Warning: contains violence.
• Chapter Thirty-one: Retaliations •
…
After the freckled earth pony had left, Scootaloo turned around, trotting into the bushes, before finding a large tree. She clambered high into the branches, using her wings to propel herself upwards, as she finally rested on the tallest branch. She settled down into a perfect seat, her tail curling neatly around her hooves as she peered into the sunset for a bit, feeling the wind whistle through her wings. Thoughts gushed through her mind like a hurricane; dark memories swept back.
…
"Hello class, we have a new student with us today... meet Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo watched nervously, as the other kids examined her, judging her at that very moment.
"Ugh, she isn't very pretty, is she Silver Spoon? Her eyelashes look like that of a colt's!" An earth pony filly turned to her friend.
"Oh my gosh DT! I just realised that! Totally an outcast!"
Scootaloo squinted, trying to see if anypony was looking at her in a supportive manner.
She either wasn't pretty enough, or sporty enough. It was either those two for every school. She was a lot different as a younger self- her mane was the same at the top, but it was long and braided below her ears, and her wings were a lot smaller.
The teacher gave a sigh, as she lead Scootaloo to her assigned seat. "Good luck, kiddo." The teacher trotted away, Scootaloo glimpsing sadly into the distance, and through the window, raindrops drizzling down the clear glass.
Cling clang cling clang
A while later, the bell went, and all the foals got up from their seats, trotting out of the class. Scootaloo was slow to follow, as she had been held back by the teacher.
"Now, I know that you are here because... you have had some trouble in your passed few schools," the teacher gave Scootaloo a grim expression.
Scootaloo nervously nodded. "It's because of... bullies."
The teacher grimaced. "Yes... and because of that... I don't think this is the best school for you. Just... try to behave yourself..."
Scootaloo nodded, tears lining her eyes. "I'll try, but I'll probably fail."
"I know," the teacher sighed, nosing her out the door, and shutting it behind her.
The four year old Scootaloo jumped at the sound of the door, before she fearfully scampered out of the building. As soon as she emerged into the playground, the foals playing, and chatting stopped what they were doing and went silent. They were all staring straight at Scootaloo, who was nervously walking down the path. Foals dashed from the pavement, trying to get as far away from the castaway as possible.
Whispers eroded the area, almost suffocating Scootaloo in a verbal way.
"I heard she got expelled from her past twenty schools!"
True.
"Yeah- she beats up foals- I heard she killed one of them!"
False.
"I think her name is Scootaloo- ugh, some fugitive."
Scootaloo bore down at the pony responsible. "I am no fugitive! I am not on that list to be caught and arrested!"
The filly squealed, scampering away and hiding behind her friends.
Scootaloo sniffed, before trotting forwards, the crowded ponies parting. Two foals didn't move though- the fillies standing before her and smirking in hostility. They flocked around her- surrounded her- Scootaloo couldn't run away, as some foals crept behind them, blocking up the gaps to take a peek at what was going to happen. The leading pony, an earth Scootaloo recognised from earlier as Diamond Tiara, stood before her.
"This school was running perfectly fine, before you arrived, exile," the filly sneered, looking Scootaloo up and down. "Not only are you a killer, but you are also the most appalling looking creature I have ever laid eyes on."
"Change that appalling to appealing, dimwit," Scootaloo rebelled, a smirk glued to her face. "And for all I know, I have never done anything to you. You should just go and kiss your flank now."
Silver Spoon gaped. "Oh, burn!"
She went silent, as Diamond Tiara whipped around to glare at her. The pink filly faced Scootaloo. "You're foolish."
"Your breathe stinks," Scootaloo piped.
"Well your eyes look funny."
"Your voice is irritating. Somepony get me a cloth to stuff right down her prissy little throat to free us from the torture."
A few foals laughed, before going silent, as they noticed the macabre glint in Diamond Tiara's eyes.
Scootaloo attempted to trot passed them, but Diamond Tiara shoved her backwards, sending her pummelling to the ground, her head down, and her rump in the air.
"Huh. She's also a blank flank, as well as a loser," Silver Spoon scoffed.
