> Scootaloo's Last Wish > by scootaloo55 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Orange Pegasi filly curled up in the corner of a dark alleyway and pulled an old grey blanket over her fledging wings. She shivered and huddled closer to the brick wall to try to keep herself warm and she closed her eyes and tried to forget the fact that she was an orphan. The night was cold and snow glistened as it fell to the ground and the purple-maned pony stared up at them in silence. She was normally had a very exuberant personality so it was unusual for her to be this quiet for so long. She opened her schoolbag and pulled out an iced breadroll and a cupcake she took from Sugarcube corner that afternoon. She knew it was wrong to steal and her choices were unhealthy, but she knew that if she didn’t eat something, she would waste away to nothing. She took a bite out of the breadroll and sighed. Her body became frigid from the cold and she tried to force herself to sleep before the frost could keep her awake. She took one last bite and curled up in a ball, pulling her thin blanket even further over her body. A single tear escaped and she closed her eyes tight. Why life was so hard for her, she didn’t understand. All she knew was that she had to keep this secret, in fear of going back to the orphanage. She ran away from there, as they had treated her so terribly. And with a large breath, the Pegasus fell asleep, mane glittering in the moonlight. She jerked occasionally during her dreams and quite small snowflakes tickled her nose making her sneeze. She rolled over and sighed. At least tomorrow would be a new day. > A Warm House > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: A Warm House With new dawn brang new adventure and the small pony woke and shoved her blanket into a small crevasse in the wall beside her. She pulled her scooter out from underneath an old, unused bin. The scooter itself was dull in colour, mainly from the weather it was exposed to. The filly didn’t mind though, as it was the only semi-valuble possession she owned. Smiling she put on her helmet and glanced behind her before leaving. Today she would be meeting up with her friends in an old clubhouse to have another cutie-mark meeting. She bounded through the door and sat next to a white unicorn with a curly pink and purple mane. “Hey Scootaloo!” she said. Then she whispered, “You do know you’re 10 minutes late!” Scootaloo cringed. “I just had some troubles at home.” An Earth pony with a pinky-red mane looked at Scootaloo with a stern expression, but then started her speech. “Today’s tah day, Cutie Mark Crusaders!” The cream coloured filly marched along the timber floor of a newly renovated treehouse. “Today’s tah day we find our special talent and earn our cutie marks!” the floorboards creaked under the young pony’s steps as she continued her speech. Her two partners in crime, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo listened on intently. Strong sun rays flickered through the window, illuminating a hand-drawn poster on the wall, which looked like a rough map of ponyville. The young pony paused, probably to catch her breath. She often talked quite fast, and her country cowpony accent could sometimes be difficult to understand. “Ah said, are yah ready?” A purple maned, orange pegasi grinned awkwardly. She had been daydreaming once again. “As ready as I’ll ever be, Applebloom.” She said unconvincingly to try to get out of an ‘always be attentive in meetings’ lecture. Applebloom raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. Sweetie Belle stood up and glanced outside. There was not a cloud to be seen and a thin layer of snow covering the clubhouse was melting; water dripping through the roof beams. The weather team had cleared the sky so well that the sun was blindingly but the snow was still blanketed the hills. The white unicorn had a sudden thought. “Hey, why don’t we have a campout tonight? The weather’s perfect for it!” Applebloom and Scootaloo exchanged looks. A campout? But last time they did that they were scared out of their wits after Rainbow’s Ghost Stories. Not that Scootaloo would ever admit it. She was still slightly embarrassed about her ‘firewood collecting’. At least nopony saw it actually happen. “Y-yah know what? Why don’t y’all have a sleepover instead?” Sweetie Belle looked out the window and caught a glimpse of her sister’s fashion boutique in the distance. “We can’t sleep at my place,” Sweetie Belle commented. “Rarity’s got about 15 dress orders to complete by morning.” “…And