Down to Earth Family

Chapters

Chapter 1
Biting off more than you can chew
A Night with Rainbow Dash

Chapter 1

Equestria, a beautiful land where ponies of all shapes and sizes lived in harmony, some would consider this place to be perfect, but even in a seemingly perfect place like this there are still problems. Even in such a land there is still sickness, there is still pain, and most of all there is still death, and that is where our story begins, in a sweet little town called Ponyville.

A town full of love and happiness, where many families of ponies have come to settle down. A small country town with all the basics, shops of all kinds, street venders selling there wears for all the ponies to buy, a library full of books for all to read.

This town was even home of the elements of harmony, surely there can't be any sadness here of all places, a community full of loving families, but what about those who have no family, for a young Pegasus filly with a sunset colored coat and a lovely purple mane this was all too real for her, surrounded by others but yet still all alone…

"Scootaloo" She looked up to see a yellow filly with a pink mane and cute pink bow running toward her, this is her best friend Applebloom youngest of the Apple family.

"Hi Applebloom what's up?" She asked stopping in her tracks.

"Well ah saw ya walk'n down the street and thought ah'd come see if y'all wanted to hang out?" answered trotting up next to her friend.

"Sure sounds like fun." Scootaloo replied with a practiced smile as they started trotting off toward Sweet Apple Acers, where the best apples in all of Equestria are grown.

The pair of fillies walked through the farm and into to the Cutie Mark Crusader club house. After they got settled in they started doing anything and everything they could think of to get there cutie marks, coloring, reading, pillow fighting, and wrestling but eventually the sun started to set and the day was coming to a close.

"Well ah better get goin afore Applejack gets to wonderin where ah am." Applebloom said before getting up and trotting out the door.

Scootaloo nodded and said "Ok I'll see you later Applebloom" as she herself started off toward Ponyville. While walking she couldn't stop thinking about how Applebloom had a family and how Sweetie Belle the third crusader had a family as well. 'It's not fair' she thought. 'Both my friends have families that love and care for them, why don't I? Am I just not good enough? I don't try to be a bad pony, and I'm not any worse than Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, and they both have a warm bed to sleep in, a big sister to tell them everything is all right when something bad happens, and Sweetie has a mom to kiss her on the forehead when she tucks her in at night.

She trotted through Ponyville, towards the outskirts of the city, and down a small hill to the Ponyville Cemetery; it was a dark foreboding place the air just seemed to change inside the gloomy place, the graves just as dismal as the rest of the cemetery. After she trotted through the maze of graves, she meekly crept up to a pair of graves and plopped down in front of them. She sighed heavily. "Hi mom, Hi dad, I came to see you." She whispered quietly to the graves, a single tear running down her face, "I wanted to tell you about my day. I hung out with Applebloom for a while she's a really good friend and I'm glad I met her and Sweetie Belle. I…I really miss you both." She said as she collapsed sobbing over her parent's graves.

After a little longer she stopped and said one last goodbye before she started trotting back to Ponyville. She walked down the main street past Sugar Cube Corner, then past a few more shops turned then went down an alley between two shops.

She trotted up to a small wooden crate and pulled back the cloth she draped over it as a door before going inside. It's wasn't a very spacious place, just big enough for her and her few belongings. Her scooter and wagon were over in a corner, next to them her bag with her school books. She walked to the center of the crate where a small pillow and her worn blanket lay.

She put her head on the pillow and pulled the blanket over herself. After a few minutes of being curled in her blanket she realized that, like most nights, sleep wasn't going to come easily. She rolled onto her back and looked through the hole in the top of the box at the night sky full of stars and Luna's moon. Suddenly, a flash of light shined as a shooting star streaked across the sky. Scootaloo bowed her head and wished for the one thing she always wished for since her parent's deaths, a Family of her own. She then rolled over onto her side, closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day,

On the outskirts of Ponyville in a cloud house with beautiful rainbow waterfalls stirred a cyan Pegasus with a Rainbow mane she was named for. With a grumble she rolled over and got out of her cloud bed. She shook her head trying to wake up as she she trotted over to her bathroom and took a shower. She walked out looked at herself in the mirror and frowned at her reflection, she then shock herself of the excess water, and flipped her mane bringing it back to its messy normal appearance. She looked back in the mirror and smiled "Perfect" she said to herself as she walked out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen to get some breakfast.

She walked over to the table and grabbed an apple, bringing her thoughts to a certain pony that has been on her mind recently, Applejack. 'Why have I been thinking about her so much? I mean yeah she is pretty awesome. Not near as awesome as me, but what is it about her…' her thoughts starting to form on all the things she loved about Applejack, 'well she has a really cute smile…did I just think that, not awesome, her hay blonde mane, that sweet accent of hers, that hard toned flank'. Her wings suddenly became fully extended as her face turned as red as parts of her mane. 'Well great now I'm having those types of thoughts about her, what has gotten into me?"

She sighed then started eating the apple hoping that if she got rid of it she could get her mind off Applejack. 'The sooner I get flying the sooner it'll be out of my mind' she thought finishing the last of the apple and starting her preflight stretches. She walked up to the door and leaped out spreading her wings, as a familiar rush of adrenaline rushed through her she sored through the air with ease and grace. "Well I guess I should get started clearing the clouds, and then I can take a nap." She said as she kicked some clouds in her way and blasted through the sky, a rainbow following her flight.

Elsewhere at Sweet Apple Acers

Applejack was hard at work in her daily routine of bucking apples; she spun around and delivered another kick to the nearest tree, and down came a cascade of apples. Applebloom quickly ran up and started picking up the apples and putting them into baskets.

"Applebloom what's the hurry they ain't gona wither in just a few minutes" Applejack asked her little sister trotting closer to her.

"Well me and the Girls are gonna go tryn get are cutie marks so ah wanted to get my chores out of the way faster." She answered putting the last of the apples in the baskets.

"We'll all rite y'all can go as soon as you're done with them apples." Applejack said as she walked over to the next tree and bucked it.

"Thanks sis" Applebloom said as she ran to do her next set of chores.

Applejack smiled 'well Ah guess Ah better be getting out and sellin some apples' she thought as she walked in the direction of the barn. She went in and started getting the cart filled up. She got into the harness, and started trotting off toward Ponyville. As she walked through town she greeted every pony she saw with a smile and a howdy knowing most of them by name. She ended up at the center of town, where all the shops and venders were set up, and where all the ponies came to get what they needed. Applejack got out of the harness and started setting up shop.

It was about this time that a certain cyan Pegasus pony flew overhead "Hey Applejack, what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked as she landed in front of the apple stand.

"Oh not much how bout yawl, the weather sure looks nice, your doin a humdinger of a good job there Rainbow." Applejack replied with a smile for her friend.

"Yah thanks, so I've been working on some new moves and I was wondering if your free later so that maybe you would like to…I don't know hang out".

"Sure thing Sugar Cube Ahd love to, as soon as ah get done here at the stand, why don't you meet me on the hill outside the north part of town?"

"Sure sounds awesome, I'll see you then AJ" Rainbow dash said as she jumped up and flew off 'Cool she's going to come watch me strut my stuff…why do I care so much? I should probably go talk to somepony about this, but who' Twilight was her first choice but she quickly dismissed that thought 'she wouldn't know what to do unless it was in a book somewhere.' Rarity 'Nah that's no good either she would probably gossip about it to everypony.' Pinkie Pie? 'Wouldn't be able to understand her, even if she did give me good advice.' so that just left Fluttershy

"Perfect" She yelled out, swiftly changing direction with a twist of her body and headed straight towards Fluttershy's place.

Fluttershy's home was a quaint little house with a grass roof and yellow walls, nestled just outside of the Everfree forest, it's always surrounded by many borrows and nests of all the animals that Fluttershy cares for. Rainbow Dash walked up to the house and lightly knocked on the door.

After a few moments of waiting the door opened slightly and a pale blue eye came into view from the crack in the door.

