Across the Scootaverse

by Tealc

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Adventure
Length: 4875

When Scootaloo's father passes away under strange circumstances, the filly may need Rainbow Dash now more than anything. Unfortunately, both may need help to get through it in the end. From who? The Beatles, of course.

One month ago, on a dark and stormy night, Scootaloo's father was found dead in a ditch under mysterious circumstances - a barbed arrow in the heart for the young filly. Though she doesn't want to show it, right now she needs help more than anything… from her idol in specific. However, Rainbow Dash may not know how to deal with the situation herself - especially considering the death was reported to be a suicide.

However, when a shadowy source gives a tip to Rainbow explaining that there may be much more to the story than a suicide, Rainbow plunges into action. The problem? It seems to involve a conspiracy that goes high up in Equestria's ranks. Unable to trust anyone save for a somewhat expected source, Rainbow Dash attempts to help Scootaloo the best way she knows how - action, not words. Brawn, not heart.

But with the help of a series of strange songs being spread around known only as works of 'The Beatles', Rainbow may learn that sometimes a wounded heart aches for much more than just justice…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-24 03:14:41 UTC

Prologue - End is Pinnacle

Bells tolled for miles upon miles. A gentle breeze blew a bitter wind down from the frozen north. The air hung somber and dry over the entire Ponyville county, as dry, weary conversations floated through it at every public location. And finally... a red sun had risen in the East.

Something amyss was happening, yet not everypony knew what just yet...

At Ponyville's premiere cafe, where groups sat in the sunlight gossiping, the stories were beginning to spread...

"Old Stonewalloo? You mean that nice guard who was always outside that one place?" Lyra Hearstrings asked Bon Bon, munching down on a hearty hay sandwich.

"What place?" Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You know... the place with the thing!"

"... What thing?"

"I know what she's talking about. The Vault of Antiquity," Octavia stated.

"Ooooh... so that's what was in there!" Lyra chuckled.

Bon Bon gazed at her pensively. "... What'd you think was in there?"

She shrugged. "I thought it was bathroom."

"You thought a guard was guarding... a bathroom?" Octavia blinked. "Lyra, my dear, that is just plain silly."

"More like plain bone-headed," Bon Bon grunted.

"... Could have been a really nice bathroom," Lyra muttered.

"Annnyway," Bon Bon coughed, leaning close to the two. "Do you want to know where they found the body?"

The two leaned forward in interest. "Where?"

"A ditch? They found bloody Stonewalloo in a ditch?!" Time Turner growled, gazing at a tired, somber blue pony who sat across from him - a pony wearing a strange, antique long coat. "Bloody hell - he was one of your best, too!"

"That he was," the pony sighed, taking a sip of tea. "I just don't understand - our work was hard, but... I didn't think he of all ponies would just crack like that."

Time Turner glanced away from him. "Even the best can wind up down that road, you know."

"Not Stonewalloo," the blue pony grunted, shaking his head in dismay. "I don't care what he was up against, how screwed he thought he was, he wouldn't just do that. He had a family. He had a life - it was more than just... us."

"Could he have been effected by something?"

The pony shook his head with a disgruntled look. "Na, we do full-body scans of every member for any contagions every time they enter the hub. If he had something on him, we'd know."

"What if it was some sort of unknown entity or pathogen?"

"You're the one who give us all of our information about that sort of thing."

Time Turner thought for a second, before nodding. "True, but even I don't know everything-"

Something caught his ear nearby, in particular, Lyra's conversation.

"Woke up, fell out of bed, ran a comb across my head!" the quirky teal pony sang.

"Ouch. Sounds like an unpleasant morning. The rest of your day that bad?" Octavia said.

Lyra shook her head, sighing. "Made my way downstairs and had a cup - looking up, I noticed I was late."

"Lyyyra..." Bon Bon said in both an annoyed and annoying tone. "How are we going to keep paying the rent at this rate?"

"- Such as why ponies are singing these strange songs lately..." Time Turner continued.

