Scootaloo and the School of Ghouls

The TARDIS hummed and rocked occasionally, her standard procedure as the timeship, now simple transport, made headway through Null Space. The Doctor was not used to using her as a vessel to complete any sort of long-term mission. He usually just popped in and out of reality when he needed to, solved whatever problem needed solving, and then popped back out. It was how he operated. It was how he lived and breathed. But now, an old friend needed his help. And help he intended to give him, as help was something he long deserved. Though unfortunately, his willingness to help came for a price for him:

Jack brought up memories of the past, a past he wished to stay away from.

He and Captain Harness stood within the control room of the vessel, a somber mood saturating it in its entirety. Derpy was in the kitchen fixing smoothies, and the time was right for a talk they had long since avoided to come forth...

It would be Jack who would start it, with a simple:

"Hey, Doctor..."

The Doctor knew what was coming. He had been waiting for this moment for sometime. He winced, but nonetheless, he did what he did best, and that was to keep an open ear.

He turned towards his former companion. "Yeah, Jack?"

There was a brief interrum, before Jack continued with, "I know this is kind of out of the blue, but... I was just wondering if... well..."

A beat.

"Do you ever think about it?"

The Doctor took a deep breath. "I knew you'd ask this eventually, and the answer is: yes." He gave a sigh. "I just wish I couldn't."

"It wasn't your fault... I was the one keeping watch, remember?"

The Doctor gave a shaky nod. "I know. There's nothing either of us could have done. Absolutely nothing. I'd like to believe I was the most powerful force in the universe, but what happened: it came from something beyond the universe, now didn't it? But it's all in the past now..."

"We fought, you know. We threw everything we had at him... missiles, bullets, nukes... but it wasn't enough."

"I know. And I ran."

"But it wasn't out of fear. It was a retreat. Perhaps not a tactical withdraw, but everyones' backs were against the wall. We were out of assets. Out of time. Time even you couldn't bring us."

"I know..."

Jack took a deep breath. "Anyway, we've been putting this off for a while, now, you know. Talking about this. And uh... well... I know you don't drink... but..."

With that, Jack rummaged around in his sack, suddenly procuring a bottle of wine.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "You knew it was coming this trip, didn't you?"

Jack smiled slightly. "Like you've said, we've been putting it off for a while... I'll be right back, let me get some glasses."

He exited the control room, grabbed a few glasses out of the kitchen, and returned, Derpy glancing at him curiously as she did so. If she had anything in mind, she didn't speak it.

The Doctor sighed. "Alright, I'll make an exception... just for once. For you, Captain Jack Harkness. For those who were saved," he winked. "For everyone who lived."

"Heh, still remember that, don't you?" Jack smiled, pouring two glasses of wine.

"I remember a lot of things..."

He handed the Doctor a glass. He accepted and took a sip.

"Your old companions?"

"Always and forever," the Doctor smiled, though it wasn't one of happiness. "How about Torchwood? Your old team?"

There was a pause, before Jack answered with,

"Every day."

"Amazing, isn't it?" the Doctor said, glancing away with blank eyes. "How some things can carry on for millions of years... so much development, so much culture, so many universes branching off from the whole. And then... one day... just like that: poof. It's all gone. Doesn't mean we're all nothing, of course... all that matters if people live happy. But sometimes... it would be nice if you could look at everything at once and say: maybe it does matter, doesn't it? That it isn't just dust ready to be blown in the summer wind."

"He saw it coming, too," Jack suddenly said, also glancing blanky ahead.

"Huh?"

"One on my team," Jack continued, looking back at the Doctor. "It was after we broke up initially. After the incident where I lost... Ianto."

"And you still remember his name," the Doctor said, smiling warmly. "Thousands upon thousands of years..."

Jack took a deep breath, wincing in pain at the thought. "Always... and forever."

"After that and the whole Miracle Days business, it was just you and Gwen for a bit, right?"

"Yeah, and we needed new people. We were lucky we found him. An expert on all things mystical. Stuff most people would consider nuts. He sort of filled a gap we were missing. The supernatural wasn't anything Torchwood ever covered." Jack thought for a second. "He had one other fascination, too... with the concept of parallel worlds and Null Space."