we can’t stay in the clubhouse, Applejack’s ‘fraid the place will collapse. Hey, Scoots, why don’t we all stay at your place? Ah’ve never been there before.” Scootaloo looked at them with a hasty expression, “uhh m-my place? Um, my parents are… b-busy, yeah! Busy!” Scootaloo moved to the side slightly as to avoid any more conversation. “Ya know what? Let’s stay at… Fluttershy’s!” she began to back away “I-I gotta go” and with that, the young filly jumped on her scooter and sped out of the treehouse with her wings buzzing loudly to pick up speed, leaving two curious fillys behind her. “Well you girls should be safe here, that is if you want to be. Which you should be but…Welcome!” Fluttershy’s quiet voice was barely heard as the two fillys ran upstairs and jumped on their temporary beds for the night. Fluttershy walked slowly up the stairs and stopped at the doorway. Angel the rabbit followed closely behind with a plate with three hay flavoured milkshakes on it. ”here you go girls, a drink each, hey, wasn’t three of you coming?” the door squeaked behind the crème pony and a very distressed Pegasus ran into the room; a dirty thin blanket slung over her flank. Sweetie Belle looked at it with disgust. “How long have you had that old thing for? Its covered in holes!” Scootaloo blushed a brilliant scarlet. “It’s really a good luck thing. Really.” Applebloom gave Scootaloo a crazy look. “Are yah sure scoots? That’s a straaannge good luck charm.” Scootaloo gave an awkward smile. “I know right? Haha…ha…” Sweetie Belle trotted over to Scootaloo and began dusting her down with her tail. “You are so dirty! Did you have a bath in the mud this morning?” Scootaloo paused and thought for a minute. How could she be stupid enough to not wash before she came? “You know, I jumped my scooter and kinda crashed.” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle Exchanged glances but agreed that that was a reasonable explanation. Later that night, after the unicorn and Earth pony had fallen asleep, Scootaloo gazed up at the sparkling moon, which no longer beared residence to Nightmare Moon as she had escaped about a year ago. The stars twinkled in the night sky and a bright comet cascaded down from the velvety night sky. “Goodnight mum, goodnight dad, I love you.” The pegasi filly whispered, but the reply was the same every night. Silence. A cool wind blew through the window, slamming it shut. Scootaloo quickly glanced behind her and breathed a sigh of relief. Her friends hadn’t even stirred. She smiled as she clambered into her bed. This was a privilege to her. As the warm fuzzy blankets wrapped around her, she closed her eyes and thought of happy memories. She needn’t worry tonight. She would be safe and warm. > Another Day; An Angry Pony > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: A New day; an angry pony The sun rose unusually early the next morning, quickly evaporating the dewdrops left on the grass from the night before. Scootaloo yawned and sat up. The wall clock had only just chimed 4:30. The orange filly sighed and rubbed at the large grey bags under her eyes. Sweetie Belle would murder her if she saw her in this state. Oh well. Scootaloo quietly tip-toed down the steps, which were creaking slightly every now and then. Scootaloo quickly grabbed her scooter and ran out the door, where Angel Bunny stopped her in her tracks. The white rabbit stomped her foot and looked at the filly angrily. “What?” Scoot frowned and attempted to elude the pestering puffball. “I’m only going for a quick ride around ponyville.” And with that, she left before Angel could object; Wings leaving feathers behind her. A beautiful smell wafted around the girls temporary bedroom, instantly waking Applebloom. “Do ya’ll smell that?” she said with an unusually large grin on her face. “Five more minutes…” Sweetie Belle rolled over and stuffed her head into her pillow. “What ‘bout you Scoots?” The white unicorn poked her head up at Applebloom’s question, finding the filly’s bed empty. “What the hay? Where’d she go now?" “Girls! Breakfast is ready! If you want it that is…” Fluttershy called up to the fillys, who bounded down the stairs, nearly tripping over each other. On the table was the biggest pancake spread the ponies had ever seen. There were blueberry pancakes, apple pancakes even pancakes with choc chips and sprinkles! The cream filly immediately began stuffing her face with food, leaving crumbs everywhere, while Sweetie Belle ate slowly with a knife and fork and very cleanlily. “Can ah have Scootaloo’s?” Applebloom