Scootaloo Originsby DarkLaynChaptersThe Laws and Ways of CloudsdaleFamily IssuesTrials By CloudThrough The ForestWithin ReachNew ArrivalsThe Laws and Ways of CloudsdaleScootaloo’s family was never very rich. In fact the barely had any money at all. Scootaloo was born in the back alley of the Cloudsdale slum, a place far out of the way from the main area which all the other ponies would be. Those who lived in the slum area were always fighting for the few scraps of food they could find unless they were daring enough to venture off into the shopping centre to attempt to steal from the richer ponies. As Cloudsdale was built on cloud level, without magic only a Pegasus would be able to reach it, this meant that in the slums as everypony was able to fly. Small shacks were piled on top of each other to form dark and ominous pathways that ran along the emptiest side of Cloudsdale and back again in one great loop. The slums had also been built around the area that the excess from the weather factory was dumped causing large pools of rainbow fluid which failed its testing to pile up there before it soaked into the clouds and rained into the crater below where in was the rest of Equestria’s problem. Scootaloo lived on the third level of the slums, number one-hundred and eighty six. As this was the case after her birth her father, Lightning Flash, was forced to carry both her and her mother up who had somehow been able to survive the childbirth despite the malnutrition she was suffering along with everypony else. Living on the middle level wasn’t the easiest but it sure wasn’t the hardest either, some who lived on the top level died as they were too weak to fly up, Ponies soon learned that if you want to die well there, lock your house and die inside, if not then it gets disturbing. The first couple of months Scootaloo’s mother, Crimson Wing, struggled to get food for herself and her child as they were both very weak however one day it was found by Lightning that there was a caravan that was on its way into the Cloudsdale stadium to deliver supplies to later be distributed at the market, but once it had arrived it had been raided at the gates. Whilst a lot of items had been take a lot still remained so a few brave stallions decided to go salvage what they could. When they returned the entire community had rejoiced, the shipment was of weapons and food but all that had been taken were the weapons that were to be used later that week in a combat show at the arena. They all shared the food among each other as they all learned that taking care of each other was the best way to stay alive. Crimson and Scootaloo were soon getting strong and it wouldn’t be long until the young Pegasus’s wings would be ready to uncurl. The next few months were the best anypony had seen in years, they were able to ration the food out in their area of the slums as due to the fact nopony ever left the section they lived in there was no point in sharing it with them other than pure kindness, if they had done that then it wouldn’t have lasted a week if not a day. Scootaloo’s parents were getting worried when they realized that her wings should have been spread over a month ago, yet they had remained stuck to her side like glue. Living in the shack they did meant that flying was even more important and the fact that she still couldn’t even stretch her wings was worrying especially that it wouldn’t be long before she was too heavy to carry. They just had to hope she would learn soon. Family IssuesScootaloo spent the next year trying to learn to fly, her parents were trying to help in any way they could but it just didn’t seem to be working. “Just give up on me,” cried Scootaloo one day, “I’m a lost cause, it isn’t worth your time.” Concerned her parents flew over to her to comfort her. “Don’t worry, you’re getting there,” said Crimson. “You just need a little more practice.” “I’ve been at this for a year and you have just kept saying the same things, I’m not buying it anymore. I’m sixteen months old now and I have until eighteen months to learn or the flight assessment crew will throw me out!” yelled Scootaloo, clearly distressed. Her parents looked at each other, they hadn’t told her about the assessment crew, she must have overheard them talking about it when she was supposed to be asleep. With concern in her voice Crimson asked her, “How do you know about that Scootaloo?” “You need to talk quieter,” Scootaloo replied, a hint of anger in her voice as she walked down the road and round the corner until her family could see her no longer. Scootaloo sat under the bridge between the slums and the shopping district, she always went there when she wanted to be alone, nopony else would go there as it was pointless unless any other fillies wanted to play there which they almost never did. There was never anypony nearby to hear her when she was there and they were all too busy shopping in order to notice her when she crawled under. This was the only place Scootaloo felt she could cry, she didn’t want to at home as she didn’t want anypony else to intervene. Here she was free to express the pain she had been born to feel without judgement. While she wept the richer ponies laughed and spent bit after bit on useless decorative goods that Scootaloo would never have even considered buying. Slowly the noise dyed down as the stall shut and customers flew home loaded down with merchandise. The sun descended towards the horizon as the moon with a distinctive alicorn head shape embedded onto it rose on the other side of the sky. Scootaloo began to grow cold but she did not care. She had suffered enough freezing temperatures in the last winter and almost cried tears of joy when winter wrap up day came to finish it. By the time Celestia had finished lowering the sun Scootaloo decided it was time to head back, sitting by the stream of rainwater that was pumped out of the somehow beautiful looking factory she had wondered what would happen if she left and started over. “Perhaps I should leave,” pondered Scootaloo, “I mean, it’s not there’s anything left for me here, there never was.” This was not the first time