Scootaloo is grown up and making a living in motocross, but has a growing facination with falling
The Cutie Mark Crusaders are all grown up but Scootaloo still doesn't have a cutie mark and still can't fly. For the time being she is living with Sweetie Belle and bringing home the bits by competing in the Equestrian Freestyle Motocross Tour. Things get complicated when Sweetie Belle reveals her romantic interests in Scootaloo. On top of this, Scootaloo is becoming more obsessed with the sensation of falling. As the pair searches for the answers behind Scoot's borderline-suicidal tendencies, they begin to uncover secrets that threaten the well-being of all of Equestria!
“Devils used to be Gods, Angels that fell from the top There’s no diversity because we’re burning in the melting pot… So when the Devil wants to dance with you, you’d better say never Because a dance with the Devil might last you forever”
~Immortal Technique
“Scootaloo, I’m certain that your impairment is entirely psychological. If you aren’t going to be entirely honest with me, we might never be able to solve this problem.” The unicorn impatiently tapped her pencil on her clipboard. “I know you might be embarrassed or scared, but I need to know in order to help you.” The unicorn tried to come off as sincere but her frustration and impatience became apparent as she was finishing her sentence.
Buulllllllllllllshittttttt. There was a long pause where Scootaloo simply stared at the unicorn while trying her best to convey that there were no fucks to be given. “Lady, I’ve been coming here for two months and I haven’t heard a thing outa your mouth that has even come close to making sense. I’m gonna leave, and don’t expect me to come back for anymore sessions.” Scootaloo got up out of her chair and grabbed her helmet off the hat rack. The psychologist was in shock, althought not because of Scootaloo’s rudeness: She was certain that this type of things wasn’t going to happen to her anymore.
After busting out of the clinic, Scootaloo trotted at a meandering pace, letting ideas bounce around in her head. Oh, it must be you Scootaloo. I mean, you’ve got such pretty wings, why don’t you just fly away with them to where all your other blank flank friends are. Oh, poor thing, I forgot you can’t. Let me take pity on you and make it my lifelong goal to try and make you feel better. It’s ok, some ponies are just not cut out for being normal. Yeeeeaahhhhhhh whatever. Fuck off. Just FUCK OFF.
Scoot looked back at her wings. By pegasus standards they were huge, and by anyone else’s standards they were beautiful. Her feathers were large and layered smoothly on top of one another. They were a light and vibrant orange that caught the sunlight. This was more of a curse to Scootaloo as every remark, complement, and inquiry brought more attention to how she still was unable to fly.
Scootaloo tried to start flapping them, but some sort of tightness came over her body. Her wings singed up tight to her back and she collapsed on her belly in the parking lot. She was unable to breath for a few seconds. Her gracious wings relaxed and fell down to her side. Scootaloo didn’t feel like crying: She felt defeated and morbidly accepted this fate. I don’t think any amount of spunk or attitude is going fix this… After kicking up her motorcycle’s kickstand, Scoot hopped onto the bike and started gunning it home. 40. Dirt roads cascaded across the hilltops in the surrounding area, and they each spit forth a streak of dust as Scoot blazed across them. 50. Scootaloo started to forget why she had been so 60. Forget why she 70 had been. 80. So. 90.
Down.
100.
Scootaloo ripped over the top of a gigantic hill. She could feel the earth turning below her. She began to tilt back and back until she see her shadow. She could see herself falling. Her wings loosened and began to ripple like thin cloth would. The sun had been dimming in the evening sky. Reds and purples scattered across the clouds and reflected off Scootaloo’s wings. I’m falling. Scootaloo’s shadow kept growing in size. Time passed slower. She was going to collide with herself, and her shadow was going to consume her. Time almost stopped. I fell… where had I… when had it… Scoot reached further back and kept reaching, fully infatuated by the deep dark. She suddenly snapped back to reality. Her wings became rigid, and in one mighty flap they brought her and her motorcycle level with the ground. The landing was still rough. The motorcycle swiveled left and right. Scootaloo was unable to regain control and she tumbled over with the bike. Scootaloo violently rolled most of the way down the hill while the bike had its share of tumbles and flips before sliding down on its side. In the end of things, Scoot found herself to be perfectly fine, minus the fact that her feather and fur were thoroughly covered in dirt. The bike had seen worse. Oh by Celestia’s glory we have a fucking miracle. Her thoughts probably weren’t too far off from the truth either.
She trotted over to her bike, nudged it up, and started driving home without making an effort to dust it off. By the time she got home she almost entirely forget about the event. Most of the dust blew off of her while she had been absentmindedly driving, eliminating all physical indications of a crash. Tuning in to the roar of her engine and the smashing of the air, she became at ease again.
Home was a nice little place. Scoot and Sweetie Belle had decided to get it together when they wanted a little more space and wanted to be a little more independent, although it was mostly Sweetie Belle’s idea. She loved her family, but she felt that her parents' and Rarity antics could be a bit much a times. And after all, what was better than getting to live with your best friend anyways? As she was walking inside, Scootaloo paused slightly and thought about how much this little house meant to her.
“Hey Scoot, how’d it go?” Sweetie Belle realized pretty fast that Scoot’s answer was going to be overwhelming negative. “Maybe I can sing you a little something-something to make you feel better?”
“You might be able to cook me something that could make me feel better.” Scoot regretted it as soon as she said it. She had intended it to sound playful but her bitterness dominated her tone. Sweetie Belle shouldn’t have to put up with me… she could buy a bigger house without me anyways. She’s got a cutie mark and a bit-magnet talent to go with it. Scoot looked at Sweetie Bell’s cutie mark she had gotten so many years ago. It was a silver bell with annotated notes weaving off of it. “Hey I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
Sweetie Belle’s anticipatory smile hadn’t changed, and for all Scoot knew she was still waiting for an answer. Scoot let out a sigh. “Sing me a song please, but first, tell me how your performance went.”
“OOOHHH it went so SMOOTH. Everyone was happy and the venue was nice, but everyone was maybe a bit too snobby. Celestia said she was going to come and I think I saw her in one of her trench coat get-ups trying to avoid attention. Well, more importantly, sad pony you need a song.” And with that she let one go.
“Darling, what’s there to see?
the night sky is really quite empty
and If I’m served right in my memory
you like to sit and watch the moon from the ground with me
It’s the love and compassion you give
not the mark that makes the pony
just look on past the twilight and live
and blank flank or not you seem perfect to me.”
Sweetie has one hell of a voice. It was as delicate and clean as the chime of the softest silver. Sweetie Belle's singing softly scrambled Scootaloo’s brainwaves, leaving her thoughtless yet entirely encompassed by her sweet, sweet sound. As Sweetie stopped singing, Scoot fizzled back down from the natural high to her normal self.
“Wowwww thanks for making me feel self-conscious and pitiful,” Scoot said jokingly. She was never the best with sincerity, but Sweetie knew her more than well enough to know that Scoot appreciate little songs like these.
“Awww c’mon, I was just trying to get you to cheer up.“ Sweetie walked over to Scoot’s side. “Besides, I always thought you looked good with a blank flank.” And with that Sweetie gave her a nice soft kiss where Scoot’s cutie mark was supposed to be. Mmh. Sweetie walked around Scoot and gave her another kiss below the ear. “I love you Scoot.” Sweetie’s voice wasn’t the same as it normally was. She poured every bit of meaning it to what she had said.
