Scootaloo's been absent all weekend. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom grow increasingly anxious. Something's happened to their friend. Something awful. But what?
Scootaloo's been absent all weekend. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom grow increasingly anxious. Something's happened to her. Something awful.
But then again, maybe some things are better left unanswered.
The day was cold and frigid. Thin blankets of snow caked the cobblestone path, joined by naked trees on either side. Apple Bloom tightened her scarf, flapping gently in the wind. Sweetie Belle walked beside her, looking up at the skeletal branches. Frosty breath poured from their lips and reddened noses. Beyond the crunching of snow, silence reigned. It was an oppressive silence. “What do you think happened to Scootaloo?” Sweetie asked, breaking the quiet.
Apple Bloom craned her head, their eyes meeting briefly. “Oh please. This wouldn’t be the first time Scoots ditched us,” she scoffed, waving a dismissive hoof.
True, Scootaloo was notorious for running late, but she seldom abandoned a plan with friends.
“Yeah, but… it isn’t like her to miss a meet up. She never misses a meet up.”
“Ya’ worry too much.” There was a hint of irritation in her tone.
“Well, sorry I’m concerned about our friend,” Sweetie countered.
Apple Bloom sighed, icy breath rolling out her mouth. “Look, all Ah’m sayin’ is that Scootaloo’s fine. She probly’ slept in or somethin’.” In most cases, Sweetie would happily accept the assumption, but she held onto a foreign belief that something was wrong. She just didn’t know what.
After a momentary pause, Sweetie spoke again. “Have you seen Scootaloo at all this weekend?”
Biting her lip, Apple Bloom pondered the question. “Well, with all this weather and whatnot, AJ and Ah’ have been busy plowin’ snow. So no, Ah’ haven’t. Have ya’ seen her lately?”
“No.” Sweetie frowned. “The snow’s kept me inside all weekend. And to top it off, Rarity’s been forcing more chores on me than ever. I looked high and low for her but… she never turned up.” There was hesitation in those last words.
“Ya’ try her house?”
“I said I searched high and low, didn’t I? Yes, I checked her house.”
“An’? What happened?”
“No one was home. I know her parents are out of town, but I thought Scootaloo would be there.” Almost defeated, she sputtered, “I was really hoping to see her at the meet up, today.
Apple Bloom smirked sympathetically. She’d always been the most complacent and logical of the crusaders. Resting a hoof on Sweetie’s shoulder, she said softly, “Scoots is a tough pony. Ah’m sure she was out with Rainbow Dash or somethin’ and ya’ just missed her. Shoot, she’s always doin’ whatever it is pegasi do.”
Sweetie smiled a weak smile. “You’re right. I’m working myself up.”
“Ya’ always do,” Apple Bloom chuckled. “Now let's go, Ah’ don’t wanna’ be late.” Picking up the pace, she trotted ahead.
Sweetie kept a few paces behind. She wanted to believe her friend, but deep down, something resisted. Something was wrong. Sighing, she looked back to the trees. They scraped the sky as they passed. Beyond them and along the horizon, Sugar Cube Corner’s rooftop peeked over the branches. Like most week days, the crusaders would meet there, accompanying one another on their walk to school. Sweetie arrived earlier than usual that morning, awaiting Scootaloo. Apple Bloom followed moments later. After half an hour of waiting, the two girls faltered, heading off without her.
They both opted to take the scenic route. They seldom walked that path, but an unseen urge carried them there. It felt necessary, somehow.
The route was little more than a long, beaten stone trail neighbored by rows of trees. It circled around the town’s entirety, branching off at multiple points. One of which just happened to be the schoolhouse. Neglected and forgotten, the path slowly decayed; ignored by most of Ponyville.
Compared to their usual route, the walk was tedious and inconvenient. But with ample time on their hooves and little to discuss, neither of them complained.
A light fog licked the air, thickening as they went. Apple Bloom could make out a building, emerging from the blur. It was the schoolhouse. “Finally,” she groaned. “Let’s, pick up the pace.” Turning around, she saw Sweetie, standing stiff. Her gaze rested on something in the snow. It seemed to entrance her. “Hey, quit daydreamin’ and get over here,” Apple Bloom called. Sweetie didn’t flinch. “For the love of Celestia, ya' got mud in yer’ ears?”
“Look,” Sweetie said. Her voice was soft and frail. With a huff, Apple Bloom approached.
“We haven’t got all day, ya’ know.” She reached Sweetie’s side, staring daggers. “What? What’s so important?” She pointed downward, her lips clamped shut. A little red object protruded from the snow. Falling to her haunches, Apple Bloom plucked it free.
