Author's Note

Rewrote first half of the chapter on March 2nd, 2015. Second half received major edits, and is scheduled to be rewritten soon. No story elements will be changed.

Alone

The whole class sat in total silence, waiting eagerly for the school bell to ring, signifying the start of summer vacation, and the end of yet another year of school in Ponyville.

Scootaloo’s little wings buzzed happily in anticipation of the coming summer months. She had already made several plans with her fellow Crusaders, in hopes of finally finding their special talents. She herself really wanted to give white water rafting a try, and she couldn’t help but to wonder just how awesome a cutie mark in rafting would look upon her flank. She kept picturing a rainbow coloured raft, or perhaps it would be water splashing against sharp rainbow rocks. Honestly, she didn’t really care, so long as there was a rainbow involved, and the mark itself looked awesome.

Everypony was looking up at the clock on the wall, waiting for the final seconds to tick away.
Scootaloo could almost feel the raw electricity buzzing in the air, and she couldn’t wait to break out of this sweaty classroom, and into the freedom that summer provided.

When there were only five seconds left of the school year, everypony verbally and loudly counted the seconds away.

“Five”
“Four”
“Three”
“Two”
“ONE!”
The bell rung, followed by a stampede of eager little ponies, happy to start their first official day of summer freedom.

And like always, Scootaloo stood at the very front of the race to the outside world, alongside Apple Bloom. They both cheered various chants as they stormed through the doorway. Once they were firmly on the outside, they both collided into each other to partake in a yearly tradition; a makeshift wrestling match. The winner got to choose the first official Crusading activity of the summer, and every time, it was Scootaloo that came out on top.

Today was no exception, and she managed to quickly pin the yellow filly down to the soft ground below, almost in record time. However, before she could properly bask in her glory of being the second best pegasus in existence, she felt sad for a reason unknown to her. Her fight or flight instincts were starting to kick in, and she soon began to worry about something.

She felt tears well up in her eyes, only to fall down upon a confused Apple Bloom that was still pinned under the pegasus.

"You alright, Scoot?" asked Apple Bloom. She could tell that something was wrong with her friend, though she didn’t quite know what.

"Huh? Oh, yea, I'm fine. Just have a bad feeling for some reason. I'm sure it's nothing." replied Scootaloo. “Oh, and I’m totally not crying, okay? Just got some dirt in my eye.”

"Dirt.” Apple Bloom said flatly, not believing her orange friend for a minute. “Well, if ya say so, Scoot. Ya know ahm always here ta talk, right?”

“Well, duh! You’re my friend, Apple Bloom. More than that, you’re a Crusader. I know I can count on you for anything, so long as it doesn’t involve wrestling. You kinda suck at that.” Scootaloo said with a smirk.

“Ah suck, huh?” Apple Bloom then kicked the pegasus off of her in one quick movement, forcing her friend to weaken her stance, allowing Apple Bloom to retake control.

With Apple Bloom now on top, she looked down at the surprised pegasus below her with a smirk. “Maybe I just let ya win, ever thought of that?”

“Oh? And here I thought you liked being on the bottom.” Scootaloo smirked, only for Apple Bloom to apply more pressure to one of her wing joints, pushing at just the right spot to hurt, yet also feel surprisingly good. “Th-that’s not f-fair!”

“All’s fair in love and war.” Spoke Sweetie Belle, who had been watching from a short distance away. She purposely emphasised love, and as she predicted, Scootaloo responded with a gah before they all started to laugh together.

“Here’s your stuff, since you guys forgot it back at school again.” Sweetie motioned towards two saddlebags, one of which was orange and blue, the other yellow and red. She herself had a white and pink saddlebag.

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom thanked Sweetie Belle for remembering their bags, and nuzzled up against her in a friendly show of gratitude.

Several minutes had passed, and Scootaloo found herself unable to keep up with the conversation. Her thoughts had invaded her, and a new form of worry was evident on her face. She was so deep in thought, she didn’t notice the stares of both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, nor did she hear her name when they both began to call to her.

“Scootaloo!” Said Sweetie in a high pitched yell. “Are you alright? Do you need to see a doctor?”

