Working For Her

You're probably wondering why I'm going on about my new life as a guard. Its because there were a few lose ends I needed to tie up. And no that doesn't mean I'm killing anyone or myself. Today Princess Twilight let me get a day off. I managed to keep Scootaloo out of school and ... Well I brought Dash along with us. I was wearing a presentable button up and dress pants. Scootaloo had a dress on and somehow I convinced Dash to put a dress on too. What we were doing was... Well... We were going to pay our respects to my mom and dad. Scoot n Dash were in the back seat just being close together afraid one or the other would start crying. They were close to it but they were holding up good. Scootaloo leaned forward tapping my shoulder. "...A-are you sure you want to do this Ry...?" She asked. "...I mean... I cried hard when I had to go to Dash's... Applejack wasn't making it any easier on me and I threw up..."

I sighed glancing in the rearview mirror. "...I know how hard you took it Scoot... We both did..." I replied. "...But I'm sure I wanna do this... The way we saw them wasn't a good way to see them... Better we go and say our good byes properly... And Dash... I brought you along not because of Scoot... It's because you're a big part of this family... Sure you give us shit sometimes but what I have you doing all the time is keeping both of us happy while I keep you and your friends safe."

Dash sat Scootaloo back and leaned up hugging my neck. "...When I saw Scoot with AJ and Rarity on TV talking about a murder I thought the worst but... Here you are keeping that squirt near her friends. I thought the guy who murdered your guys' parents was going to jail not you Ry... AJ just came with Scoot and left... Didn't really hear much about you until Rarity called me crying her eyes out scared saying you got arrested because they thought you were the killer or something..." I sighed.

"...I was just all broken up... Berrie tried killing AJ, Scoot almost got taken away... I just didn't wanna be left alone when I saw the guard trying to take my sister... I didn't want her alone, away from me and her friends... Sure I sacrificed my freedom, my car and all my friends and what they think about me but... I did that for you Scoot. Ever since I came here you've been the best sister I could ask for... Been right there for me to have a reason to smile... Love you Scoot... Always and forever..." My eyes welled up with tears as we pulled into a funeral home parking lot. Almost forgot Princess Luna is helping me pay for a proper burial soon and... Saying goodbye to them in the afterlife isn't the same. Scootaloo crawled over the seat just as I broke down. She hugged me full on while Dash just hugged me from behind the seat.

"...It's okay Ry... We gotcha... Always gotcha..." Yep... they always had me. Whether it were on strings making me their puppet doing all my movements for me or cuddling me like I was a teddy bear or something. What ever it was it was good they were supporting me and holding me.

As we did I see a red SUV pull up next to us. Why am I saying this you ask? I'm saying this because that truck belonged to my aunt and Dash's mom. She was a blue Pegasus mare with a green and blue mane almost as if it were a green scale or something. Aunt Misty (as me and Scoot call her) wore a deep navy blue dress. She was the type of mare who would rock the fuck out to Gems n Tulips or Metallicolt yet somehow managed to conform to society again the next minute. I look out the window and I see my uncle. Uncle Red, Red Flare and as I like to call him Big Red. His mane was a fiery mess sometimes but here he actually slicked it back. Still looked like shit but... Shit with glitter on it. I see both my aunt and my uncle bend down to look into the window giving us humble smiles. I nudged Dash and Scoot prying them both off of me and pointed them out. Scootaloo didn't care. She just went right back for me whimpering while Dash pushed up the passenger seat and opened the door. My aunt and uncle instantly hug Dash. I reach back and opened my door carefully getting out with my sister sobbing softly into my shoulder. My uncle breaks the hug and moves the mares out of the way closing my door. I nudge mine shut holding Scootaloo close. Big Red comes up to me and hugs me and Scoot holding us both tight. "...So sorry you two..." He said. "...Those parents of yours were good... Sucks big time to lose em the way you did..."

