The blaze atop the School of Friendship guttered and coughed out thick plumes of black smoke as pegasi-fueled stormclouds dumped a steady stream of rainwater onto the smoldering rafters. Around the school, fireponies milled about and hosed down the few blazes that were sheltered from the rain, while plunging inside the building to similarly quench the fires there. A ring of ponies and other creatures surrounded the school, mostly unharmed save for soaked hides and sooty fur.
Atop a nearby hill, Starlight Glimmer paced angrily through the uncut grass. Her hooves rubbing her temples as she squeezed her eyes shut. “Alright,” she exhaled heavily. “I’m not mad, I want to make that clear. I’m just… I’m stressed. So, just tell me what happened from your point of view.”
Across from her stood Smolder and Scootaloo, the two clad in archaic dresses befitting a play. Sweat soaked each of their brows, and nervous glances were exchanged between the two of them before Smolder bravely strode before Starlight.
“It was an accident. Me and Scootaloo were rehearsing for that Midsummer Nights play, and I get a little nervous when I’m speaking in front of crowds so I figured I’d sign up and try to work that out. Only, Scootaloo stepped on my tail real hard by accident while I was rehearsing my lines so I spit a little bit of fire and it landed on the stage curtains,” Smolder summarized.
On the inside, it was a different story for Smolder, one that started like: I am so expelled, I should just start packing my bags aft-
“I see; then that’s not your fault Smolder, Scootaloo. The school was designed to accommodate young dragons, and well, sometimes mistakes happen. Just ask Twilight about Spike while he was growing up! Those curtains are supposed to be rated for dragonfire, but evidently, there was a mistake somewhere.”
Scootaloo released a loud and heavy sigh and clapped her hand down upon Smolder’s shoulder. “See! Told you there was nothing to worry about!” She exclaimed with a wide grin.
“You’re one to talk! You made me speak to Starlight ‘cause you were afraid she’d get mad,” Smolder retorted, playfully swatting away the orange girl’s hand.
Starlight cleared her throat loudly, silencing the two girls. “The Fire Department is going to have to give the O.K before anyone heads back inside any part of the building. Which also includes the dorms. So, consider classes for the week canceled while we figure things out. Smolder, we’ll work to fetch any personal items you might have stashed in there. Do you have somecreature you can stay with here in town while we figure out temporary housing arrangements?”
Smolder nodded. “Well I can stay with Scootaloo; her aunts are awesome!”
“Alright, that simplifies things a bit. Smolder, Scootaloo, we’ll send you a letter by dragonfire here within the week. Should have instructions on what we’ll be doing while the school is being repaired, how to get your items back, and so on. There’s going to be a lot of rumors and hearsay about what happened in the auditorium, so... you two just go on ahead and head out.”
“Okay! See you soon Starlight!” Smolder chimed, turning tail to start strolling back to town.
Scootaloo nodded and waved in reply to Starlight, but was stopped by the mare before she could turn around. “Hey, if you need a change of clothes, give Rarity a visit. ”
“Oh, I kinda forgot I was wearing this. Yeah, I’ll go see Rarity, I don’t really like dresses. Too frilly. Thank you!” Scootaloo mused, before turning to jog after Smolder.
A few seconds later, and Scootaloo had caught up with Smolder on the winding dirt road that led back into Ponyville. Two open meadows girdled the road, filled with an assortment of scattered trees, shrubs, tall grasses, and wildflowers. The air was abuzz with the gentle music of songbirds, cutting through an insectoid cacophony of zing-zing-zings and ka-tee-did-dids.
“So, you want to stay with me for the week?” Scootaloo inquired.
“Duh, that’s what I said earlier. Your aunts are like, super cool. It’ll be a mega-sleepover!” Smolder exclaimed, flaring her wings out in excitement.
“Awesome! We got a whole week off school, what do you want to do?”
“Well, I do kinda want to see that new Transformers movie with Ocellus, but you can come along too if you want. Along with the rest of the Crusaders if they’re game! But, I kinda want to do something right now.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
Smolder stopped dead in her tracks, reaching a hand out to stop Scootaloo as well. “You wanna race to Carousel Boutique?”
“Sure thing, but I’m gonna kick your tail at it!” Scootaloo proclaimed with a boastful smirk.
“Yeah right. I’m gonna wipe that smug smile off your face Scoots!” Smolder fired back.
