The unlikely siblings

It was the next morning and Ryan was still asleep. Vinyl was the first one to wake up. She stretched a bit and looked back at the sleeping boy. His hair was a mess and he drooled a bit on his pillow. As Vinyl got to her hooves a knock came to her door. "Vinyl? Sweetheart are you up?" Someone said. Octavia.

Vinyl stretched a bit and grunted a bit silently as her back cracked. "Yeah 'Tavi.... I'm up...." She said yawning as she approached her door. She opened it up and there was Octavia looking a bit worried. Vinyl kissed her cheek and pushed past her.

Octavia followed her down the hall into the kitchen. "Is Ryan awake Vinyl?" She asked sitting at the kitchen table. "I need to apologize for my behavior last night."

Vinyl grabbed a glass from a cupboard above her with her magic. She brought it over to the sink and started to fill it with water. "Guess it's vise versa too 'Tavi." She replied before sipping from the glass. "He actually started to cry after he yelled at you."

Octavia sighed and stretched. "....Well at least I know it totally wasn't my fault." She said. "...You know I was just worried about you yesterday... Robbed, almost raped and killed..."

Vinyl sat next to her marefriend and kissed her. "...'Tavi... Be glad it wasn't you in there.... You'd probably be pissing yourself scared!" She said. Octavia blushed and averted her gaze making Vinyl laugh. "You're the type of mare that'll crack under pressure baby but you got me to help you! Who knows you could probably learn a thing or two from Ryan!"

Octavia gave a hefty sigh. "...You'd be right about that Vinyl... I had a nightmare last night and woke up before you had to clean my matress..." She said. "...I dreamt you were in the store again and I was there.... but... you went into the back and some colt came in strapped with a bomb and..." Tears started form in the grey mares eyes. "....I...I don't wanna even think about it anymore..." She buried her face into her hooves and started to whimper a bit.

Vinyl sighed and got up. "'Tavi you just go back to bed. I need to wake Ryan and get him to Sweet Apple Acres." She said going towards the door. "If you cant get back to sleep just... Wait for me or use one of our toys. I promise I'll be quick about it!" She stopped at the door and looked back at Octavia who now had her head resting on her arms on the table with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Okay Octavia baby?" Octavia sniffled and nodded. Vinyl looked back to the other room and started down the hallway. She went into her room again and saw Ryan sprawled out on her bed with a bit of a distressed look on his face. She nudged him a bit and he jumped. "Woopsie sorry Ry! You doing okay there hero boy?"

Ryan sat up and rubbed his eyes. "...Vinyl...? What time is it...?" He asked with a yawn.

Vinyl looked at her clock. She saw it read 7:30. "I guess it's time to get you to work!" She said. "Don't want ya to be late for your first day at Sweet Apple Acres do you?"

Ryan stretched throwing the covers off. "...Not really... Gotta make some money some how..." He said still feeling a bit sluggish. "You mind taking me back home before you take me to Sweet Apple Acres? I need to check on Scoot and Dad..." He got up and buckled a bit. Vinyl helped him up. "Thanks... Show me to the bathroom please? Gotta go y'kno?"

Vinyl laughed a bit. "Yeah yeah bathroom is right across the hall." She said. "Oh and once your done make sure you get everything and apologize to Octavia alright?" Ryan nodded blushing a bit before darting out of the room and into the bathroom.

A little while later Ryan was riding on Vinyl's back as he ate from a bag of chips. He had his backpack on as well. "Thanks for the chips Vinyl." He said. "Gotta have something to eat before work right?"

Vinyl smiled. "Yeah definitely. Sorry i couldn't give you any cereal but who knows maybe they have better food at their orchard." She said. "Or... Maybe i could take you to by Sugarcube Corner to grab a donut!"

Ryan chugged the crumbs from the now empty bag of chips. "Nah it's fine." He said taking his backpack off and placing it in front of him. "Anything i can eat is good enough for me." He shoved the empty bag in his pocket and wiped his hand on his pants before he opened his bag again and took his journal out along with his pencil. He opened it and started to write in his journal again. "...Now that I'm all rested i think i can finish this entry for Princess Twilight. She has me writing as much as i can until i take up half the book."

Vinyl glanced back at him as she turned a corner. "Why's that?" She asked.

Ryan paused in his writing. "I think it's because I'm new to Ponyville and Equestria itself." He replied. "Twilight is the Princess of Friendship isnt she?" Vinyl nodded. "If i understand this right she's having me write down some of my experiences making friends with everyone here."

"Ah!" Vinyl exclaimed. "You must have gotten on her good side. I've tried getting Pinkie Pie to let me DJ at one of the Princesses parties but Every time i ask Twilight tells me Celestia will be at the party and they always book 'Tavi for the gigs. Seems royals always have to have classical music. Never any dubstep, rocking dance music or even some headbangers."

As Ryan scrawled out his note out in the book he gave a laugh. "They're Princesses Vinyl." He said. "If i remember all the movies i've watched they have to act lady like and they have to be polite and all that other crap."

Vinyl laughed again. "You watched PRINCESS movies?!" She said.

Ryan blushed. "Sh-shut up!" He snapped. "It was when I was in elementary school!"

The laughs died down as Vinyl approached a home. "Yeah right! I bet you were watching them weeks before you came here!" She said making fun of him. "Well this is the first stop on the bumpin' music express!"

Ryan growled a bit and hopped off after shoving his journal back into his backpack. He threw his backpack over his shoulder and knocked on the door. "Dad! Scootaloo!" He called out. "You guys up yet?"

They waited a few moments. Vinyl pushed past Ryan and started to knock. "Mr. Rubber! Dude open up!" She said loudly. Suddenly the door opened up and there was Ryan's father shushing them both.

Ryan looked to his father and raised an eye brow. "Dad why are you shushing us? Where's Scoot?" He asked.

Mr. Rubber quickly shushed him. "Shut up she's still asleep!" He whispered. "I was up with her half the night because of what happened yesterday! I'm not blaming you its just she remembered her mother and she doesn't wanna lose anyone else!"

Ryan sighed. "Well... How long do you think she'll be out?" He asked.

Mr. Rubber sighed and turned back inside. Vinyl and Ryan followed him. "She could be out for a bit but... If I know my little girl she's gonna wake up for a bathroom break any minute now..." He said. "....At least I hope she wakes up... She's in my bed." He looked towards the hall. "....Maybe I should wake her up... She wets the bed she wont leave this house until Nightmare Night in a few days..."

