The Edge of Insanity

Chapters

Chapter One: Scootaloo's Sorrow
Chapter Two: Twisted Shorelines Of The Mind
Chapter Three: Memories
Chapter Four: The Apprentice
Chapter Five: Rainbow In The Dark.

Chapter One: Scootaloo's Sorrow

Life has a way of affecting a pony, for it is always uncertain what could happen next. Whether it was gods or just fate, it didn't matter. Some ponies were gifted with wealth and happiness, others have to struggle, but find their way and their bliss. And yet others... others received nothing but torment and ridicule. Those were the ponies that society condemned. They were the damned. Both life and ponies created a living Tartarus for them. Every decision, every thought and every thing they wanted in life they had to fight for. When things would seem like it couldn't get worse, it did. Even as a filly, and this was no exception.

The day was black. Large thunderheads loomed in the sky like a plague, bringing down rain and wind in their wake. Jagged lightning tore at the sky, and thunder boomed like a manticore's roar. Standing alone in the angry weather stood a pegasus mare upon a hilltop, under a large oak tree. Not the safest place to be. But she didn't care.

Scootaloo stood resolute as the wind ripped through her mane and the long black leather jacket she was wearing, and as the rain pelted her relentlessly. Her eyes were heavy lidded and downcast, staring at a small tombstone at the base of the large oak. It had been may years since she had visited this place. She was now a fully grown mare, but she wasn't too mature to keep from crying, although the rain masked it. The tombstone before her bore no name, but a painted picture of a cloud with a jagged red, yellow, and blue lightning bolt erupting from it. This was the resting place of her foalhood idol, Rainbow Dash, who was found murdered all those years ago, but nopony found the killer.

"I-I miss you so much..." She spoke in a quiet, choked voice. Sobs racked the orange and purple pegasus. "I miss you, Dashie..."

The only thing that answered her was a loud clap of thunder. She sat on the soaked grass as she continued to cry. Not only was Rainbow Dash her idol, but she was her mentor and like an older sister to Scootaloo. Dash had taught the young pegasus how to fly and how to be confident.

Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked into a puddle just in front of the grave. She winced at her reflection. On the right side of her face were three vertical scars over her eye. Her left eye was magenta, but her right was red. Blood red. Like an albino's, But luckily the dead owner of the eye was a normal pony. She trembled in fear as she remembered how she had lost her original eye.

She was practicing her flying without Dash, but she had forgotten about the thermal air pillars that caused updrafts. She flew straight through one, and her small filly body was too weak to remain control. She crashed in the near by Everfree, and lay on the ground, stunned. When she could move again, there was a timber wolf eyeing her and it lunged. She jumped back, but the creature's claws connected with her face, shredding her eye. The wolf would have killed her, but Dash had saved her and flew her to the hospital, where she woke, confused and scared.

The pegasus sighed at the memory and she slowly stood. Ever since her injury everypony treated her differently. From the left she was a normal, and a fairly attractive mare. But they cringed at her scars, stallions and mares alike. She still talked to her friends from school, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, as well the five remaining Elements of Harmony. But she didn't know what it was to love. She never experienced it. Never gave or received. Love always eluded her, because she was scarred for life. Ponies were too shallow and only looked at outer beauty.

She cast a glance over her shoulder in a last look at the memorial before descending the hill, her steps slow and heavy. Scootaloo made her way back to Ponyville, clinging to the shadows as she walked the streets and allies. She kept her eyes to the ground, not wanting to look at the other ponies.

"Hey look, there's Scootaloo."

"She seems so depressed, she must have gone to visit Rainbow's grave."

"I still remember when she was attacked, poor filly."

"It must be hard to live with those scars."

She shook her head and pinned her ears back against her skull. She hated how other ponies talked about her. She didn't want their pity. She just wanted them to accept her fully. She continued to trudge on, her already horrible mood deteriorating even more. Damn it all. I'm sick of all this. All everypony does is feel sorry, and they don't even try to be friends. She thought with a sigh.

It stopped raining when she arrived at her house at the edge of town, close to the Everfree. It was a simple two story house. She shook herself and entered, closing the door behind her. "I'm home!" She called. She was greeted by a bone chilling laugh as a pink mare walked from the shadows. The Element of Laughter smiled at her.

"Welcome home, Scoots." Pinkamena said. Her voice was low and methodical, unlike how lively and energetic it used to be years ago. "You look cold. Go and sit by the fire."

Scootaloo nodded and lied down in front of the hearth of the fireplace, reveling in it's warmth. She watched as the pink mare disappeared into the kitchen. She had lived with Pinkamena Diane Pie ever since Rainbow had died. And after all these years, the Element of Laughter still looked as young as she did. She wasn't old by any stretch of the imagination, but she's middle aged. Pinkamena had been like a mother to Scootaloo. She always looked out for her and always listened to what she had to say. But the Pinkie Pie Equestria knows and the Pinkamena she knows are two different ponies.

Pinkamena was a butcher. Paid by the Canterlot Underground, a secret organization even the Princesses knew nothing about, her job was to slaughter. Kill ponies. The Canterlot Underground found her from when Rainbow Dash had been murdered. She had gone out and found that loud-mouth Trixie, who was laughing at the death of Pinkamena's long time friend. When the Royal Guard arrived, Trixie was barely identifiable, and Pinkamena was gone without a trace. She shuttered at the story. Scootaloo had helped for a time when she was younger, granted the ponies they were assigned Pinkamena had already killed, her job had been to drain the blood and prepare them to be skinned. Their coats would be made into fabric that the Canterlot nobles unknowingly wore. She had quit a few years back.

