Walking a Tightrope - A Surprise Days Story

Walking a Tightrope

The Author's Preferred Edition

A Surprise Days Story

by NoGiantRobots1983

Chapter Four

To Be Fast is to Feel Alive

~Let's Begin!~

It was late-morning, and Fluttershy had already made a commitment.  By her standard, that meant things were going kind of fast today.

The situation was one that seemed oddly familiar.  She had gone to Rarity's in order to return Opal, who had needed to be cat-sitted the previous night, only to learn that Rarity had promised to babysit the Cutie Mark Crusaders.  Then Rarity found out she had an unexpected workload, and couldn't fulfill it while also watching three kids...

The rest had happened like clockwork.  Fluttershy had offered to let them spend the night at her place instead, to which the girls enthusiastically agreed.  Fluttershy only made them promise one thing:  Don't go into the Everfree Forest at night and end up running into a cockatrice.

They were only too ready to agree to her terms.

The fact remained, Fluttershy had to childproof her house as much as possible.  The table was bolted in place, the fireplace could not possibly be lighted, they couldn't sneak behind the couch...

Fluttershy perked her ears up, listening.  She knew the girls were outdoors, and it didn't sound like they were raising a ruckus.

She could swear that she heard a young colt's voice.

No sooner did she notice that, than there was a knock at the door.  Immediately she tensed up.  Visitors were always one thing she didn't like, especially when she had responsibilities.  Omigosh, what if its a salespony?  It always took all her courage to turn down that bargain they were working so hard to pitch, and how would she be able to keep the kids in line later?

Oh, but what if the salespony talked to the girls?  Eep!  What if he sold them a vacuum cleaner?  This was the Cutie Mark Crusaders after all... Only the sun above could guess what havoc they'd wreak with a household appliance!

With a gulp, Fluttershy choked up her courage and did her civic duty.  "C-come in," she squeaked.

The door creaked open, slowly, cautiously, and (in Fluttershy's mind) sinisterly... only for her to perk up with pleasure when she saw that it was not a salespony with a vacuum cleaner, but rather someone she knew quite well.

"Surprise!"  Fluttershy gleefully spouted, "Oh, I was so worried!  I thought you might be a salespony!"

A male voice asked, "Does Ponyville have salesponies?"  The hearing of that voice made Flutters perk up twice as much, and she flew over her friend and right over to her pet.

"And how have you been doing?"  Fluttershy asked Raydence, wasting no time in petting him and hugging him and telling him how cutesy-poo he was.  "I hope you're eating well.  You look kind of malnourished.  Are you getting enough protein in your diet?  Should I catch a chicken for you?"

Raydence replied by scruffling the yellow pegasus' mane and saying, "Aww, you don't have to do that!"

Fluttershy giggled, and started scruffling Ray's mane, and saying, "Aren't you just the lovey-doviest widdle human?"

"I think you have it backwards.  You're the lovey-doviest widdle pony."

"Widdle human!"

"Widdle pony!"

Suddenly another voice said, "You know this pony?"

Fluttershy had been so caught up petting the human that she had, until now, overlooked the colt.  Now, as she fluttered back down to the floor, she was aware of the little spotted fellah with the green mane.

Surprise told the little guy, "Of course!  Fluttershy's one of the first ponies I got to know in Ponyville."

"That's right!"  Fluttershy added, "She saved my life once!"

Surprise contradicted, "Oh, come now!  Your animal friends had more to do with that than I did."  Surprise then said to the colt, "Anyway, Tightrope, you're going to be staying with her while we're in Plum-Plum... if that's okay with Fluttershy, of course."

Fluttershy smiled.  Good with animals, good with kids.  Then a worry occured to her.  "Well... I'd like to say yes, but I'm already taking care of the girls..."

Tightrope asked, "What girls?"

"Why, the Cutie Mark Crusaders--"

Immediately Tightrope perked up and gleefully spouted, "They're here?!  Awesome!"

"They're in the back yard--"

Tightrope didn't wait to hear anything else.

Fluttershy smiled.  "I guess that's that!"

Surprise smiled, but then Raydence asked, "You sure four kids won't be a problem?"

Fluttershy chuckled, "Oh, they're just children!  What could possibly go wrong?"

"Is that a trick question?"

Surprise chuckled, and added, "They're safe.  After all, they've got guardian angels."

Fluttershy's ears shot up in astonishment.  "You mean... you're a member of the Danger Rangers too?"

At the mention of that name, Surprise made a bemused expression and said, "Oh, is that what they're called?"  Fluttershy impulsively made an oops! expression, and Surprise immediately reassured her.  "Don't worry, I already knew all about them.  When you live most of your life on the road and facing danger, you tend to develop situational awareness.  By the way," Surprise delivered to someone at her side, "The kids are around back."

Fluttershy looked out in time to see who Surprise was talking to, and at first was confused twice over:  Once because Surprise was talking to a barrel, and again because Fluttershy couldn't place having put a barrel in her front yard before.  But before she had time to really think about it, Bon-Bon's head popped out of the barrel, winked at Surprise, and then ducked back into her disguise as her hooves came out the bottom and tip-toed around back, there to do their part in making sure the Cutie Mark Crusaders didn't hurt themselves, or anypony else.

Fluttershy felt relief fill her heart, to know that she wasn't in this alone.  Then a question sprang to her mind, and she asked, "So, why are you going to Plum-Plum?  It's... it's not a witch, is it?"  Just saying that word made Fluttershy shiver.

"Nah.  Just a little case of a giant rat that the locals want captured alive.  Big reward.  Fifteen hundred bits."

"A giant rat?"  Fluttershy repeated, as the image filled her mind.  She imagined it being big, and with sharp claws, and large fangs... and a big fat furry belly that it probably just loved getting rubbed!  And it would swish its tail like a puppy and nuzzle any pony that was nice to it and and and... Fluttershy sighed.  "I wish I could go with you.  That thing sounds just so darling!"

