//------------------------------// // 5 The Deal is Made Known // Story: Scootaloo's Return // by RebelNarrator45 //------------------------------// Scootaloo pushed open the bakery door, and went inside. Today was apparently a day for an Element Bearers' meeting, because all of them were present...except for Applejack. Scootaloo swallowed hard. The familiar sound of the wheeled frame made Pinkie whirl around. "Apple Bloom! You're early today! Where's..." Her question died on her lips. Her blue eyes blinked furiously as she tried to figure out what she was seeing. The others turned around, and their mouths fell open. Dash recovered first. "Scoots! What...what...how...why are you wearing that?! And how did you get it! Look, I know you felt bad cause of Apple Bloom, but you don't have to wear that just because you-" "Yeah, I do." Scootaloo said softly. The door sprang open and a totally breathless Sweetie Belle burst in. "It’s a miracle! She can walk! And she can...I...wha...Scootaloo?? Why are you wearing a thing like Apple Bloom's?" She stared. "Who can walk??" Twilight asked, completely confused. "Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo chorused. Sweetie Belle blinked. "Wait...how'd you know that, Scootaloo?! I only just saw her and Applejack two minutes ago on their way here!" "Because I know." Scootaloo replied, softly. She didn't say how. Applejack burst in, her sister behind her. "It’s amazin'!" She exclaimed. "She can walk!" "Yeah! An' run an' jump an'..." Apple Bloom stopped leaping like a little filly and stared at Scootaloo, mouth open. "Uh, sugarcube?" Applejack said slowly. "Why are ya wearin' that? An' how'd ya even get it?? Ah don't think the hospital gives em out to just anypony." "Yeah. Let's get that off." Dash added, hurrying to help her out of it. "No, don't! I can't..." Scootaloo cried, but it was too late. Dash had the frame off and Scootaloo fell with a thud. Tears filled her eyes as a dull ache shot through several of the scars she now carried. Dash blinked. "Well, come on, Scoots, get up. You're not hurt that much! I'm sorry if I yanked it off too quick..." "Dash, stop." Twilight walked closer and stood gazing between Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, her eyes narrowing, a confused frown on her face. "What? What is it?" Dash asked. "Take a close look at these two." Twilight told her, motioning. Dash and the others did as she instructed. It was Fluttershy that made a connection first. "Oh my goodness!" She gasped. "Apple Bloom doesn't have a single scar! But Scootaloo does! In the exact places that Apple Bloom's were!" "Well, now, how the hay did that happen?!" Applejack exclaimed, confused. "Scootaloo, do you know?" Twilight asked. Scootaloo swallowed. "Yes." She replied. But she had no intention of elaborating. Apple Bloom would be upset if she knew the deal she'd made. Twilight, seeing she wasn't getting an answer, lit her horn. Her magic scanned and probed Scootaloo, and she grew even more confused at what she discovered. She then scanned Apple Bloom and looked perplexed to the point of a breakdown. "I don't get it!" She burst out. "It’s like...they swapped bodies, but without swapping bodies!" "Come again?" Dash said, frowning. "It's as if every injury Apple Bloom had was transferred to Scootaloo!" Twilight stated in confusion. "And I detect magic in both of them that isn't their own. I don't get it!" "Wait, you're saying that now...Scootaloo is the one who can't walk?!" Dash exclaimed in horror. "Yes. That's what I'm saying." Twilight lifted the young orange pegasus in her magic, and replaced the frame before gently setting her back down. "I don't understand." Dash muttered. "I don't either." Twilight said, more perplexed by this than she had probably ever been by anything in her life. "Scootaloo, you said you knew what happened. Will you tell us?" "No." Scootaloo said softly. Twilight frowned. "Scootaloo, if somepony did this to you as a joke or to hurt you..." "They didn't." "Well, then, what happened?" "No, Twilight." "Scoots, tell us!" Dash exploded, huffing. "I want to know why!" "No." "Scoots..." Dash's voice held a note of warning. "No, Rainbow Dash." Dash groaned in frustration. Twilight leaned towards Scootaloo. "Scootaloo." She spoke in an enquiring tone. "Will you let me do a Memory spell on you? So I can see what happened?" "Only if you don't tell anyone." Scootaloo consented, figuring if she said no, Twilight would find a way to do it anyhow. Twilight leaned closer, touching her horn to Scootaloo's head. Scootaloo closed her eyes, and the others watched Twilight's eyes go white. A few minutes later, she pulled back, and stared at Scootaloo, complete understanding and sympathy on her face. As well as admiration. "Oh, Scootaloo." Her voice was gentle. "What? What is it? What did you see?" Dash demanded anxiously. Twilight looked at Scootaloo. "I think you should tell them. I understand why you don't want to, but I think they deserve to know. Don't you?" Scootaloo looked around. Everypony was eyeing her worriedly. Dash looked especially concerned, gazing at her with narrowed eyes and a worried frown. "I made a deal. Apple Bloom gets healed, and her injuries get transferred to me." Scootaloo finally said, knowing Twilight was right. "You did WHAT?!" Apple Bloom shrieked in astonishment. The others looked completely taken aback. "You made a deal?" Dash repeated. "Why?" "With a magician named Dark Magic." Scootaloo