It was Friday. The last day of school for a whole three months. Summer was here. The sun was blazing down upon the inhabitants of Ponyville going about their daily business. Over at the the school there was happiness in the air, just as there always was on this day of the year. The fillies and foals were chatting excitedly as the bell rang and they were dismissed. One filly, however, was not so happy on this day.
Scootaloo and her two best friends; Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked out of the school-house discussing their next, sure-to-be, mind-blowing scheme to earn their Cutie Marks.
“What do ya'll think we should try now?” Said Apple Bloom, her voice full of excitement. “We’ve tried everything we can think of and now we have a whole summer to think of new ways to get our marks!”
“I... dunno what to try.” Replied Sweetie Belle. Like Apple Bloom she was excited to think of new ideas but, at the same time, was at a complete loss for what they could try. “Whatcha think Scoots? Got any bright ideas?” She chimed to her purple-maned friend. Scootaloo, however, was not in the mood to rally Cutie Mark acquiring ideas.
“Umm.. hows about you two head over to the tree-house without me? I got some stuff i wanna do first.” And then, without waiting for a response, hopped on her scooter and headed off.
“Eh? What ya thinks gotten into her?” Sweetie Belle questioned. Scootaloo was not one to just run off like that.
“Ah dunno. But common, we might as well start brainstorming if we’re gonna earn out marks this summer.”
Scootaloo pelted towards the Everfree Forest on her scooter. She had been regretting this day for the last month.. She always dreaded this day, every year. Today... was the day that she lost her parents, three years ago. She wanted to be alone today. She didn’t want anyone around her except the trees of the forest where it happened.
She skidded to a halt outside the forest and hopped off her scooter before turning and slowly walking into the forest. Further and further in she walked. She was not afraid of this part of the forest, she had been here plenty of times when she wanted to be alone.
Finally she reached a small clearing. A single tree had fallen over in the middle but this made no difference to Scootaloo. She moved over to the giant lump of timber that held the fallen trunk a few feet off the ground. Just high enough for a cowering filly to hide under during a freak lightning storm or of a monster were to suddenly leap into the clearing from the bowels of the forest. It was here, exactly three years ago, that she witnessed the loss of her parents.
It was a cool night, with a slight breeze in the air. Scootaloo remembered her and her parents traveling here. They had no home. They simply moved and stayed somewhere... then moved on.
Her and her parents decided to camp here for the night, not knowing the dangers that the forest presents to them. She had finally fallen asleep for what must have been a good hour or two when she awoke. Here parents stood above her, protecting her. Thats when the lightning started, striking down the single tree in the middle of their clearing. It fell to the ground and her parents hurriedly pushed her under the many branches so she could not be seen. Something was out there, something evil.
The rest was a blur to her. A terrifying roar. The stomping of great feet... The screams of her parents as the monster...
And she just lay there. Crying. Frozen in fear at what she was witnessing,
She was found, mere hours later, by a search party from Ponyville. They found her crying, still under the tree. Rainbow Dash had been one of them. She seemed to understand. She told the others to leave, she wouldn’t let them look at her and she silently thanked her for that. She stayed with her until she finally had the strength to move. They never talked about it now. But she knew that Rainbow Dash was the closest thing she had to a parent... And she could never repay her for that.
The rest was just her life in Ponyville. She became friends with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. She slept in the outskirts of the forest for months. It scared her, but she didn’t want to tell anypony that she was homeless. Eventually, after Apple Bloom’s sister showed them the treehouse that she let them use as a clubhouse for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she started sleeping there. But her memories still filled her head.
She laid under the trunk for what felt like days, but what was realistically a mere few hours. Sobbing, letting her emotions get the best of her, as she remembered the bravery of her parents and how they died right in front of her. The kindness of that rainbow-maned Pegasus with the cyan coat who she was now such good friends with. Their screams haunted her dreams at night. After a while she noticed the sun was slowly setting. She should get going.
Scootaloo slowly crawled out from under the trunk of the giant tree. How it still lay here, she didn’t know. But she still visited this spot, every year, in memory of her parents.. She was about to leave, tears still streaming from her eyes when the shout that only a pair of unsuspecting, confuzed fillies could make, came from behind her.
“Scootaloo!” She froze where she stood. It was Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. She didn’t want them to see her like this. Behind her came the sound of shifting hooves on the leaf-strewn ground.
“Scootaloo? Ah ya’ll ok?” The calm but confused voice of Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo wanted to tell them to leave her alone but all she managed was an unintelligible mutter. She heard the flapping of wings behind her. But she was the only Pegasus here, unless...
She stood and listened to the sound of whispering behind her followed by the sound of a pair of small ponies leaving and the feeling of a hoof on her shoulder.
“Hey, squirt. Its ok.” Scootaloo turned to see Rainbow Dash stood over her. How did she know she would be here. Did she know that she came here every year? Did... did she remember?
“Common, kid. Lets talk.” And without waiting for an answer she picked up the still weeping filly onto her back and flew towards Ponyville.
A while later they landed at the Cutie Mark Crusaders tree-house. Scootaloo slid off Rainbow Dash’s back and looked around. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle weren't there.
“Rainbow Dash, where are Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?” She asked, still slightly teary.
