Scootaloo's New Family

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: Rainbow Dash
Chapter 2: Applejack
Chapter 3: Rarity
Chapter 5: Derpy
Chapter 6: Berry Punch
Chapter 7: Speed Dating
Chapter 8: Prince Blueblood
Chapter 9: A Conversation in the Garden (Scootaloo’s New Family)
Chapter 4: Fluttershy

Prologue

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Prologue

“Time for dinner!”

Scootaloo rushed to the table, racing her younger brothers Dasher and Striker. They ran down the hallway from the living room to the kitchen, Scootaloo running down the center, her brothers at each side. She began to pull ahead. Her brothers smiled; she noticed it too late.

Dasher and Striker leaned in, trapping her between them. She was taller, but they had earth pony strength and bulk on their side. She stumbled, and they got to the kitchen table first, sitting on the bench next to the big platter of biscuits. By the time she made it to the table, they had already taken the largest biscuits.

“Scootaloo, wash your hooves,” her mother said as she placed a stew pot on the table.

“But Mom!”

“No buts. We don’t want to get more tree sap on the table,” she said.

“That only happened once or twice!”

The glare she got from her mother told Scootaloo not to argue further. She washed her hooves in the sink before returning to the table, squeezing in with her mother, father, and two brothers around a table better suited to seat four ponies. All the best food was already on her brothers’ plates. She compensated by taking a big spoonful of mashed potatoes.

And so it was, just like every other dinner. Scootaloo fought with her brothers over the food. Her mother was distracted with feeding her twin baby brothers. And her father, when he wasn’t at work during dinner, brought his work to the dinner table.

“Ow!” Scootaloo said. She rubbed her right wing; something had snagged one of her downy feathers. She immediately looked to Striker, seated to her right. The six-year-old colt just sat there with an innocent expression on his face, happily chewing on his larger, flakier biscuit.

“How was your last day of school, Scootaloo?” her mother said.

“Fine. We didn’t do much, just one last test and that speech. And then we had a party, but Miss Cheerilee had to ruin things by giving us a summer reading list. And... you’re not even listening to me.”

“That’s nice, dear.” Scootaloo’s mother was focused on trying to get one toddler, then the other, to eat from a bowl of mashed carrots.

There was a soft splat sound. Scootaloo looked up, and saw a spoonful of mashed potatoes resting on the brim of that stupid khaki Hydra Hunter hat Dasher always wore.

“Scootaloo, don’t fling mashed potatoes at your brother,” her mother said.

“Oh, sure, now you pay attention,” she was tempted to say, but she knew that phrase never went over well. Instead, she replied with a simple statement of fact. “I didn’t do it.”

“Really? Then what is this?” Her mother pulled a bit of orange fluff out of the glob of mashed potatoes.

“I didn’t do it!” Scootaloo said, a mixture of anger and exasperation showing in her voice. She turned to her brother. “Striker!”

“Yes, big sister?” he replied innocently.

“Don’t fling mashed potatoes and then try to frame me.”

“But I didn’t!” he said. And then he looked to their mother, with the saddest puppy dog eyes.

“Scootaloo, don’t try to get your brother in trouble,” she said.

“Ugh!” She turned to her father. Of course, he wasn’t watching, either. He had his hooves on an adding machine, and occasionally made marks on a spreadsheet with the pencil in his mouth. “Dad, can’t you put away the work for once?”

“This isn’t work,” her father said.

“Huh?”

“This was a particularly fine bit of accounting I did earlier today, and I just wanted to relive it.”

“What? You can’t be serious, Dad!”

Her father smiled warmly. “When you get your cutie mark, Scootaloo, then you’ll understand.”

“ARGH! I can’t take any more of this!” Scootaloo jumped up from the table and headed to the front door. She strapped on her helmet.

“Where do you think you’re going, young lady?” her mother said.

“I need to talk to Princess Twilight,” she replied.

Her mother started to respond, but she felt her husband’s hoof on her foreleg. “Let her go, dear. She needs to blow off some steam.”

“And that’s the kind of thing I go through every night!” Scootaloo said after recounting the details of her evening to Twilight Sparkle.

The young princess sighed. She had grown comfortable in her tutor role with the energetic little filly and her often destructive friends, but once again she found herself cast in the role of all-purpose advisor. There were some topics where no amount of reading could replace actual experience, and this was one of them. Still, she had to try something.

“I have the worst family in all of Equestria!” Scootaloo proclaimed.

“Did you know your parents have spoken with me, asking my advice on how to help you grow into your own mare?” Twilight Sparkle said.

“And what good has that done? Nothing ever changes!”

“Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world, Scootaloo.”

“More difficult than being princess?” Scootaloo countered.

Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat. “Anyway, they’re doing the best job they can.”

“ANYPONY could do a better job!”

“Do you really believe that, Scootaloo?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

The filly nodded her head vigorously.

“Very well, then. By the power vested in me as Princess of Equestria, I hereby grant you, Scootaloo, the freedom to find yourself a better family. You will no longer be in the care of your current family while this decree is in place.”

Her eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“All right!” Scootaloo immediately ran for the exit, only to be picked up by Twilight Sparkle’s magic.

Twilight Sparkle placed Scootaloo on the couch. “There are ground rules you need to understand, Scootaloo. First of all, when you’re not in the care of a prospective family, you will be in my care, or the care of somepony I designate.”

“Sure thing, Twilight!” Scootaloo said.

“Second, you need to let me know what family you’re with. Third, you will stay with that family until you decide either to make the adoption official, or decide that they’re not the right family for you. Fourth, no second chances. Once you choose a family, and decide you can’t live with them, that decision is final.”

“That’s all fine. I’ll have a better family in ten seconds flat!”

“Finally, you must make your decision before school starts next year. If you haven’t found a family by then, Scootaloo, you will have to go back to the orphanage.”

“Fine,” Scootaloo said. “Wait. Did you say ‘back to the orphanage’?”

Twilight Sparkle nodded.

“But I just spent the last fifteen minutes telling you about my family!” Scootaloo said.

“You did?” She gazed off and scratched her chin with a hoof.

“You see? That’s the problem! My family’s so boring, you forget all about them the minute you don’t see them!”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t have a family right now.”

“Oh.” Scootaloo looked to the door. “Then let’s fix that!”

“Go ahead, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo rushed out the door and hopped on her scooter.

Twilight Sparkle teleported to the balcony and watched Scootaloo tear off down the streets of Ponyville. Any doubt of where she was going ended when she faintly heard her yell “Rainbow Dash!”

Author's Note

Expect this story to stay close to the trope. You should be able to guess how it's going to end, but how long will it take to get there?

Chapter 1: Rainbow Dash

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 1: Rainbow Dash

Twilight Sparkle returned to her castle by teleporting, reappearing in the throne room. Immediately afterward, a rainbow blur streaked across the room, coming to a halt as Rainbow Dash hovered in front of her. The pegasus looked her in the eye. “This is a joke, right?” she said.

“No, I’m very serious. I’m giving Scootaloo the chance to find the family she’s always wanted,” Twilight Sparkle replied.

“Do I look like a mare who’s ready to raise a filly?”

“You’re not going to be raising a little filly. You’re going to be caring for a nearly grown filly who’s just as independent as you, and to whom you’ve wanted a chance to grow closer,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Trust me, Rainbow Dash. I know your loyalty to her means you won’t let her down.”

“But her parents!”

“I just came back from talking to them. They were just as surprised as you, but when I explained my idea, they agreed to try this for the summer,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Go ahead and sleep on it, and I’ll bring Scootaloo to you tomorrow. All you need to do is make a bed for her and feed her, and I’ll even provide a stipend for you.”

“Okay,” Rainbow Dash said doubtfully.

Twilight Sparkle smiled. “Just be yourself, and everything will work out fine.”

“All right, weather team. Put some wingpower into it!” Rainbow Dash called.

The Ponyville weather team captain pressed her hooves into the cloud holding her cloud home. On either side of her, the members of her team flew, contributing their own wingpower to moving the whole structure down. Slowly, the cloud descended, until it rested four feet above the ground.

Waiting below was Scootaloo, her little wings buzzing rapidly. Standing behind her, Twilight Sparkle monitored the situation.

“And one final thing,” Rainbow Dash announced. She grabbed tufts of cloud, and quickly fashioned them into steps.

“Cool!” Scootaloo said.

“Eh, it’s temporary. What I’m thinking is we should install a ramp. That way, you can pick up some awesome speed when you’re leaving home.

“Awesome!” And her wings buzzed again.

“Now, Scootaloo, remember the rules,” Twilight Sparkle said. “You’re to treat Rainbow Dash as your mother, which means she’s in charge of you. And you have to stay with her until either you want to make this official or you decide you don’t want to continue.”

“That’s never going to happen!” Scootaloo said.

Twilight Sparkle just smiled. “Good luck, you two.”

As Twilight Sparkle flew away, Rainbow Dash flew over and wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. “Time for the grand tour, squirt.”

They hopped up the cloud steps, Scootaloo in particular enjoying the springy sensation of clouds underhoof.

“So here’s the rainbow fountain. You definitely don’t want to drink it. Stuff gets caught in it.”

Scootaloo looked at the rainbow fountain. She always thought it looked cool from the ground, and the pillars of color were neat, but they drained into a pool where leaves and dead insects floated.

“The yard is mostly standard building clouds. They’re a little firm, so try not to crash into them. But over here I keep a stash of soft napping clouds.”

“Napping clouds?” Scootaloo asked.

“Hey, you never know when you’ll have a few moments. Champion athletes like us need to rest whenever we get the chance!”

“Yeah!”

“Now let’s see the rest of the house.”

Scootaloo followed Rainbow Dash inside. The living room had the normal cloud furniture; a couch, two chairs, and a table were visible. Well, she assumed they were there; the cloud surfaces were barely visible under piles of magazines and stacks of old pizza boxes.

“So, yeah. The living room, the kitchen’s over there, exercise room there, and upstairs are the bedrooms and bathroom. Now let’s show you where you’re staying.”

Scootaloo hopped up the stairs, following Rainbow Dash as she flew the short distance. She stopped as Rainbow Dash pointed to a closed door.

“That’s my bedroom. You can always come to me if you need help, but you need to ask permission before coming into my room. Understand, Scoots?”

“Yeah.”

“So the bathroom’s through there, and here’s your room.” Rainbow Dash opened the door, revealing a plain room with a cloud bed and nightstand. The walls were undecorated, but the floor was covered with boxes of old trophies, ribbons, and other stuff.

“Yeah, sorry, didn’t have much time to clean this up. But tell you what. After work, we’ll get this place made into a bedroom suited for the most awesome filly in Ponyville!”

“Yeah!”

“Well, I’ve got to get to work. Are you crusading today?” Rainbow Dash said.

“Of course! We’re going to try hang gliding, and spelunking, and building catapults!”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Sounds like a big day. You have fun now, squirt!”

Scootaloo smiled. Rainbow Dash didn’t even try to tell her that her plans were too dangerous. She was the best mother ever!

“So, is it true? What everypony’s saying?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah! Rainbow Dash is my new cool mom,” Scootaloo replied. “Wait. What’s everypony saying?”

“That Twilight Sparkle lost it again,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Or that she’s mad with power,” Apple Bloom added.

“And the idea of Rainbow Dash caring for a foal is utterly preposterous,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Hey! Rainbow Dash is a great mom!” Scootaloo protested.

“I don’t know. When everypony agrees, maybe there’s something to it?” Apple Bloom said.

“We’ll show them,” Scootaloo said. “Now, does everypony have their rope and helmet?”

Scootaloo returned home, tired and dirty. It was another successful day of crusading, minus the actually getting cutie marks part. She happily bounded up the cloud stairs of her new home and rushed through the front door. “Rainbow Dash! I’m home!”

The house was silent. “Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo waited before trying again, shouting loudly. “Rainbow Dash!”

She heard the sound of stumbling upstairs. A moment later, Rainbow Dash flew down. Her mane was sticking up in every direction, even more so than usual.

“Hey, squirt. Whoa! How’d you get so much tree sap on you? I didn’t think you were even going into the forest!”

“Well, you know how it is. Hang gliders don’t always go where you want them to go,” Scootaloo said.

“Well, after a hard day of crusading, I bet somepony’s hungry! I’ve got some pizza. But first, you need a shower.”

“Wait. You don’t want me to do chores first?” Scootaloo asked.

“Scootaloo, ponies like us are too awesome to do chores!”

Scootaloo’s wings would have buzzed with excitement, were it not for the tree sap pinning them to her barrel.

“Okay, let’s go find the shower,” Scootaloo said to herself. In her past trip to the bathroom, she hadn’t looked for the shower. But it wasn’t hard to find. Despite the cloud construction being different from her old home on the ground, the layout of the bathroom was the same.

She pushed aside a thin layer of gray clouds, almost like fog, to reveal the tub and shower. The clouds that made up the shower had something black clinging to them, with an unpleasant odor.

“I can deal with that,” Scootaloo said as she turned on the faucets. A gentle spray of water issued from a shaped cloud. Once the water was the perfect temperature, she stepped in.

And promptly slipped. That black stuff was slippery. And tasted totally foul, she decided, after her muzzle landed in a patch of it.

Scootaloo got to her hooves, more carefully this time, and positioned her wings under the stream of warm water. Slowly, the tree sap softened, and she was able to scrub it out, using the shampoo she found in a half-full bottle in the corner of the shower.

She felt refreshed when she stepped out of the shower. She found the towels stored in the cabinet below the sink. She wrinkled her muzzle at the slightly off smell they had. But she persevered, for pizza was waiting!

Scootaloo headed downstairs, and then paused when she saw what was waiting for her. “Is that cold pizza?”

“Sure is. I didn’t have time to get a fresh pie, but you’ll find that it’s just as good cold as hot. Maybe tomorrow we’ll go to the pizzeria together.”

“Okay.”

Scootaloo did have to admit that cold pizza was tasty. And it sure beat all those healthy meals her parents forced her to eat!

Scootaloo stirred with the coming of morning. The sun was bright, the bed pleasantly warm, but something was missing. And when she headed downstairs, she realized what it was.

Nothing was cooking.

Rainbow Dash was already downstairs, stretching in the exercise room. She looked up as she saw Scootaloo. “Hey, squirt!”

“Good morning, Rainbow Dash. Do you have anything for breakfast?”

Rainbow Dash flew into the kitchen. “I think I have some cereal around here.”

Scootaloo heard the sound of things falling over, and Rainbow Dash swearing. She went into the kitchen, and found Rainbow Dash buried under a pile of boxes. She flew out of the mess, a box of corn flakes clutched in her forearms. “See? What did I tell you?”

“And do you have milk?”

“Oh. Yeah.” She opened her icebox, and after some digging, returned with a bottle. “Sure do!”

Scootaloo poured herself a bowl of cereal, and carried it to the kitchen table. She grimaced as she took her first bite. The cereal was soggy, not crunchy. And the milk had a funny taste.

“Rainbow Dash? Is something wrong with your milk?”

She took a swig straight from the bottle. “Tastes fine to me.”

Scootaloo smacked her lips. “It kind of tastes like blueberries.”

“What? Don’t you like blueberries?”

“Well, yeah, but....”

“Look, Scoots, the only reason to have breakfast is to fuel your body for another day of being awesome. If you want great-tasting food, we’re getting it at dinner tonight,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Okay,” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash flew back to the living room, where she resumed her stretching. “Hey, Scoots? After work, maybe we could do some exercises, build up your wingpower?”

“Okay.”

Rainbow Dash flew back to the kitchen table. “Just okay? Not awesome, or cool, or radical? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said. She forced down another spoonful of funny-tasting cereal. “I just need to get outside. It’s a beautiful day, right?”

“As Ponyville’s number one weather manager, I guarantee it!”

It was a beautiful day. But Scootaloo wasn’t looking up at the clear sky. Her hooves dragged and her head hung low as she wandered around town. She didn’t even notice the pony in front of her until she bumped into her.

“Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo looked up. “Oh, sorry, Twilight.”

“I didn’t expect to see you without your scooter. Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s great!” Scootaloo replied with a forced smile.

“Something on your mind?”

“Um, yeah. Rainbow Dash is great, and she gave me a room, but it doesn’t feel like my room, you know? Could I, you know, pick up some of my things? Without breaking the rules?”

Twilight Sparkle smiled. “I think that’s fair.”

“Great! I’m gonna go get my scooter and....”

“Wait, Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle interrupted. “A filly your age shouldn’t be going to a stranger’s home by herself.”

“But they’re not strangers! They’re my family!”

“Not right now they aren’t!” Twilight Sparkle said.

Scootaloo looked to the sky for a sign of her new mother. She was at work, of course, but nopony was flying around doing weather tasks. Her eyes landed on a single cloud. It looked like a perfect napping cloud.

“Fine,” Scootaloo grumbled. “Let me get my scooter first. Then we’ll go together.”

Scootaloo zipped along the road at a safe speed, tracing the familiar path to her neighborhood, with its old houses and tall trees. The lawn of her house had balls and toys scattered on it, but somehow it seemed like less of a mess.

She skidded to a stop and leaned her scooter against the wall. Twilight Sparkle flew down and landed on the lawn beside her.

“Ready?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Yeah.”

Twilight Sparkle knocked on the door.

“Come in. The door’s unlocked,” Scootaloo’s mother called from inside.

Twilight Sparkle opened the door with her magic, and they stepped inside. Scootaloo looked at the familiar home, with the worn carpets, the pictures on the wall, the scuffed wallpaper. It seemed cleaner than she recalled.

“Mrs. Quick Stitch?” Twilight Sparkle called.

“In the living room.”

Scootaloo sniffed the air. Cinnamon. She had missed her mother’s cinnamon oatmeal!

They entered the living room, where Scootaloo encountered a familiar sight. Her mother was seated on her chair, with the yarn from multiple skeins threaded through her wings as her latest knitting project rested in her lap. The twins played in their little playpen. They looked up at Scootaloo, and then went back to their toys.

“Princess! Forgive me,” Quick Stitch said as she started to rise.

“Please, no need to bow, and call me Twilight,” Twilight Sparkle said. “We came by because Scootaloo wanted to pick up a few things to decorate her new bedroom.”

“I’m glad you came. We’ve put all of Scootaloo’s belongings in the box in that corner,” Quick Stitch said, motioning with a wing. “Don’t worry, Scootaloo, I made sure everything was there, including your diary.”

“Wait. Why’d you do that?” Scootaloo said.

“Striker’s old enough that he should have his own room. And since we have a room available, we let him take it.”

“Mom! That’s my room!”

“Not for now.”

“I think your mother made a fair decision, Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Now, let’s get your things and let your mother get back to her work.”

Silently, Scootaloo picked up the large box and carried it back to her wagon.

“Have a good day, Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Thanks,” Scootaloo replied. She stepped on her scooter and, after a quick look back, headed back to the center of town.

“What’s that big box of junk for?” Apple Bloom asked.

“What box?” Scootaloo looked back, and saw she had completely forgotten to drop of her box of stuff before heading to the clubhouse. “Oh. That’s everything from my room.”

“Is there anything in there we haven’t done?” Sweetie Belle wondered.

“Nah, I think we’ve tried everything twice,” Scootaloo said.

“I know! We could try to get cutie marks in room redecorating!” Sweetie Belle said.

“It’s Rainbow Dash’s house,” Scootaloo said.

The others looked at her blankly.

“A cloud house?”

“Oh, yeah,” Apple Bloom said.

“So how is living with Rainbow Dash?”

“Great! Everything’s great!”

“Uh, Scootaloo? You’ve got that weird smile,” Apple Bloom said.

“Like that time Miss Cheerilee asked you to comment on Diamond Tiara’s speech, and said you could only give positive criticisms,” Sweetie Belle added.

“No, it’s good. I haven’t had to do any chores!” She smiled again.

“Okay...” Sweetie Belle said.

“I mean, that’s great, right?” Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other.

“I guess?” Sweetie Belle said.

“I mean, chores aren’t as fun as crusading, but they’re necessary to keep a farm running,” Apple Bloom noted. “And it feels good to get them done.”

“Well, I’m on easy street with the coolest pony in Ponyville, and I couldn’t be happier,” Scootaloo boasted. Or tried to boast. There was a quaver in her voice, one she remembered hearing before.

It was back when she went camping, and was trying to convince herself she wasn’t scared.

“So what are we doing today?” Scootaloo asked.

“We could pick flowers,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Let’s make applesauce!” Apple Bloom suggested.

“Sure, let’s do both of those,” Scootaloo said.

Scootaloo’s time with the Crusaders ended in the early afternoon. Apple Bloom had her chores, and Sweetie Belle had some music lessons Rarity had signed her up to do. So she headed home to drop off her belongings.

The clouds of Rainbow Dash’s porch shifted ominously under the combined weight of Scootaloo and her stuff. Her hooves sunk far farther than they should have. She went in the house through the front door, and while the floor felt fine, she still had to step carefully to avoid the debris cluttering Rainbow Dash’s floor.

Scootaloo made it to her room and frowned. There were so many boxes on the floor, there was no place to drop her own box. Sighing, she placed it on her bed for the time being.

“Let’s put something up,” she said to herself. She chose her favorite Wonderbolts poster, the one that would be her favorite until one came out with Rainbow Dash on it. She held it up to the cloud wall; it fell down.

“Oh, yeah.”

Scootaloo thought back to what her mother taught her about working with clouds, how she could take a small amount of cloudstuff and make it sticky enough to attach to wood or paper. Then that sticky cloud could hold a picture on a cloud wall. And she didn’t even have to find a hammer!

She reached her hoof into the wall to pull out some cloudstuff, and a whole chunk of cloud disintegrated. White powdery stuff got everywhere; she breathed it in and started coughing.

“Yuck!” The nasty taste of old, dry cloud lingered in Scootaloo’s mouth.

“Forget it. I can do this later,” she told herself.

“Eight, nine, ten! Great job, Scootaloo!” Rainbow Dash said, taking the barbell away from the filly.

Scootaloo felt the burn in her wings. She flexed her wings and stretched her flight muscles to cool down, just like Rainbow Dash had taught her.

“Guess what, Scoots? That wasn’t 60 pounds you were lifting. It was 100,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Really?”

“That’s right! Keep up your practice, and you’ll have no trouble flying once your wings grow.”

All in all, it was a productive afternoon for Scootaloo. After getting out of the house, she headed to the park, where she practiced her sprints and wing-ups. And then Rainbow Dash arrived to coach her and spot her while she lifted weights with her wings. It was the kind of bonding she always enjoyed.

“I think we both earned some pizza, right, Scootaloo?”

“You bet, Rainbow Dash!” the filly replied.

“We gotta clean up first, though.”

Rainbow Dash flew up, dove into an errant cloud, and popped out of it as it disintegrated into a fine mist that glowed with all colors of the rainbow.

“Cool!” Scootaloo cheered.

The two pegasi headed home. When they got up the stairs, Scootaloo paused. “I think the cloud’s getting kind of thin here,” she said.

“Eh. I’ll fix it later,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Scootaloo headed to the shower. The same foul black stuff covered the cloud tub and walls. She closed her eyes and pretended she was in her bathtub back home. When she was done, the same odoriferous towels were waiting for her under the sink.

Scootaloo shook her head, returning her mane to its natural state, as she came down the stairs. “Bathroom’s free,” she said.

“Great, let’s go!” Rainbow Dash said.

“Aren’t you going to shower?” Scootaloo asked.

“Duh. That’s what flying through the cloud was for!”

Scootaloo sniffed. Rainbow Dash still smelled like, well, the scent Scootaloo always associated with her big sister/mother, but it was stronger.

“Hey, squirt. That pizza’s not going to eat itself!”

“Here it is. Garlic Twist’s Pizzeria. Best Bitalian food in Ponyville!”

“Cool!” Scootaloo said. This was definitely not a place she’d ever gone with her family. It didn’t look like the restaurant was designed with foals in mind.

“Hiya, Rainbow Dash!” the pegasus stallion behind the counter called. He was expertly tossing a pizza crust in the air using his wings. “The usual?”

“Depends on what the squirt here wants,” she replied. “What do you like on your pizza?” she asked Scootaloo.

“Green peppers and tomatoes!”

“Green peppers? Ugh!” Rainbow Dash said.

Scootaloo frowned.

“Don’t sweat it, squirt,” Rainbow Dash said, mussing Scootaloo’s mane. “We don’t have to like the same pizza.” She turned to the cook. “Hey, Twist! One extra large, half with green pepper and tomato, half with onion and hay bacon!”

“Coming right up!”

Ten minutes later, Garlic Twist came out with a piping hot pizza on a wooden paddle.

“Wow! That’s huge! How are we going to eat all that?” Scootaloo said.

“An extra large pizza tonight means breakfast tomorrow!”

“Oooh, my stomach,” Scootaloo moaned. “I never should have had that fifth slice.”

“You never should have challenged me to an eating contest, squirt,” Rainbow Dash said. She may have won with six slices, Scootaloo noted, but she was flying a lot slower than normal.

The two pegasi entered their home. Rainbow Dash took the pizza box, still with plenty of pizza left, and tossed it on top of a stack of other old pizza boxes, all from the same restaurant. The tower of cardboard swayed precariously.

“What do you want to do now, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash clutched her stomach with her forelegs. “After eating all that, I need a nap.”

“Okay,” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash flew up to her room, and Scootaloo trotted after her. The elder pegasus retreated to her room and closed her door, a puff of wind rustling Scootaloo’s wings.

Scootaloo went to her room, saw the mess, and sighed. She wanted to make the room her own, but it was still cluttered with Rainbow Dash’s mementos. White powder from the damaged cloud wall now coated her bed, mingling with a thick layer of dust on the bed frame, the old trophies, and everything else. She saw the smudges on the blankets and smelled yet another musty odor.

Scootaloo retreated to the living room, just looking for a place to sit down. There wasn’t one. Maybe if she moved that stack of magazines on top of the tower of pizza boxes....

The weight of the magazines caused the top pizza box to shift, and the whole thing came tumbling down on Scootaloo. The boxes popped open, and old pizza slices fell all around her. A powerful smell assaulted her nostrils. The pizza slices were covered in blue and green and black molds, the cheese resembling rubber, slices of onions shriveled away to the thickness of paper.

