Equestria Girls 04: Nothing but a Number

by DragonShadow

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Equestria Girls, Scootaloo
Length: 5108

During a sleepover at Sweet Apple Acres, Scootaloo reveals a secret. A secret that terrifies her friends.

During a sleepover, Scootaloo reveals that she's been dating a girl four years older than her. Apple Bloom decides it's simply too dangerous for this to happen, but how hard can she push Scootaloo to break up with the older girl without pushing her away as a friend?

Published 2013-08-26 12:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-26 12:30:02 UTC

Nothing but a Number

Equestria Girls 04: Nothing but a Number

Apple Bloom hummed happily to herself as two sleeping bags unrolled before her, spreading out onto the floor of her bedroom alongside the bed. It wasn’t often Applejack let her off of chores long enough to have a sleepover with her two best friends, and she intended to take advantage of the time she had! Several board games had already been selected and laid out across the empty floor space, along with loose notebooks and pens for if they decided to get creative, and several different types of snacks if they got the munchies.

“Hah, wow, you sure go in prepared, don’t you?” Her older sister leaned against her bedroom door with an amused smile.

“We gotta make the most of the time we have!” Apple Bloom plopped some pillows down on the ends of the sleeping bags and stood to look out over the setup. “I still feel like somethin’s missing…”

“Well your friends ain’t here yet, that’s somethin’.” Applejack chuckled.

“Oh hah.” Apple Bloom turned toward Applejack. “Now you promised you’re gonna stay out of my room tonight, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve promised three times.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Sheesh, you’re gonna make me think you’re up to somethin’ shifty.”

“Of course we ain’t, I just wanna make sure my guests have a good time!”

“It looks like you’re doin’ a great job at that, so relax.” Applejack winked.

Apple Bloom jumped when she heard the doorbell and ran forward, pushing Applejack toward the back of the house. “Go on, git back there! They’re here!”

“Hahaha, okay I’m goin’!” Applejack laughed and obediently headed back towards her room. “Try not to stay up too late, okay? It may be a weekend but you still have chores tomorrow.”

“I’ll be fine! Goodnight!” Apple Bloom waited for her big sister to close the door to her bedroom before whirling to race towards the front door, pulling it open to reveal her best friends standing on the other side with big grins and thick suitcases. “Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! So glad y’all could make it!”

“Of course we did!” Sweetie Belle stepped out of the twilight outside and into the brightly lit wooden farmhouse.

“Yeah, it’s not like we’re gonna skip out on a chance to stay up all night and hang out with our best friends!” Scootaloo agreed with a wide grin.

“Thanks for comin’, you can put your bags in my room and come join me in the living room! I thought we could watch My Little Pony first!” Apple Bloom suggested.

“Oooh, I love that show!” Sweetie Belle grinned.

“Ugh, what? My Little Pony is for baby girls…” Scootaloo grumbled. “We are not babies.”

“Oh come on, you just haven’t seen it yet. Come on, I’ll turn it on when y’all get back!” Apple Bloom insisted.

“Ugh… fine, I guess I can wait twenty minutes to do something cool.” Scootaloo headed into the back with Sweetie Belle to drop off their things before joining Apple Bloom in the living room.

Thirty minutes later as the credits rolled Apple Bloom turned off the television and turned to Scootaloo with a smile. “Well? What’d you think?”

“Puh, I knew it would be for babies.” Scootaloo was looking away stubbornly with her arms folded over her chest.

“Did you even watch it?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Can we just do something else?” Scootaloo grumped back.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Oh okay, I guess we should move on, grumpy-butt.”

“Come on, let’s go put on our pajamas,” Apple Bloom suggested.

“We’re going to bed already?” Scootaloo asked.

“No way, but that’s part of a sleepover, ain’t it? Come on!” Apple Bloom led the way toward her bedroom.

Apple Bloom’s pajamas were a long white t-shirt that hung down to her knees on top of a pair of simple white panties, while Scootaloo wore a black t-shirt on top of a pair of white shorts. Sweetie Belle on the other hand had a violet ankle-length gown that flowed around the length of her body as if she was constantly dancing every time she moved. There were even lacy poofs up around her neck and shoulders.

“You spend too much time around your sister,” Scootaloo noted with a smirk.

“At least I look like a girl.” Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue.

“Come on, girls! We’re here to have fun! So let’s have some fun playin’ one of my favorite games!” Apple Bloom leapt over the sleeping bags to the games she had laid out earlier, lifting one above her head triumphantly. “Apples to Apples!”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were silent for a moment before Scootaloo spoke. “You don’t do anything halfway do you?”