Ryan tilted his head. "Nightmare Night? The hell is that?" He asked.

Vinyl looked to Ryan giving a confused hum. "You haven't heard of Nightmare Night?" She asked. Ryan shook his head. "Well... Its a holiday celebrating the banishment of Nightmare Moon or the more... Evil side of Princess Luna."

Ryan looked to Vinyl in disbelief. "Luna? Evil? There is no friggen way that's even accurate!" He said.

Mr. Rubber shushed him and started down the hall. Vinyl sat on the couch. "Yes it's true." She said. "A thousand years ago on October 31st Luna became Nightmare Moon to make eternal darkness for everyone in the world. Princess Celestia banished her to the moon to serve her sentence up until..... I wanna say around ten years ago or so Nightmare Moon returned and that was basically the start of how Twilight became a princess. Pinkie, AJ, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all hold the very same elements Celestia used to put her own sister away for the thousand years. Twilight found them and befriended them to reveal the final element which she has control over. Magic!"

"Magic?" Ryan said. Vinyl nodded. "Well... Is there anything you do on Nightmare Night?"

Vinyl nodded again. "Yeah." She replied hearing a yawn from down the hall. "You dress up in costumes and go door to door getting candy. Get all that good sugar. My advice is stay away from that black licorice. It sucks!"

Ryan gave a bit of a gasp. "Just like Halloween!" He said. Suddenly he sighed. "Shit... Don't have a costume...." He looked up at her. "You think Rarity can help me make a costume?"

Vinyl shrugged just as Mr. Rubber came from the hallway looking a bit happy with Scootaloo at his side looking a bit tired still and her mane a mess. "Here we are... After this you can either go back to bed or go with Ryan to see Applebloom." He said just as Ryan got up from the couch.

Just before Scootaloo looked to Ryan he had already hugged her. "I am SO sorry about yesterday Scoot I didn't mean to scare you!" Ryan said holding her close.

Scootaloo sighed. "You're okay... It just... Well... Reminded me of my mom...." She said. "...She and I were out one day and... A griffon held us at knife point and... After she told me to run I looked back at her and... Well... All I saw was a crowd of ponies running over... I came back home scared and..." She started to whimper.

Mr. Rubber pried Ryan off Scootaloo and hugged her. "C'mon you and I both know your mother did that out of love!" He said. "Go with Ryan and see Applebloom. Friend's always seem to perk you up."

Suddenly Ryan ran towards the hall. Vinyl looked to Mr. Rubber as he let his daughter go. He shrugged. Moments later Ryan came out with his pockets jingling with money. "Sorry about that!" He said. "I wanted to stop by Sugarcube Corner for donuts!"

Mr Rubber smiled. "Go on now Scoot Applebloom is waiting for you! You go with your brother and be back before four!" He said starting to push his kids out the door. "I got a gift for Ryan so he can get around faster and I'm having someone fit it with a motor. It'll be ready later!"

Scootaloo gasped and looked back at her father. "You cant mean my scooter!" She said. "I loved that thing!"

Mr. Rubber huffed. "Scoot you haven't used that thing since you were eleven!" He said shoving them outside. "You either let your brother have it or you're giving him a ride until he works up enough to get his own form of transportation!"

Scootaloo huffed and turned back around facing outside. "FINE!" She snapped. "He can have my damn scooter!"

Their father growled a bit. "Hey! Don't you dare use that language with me missy!" He snapped before slamming the door shut.

Scootaloo hung her head and lowered her body so Ryan could get on. As he got on the purple headed mare sighed starting to tear up. "Are you alright Scoot?" He asked feeling a bit concerned.

Scootaloo raised her head and started to walk. "...No... Not after your scare..." She said. "... I... I just miss my mom..."

Ryan leaned forward and hugged his sister. "Aw c'mon you don't have to worry about me!" He said nuzzling her a bit. "I'll be fine! I've got the knife dad gave me!"

The big orange Pegasus mare sniffled. "...Yeah... I do have to worry about you..." She said. "...You reminded me so much of my mother... She... She loved hippie rock... That's what she used to call sixties rock... She... She always spent time with me... And... I just never wanted to let her go... But... You... You basically replace her.... Or a portion of her... I... I just don't wanna lose another one..." She started to softly sob as she walked.

Ryan sighed. "...Scoot..." He said. "Why don't we get to Sweet Apple Acres and just snag Applebloom maybe get Sweetie Belle and we all go out and have a nice relaxation day?" Scootaloo sniffled and nodded a bit enough so her brother could feel it. "Alright but I think we should grab Sweetie Belle first while we're in town eh? Almost made a stupid saying we should get Applebloom before Sweetie Belle." The mare giggled and sniffled a bit. Ryan laughed a bit. "There's a smile! Now hurry! I wanna hit up Sugarcube Corner before all the good donuts are gone!" Scootaloo looked back and nodded before starting to run off down the road.

Not too long later they arrived at Rarity's home. Scootaloo lowered her body letting her brother get off before she knocked. She used her wings to wipe what ever remainder of her tears away. Ryan knocked again for his sister. "Rarity! Sweetie Belle! Is anyone home?" Scootaloo called out. They waited for a few minutes before knocking again. This time louder. Just before Scootaloo called out again they heard the sound of hooves behind the door. The door opened and there was Rarity looking quite tired. She yawned and stretched a bit. "Morning Rarity! Did we wake you?"

Rarity stretched her hind legs and grunted a bit as a crack was heard. "No... I've been up all night working on a client's dress..." She said a bit sluggishly. "...You two just somehow stopped me from falling asleep before I finished.... I think I should... I don't know get myself a cappuccino or a frappe..." She yawned again turning back inside. "...C'mon in I... I might be a bit to wake up..."

Scootaloo and Ryan followed Rarity inside closing the door behind them. They followed the white unicorn to the kitchen and sat down at the table. "Rarity I'd like to ask something." Ryan said. "Do you think we can bring Sweetie Belle with us to get Applebloom?"

Rarity looked to him as she turned the coffee machine on. "...Well... Yes but she might be a bit tired as well...." The mare replied. "...I had her up helping me with a few things and she zonked out at around two..." She let a big yawn stretching again. "...I'll... Just give her some bits and she can get a soda at Sugarcube corner... I assume you two are going there after you get her out?"

Scootaloo sighed. "...Yeah..." She said sounding almost as sluggish as Rarity. "... I was just gonna see if Applebloom had anything I could eat but... Ry wanted to stop by there anyways..."