"Hmph," the Doctor grunted. "Are we talking 'real' universes or places like that quirky Halloween world? Well, I could have told him a thing or two about that..." He then raised an eyebrow. "What was his name, anyway?"

"The new member?"

"Yeah..."

Jack paused a beat, smiling slightly, before answering:

"His name was Arthur. Arthur Julian Winter."

☼☼☼

Scootaloo found herself in another world. A beautiful, yuletime version of Ponyville, in a land of snow and ice. Giant candy canes lined the streets, and beautiful, glowing orbs of strung lights hung on every window.

She blinked. She must have been dreaming, yet it felt so... real. So vivid. So rich.

Then she noticed them. There were ponies walking the streets, merry and chipper as could be. However, they were neither ghoul-type nor regular ponies. They wore green tunics, with green, long hats on them that dangled from their heads; tiny, adorable bels jingling at the end of them. And their ears were longer than anything she had ever seen.

"Elven ponies?" she said, quirking her head.

She scurried over to one of them, bounding in front of her. She would have imagined her vampiric wings would have given whoever it was a startle... but that was not the case.

It was actually the opposite.

Her eyes widened. Standing before her was an elven version of Pinkie Pie, a candy cane necklace dancing off her neck as she merilly conversed with another pony she was walking with: this one an elven version of Fluttershy. Her wings, unlike a normal pegasus', appeared to be more of a butterfly's in look. Beautiful, shimmering, and somewhat like she had seen Rarity sporting when accompanying Rainbow to the Best Young Flyer competition.

"Oh my gosh! But you have to come tonight, Angelshy," the former said with a very Pinkie Pie bounce. "It's going to be awesome! We'll have spiked eggnog and cookies and I'm totally going to get Holy Scratch to kick up some Transileighberian Orchestra! Doesn't that sound great?!"

"Um... I don't know, Cookie Pie..." she squeaked. "I've never been much of a party person... I think I might just stay at home... I have a few special toys to make for that orphanage in Ponyville..."

"Ugh, come on! I know you care about them, but you should care about yourself too! Celebrate the season! Hearth's Warming Eve is only two days away!"

Scootaloo quirked an eyebrow, a bit odded out by the fact they weren't noticing her. If this was a dream, she would have thought those she had conjured would have payed attention.

"Um... hi?" Scootaloo said, still in front of them, with a bit of excitement swelling in her chest at the prospect of meeting these strange, new creatures.

They continued trotting right past her.

Scootaloo blinked.

"Huh."

She shook her head in confusion, before bounding over to another. This one appeared to be a version of Rainbow Dash, conversing with a strange version of Twilight. Unlike Fluttershy, the former appeared to have giant mistletoes for wings, and oddly enough, she seemed to be carrying a bow and quiver on her back, arrows sticking out of it. Her expression was stern and fierce.

"Ugh, Blizzard Dash, I'm sure you just imagined them!"

"I'm telling you, I didn't imagine them, darn it!" she growled. "I saw them with my own eyes, and it's really not hard to see giant orange monsters when the rest of the world is white! There are Felhounds in the Everpine Forest!"

"How can there be Felhounds in the woods?" Twilight continued, exasperated. "That's the Nightmare Realm's problem! What would they be doing here?"

"I don't know, maybe they're on the Grinch's leash! He always gets moody this time of year..."

"He's reformed and you know it!"

"Is he? Are you sure?" Blizzard snapped suspiciously. "He may have cut the roast beef, but I still think he hogged most for himself!"

The two then passed Scootaloo, leaving her to bask in confusion.

"Felhounds?" she whispered, now fully aware that none of them could hear her.

And then... that voice, that familiar voice emanated from behind her. That casual, though chilling voice that rattled her bones.

"They can't hear you, child, but they are very much real."

She twirled about. Her eyes widened again as she gasped. Standing before her was a massive, humanoid figure decked out in an shimmering, blue armor: a helmet on him that resembled Shadowed Armor, blue eyes glowing through it. His voice didn't appeared to be muffled by it. On his back, a cape billowed sorrowfully in the winter winds.

"Hello again, child of my noble friend."

