“Boring, boring, boring…” Scootaloo muttered as she watched her teacher scramble notes across the board. After watching Cheerilee for a few more moments, the young pegasus dropped her head back onto her desk.
Just another boring school day, she thought.. And it’s only Monday! Ugh. Casting her gaze around to her classmates, she found that she wasn’t the only student feeling the grind of another school week. Even Applebloom had to keep blinking the drowsiness out of her eyes.
After talking a glance at the teacher, Scootaloo turned toward her friend. “Psst… Applebloom.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Scootaloo opened her mouth but ended up shutting it when no words popped out. “…I don’t know. I just don’t have anything to do.”
Applebloom chuckled. “We’re on a whole new level of bored, huh?”
“Heh…” She leaned back in her chair, throwing her head back so she faced the ceiling. “You ever wish that something would happen?”
“Like school getting out early for once?”
She shook her head. “Nah. Even bigger. Like… an adventure! A super special awesome one!”
“I’m not sure what kind of adventures school could have, but I’m with you on that. Even rotten apples are better than this stuff,” she said, waving her hoof toward the front of the classroom.
“Yeah… Do you think—”
The students jumped in their chairs as the door slammed off its hinges and collapsed to the floor, followed by an aquamarine mare right behind. “Changelings!” she shrieked, “Changelings every—Ah!” As quick as she came, the mare disappeared back through the door frame, pulled out by her back legs by some unseen force.
For a few moments, there was silence as everyone in the classroom, teacher and all, stood and stared. Then there was the sound of shuffling movement as the teacher galloped to the door.
Applebloom blinked. Turning back to Scootaloo, she said, “So what were ya goin’ on about?”
“Uh…”
“Changelings!” Cheerilee yelled, the sudden outburst sending another shock through the students, “Students, I need you all to listen carefully. Ponyville’s under attack by changelings. As your teacher, it is my duty to protect each every one of you from harm.”
“Is that why there’s Changelings at the windows?” Snips asked.
Cheerilee only had time to gasp before the windows burst open, spilling in swarms of the insectoid equines. Within seconds, the school house devolved into a chaotic spiel of kicking, screaming, and everything in between as the Changelings shot off green bursts of magic at the ponies, knocking them into unconsciousness.
Scootaloo ducked as a blast of magic came whizzing by her, nearly hitting her headfirst. She hunkered down underneath her desk. “Applebloom! We need to get out of here!”
“Well, duh!” came the sarcastic reply, “But what about Sweetie?”
The pegasus glanced to her friend’s desk to be greeted by the sight of Sweetie Belle slumped over, a trail of drool leaking from her lips. “She either got hit or the lecture put her to sleep. Now let’s go!”
Applebloom only grumbled in response before craning her head around. “I think we can make a run for that window there. They broke it when they came flyin’ in.”
“Awesome. Then let’s go!” she yelled. Not waiting for a “Three, two, one, go!” she shot off with enough speed to make Rainbow Dash proud. As the pegasus bounded off her hooves and for the window, wings buzzing for that extra push, she dared a glance back. Although the classroom was the new chaos capital of the world, she couldn’t help but laugh at her getaway.
“And… yeah!” Scootaloo cheered as her hooves touched the outdoor grass. “Home free. Right, Applebloom?”
“Mmph,” she agreed, having landed face first in the ground.
“I wouldn’t think so…” hissed a voice just above them. The two fillies gasped as a changeling drone touched down in front of them. Grinning a grin, he lit his horn a greenish hue. “If there’s one thing I love about foals…” he taunted, “It’s that they always have so much love in their hearts to sap.”
Not so much as waiting for a response, the drone unleashed the energy from his crooked horn, sending a burst of fiery magic at the duo of fillies. In the split second before the blast would hit them, Scootaloo couldn’t even think; instead, she could only act.
“No!” she screamed before launching herself forward with as much force as her legs would allow. Her body tensed up as she waited for the inevitable impact of the blast, but not before catching the sight of her friend in her peripheral vision, shock sprawled across her face.
Scootaloo slammed to the ground, writhing and gasping at the pain of the changeling’s…
Wait, what? she thought, cracking open an eyelid. She hadn’t felt a thing. Did… it somehow miss? The pegasus glanced at the changeling only to see confusion lining its face as well. “Wha—Ah!”
Her hooves flew off the ground, but it only took her a moment to realize something had grabbed her. Based off the scream next to her, she hazard a guess that Applebloom had been grabbed too. “Hey! Let me go!” she yelled, her eyes watching the ground get further and further away, “W-wait until Rainbow Dash gets her hooves on—”
“Rainbow Dash, huh? Funny you should say that.”