Rarity grabbed a mug from the cupboard and started to pour coffee into it. "Are you feeling alright Scootaloo?" She asked looking back at the orange mare at the table. She shook her head hesitantly. Rarity set the coffee pot down and went over to the table her coffee now floating in her magic. "Ryan why don't you go wake Sweetie up? I wanna talk with Scootaloo here for a bit alright?" Ryan nodded and hopped up from his seat. "First door once you get to the top of the stairs! It's on the right!" Ryan gave a bit of a wave before disappearing through the doorway. Rarity looked back to Scootaloo as she sat down. "Alright... What's wrong?"

Scoot sniffled a bit. "...I... I miss my mom...." She said hesitantly. "...Ryan scared me when he... took down that robber but it just.... made me miss my mom..." Tears started to come to her eyes once more. "...I... I just... I didn't want to lose someone else to them being murdered by... by some stupid fuck with a knife... or a gun... e-excuse my language..."

Rarity let out a sad aw and wiped tears away from Scootaloo's eyes. "Scootaloo I have two things to say to you." She said. "...One is you don't have to watch your language around me and two... I know it isn't easy to lose someone close to you... Family member or pet... You know I had to have my cat Opal Essence put down right?" Scootaloo nodded sniffling. "...I know a family member is worse but... To me Opal was family and it just hurt me bad when she went limp on that table..." She set her coffee down and hugged Scootaloo holding each other close.

Upstairs Ryan was trying to wake Sweetie Belle up. Her mane was a mess and half covered up. He shook her a bit. "Sweetie Belle!" He said. "C'mon get up now!" Sweetie Belle groaned a bit shifting. "C'mon you can get a donut if you come up to Sugar Cube Corner with me and Scootaloo! Pretty sure Scoot needs someone to be there for her before we get Applebloom!"

Sweetie Belle yawned a bit and rolled over. "...Five more minutes Rarity..." She mumbled.

Ryan sighed. "C'mon Sweetie get up!" He snapped having his stomach gurgle. "Scootaloo needs her friends right now! At least sit up or something!" He shook Sweetie Belle again and she snorted.

Groaning a bit Sweetie Belle sat up rubbing her eyes. "...What time is it...?" She said. She noticed Ryan standing there at her bedside. "...Ryan...? Did Rarity let you in...?"

Ryan smiled a bit. "Yeah she did but... Good reason for that..." He said. "Scootaloo started to cry about her mother and I just said I could take a break before going to work and I also said we could grab you and Applebloom so we could... Ykno spend the day together."

The unicorn mare stretched yawning. "Alright then... Just... Wait for me downstairs I gotta get ready..." She said. Ryan nodded and went back outside of the room closing the door.

Once back out in the hall Ryan stretched a bit before walking back down the stairs. He stopped near the bottom hearing sniffling coming from the kitchen. Carefully and quietly he stepped down the last few steps and peeked through the door into the kitchen. There he saw both Rarity and Scootaloo crying softly into each others shoulders. He took a deep breath before stepping in. "You guys okay?" He asked a bit worried.

Scootaloo looked up at her brother. "...You know I'm not Ry..." She said. "...You should go visit Princess Twilight and bring Rarity there. She could use a friend too. I'll be there after I grab Applebloom. I'll even tell AJ you're trying to do something to cheer me up. They'll understand."

"You sure Scoot?" Ryan asked patting Rarity on the back. "I don't want Applejack and her brother thinking I was wimping out on this!"

The orange Pegasus mare stood up and helped Rarity up as well. "Ryan I know the Apples. If you're with Twilight she can pretty much vouch for you!" She said. "Now get going! Anyone can get to the castle if they watch where they're going!"

Ryan sighed and nodded. He put his hand on Rarity's back. "C'mon Rarity let's get to the castle..." He said. "Need everybody to be happy I guess."

Rarity sniffled. "....O-okay..." She said trying not to sob any harder. "...Kiss me and tell me I'm pretty...?"

The boy gave a smile and kissed the unicorn mare's cheek. "You are down right beautiful Rarity!" He said.

Rarity gave a smile and wiped her eyes. "...Thank you darling..." She replied. "...Hop on I need... Cuddling always makes me feel better..." Ryan hesitantly climbed on and lied down wrapping his arms around her neck. "...That... That feels nice..." She sniffled and nuzzled Ryan walking out of the kitchen.

A little while later they were just nearing the castle. Ryan had a box of donuts in his hands as he walked by Rarity's side. "Thanks for letting me go by Sugarcube Corner to get some donuts." He said. "You're welcome to have a few. Got the dozen for a reason!"

Rarity gave him a smile. "I'll be sure to take you up on your offer but first we might want to get up there and offer Twilight some." She said. "It wouldn't be polite if you don't offer her anything!"

Ryan gave a sigh having his stomach gurgle. "Well I gotta wait anyways... If theres anything that everyone can eat I've got a problem for eating it all." He said. "My old home barely had any food. When we did have food I always got the scraps my dad never ate including fat from a steak, a little thing of ranch dressing, and never anything to drink unless I snuck a beer or something..." He looked to Rarity who gasped. "Yes I snuck a beer from my father but it was only that one time!"

Rarity sighed looking up at the castle. "It's fine I had snuck a sip of wine or my fathers bourbon just once." She said. "I was just about ten when I stole a bottle of wine from my mothers wine cabinet and took a sip yet when that happened I started to throw up... Next was the sip of bourbon but that got me in deep trouble but it would have been worse if I hadn't have said I thought it was iced tea."

Ryan chuckled a bit. "Wish I could've thought of something like that but... What would I have said if my parents actually caught me?" He asked. "'Oh I thought it was apple juice!' I wouldn't know what else to compare it to!"

Rarity thought for a moment stopping at the gates of the castle. "...You do seem to have a point there Ry." She said looking around. She hummed a bit. "...Usually there's a guard here watching the front... Where is he? I don't want to just walk through the halls and end up being caught by another guard or to find out she has important company over! It would be rude to intrude."

Just before Ryan could answer the sound of armor clanging and hooves hitting the ground hard came sounded off making both Rarity and Ryan look behind them. There they saw a unicorn guard rushing towards them looking a bit panicked. "No no NO!" He said. "Please don't tell the princess I was late! I had to show up to my daughter's show and tell at the school!"

Rarity sighed allowing the guard to go and open the door up. "I wouldn't say a thing if you were a new guy but I know this is about the second or third time!" She said. "I'm very sorry but I need you to escort me and my companion here to see Princess Twilight."

