Equestria Girls: Go, Rainbooms and CMCs, Go!

Scootaloo tumbled out of the glowing tube and landed hard on coarse sand, gasping for air as the simulation’s harsh sunlight beat down on her. Brushing sand from her jumpsuit, she squinted at the surroundings—a barren desert stretching to infinity, with no sign of escape. Her heart raced, the eerie silence pressing in.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the ground rumbled. Sand shifted, and a massive metallic orb rose from below, hovering ominously before shooting straight toward her. Scootaloo tried to dodge, but it slammed into her chest, embedding itself with a sharp clang. She screamed, clawing at the object, but every attempt to remove it sent waves of electric shocks through her body, forcing her to relent.

“Welcome, cadet!” barked a gruff voice. A hologram of a stern, scar-faced military sergeant flickered to life before her, towering over the young tween. “This is no vacation! Your trial begins now!”

Scootaloo’s gaze dropped to the orb. It emitted a faint hum, the number 5 glowing bright on its surface. The sergeant gestured to it. “That’s your life counter. Lose all five, and you’re done—permanently. Crying costs you a life. Got it?”

“But—” Scootaloo stammered.

“NO BUTS!” the sergeant roared. “START MOVING!”

Phase One: Endurance Training

The first challenge was brutal. The sergeant forced Scootaloo through an endless cycle of push-ups, jumping jacks, and sprints across the scorching desert. The orb on her chest felt like a lead weight, sapping her strength with every movement. Her arms ached, her legs trembled, and tears welled in her eyes.

“NO TEARS, MAGGOT!” the sergeant bellowed as the orb buzzed ominously.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as it absorbed itself in her jumpsuit, and the glowing 5 changed to 4. Scootaloo gasped, realizing the cost of her emotion. Gritting her teeth, she powered through the exercises, stumbling but never stopping, until she collapsed in the sand.

“Three lives left,” the sergeant sneered. “Better pace yourself!”

Phase Two: The Obstacle Course

With a crackle, the simulation shifted. Towers rose from the ground, ropes dangled, and murky water filled with snapping alligator simulations stretched out beneath narrow balance beams. Scootaloo gulped, the challenge ahead more daunting than ever.

The first obstacle was a rope climb. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her legs for support and scaled the rope with trembling hands. She reached the top and flopped over the edge, panting but relieved. “One down,” she muttered.

The balance beam was next. Scootaloo spread her arms for balance, stepping cautiously across the narrow plank. Halfway through, her foot slipped. She flailed, screamed, and fell into the water below, where snapping holographic jaws surged toward her—only for her to be teleported back to the start.

“Two lives left!” the sergeant barked, his laughter echoing in her ears.

Phase Three: Desperation

Her confidence waning, Scootaloo attempted the course again. This time, she made it through the rope climb and balance beam, only to misstep on a glowing panel in the minefield. A sharp flash of light disoriented her as she was teleported back, her orb now reading 1. She was down to her last chance.

Determined, she focused harder than ever, her tiny frame trembling under the weight of the orb. She cleared the rope climb, the balance beam, and the minefield, finally reaching the muddy crawl. Her arms, legs and jumpsuit were caked in grime as she inched forward, careful not to touch the wires overhead. The finish line loomed ahead.

Suddenly, her back brushed a wire. The orb glowed fiercely. “No!” Scootaloo cried as her final life ticked to 0. A blinding light enveloped her and her body dissolved into particles.

In another part of the UFO, Sci-Twi, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and Spike stared at a screen displaying Scootaloo’s failure. The group felt their hearts sink.

“Well, now we have a lot more to save along with Sunset,” Sci-Twi said, her voice trembling, “We also have to save all of them—Apple Bloom, Rarity, Pinkie, and Scootaloo too.”

Rainbow Dash clenched her fists. “We’re not giving up! We’ll get her back!”

The team steeled themselves, determination replacing despair as a metallic door creaked open, revealing another corridor. Without hesitation, they stepped forward, ready to face the next challenge and rescue their friends.

To be continued…