The Guardian Colt

The early morning studies were in full swing, with Spike going back to Canterlot for royal duties Twilight wanted to get the studies out of the way and spend the rest of the day with her dragon assitant. As she went down stairs she noticed muddy hoof mark making their way to the colts’ bed- who she totally forgot about. She made her way to his bed and saw he was still in fact asleep, so she just returned to her morning schedule- study. The muddy marks were totally dismissed, maybe because the lavender pony had too much on her mind, but they were a small reminder of the guest they had last night…

××××

The sound of an alarm woke her up. The orange filly was still hugging the colt as she looked up and saw the light from the early sun. She unlocked herself from the colt as she made her way for the window, not registering how muddy she was and what a mess she made in the library. She gave one last look at the colt before jumping out the window, pushing it till she was sure it was shut. She looked at the ground and then to the sky to see the sun; clearing the sky from the storm which raged throughout the night. Then realisation had just hit her- she was late for school! She started to run before remembering she had secured her scooter in the bushes near the library. She pulled it out and quickly snapped her helmet on before zooming off.

She quickly zoomed though Ponyville as she met the school house. She locked her scooter up and bolted it to the door to notice it was locked. She stared to panic, jumping on the spot when she heard the familiar voice-

“Good morning Scootaloo, you’re early this morning”

Scootaloo turned to see Cheerilee, getting the keys for the school house out her saddle bag. As she saw her unlock the door the orange filly collapsed to her knees with exhaustion. Cheerilee looked at the filly with concern.

“Are you ok Scootaloo? Did you get much sleep last night?” She asked. The orange filly looked at her and just shuck her head as she got back on to her hoofs.

“No, I didn’t” she finally added. She sighed and looked behind her to see that more of her classmates were turning up. She noticed that Button and Sweetie arrived before Applebloom for once. As she walked over she saw the yellow filly trotting into the school yard which was ironic given the fact that she was just thinking about her. They all exchanged greetings, par from Scootaloo who was trying not to yawn.

“Ya’ll right Scoots?” Applebloom asked. She had a look on her face expressing concern. The orange filly looked up and nodded.

“Yeah, I’m just really, really tired…” with that said the purple maned Pegasus let out a huge yawn. The rest of the crusaders just giggled. Applebloom thumped Scootaloo on the shoulder and said-

“Don’t worry, first period won’t be long. Then you can sleep in the break” she said with a smirk on her face, trying not to laugh at the filly. Scootaloo just stared at the earth pony as she made her way into the classroom. She was so tired she didn’t know how she was going to make it through first period let alone the whole day! With the thought of sleep in her head she followed suit and made her way into the classroom for first period to begin.

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First period seemed to drag for the orange Pegasus. She watched Cheerilee with heavy eyes, trying not to close them as she didn't want to get told off. As the bell rang –an indication it was break time- it made Scootaloo jump. Her senses were dulled down due to being mostly tired, so anything came as a shock to her.

As she made her way out, two ponies made smug comments at her as they noticed her mane was still bed like but she ignored them and just carried on out the classroom. Outside seemed really bright and stung her eyes, she flinched slightly but managed to make it outside to the rest of her friends. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were sitting on the swings whilst Button played on his JoyBoy, pulling faces at every bleep. Sweetie Belle was split between the two, showing interest in Buttons game as well as for what Applebloom hand to say. The conversation stopped at soon as an orange filly collapsed in front of them and instantly fell asleep.

“You sure you’re alright Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo snapped up, surprised by the words. “What?” She said with a strain in her voice.

“I said; are you alright?” The unicorn repeated. Sweetie had got off the swings and helped her winged friend to her hoofs.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just tired-“ she was cut off by a yawn. “-That’s all.” She added after. She sunk back down to the ground and closed her eyes. Applebloom couldn't help but laugh at the fillies actions. Normally Scootaloo was dead energetic and wanted to do extreme stunts on her scooter during the breaks but this pony before her was the complete and utter opposite of the pony she knew- hence why she found it so funny. Sweetie Belle just glared at Applebloom who had stopped laughing on seeing Sweetie Belles annoyance. The two were silent. Sweetie Belle left Scootaloos side and gestured for Applebloom to follow. Sweetie Bell took her to Cheerilee classroom to find the pinkie purple mare drawing the next lesson objectives on the board. ‘How to add and subtract fractions’ Applebloom cringed at the objective- maths wasn't her strong point.

“Miss Cheerilee?” Sweetie Belle waited for a response. The mare put the chalk down and turned with a smile.

“Yes Sweetie Belle, how can I help you?” she said with a soft and welcoming voice. The young fillies explained the situation with Scootaloo, how they thought she was too tired to be in school and what not. They took her to the window and gestured to where Scootaloo was still fast asleep. Button was still playing his game but was sat near her instead of on the swings.

“Ah, I see. She seemed tired this morning when she was trying to get in the school house- even though it was locked.” She watched the young Pegasus with concern.

“I guess she won’t be focused for the next lesson, but she need to do the lesson in order to pass the grade.” She was stuck between letting her go home and get some proper sleep or making her do the lesson and miss loads out due to her being really tired. She concurred her thoughts with a sigh before finally saying-

“I guess she needs her sleep. There will be plenty of time to catch up…” Cheerilee walked over to the classrooms chalk board and added. “You wouldn't be able to see her out, I’ll write the form out and I’ll get the work sheets so you can give them to her.” As she finished writing the objectives, Cheerilee went over to her desk and took a couple of forms out and filled them in. The two fillies waited patiently at the door for Scootaloos maths sheet, Applebloom still cringing at the next lessons objectives.

“Here you are girls, make sure she fills only the front page out, we haven’t done the back page yet.” She said the last part with a small smile. Sweetie Belle took the sheet levitating in front of her face, reading the text-

“Oh this stuff’s easy” She said with a boastful smile. Applebloom looked at her with a look of jealousy over her ability to understand mathematical equations. The two walked out as Cheerilee continued the preparations for the next lesson. As they hit the school yard, the gentle pitter-patter of rain hit them.

“Why are we getting’ all this bad weather? Are the Pegasus ponies tryin’ to mess with us? Applebloom was trying to understand the fluctuation of the weather. Sweetie Belle didn't mind the rain but Button did. He ran up to them and passed them, holding his JoyBoy in his mouth to stop it for getting wet, leaving Scootaloo in the rain. The sudden realisation she was being rained on hit her and she slowly got to her hoofs and walked up to the school house door to be stopped by two fillies

“Ah think ya should go home scoots” Applebloom said. Scootaloo thought of home- cold, hard and useless.

“But what about-“ She let out another big yawn. “-About next period” she added.

“We've talked to Cheerilee and she’s given this maths sheet for ya to do. She think’s ya should go home an’ rest.” Applebloom stated, looking concerned for the orange filly. Scootaloo looked at her in a daze of confusion but didn't question it. She took the paper off Sweetie Belle and made her way to her scooter- not saying anything due to her exhaustion. The look on her face told the others she was too tired. As she unlocked her scooter and pushed it to the school yard gates she put her hoof up and waved it- a goodbye motion to the other crusaders. The trip home was going to be as long as first period seemed…