After a long day of crusading, Scootaloo whizzed by ponys on her scooter, and soon pulled into an alleyway. She rolled the small vehicle to an old refrigerator box. In the box was a tattered blanket, some newspapers, an old umbrella, a wagon, a container of whatever bits she could get her hooves on, and a picture of her parents before they disappeared. As Scootaloo put her scooter in the box, she heard two voices she didn't want to hear. "Well at least those blank flanks don't come this way." Said Diamond Tiara. ""Hey, DT. Lets take a shortcut through this alley." Silver Spoon pointed toward the alley that held the box. "Fine. At least we will get there quicker." DT responded as the bullies started down the path Scootaloo had made. Oh No! I got to hide! They can't find out I'm an orphan who lives in a giant box! I'll be bullied even more! And then word will get out, and the Ponyville Orfanage will take me in, and I will never be able to follow any of my dreams! suddenly she realized that in the box was the only hideing spot. But Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were so close, they would see her. May as well except my fate. the orange Pegasus filly thought as her two tormentors approached. Suddenly she saw a ten bit piece. That was valuable to any foal. Then she told herself that Rainbow Dash always takes risks. She quickly ran to the bit, picked it up, and jumped in her box, right in front of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon! The two bullies decided to take a shot in the dark, figuring that if they were right, they would get a sweet taste of victory. "So. Your not just a blank flank, but an orphan no pony cares about!? How embarrassing!" DT laughed. Scootaloo's ears flattened, and she slowly walked out. She had hoped they wouldn't see her, but they did. "Well. Looks like your status just lowered to rock bottom." Smirked Silver Spoon. Scootaloo backed into the wall of a nearby building. "Lets see what your friends think of you when they find out." Diamond giggled, obviously enjoying ever moment of Scootaloo's misery. .....MEANWHILE...... Rainbow Dash flew around Ponyville, kicking clouds and watching Derpy just to make sure the clumsy mail mare didn't drop something on her. As she flew over the town, she saw three ponys in an alley. Two of them were talking to another one, and laughing every once and a while. She looked at the pony up against a wall of a nearby building. She saw orange and purple. Is that Scootaloo? .................. Scootaloo edged toward her home. But Silver Spoon pointed at her and laughed. "Oh look. The strongest of the Cutie Mark Crybabys is upset. Why don't you run to your mom? Oh wait, she's probably dead." "You don't know that!" Cried Scootaloo. She had always been able to deal with the bullying before, but this was to much. "My parents might still be out there! You'll see!" Screamed the emotionally distraught filly. Tears streamed down her face. ............. Rainbow Dash had enough. After hearing some of the conversation, she knew she had to act fast. Scootaloo was capable of fighting back when teased about not having her cutie mark, Dash had seen it. But this was past her limit. She zoomed down and landed between both partys. All of the fillys were shocked at the rainbow colored mare's sudden action. "Leave her alone!" Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn't bother putting up a fight. They ran away faster than Pinkie Pie could appear out of nowhere. Dash turned her attention to the crying filly behind her. "Are you ok, Scoots?" Scootaloo just ran up and hugged Dash, crying into her coat. "Why did they have to go missing!?" She Whined. "Shhhhh. It's ok, Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash hugged the filly. "Now. I'm going to take you in my home. Till you can fly, if I can't get a moment to carry you up, ask another Pegasus to get you home. Now, to the sky!" Rainbow grinned as she held up the filly and flew to her, No, THEIR home. ........
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned not to run away from your fears, but instead to face them. When you run from them, they come back to haunt you, but by facing them, you get stronger.
Rainbow Dash was handleing some storm clouds when she heard the voice of her favorite filly. "Rainbow Dash! Look at me!" Said Scootaloo gleefully. Dash looked to see the filly flying around in loops. "Alright, Squirt! You are doing really well!" Scootaloo started flying as fast as she could in one direction. A purple streak followed her. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were heading over Dash's house to get Scootaloo when they saw the small cone form around her. It got narrower as she flew faster. She was almost there... BOOM Scootaloo did a loop right after she did it. A Sonic Boom. It wasn't a Sonic Rainboom because it was purple, but a Sonic Boom all the same. Soon she was hovering by Rainbow Dash, who was smiling brightly. "You did it!" Rainbow shrieked. "You really did it!" Scootaloo was panting, but smiling. She looked at her wings, but her attention was drawn to something else. Three purple lightning bolts... on her flank. "MY CUTIE MARK!" She screamed. She ditched Dash and flew to the other crusaders, showing them her cutie mark. "Does this mean you woulnt crusade with us any more?" Asked Sweetie Belle. "What! No way! I'll adventure with you guys and help you get your cutie marks, I just woulnt be earning mine. I mean, you guys are my best friends. Plus now we have some power over Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon." Scootaloo grinned "Cutie Mark Crusaders, HO!" And the girls ran off to the clubhouse, thinking up more ideas for ways to earn the two remaining cutie marks.