that she had thought this of course, but she always expected that it would just be the same wherever she went, she had no friends or anywhere to call home apart from her small shack in the slums. The river that flowed under the bridge may have been a good option for leaving as it would mean that she could slip out in secret, it ended in a lake beneath Cloudsdale. Once a week the Wonderbolts would go down there and attempt to bring as much of it up as possible, it was good for training and it help Equestria with the weather. This was probably not the best choice but as she couldn’t fly she would have to find another way down and she couldn’t get seen. The only other option she could think of was to take a supply cart that was being taken to a different town as it would be easy to sneak into the back of it. Scootaloo decided that she would try to pass the mandatory flight test and if she failed make her escape before they came for her. It would be a few days until they would and that would be enough time to execute her plan. Trials By CloudTwo months later the assessor came to the slums for all the young fillies’ tests. Despite living in the slums they still had to obey the law and register any birth as well as take the test. The assessor was clearly not comfortable being there as he hurried everypony along. Scootaloo still couldn’t even take off and knew she wouldn’t make it. The sky was dark with clouds and there was the slightest of rain. When they reached the testing arena they were briefed on what they were to do. The test consisted of three parts, firstly they were to fly through three hoops low down, next they were to fly up onto a platform ten meters above cloud level and finally they were to hover up in that area for three seconds, any pony that had been training for long enough would be able to do it and all you had to do was the first challenge and you were safe, the second and you would be able to stay in Cloudsdale and all three and you may as well be royalty. However those that failed the first one were never seen again. Scootaloo had dreaded this day for months and now it was here she realized that this was it. She was seventh in line and wished that something would happen that would help her, anything at all. The first pony went up and passed the first test easily, struggling with the second he furiously beat his wings but collapsed as soon as he reached the platform. The assessor called for the next as he stamped a pass sign onto some papers. One after another they went always passing at least the first trial, until the pony in front of Scootaloo. She wasn’t much bigger that Scootaloo but her wings seemed to actually work. She seemed to be doing well until the end of her right wing caught on the edge of the second hoop and she lost balance and crashed. “Next!” the assessor called as he gave the paper of the failed pony to the guard next to him who then nodded as two other guards came and took the young, crying filly away. Scootaloo was shocked, they had always given it at least a week before they came for any failures. She had no choice, she had to run. She had always been better at running than anything else as she had stolen several bits of food and been caught often enough that she would need to be fast. She quickly looked around for a good escape route and spotted a nearby hatch which looked like it could be a drain. She stepped up to the designated take-off spot that was marked out and made it look as if she was to take off. She beat her wings and then when the assessor looked as if he was about to give up, she bolted. Nopony had expected such a bold move, even the guards who were caught unprepared and chased after her. One of the guards flew over her and dived but she jumped out of the way just in time and the guard colliding with the arena floor. She was almost there and she was lucky that the hatch was open. When she was only a meter away she slid on her back and grabbed the grate with her mouth and pulled it shut as she jumped down. Now in the sewers she turned and ran in a similar direction to where she started running from, nopony else seemed to be following so she began to slow down, gasping for breath, she was surprised on how quickly they had given up but then she realised that the hadn’t when a large rumbling gush sounded behind her. They had opened the valve. Scootaloo ran faster than she ever had before. She tried to listen out for birds or anything else that may give her a clue as to which way to run in this labyrinth. If the torrent hit her she would be crippled at best. A moment later she ran to her right and found the end of the pipe, it was sealed by vertical bar like those from a prison. The fall may be fatal at worst but then it was that or the water. Scootaloo tried desperately to squeeze herself through but she was panicking and kept looking back at where the water was flowing, getting louder each second. She had got her head and chest through and was using her hooves against the bars trying with all her might to push her flank through. She saw the first of the ripples coming from the tunnels, she gave one final push. She began falling just as the pipes exploded with water, she didn’t even look at it while she fell. She bit her lip all the way down to try and keep herself from screaming, this way they may think she didn’t make it. She saw the lake beneath Cloudsdale and violently began flapping her wings to try and push her towards it, to her dismay it worked, she saw the lake beginning to move beneath her. It may not be the best landing spot but it was sure better than anything else around here. Through The ForestThe impact was horrible. Scootaloo yelped as her small body hit the cold water, it froze her at the same time as it stung with blinding pain. She tried desperately to swim to the surface, she wasn’t about to die here. She hadn’t ever needed to swim before which just made things all the more harder but instinct and determination drove her on. Kicking furiously she pushed herself towards the surface, pushing with both her hooves and wings to help drive her towards the air and her survival. Her vision began