"I am not looking for a fight, just leave me alone." Scootaloo peered around from the ground, trying to figure out a way to get passed.
"What are you, a chicken?" Diamond Tiara giggled mockingly. "Chicken! Buck buck buck..!"
"Gobble, gobble..!" Silver Spoon joined in.
"Silver Spoon- no, you're thinking of a turkey." Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes.
Scootaloo stumbled back onto her hooves, brushing dust and blood from her grazed cheek, a vexed expression on her face. These fillies had provoked her, and she was angry. "What did you just call me?"
"What? A chicken or a turkey?" Silver Spoon listed, an egoistic expression on her face.
"Enough with the turkey!" Diamond Tiara squabbled.
Scootaloo menaced forward, her lip curled into a snarl, and her nose touching the filly's in a threatening manner. "Chicken."
"Oh, so that offended you?" The pink filly with the purple and white mane grinned. "Well then, it shouldn't, because it's truth! You're just afraid that if you get into a fight you'll be expelled like you were from all your other schools. Eventually, nopony is going to want a loser like you, and you will grow up to be unsuccessful in life. Chicken!"
Scootaloo felt her eyes begin to water, before she blinked back the tears, crouching down into a defensive position. "I am wanted, and I am not a chicken. I may be a blank flank, but I would never want a Cutie Madk like yours! Your special talents should be bullying, because you do a very good job at it! Despite your specialty, you are just bark and no bite!"
Diamond Tiara slowly spun around, facing Scootaloo, with a spiteful glint in her eyes. "Was that a threat?"
Scootaloo nodded, fixing a determined expression on her face, without saying any words.
Diamond Tiara grinned. "Well then, I take your challenge. Let's see who is the better fighter here, and see if you are really what you think you are."
Foals stepped back, crowding around the two, and chanting out the single word, which Scootaloo has grown all too used to. "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Twenty-seven schools she had gone to now- she had been expelled from every one. The bullying had gone too much for her- violence had blocked up Scootaloo's pathway in innocence, and she had grown to be rough, and homicidal- but less maniacal. Her brain had been clogged up with images, which a foal like her should have never seen. She had seen and lost more blood than the blood which could drain from a pony whom had fallen from a tower. Scootaloo was a monster... surviving on vengeance, and jumpy because she had been scarred. As soon as she had taught these foals a lesson, that they weren't going to forget, she could live life again... and be more happy than depressed and agitated. That's what she told herself before every skirmish. It never worked. Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara circled in the rink surrounded by ponies, before the prissy earth pony made her first move, launching herself forwards, and thudding into Scootaloo. The pegasi skidded backwards, before rolling forwards, and leaping over Diamond Tiara in an agile manner, circling around so she was facing her opponent.
Diamond Tiara turned her head around to face Scootaloo, but she was too late, as the pegasi had lunged into the air, and onto her back, sending her smacking to the ground. Scootaloo leapt off of her, darting backwards, and preparing for her next attack.
Diamond Tiara got up onto her hooves in annoyance, spitting out a tooth, before turning around again, hatred swimming in her cool blue eyes. The pink filly shot forwards, taking her tiara off of her head, and whipping it across Scootaloo's snout with a swift lash of her hoof. The headpiece was sharp, drawing blood, which sprayed down Scootaloo's nose, going into her mouth. It tasted salty. Scootaloo spat it out, the fine droplet of red landing before Diamond Tiara's hooves.
Diamond Tiara gave a look of disgust, before thrusting forwards again, preparing to knock into Scootaloo's chest and send her to the ground.
At the same time, Scootaloo hopped up an amazing height into the air, flapping her wings so that they made a buzzing sound, to slow her fall. Diamond Tiara charged below her, only to meet nothing, and look up to see Scootaloo hovering above her. Scootaloo stopped vibrating her wings, and she went falling to the ground, onto Diamond Tiara, and force the filly onto her belly with her weight. Diamond Tiara roared, pouncing onto her hooves, and arching her back up suddenly, so Scootaloo went flying through the air, and landing on her hooves further back. Without taking a breathe at the second, Scootaloo sprung forwards, racing at Diamond Tiara and swiping her hoof across the filly's face as an aggressive slash. Diamond Tiara grabbed her hoof bending it to the side, so it cracked slightly, and pushing her backwards.
