"But why! Why do you have to go so far away?!" Scootaloo cried, her parents looking at her sadly.
"We're sorry it has to be for so long, my little filly, but it's part of our job," her mother said warmly. "There are many sick and needy zebras and ponies in Zebraca who need our help."
Scootaloo nodded with a sniff. She had been expecting this eventually. Her parents were ponytarians after all, it was their job to travel the globe to help out where they could. Her mother knew quite a bit about engineering and irrigation while her father was one of the best doctors in the Phillydelphia, her current place of residence. She knew what they were doing was important for many, and she should take the sacrifice, but it just felt so unfair. Suddenly, a desperate lightbulb blared above her head.
"C-Can't I come with you?" she said, stifening another sniffle and putting on a hopeful smile. "I don't care what I'd have to do I can help! I could build houses! Anything!"
Her mother threw her another warm but prideful smile at that. "I wish you could, sweetie, but the jungles of Zebraca are no place for a filly. I want you to stay here, safe, with your grandma. She's going to take good care of you."
Scootaloo's Grandmother smiled down warmly at the young filly, "It'll only be a few months my dear, and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun together!"
Scootaloo's mood perked up at that. "R-Really?"
She nodded her head at that, her smile not fading. "I might even teach you a thing or two about making your mother's apple pies." She smiled proudly at that. "She got the recipe from me, after all."
"That sounds awesome!" Scootaloo bounced before turning back to her parents. Despite the welcoming arms of her cool old grandmother, the fact the five year old filly would be without parents for a few months was still going to be rough. "But, it's only a few months, right? Then you'll be home?"
"Of course, dear."
Scootaloo lept up in bed, her eyes watering slightly. She gazed about her. The night was still in motion and the rest of the fillies and colts slept peacefully around her in the beds that lined the dormitory of her orphanage. However, despite her dreams being over, memories continued to play in her head.
"Scootaloo..." her grandma said softly, making her way into the guest room she slept at at her granny's house. "Are you awake?"
Scootaloo beamed at the sight of her. "Is today the day?! Are my parents finally back?!"
Her grandma gulped quietly at this, barely able to keep eye contact on the young filly. "I'm afraid... they've been declared missing."
"M-Missing?!" Scootaloo said, her tone confused and worried. "What do you mean, missing?"
Her granny sighed at this. "They've been staying at a village they've been helping out. Apparantely they... they went for a walk in the jungle two days ago and never returned back.... the villagers have been seaching all over for them, and the Equestrian AFC is sending people over there as well."
Scootaloo's eyes began to tear up. "They're going to find them? Right!" She shot a stern look at her granny, who returned a solemn one. "They have to find them! How far could they have walked into the jungle?!"
Her grandma made her way over towards the young fillies bed and gently nuzzled her, "I-It's very possible they will find them."
"Only possible?! You mean there's a chance-"
"Only a small one, Scootaloo. Believe me, the Equestrian AFC is very good at what they do, and the villagers love your parents very much for how much they've helped them. They'll do everything they can to find them-" Tears then formed in her own eyes as well. "-and my daughter. For now, we need to give them our prayers."
Yanking herself out of bed she made her way over to the wall where a colorful calendar was posted. Her eyes teared up at the sight of it. It was the 34th cycle of Autumn, the day when the search for her parents had been called off, when there was officially no hope.
They weren't dead. They weren't dead, damnit! Why did there need to be a funeral? This was all that went through Scootaloo's head at the memorial service. Many were in attendance, all standing around two empty graves. Family, friends, and even a few zebras and other creatures who she presumed were helped by her parents. They didn't need to mourn though. Any second now her parents would return, crash the funeral and everyone would be laughing about it within a month.
Dark rain clouds hovered above, and a few Pegasi in the recession opted to clear them. However, her granny, who was the main host of the funeral, opted to have them leave. A little rain would fit the mood.
Scootaloo wouldn't need to stand in it for long though. Any second now.