In her hoof sat a tiny wheel, no larger than a throwing stone. Worn and beaten, the red paint had nearly peeled away, exposing the chalky white beneath. The two looked at it with burning attention. Sweetie’s eyes were glossy and vacant, locked between a dream and reality. Apple Bloom seemed just as disconnected.
It looked all too similar to the wheels on Scootaloo’s scooter.
Then, suddenly, a thunderous sound exploded in the air. The school tower’s bell erupted, singing in the cold. The trees nearly shook with the bellowing melody. Apple Bloom clenched her teeth, looking bitter. “This don’t mean nothin’,” she said, throwing the wheel back in the snow. “Scootaloo’s fine. She must be waiting on us.” Without hesitation, she ran off through the mist, towards the murky building.
Amidst the bells and the breeze, Sweetie fought her inner demon. Every second, her fear took on a starker form. Breathing sharply, she knelt down, grabbing the discarded wheel. Stuffing it in her saddlebag, she followed Apple Bloom.
The bell tower’s chime hummed softer, accompanied by the chattering of children. Both girls cut through a cluster of trees, out from the woodwork and into the playground. Panting, they stopped to catch their breath. “We better hurry,” Apple Bloom sighed. Sweetie brushed beads of sweat from her brow. A queasy sensation persisted in her gut. Hurrying around the building, they watched as children stumbled up a wide staircase, bursting through a pair of wooden doors. Everyone was eager to escape the cold. Almost subconsciously, Sweetie scanned the dissipating crowd. No Scootaloo. In a matter of seconds, the final students entered the building.
“I don’t feel too good,” Sweetie whimpered, holding her stomach. Apple Bloom was already halfway up the steps.
“Quit yer’ bellyachin’. Go see the nurse if ya’ feel sick.”
“But… what about Scootaloo?” Sweetie asked.
Apple Bloom’s eyes burned holes through her head. “What about her? She must be in class waitin’ on us. Now come on.” She gestured Sweetie to follow, visibly frustrated.
“But the wheel. I mean, what if it’s Scootaloo’s?“
“It’s not. Now stop talkin’.”
“But-“
“Will ya’ shut yer’ trap!? Ah’ said she’s fine!” The sudden exclamation shook the air. Sweetie looked up from the dirt. An odd, pathetic feeling formed in her gut. “Stop talkin’ like somepony died!” Apple Bloom continued. “Everythin’s fine. Scootaloo’s fine. For Celestia’s sake, you’re gettin’ me all worked up!” Crudely wiping her eyes, she stomped up the steps, flung the wooden doors open and disappeared inside.
Alone and cold, Sweetie resisted an urge to cry. Struggling to maintain a semblance of dignity, she reached into her saddlebag. Pulling out the wheel, she cradled it in her hoof. “Please be OK, Scootaloo,” she whispered to the wind.
Putting it away, Sweetie reluctantly ascended the steps and entered the schoolhouse. ‘Please be OK.’ The words pulsated in her head. Yet, despite all the hope she could muster, something felt so very wrong.
The doors opened with a deafening creek, followed by a rush of warmth. The bells had ceased singing, yet their monotone hum hung lazily in the air. All was painfully quiet. The children had all vanished, attending their scheduled classes. Again, Sweetie stood alone in the empty corridor. She knew she was late, and she knew how unpleased Rarity would be, but timeliness wasn’t a concern.
The doors slowly closed, whining in protest, and in that moment, she considered running away; back through town where her home was waiting. She’d never considered playing hooky, but it sounded so tempting. All the stress could be slept away, and by dawn, everything would be normal again.
Looking back at her Cutie Mark, Sweetie grimaced. Ever since the crusaders found their true talents, an unbreakable bond had formed. It was stronger than anything she’d known possible. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were no longer Sweetie’s friends, but sisters. She couldn’t cope with something bad happening to them.
Then she thought of Apple Bloom; how frustrated and upset she’d gotten. It wasn’t like her to snap so easily. Sweetie couldn’t help but feel oblivious, unaware of too many things. But, then again, this all might’ve been a play put on by her anxieties. Maybe all was well.
Breathing deeply, a sense of bliss took form. It was a distant, fading bliss, but any bliss at all was a relief. “Apple Bloom’s right,” she said to no one in particular. “Where ever Scootaloo is, she’s fine.”
