Home is Where the Heart is

by smileyfacer

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Slice of Life
Length: 41691

Scootaloo struggles to know she is an orphan and wants nothing more than a family of her own.

Scootaloo came to Ponyville as an orphan, and has been struggling with just that fact ever since her arrival. But recently she's been wondering why she became an orphan, and many things are brought to question, such as why she was abandoned. Was she not worth anything to her parents, but more importantly, if she wasn't worth anything, were she not special, and how would she then get her important cutie mark? This story will depict how the questions and their answers will affect the various relationships between Scootaloo and her friends.

Featured the 13th of August. (OHMAHGERD)

Published 2012-05-14 06:54:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-24 08:45:44 UTC

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

”What’s the matter Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked as the little orange filly looked up into the ever so blue sky of Equestria, outside the clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

At first Scootaloo didn’t reply, and just continued to stare into the heavens. Applebloom, who had been occupied with drawing a picture to miss Cherilee, glanced at Scootaloo, and took matter into her own little hooves.

“Scootaloo!” Applebloom shouted, still pencil in mouth, causing her fellow Cutie Mark Crusader to flinch and topple back inside the clubhouse in surprise.

She grinned sheepishly and rose to her hooves.

“Nothing’s the matter.” She quietly said as she walked out of the cozy clubhouse, and returned to her sky gazing.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle shared a look. Although somewhat new friends, it never took them long to figure out when one of the three Crusaders were lying, and this was definitely the case.

“Is it because of your blank flank?” Sweetie Belle asked which earned a hard bump from Applebloom.

The usual feeling of dread that came with that particular phrase didn’t arrive this time. It was only when it came from ponies such as Diamond Tiara, or Silverspoon who had already earned their cutie marks, it stung like nothing else. But when it came from her friends, with blank flanks just like herself, Scootaloo didn’t mind it. They all disliked being blank flanks more than anything.
Well, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle did.
“No.”
“Is it ‘cause ye can’t really fly?” Applebloom asked after getting the pencil out of her mouth to stop her drawing, and gently grabbed Scootaloo’s wings and moved them up and down as fast as she could without hurting her Pegasus friend. As soon as she left go, the motion stopped, and Scootaloo’s wing felt flat down upon her tiny body.

“No.”

A concerned look was shared between the unicorn and Earth pony.

“Then what is it?”

Scootaloo finally managed to drag her eyes off the sky and look at her friends.

“I don’t know. I just feel upset. As if there’s a little pony inside of me who enjoys ruining my mood and my day, who won’t go away.”

Scootaloo looked at the sky again, then sighed and stood up on her tiny hooves.
“I better go ahead and go home. The sun is setting, and I need to be in bed soon. See you at school tomorrow.”, Scootaloo quietly said as she made her way down the clubhouse stairs and unto her scooter.

She bleakly began flapping her wings, the usual loud sound they made was now weak. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom gazed after Scootaloo as her shape began to turn into a small dot in the distance, as she made her way to the Ponyville orphanage.

“I sure wonder what happened wit’ ‘er.” Applebloom asked, as she and Sweetie Belle realized that it was indeed getting late, and left the clubhouse with hanging heads.
“I don’t know Applebloom. She’s just really upset lately. Maybe we should talk to Rarity or Applejack about it?”
“I reckon so, but maybe it’s none of our business?”

Sweetie Belle sighed in confusion, but waved goodbye to Applebloom as they went their separate ways to their own homes.

Scootaloo quietly put her scooter in her own personal belongings box. She had very few things with her when she came to Ponyville, due to her not knowing who her parents were, or if she had any siblings. She didn’t even know if her family were Pegasus ponies like her, or anything of the like.

“Scootaloo? Are you ready to sleep? You know it’s quite late, little filly.”
“Yes headmistress.” Scootaloo replied in a monotone voice, as she failed at passing the headmistress’ office without herself getting noticed.
“Come in for a second, please, Scootaloo.”

The orange filly kept herself from sighing heavily in annoyance, and entered the headmistress’ office. The old mare smiled at her with such warmth in her face, that it was hard to get annoyed at her. The wrinkles on her face showed experience, and the dimples that were almost hidden by the wrinkles, showed how much she had smiled at her orphan foals in her care. There were many promotional posters of fillies and colts getting new families and feeling alright about not having a family, and staying at the orphanage for a while. Scootaloo had usually not cared at all about the posters whenever she had gotten herself in some minor troubles, but this time, she took a second glance. There were motivational quotes all over the posters, with cheerful fillies and colts smiling widely, and the background of the posters being colorful and almost painstakingly bright to look at in the darkness of the room.

“What have I done now, headmistress?”
“Oh, nothing my dear filly. You have just seem to be a bit blue these past weeks, and I was wondering if there was anything I could do, if my assumptions were correct.”
“I’m fine.” Scootaloo dryly replied, and walked out of the office again.
She wasn’t in the mood to talk about her problems.
“Scootaloo?” the headmistress asked after her, and was unsure of whether or not to follow the little filly. She decided to stay, but let out a heavy sigh. Scootaloo had been at the orphanage the longest, and had had no families come to look at her. It was always with a heavy heart that the headmistress let the orphans go into new families, but she always knew that it was for the best. But Scootaloo always seemed to enjoy life in Ponyville. She had quickly made friends with the sisters of Applejack and Rarity, and met her idol, Rainbow Dash.

But something was missing, and the headmistress wanted more than anything to know how she could help her little fillies, especially Scootaloo.

Scootaloo sneaked inside the bedroom as quickly as possible. All of the orphan foals staying there slept together, a way to make sure that everyone had some social relations with each other, in case they were shy or were so sad with the thought of having no family, they’d rather be alone.

At the moment, Scootaloo was in the category of the latter.

She quietly tip-hooved into her bed, and sighed as she got under her cover. Scootaloo turned around and opened the drawer in the bedside table all of the orphan foals had, and grabbed the little stuffed animal inside. That was the only thing that Scootaloo had with her when she first came to Ponyville – a little teddy bear, whose left eye was missing, and had several stitches all over its rough body. Before she had befriended Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, the teddy, originally named Teddy, had been her only friend. He was still very special to Scootaloo, and with a small smile around her face, she hugged Teddy tightly, and went into a restless sleep about her home, wherever it was to be found.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Sleep never seemed to come easy to one particular Crusader when a fellow Crusader was not content. Apple Bloom had gone straight to bed after her return from the clubhouse, and without a word. Granny Smith had long since returned to bed, but Big Macintosh and Applejack were still awake, and they were instantly concerned when Apple Bloom hardly said 'hello' and 'good night' when she entered their residence. Apple Bloom continued to toss and turn in her bed hours after she had gotten home, until she grunted loudly, and rose.

She tip-hooved across the wooden floor, and walked over to the window that provided her with the golden rays of sun in the day, and if she was lucky, the darker rays of the moon during the nights. The moon tonight was full, and Apple Bloom couldn't imagine going to bed nonetheless, so she thought she might ponder about Scootaloo's troubles throughout the night, with only the moon as her company. She stood up on her hind legs to get a better look at the view, and rested her head on her forelegs. It seemed the more she stared into the sky, the less she paid attention to everything else around her.

"Shouldn't ye' be goin' to bed sugarcube?"

Applebloom let out a little squeal, and managed to fall flat on her flank. Applejack made a face at the noise, and hoped that Granny Smith nor Big Mac heard the ordeal. Her little sister rubbed her hoof at the sore spot, before turning to her sister with a sad expression on her face.

"I would, but ye' see, Scootaloo's been mighty upset lately, and I don't kno' what's da matter wit' 'er. Sweetie Belle and I thought it might have sometin' do to wit' her not bein' able to fly, or her missin' cutie mark, or sometin' I have no clue about."

Applejack smiled at her sister's naive ways, and took her over to the window to admire the moon once more.

"Oh little sis', I'll tell ye what Scootaloo's so mighty upset about."

"Ye' can?!" Applebloom exclaimed, and hopped up in the air as a sign of her excitement. Applejack instantly, but gently shushed at her littlesister.

"If ye' wanna hear what Scootaloo's so upset about, ye' silly filly need ta' shush." Applejack gently said, and padded Applebloom's cover as she laid on the bed. Applebloom quietly hopped upon her bed, and cuddled up to her bigger sister.

"Applebloom, my little sugarcube, what's the most importan' thing in ye life?"

"Why Applejack, ye' kno' that my family an' friends are the most important thing in my life. But wha' does that have to do wit' Scootaloo?"

"Is there anythin' that ye' have, that Scootaloo doesn't?"

Applebloom looked confused at her sister for a minute, thought it over, but then shook her head as a reply to her sisters' question.

"A family, sugarcube. She doesn't have a sister to cuddle up wit' on the cold winter nights, a granny to make that delicious zap apple jam, or a big brother to play wit'. Ye' got all of that, but Scootaloo lives at the orphanage."

"But Applejack, we don't live wit' our parents either!" Applebloom objected loudly, only causing the orange mare to shush at her, once more.

"Now that's very true, but ye' see, we kno' our family, where we come from, and our heritage. Scootaloo ain't got the faintest clue."

Applebloom started to understand why Scootaloo was so upset. She felt like inviting her fellow Crusader to join her family, but she also figured that no matter how kindly and nicely the Apple family would treat Scootaloo, it would never really be her family. It began to deem on Applebloom how horrid it must be to be an orphan, to not know your heritage, family or anything like that. In sadness, the little filly snuggled up closer to Applejack, who seemed surprise over Appleblooms reaction.

"Don't be sad little filly. Scootaloo is lucky to have friends like ye' and Sweetie Belle. Ye' might aswell be family after all the Crusaders have been through. Ya'll just stay strong, and ya'll will be friends forever."

Applebloom nodded in agreement, and sniffled slightly.

"Aw, sugarcube. I bet the exhaustion's getting to ye', let's go into my room. Ye' can cuddle up wit' me t'night."

"I'm not tired at all..." Applebloom objected, but her sentence got cut off in the middle as the filly slowly drifted off to sleep. Applejack smiled, and gently scooped Applebloom unto her back before she got up to go into her room. She groaned slightly as she maneuvered off the bed.

"Tarnation, ya'll are gettin' heavy..." she muttered under her breath, as she tip-hooved into her room, and gently put her sister under the covers before joining her in a minute.

Applebloom's eyes slowly fluttered open as Applejack snuggled up beside her sister.

"Applejack?" she mumbled

"Silly filly, ye' need to sleep. Ye' got school tomorr-"

"I love ye'."

Applejack didn't even bother to correct her little sister as the filly drifted off to sleep again.

"I love ye' too sugarcube."

Before long, both Apple sisters were having the best nights sleep in quite awhile.

"Rise and shine my little ponies. It's a bright and sunny day." the headmistress gently said as she strolled down the common rooms of the orphanage. Every foal in there groaned slightly, before turning over and wishing to continue their sleep.

"C'mon everypony, time to get some breakfast and start day at school." she said, a little sterner this time.

Although the headmistress in general was a kind, warm and loving pony, she demanded respect. No foals ever disrespected her, but nonetheless, some discipline was required. Scootaloo was usually the first one to get up, even though she seemed to like sleep more than any foal in the orphanage. Before anypony else could see her get up, she quickly hid Teddy, and yawned loudly.

"Morning headmistress." She said, involuntarily adding a yawn after her finished sentence.

"Good morning Scootaloo. Breakfast is ready in the dining hall." the headmistress smiled.

Scootaloo sighed slightly, before nodding as a thanks, and walked towards the dining hall. It was the same usual schedule of her day. Get up, get breakfast, go to school, have some free-time, then home, with or without dinner. On repeat, every single day. She envied Applebloom and her Sweet Apple Acres. Sure, applebucking happened all the time, but there was always something to do. Life at Sweet Apple Acres must be sweet, she concluded.

As repetitive Scootaloo's daily schedule was, so was the breakfast available in the dining hall. A small variety of fruit and vegetables were at the table, aswell as the whole-wheat müsli, and grass sandwiches. If they were lucky, the slightly chubby lunchmare mrs. Sprinkles, would spend some extra time on buying dandelions to put in the sandwiches, and today was indeed Scootaloo's lucky day. She was the first in line, and was lucky enough to get the first grass sandwich with the delicious dandelion, thanked the lunchmare before she sat down and started to munch on her. Several other foals send a wide smile at mrs. Sprinkles way, before they too sat down. Before long, all of the foals were up and about, enjoying they breakfast as the new day began.

Scootaloo was certain that she had only just had a single bite of her delicious sandwich, before the bell sounded. Before long, the headmistress entered the dining hall. All the foals stopped their eating, and looked in the elder mare's direction.

"All right my little ponies, finish up your breakfast, and get ready to go to school. Finish up your breakfast, go get your books and lunch from mrs. Sprinkles, and meet me in the main hall in a couple of minutes. Chop-chop!"

The mare left the dining hall, and as if in a mad frenzy, all the ponies didn't hesitate to eat their breakfast as quickly as possible. Scootaloo didn't want to go to school on a hungry stomach, so she opened her jaws as wide as she could, and shoved the rest of her sandwich in her mouth. She chewed as much as she could as she went over to clean up after herself with her tray, before heading to mrs. Sprinkles for lunch. The chubby mare grinned loudly as Scootaloo came over with her maw full of sandwich, as it became the filly's turn.

"I see you liked the sandwich, little Scootaloo?" mrs. Sprinkles said as she tried to contain her fit of giggles.

"Yesh, fma'am, itsh vewy felicious." Scootaloo replied, and smiled as wide as she could without showing the leftover foods in her mouth.

"Wonderful, wonderful. Now have your lunch, and be on your way before the headmistress comes after you."

Mrs. Sprinkles handed Scootaloo her lunch and sent the filly on her way, before the others behind Scootaloo became too impatient.

It wasn't easy to trot out of the dining hall into the common room with a mouth full of sandwich, and a lunch bag in her hoof, but somehow Scootaloo managed it. With a final chew, she swallowed her sandwich, grabbed her schoolbag, and swiftly trotted towards the main hall. Few foals stood with their bags packed and ready, but before long, all the others joined Scootaloo and the early-risers in the main hall. The headmistress counted them all, happily concluded they were all there.

"Come with me, my little ponies. Let's go to school!" she cheerily exclaimed, and opened the door so all the foals could leave before her. Scootaloo was the last one to leave the orphanage, with the headmistress right behind her. She sighed slightly, and thought to herself.

Yet another day of boring school, without a cutie mark...

Chapter 3

Ever since the relationship between Rarity and Sweetie Belle had improved, the two had begun to get along a lot better. As it had become their custom, Rarity walked Sweetie Belle to school, which had been hard in the beginning. Rarity had her boutique to take care of, and therefore could sleep somewhat in every day, but this had changed when she realized that school for Sweetie Belle started hours before the usual boutique opening hours. She couldn't help but let out a yawn, as she handed her little sister the breakfast she always made for her - pancakes, preferably with any kind of fruit in them.

"How's the quest for your cutie marks going darling? It seems only like yesterday these three astonishing diamonds showed up on my very own flank. But please remember, that such thing takes time." Rarity asked, and nipped her own morning tea. She refused to drink coffee in the mornings, as she suspected it of giving her coat quite a less-shiny look, much to her regret.

"It's alright. But Scootaloo was really sad yesterday, and we don't know why."

"Oh," Rarity exclaimed, and sipped a bit of tea before continuing, "is it because of your cutie marks? Or perhaps her chicken-like nature?"

Neither of them could help but to let out a little snicker, before Rarity shook her hoof in polite dismissal.

"No no, she's charming, ofcourse. Although she's quite the tomcolt."

"Me and Applebloom thi-"

"Darling, it's called Applebloom and I, please learn the proper grammar." Rarity interrupted, which earned a cold glare from Sweetie Belle. She smiled at her little sister, and made a gesture to make the unicorn filly continue.

"Applebloom and I," she said, with a great emphasis on the 'I' part,"thinks it's because of her missing family."

"Well, it is quite a horrible event, to be without a parent, Sweetie Belle. Surely, if you didn't have me, or mom and dad, wouldn't you feel slightly sad?"

"Ofcourse I would! I just wish I could make Scootaloo feel better. Maybe that's because she haven't gotten her cutie mark?" Sweetie Belle replied, and cocked her head in a questioning manner at her sister.

"Whatever do you mean, little sister?" Rarity exclaimed, and responded by cocking her head in the same manner, causing yet another fit of giggles.

"When we get our cutie marks, it means that we have found our special talent, right?"

Rarity nodded, and drunk the last few drops of her tea.

"So we need to feel special, to get our cutie marks?"

"Yes, Sweetie Belle, darling. What is your point with this questionaire?" Rarity asked, the annoyance evident in her voice.

"If Scootaloo doesn't feel special at anything, how will she ever get her cutie mark?"

Rarity went silent for quite awhile, and waited for Sweetie Belle to finish up her pancakes and apple juice, before she replied to that.

"Sweetie Belle, my dear. We haven't always been on the best of terms, due to some various confrontations between the two of us. I wish with all my heart that we could have gotten a better relationship sooner, for it is quite undoubtly one of the best things I have accomplished in life - to be the best sister I could try to be. Do you not like that we are getting a long so better now?"

Sweetie Belle nodded, and sat quietly as her sister explained.

"Now, if we assume that Scootaloo's parents, and or siblings are all alive, but not with her, how do you think that makes her feel?"

"Horrible!"

Rarity nodded, and smiled as she saw how Scootaloo's situation had start to become clear to her own sister.

"Yes, my dear, and I suspect that is just what darling Scootaloo's problem is. She is feeling unwanted by her very own family, who abandoned her so long ago."

All of sudden, Sweetie Belle ran over to her older sister, who almost seemed to flinch as the little filly lovingly hugged the mare.

"I'm glad you want to be my sister Rarity." she said and looked up to the white mare's blue eyes. Rarity couldn't help but let out the widest smile, and try to conceal the tears in her eyes.

"And I am glad you will be mine, Sweetie Belle."

Rarity had never considered Scootaloo's situation before now. Although it was recent that the bond between her own little sibling had improved vastly, she always had a choice to make amends, or not. She thought of it as cruel that Scootaloo didn't even have the choice to say yay or nay to have a sibling. She and Sweetie Belle had never praised having a sister more than during these recent times, but Rarity, although she swore that to herself not too long ago, swore to herself again that the appreciation of her little sister had to be shown more often. They ended their tight embrace, and Rarity only took a glimpse at her younger sister's mane, thus letting out a sigh.

"Now, darling, before we go, I must fix your mane. It's horribly messy, and I can't have you walk around with a messy mane!" she insisted, much to Sweetie Belle's annoyance. Nonetheless, the little unicorn obliged to her older sister's wishes, which she instantly regretted. Ofcourse, now that Rarity had begun styling her little sister, she tried to take it to the extreme with a variety of accessories.

"Rarity! I'm going to be late, let's just go!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, and shook off all of the things that Rarity had magically placed upon the white filly.

"Ugh, fine! If you must be a mess, be one. But don't come whining to me if anypony comments on it!"

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, and muttered to herself:

"You're one to talk about whining..."

"Excuse me?" Rarity asked, and cocked a well-trimmed eyebrow at her sister. Sweetie Belle smiled widely, and said nothing before the two sisters walked out the door, and were on their way to just another schoolday.

The familiar school-bell rung in for the first class of the day, and the foals of Ponyville rushed in to get to their seats. As if on queue, the Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived almost at the same time. Applebloom walking with Applejack, Sweetie Belle with Rarity, and then Scootaloo with the few other orphan foals that attended the Elementary School.

"Alright my little ponies, I hope you have a wonderful day at school. Remember to be home after the last class, unless you've gotten permission to stay out until then."

An entire choir of 'bye headmistress' echoed in Scootaloo's ears, as she and the other orphans bid the headmistress farewell. She glanced over to Applejack and Sweetie Belle, who tenderly hugged their sisters goodbye.

Although she had often been told that bitterness would always consume somepony, seeing her two best friends have such relationships with their family stung like the most vicious bee. Scootaloo wished more than anything that she could just be content with having her friends, but she wanted something more, and the mere thought started to cause her eyes to run and snout to sniffle.

Scootaloo wanted a family, alas, she had none.

She could feel the tears beginning to form in her grayish eyes, but with the temper she was known for, she shook her head.

No Scootaloo, no tears. You don't need a family. It's too sappy for you to be like this, so mare up already!

She shook her head once more, and when the other Crusaders had said their own goodbyes to their elder sisters, Scootaloo put on her usual facade, and trotted over to them.

"Morning Crusaders! Ready to try getting our cutie marks again today?"

"Sure thang Scootaloo, how ye' fellin' t'day?" Applebloom asked, and Scootaloo smiled at the evident country accent the little filly had. Another burst of pain hit her, as she realized it was something she had gotten due to her heritage at Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith and Applejack spoke just like her, and even Big Macintosh did, although he never said much.

"Quite alright. Why you asking?" Scootaloo replied, immediately hiding the inner turmoil of emotions she had going on.

"It's called why are you asking, Scootaloo, and Applebloom's asking because you were so sad yesterday." Sweetie Belle quickly corrected, which Scootaloo also recognized as Rarity's extreme need for perfection. Everything had to be perfect, and was it not done perfectly, there was no need to do it anyway.

"Much better, thanks girls. I-"

The second bell ring stopped the conversation, and all of the fillies quickly trotted inside the classroom. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had begun talking about what interesting things Miss Cherilee would teach today. Applebloom was hoping for something about the greater cities of Equestria, whereas Sweetie Belle was concerned about the countries outside of Equestria. But as Scootaloo took her seat inside the small room, there was only one thing she had in mind, as it had been occupied with just these thoughts for a couple of monts.

It was obvious how the families of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had affected them, and helped them make the ponies that Scootaloo knew and loved today, yet it arose a question that the pegasus filly had trouble with answering.

Who were helping her to be the best pony she could be?

With a sad look on her face, right during class, it was impossible for miss Cherilee not to notice the expression on Scootaloo's face.

"Scootaloo, what are you thinking of" the teacher asked.

"Sorry miss, I'm just thinking about the very interesting fact you just told us."

Although Scootaloo could see the obvious concern in Cherilee's eyes, the teacher, kind and loving as she was, decided not to confront her pupil about the same obvious sadness emitting from the filly's eyes, and instead did what she usually did when noticing a pupil not paying attention.

"What fact was that again?"

Scootaloo's determined expression suddenly turned to flushed cheeks and an embarassed one instead.

"I don't know miss, I'm a bit tired this morning."

"Try to pay attention, Scootaloo, please," Miss Cherilee gently chastised, before she continued, "now, as I was saying, the lands surroun-"

Before long, all of the thoughts miss Cherilee spoke only became a slight echo in Scootaloo's ears, as she began to wonder about families, especially her own. She glanced upon the blackboard, and saw how miss Cherilee were writing down some things on the blackboard, that Scootaloo at the moment could care less about. Scootaloo wanted nothing more that school soon would be over, and she could cuddle up under her cover back 'home' with Teddy under her foreleg.

It was not much, but Teddy seemed to be the best console for a family, and with pain in her heart, Scootaloo realized how far from an actual family, a stuffed animal was.

Right then in the classroom, Scootaloo had never felt more unwanted, misunderstood or alone in her entire life.

Just adding a little thank you note to those who have been reading my story thus far. It's so nice to see that someone enjoys it, and I'm very glad you do! I hope this chapter was satisfying to those who read it. I hope for another update within a couple of days, so until then! :-)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

For a filly with much on her mind, Scootaloo never thought that school could pass any slower. It seemed that every time she looked at the large clock with two rearing fillies placed on the end of the needles, it was as if they had gone backwards. She carelessly rested her face in her two hooves, and felt her eyelids growing heavier. Before long, her eyes were shut, but not without slightly flickering as she failed the attempt of staying awake. The world around her grew more silent, and miss Cherilee's voice only became a faint echo in her ears. Wild images began to take shape and swirl around in her mind, but she had no time to dream before she was rudely awakened.

The school bell had rung, just like it did in the early mornings. The usual piercing noise almost hurt in Scootaloo's sensitive ears as she violently rose. She gasped loudly and took a quick glance around to make sure that no one had seen her nap.

"Scoots?"

Scootaloo turned her head in a rush and faced Sweetie Belle.

"You got something... sloppy, on your cheek." she quietly said, and pointed towards the lower corner of the pegasus filly's lips. Scootaloo quickly wiped the drippling saliva off her cheek, and smiled sheepishly at the unicorn filly.

"Thanks."

"Anytime Scootaloo! Wanna join us for some serious crusading?" the white filly asked, and let out a wide smile, before turned and proceeded to walk over to Applebloom, clearly just expecting the pegasus to follow. Scootaloo sighed heavily, before quietly trotting after the two fillies, but a voice suddenly made all of them stop in their tracks.

"Scootaloo, can I have a minute of your time please?"

The Crusaders turned their heads to see that it was miss Cherilee who had spoken. Scootaloo eyed her friends with caution, who shrugged, and whispered:

"We'll meet you at the clubhouse."

Scootaloo nodded, and gave a slight wave as the two fillies left for the clubhouse, which the pegasus filly almost called her second home, before reentering the school, with Cherilee in front of her.

"Have I done anything wrong, miss?" Scootaloo nervously asked and awkwardly shifted as she sat upon the chair in front of Cherilee's desk.

"No, not at all, dear Scootaloo. In fact, I'm afraid I've done something wrong."

Scootaloo's eyes widened at the thought of her seemingly perfect teacher, to ever do something wrong.