After some giggles and laughter the girls settled down for a fun game, in which there was more giggles and laughter. Apple Bloom couldn’t think of two more fun girls to spend her time with, and to think their meeting was completely by coincidence. Then again, she supposed that was how it was for everyone. Best friendships forged through completely coincidence. She supposed she could count at least two lucky stars for herself.

“Sheesh, you play the weirdest games, Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo leaned back on one of the sleeping bags comfortably, crossing her legs on the floor in front of her beside an open box of snack crackers.

“I’ve got another game we can play!” Sweetie Belle declared. “Let’s play Truth and Truth!”

“Uh… ain’t that s’posed to be Truth or Dare?” Apple Bloom asked curiously.

Sweetie Belle blushed. “Well yeah… but mom doesn’t like me taking dares anymore. Not since the time I threw Opalescence in hers and dad’s bed while they were sleeping.”

Scootaloo blinked. “Why was I not there for this?”

“Okay, we can play Truth, then.” Apple Bloom perched on the edge of her bed, swinging her legs idly over the side. “Who wants to start?”

“I will!” Sweetie Belle raised her hand like she was sitting in class. A mischievous grin lit up her face. “Apple Bloom! Have you ever kissed anyone?”

“Ugh, so girly…” Scootaloo faked a gag.

“Kissed?” Apple Bloom blushed. “Well… yeah, once.”

“What, really?” Scootaloo perked up at this. “I’ve never seen you with anyone.”

“It was a really long time ago…” Apple Bloom cleared her throat. “When one of my cousins, Potato Chip, was visiting…”

Sweetie Belle took a moment to absorb this information. “You kissed your cousin?”

“Ewe…” Scootaloo winced.

“We were really little!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with apple-red cheeks. “And neither of us really knew what kissin’ was all about… we just saw his parents doin’ it…”

“Hehe…” Sweetie Belle giggled girlishly. “Well I think that’s pretty cute! It’s your turn to ask a question!”

“Okay, Sweetie Belle… do you have a crush on anybody in school?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Ugh, what is with these girly questions?” Scootaloo grunted sourly.

Sweetie Belle ignored Scootaloo, wringing her hands sheepishly in front of her. “Well… honestly? A little bit…”

“Oh yeah?” Apple Bloom grinned.

Even Scootaloo seemed intrigued. “Who is it?”

“Isn’t it my turn to ask a question?” Sweetie Belle blushed brighter.

“You can ask two questions if you answer this one!” Scootaloo cocked a wry grin. “Or are you too scared to tell us?”

“Well….” Sweetie Belle took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage. “I have a teeny tiny crush on Rumble.”

“Rumble?” Apple Bloom beamed. “It’s the hair isn’t it?”

“Sweetie and Rumble sitting in a tree…” Scootaloo snickered.

“Come on girls…” Sweetie Belle blushed even more deeply. “Stop it, and you can’t tell anybody!”

“Tell? Oh come on, who do you think you’re talking to?” Scootaloo punched her in the shoulder with a wink. “We aren’t gonna tell a single person.”

“That’s right! What kind of best friends would do that?” Apple Bloom assured her from her spot on the bed.

“Heh… yeah, you’re right. I trust you girls.” Sweetie Belle flashed them a cute, grateful smile, which seemed to turn into a sinister grin as she leveled her gaze on Scootaloo. “How about you Scootaloo? Have you ever kissed or had a crush on anyone?”

Scootaloo leaned back on her sleeping bag, propping her head up on her hands with a self-satisfied smile. “Yes, and yes, all the time.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged a droll glance. “Oh really?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yep, that’s right.”

“And who’re you kissin’ so much exactly? I’ve never seen you with anyone,” Apple Bloom countered.

“I kiss my girlfriend of course.” Scootaloo’s smile only grew wider and cockier. “Have a pretty big crush on her too. Of course she has one on me, so that works out.”

The silence in the room was thick as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both tried to figure out if she was being honest or lying to try to one-up them both. The smile on Scootaloo’s lips didn’t look fake.

“You’re tellin’ the truth ain’t you?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared one more stunned glance before they both leapt forward, dropping to their knees on either side of their friend. “How could you not tell us about this!?”

“Yeah! I thought we were best friends!” Sweetie Belle added.

“Oh come on girls, it’s not a big deal. She just doesn’t like me talking about it is all.” Scootaloo waved off their concerns.