“Ssuurree, whatever you say stumpy. Loser pays for ice cream at Sugarcube Corner?” The girl suggested, pulling up the hem of her dress as she stretched her legs out.
“I’m gonna order the biggest, tastiest, and most expensive sundae there is. And you’re going to pay for it!” Smolder taunted, raising her tail to stretch the muscles in her thighs.
“Count of three. One, two, three!” Scootaloo shouted, digging her heels into the ground and pushing off into a sprint. Her dress fluttered in the wind, her arms pumping and pulling the fabric from side to side as she fought to keep the garment away from her feet. The wind tugged at her towering hat, pulling the straps holding it to her head tight as she fought against the air rushing past her body.
Smolder’s garments were much less restrictive, with only a tiara and a light dress she experienced a fraction of the wind battering against Scootaloo, allowing the dragons to catch up to Scoot’s initial sprint with ease and eventually pass her.
“Not looking so good is it, Scootapoo?!” Smolder taunted playfully, flicking her head back to stick her tongue out at the struggling girl.
“Hey! You’re only ahead because I’m wearing this stupid dress! Besides, what kinda name is Scootapoo? You sound like Aunt Holi!” Scootaloo huffed indignantly, her face flushing scarlet.
“Maybe you shoulda thought about that before yelling about how you were gonna win!” The dragoness fired back, shooting the struggling girl a smug grin. Before turning her head back around and surging even further ahead.
Gritting her teeth in both anger and exertion, Scootaloo reached up and undid the clasps holding the poofy hat to her head before tearing the garment off with a vengeance and stuffing it unceremoniously into a pocket. Fresh air rushed towards her hot and sweaty head, like a cold towel being wrapped and dragged across her brow. Feeling reinvigorated, Scootaloo surged forward until she was keeping pace just behind Smolder.
Smolder felt her lungs starting to burn with exhaustion and her legs stiffen, being a dragon she had relatively short and stumpy legs compared to Scootaloo. Compounding her difficulty was the fact that she was drastically out of shape when it came to running; she just didn’t do it whenever she could fly around. As a result, Smolder began to slowly lag behind Scootaloo as her legs burned from the exertion.
“Oh yeah you were talking all that smack earlier, weren’t ya?” Scootaloo giggled, turning back to stick her tongue out at Smolder.
Fire plumed from her nostrils as she gave an angry snort of defiance, straining herself in one last desperate attempt to overcome Scootaloo. But she quickly sputtered out as she came to a thudding stop, stooping over and resting her arms on her legs as she gulped down mouthfuls of air. Ponyville stood just ahead, its thatched buildings casting a creeping shadow towards the dirt path as the sun began its slow descent through the sky. There was no way around it, Smolder had lost and she would be paying for desserts.
Stretching her wings out, Smolder chuckled and decided that rather than getting angry at her loss she ought to have a little fun with it. She stretched her battered legs out, before resuming a light jog as she flapped her wings with increasing speed, each flap carrying her a little more off the ground until she was hovering above the dirt. Though she was still tired and out of breath, she still found the strength to lean forward and build up speed until she hurtled past Scootaloo and into the town proper.
“Cheater!” Scootaloo cried out in mock protest, her mouth pulling into a wild grin. She gradually wound her pace down, settling into a light jog and wiping the sweat from her brow. Smolder has kept on flying ahead, looking back briefly to wink at Scootaloo. She looked as though she was heading to the Carousel Boutique. Scootaloo wasn’t in any big rush to get there now; she had won, and by Celestia’s horn, she’d give Smolder an earful if she tried arguing about it.
“I knew I lost, so I figured I’d just follow a piece of advice Pinkie taught me. Rather than getting angry that I lost, I should have a little fun with and be silly instead,” a disrobed Smolder stated as she leaned against the doorframe of the Boutique.
“That’s some good advice, and I won’t lie - I thought it was pretty funny too. You’re still paying for the ice cre-ow!’ Scootaloo whined, jerking slightly in her chair as the comb levitating through her messy hair came to a dead stop.
“Oh, I’m sorry dear, I’m still not used to working with human manes. I’ll have to give whoever stitched this hat a piece of my mind, it just about murdered your hair,” Rarity cooed. Rubbing the girl’s shoulder, she levitated over a bottle of conditioner and squirted a dollop out into a tangle of Scootaloo’s hair.
