Sccootaloo starts to see everything turn into a nightmare around her
On Scootaloo's 9Th birthday and after another failed adoption, she starts to experience a real life nightmare. Why is everything turning so nightmarish? Where is Suger Snap? And most importantly, what does this have to do with Scootaloo? She sets out to find answers and along the way she faces her true fears and ultimately, uncover who she really is.
A few days ago I had a whether emotional dream involving Scootaloo, and I just wanted to make a story where after all of her hardships, at the end she'll find happiness. As to why I decided to make this the way it is, I don't know. At any rate hope you enjoy this ride and join Scootaloo on her journey. Also thanks to Hydra for editing and for his help.
Today was a special day for Scootaloo, it was her birthday. She was turning nine and her birthday wish was to be adopted today. Yes Scootaloo is an orphan, but she tries her best to hide it from everypony. The only ponies that knew of her secret were her PFF’s, Applebloom and Sweetiebelle, and her teacher Cheerilee.
Scootaloo was nervous, she saw many foals get adopted over the past few months and even though that made her happy for them, she remained in the orphanage constantly meeting new orphans and saying goodbye to the old. She hated where she lived and she just wanted out. She wanted a home, a mother and father or at least just one. And since this was her birthday her hopes were unusually high, maybe too high...
"Now little foals, remember if you don't get adopted today there's always next time." the Orphanage owner, Sugar Snap, said.
Scootaloo followed the other foals into the meeting room. This was her least favorite part, the adoptive couples would usually show interest in her, before crushing her dreams by choosing another. With so few foals up for adoption today, Scootaloo hoped she could impress a family enough for them to adopt her. Sitting in her normal spot, she waited. It was her birthday, she just had to get adopted.
As the hour passed Scootaloo finally finished her chat with a couple families and was sent back to her seat. Normally every foal got a chance to talk with at least a few families, after a little bit of waiting for the families decide who to take home, the foals chosen are called and meet their new family. But if you're not chosen by anyone then you're just left sitting, until Everyone has deserted the remaining foal. Scootaloo hoped to avoid this for once.
Scootaloo was getting nervous as there were just one family left, and there was only her and another foal left. They both knew only one would get adopted, as they sat nervously glancing at each other. Finally the orphanage owner walking away from the family and towards them, this was it, last chance. They both crossed their hooves and wished and hoped very hard.
"Our last family had made their decision." he said, Scootaloo wished as hard as she could, wishing they chose her.
"They chose to adopt..." Scootaloo was ready to jump up, she just knew it has to be her.
"Archer."
Both Scootaloo and Archer's heads shot up, Archer smiled happily and jumped down and ran towards the family, hugging them. "Wait wha..?" Scootaloo asked, still getting over the shock.
"I'm sorry Scootaloo, but you won't be adopted today. Maybe next month." he told her trying to be comforting, but Scootaloo's eyes just watered up.
"Just forget it!" Scootaloo said to him as she jumped off her seat and started to walk away.
"Now Scootaloo, there's always next time.".
"You always say that." Scootaloo yelled, as he followed her out of the meeting room. "but I’ve been here longer than anyone else.”
“When will it be my time to get adopted?When!?"Scootaloo said, finally breaking down and sobbing into his chest.
Placing a foreleg around the emotional filly, Sugar Snap slowly rocked her back and forth as she cried.
"Please calm down Scootaloo, just because you didn't get adopted this time doesn't mean..."
"But it was my birthday! My birthday wish...why does nopony want me. I...I try to be so nice and, and cheerful bu...but they simply act like I’m invisible every time." Scootaloo said, looking up at the elderly stallion
“I’m sure that’s not true Scootaloo. You are a very special filly and don’t you ever forget that.” he said to her, wiping a tear from her muzzle. “Forget about all this for now. Two fillies dropped this note off today for a certain special, birthday-filly.”
Ears perking up, Scootaloo looked as a small smile crept on the old stallion’s face, like he had shared a delightful secret. Feeling excited she quickly looked over the note before retrieving her helmet from a peg,and giving Sugar Snap a hug before rushing out the door. So lost in her excitement she barrelled into somepony just outside the doorway.
"Ow!" She cried a bit, she looked up to see a stallion wearing a brownest jacket and hat. Like a old detective.
"Please forgive me... seems like you're in a hurry?" the stallion asked.
"I’ve got someplace to be." Scootaloo replied, while getting up and dusting herself off. "Excuse me sir." Scootaloo told the stallion.
Before he could ask another question, Scootaloo grabbed her scooter from beside the doorway and took off. Standing outside the open doorway, the stallion watched as the excited filly zoomed off into the distance.
"Oh, are you the one that sent the letter?" Sugar Snap asked, as the stallion slowly nodded
Zooming along on her scooter, Scootaloo headed over to Sugarcube Corner. After such a disappointing morning she could really use the support of her friends. As she neared the bakery the lights inside started to flicker before shutting off completely. Playing along Scootaloo parked her scooter outside of the bakery doors. As she neared the door she made out the sound of giggling fillies and somepony making lip noises.
“Anypony home. I found this note at home saying to meet-up at Sugarcube Corner.” Scootalo said trying to act confused as she opened the door.
“SURPRISE!” Applebloom, Sweetiebelle, Cheerilee and Rainbow Dash yelled as the lights turned on.
“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she jumped out of hiding “Shoot, missed it by that much.”
“Wow. Thanks everypony.” Scootaloo exclaimed as she looked at all the colorful party decorations and games.
“Enough talking time to par-tah!” Pinkie Pie said as musicstarted to play and confetti rained down from party poppers.
It didn’t take long for Scootaloo to forget her troubles and join her friends in one of her best birthday parties ever. Her and Applebloom bobbed for apples, Sweetiebelle and Cheerilee danced to the music, and Dash helped Pinkie organize the presents. The fun made the time pass quickly as the sun started to descend.
“Scootaloo time to blow out the candles on your cake” Pinkie pie called from upstairs.
“A real cake. This definitely is the best party ever... If only I’d been adopted as well” Scootaloo whispered as a dark shadow passed through her thoughts.
With the sound of tinkling glass, Scootaloo’s surroundings suddenly started to take on a frightening appearance as the wallpaper slowly began to rot and fall away. The sight of it brought forth a primal fear in her as she backed towards the stairwell
“Hurry Scootaloo the candles are melting all over the place.” Sweetiebelle’s voice called from upstairs. Rushing up the stairs in a panic, she nearly tripped over herself when she looked back at the trailing rot.
“Do any of you see that ro...” Scootaloo's voice disappeared at the macabre sight that greeted her. Her cake, was made from the Cakes and all of her friends were messily eating chunks they had torn from the bodies.
“Come join us Scootaloo. Applebloom and Sweetibelle helped Pinkie ice this beautiful cake for your party.” Cheerilee said wiping a spot of blood from her muzzle with a napkin.