Walking down the hall, Sweetie passed rows of lockers and various classes. The wooden floorboards moaned with every step, and placid winds howled outside the windows. It wasn’t long before she came upon Ms. Cheerilee’s room. The door was tall and imposing, hulking over her. Muffled voices radiated beyond it. Composing herself, Sweetie clutched the cold knob. Like a sixth sense, paranoia whispered in her head.
‘Something’s wrong,’ it cooed. ‘Something’s happened. Something’s wrong.’
Sweat pooled along her forehead, her hooves turning clammy. “Everything’s… Everything’s fine,” she whimpered aloud. Sweetie seldom lied. But she’d never lied to herself before.
Closing her eyes and holding her breath, she opened the door. Fouls sat idly at their seats, talking amongst one another. Cheerilee stood before the chalkboard, preparing a schedule for the day. No one seemed to acknowledge Sweetie’s entrance.
Through the chattering of classroom ambiance, she could only hear muffled sounds. Everything was laced in a muddy outline, snuffing her senses. Standing oddly in the doorway, Cheerilie’s eyes veered towards Sweetie’s. ”Oh, Sweetie Belle,” she chimed. “Good thing you arrived when you did. I was just about to take attendance.”
Cheerilie then noticed an off-putting tension, radiating from Sweetie Belle. Slowly but surely, the students stopped speaking, turning their attention to her. She stood a mere five feet away, yet hardly existed in the room. It was like staring at a ghost. Within seconds, silence overcame them.
Cheerilie spoke again, a concerned tinge in her voice. “Sweetie Belle, is something the matter?”
At first, she hadn’t heard the question. Sweetie’s focus burned on an empty desk in the rear of the room. Beside it, Apple Bloom slouched in her own desk. Her eyes were like desolate windows on a desolate shack.
Scootaloo wasn’t there.
Sweetie felt a hoof brush her shoulder. She jumped. Cheerilie suddenly stood at her side. The entire class, minus Apple Bloom, was staring. “You seem sick, Sweetie Belle,” she said, speaking quietly. “Would you like to see the nurse? I don’t want you at school if you aren’t feeling well.” Cheerilie’s words wavered in worry. Sweetie had never looked so pail.
She gulped, mustering a response: “Thank you, Ms. Cheerilie. I’m fine. It’s just a stomach ache.” Sweetie spun on her hooves, trotting across the room. An array of eyes followed her to her desk. Cheerilie wasn’t given a chance to reply.
“Alright, then…” she said, scratching her mane. “Anyways, now that everyone’s here, let’s get attendance over with, shall we?”
Sweetie made her way to the classroom’s rear. A trio of desks sat before her; Apple Bloom occupied the furthest one. Hunched and morbidly still, they traded glances. Her eyes were lined in guilt. Sweetie forced a meek, tired smile. Apple Bloom grinned in response, but it was a far cry from her stern, adventurous demeanor.
Sweetie sat in the chair beside her, leaving an open seat between herself and Apple Bloom. She wouldn’t dare look at that desk. Cheerilie grabbed a clipboard from the counter, proceeding to call out each student’s name.
“Diamond Tiara?”
“Here.”
“Silver Spoon?”
“Here.”
Sweetie gripped the lip of her desk, grinding her teeth and bouncing her leg.
“Snips? Snails?
“Here!”
“Here!”
She could feel her gut contorting, folding into itself. Apple Bloom’s posture was nearly perfect, a cold look in her eye. Methodically, she scraped a hoof along the counter, carving thin circles in the wood. They waited for something. Something to happen. They just didn’t know what.
“Twist?”
“Here.”
“Button Mash?”
“Here.”
Sweetie fidgeted in her seat, swallowing lumps in her throat. She was on the brink of exploding.
“Apple Bloom?”
“Here…” she croaked.
“Sweetie Belle’s here,” Cheerilie muttered, checking off another name on the clipboard.
Suddenly, the pitter-patter of hooves sounded from down the hallway. Sweetie’s heart skipped a dozen beats. Withholding an urge to scream, she waited with baited breath. Apple Bloom was equally tentative, watching the door as if her life depended on it.
The quick, rhythmic steps grew closer. “Sounds like someone’s a little late,” Cheerilie joked. The class chuckled, blissfully unaware and unconcerned.
Closer and closer, echoing footfalls ran just beyond the wall. Sweetie couldn’t hold in her smile, tears welling in her eyes. It was only inches away.
The door flung opened with an explosion of force. Everyone’s attention fell upon a small colt, panting hysterically in the doorway. His coat was a matted, sweaty mess, accompanied by an equally disheveled mane. His glassy, globular eyes ran across the faces in the room. “Oh, Rumble.” Ms. Cheerilie grinned coyly. “Run into any trouble on your way to school?”