“And why wouldn’t she like you talking about it?” Sweetie Belle demanded. “That sounds suspicious to me.”

“Yeah, it ain’t like lovin’ another girl is a big deal these days.” Apple Bloom huffed.

Scootaloo waved off that concern with a snort. “It’s nothing like that, she’s just a little nervous about being so much older than me.”

Sweetie Belle narrowed her eyes. “How much older is she?”

Scootaloo blushed. “Does it matter?”

“She sure seems to think it matters.”

“Well it doesn’t!” Scootaloo crossed her arms over her chest.

“Is she in her twenties?” Sweetie Belle gulped.

“What? No. She’s not that old, she’s just a senior in school.”

“A senior!?” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracked. “She’s eighteen!?”

“Scootaloo, you’re only fourteen!” Apple Bloom gaped at her friend. “You can’t date someone that much older than you! It’s dangerous!”

Scootaloo scoffed. “Who says I can’t? I like her, and I trust her! She wouldn’t hurt me!”

“Don’t you watch the news!? It happens all the time!” Sweetie Belle shrieked, nearly worked up into a panic. “Some adult convinces a young girl they love them, and then after they have their complete trust, bam, they hold them down and have their way with them! Sometimes they even kill them!”

“She’s not having her way with me! She hasn’t touched me at all! She respects me!” Scootaloo glared.

“Yeah, for now!”

“I’m with Sweetie Belle, this simply ain’t right. Who is this girl?” Apple Bloom demanded.

“Yeah, like I’m gonna tell you with you threatening her.” Scootaloo shook her head.

“Scootaloo, we’re being serious! This is really dangerous!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“Yeah! We’re worried about you!” Sweetie Belle nodded furiously.

“Well stop it!” Scootaloo glared down her two friends. “I know what I’m doing, and I can take care of myself! Now shut up about it or I am going home right now!” She crossed her arms over her chest with an annoyed sigh. “I didn’t think you’d get all upset about it, I only told you because I thought you’d be happy for me like real friends!”

“But… but Scootaloo…” Sweetie Belle blushed.

“We are happy for you… it’s just…” Apple Bloom trailed off.

“Let’s do something else, this game is stupid.” Scootaloo stood up from her sleeping bag. “We’ve done what you two wanted to do, maybe we can wrestle now!”

“Wrestle?” Sweetie Belle blinked. “You mean like a pillow fight?”

“Nope!” Scootaloo leapt on top of her, tugging her arm behind her in a fierce arm bar as Sweetie Belle yelped in surprise and struggled to get free.

Apple Bloom scooted back away from the sudden wrestling match, leaning her back against the side of her bed with her mind spinning. Scootaloo was dating someone who was over eighteen, a legal adult. That was as old as Big Macintosh, who’d practically raised Apple Bloom. They were no doubt much bigger than her… who knew what they were doing to her, or would do to her in the future...

___

The roosters sang their song at the morning’s first light, filtering in through Apple Bloom’s window together to wash over her head. With a soft groan Apple Bloom sat up with a deep yawn. She had been up way too late. Even after the sleepover commotion had died down she hadn’t been able to sleep, her mind racing with doubts and worry.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and made her way toward the door, stepping over the sleeping forms of her two best friends on her way out to the kitchen, from which she could smell the aroma of cooking eggs and bacon. A look inside the kitchen confirmed Applejack at the kitchen stove, flipping some eggs in a pan with her spatula.

“Good mornin’ Sugarcube.” Applejack glanced over with a smile. “Y’all have a good time?”

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun.” Apple Bloom spoke in a soft tone as she walked into the kitchen, sitting down at the table with her arms folded in front of her. “Hey, sis… can I ask you somethin’?”

“’Course you can. You know that.” Applejack flipped the eggs over with ease.

“If you found out your friend was doin’ somethin’ dangerous… but they said they were bein’ super-careful… what would you do?”

Applejack pursed her lips thoughtfully as she tipped the eggs onto a plate, turning to set them in the middle of the table. “I s’pose that depends on exactly what they were doin’, and more importantly, if I thought they really could handle it or not.”

“Mmh…” Apple Bloom wrung her hands together in front of her. “What if you weren’t sure?”

Applejack gave her little sister a steady gaze, then pulled out a chair to take a seat beside her, putting one hand on Apple Bloom’s. “Then I’d look for help, if I thought I needed it.”

“What if you were afraid talkin’ to anybody would make your friend hate you forever?”

“Then I guess I would just have to ask myself one question. Do I think she’s in enough trouble that she’ll suffer if I don’t get help for her?”