Scootaloo didn’t know what to say, what to do. Her idol, Rainbow Dash, bore stitches running down her stomach, Pinkie was happily cutting off various parts of the bodies and the three ponies she trusted most in Equestria were eating the Cakes.
“Not this... anything but this.” Scootaloo choked out as she felt her way back to the stairs.
“That’s a bit rude, looking down on the effort your friend’s made to make you a birthday cake.” Rainbow dash said as the stitches on her stomach started to pop open.
Scootaloo couldn’t take it anymore, she bolted. Using all of her adrenaline fueled strength she rushed down the rotting staircase and forced the front door open. Grabbing her scooter she zoomed off faster than ever. She headed back to the only place she could think of, the orphanage.
“This is just a dream, there’s no way any of this is possible. I just need to go back. Yeah! I must have fallen asleep in the meeting room again.” Scootaloo said before being sent flying, as a upraised stone stopped her scooter.
Scootaloo landed muzzle first into the ground. Ignoring the pain, she tried to stand as the shock set in. Looking around wild-eyed with fear she watched the sky darken and the landscape around the path burst into flames.
Scootaloo couldn’t help but look on in complete terror and fear. Backing away as the flickering flames crept closer she bumped into something. In fear, she covered her head with her forelegs and curled into a ball.
“NONONONONONONO. Please don’t hurt me!” she cried out.
“Hey are you alright??” a familiar voice asked.
Trembling, she slowly moved her hoof to see Rainbow Dash back to normal.
“R-R-Rain...” she tried to say the mare’s name but the shock still held her.
“What’s with your screaming and running off like that?” Rainbow asked, obviously worried and a little upset with the filly’s behaviour.
“D-Don’t you see what’s happening!?” Scootaloo said, before getting extremely confused by the normality of her surroundings. “T-The trees...caught fire...the sky..?”
“Did you hit your head hard or something?” Rainbow asked a little worried, but Scootaloo ignored the question as she continued to list off the horrifying visions.
“The Cakes...you were eating them!” she yelled.
“Wait WHAT!?” Rainbow asked, getting worried as Scootaloo continued.
“The room started to rot...and the Cakes...oh Celestia you were EATING them!”
“I don’t follow...didn’t you say red velvet cake was your favorite? Mr. and Mrs. Cake helped Sweetie Belle and Applebloom make the cake specially for you. Where did you get the...” Rainbow was cut off as Scootaloo suddenly hugged her.
“It was so real...I got scared a-and...” Scootaloo went silent as she hugged Rainbow even tighter.
Being confronted with such a fragile pony, Rainbow awkwardly patted Scootaloo’s back, unsure of how to proceed.
“Maybe it was all the sugar you ate, you gulped those cupcakes down like there was no tomorrow.” Rainbow suggested, hoping she was doing this comforting thing right.
“B-But...” Scootaloo replied looking up into her face.
“Hey it’s OK! It was just your sugar high playing tricks on you.” Rainbow said, hoping it made sense. “Let’s head back, I’ll show you everything is alright.”
Scootaloo looked up at her idol. She felt safe with Rainbow, so with a slight nod she agreed. As she turned to retrieve her scooter she noticed Rainbow do a quick hoof pump and mouth, “nailed it!”
After they returned to Sugarcube Corner, Scootaloo apologized for her strange behaviour. She felt embarrassed as she explained why she’d run away because everything seemed normal just like Rainbow said. The Cakes were alive and well, and her friends were only covered in small flecks of icing, well except for Pinkie. The party pony had a beard of frosting on her face.
“Guess you special talent isn’t eating cupcakes?” Applebloom joked, as she and Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo a group hug.
“You gals are the best. I‘m so glad your my friends.” Scootaloo said, enjoying the comforting warmth.
“Let’s turn that frown upside down, she still needs to open hhheeerrr PRESENTS!” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted, upturning a bag full of brightly wrapped gifts over the fillies.
With bright eyes, Scootaloo started ripping the wrapping paper off of the various gifts, giving thanks everything before was a hallucination.
After another hour, Scootaloo’s party was finally over. Even though the party had started a little awkward, she still felt it was the best. She’d even tried some of the cake her friends made, it had been delicious.
Now that the party was over, Scootaloo and her friends started to clean up, while Rainbow Dash dragged Pinkie Pie home. The mare had partied herself out and fallen asleep, with her head in a cupcake. Using her wings to create a draft, Scootaloo quickly blew the confetti into a dustpan and emptied it into a trash bag as a knock came from the bakery door.
“Seems like they had a pretty swell shindig. Did you see Dash carrying Pinkie, and here I was thinking she didn’t have an off button.” Applejack exclaimed to Rarity as they entered the room.
With a quick farewell hug, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said goodbye and trotted over to their sisters. Giving a sigh, Scootaloo watched as her two PFF’s left, remembering painfully what was waiting for her.
“Thanks for the party... sorry about slipping out earlier...” Scootaloo said to the remaining guest, packing her last birthday gifts into the scooter wagon Cheerilee had given her.
“Ah it’s alright, just be careful with the sweets next time.” Cheerilee told her with a smile.
“I will, hope to see you tomorrow in class.” Scootaloo said, putting on her helmet and zooming away on her scooter, wagon in tow.
Now that it was getting dark, Scootaloo zoomed along slowly as she squinted into the darkness. Looking ahead, she barely managed to avoid colliding with a stallion, on an evening gallop
“Watch where you're going.” Scootaloo shouted over her shoulder, feeling like she’d seen that brownest jacket and hat somewhere before.
As the orphanage came into view, she could feel the loneliness creep into her heart. “Guess I’m all alone again.” she said, parking her scooter in it’s usual place and placed her helmet on the handlebars. She ignored the silence of the orphanage, she made her way into her room and jumped into bed, hating the fact she had to sleep another night here.
Turning on her side she suddenly noticed a gift. Investigating, she noticed that it had a card with familiar handwriting.
“Sugar Snap can be pretty awesome sometimes.” she whispered with a smile, letting the unopened card fall as she unwrapped the gift.
Underneath the wrapping paper, was a small hoof-carved box with mysterious symbols engraved in it. Opening the lid she noticed it held a small disk.
Scootaloo was trying to think what it could be as she took it out and stared at it, it had such weird markings and writing she couldn’t make out.
“What is this?” she finally blurted out. turning the disk over a couple times, she finally noticed that the markings could be moved around. “A puzzle? Well it’s the weirdest puzzle I ever saw.”
Scootaloo laid down in her bed as she started to move the markings around, trying to solve it. Nearly an hour past without notice as the markings started to fall in place as a larger symbol started to take shape.
“Just a little bit more...Ah ha!” with an excited shout she set the last marking in place, fully making a symbol that made her head ache slightly.
“I know this symbol...” Scootaloo said, trying to remember where she’d seen it as the markings started to glow.