The guard sighed hanging his head. "...Fine follow me..." He said. Ryan and Rarity pushed past the guard and followed him through the halls.

Ryan looked over at Rarity. "You really have to do this?" He asked whispering.

Rarity nodded a bit. "These guards are always supposed to be near precise with scheduling." She whispered back. "If they do that each movement should be more precise if they ever go into a close quarters fight. That fails and a guard could die."

As they followed the guard looked back at them. "...You know I can hear you both right?" He asked. "Yes we have to be precise in movement but that has nothing to do with the scheduling. I train every week just to keep my skills sharp but... Seriously if the princess finds out I was late again I could be fired!"

Ryan sighed. "Rarity cant we let this guy off easy? Please?" He asked. "The guy was helping his daughter!"

Rarity looked over at him. "Really Ryan these guards know what they have to do!" She said. "I might be generous but I was raised to let someone know about wrong doing whether it be a serious crime, a bit of thievery between families, a guard being a tad corrupt or even someone being late. So this guard can't be let off the hook!"

The boy huffed and averted his gaze. "Fine then. Tell Twilight like a tattletale!" He snapped. "If it were where I used to live my dad would've killed tattletales who threatened to go to the cops!"

Rarity rolled her eyes giving a hefty sigh. "Fine I wont tell Twilight!" She said. "I don't really appreciate you calling me a tattletale either but just this once i'll let it slide!"

Ryan gave a bit of a chuckle and then a sigh. "Sorry Rarity. Didn't mean to go off like that but really he needs a little slack so he can fix what happens." He said. He picked up his step a bit going to the unicorn guards side. "Alright dude you don't have to worry about it. I'll just say I kept everything up at Sugarcube Corner. Gotta have my donuts!"

The guard gave him a smile. "Thanks kid... My wife would have my head if I lost this job..." He said. "Twilight should be upstairs in her study. I think i was the one who showed you and your new family to it the night Twilight was studying you."

Ryan gave a hum looking at the guard. "...No offense but... you unicorn guards look the same...." He said. They stopped at a stair case at the end of the hall. "I guess you should follow us up but stay a bit back so you can at least act like you were at Sugarcube Corner and... Maybe take one of these." He opened the box.

The guard smiled and used his magic on a glazed plain donut. "Good one. Make it look good even with a bit of glazed goodness!" He said before taking a bite of the donut.

Ryan smiled closing the box again and nodded before heading up the stairs with Rarity at his side. Not too long later they came into Princess Twilight's study. She sat at the same desk reading her books. Spike sat next to her reading a comic book. Both Ryan and Rarity bowed in respect as she noticed them. "Well I wasn't expecting company today!" Twilight said getting up from her chair. "What brings you two here?"

Ryan sighed standing back up. "I kinda made Scootaloo cry and... Well I don't mean to do this but I had to skip out on work to try and cheer her up." He said. "She's off getting Applebloom right now with Sweetie Belle. Guess Rarity is here just cuz she needed a friend."

Rarity sighed and hugged Twilight. "It's true Twilight..." She said kinda sadly. "I was talking with Scootaloo about her mother and well... I started to remember my little kitty Opal Essences..." Tears came to her eyes a bit as she buried her head into the purple alicorns shoulder.

Twilight looked to Spike. "Spike can you take Ryan to the throne room please? I'll be up in a minute once Scootaloo gets here with her friends!" She said.

Spike closed his comic and hopped from his chair. "Sure thing Twi!" He said going for the door.

Ryan set the box of donuts down on the desk. "Just incase you get hungry Princess!" He said before darting out after the purple dragon. "So Spike... What have you been doing lately?"

Spike sighed a bit. "Nothing much... Just been reading my comics and eating gems." He replied sounding bored. "You been up to anything other than birthdays and saving lives?" He looked to Ryan. He shook his head. "Well... At least you have things to do! All I ever do is sit around here reading my comics, watching cartoons, or helping with Twilight and her magic. Not to mention I haven't gotten to go digging for gems in a while and really it would be nice to have someone come help me."

Ryan gave a smile following him into a side room. "Well I'll help you Spike." He said. "All ya gotta do is ask and... Really Twilight needs me to make friends here... Gotta make friends with ponies, dragons and other animals."

"What about griffons?" Spike asked sitting in his short throne. "When Twilight meant make friends with Equestrians she didn't mean just ponies. You saw there were griffons that robbed that store a while ago."

Ryan sat on the floor next to the dragons throne. "Well... I knew that but where can I actually make friends with a griffon?" He asked.

Spike slouched a bit looking up at the ceiling of the near empty room. "I think Dash had a friend that was a griffon. Maybe see if Twilight can get Dash to contact her!" He said. "She's a bit of a mean girl but hey I bet you can make friends with her. Just gotta find something that you could do together."

Ryan hummed a bit. "Well I guess that could work but I'll definitely get that another time." He said. "Right now I just hope Scootaloo isn't crying hard... She seems... well a bit strung up on her mother.... I know the feeling except with a friend..." He stood up and walked over to a large window. He looked out at the morning of Equestria and gave a sigh. "...Had a friend back where I used to live... He went with me to give me back up on big deals but guess one day there was an ambush and he got pinned down... Never saw him after that..."

Spike got up from his throne and walked over. "Well... I pretty much had friends who just told me that dragons weren't supposed to be friends with ponies but they just didn't see what I saw." He said. "Twilight hatched me from an egg and well... I was raised with Twilight by Celestia. I never believed those other 'friends' of mine for even a minute. You want something to drink or something? I can get it for you!"

Ryan gave a sigh. "...No thanks." He said. "I just need a bit of alone time... Or... Just silence to think. I forgot my music hat home."

Spike gave Ryan a pat on the back before leaving him at the window to look out. Not even moments later Twilight came in with Rarity behind her along with the guard that was late. Rarity had the box of donuts in her magic before sitting down in one of the seven thrones in the room. Twilight noticed Ryan at the window but went towards her throne next to spike. "Spike do you know what's up with Ryan?" She asked near a whisper.

Spike sighed leaning on the arm of his throne. "Yeah. He's just remembering something." He replied. "I tried helping him but I think he just wants to be left alone."

Twilight smiled a bit. "Might be the best choice." She said. "I think Scootaloo should be here soon. I sent a few guards to make sure she gets up here fast with her friends."