“They’re coming later.” She replied. “Scootaloo, you know you can talk to me about anything. I found you in the forest years ago. I don’t know exactly what happened that night but you know that I'm always here for you.” Scootaloo looked up at the cyan Pegasus. Her usual over-confident, smug smile was replaced by a look of deep concern and loving care for her orange filly friend.
“Its nothing-” Scootaloo began.
“No, its not nothing. Scoots, if what happened makes you want to go out into the Everfree forest every year and cry then its something.” Scootaloo pondered this for a moment. She hated the thought of ponies saying that she cried and admitting to the claim was only going to be that bit harder. She swallowed anxiously and looked into the rose-red eyes of whom may as well be her older sister.
“Rainbow... Promise you won't think i'm a wimp...?” She asked cautiously. She expected Rainbow Dash to just laugh off the comment and tell her to get to the point. But Rainbow pulled her number-one fan into a tight embrace.
“Scootaloo. I will never think you're a wimp. You are one of the bravest ponies i know and i could never think any different of you.” She replied. Her voice soft and caring. Far opposed to her usual roguish-tomboy tone she had taken up. Scootaloo, however, pushed her away. She wanted to tell the blue Pegasus everything. She wanted to tell her. But she couldn't. Her voice trembled as she attempted to speak.
“R-R-Rainbow... I... you... I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!” She yelled, unable to control her emotions at this point. Tears were pouring from her grey-purple eyes as her willpower overtook her and she galloped off. Where she was going Rainbow Dash had no idea. But she couldn't help but pity the poor pony at this point. How could such a strong and playful filly turn into such a rambunctious, aggressive pony.
Rainbow Dash swept off into the air. Preparing to search for the orange filly when she heard a shout from a pair of innocent fillies rise from the ground below her.
“Rainbow what’s wrong with Scootaloo!?” She looked down and saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looking up at her. Distraught and concerned as they were their looks of absolute shock were indescribable. Ah, buck. Why are they here? Rainbow thought to herself before realising they were here because she told them to meet her and Scootaloo here. Was it possible that Scootaloo realized that they were watching and did not want to embarrass herself in front of her friends. But.. she had been almost about to tell her. Did Scootaloo not consider Rainbow Dash her friend? No. She considered her more than a friend. But more so than Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom? There was no time to ponder this. The fillies on the ground were becoming agitated and she decided that they at least need to know something. But... not about Scootaloo's parents. Not yet. Scootaloo Could tell them that when she was ready. For now, Rainbow would have to tell them to go home. It was, after all, getting late and their families would be worrying about them. They complied without second thought. Rainbow Dash was always convincing with fillies.
“Ain't ya’ll gonna go home too, Rainbow?” Apple Bloom asked innocently before she left with Sweetie Belle.
“Um... Not quite yet Sweetie. I have something i need to do.” And without waiting for any further reply she sped off. She knew the fillies would go home. They may be brave for their age. But they were never fond of the dark, something she found out on Nightmare Night. All except Scootaloo. This only seemed to worry her more. What was Scootaloo doing now? What was she planning to do? Would she...
“I... No!” Rainbow muttered to herself. She would not think like that. She would find Scootaloo and do whatever was best for her. At this point Rainbow realised something. She didn't only want to help Scootaloo. She wanted to keep her safe. She... Loved her. Like a sister. The more she thought about this the more it made sense to her.
“Right... thinking time over!” She exclaimed to nopony in particular. “I got me an orange Pegasus to find!” With that she dashed off.
“Rainbow Dash... I...” Scootaloo muttered as she lay in the corner of the Cutie Mark Crusaders tree-house. Her flow of tears had dried up. But her eyes were still red and swollen. She... she... shouted at her idol. Not only that. She also shunned away the only pony that she had ever considered talking to about her parents. The only pony who wanted to listen to her.
“ I'm s-so s-sorry...” She cried out. She never meant to shout. She wanted to talk but. When she saw movement in the bushes behind Rainbow Dash she knew that her friends were there too and her bull-headedness took over. Rainbow Dash meant the world to her. She loved her as a sister. Not as a friend. But as a family member. She only wanted to help and she lashed out at her, Now she would never talk to her again.
At this point her sorrow took over again and she began to mutter and cry to herself and she lay, deep in thought, in the cold corner of the breezy tree-house. The floorboards slowly becoming stained from the damp drops that kept hitting against them. Tears.
“P-please forgive m-me...” Her voice squeaked and her body was shaking. She was in a state of utmost distress. But she neither cared nor gave it any thought. All she wanted was Rainbow Dash to be at her side. Hugging her like a sister would. Like a mother or father would. Like...
“Squirt...” Her eyelids clenched at the voice. Surely it wasn't... “Scootaloo. I know you're brave and i know you're an awesome little filly. But you need to talk.” The soothing voice that only a truly caring sibling could possess. Before she could think she leapt from her corner and embraced the Pegasus standing in the room.
“Scoots, come on.” Rainbow Dash said as she stroked the mane of the sobbing pony. We’re going to the forest. Whaddaya say?” Scootaloo could only whimper in reply and Rainbow took that as an ‘Ok’. She strode out of the tree-house and started walking towards the forest. To where she knew Scootaloo had lost those she loved so much.