As she tried to remember, an ear piercing sound started to keen.
“AH!?!?” trying to mute the noise, she dropped the glowing disc and covered her ears with her hooves. Barely changing anything she heard the sound increase in volume.
Becoming unbearable she put her head under her pillow trying to muffle the noise even further, knocking the disc off her bed in the process. Immediately the noise stopped and she heard the muffled thud as the disc hit the ground.
Keeping her head under the pillow, she waited for the noise to start up again. After a few silent minutes passed, she noticed a chill crawl up her back. Lifting her head the first thing she noticed was that the pillow was gone and replaced with cotton candy. Then with a gasp she took in the rest of her surroundings.
Her room in the orphanage was gone and what replaced it was a festival with a grinning clown for an entrance. I must be dreaming, she thought.
Startled to feel a hoof on her back, Scootaloo quickly turned. Beside her was a mare with a white coat, pink mane and a cutie mark that was blocked by a saddlebag, smiling warmly at her.
“Scootaloo, you’ll need to hurry to get on all the rides” the mare said to her.
“Who are you?” Scootaloo asked with a confused look.
“Why I’m your mother of course, you silly filly.” the mare answered, giving Scootaloo’s nose a playful bop.
A feeling of euphoria came over Scootaloo when she heard those words. Galloping towards the festival entrance she gave a shout. “Best. Dream. EVER!” Slowing to a trot, she entered the festival with the mare and proceeded to enjoy the various games and rides.
As they walked from one of the roller coasters to a small fishing game, Scootaloo felt somepony calling out her name. Looking around she noticed a strange ride. It looked like a merry-go-round but had pony statues for seats and seemed to be powered by a clockwork stallion. Giving the mare’s leg a quick pat, Scootaloo pointed out the strange ride.
“Can we try that ride?” she asked as the other mare gave a small grimace.
“Why would you want to ride on that. Theres so many other wonderful rides here in Silent Hill.” the mare responded, her voice strained.
Feeling someone call her name again, Scootaloo was sure it came from the bizarre merry-go-round this time. Glancing around she suddenly noticed how the other ponies at the fair were slowly walking towards her, eyes staring hungrily.
“Yes stay with us Scootaloo. It’s so much fun here in Silent Hill.”
Backing towards the merry-go-round, she truly believed it would be the only thing that could save her from these ponies. Stepping onto the ride she heard a muffled groan from the clockwork pony as it started to move. As the merry-go-round turned faster and faster a wall of flames sprung out of the ground, burning the approaching ponies to ash. Seeing the horrific deaths she tried to look away, but every way she turned she could see the ponies burning in droves. That’s when she got a better look at the rides seats. They were impaled ponies fashioned into poses using steel rods. Jumping as a hoof landed on her shoulder, she fearfully turned to see...herself.
“Leave this place. You are not welcome here in Silent Hill.” her twin said, as an unknown force drew Scootaloo away.
Scootaloo’s vision became blurry, everything was turning white and fading away. The lack of sight frightened her as something unknown grabbed her roughly. She tossed and turned, trying to escape the unseen force. In response to the struggling filly's efforts, the force tightened around her chest, leaving her breathless. She struggled to breath for a few more seconds before noticing a strange smell. As the force pulled her, the smell grew stronger as it finally hit her, this smell was...
"Smoke!?” she cried as her eyesight returned. The force must have been the black smoke for all around the bed, flames danced menacingly.
“Fire!? Oh no!” she cried.
Eyes tearing up from the smoke, she tried to jump down and run out of the burning room. She had made it to the doorway before flames erupted from the floor, blocking her path. The immense heat and growing smoke were making it hard for her to breath as she leaned against a unburned wall.
“H-Help...help...!” Scootaloo coughed through the heat, starting to feel faint as the flames got higher and closer.
Feeling her consciousness fading again, thoughts of her friends and how much she wanted to see them gave her a final burst of hope. She had to try one last time to call for help. Even if nopony else would, Sugar Snap was sure to come galloping to her rescue.
She inhaled as much breathable air as she could before screaming. “SOMEPONY HELP!”
Completely drained, darkness crept into her vision as a silhouette jumped through the flaming doorway. I knew you'd come... was the last thought she had before fainting.
The detective had expected this to be another normal job, but things had taken a turn for the dangerous. After telling the grief-stricken client over the phone about his find, he’d returned to escort the filly, Scootaloo, home... only to see something horrendous. Three cloaked ponies had been dragging the bloody and bruised body of the orphanage owner, Sugar Snap, through a portal of swirling darkness. When one of them pointed a hoof at him, he’d bolted, hoping to find a guard to help. He’d just made it into town when the orange filly passed him, heading back to the orphanage. She was too fast for him and had zipped into the darkness before he’d been able to warn her. Scared for the fillies safety he’d made the tiring hour long trek back to the orphanage, only to be greeted by the sight of glowing flames and billowing smoke.
“Oh no...” he said softly, seeing the familiar scooter and helmet next to the front entrance.
Covering his mouth with part of his jacket, he bucked the front door with his hind hooves.
“SCOOTALOO!” he shouted, eyes stinging from the smoke as he entered the burning building.
Reaching the first room he bucked the door down hoping to find the filly. What greeted him was something quite different. Glowing on the wall, like embers from a fire, was an archaic symbol that radiated power. He quickly left that room be as he bucked more doors down looking for Scootaloo.
“SCOOTALOO WHERE ARE YOU!” he shouted
Winding up for another buck, he suddenly heard someone call out.
“SOMEPONY HELP!”
Hearing the plea for help the stallion ran to the final room of the burning orphanage and saw her, eyes closed leaning against a wall. Using his jacket to protect himself, he charged through the flames hoping she was okay. With little time to think he threw the unconscious filly onto his back and under his jacket, trying to protect her from the growing flames and smoke, leaving himself more exposed to these dangerous elements. Feeling the heat burning his exposed body as he jumped back over the flames, making a mad dash for the entrance.
Making his way down the hallway, he noticed some familiar cloaked ponies galloping into the night from a small window he passed. That's when something in his mind clicked.
"Sugar Snap didn't tell them where Scootaloo was, so they came back to hide the evidence." he said, feeling a bit of respect for the brave pony before hearing a cracking noise.
He looked up to see the ceiling giving way. Trying not to throw the unconscious filly he barely managed to avoid the burning lumber, at the expense of his escape route. Now he was trapped. He turned repeatedly trying to find another way out as the flames crept closer and closer.
"Guess this is my last round-up..." the stallion murmured, looking at the filly sized window he'd passed.
Accepting his fate, he shattered the glass with a blistered hoof and tossed the unconscious filly onto the grass outside. Seeing her land a safe distance from the fire, he slowly pulled out a cigar. Using a burning desk to light it, he took a long drag of the sweet smoke.
"Nopony can say you didn't do your job well Douglas." he said to himself, watching the flames creep closer.