A few moments of silenced passed.
“What the fuck is up with you Sweetie Belle” Scoot said playfully, but dryly. She had failed to differentiate between this and the casual, joking affection that the two good friends often shared.
Before this, Sweetie had kept her feelings well hidden from Scootaloo. Her composure started to break and her smile started to quiver. Before long, it turned into an uncontrollable frown. Sweetie had been waiting for the right time, the right moment, but in the heat of it all she perceived the worst. On top of that, she underestimated just how thick Scootaloo could be at times. She was certain that Scootaloo felt nothing short of total disdain for her. Sweetie began to back away. Her eyes and face moved toward the floor, as if by not looking at Scootaloo she could somehow hide away her emotions and shame. Tears were running down her face, tears that she could not stop, but desperately wished she could.
Scoot watched as Sweetie ran out of the room and heard her as she sped up the stairs. Wut. Scoot was dumbfounded. She had initially been curious as to why Sweetie Belle was acting so unSweetieBelle-like, but after watching her break down and run away, Scoot found herself searching in a deeper hole that was void of any answer. She could wail and scream, but only an echo of her question would answer back. The expansiveness of her life experience had now been reduced to the narrowness of one simple question: Is Sweetie ok? Despite Scootaloo’s typically inconsiderate nature, she found herself concerned. They had been best friends for more than ten years… they shared highs and lows together and they tried to find themselves together. Scootaloo and Sweetie had picked each other off the ground when the world seemed like it didn’t have a place for them. They had made that place for each other, and love like that doesn’t leave, it echos out in times of trouble. Scoot felt something heavy settling in her stomach. Is Sweetie ok? She didn’t realized what she was feeling, but it was reverberating deep inside of her. After a few more seconds passed it started to spill out. Is she ok? Scoot was sprinting up the stairs. Sweetie. She burst into Sweetie’s bedroom and could hear her crying in the darkness. She flipped the lights on and Sweetie was there on her bed with blankets pulled over her. Scoot bit the blankets and dragged them down and off of Sweetie’s face. She wouldn’t look at her. Scootaloo placed her head down on the bed at eye level with Sweetie. Her eyes were glistening with tears. Sweetie tried to pull the covers back over her head, but Scootaloo gently stopped her. “Sweetie, what’s that matter?” She rolled to the other side away from Scootaloo. Every cry and sob resulted in a stabbing sensation in Scootaloo’s gut. What if…
She had a moment of clarity, and the whole of the situation gradually began to dawn on her. I love you Scoot. Scootaloo’s breathing got heavier. I love you Scoot. All of the sudden a thousand questions frantically erupted in her head. Do I have feelings for Sweetie Belle? Does it matter that we are both girls? What does she see in me? What happens if I tell her I don’t love her? What should I do what the fuck should I do?
Scootaloo started to break down. She knew she wanted to help Sweetie but she couldn’t do it until she decided on who she was. The only problem was that at the moment she wasn’t able to. Scootaloo was hurting but she was incapable of remaining inactive in face of Sweetie Belle's plight. Words just started pouring out of her mouth. “Sweetie I didn’t mean it like what I said.” She wasn’t making sense. “I didn’t know, you weren’t being you and I didn’t understand what was going on. I never thought about these things before and I don’t know. I was only joking I want you to be ok I want you to be alright.”
“Scootaloo you don’t have to apologize.” Her crying was almost under control and had reduced to soft sobs. “I’m just being a dumb mare.”
“Hey, don’t say that.” Scoot's emotionally agitated state caused her voice to flutter. More than anything Scoot wanted this to end well. She climbed onto the bed and laid as close as she could to Sweetie Belle. “I’m sorry. I’m just flustered, that’s all.”
The way Sweetie Belle perceived it, Scootaloo was trying to let her down as gently as possible. Sweetiebell began to feel ashamed. She saw how Scootaloo was trying so hard to fix an incorrigible situation that she herself was responsible for. She had let her emotions strain their friendship. She was being unreasonable. How could she expect Scootaloo to love her? “You don’t have to pretend to be anything for me Scoot… I’m an idiot.”
“Don’t talk that way,” Scoot pleaded. “Who was the one that just sang me a song about just being myself? There is nothing wrong with the way you are.” You are beautiful.
Sweetie felt like she was being pitied again, and her crying picked up. Stricken with panic at Sweetie Belle’s worsening condition, Scootaloo tried her best to sing. “We are the cutie mark crusaders.” Scootaloo’s voice crackled, but she kept singing until Sweetie Belle stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep. Her breaths were deep, but quiet.
“Hello?” “Is that you Applebloom?” “Who is th… Scootaloo, that you?” “Yeah.” “Well why are ya callin’ so late at night?” “I need you to do me a favor. This is really important to me.” “Is it an emergency?” “Kind of, Sweetiebell isn’t doing so well right now. I made her really upset and I need you to come over and stay the night and keep an eye on her.” “How bad is she? Is she gonna be ok?” “She’s going to be all right, but I need to go somewhere, and I don’t want to leave her by herself. She needs a friend right now.” “…” “…” “Ok, I’ll be right there.” “Thank you.”
Rainbow Dash had come along in years. She was legendary. The feats she had performed were surreal. Now that she felt her service to Equestria had been paid time and time again she let herself fall into a time of quiet introspection. It was just her and a few friends. Leave the problems for a younger generation to solve. She had given up her obsession with the Wonderbolts, she outclassed them after all, but more importantly she had abandoned her childishness. She never gave up her drive to be the best though. Rainbow had peaked a little while back and now was on a gentle decline, but she still trained everyday to slow the decay and to prevent the inevitable.
Scootaloo was riding up a rocky mountain trail. She needed to speak with Rainbow Dash, but she wasn’t exactly the easiest to find anymore. Her high beams illuminated the mountainside air and the bright blotches could be seen from miles away. Aside from where her lights shined, there was almost total darkness. Looking up, Scootaloo thought she could see where the tip of the mountain pierced the clouds. Scootaloo had been driving up the side of the mountain for over an hour now, not having slept since leaving Sweetie at their home. The trail suddenly jutted left, and without having time to turn, she dropped her and her bike to the side and skidded to a stop, narrowly avoided falling off the abrupt edge. Her hind left leg was scraped and bleeding and her motorcycle was scratched to all hell. I’m sorry bud, I don’t mean to be so mean to you, so just bare with me. She wasn’t even shaken by her near-fall. In all actuality she was more relaxed than she had been before. All of her worries had escaped her for that split second. She clambered back on her bike and kept trudging her way up the mountain.
When she finally made it to the top it was 4:00 AM. It wasn’t till an hour later when Rainbow Dash flew up to the same spot in order to start her morning training. She was surprised to find Scootaloo half asleep and half mounted on her bike. “Scootaloo, what are you doing up here?”
“Wa… huh?” Scootaloo proceeded to fall off her bike in the most uncharacteristic way possible. She recovered as quickly as she could. “Rainbow Dash, I need to ask you a question.” Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground and took a seat on her rear and gave Scootaloo a nod as a go-ahead to ask her question.