"Oh Rainbow, how are you doing, is there something I can help you with?" Fluttershy asked opening the door the rest of the way and smiling sweetly.

"Ya about that, do you mind if I come in?" Rainbow replied as she slumped her shoulders with a troubled look on her face.

"Of course, come in" Fluttershy said as she moved out of the way and Rainbow Dash walked into her living room. "Can I get you anything to drink or eat?"

"No thanks I'm good I just…," she said as she sat down on Fluttershy's couch letting out a pent up sigh. "I just really need to get something off my chest, and you're the only pony I can turn to."

"Oh my, is everything ok? Did something happen to you?" Fluttershy blurted out more hurriedly then she usually talked. She quickly sat down next to Rainbow, ready to comfort her.

"Well you see I've been, oh how to say this…having different feeling about one of our friends recently." Rainbow said struggling to find the right words to describe her predicament.

"What type of feelings? Do you not like one of our friends anymore?" Fluttershy asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"No, no actually more of the opposite I guess."

"What do you mean?" she asked with an even more puzzled look on her face. "And which one of our friends are you talking about?"

Rainbow hesitated and then she let out one more pint up sigh and the dam broke. "It's Applejack, the past few days I've been thinking about her nonstop, and no matter where I go or what I look at something always reminds me of her. Fluttershy what wrong with me?" Rainbow said almost in tears with a look of anguish on her face.

Fluttershy squealed happily and quickly drug Rainbow Dash into a soft comforting hug. "Oh Rainbow Don't you see? You're in love with Applejack."

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy with a look of disbelief 'Do I love Applejack? That would explain everything' "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. Fluttershy what do I do now?" Rainbow Dash asked with a worried look on her face.

"Well I suppose you should tell her… if you want to that is, you do want to don't you?" Fluttershy asked meekly removing herself from the hug.

"Are you insane I can't tell her how I feel, what if she doesn't feel the same way about me? What if I tell her and she hates me, I…I can't, I can't do it Fluttershy."

Fluttershy just looked at Rainbow Dash with a look of soft compassion "But what if she feels the same way then you can be together, and you can both be happy." Fluttershy said smiling warmly and fluttering her wings to emphases her point.

Rainbow Dash sat there for a good five minutes before she finally nodded. "Your right I am the Dash I can do this, I'm going to tell her at the hill as soon as she gets there." Rainbow dash said flaring her wings, her confidence returning in a flash. "Thanks Fluttershy I've gotta dash!" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk as she jumped through the window and rocketed toward the spot where she's to meet Applejack.

On The Path to the Hill

Applejack trotted up the path toward the outskirts of Ponyville admiring the early autumn weather, and the beautiful scenery that comes with it. 'Well it sure is a might pretty out today.' Applejack thought as she looked up at trees of all different colors.

'Sure am glad Rainbow wanted me to com'n see her out here, haven't had much time ta spend with her since harvest season started. Ah sure have been missen her a hole heap of a lot…that's strange why have ah been missen Rainbow so much? Ah mean I see her every other day up in the sky clearn the clouds with them majestic strong wings of hers….'

Applejack stopped and shock her head violently 'what the hay, Why am ah thinkin about Rainbow like that? Ah can't be doin that, my barn door don't swing that way. Does it?' Applejack pondered about this for a second, contemplating in complete silence, when she heard a very familiar scratchy voice.

"Hey Applejack, up here" Applejack looked up to where the voice was coming from, and her heart started beating through her chest as she looked, and saw Rainbow Dash hovering just above the ground. The sun setting just behind her mixed with her rainbow colored mane gave her an almost angel-like glow. 'Wow look at her she's…dazzlin.'

"Well Howdy there Rainbow how yawl doin?" Applejack asked with a hint of excitement in her voice to see the cyan pegasus. "Yawl ready to show me your new moves?"

"Yap, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about first." Rainbow said coming to a landing. Rainbow's heart started racing and she started nervously kicking dirt with her front hoofs.

"Sure thing Sugar Cube what do yah need to talk with me about?" Applejack asked as she gave Rainbow a kind smile.

Rainbow Dash let out a pent up breath "Ok here it goes….Applejack I…."

Through her thudding heart Applejack heard something that clicked somewhere in her mind. "Wait Sugar Cube, do you hear that?" Applejack interrupted lifting a hoof to silence Rainbow dash.

Rainbow stopped and listened, after a few seconds of waiting she heard it, it was faint, but it sounded like somepony was crying. Both ponies looked around and noticed the sound was coming from the nearby graveyard.

The two looked at each other with a look of confusion, but after a moment's hesitation Rainbow started trotting toward the graveyard. Applejack watched for a moment and then followed after her friend. The pair trotted slowly through the dismal place, through row after row of faded tombstones. Each with a name and a cutie mark representing the pony buried beneath. They finally came to the source of the crying, a little orange filly with a purple mane.

"Rainbow, is that Scootaloo?" Applejack asked with a worried look on her face.

"Yah it is, but what is she doing here, it's getting late. Why is she not at home?" Rainbow asked her voice full of concern for the young filly.

"Ah don't know, but ah'm gona find out." Applejack said walking slowly up to Scootaloo. "Hey there Sugar Cube, what are ya doin out here so late?"

Scootaloo Looked up and saw Applejack, her ears flattened against her head, and a look of pure horror came over her face.

Biting off more than you can chew

"Scootaloo, what's wrong?" Applejack asked, looking down at the little filly, concern showing in her eyes.

Scootaloo jumped up and started running as fast as her small legs could carry her, tears still streaming down her face as she zigzagged through the maze of tombstones trying to get away.

"Rainbow, get her!" Applejack yelled, trying to keep pace with the fast moving filly.

"On it," Rainbow answered with a salute, before quickly leaping into the air and unfolding her wings. She flew effortlessly after the young filly, quickly gaining on her. It was a lot easier for Rainbow Dash to keep up with her, and after a few more seconds of chasing, Dash dove downwards, tackling the young pegasus to the ground.

Scootaloo struggled, buzzing her wings to try and get away from Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow Dash just gripped the little filly in her hooves tighter. Eventually the filly gave up and laid there looking up at her idol, her ears flattened against her head and she looked down knowing that she was caught.

"Scootaloo, what is going on? Why are you running away from me and Applejack?" Rainbow asked, a mixture of concern and annoyance in her voice.

Applejack trotted up next to Rainbow and looked down at the scared filly.

"It's okay, we're not gonna hurt you, but you need to tell us what's goin' on. It's gettin' late... why aren't you home with your family?" Applejack asked, sitting down next to Rainbow dash.

The words seemed to strike Scootaloo, almost like a physical blow. She glanced at Applejack, then at Dash, who let go of Scoots so that she could get up. She sat down in front of the two, not willing to make eye contact, her front hoof playing with the dirt as a nervous tension fell over them. After a few more seconds, Scootaloo relented. "I…I can't go home."

"Why not, is something wrong? Do I have to go have a talk with your parents?" Rainbow asked, unfolding her wings ready to snap into action.

"NO! No it's not that…I can't go home because…Because I don't have one," Scootaloo said, her head dropping, not wanting to see the look the two older mares were giving her.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other, sharing a look of surprise and confusion. "What do you mean you can't go home, and where are your parents?" Rainbow Dash asked, before stepping closer to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo let out a sigh and started trotting back to where the two mares had found her. Rainbow Dash and Applejack gave each other a look of apprehension before trotting after her. After a few moments, the bright orange filly came to a stop and pointed with her hoof at a pair of graves.

The graves looked no different than any other, each with a cutie mark, and a few words about the deceased ponies. One had a sun peeking out of a cloud, the other a hammer and screwdriver crossed together.

Rainbow and Applejack both let out a gasp as it finally dawned on both of them. Scootaloo was an orphan. Both mares stood, their mouths agape, trying to swallow this new information that bombarded them. After a few more seconds, Rainbow Dash ran over and put her front legs around her number one fan, and held her tightly in a comforting hug.

