…
”…What about?..” “No-no, thank you! I’m not hungry at all! Not hungry at all-all!” The door rattled with sliding air right in front of my nose and finally slammed shut, cutting me off from the room where the food was delicious and plentiful. Very tasty. A lot of. And very persistent! I held the door with my telekinesis for a few more seconds — just to be sure. I exhaled and turned around, trying to get my wings to rest on my rounded sides at the same time. O-oh… The Apple Acres spread out before my eyes in all its glory: a big old barn of faded decaying red, all kinds of farming equipment, rows of apple trees rustling in the wind, and a corral with contented pigs lying in the dirt, which were being rationed phlegmatically by a big red horse with a yoke on his neck and a straw in his mouth. I found me, eying suspiciously the speechless farmer for too long, so I shook my head and looked somewhere in the direction of the barn. I have to occupy myself something with. Rarity, Pinkie… No, I sort of understood, that everything ended well in canon, that they weren’t in danger, that they’d generally made it through and were already rushing home, that, after all, there was nothing I could do now, but… My heart was not in the right place. And that nasty, treacherous “What if?” kept creeping into my head, making my breath stiffen and my fur tingle. Damn it… Shaking my head again, I moved resolutely towards the barn. I must think less about it. Especially since I have ideas to occupy myself with. The smell of old dry boards, apples, and hay hung thickly in the warm, standing air inside. The lazily curling dust hung in the clouds of sunlight, that streamed through the small windows. Along the walls stood gadgets, things, gizmos, and contraptions of all sorts — often unknown to me; in a corner lurked a workbench, over which various tools were neatly hung, some barrels and boxes hung out, a cart stood… I waved my front foot in my face in a vain attempt to dispel the dust, and went to a flat stack, carefully covered with sacking. I lifted it, assessed it, and brought out the scooter box for Scootaloo. I have one thought… I took the box outside, walked back and forth, and settled down in a clearing a little away from the house. Let’s see what you’re made of… I opened it carefully and took out the parts. There were only two: the board with the wheels and the rudder, which has been removed for the sake of compactness. I got rid of the package. I squinted at the thick plastic of the board, reinforced with a metal rail underneath and topped with large rubberized wheels with chiseled tread. I figured they don’t make the other treads on decent models, since paving stones are common in the Equestria. The yellow and blue colors of the Wonderbolts were painted everywhere, and the top of the board had their emblem on it, which was a lightning. I put the rudder in and locked it in place, looked at the result, applied a little effort in different directions. It looked solid, didn’t squeak or wobble, and it spun well. A good thing. That’s why I thought, as I remembered Scoot’s remark about his drinking father, that this “good thing” might end up in a pawnshop later… But that’s what ponies are. Even there they wouldn’t take obvious someone else’s, so it was definitely worth securing the scooter to a particular pony while I have the time. I took off the rudder and put everything back in the box so it wouldn’t loom in plain sight. I got up from the grass I’d laid out on before I unpacked it, and went looking for Big Mac. He was no longer with the pigs, but he was easily found, though: he was servicing the cart in the barn. “Mac, listen, do you have some useless iron to throw away?” The stallion put the tool away, wagged his ear, got up in silence, and went to a corner of the barn. So?.. I followed him with a gaze in a slight stupor. After rustling and rattling in the corner, Big Mac just as leisurely approached me, silently holding out a rusty bayonet blade glued to his hoof. The front edge marked with a pothole, as if someone had once hit it in anger. “Here.” “Thanks.” Slowing a bit, I got the iron and examined it meticulously. There’s enough volume, the corrosion doesn’t seem to be too deep… It’ll do. Mac, nodding, silently returned to the cart, and I got out of the barn and went to the box, which was left alone — to perform the plan. When I returned to “Carousel” after a breathtaking flight, that almost made me shit my pants, the question arose: what