"We'll be gentle with it," Surprise chuckled, then said, "Anyway, we must be off.  We'll be back tomorrow."

"Hey!"  Tightrope greeted the girls, "Fancy meeting you all here!"

Apple Bloom nodded with a smile, "Fluttershy let's us spend the night together every once in awhile, jus' so long as we don't get involved with any cockatrices!"

Tightrope's head tilted.  "Why would you do that?"

"It's a long story," Sweetie Belle sighed.  Then she asked, "So, why are you out here?"

"I think I'm spending the night too.  Surprise got some kind of job."

The girls glanced at each other, then back at Tightrope.  Apple Bloom said, "But she never left ya with another pony on her other jobs..."

"Yeah, but this time she's going to Plum-Plum to catch a rat or something," Tightrope was scratching his mane the entire time he talked, and then he asked, "Hey, why does Surprise just take these odd jobs, anyway?  Why isn't she permanently employed?"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shrugged, and Sweets said, "I guess she just likes it that way."

Apple Bloom said, "Ah once asked my big sister that same question.  She said it's because Surprise doesn't wanna be tied down, in case she decides to move on."

It was Sweetie Belle who asked, "Why would she do that?  She seems so happy here!"

Apple Bloom shrugged, "Somethin' about her bein' on a quest.  It has somethin' to do with those witch-things, like the one that caused a stir in Ponyville a couple months back."

"What's a witch?"  Tightrope asked.

It seemed like Apple Bloom was about to speak, but just then Surprise called out, "I'll be back tomorrow morning!"

In response, Tightrope called back, "All right!  Bubbye!"

As he watched Surprise leave, there was a strange feeling.  It was a lot like the feeling he had when his house had burned down and he couldn't find his mom.  He was... by himself, totally independent.  There was no older pony to hold his hoof or look out for him.  The feeling was not entirely pleasant.  He had been in this place called Ponyville for something like two, maybe three weeks, but hadn't yet gotten completely accustomed to it.

He was broken out of his reverie by Apple Bloom suddenly asking, "So, how we gonna crusade for our cutie marks today?"

Scootaloo sat down and waved her hoof, "Umm, actually, I'm not in the mood for crusading.  The Race is coming up."

"Oh, that's right!"  Apple Bloom acknowledged.

Tightrope glanced the little brown pegasus' way.  "What's this about a race?"

"Every year," Scootaloo explained as Tightrope and the others followed her to Fluttershy's shed, where she had parked her scooter, "There's a race a bunch of us kids enter.  It's on the same course the adults use for the Running of the Leaves.  But we don't run," Scootaloo paused for a moment to fasten her helmet, "We kids get to use scooters and skateboards!  And this year, I'm gonna win first place!  Just watch me!"

Watch her they did, and Scootaloo zipped a full circle around Fluttershy's cottage in something like ten seconds.  When she stopped, she was pleased to note that Tightrope's mouth hung open.  "Pretty fast, huh?"

"Yeah, that is fast!"  Tightrope immediately answered.  "I bet you always make first place!"

Scootaloo looked away, glancing off towards the Everfree, but not looking at anything in particular.

Sweetie Belle said, "She didn't make first place last year.  All because some unicorn cheated--"

A powerful rage welled up in Scootaloo at that moment, and she pointed and declared, "Don't talk bad about Zam Zoomer!"  Without waiting for anypony to say anything else, she grabbed the handlebars, started her wings flapping and drove off to the edge of the property.

Tightrope watched, wondering for a moment if they should follow Scootaloo, who seemed intent on going into the Everfree Forest.  He felt relieved when that didn't happen, and instead Scootaloo just made a bunch of circles in the areas where the trees were thinnest.

Sweetie Belle sighed, and asked, "Why does she do that?  We all know he cheated!  She said so herself!"

Tightrope's curiosity was piqued.  "Who is Zam Zoomer?"

The question seemed to cause a silence to fall on the little group.  Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked to Scootaloo, as if hoping the pegasus would be gone long enough for them to answer the question.  Apple Bloom was the first to speak.  "He was this unicorn who moved to Ponyville last year, durin' the month just before summer break.  Ah remember it like it was yesterday... first time I saw him zippin' through town on his scooter, rampin off planks and doin' tricks... I thought it was Scootaloo 'til Ah got a closer look."

"Yeah,"  Sweetie Belle agreed.

"Anyway, Scootaloo met him soon after that.  Ah remember her comin' into our clubhouse, and she was all about how fast and cool he was."

Sweetie Belle interjected, "Yeah, it sounded like she was scared of him."

"She was scared of him!"  Apple Bloom responded.  "Don'chall remember how she used to spend so many hours practicin'?  It got so she never crusaded for cutie marks because she was so obsessed with bein' able to beat him in the next race!"

"Then when the race came, she lost," Sweetie Belle ended petulantly, "Because Zam Zoomer was nothing but a no-good cheater!"

Tightrope asked, "How did he cheat?"

"He used unicorn magic, duh!"  Sweetie Belle answered with the disgust clear in her voice.  "How is a pegasus supposed to beat a unicorn?"

Tightrope pointed out, "But... you're a unicorn."

"Well yeah, but he was using some kind of propelling magic!  I bet it made him super-fast!  No pony could hope to beat someone like that!  That's why its cheating!"

Apple Bloom watched Scootaloo for a moment.  "Ah dunno, Sweetie Belle."

"What do you mean, you don't know?  Scootaloo said so herself, at the end of the race!  Then she went to give him the what-for!"

Apple Bloom blinked, then after a moment she added, "Ya know... that's the strange part--"  Apple Bloom was forced to cut her story short, for Scootaloo was coming back, and they all knew how she'd feel if she knew they were talking about her and Zam Zoomer.