to blacken slightly and she panicked causing her to take a small breath bringing water into her lungs. Just when she thought she wouldn’t make it, air flooded in through her mouth as she gasped for breath. She coughed up some of the water she swallowed and tried to get her bearings. She looked around and saw that she was only ten or so meters from the bank on the east side of the lake. She pushed herself towards the edge of the water, if she made it there then she would be able to run into the woods and then she would be safe. Risking a glance back she noticed that three guards were heading down straight towards her in arrowhead formation. She sprinted as fast as she could towards the forest, everything hurt but she wouldn’t let that slow her down, if she stopped even for a moment then she would never be free. Just in time she dived forwards and rolled down a slope into the darkness of the dense forest. Now that she realized she was safe she also realized that this was the first time she had ever set hoof on solid ground, if felt so, firm. She had heard some things of the world below the clouds from other ponies and there was also the maps that she had been shown. There were tales of the unicorns, powerful magic wielding ponies that could do almost anything they wish as long as they had the knowledge. She had also heard of the earth ponies who were master farmers and workers, some could plant whole fields and harvest whole orchards in a matter of days. She knew where some of the nearby settlements were such as Canterlot and Ponyville, she still had to work out where she was, it seemed that there was forest almost surrounding Cloudsdale in every direction but the south. She assumed that she had gone east but the pipes had been rather disorientating. To the west there was the mountains and she didn’t remember seeing any while she ran towards the tree-line but then she wasn't really focusing on the horizon at that point. If she was able to climb a tree then she would know if she was going north or east when she saw the cold tundra in the top of Equestria or Canterlot. Scootaloo thought that it would be best to live in solitary in the woods and live in a tree-house but she didn’t think that she would ever be able to build one or even survive a week out here so she decided to head to a settlement. The only ones she knew the vague location of was Canterlot, Ponyville and of course, Cloudsdale. She couldn’t go back to Cloudsdale as they would arrest her so it was either Canterlot or Ponyville. Scootaloo though about these options for a moment, Canterlot was the royal city, full of posh ponies and others of high class, it seemed this may be the best option until she thought about what they may think of a homeless filly like herself, they may just ignore her or worse yet even throw insults at her, it wasn’t the nicest place to go from what she had heard. She then turned her attention to Ponyville. She didn’t know much about it as it didn’t seem to be that important compared to the big cities but it right in the middle of Equestria so it seemed the best place to use as a centre point. She knew it was much smaller than most other places in Equestria but apart from that there wasn’t much else that she had learnt. She decided that she was to try and reach Ponyville as this felt safer than going somewhere where ponies would only look down at her. The best way to travel there, she thought, was to go east until she found the main road between both Canterlot and Ponyville then follow the signs south until she made it there. The problem wasn’t the route, it was her survival. Within ReachIt was over an hour before she found anything Scootaloo could use as a navigation tool. There was a clear path that cut across the forest, she thought she had heard tales of a festival that took place here which caused the beginning of autumn. The tales told of a day where ponies of all types would run the track and cause the leaves to fall, this was called The Running of the Leaves. This festival was as important as the celebration of winter wrap up as it brought about a new season. It was mid-summer now so it should be empty apart from anypony who was out for a stroll. Scootaloo decided that the best option would be just to keep heading east until she found the track, once she found that she could just follow that, it was meant to go round in one great loop after all. It was hard to see as the forest was so dense that it was hardly possible to see the sky. Scootaloo stumbled through the undergrowth, just glad to finally be out of the city and going to someplace new. Maybe in Ponyville she would have a proper home, or perhaps friends. Friends. Scootaloo had never had any proper friends before, she wondered what it would be like to have ponies she could trust with anything, to have ponies to play and talk with. This optimism is what drove Scootaloo forward, she was determined to reach Ponyville and set up a good life if it was the last thing she ever did. As Celestia began to lower the sun Scootaloo thought that it would be best if she was to find shelter for the night, it didn’t take long for her to find a small dug out area beneath a tree. It didn’t look like anything lived there so she assumed it was safe, besides the tree provided good shelter against any of the night’s cruel weather. As the last of the sun was disappearing beyond the horizon with the moon on the other side of the sky, Scootaloo had time to think. She thought about her home, her family. What would they think when they got the news of what happened, would they even get the news? As far as anypony knew, nopony had ever escaped Cloudsdale, she doubted the fact that the officials would tell the truth about her escape as that would bring shame to Cloudsdale which they were obviously against with the whole test. Even if she passed the last test she would have been put through flight school and then have to pass another later on in her life, this one would also consist of three parts but you would have to succeed in all three to pass. Scootaloo worried if her parents were punished instead of her, what if they were carted