Scootaloo’s face started glowing bright red out of embarrassment for what she was going to say. She choked on the words as she tried to get them out.
“Scoot, I’m gonna start flying soon if you don’t ask.”
Scootaloo closed her eyes. “IS IT OK IF I LIKE SWEETIEBELLE.” She practically screamed it.
Rainbow Dash thought to herself, “Oh dear Celestia.” She didn’t think that Scootaloo was aware of her preferences, and thinking back to her early years, Rainbow Dash certainly didn’t feel like the role model Scootaloo should be consulting. “Why… why are you asking me this?”
Scootaloo had to think to herself for a second. “Well, it’s just, you have always been somepony I looked up to, and what you say will always mean a lot to me. You were the closest thing I ever had to a big sister. You’ve shown me how to live, and you’ve been everything I want to be for as long as I can remember.”
“Scootaloo, I use to have heroes too, and you learn to stop crutching yourself on them. I have never been that perfect of a pony.” Rainbow Dash regretted creating a false impression on Scootaloo, this idea she was something worthy of worship.
“You can pretend like you are an awful pony but I'm not gonna buy that for a freakin' second.”
Scootaloo stared desperately into the jaded crimson. I don’t care if you aren’t perfect. You are my hero and always will be.
Rainbow took a deep breath. “Scootaloo, love can be beautiful no matter what it is, or who it is between, but it is up to you to make it beautiful.”
“Love, once set down, takes shape and grows wings But, through metamorphosis, it can grow to do malicious things When an angel from heaven is thrown, it then will choose To be consumed by hate, or find a heart to take refuge If not, no one is safe from what the harbinger brings Unless the purest of devotion intervenes And begets the breeze so the bells and chimes may ring And from this heart-song, gently sing”
~An Old Zebra Rhyme
Sweetie Belle couldn’t bring herself to get up out of bed. After she regained consciousness she continually assured herself that last night’s events had never happened. Never even happened. It didn’t change much. She heard the sound of a door cracking open and could see the light coming into the room through her closed eyelids.
“Hey girl, you wana get up yet? I have some breakfast for ya down here if you wana come eat.” The voice paused. “We can just sit and talk.”
Sweetie Belle was trying her hardest to seem asleep. Trying. Kept trying.
Apple Bloom decided to give up for the time being. She wasn’t going to force her friend out of her comfort zone yet. She shut the door softly, trying her best to be considerate.
That left Sweetie Belle waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting for what? Nothing was changing. Minutes and hours past before the stagnancy was broken by the sound of the front door of the house opening and closing. Soft murmurs were exchanged downstairs, but Sweetie Belle couldn’t make out the words. The stairs started to gently creak. Sweetie’s heart was pounding. She shut her eyes as tight as she could. There were screams shooting off inside her head.
She never even heard the door open.
“Sweetie Belle.”
It was her voice. Sweetie Belle couldn’t ignore it. It was confident and calm. Sweetie felt that Scootaloo deserved to be able to look her in the eyes and that she was obligated to listen to what Scootaloo had to say. Sweetie’s eyes opened to see Scoot hovering in front of her, her face entirely unreadable, but wide-eyed and observant. Sweetie Belle let her eyes trail over Scootaloo’s glossy-orange coat which was illuminated by the lone crack of light that reached into the room. Sweetie’s cringing came to a halt, but her quivering continued.
Scootaloo confidently moved her face closer to Sweetie Belle, which caused Sweetie Belle to flinch and close her eyes tight. Scoot confidently followed her back and landed a gentle kiss on Sweetie Belle’s muzzle. Suddenly, all she could think about was Scootaloo’s soft, warm breath. Sweetie cracked her eyes open to see that Scootaloo was still right in front of her, staring intently with her deep, magenta eyes.
“Sweetie Belle, I love you too.”
Sweetie’s initial reaction was bewilderment, followed shortly by the blissful realization that her worries could be put to rest. Feelings of relief began to shoot rapidly through all parts of her body. The tightness in her chest began to absolve and her limbs began to relax. She managed to keep her friend while gaining a lover.
“There… is everything better?” Scootaloo blushed and looked around awkwardly. Now that the crisis had been resolved, Scootaloo didn’t really know what to do with herself. On the other hand, Sweetie Belle swelled up with happiness at the sound of Scootaloo trying to express concern. She found her embarrassment to be positively adorable. Sweetie Belle let out a little giggle and nodded up and down.
“Well, that’s good, because I really think we should talk this over, like, I don’t know about you but I really don’t know how all of this works, and I sure as hell don’t know what Celestia is going to think when I write to her and tell her I learned a whooolllleeee lot about what friendship ca…”
“Shut up, you,” Sweetie giggled as she reached her forelegs around Scootaloo’s neck and pulled her in tight. When Sweetie Belle’s lips touched hers, Scootaloo’s eye bulged and her face lit up like a lava lamp. Unfortunately, Sweetie Belle had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.
“Tonight’s the night, dun dun dun DUN.” Scootaloo was singing harshly into a mirror. “Tonight’s the nigh-ie-ie-ie-ight.” Let’s bucking do this shit YEAH! “Early in the morning at the break of day she used to sleep until the afternoon. If you never saw her rainbow well I guess you won’t too soooooon. Now ponies let me tell you, it sent a chill up and down my spine. When I picked up the phone, and heard that she died, out on the Mane Fliiigghht.” Neil Young’s colt-classic had never sounded so good.
“Tonight’s the night, dun dun dun DUN.”
“Tonight’s the night.” Sweetie snuck up behind Scoot and started filling in the higher registers. Scootaloo was entirely oblivious to the fact for a good thirty seconds. She was… rather absorbed in her own antics.
“Oh… eh-eh, hey Sweetie.”
“Hey Scooty. Big night tonight? Or at least it sounds like it.” Sweetie Belle walked up to the mirror beside Scootaloo. “Someone is a little giiiiddddyy.” She savored the word. Scootaloo blushed a little, but not as much as she would have a week prior. She found herself feeling more and more comfortable around Sweetie, which meant Sweetie had to work harder to get her fill of adorable, self-conscious Scootaloo.
“Sorry, I was just trying to get my mind right.” Ponyville was the final stop on the Equestrian Freestyle Motocross Tour. Despite it being Scootaloo’s first year competing, she was sitting solidly at second place, being trumped only by the circuit’s 5-year reigning champ, Sterling Kicks. In Scootaloo’s mind she was picturing how she would be slaughtering the competition. That unicorn would be crushed: fan-fillies would cry, teetering married couples would divorce, and brimstone would rain from Cloudsdale. Brimstone would probably even rain on Cloudsdale. Most importantly of all, Sterling would be so impressed by this rookie that she would kindly ask her to go out for a few drinks, to which Scootaloo would decline in dramatic fashion to go get smashed on cider with Sweetie Belle… or perhaps Sweetie might suggest that Sterling come along as well, and then after a night of celebrating the spirit of competition by raising their blood alcohol content… well, the possibilities were endless. First, though, it started with crushing Sterling in the world of somewhat organized sports.
Scootaloo had been staring at herself determinedly in the mirror for three minutes while contemplating the events that would soon unfold. Sweetie had been staring at Scootaloo from the side, growing more concerned and disturbed with each passing moment. “Anywayssss, shouldn’t we be going? You said something earlier about wanting to be there what is now eight minutes ago…”
“Don’t chu belittle me.” Scoot was still having a rather serious moment in her head.
