Obscure TorrentBy:OfficialBrony
Noon had come, a wicked storm was approaching. This particular tempest wasn't planned, the pegasi had no power over it nor did they even have any knowledge of it arriving. At first, the storm wasn't at its strongest. Though, it was still fatal risk to be outdoors. Several ponies were still doing last minute duties before heading inside away from the approaching storm.
On the outskirts of Ponyville, a trio of fillies were exploring the lands. This set of three fillies were known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they searched and searched for their calling but never could recieve their cutie marks. As disappointments continued, they didn't stop, they kept on crusading until they earned their cutie marks.
With the giggling fillies exploring, little did they know that a massive storm was approaching. Not only were they at risk of being the heavy rain, they were in a dangerous area. The trio were close to the Everfree Forest- an eerie land of woods ravaged by mysterious and threatening creatures roaming inside of it. They didn't realize they were close to the Everfree Forest, they were enjoying themselves as they were amused.
The storm grew impending and the fillies didn't realize it.
"Catch me if you can!" Scootaloo exclaimed. The orange filly ran into the Everfree Forest as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom chased her, giggling. Apple Bloom galloped to Scootaloo, out running Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom was right on Scootaloo's tail, she ran with more endurance. When Apple Bloom was at the same pace as Scootaloo, she hopped and landed on Scootaloo. The two fatigue fillies laid there, giggling. Sweetie Belle caught up and noticed her friends laughing on the muddy ground. She galloped to them, joining them.
The storm had arrived. It began to pour outside, then it started rain hard. The fillies were still laughing from their recent chase. The drops of clear liquid finally burst through the trees, causing the fillies to feel the water dropping on them.
"I didn't know it was raining" Sweetie Belle said in confusion as more drops of water landed on her body.
"Me neither" Apple Bloom remarked.
"We should get home" Sweetie Belle suggested.
"We might as well" Scootaloo stated. The other two, wet, fillies nodded in agreement. All three fillies looked around, finding the path back home. It wasn't in sight, the fillies were too busy having fun.
"Uh, where did we come from?" Sweetie Belle asked timidly.
"I don't know, do you know Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo said, asking her yellow coated friend.
"Don't ask me, I was busy chasing you!" Apple Bloom replied.
"Are you two telling me we're lost?!" Sweetie Belle questioned, anxiously.
"Calm down, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo looked around, observing the trees as the became covered in water. "We aren't lost" The orange coated fillie added.
"You sure Scootaloo, because it raining hard and we can't be here, we have to ge-" Sweetie Belle was silenced by Apple Bloom's hoof laying on her shoulder.
"It's going to be alright Sweetie Belle, as long we are with each other, we can beat this through you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Apple Bloom announced. Sweetie Belle laid a smile on her face. Apple Bloom was right, as long as they're forces are bonded, they can conquer anything.
"You're right, Apple Bloom!" Swetie Belle said. The three fillies touched hoofs together, yelling "Cutie Mark Crusaders go" simultaneously as they raised their hoofs above them.
"We can be survivalists!" Scootaloo called out.
"I wonder what a cutie mark would look like if we were survivalists?" Apple Bloom wondered.
"Beats me, we ought should get out of the rain" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom agreed, nodding their heads. They started trotting around, looking for some cover to hide from the rain.
After some minutes of walking around, they found a large whole in a tree, it was big enough for all three fillies to fit inside. They crawled inside, it was a necessary shelter for now. Though, they were in the Everfree Forest, several mysterious and dangerous creatures roam there. They didn't seem to realize it. It was cold and foggy in the Everfree Forest. Inside the tree, warmth wasn't available. It was sticky inside, it was unknown on what exactly it was since darkness was joining the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"It's so c-c-cold" Sweetie Belle whined. Apple Bloom closed up on Sweetie Belle, hugging her and giving a bit warmth to her friend in need. Scootaloo was also freezing from the stormy weather. She joined them in a group hug. They sat there, giving each other ador.
The rain was still at its same speed. Other than the dangerous set in the Everfree Forest, the rain brought serene feel to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, also considering they have each other. Their friendship is all they have now.
Night had fallen, the rain still poured. Though it slowed down. Apple Bloom awoke from her recent rest. Swetie Belle was still in her arms, but Scootaloo wasn't in sight. She wasn't even in the whole with them. Sweetie Belle was still asleep, it wouldn't bother her if Apple Bloom left. Apple Bloom set Sweetie Belle's body in a comfortable spot inside of the tree. Apple Bloom went outside of the tree.
Apple Bloom searched for Scootaloo. Instantly she found her, she was standing in the rain, alone. Apple Bloom trotted towards her. She stood next to Scootaloo. The orange fillie turned to Apple Bloom, she smiled, only for a few seconds.
"Some thing wrong Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked, concerned for her friend.
"No, nothing's wrong, just thinking" Scootaloo responded.
"About what?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Stuff, Apple Bloom, stuff"
"You can tell Scootaloo, I am your friend after all"
"You know how I told you and Sweetie Belle that I'm an orphan?"