Scootaloo screeched in pain, her hoof hurting badly as she rested it on the floor. She'd have to win this on three hooves. If Diamond Tiara was going to play dirty, then she would too. Scootaloo raced forwards, still quite quick despite her limp, as she managed to get behind the filly, holding her neck with a headlock, gently strangling the filly. Diamond Tiara nipped at her hooves, before kicking backwards, to make Scootaloo wince towards the back of the area.
Adrenaline pumped through Scootaloo's mind, and all she could hear through her ears was her beating pulse, alongside the chanting of the circling foals. Scootaloo raced towards Diamond Tiara, skidding underneath her belly, and kicking upwards whilst doing so. Diamond Tiara soared through the air, landing on her side, just at Silver Spoon's hooves, who had been hanging back.
"Well? Help me!" Diamond Tiara hissed, getting to her hooves, with the grey filly at her side.
"Oh... right," the filly nodded, aiding her friend.
"Hey, you're cheating! You can't have another pony helping you!" Scootaloo cried, realising that she was now up against two.
"Who said anything about rules?" Silver Spoon sneered, before pouncing forwards, and pinning Scootaloo to the ground firmly.
"Let me go!" Scootaloo vigorously attempted to writhe free from her grasp, but she was locked in her position, and there was no getting away.
Diamond Tiara trotted besides her friend, so she was facing Scootaloo. "Hmm... what to do, what to do, now that we have you here, all so submissive."
Scootaloo spat another crimson, blob of blood at Diamond Tiara's hooves again, as if it were venom, as she glared bitterly at the earth pony.
Diamond Tiara scowled, before looking at Scootaloo's mane again, the braid hanging from behind her ear. "I know what to do. You know how I said you were hideous?" Diamond Tiara clamped her jaws around Scootaloo's long braided mane. "Well I can now prove it!" She tugged at the hair, tearing at it with pure spleen.
Scootaloo screeched- it felt like her brain was being torn from her head, as the mane clung to her skin, and pierced her like one million tiny spears.
"It's not working!" Diamond Tiara snarled, jerking it as hard as she could, with loathe in her eyes.
Scootaloo could no longer hold back tears, as she experienced the worst pain ever, as she finally heard the sound of her mane falling appart, sounding like a page of paper being shredded in half. Diamond Tiara flung back as if she were an elastic band, as the final hairs of Scootaloo's lower mane broke apart. Diamond Tiara smirked, her blue eyes glowing wickedly, as she spat out Scootaloo's mane heinously.
Silver Spoon trotted up to her friend's side, giggling callously. "Nice one DT."
Scootaloo felt her lower mane- it wasn't long anymore- only a few triangle-like hairs jutting out of the back of her head. She stared at Diamond Tiara, only shock lighting up her face like a light bulb.
Pure horror lingered through the air, broken up by the malevolent leer Diamond Tiara gave, in which was going to haunt Scootaloo from years to come and scar her more than a shining, silver blade.
"And that is why you will never be anything important Scootaloo."
…
"Scootaloo?"
The orange pegasi screamed, flailing her hooves around thin air, trying to hit whoever was there. "Get away from me!" Her voice was choked with fear, as looked into the distance, realizing who it was. "Rumble?" She suddenly lost balance, falling off of the branch and flying down to the earth.
"Scootaloo! No!" Rumble dived down, his wings flapping as fast as they could.
Scootaloo saw the ground below her, pleading for help, before Rumble grabbed ahold of her.
"Gotcha!" He began to fly her back up to the branch.
Breathing heavily, Scootaloo wrapped her hooves tightly around him, clinging for her life, as she buried her head into his silver fur. "Thank you... so much..." her voice was rasped, as she breathed heavily from the surprise.
Rumble gently ascended onto the branch, sitting back, and noticing the terrified filly still clinging to him. Blushing slightly, he pat her back. "It's okay now. You're fine... it's over."
Scootaloo released her grip on him, lowering her head slightly, as she leaned onto his shoulder, peering into the distance from the tree. "I am sorry... I thought you were..."
