Destinies Intertwined

Rumble sat on the couch wearing a tank top and sweat pants, watching television. He was waiting for his brother Thunderlane to get home to the apartment they shared with his brother’s girlfriend, Blossomforth…who also wasn’t home yet. Rumble probably figured that both of them were working late at their respective jobs. Thunderlane worked as a weather pony, and Blossomforth worked at a florist shop.

He wondered if maybe he should go to bed, since it was already eleven and he had school in the morning…but at the same time, he really needed to talk to Thunderlane before tomorrow. He had had a crush on Scootaloo for a long time, and now that he was in a club with her, he had a better chance at asking her on a date…

But that was the thing he needed help with: He wasn’t sure he could muster up the nerve to ask her out.

But after a couple minutes, the apartment door opened and Blossomforth entered. She was wearing a green sweater, red skirt, and tennis shoes. She almost instantly noticed that Rumble was still up. “Rumble…why are you still up?” She asked, obviously pretty worn out.

“Um…just waiting for Thunderlane,” Rumble replied.

“Why?”

“Uh… I just wanted to ask him something?”

Blossomforth walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, “Couldn’t you ask him in the morning?”

“Um…not really…”

Blossomforth pulled out a salad and closed the fridge door. “Why can’t you?”

“It’ll be too late…”

“Well…can you ask me?”

“N-not really…”

“Why?”

“Well…no offense…but you’re a girl.”

Blossomforth gave Rumble a look. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well…Um…I just needed some advice. Guy advice.”

Blossomforth thought for a few moments, then. “Well, I guess you can stay up, as long as he’s in a good mood. But go to bed as soon as you’ve asked him.”

“Deal,” Rumble sat back and continued watching TV.

After waiting for almost an hour, Thunderlane made it to the apartment. He saw Rumble on the couch almost instantly. He walked

over and sat next to his younger brother on the couch. “Hey, what are you doing up so late?”

Rumble turned to look at him, “Waiting for you to get here, actually.”

“Oh?”

“Um…yeah… Can I ask you some advice?”

“Sure…but you could’ve asked me in the morning, I’d still be here by then.”

“I know, but I didn’t want to risk maybe you not being able to.”

“Oh…that important, huh?”

“Yeah… Well…Um… There’s this girl at my school…”

“…Uh-huh…”

“And…I’ve had a crush on her since Middle School…”

“Ah… You want to tell her how you feel about her?”

“Yeah, she’s not seeing anyone that I know of, and…she might even like me back… But I just don’t know what to say, and I’m worried I’ll say the wrong thing and ruin any chance I had with her.”

Thunderlane chuckled, “Girls can be like that. But if you just be yourself, then you should be okay.”

“I know that, but isn’t there something else?”

“Yeah: Treat her like the most important person in the world.”

“Heh, yeah…”

“Oh, have you met her parents?”

“No…I don’t think she lives with her parents.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah…”

“Well, you’ve got that in common.”

“I guess. She also likes flying and she doesn’t have a cutie mark and-” Rumble yawned.

“Well, maybe you should get to bed.”

“Yeah… See ya tomorrow, Rumble.”

“Good night,” With that, Rumble went on to bed.

*****

Scootaloo lay in her bed. Her head was spinning. The argument between her aunt, her aunt’s boyfriend, her hero, and her hero’s friend had taken its toll on the teenager. She’d also have school in the morning and worry about dealing with Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and how they’d deal with how she felt about Rumble.

Why did her life have to stink?

Scootaloo heard a knock at the door. “Who is it,” She moaned.

“It’s Skywishes.”

Scootaloo sighed, “Come in.”

The door opened and Skywishes came in. She sat down at the foot of Scootaloo’s bed. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that, and that it upset you so much.”

Scootaloo sat up, “I-I don’t know what to think… I thought Citrus was a pretty cool guy…But-”

“Scootaloo, would you say you’ve grown up since you were ten?”

“Um…yeah…”

“You’re a lot more mature and smarter, right?”

“Uh-huh…”

“Well, Citrus changed, too. He’s a lot more mature and smarter. He realized what he did was wrong and wants to apologize to Rainbow Dash for what he did.”

“Well, he sure took his sweet time…”

“Do you know how hard it is to apologize about something like that?”

“Maybe he shouldn’t’ve done it in the first place.”

“And he knows that, he can’t change the past, but he can try and make up for it, and start over.”

“I guess…but…what if he hasn’t…and…”

“He might hurt me?”

“Yeah.”

“Scoots…I thought long and hard about it, and, I think he learned from his mistake. In fact, he’s going to be starting a center for ponies who have been raped in Canterlot.”

Scootaloo didn’t say anything.

“Well, I should probably let you get to bed. See you tomorrow, sweetie.”

“Okay, good night, Auntie,” Scootaloo said.

“Good night, Scootaloo. Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

*****

The next morning, Scootaloo was walking to school with Applebloom. “So how’d that night go with your aunt and Ms. Rainbow?”

Applebloom asked.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Scootaloo replied, bitterly.

“That bad, huh?”

