Of Apples and Oranges, Diamonds and Darkness.

As the sun began to cast its rays upon the cloud home, Rainbow was already out and about doing her usual task of ridding the sleepy village of clouds that were not supposed to be there. Ponyville had another few weeks of spring weather, and this week was commissioned to be clear and sunny. Thus, Rainbow was making sure every nook and cranny of hyper-local sky was free of clouds.

However, one place she could not clear the condensation away was her mind; it was a stormy confine of doubt, disappointment, and worry. As Twilight said, Scootaloo was obviously going to need more than just guidance on mannerisms and obedience. The kid was a basket case of emotions and opinion that often fused to create a little orange hummingbird of rage that verbally—and physically—attacked everything she begrudged.

It was clear this rabid filly was putting more than enough strain on her relationship with Soarin'. They had gone from regularly seeing each other in Cloudsdale with the occasional visit at one another’s home to Soarin' making any excuse he could to not cross paths with the filly who hated him with a passion. Aside from the intimate partition of the relationship, Soarin' was a gentlecolt; treating Rainbow Dash with courtesy and affection like she had never known before.  In addition, the two were good friends. Like hobbies, like opinions, it was perfect. But of course, as with every perfect thing, there was always a little catch that could rear its ugly head and destroy it with little effort.

That ugly head was still asleep when Rainbow returned home. Normally this would be fine; however, since hearing of Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo making up, Cheerilee had decided to re-enroll Scootaloo in her class.

“Hey kiddo, it's time to get up,” Rainbow stated as she pushed the door open to a sure sight—Scootaloo curled up in a peaceful ball with her head and nappy mane on her fluffy pillow.

“Squirt,” Rainbow said slightly louder and a little closer, “you have school again, remember? Get up.”

Scootaloo grimaced as she confirmed she heard her mother and lazily stirred. She did not want to get up, not for anything, but considering she was still in trouble for a plethora of things she figured it was best to be on Rainbow's good side and do as she was told.

*************************

On the ground and in a tree, another filly was enduring the same horrid thing.

“Do ah have to?~” Apple Bloom whined. A futile campaign at best. A catalyst for a lecture at worst.

“For the umpteenth time, Apple Bloom,” Twilight moaned, “yes. Scootaloo will be at school again. Besides, if you don't go to school, then you will be certainly assisting Spike with his daily grind—and I think we all know how that will go, both for you and for the library.” Twilight shuddered thinking of the last time she had Apple Bloom take on Spikes' obligations.

Apple Bloom struggled to make herself get up and out, but eventually did so and slunk to the kitchen where breakfast was awaiting her as were a stack of books and quills. The filly wasn't too pleased with the latter.

“What are these for?” Apple Bloom asked as Twilight took her seat next to Spike.

“Cheerilee informed me you've been falling behind in math,” Twilight explained. “I found some books in my library for both you and the school that will help you improve your arithmetic capabilities and capacity for complex operations.”

”Mah what-duh-huh?” Apple Bloom might as well have listened to an alien through a seashell.

“You'll be good at math and junk,” Spike answered.

“Junk?” Twilight was appalled. “Spike! Mathematics are essential to the workings of machinery, agriculture, heck, pretty much every facet of ponykind has been advanced through the gradual amplification of mathematical fluency! Need I remind you expanded tangents of magic theory are heavily rooted in scientific discipline...”

“I was trying to help her translate your 'geek-speak' is all,” Spike panned as he finished his plate and went to clean the kitchen.

“Well, regardless,” Twilight sighed. “These books will be of great help to you, Apple Bloom. Now let’s finish this up and get you to school.”

“Did ya say Scootaloo was returnin' ta school?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yes,” Twilight answered. “At least that's what Rainbow told me.”

“You think listening to her is hard?” Spike teased as the two ponies headed out. “Just wait till you crack open one of those relics.”

“You just hush and get to work.” Twilight grinned slyly. “I'm pretty sure that list is more than enough to keep you busy while I'm out.”

Spike groaned as he shut the door behind them.

Sweetie Belle decided that she was going to take initiative this morning. First she would make and pack her own lunch so Rarity didn't have to. Then she would walk to school all by herself. Sounded great in her mind and, as far as she was concerned, worked very well.

Though Rarity was less than pleased with the smoke, mess, and double-take of fear. One from a house on fire, and the second from a missing sister. Sweetie Belle was getting an earful as she arrived at the school.

“...Until you have taken some form of supervised culinary classes you are FORBIDDEN from entering my kitchen. Is that clear, young lady?” Rarity fumed.

“Sorry sis...” Sweetie sighed. This was one of many times she had said this in the better part of ten minutes; she wasn't really listening, but she could hear enough of it to where she hoped it would stop.