off to where she would have been taken. It was clear enough that she would never have passed, her wings just wouldn’t develop, her parents knew this as well but would never admit it, they wanted to push her to be her best, just like all good parents. Scootaloo knew she would likely never see them again and so she silently said her final goodbyes into the night sky before she slowly drifted off to sleep. Scootaloo awoke later that night, she couldn’t tell what time it was but it was definitely sometime between midnight and three in the morning. She suffered night terrors more often than not these days and they grew worse as the exam drew closer, she had hoped that they would grow weaker after the exam but this one had been worse than ever. Scootaloo could never remember what she dreamt about and she didn’t think she wanted to. All she could remember about it was that it was bad, anyway, she never got back to sleep after she was awoken. It was still dark and would be a few hours till Celestia rose the sun again but Scootaloo decided that it would be best for her too move out now. She didn't have any food but she was starving, she didn't eat well as it is but now that she was moving constantly it would be even more of a problem. Scootaloo would have to reach Ponyville within next day or so unless she wanted to risk major starvation. She found the path later that morning, she wasn't that sure which way that would get her there quicker but as she had been heading east it would probably have been best to go the most eastward direction. By the time it was midday the trees began to spread out more until Scootaloo walked out into an open field and in the distance, no more than three miles away, stood Ponyville. She couldn't believe that she had come so far in the last couple of days, only a few more miles and she could start over. Once she got something to eat. New ArrivalsScootaloo stumbled into Ponyville, tired and hungry. She made it a few houses down before she finally became completely exhausted and collapsed. Ever since she got out of the forest an hour or two before midday she had been on a field on a cloudless day. The heat had been incredibly intense and after all she had been through it was understandable that she’d had enough. There was a small alley between two houses which she crawled into before passing out. She didn’t know how long she was unconscious for, she didn’t even know where she was but what she did know is that she was somewhere better than before. The room was colourful and large with a variety of cheery furniture all around, it was a circular room and up against part of the wall was the bed Scootaloo woke up in. She was still hungry and even more so thirsty but as she looked around the room for any clue as to the identity of the pony who had taken her in she saw sitting on a small bedside table a plate of cookies and a glass of milk with a note which read; “Wake up with a smile!” Scootaloo took the milk and drank it within moments, she was even more desperate for nutrients than she first thought. After she was done with the small snack she was left, she placed the plate carefully back on the table and tried to stand up. She was still weak and fell over a couple of times before she was able to properly stand up. When she was confident enough that she could walk she walked across the room towards the door, she had been through this much and she was going to finish it. Once outside the room Scootaloo began to head downstairs, there was a lot of noise coming from there, not bad noise but more like the kind of sounds you would hear in a café or restaurant. “There you are silly! I was just about to come up and see if you were still there!” said a voice from a door which looked like it lead to a kitchen. Scootaloo spun round and saw a pink pony with cyan eyes and a very unique mane style. “Who are you?” she asked, upon looking round the room she noticed that there were tables laid out and a long queue which lead almost to the front door, behind the counter there was a male yellow pony serving all those in line with sweets, cupcakes, cookies and other treats. “I’m Pinkie Pie silly! I found you outside and thought that you felt sad so I took you home and left you cookies and milk for when you woke up!” “Yeah, thanks, I really needed those, I haven’t had anything to eat or drink since Cloudsdale and-” Scootaloo was cut off by a loud gasp from Pinkie Pie. “Cloudsdale! I’ve never been to Cloudsdale! Only a Pegasus can go there! Is it high? Do you have rainbow coloured rivers? Oh, oh, oh, is the ground fluffy?” Pinkie continued to ask multiple questions about what it was like in Cloudsdale but after all Scootaloo had been through it was understandable that she didn’t want to tell anypony. “Look, Pinkie Pie is it? I don’t really wanna get into a conversation about Cloudsdale. It isn’t as nice as you think it is,” replied Scootaloo sadly. “Okie dokie loki!” came a cheerful reply from Pinkie. After a moment or two passed Scootaloo asked “So, am I in Ponyville? I think that I must have forgotten where I was from when I passed out.” “Yep, this is Ponyville, it’s a really fun place to be, everypony’s really nice here and. . .” “Thank Celestia!” Scootaloo thought to herself, “I’ve made to safety, as long as I’m here the soldiers from Cloudsdale can’t touch me. But now that I’m here where do I go? I can’t stay at Pinkie’s forever, I guess I’ll just have to figure something out.” When she was done thinking she noticed that Pinkie was giving her a very happy yet slightly creepy stare. “Anyway, I should get going, do you mind if I was to stay here for a while?” Scootaloo asked Pinkie Pie, “Just while I sort out what I’m gonna do.” “Well, I’m not too good with fillies but my friend Fluttershy may be able to help you, she lives on the edge of town by the dark and spooky Everfree forest in a small cabin. Make sure you don’t go into the forest though, it’s really scary in there.” “Ok, I guess I’ll keep that in mind, thank you for all your help Pinkie Pie.” Called Scootaloo as she walked out the door. “Well that was . . . strange.” Scootaloo said to herself when she was a minute or two down the road towards Fluttrtshy's cabin.
