Gemstone and Songbirdby ZakkyhoovesChaptersChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourFinalePrologueChapter OneScootaloo and Apple Bloom sat beside the hospital bed. The sounds of the machinery pumping air into Sweetie Belle’s lungs. The beeping of the monitors attached. The whir and click of pumps pushing Celestia knows what into the body of their friend through multiple tubes. They had been called from the Crusader clubhouse, where they were waiting for Sweetie Belle. Rainbow Dash had come for them. Having barely said a word before scooping them onto her back, flew them to the hospital. Scootaloo would have normally been thrilled to have flown with her mentor, but Rainbow Dash’s puffy red eyes, and the words “Sweetie Belle” and “hospital” had robbed her of all joy. Scootaloo watched for any movement in the still body of her friend. A fluttering of her eyelids. A twitch of her nose. Anything! Sweetie Belle had to wake up. She just had to! Apple Bloom burst into sobs. Applejack pulled her sister into a tight hug, barely holding back her own tears. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Hey Squirt, it’s okay if you need to cry, don’t worry about being cool here,” she whispered in Scootaloo’s ear. Rainbow pulled Scootaloo into a hug, and Scootaloo felt the soft drops of her mentors own tears fall on her head. She had never seen Rainbow Dash cry. Scootaloo buried her muzzle into the rainbow mane. “Where’s Rarity?” Scootaloo looked around, noticing the conspicuous absence of Sweetie Belle’s sister. “Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had to take her home.” Applejack sighed. “She was in a right state when she found out.” “That was when I came and got you two.” Rainbow Dash suppressed a sniff. “When’s Sweetie gunna get better?” Apple Bloom looked up at her sister with large watery eyes. “When can she come crusading with us again? When’s she gunna wake up, sis?” Applejack pulled her little sister back into a tight hug. “When will she wake up, Dash?” Scootaloo asked. “Well,” Rainbow deflected. “Hopefully, with the awesome doctors and nurses here, it will be soon.” “Will she wake up?” Scootaloo’s tone was flat, devoid of hope. Rainbow pulled Scootaloo into another hug. It was all the answer Scootaloo needed. A sombre mood fell upon the class the next day, when Cheerilee had mentioned the accident. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were even surprised when Diamond Tiara burst into tears at the news. It was strange, Diamond Tiara picked on Sweetie Belle more than any of the other Crusaders. More than every other pony put together. But now she was crying, along with most of the rest of the class. Miss Cheerilee had spent a lot of the morning consoling the foals. When lunchtime arrived, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo approached Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Silver Spoon had been rubbing a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s back. Diamond Tiara’s eyes were puffy and red, she’d obviously been crying before the Crusaders approached. “Diamond Tiara?” Apple Bloom asked cautiously. “What do you want, blank-flank?” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Ah was jus’ comin over ta see if y’all were okay.” “I am! Now go away.” Scootaloo was angry. She glowered at the pink filly. “Oh, so then why are you crying? Upset you don’t have Sweetie Belle to pick on anymore?” “Leave me alone,” Diamond Tiara screamed. She pushed Scootaloo to the ground. “Get away from me, you- you- blank-flanks!” Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo up. “Let’s jus go.” Scootaloo sat alone next to Sweetie Belle, watching her friend. Rarity had visited again, that much could be gleaned from the state of the room. Vases filled with flowers covered most of the unoccupied tables and shelves. Laying over Sweetie Belle was a quilt she and Rarity had worked together on. A delicately embroidered pillow lay behind her head. Scootaloo recognised it as the one Rarity yelled at Sweetie Belle for using in one of their Cutie Mark Crusader stunts. Something about expensive imported Saddle Arabian silk. She thought back to the last time she sat next to a loved one like this. Her mom had fallen into a coma, and had never woken up. Her dad was wracked with grief, he’d never really recovered, even to this day. She supposed it was because of that she was able to stay with Sweetie Belle as much as she did. Scootaloo couldn’t help but think of all the things Sweetie Belle might never get to do. She might never get her cutie mark. She might never get her first kiss. She might never ask Spike to be her special somepony for Hearts and Hooves day. She might never get so sing again. She might never get to crusade again. She might never again be there to comfort Scootaloo when her dad drank too much. She might never be there to help Apple Bloom and Granny Smith get ready for the zap-apple harvest again. Tears fell. She was interrupted from her thoughts by a knock at the door. A tall white mare with long black mane tied in a bun entered the room. Her scrubs identified her as one of the doctors. She was followed by a brown pegasus Scootaloo did not really recognise. He didn’t look like a doctor. “Sorry, didn’t realise somepony was in here,” he said, as he started to back out the door. The Doctor turned to Scootaloo. “Is it alright if Mr Crate see’s Sweetie Belle?” “It’s okay,” Scootaloo called back. “Thanks, Doctor-” he quickly read the name tag “- Bone. I won’t be long.” “I’ll be just outside at the nurses station if you need me.” As she turned and left the room, Scootaloo noticed the bone cutie mark. Crafty Crate entered the room, holding a bouquet of flowers under one wing. They were white lilies, with a few sprigs of lavender. “I hope she’d like em,” he said, placing them on the table side next to the bed. Scootaloo looked the stallion up and down. She’d never seen him before, and he didn’t seem like the kind of pony that Sweetie Belle would know. And definitely not Rarity. Scootaloo was shocked by the gruff stallions sobbing. “I didn’t see you,” he sputtered out. “I am so sorry. Please kid, please live.” “You!” Scootaloo yelled. “You did this to her!” She jumped to the ground, and charged towards him. Crafty didn’t have time to react, and took the impact straight in the chest. Winded and coughing, he tried to stand, before small hooves planted themselves across his muzzle. “I’m sorry,” he kept screaming, as Scootaloo unleashed her fury upon him. Tears streaked both their faces. “You did this to her! You did this to her! You! You did it!” “My my, we must be quiet in a hospital.” Doctor Bone had returned to the room. “Sweetie Belle will not recover with all this shouting, no?” “He’s the one who hit her. Why is he here?” Scootaloo screamed at the doctor. The doctor smiled at Scootaloo. “Can you not see Mr Crate is upset as well? He merely wished to come and see Sweetie Belle.” “But he’s the one who hurt her,” Scootaloo continued in her rage. “Why should he be allowed to see her?” “I didn’t see her, I swear... she came running out... she was playing with her friends and ran out...” “Well, that certainly sounds like an accident, doesn’t it Scootaloo?” The doctor smiled wide at the filly. “Liar! She wasn’t playing with her friends! We were waiting for her at the club house.” “She was, she was runnin with her little pink friend.” “She doesn’t have any pink friends! She only has me and Apple Bloom!” “Then maybe she was running with somepony else?” Doctor Bone attempted to mediate the situation. “Yeah, they were running after each other. The other one had a little, pointy silver hat thing.” “Diamond Tiara,” Scootaloo sneered. “Yeah, that’s the one... she was wearin’ one o’ dem tiana’s.” “There you go, Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle was obviously playing with Diamond Tiara before the accident happened. No pony is to blame, least of all Mr Crate.” Scootaloo stormed out of the room. “I’m sorry about that, Mr Crate. I am sure Sweetie Belle at least would appreciate your visit.” As she turned towards the door, she called over her shoulder. “Oh, and sorry, but visiting hours have just finished.” Chapter TwoScootaloo could not hold back her anger as she arrived at school that morning. She stormed into the classroom and waited. She was going to make Diamond Tiara pay. But when class started, Diamond Tiara was conspicuously absent. She looked desperately around, but could not see hide-nor-hair of the filly. “Class, please be seated. We have a very special guest this week.” The class door opened and through it walked a handsome cyan pegasus with a black mane. On his flank was an open eye cutie mark. “Class, I would like to introduce you to Mr Wren.” “Good Morning my little ponies. My name is Mr Wren. Please be good to me.” Wren gave a small bow to the class. “Mr Wren is training to be a teacher, and we’ve been asked to host him here for the week. So would you all join me in saying good morning?” “Good morning, Mr Wren,” the class answered in the typical foalish sing-song voice. Wren took a seat in the corner, and smiled to the class as Cheerilee begun the days lesson. When recess arrived, Scootaloo made a straight bead for Silver Spoon. “Where is she,” Scootaloo sneered, backing Silver Spoon into a corner of the yard. “Where is she?!” “Scootaloo, what’s goin’ on?” Apple Bloom tried to pull her friend away from the cowering filly. “Yer madder than a timberwolf on Sunday!” Scootaloo shook off Apple Bloom, it usually took at least two ponies to hold her back. She grabbed Silver Spoon by her pearl necklace. “She too much of a coward-” Scootaloo breathed heavily “- to show her face here after what she did?” “Scootaloo! Let Silver Spoon go. Now!” Cheerilee stormed across the yard, followed by Mr Wren. Scootaloo did not yield. “I said,” Cheerilee loomed above the two, “let her go, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo let go of Silver Spoon. She whispered, “I know what happened, and you can tell Diamond Tiara I won’t forget!” “Scootaloo, follow me inside now. Apple Bloom, why don’t you go play with somepony. Dinky is over there, why don’t you talk with her? Silver Spoon, run along dear.” She turned to Wren. “Mr Wren, would you mind keeping an eye on the yard while I speak with Scootaloo.” “Of course, Miss Cheerilee. I would be happy to.” Wren smiled and started back to where he had been sitting. Scootaloo could have sworn his cutie mark eye blinked and watched her as she followed Cheerilee to the classroom. Cheerilee sighed as the door closed behind them. “Scootaloo, please sit down.” She motioned for the chair Mr Wren had sat before. “Would you mind telling me why you were bullying poor Silver Spoon.” Scootaloo sat, her forearms crossed the barrel of her chest. “Scootaloo, I will have to talk to your father about your behaviour today.” “Like he’d care,” Scootaloo huffed, blowing her fringe out of her eyes. “I know you are having a hard time, what with poor Sweetie Belle’s accident-” “Accident?” Scootaloo screamed, tears streaking her cheeks. Cheerilee moved forward to comfort the filly. “Yes, accident.” “It wasn’t an accident!” Scootaloo screamed into Cheerilee’s shoulder. “It was Diamond Tiara!” “Diamond Tiara didn’t mean for it to happen.” Cheerilee stroked Scootaloo’s ruffled mane. “But it was an accident-” “You knew? Is that why Diamond Tiara isn’t here today? Did the police ponies take her to jail?” Cheerilee shook her head. “No, Diamond Tiara is at home today, because she is upset by what has happened.” “So she hurts Sweetie Belle, and gets a day off school?” Scootaloo pushed her teacher away. “Diamond Tiara is suffering-” “No! Sweetie Belle is suffering. She’s lying in a coma!” “Miss Cheerilee?” The door to the schoolhouse opened, and Wren stepped inside. “Sorry, there is a problem. Silver Spoon has locked herself in-” Scootaloo took the moment of distraction to