"Oh my gosh Scoots, why didn't you tell anypony about this?" Rainbow asked as she looked down at her number one fan, fighting back the tears that were trying to force their way out. She couldn't get sappy in front of Applejack, no matter how heart wrenching this was.

Scootaloo refused to make eye contact. She kept her eyes locked on the ground, thinking about what to say. She looked up at Rainbow Dash, and with a voice filled with sorrow replied, "Why should I? So that I can get dragged back to an orphanage far away, away from Ponyville, my friends, my school... besides, nopony would want me. I'm a pegasus that can't fly, I don't have a cutie mark, and I have no worthwhile talent. Why would anypony want to adopt me?"

"NO!" Rainbow exclaimed, flaring her wings for emphasis. Scootaloo jumped, looked into Rainbow's eyes shaking. "You are not worthless, you are a very special little pony, and somepony does care about you… I do," Rainbow said bending down and nuzzling her affectionately.

"You…you do?" Scootaloo said, her mouth dropping open in disbelief.

"That's right, and ah do too," Applejack said as she trotted over and nuzzled Scootaloo, giving her one of her trademark country smiles.

"You both really care about me?" Scootaloo asked in a dazed voice, looking from one to the other.

"Sure we do, not only both of us, but you also have the rest of the gang, and you have two of the coolest friends to back you up," Rainbow said her cocky smile on her face. "But squirt, how long have you been on your own, and what happened to your parents?"

Scootaloo tensed up suddenly and looked down. Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other, and then back down at the purple manned filly, whose newfound delight had seemingly evaporated.

"It's okay sugar cube, yah don't need to feel forced to tell us if you don't want to," Applejack said, trying to comfort her, sensing that she had probably hit a sensitive topic.

"I guess I would have to tell somepony sooner or later," Scootaloo said, looking up at the two older ponies. "Well... I suppose it all started when I was born. My mom's name was Sun Ray, she was a pegasus like me. She had an orange coat and a blazing red mane."

"Wait... Sun Ray... as in the Wonder Bolt 'Sun Ray'...? Your mom was a Wonder Bolt?" Rainbow exclaimed, looking down at Scootaloo. The small filly nodded as Rainbow continued enthusiastically. She was clearly a big fan of this Sun Ray pony... Applejack couldn't help but feel the teeniest, tiniest bit jealous of the rainbow manned pegasus's infatuation.

"She was one of the greatest and most daring fliers in all of Wonder Bolt history! Like oh my gosh Applejack! She had this one move called the Blaze of Glory; it's what I based my Buccaneer Blitz on. She was the coolest Wonder Bolt ever, until…the accident." Rainbow trailed off as she looked down at Scootaloo, realizing what that meant to the little filly.

"So what happened in the accident?" Applejack asked. Seeing as she had zero interest in those flying showstoppers, being an earth pony and all, it wasn't surprising to the two pegasi that she didn't know about the horrible accident. She glanced down to look at Scootaloo, putting a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.

"Well, a few years after I was born, she was doing a show, trying out a new stunt. She was performing some high-speed loops, and the air pressure was too much. One of her wings broke, and she crash landed going at terminal velocity." Scootaloo rushed through the description, stopping as new tears started forming at the corners of her eyes.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack both leaned down and gave Scootaloo a comforting nuzzle, giving her the strength to go on.

"After the crash, they rushed my mom to the hospital as fast as possible, but her injuries were too severe. She died only a few hours after the crash. I was at home with dad; he had a shop at home that he worked at. He was a 'fix-it' pony; my dad could fix or repair anything that a pony would bring to him. But when we got the news that Mommy was dead… something changed in him. Everypony was really nice at first, there were hundreds of ponies that came and gave their condolences, but after a while... nopony really cared anymore."

"Well that's just awful, how could they not care anymore. Shoot, yah even told us she was a Wonder Bolt. Why would them ponies stop carin'?" Applejack asked, stomping her hoof on the ground in irritation.

"It was probably the media. They're just looking for the next big thing so that they can make the most bits," Rainbow Dash remarked, rolling her eyes as she crossed her front legs over her chest.

"Well that still don't make it right," Applejack retorted with a huff. "Ah'm sorry, Scootaloo. Please, keep on goin'."

Scootaloo nodded, and after a few moments of clearing her thoughts, she continued where she left off. "After that, Daddy just seemed to give up. I guess Mommy's death was too hard for him to accept; he would stay out all night, and would smell really bad when he got home in the morning. Then about a year ago I got home from school, and I went inside and he was just lying there on the floor. When I saw him there I panicked, and ran outside trying to find somepony to help, but Daddy was already dead. So after the funeral they took me to an orphanage in Canterlot. Every day all the other ponies would make fun of me because I didn't know how to fly. So I ran away, came across Ponyville, and I've been here on my own ever since. Nopony even came to look for me."

"That's just awful; no wonder yah went and ran off. So Scootaloo... how long has it been since y'all ran away from the orphanage?" Applejack asked, a curious and concerned look etched across her face.

Scootaloo paused and thought about it for a few minutes before answering. "... I guess it's been about six months now..."

"Wait, Scoots... you've been out on your own for six months? Where have you been living?" Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Well I've been living in a wooden crate between two shops downtown... But its fine I'm doing okay you both don't have to worry about me," Scootaloo rushed again, hurriedly waving a hoof as an attempt to brush the subject off.

Both Rainbow and Applejack's mouths dropped open in shock. They both stood there, just staring at her. "How could such a young filly survive that long by herself...I've got to do something!" Rainbow Dash thought to herself.

"Scoots, you can't keep living all alone in some crate," Rainbow said, looking down at Scootaloo with a stern look on her face. Scootaloo looked down in pity, knowing what was coming next. Or so she thought.

"So, that's why you'll be staying with me," Rainbow Dash announced in a prideful tone.

Scootaloo's head shot up in surprise, she stared at Rainbow Dash, her delight instantly returning. "Really, you mean it?" Scootaloo asked, her wings buzzing in excitement.

"Yap, I sure do!" Rainbow Dash said with a smile.

Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash just as surprised as Scootaloo. "Uh, Rainbow, could ah speak with you for a minute?" Applejack asked, tilting her head to a random spot a few yards away.

"Sure thing," Rainbow Dash said trotting over near to the spot Applejack had motioned to. "So what's up, is there something wrong?" she asked, stopping in front of Applejack.

"Rainbow, are you sure about takin' in Scootaloo?" Applejack asked, giving Rainbow a worried look.

"Of course I'm sure, why wouldn't I be?" Rainbow Dash responded, raising an eyebrow in a question.

"Rainbow, you know that takin' care of a filly is a lot of hard work, and it takes a whole heap of responsibility."

"Yeah so? You think I'm not responsible enough?" Dash slit her eyes competitively at her 'opponent,' taking her statement as a challenge rather than heartfelt worries, for both Rainbow and Scoot.

"No, but what ah do think is that y'all are bitin' off more than yah can chew. Y'all've never raised a filly before, and ah don't think you're prepared for it. Besides, how yah gonna support her? Y'all hardly make enough bits fer yerself as it is."

"I'll manage, it can't be that bad," Rainbow replied, coolly brushing aside Applejack's observation.

"Maybe, but why couldn't she come live at the farm, we've got plenty of room, and one more mouth to feed wouldn't hurt Granny none."

"You really don't think I can handle this, do you," Rainbow Dash retorted icily, glaring at Applejack. It hurt Dash to know that AJ couldn't trust her, making her look bad when she was trying to be a mature adult. This was ironic considering she was arguing like a filly. "Well I'll show you that I can do this with no problem!" Rainbow yelled, her competitive nature causing her temper to get the best of her.

Applejack took a pace back from the force of Rainbow's reply. "Well alright, if you think you can, than ah will support you in this, but if yah need any help just let me know," Applejack said, trying to sound as reasonable as possible, despite how the pegasus in front of her was acting.

