Chapters It was a sunny day as Scootaloo scootered through the busy market, shouts and the rattling of coins filled her ears as customers made their purchases. Scootaloo was keeping her eyes peeled, looking for a certain type of stall, sniffing the air she could smell it as the smells of different fruits and vegetables filled her senses. She then caught sight of fruit stall, stepping of her scooter she went to hide inside the alley way, keeping an eye on her target, waiting for the right moment. Finally when the day was nearing the end and there was less customers around, she started sneaking over to the stall. When the store vender turned around, she pounced like a tiger waiting for its prey, quickly grabbing two bunches of carrots and a couple of oranges. She then leaped onto her scooter and sped away from the scene of the crime before the stall vendor even realised what had happened. None was the wiser or so she thought. While Scootaloo was performing her little stunt a certain orange farm pony was watching, her scowl deepening after each passing second...
Scootaloo didn't want to steal; she knew it wasn't right however she had no choice. Scootaloo was homeless, her parents had died in a house fire when she was only a foal. She grew up in an orphanage however she hated every second of being there. The other foals would often bully her because she couldn't fly and her caretaker would force them to do chores with little breaks. If you was caught breaking the rules you would get beaten with a cane; she would even tie you up and gag you if you spoke to loud, this often happened to scootaloo. She shuddered at the memory... So one day she decided enough was enough so she ran away. She ended up in Ponyville with no money she was forced too sleep in a large cardboard box in the middle of an alley way as well as steal, if she didn't she would end up dead.
Scootaloo had arrived at her alley "home sweet home" she said to no one in particularly. Sighing she set down the Carrots and grabbing an old plastic cup from her cardboard box she peeled the oranges and started squeezing, making herself some fresh orange juice a little sour but still drinkable she then moved onto the carrots. After her "lunch" she crawled into her box and curled up into a ball and went too sleep dreaming about crusading ideas.
The next day, Scootaloo was scootering down the main street when all of a sudden she heard a shout "SCOOTALOO GET YA FLANK OVER HERE, THIS INSTANT!"
Scootaloo winced, it was Applejack and she sounded peeved. Riding her scooter over she caught a look at Applejack's face and indeed she looked angry I haven't even done anything wrong Scootaloo thought angrily. Applejack gestured towards the library "IN NOW" she snapped.
"W What's up?" Scootaloo asked with a confused and slightly frightened expression; she had never seen AJ this angry before.
"I'll tell you what's up, you're a thief, a dirty little thief" AJ accused angrily, glaring at the now shaking filly.
"Wha-" Scootaloo started to stutter but was cut of from Applejack, angrily saying saying "Shut up thief, I saw you steal those carrots and oranges"
Scootaloo started to say "but I-" she was cut of yet again "never mind but , I don't want tah hear it. You're a no good thief and I'm afraid ah don't want mah sister hanging around with ah thief. You're no longer friends any more"
"NO" Scootaloo started to cry, sobs wracking her body but before she could say anything else Applejack started to speak again.
"Oh and i'll be telling Rarity and Rainbow Dash along with Miss Cheerilee. Soon everypony will know what a snake you are, thief. Now get out of mah sight" Applejack screamed.
Scootaloo then turned and ran out of the library crying. She didn't know where she was going nor did she care. She just wanted to get out of there. She kept on running. Eventually she ended up getting back to her alleyway, she ran straight into her box, crying herself to sleep. She dreamt of nightmares which showed her friends abandoning her and being imprisoned.
Scootaloo awoke the next, she started setting of for school she was riding her scooter at a snails pace which was unusual as she usually was always riding at break-neck speeds. One good thing of going slow was that she could look at all the things around her and one thing that she noticed was the glances that ponies were giving her some we showing un-trustworthiness while others were out right malice, her eyes flattened against her head. Did Applejack tell everypony about me she thought, that was quickly answered when somepony shouted "ITS THE THIEF!" She quickly high tailed it out of there, wanting to get to school as soon as possible.
She managed to make it to school, looking around she found her friends. She started to walk over to them when she realized they were giving her the same look that everypony else had been giving her. When she went to them, Sweetie Belle glared at her "What do you want thief"
"No, not you too." Scootaloo said.