Scootaloo felt an itching in her mane. She reached up and found another slice of pizza. She pulled it away, and saw disgusting little white bugs crawling over it.

Now, Scootaloo, having four brothers, had seen a lot of gross things. But this was the first time she encountered something so disgusting that she ran away.

“EWWWWW! GROSS!!!!!”

Scootaloo ran to the bathroom, to the shower, with its black slime. She turned to the sink, its cloud basin covered in mineral stains and hairs of six colors. She looked to the toilet, its bowl discolored by rust.

It was the best of several bad options. She dunked her head in the toilet.

Scootaloo stood outside the door to Rainbow Dash’s bedroom. She never wanted to say anything bad about her idol, but this evening was just too much.

“I’m sure she was just busy,” she said to herself. “I mean, Rainbow Dash had that huge Wonderbolts test, right? And she had to practice for the Equestria Games?”

Scootaloo took a deep breath and spoke. “Rainbow Dash? Can I come in?”

Rainbow Dash’s snoring was replaced by a snort and the sound of movement. “Huh? Who’s there?” she said.

“Can I come in?” Scootaloo said again.

Rainbow Dash opened the door. “Sure, squirt.” She sat on the bed and patted a space next to her. “Come sit down.”

Scootaloo hopped on the bed, sitting next to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. “Scoots, I have no practice for this mother thing, but I’m going to do my best. So what do you want to talk about?”

“You know I like to ride my scooter, and that gets me all dirty,” Scootaloo started. “And when our crusades fail, sometimes we end up muddy or sticky. But I always clean up afterward.”

“Uh-huh.”

Scootaloo looked around Rainbow Dash’s room. She saw the framed Wonderbolts posters, the portrait of her father, pictures with Twilight Sparkle and the others, and several pictures of the two of them together. But she also saw stacks of dirty dishes and old cups cluttering the dresser. “Um, I know you’re busy, Rainbow Dash, with your job and your training, so I can understand that sometimes you don’t have time to do chores.”

“Okay, sure.”

“But things here are a little bit too dirty, if you know what I mean. And some of the clouds need to be replaced, and I was thinking, if we worked together, we could....” Scootaloo’s voice trailed off as her gaze landed on a pile of clothes on the floor of the bedroom. A distinctive dress with a rainbow pattern was at the bottom of the pile.

“Is that your Gala dress, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asked.

She looked over. “Looks like it.”

“As in, the Gala three years ago?”

“I guess?”

“And it’s been sitting there this whole time?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged.

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash! I can’t do this!” The tough little filly fought to avoid showing tears.

“What’s wrong, Scoots?”

“I don’t mind getting dirty, and a little clutter is okay, but I can’t live in a place that’s this filthy!” Scootaloo sniffed. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. I can’t live with you as my mother.”

Rainbow Dash looked Scootaloo in the eye, seeing the tears welling in them. “You’re right, Scootaloo. A filly as awesome as you needs somepony better to be her mother.”

The two ponies shared an embrace, with Rainbow Dash patting Scootaloo’s back. “But can I still be the awesome big sister who teaches you to fly and takes you out for pizza?”

“Yeah!”

Scootaloo placed her hoof on the door to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s new castle. The crystal door swung out. “Hello?” she called.

Twilight Sparkle appeared with a pop. “Scootaloo! Does this mean Rainbow Dash isn’t going to be your mother?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “I learned that a mother and a big sister are two different things.”

Twilight Sparkle levitated the box off of Scootaloo’s back. “Let’s take you back to your room here,” she said. “Do you want to decorate it?”

“Why waste the time?” Scootaloo replied. “Tomorrow, I’m going to find my new family, and I know just who it will be.”

Author's Note

This is an open-ended story. I know the first three targets, and I know the last. In between them, I'll write as many ideas as I, or the readers have.

So, if you an idea for a new mother or father for Scootaloo, and an idea why it won't work out, post it in the comments!

Chapter 2: Applejack

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 2: Applejack

“Have you decided who to ask to be your new family?” Twilight Sparkle asked Scootaloo.

“Yeah! I know I’ll be good with somepony who works hard all the time, not just on the things she likes. Applejack!”

“Very well. Why don’t you get settled in for bed? I’ll go talk to Applejack tonight, and we’ll make things official come morning.”

“All right!” Scootaloo cheered.

“You might want to hold off on your celebration until you learn when in the morning you’ll be heading over to Sweet Apple Acres.”

Five o’clock in the morning was not Scootaloo’s preferred hour to rise. But she’d done it plenty of times in the past, for a crusade, or just because Apple Bloom always woke at that time during their sleepovers. And the thought of finding a new and better family energized the little pegasus.

Scootaloo raced Twilight Sparkle to Sweet Apple Acres, the alicorn keeping up with her in the air. She twisted and spun to a stop, resting her scooter against the side of the farmhouse like she always did when she visited. Except, this time, it wasn’t a visit.

Twilight Sparkle knocked on the door. Applejack opened it. Twilight Sparkle placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s back and nudged her forward. “Scootaloo here has something she’d like to ask you, Applejack,” she said.

Scootaloo suddenly felt nervous looking at the honest mare she knew well. “I’m wondering if maybe I could try being part of your family for a while?” she asked.

“Come on in, both of you,” Applejack replied.

They headed to the living room, where Apple Bloom and Big McIntosh were waiting. Scootaloo avoided looking them in the eye, instead examining the room and its furnishings. She found herself comparing them to her previous homes. The room shared the old and worn feeling of her original home, perhaps a bit older, but with less clutter. But it was a definite improvement over Rainbow Dash’s home.

“Now, Scootaloo, I’m going to be honest here,” Applejack started. “I don’t approve of you turning your back on your family. It isn’t the Apple way. But I trust Twilight Sparkle, and if she thinks this is a good idea, well then... turning our backs on a foal in need isn’t the Apple way either.”

“I’m sure it will work out!” Scootaloo said.

“There’s a lot to do on the farm,” Big McIntosh said. “We expect all hooves to work hard. Can you do that, Scootaloo?”

“Of course.”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Have you seen the work we’ve put into getting our cutie marks, Sis?” she said.

“That’s all well and good, but your work isn’t going to be as fun as your crusading,” Applejack warned.

“Like I said, I want to try,” Scootaloo said.

Twilight Sparkle stood up. “Well, now that we’re in agreement, I’ll leave you to your new family, Scootaloo. All the same rules apply.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll see you later, Scootaloo.”

As Twilight Sparkle departed, Applejack rose. “Now that that’s all settled, we’ve got a whole mess of work to do. So let’s get to breakfast!”

Scootaloo looked with awe on the impressive spread of food Granny Smith had whipped up. Apple fritters, baked apples, and apple cinnamon oatmeal all waited for the family.

“Can I have the oatmeal?” Scootaloo asked.

“Of course, young’un,” Granny Smith said. She ladled a healthy scoop of oatmeal into a bowl.

“You gotta try the apple fritters!” Apple Bloom urged.

They did smell delicious. Scootaloo took one of the deep-fried apple treats and took a bite. “Wow!” she exclaimed.

“Pretty good, huh?” Applejack said. She poured a glass of apple juice and set it before Scootaloo. “But don’t eat too much, or you’ll get cramps.”

“But you gotta eat enough, ‘cause it’s a long way to lunch,” Apple Bloom said.

“Okay, okay,” Scootaloo said. She’d just have to wing it.

Scootaloo blinked as she stepped out into the early morning sun. “So what are these chores?” she asked Apple Bloom.

“Feed the hogs, water the garden, sort the apples, lots of stuff,” Apple Bloom replied.

“So how come we haven’t tried all of these things?”

“I already know it’s not my special talent, and it’s not the most fun of work.”

“I’m not scared of a little hard work,” Scootaloo said.

“Let’s see if you’re saying that after today,” Apple Bloom replied.

After feeding the hogs, Scootaloo found herself agreeing with Apple Bloom’s assessment. The muddy pit where the hogs wallowed stunk, and so did the hog feed, which was mostly rotting apples.

But it was still better than Rainbow Dash’s home.

“Now we got to wash up,” Apple Bloom said.

“Definitely,” Scootaloo said as she headed for the farmhouse.

“No, not there,” Apple Bloom said. “We have a shower by the barn.”

The shower, as it turned out, was just a hose attached to a tank filled with rainwater. That water, plus a thick chunk of homemade soap, was what the Apples used to clean themselves. But it worked; Scootaloo’s hooves and fetlocks were cleaned of muck.

They then headed to the barn, where barrels of harvested apples waited.

“We have to sort all of those?” Scootaloo said.

“Yep,” Apple Bloom replied.

“Like, how?”

“Bad apples, like ones that are badly bruised or that some critter got to, go over in the hog slop bucket. Apples that are still good to eat, but that don’t look the best, go into that barrel. We eat those. The good apples go into the various buckets, sorted by type.”

“Okay,” Scootaloo said.

Scootaloo started slowly, selecting only the good apples until she got an idea of what Apple Bloom deemed to be destined for the other two buckets. Once she got the idea, things went quicker. In fact, she was faster than Apple Bloom, given that she could use both her mouth and her wings to move the apples.

“Hold up, Scootaloo. Don’t mix up the Braeburns and Honeycrisps,” Apple Bloom said.

“Huh?”

“Over there,” Apple Bloom said, pointing with a hoof.

“I don’t get it.”

Apple Bloom huffed and picked up two apples. “See?”

Scootaloo stared at the two apples. “Aren’t they the same?”

“No! They’re clearly different!”

Scootaloo squinted. They didn’t look different to her.

“I don’t know. Maybe I should stick to sorting the green and yellow apples.”

“Granny Smiths and Golden Deliciouses, and don’t you forget it!” Apple Bloom said.

“Okay. Granny Smiths and Golden Deliciouses.”

As a filly who grew up in a family where an apple was an apple, Scootaloo knew she had a lot to learn.

“Pretty good work, you two,” Applejack said.

“Thanks, Sis,” Apple Bloom replied.

“Since you’ve worked so quickly, and since you’ve got Scootaloo to help you, how about you practice your applebucking?”

“Really?”

“Sure thing, sugarcube.”

The three ponies headed to the orchard. Apple Bloom was humming happily.

“What’s the big deal?” Scootaloo asked.

“Well, I want my cutie mark, but I also want to buck an apple tree like Applejack and Big Mac,” Apple Bloom replied. “The first shows the world I’ve discovered my special talent, but the second proves I’m grown up enough to provide for other ponies.”

“You mean you haven’t bucked a tree before?”

“Well, I have, but not the right way. You’ll see.”

They approached the first tree. Apple Bloom placed a hoof on the tree, and Applejack covered it with her own.

“Now remember, Apple Bloom. It’s not all in the kick,” Applejack said. “You need to connect with the tree, talk to him, make him listen. That’s how you’re going to get all the ripe apples to fall at once, and make them fall where you want.”

“Okay,” Apple Bloom said. She touched the tree in several places with her hoof before dropping to four hooves, turning, rearing, and bucking. Some of the apples fell, and not all in the buckets they had placed.

“I’m sorry, Applejack,” Apple Bloom said.

“No worries, Apple Bloom. It takes time for your magic to develop and for you to hear the trees,” Applejack said. “It takes practice. And now that Scootaloo’s here, she can help you pick up the other fallen apples. You can practice without slowing down the harvest. Now give it another try.”

It took several tries for Apple Bloom to fell all the apples on the tree. Scootaloo’s job involved picking up the fallen apples that didn’t hit the buckets. It wasn’t bad work, save for the occasions where the apples landed on her head.

“I’m going to let you handle this from now on,” Applejack said.

After repeating this process on a dozen trees, Applejack came back, announcing that lunch was ready. Even after that big breakfast, Scootaloo was famished, and raced Apple Bloom to the farmhouse.

The kitchen welcomed the family with the smell of baked bread. Lunch was apple bread with zap apple jam and a chilled apple salad mixed with whipped cream and walnuts. The two fillies dug in along with the rest of the family.

“Now you two, run along and have a good time with your friends,” Applejack said after lunch ended.

“Well, that was a bust,” Sweetie Belle said, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo concurred.

They failed to get cutie marks in interpretive dance, weightlifting, or rowing. All their chosen activities that day left them with nothing but sore muscles.

“Maybe next time,” Scootaloo said.

“We’ll feel a lot better after a good dinner,” Apple Bloom said. “Let’s go home.”

Apple Bloom hopped into the wagon, and Scootaloo propelled it and her scooter back to her new home. Winona greeted the two ponies eagerly once they returned.

Scootaloo steeled herself against the potential horrors of dinner with her new family. But what she found was reassuringly normal. The table was big enough for all of them, and the baskets of food were filled to overabundance.

“What’s for dinner?” Scootaloo asked.

“Grilled apples, applesauce, pasta with apple and onions, apple juice, and Granny Smith’s apple pie for dessert,” Applejack said.

Scootaloo marveled as the ponies at the table calmly passed around the baskets of food, making sure everypony had as much as they wanted. Applejack and Big McIntosh actually listened as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo talked about their day’s crusading, though Applejack’s suggestion of maybe sticking closer to the farm and trying things there wasn’t what Apple Bloom was eager to hear.

“And now, dessert,” Granny Smith announced.

The old mare opened the oven, and a delectable aroma filled the kitchen. She pulled out a tray, and then transferred the pie to the table. Steam wafted from the quintet of flutes cut into the pie crust.

“Now this is what I’m talking about!” Scootaloo said.

A healthy slice of perfectly golden brown apple pie was placed on Scootaloo’s plate. She looked at it and drooled. Taking her fork in her pastern, she cut off a piece and tasted it.

By any honest interpretation, it was the best pie she had ever tasted. She noted the flaky crust, a subtle blend of spices, and just the right level of sweetness. But as Scootaloo chewed the cooked apples, her mouth reacted. Something about them just felt bad.

“Something wrong, sugarcube?” Applejack asked Scootaloo.

“No, I’m just stuffed,” she replied.

Scootaloo stirred at dawn with the rest of the Apples. She washed up and headed downstairs, where the kitchen was full of activity. Granny Smith was at the stove, cooking something Scootaloo recognized by smell. Pancakes!

She was no stranger to pancakes for breakfast, as it was one of the few breakfast foods her father would eat. Many a morning featured dry pancakes, with only maple syrup to top them.

“Good morning, Scootaloo,” Granny Smith said around the pan in her mouth. “Got a big day ahead of us. Eat!” And then she flipped the pan, three golden brown pancakes tumbling onto Scootaloo’s plate in a neat stack.

Scootaloo added a thick pat of butter to her pancakes, and then reached for a topping. There was a bowl of warm apple compote with raisins, but she reached for the maple syrup instead.

The other Apples arrived in the kitchen, and stacks of pancakes were soon placed in front of all of them. The others chose the apple topping for their pancakes. Scootaloo speared a neatly cut segment of pancakes on her fork and took a bite.

The flavor was so much better than any pancakes she had eaten before, but then her teeth sunk into a chunk of apple. It dissolved into a mealy substance that reminded her of that time when she ate paste on a dare.

“How are the pancakes, sugarcube?” Applejack asked Scootaloo as she placed a glass of apple juice before her.

“Just great, Applejack!” she said. “So, what are we working on today?” she quickly added.

“I’ve got market duty today, Big Mac’s going to fix the cider press, Granny Smith’s cleaning the house, so that leaves you and Apple Bloom to harvest apples.”

“Can I help with fixing the cider press? I mean, Princess Twilight has been teaching me about mechanical stuff,” Scootaloo said.

“Sounds good to me, sis,” Big McIntosh said.

“Great!” Scootaloo said.

“So how come we’re fixing this now?” Scootaloo asked. “Isn’t cider season not for a few months?”

“We use this to make juice too,” Big McIntosh explained. “Got to get it fixed before we run out of apple juice.”

“So what’s wrong?”

“That’s what we need to figure out.”

Big McIntosh pulled a panel off the cider press, exposing a mesh of gears, shafts, and belts. Scootaloo looked in, but Big McIntosh pulled her back.

“I’m going to run first. Listen to what’s going wrong.”

Big McIntosh stepped onto the conveyor belt. His strong legs and large hooves had no problem moving the belt and turning the gearwork inside the cider press. But after only a few steps, a loud thunk was heard, and the conveyor belt stopped moving.

“There’s a loose shaft I’ve fixed, but it doesn’t stay fixed,” Big McIntosh said.

“I thought I heard something in one of the gears,” Scootaloo said. “Let’s see.”

Scootaloo crawled into the works of the cider press. It was a lot more complicated than her scooter, but the basic principles were the same, and the parts she didn’t know from her scooter she learned from Twilight Sparkle. She found the loose shaft, and then traced along the adjacent parts, looking for something that didn’t look right. One gear caught her attention.

“Can you pass me a wrench?” she called.

After a bit of work, Scootaloo emerged from the machine, grease smudging her coat. She dropped the gear onto the ground and inspected it. “Looks like it’s cracked,” she said.

“Should be easy enough to fix, provided we have a spare gear,” Big McIntosh said.

After a bit of searching in the barn, they salvaged a gear of the right size from one of the antique machines they stored therein. And once Scootaloo installed it, the cider press ran properly.

“Good job, Scootaloo,” Big McIntosh said. “Now get cleaned up. Apple Bloom could use your help.”

Even with only a single day’s experience, Scootaloo felt she was getting a handle on these chores. Working together, she and Apple Bloom harvested apples from tree after tree. And because she was with her friend, it didn’t even feel like work. They talked about all their new crusading ideas.

“I can’t wait to tell Sweetie Belle these! We’re sure to get our cutie marks!” Scootaloo said.

“Well, then, let’s get a move on. Clean up, get lunch, and then we’ll head into town!” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo did just that. She washed up and ran back to the farmhouse. Her smile faded when she saw what was for lunch, applesauce and apple slices in yogurt.

Apple Bloom was half done with her own lunch when she noticed Scootaloo just standing there. “What are you waiting for?” she asked. “You gotta eat!”

“I don’t think I’m hungry,” Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom shrugged and polished off her meal.

After lunch, Scootaloo grabbed her scooter and wagon. She and Apple Bloom headed into Ponyville, stopping by Carousel Boutique to pick up Sweetie Belle.

“We got all sorts of ideas, Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom said. “We’re going to try tumbling, and....”

“Hey, I know!” Scootaloo interrupted. “Let’s talk about it at Sugarcube Corner!”

Although not what they had planned, going to Sugarcube Corner was never a bad idea, so the three fillies headed over to their favorite treat shop. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took a seat at their favorite table. Meanwhile, Scootaloo went up front, and came back with a slice of chocolate cake and an oatmeal raisin cookie.

“I thought you weren’t hungry,” Apple Bloom said suspiciously.

“I am now,” Scootaloo said around a forkful of cake.

“So what are we doing today?” Sweetie Belle asked.

The Crusaders tried a lot of things, safer things than normal. So while they didn’t earn their cutie marks, they didn’t find themselves needing a bath, either. That left them with some time to just play before the sun began to set and they went their own ways.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom pulled up to the rear door of the farmhouse, the one that opened into the kitchen. They could tell dinner was almost ready by the scents drifting from the kitchen.

“Come on in and help set the table,” Applejack said as they entered the kitchen.

Soon, dinner was on the table—a casserole fresh out of the oven, a salad with lettuce and apples, apple turnovers, and apple juice. Scootaloo took a big scoop of the casserole and a smaller scoop of the salad.

“I hope you’ve gotten a feel for what life’s like here at Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack said to Scootaloo.

“Yes, I have,” Scootaloo replied.

“So I thought we’d talk about that tonight,” Applejack said.

Scootaloo winced.

“Something wrong, sugarcube?” Applejack said.

“No, no, go on,” Scootaloo said. Once Applejack started to talk again, she spit out the awful thing she found in her casserole. Amid hay and cheese and onions were chunks of apples.

“Scootaloo, we all want you to know you would be welcome here. There’s a lot more to running Sweet Apple Acres than bucking apple trees, so you’ll always be able to participate,” Applejack said. “We want you to know that you can be an Apple even if you have wings or a horn.”

“I know that,” Scootaloo said.

“But enough about us. What do you think?”

Scootaloo poked at her salad, pushing chunks of apple to the side. “I like Sweet Apple Acres, and I like you guys, and I’d love to stay with Apple Bloom. I mean, I always wanted a sister.”

“Now hold on a moment there, sugarcube. If you want me to adopt you, that would make Apple Bloom your aunt, not your sister,” Applejack said.

“Huh?”

“And you’d best show respect to your Auntie Bloom,” Granny Smith said.

“Family’s important,” Big McIntosh said.

“But we’re the same age!” Scootaloo protested.

“Age doesn’t have much to do with being an aunt,” Applejack said. “Why, Cousin Honeycrisp in Fillydelphia was born an aunt!”

Scootaloo glanced at Apple Bloom. She, for her part, looked embarrassed at her family’s idea. Apple Bloom gave her a look she recognized, one that said they could talk later.

“I think I need time to think about it,” Scootaloo said. She stood up and started to leave.

“Now hold on there, Scootaloo. You can’t be excused from the dinner table until you’ve cleaned your plate,” Applejack said.

Scootaloo looked at her plate, where all the little bits of apples she picked out of her dinner rested in piles. She looked at Applejack, who was staring at her with the no-nonsense expression of a mare who was serious. “Yes, Applejack,” she said.

Scootaloo sat down, picked up her fork, and scooped up some of the apples. Slowly, she raised the fork to her mouth. The sickly sweet taste of cooked apples overtook her taste buds. She chewed, and the apples disintegrated into a sticky mess that again reminded her of library paste. She looked up, saw the elder Apples staring at her, and forced a smile to her face.

Scootaloo estimated that it took her two minutes to clean her plate. They were the longest two minutes of her life.

Scootaloo spent the evening with the Apples, enjoying the company of family. It felt familiar, like her own family, just more sedate and without younger brothers to annoy her. But there was one question left unanswered. Once everypony had headed off to bed, Scootaloo quietly left the guest bedroom and walked to Apple Bloom’s room.

“Apple Bloom? You awake?” she whispered.

“Yeah. Come in,” Apple Bloom replied.

Scootaloo opened the door and entered, closing the door behind her. She jumped onto Apple Bloom’s bed. “Was Applejack serious about me calling you Auntie?” she asked Apple Bloom.

“Deadly serious. It’s the way we were raised. Respect your elders, and all that,” Apple Bloom said. “But I don’t want you to call me that when we’re alone.”

“Thank Celestia for that!” Scootaloo said.

“It’s always a problem at reunions, trying to remember who’s my great aunt or such. Fortunately, for most ponies, I just call them Cousin, and that’s probably right.”

“Yeah.”

“I know it’s different, but all families are,” Apple Bloom said. “I’m used to it. The only question is, can you accept it?”

“I guess I’ll have to think about it,” Scootaloo said.

And as she lay in her bed, she thought about it for some time, before sleep finally claimed her.

Despite the worries of the past night, Scootaloo rose early, perhaps even earlier than before. By the time she headed downstairs, only two ponies were up. Applejack was stoking a fire in the stove while Granny Smith was stirring batter in a bowl. Based on the pan of oil nearby, she was probably making fritters again.

“Good morning, sugarcube. Did you sleep well?” Applejack asked.

“I guess,” Scootaloo replied.

“Okay, out with it,” Applejack said. “I can tell something’s on your mind.”

“It’s nothing, really. I mean, I was just wondering... could you make something different for breakfast?”

“I don’t think that’s a problem, especially since you’re still our guest and all,” Applejack said. “What do you have in mind?”

“Scrambled eggs!”

“I can do that. Ma taught me her special recipe,” Applejack said. “Now go wash up and make sure Apple Bloom is awake.”

Scootaloo did so, and when she came back down, the whole family was gathered. She smiled as Applejack spooned a heap of scrambled eggs onto her plate.

The eggs were much better than her mother’s. When she made scrambled eggs, it was just that, eggs. It looked like Applejack had added onions and green peppers to her eggs, and sprinkled some cheddar cheese on it just before serving.

Scootaloo happily ate her eggs, until she found something she wasn’t expecting. A rancid taste filled her mouth, and she spit out the offending food.

“What’s wrong?” Apple Bloom asked.

“There are apples in here!” Scootaloo said.

“Of course. It’s Ma’s special recipe,” Applejack said.

“I can’t take having apples in everything I eat!” Scootaloo said.

“But there’s so many kinds of apples,” Granny Smith said. “Why, just in the last two days, we’ve had Red Delicious, and Jonagold, and Honeycrisp, and Fuji, and we can’t forget those Granny Smiths....”

“But they all taste the same to me!” Scootaloo shouted.

Everypony else gasped. The room was silent for a moment, and then Big McIntosh spoke. “Ain’t no Apple that’s ever said that before.”

“That’s just it. I’m no Apple,” Scootaloo admitted.

“But we could make other things!” Apple Bloom said.

“No. I never asked my mom to make things my dad wouldn’t eat, and I can’t ask you to change everything you cook just for me,” Scootaloo said.

“Does that mean you’re leaving?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah. You’re just going to be my friend, not my aunt,” Scootaloo said. She stood up from the table and looked at everypony. “Sorry for wasting your time.”

“It’s never a waste of time to have you over,” Applejack said. “Now come on. We’ll finish breakfast, and then I’ll take you back to Twilight.”

At least this time, Applejack didn’t make her finish her plate.

Author's Note

If she's being honest with herself, Scootaloo's next new family is one she thinks is less likely to work out. But she's still going to try.

Chapter 3: Rarity

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 3: Rarity

A dejected Scootaloo trudged into Twilight Sparkle’s castle, her head down, each hooffall heavy against the crystal floor. The noise was enough to attract the princess’s attention, and she walked to meet her. “Did things go wrong with the Apples?” she asked.

“I’ve proved I’m not an Apple, and I never want to eat an apple again,” Scootaloo replied.

“Perhaps you’d like to talk about your experience?” Twilight Sparkle said.

“No, I want to go to my next family. A mare who is sure to be generous with her time and care.”