While she parked her scooter and put away her helmet, Scootaloo said, "I'm tired of practicing.  Let's go crusading!"

It was almost lunchtime.  Fluttershy had just fed her animals, and was setting up a table with plates of grass and orange juice, when suddenly there was another knock on the door.  Once again, Fluttershy tensed up, and images of salesponies with vacuum cleaners ran through her mind.  This time, she answered the door.

Once again, it was a friend she was glad to see.  "Oh, good morning, Twilight... or I guess, good noon?"

"Hey, Fluttershy.  Can I come in?"

"Sure," Fluttershy stepped out of the way to permit Twilight's entry, "Would you like a drink?"

"That would be great!"

Once the drink was delivered, Twilight explained her business.  "I came to see Tightrope.  She did leave him with you, didn't she?"

"You know about that?"

"Yeah.  Surprise tried to leave him with me first, and I recommended you."  Fluttershy nodded acknowledgement, so Twilight continued.  "Anyway, I got a letter just now--"

Twilight was interrupted by the sudden opening of the front door.  It was none other than the colt in question who rushed into the room and asked, "Fluttershy, do you happen to have a set of rollerskates, a bungie cord, some piccolos and a pound of macaroni noodles?" He then noticed the other mare, and said, "Oh, hi Twilight."

"Oh, just who I wanted to see!"  Twilight exclaimed, somewhat startling the little guy, "I've just heard from Lavender Falls!  Your mother is alive!"

Tightrope said a casual, "That's good."

Twilight raised her eyebrow for a moment, then decided to lay it on him, "But there's some bad news.  She's in a coma right now, and they don't know if she'll pull through."

Fluttershy and the unicorn both were amazed when Tightrope's response was just a casual "Uh-huh."

Fluttershy had to ask, "Aren't you worried even a little bit?"

"About what?  Mom'll be fine, after all she's already created--" His pupils shrank, and he immediately covered his mouth as if to un-say what he had said.  The two mares glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.  Tightrope quickly said, "Anyway, she'll be fine!  Fluttershy, do you have the things I asked for?"

"What were they, again?"

"They were..." Again his pupils shrank, and then embarrasedly he said, "I forgot."

Fluttershy couldn't help a smile.  "That's okay.  Oh, be a dear, would you?  Tell the girls that lunch is almost ready."

Tightrope sighed, still embarrassed.  "Okay."

The four childen and two adults had a pleasant lunch together, each getting their fill.  Afterward, Twilight said her goodbyes and left for the library.  The children then debated what to do next.

"It's kinda hot today," Apple Bloom argued.  "If we were closer to a pond I'd say let's take a swim and cool down a bit, but as it is..."

Scootaloo twisted her forehoof for a moment as she thought, then she said, "Yeah, but I want to get just a bit more practice in."

"You gonna beat Zam Zoomer this year?"  Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo gave her a dirty look, and then immediately turned for the door, and said, "I'll be back in a minute."

Without saying anything, Tightrope followed her out the door and around back.  He didn't mind the midday summer heat, for a curiosity overwhelmed his mind.  Several, in fact.  He noticed there was something to the way Scootaloo walked, to the way her tail swished behind her.  Even to the way she glanced.  How could he describe this?  The word that came to his mind was "graceful."  He didn't know if that was exactly right, but it seemed to fit.  Why was Scootaloo this "graceful," yet not the other two girls?  This was one curiosity he had, and for some reason, he didn't feel like he could ask.  It felt... wrong, somehow, to bring it up.

So instead, he brought up the other curiosity he had.

"If you don't mind my asking... what was Zam Zoomer like?"

"Wha?"

"I mean... what were his grades in school?"

"I dunno.  He moved in just before summer vacation.  He never went to school!"

"Okay," Tightrope accepted the answer.  They were now at the shed.  "But... what about next school year?"

Tightrope watched Scootaloo gear up, somehow aware that even then she somehow geared up "gracefully."  But there was nothing graceful about how she suited up entirely in silence, not even answering Tightrope's question before she made ready to zip away on her scooter.

Tightrope ran beside her, and cried out, "What kind of guy was he?  Was he smart?  Was he nice?  Why won't you tell me anything?"

"He was strong, okay?"  Scootaloo cried back, "That's all you need to know!"

Then she kicked her wing-power into hyperspeed, and Tightrope could no longer keep up.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle couldn't help watching this scene from a window, and it was only by virtue of that window being open that they were able to make out the conversation.  They continued watching as Tightrope sat and saw Scootaloo zoom off into the distance.  Then the colt didn't so much as slunk back inside.  His head down, without speaking a word, he basically dragged himself to the sofa, only to glance at it and--apparently--decide it was too high to leap onto, so he instead lay on the bottom step of the stairs.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approached Tightrope slowly.  He seemed lost in thought, in a way kids rarely ever are.  "Are you okay?"  Apple Bloom asked with a raised eyebrow, but Tightrope didn't seem to hear the question.

Then, just as the girls had thought to leave him alone, he mumbled, "Am I jealous?"

The girls stopped in mid-stride, and glanced at Tightrope.  The mere mention of jealousy caused feminine curiosity to bubble up in them.  Apple Bloom came beside him, a smirk on her face, and said, "Jealous, ya say?"

"Yeah," Tightrope answered as if talking to himself, "Scootaloo obviously likes him."

Sweetie Belle gasped, realizing who the him in this equation had to be.  "Did she... tell you so?"

"No.  But what else could it be?"

Apple Bloom continued smirking.  "An' this bothers ya?"

Tightrope finally seemed to acknowledge her.  "I think so.  Why, is that bad?"

"No, not at all!"  Apple Bloom stepped beside Sweetie Belle, and said, "Give us just a moment, Ah wanna talk to Sweetie Belle in private."  That said, Apple Bloom directed Sweetie Belle to follow her out front, where only the animals could hear.  There, Apple Bloom said, "What do ya say to playin' Cutie Mark Crusader Matchmakers?"