Rainbow looked at Applejack and realized she may have been out of line. "I'm sorry AJ; I've just been having a lot of stress recently," Rainbow Dash responded, her thoughts drifting back to her recent discovery of the feelings she had for the mare in front of her.

"It's alright, is that what you wanted to talk with me about tonight?" Applejack asked, tilting her head and smiling kindly at her friend.

"Yeah, sorry. Things kind of got... interrupted," Rainbow said, as she glanced over at Scootaloo with a grin. Who, for her part, was sitting and waiting for the two mares to finish their conversation.

"It's alright Sugar Cube. Any time you need to talk, yah know ah'm there for yah," Applejack said as she crossed her front hoofs.

"Yeah, and that's one of the many things I love about you Applejack," Rainbow Dash said, smiling at the small filly that waved at her.

Applejack's eyes shot open in surprise. "Uh, Rainbow, what did you just say?" Applejack asked, tilting her head.

Rainbow Dash's eyes rivaled Applejack's in size, as she realized that she had just said what she was thinking out loud. "Uh…nothing, well I better get going it's getting late and uh I've got to get Scoots settled in umm bye Applejack," Rainbow Dash hurriedly responded, almost as quickly as she flew over, and picked up Scootaloo. "You ready Scoots?" Rainbow asked, looking down at her passenger.

Scootaloo nodded and Rainbow flew off back to Ponyville. Leaving a very stunned and confused Applejack still standing where Dash had left her. "Did she say she loves me?" Applejack said to no one in particular. Her head started swimming with thoughts of Rainbow Dash, and her face became as red as the apples on her flank.

She immediately started galloping toward Ponyville. It was just after dark, so most ponies were already in their home getting ready to go to sleep. That fact did little to hinder Applejack's pace as she thundered down the town, and right up to a carousal shaped building. She went to the front door and started hammering away with her hoof.

After a few minutes a blue light glowed around the door, opening it and revealing a disheveled white unicorn on the other side.

Rarity looked at Applejack and let out a gasp. "Applejack, darling what happened? You look simply dreadful!" Rarity said, a look of worry for her friend on her face.

"Rarity, ah… ah think ah'm in love with Rainbow."

Chapter 3- Just a Normal Earth Pony

Rarity's eyes widened in surprise as the full weight of what Applejack had said ran its way through her frazzled mind. "Oh my stars, please Applejack, come in and explain what exactly brought about this…revelation about Rainbow Dash," Rarity said, ushering the other mare into her shop.

Applejack walked into the shop and took a seat on one of Rarity's many soft coaches. She looked pained, trying to find the right words to explain how this had all come about. "Well ah don't rightly know when I started having these feelings for Rainbow." Applejack looked down, a dejected look marring her features.

Rarity quickly trotted over to the couch across from Applejack and sat down. "It's alright darling, just take your time," Rarity said as she smiled, and put a reassuring hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Maybe you should just start with what happened with her today?"

Applejack looked up and gave Rarity a weak smile. "Alright, that sounds like a good enough place to start. Well the day started like every other day, Big Mac and ah was apple buckin' while Applebloom was pickin' up the fruit. After Applebloom got done she asked if she could go crusadin' with your sister and Scootaloo."

Rarity nodded and said, "Yes I remember that, I was watching Sweetie, and she asked if she could go with the girls around one in the afternoon. I had nothing for her to do and I have several orders to complete so I told her to go on." Rarity rubbed under her chin recalling the scene. "So then what happened?" Rarity asked, bidding Applejack to go on.

"Well then ah got the cart and went out to the market to sell some apples like ah always do. Then a few minutes after ah got all set up Rainbow showed up and we started talkin', and she asked if ah could hang out and watch some of her new moves. Ah told her that ah would meet her up on the hill north of town, after ah got done sell the apples. Then she flew off, and ah started thinkin' about her."

"What type of thoughts were you having about Rainbow Dash?" Rarity interrupted, giving Applejack a questioning glance as she sensed that they were starting to get somewhere.

Applejack's checks reddened a little in embarrassment as she recalled the thoughts she had been having about Rainbow Dash. "Well ah mostly thought about how pretty and graceful she is, flyin' around in all them amazing patterns like she does." She stopped as she noticed that Rarity had a smile on her face threatening to split it in two. "Uh Rarity, why are y'all lookin' at me like that?"

"Oh darling I just think it's so marvelous how romantically you think about Rainbow Dash," Rarity said, gazing dreamily at the other pony. Maybe she should be gazing out into space? If she's gazing at Applejack, the implication is that

"Whoa there nelly, ah haven't even figured out if I love Rainbow, or if my barn door even swings that way," Applejack said loudly as her face turned as red as the apples on her flank.

"But Applejack, it's oh so obvious that you're in love with her. As a matter of fact I'm surprised I didn't see it sooner. All those times that you two would get into scuffles, or would fight about something trivial now makes so much more sense," Rarity said as she warmed to her theme.

Applejack was taken aback by this. "Is it really so obvious? Do ah really love Rainbow? Ah mean she is the most beautiful mare ah've ever seen, and she's really fun to be around, she's loyal, strong, always pushin' me to be my best…" Applejack thought to herself as she started to smile, as the image of Rainbow Dash, flashing that cocky grin of hers and hovering just above the ground, made its way through her mind's eye.

She was quickly brought out of it by a sudden squeal of delight from Rarity. "Oh I bet you're thinking about her right now aren't you?" Rarity said in more of a statement then a question as she clapped her front hooves together in glee.

Applejack's checks darkened even more as she realized Rarity had found her out.

After a little longer Rarity calmed down and gave Applejack a puzzled look. "Even though, so far this doesn't explain why you came here in such a hurry, so please continue, and I shall try to refrain from interrupting you further," Rarity said her face becoming serious.

"Alright where was ah?" Applejack asked herself, finally becoming able to bring her emotions under control.

"The market."

"Yeah that's right, well nothin' really intresin' happened after Rainbow left. It was a pretty normal day at the market as far as ah reckon," Applejack said waving a hoof. "So I took the cart back to the farm and started off to the hill to meet Rainbow. It was around seven so the sun was startin' to set. Then ah started having more of them thoughts about how majestic Rainbow looks when she's flyin'. Then ah heard Rainbow, and I looked up…and the sun was settin' behind her just right, and it just seemed to make her glow."

Rarity raised an eyebrow and gave Applejack a smile that said "I told you so."

Applejack ignored Rarity and continued, "So ah walked up to her and we started talkin', and she was about to tell me somethin' important, but then ah heard somethen', and ah stopped her. We listened for a bit and we both realized that it was somepony cryin'."

"Crying?" Rarity interrupted, a confused look on her face, "Who was crying out near the hill?"

"That's just what Rainbow Dash and ah was wonderin' when we heard it. So we looked around and realized it was coming from the graveyard. We both looked at each other then we went in to find out who was cryin', and when we got there we found Scootaloo."

"Scootaloo, what was she doing out there at that hour? Shouldn't she be at home with her family?" Rarity asked, surprise heavy in her voice.

"That's exactly what Rainbow and ah thought. After talkin' about it for a few minutes I decided ah was gonna go and talk to her, but when I walked up and asked her what she was doin' she got scared, and took off runnin' as fast as she could. So Rainbow and ah went after her, Rainbow caught her pretty easily and we asked her why she was runnin' from us and why she wasn't at home. She took a while to answer, but she told us she couldn't go home."

"Why couldn't she go home?" Rarity asked a puzzled look returning to her face.

"That's what I asked her, but when ah did she didn't say anything, she just led us back to the spot where we found her and she pointed to a pair of graves…her parent's graves."

Rarity's eyes opened wide as she let out a gasp. "Oh my goodness, you mean to say that little Scootaloo is an orphan?" Applejack sadly nodded her head in reply. "How long has she been alone, and where has she been living?" Rarity asked, quickly pressing Applejack for information.

