Something More

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were enjoying their usual walk through the park. The pair often spent their Saturdays strolling along the park’s gently curving pathway. It was peaceful there, foals played, ponies enjoyed picnics, and everyone was fully concentrated on their own little activities. That was the most refreshing part. After all, being the daughters of two of the richest ponies in Ponyville and the two most popular fillies in school got them a lot of attention. Diamond wouldn’t trade it for the world, but sometimes it was nice to not be constantly noticed.

The both held milkshakes from Sugarcube Corner in their hooves as they gossiped quietly.

“Oh my gosh, Di, did you hear about Sapphire Shores? She just got engaged to Hoity Toity!”

“I know,” Diamond responded. “I thought he was a colt-cuddler for the longest time. Maybe he really is. Who knows, he might just be doing this so his designs will get more publicity.”

“Wow DT, I really think you might be on to something here. That totally makes sense.”

“I know it does.” She replied, she was about to go on, but stopped. “Do you hear that?

“Hear what?”

“That! Listen carefully!” the two ponies stretched their ears. In the distance, a beautiful high soprano voice cut through the other sounds of the park. Even over the gurgling of the stream, and the laughing of the foals, they could hear the clear voice, ringing through the air like a bell.

“Who is that singing?” Silver asked.

“I don’t know, but we should totally go see. I bet we know them anyway, we know all the talented ponies around here.”

The two headed across a large grass field towards a cluster of trees that seemed to be the source of the music. All around them, wildflowers of every color were in bloom. Wow, it really is a beautiful day out, Diamond thought to herself.

They were close enough that Diamond Tiara could just make out what was happening beneath the trees. It looked like two ponies were sitting out for a picnic. One was singing, and the other was sitting watching with her mouth hanging open. She craned her eyes.

No way. It was those two blank flanks. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle was singing. No way.

That no-talent blank flank was singing and it actually sounded really good. She crept forward, crouching, grateful for the tall grass that obscured her from their view.

“Di! What are you doing? They’ll see you!” Silver Spoon was standing about twenty yards behind her frantically gesturing at her to come back.

Diamond Tiara turned and shushed her friend and glared at her. She turned back towards the picnic and watched Sweetie Belle. She was fidgeting her hooves while she sang, looking anywhere but at Scootaloo. Her face downcast, her cheeks lightly reddened. She was adorable. Adorable? She reprimanded herself. No-talent Blanky Belle could never be adorable.

And yet, she couldn’t help but lightly blush herself as she turned and silently crawled back towards her friend.

Every Sunday, Scootaloo woke with the sunrise. She had to, it was the only time that Rainbow Dash had agreed to help her with flight lessons. As she groggily rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she tried to roll off her back, but found herself stopped by a stiff, extended wing. A slightly embarrassing reminder of the dream she’d had last night.

She headed down into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal. Usually her foster mom would get up and make a big breakfast for all the foster kids, but this was too early even for her, so Scoots was left to fend for herself. After a few minutes, she was on her scooter, and heading for Ponyville Park.

Rainbow Dash was waiting there with a whistle around her neck and a baseball cap on her head.

“You’re late, Squirt.” She ruffled Scootaloo’s mane fondly.

“What are you talking about? I’m right on time.”

“Well, you’re on time for regular ponies, but when does a Wonderbolt arrive?”

“Ten minutes early.” She knew she had some kind of punishment in store.

“That’s right!” Rainbow blew the whistle with all her force, “Fifty wingups. Go!”

Scootaloo dropped to the ground. The cold mud was probably staining her feathers, but if this was what it took to train with Rainbow Dash, the filly was up to it.

“Alright, get up!” Scootaloo picked herself up from the ground, she was already sweating. “Today we’re gonna be working on gliding.”

Scootaloo beamed, “Wow! Do you really think I’m ready, Dash?”

“Of course.” Rainbow ruffled her mane again. “This has been a long time coming, and today we’re finally gonna get you off the ground.”

Rainbow had Scootaloo climb up to a low-hanging branch, jump off it, and try to glide as far as she could. She fell once.

“Get back up there, Scoots. Nopony ever gets it on their first try.”

