Summer of Endless Rainfall

Six months after Scootaloo began living permanently with Harmonic, her, Harmonic, and Atmospheric grew close. She considered them the family she never had. Despite all the hardships of the early days, better things had finally started to come around. The three of them started a band called "Summer of Endless Rainfall". It was a blend of melodic death metal and metalcore. They later recruited Dinky as the second guitarist after Scootaloo started hanging out with her more. Scootaloo was playing in the snow with all of her friends during Christmas break while Harmonic and Atmospheric worked on mixing their first demo. It was on that day that Twilight had some unexpected news.

"Hey, Scootaloo," Twilight called out.

"Hey, Twi! What's up!?"

"Hold on!"

Twilight galloped over to where Scootaloo was.

"Look!"

She handed Scootaloo a piece of paper. Despite the fact that Scootaloo's mane was now longer and that she wore it straight down in front of her eyes like Harmonic, she was able to read through the strands.

"Woah! Are you serious!?"

"Yeah! The princesses want you guys to be Canterlot's first live metal band! Even Vinyl and Octavia will be there!"

"I've gotta' get home and tell Mom and Dad! I'll be back soon!"

"Okay! We'll be looking forward to the show!"

Scootaloo flew off towards her home.

"Guys, I've got awesome news!"

"What is it, sweetheart," Atmospheric asked.

"Look!"

Scootaloo handed the paper to them.

"What's it say," Harmonic asked.

"We've been invited by the princesses to play in Canterlot on the 29th for the entire day. I guess they think it'd be a nice Christmas event."

"Guess they haven't heard metal before. Think we should do it?"

"I don't see why we shouldn't. Besides, it'd be a good way to get our message out."

"Okay. I guess we'll talk to Dinky's family and see what they think."

Scootaloo was ecstatic. Ever since they started the band, she'd wanted to perform for a crowd; not to impress them, but to show them the power of personal thought. Although, she had to admit, seeing them in awe would be fun.

All the arrangements had been made, and on the day of the 29th, everyone departed for Canterlot. The train ride was filled with excitement. Scootaloo, Harmonic, Atmospheric, and Dinky were all wearing hoodies with the hoods themselves pulled over their heads. They wanted to go with something mysterious. Nobody in Canterlot knew them, and it was going to be revealed near the end of the night who they were. Scootaloo could already imagine the crowd's faces when they found out the intense screams were coming from a filly.

"Hey kid, you should fly when you're performing," rainbow Dash told Scootaloo.

"Maybe during a breakdown or really melodic part. I want to save the dramatic stuff for the right time."

"Rarity thinks every time is the right time," Applejack snickered.

"Drama is poetic, darling. A country pony like yourself wouldn't understand."

"Cool it, guys," Rainbow said, "This is their day. Don't ruin it with your arguing."

"It's just how we show our friendship," Rarity proclaimed.

"Remember who called me an egghead, by the way," Twilight said smugly.

"Okay, I get it," Rainbow replied.

"Anyway, Scootaloo, I've actually heard a little bit of metal before. I think it was called power metal. What kind are you guys playing," Twilight asked.

"It's a fusion genre that mixes melodic death metal and metalcore. It's about more personal stuff. I'm not really sure you guys are gonna' like it much though. The vocals are angry screams."

"We might surprise you," Twilight insinuated.

"Think you can outsurprise the surpriser?"

"And I thought I was the smug one."

"You're more spooky, miss meltdown."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Hey, you scared the three of us to death."

"I thought I was going to be sent back to magical kindergarten, okay? I'm over twenty years old. That would've been embarrassing."

"For a smartypants, you have some weird thoughts."

"Tell me about it."

"Um...I like that kind of metal, actually...," Fluttershy said softly.

Everyone stopped and stared for a minute. There was a short silence, then everyone began talking again as if she hadn't said anything.

"Anyway, who's going to be doing what," Twilight inquired.

"I'm doing lead guitar and vocals, dad's playing drums, mom's playing bass and doing backup vocals, and Dinky's on rhythm guitar."

"You're doing the screaming?"

"Most of it."

"I guess I can see that."

"Hey Pinkie," Rainbow said, "You haven't been as talkative today."

"I'm gonna' need all my energy for this one," Pinkie responded happily.

"Is it really gonna' be that crazy?"

"Maybe."

"You're so cryptic, ya' know that?"