Scootaloo opened her eyes as Pinkamena lay beside her. "I'm guessing you went to Rainbow's grave." She said solemnly. She felt a pink forehoof on her orange one. She closed her eyes as Pinkamena nuzzled her cheek affectionately. "Are you alright, Scoots?"

"I'm fine," she whispered, "I just miss her."

"I do too, dear. And I'm sure she misses you, too."

That brought tears to her eyes. Damn Pinkamena. Even though she was a killer she could wrench the emotions from your soul. She buried her face in the mare's long, straight, dark pink mane and cried like a school filly. She felt the mare's foreleg wrap around her neck in an embrace. She cried for what seemed to be an eternity before her tears ran out and she broke Pinkamena's hold. "I miss her so much. She was the sister I never had. I loved her." Her voice was shaky and it cracked like a filly's.

"You should rest, Scoots." Pinkamena's voice was a soft whisper. "Only time can mend what you have lost, though only to a degree."

Scootaloo nodded and bid her goodnight before slowly walking up the stairs and into her room, where she collapsed on her bed. She closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

Chapter Two: Twisted Shorelines Of The Mind

The sun was setting on the beach that Scootaloo was resting at, the sky stained a calming orange and red. The warmth of the sun's rays elicited a smile from her as they struck her orange and purple form. Never before had she felt so relaxed. She closed her eyes as she arched her back in a stretch and let out a peaceful sigh.

"Scootaloo..."

She opened her eyes at the sound of the strange voice. "Who's there?" She called

"Scootaloo..."

Scootaloo stood and looked around, searching for the source. Why did somepony have to ruin her peace and quiet? After a long silence she shrugged it off and walked to the shoreline. She had enough of ponies for one day.

"SCOOTALOO!"

The voice sounded from right behind her. She snapped around and saw nothing but the sandy beach. Panting from her fright she turned back around and gasped in surprise, jumping back. In the water in front of her stood an orange and purple pegasus mare. She wore a black leather jacket, and her eyes were different colors. One purple, one red. On her face was a twisted grin. Scootaloo stood in shock, looking at herself.

"What's the matter, Scoots?" cooed the copy of herself. "Haven't you ever seen a reflection of yourself?" When Scootaloo failed to answer, the doppelganger continued. "My name is Misery, I am all of your dark thoughts. I am your other half, awakened to guide you."

"My other half? What the buck are you talking about?"

Misery laughed as the sky darkened with thunderclouds. "Maybe I should clarify. I was awakened during your short coma. And now I'm released to set you on the right path. I know the things you want most. You want somepony to love." Misery's twisted grin turned into a smirk. "And you want the blood of the pony who killed Rainbow Dash." Lightning flashed behind the clone, and her eyes flashed red. Scootaloo closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them, Misery was gone. She almost let out a sigh f relief when she felt the edge of a knife press against her throat, and felt the demonic pony's breath on her ear. "Don't think this is just a dream, Scootaloo. You're asleep yes, but this conversation is real. We both know that deep down you want to tear the murderer limb from limb. You want to be coated in his blood. You want to see the fear in his eyes as you bring him a slow, painful death." Misery giggled menacingly.

"You're wrong!" Scootaloo cried. "I hate killing. I quit working for Pinkamena a long time ago." She desperately wanted to believe her own words, but they seemed frail and insignificant even to her. Everything Misery said was true. She wanted to feel her orange fur stained red in the hot blood of Rainbow's killer. She wanted to feel bones breaking under her hooves. She wanted to laugh at her victim's pleas for mercy. Scootaloo shuttered as raw energy filled her body. She didn't want revenge. She needed it. " I don't even know who it is..."

"You'll find out" Came Misery's reply as she lowered the knife from Scootaloo's neck. "But first, you need to live a little. You need to stop clinging to shadows because you're disfigured. Let Ponyville know who you are."

"How?"

"You'll see." With that, Misery was gone.

=================================================================================================

Scootaloo woke with a jolt. She panted heavily as she looked around her black room. It was still dark out. She had only slept a few hours. The mare shook her head, trying to clear it of the memories of Misery. "It was just a dream, Scoots." She told her self. We waited another hour for sleep to overtake her, and it didn't. Bored, she sneaked out of the house to walk around the streets of Ponyville.

The town was empty, all the other ponies had closed themselves away in their homes, safe from the chilly fall night. Luna's moon was visible overhead, shining brighter than the millions of stars. Scootaloo almost smiled at it's beauty, but her dream still nagged at her. She shook her head, trying to clear her head of the thoughts, but failed. With an aggravated huff, she walked on. After a few minutes she found herself in the town square. In the middle of the square was a stage, directly in front of town hall. There was a LED light sign above the stage, but it was dark and unable to read. Standing on the stage was a single pony.

The pony was a unicorn mare, with a mane of two shades of electric blue. The majority of her mane was spiked on the right side of her face, blocking it from view. She had a pale white coat with a musical note on her flank. On her face were a pair of purple shades, blocking her eyes. How she could see with them on, Scootaloo had no idea. The unicorn seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place her hoof on it.

Then the unicorn turned and spotted her. "Hey!" She called. "We're not set up yet! Will be another hour or so!" The mare grinned at Scootaloo.

"Sorry if I interrupted you, I'm just walking around!" She called back to the unicorn.

The white mare pushed her bottom lip out in a pout like a filly would. "You're not gonna stick around? That's sad. You look like a pony that likes heavy bass dubstep." Behind the unicorn was a turntable and mixer. All along the stage were speakers that looked like they could shatter windows in a hundred meter radios.

"Don't forget it's mixed with classical, Vinyl!" Called a female voice from behind the stage. The owner of the offending voice walked from the left side. She had a coat of pale ash and her mane was sleek and coal black. Upon her flank was a treble clef, and she was burdened by a large black case on her back, which looked to be a cello. "And you mustn't pester ponies, my dear. Let her pass if she is not interested." Her voice was rich with a Canterlot accent, but not too much so. Her eyes were a calm yet playful amethyst color.