So she did, and she fell. Again. It kept happening all morning. She would take off from the branch, and everything would feel good at first. The wind in her mane and under her tail, she was free. But then an unexpected breeze would knock her off course and she would plummet, or she’d forget to tilt her wings and crash into a tree.

When their usual two hours were up, Scootaloo lay in a bruised heap in the grass next to Dash.

“That’s OK, Squirt, you were definitely improving by the end.” She tried her best to comfort the fallen filly. “We’ll be right back at it next week. You’ll get it for sure.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo got up from the ground, wincing, and leaned in to give her teacher a hug.

“Hey no problem.” A bell rang eight times in town. “Shoot, I got a weather shift in half an hour and I still haven’t eaten.” Rainbow turned towards town and started to take off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. “See you around, kid.”

“Wait, Dash!” Scootaloo remembered another topic that she had been hoping to approach Rainbow about. “There’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

The older pegasus turned around. “What is it?”

Scootaloo swallowed. This was probably gonna end up being very awkward. “Ummm… Rainbow, have you ever had a special somepony?”

Dash looked perplexed for a second, then a knowing look came to her eye. “Sure, I’ve had a few. Why, is there anypony you’ve got your eye on?”

“Well, yeah. There’s somepony I’m thinking about.”

Rainbow smiled devilishly , and Scoots knew that she was gonna face merciless teasing for this. “Well, spit it out! Who’s the lucky pony?”

“Ummm…,” Scootaloo, looked down, trying to avoid her idol’s gaze, “It’s Sweetie Belle.”

“Awww, that’s totally cute!” Dash caught herself, “I mean awesome! Super awesome.”

“Thanks, Rainbow.”

“So, what are you gonna do to win her over?” Rainbow Dashed walked over to a park bench, sat down, and gestured for Scootaloo to come sit next to her.

Scoots jumped up onto the bench, and Rainbow ruffled her mane for the third time that morning. “Well, that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.” She took a deep breath. “I’m not sure I’m gonna do anything about it. I mean, what if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

“Of course she does! With a filly as awesome as you, she’d be crazy not to.”

“Stop it, Dash, I’m being serious! If she doesn’t feel the same way, couldn’t that like ruin our friendship?”

The prismatic pegasus suddenly looked very serious. “It’ll destroy your friendship if you don’t tell her. Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see somepony every day and call them your friend when you secretly want so much more? You’ll never be able to spend time with her again.”

“Huh, I guess you’re right.” Scootaloo rubbed her chin in thought. “So what should I do?”

“I don’t know, Squirt.” Rainbow moved in to ruffle her mane again, but Scoots stopped her with a hoof. “It’s not my decision to make, it’s yours.” She jumped off the bench and took off into the air. “Besides,” she called back, “I gotta go catch breakfast with Pinkie.”

Scootaloo was left alone on the bench, thinking to herself. Hmmm. If I tell her, I could screw up our friendship, and if I don’t tell her, I could screw up our friendship. The best option would be if I could somehow stop feeling this way about her.

To Sweetie Belle, the clubhouse was a second home. In fact, she often came here by herself when she needed to sort out her thoughts. And her thoughts had certainly been a mess lately.

A day had passed since her picnic with Scootaloo, and her little orange friend had hardly left her mind since. She had tried singing to distract herself, but every romance ballad was suddenly about Scoots. She had tried helping Rarity with her work, but every piece of orange fabric she grabbed transformed into the beautiful, smiling pegasus filly before her eyes.

Within a day, her silly foalhood crush had grown into an all-consuming infatuation. Even here in the clubhouse, she couldn’t look around without being reminded of Scootaloo. The role call sheet with a crudely drawn picture of Scootaloo’s head, the crumpled up paper in the corner that was Scootaloo’s overly long Cutie Mark Crusader oath, this place was Scootaloo’s home just as much as it was hers.

She had no doubt that Scootaloo didn't feel the same way about her. After all, Scoots was a pony of action. She was always the one that had suggested the crazy, dangerous ideas for crusading like skydiving, or mountain climbing. Sweetie was much more subdued, suggesting safer things like knitting, or reading. Ugh. Of course she doesn't like me, there's no way I could ever keep up with her.

She felt tears come to her eyes, and all she wanted to do was curl up on the floor of the empty clubhouse, and have a good cry.