Feeling ready for death, a strange noise made his ears perk up. A bright light and keening noise was coming from the ceiling. Shielding his eyes with a raised hood, he noticed the light radiating from a bizarre, floating disk.
The disk floated there in midair for a few moments, before lighting up in a bright red flash, blinding him.
"What, in Celestia's name, was that?!" Douglas exclaimed, rubbing his eyes.
Disoriented and covered in burns he didn't notice the heat had lessened and that he could breath easily. This made the scene before him all the more surprising when his sight returned.
All around the flames and smoke were receding towards the first door he'd bucked open and the collapsed ceiling was levitating away from the doorway. Confused, he missed the slight increase in his jackets' weight.
Taking advantage of this miracle, he snuffed the lit cigar and bolted out the now reachable door. As soon as he stepped onto the grassy field, he was blasted forward by a wave of heat. The ceiling fell again and the flames had reclaimed the burning orphanage.
Moving as fast as his tired and burned body would allow, he walked over to the orange filly. At first he was worried at how still she was, but he gave a sigh when he noticed her shallow breathing. Turning towards the orphanage, he watched as it collapsed, sending up sparks that clawed at the sky. Remembering the ponies from before he reached into his jacket pocket and took out a small phone.
It ranged a few times before a female voice answered. "Hello again Douglas, have you found Scootaloo?"
“What’s going on here?! I just saw ponies burning down the orphanage I told you about! What aren't you telling me about this filly?” he yelled into the phone, demanding answers.
“Is she safe?” The pony asked in a questioning tone, this set him back on his hooves.
The mare didn't have any of the previous concern in her tone.
“Maybe after you answer my questions, I'll answer yours. What is going on here?” he replied, suspicions rising.
“Finish your job and bring her to where I told you. The payment will be paid when she's received.” the mare on the line said sounding agitated.
“I’m not doing anything else until I get answers, what’s so special about her that ponies went to this trouble? hello... Hello! Darn it.” he tossed the phone in frustration, hearing the mare disconnect the call.
Looking at Scootaloo, he was starting to wonder what he'd done to this poor filly. Giving a sigh, he retrieved the phone and dialed another number.
"Ponyville emergency services, what's your emergency?" a gruff voice answered.
“Hello? I'd like to report a house fire, and two ponies in need of medical attention at the Ponyville orphanage.” he replied.
Hearing the pony on the line say help was on the way, Douglas hung-up and placed the phone back in his singed jacket. That's when his hoof felt something metal and cold...
Scootaloo didn't know how long she'd been out for but she felt terrible, almost unable to get up. She just wanted to stay lying in her soft bed and sleep... exerting as much strength as she could she pushed herself upright. Panicking she looked around the strange white room, trying to figure out where she was remembering the fire and the pony silhouette. She relaxed slightly as a white mare with a red cross cutie mark and nurse attire, wandered in with a vase of flowers.
"Oh you're awake!" the nurse said mildly surprised. "I'll let your friends know right away that your conscious." she placed the vase on a metal table beside Scootaloo before turning to leave.
"Wait..where am I, how did I get here?" she asked tugging on the mare's scrubs.
"You're in Ponyville General Hospital." the mare answered with a warm smile . "Your father made quite the fuss ensuring you were taken care of. Your very lucky to have such a caring pony looking after you." the nurse giggled as Scootaloo’s face flushed red.
"Ye-yes I am..." Scootaloo said in an embarrassed murmur, feeling extremely happy with the nurse's remark. My father..? Does she mean Sugar Snap? Scootaloo thought to herself.
Trying to avoid looking the cheerful nurse in the eye, she was surprised to see her scooter and the gifts she'd received beside her bed. Turning to ask the nurse how they got here, she saw the door softly closing.
"Those nurses are fast." she said turning back to the gift filled wagon. She dug through the gifts for something to pass the time. She soon found the Daring Doo book Rainbow had given her. She started on the first page when two familiar fillies burst into the room.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle! I'm so glad to see a familiar face. ” she exclaimed as they went into a big group hug.
“That nurse Red Cross finally let us in.” Applebloom said as Sweetie Belle started to tear up.
"We're so glad you're safe. We heard that the orphanage burnt down, we’re so sorry.” the white filly said rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah I'm fin...wait.. the orphanage is what!" Scootaloo said, holding the fillies at hoofs length. “Now what do I do? I do not want to go to another...” she started to say in a distraught voice before another familiar pony entered the room. “Rainbow!” she yelled in a mix of excitement and unease, hoping the pegasus didn’t overhear them talking before.
“Hey kiddo, I heard what happen. What were you doing at a orphanage?” she asked, making Scootaloo nervous and a bit scared.
“W-Well...you see...” she stuttered before Rainbow stopped her with a lifted hoof.
“Ah it’s OK, whatever the reason at least you're safe.” Rainbow told her which made Scootaloo feel a bit better.
For a moment Scootaloo wondered if Rainbow knew all along about her secret life.
“So where’s the guy who saved you?” Applebloom asked, before Scootaloo gave her a confused look.
“Somepony saved me? Wasn't it...”
“We don’t know.” Sweetie Belle interrupted.
“Well I think it was that young stallion I ran into downstairs. He was wearing a singed detective jacket and had bandages around his legs.” Rainbow mentioned.
Scootaloo thought back to see if she knew anypony like that, but she didn’t. She open her mouth to speak but stopped, remembering a stallion from yesterday. On her way to sugar cube corner she'd knocked someone over that fit the description vaguely. Her thoughts were interrupted as all four of the ponies heard a knock on the door. Standing in the doorway was the very stallion she was thinking of.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I speak with Scootaloo alone for a minute or two?” the stallion asked.
“Are you the one that saved her?” Sweetie Belle asked, before he gave a nod in agreement.
“Well in that case it’s the least we can do, but may I ask why?” Rainbow asked.
“It’s very important, and rather personal.” he answered, with a slight nod Rainbow led the two fillies out of the room.
After they left, the stallion walked over to the bed with pained steps.
“Who are you?” Scootaloo asked, being wary of the unknown pony.
“Douglas...Do you remember anything from before?” he asked, which made her shake her head.
“Well, nothing but the fire. How did it start?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“I don’t know for sure, but it was weird that you were the only pony inside.” Douglas answered before being surprised by the filly's grabbing hoof.
“What about Sugar Snap?! Wasn't he there!” Scootaloo asked in desperation, gripping Douglas's foreleg tightly as he stiffly shook his head no. “Then why were you there? Twice in one day?”
“I’m a detective, I was there looking for a filly named Scootaloo. I found you but I didn't know it until Sugar Snap told me." he replied.
“Me? But I’m nothing special and haven’t done anything?” she was getting more confused as the conversation continued, she really wished that would stop.