queried through mouthfuls of food. “There’s plenty there” fluttershy answered, grabbing Scoot’s plate and putting it on a high counter. “There was.” Sweetie retorted, noting to the lack of food and Applebloom’s over-bloated stomach. Meanwhile, Scootaloo had hit some traffic. She was on a narrow stretch of road, right behind Granny Smith, which in her opinion, was the slowest mare in the whole of Equestria! The pegasi filly grumbled as the old green pony sat on her haunches in the middle of the road and fell asleep. Scootaloo winced as she tried to move the snoring lump. It was impossible for her scooter to go off-road, as it was only rocks and twigs. This sort of rough terrain would be too tough for her scooter to take. She began to think about her options. She grinned and kicked her scooter up onto her back and got ready to leap. Scootaloo got a quite large running start before jumping quite high into the air, and perfectly landing on the other side, besides the completely toppling over granny smith and face planting part. I’d better hurry she thought to herself. They’ll be wondering where I am. It was only about ten minutes later when the door to Fluttershy’s cottage opened and a rather grumpy pegasi walked in. “Where have ya been?” Applebloom asked, clearly out of concern, “Ah was worried about ya.” “outside.” Scootaloo replied stubbornly. “here is your breakfast, if you want it.” Fluttershy said in her quiet voice. Scootaloo didn’t have to be asked twice. That afternoon, the three girls were gazing at the sunset. Colours of pink and orange merged with the blue creating a beautiful scene. “Celestia has outdone herself today” Sweetie said with a sigh, clearly transfixed at the beautiful scenery. “She sure has” Applebloom sighed. “GROSS!” Scootaloo said out of disgust. “Sunsets are soppy girly things.” “Whatever Scoots. Who’s pickin’ y’all up?” “Rarity said she would but knowing her…” Sweetie Belle paused for a moment. “… She’ll pack about 607 outfits just for the short trip here and back. What ‘bout you Applebloom?” “Mah sister obviously.” The two girls turned and looked at Scootaloo and there was an awkward silence. “Well? Who’s pickin’ yah up?” “M-me? Oh um I-I’m walking home.” Applebloom thought this was an okay answer so she turned and continued staring out the window, while Sweetie looked at her friend with concern. There were dangers out there, but Scootaloo could handle herself right? “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, it can be dangerous.” Scootaloo just looked at her. The expression on her face pretty much said, you can’t be serious. I’ll be fine. Sweetie Belle looked at her friend with worry it will be ok right? But just to be sure that everything was well; she decided to follow the pegasi home that night. After Applebloom left, Scootaloo quickly glanced around her to make sure the coast was clear. After saying ‘see ya’ to Fluttershy and grabbing a couple of biscuits, she jumped on her scooter and sped off. Sweetie Belle poked her head out from under the table and quickly followed. The unicorn was defiantly not a runner, but kept up a good pace before finally losing to filly around a corner. Her great tracking skills hadn’t failed her though as she followed tracks in the dirt. She was eventually lead to a dark, narrow alleyway and there! Scootaloo’s scooter was propped up beside a crate and her old dusty blanket thrown along the floor, but she wasn’t there. Scootaloo had always seemed to escape detection. Sweetie thought. She turned around and screamed. “SCOOTALOO!” she yelled. “DON’T EVER CREEP UP ON ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!” “Me?...” Scootaloo cried in disbelief. “You were the one creepin’ up on me! Why didn’t ya just keep your muzzle out of other pony’s business?!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes welled up with tears at her friend’s sudden anger outburst. “But… I-I….. Your friend….. I…. worried….” Scootaloo sighed and kicked a rock. She had not meant to upset her friend. ”why is all your stuff here?” Sweetie sniffed. “I, uhh…. Heard somepony comin’ a-and I, um you know hid until I saw who it…. Was?” Scootaloo gave an awkward unconvincing everything’s fine’ smile. “You live here don’t you?” “what I do and where I go is none of YOUR business.” Her tone was cold and dark. “Tell anyone and I’ll tell Rarity you ruined her expensive gold-laced prom dress.” Her face showed no emotion and her eyes were clouded. Sweetie Belle was so scared by her friend’s attitude she ran off tears streaming down