They waited for about ten minutes. In that time Ryan moved back over to Spike, Twilight and Rarity. The guard they came in with was at the door. Ryan sighed taking a donut from the box. As he took a bite from it in came Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. Scootaloo walked with her head hung a bit low while her friends were at her sides. Twilight smiled as they bowed in respect to her. "Welcome you three!" She said smiling.

Scootaloo brought her head up and went near her brother sitting next to him. Applebloom brought her head up. "Glad to be here Twi." She said. "AJ wanted me to tell ya that she kinda needed you to use some of yer magic on something back at the house."

Twilight gave a sigh shaking her head as she got up. "Well I'll definitely get to that later but... Right now I've got something that helps with Scootaloo." She said.

Scootaloo sighed. "...Can we not talk about this Twilight...? I'm not exactly in the mood..." She said.

Twilight sat next to Scootaloo and rested her wing on her back. "Scootaloo I'm wanting to help you here." She said. "Princess Celestia taught me a spell I could use for something special just for you. Applebloom knows the spell I'm talking about. Dontcha Applebloom?" She looked to the country mare.

Applebloom tilted her head a bit as Sweetie Belle used her magic to grab a few donuts from the box giving her friend one. "THAT spell Twi?" She asked. "Are you sure you're willin' to do that?"

Twilight gave a smile. "Am I the princess of lies or the princess of friendship?" She asked. "This is the most friendly thing I can do!" She looked back at Scootaloo and her brother. "It's good for me to help friends no matter what I do. I'd even give my mane to a wig maker."

Scootaloo looked up at Twilight. "...Spell? What spell?" She asked.

Twilight got up standing Scootaloo up as well. "Well Scoot this spell was to help Applebloom, AJ and Big Mac to help them get over granny smith." She said. "It's a spell that lets you visit with anypony that died. Doesn't matter how long ago. I could bring back John Lennon for Ryan to meet, I could probably bring back Sweetie's mom if I wanted to but right now... I'll bring your mother back just for you."

Scootaloo's jaw dropped. So did Ryan's. "...Y-you mean... I get to see my mommy again...?" She asked. Twilight nodded smiling warmly. She hugged her starting to whimper a bit. "...Th-thank you..."

Twilight patted Scootaloos winged back. "Don't mention it..." She said. "I know what happened with your mother.... I was just down the road to see it and I've felt sorry for you... It's the least I can do to see you happy and see this pass for you." She broke the hug as Ryan got up and went to his sisters side. "Alright now give me a bit of room and cover your eyes. It gets bright." Everyone backed away from Twilight and hid either behind a throne or just covered their eyes. Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath before her horn started to glow.

It didn't take long for a ball of light to form in the middle of the room. The light intensified engulfing the whole room. Ryan stuck close to Scootaloo holding her close. He just couldn't help but hug her. As the light died down everyone heard Twilight sighed. "...Can we look now Twilight?" Scootaloo asked.

They heard Twilight sigh and walk somewhere. "Go on Scoot... Go ahead and look." She said.

Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked around the throne. Ryan did to but still hid. There in the middle of everything was a Pegasus mare. She had a long purple mane and a faded orange coat. She had a peace sign charm hanging around her neck. She sat there looking a bit dazed. Scootaloo gasped having her wings expand pushing Ryan off a bit. "MOMMY!" She yelled dashing around the large seat.

Ryan caught himself and watched as Scootaloo hugged her mother. The mare she hugged looked at her. "...Scootaloo?" She said. "...What's going on... Where am I...?"

Twilight came back over. "Well Mrs. Rubber..." She said alerting the mare. "...I brought you back for your daughter to spend another day with you... I've been trying to help her get over her fear of losing another family member." She looked back at Ryan who was nervously peeking from his hiding spot. "...And... Maybe you wanna meet her new brother?"

The mare looked at her daughter just as Ryan hid. "...Your father found another to get another flower child...?" She asked.

Scootaloo sniffled and looked up at her mother. "...N-no... Dad's still single..." She said through her tears. "...He... He adopted...." She looked back where Ryan was. "...C'mon out Ry... Come meet mommy!"

Ryan hesitated to come out of his hiding place. Applebloom crossed through the middle. She went behind the throne and nudged Ryan out. "Go on now! Git!" She said.

Once out in view of Scootaloo's mom he froze. Twilight sighed looking back to Scootaloo and her mother. "Well... This is Ryan." Twilight said. "He's still new to Equestria. Still trying to learn everything that we have to offer including my magic."

Mrs. Rubber broke the hug with her daughter and stood up. She gave a smile to Ryan who backed away a bit. "No need to be afraid lil man." She said. "I don't judge on how anyone looks or is! Y'wanna come give mama a hug?" She planted her plot and opened her arms wide. Ryan hesitantly made his way towards Mrs. Rubber. "C'mon you a lover or a fighter?"

Scootaloo came over to her brother's side and rested her wing on his back sniffling a bit. "...C'mon... You can't possibly be afraid of her not liking you..." She whispered into his ear. "...Just tell.... tell her that you love that music.... Y'know...?"

Ryan nodded a bit but still hesitated. He broke and hugged Scootaloo shuttering a bit. Twilight sighed a bit. "Well... I'd just go and let him get used to things." She said approaching the hippie mare. "I say just go home and try talking with him see if you can connect. Okay?"

Mrs. Rubber gave a sigh getting back to her hooves. As she stood up she hung her head a bit. "...I guess..." She said. She looked to her daughter who was letting Ryan get on her back. "...C'mon lets get back to your father Scoot..."

Scootaloo nodded and started towards the door. "Wait! Scootaloo!" Twilight said. Scootaloo looked back at Twilight as Ryan hid in her wing. "Do a lot with your mother while you can. The spell only lasts for 24 hours! By the way if Ryan doesn't do anything bring him here. I'm sure I could find a good punishment for him if he continues this."

Scootaloo nodded and walked with her mother again. Applebloom walked over to Twilight as Sweetie Belle and Rarity went out the door. "Twi...? I-is it alright if I getcha to walk me home...?" She asked.

Twilight looked to her and saw tears in her eyes. She sighed giving a smile. "Sure. AJ's gonna wonder what has you crying." She said resting her wing on the earth pony mares back. "...I know you're thinking about Granny Smith... You have to understand she lived a full life. Just... If you need to cry do it before AJ sees okay?" Applebloom whimpered and nodded.

Not too long later over with Scootaloo, her mother and Ryan they were on the road just outside of the castle. Scootaloo walked close to her mother with Ryan blushing embarrassed on her back covered in his sisters wing. Mrs. Rubber looked at her daughter. "So... How'd you meet this lil man?" She asked.