"Ah'm sorry Scootaloo but AJ and Rarity told us to stay away from you" Applebloom told Scootaloo, giving her a disappointed look. They both turned and walked away, leaving Scootaloo alone with tears starting to pour from her eyes. Cheerilee came out and started ringing the bell to let the fillies and colts into the school.
As Scootaloo started to get through the door Cheerilee blocked her with her hoof "I'm afraid we need to have a chat" she said gesturing to the side. "There have been several complaints made against you." Cheerilee sighed "Have you been stealing?" giving her a serious look.
Should I tell her, No she'll send me back to the orphanage "No, they're lying"
Cheerilee's gaze hardened "You're lying, I was going to give you a chance to be honest. But no you still lie, what did I expect, you're a thief. All thieves lie. You're expelled" she then walked into the school leaving Scootaloo speechless.
Scootaloo then hopped back onto her scooter and started scootering aimlessly. She felt like her life was falling apart. Looking up she saw Rainbow Dash sitting on a lonesome cloud, she appeared to be thinking. Then she looked down and for a split second they locked eyes with each other, Scootaloo gave a small smile however Rainbow gave her the same disappointed look that everypony else has been giving her before flying of. Not Rainbow Dash too Scootaloo thought. She eventually arrived back at the alleyway. Snuggling into the box she slowly went to sleep as silent tears fell from her eyes.
Scootaloo was standing, or was it floating? In the middle of a black void, all around her, her so called friends were taunting her. They were laughing at her and calling her a tramp and a thief. Then all of a sudden Rainbow Dash appeared, glaring at her. "you're no sister of mine, thief! I never even liked you. You can't even fly, how can you even call yourself a Pegasus?" Rainbow snapped in a distorted voice. Then they started chanting:
"Chicken"
"Chicken"
"Chicken"
"No please stop" Scootaloo pleaded to no avail.
"Aaaaw is the poor chicken crying, boo hoo" Fluttershy mocked cruelly.
"Please leave me alone!" Scootaloo cried, tears dropping from her face down into the darkness below. Then she heard it, a smooth, creepy voice.
"Scooootaloooo, I seeee you" it said in a sing - song kind of way.
"Who are you, where are you?" Scootaloo asked, looking around the endless void, unable to see where the voice was coming from.
"I'm a friend and here I am" Suddenly out of where a dark blue mist appeared in front of her.
"Whoa!" she shouted jumping back. "Are you that blue thing and what is your name? The last time I checked I didn't know a blue smoky creature" she added sarcastically.
"Oh but I know you, Scootaloo, you are an outcast a bit like me. As for my name, I don't have one, at least not anymore. My last name was Nightmare Moon." as soon as she said this, Scootaloo's eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks as she started to back away in fear.
"What but you was defeated"
"Oh I was never defeated, not truly anyway"
"What do you want?" Scootaloo demanded while secretly hoping for Princess Luna too show up.
"A partnership, Or at least offer you a deal"
"What sort of deal?" She asked suspiciously.
"I can help you, I can help you fly, I can give you a cutie mark and above all I can make you recognised and loved once again but in return you must help me" Scootaloo contemplated this for a while before asking.
"How"
"Simple, I'll make you become an alicorn, silly"
"How can I trust you"
"I'm a nightmare of my word. I offered a similar deal to Luna and we both held up our ends of the bargains"
"Before she was banished" Scootaloo exclaimed bluntly.
"Yes. I may have underestimated that sister of hers. I never expected her to use the elements against me. The second time was a fluke they only defeated me because they knew I was coming. This time it will be different, we shall have the element of surprise on our side, that's if you take me up on my offer of course"
Scootaloo thought for a moment before stating "I'll need to think more about it"
"Of course but I want an answer by the end of the day!" With that, she awoke.
Scootaloo awoke with a start, what a weird dream, it felt real but surely it couldn't thought Scootaloo. She didn't know what do anymore, she usually always hung out with her friends but now thanks to Applejack, she was left friendless and alone. Applejack caused this "SHE CAUSED THIS. I'M GONNA MAKE HER PAY." she shouted at herself her eyes flashing briefly like a serpents. She shook her head, she's never felt this way before, she didn't know where this unbridled rage came from.
