Doppelganger

Chapters

1, 1 -- "Quarrels"
1, 2 -- "Shadows"
1, 3 -- "Crossfire"
2, 1 -- "Looking Up"
2, 2 -- "Letting Go"
2, 3 -- "Familiar"

1, 1 -- "Quarrels"

"Quarrels"
1, 1

Rainbow Dash had no doubts... Buttercup was awesome! Like Applejack, she owned a business and was all about being confident. Unlike Applejack, however... she had time to be more than just friends. Rainbow was just a few hours from the date, hanging out at the library with her friends and attempting to read the latest Daring Do book to help pass the time... the reason she was "attempting" to was because her friends were giving her the third-degree. They'd surrounded her to do so... she thought nothing of it.

"Please be careful, Rainbow," said Twilight for the fifth time that day. "I know you're a big mare, and all, but I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Applejack, along side her rainbow-maned companion, nodded:

"Remember we're your friends if you need us," she said, patting Rainbow Dash on the back.

"You're just jealous," Rainbow muttered with a smirk.

Even Twilight gritted her teeth.

"What was that, now?" Applejack asked, her voice growing thin with anger.

"N-nothing."

Applejack stared with wide eyes... she still cared, but now she was quite annoyed. Where did Rainbow Dash get off saying a thing like that?

"My Pinkie sense is telling me something's up," Pinkie Pie piped in, "but I don't know what... it could be good or bad. Be careful Dashie!"

"I will, Pinkie," Rainbow said. "Don't worry about me. I'm Ponyville's class athlete, and Buttercup... well, she's as squishy as a marshmallow! If she tries anything... she'll resemble chewed up hay by the time I'm through with her!"

"What glorious imagery," Rarity said, rolling her eyes. "And do be careful, darling, remember what I said..."

Rainbow threw her hoof skyward in acknowledgement. She was getting ready to dash.

"Well, if you do get nervous," said Fluttershy, "just listen to your body! It's what I tell my animal friends... if something looks scary or feels scary, get away!"

"Will do."

"You really think I'm jealous?" Applejack finally said, through gritted teeth. "Seriously?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes stopped scanning the text, her brow flat with annoyance. She looked up at Applejack and crossed her eyes in a goofy way:

"Ee-yup!"

She went back to reading.

Applejack turned red.

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all looked at each other and gulped, taking a step back. Pinkie remained, her gaze still fixated on Rainbow. A combination of blue and violet lit up the clueless pony's flank as she was pulled back a couple of steps by her friends' magic:

"Gah!"

"Rainbow Dash," Applejack said, her voice growing low. "I ain't jealous. Ah think you're making a gosh-darn mistake is what I think!"

"Yeah, yeah," Dash replied, waving dismissively. "Who asked you?"

"Why... you...," Applejack took a deep breath. "Ah am seconds from taking this outside with you and wringing your lil neck missy-"

"Why don't you then?" Rainbow looked up, a thin smile spread itself on her lips.

Applejack now saw red. She acted before she could think:

Pulling back her hoof, she threw a punch at Rainbow Dash's shoulder... her entire weight behind this one blow.

Rainbow Dash was fast, but not fast enough. She flinched in enough time to have Applejack strike her face instead. The book spiraled away as the Pegasus saw stars, knocked out of the big, comfy chair she was sitting in. For one brief moment she had no idea where she was, and Applejack's actions had terrified all of their friends... especially herself.

"Rainbow!" Applejack exclaimed, eyes wide, her voice now high with concern. "Ah am so sorry! You can be so gosh-darn stubborn at times, but even you didn't deserve that!"

Shaking away the stars, Rainbow Dash's vision danced and swayed as she looked up into Applejack's concerned, green eyes. The farm pony stuck a hoof out in her direction. Is was then that her nostrils began to pour crimson and her two eyes darken. Even through the awful throbbing sensation, Dash saw (fittingly enough) just red. She took Applejack's invitation, taking both her forelegs and picking herself up off the ground... then flying, with Apple Jack still attached, towards the door.

"Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed, as the two ponies literally crashed through her door.

Four ponies followed, expecting broken bones and two unconscious friends in the street. They had hit Twilight's solid oak door hard enough to leave a crack in it. Other ponies gawked from a distance, afraid to get too close; Noteworthy so startled he literally began urinating where he stood.

* * *

Applejack was on one side of the lawn, Rainbow Dash on the other. When their friends came out the farm pony had just started shaking as she began pulling herself up. Even through all that, she still had her hat, which she very tenderly removed and set aside as she got up. Rainbow Dash followed suit much more slowly. The two ponies were quite bruised, Applejack had a few superficial cuts along her side.

"Now," Applejack wobbled as she spoke. "Ah deserved that. We're even now, 'kay?"

"Like heck we are!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, charging at her best friend.

The two were not at their best state for a fight. Applejack had the presence of mind to at least deflect the attack, and respond with a quick strike using her hind legs. It wasn't intended to hurt Rainbow, just to stand her ground, but Applejack wasn't about to have her flank kicked by anypony.

"Rainbow, we are just tryin' to tell you we think you're making a mistake!" Applejack exclaimed.

Rainbow's response was to drop her elbow towards Applejack's head. She dodged the attack, and Rainbow Dash landed hard on her hat, instantly flattening it. Applejack saw this, her lip quivering as Rainbow Dash got up, looked down, and started giggling. Applejack's prized possession now resembled a pancake.

"All right, then, that's it!" the farm pony thundered.

Again she struck Rainbow Dash, this time in the foreleg. Even though she was angry, (again) it wasn't meant to hurt. Rainbow rapidly shook her leg, crying out in surprise.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Applejack then threw her entire body weight at the pegasus. The two crashed, Rainbow skidding backwards in the soft dirt. The farm pony was on top of her. Dash threw punches, but none of them landed. She may have been able to rival Applejack in strength, but Applejack was heavier than her, and was at just the right angle to make it too awkward to get up.

"Knock it off!" Applejack thundered, as Rainbow futilely struck at her barrel. "This ends now!"

"Lemme go!" Dash growled in reply.

Twilight approached from the side and took a good look at the two, dirty, bruised ponies.

"Applejack, let her go," Twilight said, quietly. "I think you broke her nose."

"Great! Just great, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash still struggled in vain. "I can't go on a date like this!"

"Ya might as well not!" Applejack exclaimed. "She gives Rarity the creeps... she gives all us the creeps!"

"You haven't even met her!"

"Rainbow...," Applejack took a breath. "Ah love you, alright? Ah just don't want to see you get hurt is all."

"Hey! It's my problem if I get hurt," Rainbow exclaimed, now trying to pry the farm pony off her. "Like I said, you're just jealous!"

"I AM NOT!" erupted the farm pony in Rainbow's face.

Again, Dash smirked. Even through her injuries, she could make Applejack's blood boil.

"Well, then, prove it!"

Applejack looked back at Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. All of her friend's faces showed concern, but it was no longer just for Rainbow Dash. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"All right, do what you want." Applejack rolled over and got up. "Just... try to remember we're all here for you, okay? Ah love you, Rainbow... and if going to see Buttercup's gunna make y'all happy, then go do it. But if you come back more hurt than ya are now... I'm gunna feel just awful."

"We all are," said Twilight. "She's in no way trying to guilt you!"

The other three nodded in unison.

Rainbow Dash got up, wiping away the dirt and grime from her face. She saw blood.

"I'm in no shape to go there now, Applejack," Rainbow Dash said through gritted teeth, her wings fluttering. "And it's all your fault!"

Fortunately for Applejack, Twilight anticipated what was going to happen this time. As Rainbow took off to take a swipe at her friend, her tail glowed violet.

"Rainbow Dash!" four voices exclaimed.

Even Applejack looked hurt.

"So that's how it is, huh?" She turned tail, picking up her hat and pushing the top out. "Well, all right then. Guess Ah've really got no business messin' around in your life anyway." She sighed. "See ya 'round, Rainbow."

It was as if a switch had been flicked. Seeing Applejack sad -- not frustrated (like she was), but really, genuinely hurting -- pushed Rainbow's heart through the dirt. She went from sixty to zero in two seconds. Applejack thought she hated her.

"Applejack," Rainbow said, setting her hooves on the ground. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

The farm pony glanced back, a tiny smile on her lips. She was moments from crying.

"It's okay, Rainbow... Ah'd be pretty mad, too, if ya clocked me like that 'fore I went on a date."

"I'm... definitely not going now," Dash said, taking a few steps towards the defeated mare. "Like, I don't even want to anymore."

"I can have Spike write you a telegram and Derpy deliver it post-haste," Twilight said, taking a step back with her friends to give the two space. "I'm sure Butterscotch will understand."

"That's Buttercup," said Applejack, with a slight grin. "Even Ah know that!"

"You'd think an egg-head like you would pay attention more," Dash added, with a chuckle.

Twilight was about to open her mouth to say something, but got her revenge as Dash sneezed, spraying a small amount of blood on her hooves. She didn't feel too good about that for very long as it continued to pour.

"Aww, jeeze!" exclaimed the Pegasus, a combination of blood and mucus covering her forelegs.

"Ah am so sorry, Rainbow," Applejack said, approaching. "We'd best get ya cleaned up!"

"We've got a first-aid kit at the Sugarcube corner," said Pinkie.

"And one at the boutique!" added Rarity, knowing that her shop was a bit closer.

"Ah think the Sugarcube Corner sounds best... we'll just have to go in through the back so we don't scare the foals!"

"Jeeze, do I really look that bad?" Dash asked, looking at her friends through two swollen eyes.

They all nodded.

"Come on, Rainbow..." Applejack said, motioning with a hoof. "Afterwards, I'll buy you an ice cream to make it up to you."

"That's if she hasn't broken her nose," said Twilight. "She might have to go to a doctor."

Looking up at Applejack, Rainbow Dash brought both hooves to either side of her nose. She twisted sharply, wincing.

CRACK!

Everypony, even Applejack, shuttered as that sound resonated through the air.

"Yup, it's broken!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "But I'll be all right... it's happened a few times before."

"You sure?" Twilight asked, raising her eyebrow. "Just a few minutes ago you were about to go to Buttercup's home when we all thought it wasn't a good idea, and-"

"Twilight," Rarity interjected. "Let's not tug on Supermare's cape. If Dash says she's had this problem before, she probably knows how to deal with it best. Right?"

Even through the blood, Rainbow Dash smiled at her friends.

"I think I might need a nose split," Dash said, popping it again. "I'll be totally fine, though!"

"Alright, Rainbow." Twilight forced a smile. "I'm sorry you and Applejack had that fight."

Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all stood their ground, while Pinkie took off in the direction of the two battered ponies.

Turning towards the Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash and Applejack limped off, with Pinkie bouncing right behind them.