Scootaloo looked back at her brother. "Well... You remember that bully I had...?" She asked. Her mother nodded. "Well... She ended up trying to frame me for stealing stuff... I ran off after daddy yelled at me and... It just pushed me till I ran... While I was there I set up a camp but... then I heard something. A boat... His boat... I went and checked on it and saw him pulling his boat more on shore... I waited a while before getting a closer look and... Well lets just say one thing led to another and he convinced me to go back home..."

Mrs. Rubber hummed a bit looking at Ryan. "He tell you why he ran off?" She asked.

Scootaloo nodded. "His parents were big time drug dealers and makers." She said. "His father made him deliver drugs. He didn't wanna be in that any more so he just ran off... Daddy took him to Princess Twilight and he made him my brother. We just couldn't let him go back! He could've gotten killed! I just took what you said and applied it!"

Mrs. Rubber raised an eye brow. "...You mean... Every living creature has its own path and there's no going back?" She said. Scootaloo nodded. Her mother smiled. "It seems Mama's flower foal learned well..."

Scootaloo smiled a bit blushing. "Mom c'mon don't call me that! I'm not five anymore!" She said. "...Maybe... Just wait till we get home? I don't want anyone to hear that..."

Her mother laughed a bit and nuzzled her a bit. Not too long later they came back to their home. Ryan looked half asleep all balled up on his sisters back. Scootaloo shushed her mother and knocked on the door. "Daaad! Daaad! Open up!" She called out. "Ryan got hurt! Come on! Hurry!" She glanced at her mother and waved her to the side with her wing.

As Mrs. Rubber quickly stepped over to hide the door opened. There was Mr. Rubber looking a bit scared. "What happened where is he?!" He snapped. He saw Ryan who was already passed out. "Dammit Scoot! WHY DIDNT YOU FUCKING TAKE HIM TO A HOSPITAL?!"

Scootaloo sighed and averted her gaze. "...Dad calm down!" She said. "I just said that so you'd let us back in... Not to mention Twi gave us something to have for the day..." She looked over and her mother walked up blushing a bit. Her fathers jaw dropped. "...Yes Dad... You're seeing it... It's really mommy!"

Mr. Rubber just looked at his wife. Just stared not making a noise. Mrs. Rubber looked deeply into her husbands eyes starting to tear up. "...I missed you..." She said. "...Did you miss me my big stoned stallion?"

Mr. Rubber blushed a bit and stammered a bit noticing his daughter giving him a weird look. "Honey you know I never touched anything that gave me a high!" He said a bit nervously. He looked to his daughter. "You take Ryan to his room and get him to bed or wake him up with a soda or something!" Scootaloo nodded and ran inside. Mr. Rubber looked back to his wife and pulled her inside closing the door. He kissed her and nuzzled her just as their children disappeared into the hall. "...Sweetie you know never to call me that in front of Scoot... Besides that hash that made me do... THAT to you nearly ended my career.... I've been clean ever since I went to rehab!"

Mrs. Rubber sighed going to the couch. She sniffled a bit. "...I know... It's just... We never had a chance to say goodbye to each other..." She said sitting down as tears streamed down her cheeks. "...That day I died I got up there and cried hard knowing I left behind a child and a husband... I even met up with one of Scoots friends parents up there... I think it was Sweet Belle's parents... That's her name right? Sweet Belle?"

Her husband shook his head sitting next to her. "Close hun..." He said. "...It's SweetIE Belle... And yeah I remember Pepper and Silver. Great parents they were... Shame that avalanche got em..."

Mrs. Rubber leaned on her husband. "...Well... I met with Sweetie's parents up there..." She said. "...They just... They were shocked to see me there... I was always careful... Even when I was... Brutally murdered.... I tried talking that griffon into putting that gun away telling him I had no money.... I just...." She whimpered and broke down. Mr. Rubber hugged her and shushed her.

Back in Ryan's room he was awake again as he sipped at a soda sitting on his bed. Scootaloo paced at her brothers bedside whimpering a bit. "Ryan why did you freeze up like that?" She asked. "I told you my mom likes the same music you do! I cant BELIEVE you did that!"

Ryan set his soda down on the nightstand and let out a loud burp. He sighed a bit. "... Sorry its just... What if your mother doesn't accept me as her adopted son...?" He asked. "...I don't want her to say... I don't know.... 'stay the fuck away from my daughter you'll never be my son!'"

Scootaloo sat down on her brothers bed. "Ryan my dad adopted you." She said. "My mom is... well... Shes legally dead. She doesn't have much of a say now..."

Her brother hung his head and lied down on his pillow. "... I... I don't believe that..." He said tearing up. "... I know what you're going to say.... 'You're still new to Equestria... You still have much to learn...' I know I do but... Parents still have a say... Dead or not..."

Scootaloo looked to him. "That isn't true Ry! Once they're gone they cant really do much after that!" She said. She huffed averting her gaze. "Look Ry... I didn't want to pull this card but... If you do this any time you want to cuddle in bed with me you can. I wont stop you."

Ryan curled up a bit. "...But... What about Dad...?" He asked. "...What if dad caught me trying to do that...? What do I say? What would I do?"

His sister sighed and sat him back up. "If dad says anything to you I'll try sneaking into your room." She said. "Now you wanna come meet mom? Pleeeeeaaaaase?"

Ryan shoved his hands in his lap blushing. "...I guess but... Let me get to the toilet first? I downed a chocolate milk before going to Twi's castle." He said.

Scootaloo nodded and got off the bed. Ryan hopped up and hurried to his door flinging it open. He hurried out and into the bathroom shutting the door behind him. Scootaloo went out to the living room just to see her mother and father sharing a kiss. She averted her gaze. "...GROSS!" She said. "Dad can you not do that when Ryan gets out here?"

Mr. Rubber quickly broke the kiss and blushed turning towards his daughter. "Sorry Scoot but... You know how I was when we lost your mom!" He said.

The orange mare sat with her parents. "Yeah I remember... I didn't even want to come out of my room." She said. "...I just wish it had ended... Right then and there.... No one getting hurt... No shots fired... It just killed me inside that I lost mommy like that..." She hung her head a bit and leaned on her father.

Mr. Rubber sighed and hugged her. "...I honestly wish it hadn't happened either..." He said. "Your mother.... She always was a stubborn one... Even when she was sick."