her face wailing ‘I’m sorry’. > A Petty Argument > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: A Petty Argument “Oh darling Sweetie, Whatever is the matter? I have not seen you this upset since, well, yesterday.” Sweetie Belle ran past Rarity like a jet, leaving puddles of salty water behind her as she cried. Sweetie ran into her room and stuffed her head into her pillow crying quite heavily. “Sweetie, you look a mess. What happened?” The Unicorn sniffled, “I can’t tell you… I-I…. She scared me Rarity!” Rarity placed a hoof around her little sister and gave her a heart-warming hug. “Who, Darling?” “S-S-Scoot…. Scootaloo…. S-she, I…. I followed her and her home is… no, I CANT TELL YOU.” Rarity sighed, deeply in thought and sorrow for her closet friend. She vowed she would find out what was going on. Whatever it took. The next day, Rarity casually walked around ponyville with her little sis, looking for a certain filly who had DARED to upset Sweetie. After all, that was her job. The Perfectly groomed pony stood stock-still. There! The loud unmistakable buzzing of a pegasi filly that had yet to learn to fly. The speeding blur was disappearing around every corner there was in town. It stopped as Rarity grabbed the scooter by her hoof. Sweetie gasped. She had no idea her sister was capable of such quick reflexes. “What the hay lady? I was scooterin’ he—oh uh haha, hi uh Rarity.” “Do NOT play the nice filly with ME! Why don’t you tell me why MY sister came home BAWLING HER EYES OUT last night?!” Scootaloo looked shocked. “w-what? I had no idea, look I’m sorry ok? SHE shoulda just minded her own business!” “Well excuse ME for asking.” “FOR THE LAST TIME, WHAT I DO AND WHERE I GO IS NOPONYS BUISNESS!!” at that point, everyone in ponyville and turned and stared at the orange pony, who’s chest was heaving with each angry irritated breath. “What the hay is goin’ on here?” Applejack, Applebloom and Twilight Sparkle looked at the situation that was unfolding with great curiosity. Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle with hatred. She said she wouldn’t tell, well she didn’t actually but… there was a familiar rainbow streak in the sky and a blue Pegasus mare landed in front of Rarity, the sun shining off her lightning bolt cutie mark. All this screaming and yelling had pulled her out from her beauty sleep so she had a right to figure out what was going on. “What’s with all this racket?” she said with a slight irritation in her voice. “This young filly scared my Sweetie so much she could barely talk last night and then SHE began to yell at us.” Rarity went up to Rainbow’s ear and whispered, “She’s in a particularly murderous mood” Rainbow Dash looked confused. This didn’t sound like the Scootaloo she knew. “What’s happened?” she asked calmly. “S-she, followed… and…. Home…. I…” Scootaloo stared at the dirt. She couldn’t look her idol in the eye. “Does anypony know what’s up?” “SCOOTALOO’S HOMELESS!” Sweetie blurted out, instantly covering her mouth. Everypony looked at Sweetie Belle and then Scootaloo. “Is this true?” “n-no, n-n-not really, I have a home….. J-just not in a……………. h-house. P-please please d-don’t take me back to t-the orphanage! P-please…” “WHAT? You’ve got to be kidding, I had no clue you had no family!” Scootaloo’s eyes welled up and a single tear escaped after hearing the word ‘family’. “Sorry, Look kid, I know you can’t fly yet but how about…. You stay with me? You know, up in Cloudsdale?” Scootaloo looked up at her hero. Rainbow Dash had a sudden care in her eyes that nopony had seen before, but Rainbow just knew she had to help her. She smiled, and held a hoof out to the orange filly that was dirty and mucky from living in an alleyway. The pony grabbed it and uttered a small ‘thankyou’. Her voice cracked slightly, probably from all the yelling. “Hop aboard kiddo I’m taking you for your first flight lesson.” And with that, Rainbow flew over the clouds and beyond, with little Scootaloo holding on for dear life. “Wow! It’s so fluffy!” Scootaloo danced around Rainbow’s cushiony floor. ”Clouds are.” The blue mare replied. “So….” “So what?” “So, when are you gunna teach me your moves?” Rainbow frowned. She looked at the white ceiling and sighed. “Look, kid. I said you could stay here, I never said I would teach you anything.” Scootaloo looked hurt, but then gave a cheeky smile. “I bet I could get my cutie mark quicker than you could do a Sonic Rainboom.” Rainbow cringed, a slight hint of determination sparkled in her eyes. “Why you…..” and with that she sped out