The Laws and Ways of CloudsdaleScootaloo’s family was never very rich. In fact the barely had any money at all. Scootaloo was born in the back alley of the Cloudsdale slum, a place far out of the way from the main area which all the other ponies would be. Those who lived in the slum area were always fighting for the few scraps of food they could find unless they were daring enough to venture off into the shopping centre to attempt to steal from the richer ponies. As Cloudsdale was built on cloud level, without magic only a Pegasus would be able to reach it, this meant that in the slums as everypony was able to fly. Small shacks were piled on top of each other to form dark and ominous pathways that ran along the emptiest side of Cloudsdale and back again in one great loop. The slums had also been built around the area that the excess from the weather factory was dumped causing large pools of rainbow fluid which failed its testing to pile up there before it soaked into the clouds and rained into the crater below where in was the rest of Equestria’s problem. Scootaloo lived on the third level of the slums, number one-hundred and eighty six. As this was the case after her birth her father, Lightning Flash, was forced to carry both her and her mother up who had somehow been able to survive the childbirth despite the malnutrition she was suffering along with everypony else. Living on the middle level wasn’t the easiest but it sure wasn’t the hardest either, some who lived on the top level died as they were too weak to fly up, Ponies soon learned that if you want to die well there, lock your house and die inside, if not then it gets disturbing. The first couple of months Scootaloo’s mother, Crimson Wing, struggled to get food for herself and her child as they were both very weak however one day it was found by Lightning that there was a caravan that was on its way into the Cloudsdale stadium to deliver supplies to later be distributed at the market, but once it had arrived it had been raided at the gates. Whilst a lot of items had been take a lot still remained so a few brave stallions decided to go salvage what they could. When they returned the entire community had rejoiced, the shipment was of weapons and food but all that had been taken were the weapons that were to be used later that week in a combat show at the arena. They all shared the food among each other as they all learned that taking care of each other was the best way to stay alive. Crimson and Scootaloo were soon getting strong and it wouldn’t be long until the young Pegasus’s wings would be ready to uncurl. The next few months were the best anypony had seen in years, they were able to ration the food out in their area of the slums as due to the fact nopony ever left the section they lived in there was no point in sharing it with them other than pure kindness, if they had done that then it wouldn’t have lasted a week if not a day. Scootaloo’s parents were getting worried when they realized that her wings should have been spread over a month ago, yet they had remained stuck to her side like glue. Living in the shack they did meant that flying was even more important and the fact that she still couldn’t even stretch her wings was worrying especially that it wouldn’t be long before she was too heavy to carry. They just had to hope she would learn soon.
Family IssuesScootaloo spent the next year trying to learn to fly, her parents were trying to help in any way they could but it just didn’t seem to be working. “Just give up on me,” cried Scootaloo one day, “I’m a lost cause, it isn’t worth your time.” Concerned her parents flew over to her to comfort her. “Don’t worry, you’re getting there,” said Crimson. “You just need a little more practice.” “I’ve been at this for a year and you have just kept saying the same things, I’m not buying it anymore. I’m sixteen months old now and I have until eighteen months to learn or the flight assessment crew will throw me out!” yelled Scootaloo, clearly distressed. Her parents looked at each other, they hadn’t told her about the assessment crew, she must have overheard them talking about it when she was supposed to be asleep. With concern in her voice Crimson asked her, “How do you know about that Scootaloo?” “You need to talk quieter,” Scootaloo replied, a hint of anger in her voice as she walked down the road and round the corner until her family could see her no longer. Scootaloo sat under the bridge between the slums and the shopping district, she always went there when she wanted to be alone, nopony else would go there as it was pointless unless any other fillies wanted to play there which they almost never did. There was never anypony nearby to hear her when she was there and they were all too busy shopping in order to notice her when she crawled under. This was the only place Scootaloo felt she could cry, she didn’t want to at home as she didn’t want anypony else to intervene. Here she was free to express the pain she had been born to feel without judgement. While she wept the richer ponies laughed and spent bit after bit on useless decorative goods that Scootaloo would never have even considered buying. Slowly the noise dyed down as the stall shut and customers flew home loaded down with merchandise. The sun descended towards the horizon as the moon with a distinctive alicorn head shape embedded onto it rose on the other side of the sky. Scootaloo began to grow cold but she did not care. She had suffered enough freezing temperatures in the last winter and almost cried tears of joy when winter wrap up day came to finish it. By the time Celestia had finished lowering the sun Scootaloo decided it was time to head back, sitting by the stream of rainwater that was pumped out of the somehow beautiful looking factory she had wondered what would happen if she left and started over. “Perhaps I should leave,” pondered Scootaloo, “I mean, it’s not there’s anything left for me here, there never was.” This was not the first time that she had thought this of course, but she always expected that it