Sweetie Belle looked wary.  "I dunno... We're not gonna mix up another love potion, are we?"

"We don't have to!  The way Ah sees it, Tightrope clearly likes Scootaloo.  So all we have to do is get her to like him back!"

"But... she likes Zam Zoom...er..." As Sweetie Belle spoke, her wariness waned, and eventually morphed into a confident smirk.  "Yeah!  Tightrope's far better for her than that cheating unicorn!"

"Then it's settled!  Operation, Scootaloo and Tightrope will now commence!"

"Right!"  Sweetie Belle cheered, then asked, "So... what's our first move going to be?"

As it turned out, their first move was during a simple trivia game.  Fluttershy had a riddle book on hoof, and the little ones took turns seeing who could guess first.  It was Sweetie Belle who showed some creativity, by suggesting, "We should play on teams!"

"Good idea!"  Apple Bloom agreed, although in fact she at first missed the point of Sweetie Belle's suggestion and said, "Tightrope--" and then she got the hint when Sweetie lightly elbowed her.  Apple Bloom finished her sentence, "You team up with Scootaloo."

Scootaloo was pleased with this arrangement, because when they were all on their own, she scored the worst, while Tightrope scored the best.  In her mind, she could sit back and let Tightrope answer all the questions.

The games went on until it was dark, and pretty soon it was time for bed.  Naturally, the children moaned and tried to deny it, but Fluttershy could hear them yawn, could tell that they needed their rest.  So she led them to the upstairs bedroom, and saw to her delight that the one bed was, in fact, big enough to hold all four of them.

She only saw one change that needed to be made.  She turned the bed so that its side, rather than its head, was to the wall, allowing the four kids to lay across it in a straight row.

Reluctantly, the children jumped in, though Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were the least argumentative, while Scootaloo hesitated.  By the time the little pegasus finally climbed into bed, the only clear spot was between Tightrope (who was on the far left) and Apple Bloom.

"Do you want me to sing you a song?"  Fluttershy asked with a smile, secretly hoping they'd decline.

Sweetie Belle had already nodded off.  Noticing this, Apple Bloom shook her head, and nopony argued the point.

"Okay, good night!  Sweet dreams!"

Scootaloo tucked herself under the cover as Fluttershy left, and when the older pegasus was gone, Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom, "Don't you think its a little too obvious?"

"Why what ever do ya'll mean?"  Apple Bloom answered half-sarcastically, half-sleepily, and then rolled onto her side.

Scootaloo decided not to press the point any further.  After all, Tightrope was right next to her.  She briefly wondered about the colt.  It had become quite obvious to Scootaloo what Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were trying to do.  The amount of times they had forced her to pair with Tightrope were too many to all be accidents.  Then again, Scoots had the advantage of having been there when the Cutie Mark Crusaders tried to get Cheerilee and Big Macintosh together.  She had experience to draw upon.  So maybe Tightrope hadn't noticed.  Then again, Scoots considered, Tightrope could even be in on it...

A yawn escaped the filly's mouth, and she decided to give her questions a rest, along with everything else about her.  "Well, goodnight," she said, and dozed off.

The morning sun was high in the sky, watching as two travellers made their way along towards Ponyville.  Surprise walked rather stiffly, and Raydence could feel an aura of anxiety about her.  He knew why, and he decided some levity was in order.

"So," he asked, "How long ya think fifteen-hundred smackers are gonna last?"

"About a year," the white pegasus answered quickly.

"Isn't that being a little optimistic?"

"We're not in Dream Valley.  There's nothing to spend it on except for food and rent."

"I guess so," Raydence thought aloud.  "Kinda depressing in a way.  All those poor fillies and colts, growing up without knowing the wonders of cartoons or video games."

"Uh-huh," Surprise answered, clearly not in the mood for this discussion.

Raydence sighed.  "You know he's fine, right?"

"Ohh," Surprise kinda moaned the word, "I know Fluttershy is reliable, but... just... I can't help but worry, you know?"

Raydence knew.  Surprise had barely been able to focus on her job yesterday due to anxiety over the colt who Surprise was just a step away from calling her son.  Surprise had a son.  Raydence knew that, and Surprise knew it too, although she tried to be in cautious denial about it.  After all, Tightrope's real mom could still appear, although the more time went by, the less likely that seemed.  In Ray's opinion, Tightrope's real mom had died in the fire and it was time Surprise officially adopted the boy, and he meant to tell her that very thing once her anxiety was relieved.

Surprise walked on.  She did not look back, her ears did not twitch, and yet she somehow knew, "Is there a puppy following us?"

"Arf arf!"  Pinkie arfed in response.  She had appeared behind the duo just as they passed by a bush.

Raydence turned around and scooped her up, asking, "And how has the pink pony puppy been doing?"

"Arf!"  Pinkie answered, then rubbed her head against Ray's chin exactly the way a snuggling puppy would.  Ray was glad she didn't lick his face--that would've been going too far.

Then Pinkie pouted, crossed her arms and said, "That was mean!"

Raydence went, "Eh?"

"You left without telling me!  You made me think you'd abandoned me!"

Raydence smiled, "Awww, how could I abandon you?"  He scruffled her mane a bit, and Pinkie made some happy puppy noises.  Then Ray said, "We just stepped out of town for a bit to make some quick cash.  Actually, we're gonna stop by Sugarcube Corner after we pick up Tightrope, because I've got this huge hankering for some cotton candy."

His words made Pinkie beam so hard, she almost glowed.  Leaping out of his arms, Pinkie declared, "Awesome!  In that case I better get to work!  I'll spin the greatest roll of cotton candy the world has ever seen!"

"I'll be looking forward to it!"

With that, Pinkie galloped off.  Ray and Surprise traded brief glances and half-smiles, and then continued on their own journey, but within half a step, there was another interruption.