I sighed sniffling a bit. "...Thanks Red..." I said. I pushed him off a bit and set Scootaloo on the ground nudging her towards Aunt Misty and Dash. She ran over and hugged them "Red... Gotta say it was hard for me... I almost thought I had to be set into a mental institution the way I was... Night zero I... I killed their murderer..." Big Red gasped a bit. He would've said something but I just nodded knowing what he was gonna say. "...The murderer was my ex... She killed them... I found her right outside my girlfriends house and shot her with my best friends shotgun... I was almost too late for Scoot... She saw them dead... I freaked so bad I ignored every possible sound but... One of my friends... She... She yelled at me and I punched a guard getting Scoot back... I ended up getting arrested and stayed in a holding cell for almost three days..." I hugged him again seeking comfort. He hugged and shushed me feeling me shutter.

Dash came over and rested a hand on my shoulder. "...C'mon you guys lets just get inside and get this over with..." She said. I broke the embrace and nodded wiping away my eyes. I walked over to the curb and picked Scootaloo up expecting the worse.

My aunt rested a hand on my shoulder as I walked on towards the door. "...you be brave for your sister." She said. "...A filly who goes through that isn't gonna take it well..." I would say something here but I just hugged Scootaloo. I barely kept it together just hearing my sister sob softly into my ear. She was hurting a bit too much. I almost wanted to take her back home. Almost.

We walked inside of the funeral home. All the inside of it was was just a small church like area with two caskets sitting near the podium. A stallion wearing a black suit came and greeted us. Uncle Red went over and talked with him while me, Scoot, Dash and Aunt Misty walked over towards the caskets. The caskets with mom and dad inside. Dad had a black suit on with a peaceful look on his face. Mom had that same look in the black dress she had on. I set Scootaloo down and held her hand giving a sigh. "...I... I'm sorry I couldn't have stopped her sooner guys... You guys didn't need to go out like that..." I said. "...I just wanted to... I just wanted to apologize for all the problems I gave you guys...."

My tears clouded up my vision. I felt Scootaloo tug at my hand a bit. She was going up to say goodbye herself. "....I hope y-you guys sleep well..." She said almost crying. "...I didn't like seeing you guys like that... You didn't deserve this.... I...I...." The little filly that I called my only family started to cry hard. I picked her up and hugged her.

"....It's okay... I gotcha... Mom and dad are proud of you for being so brave like that.... I am too sis... They're really happy... you said that..." Scootaloo sniffled and sobbed into my shoulder.

"....M-mommy... Daddy...." That. That right there.... Just by saying that I wanted to cry.

Rainbow Dash gave a whimper. "....Y-you guys were the best aunt and uncle I ever had..." She said. "...I wish I had visited m-more... I wouldn't have asked for cash... I wouldn't take advantage but... I... I just wanted to spend more time with you... I coulda gotten us together for dinner... Maybe to just play some mini golf or something... But... Now I just... All I can do is be a good sister figure to your daughter..." She broke down crying and hugged me and Scootaloo. She looked to me in the eye. My teary eyes. "...Thanks for calling my mom and dad... Th-they needed to be here..." Yeah.... I found my aunt and uncles numbers stashed away somewhere in my mom and dads room and put em in my phone... Ended up telling them mom and dad died. They asked how long and... Well I said about a month or so... A bunch of shit got in the way but... I only cleaned the room out first week I was back at home... Not to mention that was the first week I had to explain to my little sister big brother peed his bed but she knew why I did.

My aunt walked over and joined into the hug as my uncle walked over from talking with that stallion in the suit... Didn't know what he was, didn't know who he was, all I know is that he worked here and prepped their bodies I think... I don't know I only cared about saying goodbye to mom and dad... "...I cant believe you both went without us makin' up for my dumb fuck up..." Uncle Flash said. "...Your boy... You raised him right... You guys made the boy who fixed stuff for us... But only after it was too late to hug it out and for me to say I'm sorry... Sis... Hope you and mom are having fun up there... If being up there aint as painful..." Yeah... He wasn't as good with words. I know what he meant though. "...I'll be kickin' my own flank for not apologizing sooner... Now until we meet at them pearly gates..." I sensed a weakness in his voice. He was just about to break. Break like a two by four under a thousand pound weight while someone tried to lever it right up and right off. Takes a lot of stress but it will eventually break. He broke in under thirty seconds of saying what he had to.

