Thread:Thunderbird3InternationalRescue/@comment-25600892-20181229183709/@comment-33744259-20181230002412

Okay then:

The following morning at church, as planned, Scootaloo went to the back of the church sanctuary, where the baptismal tank was kept. She was wearing a blue t-shirt, red-violet shorts, and brown flip-flops on her feet. Her friends, all in their formal attire, and Reverend Clemer were already there waiting for her, as were her grandparents, Uncle Jason, and Aunt Doris, as well as the church deacon, Reverend Charles Laxey, who was already in the tank.

"This is it, Scoots," said Nathan, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," said Scootaloo, "But I'm a little nervous, too."

"Hey, don't worry, sunshine," said Uncle Jason, "We'll be right out there watching you."

"Thanks, Uncle Jason," said Scootaloo.

Uncle Jason winked, and everyone went to their seats while Scootaloo took off her flip-flops and waded barefoot into the tank. Russell got out his phone.

"Russell," CJ whispered, "what are you doing?"

"I just wanted to catch this on tape," came Russell's reply.

"Oh, okay," CJ said.

Then, the curtain in front of the tank rose, exposing it, along with Scootaloo and Reverend Laxey. Reverend Clemer spoke up.

"Good morning, everyone," said Reverend Clemer, "Before we begin today's sermon, I'd like to express that today, we have a baptismal ceremony planned for Elizabeth Fletcher, better known as "Scootaloo" by her friends. I will now turn things over to Reverend Laxey. Charles?"

"Thank you, Jefferey," said Reverend Laxey, "Scootaloo, your testimony, please."

"Alright," said Scootaloo.

Scootaloo then cleared her throat.

"Well, I was born into a Catholic family," she said, "I had loving parents and went to church and Mass with them all the time. Of course, that all changed one month after my sixth birthday. My mom was diagnosed with cancer. During that time she was ill, my dad prayed and prayed for her recovery. But with every day, she just got worse and worse. Then, she died. After my mom's death, everything changed. We stopped going to church and Mass, as at this point, my dad had lost faith because he belived his prayers weren't being answered. But, he was still a loving dad, rising at 5:30 every weekday morning to cook breakfast, make my lunch, and spend time with me before I left for school and before he left for work, and every Saturday and Sunday, he would rise at 6:30 and take me out for walks just as dawn was breaking. Afterwards, he'd make pancakes, then we'd usually go do something fun, mostly a movie, the mall, or even a day at the lake. This went on for pretty much the rest of my life. Then, recently, he got into a very bad car crash. For a while, I thought that maybe the injuries wouldn't be too serious and that he'd be out in a relatively short time, but I was wrong. Just last week, he succumbed to his injuries."

Scootaloo cried for a bit after saying all this, but was able to recollect herself.

"Of course," she continued, "When I first heard he died, I was very sad, but I tried to hide it from my friends, but of course, I eventually let the secret out, and my friends convinced me to come back on the path of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm glad they did. And I was also told that God has forgiven my dad and before he died, he became a Christian again in his final hours. I am thankful for everything that Jesus has done for me, and I'm also thankful that I've chosen today to be washed in his blood. That is all."

Reverend Laxey then put one hand behind Scootaloo's head and clasped her left hand in the other.

"Scootaloo Fletcher," he said, "by the power vested in me, I hereby baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!"

Then, in front of everyone's waiting eyes, Reverend Laxey immersed Scootaloo in the tank, and when she resurface, everyone clapped in cheered. Some, even Reverend Clemer, even took out their phones and took pictures. After the baptism, and while Scootaloo was drying off, her friends all gathered around her.

"Great job, Scoots," said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah," said Staci.

"Well," said Scootaloo, "I'm very pleased to say that, as of now, I am officially a Christian."

"That's great to hear," said CJ.

Arnold then handed Scootaloo a box.

"What's this," asked Scootaloo.

"Open it," said Arnold.

She did, and found a bible with her name on the front cover.

"Wow," she said, "Thanks, you guys!"

"No problem," said Arnold.