"You don't ever do anything wrong, miss Cherilee! You're the perfect teacher!" Scootaloo exclaimed, and almost seemed outraged by the mere thought.

"Scootaloo, nobody can even imagine being perfect. If life was perfect, wouldn't you find it slightly boring?" Cherilee asked, and hope to get some answers out of the little filly.

Cherilee had always tried to pay a little more to the orphan filly than the rest of the class, even though she wasn't the only one. The few other foals that were orphans like her, seemed quite satisfied with their lives compared to the circumstances, and to the teacher's surprise, most of them had already gotten their cutie marks, whereas Scootaloo had not. She seemed far more mature than the other orphan foals that had received their cutie marks, and as it seemed to be the struggle with young foals, they had self-esteem troubles, that resulted in no cutie mark. This would only make the problem even worse, as this would cause the foals without cutie marks, would be bullied by those with cutie marks, just like it happened with the two other fillies, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.

Nonetheless, just those fillies were bursting with self-confidence, and Cherilee suspected that it was exactly Scootaloo's doing. The daring filly had quickly begun to idolize the agile flyer Rainbow Dash, and had almost gotten the exact same confidence that the flying mare was so known for. But for some reason, that confidence had faded massively, and it was Cherilee's intention to find out what.

"I guess so."

"Is there anything the matter Scootaloo? You haven't said much these past weeks. Is there anything troubling you?" the teacher gently said, and started to gently rub the filly's tiny hoof. Scootaloo looked at it, before frowning and pulling her own hoof away.

"I'm fine." she growled, and crossed her forelegs in annoyance.

"Scootaloo, dear. I'm only concerned about you, and I would like to help you if you're fee-"

"I said, I'm feeling fine!" Scootaloo roared as she violently got of the chair beneath her, and galloped out the door.

"Scootaloo!" miss Cherilee shouted, and quickly tried to catch up with the filly as she reached the entrance, but Scootaloo was already gone. No matter how hard her eyes scouted for the orange pegasus, Cherilee could not see her at all. The teacher sighed, and went back inside the classroom to gather her own teacher edition schoolbooks, before she went outside again, and locked the front door. She went around the school just to doublecheck that everything was locked up as it ought to, before she headed to Ponyville. It seemed appropriate to pay the headmistress of the orphanage a visit.

Scootaloo had no clue how to respond to miss Cherilee's question. She hated that her teacher could've read her so easily, because that meant that Sweetie Belle and Applebloom must know too. At the moment, she found herself way too sappy for her own liking.

But she couldn't help it.

After Cherilee's question Scootaloo had galloped out of the classroom, and immediately head for her own safehaven. Scootaloo had found it when she had just arrived in Ponyville, and had gone exploring the harmless woods surrounding the small village. It was quite a dense part of the forest, and Scootaloo clenched her teeth as she felt the thorns scratch her orange coat. She kept going through the thick thornbrushes for quite awhile, and for a minute she was unsure of whether or not she found the place she searched for. The dense bushes decreased in size and soon, she came to small clearing. It was somewhat small and round, but she was sure that all of the Crusaders could be there. The sun had not yet begun to set, and was still somewhat high in the sky, but she had found out that no matter how high or low the sun was, the light reached exactly that spot she stood in. She flexed her small muscles as the warmth of the golden rays struck her sore coat, but then pressed on. There was a small path on the exact opposite side of her, which she fondly remembered she followed the first time she found the first place.

The first time Scootaloo found this place, she had gotten herself lost, and in fear, she had galloped wildly through the thick thornbrushes, and fell over a big stump, and into the clearing she was now in. It hadn't been as nice as it was now, and Scootaloo had spent a lot of time trying to fix the place up. The usual tall grass was now much shorter, and the small pebbles that had been spread around the clearing had been thrown far into the woods. As she walked across the clearing, she noticed several butterflies flying around in it, and instantly thought of Fluttershy, whom she was sure would love this little place of Scootaloo's. She was a bit torn between telling Sweetie Belle and Applebloom about this place, because as much as she'd like to share this beautiful place with her fellow Crusaders, in a sense, it was her own little haven.

Scootaloo's place of dreams and hopes, that she ever so wished to come true.

She cheerfully trotted a few more seconds, before she reached her destination, and was as always awestruck as she took in the sight.

Ponyville had never seemed to small and insignifcant, and it somehow fitted with just how Scootaloo was feeling. When she sat there, from her little personal safehaven, Ponyville mattered little to none. But she still saw ponies going about to do their last chores of the day. She could faintly make out some colors that she recognized, but she was too far away to ever know if it was someone she knew. The sun seemed to hit the roof of all the buildings perfectly, and many of the colors seemed to shine ever so brightly in a fierce competition with the sun, before the cold and dark moon took over for the night. But in the bright daytime, Scootaloo could see the school, the orphanage, and farther out in the distance, she could see Sweet Apple Acres. It always boggled her mind how big the land that the Apple family owned when she went to this place, as it was massive. The meadow at the end stretched out into the horizon, and Scootaloo couldn't help but wonder what was in the distance.

Was her real family there?

Was her real home there?

What exactly awaited behind the safe borders of Ponyville?

The little filly sighed heavily, and looked up to one of the first stars that had begun to show their sparkles for today. It seemed unusually bright, and sparkled as if trying to compete with Celestia's sun. The tiny star seemed meek and tiny compared to the great circle of Celestia. But nonetheless, the star kept on shining.

"I wish I knew my family. I wish I knew where I belong." she muttered under her breath, and her gaze returned towards her own small hooves.

"I wish I had a family." the little filly whispered, barely audible, to any of the butterflies that cared to pay attention to her. She absentmindly started to trace circles with her hoofs, and her eyes were not paying attention to things she were drawing in the soft soil. But when it did, she focused her eyes upon the painting, and grew pale.

A tiny family of pegasus ponies stood before her. Whereas the mare remained without wings, the stallion, big and strong had very muscular wings. She noticed two pegasus fillies, one bigger than the other. She couldn't help but wonder which one was her. Was she the youngest or oldest? She liked the thought of taking care of a sist-

"No, no, no!" Scootaloo screamed, and violently erased the drawing with her hoof, before she collapsed into hard sobs. Tears began to stream down the filly's face, and like she always did, she started to count the tears to later punish herself. Scootaloo loathed tears. They were for silly and sappy fillies. She was sure that Rainbow Dash had never shed a tear in her life. She wanted to be like Rainbow Dash! Strong, agile, and hopefully a Wonderbolt. Scootaloo smiled at the thought of becoming a Wonderbolt, just like Rainbow Dash hoped, but those tiny hopes of achieving something great were instantly crushed as a tiny voice inside Scootaloo said:

But you're a chicken, Scootaloo! You can't fly, can you? You'll never be like Rainbow Dash!

Scootaloo let out a wild cry as she sheltered her eyes with her hooves, and tried to hold the tears in. Her hooves were not enough to keep the tears at bay, and she hardly noticed how her tears started to soak the soil beneath her, and how snot ran down her snout. She tried to dry her tears away, and hold them away by shutting her eyes tightly.

But there were so many, and after what seemed hours of struggling to hold back tears, Scootaloo cared not. The little filly continued her harsh sobs, but laid down instead of sitting. She crossed her small forelegs, sobbed even louder than before, and shivered slightly as a cold wind brushed over her, but otherwise, she cared not. She was sure that some sort of animal would hear her, but she didn't care.

She didn't care at all.

Scootaloo lost track of time as she laid upon the cliff and tried to behold Ponyville through her thick tears, but it came increasingly harder, even though her eyes seemed to run dry for tears, exhaustion began to take hold of the little filly. She fought hard to keep her eyes open, but it was a hard battle that she could not win, and after a few minutes of useless struggling, the loud sobbing was reduced to a few weak whimpers in her restless sleep.

Chapter 5

"And due to Scootaloo's sudden outburst, I thought it'd share it with you. I hope it's not too much of an inconvience?"

The ever so kind voice of Cherilee made the headmistress smile, and she shook her head.

"Ofcourse not Cherilee. I'm glad you've brought this to my attention. I have noticed this aswell, and I worry much about the dear Scootaloo."

The purple pony nodded, and quietly continued to sip on the tea she had been given. Although she was no shrink, she had wanted nothing more than to talk to Scootaloo. Unlike Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, she had the utmost trouble of sharing her feelings and thoughts when it came to certain things, and such things were important to share with the ones who mattered the most. It didn't have to be Scootaloo's teacher whom she shared it with, just someone of importance to the little filly. When Scootaloo had burst out of the classroom after Cherilee's attempt to share these feelings, the first thing she had thought of was contacting the filly's parents, before she realized, she had none. She thought that the second best option would be the headmistress at the orphanage.

"Where is she now?" the headmistress asked, and Cherilee shrugged clueslessly.

"I wish I knew," she said, before taking a glance out of the window, "she's been gone for so long now. The sun is near done setting."

"We must set up a search team. Please contact Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, and ask their sisters for their aid." the headmistress commanded. Cherilee nodded and quickly left the orphanage as quickly as her legs could carry her. Before heading to Sweet Apple Acres, she made her way to the Carousel Boutique.

The headmistress sighed heavily before she left her office, and turned left to head towards the common room, where all the other foals were now sleeping peacefully. She tip-hooved down the hall to make sure that nopony would wake up from her night patrols. All the beds were full, except one.

Scootaloo's.

As it was customed, all ponies freshly arrived from any other part of Equestria, could choose the design on their bedsheets, and Scootaloo had not hesitated to choose something that was related to flying. On her bed, the cover was adorned with various types of clouds, but the blanket she faithfully slept with every night, portrayed only one thing.

The Wonderbolts.

Her adoration for the aerial group had started even before she came to Ponyville, but after meeting the somewhat known cyan mare, Rainbow Dash, the adoration had only grown. The headmistress knew not much of how much Scootaloo idolized the agile flyer, but she thought that it was something that the filly could keep to herself. She reached the end of the hall, and stood still to stare out of the circle shaped window that hung on the end wall. The sun had definitely set, and Equestria was in the hands of princess Luna. The steady breathing of the other foals was the only sound the headmistress heard, until she sighed heavily.

"Where are you, Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo was almost certain that it was day when she rose from her slumber. She squinted her eyes as she stared at the moon, and gasped slightly. It had never appeared so big or bright ever before, and Scootaloo instantly thought of princess Luna. She faintly remembered how somepony had told her the frightening tale of Nightmare Moon, but after her redemption, the mare who so often was the cause of the little filly's nightmares, she thought differently of the princess. Although her approach was wrong, Scootaloo understood how frustrated the younger unicorn sister must have been. Maybe the bright moon tonight was because Luna, after those years, still longed for more events to occur during the night, that ponies all over Equestria wouldn't assume would be of evil nature.

Scootaloo sighed, and felt a strange connection with Luna at that time. The little pegasus turned around to head back to the orphanage, but as she did, she also realized how late it actually was. The previously bright and welcoming forest, was now dark, and it reminded her more of the Everfree Forest rather than the forest she knew so well in the daylight. A sudden fear of walking through the darkness clenched her stomach tightly together. Scootaloo was all alone, and it was a realization that slowly came to her. Instead of going through the woods, she decided to go to the edge of the hill, and cry for help.

"Can somepony hear me!" she shouted, hear small ears high up in the air to pick up any response.

The only response was the dead silent of the night, and somehow that very silence was deafening.

"Hello! Is somepony out there?" she cried again, her ears slowly dropping as she realized that nopony would hear her.

"Please help me! I'll never run off like that again!"

Her desperate pleas only caused the resting birds to flee the scene in fright. Scootaloo felt the tears coming on again, but she shook her head, and walked even closer to the edge.

"Applebloom! Sweetie Belle!"

No response.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Utter and total silence.

Scootaloo sat down in frustration, and silently began to sob again.

"Please help me..." she whispered and stared down at the earth. She could make out the faint traces of the pegasus family she had drawn earlier, but didn't bother to erase it like she had before. Her sniffles were the only thing that she heard, and the thick tears in her eyes clouded her vision. Scootaloo opened them briefly to take a glance down on Ponyville, and suddenly noticed how a lot of lights had turned on. A vast amount of ponies began to shout a name and even though she couldn't hear it, she knew they were calling for her.

Calling her home.

Scootaloo suddenly rose with her tails and ears perked high into the air in excitement, relief and joy. She tried shouting again, and waved her hoof at the tiny figures.

"Applebloom! I'm here! Sweetie Belle, look up!"

Her shouting seemed to go on for quite awhile, before she realized it was useless.

Scootaloo sat down in disappointment, and took a glance around, to prepare herself to find a place to rest throughout the night. Even if the most diabolic of creatures primarily resided in the Everfree Forest, she wasn't about to take a chance and find out. The little filly turned around, and felt a sudden breeze in her mane. She looked towards the way she had arrived from, and noticed a ray of moonlight lighting up the area. She could even make out the little clearing that she had worked so hard on to make order in.

What is this? she wondered, and looked towards the dark sky.

There was nothing but the moon and stars to guide her home, but how?

Scootaloo wasn't a filly to think twice about getting home if she could, so she ran towards the beam of light, and as she stepped in it, it disappeared. Her heart pounded in fear, and she wondered if it had just been a mirage. Scootaloo let out a little gasp as the darkness she feared so much enveloped her, but as quickly as the light had vanished, as quickly a new ray of light appeared in the clearing. Scootaloo smiled widely, and made her way towards the light. When she touched it with just the tip of her hoof, the light vanished, but she remembered herself that another would appear just after. The little filly grinned as a new beam appeared, and ran to it. Quickly she realized that the beam would lead her home, and she almost found it entertaining to catch it as fast as possible, then impatiently waiting for the next to appear and so forth. Scootaloo didn't even realize it when she had stood locked in place for a couple of minutes, that she was out of the forest. She recognized the edge of the forest, and how she was outside of it. A familiar path and sign with 'Ponyville' embedded into it, she started to jump around in glee.

"I made it! I'm home!"

The pegasus filly was tempted to kiss the earth, but she realized that several ponies were worried about her, and instead she galloped as fast as she could towards Ponyville. Scootaloo clenched her teeth and wished nothing more than the ability to fly. If she could fly, she could've just flown down from the hill, and if she could now, those who searched for her wouldn't have to wait as long. Scootaloo shook her head as if to free the thought from her mind. Soon she saw the familiar light that so welcoming bid any newcomers to Ponyville. She headed into the center of town, and stopped for a minute.

Around the fountain, she saw countless ponies surrounding it. Some stood with torches to light up the dark night, whereas some stood close to those with torches to easily see in the dark light. The headmistress spoke, and took a glance around the ponies to see who were there. Suddenly, the older mare glanced Scootaloo's way, and gasped loudly.

"Scootaloo!"

All of the surrounding ponies gasped aswell, and turned around to face the little filly. With tears in her eyes, Scootaloo run to all of them, being approached by wide smiles and hugs galore. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and not to mention Rainbow Dash came over and hugged the little filly tightly. Scootaloo was sure that if she had received any more hugs, her heart would burst from all the joy it suddenly contained.

"Where have you been? We've been worried sick about you!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, and held the little filly close.

"I'm sorry. I got lost on my way home from school." Scootaloo quickly lied and hoped the Cherilee wasn't around to tell the other ponies the truth of her disappearance.

"How in t' hay can ye' get lost on yer' way home from school?" Applejack wondered, and looked at Scootaloo with true concern in her eyes.

"I saw something really cool, and followed it into the forest."

All of the other ponies nodded sympathically. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but before she had the chance, two balls of yellow and white fur tackled Scootaloo.

"You missy, are in so much trouble!" Sweetie Belle hissed as she had landed on top of Scootaloo. The little filly let out a sheepish grin, but with sad eyes as she noticed how worried her unicorn friend had been.

"I know. I'm sorry... I-"

"There ain't anything ye' can say t' make us feel better!" Applebloom chirped as she stood next to Sweetie Belle.

Scootalo had never seen her friends so furious at her, and although their worries annoyed her slightly, she realized she couldn't be. After all, they concern was only due to their love for her. The two fillies squealed as Scootaloo grabbed them and held them close.

"I'm so sorry girls. I'll never do it again, I promise."

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shared a glance behind Scootaloo's purple mane, and smiled as they let out a slight nod to each other.

"Ye' bet you ain't ne'er doin' such a thin' again." the Earth filly mumbled, and withdrew from their hug. Sweetie Belle reached a hoof out to Scootaloo, who accepted it with a wide smile. After Scootaloo had gotten up on all fours, she noticed Rainbow Dash standing before her.

"You scared me pipsqueak." she coldly said.

Scootaloo lowered her head in shame.

"You made me lose my cool. Nopony's ever done that before. I guess that means you're special to me," Scootaloo's head lifted quickly after Rainbow said that, which caused the cyan pegasus to blush, before padding the filly, "so don't, eh, do it again, alright?"

Scootaloo nodded vigorously, and let out a wide smile.

"Alright everypony, let's go to bed. I'ts been a very exciting evening, and we all need some rest." the headmistress interrupted. She and Scootaloo said their final goodbyes to the as they both headed to the orphanage.
The two walked in silence.

"Scootaloo, you must never run away like that again. I will not tolerate it."

Scootaloo lowered her head as the headmistress spoke.

"I'm sorry."

The headmistress said nothing, but only opened the front door to the orphanage without a word. Scootaloo scampered inside as quietly as she could, shortly followed by the headmistress. The filly held her head low and dragged her self to the common rooms.

"Scootaloo."

She turned her head around, and quickly stood before the headmistress again.

"Yes?"

"We'll discuss this further tomorrow. You know actions such as this have consequences."

Scootaloo nodded weakly, and said a weak goodbye as she turned to go into the common room to rest. She had never been so excited to sleep in her own bed, with Teddy right next to her. Scootaloo almost jumped into bed as she reached it, and in a frenzy she grabbed Teddy from her drawer. The little filly slept almost instantly, but before she did, she took a glance at the moon. It seemed much smaller at the orphanage, and less bright aswell.

Thankyou princess.

"What do you mean I can't go on the field trip?!" Scootaloo loudly exclaimed as she spoke to the headmistress the following morning.

"Scootaloo, you ran away. I'm sorry, but such behaviour can't be rewarded, and the only thing I can do, is excluding you from the field trip. Furthermore, for a week, you must return to the orphanage right after school. No activites outside of school."

"Yes, headmistress." Scootaloo mumbled, and left the office. She had been to school, which had consisted of several questions about why she had run off, which she promptly ignored. Miss Cherilee had given her several glances throughout the day, but had remained silent of their talk the day before. But Scootaloo knew that the teacher was now aware of her situation, which the pegasus filly hated her teacher for. The headmistress had told her, that Cherilee had gone straight to her after her outburst, meaning that the headmistress would also know.

Scootaloo let out a sigh, as she fell down upon her bed, and buried her face in her pillow.

A whole week of not doing any crusading. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom would be furious.

She sighed heavily, and turned around to lay on her back.

No crusading for a week, and even an entire day off. If it wasn't because the trip was to Fillydelphia, she wouldn't have cared. But there were a lot of pegasus ponies in Fillydelphia, and she wondered if she could bump into Rainbow Dash while there.

So much for that, she grimly thought, and continued to ponder what she'd be doing all by herself after school the following week. Nothing occured to her.

Scootaloo sighed in annoyance and rose again. She could only imagine how boring, and routine like this entire week would be. She groaned and began to pace back and forward in the common room.

Then, a thought hit her.

There was a moderately sized hall meant for exercise and training if the orphans wished to partake in such activities, and with that in the back of her mind, Scootaloo knew exactly what she'd spend the week with.

She took a glance at her small wings, and began to flap them to test them a bit.

This week Scootaloo, you'll learn to fly!

Chapter 6

Day 1:
After school, I told Sweetie Belle and Applebloom about the trouble I got in. They were still mad about the whole thing, and weren't happy about the Crusading. Sweetie Belle seemed less annoyed than Applebloom, and she didn't yell as much as her either. I didn't yell back at Applebloom, but let me tell you, I wanted to.

I wanted to defend myself. But I with all of these emotions going on, they can't know. They can never ever EVER know. Hence why I'm writing this journal.

Anyway.

I would love to learn how to fly, but I have no idea how to. I thought about asking Rainbow Dash, but I probably wouldn't be allowed to. So after school, I went straight home, or well, straight back to the orphanage, and asked the headmistress about permission to go the library.

She looked at me as if I was flying. But I'll show her!

Anyway!

She let me go to the library, and ofcourse, I met Twilight Sparkle in there. I wasn't too happy about letting her know on my plans, but I suppose it was necessary.

"A book on how to fly? Surely you can just ask Rainbow Dash?" Twilight Sparkle said as she cocked her towards the little pegasus.

Scootaloo cringed at the question, and her mind instantly thought up a vast amount of reasons to why she needed a book on flying, and simply couldn't ask Rainbow Dash.

"I don't need Rainbow Dash!" she spluttered, and had to contain herself to not bite her tongue off. Twilight raised an eyebrow, and let out a small smile.

"Scootaloo, may I say something?"

The little pegasus nodded, and mentally prepared herself for another lecture of Twilight's.

"It's not a shame to ask for help, and I think the reason you're not going to ask Rainbow, is because of the trouble you got in yesterday. Am I right?"

Nothing ever passed the ever observing eye of Twilight Sparkle, Scootaloo grimly thought. The pegasus lowered her head and nodded slightly. Scootaloo felt a hoof on her jaw, and looked into the eyes of the clever librarian.

"We care so much about you, Scootaloo. Please don't scare us like that again."

Scootaloo let out a weak smile, before she let out an awkward cough.

"I won't, promise. Do you have that book or not?"

"Ofcourse, let me find it."

With simple magic compared to what she knew, Twilight used her horn to search for the book Scootaloo was searching for. A frown spread upon the unicorn's face, before she ceased the magic.

"Spike!" she shouted, almost making the entire tree shake in her wake.

"What!" the little dragon exclaimed from the top of the tree. Scootaloo turned her head in every direction, before she saw the tiny head popping out from the top floor.

"Oh, hi Scootaloo! Why are you of all ponies looking for a book?" the dragon asked, and quickly descended down the stairs, before placing himself next to Twilight.

"I'm gonna teach myself how to fly!" Scootaloo exclaimed proudly. Spike seemed to have trouble with holding back a laugh, but a stern push from Twilight, he held it in.

"Cool! Promise you'll take me for a trip when you get those wings working?" the dragon asked with an awkward smile, before heading to the vast amount of bookshelves behind him. It took him no time at all to find the book Scootaloo searched for. It was quite a large book, and Spike huffed as he proceeded to carry it to Scootaloo. The pegasus filly grunted as the dragon placed the book in her saddlebags, and straightened her back to make it more comfortable for her to carry home.

"Consider it a deal!" Scootaloo said, much reminding the unicorn and dragon of Rainbow Dash.

The filly left the library with laboured breath, as she made her way towards the orphanage.

I haven't done much flying since I came home from the library. If anything, I've done none.

Zero. Zip. Nada.

Nothing involving getting above the ground.

But I've been reading a lot about flying in the book Spike found me. If Twilight was a pegasus, I'm sure the egghead would've read it over a 1000 times! Flying seems much more complicated than I thought in the beginning. Rainbow Dash makes it seem so easy! She just flaps her wings, and she's airborne! Physically speaking, there's different factors that plays a major part in the whole process of flying.

From what I've read so far, which is really boring, I don't understand how Twilight Sparkle does it, is that factors such as lift and thrust. When pegasus ponies like Rainbow flap their wings, she creates this thrust, and then the lift that's required to make her soar. But soaring actually means something different than flying! Soaring means that she's not flapping her wings, and just gliding around with the winds around her.

Flying is just so cool! Just like her! I want to be just like her one day!

Anyway, the headmistress is about to call it a night. I've been reading all day, and she even praised me for staying out of trouble!

Heh, not for long! This is Scootaloo, future flyer of Equestria signing off!

Day 2:

School was so boring, and I can't wait to get home and practice what I read about flying yesterday! It seems like it's gonna be hard, but if Rainbow Dash did it, then sure as hay I can do it too! Applebloom and Sweetie Belle tried to tell me about what they had done while I read yesterday, but I didn't really care.
I know, it's not really nice. But this is just so important to me.

I mean, Applebloom is doing what every other Earth pony is doing, working with the apples, and doing great with it. Sweetie Belle is starting to get a great hold of her magic.

They're both great at what their kind of ponies do. But I'm not. I'm a pathetic use for a pegasus.

Scootaloo quickly trotted home from school. She barely even noticed how Applebloom and Sweetie BElle shouted her name repeatedly before giving up, and sharing a disencouraged look between each other. The little filly quickly dumped her schoolbooks in her bedside table. Homework could wait.
After what Scootaloo had read about flying the day before, she had come to a conclusion:

Her wings were too weak, and that needed to change. Instead of throwing herself recklessly into something wild and crazy, like it was her custom, Scootaloo made a plan. Before doing anything that actually involved flying, she decideds to follow the steps that were in the book from the library.
Step 1:
Make sure your wings are strong enough, so train them well! If your wings fail you, you won't ever fly again.

Scootaloo thought that made good sense, and quietly went into the gym. Besides a few other ponies, she was the only one in there. As the orphanage was old, so was the gym. The wooden floor seemed to creak with every step everypony took in the hall, but the equipment was old aswell. But it didn't bother Scootaloo, for with a sweatband around her forehead and front hooves, Scootaloo began her training. She placed herself on the floor, and prepared herself as she laid upon the old wooden floors.