* * *

In the back of the Sugarcube Corner, with Mrs. Cake tending to their cuts and bruises, Rainbow Dash got a chance to look at her face before the splint was applied. She looked... hardened to say the least, like she'd been up for a few weeks. Her eyes were black, but she didn't look like an abused mare. She looked much too confident for that, like she had been in a fight.

"It's not okay to beat-up your Special Somepony," Mrs. Cake joked as she disinfected Applejack's deeper cuts. It stung a bit. "But from what Pinkie's been telling me this mare sounds like she's bad news. We carry her iced tea. I never gave much thought to the pony behind it, though."

"And why would you?" Applejack chuckled. "It's just tea, after all, and if it's any good, you're probably gunna keep carrying it."

"Well, we do get some buyers. Mostly older mares. They say it's 'soothing'."

"You're makin' me real curious as to what this tea even tastes like."

Mrs. Cake just smiled in reply, making sure both mares were properly bandaged up and presentable.

Ten minutes later, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash sat at a table. They looked like they'd just come from the hospital.

Mrs. Cake had taken their order and came out with two ice cream sodas on Pinkie (though Applejack gave her a tip worth a little more than the items for her time), and to Applejack's surprise, Mrs. Cake came back with yet one more item.

"You said you wanted to try this, dear," she said, setting a bottle on the table. "Since you're a regular, it's on the house!"

Applejack looked down at the bottle:

Miss Buttercup's Homegrown Goodness

It had a picture, of all things, buttercups and a honey pot on the front. She looked up at Rainbow Dash.

"Wanna split it?"

"Okay."

Applejack passed it to Rainbow, who opened the lid with a pop. She picked it up, looked inside and shrugged, then took a sip. She let out a light chuckle.

"It's not bad."

Rainbow passed the bottle to Applejack.

She shrugged, lifting it up and tasting its contents. It was sweet, but not in an artificial way... it tasted real, like honey. She took another, deeper drink.

"Well, I like it!"

She offered the bottle to her on-again/off-again special somepony, who shook her head. Applejack took a deep drink, finishing the tea off.

Little did either mare know that on the bottle it said the tea was supposed to be relaxing. That wouldn't have meant much to either pony, but the tea was what would be considered a tension-tamer. By the end of their ice cream Applejack was smiling up at Rainbow Dash.

"I guess you gotta go back to the farm now, huh, Applejack?" she asked, setting down her spoon. "I understand."

Applejack laughed.

"Heck, most've stuff left for the day Ah can do tomorrow," she said. "What'd ya say we go to the movies, maybe bowlin'... then find a secluded patch in the orchard and just... watch the clouds go by? Sounds kinda fun, right?"

Applejack," Rainbow Dash smiled. "You never put your work off!"

"First time for everything, Rainbow. Don't give me enough time to change ma mind, now."

Feeling the nose splint stretching, Rainbow Dash realized she was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Okay!"

Applejack straightened her slightly crumpled hat.

"Then it's settled!"

* * *

The two headed out for bowling. Friendly competition (as always) with Applejack winning the first few games, then Rainbow winning the next three. Their's was the only alley open that wasn't broken in some way; the bowling league had come that day, and would have crushed their best games easily. Applejack was paying for a tie breaker game when she noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders talking to the stallion at the counter, who was shaking his head. All three looked sad.

"Wanna play, too?" she asked the three caped fillies.

"Sure!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, as the two others nodded, Apple Bloom noticing the bandages along Applejack's side.

Applejack came back to the alley with three additional players. They took one look at Rainbow and their eyes went wide. Applejack was too relaxed to notice this.

"The more the merrier!" she exclaimed.

"Rainbow Dash!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "What happened?"

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, Applejack right back. The farm pony spoke:

"Grown-up stuff."

Rainbow nodded.

"We'll be alright."

Scootaloo looked at both her friends, who just shrugged.

"Let's just play, Scootaloo," said Apple Bloom, picking up a ball.

"Umm...." she looked up at her idol who, despite her injuries, was smiling. "Uh.. okay!"

They played five games and had fun. Oddly enough, Applejack and Rainbow Dash tied yet again. It was turning into a good day for all.

Not an hour before, however, Buttercup had received a message.

1, 2 -- "Shadows"

"Shadows"
1, 2

Spike had written "Butterscotch" a note with Twilight present:

Dear Buttercup,

Sorry I won't be able to make our date this afternoon. I got into a scrap with a local mare. I'm okay, but I don't think you're going to want to see me like this. Right now I'm not sure what I want, so I'll just get back to you for next time. Please understand. Hope I haven't made you mad.

-Rainbow Dash

To say Buttercup was angry would have been an understatement. She sat in her empty living room, fresh tea by her side, as Derpy took off from the outside. Her face was unreadable, her golden wings fluttering in irritation.

"Why am I not surprised?" she said, looking up at her servant Ironhoof, who was standing by the door.

"Do you want me to get her?" he asked. "All you have to do is ask, and I'll have her here tonight."

"No," she replied, her voice cold as she took a sip of her warm tea. "Not yet. I want you to see what she's really doing first and tell me."

"Understood."

Ironhoof had his instructions now and would carry them out with great obsession. He stripped himself of any regal attire, his mortar & pistil cutie mark being the only thing that would give him away to the pony who had only seen him once. Without the butler suit, he looked like a gray, aging Carmel. He threw some dye on his coat and mane, only to look twenty years younger. He changed his color to blue, his mane to jet black; he would now blend in. The secrets his brain contained, however, definitely set him apart from the average, muscle-bound stallion... his knowledge of chemistry and biology was greater than Twilight's, as was his knowledge of torture... naturally.

The carriage brought him to Rarity's boutique. He entered the boutique, casually, like any customer would.

"Welcome to the Carousel boutique!" Rarity exclaimed. "Home of the- oh, my... do I know you?"

"No," Ironhoof replied, making his voice sound higher than normal. "I'm on vacation, just in from Manehattan..." He began browsing her wares. "I'm looking to make some friends. Do you know of any places where I'm liable to meet Ponyville's top athletes?" He looked back at her and grinned. "I have a thing for strong mares, you see."

Rarity giggled, half uncomfortably. There was already something very odd about this conversation, and she couldn't quite put her hoof on it.

"Well, there is the Running of the Leaves, but that's not for a few months..." she was trying to name general areas, avoiding mentioning Sweet Apple Acres, for her friend's sake since this stallion aleady seemed odd to say the least. "There's the local gym and bowling alley, just across the street, other than that... Ponyville really isn't equipped for athletes. You're liable to run into them while they're using their skills to help make this town a better place. Other than that, they make for themselves, really, and have always been fine with that."

"You've given me a few ideas, Miss Rarity," Ironhoof replied, picking up a yellow sweater. "Thank you. I'll purchase this." Rarity began ringing it up, Ironhoof placing the Bits on the counter before the item was even tallied up. "Do keep the change."

"Why than- .... hold on just a second, I haven't told you my name yet. How did you know?"

The stallion paused, looking down at the sweater... thinking quickly:

"Is this the one I really wan-" He looked up. "Oh, uh, yes you did. When I came in, of course. Not to mention, this place is a rather famous. I read about it in your local news paper before coming in."

Rarity paused for a moment. She had been too shaken by this stallion to retain how she had introduced herself, she looked down at the Bits he had given her.

"Sir, this is just a twenty bit sweater! You've given me six times as much."

"I can afford it," he said, tying the sweater around his waist, hiding his cutie mark with something local and trendy. " I enjoy supporting local businesses... it's good practice. I support Sweet Apple Acres back where I hail from, because it was here when Ponyville was founded, and I even support Miss Buttercup's Home Made Goodness... I meant Homegrown. Oh, wait... do you remember which it is?"

"I think it's Homegrown, but I know what you mean," Rarity responded, with a fake grin. "Thank you for your business, sir."

"You are quite welcome." He glanced back at the exit. "I'm afraid I simply must be going. I've got much sight seeing to do... do you know of any local camera shops, maybe those which could zoom out far to get a good look at things like birds or the Ponyville bell tower?"

"There's always Photo Finish's emporium of-"

"Ah, Photo Finish is here, too!"

"Now, I didn't say that." Rarity chuckled. "But her shop carries many state of the art cameras, the same ones used at my fashion shows."

"Splendid!"

Rarity belched inside her mouth, hiding it with a grimace.

"You have a... most unusual accent, sir. It sounds more Canterlot'ish than Manehatten. I can almost hear both, as well as Ponyville."

"I studied abroad, surrounded by all sorts of rich characters." Ironhoof smiled, showing a few wrinkles hidden under his disguise. "I can even speak the Prench tongue of the Griffin! Would you like to hear some?"

"Unfortunately, it would mean nothing to me," Rarity looked towards her Inspiration Room. "I must get back to a commission I'm working on. Please understand."

"It's no trouble at all." He smiled. "Have a nice day."

"You too, thank you."

Ironhoof turned tail and started walking towards the door. He glanced back briefly to see Rarity's eyes were still on him. He smiled again, then opened the door... leaving her shop.

"Guess it takes all kinds," Rarity said, shaking her head as she retreated into her Inspiration Room.

* * *

It wasn't hard for Ironhoof to find the camera shop. Everything in this half of Ponyville was set up in almost a giant circle-like grid, the Golden Oaks Library more towards the center. He got a map at the library from, of all things, a baby dragon... though he was hardly interested in hearing about how a dangerous reptile ended up in Ponyville. He then got a camera and shades, asking the disinterested mare behind the counter the same battery of questions he asked Rarity, only to get less useful information (he still paid her twice the amount for the items, telling her he thought she was attractive). Iron Hoof knew just the right level of discomfort to inject into his interactions -- he would keep others thinking he liked them, and that he had his own interests irrelevant to his reasons for actually being there... and he kept talking just long enough so the pony would get exasperated. The right level of charming, the right level of aggression and annoyance. They would want to forget about him, he wouldn't have to tell them to.

He checked out the local Fitness Center, only to see fat, middle-aged mares on treadmills. He knew this was no place for Rainbow Dash -- a sinewy built, class athlete Pegasus with likely unparalleled stamina. He checked out the bowling alley next, stallions made way for him and, carrying the shades and camera, he was able to blend in with the photographers taking snap-shots of the Bowling Leagues. He looked down each alley and stopped once he saw Rainbow Dash, all by herself, her nose bandaged up... and two sets of initials on the scoreboard:

AJ and RD

"She was not not lying about the fight," he muttered. "Her nose is clearly broken."

He sat down and watched as an orange farm mare approached with three caped fillies. The scoreboard changed to include:

AB, SB, SAL

He shook his head. The initials SAL conjured pictures of a movie made thirty years before he and Buttercup had seen in the theater when she was just a teenager... a film with dangerous artificial intelligence in space slaughtering stallions in their sleep to complete its mission. How he longed for the simpler times when just a movie was just enough to captivate her imagination... he at least could relate to SAL still.