The blue pony looked at him oddly. "What songs?"

"You haven't noticed it?" Time Turner grinned. "You really need to get above ground more often."

The blue pony rolled his eyes. "Anyway, weird songs aside, let's get back on topic - I'm thinking it's more likely that the police were effected by something - most likely a gratuitous amount of confiscated croakane..."

Time Turner's ear perked again.

"Octavia! Come on and finish up! We're going to be late for our date in Penny Laaaane," Bon Bon whined.

Lyra bounced with a manic grin. "Penny Lane?! I love that place! All the people who like to come and go - stop and say hello!"

"Penny lane is in my ear and in my eye!"

The group broke out into giggles.

"Perhaps the rest of Ponyville got into it with all this singing, as well..." Time Turner muttered.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Have you had a chance to run an investigation of your own?"

"Working on it," the pony grunted. "Two days until the funeral. I feel like I should say something..."

"A speech?"

He shook his head. "Na, you know I couldn't do that. I meant say something to his kid. I dunno, though, I could come up to her as a complete stranger, but then my words wouldn't mean much, and I couldn't just tell her we served with each other the way we did... that we were close friends... but then she'd wonder why she didn't know about me. It'd raise any eyebrows', even a filly's. Stonewalloo always said that she was a bright one."

Time Turner gazed at him with a hint of curiosity. "Really, now? What's her name?"

"Scootaloo. That's Scootaloo's father..." Twilight whispered. "You're sure about this, right?"

"Quite positive, my petite, purple princess," Marauder Shields, Ponyville's surprisingly eloquently spoken minotaur investigator spoke. "A town watch investigation is in full swing, but we believe what happened occurred just two nights ago. The ditch the body was found in was in some mild vegetation near a path-less-traveled."

"Where to?" Twilight asked.

"Sleepy Hallow," the minatour mumbled, adjusting the monocle on his eye. "And no, there was no beheading involved."

Twilight looked taken aback. "Are you seriously making a joke about this?!"

The minatour shook his head. "No, I'm just stating this in case you asked. Believe it or not, it wasn't the first time today."

"Wait - so other ponies were joking about it?!" Twilight said, outraged.

"Town Watch Officers."

"That's just callous!"

"They do what they have to to make it through the day, Ms. Sparkle," the minatour said sternly. "Not all us have the... dignity... disposed on them you have to carry them through the day."

He narrowed his eyes at her wings.

Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but soon closed it, looking embarrassed. She had lost that battle before it began.

The minatour sighed. "Humor breeds detachment, and detachment breeds competence. I'm sure you'll learn that soon enough - if being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"It's not..." Twilight said, two saddened eyes glancing downward for some reason, before glancing back at the investigator. "Do you... have any idea what the cause was?"

"We only have guesses at this point," the minatour said. "We just wanted to contact you to handle the PR-points of this."

Twilight glanced at him strangely. "Wait... PR?"

"An educated student of the princess must know her acronyms..."

"I know what it means!" Twilight said, an offended look on her. "But what in the world would you need a PR-contact for, unless..."

The minatour smiled slightly. "There's that world renown mind I've heard of."

"Are you saying we could possibly be looking at homicide?" Twilight said, shaking her head incredulously.

"That... or even more likely, a suicide."

Twilight's eyes widened in horror. "B-But... that's impossible! Nothing like that has occurred in Ponyville since-"

"Sixty years ago," the minatour said, two eyes gazing into the past as he stroked a neatly cut beard that dangled off his chin. "Those days seem like yesterday..."

"You age gracefully."

"All minatours do."

"Ah."

He narrowed his eyes. "They never did find the murderer. We barely knew and still don't know anything about him... her... or it. Whatever it was was clearly intelligent, however. I'll spare you the more gruesome details, but rumors say he dwelt in the Everfree Forest... and crackpots say he was actually part of the forest itself - literally, confined to it. The only way he could get victims was to lure them in with candy or sweets or... I don't know, zap apple seeds? What do earth ponies fancy, anyway?"