Apple Bloom looked down. “Oh… okay.”

When Apple Bloom remained silent for several tense minutes, she felt her big sister squeeze both of her hands in her own. “I’d also make sure to remember that I have a family who’ll always be there to listen and help, no matter what the problem is.”

Apple Bloom glanced up with a small smile.

“I’d also eat my breakfast.” Applejack patted her hand with a wink before moving back over towards the stove to resume her cooking.

Apple Bloom glanced toward the door when Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle moved into the door frame still in their pajamas, rubbing their eyes and yawning.

Applejack greeted them with a smile, like nothing was wrong. “Have a seat girls, breakfast’ll be up in just a minute, and I’ll get you both home on my way into town.”

“Thanks Applejack…” Scootaloo yawned.

“Yep, thanks a lot!” Sweetie Belle smiled as the two of them approached the table to sit on either side of Apple Bloom.

The silence between them grew as the seconds passed, interrupted only by the sound of grease bubbling on the stove. The expression on Sweetie Belle’s face showed exactly what Apple Bloom was feeling, and they both spent most of their time looking at Scootaloo, wondering what she could possibly be thinking about. Who was it that was wandering through her mind and invading her dreams? Apple Bloom desperately wanted to know…

___

With her friends going home and Apple Bloom tending to her chores around the farm, she didn’t get any time alone with her friends until the next day at school. Even with all that time to think, she still had no idea what she was going to say to Scootaloo. Was she really supposed to just pretend it was okay? Pretend she didn’t know? What if Scootaloo didn’t even show up to school today? What if while Apple Bloom was sleeping peacefully in her bed that was the night this other girl chose to take Scootaloo and-

Oh wait, no, there she was now rolling up to the front steps of Canterlot High School on her Scooter, balancing easily on one leg and waving to some of her fellow students as she passed. When she reached the steps she jumps off of her scooter, landing on one of the middle steps and hauling her scooter up with one hand as she raced up to the door.

“Heya Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo smiled as she joined her friend at the front door. “What’re you standing out here for?”

“Oh, I was just waitin’ for you two.” Apple Bloom smiled with a soft blush. “You see any sign of Sweetie Belle yet?”

“I just got here ten seconds ago.” Scootaloo glared drolly.

“Oh, ahehe… right…” Apple Bloom blushed deeper. “Hey, come on, why don’t we go get ready for classes together?”

“Yeah, sure, we can do that.” Scootaloo kicked her scooter in just the right place to fold it up under her arm and turned to follow Apple Bloom into the school hallways.

Apple Bloom remained silent as they made their way through the school to their lockers, where she glanced discreetly at her friend as she pulled hers open and stuffed her scooter inside in exchange for a small pile of books.

“Sssoooo…” Apple Bloom cleared her throat.

“Sssoooo what?” Scootaloo gave her a puzzled look.

“I’m sorry for how things went at the sleepover… we were just worried about you, is all.”

Scootaloo huffed. “You don’t need to be, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Scootaloo, please?” Apple Bloom turned toward her. “I said I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry you won’t ask me about it anymore.” Scootaloo slammed her locker shut. “You two said what you think of me the other night, you think I’m too dumb to know what I’m doing or what the risks are.”

“What!? We did not call you dumb!”

“Well you meant it!” Scootaloo glared. “And I am not dumb! I’ve seen those stories too you know! Just because I don’t want to let them tell me what I should do doesn’t mean I don’t know what the risks are!”

“If you know there are risks then you shouldn’t be seein’ her!” Apple Bloom countered.

“Don’t tell me what I should be doing!” Scootaloo shot back. “I like her, and I trust her, and it’s nobody’s business but ours if we want to see each other!”

“And what about your friends? We’re worried about you!”

“If you’re going to tell me to break up with my girlfriend for no reason then you’re not my friends!”

Apple Bloom had no response to that. Her eyes widened slowly, staring into the sharp anger that met her inside her best friend’s gaze. “S-Scootaloo…” Apple Bloom took a step back, suddenly vividly aware that there were students slowing all around them, turning to look at the loud commotion with expressions of discomfort and confusion, and a couple of soft snickers. Even Applejack and Rainbow Dash were standing nearby, their own gazes drawn to the argument.

Scootaloo seemed to realize they were being watched as well. With bright red cheeks she slammed the lock onto her locker and turned to march away without another word. Slowly Apple Bloom turned to lock up her own stuff and retreat down the hallway, trying her best to ignore the dozens of eyes staring after her.

