> Best Birthday Ever! > by Dash32 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > An Apple a Day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a clear, warm day in Ponyville. Only a few clouds were seen scattered across the sky. Nearly everypony decided to embrace the inviting warmth of the sun on this day. Especially a certain orange filly with a purple mane, who was buzzing around on her scooter dodging every obstacle in her way, even dodging a few unsuspecting ponies as well. The filly was in an ecstatic mood today. Nothing could ruin the day for her. Why was she so happy? Today is her birthday. The only sad part about today was that her birth parents weren't around to celebrate with her. Scootaloo's birth parents died in a carriage accident when she was a foal. She missed her parents but always kept her emotional pain bottled up and covered up any signs of it by spending as much time with other ponies as possible. Scootaloo was speeding all over Ponyville in an attempt to find her friends and fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders. First stop, Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo speeds through the entrance to the apple farm before skidding to a stop in front of a huge hulking red stallion known as Big Macintosh. The little filly steps off of her scooter and greets the stallion. “Hiya Big Mac! Is Apple Bloom home?” “Eenope. Went with Applejack to town ta sell some produce.” “Oh. Okay. Thanks anyways!” Scootaloo hops back onto her blue scooter and takes off toward town. After another twenty minutes of dodging obstacles and searching for her friend, the little Pegasus finally catches a glimpse of a red bow peeking out from the top of an apple cart. Scootaloo stops the scooter and trots over to the big wagon and smiles. “Hey Apple Bloom!” The little yellow and red filly pops her head out from behind the large pile of apples to greet the orange Pegasus with a friendly smile. “Hi Scootaloo! What brings you here?” “I just wanted to see if you wanted to come play! How ‘bout it?!” Scootaloo asks with a slight buzz from her wings. “Oooh. Uh, sorry Scootaloo. Ah gotta help Applejack sell some apples t'day. We gotta raise a bunch of money to go shoppin' later on.” “Oh. Uh, okay then. See ya later I guess.” “Why dontcha see if Applejack will play with ya fer a while. Ah wanna try managin' this cart by myself.” “Do you really think that's a good idea? Last I heard there's ponies running around town that still think you're psychotic because of how you did ‘business’ with them, if you could call it business.” “It'll be fine. Go find Applejack and Ah'll take it from here.” “Uh...okay then. See ya Apple Bloom.” “Bye!” Scootaloo once again gets on her scooter but propels herself forward slowly until she rounds the corner and sees the pony she was looking for walking out of a restaurant with a large bit bag. The little filly jumps off her scooter and waves to the farm pony. “Hi Applejack!” Applejack smiles and tips her hat toward the filly. “Well howdy there Scootaloo. What brings ya around these parts on this fine day?” “I'm bored. Looking for somepony to play with. So I came looking for you!” “Sorry sugarcube. But Ah'm far too busy right now. Ah gotta sell dang near ev'ry apple in my cart t'day so Ah can take Apple Bloom shoppin' later on t'day. Wish Ah could. Maybe some other time.” Applejack says with a sympathetic smile. “Oh...well okay...see ya later then...” With a disappointed sigh, Scootaloo hops back on her scooter and rides further into town in search for her other fellow crusader in hopes for something to do. > Why so nervous Rarity? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- With having no chance of hanging out with the Apples for the day, Scootaloo decided to track down her other friend and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader, Sweetie Belle. The little orange filly rides around on her scooter scanning the area for any sign of her unicorn friend. “Oh come on. She's gotta be around here somewhere.” Scootaloo mutters to herself. Eventually she stops in front of the Carousel Boutique, gets off the scooter and trots up to the door. She knocks and waits for a reply. Shortly afterward an alabaster unicorn with a beautiful purple mane with curls at the end answers the door. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Where everything is chic, unique, and magnif–...uuuuh...” “Down here.” Rarity looks down and takes notice of the small filly in front of her. “Oh! Why hello Scootaloo! What brings you here?” “I'm bored and wanted to see if you and Sweetie Belle wanted to hang out? I asked Applejack and Apple Bloom but they were too busy.” “Oh dear...I am terribly sorry but I'm afraid today just will not do. You see, I am taking Sweetie shopping later and don't really have time for such events.” “Really? That's what Applejack said.” Rarity smiles nervously and starts to sweat.” “Ah hahaha...you don't say! Um...I guess it is just a coincidence.” ‘What's wrong with her? She's acting really weird.’ “Well, anyway...I must be going! Lots of orders to fill and so little time!” “Oh...okay...I understand.” “I am deeply sorry. Perhaps another time? I do believe she and I are available after today.” “Yeah...sure. I'll just, be going then. Take care Rarity.” “Ta-ta my dear!” Rarity watches as Scootaloo once again hops onto her scooter and buzzes down the street away from the boutique. A few seconds later Sweetie Belle walks down the stairs with a curious look. “Who was that sis?” “That was Scootaloo.” “Uh oh...you didn't tell her did you?” “Not a word.” “Whew. Good. If word got out and she found out about it, she would flip out and it would be total disaster.” “Yes I am well aware of the risks Sweetie Belle. Now! What's say we go shopping now before all the good stores close?” “Let's go! I'll grab my bit bag.” Minutes later the two sisters exit the boutique and head toward the market. Scootaloo is still rolling through town looking for somepony to hang out with. “Well that was a bust. Oh well! Maybe Pinkie will want to hang out! She always makes room for others!” With that, the little filly changes direction and scoots toward the sweet shop. Sugarcube corner. > Pinkie Promises! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now in slightly less than a happy mood, Scootaloo speeds through the streets of Ponyville searching for a certain Pink Party Pony. The filly finally reaches the sweet shop and hopes to herself that Pinkie is free to do something. Scootaloo removes her helmet and steps off of her scooter before making her way through the doors of Sugarcube Corner. While walking up to the front desk, Scootaloo notices that the ceiling is lined with streamers, the floor is littered with confetti, and there are balloons floating around. Taking in the image, she walks up to the counter where she sees a fluffy pink tail sticking up over the counter. “Hey Pinkie.” The party pony comes out from under the table with a wide grin to greet the Pegasus filly. “Hi Scootaloo! How are you today?!” “I'm good. Extremely bored though. I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out?” “Sorry Scootaloo! I gotta plan for a party I'm hosting this afternoon! Maybe another time! I still gotta hang more streamer, get more confetti, drag out my party cannon, and order the cake and–” Pinkie's speedy speech is interrupted by a small orange hoof covering her muzzle. “I get it Pinkie. Today's no good.” Scootaloo removes her hoof and turns to walk away, her mood dampens even more. “I'll see ya later Scootaloo! PINKIE PROMISE!” “A-Alright then Pinkie. See ya.” Without another word, the little filly hops back on her scooter, straps her helmet back on top of her head and buzzes off to the Everfree Forest. > Fluttering in the heart > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After her departure from Sugarcube Corner, Scootaloo was playing today's events in her head. ‘Why is everyone acting so strange today?’ She thought. Every pony is coincidentally busy today. But why? Then she got an idea that made her happy. ‘Fluttershy can't be busy! Right?’ With that thought in mind the young filly made her way over to Fluttershys cottage, just on the edge of the Everfree Forest. The journey is uneventful and takes about an hour to get there. But at last the filly is at Fluttershy's doorstep. Mentally praying to herself Scootaloo knocks on the door a couple of times before waiting for an answer. After a few seconds of quietly waiting, the door finally opens just enough to show the yellow Pegasus peeking out the door with one eye. “Um...H-Hello? Who is it?” She asks. “Down here Fluttershy!” Fluttershy looks toward the ground to see the smiling orange filly sitting in front of her door. Feeling a bit more brave, Fluttershy opens the door all the way and smiles down at the little Pegasus. “Oh. Hello Scootaloo. How are you today?” “I'm okay, just a little bummed out. I came to see if you wanted to come play with me for a little bit?” The question throws Fluttershy off guard and causes her to start mentally panicking. “Oh gee...uh, I would love to come play with you right now Scootaloo, but I'm...I just have sooo many animals to tend to. And plus, I mean, I'm just an old pony, I probably wouldn't be any fun to play with.” Scootaloo looks at the adult Pegasus with confusion. “Old? But you're only in your mid-twenties!” “Oh you know what they say...twenty six is the new fifty and so on...but perhaps another time?” At this the filly looked toward the dirt disappointingly. “Okay...I guess...I'll just, see you around Fluttershy.” As Scootaloo turns to walk away, she hears Fluttershy in the background panicking. “Oh, I'm so sorry. Y-You're not mad at me are you?! PLEASE DONT BE MAD AT ME!!!” The pleas remain unanswered as Scootaloo hops back onto her scooter and buzzes off. ‘No Pinkie Pie, no Rarity, no Fluttershy, no applejack. Something strange is going on. Maybe twilight has some free time.’ Clutching on what last remaining hope she has, Scootaloo made her way over to the Castle of Friendship as fast as her little wings could carry her. > A Royal Pain > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a disappointing encounter at Fluttershy's cottage, Scootaloo is now on her way over to the Castle of Friendship to talk to Princess Twilight herself. Scootaloo's tiny wings propel her through the Ponyville streets like a rocket whilst she dodges other ponies and obstacles like some sort of professional scooterer. Just a few short minutes later Scootaloo stops in front of the castle, still on her scooter, and knocks on the door. For a few moments, nothing can be heard from inside the castle. But finally, a series of quiet hoof steps can be heard growing louder as they near the door. The door opens and Twilight pokes her head out of the door to greet the little pony. Upon seeing the little filly, Twilight smiles and waves at her. “Hello Scootaloo. How are you?” “I'm fine. I'm just bored and bummed out that no one can hang out. So I came here to see if you were doing anything?” Suddenly, Twilight's smile contorts into a soft frown. “Sorry sweetie, but I'm afraid I can't today. I'm just, reeeeally busy you know?” “Oh. Alright. I...I get it. Bye Twilight.” Twilight felt bad for the poor filly, but she couldn't risk spoiling anything that was to happen later that day. “Sorry Scootaloo. Maybe tomorrow we can go to the park and hang out?” “Sure...whatever...I'll just see you later Twilight.” “Alright. Bye Scootaloo.” With that, the little orange filly makes a U-Turn and rides away from the castle. But now, the Pegasus has a list of questions running through her mind while at the same time trying not to let any tears break through. ‘Why is everyone acting so weird around me today? I didn't do anything to upset them did I? What if...what if nopony wants to be my friend anymore?’ “I...I guess I'll just go back to Sugarcube Corner and spend my birthday there alone...again.” After that final thought, Scootaloo sets of to her destination. > Best! Birthday! Ever! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day was not a good one for little Scootaloo. She had just been turned away by all of her friends on her birthday and was most likely going to be spending her birthday alone. Slowly and sadly, the little filly propelled her way to the sweet shop of Sugarcube Corner. She arrives in front of the store and hops off the scooter before removing her helmet. She slowly trudges into the door, only to be met by total darkness. “Hello? Is anypony here? The door was unlocked so I assumed that you were open. Hello?” She calls out. Suddenly the lights flick on and the little Pegasus is met with a loud squeal and nine smiling faces. “SURPRISE!!!” Streamers fly, and Scootaloo is suddenly met by a pink mane in her face. “SURPRISE!!! It's your birthday!! I threw you a party I hope you like it do you like it do ya huh huh huh?!!” Pinkie babbles. “What's going on here?!” “I just told you silly! It's a surprise party!” “B-But I thought you guys were too busy to hang out with me!” Rainbow Dash hovers over to the filly and chuckles, ruffling her mane. “We had to tell you that so that each of us could go shopping for presents kid. we wouldn't have been able to do so if we were with you all day.” Finally the realization hits the receivers in the filly's brain and she breaks out into a wide smile while trying to hold back tears. In spur of the moment, Scootaloo zooms over to her “sister” and locks her into a hug. “Thank you! Thank you all so much!!” “You're welcome squirt!” Twilight walks up and grips the filly in a hug. “Happy birthday Scootaloo.” “Thanks Twilight.” “Um...Happy Birthday Scootaloo. “Thanks Fluttershy.” “Happy Birthday Darling.” “Thanks Rarity.” “Happy Birthday Sugarcube.” “Thanks Applejack.” “Happy Birthday kid.” “Thank you Rainbow Dash.” “Happy Birthday Scoots!” “Thanks Spike!” Scootaloo is suddenly wrapped in a hug sandwich by her fellow CMC members. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOOTALOO!!” “Thanks guys! Pretty sure I'm dead in both ears now!!” “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS BIRTHDAY BASHERS!!! YAY!!!” BEST!!! BIRTHDAY!!! EVER!!!