Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes as she lay in the living room. She wasn't lying on the red chaise lounger, but rather on a bed that she had requested Twilight to move down there about a week ago. The pegasus was now nine months along in her pregnancy, and within the past two weeks, she had been finding it more and more difficult to walk up and down the castle's stairs. Not only that, but Rainbow's overall energy was slowly declining as the foal weight put more and more stress on her body. She had recently been told by Nurse Redheart that she should refrain from using stairs and go on bedrest sometime soon. As expected, Rainbow wasn't all too thrilled about that, but as she had told Soarin sometime ago, she had to do what she had to do.

Having completed her nap, the pegasus gradually climbed out of the bed and got on all fours on the floor. She stretched lightly, and then decided that a little bit of fresh afternoon air would wake her up further. With that in mind, she made her way to the front door and opened it, instantly being hit with the slight coolness and fresh quality of the air outside. Rainbow closed her eyes and lifted her nose slightly before inhaling a deep breath. As the air entered her, it eradicated any remaining bits of sleepiness from her body as her blood vessels extracted the oxygen from the air inside her lungs.

"Rainbow Dash!" The cyan mare was caught off guard, causing her lungs to release the air she had inhaled as she was startled by the pony in front of her. She opened her eyes and looked down slightly, noticing Scootaloo standing right in front of her on her blue scooter, her red wagon in tow as her blue and white helmet sat fastened on her head.

Rainbow smiled excitedly upon seeing her young friend. "Oh, hey, kid!" she replied.

"You busy right now?" the orange filly asked.

"Nah, I'm just takin' it easy. The doctor said I should be going on bedrest in the next couple of weeks, and I wanna practice by not doing too much."

Scootaloo's smile suddenly turned upside-down. "Oh..." she said, sadly.

"What's wrong, Scoots?" Rainbow asked.

"Well," the pegasus filly continued as she stepped off her scooter, "I kinda just wanted to spend some time with you today. I figured that maybe we could go do a few things around town, but if you're staying here and trying to not do anything, then I guess we can't do that." Scootaloo then looked down, a sad look still on her face.

Rainbow reached her hoof out and brought the filly's chin upwards to meet her gaze. "Hey, I didn't say I had to do nothing, did I? I'm totally up for heading out with you!"

Scootaloo's face brightened up instantly. "Really??" she asked, excitedly, her tiny wings buzzing erratically.

"Well, as long as it's not too far away. It's been hard for me to walk a lot lately," she explained as she shifted on her hooves a couple of times.

"Don't worry," Scootaloo continued, "That's why I brought my wagon with me!"

"Uhhhh...Are you sure you'll be able to pull me?"

"Totally! I mean, aren't pegasi lighter than other ponies?"

"Yeah, but...I'm pregnant. That adds quite a bit of weight, especially since I'm having twins."

"Piece of cake," Scootaloo said, flicking her forehoof forward as she closed her eyes, "I've pulled Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at the same time plenty of times. I'm not too worried about you."

Though Rainbow was still a bit doubtful, she couldn't help but feel happy that Scootaloo was being as confident as she was. "Alright, Squirt," the cyan pegasus continued, "Let's do this."

"Great!" Scootaloo exclaimed, leaping in the air as her wings buzzed. She stayed aloft for two seconds before returning to the ground, climbing back on her scooter soon after. Meanwhile, Rainbow climbed into the red wagon attached to the blue scooter and sat down, putting on the helmet that Scootaloo had left in there for her. Once they were both set, Scootaloo placed her forehooves on the handlebars. She then began buzzing her wings like she normally did, but the scooter didn't move. She ceased her erratic buzzing for a brief moment before starting up again, making her scooter and wagon jolt forward ever so slightly. "Ugh!" the filly grunted as she struggled to make her and her friend move faster.

Rainbow quickly grew concerned over how much Scootaloo was exerting herself. She was about to tell her to stop when an idea flew into her head. Leaning forward slightly, Dash began flapping her own wings, but not too quickly. This took Scootaloo by surprise, as her friend's actions caused the two of them to move forward a little faster on the combined mechanism. The filly looked behind her and noticed the mare helping her. She smiled, then immediately turned her attention to the road ahead, she and her friend eventually reaching a smooth, desirable speed as their combined wingpower propelled them towards town.