Amidst the class’s laughter, Sweetie could feel her brain peeling away at the seams. Her grin snapped into a hopeless state of shock. Apple Bloom had already sunken back into her seat.
Rumble stared oddly, as if he were sleep walking, oblivious to the world around him. Sweetie didn’t know the boy well, but she saw something in those giant, purple eyes of his. Something she found unsettling. He slowly walked to an empty desk, shaking snow out of his mane. Cheerilie checked off another name on the list.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom kept their eyes glued to the clock. Cheerilie’s lecture on Global Warming drowned in its incessant ticking. Before long, they could hear nothing else. Sweetie’s notebook sat open before her, completely blank. Apple Bloom scribbled the occasional circle in her desk, but didn’t budge for the entirety of class.
Students jotted in their papers, some more than others. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon hastily tossed notes back and forth, giggling all the while. Snips and Snails were in the midst of a staring contest, and Twist kept her snout buried in her work, trying to ignore the boops and beeps of Button Mash’s Joy Boy.
Sweetie lifted her face from the wooden countertop, chin-in-hoof. A paper ball collided with her head, falling softly atop the notebook. She turned to Apple Bloom, whose eyes watched with anticipation. Raising a brow, she unfolded the note.
‘I’m sorry for yelling at you, earlier. I didn’t mean to act like such a jerk. But there’s something I need to tell you at lunch. It’s important.’
Sweetie exhaled, nodding to her friend. She nodded back, but made an effort to keep her eyes forward. Neither felt comfortable looking at that empty desk.
Sweetie pondered Apple Bloom’s note. What did she have to tell her? Judging by the look in her eye, it must’ve been more than ‘important.’ She’d known from the start that Apple Bloom was keeping secrets. Everything from her stare to her walk was off. The way she yelled and screamed was nothing like her. She didn’t like admitting it, but Sweetie bubbled with anticipation. Maybe her friend could shed some light on all this.
There was a hint of relief in the air, and she relished every bit of it.
Relaxing in her seat, Sweetie checked the time. The bells would ring soon, but until then, she’d have to keep calm. Scanning the room, she saw Rumble, and a peculiar feeling caught in her throat.
He, too, was staring at the clock. So much so that it might’ve shattered any moment. His wings clung to his sides, their feathers rustled and unorderly. A dead look hung in his eyes, glossy and vacant. It was a stare scarred by death itself. He traced abstract lines across the pages of his notebook, never looking away from the time.
‘He knows,’ whispered the damned voice. ‘He knows. He knows.’ Sweetie subsequently froze in her seat.
She turned to Apple Bloom, fearful and longingly. Apple Bloom tapped a hoof to her forehead, than pointed at Rumble. “I hear them, too,” she mouthed.
***
By the time the bells rang, a cool sheen of sweat caked Sweetie’s brow. One by one, the children arose from their seats. “OK kids, have a nice lunch,” Cheerilie chimed, leading them out. Fillies and colts ran over one another in their stampede, and within seconds, the room was practically empty. Sweetie trotted directly to Apple Bloom, gripping her arm.
“Hey, hey! Take it easy,” she protested. Sweetie kept walking, forcing her friend out the door. Cheerilie eyes followed them, quaking in suspicion.
They trailed behind the horde of children, walking down a long corridor. “Ya’ can let go of ma’ hoof, now,” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie did so, her face flushed in anger, confusion, and emotions she didn’t know existed.
“What do you mean you ‘hear them too’?” she asked bluntly.
Apple Bloom looked down to the wooden floorboards. “Can we discuss this outside?”
“No,” Sweetie snapped. “You know something I don’t. You know something about Scootaloo and you’re not telling me.”
Apple Bloom looked disgusted. “Don’t be accusin’ me o’ anything,” she spat. A fiery tension bubbled between them.
“What are you hiding?” Sweetie questioned. “Scootaloo’s our friend and I’m just trying to figure out where she is. Then you burst into a tantrum, yelling at me. And now you can…” She choked on her words. “…Hear the voices in my head?”
Apple Bloom swallowed a retort, keeping relatively calm. “Listen. Ah’m not lying to you. Ah’ haven’t seen Scootaloo all weekend. Well… not physically, anyways.”
“The hay is that supposed to mean?”
Apple Bloom was about to speak when a sound cut the stale air.