"We are gathered here today to commemorate two great, selfless heroes of Equestria and the world, Doctor Shining Star and Lady Clear Sight," a suit wearing funeral director announced. "They gave, and gave, and gave some more, never asking for anything in return, even a thanks. It was just who they were, two living epitomes of charity. May their souls rest easy knowing they have made the world a better place."
And when they got here they'd probably have a charitable bunch of apple pies for Scootaloo to munch down. Common, hurry up....
The rain continued to fall.
A zebra took the podium next, someone who had introduced herself to Scootaloo earlier as Zecora. Curiously, she spoke without the tendency to rhyme as she had earlier. "Without these two heroes, I would have lost my village. Their knowledge of medicinal magic was without a doubt the only thing between it and the red death. For this act of charity, I will be doing whatever I can to spread the knowledge of my own people's magics to Equestria. Perhaps it will save some lives here as well. I can never repay them entirely, but I intend to follow in their hoofsteps."
They could work with the zebra together to save lives. She'd see. She glanced over her shoulder towards the path that led to the graveyard. Any second now...
The funeral dragged on and on. Twenty or so people gave their last words for the fallen ponytarians. Eventually, two empty coffins were lowered into their eternal resting place. The funeral attendees began to dismiss themselves, leaving only Scootaloo and her Granny left. It was here when reality began to cruelly intercede itself into the young filly's mind.
Any... second now?
Her tears soon joined the rain. Her grandmother grabbed her and held her close, her eyes mimicking the young filly's.
"You won't be alone, Scootaloo," she said solemnly. "I will be watching over you, and so will they."
A flash of lightning snapped from the sky outside the dormatory's room's window as a heavy rain began to fall and a ghostly wind began to blow. The voice of her grandmother continued to echo in her head.
"You won't be alone, Scootaloo,"
"I'll be watching over you."
"You won't be alone."
She walked towards the window as the storm raged outside, observing the intricate, sporadic patterns the rain water made as it flowed down from the top of it. That was life really. It was arbitrary. Everything was... random. Good things happen, bad things happen. Sometimes bad things happen to others more then they should. Nothing guided it, nothing decided whether somepony had had enough pain already. It was just... random, like the trails of water on a window's glass. She wished these sort of thoughts wouldn't bother her, yet they pricked her mind constantly.
Over time, a ghostly image of her grandmother's face appeared on the window. "You won't be alone," its ghostly voice echoed.
Soon, she was spiraling into another memory....
It was two o'clock in the afternoon and Scootaloo's grandmother still wasn't out of bed. She had to make her own breakfast because of it, a five year old, and her granny was out of cereal. It wasn't unusual for her to sleep in, but she did need to get up sometime today. When she opened the door to her bedroom, a peculiar stench filled her nose, and dread filled her heart. She dashed over to the side of her grandmother's bed and quickly lifted the covers.
"G-Granny?!" She wimpered. Her eyes flew open. Her grandmother was in bed, stone cold, not breathing.
Dead.
"Nonono!" She said, shaking her head sporadically, incredulously, backing away from the bed. "You said I'd never be alone!" She began to weep, but before too many tears fell she felt something rising inside her, an anger that shouldn't have been there yet was. "YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER LEAVE ME!!!!"
With that, she collapsed onto the floor and curled into a ball of tears and pity.
"The storm's very beautiful in a way, isn't it?" a voice said from behind her. She recognized it as Pipsqueak, or Pip as many of the more polite orphans called him, one of the newest additions the Ponyville Orphanage. The young colt was soon at her side, and though Scootaloo wanted to be alone... having Pip around was the second best thing.
She smiled warmly down towards him, "It is..." She then turned back towards the window.
"You know, we used to get storms like this all the time in Trottingham. The rain looked so awesome in the distance out at sea during a sunset, giant sheets of blue coming towards us like angry tempests."