“I’m always so surprised and proud of you when you use complicated words like that,” Sweetie said playfully. She stared at Scoot with her biggest and most innocent expression possible. Scootaloo began to disengage from her serious mode, but Sweetie knew Scoot wasn’t going to relax until the deed was done.
“If you weren’t so adorable…”
“Heyyyyy I love you too, but be safe for me please. Recently you’ve been scraped up everywhere, and even though we’ve had a lot of practice falling from about every type of thing imaginable, I don’t want come back with you broken.” Zip lines. Scoot thought she could see an honest fear brooding in her eyes.
“I promise I will be safe.” Scoolatloo kissed Sweetiebelle and made every effort to put her at ease. “Promise.” But sometimes stupid things have to be done.
“Pony guys and gals, our next and undoubtedly incredible performer for the Big Air is none other than Sterling Kicks, the unicorn hailing from Canterlot and the presiding motocross freestyle champion. Hold on to your seats kiddos, this is going to be wild!” The speaker system blared, even into the depths of the holding area. The gigantic lights outside illuminating the track made it almost impossible to see outside.
The first event of the night, the freestyle, which was composed of a course holding various small to medium sized ramps, was already over. Scootaloo had let the chicken out of the bag, so to speak, by utilizing her wings to incorporating 360’s into her routine that had yet to see the big screen. But, in the spirit of fair competition, pegasus who chose not ride with wing binds face a harsher grading process, while unicorns are required to wear a magic nullification seal. Stacked on top of this was the predominately Earthpony-based population of Ponyville that has a slight history of rioting (as well as tarring and feathering judges that make poor decisions). Anyways, the whole process is subjective and opinionated, and although though it could have been argued from an omniscient standpoint that Scootaloo’s performance was technically (although certainly visually) superior, she still found herself trailing behind Sterling by a measly two points.
Sterling Kicks began moving out of the staging area. In the darkness, Scootaloo could have sworn that Sterling had glanced back at her before making her way into the blinding light. Once Sterling passed over, Scootaloo felt like she was being drawn out as well. She left the side of her bike, wanting to peak out into the light. Her eyes squinted as she pushed her way into the illuminating wall.
Sterling was there in front of her. Her uniform and motorcycle were a monotone white-silver, except for her helmet’s black eye shield and the black magic seal that covered her horn. Her whole body was still. The motorcycle maintained its balance despite the lack of hooves on the ground. Sterling began to gently rev on the bike. The noises of the crowd couldn’t reach them. The bike let out another rev. Sterling was moving.
She ascended the ramp, almost as if she was being pulled towards the heavens. Scootaloo had been up and off the ramp a hundred times before, but at this moment the ramp seemed insurmountable, infinite, and unforgiving. Sterling climbed until parting ways at the tiptop. Letting go of the handle bar, Sterling let her hind legs slide beneath the handles while she lay back across seat and extended her front hooves out past her head. She held this position as she began to dip back. A shutter of fear was felt unanimously throughout the crowd as everypony watched the lone airborne unicorn. Simply watching her relinquish her grip was enough for the crowd to experience the sensation of chaotic freefall.
Sterling held this position up to the last second before finishing her back flip and landing. After that, there wasn’t any question as to Sterling’s true nature: cold, calculative, and certain. If she hadn’t projected these qualities before, she certainly did now. This shook Scootaloo’s confidence in an unprecedented way. Sizing herself up to Sterling no longer seemed possible. She was a monster.
The judges sat for the longest time, visibly shaken by what they had seen and unable to present a score. Slowly they managed to come to a decision.
9.0, 9.5, 9.5. Two points. Two points to make. “Wow, that was… uh… unbelievable.” The announcer stumbled for his words. “And uh… the next rider…Ponyville’s very own star…” 10, 10, 10. Losers lose and winners win. “Scootaloo!” Ain’t no one going to take this from me. Scootaloo called over one of the staff ponies. “And what’s this? Ladies and gentlecoats, do we have a show for you! Scootaloo has requested the wing binds.” Not some damn fancy-prancy unicorn. “If there was ANY chance that something could top that last performance, this is gonna be IT!”
Scoot knew to a high degree of certainty that she might never be able to defeat her. No. But you can’t let that stop you. No. You have to lie to yourself. No. You have to keep trying. I will never. Keep striving to earn your mark. I will never let her. Trying until this is all I have the moment is big enough.
Under the weight of it all, Scootaloo’s perception of time and space dragged and flashed. As Scootaloo was approaching the ramp she had already envisioned her flight, but before she could remember ascending the ramp she was already in the air. One down and one to go. She completed her first back flip, but the second wouldn’t come as quickly as the first. Time began to slow again in a manner that felt all too familiar. The air felt thick as ink. Her acceleration down began to exponentially decay with the halting of time. Her spinning ceased entirely. Scootaloo had nowhere to look but down. Despite the lights that flooded the stadium there was a distinct darkness beneath her. Here I am again. She moved ever closer. If she reached the ground. When I touch. Time would reach its end. I will still be falling. And in her dying moments. Falling forever.
She would experience infinity.
Just like before. The voice was no longer her own. You will remember.
You are ageless.
Scootaloo was breathing again. Opening her eyes she saw the ground less than an inch below her. The air was alive again with chatter and panic. Looking around, Scootaloo saw Sterling Kicks just a few meters away from her, helmet off, channeling what looked like some type of levitation magic. Looking up at her hind legs, Scootaloo realized she was the thing being suspended. Sterling set her down gently. As Scootaloo sat up she thought she could hear Sweetie Belle calling for her. Everything went black.
“I’m not entirely sure I can believe that she isn’t hurt at all. What kind of freaking diagnosis is that supposed to be? Should I be wholly satisfied with that and just walk out?”
“Ma’am, like I said before, the scans seem to indicate that she didn’t experience any kind of concussion, and as you said yourself, she never hit the ground.”
“So WHAT then? Ponies that are ok don’t lose consciousness for sixteen hours. You mean to tell me that is NORMAL?”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that there is nothing conclusive that can be drawn from our medical examinations and there is nothing more we can do for her. She seems to be fine right now, but if that changes we are always willing to bring her back in for more tests.”
“… What am I supposed to do then…”
“I think you should be thankful that Scootaloo is doing alright as of now. Also, if the feeling in your gut is telling you something is certainly wrong then go get another perspective on it. It is a wild and magical world, and I’ll be darned if I can say that traditional medicine is always that answer. If you would like I can refer you to some of my old colleagues who are more diversified than me. ”
“… I’m going to take you advice, but I won’t need any references though. Thank you Doctor…”
The night breeze was pressing loudly against the second story window. The white unicorn buried her muzzle in Scootaloo’s disheveled purple mane and let her horn rest gently on the back of Scoot’s head. Sweetie Belle had just returned from the hospital earlier that evening with her orange pegasus. Sweetie imaged that something about the accident had left Scoot perturbed. After a crash, Scootaloo normally sits on her hospital cot with a pouty face while a handful of doctors restrain her and try to get x-rays. And afterwards, she usually won’t shut up about how awesome it was. Sweetie Belle reassured herself that it made sense for Scootaloo to be exhausted by the whole ordeal, but her gut was telling her something was amiss.