run through the open door. “Scootaloo!” Cheerilee screamed after the fleeing student. “Come back!” “I hate you!” Scootaloo had her scooter, and was rushing out the gate of the schoolyard towards town. “I will go get her. You please see to Silver Spoon -” Wren winked at Cheerilee “- It’s inappropriate for me to enter the little fillies room.” Scootaloo knew she was going to be in big trouble. She hadn’t ditched school in a long time, not since becoming friends with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But here she was, barrelling down the road on her scooter. She didn’t know where she was going, she just wasn’t going back there. Her eyes stung, both from the speed and from the tears. She didn’t even notice the old pony slowly making his way across the road. “Oof!” The old pony fell as Scootaloo crashed into him. Scootaloo got up, apologising, and helping him back to his hooves. She picked up an old grey fedora, handing it to him. “Sorry, I think this is yours.” “Thank you, young miss.” Scootaloo looked around. The crash had brought her back to her senses, and she was able to see where she was. She was outside Sugarcube Corner. The older pony dusted down his coat, and re-wrapped his dislodge red scarf. “Where were you going in such a hurry, young miss?” Scootaloo turned to the old pony she had knocked over. “Ummm, here, I guess.” “Is something the matter?” “No,” Scootaloo looked at her hooves. “Sorry for crashing into you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” “No, it would take far more than that to hurt this old pony. But you seem upset.” “No, I’m okay.” Scootaloo wiped the tears from her eyes. She hated being this uncool, especially in front of a stranger. “I was going to wait here for a friend of mine.” He motioned towards Sugarcube Corner. “Perhaps you would keep an old pony company while he waits.” Scootaloo sighed. She didn’t know this pony, and he could turn out to be a creep. But she was going inside anyway, and she had just knocked him over. And as long as she stayed at Sugarcube Corner, she should be okay. “Welcome, welcome, welcome,” a certain pink mare burst out into song as Scootaloo and the old pony walked through the front door. “Ooooo! It’s Scootaloo. And someone new. Mrs Cake can I-” “No, Pinkie. Please, serve the customers. You can welcome the new gentlecolt on your day off.” Scootaloo made her way to one of the booths. “Hey, now that’s a frowny-frown face,” Pinkie hopped over to Scootaloo. “What’s it going to take to turn that upside down?” The old pony went to the counter, and spoke with Mrs Cake. “The young miss there seems to be having a bad day. Could you make a large milkshake for her and deliver it to her table?” He pulled out a small sack of bits. “I’d also like a coffee, and two pieces of cake please.” “Certainly sir!” Mrs Cake smiled. The old pony took a seat across from Scootaloo, facing the door. “Hey Scoots,” Pinkie Pie ‘whispered’ to Scootaloo, “You going to introduce me to your friend?” “Miss Scootaloo does not know my name. I am Wan,” Wan held his hoof out to shake the pink mares. “Wan Doo. It is a pleasure to meet you, miss-” “Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie yelled, grabbing Wan’s hoof and shaking vigorously. “And welcome to Ponyville, Juan!” “You know I am not from Ponyville?” Wan questioned. “Of course silly,” Pinkie Pie answered, as if it was obvious. “Else I would have already thrown you a welcome party. Oooo, are you going to be here tomorrow? I can throw you a welcome party then! Oh please please please say you will be here.” “Here you go, dearies.” Mrs Cake delivered the coffee, the milkshake and the two pieces of cake. Wan smiled, seeing Mrs Cake had cut Scootaloo a particularly large slice of chocolate cake. “Pinkie, we have more customers. Be a dear and help me serve?” “Okie dokie lokie. Bee arr bee!” Pinkie giggled, suddenly wearing a yellow and black striped shirt and eye patch. Scootaloo couldn’t help but giggle at Pinkie’s antics. “It is good to see you smile. One so young should not frown as you do.” Wan took a sip of the coffee. “Mmm, it’s very good. I haven’t had coffee this good in many years. Go on, drink your milkshake.” Scootaloo took a tentative sip of her milkshake. When the milk hit her tongue, she groaned. She remembered she had skipped breakfast to get to school early. She dove into the cake. “Fankfs Mifter Doo.” “Please, call me Wan. I am glad you are enjoying it.” Wan and Scootaloo fell back into silence. Wan seemed content to sit with his eyes closed, enjoying the aroma of his coffee. Scootaloo didn’t particularly feel like talking to this stranger, but she did feel like eating this cake. “Ahh, excuse me,” Wan removed his hat, and placed it on the table and stood. “My friend has arrived early.” Scootaloo heard ‘Wow! You are reeeeeally bald!’ from behind her. Then the mortified screams of Mrs Cake. “Hey, you know what ‘Tartarus Correspondence’ is?” Scootaloo’s ears piqued at the small voice in the booth behind her. “The one where you write the name of your enemy on a letter, and put it in your mailbox at midnight, and they’ll take revenge on your behalf?” “Yes, yes! That’s the one! I heard my friend in Canterlot had a friend who did it-” “Scootaloo?” Scootaloo turned to the voice, and found Mr Wren standing next to Wan Doo. “This is the filly you were looking for, Itchy?” Wan smiled. “What a coincidence. My new friend is my old friends student.” “Scootaloo, you should finish your milkshake, then we will return to the school. Yes?” Wren turned back to Wan, and they continued to talk, though Scootaloo could not make out what they were saying. For the second time that day, Scootaloo could have sworn she saw from the corner of her eye Mr Wren’s cutie mark blink and watch her. “I’m ready to go back.” Dejected, she stood up from the table. Her milkshake didn’t seem as appetizing as it had before. “It was nice meeting you Scootaloo. I hope you day gets better.” Wan waved. “See you later, Itchy.” She stopped as she reached the door. “Itchy?” “It’s my first name,” Mr Wren gritted his teeth. Behind her, Wan was putting his hat back on, boisterously laughing. The afternoon was painful for Scootaloo. Despite Mr Wren trying to talk her out of it, Cheerilee had called Scootaloo’s father into the school to discuss her behaviour. Scootaloo was mortified when he turned up drunk. This wasn’t particularly rare, but it embarrassed Scootaloo every time. Walking home, she wondered if she would have to apply orange makeup to the fur underneath her eyes. That too, was not a rare occurrence. In the end, Scootaloo was lucky. She had only been made to go to her room two hours before sundown. Without dinner. Scootaloo had to force herself to stay awake. She snuck into her father’s study, and pulled out a piece of parchment. With a pen in her mouth, she wrote on the paper two words. Diamond Tiara She folded the parchment and put it inside an envelope. She snuck into the kitchen to see if she could find a snack to eat. Her father had long since passed out on the couch, so she could steal a bite without being reprimanded. She sat in the small kitchen, watching the luminous hands of the clock, as they ticked slower to midnight. One minute to midnight, she grabbed the envelope in her teeth, and counted as she walked out the front door. Fifty five. Fifty Six. She walked the short path to the letterbox. Fifty Seven. Fifty eight. She opened the top. Fifty nine. She let go of the letter. Sixty. The letter dropped into the mailbox. Scootaloo closed the lid, and looked around. Nothing moved, nothing stirred. She sighed, and opened the lid again. The letterbox was empty. “You have summoned me?” Chapter Three“You have summoned me?” Standing before Scootaloo was a white alicorn. Her black mane waved in the gentle night breeze, a pattern of flowers and fans dancing. Emotionless, red eyes stared directly into Scootaloo’s. “Who-” “I am Ai Enma” the alicorn interrupted. “You called me?” “The Tartarus Filly?” “Wanyūdō.” Enma Ai called out to the darkness. “Yes, young miss.” Scootaloo thought she recognised the voice. “Take this.” Ai held out a hoof. In it she held a small doll pony, made of black straw. Around its neck was a red string. She placed it in Scootaloo’s hoof. “If you really wish to take revenge, you may pull that red string. “You make a covenant with me as you pull the string. The recipient of your revenge will be ferried straightaway into Tartarus.” “Tartarus...” Scootaloo brought the straw doll to her mouth, and bit on the string. “However -” Ai interrupted “- Once the revenge is dealt, you are required to pay the compensation.” “Compensation?” Scootaloo dropped the string. “When one pony is cursed, two holes are dug. “Your soul will also fall into Tartarus.Your spirit will wander forever, you'll be tortured by pain and suffering, and never know what true paradise is like.” Scootaloo gasped. “Well, that is after you die.” “The rest is up to you.” Scootaloo was back in her room, lying on her bed. Had it all been a dream? The scratchy sensation on her left forehoof made her look down. There sat the black straw doll that Ai had handed to her. Tartarus. It wasn’t fair! Diamond Tiara deserved to go there for what she did. But why did Scootaloo have to pay the price too? Scootaloo slept, dreaming of the horrors that might be awaiting her in Tartarus. Once again, Diamond Tiara was absent. Scootaloo sat at her desk, turning the straw doll over and over in her hooves. She should do it. It was what Diamond Tiara deserved. But then her mind returned to her own damnation. She was going to be friends with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom forever. She knew death would come for them all, one day, her mother’s passing had taught her that lesson young. But if she did this, she wouldn’t be able to spend the rest of forever with them. She might not ever see her mother again. She looked around the class. No more Miss Cheerilee. No more Crusaders. No more Dinky, or Truffle, or Twist. She’d be alone. Forever. “Scootaloo?” Miss Cheerilee broke the filly out of her thoughts. “Are you paying attention.” Scootaloo jumped, finding Miss Cheerilee standing above her. “What is this?” Cheerilee pointed a hoof at the straw doll. “Are you playing with that instead of doing your school work?” “No!” Scootaloo tried to shove the doll in her desk. “Scootaloo, we are here to work, not for you to play. If you want to play, save it for recess.” Cheerilee scolded the filly. “Now, hand your doll over, and you can collect it at the end of the day.” “Where is Diamond Tiara?” Scootaloo hissed as she cornered Silver Spoon again. “She’s at home, she’s not coming in,” the grey coated filly puffed up her chest. “You leave her alone!” “Scootaloo, what’s gotten into ya?” Apple Bloom tried to pull Scootaloo away. “You tell Diamond Tiara I know what she did.” Scootaloo glowered. “And she won’t be getting away with it.” Tears welled in Silver Spoon’s eyes as she ran off. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo quietly hugged Rarity. The soft sunlight streamed through the room, falling gently across Sweetie Belle’s peaceful expression. “I’m sorry,” Doctor Bone had said, delivering the terrible news. “Her brain activity is decreasing. We do not think Sweetie Belle will recover.” Apple Bloom sobbed. The others in the room were in shock. “There isn’t anything y’all can do?” Applejack asked. “Surely some kind of fancy doctor magic or summit?” “Magic doesn’t work that way,” Twilight sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve been looking into it. You can heal scars, and some organs take to magical healing-” “-but not the brain,” Doctor Bone nodded solemnly. “I will give you some time.” With that, she left the room to the family and friends. Slowly, everypony left, one by one. Scootaloo, Applejack and Apple Bloom were the last to leave, save Rarity and her parents. Scootaloo ground her teeth in anger as they walked. “It’s not fair!” Scootaloo shouted, startling Applejack and Apple Bloom. “It’s just not right!” “Now sugarcube,” Applejack sided up to the foal. “Sometimes things like this jus’ happen.” “But it didn’t ‘just’ happen. Diamond Tiara was the one who did it!” A gasp interrupted the two. They turned to find Apple Bloom stopped behind them. Tears were in her eyes. “What do ya mean D-Diamond Tiara did it?” Scootaloo’s mouth dropped. She couldn’t believe it. Had she not told Apple Bloom what had happened? Well, no. She was so angry with Diamond Tiara, she hadn’t told her. But then by Apple Bloom’s reaction, it seemed no one had told her. Scootaloo cursed herself for keeping it from her friend. “Now c’mere Apple Bloom.” Applejack circled back and sat next to her sister. “It’s the truth, Diamond Tiara was running after Sweetie Belle. But she din’t mean to get her hurt.” “Running after her? She was tormenting her. That’s all she has ever done to us!” Scootaloo screamed in rage. “Now, Ah know she’s been a bully to y’all for a while, but Ah know she din’t mean ta hurt Sweetie Belle like that. And that’s the honest truth!” Scootaloo ran angry through the streets. She’d do it tonight. The adults didn’t understand. It wasn’t an accident. Everything could have been avoided if somepony had just done something about Diamond Tiara’s bullying before-hoof. She cursed herself for having forgotten to collect the doll after school. She barrelled down the street on her scooter, there shouldn’t be any old ponies this time of night to crash into. She’d been to Cheerilee’s house before, hopefully she would still be awake. As she climbed the steps to the front door, she could overhear two voices. Miss Cheerilee’s, and somepony else. Scootaloo knocked on the door. “Yes?” Cheerilee opened the door. “Who is- oh! Scootaloo, what are you doing here at this hour?” “Sorry Miss Cheerilee. I forgot my doll at school.” “Oh, I’m sorry Scootaloo. Remind me tomorrow morning and I will give it back-” “No! Sorry. No. Please. It’s really important. Can we get it tonight?” “Ummm,” Cheerilee stumbled. “I have a guest, I can’t go tonight.” “Who’s there, Cheery?” the lavender mare poked her head out the door, her bleary eyes going wide. “Oh, umm... Hello Scootaloo.” “Twilight?” Scootaloo looked up confused. “What are you doing here?” Cheerilee shuffled nervously, looking to Twilight. Twilight answered “Oh, we were just, ummm, you see... I was just here to talk about a book Cheerilee wants to read to the class. Yes, that’s right.” “Not another book report,” Scootaloo groaned. Cheerilee and Twilight laughed. “So what are you doing out so late, little missy?” Twilight asked cheerfully. “If you don’t get home soon, you won’t finish your homework!” Another groan escaped Scootaloo’s mouth. “Scootaloo left a doll at school today. I told her she can get it tomorrow.” “But it’s important!” Scootaloo burst into sobs. “I... I kind of made it... for Sweetie Belle.” Cheerilee and Twilight looked at each other. “Well, I do need to get going, else Spike might burn down the library.” Twilight went back inside. “Let me get my bags, and I will walk the two of you there.” “Okay, Scootaloo. But next time, you need to be more mindful, okay?” She nuzzled Scootaloo’s cheek. “Shall we go?” The three made their way to the schoolhouse, Scootaloo trotting ahead of the two mares. They were too slow for her likes. Scootaloo kicked her hooves at the dirt anxiously as Cheerilee and Twilight walked through the school gate. Scootaloo had never been to school at night time. She had to admit, if only to herself, that it was just the teeniest, tiniest little bit spooky. Cheerilee trotted to her desk, and opened the drawer where she had put it. She pulled the small black straw doll out, and handed it to Scootaloo. Twilight let out a gasp behind them. “I think you should try a different colour, Scootaloo,” Cheerilee laughed at her friends reaction. “Maybe some glitter too, like the Hearts and Hooves card you girls made me? Then I am sure Sweetie Belle will love it.” Scootaloo nodded. “Well, shall we get going?” Cheerilee smiled. “You shouldn’t stay out too late.” Cheerilee closed the door and the three of them stepped out into the night. “Cheery, I might walk Scootaloo home, if that is okay?” Twilight asked her friend. “Oh, ummm,” Cheerilee looked a little dejected. “... okay.” “I’ll come see you again tomorrow night?” Twilight smiled. Cheerilee smiled, then said “I’ll hold you to that, Miss Sparkle. And I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning, Scootaloo. Goodnight!” Once again, Scootaloo turned the straw doll over and over in her hooves. She had it back. Tonight, she could do it. Then it was bathed in a purple light, and was taken from her hooves again. “Who is it for?” Twilight asked in an angry whisper. “Ummm, it’s for Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo answered. “It’s not finished, give it back!” “It is not for Sweetie Belle, you wouldn’t do that to her.” “What?” “Don’t think I don’t know what this is,” Twilight snapped. “I recognised it straight away, from the Legendary Lore of Magically Malevolent Monsters Manual. “Who. Is. It. For?” “Diamond Tiara!” Scootaloo blurted. Angry tears bubbled in Twilight’s eyes. “Scootaloo, I know you are very angry right now. You are hurt. You want to hurt somepony back. But this is not the way.” “It’s not fair! Sweetie Belle is dying and Diamond Tiara just gets away with it? There’s no justice in that!” “This -” Twilight levitated the straw doll “- is not justice. This is revenge. And I won’t let you ruin your life over this.” Twilight tucked the straw doll in her saddlebag. Scootaloo lunged at Twilight, planting one of her tiny hooves in Twilight’s face. “Give it back!” “Scootaloo, you can’t give in to your anger.” With that, Twilight stepped back in a flash of purple magic, disappeared before Scootaloo’s eyes. On a small cottage not far away, two ponies stood atop the thatched roof, watching the young pegasus foal scream herself hoarse. “My, my, my! Poor Wanyūdō. He always did have the worst of luck,” the tall white mare with a bone cutie mark laughed. “Do you think she will still go through with it, Ren?” “Does the foal have much longer, Hone?” the cyan pegasus asked. “Not long,” Hone Onna shook her head, her long black mane falling around her shoulders. “Hone -” A white alicorn alighted the roof beside the two “- I have need of you.” “Yes mistress.” Chapter FourEven a few days later Scootaloo’s temper had not diminished. Twilight had stolen the straw doll from, and wouldn’t let her in the library. Diamond Tiara still hadn’t returned to school. Sweetie Belle’s condition was deteriorating fast. Everything came to a boiling point, and Scootaloo’s anger bubbled over. “Where is Diamond Tiara,” she screamed, pushing Silver Spoon to the dirt. “Leave Diamond Tiara alone,” the grey foal whimpered, trying to stand. Scootaloo pushed her back down again. “Like she left Sweetie Belle alone?” Scootaloo sneered. “Go away! Why won’t you lea-” Silver Spoon was cut short. An small orange hoof impacted with her muzzle. She could feel her nose running, and when she wiped it with her forearm, her fur was stained crimson. “Scootaloo!” Cheerilee screamed at the top of her lungs. “Get away from Silver Spoon right now!” Scootaloo turned to see Miss Cheerilee and Mr Wren running from the opposite side of the yard. She knew she wouldn’t get away with what she’d done. She turned back to Silver Spoon. “You can tell Diamond Tiara, I will leave her... I will leave her exactly the way she left Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo hoped the threat had gotten through to Silver Spoon. By the fearful look in those violet eyes, Scootaloo assumed the message had been understood. “Scootaloo, you will go inside, now!” Scootaloo had never seen Miss Cheerilee so angry. But Scootaloo honestly did not care. She did not falter under the steely, angered gaze of her teacher. “Whatever.” Scootaloo made her way back to the school house. “Mr Wren, would you mind keeping an eye on the yard?” She helped Silver Spoon to her hooves. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up, shall we?” Cheerilee smiled as she led Silver Spoon to the washroom. “I know you are having a hard time with Sweetie Belle in hospital,” Cheerilee scowled. “But that is no excuse for striking one of your fellow students.” “Whatever.” Scootaloo sat at her desk, looking out the window. “I know you blame Diamond Tiara for what happened, but-” “Don’t say it was an accident!” Scootaloo snapped at her teacher. “It wasn’t her fault-” “Then whose fault is it?” Scootaloo punched a hoof on her desk. “Crafty Crate? Filthy Rich for not doing anything about Diamond Tiara? Yours?” Scootaloo shot an accusatory glare at her teacher. “W-What?” Cheerilee stammered. “You never stopped Diamond Tiara. You knew she was bullying us. You knew she was bullying Sweetie Belle.” “I always stopped her if I knew she was-” “No!” Scootaloo snapped. “You interrupted Diamond Tiara. You never did anything to stop it.” “I think you need some time off from school to think.” Cheerilee shook. “I will let your father know tonight you are not to come back until next Monday.” Cheerilee did not stop Scootaloo from running out of the class. Technically, she had just suspended her. As the door slammed, Cheerilee slumped. Scootaloo had said the very words she had asked herself. One of her students was lying in hospital, and if what Twilight had told her was true, would not likely leave. Could Cheerilee have done more to stop this? Should she have stepped in, done something to deal with the bullying better. Her lack of action had now seen one student in hospital. Another student stricken with rage. Her thoughts turned to Diamond Tiara: and one student stricken with more guilt than the filly could not bear. Unbeknownst to the teacher, a large eye embedded in the ceiling of the schoolhouse above her, closed slowly, then disappeared. Scootaloo slammed the door to her house, waking her father from his drunken stupor. “Scoots?” he mumbled, as he watched his daughter race for her room. He stumbled behind her. “What’re you doin’ home s’early?” “Leave me alone!” she screamed through the closed door. “Don’ you be taken tha’ tone with me, missy!” He tried to open the door, but found it locked. “Open this door right now!” The answer was a loud thud against the door, and the sound of something smashing. He continued to bash on the door with a hoof. “Scootaloo! Open this door now!” When the only reply was Scootaloo’s howls of rage, and the sounds of ripping, tearing and smashing; Scootaloo’s dad turned away from the door, and bucked like his life depended on it. The door jamb splintered as door burst open, nearly tearing away from it’s hinges. The sound of the door slamming open did not stop Scootaloo’s rage. She hadn’t even noticed her father standing there, eyes opened wide with shock, at the destruction she was causing in her room. She grabbed the chair from her desk, and threw it against the wall, the small wooden frame crumpling on impact. She kicked her back legs against the desk, and a small photo frame fell to the floor. The older pegasus watched in horror, as his daughter grabbed the frame with her teeth, and threw it against the wall. The photo of his daughter and her rainbow maned friend lay amongst broken wood and shattered glass. Even through his fugue state, he realised something was wrong. Something was very, very, very wrong. He beat his wings, launching himself across the threshold of the room, where scattered splinters of wood and shattered glass lay. He pulled his daughter into a tight hug, and let her beat her hooves against his chest and scream. He held her until she had exhausted all of her energy. She sobbed into his mane. “She’s dying... she’s dying and nopony cares.” Miss Cheerilee had explained to Scootaloo’s father the previous night