Wanna know what we had to do? I had to drive back to my place, same with my aunt just to get into bed, diapered- because Scoot was very embarrassed and... Dash was too but she had her parents put it on her because I couldn't trust her to put it on herself making me and Scoot the only diapered ones. Having Dash and Scootaloo at my side made it easy for me just to fall asleep. Guess where I found myself? With Luna. I appeared in a white shirt and basketball shorts. She gave me a smile. "Well... Someone seems at peace with themselves..." She said approaching me. "You didn't have a nightmare last night. You've woken up dry multiple nights and thy cousin and her parents are talking again. You are doing great things."

I gave her a smile as I hugged her. "...Thanks again for letting us bury our family members..." I said. "They deserve a burial and not cremation... Being shot is enough for them." Luna held me tight.

"...You deserve it general. You have the skill for taking down any criminal that threatens you, your family, Me, Celestia and anyone who needs protecting. Is there a set date to lay them to rest?" I gave a hesitant nod breaking the embrace.

"We were thinking of doing so with in the week. Make it fast for me, Scoot and Dash just so we don't have to go through the stress of figuring that out. May I ask a favor Princess?" Princess Luna gave a nod making a few chairs appear. I took a deep breath as I sat down. "Princess... It may be a bit too much to ask but... I'd like to see my parents one last time but... I want to do it with Scootaloo.... I want to feel as if the family was still together than feuding... I was yelled at by my dad in the beginning and my mom almost had me cussing her out... I want to bring some memories back to life. And yes. Good family memories." Luna smiled.

"I can do that for you. Think of this as Celestia's gift welcoming you into the guard." She stood up and helped me to my feet just as the chair disappeared. "Now give me a second. I need to tap into your sisters dream." I gave a nod and she closed her eyes having her horn glow. The dream realm around me started to morph around me turning into about half a grave yard. Half being one full grave yard and two separated graves. Sitting at those graves was Scootaloo.

I sighed and started to approach the graves. Luna followed but kept her distance. I came to my sisters side and saw she was crying a bit. I knelt down and rested my hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me for just a second before hugging me. "...I miss mommy and daddy..." She said. Luna came to my side as I stood up with Scoot in my arms.

"We know you do... right now we have something to do that involves you both." Scootaloo looked to me confused.

I gave her a smile as I wiped a tear from her eye. "...Luna's gonna bring us to see them up in heaven..." I said. "...It's best we do this just to rekindle some good memories.... Who knows we could have new memories to take back."

Scootaloo whimpered a bit. "...C-can we bring Dash too?" She asked.

"...I dunno Scoot... I only asked for you to come and not Dash..."

Luna gave us a warm smile. "I'll just throw this one in as a freebie to you and bring Dash over." She said. I gave a sigh.

"Thank you princess.... I did say she was just as much family as me and Scoot are..." I held Scootaloo close. She nuzzled me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Luna's horn glow yet again and everything changed into a public street area with ponies all crowded around in one area. It sounded like they were laughing... and behind that I heard someone yelling. I gave Scootaloo to Luna as I started off towards the crowd of ponies who apparently didn't have any faces.

The yelling became clearer and clearer as I came closer. "STOP IT! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" Someone yelled and yes. It was Dash. Just as I tried pushing past the other ponies I fell right through almost as if they weren't even there. In the middle of them I saw Dash trying to cover up a gigantic pink diaper that looked way too big for her flank. It did hug her legs but it was WAY too poofy. I gave a snicker as I stood up. Dash looked up at me as everypony disappeared.

"Really embarrassed about Aunt Misty putting some padding on you huh?" Dash wiped her eyes as Luna and Scootaloo walked up.

"...Y-you... you aren't here to laugh at me too are you...? I hate this fucking thing... I haven't been in diapers since potty training..." I grabbed her arm and yanked her up onto her feet.