The unicorn grinned. "Oh, c'mon, Tavi. I'm just playing." The unicorn quickly added, "And I didn't forget about your cello, I just didn't care." Those words caused an angry blush on the earth pony's face, to which the unicorn named Vinyl laughed.

"Oh, you're insufferable!" The grey mare barked, but it was only halfheartedly. A playful light burned in her eyes before she turned to address Scootaloo. "Forgive my partner's actions. She just hates it when ponies don't stay to listen to her music. But she's nice once you get past her uncivilized surface."

"Hey!" Vinyl complained.

The earth mare chuckled. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Octavia. You already met Vinyl, or DJ Pon-3, as is her stage name."

Scootaloo's eyes widened at the sudden memories that flooded through her. These two mares in front of her were her music Gods as a filly. She had bought every album they made together, and listened to them religiously. Then another pang hit her. Vinyl and Octavia should be in their middle ages, yet here they were looking only a few years older than herself.

"W-wait. You two were big when I was still in school. H-how come you're still looking as good as you did?" Asked Scootaloo. She knew it wasn't a practical question, but she thought back to Pinkamena, who still looked her age as when she took her in.

Octavia let out an annoyed sigh, but it wasn't directed at the pegasus as the cellist turned to look at the DJ. "A friend of Vinyl's discovered an age spell and taught it to her. She cast it in the middle of the night and I woke up as I did back in those years, as did she." Vinyl grinned and Octavia rolled her eyes. "But I suppose it was worth it. Now we can make music for others longer now."

An age spell! Scootaloo thought. That may explain it.

"Forgive me, but you didn't give us a name." Octavia said, shifting her weight on her hooves.

"Oh, uh... It's Scootaloo."

Vinyl cocked her head to the side. "That name seems familiar. I dunno. I haven't been in Ponyville since after Shining Armor and Princess Cadence got married in Canterlot. I remember playing at their reception with Pinkie Pie. Gosh those were-"

"Pinkie Pie?" Scootaloo interrupted. " You're saying that Pinkamena has DJ'd with you?"

Vinyl grinned. "Yup. Let me tell you somthin', filly. That crazy mare knows how to party. I wonder how she is after so long. I went to Sugar Cube Corner earlier but she moved out. So then me and Tavi decided we had better set up. Why do you ask?"

"Because I live with her. I knew she was great with parties but she never told me about you." She replied in a slight shock.

Vinyls ears perked up and she shared a surprised look with Octavia. "Really? Wow. That must be awesome." When Scootaloo only shrugged she said. "Oh, she's calmed down? That's a bummer. But if she likes it, whatever. Anyway. Tell us about you, housemate of Pinkie."

the pegasus looked down at her forehooves. "There's not much to tell." She said quietly. "I have nothing interesting to say." As she spoke the wind picked up and blew her mane from her covered eye. She quickly fixed her mane in hope that the musicians didn't see her deformed face. She wasn't so lucky. She closed her eyes and braced herself. For what, she had no idea, just something. When nothing happened, she looked up at them, both of whom were wearing understanding smiles. She gave them both confused looks.

Octavia chuckled as Vinyl jumped down from the stage. The unicorn stopped in front of Scootaloo and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Listen, kid." Vinyl started, "Neither me nor Tavi will judge you because of your eye. Scars do not define a pony, nor does the color of one's eye." As she spoke an azure aura surrounded her shades, lifting them from her face. Scootaloo gasped at what she saw.

Red.

Blood red. The DJ's eyes shone like two fire rubies in the moonlight, both gentle and defiant. Vinyl smiled. " I used to hate my eyes. In school I was always judged because of them. I was called a freak and was bullied a lot. I eventually dropped out of high school because I couldn't take it."

Scootaloo just gaped at her. Why was the most famous DJ in Equestria telling her, a simple Ponyville pony, her life story.

"After I dropped out" She continued. "I went from one dead end job to another. I hardly had any money to my name. Then one day I walked and found these glasses next to a set of turntables. The store owner was a kind stallion and let me try them. I put those shades on and started to make music." Vinyl's smile turned into a grin. "It came so naturally to me. Not only did I get my cutie mark, but ponies that were walking the street crowed around the store, listening to me work my magic." She jerked her head back to her set. "I still use those turntables. Those and these shades had become my trademark. But fast forward. Tavi managed to get me to take them off. She didn't judge my eyes. She loved them. I learned that they didn't matter." The legendary shades of DJ Pon-3 started to descend from the air, stopping directly in front of Scootaloo. "If you ever think you need to hide, use these. But, let me just say, you won't need them."

Stunned. Scootaloo raised a shaky hoof an retrieved the floating shades. She couldn't believe it. She was holding the trademark of a country wide celebrity. Her mouth opened and closed multiple times, trying to form words. Finally she just managed to force out: "T-thank you..."

"Don't sweat it, kid. Hey, the party goers are coming soon. Sure you don't wanna stay?" Vinyl asked.

Before Scootaloo could say anything, she heard a whispering voice.

Go ahead. Have some fun, Scoots.

Misery. It had to be her. Scootaloo thought on it for a moment. What's the harm? She asked her self. She looked at the musicians and felt a grin crawl across her face. She put on those legendary purple shades not to hide, but to live.

The LED sign flared to life, reading "DJ Pon-3", and the party started.

Chapter Three: Memories

The sun was rising over Ponyville. Celestia's life bringing rays turning the dark sky to a low orange that will turn into a crystal clear blue in a few hours. Most ponies would be waking up by now, except a certain pegasus mare who trotted down the road to her house, her head still buzzing from the crazy bass drops from the party she had attended.