"Just a minute there!"  Rainbow Dash called out as she swooped down in front of the human and put an accusing hoof directly on his chest.  "So what's the deal?"

"The deal?"  Raydence thought for a moment, "Well, Plum-Plum had a two-for-one sale on watermelons--"

"Don't play dumb!  One minute you say you don't like Pinkie Pie, the next minute you're holding her in your arms!  So which is it, do you like her or not?"

Ray smiled.  "She's cute."

"That's it?  Just 'cute'?"

"Uh-huh," Raydence's smile changed to a smirk, as he reached out to scruffle Dash's mane, "Of course, you're still the huggy pony."

"I am not the huggy pony!"  Dash swatted the hand away.  "You just remember, I'm keeping my eye on you, and if you do something to Pinkie that I don't like, I'm gonna let you know about it!"

Then Surprise spoke, "If you don't approve of Pinkie being around Raydence, why did you lead her here in the first place?"

Rainbow Dash landed, and asked, "What makes you think I did any such thing?"

"Oh come now!  Pinkie just happens to know where we're coming in from and you just happen to be in the area.  You don't survive on the road for over a decade without growing a few braincells, Dash."

Rainbow was uncomfortably shifting her hoof now.  "Well, I uh..."

Surprise pulled Dash aside, and spoke in a whisper, "Hey, just between us girls, what's the real story?  Are you jealous?"

Dash made a shocked look, but tried immediately to hide it behind a face of cynical indifference.  "Not the way you think," she whispered back.  Then, breaking away from the white pegasus and speaking normally, Dash added, "Don't get me wrong.  It's just that Pinkie's like a little sister to me.  I've gotta look out for her!"

Surprise nodded, and then changed the subject.  "So, how's Tightrope?"

"How should I know?"

"You're a Danger Ranger, aren't you?"

Once more Dash looked shocked.  "I didn't know you were in the club!"

"I'm not," Surprise smirked.

"But we're top secret!"

"Yeah, and you're good at following ponies without being spotted.  So am I."

"And you followed me?"

"No, I followed that stallion with the clocks on his rear.  Just one day I happened to realize he sometimes followed the girls around, and, well, from where I was that looked a little... alarming.  But I know you're in the club, because I listened in on one of your meetings."

Rainbow Dash's ears drooped, but just for a moment, then she giggled.  "Well, I guess you're right.  Anyway, last I heard, Tightrope's doing fine.  Oh, that reminds me.  Twilight got a letter from Lavender Falls yesterday."

For once, Surprise had heard something she had not expected, and it showed.  "What did it say?"  She asked eagerly.

"His mom's been found."

Raydence felt his heart sink a little.  He glanced at Surprise, and he alone just barely perceived her ears lower a bit.  Clearly, her feelings matched his own.

Rainbow Dash continued, "She's in a coma, and they don't know if she's gonna pull through.  So don't go expecting to get rid of him just yet!"  Rainbow Dash glanced to the south, and then said, "Anyway, a stray cloud just moved in.  I gotta go get rid of it.  See ya later!"

With that, Rainbow dashed off, leaving a human and a flightless pegasus to contemplate the news they just heard.

Surprise sat and sighed, finally allowing her full emotions to show as her ears lowered and she looked towards the ground.

Raydence stood still for a moment, wondering whether or not he should reveal something.  Eventually he decided to go for it.  "Gotta admit, I kinda perked up when she said the mom might not make it."

Surprise looked up at him with half a smile on her face.  "We're a regular pair of villains, aren't we?"

"Of course!  After we adopt a child we'll take over the world!"

"Ah yes, we'll brainwash a legion of cats to do our bidding!"  Surprise stood again.  "But, one thing at a time.  We better see to Tightrope before we go taking over much of anything."

Tightrope had nothing to pack, so he was instead downstairs helping Fluttershy with some household chores.  That left the three girls alone in the bedroom, giving Scootaloo the perfect opportunity to say, "I know what you're up to."

"Huh?"  Apple Bloom asked, and then it dawned on her what Scoots might mean and she tried to look all innocent.

"Is Tightrope in on it too?"  Scootaloo had to know.

Apple Bloom took a second to answer, her little mind not sure if it was better to play innocent or admit everything.  It eventually chose to just admit everything, just because that was easier to do.  "Nope.  It's just me an' Sweetie Belle."

Scootaloo was frustrated.  "You know I'm not a lovey-dovey pony!  What's the big idea?"

"Well," Apple Bloom was getting nervous now, "We just thought... Tightrope likes ya'll.  I'm sure ya noticed."

"Uh-huh," Scootaloo practically sighed that answer out, rolling her eyes.

Apple Bloom kept on, "And, well... we figured if you two got together, you'd dump Zam Zoomer.  Tightrope's much better anyway!"

The mention of Zam Zoomer brought Scootaloo's thought process to a screeching halt.  "Wait, back up.  What about Zam Zoomer?"

Sweetie Belle fielded that one.  "It's obvious, isn't it?  You say you're not a lovey-dovey pony, but you don't allow us to say bad things about Zam Zoomer, you won't even talk about him yourself, and you're not even mad that he cheated!  If that's not a secret romance, I don't know what is!"

There was a moment of silence.  Then Scootaloo felt her lip twitch, her eyes water, and soon she couldn't stand straight up, so she rolled onto her back, laughing as hard as her little lungs could!  She barely noticed the looks on Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's faces.  It took a good couple of minutes for the little pegasus to calm down enough to speak coherently again.

"Wait, you girls thought... Zam Zoomer was my boyfriend?"

"Uh-huh," Sweetie Belle sheepishly admitted.

Apple Bloom added, insecurely, "It's not just us.  Tightrope told us that he was jealous."