You can do this Scootaloo, you're a pegasus pony! You're just like Rainbow Dash!

She placed the tip of her wings on the floor, and began to push upwards with all her might. She grinded her teeth and shut her eyes tightly as she pushed. The wings seemed to refuse to budge, and the filly didn't rise one inch from the floor. Scootaloo groaned before she let out a loud huff, and fell to the floor. She shot an angry glare at her wings, as if her fury with them would make them stronger the longer she stared.

C'mon wings, you can do it!

Scootaloo laid down again, and felt her wingtips touch the floor. With one mighty push, she managed to lift herself off the ground. It wasn't a real wing-up, but it was closer than before. Scootaloo's snout was a couple of inches above the floor, and she barely opened one eye, to see the distance between them. She let out a wide smile, before she managed to faceplant the floor, as her wings collapsed from the strain. The filly groaned slightly, and shot yet another angry glare at the wings. But she was satisfied, because she had improved already, and was determined to do better as she tried the third time.Scootaloo spend the next hours as such, with a varied amount of positive results. Sometimes she couldn't even manage to lift herself off the ground, but the next try, she could lift herself further up than ever before. When the headmistress called the ponies in for bedtime, Scootaloo tried to use every single minute that she could away with, to practice. As the pony climbed into bed when the headmistress almost had dragged her from the gym, she laid the sweatband she had around her head next her bed table, and grabbed Teddy.

"One day, I'll fly as good as Rainbow Dash, Teddy." Scootaloo mumbled to her old sleeping companion, and looked into the remaining eye with a vast amount of passion.

"Maybe even better than her. One day Teddy, one day."

Hello every reader of mine! :) Just thought you should know that I have some exams coming up very soon, and I need to revise for those, so if breaks between chapters are a bit irregular, you know why. Furthermore, I'd like to ask you if you like the current length of the chapters, as I personally prefer something short over something long anyday. Let me know in the comments, if you'd like to have your say. Much love! :)

Chapter 7

Day 3

I hope that book is worth something...
I can't feel my wings. After just one day of wing training, what the hay! I hope I'm doing this right, wait, ofcourse I'm doing this right!
I bet that Rainbow Dash felt the exact same way when she was in Cloudsdale. Yeah, I bet she did!
But... Were Rainbow Dash's wings too small too? I don't remember her telling of us it if that's the thing. Well, it's not like she likes to tell everypony about her flaws.
I guess that means she doesn't have flaws! Rainbow Dash is perfect in every way!
Anyway, I'm not writing this to worship the best flyer ever.

...

Alright, maybe a litte bit. Rainbow Dash is the best flyer ever!

Fine, I'm done.

About today's progress, it's like I'm an earth pony. I used to be able to flap with my wings, at least somewhat, but now, they're just hanging there, as if they're ready to be the next snack on the grill. But let me tell you something journal, my wings are never going to be up for barbeque! Nuh-uh! I'm gonna be fierce and strong and awesome like Rainbow Dash! You wait and see!

The change in Scootaloo's wings were obvious. At least they were to Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. They knew that no matter how weak and small the wings seemed, they would at least flap in excitement at Scootaloo's command.

Today, they didn't.

It was as if something had drained the orange feathers and the small muscles beneath them of all energy, and Scootaloo couldn't be bothered to muster the effort to show her delight.

"Eh, Scoots?" Applebloom quietly asked as they were having a small break from maths. Sweetie Belle paid little attention, as she was more focused on a especially tricky math problem, even during the break.

Scootaloo turned her heads towards Applebloom, just before she put down the pencil as she was done with the work sheet miss Cherilee had handed out some time before.

"'Sup?"

"What's wit' yer wings t'day? They seem," Applebloom took a second to find the right words, "less flappy today!" The little filly bit her tongue intentionally, as she came to the realization that there probably wasn't a word such as 'flappy'. Scootaloo let out a yawn to fake some exhaustion.

"Sorry Applebloom, I'm just very tired today."

Sweetie Belle took a break from her equation, and instead shot a critical glance towards the pegasus.

"Tired from what? You haven't been Crusading with us! What do you do at home, if you're so tired?"

Truth be told, Scootaloo was tired. The day before she had done some hard workout on her wings, and she knew the same thing awaited her when she got home. She cringed at the thought of the pain, but the fighter spirit within her told her to carry on.

"Well, I help around instead. It's so boring though! Nothing but washing floors and dusting off. The headmistress said that I might train my wings if I tried to hold the duster between the feathers on my wings, and that's what I tried to do. It hurts like hay!" she exclaimed.

"That does sound harsh Scoots. Hope she ain't pressurin' ya too hard. Ye' gotta be ready for some more crusadin' when ye' detention for this week is over!" Applebloom replied, sympathethic as always. Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement, before going back to her math.

Scootaloo let out quiet sigh, and thanked herself for becoming such a good liar. No matter how much she hated lying, it had proved to be useful when she got in a sticky situation.

The bell rung once more, and the rest of the teaching went like usual: boring and dull according to the earth-bound pegasus.

As school finished, Scootaloo said her goodbyes to the two other Crusaders. Scootaloo had paid little to no attention when they had told her of the crusading they were doing later that day - apparently something about trying out flower arranging. For just a second, Scootaloo was happy that she didn't had to go crusading with them that day, as she would rather have a whole day of school, rather than a minute of flower arranging. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggaration, but Scootaloo was sure as hay not gonna take part in it. The little pegaus gleefully trotted home towards the orphanage, and mentally prepared herself for another day of hard training of her wings.

Training was as hard as Scootaloo had imagined. The strain on her wings from the day before was evident. She couldn't do near as many wing-ups, nor could her wings solely lift as much as the day before. But Scootaloo refused to give up.

As if she was in a daze, the filly imagined herself flying in the ever so blue sky of Equestria. Soaring with eagles and other noble birds, feeling the wind tickle her nostrils, caress her fur, mane and tail, and playing tag with a rebellious cloud. But most importantly, she imagined herself with Rainbow Dash. She foresaw great adventures for both of them, her and Rainbow Dash, side by side, flying across the vast land that Equestria covered, and maybe even beyond the familiar borders of her home land.

Scootaloo kept those fantasies ind mind, and with hard effort, she managed to train just about the same amount as yesterday. When the filly finally ceased her workout and went into the common rooms for rest, she only just managed to grab a hold of Teddy, and whispered soft words of her training into his ears as she dozed off into wonderful sleep.

"Hello, Rainbow Dash! What brings you to my orphanage?" the headmistress cheerfully asked, and led the cyan mare into her office.

"I'd just like to check in on the twir-, er, I mean, Scootaloo. How has she been doing since her little stunt?" Rainbow Dash replied, and carelessly glanced about the cheesy motivational posters around the office.

"Well, it seems that our dear little Scootaloo is training to fly."

The careless look in Rainbow Dash's eyes were instantly replaced by passion and interest.

"What, flying? On her own?" she gasped, and was immedaitely impressed with the coolness of the little filly.

Much like myself, heh.

"Don't be silly, Rainbow Dash! Not flying just yet, but it appears she has borrowed a book from the library, about how to fly. She spends all of her days in the gymnasium, training hard to get those wings strong enough against the wild gusts of wind that you face so bravely every day."

Rainbow Dash let out a little snicker of satisfaction, before she nodded in a serious matter.

"That's great news. I'm glad to see that she's doing so well," the pegasus replied, before awkwardly tracing a hoof on the table before her.

"Is there something the matter?" the headmistress asked, and gave Rainbow Dash an intense and caring look. Almost taken aback by the genuine interest in her well-being, Rainbow Dash stopped the circular movements, and instead coughed slightly.

"Well, I was gonna ask you about a special favor for Scootaloo, and since she's been training, I'm sure that it'll be awesome!"

The headmistress cocked an eyebrow, before Rainbow Dash let out a snicker.

"Awesome for Scootaloo, that is."

The older mare now nodded in satisfaction, and urged the pegasus to go on.

"Scootaloo has been in detention for 3 days now, and she's not going on the field trip with the rest of the students. Is it possible that I could spend the day with her, giving her some tips on how to fly, and make it a day to remember?"

"Rainbow Dash, I'm sure you mean well with this suggestion, but I'm afraid that cannot do."

"What! Why?!" the mare demanded, and almost went flying into the ceiling in annoyance. Her wings flapped furiously as she attempted to keep herself sealed to the chair she was placed in.

"The whole reason why I sent Scootaloo to the detention was that she could learn from the experience. If I let you have this special day with her, where the others are on the field trip, she's learned nothing."

"Aw. c'mon! As if her not being able to go crusading for a whole week, you're gonna make it so much harder on her by not letting her being taught how to fly!", Rainbow Dash objected, a sudden sneer escaping her lips, "you're taking away everything that matters to her. What matters to me!"

"Rainbow Dash, I understand your annoyance and that Scootaloo's well-being is a matter of great importance to you, but I just can't let you do this. I'm sorry, but that is my final word in this matter."

"Fine!" Rainbow sneered once more, and dove with maddening speed out of the office. Scootaloo was happily occupied with sitting under the great oak tree before the orphanage, that she didn't even notice the streak of rainbow that followed the aggravated cyan pegasus.

Rainbow Dash didn't understand why the headmistress didn't wanted to let her do this for Scootaloo. Both mares had noticed how unhappy the filly was, and Rainbow Dash knew well enough how the little filly was feeling. She remembered how she had been just about the same way as Scootaloo. Without parents, and seemingly without a home. But as time went by, Rainbow Dash learned about herself and the companions that surrounded her. She had realized that your heritage isn't all you are, and there was more to the world of Equestria than achieving cute marks and awesomeness. The mare never thought she'd even think such things, but there was a time for everything, she supposed. Rainbow Dash never wanted anypony to feel the way she did before and after her cutie mark and her ability to fly. A feeling that nopony, and especially Scootaloo didn't deserve.

As Rainbow Dash ascended into the familiarity of the sky, she went straight for the massive fluffy cloud she called home. With her suggestion being crushed under the decision of the headmistress, all the familiar feelings that she had at the age of Scootaloo's, the mare couldn't help but dig up an old companion of hers.

A little stuffed animal, but more precisely, a little stuffed dog.

"Hello there, Buddy. It's been a long time since I saw you." Rainbow Dash cooed as she made herself comfortable in her bed.

Just then, as if the grown-up mare was a filly again, a time where awesomeness and being cool didn't matter near as much, Rainbow Dash sat down and had a conversation with her old friend, sharing everything from her insecurities to her strengths, her friends to enemies and everything between the earth and the sky. The sun had begun to set when Rainbow Dash finally stopped talking to the little bundle of worn clothes, before she let out a smile and thought of the little filly.

Whether or not she'll learn to fly, we have much more in common than I thought.

Bah, so not loving this chapter, but oh well. Sorry for the late update, revision for exams must be done! Much love. :)

Chapter 8

Day 4:

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom followed me home today. That wasn't such a good idea.
I don't feel like writing a bunch of sappy stuff, so I'll just leave it here for now.

"Just one day left of detention!" Scootaloo cheered as school was out for yet another day. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom smiled just as wide as the pegasus as they followed closely behind her. No matter how annoyed Scootaloo could be about her punishment, it seemed that everything was just better with her two best friends. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and the soft smell of flowers in bloom filled all the fillies with joy.

"Yeh'! I tell ya' Scoots, crusadin' sure ain't the same without ya'," Applebloom said, and gave a glance to Sweetie Belle, "not that ye' ain't good enough or somethin' of the like Sweetie.".

The unicorn merely shook her head.

"Not a problem Applebloom. You're absolutely right. It's not quite the same without our daredevil!"

Scootaloo smiled cheesily at the praise she so lovingly received.

"Do you want us to follow you home?"

The question made Scootaloo stop dead in her tracks, and as a result, both Sweetie Belle and Applebloom crashed into the filly in front of them. They all ended laying belly up on the soft path, before bursting into laughter. Scootaloo's laughter concealed her unease about the question that Sweetie Belle so innocently asked, and stiffened when she repeated it.

"Scoots, don't you want us to follow you home?"

"Um, err, sure, but, you see, hmm, I can't bring anypony home because of my detention." she quickly lied, her unease obvious to the two fillies. The unicorn and earth pony remained silent, and inside her quiet mind, Scootaloo let out a sigh. She almost thought of it too easy, and she realized it was.

"Sure ye still got detention, but why can't we follow ye' to ye' home anyway? I'm sure the headmistress won't mind!" Applebloom said, and gave Scootaloo a curious glance.

Oh buck, Scootaloo thought, and let out an awkward smile.

"Ah, sure, why not then. C'mon girls!" she replied, and tried to muster her previous attitude of cheerfullness. The two other fillies were suddenly full of the cheer that Scootaloo had lost, and skipped happily through the streets of Ponyville. No matter how much Scootaloo wanted to delay their arrival at the orphanage, by walking slower than Granny Smith herself, the two crusaders kept cheering her on, as if it was a marathon they were doing. It didn't take them long before they stood before the orphanage.

Scootaloo let out a weak smile, and turned around to face Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

"Alright girls, thanks for walking me home. I'll see you after the field trip tomorrow, I hope."

Without further goodbyes, Scootaloo turned and with heavy steps, walked into the orphanage.

"Scootaloo, can we come inside?"

Scootaloo froze, and slowly turned her head again. As if time stood still, she saw the faces of some of the ponies who mattered the most to her. Deep down, she wanted to let them in. She wanted to let them know how she felt. How she felt useless, abandoned and alone, but she couldn't. Letting them into the orphanage meant to let them see everything that Scootaloo hadn't, but longed for more than the ability to fly. Scootaloo knew she'd learn to fly eventually, but there was no chance of her ever getting the family that she once belonged to. The pegasus put her hoof down.

"No! I won't let you in! I can't let you in, it's too personal! I don't want you to know what it's like to be me!" Scootaloo shouted, her cries causing Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to take a few steps back. The pegasus' chest rose and fell rapidly, alongside the tears on her face, as Applebloom took a step forward towards the filly.

"Scoots, we just want to come inside. We want t' help ya." she said, and began to walk closer to Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle nodded and followed shortly after.

"Yeah. It must be horrible, to not have a family, and we wi-"

"You don't know anything! Nothing at all!" Scootaloo retorted, and with a weak whimper of defeat, she stormed inside the orphanage.

"Scootaloo!" Applebloom cried, and went forward to catch up with her friend. A tiny white foreleg blocked her, and she gave Sweetie Belle a glare that could kill.

"Applebloom, we can't do anything until she comes to us. You have to be patient." the unicorn quietly said, knowing that her friend would stay behind, but kept her frontleg up nonetheless. It wasn't until Applebloom stomped with her hoof and turned around with a huff.

"I HATE being patient." she grumbled.

Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement.

"Me too. But Scootaloo won't accept her help, you know how she is. Maybe we should tell Rainbow Dash? She could cheer her up!"

Applebloom shook her head.

"I don't think so, Sweetie. I bet'cha Scootaloo would be mighty upset if we tol' Rainbow 'bout her troubles."

"But Applebloom, we can't just do nothing! If we don't do anything about this, Scootaloo will be down in the dumps forever!"

The realisation of such a thing caused both of the filly's to gasp loudly as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. They couldn't let it happen, but what would they do to prevent it?

Both of the fillies pondered about the situation until they made it to the Carousel Boutique and Sweetie Belle left Applebloom to think about it on her own, as she made her way home to Sweet Apple Acres.

The tears in Scootaloo's eyes made it difficult for her to see as she galloped into the orphanage. She knew the headmistress forbid running in the halls, but she didn't care. The second she entered the common room, she wiped away the tears in a frenzy, before making her way to the gymnasium.

Furious with herself, Scootaloo took all of the feelings within her, rage, sadness and more, and used them to focus on her wing-training. As if in a blind rage, Scootaloo continously changed between muscle training of her wings, to endurance training of her legs. She sprinted around the gymnasium, barely taking notice of the other orphans who watched her in awe.

Scootaloo were so full of emotions that she didn't even care about her audience when she noticed them, and instead continued to train. The orphans gathered amongst themselves and began to whisper, whispering about me, Scootaloo instantly thought. It seemed the everything around the filly fueled the hurricane of feelings within her, and she found it impossible to stop training.

She couldn't stop. It was her only way of getting rid of the feelings that haunted her so, and thus, Scootaloo continued to sprint around the gymnasium and do various exercised. She hadn't noticed that when her body began to say no, her heart just screamed yes. The filly's body couldn't handle such a long time of exercising, and just when she had begun on her 4th lap around the gymnasium, the world started to fade around her. Scootaloo felt her vision blur, her legs moving out of synch, causing her to trip over her own hooves, and the latest thing she saw, was the headmistress and schoolnurse storming away from the crowd of orphans towards her.

Day 5:

"I'm sorry for scaring you, headmistress. I was just so obsessed about training my wings and my stamina, that I couldn't stop. It's just so important to me."

It's my last day of detention, and I'm bedridden.

Bedridden because the schoolnurse said that after yesterday, my body needs a full day's rest. Rest is for losers, but both the mares are watching me like hawks. I can't even get a single leg out of bed, before some inner alarm sound in their head, and they're right by my bed before I can even go to the bathroom.

"You should be, Scootaloo. You've pushed yourself far beyond the limits of any other filly your age. Now, you stay in bed all day, or you will only receive more detention."

I gulped, and let out a nod. The headmistress gave me a stern look, before she left the common room, and left me to myself. As the massive doors shut, I let out a heavy sigh.

I always have to get myself into trouble, and now, I was stuck in this stupid bed. I grunted loudly, and glanced towards the doors.

No reaction.

I groaned a little louder, and hoped that the sounds would make the headmistress of nurse come running to help me.

No one came. Fine, I'll just lay here instead.

I don't know what went wrong yesterday. It was just like, I had to get all of my feelings out somehow. I can't tell Applebloom or Sweetie Belle, and definitely not any grown-ups, especially not Rainbow Dash. She'd probably think I was a weirdo. No, definitely not telling Rainbow Dash. This'll just be a secret between Teddy and me.

I leaned over to reach Teddy in his usual hiding spot in my bedside table. Not a lot of ponies knows about him, but I don't want them to either. I don't want them to see that Scootaloo, the toughest filly in Ponyville, still sleeps with a stuffed animal. I grabbed Teddy and hugged him tightly.

"What are we gonna do all day, Teddy? We can't leave the bed." I asked out loud, but not before I took an extra glance around the common room, to make sure that nobody heard me. The coast was clear.

I grabbed his two moldy arms, and moved him around as if he was real.

"Gee, I don't know Scootaloo! Maybe we should go out of bed anyway?" he said, my own voice turning darker and more stallion like, to match with Teddy being a colt-bear.

I laughed at his suggestion, waving my hoof in front of him as a dismissal.

"You know we can't do that, Teddy! I don't wanna be in more trouble than I already am," I said, before I gasped loudly and made my eyes go wide, "Teddy! I never thought I'd say such things."

I held my head high, and made me sound like some fancy pony from Canterlot, parodizing myself in front of Teddy.

"I don't wanna be in more trouble than I already am!" I cooed, bursting into laughter, varying between my own, and the darker one of Teddy's.

"Scootaloo, you're so funny!"

I bowed slightly towards the stuffed animal in thanks, before slowly coming to the realisation of how lame this really was. I was sitting here, having a conversation with Teddy, as if he was real.

Letting out a sigh, I laid back on the extra big pillow that the headmistress had given me. That was only because the nurse had said that I needed it for potential back support. I didn't mind the pillow, it was awesome, but c'mon, I was just running around as if I was Rainbow Dash in search for cider. I glanced at Teddy as he sat on my stomach, waiting for some sort of confirmation that he was as alive as I had just thought of him to be, with those dark buttons as eyes. Nothing came, and I knew that it was all an illusion. His voice, his ability to move around, was all because of me.

Am I so stupid that I can't even tell the bucking difference between what's real and what's not? Suddenly angry with myself, I violently threw Teddy back into the bedside table, and turned my back away from him. Since I loved sleep so much, I figured I could catch up on that.

Ofcourse, I couldn't. For some reason, my heart was pounding as if a manticore was right on my tail. I tossed and turned a few times, before letting out a groan. I sat up in bed, and glared evilly towards the bedside table, more exactly on the drawer, and the thing within. Rolling my eyes, I opened the drawer and grabbed Teddy again, before shutting the drawer and getting comfortable in bed.

"Is this what it's gotten to Teddy? I can't even sleep without you now." I mumbled, and even though I knew my hoof was behind his neck, I pretended that he could nod himself. I let out a dim smile, before I realized how exhausted I really was.

All of this training was hard as hay! I wonder how Rainbow Dash can train as much as she can, 'cause I'm sure she does more than me. I closed my eyes, and sighed in content as I knew that many hours of wonderful sleep awaited me.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

As the warm rays of the sun struck the orange face of a pegasus filly, she quickly hid under her covers to hide from the brutal light. But even under the Wonderbolt cover, the rays continued to shine brightly unto Scootaloo's face. She groaned loudly, and threw her covers off with great energy.

Scootaloo blinked her eyes several times to make the blur disappear from them, and slowly she saw how the common room was empty. Suddenly frantic about being late for school, she tumbled out of the bed, getting caught in the massive cover that displayed a Wonderbolt, ever so proudly posing heroically. Scootaloo yelled loudly as she saw no way of getting out of the evil trap, and tore violently at the fabric.

"Get me outta here!" she cried, still pulling at the cloth.

Until she heard a loud rip, and stopped moving altogether. Her heart beated fast, and tears took shape in her eyes as she looked in the darkness, and saw a massive tear in the cover. It was big enough for Scootaloo to crawl through it, and she carefully stepped out of her cave. As she stood in the empty common room, with a big tear in her favorite cover, it seemed to much to bear. The little filly sniffled as she saw where the tear was, right across the noble Wonderbolt, splitting the heroic face in half.

"Aw, hay..." she mumbled, and sat down, the day already seemed to matter less and less. She stomped angrily at the whole part of the cover, before gently making her bed, thus that the tear did not show, as she'd just likely get in trouble. The little filly quickly galloped out of the common room and into the hall, where she expected herself to find the rest of the orphans preparing to walk to school with the headmistress. Scootaloo glanced around, seeing nopony around, before she looking straight ahead, only to crash with the brink pink coat of Ms. Sprinkles. The old mare groaned loudly as she was nearly knocked over by the little filly.

"Scootaloo! Why are you up?" she exclaimed loudly, and stretched out a helping hoof to Scootaloo. The little filly merely shook her head.

"I'm late for school!" she shouted, before the lunch mare blocked her way with a wide smile.

"Scootaloo, darling. It's the day of the field trip. They left hours ago."

In her morning rush, Scootaloo had forgotten about her detention, and not to mention her little adventure that had caused the detention in the first place. She sighed before glancing at Ms. Sprinkles.

"Thanks Ms. Sprinkles. Um, I might've messed up on my bedsheet..."

"Oh my, what happened?"

Scootaloo couldn't help but smile at the genuine concern of the mare, and made way towards the common rooms. The lunch mare gasped as she saw the tear that Scootaloo showed her.

"My my my. Dear Scootaloo, you mustn't rush in the mornings. It's an awful big hole." Ms. Sprinkles said and held up the cover. Her head could just be inside of the tear, and she poked her head through it, making funny faces at Scootaloo. The little filly giggled at the older mare's antics.

"I know, but can you fix it before the headmistress gets here?"

To all of the ponies living at the orphanage, ms. Sprinkles always seemed like the handymare. Was there a problem that didn't involve cooking of the sorts, she was ready with needle and thread, bandaids or just about anything that could happen when it involved colts and fillies, and this was no exception.

"Certainly, but don't you know that she's got some business to do with the mayor?"

Scootaloo's eyes widened, and tilted her head in confusion.

"What, she's not gonna be here all day?"

Ms. Sprinkles shook her head, and quietly folded the cover together in order to avoid the tear growing larger. When done, she motioned Scootaloo closer, and the little filly hopped excitedly towards her.

"I think there's somepony waiting for you outside. But don't be too long, I'll stall the headmistress when I can." she said, winking at Scootaloo before gently nudging the filly towards the exit.

Scootaloo smiled widely, and galloped as fast as her short legs could carry her towards the hall. She swung the doors open, and gasped loudly when she saw who stood outside.

"Hey squirt, ready for a day of flying?"

Scootaloo couldn't help but try to calm her nerves. Rainbow Dash explained how she had approached the headmistress about her plan, but was rejected, much to her annoyance. Instead, Ms. Sprinkles had told her that the headmistress would be out all day, and was willing to stall the boss in case she returned earlier. Scootaloo was honored beyond words, that Rainbow Dash was willing to do this for her.

Maybe someone did care, after all.

Scootaloo now stood on a cloud, right next to Rainbow Dash. Like always, whenever she was training somepony, she had a whistle hung around her neck, a pair of goggles, and a cap placed upon her multicolored mane.

"Scootaloo! Now is the time, for you to fly! So get those wings started, and be ready to soar!" she said, puffing her chest and flaring her wings for dramatic effect. Scootaloo tried to smile without showing her obvious fear.

Unfortunately, Rainbow picked up on it immediately.

"What's wrong, Scoots? Are you scared?"

Scootaloo wasn't that afraid of flying. She knew that the mare would pick her up if something went wrong, but the fact of seeing Rainbow Dash's expression when she said her was the fear of her reaction, so she shook her head.

"Scootaloo, are you afraid?"

Scootaloo glanced at Rainbow Dash, who seemed to understand it.

"What of?" she asked, and sat down next to Scootaloo, with a foreleg embracing the filly.