He sat and snapped pictures. Of Rainbow Dash, of "AJ", and of the three fillies, all interacting with their rainbow-maned friend. They bowled five games and didn't once notice him.

Two hours later, the scoreboard switched to just the initials of the three fillies, and the two mares turned tail from the bowling alley. He remained seated, watching them as they prepared to exit the bowling alley. Once he was sure they were leaving he got up and followed them.

Ironhoof kept his distance as they walked, moving further and further away from the center and more towards the isolated outskirts of town. It was starting to feel like home to him, familiar... as though he were approaching Buttercup's estate on the other far side of Ponyville. They were headed towards the clock tower when the stallion noticed a pink mare with a curly mane and big, blue excited eyes barring his way. Behind her she had a wagon.... she was staring right at him, not moving.

"Excuse me," he said, in a low voice.

The mare let out a dramatic gasp in response, pulling a cord on her portable machine. She began to bounce around him:

Welcome, welcome, welcome! she began to sing. "A fine welcome to you!"

His eyes were focused on the prism tail of Rainbow Dash, quickly drifting away. He would not lose her. He looked around to see no other ponies but himself on the street.

I say how do you- GAH!!!

As the pink mare bounced in front of him, Ironhoof gave a quick jab to her cheek. She fell down, out cold... the music continued to play over the unconscious Pinkie. He stepped over her and continued to follow the two mares.

The two had almost fallen out of sight. He was back on their trail, still keeping up a respectable distance. They stopped a mere twenty feet from the clock tower and sat in the grass. He watched as the farm pony put a foreleg around Rainbow Dash and...

Buttercup is not going to like this, he thought as he snapped photos of the two snuggling, then Rainbow Dash kissing this farm pony on the cheek.

He had enough to prove a point to his mistress, yet he still sat... snapping pictures of the tower and the mares. When they finally got up -- thirty minutes later -- he continued to follow them, now towards a distant farm house: Sweet Apple Acres.

He had never set foot on the actual farm, but he had been honest to Rarity in saying he supported it. He enjoyed their Sweet Apple cider. He kept up his distance, continuing to look like a tourist. The two ponies never looked back. Applejack was used to tourists occasionally coming on to the Acres, and Rainbow Dash was too thoroughly invested in talking to Applejack to care. Once the sound of ponies talking was distant, and the breeze covered up by the canopy of apple trees, Ironhoof could hear a few words:

"Applejack, I don't know if I really want to give us another chance... I mean, I really like you as a friend and all."

"Well, I can promise to try to find more time for ya, Rainbow," Applejack replied confidently," but that's all Ah rightly can do. I'm not about to abandon ya... it's just running a farm is tough."

"Well, if you're really serious I'll think about it."

"I am. Ah rightly am!"

They made their way to a clearing where they again sat in the grass. Ironhoof continued to watch them from a distance, too far away to hear, but not to see what they were doing. He sat by a tree, hidden in the shade. The two kissed, this time on the lips, and Ironhoof was sure to snap a picture of that.

"Ya like filly-foolers, huh?" a voice said from about ten feet behind him. Ironhoof got up and turned around. He was facing a stallion a bit larger than himself, bright red, anger showing in his green eyes. "Ma sister's entitled to a little privacy with her marefriends, don't ya think?"

"I'm just out taking pictures of your trees," replied Ironhoof, coolly. "They're very fine trees, don't ya think?"

"Give me a break. Ah've seen you following them, I've been watching you watch them, and Ah don't rightly like you." Big Mac smiled. "Ya seem almost like you might be a pervert. We don't take too kindly to that type around here."

"Please, sir... I didn't realize what they were doing until a seconds ago when they kissed. I figured the couple would add ambiance to my pictures. I had no idea they were a literal-"

"Expose your film here, then, and I won't expose you. All will be forgiven."

"But I have important work photos on here! I can't do that."

"Expose your film here and I won't expose you," repeated Big Mac. "Do it now or Ah will buck your brains out, then do it for you."

"I'm not exposing these photos," said Ironhood coldly, in his real voice. "And if you try that, you'll end up on your porch in a shoe box, I can assure you of that."

"Is that so?"

"A promise."

Big Mac's lip twitched as he stared at the stallion. He started digging at the earth.

"You're lucky Ah don't want to spoil ma sister's fine day," he said. "We've been telling her to take more time off... if Ah catch you here again, though, I'm gunna kill you. Like physically kill you, do you get me now?"

"Thank you," Ironhoof said, again in his disguised voice, picking up his camera. "A good day to you, sir!"

Ironhoof left the acres, tail between his legs... looking defeated, although he was not. He got everything he needed in just one day... that was enough. He made sure to reenter town far enough away from where he had struck the pink mare. Nearby was the post office, where he put forth a telegram, bound for his mistress:

"Do you know where this address is?" he asked the gray mare. "It's quite important that you get this to her in a timely fashion."

"I went there earlier!" replied Derpy. "I'll have it there even faster than before."

"Excellent."

Now all he had to do was wait... with luck the carriage would be arriving within two hours. He made sure to hug the camera snuggly.

An hour later he saw the carriage approach. He left the post office and took one final look at Ponyville. Right above him, on a small cloud, dangled a prism-colored tail.

She's napping. Hopefully that's how I'll catch her.

He made sure to snap one final picture.

* * *

"How do you want your revenge, mistress?" asked a cleaned-up Ironhoof, back in his normal attire. "I'll do anything you tell me to."

Buttercup looked over his pictures. They were perfect... too perfect. Their perfection was maddening to the aging entrepreneur.

"Shall I modify the blunderbuss into a more proper scattergun, fit it with a silencer and blow her out of the sky while she naps?" he asked. "If she survives, she'll never fly again. She may even not walk. Mobility seems... rather important to a mare like her. It will destroy her."

"I want her alive," Buttercup said. "And in one piece."

"Do you want her here?"

"She accepted my invitation then blew me off to be with another mare," Buttercup said, sneering. "Of course I don't want her here."

"Shall I hurt somepony she cares about then?" He looked down at the picture of the two ponies together. "Perhaps make this mare lame?"

Buttercup looked up at him.

"Then they'll be able to spend time together. I want you to make somepony disappear. Be creative."

"I think I can make you quite happy."

"Then by all means do it."

Ironhoof nodded.

"As you wish."

1, 3 -- "Crossfire"

"Crossfire"
1, 3

"Wewl, haow do I wook, Dashie?" Pinkie Pie asked, a sea of hungry party guests downstairs crying out for their hostess.

"Pinkie, are you sure you want to do this?" Dash asked, through her own nose brace. "You only got clocked, what.... three days ago?"

"Aohh... A'll be fine so wong as I dun't tok too much!" Pinkie replied. "You went to werk today, too!"

"Yeah, but that's different... I don't have to shout about parties." Dash sighed. "Pinkie, you look totally fine. Just try not to tear any stitches, okay?"

Pinkie Pie smiled as big as she could without doing just that.

"It'wll be a siwent party for Penkie!"

"It's gunna have to be," Rainbow Dash said.

"Tanks for your hewlp setting up!"

Before Rainbow could even say anything, Pinkie got up and ran down stairs, leaving Dash to follow slowly behind. Rainbow got up, shook her head, then pushed open the door to reveal a sizable number of young guests sitting at the indoor picnic-style table. The cake in the center said "Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle!" with a mountain of presents not too far off.

At the center was the guest of honor, her wide-eyed sister by her side. Rarity had made the decorations, but Rainbow and Pinkie laid out everything in the space -- it was a mixture of all three ponies aesthetic tastes, and that struck just the right chord with Sweetie Belle.

"Thank you one and all!" Rainbow Dash said for Pinkie, as the mare lit the candles. "This is all just for you Sweetie Belle. Hope you have an awesome ninth birthday!"

"Hewre! Hewre!"

Sweetie Belle blew out the candles and her party started.

It was a typical party, with typical flare of all three. Pinkie was happy to see Sweetie Belle smiling, and to know that all her friends had made it. It went on for a couple of hours, and everypony had a blast. When it finally dispersed, it was getting late. Applejack walked Applebloom home, following her were Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle and Rarity stayed behind a while, but they'd be on their way soon, too.

The streets of Ponyville were fairly empty. One, two ponies other than the two pairs of mares and fillies, and that was it.

"Where are you staying tonight, Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash asked, yawning. "Will you be with your fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders at the sleepover?"

"Heck yeah! Me and Sweetie Belle have been looking forward to this all week."

"Awesome, awesome." Rainbow Dash yawned again. "Hey AJ?"

The farm pony turned to her, a mere twenty feet ahead.

"Yeah, sugarcube?"

"You okay walking Scootaloo to the Acres tonight? I'm kind of tired. All that setting up did a number on my... well, everything. Chairs and tables are not like clouds one bit."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all." Applejack smiled. "Anything for you, Rainbow."

The pegasus grinned at he special somepony, already getting ready to take off.

"Night Scoots."

"Night Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo replied, watching Rainbow take off into the air.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Rainbow said as she disappeared into the air.

The three continued on their merry way.

Twenty feet ahead, resting at the Ponyville fountain, was what appeared to be a tan unicorn jogger with a blond mane. Judging by his wheezing, he was a beginner... little did the ponies know he'd barely run seventy feet. His horn wasn't real, nor was his color... in fact if anypony had taken a closer look they might've noticed the horn was a bit bouncy and in fact becoming crooked. Underneath all that was a gray earth pony, still able to blend into his surroundings. The things ponies do not notice when they're too wrapped up in their own conversations.

He'd been following Rainbow Dash for a few days, each day a different pony, learning different things about her from her friends, and even the fillies. Rarity thought there was a sudden influx of oddities coming into town, as once a day ponies would come into her shop asking questions about either one of her friends or... one even asked about her relationship with Rainbow Dash. She had to ask that one to leave... his questions were getting a little too uncomfortable.

Do you think she finds you attractive?

In retrospect, even Ironhoof thought that question was in poor taste, but since no pony was recognizing him, he could always ask whatever questions he wanted and come back the next day as some pony else if he didn't get the answer he liked. He found out Pinkie, the mare he clocked was a good friend of Dash's, but... he could hardly understand a word she was saying after he'd first gotten done with her.

He followed them all the way to the acres, watching Scootaloo on her scooter. He even passed them once they got to the outskirts of Ponyville towards the Acres.

"Nice Scooter," he said, jogging past her (this time down hill, thankfully).

"Thanks!" Scootaloo replied.

Once he got past the final building in the block, he turned the corner and jogged around to a place he wouldn't be seen, where he caught his breath. He watched the ponies slowly sauntering in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Once he was sure of where they would be, if not tonight, then in the morning... he would make his move. The paper mache horn fell off with perfect timing.