That sent Scootaloo into another round of hysterics, which didn't end until both Fluttershy and Tightrope were in the room, to tell them it was time to head into town.  Fluttershy at first worried that Scootaloo might have something wrong with her, but the smaller pegasus soon calmed down.  She said, "Okay, tell you what.  Let's meet up after I win the race.  Then I'll clear up everything."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked dubious about this proposal, but excited as well.  "Deal!"  They said, and followed Fluttershy and Scootaloo downstairs.  Tightrope followed last, asking, "Hey, wait!  Where is the race?"

And so, the race came.  Tightrope, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom all watched excitedly, waiting for the checkered flag to fall.  There were twenty two contestants in all, each lined up in four rows.  In the front row Tightrope spotted Scootaloo.  Tightrope was curious as to how come the racers were placed like this.  "How do they decide which racers go in front, and which ones go in back?" he asked.

Applejack, who was sitting next to her kid sister, heard the question and answered.  "By the numbers on their flanks.  They hand out the numbers when ya register for the race.  Scootaloo was the fifth to register, that's why she's number five."

"I see," Tightrope acknowledged.  Then he asked Sweetie Belle, "Which one is Zam Zoomer?"

"None of them.  I guess he didn't show up!"

Apple Bloom smirked, "Maybe he was disqualified?"

Sweetie Belle returned the smirk, secretly hoping that Apple Bloom's theory was the truth.

"It's starting!"  Apple Bloom couldn't help but exclaim.

The anticipation could be felt.  The crowds had gone silent.  In the hot-air balloon, the normally-talkative announcers Pinkie Pie and Spike had become quiet.  Any minute now, that stallion would wave the flag whose black-and-white checker-pattern matched his shirt.

There it was!  No sooner had the flag waved than Pinkie announced, "And they're off!"  The words were barely out of her mouth as the racers shot out down the speedway!

Tightrope felt confident that Scootaloo had the advantage, since she had started in the front row.  Yet soon he felt a pang of suspense, for as the first bend in the road came up Scootaloo skidded and seemed to lose control of her scooter, forcing her to slow down and causing all the other racers to pass her.  Tightrope's heart sunk when he heard Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both gasp at this unexpected terrible beginning.

Scootaloo was not about to call it quits, though.  She immediately redoubled her efforts, picking up speed on another straightaway and hugging the inner bend of the next turn.  Again she skidded, and it was here that Tightrope realized the skid had not been an accident--rather, it seemed to be a technique of some sort.  He heard Apple Bloom say, "I get it, she's drifting!"

Whatever "drifting" was, it worked.  Scootaloo had passed half the other racers without losing any speed.

Then the course took the ponies into the forest, and Tightrope could no longer follow events as they unfolded.  He could only follow Pinkie Pie's announcements, which often made no sense--especially when she started talking about candy.  Tightrope saw other members of the audience donning binoculars, which the audience had actually been suggested to bring along, and so he followed suit and donned his own pair.  Even so, his view of the race was blocked by the trees, and even when he had a clear view the racers were so distant that he couldn't make out any details.

His heart jumped when Pinkie announced, "It looks like Scootaloo hit something!"

It felt to Tightrope like the world just stopped, nothing was happening, nopony was saying anything.

Then Spike called out, "No!  Scootaloo ramped it!  She ramped off that boulder that sits in front of Beaver Creek!"

Pinkie gasped excitedly, "You're right!"

Spike addressed the audience, "As you all know, Beaver Creek runs right across the race track at one point.  The water is only ankle-deep, but the mud is still enough to cost many racers their speed.  Races have been decided by how gracefully ponies handled Beaver Creek!"

Pinkie added, "It looks like Scootaloo gained second place!"

"She did!  Her jumping the creek entirely gave her a huge advantage!  It's just her and Jelly Jam Boree now!  If I were old enough to gamble, my money would be on Scootaloo!"

Tightrope asked, "Where are they?" and in response, Sweetie Belle turned him until he faced the proper direction.  He could see them now, coming towards one final bend.  Once again, Scootaloo hugged the inner turn, and used that "drifting" thing while her wings worked overtime to maintain her speed.  Uh-oh!  Jelly Jam Boree had done the same thing!

The race was neck-and-neck, and in this final straightaway all it came down to was speed.  Scootaloo's opponent was also a pegasus, and both of them were trying to generate as much speed as they could.  As they got closer, Tightrope could almost swear that he saw smoke coming off of Scootaloo's wings.

It was only now that Tightrope noticed that a yellow ribbon had been put between the poles of the starting line, which was now the finishing line.  He knew that whoever tore that ribbon first would win.  Scootaloo was so close, but he couldn't tell who was ahead.  He could do nothing but hope.  For some reason, he started whispering a countdown to himself.

"Five... four... three... two... one..."

The ribbon tore, and a camera flashed!  Tightrope dared not believe it until he heard it announced.

"Scootaloo wins!"

The little pegasus stood on her hind legs and raised her arms in triump.  Her friends came down to hoist her into the air in celebration, and it was now that Tightrope realized he had been right:  There had been smoke coming off her wings!  She had flapped them so fast that they were burning red!

The hot-air balloon descended, and Spike carried the microphone to the stand, where he said, "Congratulations, Scootaloo, on winning this year's race!  You really put a lot into it this year!  How do you feel?"

Spike held the microphone to her, and Scootaloo only took a second to state her answer.  "Alive."

"Pardon?"

"I went real fast..." she had to take a breath, "and going fast... makes me feel alive."

For some reason, those words caused tears to well up in Tightrope's eyes.

Going fast might've made Scootaloo feel alive, but Tightrope was sure the post-victory celebration at Sugarcube Corner didn't hurt.  Scootaloo herself only wanted a drink, but she payed for anything her friends ordered by using a portion of her prize money--a hundred bits, which had been inside the trophy.  A warm, festive atmosphere wafted through the house.  Everywhere Tightrope looked, ponies looked like they all got exactly what they wanted.  Even Raydence, at the counter, was getting his long-awaited cotton candy which had been reserved especially for him.  Pinkie Pie, too, was getting a good mane-scruffling, which she seemed to enjoy very much.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders talked amongst themselves, taking the occasional moment to sip their drinks and nibble their snacks, as they talked about the race again and again.  It took them about an hour to finish their refreshments, at which point Scootaloo asked, "Anyone want more?"