"...I can laugh about this at any time but right now why don't you get changed into something else." I pointed to the side and a wardrobe popped up with a little changing screen. She didn't waste any time by pushing me to the ground and rushing over to the wardrobe. Gotta say I did laugh seeing her waddle away before breaking into a sprint-ish run. As she changed I looked to Luna who was blushing a bit. "She's just doing this for Scoot, same as I am."

Scootaloo blushed a bit. "...Ryder can you not embarrass me in front of the princess...?" She asked hiding her face.

Luna set Scootaloo down and knelt next to her. "Can I tell you something Scootaloo?" She asked. Scootaloo gave a hesitant nod. "Ever since my return from the moon, I had to adapt to the new life style you live. I've been playing video games during a time I'm not doing anything. One day last week I was playing an online game against Ryder and I might have played a bit too long. By the time my console shut off I was in a pool of uh... You know.... Due to a few energy drinks, a soda or two and a generous amount of coffee... Every pony has accidents and with accidents happening often some precautions have to be made. Every time you have an accident while sleeping, are out in public and even when you just quite don't make it just remember even a princess like me and Celestia have accidents okay?"

Scootaloo gave a smile and nodded before hugging Princess Luna. I smiled as well as Dash came back over dressed in a wonderbolts jump suit. She sighed. "...Only in our dreams I guess." She said. "So... What are you guys doing here anyways? Other than saving me from an embarrassing nightmare..." She blushed as Scootaloo joined me back at my side as Luna stood up.

"Well Dash we're going on a little trip to visit somepony. With your dreams connected I can bring all three of you to the higher realm and visit some of your relatives. I've done it with these two but they want to do it again bringing you this time. Do you accept the offer?" Dash looked to me and Scootaloo confused.

I gave a hefty sigh. "Luna took me and Scootaloo to see mom and dad in heaven." I said. "Do you wanna come with or not?"

Dash gave a moment of thought. "...Whatever... Might get my mind off you-know-what..." She said going into a little pout.

Luna gave a smile and nudged Dash closer to me and Scootaloo. "Alright now stay together you three." She said. "I tried this once with a stallion long long ago and I managed to lose him in limbo. I found him he just came back with a little problem with a few bodily functions. Technically he died." Scoot whimpered and clung to me tightly. Luna huffed. "Little filly... why do I always mess up when little ones are present...." Luna closed her eyes and concentrated as her horn started to glow. Scootaloo buried her face into my side while I hid Dash's eyes from the bright light which kinda stunned me a bit. Didn't have time to put my hand up in front of my eyes... Probably would've been faster to close them but... shit it was worse than a fucking flashbang grenade in one of my C-Sphere games. I basically watched a whole world form around us before we found ourselves in the middle of my living room. Once that happened I leaned onto Dash feeling as if I nearly lost control of my legs. Luna rushed to my side as Scootaloo backed away. "Don't worry I gotcha!"

I gave a groan as Dash and Luna helped me over to the couch sitting me down so I could just get myself out of my stunned state. "A mortal reacting to the fast changes around him and a bright light and still awake." A voice said. "Now I've seen everything. You need me to fix everything there?"

Dash yelped and tackled me onto the couch, scared. Luna looked behind her and there stood her mother, Heavens Light. "P-Please tell me I didn't have a heart attack in my sleep..." Dash said. "I don't wanna die just yet.... I've got so much stuff I wanna be awesome at!"

Scootaloo came over and yanked Dash's arm pulling her onto the floor. I sluggishly sat up and gave a nod trying to get some words out. Nothing but gibberish. Heavens light picked me up with her magic and in a flash I found myself standing straight up and perfectly fine. I knelt down bowing my head in respect. "Thank you. Didn't have time to block my vision before your daughter brought us here... Sorry if we're intruding again..." Dash got up sitting Scootaloo on the couch.

"Daughter? Intruding again?! What the fuck is going on in here? This better not be some fucking drug trip! Did I poke myself with a needle you have hidden under your pillow Ryder?!"

Luna huffed as I got back to my feet. "Dash first off this is my mother and you are in her realm!" She snapped. "Thy should treat my mother with respect, apologize for talking out of turn and bad mouthing your cousins good name!" She never even looked at Dash as she said that. I looked to Dash as she crossed her arms and sighed.

