Chapters Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Flames, Fury, and Fights with herself.
Rainbow Dash was panicking. The air smelled of smoke, burnt plastic, and oddly enough, gasoline. The cries of three fillies split the air as Dash circled the clubhouse. As the cyan Pegasus drew close to the flaming clubhouse, she poked her head through the window, trying to get a better handle on the scene.
The famous fillies, an Earth Pony, a Unicorn, and (gulp) a Pegasus, cowered directly beneath the window. Their eyes watered from smoke, and their cries for help became choked and turned into coughs.
Rainbow Dash had an idea in a second. She flew around to the door. Not wanting to waste time with doorknobs, she rammed against the door. As it thudded to the floor, Rainbow extended her wings and crouched low. She felt the three fillies climbing onto her back and positioning themselves between her wing joints, at which point she flapped her wings into a hover. Rainbow's heart pounded in her chest at the thought of what she was about to do. Thrusting out her rear hooves, she hammered them into the back wall, hearing it split. Another kick and she was flung backwards, falling, losing her hold on the fillies somewhere between the air and the ground.
There was no time to embrace her adopted sister. Not with the rising flames in the old wooden structure. Scanning the skies, Rainbow spotted the unmistakable pale green of Lightning Dust's coat. Not bothering to wonder what her former frenemy was doing in Ponyville, Rainbow soared into the sky and only had to look at Dust and then at the fire. Dash and Dust began the hunt for a fresh rain cloud.
"Here!" called Applejack, and a worn, braided lasso went flying. Dust caught the tan-coloured rope in her jaws and used it to secure a moisture filled cloud. When she had a good grip on it, Dash assisted her friend/foe in the somewhat challenging task of returning the cloud to the scorching clubhouse. Once inside, the two Pegasi proceeded to beat the tar (or rather, water) out of the cloud from every possible angle.
Once the flames were demolished, the cloud evaporated into thin air. Rainbow Dash tackled Scootaloo, pulling her into a tight hug before looking around with accusing eyes.
"What in the name of Princess Celestia happened here?"
Sweetie Belle, a small Unicorn who was still perfecting her magic skills, was looking awkwardly at her older sister Rarity, a Unicorn who was known as the beauty queen of Ponyville. "Well, I guess we kind of....caused the fire..?"
Rarity waved this away. "Dear me, Sweetie, there is no other explanation, is there? But you needn't look so worried, darling. You don't think your rather clever sister knows that accidents happen?"
"Apple Bloom, y'all are lookin' fretful too. But we know it was an accident." The orange farm pony was struggling to keep her brown Stetson hat from falling over her face as she started at her younger sister with concerned eyes.
"Well, Ah, uh...... Ah don't think that's what Sweetie Belle meant, uh... sis...."
Rainbow turned to her own sister, whose eyes were squinched shut, leaking tears. When she opened her eyes, Scootaloo was looking Rainbow full in the face, and her words triggered a memory of a certain camping trip.
"I'm so, so sorry, Rainbow Dash! I just wanted to contribute an idea for our cutie marks, so I suggested firefighters! So we poured gasoline all over the clubhouse and tried to put the fire out with watering cans, but it got too big for us to handle and, well, I guess you know the rest."
Rainbow was half listening, mostly spaced out as she remembered the trip that has changed her life, both of their lives.
I'm so, so sorry, Rainbow Dash! I just wanted you to hang out with me and see how cool I was so you would take me under your wing, teach me everything you know and become like, my big sister! But then you started telling those spooky stories, and I got scared! I thought I heard the Headless Horse, so I ran out here by myself, and, well, I guess you know the rest.
Rainbow Dash hit the earth, hard, still a bit dazed as she processed Scootaloo's words.
"Whooooooaaaaaaa. Serious de ja vu moment there. " She burst out laughing. Scootaloo, who had realized what she said, remembered that one, special night and started laughing too.
"What in the- why are y'all laughin up a storm about this fire? This ain't funny, RD!" Applejack was none too pleased about Dash's reaction.
Rainbow broke off her laughter uneasily and raised her brow at AJ. "I never told you what went down that last night of the camping trip, did I?" She frowned at her friend shook her head. "Remind me to tell you someday. Then you'll understand. But, either way Scoot, how could you think that lighting your clubhouse on fire, that lighting anything on fire for that matter, was a good plan?!"