Scootaloo giggled as she reached her door, she had never felt so alive before. She had no idea why she had stayed. All she remembered was Misery's words. Something about them had a power over her that made her more confident. She mentally shrugged. She'd had the time of her life! She giggled again, only to have her merriment cut short as the door opened in front of her with Pinkamena looking at her. The pink pony's eyes were unreadable, her mouth a flat line.

"U-uh... Hi." Scootaloo said lamely.

Pinkamena sighed. "Wandering the streets and joining parties when you can't sleep now?" She asked flatly.

"Hey! I'm a full grown mare now. I think I can take care of myself." Scootaloo replied hotly.

The piercing eyes of the pink mare grew softer, and a soft chuckle fell from her mouth. " I know, Scoots. You're just easy to pick on." Pinkamena's gaze went up to the purple shades the pegasus had on her forehead. "Those seem very familiar to me... You're not wearing them to hide your face even more so than you do now, are you?" Pinkamena asked with concern in her eyes.

Scootaloo shook her head. " No. The DJ gave me these. She said that I could have these to hide myself, but I wouldn't need them." Scootaloo explained as she took the shades off of her forehead and held them on her hoof.

"They seem... Familiar."

Scootaloo looked up at the pink mare's eyes. They were unfocused and distant as she looked at the glasses, as if lost in thought. Was she trying to remember? Should she tell the older mare? Scootaloo shrugged then. "You've probably seen a poster, or something." She said, trying her best t sound nonchalant. "Anyway, I'm tired now," her sentence was interrupted by her own yawn. "So I think I'm gonna hit the hay."

Pinkamena nodded. "Alright, Scoots." Pinkamena's eyes focused again. "I'll see you tonight then, I have some business to take care of with the Underground. They're sending a new subject." The deviant mare grinned, and her eyes sparked to life. The pegasus shivered and walked up the stairs to her room, where she promptly flopped onto her bed and let sleep overtake her.

--==--

Scootaloo blinked as she searched the blankness around her, tossing her mane aside to have a full field of vision. She tried to focus her eyes, but there was nothing to focus on. She cursed. "Misery? Where are you? Misery!" When no response came she groaned and sat on her haunches. Scootaloo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her mind. Where is she? She shook her head. After a few minutes she was hit with the sweet scent of pastries. She opened her eyes in confusion She was in Sugar Cube Corner. Alarm bolted in her. "Oh no..."

She bolted into the kitchen, heading for the back door. If her fear was correct, this was a memory. A memory of...

She kicked the door open and gasped. Before the pegasus were two ponies. One was on the ground, one was standing over the fallen pony. The pony on the ground was a pegasus mare; her wings here crumbled and her cyan coat was stained with blood from the slash across her throat. The mare's magenta eyes that once held a cocky light were now dull and glassy. Her mouth was open in a silent cry, never to be heard. Scootaloo's eyes caught the dead pegasus's prismatic mane and her thrice colored lightning bolt cutie mark.

Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo tore her gaze away from her fallen idol as a rush of tears threatened to overtake her. Her movement took her to look at the pony standing over Dash. It was another mare, her bloodstained coat was a bright pink and her mane and tail a darker shade. Her face was shadowed by the unruly mass of curls that made up her mane, and on her flank was three balloons. She was Pinkie Pie.

As soon as it came, the vision was gone, and she was in the confounds of white. Scootaloo stared blindly, trying to make sense of what she just saw.

Misery's voice reached her ear. "You are starting to remember."

--==--

Scootaloo's eyes snapped open, and the orange pony's amethyst and ruby eyes soon filled with tears. She buried her face in her pillows as her sobs rocked her body. Over and over the memory played itself in her head, yet she couldn't make sense of it. It was too vague. She couldn't see Pinkamena's face to see if she was crying, she didn't see sobs shaking the pink mare. In fact, everything was still, as if locked in time. There was no wind swaying the grass, and Rainbow's blood was stagnant. The memory was a fragment, and it tortured Scootaloo.

Sighing, she rolled out of bed. She stretched her limbs, which elicited a groan of relief from her. She fluttered her wings and opened her door, exiting her room to the dark stairway. Once downstairs, she caught sight of the basement door and shuttered. The basement was Pinkamena's workshop; home of many, many deaths. A shiver went down her spine as she heard the loud giggle of the demented pink mare through the heavy wooden door.

She stared at the door, lost in thought. Pinkamena was a professional killer, and ever since the time she had thought her friends no longer liked her parties her sanity had deteriorated. She had a long history of Rainbow Dash constantly being annoyed by her. Rainbow could have snapped at Pinkamena, causing her to loose grip of her sanity...

Scootaloo shook her head vigorously, shaking the thought from her mind. No. No. No. Impossible! Pinkamena was Rainbow's best friend. No matter what Rainbow could have said,, Pinkamena wouldn't take it to heart. She growled and headed out the door, unable to think while in that damn house. Once outside she took a deep breath and enjoyed the feeling of the breeze going through her mane. Concealing her scars with her bangs, she began walking aimlessly at a steady pace. She smiled inwardly as her head began to clear of her previous thoughts.

After half an hour of her mindless walk, she found herself in Ponyville square, where the stage will still set up, now vacant and unlit. across the way at the train station, ponies were beginning to file out onto the street. She watched the tourists unload, having nothing else to look at. That was until her eyes locked onto a smokey grey unicorn stallion. He had a long, windswept black mane, which had a single red streak that contrasted his dark yellow eyes. On his back he bore large, heavy saddle bags, so heavy looking that even an earth pony would struggle, but he walked with ease. On his flank was a strange looking circle with symbols she had never seen before. After a few moments she shook herself and looked around, searching for any pony that caught her staring. She took a last glance at the stallion before she turned away and headed to the shopping district.