"I'm afraid you're gonna think I'm a loser because I'm afraid to disappint you by not flying as well as you the first time I try to fly, and it's really scary, but I know that you'll catch me if I fall and I just really wanna be like you, and be a Wonderbolt, and be the best young flyer in Eques-"

"Scootaloo!"

The little filly abruptly stopped talking, and glanced at Rainbow Dash with a sheepish smile.

"It's all about overcoming your fears. Fear is natural, but don't make it lose your cool," the mare smiled, and ruffled up Scootaloo's mane, "now, I'll go first, and wait for you to jump."

Scootaloo took a huge breath and nodded. The cyan mare pulled down her goggles before quickly jumping off the cloud, and did a few corkscrews and loops before gliding quietly about in the blue sky. She turned towards Scootaloo who glared over the edge of the cloud.

"You can do it, Scootaloo!" she encouraged, and tried to calm the filly down by flying closer to the cloud she stood upon.

"I can do it!" the filly exclaimed, and without further hesitation, she jumped.

At first the feeling of weightlessness scared the filly, and her limbs were all over the place as she sprawled about in fear. Her panic caused herself to turn wildly around in the air, scaring Scootaloo even more. The rush of the wind as she fell almost made her go deaf and blind. She could vaguely hear Rainbow Dash shouting over the wind, and the filly struggled to open her eyes.

"Spread your wings, Scootaloo! I know you've been training, you've worked so hard on this moment! They're strong enough! They'll make you a Wonderbolt!"

Scootaloo gritted her teeth, and tried to spread her wings. For a minute, she could feel the wind against her small wings, and soared for just a second, but the force was too strong, and the wings stood vertical. Scootaloo proceeded to fall. Panic started to clutch her heart, and she looked to Rainbow Dash in fear.

"I can't do it!" she whined, and tears started to take shape in her eyes. Partly from the wind stinging them and partly from her disappointment in herself.

"Yes, you can! I'm not going to catch you!"

"What?!"

"I'm not! You have to fly!" Rainbow Dash shouted, and the next thing Scootaloo saw was the mare disappearing out of her sight. She desperately tried to turn her head to regain sight of the mare, but to no avail.

Scootaloo, you have to do this! You know you can do it.

No, I can't! I'm too weak! I'm gonna die!

Use your wings!

Scootaloo saw the earth getting closer and closer with every second, and gritted her teeth again. Once again she attempted to open her wings, and groaned as the strong wind struck them again. She could feel the force trying to pull them upwards again, but this time, they didn't. Scootaloo felt how she slowed down, and how the wind now worked with her, instead of against her. The wind was now silent, and Scootaloo soared upon the winds, instead of fighting them. Her eyes slowly opened and she couldn't believe it when she looked at her wings. They weren't flapping, but the feathers rustled slightly as the winds brushed against them.

"I knew you could do it, Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash said, as she came next to the little filly. Suddenly on the verge of tears, Scootaloo smiled widely at the mare.

"I thought you'd let me fall..." she mumbled and glanced downwards, as the earth approached the two pegasi at a much more comfortable pace. Rainbow Dash refrained from answering until they landed. Scootaloo's legs and wings seemed to be made out of jelly, as she could barely stand on them. She felt the urge to kiss the ground, but refrained from it when she realized what she just had done.

I flied!

The achievement was too hard to not brag about, and within a second, Scootaloo were jumping around Rainbow Dash as the experienced flyer removed her goggles.

"I flied! I flied! I flied!" Scootaloo said, as if a chant she had learned from Zecora herself. Rainbow Dash wasn't one to be bothered about grammar, but even she had trouble not correcting Scootaloo's words. She decided it didn't matter. She stopped Scootaloo's chant, and instead held the filly tight.

"I'll always be here pick you up." she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Thanks." Scootaloo replied, before the cyan mare ended their embrace, coughing slightly.

"Ready for a second go?"

Scootaloo nodded in excitement, and quickly crawled unto Rainbow Dash's back.

A very exhausted Scootaloo returned to the orphanage, and she quickly went inside. She and Rainbow Dash had carefully tried to avoid the gaze of the returning schoolponies and headmistress as they were done with the flight training of today. She quickly galloped into the common room, and smiled as she saw how the tear in her cover was gone. Upon close inspection of the tear, Scootaloo saw just how nice a job Ms. Sprinkles had done with the stitching, that it seemed there never had been a hole in a cover. She suddenly heard the door to the common room open, and dashed under her cover, pretended to sleep. It was the rest of the ponies, going straight to bed after a long day of exploring a major city of Equestria.

"Too bad that Scootaloo couldn't stay out of trouble long enough to join us. I bet she would've loved it." she heard one of them say, and smiled slyly under her covers.

Pfft, I betcha my day is way better than some stupid field trip!

"Whatever, it's not like she's worth bringing anyway."

"Shut up! Scootaloo is a cool pony!"

One of the ponies snorted.

"She's lame. She sleeps with a teddybear, for hays sake! And what about that freakout she had yesterday? She's a weirdo. Not to mention she can't fly!"

Scootaloo cringed at the harsh words, and wanted to jump out of bed and show that stupid colt who could fly. She continued to hide under her covers as the conversation about her went on. It seemed that a lot of ponies had thought Scootaloo was strange, and after the show yesterday, they only thought more so. Only one, a filly, she could hear, was the one who defended her. She had never bothered to become friends with the other orphans after she found Applebloom and Sweetiebelle.

As silence came, Scootaloo peeked over her covers, and found every other pony dead asleep. She quickly opened her drawer and grabbed Teddy. She had never thought that the other orphans thought so badly of her.

She's a weirdo! She's a blank flank!

The insults that were thrown behind her back made her accomplishment earlier that day seem meaningless.

Just like myself...

Chapter 10

Scootaloo was never excited about school, but ponies would think that when the weekend arrived, the excitement would show. Whereas the filly would usually sleep in on her first day of the week off, and then quickly get a move on to Sweet Apple Acres for crusading, it didn't happen.

Neither did it Sunday.

Instead of crusading with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, the orange pegasus stayed in bed - preferably all day.

Scootaloo had always considered her self a tough pony, and was proud of the fact. Even more so, she was proud that she was always the one who stood up for herself, and not to mention her friends. But she wondered what happened this past week, and the past weeks that had come before it.

Why had she suddenly become so weak? Why had she felt so unloved and unappreciated?

Annoyed with herself like never before, and now also the fact that it was now Monday, Scootaloo groaned at the sound of the morning bell.

"Awaken my little ponies, time for breakfast." the headmistress chirped, and giggled at the choir of groans that emitted from the common room.

Scootaloo had yet to identify the other foals who had talked so poorly about her, which also meant the one who had defended her.

The clattering of hooves on the stone floor seemed to drown out the gloomy thoughts, and before Scootaloo knew it, she was in the kitchen, having a meager breakfast, as she 'wasn't really hungry', on her way to school, and finally sat down in her seat right between Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, both of them staring at her as if they Nightmare Moon had sat between them. She knew that many hours of interrogation awaited her. Fortunately for Scootaloo, both of the fillies knew that Cherilee was tolerant about many things, but not talking during class.

"Good morning, class!" the mare chimed, and smiled widely at her students.

"Good morning, miss Cherilee!" the class replied, obvious signs of boredom already showing on some of the faces.

This was gonna be a loooooong day...

And long it was indeed, but the unicorn and farm pony didn't hesitate one moment to start asking questions. Questions that Scootaloo couldn't, and wouldn't answer if she could get away with it.

"Where ya been all weekend, Scoots? Haven't seen ya around the farm, at all!" Applebloom chirped, and smiled widely at her pegasus friend. Her hopes of Scootaloo sharing more than the pegasus should, were obvious in her eyes.

"Just been at home, Applebloom. The headmistress didn't think my week of detention was enough punishment, so she made me stay home." Scootaloo lied, without hesitation. The filly almost felt physically sick, as she realized how easy she lied to her best friends. It took her mere seconds to come up with a lie, but it seemed that the more she lied, the less she cared about the truth. Scootaloo kept wondering if it was a bad thing for her to lie to her friends. Part of her rejected the thought; she's only lying to spare her friends of the awful truth.

But they're my best friends! Don't they deserve the truth?

All of this thinking made Scootaloo's head ache, and she groaned inwardly, before putting up a fake smile and shrug helplessly.

"What can you do, eh?"

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle shared a look, before turning their attention to Scootaloo once more.

"Suppose so. Wanna do some crusading after school?"

Scootaloo smiled widely, but inside, she couldn't imagine a more horrendous thing to do. The simple thought of spending time with those two, constantly talking about their sisters; how annoying and overprotective they were, or their desires to get their cutiemarks, either upset or angered her endlessly.

At least they have sisters. At least they have someone who cares.

"Hay yeah! I've been thinking about some really cool things over the weekend, now that I was stuck doing nothing. I was thinking about juggling, hoof-ball, rock-climbing, and some other things! What do ya say?"

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle cheered loudly, although with some objections at the rock-climbing, but they were in, and the crusaders quickly made their way to the farm.

The excitement that Scootaloo usually possessed was back, but neither two of the crusaders thought of how false it actually was. The orange filly had gotten better on putting on a facade; one that Applebloom and Sweetie Belle hadn't noticed at all, and although Scootaloo wanted them both to break it and stomp it to pieces, she wouldn't let them. Deep down, she longed for someone to break the wall that she so steadily had created, and let them into her heart.

But it seemed that the two fillies weren't strong enough, and it would require much more force for that wall to Scootaloo's heart to break.

"Twilight, I need your help."

Those very words were something that the scholared pony didn't hear much, and especially not from Rainbow Dash. In fact, Twilight was sure that the mere word 'help' wasn't included in the cyan mare's dictionairy, and the same went for Applejack. Nonetheless, the lavender pony smiled widely, and turned towards the pegasus.

"Sure, Rainbow. What can I help you with?" Twilight asked, and continued her steady pace around the library, levitating a few books around to maintain order.

"Well, you see, um. It's kind of... important," the mare slowly said, and glanced around the library to make sure no one heard, "I need some books on how to raise foals..."

"What?!"

All the books previously kept safe in the air, tumbled towards the floor with a loud thud. Twilight didn't even bother to check on her precious books, but instead she closed all windows, pulled the curtains and locked the doors, before almost colliding with Rainbow Dash in shock.

"Rainbow Dash! Are you...?"

"Yes, Twilight. I am pregnant."

Twilight's jaw hit the floor with a crash, and both ears and eyes twitched as the librarian tried to comprehend what she had just been told. But it only took her a few seconds to recover, and quickly started to ramble.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! How can you be pregnant! How irresponsible are you, you're so not suited to be a mother yet! Who's the father," she cried, suddenly grapping Rainbow Dash, staring wildly into her eyes, "Who's the father?!"

A sudden burst of laughter emitted from Rainbow Dash, falling in the floor. Twilight groaned in annoyance, turning her back on the cyan mare, almost in tears from the prank she pulled on her lavender friend.

"Haha! Twilight, you're too easy! That was so awesome," Rainbow laughed, before standing up straight, and staring at Twilight, a mix of emotions evident in her eyes, "but what do you mean with 'not suited to be a mother'? And 'irresponsible'!"

Twilight huffed loudly, and continued to reorganize the books who fell to the floor as her magic had stopped, not bothering to reply the cyan mare. Suddenly hurt by the librarians words, Rainbow Dash's head and wings hung low.

"Am I not fit to be a mother?"

Twilight had her back turned against the pegaus, but she bit her lip in regret of the words she had said. She rushed getting the books into the right position, before turning towards Rainbow Dash.

"Sorry Rainbow, you know I didn't mean that. But, you know it's such a big responsibility to be a mother. Instead of just, you know, living your own life, you're suddenly responsible for two," Twilight placed a hoof over Rainbow's muscular body, attempting to hug her, "and you're so young, and have so many plans. What about the Wonderbolts? What about the weather patrol? Would you even have the time to do such a thing?"

It were all questions that Rainbow Dash obviously haven't given much thought. She just thought of adding Scootaloo to her family would be awesome. She knew she cared much more than she should for the little filly, and the last time she was with her, it became clear just how much, and how much the two were alike. Rainbow Dash hadn't known her parents either, but had found a wonderful foster family of pegasi that she knew loved her very much, and did to this day. The cyan mare also remembered how, when she was Scootaloo's age, wasn't affected at all by the fact she was an orphan. Almost recklessly, the younger version of the flier seemed to have cared close to naught about her unknown family, with an attitude towards it that was more like 'their loss' more than hers. But even though she hadn't been bothered about her family in her younger years, she had wondered more and more about it as she progressed into her late teens, and young adulthood. Not so much that she was on the verge of tears when she thought about it, but more like a 'what if' sort of situation.

What if I hadn't come to Ponyville? What if I had never met my friends?

Nonetheless, Rainbow Dash seemed to recognize, that what was occasionally tormented her at this age, was tormenting Scoootaloo now. Rainbow Dash had matured enough to know that there were 5 ponies, and possibly more that cared, maybe even loved her, and that was all she needed to know, occasional thoughts and questions send towards her own unknown family, or not.

"Just for the record, you aren't pregnant, are you?"

Rainbow Dash grinned, before shaking her head. Twilight Sparkle let out a sigh of relief, causing the cyan mare next to her to bump into her in playful anger.

"Rainbow, I know you'll be one of the greatest mothers in Equestria. When the time comes, you'll dedicate yourself fully to your foals, and they will be just as amazing as you are," the librarian winked, "maybe even more."

"Yeah, right!" the cyan mare scoffed, styling her chromatic mane into the usual do.

"What do you need it for anyway?" Twilight asked, before she mumbled something about foal care being under 'F', letting out a loud 'Aha!' as she found what she needed.

Rainbow Dash quickly snatched the book out of Twilight's hoofs, and replied just as fast.

"Ohnothingspecialseeyoulaterbye!" she exclaimed, rapidly unlocking the closest window, and flying out of the library with great velocity.

The lavender mare shook her head, and returned to her previous chores of organizing her beloved home and library. With her usual magic, Twilight grabbed some more books, and put them into their correct places.

"As long as she ain't pregnant..." she muttered under her breath.

"Who's pregnant?"

The sound of the baby dragon behind her, made Twilight drop the levitating books yet again, being the first thing she noticed this time around.

"Spike! How did you get in here?!" Twilight asked, groaned in annoyance at the books around her.

"With the key?", he asked, waving the device in his hands, before asking again, "who's pregnant? I saw Rainbow Dash flying out of here, really fast too!"

Twilight Sparkle held a hoof to the baby dragons mouth, gently shh'ing at him.

"She isn't pregnant!" she hissed.

"Riiiiight. I'm gonna go have some gems, see you later!"

Spike quickly made his way into the kitchen, saliva already gathering in his fanged mouth at the mere thought. Twilight let out a sigh, and hoped that the dragon would forget what he had heard her say.

If she only knew.

Hey everyone - this was a bit of a rushed chapter, in all honesty. I wasn't really sure what direction the story would be going until now, so it took me awhile to figure that out. Now that I, somewhat, got an idea of where it's going, chapters will hopefully flow more easily. :)

Chapter 11

Spike knew that a certain mare would appreciate the piece of information that Twilight accidently had spilled. After he had gone to get something to eat, he made up an excuse to make way to the Carousel Boutique. As always, Rarity was occupied with designing the latest gowns for mares all over Equestria. She hardly even noticed Spike as he entered, but as the baby dragon coughed to make himself magically appear, a wide smile adorned the mare's face.

"Spikey-wikey, darling! What a exquisite surprise, what brings you to my humble boutique?" she chirped, putting down the pencil and walking away from her drawing board to embrace Spike.

Besides seeing the mare of my dreams?, the dragon thought, but obviously didn't say that out loud.

"I just got some very interesting gossip for you!" he said instead, the unicorn's eyes going wide with excitement. Rarity was undoubtly a mare who loved to gossip about others, but loathed it when the gossip was aimed at herself.

"Oh, Spike! What kind of wonderful, juicy news do you have for me?" she spoke, and leaned closer to Spike to hear the news. Sudden confidence took over Spike, and instead of letting the gorgeous face get any closer, he pushed it away with a tiny claw, much to Rarity's dismay.

"Something for something, Rarity," he teased, and moved the claw towards his own cheek, slightly blushing. Rarity narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

"That is no such thing to ask a lady, Spike! Just tell me what juicy gossip you have acquired this instant!", she said, emphasizing her desire to wish what he knew, with a stomp of her hoof.

"I'm afraid I've forgotten, is there something you could do to help my poor memory?", the dragon continued, his claw still on his cheek.

Rarity growled slightly, before the sound vanished from her throat as she realized how unlady-like it was, and rolled her eyes before planting a big kiss on Spike's cheek.

"RainbowDashcametoseeTwilightandsheaskedforabookaboutraisingbabiesandnowwethinkshe'spregnant!"

Rarity gasped loudly, before shaking her head in disbelief.

"Spike, darling, you need to speak slower, please. Now, tell me again."

"Rainbow Dash is pregnant!"

Another gasp escaped Rarity's lips, before she let out a squeal, and fell over in surprise.

After Rarity awakened, it didn't take many hours before the first pony besides herself knew the gossip. Rarity quickly arranged a meeting with a surprised Fluttershy at the spa, who let out a loud 'eep!' at the mere thought. The two spa ponies were even worse with gossip than Rarity herself, and they spread the news quicker than a wildfire. It seemed that Twilight had just lend the book to Rainbow Dash, as the news reached her library. She was shocked to hear that the rumour had spread so quickly, with Pinkie Pie arranging a visit to Rainbow Dash and a baby shower, but she knew just who to confront.

"Spike!", the lavender mare roared, without any response from her bedroom. It was Spike's napping time, and she was certain that the dragon wouldn't get any sleep with all the trouble he had caused.

"Spike!" she shouted again, with no response, yet again. The librarian instead stomped up the stairs, each step echoing louder in the hollow tree. When she reached the top, her hooves banged so loudly, that she could hear the birds resting on the thick branches outside chirp in anxiety. She opened the door with such force, that it smacked against the wall with a bang, causing the little dragon to snort in annoyance, and simply turn away from the noise.

"SPIKE!"

This time, Twilight's yell rang true and clear, and the baby dragon jumped high into the air in surprise, before faceplanting the wooden floor.

"Eh, huh, what?" he mumbled as he rubbed his sore nose.

"What in Celestia have you told Rarity?!" Twilight growled, her muzzle getting dangerously close to Spike's face. The lavender mare took threatening steps, forcing Spike to take small steps back, until he reached the wooden wall, quivering with fear.

"I didn't tell her anything, Twilight! I swear!"

"Don't you dare lie to me, Spike!" the lavender mare hissed, her snout touching Spike's in a threating manner. Sweat taking shape on Spike's brow, he shields his face with his two scaly arms.

"Alright, alright! I told Rarity in exchange for a kiss on the cheek!", the dragon admittet, shivering before his roommate.

"Augh, Spike! How could you do such a thing to Rainbow Dash?!"

Without an answer, the baby dragon's eyes became attached to his scaly feet, nervously shifting the weight from one foot to another. He was expecting Twilight to give him a long speech about privacy and spreading harmful and untrue news about your friends. There was no speech, however, and instead of giving the dragon a tirade about his seemingly lacking morals, Twilight grabbed the baby dragon, and forced him upon her back.

"You are going to clear this whole mess up, cause I sure ain't!" she growled,

The book seemed to stare evilly upon the cyan mare.

'The modern mare and her foals', the title said. Rainbow Dash had heard the author's name before, Lily Kindheart, and she thought it was Twilight who first mentioned the mare behind the book. Apparently, the mare was well-known for novels as well as lifestyle books such as the one that laid before her.

Ever since she had gotten home from the library and returned to her castle in the clouds, she had wondered about how she would approach the matter at hand. Wasn't being a parent just about being awesome enough to have foals? After Twilight's obvious doubts about her potentiel parenthood, Rainbow Dash found herself doubting ever becoming a parent even more.

Maybe Twilight is right? Maybe I'm not suited to take care of anyone, but myself., the mare thought, lowering her head in dismay as she gazed at the book while laying on her couch made of clouds. Her frontleg seemed to lazily dangle from the couch for an hour or so, before the mare took action. Slowly stretching out a hoof to get the book, she laid on her back and held the book in her hooves high above her face.

"Alright Rainbow Dash, you can perform sonic rainbooms and be the fastest flyer in Equestria! You can be a mother or sister to a little filly too!" she exclaimed, and quietly began to study the contents of the books. On the page of the introduction, miss Kindheart adorned the page herself. Her cutie mark portrayed a single big heart, with a few smaller ones placed next to it. Next to the mare, was, what Rainbow thought, her three foals. Two colts and a filly, and they all smiled widely towards the reader. Envious of the harmony that obviously roamed in the picture, Rainbow Dash begun reading the introduction.

A modern mare and her foals - introduction:

Dear readers;

Before I go on with how I have fared through the journey of parenthood, I must adress some of you. Not all are suited to be parents, at first glance. It took me some time to realize that I wanted kids, and a couple of years ago, I wasn't even sure I liked them! My first foal was a bit of a surprise, and it took me a long time to grow with the task at hand. Some single-mares out there, with a foal or two, know what I mean. No matter at what age you are lucky to bless your life with a little filly or colt, know that you will be a wonderful parent. You can doubt yourself to the end of Equestria, but it will get you nowhere. This goes for both career opportunities and parenthood.

You are all wonderful mothers and mothers-to-be, and any foals that are possible daughters or sons of yourself, are blessed without compare. Never doubt yourselves, for the sake of yourself, and the foals I hope you will bear some day.

A bunch of thankyou notes for some family members was written across the next couple of pages, which Rainbow Dash merely skipped, before heading to the first chapter.

Chapter 1: Pregnancy

Pregnancies are obviously a phase that is necessary to truly establish what all ponies search for in life: a family. I won't go over the birds and the bees, assuming you, my reader, are well-aware of reprodu-

"Rainbow Dash!"

The pegasus gasped in surprise and in her surprise, let go of the massive book, which didn't hesitate to fall flat on the mare's face. She groaned in pain and removed it, only to see a pink pony outside her window. Pinkie Pie had tied several ballons unto her back, and seemed to have several cards and presents with her.

"Urgh, Pinkie? What are you doing here?!" Rainbow Dash asked, somewhat taken aback by the fact that Pinkie had actually visited her home in the skies, as she didn't get visitors often due to that very fact. Fluttershy was always confined to the earth, with her good will, although Rainbow never quite understood it when she could indeed fly, and the others couldn't walk on clouds.

It got lonely at times.

"I wanted to congratulate you on your pregnancy! I'm having a babyshower later today, so show up for your baby! Maybe we can arrange playdates with Pound and Pumpkin!", Pinkie squaled, and didn't hesitate to throw all the presents, cards and balloons inside the cloud house before she took off, her legs flailling wildly in a silly attempt to move forward

"Wait, Pinkie!" the mare shouted, quickly zooming after the party pone, who quickly descended towards the earth. Pinkie nimbly landed in front of Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash following shortly after, who gasped loudly upon arrival.

If Sugarcube Corner ever could've gotten any pinker, this was the time. Several banners with random cute babies adorned the building, each decoration more pink than the other. Rainbow Dash tried to contain herself, as the only pink she could tolerate was the coat color of Pinkie Pie herself. Several ponies that Rainbow Dash didn't recognize stood with various foal-related party hats and other party decorations, alongside some of her best friends. Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity seemed to share the same look of disbelief, but they all smiled widely nonetheless. They never would've thought that Rainbow Dash was one to have foals, not until a much later time and a good increase of maturity on her part.

Which lead them to the next question, who was the father?

"Why, Rainbow Dash, darling, I must congratulate you on your pregnancy! It will be an exquisite to our own little family! How long have you known, sweetie, and how did you keep it a secret to all of us!?" Rarity cooed as she approached the pegasus, interrupting any words that came out of the cyan mare's mouth.

"Eh, Rarity, I'm not pre-"

"Rainbow Dash, ye' old trickster! I nevah woul' hav' thought ye' woul' get any cute foals flyin' 'round in the sky! Mighty congratulations!" Applejack exclaimed, holding the pegasus tight.

"AJ, I'm sorry, but I'm no-"

"Rainbow Dash?", a tiny voice said, and the mare looked down to face Scootaloo.

The little filly's face was a blank slate of emotions.

I had heard about Rainbow Dash's pregnancy right after Applebloom. It was after school, and we were in the cloubhouse, Applejack came sprinting up the stairs, tripping twice.

"Ya'll, we need ta' rush into town! RD's pregnant, and Pinkie Pie's havin' a baby shower!"

My jaw hit the floor, and we ran as fast as we could towards Ponyville!

At first, I thought it was awesome! A tiny version of Rainbow Dash flying around! I could teach her to fly, now that I could fly!

Well, flying may be too much, but I got a year and more to practice!

But as we made our way towards Ponyville, I started thinking more about it. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom thought it was awesome too, and it didn't seem like they had the worries that I had.

Rainbow Dash barely have time for me - her number one fan! I mean, don't I diserve all the attention she got? Well, some of it at least. I know she's busy with weather patrol and training so much to become an awesome Wonderbolt and more awesome stuff, but doesn't she care about me at all?

All those questions kept bugging me until we arrived at Sugarcube Corner, just to see Pinkie Pie land with several balloons tied to her back, popping one by one. Rainbow Dash landed right after her, seemingly in shock over the baby shower.