"Don't be sorry- you're safe now. And I... I understand." Rumble wrapped his tail around her to make sure she was securely seated on the tree, and wasn't going to fall. "It was the bullies, wasn't it?"
Scootaloo nodded and shook her head at the same time. "Yes... it was bullies. But these are... special ones. Remember the two fillies who took Apple Bloom away from us?"
"Vaguely," Rumble slowly nodded, rebooting his memory. "The pink one was scary..."
"Yeah, those two were Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They went to one of the many schools I went to. But... this fight wasn't like any other. Diamond Tiara had a massive impact on my life... good, and bad. For one, she was the one who tore all of my mane out- and it hasn't grown since. Probably still recovering," Scootaloo chuckled slightly. "And also, school ended after the fight... and I was too weak to get up. Eventually Cinderainbow found my bloodstained body lying on the ground, and she became like my big sister since." Scootaloo wiped at her eyes, which were all watery. "It may seem good, but I had nightmares about that filly for the next few years of my life. I had nearly completely forgotten them now... but seeing them again made me... remember."
Rumble sympathetically nudged her chin up so that her head was no longer hanging. "Sometimes it is good to remember."
"True. But this is just something I wish I could forget."
Rumble's expression was unreadable. "I am not going to argue. What is done, is done, and what is past, is past. Right now, it is the present and right now, I have made my own oath that I would protect you at all costs and with my life. I will never let anything like that happen to you ever again."
Scootaloo's heart raced, and she felt a warm fuzzy feeling inside, which she had only ever felt a few times and always when she was around Rumble. "I would just like to say that... I... I..." Scootaloo choked slightly, before she took a huge gulp of oxygen, her cheeks bright red. "Well this is awkward..." She took a deep breathe. "I kind of... I like like, well- not like, like like, but as in like I like like you..." Scootaloo smacked herself. "Just spit it out! Gosh!" She turned to Rumble. "What I am trying to say is that... I kind of really... really, really, really like you... really. And... if the world had been taken over by a bunch of bunny rabbits, who wore clothes which all had elements of the ponyodic table on them, and they could teleport and fly and stuff... and ate cookies with chocolate chips with rainbows and happiness, and fruit and vegetables had been banned, so all of the ponies went really fat, and forgot about our language and gravity, so they all floated into space... and we were the last two ponies alive with purple eyes... and not fatness..." Scootaloo shook her head. "Getting to the point; I would be really happy no matter what, because I would be with you... and a bunch of bunny rabbits and fat ponies who don't matter." Scootaloo gave an idiotic grin. "There. Whew, that was difficult!" She nervously peered at Rumble, who was awestruck, his eyes wide, and his mouth making a perfect 'o'.
Scootaloo lowered her head, sighing. "It's okay if you don't return the feelings. I just had to spit it out... because every time I am mean to you, is just because I am trying to get your attention. And... I may pretend like you're weird, and nerdy... which you are... ahem... I may act like that, but I actually think that you are quite a cool guy, and I am just stoked that you decided to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders... because I cannot imagine my life without you anymore." Scootaloo's orange fur had officially gone red, as she bit her lip. "Yeah, I know I am just ranting on now, and I am a total loser and you probably won't..."
Scootaloo went silent, as Rumble gently put his hoof over her lips.
"You don't need to say any more. I get it."
Scootaloo lowered her gaze from him. "Okay... sorry..."
"Scoots, stop being so hard on yourself! The truth is, I kind of like you too..." Rumble looked away from her in embarrassment. "I have liked you since I first lay eyes on you... and I have liked you every second since. Truth is, I probably wouldn't have joined the Crusaders if it weren't for you. I am not saying that your friends aren't a blast... but they are kinda a bit girly... you know what I mean." Rumble looked to her, meeting her eyes, with his own purple ones.
Scootaloo was perplexed, thoughts and thoughts flying through her mind, before it almost seemed like she was airborne... plummeting down a bottomless sky. Her mind snapped back to real life. It still feels like I am falling. She looked around, to see the ground coming closer. Nope, actually falling. She held her breathe, before she felt hooves grasp around her again, as Rumble lowered her to the ground.