would just be the same wherever she went, she had no friends or anywhere to call home apart from her small shack in the slums. The river that flowed under the bridge may have been a good option for leaving as it would mean that she could slip out in secret, it ended in a lake beneath Cloudsdale. Once a week the Wonderbolts would go down there and attempt to bring as much of it up as possible, it was good for training and it help Equestria with the weather. This was probably not the best choice but as she couldn’t fly she would have to find another way down and she couldn’t get seen. The only other option she could think of was to take a supply cart that was being taken to a different town as it would be easy to sneak into the back of it. Scootaloo decided that she would try to pass the mandatory flight test and if she failed make her escape before they came for her. It would be a few days until they would and that would be enough time to execute her plan.
Trials By CloudTwo months later the assessor came to the slums for all the young fillies’ tests. Despite living in the slums they still had to obey the law and register any birth as well as take the test. The assessor was clearly not comfortable being there as he hurried everypony along. Scootaloo still couldn’t even take off and knew she wouldn’t make it. The sky was dark with clouds and there was the slightest of rain. When they reached the testing arena they were briefed on what they were to do. The test consisted of three parts, firstly they were to fly through three hoops low down, next they were to fly up onto a platform ten meters above cloud level and finally they were to hover up in that area for three seconds, any pony that had been training for long enough would be able to do it and all you had to do was the first challenge and you were safe, the second and you would be able to stay in Cloudsdale and all three and you may as well be royalty. However those that failed the first one were never seen again. Scootaloo had dreaded this day for months and now it was here she realized that this was it. She was seventh in line and wished that something would happen that would help her, anything at all. The first pony went up and passed the first test easily, struggling with the second he furiously beat his wings but collapsed as soon as he reached the platform. The assessor called for the next as he stamped a pass sign onto some papers. One after another they went always passing at least the first trial, until the pony in front of Scootaloo. She wasn’t much bigger that Scootaloo but her wings seemed to actually work. She seemed to be doing well until the end of her right wing caught on the edge of the second hoop and she lost balance and crashed. “Next!” the assessor called as he gave the paper of the failed pony to the guard next to him who then nodded as two other guards came and took the young, crying filly away. Scootaloo was shocked, they had always given it at least a week before they came for any failures. She had no choice, she had to run. She had always been better at running than anything else as she had stolen several bits of food and been caught often enough that she would need to be fast. She quickly looked around for a good escape route and spotted a nearby hatch which looked like it could be a drain. She stepped up to the designated take-off spot that was marked out and made it look as if she was to take off. She beat her wings and then when the assessor looked as if he was about to give up, she bolted. Nopony had expected such a bold move, even the guards who were caught unprepared and chased after her. One of the guards flew over her and dived but she jumped out of the way just in time and the guard colliding with the arena floor. She was almost there and she was lucky that the hatch was open. When she was only a meter away she slid on her back and grabbed the grate with her mouth and pulled it shut as she jumped down. Now in the sewers she turned and ran in a similar direction to where she started running from, nopony else seemed to be following so she began to slow down, gasping for breath, she was surprised on how quickly they had given up but then she realised that the hadn’t when a large rumbling gush sounded behind her. They had opened the valve. Scootaloo ran faster than she ever had before. She tried to listen out for birds or anything else that may give her a clue as to which way to run in this labyrinth. If the torrent hit her she would be crippled at best. A moment later she ran to her right and found the end of the pipe, it was sealed by vertical bar like those from a prison. The fall may be fatal at worst but then it was that or the water. Scootaloo tried desperately to squeeze herself through but she was panicking and kept looking back at where the water was flowing, getting louder each second. She had got her head and chest through and was using her hooves against the bars trying with all her might to push her flank through. She saw the first of the ripples coming from the tunnels, she gave one final push. She began falling just as the pipes exploded with water, she didn’t even look at it while she fell. She bit her lip all the way down to try and keep herself from screaming, this way they may think she didn’t make it. She saw the lake beneath Cloudsdale and violently began flapping her wings to try and push her towards it, to her dismay it worked, she saw the lake beginning to move beneath her. It may not be the best landing spot but it was sure better than anything else around here.