"It's okay," said a passing unicorn, sympathetically. "There are times I wish I were a pegasus!"

Ironhoof let out a sigh. At least he was no longer visible to those that mattered.

It was looking like he would have to take a room this time. Hopefully, his mistress wouldn't get too concerned with this project taking longer than expected.

* * *

Having neatened himself up, Ironhoof waited. He was no longer a unicorn; he changed his attire to look like that of his first visit, save the sweater... in it's place, his saddlebag. He waited until dark and he slept until dawn. It was then that he left and stood on a hill, the farm house in plain sight.

Eight AM passed. Nine AM passed. Ten, eleven gone. It was approaching lunch... aside from apples, there was nothing for him to eat. The big red stallion came out early and started bucking trees. Ironhoof was far off, away and hidden by the trees. He saw him this time, Big Mac didn't see Ironhoof. Even so, the aging stallion didn't care. The orange mare joined him later on, shortly after that a rainbow blur zipped by overhead just long enough to say hello... then zipped away... probably off to work. Ironhoof wished he could just shoot her and be done with all this, but he was aiming to truly hurt Rainbow Dash, and that would be over with much too quick.

It was then that the fillies emerged, two headed for a treehouse not far off, and one headed towards town.

"I'll be back in no time with those books on excavation!" said the one headed away from the other two, pulling out a collapsible scooter from behind her back.

"Cutie Mark Crusader Archaeologists -- yay!" All three seemed to exclaim, causing Ironhoof's ears to flatten against his head... even from that distance.

Ironhoof was determined to beat the filly to her destination.

He slid down the hill and galloped -- literally galloped -- towards the road as the filly rapidly gained on him. He wheezed and puffed along the way, but made it with time to spare. The road was, thank goodness, empty. He felt like if he had gone much further would would have vomited up his heart. His strength was superior, but his stamina was certainly lacking...

Not bad for over sixty, he thought as he caught his breath.

It was then that Scootaloo emerged, about fifty feet behind him. She turned in the direction of the stallion, who turned away and proceeded to drag his hooves and wobble. He heard her buzzing slow down as she approached.

"Hey mister, are you okay?" she asked the seemingly injured stallion.

"I-" He turned to look back. "I can't feel my left hind leg. Please! I think I'm having a serious problem. A stroke, a heart-attack! Oh, don't let me fall... there are sharp rocks here."

"C-c-coming," the filly said nervously. "I won't let you fall, don't worry."

Scootaloo set her Scooter down, approaching Ironhoof. She managed to wiggle under his haunches and provide support. He patted her back, going into his saddle bag.

"Good girl," he said weakly. "Thank you so much."

"Please... you're really heavy!" said Scootaloo. "Just let me get you to the grass, and I'll go get Big Mac. He'll know what to do and- hey!"

Ironhoof was now holding her tightly. He'd pulled a small syringe from his saddlebag and had stuck it into her left shoulder.

"Stop it! What're you-"

"Shhh, shhh.... it's okay." He gently rubbed her mane. "Go to sleep, little one... I won't hurt you."

Everything seemed to slow down and become wavy as Scootaloo's limbs all turned to jelly. Colors seemed to spiral out, her vision fading to a pin prick. Ironhoof was there to keep the filly from falling on the non-existent sharp rocks as she finally drifted off, not to sleep... but to a place where she would cease to be for now. Just where he wanted her. He might have to give her another injection as would take a couple hours to get her home, but that would be fine.

Iron made sure to clear the road of everything -- scooter, tracks, and all.

* * *

A deep voice spoke, sounding like an engine:

"What.. you want... Buttercup? You want... dogs? ... torture? ... choice ... live ... die ... happy? All ... you?"

A lyrical voice answered, sounding as though it were being put through a lawnmower:

"No, I want ...young ... rainbow... looks... pretty... be done?"

The low voice answered:

"... you wish."

2, 1 -- "Looking Up"

"Looking Up"
2, 1

Scootaloo shot awake, her body sweaty and numb. Instinctively she tried flail her limbs, but found she couldn't move. Everything appeared dark and blurry, her senses dull and mildly distorted... wavy lines distorting her periphery. Where ever she was she could tell the walls were pink.

Coughing, the filly took in some air through her nose. The room smelled like, of all things... foal powder?

It was silent.

Slowly she scanned the area. Was she in Pinkie's room? It was about the same size, but... empty. Devoid of anything, really. She saw a window pane just above her head. It was either morning or dusk; the golden sun peeked in, barely illuminating the room. She couldn't see much beyond this, so she looked down at herself and couldn't believe what she saw:

She was in some type of hard plastic chair on a table, tilted slightly backwards, her limbs all stretched out. It was in the shape of a basket, yet formed to fit her body, with had a handle jutting from either side. She was locked in place by heavy bands... some type of industrial strength rubber, restricting each of her hooves and joints. She felt one around her chest and mid-section as well, thicker and tighter, yet she could barely move to see the later. It was then that Scootaloo began to feel nausea building up... mobility was so important to her, and she could not move even if there was a fire. Adding to her disorientation, the filly noticed she was wearing clothes. A bright red shirt and, squinting her still focusing eyes...

Diapers?

The orange filly tried to move her hips, only to hear the soft crinkling of what she suspected they were. Scootaloo had been put in disposable diapers while unconscious and they were indeed thick and white. She would have been mortified and ripping them apart if not restrained, but because she couldn't move much more than her neck, she was terrified beyond all words. She then noticed something equally disturbing, if not more so:

Her tail was rainbow-colored, her coat apparently cyan. She was looking down at a body she didn't even recognize as her own, never mind that it was starting to look like her idol's...

Scootaloo began to struggle in the restraints, her agitation quickly building as she realized, despite her best efforts, she was locked into place. The filly didn't care about what she looked like anymore, she wanted out.

"Help!" she cried. "SOMEPONY PLEASE HELP ME!"

As if by magic, a light turned on behind her and somepony came right away. It sounded almost as if they came from up above, down a set of thickly carpeted stairs behind Scootaloo. The pace was energetic, yet heavy, almost shaking Scootaloo's confines. The pony came to the front of bound filly, revealing who she was. Scootaloo had never seen this pegasus before:

An older mare... old to Scootaloo, that is. She would have also called her fat... but then again, she would have called Mrs. Cake and Torch Song fat. Plump at best. This mare looked happy, and she reminded Scootaloo of Rarity, Applejack, and Ms. Harshwhinny all at the same time. Her eyes were like nothing the filly had ever seen... Scootaloo was rendered momentarily silent by their calm and accepting, yet piercing gaze.

"Hi Honey!" the mare exclaimed with a smile. Her voice was lyrical. "How are you?"

"Wh- ... where am I? What's going on?" Scootaloo asked, her vision beginning to blur up. "I-... uh..."

The pegasus filly began to weep, not knowing what to make of any of this... severely perturbed by the mare's blue, emotionless eyes.

"It's okay, it's okay!" the mare said soothing tone, sticking out a hoof to tenderly to wipe Scootaloo's cheek. "You must've had a pretty bad dream, huh? Let me wipe the tears away!"

"What're you talking about...?" Scootaloo asked, snot streaming from her nose. Her words were nasal. "What's this about?"

The mare beeped her nose.

"You're my foal, silly." She rubbed Scootaloo's tummy. "And I'm here to take care of you! I'll never let anything bad happen to you ever again. Mommy promises!"

"I- I'm not a foal. I'm almost ten!"

The mare continued to smile.

"Oh, you're such a sweetie. I don't know what you're talking about!"

The tears began to form again, this time more forcefully... panic growing quickly behind them.

"My name's Scootaloo!" she exclaimed. "I'm nine years old..."

"Oh?"

"Y-yes. I go to Ponyville Elementary. And my f-friends are Applebloom and Sweetie Belle."

"That sounds like such a wonderful dream, Honey!" Again, the mare beeped her nose. "You're not old enough to go to school yet. Why you're not even toilet-trained!"

Scootaloo scowled:

"That's not true!" she growled. "I'm nine years old and I am, too, toilet-trained!"

The mare smiled warmly.

"Can you prove that, Honey?"

Before Scootaloo could answer (not that she had a quick answer for that) the mare reached to the side of her confines and picked up something small. It rattled softly.

"Open up! You're really gunna like this!"

"I'm not doing anything you tell me t- HEY!"

The mare had two hooves, Scootaloo had none. With her mouth forced open, Scootaloo had something round and rubbery placed inside...

"There, there..." The mare caressed her barrel, keeping the object securely in place. "Gently suck, Honey... It's good. You love your binky!"

Scootaloo's eyes went wide on the word binky. She knew what that meant from her time spent with Pinkie Pie helping babysit for the Cakes:

"There, there, Pumpkin! Pinkie's got your binky!"

Scootaloo was being forced to suck on a pacifier. She kept it where it was, unable to spit it out... but not sucking on it either.

"Listen carefully to mommy, sweetie," the mare almost whispered. "I'm Miss Buttercup Lightwood Gambroge... I'm your mommy. You're my precious little one-year old daughter, Honey. You have such an imagination! I know sometimes you think you're a big filly, but you're not. It's okay to play pretend... Mommy still loves you!"

Buttercup released the pacifier, which Scootaloo saw was on a string. It fell listlessly to the side as the filly stared helplessly up at her captor... shaking in the restraints:

"I'm Scootaloo...," she whimpered.

"No, you're Honey!" Buttercup replied, beeping her nose. "And you always will be my precious little foal."

"I'm Scootaloo!"

"You are so silly!" Buttercup's tone remained cheerful. "Okay... you think you're potty-trained, right?"

"I KNOW I AM!"

Buttercup let out a small giggle, covering her mouth as though she had hiccuped. When she removed her hoof, Scootaloo saw a thin smile on her lips. Her mouth moved in a mean way, as though she was angry, but her tone was still cheerful:

"Honey, if you're potty trained, then how come you need to be changed?"

Scootaloo stared silently up at the mare. Buttercup casually set one hoof on her chest, and.... with the simple flick of a switch, she released the bindings on Scootaloo's upper torso just slightly.

"See? Honey, look here!" She cranked Scootaloo's head just slightly so she could see the front of her diaper more clearly. "You're all wet!" Buttercup squished it in her hoof; Scootaloo felt the clammy sensation of cold urine, her pupils shrinking. "Woah! You must've had a lot to drink before nap time, huh?"

I... I uh..." Not knowing what to do or say, Scootaloo did what most any child would do under similar circumstances... powerless and humiliated. She broke down.

"Hey! Hey! It's okay! I'll get you a new diaper and everything will be fine."

Scootaloo continued to cry as Buttercup turned around. The filly's eyes were half-closed, dreading what she knew was coming next.