She scooted away from him an inch, frightened. This was Artharius' true form. She knew it in her heart. Though there was something about him that contradicted her fear, that put her at ease. She could practically sense sorrow emanating from him.

"I really need to find a more casual appearance..." he grumbled. "But unfortunately, this will have to make do for now. Don't be afraid..."

"I am not afraid!" Scootaloo said, her eyes narrowing.

"Ghoul or not, fear is inherent to everyone's nature, Scootaloo. You can't choose to feel it," he said softly. "Though it is the one thing one should truly be afraid of... and what it can do to you. Something I learned when I lived in the Nightmare Realm." He chuckled, before continueing in a warm tone, "You... are so much like your father, though. So brave, and I know this for a fact: a pure heart beats within. I regret what happened."

"You mean how you drove him insane?!" Scootaloo snapped.

"I... I didn't do it on purpose..." Artharius said, almost like a child would when accused of doing something wrong. "It was a consequence of the bond we formed at the end of that ancient battle... oh so long ago. He wanted to truly understand who I was. Why I had done what I had done. I let him. I was a fool. The consequences of it were extreme and unfortunate for both of us... but not for the world at whole."

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"For because of it, I wish to make amends," he simply stated. "This world you see before you... it reminds me so much of a holiday I loved. An ancient one celebrating an ancient religion's savior once a year. Remember this?"

Softly, in a tired tone, he began to sing:

"Oh holy night,

The stars are burning brightly,

It is the night of dear savior's birth,

Long lay the world in sin and error pining."

Scootaloo's eyes widened. "That's the song you sang on the train..."

"In a... manner of speaking. It is a holiday that pains me to think of, yet I do it anyway. Ironically, I planned to take this world and the holiday like it for my own many years ago... and now, I fear the sins of the past may catch up to me."

"What? Who will try to invade it, though?"

"It's complicated."

"Then explain," Scootaloo growled. "I hate all this vagueness everyone is throwing at me! Captain Harness, Soulshard, everyone! At least Shadowed was honest with me. Doesn't anyone know the complete story?!"

"There is little time. You are waking soon," Artharius said.

"Ugh..."

"I'm sorry, young lady. I don't wish to risk surfacing when more and more detectors are being put in place. The Felhounds, I believe, are just the beginning. Scouts. This world will feel the wrath of both Null Space and even a few factions in the Nightmare Realm within a month. Speak with Twilight Soulshard, anyone you can feel will trust you. Tell them of this. There is a portal near Bogworts that reinforcements can be sent through." There was a pause, before he added in a weak voice: "Please."

"I'm still not convinced any of this is real... it's all in my head, isn't it?"

Artharius quirked his head slightly. "In a way, you are right. It is somewhat of a dream, my dear. But does that make it any less real? Holidays mean something to people, Scootaloo. They break up the monotony of existence and bring joy, happiness... and intruigue. In fact, you could say they are more real than most people, because in the end, don't more ponies believe in Yuletide the Gift Pony more than they know of say... your average pony's existence?"

"Y-Yeah, I guess so," Scootaloo blinked. "Didn't really relate to what I said, though..." she muttered to herself.

Artharius merely gave a chuckle. He then turned and began walking the opposite way down the street, his cape still licking at the breeze... though his boots gave no evidence he was ever there at all.

"Scootaloo... as I have said," he called over his shoulder. "Seeing. Is. Believing."

And with a few more steps, he faded into the snow fall. Soon enough, the world around Scootaloo followed him in his wake.

☼☼☼

She woke with a gasp in the bed of Noctus Tower, her eyes fluttering to reveal a familiar cieling of swirling mist.

"Scoots? You OK?" the concerned voice of Sweetie called.

It rang through her ears, but she didn't hear it.

"Scoots?"

"Yeah," Scootaloo blinked, finally becoming aware.

She glanced about. The dormitory was deserted save for her two, fellow Crusaders. She could talk privately, it seemed.

"I uh- just had a really weird dream."

"You were talking in your sleep," Sweetie said, her voice still filled with concern. "It sounded like you were talking to someone. Something about vagueness... Captain Harness... Twilight..."

"It was nothing," Scootaloo grunted, lifting herself out of bed. Even Fangs seemed to throw her a curious, somewhat apprehensive glance.

