Chapter 4

It Shouldn’t Hurt To Be A Child

  Their window had been halfway opened to let cool air in. Scootaloo’s mother didn’t even seem to hear Rainbow Dash, and kept slapping Scootaloo, but only for a moment before Rainbow had opened the window all the way and flew in, tackling Cold Heart off of her daughter.

    Her father was frozen in shock as Rainbow punched his wife in the jaw hard enough to knock her out.

   “What is wrong with you?!” Rainbow yelled at Cloud Dancer. “Why would you let your wife beat her like that?!”

    “I… I… I…” her father cowered.

  “Oh save it!” Rainbow bucked him in the head and knocked him out as well before grabbing the still sobbing Scootaloo and flying out the window with her to safety.

  Scootaloo just clung to her, she couldn’t stop crying, but she was relieved.

  After a few minutes Rainbow Dash landed in front of Twilight’s tree house and banged on the door. After a moment Twilight opened it, and her jaw dropped when she saw Scootaloo.

  “What in Equestria happened?!”

  “I caught her mother beating her. Can we come in?”

   “What?! Oh… uh… sure, o-of course,” Twilight stammered, moving aside.

    The other members of the Elements of Harmony looked up at Rainbow’s words in shock. They had been invited over for dinner.

  “What in tarnation happened Rainbow?!” Apple Jack demanded.

  “I was flying over her house when I heard her screaming. I landed and looked in the window and Cold Heart had her pressed against the couch and was hitting her over and over.”

  The others gasped.

  “Oh no, how horrible,” Fluttershy whimpered.

  “Disgraceful,” said Rarity angrily.

  “How could she do such a thing?” Pinkie’s mane and tail deflated.

   Apple Jack was stunned speechless. Family meant more to her than anything in the world. She couldn’t even imagine someone treating their filly like that.

  Bruises were already starting to form on Scootaloo, and they could all see it. Hearing the others opinions helped her to calm down and stop crying, though she still couldn’t help shivering. Twilight got a blanket and covered her with it.

  “Scootaloo, is this the first time your mother has hurt you?” Rainbow asked her gently. Scootaloo shuddered and didn’t answer.

  “Even once is one time too many Rainbow!” Apple Jack snarled.

  “I know but we need to know the details so we can have them put away,” Rainbow explained, and Apple Jack nodded grimly in understanding.

  “Please talk to us Scootaloo, are you afraid we won’t believe you?” Twilight asked, looking at her sadly. Scootaloo shrugged.

  Rainbow remembered how her mother had used to calm her down when she was scared when she was a filly. She started singing softly to the nervous foal.

It Shouldn’t Hurt To Be A Child

I know you're there

I know you're hiding in the dark

Because you're scared

You want the pain to stop

But no one cares

You tried to tell the one you love

But they won't believe

The cross you bear

The mask you wear

The hurt that makes you cry yourself to sleep

When will someone see?

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

Please hear my words

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

You can run to me

I'll put my arms around you

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

We hear your prayers

We know you're crying in the dark

But someone cares

We want the pain to stop

Please don't be scared

Find the strength to find someone

I promise you that someone will believe

The cross you bear

The mask you wear

The hurt that makes you cry yourself to sleep

Somebody will see!

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

Please hear my words

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

You can run to me

I'll put my arms around you

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

My Darling Child

We'll put our arms around you

We'll keep you safe

Your wounds will heal

Your pain will fade

A beautiful tomorrow's at your feet

You have to find the strength

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

Please hear my words

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt to be a child

You can run to me

I'll put my arms around you

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't hurt......

to be a child

To be a,

Child

  Listening to the singing gradually Scootaloo started to relax. She looked all around her at the caring and sympathetic faces before she took a deep breath and let it out slowly before looking up to her hero, Rainbow Dash.

  “It all started when I was five years old…”

  After hearing the full story of everything Scootaloo had been through the others were furious. Twilight immediately wrote a letter to the Princess to tell her what was going on.

  Dear Princess Celestia,

  I regret to inform you that I and the other Elements have discovered that Scootaloo has been abused by her parents for the past three years. Rainbow Dash heard her screams and went to investigate, discovering her mother beating her.

  After talking with Scootaloo and hearing the details I believe she has been abused mentally, emotionally, and a few times physically.

  Rainbow Dash has offered to take care of Scootaloo for the time being, but I know you will probably want to take her parents into custody.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight woke Spike up so he could send the letter. He was horrified when he found out what had happened.

  It was only a minute before Spike burped and a scroll appeared.

Dear Twilight,

  Thank you for making this atrocity known to me. I will have the royal guards come and arrest Scootaloo’s parents at once. In the meantime, please take Scootaloo to the hospital where she can be examined and evidence can be collected.

  I will meet you there shortly.

Signed,

Princess Celestia of Equestria

  At the hospital, Scootaloo was examined and it was found that except for being bruised, she was all right physically. When the princess arrived she questioned the filly as gently as possible.

  Scootaloo told her everything.

  Her parents were both arrested that very night, and at her request, Princess Celestia gave Rainbow Dash temporary custody of Scootaloo. Rainbow took the little filly home where, feeling traumatized and exhausted, she soon fell asleep, and for once, she had no bad dreams.

  The next day her friends found out what happened and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle did their best to comfort their friend.

  “Why didn’t you tell us what was going on?” Apple Bloom asked.

  “Yeah, we would have helped you,” Sweetie Belle nodded.

  “I guess I was too scared to. Dad told me it was nopony elses business,” Scootaloo said softly.

  “If they were hurting you, it’s definitely our business," declared Apple Bloom. “You’re our best friend!”

  “Yeah, friends forever!” Sweetie Belle hugged Scootaloo and Apple Bloom joined her.

  “Thanks you guys,” Scootaloo managed a small, but heartfelt, smile.

  Her parents trial was to be held in a few days. Scootaloo wasn’t sure what to think about that. Rainbow Dash had told her that her parents were bad and deserved to be in jail, but Scootaloo still loved her parents despite what they had done. She wasn’t sure she wanted them in jail…

  She was glad that they were away from her and couldn’t hurt her anymore though.

  Twilight had strongly suggested to Rainbow Dash that she put Scootaloo in therapy.

  “She’s bound to have plenty of emotional scars Rainbow, and it will help her heal.” Rainbow had finally agreed.

  Scootaloo’s therapist was an orange unicorn with a blonde mane and tail. She reminded her of Apple Jack in the way she looked, except that she had a yellow smiley face as a cutie mark.

  “Hello Scootaloo, my name is Dr. Sunny Smile, but you may call me Dr. Sunny for short. Do you know why you’re here?”

  “Because my parents were mean to me?”

  “Well yes, in a way. Talking about what happened can make you feel better. You can tell me anything you like.”

  Scootaloo hesitated, thinking, and finally ended up telling her the story about Peaches and the puppies.

  “I don’t know what kind of mean vet would kill healthy puppies,” she sniffled when she was done, wiping away the tears.

  Dr. Sunny looked sympathetic. “I don’t either. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

  “Dr. Sunny?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think dogs go to Heaven?”

  Dr. Sunny gave her a sad smile. “Yes Scootaloo, I do.”

  Scootaloo felt a little better.