what had happened. When she woke, Scootaloo had expected that her father would have been angry at her. But he said nothing all morning, other than that he had to go out. He’d made her breakfast, something he hadn’t done in a long time. His cooking was awful, but she ate the pancakes regardless. Who was she to look a gift-pony in the mouth? She wandered around the house alone. She had wished she could do what her dad had done for all these years. She tried to open his liquor cabinet, but found it locked. Score one point for responsible parenthood. It wouldn’t even make a dent in the column against. She sat on the couch in the lounge room, wondering where her dad had gone. Maybe he went to the bar, or to go drink with his buddy Berry Punch. She didn’t like being around him while he was drunk, but a part of her wished he was there, just so that she wasn’t alone. When lunchtime rolled around, and her father was still nowhere to be seen, she grabbed her scooter and made her way to the front door. It opened before in front of her, and standing there was her father. “D-dad?” “Heya, Scoots.” He smiled, nuzzling her cheek. Scootaloo noticed he smelled strange. “Going out?” “Ummm- maybe?” she made it a question. “Well, why don’t you help your old dad fix that door of yours, then maybe we can go to Sugarcube Corner?” Scootaloo stood back, shocked at her fathers behavior. He was acting very, very strange. “Dad, have you been drinking?” “No, I haven’t.” A sad look crossed her fathers face. “And I think it’s about time I stop. I’ve-I’ve not been a very good dad.” “Hah!” Scootaloo let out a short, sharp, bitter laugh. “I’m sorry,” he said, tears welling in his eyes. “I’ve left you alone for so long. I’ve only seen my own pain, I never opened my eyes to see yours. I should have been there for you when your mom- well. I should have been here for you then. But I wasn’t. “I know what you are going through now. I failed you then, but if you could give me a chance, I’d like to be here for you now.” He hadn’t been drinking. That was what she could smell. Or more, couldn’t smell. She couldn’t remember a day in the last five years he hadn’t smelled of hard liquor. “Fine,” she huffed. “But I want to go to Sugarcube corner first.” It was lunchtime, after all. Her dad had bought her two slices of cake and a drink. He had gently stroked her mane as she cried into her milkshake. He listened quietly as she told him about what had happened to Sweetie Belle. What Diamond Tiara had done. He didn’t tell her it was an accident. He told her she was allowed to feel angry. When they left, he lifted her on his back between his wings, like he had done when she was much smaller. She dozed lightly as he walked them home. When they arrived, he found a very distressed cyan mare pacing back and forth at their doorstep. “Can I help yo-” “Scootaloo!” Rainbow yelled, startling the filly awake. “Thank Celestia I found you. You gotta come to the hospital, now!” “What’s happened?” Scootaloo fell off her fathers back. Panic was etched across Rainbow’s face. “Sweetie Belle’s parents, they signed the forms... to... to turn off the life support.” “Where’s Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo yelled. “Applejack’s already run to the school to get her. Come on, get on, we gotta go now!” Scootaloo turned back to her father. “Go on, I’ll be right behind." He nodded. "And Dash? Don’t slow down for me.” Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo disappeared into the sky. FinaleThe only thing that could be heard in the room was the beeping of the ECG, and the soft sobs of everyone sitting around the bed. The sun was setting, and almost everypony was escorted from the room. “I need to stay, I need to see this.” Scootaloo had argued. Twilight stood silently by her side, Rarity with her parents beside the hospital bed. Scootaloo’s heart tightened as the beeping of the ECG slowed. It wouldn’t be long now. Sweetie Belle had been considered officially brain-dead for twelve hours. The neurologist flown in from Canterlot had confirmed. The respirator had been turned off. Sweetie Belle’s chest no longer rose and fell. She was gone, and soon the last vestiges of life in her body would join her. I won’t let her get away with this. I swear, Sweetie Belle. I swear it! The lines on the ECG were getting weaker now. Scootaloo had seen it before. The attending nurse had turned off the alarm. Scootaloo watched those lines grow weaker, her heart fluttering any time there was a slightly stronger pulse. Maybe they were wrong. Maybe Sweetie Belle would come back. Seconds passed without another pulse. Sweetie Belle’s heart gave one more push, then beat no more. The nurse turned off the monitor, and it was over. Sweetie Belle’s life, was over. Rage burned in Scootaloo’s heart. One of her best friends. Gone. She had her mother taken from her. She had her father effectively taken from her too. Now one of her best friends. There was no one to blame when her mother died, but that was not the case here. There was somepony responsible. Somepony to blame. Somepony to hate. Scootaloo looked away from the bed. She could not bear it. That was when she noticed what was sitting next to her. Scootaloo slipped out of the room while Twilight, Rarity and her parents were crying. Scootaloo ran through the streets, the straw doll tucked beneath a wing. She is going to pay! The small filly lay on her opulent bed, crying. Crushing guilt weighed down on her. She could do this, she could. She got up from her bed, and and willed herself across the room. Twilight turned, noticing Scootaloo was missing. Her heart sank for the small filly. She could understand the hurt the foal must have been going through. She moved to leave, to give Rarity and her parents some privacy, when she tripped. Looking down at her feet, she found the offending object. A lavender saddlebag, a bright pink star in the middle, surrounded by five smaller white ones. Her saddlebag. The one she had left locked up at home with the- Twilight raced out of the room, Rarity and her family watching her in shock. The sky was bathed in a deep red of the sunset. It was always sunset here. An eternal sunset. Scootaloo’s mind raced. She was going to do it. For Sweetie Belle. But Diamond Tiara had to know why. Scootaloo would see the look on her face as she was cast into Tartarus. She would relish that sight for the rest of her life. Twilight concentrated the spell. She had quickly adapted Rarity’s gem finding spell to track Scootaloo, as she had once tracked her friend Rarity. She could feel a magical tension in the air, like the weight of some malevolent evil had descended upon Ponyville. If Twilight was right, it had. Twilight put in an extra burst of speed, cursing that she couldn’t fly like Rainbow Dash, or the princesses. What would she have given for wings that minute? In her mind, anything. Under the dying rays of eternal twilight, a white alicorn emerged from a hot spring. “Ai?” the voice of an old mare behind her. “Are you ready?” “Yes, Grandmother.” Ai Enma stepped out of the hot spring. Diamond Tiara and her father were walking down the main street of Ponyville. Filthy Rich had finally convinced his daughter to come out of her room, and was taking her for dinner at the cafe. If he knew one thing, his daughter loved to be spoilt. He would buy her anything to bring her back from the depression she had been in. Scootaloo came to a halt. She couldn’t believe her luck. Before her stood Diamond Tiara with a look of horror on her face. Filthy Rich stepped forward, in front of his daughter, when he saw the dangerous grin on the orange filly’s face. “How nice of you to come back,” Scootaloo sneered. “Excuse me,” Filthy Rich moved towards Scootaloo. “But leave my daughter alone.” “Why? She’s a murderer.” Scootaloo turned to Diamond Tiara, a wild look in her eye. “Oh, but you didn’t know that yet, did you?” Scootaloo laughed, as Diamond Tiara cowered, crying. “Oh, got a guilty conscience now, do we? A little late for that, isn’t it?” Twilight rounded the corner, spotting Scootaloo, and to Twilight’s horror: Diamond Tiara. She screamed out to Scootaloo. “Leave my daughter alone!” Filthy Rich yelled at the mad filly before him. “Hasn’t my daughter suffered enough?” “No,” Scootaloo grinned. “No, she hasn’t.” Scootaloo pulled the straw doll out from under her wing. She could hear Twilight screaming behind her. She clamped her teeth down on the red string. “Leave my friend alone,” sobbed a quiet voice. She pulled. The filly laid back down on her bed, the straw doll gone. All that remained was the red string. The street disappeared. The world was black. Scootaloo looked down at the straw doll. It was now white, and the string had gone. “Why?” she asked, as she dropped it. A deep voice echoed from the doll on the ground. “Somepony else has entered the contract.” The doll disappeared, and an old pony stood there, wearing a grey fedora. Scootaloo backed away from the pony. She had met him before. “Wan?” Scootaloo asked, nervously. “Wanyūdō,” the cyan pegasus behind her answered. The cutie mark on his flank, an eye, was open and watching her intently. Next to him stood the tall white doctor who had been watching over Sweetie Belle. Only half her face was covered in flesh, the other half a ghostly visage of a skull. Scootaloo could feel a presence at her back, somewhere in the darkness. She turned to see the cold, emotionless red eyes of the white alicorn, her mane filled with the pattern of dancing fans. O pitiful shadow bound in the darkness, Looking down upon people, and causing them pain A soul drowned in sinful karma... Want to try dying this once? The Alicorn spread her right wing. Scootaloo’s world faded into darkness. Scootaloo awoke to the gentle sound of water lapping at the side of the boat. The air around was foggy, neither Celestia's sun nor Luna's moon could be seen. Above her, the white Alicorn steered the boat with her magic. Wanyudo sat next to the filly. “Where am I?” “You are going to Tartarus,” the old pony next to her answered. “But what about my revenge? What about Sweetie Belle! It’s not fair!” “Revenge is not justice.” The old pony nodded. “It is never fair.” “I will ferry this vengeance to Tartarus.” The grey filly walked slowly to school. Diamond Tiara was recounting to her the strange events that had happened the night before. Scootaloo had been there screaming at her, then just disappeared. “One less blank-flank, right?” she chortled. The grey filly smiled weakly, and looked down at her flank. A black encircled flame brand, where her cutie mark had once been. A silver spoon. We will take revenge on your behalf PrologueThis World is Called Fate The Binding Thread coils itself around a fragile, helpless prejudice Hatred Sadness It Ends in tears Beyond the curtain, at midnight, any pending revenge will be taken “Why won’t you leave me alone?” the small voice screamed, running from her tormentor. “What’s the matter, blank-flank?” the tormentor followed close behind. “Did the widdle bwank-fwank get upset because I waffed at her singing?” “Go away, Diamond Tiara. I’ve never done anything to you.” Diamond Tiara laughed as she chased Sweetie Belle down the alley way. “Your very existence is what happened to me. Why should I have to put up with someone like you. “Your singing. Your crying. Your stupid friends and their stupid crusades.” “Leave me alone,” Sweetie Belle sobbed. She burst out onto the street. Diamond Tiara stopped short. A brown stallion was screaming out for help, holding something in his forearms. Ponies were running towards the overturned cart. Diamond Tiara looked on the crumpled body lying in the stallions hooves. “Please, I didn’t see her. Oh Celestia, please, someone help.” More ponies arrived on the scene. “She ran out, I didn’t see her in time. Oh Celestia no, please,” the brown stallion was in complete panic. “She ran out from that alley.” Multiple tear stained, shocked eyes turned towards Diamond Tiara. She ran.