She pulled herself in tighter to her lover, who seemed miles and miles away. Cuddling was still something entirely novel to the two, but tonight their bedroom would not be filled with giggling and sickly-sweet chatter. Sweetie listened for Scootaloo’s breathing, which was barely audible and inconsistent. Sweetie figured that Scootaloo was awake beside her but wallowing in deep thought and reluctant to speak.
“Scoot” she whispered “I know it might seem kind of silly, but I’m worried about you. Talk to me a little. Tell me I don’t have anything to worry about.”
The sound of the outside wind filled the air. Scootaloo shifted in the bed a little, but said nothing. Sweetie Belle gently kissed below her ear and decided to call it quits for tonight. A little bit of time can do wonders for most problems.
“And then I decided that the only way I could beat her was to go for the double backflip and obviously I had never managed to land it before but I wasn’t scared so the fact that I was putting myself in a position of potentially high personal risk didn’t matter.” Scootaloo took a huge breath. “Did you see how close I was to landing it though? I know Sterling probably thinks she is top pony but whatever I almost made HISTORY. Could you have imagined that?” She spread her hooves across the sky as she envisioned her name filling it up in bright lights.
Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Sweetie Belle all sat around the backyard patio table, nibbling on breakfast and listening to Scootaloo tell her story. The group had come unannounced to pay Scootaloo a visit following her release from the hospital. Sweetie had scrambled to put some food out for the bunch.
“Not to burst your bubble Scoot but you were a little further away from sticking the double back than you remember,” Sweetie Belle said with a forced chuckle.
“Really? It really seemed like I almost had it…” Scootaloo closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
Sweetie was surprised that Scoot had taken her word as true without contest.
“What about yer’ little episode?” Applejack interjected. “What did the doctors say?”
“Well… umm.” Scootaloo shrugged and glanced over at Sweetie, looking for a little help.
“The doctors couldn’t come to a definitive conclusion, but I’m just happy that Scoot isn’t broken” Sweetie said with a slightly forced smile. The way Scootaloo was acting last night was still heavy on her mind, but her rapid improvement allowed Sweetie to breathe a little easier. Sweetie hadn’t had a chance to talk to Scootaloo in private this morning, and the crowd of ponies left Sweetie feeling like she was more separated from Scoot than she had ever been. They couple hadn’t really brought up how they were going to come out (only Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash were in the know), so for the time being they were stuck playing pretend.
“Sooooo you’re all better then Scootaloo?” Pinkie inquired as she raised one eyebrow inquisitively.
“I guess you could say that, yeah. I feel good as new.” Scootaloo rested her hooves behind her head and leaned back, trying to portray a strong aura of confidence.
“Sooooo it is possible that this is a time worthy of rejoicing?”
“Pinkie” Twilight said sternly.
“Yeah I guess so…” Scoot responded.
“Sooooo what you are saying is that…”
“Pinkie” Twilight interrupted, to no avail.
“… we should probably throw a party in celebration of your good health?”
“Pinkie we had this discussion before about how sometimes you can’t just go throwing parties for every small event that…”
“DID SOMEONE SAY PARTY?” Pinkie Pie launched into the air. Upon returning to earth she was wearing a conical party hat. “Ohhhhh I’m so glad you are all better and I know everyone else is to if you want we can throw the party here and I can invite all your old filly friends and OH I could get the mayor to invite EVERYONE and then we can play games like…”
“It’s ok Twilight, I got chu’ on this one.” Applejack pressed her forehead into Pinkie’s side and began to push her away from the residence.
As Applejack left with Pinkie, Sweetie asked Twilight “do you think you could stay for a bit after everyone makes their way off? There is something I’d appreciate if you helped us with.”
Before Twilight could respond, Apple Bloom began trotting off in the direction of her sister and yelled “I ain’t gonna hassle y’all too long. I’m sure you galls need a little privacy.” Apple Bloom’s snickering caught Rarity’s attention. Recently, Rarity had felt that her younger sister had been keeping something from her, and she was determined to find out what, not out of the interest of gossip (or so she told herself), but for the good of the family. Rarity often observed Sweetie Belle staring at Scootaloo with such longing and concern. Sweetie shouldn’t be afraid to tell her anything.
“Spike and I have an embroidering class to teach, so I’ll leave you three to your own devices. Also, Sweetie Belle, if it isn’t too much to ask, please drop by so we can catch up on things. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to just chat with my little sister, you are always so busy.”
“Mhmmm I’ll be sure to do that sis’” Sweetie said to Rarity. Turning back to Twilight she asked once again “would you be able to stay a bit and maybe help us out?”
“Certainly, Sweetie Belle!” Twilight said in a chipper voice. “But,” she continued “I’m not really sure how useful I’m going to be in giving you medical advice if the doctors weren’t able to help.” Scootaloo was also a bit curious as to what Sweetie Belle had in mind.
“Well, I was thinking,” Sweetie stammered a little. Scootaloo had show so much improvement that Sweetie felt like what she was about to say was going to sound like an overreaction. “Maybe the problem isn’t medical, and it is more, um, magical?” She gave a sheepish grin while she waited for Twilight’s input. Out of the corner of her eye, Sweetie noticed Scootaloo seemingly zoned-out, staring into nothing.
“Um, maybe you are over-reacting a bit?” Twilight’s presence forced Scootaloo out of the corner of her eye. “I understand if what happened wasn’t too coherent, but I haven’t noticed anything extraordinary about the situation.”
“It is just that, Scoot, the doctors said you had no idea what had happened and you were mumbling about some strange stuff overnight, right? And I know you’re a Pegasus but we don’t know who your parents are, maybe you’re part unicorn?” You must feel like quite the silly pony now. Sweetie Belle’s attempts to garner support didn’t seem to be working.
“I think Twilight is probably right,” Scoot agreed. “I know it was a little funky, but I mean, c’mon, I was doing some pru-heety crazy shit.” Scoots head bobbed up and down while she grinned to herself, eyes closed.
Twilight thought Sweetie had a bit of a regretful look on her face, and she didn’t want to leave with her feeling like she thought she was being fooling. “Don’t worry Sweetie Belle. I’ve seen ponies make bolder claims on intuition that turned out to be right. Just stay in touch if you notice anything strange. I’m going to head out. You two stay safe.”
“Thank you, Twilight.” Sweetie Belle hated being the worrier, but somepony had to do it.
Sweetie peered into the doors of the shop without knocking. I one corner of the room she saw a large curled mess of purple scales snoozing on a modest pile of scuffed-up and unwanted gems. In the other corner there was an oblivious Rarity, calmly reorganizing today’s unused fabrics and miscellaneous materials.
“Hey sis’” Sweetie Belle softly spoke into the air to announce her presence.
“Hello darling little sister” Rarity replied without glancing back.
“Why don’t you have spike doing any work? If you let him sleep and eat gems all day he’s just gonna get fat again.” Taking a look at Spike, it was hard to image he was ever a tubby little dragon at all. He was about twice the size of an average pony, and even when he slept his muscles were taut and intimidating. Spike never did grow to be a giant terror. The lack of avarice stunted his growth, but, with the help of Twlight’s horrifying training regiment, Spike became as dangerous as any other dragon, but without the collateral. Hearing his name, Spike began to stretch and make his way towards the door. He had given up on walking upright a long time ago, and now his movement was more akin to that of a jungle cat.