Scootaloo gasped. She knew that voice. With a hopeful glint, she twisted her neck around to see none other than her hero smiling back. “Hey, squirt.”
“Rainbow Dash! You saved us! Applebloom, look!”
Applebloom responded with something akin to a squeak.
“What, you think I’d let anything happen to my number one fan?” she said, but then frowned. “Really though. You two okay? How’s the rest of the students?”
“We’re fine. The students and Cheerilee are… asleep.”
“Even Sweetie Belle?”
“Especially Sweetie Belle.”
“Horseapples…” Rainbow muttered. “Okay, here’s the plan. We’re going to Twilight’s castle. It’s arguably the safest place in Ponyville right now.”
“Awesome!”
In a few minutes of high flying later, the trio touched down on the roof of Equestria’s newest castle to be ushered in by one Twilight Sparkle.
“Glad you’re back, Rainbow,” she said, “And good to see you two as well.”
“Right back at ya.”
Twilight nodded. “Alright. Did you happen to find any of our friends while you were out?” Rainbow shook her head, causing Twilight to sigh. “We’ll have to figure things out without them then. If only we had some warning that this would occur! Ugh, just come along. We have planning to do.”
As Twilight walked off, Applebloom trailing behind with a stream of questions at her lips, Scootaloo moved to follow but a cyan hoof held her back. “Hey, squirt?” Rainbow said, “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course!”
“Right before I rescued you from that changeling, can you tell me what happened?”
“Uh, yeah. He was going to shoot us with lasers, but being the awesome filly I am, I jumped in front of Applebloom to protect her. But I think he missed?”
“He missed at point blank?”
“I guess so. I didn’t feel anything after all.”
Rainbow put her hoof to her chin. “…Interesting.”
“Uh-huh. So what are we going to do now?”
“Why don’t we see what Twilight has in store for us?” she replied with a laugh, turning down the hall and gesturing for Scootaloo to follow.
As Scootaloo trotted behind, she couldn’t help but think of the changeling herself. How did he miss? she thought. It doesn’t make any sense. Hmm…
In the castle’s main hall, the four ponies gathered at the round table. “So what’s the plan?” Rainbow asked.
“To be honest… I’m working on that,” Twilight said, “Spells prevent changelings from getting in here without my permission, so we’re safe for now. I’ve already had Spike contact Princess Celestia.”
“Cool. But I think I have a plan myself,” Rainbow said, a smirk lining her lips.
“Oh? Let’s hear it if you don’t mind.”
Rainbow nodded before promptly bursting into flames. The three ponies screamed in shock as they watched their friend seemingly roast alive; that is, until the flames dissipated, leaving a tall, chitin-covered equine in its place.
“Chrysa—” was all Twilight could say before a spell smacked her to the ground.
“That’s Queen Chrysalis to you, dear,” the changeling cooed as she strode to the Twilight’s slumped form. “Let me tell you, Twilight, once I caught your pegasus friend, sneaking in here was like a walk in the desert.”
“Y-you mean park?” Applebloom said, causing Chrysalis to send a cold stare her way.
“No. Desert. There’s no parks in the wasteland you ponies banished us to.”
“Well you deserved it! You tried to conquer our home! Just look at what you did to Twilight just now!”
The queen narrowed her eyes. “You first.”
“Whaddya mean ‘me first’—Ah!” Applebloom shrieked as a green bolt of magic shot past her head, singeing the lace of her bow.
“Hey, leave her alone!” Scootaloo yelled, jumping onto the table.
Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “You think a little filly like yourself can stop me?”
“I… Just you see!”
The changeling queen let out a shrill, cynical laugh. “I will see.” Lighting her horn, Chrysalis shot off another beam of her sinister magic.
“No, Scootaloo!” Applebloom shrieked, but the young pegasus held her ground. Within seconds, the magic engulfed her body, but it…
“Bounced back?” Applebloom muttered, watching the magical energy rebound off of Scootaloo as if it were made of rubber. Scootaloo smirked like a champion as she watched it fling back to Chrysalis, nearly hitting her.
“Er… I knew it!” Chrysalis roared.
“That’s right, Chryssy! I figured out what you were getting at when you asked me what happened. That changeling didn’t miss did he? The magic had no effect on me!”
The changeling queen’s eyes burned with the fury the fury of a thousand suns. “You think this will change anything? You’re just a helpless foal! You can’t stop me!”
Applebloom’s eyes danced between the two. “Uh… can somepony explain why Scootaloo’s all immune to your magic?”
“Fine,” Chrysalis stated, “Our magic is powered by love. The more love we have, the more magic we have. The more magic we have, the more love we can steal. You see where I’m going. But there are some individuals who… are a bother to us.”
