Chapter 6

Unfinished Business

As the three crusaders left the school building, Fortuna became suddenly coutious and jumpy. Scootaloo willed her energy into Fortuna and allowed Frotuna to speak aloud.

Scootaloo went over to her mom and asked "Mom, what's wrong?"

Fortuna's eyes went wide. "They.. They're here... The family."

Scootaloo looked in the direction Fortuna was facing, and saw Diamond Tiara and her father, Filthy Rich.

Scootaloo tilted her head and asked "Them? They've been in Ponyville the whole time I've been here."

Fortuna shook her head and added "No, their ancestors. They were the ones who drove me away from you. And they still carry the hatred..." Fortuna appeared to be getting angrier and angrier as memories flooded back to the spirit. "I will show them..." But before Fortuna could do anything, there was a shimmer in the air, and another spirit appeared. She was an Earth pony wearing a fur coat and a wide brimmed hat. As a spirit, all color was washed away, leaving only shades of gray.

"Fortuna, how nice to see you again. I would prefer you not harm my son or his daughter."

Scootaloo stared at the new figure while Fortuna shouted "You should have left this Earth while you had the chance, Madame Gemma!" At this, Fortuna summoned an ethereal blade, and swung it wildly at Gemma, but Gemma calmly sidestepped every swing.

"See, that's the thing Fortuna. For some reason, I can't leave this Earth until you do." Gemma explained calmly.

Fortuna stopped and stated "Then you are going to have to wait a very long time. Until my little Chella passes on, and me with her, you are stuck on this rock with the rest of us!"

Madme Gemma smiled devilishly as she faded away. "If I have my way, then we will all be moving on sooner than you think..."

She faded away, leaving Scootaloo with an image of a large wooden mass striking her, then blackness.

Scootaloo regained consciousness, and along with it, a splitting headache. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw the ceiling of the Ponyville Infirmary. She slowly sat up, and when she was in seating position, her mother hugged her tightly, and since they were connected, Scootaloo felt her mother's coat against hers.

"Oh, Chella, you're alright! Thank Celestia, you're alright!" Fortuna said between sobs.

The nurse walked in and saw the tender moment, and walked over to them. "You're very lucky, Scootaloo. That runaway cart hit you hard. You have several broken ribs, and a sprained wing, so you're going to have to stay in bed for a few days. Strange," the nurse muttered, "You have no records."

Fortuna spoke up "I am her mother. I can give you those records."

The nurse was not freaked out by the apparition, as news of her being Scootaloo's mother had already reached everypony in Ponyville. She held out the papers, and Fortuna took a pen with her magic, wispy and unearthly instead of bubbly, and filled out the papers.

The nurse read the papers over. "Chella. You have a nice name, Chella." She said to Scootaloo. "I'll tell your friends you're awake." With that, the nurse left the room.

A minute later, the mane six, as well as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, entered the hospital room.

They all had looks of worry on their faces, but Rarity was the first to voice everypony's minds. "Chella, darling, are you okay?"

Scootaloo decided to go along with being called Chella, since her mom did name her that. "I'm okay, though I need to stay in bed for a few days to heal."

Chella adjusted her pillow and said "Hey mom, who was that lady?"

Fortuna sighed and said "That was Madame Gemma. She was the leader of the rival family that hired those mercenaries that tried to kill us and separated us. Now she's here to finish the job. She can't move on unless I do, and she's willing to kill Chella to do it."

The silence in the room hung heavy. Finally, Applejack spoke up "Well, Ah don't know how ta stop a ghost, so how are we gonna protect Chella?"

Rainbow Dash looked furious that the one who looked up to her was injured. She looked ready to strangle the pony that did this.

Twilight spoke up "Well, we're just gonna have to keep Chella in our sights, and away from sharp objects."

Everypony in the room unanimously nodded. Madame Gemma would be defeated. That much was certain.