"Well, her mom died a few years back, and she said her dad died about a year ago. She also said that she ran away from the orphanage in Canterlot, and came back here six months ago, and as for where she's been livin', she told us that she's been livin' in a create between some shops downtown," Applejack said, recalling the sad place that her and Rarity's sisters' best friend lived.

Rarity raised a hoof up to her lips as she gasped again, almost in tears. "Oh that poor little girl filly, how could I not have noticed something was wrong? Applejack, where is she now? Don't tell me you just left her there," Rarity said, giving Applejack a worried look.

"Course not; Rainbow said that she would take her in," Applejack said as she waved a hoof to try and dispel the worry that seemed to be radiating off of Rarity.

"Rainbow Dash. You left her with Rainbow Dash. Applejack, surely you know that Rainbow has never taken care of a filly before. I mean it's so much responsibility, are you sure that this was a good idea?" Rarity declared, a slight heat in her voice.

"Well no, ah don't think it's such a good idea. As a matter of fact ah pulled her aside, and told her somethin' along the same lines, but when ah told her that she got real defensive. She thought I was tellin' her that she wasn't good enough, and thought I was challengin' her," Applejack said more tentatively than she had been, as though she was approaching a touchy subject. "Ah told her that wasn't what ah meant by it, and that I would support her in this decision, and if she needed any help all she had to do was come and ask. She calmed down after that, and apologized for goin' out a line…and that's when she said somethin' real strange," Applejack recalled as she tapped her hoof against her chin thoughtfully.

Rarity raised an elegant eyebrow in question and asked, "What do you mean strange?"

Applejack blushed, and suddenly found something on the floor very interesting as she looked down at it for a few minutes. Finally she looked up and noticed Rarity was still staring at her and was waiting for an answer. After a few more seconds she relented. "Well after I told her she could always come and talk to me…she said that was one of the many things she loved about me."

Applejack was quickly interrupted by a squeal of excitement from Rarity. "Oh Applejack, this is just wonderful, it's just like one of those love novels that I read a few months ago!" Rarity exclaimed, clapping her hooves together in delight at this turn in their conversation.

"What do yah mean?" Applejack asked, a slight hint of melancholy in her voice.

Rarity paused, suddenly noticing the change in Applejack's mood. "Well you love Rainbow Dash, and it's obvious that she loves you back…"

"Rarity, that don't prove nothin'," Applejack interrupted, "Besides, why would Rainbow love me? Ah'm just a normal, simple, earth pony whose dream is workin' on an apple farm for the rest of my life, and she's a pegasus, that's trainin' to join the Wonderbolts. There's just no way that she would fall in love with me. Ah'd be tyin' her down, and ah…ah just can't do that to her," Applejack said as she started to fight back the tears forcing their way through her closed eyes.

Rarity quickly got up and trotted over to Applejack, and put her in a kind caring hug. "Oh Applejack, I'm so sorry, I had no idea you felt this way."

"Ah know yah didn't," Applejack said sniffling back long held back tears. "Oh Rarity ah've felt like this ever since her and ah ran together in White Tale Woods. But every time ah've thought about it, ah kept thinkin' bout how ah would be getin' in the way of her dream, and ah decided that…ah just couldn't do that," Applejack said as she cried into Rarity.

"But Applejack, it's not fair to you, or your feelings to keep hiding them like this," Rarity said as she gently nuzzled against Applejack trying to help comfort her. "Besides, if you and Rainbow Dash really do love each other then you'll find a way. You both are smart ponies, and I'm sure that you could work something out," Rarity said giving Applejack a reassuring smile.

Applejack wiped the last of her tears away with a hoof, and smiled back at Rarity. "Thanks Rarity, ah needed that."

"It's no trouble at all Applejack, do you need anything else? I could make some tea, or get you something to eat," Rarity said as she let go of Applejack, and started trotting off toward the kitchen.

"Nah that's alright ah'm fine; besides, ah better be gettin' back to the farm. It's gettin' late, and I have a lot of work tomorrow," Applejack said as she got up off the couch and started trotting to the door.

"I suppose, but just remember if you ever need a friend to talk to don't hesitate to ask," Rarity said as she opened the door with her magic.

"Thanks again Rarity and ah will," Applejack said, giving Rarity one last wave good bye before trotting off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

She didn't run into anypony else, most of them being at home asleep by now. All she had was the soft sound of her hooves against the ground and the soft breeze running through the trees. After a few more minutes of walking she made it home. Careful not to wake the rest of the family she quietly trotted through the front door, up the stairs and into her room. Once there she put her trusty Stetson on one of the bedposts, and crawled into bed.

Before she drifted off to sleep she took one last look out her window, seeing Rainbow Dash's house in the distance she smiled.

"Ah sure hope her and Scootaloo are havin' a good first night together," she said quietly to herself. She rolled over, and started breathing evenly as sleep overtook her, her dreams filled with rainbows

A Night with Rainbow Dash

Little did Applejack know that the exact opposite was happening with Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash's first night together.

The night started off great; Rainbow Dash took Scootaloo back to her box to pick up her stuff, and then took her to the most awesome house in all of Equestria…Hers .

"Well Scoots here we are, so what do you think?" Rainbow Dash asked the little filly on her back, pride radiating from her voice as she landed on the cloud step in front of her porch.

Scootaloo's mouth hung open as she took in the sight before her. She had seen Rainbow Dash's house from the ground, but in the sky it was a whole new experience. The clouds were perfectly sculpted into columns, with waterfalls the colors of the rainbow running down the side. After a few more seconds of taking it all in there was only one word that Scootaloo could think of to describe it. "This is awesome!" Scootaloo exclaimed as her wings buzzed in excitement.

Rainbow Dash smiled and ruffled the little filly's mane. "Well I'm glad to hear that. You ready to go inside and make yourself at home?" Rainbow Dash asked as she reached her front hoof out and opened the front door.

Scootaloo nodded her head frantically at the invitation, and trotted inside. Her eyes grew wide as she took in the sights around her. All and all it was a pretty normal house, at least as normal as a house made out of clouds can be. There were a few pictures on the walls, mostly of Rainbow Dash doing something with her friends, or of her performing a death defying stunt. There were also some trophies and other awards Rainbow had won from competitions like the best young fliers competition. As well as some miscellaneous Wonder Bolt collectables.

To Rainbow Dash all of these things were normal almost mundane, but to Scootaloo these where the coolest things in all of Equestria. Then Scootaloo's expression changed from one of excitement to confusion as she looked down at the strange feeling coming from beneth her hooves. She gasped, because for the first time she realized that she was standing on a cloud.

"Is this your first time on a cloud scoots?" Rainbow Dash asked as she trotted up next to the little filly.

Scootaloo looked up at her idol and nodded. She then jumped up and down a few times, enjoying the feeling of the soft fluffiness of the clouds beneath her hooves. After she got comfortable with how the clouds felt she started jumping around Rainbow Dash, all thoughts of her sadness from being alone long gone.

"Yeah it is pretty awesome isn't it?" Rainbow Dash said watching the little filly having the time of her life. "Hey squirt come on, I'll show you to your room."

"I…I get my own room?" Scootaloo asked as she stopped in front of Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah of course you do squirt." Rainbow Dash said as she trotted toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

Scootaloo smiled and started trotting after Rainbow Dash. They made their way up the winding stair case to the second floor of the cloud house. The second floor was much smaller than the first floor. The second floor was mostly just a long, wide hallway with four doors, two on each side of the hall. Rainbow Dash stopped in front of the first door and waved a hoof in its direction.

"This is my room, over there is the bathroom." Rainbow Dash said pointing at the door on the same side of the hall as her room. "And over here" Rainbow said as she opened the door to the room just opposite her own "will be your room."