“I thought you might choose Rarity next. Let me talk to her about this, and then we’ll go over there together.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m sure she’s expecting me. This is Rarity we’re talking about,” Scootaloo said.

“You do have a point there,” Twilight Sparkle said.

Scootaloo loaded a few of her favorite possessions into her wagon and zipped over to Carousel Boutique. Twilight Sparkle settled onto the ground next to her and pushed open the door.

Rarity was setting out some outfits on her ponyquins, hats and scarves floating in her magical aura. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique,” she started, before recognizing her guests. “Ah, Twilight and Scootaloo. I thought you might be coming by,” she said with a smile.

“Scootaloo has a very special request to make of you, Rarity,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Interested in finding a new mother within these fabulous walls?” Rarity said.

“So you’ve heard?” Scootaloo said.

“Well, it is the talk of town. Your proclamation has created quite the buzz, Twilight. I dare say all of Equestria will soon hear of it!”

Scootaloo shuffled her hooves and frowned slightly.

Twilight Sparkle wrapped a wing around Scootaloo and gently nudged her. “Go on,” she said.

Scootaloo cleared her throat. “Rarity, I would like to try living with you. Would you be my new mother?”

Rarity lowered herself, looking Scootaloo in the eye. “And why did you choose me? We are as different as two ponies can be.”

“Well, you and Sweetie Belle are pretty different, too. But you do so much for her, watching her all the time. You’re always there for her, and that’s what I need.”

“And you’re not afraid I’m going to make you model my fall line?” Rarity asked.

“Well, I did think about it, but then I remembered that you’ve never forced Sweetie Belle to do anything like that,” Scootaloo said.

“Indeed. Of course, she’s volunteered to help me, and I’m grateful for her... enthusiasm,” Rarity said. “Rest assured, Scootaloo, that while I’d be happy to teach you about fashion, modeling, or gems, if that is your desire, I do not expect you to share these interests.”

“So is that a yes?” Scootaloo asked.

“Of course, dear.”

“Okay, Scootaloo, you’re to treat Rarity as your mother from now on,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Do you need any help, Rarity?”

“Not at all, Twilight. I’ve already set up Scootaloo’s room in anticipation of this day.”

“Well then, good luck, Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle said.

Rarity carried Scootaloo’s box in her magic as they headed upstairs. She opened the door to a room that was very familiar to Scootaloo. A large bed, easily able to sleep three fillies, dominated the room. She knew that, since the Crusaders had shared the bed during many sleepovers.

“Isn’t this Sweetie Belle’s room?” she asked.

“Technically, this is my guest bedroom. Due to my parent’s... travels, it is frequently used by Sweetie Belle. If I need to care for her overnight, would you be willing to share? If you prefer privacy, we can work out a solution.”

“No, a sleepover’s great!” Scootaloo said.

“Still, this will be your room, and the first thing to do is make it your own. Some fresh paint, some new curtains, and we’ll be ready,” Rarity said. “Perhaps one of your items could serve as the inspiration for the room?”

“Well, I do like my Wonderbolts poster,” Scootaloo said.

“Excellent. We shall look at blue and gold. Or perhaps a lighter blue, reminiscent of a certain pegasus?”

“Cool!”

“Now, you’ve been here enough to know where everything is. I will reiterate that you are not to touch things like my good tea service or anything in my workshop without my express permission, no matter how much you think it might help you earn your cutie mark,” Rarity said seriously. “Now, that said, how about a light breakfast?”

Memories of this morning’s aborted breakfast filled Scootaloo’s mind. “Yeah! Just, nothing with apples, please?”

“I know just the thing,” Rarity replied. “While I’m preparing breakfast, would you please set the table and pour the drinks? I would like a glass of orange juice.”

Scootaloo nodded. “Sure thing.”

Rarity’s kitchen was at least somewhat familiar, but being that it was now hers as well, she looked at it with an appraising eye. The floor and counters were sparkling clean. The stove and icebox were the new kind, powered by magic, and if not brand new they at least didn’t strike her as old, like the ones in her old home. The room probably wasn’t much bigger, but it certainly felt less crowded.

Scootaloo got to work. She knew where things were, so it didn’t take long. First, she went for the plates. She reared to reach the cupboard, grabbed two sets of plates, and spun on her hind hooves, the plates balanced on her back. The juice glasses were in another cupboard, one with a framed glass door. Finally, she opened the drawer with the silverware. Rarity had multiple styles of silverware; Scootaloo stuck with the broad-handled implements suitable for all ponies.

The icebox held a variety of fresh foods. She found the orange juice sitting on the top shelf. Deciding it was a good idea, Scootaloo poured two glasses.

By this time, Rarity was finishing making breakfast. She levitated soft-boiled eggs and toast onto the kitchen table.

After living with the Apples, the table looked rather sparse. “That’s it?” Scootaloo said.

“A lady must watch her figure,” Rarity replied.

Scootaloo continued to stare at the meager spread.

“However, you are an active filly, and I admit I should have thought of that. Let us remedy the situation.” Rarity opened the oven door, and added two more slices of bread to toast.

Scootaloo took added butter and a thick layer of orange marmalade to her toast, grateful that it wasn’t apple jam. It was a simple breakfast, but a welcome change from staying with the Apples.

“Thank you for breakfast, Rarity,” Scootaloo said after they finished eating.

“You’re welcome, dear. Now, let’s clean up, and then we can get ready to face the new day.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“There’s no reason to put off what amounts to a simple chore,” Rarity said. “I find it helps me to be inspired when I have a clean home and a well-organized workspace.”

Scootaloo grumbled, but joined in washing the dishes. Truth be told, it didn’t take long, not at all like cleaning up after a meal in her larger family. She still would have preferred to be doing something else.

“Now, Scootaloo, I have a lot of work to do today. And don’t worry, I’m not asking for your help. That is, unless you’re interested,” Rarity said.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not where my special talent lies,” Scootaloo deadpanned.

“Understood. But don’t be so quick to dismiss anything, well, girlish,” Rarity said. “Have you considered dance? I saw that you have an incredible sense of balance, and I think learning an art like ballet would come easy to you.”

“Well, we did try interpretive dance,” Scootaloo said.

“Interpretive dance is for ponies who are unwilling to learn proper dance,” Rarity huffed. “In any case, give it some thought. I understand if you don’t want to try it with your friends, but it is always good to expand your horizons.”

“Okay, Rarity.”

“Now go out and play. I will expect you home at 5:30 for dinner.”

Scootaloo donned her helmet and stepped onto her scooter. She noted the way she stood, balanced on her hind legs, with only the handle of her scooter for support. Of course, every foal plays around, trying to walk on two hooves, only to stumble a few steps later. But years of practice on her scooter, not to mention walking with a little brother under each foreleg, had made her adept at standing on two hooves.

She let go of the handle, and found little challenge in maintaining her balance. She spun around, first on her right hind hoof, then her left. “Could I really be a dancer?” she asked herself.

She looked, seeing the ponies walking around town, and decided not to test it.

A morning of scooter practice ensued, ending early when the aching of an empty stomach drove her to the market. Scootaloo would normally head over to see Applejack or Big McIntosh for a tasty apple, but she steered clear today, instead picking up some fresh carrots from Golden Harvest.

That afternoon, she met up with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They contemplated that most important of questions. “What are we going to do today to find our cutie marks?”

“Bird watching?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Let’s hunt for mushrooms!” Apple Bloom said.

“I was thinking tree climbing,” Scootaloo said. “But whatever we do, we’re going into the forest today!”

An afternoon of crusading didn’t earn Scootaloo or her friends their cutie marks, but they did come out of the day with something. Tree sap, burrs, scrapes and cuts, and last but not least mud, acquired while returning to her pen the pig that Apple Bloom recruited so they could find those “fancy-shmancy mushrooms” the ponies in Manehattan liked. And this mess couldn’t be dealt with using the cold shower outside the Apples’ barn.

It was nothing new for Scootaloo. Nor was she unfamiliar with how Rarity would act when she saw the condition Scootaloo was in.

But it was the first time she would experience it as Rarity’s daughter.

It was almost 5:30 when they made it back to Ponyville. Scootaloo waved goodbye to Sweetie Belle, who headed to her parents’ home. And then she opened the front door of Carousel Boutique, idly noting the Closed sign.

“Welcome home, Scootaloo,” Rarity said. “Wipe your hooves and... GAH!”

“Sorry, Rarity. Crusading was a bit dirtier than usual,” Scootaloo said.

“You need a bath, right now. I will keep our dinner warm.”

“Okay, Rarity,” Scootaloo replied.

A feeling of dread crept into Scootaloo’s mind as she approached the one room she hated visiting while at Carousel Boutique. The bathroom was so... ugh! It was spotless, of course, but it was all whites and pinks and lilacs, with the overpowering aroma of potpourri. And that was before seeing what’s behind the shower curtain.

She held her breath and pulled back the shower curtain. There, in neatly organized racks, she saw it. Beauty products. Tons of beauty products. All in expensive-looking glass bottles with words in flowing cursive script. The only normal-looking item was a brand new bar of soap, of the kind pegasi used to wash their wings.

“That was thoughtful,” Scootaloo said to herself.

She started a shower and stepped inside once the water was warm. Lingering floral scents tickled at her nostrils as she searched for the shampoo that would be best at cleaning mud and tree sap. Each bottle was tested and rejected for smelling overpoweringly feminine.

Knowing the bar soap wouldn’t do much for her coat or mane, Scootaloo’s only recourse was to use one of Rarity’s shampoos. She held her breath as she washed herself. It was not a very effective strategy, as she got a heady dose of scent each time her lungs demanded air.

Scootaloo stumbled out of the tub once finished, breathing heavily. “It’s okay, I’m sure she’ll be okay if I get my own shampoo,” she said as she toweled off.

She frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her mane possessed shine, bounce, and even a bit of curl that it never had before. “Some time on my scooter will fix that,” she said.

Scootaloo headed to the kitchen, where Rarity was spooning a white sauce over two plates of baked hay. The sauce wasn’t familiar to her, but the vegetables were.

“Brussels sprouts?” Scootaloo said.

“Yes, and I agree, they can be quite revolting, when prepared poorly. But I have put the time and effort into learning good Prench recipes, so I do encourage you to approach dinner with an open mind.

Scootaloo was unconvinced. She poked the horrible vegetable, looking all too much like a tiny cabbage cut in half, with her fork. She brought it to her mouth. She slowly bit down.

“This is delicious!” she exclaimed.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Scootaloo,” Rarity said. “And thank you. I’m glad you like it.”

The main dish was delicious, too. The cream sauce made even a basic dish like baked hay sing in her mouth.

“Cooking is another area where I dabble, Scootaloo,” Rarity said as she finished her meal. “Should you wish to explore a taste of the good life, I would be happy to teach you.”

“Okay.”

“I also took the liberty of borrowing a book on ballet from Twilight. Perhaps you’d like to learn a few steps? The boutique is closed, and it’s just the two of us and Opalescence, so you needn’t fear anypony seeing.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Scootaloo said.

“Excellent. I’ll see you in the showroom after you wash the dishes.”

Scootaloo learned that an excellent meal came with more dirty pots and pans than anypony could fathom. It took quite a bit of scrubbing to clean them. Maybe a simple meal wasn’t such a bad thing.

Once she finished, she went to the showroom. Rarity had moved a few of the displays to the side. Scootaloo looked around the room.

“Don’t worry, you won’t find a tutu here,” Rarity said. “The costumes are part of the beauty that is ballet. The amount that can be communicated with one dancer’s steps, and the position of her forelegs and wings, is truly a sight to behold. For now, though, let us focus on the mechanics.”

With Rarity’s assistance and the illustrations in the book, Scootaloo practiced several ballet steps. She stumbled a bit, especially when she needed to balance on the tips of her hooves, but one thing was clear. Rarity, despite all her cultural affectations, was terrible at dance. Yet despite her limitations, she patiently helped Scootaloo in any way she could.

Scootaloo was sore but happy when she returned to her room. Her happiness faded when she noticed her Wonderbolts poster hanging on the wall... in a frame and under glass. “Rarity!” she yelled.

Rarity poked her head into the room. “Yes, sweetie?”

“What did you do?” she said, pointing.

“Oh. To properly serve as a focus for your room, a poster like that should be matted and framed. Do you not like the frame? I chose a classic presentation.”

“No! I just, you know, want a poster.”

“I’m sorry, Scootaloo. I remembered that Sweetie Belle appreciated her framed poster of Sapphire Shores. I should have thought that you are not the same pony as she is. I promise to make it up to you,” Rarity said.

“That’s okay, Rarity. At least let me think about it.”

Now alone, Scootaloo looked at her poster. It looked nice, perhaps too nice for a poster that every pegasus foal had in her room. In any case, it was a generous gesture from Rarity.

When Scootaloo finally turned in for the night, she weighed her experiences that day. She had thought there was a not insignificant chance Rarity would prove incompatible, and that she’d be gone before the day was over. But the mare had proved nice, if a bit difficult. Scootaloo was looking forward to what the next morning would bring.

With the curtains shut tight against the morning sun, Scootaloo rose at a much more natural time, feeling fully rested. She stretched and yawned. Scootaloo got up and opened the curtains, revealing another fine summer morning.

Scootaloo made her bed, washed up, and headed to the kitchen. Rarity had breakfast ready. It was just oatmeal, but her presentation elevated the simple dish. A small pitcher of cream and a row of small ceramic dishes were set at the center of the table. Scootaloo opened them, finding honey, brown sugar, raisins, and something that looked like raisins.

“What are these?” Scootaloo asked.

“Golden raisins. I find I rather prefer their delicate taste. Have whatever you like with your oatmeal, dear.”

Scootaloo loaded her bowl with brown sugar, both kinds of raisins, and a little cream. Rarity only added a few golden raisins to her bowl. The room fell silent as they started to eat.

“Are you done with the cream?” Rarity asked after a few minutes.”

“Oh, sure.”

Rarity took a saucer out of the cupboard and poured the remaining cream into it. “Opal!” she called. “Mommy has a treat for you!”

Opalescence walked into the room and sniffed haughtily. Finally, she deigned to approach. The cat circled the saucer, and finally started lapping the cream.

“Now, Scootaloo, this morning is my weekly spa visit with Fluttershy, so the boutique won’t be open until later. You’re free to do what you want; the same rules will apply. Feel free to make lunch for you, and for your friends, should you choose to meet here. But do not let Sweetie Belle near the stove. Okay?”

“Okay, Rarity,” Scootaloo said.

“Please clean the kitchen while I freshen up.”

Rarity spent a long time in the bathroom, for a mare about to visit the spa. She returned looking as beautiful as ever.

“I’m off, Scootaloo,” she said. “Be sure to make your bed.”

“I did make my bed,” Scootaloo said.

“You didn’t make your bed well.”

“That’s how it looks when Sweetie Belle’s over!” Scootaloo countered.

“Well, yes. Sweetie Belle is my sister, and that means it is the responsibility of our parents to determine how she will be raised. A sloppily made bed is okay in the eyes of our parents. But in my eyes, it is not. And as my daughter, I am asking you to put more care into making your bed. Replace the sheets, blankets, and bedspread separately, making sure each is neat and smooth before proceeding. And be sure to tuck in the bedspread around the pillows.”

“Okay, Rarity,” Scootaloo grumbled.

“I’m sure you’ll do a fine job. Goodbye, Scootaloo.” Rarity said.

Scootaloo returned to her room, where she stripped her bed and carefully made it exactly as Rarity specified. It took five times as long, time she thought to be utterly wasted, as the bed would just get used again that night.

At least for the next twelve hours, it would look nice.

Scootaloo wondered how she would pass the time until she met with the Crusaders. Her eyes fell on the book about ballet. She could practice on her own.

She looked out the window. Too many ponies were passing by for her to practice outside. Her bedroom was too small, the kitchen too crowded. The best place for her to practice was the same place she had practiced the previous night, in the boutique itself.

The boutique she wasn’t supposed to be in unsupervised.

“I’ll just be careful,” Scootaloo told herself.

Scootaloo carefully stood in the center of the boutique’s showroom. She started with the stretches and balance exercises, and then moved on to practicing steps. Just like last night, she found herself stumbling with the pirouette. She could handle one turn, but making the second proved to be a challenge.

“I can do this,” she said. She rose, bent one leg while rising to tiphoof, and spun with great force, picturing how she spun on her scooter. But her momentum failed, and she fell onto four hooves, one of them landing on something thin and bony.

“MRRROWWW!!!!”

Opalescence screamed as Scootaloo landed on her tail. Scootaloo jumped back and stumbled into something. She looked, seeing one of Rarity’s ponyquins teetering.

“Oh no!”

The ponyquin fell, knocking into its neighbor. The carefully arranged forms fell like dominoes, spilling dresses, hats, and scarves to the floor with a tremendous crash.

“I can fix this,” Scootaloo said. She picked up the first ponyquin and straightened the dress on it. She replaced the second, jumping to place a hat back on it. When she got to the last ponyquin, she stared in horror at the wooden case that fell on top of it. Its contents, a variety of ribbons, sequins, and gems, were spilled everywhere.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” Scootaloo wondered. Then inspiration struck. “Sweetie Belle! She’ll know how to fix it.”

Scootaloo zoomed down the streets of Ponyville, propelling her scooter as fast as her wings allowed. Time was of the essence. She traced the fastest path to the home where her best unicorn friend lived.

She arrived at her destination, nearly wiping out as she skidded to a stop. Sweetie Belle’s mother was outside, fussing with a planter box of flowers. Even though it was summer, she was wearing a shirt and pants. “Oh, hey there, Scootaloo!” she said.

“Is Sweetie Belle here?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, no, dearie. She went to the park this morning. Said she’d be back for lunch.”

“No time!” Scootaloo shouted. She hopped on her scooter and took off.

“Why did she have to go all the way to the park?” Scootaloo moaned as she scooted. Once she got there, she had to stop. So many ponies were in the park this morning. Where was Sweetie Belle?

It took Scootaloo ten minutes to find Sweetie Belle, practicing her singing in the gazebo. “I need your help!” Scootaloo shouted.

“What is it?”

“I totally screwed up and knocked something over in the boutique and now I need your help to fix it!”

“Okay, I’ll try, but it’s not going to work,” Sweetie Belle said.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve messed up Rarity’s boutique tons of times. Even when I put everything back perfectly, she still knows.”

“Well, we’ve got to do something!” Scootaloo said.

“Okay, we’ll try.”

Scootaloo made it back to Carousel Boutique in record time. She was probably going to have bruises where Sweetie Belle’s forelegs had clutched tightly around her barrel. Meanwhile, the unicorn was kissing the ground.

“Overdramatic much?” Scootaloo said.

“You were going too fast!” Sweetie Belle said.

“We had to get here before... oh.” The sign on the door of Carousel Boutique was turned to Open. It had been on Closed when she left.

Scootaloo opened the door. The showroom of the boutique was just as she left it. She didn’t see Rarity, but she heard sobbing coming from a back room.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle crept into the boutique. They opened the door to the back room. There they found Rarity, sprawled on her fainting couch. A half dozen cartons of ice cream sat in a pile next to it, and she had another, plus a spoon, in her magical aura. Chocolate ice cream stained her coat around her mouth.

“I’m ruined. Ruined!” Rarity moaned.

“Rarity, I’m really really sorry,” Scootaloo said. “I didn’t listen to you, and I screwed up, and I’m ready for my punishment.”

Rarity responded by shoveling another large spoonful of ice cream into her mouth before waving her off. “Just let me mourn in peace,” she said.

Sweetie Belle tapped Scootaloo on the withers and motioned for her to follow. They headed outside, Sweetie Belle changing the sign on the door back to Closed. “What did you do?” she asked.

“Um, I’d rather not say. I feel really bad. Is there anything I can do?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve ruined Rarity a dozen times,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Huh?”

“I’ve done things that are nowhere near that bad, and Rarity responds in the same way. It’s like she builds up this vision of perfection in her mind, but eventually something causes the illusion to shatter. That’s just the way she is. But some time later, she’ll take a look at whatever it was that ‘ruined’ her, and she’ll find inspiration, and then she’ll be back to normal.”

“So you’re saying she’s a drama queen?” Scootaloo said.

“You know it. That’s why even though my dad talks about nothing but sports, and my mom is always wearing those stupid pants, and they’ve both got that whole Whinnyapolis nice thing going, I still prefer to stay with them,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Oh.”

“You were going to see this side of Rarity eventually. I think she does this just to have an excuse to eat ice cream.” Sweetie Belle looked back. “Does this mean you’re going to....”

“Yeah. I’ll tell her.”

“You might want to wait until she’s done crying. She never remembers anything from one of her fits. And then she accuses me of eating her ice cream.”

“Sounds rough,” Scootaloo said. “Well, I’d better go see Twilight.”

Scootaloo found Twilight Sparkle in the alicorn’s favorite place, the room in her castle she was converting into a library. “I’m back,” she announced.

“You look down, Scootaloo. Did something happen between you and Rarity?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Yeah, and it’s all my fault.”

“Does this mean you’re giving up?”

“Rarity is very nice, and generous with her time, and even though we had some disagreements, I could live with that,” Scootaloo said. “But I don’t need that kind of drama in my life.”

“Yes, Rarity is... quite the unique pony in that respect,” Twilight Sparkle said diplomatically. “Are you going somewhere else now?”

“Not right now. I still need to go back and apologize to Rarity and let her know, once she’s calmed down,” Scootaloo said. “But after that, I’m going to a quiet place where there will be no drama whatsoever.”

Author's Note

As promised, Scootaloo consorts with the dark side and eats carrots.

Brussels sprouts are actually delicious when they're cooked however a high end steakhouse cooks them. The one thing I couldn't figure out is a pony pun name for Brussels.

Chapter 5: Derpy

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn
Special thanks to FanOfMostEverything

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 5: Derpy

A glum Scootaloo idly twirled a long-handled spoon in the remaining few sips of her strawberry milkshake. “I was sure Fluttershy was perfect for me!” she exclaimed.

Sharing her table at Sugarcube Corner, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom gave a sympathetic nod. “So where to next?” Apple Bloom said.

“Pinkie Pie?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“While I like eating all the sweets I want, she actually lives with the Cakes. And I’m trying to get away from the whole ‘twins demanding everypony’s time’ thing,” Scootaloo said.

“Twilight Sparkle?” Sweetie Belle said.

“I think I’m happy having her as just our tutor.” Scootaloo shuddered. “I swear she’s mentally cataloging her findings every time I come back from a new family.”

“Well, that about does it,” Apple Bloom said.

“No! There are tons of ponies in Ponyville!” Scootaloo said.

“But that’s really all we know,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Then we need to look harder,” Scootaloo said.

Ten seconds later, each filly’s head was resting on her forelegs as inspiration failed them. Fortunately, they were sitting in a popular bakery, and the jingle of the bell above the door stirred them from their funk.

“Maybe you just need a perfectly ordinary family, one that’s never going to be called on to save Equestria,” Sweetie Belle said as she observed the pegasus mare and unicorn filly who entered. “Like the mailmare!”

“You mean Muffins?” Scootaloo said.

“I thought her name was Derpy,” Apple Bloom said.

“No, it’s Ditzy Doo,” Sweetie Belle said.

“I call her Mommy. And she’s the best mommy in Equestria!” the young unicorn filly said.

“This could work,” Scootaloo said, rubbing her chin. “Yeah. I’m liking this idea!”

After the pegasus completed her purchase, Scootaloo approached her. One golden eye focused on Scootaloo, while the other gazed at a glass case full of muffins. A big bag of treats was sticking out of her mailbag. “Um, Ms. ... Muffins?”

“Yes?”

“Uh, this is kind of hard to say. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m looking for a new family. Do you think I could live with you?”

She looked at her, confusion evident on her face for a while, before she smiled. “Oh! I’ve heard all about you, Scootaloo! Of course you can live with us!”

Dinky smiled. “Am I getting a new sister, Mommy?” she asked.

“It looks like it, muffin!”

Scootaloo turned to her friends. “It looks like I won’t be available to crusade until this is done. Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Good luck!” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo smiled, though the phrase “You’ll need it” echoed in her mind.

Following the requisite stop with Twilight Sparkle, where the princess explained to Derpy the rules about Scootaloo’s search, Scootaloo followed her new mother as they crossed town. She fluttered her wings slowly, propelling her scooter at such a speed that she wouldn’t outpace the others. And one awkward question weighed on Scootaloo’s mind.

“Um, uh...” she started.

“Yes?” Derpy said.

“I’ve, uh, heard lots of names for you, but which one do you want me to use?”

Derpy smiled. “Well, my name is Desiderata Doo, but I’ve been given a lot of nicknames over the year. Ditzy Doo, Derpy, Muffins... I’m happy that ponies love me enough to give me special names.”

“But which one do you like?”

Derpy draped a wing over Scootaloo. “I like whichever one you like. But I’d like it the most if someday, you too would call me Mommy.”

“Maybe someday... Derpy,” Scootaloo said.

“Then let’s get you both home, so I can finish my mail route.”

Derpy’s home was in a neighborhood much like Scootaloo’s. It was a simple two story wooden home with a thatch roof. The lawn was trimmed, and beds of flowers surrounded a neat stone path leading to the front door.

“Welcome home, Scootaloo,” Derpy said as she opened the door.

Scootaloo peeked inside. The house looked lived in, neither perfectly clean nor overly messy. She entered and looked around. There were photos on the wall, trinkets on the shelves, and little decorations here and there. In short, it was a normal house.

“There’s the living room, there’s the kitchen, and there’s a bathroom over there,” Derpy said to Scootaloo. “There are muffins in the breadbox and fruits and vegetables in the icebox, if you’re hungry.”

“Okay,” Scootaloo said.

“Let me show you the spare bedroom upstairs.”

Derpy led Scootaloo upstairs, ending in a small but tidy bedroom. A twin bed and dresser were the only furnishings, and the room was sparsely decorated. “I hope this is comfortable, Scootaloo.” She turned to her daughter. “Muffin, please help Scootaloo get settled, and then introduce her to Sparkler.”

“Okay, Mommy!”

Derpy nuzzled Dinky. “I love you, my little muffin.” She smiled at Scootaloo. “You look like a filly who doesn’t like mushy stuff.”

