"Trixie, who is this filly? Where are her parents?" My mother and father stood expectantly in front of me, having caught sight of Scootaloo.
I gulped. I had told Scootaloo to stay outside until I could come out and get her. She had come in early because I was inside for a while. Poor Scoots was peering at the scene with her wide purple eyes, taking it all in.
"Trixie, answer your mother."
I took a deep breath. "Her...her name is Scootaloo. Her parents..." I looked at the floor.
"Trixie, you're hiding something."
In a small, scared voice, I said, "I...I'm her mother."
"Say again?"
Stronger this time. "I'm her mother. She's...my filly."
Time stopped. My mother's face morphed into a deep frown. My father just looked at me with disgust. I continued to stare at the ground. I knew I had royally bucked up. A Lulamoon girl was prim and proper, and didn't have children until she had married. A Lulamoon girl did not get pregnant after a drunken night with her coltfriend, have the foal, then keep said foal a secret for a little over a year.
"Trixie, go. Just go and don't darken our doorstep again." My mother turned and walked away. "I knew that Blueblood colt was trouble." For a minute there I though I saw my father hesitate before following her.
I stood there for a few minutes, my lip trembling. Finally, I turned on my hoof, grabbed my cloak, and headed out, taking care to slam the door. If I'm going and never coming back, I'm going in style. I gently lifted Scootaloo in my magic, placed her on my back, then wrapped her in her baby blanket. She looked so innocent, so cute in the moonlight. It made my heart shatter.
"We're going to the train station, Scoots." She looked at me, wide eyes blinking. "I'm gonna find you somepony to keep you safe. I can't take care of you anymore." I set off at a brisk pace, though not so brisk I'd throw her off.
It was a chilly fall night, with the beginnings of rain on the horizon. It wasn't far to the train station. I planned on getting tickets for the next train to Ponyville. Cheerilee lived there, I knew her from college. She'd moved to that hick town to be a teacher. She was good with foals, I hoped she'd be able to take care of Scootaloo. Only downside was that ol' Cheer wouldn't be able to teach her how to fly. Somehow, when me and Blueblood did the nasty, we made a baby pegasus. Life's funny that way.
I bought the tickets, and me and Scoots waited for the train, earning a few odd looks from passerby. A mare as young as I was shouldn't have foals. It "simply isn't proper". I snorted. In a way, I was glad to be leaving. Canterlot's social rules were constricting as Tartarus. Man, Blueblood and Fleur and me got up to some major shenanigans. We all just wanted to be free, y'know? Down with the system and all that angsty stuff.
The train screeched to a stop. I hurried in, Scootaloo clinging to me. She'd never been on a train before. I ducked into a seat, putting Scoots next to me, letting her lean against me wrapped up in her blanket. I smiled. Scoots was darn cute.
I stared out the window as the train started moving. You could see Ponyville in the distance, a tiny speck. That was where Cheerilee lived now. And that was where I hoped Scoots would find salvation.
I looked down at Scoots, who was sleeping, calm and quiet, only making the faintest of sounds. Despite her being a drunken mistake of two ponies who'd forgotten to use protection, she was adorable, and she was mine. Of course, that made the prospect of giving her up all the more painful.
It started to rain, the drops falling heavy and fast, splattering the window. The pegasi couldn't wait twenty more minutes? It'd be that much harder to find Cheerilee's house.
The train ride to Ponyville was short, only about a half hour. Not enough time for Scoots or me to get some decent rest. Ah, well.
The train screeched to a stop. I gently prodded Scoots awake, causing her to yawn the cutest little yawn ever. With her on my back once more, we headed out into the rain.
I covered her with my cloak, dashing from one patch of cover to another. The rain was falling even faster and heavier now, soaking anypony crazy enough to be out in this weather. It suddenly occurred to me I had no idea where Cheer lived. There was nopony out to give me directions.
I decided to head to the schoolhouse. She worked there, they could give me answers. It was a quaint little building, painted cherry red, with a bell on the roof. Standard schoolhouse fare. A "CLOSED" sign hung neatly on the door, pinned up with a nail. Wonderful. I heaved a sigh. Just then, the door opened and Cheer was looking at me.
"Trixie Lulamoon? Is that you?" She wore a funny little smile.
I put on my best game face. "Yep. Good ol' me. Listen, I need your help."
She glanced at the bundle on my back. "What happened? No, that can wait, let me take you back to my house."
Her house was only a few blocks away from the school. It was a homey place, like your grandma's place. In a good way. She poured a little Magic Flame onto the logs in the fireplace, and a warm fire was soon crackling away. She made some tea, and handed a cup to me. Mint tea never tasted so good.
"That's the stuff. Thanks, Cheer."
She laughed. "I haven't heard that nickname in a while. Now tell me, what in the name of Celestia's day possessed you to come down to 'some hick town' just to see me?"
I rolled my eyes. "Very funny. Me and Blueblood...we made a mistake, and Scootaloo here was born." I gently unwrapped Scootaloo. Cheerilee gasped.
"I kept her a secret for a year. Blue helped me take care of her. I got found out tonight, and kicked out." I smiled ruefully. "I'd like it if you could give her a stable environment to grow up in. I'm going to be on the run until I can get enough cash to get a flat. I'm barely able to take care of myself at the moment, much less raise a little filly."
Cheerilee stared at the little orange pegasus. "She's so young." she murmured, more to herself than to me. "So fragile." She bit her lip. "I guess I could try. She'd be more than welcome, I don't have any other foals."
"You promise you'll take care of her to the best of your ability?" I warned. "Because if you don't..."
"I promise...Trix." We both smiled at my old nickname.
I finished my tea and made to head out, substituting my cloak for Scoots' blanket, then giving her a quick kiss and hug. "Love you, Scoots."
"Wait, you aren't going to go so soon?" She stopped at the door, looking out at me.
"I have to fly. Money won't earn itself, and I don't want to overstay my welcome. Maybe I'll become a showmare. Cheer, this is the last time you'll see Trix. From now on, I'm the Great And Powerful Trixie."
Cheerilee watched Trixie run toward the countryside. She headed back in to see Scootaloo still sitting on the floor, looking confused as to why her mommy would leave her. Cheerilee smiled softly.
"Welcome to the family, Scootaloo."