"Yeah, what about?"
"I don't like it at all, sure Rainbow Dash adopted me and she's always been an idol for me...but I just wish I knew who my parents were" Scootaloo ended as a tear ran. Apple Bloom put her hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"It's ok Scootaloo" Apple Bloom whispered. Scootaloo tears ran down her cheek, other than rain falling all over her.
"I know, the bad thing is that it always haunts me every night. It always comes back to me" Scootaloo said.
"It's going to be alright Scootaloo" Apple Bloom said. The moment of great friendship was interrupted by a bush. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo paused as they heard the noise of plants being moved all around them.
"We oughta get back in the tree" Apple Bloom suggested, anxiously.
"Good idea" Scootaloo said before galloping back inside of the tree as Apple Bloom followed. They both crawled in as silent as they could, not trying to wake their sleeping friend. Scootaloo shivered from cold weather. Apple Bloom hugged her friend, though they both were wet. They tried their best conceiving body heat as the rain started to drizzle.
"Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked.
"Yeah?" Apple Bloom replied.
"Do you think anyone has noticed we're gone?"
"I'm not sure but if they did,I'm sure they're out there looking for us now"
"...Hopefully" Scootaloo finally said, closing her eyes. Apple Bloom did the same. They both fell asleep as the rain was still pouring out.
Aurora had risen, though fog had roamed the lands of Ponyville due to the recent storm. Nothing was visible, only at close range of course. Ponyville citizens and the town itself survived the strong weather, residents have taken upon themselves to clean up the town.
In the Everfree Forest, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are still lost, with the inside of a tree as shelter. Scootaloo awoke from her troublesome slumber. She scratched her eyes, seeing the awful fog waiting for them. Scootaloo nudged Apple Bloom. No responce. She did it again, it awoke Apple Bloom now. The tiresome filly rose up, yawning.
"Oh, morning Scootaloo" Apple Bloom said.
"Wake up Sweetie Belle, we have to going" Scootaloo demanded as she stood out of the tree. Apple Bloom started pushing Sweetie Belle, gently. She didn't move at all. Apple Bloom tried again, nothing. Apple Bloom turned Sweetie Belle on her back. A horrible sight startled Apple Bloom. The filly screamed from the top of her lungs.
"Whats wrong?!" Scootaloo shouted.
"Sweetie Belle has a huge bump on her forehead!" Apple Bloom replied, frightened. Apple Bloom dragged her friend out of the tree. Scootaloo could instantly see the huge bump too. "What was it? How did it happen?" was all Scootaloo could think, her friend in pain. Sweetie Belle isn't awake at the moment, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom thought perhap she met her demise.
"Is she dead?" Apple Bloom timidly asked.
"I don't think so, maybe we can take to the hospital" Scootaloo suggested.
"That's a good idea but how are we going to get out here?" Apple Bloom said.
"We can keep going straight, maybe we'll get out of here"
"Alright then" Apple Bloom agreed as she picked up Sweetie Belle, placing her on her own back. They started trotting through the Everfree Forest, not knowing where to go.
"Are we almost there, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked, struggling with Sweetie Belle on her back.
" I don't even know if we're close" Scootaloo said as she turned to Apple Bloom. She saw that Apple Bloom was attempting to carry her injured friend. "Here let me carry her" Scootaloo added, putting Sweetie Belle on her back.
"What if we don't ever get out of here?" Apple Bloom remarked, frightening herself.
"We will get out of here, Apple Bloom" Scootaloo beamed. Apple Bloom hanged her head down as she walked through the forest.
It has been twelve hours since the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been astray in the Everfree Forest. The rain had stopped. The fog came in. Their struggles would soon be all over.
"I'm exhausted!" Apple Bloom cried out.
"Don't be such a chicken, Apple Bloom" Scootaloo commented.
"Scootaloo, thats what you are" Apple Bloom said, giggling. Scootaloo raised one of her eyebrows. They continued walking, as they searched for salvation.
After a few hours of walking, they found light. A different color than the Everfree Forest had, dark and depressing. They laughed in happiness. They started galloping towards it.
As they passed through the light, there it was, a cottage. Fluttershy's cottage to be exact. They ran to the front door and knocked on it as hard as they could. They yelled Fluttershy's over and over again. The door opened, on the other side was Fluttershy.
"Girls, where have you been?!" Fluttershy asked. "Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash have been looking all around for you girls" Fluttershy added.
"We got lost in the Everfree during the rain an-" Scootaloo interfered Apple Bloom's responce.
"Look that's not the point, Sweetie Belle is hurt!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Let me see her" Fluttershy proclaimed. Scootaloo brought Sweetie Belle inside, she laid her on the couch. Fluttershy observed Sweetie Belle, she was in awe as she saw the bump on the filly's head. Fluttershy knew she couldn't do anything, she would have to take her to the hospital.
"Come on girls, we're going the warn everypony else and head to the hospital. Fluttershy grabbed Sweetie Belle and ran to the hospital as the remaining Cute Mark Crusaders followed.