"Sorry for that stuff but... Can someone still tell me why we're in a more... Cleaner version of your place Ryder... PLEASE?!"

I took a deep breath giving a sigh. "Dash... I told you once...." I said. "We're in heaven and everything up here is better than what's down there and in between... Trust me I've seen the underworld too and its a long story so please don't ask." I looked back to Luna's mother. "...Again very sorry if we're intruding. We just wanted to visit with our family members one last time before finally laying their bodies to rest!"

Heaven gave us a smile. "No need to be sorry." She said. "Thy can come up here at any time since my daughter speaks highly of you... And that you have met my husband and I understands he has a liking towards you." I gave a relieved sigh.

"Well... Might be the last time for me but... not too sure about my sister... I might be here when she's here but not by myself."

"A good sibling you are. You stay right here while I bring your parents. They're visiting with thy grand parents. Unless you want to visit with them as well. I understand you never got to meet them but it might be a good idea to meet them." I gave this a moment of thought.

"Not right now. Maybe another time. Hearths Warming perhaps. Right now we just want to meet with our mother and father... Sorry if it feels as if i'm rushing you." Heavens Light gave a nod and flashed away. I went and sat down on the couch, putting Scootaloo on my lap as Luna and Dash sat down next to us.

Dash took a deep breath and gave a sigh as she put an arm around my neck. "...I think Luna's mother is actually right." She said. "You're just being the best brother you can be if you actually saved your sister risking your own freedom... I mean you held up okay after you went back into that house..." She nuzzled me whimpering a bit. "...I thought... I thought I was gonna lose more than just Aunt Airway and Uncle Rubber... I see Scootaloo and not you.... I thought you died...." I gave Dash a hug seeing her tear up.

"...I'm not dead just yet... We all have our times, mines just not now or yours for that matter..." I actually had a tear come to my eye as I hugged Scoot and Dash. "...Thank you both for giving me a reason to keep on kickin'... Love you..."

Scootaloo and Dash nuzzled me each giving me a kiss on the cheek. Luna gave a bit of a laugh. "...You are a true family no matter who's lost and who's gained." She said having a seat on the coffee table. "Now dry those tears or else those diaper nightmares are going to get worse Dash." Dash quickly broke the hug and rubbed at her eyes wiping the tears away as best she could. Me and Scoot... I guess we just didn't wanna have each other wake up wet. Kinda hard to have Scoot stop crying when she starts.

Time almost stood still as I hugged Scootaloo and held her as close as I could without crushing her. I guess we were there for so long we didn't notice Heavens Light enter again but with our mother and father this time. Mom saw us crying on the couch and hurried to hug us, ignoring Dash almost completely. Almost being she pushed Dash over to the side and sat in between us. "....C'mon you two don't cry... momma's here..." My mom said comforting both of us. "...you're okay... You're holding up fine...."

Dad came over to us and knelt down putting a hand on my lap. "Yeah... Come on... please stop crying." He said.

I sniffled and gave Scootaloo over to mom and wiped my eyes. "...S-sorry..." I said. "...It's just... It's hard to know you guys wont be there to see Scoot grow up... You wont see any grandfoals... Not even see Scoot get off the ground... I mean... I got Aunt Misty and Uncle Red to come over... They... they're just trying to cope with knowing they didn't have a chance to make up with you guys..." Dad sighed standing up.

"...Dont worry.... I kick myself now just feeling like I should've done something... I actually would've done something behind your mothers back since she's not one to budge on stuff like that."

Dash sprang up and almost tackled my dad to the floor hugging him. "...I-I'm sorry I didn't visit... My mom would've gutted me and fucked me up the ass with my own entrails...." She said starting to break down. "...D-don't h-hate me please...."

My mom got up and gave Scootaloo over to Luna and hugged Dash and my dad. "...Dash we could never hate you... You and Ryder worked together to get us back together and... We're at fault because we didn't listen...." She said. "...When you go back.... Please.... Tell your father to take Ryder and dig into my closet... He's got something in there that I've been meaning to give back but never got the chance...."