"There, there," Buttercup said, loosening the strap holding Scootaloo's midsection. "This'll be over with before you know it... nopony likes being in an icky wet diaper!"

Having had her restraints loosened, Scootaloo began to thrash about... she wanted out, and she was ready to fight for it if she had to. Again, Buttercup let out a small chuckle... it did no good. The bonds holding her hooves were still snugly in place -- the release was just so Buttercup could more easily lift her waist, something she would need to do to change her.

"I don't wear diapers!" Scootaloo protested.

"You're so silly!" In the blink of an eye, Buttercup picked up the pacifier and stuck firmly it in the filly's mouth. "You love your pacifier, and you're gunna stay in that icky, wet diaper until I feel you start sucking."

Scootaloo looked up at Buttercup, tears streaming down her face. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't move, she couldn't fight; she would have continued to bawl but she was too upset. She stared into Buttercup's seemingly compassionate gaze.

"It's okay," she said softly. "Relax, Honey... I've got you."

Scootaloo didn't even realize it yet, but she had started sucking on the rubber pacifier. She had nothing she could do, and at nine it was more instinctive than she would have ever wanted to admit. It was the only thing that could comfort her.

"That's my baby..." Buttercup smiled warmly. "You like your binky, huh? Makes you feel nice and happy! It's not so bad."

Scootaloo didn't answer. She was silent... withdrawn, suckling like a foal. Buttercup removed her hoof.

"There..." Buttercup placed a her hooves on Scootaloo's diaper and began untaping it.

Right away the pacifier fell from Scootaloo's mouth.

"No! No!" she cried, tears pouring down her cheeks. "Stop! Let me go!"

"Shhh...." Buttercup picked up the pacifier again, and tenderly placed it in Scootaloo's mouth... holding it there for a few solid minutes, until the tears stopped and she started sucking again. "There, there.... That's my baby." She giggled, releasing the next set of tapes. "Now raise your bottom please, pretty girl."

Scootaloo did as she was told, continuing to suck, as the wet diaper was pulled away. She didn't know what to do, and doing it made her feel less anxious.

Buttercup balled it up and came back with a baby wipe. Once Scootaloo saw it her eyes went wide... when she felt it, however, the pacifier fell again.

"Stop! Get away from me!"

"Shhh...." Again, Buttercup picked up the pacifier and placed it into Scootaloo's mouth. "I'm not hurting you! I'm a good mommy... I'd never touch my foal inappropriately." She started wiping Scootaloo clean again. She wiggled a bit, but with Buttercup holding the pacifier in her mouth there wasn't much she could do. She started to suck again, her eyes returning to relaxed little slits. "There... all clean!"

Scootaloo continued to suck while Buttercup got the new diaper out.

"Now raise your bottom, Honey."

Scootaloo laid there, whimpering. She was snapped back to reality as she saw the mare above tower her, warm eyes... holding open an opened youth-sized diaper, ready to wrap it around her nine year old backside.

"If I don't put this diaper on you, you'll get poo-poo and pee-pee in your seat! That's not going to feel very nice or be very clean."

"I'm potty-trained," Scootaloo mumbled through the pacifier.

"No, you're not."

"I'm potty-trained!" Scootaloo cried through the pacifier. "I don't need to wear diapers! Let me go!"

Again, Buttercup placed her hoof against the filly's mouth just in time for her to throw a fit. She cried and thrashed in the seat, saying bad words which Buttercup thankfully couldn't make out (if she had, Scootaloo would have likely been spanked until her orange rump turned red). Buttercup was a patient mare and after just five minutes, Scootaloo was red in the face and completely worn out... again, there was nothing she could do.

"Feel better?" Buttercup asked, with a cruel smile. "Now just raise your bottom, sweetie... we'll talk more once you've been changed."

Defeated, Scootaloo raised her backside. Buttercup slipped the new disposable diaper under her and fastened it up in a matter of seconds. Scootaloo was diapered.

"There... All done!"

* * *

Buttercup beeped the Scootaloo's nose, pulling the pacifier from her mouth with a pop. As promised, they were going to have a talk:

"Now, tell me Honey... what color is Scootaloo?"

"Orange," the filly replied. "With a purple mane."

"And what's your favorite color?"

Scootaloo hesitated.

"Um... orange?"

"And mine's purple!" She beeped Scootaloo's nose again. "This sounds like a wonderful dream! I bet Scootaloo had a really neat purple mane, too, huh?"

"Yes! Uh, no... uh, it wasn't a dream! My mane is purple and neat."

"Yes, it was a dream, Honey! Now, tell me... this is very important: who are Scootaloo's mommy and daddy?"

Scootaloo looked up at Buttercup with a blank expression. The mare repeated herself:

"Honey, please tell me... who exactly are Scootaloo's mommy and daddy?"

Tears began to pour as Scootaloo seemed almost to smile at the question.

"I- .... I... I don't have any!" she cried. "The t-town of Ponyville watches me!"

As Scootaloo let out a near silent cry, Buttercup had something to say:

"This is just adorable!" She stuck the pacifier back in Scootaloo's open mouth. "Ponyville's a bigger town than you realize, sweetie. I know it's scary to think you don't have a mommy... no pony there to take care for you, and love you no matter what. It sounds terrible! I can't imagine a life for you like that... that's why you have me. I'll be here always to keep you warm and safe and clean, and you'll never, ever have to worry about anything ever again as long as I'm around. You're safe now."

Scootaloo couldn't respond to that. She was, for lack of a better word, in a state of shock.

"I'm... I..."

"Shhh..." Buttercup held object in her mouth. "Just suck on your binky, Honey. You'll be happy here. Always."

The pacifier was released and Scootaloo kept a tight grip on it, sucking. Buttercup then reached for a book just out of Scootaloo's field of vision:

Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.

Scootaloo could read it... she could read the title! She wasn't some foal in a nursery, she was really what she was saying she was.

Buttercup anticipated this, however, and held the pacifier in place.

"I know you get excited when your favorite book comes out," she said. "But spitting and yelling is NEVER, EVER okay. Keep enjoying your binky and I'll read some to you."

It took a moment. Buttercup stared calmly at her captive filly until the fire died down in her eyes and the sucking resumed again... it was almost rhythmic.

"Good girl."

The mare began, clearing her throat:

"As Daring Do..."

* * *

The reading finally stopped. The only good thing to come out of Buttercup was how well she could act while reading, and it did help lull Scootaloo's tired mind. He voice was like a velvet blanket and Scootaloo was relaxed, slowly sucking on the binky... but part of her wanted to throw up. The book was put away. Buttercup had jostled her just slightly while reading and she could now barely see the large changing table that housed all the supplies.

Out came a bottle and a couple jars... baby food with a small plastic spoon.

"No...," Scootaloo said, weakly, the pacifier falling from her mouth. "I don't wanna eat that." The mare just stared at her. "I... I- I'm not hungry."

"Now I know you like applesauce," Buttercup said, warmly. "So if you're a good girl and eat all of your vegetables, I'll give you some for desert!"

Scootaloo stared as Buttercup opened a jar of what looked like mashed peas and got the spoon.

"Now open up! This is good food!"

Scootaloo didn't do as she was told.

"Open up, Honey," Buttercup said, with a mean smile. "Or I'll just have to pry your mouth again!"

Slowly, Scootaloo opened her mouth... her face contorted, dreading the taste of whatever was coming.

"That's my girl!" The spoon clicked and clacked in the jar as Buttercup stirred the contents, then made way for Scootaloo's mouth.

The filly tasted the mush. It turned her stomach even more sour than it already was.

"I hate spinach!" she exclaimed, trying to spit it out.

"Do that again, and you get no desert!" Buttercup replied coldly, preparing another spoonful.

Face-to-face with another helping of green mush, Scootaloo swallowed her pride... looking up into Buttercup's glass-like eyes, she slowly opened her mouth. Anything to keep the old mare from staring at her like that.

"That's my baby!" Buttercup shoveled another spoonful in. "Now swallow!"

Scootaloo swallowed, then opened up... only to repeat the same pattern over again.

After about twenty spoonfuls later, the green mush was gone, replaced by yellow, then orange mush.

"Gah! I hate sweet potato!" Scootaloo cried on the third jar.

She still ate it... slowly and deliberately, as Buttercup fed it to her with a cruel smile. Scootaloo's eyes were glazed over, too tired to cry anymore.

Finally, Buttercup opened a container of red mush, which wasn't bad (it was beets), and once that was gone... out came a tiny container of applesauce.

Your favorite, just like I promised!"

What really perplexed the filly was she really did like applesauce. It was pretty close to her favorite. How did Buttercup know this? Was it a lucky guess?

Again, Scootaloo opened her mouth. The spoonfuls seemed heftier, but she hardly tasted it... the apples were gone much too fast, leaving just the bottle... along with an unsatisfied, scared little filly.

The little pegasus shook her head once the she saw the rubber nipple coming her way -- too exhausted, too overloaded to carry on anymore:

"No..."

She clamped her lips tightly shut.

"It's either bottled formula," Buttercup began, with a slight smile, "or you can have some milk straight from Mommy. Your choice, sweetie."

Buttercup set down the bottle and began to turn around, still making eye contact with Scootaloo... the mare pressed against her stomach with a hoof. Out of the corner of her eye, Scootaloo could see that she had unusually large breasts and was in fact squeezing one of her teats... a small amount of white fluid dripping from it. Scootaloo opened right up:

"Please, no! Don't do that!" she cried. "I'll drink the bottle... I promise."

With a satisfied grin, Buttercup spun back around and picked up the bottle. She had won.

"Good girl."

Shutting her eyes and wincing, Scootaloo felt the rubber nipple being placed tenderly by her lips. She formed a tight seal around it and began to suck on the bottle... no instruction needed, she just wanted to get this over with. The formula hit her tongue only a few drops at a time and was room temperature... it reminded her of vanilla. She opened her eyes long enough to see Buttercup sitting on the table beside her.

Scootaloo's mind went far away... after tasting the vanilla, all she could think about was Sugarcube Corner. Smells, tastes, colors... Pinkie and the Cakes welcoming her in and occasionally giving her and her friends an extra free sample if they looked especially satisfied after a day of Crusading in the fields. It didn't seem she would ever see any of that again... Buttercup didn't care about it. Scootaloo realized Buttercup didn't care about her. Her mind was now a blank.

The filly cried softly, scowling as she emptied the bottle. It took a number of minutes, during which time Buttercup snuggled up to her, throwing a lightweight blanket over her front so all that could be seen was the tip of her prism-colored tail peeking out from the bottom (not that Scootaloo could see with her eyes closed). Scootaloo's eyes were growing moist again... Buttercup cleaned them tenderly, and then massaged her now prism-colored scalp.

"Mommy loves you, Honey."