Mrs. Rubber gave her husband a dirty look. "I was only like that because how I was raised!" She snapped. "Hippies weren't always accepted in Equestria! You were a square, I was a 'peace pansy' as the guard called us. My mother taught me to think for myself, she taught me to raise myself if I was ever out on the street, which was a few years before I met you, I even protested in front of Canterlot for Celestia's sake!"

Just down the hall the toilet flushed. Mr. Rubber got up leaving Scootaloo with her mother. "Just give me a minute... Gotta comprehend this stuff..." He said going towards the hall. Scootaloo hugged her mother and nuzzled her. Mr. Rubber mumbled to himself as he stopped just at the bathroom door and knocked. "Ryan. C'mon hurry up."

A sigh was heard inside. "Just give me a sec to wash my hands!" Ryan called out.

Mr. Rubber put his ear up to the door using his wing as something to bounce the sound off of. Nothing. No running water. No rustling. Not even any noise at all. "Ryan!" He snapped.

"DAD! I cant turn these damn fixture knobs!" Ryan snapped back.

His father grunted and jiggled the knob. "Let me in and I'll help you!" He said.

Out on the couch Scootaloo sighed looking to the ground. So did her mother. "...Does Ryan even want to meet me...?" Mrs. Rubber asked. Scootaloo shrugged. "...Maybe I scare him?" Scootaloo shrugged again sighing even deeper.

Scoot looked up at her mother. "...You think you and dad can walk me to Twilight's castle again...?" She asked. "...Might as well since he's being such... A square right?" Her mother nodded. "...I mean... He should actually like you! You like the same music he does... Minus some Metallica..."

Mrs. Rubber raised an eye brow. "Metallica? Why does he listen to trash like that?" She asked.

"He listens to it because music just brings him away from all the hate in society!" Scootaloo snapped. "I'm not saying his music is trash and I'm not saying it is good either. You remember what my music choice is like right?"

Her mother nodded and got up. "You were always in that sixties rock with me but you went into that eighties rock with your father." She said. "We're still going to the castle again aren't we? That boy needs a bit of a whoopin' if you ask me." Scootaloo got up and sighed. "If he were a pony instead of a human he'd be getting a hoofprint on his ass..."

Scootaloo looked to her mother opening the door up. "Mommy I thought you were peace loving!" She said.

Mrs. Rubber sighed going out the door. "Sometimes you just gotta spank a few foals to get them to listen..." She said. "You gotta at least remember me spanking you when you were younger!"

The orange mare blushed following her mother out closing the door behind her. "Don't remind me... Daddy only told me to remember the good times we had with you..." She said walking away from the door.

Just as they were out of ear shot Ryan finally came out of the bathroom and ran out into the living room. His father was right behind him. "W-Where'd they go?!" Ryan asked scared. "...Please don't tell me they're going to get Twilight..."

His father sighed. "I have no idea but... Why would they go back to her castle?" He asked.

Ryan looked to his father. "Because if I didn't even make a try at spending time with Scoot's mom and your wife they'd go and bust me for not even wanting to spend time with her!" He snapped tearing up. "...Just because I was having trouble washing my hands Scoot thinks I was hiding in there trying to avoid everything!" He dropped to his knees and started to sob a bit. "...I... I'm fucked...."

Mr. Rubber sat next to Ryan and picked him up. He brought him to the couch and lied him on it sitting next to him. "...You are not getting in trouble while I'm here Ry... I know you humans don't adapt well to pony stuff." He said. "Just stick by my side and you'll be fine."

Ryan sniffled curling up. "...N-no... I wont be alright..." He said. "...I'm gonna be sent b-back to that hell hole I used to call home... Either that or... Fucking jail..."

His father shushed him stroking him with his wing. "Ryan just because you were late on this doesn't mean you'll be sent back! Or sent to jail!" He said. "If it were an offence to be jailed upon I probably wouldn't be here. I was late to my job almost every day. I got written up, I lied a few times, even called in sick. Now... Just... Just try to meditate while listening to some sitar music or just go to your room and listen to your Metallica or something. I wont object if you play it loud."

Ryan just lied there sniffling away. Mr. Rubber sighed and just rubbed his hoof across his sons back. As they waited Ryan ended up falling asleep on the couch. Mr. Rubber was sitting next to him drinking from a can of soda waiting. Just waiting. No words. No expression other than determination. After about five minutes with the soda and Ryan being asleep there was a knock on the door. Mr. Rubber got up and went to the door. He opened it and there was Twilight, Scootaloo and her mother. "Where is he?" Twilight asked sounding a bit miffed.

Mr. Rubber gave a sigh. "He's on the couch. Asleep." He said. "He better be staying there. He didn't do anything wrong. I can vouch for him."

Scootaloo went up to her father. "...Dad... Move please..." She said. "...Twilight HAS to take him back to the castle..."

Her father gave her a stern look. "Go to your room. Stay there until I come in and talk with you." He said. "No buts! Just. Go. Now." Scootaloo hung her head and pushed past her father. Even he stepped to the side for Twilight and his wife. "Take him but I swear if you even think about throwing my son back into his crappy life or into a cell my daughter wont be making friends with you any more."

Princess Twilight gave a sigh using her magic to put Ryan onto her back. "I'm not putting him in a cell or sending him back to that god-awful-drug-infested place he used to call a home." She said. "I'm putting him in a room with a guard and your wife until they can come out sporting either a smile or until one of them overcomes the guard and escapes. Doubt that'll happen. Your wife wont touch a guard let alone talk to one. Scootaloo had to do all the talking for her."

Mr. Rubber looked to his wife. "You better not lay a fucking hoof on him!" He snapped. "He's our SON! I adopted his ass and kept him off the street after he brought our little girl home!"

Mrs. Rubber looked into her husbands eyes as Twilight went towards the door. "You don't trust me do you?" She asked. "You NEVER fucking trusted me! I tell you I didn't cheat on you while you were gone at work, you didn't believe me yet you believed that drunk ass colt! He's DRUNK! Blurred vision! Impaired thinking and even slurring his words! Once I'm done with him I'm going to come back home, take Scootaloo and this little... God I don't even know his name! "

"His name is RYAN!" He snapped. "He didn't want to intrude on your time with Scoot! Not only that he was NERVOUS! Do you remember how nervous you were when we met Sapphire shores? She was Scootaloos FAVORITE singer! You had ME take her up there!" He huffed and turned around. "Get out of here! I need to talk with Scootaloo!"