Scootaloo mimed gagging. “No, thanks!”

“Then I’ll see you both after work.”

Derpy headed to the front door, Dinky trotting after her. The filly waved to her mother as she flew off.

“Come on, Scootaloo! Let’s go see Amethyst Star!” Dinky said.

“What about Sparkler?” Scootaloo asked.

“Well, her name’s Amethyst Star, but Mommy calls her Sparkler, because her gems are all sparkly,” Dinky said.

“Your mom really likes nicknames, doesn’t she?”

“Uh-huh!”

“I wonder what mine’s going to be...” Scootaloo said.

Amethyst Star lived just down the street. When she opened the door, Scootaloo vaguely recognized the young unicorn mare from around town.

“Oh, hi, Dinky!” Amethyst Star said. “What brings you here?”

“I’m here to show you my new big sister!” Dinky said excitedly. “This is Scootaloo!”

“I’ve heard of you,” Amethyst Star said, her smile suggesting just how she heard of Scootaloo.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Don’t worry, I’m not here looking for my cutie mark today,” Scootaloo said.

“Well, come in, both of you.”

Amethyst Star poured grape juice for the two fillies while pouring tea into a cup for herself. The three ponies sat at the kitchen table.

“So, how do you know each other?” Scootaloo asked.

“I was Dinky’s foalsitter for a long time,” Amethyst Star said. “Now I’m just her surrogate sister, and I help watch her while her mother is at work.”

“She also helps me with my magic!” Dinky said. “Maybe today you could....”

“Now, Dinky, you know the rules. Not until after I’ve finished work.”

“What do you do?” Scootaloo asked.

“I design jewelry. I can’t find gems like Miss Rarity, but I turn them into beautiful jewelry.”

“Oh. Cool,” Scootaloo said.

“You don’t strike me as a filly who likes jewelry. Maybe when you’re older....”

“Nah, never, no way,” Scootaloo said confidently.

Amethyst Star just smiled. “It was nice to meet you, Scootaloo. Remember that you can come by if you need help. But for now, I had better get back to work.”

“Okay, see you later!”

“Dinky, are you okay with this?” Scootaloo asked.

Dinky looked up from the floor, where she was drawing. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve tried to find a new family before, but each time, it was with somepony who didn’t have a foal of her own. Are you okay with this?”

“Yeah! You Crusaders are the coolest!”

Scootaloo’s wings fluttered. “You mean it?”

“Of course! You’re always doing fun things. I wish I could join you!”

“Well, how’d you like to be a Crusader for a day?” Scootaloo suggested.

“Um, well... I kind of don’t need to be a Crusader,” Dinky said.

“Huh?”

“I have my cutie mark.”

Scootaloo stared at Dinky. “I don’t see it.”

“That’s okay, it’s hard to see. My cutie mark shows that I’m good at stopping other magic. But since a cutie mark is itself magic, that makes it hard to see,” Dinky explained. “You really need to look for it.”

Scootaloo crossed her eyes and peered at Dinky. It took a moment, but she eventually saw it. A spark of magic, rising and then falling, was superimposed over two blue raindrops.

“What do the raindrops mean?” Scootaloo asked.

“I don’t know, but Mommy says they’re the mark of a counterspell.”

“Huh.” Scootaloo scratched her head. “How’d you get it?”

“When Discord broke loose, Mommy started to go wrong. I said no.”

Scootaloo looked at Dinky, her mouth agape. “You beat Discord’s magic? Like, when he took over Ponyville?”

“It’s not like I had to stare him down. I just said no. Being good at stopping magic means I have the ability to say merely yes or no. That’s what Mommy says.”

“Huh,” Scootaloo said. “So, even if you can’t be a Crusader, you want to play?”

“Yeah!”

And so they played. Scootaloo and Dinky played tag. They ran around the fields surrounding their neighborhood. And they got involved in an impromptu game of hoofball with the other foals in the area.

They returned home, tired and sweaty, late in the afternoon. They raided the kitchen for a snack, Dinky making a tasty dip for the carrots and celery sticks Scootaloo pulled out of the icebox. And they talked. Dinky was a little younger than Scootaloo, but she still relished the feeling of finally having a sister.

The front door opened. “Muffin, Scootaloo, I’m home!” Derpy called.

Dinky ran to greet her mother. “Hi, Mommy!”

Derpy embraced her daughter with one wing. Scootaloo walked up to her, and Derpy was quick to add her to the embrace. After the hug, she said three wonderful words. “Let’s make dinner!”

Scootaloo helped Derpy and Dinky make dinner. Derpy knew her way around the kitchen, and she was good at breaking down tasks such that even a novice like Scootaloo could contribute. Scootaloo wasn’t sure what she was doing, but she was happy when the results were brought to the kitchen table, a rice pilaf and a big bowl of sautéed vegetables.

Derpy finished the meal by taking some muffins from the breadbox and placing them on the table. “Now the meal is complete!” she announced.

Scootaloo ate her meal happily. The food didn’t taste much better than what she was used to, but it was prepared with love. There was no fighting over food, and both Derpy and Dinky took the time to talk to her.

After dinner, Scootaloo and Dinky split the chores, cleaning the kitchen and sweeping the floors. Neither chore took much time; Derpy kept a clean house.

Once they were done, Dinky hopped onto the couch, sitting next to her mother. Derpy had a book in her hooves. “Care to join us?” Derpy asked Scootaloo.

“We’re reading Daring Do and the Griffon’s Goblet!” Dinky said.

“Okay,” Scootaloo replied. She hadn’t read the book, but she did know it well, thanks to Rainbow Dash always talking about it.

Scootaloo settled in next to Derpy. The mare propped up the book where they all could see it, and then stretched her wings over the fillies, covering them in a warm blanket of feathers. Scootaloo then learned about her new family’s tradition. For the next hour, they took turns reading aloud from the book. Dinky even added funny voices for the characters.

“I think that’s all for tonight,” Derpy announced. “Do you need any help setting up your room, Scootaloo?”

“No, I got it,” Scootaloo replied.

Scootaloo returned to her room, where, for the fifth time that summer, she looked at a box with her belongings. So far, living with Derpy and Dinky was a marked change from her past experiences, devoid of excitement or strife. She smiled and started unpacking. She was in the middle of hanging her Wonderbolts poster when she heard a knock on the door.

“Scootaloo?” Derpy said. “Can I come in?”

“Yeah,” she replied.

“Do you need anything?”

“I’m good for now,” Scootaloo said.

Derpy looked around the room and nodded. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. I deliver mail in the morning, but after that, I have the rest of the day free. I was thinking that the three of us could have a picnic lunch. Would you like that?”

“That sounds fun!” Scootaloo said.

Derpy smiled. “Dinky’s excited, too. What I need you two to do in the morning is make whatever picnic food you like. Okay?”

“Sure thing.”

Derpy leaned over and nuzzled Scootaloo. “Good night.”

The next morning, Scootaloo woke up when Derpy gently knocked on her door. It was early, though not quite Apple early. “I’m up,” she said wearily.

Scootaloo got up and opened the door. Derpy smiled at her. Behind Derpy, Dinky stood, yawning and with a bad case of bed mane.

“I’m going to work soon,” Derpy said. “There are muffins for breakfast, or you can make something if you like. Just don’t touch the cupcakes; those are for the picnic. After breakfast, please make some food for our picnic. Be sure to clean the kitchen when you’re done, since we won’t be leaving until it’s clean.”

“Okay, Mommy,” Dinky said.

“Yeah, sure,” Scootaloo said.

“Okay. Be good when I’m gone, and don’t forget to shower!”

Scootaloo and Dinky took turns showering, and once they finished, they went to the kitchen. Dinky opened the breadbox, and Scootaloo gazed on an impressive number of muffins. “Do you eat muffins every day?” Scootaloo asked.

“Mommy does, but not me. I like muffins, but not every day,” Dinky said. “And today, I will have a muffin.” She pulled out a blueberry muffin.

“Hmmm. Muffins sound good to me,” Scootaloo said. She selected one with cherries and chocolate chips.

Dinky and Scootaloo ate their muffins in silence. Scootaloo savored the plump cherries and sweet chocolate in her muffin and relaxed. She was relieved that this household wouldn’t force her to eat muffins daily, though with how good this muffin tasted, she could see eating them several times a week.

“Let’s make some food for our picnic now,” Dinky suggested.

Scootaloo nodded, and the two fillies sprung into action. Scootaloo had gotten a glimpse of Derpy’s kitchen the previous day, but now that she was really looking at it, she was surprised to see all that was there. Derpy had a large variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and cheeses; rows of jams and jellies; a pantry stocked with baking supplies; and a large spice rack. “So, where do we start?” Scootaloo said.

“Let’s make sandwiches,” Dinky said. “Then we cut them into small pieces, and we can share!”

The two fillies started pulling out ingredients. Scootaloo focused on all those foods her mom never made. One sandwich got tulips, lettuce, cheddar cheese, and horseradish. She then grabbed the peanut butter, and paired it with some apricot preserves.

“Hey, Scootaloo, pass the peanut butter,” Dinky said.

Scootaloo slid the jar to her, and saw what she was making. On one slice of bread, Dinky had spread cream cheese and what looked like apple pie filling. The other slice got the peanut butter, and she pressed the two slices of bread together.

“That actually looks good,” Scootaloo said.

“It is!” Dinky said.

Scootaloo smiled. Seeing Dinky’s sandwich, maybe she was finally ready to stomach apples again.

They made a bunch more sandwiches and a fruit salad. Scootaloo chopped vegetables while Dinky made some more of that tasty dip. Looking at the pile of food, more than enough for three ponies, they decided they were done.

“Now we need to clean up,” Dinky said.

Scootaloo surveyed the damage. There were a ton of things to put away, and dirty spoons and knives, but it certainly could be worse. Together, they made short work of the cleanup, without any of the fighting and complaining she was used to in her own family.

“Girls, I’m home!” Derpy called.

Dinky scrambled to her hooves and raced to the front door, Scootaloo following her. Dinky hugged and nuzzled her mother, and Derpy had a wing to spare for Scootaloo.

“Is everything ready for our picnic?” Derpy asked.

“Uh-huh!” Dinky replied.

“Yeah, we’ve got all sorts of sandwiches made, and....” Scootaloo started.

Derpy raised a hoof. “I want you to surprise me.”

Derpy loaded a picnic basket with all of the food, including the cupcakes she had bought the previous day, and added three bottles of sarsaparilla. She then folded up a blanket, and placed it atop the basket. “Ready!”

Derpy, balancing the basket and blanket on her back, flew out of the house at a gentle pace. Scootaloo followed on her scooter, with Dinky standing behind her, gripping her barrel. Together, they traveled to the outskirts of town.

Their picnic site was at the top of a gentle hill. To the west, they had a view of Ponyville, the town’s clock tower rising above the quiet village. To the east was the Everfree Forest, but they were safely away from it. Besides, it wasn’t like it was night, when the forest was scary.

Derpy spread out the blanket and placed the picnic basket on it. The three ponies sat around the basket and opened it, pulling out their lunch. They shared bites of sandwiches and vegetables.

“This is all very good,” Derpy said to the fillies. “Thank you for making this food.”

“You’re welcome, Mommy,” Dinky said.

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” Scootaloo said.

“And I think you’re both ready for cupcakes.”

Dinky cheered as Derpy pulled out the delicious cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner. There were six of them, delicious yellow cake with raspberry filling and a thick buttercream frosting. Scootaloo grabbed one.

“Be careful, Scootaloo. Those are Pinkie Pie’s raspberry hot sauce cupcakes, and they have a kick,” Derpy said.

Scootaloo hesitated, but decided a Sugarcube Corner cupcake was too good to leave uneaten. She tried the cupcake, and was surprised by how well the spicy raspberry compote complemented the cake and sweet frosting. “These are great!” she said.

Dinky bit into her own cupcake. “Mmm,” she hummed.

Scootaloo’s cupcake was soon gone, and she reached for another. She looked at Derpy. “Um, may I have another?”

“I don’t know, Scootaloo. Those are pretty big....”

Scootaloo turned her sad puppy dog eyes on Derpy.

“Okay, Scootaloo. Just this once.”

Scootaloo happily chewed on her second cupcake as she stretched out on the blanket. The sun warmed her back, and her new, perfectly ordinary family warmed her heart. “I could get used to this,” she said to herself.

The quiet picnic was interrupted by a flash of magic close to the edge of the Everfree Forest. The air shimmered, and four ponies appeared. Derpy’s eyes widened in surprise, and she flew over to the group.

Scootaloo looked at the group, and then at Dinky. “Do you know who they are?”

Dinky shrugged. “I know Mommy has some friends she doesn’t see much.”

“She has friends who can mass teleport?”

Scootaloo crept up to get a closer look at the newcomers, hiding behind a bush. Two were unicorns, one a stallion with a light blue coat, brown mane, and a cutie mark of a brain, the other a mare with a yellow coat, fiery red mane, and a cutie mark of a flame. The third was an earth pony stallion, almost as large as Big McIntosh, with a white coat, brown mane, and a cutie mark of a sunburst on a shield. Strangely, that sunburst featured straight lines, not the curvy lines that emulated Princess Celestia’s own cutie mark. The stallion had something like a thin rope wrapped around one foreleg.

The fourth figure was even more of a surprise. Now that she got closer, Scootaloo could see the mare was something she had only read about, a deer. The mare, or rather doe, had a pattern of tattoos inked into her coat.

“By the gods! What manner of magic is this?” the earth pony said. He stumbled around, unsteady on his hooves.

The unicorn stallion chuckled. “First time on Ungula, Gideon?”

The unicorn mare slapped the earth pony stallion on the withers. “We need you ready to fight. Here’s a tip: just don’t think about your body. I know that’s an impossible task for you, but still.”

“Jace, Chandra, be nice,” Derpy said to the unicorns. “I know this isn’t a social call, and if this is a prank, it’s not funny.”

“Forgive my companions,” the deer said. “Time is short. We came together on Zendikar to fight the titans that dwell in the space between worlds. Together, we destroyed two of them, but the third and greatest was unaccounted for. We have traced it. It is your world that’s at risk.”

Derpy looked off to the Everfree Forest. Both her eyes focused on a distant point. She then went to the bush where Scootaloo was hiding and pushed aside the branches. “Scootaloo. Take Dinky back to town and find Pinkie Pie. Tell her it’s a muffin emergency.”

Scootaloo saw the uncharacteristic seriousness on the mare’s face. “Town. Pinkie. Got it.”

“So what’s a muffin emergency?” Scootaloo asked Dinky as she powered her scooter.

“That’s when Mommy has to help other ponies. Sometimes, she needs Pinkie Pie’s help.”

“Help with what?”

“I don’t know. Mommy always asks me to go see Amethyst Star and stay safe at home.”

Scootaloo wasn’t satisfied with her answer. Fortunately, she could just ask Pinkie Pie.

The fillies pulled up to Sugarcube Corner and ran inside, not even bothering to take off their helmets. Cup Cake greeted them warmly. “What can I get you two? Do you need more cupcakes for your picnic?”

“No, we need muffins,” Scootaloo said.

“It’s a muffin emergency!” Dinky said.

“Did somepony say muffin emergency?” Pinkie Pie said, poking her head out from the kitchen. She suddenly froze, and then jumped in the air, hovering as her body twitched.

“Pinkie Pie?” Scootaloo said.

“That’s one big doozy! Fifteen twitchy tails and fifteen floppy ears! It is a muffin emergency for sure!” She twitched again, her hooves and muzzle moving. “Mrs. Cake, I need to borrow flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, oh, and one of the ovens! I’ll bring them right back.”

Cup Cake stared for a moment, and then shook her head. “Okay, dear. Just bring them back in working order this time.”

Twenty seconds later, Pinkie Pie was pronking out the front door, somehow balancing an oven and a ton of baking supplies on her back.

“Let’s go,” Scootaloo said to Dinky.

The two fillies hopped on the scooter, and Scootaloo took off after Pinkie.

“Wait!” Dinky called. “You’re going the wrong way!”

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo said.

“We need to go home, where it’s safe!”

“There’s a mysterious group of teleporting ponies, a deer, a grave threat to Equestria, and Pinkie Pie carrying an oven on her back, and you’re not the least bit curious about what’s going to happen?”

“Well, I guess....”

“Great! Let’s go!”

Scootaloo powered her wings, determined to catch up to Pinkie Pie. That mare was confounding. Although her pronking looked like the movement of somepony who had all the time in the world and a desire to enjoy it, she was actually moving faster than Scootaloo!

They soon returned to their picnic site. Pinkie Pie was singing to herself and setting up a makeshift kitchen. They hopped off the scooter and looked around. The others were gone.

“Where is everypony?” Dinky said.

“La, la la, la la,” sang Pinkie Pie.

“Forget that,” Scootaloo said. “I found tracks. They’re in the Everfree Forest!”

Dinky paused. “We can’t go into the Everfree Forest! Even Rainbow Dash would say no!”

“Yeah, I guess,” Scootaloo said. “But they always say not to go in there alone. With so many adults there, what’s the worst thing we could find there?”

On cue, Scootaloo and Dinky felt the ground rumble. A terrible roar from within the Everfree reached their ears. They heard the sound of trees falling, and then they saw it.

A terrible creature, defying description, rose above the forest. It was like an inverted mountain peak, with a surface that resembled brain matter. Tentacles trailed from its form. Its colors, a combination of brown and blue and mauve, managed to do something that had never before been accomplished in their world of colorful equines: it looked unnatural.

“Is that coming closer to us?” Dinky asked, taking a few steps back.

“It’s... it’s just large, so it’s an optical illusion, right?” Scootaloo said.

The creature shrieked, a horrible sound that tore at the ponies’ souls. A wave of nothingness erupted from the creature. As it traveled, the trees of the Everfree Forest disintegrated, turning into white powder. The strange energy carried the white powder directly towards Scootaloo and Dinky.

The two fillies, shocked, just stood there. Then Pinkie Pie pulled out a balloon. She inflated it, then another, and within seconds, she had created a wall of balloons, which she nudged in front of Scootaloo and Dinky. The balloons soon popped, but the strange wave of nothingness was stopped. Chalky white powder drifted down on them.

“What’s going on?” Scootaloo said.

“Don’t worry, your Aunt Pinkie will keep you safe,” Pinkie Pie said. “Oh, and this is where you need to run away.”

Scootaloo wasted no time, grabbing Dinky and pulling her onto her scooter. She started to ride.

“Mommy!” Dinky shouted.

Scootaloo looked back, saw Derpy in the air, and skidded to a stop. The two fillies stared as the mare flew around this eldritch monster, distracting its attention. The mare’s eyes glowed, and... did she just cast a spell?

The other ponies soon appeared, minuscule when framed against the titanic monster. Their hooves churned up puffs of bleached white powder from the destroyed forest as they weaved around it. Chandra unleashed a terrible gout of fire from her horn; it washed over the creature without effect. Jace concentrated, and strange spectral creatures appeared around the horror; its tentacles made short work of the distraction. And then Gideon concentrated, and magical energy reached out to surround the creature. Again, it shrugged it off.

“How did he do that?” Scootaloo asked, staring at the earth pony. “For that matter, how did your mom do that?”

Dinky, joining Scootaloo in hiding behind a bush, just shook her head.

The deer concentrated, and a thick vine emerged from the ground. It wrapped around the horror, which struggled. The vine must have been filled with some potent magic, as it stopped the creature for far longer than the disparity in sizes would have suggested. Another wail, another wave of nothingness, and the vine crumbled to dust.

“Nissa! Chandra! Do what you did to Ulamog and Kozilek!” Gideon shouted.

“It won’t work!” Pinkie Pie said from behind her stove. “Emrakul isn’t merely indestructible! She has a resistance to mana of all colors! Even purple!”

“Use your magic to create bindings, and have these creations interact with the titan,” Jace said. “We need time to bind Emrakul. Nissa, can you trace the leylines?”

The deer, Nissa, frowned. “The magic of this plane is so unlike that of Zendikar. It would take far longer than we have for me to commune with its spirits.”

“I can help!” Derpy said. “I’m used to finding mana under the overlaid magic of harmony.”

Gideon concentrated, and tendrils of white energy wrapped around the horror. His face immediately contorted in strain. “Hurry! I can only hold it so long.”

“Ditzy Doo!” Jace called. “What in this world can be used to anchor the bindings, like these hedrons?”

Derpy flew over, looking at the curious stone item held in Jace’s aura, an elongated octahedral stone with detailed carvings. “What is it?” she asked

“The hedron is a creation of the kor planeswalker Nahiri, centuries ago, and was used to hold the titans trapped in Zendikar. They are powerful, imperishable, unfathomable....”

Pinkie Pie bounded up to Jace and licked it. Her muzzle wrinkled in disgust. “Unpalatable!”

Jace frowned. “I’m sure they are, but that’s not the issue....”

“I’ve got it!” Pinkie Pie shouted, snatching the hedron. “I know what we can use!” She turned to Derpy. “What I’m about to ask of you... know that I’m only asking this of you because the fate of Equestria and all of Ungula is at stake.” She placed her forehooves on Derpy’s withers and looked in her eyes. “Desiderata Lillian Doo, we need to make... THE WORST MUFFINS IN EQUESTRIA!”

Derpy gasped. So did Dinky. Derpy looked to where the two fillies were hiding and shook her head disapprovingly.

“Sorry, Mommy,” Dinky said, rising from behind the bushes.

“There’s no time to talk about it. You two do whatever Pinkie asks you to do while I talk to Nissa. We need these muffins!”

Chandra turned to face Pinkie Pie and Derpy with such speed, the flame she was conjuring sputtered out. “You’re going to try to trap this titan with muffins? Are you crazy?”

“I’ve come up with some sketchy plans in desperate times, but nothing like that,” Gideon said.

“If I had a better idea, I’d share it,” Jace said. “I hate to say it, but I trust Pinkie Pie. She knows more about this plane than she lets on.”

The next several minutes passed in a blur as Scootaloo and Dinky furiously mixed up muffin batter. Derpy rejoined them shortly after. All the while, Scootaloo stole glances at the battle raging at the edge of the Everfree forest. She watched as Gideon fought hoof to tentacle with the monstrosity, using both his strange magic and the multibladed whip wrapped around his foreleg. Chandra summoned pony-shaped beings of pure flame, and Jace illusory creatures in all manner of forms. None showed any sign of harming the creature. The creature spawned miniature versions of itself, each the size of a pony, which Chandra dispatched with gouts of fire.

“Shouldn’t we be getting Twilight? Or Princess Celestia?” Scootaloo asked. “I’d even take Discord at this point!”

“That wouldn’t be a good combination.” Pinkie Pie shuddered. “Now, don’t you worry. If you asked Princess Celestia, she’d put the fate of Equestria in the hooves of your mother, Dinky.”

“I have the best mommy ever!” Dinky cheered.

“Ooh, the muffins are almost ready!” Pinkie Pie said. She went to each bowl of batter and grated some of the hedron into it, like some bizarre nutmeg fruit. “Now get them in the tins!”

Gideon flew back as the eldritch monster twisted the tentacle he had grabbed. He got to his hooves and readied his whip. “We don’t have time to wait for the muffins to bake.” He dodged as the creature whipped a tentacle at him. “And never in my life did I think I’d utter those words in battle.”

“I agree, Gideon. So we’ll make time flow faster,” Jace said as he approached. He concentrated, and a blue bubble surrounded the ovens. Nine seconds later, the oven dinged, and Jace released the magic.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Just think of how much more I could bake if....”

Jace shoved a hoof in Pinkie Pie’s mouth. “Party later. We need to try your plan now.”

Pinkie Pie took the muffins out of the oven, unappealing grayish lumps with a faint muffin smell. They easily came out of the tins, landing on a serving platter with a heavy thump. Derpy placed the platter on her back and ran into the Everfree with Nissa.

Scootaloo held Dinky as they watched the remaining three strangers continue their battle against the alien creature.

“What’s happening?” Dinky asked.

“I don’t think I want to know.”

They watched in silence as the fight continued, the Everfree Forest and surrounding land scarred by the battle. What felt like hours later, Derpy flew out of the forest, Nissa running behind her. “There’s the last spot!” Derpy shouted.

Nissa planted the final muffin in the ground. Chandra distracted the creature with another fire elemental. “Fall back, protect Jace!” she yelled.

The unicorn stallion concentrated, magic flowing into the nearby muffin. It glowed with pink energy, and then two rays of light shot out. A faint rosy glow rose over the Everfree Forest, tracing a shape that looked a lot like a cupcake.

The massive horror screeched and charged at Jace, but the pink energy formed a barrier, holding it in. “The hedron network’s holding!” Jace shouted.

“Now what?” Gideon asked. “We don’t have the magic to destroy Emrakul, even if we could get it to manifest completely in this world.”

“I talk to her,” Pinkie Pie said.

“WHAT?” everypony else shouted.

Pinkie Pie happily bounded up to the barrier. “Emrakul. Emi baby. What’s the matter?”

The creature shrieked.

“Oh, don’t give me that. It’s your old pal, Pinkie Pie. I know I look different, but I still care about you.”

More unearthly moaning was the only response.

“Well, you’re not going to do that in my plane. I know you better than that. What’s really wrong?”

The earth rumbled.

“Why did you leave Zendikar?”

The creature shrieked, louder than before.

“I see. You’re feeling left behind. Last time, you worked together with Ulamog and Kozilek, but this time, they acted without you.”

“Good thing they did,” Gideon said.

“Emrakul, you’re not happy, but you won’t be happy here, either,” Pinkie Pie said. “You see, you and Ungula go together as well as cupcakes and toothpaste. You need to go somewhere else.”

The creature fell silent. It seemed to be listening to Pinkie Pie.

“There’s this nice little plane called Innistrad. It’s filled with vampires and werewolves and ghosts and zombies. They all think they’re super frightening, but you know what? They haven’t met real terror. They haven’t met you.”

The monster released a hiss of air, making a noise like the lowest note on a pipe organ.

“See? I knew we could work this out.”

Pinkie Pie turned to Jace. “She says she’s going to leave. Release the magic from the barrier.”