In response, tears ran down Scootaloo's cheeks.

* * *

After the bottle was finished, Buttercup snuggled Scootaloo for a few more minutes. She was content to have found the perfect foal... a bit larger, granted, but she'd have no trouble overpowering this one if she got loose. The filly had the nipple replaced with her binky, then Buttercup gave her a kiss on the forehead before finally getting up.

"Where are you going?" Scootaloo blurted out, surprising even herself.

"Mommy has to go do grown-up things, sweetie," Buttercup replied. "I have a big business to run! It's really boring, but it makes it so I can keep you safe and sound. I'll be back soon to check-up on you and make sure you're happy and clean!"

The pacifier fell to the side, making a clicking sound.

"Hey, don't leave me!" Scootaloo cried. "I don't like it here."

"I'm sorry, sweetie. It's just for right now. I'll be back for you... I promise." Buttercup picked up the pacifier and stuck it right in Scootaloo's mouth. "I'm not going to be here to pick this up again... you love your binky, and I don't want to have it fall or you'll be sad."

"But I-"

"Shh.... I'll send Mister Ironhoof down before I come back just to make sure you're okay. He may look mean, but he's very gentle... he's always been so nice to me, and he's going to be just as nice to you. I promise!"

Scootaloo looked sad. She didn't cry this time... just looked sad.

"I'll leave the lights on so you don't get scared." Buttercup slowly got up and walked out of Scootaloo's field of vision. "It's almost night time, sweetie... I'll be back before bedtime."

She then quickly trotted back up the stairs, shutting the door at the top.

Once alone, Scootaloo froze.... she couldn't even begin to process any of this, and that's what scared her the most. She had literally been regressed, one of her biggest fears was having everything taken away from her, since she was already missing out by being unable to fly. She could talk now, yes, but it didn't seem to do her any good. She couldn't move. The filly began to sweat underneath the lightweight blanket. The pacifier remained mid-suck for about half a minute, before she finally let it drop. It was then she began to weep, staring at her prism-colored tail. A million thoughts raced through her mind:

Why am I here? What happened to my friends? Was I kidnapped? Why am I colored like Rainbow Dash? The last thing I remember was leaving Sweet Apple Acres to get a book. Is that right? I can't move! How do I get out of here? Are there any ponies here who will help me? I'm alone! Why did she take me? Why did this happen to me?

All the while she struggled vainly in the restraints.

* * *

Scootaloo gave up struggling after a while. Physically she was not uncomfortable just sitting there, allowing this to happen... but fighting it? That actually hurt. The rubber was hard, disturbingly inflexible. It was not comforting at all to squirm for more than a few minutes.

She had no reference for time. That wouldn't normally have bothered her, but laying there.... all alone for what felt like hours, she needed something to gauge... something to watch over. Passing time could have been equal to minutes, it could have been hours. Her mind raced as did her heart... her breathing picked up again. Sickness boiled in her gut. It was uncomfortable to not find comfort in anything other than stillness. She needed to move! It seemed the only way to stop this was to listen to Buttercup, let her touch her... or at least not be afraid when she came close. That seemed... almost not uncomforting. Realizing she was thinking like this made Scootaloo feel even sicker.

Nature started calling after hour two crawled by... not that Scootaloo would have known the time. Being a pegasus, they're known for needing to use the bathroom more than other ponies... flight takes more energy, afterall. Her bladder and bowels were primed for release. She knew holding it was futile, but still she tried.. holding on as along as she could. After about forty-five minutes of really having to go, in this awkward yet comforting position, Scootaloo openly acknowledged her efforts were in vain:

"I can't hold it anymore," she said quietly, her voice the only thing breaking the silence.

Biting her lip, the filly turned crimson... allowing her bladder and bowels to release. Even Rainbow dash had once admitted when her wing was pinned under that bolder when she was culling out a pet... she'd peed under herself before Tank finally picked her up.

"It happens," Dash said.

Scootaloo really didn't have a choice in the matter. Everything seemed very scary... this was one way to make her surroundings seem less intense. It felt natural and right, one less thing to think about. Shuttering, she felt the warm presence spread around and the more solid one slide up and fill the back of her diaper. It didn't take long for the filly to begin smelling like an outhouse... an outhouse seasoned with foal powder. She cried quietly, utterly humiliated despite having nopony around to witness her shame.

After that, she sat there. After a short amount of time passed the smell didn't bother her as much, and the wet sensation had been entirely absorbed. She ended up sitting there for half an hour, literally stewing in her own juices, before she heard the upstairs door open.

A pony with light hooves crept slowly down the stairs. She could tell, from the faint breathing, it was a stallion.

"I'm here to check on you," the pony said, walking into view. He was gray and large, wearing formal attire. "I don't think I need to tell you, you smell strongly of horse apples." Scootaloo just stared at him. He approached slowly, taking hold of the pacifier and tenderly placing it back in her mouth. "There." He released it and she let it fall again. The stallion smirked. "This is the one night I'm going to answer your questions. I know who you are, but you don't know who I am. I'm Ironhoof."

"She told me," the filly answered, weakly.

"I see. Do you have any questions for me, Scootaloo? Perhaps 'why am I here' or 'why are you doing this to me?' I've heard it all before, you see, and I can answer those questions pretty easily."

Scootaloo just stared up at him. Ironhoof sighed.

"You're here, Scootaloo, because your idol Rainbow Dash stood up my mistress... you know her a 'mommy.'"

"Huh?"

"They were supposed to get together, do grown-up things, and now... she wants to hurt Rainbow Dash." Ironhoof smirked. "She had me take you away. You're her foal now. We thought about killing you and sending pictures to Rainbow Dash, but the mistress saw a possibility... so I colored you to look like her foal, like Miss Dash. Buttercup will take care of you now, and you will never, ever have to worry about the things that destroy young ponies. You'll always be one-year old here. In many ways your being here is a blessing to you. You'll never know anymore pain than you know tonight and the hurt you feel now with eventually fade away."

"I- I wanna go home, and be with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, and Sweetie Belle, and-"

"You are home, Scootaloo. You don't need them anymore. You have me and Buttercup to keep you company.. keep you clean and happy. I even have special medicine I'll give you every once and a while to make all your bad thoughts go away."

"Please let me go home."

Ironhoof remained unphased. The filly looked up at him, dark rings around her eyes. He had no mercy for her... he had suggested feeding her to the dogs, after all.

"Think about your life, Scootaloo... think about what you're leaving behind."

"I am!" the filly cried. "I don't want to leave it! Please let me go! I won't tell anypony about this."

"We won't let you go, Scootaloo." Ironhoof took a breath. "I noticed your wings, little one. They're infantile, underdeveloped -- hypoplasic-vestigial. Do your schoolmates make fun of you for that?"

"No! They like me just the way I am!"

"That's even better, for you see... when you get older, it will start. They will begin to look down on you. It will start with them seeing you as inferior, weak, defective... simply to make themselves look better. Life is about competition and if you can't keep up with others they will crush you. We've spared you the horrors of growing up in self-disappointment. Buttercup loves you no matter what. Your wings don't matter to her and they sure don't matter to me. Changing your color was ingenious also, if I dare say so... only I could get it looking so perfect. You are the first whose coat I've changed, and with luck the last. You are young -- let her love you, it will make you happy. She asks so little... and you have no choice; she will treat you well. Those garments you will continue wear and soil, the food in the jars you will eat, and from the nipple you will drink. I hope over time you'll drink willingly from her bosom. That's really all a pony ever needs for nourishment."

Fortunately the only context Scootaloo was familiar with for the word bosom, was "bosom-buddy." She stared up at him, confused. Everything he had said hurt, but she could tell he was a bad pony trying to damage her feelings... that's what kept her from taking it to heart. She scowled at him, and he saw the fight in her eye.

"That's all I have to say." Ironhoof smiled. "Don't you have anything to say? Questions?"

She thought for a moment... it was quiet again. When she finally spoke, her words a jumbled mish-mash making sense but not making sense at the same time... she was tired:

"Y-you just said it doesn't matter if I don't want to... but you told me I'm not some silly foal. I am Scootaloo!"

"Yes, but once I go back upstairs, I will refer to you as Honey and treat you like a foal. I'm giving you the dignity of not changing you right now, which the Mistress will be down shortly to do. Besides, that's your bonding time with her. You will get weekly baths, which you will need to be lightly sedated for, and bi-monthly touch ups for your coat color. None of that matters to you as you won't even know the date... and no pony will tell you. My goal is to make it so will you live moment-to-moment, forgetting everything. It'll be easier than you think, and may feel like a distant memory to you at first... welcome it. I know you have no mother or father, I know a lot about you... let us embrace you, as we will never leave you."

Ironhoof's hammering struck a nerve that, despite being in shock from all this, caused Scootaloo to cry again. The stallion turned his back to the blubbering filly.

"That's the only form of communication you'll need now. Good night, Scootaloo."

He slowly crept back up the stairs. The lights went out again as he reached the top, then he shut the door. Scootaloo was in darkness now, she knew it was night for sure... all she could smell was a mixture of her own feces and foal powder. She could feel the mess in her diaper now. When the lights would finally come back on, the filly would never be allowed to grow up. They would both see to that.

2, 2 -- "Letting Go"

"Letting Go"
2, 2

Rainbow Dash had been searching the land for hours since she had first heard of Scootaloo's disappearance. She was a nervous wreck.

They had checked everywhere. The Library was the last place she was headed, yet Twilight and Spike hadn't seen her... nor had anypony in town. Search parties had formed, leaving no stone unturned, while Rainbow Dash searched in her own way -- frantically scouring over every nook and cranny of Ponyville. Dash had forgotten to eat lunch the first day and was quick to forget dinner. She was close to losing her breakfast... at least what she hadn't burned in the search.

All of her friends were concerned as well. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were out (with their sisters) calling her name, only to have silence be their answer. It was as if Scootaloo had simply vanished.

The search went on for weeks, weeks turned into months, and still no sign of the filly. Celestia had put bulletins out throughout her kingdom, bulletins seen by her kidnappers who knew that meant the ponies who loved her were running out of ideas. It appeared they had won.

The first week Scootaloo was almost completely comatose. Buttercup spent a total of eight hours each day with her -- feeding her, playing with her, and, of course, changing her. The filly only whimpered in humiliation during changes, but in days even that faded. It became a routine during which she was completely silent, but by the end of the week... once Ironhoof approached with a syringe, she had a different reaction:

"No! Please! Don't!"

Tears began to stream down her face, but that didn't matter. She was given the injection all the same, in her right shoulder. It hurt, but that was only part of why Scootaloo got scared -- she didn't know what it was, and she was told nothing. Within minutes the world was wonderful and wiggly, just as Ironhoof had hinted at the first night, and minutes after that.... once her conscious thought had finally faded away, she was released and taken upstairs... to the bathroom. Everything swayed before her eyes.