"Scoots, if you ever want to talk with us..." Apple Bloom joined in. "You know we're always here for you. If there's something wrong: you can trust us not to tell anyone."

Scootaloo gave a heavy sigh. "Yeah, I know..." She then gave a smile. "And I appreciate it. Really." She took a deep breath, before shakily saying:

"You know... I... I have thanked you guys for coming, right? Didn't I?"

Apple Bloom merely gave a chuckle. "Nope, but it didn't need to be said. Friends don't do things for each other for a simple 'thanks' or a pat on the back."

"Either way..." Scootaloo said. She paused, and her voice became as warm as any sun as she uttered:

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Her stomach then grumbled slightly. "Ugh, and I guess it's time for breakfast, isn't it? And while we're there... I think I have something to tell you guys."

The two smiled at her, gave her nods, and the group made their way from the dormitory.

☼☼☼

"Seriously?" Rainbow Death cried, folding her arms at the staff table. "Seriously?!"

"I'm sorry, Rainbow! But Rainbow... uh wait, can I just call you Dashie?" Twilight Soulshard said, glancing at Rainbow Dash.

"Sure, why not?" Dashie said, shrugging. A hint of pride was on her face she wasn't doing very well in hiding.

Soulshard smiled, before turning back to Deathie. "You are the greatest reaper around, but it just wasn't logical for me to bet on you when Dashie here trains specifically for flight!"

"I fly a lot!" Deathie growled, a hurt look still on her. "I fly all the time! It was all I did when I was a filly!"

"Yeah, but you haven't been training for it recently," Twilight sighed.

"It's the principal that counts!" Deathie huffed. "I don't care who has confidence in me, I'm still going to whoop flank during this race!"

"Hmph, we'll see about that," Dashie smirked.

"Oh yeah?" Deathie said, the two locking eyes.

"Yeah!"

"OH YEAH!?"

"YEAH-"

"Will you guys shut the night up?" bone-dragon Spike groaned nearby, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, seriously," regular Spike grunted. "I'm looking forward to this race just to hear you two stop arguing about it when it's done. Though I have a feeling whoever loses is going to be a bit... sore. And then we'll have to hear about that for Celestia's sake."

"Pfffft, you're darn right she'll be sore," Deathie said, grinning towards Dashie.

."I bet I'd be less sore than you!" Dashie growled.

"Oh yeah?!"

"YEAH!"

Both Spikes faceclawed.

The bone-dragon version turned towards his counterpart. "Next thing you know they're going to start singing that one song."

"I know what you're talking about, too... and god help us then..."

And sure enough, Rainbow Dash began to sing:

"Anything you can do I can do better! I can do anything better than you!"

"No you can't!

"Yes I can!"

"NO YOU CAN'T!

"YES I CAN YES I CAN YES I CAN!"

Spike nodded towards his counterpart. "Suicide pact?"

The other Spike returned the nod. "Suicide pact."

"So... you thinking a quick or slow death?"

"Mmmm, something quick. We'll just go piss off Shadowed and that'll do it."

"Hmph? What?" Shadowed grunted nearby, apparently having been in somewhat of a daze.

"Er- nothing," the two gulped.

Princess Congeria leered towards him. "So, who do you think is going to win, sweetheart?"

"Ugh... why must you call me that?" he hissed.

"Oh, sorry about that..." she said with mock innocence. "...Plumdrop."

Shadowed nodded to himself. "Yep, I hate you."

"No you don't."

"And I hate when you're right," he grunted. "But if you must know: I don't believe either will win. We're going to be scraping their corpses off icy shards come the late eventide. Cremations will follow at moonrise."

"Hah! Says you!" Deathie said, sticking her tongue out. "Reapers can't die no matter how much the world throws at us!"

"And I can dodge anything thrown at me!" Dashie beamed.

"I've heard soldiers say that only to be impailed by thrown spears a second later," Shadowed growled. "If there's one thing I've learned in my time it's that fate has a cruel, twisted sense of humor."

"Pffft, well fate hasn't met me!" Dashie smirked.

Shadowed gave a sigh. "I'm just looking out for your safety, that's all..."