Twilight gave him a blank look.

He ignored it.

"But still - even that would be more likely than a suicide, and Stonewall wasn't even found in the Everfree Forest. There's only been two in Equestrian history, and none around here. Yet still... it seems fate has dealt us a wild card."

"You're sure it wasn't an accident?"

"Having a blood-alcohol level of over fifteen-percent isn't an accident, Ms. Sparkle," the minatour grunted. "Especially when the culprit of the crime was found right next to the body."

"Huh?"

"We found a flask. A silver flask filled with heavy whiskey. What Stonewalloo was doing out in the middle of nowhere drinking is anyone's guess, but it isn't uncommon for those who serve in the guard to go 'bottom's up', as they say - especially in this day and age."

Twilight slowly nodded. "Shining told me about that. The recent events that have been taking place - Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Changeling attack... I know it's grating on my nerves - not all the time, but sometimes it sneaks up on me - I guess it might be the same way with everypony else, especially the people protecting other people."

She squinted in confusion.

"But somepony drinking themself to death? He was nearly middle-aged! He would have known better... well, at least a middle-aged professional soldier would. Are you positive about this?"

Marauder Shields nodded. "As far as I can tell, the only other signs that the victim had suffered any trauma were some mild bruises - likely suffered as he fell into the ditch. I believe he was out late that night, probably lost in the storm we had, and already drunk. Perhaps he decided to drink more..."

"But fifteen-percent isn't always enough to kill - especially not a soldier."

"Different strokes... for different folks."

Twilight blinked.

"Ugh, the moment I lower myself to using expressions, THEN people don't understand what I'm saying; the troglodytes who can't speak troglidynian!" he groaned.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "I understand what you're saying - different ponies have different body compositions despite their build. Alcohol is taken better by some than others."

She glanced at him inquisitively.

"But you said this was a suicide. How do you know he intentionally tried to do this?"

"Like I said, I only have guesses until I can wrap my mind around this more," Marauder said, annoyed. "But evidence collected from his colleagues suggest that maybe, just maybe... he tipped the bottle a little too far on purpose. In which case - you know what this means."

"... What kind of evidence?"

Marauder gazed at her blankly. "Princess or not, I have little time to elaborate on matters that are not your concern. Your concern is PR - nothing more. Prepare a speech. It isn't often that a prominent member of the guard drinks himself to death."

Twilight closed her eyes.

"Or for a filly to lose a father so young..."

"Hm?"

Twilight glanced at him for a second, before silently singing, perhaps not to anyone:

"All the lonely people, where do they all come from?"

"Gooood day sunshine - doo de doo de doo - gooood day sunshine! doo de doo de doo..."

High above Ponyville, Rainbow Dash merrily kicked cloud after cloud, clearing a hole in the overcast that had followed the foggy, stormy night before.

WHOOOSH-SMACK!

She sent another cloud to cloud-heaven.

"Awww yeah! Guess what day it is, clouds?!" Rainbow Dash grinned. "This is the day... of CLOUD RECKONING! Seriously, I couldn't practice in that stupid storm you gave us last night."

She then thought to herself.

"Well, alright - technically, it wasn't really your fault - it was Weather Team B's fault. More like Weather Team Friggin' P.I.F.! Buuut, since I can't kick any of them in the face without getting arrested, I'm going to have to take it out oooon... you! Sorry!"

WHOOOSH-SMACK!

"Booya!"

WHOOOSH-SMACK!

"Suck it!"

WHOOOSH-SMACK!

"Boom! Head... shot? Alright, that didn't make sense."

Suddenly, a voice.

"Er... Rainbow - who are you talking to?"

Rainbow froze. From behind her came the familiar, newly regal tone of Twilight. She then grinned to herself, before saying in a low, menacing tone.

"Twilight... I'm sorry to say, but you weren't supposed to have seen that."

"What, you acting nuts?"