Scootaloo wouldn't remember much, but she could remembered three things from her first trip:

First, she would remember how big, cold, and empty Buttercup's house was. Second, she remembered how warm the bathroom was as she was stripped down... its distinct smell of foal shampoo. As her body made contact with the warm water she began to urinate like a foal... Buttercup was there to tell her "it's okay," not that she noticed. Buttercup gave her a very playful bath, stepping inside to bathe with her, and seeing Buttercup's full figure was the last thing that Scootaloo could recall for sure... her cutie mark, a simple cup of warm tea. She giggled and laughed as she was bathed, snuggling in to her "Mommy's" warm embrace towards the end of bath time as the bubbles made a pseudo-womb around her. She didn't know it, but she was already responding to the name Honey, at least with this substance inside of her.

Another week went by, Scootaloo now making brief eye-contact with Buttercup. At the end of the next bath, Ironhoof touched up her coat colorings. This dye he made could at least outlast a bath or two, but it couldn't outlast the quickness of pony hair growth. They had to keep up appearances -- for Buttercup's sake and his own -- ... in the unlikely event should Scootaloo ever be seen.

Third week Scootaloo was smiling and moving her body to help with feeding and changing times. This wasn't merely opening her lips or raising her legs on command... her mouth looked hungry as she was being fed, and Buttercup no longer needed to tell her to raise her backside. For bath time Ironhoof gave Scootaloo no more sedative than he had before. She sat towards the end of the bath, snuggling with her "Mommy" again on top of the mare's large, round tummy. It was then that Scootaloo surprised Buttercup:

The mare looked down, snuggling against her Honey in the warm bath. She felt warmth against her bosom, along with saliva... then she felt her Honey begin to suck on her teat. With no thoughts in her mind, Scootaloo did what came naturally. It seemed right... and actually tasted pretty good -- a natural flavor, sweet... one Scootaloo had never actually had the chance to enjoy.

"Good girl!" Buttercup exclaimed, now shouting through the closed bathroom door. "Ironhoof! Honey's suckling! She's finally doing it!"

"Wonderful," said Ironhoof. "I knew she would eventually."

"Drink all you want, sweetie! I've got plenty in store!"

Of course Scootaloo wouldn't remember this, but it was a sign that eventually (if Buttercup and Ironhoof kept at it), "Honey" might not need her medicine to make her cares go away. It wasn't even a month of being a foal... mares took longer (much, much longer) , and required bigger, more expensive diapers and bottles generally from pharmacies and fetish stores. A filly could be more easily fed from baby's items... the only thing Scootaloo needed in her actual size for now was youth diapers and the simple shirts Buttercup liked to put her foals in. There wasn't a onesie that could easily fit Scootaloo quite yet, but that wasn't to say she wouldn't eventually grow into those bought at the specialty shops, away in the far back of the Canterlot plazas.

* * *

Buttercup was content. Honey had just been suckling on her teat in her bedroom, sedatives coursing through her veins. She was now put to rest by Ironhoof, downstairs... asleep or soon to be. It had been months since the mare had had any moody spells, or even a bout of depression. Iron Hoof noticed this, but remained silent... why make her aware that she's happy, and not just let her be that way, seeing the glow in her eyes instead? It's far more genuine. Ironhoof was happy because she was happy.

It was nearing midnight when Buttercup called the Butler into her bedroom.

"You called?"

"Ironhoof..." Buttercup sat up in her bed. "Would you please come here?"

He did as he was asked, standing at the side of her bed... waiting for a command, like a robot.

Buttercup smiled:

"She's perfect, you know."

"I know. I'm glad you're happy."

"I want to thank you, Ironhoof. Anything I have is yours." She laid back in bed. "Just ask."

"Seeing that you're happy is enough, Mistress."

"Ironhoof, please call me Buttercup. I've known you for over twenty years!" The mare sighed, then looked up. "Ironhoof... would you like to retire from serving me?"

"I wouldn't dream of it. You'll need my help caring for her, after all, Miss Buttercup."

"I know. I was thinking you can still be here... just different."

He looked at her... quizzically. He said nothing, so she continued:

"I'm happy with you, Ironhoof... I'm happy with all you've done for me." She sat up and beamed a genuine grin, to which he couldn't help but smile back. This was fifteen years ago Buttercup. "I want you as an equal. Won't you take my hoof and be with me?"

"Is this what you want?" Ironhoof couldn't help the smirk at the thought. "To be with me? I can find you a better partner, if you want a stallion."

"I want you. Come to bed with me... live with me, as you always have. We'll be happy."

"We are happy now, are we not?"

She smirked:

"Let's make love."

Ironhoof's eyebrows almost went to his hairline. The last time Buttercup had a stallion... Honey was created. He was fine with another, another he could kill... but himself? He looked into her blue eyes to be sure it was what she wanted. He saw his own reflection and the truth:

"You are sure."

Buttercup didn't need to nod. She knew it wasn't a question.

Ironhoof pulled the blanket aside and got under the covers with Buttercup. She turned off the lights and that was that, Ironhoof was no longer her Butler. He had planted the seeds of happiness in her, replacing the rain and emptiness, and she invited him to share in that happiness. He had spent so long serving her that it was all he did, but now... he would still serve her, but not as a servant. He loved her and she loved him. Each brought the other happiness, and as Scootaloo slept in their basement... drifting memories of her past life in and out of her mind... they would relish over what they now had: her, finally as what they wanted, and each other.

* * *

Eight months after Scootaloo's disappearance friends were sad, but they had moved on. All Ponyville had moved on, too... even most of the Elements had. All but one.

Rainbow Dash was now working with Applejack. She had lost her job with the Weather Patrol... something about requesting too many days off to look for a lost filly that she could never find. Her co-workers cared at first, but after a while it seemed dismal and hopeless. That was the real reason she was fired -- Rainbow Dash had become depressing to be around. All the loyalty she felt eaten up by somepony who had just one day ceased to be. Applejack took her in and since they were working together, they now had all the time in the world to spend together... well, Applejack was ready and willing to give Rainbow as much of her time as she could, but when Dash wasn't at work she was out looking for Scootaloo. Only seldom did Dash stop and spend time with Applejack, and that was only after Applejack persuaded her to take a break... and after drinking one or two of Buttercup's relaxing beverages.

Ironhoof was there to record her downfall, a different character each afternoon, always a photographer taking pictures of the trees and the farm ponies hard at work. Big Mac approached him one day and commented:

"The Acres sure are growin' popular! Any chance of us seein' the magazine these are for?"

"My partner has to be happy with what she sees first," replied Ironhoof in disguise. "Then I'll stop coming and with luck we'll publish the magazine if it goes through. We've already celebrated an unofficial engagement, so with my luck she'll like what she sees and we can finally put this to rest. It's my one final project, so you'd better believe I want to get it right."

"While Ah can respect your gumption, that's a terrible way to run a business. Waitin' on some high-up's approval to do something."

Ironhoof glared back at him:

"She is my partner, not my superior. We have to both be happy with the job for it to be complete."

Big Mac put his hooves up:

"Fair enough... Ah didn't mean nothin' by it."

Ironhoof smiled at the stallion.

He continued to take pictures of the farm for weeks, then months. Together they watched Rainbow Dash as she slowly grew more and more thin, and more and more withered. Buttercup grinned looking at these pictures over tea in her home with Ironhoof, "Honey" nearby. The two sat close. If it wasn't for the love Buttercup felt, she might've fed Scootaloo to her dogs at this point, because she saw Rainbow Dash was truly suffering. Scootaloo had long stopped being an effigy for her to torture. Her feelings for the filly were sincere as they could get and she was on the top of the world... with her aging Special Somepony there to enjoy the ride with her.

Nearly a year later, while the filly still required a little sedation to do so, at the end of each bath, Scootaloo would drink her fill... and because the amount of sedative had become less and less, her memory retained this all too well. He mind objected, but her body welcomed it (as with soiling). Eventually it would all become second nature. She would someday forget what it felt like to ride her scooter, the wind blowing through her mane, she would forget independence, her friends... she was already plumper than when first taken, would get plumper still on her new diet.

2, 3 -- "Familiar"

"Familiar"
2,3

It was mid-afternoon, a day that Applejack had encouraged Rainbow Dash to take off and enjoy.

"Rainbow," Applejack began, looking out at the fields. "Life is a lot like my Apple orchard."

"There for the picking when it's ready?" Rainbow said, taking her marefriend only half seriously. "I know what you mean."

"Do ya now?" Applejack chuckled. "Each season the weather changes, and it all moves forward. Sometimes the plants die and everything else moves on. Ya get me now?"

"I'm not forgetting about Scootaloo, Applejack." Rainbow sighed. "I won't think she's dead until I find a body."

"Would that put this to rest? A cold body? Some tiny bones? ... you'd probably then wanna find out which pony did it to her and why." Applejack patted Rainbow Dash on the back. "Ah know it's discouraging talk, Rainbow... but we're probably never gunna find out what happened to her. Missing ponies are rare, but when they do go missing... sometimes that's just how it is. She could very well be at the bottom of some cliff she was trying to do stunts off. There ain't no trace of her... there were no tracks found but what came down my orchard. She's gone."

Rainbow Dash's eyes were shut. She nodded weakly.

"Rainbow Dash!" a voice called from up high. "Rainbow!"

The two ponies looked up. It was Derpy, coming down from the sky holding a letter. When she got to ground level, she passed it off to Rainbow.

"What is this?" she asked Derpy, looking at the fancy writing on the envelope.

"A letter? I dunno." Derpy flew off. "See ya Rainbow Dash!"

"Later."

Rainbow Dash opened the envelope. Confused, she read the contents aloud:

Dearest Friend Rainbow Dash,

It's been a long time since I've heard from you and I would really like to catch up. Please feel free to bring some friends. I simply wish to reconnect, we have much to discuss! Perhaps next Wednesday? Let me know when works for you.

With Love,
Buttercup Lightwood Gambroug

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, Applejack at Rainbow Dash.

"It's up to you. You know we'll all go, too, if ya ask."

* * *

The following Wednesday was the day they left. All gathered in front of the library, awaiting Buttercup's carriage which took them in style to her home... for Rarity and Rainbow Dash, it was all too familiar.

Ironhoof, dressed in shirt with bright floral print, welcomed them all out and got a good look at Rainbow Dash's sallow face.

"Forgive me Miss Dash... do you need some water? You do not look well."

"I'm fine, uh..." She couldn't remember his name for the life of her.

"It's Ironhoof, Miss Dash," he said with a wide smile. "I remember your name, and the impression you made, all too well."

"It's always nice to make a splash," Rarity said, admiring the architecture of the house.

"Indeed," said Ironhoof.