“My job is to track down missing ponies and return them home safely, I was contacted by a mare who wanted you found.” he said before fumbling around in one of his jackets many pockets.
“Wait, you were looking for me to return me home? I don’t have a...” she started to say before Douglas pulled out a familiar disc and letter.
"I'm guessing you recognize these? I haven't opened the letter because it was addressed to you." he said seeing the filly grab the items with trembling hooves.
“This was my gift from Sugar Snap" she said tearing open the letter to read the contents, while cautiously dropping the puzzle. "I thought the puzzle was a bit...Wha..?” Inside the letter was a very different type of handwriting, and it looked like it was written in, “...b-blood!”
Upon hearing her, Douglas quickly took the letter away and scanned the contents. It indeed looked like blood instead of ink and only two words took up the whole page.
“Silent hill?” he said quietly before Scootaloo once again started to hear that loud ear piercing sound.
As she grabbed her head in pain, Douglas tried to calm her down, but the sound was too loud and she couldn’t hear anything else. Barely able to move through the pain she turned her eyes towards the disk and grabbed it.
“MAKE IT STOP!” she pleaded, shaking the puzzle vigorously.
Hearing the scream, Rainbow quickly burst through the door followed by Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Seeing the stallion's hooves on Scootaloo, Rainbow gave him a kick. She had taken a firm hold of his jacket to give him a mouthful of her right hoof when Scootaloo screamed even louder in pain from behind her. Distracted for a moment, she froze seeing the weird aura surrounding Scootaloo.
Finally the loud sound ebbed as the pain quickly left Scootaloo. Relieved that it was going away she looked up to see her friends fading into a strange mist.
“H-Huh!? Hey guys? Guys!” she yelled trying to get out of the bed, seeing them react slightly to something behind her.
Struggling to much, she tumbled from the bed and heard the clatter dropped metal. Rubbing her head, she turned in every direction looking for her friends but they'd been claimed by the mist. The only thing she could see herself and the infuriating disk, which seemed to mock her with its presence.
"Bring me back you stupid thing!" she shouted at the disk.
As if to comply, a spark flew from the disk as the mist cleared.
"That's better I'm the boss he..." Looking around again she shuddered.
She was back in her room, but it had taken on nightmarish qualities. The lights flickered, windows were boarded shut with crooked nails, the bed was tattered and the only way out of the room that she could see was the broken door leading out to the hallway. Gulping a bit she stared at the darkness just beyond the door. She didn’t want to go out into the unknown alone, but she couldn’t stay in this room feeling of death either.
"Well, It can only get better right?” she asked herself, trying to raise her courage, but she still felt she was going to regret leaving this room.
Scootaloo slowly pushed the door open. The rusted hinges screeching in defiance. Peeking her head through the small opening, she noticed how old and stained the walls looked. This isn't so bad, she thought with a gulp. Cautiously leaving the room, she started walking the dark hallway. Her steps echoed in the empty hallway as she walked through the lightless hallway. After walking for a few minutes she felt her mane start to stand on end, something was with her. Stopping, Scootaloo turned around and looked back into the darkness. "Is somepony there?", she called out. Trying to be silent, she listened intently for a response. For a moment nothing could be heard except her shallow breaths. Her ears perked up in fright as she heard the screech of rusted hinges, followed by a door slamming; The sound of two hoofsteps and a dragging noise shortly followed. She didn't know why, but the sound terrified Scootaloo and whatever caused it was heading her way. Breaking into a gallop, she turned away from the noise and frantically tried to open each door she saw. Whatever was behind her was gaining and a soft wheezing noise could be heard. Coming across a door without boards, she turned the knob and forced herself into the room.
Slamming the door shut behind her, Scootaloo fumbled with the doors' lock. Finally hearing the bolt slide into place, she leaned against the door and slide to the ground. Taking a deep breath, she waited for the 'thing' in the halls to try breaking in. As the seconds dragged on, she finally exhaled. Turning to look over the semi-dark room she noticed a pony shaped figure slouching oddly beside another door.
"Hello?", she questioned, wary after seeing some holes in the other figure's legs. The flickering light hanging from the room's roof allowed her to cautiously make her way closer to the unmoving changeling. "Are you trapped here to?", the creature remained slouched, hooves on it's midsection.
Giving it a shake she waited for response before hearing a soft thunk. Slowly looking down, she noticed the lower part of it's eviscerated body had tipped over and the top half was suspended by wires sewn into it's wings. Her pupils slowly dilated as she tasted bile in her throat.
“Oh dear Celestia...” Doubling over, Scootaloo wretched onto the floor as the changelings insides slowly seeped onto the floor. Even a creature that fed on love didn't deserve to die in such a fashion. “Why...why am I’m seeing these things? What did I ever do to deserve this?”, she sobbed, dry heaving because her stomach was empty. Silently crying after the stomach convulsions ended, she opened the door next to the changeling and paused long enough to close it’s dull blue eyes.
Behind the door was another hallway. She was thankful this one seemed more maintained and had lighting, but she still felt the loneliness gnawing at her heart. The orange filly plodded on, more and more of these dark thoughts and feelings filling her head. Most were about her never seeing her friends again or how she wasn’t and may never get adopted. The more those thoughts raced through her head, the faster she moved to leave them behind. Scootaloo just wanted her friends back.
Lost in the labyrinth of seemingly infinite doors and halls the last thing she'd expected was to trip down a staircase. “OW!”, she cried as she hit each steps. Soon she came to a rolling stop when she slammed into a wall. Her mouth opened in a silent scream of pain as she waited for the pain to fade. Scootaloo started to rise to her feet before she collapsed in defeat and started crying. What was the point to continue struggling. Sugar Snap died in the fire, her friends were gone and nopony wanted her in their family.
“Even if I do manage to get out...what will change?” she tearfully said to herself.
“Hello?”, a familiar voice called out. Upon hearing it she stopped crying and looked up, her tears of helplessness changed to tears of hope as she got to her feet.
“R-Rainbow..?”, she whimpered in disbelief.
She stumbled to her feet, from getting up too fast, and ran towards the voice. Within a minute she came to some kind of lobby and saw a familiar pegasus standing there. ”RAINBOW!”, she cried out as she gave the mare a big hug. “Oh Rainbow thank Celestia you’re here...” Scootaloo replied, “I was starting to lose hop...” before she could finish Rainbow slapped the orange filly across the face. “Ow! h-hey...what gives..?”, she asked.
“Why would I let a dirty orphan touch me”, Rainbow replied while looking at Scootaloo with disgust.
Scootaloo looked at Rainbow in shock. “B-but how did you..?” she asked while tentatively touched her stinging cheek.
"Cause' we told her." two fillies walked out of the shadows. Applebloom glared at the orange pegasus as Sweetie Belle gave a disgusted look.
Scootaloo couldn't believe her ears. Not only were her best friends bullying her, they had broken a Pinkie Promise.