Rarity walked into the room where Sweetie Belle was in.
"Is she going to be alright Nurse Redheart?" Rarity asked in sorrow.
"I have know idea, we've never seen a patient that had a scorpion sting them in the head. Though, we have ran some tests, there is a slight chance for her to live if she is treated immediately" Nurse Redheart replied.
"I see" Rarity silently reponded as she walked to the waiting room where the rest of the gang was. All of her friends stood up as so did the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Is she going to be alright?" Twilight asked, knowing the rest were asking the same thing.
"The nurse said she could live if she is treated right away" Rarity replied.
"Ya' mean surgery?" Applejack questioned.
"I'm afraid so" Rarity said, shedding a tear. "We'll have to wait and see" Rarity finally stated.
After waiting a few hours, the gang and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were interrupted by Nurse Redheart.
"The surgery was a success, she is in the room" Redheart exclaimed.
They all went into the room, seeing Sweetie Belle laying in bed with bandages on her forehead. She was still asleep though. The main six gathered around her and so did the Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle started wake up. She slowly opened her eyes. Everyone smiled and glad to see she was okay. Rarity stroked Sweetie Belle's mane.
"You're ok now Sweetie Belle" Rarity whispered.
"C-can I see Scootaloo and Apple Bloom" Sweetie asked, silently. Rarity nodded in agreement and back away as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom walked to both sides of the bed. All three smiled.
"I love you girls" Sweetie Belle whispered.
"We love you too" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo replied, simultaneously.
They all joined in a group hug, shedding tears of happiness. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were together once again.
Alternate Ending
Beeeeeeeeeeep
That was it, Sweetie Belle's life ended there. The crowd of worrying friends saw the scene, they all became sorrow as tears ran down their cheeks. Rarity, being the most dramatic, burst into tears. She kept apologizing, as if it were her fault. The bright white unicorn hugged her life-less, only, sister. She cried on Sweetie Belle as the group watched, feeling sorry for Rarity. They were her friends thus they shall support Rarity through this.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, on the other hand, were waiting patiently in the waiting room. Though they did hear cries of agony, that sign revealed to them that their best friend had met her demise.
"You think she's ok Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo desperately asked.
"I-I don't know, with all the crying, I gue-" Apple Bloom paused as she and Scootaloo watched Rarity and the rest of the group come out of the room. Nurse Reheart also came out of the room.
"I'm so sorry for your loss, miss Rarity, there wasn't anything we could do. The sting from that scorpion was just to much for the little filly, especially if she had taken one to the head. Again, I am deeply sorry miss Rarity" Nurse Redheart said, feeling ashamed not being able to save that little filly's life.
Rarity sniffed and wiped her tears, it wasn't useful considering more tears ran, "I understand" she said, sobbing.
"Applejack what happened? Is Sweetie Belle ok?" Apple Bloom worriedly asked. Applejack turned back to her little sister.
"Apple Bloom, yer' friend Sweetie Belle is living in a happy place now" Applejack said, shutting her eyes. "I'm sorry Apple Bloom" she added.
"Wait...S-she's dead?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"She is?!" Scootaloo said in the backround.
"She can't be, she just can't be!" Apple Bloom said repeating it over and over again.
"Calm down my little ponies" Twilight said, "Yes, Sweetie Belle has met her demise, but she is living in perfect harmony right now. The least you girls can do is be happy for her" Twilight ended.
"She does have a point" Apple Bloom thought. She hanged her head down as a single tear dropped onto the floor.
"But she's our friend!" Scootaloo shouted.
"If you were her real friend, then you would stop crying and start being happy for her" Twilight finally stated.
Again, Twilight had a point. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were still sad, their best friend was gone. Though they had to follow Twilight's advice. And so, they did.
"Are you ready Spike?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ready!" Spike said holding the quail and paper.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exhaled. Then they started speaking.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today we lost a friend, a best friend. But that doesn't mean we are sad, anymore. As the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, we respect our friend thus we should support her all the way even though she is gone. Through wise words, we learned that we shouldn't bring sadness to ourselves just because our friend is gone, we should be happy for her. After all. She is living in peace now, why should we be sad? We shouldn't be, she is probably watching us now, and that's as much as we need to know. All in all, friendship is bond that will never ever break, even in death.
Sincerely,
The Cutie Mark Crusaders
"Did you get that Spike?" Scootaloo asked.
"Sure did" The baby dragon said as blew the letter into air making it turn into pixie dust. "And it's on it way, by the way I'm sorry for your loss"
"it's ok Spike, we do have to learn to live without her"Apple Bloom proclaimed.
"How about we go crusading? Maybe that'll make us happy!" Scootaloo announced.
"Great idea! We can be...painters!"
"Or karate!" Scootaloo suggested as she walked out the library door, so did Apple Bloom. They left as they kept suggesting ideas to earn their cutie marks.
Up above the clouds was a happy filly watching Apple Bloom and Scootaloo search for their calling. The figure smiled.
"I love you girls" Sweetie Belle whispered.