Right as Princess Celestia lowered the sun for the day, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash arrived back at Twilight's castle, both pegasi slightly exhausted from their afternoon together. After leaving the castle initially, the two friends had gone to Hayburger King for a late lunch, as Rainbow had slept from about 11:00 in the morning to about 1:30. This was followed by a trip to Sugar Cube Corner for dessert, and then they returned to the castle, where Rainbow got Scootaloo caught up in the Daring Do series. The orange filly was paying attention to the cyan mare for the most-part, but there were times where she got distracted by Tank's slow, yet somewhat entertaining, antics.

Later on, the two pegasi went to the park, and Rainbow decided to give Scootaloo a few tips and pointers to help her continue to learn to fly. The advice didn't really seem to do much for the filly, as many attempts to keep herself aloft longer than the previous time failed. Nevertheless, Rainbow was proud of her for putting forth some effort in hopes that one day, the two of them would share the skies and fly side by side.

The last event on Rainbow and Scootaloo's agenda came to them as a surprise, as, by complete chance, they ran into Twilight and Spike just outside Ponyville's movie theater. The princess and the dragon were about to see the new Power Ponies motion picture, and since the two pegasi didn't think they had anything else to do, they decided to join them on their outing. The four of them enjoyed the movie very much, but Rainbow was more focused on downing as much popcorn as she could, as an unexpected craving attack - which, according to Nurse Redheart, was very unusual for mares at this stage of their pregnancy - hit her hard while inside the theater. By the time it was over, Rainbow and Scootaloo decided to call it quits for the day, so they hopped onto their respective sections of their transportation contraption and headed for the castle.

"I'm really glad we got to do all that, Scoot," Rainbow said to the orange filly as she got out of the wagon and took her helmet off, laying it in the red transportation device soon after, "It was awesome. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Rainbow," Scootaloo replied, "It feels like we haven't done anything in ages!"

"That's probably 'cause we haven't," Rainbow replied, putting her right forehoof over her belly.

Scootaloo immediately knew what her friend was getting at. "Oh, you're right," the filly replied with a guilty smile and a slight blush. Her facial expression returned to normal before continuing. "Anyway, I know you gotta get some rest, so I should probably get going now," Scootaloo said as she stepped back onto her scooter.

"Actually, kid," Rainbow said, "Could you stay for a bit? There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Scootaloo paused, not expecting such a request from her idol. However, she quickly beamed and hopped off her scooter as she replied, "Sure!"

"Good," Rainbow finished as she and Scootaloo headed inside the castle.

Rainbow brought her young friend into the living room and over to the chaise lounger. As they approached it, Scootaloo couldn't help but notice the bed that was on the other side of the room. "Hey, Dash?" she began to ask, "Is this, like, your bedroom or something?"

"Kinda," Rainbow replied, "I had Twilight move that thing down here so I wouldn't have to go up and down stairs. My body's already stressed out as is."

"Oh, okay," Scootaloo responded, "So, what was it you wanted to ask me?"

"C'mon up here," Rainbow replied, patting the spot next to her on the lounger. Scootaloo obliged, hopping up onto the red piece of furniture and sitting next to the other pegasus. "Scootaloo," Rainbow continued, "I've been wondering. How have you been feeling about all this?"

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "About what?" she asked.

"You know...me, Soarin, getting married, about to have two kids...that stuff."

"Oh, that..." Scootaloo replied, her face sporting a slightly saddened expression.

"Is something wrong, Scoot?"

"Oh, nonononono..." Scootaloo replied in rapid succession, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that you're about to have a pair of foals, but...I feel like...once they're here, you and I won't have as much time to spend together. You're like a big sister to me, and I love it when you and I do things together, but pretty soon, you'll have to focus more on your family and your career. It's just that...well...I feel like you and I are gonna start drifting apart because you're gonna be so busy, and...I don't want that to happen." Upon finishing her statement, the orange filly lowered her head and closed her eyes, her sad expression still clearly visible.

The two ponies remained silent for several seconds before Rainbow smiled and said, "Scoot, you're right, but you're also not right."

Scootaloo immediately looked up at Rainbow. "Wait...huh?" she asked.

"Look, kid, you're right in the sense that we won't have as much time together as we'd like, but you're wrong in the sense that we're gonna drift apart. What I mean by that is, even though you and I aren't technically sisters..." Rainbow's words sent a small hint of sadness through the young filly. "...that doesn't mean that you and I are gonna stop being friends." Scootaloo's smile returned, albeit reluctantly. "There's absolutely zero chance of us drifting apart."