"Why don't you just go home you flightless freak." the unicorn filly said before chuckling meanly, "That's right you don't have one."
Scootaloo was in too much shock to even speak, the only three friends she had were bullying her. “Y-You know I’m a late bloomer...”, she managed to say as she started to breakdown in tears. Scootaloo had to rub her face a few times as the fur around her face was getting too wet.
“You’re just a useless fan. I won't even make you my pet.” Rainbow said casually.
Scootaloo couldn't see through the veil of tears as she huddled in a small ball. she just wanted to die. “Ah can’t even look at you you're so lame.” Another voice said, Scootaloo looked through her tears and barely saw her two best friends.
“Yeah, you’re way too pathetic to be friends with. The fact you don’t even have parents is proof. NOPONY wants you!”, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom's voices said in unison.
Scootaloo curled up tighter before a comforting hoof was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see Sugar Snap smiling at her. The rest of the world seemed to go silent as she looked at the pony.
"Why didn't you die Scootaloo, we were suppose to be together forever." part of his coat lit on fire as he casually rubbed a hoof on her cheek. "I'd worked so hard to keep you in the orphanage." to Scootaloo's horror his face started to melt from the heat like wax. "I own you and your soul for everything I've done." he said with finality before his skull smiled down at her.
Something finally clicked in Scootaloo. Everyponies’ actions and the sudden hatred for her just seemed, too obvious. “This...this isn’t real...”, she whispered as understanding filled her eyes
“What was that loser?” Rainbow asked.
“You're all liars!” Scootaloo yelled as she slowly started to stand up as the others slowly backed away, “You don't know my friends and Sugar Snap would never, NEVER try to scare me!”, she screamed with teary eyes.
The berated ponies backed up a little but soon started to laugh, “Look at the little baby...thinking this is all a dream or something. Face it! You’re just...”, Rainbow snickered as they started to draw closer again.
“SHUT UP!”, Scootaloo yelled, she wasn't going to accept anymore of their lies. “This world is just like a nightmare...just like last time and everything I saw wasn’t real.”
“Say that all ya want, it won’t change a thing.” Applebloom said followed by Sweetie Belle saying. “Everything in this world is real, so why don’t you just go off and di...”
“YOU ARE NOT REAL!!!” Scootaloo yelled as loud as she could screaming, making the ponies grab their heads in pain. “You are not real so just LEAVE ME ALONE!”, Scootaloo screamed.
As soon as the words left her lips, a burst of light engulfed the room and blinded her. The light faded away as she fell to her knees breathing heavily. Trying to regain her breath she heard a ragged exhalation of breath. She looked up slowly and saw a creature watching her from a cold stone throne. It seemed like a statue besides the occasional twitch of its eyes Faster than she could react the creature loomed over her, investigating the pony with it's glazed eyes.
“MONSTER!?”, she screamed in primal terror.
The pony-like creature stood slightly taller than Celestia and was a macabric mix of various fur connected by wispy black scars. It's skeletal mane and tail clinked as it's fleshless muzzle opened slowly.
“Innocence?”, it wheezed in a disturbing female voice. The creature moved like a minotaur, standing on its hind legs will using its forelegs to reach for her.
Scootaloo instinctively slapped the hooves away as they got close. The creature paused slightly before responding with a powerful backhoof. With a crack, she hit the stone wall and slumped as spots of light danced before her eyes. With her blurred vision she noticed a dark blue pony appear from the darkness confronting the creature.
"Begone abomination! Thou hast no right to be here!" she heard the familiar voice order.
"Luna?”, she questioned as her sight slowly returned.
A broken growl filled the room as the creature’s throat started to rumble. Scootaloo could hardly believe her senses when she realized the creature was laughing at the princess of the night.
“She is mine, ‘princess’, do not interfere”, the creature finally said as it pointed to the young filly. A portal of green-black flames behind the creature. Through it Scootaloo saw a familiar stallion draped from a statue with chains. “You shall come to Silent Hill for the sacrifice... or I shall feast on the one you care so dearly about.” the creature said as it showed its interlocking teeth in a malicious smile.
“Sugar Snap?”, Scooaloo called as the stallion slowly lifted his head revealing a beaten face.
“I’ll never tell...will protec...”, Sugar Snap mumbled before his head collapsed to his chest again.
Scootaloo rushed forward instinctively to help the elderly stallion before noticing her body was fading. “Silent Hill is not for you.”, she heard in her head as her surroundings disappeared and she found herself falling into her hospital bed.
“Sister... Luna where are you!”, Celestia called while searching the castle grounds for her sister. She headed for the royal living quarters as two guards opened the door for her. “Thank you... has Luna been through here today?” she asked them before continuing to Luna’s room.
Both of the guards stood tall as they uniformly said, “no your highness”, before a crash was heard from the interior. All three of them turned towards the source before Celestia rushed towards her sister’s room. As she burst through the door she could hardly believe her eyes. Scorch marks led from a slowly repairing wall to Luna’s beaten form. Cobalt blue Alicorn breathed shallowly as she lay in the broken remains of her bed.
“Luna! What happened, who did this?” Celestia cried as she hovered protectively over her sister. She heard one of the guards behind her shouting commands for the castle to be put on high alert and for a medic to be summoned.
Opening her eyes with an obvious effort, Luna pulled her sister’s head close before responding in a whisper. “She’s returned...”, Celestia heard her say as the young alicorn went unconscious from the shock. Celestia didn’t understand before seeing a small piece of gray ash in her sister’s blue mane.
Scootaloo panicked as she screamed, all around her blurry shapes with masks held her down. She managed to bite one of the monsters holding her, tasting iron as she drew blood. The monster quickly yanked itself free, leaving a disgusting piece of flesh in her teeth, before a muzzle was clamped over her mouth and bonds were tightened over her limbs.
Outnumbered, and now defenceless, she whinnied and snarled like a pony possessed as she struggled against them. “No! Get away from me!” Scootaloo screamed. She flailed around violently before feeling a sharp pain in her leg. Her movements started to become sluggish as the monstrous faces seemed to melt together. With a final desperate cry, she strained against her bonds before slumping on the bed.
Hearing the shouts from Scoot's room, Rainbow dropped the magazine she was reading and broke into a mad flight towards the source. The image of the young pegasus appearing from the swirling darkness covered in bruises and cuts flashed through her mind as a unicorn nurse stopped her mid-flight with a flare of her horn.
"Miss! You can't enter now, the patient is being belligerent." Red Cross said sternly before Dash glared at her.