I can't believe she'll be a mother soon. After Rarity and Applejack go congratulate her, I step towards her.

"Rainbow Dash?"

She looks down at me, without answering me.

"Rainbow Dash, is it true?" I ask again, my eyes beginning to well up with tears.

Why am I crying? It's her life, for hay's sake!

"No! Scootaloo, I promise it ain't true!" Rainbow Dash exclaims loudly, causing everypony to gasp and stare at her. Everypony begins to mumble, and I can faintly hear some fragments about Rainbow being a fraud, and an attentionmare, with all her Wonderbolt and weatherpatrol stuff. It makes me so mad!

"Stop it! Rainbow Dash is the most awesome pony ever! She's not pregnant at all! So just leave her alone!" I yell, standing on my hind legs in front of my idol, shielding her from the danger of the words.

Such a brave little filly you are, Scootaloo.

"Why on earth would she borrow that book then?"

Ponies start to mumble again, and this time, I don't know what to say. I glance up towards Rainbow Dash, who seems just as confused as I. She is just about to talk, before Twilight Sparkle suddenly appears, with a very shameful Spike upon her back.

"Stop! There's been a terrible mistake! It's only a hurtful and evil rumor about Rainbow Dash's so called 'pregnancy'! She borrowed the book from me because...", Twilight glanced back towards Spike, hoping that he had a suggestion to why Rainbow Dash had borrowed the book, because in honesty, neither of them had the faintest idea, "because she's an egghead!"

Everypony gasped loudly once more, as the citizens of Ponyville never could've imagined that Rainbow Dash, the star-athlete of the small village was an egghead. Some of the ponies began to giggle, but it didn't take them long to stop giggling, as Rainbow Dash quickly stood in front of me and talked in what seemed to be the royal Canterlot voice all over.

"Everypony, I am not pregnant! I mean, c'mon, why would I ever bother with having a kid right now? I'm about to be a Wonderbolt! I don't have time for a silly filly walking in my every step, I'm way too awesome for that!"

Ponies continued to mumble, clearly discussing whether or not that was a decent argument. They all begun nodding in approval, which obviously made Rainbow Dash let out a massive sigh as she stood before me, but all I heard was a particular part of what she said.

... I don't have time for a silly filly walkin in my every step...

... No silly filly...

... Way too awesome for that...

These thoughts blocked out almost everything that went on outside, but I faintly heard Spike apologizing to Rainbow Dash over and over again, before she smacked him across the head with her hoof, which probably meant that she was ok with it.

It may have taken me awhile to realize it, but as Rainbow Dash spoke those very words, I had a... eurgh, what's it called... an epiphany!

An epiphany, yeah, that's it.

I love Rainbow Dash like a sister. Maybe even a mom. I just want someone to hold me tight at night, and comfort me when I have nightmares. The tiny hope I ever dared building up of Rainbow Dash becoming my sister, was totally crushed when I heard her say that.

Even if I was awesome enough, Rainbow Dash would never think of me as a sister.

I can't take it anymore. Nopony would ever want to be my sister!

Tears start to well up in my eyes, and I hear somepony faintly calling my name, but all I can do, is run away.

Run away from all the ponies who think I'm a bad pony. I'm not a bad pony, I'm just lonely and unloved.

That's all.

Hey everyone - I'm going on a holiday again very soon, Sunday in fact, so I'm just squeezing this chapter through before then. I'm not very satisfied with this chapter, besides the gathering in front of Sugarcube Corner.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

It had been a week since Scootaloo's return. A week since her late night meeting with Princess Luna. She hadn't told anypony about the meeting either, and wasn't planning on it. But Scootaloo had been wondering about how easily the Princess had seen through her facade.

If Luna had noticed, had others done the same?

The headmistress wasn't too pleased with Scootaloo's disappearance, but decided to let her off with a warning, that if the same thing occurred, she would suffer severe punishments accordingly. Scootaloo had only nodded, but was beginning to realize, that maybe ponies did care about her, like Luna said? Not to mention the Princess had clearly stated, that Scootaloo would get a sister. Being the curious filly she was, Scootaloo had long and hard pondered over how the Princess could know such a thing, but the Princesses always spoke the truth, and the little filly had no intentions of starting to doubt the beloved rulers.

But still...

Scootaloo was surprised to hear about Princess Luna's own insecurities before her redemption. Did she really feel that way, that everypony didn't love her? Ponies were still a bit anxious about Luna, but after Nightmare Night, they had begun accepting her more and more, so that wasn't a problem for much longer. Scootaloo only thought that the two Princesses felt... awesome, all the time. Why wouldn't they? They can fly, use magic, and ruled Equestria greatly. Who knew that Princesses could be sad and gloomy like Scootaloo herself.

"Scootaloo, would you mind coming up doing this problem for me?"

Scootaloo quickly straightened herself up, glanced at her notes and went up to the board. Ever since she got home, she'd been much more focused on schoolwork, and had realized she didn't have to put much effort into what they were doing at the moment. She found math to be really easy, and didn't use her notes from home much as she stood by the blackboard.

"Well done, Scootaloo," Cheerilee praised, before turning to Diamond Tiara, "Tiara, can you do the next please?"

"Certainly miss.", the pink filly replied, and stood up to walk towards the blackboard. Diamond Tiara huffed as she passed Scootaloo, her head held high in the air, and barely visibly tripped the pegasus filly. Scootaloo let out a loud 'huff' as she collided with the wooden floor, her notepad landed only inches from her nose.

"Scootaloo, are you alright!" Cheerilee exclaimed as she quickly made it to her student's side, briefly checking for minor injuries, only to find none.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Scootaloo groaned, and turned her head towards a grinning Diamond Tiara, then back to Cheerilee, "just fine."

"Are you sure?" Cheerilee asked again, escorting the filly the short route to her seat.

Scootaloo nodded, and briefly glanced at Diamond Tiara to see the filly's mouth stood wide open in shock. The spoiled daughter of Filthy Rich had obviously expected Scootaloo to tackle her to the floor, and cause the pegasus filly more even harm than usual. Alas, Scootaloo had remained silent, held her head high and merely returned to her seat. Scootaloo reached out her hooves to each of her sides, and smiled inwardly at the high-fives that she received from Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

Maybe life wasn't so bad after all?

After the whole fake pregnancy thing, Rainbow Dash had been very careful about reading the book that Twilight had borrowed her. She only read before she went to bed, in her mansion high in the sky, and never brought it down with her to Ponyville. Although Pinkie Pie only came to visit for party invitations of the like, Rainbow Dash kept an extra close eye out for the windows, to ensure that the party pony wasn't about to cause yet another scandal. When Scootaloo went missing (again), she had read through the book in a desperate attempt of knowing what went on in Scootaloo's mind. Now, after her return, Rainbow Dash was finished and ready to return the book to Twilight.

In the most discreet of ways.

She chose a busy afternoon, where the clouds had been cleared according to schedule, ponies were busy with their jobs and shopping, and thus, the library couldn't be crowded. It never was, really, but Rainbow Dash was taking no chances. She wasn't about to have a pregnancy scam.

Again.

In an almost manic way, the mare kept checking her saddlebag straddled upon her back, earning some strange views from other ponies, until she reached the library. Rainbow Dash exhaled happily, sure that she was being super discreet and not noticeable, but as she opened the door and walked in, she ended up walking straight into another pony.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" the pony snapped, glaring at Rainbow Dash before turning her attention towards the queue again.

Rainbow Dash let out a low growl, and was about to retaliate, before she reminded herself of her mission.

Remain discreet, Rainbow. You can be awesome when the book is safe.

She faintly nodded to herself and let out another sigh.

Yes, it's just the library. The line can't possibly be any longer than that stupid pony!

Rainbow Dash looking forward in anticipation, but her jaw hit the floor, as she saw not one, nor two or three ponies, but five! How would she ever put the book back in a discreet way?! The cyan mare rubbed her hoof on her chin, and tried to settle herself down, taking yet another glance on her precious cargo.

Not a foal, but the book, ofcourse.

So Rainbow Dash waited.

For a mare used to neck-breaking speeds and high altitudes, it was tricky business. Before she knew it, her hoof started to tap on the floor in a rhythm that clearly indicated annoyance. The pony she had bumped into turned towards her again.

"The line isn't gonna move faster with your tapping." she said, her voice dripping with venom.

"Oh... right, sorry." Rainbow Dash replied with a sheepish grin, but as soon as the mare turned around, Rainbow made several funny faces accordingly. The polychrome-maned mare sighed again. This was going to be a long wait, until she heard a voice.

"Oh, hi Rainbow! Don't see you around here often!" Twilight Sparkle cheerfully said, as she entered her home. Surprised by the librarian's sudden entry, Rainbow looked ahead of the queue, and saw Spike at the desk, slowly, but steadily turning in the books that the ponies were there to return.

"Eh, what can I say? Awesome by day, egg-head by night!" Rainbow grinned, and let out a sigh of relief as the queue quickly evaporated as Twilight, who had just rolled her eyes at the egg-head remark, got behind the desk. As soon as the pony in front of Rainbow Dash had turned what book she had borrowed in, Twilight shut the door, and dismissed Spike immediately.

"But why! I'm her friend too!" Spike objected, stiffly at the bottom of the stairs to prove he wasn't going anywhere.

"Spike, this is a quick girl's talk. Do you really want to take part in one of... those?" Twilight asked.

Spike swallowed hard, before his small feet quickly carried him upstairs, slamming the door in his wake.

"But stop slamming the door!" Twilight commanded, earning a loud sigh to emit from the bedroom. The lavender mare shook her head, before turning to Rainbow, who had just stood there in silence.

"Here to return that book, or what?"

"Oh! Right. Here you go!" the cyan mare said, happily to have her mission be completed in time for her other things to do that day.

"Ah, 'The Modern Mare and Her Foals'. Check!"

"Thanks, Twi!" Rainbow exclaimed, who obviously wasn't planning to stick around, tried to leave the minute the book had been levitated into its proper spot in the library.

"Rainbow, why are you reading this?"

Twilight's question was too direct to even try to dodge it, but Rainbow's body stiffened the second the unicorn had asked.

I was thissssss close to freedom... the mare thought, before letting out another sigh, and turning towards Twilight, who had a quizzical look upon her face.

"Twilight, this means a lot to me, okay? I need you to not tell anyone, not Spike." Rainbow said, as she shortened the distance between the two friends.

"Ofcourse, Rainbow! I'd never tell any secrets of yours!" Twilight exclaimed, seemingly insulted by Rainbow's insinuation that she couldn't keep a secret.

"I've been reading this to get a better understanding of kids," she stopped as she noticed that Twilight had gone wide-eyed, "but I'm not pregnant! Ok, not pregnant!"

"Alright, not pregnant! Got it!" the librarian exclaimed, whom reminded herself to check that particular thing off in a secret check-list, in a secret book of hers.

"I... I'm just... I've realized that I've gotten really close to Scootaloo... and she doesn't have any family, and I don't have one...," the mare started, awkwardly drawing circles with her hoof as she spoke, "so I thought... maybe we could make our own?"

Twilight Sparkle's mouth stood wide open, before she blinked a few times and looked at Rainbow Dash with what appeared to be massive surprise.

"What, I, but..." the unicorn began, before realizing the mistake she had made. Rainbow Dash returned the surprised gaze that Twilight had given her, with one of great grief and hurt feelings. The pegasus began backing out of the library, her ears hanging low and her eyes seemingly tearing up.

"You... don't think I'm s-suited for a f-family?" Rainbow muttered, her inability to speak showing the amount of hurt Twilight had caused.

"Wait, Rainbow Dash, that's not I meant, I ju-" Twilight started, but got cut off by Rainbow Dash leaving the library.

Oh sweet Celestia. What have I done?

Chapter 14

For the fastest pegasus in Equestria, never had she thought she could fly this slowly. As if filled with lead, the muscular wings felt heavier than ever, and seemed to drag Rainbow Dash farther down towards Ponyville.

Dragging her farther down towards her fear of everypony knowing that things too, got to her. She couldn't let anypony know. Not even her friends, although she knew that deep down, they knew about her biggest fear. To come across as a weak pony and who would constantly try to live out her dream, but fail at the finish line.

Even if the world seemed to go at a pace worthy of a snail, Rainbow Dash didn't realize her own velocity, and due to the tears clouding her vision, she accidently burst through some of her home. She didn't notice her error until she felt the sensation of soft and solid cotton candy upon her flanks, before it disappeared again. The pegasus stopped, sniffled once and rubbed her muzzle before glancing back at the punctured wall of cloud.

"Ugh, great work Rainbow. You just can't do anything right." she mumbled to herself, and quickly fixed the hole. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief, and glanced upon her home with mixed feelings.

Although she loved her home in the clouds, glorious as it was, with rivers of rainbows flowing from top to bottom, before evaporating as it left the clouds, she found it to be rather lonely. Obviously, earth ponies and unicorns couldn't walk on clouds like herself, and Fluttershy wasn't one who left her cottage often. Sometimes she wished she could share the joy of flying with ponies stuck on the earth, like Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Applejack was an athlete like herself, and would definitely enjoy the achy muscles flying could give, and Pinkie would like doing either fun or crazy stunts while in the air. But alas, they were not gifted with wings like Rainbow Dash, but with other things instead. With heavy hooves and wings, Rainbow flew into her home, prepared to spend the rest of the day in bed and having a pity-party for herself.

As Rainbow Dash laid in her fluffy bed, surrounded by even fluffier clouds and furniture, her thoughts went straight to Scootaloo. The little filly had gotten much closer to Rainbow Dash than she'd like to admit, but she was starting to realize how much Scootaloo actually meant to her. The more the weather mare got to know Scootaloo, she had seen how much the two resembled each other.

Rainbow Dash was confident, Scootaloo was confident. Rainbow Dash was tough, Scootaloo was tough. Rainbow Dash didn't care about what others said, and neither did Scootaloo. As the list of similarities between the two ponies went on inside Rainbow's mind, she realized that many of her own traits, were built up from her own childhood without much parental influence. She had to toughen up, because her parents weren't there to be tough for her, and it was obviously Scootaloo had been doing the same. But just like Rainbow Dash had, Scootaloo's wall of toughness had several cracks and holes, and harsh words or action acted like cannonballs towards the wall, gleefully wanting to expose the weaknesses behind it.

Nonetheless, Rainbow Dash had noticed that after Scootaloo's second disappearance, the filly had seemed happier. Less likely to spend the rest of the day at the orphanage, and more likely to spend it with Appebloom or Sweetie Belle. Rainbow Dash knew the two fillies were as great friends as their older sisters. Like Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo had great friends in her life, that she, hopefully, wouldn't trade for anything.

"Well, I'd trade one..." Rainbow Dash mumbled to herself, and prepared herself to go to sleep.

But just before managing to sleep, a thought occured to the cyan pegasus.

What if the others thought she'd be a poor sister or mother too?

So, some time after my awesome night meeting with Luna, it had made me realize that maybe I'm not such a bad pony, and everything was going better. I was doing better in school, and even though I was missing my cutie mark, my friends and I were having a blast trying to figure out our talents. But one day, after school, all three Cruaders went into Ponyville to help Applejack with sales for the day, to see if we were talented at selling apples, and that's when we saw a rainbow streak dash across the sky. It couldn't be anyone but Rainbow Dash, but she was flying so fast, she didn't hear me.

"Isn't she just the fastest pegasus you've ever seen, Applejack!" I exclaimed excitely, hovering slightly off the ground. I hadn't told nopony about the day when they all went on the field trip, that Rainbow Dash and I went flying together, but I could hover just a few inches off the ground.

"She sure is, sugarcube. An' I'm sure ye'll be followin' her hoofprints any day now, wit' those wings goin' so awfully fast!" she replied, smiling widely towards me. I grinned sheepishly, and couldn't help but blush slightly.

After that day, I found out that I'm not worth much as an appleseller, but Rainbow Dash wasn't seen in Ponyville for ages. It wasn't awesome at all, to see ordinary rainbows, instead of a really cool coloured one that disappeared afterwards. The weather wasn't near as great either, with Rainbow Dash not on weather duty. I wondered how she got off, with Mayor Mare, and all. But it doesn't matter!

One day, after Rainbow Dash's disappearance, I decided to go see her. I thought it'd be nice, since when I came back after running away the second time, Rainbow Dash seemed really happy to see me! How awesome is that, and if she was happy to see me, she should like it if I came to visit her, right! And I also think that the sister Princess Luna was telling me about, is Rainbow Dash! It must be her, who could it be otherwise? I mean, Applejack and Rarity got their hooves full with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy with her animals, Pinkie Pie with Sugarcube Corner and the Cake's, and Twilight with Spike and her library. It must be Rainbow Dash! I can feel it in my feathers!

"Rainbow Dash! Are you home?"

I immediately raised a hoof to my face.

Of course, she's home, stupid Scootaloo! Where would she be otherwise!

But I didn't get a response, so I shouted some more.

"Rainbow Daaaaaash!" I tried again, but she didn't reply either. I let out a snort before gathering as much air in my lungs as possible, before trying one last time.

"Rainbow Daaaaaa-"

"What?!"

I was really surprised by Rainbow Dash's tough reply, so surprised that I fell right on my tail. I was expecting her to come out of her house to apologize, but she didn't. Instead, her mane looked as if it had never been messier, sudden bags under her eyes, and her eyes red as if from tears. Sadly, I know the last one pretty well.

"What do you want?" she groaned and barely bothered to keep the hole open as she spoke.

"Well, I, um. I was just wondering, if you'd like to help me with flying?"

"No."

"What?! Why not?" I asked, and I already felt the tears coming up.

Again, she didn't bother replying.

"Rainbow Dash, why won't you teach me how to fly! I'm your number one fan!"

Silence.

"Rainbow Dash, please teach me how to fly!" I begged, tears falling down my cheeks.

"Scootaloo, just go away, and leave me alone. I don't want to teach you to fly, and I don't want to be your friend!" she hissed, and disappeared into the clouds again. I didn't know what to do. I just stood there, tears falling from my eyes, but all I could do, was gallop away as fast as my legs could carry me. I didn't know where to go, but I couldn't run away again. Instead, I ran to the place where I could hide from the world under my Wonderbolt cover. When I reached Ponyville, I heard several ponies shout my name. Even if those stupid tears were dry, I still managed to ignore the shouts, until I bumped into a pony. Some of the other orphan ponies stood there, along with a cruel pony that always bullied the new orphan ponies.

"Ugh, watch where you're going." the pony said, and turned to face Scootaloo. When the colt saw who it was, a cruel grin spread on his face.

"Oh, it's Scootaloser. Been out crying again?"

"No, get out of my way." I grumbled and tried to get past him, but he still stood in my way.

"Or what?" he challenged.

"Or I'll... I'll get the headmistress!" I replied, knowing that my reply was really lame. I didn't bother with him, I just wanted to get under my cover and forget all about Rainbow Dash. The pony in front of me stood on his hind legs, parodying the headmistress in all kinds of weird ways.

"Oooh, don't get the headmistress! Please don't, I'm so scared!" he begged, causing some of the other ponies to laugh as he turned towards them, then back to me. I wasn't going to let him get to me.

"She's just an old mare anyway! She isn't the boss of me!"

The ponies behind me laughed again, before turning silent.

"Oh, well. What am I then?"

The colt froze, and slowly turned himself towards the headmistress, with a sheepish grin. He glanced over his shoulder to find all of his so-called 'friends' gone. A filly a bit older than me stood by the headmistress' side, and winked at me.

"Headmistress! Why, hello there, lovely weather today, isn't it?"

The headmistress glanced up in the sky, then smiled towards the colt.

"Yes, it's very lovely. It's a shame you won't get to see if for another week."

"What?! A week? Are you joking, I can't be inside for a week!" the colt objected, causing the headmistress to scratch her cheek.

"Hmm, that's true. You can be inside for two."

"But, I can-"

"Three, do you want to make that four?" the headmistress said, glaring sternly at the colt that looked smaller and smaller in comparison. I couldn't help but just stand there with my mouth open in surprise.

The colt shook his head, and sent me a stare that could kill, before heading inside the orphanage. The headmistress and the nameless filly quickly towered over me.

"You alright, Scootaloo? I hope he wasn't too mea... Have you been crying?" The headmistress asked, cocking her head sideways to analyse my face even more.

Frozen with fear, I didn't know what to do. For a minute, I just stared back at the headmistress, thinking my possibilities through. I couldn't tell her, could I? But if I couldn't tell her, who could I tell? Would she think I was a weak pony? A lame silly filly?

I don't know it if was the right thing, but I nodded my head in silence. With a nod of her head, the nameless filly disappeared inside the orphanage, and a supporting hoof was immediately over me.

"Come on inside, Scootaloo. We'll talk about it."

"Actually, I was wondering, could you maybe get Applebloom and Sweetie Belle here?" I meekly asked.

It was time for them to know, and even if it needed my idol to want me to leave her alone, I was ready. Ready to show the weaknesses that I've held inside of me so long. The headmistress let out a weak smile, before nodding and sending someone to fetch my best friends. We sat awkwardly in her office until we heard a knock on the door.

It was time to show my friends what had been going on for all this time, and I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. As soon as they stepped inside the office, I couldn't stop the tears from going. I stormed towards them, and for what seemed to be forever, I cried as my best friends held me close.

Rainbow Dash knew her reaction to Scootaloo was wrong. It wasn't her fault that Twilight thought she was unfit to be a mother, but if she really was, why even bother to stay friends with the little filly? Rainbow Dash wanted to give Scootaloo the family that both ponies clearly longed for, but if she couldn't make it happen, why make the effort? If Rainbow Dash couldn't have Scootaloo as a family, she couldn't bare being her friend at all.

Chapter 15

Scootaloo quietly sniffled, and held a tiny handkerchief up to her face. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle said nothing nor did the headmistree, but they all just awaited Scootaloo breaking the silence.

"I'm afraid..." Scootaloo mumbled, and all three ponies in the office inched closer to be able to hear the timid voice. It was a whole new thing for Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, to hear Scootaloo's usually strong and fierce voice, to remind them of a squealing mouse.

"Of what, Scootaloo? You're the bravest of all three of us, you don't ever get sca-"

"I'm scared, Sweetie! Okay, I'm scared," Scootaloo snapped, before looking away and looking ashamed, "I'm afraid of being alone."

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other, not quite understanding what Scootaloo meant.

"Scared of being alone, like... um, not walking home from school with someone?" Sweetie Belle asked again, earning a headshake from Scootaloo. The unicorn glanced at Applebloom, who seemed equally confused.

"Alone so ye don't hav' anyone to talk to when ye get home?"

"No, Applebloom." Scootaloo replied. The two schoolfillies scratched their heads, and pondered even further over Scootaloo's apparent fear of being alone.

"Sweetie Belle, Applebloom," the headmistress spoke and awaited their attention before she continued, "do you ever feel like the ponies that matters most to you are around you, but you still feel alone?"

Applebloom proudly shook her head, but Sweetie Belle remained silent, and nodded. Scootaloo seemed surprised that the headmistress understood her so well, even more so that Sweetie Belle felt the same way.

Scootaloo glanced towards Sweetie Belle, who let out a weak smile.

"Sometimes it's like that with Rarity. I know she's just a single pony, but she means so much to me, and everytime she's busy with something else, it's like I'm invisible."

The pegasus nodded in agreement, and thought of all the conversations that the unicorn and earth pony had had about what their sister had done, what they hadn't done, and their homes. As much as the two fillies appreciated their homes and families, whenever they spoke of those two factors in their lifes, they would always complain. Thus, Scootaloo thought of them as ungrateful at times, and Sweetie Belle's feelings about Rarity's occasional lack of attention surprised her.

"Scootaloo, how come you've been so focused about these things, all of sudden?"

Oh well, I don't know... ever since I was little, I thought nopony cared about me. I wasn't loved, cared for, or bothered about. I thought it would change here, but I guess not. I just want what they have! I just want to be loved.

"I don't know. I just..." Scootaloo started, her thoughts dying to leave the prison she had kept them in for so long, and to be finally be free.

The headmistress put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder, which, to her surprised, trembled.

"Scootaloo, you don't need to keep all of this inside of you. You are only confined by the walls you build yourself."

The pegasus sniffled, and rubbed her muzzle with her hoof before nodding. She took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, it was as if all of the walls that had been created within herself, crumbled and vanished.

"I'm afraid I won't ever be loved. I'm afraid I'm not unique. I'm afraid I won't ever get my cutie mark. I'm afraid that I'll be alone forever." she whispered.

"Scootaloo, my dear, I can promi-"

"Um, headmistress, mind if I say something?"

Sweetie Belle smiled widely as she received an accepting glance from the headmistress, and coughed slightly.

"Scootaloo, before you came to Ponyville, I had no one. You were my first friend, because we had one thing in common: We don't have a cutie mark. Twilight once told me, that, eh, um..." the filly scratched her mane for a second, before she realized what she should say, "that friendship is born at that moment when one pony says to another 'What! You, too? I thought I was the only one'. We have been friends from day one Scootaloo."

"She's right, Scoots. And if we think 'bout it, we owe the Cutie Mark Crusaders to ye'."

Scootaloo blinked away a few tears, before turning to her two friends, who also seemed to be shedding some tears.

"How? I'm not special at all."

"Scootaloo, now that ain't true! Ye' so special, that Derpy is jealous!"

Sweetie Belle gasped loudly, and bumped into Applebloom's flank with her own.

"Applebloom! You can't just say that!"

Applebloom shot a glare at Sweetie Belle before replying.