Scootaloo tentatively trotted inside and looked around the room. It was plain compared to the rest of the house, with only a bed and a small desk in the corner, but to Scootaloo it was the best room ever. Scootaloo grinned widely, and ran up to the bed. She jumped up on to it and started bouncing up and down while laughing with glee.

"So what do you think Scoots?" Rainbow Dash asked as she leaned against the doorframe.

"It's great Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said as she jumped of the bed.

"Good I'm glad you like it scoots. Well it's getting late, and you have school tomorrow so you should probably be going to bed."

"Ah, but Rainbow Dash I'm not even tired yet." Scootaloo wined as her wings drooped at her sides.

Rainbow Dash was somewhat taken aback by Scootaloo's response. She wasn't used to dealing with kids let alone having to take care of one. "Well I think it's time for you to go to bed. Why don't you go ahead and get into bed and I'll tuck you in" Rainbow said with a little bit more force.

"But Rainbow Dash, I usually don't go to bed for another hour at least." Scootaloo pleaded.

"No buts, this is my house and these are my rules. So it's time for you to go to bed." Rainbow Dash said stomping her hoof down to emphasize the point.

"Alright I'll go to bed…If you can catch me!" Scootaloo said before she dived quickly between Rainbow Dash's legs.

"Hey get back here!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she spun around and gave chase after the little filly.

While Rainbow Dash was the best young flier in Equestria, and arguably the fastest flier in all of Equestria as well, that generally took place in the open sky with little to no obstacles. Not in a confined space like her own house, where it turns out Scootaloo being smaller had the advantage. Which Rainbow Dash quickly found out.

Scootaloo ran back down the stairs as fast as her short legs could carry her, laughing loudly as she did. Rainbow Dash made it to the top or the stairs about at the same time that Scootaloo made it to the bottom. Rainbow unfurled her wings, and flew down the stairs, making up a lot of ground on her young adversary. When Rainbow got to the bottom of the stairs she looked around and saw Scootaloo running towards the kitchen.

"I've got you now squirt." Rainbow yelled in triumph as she took flight once again and flew towards her kitchen.

Scootaloo looked back at the older mare and gave her a sly grin, before she swiftly bucked the door shut.

Rainbow Dash tried to stop at the last minute, but she was going too fast, and she collided with the door making a small thud. Rainbow Dash shook her head, and leapt to her hooves. She kicked the door open with her front hoof and trotted inside. She looked around not seeing any sign of Scootaloo.

"I know you're in her Squirt." Rainbow Dash said as she paced around the room. "There is only one door in and out of this room so you have to be hiding somewhere." Rainbow said as she peaked under the table and looked through some of the lower cabinets. Finally she caught a glimpse of purple protruding from one of her upper shelves. She quietly crept up to the door and threw it open "Aha I've got you now…" Her irises shrunk when she saw Scootaloo with two open bags of flower on each side of her, and her wings open ready to flap.

Scootaloo wasted no time in flapping her wings vigorously, sending two massive clouds of flour bellowing out of the cabinet, covering Rainbow Dash and most of her kitchen in the white powder. Before the dust settled Scootaloo jumped out of the cabinet on to the floor and ran out of the kitchen laughing as she went.

"You can't catch me that easily." Scootaloo called as she made her way through Rainbow Dash's massive living room.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and let out a groan as she looked around her kitchen. She opened her wings and flapped them once, removing most of the flour from her fur. She then galloped into the living room and looked around for Scootaloo.

She once again caught a glimpse of Scootaloo heading back up the stairs. "Oh no you don't." Rainbow yelled as she flew at full speed up the stairs and into the hallway. She quickly looked around and noticed that the door to her room was open. Rainbow Dash smiled and easily trotted into her bedroom and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place, but she was once bitten twice shy. She first opened her closet and dove to the side, and put her hooves over her head to protect her from anything that might be thrown her way. After nothing came she lifted her hooves up and looked in the closet, "Empty" She thought to herself as she looked around her room. She checked under the bed, under her desk, even in her dresser, but there was no sign of Scootaloo.

"Where could that little filly have gone?" She asked to herself as she tapped her chin in thought. Then her ears perked up when she started to hear what sounded like running water coming from the direction of her bathroom. "She must be in the Bathroom." Rainbow thought as she grinned with delight.

Rainbow Dash poked her head out of her room and noticed that further down the hall the door to the bathroom was open, just enough for the little filly to get through. Rainbow's smile grew as she eased her way out of her room and down the hall. When she was about ten feet away from the door she lifted her wing and flapped it hard opening the door the rest of the way.

She quickly galloped in and yelled "I've got you this time…AH!" She yelped in fright as her hooves went from being on her normal cloud floor, to the very slick, soaped up linoleum floor of her bathroom. She tried to stop herself but her momentum carried her down the soapy path straight toward her bathtub. She spun around trying in a last ditch effort to stop herself, but it was too late her back legs hit the edge of the tub, and her momentum carried her over the edge and into the almost full tub.

A few seconds later she rose half way out of the water and spit a stream of water out of her mouth back into the tub. Scootaloo seeing all of this from the other side of the room burst into uncontrollable laughter. She started laughing so hard that she fell over and started rolling around on the soapy floor.

Rainbow humphed as she gazed at the young filly laughing at her, then an evil grin spread across Rainbow's face as a thought accrued to her. "That was pretty good Scoots, but you know I think I see a little filly," Rainbow paused as she suddenly leapt out of the tub and flew over to Scootaloo. "Who needs a bath." Rainbow finished as she put her right wing under Scootaloo and flipped her into the bath tub.

Scootaloo Screamed in surprise as she hit the water. She surfaced and let in a lung full of air, but before she could get out she felt a hoof grab her as a soaped up brush started being pulled roughly through her mane.

"Here we go, and a little more up her, and done." Rainbow dash said as she finished scrubbing out Scootaloo's mane, and reached up and grabbed a towel of the rack and started drying herself off

Scootaloo groaned a little but smiled as she got out of the tub, and grabbed the towel that Rainbow Dash had just finished using, and dried herself off.

"Alright Scoots I caught you, now it's time for bed." Rainbow said with a voice that headed no argument.

"Ok Rainbow Dash I'll go to bed." Scootaloo agreed as the two carefully made their way around the soap on the floor and back into Scootaloo's room. Scootaloo quickly hopped into bed and lay down on the comfy cloud mattress.

Rainbow Dash grabbed a blanket out of the closet with her teeth, and threw it onto the bed and pulled it up around Scootaloo. The blanket was covered in clouds with lightning bolts. Similar to the shape of Rainbow's own cute mark

"Well alright, good night squirt I'll see yah in the morning." Rainbow Dash said as she turned around and started for the door.

"Wait, what about a bedtime story?" Scootaloo asked in a sad pleading voice.

Rainbow turned and looked at Scootaloo with a puzzled expression on her face. Scootaloo returned the look with big eyes and her bottom lip pushed out as far as it would go.

Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh. "Fine let me go get one of my books." Rainbow said as she trotted back to her room. She trotted up to her desk and grabbed one of the Daring Do books that she had borrowed from Twilight, and cantered back into Scootaloo's room.

Rainbow Dash pulled up the chair in front of the desk and sat it down next to Scootaloo's bed. She sat down and opened up the book. She looked at Scootaloo and smiled. "You're in for a treat tonight. This is one of the Daring Do books. They are almost as awesome as me." Rainbow dash said as she opened the book and flipped to the beginning.

Scootaloo smiled expectantly as Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "Daring Do and the Treasure of the lost city of Ponyequa." Rainbow Dash said as she started reading the book. "Chapter one, Daring Do was making her way through the dense Jungle trying to locate the ancient runes of the lost city…"

Fifteen minutes later

"Then Suddenly a Puma leapt from a tree and tried to get Daring Do, but she was too fast, and she quickly galloped in the direction of the runes. She made it to the runes but it was a dead end. As she looked up at the wall in front of her in anger she heard a noise coming from behind her. She quickly turned around and saw the Puma gazing at her. Hunger in its eyes as it started to pace in front of her closing in to make sure there was no escape… Well that's the end of Chapter 1." Rainbow said as she looked from the book up to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo was setting up on the edge of the bed, and gave Rainbow a baleful look. "What happens next? Come on Rainbow keep reading I want to find out what happens to Daring Do." Scootaloo pleaded as she clasped her hooves together.

But Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Sorry scoots you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow." Rainbow Dash said as she marked the page and closed the book. "Besides it's time for you to go to sleep."

Scootaloo yawned and lay back onto the bed. "Alright Rainbow Dash I'll go to bed."

Rainbow smiled and got up out of the chair and put it back at the desk. "Good. well good Night Scootaloo I'll see you in the morning." Rainbow said as she trotted to the door and turned off the light.

"Good Night Rainbow Dash" Scootaloo replied as she rolled over and pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

Rainbow Dash looked at the little filly and frowned a little "Is this how it is to take care of somepony? Wow this is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Can I really do this, can I really take care of her? Maybe Applejack was right maybe I don't have what it takes? What if I can't take care of her, or raise her right? Is it even worth trying?" Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she continued to look in on the little filly.

Scootaloo stirred a little in between consciousness and sleep, and in a soft voice she said. "Thank you Rainbow Dash, I love you."

Rainbow Dash gasped slightly, and was taken aback by the heart felt words of the little filly that was thrown into her charge. She stood there in silence for a moment then she felt a fluttering in her chest and she smiled warmly. "Yeah it's defiantly worth it." She said to herself as she quietly closed the door and went over to the bathroom and looked inside.

"Wow this is going to take a while to clean." She said out loud as she looked at the huge mess Scootaloo had made of it. "Oh Well I'll Clean it up tomorrow, but as for tonight I have to go and find out what happened to Daring Do."

She closed the Bathroom door and trotted to her room. She went in and trotted up to her bed and flopped down into it. She turned onto her back, and looked at her desk stacked high with copies of the Daring Do books. She grabbed the one off the top of the stack and started to open it, when she noticed the picture she kept on her desk of Applejack and her after the running of the leaves.

She placed a hoof on the picture and smiled as the fluttering in her chest started again. "I forgot to tell her today." She said as she moved her hoof from the picture. "Oh well, guess I'll just do it tomorrow." Rainbow Dash said as she opened up the book and started reading. She kept reading well into the night until she two fell into a deep sleep, and started dreaming about a certain orange cowpony with the cutest freckles in all of Equestria.

Chapter 5 –What do I do now?

The Next Morning

"Come on Rainbow Dash Wake up, I don't want to be late for school." Scootaloo said as she tugged on Rainbow Dash's tail.

"Ugh…can I sleep for just five more minutes?" Rainbow Dash groggily asked as she turned over in her bed.

"But Rainbow Dash, School starts in ten minutes, and if I'm late again I'll get in trouble." Scootaloo pleaded as she pulled on Rainbow Dash's tail harder.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and turned back over to look at Scootaloo. "Fine, I'm up just give me a sec." Rainbow Dash said as she threw the cover off with her wings, and crawled out of bed. Once she was up she yawned loudly and then proceeded to start stretching.

Scootaloo looked on in silent anticipation, hoping from one hoof to the other. "Rainbow Dash hurry up, I can't be late for school."

"Hey Scoots don't worry about it. I can get you to school in ten seconds flat." Rainbow Dash boasted as she puffed out her chest.

Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash doubtfully "But my school is on the other side of town."

"So what if it's on the other side of town? That doesn't matter; here I'll prove it hop up on my back." Rainbow Dash said as she bent down for Scootaloo to get on. Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders and hopped up on Rainbow Dash's back and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash. "All set Scoots?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked back at her little passenger.

Scootaloo gave a nod and griped Rainbow tighter with her hooves.

"Alright here we go."

On the road to school

"So Scootaloo is an orphan, and she's livin' with Rainbow Dash?" Apple Bloom asked as she trotted next to her sister on the way to school.

"Yeah that's about the size of it." Applejack responded as she trotted along the path. After a few more steeps and going around the last bend they came into view of Apple Bloom's school.

"Hey sis ah don't see Scootaloo, or Rainbow Dash." Apple Bloom said as she glanced around the school yard.

"Oh ah'm sure they'll be here any minute." Applejack said looking around. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of something approaching at an alarming rate. She put her right front hoof on her hat and held on tight.

Rainbow Dash nosed down and started plummeting towards the ground at blinding speed, but just before hitting the ground she nosed up, slowed down, and gracefully flapped her wings slowly as she drifted to the ground.

"See what did I say squirt, ten seconds flat." Rainbow Dash said pride radiating from her voice.

Scootaloo jumped off of Rainbow's back and smiled up at her. "That was awesome; you were right Rainbow Dash it only took ten seconds!" Scootaloo exclaimed bubbling with excitement. She then noticed that her mane felt strange. When she looked up she saw that it was thrown back from the force of the wind.

Rainbow Dash chuckled and said. "Here let me help you with that." As she reached up and ruffled Scootaloo's mane back into its normal shape.

"Yah see, ah told yah that they'd be here any minute." Applejack said as her and Apple Bloom walked up to the two pegasi.

"Oh, hey Applejack what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked noticing her friend approaching.

"Oh not much just droppin' Apple Bloom off fir school. Speakin' of which you two should probably get goin', yah don't want to be late." Applejack said waving her hoof in a showing gesture to the two fillies.

"Alright sis ah'll see you after school." Apple Bloom said as she gave her sister a quick hug. "Come on Scootaloo lets go find Sweetie Belle, maybe we can come up with some more ways to get our cutie marks." Apple Bloom hollered over her shoulder as she ran to go find their friend.

"Ok I'll be right there. Bye Rainbow Dash you'll be back to pick me up after school right?" Scootaloo asked looking up at the Rainbow pegasus.

"Sure thing Scoots I'll be here after school to pick you up." Rainbow Dash replied smiling down at the little filly.

Scootaloo smiled widely and hugged Rainbow Dash "Thank you Rainbow Dash, for everything."

Rainbow was taken off guard by the sudden hug; she looked down at Scootaloo, then over to Applejack. Applejack looked back at her and gave her a reassuring smile. Rainbow Dash smiled back then bent down and returned Scootaloo's hug. "You're welcome Scoots." She said right as the warning bell rang. "Well you better hurry; I'll see you after school."

Scootaloo waved one last time before she galloped after her yellow friend into the school building.

Rainbow Dash smiled and waved back, and she continued to wave even after Scootaloo went inside the building.

"Ah sure am glad to see that you two are gettin' along well." Applejack said trotting up next to Rainbow Dash. "So how was your first night with her?"

Rainbow Dash turned to face Applejack and smiled. "It was great, why wouldn't it be?"

"So the whole night went without a hitch?" Applejack asked tilting her head to the side.

Rainbow Dash's smile dropped a little when she recalled the events of her night with Scootaloo. "Ok maybe not without a hitch. I guess we did have a few problems." Rainbow Dash admitted as she scratched the back of her head with her front hoof.

"Well what all happened?"

"Ok so, first we went and got her scooter and the rest of her stuff from the box she's been living in. Then I flew her up to my house, and then I showed her around the house. I showed her where her room is, where the bathroom is, the kitchen, you know everywhere." Rainbow said swishing her hoof threw the air.

Applejack nodded and waited for her to continue.

"So after that it was getting pretty late so I told her it was time for her to go to bed, and she didn't want to." Rainbow Dash said with a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Applejack smiled and said. "That's normal, little fillies never want ta go to bed when yah tell'm to. They always want to stay up longer. No matter how tired they are in the mornin', it's just the way they are Dash."

Rainbow Dash paused and thought about what Applejack had said, and decided to file that information away for latter. "Anyway, so then I told her that she had school tomorrow so she needed to go to bed. After that she said she would if I could catch her."