next? The six are on a mission, and Rar has closed the house, so I guess she’s counting on someone else to accommodate her sister here for a while. Leaving Sweetie alone for her to cook for a few days is a sure way to a site of fire. I thought I’d look for her anyway, but it wasn’t a good idea to leave the presents on the porch, either. I should leave them with someone to keep 'em until Rarity returned, but with whom? I rejected Twilight and Spike’s dwelling, though the dragon was probably there, brightening up his leisure with comics. The other options were the Cakes, who were quite used to me because of my interactions with Pinkie, and the Apples, with whom the relationship was… even: we weren’t really friends with Jack, we just chatted a little sometimes. On the other hand, thanks to the ticket I gave once away, they treated me rather warmly at the farm. And there was Apple Bloom. She probably knew where Sweetie and Scootaloo were. It decided the case in favor of “Apple Acres”, even though it wasn’t much fun to walk to them with the boxes, and it was quite a long way. I had the good fortune to cross paths with McIntosh, who was returning from town with a cart behind him. He offered help in a few words, when he heard I was going to them. I gratefully accepted, loading the crates into the cart, and then regretted it all the way and quietly gritted my teeth at my flaming cheeks. I felt like a girl, whose guy picked up a heavy bag. And Mac is also… I can’t stop thinking about the equalogist with her extraordinary effort!.. Damn it! Anyway, I made it to the farm with my gifts — I was a bit embarrassed, that I haven’t bought something for AJ. Not that we were friends, of course, but… When Granny greeted me warmly and, complaining about my delicate silhouette, dragged me into the house to fatten me up, the feeling only grew stronger. The hospitable grandmother was quick to help me deal with it, burying it safely under the weight of the pies. Now they were pulling me inexorably towards the ground, making me puff away contentedly. Of-f… I found myself staring at the box with a hard-beaten shovel in a cloud of magic for a good few minutes. That’s why I shook myself up and cautiously laid down again on the sun-heated grass. Well, let us go! I hope that the absence of the protective shield will not end with problems for me… The usual iron, like, no surprises… Having guessed how I can properly fasten the metal object in the base of the rudder, and then get rid of it without breaking the scooter in half, I lit up the horn. Here we go……
“Phe-e-ew…” I shook my head cautiously and looked at the result of my work. A shiny silver solid piece that hugged the base of the rudder with a solid ring at the top and the board at the bottom. Plus, it’s fused into the plastic along the edge, just to be safe… There was an inscription embossed on the smooth surface of the bevel between the rudder and the board: “Dear Scootaloo! Always be faster, higher, stronger! And don’t betray your dream! Your friend, Nightmare Moon.” I smiled at the inscription and closed my eyes in satisfaction. The magic was gradually coming back to normal, and my powers were returning. The transformation of a piece of iron into stainless steel — well, I had a couple of times to see how it… “looked"- with a chrome-like sheen to the top layer, and a rather precise molding of the inscription didn’t seem too difficult, and it didn’t eat up my energy. Although, of course, it took a lot of time, and I had to take breaks, including memory dives for some of the nuances. It was… No, it was worth it. No matter what. I exhaled sharply and opened my eyes, looking at the scooter again. It’s great. Now it looks more like a gift. I was also sure that it wasn’t just something a servant had bought on loan, but something that I’ve my own hand in! Now it has more similarities to a normal gift. But the color… No, the coloring of the Wonderbolts would make the little one happy, but I personally wasn’t so keen on it. Dull yellow and dull blue — nah… Maybe I should repaint it. Transforming the top layer isn’t that hard. But it requires control, and I’m already a little tired… Oh, whatever! What, I can’t do it? I chuckled. There was a kind of… inspiration. I just wanted to, that’s all! I didn’t even have to go far to get an idea of how to repaint: “Shadowbolts”! The dark version of the famous Equestrian pilots had its origins in, oddly enough, a kind of fan magazine for children and youth dedicated to “Wonderbolts”. There were puzzles and developmental riddles, mazes, crosswords, interesting facts in accessible language about the group, its history or about pegasi in general, quizzes… And the main thing — small comics with adventures of famous flyers with different degrees of fiction. Not the current ones — it was considered good form to write, as I understood, not about the current members of the group. So they wrote about the generation before last and the last generation, not denying in their imagination’s desires. That’s where “Shadowbolts” originated, more than thirty years ago, as opponents of “Wonderbolts”. And, oddly enough, they have gained a certain popularity and become quite frequent opponents of the protagonists in the magazine. They were even honored by entire episodes during the eve of the Nightmare Night! In general, “Shadows” were more or less a household name, had recognizable colors and emblems, and even gathered a certain fan base around themselves and their image. Yeah… Sometimes it’s useful to live in a library and listen to the conversations between readers, both with the librarian and her comic book-loving assistant, as well as among themselves… However, I’ve looked into a file of those magazines myself in recent years once, when looking for information on wing care, and even got a little bit hooked. Not for long, of course! I just wondered: how did Nightmare Moon, this one, replicate their images for Dash in front of the Two Sisters' Castle? How did she know? Alas, my memory of that moment was so scattered and fragmentary, that without knowledge of the canon I could not reproduce even approximately the events. It didn’t matter, though. I waved my thoughts away, rubbed my front hooves and lit my horn again. Now let’s make it beautiful!…
“Wo-o-ow!..” “So cool!” “Yeah…” I reluctantly opened my eyes, feeling my horn burn, my head aching, and my neck is doing the same. Damn, it feels like my head is in the shoulders now… I was careful to twist it back and forth and crunch my vertebrae. And I finally looked at the result of my efforts, which has already impressed a trio of onlookers, who had apparently come up somewhere in the process. A mistake, damn it: what if something had gone wrong? Good thing they had enough brains to not come closer… With a disapproving hissing sound, I focused my attention on the transformed scooter. In my opinion, black, purple and gold suited it better than the rather dull yellow and blue of “Wonderbolts”, whose lightning with two “notches” was replaced on the board by the predatory and slightly frightening profile of a grinning pony skull with wings. The skull, in contrast to the grotesquely cartoonish “Shadowbolts” emblem, was a bit too… realistic. Naturally bone-colored, with cracks and crevices, a wing behind it covered in feathers, but it was subtly sinister and pointed. To top it off, a turquoise light burned dimly in an empty eye socket, as if the skull was looking back… Winking at the skull with a chuckle, I looked up at the approaching crusaders. “Hi!” “Greetings, Nightmare…” “G’day…” “Howdy-howdy.” I smiled in answer and hugged Sweetie a bit — she has put her leg around my neck and was the first one to reach me. Scoot and Apple Bloom, both are a bit embarrassed, slowed a bit. “Oh, I’m so happy that you’re back! How long have you been here? How long are you going to be here? Oh, I guess you’re…” “Surprise-surprise!” I hugged the unicorn to myself a bit tougher, ending the word flow. “I’ll be here tomorrow, and maybe will fly back in the evening.” “Sad…” A sad sigh was put into my neck. “I missed you so much!..” “Ah, come on.” I ruffled the pink and purple multicolored mane. “You’ll be sick of me for sure. Scoot, why are you standing there like a bystander?” I unfolded a wing invitingly. “I’m… E-e… Within a safe distance.” She gauged the gesture. “And that doesn’t mean, that I’m not happy to see you at all, don’t you look at me like that!” “Scootaloo!” Sweetie became indignant, even stepping back from me. “That’s right.” I supported her protest. “You of course are happy, but not happy enough.” I shook head with sorrow. “But it’s okay, now you will.” Scoot strained, being ready to dodge hugs. “Here, for you.” I took the somewhat forgotten scooter and placed it in front of the pegasus. I smirked back at the glassy stare, hiding the emotion behind the tip of my wing. Ka-boom, that’s a hit!.. “I’m… Ehm… I’m not!” Unfreezing, the mare stepped back from present, her thoughts