“I’ma go out for a bit Rare” Spike said. Sweetie thought that it was strangely arbitrary of him.
“Did I say something I shouldn't have?” Sweetie asked right after she heard Spike fly off.
“No no, not at all. I had actually asked him to give us a small time alone.” This made Sweetie Belle’s brow rise just a wee bit. “Actually,” Rarity continued, “I was wondering if I might ask you some questions about Scootaloo and you.”
“What kind of questions?” At this point, Sweetie Belle was giving Rarity a stare of the most dubious manner.
“Well, the parents were wondering”, which to Sweetie certainly sounded like a cop out, “with a mare as pretty as yourself with such a nice voice and with an adorable cult following…” Rarity paused, carefully planning her inquiry, “why haven’t you found a nice boyfriend? I’m sure there are plenty of willing…”
Sweetie had already had enough. “I remember mom and dad wondering why the prettiest pony in Ponyville is riding into her thirties without reeling in a single catch. In fact, I think everyone finds it pretty dubious as to what she is doing flying around with her purple lap-dragon all day every day.” Sweetie Belle was no longer facing her sister. ”I personally suspect you gotta give a dragon a bit more than mottled gemstones for him to agree to wear such a tight chain.”
Rarity knew that Sweetie wasn’t attacking her on a personal level and that is was more of a defensive reaction to her invasive questioning, albeit uncalled for. “Sweetie Belle”, Rarity addressed her sternly “I’m not making accusations towards you, I just want to let you know that I have my reasons for assuming what it is that I assume and that you shouldn’t be so immature as to assume that your own sister would have anything against it.”
Sweetie wasn’t so much worried about how Rarity would react, but was more annoyed and embarrassed by the manner which Rarity invaded her own private life under the assumption that it was what was best for her. “I do love Scootaloo” she said quietly. Her words bounced around in the stillness of the room. Rarity would have had to learn someday anyways. “If that is all you really wanted to hear,” Sweetie motioned towards the door.
“We could exchange other pleasantries if you’d like, but I just wanted you to know your big sis will always love you.” Everything had gone about as well as Rarity could have hoped for. She found solace knowing she had reached out to her a sister in a positive manner and reaffirmed their family bond. There is no other love like that between two sisters.
“SPPIIIIKEEEE you can come give Rarity some of your SWEET DRAGON LOVING now!”
Rarity hurled six pairs of heels at the door with her magic. She was hoping at least one made solid contact. Modest bruising would be ideal. She listened to Sweetie giggle as she made her way around the outside of the shop. No other love like it. Her brow began to relax and a smile returned to her face. Rarity laid down at the front of her boutique, directed her ears to the sky, and listened for the heavy beat of his wings.
“Completely filling the palace concert hall It’s warm and golden like an oven that’s wide open It has melody both happy and sad Built on victorious young triads You enter the room with great caution Thought no one in hall is even watching They are transfixed, they are forgetting just to breath They are so taken by your symphony… “
~Cake
“Scootaloo… why are you such a problem child.” “Maybe my parents raised me wrong…” “Well I had figured if you’d been on your own for so long you’d at least be able to put on your own clothes.” “HEY YOU watch what you are prodding at!” “If you don’t like how I’m doing you can put this on yourself” “Why should I have to dress up at all? It’s not my freaking show!” “You have to put this on because last week you said you would come, and if you don’t dress up they aren’t going to let you on… I thought you wanted to go so you could drink and play slots all night…” “I dooo want to drink and play slots all night, but I shouldn’t have to wear this prissy dress to do it.” “Don’t fight the dress. Scootaloo, stop fighting it… stop.”
“Your name ma’am?” the unicorn asked. He was dressed from head to hoof in fancy staff attire.
“Sweetie Belle” she chirped.
“Ahh, of course. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He gave a modest bow. “I hope that you will find tonight’s accommodation’s enjoyable. The River Dolphin is fully staffed tonight and the buffet and bars are all free.” Scootaloo’s pupils widened. “Also, do not forget to check out the casino. I am most certain you find something that suits your fancy.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are very welcome.” The unicorn turned to look at Scootaloo. “And your name… uh,” the older unicorn took a second to compose himself. “Your name, please?”
“Its Scootaloo.”
The unicorn peered down at the long list of names in front of him. His coattails dragged on the ground and he shifted uneasily, back and forth. He wanted her name to be on the roll of parchment but he simply could not find it.
“Her name won’t be on the list I’m afraid” Sweetie Belle said very forwardly. “I was told that I could bring a guest… this won’t be a problem, will it?”
The unicorn gave Scootaloo another once-over. She was wearing a short purple dress with two pairs of matching studs, a set for each ear. Her mane was wild as always, but it had clearly received a great deal of artistic attention to bring it to its current state. Scootaloo relaxed her wings and let them shimmer in the river lights, just like Sweetie had told her to do earlier.
He had been specifically instructed to only allow those on the list in, and no one else. “I’m sure tonight’s host would be… delighted to have you on board.”
The two mares giggled as they ran up the wooden docking ramp onto the riverboat casino. “Maybe Rarity made the dress a little too well… you almost gave that old pony a heart attack!” Sweetie Belle couldn’t controller her smiling as she gave Scootaloo a discrete kiss on the cheek.
“Heya… you gotta watch it with that,” Scootaloo squeeked.
“Maybe I can’t resist the dress either,” teased Sweetie.
“Well don’t get used to it. I’m no prima donna.” Scootaloo looked at the dress she was wearing in disgust. She then made a few exaggerated adjustments.
Sweetie placed a hoof in front of her muzzle and snickered. The week had been unsettling for Sweetie Belle, but for the first time in a long while Sweetie finally felt that she could breathe easy. Scootaloo was being Scootaloo. Tonight was going to be fun. She could feel it.
Initially, Scootaloo figured the pony addressing her was a waiter looking to attend to her drinking needs. When she looked away from the stage she was disappointed to see that it was a young gentlecolt who had apparently taken a fancy to her.
“I’m doing fine” Scootaloo gave a fake smile. “This is something special, eh?” She hadn’t anticipated that anypony would come and talk to her if she just stayed to herself. That’s rich folk for ya, always coming to socialize… why is everyone staring?
“It really is,” the young unicorn replied. “My father bought out this whole riverboat for the night to host this party for wonderful ponies such as you.” Surprisingly, Scootaloo didn’t find his haughtiness to be too overwhelming, but she was in no way interested in trying to fake conversation with him. “The name’s Andrew, might I have yours?”
“Umm, it’s Scootaloo. Very nice to meet you.” She stared intently at the stage, trying her best to seem uninterested.
“Ah, I see you can’t wait for the performance to start. I’m assuming you are a fan of Sweetie Belle?”
“Actually she’s my best friend, and probably the only reason I was allowed on here,” Scootaloo admitted. It felt nice to say the truth. Scootaloo hoped that by breaking any façade of aristocracy that Andrew might be less inclined to continue interacting with her.
“Really now? You will most certainly have to introduce me to her after the performance.”
