More Than a Sister

Chapters

Off to a Bad Start
Aftershock
Race to Canterlot
To Build a Family

Off to a Bad Start

Rainbow Dash was lazily flying through the air, having just recently returned from her latest two week session at the Wonderbolts training camp.

She was thrilled to learn that she’d been promoted to active reserve; this meant she would be receiving a duty roster in the post in the next couple of days that would detail her on call duty shift.

As she flew over the schoolhouse she noticed a few stray clouds that hadn’t been cleared yet. Knowing that tonight had been forecast to be clear skies throughout all Equestria she diverted. She bucked and slammed the clouds into non-existence.

“Rainbow Dash! Down here!” Cheerilee’s voice sounded from below with urgency, catching Rainbows attention.

Back flipping into a dive Rainbow oriented herself to land on the ground next to Cheerilee, spying a very agitated Sweetie-Belle next to the schoolhouse teacher. “Hey, what’s up?” Rainbow asked as she landed softly on the ground, bringing her wings flush against her body.

“Rainbow, it’s about Scootaloo,” Cheerilee spoke. Distress evident in her voice, her face betrayed how worried she was.

“Okay, what’s wrong?” the blue pegasus enquired quietly and calmly - trying to sooth the agitated teacher’s state of mind.

“She forgot her saddlebag after school ran a bit late when she dashed out, I asked Sweetie here to take it to her, and thought nothing of it since. That was until Sweetie just came back and told me what had happened.”

Rainbow looked down to the little white filly unicorn that seemed not to want to move much as she started speaking, explaining what had happened earlier.

-o.O.O.o-

Sweetie trotted up the path to Scootaloo’s home thinking about her next sleepover with the crusaders as she knocked on the door. Before her second knock had even faded the door was opened by a large, dark orange Pegasus stallion glaring down at her. Sweetie assumed this was Scootaloo’s father having never met him before.

“E-excuse me sir, but Scootaloo forgot her bag when school let out this afternoon - Miss. Cheerilee asked me to bring it to her.”

The stallion didn’t say a word to her just stepped aside turning his head to call up the stairs, “Hey runt! You got a friend at the door!”

Sweetie couldn’t believe what she heard, and was even more surprised at the demeanour of her friend when she came to the door.

Scootaloo kept looking to the floor downcast, jumping slightly every time the Stallion so much as twitched. “Th-th-thanks Sweetie, I’ll see you t-tomorrow,” Scootaloo said quietly taking the bag from her friend before turning to go back to her room.

*SLAM* The door swung shut in Sweetie-Belles shocked face, a raised voice coming to her ear’s from the other side, “I TOLD YA’ NOT TO BRING YOUR FRIENDS ROUND RUNT! YOU KNOW WHAT’S COMIN’!”

Sweetie gasped as the words echoed through before she heard Scootaloo’s voice pleading - fear in her voice. “No please, NO!” The sound of running was heard going away from the door.

Sweetie couldn’t take it anymore and for the first time ever she used her magic. The door flew open in a pink aura and Sweetie-Belle ran inside. She wasn’t thinking straight, she just knew her friend was in trouble. Tearing up the stairs she ran into the room where the noise came from.

Entering she screamed at what she saw: Scootaloo was dangling in the air, being held roughly from her wing by the stallion. He brought his other hoof into a vicious backhoof into the filly’s stomach causing her to cry out once more.

Sweetie-Belle screamed “Let her GO!” as she charged into the room at the stallion, only thinking to stop him form hurting Scootaloo.

The stallion threw Scootaloo contemptuously across the room into the wall above her bed, and turned to hit Sweetie-Bell in her side. With the sudden lack of air she stumbled to a halt, and was soon picked up by the stallion and carried to the front door where he unceremoniously threw her out.

Getting up Sweetie looked to the house once more in complete horror. She knew she needed to get help, fast. Without hesitation she turned ran, hoping that Miss. Cheerilee was still at the school.

-o.O.O.o-

By the time Sweetie finished the story, Rainbow was practically trembling in rage. She had truly come to care for Scootaloo. Not just as the sister she portrayed, but more like she would her own daughter.

Looking to the teacher Rainbow spoke, “Can you watch Sweetie for a while? I’ve a feeling Rarity won’t be home before long.”

Cheerilee nodded, yet before she could verbalise an answer Rainbow was already flying, one destination in mind as she blasted through the air: the library.

Slamming through the door she landed next to the shocked Alicorn.

“Rainbow this is- “ Twilight started to lecture her.

“Not now Twi, this is important!” Rainbow interrupted before immediately explaining what she’d been told.

“You get the girls, I’m going to get Scoots outta there and to the hospital.”

She finished as she saw Twilights own face mirroring the rolling fury inside her own chest before she took off. She flew out the door, pointing herself in the direction of Scootaloo’s home.

-o.O.O.o-

Scootaloo watched as the stallion who had sired her carried Sweetie out of the room before returning moments later.

“I told you, an’ you didn’t listen. Didn’t I discipline you enough?!” he shouted at her as she scrambled to get away from him as he approached, terror filling her veins. She hoped he wouldn’t hit her too hard as she pressed up against the wall by her bed.

The first hoof landed on her wing sending a jolt of pain arcing through her body, but she wouldn’t scream - he only hit her longer if she did. As the blows rained down upon her she started to think this was finally it, this would be the day he would go too far… this time, he’d killed her.

Her thoughts went to the times she felt safe within Rainbow’s arms and wings. She started crying with the pain and desperation to be there again.

“MOMEEE!” she screamed as the pain went on while she kept trying to dodge the blows - this was the longest he had ever beat her.

“Your ain’t got no momma! Ya killed her! She died when you were born, remember?!” The stallion roared as another blow connected – this time hard as she felt one of her ribs give. She tried and failed once more to dodge his assault.

Finally she ran out of energy and curling up into a ball, hoping he’d stop. She finally started screaming in pain, calling for the mare she thought of as her mother.

“MOMMA! MOMMA DASH!” She knew it was pointless, hopeless! Rainbow would never hear her. Yet, she wanted her final thoughts to be of the mare who had taken her under her wing.

“MOMMA DAASH!”

The last thing she saw as her father’s hoof struck her head knocking her out: was a rainbow trail bursting into her room, followed by the sound of broken glass.

-o.O.O.o-

Spitfire sat back breathing a sigh of relief as she looked through the progress reports of her favourite recruit.

Rainbow Dash had come a long way from the brash young mare who’d started as Lightning Dusts Wing Pony. How time had flown. She chuckled and shook her head at how happy Rainbow had been when she’d been promoted to active reserve.

She deserved it though, outside of training or off duty she was a cocky, brash determined mare with a strong core of friends. Yet on duty it had turned into a Confident, Strong and Resolute attitude willing to get the job done and pushing herself beyond the boundaries.

Suddenly an alarm sounded, an alarm she hated to hear as she grabbed her flight goggles and took to the air. Her goggles -- charmed by the unicorn magic -- provided a detailed HUD and had a directional arrow: showing for her to follow a labelled marked ‘RD’.

Her blood ran cold, if there was one Pegasus she thought would never use the emergency wing band it was her. Putting on an extra burst of speed as she glanced to the mini-map in the corner. She saw the other dots of the Primary team all homing in on Rainbow’s position.

As they got to the edges of Ponyville they all managed to meet in the air and form up as they followed the distress signal. What Spitfire saw as Rainbow came into sight would be burned into her mind forever: how Rainbow was still flying the Captain didn’t know.

There battling with an unknown stallion was the supposed to be blue mare - coat stained red with her own blood. One wing was obviously dislocated as she fought to stay in the air.
She was bucked in the chest, but when this strike hit, it was one blow too far and she started to fall.

Spitfire jabbed towards Rainbow thrice with her hoof, pleased to see the trailing three of the Bolts peel off and head to catch her. Spitfire and Soarin’ closed on the strange stallion and unexpectedly for him - attacked!

Fortunately for him they were only aiming to incapacitate and detain. With a perfectly executed flyby, Spitfire rammed a hoof into his stomach as Soarin’ slammed a hoof across the back of the stallions’ head.

The now unconscious stallion was caught and lowered to the floor before being restrained with both hoof and wing cuffs so he couldn’t get away when he awoke.

Rainbow was just struggling to her feet as Spitfire approached. “Easy there Dash, you’re in a bad shape,” Spitfire said trying to get Rainbow to relax.

“H-help Scoot… a… loo... Hurry!” Spitfire saw Rainbow pointing her not so damaged wing to a house.

Spitfire nodded as she passed Rainbow over to Soarin’. She ran into the house, breaking the front door down as she did so. Running through the house she searched every room until she came to a little filly’s room. There on the floor was a sight that broke Spitfire’s heart, the broken and battered body of a bright orange filly, with a smooth purple mane and tail.

Thanking all the times she had taken courses to treat wounded pony’s she set to work, horrified at each new injury she discovered while tending her so that she’d be stable enough to transport to the hospital.

The sight of the destroyed wing almost broke the Captain, even with the best doctors in Equestria, Scootaloo -- the filly Rainbow always praised as never giving up -- may now never be able to fly.

No wonder Rainbow had gone into a rare Pegasi Battle Rage. It was why mostly Pegasi served in the guard even now, they were the warriors of the pony race. Looking to the filly she swore that she would help, however she could.

-o.O.O.o-

Rainbow didn’t know how fast she flew, she barely registered pressing the panic-band on her wing as she blazed through the air from the library.

She cursed the fact that Scootaloo’s home was so far from the centre of Ponyville, knowing that it would be a long time before her friends got to the house. She could only hope she would be able to help Scootaloo as she left a rainbow trail behind her.

“MOMMA DAASH!”

Rainbow heard Scootaloo’s voice call as she approached the house. Her heart lurched that the little filly saw her so as she aimed for the cracked window that lead to Scootaloo’s room. She slammed through just in time to see Scootaloo’s father landing a blow to Scootaloo’s head.

Rainbow screamed in fury slamming into the stallion before grabbing him with her forearms and threw him across the room. Not noticing as he twisted in the air landing on his feet until he charged her, slamming her into the wall, his hoof coming down on Scootaloo’s wing in the process.

Rainbow’s vision centred on the being that was supposed to offer unconditional love and support to Scootaloo. Her blood pounded in her ears as she reared up and with a whinny, slammed her hooves forwards into his chest as he came again for another blow.

He sailed out the window with her following him into the air. She flew above him and dove down with a blow to his withers that he turned into a forwards roll, bringing his rear legs to bear as he bucked her in the gut.

On the aerial combat raged, each blow landed weakening Rainbow a little more, but she couldn’t stop, she wouldn’t go down. Because as long as he was fighting her - he wasn’t hurting Scootaloo.

As the injuries mounted Rainbow misjudged a blow and he got a shot in on her muzzle, breaking her nose. Rainbow was aware she fought on, but it was now a haze, she was in a full rage – something no pony dared raise in a Pegasus.

Finally her body could take no more and she began to black out, her body slipping from the air. Her only hope was that her friends would get there in time, as the darkness claimed her vision. The last she knew was a pair of strong, friendly hooves catching her.

As she came around her body screamed at her for rest as she ignored it, she needed to get Scootaloo help. It was with immense relief she recognised the Captain of the Wonderbolts.
When she pointed to the house and managed to mumble about help for Scootaloo she watched as Spitfire became a blur when she flew into the house.

‘Daaamn, I thought I was fast. I guess the Wonderbolts are too when it’s one of their own in trouble,’ Rainbow thought as she collapsed to the floor once more, allowing the Medic amongst the team to start helping her.

The sound of galloping hooves reached her ears. She looked up to see Rarity and Applejack leading the rest of her friends at full speed to them.

“Rainbow, are ye okay?” Applejack asked as she got to her.

Rainbow only nodded once before she passed out.

-o.O.O.o-

Twilight carried on running into the house calling out.

“UP HERE!” a female voice called out, leading her to scramble up the stairs into the room.

“Oh no,” she whispered as she stopped dead at the sight. Spitfire, however, just carried on working, only glancing up once.

“Princess, you can either help me or get my Medic... Don’t just stand there!” Spitfire’s voice commanded, jolting Twilight out of her shock.

Twilight ran over, her horn lighting up as she conducted a scan on Scootaloo’s broken body. What she found had her glad that the one who had done this was already in custody.