No, Sweetie thought. I can't just give up and start bawling my eyes out. I can't give up hope without trying. It hurts that I fantasize about her no matter where I go, because they’re just that: fantasies. If I really want to stop torturing myself, if I really want her to be mine, then I’m going to have to make her mine.

She looked back towards town, in the direction of Carousel Boutique. And I know just how to start.

Sweetie Belle was never late to class. The unicorn prided herself on her perfect record all year long. No tardies. No absences. Scootaloo stared over at the empty desk next to her. So why isn’t she here?

“Hey, Apple Bloom,” she asked, “got any idea where Sweetie is?"

Apple Bloom coughed, she was just getting over a rather bad case of the flu. “Ah can’t say Ah have, but it is strange that she’s not here. Ah thought she’d never be late for a day of school in her life.”

"It is strange. Where could she be?"

Cheerilee walked to the front of the classroom as the final bell rang. “Good morning, my little ponies!” She always seemed a little too enthusiastic for how early in the morning it was. “Today we’re going to learn about bits, and how they’re used. A whole lesson about Equestrian economy, doesn’t that sound exciting, class?”

The class groaned in response.

Scootaloo glanced at Sweetie’s seat. It was still empty. Maybe she’s sick? Yeah, its probably the same thing that AB had. I wonder who she got it from, she seemed fine on Saturday. Her heart fluttered as she remembered their intimate little picnic. I’ve gotta forget about this thing with Sweetie, she told herself. Even though Rainbow seems to think I’ve got a chance, I'm too high-energy for someone like her. She’s probably got her eye on someone way cuter than me, like Alula, or maybe Featherweight. If I keep thinking about her, it’ll hurt our friendship, and if I try to act on my feeling, it could mess us up too. The best way out of this mess is for me to find somepony else to like, somepony who might feel the same way about me.

“-and that’s how bits are made. Did you all catch that, class?” Cheerilee looked around and sighed. Snips and Snails were lying in puddles of drool on their desks, Diamond Tiara was giggling and passing notes to Silver Spoon, and Apple Bloom was fully absorbed in her sketching. In fact, no one in the class seemed to really be paying attention to Cheerilee’s lecture. If she were here, Sweetie Belle would totally be on top of this. Probably taking notes and everything, Scootaloo mused. She’s the only pony in this class that actually seems to care about what we’re learning.

The front door of the classroom swung open. "Oh my gosh! Miss Cheerilee, I'm so sorry that I'm late. I was just really busy this morning."

"Sweetie Belle? Is that you?" Cheerilee cocked her head as she stared confusedly at the door.

Scootaloo spun in her seat to look at the classroom's newest arrival. It was definitely Sweetie, but she looked nothing like the filly that Scoots knew and loved.

Her mane had been straightened so much that it's adorable poof was entirely gone. It hung limp around her head like sopping a pink and purple dish towel. She had also used makeup. Or at least, she had attempted to use makeup. Her eyes were darkened, and her cheeks were heavily blushed. It even seemed that she had borrowed some of Rarity's false eyelashes, they looked very trashy on a filly of her age.

"Umm, Sweetie? What happened to you?” Scootaloo asked.

“Why are you guys all acting so weird?” Sweetie Belle was getting defensive. “I’m allowed to put a little extra effort into my appearance every once in a while.”

“Sweetie, you’re late. Sit down.” Cheerilee commanded. “Class has already started and we’re in the middle of a very important lesson about about the Equestrian economy.” Every eye was on Sweetie as she silently walked towards her seat. A few ponies giggled quietly.

“You know,” Diamond Tiara quipped, “putting a little extra effort into your appearance is supposed to make a pony look better, not worse.”

Scootaloo was angered by Diamond’s words, but secretly, she couldn’t help but agree. She didn’t like the way Sweetie looked all done up like that. Why would Sweetie do that? What could possibly make this so important that she was willing to sacrifice her perfect attendance for it?

She looked over at Sweetie Belle’s desk, and saw that the unicorn was behaving like her normal, everyday self, humming to herself as she took careful notes of everything Cheerilee wrote on the board. She may have been acting the same, but Scoots new that something was up, and Sweetie was gonna have her fair share of questions to answer when lunch came around.