“You’re okay Rarity, just lemme know before you get to a spot like that,” the orange girl reassured Rarity as she sunk back into her chair. The comb descended into her hair once more, and she grimaced as it uncomfortably tugged her hair before the resistant tangle in her hair gave way to the comb’s bristles.
“And there we go, all done! Be sure to visit me again soon darling,” Rarity chimed as she leaned down and planted a smooch on Scootaloo’s forehead.
Scootaloo smiled wide and reached out, wrapping Rarity’s neck in her arms and giving the mare a tight hug before letting go and scooting out of the chair. Now that she was free from Rarity’s meticulous grooming, Scootaloo reached for the ceiling as she stretched all of her limbs, finishing off by twisting her torso to each side before striding towards the door. She had been liberated from the flowing dress minutes ago, now clad in a simple hot-pink t-shirt and denim shorts that stopped just short of her ankles. Compared to her old garments, it was as though a great weight had been lifted off of her shoulder, not to mention the welcome sensation of air gracing her skin.
“Done getting dolled up?” Smolder inquired, quickly breaking into a low giggle as Scootaloo playfully punched her in the shoulder.
“You bet! Now let's hurry to Sugarcube Corner before all the adults get there on their lunch breaks!” Scootaloo exclaimed.
“Wanna race over there?” Smolder floated with a sly grin.
“Pfft, nah. I’d rather talk, plus my feet kinda hurt after running in those play shoes. No soles in them.”
Smolder chuckled and pushed open the door, holding it open for Scootaloo and letting it swing shut as the two ventured back out into Ponyville. Being close to noon, the town was already starting to buzz with fresh activity as ponies gradually filled the streets. Vendors had already set up their stalls replete with fresh goods. restaurants kicked into high gear as stoves, ovens, and fryers created a medley of smells that wafted through the air.
Clutching her Stomach, Scootaloo came to a stop for a moment as a pang of hunger pierced through her chest. “Maybe we shouldn’t just get ice cream,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, I’m a bit too hungry for just that. We’re definitely getting it for dessert though,” Smolder concurred.
Mercifully, Sugarcube Corner wasn’t far from The Carousel Boutique and it was even closer from where the two were standing. Walking down the road and taking a left turn at the intersection, the restaurant loomed into view at the intersection of Main Street, the very center of Ponyville.
The two children walked in through the gingerbread-styled door and waved down Pinkie Pie at the counter as they took a seat in a booth. Before the two had even put their weight fully upon the cushioned seat, Pinkie Pie had slid over to their table at a comical speed, her body arriving long before her mane and tail made it over. “Hiya girls! I heard what happened over at the school, can I help you with anything?”
“Yeah, we’re starving! I’m thinking... onions petals as an appetizer, and a soyburger with potato fries please,” Scootaloo requested, already salivating over the thought of a thick and savory burger.
“I think I agree with Scoots, I’ll have onion petals as well. Though I think I’ll have a fish sandwich with potato fries instead,” Smolder added shortly thereafter.
“Okie-dokie-lokie! And don’t worry about the bill for today you two, it’s my treat. I’ll be back shortly with your order!”
Scootaloo lazily tossed the last of the waffle cone she was eating into her mouth and leaned back against the smooth upholstery of the booth. Bringing her hands up to her stomach, she let out a satisfied sigh and closed her eyes. “I think I ate a bit too much Smolder,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, I think so too, with how much ice cream you just put down. That cone was the size of my head.” Smolder concurred as she lazily picked at her teeth with a toothpick.
“Mm, but it was good though. Even if I do get a bellyache, it was worth it.” Scootaloo felt incredibly relaxed within the booth, so relaxed that she barely noticed as she began to slip into a food coma. Her body continued to slacken as she listed to one side, before coming to a stop upon a rather comfortable surface: Smolder’s shoulder.
The dragoness looked down upon the tired girl and felt her heart flutter as her mouth suddenly became dry. She had always liked hanging around Scootaloo and enjoyed her company. But seeing her like this, utterly at peace and resting upon her, it stirred something deep inside her. Something that she would need to talk with Ocellus about. But for now, she decided to cherish the contact, despite the fact that Scootaloo was leaning all of her body weight onto her shoulder.
“Y’know, I might just like you Scoots,” Smolder muttered, leaning over to rest her head atop the girl’s.