“Spitfire, what do I need to do?” Twilight asked before listing the injuries her scan found that Spitfire couldn’t even know about.

Looking Twilight in the eye Spitfire spoke very deliberately, and quietly, “Pray...”

With that she ran to the window and shouted for her Medic to hurry up, and for another pony to come take the list of injuries Scootaloo had from Twilight to the hospital. Giving them optimal time to prepare for when they flew both Scootaloo and Rainbow in.

Twilight watched as Spitfire turned back to carry on tending Scootaloo. “Not gonna lose you, kid... I promise.” Twilight heard her whisper as two other Pegasi entered the room.

Twilight passed the one a list of Scootaloo’s injuries she had written down on a conjured scroll, and before she could blink he was gone - a mere speck in the sky on the way to the hospital.

“Okay, she and Rainbow are stable enough to transport to the hospital, but we gotta move now if we want to minimise the long term damage,” the Medic said as she finished inspecting the work Spitfire had done on Scootaloo.

“Damn, Captain. You did a better job than I would have done,” she whispered to Spitfires stoic face.

“Okay, get the squad ready, I’ll carry the kid, you stay with me in case of complications. Soarin’ and one other help Rainbow to the hospital, the other two take this kids. . . father,” Spitfire said gratingly, “to the hospital and keep him under guard... Let’s move!”

Spitfire finished her orders and scooped Scootaloo up into her arms before she leapt out the window followed by the Medic, who Twilight saw stop by the ground briefly to relay orders before the Wonderbolts took to the air, duties assigned, Fluttershy with them staying close to Rainbow.

Twilight left the house the conventional way going to the others.
“They’re all going to Ponyville General. It doesn’t – doesn’t look to g-g-good for s-sc-scoot…” She slumped to the floor at that point.

-o.O.O.o-

“No, oh dear Celestia... No,” Rarity gasped out as she moved next to the distraught Alicorn. “Tell me there’s hope,” she pleaded with Twilight.

Applejack’s face had seemingly turned to stone while Pinkie’s mane suddenly deflated, all of them coming to terms their own way that they may not see Scootaloo’s bright eyed smile again.

Rarity helped Twilight struggle to her feet, well aware that although they had seen Spitfire carrying the filly, Twilight would have seen the true extent of her injuries.

“Come on, we... we need to be at the hospital... In case…” Twilight didn’t finish what she was saying, as they all knew what could happen.

Pinkie looked completely lost as Applejack moved closer to her. “Come on Pinkie, we need ta get Applebloom an’ Sweetie-Belle, Scootaloo needs her friends near her nah.”

Rarity nodded with the other three and listened as Twilight told Applejack where to find Sweetie-Belle.

They all turned and ran back towards Ponyville, Twilight taking to the air and flying above them, Pinkie and Applejack breaking away at the town to collect the others as Rarity and Twilight carried on to the hospital, all hoping the same thing.

Hoping that Scootaloo would survive.

Aftershock

Spitfire powered through the air and fell just short of the Medic, who was providing a perfect slipstream. This was one of the Wonderbolts secrets to getting anywhere at top speed, sometimes even reaching Mach three. Difference being it was usually Spitfire who took spear point.

As they flew over the town of Ponyville, the hospital soon came into view. Outside, emergency staff stood ready with two gurneys. As Spitfire landed, she could feel Scootaloo’s breathing stop in her arms.

“She’s not breathing!” Spitfire shouted out to the Unicorn taking charge. He nodded and immediately fired a spell at Scootaloo. Spitfire watched as Scootaloo's body convulsed with the magical discharge. Moments later her little chest started to draw in air again.

Collapsing on the ground, Spitfire watched as Scootaloo was wheeled away. When a nurse trotted up to check on Spitfire, the Wonderbolt Captain just waved her away. “I’m okay, just... tired,” she explained as she got back up and made her way into the hospital’s waiting room.

In the background she could hear the commotion of more ponies landing. She turned to see the other Wonderbolts, carrying the injured Rainbow Dash. Her mind was finally at ease now that she knew the pair had arrived.

She sat herself down as the team trotted over to joined her. As the adrenaline left her system and she was no longer able to do anything, the emotions she had been suppressing hit her full force. Then she did something that very few Ponies had ever seen: she cried. Not caring that they were trying to keep their relationship private, she turned into Soarin’s shoulder and allowed him to be her strength.

From what Rainbow Dash said, Scootaloo looked up to Rainbow as something of an idol. Rainbow had been carefully using that to help steer Scootaloo along the right path. The little filly was all Rainbow spoke about aside from her friends. Now here she was in the hospital, and the doctors weren’t even sure she’d survive.

*Slam* The door flew open and in ran a little yellow filly with a shockingly red mane gathered together in a bright pink bow. She shot through the room, evading everypony who tried to stop her. “Scootaloo, where are ya! Come on, this ahn’t funny! Scoots!” she was crying out as tears rolled down her little face.

Spitfire got up and took a deep breath. Instead of trying to fight through everypony she shouted in her full drill sergeant voice, “EVERYPONY STAND STILL!” Instantly, everypony in the room stilled, even the little filly. As the chaos finally settled, Spitfire was able to get a closer look to who exactly had been chasing the filly. They were all Rainbows friends.

“Hey, kid,” Spitfire started with a soft yet firm tone. “They’re doing the best they can for your friend. I’m sorry, but they won’t let us see her until they’ve finished.”

The little filly looked up to Spitfire her golden eyes brimming, begging her to say more. “Come on, we’ll wait together for news, okay?” The little filly nodded as she and the other’s all sat in the corner with Spitfire and Soarin’. They all stared at the doors waiting, waiting for the doctor to come and tell them anything.

The doors swung open and one of the doctors came out and approach the group. He spoke, his voice full of authority, “Ma’am, you’re Rainbow Dash’s Superior Officer, correct?” Spitfire blinked a moment, before nodding. Looking around, the doctor and noticed who else was there. “Ah good, then you’re all here. . .”

-o.O.O.o-

Rainbow’s eyes opened heavily, her first sight being of a machine with a green line going across the screen that jumped every second. As she turned her head, she saw a drip with a line leading into her foreleg. Looking down the bed, she saw bandages wrapping about her chest, and could feel more about her wings. But all this was inconsequential; she needed to know about Scootaloo.

Pressing the nurse call button, she stared agitatedly at the door. Moments later a nurse she recognised very well from all her times in this very bed. “Nurse Redheart, how’s Scoots?” Rainbow asked. She had found out in the past that although Scootaloo had a family, the little filly had put Rainbow and her friends as main Points of Contact. Now, Rainbow understood why.

The nurse looked to the floor a moment, obviously bracing herself for what she was about to say. "They’re still working on her... we haven’t made much progress in the hours you’ve been unconscious. And despite all attempts by both your Captain and Medic, Scootaloo’s wing has had to... had to be amputated, I’m sorry.”

Rainbow’s world stopped. She couldn’t have heard that right, no way, nu-uh. But as the shock wore off, her anger replaced her numbness, rage taking place of reason. “Where. Is. He!” Rainbow asked, every syllable a death threat to Scootaloo’s father.

“Stand down, Recruit,” Spitfire’s voice, full of command, coming from the corridor where Spitfire and the doctor were standing.

“Ma’am,” Rainbow answered, her professional Wonderbolt mask washing over her features.

“Now, the doctor has said you can leave the bed and can have your friends in the room with you, if you behave. Am I going to have to order you, or will you cooperate?” Rainbow looked to her Captain, whose expression radiated ‘Don’t argue’ quelling any fight in Rainbow.

Sighing Rainbow leaned back into her pillow staring at the bed covers. “Okay, but can you and the team stay a bit too Ma’am, I need to talk to everypony before I make some... decisions.” She saw Spitfire nod as she turned heading back down the corridor to go and retrieve everypony.

Nurse Redheart and the still unnamed doctor came forward to disconnect Rainbow from the vital signs monitor, before helping her into a chair by the side of her bed. While this was happening the Wonderbolts, rest of the mane six, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had all come in.

As she settled comfortably, Rainbow looked them all in the eye, and going on to explain what she’d heard Scootaloo call out, right before she went up against Scootaloo’s father. “After hearing that... I’ve decided that I’m gonna see about makin’ it official. But before anything can be done about that, I need two things to happen. Girls, I’m gonna need you to look around for a house on the gr-ground, one that I’ll be able to afford once I sell my cloud-house.” She ignored the shocked, tearful eyes of her friends and turned to Spitfire.

“Ma’am, I need to know now... do you need my resignation? Being a Wonderbolt has been my dream, but now I got Scoots to think about. If you want me to stay, even as a reserve, you’ll have to understand she will be my priority,” Rainbow finished addressing her superior.

“Recruit Dash, two things. One you’ll not need to resign, as it is, one of the team, Cloud Dust here,“ Spitfire pointed to a navy blue Pegasus, “Is a mother too, she’ll tell you being a Wonderbolt doesn’t stop you being a parent. We just adjust your training schedule to allow for that. If for whatever reason you can’t get a foalsitter, there's a foalcare service on base.”

Rainbow nodded, relief colouring her features.

“Rainbow,” Twilight said trying to catch the blue Pegasus’ attention. Rainbow turned her head to show Twilight she was listening. “Why do you need to move? You’re both Pegasi, and with you as a mother Scootaloo should be flying in no ti...” She cut herself off when Rainbow’s eyes closed and tears began to slip down her face.

“She won’t fly, Twi, her wing was too badly damaged. They h-had t-to a-amputate,” Rainbow stuttered out.

Twilight and the other earth bound ponies were shocked. Rainbow knew Twilight hadn’t fully gotten used to her wings, nor did she understand the innate sense of self they gave a Pegasus. But unlike her both Fluttershy and the Wonderbolts all seemed to collapse on to their rumps simultaneously, horror filled expressions across all their faces.

“Okay... ah don’t get it, she’ll still be mah friend. Why y'all so shocked?” Apple blooms voice asked quietly.

“Come here, kid,” Rainbow said quietly. As Apple Bloom got closer Rainbow lifted her off the floor and settled the filly on her knee.

“You see, to us Pegasi: the sky is our territory. We belong in the air like a fish belongs in the water. We need to feel the wind in our feathers, the sky is our friend and enemy in one.” She gazed out the window as the passing clouds as she continued, “Without the battle against the weather’s elements. Without fighting and using the wind, our sense of purpose, our identity comes into question.” She paused to look back to Apple Blooms eyes, before carrying on, “Scootaloo is going to have a hard time over the coming years, and she’s going to need you an’ Sweetie there for her... can you understand what I’m sayin? No matter how much she lashes out and tries to push you away, you’ll need to be there.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “It’s laike ah said, she’s still mah friend no matter what.”

Rainbow smiled and set the little filly down. “Thanks, Apple Bloom,” she said quietly as Sweetie Belle came up next to her friend.

“Hey, don’t forget me!” Sweetie Belle added. “I’m always going to be there for her.”

Rainbow smiled once more. “You do that.”

Looking about the rest of the room, she saw everypony in various states of sadness, but what shocked her was how hard it had hit the Captain of the Wonderbolts. She was once again being held by Soarin’ as her shoulders shook, crying into his shoulder.

“Captain,” Rainbow said quietly trying to get her attention to no avail. “Ma’am?” she said a bit more forcefully. Still no answer came, hoping this would work. “Spitfire!” she called out shocking the fiery maned Pegasus into look at her.

“What’s wrong, Ma’am?” Rainbow asked gently.

“I-It’s nothing,” Spitfire answered, obviously lying. Something that Applejack instantly picked up on.

“Nah tha’s just horseapples, yer clearly more upset than the rest o’ us. Lan’ sakes, what’s wrong girl,” the orange pony all but demanded.

“I-it’s my fault... maybe if I’d treated her better, bandaged her w-wing mmmore sec-securely. . .”

“Stop right their Captain,” Cloud Dust interrupted, “You know I’m the Medic of the group right?” Spitfire nodded, slightly shocked at how forceful the normally quiet medic was being. “I told you back then you did a better job than me, and I meant it. If it had it been me looking after the filly.” Cloud Dust paused a moment. “Then I’d probably have had to do a field amputation. At least here she’s in a safe, healthy environment.”

Spitfire nodded once more, but Rainbow could still see the traces of lingering doubt in her face. “Look, Captain. If it wasn’t for you she wouldn’t have surv-“ The Medic cut her words off, realising what she was about to say wasn’t for little fillies ears, glancing to Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle. But enough was said to help as Spitfire gave a small, yet genuine, smile of thanks.