"I don't know, sis. I really don't. I guess I'm kind of a loser, huh?" Scootaloo gave a sheepish smile, but looked as though someone had stuck her with a needle.
"Hey!" RD snapped sharply. "Only a loser calls herself a loser!"
"Huh?" Scoot was already confused after all that had happened, and her sister's random babbling wasn't helping. Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"Look, Scoot. I would never think of you as a loser. I won't deny that was an incredibly stupid move on your part, though." Rainbow extended a wing to her daughter, who appeared to be involved in an intense staring contest with the grass. Scootaloo nodded in response. "Yeah, we were pretty dumb, no pony's denying that." Apple Bloom opened her mouth in protest, but Applejack quickly quieted her sister with a single orange hoof.
"Quiet, lil' missy. Scootaloo said 'we' and she's absolutely right! 'Least she has the decency to admit her wrongdoing!" Apple Bloom had no response for this. Rarity had been quiet after Scootaloo's little "outburst". Rainbow Dash couldn't even look her sister in the eye. This made Scootaloo nervous.
At last, the cyan mare spoke, in a surprisingly calm tone , hoping her silent anger wasn't showing through. "Scootaloo, we're going home. And you're headed directly to your bedroom the minute we finish eating."
"Yeah, okay, I guess I deserve that." Scoot said with a sigh, as she perched herself atop Rainbow's back. You deserve a lot more than being sent to your frickin room, kid Rainbow thought as she propelled herself into the air.
.
So here she was, sitting at the kitchen table. Scoot had been in her room for about 3 hours, and Rainbow now hated herself for not doing anything earlier. But if there was one thing Rainbow had learned over the years, it was that she thought better in motion. Scootaloo's room was right above the kitchen, so she didn't want to risk flying in the low-ceilinged room. But she could pace.
And pace she did, thoughts flashing through her mind. Think Rainbow Dash! Is this what your Father would have wanted? Wow......... I'm stupid. Of course he would! Celestia knows I know how she feels right know. Didn't I manage to set the Cloudosseum on fire? Heh, I never DID figure out how a giant mass of water vapor caught fire, did I? Whup, getting off topic here.
Rainbow and her mindless babbling were bringing her no closer to her decision. But no matter what her head was telling her, she knew in her heart that a time out, even a 3 hour one, was really not going to cut it. Scoots had nearly killed herself, and she had to pay. It was then, Rainbow knew she would have to do one thing, one thing she has always refused, worried it would wreck her relationship with Scootaloo,
Rainbow Dash would have to inflict pain upon her child.
Two for Torture
Rainbow Dash digged around in the cabinets, until she found what she was looking for. A pouch of apple juice and some peanut butter crackers. As she passed, well, nearly ran into, the mirror over the couch, she caught sight of the mane brush on the coffee table behind her. Rainbow couldn't help but smile at the sight. Boy that brings back memories doesn't it, Dashie? Still not sure why I wanted to take it. ......Wait does dad even know I took it? I don't think so..... Oh well.
Rainbow Dash stopped her daydreaming just long enough to not faceplant Scootaloo's door. She heard a sniffle from inside and any courage she had evaporated into thin air. If Scootaloo had been crying, this was going to be a lot tougher. Maybe she should..... No, Dash. You got this. Show her why. Help her understand beforehoof and she should be fine. If you can take this, Scootaloo can!
She thumped her hoof on the door a few times, and after hearing a watery 'come in' from inside, she nudged the door open.
Scootaloo was sitting on her mattress, an orange mass in the middle of a room FILLED with purple. Purple wallpaper lined three walls and blue paint with a rainbow arching over her bed adorned the final one. A lavender carpet stretched across the length of the room. Wonderbolt knick-knacks were lined up on top of the white painted oak dresser. Rainbow Dash had seen this room many times. She knew every inch of the furniture from the countless times she and Scootaloo had been pouring over catalogs. She could tell you every wrinkle in the bedsheets, every chip in the Spitfire figurine, every faded patch of paint in the prismatic arch of colors on the wall directly opposite her.
But Rainbow knew the filly sitting on the bed, too, and it didn't take a genius (not that Rainbow wasn't a genius) to know that Scoots had indeed been crying. Crap.