“Probably worse…but I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Alright, just wonderin’.’ Applebloom paused for a few moments, “Wanna hear somethin’ weird?”

Scootaloo sighed, “Sure, why not?”

“Well…AJ came back real late last night and was grumblin’ about somethin’, couldn’t make it out, but after a while she came to my room and started asking weird questions.”

“Like?”

“Well… Like if I had a boyfriend, if there were any suspicious guys at school, if anypony took a liking to me… Stuff like that.”

“What did you say?”

“Ah told her the only ponies actin’ strange are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Then she asked if any boys were. I told her ‘not any more weird than usual’.”

Scootaloo chuckled.

“Then she left. Weird, huh?”

“I guess.”

“Your aunt do anything like that?”

“Not really…”

“Oh… Still, wonder why AJ was doing all that….”

Scootaloo shrugged, “Think Rarity asked Sweetie all those questions?”

“Do you really wanna ask her?”

“Um…I guess not?”

“It’s up to you. Ah’m gonna stay out of it.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“What?”

“Well…she’s a unicorn, she’s learning magic from Twilight, so she could send me to the moon or something.”

“That’s just Princess Celestia.”

“Never know…”

When the girls arrived at their school, they could see Sweetie Belle exiting her sister’s silver Mazda Miata. “Hey, Sweetie,” Applebloom greeted.

She held up a finger, indicating to wait.

Applebloom looked at Scootaloo, who shrugged. When the car left, Sweetie Belle groaned. “My sister has officially gone INSANE.”

“Huh?” Both Scootaloo and Applebloom said in unison.

“She was bugging me last night about the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!”

Her friends looked at each other again.

Sweetie Belle sighed. “She asked if I’ve had sex.”

“Oh…” Applebloom swallowed.

“Uh…wow…Um…” Scootaloo scratched her head.

“Can you believe her?! I mean, I’m not even dating anyone, DOESN’T SHE KNOW THAT?! So why she’s- Ugh!”

“And I thought I had it bad…” Applebloom thought.

“Yeah…” Scootaloo mumbled, while thinking, ‘Do they know about Rainbow and Citrus?’

*****

Gilda was flying to Fluttershy’s cottage with Garuda in her arms. Rainbow Dash is to resume her duty as a weather pony, but Gilda needed someone else to watch Garuda, and for a good reason too: she agreed to meet with the very pony who ruined Rainbow Dash’s life. Even though Skywishes is dating him, Gilda isn’t about to trust Citrus with her child. After all, the fact that Rainbow was

Gilda’s best friend, didn’t stop her from bullying other ponies. She was not about to take a chance now.

She landed in front of Fluttershy’s cottage and knocked on the door. Apparently, she knocked too hard because she heard a faint “Eep!” Gilda withdrew her hand.

“Sorry,” she said.

“It’s okay,” Fluttershy said, “You just startled me. Uh… Who is it?”

“It’s Gilda.”

The door opened, revealing Fluttershy standing behind it timidly. “Hello, Gilda,” She looked at Garuda and softly smiled, “Um...how is Garuda doing, if  you don’t mind telling me, that is.”

“He’s doin’ alright. Had quite a scare last night though.”

“I don’t blame him. I would be too if I overheard a fight at his age.”

“Yeah...and that’s kinda why I came over...I was wondering if you’d mind looking after him.”

“Sure, but why?”

“I’d rather not say, at least not yet.”

“Um...Okay…”

“Yeah… I kinda have that feeling that Dash wouldn’t be cool with what I’m about to do.”

“Um...Okay…”

“Anyway, I should be back in a few hours.”

“Okay… Be careful…”

“Thanks…” Gilda smiled at Garuda, “Be good for Fluttershy, okay?”

Garuda reached out for his mother.

“Don’t worry; I’ll be back before you know it.”

Garuda still stretched his arms, and looked like he was about to burst into tears.

Gilda kissed his forehead. “Don’t worry, I won’t be gone forever. Besides, you’ll love Fluttershy.”

This seemed to calm Garuda a bit, after all, his mom seemed to trust this pony, so maybe he could, too.

“I assume he’s already had a nap?”

“Yeah, he got up before we left. His diaper’s been changed and…” Gilda started digging in her purse, and soon brought out a bottle, a diaper, and a bag of wipes, “These are just in case.”

“I’m sure you will… Thanks again.” Gilda smiled, before she waved at both of them and left.

*****

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom were in the lunch room, sitting at the table, eating lunch like everyone else in the room. Sweetie Belle was still feeling upset about her sister’s conversation last night. “Who in Equestria DOES THAT, I mean-”

Applebloom interrupted Sweetie Belle’s tirade, “Hey, AJ asked me ‘bout it, too.”

“But did she flat out ask you if you’ve slept with anyone?”

“Well…no…”

“Didn’t think so.”

“Uh…” Rumble stood near the table, holding his tray of food.

“Oh…uh…Hey Rumble…” Scootaloo tried to brush some hair out of her face, secretly trying to hide her red cheeks. “Wanna join us?”

“I…think I do… Sounds kinda…um…”

“Yeah…it is pretty bad…”

“I guess your parents didn’t grill you on your sex life, did they?” Sweetie Belle asked Rumble.