Just then the door opened and the doctor stepped in. “Miss Dash? Scootaloo is out of surgery and she’s in her own room. Now, from the paperwork we have on file, I assume you’re taking responsibility of her...” He paused and waited for her nod. “I need you to sign here, it’s to say that you’re happy to pay her medical bill.” Rainbow took the form, looked at it, blinked... then started to swear.

“Oi Rainbow, I’m just a filly!” Sweetie Belle chastised the pony’s profanity.

Rainbow looked up to Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Twilight. “G-guys... Help?” Rainbow squeaked out.

Twilight stepped over to take a look at the bill, and practically exploded.

“WHAT?! I know how much these procedures cost, and this is way too expensive. How do you justify charging a 75% saving life fee? You can’t put a price on a life!” Twilight ranted, bearing down on the doctor.

“But ma’am, we saved her life! We’re entitled to charge whatever we want!” That statement cost the doctor any shred of respect he had left in the room.

Turning to Spitfire, Twilight commanded with all the authority she held as a Princess.
“Captain, I want two guards on Scootaloo at all times. If these... individuals charge for saving a life and don’t get paid, unforeseen complications may happen to a helpless filly. From now on only Nurse Redheart or Dr. Time Turner will be allowed to see Scootaloo.”

The Doctor shouted out at this, “Now see here, that’s slander that is!”

“BE SILENT!” Twilight commanded before grabbing a scroll and quill off the bedside table as Spitfire despatched two Wonderbolts to guard Scootaloo. While this was happening, Twilight stood next to Rainbow, who could see what was being written:

Dear Princess Celestia,

Earlier this afternoon, Rainbow Dash was involved in an altercation between herself and the father of a filly who goes by the name of Scootaloo, who is very dear to all of us.

After the altercation, which turned out to be Rainbow stopping Scootaloo’s father beating her any more than he had, Scootaloo and Rainbow were brought to the local hospital for treatment - lifesaving in Scootaloo’s case.

At present time she is stable but the hospital is trying to add a surcharge of 75% on top of the bill as a ‘Lifesaving Fee’. I currently fear for the filly’s safety and would not like any Unforeseen Consequences to happen, and have as such decreed that at the moment only one doctor or nurse whom I trust will be allowed to tend to Scootaloo.

Unfortunately I fear further expertise will be required to help the little filly to as complete a recovery as possible – please could you send one or two physicians from the Royal Canterlot Hospital to aid in her treatment.

Thank you
your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle – Princess of Magic

“Captain, please have your fastest available flier take this,” Twilight indicated the scroll, “to the library and tell my assistant, Spike, he’s a baby dragon, to send this to the Princess’ immediately.” Spitfire nodded and pointed with a hoof to the note.

“Cloud Dust, take that and do as the Princess asked, then get home to your own little one, it’s getting late,” Spitfire ordered.

Cloud Dust Saluted, and with a “Yes Ma’am” she left the room, carrying the Scroll.
After the Wonderbolt had left, Twilight turned on the doctor.

“So, you think you deserve to charge more than what is laid down by law for doing your job? Fine, you are hereby barred from tending any care to me, my friends, their relatives or their dependents.” She glared at the doctor with thinly veiled disgust.

“Let’s see how many ponies are willing to be your patient when it’s known the bearers of the Elements of Harmony refuse your services. Now… GET OUT!” With that, Twilight turned and scraped a rear hoof on the floor towards him, showing her utter contempt at the stallion.

They spent the rest of the time talking and planning for when Scootaloo would be released. Using her authority as a Princess of Equestria, Twilight conjured up a set of adoption scrolls for Rainbow Dash to fill out to take full guardianship of Scootaloo.

With Scootaloo’s father being an unfit parent, it was a foregone conclusion he’d lose custody.

Spitfire and Soarin’ provided the necessary two professional character references while Fluttershy and Rarity were happy to do the Personal References. Applejack and Pinkie both put their names forward for the care of Scootaloo if anything should happen to Rainbow. Now all that was left was for two signatures on the form one could be Twilights but another official needed to sign it and ratify the decision.

“Who we gonna get to do that? Huh, huh, huh?” Pinkie asked out loud.

“I believe my signature should be sufficient for what thou doth propose,” Princess Luna’s melodic voice answered from the doorway. She stood there flanked by two of her bat-winged soldiers.

“Luna!” Pinkie called, the Party Pony had absolutely no sense of decorum. “When you gonna visit my dreams again?” she called out, completely ignoring the matter at hoof.

Luna visibly shuddered.

“When I’m drunk, drunk enough to believe it safe,” she murmured, before stepping into the room and looking over the form that they had been working on. “Indeed, I believe all is in order. Thou should know, Rainbow Dash, that this is a dream come true for thy new daughter,” Luna spoke as she finished the spell to sign her name.

“I know,” Rainbow said looking to the floor, guilty at not seeing Scootaloo’s plight until now.

“Now, we’ll have none of that, Lieutenant,” Spitfire’s firm voice said.

Rainbow looked up to spitfire confusion evident in her face. “But Ma’am, I’m just a recruit,” Rainbow said, wondering what was happening.

“Not anymore,” Spitfire said with a smirk. “Oh, don’t you know? In order to be allowed to adopt while serving in the Wonderbolts, you need to, at the very least, hold the rank of Lieutenant. Congratulations, Lieutenant Dash. You are now no longer a reserve, but a fully active Wonderbolt with all the responsibilities therein,” Spitfire finished with a smile.

“Whaaaaa-“ Rainbow said eloquently as she kept looking around, waiting for somepony to say ‘Gotcha!’

The reality of the situation hit her when Pinkie Pie started hopping around the room as she exclaimed.
“Ooh–oh, we need a ‘Congratulations-on-being-a-mommy-and-your-promotion-party!” Rainbow could feel the smile on her face was one of the biggest she’d ever worn.

“Thank you, Ma’am, I won’t let you down, I promise!”

Spitfire just shook her head before she spoke, “Just raise that filly right, that’s all I ask, that and let me visit sometimes.”

Rainbow nodded before turning to Luna. “Err Princess, not that I’m glad to see you, because I am, but what are you doing here?”

Luna turned to Rainbow, and started to explain.

-o.O.O.o-

Celestia and Luna were sharing their evening tea together, going over which petitioners had been delayed, so Luna would need to see them first, during her night court.

A 24 hour court wasn’t easy to manage, but they’d had millennia of practice before Luna’s little ‘Nightmare Moon’ incident.

A green flame wisped in through the window, coalescing into a scroll in front of Celestia. “It is a bit late for a report, dost thou not think, ‘Tia?” Luna asked, looking in confusion to the scroll.

Celestia nodded before reading its contents, and carefully settling the scroll down like it was venomous snake.

“Luna dear, you tend to visit the dreams of one little filly in Ponyville more than most, do you not?” Celestia asked carefully; Luna nodded, slightly worried at the change in topic that must have been prompted by whatever was written.

“Tell me, sister, what her name is?” Celestia continued.

“Scootaloo,” Luna answered, and watched as Celestia slid the scroll across the table to Luna.

-o.O.O.o-

Everypony in Canterlot looked to the castle a moment as the sound of rage echoing from the Princess’ quarters spread across the city as a blast of red meteors shot across the evening sky.

-o.O.O.o-

Luna finished her explosion and turned to her sister. “Allow me to bring both her and Rainbow to Canterlot Hospital for their continued treatment.”

Celestia nodded before she spoke, “Very well, sister. But take our most skilled Pegasus Paediatrician and adult consultant’s with you, they will need to run assessments of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash before travel, no doubt.” Celestia rubbed her chin with a hoof a thoughtful expression upon her face before continuing, “Take some guards with you as well. I do not trust any hospital that would start charging such a fee, I believe I shall order an investigation as to what caused this to happen.”

Luna nodded before striding out the door, calling her guards to her with a well-practiced spell, which not only told them they were needed: but why. She had put out the word for four volunteers, yet after retrieving the doctor’s she stepped in to the courtyard to see most of the entire battalion of her guards. Both those on or off duty, with more flying in.

As her jaw dropped to the floor she looked out to them all, and spoke in full regal voice, “We are pleased that thou take a filly’s plight so seriously; we unfortunately cannot take all of thee, however, thou art aware of the injustices done, yes?” She waited until she saw the all nod. “Good, I command this, from this day forth, any known and convicted of the practice in foal abuse will be dealt with by us! These atrocities happen mostly of the Night. We are the Guardian of the NIGHT! AND WE SAY NO MORE!” She finished with a powerful stamp of her hoof, the crowd of her Bat-Pony soldier’s erupting in a loud roar.

She pointed randomly into the crowd of her guards, and chose six to accompany her before addressing the rest. “Now those off duty, go, return home to thy loved ones, those on duty, return to thy stations.” With that she entered her chariot with the two doctors as the guards assembled in the harnesses and they took to the air to Ponyville.

-o.O.O.o-

Rainbow looked on, shocked at what she had heard as Luna stepped aside to let a wizened old unicorn approach and run a diagnostic scan of her before tutting.

“Good lord, miss, I don’t know of any other pony that could take the beating you did, and still continue; by my results you were under constant assault for at least a good half an hour! How did you manage to stay in the air?” he asked while noting his findings.

Rainbow looked Soarin’ straight in the eye when she said the next bit, now knowing it was thanks to him she survived. “Training, Doc, bucking good training. You can thank him for that.” Rainbow finished pointing at the stoic faced Soarin’.

“Don’t think that promotion means I’ll go any easier on you, rookie,” Soarin’ said as the Doctor continued his examination.

Rainbow nodded back. “Wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said with a slight smile which held a tinge of pain to it.

“Well, I think you’re safe for transport. We’ll just get you loaded up and-“

“Not until I seen Scoots you won’t,” Rainbow interrupted. The doctor looked like he was about to argue the point until he saw both Princess Luna and Princess Twilight’s faces all but demanding he comply.

“Very well, Miss Dash. Shall we?” He indicated the way out just as he finished removing her drip. As Rainbow got up, she stumbled until Spitfire caught her and Soarin’ took her other side.

“Easy there Rookie, you took some hard hits, hits that I’d wince at,” Soarin’ said as they followed everypony out the room.

It was only a short walk down the corridor and they heard shouting before they even got to Scootaloo’s door.

“NOW SEE HERE! I’VE GOT TO GIVE HER THIS SHOT OR SHE’LL GET WORSE!” one voice was screaming down the corridor as they approached.

In front of the door were the other two Wonderbolts and two of Luna’s guard. They were blocking the way to the doctor who had tried to charge for saving Scootaloo’s life.
They were however quite happily letting Nurse Redheart and Dr. Time Turner through.

As the group approached, the unicorn who had been tending to Rainbow lit his horn up and the syringe that the Doctor had been waving, flew out of his grasp and over to the unicorn. He studied the label a moment, before turning to Luna’s guards.

“Seize him!” he all but commanded. While Luna’s guards hesitated looking to their Princess for confirmation, the Wonderbolts at the door had no such qualms, and had him pinned to the floor in seconds.

“This amount of Ketamine would killed her in her weakened state you… you… AARGH!” The unicorn lost the power of speech and went to slam his hoof in the doctor’s nose, but a powerful purple aura stopped him.

Rainbow turned to see Twilight, her horn aglow and the her face was something she hoped never to have sent her way. “That’s what you were hoping, isn’t it? A dose of painkiller that would normally be fine, yet in a weakened state could kill her. Were you going to put on her Death Certificate ‘unforeseen circumstances’. How many others have you slaughtered because they wouldn’t pay? How much blood money have you extorted!” Twilight was now practically screaming. Luna had set up a barrier blocking her friends from enacting their own justice as the Doctor on the ground, who sneered up at them.

“You’ll never know. But at least I’ll never be convicted, I know who to pay to see to that; then I can move to another hospital! You’ll see! Best is, no pony would realise what I was doing!” He had a slight crazed look in his eye as he said this.