Through The ForestThe impact was horrible. Scootaloo yelped as her small body hit the cold water, it froze her at the same time as it stung with blinding pain. She tried desperately to swim to the surface, she wasn’t about to die here. She hadn’t ever needed to swim before which just made things all the more harder but instinct and determination drove her on. Kicking furiously she pushed herself towards the surface, pushing with both her hooves and wings to help drive her towards the air and her survival. Her vision began to blacken slightly and she panicked causing her to take a small breath bringing water into her lungs. Just when she thought she wouldn’t make it, air flooded in through her mouth as she gasped for breath. She coughed up some of the water she swallowed and tried to get her bearings. She looked around and saw that she was only ten or so meters from the bank on the east side of the lake. She pushed herself towards the edge of the water, if she made it there then she would be able to run into the woods and then she would be safe. Risking a glance back she noticed that three guards were heading down straight towards her in arrowhead formation. She sprinted as fast as she could towards the forest, everything hurt but she wouldn’t let that slow her down, if she stopped even for a moment then she would never be free. Just in time she dived forwards and rolled down a slope into the darkness of the dense forest. Now that she realized she was safe she also realized that this was the first time she had ever set hoof on solid ground, if felt so, firm. She had heard some things of the world below the clouds from other ponies and there was also the maps that she had been shown. There were tales of the unicorns, powerful magic wielding ponies that could do almost anything they wish as long as they had the knowledge. She had also heard of the earth ponies who were master farmers and workers, some could plant whole fields and harvest whole orchards in a matter of days. She knew where some of the nearby settlements were such as Canterlot and Ponyville, she still had to work out where she was, it seemed that there was forest almost surrounding Cloudsdale in every direction but the south. She assumed that she had gone east but the pipes had been rather disorientating. To the west there was the mountains and she didn’t remember seeing any while she ran towards the tree-line but then she wasn't really focusing on the horizon at that point. If she was able to climb a tree then she would know if she was going north or east when she saw the cold tundra in the top of Equestria or Canterlot. Scootaloo thought that it would be best to live in solitary in the woods and live in a tree-house but she didn’t think that she would ever be able to build one or even survive a week out here so she decided to head to a settlement. The only ones she knew the vague location of was Canterlot, Ponyville and of course, Cloudsdale. She couldn’t go back to Cloudsdale as they would arrest her so it was either Canterlot or Ponyville. Scootaloo though about these options for a moment, Canterlot was the royal city, full of posh ponies and others of high class, it seemed this may be the best option until she thought about what they may think of a homeless filly like herself, they may just ignore her or worse yet even throw insults at her, it wasn’t the nicest place to go from what she had heard. She then turned her attention to Ponyville. She didn’t know much about it as it didn’t seem to be that important compared to the big cities but it right in the middle of Equestria so it seemed the best place to use as a centre point. She knew it was much smaller than most other places in Equestria but apart from that there wasn’t much else that she had learnt. She decided that she was to try and reach Ponyville as this felt safer than going somewhere where ponies would only look down at her. The best way to travel there, she thought, was to go east until she found the main road between both Canterlot and Ponyville then follow the signs south until she made it there. The problem wasn’t the route, it was her survival.
Within ReachIt was over an hour before she found anything Scootaloo could use as a navigation tool. There was a clear path that cut across the forest, she thought she had heard tales of a festival that took place here which caused the beginning of autumn. The tales told of a day where ponies of all types would run the track and cause the leaves to fall, this was called The Running of the Leaves. This festival was as important as the celebration of winter wrap up as it brought about a new season. It was mid-summer now so it should be empty apart from anypony who was out for a stroll. Scootaloo decided that the best option would be just to keep heading east until she found the track, once she found that she could just follow that, it was meant to go round in one great loop after all. It was hard to see as the forest was so dense that it was hardly possible to see the sky. Scootaloo stumbled through the undergrowth, just glad to finally be out of the city and going to someplace new. Maybe in Ponyville she would have a proper home, or perhaps friends. Friends. Scootaloo had never had any proper friends before, she wondered what it would be like to have ponies she could trust with anything, to have ponies to play and talk with. This optimism is what drove Scootaloo forward, she was determined to reach Ponyville and set up a good life if it was the last thing she ever did. As Celestia began to lower the sun Scootaloo thought that it would be best if she was to find shelter for the night, it didn’t take long for her to find a small dug out area beneath a tree. It didn’t look like anything lived there so she assumed it was safe, besides the tree provided good shelter against any of the night’s cruel weather. As the last of the sun was disappearing beyond the horizon with the moon on the other side of the sky, Scootaloo had time to think. She thought about her home, her family. What would they think when they got the news of what happened, would they even get the news? As far as anypony knew, nopony had ever escaped Cloudsdale, she doubted the fact that the officials would tell the truth about her escape as that would bring shame to Cloudsdale which they were obviously against with the whole test. Even if she passed the last test she would have been put through flight school and then have to pass another later on in her life, this one would also consist of three parts but you would have to succeed in all three to pass. Scootaloo worried if her parents were punished instead of her, what if they were carted off to where she would have been taken. It was clear enough that