Jace looked doubtful, but did as Pinkie Pie said. The muffins stopped glowing, and the symbol in the sky faded. A vast rift opened in the sky above the Everfree Forest, giving Scootaloo and Dinky a glimpse of everything and nothing all at once. The titanic monster faded into this nothingness, and the rift disappeared.

“WOULD SOMEPONY TELL ME WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” Scootaloo screamed.

Jace trotted up to Scootaloo and Dinky, but Derpy intercepted him. “I have to do this,” she told him.

Derpy landed next to Scootaloo and Dinky, and hugged the two fillies. “Scootaloo, Dinky, I want you to remember always that I love you very much,” she said. “But right now, I need you to do one thing. Look in my eyes.”

Scootaloo looked at Derpy. The mare’s eyes focused on her. Scootaloo focused on her eyes, staring, staring, staring....

“Wake up, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo’s eyes fluttered open. Derpy was gently nudging her awake. Next to her, Dinky was also stirring. Scootaloo looked up at the sky; it was already mid-afternoon.

Scootaloo panicked, looking for signs of that horrible monster. But there was no monster, and neither Pinkie Pie nor those strange ponies were present.

Derpy wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. “It was just a dream. You’re safe.”

“But it was there! It destroyed everything and....”

“Destroyed what, sweetie?”

Scootaloo looked around. The vast swath of the Everfree Forest she saw reduced to dust? It was still there.

“Let’s go home. It’s a beautiful day, and it would be a shame to waste it sleeping,” Derpy said.

“Okay,” Scootaloo said, donning her helmet. She hopped on her scooter. “Come on, Dinky, let’s go.”

Dinky put on her old helmet and stood behind Scootaloo. Scootaloo looked back, making sure Dinky was secure. And that’s when she noticed something.

There was a square patch of flattened grass behind her, exactly the size of the oven she saw Pinkie Pie using. A shiver ran down her spine, followed by an itching sensation. Scootaloo scratched her back and fluttered her wings.

A bit of chalky white powder drifted to the ground.

“Uh, Derpy?” Scootaloo said.

“Yes?”

“I just realized something. You have the most important job of all.”

Derpy raised an eyebrow.

“You’re taking care of Dinky,” Scootaloo said. Behind her, Dinky smiled.

Derpy stared at Scootaloo, who motioned to the flattened patch of grass. “You also need to be ready to make muffins. And because you have this important job, one that only you, or maybe Pinkie Pie, could do, I can’t ask you to be my mother, too. I’m sorry.”

Dinky sniffed. “But you’re the best big sister, Scootaloo!”

“Sorry, Dinky,” she said.

Derpy pulled her two little muffins into an embrace one last time. “I understand, Scootaloo. I hope you find the right family for you.”

Together, the three ponies returned to town. With all of Ponyville before her, Scootaloo believed more than ever that, somewhere, there was a normal family for her.

Author's Note

This chapter is a crossover with the current story line from Magic: the Gathering, with Derpy and Pinkie Pie as planeswalkers borrowed from FanOfMostEverything's Elementals of Harmony. Things will be back to normal next chapter, with another background pony.

And in keeping with FoME's tradition, here's a card.

Oath of Pinkie 3B

Legendary Enchantment

When Oath of Pinkie enters the battlefield, each opponent loses 2 life. You gain life equal to the life lost that way.

Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to a planeswalker you control, that player loses 1 life. Put a loyalty counter on that planeswalker.

"So that everypony in the Multiverse can smile smile smile, I will keep watch."

Chapter 6: Berry Punch

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 6: Berry Punch

“At least we were expecting it this time,” Apple Bloom said.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders lay in a heap, a sticky ball of hair, leaves and tree sap. Their latest plan to earn their cutie marks came to them that afternoon, and had seemed so obvious in retrospect. Since they were so good at getting covered in tree sap, why not try to collect tree sap? Unfortunately for the Cutie Mark Crusader Maple Syrup Collectors, they didn’t know which trees were maple trees, nor did they know exactly how to harvest it. Lacking any tools, Apple Bloom tried bucking the tree they chose while Sweetie Belle focused her magic.

The tree they chose certainly had plenty of sap. But not the sap they wanted.

“Bleh. This doesn’t taste at all like maple syrup,” Scootaloo said.

“Maybe we should have looked it up in the library?” Sweetie Belle said.

“No need. If this was our special talent, we would have gotten it right without help. I’m sure of it,” Scootaloo said.

“Just like you were sure you’d find a new family?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Hey!”

“Now, let’s not fight,” Apple Bloom said. “We need to help Scootaloo. Maybe we’ll even get our cutie marks!”

“Do you have anypony in mind?” Scootaloo asked.

The trio fell silent.

“No cutie mark ideas and no family ideas either,” Apple Bloom said.

“Let’s go home,” Scootaloo said glumly.

“After we clean up,” Sweetie Belle said.

The fillies headed to the nearby pond, where they helped each other undo the worst of the damage. They got out and shook themselves dry. The sun had set, but the air was still pleasantly warm.

“Well, back to Twilight’s castle,” Scootaloo said.

The new Ponyville landmark was on the way to both Sweet Apple Acres and Sweetie Belle’s home, so the trio walked there together, lost in thought. As they neared their destination, they spotted an earth pony mare, unsteady on her hooves, weaving as she walked. Then she stumbled.

The fillies looked at each other. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PARAMEDICS, YAY!”

The plum mare waved them off weakly. “I don’t need a doctor.”

“But you look like you need help,” Apple Bloom said.

“All I need is some of my special juice,” she replied. “Can you help me to that bench?”

Together, the three fillies helped keep the mare, who they now recognized as Berry Punch, on her hooves as she walked to a nearby bench. The mare sprawled on its surface, and then pulled out a flask, uncapping it and taking a healthy swig. “Ahhhh,” she said.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other. They knew that they all had the same question. Scootaloo was the one brave enough to ask it. “What’s your special juice?”

Berry Punch smiled. “Why, it’s my special fruit punch, with a protein powder blend and electrolytes! I make it myself.”

“Huh,” she said.

“I’m fine, girls. You don’t need to wait around,” Berry Punch said.

“Can we at least walk you home?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I suppose so.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER HELPFUL CITIZENS, YAY!” the trio shouted.

Berry Punch got up a few minutes later, and the Crusaders walked with her, ready to catch her if she stumbled. The mare proved to be fine as they reached their destination, a tidy home in a neighborhood much like Scootaloo’s.

Berry Punch opened the door, and a filly a couple of years younger than the Crusaders ran to meet her. “Hi, Mom! Welcome home,” the filly said.

“Thank you, Berry Pinch,” Berry Punch said.

“Um, hi,” Berry Pinch said, looking at the Crusaders.

“These fillies were nice enough to walk me home,” Berry Punch explained. “Thank you, girls.”

“Is it just the two of you here?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yes, just the two of us,” Berry Punch replied.

“Uh, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve been looking for a new family, and....”

“Yes, I’ve heard the rumor, Scootaloo,” she replied. “Now, we certainly have the room, and my Pinchy has always said she wanted a sister....”

Berry Pinch smiled. “You mean it, Mom?”

“Yes, dear.” She turned to Scootaloo. “We’d love to welcome you into our family.”

“Can Scootaloo move in now?” Berry Pinch asked.

“I don’t see why not.”

“Great!” Scootaloo shouted. “Well, you’ve got to talk to Princess Twilight first.”

“Go ahead and ask her to come,” Berry Punch said. She looked at her daughter. “And we need to make this place fit for royalty!”

Scootaloo waved goodbye to her friends and headed back to Twilight Sparkle’s castle. An hour later, she found herself doing the same thing she had done many other times that summer, riding her scooter while towing a box with her stuff. After Twilight Sparkle met with Berry Punch and explained the rules to her, Scootaloo officially had a new mother.

“And now that it’s official, let me officially welcome to the family,” Berry Punch said. “Let’s show you our home.”

Scootaloo walked alongside Berry Pinch as Berry Punch gave her the tour. Scootaloo went down the mental checklist she had created after living in so many houses recently. The house was smaller than her own, but felt roomier; it was mostly clean and free of clutter; the furnishings were free of wear and tear. Then they reached the kitchen.

“Whoa,” Scootaloo said. Berry Punch’s kitchen had all the normal appliances, but it also had two large machines she hadn’t seen before. “What are those?”

“That’s a juicer, and that’s a blender. I use them to make juices and smoothies.”

“So you work from here?”

“Actually, I work at a facility down by the railroad station, where I have even bigger machines.”

“Wow!”

“Ponies love their juice, and I’m thrilled to make it,” Berry Punch said.

The upstairs of Berry Punch’s home held no more surprises, just three bedrooms and a bathroom. “And this one is my guest bedroom, but since I don’t have many guests spending the night, this room is now yours.”

“Cool,” Scootaloo said.

“Pinchy, I want you to help your new big sister feel welcome, and tomorrow, you can share the chores. Okay?”

“Okay, Mom,” Berry Pinch said.

“Goodnight, you two.”

Berry Punch departed. Scootaloo was excited, but the worry from an unanswered question began to gnaw at her. “What did your mom mean by chores?” Scootaloo asked.

“Picking berries,” Berry Pinch replied.

“Oh. Is that all?”

“What did you think it was going to be?” Berry Pinch asked.

“I don’t know. But I was worried when your mom didn’t specify.”

“Has this been a big problem?”

“Not this, specifically, but I keep expecting things to go wrong.”

“Don’t worry, Scootaloo,” Berry Pinch said, placing a hoof on her withers. “Mom’s a great mare. Just greet each day with a positive attitude, and you’ll love it here!”

“A positive attitude? Yeah, I can do that,” Scootaloo said.

“Great! See you in the morning.”

Scootaloo settled into her new bed. Tomorrow was a new morning, and she told herself that, for once, everything would go right.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Scootaloo’s eyes fluttered open as the excited Berry Pinch roused her. “I’m up,” she groaned.

“Mom’s got breakfast ready, and then we can go into the garden!”

Scootaloo rubbed a hoof through her mane to tame the worst of her bed mane, and then headed downstairs. She didn’t know what she was expecting for breakfast, but it certainly wasn’t what was waiting for them.

“You’re having a shake for breakfast?”

“It’s not a shake,” Berry Punch said. “It’s a smoothie with raspberries, blueberries, whey powder, vitamins, and bee pollen.”

“Bee pollen?” Scootaloo said incredulously.

“It builds strong joints, and helps your immune system,” Berry Punch said.

“Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like anything,” Berry Pinch said. “Try it!”

As Berry Pinch drank her smoothie, Scootaloo gave it hers a sniff. It certainly smelled good, like fresh berries. She gave it a taste. The smoothie was full of fresh fruit flavor and pleasantly chilled by the crushed ice it was blended with. There was a hint of creaminess. Whatever bee pollen was supposed to taste like, Scootaloo didn’t taste it. “This is great!” she announced.

“I’m glad you like it, dear,” Berry Punch said.

“Mom makes one every day, with lots of different flavors!” Berry Pinch said.

Scootaloo set down her now-empty glass. “This is the best idea ever!” she said.

“What do you mean?” Berry Pinch said.

“It took, like, two minutes for me to eat breakfast,” Scootaloo said. “That’s ten more minutes of sleep before school!”

“I’m glad you see the appeal of a healthy smoothie, though I would emphasize the nutritional benefits instead,” Berry Punch said.

“All right, let’s go!” Berry Pinch said. “I can’t wait to show you the garden!”

Much like Scootaloo’s home, Berry Punch’s home had a large backyard, with woods behind it. But unlike her home, the entire area was planted. Bushes, shrubs, and vines, all laden with plump berries, greeted the fillies. Berry Pinch picked up two baskets in her mouth, and dropped one at Scootaloo’s hooves.

“That’s a lot of berries,” Scootaloo said.

“Fortunately, we only have to pick the ripe berries.” Berry Pinch nosed into a raspberry bush and came out with a plump berry between her lips, which she then dropped into the basket.

“That doesn’t look too hard,” Scootaloo said. She headed to a blackberry bush and set her sights on a ripe berry. She leaned in, placed her lips around it, and pulled.

The berry popped, and sweet blackberry juice crossed her tongue.

A few more attempts, with the same result, left Scootaloo frustrated. “How do you pick the berries without them bursting?” she asked.

“You just ask the berry to stay whole.”

Scootaloo looked at her, confused, until she finally realized what Berry Pinch was saying. “I don’t have that connection. I’m not an earth pony.”

“Then maybe use your wings?”

Scootaloo shrugged. She had always used her wings for cool things, like pushing her scooter and flying (a little). But her mother used her wings all the time to hold the yarn she used in her knitting. Could she do the same?

She stretched her wings, two feathers sliding around a branch with a ripe blackberry. She pulled, and the berry popped off the vine, landing in her basket.

“Cool!” she said.

With the trick discovered, Scootaloo approached the chore with new enthusiasm. It didn’t take long for the two fillies to finish collecting the berries. They stacked filled baskets of berries in the kitchen.

“There! Now we’re free to enjoy the day!” Berry Pinch said.

“Great! I’ve got some serious crusading planned,” Scootaloo said. She noticed Berry Pinch looking at her expectantly. “Want to come, little sis?”

“YAY!” Berry Pinch shouted, in a voice loud enough to rival the Crusaders.

Crusading, as normal, turned out to be a bust. The four fillies did not discover a special talent in woodcarving. Their time working with the local farrier was similarly unproductive, though they did get to try out all of the different horseshoes she had. Scootaloo had no idea how ponies could wear those heavy iron horseshoes.

“Sorry you didn’t get your cutie mark,” Scootaloo said to Berry Pinch.

“That’s okay. I had fun anyway. Besides, I knew I wasn’t getting my cutie mark.”

“What? How could you know?” Scootaloo asked.

“Because it didn’t involve fruit,” Berry Pinch said. Upon seeing the blank expressions on the Crusaders, she continued. “My mom’s special talent involves fruit, and I have ‘Berry’ in my name, too.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Seriously? You’ve never noticed that cutie marks match names?”

“I ride my scooter all the time,” Scootaloo said as she brushed her blank flank.

“I’m around apples every day,” Apple Bloom said. “Bucking, harvesting, sorting, selling, cooking. No cutie mark.”

“I pick berries every day, too,” Berry Pinch said. “I just haven’t figured out how I relate to berries different than anypony else.”

The three Crusaders huddled together. “Do you think she’s on to something?” Sweetie Belle whispered.

“I guess there are things I haven’t done on the farm,” Apple Bloom said. “So, maybe?”

“Nah, that’s crazy talk,” Scootaloo said. “We’re sure to find our cutie marks as long as we keep crusading.” Her stomach rumbled. “After lunch, of course.”

The Crusader wagon was crowded with an extra pony riding, but it didn’t slow Scootaloo any as the fillies headed to Sugarcube Corner. They ran inside, eager to see what treats awaited them.

“Hi, girls!” Pinkie Pie said cheerily. “My Pinkie sense told me there’d be some hungry fillies coming in!”

“Don’t hungry fillies come in every day?” Sweetie Belle said.

“Yes, but it’s not always fillies who get milkshakes!” Pinkie Pie pulled out two milkshakes. “There’s your usual, Pinchy, and there’s one for you too, Scootaloo.”

“Why am I getting a milkshake?” Scootaloo asked.

“Because your mom insists!”

“Best mom ever!” Scootaloo said, grinning.

The four fillies paid for their treats. With their milkshakes already made, Scootaloo and Berry Pinch were first to the table. The others followed shortly after, Apple Bloom with an apple bran muffin, and Sweetie Belle with a strawberry tart.

Scootaloo sipped her shake. It was vanilla, and while it tasted good, it didn’t taste like the normal Sugarcube Corner milkshake. “Did your mom make this or something?” Scootaloo asked Berry Pinch.

“No, but it does contain Mom’s protein and vitamin powder.”

“Huh.”

“Mom sells the stuff to all the restaurants in town, so I always have something I can eat.”

Scootaloo started to think about what Berry Pinch meant by that, but she was interrupted by talk of crusading.

“We should try diving!” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“We did that,” Apple Bloom noted.

“But only at the pool. We could still be Cutie Mark Crusader lake divers!”

“I think going to the lake would be fun!” Berry Pinch said.

“Then it’s settled,” Sweetie Belle said, popping the last of her tart in her mouth.

Scootaloo caught herself drooling. That tart looked good, and she was still hungry. “I’ll be right back.”

Scootaloo walked up to the glass case and placed two bits on the counter. “Can I get one of those strawberry tarts to go?” she asked.

“Nope. No can do,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Huh?”

“It’s not on your mom’s list of approved foods!”

“Seriously?”

“I never joke about food,” Pinkie Pie stated. “Except whipped cream. Whipped cream’s always funny! Oh, and bananas, and kumquats, and bags of flour....”

Scootaloo left Pinkie Pie to compiling her list of funny foods. The others had stood up and were ready to go. “Can I talk to you?” she said to Berry Pinch.

“What is it, big sis?”

“Pinkie Pie said something about your mom’s approved foods. What’s she talking about?”

“In our family, we only eat food in liquid form.”

“WHAT?”

“I thought you knew,” Berry Pinch said. “I mean, there was breakfast, and now lunch....”

“Argh!” Scootaloo reared and pulled on her mane with her hooves. “Look, girls, you go have fun at the lake. I need to talk to my new mom.”

Scootaloo first went to Berry Punch’s shop. A sign on the door announced that it was closed early. She raced home. When Scootaloo opened the front door, she heard voices inside.

Following the sound of the voices, Scootaloo found Berry Punch at one side of the living room, with an unfamiliar group of ponies in a circle around her. It reminded her of Cheerilee leading a class discussion. Berry Punch even had several posters resting on easels, with pictures of... something.

“And the VitaMix powder is NutriMix’s most popular item,” Berry Punch said. “A balanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and botanicals, VitaMix can be blended in with juices, milk, even tea. Try it, and you’ll find yourself with more energy, and digestive problems will be a thing of the past. You can buy it in this canister, or in individual serving packets, ideal for travel.”

The ponies in the room murmured in approval as they passed around boxes and cans, all with the same logo, a red N in a yellow star.

“And together, these products allow you to fully embrace the healthy diet created by Dr. Quack. Without solid foods weighing you down, you will be more active and more productive,” Berry Punch said. “You’ll have more energy when it matters most,” she added, looking at the stallions in particular.

“And when you join the NutriMix team, you become part of one of Equestria’s fastest-growing companies, a leader in direct-to-consumer nutritional supplements. You sell on your own time, fitting your own schedule. And best of all, when you bring other ponies into your network, you share in the proceeds. As a successful NutriMix team leader, your network will work for you! Today, you have a chance to get in on the ground floor. So, who’s going to be the first to sign up?”

Three ponies agreed. They gave Berry Punch a pouch of bits, and she gave them a crate filled with these strange products. The others in the room were hesitant. Berry Punch continued to regale them with tales about the greatness of NutriMix; Scootaloo felt like she was pressuring them. In the end, two more ponies relented.

She shook hooves with the remaining ponies, wishing them a good day, and reminding them that she was always available to talk about NutriMix.

Once these ponies departed, Berry Punch looked up. “Oh, Scootaloo! I didn’t expect to see you so soon! Is something wrong?”

“Yes, something’s wrong! Why couldn’t I get a strawberry tart at Sugarcube Corner?”

“Solid food is not part of our diet in this home. We embrace a more evolved diet.”

“Is that that Dr. Quack thing you were talking about?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Just what the heck is it?” Scootaloo asked.

“I’d be happy to talk about Dr. Quack’s diet,” Berry Punch said, easily slipping into salespony mode. “Think back to the past. Our primitive ancestors spent all day foraging for grasses. As ponies grew in intelligence and magic, they learned to cultivate better, more nutritious foods. But even after millennia, we still weigh ourselves down with grasses and hay.

“Dr. Quack stresses that the key to pony evolution is to evolve our diet, and the ultimate destination is a diet free from solid food. Not only does he live the diet himself, he also created the full line of NutriMix products to help ponies embrace the evolved life. I happily adopted the diet five years ago.”

“Isn’t that when you started stumbling around?” Scootaloo said.

“Dr. Quack’s diet is an ideal. Nopony said it was easy.”

Scootaloo recalled what Berry Pinch said about names. “His name is Quack,” she deadpanned.

“Just because a pony’s special talent is researching waterfowl doesn’t mean he can’t also be a recognized authority on pony nutrition.”

Scootaloo just stared at Berry Punch.

“Have you tried to get your cutie mark in sales?” Berry Punch said. “As a NutriMix salespony, you are your own boss and you can work on your own schedule. You’re a part of a growing family, all dedicated to helping ponies become fit and healthy.”

“I’m still in elementary school, you know.”

“And that doesn’t matter. NutriMix is a product for ponies of all kinds, all backgrounds, all ages. The NutriMix team is....”

“No,” Scootaloo interrupted.

“Huh?”

“No, I don’t want to sell this stupid product. No, I’m not going to give up desserts from Sugarcube Corner. And Dr. Quack is a quack!”

“That’s not very polite,” Berry Punch said.

“But it’s true,” Scootaloo replied. “Look, I guess it works for you, but I can’t live like this. I’ll take my things tonight.”

“Okay,” Berry Punch said.

Scootaloo fell to her haunches. She shook her head.

“What’s wrong, Scootaloo?”

“I have to tell another filly that she’s going to lose her new sister. And that makes me sad.”

Berry Punch patted her on the withers. “You’re a good pony, Scootaloo. Never forget that.”

Scootaloo looked at Berry Punch. The mare smiled warmly.

“And if you’re feeling sad, I recommend HerbaMix, NutriMix’s herbal energy supplement. Ponies who use it report improved mood and more restful sleep.”

Scootaloo’s exasperated scream resounded through the neighborhood.

Author's Note

So Berry Punch wasn't seen stumbling around because she's drunk. It turns out she's an alternative health nut, and worse, in a multi-level marketing scheme.

This chapter is dedicated to everyone who sells multi-level marketing, especially those who do it over social media. Just stop. I don't want your crappy nutritional supplements!

Next chapter will include a multiple shorter encounters, so this is a perfect chance to nominate your favorite Ponyville resident!

Chapter 7: Speed Dating

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 7: Speed Dating

“Yeah, it was a total bust,” Scootaloo said to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom as they gathered for Twilight Time. “Who knew Berry Punch had some wacky diet?”

“So you’re back with Twilight again?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah. It was such a waste of time. If I had just asked her about what they ate, I wouldn’t have bothered!”

“Hmm,” Sweetie Belle said, rubbing her chin with her hoof.”

“What?”

“I have an idea,” she said. “Let me think about it, and then we’ll talk after Twilight Time.”

Scootaloo tried focusing on Twilight Sparkle’s engineering lessons, but she found herself distracted by Sweetie Belle’s idea. The promise of a solution to her family problem was dangling overhead, like a ripe fruit. And because it came from a fellow Crusader, it was sure to work!

After the maddeningly long process of cleaning up after their lessons, Scootaloo strode up to Sweetie Belle. “Okay, spill. What’s your idea?”

“Well, I read in one of Rarity’s magazine about something called speed dating. It’s where a bunch of stallions and mares get together in the same place, and they meet each other for only a few minutes, but they meet a lot of ponies, and so they have lots of chances to meet their special somepony!”

“You think that’d be a better approach for Big Mac than a love potion?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Focus, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said. “So what happens after?”

“Well, the article said something about ponies marking ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and then they’re matched up like that. But for you, the only ponies you’d meet would be the ones who would want to be your new family, so that’s a ‘yes’, and then all you have to do is say yes back!”

“So then you could find out if there’s something weird about them before you move in?” Apple Bloom said.

“Exactly,” Sweetie Belle said.

“That’s a great idea!” Scootaloo said.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER FAMILY FINDERS, YAY!” they shouted.

“Maybe this isn’t such a great idea after all,” Scootaloo muttered.

Scootaloo had created a list of the deal-breakers from her past families, and then came up with a corresponding list of what she was looking for in a family. A clean house, but not too clean. A normal diet, with a variety of foods. A fair share of the chores. And above all, free from strangeness.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle then reviewed the list, and pointed out Scootaloo had missed a few obvious things. The house had to be on the ground. Scootaloo needed a bed. And her new family had to be supportive of Scootaloo’s interests, like her scooter, crusading, and Twilight Time.

But the one thing Scootaloo hadn’t considered was that just meeting the pony in public was a valuable form of screening. Now, with the public call to find a new family for Scootaloo, anypony and everypony was coming to meet her.

Scootaloo sighed as a gray earth pony stallion with a blond mane entered the room. “Hello, sir,” she said. “May I have your name?”

“I am Hughbert Jellius,” the stallion replied. “I am thrilled to meet you, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo recognized the stallion, and mentally tossed her checklist. “So, Mr., uh, Jellius? Are you still strangely obsessed with tubs of jelly?”

“It is not an obsession, young filly. It is a calling, a passion! And one I hope to share with the next generation.”

“Yeah, about that. No. Just no,” Scootaloo said.

“Have you considered the benefits of membership in a diverse family?” the next visitor asked. “Think of the broadened perspectives, the unique worldviews!”

“I may be a daredevil and a Crusader, but even I have my limits, Discord,” Scootaloo said.

“Oh well, still fun for me,” Discord said, summoning a bucket of popcorn. “Mind if I watch?”

Scootaloo sighed. “It’s not like I could stop you. Just, could you watch somewhere else? I don’t want to make anypony more nervous than they already are.”

“Fine,” Discord replied.

“Yeah!”

Scootaloo looked up at the hulking white pegasus stallion with tiny wings. “Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No,” Scootaloo said, sighing.

The next candidate looked promising, a dapper earth pony stallion wearing a bow tie. Scootaloo recognized the town’s clock maker. Time Turner, she recalled, or was he a doctor of some kind? She couldn’t remember.

“Good afternoon, Scootaloo. I’m glad for this chance to meet you,” Time Turner said. “There’s an empty room in my house, and an empty space in my heart, plenty big enough for an energetic and independent filly like you.”

“Well, that’s good. I’m looking for a family that wants an energetic and independent filly,” Scootaloo replied. She reached for her list of questions.