"So only two Cutie Mark Crybabies now?" Echoed a voice, the voice of Diamond Tiara. "No, there are still four of us!" Replied Sweetie Belle. "Right, Babs Seed." DT rolled her eyes. "But still, only three." "No! There's me, Sweetie Belle, Bans Seed, and..." Apple Bloom was cut off by a familiar voice. "No one." All attention went to Scootaloo, who held a worn CMC cape in her mouth. She ripped off the emblem that was sewn on it and threw the decal at Sweetie Belle, hitting her in the face. "Scootaloo..." Apple Bloom started, but was cut off. "Oh right." Scootaloo said as she ripped up the cape, once again throwing it at Sweetie, who burst out crying. "See you later, Cutie Mark Crybabies!" Scootaloo shouted as she walked off with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "Bump, Bump, Sugar Lump, Rump!" The three did the movements, and laughed till they were out of sight, the Orange Pegasus filly in the middle. "Did that really just happen?" Asked Babs Seed, who had just come up behind them. "Well, we're all glad to see ya, but that did just happen, I think, and I hope not." Apple Bloom replied as she stared off in the direction her old friend had walked off in.
(Scootaloo's point of veiw: two years after Betrayal)
I can't believe that I let the two fillys that tormented me convince me into being one of them. Everyday I pass who used to be my friends, and end up picking on them. I want to stop, but I can't bring myself to do it. They would never forgive me, and now they help others get cutie marks. I think Light Breeze is in there, as well as Dinky and Rumble. Whenever I think about them, I feel replaced. It took three new members just to fill the gap I left, and Babs had just moved here when I became a Glitz Princess. I don't know how I could have standed the messes the CMC made, now I buy dresses from Rarity and will sit in jewelry stores for hours. I've changed since I left the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and now live a life of luxury. You may be wondering when I changed, and why I ditched my best friends, and why I suddenly regret it. I feel... guilty. Oh look, there they are now. Maybe I could talk to them, DT and SS are nowhere nearby. They're on a cruise Dash wouldn't let me go on. Maybe I could just say hi... "Hi, Cutie Mark Crusaders." They all turned to me, looks of strength on their faces. (Except Light Breeze's, who was hiding behind Apple Bloom, in strange similarity to her mother and Apple Jack.) "What do ya want, traitor?" Asked Babs. "I'm sorry." I said the words, and walked off. I looked back just to see their looks of confusion. "I wish you would forgive me, but it's too late to redeem myself after two years of torture."
(Scootaloo's point of view, three months after Regrets)
I told them the truth three months ago, and now I want one thing; forgiveness. I'm striving to get myself on better grounds with my old friends. But because I live with a Wonderbolt, I spend the majority of my time at Diamond Tiara's house. But I get the luxury of being rich, which pays off. I quickly scribbled a note to slip in Bab's locker, it read;
Dear CMC,
What I said three months ago was true, I am sorry. All I want is forgiveness from you. I still regret letting Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon convince me into being a Glitz Princess, and I ask for one thing, except my apology.
~The Traitor.
If this went smoothly, I would be forgiven, and I would drop being a Princess, on the other hoof, they could see this as a prank and I would just continue to mistreat them. I can even remember the words that somehow convinced me I was better than my best friends.
"They can't do anything, everypony except them has seen their special talent except for them. If you ask me they're useless in all possible ways." "Your right... but they're my friends..." "But you deserve better friends, ones who can match with the kind of class you deserve." My expression went determined. "You're right, they are useless." "We'd be much better friends." To me, I had just been shown the light. "You're right, you are so much better than those crybabies."
I shuddered looking back on the event that had happened almost three years ago. Quickly, without anypony knowing, I slipped the note through the grates in the door of the locker with a seed shaped lock, and hurried to my own across the hall. I listened as a group of six sets of hooves stopped across the hall. I heard the six lockers in a row open, and listened as Light Breeze read my note aloud to the other Crusaders. I suddenly felt all eyes on me, and turned to look at the five fillys and one colt. "Is this true, Scootaloo?" Asked Dinky. "If it was, would you even believe me?" I asked with a partial whimper. They shared an unsure glance at each other. "See, if it was you wouldn't believe me. You probably see this as a prank." "Scootaloo, if ya really are sorry, why didn't ya tell us earlier?" Asked Apple Bloom. "Because I couldn't. I knew that if I told you, you six wouldn't believe a word I said. I just finally worked up the courage to tell you." The foals turned to each other, and whispered, glancing at me every once and a while. "We forgive you." They said in unison. "Wait! What if it's a trick?" Asked Light Breeze. The CMC looked around and then started talking again. "You WILL regret this, Cutie Mark Crybabies. Trust me you WILL be sorry that you refuse to believe me." I stormed off down the hall to where Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's lockers were. I looked back at the CMC, who were all staring at me, and said "You will regret this. Just wait."