-o.O.O.o-

Luna looked down at the unicorn that would have had no regrets in taking the life of an innocent filly. Starting with a calm detached tone, she spoke, “Because of your words today, said here in front of witnesses; my guard, my sisters Wonderbolts, myself, Princess Twilight and more than three citizens of Equestria. It is hereby proclaimed by thy own words thou are GUILTY! Thou shalt spend the remainder of thy days in the darkest, loneliest jail cell I can find, and when thou sleeps, no respite shall come to thee there. I will fill your nights with such terror you shall know why I was once Nightmare Moon! TAKE HIM AWAY!” she commanded, now with full fury and passion in her voice.

As he was dragged away, she dropped the barrier before following Rainbow, who still had to be supported by Spitfire and Soarin into Scootaloo’s room.

As soon as the bed came into view they saw a pale, wan looking Scootaloo on the sheets. The Canterlot paediatrician was working with Nurse Redheart to keep Scootaloo stable and prepare her for transport.

She layed on her left side facing the door, eyes closed as she stayed in slumber. When the Doctor finally pulled the blanket away, however, all Rainbows self-control left her. She collapsed to the floor suddenly, neither Soarin’ nor Spitfire were fast enough to catch her. As her shoulders started to shake and sobs breaking out of her, Pinkie stepped up. Her blue eyes already watering as she wrapped her hooves about Rainbow. Offering a pink shoulder to cry on, one that Rainbow gratefully took as she buried her face.

What had caused those cries was the sight of how badly injured Scootaloo was. She had casts on three of her legs, her head bandaged tight, with another bandage going about her barrel.

On the side she wasn’t lay on, exposed to the full view of everypony in the room, was the bandage flush against Scootaloo’s side. there wasn’t the usual bulge of a wing beneath. The bandages had been stained red from the blood of her amputation site.

Rainbow cried into Pinkie’s shoulder with harsh jarring sobs. Luna could tell she didn’t even notice the pain this was undoubtedly causing. The only sounds in the room: were of those of sadness.

Luna looked about, trying to stifle her own tears at this. Scootaloo had come to mean a lot to the Princess of the Night ever since she had asked to be her friend, and invited to visit her In her dreams any night she wanted.

Fluttershy had collapsed against Applejack; her own tears matting the orange fur she leant against. Twilight was just stood there, tears falling freely. Applejack kept a hoof about Apple Bloom, trying to comfort the distraught filly, as her own tears fell. Rarity and Sweetie Belle held on to each other, quiet cries coming from them as they supported the other. As Luna looked about the only ponies not obviously affected were the Doctors and nurse working on Scootaloo.

Before long they stepped back, getting a carry litter and gently rolled Scootaloo’s unconscious form on to it. “We know it’s very late, but we need two strong fliers to volunteer to carry her to Canterlot Hospital,” the doctor Luna brought with her said.

Luna looked to the only other Alicorn in the room catching her eye.

Twilight nodded. Ever since she’d gained her wings, she’d been having lessons on flight from Luna, Celestia and Rainbow; because of this, she was now one of the best fliers in the sky no matter the weather.

“Let’s go,” Twilight said stepping round Rainbow and Pinkie to the bed, Luna moved to the other side.

They stood still, wings lifted out the way as the litter was strapped to them. Once secured, they carefully manoeuvred their way out the hospital to the night, surprised at who was waiting outside for them: Celestia and Cadance.

Luna checked her wings, making sure every feather was in place, and none would impede her flight in any way as she preened and teased one or two back to position. She turned her attention to her sister as she watched Twilight finish checking her own wings.

“Cadance and Shining were visiting as you know, when the doctor used some Dragonflame I’d bottled to send me the report and how he felt was safest to get Scootaloo to Canterlot.” Looking her sister in the eye, Luna paid close attention as Celestia continued, “You know it is many miles flight, and will take hours at the pace he will want. You and Twilight shall carry her for the first two hours, Cadance has offered to take your place the next two hours as I shall Twilight’s,” Celestia continued, nodding her head to Twilight. “We will change places every two hours until we arrive. Doctor, how slow do you wish us to fly,” Celestia asked turning to the one in charge of Scootaloo’s care.

He looked at the litter that had been built to allow him to ride along to keep an eye on her. “I’d say no faster than 10 knots your highness; I may at any point need you to land fast.”

Luna nodded along with Twilight as they both set the spell that would tell them if they were going too fast.

Rainbow decided to stay with her friends after the doctor’s had finished working on her, she’d only slow them down getting to Canterlot otherwise.

The four Princesses looked to everypony gathered before Twilight spoke, “Don’t worry, we’ll get her there safely, we promise.”

Cadance, Celestia and Luna all nodded before turning and leaping into the air, with so much care not a single blade of grass was disturbed.

Once they were high enough the Pegasi and Bat-Pony guards took to the air and took up formation in front as they formed a giant slip stream tunnel, making the ride smooth as possible for the unconscious but still badly damaged Scootaloo.

-.o.O.O.o-

As they flew into the distance; Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Pinkie all looked at one another, and in one voice all said the same thing: “Train Station.”

There was no argument either for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle that they were coming.
They would catch the earliest train possible, and most likely be in Canterlot before Scootaloo and Rainbow.

They were going to be there for them, it mattered not that they weren’t blood related, but they were all family.

Less than an hour later they were boarding the train. “All aboard for Canterlot Central!” the guard called as they entered.

Settling down for the journey they all looked out the window at the passing scenery, normally they relished in the excitement and anticipation of the journey itself to their destinations.

This time though, their thoughts all strayed and stayed with Scootaloo.

Author's Note

Carry litter: A special cot that can be carried between two pegasi (Or Alicorns in this case) Large enough to allow for an injured pony, medical equipment and a medic to be carried by air.

The litter is bespelled so that the weight the carrying pegasi feel is only a fraction of the true weight on the litter.

Race to Canterlot

Twilight powered on, her wings held steady as they cut through the air, Luna the other side of the litter kept her gaze focused forwards, both alicorns watching their speed. As they soared through the night sky, Twilight noticed some pegasi in the air ahead, keeping their flightpath free and clear of clouds.

"This next ridge coming up has a sufficient ledge to allow us to switch places." Celestia called out. Both Luna and Twilight merely nodded, being careful as they banked to lose height, making sure not to overbalance the precious cargo between them. As they landed, they barely disturbed a pebble.

"Hold steady.” the doctor said from the litter, before he and Spitfire set to tending Scootaloo's bandages.

One of the bat-pony guards approached the Princess of The Night. "Highness, if I may ask, why are you carrying the little one to the hospital when it would be faster to simply teleport?" Luna looked to her guard with a small smile.

“Perhaps thou wouldst be better asking the Princess of Magic thy question.” she told him while nodding towards Twilight, who smiled slightly.

“Just give us a moment to change litter bearers and I’ll explain as we fly.” Twilight said as Celestia came up next to her. Cadance mirroring her actions the other side.

What happened next was the perfect synchronous use of levitation and stability spells the unicorn pegasus pediatrician had ever seen. The litter didn’t feel like it moved a millimetre as it was raised and held aloft by Luna and Celestia.

Cadance sent her magic to merge with Twilight’s, encompassing the whole thing with a stable field so strong they could be in the middle of an earthquake and anypony on the litter wouldn’t even feel the displaced air.

Once the litter was fully off, the princesses switched places and secured their harnesses. Just before take off, Celestia and Cadance gave their wings a last going over, mimicking their fellow princesses from earlier that night. They took to the air with such care that nothing on the ground was disturbed.

Twilight sped up taking her place in the slipstream formation between the curious bat-pony and Spitfire before turning her attention to the guard. “You asked why we didn’t teleport to the castle, do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions first?” she asked.

The guard shook his head side to side, Twilight felt the smile on her face as she looked forward to passing knowledge on - more so using this to distract her from how worried for Scootaloo she was. Before she had the distraction of making sure her flight was steady, which she wasn’t as responsible for at the moment.

“Okay, first, where would you say most of a unicorn's magic in their body is channelled?”

The guard looked at her with a raised eyebrow before he answered. “Obviously their horn.”

Twilight nodded. “Okay, second question: where would you think an earth pony’s magic is concentrated?” The guard looked away in thought for a while before turning to her and shaking his head side to side in defeat.

Twilight smiled slightly. “Earth pony magic is distributed within their bodies pretty much evenly, but with a little extra being channeled to their hooves.” she told him.
“So you’re saying that mine and a pegasus’s magic is concentrated in our wings then?” he asked.

Twilight nodded once more before continuing on with her lesson. “Exactly, now with Scootaloo’s wing being amputated, the magic has a direct opening to leave her body too. If we were to teleport, then the ambient magic in the ether would draw out all Scootaloo’s inherent magic instantaneously. As you know, if a pony doesn’t have magic in their body, their body would shut down.” As she finished, a tear fell from her eye as she looked back to the litter, now between her mentor and Sister-in-Law. “Believe me, if we could teleport Scootaloo, we would.” she finished somberly.

The guard nodded before he turned to face the direction they were flying once more, cutting the air currents to allow a smooth flight for the litter-borne filly.

-o.O.O.o-

Luna flew above the formation to the rear, acting as formation watch - calling out whenever a pony drifted from their position.

Looking down to Scootaloo, who had started to call her ‘Auntie Luna’ in her dreams, the Princess of the Night cried quietly in her mind.

‘Why?! Why did she not tell me - and where were the nightmares so common to the abused? I do not understand, why did nopony notice? Why did I not notice?’

The questions flew through her mind like the wind flowing through her feathers. Ahead, however, trouble loomed on the horizon. Dark ominous thunderheads had rolled in over the mountains.

“Wonderbolts! Tear those clouds apart!” Luna commanded, before shooting forwards herself, noticing her bat-pony’s tightening formation to keep the litters flight steady. Twilight shot forward to help with the clouds; using all the tricks Rainbow had taught her.

It soon came to Luna’s notice as they entered the clouds that this was no ordinary storm. Looking to where the clouds originated, she spied the Everfree Forest and swore. Back-winging and flipping she made for the litter until she was able to draw alongside her sister.

“Everfree storm ahead! The Wonderbolts are doing what they can, but they need help, doth thou wish for me to fly back to Ponyville and assemble the emergency team?” Celestia looked towards the clouds as a dark expression clouded her features. Turning to the doctor on the litter, she spoke. “Can she survive the extra time should we fly around the storm?”

The Doctor looked up to the Solar Princess and shook his head. “No, your highness. We ran a big enough risk as it is transporting her - she needs the specialist equipment at Canterlot, but she doesn’t have long unless we get her there soon.” he said grimly, a jade green healing aura being suffused into Scootaloo’s body as he worked.

Luna watched as Celestia’s resolve seemed to harden to something palpable, with something else seeming to linger just beneath the surface. “Luna, we will not lose Scootaloo! You go get what help you need, I’ll see if I can erect a strong enough shield as we fly.”

Luna nodded as she flipped once more in the air and shot back towards Ponyville, faster than Rainbow Dash had ever flown. They needed the help and needed it now - once at a safe distance she surrounded herself with her magic and teleported back to stand in front of Ponyville Town Hall.

Using the full Royal Canterlot Voice she called out. “Pegasi of Ponyville, your aid is needed - an Everfree Storm doth impede our route to Canterlot! We have a litter-borne filly who hath lost her wing and can not be teleported! We ask thine aid to clear a path to safety!”

All around Pegasi dropped from the sky, bursting from their shops and, in the case of one grey pegasus with bubbles for a cutie-mark, extricated herself from a second story window... backwards.

Luna looked around, before nodding and calling. “Who amongst thou are the Emergency Response Team?” A dark Pegasus with a grey mane stepped forwards.

“Names Thundelane, Ma’am. All the Pegasi of Ponyville are trained in that regard; with living so close to the forest, we made it mandatory to be trained.” Luna looked out at the crowd of over one hundred Pegasi and breathed a sigh of relief, they may just manage.

Luna nodded. “Take to the sky, once all in the air I shell teleport us as close as is safe.” Luna told them.

Thundelane nodded before turning to the crowd and calling out. “TAKE WING - FORM UP!” At the call, Luna was amazed to see them all lift off as one, moving into formations as a unicorn thundered out the town hall with a box full of goggles and had them streaming into the air to their owners. All the while the Pegasi shifted in the air finding their wingmates.

Once they were all airborne Luna took flight and led them away from the town, before looking to the moon and drawing the energy she required from it. Her horn glowed almost incandescent as she manipulated a large mass teleportation field, one that wouldn’t disorientate those who were about to be moved.