"You really need to stop falling. What if one day, I am not there to save you?" Rumble's eyes were full of concern. He truly cared for Scootaloo.
The orange filly with the magenta mane smiled softly. "You will always be there to catch me when I fall down."
…
"Ah... choo!" Apple Bloom sneezed, as a lump of hay fell on her snout. She spluttered slightly, before she rolled over. She was currently laying sprawled in a haystack, the straw underneath her form, warm and comforting. Apple Bloom peered at the spinning wheel in the distance. She had just woken up from a nap, and by her senses it seemed to now be the morning- also the sound of a rooster nearby gave her the indication. She got up onto her creamy-yellow hooves, and she bounced off of the silage, landing on all fours. Her mane bobbed up and down at each step in an enthusiastic manner. She trotted up to the spinning wheel, sniffing the air. The smell of the two good-for-nothing colts was stale- they must have left a few hours ago. Earth ponies, despite not having wings or obvious magic, were more connected to nature, which also benefited their five senses more than any other type of pony. Touch, taste, scent, sight and sound. Apple Bloom glanced at the gold which was practically pouring from the spinning wheel. It looked like the sun itself, glimmering in the summer days, noble and proud, yet lazy, like a drunk moth hovering around a lamp full of fireflies. Apple Bloom would feel herself leaning forwards, and her irises becoming larger, literal sparkles dancing inside. She shook her head, looking away from the rare delicacy. "It is not for meh. That gold is mah ticket to get out of this fetlock." She added a small 'cha-ching' sound effect, before she heard hoof steps from outside.
Fear sprouted from Apple Bloom like a growing tree shooting from a bud. She quickly rolled herself on the dirty floor, making her appearance seem as if she had been doing a lot of work. She smudged some mud onto her cheek, and lifted one of her legs up to seem as if she had a limp, as she watched the barn door creak open. For a second, which seemed like a year, the two silhouettes of the dreaded ponies just stood there, cruelly sucking up all of the alarm which would rouse Apple Bloom from one million sleeps, not light, nor deep.
"Hmm, Silver Spoon. It seems my suspicions were correct..." Diamond Tiara's voice sounded shaky, as she edged towards the spinning wheel, drooling like a mutt at the glittery substance. "I... I was right... like usual..." Diamond Tiara was literally vibrating, as she was devouring all of the amazement ravenously and was exploding on the inside, possibly in the future, on the outside with glee.
"Ah guess ya two knew of my potential all along. It was difficult, but ah succeeded. Well'p, ah may as well go now... because we made a deal." Apple Bloom was about to trot to the doors, when Diamond Tiara appeared right at her face.
"Did we, I don't remember, do you remember Silver Spoon?" The pink earth pony desperately turned to her friend.
"I like, totally do. And we mentioned it along the tracks too... including, like, yesterday," Silver Spoon snorted, before glancing at her sister. "Why don't you seem pleased at my answer?"
Steam puffed from Diamond Tiara's nostrils, before she turned to Apple Bloom, who was anxiously trying to get out of the room. "Maybe we could work something out? I could offer you a job or something, and you can get paid seventy percent more times zero! How does that sound?"
"It sounds like ya think ah am stupid. The answer is no. Now get out of mah way! Ah want mah freedom!" Apple Bloom attempted to scoot around Diamond Tiara, but the princess blocked her way.
"Now, you listen to me, you cretin. Because you have... solved all of my little riddles and twists, I will come up with a more... humane solution to our need of your talent." Diamond Tiara brutally bared her teeth. "You make gold for us one more night."
"As if!" Apple Bloom spat.
"It is fair though! It will be a way of you repaying us for... yesterday's mishap. I was generous, letting you have one more night. Now you be generous and owe me one more night. Does that sound fair?" Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes, hoping that her skill in manipulation was going to pay off.
"It does sound fair, you know?" Silver Spoon spoke up, smirking, as she realised what her sister was trying to do.
Apple Bloom bit her lip, as she took in the crazed filly's words. It did sound fair... but what if she didn't get as lucky as she had been last time? Thoughts flurried through her mind, in the so little time she had to create the decision. Ah'll be puttin' mah money where my mouth is...