"I hope you're thinking on that offer, Scootaloo" the nightmare said creepily.
Scootaloos eyes went wide "B b but how I thought that was just a dream" Scootaloo said with a frightened expression. Looking around she asked "where are you?"
"I'm inside your mind duh, and thankfully I'm not a dream although I couldn't help but over hearing your little rant, Applejack is it? Yes I remember her, she nearly dropped her purple friend of a cliff. Well I could add revenge into our little deal" she said mischievously.
Scootaloo thought it over "So you want me to become evil?" she asked looking down to the ground.
"I'm not evil. No matter what sunbutt and loony say I am not evil. There's an old saying: The victors write the history. The elements; the princesses are manipulating you. They are manipulating Equestria just like they are manipulating Ponyville about how you are a thief. We need to show the rest of Equestria that they are the real villains" the nightmare explained.
Scootaloo didn't know what to think. What the nightmare said made sort of sense. Am I being manipulated. Am I being lied to. Are the elements even the true heroes Scootaloo thought. Even if I do fight against the elements what to say they can't banish me too
"They won't harm a filly, thankfully for me, Sunbutt is a caring ruler" she then added after she saw Scootaloo's confused expression I'm in your mind so I can read your thooughts"
"Creepy" she stated.
"So do you agree to my terms"
"How would it work?" Scootaloo asked Am I actually seriously considering it.
"We would have to wait for the perfect moment. One when all the elements will be present" the nightmare explained conspiratorly.
"Well there is Applebloom's birthday. No doubt Pinkie's planning a party and when she plans her parties she usually invites the entire town"
"Ha Ha, perfect. That is when we shall act. After this party, the elements of harmony will be ours and then the rest of Equestria, mwhahaha the nightmare laughed evily.
"Yeah sure" she swallowed grimly.
"When and Where is the party taking place?"
"In a week and at Sweet Apple Acres"
"The location is alright, we would have to perform a shield spell to stop anypony from escaping. The timing isn't ideal i'd prefer it to be sooner I get very impatient. God it was torture waiting to reveal Nightmare Moon."
"How will I perform a shield spell"
"When you become an alicorn you will receive my knowledge and therefore every spell I know which is practically every spell"
"So what do we do now?"
"Simple, we wait..."
Scootaloo was travelling to Sweet Apple Acres via her scooter. The week had gone by without much incident despite the taunting's from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon being ten times worser and the fact that Rainbow Dash seemed to be avoiding her. It turns out there was some ponies who still believed In Scootaloo or at least did not hate her. Fluttershy still tried to support her when Mr and Mrs Cake tried to kick her out of Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight also asked why she did it however Scootaloo never told her, in fear of getting sent to the orphanage. During the week, the nightmare continued to feed Scootaloo negative thoughts. Slowly making her wish for revenge.
Finally arriving at the farm she was about to enter the barn when Applejack blocked her "Who in the hay, invited you" growled AJ.
Pinkie Pie came bouncing over "I invited her silly"
"Ah don't want her here"
"Stop being such a party pooper, go and have fun Scootaloo" Pinkie said practically shoving Applejack out of her way.
"Oh I will be having fun" replied Scootaloo with an evil grin. Walking over to the far corner she noticed her former friends. Sweetie belle had a furious expression and was about to go stomping towards her if it hadn't been for Applebloom sticking her hoof out in front of her, shaking her head at Sweetie Belle as almost as if she was saying "not worth it".
Looking around she also noticed Rainbow Dash, she hovered towards Scootaloo before she could say anything, Scootaloo snapped harshly "What do you want?"
"Look I know I've been avoiding you, bu-" however she was cut of by Scootaloo saying.
"No kidding Sherlock. So you finally notice me then"
"I had a lot of things on my mind" Dash explained.
"So did I, while I was getting accused of stealing. You was out thinking about how to get into the wonderbolts" Scootaloo replied angrily.
"No I wa-"
"I don't want to hear it, you are nothing but a selfish jerk, NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!" Scootaloo shouted drawing a couple of curious glances her way.