"No, me acting dorky."

Forcing her grin to turn manic, she slowly turned around.

"Nopony must find out about this..."

Twilight gazed at her oddly, almost worriedly. "Er, Rainbow... you've got this weird look in your eyes..."

She hung her head. "... I'm sorry..."

Twilight began to hover away.

Then, suddenly, Rainbow's manic eyes were eating into her again.

"But I'm going to have to teach a lesson in ease-dropping!"

Her eyes widened. "W-Wah?"

"CLOOOUD SLAMMMM!"

"WAAAAAHHHH!"

Before Twilight even knew it, Rainbow had rocketed towards her, locked her hooves with her stomach, and... well, slammed her (though gently) into a cloud. It acted like a crappy pillow, enveloping her in its embrace.

"UGH! RAINBOW! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Twilight growled, struggling to release herself from the cloud - which was now wrapping around her. "Why did you just do that?!"

"Hahaha! Relllaaax.... you just need a bit of pegamagic."

"Huh?"

Rainbow stuck her tongue out, before grabbing one of Twilight's flailing hooves and yanking her from moisterous prison.

"Ugh - thanks, but what the heck, Rainbow?!" Twilight said, folding her arms.

"Hehe, sorry - it's just something me and my friends did when I was a kid," Rainbow said. "Er, save for Fluttershy, of course. Plus, it's friggin' hilarious! You should have seen the look on your face! I love that you have wings now!"

She rolled her eyes. "What's gotten you in such a giddy mood?"

"Don't you see?" Rainbow said, uncharacteristically jubilant of her. "Here comes the sun! Juuust over the mountains... it's shining like a giant... solar... heater... thing, and I just kicked my work in the flank in one hour flat! Ba-bam! Guess what, clouds? You just got a... Dash of Dash! YEEEAAAAAH!"

"... It's because the next Wonderbolt Academy Semester starts in a week, isn't it?"

Dash smirked. "Well, I didn't want to brag, but ya know - me being the youngest Wonderbolt ever gets me some props there. I'm about to win a blue ribbon for the next aerial show, I swear! Then, they have us doing archery!"

"Sounds like fun!" Twilight smiled.

"Duh! Of course it's fun! Try hitting a tiny target while going two-hundred-WP AND while upside-down... right in the middle. That's what the Wonderbolts want!"

She then glanced about.

"Say, speaking of which, have you seen Scootaloo? I gotta get my number one fan to judge my new tricks! We've uh, and don't tell anypony I said this, but we haven't been getting sis time lately and... well... I kind of want to change that."

Twilight smiled slightly. "You really like that she looks up to you, don't you?"

"Eh... well..." Rainbow said, nodding her head back and forth. "The squirt's growing on me, maybe..."

Twilight practically bounced in adorable joy... well, as much as you can 'bounce' while flying. "Dawwww! Come on, she's turning into your BSLSF and you know it!"

Rainbow blinked. "I can guess some of the letters, but..."

"Best surrogate little sister forever!" Twilight beamed.

...

"... Yeah, I kind of like the acronym better."

Twilight winced, but soon recovered. "Hehehe, but still, you two are so adorable! She looks up to you more than..."

Then, suddenly, it was like Twilight's mood did a sudden one-eighty degree turn into the land of depression.

"Anyone.." she sighed.

"Woah - what's with the one-eighty degree turn into the land of depression?" Rainbow said.

Coincidence, I swear.

...

"I uh... just remembered what I came here to tell you."

Rainbow's eyes widened in shock. "Oh no! Are they done making Daring Do books?!"

"N-No..."

"Oh... good," she sighed, before gasping in horror yet again. "Wait, is Spitfire retiring and she wants to make Soarin' the captain of the Wonderbolts instead of me?!"

Twilight glanced at her oddly. "Er - no, not that either."

"So, what it is it?"

...

Even the wind held its breath as Twilight closed her eyes, and out came a soothing, though somehow... sad, melody.