the window and completed a sonic rainboom quicker than you could say ‘cutie mark’. Scootaloo’s grin was as big as Celestia’s sun. “What are you happy about?” Rainbow looked at the Orange filly as if she was the weirdest thing she had ever seen. “Oh nothing. Only that I tricked you into showing me a trick.” Rainbow Dash gave an awkward smile “Alright kiddo. Time for bed.” “But it’s only 3:30…” “exactly.” And then Scootaloo just smiled and gave her idol a hug. She was living the dream. Thanks to a petty argument. > A Terrible Accident > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4: A Terrible Accident “Hey kiddo, how ‘bout it?” Scootaloo yawned and fell out of bed. Rainbow was lucky. The clouds were soft. So all Scoot felt was fluffiness. “YEAH! Wait what?” the young filly was still half asleep and sighed heavily. “Well duh. The flying lesson I promised you. Ya gotta get up bright and early!” Scootaloo looked out the window and frowned. The sun had barely risen. “Alright Scoots. Flap those tiny… uh marvellous wings like there’s no tomorrow!” Scootaloo nodded at her teacher’s command. She flapped her wings so fast it looked like a blur. Man, she’s like half dragonfly or somethin’. Rainbow Dash thought. It’s just not normal. “How am I going?” A call snapped her out of her daydreaming. “You’re doing great! Sorta….” “AWESOME! IM FLYING!” Scootaloo yelled, even though her hooves were still firmly on the ground. “Ugh. This is gunna take FOREVER!” Rainbow moaned. “Look kiddo, I’ll give you a lift.” Rainbow trotted over to the miniature pegasi and lifted her up onto her back. “Three, two, one… FIRE!” the rainbow maned pony launched her fan into the air, only to see her soar and glide as if she was born to fly. Maybe the headstart was just what she needed. Rainbow grinned and flew up to the happy filly. They sped around the skies of ponyville, and Rainbow even taught scoots a few of her signature moves, even though Scootaloo wasn’t able to handle the ‘Sonic Rainboom’ procedure. There was a sudden flash, but the two ponies dismissed it as ‘a camera’. Scootaloo eventually tired and flew down to the closest cloud and watched her hero in action. Rainbow Dash twisted and twirled around the clouds while Scootaloo was writing down everything she saw in a small notebook. Then Scootaloo remembered the time. She was going to be late! As she bent down to pick up her schoolbag, she noticed something different. Her eyes grew large and her mouth flew open. She knew what the flash was. “IGOTMYCUTIEMARK!!!” Rainbow Dash Wobbled in mid-air and began to cascade down to the ground. The sudden scream had shocked her so much, she had fainted. “Rainbow Dash?!! Noooooo!” Scootaloo jumped off the cloud and sped towards her. The young filly grabbed Rainbow but she was too heavy and kept falling. Scoot eventually let go and much to her heart’s Dismay, The once cheerful Pegasus pony had hit the ground hard, unconscious and with her wing bent at an odd angle. Scootaloo’s eyes watered and then tears started streaming down her face. Scared and unsure, she ran off, leaving Rainbow Dash alone. Scootaloo ran to school, feeling like she’ll hurt somepony if anyone dared put their hoof out of place. She had her bag covering her flank, as she had completely forgot about her cutie mark after Rainbow began plummeting out of the sky. Her face was stained from her tears and she looked a mess. Scoot walked into the classroom late and Cherilee didn’t look down from her rollcall list when she heard the door close she said sternly, “You’re late young lady. You are going to have to have a deten….” Cherilee’s eyes opened wide when she saw Scootaloo in the state she was in. “oh my goodness! Please Scootaloo, wait outside, I will speak to later!” Scootaloo sniffed and slowly walked outside the room and sat on her haunches with very little enthusiasm. “Class dismissed.” Cherilee walked outside and sat down next to the orange filly. “Now tell me, what happened?” “I-I-I… Flying… Rainbow… Her…” and Scootaloo broke into fresh tears anew. “Look, I’ll speak to you when you have calmed down. For now, go into the playground. Your friends will cheer you up.” Scootaloo walked through the playground, not really sure where she was going. She had never felt so depressed. “Hey Scootaloo! Why were you so upset this morning?” the pegasi turned to see Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looking at her with great curiosity. “Ah have never seen yah cry before.” Scootaloo Sniffed, a new tear escaping, and dumped her bag on the ground. She