"Fine, thief!" with that, Dash walked of leaving Scootaloo alone, who was trying to stop herself from crying.
When more ponies arrived they were forced to move the party outside due to the barn reaching maximum capacity. It was time for the candles to be blown out. Ponies started singing.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Applebloom
Happy birthday to you
Hip hip hooray.
"It's time!" the nightmare stated. As soon as she said this, Scootaloo started walking towards a bench while everypony else was helping themselves too cake.
Climbing onto the bench table she shouted "Hey everypony, so you all think I'm a thief ey." her voice shifted into the nightmare's "I am much worse"
"What in Equestria, do you think you are doing, get down from there this instance, Scootaloo" Applejack shouted stariing daggers at the filly that was ruining her sisters party.
"That's not my name, My name is Nightmare Scootaloo, mwhahaha" she laughed. Her appearance started to change, she started too grow a long, spiral horn with a sharp end, her purple mane started to become longer and began to float like Princess Celestia's. Her light purple eyes became darker and slit like a sake's eye, her teeth became fangs and she started to grow taller some how gaining dark purple armour in the process.
The mane 6 gasped. They realised that they was looking at a Nightmare Moon version of Scootaloo.
"No!" Rainbow Dash shouted she then added "This isn't you, you have to snap out of it!"
"No, why would I want to snap out of it. I am finally powerful" Nightmare Scootaloo shouted, she then shout her magic at the now, night sky creating a large purple storm. This caused ponies to panic and flee in terror "Oh no you don't" she said before creating a large, purple force field that enveloped the entire town.
"How is this possible, we defeated you" Twilight shouted glaring at the evil alicorn.
"No you thought you defeated me but in reality I can never be defeated"
"Spike send a letter to Celestia" Twilight commanded glaring at the nightmare.
"What do you think I'm doing!" Spike shouted, already writing a letter however before he was able to send it he was hit by a bolt of purple magic.
"NO!" shouted the mane 6 rushing to the small dragon. He was unconscious but thankfully breathing.
"NOT MY SPIKEY WIKEY!" screamed Rarity who looked ready to kill. She sent her own bolt of magic at Nightmare Scootaloo however she managed to put up a shield before it could hit.
"Pitiful" the nightmare said bluntly, she then electrocuted her by summoning lightning bolts.
"NOOO" Sweetie belle screamed. She then looked straight at the powerful alicorn. "I'm gonna kill you" she then ran up to her and started pounding on the alicorn's legs.
Rolling her eyes, she picked the young, unicorn filly up with her magic and levitated her in front of her face "I thought you was going to kill me" she said sarcastically. Before she could continue you stopped as if is she had heard something.
"Huh why can I not control my body? Why am I holding Sweetie Belle?" asked Scootaloo
"It appears your finally awake, Good. To answer your first question, we kind of switched places, Instead of me being in your mind, you're now In my mind an I now have full control over your body" explained the nightmare. The mane 6, who couldn't hear Scootaloo, just stared at the nightmare in confusion.
"WHAT!" shouted Scootaloo "But we had a deal. I trusted you!"
"We did and I lived up to my end of the bargain. I have given you power I never said you would keep control of your body" the nightmare responded maliciously "Now why don't you be quiet like a good little filly, while I deal with unfinished business" she added looking at the now empty spot "great, they're gone"
While the nightmare was having her little internal argument, the mane 6 had managed to rescue Sweetie Belle and had managed to teleport away.
Princess Luna was sat on the throne. She was technically asleep but in reality was watching over the dream realm keeping an eye out for any nightmares however all seemed well. then she felt a disturbance back in the real world. Waking up she wasn't expecting to see the mane 6 along with their sisters, to be standing in front of her. She then noticed the unconscious Spike and immediately knew that something was wrong.
She walked over to Spike and gave him a spell which seemed to bring him back to consciousness. She then asked with a worried expression "What happened?"
"The nightmare has returned!" Twilight shouted as soon as she said this Luna's eyes went wide as she gasped.
Before the mane 6 could explain any further, Luna said with a tremble "I must wake my sister" with that she walked of leaving the mane 6 to discuss a plan of action.