answered. "He said he could fix Bloom, and if I really wanted her healed, all I had to do was let him cast a spell to transfer her injuries to me. So, I did." "But why??" Dash asked, Apple Bloom still being too shocked to ask. "Because." Scootaloo whispered. "I wanted to give her her life back. I stole it from her seven years ago, and I just wanted to give it back to her. Along with her dreams. I wanted to repay the debt I owed her. I don't regret it, either..." She dropped her head. Apple Bloom stood staring, tears running down her muzzle, trying to comprehend what she had just heard. "Well, have him undo it!" Dash snapped in frustration, not realising how uncaring that may have sounded: switch the injuries back to Apple Bloom just so Scootaloo wasn't hurt. "No." Scootaloo looked up. "He told me it was permanently binding. That it couldn't be reversed. And even if it could, I don't want to." "But...but your training..." Dash managed weakly. "The Academy...your dream..." "Will just have to be forgotten." Scootaloo replied shakily. "Believe me, I thought long and hard on it. I knew exactly what I was agreeing to. And what I was giving up." She looked at Apple Bloom. "I'm not sorry, Bloom. You deserved to have your normal life and your dream back." "But...but what about your dreams?" Apple Bloom choked, moving closer. "The Wonderbolts? Flying?" "If it means you're healed, I'll gladly stay grounded and crippled forever. You're worth it, Apple Bloom. Believe me." Apple Bloom launched herself at Scootaloo and clung to her, crying. "Scoots...oh Scoots...ya gave up everythin' for me! Ya shouldn't have! Ah can't let ya do it!" "It's already done." Scootaloo said, eyes glistening. "And it's totally worth it to see you walking again. If I had to go back and choose again, I'd still give up everything just to see this moment, Bloom...where you're happy and free of pain. I would." Apple Bloom could only sob as she held her friend tightly, the full realisation of Scootaloo's sacrifice settling deep into her heart. She had given up so much for her. "B...but now ya can't fly!" She sobbed. "An' ya waited your whole life almost to be able to fly! An' now..." She couldn't finish. For a brief moment, Scootaloo closed her eyes and thought about flying. The rush of the wind through her feathers as she soared; the feeling of absolute freedom; the knowledge that the sky really was the only limit for her. Free falling from a cloud. The adrenaline surge. It was an amazing thing to be sure. She concentrated on the friend hugging her neck. "I loved flying." She whispered, as tears filled her eyes. "But you're more important, Apple Bloom. I would gladly give it up all over again to see you well. It's worth it." Deep in her heart, peace had settled, and she realised she meant every word. It was worth it. It was worth every bit of it. After a moment, Twilight cleared her throat. "It actually can be reversed, Scootaloo." She said, softly. "No." Scootaloo replied steadily. "I don't want it reversed. I want Apple Bloom to stay the way she is right now." Dash reached out and rubbed Scootaloo's head. "You're sure something, kid." She stated, pride evident in her voice. "Maybe you're the one who ought to be the Element of Loyalty." "And Generosity." Rarity spoke up, drying her eyes. "I do not think that even I could be as sacrificing as you, darling." Sweetie Belle came and hugged her friends tightly. Dash smiled proudly at Scootaloo. Applejack leaned close to Twilight. "Twi..." "I know, Applejack. I'm going to get back to my research immediately. Maybe there's a healing spell somewhere that we missed. If I can find one, I'll switch them back and heal Apple Bloom too." "An' if there ain't one?" Twilight sighed and looked at the three friends. "Then we abide by Scootaloo's wishes." She said quietly. Applejack looked as troubled as Twilight felt. Twilight sighed again. She hoped with everything that was in her that they could find something they missed. She really didn't want to leave things as they were now, even if Scootaloo had chosen it willingly. And she was going to look into this "Dark Magic" character. He was going to have a lot of explaining to do! She would write to the Princesses about him immediately. Maybe they could help locate him. Meantime, Scootaloo was content to know her friend was well and her dreams and normal life had been restored. "So, what do we do with Scootaloo now?" Pinkie spoke up. "She can't fly up to your house, Dashie." Everypony winced and looked at Scootaloo, who offered a faint smile. She had already thought of that. But she hadn't thought of where to stay. "How about with us??" Apple Bloom asked. "Yeah, Ah think that's a good idea." Applejack agreed heartily. "Our house is already set up to accommodate that wheely frame. Scoots'll be welcome!" "Only if you're sure." Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom. "Oh, Ah'm sure!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, as she met Scootaloo's gaze. Her expression seemed to say "It's the least I can do." Scootaloo smiled at her. "Thank you." "No." Apple Bloom whispered softly. "Thank you." Scootaloo squeaked in surprise as she was all but smothered in another tight hug. She patted Apple Bloom's back, knowing that, in spite of what it had cost, she had made the right choice. It didn't matter to her if she spent the rest of her life on the ground. All that mattered to her was her friend's happiness and well-being.