"Well, I did! And Derpy is the best mailmare 'round, but she's one of a kind, in a good way," the earth pony looked towards Scootaloo again, who, despite her mood, had difficulty holding back a giggle, "and Scootaloo is one of the two best fillies I know."

Sweetie Belle now smiled widely, and nodded her head in agreement, before walking over to Scootaloo. She placed a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder.

"And if it's any comfort, if there's anypony I'd like to be a blank flank with forever", Applebloom was now by Sweetie Belle's side, and the unicorn placed a hoof around her,"it's you two."

"Urgh, you two are so sappy, it's untrue..." Scootaloo gagged, before letting out a loud grin, causing all three fillies to burst out into laughter. For a minute, it seemed like the old Scootaloo was back, as the pegasi's three friends knew her. But the moment only lasted so long, before her ears hung low, and her eyes shimmered with sadness.

"What's the matter, Scootaloo?" the headmistress asked, and the three fillies all seemed surprise to hear her voice, as they had obviously forgotten the old mare was even there.

"I still want a family... but I don't know how to get one."

"Now, Scootaloo, my dear, I can promise you, one day, you will have a family."

"How do you know?" Scootaloo snapped, as the headmistress spoke. The older pony ignored the harsh response, as she only knew that it was Scootaloo's hurt feelings that spoke.

"Can you keep a secret?"

All of the fillies nodded quietly.

"I am an orphan myself. I have only met my parents once, and they disowned me, when I was older than the three of you," the mare let out a laugh, that was so filled with sorrow, that it gave the three fillies the urge to cry, "then I met my husband. He was an extraordinary stallion, but he died from sickness before his time was right. Since then, i have been alone, but I still have a family."

"What family?" Sweetie Belle quietly asked, the sadness evident in her voice, and the eyes of the other fillies.

The mare's previous look of sorrow had disappeared instantly, and she smiled as if she hadn't told the story of her life just seconds before, that obviously was one of grief. She glanced lovingly at Scootaloo, and ruffled up the filly's purple mane in just a loving way.

"Scootaloo is my family. Ms. Sprinkles is my family. All the other orphan ponies, are all my family. You see, Scootaloo," the headmistress looked at Applebloom, "don't you ever get sick of Applejack, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith?", she turned her head towards Sweetie Belle, "or you get sick of Rarity and Opal?"

Both fillies nodded.

"Your friends are the family you choose. On that note, be sure to choose wisely," the headmistress winked at the pegasus, before whispering into her ear, "I think you've made two excellent choices right there."

Scootaloo smiled widely, and blushed, but her smile didn't reach the corners of her mouth, before her ears hung low again. She thought she might aswell confess about what happened between her and Rainbow Dash.

"I had a bit of a... fight, with Rainbow Dash." the pegasus admitted.

"Why?" the headmistress asked, well-aware of how Rainbow Dash had shown her desire to help Scootaloo with her flying, whereas she had denied it.

"Well, I don't know... I just came to see her, because I thought," her voice cracked over, before she spoke again, "I thought I meant something her. She seemed really upset."

Applebloom promptly placed a hoof in her face, her annoyance obviously and directly aimed at Scootaloo.

"Scoots, I tell ya, I ain't never met such a silly filly! Sometimes, when I shoul' be in bed, I can hear Applejack and Rainbow Dash talkin' 'bout ya. Ofcourse, Applejack don't know that I know, so maybe ye' shouldn't go on and tell all of Ponyville", Applebloom added.

Scootaloo let out a cold grin.

"Right, she'd never bother about a silly filly like myself."

"Scootaloo, even I, know that isn't true. Rainbow Dash cares about you, quite a lot."

Those words were just the ones that Scootaloo had dreamt about hearing, ever since she first saw Rainbow Dash soar across the skies of Ponyville. She had had idols and ponies to look up to wherever she had been, but nopony compared to what she felt when she saw a pony made rainbow in the sky. It wasn't a romantic feeling, but more one of deeply desired friendship and adoration. Scootaloo was sure the excitement she felt inside of herself was obvious, but it only lasted so long, before she remembered the confrontation they had. The excitement and joy she felt about the headmistress' and Applebloom's statements disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.

"I don't care."

"Say wha' now?"

"I don't care, Applebloom. If she does, she wouldn't have treated me that way."

The two fillies looked at the headmistress for some sort of advice, as they all knew it wasn't true. Scootaloo was suddenly occupied with staring at her own hooves, and didn't notice the slight nod the headmistress sent the two fillies way.

"Scootaloo, don't be so quickly to make your decision", the headmistress urged, "things of such important matters can't just be done with judg-"

"No! I don't ever want her to talk to me again." Scootaloo shouted, the grief in her voice as clear as day.

"But, Scoota-"

"No, Sweetie Belle."

"Scootaloo, you're being unreas-"

"No! I just don't want to be hurt again! And she can do that anytime, because...because..."

"Because of what, Scootaloo?"

"Because I love her!" Scootaloo cried, and ran into the chest of the headmistress in a dire need of comfort. Just like she had broken down in tears when she saw Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, she did the same now. Her loud sobs seemed so much louder, and so much more filled with emotions than earlier. Noponies spoke, but let Scootaloo's confession and cries sink in.

A week after the confrontation between Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, the same day that Scootaloo finally told her friends and the headmistress everything, life didn't seem so bad, after all. Sure, Scootaloo missed Rainbow Dash more than anything, but she couldn't let the pegasus know that. She had begged Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and the headmistress not to tell anything to anypony, and they had all Pinkie Promised not to.

And Scootaloo was comfortable with that, as she knew nopony proke a Pinkie Promise if they could avoid it. When she had been a little more gullible, when she first came to Ponyville, some of the older orphan ponies used to say that Pinkie Pie could tell whenever there was a Pinkie Promise being made, and if it was broken, she'd find you, and fill you up with so many goodies, you'd be sick. Scootaloo thought it was normal Pinkie behaviour anyway, so she didn't bother much about it.

But even if those three ponies had promised not to share, the change was evident for all of the ponies in Ponyville, especially the librarian, the fashionista, the farmpony, the party pony and the animal lover. Whenever Rainbow Dash name was spoken when Scootaloo was around, the little pegasus made an excuse to leave the conversation. Rainbow Dash hadn't been seen in Ponyville for awhile, and even though the weather patrol could manage the weather without her, the change was obvious. The weather wasn't cleared as fast, let alone half as nice. Twilight hadn't told her friends about what had happened that day between her and Rainbow Dash, but the others knew that something was up. In an effort to explain what had happened, and be shouted at, or be given advice.

"Twilight, what in tarnation's been going on with ye' and Rainbow Dash? I kno' somethin' is up, so ye best go on and spill the beans!"

"Beans! You got beans! Again?!" Pinkie exclaimed, her usual cheerful personality oblivious to the situation.

"Pinkie, it's just a saying. And I was going to tell you, but I hoped I could have thought of something myself."

"Please, don't keep us in the suspense anymore, Twilight, darling. Whatever happened between you two, I am absolutely certain we can fix it." Rarity stated, gracefully levitating her cup of tea up to her mouth.

"Rainbow Dash wanted to adopt Scootaloo and I accidently called her a poor mother!" Twilight blurted out, and as a result, the tea Rarity was sipping, ended up on her face.

"You what?!"

Even Fluttershy's voice seemed to be loud, as Twilight winced over their reactions.

"I didn't mean to, okay! She just, borrowed that book," she glanced evilly at Spike, who grinned sheepishly, "and she came back to deliver it, and I asked her why, and she told me about Scootaloo and adopting her, and it just slipped out!" she rambled, but Applejack quickly put a hoof over the librarian's mouth to keep her quiet.

"Um, Twilight, I, uh, don't know if you know, but... you usually don't call your friends a, um, poor mother..." Fluttershy mumbled, her previous volume of tone vanished.

Twilight groaned and placed a hoof on her forehead in annoyance.

"I know, Fluttershy, and I don't think she is. I just thought, it was a bit rushed, that's all. She's not a poor mother, I don't think she will be."

"Twilight, everypony can't start out to be good at whatever they do! I mean, if I didn't have partying as my special talent, I wouldn't be very good at it to start out with, but since I am, I just do great at it! If your special talent wasn't magic, I betcha you'd find it really, really, really, really, really," the glance Pinkie received from all of the other ponies made her continue her sentence,"tricky in the beginning!"

"I must agree with Pinkie, Twilight," Rarity added, carefully levitating a handkerchief around Twilight's face to wipe off the tea, "I firmly believe that ponies grows with the tasks they choose, or do not choose. We all mistakes, some graver than others, but mistakes must be made on the path we choose to walk upon."

"Couldn't have said it better myself, Rares." Applejack said as she tipped her hat to Rarity.

"But, I think I really hurt her feelings. That's why she's been gone for so long."

"I think we best throw her a we're-sorry-Twilight-called-you-a-bad-mother-party!" Pinkie squealed.

"I don't think that's the right way to do it, Pinkie. What if we went to see her, though?" Twilight suggested.

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Applejack cheered, before giving shooting a glance in Rarity's direction, "but why can't you give me them fancy pancy wings this time?"

"I beg your pardon, my wings were fabulous!" Rarity objected, but the blush that spread upon the white mare's cheeks was easily seen.

All of the ponies except Rarity laughed loudly, before Twilight began to cast the spell that would allow all but Fluttershy to walk on clouds.

"Spike, please stay here and take care of the library while I'm gone? Don't want you to cause anymore trouble than you already did."

"That sucks! You've caused trouble too, y'know!"

Twilight blushed instantly, and began to stutter.

"Well, but, I, um... that's different!" she hissed.

"No it's not! I'm coming, and you ca-"

"Oh, Spikey-Wikey, darling, don't you think that this is best to be a little alone time with the girls for Rainbow Dash? I promise you, you can come over for a delightful cup of tea when we have sorted out this little... misunderstanding." Rarity cooed.

Spike didn't need convincing, and merely saluted the mares as they left the library. Twilight was certain that she could see small hearts in his irises as she shut the door behind her, mentally preparing herself for a meeting with Rainbow Dash.

I just hope she isn't too mad at me.

Chapter 16

“Oh, hi guys! What are you all do-” Rainbow Dash’s sentence ended midway, as she realized a certain lavender unicorn was with the rest of her friends. The cyan pegasus glared evilly, before continuing her conversation.

“What are my five best friends doing here?”, she said with a cruel smile on her face. Although Rainbow Dash was well aware of how much it would hurt Twilight to not count her as one of her best friends, she wanted nothing more than to hurt the unicorn in the same way she had hurt her.

“Rainbow, please, just listen to me.” Twilight begged.

“Listen to what?! You calling me a bad mom again?” She shouted, her voice quivering slightly as she spoke.

“No, Rainbow, please! I never meant to say it that way!”

The pegasus scoffed loudly and rolled her eyes in response.

“In what way were you meant to say it then!”

“I, um, you see...”

Rainbow Dash lifted her hooves over her head in annoyance, before sealing the window closed.

“RD, please, hear the girl out! Ye’ kno’ as well as I she sometimes says thangs she don’t mean!” Applejack hollered, ignoring the glare she received from Twilight.

“I can’t hear you, and I don’t care, even if I could!” the pegasus retorted, her reply muffled by the cloudy walls that separated them.

“Um, Rainbow... maybe it was just a, uh, misunderstanding?” Fluttershy meekly suggested.

“Whaaaaat?!”

Fluttershy squealed loudly and quickly hid behind the farmpony. She carefully glanced up from hiding behind the orange mare, before receiving an encouraging nod from Applejack to continue.

“Maybe it’s all just a, um, misunderstanding?”

“Fluttershy, is that you! You need to speak louder!”

“Oh, good heavens, we will never console her this way!” Rarity wailed, before giving Twilight a determined glance, “Twilight, we need to levitate everypony up there! We must reach her, she is inconsolable from down here!”

“But, that’s an invasion of privacy! We can’t just march into her home like that!” Twilight objected, but nonetheless, lit up her horn as preparation to cast the spell.

She knew that they had little to no chance to talk Rainbow into letting the unicorn be her friend again as long as they were standing down there. She supposed that some things have to fall apart, in order for greater things to be. At least Rainbow’s privacy would have to fall apart for a short while, until Twilight was able to regain her position as a best friend.

“Desperate times calls for desperate measures!”

The lavender unicorn said no more, but slowly, although steadily, began levitating Pinkie Pie up to Rainbow Dash. It was a much harder effort than the usual book or tea pot, and Twilight let out a slight groan of concentration.

“Weee, look at me! I’m a pegasus!” Pinkie cheerfully exclaimed, all of her limbs stretching out in an attempt to move forward, although the position she was in, was firmly held by Twilight. The pink pony squirmed about, making it so much harder for Twilight to levitate her.

“Urgh, Pinkie, stay still until I’m done! You’re not making it any easier!”

With a frown, Pinkie forced herself to sit still, while Twilight gently placed her upon the cloud. The unicorn let out a sigh of exhaustion.

“Dashiiiiie, why are you so mad at Twilight?” Pinkie said, and continuously bounced up and down on the soft cloud beneath her. She didn’t pay any attention to Applejack being levitated up by Rarity, who struggled even more with the spell than Twilight.

“Because she’s an egg-head! That’s why!”

“Well, you’re an egg-head too! You read books, dontcha? Especially that book about foals and fillies and colts and being a mom!”

“I, uh, that’s different, Pinkie!” Rainbow shouted, after a few silent seconds.

“Sugarcube, please let us in. We jus’ wann’ talk wit’ ya?” Applejack pleaded the second she stepped upon the fluffy clouds.

Rainbow remained silent for an agonizing amount of time, before she quietly opened the door, and glanced out.

“You can come in, but she can’t.” the pegasus said in such a tone, that there was no doubt that Twilight couldn’t enter the house. The five mares glanced at each other, then to Twilight, and then back to each other again. Applejack was the first to speak.

“Uh, Twi, ye’ think ye’ can just stay... here, for a tiny while?” Applejack sheepishly said, with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

“Well, I was hoping I could come in, aswell...” the unicorn muttered, before suddenly standing face to face with Rainbow Dash, who had flung herself out of her house.

“You hoped wrong, Twilight!” she hissed, before coughing, and hovering as far away from Twilight as possible, “she stays here, or nobody comes in at all.”

Twilight gloomily understood, and sat down with no further objections. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy sent sympathetic glances her way, almost to ensure her that it wouldn’t take long before she could speak to Rainbow Dash inside. But for now, she just had to wait.

“So, what’s up?” Rainbow Dash quickly asked, and invited the five friends inside.

“Rainbow, darling, I know you’re upset and all, but you must speak to Twilight. You know she says things she doesn’t mean.”

Rainbow Dash’s face didn’t reveal any emotions, and instead of replying to Rarity’s comment, the mare went towards Applejack.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been around to help you out at the farm, AJ.”

Applejack scoffed playfully.

“Help? Sugarcube, ye’ don’t do nothin’ but sleep in mah trees!”

A slight blush spread on Rainbow’s cheeks, before she went to spoke to Pinkie.

“Um, Rainbow, can you please let Twilight in?” Fluttershy weakly asked, and quickly went to hiding behind Applejack, as Rainbow didn’t hesitate to give her a stare that could almost rival her own.

“Why should I let her in, ‘Shy? So she can call me a bad mom again?”

“Well, how does she know if you’re a bad mom or not Dashie?” Pinkie asked, which left all of the other four mares confused.

“Well, uh, Twilight knows everything, Pinkie! If she says something, that’s just how it is.”

“That’s just silly! She thought my Pinkie sense was wrong all the time, but she was wrong!” the pink pony gasped loudly, “oh oh oh! Does this mean Twilight can look into the future? If she can, can she teach me? I got a neat crystal ball already! Then, I can predict all my parties, how cool is that?!”

Nopony bothered to mention to Pinkie that she somewhat had the ability to gaze into the future, by her Pinkie sense.

“That’s astonishing, Pinkie, it truly is.” Rarity interjected, “but although this whole matter is not about Twilight being accurate or not, Pinkie does have a point. Just because Twilight says so, it does not automatically means it is true.”

“That’s right! Never know if you’re good at something until you try!” Pinkie cheered, before continuing to ramble about the varied positive and negative things about being able to tell the future.

Rainbow glanced at her hooves, and didn’t say a word for some time. Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity remained silent as well, waiting for the cyan mare to speak up herself. The only sound seemed to be Pinkie still discussing the possibilities that came with fortunetelling.

“I guess... I should let her in?” Rainbow quietly said, and looked towards her friends for reassurance. She received five, well, four nods, and took a deep breath to let Twilight in. The mare walked towards the door, and quietly opened it, to see Twilight smiling sheepishly and her ears down in humbleness.

“C’mon in Twilight,” Rainbow Dash cooly said and almost aggressively motioned for Twilight to come in, “before I change my mind.”

Twilight didn’t hesitate and quickly entered the house of clouds. The unicorn realized within few seconds, that this was the first time she had been inside of Rainbow’s house. She had seen it from the earth, but never actually been in there.

“Hey, Rainbow...?” Twilight mumbled, as the unicorn and pegasus joined the others in the living room.

“Mhm, ‘sup?” Rainbow responded, her voice in the same cool tone she had kept with Twilight as before.

“This is the first time we’ve all been inside of your home.”

Everypony seemed to realize it just as Twilight’s sentence finished, and they all glanced towards Rainbow Dash for some sort of response. The mare’s ears hung low, and her lips seemed to quiver with emotion.

“Heh, yeah, I guess so. What do you think of my home?” she asked.

All ponies glanced around the home, and couldn’t help but smile.

Various posters of the Wonderbolts adorned almost every possible piece of wall. None of them knew how the posters were sticking to the walls, so Twilight, of course, reminded herself to ask Rainbow at a more appropriate time. Most of them pictured Spitfire or Soarin’ in a heroic pose, either with or without each other and the whole squad. If it wasn’t motivation enough to have her idols on the fluffy walls, there were several magazines and books that focused purely on a right diet and exercises to become a more muscular, agile and faster flyer. Several muscular ponies, although mostly stallions adorned the front page of the magazines, with various sleek outfits on that made their muscles come across as larger and more defined. Applejack went closer to almost every poster, skimmed through most of the magazines and turned to Rainbow with a grin on her face.

“Now if you’ve been doin’ all o’ them fancy exercises, ye’ shoul’ look a mighty bit stronger than that!”

Rainbow Dash blushed, before letting out a huff.

“I’ve been having a break, big deal.”

Applejack let out a giggle, and continued glancing around the room.

Even if the living room seemed clean, the kitchen and her room did not. For whatever reason, Rainbow Dash seemed to keep the living room nice and tidy for visitors, but her kitchen and own room suffered horribly. Dirty dishes filled the sink, the trash was piling up, and Pinkie had checked the fridge in hungry desperation. Rarity wrinkled her muzzle, and held a hoof up to it.

“Rainbow Dash, darling, Scootaloo will be removed from here the instant she arrives, if you do not clean up such a mess.”

Rainbow both blushed and gasped, before glaring evilly at Twilight, who helplessly drew circles with her hoof.

“They had to know.”

The cyan mare mumbled something incomprehensible.

“Rainbow, I, um, think it would be lovely of you, if you, um, adopted Scootaloo.” Fluttershy said, and all mares nodded their heads in agreement. Rainbow Dash motioned for them to leave the filthy kitchen, and instead to sit on the cloud couch and chairs she had available. Pinkie obviously found the temptation too great, and quickly started bouncing on the cloud furniture. Rarity only had to send the pink pony one glance, before she sat down in silence.

“Why?” Rainbow Dash harshly asked as she sat down, before pointing a hoof towards Twilight, “she obviously doesn’t think so.”

“I think Twilight’s wrong! You love Scootaloo, Dashie! Then you’ll be a good mother for her! I just know it!” Pinkie cheerfully said.

“Rainbow, I’m really sorry about what I said, alright? I never meant for you to understand it in a way that would hurt you. Nopony I know, could take better care of Scootaloo than you. ”

Rainbow Dash remained quiet, then placed both front hooves in her face.

“I just want to make sure she’s cared for. I know she isn’t telling anypony, but she’s so miserable, and I know just how she feels.”

“How does it feel, RD?” Applejack quietly asked.

The usually confident pegasus glanced up, and wasn’t surprised the slightest to see the shock on her friends faces as they noticed the trail of tears on her cheeks.

“Unloved, unwanted and uncared for. Do any of you know how that is?”

All ponies, each with their different family struggles had gone through many rough patches in their lives, but they all knew, that their parents would have their backs, until they were a couple of feet below the ground.

“Didn’t think so. I thought I had outgrown it, but Scootaloo’s actions lately have made me relive it all, and I feel really really bad that I told her off like I did. After what Twilight said,” she sniffled and wiped some tears away, her tone nowhere near hostile, “I couldn’t consider being her mom again. I just can’t. What if I disappoint her? Or myself, and she is taken back to the orphanage, and someone else adopts her?”

“Rainbow Dash, you’re so committed to everything you do! Never once have I seen you do something with half a heart. I know that Scootaloo will be in the best of hooves, when you make her your own. She adores you, and you her. If you ever doubt yourself, you should know that ponies grow and learn with tasks.” Twilight said, and smiled at her friend.

“She’s sayin’ wise words, sugarcube. I tell ya, even if I was a natural at applebuckin’ all day long, sometimes it wasn’t easy. I was no good at buckin’ when I was jus’ a lil’ filly, but after hard practice and some tricks from ma and pa, I’m great! I can tell ya right now, that no beginnin’ is easy.”

Rainbow Dash shyly glanced around all of her friends, whom all nodded in agreement to what Applejack and Twilight had said. She pondered about what the two ponies had said, before speaking.

“So I’m not going to be a bad mom, or sister?” she meekly asked, and sniffled at the mere thought of her friends not thinking poorly of her.

Rarity walked over to Rainbow and held the mare tightly.

“Darling, I know you will make a terrific sister, and mother to Scootaloo,” the mare wrinkled her muzzle as the embrace ended, “but you must clean this house. Scootaloo cannot live in a place this... Uncouth!”

Rainbow grinned sheepishly, before glancing towards her other friends.

“I know you’ll be a great sister, Dashie! You love Scootaloo so so so so much, that you can’t do anything but be good for her!”

“I’m tippin’ my hat to ye’, RD. You’re doin’ somethin’ mighty kind for that lil’ filly.”

“Oh yes, it is so lovely of you to care for Scootaloo, the way you, um, suggest it.”

“Rainbow, I know you’ll be a wonderful sister. Or mother, or whatever you prefer, really. I just know in my heart, that you’ll be great.”

As each of her friends confessed to how they thought her skills at a mother would be, the mare couldn’t help but tear up. She sniffled slightly, and motioned for her six best friends to come over for a group hug. The hug ended abruptly as everyone felt Rainbow Dash loosen on the hug, and her ears hanging low.

“What’s the matter?”, Twilight asked, before desperately looking towards her friends, “Did I say something wrong?”

Rainbow Dash gloomily shook her head.

“No, you didn’t, Twilight. It’s just... Scootaloo came to visit me, after her whole running away thing, I was horrible to her. I don’t know if she’d speak to me again.”

“Don’t be like that, I know that Scootaloo can’t stay mad at you for too long. We’re just going to have to sort something special out for her.” Twilight said, with a sly grin.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, let’s make sure that Scootaloo forgives you, and wants to be a part of your family.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t hesitate to share hoof-bumps with all of her friends, as they began to think about the best way they could make Scootaloo forgive Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie was the one who came with the most suggestions, whereas some worked, and some did not. None of the mares really noticed when the sun had begun to set, and Luna’s stars had come out to play.

“Wow, it’s so late! Have we really been here all day, talking about that awesome thing for Scootaloo? Let’s have a We-love-you-Dashie-slumber-party! Who wants smores?!”

All of the mares quickly glanced at each other, before nodding and letting out cheers of excitement. According to Rainbow Dash’s commands, Applejack went to get some blankets, which, of course, had the Wonderbolts on it, Pinkie and Rarity went to sort out snacks, and clean the kitchen, whereas Twilight and Fluttershy kept the cyan mare company.

“I’m really glad you came to see me today, Twilight. It means a lot to me.” Rainbow said, cursing herself for being so sappy.

“Me too, Rainbow. This is the first time I’ve ever been in your house, and slept over too! Good thing those cloudwalking spells last for awhile.” Twilight giggled.

Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack quickly returned with blankets and foods galore, and more conversation ensued for the rest of the night. It felt like it had been ages since the six mares had laughed so much, especially Rainbow. When they were waiting for their stomachs to stop hurting after yet another laughing fit, Fluttershy quietly spoke.

“Girls, um, can we maybe promise one thing?”

“Sure ‘Shy, what is it?” Rainbow said, with the approving nod of the other mares.

“Maybe we should visit Rainbow more often?”

All the earth ponies and unicorns glanced towards each other, and grinned widely as they nodded.

“You can count me in, sugarcube! It’s mighty nice to walk on these fancy schmancy clouds!”

All of the ponies quietly giggled, but loudly vowed to visit Rainbow Dash more often.