"I'll show you belligerent if you don't let me go," she warned before tugging free of the unicorn's magical grip, hardly wincing as some of her tail hairs were pulled out. Even as she burst into the room, she saw the nurse head for an intercom. Seeing Scoot slumped in bed with restraints, she nearly punched the doctor before she noticed the staff nursing minor injuries and one of the nurses wrapping gauze around the doctor’s bleeding foreleg. You deserve it for tying a pegasus up like that, she thought before hovering at Scoot's side. A wave of relief passed over her, seeing the filly’s chest rising and falling with each breathe. The peaceful appearance was only broken by the odd twitch and incoherent mumbling as Rainbow gently fluttered to the floor. Hearing two sets of hoofsteps she turned her head to see Red enter, followed closely by Douglas.
“I’m not leaving until she wakes up,” she said straight faced before sitting down with a snort, giving the two a stubborn look as some of the other nurses looked warily between them. Some of them headed for the door, assisting the injured doctor, while Red waved for the others to give the two some privacy.
“I didn’t expect you to,” Douglas said as he moved aside to let the nurses pass. Taking up the rear of the group, Red finally left the two of them alone with the unconscious filly, giving them a warning look as she left the room. “From my experience, threatening other ponies isn’t the smartest move to get your way. Especially hospital staff.” He gingerly patted a hoof shaped bruise on his chest as he spoke.
Rainbow felt a pang of guilt as he joined her at the bedside. She watched him as he checked the restraints, hoping he felt the same unhappiness for them that she did. This was a filly they were treating after all, not some dangerous psychopath. Stewing on the maltreatment, her eyes inadvertently drifted back to his bruise, a visual reminder of the previous night’s events. “Sorry… again. I thought you were trying to hurt the little squirt before that magic thing took her.”
“I’ve endured worse. First time I’ve been admitted to the hospital for burns and two cracked ribs at the same time.”
Even though his tone was good natured, she still wasn’t fully prepared for the conversation they needed to have. She’d wanted to talk about it while Scoot was awake, but the egg-headed doctor had messed that up by medicating her. If only she actually knew what was going on, then maybe she could help the filly solve this problem. Looking over at the disk on the bedside she felt the urge to pick it up and smash it against the wall, knowing full well that it had hurt her young friend at least once before. But Douglas’s magic was quicker as it encased, and lifted the disk out of her reach.
“Why won’t you let me get rid of that thing! It’s only making things harder for her.” she told him with a snort.
“Because whoever is targeting her wants it, and it has already saved her life before,” Douglas said. The same reasoning he’d given her last night when she tried to break it and get Scootaloo back from the portal. He’d been very obstinate that it needed to be left alone.
“Then tell me again why we shouldn’t get rid of it so she isn’t targeted. Perhaps you could also tell me why you decided to lead dangerous ponies to our town?” Rainbow asked, unintentionally adding anger to her tone. Catching herself, she took a deep breath before exhaling. She knew he didn’t deserve any negativity. She’d been awake almost a whole day and was just grumpy from all the anxiety this ordeal was giving her.
If it had hurt his feelings at all, it didn't show as Douglas responded with, “I never meant for this. I was just hired to find Scootaloo and bring her safely home. I’m just as confused as you are, but getting mad will only make it harder to uncover the truth.”
Listening to his explanation, Rainbow couldn't help but stare at him, the confusion evident on her face. “Home... What do you mean, bring her home?” Something about how Douglas sighed told her there was more to the story, and she wanted to know what it was. "And who was it that wanted you to find her?"
“I was contacted by somepony that said she was Scootaloo’s mother, but that no longer seems to be the case." Douglas winced as he sat on his flank; attempting to hide it before continuing, "And I'm guessing Scootaloo had her reasons for not talking about her ...'situation'."
"What kinda situation—,” and then it hit her. Scootaloo being at the orphanage during the fire had not been a coincidence and why she'd never met the filly's parents. Rainbow's gaze lowered to her hooves, her mane hiding her shame as she bit her lip holding back the tears. “...She never told me,” Rainbow whispered to herself.
Douglas sighed as he scratched his neck. “After some background checking I discovered that Scootaloo had no records of a family. In fact, she seems to have no records at all besides the newest orphanage update sent to the Canterlot Archives."
“No records at all?” Rainbow took a moment from her self pity to give him another confused look before looking at the orange filly strapped to the bed. As more things made sense, even more mysteries seemed to pop-up. “How can Scootaloo have no records? She goes to school with AJ and Rarity's little sisters, surely they would have a few on her. How else could she be accepted to any school without a single record," Rainbow asked as she uncharacteristically brushed some unkempt mane off Scoot's face.
“I thought it would be best if I found her,” he said as the memory of Sugar Snap being abducted came to mind, “But there were others in black robes that came to the orphanage after I'd called my client. They must’ve hired somepony to start that fire and cover their tracks, but I don’t know why they had to go to such lengths.”
“I don't care about why they did it,” Rainbow said, raising her voice, "I'm gonna find them and make them sorry for what they did."
“Calm down, Ms. Dash, you don’t want to wake her.” Douglas told Rainbow, but it was hearing Scootaloo whimper in her sleep that made the pegasus quiet her tone.
She was groggily waking up from the terrible dream when she heard Rainbow's voice nearby. She kept her eyes shut as she eavesdropped, wondering what was going on.
“Sorry, Douglas. This whole thing has been brushing me the wrong way. Didn’t you do a background check on Scootaloo's mother before tracking her down?”
Hearing Rainbow mention mother, Scoot's mind became filled with questions. She had a mother that was looking for her? Where was she during her years at the orphanage and why had she been abandoned in the first place?
“That's just it. I did do a check after she first came to me and told me about her daughter. I run a background check before all my cases, and her story held up... except one thing seemed off,” Douglas explained
“What was it, what was off?” Rainbow asked.
Douglas was unsure if he should talk about it, but the look of concern on Rainbow’s face made the decision for him. With a sigh, he reached into the coat pocket and showed her a paperclipped collection of photos. “It was about her home town. A place called Silent Hill,” he started to explain as Rainbow looked over it.
“Silent Hill? Never heard of it.”
“You wouldn’t have. It should be a ghost town, abandoned nearly a century ago after a fire burned it to the ground.” The look Rainbow gave reflected the same stunned confusion he’d felt when he’d found out about that little-known fact.
“Then why did you take this job?! That seems like a big red flag if you ask me,” Rainbow said, before seeing Douglas shake his head.
“The bit that was off wasn’t that the town was burnt down years ago. What felt off was the photo the client sent with the missing pony report," Douglas continued to explain as he pocketed the photos. “It was a photograph of Scootaloo as a foal, and a mare posing outside an amusement park. A quick background check confirmed that said park was once the biggest attraction in Silent Hill, and some old images of the park confirmed the photo's authenticity.”
“If she was telling the truth, why are ponies after Scootaloo then?” Rainbow added. Whether this pony claiming to be Scootaloo’s mother was indeed her mother, Dash didn’t care. Ponies were attempting to hurt Scootaloo, and that didn’t fly with her.
“That’s what confuses me...”
Pausing, the memory of his call came to mind, along with a possible connection. “...unless there is more at work than just those cloaked ponies.”