The group's eyes widened.

"...Because without you the snow would likely make this school its bitch."

"Nuh-uh! You can't take it back," Deathie smirked.

"Yeah! You care about us, don't you?" Dashie continued.

"That's it," Shadowed grumbled. "You two are on the list. Luckily for you, though, my wife is at the top... and dealing with her is a bit of a problem."

Congeria rolled her eyes.

Soulshard leaned towards her counterpart. "Well, at least he's getting his sense of humor back. I think my theory might have been correct."

"Hopefully," Twilight nodded.

"I have to ask though: is your brother... anything like him?"

"Mmmm," Twilight said, tapping her chin while simpering. "Well, I've seen him without coffee so... some days, maybe?"

"Hmmmm..."

At that, the two turned back towards the two Rainbows.

Dashie opened her mouth to say something more, but paused, blinking as Scootaloo entered the Great Hall. "Oh, there she is!"

Deathie raised an eyebrow. "Isn't she a bit late? If she doesn't eat quick, she's going to miss that awesome class with Jack Skelington. Er, Professor Skelington I should say."

"Jack who?" Dashie asked.

"He's sort of a guest of a holiday realm that came long before this one," Soulshard stated. "Him and his kin are refugees, I suppose you could say."

"What happened to it?" Twilight asked. "The holiday realm, that is."

"Gone," Soulshard sighed. "The world it was linked to was destroyed. And when that happened... well... its branching worlds soon followed. We're not sure why the residents of it weren't destroyed. It's possible they know magic we don't."

"Jeez," Dashie said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Talk about having your world crumbling around you..."

"Rainbow! That's nothing to joke about!" Twilight hissed.

"I'm just saying," Rainbow continued. "That really sucks..."

"Yeah," Soulshard said, before smiling slightly. "But they're happy here, really. Though they may have lost their primary world, they still have us to teach the art of fear. I learned half of what I know from Jack, who taught here nearly four hundred years ago. The rest I know from Nightmare Moon, who learned much from him as well. He is... the master of it. Even Slendermare takes advice from him."

Twilight and Rainbow appeared dumbfounded, and all that escaped the former's lips was a solitary: "Wow."

"Jack, though..." Twilight pondered. "It's a bit of an odd name."

"The names of those in his holiday world, like the names in this, mimicked those of the real world's names they were attached to," Soulshard explained. "They were more of words than descriptions."

"And that reminds me..." Twilight said, lifting an eyebrow. "Captain Harness' name is Jack, isn't it?"

"Yeah, who the heck is that guy, anyway?" Rainbow asked, glancing at Deathie. "I mean- he told me a bit about who he was, about that Horsehood crap... but nothing about his past. He's like a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in... uh..."

"Shadow?" Soulshard suggested.

"Hmph?" Shadowed Armor said, shaking his head again in bewilderment. "Oh..."

"That works," Rainbow nodded.

Deathie shrugged. "All I know is that he likes dying a lot. And he's been doing that for at least three hundred years: ever since I took the scythe. It's annoying in more ways than one..."

"Wait, are you saying that he can die and come back to life?!" Twilight gasped.

Deathie nodded. "Mhmmm... he's like that Doctor guy, only worse. He told me he's a 'fixed point in time and space.' And I have no clue what that could possibly mean."

Twilight shook her head in disbelief. "All this time... another immortal has been living in Equestria. An immortal who isn't an alicorn. I wonder if Princess Celestia knows about him..."

"Meh, immortality isn't all that, you know," Deathie said, shrugging. "I'm immortal until I lose the scythe."

"Same," Soulshard nodded. "It can be... tedious and monotonous, especially as a creature of a holiday: as you well know, Twilight."

"Yeah," Twilight said, before lifting an eyebrow. "Alright, is anyone at this table not immortal."

"I'm not," Shadowed grunted. "Though when the reaper comes for me, I intend to kill her."

"Ha-ha," Deathie said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm not immortal either," Princess Congeria smiled.

"Same," Applemoon said.

"Anyway," Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. "At least Captain Harness is on our side..." She then glanced towards Scootaloo. "Though I hope Scoots is alright. She seems a little down..."