She remained staring at the window. A single tear began to fall from her eye. "That would be very beautiful..." she said softly.
Pip didn't seem to notice the tear and continued with, "Sometimes we'd even see waterspouts. Heh, my mom always said they were angry sea spirits who would suck away bad children."
At that, Scootaloo finally couldn't hold it in any longer. At least she'd be crying in front of a friend...
Pip stood motionless, not knowing what to do. Finally, he decided it would be alright to lean his head on her side for a minute. When she began to calm down a little, Pip decided to speak up. "It's... that time of year, isn't it?"
Scootaloo nodded slowly.
"Do you want to-"
"No," she interrupted. "But... could you just stay with me for a little? Please?"
A beat.
Pip smiled slightly. "Do you even need to ask?"
And with that, the two stood, watching the tempest of a storm pummel Ponyville with rain. Amazing how such a violent thing could bring so much life. The water would quench a hundred ponies' thirsts and help grow a thousand crops. It was true with every storm, even the most destructive of them. There would always be something good that followed them. Perhaps... even ones that dwell within.
"Here here my little filly!" Scootaloo's mother called, immediately wrapping her wings around her precious gem and moving her in close. "Are you ready for a TUMMY ATTACK?!
"No! Noooooo!" Scootaloo giggled in delight as her mother lifted her onto her hind legs with one wing and began to tickle her stomach with another. "Not the tummy attack! Anything but that!"
Her mother quirked an eyebrow with a mischievous smirk. "Anything,you say?! Very well, very well. I shall concede to the surrendering filly's request under one condition." She held out a hoof.
"Anything, General Mommy!" Scootaloo said with a wide grin.
Her mother smiled deviously. "You must be mommy's official taste tester for the rest of the day!"
"THE HORROR! THE HORROR!" Scootaloo tried her best to screech in between giggles. With that, her mother quickly snatched the young filly up and sat her upon her back.
Sitting on the counter of their kitchen was tin bowl filled with cut apples, brown sugar, and other delectable ingredients. Her mother lifted her up to it with a mock evil grin. "Now you must fulfill your surrender conditions, buahahaha! Tell me how good these apples are or it's back to tummy tickle land for you!"
Scootaloo didn't need any coersion. She snatched one of the apples into her hand quick as lightning and nommed down on it, her face oozing with pleasure. "It's... so... good!"
"Yeeees, and now you must eat a slice of it for desert as another stipulation for your surrender!"
Scotaloo quirked her head, "Stipu-?"
Her mother nearly facehoofed herself with a chuckle. "Sorry, Scootaloo, I've been hanging around your father too long. It means to agree to do something."
"Ooooooh!!!!" Scootaloo nodded. She then put on an expression of concern. "Wait, does that mean you don't like the way daddy talks?"
Her mother laughed at that. "Of course not, sweetheart. It's just that he has such an advanced way of speaking it sometimes rubs off me and then other people don't know what I'm saying! Otherwise, I love the way your father speaks!"
As if to answer her, the familiar jingle of the bells that hung on the door to the Scootaloo household began to do their thing.
"Hey! I'm finally home! Man what a rough day..." the sound of her father's voice echoed. "I know who will cheer me up though. Where's my Scootaloo?! Scootaloo!"
"Scootaloo!" Ms. Cheerilee called, waking Scootaloo up once again. "Are you alright, sweetie? You seem to have neglected your sleep lately."
"She was probably just up all night thinking of ways to get the Cutie-Mark she's never going to get!" Silver Spoon said snidely.
"Why don't you just go beg your dad for more jewelry," Apple Bloom growled.
"Apple Bloom!" Ms. Cheerilee shouted. "That was very uncalled for."
Diamond Tiara laughed wickedly at this, ignoring her teacher. "At least her family can afford it. The only thing yours can afford is more farming equipment!"
"You take that back!" Apple Bloom roared. "At least my family makes an honest livin'! Your pop is just a middle-man!"