"H-hey, sis. Brought you some snacks. You doin okay?"
"Yeah, I'll survive. Thanks." A note in her voice suggested otherwise, however.
The blue mare let out her breath with a tiny hint of frustration. "Scootaloo, I made a mistake, okay? I stuck you in your room for hours when I could have done something earlier. But I let my stupidness get in the way. I've known this day would come for a while. I guess I was hoping I was wrong."
"What are you talking about, sis? What do you mean, you've known this day would come? Is it something I did?"
Rainbow Dash silently kicked herself for wording it like that. This was one question she really didn't want to answer. But if this was how Scootaloo chose to play her cards, Rainbow wasn't about to fold. "Yes... and no. Yes, it's what you did, but it's also what I did. W-when I was younger. And I know I'm confusing you, so lemmie tell ya a story.
When I was about your age, my mother died." Rainbow had no problem saying this with a straight face. She hadn't really cared about the mare that gave her her life. "She had lung cancer. But I don't want you feeling sorry for me. The only nice thing she ever did was....... show me how to live my life." She started to let her memories overcome her before continuing. "But I didn't realize that at the time. Every other filly and colt had a mother and a father, and I want to be the same. I knew where my mom had gone, and I thought my dad had sent her there. I blamed him for her death. So, I started ignoring him. I never said a word to him, and when he asked me to do anything, I either walked away, or did the opposite. He asked me to do my homework, I ripped it up. He asked me to pick up my coat, I threw my hat on the floor next to it. He told me I wasn't allowed to go to Gilda's party, and I snuck out of the house.
We were playing Truth or Dare at the party. Gilda dared me to play with some matches. I wasn't sure what she meant, but it turned out she wanted me to set the Cloudosseum on fire. So I took the box of matches in my mouth, and flew to the stadium. I lit a match and dropped it on the floor of the Cloudosseum. And I just flew back."
Scootaloo was now genuinely confused. "Aren't clouds made of water vapor...?"
Rainbow chuckled slightly. "Yeah, I still haven't figured out the science behind that. Anyways, some armed guards found me with a box of matches in my hoof, so they put two and two together. But seeing as rainbow manes are pretty rare, they knew I was Rainbow Striker's kid. And they were my dad's buddies from work........ So they knew where I lived and pretty much everything about me. They took me back home, well, more like dragged me, and told my dad exactly what I did. I had never seen him so angry, Scoots. It was terrifying. And the, I kid you not, Princess Celestia came!
She cast some sort of freezing spell on my wings so I couldn't fly away. She told me I was in serious legal trouble, seeing as I had just burned a public building. She told me I was interrupting .......... come to think of it, I'm pretty sure she told me I had interrupted Twilight's studies! Well, the fact that Celestia came just plain enraged my dad. He took me inside and shoved me into a corner. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, but Celestia hadn't undone the spell, so I couldn fly away.
But even after I knew what was happening, and even after it happened, I thank him for it. Because it was something that helped me, Scootaloo. Something that I think I have to do today."
Scootaloo gazed at her sister, wondering what she was talking about. Rainbow Dash silently cheered herself on for moving this conversation in the right direction. Now was the hardest part.
"Scootaloo, my dad, he......... he spanked me." She waited for the screaming that she knew would come.
But none came. Scootaloo just sat there, her eyes darting around in panic. Nothing moved except the purple irises. Rainbow waited. She could practically see the gears turning in the filly' mind as she processed the information. Finally, Scootaloo swallowed and opened her mouth.
"Wha-what?!"
It took all Rainbow's energy to keep a steady voice. She was, in no way, scared to discipline Scootaloo. Just, a little apprehensive of how it would go down. This was exactly how she had felt that day, nearly 15 years ago. Worried. Confused. Frightened. Unsure of what to make of it all. The terrifying look in her dad's eyes, the disappointment on the face of the princess. It was something unreal.
"He spanked me, Scootaloo." She repeated, a little more confidently. "Look, I really don't want to do this. But this is the second time you have put your life on the line, that I even know about! I'm not gonna lie, Scoots, you dissapointed me today. I never, ever, EVER. want you to try anything like that again."
"Bu-but it won't! It won't!" Scootaloo seemed to be trying to convince herself more than Rainbow, though.