"Y-You mean that?" Scootaloo asked, quietly.

"Definitely," Rainbow replied, "I don't want you to feel sad, kid. True, some things are gonna change, but whenever I have any free time, I'll try my best to include you in it."

Scootaloo felt so wonderful that she felt like she was about to cry. After remaining silent for a few seconds, she whispered, "Thank you." Rainbow's reply came in the form of a nuzzle to the filly's forehead.

All of a sudden, Rainbow felt movement in her abdomen. Smiling, she said, "Hey, kid! Gimme your hoof!"

"Huh?" Scootaloo asked as Rainbow grabbed her left forehoof with her right one. She brought it over to her belly, and the orange filly's eyes widened as she realized what was happening. "It's...I mean...One of them's kicking!"

"Actually, they both are!" Rainbow replied, swiftly moving Scootaloo's hoof over to the other side of her belly. The filly immediately felt the other foal kicking, and it made her feel giddy on the inside.

"Wow! That's so cool!" Scootaloo said in excitement, "I've always wanted to feel a foal kicking inside it's mother!"

"Same here!" Rainbow replied, "You know, I never thought I'd actually have to get pregnant in order to feel it for myself!" Both pegasi shared a chuckle at that statement.

Almost as soon as it began, the foals' kicking ceased, and Scootaloo drew her hoof away. Her gaze remained on Rainbow's belly, and now she was curious as to how a pregnant mare's belly felt when the foal wasn't kicking. Scootaloo hesitantly raised a hoof back up to Dash's belly, holding it about an inch away. She then looked up at the cyan pegasus and timidly asked, "C-Can I...?"

"Go right ahead," Dash replied. With that, Scootaloo gently placed her left forehoof on the top of Dash's belly, instantly sensing solidity. She moved her hoof around a bit, getting a good feel of something she had always wanted to feel for herself. Dash's belly, though soft on the outside, was like a big rock that was stuck in place. It felt so weird, yet so interesting. Knowing there were two lives developing inside her friend made Scootaloo wonder what it would feel like to get married and have her own foal in the future. Even though that would be at least ten years away, she knew she could wait.

Scootaloo moved her hoof downward a little bit until it was about an inch above Dash's belly button. She ceased her motions, then moved her snout in closer to her friend's belly. Dash was curious as to why her friend was doing this, but her question was answered when she heard Scootaloo whisper into her belly, "I hope you two get here soon! I can't wait to meet you!"

Rainbow giggled lightly as her friend finished speaking, then brought her right forehoof to the back of the filly's head, gently rubbing her neck and mane. This contact prompted Scootaloo to lift her head up slightly and rest her left cheek on the top of Rainbow's belly, sighing as she did. She closed her eyes as she continued brushing her hoof over the top left side of her friend's belly, Rainbow herself continuing her own gentle actions on her young friend.

Looking down at Scootaloo, Rainbow could somehow sense that Scootaloo was in one of the best moods she had ever been in. She had just had some of her fears disproven, and now they were both enjoying some much needed company as they each felt the warmth emanating from her pregnant belly. It somehow drew them closer together, and Rainbow couldn't exactly figure out why.

Rainbow then thought of one thing she could do to make this one of the best days of Scootaloo's life. "Hey, Scoot?" Dash asked, whispering slightly.

The orange filly opened her eyes and looked up at her friend. "Yeah?" she responded.

"You're gonna make an awesome aunt."

Scootaloo's eyes shot wide open as she lifted her head. She smiled as she asked, "Y-You actually mean that?"

"Hey, I don't say things if I don't mean 'em, kid," the cyan mare replied warmly, continuing to stroke Scootaloo's mane and neck.

Butterflies flew freely inside the orange filly's body. At that moment, she was in a state of euphoria that she had never been in before. She knew right then and there that Rainbow Dash accepted her as a sister, something she had wanted to hear for the longest time.

Tears began to slowly stream out of Scootaloo's eyes as she closed them, lifting her head up further and pressing the left side of her face into Rainbow's chest. She was somehow able to wrap both of her forelegs around her friend as Rainbow returned the embrace. Rainbow then leaned down and kissed Scootaloo lightly on the forehead, then closed her eyes as she continued to sit there, lovingly hugging the filly that she could proudly call her sister and friend.

Author's Note

I apologize if this chapter seemed really quick and/or fast-paced with regards to the events of the outing, but I was eager to get to Rainbow and Scootaloo's discussion in the end.