“Exactly! A daughter to raise, a pony to nurture, and a companion to join me on a grand adventure to....”

“No! No adventures,” Scootaloo interrupted.

“I’m sorry?”

“I’ve had my fill of adventure, and I just want a normal family,” Scootaloo said.

“But....”

“Sorry, but that’s one of my firm rules,” Scootaloo said. “But thanks for coming by.”

“A shame, really. Very well. I wish you the best, Scootaloo.”

Time Turner walked out of the room. He pulled out a brochure and looked at it forlornly. It advertised the Xtreme Sports Xpo, coming up in Fillydelphia; the brochure included the slogan It’s an Adventure. “And I was sure she’d be interested.”

“Thunderlane?” Scootaloo said with surprise. “You’re here?”

“Yeah,” the dark stallion said, brushing a hoof through his mane. “You’re looking for a family?”

“Yes, but... Let me be honest, Thunderlane. You never struck me as a family stallion.”

“I am the primary caregiver for my little brother, you know. And we have plenty of room.”

“Yeah, I know. And your house smells like two stallions live there. Remember, I’ve been there to do school projects with Rumble.”

“We can clean up, if you want,” Thunderlane said.

“Look, Thunderlane, I already went through this with Rainbow Dash. I couldn’t live with the dirty floors and clutter. And your room? I can smell it from the front door. It smells like a locker room. What, are you exercising with those two mares who are always over?”

“Yeah, exercising,” Thunderlane said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

“I’m glad you’re looking out for me, but I already know it’s not going to work. Sorry,” Scootaloo said.

Thunderlane walked out of the room. Rumble was there, waiting for him, and the colt jumped to his hooves eagerly. “Well?”

“Sorry, little bro,” Thunderlane said, mussing Rumble’s mane. “If you want to get closer to Scootaloo, you’re just going to have to stallion up and talk to her yourself.”

The older stallion flipped to a new page on the pad resting on his easel. “...a full health and fitness suite including a weight room, running track, indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna....”

“Uh, Mr. Rich?”

He flipped to the next page. “...healthy meals prepared by a top graduate of the Canterlot Culinary Academy....”

“Mr. Rich?”

Flip. “...and a library rivaled only by Princess Twilight’s. My wife and I have provided everything we can for our precious Diamond, but there’s one thing we are unable to provide her, a brother or sister.”

“Excuse me? Mr. Rich?”

“And that’s where you come in, Scootaloo. Having shared a home with a brother and sister growing up, I know the value of a large family. It’s something that friends and social clubs can’t fill.”

“FILTHY!”

Filthy Rich adjusted his tie and looked at Scootaloo. “Excuse me, Scootaloo, but I prefer to be called Mr. Rich.”

“That’s what I’ve been calling you! And you haven’t listened!”

“I’m sure I would have heard you if you....”

“Do you listen to anything anypony says? Like, what does Miss Cheerilee say when she talks to you about Diamond Tiara?”

Filthy Rich smiled. “She says what a gifted student and leader my Diamond is.”

“No! If you ever listened any of the dozen times Miss Cheerilee spoke to you, you’d know that Diamond Tiara is... let me be as diplomatic as possible, and say that we don’t get along. So this isn’t going to work,” Scootaloo said. “It’s an even worse idea than you trying to acquire Quills and Sofas!”

“But we had synergy!” Filthy Rich sputtered.

“Please go, Mr. Rich. And please listen to Miss Cheerilee. Do it, for your daughter. If you don’t, then not even a song and dance number will be able to save her.”

The room was silent after Filthy Rich departed, save for the sound of Scootaloo banging her head on the table. A minute later, Twilight Sparkle entered the room, followed by the other Crusaders.

“Are you okay, Scootaloo?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

Scootaloo brushed a stack of papers off the table angrily. “There are way too many crazy ponies in this town!” she shouted.

“Tell me about it,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Well, what about those?” Apple Bloom said, pointing to a much smaller stack of papers.

“I guess not everypony’s crazy. I did meet three families I’d like to visit.”

“That’s great news,” Twilight Sparkle said. She picked up the papers in her magic and reviewed them. “Octavia and Vinyl Scratch, Bon Bon, and Mayor Mare. They’re all good ponies. Let’s see if I can schedule a meeting with each of them tomorrow.”

“Okay, sounds good,” Scootaloo replied.

“Rise and shine, Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo groaned as she turned in her bed. She could already tell from the light streaming into the room that it was far too early.

“Do I have to get up?”

Twilight Sparkle pulled out a scroll and reviewed it. “Yes. Bon Bon wanted you to come over early, since she has a shop to run. Then we’ll visit Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, and finally Mayor Mare.”

Knowing better than to try to argue with a checklist-carrying Twilight Sparkle, Scootaloo dragged herself out of bed. After a shower and breakfast, she and Twilight Sparkle set off.

Like every filly, Scootaloo knew where Bon Bon’s shop was. It wasn’t far from Sugarcube Corner, in a part of town that housed a lot of shops with homes attached. This time, though, she went around back, to the residence side of the building.

Twilight Sparkle knocked quietly, and Bon Bon opened the door. “Good morning, Twilight. And you too, Scootaloo,” she said.

“Hi,” Scootaloo said.

“So you want to see what it’d be like if you lived with me. And I’ve been looking to adopt. So let’s see if this will work for us,” Bon Bon said.

“Why are you speaking so softly?” Scootaloo asked.

“Lyra’s asleep. She performs late, and sleeps late. We don’t want to wake her.”

“So can I sleep late too?”

“If you like. I wouldn’t want to interfere with your preferred sleep schedule,” Bon Bon replied. “Of course, you still need to go to school.”

They toured the home, save for Bon Bon’s bedroom. It felt like a home. There were family portraits and knickknacks, with the decorative styles of the two mares living there evident. The house was clean and well-maintained, and Scootaloo found no problem with the bedroom that would be hers.

“And now, let me show you the best part of our home,” Bon Bon said.

Bon Bon opened the door between home and shop. Scootaloo saw the candy shop she was familiar with, smelled the faint scents of sugar and chocolate, but for the first time, she was seeing the shop from behind the counter! Scootaloo beamed.

“This is my pride and joy. I work hard at making candy every day, but it’s worth it to see just that expression on colts’ and fillies’ faces every time they walk through the door,” Bon Bon said.

“Uh, do you want me to work here with you?” Scootaloo asked. “Because last time, it didn’t work so well.”

Bon Bon chuckled. “Yes, Pinkie Pie told me all about your unfortunate encounter with her taffy machine. There are certain times of year where the shop is very busy, namely Hearts and Hooves Day, Nightmare Night, and Hearth’s Warming. And during that time, I have Lyra help me. I’d like you to help me too, but I’ll keep you working on tasks suited to your talents.” She wrapped a foreleg around Scootaloo and pulled her closer. “Of course, I’d be happy to teach you more. Maybe you’ll get a cutie mark in candy making after all!”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course, Scootaloo. I’ll just be sure to start you with the basics, before letting you work with hot sugar,” Bon Bon said. “Do you want to see where I make my candy?”

“Do I ever!”

The kitchen was a bit disappointing for Scootaloo, since there was no candy being made at the time. But it was filled with all sorts of unfamiliar machines, racks with spices and flavorings, and of course tasty raw ingredients. Scootaloo pressed her muzzle against a clear container filled with chocolate chunks.

“Melt those over a double boiler, and with a touch of loving care, and some heavy whipping cream, those will become my famous bonbons!” Bon Bon said.

“I bet I could do that,” Scootaloo said.

“There’s a lot more to it than melting chocolate, but I’d love to have an assistant,” Bon Bon said. “But we can talk about that later. Do you think you’d like to try living with me?”

“I think I would,” Scootaloo replied. “Well, maybe. I have two other families to meet.”

“My heart is open to you, if you choose me,” Bon Bon said. She turned to Twilight. “Do you think you two could return in the evening, after my shop’s closed, either way?”

“Of course,” Twilight Sparkle said.

They walked back into the shop. Scootaloo eyed the baskets of candies hungrily.

Bon Bon rested a hoof on Scootaloo’s withers. “I see you’re looking at my candies. The shop’s closed now, but let me introduce you to one of the benefits of being a candy mare’s daughter. That basket of caramels? They were made four days ago. I’ll be making fresh ones today. The old candies? I wouldn’t want to sell them, but I will share them with my family. Have as many as you want, Scootaloo.”

She rushed up to the basket and placed her forehooves on its rim. “You mean it? As many as I want?”

Bon Bon laughed. “That wasn’t meant as a personal challenge, Scootaloo. Nopony should eat too much candy. But you’re an energetic little filly. I’m sure you can burn off any reasonable amount of candy.”

Scootaloo nodded and nosed into the basket. The caramels had colorful wrappers, and the sign above the basket indicated the colors corresponded to different flavors. Scootaloo grabbed one of each: vanilla, chocolate, honey, apple, and peanut butter. She checked the sign, and noticed she was missing raspberry.

“Now where are you?” she said to herself. She started stirring the basket of candies with a wing.

“You’re using your wing as a hand! You have a human soul!”

Scootaloo looked up to see that a mint-colored unicorn had entered the shop from the residence. She yelped as she felt herself lifted in the air, the tingle of Lyra’s magic over her.

“Lyra!” Bon Bon yelled. “Put her down!”

Lyra trotted up and pulled Scootaloo into a hug. “You’re not alone, Scootaloo. There are others like you. We understand,” Lyra said.

“I don’t have a... whatever you said!” Scootaloo protested.

“You don’t have to hide it,” Lyra said softly.

“Lyra, put Scootaloo down,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Back me up, Twilight! You know all about humans!”

“There is no such thing as an alternate universe where ponies like you and I take the form of a mythological creature called a human,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“That was oddly specific,” Scootaloo muttered.

With both Bon Bon and Twilight Sparkle glaring at her, Lyra set Scootaloo down. Scootaloo looked to Bon Bon. “On second thought, maybe I’m not the best fit for this family,” she said.

Bon Bon glared at Lyra, but put on a smile when she turned to Scootaloo. “I understand,” she said. “I hope you find a family that loves you.”

Scootaloo turned away before she could see Bon Bon cry. “Let’s go, Twilight.”

“So is that why Bon Bon wanted to meet me while Lyra was asleep?” Scootaloo asked Twilight Sparkle.

“Perhaps. Lyra always had some odd beliefs as a filly. I didn’t know she carried them into adulthood,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “If I had known, I would have warned you.”

“Do you know anything about Octavia and Vinyl Scratch?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t know them well. They’ve both found acclaim as musicians, in their own genres, but I don’t know them personally.”

Scootaloo trotted after Twilight Sparkle. They passed through several neighborhoods and up a hill, where the houses grew sparser. They passed many normal houses on their way to a house that definitely wasn’t normal. It was painted two colors, for one, half a more natural brown and the other half a white tinted with violet. The chimney resembled the pipes of a pipe organ, and a bush sculpted into a quaver stood out front.

Twilight Sparkle knocked on the door, which also appeared to be halves of two doors glued together. An earth pony mare wearing a bow tie opened it.

“Good morning, Princess,” Octavia said.

“Please call me Twilight,” she replied. “This is more a social call. If Scootaloo decides she wants to try living with you, then I’ll be Princess Twilight.”

“Of course. Come on in. Tea?”

“Tea would be wonderful,” Twilight Sparkle said.

They stepped inside. Scootaloo marveled at the incongruous living room, which also served as a practice room for the two mares. The same split seen outside the cottage was continued inside. The walls were painted different shades, and everything from the furnishings to the window treatments was different. One half, presumably Octavia’s, was best described as traditional. Vinyl Scratch’s half was modern.

And speaking of Vinyl Scratch, the unicorn was lounging on a couch, nodding her head to the music coming through her headphones.

“Manners, Vinyl!” Octavia scolded.

Vinyl Scratch lifted the headphones from her ears. “I thought we were supposed to show Scootaloo what it would be like to live with us?” she replied.

“I kind of like the casual approach,” Scootaloo said.

“See?” Vinyl Scratch said.

Octavia harrumphed. “We are still going to talk about this over tea, seated at the table like normal ponies.”

Three ponies were soon seated at the kitchen table as Octavia started the tea service. While they waited, Scootaloo inspected the kitchen. Unlike the living room, the kitchen wasn’t split into two decorative schemes. Still, she noted certain accessories that were almost certainly placed there by Vinyl Scratch, and others that were selected by Octavia.

“So where did you two meet?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Through the vast Canterlot music scene,” Octavia said. “We moved in different circles, of course, but these circles often intersect. I, of course, couldn’t stand Vinyl when we first met.”

“Still can’t,” Vinyl Scratch interjected.

“Hush, now. Though I dare not use the word music to describe most of what Vinyl does, I came to admire the passion she felt for... whatever she does with that magical musical monstrosity.”

“I just saw a mare who needed to loosen up,” Vinyl Scratch said.

“Be that it may, I found a mare who captured my heart, and even earned a grudging respect for that noise she calls music,” Octavia said. “We agreed that it made sense to move to Ponyville, where we could be close to Canterlot yet still secure an affordable home.”

“It’s a nice home,” Scootaloo said.

“We try,” said Vinyl Scratch, nodding her head to a rhythm only she heard.

Octavia brought the teapot to the table and poured four cups. “And now we’ve reached that point in our relationship where we’re considering a foal to call our own. With all the options we’ve considered, we weren’t expecting you to fall into our laps.”

“Well, I still don’t know if this family is right for me,” Scootaloo said.

“And we also need to know if adopting a filly like you is right for us,” Octavia replied.

“And the best way to do that isn’t sitting around all day drinking tea,” Vinyl Scratch said.

“On that, I agree,” Octavia said. “After finishing our cups, how about the grand tour?”

Scootaloo nodded. When the four ponies were finished with their drinks, they rose from the table. Octavia first led them outside. “The first thing I wanted to impress upon you, Scootaloo, is the isolation of this home.” She motioned with her foreleg, showing off the view of Ponyville. “The solitude suits us, but it may not suit you. It will be harder to get to school and see your friends every day. Are you all right with this, Scootaloo?”

“No problem. With my scooter, I can get to town in no time flat!”

“And there will be times when we will need to practice. We don’t wish to be distracted, unless it is an emergency,” Octavia continued. “As an independent filly, I don’t think that will be a problem, but we will need you to play outside, or play quietly inside. Can you do that?”

“Sure! I’ll just go see my friends, or practice with my scooter.”

“Stop trying to scare her off, Tavi,” Vinyl Scratch said. “You’ve got to see the rest of our home, Scootaloo!”

Octavia nodded, and Scootaloo followed Vinyl Scratch back inside. She first took her to her own room. Vinyl Scratch’s room functioned as a studio, and was decorated like a nightclub. Black paint, stainless steel furniture, glowing crystals... she even had a mirror ball hanging from the ceiling! The musical equipment was largely unfamiliar to Scootaloo; she could only see that there was a lot of it. Of all the equipment, Scootaloo only recognized the phonograph. Records were stacked in crates and spilled over a couch.

Vinyl Scratch beamed as she showed off her room. Octavia just sniffed. “As you can see, Vinyl’s room hardly resembles the bedroom it once was,” she said. “Even so, she sleeps far too often on that couch.”

“I’d wake you up, but you keep saying you need your beauty sleep,” Vinyl Scratch countered.

“Do you normally fight like this?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, Scootaloo. This isn’t fighting,” Octavia said. “Once you live with us, you’ll see this is our normal banter. We are different in so many ways, but we make beautiful music together.”

“Even if she wants to sleep while I want to party, I respect her differences,” Vinyl Scratch said. “We find time for each other, and that’s when we focus on our similarities.”

“And that means we won’t forget to find time for you,” Octavia said to Scootaloo.

Octavia showed off her room next. It still resembled a bedroom. It shared the same traditional decorations as her side of the living room. Several cellos stood on stands, and a podium was set up next to a bookshelf filled with sheet music.

“Now here’s your room,” Vinyl Scratch said.

The spare bedroom was as of yet undecorated, and didn’t look much different from the other spare bedrooms Scootaloo had seen.

“Consider this room a blank canvas,” Octavia said. “Paint the vision in your mind.”

“And don’t forget to compose your own soundtrack!” Vinyl Scratch added.

Scootaloo scratched her chin. “Do you think you could teach me music?” she asked.

“Of course, dear,” Octavia said. “I enjoy nothing more than helping a young mare find her talent in the musical arts. Fair warning, though; I don’t do voice lessons.”

“I think I already figured out I’m not a singer,” Scootaloo said.

“And once you’ve tired of Tavi’s traditions, I’ll be happy to show you how to lay down some fresh beats,” Vinyl Scratch said.

“These traditions are the underpinning of all modern music, including yours. And I have it on good authority from Rarity that Scootaloo may have a bit of appreciation for the traditional,” Octavia said. “Come along, Scootaloo.”

The ponies returned to the living room, and Octavia spoke again. “We have our musical differences, but we agree that there is nothing nobler than teaching music.”

“We’ll both find the time for you,” Vinyl Scratch continued.

“And if you find your talent, a part of this room will become a studio for you.”

“So what do you think? Who do you want to teach you?”

“Well, I am interested in music,” Scootaloo said. She looked at the two mares. “I guess what I’d like to learn is closer to Octavia’s music.”

Octavia gave Vinyl Scratch a knowing smirk.

“I really like the music of Green Scruffs.”

Vinyl Scratch’s jaw dropped, and she levitated the sunglasses from her eyes. “The banjo picker?” she said incredulously.

“Uh-huh,” Scootaloo replied.

Octavia gave a huff and turned. “I think we’re done here,” she said.

Vinyl Scratch gave a slow shake of her head and also turned away.

“Wait! What about respecting other kinds of music?” Scootaloo said.

“The key word is music,” Octavia said.

“Even I have my limits,” Vinyl Scratch added.

“But... but... music!” Scootaloo sputtered.

“I am sorry, but we can’t bring a dissonant note into our symphony,” Octavia said.

Scootaloo stared as the two musicians retreated to their rooms. She was brought out of her funk when Twilight Sparkle wrapped a wing around her.

“I’m sorry, Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle said. “But remember, this has to be a mutual acceptance.”

“But I never thought something small, like the kind of music I liked, would stop us!”

“Oh, it’s not a small thing,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Everypony hates banjo music.”

Scootaloo was feeling a bit down as she and Twilight Sparkle headed to the mayor’s office. Bon Bon, Octavia, and Vinyl Scratch were normal ponies, ones she only knew from occasional interactions, such as visiting Bon Bon’s shop or watching a musical performance. But Mayor Mare? She knew Scootaloo, and the Crusaders, a bit more.

Scootaloo had thought that Mayor Mare would have run away from the prospect of adopting her. Yet there she was, expressing a sincere desire to adopt her.

Scootaloo decided her first priority was making sure Mayor Mare hadn’t gone totally crazy.

The mayor’s office was quiet at this time of day. A sour-faced earth pony stallion sitting at a desk waved the two of them inside. Scootaloo followed Twilight Sparkle, who apparently knew the office well, and they soon arrived in the mayor’s private office.

“Good afternoon, Princess,” Mayor Mare said. “And good afternoon to you too, Scootaloo.”

“Hi, Mayor Mare,” Scootaloo replied.

“No need for titles, Scootaloo. The only title I want to hear you use is ‘Mom’.”

“Are you sure about that? You know I’m Scootaloo, right?”

“Of course,” Mayor Mare said.

“You remember the beehive? The tunnel? The waterslide?”

One of Mayor Mare’s eyes twitched. “Yes, I remember them. But fillies will be fillies, right?”

“And I don’t know how you could forgive me after we revealed that you dye your mane.”

Mayor Mare chuckled. “Now that’s nothing to worry about. If a future political opponent tries to bring it up, I can now say it’s old news, and the newspapers won’t focus on it.”

“That works?” Scootaloo asked.

“It works when the media wants you to win,” Mayor Mare replied with a wink.

“But I still don’t know why you want to adopt me,” Scootaloo said.

“I may be devoted to the ponies of Ponyville, but that doesn’t change my desire for a family to call my own,” Mayor Mare said. “But when everything’s about politics, it’s hard to find that simple personal relationship. With you, Scootaloo, I at least know you don’t have any ulterior motives.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said. “Can we go see your house?”

“Of course,” the mayor replied.

Twilight Sparkle looked ready to interject, but Mayor Mare waved her off. “As the mayor, I have a certain freedom with my schedule.” She walked up to the sour-faced stallion. “Red Tape, reschedule my meetings for the next hour. No, better make it two.”

“Of course, Madam Mayor,” he replied.

Thus temporarily free of her duties, Mayor Mare trotted out of the office, Scootaloo and Twilight Sparkle following. Their destination was a surprisingly modest home not far from Town Hall. She opened the door, revealing a pristine living room straight out of a home decorator magazine.

Scootaloo looked at the room, with every piece of furniture and every decoration in its proper place, and her heart sank. “I don’t think this is going to work for me,” she said.

“Now, Scootaloo, this is a room I use for entertaining dignitaries and donors. I maintain it to the highest standards. But that’s not how I prefer to live,” Mayor Mare said. “Come take a look.”

Scootaloo’s first glance of the kitchen revealed another sparkling clean room, but when she poked her head inside, she found that to be an illusion. The rest of the kitchen, the part not visible from the living room, had a comfortable amount of clutter. It looked like a place where ponies lived, not some cold museum.

“I assure you, Scootaloo, my own room is nothing I’d want to show to a visitor. And if that’s what you want too, then go ahead,” Mayor Mare said. “You’ll only need to set hoof in this room once a year.”

“What’s once a year?”

“Oh, the photography for my annual Hearth’s Warming card. We’ll stand in front of the tree while wearing matching red and green scarves and smile for the camera.”

“Ugh,” Scootaloo replied.

“It’s only once a year. It’s tradition,” the mayor said. “The constituents just eat it up!”

“I guess that’s okay,” Scootaloo said.

Mayor Mare then showed Scootaloo the rest of the house. Everything looked fine, with a bedroom ready for her and enough space to be comfortable. Mayor Mare even showed interest when Scootaloo talked about her hobbies and interests.

Everything went well, but something felt hollow about the whole thing.

“So what do you think? Would you like to be my daughter?” Mayor Mare asked.

“I’m not sure, but I think I’d like to try living here,” Scootaloo replied.

“Okay, but I do hope you’ll decide by tomorrow.”

“Why? What’s tomorrow?”

“Well, if you’re my daughter by tomorrow, then I can claim you as my dependent for the whole year!”

Scootaloo stared at Mayor Mare, dumbfounded.

Mayor Mare didn’t seem to notice Scootaloo’s expression. She nuzzled her and mussed her mane. “So what do you think, my little tax deduction?”

Scootaloo recoiled in horror. “My dad’s a tax accountant, and even he doesn’t call me his little tax deduction!”

“But I thought fillies liked terms of endearment!”

“That’s not endearing! Not one bit! How could you possibly think that?”

“But it was cute....”

“Just forget it.” Scootaloo turned to Twilight Sparkle. “I’m ready to go back to the castle.”

Scootaloo pushed her scooter with one hoof, rolling along the ground with all the enthusiasm of a young filly unsure what to make of this new wheeled contraption. Her eyes never left the ground.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head. She lifted Scootaloo with her magic and placed the filly on her back. The filly sighed and buried her muzzle in Twilight Sparkle’s mane. The alicorn had hoped to improve her mood, but more than that, she realized they’d never get home at Scootaloo’s ponderous pace. And so Twilight Sparkle returned home, with Scootaloo on her back and her scooter carried in her magic.

Scootaloo remained in her room the rest of the day, only coming out for dinner. The next day, though, she woke with her usual enthusiasm.

“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better,” Twilight Sparkle commented over breakfast.

“I just need to talk to the girls after Twilight Time. We’re sure to figure out what went wrong!” Scootaloo said.

“Yes, I’m confident you’ll eventually figure it out,” she replied.

That afternoon, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle arrived for Twilight Time. Twilight Sparkle got them started on their lessons right away, helping them through the difficult parts of their lessons and praising them when they showed improvement. It wasn’t until the lessons were over that Scootaloo remembered that she wanted to discuss the past day with her friends.

“You’ve got to help me figure out what went wrong!” Scootaloo said as she wiped the grease from her forelegs.

“Well, what did go wrong?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I’m still here, right?” Scootaloo said.

“You had three families! Was there something wrong with all of them?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo sighed. “Bon Bon had this crazy marefriend. Octavia and Vinyl Scratch hated my favorite music. And Mayor Mare wanted to use me as some kind of political prop.”

“And I’m not happy when my parents treat me like a little filly, or when they act all lovey-dovey,” Sweetie Belle said. “Sounds like every family in Ponyville has its own problems.”

Twilight Sparkle’s ears turned to the fillies’ conversation. She leaned in to listen closer.

“That’s it!” Apple Bloom said. “In Ponyville! That’s the problem!”

Twilight Sparkle fell to her haunches and facehoofed.

“Think about it. There are all sorts of cities and towns in Equestria,” Apple Bloom continued. “In one of them, there’s bound to be a perfect family for you.”

Scootaloo looked out the window, seeing the familiar buildings of Ponyville below her. “But that would mean leaving Ponyville. Leaving you.”

“There’s Canterlot,” Sweetie Belle suggested. “It’s just a short train ride away!”

“With all those stuffy nobles?” Scootaloo said. “Face it, my prince isn’t going to come. I know, because Rarity told us that over and over again.”

“You’ve still got the summer, right?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah, all summer,” Scootaloo said.

“Come along, girls. It’s time to go,” Twilight Sparkle said.

Scootaloo and Twilight Sparkle walked with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to the castle’s foyer. “See you tomorrow for crusading!” Scootaloo shouted.

The other fillies turned and waved. The guards opened the doors, and they departed. A few seconds later, they returned.

“What is it?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“There’s this big fancy flying coach outside,” Apple Bloom said.

“It’s got a coat of arms on the side, like the nobles have!” Sweetie Belle added.

“That’s funny. I wasn’t expecting any noble visitors,” Twilight Sparkle said.

At that moment, hope bloomed in Scootaloo. For if the noble pony wasn’t here to see the princess, maybe she was here to adopt her!