Chapter OneScootaloo and Apple Bloom sat beside the hospital bed. The sounds of the machinery pumping air into Sweetie Belle’s lungs. The beeping of the monitors attached. The whir and click of pumps pushing Celestia knows what into the body of their friend through multiple tubes. They had been called from the Crusader clubhouse, where they were waiting for Sweetie Belle. Rainbow Dash had come for them. Having barely said a word before scooping them onto her back, flew them to the hospital. Scootaloo would have normally been thrilled to have flown with her mentor, but Rainbow Dash’s puffy red eyes, and the words “Sweetie Belle” and “hospital” had robbed her of all joy. Scootaloo watched for any movement in the still body of her friend. A fluttering of her eyelids. A twitch of her nose. Anything! Sweetie Belle had to wake up. She just had to! Apple Bloom burst into sobs. Applejack pulled her sister into a tight hug, barely holding back her own tears. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Hey Squirt, it’s okay if you need to cry, don’t worry about being cool here,” she whispered in Scootaloo’s ear. Rainbow pulled Scootaloo into a hug, and Scootaloo felt the soft drops of her mentors own tears fall on her head. She had never seen Rainbow Dash cry. Scootaloo buried her muzzle into the rainbow mane. “Where’s Rarity?” Scootaloo looked around, noticing the conspicuous absence of Sweetie Belle’s sister. “Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had to take her home.” Applejack sighed. “She was in a right state when she found out.” “That was when I came and got you two.” Rainbow Dash suppressed a sniff. “When’s Sweetie gunna get better?” Apple Bloom looked up at her sister with large watery eyes. “When can she come crusading with us again? When’s she gunna wake up, sis?” Applejack pulled her little sister back into a tight hug. “When will she wake up, Dash?” Scootaloo asked. “Well,” Rainbow deflected. “Hopefully, with the awesome doctors and nurses here, it will be soon.” “Will she wake up?” Scootaloo’s tone was flat, devoid of hope. Rainbow pulled Scootaloo into another hug. It was all the answer Scootaloo needed. A sombre mood fell upon the class the next day, when Cheerilee had mentioned the accident. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were even surprised when Diamond Tiara burst into tears at the news. It was strange, Diamond Tiara picked on Sweetie Belle more than any of the other Crusaders. More than every other pony put together. But now she was crying, along with most of the rest of the class. Miss Cheerilee had spent a lot of the morning consoling the foals. When lunchtime arrived, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo approached Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Silver Spoon had been rubbing a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s back. Diamond Tiara’s eyes were puffy and red, she’d obviously been crying before the Crusaders approached. “Diamond Tiara?” Apple Bloom asked cautiously. “What do you want, blank-flank?” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Ah was jus’ comin over ta see if y’all were okay.” “I am! Now go away.” Scootaloo was angry. She glowered at the pink filly. “Oh, so then why are you crying? Upset you don’t have Sweetie Belle to pick on anymore?” “Leave me alone,” Diamond Tiara screamed. She pushed Scootaloo to the ground. “Get away from me, you- you- blank-flanks!” Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo up. “Let’s jus go.” Scootaloo sat alone next to Sweetie Belle, watching her friend. Rarity had visited again, that much could be gleaned from the state of the room. Vases filled with flowers covered most of the unoccupied tables and shelves. Laying over Sweetie Belle was a quilt she and Rarity had worked together on. A delicately embroidered pillow lay behind her head. Scootaloo recognised it as the one Rarity yelled at Sweetie Belle for using in one of their Cutie Mark Crusader stunts. Something about expensive imported Saddle Arabian silk. She thought back to the last time she sat next to a loved one like this. Her mom had fallen into a coma, and had never woken up. Her dad was wracked with grief, he’d never really recovered, even to this day. She supposed it was because of that she was able to stay with Sweetie Belle as much as she did. Scootaloo couldn’t help but think of all the things Sweetie Belle might never get to do. She might never get her cutie mark. She might never get her first kiss. She might never ask Spike to be her special somepony for Hearts and Hooves day. She might never get so sing again. She might never get to crusade again. She might never again be there to comfort Scootaloo when her dad drank too much. She might never be there to help Apple Bloom and Granny Smith get ready for the zap-apple harvest again. Tears fell. She was interrupted from her thoughts by a knock at the door. A tall white mare with long black mane tied in a bun entered the room. Her scrubs identified her as one of the doctors. She was followed by a brown pegasus Scootaloo did not really recognise. He didn’t look like a doctor. “Sorry, didn’t realise somepony was in here,” he said, as he started to back out the door. The Doctor turned to Scootaloo. “Is it alright if Mr Crate see’s Sweetie Belle?” “It’s okay,” Scootaloo called back. “Thanks, Doctor-” he quickly read the name tag “- Bone. I won’t be long.” “I’ll be just outside at the nurses station if you need me.” As she turned and left the room, Scootaloo noticed the bone cutie mark. Crafty Crate entered the room, holding a bouquet of flowers under one wing. They were white lilies, with a few sprigs of lavender. “I hope she’d like em,” he said, placing them on the table side next to the bed. Scootaloo looked the stallion up and down. She’d never seen him before, and he didn’t seem like the kind of pony that Sweetie Belle would know. And definitely not Rarity. Scootaloo was shocked by the gruff stallions sobbing. “I didn’t see you,” he sputtered out. “I am so sorry. Please kid, please live.” “You!” Scootaloo yelled. “You did this to her!” She jumped to the ground, and charged towards him. Crafty didn’t have time to react, and took the impact straight in the chest. Winded and coughing, he tried to stand, before small hooves planted themselves across his muzzle. “I’m sorry,” he kept screaming, as Scootaloo unleashed her fury upon him. Tears streaked both their faces. “You did this to her! You did this to her! You! You did it!” “My my, we must be quiet in a hospital.” Doctor Bone had returned to the room. “Sweetie Belle will not recover with all this shouting, no?” “He’s the one who hit her. Why is he here?” Scootaloo screamed at the doctor. The doctor smiled at Scootaloo. “Can you not see Mr Crate is upset as well? He merely wished to come and see Sweetie Belle.” “But he’s the one who hurt her,” Scootaloo continued in her rage. “Why should he be allowed to see her?” “I didn’t see her, I swear... she came running out... she was playing with her friends and ran out...” “Well, that certainly sounds like an accident, doesn’t it Scootaloo?” The doctor smiled wide at the filly. “Liar! She wasn’t playing with her friends! We were waiting for her at the club house.” “She was, she was runnin with her little pink friend.” “She doesn’t have any pink friends! She only has me and Apple Bloom!” “Then maybe she was running with somepony else?” Doctor Bone attempted to mediate the situation. “Yeah, they were running after each other. The other one had a little, pointy silver hat thing.” “Diamond Tiara,” Scootaloo sneered. “Yeah, that’s the one... she was wearin’ one o’ dem tiana’s.” “There you go, Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle was obviously playing with Diamond Tiara before the accident happened. No pony is to blame, least of all Mr Crate.” Scootaloo stormed out of the room. “I’m sorry about that, Mr Crate. I am sure Sweetie Belle at least would appreciate your visit.” As she turned towards the door, she called over her shoulder. “Oh, and sorry, but visiting hours have just finished.”
Chapter TwoScootaloo could not hold back her anger as she arrived at school that morning. She stormed into the classroom and waited. She was going to make Diamond Tiara pay. But when class started, Diamond Tiara was conspicuously absent. She looked desperately around, but could not see hide-nor-hair of the filly. “Class, please be seated. We have a very special guest this week.” The class door opened and through it walked a handsome cyan pegasus with a black mane. On his flank was an open eye cutie mark. “Class, I would like to introduce you to Mr Wren.” “Good Morning my little ponies. My name is Mr Wren. Please be good to me.” Wren gave a small bow to the class. “Mr Wren is training to be a teacher, and we’ve been asked to host him here for the week. So would you all join me in saying good morning?” “Good morning, Mr Wren,” the class answered in the typical foalish sing-song voice. Wren took a seat in the corner, and smiled to the class as Cheerilee begun the days lesson. When recess arrived, Scootaloo made a straight bead for Silver Spoon. “Where is she,” Scootaloo sneered, backing Silver Spoon into a corner of the yard. “Where is she?!” “Scootaloo, what’s goin’ on?” Apple Bloom tried to pull her friend away from the cowering filly. “Yer madder than a timberwolf on Sunday!” Scootaloo shook off Apple Bloom, it usually took at least two ponies to hold her back. She grabbed Silver Spoon by her pearl necklace. “She too much of a coward-” Scootaloo breathed heavily “- to show her face here after what she did?” “Scootaloo! Let Silver Spoon go. Now!” Cheerilee stormed across the yard, followed by Mr Wren. Scootaloo did not yield. “I said,” Cheerilee loomed above the two, “let her go, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo let go of Silver Spoon. She whispered, “I know what happened, and you can tell Diamond Tiara I won’t forget!” “Scootaloo, follow me inside now. Apple Bloom, why don’t you go play with somepony. Dinky is over there, why don’t you talk with her? Silver Spoon, run along dear.” She turned to Wren. “Mr Wren, would you mind keeping an eye on the yard while I speak with Scootaloo.” “Of course, Miss Cheerilee. I would be happy to.” Wren smiled and started back to where he had been sitting. Scootaloo could have sworn his cutie mark eye blinked and watched her as she followed Cheerilee to the classroom. Cheerilee sighed as the door closed behind them. “Scootaloo, please sit down.” She motioned for the chair Mr Wren had sat before. “Would you mind telling me why you were bullying poor Silver Spoon.” Scootaloo sat, her forearms crossed the barrel of her chest. “Scootaloo, I will have to talk to your father about your behaviour today.” “Like he’d care,” Scootaloo huffed, blowing her fringe out of her eyes. “I know you are having a hard time, what with poor Sweetie Belle’s accident-” “Accident?” Scootaloo screamed, tears streaking her cheeks. Cheerilee moved forward to comfort the filly. “Yes, accident.” “It wasn’t an accident!” Scootaloo screamed into Cheerilee’s shoulder. “It was Diamond Tiara!” “Diamond Tiara didn’t mean for it to happen.” Cheerilee stroked Scootaloo’s ruffled mane. “But it was an accident-” “You knew? Is that why Diamond Tiara isn’t here today? Did the police ponies take her to jail?” Cheerilee shook her head. “No, Diamond Tiara is at home today, because she is upset by what has happened.” “So she hurts Sweetie Belle, and gets a day off school?” Scootaloo pushed her teacher away. “Diamond Tiara is suffering-” “No! Sweetie Belle is suffering. She’s lying in a coma!” “Miss Cheerilee?” The door to the schoolhouse opened, and Wren stepped inside. “Sorry, there is a problem. Silver Spoon has locked herself in-” Scootaloo took the moment of distraction to run through the open door. “Scootaloo!” Cheerilee screamed