“Hmph,” Rainbow started, “maybe she’s in big trouble but...to go ‘that’ far? I think I should tell the princess. I mean, ponies that are willing to burn down an orphanage the guards need to be aware. Celestia knows what I’ll do when I get my hooves on them...” she was so angered that ponies would go that far, but she knew she couldn’t do anything at the moment.
Douglas opened his mouth to say something but was cut off as a nurse came walking in, “Sorry but it’s getting very late. If you wish to stay overnight, you must sleep in the visitor’s sleeping quarters. The guards will make sure nothing happens to her,” she said as she opened the door for them to leave.
“Ugh! Stupid hospital rules..” Rainbow sighed, hating to leave, but knew they had to so that Scootaloo could rest more comfortably.
They stood up and walked outside, making their way to the nearest desk to fill out the form that would allow them to stay overnight. With what happened earlier, extra precautions were being made so they couldn’t sleep in Scootaloo’s room. “You're not finished telling me things by the way,” Rainbow said, “I want to know ‘everything’ about her and this town, got it.” she nearly demanded, but kept a calm tone. Albeit strained.
“You're the closest pony to her right now, so I basically have to. Maybe you’ll help decide what happens to her after this gets solved,” he answered.
After the form was filled they started walking to the sleeping quarters still talking, “When did she first contact you?” Rainbow asked.
“About a month ago, I spent a few weeks researching what she had told me about Scootaloo. When her name finally came up with her at an orphanage, her story was more than backed up. But still unsure, I figured that I should go and talk to her,” Douglas explained.
“Then what? Did you tell anypony else?” Rainbow asked.
Shaking his head, Douglas tightened his jaw. He didn’t look that gullible...did he? “I didn’t tell anypony. I just looked up where Scootaloo lived and made my way there. When I got there to talk to the owner Sugar Snap, I—” Noticing a male nurse pass them in the hall, Douglas stopped short as he felt a chill run through him. Turning to look at the stallion, Douglas stared after him as he continued down the corridor.
“What is it?” Rainbow asked, turning to see what had stopped Douglas.
Douglas kept silent as he followed the pony quietly, Rainbow following behind him. She asked what he was doing, but he didn’t answer. Finally, when they got to a strangely empty hallway, they saw the odd pony looking around before a magical aura encased his horn. Seeing the magical glow’s color, Douglas was reminded of one of the robed ponies, and his fear was realized as the nurse’s scrubs changed into a black robe.
“That’s one of the ponies that I saw when I tried to save Scootaloo!” Douglas exclaimed, making the robed pony jump as Douglas galloped towards him.
The robed stallion made a dash for it with Douglas and Rainbow hot on his trail. With his cover blown, all sense of stealth was lost as he charged headlong through the hospital halls. Seeing him glance at the doors that passed him, Rainbow’s fear grew as she realized the pony was heading towards Scootaloo’s room. Fearing for the filly, Rainbow tackled the robed pony as a glowing object flew from his robe and skidded across the hospital floor. Stepping out from the corridor leading towards Scootaloo’s room, a second robed pony stepped from cover and halted at the sight of Rainbow, his downed partner, and Douglas heading towards him.
“Take it and go!” the stallion beneath Rainbow yelled, before being silenced with a forehoof to the muzzle.
With a nod, the second interloper grabbed hold of the object with his teeth, and retreated the way he came. Douglas gave chase as Rainbow pulled the pony she caught up and pinned him against the wall.
“Ok, talk! And don’t even think about doing anything funny.”
Douglas ran as fast as he could, until finally making it to the hallway where Scootaloo’s room was. Outside the room, he saw two guards laying on the floor to either side of the filly’s room, neither responding as the robed pony rushed into Scootaloo’s room. Douglas galloped as fast as he could to the door, and catching hold of the door frame propelled himself into the room. Knocking the pony to the floor, he noticed the object go flying and imbed itself in the wall. Of all the things, it had to be some cult fanatics with a dagger. Within seconds, Rainbow came bursting through the doorway while Douglas was placing handcuffs on his robed pony. They both looked at the bed, hoping to see Scootaloo safe and sound but...she was gone!
“Where is she!?” Douglas demanded, but the robed pony refused to talk. Angered, Douglas twisted the ponies hooves until he cried out in pain. Turning to Rainbow, Douglas asked, “Where’s your dance partner?”
“Taking a nap,” Rainbow answered before cracking her neck, “But I can alway use another.”
“You foals are making a mistake.” The cultist retorted, chuckling defiantly before Douglas twisted his arm tighter.
“Oh, I’ll show you a mistake. Now tell us where she is, or else I’ll buck you into next week,” Rainbow threatened.
Stumbling over her hooves, Scootaloo caught herself against the wall as she wheezed.
“Must. Get to. Silent Hill,” Scootaloo said.
Rubbing her eyes as the haze grew darker, she regained her footing and staggered towards her old room. Pushing aside the warnings telling ponies to stay out, she stepped into the demolished room. The disk was leading her ...the disk was calling her. Scootaloo looked over the bed, and under the covers before pushing the bed aside with unnatural determination. Finding nothing, she turned on the dressers, pulling their drawers loose and across the floor.
Gripping the last drawer handle with her teeth, it stubbornly remained jammed shut. Pulling harder, she finally pulled it loose and reel backwards as the drawer hit the wall behind her. Slamming against the floor, Scootaloo cried out in pain before a sparkle caught her eye. There, under the dresser, was the disk. As she crawled towards it, a smile grew on her face while picking it up. As she held it tightly in her hoof, Scootaloo pulled it out and stared at it, watching as the symbols glowed.
“T-take me to Silent Hill...please?” she asked it before the symbols started to flare brightly.
A bubble appeared around Scootaloo, lifting her up from the ground and emitting energy waves that could make unicorns in tune with magic shudder.
Opening her eyes slowly, Celestia’s horn stopped glowing. “You will regret what you did to my sister, monster,” Celestia said through clenched teeth as the memory of her injured sister came to mind.
Leaving the throne room, she startled the guards outside her door as they narrowly avoided the large doors.
“Ready my chariot,” Celestia said, each word filled with more rage than her subjects had ever heard from her.
“We will be leaving for Ponyville...”
Like feeling the approach of an impending storm, Rainbow’s ears twitched nervously as she galloped through the hospital corridors. Scootaloo was missing, that infernal disc was gone, and neither of cultists had either of them. That meant one other place they would be, and Douglas wasn’t gonna stop her from getting rid of the disc this time. Finally, Rainbow made her way to the off-limits hallway and jumped the tape. By the time she reached the room, it felt like flying into a hurricane as she saw the filly encased in a red bubble.
“Scootaloo!” Rainbow cried before the bubble emitted a shrill noise, and exploded in a flare of red light. “Scootaloo!?” Rainbow called out again as she was blinded.