Author's Note

Yes, everypony in Ponyville is crazy.

So who's the noble come to rescue Scootaloo?

Chapter 8: Prince Blueblood

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 8: Prince Blueblood

The Crusaders stepped back as the guards admitted the visitor to the castle, an older unicorn stallion wearing an ornate uniform. The stallion stepped forward and bowed grandiosely to Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“Please rise,” Twilight Sparkle said, looking somewhere between confused and embarrassed at the display in front of her.

“Your Highness. I bring to you a message from Prince Blueblood of House Platinum. The good prince wishes to meet the filly in your care, one Scootaloo, to discuss the prospect of adopting her as the heir to his noble house.”

“Prince Blueblood?” Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle. “Isn’t he....”

Scootaloo shushed them. “I want to hear this out,” she whispered back.

“The decision on that matter rests entirely with Scootaloo,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Fortunately, she happens to be right here. Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo stepped forward, and the stallion bowed to her. “I bring to you a message from Prince Blueblood of House....”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time,” Scootaloo interrupted. “How the heck did he even hear about me?”

“Your story, and the actions taken by Princess Twilight Sparkle, are quite the talk of Canterlot, and as I understand it, other cities as well,” the stallion replied. He bowed again. “I am Silver Tongue, seneschal of House Platinum. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Scootaloo.”

“Uh, likewise,” she replied. “As for your request, I don’t know if I’d like living in Canterlot, let alone in some noble house.”

“Prince Blueblood understands your concern. He hopes that a private meeting will alleviate any fears. How shall I respond to the prince?”

Scootaloo glanced back at her friends. Apple Bloom looked doubtful, and Sweetie Belle was shaking her head. But Apple Bloom’s earlier words rang in her mind, that her perfect family might be outside Ponyville. “Okay. I’ll go,” she stated.

Silver Tongue bowed again. “The prince is prepared to meet with you immediately.”

“Yeah, I could do that,” Scootaloo said. She turned to Twilight Sparkle. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

“I can’t accompany you to Canterlot, Scootaloo, so I’ll need to assign you a guardian.” She smiled. “And I have just the pony in mind.”

Twilight Sparkle concentrated, and a quill, ink, and scroll materialized. She quickly wrote a note, and sent the scroll away in a flare of magic. A minute later, one of Twilight Sparkle’s guards entered the room and bowed. The pegasus stallion bore the grayish purple coat and indigo mane worn by all pegasi in her guard.

“Rise, Lieutenant,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I have a very important mission for you. I am entrusting you with Scootaloo’s care and protection while she is outside Ponyville. You are to accompany her as she seeks her perfect family, no matter where in Equestria Scootaloo’s quest takes her.”

The stallion bowed uncomfortably. “Yes, Princess.”

“Good. Now that that’s settled, do you need any help getting ready, Scootaloo?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“The house staff will see to all your needs,” Silver Tongue said.

“I guess there are a few things I need,” Scootaloo said.

Scootaloo gathered a few personal effects and her scooter, and was ready to go. She joined her friends and met for one last Crusader huddle.

“Don’t forget about us when you’re a big famous noble!” Apple Bloom said.

“Don’t be gone too long! We still have a lot of crusading to do!” Sweetie Belle said.

“I’ll never forget you,” Scootaloo said. “And the way things have been going, I’ll probably be back before you know it.”

Flying in a coach was odd, Scootaloo decided. Her body was telling her she was flying, and her wings twitched, as if they were trying to pull information from wind that simply wasn’t present. Still, the ride was much smoother than a train, and a lot quieter. Uncomfortably quiet, in fact.

“So, uh, why did Princess Twilight choose you to go with me?” Scootaloo asked, breaking the silence.

“I wish I knew,” the guard replied. “I used to be stationed in the Crystal Empire, but transferred to Ponyville on the recommendation of Princess Cadance. In fact, she was really enthusiastic about the prospect of me guarding Princess Twilight. But she treats me like some old coltfriend who dumped her in high school.”

“That’s rough,” Scootaloo said. “Uh, what’s your name? Considering we’re going to be stuck together and all.”

“Flash Sentry,” the guard replied. He took off his helmet, deactivating the illusion magic of his armor. It revealed a royal blue mane and an orange coat color not a whole lot different from Scootaloo’s. She mused that this guard looked a lot more like her brother than any of her actual brothers.

The coach again fell silent. Scootaloo occupied herself by staring out the window, watching as they rose further and further from the ground. The trip seemed to fly by, compared to the normal train trip. Canterlot was at a high altitude, but unlike the switchbacks the train took as it climbed the mountain, they were taking the direct route.

Canterlot by air was a magnificent sight, a dense forest of tall buildings of gleaming white, decorated with touches of bright color, all shining brilliantly in the light of the sun. But Scootaloo’s destination was much rarer, an actual forest. One of the few patches of green visible from the air, and certainly the largest, it was as if a portion of the Whitetail Wood had been transplanted and carefully cultivated. As they descended, Scootaloo also saw vast lawns, tilled fields, and neat stone trails. And at the center of the land was a large building.

Blueblood’s estate house was huge, more palace than home. Ponies of all kinds could be seen from the air, tending to the grounds and buildings. They circled the mansion, no doubt to show it off to Scootaloo, before landing on a circular flagstone path that led up to the front door.

The door to the coach was opened by a stallion in uniform. He helped Scootaloo out of the coach while other workers picked up her belongings. Even more ponies in uniform stood between her and the front door. And they all greeted Scootaloo by name.

“Greetings, young Scootaloo,” an elderly unicorn stallion said. Scootaloo guessed he was the butler, as he looked and acted a lot like Diamond Tiara’s butler. “Welcome to the Platinum Palace. I trust your transit was suitable?”

“Yeah, it was fine,” Scootaloo said.

“Prince Blueblood is eager to formally make your acquaintance,” the butler said. “He requested I bring you to him as soon as you are ready. Do you wish to freshen up?”

“No, I’m ready,” she replied.

“Very good. Follow me.”

Scootaloo and Flash Sentry followed the butler for a long time. The house was huge. Scootaloo lost track of how many doors they passed before reaching a staircase. They descended and walked even further.

Their ultimate destination surprised Scootaloo. She was expecting some formal room, maybe a ballroom, maybe a dining room with a table so big not even Pinkie Pie could fill it with food. Instead, she saw an indoor track. It resembled the outdoor track Scootaloo sometimes used as she worked on her speed with her scooter, but this track was completely indoors.

Similarly, Prince Blueblood’s attire was surprising. He wasn’t wearing some stuffy tuxedo and sitting in an overstuffed chair. Instead, he wore athletic attire, and was galloping along the track. Upon seeing them, he ceased his exercise and trotted to meet them.

“You must be Scootaloo,” Blueblood said. He looked to the guard. “May I have your name?”

“Lieutenant Flash Sentry of the Twilight Guard, charged with the care and protection of Scootaloo in the absence of the princess.”

“Very good. The staff will set you up in a room near Scootaloo’s while she makes her decision,” Blueblood said. “Let us discuss the arrangements over light refreshments.”

Scootaloo and Flash Sentry followed Blueblood to a small (relatively speaking) parlor. Blueblood excused himself, and almost immediately, servants arrived with tea, juices, small sandwiches, and chilled vegetable sticks.

“Uh, can we eat this?” Scootaloo asked.

“Of course,” one of the servants said. “The prince knows you have just completed a long journey, and insists you enjoy this light repast.”

Scootaloo shrugged and grabbed a sandwich. It was a simple daffodil and cream cheese sandwich, not something fancy at all. It was a sandwich her mother might make.

Scootaloo was finishing her sandwich when Blueblood returned. He was no longer wearing his athletic attire, having changed into a simple tie and collar, and his mane was neatly combed. He smiled at Scootaloo, his teeth gleaming in the sunlight. “Is everything to your satisfaction, Scootaloo?”

“Yeah, it’s not even all fancy!” she replied.

“From what I could gather, you don’t go for fancy things,” Blueblood said. “And to be honest, I see no need to be formal outside of formal occasions.”

“That’s good,” Scootaloo said.

The butler entered the room. “Is there anything you need, Prince Blueblood?”

“Please, sit down, Sterling,” Blueblood said. “I’m sure Scootaloo has a number of questions about living here, and I can think of nopony better suited to answer them than you. Certainly, you will do a better job than me.” Blueblood chuckled. “Scootaloo, my senior butler, Sterling Silver.”

“Nice to meet you,” Scootaloo said.

“Charmed,” the butler replied.

Blueblood looked at Scootaloo expectantly, and the filly started to raise her concerns. “This place is nice and all, but I’ve never lived outside Ponyville. All my friends are there.”

Blueblood scratched his chin. “Sterling, how long does it take to reach Ponyville by coach?”

“I schedule an hour when arranging for transportation. Steel Wing boasts he can make it in 45 minutes, and Storm Chaser says he could do better, if he really tried.”

Blueblood nodded. “With times like that, I think continuing to attend school in Ponyville is reasonable. You could continue to see your friends, and your time in the coach could be used for reviewing your schoolwork, or perhaps tutoring. Would your education benefit from any tutoring, Scootaloo?”

“No, I do okay in school, just....” Scootaloo glanced back, her wings twitching.

“Flight instruction, then?” Blueblood asked. “Sterling, who would you recommend? Gray Cloud?”

“Perhaps Red Feather,” Sterling suggested. “He’s recently retired from his job as a Wonderbolts trainer, and knowing him, he’s not looking to spend his days lazing around.”

“Really? You’d do that for me?”

“Scootaloo, the wealth and influence of the house does no good unless it’s used. I can think of no finer investment than wealth spent on my heir.”

Scootaloo smiled, but then slumped in her chair. Blueblood peered at hear. “Something the matter?”

“Don’t get me wrong, this is great,” Scootaloo said. “Everything you’re doing here is incredible. But I still don’t know why. Shouldn’t you be marrying a princess, instead of looking to adopt me?”

“Perhaps I do need to explain my interest in adopting you,” Blueblood said. “But before we do that, I’d like you to look at my cutie mark. What do you think it means?”

Scootaloo looked at his cutie mark, a compass rose. “Is that, like, an explorer’s mark? Like Daring Do?”

“Well, Daring Do is fictional, but your guess is correct. I should be leading an expedition into the heart of Zebrica! Striving to become the first pony to reach the North Pole on hoof! Seeking the mysterious southern continent! Instead, I’m bound to Canterlot, heading a city planning commission, because of my title. I am duty-bound to produce an heir.

“And so I go to countless Canterlot parties, to be treated as a piece of meat by nobles more interested in my title than me, or pursued by commoners with a dream of living live as a princess. And what happens if I find a true princess in this sea of sycophants, and produce an heir? I must spend years caring for my foal before I can consider doing what my cutie mark is telling me. And by then, my best days will be behind me.

“But there is a solution. I must produce an heir, but the heir need not be related to me. I can adopt, and pass on my title to my heir when she’s of age. And so I’ve brought you here. Scootaloo, will you be my little princess?”

Scootaloo nervously scratched her foreleg with a hoof. “I’m not really princess material,” she said.

“Nonsense! If there is one lesson from Princess Celestia that everypony should take to heart, it is that you can be whatever you want. You can be a princess at the ball. You can be a daredevil on your scooter. You can be both! So when I’m asking you to be my princess, I’m not stopping you from being anything else you want to be.” He winked at her. “Besides, I think these balls could use a little livening up.”

“I don’t know....”

“This is a big decision, Scootaloo, one that I don’t expect you to make lightly. I am hosting a grand ball tomorrow, where I will introduce you to Canterlot society. I wouldn’t expect you to decide until after you see how it goes.”

“I guess....”

“Excellent! Sterling, do you have the schedule ready?”

“I do, Your Highness. I have planned a formal dinner tonight, so that Scootaloo can learn the etiquette. Tomorrow we have her scheduled for a dress fitting in the late morning, and a brief lesson from the How to Dance like a Princess course in the early afternoon. Although, I suppose that course title is in need of updating.”

“Indeed, Sterling. Perhaps How do Dance like a Princess Who Is Not Princess Twilight Sparkle would work.”

“And I’ve scheduled time for you and Scootaloo first thing in the morning, on the track, as you requested.”

“What?” Scootaloo said.

“I’m afraid I am a busy stallion, Scootaloo, with little free time of my own, but were I to become your father, I would be certain to schedule time with you. Tomorrow, for example, I’ve scheduled a workout. I’m curious to see how your speed on your scooter matches mine at full gallop.”

“I’ll try to go easy on you,” Scootaloo said.

“Excellent. Now, it’s time for dinner.”

Scootaloo looked around the banquet hall. It was everything she imagined a prince’s banquet hall would be, just bigger and even more ostentatious. The table itself was long enough to race her scooter, were it not for the fact that it was covered with hundreds of pieces of silverware and dozens of small dishes, all in silver. At least she hoped it was silver. Since this was House Platinum, she supposed it all could be made of platinum. And the only thing she knew about platinum was that it was even more expensive than silver.

The room felt horribly empty. There were only five ponies dining there, Scootaloo, Flash Sentry, Prince Blueblood, and the butler and seneschal. Missing was the aroma of a freshly-cooked meal; wherever the kitchen was in this place, it was too far away to smell. Scootaloo’s stomach rumbled, and she realized she didn’t know if the meal had started or not.

“So, are these decoration flowers, or eating flowers?” she asked, staring at the slender crystal vase and fragrant, tender roses in front of her.

“Both,” Blueblood replied. “A meal like this normally starts with a flower appetizer course. And this course is the only one you’re free to eat as soon as you’re settled at the table.”

“Great!” Scootaloo said. She leaned over to take a bite.

“Use your flower fork, Scootaloo.”

“Huh?”

Blueblood picked up a slender fork with two long tines in his magic. “Pick up the flower at the base of the bloom, move it to your plate, cut it up, and then eat it,” he explained. “If you don’t wish to eat the stems, leave them on the plate. Otherwise, cut those into small bites as well. Nopony wants to see you with a stem hanging out of your mouth.”

“But that’s how everypony eats flowers!”

“I certainly agree, but in polite company, it is considered rude,” Blueblood said. “A meal like this is no race. You take small bites of food to ensure you have enough time to converse.”

“And is that why you’re here?” Scootaloo asked of the two servants at the table.

“Correct, Miss Scootaloo,” Silver Tongue replied. “We will help you prepare for the social interactions you may encounter at a dinner and ball like tomorrow’s.”

The meal turned out to be tedious at best. The lesson part dragged on worse than Miss Cheerilee’s lessons on long division. There were far too many utensils, all used for one specific dish. Each dish arrived as its own course, with its own plate, an arrangement that struck her as wasteful.

And the conversation was no better. Blueblood’s two top servants role-played as typical noble guests, asking Scootaloo a lot of questions. She learned that any conversation could be a trap, with one pony looking for dirt on somepony Scootaloo knew. She learned to steer conversations to safe topics, like her experiences as flower filly for Princess Cadance and as a flag bearer for the Canterlot Games, and to only say positive things about ponies she cared for.

After the meal, Scootaloo slumped on the table, resting her head on her forelegs.

“That’s not proper posture,” Blueblood said.

“Yeah, I know.”

“I know it’s all a lot to learn, Scootaloo, but let me offer you one piece of advice. Look to your host when you’re not sure what to do. For everything from which utensil to use and when to start eating, take your cues from your host. In tomorrow’s dinner, you’ll be seated next to me, and I’ll be happy to give you a little nudge if needed.”

“Okay, but that’s not what’s bothering me,” Scootaloo said.

“What is it, then?”

“It’s just that we’ve been eating for two and a half hours, and I’m still hungry!”

Blueblood smiled. “Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to that.”

Blueblood rose and motioned for Scootaloo and Flash Sentry to follow. They headed to the kitchen, and Blueblood stopped in front of the icebox. At least Scootaloo guessed it was an icebox; it was much larger than the one in her home, made out of stainless steel, and kept cold by magic crystals. Blueblood opened it and pulled out something familiar—an ordinary carton of ice cream, like the ones her parents would buy.

“What do you want on your ice cream sundae?” Blueblood asked.

And so Scootaloo ended the evening stretched out on a couch, with a big bowl of ice cream generously covered in chocolate sauce, nuts, and whipped cream. Blueblood and Flash Sentry shared the lounge. The latest album by Sapphire Shores played on the phonograph.

“Do you do this after every party?” Scootaloo asked.

“Quite often. I simply need to unwind, and something like this is perfect.”

“Cool.”

Blueblood glanced at the clock. “Unfortunately, I have some letters to attend to, so I cannot stay longer. I shall see you in the morning for our exercise session.”

“Okay.”

“One of the staff will see you to your room. You as well, Lieutenant. Good night, Scootaloo.”

“Yeah, good night,” Scootaloo said.

After Blueblood left, Scootaloo wasn’t in the mood to listen to music. She finished her sundae, and asked the nearest servant to be taken to her room.

The bedroom was huge, with a bed more than large enough for two grown ponies, and a full bathroom attached. Even bringing everything she owned into the room would barely cover the space. She flopped onto the bed and sighed.

“Miss Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo looked up, seeing Blueblood’s butler Sterling. “Yes?”

“We’ve stocked your room with the normal accommodations, along with a selection of books the prince thought you might enjoy. If you need anything else, please speak to me or one of the staff. We are here to serve you.”

“I’m fine for now. Thanks,” she replied.

Sterling nodded and shut the door, leaving Scootaloo alone with her thoughts. Could she be happy living with a father who had to schedule time to be with her?

Scootaloo awoke to a knock on her door. “Miss Scootaloo? You are scheduled for a morning exercise course with Prince Blueblood in one half hour. Your scooter has been brought to the track. We will escort you there once you are ready.”

“Okay,” she replied. “Oh, and be sure to wake up Flash Sentry, too. He needs to keep in shape.”

Scootaloo rose and stretched. Getting cleaned up would wait until after exercising. She checked her reflection in the mirror, and shook her head until her mane fell into its normal style.

“Okay, ready,” she said as she opened the door.

The servant, one she didn’t recognize, was ready. Flash Sentry was also present, bleary-eyed, but fully dressed in his armor. The servant nodded and led the way. They returned to the indoor track. Blueblood was already there, warming up in his expensive-looking sportswear.

“Ah, good morning, Scootaloo. Ready for some invigorating exercise? And good to see you too, Lieutenant. Care for a race?”

“The captain would bust me down to private if I couldn’t keep up with a noble like you,” Flash Sentry replied.

“It’s hardly a fair contest, given your training, but since you’re weighted down by armor, it should at least be interesting.”

The three ponies lined up on the track, which was wide enough for eight ponies. Scootaloo hopped on her scooter, tightened her helmet, and limbered up her wings.

“All right, we will do four laps,” Blueblood announced. “Go!”

The two stallions took off, their hoofsteps muted on the track surface. The track felt weird to Scootaloo, handling different than the dirt roads and grass she normally rode on, but the wheels of her scooter gripped it firmly, even when she leaned into the first turn. Once she got a feel for the track, she sped up, gaining ground on the galloping stallions. By the second lap, she had pulled into the lead.

At the end of the fourth lap, Scootaloo spun her scooter and came to a stop. She was breathing heavily, and felt the burn in her flight muscles. She watched as the two stallions ran the final leg. Flash Sentry held a clear lead, but Blueblood was not letting up. They crossed the finish line, Flash Sentry having increased his lead slightly.

“Good show, Lieutenant,” Blueblood wheezed.

“You gave me a good challenge,” Flash Sentry replied.

“And quite the impressive job, Scootaloo,” Blueblood said to her. “You have some talent!”

“Thanks! You should see what I can do without a track!” she replied.

“Another race? After refreshments, of course.”

Scootaloo hadn’t noticed the servant who arrived, carrying a tray with glasses of water and orange juice. She eagerly guzzled a glass of juice and started to run back to her scooter.

Blueblood raised a hoof. “Some of us need a little more time to recover, Scootaloo.”

“Well, when you feel like another race, I’ll be ready.

Scootaloo took another two laps at a leisurely (for her) pace, then lined up against Blueblood and Flash Sentry for another four lap race. This race ended much as the previous one did, though with an even larger margin of victory for Scootaloo.

“Good show, Lieutenant, Scootaloo,” Blueblood said as he levitated a towel around his neck.

“That run? It’s what I call a slow Tuesday,” Flash Sentry said.

“I don’t get it. How come you’re so happy after losing?” Scootaloo asked.

“I may not have the tools to compete against your scooter skills or Flash Sentry’s officer training, but exercise is its own victory,” Blueblood replied. “I am a prince, and must be at 100 percent at all times, in mind and in body.”

Another servant entered the room, a unicorn carrying a long cardboard tube in his magical aura. Blueblood smiled and motioned for the servant to join him. “Come take a look at this, Scootaloo.”

“What is it?”

Blueblood took the tube, opened it, and withdrew a paper scroll. He unrolled it and presented it to Scootaloo. She looked it over. It was a technical diagram, but she could see what it illustrated.

“Are those, like, ramps and stuff for my scooter?”

“Exactly. We can build this on one part of the estate for your use. Later, when you’ve grown, it can be donated to one of Canterlot’s parks and be used by foals who want to follow in your hoofsteps.”

“You’d really do that for me?”

“Of course! I’d do anything to make my heir happy.” Yet another servant entered the room. Blueblood acknowledged him with a nod. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get ready for my morning appointments. Be sure to get ready for your own!”

“Okay,” Scootaloo said, not quite enthusiastic about her own schedule for the day.

“Quit squirming!”

“I can’t help it!” Scootaloo said to the dressmaker. The filly stood on a podium, with her image reflected in a trio of mirrors. It was an experience she had reluctantly gone through a few times, like when she was fitted for her dress for Princess Cadance’s wedding, but it was always at the hoof of Rarity. A kinder hoof, she realized.

“If you can’t stand still, I’ll never be able to make the measurements to alter your dress,” the dressmaker said.

“My wings itch,” Scootaloo complained. “Why aren’t there wing holes?”

“This style of dress can’t accommodate them.”

“Can’t we get a different dress?”

“There are traditions when a filly your age is introduced to Canterlot society. Now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax.”

Scootaloo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but she didn’t feel relaxed. She tried not to focus on the fitting. The dress was an abomination. It was made of a thin, almost sheer fabric that seemed ready to tear if one looked at it too hard, but it was folded into so many ruffles and twists that it felt surprisingly heavy.

“Done. Now, was that so bad?”

“Yes. Can I take it off now?”

“Allow me.” The seamstress’ magic covered the dress, and lifted it from Scootaloo. She slowly, carefully levitated it over to a filly-sized ponyquin.

“And we’re all done,” she said. “Your two dresses will be delivered this afternoon.”

“Good. Wait. Two dresses?”

“Of course. One for the dinner, one for your grand introduction.”

Scootaloo groaned.

Scootaloo’s hooffalls echoed loudly through the room with each step against the polished wooden floor. The dance studio was large enough for a hundred ponies, but right now, there was only Scootaloo, an earth pony stallion, and a phonograph.

The stallion bowed. “Good afternoon, Scootaloo. My name is Gentle Taps, and I am going to give you an introduction to ballroom dancing. These steps will serve you in any formal soiree. Have you had any previous dance experience?”

“Well, my... friend’s sister introduced me to ballet.”

“How did that go?”

“Better than I thought it would,” Scootaloo admitted.

“If you could handle ballet steps, then I’m confident you’ll be able to pick up the waltz. These are the steps. One, two, three. Step back. Four, five, six. Now you try it. Focus on the position of your hind hooves.”

Scootaloo imitated the instructor. The steps were awkward, as she wasn’t used to the motions, but they were easy enough to master.

“Good. Now, this is a closed dance, which means you dance in contact with your partner, supporting each other with your forelegs while you balance on your hind legs. In that sense, it is like ballet, but you have help in maintaining your balance.” He raised a hoof. “Put your hoof to mine.”

Scootaloo touched hooves, and then the instructor pulled her up, supporting her with his other foreleg.

“Now remember the steps. One, two, three. Step back. Four, five, six. Step forward.”

After practicing the steps, the dance instructor started the music. Boring orchestral music began to play, and they danced in time to the music. Scootaloo hoped for Pinkie Pie to appear, with her own, more interesting music.

“Very good, Scootaloo. Now let me introduce you to other dances.”

The rest of the session was much the same, learning steps and practicing them in time to slow orchestral music. It was nothing Scootaloo couldn’t do, but nothing she wanted to do, either.

“You have a natural grace, Scootaloo. Have you considered studying dance more formally?” the instructor asked.

“Not really,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”

Scootaloo left her lesson wanting nothing more than to go crusading with her friends, to find her cutie mark in something that wasn’t dance. But for now, they were a city away.

By the time Scootaloo returned to her room, her dresses had been delivered. Another servant, this one a pegasus mare, was present to help her dress. The other dress was a beautiful piece, in a style a lot like her flower filly dress, made from a scarlet fabric that complemented her coat and mane colors. The dress didn’t weigh her down, and was properly fitted around her wings.

“You look lovely, Scootaloo,” the servant said. “Now, to finish getting you ready.” The mare grinned, and opened a drawer with brushes and makeup.

Scootaloo contemplated running, but the servant’s hoof was pressed firmly to her withers. She sat on her haunches and grumbled as her mane was attacked by a firm brush.

“It won’t be long before you’ll be turning every little colt’s head,” the hoofmaiden said.

“Just do whatever you think looks good,” Scootaloo mumbled.

Soon, the much smaller brushes came out, the ones that carried makeup. Again, it wasn’t a totally unfamiliar experience for the filly, just something she didn’t see much of a need for. She closed her eyes and let the mare do her work.

“Okay, Scootaloo. Tell me what you think.”

Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“Whoa.”

The filly staring back at her was beautiful. Not even Rarity had made her look that good. It was one thing for somepony to try to make her resemble some mare from a fashion magazine. It was something else entirely for a fresh manestyle and makeup to transform her into somepony who was simultaneously feminine and Scootaloo. She looked like a princess, if she dared to say it.

“Prince Blueblood will be delighted to see you, Miss Scootaloo,” the hoofmaiden said.