Hi everypony. Just a little message from me! Whether you like it or not, I must admit, that this story is coming to an end. I don’t know exactly how many chapters left there will be, but I can tell you that it’s not many. I’ve also been so lucky to get a proofreader, who will hopefully make the chapters even better! Welcome aboard, C Note! :D

It’s my pleasure to proofread this wonderful story!! I will be sad when it has to end though.. D:

Chapter 17

When the mares all awoke the day after Rainbow Dash’s spontaneous slumber party, it seemed that their spirits were higher than Celestia’s glorious sun. The six ponies hadn’t laughed like they did yesterday in a long time, and to a certain cyan mare, nothing seemed to go wrong on this day. Her friend had apologized, and removed, almost, any inch of doubt that Rainbow Dash had possessed. Although she knew that Twilight meant her apology from the innermost parts of her heart, and her friend’s kind words came from the same place in theirs, she couldn’t help but wonder, while cooking breakfast.

Maybe Twilight did mean it? Maybe she and the others just said it to lie?

No, no, no, no! Rainbow, get it together! Scootaloo would really like it, I know she would! And the others said so too! I want her to be my sister, daughter, whatever!

“Breakfast is ready!” Rainbow shouted as the grilled grass sandwiches with jam were finished. The mare struggled with carrying the plate with the delicious food with the support of her wings, but smiled widely as Twilight gently levitated it off her back, and onto the table in the living room. Each mare praised Rainbow for her cooking, before they all began to munch down the meal.

With her mouth full of food, Applejack was the first to speak.

“Sho,” she said, but the glance from Rarity was enough for her to finish chewing before continuing, “how in tarnation are we goin’ to pull off tha’ plan ya’ll came up wit’ last night?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged helplessly, although this whole plan was coming together for her sake, and looked at Twilight. To nopony’s surprise, the lavender mare had written their battle plan down, and within seconds, they were all up to date with how they would tackle the future family of Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.

“Is everypony ready!” Twilight enthusiastically cheered, causing all the other mares to join in on her cheer. With less hassle than the night before, Applejack and Pinkie made it down to the ground with the help of Rainbow and Fluttershy, who then proceeded to carry Rarity and Twilight down with them.

“Alright, ponies. Remember, no telling anypony.”

The friends all nodded in agreement, but Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but take an extra glance at Pinkie. The mare had managed to pull a piece of cloud off the cloud that was the base of Rainbows home.

“Pinkie, I need that piece of cloud!” she said, glaring sternly at the mare, “please try to keep this a secret.”

Pinkie quickly let go of the cloud with a guilty look in her eyes, before she nodded vigorously. Her eyes were still on the cloud as it morphed together with the cloudy base.

“Seriously, Pinkie, don’t tell anyone.”

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” the pony cheered, but still kept her eyes locked on the cloud, confused as to where it went, “Oh, oh, oh! Where’d it go! I can’t see it! Are your clouds magical?”, which only resulted in a slight groan from Rainbow Dash.

“Pinkie, this involves not just my future, but Scootaloo’s too. We can’t mess this up!”

“Alright, Dashie, I promise I won’t mess it up. No telling anypony, gotcha!” Pinkie replied, suddenly focused on the task at hand. Rainbow glanced towards the other mares with a look of uncertainty upon her face. All the ponies besides Pinkie gave her reassuring nods. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, it felt as if all of the doubts in her heart vanished.

Alright Rainbow. Let’s do this.

“Urgh, I am so ready for that sleepover tonight!” Scootaloo cheered, her joy of the weekend’s hasty arrival obvious. The farmpony and unicorn nodded in agreement, smiles as wide as miles.

“When do you want us over, Applebloom?” Sweetie Belle chirped, and joyfully bounced up and down.

“Well, why don’t ya’ll come on over for dinner? I reckon Applejack won’t mind one bit! I just need to do some chores before tha’ time, so see ya’ll later!” the yellow filly said, and absentmindedly waved to her two friends. They had talked about the sleepover all week, and in a sense, it was being held so Scootaloo could get over the whole Rainbow Dash thing. Applebloom hadn’t mentioned it to Applejack, so it was already turning out to be a well kept secret. The filly hastily trotted through Ponyville. She was sure that Applejack was in town already, at her apple booth.

“C’mon everypony, las’ five minutes of apple sales for t’day, come and get ‘em while fresh!”

Las’ five minutes?

“Applejack!” Applebloom cried, and galloped over to her sister. Applejack gasped loudly as Applebloom approached, but then flashed a wide, almost fake, smile..

“Ah, howdy sis! How was school t’day?” Applejack asked, nervously fidgeting with her booth as she proceeded to close it for the day.

“Jus’ fine, thanks. Why are we shuttin’ so early t’day? It’s Friday!”
“Ah, ye see, I have business to do back at the farm! Yup, just business to do!”

“Sis, you’re the element of honesty! It’s impossible for ye’ to lie!”

“It is not!” Applejack blurted, then said the next words in a whisper, “ya’ll shush, and I’ll tell ye when we get home!”

Applebloom said no more, but only helped Applejack push the cart towards their home. Applejack didn’t speak either, so the trip home seemed to stretch on for hours. It wasn’t until the two ponies and their shop were safely within the white fences of Sweet Apple Acres, that Applejack dared to take a breath, and turn towards Applebloom.

“Alright, Rainbow Dash wants to adopt Scootaloo, but she did some mighty stupid things to upset the lil’ filly, so now she’s planning on doin’ a surprise party thang for her. So don’t go about telling Sweetie Belle, and not Scootaloo either!”

“But, AJ, Scootaloo is so upset about what Rainbow did, that she doesn’t want anythin’ to do wit’ her!”

“I kno’, sugarcube, but I reckon all we can do is try, so here’s the plan...”

Applejack suspiciously glanced around the farm, just to make sure that nopony was around to hear the secret. The mare whispered quietly into her little sister’s ears, almost manically glancing around to ensure that the event later, would stay between the two farmponies. Applebloom gasped loudly as Applejack’s whisperings ceased, and was about to speak, but her sister’s hoof was quickly in her mouth to prevent her from uttering a word.

“Now, I don’t wanna hear any jibber jabber from ye’, alright?” Applejack ensured, and spoke only when her sister nodded in confirmation, “now go fetch Sweetie Belle, and remember,” the mare got inches closer to her sister’s face, “speak to nopony...”

Applebloom let out a sheepish grin, before quickly trotting back to Ponyville. She shook her head as her tiny hooves pounded the earth beneath her.

Applejack’s lost it for sure...

“Sweetie Belle, darling, is that you?” Rarity chimed as the bells went off upon Sweetie Belle’s enter.

“Yeah, it’s me!” the unicorn filly hollered,

Rarity gracefully descended from the stairs, her indigo mane and white coat complimenting each other perfectly. The mare nuzzled her little sister, before giving a her a stern, but loving glance.

“Dear, it is called, yes, it is I.”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. One day, she’d be a true lady, like Rarity, but today was not that day.

“Ahem, Sweetie, sit down, please. I need to share something with you.” Rarity said, and gently patted on the empty seat next to her, on her chaise longue. Sweetie Belle didn’t hesitate to jump up on the piece of furniture, and happily awaited Rarity’s words.

“You see, Rainbow Dash cares an awful lot for Scootaloo, and has been wondering for quite awhile, if she should make her a part of her family. I-”

“Like us?!” Sweetie squeaked, and had trouble sitting still on the chaise longue. A hoof was gracefully, but sternly, placed upon her shoulder to force her to sit still.

“Yes, like us, darling. Now, today, us girls are aware of the slumber party you three are having, but it is actually a-”

“SURPRISE PARTY FOR SCOOTALOO TONIGHT!” Applebloom cried, as she burst the door open, leaving it almost off its hinges. The farmpony glanced about the boutique, only to giggle sheepishly at the stare Rarity was giving her.

“Eh, I guess ya’ll were fixin’ to tell Sweetie everythin’?”

Rarity slowly nodded, before huffing and stomping her hooves as she made it over to the door, to shut it, and walk back to her previous position.

“Sit down, Applebloom.”

The little filly swallowed hard, before slowly coming closer. Rarity coughed slightly, before she spoke again.

“Ahem, girls. I am certain that you have been told of the current situation, and that we must act swiftly! So, Sweetie, you are to help Applebloom with getting everything ready. The others will be there shortly, to prepare the festivities. Now, shoo!”

Applebloom didn’t hesitate to head for the door, and Sweetie Belle followed shortly after. Rarity let out a smile, and turned to continue on her latest design, but bumped into something on the way. She glanced down, and before her stood Sweetie Belle, with an even sterner gaze in her eyes.

“Aren’t you coming too?”

Oh, rats.

Rarity let out a nervous laugh.

“Of course, darling! I wouldn’t want to miss this for the world!”

Sweetie Belle grinned widely, and left the boutique in a fast gallop, Rarity following shortly after.

Scootaloo was unsure of how to kill time before the slumber party later that evening. But she had never really thanked the little mare that stood up to her on the field trip, and lately when the mean colt had tried to bully her. She thought that if there was a time to do it, it was now. The instant she stepped into the orphanage, Scootaloo searched for the filly. She had never bothered to pay much attention to the other orphans, but she couldn’t let a good deed go unnoticed. Now she thought about it, she didn’t even know her name.

“Hey, Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo quickly spun around, and saw the exact filly she was looking for. She was an earth pony, with no cutie mark, and a light green coat. Her blue mane was held back with a headband, and Scootaloo was sure that she had never seen such a wide smile on anypony before. The filly didn’t have a cutie mark, but that wasn’t what the pegasus noticed. It was the size of the filly. She seemed older than Scootaloo, but instead, she barely reached the pegasus to her chest in height, and she looked so frail. Scootaloo had to contain herself in order to not scoop up the filly, and protect her until she was bigger.

“Um, hi! How do you know my name?”

The filly grinned slightly.

“Everypony knows Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo blushed slightly, and ruffled her mane with her hoof.

“So, thanks for standing up to me that day. I... I had a lot of things to think about.”

The filly shrugged, before smiling even wider, if that was possible.

“No need to worry! We all have stuff to think about!”
Scootaloo giggled, before nodding her head in agreement.

“Heh, yeah, definitely. What’s your name?”

“Daisy Darling! But you can just call me Daisy, or Darling, whatever you like the best!”

Scootaloo thought of the name, and found it to be fitting. She looked just about as fragile, and beautiful as a flower.

“I like that, it’s pretty.”

Daisy smiled again, and motioned for Scootaloo to follow.

“Wanna walk around Ponyville with me?”

Scootaloo was hesitant at first. For whatever reason, she felt like it was some sort of betrayal against Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, to have more than just those two as friends. But the thought disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and with a spring in their steps, the two fillies decided to walk Ponyville then.

Just after a quick stop at Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie Pie hadn’t been, which Scootaloo found very odd, the two fillies had a break at the fountain in the center of Ponyville. For reasons the pegasus couldn’t explain, she enjoyed the company of the frail filly. Daisy’s positive attitude seemed to rival the one of Pinkie, but Scootaloo quietly kept that to herself. Daisy was great at telling stories and jokes, and just when she had told a particularly funny joke, crumbles of Scootaloo’s cupcake were sent flying in a fit of laughter. The pegasus could barely keep her eyes open and her laughter seemed indefinite, but when she opened them again, she noticed something peculiar.

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were up to something. The two fillies were obviously doing something that was supposed to be a secret, but as always, neither of them were able to cover up their antics. Daisy quickly noticed Scootaloo’s intense glance, and followed it. The scrawny filly cocked her head curiously.

“I wonder what they’re doin’?”

Scootaloo nodded, then a mischievous grin spread upon her face.

“Let’s find out!”

The two fillies, like the two they followed, did their best to remain unseen. Without drawing too much attention to themselves, Scootaloo and Daisy Darling followed Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle impatiently glanced at Rarity, who gracefully came trotting along for just a few minutes, before, to nopony’s surprise, she insisted on stopping several times, claiming her hooves were aching horribly. They had stopped at a bench not too far from the marketplace, where Rarity casually watched ponies stroll by. Scootaloo and Daisy hid behind a cart, and intensely tried to listen to their conversation. Sweetie Belle groaned loudly before she spoke.

“Rarity! You already showed up late, because you just had to get a hooficure before we left! How can they be sore?!” Sweetie Belle chirped. Rarity scoffed loudly.

“Darling, I swear, when those hooficures are over, your hooves need rest, not going to Sweet Apple Acres for that silly party of yours.”

Scootaloo gasped, and glanced at Daisy. The filly looked just as shocked.

“What party?” she mouthed quietly, a hoof shushing in front of Daisy’s face as Scootaloo tried to make her quiet. Scootaloo’s ears perked up in an attempt to hear more of the conversation.

“It’s not silly! And you need to be there for her, she’s my friend!”

A faint blush grew on Rarity’s cheeks.

“Why, yes, of course... Very well, let’s go and make the party for Scootaloo fabulous!”

The two younger ponies cheered wildly as Rarity quickly trotted up next to them, and made their way towards Sweet Apple Acres, but Scootaloo and Daisy were shocked. Scootaloo had lost her tongue, and didn’t speak until Daisy carefully poked her shoulder with a hoof.

“Eh, Scootaloo?”

The pegasus said something the earth pony couldn’t hear, so Daisy poked her again.

“They are having a... party? Without me?”

“Maybe it’s a surprise party for you?”

Scootaloo’s eyes got a faint shimmer of hope in her eyes, but it vanished quickly.

“I don’t think so. Maybe it’s for somepony else...”

Daisy was as uncertain about Scootaloo’s attitude, as Scootaloo was about showing up at Sweet Apple Acres later that night.

“Don’t be silly, who’d it be for, if not you?”

“Do you really think so?” Scootaloo mumbled, her uncertainty obvious in her voice. Daisy seemed just as uncertain as the pegasus, but suddenly, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Of course, I think so, you silly filly. How about, I follow you there, and we can be there together, just in case it sucks. Alright?”

Scootaloo wasn’t too happy about either idea. If she was going alone, and it was for somepony else, it would suck, but if she was going with Daisy and it was for her, it would suck for her. In the end, she decided to trust the gut instinct that Daisy had, and tried to convince herself that the party, could in fact, be for her. The pegasus swallowed hard, before nodding, meekly glancing towards the vanishing trio.

“Great! Now, wanna hang out till the party starts?”

Scootaloo allowed herself to nod and smile, and tried hard to enjoy the rest of the day she spent with Daisy. But no matter how much she tried to laugh and joke with the earth pony, a cold and harsh voice kept whispering cruel things into her ears. Whether it concerned herself, her social circle or anything of the like, the whisperings wouldn’t stop. Whenever Daisy looked the other way, Scootaloo caught herself submitting to the thoughts by agreeing to them. It was like torture, she thought. It was bad enough to have the knowledge of somepony disliking you, but the opposite was worse. After carelessly strolling around Ponyville for what seemed to be hours, the fact that Scootaloo was in the dark, was almost driving her insane.

She had to know if the party was for somepony else, so some time before the planned sleepover at Sweet Apple Acres, she and Daisy made their way towards the farm. The two fillies walked in silence.

“So, are you nervous?” Daisy quietly asked as they walked. Scootaloo meekly shrugged, causing the earth pony to turn her head, and roll her eyes. Although the pegasus had felt better ever since confessing to Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and the headmistress, she still struggled to share what she truly felt. The ‘I’m a tough cookie’ mask had been on her for so long, that she had problems with letting it fall off.

“Very, actually... Maybe we should just go home!” she blurted out, and quickly turned, only to face Daisy, with a somewhat stern look in her eyes.

“No, Scootaloo. You’re going to that party, and that’s the end of it.”

Surprised by the tone in Daisy’s voice, the pegasus obliged and turned to continue towards Sweet Apple Acres. The two said no more, but inside of Scootaloo, a wide variety of feelings were fighting each other.

Excitement, regret, nervousness, and the strongest one of those, fear. If it was some sort of fraud party, just for somepony else, she was unsure of how she’d react. It had been a very difficult task of her to share her feelings with her two best friends, yet even though it had a positive outcome, as of right now, Scootaloo couldn’t handle anymore troubles with friends and her own self-doubt.

Scootaloo had never felt more selfish, but if the rumoured party was not for her, she was going to be back at square one.

“Scoots?”

“Mhm?” she replied, and glanced towards Daisy, who hid behind a nearby tree. The earth pony motioned for Scootaloo to come next to her. The two fillies carefully tried to spot some of the Apples, but everything seemed oddly quiet at the farm. Both the barn and the house lights were on, and there seemed to be a lot of ruckus, both noise and light wise. Lights kept flickering off, and it sounded like furniture was being scraped across the barn floor. But Big Macintosh and Winona were not around on the acres, so both fillies assumed that they were inside.

“You’re the bravest pony I know, Scootaloo.” Daisy blurted out, as they began to sneak into the farm. Scootaloo looked at the pony with an incredulous expression on her face.

“Me?” she hissed, trying to keep her eyes on the bumpy road, but stopped dead in her tracks instead, “why me?”

Daisy let out a wide smile before she replied, and stopped too.

“Because, I can see you’re shaking with fear, but nonetheless, you carry on, no matter how scared. Being brave isn’t about doing great things, or overcoming your fears. It’s to be scared, but going on anyway. Scootaloo, you’re the bravest pony I know.” She repeated.

Scootaloo’s blush was hard to see in the dim moonlight, but that was all the pegasus needed to hear to go forward. The two fillies snuck up to the barn. The noise was still getting louder as they got closer, and the light even stronger. To their luck, the barn doors were slightly open, and let out a bright ray of light. With a pounding heart, Scootaloo motioned Daisy to come closer. Had Daisy not been as tiny as she was, there was no way that the two fillies could glance inside the barn without changing positions. As they gazed inside of the barn, Scootaloo’s heart pounded even harder.

She saw numerous banners all over the barn, with her name on all of them, but with different messages. Balloons adorned the walls and ceiling, and she noticed Pinkie trying to catch the ones that flew up to the ceiling, to no avail. Both fillies glanced at each other, and held up their hooves to withhold their giggles. Scootaloo also saw Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, working together to make a huge heart, similar to the one they gave miss Cheerilee on Hearts and Hooves Day.

“I bet’cha Scoots gonna love this! This is better than the one we made fo’ miss Cheerilee!” Applebloom exclaimed, proudly showing the result to Applejack.

We <3 u Scoot! Best friends 4 eva!

“That’s mighty fine, girls!” Applejack praised, and tipped her hat before she went to check on Rarity’s decorations. The unicorn did have a knack for decorations and clothing, Scootaloo had to admit. Whereas the heart the two fillies had made was charming and pretty in its own charm, Rarity’s decorations seemed to be at a whole new level. The colors matched perfectly and the threads as well.

“Look, over there!” Daisy whispered, and Scootaloo quickly turned her gaze to where the earth pony was standing.

Where she looked, stood none other than Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy next to her, working on a sculpture made of cloud. It wasn’t complete yet, but it was clear, what it depicted. Two pegasi stood next to each other, one clearly a filly, and the other an older mare. The grown one had her wings spread out wide with pride, whereas the other one had hers folded. For once, Scootaloo didn’t mind the fact that her wings were small, the sculpture depicted perfectly what she so much longed for.

Somepony to call family.

“Fluttershy, could you put juuuust a bit on my flank? It looks like Rarity’s!” Rainbow Dash said, and handed Fluttershy some more cloud.

“Excuse me! My flank is perfect! It is finely sculpted, unlike your... Muscular, bulky one!”

Rainbow glanced at her own flank, and grinned.

“Just the way I like it!”

Rarity rolled her eyes and huffed loudly, before returning to her decorations. Rainbow smiled again, and continued to add just a few pieces of cloud to the sculpture. Within a few hoofstrokes, the sculpture was finished, and the pegasus exhaled in joy.

“Alright, neither one of us is gonna look more awesome than we look now! Everypony, can I get your attention, please?”

All of the ponies who had been there to help out with the surprise party, stood at attention. Scootaloo held her breath as Rainbow Dash stood right in front of the barndoor, blocking out most of the light that came from the barn. As if speaking to recruits, the cyan mare began to pace back and forward, before stopping, and letting out a huge sigh.

“I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate all of this. I can’t express how happy I am, that all of you ponies wants to make another dream of mine come true. Besides all of you, Scootaloo is one of the most important ponies in my life, and it’s...” she swallowed, “it’s difficult to explain how much I really... love that filly, and want her to be a part of my family. I don’t want her to ever be alone anymore, and this night, will change that forever.”

The two fillies held their breaths in silence, and listened to Rainbow Dash’s speech. The mare continued on speaking about her more emotional side, that Scootaloo never thought she had, yet recognized for herself. It was as if Rainbow were confessing to the same things that Scootaloo had earlier.

Daisy glanced at Scootaloo, and she noticed water in the little filly’s eyes.

“Scoots, are you okay?” she whispered, and withdrew from the small opening in the barndoor. Scootaloo nodded, and let out a small smile, that grew for every passing second. Her heart fluttered wildly, and she was about to reply, when a tiny fly landed on her muzzle.

“Oh no...” Daisy muttered, and tried to wave the fly away with her hoof. But whenever it flew away, it landed straight on Scootaloo’s muzzle. The pegasus scrunched her muzzle in an attempt to get rid of the fly, but it stayed, and the movements of its tiny legs on her, was enough for her nose to tickle.

“Achoooooooo!”

The sneeze abruptly ended Rainbow’s speech, and she suspiciously glanced towards the creaking barndoor.

“What was that? Is anypony outside?” she said, and didn’t hesitate to open door with a heroic buck and pose to follow. Scootaloo and Daisy Darling had no time to move, and as the doors opened quickly, the two fillies were kicked a few meters away from the barn.

“Ouch!”

“Oof!”

All of the ponies inside the barn, gasped loudly as they left the wooden building, to see the two eavesdroppers.

“Scootaloo?!” they all exclaimed, and glared incredulously at the filly.

Scootaloo couldn’t help but laugh loudly, with tears of joy streaming down her face.

This is going to be one of the final chapters, so everypony prepare for that! Hope all is well with all of you, and that the wait hasn’t been too excruciating. :)

~This has the C Note mark of approval. =)

Chapter 18

A thousand apologies for not having this up sooner. I am both happy and sad to tell that this will be the final chapter of Home is Where the Heart is. It’s been quite wonderful to write this story, even if it turned out to be ending quite later than I thought, due to the circumstances of my grandmother’s passing. I hope that this will be a satisfactory ending for those who have followed and read this story, and if not, well, I’m sorry. But I hope to be writing an epilogue, to see what will be going on in the lives of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash.

Hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful Christmas! :)

Rainbow Dash galloped out of the barn, and embraced Scootaloo as she cried. All of the ponies inside the barn thought she was crying out of misery, but when they noticed the huge grin on her face, they all let out sighs of relief. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle leapt outside the barn as well, and gave each other wide smiles and happy glances as they stared at the scene.

Scootaloo silently cried as Rainbow Dash held her close, and nuzzled the cyan mare’s chest affectionately. Rainbow Dash said nothing, but only smiled as tears fell down her cheeks, as she stroked Scootaloo’s purple mane. Daisy said nothing, but merely nodded to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle as they got eye-contact.

“Who in the hay is that, Applebloom?” Sweetie Belle pointed out, causing Applebloom to shrug as they looked at eachother, then back to the unknown filly. But by then, she was gone, and the only ponies outside of the barn, were Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash and themselves.

Applejack stepped outside the barn, and quietly coughed to get attention. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash looked up, with sparkles in their eyes and smiles on their faces.

“Yeah, AJ?”

“Pardon me for interruptin’ this huggin’ session ya’ll, but lil’ miss Scootaloo still got a party to attend!”

Rainbow Dash widely smiled at Scootaloo, before she ended their embrace. At first, Scootaloo looked nervously at Rainbow Dash, then towards the barn with several wide-smiled ponies, before looking back to the cyan mare. Rainbow gave a wink, and lightly nudged the pegasus on her rump.

“C’mon, Scoots, this is for you.”

“Really? You promise, Rainbow?”

The mare nodded confidently, and couldn’t help but laugh loudly as Scootaloo galloped into the barn with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle by her side. Rainbow Dash stood outside of the barn, quietly observing the little filly. Her smile was hard to hide as she finally saw the filly she knew, and even loved, stuff her face with cake, muffins, candy, and laugh as if there was no tomorrow. She barely even noticed Applejack being by her side, observing the filly as well.

“Why, you did a mighty fine job, RD. I can feel it in my hooves that Scootaloo will be the happiest filly she can be, up in the skies wit’ ya.”

“Thanks, AJ. I hope so too.”

The two mares shared a look, before they too, entered the barn to celebrate.

Scootaloo was sure she’d never see the day, where ponies held a party for her.

Scootaloo, the chicken. Scootaloo the silly filly, and so many other hurtful names that Diamond Tiara, alongside Silver Spoon had made up. But for the first time in quite some time, Scootaloo realized that it didn’t matter.

No matter what those two fillies had said or done, nopony had ever thrown them a surprise party.

Scootaloo had her own surprise party. As if it wasn’t cool enough to have that happening, the longer Scootaloo took to take her surroundings in, she realized it was a Scootaloo-themed-party.

With wondrous Scootaloo-themed decoration and food, the pegasus spent an awful lot of time just walking around to see how it had all been done. There were dozens of different delicious pastries, which Pinkie Pie herself had made. Most of them were either purple or orange, to match Scootaloo’s mane or coat color, but Pinkie had managed to bake the most intricate patterns of intertwining orange and purple on the pastries. Scootaloo felt dizzy after trying to count the patterns, and reluctantly gave up.

The drinks were as delicious as the pastries, and whenever someone took a sip of the punch, bubbles would magically appear to spell ‘Scootaloo - the best filly!’

“Do you like it? We asked Twilight to do it with magic!” Sweetie Belle asked, and enthusiastically stirred the punch, only to spill near half of it. But nonetheless, bubbles moved to spell what they did when the contents of the bowl were still: ‘Scootaloo - the best filly!’