Youtube Video

"Well, that was... oddly beautiful," Rainbow said, blinking. "But... I still don't get the meaning of it. Sounds like something bad happened to somepony, but who?"

Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep, shattered breath.

"It's..."

"Scootaloo?! Scootaloo's dad is dead?!" Applejack gasped, dropping the basket of apples she was carrying on her back all over the ground. "Holy Celestia... I-I... I don't know what to say."

"Yeah... I know... i-it's terrible," Rainbow Dash said, swallowing hard. "Word just got out about it. Funeral's in two days."

"T-That soon?!" Applejack said, her eyes widening in horror.

"Y-Yeah."

The two stood silently for a moment as the breeze blew through their manes. The apples lay where they were and the birds chirped their autumn cries as if nothing had happened in the world. It was as if both wanted to say something, at the very least, but didn't know what.

Then, Applejack finally spoke.

"So... how's Scootaloo taking it?"

Rainbow Dash turned away from her. "I... I don't know."

Applejack gazed at her suspiciously. "What do you mean you don't know? Was she playing the tough-gal act? She seems like the type."

"I meant..." Rainbow Dash whispered. "I... I haven't seen her yet."

Applejack looked aghast. "You haven't seen her yet?!" She relaxed slightly. "Wait - were you just finishing up work or something?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened slightly - it was as if she could see an escape route now.

"Er - yeah... finishing up work..."

Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying!"

"Yeah you are."

...

Rainbow Dash eventually huffed. "Ugh- how do you always tell?"

"I just can," Applejack muttered. "Element of Honesty, remember?"

"H-Heh, true..."

"Don't try to change the subject!" Applejack growled. "You need to be there for her! Remember how close you two had gotten during the camping trip? She looks up to you like a sister! She needs a sister right about now! Not rushing to her side would be- well, it wouldn't be good for her in this state..."

"Hey, lay off!" Rainbow hissed, forcing Applejack to stand down. She eventually took a deep breath, before saying: "I... I just haven't figured out what I'm going to say to her, is all..."

Applejack's tone softened. "You mean... you're just scared?"

Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Me?! Scared?! N-No! I'm not scared! I... I totally know what to say to... to..." She winced. "To somepony who just lost their dad."

Eventually, Rainbow took a deep breath, gulped, and sat down.

"... What do you say, Applejack?"

She sniffed slightly, her eyes beginning to water.

"Y-You're right... I'm scared... I've never lost a family member. I can't empathize with her... I can't give her advice... I can't do anything for her."

"Sugarcube..."

Rainbow felt the warm hoof of her friend wrap around her, causing her to stiffen slightly, before relaxing.

"Wanna know something?"

Rainbow Dash squinted at her. "W-What?"

Applejack smiled sadly, yet softly at her.

"You don't need to say anything. You gotta put that kind of thinking aside and just be there for her. When I found myself in a time of trouble, I thought long and hard about it, and eventually... I gave myself an answer: let it be."

Rainbow seemed to grow confusion for a brief second, before Applejack nodded towards a secluded area of her farm - one where two, silent graves sat.

The pegasus glanced at them in awe. "You mean-"

Applejack merely sighed. "E'yup."

Rainbow Dash trotted wearily towards Scootaloo's small, residential home - one that lay on the outskirts of town. It was a humble little place, with a small garden sitting in its front where vegetables sat unharvested. Steam was rising from the chimney, however, so she knew somepony was home, at least.

So she gathered her courage and knocked on the door.

No response. She thought she heard something screech on the floor inside, however.

"Hello?" Rainbow called.

"Who's that?" a voice called from within. "Is that Rainbow?"

"Er- yeah!" Rainbow coughed.

There was the sound of hoofsteps, and slowly, the door creaked open. The blue face of a unicorn gazed at her, her eyes sagging and heavy.

"H-Hello, dear... it's good to see you," she said hoarsely.

"Um - hi," Rainbow said. "I-I... I heard about what happened. Um... I... I don't know what to say - I'm... sorry."

