Scootaloo lay in bed, as nervous as she could ever remember being since she was a foal. Some nights like this she wished she still had her cuddly soft toy to cuddle up to, but it was on a nearby table with some others. She had grown so much over the past few years and especially the past few months, and plush toys weren't for hugging, they were 'collectors’ items'.
Besides there was somepony new in her life for her to cuddle up to.
Somepony who made her feel warm, safe and loved.
Somepony she was willing to go to the end of the world with.
But tonight she was going to risk it all…but risks were a part of growing up. Without risk, you cannot have reward. If anybody knew that Scootaloo did, having learnt that lesson the hard way – sometimes risks didn’t pay off and you would end up covered in tree sap or in a pigsty, but other times it would pay off and just for the briefest of moments it felt like you were flying.
Bringing her thoughts back to the ground, and the night, she thought about the pony she was expecting any minute. That pony made her feel like she was flying every day…the cares of the world floated away when she was in their warm embrace.
And tonight, it was all potentially going to change, their relationship with grow into something more…deep.
Of course like most youngsters her age, it was easy to overestimate the impact growing up actually meant. Every year, she had to look upwards less and less to meet the faces of adults, which helped take away a bit of power they had over her. And her wings had grown stronger and stronger, so much so that they more than made up for her other shortcomings – like her singing.
Those wings were twitching with excitement, and nerves, as she lay in bed
It’s time…it’s time…think about everything that’s changed, and how this is the next step.
And it was true. Scootaloo and her friends had found what made them special, and that adventure was over (much to the relief of their families). However, you don’t crusade like that for three years without forming the sort of friendships that last a lifetime…and hopefully longer. Everypony agreed that they were the second closest group of friends in the world!
Of course they were only second because it’s hard to go up against friendships formed through pre-determinative, multiple world saving, god creating destinies – but the trio did make the bearers of the elements have to earn the title best pony friends forever!
Scootaloo laughed as she thought of that it’s a small world really if they couldn’t even be the best friends in their own town. And it must seem even smaller for Twilight and the others! She thought of them and started to reflect on the relationships she had formed with them…with everypony.
Scootaloo had always had trouble with relationships – losing your mother and father at such a young age will do that for a filly, and Scootaloo had been in and out of trouble throughout her life. But one event had changed all that, and everything had changed at Diamond Tiara's Cute-ceañera. Once the unbreakable trio had formed, Scootaloo found it easier to let others into her life, and now…well, now here she was.
In bed
Waiting
To take this relationship up a notch
Tonight had to be the night
Scootaloo looked through the open curtains at Luna’s moon high in the night, reflecting on what she had learnt from the princess of the night
“Face your real fear”.
Scootaloo had always faced some of her fears, but what did she really fear most?
Being alone…again
Rejection
Of course her family hadn’t rejected her, it wasn’t their choice to leave her as a foal, and she looked forwards to seeing them again in the great stable beyond. And the other children hadn’t deliberately rejected her, she was different from them and that made them nervous. And she understood she couldn’t go to summer flight camp like the other pegasi, and had to stay on the ground.
But understanding something as a youngster, or understanding it as much as a filly can, doesn’t make it hurt any less. Scootaloo found herself getting nervous as she reflected on sadder times, so reached over and took a drink of water from a glass besides her bed.
No Scootaloo, it’s time she told herself. The rest of the class get to do it, so why can’t I? I am no less special than they are, don’t I deserve the same? The same happiness? Scootaloo tried to rally herself up.
She knew all too well the problems of being different, after all the troubles the bullies had caused her and her friends. She was thankful that they hadn't picked up on this insecurity yet and she hoped that perhaps even they realised there were some lines not to be crossed.
A smile formed No, it’s time, it has to be. Tonight, no going back
Scootaloo was not a silly filly, and knew that once it was done it could never be undone – things would never be the same again. Things should be so much better. The first time would be the hardest, but things would only get better after that, be more natural.
The door opened and Scootaloo’s heartbeat quicken as the shadow in the door came towards her, the outline of the other pony just visible in the moonlight.
She heard the visitor say something, but Scootaloo was too distracted to really pay attention. Besides, she knew what they had said.
It’s time Scootaloo thought to herself, and took the plunge…
“Goodnight…mum” she replied, as the sheets were being tucked in around her.
Rainbow Dash froze, having never heard those words from her “daughter”. “Mum?” the mare replied quietly, as if not believing her ears.
Scootaloo smiled up at her, never seeing the elder in the family this stumped before. “Yes mum, I think it’s about time, don’t you?”
Of course Rainbow had had Scootaloo under her wing for a while now, and the filly had moved in with her over a year ago. It wasn’t an official adoption; such things took too long in the bureaucratic nightmare that governed the land. But the school and the mayor had been more than happy with the arrangement – better for Scootaloo to be in a loving home with the mare she idolised, than with overworked foster parents
“Are you sure about this?” Rainbow replied, forcing down the lump in the throat that threatened to overwhelm her “I don’t mind you calling me Rainbow, or sis, or whatever you like. Don’t feel pressured…”
Scootaloo sat up in bed and gave her adoptive mother a hug, interrupting the eldest mid flow. The pair both found themselves gently sobbing – Scootaloo from finally releasing the pent up worry, and Rainbow for realising just how much she meant to the filly that had coped with so adversity in her life.
“I love you mum.”
“I love you Scoots.”
“Well, I love you more” Scootaloo joked back, trying to regain a little composure after the tears.
“Not possible, you’re my little baby now!” Rainbow mocked, giving the youngster a rub on the head.
“Aww mum!” the filly trying to push away the larger pegasus.
“Forever!” Rainbow replied with a laugh, hugging Scootaloo as her real daughter for the first time.