When she saw the first of the pavilions of shops, she slowed down to a slow walk, taking in the many colors and smells. She grinned a bit and decided to head over tho the largest, brightest of them all, Carousel Boutique's booth with things that were on sale for half-off. She stopped and looked at the multiple hues of blues and violets arranged in a stylish pattern before looking at the mares at the register. They both had white coats, the older of the two with a purple mane and diamonds on her flank, who even in middle age was a thing of grace and beauty. The other was Scootaloo's age, her mane was long with large curls at the end, colored with faint purple and pink. Her cutie mark was a heart with a single musical note in the middle. She approached them. "Hey Rarity, hey Sweetie Belle."

""Hey, Scoots!" called Sweetie Belle.

"Ooh, Good day to you, Scootaloo." chimed Rarity in her sophisticated voice. "What brings you here?"

"Well,", Scootaloo started, "It's getting colder so I need a heavier jacket to wear. This one's nice an all, but it's more for looks than it is warmth. Plus It's starting to get some wear-and-tear to it." She added. She didn't particularly care, hell she liked the look of worn leather, but she knew that it would make Rarity look for the best stuff.

Rarity gave an excited grin. "Well, we can't have that now, can we? Sweetie Belle, you know what she likes. Bring all the leather winter jackets here and place them on the counter."

The younger unicorn nodded and ran through the flaps of the tent behind them. The clothe storage, Scootaloo guessed. It didn't take long for Sweetie Belle to come back with a giant wad of black leather coats levitated in her light blue aura. With practiced care, she placed the items of clothing on the counter in front of her. The white unicorn smiled to the orange pegasus, who gave a half smile back, only to be cut off by Rarity.

"Alright dear, Lets begin searching for you're perfect match!" The purple maned unicorn exclaimed as if she were helping Scootaloo find a coltfriend. Rarity surrounded the heap in her own magical aura and slowly lifted each coat one-by-one for Scootaloo to inspect. The pegasus shook her head at them as the passed her field of view. They seemed a little too common for her, for many stallions she had seen wore similar coats.

Finally, after going through half the pile, She saw one that called out to her. It was a black leather long coat that splits at her tail so the flaps would drape over her flanks and hang to her knees. On it's sleeveless shoulders were five spikes set along the curve. On the inside was fake white fur to provide warmth. Along with it that was floating in the air separately was a spiked collar. Scootaloo pointed to it. "That one".

"Hmm..." Rarity narrowed her eyes at the garment and gave it a speculative gaze. Scootaloo knew she didn't particularly like mares dressing in stallions' clothes. "It's a bit brash, don't you think? The style is a tad bit last season," Rarity continued. "But I suppose it is what you like and I have no say in the matter." She finished with a smile. Scootaloo knew she must be screaming inside her head, but she showed genuine pleasure of selling the item to the pegasus.

Scootaloo paid the price, it was surprisingly cheap even though it was on sale, and Rarity folded it and placed it in a bag, Which Scootaloo picked up with her mouth. She thanked them and departed, heading through an ally way as she normally did to go through town. She froze in her tracks at the sound of a colt voice behind her.

"Oh, hello there, little filly."She turned to face the voice. It belonged to a dark blue earth stallion. Scootaloo dropped her bag at his sheer size, he was as large, if not larger than Big Macintosh. He was staring at her with electric green eyes and a mad grin. She didn't recognize him from town, so he must of come off the train.

"Don't look so afraid," The stallion chuckled as he slowly advanced towards her. "Just be quiet and it'll be over quick. I'm just going to take your money, and then you!" He moved swiftly towards her.

Scootaloo flared her wings witch caused her jacket to open. With lightning reflexes, she drew the large knife she had hidden in a concealed pocket of her jacket and held it in her mouth. The stallion laughed maniacally and lunged to her side. She jumped back in a dodge and lunged forward, using her wings to propel her body and swings her head. Scootaloo ended her short forward flight as blood splattered against her. She felt strangely invigorated by the feel of the hot liquid on her fur. She whipped around to look at her kill, only to be disheartened by the fact she had only sliced his shoulder.

The bleeding stallion growled through his teeth, blood was flowing freely from the deep gash in his deltoid. "I'm going to kill you for that!" He lunged again, much before Scootaloo could react. He rammed his good shoulder into her side, knocking the wind from her lungs. She dropped the knife and took short, uneven breaths and screwed her eyes shut as the pain filled her body. She then felt a hoof connect to her jaw and she sailed back and against the wall and her vision flickered as she lay in a heap. The pegasus looked up at the earth pony and memories tormented her mind, images of the timber wolf shredding her face and leaving her broken. The pain and fear of being at the mercy of another creature. She closed her eyes as the stallion reared back, ready to deal the final blow.

When nothing came she opened her eyes. She gasped, seeing the stallion floating in a yellow aura, and was then slammed hard against the opposite wall. He lay there unconscious. She blinked a few times to register everything as another pony body filled her field of vision. It was the unicorn from the train. She slowly stood, grateful her mane covered her eye.

"Are you alright?"

Author's Note

I live!
Anyway, a few tings; I'm sorry for not updating my stories in a long while. School has been keeping me busy along with friends. I have put Shattered on hiatus because I'm working on a third fiction now.
I know, I know, you like. "Come on Shadow, you can barely manage the two you have!" But come on, this one will be different. Also, comment on how you think this fiction may end. I love wild guesses!

