When Pain Becomes Strength

It was a ritual Scootaloo had done time and time again after the second day; coming to the ocean to quiet her troubled mind. The gloomy shore was her only consistent comfort. However, something different happened today. She never expected to be followed.

"Scootaloo," she heard someone say after a brief period.

"Apple Bloom?"

She looked a little further up the shore to find Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle waiting for her.

"Took us forever to find ya'," The apple filly stated.

"Sorry..."

"Are you okay," Sweetie asked sweetly.

"No."

"Applejack and Raity said the same thing," Sweetie admitted.

"Are they alright?"

"They're fine. The told us you weren't, though."

"They're right. I'm a complete wreck."

"You talkin' fancy again," Apple Bloom joked.

"I guess I am."

"Scootaloo, we're worried about you. Ever since your mom died, you've been a completely different pony. You used to be so happy. Now you won't even let us see your face," Sweetie Interjected.

"If I did, it would make you feel even worse. I don't want to hurt you guys."

"Rarity told me we're all going to get hurt sooner or later. That's just the way it works."

"It's even worse for you guys though. You're my best friends."

"We're being hurt one way or another. If you hurt us the other way, we can try to help you."

"You...Can?"

"Only if you show us what you're really hiding."

"I never thought about it that way."

Scootaloo thought this over for a long time.

"You're right."

She began walking forward. When she was about halfway to her friends, her hood was blown off by the wind. The wind had blown her mane back as well, revealing the eye that was known to bleed. There was nothing there this time except for the sad stare.

"Holy moly," Apple Bloom exclaimed, "I ain't never seen anyone look like that before."

"This is the real you," Sweetie Belle enlightened her friend.

"I used to think being afraid or sad about things was dumb, but now I know Rainbow Dash never went through the same things I did. It takes something bad happening to really understand as much as we can."

Scootaloo wrapped her forelegs around both her friends.

"I love you guys," she said as she started to cry.

"We love you too, Scoots," Apple Bloom assured her.

"Let's go home," Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed.

They carried their friend back to Ponyville where she collapsed from emotional exhaustion in Apple Bloom's home. Morning would be waiting for her to take the next step. For now, there was a heart to heal.