Books and Wings

“Alright guys, I’m heading over to Twilight's to hand these Daring Do books back,” Rainbow announced as she stuffed the said books into her saddlebags while trotting towards the front entrance of the home.

“Have fun!” Scootaloo announced from the stairs as Soarin exited the kitchen and gave a small wave.

“I’m trusting the pair of you not to wreck the house this time,” Rainbow said as she glanced back at the two with a smirk.

The sky blue stallion gave a small chuckle. “You can count on us,” Soarin said with a sheepish smile. Rainbow only proceeded to let her smirk widen as she made a motion with her hoof, pointing it to her eyes and then to her coltfriend, who only shied further away. Giggling to herself at the reaction, Rainbow gave a final goodbye before heading out of the door. Leaving her mind to ponder over the real reason why she was making the trip.

It wasn’t a real problem, if anything it was just curiosity eating away at the back of her mind. However, with Sky Heart away for the rest of the week, this seemed like the best option to get rid of any burning questions. As Dash skimmed across the sky towards the center of town her mind began to wander further into the question, in all honesty Rainbow did feel nervous about the reality of creating a family, but what pony wouldn’t be nervous about being given responsibility for another pony?

Dash shook her head to clear the thoughts; they would all be answered in a few moments. As she landed on the dirt streets of the town, she quickly made a beeline straight for the Castle. As she approached she proceeded to knock on the large doors, waiting for an answer. The seconds began to tick by without a word, Rainbow knocked again as she spoke, “Twi! You in there?”

Suddenly the doors were surrounded in a large aura as they swung open to reveal a sheepish looking alicorn. Rainbow only raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Twilight gave a small chuckle to break the awkward moment, “Sorry, Rainbow, I’m still getting lost around here,” she admitted with a flush of crimson growing on her cheeks.

Rainbow tried to hold herself from falling down the steps of the castle in a fit of laughter, “Don’t you get Spike to get the door for you anymore?”

Twilight’s blush only deepened, “I would, but I think he’d get lost trying to find me.”

Dash couldn’t hold herself after that; she fell onto the ground laughing. Twilight rolled her eyes as she began trotting back into the building, letting Rainbow enter at her own leisure. After the mare had finished her giggling fit, she trotted through the doors to see the alicorn not too far away, a floating book in her magical grasp.

“So, any particular reason for your visit besides wanting to embarrass me?” Twilight inquired with a grin.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck as she chuckled nervously, “Actually, there was,” she began, reaching for her bags as she took out a few books and hoofed them to her friend. “There was also a question I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“Oh?” Twilight said as she took the books, “What would that be? If it’s about making a double rainboom, then the answer is no.”

Rainbow suppressed another fit of laughter as she shook her head, “Nah, I could do that myself anyways,” she replied boastfully before continuing with her real question, “It was actually about Scootaloo.”

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, a hint of concern in her voice as she eyed Dash carefully.

Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively, “It’s nothing bad, Twi, it’s just… well… she asked me last night if we were a family.”

“Oh,” Twilight responded softly, taking a few moments of the silent air before speaking, “Well, what do you think about that, Rainbow?”

The pegasus sighed as she thought the question over, “I-I’m not too sure, Twi. I want it, but what does that make me to her?”

Twilight smiled genuinely at her friend, “It makes you a surrogate mother to a filly who idolizes you more than what’s probably deemed healthy,” she added with a slight giggle.

Rainbow returned the laughter as she began thinking the title over in her head. She liked, no, loved the idea, “Thanks, I know that me and Soar can handle it, but it’s just that-”

“That you’re nervous,” Twilight finished with a nod, “I think that’s the same for any new parent to ever walk the face of Equestria. Trust me, Dash, you’re doing really well with her at the moment. Plus I heard from the mayor that you have Scootaloo for the whole week, maybe this is the time where you can get all those nerves out of the way?”

Rainbow nodded in agreement at the alicorn’s suggestion, “I’ll try that. Thanks for the help, Twi.”

“Anytime,” Twilight replied, “Is that all?”

Dash nodded, “Yeah. I was gonna head back and take Scoots out for a little bit of flying.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Twilight began, “door’s on your left, by the way,” she continued as she began trotting over to the shelf where she placed Rainbow’s books back neatly.

Dash smirked, “I think I came in from the door behind me.”