Sweetie was relieved when they finally arrived at the schoolyard entrance. Wasting no time, the filly galloped down the path and up the steps into the schoolhouse. The usual cast of characters—including Scootaloo to her surprise—were in attendance.

Cheerilee began the day by continuing a lesson from last week: photosynthesis and the Everfree Forest. Most of the fillies were generally interested in the odd workings and odd words of the Everfree and were studiously scribing in their textbooks. Three fillies in the back corner, however, had a different course for the day.

“Are you sure this is a good plan, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie reluctantly whispered as she heard the schemes of the butter-colored filly.

“'Course it is, Sweetie!” Apple Bloom answered. “Now that we got Tiara, ah can't see why we shouldn’t try it...”

“But it sounds dangerous,” Sweetie protested, “and Rarity's already mad at me.”

“Relax Belle, it'll be fine,” Apple Bloom assured her. “Scootaloo's got the speed we need ta get 'er done, don't ya Scoots?...Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo was doing her darnedest to hear Cheerilee over her friends and transcribe her monotonous descriptions and fables of the Everfree and its whacky mechanics like the water cycle, tornadoes, and spontaneous precipitation; however, she was finally jarred by Apple Bloom staring right at her, looking notably irritated.

“Ain't ya been listenin' to a word ah said?” Apple Bloom was partly surprised to see a normally passive Scootaloo doing schoolwork. More though, she was stunned the super cool idea of creating a soda propelled flying machine to transport the fillies from the top of Twilight's Library to the clubhouse expediently, something that was both stupid and hazardous, never piqued the pegasus’s attention.

“No~” Scootaloo groaned. “Unlike you slackers, I'm working.”

Sweetie Belle arched an eyebrow as the words struck her ears. “What happened?”

Scootaloo smiled slightly. At least somepony seemed to notice. “I'm not sure if I want to talk about it right no-”

“Girls?” Cheerilee said as the class turned to the triage who were startled into a mannered sitting position. “Would you like to share with the class what you're discussing? “

“N—no thanks, ma'am,” Apple Bloom answered meekly.

“Good.” Cheerilee smiled. “Save your idle conversation for recess.”

While there was some giggling from some of the other students, for once Diamond was not among them. Diamond had heard what Silver Spoon did to Scootaloo's scooter yesterday and hadn't spoken to Silver Spoon since the incident took place.

“You're not laughing?” Silver Spoon asked quizzically. “You usually like it when those blank-flanks get called out for being dodos.”

“Oh, well.” Diamond Tiara replied as she continued reading.

“Why was that feather-brain at your house anyway?” Silver continued. “You're not becoming one of those trash-bags are you?”

“Who cares?” Diamond asked.

“I do,” Silver asserted. “Scootaloo tried to kill you, and now she's suddenly your friend? Why would you hang around with Apple Bruise anyway? It's not like she's worth anythin-”

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU ASSWIPE!” Tiara barely had enough time to realize what she had just said before she looked around at the silent room staring at her. Cheerilee cast a dissatisfied glare.

“What was that, Ms. Tiara?” Cheerilee scolded.

Tiara's eyes went wide as she felt a cold chill shoot down her spine.

“But she--” Diamond had no idea what to do but blame Silver Spoon, or at least try to.

“I will not have that kind of language in my classroom!” Cheerilee lectured, “I don't know what has gotten into you little ponies, but this foul language is uncalled for!”

“Understood Mrs Cheerilee.” Diamond Tiara sulked.

_____________________________________

The trip from the Regional Weather Station to Ponyville took a sum longer than the cyan pegasus could remember. The mare had some issues to sort out today, and it involved talking to a few mares and stallions she barely knew; something she was less than pleased about.

She had done some of that before her duties this morning, an apology from the Spoons' butler on Silver's behalf—but no form of compensation for the destroyed scooter, and now she was headed to the spa where her friends were sure to be. Rainbow welcomed the prospect of a soothing hooficure or mud bath. Given the day Scootaloo's antics planned for her, anything would do.

When she arrived, the usual suspects were there: Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy. They greeted her as she made her way to her respective bed.

“We were starting to get worried dear,” Rarity said as she was enjoying a massage. “I take it your errands kept you a bit longer than expected?”

“Tell me about it.” Rainbow sighed, “This kid has got me in a million places today, all because some jerk decided to trash her scooter.”

“I’ve always been curious about that,” Twilight began.

“About what?” Rainbow asked.

“That scooter of hers,” the lavender unicorn replied. “She’s had that thing for as long as I’ve known her. Question is, where did she get it?”

“Or why is it so important to her?” Rarity added.

Rainbow put a hoof to her chin in thought. She had never considered the origins of Scootaloo’s beloved scooter.