she would never have passed, her wings just wouldn’t develop, her parents knew this as well but would never admit it, they wanted to push her to be her best, just like all good parents. Scootaloo knew she would likely never see them again and so she silently said her final goodbyes into the night sky before she slowly drifted off to sleep. Scootaloo awoke later that night, she couldn’t tell what time it was but it was definitely sometime between midnight and three in the morning. She suffered night terrors more often than not these days and they grew worse as the exam drew closer, she had hoped that they would grow weaker after the exam but this one had been worse than ever. Scootaloo could never remember what she dreamt about and she didn’t think she wanted to. All she could remember about it was that it was bad, anyway, she never got back to sleep after she was awoken. It was still dark and would be a few hours till Celestia rose the sun again but Scootaloo decided that it would be best for her too move out now. She didn't have any food but she was starving, she didn't eat well as it is but now that she was moving constantly it would be even more of a problem. Scootaloo would have to reach Ponyville within next day or so unless she wanted to risk major starvation. She found the path later that morning, she wasn't that sure which way that would get her there quicker but as she had been heading east it would probably have been best to go the most eastward direction. By the time it was midday the trees began to spread out more until Scootaloo walked out into an open field and in the distance, no more than three miles away, stood Ponyville. She couldn't believe that she had come so far in the last couple of days, only a few more miles and she could start over. Once she got something to eat.
New ArrivalsScootaloo stumbled into Ponyville, tired and hungry. She made it a few houses down before she finally became completely exhausted and collapsed. Ever since she got out of the forest an hour or two before midday she had been on a field on a cloudless day. The heat had been incredibly intense and after all she had been through it was understandable that she’d had enough. There was a small alley between two houses which she crawled into before passing out. She didn’t know how long she was unconscious for, she didn’t even know where she was but what she did know is that she was somewhere better than before. The room was colourful and large with a variety of cheery furniture all around, it was a circular room and up against part of the wall was the bed Scootaloo woke up in. She was still hungry and even more so thirsty but as she looked around the room for any clue as to the identity of the pony who had taken her in she saw sitting on a small bedside table a plate of cookies and a glass of milk with a note which read; “Wake up with a smile!” Scootaloo took the milk and drank it within moments, she was even more desperate for nutrients than she first thought. After she was done with the small snack she was left, she placed the plate carefully back on the table and tried to stand up. She was still weak and fell over a couple of times before she was able to properly stand up. When she was confident enough that she could walk she walked across the room towards the door, she had been through this much and she was going to finish it. Once outside the room Scootaloo began to head downstairs, there was a lot of noise coming from there, not bad noise but more like the kind of sounds you would hear in a café or restaurant. “There you are silly! I was just about to come up and see if you were still there!” said a voice from a door which looked like it lead to a kitchen. Scootaloo spun round and saw a pink pony with cyan eyes and a very unique mane style. “Who are you?” she asked, upon looking round the room she noticed that there were tables laid out and a long queue which lead almost to the front door, behind the counter there was a male yellow pony serving all those in line with sweets, cupcakes, cookies and other treats. “I’m Pinkie Pie silly! I found you outside and thought that you felt sad so I took you home and left you cookies and milk for when you woke up!” “Yeah, thanks, I really needed those, I haven’t had anything to eat or drink since Cloudsdale and-” Scootaloo was cut off by a loud gasp from Pinkie Pie. “Cloudsdale! I’ve never been to Cloudsdale! Only a Pegasus can go there! Is it high? Do you have rainbow coloured rivers? Oh, oh, oh, is the ground fluffy?” Pinkie continued to ask multiple questions about what it was like in Cloudsdale but after all Scootaloo had been through it was understandable that she didn’t want to tell anypony. “Look, Pinkie Pie is it? I don’t really wanna get into a conversation about Cloudsdale. It isn’t as nice as you think it is,” replied Scootaloo sadly. “Okie dokie loki!” came a cheerful reply from Pinkie. After a moment or two passed Scootaloo asked “So, am I in Ponyville? I think that I must have forgotten where I was from when I passed out.” “Yep, this is Ponyville, it’s a really fun place to be, everypony’s really nice here and. . .” “Thank Celestia!” Scootaloo thought to herself, “I’ve made to safety, as long as I’m here the soldiers from Cloudsdale can’t touch me. But now that I’m here where do I go? I can’t stay at Pinkie’s forever, I guess I’ll just have to figure something out.” When she was done thinking she noticed that Pinkie was giving her a very happy yet slightly creepy stare. “Anyway, I should get going, do you mind if I was to stay here for a while?” Scootaloo asked Pinkie Pie, “Just while I sort out what I’m gonna do.” “Well, I’m not too good with fillies but my friend Fluttershy may be able to help you, she lives on the edge of town by the dark and spooky Everfree forest in a small cabin. Make sure you don’t go into the forest though, it’s really scary in there.” “Ok, I guess I’ll keep that in mind, thank you for all your help Pinkie Pie.” Called Scootaloo as she walked out the door. “Well that was . . . strange.” Scootaloo said to herself when she was a minute or two down the road towards Fluttrtshy's cabin.