"Scootaloo!" Scootaloo turned to face the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who had just run up behind her. "What do you want?" She asked. "We're sorry." The six foals chimed. Scootaloo looked at them and pulled them into a hug. "I'm sorry too. Can you ever forgive me?" "We already have." Said Rumble, a look of sincerity in his eyes. And so, Scootaloo started hanging out with the CMC, and ditched DT and SS. In fact, after that Ponyville Grade School had a strict no bullying rule, and to this day if you look anywhere, the seven friends will be together. As for the Glitz Princesses, they revealed that they were jealous of all the friends that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had.
"Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash walked over the clouds to the orange filly.
"Hi Dash." Scootaloo flapped her wings slightly.
"Scoots." Rainbow looked at the filly. "We have three important ponies coming today. Be yourself. And don't freak out, rage, or yell."
"What? When did you become so... so MOTHERLY?! And who are these guests?" Scootaloo questioned Rainbow Dash with a bit of furry. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"You'll find out soon enough." Rainbow said as she opened the door to reveal three pegisi.
Scootaloo identified Fluttershy, but couldn't quite put her hoof on the other two. Then it came to her.
"Spitfire and Soarin'.... or should I call you mom and dad?" Scootaloo asked as she looked up at them.
"You... remember us?" Spitfire asked.
"Barely..." Scootaloo mumbled before she spoke her mind. "Why did you leave me? Was I not good enough for you or something!?"
"Would you like us to tell you a story?" Soarin' asked.
"Whatever." Scootaloo slumped on the couch.
"Just tell it!" Rainbow shouted. The outburst got some disapproving looks, but Spitfire soon started to speak.
"Once there was two Pegasus fillys. They were orphans. One was shy and was protected by her twin sister. They were about 6 when a young couple came in. Two pegisi, one orange and one blue. The couple looked at the foals in the orphanage that were waiting to be adopted. Then suddenly their eyes rested on two of them."
Rainbow Dash took over. "They saw the strength in the one, and the possibility that the other had. Their names," Rainbow paused. "Were Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash."
Fluttershy continued. "The couple adopted us and we set off home. Of course we were followed by paparazzi, eager to get a photo of the fillys the two Wonderbolts adopted." Fluttershy gestured to Spitfire and Soarin'
"At the time," Soarin' began, "Spitfire was pregnant with a filly, who soon came to be known as Scootaloo. However, you barely saw us. The nanny took care of you well."
Rainbow Dash butted in. "However, by the time I got into a private flying school, we were looking for a new nanny. Eventually we sent you to live with Fluttershy."
"But you never came. I assumed that they had found a new nanny, but when I found out that you were supposed to be with me, I realized you had been Foalnapped. We searched far and wide, and when we found you, you didn't remember. Some sort of spell was preventing you from finding us." Fluttershy sighed. "We always hoped you would remember, but after a few years we realized that you wouldn't. Then Mom and Dad had to work out their schedules..."
"But why are you telling me now!? Why not before!?"Scootaloo yelled. Rainbow opened her mouth to speak, but Scootaloo cut her off. "You know what, I don't care, I honestly don't!"
Scootaloo opened a hole in the cloud floor, and dove through. She didn't even look back.
Spitfire and Soarin' stared at the hole, mouths agape, till Rainbow Dash cleared up what just happened.
"She just needs to fly and clear her mind. Chances are she'll find the other Crusaders."
Fluttershy nodded. "They should be having a meeting right now."
Spitfire was still confused. "Does that happen often?"
"Sometimes." Rainbow said before closing up the hole. She sighed and got out a necklace with a purple lightning bolt charm and held it in her hooves. "She's still suffering from the time she betrayed the CMC. I don't think she'll ever get over it."
"When did you become so motherly?" Asked Soarin'.
"When I did." Rainbow replied as she set the necklace on the table. "Scootaloo is... complicated. She just needs time." Rainbow Dash looked down at the necklace.