Sweetie Belle said, "No thanks.  Umm... actually, I hate to bring this up, but..."

The other three Crusaders went silent, all guessing where Sweetie Belle was about to go.

Scootaloo nodded.  "I guess it's time.  Follow me," she left a tip on the table before leading the girls out the door.  Outside, she glanced back once to make sure they were all still with her, and waved for them to follow before walking down the street.  The sun was low in the sky, and in a few minutes, it would be gone.  The sight gave Tightrope a strange feeling that this would be a night he would never forget.

Scootaloo led them down a road that took them to the eastern edge of Ponyville, to a place where the number of houses diminished until they reached the very outskirt, where just one lone house stood between them and the Everfree Forest.  It was a single-story house, and yet the thick oaken timbers which made up its outer wall and roof gave it a sense of strength, especially in a town where most houses had straw rooftops.  The door was smooth, and looked as though it were made of one large block of wood whittled and smoothed to the proper size, whereas most Ponyville doors were multiple planks and two connecting beams, and often with little gaps.  A light was on in this house.  Somepony was home.

Scootaloo knocked on the door.

Tightrope heard soft hoofsteps approaching, and the door opened, revealing the occupant to be a white-maned, silver-furred mare who Tightrope immediately felt reminded him of Miss Cheerilee, except older.  She had a soft look in her eyes, which he read as gentleness... but also something else, something not-as-good but not exactly evil.  Weariness?  Sadness?  Maybe he was imagining it.  After all, she was smiling a little.

"Hello, Scootaloo," the woman greeted.  "Are these friends of yours?"

"Hello, Mrs. Zoomer," Scootaloo replied, and immediately Tightrope glanced her way.  It was just odd to hear Scootaloo sound formal, even if only a little.  "I came to tell Zam about the big race."

"I understand," the older mare nodded, and stepped aside to allow the children entry.

Tightrope glanced at Sweetie Belle, and could see that she felt the same way he did.  During the walk, Sweetie Belle had kept smirking, thinking she'd finally have her chance to tell off a pony she considered nothing but a big cheater, but that had changed the minute she crossed the threshold.  Now, they were all uncertain.  They knew this was leading up to something, and only Scootaloo knew what.

For that matter, Scootaloo had clearly been in this house before, for she led them right to a door at the end of a hall, ignoring all other doors.  Tightrope watched as Scootaloo opened the door to what he knew to be Zam Zoomer's room.

Tightrope had no idea what to expect a child's bedroom to be like, but he knew that his wasn't it.  There were no toys, no books or other personal belongings.  There was not even a bed.  Instead, there was an altar against the far wall, in the center of which was a photo of a unicorn colt with gray fur and a silver-white mane.

"Wh-what is this?"  Sweetie Belle asked, utterly taken aback.

Tightrope gave it a glance over, and answered her, "I... think that in that drawer under the picture... are his ashes."

Sweetie Belle glanced wide-eyed at him, and then at Scootaloo.  Her face clearly showed that she wanted to hear a denial from the pegasus, but instead she got a confirmation:  Scootaloo was sitting on her haunches, with the flat of her forehooves touching each other.  She was in prayer.  A second later, Apple Bloom joined her, as did Tightrope and Sweetie Belle, the latter in tears.

"Hey, Zam," Scootaloo said softly, "I came to let you know that I totally kept my promise today.  I almost didn't make it, because I messed up a drift right at the beginning, and everyone zoomed right by me.  But I got it together, and got back some of my lead by the time I got to the U-turn.  Oh, man, Berry Challenger put up such a fight!  You remember that guy, right?  Well, anyway... The thing that won the race was that trick you told me about, where you ramp up the boulder and jump over Beaver Creek.  Man, thank you so much for that!  That's why I was able to keep my promise."

Sweetie Belle was sobbing loudly now, and now she broke from prayer-sit and practically demanded, "Scootaloo, what's going on?  What promise?"  Scootaloo slowly looked at Sweetie, who then added, "What really happened last year?"

Scootaloo glanced at Zam's picture, as if to say Excuse me, and then turned toward's Sweetie Belle.

"After the race, I stormed off to give Zam Zoomer a piece of my mind... But he saw me, and he thanked me.  I said 'for what?' and he said 'for letting me win.  I know I couldn't have beat you for real.'  He thought his folks had put me up to it, because... because he had... oh, I can't remember its name, but it ate at his insides or something."

Tightrope's mind immediately searched for the name of that disease, but there were at least half a dozen he could think of that fit those symptoms.  All were terrible.  They also all had something else in common that bothered the colt, and he pointed out, "But... those diseases get worse the more you move around.  Entering a race probably..."

Scootaloo nodded.  "Yeah, I know.  He knew, too."

Sweetie Belle practically whined, "And he raced anyway?  Why would he do that?"

Tightrope thought he knew the answer.  "Because... going fast made him feel alive too, right?"

Scootaloo smiled.  "Yep... that's it.  He didn't care that he'd die faster, as long as... he got to die... with a smile on his face."  By the time she finished, Scootaloo's voice had become a choking sob.  Yet she mustered control of herself to say one last thing, "Before he passed on, I promised him that next time... I'd win first place for both of us.  That reminds me..."

Scootaloo reached for her bit bag, and Tightrope guessed she intended to give half the prize money to Zam Zoomer's memory, but before she did, there came a cold breeze, and Scootaloo looked as if somepony had spoken to her.  She asked, "You're sure?"  Then followed with, "Oh, okay..."