starting to run across her mind. “I can’t!.. It’s!.. It costs like!..” “Not as expensive as money.” “But… Nightmare…” Scoot mumbled pitifully, stepping back once again. “And I owe you already… And, this…” Tears started to gleam in the purple eyes. She wants it — she really does, but doesn’t allow herself… “Sco-ot.” I looked at the friend with a bit of a reproach. “I’m not asking if you can accept it or not. I’m just stating the fact — it’s yours. Enjoy! Just don’t ride that much to not repeat that event…” “But…” She stepped uncertainly from foot to foot. She looked at the scooter. At me. The next second the orange meteor crashed into me, clutching my neck almost to the point of crunching. “Sc-h-oot!..” “Thanksthanksthanksthanks!” The pegasus bounced away from me, red to the tips of her ears, and squeaked almost ultrasonically. “Kh… You’re welcome.” I rubbed my neck. She’s got quite a grip… Scootaloo glowed with joy and did not pay attention to my answer. She was already excitedly rushing around the gift, looking at it this way and that under the joyful glances and smiles of her friends. Including me, of course. “Shock absorbers?!.. Wheels!.. And this?.. “Dear Scootaloo… …Faster, higher, stronger… …Dream… …Nightmare Moon.” This is!.. You!.. Wow!.. And how cool you’ve repainted it in “Shadowbolts” coloring! O, and theirs skull looks like as if looking!.. Wow!..” “Nice?” I asked, smiling joyfully, when the exclamations have died out a bit. “Awesome!” Capacious answered followed. “I haven’t seen even close to this in our shop! It’s… O-oh!” Scoot jumped, freezing in the air for a few seconds with the help of small wings. “Is it… Is it really for me?” She looked away blushingly, sharply melting into background. “Of course. Who else?” “Well yeah, I guess.” The pegasus forced a snicker, fluffing her mane on the nape reluctantly. “But… No, I can’t just take it, and!..” She exhaled. “You can. Take it.” I leaned back against the grass, watching my interlocutor from under relaxed, half-closed eyelids. Fluttershy double ganger, literally… “This is why it’s a gift. Am I wrong?” “This is not the kind of gifts you can refuse, Scoot.” Bloomie noted rationally, examining the scooter. “Your old one, even when in a whole skin, doesn’t stand a chance, no offense.” “I know!” The pegasus sighed. “But… I can’t like that! It’s… I’d have to store up money for a year to buy this! Or even tow! And here!..” Walking back and forth, she looked at me narrowly. “Nightmare, thank you a bunch! A very big bunch! But… Let’s agree on me, returning your money in a year! Or even a part of it! Or, I don’t know…” “You’re not used to take gifts.” I sighed. Yea-ah, little one, you’ve thrown a wrench into my mood… Damn it! I should have told to get something less fancy… “Do you want to offend me?” “Of course I don’t!” She even jumped, looking at me with fright. “She doesn’t!” “Nightmare, Scootaloo would never!..” The others supported her like a chorus. “I don’t, really! But just take it and drive away, as it should be…” Scootaloo looked down at her feet with a sigh, turning a determined gaze to me. “I just can’t. Sorry.” Yeah, dilemma… And what should I do with her? I chewed my lip thoughtfully. Looked at the apple trees, at the scooter, at Bloom, at Sweetie… Hm… “So, you want to repay and I won’t persuade you?” I asked, squinting. “Y-yes…” The pegasus replied carefully, straining. It’s right time to fear, he-he-he… “Then I’ll sound my desire and you’re going to comply it. Refusal is not accepted!” I made a stern expression on my face, but gave Scoot a questioning look. “Fen without dresses!” She looked askew at Sweetie. “Agree.” Ha!.. “Without dresses — okay.” I smirked ambitiously, making the pegasus shiver. “So-o…” I paused: one last chance to refuse, little one! Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle leaned forward and froze suspiciously, waiting for the denouement. “From now on and forever, you will let me snuggle, stroke, and cuddle you!” I proclaimed, with a commanding gesture pointing the tip of my hoof at Scoot, who has fatally missed with the dresses. “Where, when, and as much as I want! And don’t run away or break out!” “No…” Scootaloo swallowed, stepping back. “Yes, little pony! Now you belong to me!!!” Not being to stand it, I started to laugh evilly. It wasn’t so atmospheric because of me lying down. Damn it. “It’s unfair!” “Fair!” “Fair!” “Fair!” You had the chance to refuse.” I chuckled and looked back at the two crusaders, who sided