A short shift of view later, they were a kilometer behind the two princesses carrying Scootaloo. Without a single command being given, Luna watched as the Pegasi streaked forwards; one lone gray mare flying higher than the rest, calling down to the rest.

-o.O.O.o-

Derpy shot out to her assigned position, normally her eyesight was a hinderance, yet with these storms she was able to see the swirls and eddies far before any other pegasus, and thus she would call out what was needed below.

Seeing a thunderhead about to literally slam down onto Thundelane’s formation, she called out. “GROUP 1 BANK LEFT BANK LEFT!” They dodged the cloud before turning into it and tearing it apart, Derpy spotted something that sent chills down her spine. The storm had encircled them and was slowly starting to spin.

“CYCLONE!!! WE’VE GOT A BUCKIN’ CYCLONE ON OUR HOOVES!!!” she called out, prompting the entire team to rise above the cloud. They split into two teams as they dove back in to tackle the storm once more - Derpy diving into the fray as well.

The strongest fliers would fly in formation using their wingpower to create a negative windforce against the cyclone, while the strongest built Pegasi - like Snowflake - would tear through the storm, breaking it apart.

As she dove she noticed the Wonderbolts taking formation about Scootaloo, destroying any clouds that got too close.

Twilight suddenly sped past her, leaving a purple trail and Derpy spotted what the lavender Alicorn must have noticed; a static buildup in the air, about to discharge through Scootaloo’s litter!

She watched in awe as Twilights wings flared and a solid purple bubble encompassed the group just as the discharge struck. Amazingly to Derpy, the bubble held before it was safely dropped as Twilight dived forwards back to destroying the storm.

Derpy caught sight of the Princess of magics face, and at that moment saw raw determination ponyfied.

On they battled with the storm, carving out a safe path for the slow moving precious cargo.
Until on one of Derpy’s runs above the clouds she spotted the edge of the storm at last.
“STORMWALL APPROACHING!!” Unlike most storms an everfree storm had a wall about it almost as solid as permacloud that took a concerted effort to punch through.

Shaking her head at this she dived back into the clouds, cursing that the winds above the storm were too unpredictable to make it safe flying Scootaloo above them - she had recognised the brace of orange fur against purple mane instantly; and had raged at what had ever caused the sweet innocent filly to lose her wing.

As they approached the wall she heard Thundelane’s voice below. “DERPY, WHERES THE WEAKNESS!” She scanned the wall, thanking her offset vision that allowed her to see these weaknesses in the storms.

Finally spotting a point where the wall seemed thinner to one eye than the other, she knew she had found what she was looking for. Taking a bearing on it from Thunderlane’s position she called down.

“11 O’CLOCK HIGH BY 10!” Instantly Thundelane’s squad turned and slammed into the wall punching a hole through, as the other well built pegasi forced it bigger and took positions pulling on the clouds, holding, forcing the tunnel open as Celestia and Cadence flew through; nodding their thanks as they headed off towards Canterlot once more.

Derpy looked back to the storm before cracking her neck. “Okay, Thundelane.” She said to the group leader. “I think we’re in for the long haul, this storms heading to Ponyville.”

Thunderlane turned back to her a smile on his face. “Come on then golden-eyes, lets beat this storm down, and after I’ll take you to the Golden Haybale if you’re interested. Bring Dinky too and I’ll bring Rumble.”

With that he shot back into the storm; while she flew back above to call out warnings and instructions, whilst a single thought flew through her head.

‘Did he just ask me on a date?’ Shaking her head before she turned her full attention back to the storm.

-o.O.O.o-

Twilight glanced back to the storm that they’d just fought through to see the Pegasi diving back in to tear it apart.

Shaking her head at the weather the Everfree Forest could send she was glad they were past it. When she’d sensed that lightning bolt about to strike, for a moment she hadn’t thought she’d get there in time.

Turning her thoughts from the could have beens she spotted a ledge that was big enough for them to land and change over; and banked towards it.

‘After coming through that Celestia and Cadance could do with a break’ Twilight thought as she landed and immediately set to preening her wings back into shape ready for her stint at bearing Scootaloo to the hospital.

Luna landed next to her before doing the same as Cadance and Celestia stood completely still as the doctor checked over Scootaloo. His face when he looked up was grim.

“Princesses, new flight instructions, do NOT drop below Mach 1 - we need her at the hospital NOW!” Twilight nodded and with her magic suddenly adjusted the litter so it could have four bearers in flight formation. Two in front and two at the side.

Quickly settling into the new harness she saw Luna doing the same, before she established a mild mental link between herself and the other Princesses.

‘Okay Princesses, are we ready?’ The others all nodded back in the affirmative before they took to the air - The bat-ponies and Wonderbolts adjusting their flight formation to create the smoothest, fastest slipstream possible until they were streaking through the air at a steady mach 2.5.

As Canterlot came into view in the distance, they rocked the Ponyville Express as they shot past.

The hospital coming into view Spitfire once more proved why she was the captain of the wonderbolts; as she rocketed ahead to warn the hospital of their imminent arrival.

As the landing courtyard came into view Twilight saw doctors and nurses streaming out of the doors, gurney’s at the ready.

No sooner had they landed than Scootaloo was taken from the litter and rushed into the hospital. It was then the work of the flight hit the four and they all collapsed to the floor in a state of exhaustion, as the adrenaline left their systems.

Twilight felt herself being levitated onto a gurney between Celestia and Luna.
A unicorn who she recognised from her time as Celestia’s protege stepped in front of her so she could see him properly.

“I’ve ordered the other Princesses to do the same - you are to sleep now. You need the rest. Your guards and the wonderbolts will not need as much due to their training.”

Twilight nodded as she only now noticed the sheen of perspiration coating her body.
As she closed her eyes her last thought was ‘We did it, we got her here in time’ Then darkness encompassed her vision as sleep claimed her weary body.

-o.O.O.o-

Applejack sat with her sister on the Ponyville express holding her close, trying to offer what comfort she could to little Applebloom. Looking about she saw Rarity doing the same for Sweetie Belle, while Pinkie sat with Fluttershy.

They weren’t sure how long they’d been on the train for when it was suddenly, and almost violently rocked from a pressure wave of something passing the train at high speed.

Looking out the window, Applejack spotted a small rectangle in the air going towards Canterlot in the distance, and somehow she knew, knew that was Scootaloo.

Without saying a word she sat back down as she looked around the car meeting the eyes of all the others as she nodded.

Rarity bowed her head and seemed to be forcing herself to hold the tears in, Pinkie Pie looked lost with no way to make anypony smile, Rainbow who had not said a word since they boarded the train got up and sat next to Pinkie, pulling her into a hug. As Pinkie finally broke and her tears started to fall it seemed to be the catalyst for the rest.

Though she could feel her own tears falling Applejack felt little Applebloom next to her shaking with suppressed tears. Applejack lifted her up and held her close. “It’s alraht ‘Bloom, let ‘em fall, ahm here.” That was all the words needed as Applebloom buried her little head in her sisters fur as she cried.

Sweetie Belle in an amazing scene of role reversal had jumped up to the backrest of the seat she and Rarity were sat on, and had pressed her head next to her older sisters - offering what comfort she could.

Even though their tears died down as time went on, their mood remained sombre.
When the train pulled into the station they all thundered out the carriage and along the morning lit streets, Applebloom holding tight to Applejack’s back, Sweetie Belle the same with Rarity. Rounding the final corner the hospital came into view.

Applejack lead the charge as they ran into the main reception.

“Where’s my daughter? Scootaloo” Rainbow all but demanded of the receptionist on the desk.

“Just one moment please.” The earth pony receptionist replied as she pulled up Scootaloo’s file before her eyes widened slightly.

“I’m sorry but she’s still in theatre, all this says is that there were complications en route, such that the ponies who brought her in all collapsed of exhaustion I ca-”

“Wait, Where’s the princesses! Ah ain’t movin’ ‘till you tell me!” Applejack demanded.
“I’m sorry miss, I can’t just tell anypony where the Princesses room is, I’m sure you understand.” The receptionist answered her.

“Nah you look here missy, ahv know Twilight since afore she were a princess, spend mah birthday’s and holidays with her - hay I battled DISCORD at HER SIDE! Celestia and Luna I count as a friends! They has a standard invite to stay at th’ farm! we were Princess Celestia’s guests at THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA! Finally, Princess Cadance? She’s the one we helped save the CRYSTAL EMPIRE! Now don’t you tell me you cain’t let us near our friends!” Applejack finished losing some control of herself.

“Now see here miss I can’t let you, scruffy, uncouth, uneducated ruffians just in to see the Princesses, I mean just look at you, you expect ME to believe the likes of YOU are friends with the PRINCESSES?! next you’ll be saying you know Spitfire Captain of the wonderbolts and Shining Armour Captain of The Guard. Now please leave and stop wasting my time!” The receptionist finished turning away.

“Hey I told you I WANT TO SEE MY DAUGH-”

“STAND DOWN LIEUTENANT!” Spitfire’s voice rang throughout the reception area, making the receptionist freeze, turning around to see Spitfire in the doorway.

-o.O.O.o-

Spitfire heard Rainbow’s voice half a corridor away and picked up the pace, this was a long corridor. Swearing to herself she wondered what the receptionist was playing at.

She had been informed that a group of ponies would be arriving to see the princesses and Scootaloo. If this turned out to be another case of a pony using their power to deny others Spitfire would soon be having words with them.

She ran into the room and saw Rainbow was just about to completely lose her temper and did the only thing she could. Calling out at the top of her considerable vocal range she got Rainbow to settle for a moment before striding forwards to the reception desk

“I believe I informed you we would be expecting more to arrive. Why did you not simply send them to me? I gave you their descriptions!” She demanded. The receptionist who had now gone pale spoke.

“I-I’m i-in charge of who is allowed on - the premises if, if, if they don’t need tr-treatment.” Noting that Spitfire hadn’t interrupted her the receptionist gained strength in her voice.

“You can’t expect me to allow these, obviously uneducated ponies in to-”
“QUIET!” Spitfire snapped out. “These ‘Uneducated Ponies’ have saved Equestria more bucking times than anypony else in this room. You are looking at the bearer’s of the Elements of Harmony for BUCK’S SAKE!”

“no...” The receptionist gasped out looking once more to the angry visages of the ponies she had decided were beneath the worth to be admitted and started trembling.

“I will certainly be having words with your supervisor.” Spitfire ground out before turning to the others, ignoring the sobbing mess that was the receptionist, she hated those that let their perceived authority get to their heads.

“This way.” she said guiding the others out the reception area and along the corridor.
She felt a little hoof nudge her and looked down to the little yellow face of the filly - Applebloom if she remembered correctly - she’d helped back in Ponyville.

“H-hows mah friend?” Applebloom asked her. Sighing Spitfire started to speak.

“Not too good I’m afraid, now I know most adults would try sugar coat it because of your age but I’m guessing you’ve been raised to know that no matter how bad something is, it’s better to know than have it hidden from you?” Spitfire asked.

Spitfire was not surprised when she heard Applejack reply of “Darn tootin’”, looking towards the other filly she saw the elegant white unicorn nod.

“Ok, when we were flying here the fastest, most direct route is along the mountains near the edge of the Everfree Forest.” Applebloom nodded.

“Well as we flew we came upon a storm - not a normal one, this had blown out of the Everfree” she said looking onwards, trying to suppress the shudder that went through her.

“Oh. Bucking. Hay.” Rainbows monotone voice said, the lack of emotion telling the others just how bad that was.

“Well, as we Wonderbolts and Princess Twilight got to work on trying to destroy the clouds in the path, Luna went back to Ponyville to get some help. I must say I didn’t expect a flight of over 100 Pegasi to suddenly descend on the storm, but it turned out necessary, it turned into a cyclone.” Spitfire noticed Rainbow’s face pale at this.

“How the buck did’ya get out of that mess?” Rainbow asked as they went into what was obviously a relatives and friends waiting room, that currently held Twilight’s parents, Shining Armour and Soarin’.

With a grimace she looked back to Rainbow. “We nearly didn’t, it was thanks to your cross-eyed friend spotting where the weakness in the storm wall was - I tell you now, she was brilliant at directing every single pegasus to where they needed to be. I don’t think nopony but Soarin’ noticed it was me at one point, but she even chewed me out when I lead the wonderbolts wrong, AFTER she told me where she wanted me. That mare is going to be offered a place as a weather-pony trainer if I got anything to say about it.” Rainbow smiled at this.