Footfalls sounded from behind them. It was Cheerilie, closing the classroom door behind her. “Oh, girls,” she said. “I thought you two would be outside.”
“We were just headin’ out,” Apple Bloom said. “Come on.” Gripping Sweetie’s hoof, she growled through clenched teeth: “Let’s go.”
Sweetie glared at her, whipping her hoof away. “Yeah. Let’s.” She angrily stomped off.
Apple Bloom nodded reassuringly to Cheerilie, who looked more than a little confused. In a flash, the two fillies were gone, and she stood awkwardly in their wake.
A pair of big wooden doors stood tall, and with a light shove, Sweetie opened them. Outside, she was met with a winter wonderland. A light snowfall rained down, tinting the sky a minty white. Icicles hung from swing sets and jungle gyms, where boys and girls pried them free, sucking on them. Snow mares and stallions had already been created, standing proud. Some partook in snow fights, whereas others tested their snow angel skills.
But Sweetie’s desolate eyes breached the cheerful scenery. Apple Bloom approached from behind, shivering as a gust of wind ran through their manes. “Follow me,” she said, heading down the steps. Sweetie followed, the cold reviving her sense of reality.
She was lead to one of the playground’s corners, where the chain fences met abruptly. Beyond them loomed a long glade, painted in frost. And beyond that was a towering tree line; its spiked canopy scraping the sky. Apple Bloom leaned against the fence, wrapping herself in her hooves. Sweetie waited impatiently. “Well", she said, “We’re outside, now. Please talk to me.”
Sighing heavily, Apple Bloom spoke. “This mornin’, Ah’ was just as anxious about Scootaloo as you. Truth be told, Ah’ve been lookin’ for her, too, over the weekend. After givin’ up, Ah’ assumed she was out or somethin’. Then, that night, all Ah’ could do was think ‘bout her. Where could she be, what was she doin’, thin’s like that. Sunday evenin’, Ah dreamt of her.” She paused, struggling to find the right words. “She… she wasn’t there, in ma’ dream, exactly. But Ah’ know Ah’ heard her.” There was another pause.
“She was… she was screamin’. It wasn’t like a scream Ah’ knew existed.” Apple Bloom was crying softly. Sweetie stood still for a moment, somewhat mesmerized. She’d felt the same concerns, fueled by paranoia, but hadn’t dreamt of anything.
Crouching beside Apple Bloom, Sweetie comforted her. “Did you tell Apple Jack?” she asked sympathetically.
“No. Ah’ woke up cryin’ and… Ah’ thought it was just a dream. Ah’ didn’t wanna worry no body ‘bout that.” Apple Bloom was talking through sobs, sniffling and snorting. “Oh, Ah’m so sorry for yellin’ at you, Sweetie. Ah’ just didn’t wanna’ worry about Scootaloo anymore, is all.” She pressed her head into Sweetie’s chest.
Sweetie’s eyes burned with tears. “It’s OK, AB,” she choked. “I don’t care about that. But… how could you tell what I was thinking?”
Apple Bloom looked up, her nose running and wet. “Ah’ just… could. Ah’ saw you were lookin’ at Rumble and Ah’ somehow knew. Ah’ think it said, ‘He knows’.”
Things had gone from unsettling to bazaar. Mentally exhausted, Sweetie didn’t try to rationalize this. Cradling Apple Bloom, she spotted a figure, perched amongst the branches of an oak tree. It was Rumble. He stared off into the distant tree line, snow blowing through his mane.
The school day had gone by almost seamlessly. Lectures and assignments were brushed aside and ignore by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, whose minds lingered on other matters; one of which being Rumble.
However, neither girl discussed their “telepathic” experience, as Sweetie called it. The dreams and the voices were put on hold. What replaced them was a small, lanky grey colt. Most of the class was spent watching him from behind, feverishly waiting for something. They just didn’t know what.
From what they gathered, Rumble was timid and quiet. He seemed well-acquainted with the other boys and indulged himself in his work. Only that day, his approachable demeanor evaporated, and a ghost filled its void. He didn’t speak, didn’t move, and sometimes, Sweetie swore he’d stopped breathing. A dark shroud followed him throughout the day, and she wasn’t the only one to notice.
Button Mash, Snips and Snails confronted Rumble a couple times, speaking in hushed whispers. Apple Bloom’s eavesdropping brought little light to the situation. His friends were clearly concerned, proceeding to bombard him with questions. They’d ignore Rumble’s request to leave, and as a result, he’d snap at them. Viciously, he screamed during art class. Everyone turned in surprise as Rumble pushed Button Mash aside, running down the hall. Cheerilie was quick to chase him down.