“Sure, why not?” Just as she finished saying this, the lights in the showroom began to dim. Sweetie stepped out from the back of the stage and past her menagerie of accompanying instrumentalists.
“Good evening everypony. I’m glad you could all make it out this evening, and I’m also thankful, as I’m sure you all are, for Mr. Carnegie hosting this event. Please enjoy.”
The room had grown silent the brief moment, but soon filled again with soft chatter. “What a charming lady she is. You are very fortunate for knowing her,” commented Andrew.
“You’re telling me, kid,” Scootaloo blurted haphazardly. “Ehem,” she blushed, “pardon my, um, lack of formalities.” A gentle snare rapping came from the stage pair coupled with the soft plucking of an acoustic guitar. Scootaloo redirected her attention to the stage. Sweetie Belle started to sing.
“I waited till I saw the sun
Don’t know why I didn’t come
I left you by the house of fun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
Don’t know why I didn’t come”
I’d love for you to come.
“When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling against the wall
Catching teardrops as they fall”
Please look at me while you singing.
Scootaloo got her wish. When Sweetie picked Scootaloo out of the crowd and locked eyes with her, Scoot felt a pang of love rip through her body. She couldn’t believe what was happening. It was too wonderful.
My heart is drenched in wine
But you’ll be on my mind
For
Ever”
The next two hours were a haze to Scootaloo. When the lights began to un-dim, she looked around to find that Andrew had left, probably a while ago. Scootaloo kinda remembered him trying to talk to her during the show, but responding didn’t seem all so important at the time. Sweetie Belle hopped off the stage and started walking towards Scootaloo.
“You doing ok?” Sweetie asked. “I saw you conversationally stiff-hoof that one guy.”
“Yeah, he’s actually Carnegie’s son, and he seemed pretty excited to meet you.” Scootaloo scanned the showroom for him.
“Well, seeing as I have no more singer obligations for tonight, perhaps you would like to go hit up the bar before he comes looking for me?”
Scootaloo loved the sound of that idea. “I will lead the way” Scoot said, instilled with the timeless determination of a thousand suns.
“Whhattaa mean that the slots aren’t free?!?” “Ma’am I…” “Looky here pal, the food is free, the booze is free, and you’re telling me that just because I’m out of bits that suddenly I am no longer entitled to the pleasures of this here boat? You know what? I know the son of the guy that bought this place out for tonight, how about I go have a word with him, aye?” “Ma’am, I do not have to put up with this childish behavior.” “What seems to be the fuss over here?” “It seems this pegasus has run out of bits.” “Heyyy, you look like the kinda colt who wouldn’t miss a few bits. You think that you could find it in your heart to lend this pretty lady some coins? I’ll pay you back double. I swear, I’m like, realllyyyyy good at slots.”
“Yo Scotch, we need another batch of tomato brushettas,” yelled the head cater chef. “Those rich fuckers throw up in the stalls and then keep coming back for food.”
“Gotcha gotcha,” Scotch yelled. He was a young earth pony and a recent hire-on brought aboard specifically for this party. Where do they keep the extra loaves again? He opened up a few draws and cabinets before deciding to head to the back pantry closet. He could hear some movement inside, and as he opened the door he saw a two mares, both very beautiful, young, and intoxicated, making out on the floor. It took a while before either of them noticed him staring at them.
“Oh, hey there”, said that white one on top when she came around. She fumbled around for a few seconds before tossing a small purse bag that spilled with bit coins when it landed by Scotch’s hooves. “If you don’t say a word, you can keep all of that.” She made a pointing gesture with her hoof at the bag before resuming where she had left off with the orange pegasus underneath her.
Out of courtesy, Scotch closed the door for the two. He yelled back to the kitchen “Sorry boss, we are all out of the little bread loaves.”
You can’t have her, I won’t let you take her from me!
Scootaloo was not with Sweetie Belle.
You fucking monster do not take a step closer!
The hellish figure continued to encroach on her. The ground was left charred and burned where it stepped. It bled profusely from the gashes on its legs and body.
Scootaloo peered off the edge of the nightmare plateau. She didn’t think there was a bottom.
You fucking monster…
She was crying. The being’s steps fell closer and closer. She could not look at its face. Scootaloo peered back over the ledge. She turned back, screaming as loud as she could. She hacked and wheezed from trying to scare this demon back. But it would not yield.
Nearly paralyzed, she pulled herself over the side and fell. To her dismay, so did the demon. She could feel it coming. It was falling towards her. It was screaming into her brain. She covered her ears and closed her eyes. She could not fall fast enough. She so dearly prayed, prayed to be bashed lifeless against the earth… killed before this monster would reach her. It snagged her wings in its jaws.
“Scootaloo?”
She opened her eyes to the image of a messy-maned Sweetie Belle lit by the afternoon light that filled their bedroom. Scootaloo hugged her and began to gently kiss her face.
“Hey what’s all this about” Sweetie said, half jokingly. “Why are you trembling like that?”
“It’s just… last night I realized… how much you mean to me.” She kept her eyes closed to try and hide the fact that she was crying.
You see yourself descending from the building to the ground You watch the sky receding
And you spin to see the traffic rising up And it’s so quiet
And you’re surprised and then you wake
…
In one of these dreams
You forgive me
It makes me think of:
The bad decisions that keep you at home How could anyone else have changed? All of these
Wrong conclusions that leave you alone How could everyone rearrange?
How could everyone else have changed? What I see
I believe…”
~Counting Crows
“Are you sure you don’t wana wait a little longer? “ “You’ve been keeping me off my bike for the last month. I’m not just gonna sit around and become complete shit at the only thing I’m any good at.” “Scootaloo, I just don’t want you getting hurt. We never figured out what happened.” “Nothing is wrong with me! I’ve been just fine for the last three weeks and you’ve just been sitting here and worrying about nothing.” “You tell me what is wrong with you then! I guess will find out after we inspect the contents of your skull after you bash it open!” “I don’t have to fucking listen to this. I’m going.” “…”
Sweetie Belle started walking. She didn’t know of a better way vent her angst and she didn’t feel like brooding in her room alone. She made her way to the dark edge of the Everfree Forest. Perhaps it wasn't the safest place to be near, but the most evil things had been eradicated or they had fled to some dark corner of the earth. Even still, the Everfree maintained an alluring and dangerous beauty.
While walking along its edges, Sweetie was startled to see Fluttershy pop-out of the tree line wearing a small satchel stuffed with something she must have foraged from the Everfree.
“Sweet Celestia you scare the ever flippin’ daylights outa me Fluttershy!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “What is so important that you have to get it out of the Everfree at night?”
“I’m sorry I didn't mean to startle you. Twilight asked me to pick some Evening Primrose, but I needed to pick the flowers when they were blooming, and they only bloom at night.”
The pair starting walking together. Fluttershy probably doesn’t have anything to be afraid of in the Everfree anyways.
“Sweetie Belle, what is it that you are doing out here at night? You and Scootaloo aren't fighting, are you?”
What does she mean me and Scootaloo?
Fluttershy could see that Sweetie Belle seemed a bit nervous and confused. “Oh, I’m sorry. Rainbow Dash told me that you and Scootaloo were, um, together.” Although Sweetie Belle figured there was no harm in it, she still felt there had been a slight violation of trust.