layed her head on it and stayed silent. “WOW! Yah got yah cutie mark? Why didn’t yah say so?” Scootaloo looked at her flank. It was beautiful, a pair of wings, one wing silver and one gold with a lightning bolt through the middle, which was the same colour of her mane, purple. Scootaloo remembered Rainbow Dash, face-down in the dirt, all because of her cutie mark. Her vision clouded over and she tore at her cutie mark. “W-What are you DOING?!” “Arrgh this is ALL MY FAULT!” Scootaloo gritted her teeth and ripped her cutie mark more. A drop of blood hit the ground. “what the hay are yah doin’ tah yourself Scoot?!” Applebloom looked at her friend with shock. “What is up with you today?” Scootaloo paused and cried. “I-I-I k-ki… Rain….” And then she ran off, leaving two very worried ponies behind her. Scootaloo stopped running and sat underneath the slide. She heard hoofsteps walking towards her. “Haha, what do we have here? A poor sorry excuse for a pony.” The orange pegasi turned and saw her two enemies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “What do you want?” she said through muffled sobs. “Oh nothing. Just that you look terrible. Pfft. Like we care. You look so stupid when you cry! Heck, you can’t even fly properly.” Scootaloo felt her face burning. She growled under her breath and started scratching in the dirt with her hoof. “You may have gotten your cutie mark, but it looks terrible. Just like you.” That was the last straw. She raised her hoof and made contact right on Diamond Tiara’s face. “y-you hit me?” The surprised filly stared at Scootaloo. Her chest was heaving and her eyes looked bloodshot. For once in her life, Scootaloo didn’t know who she was anymore. She lunged again, but this time at Silver spoon. The pony only just moved out of the way “FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!” there was a large crowd gathering. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stood back in shock and said nothing. This wasn’t the Scootaloo they knew. “What is going on here?” Cherilee stood in between the ponies and scowled. “I’ll ask again, what’s going on here?!” Silver Spoon glared at Scootaloo and then said “this maniac attacked us!” Scootaloo didn’t object as she stared at everyone before ripping at her cutie mark again. “What has gotten into you today young lady?” Scootaloo stopped, and started bawling her eyes out again before yelling, “I KILLED RAINBOW DASH!!!” the whole school went silent before Cherilee yelled, “YOU DID WHAT?!” Everypony looked at the purple-maned pony as if she was mad. “S-she was teaching me flying a-and then I-I-I got m-my cutie mark and she f-fell….” Scootaloo could feel new tears brewing. “I-I-I…” Then she just ran off before she could hurt any more ponies. > The Truth Came Too late > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5: The Truth Came Too Late Scootaloo sat in her clubhouse. Crying so much she left a puddle on the floor around her. She looked at her notebook. It had all of Rainbow’s tricks in it. She read over it over and over and then turned the page. It was a hand drawn picture of Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo picked up a red crayon and drew a cross on Rainbow’s heart. “What have I done? I’ve murded, hurt and upset ponies… and it’s all because of THIS!” she tore at her cutie mark again. She ripped every hair on her flank until her cutie mark was gone. Then she bit some more. Blood dripped off her as she bit a large gash into her flank. She sat in a puddle of blood and closed her eyes as she went dangerously pale. Then she fell over, unconscious. School had ended later that afternoon and parents and siblings were picking up their pony friends and family. Cherilee stood at the door saying ‘goodbye’ to all the young foals as they left. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stayed behind with their sisters as the waited anxiously for their friends return. “I do not think she is coming back.” Rarity sighed. Applejack just nodded. “Nah, she’ll come back! Ah hope…” Applebloom said with hope. A young mare came to the front gate and stopped in front of the small group. Her wing was bandaged and had a patch stuck to her head but was otherwise unharmed. “R-Rainbow?!!” Sweetie and Applebloom looked at each other in fear. “She’s ah ZOMBIE!!” the two fillys ran behind their sisters and trembled. “Goodness, what on earth happened to you?” Rainbow smiled. “I only had a fall. The kid yelled something about a cutie mark and I blacked out. I’m still very happy for her, though. By the