“Derpy might have issues flying near buildings, but put her on stormwatch and she’s the best.” Rainbow said voice tinged with pride.

Spitfire carried on to explain about how after the storm the Ponyville Pegasi went on to battle the ferocious cyclone without a second thought, but when they landed to change-over the doctor instructed them to fly as fast as they could safely.

“The princesses are all in that room there resting. They passed out as soon as they knew Scootaloo was with the hospital staff, I think they may have subconsciously been using their magic to keep them going.” Spitfire said pointing out the window to a room down the corridor.

“Scootaloo though” Spitfire sighed. “They think a lot of her magic got pulled out in the storm - they’re doing what they can to save her - that and some of her injuries decided to deteriorate on the way. They’re trying their best, but. . .” She trailed off as Soarin’ came up next to her, laying his wing across her back.

“Rookie, I don’t care how long it takes, You may be on full pay and a front line listed, but you ain’t gonna fly as part of the team until that little filly’s safe at home okay?” Soarin’ said in his gruff way. Rainbow nodded as she sat down and her shoulders started to shake as the suppressed emotion burst out now they were here and all she could do was wait.

Surprising everypony in the room except Spitfire, Soarin’ went to over to Rainbow and pulled her into his arms like a father would his filly and just held her as the tears fell.
“It’s ok Rainbow, She’ll pull through, you’ll see.” he whispered in her ear.

Spitfire had a small sad smile on her face, not many pony’s got to see this side of soarin’. Everypony thought he was this tough wall of granite, yet here was the side of him that made him perfect for the position of Second-in-Command. He saw all the flyers reserve and active, as surrogate children.

Rainbows shoulders shook with the cries tearing out her throat, had she not had her face buried in his shoulder Spitfire was sure Rainbow’s cries would be echoing down the corridor.
Spitfire moved closer as she heard Rainbow trying to speak.

“I… I’m a useless mother though! E-Even a-a-as a sister I didn’t spot the trouble! How can I protect her now!” Soarin’ just kept running a hoof through Rainbows mane, making shushing sounds as she cried her frustration and fears out.

*sniff-sniff* Spitfire looked down to Applebloom who was desperately holding in her own tears.

Gently extending her wing, Spitfire drew the tip down the filly’s deep rose red mane, catching her attention. “Hey, it’s ok to let go sometimes.” Spitfire said as she saw Applejack approach and rers a hoof on the back of Applebloom.

“bu - but I - I - What can ah do to help?” Applebloom asked. “Ahm just a little filly, an ah know she’ll need help.” She said quietly as a few tears fell. Applejack lay on the ground so her head was level with Applebloom and spoke quietly.

“Ah know yer only a filly at the moment, but you’ll always be there for Scoots and Rainbow wontcha?” Applebloom nodded looking into her sisters green eyes, jumping a bit when Spitfire spoke.

“Then that’s all you need to do.” before smiling a little.

-o.O.O.o-

Rainbow was lost, she’d managed to contain her fears, her doubts and worries on the journey but then her world crumbled. Scootaloo was back in surgery - they didn’t know if she’d survive. She didn’t know if she’d ever get to hear Scootaloo call her mum.

As Soarin’s words impacted her, the last shreds of control she had failed, her cries clawing up and out, she tried to stifle them, couldn’t be weak now.

When a strong stallions arms came around her, protecting her from the world, it felt just like when the Orphanage manager used to look after her. Strong, yet gentle, firm but kind.

She completely broke down, lost in her tears, all she could register was Soarin’s voice, not even the words, just that he held her through her despair. If she had ever known her father this was how she would have imagined he would hold her.

Soarin’ didn’t answer her self recriminating words, just held her, proving by his actions he believed her worthy of being a mother.

She registered that others were speaking but again not the words, completely lost to her tears as her eyes were clenched tight as she cried out, only Sorain’s shoulder muffling her cries.

Eventually the door opened and she heard an orderly speak. “Miss. Scootaloo is out of surgery, you can see her now.” Rainbows hear shot up as she looked to the door.

“Really? I can see my daughter?” The Orderly nodded with a small smile.

“Indeed. We’ve put her in the room next to the Princesses. Follow me.

He turned and led the way out the door and along the corridor, stopping outside a whitewashed door.

“She’ll be waking up any minute now so please, try not to start-” He was interrupted by a little fillies cry, a cry that caused Rainbow to ignore her own battered body, it was a cry of terror, despair and need all in one, It was Scootaloo’s cry, a cry Rainbow could not ignore.

“DAAASH! I WANT RAINBOW!”

Author's Note

Me and my editor (Mike) had a heated debate over the dialogue grammar, please don’t worry about when you see dialogues finishing in full stops/periods - I was taught from primary school that is how you finish dialogue and it is something I will not change (Even though my editor insists I should end on comma’s)

Also please note this chapter is only half edited - we will be finishing editing in the next couple of days.

To Build a Family

Pain… that was the first thing that registered to Scootaloo. Pure pain. She barely managed to open her eyes as she looked about the room she was in - recognising a hospital room, she groaned.

“Oh! You’re awake!” a voice spoke from out of her vision. A white unicorn with a stethoscope for a cutie mark soon came into view. “I’m Doctor Good Health, I’ve been your primary doctor during your stay here at the hospital.” His voice was a gentle low timbre as he approached the bed levitating a chart in front of him.

“Wh-where am I?” Scootaloo asked quietly. Ouch, even talking hurt.

“You’re currently in the pediatric ward here at the Royal Canterlot Hospital. You were transferred here by the princess’ from Ponyville. You’re one lucky filly to have such friends that care about you.”

Looking around once more, Scootaloo realised, apart from the doctor, she was alone in the room. As her nerves began to rise, she started to get slightly worried about being alone in the Capital, she asked Dr. Health if any of her friends were here.

“Miss Dash and her friends arrived earlier; don’t worry, you’ll see them soon.”

“Please, can I see Rainbow… please?” Scootaloo asked quietly, remembering how at one time Rainbow had said that if she was ever ill, all she had to do was to get someone to ask for her, and she’d be there.

“Not yet. You can’t just seek them on a whim. But you’ll be allowed to see her soon.”

“No! I want to see Rainbow!” Scootaloo burst out heatedly. She couldn’t understand why this doctor wasn’t letting her see Rainbow, the only pony who she felt ever truly cared about her.

“Young lady, will you please calm down?!” the Doctor asked with a slightly stern tone.

Scootaloo tried to back away from him as he spoke, she knew what happened next. If she stayed calm, she wouldn’t be hurt. But with the way he spoke, if she didn’t, she would be… disciplined.

“S-sorry s-sir,” she squeaked out, causing him to look up from his paper-work, his face startled at her change in attitude.

“Oh horseapples…” he murmured, before setting her chart down and backing away from the bed.

“Easy there, young one, I’m sorry if I scared you, I’m not gonna hurt you. The only time there’s pain with me, is when I’m trying to heal ponies, okay?” he asked quietly.

Scootaloo nodded, she knew what he meant of course. Sometimes, when a pony was hurt, helping them heal hurt them as well, usually they were better afterwards... most of the time.

Finally able to move a little, she looked around, before looking down towards herself. Seeing the casts on her legs and feeling the bandages around her wings... wait! Wing?!

Her head whipped around to look at her side. There, where the bandage should be bulging out, was nothing but a thin red line. Panic starting to roar through her system. ”M-my wing?” she gasped out.

The doctor moved closer. “I’m sorry, little one, there was nothing we could do,” he told her as she shook her head.

Scootaloo’s mind began to race, her mind not being able to comprehend the loss of a wing. ‘No, no, no no..’ “NO, NO, NO, NO!” she cried out as her inner turmoil became vocal. She threw herself off the bed before charging to the door, or at least trying too before her legs collapsed.

“Where’s Rainbow?! Twilight!” she screamed out, trying to pull herself along the floor. But was soon engulfed in a magical field and deposited back on her bed.

“Now you stop that!” the doctor said sternly, but not unkindly.

“WHERE’S DASH?!” Scootaloo shouted.

“I’ll send for her in a minute, now please… calm down!” Dr. Health said, but by now Scootaloo was far too panicked to listen. Trapped by this strange unicorn, away from her friends, away from Ponyville - she was terrified.

Doing the last thing she could think of, she called out at the top of her voice, even as the doctor started pulling restraints across her, “DAAASH! I WANT RAINBOW!”

“Please… calm down,” the Doctor pleaded, pulling another restraining strap across Scootaloo, pinning her head to the bed along with her body just as the door to the room opened with a resounding crash.

Scootaloo eyes, wide in fear, couldn’t see a thing. She nearly didn’t recognise the voice that spoke with the rage contained within, “What. The. Buck. Are. You. Doing. With. MY DAUGHTER!”

Rainbow’s voice rang out in the room along with the sound of deliberate hoof steps before coming into Scootaloo’s sight, placing a wing over her as she stared at the doctor.

-o.O.O.o-

“DAAASH! I WANT RAINBOW!” echoed into the corridor, causing Rainbow to jump through the doors to a sight that made her blood boil.

There, strapped down so she couldn’t move, was Scootaloo. The unicorn was tightening the last strap forcing her head down. Her violet eyes wide with fear.

Rainbow could not remember any time she had been this angry before. She completely disregarded the orderlies words as she started stepping forwards. Her words forced their way up her throat as she moved next to the bed, good wing extended over Scootaloo as she waited for an answer.

“Sh-she was panicking, Miss Dash,” the doctor tried to tell her, as Rainbow turned to undo the restraints. However, before she could a magical field about the straps stopped her.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you undo those until she’s calmed do-” he was cut off as Rainbow shot forwards and threw the unicorn against the wall, her hoof flush against his neck as she spoke in a quiet, yet dangerous tone.

“You will let me release my daughter, now!” she grated out, but still the Unicorn still held firm.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that until she calms down.”

Rainbow glared at him, before pressing a bit harder. “Let. Her GO!”

“I’m sorry but n-” he started but was cut off by a voice from the side of the bed. Twilight stood on the other side of the bed - glaring at the Doctor.

“I did not carry Scootaloo on a litter, fly through a bucking cyclone, and then break the sound barrier for her to be restrained and scared out her mind! You want her to calm down? Then do as Rainbow asks,” she told him.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I can’t grant that request,” the Doctor told her as Rainbow backed away and moved to Scootaloo, wincing when she saw the fire in Twilight’s eyes.

‘Rather you than me. Idiot,’ Rainbow thought towards the unicorn.

Twilight lit her horn up, pulling in her magic as purple glow surrounded the straps on the bed, completely snapping them in half. No sooner were they off when Rainbow picked Scootaloo up and carefully sat in the chair. She held the trembling filly close; glaring to the doctor, listening as Twilight reprimanded the doctor.

“I did not realise I gave you the impression it was a request. Next time I tell you to do something. Do It.” Twilight finished, a tone of command in her voice that Rainbow had never heard before, yet almost had her jumping to attention.

“Y-yes! Your Highness!” the doctor replied as he backed away to the door before Twilight spoke once more.

“You May Go.”

The doctor fled.

Rainbow nodded her thanks to Twilight, who had collapsed upon the other chair near her as soon as the doctor left. Looking down to the fear filled filly in her arms, Rainbow started to gently run her hoof through Scootaloo’s mane, quietly singing a song to let Scootaloo know just how much she was there for her. Scootaloo’s trembling lessened, yet didn’t stop.

Holding her close Rainbow slipped a hoof under the filly’s chin, lifting it so she could see her tear streaked face. “Scoots, it’s okay, I’m here now, an’ I ain’t goin anywhere. You don’t have to hide no more.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened at this statement before the words impacted and the little filly fell against Rainbow, sobbing against her as she cried out, “Y-you wo-won’t w-w-want m-m-m-meeee!”

Rainbow gently enfolded Scootaloo in her arms and bringing her good wing around, shielding Scootaloo. “Scoots, it’s okay, I know. I know what’s happened, okay?” she said quietly, before continuing to the sniffling orange ball of fur, “not only that, but even after I knew, I still adopted you.”

Scootaloo’s head shot up as her cries slowed, eyes wide, her purple gaze bored into Rainbows magenta orbs.“Y-you mean it?” she asked her quietly, almost as if she didn’t dare to believe it.