“We are fighting, I guess. Scootaloo took off on her bike and I just… I don’t know.”
“I understand that feeling. Rainbow and I used to fight sometimes.”
“What do you mean you and Rainbow.” Do you mean what I’m thinking you mean?
“Oh, I suppose you don’t know. Rainbow Dash and I are together, too.” Her face grew a little red. “It isn't something we advertise a whole lot.”
Sweetie Belle felt like she had just become part of a rather exclusive group, and it made her feel slightly uncomfortable. At the same time though, she felt her slight anger towards Rainbow Dash completely dissolve. “I can understand that.” Sweetie chuckled uneasily. She still found the topic very strange to talk openly about. “Next thing you know Spike and Rarity will be an item.” Sweetie laughed a little at her own joke.
“You know, Rarity and Spike are actually a couple.”
“That’s…” Sweetie felt sick.
“The stallion Rarity was seeing before had cheated on her. You might not know it, but Spike truly loves her more than anyone. I think he is the greatest thing that has ever happened to her.
Sweetie Belle’s stomach lurched. “Oh gosh…” She thought a few weeks back. “I was so rude.” Sweetie felt guiltier and guiltier as the pair walked among the insect nightlights and the boundless ponderings of other restless creatures. “I always treated it like such a funny joke… she always played along.” She sniffled. How can I be such an insensitive clutz. “I’m just getting to the part of my life where acceptance is important, and I've been so abusive towards her.”
“Sweetie Belle, don’t be so hard on yourself. You can always tell Rarity as soon as you get the chance. She is your sister and she isn’t going anywhere.” The pony spoke with a quiet confidence.
She’s been to bed with him. Her brain sagged in her skull The mare and the dragon and the mare and the mare and thoughts of sex clogged her mind. Why was I so angry with her I love my sister I love spike.
“Sweetie.”
She looked at Fluttershy through a film of tears.
“We are all a little messed up.” Fluttershy gently placed her head against Sweetie’s neck. “Scootaloo is probably feeling something similar, something she doesn’t understand.”
“You’re right…” her voice was lost: taken trail to wind within the Everfree.
“How… how did you and R-Rainbow Dash,” Sweetie stuttered. “Why did it work?”
Fluttershy thought back and back. “Well,” she started, “Rainbow Dash and I go further back than any of the other element. I think part of it comes from how much time we shared as fillies. We didn’t have any sisters or brothers to play with, just each other.”
“How did it start… who asked who? If I’m not prying.”
“It’s all right,” Fluttershy reassured, “these things are important to talk about.” She paused for a few seconds. “I told Rainbow Dash I loved her.” Fluttershy’s eyes sunk. “It didn’t go so well.”
“What happened?”
“Rainbow Dash ridiculed me, among other things.”
Sweetie Belle couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Rainbow Dash had built up a wall. She tried to her hide her sexual insecurities from herself.” It was strange hearing something so strictly objective coming from Fluttershy. “I cried and screamed at her and one time.” Fluttershy reflected on her past silently. “One time I hit her. And her wall came crumbling down.”
what the fuck
why are we all so angry
we are not so mad
“That’s why you see us like we are today. Rainbow and I never use to be very much alike, but we’ve mellowed towards a healthier equilibrium” Like two horrendous waves smashing and leaving an ideal tranquility.
Silence struck the pair for a short period.
“Have you two had sex yet?”
Sweetie Belle’s hair visibly perked. She stopped breathing for a few seconds.
“Ahh umm we’ve… we’ve,” she struggled to find the words, “we’ve almost maybe… it’s not as easy for Scootaloo, sometimes I think she doesn’t want to at all.”
“Maybe this could be part of the issue you are having with her. If can’t be open about these things then they can push you further and further apart.”
“I try to talk about them” Sweetie pleaded. “I really do! Scootaloo can be hard to reach sometimes… she gets so distant.”
“Well, I hope you can figure out a way to talk to her about this. Keep trying new ways of communicating with her. If you don’t give up on her then you can make it out of this little rut.”
Sweetie was starting to feel a little better. The problem hadn’t gone away, but it was much clearer.
“Sweetie, this is your road, isn’t it?”
Sweetie looked around. “You’re right.” She broke her position beside Fluttershy. “Thank you for talking with me, and tell Rainbow Dash thank you, too, even though she didn’t really do anything specific, I know she is always there.”
“You are very welcome. I’m sure Scoot will be home in a little bit. Be there for her when she comes home. You can never start too soon.”
And after two nods they parted ways in the night. ________________________________________________________________________
Scootaloo’s bike was running out of gas. She had been riding on any trail. She had graced the branches and leaves on the perimeter trees of the Everfree. She trudged alongside every river, stream, and creek. Her motorcycle maintained a grounded state the entire night. It had chugged and wheezed through the wilderness while Scootaloo’s mind droned to the mechanical noise.
Scootaloo decided their was no sense in avoiding home any longer. She could see the silhouette of the two story house blotting out a small portion of the deep purple sky. All the lights were out. A window had been punched in. It reminded Scootaloo of when she and Sweetie Belle first bought the house. The world has a funny way of coming back to you.
Sweetie Belle abruptly woke from her sleeping. “Scootaloo?” she called out. The walking sounds within her house began so move towards her room. “Scootaloo?” she called a second time, much more nervously. She watched her door open, unable to make out the two figures that came crashing in. The first one ran straight towards her and violently threw her to the floor. The stallion pinned her on the floor and suffocated her with his body. Sweetie Belle gasped for air and violently struck into the darkness, hitting the intruder with her hooves and gashing him with her horn. During their fight, the second intruder came alongside them and began smashing his hooves into Sweetie’s face. She was repeatedly dazed. Warm blood ran all over her face. She stopped fighting and tried to prevent the series of blows.
“That’s right” said the stallion on top her. “You’re not going to fight anymore, and you’re going to exactly what we want you to.”
Sweetie heard a violent crash and horrifying scream.
Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo sprinted up the stairs. She could hear the violence and the struggling coming from their bedroom. When she got there the door was open. As she bolted in, one of the stallions standing beside Scootaloo took noticed and readied himself for a chase and a fight. To his surprise, the pegasus did not stop charging towards him. Scootaloo smashed into him at full force, her hate cascading like a violent storm. His body rag-dolled into the bedroom wall, leaving a crater in the drywall. He bellowed in pain and was left crippled on the ground.
The pony on top of Sweetie Belle turned in dismay towards his disfigured accomplice and then to Scootaloo who was already swinging violently at him. A blow impacted his skull with resounding force and staggered him to the ground. From there, Scootaloo stomped on his throat, crushing his larynx. He weezed, unable to make any other noise. Scootaloo stomped again through his haplessly raised hooves. The intruder stopped moving. Scootaloo stared at his contorted neck until her focus was broken by the sound of soft crying.
“Sweetie Belle,” she said, “let’s get out of this room.” Scootaloo helped her up, but prevented her from looking around the room. “Sweetie, please don’t look. Let’s just go downstairs.” Scootaloo was crying. “I’m so sorry Sweetie I never should have left.”
“It’s ok” Sweetie choked out. Even in the depths of the horror that unfolded in the last hour, she couldn’t have been happier to be with Scootaloo again.