with me. “You!.. You!..” The pegasus gasped indignantly, looking at her friends betraying her. “You’ll like it.” Sweetie smiled blushingly. “No!” “Let’s check it now.” I smiled evilly. “Come over here.” Scoot looked around helplessly, as if looking for support. She held her gaze on the scooter, sighed heartbreakingly, and wandered slowly and sadly towards me. “You’re a villain!” She grumbled, sitting down next to me. “Very villain.” I nodded approvingly, lowering a wing onto her crown. The pegasus twitched to dodge as usual, but with a titanic effort, she held herself in place. Only her ears flushed slightly at the tips. “Merciless…” My wing slid over the top of tense Scoot, ruffling her mane. “And heartless.” I will try not to overdo it, of course… I hugged the terribly-terribly unhappy pony with my wing with delight under the dull chuckles of her friends, which made her sulk. I will try, because it will not be easy for me, yes… “What about me?” My front leg was insistently touched on the other side. I silently spread my left wing as well, letting Sweetie snuggle against my side with pleasure. There was a heartbreaking sigh from under my right wing. “Don’t be sad, Scootie.” I hugged the mare tighter, who squeaked indignantly. “It’s just when you start. Then you’ll get used to it and won’t be able to live without it.” “Thanks!” She grumbled. “What is so interesting in it?!” “Just pleasant.” I shook my head, chuckling. So co-o-ol… “Hey, Nightmare Moon… Can I as well?” The earthpony, who was left alone, could not stand it, and was immediately terribly embarrassed by her request. “Yea.” I wasted no time, so I picked her up with my telekinesis and put her in front of me, hugging her with forelegs. Cool, damn it! There was enough to hug everyone! I ruffled the crimson mane and sniffed upon bumping into a bow. It suits her well… But it didn’t to Sweetie. What about Scoot?.. Hm. Hm! “It’s cool with you! But…” After a few more minutes, I hugged the crusaders tightly for the last time. I folded my wings, and stood up, causing two disappointed sighs and one relieved sigh. “Scootie, don’t be mad. Sweetie, don’t sigh so heavily, it’s not the last time, tea. Bloomie… Nice bow.” I commented on the trio, leisurely lining up in front of me. “Thanks.” Earthpony lowered her eyes, blushingly digging earth with a hoof. “I wish Scootaloo had one.” I smiled ambitiously at the pegasus. “Hey!!!” She, who has just been gently hugging the wheel of her brand-new scooter, bounced away from me as if a steam locomotive was coming at her. “Hugs were so far, so good, but this!.. No! I won’t have it on me until you do! E-e… Oops.” I and Sweetie looked at each other. My cheeks started to warm up treacherously. Damn it! And it seems, that the ears did it as well… “Nightmare, don’t you say…” The orange pony mumbled awkwardly, looking at Sweetie and then at me. “It can’t be…” Well, how do I put it……
“Oh, home! Sweetie, I’m back!” Rarity’s melodious voice, with its ever-present slight mannerisms and a hint of fatigue, rang out from the hallway with a joyful chime. I and the filly — who, thankfully, had been left with the key — looked at each other, interrupted in mid-sentence. We threw our spoons and food away, we raced from our seats. Rar!.. “Rarity-y-y!!! Hihihihihihi!” Sweetie ran around the corner. I, in my turn, slowed down, letting her forward — it could have been wrong to not do so… “Sweetie, dear!.. Oh, don’t hug me, I’m dirty monstrously! Mountains! Tent! And no shower for kilometers around during all this time!..” “Only dragons and threats.” “Nightmare?!.. Oh, Celestia, I haven’t awaited your visit at all! I’m very happy to see you, but I’m!.. I!.. Approaching silently, I grabbed the wailing unicorn with magic. I pulled her to me and pressed her against me with a front leg and both wings, making her wordless mid-word. Rarity. Alive. As a whole. Near. “I almost turned gray when I knew you’re out for that dragon.” The white ear, surrounded by so unusually unkempt strands, twitched at my whisper. “Don’t risk so much, ay?.. I just don’t know… I don’t ha… I don’t have anyone else…” I covered my eyes and cocked my head to keep from bursting into tears. Finally, the tension, that has been buzzing around inside me all day, was releasing. “W… What about Pinkie? About others?” “Everything is fine, Nighty.” Everything is fine… “Don’t cry, please!” Am I the one crying? I sniffed my nose, squeezing the mare even harder. I’m not crying at all! Well, maybe… a little…