Scootaloo flew away from town. It wasn't that she didn't want to face anypony, it's just that... okay, she didn't want to face anypony. Especially when she was crying and mumbling about this all with the occasional curse word.
"Why now? Why so long? And why am I just now remembering?" She muttered as she sulked down the path in the Everfree Forest. She knocked on the door to Zecora's hut. When the Zebra pushed open the door, Scootaloo walked inside and faceplanted into the floor.
"What is the matter, young Scootaloo? You appear to be amidst the gloom."
"They came back. My parents.... Spitfire and Soarin'... they adopted Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash... and they didn't tell me until now..." Scootaloo started to sob again.
"I understand your pain. These changes are worse than chocolate rain. After growing up as an orphan, it is difficult to have family again." The zebra said as she idly poured some sort of drink for herself.
I can't believe she managed to rhyme Orphan and Again...
"Zecora... I can't really face anybody. You and Twilight are the only ponies who would understand."
"Your reactions are more intense than the average pony, but still not as bad as you need to see a psychiatrist" Twilight told Scootaloo as she put a book back on the shelf.
"I don't know if I can go back right now." Scootaloo sighed as she looked at the Zebra who was understanding her pain.
"Your feelings are complex, but your attitude needs to flex. If help is what you seek, than to your family you must speak."
..............
"We should have told her sooner." Fluttershy sighed as she sunk on the sofa. Rainbow Dash was still holding the necklace.
"She wasn't ready. She never was. And never will. Why did I wait for two months after a huge even happened?!"
"Its not your fault, Rainbow." Fluttershy put a hoof around her sister.
"Yes it is. Just like its my fault what happened to Spectra. I my be considered sane, but I'm still to blame for it." Rainbow said, shoving Fluttershy away. "I don't want Scootaloo to get the wrong idea, but still, I'm surprised I was able to legally adopt her after what happened with Spectra. Even though I adopted her, it was only for her. I can't bear losing her to somepony else." Rainbow was in an intense state of weakness.
"Rainbow, you can't dwell on Spectral Speed. You need to worry about Scootaloo..." Fluttershy said.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING, FLUTTERSHY!? WAITING FOR MY PAST TO BE REVERSED!? WISHING NONE OF THIS EVER HAPPENED!!??!!"
*awkward silence*
"I may not be fully sane yet. And I may still be haunted by my past, but I still care about Scootaloo. Apparently more than any of you!!" Rainbow said as she walked outside to find her sister.
"SCOOTALOO!!" Shouted Rainbow Dash as she flew around. "SCOOTALOO!!"
Scootaloo looked up to see her... 'Sister' and let out an annoyed grunt. The orange pegasus flapped her wings ever so slightly as she ran in the opposite direction. She just needed time... or maybe more..
She shook off her thoughts. I'm not insane... totally not insane... yep. I'm mentally stable... durring this time Scootaloo started shaking. Her pupils shrunk as she fell to her knees. She curled up in a shaky ball, unaware that any of this was happening. As if her mind had shut her out.
"Im fine... totally fine... not insane... not like Rainbow Dash... I'm fine... I'll just shake it off.. I'm not crazy..." Deep inside, Scootaloo couldn't believe her own words. She felt the eyes on her, and just continued to mutter to herself. She didn't seem to acknowledge when she was being picked up, and just continued to give in to this poor state of mind.
"I'm not insane..." She said before she blacked out.
........
"I'M NOT INSANE!!" Scootaloo shouted as soon as she woke up. She looked around to see her... family, all looking at her with concerned and shocked glances. Scootaloo lifted her hoof to her head. "Where... am I...?" She spoke.
"We're in Canterlot, Scootaloo. Princess Luna has been watching you for a long time, and became concerned with your thoughts." Fluttershy said.
"Indeed we have. And if we had not acted when we did, you would have no doubt fallen." The dark princess said.
"But... I'm not... insane..." Scootaloo protested weakly. "If I were insane I would be a killer madmare like Rainbow Dash was."
"What the frick did you put into this filly's head? We were aware of the deeds Rainbow has done, but did not know that Scootaloo uses that as a standard for insane." Luna said. "Clearly she needs help."
"No I don't. I'm fine." She lifted her head up and looked at the princess. "Fine... totally fine.." She mumbled as her head dropped down to the pillow below her. Her heavy breathing and shaking told the members of the room that she was in need of help. "I... I... I think.... that... I... need help..." Scootaloo said, her mane plastered to her face.
........
Scootaloo let the image flash in her mind. She looked at her hooves. She looked at a random spot on the floor. She laughed. Laughed like a madmare. She let the visualization slip away. Looking at the pillow fort she was in, she crawled through the door to the room around her.