"Do you even know what a middle man is?"
"ENOUGH!" Cheerilee roared, startling even the students who weren't causing problems.
"Yeah guys, p-please. I-I just had a rough night," Scootaloo said quietly. "Please stop fighting..."
"I bet! I wonder how old the mattresses in that orphanage of yours are?" Diamond Tiara said, unrelenting as ever, with an evil, victorious smile. It quickly faded, however, when she noticed every student in class was glaring at her. Even Silverspoon seemed a bit horrified by her remark. "What? A girl can't speak her mind these days?"
"Apologize to Scootaloo," a voice growled from the back of the classroom, uncharacteristically low and menacing for its origin. "Or I will make you do it."
Diamond Tiara turned her spoiled head to look towards the speaker, "Or what!? Going to get your parents to get mine to ground me? Oh that's right, you don't have-"
"DIAMOND TIARA!" Ms. Cheerilee roared in a rage no student had seen before then, literally petrifying them all. "That's enough out of you! I don't know what's gotten into you lately but that's something the principal can handle!"
With that, Diamond Tiara knew she had gone too far. She was reassured in this fact when a small, albino hand slapped her across the face with a loud *CRACK*, bringing a gasp from every student in class. Huffing and standing besides Diamond Tiara's desk was none other then Pip, his eyes as hot as coal.
"WHY YOU MISERABLE LITTLE GUTTER CHILD!" Diamond Tiara screeched, snapping towards him and preparing to tackle him onto the floor. However, before she could do so Cheerile was upon her like a force of nature and holding her back.
"Pip!" Cheerile huffed, out of breath at this point, still furious but beginning to regain her composure. In a quieter, disappointed, but still stern tone she said, "Please join Tiara."
Pip turned the door, not even bothering to gaze at the spoiled filly. "My only regret is that I have to walk with her," he spat. With that the two begrudgingly left the classroom, occasional throwing fiery glares towards each other.
Scootaloo sunk into her seat, holding back tears there were beginning to work there way into her ducts. No... why did this have to happen? Pip didn't need to stand up for her.... Now she was going to cry. No... no... not in front of everyone-
A beat.
And there they were. The soft, salty drops of water cascading down a familiar stream bed....
The class gazed at her in silence.
"Scootaloo..." Sweetie Bell said softly, tears beginning to form in her eyes as well. "No.. don't cry, please...." She then turned to Ms. Cheerilee. "Can we-?"
"You can," she said with a sorrowful, knowing nod. "You three are dismissed... I'll be outside to join you as soon as class is over."
Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom both threw Ms. Cheerilee a thankful nod before walking over to their friends desk. Scootaloo struggled to get up, barely refrained from sobbing out loud and followed her two friends to the door.
The sky was clear when they made it outside, in stark contrast to what transpired last night in the heavens. Puddles were everywhere, birds and other small animals occasionally splashing in them. The three Crusaders guided Scootaloo over to a large, black tree. It was epitome of beauty of the playground, a guardian, one whose branches hung over everything and everyone to provide comforting shade. Once a single tree sitting without purpose in an empty field, it eventually found a home. Unfortunately, It could do little for the young Pegasus at its basin except perhaps weep on the inside for her.
"S-Scootaloo..." Sweetie Bell said, sitting next to her with a sympathetic and sorrowful expression oh her face. With a hoof, she wiped away one of the filly's tears. "I-I don't know what to say." She turned to Applebloom, who looked equally as morose, as if to say 'can you take over where I can't?'
Applebloom visibly gulped as Scootaloo buried her eyes into her hooves. She then placed a hoof on her shoulder, "H-Hey... it's alright. Your friends are here with you... and we love you Scootaloo." She saw a small reaction in Scootaloo at that, but couldn't see much more. "J-Just let it all out. Applejack always tells me that. It's good for you."