“Who?”
Chrysalis’ eyes glanced away, a solemn glint appearing as she stared out miles. “Orhpans,” she whispered.
Applebloom blinked. “…Say what?”
“You heard me! Orphans! The one type of pony immune to our love magic.”
“But how does that make them immune—”
“Because they have no love to steal you petulant foal! No one wants or loves an orphan, so there is nothing but a sense of cold abandonment in their hearts. We can’t harvest that! We can’t even touch it without it weakening us.”
“Oh, really?” Scootaloo sing-songed.
Chrysalis’ face shifted into surprise for a moment before her mask of fury returned. She stomped her way to Scootaloo, eyes never braking contact. “You really intend to fight me?”
“No.” She smirked. “I intend to beat you.”
The queen narrowed her eyes. “Hmph. Your funeral.”
Quick as a whip, her horn flashed green once more and trapped the filly in its grip. “Ack!” she gasped as a pressure around her neck grow stronger by the second.
“So young, so foolish,” Chrysalis chided, “Since I can’t simply blast you to pieces, I’ll have to end you the old fashioned way.”
“No! Get away from her!” Applebloom yelled, jumping up to charge the changeling. Chrysalis merely fired a bolt of magic, sending the apple pony into a cold sleep.
“Now then… It looks like your time has come. Scooterloo, was it? I’ll make sure your name is added to our list of brave orphans that defied us if it’s any consolation. Sweet dreams….”
With a last gasp at air, Scootaloo’s world became black.
“Wha… what?”
Her eyes fluttered open, blinded by the sheer light flooding in. After taking a moment to adjust, Scootaloo glanced around.
“Where am I?” she wondered aloud. Nothingness surrounded her. She couldn’t see anything in any direction; the horizon and the sky blended together into a hazy white.
“Scootaloo…”
“Huh?” The pegasus pushed herself onto all fours before glancing around again. “Who’s there?”
“Over here, Scootaloo…”
Then she saw it. Fading into existence were two ponies, a stallion and a mare, standing in front of regal, golden gates.
“Who… who are you two?” Scootaloo asked.
Although their faces were far too hazy to see, she could’ve sworn there was a smile. “Why, Scootaloo. Don’t you know us?” the mare said.
“We held you when you were just a foal after all,” the stallion added.
Scootaloo gasped. “It… But that’s impossible!”
“Nothing’s impossible, dear.”
With that, Scootaloo couldn’t deny the truth any longer. “You’re my parents!”
Once again, she could almost feel the smiles on their faces. “It’s so good to see you again, Scootaloo.”
“It’s been far too long!”
She went silent for a moment. “But how am I seeing you two? You’re… you’re both dead! Am I…?”
“Not quite,” her father answered, “But you’re, quite literally, halfway there.”
“What? I don’t understand! What do you mean halfway?”
“Fate has something else in store for you, Scootaloo. By putting you in this limbo, it is giving you a choice. Go back to the living and complete the task you’ve undertaken…”
“Or stay with us,” her mother finished.
Scootaloo heaved a breath. “Whoa…” was all she could mutter. On one hoof, she could be with her parents again. Forever. She would get to experience everything she’d missed out on. But on the other hoof…
She shut her eyes as she heaved a sigh. “I can’t,” she said, “Sorry, but I can’t stay here. I have to go back and save Ponyville, my home, and my friends. What kind of pony would I be if I abandoned them?”
Her parents nodded. “We understand. Honestly, we had a feeling you would make this decision.” In a flash of light, a stark white doorway appeared beside Scootaloo. “Just step through there, and you’ll return to the world of the living.”
“Thanks… mom and dad. Oh, but before I go, how can I stop Chrysalis? I really am just a foal fighting a queen.”
“Oh, don’t worry too much on that. Let’s just say that fate is on your side.”
“…Alright.” She turned toward the doorway. “Thanks and goodbye. See you again someday!”
“Bye, honey! We’ll always love you!”
With newfound confidence rising in Scootaloo’s heart, she stepped through the glowing door frame.
“…if it’s any consolation. Sweet dreams…”
Scootaloo’s eyes shot open, but she only need an instant to realize what she’d been sent back into. Get off me… she thought.
“Get off me!”
With a squeal, Chrysalis was thrown back against the wall. “What?! What was that?” she shrieked.
“What was that? Why, that was just me.”
Standing tall on her four hooves and smirking with a vengeance, Scootaloo couldn’t help but laugh.
“You?” Chrysalis said, “I-I don’t know what you just did, but it means nothing! You’re just a—”
“Just a foal?” Scootaloo finished, “Oh, I’m more than just a foal.” She jumped down from the table and took slow, deliberate steps toward the queen. “I am the one thing you fear, Chryssy.”