She may act like a young filly, but she has the knowlage of a mare her age, and certainly is progressing. the psychiatrist looked at his patient, who was holding a picture of what she experienced in the fort.
"That is a very... interesting... picture you drew, Scootaloo."
My Celestia, that filly is insane. She's looked up to Rainbow Dash for so long, what Rainbow used to be is becoming her. The psychiatrist shuddered at the thought. I'm just being paid to find out what goes on in her head. Nothing more. And give a way to help her...
"Scootaloo, I think we should have a talk."
"But talks are BORING!" Scootaloo rolled on the floor in a childish manner.
"Scootaloo, I understand that you look up to Rainbow Dash. But I believe that might just be your problem."
"What do you mean?"
"Scootaloo, you look up to Dash to the point where you want to be her. But I believe that perhaps you should stay away from her for a bit."
"What! Rainbow Dash is mine! I will be the only thing that matters to her, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!" The Pegasus got up in his face
"Scootaloo. I see that if I separate you from Rainbow you might become her, in order to fill that space. In fact, that was merely to ensure I was correct."
"Huh?"
"Rainbow Dash clearly has not been spending as much time with you as she should. She you decided to fill that space by being Rainbow Dash. But you did that gradually, without acknowledging it. This led up to you say that you weren't insane, and you never were, but as you became Rainbow, you began to go crazy."
Scootaloo thought about this for a moment. She started to mess with her mane, the end result was it hanging down to her sholders.
"I guess you're right... she did stop paying much attention to me... after what happened with Spectra."
"Then I know who can help."
.....
" And then I kept through the air, soaring at intense speeds, my mane brushed back by the wind. Fluttershy flew alongside me as we towed the hot air balloon, determined to stop Spectra...."
Scootaloo looked at her idol. Rainbow still was getting over what had happened, but it was fine with her. She got what she loved most back.
“Come on, you can do it. Just look him in the eye and tell him the truth.” Scootaloo kicked a stone away from the path, her wings flapping occasionally out of excitement. She jogged along to Ponyville School, her thoughts encased by the item in her saddle bag.
She walked to the school yard to wait for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Quickly glancing around, she spotted him. Rumble stood off on the far side of the school yard. She smiled slightly and made her way off to him.
About half way there, Scootaloo saw Diamond Tiara talking to Rumble, a paper heart in her mouth. Diamond looked at Rumble expectantly, who took the card from Diamond. Scootaloo couldn’t believe her eyes. She felt sadness – no, immortal rage, rise up in her. Still suffering from earlier happenings, she couldn’t help but envision herself killing Diamond Tiara.
Twisted by these thoughts, her mind began to envision farther than that. She saw Diamond and Rumble, then a filly, and then she saw herself, blinded by rage. She watched in her mind as the filly died at her hooves, and all the way to stuff that would make me tag this mature. I want to avoid that.
She watched Rumble and Diamond walk off together. In the midst of blind rage, Scootaloo ripped up the note she made for her crush. This Hearts and Hooves day she was going to get her own very special somepony. It was going to be the only colt in the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Or she thought.
The rush of sudden emotion caused some damage to the falling sanity of the orange Pegasus. Most ponies didn’t realize the distortion in her world emotions created. But with the weak barrier that surrounded her insanity, it was quite easy to damage her.
As images flashed through her semi consciousness, Scootaloo was blinded by her pain, fear, and anger. As if the walls of sanity were cracking.
“But… I love… him…” Cringing as her mind lost a piece of the barrier, a twisted smile formed on Scootaloo. By this point, most had backed away from her, in fear of the results. All who remained inside of the circle surrounding the insanity were the CMC, and the Glitz Princesses.
“Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle tried to grip her friend in magic.
“Snap out of it, LooLoo!” Rumble shouted as he rushed to the filly’s side. While no one else could tell, Scootaloo could feel herself relax in the presence of Rumble. “Don’t let yourself slip…” his voice grew distant. As if he could feel Scootaloo’s pain, he added, “LooLoo… I… “, He sighed before continuing. “A rumble of thunder is just a loud noise without lightning.”
“And a storm without light shall just be a blackened void of pain” Scootaloo finished. She looked up at him with eyes that showed no pain, no anger, no fear, only kindness and sorrow. Slowly, feeling the mood and atmosphere of the moment, they kissed. “You are the thunder...” Scootaloo said as the kiss ended.
“And you are the lightning.” Rumble finished.
While no one could tell, something changed in Scootaloo that day. As if the barrier that kept in her insanity had rebuilt itself stronger than ever.