Upon their return, Rumble was forced to apologize. He refused, staring brokenly at his ex-friends. Unsatisfied, Button Mash kept away. Snips and Snails happily followed his example. All the while, Sweetie and Apple Bloom’s suspicions heightened, as did the voices in their heads.
“He knows. He knows.”
Five minutes remained before the school day ended. Packed and ready to head home, everyone kept to themselves. Unlike most days, there was no gleeful anticipation. Children would usually discuss their evening plans, or pass around jokes. There was silence, that day, and the heavy air weighed upon everyone’s faces. Sunken and tired, they waited quietly to leave. Even Cheerilie felt a distinct aura of negativity. She’d never expected it from this class.
Sweetie and Apple Bloom slung their saddlebags over their backs. “So, what’s the plan again?” Sweetie asked, monitoring her voice.
“Ah’ hardly call it a ‘plan’,” Apple Bloom replied. “We’re gonna’ follow Rumble out, and when we get deh chance, we’ll ask him ‘bout Scoots.”
“What if he doesn’t know anything?”
“Well, he’s must. Ah’ mean, the voices-“
“Let’s not… Let’s not talk about those.” Sweetie interrupted. Her stomach swam at the mere mention of them.
“Right. Sorry,” Apple Bloom replied, scratching the back of her head. “But ya’ do know we’ll have to tell somebody eventually. Maybe Twilight or somethin’. There’s gotta be some sciencey answer behind it.”
Sweetie didn’t like thinking about the voices. Their origin, their purpose, their existence; it only served to build upon her worries. What mattered was talking to Rumble. But, then again, she didn’t like that idea much either. “I just wish today could’ve been normal,” she said, frowning deeply.
Apple Bloom blinked, pursing her lips. “Ditto. But the… the thin’s in our heads, er whatever, are tellin’ us somethin’, and Rumble’s clearly got that somethin’ on his mind.” Sweetie wouldn’t make eye contact, staring absently out the frosty window. Apple Bloom placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Hey. We’ll get through this. Easy as pie. And before ya’ know it, we’ll be with Scootaloo again.”
Sweetie looked up, drained and beyond tired. “Ok.” She nodded, forcing a smile.
On cue, the bells rang. As the children idly fumbled out the door, Apple Bloom and Sweetie lulled behind. They watched Rumble slump out of his desk, following the group. Waiting to build some ample distance, they prepared to trail him.
“Sweetie Belle,” said a voice from behind. Both girls jumped out of their skin, turning to meet Cheerilie. She stood over them. “Do you mind if I have a moment with you? I’d just like to discuss the day. Apple Bloom, could you give us a second?”
Sweetie began choking on her words, tilting uncomfortably on her hooves.
“We’re kinda in a hurry,” Apple Bloom interjected, a flustered look in her eye. “Can we do this tomorrow?” Sweetie kept quiet, biting her lip. It wouldn’t be long before Rumble escaped, and neither had the patience to wait another day.
“Let’s let Sweetie speak for herself,” Cheerilie countered, somewhat aggravated. “Besides, it should only take a moment.”
She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and both girls knew it. “Ah’ll meet you outside,” Apple Bloom whispered in Sweetie’s ear, trotting out the door.
Cheerilie smiled tenderly, looking down at the filly. “I’m glad you’re giving me the time, Sweetie. Please, take a seat,” she gestured to one of the desks.
“I’d rather stand,” she replied. The doorway loomed in her peripheral. Staying in that room was a torture of its own.
“Alright,” Cheerilie said. She knelt down to Sweetie’s level. “I noticed how off you’ve been acting today. It isn’t like you to outride ignore your assignments.”
“Yeah, well. It’s nothing. Just a stomach ache.” Her eyes were darting about the room, yearning for an escape.
“Please don’t lie to me, Sweetie Belle. I only want you to succeed in this class.” Cheerilie words fell upon deaf ears. Sweetie’s attention drifted to the voices.
“Leave her,” they said. “Leave her. Find him.”
She could only suppress them for so long. Combined with Cheerilie’s speech, a pounding migraine kicked in. Sweetie begged for it stop, for her to leave. One more second spent standing there would destroy her mental health.
Cheerilie stopped speaking, awaiting a reply. Sweetie couldn’t muster a response as she struggle to thwart the monsoon of sounds in her head.
Closing her eyes and in a state of panic, she saw something. Something she never expected to see: A vision.