"Thank you!"

"Ugh, never mind."

After the discourse ended, Scootaloo yawned.

"...It's happening again, isn't it," Twilight asked.

"...Yeah..."

"Alright. Just get some rest. I'll let you know when we're there."

"Okay."

Scootaloo settled in next to Harmonic, who hadn't so much as moved ever since they got on the train. Twilight left the car with a tear in her eye. She was very aware by now that Harmonic, Scootaloo, and Atmospheric were victims of major depressive disorder. Scootaloo was the medium for communicating these things to her friends since Harmonic and Atmospheric didn't talk to them. It wasn't a matter of rudeness so much as a feeling that they shouldn't communicate with them. Harmonic and Atmospheric already didn't like making their presence known to Dinky's family, but they needed Dinky. She was a living embodiment of the band's cause just as much as the rest of them were.

After a couple hours on the train, everyone arrived at Canterlot. Harmonic and Atmospheric were setting everything up on the outdoor stage the princesses had prepared for them. Meanwhile, Scootaloo and Dinky were hanging around the base of the stage, and Twilight was talking to Shining, who'd made it there earlier to spend the day with his sister.

"These guys look intense. I noticed two of them were just kids. What's with that?"

"They've all been through a lot, Shining. They needed an outlet."

"What about the older ones? They're practically mute."

"They don't like talking to anyone they don't know."

"I guess that makes sense. Still, they're freaking me out. They're all hiding their faces."

"It's part of their gimmick. They like the dark and mysterious thing."

"Looks more like the creepy crew if you ask me."

"You can be intimidating too, ya' know."

"Ya' got me there."

"They won't be ready for at least another half hour. You want to get something to eat?"

"Sure. I skipped breakfast so I could make it on time, anyway."

"You really shouldn't do that."

"I know, mom."

"You wanna' play the sass game?"

"No. You always win."

"Good move."

Twilight and Shining walked off together. Everyone else was attending to their own tasks. Harmonic, Atmospheric, Scootaloo, and Dinky all worked in silence. They were really only here for one reason, and nobody was going to forget what that reason was.

"Hey guys," Scootaloo said into the microphone as the crowd began to grow, "We're not really gonna' talk much right now, but before we start, we just want to give you guys an idea of what we do. We play music with a cause. Our cause is to prevent ponies around the world from doing something hurtful to themselves. We're an anti-depression and anti-suicide group, and our name is Summer of Endless Rainfall. This is our first time here, so let's make it count!"

The calm, melodic music in the background suddenly became loud and energetic.

"This song is called 'The Light at the End of the Road". LET'S GO!"

Scootaloo began screaming as the music picked up in intensity.

"LIFE IS AT ITS END!

SO MANY NIGHTS, I'VE SLEPT IN THE DARK! ONLY THE SOUND OF THE WIND SERVED AS COMFORT!

MY BREATHING SLOWS, AND MY HEART STOPS! I NO LONGER SEE THE CLOUDS OF GRAY THAT HAUNTED MY DAYS! ALL I THINK ABOUT IS THE EMPTINESS I FELT IN THOSE HOURS!"

The instruments slowed and started making an even louder sound.

"THE SKY CAME CRASHING DOWN THAT DAY! THE DEAFENING SILENCE CRUMBLED MY RESOLVE!"

The instruments picked up speed once more.

"THERE IS A LIGHT HERE THAT I CAN BARELY SEE, BUT I'M NOT DONE!"

Scootaloo stopped screaming for a brief moment and exchanged the sound for the spoken word.

"We only have one life, and we can't let it be washed away by the sadness of the rain!

MY HEART IS CRUSHED!

CRUSHED!!!

BUT I STILL REFUSE TO LET IT BE THE END!

I WILL SAVE MYSELF!"

The song ended on a breakdown. Many of the Canterlot residents were staring on in shock. This music was so different from the classical stuff they usually listened to. For some, it was painful to listen to; for others, especially teenagers, it was liberating to hear. Their thoughts and feelings about death were no longer confined to their minds. Someone was actually saying something, and it felt good for them to have the subject acknowledged.

After a few songs, the group ran out of their own material. They spent the rest of the day covering some of their favorite tracks from older bands. Later on in the night, they were about to wrap things up with one last song. Scootaloo spoke into the microphone one more time.