"How do I know? How do I know I can trust you to never do this again? That's why I have to spank you, Scootaloo. Not because I want to, but because I know it's right. I know what it's like, and I wouldn't do this if I wasn't 100% sure it was necessary. I do not want to force you over my lap, so come here. Please."
Scootaloo was torn. On one hoof, she didn't want to be hurt. On the other, something told her Rainbow Dash wasn't doing this to hurt her. Plus, Rainbow meant the world to her. Scootaloo could tell something was bothering Rainbow. Something that might go away if she took a spanking?
Rainbow watched carefully as Scootaloo took one of the deepest breaths ever, and slowly nodded. Not breaking eye contact with the filly she loved so dearly, Rainbow extended her hooves to the shaking Scootaloo, pulling her into a hug. Desperately trying to help her understand why this was happening, but at a loss for words. With Scootaloo nuzzled into her chest, Rainbow waited. Waited until she heard Scootaloo say what she supposed meant she was ready.:
" Okay, let's get this over with "
Rainbow lay the apprehensive girl over her lap. After a minute, she let her hoof fall. She heard Scootaloo hissing out her breath, but kept going. She couldn't turn back now. This had to be done.
"This is exactly what's going to happen whenever you take things too far. There's a line when it comes to trouble, and once you cross that line, I have no choice." Scootaloo was letting tears slip down her face now. It pained Rainbow to see Scootaloo crying, but she pushed on. "This will not be a fun night to look back on, but I want you to when you find yourself in a life threatening situation."
Scootaloo was really crying now. She had snatched a pillow from her bed and buried her face in it, yelling "Please!" as Rainbow kept spanking.
"I hate doing this, kiddo, but I'm not afraid to. You need to learn to think about the consequences before you go rushing into things. You've gotten yourself into a lot of trouble today, which I hope you're thinking about. " She winced when she saw the growing red blotch on the flank before her. But she kept spanking. Scootaloo's tail was thinking about swishing over to protect her, but Rainbow was almost done.
" Dashie. Hopes. You. Know. She's. Serious. Now. Scootaloo." She said, punctuating each word with a spank. She let her hoof fall one last time before saying, " I know I probably will, but I hope I never have to do that again."
Scootaloo wasted no time in leaping up and throwing her arms around her mother's neck, flinging her backwards. Rainbow instinctively wrapped a wing around Scootaloo's back. Scootaloo was still crying, but no longer quite as strongly. As she gazed into the loving eyes of the rainbow-maned Pegasus before her, she started to giggle.
With a raised eyebrow, Rainbow chuckled. "Well, Scoot, you've been spanked for the first time! How do you feel? "
"Uh, well, ..........wait...... how do you think I feel?" As giggles consumed the young filly, Rainbow rolled her eyes.
" Well no duh! I know your FLANK hurts, but what about this?" She lay a hoof on Scootaloo's stomach. Scootaloo stared at her, thoughts racing through her head. How did she know my belly hurt? Is this what happened to her before she was spanked? How did she know my belly feels better now?
Rainbow smiled. "Yep,that's guilt. I always got it before my dad spanked me. It's no fun, but it always goes away afterwards." Scootaloo only nodded, as she was in the middle of a huge yawn. She started to crawl into bed. Rainbow took the hint and tucked her in. She started for the door.
"Wait!" Called Scootaloo. "Aren't you gonna sleep in here tonight?"
Rainbow nodded. " I'll be in in a minute. Gotta do something." Rainbow stepped into the hall.
.
Rainbow stared at them. At first, there was nothing special about them. They were just black combat boots. The lacing was frayed and the soles were cracking. Any other pony might have thrown them away.
But to Rainbow, they were something else. She picked the left one up, and stared at the ceiling. Her voice was barely louder than Fluttershy's when she finally spoke.
"I know I did the right thing,, Dad, wherever you are."
TO BE CONTINUED........
Unexpected (but not unwelcome) visitors.
The phone rang loudly in Rainbow Dash's ear. She popped an eye open and glared at the blue cordless phone laying discarded on the nightstand. As the screen lit up LED green, she moaned.
RING! Oh snap! The phone wasn't going down without a fight.
"Oh for the love of-" Rainbow snatched up the receiver "Hello?"
"I'm comin to your house."
" .......Who in the heck are you?!"
"Your true love."