Chapter Four: The Apprentice

"Are you alright?" The unicorn stallion repeated, his yellow eyes and his words laden with concern. Scootaloo stared blankly at him, stupefied. Up close the stallion was much larger than she expected for a unicorn. He had broad shoulders and a strong, lean build, as if he is used to physical labor. His smokey gray coat was smooth on his body and moderately thick, revealing a pleasant amount of his underlying muscle. Scootaloo's eyes drifted up to the unicorns face. He bore no blemishes, other than a small scar on the left hoof corner of his bottom lip. Who was this stallion?

The pegasus shook her head as the stallion repeated himself for the third time. "Huh? Oh. Yes, I'm fine" She shook her head again and let out an embarrassed laugh. "I apologize, I had to collect my thoughts. You know, after being hit in the head and all." She gave an awkward smile. "Thank you, though. I was not expecting... that." She indicated to the unconscious earth pony. She mentally kicked herself for acting like a school foal that had to give a presentation to her class.

"I understand", the gray unicorn replied. "And you're very welcome. I couldn't stand by as this low-life try to have his way with you. Even though you looked like you could have handled yourself if he hadn't blind sided you." He paced over to the bag that Scootaloo had dropped and picked it up in his teeth, which she found odd considering he could just levitate it. The colt walked back to her and placed the bag in front of her hooves. "Though I have to say I'm glad he knocked the knife from you. With that wound you gave him, I'd wager you had the intent to kill. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but if you had succeeded you would face a murder charge. I doubt the guard would believe it was self defense after you cleaved him into pieces."

Scootaloo retrieved the knife that was only a few feet from her and slid it back into it's hidden sheath in her jacket. "Thank you for the concern, But I could have found a way to get out of it." She gave him an oddly cocky smirk. "I'm not totally helpless, Mister..."

"Night Shade", he replied. "And you are?"

"Scootaloo. So tell me, Night Shade, what were you doing when you found me in the ally?" She asked, rather curious.

Night simply shrugged. "I was in the tourist market place when I spotted you at that clothing stand. I was looking at a few books at the time. When I made my purchase, I saw you heading into the ally. I didn't think much of it, before I saw that stallion follow you shortly after with a foolish grin on his face." Night closed his eyes and shook his head in disgust. "Judging by the looks of him, he was up to no good, so I followed. I heard everything, but stayed back, in case you thought I was with him. A decision I regret making. "

"I guess it's fine now. You got him before he could do any major damage to me." Scootaloo tested her jaw by opening and closing her mouth a few times, wincing in the process. There was most likely a hairline fracture somewhere on it. "Anyway. What brings you to Ponyville? Friends? Family? Boredom?"

Night laughed. "Actually, I left those behind in Canterlot. You see, I'm not a typical unicorn. I was looked down on by the snooty upper class because I liked doing things physically instead of using magic. Sure, I know a good deal of magic, but the majority is transmutation. Turning things to other things." He looked back on his flank at his cutie mark. "Turns out, it's what I'm best at. But now I find that it isn't all I want to do, so I came here to try to learn form the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle."

"You're here to see Twilight?" asked the pegasus.

"Yup. I've heard that she was a student of Celestia, and the Element of Magic. I just hope she will agree to teach me a few things."

"I'm sure she would," Scootaloo assured, "She lives at the Books and Branches Library. It's easy to spot. When you get there you'll most likely be greeted by her dragon, Spike. Just say that I told you to go there, and he'll fetch Twilight. Since you know me, I'm sure she'll teach you. I used to crash at her place a lot as a filly."

The dark unicorn nodded. "Thank you, Scootaloo. I hope you get home safely." He turned and began a steady trot in the direction of the library, calling his farewell over his shoulder. Scootaloo watched him go with a small smile before picking up her bag. She turned and set her course for home.

--==--

The orange pegasus yawned when she opened the door to her house and cringed as pain lanced from her jaw. With a sigh, Scootaloo entered her home. She closed the door behind her and looked toward the basement door. There was no light shining from the crack, showing that Pinkamena was no longer down there. The mare only took a few steps forward when she heard the all to familiar hysterical laughing coming from upstairs.

Scootaloo froze, suddenly filled with dread, only to sigh in relief a few moments afterward. She knew she was safe. She just couldn't disturb the pink pony. She knew this laugh well. Pinkamena's fragile sanity has broken, so she locked herself in her room so she wouldn't harm anypony. The pink mare has these fits often, her mind being lost from both guilt and excitement of the ponies she has killed and butchered. Scootaloo had seen her in this state once, and nearly lost her life to the psychotic pony. Scootaloo feared becoming like her, so she had quit helping in Pinkamena's shop.

With a shake, Scootaloo hurried upstairs and past the door where the laughter was coming from. She went into her own room and quickly closed the door. She was thankful that the thick wood blocked out most of the sound. "For Celestia's sake, can nothing go normal today?"

Sighing, Scootaloo pulled her new jacket and collar from the bag and lied them out on her bed. She thoroughly checked the interior of the jacket and began to fashion a hidden sheath for it. It was always a rule to her, a set of rules, and this was rule number nine: Never go anywhere without a knife.

After about a half hour she looked at her craft, satisfied and slid her knife from her old jacket to her new one. Once she was done she slid it on, fitting her wings through the small holes. She looked at her flank, grateful that this jacket hid it like her previous one. Afterwards she put the collar one and walked to her mirror to inspect her self. She smiled at her reflection, and fiddled with her bangs, fixing them back over her eye correctly. The leather suited her well, she thought. After a few moments she saw her reflection grin and she gasped, stepping back.

"You've had quite a day, Scootaloo", Misery said in her mocking tone, "And you met quite the stallion, haven't you?"

"It's bad enough I have to deal with you in my dreams, bitch. But now you're possessing my mirror? What the hay do you think this is?" Scootaloo barked at Misery, scowling.