She attempted a smile. "You don't need to," she whispered. "Thank you for coming. I... I take it you're here to see Scootaloo?"

"Er - y-yeah!" Rainbow said. "Is she... around?"

"Oh um- she's upstairs in her room. She was given the day off from school... and... she just wanted to be left alone."

"Oh - um - well," Rainbow said, slowly beginning to turn. "I... I don't want to bother her - you know, grieving and all that-"

"I'm sure she can make room for you, however," Scootaloo's mother called. "Why don't you come in? I was just making some... special herbal tea, though I can make a less potent recipe for you if you want. It'll help you get comfortable."

Rainbow glanced away from her. "I-I don't want to be a bother..."

"Nonsense, it's no bother at all," she said, and at that moment, Rainbow knew she wasn't getting out of this. "I've been getting company all day. In fact, we already have a guest. Why don't you join us? I swear, Scootaloo's said so many good things about you that I feel like I know you already! Yet we've only met once or twice, I believe."

"H-Heh - well, I am pretty awesome, after all... though Scoots getting there, too."

"Well, I'm starting to gain that opinion myself," she smiled.. "Former and latter. It was very nice of you to come."

"Oh - um... thanks, Ms. Loo - ER, I mean Mrs! Mrs!"

She narrowed an eyebrow for a brief second, but quickly seemed to brush off the poor choice of words.

"Please, call me Tenderloo," she said warmly, before turning and leading Rainbow into the house. It, like the outside, was very humble in nature. It was your typical suburban family dwelling - one filled with cheap furniture and artwork, but those weren't the focal pieces. That spot belonged to the numerous paintings hanging on the wall - the ones that put the heart where the home was.

One included a picture of the whole family. Tenderloo hung by the side of a brash, stern looking pegasus wearing what seemed to be a modified Pegasi Air Core military long-coat.

"Weird, I thought he was supposed to be a guard?" Rainbow thought.

His eyes spoke of a haunted past, but with a deep, caring spirit, though that was Rainbow's best guess as to his character. She hadn't actually ever met him. In fact, she hadn't ever been in Scootaloo's house before. She had to ask for directions to get to it.

It was then when she realized that she didn't actually know much about Scootaloo at all. Rainbow was the one who was always telling about her life: what she was doing in the Wonderbolts academy, her training days when she was young...

She didn't know why, but a wave of guilt washed over at her at the thought - one she quickly shrugged off.

As they made their way into the kitchen, Rainbow spotted a blue-furred pegasus pony she had never seen before, and what immediately stuck out about him was his long-coat - the same that Scootaloo's father wore in the painting.

In the meantime, a radio sat on the kitchen counter, quietly whispering a strange tune:

"Listen,

Do you want to know a secret?

Do you promise not to tell?

I've known the secret for a year or two,

Nobody knows, just we two."

"Rainbow, this is Captain Black Harness," Tenderloo smiled, before gesturing towards Rainbow. "And Captain Black, may I introduce you to-"

"Rainbow Dash," he said, smiling slightly, before standing from the chair he sat in at the table. "The Rainbow Dash, right?"

Rainbow looked half-shocked. "Um... well - yeah! Of course! The one and only!"

"Rainbow, Captain Black here used to work with Scootaloo's father," Tenderloo stated. "He served with him in the Aircore - The Golden Lancers."

Her eyes widened. It wasn't often she met somepony from the Aircore who wasn't in the Wonderbolts. Especially not one from another 'special forces' unit.

"H-Heh! Well...  nice to meet you?" Rainbow said, trying to be respectful as possible.

"No need to be so nervous around a fellow officer," Captain Black said, glancing her over for some reason. "Heh, though I really gotta say: it's very nice to meet you too, Miss Dash."

"Captain Black..." Tenderloo coughed, giving him a glare.

"I'm just saying hello!" Captain Black huffed.

"Mhmm..."

Rainbow blinked. "Wah."