"Think someone should talk with her?" Deathie said in a concerned tone.

"Yeah, I think I will," Dashie nodded.

Congeria quirked an eyebrow.

"You really are a bit of a big sister figure towards her, aren't you?"

"And a good one, too," Twilight smiled.

"Heh- well, I do what I can," Dashie grinned. "I love Scootaloo, though, seriously. I uh... I never had a sister growing up. Or a brother. And... well... my parents..."

"Gone?" Shadowed asked, a hint of concern in his tone.

"Something like that," Rainbow sighed, before smiling slightly his way. "Jeez, Shadowed. I didn't know they sold new personalities. Mind telling me where I can get one that requires a bit less ego?"

He folded his arms. "I was merely making conversation."

"Don't let him fool you. He cares," Princess Congeria winked towards her.

"Anyway, you were saying, Rainbow?" Shadowed quickly continued.

"Well, yeah..." Rainbow said, screwing a hoof into the table. "I don't really want to get into that. All I can say is that: out of all the little sisters in the world to have, I'm glad I have Scoots."

At that, she nodded towards her fellow staff members, smiled, and made her way to the table where only the original Crusaders sat.

☼☼☼

"So wait, are you seirous, Scootaloo?!" Sweetie gasped.

"You're not sure you imagined it, right?" Apple Bloom said.

"Deadly serious," Scootaloo said, her eyes narrowing. "At first I thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me... something to do with being converted into a vampire. But then he kept talking to me..."

"You need to see someone about this!" Sweetie cried.

"No!" Scootaloo quickly snapped, before taking a deep breath. "No... I want to keep it down-low for a bit. Shadowed... already suspects it. And he wasn't happy about it."

"Then talk to Ms. Soulshard," Sweetie offered.

"That's what Artharius wants me to do," Scootaloo nodded. "He thinks she can be trusted. I mean usually... he talks all philosophically, you know? A lot of metaphor. But he was crystal clear when he said the Hearth's Warming Eve realm is about to be invaded."

"The Hearth's Warming Eve realm?!" Sweetie gasped.

"Yeah, I know... but I'm still trying to figure out if he can be trusted at all," Scootaloo said. "What if it's some sort of trick?"

"But why would he come to you in the first place? Why not try to trick someone else?" Sweetie asked.

"He said..." Scootaloo said slowly. "He said he had a link to my father. And Shadowed said the same thing. What if that link somehow passed on?"

"Right..." Sweetie nodded. "Maybe it's the reason why he can communicate with you and only you. Though why now? Why wait?"

"Biding his time, maybe," Apple Bloom suggested. "Or maybe he couldn't do it in the real world."

"Maybe..."

At that, two new presences made themselves known.

"Oi, ello thar. What are you lot talkin' about?" Pipbossa beamed, taking a seat next to her.

"Nothing," Scootaloo quickly squeaked.

"Mmm, in my knowledge 'nothing' usually means 'something juicy'," Pipsqueak smiled. "But if you don't want to talk about it... that's cool I guess."

Scootaloo paused a beat. She took a deep breath. Pipsqueak had been her friend for many years, and Pipbossa... well, though he was kind of odd, he seemed trusworthy enough. Perhaps they had a right to know... a right to help.

She glanced about to make sure nopony was near, and naturally: somepony was. The one pony she didn't want to know about this. The one pony she didn't want to unnerve anymore than she already was with her newfound vampirism.

"Hey Scootaloo, what's up, kid?" Rainbow said, giving her a slap on the back and a smile.

Scootaloo entered panic mode.

"Uh- Uh nothing Rainbow," she squeaked, before quickly glancing towards the massive, bat-wings-for-tickers clock on the wall. "Shoot! Look at the time! Aren't we late for our class on scaring?"

Sweetie's eyes widened. "Yeah, you're right! Come on, we need to get going everyone!"

"Oi... didn't even get the chance to eat anything," Pipsqueak grumbled, sliding his plate of scrambled eggs away. He began rising with the rest of his friends.

"Oh... alright," Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow. "I'll catch you later then, Scoots."

"Seeya!"

And Scootaloo and her friends made haste away, leaving Rainbow standing there with a baffled expression on her face.