after the fleeing student. “Come back!” “I hate you!” Scootaloo had her scooter, and was rushing out the gate of the schoolyard towards town. “I will go get her. You please see to Silver Spoon -” Wren winked at Cheerilee “- It’s inappropriate for me to enter the little fillies room.” Scootaloo knew she was going to be in big trouble. She hadn’t ditched school in a long time, not since becoming friends with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But here she was, barrelling down the road on her scooter. She didn’t know where she was going, she just wasn’t going back there. Her eyes stung, both from the speed and from the tears. She didn’t even notice the old pony slowly making his way across the road. “Oof!” The old pony fell as Scootaloo crashed into him. Scootaloo got up, apologising, and helping him back to his hooves. She picked up an old grey fedora, handing it to him. “Sorry, I think this is yours.” “Thank you, young miss.” Scootaloo looked around. The crash had brought her back to her senses, and she was able to see where she was. She was outside Sugarcube Corner. The older pony dusted down his coat, and re-wrapped his dislodge red scarf. “Where were you going in such a hurry, young miss?” Scootaloo turned to the old pony she had knocked over. “Ummm, here, I guess.” “Is something the matter?” “No,” Scootaloo looked at her hooves. “Sorry for crashing into you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” “No, it would take far more than that to hurt this old pony. But you seem upset.” “No, I’m okay.” Scootaloo wiped the tears from her eyes. She hated being this uncool, especially in front of a stranger. “I was going to wait here for a friend of mine.” He motioned towards Sugarcube Corner. “Perhaps you would keep an old pony company while he waits.” Scootaloo sighed. She didn’t know this pony, and he could turn out to be a creep. But she was going inside anyway, and she had just knocked him over. And as long as she stayed at Sugarcube Corner, she should be okay. “Welcome, welcome, welcome,” a certain pink mare burst out into song as Scootaloo and the old pony walked through the front door. “Ooooo! It’s Scootaloo. And someone new. Mrs Cake can I-” “No, Pinkie. Please, serve the customers. You can welcome the new gentlecolt on your day off.” Scootaloo made her way to one of the booths. “Hey, now that’s a frowny-frown face,” Pinkie hopped over to Scootaloo. “What’s it going to take to turn that upside down?” The old pony went to the counter, and spoke with Mrs Cake. “The young miss there seems to be having a bad day. Could you make a large milkshake for her and deliver it to her table?” He pulled out a small sack of bits. “I’d also like a coffee, and two pieces of cake please.” “Certainly sir!” Mrs Cake smiled. The old pony took a seat across from Scootaloo, facing the door. “Hey Scoots,” Pinkie Pie ‘whispered’ to Scootaloo, “You going to introduce me to your friend?” “Miss Scootaloo does not know my name. I am Wan,” Wan held his hoof out to shake the pink mares. “Wan Doo. It is a pleasure to meet you, miss-” “Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie yelled, grabbing Wan’s hoof and shaking vigorously. “And welcome to Ponyville, Juan!” “You know I am not from Ponyville?” Wan questioned. “Of course silly,” Pinkie Pie answered, as if it was obvious. “Else I would have already thrown you a welcome party. Oooo, are you going to be here tomorrow? I can throw you a welcome party then! Oh please please please say you will be here.” “Here you go, dearies.” Mrs Cake delivered the coffee, the milkshake and the two pieces of cake. Wan smiled, seeing Mrs Cake had cut Scootaloo a particularly large slice of chocolate cake. “Pinkie, we have more customers. Be a dear and help me serve?” “Okie dokie lokie. Bee arr bee!” Pinkie giggled, suddenly wearing a yellow and black striped shirt and eye patch. Scootaloo couldn’t help but giggle at Pinkie’s antics. “It is good to see you smile. One so young should not frown as you do.” Wan took a sip of the coffee. “Mmm, it’s very good. I haven’t had coffee this good in many years. Go on, drink your milkshake.” Scootaloo took a tentative sip of her milkshake. When the milk hit her tongue, she groaned. She remembered she had skipped breakfast to get to school early. She dove into the cake. “Fankfs Mifter Doo.” “Please, call me Wan. I am glad you are enjoying it.” Wan and Scootaloo fell back into silence. Wan seemed content to sit with his eyes closed, enjoying the aroma of his coffee. Scootaloo didn’t particularly feel like talking to this stranger, but she did feel like eating this cake. “Ahh, excuse me,” Wan removed his hat, and placed it on the table and stood. “My friend has arrived early.” Scootaloo heard ‘Wow! You are reeeeeally bald!’ from behind her. Then the mortified screams of Mrs Cake. “Hey, you know what ‘Tartarus Correspondence’ is?” Scootaloo’s ears piqued at the small voice in the booth behind her. “The one where you write the name of your enemy on a letter, and put it in your mailbox at midnight, and they’ll take revenge on your behalf?” “Yes, yes! That’s the one! I heard my friend in Canterlot had a friend who did it-” “Scootaloo?” Scootaloo turned to the voice, and found Mr Wren standing next to Wan Doo. “This is the filly you were looking for, Itchy?” Wan smiled. “What a coincidence. My new friend is my old friends student.” “Scootaloo, you should finish your milkshake, then we will return to the school. Yes?” Wren turned back to Wan, and they continued to talk, though Scootaloo could not make out what they were saying. For the second time that day, Scootaloo could have sworn she saw from the corner of her eye Mr Wren’s cutie mark blink and watch her. “I’m ready to go back.” Dejected, she stood up from the table. Her milkshake didn’t seem as appetizing as it had before. “It was nice meeting you Scootaloo. I hope you day gets better.” Wan waved. “See you later, Itchy.” She stopped as she reached the door. “Itchy?” “It’s my first name,” Mr Wren gritted his teeth. Behind her, Wan was putting his hat back on, boisterously laughing. The afternoon was painful for Scootaloo. Despite Mr Wren trying to talk her out of it, Cheerilee had called Scootaloo’s father into the school to discuss her behaviour. Scootaloo was mortified when he turned up drunk. This wasn’t particularly rare, but it embarrassed Scootaloo every time. Walking home, she wondered if she would have to apply orange makeup to the fur underneath her eyes. That too, was not a rare occurrence. In the end, Scootaloo was lucky. She had only been made to go to her room two hours before sundown. Without dinner. Scootaloo had to force herself to stay awake. She snuck into her father’s study, and pulled out a piece of parchment. With a pen in her mouth, she wrote on the paper two words. Diamond Tiara She folded the parchment and put it inside an envelope. She snuck into the kitchen to see if she could find a snack to eat. Her father had long since passed out on the couch, so she could steal a bite without being reprimanded. She sat in the small kitchen, watching the luminous hands of the clock, as they ticked slower to midnight. One minute to midnight, she grabbed the envelope in her teeth, and counted as she walked out the front door. Fifty five. Fifty Six. She walked the short path to the letterbox. Fifty Seven. Fifty eight. She opened the top. Fifty nine. She let go of the letter. Sixty. The letter dropped into the mailbox. Scootaloo closed the lid, and looked around. Nothing moved, nothing stirred. She sighed, and opened the lid again. The letterbox was empty. “You have summoned me?”
Chapter Three“You have summoned me?” Standing before Scootaloo was a white alicorn. Her black mane waved in the gentle night breeze, a pattern of flowers and fans dancing. Emotionless, red eyes stared directly into Scootaloo’s. “Who-” “I am Ai Enma” the alicorn interrupted. “You called me?” “The Tartarus Filly?” “Wanyūdō.” Enma Ai called out to the darkness. “Yes, young miss.” Scootaloo thought she recognised the voice. “Take this.” Ai held out a hoof. In it she held a small doll pony, made of black straw. Around its neck was a red string. She placed it in Scootaloo’s hoof. “If you really wish to take revenge, you may pull that red string. “You make a covenant with me as you pull the string. The recipient of your revenge will be ferried straightaway into Tartarus.” “Tartarus...” Scootaloo brought the straw doll to her mouth, and bit on the string. “However -” Ai interrupted “- Once the revenge is dealt, you are required to pay the compensation.” “Compensation?” Scootaloo dropped the string. “When one pony is cursed, two holes are dug. “Your soul will also fall into Tartarus.Your spirit will wander forever, you'll be tortured by pain and suffering, and never know what true paradise is like.” Scootaloo gasped. “Well, that is after you die.” “The rest is up to you.” Scootaloo was back in her room, lying on her bed. Had it all been a dream? The scratchy sensation on her left forehoof made her look down. There sat the black straw doll that Ai had handed to her. Tartarus. It wasn’t fair! Diamond Tiara deserved to go there for what she did. But why did Scootaloo have to pay the price too? Scootaloo slept, dreaming of the horrors that might be awaiting her in Tartarus. Once again, Diamond Tiara was absent. Scootaloo sat at her desk, turning the straw doll over and over in her hooves. She should do it. It was what Diamond Tiara deserved. But then her mind returned to her own damnation. She was going to be friends with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom forever. She knew death would come for them all, one day, her mother’s passing had taught her that lesson young. But if she did this, she wouldn’t be able to spend the rest of forever with them. She might not ever see her mother again. She looked around the class. No more Miss Cheerilee. No more Crusaders. No more Dinky, or Truffle, or Twist. She’d be alone. Forever. “Scootaloo?” Miss Cheerilee broke the filly out of her thoughts. “Are you paying attention.” Scootaloo jumped, finding Miss Cheerilee standing above her. “What is this?” Cheerilee pointed a hoof at the straw doll. “Are you playing with that instead of doing your school work?” “No!” Scootaloo tried to shove the doll in her desk. “Scootaloo, we are here to work, not for you to play. If you want to play, save it for recess.” Cheerilee scolded the filly. “Now, hand your doll over, and you can collect it at the end of the day.” “Where is Diamond Tiara?” Scootaloo hissed as she cornered Silver Spoon again. “She’s at home, she’s not coming in,” the grey coated filly puffed up her chest. “You leave her alone!” “Scootaloo, what’s gotten into ya?” Apple Bloom tried to pull Scootaloo away. “You tell Diamond Tiara I know what she did.” Scootaloo glowered. “And she won’t be getting away with it.” Tears welled in Silver Spoon’s eyes as she ran off. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo quietly hugged Rarity. The soft sunlight streamed through the room, falling gently across Sweetie Belle’s peaceful expression. “I’m sorry,” Doctor Bone had said, delivering the terrible news. “Her brain activity is decreasing. We do not think Sweetie Belle will recover.” Apple Bloom sobbed. The others in the room were in shock. “There isn’t anything y’all can do?” Applejack asked. “Surely some kind of fancy doctor magic or summit?” “Magic doesn’t work that way,” Twilight sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve been looking into it. You can heal scars, and some organs take to magical healing-” “-but not the brain,” Doctor Bone nodded solemnly. “I will give you some time.” With that, she left the room to the family and friends. Slowly, everypony left, one by one. Scootaloo, Applejack and Apple Bloom were the last to leave, save Rarity and her parents. Scootaloo ground her teeth in anger as they walked. “It’s not fair!” Scootaloo shouted, startling Applejack and Apple Bloom. “It’s just not right!” “Now sugarcube,” Applejack sided up to the foal. “Sometimes things like this jus’ happen.” “But it didn’t ‘just’ happen. Diamond Tiara was the one who did it!” A gasp interrupted the two. They turned to find Apple Bloom stopped behind them. Tears were in her eyes. “What do ya mean D-Diamond Tiara did it?” Scootaloo’s mouth dropped. She couldn’t believe it. Had she not told Apple Bloom what had happened? Well, no. She was so angry with Diamond Tiara, she hadn’t told her. But then by Apple Bloom’s reaction, it seemed no one had told her. Scootaloo cursed herself for keeping it from her friend. “Now c’mere Apple Bloom.” Applejack circled back and sat next to her sister. “It’s the truth, Diamond Tiara was running after Sweetie Belle. But she din’t mean to get her hurt.” “Running after her? She was tormenting her. That’s all she has ever done to us!” Scootaloo screamed in rage. “Now, Ah know she’s been a bully to y’all for a while, but Ah know she din’t mean ta hurt Sweetie Belle like that. And that’s the honest truth!” Scootaloo ran angry through the streets. She’d do it tonight. The adults didn’t understand. It wasn’t an accident. Everything could have been avoided if somepony had just done something about Diamond Tiara’s bullying before-hoof. She cursed herself for having forgotten to collect the doll after school. She barrelled down the street on her scooter, there shouldn’t be any old ponies this time of night to crash into. She’d been to Cheerilee’s house before, hopefully she would still be awake. As she climbed the steps to the front door, she could overhear two voices. Miss Cheerilee’s, and somepony else. Scootaloo knocked on the door. “Yes?” Cheerilee opened the door. “Who is- oh! Scootaloo, what are you doing here at this hour?” “Sorry Miss Cheerilee. I forgot my doll at school.” “Oh, I’m sorry Scootaloo. Remind me tomorrow morning and I will give it back-” “No! Sorry. No. Please. It’s really important. Can we get it tonight?” “Ummm,” Cheerilee stumbled. “I have a guest, I can’t go tonight.” “Who’s there, Cheery?” the lavender mare poked her head out the door, her bleary eyes going wide. “Oh, umm... Hello Scootaloo.” “Twilight?” Scootaloo looked up confused. “What are you doing here?” Cheerilee shuffled nervously, looking to Twilight. Twilight answered “Oh, we were just, ummm, you see... I was just here to talk about a book Cheerilee wants to read to the class. Yes, that’s right.” “Not another book report,” Scootaloo groaned. Cheerilee and Twilight laughed. “So what are you doing out so late, little missy?” Twilight asked cheerfully. “If you don’t get home soon, you won’t finish your homework!” Another groan escaped Scootaloo’s mouth. “Scootaloo left a doll at school today. I told her she can get it tomorrow.” “But it’s important!” Scootaloo burst into sobs. “I... I kind of made it... for Sweetie Belle.” Cheerilee and Twilight looked at each other. “Well, I do need to get going, else Spike might burn down the library.” Twilight went back inside. “Let me get my bags, and I will walk the two of you there.” “Okay, Scootaloo. But next time, you need to be more mindful, okay?” She nuzzled Scootaloo’s cheek. “Shall we go?” The three made their way to the schoolhouse, Scootaloo trotting ahead of the two mares. They were too slow for her likes. Scootaloo kicked her hooves at the dirt anxiously as Cheerilee and Twilight walked through the school gate. Scootaloo had never been to school at night time. She had to admit, if only to herself, that it was just the teeniest, tiniest little bit spooky. Cheerilee trotted to her desk, and opened the drawer where she had put it. She pulled the small black straw doll out, and handed it to Scootaloo. Twilight let out a gasp behind them. “I think you should try a different colour, Scootaloo,” Cheerilee laughed at her friends reaction. “Maybe some glitter too, like the Hearts and Hooves card you girls made me? Then I am sure Sweetie Belle will love it.” Scootaloo nodded. “Well, shall we get going?” Cheerilee smiled. “You shouldn’t stay out too late.” Cheerilee closed the door and the three of them stepped out into the night. “Cheery, I might walk Scootaloo home, if that is okay?” Twilight asked her friend. “Oh, ummm,” Cheerilee looked a little dejected. “... okay.” “I’ll come see you again tomorrow night?” Twilight smiled. Cheerilee smiled, then said “I’ll hold you to that, Miss Sparkle. And I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning, Scootaloo. Goodnight!” Once again, Scootaloo turned the straw doll over and over in her hooves. She had it back. Tonight, she could do it. Then it was bathed in a purple light, and was taken from her hooves again. “Who is it for?” Twilight asked in an angry whisper. “Ummm, it’s for Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo answered. “It’s not finished, give it back!” “It is not for Sweetie Belle, you wouldn’t do that to her.” “What?” “Don’t think I don’t know what this is,” Twilight snapped. “I recognised it straight away, from the Legendary Lore of Magically Malevolent Monsters Manual. “Who. Is. It. For?” “Diamond Tiara!” Scootaloo blurted. Angry tears bubbled in Twilight’s eyes. “Scootaloo, I know you are very angry right now. You are hurt. You want to hurt somepony back. But this is not the way.” “It’s not fair! Sweetie Belle is dying and Diamond Tiara just gets away with it? There’s no justice in that!” “This -” Twilight levitated the straw doll “- is not justice. This is revenge. And I won’t let you ruin your life over this.” Twilight tucked the straw doll in her saddlebag. Scootaloo lunged at Twilight, planting one of her tiny hooves in Twilight’s face. “Give it back!” “Scootaloo, you can’t give in to your anger.” With that, Twilight stepped back in a flash of purple magic, disappeared before Scootaloo’s eyes. On a small cottage not far away, two ponies stood atop the thatched roof, watching the young pegasus foal scream herself hoarse. “My, my, my! Poor Wanyūdō. He always did have the worst of luck,” the tall white mare with a bone cutie mark laughed. “Do you think she will still go through with it, Ren?” “Does the foal have much longer, Hone?” the cyan pegasus asked. “Not long,” Hone Onna shook her head, her long black mane falling around her shoulders. “Hone -” A white alicorn alighted the roof beside the two “- I have need of you.” “Yes mistress.”
Chapter FourEven a few days later Scootaloo’s temper had not diminished. Twilight had stolen the straw doll from, and wouldn’t let her in the library. Diamond Tiara still hadn’t returned to school. Sweetie Belle’s condition was deteriorating fast. Everything came to a boiling point, and Scootaloo’s anger bubbled over. “Where is Diamond Tiara,” she screamed, pushing Silver Spoon to the dirt. “Leave Diamond Tiara alone,” the grey foal whimpered, trying to stand. Scootaloo pushed her back down again. “Like she left Sweetie Belle alone?” Scootaloo sneered. “Go away! Why won’t you lea-” Silver Spoon was cut short. An small orange hoof impacted with her muzzle. She could feel her nose running, and when she wiped it with her forearm, her fur was stained crimson. “Scootaloo!” Cheerilee screamed at the top of her lungs. “Get away from Silver Spoon right now!” Scootaloo turned to see Miss Cheerilee and Mr Wren running from the opposite side of the yard. She knew she wouldn’t get away with what she’d done. She turned back to Silver Spoon. “You can tell Diamond Tiara, I will leave her... I will leave her exactly the way she left Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo hoped the threat had gotten through to Silver Spoon. By the fearful look in those violet eyes, Scootaloo assumed the message had been understood. “Scootaloo, you will go inside, now!” Scootaloo had never seen Miss Cheerilee so angry. But Scootaloo honestly did not care. She did not falter under the steely, angered gaze of her teacher. “Whatever.” Scootaloo made her way back to the school house. “Mr Wren, would you mind keeping an eye on the yard?” She helped Silver Spoon to her hooves. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up, shall we?” Cheerilee smiled as she led Silver Spoon to the washroom. “I know you are having a hard time with Sweetie Belle in hospital,” Cheerilee scowled. “But that is no excuse for striking one of your fellow students.” “Whatever.” Scootaloo sat at her desk, looking out the window. “I know you blame Diamond Tiara for what happened, but-” “Don’t say it was an accident!” Scootaloo snapped at her teacher. “It wasn’t her fault-” “Then whose fault is it?” Scootaloo punched a hoof on her desk. “Crafty Crate? Filthy Rich for not doing anything about Diamond Tiara? Yours?” Scootaloo shot an accusatory glare at her teacher. “W-What?” Cheerilee stammered. “You never stopped Diamond Tiara. You knew she was bullying us. You knew she was bullying Sweetie Belle.” “I always stopped her if I knew she was-” “No!” Scootaloo snapped. “You interrupted Diamond Tiara. You never did anything to stop it.” “I think you need some time off from school to think.” Cheerilee shook. “I will let your father know tonight you are not to come back until next Monday.” Cheerilee did not stop Scootaloo from running out of the class. Technically, she had just suspended her. As the door slammed, Cheerilee slumped. Scootaloo had said the very words she had asked herself. One of her students was lying in hospital, and if what Twilight had told her was true, would not likely leave. Could Cheerilee have done more to stop this? Should she have stepped in, done something to deal with the bullying better. Her lack of action had now seen one student in hospital. Another student stricken with rage. Her thoughts turned to Diamond Tiara: and one student stricken with more guilt than the filly could not bear. Unbeknownst to the teacher, a large eye embedded in the ceiling of the schoolhouse above her, closed slowly, then disappeared. Scootaloo slammed the door to her house, waking her father from his drunken stupor. “Scoots?” he mumbled, as he watched his daughter race for her room. He stumbled behind her. “What’re you doin’ home s’early?” “Leave me alone!” she screamed through the closed door. “Don’ you be taken tha’ tone with me, missy!” He tried to open the door, but found it locked. “Open this door right now!” The answer was a loud thud against the door, and the sound of something smashing. He continued to bash on the door with a hoof. “Scootaloo! Open this door now!” When the only reply was Scootaloo’s howls of rage, and the sounds of ripping, tearing and smashing; Scootaloo’s dad turned away from the door, and bucked like his life depended on it. The door jamb splintered as door burst open, nearly tearing away from it’s hinges. The sound of the door slamming open did not stop Scootaloo’s rage. She hadn’t even noticed her father standing there, eyes opened wide with shock, at the destruction she was causing in her room. She grabbed the chair from her desk, and threw it against the wall, the small wooden frame crumpling on impact. She kicked her back legs against the desk, and a small photo frame fell to the floor. The older pegasus watched in horror, as his daughter grabbed the frame with her teeth, and threw it against the wall. The photo of his daughter and her rainbow maned friend lay amongst broken wood and shattered glass. Even through his fugue state, he realised something was wrong. Something was very, very, very wrong. He beat his wings, launching himself across the threshold of the room, where scattered splinters of wood and shattered glass lay. He pulled his daughter into a tight hug, and let her beat her hooves against his chest and scream. He held her until she had exhausted all of her energy. She sobbed into his mane. “She’s dying... she’s dying and nopony cares.” Miss Cheerilee had explained to Scootaloo’s father the previous night what had happened. When she woke, Scootaloo had expected