"Fine- but only cause ah am a pony of honor, and ah will work hard to keep a deal. Ya'd better be a pony of honor too." Apple Bloom seized forward threateningly, so that Diamond Tiara could get the picture. "Ya got that?"
"Yes, yep, uh huh, affirmative!" Diamond Tiara rambled, lowering her head, before bringing back her dominance. "Agreed. Now I will retrieve my gold."
Silver Spoon skipped after Diamond Tiara, up to the spinning wheel, and scooped up as much of the thin string of gold as possible.
Apple Bloom wasn't sure how she felt about this new deal- it kind of seemed like a scam, and she figured that Diamond Tiara would have a few more tricks up her sleeve- or up her tiara in this case.
…
Sweetie Belle aroused from her sleep, and she gave a yawn, before getting up, and rubbing sleep from her eyes, trotting to the mirror, and seeing her baggy eyes with dark-purple lines under them, completely visible against her white fur. Her mane was matted horribly, dreadlocks and split ends littered all over it, and there was literally twigs and leaves snagged in the purple and pink hairs. Sweetie Belle yawned again putting her hoof at her mouth, and catching a whiff of her intoxicating breathe. Sweetie Belle fell to the ground in a fit of coughs, as she tried to recover from the grotesque stench. "This... would have... never..." Sweetie Belle coughed a bit. "...Happened... if... I was at... home..." Just the naming of it as home, boosted her doubt.
Sweetie Belle muttered under her breathe, as she trotted out of the room, and to the kitchen, where steam was flowing from the toaster, as the pony watched the bread slowly but surely cook. Sweetie Belle sat herself down at the wooden table, where she levitated a fork with her magic, and began to carve a small line into the wood.
"Morning Sweetie Belle!" The pony chirped, still keeping an eye on the toast.
"Oh, it's morning? I would have never guessed." Sweetie Belle's voice had a sarcastic and nasty tone, as she continued to destroy the wooden table.
The pony lowered his ears as he turned to the unicorn. "Looks like somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed..."
"Something which would have never happened if I were back at home where everything was just perfect!" Sweetie Belle snapped back, her green eyes glistening with embers.
The pony lowered his head, not noticing that the toast we was cooking was now going slightly black. "Okay, sorry... you don't seem yourself... lighten up?"
"No, I will not lighten up. It's not that staying here isn't a blast, but I am getting bored out of my brain and I don't think that my destiny lead me to this place, thank you very much." Sweetie Belle got up from her chair.
The toast was truly burning now, the entire bread black like coals. The pony stepped forward in horror. "What do you mean... I thought that after yesterday... I thought we were friends..."
"You thought wrong! Keeping me captive is one thing, but forcing me to be your buddy? I'd rather eat slate!" Sweetie Belle stormed out of the room. "Bye now."
The pony leapt forward, about to stop her, when a boiling hot, tiny spark landed on his side. Spinning around, he realized that his toast had turned to fire, and the flames were growing larger and larger by each second. "Oh no!" He lunged forward, about to extinguish the fire, when he turned around and saw Sweetie Belle nearing the front door. He stepped towards her, feeling the need to dash forward and stop her, but he fought against his will, grabbing a saucepan and filling it with water to throw on the raging flames.
…
The beautiful Changeling Queen stood before her mirror, a green aura surrounding her horn, as she levitated a majestic crown onto her head. It sat on her head regally- perfectly. Chrysalis's flamboyant green eyes were narrowed like common, as her appearance never quite seemed perfect to herself. The reflection seemed unnatural... not her true self. She knew that she probably felt that deep down, this whole 'attractive' gimmick was a lie. She felt that she kept telling herself that she was the prettiest to make it sound more true, when really, she was running around in one million circles repeating disasters and mistakes to keep her crown. That was what life was being royal. Chrysalis peered at the mirror, before it began to ripple, and the face paved it's way onto the glossy surface.
"I did not ask for your presence," Chrysalis snapped, in a snobby way, her voice crescendoing at each word.