I glanced over and saw Luna whispering into Scootaloo's ear. Scootaloo wiped her eyes giving Luna a smile nodding before climbing onto my lap whispering to me. "...Luna tells me we're still dreaming here." She said. "....You think you can get mommy and daddy to sit down? I wanna try flying here.... Make them at least see I can do it... You can probably help me to fly for real when we wake up. Please help?" I got a warm feeling from hearing that. She wanted me to teach her to fly... She hasn't flown at all... I flew at her age but she needs to work her wings out which Dad had me doing... Didn't fly since I got stuck. Flew right up a flag pole and gave myself a wedgie... This pole was twenty feet in the air and even pegasai can have a fear of heights.

I went back and whispered into Scoot's ear. "...Scoot... If you promise to do what I say i'll teach you." I said. "Go on Scoot... get ready and I'll sit em down." Scootaloo gave a nod and got up off of my lap. I got up and pried mom and dad away from Dash. "Here guys take a seat. Got you a special surprise." I sat them down as Princess Luna got up off of the table and stood off to the side with her mother. I went back to Dash and hugged her shushing her as she sobbed softly into my shoulder. I looked over to Scootaloo and gave a thumbs up. She smiled nervously as she faced mom and dad.

"Mommy... Daddy..." She said. "...I feel kinda sad that you wont ever get to see this for real but... I want you guys to see what you're missing... I want you to at least root for me from here.... Well... Here goes...." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath extending her wings. She fluttered them a few times before hopping off the ground grunting as she stumbled a bit. She was flying... My sister was in mid air flying.

I looked over at mom and dad tearing up a bit knowing I'd be one to teach her how to actually fly. They started to tear up as well. "...Scoot..." My dad said. "...Sweetie... Y-you're flying...." That she was...

Heavens Light walked over to my father. "...Thy must have a reason that she hasn't yet flown on the realm of the living." She said. My father looked over at her.

"We... We blamed a foalsitter for her not being able to fly but we don't know which one did it...." The heavenly goddess looked to Scootaloo. "Couldst thy land and move away from the TV?" Scootaloo landed on the ground and hurried to me giving me a hug in tears. A remote appeared in Heavens hand and she turned it on. "Apparently a foal sitter by the name of Mariner Might had left Scootaloo alone when she was just a foal. Her wing got caught on a toy and when Mariner had found out she accidentally pulled a few vital feathers from one wing."

We all looked to the TV and saw Scootaloo as a cute little baby. She had a pink shirt and matching flowery skirt with a diaper poking from underneath. She was sitting around different toys. Cars, trains, little wagons and stuff. A blue maned unicorn mare sat off to the side looking as if she were texting on a phone not paying attention. That's pretty much how it was. We couldn't really hear what was being said but all I could watch was my own baby sister. Her cute mane with a little pink bow in it, her teeny little wings ah! I could go on forever but I wanna go on with this shit. As the foalsitter left the room Scootaloo tried standing up but fell back onto a toy train getting a few feathers caught in between the wheels. She cried, the foal sitter ran back in and took it off her wing. Wasn't much to that but... My mother freaked. "No wonder she couldn't fly!" She said. "I knew she was bad news from the first day when she wanted her money up front! That little.... UGH!" Heavens Light turned off the TV and made the remote disappear.

"Yes. Without those feathers she wont be able to grow as a Pegasus filly. Perhaps if you wish I can allow the feathers to grow back?"

Scootaloo looked at me as surprised as I was. She looked back at Mrs. Light. "Will you really Miss Light?" Scoot asked. I saw the heavenly mare nod and kneel down.

"Yes. My wishes come at a price. Nothing like my husbands." Oh shit.... "If I give you those feathers they'll start small. Over time they will grow to their full size and you'd be able to fly for real. You and your family would be able to fly to Cloudsdale without help and from what I've seen with you I know you love thy flight team The Wonderbolts correct?" Scootaloo blushed and nodded.

I huffed. "C'mon don't keep the kid waiting anymore! I'm getting excited just to teach her!" I said. Heavens Light gave a nod and with a flash everything was done. I wasn't stunned, I didn't see double. It was quick.