Twilight let the last book fall out of her grasp as she face hoofed, giving Rainbow the perfect opportunity to let out a small snicker. After a few moments, she said her goodbyes, leaving the princess to her duties as she headed out of the castle and into the skies, heading directly back to the home.

Within minutes, Rainbow Landed close to the front entrance of the cloud house. However, she began to tense up at the sound of laughter coming from within the home. Nerves rose within her chest at the thoughts of what greeted her the last time she was in this situation.

Please let the house be clean.

She reached a hoof out for the door. As she opened it, however, the laughter stopped completely. The first scan of the room confirmed that everything was in the same place as she remembered, but a more alarming fact was going through her head.

It’s quiet… too quiet.

A second scan of the room confirmed her fears. As her eyes drifted up, she noticed a rope attached crudely to the door in a contraption to tip a bucket of water onto her. A grin crept across Rainbow’s face as she quickly grimaced in pain.

“Oh no! Soarin, help! I think I broke my wing!”

Soarin immediately ran out from his hiding spot behind the sofa, “Are you sure?” he asked, his tone heavily laced with concern as he rushed to his mare’s aid, opening the door to get a better look at Dash. However, it was only when he saw an all too knowing smirk run across Rainbow’s lips did he know what had occurred.

Soarin proceeded to yelp as the cold water splashed onto his coat and mane, with Rainbow bursting out in laughter a few seconds later. Scootaloo revealed herself from her own hiding spot, confused to hear Rainbow’s laughter. She quickly put her hooves across her mouth as she realised what had happened. The stallion only sighed in defeat while both ponies began calming their giggling fits.

Rainbow smiled and poked Soarin in the chest, “Never underestimate Ponyville’s top prankster.”

Soarin only rolled his eyes and crossed his forehooves in response, “Meanie.”

Dash grinned as she trotted into the home, swatting her coltfriend playfully with her tail on the way past as she cantered over to Scootaloo, “Well, how about we hit the sky today?” she asked, turning to Soarin, “Once you get cleaned up, that is.”

“Could we go cloud hopping!?” Scootaloo asked excitedly, buzzing her wings in anticipation.

“Sure thing, kiddo” Soarin replied as he began trotting towards the bathroom, “just give me a few moments.”

It didn’t take long for Soarin to get cleaned up from his failed prank. Soon, all three pegasi were standing outside the home, looking out into the blue sky ahead of them. Rainbow eyed the wide open space hungrily; it had been while since she’d just been able to get out and stretch her wings.

“So, what are we gonna do first?” Soarin asked, looking at the other two.

“How about we do some gliding?” Rainbow asked, looking down to Scootaloo who nodded happily in response.

“What are we waiting for then!?” Soarin shouted as he spread his wings and shot into the air. Rainbow leaning down to help Scootaloo onto her back before taking off after the stallion.

“Have you ever glided before, Scoots?” Rainbow asked as she caught up to Soarin, who was now cruising along the air beside them. The filly shook her head, giving Rainbow the go ahead to explain, “Well, you’ll jump off my back and spread out your wings. If you end up getting tired or don’t catch the air, then one of us will be there to get you, alright?”

“Sure thing Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo replied with a small salute.

Rainbow and Soarin both watched intently as the filly righted herself on Rainbow’s back, spreading her wings out.

“Now tilt them so that they lift you up,” Rainbow instructed.

Scootaloo nodded as she began adjusting her wings to get the most lift. Suddenly, without warning a gust lifted her off Rainbow’s back, causing the filly to drift upwards as she kept her wings outstretched.

“That’s it, Scootaloo!” Soarin shouted up to the filly and the two adults gained some altitude to stay by her side.

Scootaloo’s heart was pounding, her wings tingling as she felt the air brushing across her feathers. This wasn’t just cool, it was down right awesome. As much as she tried, she couldn’t keep a giant smile from adorning her face as she looked down onto the many clouds and the town below.

“Whatcha think, Scoots?” Rainbow asked, nudging the filly to get her attention.

“This is the most awesomest thing ever!” Scootaloo hollard as she continued to glide. Both Rainbow and Soarin couldn’t hold in their own chuckles at the sight. As Dash’s eyes drifted from Scootaloo to her stallion, she saw that he was staring right back at her, both ponies silently agreeing with one another that this was what they both wanted.

Rainbow smiled, turning back to the open blue skies ahead of her.

Nothing could get better than this.

Author's Note

I felt the story needed a little more fluff. You did approve last time You'll see another chapter on its way very soon.