Scootaloo looked blankly at Sweetie Belle for a moment, before recognition kicked in.
“I’m fine. Just, something doesn’t feel right.” Scootaloo said with a frown. “Like, there’s something missing, and I just can’t figure out what.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom exchanged looks of concern, before a smile appeared on Apple Bloom’s face. As if reading Apple Blooms thoughts, Sweetie too began to smile. They both nodded, and turned their gaze to Scootaloo.

“Ah think ah know-” Apple Bloom began.
“How to cheer you up-” Sweetie Belle finished the sentence, and looked at Apple Bloom to ensure that she got the timing of the upcoming chant correctly.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ICE CREAM CHEER UP YAY!” They both cheered loudly and in unison. The loud noise caused Scootaloo to jump, and her wings to extend in surprise.

“What the hay, girls! Freaking warn me next time! And, what do you mean?” Asked Scootaloo, who was trying to will her heart to return to a normal pace. “Seriously, I’m fine. I don’t need to be cheered up.”

“Just humour us, Scootaloo. Besides, who in their right mind could turn down ice cream?” Sweetie reasoned.

“Ugh, fine. But I’m not doing this because I’m upset or anything. I just like ice cream.”

“Good enough for me!” Sweetie said in a sing-song voice. “Let’s go!”

While making their way to Sugar Cube Corner, the three fillies were interrupted by a blue streak of awesomeness landing directly in front of them.

Scootaloo instantly perked up at the new arrival, and for a moment both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were saddened by the idea that Scootaloo no longer needed ice cream to cheer her up, which of course also meant that they too wouldn’t receive the frozen goodness. But Scootaloo’s excitement dwindled as soon as she caught a glimpse of Rainbow Dash’s tear-stained face.

“Hey squirt, what’s up?” Asked Rainbow Dash in an attempt to make this conversation as normal as possible, even though she knew that the news she held would change Scootaloo’s life forever.

“Hey Rainbow Dash! We were just heading to Sugar Cube Corner for some ice cream.” Replied Scootaloo. “What are you doing here?”

“Scootaloo, do you mind if we talk? You know, someplace private?”

“Uh, yeah I guess. Lead the way.”

Rainbow Dash led Scootaloo towards a small park where they wouldn’t be bothered. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom tagged along. They walked on either side of Scootaloo, in what they hoped would be a reassuring gesture that they were there for their friend, no matter what happened.

Upon arriving in the park, Rainbow Dash scanned the area for any other ponies that could eavesdrop on their upcoming conversation. When she was satisfied that they were truly alone, she spoke in a hushed tone.

“Scootaloo, I have some bad news. You, uh, may wanna sit down for this, or something.”

“Sit down for this or something?” Rainbow thought. “What the hay. This is news that will change her life forever, and I freaking start it out like that? Buck, I gotta word this right.”

Scootaloo sat down, as requested. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat awkwardly at her side, and remained silent.

“Scootaloo, please don’t hate me for being the one to tell you this, and remember that I’ll always fly by your side, no matter what.” Rainbow paused to wipe some tears away from her eyes with the backside of her hoof. “Your parents were in an accident, and they d-didn’t m-make i-it.” Rainbow could no longer hold back her tears, and began to sob loudly. “I’m so s-sorry, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo just sat there, frozen in shock. Her tiny wings were fully extended, but soon began to droop as the gravity of the situation became clear in Scootaloo’s mind. Her parents were dead.

Neither Apple Bloom nor Sweetie Belle knew what to say to their obviously hurt friend, and so they both stayed by her side in a type of reassuring silence. Neither one of them knew for certain if their presence was of much help to their dear Scootaloo, but without any other options, they chose to believe that it was.

However, Scootaloo has yet to shed a single tear. She simply couldn't, not even if she wanted to. Her mind had almost completely shut down, with nothing but happy memories of her parents flowing through it. Of course, those once happy memories were now sad to Scootaloo, knowing that they were just that; memories.

Scootaloo couldn’t take anymore of this. Everything around her had become a blur of sights and sounds, and nothing seemed to register in her mind. She became a broken shell of a once mighty pegasus. She became an orphan, and was being forced to forever live within a world of cruelty and pain.

Without even realizing her own actions, and before anypony could stop her, Scootaloo was off and running. She had no destination in mind, other than not here.

She was now alone. An orphan. How could she survive in a world as an orphan? How could she truly live a life of happiness, when the only ponies to ever love her were both dead and gone?

She couldn't. She just couldn't live without them. That’s why she ran.

She didn’t want to be alive, if it meant she was alone.