“No…”
“Yes. The one pony who can stop your plans… once and for all…”
“No, no, no!”
She stopped a mere few hoofsteps in front of Chrysalis. “I am the one that will beat you. I am the pony that will save this town from your evil clutches…”
“I am Scootaloo, the orphan that Ponyville deserves.”
“NO!” Chrysalis screeched. In a mix of fear and desperation, her horn lit by instinct to defend her, but the only thing it accomplished was to make Scootaloo grin.
“Perfect.” She lunged forward, wings buzzing with furious strength, and grasped for Chrysalis’ glowing horn. The moment she made contact, her vision exploded.
Time slowed to a crawl; everything became a blur, but Scootaloo paid it no mind. She concentrated all she had into the evil that was the queen of the changelings. All around, colors swirled into rainbow brush strokes that only grew with each second. A look of shock nestled into Chrysalis’ face, but Scootaloo heard no sounds in the dreamscape that had become her reality.
Finally, the young pegasus felt something. She didn’t know what it was or how to describe it, but she knew what it meant. Victory.
Then, for the second time that day, her vision faded. This time, it turned white.
Scootaloo awakened with a yawn, wrapped in sheets and a pillow, but she couldn’t say it was pleasant. For one, she had a splitting headache.
“Hey, everypony! She’s awake!”
“Wha, huh?” was Scootaloo’s only words before a crowd of ponies, friends and strangers alike, swarmed around her bedside. It took only seconds before the room morphed into a cheering, whooping sound.
“Squirt! That was awesome!” Rainbow Dash said, suddenly flying into view from above, “You totally showed that bug whose boss!”
“I did?!”
“You sure did,” Twilight said as she walked by, “You saved all of Ponyville! Once the drones learned of what happened to their queen, they surrendered.”
Scootaloo gasped. “What happened? I remember grabbing her horn, but everything after that is gone.”
“Perhaps I should explain,” came a regal voice. Scootaloo’s eyes widened as a pristine white alicorn strode through the parting crowd, ponies bowing as she passed.
“Princess Celestia!”
“Indeed. First, I would like to thank you for defending my subjects when I could not. We are forever in your debt. Secondly, I believe I know what happened when you defeated Queen Chrysalis. Just like fate has chosen six ponies to bear the Elements of Harmony, fate has chosen you for a special destiny.”
“So... what? I’m an Element of Harmony?”
Celestia shook her head. “I believe fate has something entirely different in mind for you. No other pony can do what you did. Not even me. Something special awakened inside you, and facing off against Chrysalis brought it forward for the first time. In your own words, you truly are the orphan that Ponyville deserves.”
“Uh, thanks,” she replied, admittedly nervous about the whole ordeal, “But what does that mean for me? What happens next?”
“I believe you can continue living as you please, attending school and trying to find your special talent.”
“Wait, none of this got me my cutie mark?”
Celestia shook her head.
“…Darn.”
“In any case, your life is your life, Scootaloo. Although, there is one matter that must be taken care of…”
Uh-oh, she thought. “What’s that?”
With a nod, she magicked a mirror forward. “As I said, fate has chosen you in a similar way to the Elements. However, it also seems to have gone above and beyond as fate does tend to.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Celestia merely smiled as she levitated the mirror by Scootaloo, allowing her to glimpse in. Scootaloo stared at her own reflection for only a moment before gasping.
“It seems you share a fate similar to Twilight,” Celestia said as she watched Equestria’s youngest alicorn poke at her new horn.
“…Wow…”
“Congratulations, Scoots! You’re an alicorn now!” Applebloom cheered.
Twilight giggled. “Oh, this will be so much fun, Scootaloo. Think of all the magic you can learn.”
“Magic?” Rainbow jeered, “Forget magic. We’ve got to try out those new alicorn wings of yours.”
A grin began spreading across Scootaloo’s face, becoming so large it could make Pinkie Pie proud. “Just… wow. I actually don’t know what to say.”
“Take all the time you need to recover, Scootaloo. I know you had a long day,” Celestia said, “Just be ready for your inauguration ceremony.”
“My what ceremony?!”
“You heard correctly, dear Scootaloo.” With a nod to the crowd, all ponies bowed. “We must prepare for the arrival of Equestria’s newest monarch…
“Scootaloo, Princess of Orphans.”
As the crowd burst into cheers, Scootaloo sat silent and speechless. Then she smiled, then grinned, then joined in with the laughter.
At the very least, her wish for something to happen had come true.
Author's Note
To be continued in...
Scootaloo, Princess of Orphans