"There... Scootaloo. Thy have been given the gift to fly. One day you will be able to go as high as they would take you. But for now... I think it might be time to say your farewells. If thou can consult my daughter you can come here at any time and I welcome thee with open arms."

I sniffled and picked Scootaloo up. I was still affected by seeing my baby sister fly even if it was in a dream. Mom and Dad got up from the couch and hugged us. "...It was... great seeing you guys..." Dad said. "...You guys were the best kids we had.... You guys were trouble at times but... You guys did good..."

Mom kissed our cheeks. "....Remember Ryder.... Uncle red needs to get something back... He'll know what it is when he sees it." She said. She glanced at Dash. "Dash honey? You wanna go back with them or can you stay a little longer?"

Princess Luna approached us. "If Dash wishes she can stay a little longer." She said. "I can take Ryder and Scootaloo to their own dream sharing realm and wake them up."

Dash sighed. "...Why don't you just do that Princess... I wanna stay here and tell my aunt and uncle something...." She said. Luna gave a nod and Me and Scootaloo kissed our parents goodbye and... Yeah all that other lovey dovey shit.

Not long later we were awake, I changed back into my own grown up clothes and Scootaloo was in her room just dressing herself back up. Dash how ever was still asleep and get this: She wet herself. I went out of my room dressed in basketball shorts and a tank top. As I came to the banister I saw my uncle and aunt sitting on the couch watching TV almost as if they were mom and dad just in some other bodies. I stepped down the stairs and gave a sigh. "Just seems so empty without them huh...?" I said alerting them.

Aunt Misty looked up at me as Uncle Red turned the TV off. "Yeah... Such a shame you had to come home to.... that stuff..." She said. "...I'm surprised no one here is mentally damaged from that..." I sat down on the coffee table.

"...Well you obviously haven't seen the surveillance video from the local gun range I'm banned from... I got arrested saving Scoot from CPS and... Well look at me now I'm the general just because I got a second chance and because Shining Armor fucked up. But hey... I got the know how to protect everyone and take em down with no shots fired. Took down a robbery at Sugarcube Corner but... It did cost them a broken window and a bit of an accident from somepony who had the gun aimed at them. Twelve gauge and it was not good to some foals... nap time was interrupted." Yeah I didn't know why I said that.

Uncle red took a breath and sighed. "Well... I'd say you had something done to that nut of yours." He said. "Dash up yet? I gotta apologize for snickering while her mother diapered her up. Speakin' of which why do you got those?"

"Long story... But... Aunt Misty you might wanna get up and maybe change Dash... Your baby girl had an accident. Uncle Red you and I need to do something in their room..." Aunt Misty nodded and got up hurrying upstairs. I helped Uncle Red off the couch and walked with him up to the door of mom and dad's room. I looked to him. "So uh... You wanna d-do the honors?" He looked at me as I started to shake. We didn't ever go into their room since they died.

"I think you're afraid of goin' in there because of all the memories huh?" I gave a nod. I remember going into my parents room during a storm. I uh... had a little accident and hid it as a nightmare and climbed into their bed after changing. "Aw well go on ahead and hang onto me if you feel like crying." I gave another nod just as he started to open the door. When the door was open I saw a large bed with red sheets on it. Two night stands were at either side of the bed and a dresser sat against the wall near the window looking out over the street. Just opposite the dresser across the room was a large sliding closet door. Right there was where my mom said to look for Uncle Red's gift. "...Damn... Hard to believe this was where you and your sister were made..." I walked in clutching my uncles shoulder. The air in the room felt still yet cool. It was like mom and dad were standing with us as we looked around the room. "So... what'd we need to do in here? Did you wanna do something here or did you want me to come in here with you to support you?" I sighed shuttering.