For the briefest second, Sweetie stood in the woods, snowy and dead. Before her was a long glade, where a pair of giant figures came running. She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t fight. In a flash, they were upon the defenseless girl, grabbing at her.
Sweetie snapped her eyes open, screaming hysterically and flailing her hooves. Falling to her haunches, she kicked and yelled. “Get away! Get away from me! Please!”
“Sweetie! Sweetie, it’s me! What’s gotten into you?!” Cheerilie shouted. She wrestled Sweetie Belle down, taking a few punches in the process. Upon the sound of her voice, Sweetie stopped, staring in utter shock.
“No…” she muttered. “No. That… that didn’t just happen…” She slipped free from Cheerilie’s grasp, fumbling to her hooves. She had to get out of there. She had to find Rumble.
The two met eyes briefly before Sweetie bolted out the door.
What was real and what wasn’t melded into dissolution. Sweetie Belle ran down hallway after hallway, blinded by something she couldn’t describe. Pictures flashed across her eyes: Giant, imposing figures, a gentle snowfall, and tall, naked trees. It all coincided with muffled screaming, cries for help and mercy.
She could no longer tell where she was. Powered by pure, unadulterated adrenaline, Sweetie Belle peered into reality. Children jolted out of her way, staring as she passed. She slammed into lockers and doors, yet her speed never faltered. A teacher yelled out from somewhere, demanding she stop. Sweetie wouldn’t listen.
She could hear earth-shaking footfalls, closing in from behind. Whether this was a part of her vision or a perusing adult, she couldn’t say. All that mattered was getting out of there.
Turning a sharp corner, Sweetie collided head-on with someone. Amidst the confusion, she couldn’t tell who it was. They both collapsed; papers and textbooks spilling from their saddlebags. Sweetie laid there for a moment, face pressed against the wooden boards. Rolling over, she tried to see through the dizziness. The other child fumbled to his hooves.
It was Rumble.
“Sweetie Belle?” he said, his voice quaking. She couldn’t reply, and their gazes held firm for what might’ve been a decade. “A-Are you OK?” He extended a hoof.
In that moment, Sweetie saw something in his eye. Something buried behind a façade. He was stripped of his innocents, cold and shaken to the core. Wordlessly, she gripped his hoof, standing back up. “Thank you.” She sounded a million miles away.
Her screaming headache subsided, as did the visions and voices. “I’m fine,” she said, snapping from her trance. “I was just- Just in a hurry, is all. Let me help.” Sweetie knelt down, picking up the fallen papers. Rumble did the same.
Among them was the tarnished scooter wheel. She was quick to grab it before he had a chance to notice.
“No, it’s my fault,” he said. “I really shouldn’t be here, anyways. Big brother’s probably waiting on me.”
Sweetie jumped to her hooves. “Wait! I… Uhm…”
He stared at her oddly. Sweetie wasn’t sure how she’d go about asking anything. She'd been planning this conversation all day, but in the surge of the moment, she got tongue tide. Rumble’s confusion keeled over into nervousness. “What is it? I don’t really have time to talk… I-I need to get going.”
He waddled around Sweetie, trying to build some distance. “It’ll only be a second. I just wanted to ask you something.”
She could smell the panic seeping from him. His wings stuck so firmly to his sides, they might’ve cracked apart. Grey feathers rippled off of them, forming a small cluster on the floor.
“Hey!” A voice called from down the hallway. It was Apple Bloom. “Sweetie! Gosh, what took ya’-“ She froze in place, staring wildly at Rumble. He stared back, that alien look in his eye.
“Oh, howdy Rumble,” Apple Bloom said, hiding away her franticness. She nonchalantly approached him. “Hey, you wouldn’t mine’ givin’ Sweetie an Ah’ a sec, would ya’?” He didn’t move, nor did he reply. Without awaiting an answer, Apple Bloom put an arm over his shoulder, gently ushering him forward. “Like Ah said, it’ll only take a sec.”
Rumble wasn’t in a position to relent, and stricken by some sort of shock, he unwilling nodded. Sweetie grimaced, following behind. She didn’t approve of Apple Bloom’s method, but had she not arrived when she did, Rumble might’ve bolted.
They hurriedly trotted out the front door. Outside, a foreboding silence clung to the air. There was no breeze and no falling snow, just absolute stillness. Not a soul wandered the streets ahead. Seldom were all the children gone this quickly. “So, Rumble,” Apple Bloom said. “You like ice cream? ‘Cause Ah’ sure as shoot do, too. Same goes for Sweetie! What ya’ say we go get us some. It’s on me.” Sweetie could see through her smile with ease, but Rumble was none the wiser.
