Scarecrow: The story of a hero.

The three mares shot their eyes in Scootaloo's direction, in both shock and confusion. Derpy tilted her head, her brow furrowed. Lyra began to chuckle slightly, at both herself and Derpy's reaction. Vinyl, however, was less than enthusiastic, as she already knew. She chuckled, Lyra and Derpy exchanging glances to each other in pure confusion. Suddenly, a voice spoke from above, within the trees.

"I see you four are getting along well enough" The voice was another mare, with a gloating kind of voice, that seemed to boast with every word it spoke. The three mares and the filly look around, but see nothing. The voice continues to boom from all directions. "Well, i guess it would be proper to introduce myself as well"

Suddenly, with a white light and a burst of freezing air, an aqua blue mare appeared in front of the four. The grass froze into a pure white under her hooves, and her breath was always a thin fog. Her mane was an icy blue, with white streaks all along its length. Scootaloo immediately recognized her, and her mind began to fill with anger. Before her was the self proclaimed "Great and Powerful Trixie". She scowled, staring at the frozen illusionist. Trixie chuckled, smiling as she looked at Scootaloo, who wasn't wearing her mask as it lie behind her.

"Hello, Scootaloo...Miss me?" She chuckled. She didn't seem very hostile, but rather friendly. Scootaloo held her angry gaze, however. After the events of the Alicorn Amulet, Scootaloo refused to forgive the magician, no matter how many others did. Trixie sighed, looking to the other mares.

"Hello, ladies. It seems you three have met our new recruit" She smiled, but looked towards the filly, beginning to walk around her. A small space of the ground would freeze around each of her hooves as she stepped. "And...a rather strong recruit, it seems"

"What are you talking about?" Scootaloo watched as Trixie circled her, the air getting colder and colder around the two. Trixie watched her closely as she tensed up, with a devious smirk.

"The E.S.R.T., Scootaloo. Or, also known as the Equestrian Supernatural Response Team, a team of six ponies that protects Equestria against supernatural threats in unison with the Equestrian Military. I command this team...and I want to recruit you."

"What makes you think I should believe you, after you tried to take over Ponyville?" She spoke angrily, and Trixie chuckled. She gave the other three a wave, and they began to walk off, leaving the two alone. She rest a hoof on Scootaloo's back, and she began to shiver. The fur at the back of her neck stood on end, and she shook violently. Trixie moved infront of her and stared into her eyes, gazing deep into her eyes. Her tone became very quiet, and serious.

"Scootaloo, I'm going to tell you something very shocking. No sugar coating. No simplifying. Do you want to hear?" Her stare was held, and her voice was calm and directed to tell her, instead of to convince. Scootaloo reluctantly gave a nod, still holding her gaze as well. Trixie sighed and spoke again.

"The Alicorn Amulet isn't real. It was a distraction, to keep the Elements of Harmony away from Manehatten, as Vinyl and I took care of a rouge changeling squad..."

"But, Changelings arent really...supernatural, are they?"

"Not when they're alive.." Her statement left Scootaloo blinking in both confusion and shock. Trixie stood a bit taller. "Do you accept my request, Scootaloo? As an agent of the E.S.R.T.?"

Scootaloo paused, and thought. Her mind raced, and her heart picked up speed as she thought of as many possibilities as she could, to avoid making the wrong choice. She thought and thought, before her mind chose an answer. She shook her head, and looked to Trixie once again.

"No. I don't plan on becoming an idol for this...I do what is necessary, not what is asked for." She turned around, and began to walk away, in the opposite direction of the blue, icy mare. Trixie and sighed and looked to the sky, grumbling. She refused to argue anymore, but said a final statement, just so the back bandit could remember.

"Alright, hero. But remember, I'm always right where you need me. If you change your mind, I'm open for a chat"

"Whatever..." Scootaloo said, her angered tone still remnant in her voice as she walked back towards the farm. She picked up her mask and pocketed it on the way, getting closer and closer to the large farmhouse, as she left behind the blue mare, and the other three super mares. As she walked, her head began to feel strange. She became light headed, and her body began to shiver. She swore to herself silently, breaking in a run. She must have gotten a cold from Trixie. She ran out from the gates of the farm, towards ponyville.

Scootaloo opened the heavy wooden door of her home, shutting it and locking it. She was very light headed that this point, and her body was beginning to tremble. Her knees were buckling as she made her way to her room, opening and closing the door hard, before her knees finally gave way underneath her. Her breathing became shallow, and suddenly...she couldn't breathe. She tried to suck in air, but she just couldn't. She tried with all her might to gasp for air, but nothing came. She held her throat, as soon, a disgusting, slimy liquid filled her throat and mouth. She couldn't last long, as she cough, the liquid flowing from the sides of her mouth. It was black, and held a slime like form. She coughed, and more splashed out, with a mix of blood inside it. She held her throat as she rolled onto her legs, trying to stand. She hacked, and gagged, finally vomiting the black substance out onto the wooden floor. It oozed from her mouth like blood from a wound, before she collapsed back onto her side with a thud. Soon, she simply stopped breathing as her vision faded to black.

She awoke with a start, sitting up rapidly. She patted her body with her hooves, making sure that all of her was there. She sighed in relief, being thankful for what happened earlier was only a dream. She stood up, looking around, making sure there was none of the strange, black slime on the floor. She sighed, but noticed something. Her nostrils burned like it did when she wore the mask, as well as her throat now...and she loved it. She inhaled deeply through her nose, the scent and the burn of the mask seeming to wake her like the perfect dose of coffee. She smiled under her mask, and rest her hooves on it. She couldn't tell why, nor how, but she loved the mask. It made her feel...stronger. She exhaled, the dark room made her feel right at home. She felt...perfect, here.

She turned and pulled off the mask, her coat returning to its classic orange once again, and her mane into its original purple. She smiled and walked to her window, opening it and climbing out onto its ledge. She sat for a minute, looking out to the rising sun, before sliding off. She landed hard in the dirt below, before walking towards the center of town, to Rarity's boutique.