to the filly, smiling.
Rainbow Dash came back a few minutes later with the surprise. Scootaloo's eyes lit up when she saw who it was.
In the doorway to her room stood Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They looked worried. They ran over to Scootaloo and hugged her. Sweetie Belle sobbed into Scootaloo. She didn't like seeing her friends in the hospital, or hurt in general.
"I'm s.... sorry Sc.... Scootaloo! Its all m.... my fault!" Sweetie Belle yelled through sobs. She hugged Apple Bloom and cried into her shoulder. Apple Bloom hung her ears down.
"We're sorry Scoots. It really is our fault. We should've stayed when we saw ya cryin' the other day." AB said softly.
"For the last time! It's my fault, and my fault only! I still would've done this even if you tried to stop me."
"But we should.... should've stood u.... up for you!" Sweetie Belle sobbed again.
"Hey. I'm here right. Everything is fine. I'm okay." she said looking at Sweetie Belle, who was wiping away her tears.
"What did she do to ya to make us do this?" Apple Bloom asked seriously.
"She tortured me. She called me names and taunted me. I still don't have a cutie mark, but that doesn't mean she's better than me." Scoots said, smiling. She finally found confidence.
"We're glad yer save." Apple Bloom said, smiling.
"So. What happened to your head?" Sweetie Belle asked. Scoots felt her head, and it stung.
"Ow. I'm not sure."
"You hit some sharp rocks." Rainbow said, pointing to her head.
"Oh."
"Don't worry Scoots. Diamond Tiara will have to answer to us if they keep bothering you."
"Thanks. I know one thing I better at than her."
"What's that?" Rainbow asked, smiling happily.
"Doing tricks on my scooter." she said.
"Wait a minute. That's it!"
"What's it?" Sweetie asked confused.
"That's my talent! Riding my scooter! Finally I know!" she looked at her flank and saw a picture of her scooter with a red flame in the background appear. Her eyes lit up and she smilies as wide as she could!
"I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!" she shouted, happily. Her friends cheered.
"Wait a minute. We can't be the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore." AB said, sadly.
"Ya we can! We can help other ponies get their marks!"
"Yeah!" her two other friends shouted. Her friends and mom hugged her. She finally got her cutie mark. She was happy. She would still get picked on for not being to fly, but she knew one day she could do it. One day.