The girls had a point though--nopony seemed to know where it came from and how the filly managed to get it to begin with. Scooters were not a readily produced item in Equestria; in fact, they were very hard to come by in a place like Ponyville where, as far as its residents were concerned, that purple deck with handlebars was some alien plaything.

“You know, I’ve never asked her about it,” Rainbow replied. “Then again, she’s never talked much about it unless she needed me to get it for her.”

A thought occurred to Twilight as she tried to put the pieces of this puzzle together.

“I’m starting to get the idea we don’t know the whole of Scootaloo’s story,” Twilight suggested.

“Something that none of us seems to know? Not even her closest friends?” Rarity added. “Sweetie Belle certainly never mentioned anything of note.”

While Dash would have loved to continue speculating on the ominous origins of the late scooter, she had a more pressing matter to broach to her best friends.

“Hate to put away our tinfoil hats,” Dash said, “but I came here to talk about something a little more important.”

“And what might that be, darling?” Rarity asked.

Dash had been thinking about how she was going to present this, let alone execute it. She needed time with Soarin’, and Scootaloo was not going to let that happen. She loved the filly of course, but between her mood swings and gatekeeper mentality Rainbow wasn’t sure she needed that extra stress to further strain her romantic life given the upcoming busy weather schedule. She figured this much: if there was a good time to dump Scootaloo back at the Boutique so she could get her shtick together, this was the place.

_____________________________________

Recess couldn’t come soon enough for the fillies and colts who, given the colder weather lately, did not want to be in the miserably hot classroom. Cheerilee had to accommodate to the climate preferences of her students, which of course meant cranking the thermostat to an absurd degree. The cold and crisp air was welcome.

“So, now that we’re outside~” Apple Bloom began, “Ah think Ah’ve come up with an even better way to build our flyin’ machine!”

“Did anypony else hear Diamond Tiara earlier?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Nope,” Scootaloo insisted. “I was too busy.”

“Oh, will you cut it out?” Sweetie Belle groaned. “We all know the only reason you’re doing this is because you got in trouble, and you still haven’t told me what happened!”

“Just had some issues with mom’s stupid coltfriend, that’s all,” Scootaloo replied hastily. “Now about that flying machine...”

“Ah still can't believe she stuck up fer us like that,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s almost as if she’s one of us.”

“Like I’ve told you guys for the gazillionth time,” Scootaloo said. “She’s on the good side now. I’ve hung out with her at her house more than a few times.”

“And it’s fun, isn’t it?” Diamond said from behind them. She was originally supposed to be in the classroom as a result of her outburst. Obviously that didn't happen.

“Yup!” Scootaloo replied. “We actually went into the Everfree Forest and went exploring!”

“When were you gonna tell us about this?” Apple Bloom questioned. “An’ why the hay weren’t we invited?”

“Because...I just didn’t think about it, I guess.” Scootaloo shrugged. “We’re gonna go again after school--we found this awesome cave on the way to Canterlot.”

“But what about our flyin’ machine!” Apple Bloom whined.

“That’d be perfect!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“How?” Diamond and Scootaloo asked in unison.

“Duh! If it can launch us to our clubhouse, then maybe we can go to the forest too!” Sweetie Belle was once again warm with pride as she struck ‘awesome idea’ gold.

“But Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom asked, “we kinda planned the whole thing out. We got a landin’ place by the clubhouse--ain’t nowhere to land in the forest ‘cept some trees.”

“Also we won’t have much time,” Diamond mentioned. “Daddy and I have an event in Manehattan, and we’re to depart early this evening.”

“That’s fine,” Apple Bloom replied.

“To hay it is!” Scootaloo asserted. “We aren’t doing this without her!”

“Well, we can’t do it tomorrow!” Sweetie Belle protested. “My parents pick me up from school, and we always do ‘Family Game Night’.”

“Well, horsefeathers,” Apple Bloom said. “How the hay are we gonna do this when none of us got time?”

Scootaloo trotted to the fence of the schoolyard and turned to her friends with a sinister grin.

“We could go now.” She smiled.

“B--but that’s truancy!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “We can’t do that! We’ll get in huge trouble!”

“Ah like yer thinkin’, Scoots.” Apple Bloom joined the pegasus as they climbed the fence and trotted down the road. “Come on slowpokes!”

Sweetie Belle had serious druthers as she darted her eyes around to ensure Cheerilee wasn’t around.

“What are you waiting for?” Diamond quipped with giddiness. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand!”

Soon enough, Sweetie Belle found herself sulking towards the fence and, after unsuccessfully climbing it, she was helped over by Diamond and Apple Boom.

“This is bad ideas girls~” Sweetie worried as they made their way into town.

“Oh relax, Belle.” Scootaloo answered. “What could possibly go wrong?”