"Your parents would have loved to see how strong you are, you know," a very familiar voice said. All three fillies turned to see Rainbow Dash walking towards the crying filly, her eyes saturated with sympathy. "And I know I'm proud of you."
"R-Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom managed to blurt out, still shocked at the unexpected visit. "W-Where did you-"
Rainbow Dash said nothing. She simply pointed up.
Apple Bloom nodded at this.
With that, Rainbow Dash stepped closer and cradled wrapped her wings around her young friend. "Your friends will always be here for you, Scootaloo. I promise you that. Me, Twilight, Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, we're all family to you."
"T-Thanks Rainbow Dash," she squeaked through her sobs. "You've always been like the big sister I've never had...."
Rainbow Dash smiled at this. "You think it doesn't go both ways?"
"W-What do you m-mean?" she asked.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I just mean... you'll never be alone."
Scootaloo's eyes widened at this.
"You will never be alone, Scootaloo"
There in bed her lay her granny's head,
In forever slumber,
and forever dead.
With that, Scootaloo's tears immediately froze. A new expression mangled onto her face, not one of sorrow, but of anger. "Never be alone?!" she growled, standing up, and taking her friends aback. "I've been told that before, and it came from a liar! You'll all be gone one day, just like her!"
With that, she smashed apart Rainbow Dash's wings and began to run... though she had no idea where.
Her friends eyes widened at that.
"Scootaloo! Come back!"
"We're sorry! We're sorry!"
They then began to give chase, but Rainbow Dash was quickly upon them, holding the two back with her wings and shaking her head. "She needs to be alone. She's just not thinking straight. Believe me, I know."
Scootaloo made her way out of the school gates and into the town, gaining curious glances from its inhabitants. She didn't want to be around a lot of people right now... she wanted to be in solitude... and the best place for that was-
Scootaloo trotted into Everfree. Immediately, darkness came upon her as its thick canopy shredded the sun's giving light. She shivered a sudden change in temperature. The cool mists that emanated from the floor could do that to a pony. She sighed, finding a nice tree to snuggle up next to, an old one of many years. She wondered how many other lonely, sorrowful fillies had sat next to trees like these in the Everfree woodlands before her.
She began to breath deeply, her tears no longer falling. All that was left was the reminders of sorrow's past. Having nothing to do, and not wishing to think, she simply... listened. She heard the birds chirp in a sporadic chorus, all in harmony, never wishing to outdo each other. Just.... doing their thing, unlike certain... monsters she knew. A second later, she heard the sound of the lonely wind glide threw the trees, always meddling in the affairs of the visible world, but never seen, and almost never remembered. She then heard the flutter of butterflies nearby and opened her eyes to see one landing on her nose. She let loose a choked giggle as it did so, and the butterfly flew off. For some reason, she decided to follow it.
She followed it out of the woods and back towards town. Eventually, it reached the Orphanage. The mail pony Ditzy stood at the front door of it with a large brown box held swinging by a string in turn gripped by her teeth. She smile when she saw Scootaloo and absent-mindedly said, "Chey, Schoots! Hi've got a package fur you," without dropping it.. She then carefully lowered it down to the stoop.
"T-Thanks Ditzy," Scootaloo said, still a bit shaken up.
Ditzy nodded with a smile before taking off into the air, a mail-bag strapped around her neck.
Curious, Scootaloo made her way to the package. She rarely ever got any she wasn't expecting, her only ones usually being from orders she had made by mail. She quickly undid the tape and string with her teeth and was soon peering inside. She could see the shady outline of a book, a rather large one at that. She gripped it with her hands and brought it out into the light.
She took a look at the cover and-
She gasped.
The book fell out of her hands and hit the pavement.
It couldn't be. They were dead. Dead, gone, and turned to dust in some far off land. How did this... how did this get to her? It just wasn't possible.
Slightly corroded and fainted but still visible, the book bore a name written in golden ridges. Shining Star
This was no book, it was a journal.