“I do Scoots. Your father can’t hurt you no more, and if you want, I’ll be your Momma Dash.” Rainbow said quietly, not noticing the other ponies who’d entered the room. The only pony she was worried about, was sat right here in her lap.

Scootaloo’s face lit up with a huge smile as she threw herself into Rainbow. “Yesyesyesyes!” she gasped out into Rainbows blue fur, tears falling against her as Rainbow carefully ran a hoof through her mane.

Spitfire approached the chair after looking towards Twilight for permission. “Hey kid, I’ve got a surprise for you,” Spitfire said quietly, causing Scootaloo to look around, eyes widening when she saw who had spoken.

Rainbow chuckled with the expression the normally ‘cool acting’ filly was pulling, it reminded Rainbow of her own reaction at the Best Young Flier contest a few years ago.

Spitfire smiled knowingly at Rainbow, before looking back to Scootaloo. “First off, kid, your new mom is now a lieutenant in the Wonderbolts. She proved to me she was ready for the responsibility when, without hesitation, she was willing to leave the Wonderbolts so she could adopt and raise you.”

Scootaloo looked back to Rainbow Dash who could feel the blush on her cheeks, but ignored it to smile and nod her head. “Hey, don’t worry about it, Scoots, you are more important to me than any uniform,” Rainbow said quietly, deciding that honesty over coolness was needed here.

Rainbow saw Spitfire nodding her agreement, before the captain continued, “Secondly, we would like to make you an honorary Wonderbolt, Scootaloo. That is, if you’ll have us?” Spitfire continued quietly, Soarin’ stepping up next to her with a smile.

Scootaloo's smile was only rivaled by those of Pinkie Pie's proportions! “Really?! You mean it!” Scootaloo squeaked.

Spitfire nodded with her own small smile. “Sure thing, I’ll see you when you’re all better and come visit okay?”

Scootaloo nodded and leaned back against Rainbow, being careful of her casts. She watched as Spitfire and Soarin’ left.

Waiting until the two lead Wonderbolts had left, Rainbow turned to Twilight, nodding towards her saddlebag. Twilight levitated it over so that Rainbow could reach it with one hoof, without displacing Scootaloo. Reaching in she grabbed the form and held it in front of Scootaloo’s face so the little filly could read what was on it.

Adoption Certification

This form certifies that the young colt/filly Scootaloo is now under the Legal Guardianship of Mr/Mrs/Miss Rainbow Dash who has been cleared to be the aforementioned colt’s/filly’s adoptive parent.

Should Mr/Mrs/Miss Rainbow Dash at any time in the future, for any reason become unable to continue to care for the colt/filly Scootaloo then guardianship and all responsibilities shall be held dually by Mr/Mrs/Miss Applejack and Mr/Mrs/Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie.

Signed 1: Princess Twilight Sparkle - Princess of Magic
Signed 2: Princess Luna - Princess of The Night

“Is th-this for real?” Scootaloo asked quietly, looking at the form. Rainbow smiled down to the bruised and battered young filly, who leaned back in to Rainbow as she looked about the room smiling. Scootaloo buried her head in Rainbows fur once more, her next word bringing emotional tears throughout the room.

“Mummy.”

-o.O.O.o-

Twilight looked on with a smile as a couple of happy tears fell from her eyes, it was easy to see how much that word meant to Rainbow. It was obvious to all the ponies left in the room just how much Rainbow truly cared for Scootaloo - it was unfortunate that the realisation came at such a cost, but now she could at least start to heal. And maybe, just maybe, Rainbow would be able to learn to show her own emotions better.

Wincing as she adjusted her sprained wings, she went up to the two emotional pegasi, resting a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder.

“Hey, I’m sorry… but I really need to go lie and down again - I’ll just be next door if you need me.” Rainbow nodded with a smile on her teary face as she mouthed the word ‘thank you’ to her. Twilight just smiled and nodded before turning and leaving the room.

Returning to the room she shared with the other princess’ she climbed on the bed, not noticing the others were awake, at least until Luna spoke, “Is everything okay, Twilight? Mine ear’s did detect your voice using a tone very rarely heard from thee.” Twilight looked up to the concerned alicorn as Luna continued, “I was about to come to thine aid, yet our sister prevented us, she told us that if thou didst need our help we would know?”

Twilight looked between the three alicorns with a gentle smile, before relating what had happened. Originally, all that the three had known was that they had heard Rainbow’s loud voice reverberating through the wall. She had been screaming about letting Scootaloo go. Twilight had leapt from her bed and shot out of the room.

She told them of what she’d seen as she entered the room before chuckling. “Believe me, I don’t think I ever want to get on the wrong side of Rainbow’s maternal instincts. She didn’t realise it, yet when she pinned the doctor it like he was a paperweight; she was using her injured arm!”

She carried on to let them know about Scootaloo’s realisation that she truly had a family that loved her at last, and not one that would abuse her.

“I swear, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when she finally called Rainbow ‘Mummy’”

*Sniff* Twilight looked up to see all three princess’ eyes were now welling up - Luna’s more so. After levitating a couple of tissues over to them, she waited for the three to regain control of themselves.

“We are sorry, Twilight. It’s just for Scootaloo, this has been her dream for so long. She has wanted Rainbow to see her as a daughter for ages.” Twilight smiled at this, it seemed that one little filly’s dream had come true.

-o.O.O.o-

*Knock-Knock* Two days later, Rainbow was roused from sleep in the guest room that she was sharing with Fluttershy when Twilight Velvet -- Twilight Sparkle’s mother -- called through that breakfast would be ready in half an hour.

“Oh, okay.” Rainbow heard Fluttershy’s whisper and chuckled, it had been so quiet that she had hardly heard it.

“Thanks!” Rainbow called out loud enough to be heard as she stretched, wincing as the tendons where her wing had been dislocated were still sore.

She thanked her lucky stars that the doctor at Ponyville General knew the bone-knit spell. It was a shame that it was unsafe to use on young ones, or Scoots would be out of her casts now.

Fluttershy had gotten out of the bed and had made her way to the en suite room while Rainbow was still pulling herself together. The rainbow maned pegasus went to the little clothes chest that had been delivered yesterday by courier to her surprise.

She opened it to pull out one of her new Wonderbolt Uniforms. This wasn’t a flight suit, but more along the lines of Captain Spitfire’s suits, only major differences being instead of the Captain’s rank on the epaulettes, it was the Lieutenants.

She was surprised when she spotted she had got three “Courage Above The Line of Duty” ribbons and two ribbons that indicated medals of “Honourable Duty” had been awarded. Something that she would be asking the Countess Lady Twilight Sparkle - Princess of Magic - about later.

Snorting a laugh at that, she couldn’t help the smirk at how embarrassed Twilight was when Celestia had suggested that her mother - the Baroness Velvet - would be delighted to see her daughter and her friends as they weren’t in Canterlot for a battle… this time.

Finding out that Rainbow’s down to earth friend had been nobility had been one of the most shocking things she’d ever found out. Yet, she didn’t really mind. The thing that did make her blood boil, however, was when she thought about what Twilight Sparkle’s father - Night Light - had informed them last night:

Prince Blueblood had been promised Twilight’s hoof in marriage to join the Families.

-Flashback-

Night Light hadn’t expected the vehemence of their reactions when he had said he had been happy to accept the betrothal from such a well placed family. Twilight fled the table in tears with her mother following, looking at Night Light in disgust.

The others in the room had made their opinion of the stallion who would barter his daughter for prestige well known.

Rarity and Applejack though had said it best when Rarity looked directly at the stallion.
“You sir have sold your daughter to a stallion who has NO principals, will treat her as low as the dirt on his hoof, and will insist that she submits to his whim. I hope for your sake there is an out in that contract.” With that she and the group had left the table.

Applejack had then looked at the stallion as she spoke, “Ah don’t get it. You said to Twiliht you love her an’ miss her. Then ye take her choice away of who she’ll marry? Ahm jus’ a farmpony but ah know you’d hate anyone who’d force themselves on Twah, then you force a stallion on her? You can ferget bein’ welcome in Ponyville when this gets aht.”

Fortunately, by the time they got up to Twilight’s room, Fluttershy had read over the contract and had spotted an obvious loophole that Twilight could readily use.

“Should one of the aforementioned parties be proven to be unacceptable to the other through word, deed, action or inaction then the other party may break off the betrothal.”

Rarity had readily agreed to allow Twilight to use how Blueblood had treated her at the Grand Galloping Gala as the reason. Twilight had been so relieved that she had completely broken down in the room as her father had walked in to hear her whispering her thanks to Rarity and Fluttershy before turning to her father, eyes still red rimmed.

“Why?” Was all she’d asked but the broken tone she’d said it told everypony the depth of hurt that she was feeling. Rarity moved closer to the Alicorn and nuzzled her neck, trying to offer some comfort.

Night Light had stood proud as he answered, “I did it for the family, think how well connected our two houses will be! You must not use that clause I forb-” *CRACK* A magical blow struck the unicorn stallion, rocking him back; Twilight’s horn was still glowing.

“Get out of my home,” a deathly cold voice that shouldn’t have been possible from the sweet tenderness of Twilight’s mother.

“I beg you pardon?!” Night Light said as Rainbow kept looking between the three like some strange tennis match.

“You married into this family under the same contractual clause. I am using it now.
I want you gone. Leave, no pony, not even you have the right to treat MY DAUGHTER Like that! She’s not even YOUR CHILD!” She screamed out.

“See here mare! I shall not be spoken to like thi-” Rarity sent a bolt of lightning from her horn, forcing Night Light to shield as Twilight stood and stepped between her… Stepfather?… and her friends.

“Well. You can stand and fight us, Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, one who is the Princess of Magic, Defendor from Discord, Rescuer of Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon, Saviours of the Crystal Empire, and Victors of The Battle for Canterlot against the Changeling Empire... Or You can leave. In. One. Piece!”

As she finished, her horn flared while Rarity stepped up next to her, her own horn lit. Flanking either side of them were Applejack and Pinkie Pie with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash standing at opposite ends.

Night Light’s colour faded from his face when he realised the true danger he was in. Fleeing from where he stood, the sound of a bag of bits being summoned was shortly followed by the front door opening and slamming shut. Twilight collapsed, tears running freely. Rarity looked at her before she turned to the group.

“I think it best if everyone gives her and her mother some time.” They all nodded and went to leave when Twi’s hoof caught Rarity’s.

“S-Stay,” Twilight whispered looking to Rarity. The white unicorn had simply nodded and knelt down next to her as the rest left.

The last Rainbow had seen of Twilight that night was leaning into Rarity while the fashionista was whispering to her.

-End Flashback-

“EEP!” *CRASH* Was heard from the bathroom as Rainbow threw the uniform on the bed and flew into the room. She stopped dead at what she saw. The canary mare had obviously finished her shower as evidenced by the way the water clung to her sleek toned body.

‘Wait, whaaaaat?!’ Rainbow thought as she examined her previous thought.

Fluttershy had obviously gone to put some toothpaste on her toothbrush, slipped and dropped the toothpaste. As she landed she had somehow got the tube stuck up her nose and was currently looking cross eyed down her snout. Rainbow tried not to laugh, she really did, but when Fluttershy started laughing as she removed the tube, the blue pegasus lost it and fell to the floor in loud guffaws.

Thankfully, nothing more untoward happened as Fluttershy finished sorting herself out and nodded to Rainbow that it was safe to use the shower.

Twenty minutes later, a now uniformed Rainbow Dash was sat at the table with her friends, providing a good description as to what the ruckus was. Surprising them all though, was Fluttershy, as she poked fun at Rainbow, who hadn’t had any quick witted words to say when she first saw what had happened.

Rainbow’s face when Fluttershy of all ponies had a dig at her set the table to laughing once more. Shaking her mane Rainbow turned to Twilight who was sitting suspiciously close to Rarity, who didn’t seem to be bothered one whit.

“Oooh Counteeeesss!” Rainbow called over in a slight pitched teasing tone, grinning as Twilight’s eye twitched.

“Yes, Rainbow?” Twilight said quietly, in a tone that Rainbow knew too well.

“Eh *Gulp* Why does my uniform say I Got three ribbons for courage and two saying I got medals?”

Twilight blushed at this before she looked about the table as she spoke, “Technically, we’re a unit that reports to the Princess’, so we get the same honours as the guards. But the Princess didn’t want to make a big fuss as we’re ‘Civilians’. Except for you now, Rainbow.”