Apple Bloom had fought hard to maintain her composure, but even the tough little farmer pony was dropping wetness from her eyes and fighting hard to keep her voice from breaking, as she told Zam, "Ah... Ah'm sorry Ah ever... thought so badly of you."

Sweetie Belle quickly tried to resume prayer-pose, so she could say, "Yeah, me too."  But her composure was too wrecked for her to say anything more and remain intelligible.

Tightrope also resumed the prayer-pose.  He had intended to apologize for being jealous, but just as the barest sound uttered from his mouth, he felt a cool breeze, and a sensation like a hoof was being held gently against his mouth, like Surprise does when she wants to say something without being interrupted.  Tightrope's ears picked up the sound of a voice, quiet and distant, as though of a colt speaking quietly from the far end of a cave.  He shouldn't have been able to make out the words, but he could.  The words were Take care of her.

Tightrope nodded, and said, "I will."

"Why did you say, 'I will'?"  Scootaloo asked him, as they were walking back to Sugarcube Corner, where they had all planned to meet their sisters or guardians and finally separate, heading home for the night.  This was the third time Scootaloo had asked about Tightrope's words, and for some reason Tightrope felt like it would've been wrong to answer earlier, but that feeling had now passed.

"Zam asked me to take care of you," Tightrope admitted.

Scootaloo's answer was to give him a cynical smirk.  "Uh-huhhh.  'Take care of' me, huh?"  The pegasus spared a glance towards Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, noting their attempts to pretend they weren't interested at all.  Turning her attention again to Tightrope, Scootaloo moved very close beside him and, turning her head to emphasize her smirk, asked, "And just what do you mean by that?"

Tightrope didn't catch her meaning, and innocently answered, "I guess he wants me to protect you, and stuff."

Scootaloo chuckled, "And... stuff."

They heard approaching hooves, and looked ahead to see Rainbow Dash cantering towards them.  Scootaloo sighed as the cyan speedster neared, and said, "Well, I guess this is where I get off.  Rainbow Dash always comes to take me to her place when its time to turn in," she explained for Tightrope's benefit.

"Not just yet!"  The mare with the rainbow mane announced unexpectedly.  "I want to show you something first.  Surprise has a surprise for you kids!"

"A surprise?"  Scootaloo asked.  She and her four friends had a sudden case of overwhelming curiosity which compelled them to follow the older pony to Surprise's humble abode.  Even as they neared the door, they heard strange sounds and music coming from within.  The sounds were not exactly unpleasant, just none of the kids could identify the style or the instruments.

The first thing they saw upon entering was Surprise on the counter, a smile on her face, next to Rainbow Dash, and Applejack was on the floor below.  Near them, Pinkie Pie and Raydence were playing with some small devices, connected to a box that was giving off a strange glow.  As the kids walked around, they saw the box didn't simply glow--it had a picture in it!  A picture which seemed to be being controlled by Pinkie and Raydence!

The children sat down around Applejack, and Apple Bloom asked, "What is this thing?"

Surprise answered, "It's a video game."

A weird sound came from the video game, and Pinkie said, "Aww, they got me!"

Tightrope moved next to Raydence, and asked, "What is this?"

"Contra.  Wanna play?"

"Sure!"  Tightrope answered, and Raydence handed him the controller, which was a joystick with large buttons, and then moved to the couch.

"Me too!"  Scootaloo said, and Pinkie handed over her controller and then she, too, moved to the couch.  Perhaps to be with Radey-Wadey, but Tightrope barely cared about that.  Once more, he and Scootaloo were on a team, taking the role of a pair of humans fighting an evil army...

It seemed like only seconds later they were at the "Game Over" screen.  Tightrope was about to make a comment, but Scootaloo had already chosen "Continue," so the fight was on... but not for much longer.  Soon the game told them they were out of Continues.

Tightrope was so angry he smacked the floor, which got him a disapproving glance from Scootaloo.  "If you're not up to the challenge..."

"He's up to it!"  Sweetie Belle cut her off, and went around to Tightrope's side, so she could whisper in his ear, "You wanna show her what a tough guy you are, right?"

When he thought about it like that, Tightrope started to think that maybe he wasn't ready to give up yet.  Even so...

Then Raydence said, "There is a way to make it easier."

"There is?"  Tightrope and Sweetie Belle both exclaimed at the same time, the young unicorn clearly gleeful at the news.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes.  She didn't have to see Sweetie Belle's face to know that the little unicorn saw this as another opportunity to try to hook her up with Tightrope.  What she was curious about, were Tightrope's feelings.

Surprise said, "I'm not sure, Raydence.  We shouldn't teach them to cheat."

Tightrope turned around to look up at Surprise, and it seemed to Scootaloo that he really wanted the old pegasus to give in.

"Well," Scootaloo suggested, "If Tightrope really needs the practice..."

Tightrope quickly glanced at her, and it was all-too-obvious that her comment had made him hopeful.  He might not care about the game, and he might not have been in on Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's original scheme, but he clearly wanted the same thing they did, even if he was too dense to admit it.

Surprise, too, got the message.  With a smile and a sigh she said, "All right.  Ray?"

Raydence came down, and demonstrated with Tightrope's controller.  "Now, here's what you do.  Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start."

Tightrope repeated that, doing the commands as he did so.  When the game started, he saw that both he and Scootaloo had thirty lives.

He was very, very pleased with that.

Raydence stood and leaned against the counter, feeling a softness and a bout of nostalgia as he watchd the two kids play.  He said to Surprise, "Sorta reminds you of someone, doesn't it?"

Surprise sighed whistfully.  "I only wish this could last."

"Who says it can't?"

Surprise glanced at him doubtfully.

Raydence wasn't perturbed.  "Just look at them.  You used to say the strongest magic in the world was whatever brings a smile to a child's face.  Maybe the world will bend around their wishes!"

Surprise half-smiled.  "I hope so," she sighed.  "I really hope so."

To be continued...