"...Both kinda...." I said. "....I know you wont believe me when I say this but.... Mom and dad had us brought to heaven and... they told me to find something that I had to give back to you but... I didn't really know how to approach the room without freaking out.... Trust me first week back after cleaning and my jail time Scootaloo kicked something across the hall and landed right at the door... I pissed my pants bending over to pick it up..." I blushed as I went over to the closet. "...A-anyways... I think what they wanted me to give you is in here..." He gave a hum as he came to my side and opened the closet door. A lot of hanging clothes. Mostly moms but... As long as I thought I would take to look for Uncle Red's gift it was right in plain sight. I only say that because a lighter fell on top of my head. He just snatched it right up.

"Well this might've just been it! My lucky lighter! I knew your father took it from me! Always smoking them 'grits." I actually never saw my dad smoke. Well... He never did because Scootaloo had asthma for a while. "This thing got me together with your aunt, got us through our first date and kept us warm during a storm. Lit us a fire that burned until morning and even then it kept going." You know this lighter wasn't just any flick a flame lighter. This one had the latch that sparked the lighter fluid sending a flame a few inches. "Say Ryder you don't smoke do you?" I shook my head. I actually huffed a bit of weed back in high school (not a pun) and I freaked out I vowed I would never touch a cigarette, cigar or anything that is smokeable again. "Well... That's good son... I don't want your little sister to pick anything up. But... Here..." Uncle Red grabbed my hand and set the lighter in my hand. "...You take my lucky lighter. My luck has given me a beautiful wife, a loving daughter and a niece and a nephew that actually wanna be part of our lives after my sister and brother in law passed on... You might be able to find someone to spend the rest of your life with, have a child of your very own and maybe get lucky enough to live long enough to see your own grand foals get their cutie marks." I sniffled and looked at the lighter. Golden rectangle. Painted flame on the side.

"...You sure Uncle Red?" I looked up at my uncle. He gave a nod. I smiled and gave him a hug. "...Thank you... I'll hold it close to my heart..." He smiled and hugged me and patting my back. I basically spent the rest of the day with what family I had. Scootaloo, Dash, Uncle Red and Aunt Misty. We watched TV together, joked together, shared memories of what mom and dad did with each of them. I even called over Shining and had him bring a couple beers for me and Uncle Red to share. Aunt Misty wasn't much of a drinker and Dash only drank shots with spirits and shit. I only drank hard stuff like Vodka and whiskey depending on who I was with. That night Uncle Red and Aunt Misty stayed over. I had Scootaloo in my bed while Dash took over her room. Scoot lied down in my bed as I was just putting some deodorant on. I looked back at her just dressed in one of my shirts. She was kinda cute that way. "So... You happy from today?"

Scootaloo sighed kicking back in my bed. "Yeah... I still miss mommy and daddy but.... why should I cry about them when I still have you...?" She asked. "You were the one who I cried over the most the night daddy and mommy died... You saved me from waking up in an orphanage and with someone else in a different place away from my friends...." I went and sat in my bed.

"...It was worth it Scoot... Mom and dad actually nearly got you and I taken away when we were younger. Someone thought dad was beating me up because I went to school with a black eye that Big Mac gave me. Maybe if you work hard enough to help someone and get to know them you can change the way they feel about you. Big MacIntosh used to be my bully but when his mother and father died we took him and his sisters in for a few weeks and he ended up protecting me from another bully. Those fillies at your school that reported that creep that almost kidnapped you were bullies to you right?" Scootaloo nodded. "Well... Why don't you go to school tomorrow and invite them over for a sleep over? Show them you aren't afraid and want them to know you want to be friends!"

"You think I should?" I gave her a nod. "...Can I invite Sweetie Belle and Applebloom too? I'm pretty sure Diamond Tiara is still a bit of a bully to me.... Silver Spoon is being nice but Sweetie Belle is a bit afraid of her still."

"Say no more. I can be there to supervise and make sure there are no pranks that can happen to embarrass the others. Just in case you can hide a bathroom break as a little info swap."

"Ryyyy don't do that I wanna do what I want!"

"Okay but one prank and its the last one you have for a while! Got it?" Scootaloo gave a nod and just as I lie down she hugs me and nuzzles me.

"Love you Big Brother..." I smiled and kissed her head.

"...Love you more little sis...."