Mrs. Rubber turned around and walked out the door. Twilight sighed walking out after her and closing the door. About an hour later Ryan was lying on Applejack's bed in Twilight's castle. Mrs. Rubber sat off to the side with a unicorn guard near the door. She was crying a bit. "...That's the first time he ever went off like that towards me..." Mrs. Rubber said. "...I ask you... Do I look like some sort of a fuck up...?"

The guard sighed. "No miss." He said. "You had a child with him. If you were a fuck up then you probably wouldn't have had that filly."

The mare stood up. "...Well you are right about that..." Mrs. Rubber said going over to the bed. "...Where did I go wrong...? Scootaloo's acting different.... So is my husband... Was... Was he to blame for them acting like that...?"

The guard came over as well. "No Ma'am." He said. "They saved this boy from being part of a criminal family. He has already done something to show he doesn't like that life and that is draw blood for the safety of another."

Mrs. Rubber looked to him. "...He almost went the way I did..." She said sniffling. "...I tried doing something peacefully but ended up getting killed over it..." She sighed turning away. "...Wake him up please... I'll just... Cry in a corner..." She whimpered starting to break down crying.

As she sat down against the wall the guard nudged Ryan. He groaned a bit and shifted. "C'mon. Wake up." The guard said nudging him again. This time a bit more harder. "Kid it'll be easier for me to walk you out."

Ryan groaned again. "...Daaaaad five more minutes..." He said curling up into a little ball.

The guard sighed and poked the boy lightly with his horn. "C'mon you little shit get up!" He snapped.

Mrs. Rubber looked up from her hooves still teary eyed. She saw him poke Ryan again with his horn. She got up and wiped her eyes. "Don't do that to him!" She snapped. "You could really hurt him! Don't you know that any creature in Equestria has a right to well... Not be harmed by idiots like YOU!"

The guard huffed. "You wanted him to wake up!" He snapped. "I'm waking him up MY WAY!"

The mare got between Ryan and the guard. "You must not be a parent!" She said. "You're just a fucking BRUTE! He's a small human! Not a pony! Princess Twilight shouldn't even HAVE YOU AS A FUCKING GUARD IF YOU'RE TREATING CHILDREN LIKE THIS!"

Ryan grunted and sat up. He looked to Mrs. Rubber and the guard. "Would you guys shut up!" He snapped. "A nap needs SILENCE! And.. She is right you know." He hopped off of the bed and walked around. "Unless you want to lose your fucking job you owe me a few potshots!"

The guard huffed a bit. "As if kid!" He said giving a grin. "The princess wont believe the likes of an outsider and a dead hippie bitch!" He shoved Mrs. Rubber aside and turned around starting for the door. "You two just get back to that broken home of yours, that bitch of a daughter and that asshole of a father."

Ryan readied himself and yelled starting to run towards the guard. He wound up and gave a big kick to the guards own 'bit bag'. The guard yelped and fell onto his side with his hooves between his legs. Ryan grinned. "You wont give me a potshot? I'm taking it just like you did asshole!" He snapped. "Oh... And say goodbye to your job. Twilight'll hear about what you called me and my mother!" Ryan looked back at his mother. "Shall we go to the princess about this mom?"

Mrs. Rubber nodded hesitantly a bit shocked. She hurried forward and ran out the door as Ryan opened it. They both ran down the hallway almost side by side. Ryan still a bit sluggish from sleeping hopped onto his Pegasus mother's back and rode the rest of the way to Twilight's throne room. Twilight sat in her throne with Spike at her side. Not to mention Rainbow Dash sat just a seat over. "Princess Twilight!" Mrs. Rubber said as Ryan hopped off her back. They both bowed. "Your guard was assaulting Rayden here!"

Ryan sighed getting to his feet. "It's Ryan but... Yeah he was poking me in the ass with his horn." He said. "I was trying to sleep but he just kept going. I think he might've punctured a bit through my pants and skin.... By the way... I'm sorry for doing this but I had to get a shot in on him before we came here..." He blushed a bit and scratched his head.

Twilight sighed standing up from her throne. "Excuse me for a second Dash I need to attend to some royal business..." She said looking at her friend. She looked back at Ryan. "You're forgiven but next time come find me and let me know." Ryan nodded. Twilight looked to Mrs. Rubber. "Alright where is that guard? He is SO fired...."

Mrs. Rubber walked towards the door with Twilight leaving Ryan alone with Rainbow Dash and Spike. Dash got up from her throne and gave a chuckle. "Didn't realize you can bruise some stallion's gems squirt!" She said sitting next to him.

Ryan blushed rubbing his back side. "Well he did deserve it for stabbing me with his sharp horn..." He said.

Dash sighed. "No worries there. It only hurts for a bit." She said. "Rarity's sister got me good with her horn. She's lucky I wasn't bleeding. Only a scratch on my flank." Ryan was about to reply but his stomach growled. Dash grinned a bit. "Getting hungry eh? How's about you and me go and get something to eat?"

Ryan shrugged a bit. "Dunno... May have to go back home with Scoot and Dad to spend some time with them." He said. "Not to mention Scoot knows I'm in trouble with Princess Twilight..."

Spike hummed a bit. "Why not have them come over here for dinner?" He said. "Twilight and I are always eating alone and its always nice to have some company."

Dash smiled. "Good thinkin' Spike. You think Twi would let me bring Gilda?" She asked. Spike shrugged a bit. "Well then... Cant hurt to ask for Ryan's stomach right?"

Ryan tilted his head looking at Dash. "Gilda? Who the hell is Gilda?" He asked.

Dash gave Ryan a little laugh standing up. "She's a friend from when I was in school." She said. "She's a griffon which means she eats meat and knowing you humans eat meat she should be able to help keep ya alive here."

Ryan smiled looking down at his stomach. "Good... A week only eating ramen and salads has got me wasting away and left a bland taste in my mouth..." He said. He looked over at Spike. "Can you go and see if Twilight would allow that? Please?"

Spike gave a smile and nodded. "Sure! I'll be right back then!" He said.

Ryan looked back up at Dash. "...You mind walking me and my mother home?" He asked. "Did... Twilight tell you about that?"

Dash nodded. "Saw you guys on the way in here." She said. "Almost thought you looked like you were cute sleeping. Almost. I don't normally think things are cute. Cool would be better but only I look cool when I sleep."

Ryan laughed a bit. "Well alright then." He said.

Well Ryan finally connected with Scootaloo's mother after a few nervous hidings, a bathroom's stuck fixtures and an abusive ex-guard. Hopefully things can go smoothly now... Right...?