The mirror slowly spoke, it's voice old and grated. "Ah, but your former success has gone so soon. A soul was repaired in less than a moon."
Chrysalis's perfectly shaped ears perked, and she exhaled slowly. "It never ends, don't you just think? Everything falls down the wrong way when it sits on the brink." She closed her eyes sharply, and her fur stood on its end. "What do you have to say at this time? I am getting tired of committing this crime."
The mirror did not hesitate to speak. "You thought she was gone, but she is back from the dead. You may be pretty, but first place is Snow Flutter instead."
Chrysalis opened her eyes, her eyebrows curved down, as she peered back at the mirror. "Show me the minor."
…
Snow Flutter stood tall and assertive, her head ducked down, and her eyes narrowed. "Come out here this instant you ruffian!"
"Nope!"
She heard rustling from a bush, and she snapped around, darting forward, and kicking dust in the direction. "Show yourself, coward! You too afraid to put up a fight?"
"Okay, at this time. They should take offence, and say that they are not cowards. Keep on intimidating them, and they will eventually come out. Then you can give them all you got." Cheese Sandwich excitedly hopped out of the way. "Okay, go!"
Snow Flutter breathed heavily, before charging at the bush. "You're just a chicken. You are too afraid to stand up... to a girl!"
"Never!" Big Macintosh trampled out of the bush, preparing to attack the little pegasi.
Using the advantage of agility to his bulkiness, Snow Flutter bounced to the side energetically, so that Big Macintosh skidded to a halt, banging into a tree, before he spun around, fire in his eyes.
"Is that all you got, wimp?" Snow Flutter bounced from side to side strenuously.
Big Macintosh attempted to dive forward again, but Snow Flutter ducked down, and zipped under him, and to the other side, so he landed in plain dirt. Snow Flutter fixed up her mane teasingly. "Get up, big fella'!" She kindly hopped away, as Big Macintosh got to his hooves. "I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"
"Nope," Big Macintosh and Cheese Sandwich spoke at the same time.
"Good job Snow Flutter!" Shining Armour appeared at Cheese Sandwich and Big Macintosh's sides. "You have really come around with your training."
"Thanks," Snow Flutter preened her ruffled, yellow feathers. A few days of intense training had passed now, and she had improved astronomically. Not only had her strategy and fighting techniques benefitted, as she had just displayed, but she had increased rapidly in confidence, which was one of the traumas of her everyday life. "So is there anything I can improve on?" Snow Flutter tilted her head, and waited for Shining Armour expectantly.
"No."
Snow Flutter uneasily shifted on her hooves. "What do you mean..? Am I not good enough..?" Every time she asked what she could improve, Shining Armour generally came up with large list of things that she needed to get better at. The minimum amount of things so far had been three.
"No, you have done exceptionally well- well enough for me to promote you a position coming out with all of us on your first gathering," Shining Armour smiled, as Snow Flutter let out a squee of delight.
"Can you believe it? I can't believe it! Oh, I am so excited!" Snow Flutter hopped up and down, before quickly lowering to the ground, and straightening up, in a pensive manner. "To correct myself, that will be suitably appreciated. I shall look forward to the day, General." Snow Flutter saluted about to trot away, when Shining Armour halted her.
"That day meaning tomorrow, 6:30 sharp, Veteran. Oh, and if you really want to have something to improve, then try and make it more perfect." Shining Armour saluted to her, as Snow Flutter skipped away.
"General," Cheese Sandwich appeared at Shining Armour's side.
"Yes, Lieutenant?" Shining Armour turned to the orange earth pony.
"How come we are speaking as if we are in a war? Can I just call you Shining Armour?" Cheese Sandwich gave a pleading look, and behind him, Big Macintosh gave a hefty 'eeyup.'
Shining Armour face-hoofed. "Yeah, whatever."
Okay, I am aware that with this story, I haven't been rushing it enough, and I have been dragging it on and on. After receiving some writing tips, I am going to try and speed up the plot a tiny bit more- I said a tiny bit, not so much that the whole story is rushed. Please readers, tell me I am doing anything wrong, because it will seriously help- I literally survive on constructive criticism, so yeah, thanks for reading.