A chill went through Rumble’s spine when he heard the word ‘parents’. But he shook it off and replied, “No… Unless me asking Thunderlane about-” Rumble remembered that Scootaloo was sitting right there, and it might be awkward if he said what he had talked about with Thunderlane. “Um… Never mind.”

“Yeah… Privacy… A concept Rarity hasn’t heard of, obviously.” Sweetie groaned.

“Ugh! Can we please change the subject?” Applebloom pleaded.

“Fine…” Sweetie turned to Scootaloo, “How’d last night go?”

“I’d rather not talk about it…”

“Did your Aunt do the same thing Rarity did?”

“No… But it was still pretty bad…”

“Okay…” Sweetie Belle took another bite of her burrito.

“Well, hello Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Silver Spoon, wearing skinny jeans, a jacket with the high school colors and team logo on the back and on the right of her chest, her signature purple glasses, and tennis shoes, greeted.

“What do you want, Silver Spoon? Or are you doing your master’s business?” Scootaloo joked.

Silver Spoon shot a glare at the pegasus. “I’m here to talk to Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle looked up at Silver Spoon like she was crazy. “Why the heck do you wanna talk to me?”

“Look,” Silver sat down at the last empty chair. “I’m here to ask if you wanna join the cheerleading squad.”

Sweetie Belle still looked at Silver as if she were insane, “…Why?”

“Well, one of the girls, who will remain anonymous, had to drop out and we needed a new member. So we asked all the football players who they thought the cutest girl in school was that wasn’t on the cheerleading squad. And you were number one.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders all looked at the second string quarterback, AKA Rumble.

“Rumble didn’t vote, girls.” Silver Spoon rubbed her head, “But, still, do you want to join or not?”

“I dunno, Silver Spoon. Cheerleading’s not really my thing.”

“Well… Think about it, okay?”

“I…guess I will…”

Silver Spoon did the unthinkable: She smiled, “Okay. Thanks. It’s only for one game, and it’s a home game. So… Yeah. Oh! And you’ll get a free jacket.” Silver Spoon glanced behind her and saw Diamond Tiara standing with her food, giving Silver Spoon a glare.

“Well, I gotta go. See ya.”

“Okay…see ya, Silver.” Sweetie said, before taking another bite of her burrito.

“That was…weird.” Applebloom noted.

“Yeah… Do you know anything ‘bout this, Rumble?” Scootaloo asked, a hint of_____ in her voice.

“Contrary to popular belief,” Rumble said with his mouth full, “We football players don’t hang out with cheerleaders much.”

“Sure…”

“I meant Silver Spoon.” Sweetie Belle pointed out.

“…Oh…”

“She’s pretty dedicated to the cheerleading squad. Least, that’s what a friend of mine said. She probably just doesn’t want to let ‘em down.” Rumble took a quick drink, “Not to mention she’s up for captain next year.”

“Hmm…” Applebloom deviously smiled, “Ya know… If ya said ‘no’…then she might not be able to be captain…and that’d be pretty bad.”

Sweetie shook her head, “As much as I’d love to get back at her, I wouldn’t say ‘no’ for that reason. And besides, must’ve been pretty tough to even ask me.”

“I guess… But she was still mean to us…”

*****

“What are we doing here, Gilda?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I wish I knew,” Gilda mumbled.

“Huh?”

“Err… We’re here to meet someone.”

Rainbow frowned, “This isn’t some attempt at a blind date, is it?”

“No, farthest thing from it.”

“Okay…” Dash gave her friend an odd look.

Eventually, they saw two figures approaching them. Rainbow Dash couldn’t figure out who they were, at first, but when she identified the taller one, a wave of emotion came over her. She didn’t know if she should scream, run, ask Gilda what the hay was going on, kick the guy in his special area (a trick she had learned from her mother), or do all four.

Unfortunately, she did none of these- she froze. She started sweating; her wings instinctively pulled close to her back, and she felt like she was going to throw up.

When they had finally come close enough to carry on a conversation, Rainbow couldn’t look at Citrus anymore, there were too many emotions. “What is he doing here,” Rainbow demanded from Gilda.

“Just…trust me, okay, Dash?” Gilda said, looking at Rainbow.

“How can you do this to me?! You’re supposed to be my friend!” Rainbow shouted, “Friends DON’T do this!”

“Rainbow-” Citrus started.

“SHUT UP!!” Rainbow suddenly punched Citrus’s jaw with such force; it knocked him to the ground. But before he could get back up, Rainbow jumped on him and pinned him to the ground buy his neck. “DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO ME?!?!?!” She asked, unaware of the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I-I…I’m sorry.”

“SORRY ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH! I’m lucky to be ALIVE!”

There were tears starting to form in Citrus’s eyes, “I know, I’m sooo sorry. What I did was unforgivable-“

Rainbow punched him in the jaw again.

“Rainbow!” Skywishes yelled.

“THAT’S an understatement.” She stood back up, but kept a foot on his chest. “I hope you die,” She whispered, through tears, before flying off towards her home.