way, where is she?” Applebloom stood up and poked her head around Applejack. “Ah don’t know where she is. She got in ah fight with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. She kept tearin’ at her cutie mark and then ran off. She said she killed yah.” Rainbow looked shocked. “We have to find her! Applebloom and Applejack, you check her alleyway. Everyone meet here after they finished looking” The two Apple workers nodded and left. “Cherilee and Sweetie, you check Sugarcube Corner, she may be there.” They nodded and ran off too. “Rarity, you’re with me.” Rarity nodded. She had never seen Rainbow Dash so serious. Normally she was cool and outgoing. But it was obvious that she was under a lot of pressure. “What other places could she be at?” Rarity thought for a moment. “Well, for starters, the library?” Rainbow shook her head. “My fashion boutique?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “No way. She wouldn’t hang there if it was the last place in ponyville. Where else?!” Rarity thought for a moment. “She could be at the clubhouse but I highly doubt—“ “let’s go then!” And then Rainbow sped ahead with Rarity following not far behind. At the Alleyway, Applejack and Applebloom looked around. Her dusty blanket was stuffed in a corner, but the place was otherwise empty. Cherilee and Sweetie were greeted with cupcakes, cookies, lollipops and Pinkie Pie. But no Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash and Rarity turned up at the treehouse, unaware about what they were about to see. They walked through the door and stood still. The colour drained from Rainbow’s face and her mouth flew open. There was Scootaloo. Bloodied and hardly breathing. Her new cutie mark practically ripped off her flank only to be replaced with a large seeping cut. “R-Rarity! PLEASE PICK HER UP!” “But I do NOT want to get my hooves dirty, as much as the situation demands it. As a matter of fact---“ “WITH YOUR MAGIC!!!” Rarity quickly reacted, picking up the heavy mound and quickly galloping off with Rainbow swiftly running beside her. They didn’t even stop at the school to say ‘FOUND HER.’ They just ran past, leaving the four ponies only to look at the situation and run after without a second thought. At the local ponyville hospital, Rainbow sat outside in the waiting room, with her head in her hooves, anxiously waiting for the doctor’s report. “This is all my fault.” She said softly. “I shoulda just went to the school as soon as I got my cast on. I-I-I really shoulda…” a tear slid silently down her cheek. Applejack put her arm around Rainbow, sort of to calm her down and to comfort her. “It aint yer fault.” She soothed. There were hoofsteps and Rainbow turned her head to see the doctor walking towards her. “H-how is she Doctor… uhh… Doctor…” “Doctor Needle-Point and I have good news and bad news.” The group turned and listened intently. "yeah, what’s the news?” the doctor sighed. “Well the good news is, she’s alive. The bad news is she’s on a ventilator and mild life support.” Rainbow was worried. “Can we see her?!” “Well no but---“but before he could finish Rainbow was already In Scootaloo’s room, followed by Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. “h-hey kiddo… I-it’s me. I’m so sorry!” Rainbow rested her head on Scootaloo’s bed and cried. Her tears landed on the white blankets and Scootaloo’s eyes flickered opened and she looked at Rainbow. “y-you’re ‘cough’ alive…” Scootaloo managed a weak smile. “T-take it easy kid. y-you n-never did show me y-your cutie mark.” Scootaloo’s eyes welled up. She looked at her bandaged flank and pointed to it. “I-I-I ripped it o-off…” Rainbow smiled. Thankful that her little friend was ok. “I might have a solution.” She said. At that point, Twilight Sparkle walked in with Spike, who was carrying a magic book. “So this is the young filly in need of help.” Twilight concentrated hard, and the bandage disappeared, the gash closed up and her hair re-grew, revealing her new mark. ”It’s gorgeous.” Rainbow Dash said. “I’m proud of you.” Scootaloo smiled and went into a violent coughing fit. Doctor Needle-Point ran into the room with a nurse who was carrying shockers. “CLEAR!” the doctor yelled and the nurse quickly slammed them down on the young pegasi’s chest. She stopped coughing and her heart monitor went flat. “AGAIN!” the whole situation passed as a blur. It was bright. Scootaloo had no idea where she was. She knew her time was soon. The light threatened to overwhelm her. The heart monitor started beating again and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle sighed in relief. Scootaloo opened her eyes again. She knew she didn’t have long. “R-Rainbow Dash… Please… f-for me…” Rainbow looked at her fan. “W-what is it kiddo?” she sniffed. “P-please… join the…… W-Wonderbolts…. Use y-your talents, soar t-the skies…” And then she smiled at her friends and closed her eyes. The heart monitor went flat once again. The doctor tried all he could, the nurse also, but the Purple-Maned orange filly had taken her last breath. Twilight stood still. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle Ran out of the room crying but Rainbow Dash just stared at the Pegasi’s once lively body. “y-you were the only one w-who believed in m-me… I-I was so stupid… I-I’m so sorry… I…” The door opened and Fluttershy walked in and placed a wing around Rainbow, who was crying and sobbing over the sad loss of the one pony she had felt she had to protect. But she knew one thing. She had to become a Wonderbolt, not because of her own personal desire, but for Scootaloo’s sake. It was her last wish. > She Lives on, Inside Me > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: She Lives On, Inside Me Sweetie Belle and Applebloom didn’t turn up to school the next day and Cherilee had the day off. There was a Funeral on, Scootaloo’s Funeral, and most had turned up, many of which hadn’t known the filly that had put a sense of adventure into the hearts of her friends. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon turned up, and said their speech. Mainly out of guilt. They really did admire the young pony. Each took their turn to speak, with only a precious few being really heard. Applebloom climbed the steps and stood next to the small hoof-crafted coffin and placed the pegasi’s blanket and scooter inside it, next to the bestest friend she had ever had, who now layed still, with a peaceful sort of smile on her face. “S-she was tah bestest friend a-ah could ever have w-wished for.” She said through sobs of pain. “I-I… she only just fulfilled her dream… she learnt t-tah fly a-and got her mark and I-I-I….” Applebloom couldn’t talk anymore. Her eyes were full of saltwater and her voice was muffled. It wasn’t long before Applejack ushered her away from her friend’s final resting place. Sweetie belle was next. She sang a heart-warming song, in honour of her beloved friend. Though it was only short, You have lived your life, You have fulfilled your dreams, And walked into the light. You may be gone, But you are forever in our hearts, We will miss you, Our angel, Scootaloo. She sang it beautifully, before breaking into fresh tears anew. Rarity placed a beautiful silver cloth on the coffin’s lid. It was embroided with gold and laced with diamonds. There was a picture of a pair of wings and a halo, made with sapphires. A tear escaped from Rarity’s eyes as she closed them and walked away with sweetie who was still crying. Even Pinkie left a cupcake and her hair was unusually straight and she didn’t talk for the whole time. Then it was Rainbow’s turn. She stood silent at the coffin’s table and cried silently. “S-she was m-my secret joy. The o-one who k-kept me going, motivated…. I-It’s m-m-m-my fault and I-I’m so s-s-sor-rry-y-y!!!” Rainbow pulled something out from a small bag and placed it on the coffin, it was her pride and joy, her ‘best young flier’ award. She wept over the coffin and stroked Scootaloo’s mane before finally leaving with the rest of the gang. The town felt like a ghost town. Abandoned, with nopony’s happy squeals or giggles. Everypony was at home, mourning a loss of a young filly many hadn’t known. Outside the library, everyone stood around Rainbow, who had felt the sudden loss like a bomb exploded in her heart. “S-she’s really is gone…” Fluttershy said. There was another sudden flash, much like Scootaloo’s and something else had appeared. Rainbow Dash’s Cutie mark had changed. Everyone’s jaws dropped open, their eyes wide with shock. She still had the original cloud and rainbow lightning bolt, but now the cloud had a beautiful pair of wings, with one silver and one gold, and with a small purple lightning bolt in the middle of her rainbow one. The blue mare stopped crying and smiled. “No she isn’t… She lives on, inside me.” -END- -Rainbow Dash then went on to become a member of the Wonderbolts, just like Scootaloo had wished for. She often visited Scootaloo, mainly in dreams and visions. She knew they probably were only conjured from her imagination, even if they felt real, but she knew that one day, they really would meet again.