"We'll be ending the show soon, but we wanted to play one last song for you guys."

Scootaloo, Harmonic, Atmospheric, and Dinky took of their hoods.

"We wanted to stay hidden until this one. This song is called 'Inner Reprisal'. It was written by one of our favorite bands, Renounced."

The instruments began again.

"WATCHING DEMONS CONTROL YOU; WATCHING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU!

THEY'RE REPLACING THE PERSON AS THEY'RE CLOSING OFF TO CONVICTION!

I CAN FEEL YOUR LONELINESS! I UNDERSTAND YOUR TURMOIL!

EVERY MORNING, A RECKONING, YOU SAY!

I WRITE THIS NOT KNOWING YOU ANYMORE! YOU'RE JUST A GHOST THAT HAUNTS MY PAST; A FACE, LIKE SUMMER INTO WINTER!!!

IN THIS DISSONANCE, I REFUSE TO FALL!!!

COMING DAYS, FOREVER SILENT AS WE BOTH LIE IN THIS BLACK HOLE!

THIS IS MY INNER REPRISAL!!!

I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN!

IN THIS DISSONANCE, I REFUSE TO FALL!!!

IN THIS UNDERTOW, I REFUSE TO SINK!!!

IN THIS LIFE, I REFUSE TO FAIL AGAIN!!!

THIS IS MY INNER REPRISAL!!!

IN THIS DISSONANCE, I REFUSE TO FALL!

IN THIS UNDERTOW, I REFUSE TO SINK!

INNER REPRISAL!!!"

When the song ended, all of them were trying to catch their breath. They'd put everything they had into it.

"Thank you guys for coming out to see us! You were all amazing! We were honored to be here tonight!"

After the crowd cheered, they left the stage. The princesses were waiting for them. Both of them had sad looks in their eyes.

"Princess Luna, what's going on," Scootaloo asked.

"We're sorry, child," Luna responded softly.

"My sister and I never really knew how much our subjects were suffering in their personal lives. Please understand, we were trying not to invade their privacy."

"You know what we were trying to say?"

"Yes," Celestia responded, "Now we want to help in any way we can."

"Dad taught me how to look out for those kind of ponies. Just look at their faces and body language. If you notice anything weird, talk to them. If something's going on, get them help."

"I see," Luna said, "Is this your father," she inquired as she pointed to Harmonic.

"Yeah."

"You've raised a fine young filly."

"Not really. I just told her what she needed to know," Harmonic replied. The fact that he spoke shocked Dinky and his family.

"What do you mean," Celestia asked.

"I found her alone in a dark alleyway. She was devastated beyond belief."

"You're not her birth father," Luna asked.

"No. She was originally supposed to stay with her friends, but they couldn't face her for a while, so she ended up with me and Atmospheric."

"Do you know where her birth parents are?"

"No, and to be honest, I don't want to. They don't deserve to see her."

This was a new side to Harmonic Scootaloo and Dinky had never seen before. He was actually angry.

"Goodness! That's a bit harsh, isn't it," Ceslestia responded.

"I don't think so."

"Why? Do you know why they left?"

"Do I have to know to feel like it was wrong?"

This question stunned the royal sisters.

"No...I suppose not."

"I have to go. I've already overstayed my welcome. We need to pack up and find a place to spend the night anyway."

"Harmonic, you're being rude," Atmospheric told him.

"There' no way I can't be in this situation. I'm sorry that upsets you, but there's nothing else I can do."

"It's alright," Celestia said, "We understand. It's been a long night."

"I'm really sorry," Atmospheric apologized.

"Fear not. He has a right to be upset," Luna assured her.

"Dad, let's go. I don't think we should be here anymore."

"Yeah. You're right."

The four of them left the princesses where they stood.

"We're entering a new era, sister. I'm frightened. What dark truths have not been been brought into the light yet?"

"Don't worry, Luna. I believe everything will turn out fine."

"Are you sure?"

"As long as that kind of compassion exists, there is hope."

"Perhaps you're right."

The ride home the next day was endowed with strange feelings. Celestia revealed the previous night's conversation to Twilight. She couldn't say she was happy, but she couldn't be angry either. Downtrodden would have probably been the best word to describe her feelings at that time. When they reached home, everyone went their separate ways. Not much was said, but there were many sad expressions. That day would be ingrained in everyone's mind for a long time to come.