Sweetie Belle gasped when she met Apple Bloom walking the opposite direction. “Apple Bloom? Are you okay?”

“I think I messed up…” Apple Bloom sniffled.

“Oh goodness…” Sweetie Belle threw her arms around Apple Bloom in a comforting hug. “What happened?”

“Scoo… Scootaloo said I’m not her friend…” Apple Bloom wrapped her arms tightly around her friend. “I tried to talk to her but I musta said the wrong thing and… she…”

“Hey, come on… I’m sure she’s just angry…” Sweetie Belle patted her back reassuringly. “You know how she can get sometimes.”

“Y-yeah…” Apple Bloom wiped her eyes over her friend’s shoulder just as the school bell echoed through the rapidly emptying hallways.

Sweetie Belle pulled back and took her hand gently. “Come on, we don’t want to miss any classes.” Apple Bloom obediently followed her down the hallway towards their first class, which thankfully they shared. She didn’t want to lose her other best friend too…

___

Apple Bloom felt like she was going to throw up by the time lunch rolled around. She’d calmed down somewhat after the confrontation, but now she was just feeling sick to her stomach. Not only was the problem not resolved, but now Scootaloo hated her guts. She would never listen to another word she had to say, she wouldn’t even want to hang out with her anymore. The more she thought about it the more Apple Bloom just wanted to crawl into a corner…

“Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle pushed a tray of food in front of Apple Bloom, pulling her out of her intense thoughts. “You know it’s going to be okay, right?”

“How can you say that? Scootaloo h-hates me… she’ll hate me forever!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“Try to eat something… I’ll go see if I can talk to her, okay?” Sweetie Belle patted her back with a smile, then turned to make her way out across the cafeteria.

Apple Bloom didn’t want her to go, but she didn’t object. She didn’t want to say something stupid that would drive her away too.

Her eyes swept the cafeteria almost as if searching for a friendly face, when she caught sight of Scootaloo coming in through the double doors up front. Apple Bloom glanced away from her guiltily, staring at the far window for a little while before looking back, but Scootaloo was now staring at her with a strange look on her face. After a few more moments Scootaloo turned to walk straight towards Apple Bloom’s table.

Apple Bloom looked down at her hands as she approached, twiddling her thumbs in front of her as she listened to the footsteps approach and stop on the other side of the table. Finally she dared to look up, looking straight into Scootaloo’s eyes, as the girl stood with her hands on her hips.

“Hey… Scootaloo…” Apple Bloom coughed nervously.

“Yeah… hey…” Scootaloo slid into the seat directly across from her. “Look, I… I’m sorry, about what I said. You are my friend…”

“And you’re my friend… I’m sorry if you thought I was callin’ you dumb. That wasn’t what I was tryin’ to do.”

“Yeah, I know…” Scootaloo trailed off.

Sweetie Belle approached the table, speaking in a soft voice. “Is there room for me?”

“Of course, there’s always room for you, dummy.” Scootaloo chuckled and scooted to one side, allowing Sweetie Belle to sit beside her.

“Do you still wanna talk about it?” Sweetie Belle asked in her soft voice.

It took Scootaloo a few moments to compose herself enough to speak. “I just wish you guys could be happy for me, you know? I haven’t told anyone else about it except for you two… I told you because I thought I could trust you.”

“You can trust us, we haven’t told anybody. We just don’t want to see anythin’ happen to you. It would kill us if you disappeared and never came into school again.”

“Yeah…” Scootaloo rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess that makes sense… not that she would ever do that to me.”

“We can’t know that for sure if you won’t even tell us who she is,” Sweetie Belle reminded her softly.

“Yeah… she said that too.” Scootaloo nodded. “That’s why she said if I needed to… I could tell you girls who she is.”

“What…? Seriously?” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened.

“If you swear on your lives that you don’t go spreading it around the school! She’s not ashamed or anything, but it could seriously hurt her if people overreact.” Scootaloo looked back and forth between them. “So promise!”

Almost as one Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom crossed their hands over their hearts and lifted them in front of their eyes. “Pinkie promise!”

“Okay…” Scootaloo glanced around the cafeteria to make sure nobody was close, then leaned forward, gesturing for her friends to lean in as well.

Apple Bloom leaned across the table as far as she could, meeting her friends in the middle, where Scootaloo whispered in the softest tone she could.

“Rainbow Dash.”

Apple Bloom sat back, mystified, staring across the table at her friend, who now had a somewhat sheepish expression on her face. She knew Rainbow Dash, she was one of Applejack’s old friends, and in fact had recently become her friend again. She was really the one who was going out with Scootaloo? She had always seemed like a nice person… but on the news reports they said a lot of times it was someone who seemed nice on the outside.