The Rainbow Dash of one week ago would have gone on about how awesome that was, the Rainbow of four days ago would have claimed Bragging Rights. But today’s Rainbow did neither, she just nodded and carried on with her breakfast. She looked up to see the shocked faces of her friends and the two CMC’s with them and snorted.

“Hey, I’ve got what I wanted with my dreams, I got nothing I need to prove anymore; I’m in the Wonderbolts, an’ I’m gonna work hard to be worthy of keeping that honour, but I got a bigger dream now. Be the mother that Scootaloo deserves.”

She said the last few words with such emotion that her throat choked for a moment, not noticing the emotional tears she’d instigated.

*Knock-Knock* “Royal Canterlot Guard!” was called through the door. This caused the ponies around the table to raise their eyebrows in surprise.

“I’ll get it,” Twilight said as she went to the door. Rainbow moved to watch from the doorway as Twilight went down the hall. She knew when the earth pony guards had spotted her, as they straightened up a bit smarter being Privates.

She shook her head internally at that. She would never get used to commanding ponies she thought.

“Miss Sparkle?” one of the guards said, casting a wary eye towards Rainbow as well.

“Yes?” Twilight answered. Before she could move, a magic suppressing horn ring had been put around her horn, and she was under arrest for forcibly removing the owner of the house from his property.

“HALT!” Rainbow shouted down the corridor before stalking towards the guards, remembering the posture and tone used by her Captain she tried to emulate it but in a way that was her own.

“Who gave the arrest warrant for a PRINCESS?” Rainbow demanded.

The guards looked to each other, and stayed silent.

“Well? I’m waiting,” Rainbow said pulling Twilight behind her.

“Er… That is it’s… orders from the Captain… yeah! Thats it!” one of the guards said, unconvincingly.

“Really?” Rainbow said with a glare.

The two nodded.

“Twilight, send a message to your brother,” Rainbow all but ordered. Twilight nodded as she went back inside. A moment later, Rainbow heard her dictating a letter and then there was a *woosh* as the grey smoke of bottled dragonflame left the doorway.

“If you two are correct when Shining Armour or Princess Celestia arrives, then okay. If not, I suspect they’ll want answers as to the illegal arrest of the Guard Captains sister!” ‘Damn that legal stuff they drill in the academy's useful. I won’t tease Twi about bein’ an egghead so much anymore,’ Rainbow thought as she watched the guards faces pale, which was quite impressive to do under the guard illusion that makes them all appear white.

Moments later, a Pegasus drawn carriage landed and Shining Armour stepped out, approaching the guards. He looked about and seemed surprised to see Rainbow Dash standing to attention.

“Report Lieutenant,” Shining Armour ordered.

“Sir. These two guards arrived approximately thirty minutes ago. When the Lady Sparkle confirmed her identity they put a Magic Suppressing Horn Ring on her, and informed her she was under arrest for forcible eviction of a house owner. I intervened and asked who signed the warrant as aside from yourself, only the Princess’ can sign the warrant on another Princess. They proceeded to claim it was on your authority.”

Shining Armour nodded, before he turned a glare to the now visibly worried guards.
“Okay, now the truth you two. I signed no such warrant,” he practically growled out.

“Sir. Lord Night Light told us he’d been barred from his home by his illegitimate daugh-”

“SILENCE!” Shining Armour roared out.

“Lieutenant Dash, Remove the Horn Ring from the Princess Twilight Sparkle. Immediately.” Rainbow nodded and turned back into the house silently. She was cursing her luck because she hadn’t even been in uniform an hour, and she was dealing with idiots. But thanking her luck because although she hadn’t been in uniform an hour, she had the authority to deal with said idiots.

Stepping into the drawing room where the rest were she moved straight to Twilight and within moments had the ring undone and removed. The Purple Princess sighed in obvious relief as her access to her magic was restored.

They could hear Shining Armour’s voice inside chewing the guards out when his voice rose to a thunder. “YOU TOOK HIS MONEY! PEGASUS GUARDS, RESTRAIN AND REMOVE THESE COLT-WANNABE-SOLDIERS TO THE BRIG IMMEDIATELY!”
Moments later Shining Armour entered still looking visibly angry before looking around.

“Sorry about that. it seems my… father… bribed those soldiers and would have had Twilight held elsewhere.” He looked straight to Twilight Velvet as he spoke the next words, “Mother, I have to ask, what the hay did you see in that Horseapple?!”

“Oi! Ahm jest a filly!” Apple Bloom shouted, making Shining Armour cough an apology to his mother’s approving nod.

Twilight Velvet seemed to shrug as she spoke.
“It was the same as he was about to do to your sister - a betrothal contract I had no choice over it. This is the first time he’s stepped out of bounds enough that I could break it.”

Shining Armour nodded. “Okay, I’ll have words with Grandfather Velvet about that later. For now, I need to head back to the castle.” He then turned to Rainbow. “Oh Rainbow, Princess Luna would like a word with you and Scootaloo’s doctor, ASAP!” Rainbow nodded, not quite getting the subtle order until Shining Armour rolled his eyes.

“That Rainbow means get your flank to the castle yesterday,” he said with a smile as Rainbow bolted out the house and took to the air, ignoring the twinge in her wing-joint. She’d flown on weather patrol every day with worse.

A few minutes later, she landed in the forecourt and made her way to where the Princess’ held their audiences. She expected to wait a while, but as soon as the guard at the door saw her enter he waved her forwards.

As the doors opened and a fuming Night Light was led out to the amusement of Rainbow, she was told to go in. “Ah! Lieutenant Dash, I asked to see you as I believe I have found a way to speed up young Scootaloo’s recovery. But it needs your permission as her mother.”

Rainbow raised her eyebrows at hearing this. If it needed her permission then it was probably dangerous.

“We have found the foal version of the spell that was used upon your own broken bones. However, as she is just a filly, the discomfort you felt would be magnified to a rather painful experience for her.”

Rainbow took a breath as she faced the princess who she knew Scootaloo had started calling ‘Aunty Luna.’ “Well, the fact you’re even considering it says you think she might be able to handle it, but you asking me instead of just going ahead tells me you’re uncertain.”

Luna nodded.

“Right, is there a spell you can cast on me that’ll simulate the amount of pain she’ll feel? If I know what she’ll go through I’ll know better whether I think she can handle it. But be warned even if I think she can and after it’s been explained if she say’s no, then I’ll withdraw my permission. She say’s stop at any time, then you stop the spell.” It didn’t matter to her that she was going head to head against the princess’ on this, the only thing that mattered to her was Scootaloo.

Luna smiled at her as she answered, “And with those words thou hast proven that thou are the mother she needs. I agree to all thy points. When do you want me to cast the spell that simulates the pain thy daughter shall feel?” Rainbow looked about the room and went over to one of the couches and lay on her front on it.

“Now,” she said with finality. Luna nodded as Celestia who had stayed silent through their exchange cast a spell that no sounds could be heard outside.

“Art thou ready?” Princess Luna asked. Rainbow nodded and closed her eyes.

She felt the spell impact her and grunted as the pain struck. It was more than she’d anticipated as she grit her teeth while her legs felt like they were being repeatedly stabbed with needles. Never mind her barrel, that felt like it was being pounded with a meat tenderiser!

Seconds later, it was over, and Rainbow gasped. “Damn! That hurt like Tartarus!” Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she looked up. “No way, no how! If you can at least half the pain, then maybe.”

It was at this point Celestia stepped forwards. “What about the pain-syphon spell? It is in two parts, one half is cast on the one known about to receive pain, the other half on one who will take all the pain the other’s feeling, leaving them without feeling any of it.”

Rainbow nodded, understanding what this implied.

“I’d go through a lot worse for her,” Rainbow smiled as she answered.

“We know,” Luna said. Still surprised at how fast Rainbow had healed once she’d had a couple nights sleep. “Okay, let us go see to Scootaloo,” Luna added, as she led Rainbow to the hospital that was on the grounds.

They hadn’t even fully entered the room when Scootaloo looked up to them. Her face showing all the signs of crying.

“Oh Scoots,” Rainbow breathed out going over to the little depressed filly and pulling her into her arms.

“Talk to me, what’s wrong?” Rainbow said quietly as Celestia and Luna hung back to give them the appearance of privacy.

“I-I don’t g-get it. W-why would Y-you w-want mmmee? I-I won’t ever b-be able to f-fly. I’m j-just gonna b-be a drain on you. J-just like my f-father said. I’m a drain. U-useless! W-whe I w-was born I k-killed my f-first mmommaaa!” Scootaloo wailed into Rainbows jacket as Rainbow held her, tears falling down her own face.

“Shh, I told you before Scoots, I ain’t ever gonna give up on ya. I don’t know about what your father told you, but I want you to listen to me now.” Rainbow pulled away from Scootaloo a little, and looked down into those depressed violet eyes that just days ago held so much life.

“It. Is. Not. Your. Fault,” Rainbow said quietly, emphatically. As she finished she pulled Scootaloo in to another hug, wrapping her wings about the filly.

“I promise you it isn’t scoots.”

“H-how can you know?” Scootaloo sniffled. Rainbow gently lifted Scootaloo up off the bed being careful not to aggravate her injuries before sitting in the chair by it settling Scootaloo on her lap.

She saw Luna and Celestia fighting tears at what they were hearing and nodded that they could come closer.

“I know because you were just a tiny foal when you were born. Whatever happened was not your fault,” Rainbow said, her own tears falling into Scootaloo’s purple mane.

“B-but h-he said I was born wrong! Tore something and made her bleed too much. That it’m my fault! An now you’re my mummy and - an I d-don’t wanna l-lose you tooo! Y-you’ll realise how much o-of a waste I aaam,” she cried.

Hearing the true fears that Scootaloo had Rainbow held the filly close. “Scoots, I promise you I will never ever regret adopting you. I wanted to be your momma for weeks before this happened. You are not a waste, you are my daughter and I love you,” she said, the truth shining through her words.

Both the princesses had come and sat by them at this point and could hear the filly’s crys slowing, before she spoke again, “B-bu-but I can’t even fly!” Rainbows eyes closed as she held back the emotions at hearing the pain in Scootaloo’s voice.

“I know Scoots… I know, okay? I still want you. I won’t ever abandon you. I promise.”

“P-Pinkie promise?” Rainbow had to smile at this little bit of Ponyville culture that had wormed it’s way into everypony’s lives courtesy of the pervasive pink party pony: Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie Promise,” Rainbow said quietly, holding Scootaloo close.

While Scootaloo was distracted and holding on to Rainbow she nodded towards the Princess’ who with their own tears falling smiled and started the spells. Rainbow knew when the pain spell had taken effect. She felt like her own legs were broken, but she didn’t react in the slightest. She was not going to let Scootaloo feel even more guilty for something she couldn’t help.

Luna quickly cast the bone-knit spell and Rainbow had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying out, it took all her effort not to stiffen up or show signs of the pain she felt.

As soon as the spell was complete she felt Scootaloo become a completely relaxed and looked down to see she had fallen asleep. “She will sleep a while, although you may have taken her pain, you could not give of your energy for her.” It was with a gentle smile when Luna finished and stood up, leaning forwards to place a small kiss on scootaloo’s forehead before she backed away.

“Know this: thou doth have my full backing and mine trust in regards to thy guardianship of my pseudo-niece. Look after her well,” Luna said as Celestia stood and repeated Luna’s actions before she too spoke, “The same can be said for me.”

Her horn shone with a gentle golden glow as Scootaloo’s casts came off. Rainbow nodded and quietly promised them she would try to be the best mother she could.

“That is all we ask,” Luna said.

“That… and to babysit sometimes,” Celestia added with a smile as they left, leaving Rainbow no time to answer her.

Smiling, she lay Scootaloo down on the bed and sat back in the chair. She knew she would face many challenges as Scootaloo’s mother, but she silently swore to meet them head on.

Spotting that Scootaloo was shivering slightly in the draft, Rainbow carefully got up on to the bed and laid her wing over her as an extra blanket, before settling her head down between her hooves and letting her eyes close as she allowed herself to fall into a light sleep.

The end…?

Author's Note

I would like to thank Mike from the ShadowBlades for his hard work in editing this story.

Mike: I sleep now…