Loyalty

Rainbow Dash soared through the clouds looking for the orange filly. She was actually quite difficult to find. She searched the field where they would sometimes meet, she searched the school, hay she even searched the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Rainbow began to worry. What if Scoots went and got herself hurt? She quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. After about a half hour of searching, she saw the distinct magenta mane sported by an orange filly. She was over by the lake, attempting to skip rocks haphazardly. Rainbow flew downward towards her. She stepped forward with a determined look on her face. "Scoots," she said, more stern than she wished to come off as. Scootaloo seemed unresponsive to Rainbow. The cyan pegasus put a hoof on her shoulder. "I need to talk to you, please," Scootaloo looked up with sad eyes. "What is the matter?" Rainbow Dash was genuinely concerned about Scootaloo and her life.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you...." Scootaloo replied trying to hold back tears.

"Hey! Don't worry about it! Sometimes we all get stressed out or feel the need to vent anger! I don't blame you. I was being a bit annoying. Now Scoots. I need to ask you a very serious question," Rainbow replied. "And I won't take no for an answer, got it?"

"Fine," Scootaloo replied expecting the worst.

"Where do you live Scoots?"

Scootaloo's eyes bolted open in fear. Rainbow had asked the worst possible question apparently. Sweat began to roll over her forehead. She appeared to be shaking now. "Home with my parents, where else?" Her eyes darted around trying to avoid looking the cyan mare in the eye.

"Scoots. Quit lying. I know for a fact that your parents are both....well...." she didn't want to upset the pegasus. She decided to push past that topic. She knew Scootaloo understood. "Anyways, where do you seriously sleep at night?"

"Don't be mad! Please don't laugh!" Scootaloo was now on the verge of tears.

"I promise I won't laugh...." Rainbow replied, putting a hoof on her shoulder. Why would she laugh if it put Scootaloo in this type of state?

"I-I....I live in the Ponyville Orphanage," Scootaloo said with guilt.

"Now why would I laugh at that?"

"Because, everypony at school laughed at me, especially Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon! I didn't want my hero laughing at me either!" Scootaloo let loose her tears. They streaked down her face, leaving a trail of water. Rainbow began to feel hatred to Diamond Tiara. What kind of pony would make fun of a filly for that? Diamond Tiara clearly had no emotions or caring for others. She began to hug Scootaloo.

"Squirt? Is that why you left school in the first place?" Rainbow asked as she remained close to Scootaloo. "Let it all out if you have too," she said, trying to hold back tears herself.

Scootaloo nodded.

"Hey squirt," Rainbow looked down. "All of us love you with our deepest hearts. We want the best for you. If you ever have a problem, you know you can come to me right?"

Scootaloo looked up. She gave a nod of assent.

"Good. Now how about I take you somewhere. I want to show you something. Climb on my back and you will find out soon enough!"

Scootaloo jumped onto Rainbow's back reluctantly, and she launched off the ground. Where were they going? Scootaloo grasped onto Rainbow's mane for dear life, hoping not to fall off. She could see how little Ponyville was from here. She had never been this high up in her life. It was truly exhilarating for her! To think that she was flying with the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria! Her thoughts were interuppted when Rainbow Dash landed on a cloud. Scootaloo looked upwards to see a giant Rainbow home standing before her.

"Come on in!" Rainbow said with a smile.

"Where am I?" Scootaloo inquired in awe.

"You're in heaven Squirt! Just kidding. Welcome to my home. I have a little surprise for you!" She knew she probably should have consulted all the others before saying what was about to come out of her mouth. "Why don't you sit on the couch?"

Scootaloo did not need to be asked twice. She entered the beautiful cloud home, adorned with pictures of Rainbow Dash and her accomplishments. The first thing that struck Scootaloo is that none of the pictures seemed to have her parents in them. She found the couch sitting in front of a painting of the Wonderbolts. Scootaloo could not help but laugh at the pegasus' eccentrics. She sat on the couch waiting for her sis. Rainbow trotted to her and sat down. She looked into Scootaloo's eyes.

"Remember when I said I truly care about you?"

"Yea," the orange filly replied.

"Well.....I care about you so much.......no.....I love you so much......" she moved to give Scootaloo a hug. She quickly embraced the cyan pegasus. "I want you to stay with me...." Tears were now streaming out of Dash's eyes. Scootaloo looked up to Rainbow Dash with a confused look.

"For how long?" Scootaloo asked.

"Scoots.....I'm going to adopt you..." she noticed the filly perk up. She stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes. Now both were sobbing. Rainbow never sobbed. But when it came from her biggest fan, she could not help it. She knew she didn't have the bits to care for Scootaloo, but buck it! She wants Scootaloo to be happy! Her thoughts were broken up when Scootaloo jumped up onto Dash and began to hug her new mother.