“I… Well, I’m not hungry.”
“Not hungry?!” Apple Bloom bent over laughing. “What kinda’ colt like you can go by with an empty stomach? Please, Ah’ insist.” There a hint of harshness in her demand.
“Rumble,” Sweetie interjected, “You don’t have to get ice cream with us if you don’t want to.” Both of their heads reared back at her. “Apple Bloom and I just wanted to ask you something. It’s… it’s important. Is that OK?”
Apple Bloom withheld her protest, fearing Rumble would reject. But, to her surprise, he lightened up.
“No, I mean. I guess I could get some ice cream. But I really have to be home soon.”
Sweetie smiled. “Thank you, Rumble.” As they descended the steps, she contemplated. When would she tell Apple Bloom of her visions? One mystery at a time, she thought.
***
The walk to Sugar Cube Corner was quiet and uneventful, and Ponyville’s vacantness stemmed well beyond the schoolyard. No one walked the marketplace, and every shop was locked tight. Rumble trotted a few paces behind, looking up as he went. The sky was a stark grey, speckled with wiry clouds. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were playing everything by ear. What they’d ask and how they’d ask their questions wasn’t entirely clear.
Before long, the trio entered the village square. A dry, decrepit fountain stood dead center. Ponies carved in stone flew side-by-side, adorned in angel wings and halos. Their surrounding pool carried thick heaps of snow, mixed with mud, dirt and other sediment. Buildings towered around the square, and among them was Sugar Cube Corner. It was easily the tallest and most elegant. Wood painstakingly crafted into giant sugarcanes and gumdrops adorned the roof, topped off with splashes of color. Some of its vibrancy shined through the mist and fog, but it had definitely seen better days.
Sweetie sighed as she turned to her companions. “Well, here we are. Thanks again for joining us, Rumble.”
“No worries. I just want out of this cold.” With that, he smiled softly and trudged inside. Apple Bloom and Sweetie followed.
It felt good to breathe some warm air. The fireplace had been lit, its flames licking their frigid coats. Rows of booths and tables sat unattended, neatly prepared and ready to serve. A long, golden bar stretched across the room’s opposite side, where a pair of metal doors stood, leading to the kitchen. A bell chimed overhead as they stepped in.
Pinkie Pie suddenly emerged from behind the bar. “Oh my! Customers!” She dashed towards the group, pulling a pair of smoothies from thin air. “Apple Bloom, I know how much you love our homemade Apple Cider Cream Shake Special!” She shoved the drink into Apple Bloom’s hooves. “And Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie continued. “I’ve noticed your appetite for our classic Vanilla Bomber Ice Pudding Supreme.” In turn, she presented Sweetie with her freshly made desert.
“Gee, Thanks, Pinkie. Someone tell ya’ we were coming?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Pfft, no silly! I just know what my favorite customers want before they even know they want it! Comes with the territory, you know.” She followed up her statement with a giggle. Her eyes fell upon the grey colt, knelt between them. “Oh. I’ve never seen you around Sugar Cube Corner.”
Rumble was shaking, still trying to comprehend what he’d witnessed. Had this mare actually created a smoothie out of… nothing? “Rumble. T-The name’s Rumble.”
“We invited him over for a drink,” Sweetie said.
Without a word, Pinkie lunged forward, her nose uncomfortably close to his. “Hmmmmmm. You look like a Double Coco Marshmallow Extravaganza kinda guy. Am I right?”
“Actually… that doesn’t sound too ba-“
Before he could finish, Pinkie shoved the drink into his face. “I thought so.” She bounced off, humming a tune.
“You get used to it,” Apple Bloom said, sipping her smoothie.
They made their way to an empty seat. “So, you enjoying your drink?” Sweetie asked. Rumble was already halfway through it, relishing every exploding flavor.
“Yeah,” he gasped, fighting back a brain freeze. “Yeah, I am.” For a minute, no one said anything. Had Rumble not been so invested in his drinking, he might’ve left.
“So, ya’ do anything over the weekend?” Apple Bloom queried.
Rumble released his straw, looking down at the chocolate concoction. “Yeah, Uhm- Nothing special.”
Sweetie cringed. He’d already begun to shake. “We’ll have another Double Coco Marshmallow Extravaganza, please!” Pinkie zoomed in and out of the kitchen. In a blink, another smoothie stood before Rumble.
“There’s more where that came from,” Apple Bloom smirked, leaning in. “All ya’ gotta do… is answer some questions.”