Scootaloo giggled, before hugging the farmpony and unicorn, and moving on.

Even if the barn was loaded with drinks and deliciousness, there was still room for a dance floor. It was always crowded by ponies, but when Scootaloo had the desire to dance with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the ponies dancing were quick to move for the guest of honor.

“C’mon Scoots! Let’s dance!” Sweetie Belle cheered, and held Scootaloo’s hoof tight as she moved to the dancefloor, Applebloom close on their tails.

Tiny hooves were rhythmically moving to the music, with wide grins on their faces, the three ponies partied as if there were no troubles in the world whatsoever.

And in just that moment, there wasn’t.

Not for Scootaloo, not for Rainbow Dash, or for anypony in that barn.

Rainbow Dash had been observing Scootaloo dancing. Even if there was still some things to sort out with the headmistress and the orphanage, Rainbow Dash’s heart and pride swelled as she looked at the filly. No matter how much she wanted to ensure that Scootaloo understood the love and adoration that all of the ponies in that barn felt for her, she couldn’t wait to place a very exhausted filly between her hooves, and fly them home.

Not to the orphanage, not to her cloud castle, but to their home.

Rainbow Dash tossed the thought around in her mind, and almost wanted the filly to collapse from exhaustion now, so that the two could go home in peace.

But she knew that Scootaloo needed this night, and not for the first time in her life, Rainbow Dash happily put another pony in front of herself.

Through many hours of dancing, eating, drinking, and more dancing, the little pegasus was starting to tire. Scootaloo’s smile stayed on her face, but it was near impossible not to notice her wings hanging low from exhaustion. Yet no matter how tired she looked and was, the pony kept on dancing, alone, in the middle of the dance floor, even with dimmed music and lights. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were struggling to stay awake with Scootaloo, and it was almost as if matchsticks kept their eyes open, as they gazed at their friend on the dance floor. Most of the guests had gone home, and all of the older mares were just waiting for the guest of honor to collapse from tiredness. But of course, Pinkie Pie wasn’t tired at all, and she happily pranced and danced alongside Scootaloo.

But no matter how much Scootaloo tried to keep up with the older ponies, the candles inside of the barn were nearly burned down to the ground, and the moon added extra light inside, she was tired. With lowered and exhausted ears, Scootaloo slowly walked up to Rainbow Dash, who was waiting patiently for Scootaloo to say those words she’d been wanting to hear:

“Can we go home?”

Rainbow smiled, and looked at Applejack,Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy, whom all nodded encouragingly. Pinkie hadn’t even noticed that Scootaloo had left the dance floor, and continued to dance with great enthusiasm.

“Yeah, Scoots. We can. Just go say bye to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, then we’ll go home.”

Scootaloo skipped over to the two fillies, whom were already sleeping on the table they laid upon.

“Goodnight, fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders! Thanks for an awesome night, I can’t believe you’d do all of this for me”, she whispered, and smiled as she saw how they both mumbled something, she couldn’t understand. Scootaloo pranced back to Rainbow Dash, and felt renewed by the mere thought of going to her, no, their, awesome house made of clouds. The older pegasus hugged her friends tight, before they had to drag Pinkie from the dance floor, and call it a night. Rarity left for the Carousel Boutique, as Big Macintosh gently carried the two sleeping fillies into the house. Applejack was short behind, but locked the barn before saying night to Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. The tiny pegasus charged at Applejack and hugged the farmpony tight.

“Thank you for doing this, Applejack.” Scootaloo said, and smiled widely at the orange mare. Applejack smiled back, but then pointed a hoof to Rainbow Dash.

“Aw shucks, Scoots, but you’re thankin’ the wrong pony.”

“Still... it’s your barn!” Scootaloo defended, before hopping back to Rainbow Dash.

Applejack shook her head with a smile, before she turned to the house, dreading the extra chore of cleaning up after the party tomorrow. But deep down she knew, that hosting a party for dear Scootaloo, was a chore she didn’t mind at all.

“Wanna go come and catch some shut-eye?” Rainbow Dash asked, and gently shook Scootaloo, as she seemed to have fallen asleep, resting her head heavily on the cyan mare’s side.

“Uh-huh...” Scootaloo mumbled, and drowsily glanced at Rainbow Dash. The older mare giggled, before bending her legs, allowing Scootaloo to climb up on her back. The little filly struggled to get up properly, due to her exhaustion, but with some hassle, Scootaloo was safely placed upon Rainbow’s back.

“Put your front legs around my neck, Scoots. I promise that I won’t fly too fast right now, but you’re so tired, you might just slide off, alright?”

Rainbow Dash didn’t get a response, but when she felt two legs around her, she knew the filly was ready. The pegasus began moving her wings, and before too long, the two ponies were airborne. Scootaloo tried to keep herself awake, and take in all of the things that she knew awaited her when she, too, could fly. She could feel Rainbow Dash’s strong muscles working beneath her, the wind singing sweet songs to her, and the occasional tickle as the pegasus went through a cloud. Rainbow’s steady beat of wings carried them forth, just that sound was lulling her to sleep. The filly fell asleep long before they reached their home.

“Scootaloo? Scoots?”

Rainbow Dash shook herself; not too rough to throw Scootaloo off her back, but not too gentle either, so the filly couldn’t not awake. Scootaloo snorted slightly and struggled to keep her balance as she slid off the cyan back, She rubbed her muzzle with her hoof, and stretched her frail wings.

“We’re here, Scoot.”

Rainbow Dash turned her neck around, and nuzzled the still groggy filly.

“We’re home.”

Scootaloo’s eyes were half-closed, but the smile on her face was evident. She had only admired Rainbow Dash’s house from a far, dreaming and wishing, she’d one day get to see it up close, let alone get inside. She remembered how fluffy the cloud was when she and Rainbow had gone to practice her flying, but there was something different about the cloud that she now stood on. It was somehow sturdier, and didn’t feel as bouncy, nor fluffy.

“Feel the difference?” Rainbow asked, and giggled at Scootaloo’s confusion.

“Yeah, but why are they different?”

“Well, in Cloudsdale, they make all kinds of clouds. Some are for weather, some for building, and some for other purposes.”

“What other kinda purposes?” Scootaloo asked, as she continued to hop on the cloud with renewed energy.

Rainbow shook her head with a smile, before urging the filly forward.

“I can’t remember, Scoot! I’ll ask Twilight for a book about them one day, alright?”

Scootaloo nodded vigorously, before taking her attention to her new home. Even if it was dark, the rivers of rainbow that flowed throughout the clouds were still obvious. The clouds that were closer to the actual building where Rainbow resided in were shaped so that they almost resembled slides. Scootaloo couldn’t wait to see if she could actually use them as slides, once she learned to fly. The house itself seemed to have three floors, but she wasn’t sure if it was so, or if the ceiling was simply very high.

“Wanna see your room?”

Scootaloo gasped, and looked at Rainbow Dash with incredulous eyes.

“My... my own room? Really?”

Rainbow Dash nodded, before trotting ahead, and into her house.

Scootaloo followed after excitedly, her small wings buzzing as if there was no tomorrow. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath as she stood before her door. It wasn’t just opening her door and going into her home anymore, it was shared now. Shared with a very important filly, and as Rainbow Dash opened the door, she knew that that was just how she wanted it to be.

After a quick tour of the house, Rainbow Dash went to show Scootaloo the thing she had looked forward to the most; her own room.

“Close your eyes, Scoots.” Rainbow gently commanded as they walked up the stairs to the second floor, where both mare and filly now had their rooms. Scootaloo closed her eyes hard, her excitement almost making it impossible to keep them shut. She nearly tripped over a step or two, but Rainbow Dash never faltered to support her. As they stood before the door, Rainbow Dash pushed it open, and quietly told Scootaloo to check out her new room.

Scootaloo opened her eyes, and felt tears shaping in her eyes alongside a gasp. She entered the room, and almost felt dizzy as she turned to gaze at every little thing in there, even if there was only a few.

It wasn’t too personal yet, but nonetheless, Rainbow Dash had done her best to make it feel like Scootaloo’s own room. There were no posters decorating the walls like there was in Rainbow’s own room, but she had a feeling that Scootaloo wouldn’t hesitate to soon have them plastered with various idols of hers. When Rainbow Dash had gone to the orphanage and spoken to the headmistress after concluding that Scootaloo should live with her, she had managed to get the few personal belongings she had. Her beloved Wonderbolts cover, and Teddy, the teddybear.

“So, Scoots, I guess this’ll be your room. I got all your stuff from the orphanage. But we’ll go to the market and get some awesome things, so it doesn’t look so boring now, alright?”

Scootaloo nodded excitedly, and went back to nuzzle Rainbow Dash’s strong chest.

“It’s so awesome that you’re here, Scootaloo.” Rainbow whispered as she held the tiny filly close.

The little filly nodded again, before walking back to her bed, and snuggling under the Wonderbolt adorned cover.

“Night, Scoots. Let me know if you want something, alright?”

“I will, thanks.”

Rainbow smiled and quietly shut the door, leaving Scootaloo to sleep for the first time in a place that was actually her home. She couldn’t wait to sleep in all day tomorrow, and wake up in the same place as Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo was sure her eyes had never felt so heavy, and she was sure that sleep would come easy to her.

But after hours of twisting and turning in her new room, Scootaloo realized she couldn’t. She felt as if she was ready to fall into a deep sleep, yet her heart was pounding as if she’d run a race and she couldn’t understand why. Teddy was held close to her as always, and the cover was positioned just like she always wanted it.

Then why was sleep evading her?

Scootaloo had a vague idea, and quietly rolled out of bed. She opened the door, and peeked down the hall. The house was quiet, of course, and the door to Rainbow’s room was only slightly opened, as if Scootaloo was being invited into it. She heard the loud roar of the pegasus’ snoring, but found it strangely soothing.

She tip-hooved into the room, and saw how the silhouette of the mare rose and fell with each breath.

“Rainbow Dash?” she whispered, and started tugging at the cover.

The pegasus grunted, and quickly pulled back the cover that Scootaloo had taken from her.

“Rainbow Dash?”

Scootaloo continued to tug at the cover, before finally climbing on the bed, and started to poke Rainbow’s shoulder.

“Eh, uh, what, who...”, Rainbow muttered, before turning her eyes towards Scootaloo, “Oh, hi Scoots. What’s up?”

“I can’t sleep...”

“Oh...” the pegasus muttered.

Scootaloo hoped that Rainbow would understand what she was getting at, but she suspected that the mare was too sleepy to get it.

“Can I sleep in here?”

A smile slowly spread on Rainbow’s face, who said nothing, but lifted the cover, so that Scootaloo could crawl under it. With an excited squeal, Scootaloo slipped under the cover, and snuggled up close to Rainbow’s warm body. Faint memories of sleeping next to another pony slipped Scootaloo’s mind, but she paid them no attention, and was only happy that she could share beds with the one and only Rainbow Dash. Her heart slowed down to a relaxing slow pace, and her breath did the same. Scootaloo turned her head, and looked at Rainbow Dash, who's eyes were closed, her breath deep and relaxed.

“Rainbow Dash?”

The left eye opened, and glanced at Scootaloo.

“Thanks for being my big sister.”

Rainbow smiled, and shut her eye again.

“Thanks for wanting to be my little sister.” The pegasus replied, ”now sleep.”

Scootaloo pulled the cover close to her, and yawned loudly, before she finally slept.

Together, the two ponies had wild and vivid dreams of an adventure that couldn’t even get close to becoming a Wonderbolt, or be as great a flyer as Rainbow Dash. That fateful evening, Scootaloo the chicken, and Rainbow Dash, Equestria’s best flier began the adventure that is widely known as family.

Chapter 12

The pain in Scootaloo's wings seemed to be no match for the pain that continued to throb in her small hooves and legs. She had gallopped faster than ever away from the center of Ponyville. Blinded by hear tears, the filly had clashed with several obstacles along the road, either into thorn bushes, small trees or rocks, giving her bruises and cuts all over, not to mention the soreness already apparent in her wings. Scootaloo had decided to seek shelter in the clubhouse, and laid there, quietly sobbing, and her depressed mind left to ponder about all of the things she thought was wrong.

I'll never be Rainbow Dash's sister! I'm just a silly filly that stops her from chasing her dreams!

Thoughts of that kind kept returning to the earthbound pegasus, and the usual strong wall that kept harsh words abay, that she built up months before ever arriving to Ponyville, was crumbling.

She's been trying to teach me to fly... I'm her biggest fan... Why doesn't she like me?

Tears streamed down the filly's face as she laid upon the recently renovated floor in the clubhouse that belonged to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had often praised the young farmpony about her splendid work, which Applebloom always rejected with her ever kind heart. Applebloom is so talented with building things and whenever Sweetie Belle sings, it is as if the most astonishing choir of birds have gathered, and decided to spread joy with their voices just because they can, without boasting.

What am I good at?

Scootaloo thought of nothing, and only continued her quiet sobbing in the clubhouse. It was getting late in the afternoon, and Celestia's glorious sun had started to fall. Just as she wondered if anypony would care to come look for her, several voices broke her trail of thought.

"Scootalooooooo!"

The filly let out a small gasp, and quickly glanced outside the window. She saw Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Applejack and the dog, Winona. Without hesitation, Scootaloo jumped out of the clubhouse, not wanting to show her vulnerability to her friends, and hid under a nearby bush. The filly held her breath as the three ponies and single canine entered the clubhouse, their voices echoing through the trees.

"Scootaloo! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Sweetie Belle shouted as her head poked through the doorway of the clubhouse.

"She ain't here Sweetie, let's go search somewhere else," Applebloom mumbled, the disappointment obvious in her voice, before she glanced to Applejack, "where can she be, Applejack? She can't hide anywhere else, can she?"

Applejack laid a leg over Applebloom, and held her little sister close.

"I can't say I got the faintest idea, sugarcube. I just hope she ain't lost in the woods again," the older Apple said, and lead the two disappointed fillies and a continously sniffing Winona down the ramp. The canine had gone in circles for a bit as the ponies walked before her, before her nose caught a certain scent. Winona quietly followed to lead and ended up before a bush next to the clubhouse. She growled menacingly at the bush, causing a white bunny to jump out in fright. Winona didn't hesitate to cheerfully bark and chase the rabbit, until a loud and clear whistle ended her game.

"C'mere, Winona! We ain't got time for bunny-chasin' t'day!" Applejack shouted before whistling one more time. The loyal dog was by her master's side within a heartbeat, earning a giggle from all of the ponies as they made their way in the opposite direction of the clubhouse. The sun was near gone from the glorious Equestrian sky, and Luna's stars didn't hesitate to replace Celestia's clouds.

Not until then had Scootaloo dared to breathe or move, but as she saw them leave, she dared to poke her head through the bushes once more. She sighed heavily, and quickly trotted back into the clubhouse.

They were too busy laughing at Winona to even bother look for me. Stupid dog. No, this isn't Winona's fault. It's my own.

Scootaloo grabbed one of the old blankets that Applejack had donated to the Cutie Mark Crusaders whenever they had a sleepover in the clubhouse. The blankets were thin and worn, but whenever Scootaloo had slept in the clubhouse with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, she hadn't frozen.

Tonight was going to be colder than ever, she realized, but she wasn't going to go back to Ponyville when they obviously didn't bother to look for her. No, rather freeze than going back to Ponyville. Maybe she could just live there? Those were the last thoughts that Scootaloo had before shivering into a restless sleep.

"I'm sorry, headmistress. But we just can't find her."

The headmistress of the orphanage rubbed her temples. A headache was coming on, and she couldn't find Scootaloo. Twice in one month.

Twilight Sparkle and her five friends glanced at each other, but Rainbow Dash kicked the dirt in anger.

"She can't just be lost again!" she exclaimed, furiously stomping at the earth under her hooves, before letting out a huge sigh.

"Rainbow Dash, darling. Don't worry more than necessary, wherever could she be? Ponyville is only so big, she simply cannot have strayed far."

The pegasus growled before she took off in a desperate search for Scootaloo. Her wings moved faster than even she thought possible, her frantic eyes searching wildly for an orange filly, but in the darkness, she couldn't see anything.

Nor could anypony see the tears hidden by Luna's darkness.

Scootaloo awakened with a loud gasp. She had dreamed vividly of a monster with clattering teeth, and looked around in the clubhouse to ensure herself that it was just a dream. Within few seconds, she realized the cold temperatures had made her teeth clatter in her sleep. Scootaloo was sure she had never felt her coat been so cold, nor could she remember her mane and tail being so stiff. With a look of determination, the filly decided she would walk the cold off, and rose with stiff limbs. She winced as her hooves seemed to be much louder than needed as she walked down the clubhouse ramp, and unto the soft grass instead.

Scootaloo turned her gaze towards the buildings of Sweet Apple Acres, and saw how all lights were out, clearly indicating it was way beyond her bedtime. The filly quietly trotted a few laps around the clubhouse, before daring herself to go farther away from the clubhouse. Luna's moon and stars made it easy to see, so Scootaloo made little effort to gaze upwards in an attempt to find her way about the land of Sweet Apple Acres. Nonetheless, it didn't take long before she bumped into something.

"Ow!" she groaned, and rubbed her sore forehead, before glancing up at whatever she had struck.

Before her, stood none other than the Princess of the Night, Celestia's little sister, Luna.

Scootaloo opened her mouth to let out a loud scream, but a dark hoof was in her way, as she tried.

"Hush, child. I mean you no harm." the princess softly said, her dark eyes glinting with honesty.

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow, but remained silent as the princess removed her hoof from her mouth.

"What do you want with a silly filly like me, then?" Scootaloo grumbled, and turned her back on Luna.

"Don't you dare turn your back on me, child!" Luna shouted, ignoring her previous plea to Scootaloo to remain silent, as the Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice returned to her. Scootaloo stood before her within a second, shivering with fear in front of the princess, who signed heavily.

"Forgive me, Scootaloo. I mean you no harm, I am merely here to speak with you."

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow yet again, and let out a slight 'huh', in confusion.

"Me? Why do you want to talk to me?", the filly asked with an expression of unbelief on her face.

"I see the same lies reside in you, that previously resided within myself," Luna placed a hoof on Scootaloo's chest, "the same lies I spread within my own soul."

Scootaloo grinned nervously, before pushing away the princess' hoof.

"What are you talking about, princess? I don't lie!"

The princess scoffed loudly, before turning away from the filly, and proceeding to walk.

"If you fail to see the obvious, Scootaloo, then you are as lost to darkness as the late Nightmare Moon."

"Waitwaitwait!I'mnotlyingpleasetellmewhatyoumean!" Scootaloo rambled, almost clinging to the leg of the dark princess. Luna let out a laugh, much to Scootaloo's surprise.

"You can laugh?!" she exclaimed, quickly biting her tongue and wishing nothing more than to take back that question.

"Why, ofcourse I can," Luna replied, and continued walking, Scootaloo trying to keep up next to her.

After what seemed to be hours of walking and silence, Luna spoke.

"Now, Scootaloo," she said, glancing towards the filly next to her, "can you guess why I have made this journey to converse with you this night?"

"No..." Scootaloo mumbled.

"I shall not hesitate to tell you, then. Scootaloo, I have been keeping a watchful eye over you, for quite some time now, and I see the same cruel lies within you, that used to be within myself. As I said just before, their darkness will consume you, if you do not banish them this instant."

A blush spreading to her cheeks, Scootaloo begun to object as she realized, Luna had seen through her defenses.

"I'm not ly-"

"Scootaloo, do not attempt to lie to me. I know it too well," the mare interrupted, before motioning towards what seemed to be an entrance made up of leaves, "please, follow me."

Scootaloo swallowed hard, before entering the secret garden, and let out a gasp as she saw where she was. The little filly stood in an exact replica of her sanctuary. Well, her, and apparently Princess Luna's as well. Dumbfounded, Scootaloo couldn't find the words to speak her mind, causing the Princess to chuckle once more.

"You seemed to have found my glade on your journeys. When you strayed a bit too far, and was lost, I was the light that guided you out of the darkness. Both within yourself and the night that embraced you so," the princess nudged Scootaloo slightly, "and hence I know of the lies, Scootaloo."

Suddenly honored and flustered by the attention another pony gave her, Scootaloo found herself without words, and surprised by the kindness that Princess Luna bestowed upon her. She couldn't help but suddenly hide herself in Luna's dark legs, weeping her eyes dry. Luna hushed her not, but remained silent and merely kept a sheltering wing over the crying filly. She remembered how Celestia had done the same when she had been freed of Nightmare Moon's control. Celestia had not spoken when the younger princess had burst into wild and uncontrollable sobs, not until Luna spoke for herself.

"Do they really care for me, Princess?" Scootaloo asked, as her sobs ceased and her eyes were dry as sand.

"I pondered of the same too, and have relentlessly thought of the answer, whereas I realized it after my return. For your answer, it is obvious, and a yes. You are indeed a very special pony, and a force to be trifled with. I cannot foresee the future, nor can Celestia, but I know, that you, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shall be companions until all of you breathe your last breath. All of you shall care for one another to an extend that is indeed love. You love and trust them, do you not?"

The question surprised Scootaloo, as she had preferred to listen, instead of being asked and replying. But she nodded quietly.

"More than anything, Princess."

"Then you must also trust them, to love and trust you back. What are your reasons for them to not love you, as the extraordinary filly you are?" Luna asked, the curiosity obvious in her voice.

"Because I'm not extraordinary! I'm just a stupid orphan filly, who can't fly, and never will! I don't have a family, and I want to have one! I want a sister, or a mom!" Scootaloo shouted, returning to hiding in dark fur and weeping once more. Luna retreated into silence, and awaited Scootaloo's broken voice again.

"Why would anyone be friends with a silly filly like me?"

"Again, I have asked myself the same question, and allow me to answer my own this time. To quote my younger self, I asked Celestia, why they praised her for raising the sun, and frolicked in the sweet grass, but never praised I, and merely slept through the night? Now I realize that many ponies do enjoy the nights as much as they do the day. Whereas Celestia makes the day beautiful with her life-giving sun, I make the nights beautiful with stars, meteors, shooting stars and other creations that ponies study endlessly to understand. They wish to understand myself, and that is all I can ask," Luna answered, glancing up towards her nightly creation, consisting of countless stars and objects of the nighttime, before looking to Scootaloo once more, "You do many wondrous things yourself, Scootaloo. You handle a scooter with incredible grace and agility. You defend your friends no matter the foe, and that is courage."

"I don't feel very couragely..." Scootaloo muttered, oblivious to the word she had just spoken, didn't exist.

"Scootaloo, that is even more courageous. Heroes feel fear too, and they are the most courageous when they stand against the face of danger or fear, but stride on nonetheless. Were you not scared when you defended Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, on the first day of school?"

"Nuh-uh!", Scootaloo exclaimed at first, before she glanced towards Luna, and sighed, "I was really scared."

"And thus, you see your courage, the most noble kind there is, as well. Come, lay next to me." the Princess replied as well as commanded, quietly laying in the middle of her glade. At first, Scootaloo was hesitant to do as she asked, but after a few seconds of tense waiting, she quickly hopped down next to the dark mare.

"You said you wanted a sister, yes?" Luna quietly asked, and glanced towards the filly beneath her wing. Scootaloo nodded, a sudden sparkle in her eyes.

The Princess smiled again.

"Fear not, Scootaloo. I promise you, that before long, you will have a sister."

Scootaloo suddenly jumped out of her shelter under Luna's wing, shouting words of excitement and wild joy, before turning towards Luna with a wide smile.

"Wow, really! You promise me, Princess! An actual sister?"

"Hush, Scootaloo, and lay down before I explain further," she commanded, and patiently waited for the restless filly to settle down beneath her wing, before continuing, "I see things ordinary ponies do not, and whereas it seems oblivious to you, I can tell that there is a mare and several other ponies cares more for you than you could fathom. One desires to become of your family, and this is not foreseeing, it is obvious truth."

Scootaloo had difficulty concealing her excitement, and nearly jumped out of the sheltering darkness Luna had given with her wings, but didn't get the chance before the Princess rose. She stretched her long wings and limbs, before turning to face the overly excited Pegasus filly.

"Scootaloo, I must go. The night grows short, and I must be back at Canterlot to lower the moon. Do you wish to know more about yourself?"

"Why did my parents leave me? Will I ever get my cutie mark and learn how to fly?"

"I know not why you have been orphaned, Scootaloo," the Princess replied with a hint of sadness upon her face, lifting Scootaloo's face with her hoof, "but I do know they made a grave mistake when they did. You shall be one of great feats and achievements, with the courage that resides within your heart, and the power within your wings. One day, you shall receive a cutie mark appropriate of your future honor."

Scootaloo let out a wide smile, and let out a bow to the Princess as she vanished into the night. As Luna flew across the sky, the little filly hoped and longed to be able to fly as gracefully as Princess Luna and as fast as Rainbow Dash one day. With that in mind, Scootaloo galloped faster than ever back to Ponyville, determined to convince the world and herself, that she was a filly worth knowing and loving.

Hey everyone, soooo sorry for the delay. I've been on a holiday for 3 weeks, just got home today to a chapter halfway through, but also a laptop with a cracked screen. I delivered it for repair today, so I hope for a swift recovery. Hope this chapter is satisfactory, and that Luna isn't too much out of character. I thought it'd be nice if Scootaloo could bond with another pony besides Rainbow Dash, or something. Leave comments, they always make my day!