THE NOTE

Sweetie Belle shook violently, her sobs escaping in shortened breaths. She was still in complete disbelief of what she had just read. She and Apple Bloom were standing in the Cutie Mark Crusader's tree house, where a note had been left in place of their friend Scootaloo. Apple Bloom, fearing the worst, snatched the note from Sweetie Belle’s shaking hooves and read the sloppy hoof-writing carefully. She never thought so few words could cause her world to tremble like these ones. But every solitary word ate away at her like worms, causing her extreme guilt.

Friends,

Well, this is goodbye. If you're reading this, I'm dead.

Don't feel bad guys, you'll be so much happier without me. I know that I'm pretty useless, I haven't got a special talent and all this time searching has only made me feel awful. People just don't understand how I feel, and it's pretty rotten. I don't want to wait anymore, because every day I wait for my cutie mark I just feel worse. Don't worry girls, I never wanted to hurt you.

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, you two are beautiful. Sweetie Belle, your singing has always brought joy to this stupid life of mine. Apple Bloom, thank you for all the nice-ness, even if you did call me a chicken. Which I'm not. But otherwise, you were really nice.

Love, Scootaloo

Apple Bloom crumpled to the ground, unable to even stand. She was shocked at what her friend had written, almost finding it incomprehensible. Sweetie Belle now sat in silence, staring at a nearby wall; exploring her feelings of total numbness and disbelief. Apple Bloom could not believe that Scootaloo had been so miserable. Why hadn't she told them? Why hadn't she told them anything, and how could she be so selfish as to take away her own life? Didn't she know that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle still loved her and cared for her?

Apple Bloom hugged Sweetie Belle tightly, needing desperately the support the little white mare gave. Her pale yellow head rested in a pile of Sweetie Belle's blush and lavender coloured, loosely curled mane. Tears streamed down Apple Bloom's cheeks, soaking Sweetie's lovely mane and dripping down her coat. Sweetie Belle put an arm around Apple Bloom and rested her chin above her head. Both were comforted, trying to make up the company of their lost friend. Soon, Apple Bloom was clean out of breath. She gasped for more and more air, almost hyperventilating and holding on tighter and tighter to Sweetie Belle, like a baby who needed her mother.

"She can't be gone..." Sweetie Belle murmured, trembling like she had an unfortunate fever, "she just can't be gone, Apple Bloom. What are we going to do without her?"

Apple Bloom shook her head, suddenly thinking of this possibility. Scootaloo was gone, really really gone. They'd never see the little orange pegasus riding her beloved scooter, never enjoy her sarcastic remarks, never again watch as her fuschia hair swished in the wind. Scootaloo hadn't even learned to fly yet.

"I don't know," Apple Bloom choked out, biting her lip until it bled.

"How can she do this to us? She is...she was...Rainbow Dash's biggest fan. Rainbow Dash is the element of loyalty. Doesn't she understand...didn't she? Loyalty means so much!"

Apple Bloom couldn't reply, she sobbed quietly into her friend's shoulder. Soon Sweetie Belle was crying back.

After what seemed like hours (but was only minutes) of trying to explain Scootaloo’s actions, Sweetie Belle breathed in and pushed Apple Bloom off.

"We've got to be strong, Apple Bloom. Scootaloo was always strong."

Standing, Sweetie Belle shakily left the treehouse. Apple Bloom reluctantly followed, the two fillies setting off to find something. Anything. Did anypony know that Scootaloo was gone? No words had to be spoken for them to understand one another's thoughts. If only Scootaloo had had that kind of intuition in her short little life.

Walking into town and leaning upon one another, you could hear Sweetie Belle sniffle and Apple Bloom trying to stay calm. They soon encountered Miss Cheerilee, who was on her way there to start the day.

“Hello, girls! How are you this lovely morning? Where's Scootaloo?” Their teacher greeted in a chipper fashion. Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise. “Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom! You got your Cutie Marks!”

The fillies looked at their flanks in curiosity, only to find that Scootaloo's note had been spot on. After thinking for any amount of time about the line in Scootaloo's note directed at the other crusaders, they earned their cutie marks. Apple Bloom found a smiling face, and Sweetie Belle found a little pink treble clef. Kindness and song, as Scootaloo had told them in her final letter. But the joy they felt to find their marks was bittersweet and not as they had ever imagined. The girls didn't find that sense of fulfilment or pride they'd always imagined would accompany a lovely pattern on their flank, such as their sisters, sister's friends, and even Miss Cheerilee had described. Only one thought consumed Apple Bloom, and that was the disturbing fact that Scootaloo had cursed herself; she would eternally be a blank flank.

The irony burned a hole in Apple Bloom's mind. Scootaloo had been the first to stand up for Apple Bloom's situation, knowing it was a coming of age symbol, and not a fancy prize. Not happy in the slightest about her cutie mark and maybe even wishing for it to disappear forever, Apple Bloom ran to Cheerilee, throwing her arms around the mare’s lean neck and sobbing against her.

“Ooph! Oh my! Apple Bloom, are you alright, honey?”

“SCOOTALOO’S DEAD!” Apple Bloom wailed, burying her face into Miss Cheerilee. She howled, more tears beginning to fall from her already strained eyes. The pain that came with tears was intense, her throat and eyes burning in pain. Cheerilee whimpered, her legs beginning to shake and her lips trembling in shock. The two remaining Cutie Mark Crusaders would never forget the next words she whispered.

“My baby.”

Author's Note

Thanks to ping111, NurseRedheart, and Hinata2000100. My faithful proofreaders, these three never let me down!