" What the.... OKAY WHO'S TRYING TO PRANK CALL ME?"
'Sis?" A groggy filly's voice whined. "Ugh, it's like 9 in the morning, who are you talking to?"
"Some pranking bozo, I guess."
"HOW DARE YOU CALL ME A BOZO! I AM AN OFFICIAL OFFICER!" The voice raged, before laughter rang out on the other end and a familiar voice sounded. "An official first officer, that is!"
Rainbow Dash facehoofed. "SOARIN! What the hel- hay, bro?!" Even with her, ahem, reputation, Rainbow was responsible enough to keep her swearing on the DL when fillies were about. "You gave me a frickin heart attack! Plus, Scootaloo is RIGHT HERE." She fumed.
"Well it took you long enough, Dashie!" Said the stallion on the other line.
"Now why did you-" dingdong! . "oh, hold on, someone's here. Scootaloo, be right back." She called as she exited the room and made her way to the front door.
"Interesting, I wonder who it could be?" Soarin said with a maniacal laugh. Rainbow could practically see his "evil" grin. Man, he is such a dork sometimes. A dork, but so adorable- "WHAT THE HECK?!" Rainbow had now opened the front door and was looking at the stallion on her porch. The stallion had navy blue hair, green eyes, and fur that was supposedly a light blue, but was so pale it looked white. A military uniform adorned his torso, a pair of flight goggles rested on his forehead, and a lightning bolt between two wings decorated his flank. Soarin, First Officer of the Wonderbolts. Former coltfriend of Spitfire, now single. (For now)
"Heeeeeey!" He said, grabbing the doorframe and leaning in, much like some character in a game with a haunted pizzeria that ponies were obsessing over. What was it? Five nights at...Frankie's? Eh, whatever it was, he reminded her of that weird pirate dog looking thing.
"Why are you here, dork?" she deadpanned, genuinely aggravated that he had woken her up that early on a Sunday, but not exactly dissapointed to see him.
"Cuz', Dashie, I can be", the stallion grinned, dissolving briefly into laughter before shrinking back to avoid the cyan hoof about to slug him in the shoulder, unable to contain his glee at seeing the rainbow maned mare for the first time in forever. (Dear God, please don't sing). It had been awhile since that night, where she fell into his arms crying after finding out her dad was in the hospital after a nasty crash, but neither Pegasus had forgotten that evening. It had been a time of bonding for them, Rainbow crying as she hadn't in a while, and Soarin stroking the green and blue streaks of hair on the back of her head, desperately trying to reassure her.
Rainbow Dash was currently thinking about this night as well, but wasn't in the mood to rehash the past, or play games. "No, seriously, why?" she monotoned, dangerously close to sounding like Maud in her frustration with the...dreamy...handsome stallion-NO!
Soarin, still grinning, looked down, shuffling his hooves. "I don't know, it just feels like we never just, talk, anymore. I mean without somepony's life being in danger. But come on, Dash, you know me! Did you really think I was kidding when I said "I'm coming to your house'?" He couldn't help adding, to which Rainbow responded by punching him in the shoulder, "NOT. AMUSED." written all over her face. Soarin's grin never subsided though, so Rainbow Dash gave up her little game and returned the ear to ear beam.
"Tell me about it." She quipped, turning to trot to the couch and motioning for him to follow. "I mean with Scoot, my job, and my dad still healing from his injury, it's been kinda crazy. I'm not gonna lie, I kinda miss the days when we could just sit and chat."
"Heh, yeah. So, where is, what's your nickname for her, the insane little whackadoodle disguised as a filly ? From what you've told me, she's almost always running around."
Rainbow Dash thumped him with her wing and tilted her head back. "SCOOTALOO, WE HAVE A VISITOR!"
"COMING, SIS!"
"Sis? I thought you adopted her. Wouldn't that make you like, her mom?" Soarin asked, as hoofsteps sounded on the staircase behind them.
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes wide. "Looooong story." She turned to the orange filly standing at the base of the stairs, gazing in awe at the stallion before her. "Scoot, this is Soarin."
Soarin nodded, grinning wildly once more. " 'Sup."
Scootaloo was speechless, gazing from one pony to the other, spluttering her confusion.
"Wh- WHAT!"
Rainbow could hardly control her excitement.