"You are avoiding my question, Scoots. And you know it is pointless to try. You can't hide your thoughts from me, nor your feelings. You watched him leave the train. You were infatuated with this 'Night Shade'. And then when he saved you, by the Princesses' you were stunned by his looks." She made a funny face at her. "My hero." She laughed.

"Oh shut up." Scootaloo interrupted her reflections sick laughing, only to be greeted with a mocking look of attention. "So what if I found him attractive? As a mare I believe I have the right. isn't that how things work?"

Misery only shook her head with a grin. "Filly, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. You don't know the first thing about Colts. Especially a stallion like him."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Neither do you. You're a part of my mind. You know as much as I do."

"Good point."

"I might talk to Apple Bloom. I haven't spoke to her in a couple years. Maybe she'd.. Dah! What am I saying?" She shook her head, making a mess of her mane. "I'm not going to be some mare hopelessly in love with someone. I probably won't even see him much, even if he does move here in Ponyville. Twilight will keep him busy."

"Look at you, so lost in your emotions." She could hear the smirk in Misery's voice. She continued when Scootaloo faced her. "You need to relax. Take a breath. Stop thinking about how much you want his-"

"SHUT UP!" She screamed at the mirror. And like that, she was looking at her normal reflection. With a sigh she flopped onto her bed and her eyes drifted closed. With in a few moments she drifted to sleep, the day having made her tired.

Chapter Five: Rainbow In The Dark.

A few days had passed and Scootaloo was exhausted. Not because of lack of sleep due to Misery plaguing her dreams or anything of that sort. She was used to Misery by now, albeit she can still bring a good jump-scare in her dreams. The reason she was exhausted these past few days is because of the late night concerts. The Mayor has paid for Vinyl and Octavia to stay in Ponyville for an extra week. The two musical legends have been bringing many tourists to the small town, and things were going great.

She would always show up early for the concerts, just to talk to the musicians. They were forming a decent friendship, which surprised her because the first night she did nothing but babble about her favorite songs by them. The second night they talked over dinner just about anything and everything. Scootaloo actually had many genuine laughs over Tavi's stories about Vinyl's antics over the passing years. Last night was pretty hectic because many fans showed up early as well, so the two decided to have an autograph signing. They later apologized to her for being so busy, but Scootaloo understood. They were famous and she would be foolish to think she'd get them just to herself. Tonight they are off to rest up. Scootaloo was contemplating visiting them in the evening but decided against it. She didn't want to be a nuisance, and they deserve time alone.

She sighed as she rolled lazily onto her other side, having spent the majority of the day in bed. She looked out her window. The day would be over in a couple hours, and the sun would set. As she stared her mind wandered to Night Shade. She hadn't seen the unicorn since he rescued her. She wondered what he was doing right now. Probably studying or re-shelving books, or any other menial tasks Twilight had for him. That is if she accepted him as an apprentice.

"Ugh." Scootaloo groaned as she sat up. "Why am I thinking about him?" She reflected on her conversation with Misery and chewed the inside of her cheek mindlessly. "'A mare hopelessly in love'? Why did I say that? I don't love him, I don't even know him." She shrugged her shoulders. "Heat of the moment response I guess."

She sighed again as she rolled out from bed. "I may as well do something today. I wonder if Applebloom is busy, the day's about over." He gave herself a nod, deciding visiting her old friend would be her course of action. Without looking in the mirror, as to avoid Misery, she straightened out her mane so her bangs fell over her crimson eye. Stretching her stiff wings as she went, she grabbed her jacket and put it on. On her way out she bid farewell to Pinkamena, who was busy in her workshop and headed out the door.

On the walk to Sweet Apple Acres, her mind went back to the flashback of Rainbow's death. Her filly self burst through the back door in a panic, and saw Rainbow laying in her own blood, gone. Pinkamena was standing over her corpse. Scootaloo furrowed her brow as she tried to remember more. Slowly, like an old machine starting up, the still image started moving.

Pinkamena crumbled onto the ground next to her dead friend, her wild mane beginning to sag. She reached down and placed her hoof on Rainbow's cheek and tears rolled freely from her blue eyes. She began to speak in choked sobs;

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Dashie." She gasped for air as her unruly mane finally fell flat around her face. "I wish I could take it back. I wish I could take back everything. That I said, or I've done, or even thought of you." Her pink frame rocked and shook from the strength of her sobs. "I never wanted it to end like this, with the last memory you have of us being in an argument over simple fucking balloons. I'm so sorry..."

Scootaloo released the breath she didn't realize she was holding, causing her to snap back to reality.What could she have been so sorry for? She thought. She was acting so... guilty. Wait. No. NO. Not guilty. She seemed more full of regret. Like she had so much more to say.Her words, her voice. Even as a filly I could tell that her words were meant for Rainbow's living ears.

She tried to muddle up any sort of relative thought, but failed miserably. Perhaps she should ask Pinkamena some day about what really happened. But, what would happen to her fragile sanity if she did? No... I can't do that to her. This is something I have to discover on my own.

--==--

The sun was almost set by the time she reached the farm, casting everything in a warm orange glow. She smiled at the sight. The farm was beautiful this time of day, ad she had forgotten. The trees cast dynamic shadows on the ground, making it seem almost like a fantasy. Their bright red fruit reflected the sunset, turning them golden. The air smelled of the sweetness of apples, and the dirt path she walked felt remarkably calming under her hooves. As her eyes wandered she spotted the mare she had been looking for.

Her coat was a pale yellowish tan color,over muscles developed from hard work, with a bright red mane in contrast. Her mane was tied in a braid, much like her sisters, and secured by a small bow. Upon her flank was a single red apple with a claw hammer behind it. Around her neck she wore a green bandanna, which had become her trade mark, much like Big Mac's harness or Applejack's stetson. She was busy gathering a few buckets of apples, which gave Scootaloo a good view of her hindquarters as she bent down. She found she could not help herself. "Hey sexy, you seen Applebloom anywhere?"