"So, you started chasein' her through your house. What happened to you been the fast flier in all of Equestria?" Applejack asked as she lightly elbowed Rainbow Dash in the side.

"Hey I'm used to flying in the open air, and it's cramped in there so I couldn't get up to full speed." Rainbow Dash defended, "Besides she's fast for a little filly."

"Alright Rainbow, ah was just playin'. So then what happened?"

"Ok so I chased her down the stairs, then I saw her going into the kitchen so I flew after her. But right before I got there she bucked the door closed."

Rainbow Dash was cut off by the sound of Applejack snickering. Rainbow glared at her, and after a few seconds Applejack stopped snickering, but still had trouble hiding her smile. .

"Sorry Rainbow, please go on." Applejack apologized after she had gained full composure.

Rainbow Dash nodded and continued. "Alright, so then I opened the door and looked around, but I couldn't see her anywhere. But there is only one exit to the kitchen so I knew she had to be in there somewhere. So I started looking in the lower shelves, and she wasn't there. Then I caught a glimpse of her tail sticking out of one of the doors above the counter. So I crept up to the door and swung it open, and she feathered me with flour."

Rainbow Dash was cut off again, this time by Applejack laughing loudly. "Hey it's not that funny." Rainbow Dash said as she lifted herself off the ground with her wings and crossed her front hooves over her chest.

"Yer right Rainbow ah'm sorry, but yah got to admit it is pretty darn funny." Applejack said stifling her laughter.

"Yeah sure, anyway so after that she ran back up stairs. I shook off the flour, and I chased after her. When I got up there, I saw that the door to my room was open so I slowly went in and started looking around for her, but there was no sign of her. Just then I heard water running in my bathroom, so I knew she had to be in there. I galloped at full speed into the bathroom to catch her off guard, but you'll never guess what she did."

"Did she cover the bathroom floor in soap leading up to the full bathtub?" Applejack asked with a mischievous smile on her face.

Rainbow Dash looked at her puzzled and asked "Yeah, she did how did you know?"

"Ah did the same thing to Big Macintosh when I was a filly." Applejack said with a chuckle.

Rainbow Dash imagined Big Mac flailing around hopelessly sliding backwards into a tub full of water and joined Applejack in laughing.

After the two mares had their fill of laughter Rainbow Dash continued. "Ok well after that her and I went to her room, I tucked her in, and then I read her a bed time story."

"Is that all that happened?" Applejack asked with a warm smile.

"Well kind of, I was watching her sleep wondering if I could handle taking care of her, and in her sleep she said, that she loved me." Rainbow Dash said a slight blush appearing across her checks.

Applejack's smile widened and she trotted up next to Rainbow Dash, and put a hoof around her neck. "So Rainbow, yah think it was worth it right?" Applejack asked with a knowing smile.

"Totally" Rainbow Dash responded without a second's hesitation.

"Good, ah'm glad you feel that way, but ah got to ask what are you gonna do now sugarcube?" Applejack asked as her smile faded.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I'll think of something." Rainbow Dash responded flashing Applejack a smile.

"Ah'm sure you will, just remember if ether of you need any help don't hesitate to ask alright?" Applejack said returning the smile.

"Of course, thank you a bunch Applejack, you're the best, and I don't know what I would do without you." Rainbow said as she put her front legs around Applejack's neck and pulled her into a hug.

"You're welcome Rainbow Dash." Applejack said as she quickly put her front legs around Rainbow's neck returning the hug.

The two kept hugging for a long time, neither wanting to let go of the mare that they secretly had feelings for. After a few minutes Applejack realized she had been hugging Rainbow Dash for a lot longer then was customary to hug another pony and let go.

"Well ah've got to go help Big Mac with the apples so ah'll see you later alright Rainbow?" Applejack said as she took a step back away from her.

"Sure that sounds awesome, I'll see you then." Rainbow Dash said as she waved a hoof at Applejack.

Applejack nodded and started trotting back on the path back to the farm.

Rainbow Dash stood there for a while longer watching her leave, even long after Applejack was out of sight. Finally she shook her head, and spread her wings and took off in the direction of Ponyville.

As she flew she started to think hard. "What should I do now? Well I should probably learn more about taking care of Scootaloo, but who should I ask?" Rainbow Dash thought about it for few seconds and started running through her options. "I could ask Fluttershy again for advice, but I don't want to bother her too much. Maybe Rarity, nah she's not really good with kids. Maybe Pinkie Pie…"

"Hi Rainbow Dash whatcha you doin'?" Pinkie Pie asked from the tree Rainbow Dash was flying next to.

Rainbow Dash let out a startled yelp, and screeched to a halt. "Pinkie Pie, what are you doing up here?" Rainbow asked flying in place.

"Oh well I saw you flying overhead, but you were just staring straight ahead and I couldn't get your attention. So I decided I would have to climb this tree to get your attention." Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly.

"Ok that makes sense I guess." Rainbow dash said as she scratched the back of her head.

"Sooo, you never answered my question what were you thinking about so hard that you didn't notice me?" Pinkie Pie asked tilting her head to the side.

"Well, ok so for starters you know Scootaloo right?"

"Of course silly, I know everypony in Ponyville duh." Pinkie Pie responded with a giggle. "Hey Dashy do mind if I get down from here I don't want to break the tree?"

"Hmm, oh yeah that would probably be a good idea. Sorry about that Pinkie, I'll meet you on the ground." Rainbow Dash said as she started floating down to the ground next to Pinkie Pie.

Once they were on the ground Rainbow Dash continued. "Anyway did you know that she was an orphan?" Rainbow Dash asked giving Pinkie a worried look.

Pinkie Pie's eyes got big, and her ever present smile drooped. "No, I didn't know that, is she ok Dashy?" Pinkie asked as her ears drooped along with her smile and mane.

"Yeah, she's doing fine I guess. She's going to be staying with me." Rainbow Dash said with a slight smile returning to her face.

Pinkie Pie's almost seemed to re inflate at the news. "Wow Dashy, that's so sweet of you, but that's a lot of responsibility. Are you sure you're up for it?"

"I don't know, but I'm willing to try my best." Rainbow Dash Said proudly, then after a few seconds she frowned. "The problem is I don't know much about taking care of kids so I was going to go asking around for some pointers."

"Oh that's smart, so who were you planning on asking first?" Pinkie asked tilting her head to the side in a question.

"Well, I haven't quite figured that part out yet, I was thinking of asking you considering how good of a job you've been doing with the Cake twins." Rainbow Dash explained with a grin.

Pinkie Pie tapped her hoof against her chin and shook her head. "I don't know Rainbow Dash; I don't think that taking care of two babies' is the same as taking care of a little filly who's half grown up already."

Rainbow Dash shook her head in frustration. "Ugh, then who do I talk to Pinkie Pie, I can't talk to Rarity, Fluttershy, or Applejack. Who else can I turn to?"

Pinkie Pie thought for a moment then jumped up and in an explosion of confetti. "What about Twilight she's really smart and she also raised Spike from a hatchling. Maybe she can give you some advice, or at least she would know where you could find it."

Rainbow Dash thought about it for a few seconds and nodded. "Yeah, that's a great idea! Surely Twilight will know something, thanks Pinkie Pie you've been a big help." Rainbow Dash Said as she began trotting in the direction of the Library.

"No problemo, hey Rainbow Dash do mind if I tag along? I was on my way to see Twilight when I saw you flying." Pinkie Pie asked as she started to bounce after Rainbow Dash.

"I guess so, why were you on your way to see Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked giving Pinkie Pie a curious look.

Pinkie Pie missed a beat in her bounce and blushed slightly. "Oh well, you know just to hang out and see what she was up to." Pinkie responded as she regained her former tempo.

Rainbow Dash looked at her then brushed the subject aside. "Sure whatever, I just hope that she has an idea for what I should do next." Rainbow Dash said as she cantered along the path to the Ponyville Library.