Sweetie Belle seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “And you’re absolutely sure that nothing is going to happen to you?”

“Yeah, I trust her more than I trust anybody… except you two.” Scootaloo looked between them. “Besides, it’s not like nobody at all knows… my mom knows.”

“She does?” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened.

“Well, yeah! We went to her after our third date. She was… hehe, a bit shocked, but she said it was okay as long as it doesn’t get in the way or my schoolwork or anything.”

“But then why does R-… I mean, your girlfriend want to hide it from everyone else?” Apple Bloom asked curiously.

“Hey, just because my mom said yes doesn’t mean everyone else can’t be judgmental jerks…” Scootaloo frowned.

“Heh… y-yeah… I guess that’s true…” Apple Bloom blushed deeply and lowered her head. “I’m real sorry I jumped to conclusions like that…”

“Yeah… me too… we should have asked about it first…” Sweetie Belle agreed morosely.

“Hey, it’s alright… you did it because you care about me, right?” Scootaloo smiled again. “Besides, now that you two know, you can keep an eye out for me too. Help keep everyone from finding out… and keep her from abducting me, heh.”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom exchanged a stunned glance before Sweetie Belle spoke. “Well… yeah, I guess that’s true, but you really trust us with this secret…?”

“I told you girls…” Scootaloo grinned with a soft blush. “I trust you more than anyone.”

Sweetie Belle sniffled and leaned in to throw her arms around Scootaloo. Unable to reach from the other side of the table, Apple Bloom leapt over it in a strong tackle, throwing them all to the floor, but managing to wrap her arms around Scootaloo as well. Once the yelps subsided, giggles wafted into the air from the floor.

“Trust us Scootaloo, we’ll make sure nothing happens to you, or your girlfriend.” Sweetie Belle was practically glowing from her bright smile.

“Yeah, we’ll watch out for you!” Apple Bloom agreed brightly.

“Thanks girls…” Scootaloo beamed and wrapped her arms around the both of them. “I feel a lot better knowing you’ve got my back.”

“Forever and ever!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle giggled in unison, ignoring the puzzled looks they got from their peers in the cafeteria. It didn’t matter what those people were thinking as they watched the three best friends celebrate. All that mattered was that they were the best of friends, and they would always be there for each other. To help make up for each other’s mistakes, and cheer each other on when they found something to make them happy.

Next Time
Episode 05: A Destiny Denied

Author's Note

Now here’s a story that’s likely to polarize the 200 or so people who are actually reading this series. The idea isn’t that it’s generally 100% okay for adults to date kids, but more that things like this really need to be taken on a case-by-case basis, and that we shouldn’t rush to judge everything we see based on the worst-case-scenario.

There’s a tendency in our society to leap to conclusions based on little or no evidence, and those conclusions are pretty much always the worst ones that can possibly be reached. I’m not blaming anyone, after all, those are basically the only conclusions that get shown in the media. Terrible outcomes are harped on for weeks or months on end while positive endings are glossed over in a ten minute segment, if they’re talked about at all.

We’re used to people being terrible, we’re ready for people being terrible, we expect people to be terrible. That doesn’t mean, however, that everybody in a potentially disagreeable situation is terrible. And yet anyone who does something even remotely questionable is immediately presumed guilty of something even if there’s a very real chance of being innocent.

As for the canon/lore side of things in this story, Scootaloo/Rainbow Dash isn’t a pairing that really works in standard canon because the age difference is just so extreme (Scootaloo’s like 9-12 while Rainbow is probably 17-20 ), but with Scootaloo being High-School aged alongside Rainbow Dash, I feel like it’s a viable, if questionable possibility in Equestria Girls.

On a personal note, in “Feels Like the First Time” we got some flak for lesbian Rainbow Dash, and all I’m going to say about it here is… don’t. Sitting here and yelling like Rainbow Dash (and Scootaloo in this case) being a lesbian is a terrible thing is not only disrespectful to my works and my opinion, but it’s disrespectful to homosexuals everywhere. You’re acting like her being portrayed as a homosexual is an insult to her, and it’s simply not. It’s simply another way that a person can exist, so please, there’s no need for outrage or freaking out.

You’re free to think she’s straight. You’re free to disagree with my assessment of her. But please don’t react like it’s some kind of grave insult to her character. It’s not one, nor is it intended as one.

As usual, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the stories that come next.