Tenderloo rolled her eyes, before winking towards Dashie. "Don't worry about him.... except if he drags you to a bar."

Rainbow finally caught on at this point and couldn't help but blush.

Captain Black groaned. "Ugh - Stonewalloo must have told you my weakness, didn't he...?"

"You might as well have painted a red x on it, dear," she joked.

Rainbow couldn't help but laugh. However, eventually she cleared her throat and croaked out: "But um... Officer?"

Captain Black smirked her way. "All Wonderbolts are automatically given the officer's rank of Second Lieutenant. You mean you didn't know that?"

Rainbow blushed, scratching the back. "Ehehe, well- um... well... no, but I don't really care bout' ranks! I just uh -"

Captain Black stifled a chuckle. "I'm just pulling your leg. They don't usually go blabbing about it. Their fame precedes them, and I don't think they need it as an incentive, ya know?"

"Heh, definitely!" Rainbow coughed. It was at that that she couldn't help but just now noting the Captain's strong chin... his muscular legs, his fancy hair and - the jacket looked pretty good on him too-

Snap out of it, Rainbow! You make yourself look like you're too into him and you've just lost the game!

Rainbow cleared her throat. "So um- you've heard of me? That's ... that's cool! I mean... who wouldn't hear of me? I uh... I'm uh..."

Damnit! Alright - If you keep stuttering like a nervous filly, just pretend you're losing your voice...

Captain Black winked. "Of course - when somepony joins up with the Wonderbolts as young as you are, I make it my business to get to know them-"

"Captain Black!"

"Er, by that I mean - uh - get to know about them. For business purposes, only!"

Suddenly his eyes widened as he glanced at his watch.

"Whoops - speaking of which... I've gotta run. Time Turner and me have a date."

Tenderloo nearly facepalmed. "Him too?!"

"Ack - give me some slack for Celestia's sake! It's for business!"

She glanced at him suspiciously. "How do you know him, anyway? He's not in the military. Old friends?"

"Heh, you could say that."

With that, he began to unseat himself, quickly gripping Tenderloo in a hug.

"I'll be back later if you want... are you going to be alright alone if Rainbow leaves?"

She took a shaky breath. "I... I'll be fine."

And Rainbow, at that moment, couldn't help but feel sorrier for anyone.

"Alright... I'm still checking up on you later - whether you want me too or not," Captain Black grinned. "And I'm cooking dinner for you and Sccoots! I've had... time to learn a few recipes."

"Then you better be here at Six PM Sharp," Tenderloo chuckled. "I don't want my daughter to go hungry, you know."

"Of course!"

With that, he nodded towards Rainbow, before giving her a salute and a wink. "Future Second Lieutenant Dash."

".... B-Bah," was all Rainbow could mutter.

Dork alert!

"Sheep got your tongue, dear?" Tenderloo teased.

"I mean - bye!" she coughed out.

"Heh. Close enough. Catch you later."

And he made his way out the back door.

...

"He is such a dork sometimes," Tenderloo said, smiling nostalgically. "But I know he would have done anything for Stonewalloo."

"He seems like a... a pretty loyal guy," Rainbow nodded.

"To his friends, but not his lovers, maybe," Tenderloo chuckled.

Rainbow glanced at her oddly.

Her eyes widened as she flailed her arms, chuckling. "Er - we weren't like that, though. He knew his boundaries."

Rainbow took a deep breath. "Oh- hehe, good - I didn't mean to-"

She merely smiled. "I'd do the same thing in your hooves, dear."

...

There was an odd bit of silence - as the radio continued to play. A new song had come on:

"Strawberry fields...

Nothing is real...

Yet it's nothing to get hung about,

Strawberry fields forever."

What is with all these weird, somewhat appropriate songs, lately?

Finally, Rainbow took a deep breath, disregarded her previous thoughts, and summoned all the courage she could muster.

"So... Scootaloo," she said slowly.

Tenderloo merely nodded at that, before leading her towards the young filly's room...