Into the Badlands: The Search for the Golden Feather

by Technical Difficulty

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Romance
Length: 1108

After learning about an ancient artifact said to give ponies the power of flight, Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy embark on an adventure to find it.

Class has just been dismissed for Spring Break, and Scootaloo has great plans for how she'll spend her days. Having read about an artifact hidden away in an ancient ruin, the young filly rushes to her mentor with a book of legends. While Rainbow Dash is skeptical at first, she soon realizes that the book may hold some truth to it. Convinced that there is nothing to lose, she agrees to escort Scootaloo on the journey, but on the condition that they return to Ponyville in time for the filly to attend school as usual.

However, Fluttershy has mixed emotions, and the extra attention from Rainbow doesn't help her situation at all. As she spends more and more time with the brash pegasus she begins to wonder how far their friendship extends, or if there is something more beneath it all.

The only certainty that lies ahead for this trio is the fact that they have nine days… but will that be enough? More importantly, how will their relationships change when it's all said and done?

What else is waiting for the pegasi in the ruins of the Equestrian Badlands?
Only one way to find out…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-02-18 12:49:01 UTC

Chapter I - School's Out

In all passionate, young hearts there burns a desire for adventure. An instinctive curiosity that entices some towards great things, but can also tempt even the bravest with failure when left unchecked. The innocent pursuit of dreams can quickly transform into reckless abandon when loved ones fall in harm's way because of a selfish aspiration.

There is a very fine line between risking yourself and risking others though - a line that can be very hard for passionate, young hearts to see.

* * *

The morning sun was beaming down on the local schoolhouse in Ponyville as the little colts and fillies chatted among themselves. While normally their day would be filled with lectures and lessons, Cheerilee had decided that the little ones had earned a break for once. Complete with jovial music, snacks, and punch, the classroom was quite lively as they enjoyed the last day of school before Spring Break began. No pony could remain calm as the clock inched its way to their liberation. Even the cheeky teacher found herself giggling as she reviewed her itinerary and clung to two train tickets for Canterlot.

Each eager student took their turn explaining what plans they had for the miniature vacation. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon found themselves listening attentively and respectfully as others spoke, for on this day they all shared a common interest. Yesterday's problems were no longer a concern for these little ponies. The only thing that mattered was how much fun they could possibly have in one week's time.

While it seemed that the excitement was equally spread across the class, there was one who had remained silent. The filly seemed to be completely dissociated from the merriment, choosing to continue reading rather than joining the conversation. Her peers took notice of the uncanny behaviour, silently shrugging and passing glances to one another. Scootaloo's eyes were locked on the pages, absorbing every detail the paragraphs had to offer.

Sweetie Belle whispered to Apple Bloom, her voice a mix of confusion and concern. "Do you think she got in trouble for something and has to do extra homework?"

The little earth filly squinted her eyes towards their teacher, studying her while the mare sat absent-mindedly humming as she shuffled through her saddle bag. "Maybe... But I just couldn't imagine miss Cheerilee givin' out an assignment when she's in this good 'a mood..."

The pair looked back to the pegasus and let out a sigh, curious as to why their normally brash friend was so enthralled by a seemingly mundane tome.

"Maybe it'th juth a good book?" Twist optimistically offered the idea with a smile. "I know thure can't thop reading whenever I find an exthiting adventure thory."

Diamond Tiara giggled, coaxing her mane with a hoof as she spoke. "Well I guess we know what Scootaloo will be doing over the break then."

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom couldn't help but join in as the class shared a laugh while the pegasus kept to her studies, oblivious to the commotion around her. Ever since the filly stumbled upon the book at the local library the previous day, she could not stop reading it. The collection held within these pages were full of visual splendour and grand legends, though none had enamoured the pegasus as much as one certain tale had managed to. This particular section would command her attention to such lengths that she began to wonder if it may even tie into her destiny. While the class returned to their idle chatter, a dopey grin spread across Scootaloo's muzzle as she pondered the different cutie marks she could potentially earn. Even talents that seemed impossible beforehand now could very much be a reality for the pegasus. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she flipped a few pages back and began re-reading The Golden Feather.

However, just as her eyes began crossing the first few words, a sudden breeze jolted into her ear sending a tickling ache down into her neck. Her ear flicked instinctively as she recoiled and turned to face the source of the discomfort with a grimace. Though, her expression quickly faded into a nervous blush when she found herself nose-to-nose with Silver Spoon,who simply wore a bright smile as their eyes locked onto one another. The pegasus' throat went dry as a cold sweat washed across her body, further sapping any confidence Scootaloo had prior to the engagement.

Opening her mouth to speak, the shaken filly was interrupted by her friend calling out with her hooves high in the air. "Hey! That ain't fair! Y'all cheated!" Crossing her forelegs as the rest of the ponies began laughing again, Applebloom huffed a disgruntled breath in disapproval as she sunk down in her seat.

Silver Spoon winked to Scootaloo before adjusting her glasses and trotting past the filly, playfully flicking the tip of her white tail against the orange pegasus' muzzle as she coolly stepped away.

Scootaloo's eyes widened, her little wings stiff in either direction as she looked among the group. Shakily raising a hoof,  she demanded an explanation from her peers as to what exactly was going on, but had only barely managed to mutter, "...uh?"

The rich little earth pony leaned against Applebloom's desk, idly flicking her braids with the tip of her hoof. Gleaming a cat-like smile, her eyes glistened with a proud glint as she smoothly explained the situation for Scootaloo. "Well, we had all been talking about what we're going to do for Spring Break, but then we noticed you were just sitting there, reading... Naturally, we became curious."

"Yeah! You were being really quiet." Sweetie Belle interjected, "And we wanted to know what you were reading, so we figured the best way to find out was to get your attention."

"That'th when Diamond Tiara came up with the idea that we thould make a game of it." Twist added as she leaned forward on her desk, resting her chin atop her hooves placidly.

"So, what are ya reading anyways?" Applebloom had perked up in her seat once more, raising an eyebrow in concern as she spoke. "I don't think you've ever been this quiet before."

Scootaloo's eyes glanced around at her friends as she placed a hoof on the book atop her desk, nervously fiddling with the page. She hadn't really wanted to bring up the legend until she talked to Rainbow Dash about it first, but the more she thought about it, the more the excitement grew inside of her. With a smile on her face, she inhaled deeply and begin to explain the story to the class.