They followed him to the back of the house, not even going through it, where they saw a big garden. Buttercup was at the edge of it, closest to the house in a law chair, sitting by her a playpen, behind that an old weeping willow tree. She got up when she heard the clip-clop of pony hooves approaching.

"Rainbow Dash and friends," she said in a lyrical voice. "Welcome to my home!"

Rainbow approached her slowly. The two looked at each other, smiled, and Buttercup gave her a hug.

"You have a lovely home, Miss Buttercup," said Twilight peering into the playpen. "And who's this? -- oh, my..."

Buttercup motioned for the six to gather around.

"This, my sweet friends, is my daughter... Honey."

It wasn't enough that she was the spitting image of Rainbow Dash, nor was it just that she was a ten year old filly... drooling with large vacant pupils and decked out infantile garments, there was something else oddly familiar about her. Rainbow and Fluttershy noticed a similarity first -- tiny wings.

They looked up at Buttercup.

"My, you are very good guests," said the golden mare. "I can see why you are all friends. Most guests would be... asking uncomfortable questions by this point."

Twilight fought the urge to ask a few questions herself, which were probably going to be answered anyway.

"Rarity and Rainbow Dash saw a picture of Honey... what eight, nine months ago?"

"That sounds about right," said Rarity.

"I don't like talking about my sweet baby during business because she's clearly... differently-abled. Sadly, she'll never grow up. She'll be one year old, always and forever."

"Miss Buttercup!" exclaimed Rarity. "That's nothing to be ashamed of... why, I have another client who's got a colt in a wheel chair and I think nothing of it!"

"You're a good friend and employee, Rarity," Buttercup said, sitting back down in her chair. The six noticed Ironhoof bringing out additional chairs for them to sit on, as well as one for himself. Fluttershy and Pinkie went to help him. "I've had many ponies look down on me for... continuing to support my daughter and not shipping her off to rot in some asylum. They look at her as though she is a drain."

"That's awful," Rarity said, as Ironhoof set up a collapsible table and brought out tea for the friends to all enjoy. "I would never dream of it, if my little sister was in that shape! I'd care for her and nurture her, and hope for the best."

"You're a good sister, Rarity." Buttercup smiled. "Would any pony like to see her? She's quite social and would adore meeting new ponies."

"Of course!" Twilight exclaimed, clearly identifying herself as the ring leader of group.

The girls nodded in unison.

"Very well." Buttercup nodded to Ironhoof.

The grey stallion, strong in body but low in stamina, picked up the disguised Scootaloo and brought her over to Buttercup.

"Come here, Honey," Buttercup said, opening her forelegs. "Come on, my baby." Scootaloo reached out to her and wrapped both forelegs clumsily around her barrel. "That's my girl." Buttercup turned her around so she was facing her guests. "Come say hi!"

The six all curiously approached the ten year old foal and got a good look. Now resembling Buttercup, she was considerably pudgier than the last time they had seen her... not that they would recognize her after all the change. They introduced themselves to Buttercup by name, then to "Honey"... as if the first time meeting her:

"Hi Honey," said Twilight, holding out a hoof, while looking back at Rainbow Dash. "If it weren't for the age difference, I'd say she's practically your doppelganger!"

Before Dash could answer, Scootaloo attempted to suck on Twilight's hoof. The unicorn withdrew her foreleg rather quickly.

"Hey there," said Applejack, looking at Scootaloo's somewhat engorged belly. "Yer a might plump! Bet Buttercup must be feedin' ya pretty well!"

"Oh, if you only knew, Applejack," Buttercup replied with a smirk. "She's well fed. Always nice to meet another business pony, by the way."

"Hey, hey!" Pinkie Pie said, looking into Scootaloo's vacant, sedated eyes.

"Um, hello there..," said Fluttershy. "I've never seen a baby quite as big as you before. I hope someday you grow up and have wonderful experiences."

"That's never going to happen," said Buttercup, coldly.

"I heard about you once before," said Rarity. "And I do hope Buttercup feels no shame talking about you in the future... you are a fine-looking filly, afterall, and nothing to be ashamed of."

Scootaloo giggled at the music of Rarity's words. Her voice was a lot like Buttercup's when she talked happy.

Finally Rainbow Dash approached.

"I feel like we've met before in some other life." She gestured down at the giant foal. "You be good for your mom, okay, and grow up big and strong!"

"Do you have some foal or filly you care about Rainbow?" asked Buttercup. "You seem like you'd make a really good role model. You must make some little pony very happy."

Rainbow looked at Applejack, Applejack at Rainbow... Dash bit her lip. Applejack answered for her:

"Rainbow lost the one filly who looks up to her not all that long ago. She ain't taking it too well, so let's not talk too much about this now. Okay?"

"That's just dreadful!" Buttercup said, squeezing Scootaloo. "What happened?"

"I... I don't know," said Rainbow Dash, her eyes welling up with tears. "She just vanished one day. I've been looking for her almost every day since."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Rainbow...," Buttercup said, smiling sympathetically. "Don't give up your search... she may be closer than you think."

"I'd like to think that," said Rainbow Dash. "I'm not going to give up... not until I find some trace of Scootaloo."

Scootaloo's head turned briefly in Rainbow Dash's direction when heard her real name. For one brief moment, she realized who was talking and what she was saying, but it was quickly forgotten about and no pony noticed, save the two who had invited them all there. Buttercup then nodded at Ironhoof, who left for the inside of the house, before continuing the conversation with Rainbow as if nothing had even happened:

"Oh! Was that her name? I heard about that! I can only imagine it must be terrible to have a filly go missing, so young..."

Rainbow shuttered at the way Buttercup used the word was, but said nothing.

"It's okay. Let's move on, alright?"

"Fine by me, Rainbow. Fine by me."

* * *

Sitting around in a big circle, the mares all drank their tea, brought out by Ironhoof, who was now wearing a black saddlebag. Buttercup drank from the same pitcher as her guests, almost the same amount... perhaps a bit more. The only pony to remain parched was Ironhoof, watching them all interact and listening in for any subtle cues coming from his partner.

During this time, "Honey" was allowed to wander amongst the mares. She sat in front of Rainbow at first, babbling. Rainbow ignored her at first, as it sounded like nothing in particular, but then... it sounded almost like the baby talk was actual words:

"Rain...bow... Rainbow!"

"D'aww, is that her first word?" Applejack asked, as the garden danced in colorful patterns before all the mares. "Looks like she really likes you, Dash!"

"I can't say that's her first word, but it certainly means she likes you," Buttercup said, with a mean smirk. "Welcome her in, get a good look at her... after all, she adores you!"

Scootaloo continued to stare at Rainbow Dash, her thoughtless black eyes gawking up at her idol. The filly recognized her, but why? Under the influence of sedation, it seemed like a distant memory... no longer of any great importance, but she connected the idea of rainbows and happiness with mare. She found staring at Rainbow Dash was comforting, eventually Rainbow invited her in for a hug, opening her foreleg up.

The filly took the hug. She let out a contented sigh while Dash noogied her skull, in the same way she would have done it to Scootaloo. For some reason, the filly turned foal seemed to really like that.

Buttercup gave a second quick nod to Ironhoof. He knew what to do. He came up from behind while Scootaloo was still snuggling with Dash, reaching into his bag. He pulled out a syringe.

"Please keep her still, Miss Dash."

"Wait..." Rainbow held the filly tight. "What're you doing?"

"He's got to give her medicine each day," explained Buttercup. "It's quite expensive... but without it she's always going to be in intense pain."

That's so awful," Fluttershy said, watching Ironhoof give the cyan-colored filly a shot in the shoulder.

Rainbow Dash held her, looking into her black eyes:

"I don't envy you for needing a shot each day, kid."

The stallion pulled away the syringe.

"All better!" Buttercup exclaimed, looking over at Scootaloo, who seemed unphased by the injection.

The gathering continued for a while."Honey" eventually drifted back to her mother... making suckling motions with her lips. Buttercup kept her away from her engorged bosom with a hoof, while motioning to Ironhoof to her a bottle, which he pulled from his bag. Applejack made her way over to Rainbow Dash, holding her hoof and resting on her shoulder.

"So," Buttercup said, as she was passed the bottle by her ex-butler. "Have you ever considered giving dating another chance, Rainbow?"

"She's taken," Applejack said firmly, holding on to Rainbow's body a bit too tight. "And happily so."

"'fraid she's right," said Rainbow Dash, smiling at her special somepony. "I'm quite taken, actually."

"You're afraid, huh?" Applejack belted Rainbow in the shoulder... not entirely playfully. "You ain't afraid enough I say!"

Buttercup grinned seeing this... it truly did make her happy.

"Well, I'm not afraid exactly," Rainbow said, looking over at Applejack. "I'm quite happy, I just miss the big adventure of going to places... like the other side of Ponyville to do stuff."

"Then you need to get out more to do stuff... not just to look for Scootaloo."

Buttercup noticed her "Honey's" eyes open wide for a split second on the mentioning of her real name. They then went back to relaxed little slits, as she suckled milk from the bottle... Buttercup's own milk this time.

"You're right Applejack."

"You know I am."

* * *

An hour later the mares bid adieu to Buttercup, Ironhoof, and "Honey" and were on their way. They rode back through town in the carriage in style. It was a fun gathering, but now it was all over and they all felt very tired for some reason. Applejack used Rainbow Dash as a pillow. The two giggled, looking at their friends who looked just as sleepy. It was darker and warmer in the carriage than before, and because of that it lulled them all into a state of relaxation.

As they approached Ponyville, the farm pony got up, noticing a few strands of oddly-colored hair on Rainbow's barrel.

"What's all this about?" she asked, picking it up. "I ain't ever seen hair like this. It's colored like yours, but the roots are orange. There's even an odd couple mostly orange strands with it!"

Applejack turned to show Rarity, but she, Fluttershy, and even Twilight were out cold.

"Huh," Rainbow took a close look at it and shrugged. "Probably came from some where in this cart. You know rich, frou-frou ponies are into all sorts of weird stuff. Get rid of it, Applejack." The farm pony threw the few strands out the window. "Don't worry, I'm never going back there. I'm all yours, AJ... well, yours and Scootaloo's. I'm not about to give up that, either."

Applejack rolled her eyes.

"Well at least you're out for a noble cause. Ah can safely say I accept you for who you are because of it."

"Likewise, AJ... Likewise."

Coda

Back at the estate, Buttercup rested under the weeping willow with a drugged Scootaloo cradled by her side.

"Mommy loves you, Honey... she'll never let anything happen to you, ever again."

Scootaloo closed her eyes, then began to suckle on Buttercup's teat. The mare grinned.

And they had her... for all her days. Life would never change, or challenge the filly... she would grow physically, but would always remain the same... Always.

The End