that her father would have been angry at her. But he said nothing all morning, other than that he had to go out. He’d made her breakfast, something he hadn’t done in a long time. His cooking was awful, but she ate the pancakes regardless. Who was she to look a gift-pony in the mouth? She wandered around the house alone. She had wished she could do what her dad had done for all these years. She tried to open his liquor cabinet, but found it locked. Score one point for responsible parenthood. It wouldn’t even make a dent in the column against. She sat on the couch in the lounge room, wondering where her dad had gone. Maybe he went to the bar, or to go drink with his buddy Berry Punch. She didn’t like being around him while he was drunk, but a part of her wished he was there, just so that she wasn’t alone. When lunchtime rolled around, and her father was still nowhere to be seen, she grabbed her scooter and made her way to the front door. It opened before in front of her, and standing there was her father. “D-dad?” “Heya, Scoots.” He smiled, nuzzling her cheek. Scootaloo noticed he smelled strange. “Going out?” “Ummm- maybe?” she made it a question. “Well, why don’t you help your old dad fix that door of yours, then maybe we can go to Sugarcube Corner?” Scootaloo stood back, shocked at her fathers behavior. He was acting very, very strange. “Dad, have you been drinking?” “No, I haven’t.” A sad look crossed her fathers face. “And I think it’s about time I stop. I’ve-I’ve not been a very good dad.” “Hah!” Scootaloo let out a short, sharp, bitter laugh. “I’m sorry,” he said, tears welling in his eyes. “I’ve left you alone for so long. I’ve only seen my own pain, I never opened my eyes to see yours. I should have been there for you when your mom- well. I should have been here for you then. But I wasn’t. “I know what you are going through now. I failed you then, but if you could give me a chance, I’d like to be here for you now.” He hadn’t been drinking. That was what she could smell. Or more, couldn’t smell. She couldn’t remember a day in the last five years he hadn’t smelled of hard liquor. “Fine,” she huffed. “But I want to go to Sugarcube corner first.” It was lunchtime, after all. Her dad had bought her two slices of cake and a drink. He had gently stroked her mane as she cried into her milkshake. He listened quietly as she told him about what had happened to Sweetie Belle. What Diamond Tiara had done. He didn’t tell her it was an accident. He told her she was allowed to feel angry. When they left, he lifted her on his back between his wings, like he had done when she was much smaller. She dozed lightly as he walked them home. When they arrived, he found a very distressed cyan mare pacing back and forth at their doorstep. “Can I help yo-” “Scootaloo!” Rainbow yelled, startling the filly awake. “Thank Celestia I found you. You gotta come to the hospital, now!” “What’s happened?” Scootaloo fell off her fathers back. Panic was etched across Rainbow’s face. “Sweetie Belle’s parents, they signed the forms... to... to turn off the life support.” “Where’s Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo yelled. “Applejack’s already run to the school to get her. Come on, get on, we gotta go now!” Scootaloo turned back to her father. “Go on, I’ll be right behind." He nodded. "And Dash? Don’t slow down for me.” Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo disappeared into the sky.
FinaleThe only thing that could be heard in the room was the beeping of the ECG, and the soft sobs of everyone sitting around the bed. The sun was setting, and almost everypony was escorted from the room. “I need to stay, I need to see this.” Scootaloo had argued. Twilight stood silently by her side, Rarity with her parents beside the hospital bed. Scootaloo’s heart tightened as the beeping of the ECG slowed. It wouldn’t be long now. Sweetie Belle had been considered officially brain-dead for twelve hours. The neurologist flown in from Canterlot had confirmed. The respirator had been turned off. Sweetie Belle’s chest no longer rose and fell. She was gone, and soon the last vestiges of life in her body would join her. I won’t let her get away with this. I swear, Sweetie Belle. I swear it! The lines on the ECG were getting weaker now. Scootaloo had seen it before. The attending nurse had turned off the alarm. Scootaloo watched those lines grow weaker, her heart fluttering any time there was a slightly stronger pulse. Maybe they were wrong. Maybe Sweetie Belle would come back. Seconds passed without another pulse. Sweetie Belle’s heart gave one more push, then beat no more. The nurse turned off the monitor, and it was over. Sweetie Belle’s life, was over. Rage burned in Scootaloo’s heart. One of her best friends. Gone. She had her mother taken from her. She had her father effectively taken from her too. Now one of her best friends. There was no one to blame when her mother died, but that was not the case here. There was somepony responsible. Somepony to blame. Somepony to hate. Scootaloo looked away from the bed. She could not bear it. That was when she noticed what was sitting next to her. Scootaloo slipped out of the room while Twilight, Rarity and her parents were crying. Scootaloo ran through the streets, the straw doll tucked beneath a wing. She is going to pay! The small filly lay on her opulent bed, crying. Crushing guilt weighed down on her. She could do this, she could. She got up from her bed, and and willed herself across the room. Twilight turned, noticing Scootaloo was missing. Her heart sank for the small filly. She could understand the hurt the foal must have been going through. She moved to leave, to give Rarity and her parents some privacy, when she tripped. Looking down at her feet, she found the offending object. A lavender saddlebag, a bright pink star in the middle, surrounded by five smaller white ones. Her saddlebag. The one she had left locked up at home with the- Twilight raced out of the room, Rarity and her family watching her in shock. The sky was bathed in a deep red of the sunset. It was always sunset here. An eternal sunset. Scootaloo’s mind raced. She was going to do it. For Sweetie Belle. But Diamond Tiara had to know why. Scootaloo would see the look on her face as she was cast into Tartarus. She would relish that sight for the rest of her life. Twilight concentrated the spell. She had quickly adapted Rarity’s gem finding spell to track Scootaloo, as she had once tracked her friend Rarity. She could feel a magical tension in the air, like the weight of some malevolent evil had descended upon Ponyville. If Twilight was right, it had. Twilight put in an extra burst of speed, cursing that she couldn’t fly like Rainbow Dash, or the princesses. What would she have given for wings that minute? In her mind, anything. Under the dying rays of eternal twilight, a white alicorn emerged from a hot spring. “Ai?” the voice of an old mare behind her. “Are you ready?” “Yes, Grandmother.” Ai Enma stepped out of the hot spring. Diamond Tiara and her father were walking down the main street of Ponyville. Filthy Rich had finally convinced his daughter to come out of her room, and was taking her for dinner at the cafe. If he knew one thing, his daughter loved to be spoilt. He would buy her anything to bring her back from the depression she had been in. Scootaloo came to a halt. She couldn’t believe her luck. Before her stood Diamond Tiara with a look of horror on her face. Filthy Rich stepped forward, in front of his daughter, when he saw the dangerous grin on the orange filly’s face. “How nice of you to come back,” Scootaloo sneered. “Excuse me,” Filthy Rich moved towards Scootaloo. “But leave my daughter alone.” “Why? She’s a murderer.” Scootaloo turned to Diamond Tiara, a wild look in her eye. “Oh, but you didn’t know that yet, did you?” Scootaloo laughed, as Diamond Tiara cowered, crying. “Oh, got a guilty conscience now, do we? A little late for that, isn’t it?” Twilight rounded the corner, spotting Scootaloo, and to Twilight’s horror: Diamond Tiara. She screamed out to Scootaloo. “Leave my daughter alone!” Filthy Rich yelled at the mad filly before him. “Hasn’t my daughter suffered enough?” “No,” Scootaloo grinned. “No, she hasn’t.” Scootaloo pulled the straw doll out from under her wing. She could hear Twilight screaming behind her. She clamped her teeth down on the red string. “Leave my friend alone,” sobbed a quiet voice. She pulled. The filly laid back down on her bed, the straw doll gone. All that remained was the red string. The street disappeared. The world was black. Scootaloo looked down at the straw doll. It was now white, and the string had gone. “Why?” she asked, as she dropped it. A deep voice echoed from the doll on the ground. “Somepony else has entered the contract.” The doll disappeared, and an old pony stood there, wearing a grey fedora. Scootaloo backed away from the pony. She had met him before. “Wan?” Scootaloo asked, nervously. “Wanyūdō,” the cyan pegasus behind her answered. The cutie mark on his flank, an eye, was open and watching her intently. Next to him stood the tall white doctor who had been watching over Sweetie Belle. Only half her face was covered in flesh, the other half a ghostly visage of a skull. Scootaloo could feel a presence at her back, somewhere in the darkness. She turned to see the cold, emotionless red eyes of the white alicorn, her mane filled with the pattern of dancing fans. O pitiful shadow bound in the darkness, Looking down upon people, and causing them pain A soul drowned in sinful karma... Want to try dying this once? The Alicorn spread her right wing. Scootaloo’s world faded into darkness. Scootaloo awoke to the gentle sound of water lapping at the side of the boat. The air around was foggy, neither Celestia's sun nor Luna's moon could be seen. Above her, the white Alicorn steered the boat with her magic. Wanyudo sat next to the filly. “Where am I?” “You are going to Tartarus,” the old pony next to her answered. “But what about my revenge? What about Sweetie Belle! It’s not fair!” “Revenge is not justice.” The old pony nodded. “It is never fair.” “I will ferry this vengeance to Tartarus.” The grey filly walked slowly to school. Diamond Tiara was recounting to her the strange events that had happened the night before. Scootaloo had been there screaming at her, then just disappeared. “One less blank-flank, right?” she chortled. The grey filly smiled weakly, and looked down at her flank. A black encircled flame brand, where her cutie mark had once been. A silver spoon. We will take revenge on your behalf
PrologueThis World is Called Fate The Binding Thread coils itself around a fragile, helpless prejudice Hatred Sadness It Ends in tears Beyond the curtain, at midnight, any pending revenge will be taken “Why won’t you leave me alone?” the small voice screamed, running from her tormentor. “What’s the matter, blank-flank?” the tormentor followed close behind. “Did the widdle bwank-fwank get upset because I waffed at her singing?” “Go away, Diamond Tiara. I’ve never done anything to you.” Diamond Tiara laughed as she chased Sweetie Belle down the alley way. “Your very existence is what happened to me. Why should I have to put up with someone like you. “Your singing. Your crying. Your stupid friends and their stupid crusades.” “Leave me alone,” Sweetie Belle sobbed. She burst out onto the street. Diamond Tiara stopped short. A brown stallion was screaming out for help, holding something in his forearms. Ponies were running towards the overturned cart. Diamond Tiara looked on the crumpled body lying in the stallions hooves. “Please, I didn’t see her. Oh Celestia, please, someone help.” More ponies arrived on the scene. “She ran out, I didn’t see her in time. Oh Celestia no, please,” the brown stallion was in complete panic. “She ran out from that alley.” Multiple tear stained, shocked eyes turned towards Diamond Tiara. She ran.