"D'wha?" Came Applebloom's startled reply as she whipped around, eliciting a laugh from Scootaloo.

"Easy cowgirl. It's just me." She snickered.

"Darn it, Scootaloo. Y'all scared me." The farm pony huffed. "And y'know Ah don't swing that way." Applebloom said sternly, but soon her serious demeanor crumbled and she chuckled. "So how ya been, Scoot's? Ain't heard from ya in quite a while."

"I could be better, I suppose. But I could be much worse. So I guess I'm just kind of 'meh' right now."

"Ah can understand that," Applebloom said, "It's been rough this past year without Granny."

Scootaloo's ears flattened slightly. "I heard about that. I'm sorry, I really am. And I'm sorry I wasn't here to help out."

"Ain't nothin' for you to get all mopey about, Scoots. Everypony has their own situations, and Ah know you have it rough." She smiled. "We're survivin' though. Big sis got a good head on her shoulders, and Rarity has helped us with the financial side o' things, until we got the hang of it."

"That's good, at least. And you should be getting decent business with the tourists in town and the Concerts every night."

Applebloom nodded. "Ah reckon so. We've sold a lot of apples and cider. Thing's are starting to calm down now. But there is this new unicorn that comes up every so often. He's supposedly Twilight's new student. Or somthin' like that."

"Wait, Night Shade comes up here?"

"Ah do recall that bein' his name. Why d'ya ask? Know him?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Sort of. He pretty much saved my life." At Applebloom's puzzled expression she continued. "Well, I was in the market area when I first saw him get off the train. Bastard's strong for a unicorn, you should of seen his saddlebags. Anyway. I bought this jacket from Rarity and started walking home. You know me, I keep to the allies. Well, it just so happened that this colt from the train decided to get the jump on my flank. Literally. When I refused, he tried to kill me."

Applebloom grit her teeth in disgust. "He ain't no real colt if he has to get pleasure that way. He's better hope he never comes across me."

"Hold your apple cart, I'm not done. Anyway. I cut his shoulder pretty good, but he got me by surprise and fractured my jaw. I thought for sure I was a goner at this point. He had me on the ground and I was waiting for the final blow. When it didn't come I opened my eyes. Lo and behold he's floating up in the air and get's slammed into a brick wall. Next thing I remember is Night Shade's helping me with my bag."

The farm mare let out a low whistle. "The hero type huh? Ya sure know how t' pick 'em, Scoots."

"Wha- what does that mean?" Scootaloo asked, flustered.

"Well, y'all talk about him with this goofy look on your face." Applebloom closed her eyes half way and batted them, whilst having the dumbest smile.

"Shut up, I have blunt force trauma!" She retorted. "For all I know I could have a mental disability now."

"Nah. You're just hopeless."

"Ugh!"

--==--

Scootaloo yawned as she walked from the Apple family's barn house. She had spent the day with Applebloom, catching up over the past years. She had laughed so genuinely with her foalhood best friend, and in those precious hours it reminded her of how her life had used to be. Between the two of them and Sweetie Belle, they were always getting in trouble over finding their true talents. She chuckled to herself as she glanced up to Applebloom's bedroom window and watched the light turn dark. "Sweet dreams, old friend." The life of a farm pony, they weren't much for being night owls.

She had been walking past Rainbow Dash's hill when a soft sound hit her ears. A gentle melody floating through the air, telling a story of both extravagant beauty, and deep sorrow. She looked up at the small path leading to the ancient oak that shaded Rainbow's grave. Slowly she started to ascend the dirt trail, and the sound grew stronger with each step. As she crested, she felt her breath leave her body. The electric blue and white DJ, and the fair ash and coal Cellist, stood in somber attention. Octavia had brought her cello with her, but her bow was not to the strings. The melody did not come from her, for it was from a wind instrument. Scootaloo's eyes went to the headstone, and behind it stood the strong and smoke colored Unicorn that had saved her life. He stood there with an ocarina enveloped in his magic and his yellow eyes closed. From him resonated the perfect melody.

As the song died, his eyes opened, and she stood there before him with a tear running down her cheek. A tear of happiness and sorrow. The corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smile, and he finally spoke. "I've heard stories of her and I wanted to pay my respects. The passing of an Element and legend such as she, she deserves to be honored."

"Me and Vinyl came here to play a song for her, but Night had beaten us to it. We were both captivated. I have never heard of any pony, even a Unicorn such as he, play the ocarina with such perfection." Octavia spoke with a soft voice, and here eyes were glassy from un-shed tears.

This time Vinyl spoke. "Me and RD go way back. We've been trough a lot together. She was one of my first fans back when I just performed in seedy bars and taverns." He gave a sad little laugh. "Always so stubborn and never letting me quit. I just had to visit her again."

These three ponies, whom she had just met within the past week, all share with her one thing; Rainbow Dash. She had touched so many lives without realizing it, and all of the praise for the rainbow mare threatened to choke Scootaloo with pure emotion. After a bit of effort she finally managed to say two little words; "Thank you." The other ponies smiled to her, those two words all they needed. As Scootaloo made her way over to sit next the headstone, both Vinyl and Night Shade's horns flashed. Confused she looked up in the sky and gasped.

In the night sky in front of the glowing moon sat a beautiful rainbow. A rainbow in the dark. As she stared up at the beauty, the Night Shade's melody started to play again, and Octavia's cello accented it this time. It was without a doubt the most beautiful thing she had ever experienced.

Author's Note

Sorry for taking so long. Busy schedule and all that.