The two ponies walked down the hall. Scootaloo’s dress didn’t interfere with her movement at all, even when she started to trot. They entered one of the parlors, where Prince Blueblood waited. The stallion was dressed in a tuxedo, of course.

“My, Scootaloo, you look positively radiant today!” Blueblood said. “But tell me, are you happy?”

“I never thought I’d be doing this,” Scootaloo admitted. “But a few years ago, I heard the story of a pony who you’d think was even less likely to fit into high society. But she did it, successfully. So I’m going to keep an open mind.”

“I’m sure you’ll find this party enjoyable. Granted, it won’t be a party like those thrown by your Pinkie Pie, but I make sure to invite more than just the Canterlot stuffed shirts.”

“Then let’s go!”

“Ah. One more thing,” Blueblood said. “Due to your age, and the fact that we’re not officially related, you will need an escort.”

On cue, Flash Sentry entered the room. The stallion wore his dress uniform. He nodded to Scootaloo.

“Let’s go,” Blueblood said.

“Are you nervous, Flash Sentry?” Scootaloo asked her escort.

“No. Believe it or not, this is a part of officer training.”

“So, what does a guard do at a party like this?”

“Stand around and keep an eye on his charge and the crowd,” Flash Sentry replied. “It’s actually better with you as my charge; at least I get to enjoy dinner.”

The ballroom was already half-filled with important-looking ponies in uncomfortable garb. They mostly came in couples; Scootaloo saw married ponies, special someponies, and parents with foals. None of the foals were much younger than her. Interspersed in the crowd were uniformed servants, mostly unicorns carrying trays with small food items or flutes of champagne.

Scootaloo watched one of the servants as he approached. He offered his appetizer to everypony. The vast majority of the guests were unicorns, and they simply levitated the food off the tray. He then came up to Scootaloo and Flash Sentry. “Appetizer?”

The servant lowered the tray to Scootaloo’s eye level, and she wasn’t sure what to do. “Uh...” she uttered.

“I will have one, please,” Flash Sentry said.

The unicorn nodded, and levitated a small plate to Flash Sentry, placing one of his appetizers on it. Scootaloo hadn’t even noticed the stack of plates on the servant’s back. Then Flash Sentry lifted the plate to his mouth, and ate the morsel.

Seeing how it was done, she then asked for one herself.

Scootaloo and Flash Sentry mingled with the crowd, preferring not to move much, due to the awkward three-legged gait required while holding their plates. She got the impression that the crowd had picked up rumors of Prince Blueblood’s plan. Many ponies came up, introduced themselves, and welcomed Scootaloo to the party, especially the ones with foals.

The experience left Scootaloo feeling hollow. She recognized the behavior of the foals in particular. She had seen it far too often from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, after Miss Cheerilee had told them to be nice, and while she was watching them like a hawk.

Flash Sentry had picked up on Scootaloo’s feelings. “It is possible to find true friends, even in high society. It just takes time, and a whole lot of care. You’ll have more time to get to know the ponies seated at the banquet table. Try to see if you can form a connection then.”

The crowd shifted. Somehow, they all knew the dinner was about to start, and they started filing towards the banquet hall. Once arrived, servants helped the ponies find their seat.

Scootaloo knew where she was heading, but it was comforting to see a card with her name at that seat. Blueblood wasn’t there yet. Flash Sentry took a seat across the table and two seats down, where he had a clear view of her. She observed the scene. One thing she didn’t notice the previous night was the shape of her silverware. The ones at her setting, and also at Flash Sentry’s, had wider handles, better suited for manipulation by hoof. The “unicorn” silverware was thinner.

A string quartet started playing. All eyes turned to the far end of the room, where Prince Blueblood was making his entrance. He strode slowly across the room, making eye contact with and nodding to the guests as he made his way to his seat at the head of the table.

The music ceased. Servants entered the room with the first course.

Scootaloo’s practice dinner turned out to be accurate, and disturbingly so. The ponies around her asked questions almost identical to the ones she had practiced. She smiled and said only good things about other ponies. She kept an eye on her neighbors, and made sure to pick up the right silverware each time.

She had barely finished off her dessert, a dense chocolate torte, when Blueblood rose. “Come along, Scootaloo, we need to get ready.”

They headed to a nearby sitting room, where servants had everything ready. That horrible frilly dress was there, with a set of metal shoes laid out. Hoofmaidens waited with makeup and brushes. She frowned, but let them do the work. The faster they worked, the sooner she’d be done.

The good dress came off, the hated frilly dress went on, and the servants attacked her with brushes. Another asked her to lift her leg, and she did. The heavy metal shoe was set to her hoof, and secured with bindings that wrapped around her fetlock. Three other shoes followed, all while her mane and makeup were retouched.

“And now, one last thing,” Blueblood said.

Scootaloo felt something heavy being placed on her head. It was soft where it touched her brow, perhaps fur, but it was undeniably heavy. She looked in the mirror and saw a huge crown that barely fit her. It was an ornate thing made of darker silver metal, probably platinum, and looked even gaudier than the crowns worn by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

And there was something weird sticking out of it.

“Why does it look like there’s a horn on this crown?” Scootaloo asked.

“Because it’s designed to cover your horn with gleaming platinum. It’s only appropriate, you know,” Blueblood said.

“Why?” Scootaloo got bad feeling, a familiar one she’d had many times before, at that moment when she realized she was missing some important detail about her prospective new parents. “What exactly will I be princess of?”

Blueblood smiled warmly and wrapped a foreleg around Scootaloo’s withers. “Why, you’re heir to a title that goes back to before the founding of Equestria, the title once held by Princess Platinum, namesake of this house. You will be Princess of the Unicorns.”

“I’m a pegasus,” Scootaloo said flatly.

Blueblood hugged Scootaloo. “No daughter of mine should think such backward thoughts. Listen when Auntie Celestia speaks. She has long said you can be anything you want to be, no matter if you are earth pony, unicorn, or pegasus, and no matter what your cutie mark is. Follow your heart! That is Celestia’s commandment, stronger than all save love and friendship for your fellow pony.”

“But I....”

“No buts, Scootaloo! Let me tell you about my ancestor, General Blue Star. He dreamed of leading a combined military force, but ponies said only pegasi understood aerial tactics well enough to lead the hipparchy. But Blue Star proved them wrong, as he directed the combined EUP force to victory over the griffon army. His domination of the skies in the Battle of Griffonstone is still studied by military leaders today.”

“It’s not that; I just....”

“And a cousin of the family from centuries ago, Star Logger. She was the daughter of two grand astronomers, but she was always looking at the ground. She was fascinated with plants. Star Logger overcame opposition from her parents and the feeling of society that unicorns had no business growing things to find success in studying berries, including breeding a new type of berry that was named after her.”

“But I....”

“You can be Princess of the Unicorns, Scootaloo, and it’s high time we....”

“I DON’T WANT TO BE A UNICORN!” Scootaloo shouted.

Prince Blueblood gasped, and Scootaloo felt the eyes of most of the ponies in the room on her. She pulled away from Blueblood and looked him in the eye.

“Look, I get what you’re saying,” Scootaloo said. “Even I could be leader of the unicorns if that was my heart’s desire. But it’s not. I like being a pegasus! I like cloud beds and the tickle in the air from a fresh thunderhead. I want to build my own cloud house and soar in the skies with Rainbow Dash. I’ve never cared about learning unicorn spells or genealogy or astronomy or any of the typical unicorn interests.

“I think it’s great all the things you were doing for me, Blueblood, but your title is too important to throw away on somepony like me.” Scootaloo lifted the crown off her head and set it on the floor. “I’m sorry, but you need to find a better heir than me.”

Scootaloo turned and started to walk out of the room. She paused when she heard a sniff. When she turned back, she saw Blueblood brushing a tear from his eye.

“I’m sorry,” Scootaloo said quietly.

“Goodbye, dear sweet Scootaloo,” Blueblood said. “May you find a family worthy of you.”

Author's Note

Silly Blueblood! If you want an heir, just hook up with a seapony!

Next time, Scootaloo spends time with a family that doesn't want to adopt her.

Chapter 9: A Conversation in the Garden (Scootaloo’s New Family)

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 9: A Conversation in the Garden (Scootaloo’s New Family)

Scootaloo ran through the dining room, just trying to get away. She was painfully aware of the fancy dress she wore, and heard the metallic ring of each shod hoof as it touched the stone floor. She wanted none of it, if it meant having to be princess of the unicorns.

She was vaguely aware of Flash Sentry chasing after her. She used her size and agility to maneuver through the crowd, but the pegasus stallion continued to pursue her.

The crowd was filled with the familiar noble ponies, and all eyes fell on her. Whispers filled the crowd. They somehow already knew what had transpired. Some looked at her with pity. Others had this smug expression.

And then there was one unicorn couple that spoke loud enough for her to hear.

“Fancy Pants and Fleur have become quite the talk of town with that thestral filly they adopted,” the mare said. “Jet Set, we must keep up!”

“Yes, dear,” the stallion replied. “Look, there’s a homeless waif we could claim for our own!”

“I’m not homeless!” Scootaloo shouted. “And I don’t even know what a waif is!”

Scootaloo ran, trying to get out of the house. The ballroom had large windows along the far wall. Windows meant outside, which meant there had to be a door.

There! A large glass double door opened to the outside, and Scootaloo took it. She exited into what could only be described as an imitation of the royal gardens at the palace. Neat stone walkways, benches, sculpted bushes, and rows of trees greeted her. And the guests who had stepped outside to enjoy the evening looked at her.

“Nope!”

Scootaloo crossed the manicured lawn, trying to get away from all the ponies. She ran and ran until she finally had to pause and catch her breath. Even out here, there were ponies. But these ponies, a unicorn couple just showing the signs of age, didn’t look at her. They sat on a bench, close together, their heads turned to the sky.

Flash Sentry caught up to Scootaloo; the stallion was also out of breath. “Are you okay, Scootaloo?” he asked.

“I just needed to get away from the crowd,” she replied.

The unicorn couple looked at Scootaloo. “There’s room on the bench if you’d like to sit,” the mare said.

Scootaloo shrugged. They seemed nice, a lot nicer than the rest of the ponies at the party. She hopped on the bench. With her dress, she barely fit on the remaining space.

Scootaloo looked at the gaudy shoes still on her hooves. With her mouth, she tried to undo the straps holding them on, and got nowhere.

“Let me help you, dear,” the mare said. Her horn glowed, and her magic untied the straps.

“Thanks,” Scootaloo said. “So, why are you all the way out here?”

“Oh, we’re not much for these parties,” the mare replied.

“We’re always happy for the invitation, but after talking with our good friends and enjoying dinner, there’s little else to do,” the stallion said.

“Oh, we could spend the evening dancing, but why do that, when the night sky is so beautiful?” the mare added.

Scootaloo noticed the two unicorns’ cutie marks. With a moon and stars, she thought their appreciation of the night sky was not unexpected. She leaned back and looked to the sky. It was beautiful. It reminded her of the night sky when she was camping with Rainbow Dash and the Crusaders. After yet another crazy family, she appreciated this quiet moment. She could get used to this.

“So, I don’t suppose you’re looking to adopt a filly?” Scootaloo asked.

“What do you think, dear? I do miss the clip-clop of little hooves around the house,” the mare said.

“So do I. But foals are for ponies younger than us. That’s why there are grandfoals.”

The mare smiled. “I would just love a little grandfoal to spoil rotten. We could feed her all the sweets she could eat, and then give her back to her parents afterward.”

“Now, dear, our children have to do their part first.”

The two unicorns looked at Flash Sentry. He tugged at his collar nervously.

“Why don’t you spend the night with us, Scootaloo?” the stallion said.

“Wait. You know me?”

“Of course. We heard all about what the princess did,” the stallion said.

“It reminded us of what our daughter did when she was a filly,” the mare said with a smile. “We’ll tell you on the way.”

“I’m sure you want to get out of that dress first,” the stallion said. “We’ll wait here.”

Scootaloo got out of her dress, leaving it with the servants. Meanwhile, Flash Sentry went to retrieve Scootaloo’s belongings. He returned a while later, also having changed back into his armor. Together, they left the party, sharing a carriage.

“So, what did your daughter do?” Scootaloo asked.

“Just like you, she thought she would be happy with a different family,” the mare said.

“I think she got mad because we chastised her for staying up too late again,” the stallion said. “I remember that she was a bit younger than you at the time.”

“She decided she wanted her teacher to be her new mother. Of course, we didn’t think that’s what she really wanted. But her teacher spoke to us. She said many of her students over the years had wanted to be part of her family, and they always changed their mind later. She suggested we let her go.”

“Our daughter only lasted one night with her new family. She missed her bed, missed her big brother, missed the way we tucked her in, and missed the aroma of our morning tea. She missed everything familiar, and realized it wasn’t worth giving all that up just for the prospect of staying up later.”

“Did you let her stay up later afterward?” Scootaloo asked.

“No, but she always did it anyway,” the stallion said.

“The poor dear never learned the importance of a good night’s sleep,” the mare said.

“And speaking of that, a young filly like you needs a good night’s sleep.”

Scootaloo started to say that she wasn’t tired, but she was interrupted as she yawned.

The carriage arrived at a modest home, one of many similar homes in a quiet neighborhood. The house was stone, with the old-fashioned architecture common to Canterlot, and it was clean and well-maintained. Only a small stretch of grass separated the house from its neighbors.

“Welcome to our home, Scootaloo, Flash Sentry.”

The unicorns opened the door to their home, and Scootaloo followed them inside. The ponies might have been empty nesters, but the numerous family portraits on the wall suggested their thoughts remained with their children. Scootaloo looked at one of the portraits. The colt in the picture looked somewhat familiar, but the filly was unmistakable.

“Wait. Your daughter is Twilight Sparkle?”

“Of course,” Night Light said.

“Don’t you remember meeting us at Shining Armor’s wedding?” Twilight Velvet said.

Scootaloo scratched her head. “I guess I forgot.” She had spent most of the time at the wedding with her friends and watching Rainbow Dash.

The four ponies retired to the kitchen. Night Light made coffee, and Twilight Velvet brought out milk and cookies.

“I don’t get it,” Scootaloo said, munching on a chocolate chip cookie. “If Twilight knew finding a new family didn’t work for her, why didn’t she tell me that?”

“Would you have listened to her if she did?”

“No,” Scootaloo admitted. She recalled just how certain she had been that Rainbow Dash would be the best mother for her. That seemed like so long ago. “I’m sure I would have said it was different for me.”

“We may be different kinds of ponies, but we share certain similarities,” Night Light said. “And never being perfectly happy with our families is one of them.”

“I wouldn’t say that, dear,” Twilight Velvet said. “I’ve always been happy with you.”

“And I with you,” Night Light said. The couple nuzzled.

Scootaloo made a gagging sound and mimed sticking her hoof down her throat.

“I think a certain cranky filly needs her sleep,” Twilight Velvet said. “Let’s get rooms ready for our guests.”

Like many other recent nights, Scootaloo found herself in somepony’s guest bedroom. It was clean and comfortable, with a soft bed. But for the first time in a while, she wasn’t thinking of it as her new bedroom.

She heard a soft rapping on the door. “Can I come in, Scootaloo?” Flash Sentry asked.

“Sure,” she replied.

Flash Sentry sat down at the foot of the bed. “Do you know where you want to go tomorrow?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Scootaloo said.

“Maybe we could go to the Crystal Empire? I know Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are looking to start a family, and are hoping for a crystal pony foal to show their love for the Empire. But it’s still unknown if alicorns can bear foals. You know, some scholars say it makes sense they can’t, because the magical power of an alicorn foal would be dangerous for everypony around them.”

Scootaloo thought about the offer. “Would they try to turn me into a crystal pony?”

Flash Sentry looked around nervously. He recalled how Princess Cadance had said, multiple times, that she hoped her heir would be a symbol of unity for the crystal ponies. “Um, maybe?”

“No thanks, then,” she said. She pulled the covers over herself.

“Scootaloo? Where do you want to go tomorrow?”

“Back to Ponyville,” she said.

“Okay. We’ll take the morning train.” Flash Sentry rose and gave a friendly mussing to Scootaloo’s mane.

“Say, Flash Sentry? Do you think....”

“I am in no position to take care of a foal,” he interrupted.

“Oh.”

“Good night, Scootaloo.”

“Good night,” she replied.

Flash Sentry left the room, closing the door behind him. In the dark and silence, Scootaloo sighed.

The smell of muffins baking greeted Scootaloo as she woke up the next morning. She followed her nose to the kitchen, where Night Light and Twilight Velvet were busy making a large breakfast. In addition to the fresh muffins, she saw eggs, hay bacon, toast, orange juice, and coffee. Flash Sentry was seated at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.

“Good morning, Scootaloo!” Twilight Velvet said. “Would you like breakfast?”

“We didn’t know what you wanted, so we made a little of everything,” Night Light said.

“Thanks. It all smells great,” Scootaloo said. “I guess I’ll have eggs and hay bacon, and one of those blueberry muffins.”

Twilight Velvet levitated a plate to Scootaloo and set a glass of orange juice next to it. Scootaloo ate her breakfast in silence.

“Is something wrong, Scootaloo?” Flash Sentry.

“Just thinking, you know?” After learning that Twilight Sparkle had had personal experience being in her situation, she was still wondering why she let her follow in her hoofsteps. Even stranger, she had encouraged her.

Well, not really encouraged, per se. But she was always eager to learn how her attempts to find a new family had gone.

They finished breakfast, and Scootaloo and Flash Sentry gathered their belongings. The two guests said their goodbyes.

“Safe travels,” Night Light said.

“It was nice for you to visit, Scootaloo,” Twilight Velvet said. She embraced the filly in a very grandmotherly way.

“I just can’t get away from this mushy stuff!” Scootaloo complained.

Once on the train, Scootaloo stared out the window. She ruminated on her experiences over the past days, still possessing a nagging feeling that she was missing something.

And finally, when she caught the first sign of Ponyville in the distance, she realized what it was.

Scootaloo burst through the door to Twilight Sparkle’s castle, leaving Flash Sentry behind. A quick check with Spike told her that she could be found in the library. Scootaloo found Twilight Sparkle there; the alicorn was organizing the shelves again.

Twilight Sparkle looked at Scootaloo, seeing the smile on the filly’s face. “Scootaloo! You’re back! Did you find a family?”

“No, but I did talk to your parents. Why didn’t you tell me you tried this yourself?”

“It was a lesson that could only truly be learned through experience,” Twilight Sparkle said. “And did you learn something?”

“Yeah! I finally figured out why you allowed me to leave my parents, caring for me in their absence, while I tried to find the perfect family for me,” Scootaloo said.

“Yes?”

Scootaloo smiled broadly. “I will gladly be your daughter, Twilight Sparkle!”

Scootaloo’s smile faltered when Twilight Sparkle responded by banging her head against the nearest bookshelf.

“That wasn’t your plan?” Scootaloo asked quietly.

“Scootaloo, dear. You are a wonderful filly with a lot of potential,” Twilight Sparkle said calmly. “But back when the Cakes had their twins, I put together a list of 72 reasons I wasn’t ready to be a mother. And in the short time you’ve stayed with me, I’ve added another 37 entries to the list.”

“But... but....” Scootaloo fell to her haunches. “I was sure this time!”

Twilight Sparkle wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. “You still have the rest of summer, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo’s shoulders slumped. “I give up. Send me to the orphanage.”

Twilight Sparkle rose. “Don’t give up hope yet, Scootaloo. I do know one couple that would be happy to welcome you into their family. Why don’t we meet them for lunch?”

She lifted her head. “Really?”

“Really.”

Scootaloo stirred her glass of water with her straw, watching the ice spin around the glass. She bit into another fresh daisy, and chewed on the stem as she looked down the street. After she and Twilight Sparkle had gotten the table, the alicorn teleported away to pick up her new family. That left Scootaloo at the cafe’s outdoor table, alone with her thoughts. Like, if Twilight Sparkle knew about this interested family, why didn’t she tell her sooner?

She scanned the streets, looking for the alicorn’s colors. Or should she be watching the sky? Maybe it was a pegasus couple. She wondered what they would be like, and her thoughts immediately went to wondering what would be wrong with them.

Scootaloo realized she was tired of finding new ways to be disappointed. She almost wished she could go back to her old, familiar problems. But that wasn’t possible.

The filly saw Twilight Sparkle appear from around the corner. She was followed by a pegasus mare and an earth pony stallion who looked a lot like.... Wait. They were!

Scootaloo jumped to her hooves. “Mom? Dad?”

“Hello, Scootaloo,” her father said.

“I missed you, dear,” her mother said, scooping her up in a hug.

Scootaloo looked to Twilight Sparkle. “I thought you said I couldn’t go back to a family?”

“I seem to recall saying that once you chose a family and decided they weren’t the right family for you, you couldn’t go back to them,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Right now, you still have to decide if you want to choose this family.” Scootaloo looked ready to speak, but Twilight Sparkle raised a hoof. “Why don’t you talk to them, and see if they’re a good fit?”

Scootaloo looked at her parents. “You really missed me?”

“Very much, dear,” her mother said.

“It was good to have more time to focus on Dasher and Striker, but our home felt empty without you,” her father said.

“And with spending time with them, we learned a few things,” her mother added.

“Did you finally see the trouble those two got into?”

“Very much so,” her mother replied. “Oh, they tried to be perfect angels with you gone.”

“Lasted about sixteen hours, if I had to guess,” her father continued.

“Let’s just say we got a better idea of their tricks, and we know what to watch for,” her mother said.

“Where are they?” Scootaloo asked.

“They’re foalsitting the twins. They’re old enough to watch them for a short time, you know.”

Her father placed a hoof on her withers. “I’m hoping I can spend more time with you, Scootaloo,” he said. “I can’t avoid bringing work home, but I decided I can save it until after you’re all asleep.”

“I think all of our children need some dedicated time with their parents,” her mother said.

“So what do you think? Are you ready to give a couple of old fools like us another chance?” her father asked.

Scootaloo smiled. “Yes!” she shouted, jumping up. Everypony else at the cafe looked to her table after that outburst. She blushed and sat back down.

“Welcome to the family,” her mother said. She embraced her, and her father held them both.

“Mom! Dad! Not in public!”

“And done!” Twilight Sparkle said. “It’s the perfect ending to the story.”

Scootaloo looked at the alicorn. At some point, she had summoned a scroll and quill, and she had written quite a bit. “Wait. Was this all some experiment?”

“Not an experiment, but I have been very interested in seeing what would happen when you sought a new family,” Twilight Sparkle said. “You see, Princess Celestia has been encouraging me to write books for foals, helping them to learn lessons in friendship. And the time I wanted her to be my mother was a very important friendship lesson. But my own experiences wouldn’t be enough to make a book. I would have a hard time even filling a chapter!

“When you had the same idea that I had as a filly, it reinforced that this was a lesson that would be worth teaching to all the colts and fillies who sometimes dreamed of having a different family. And I was sure you would generate experiences that could fill a book.”

“The princess thought you’d be gone for a week. I told her she shouldn’t underestimate your stubbornness,” her mother said.

“We kind of thought you’d be gone all summer,” her father said.

“I now have plenty of material to write a story about a filly seeking her ideal family, in a world where everypony has their own quirks,” Twilight Sparkle said. “So thank you, Scootaloo.”

“Do you want to go home now?” her mother asked.

“Nah. It’s a beautiful day. Let’s have tea and desserts,” Scootaloo said.

“Sticking your brothers with foalsitting duties a while longer?” her father said.

Scootaloo smiled, picturing her earth pony brothers chasing after two highly mobile pegasus foals. “The thought may have crossed my mind.”

Scootaloo’s father had to return to work, but Scootaloo stayed with her mother and Twilight Sparkle, enjoying the fine summer weather and delicious cookies. She talked with her mother, hearing about everything she missed while she was off looking for another family. Eventually, Twilight Sparkle gently suggested it was time to go.

For the last time, Scootaloo loaded her belongings into her wagon and hooked it up to her scooter. She rode slowly, keeping up with the walking pace set by her mother and Twilight Sparkle.

She was halfway home when a thought hit her. “Wait a minute. Where am I going to sleep? Didn’t you give my room to Striker?”

“Well, we did, but we have somewhere else for you to sleep now,” her mother said.

“Huh?”

“Scootaloo, I can’t just use your story in a book I write. That would be illegal,” Twilight Sparkle said. “In order to use your story in my book, I needed to acquire the rights. And so I paid a fair price to your parents for the right to incorporate your experiences into my future book.”

“And we put that money to use to address our biggest problem at home, namely that our house is not big enough for a family of seven,” her mother said. “So we hired an architect to plan some renovations.”

“With a little encouragement from yours truly, we found construction workers to turn around the project quickly,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“And it just so happens that the construction is now complete,” her mother said.

The group turned the corner onto the cul-de-sac where Scootaloo lived, and immediately noticed the difference in her house. The second floor was much larger.

“We expanded the living room and kitchen downstairs, added a bathroom, and on the upper level, we added two bedrooms, one for you and one for the twins,” her mother said.

Scootaloo zoomed ahead, eager to see her new home. Her mother and Twilight Sparkle took wing behind her. Scootaloo spun to a stop, resting her scooter against the wall, and ran inside. She smiled at seeing the two older of her four brothers collapsed on the couch, while the twins chewed on their manes.

She ran up the stairs, stopping at seeing two closed doors. Her mother flew up and landed beside her. “This is your new room, Scootaloo. And since it’s new construction, we could add the appropriate drains and vents....”

Scootaloo pushed open the door to her room. “My own cloud bed!” She jumped onto her bed, bouncing on its springy surface. She heard a rumble of thunder, and then the sound of rainfall.

Her mother pulled her off the bed by the scruff of her neck, and then pushed her magic into the cloud bed to stop it from shedding moisture. “I’ll need to teach you how to care for a cloud bed first.”

“Got it.”

Twilight Sparkle walked into the room. “So what do you think? Do you want to make this your new family?”

“I don’t know. They seem kind of weird,” she replied.

Twilight Sparkle looked at her. Scootaloo smiled and hugged her mother.

“But they’re my kind of weird.”

Author's Note

And so Scootaloo finds her new family. It's just like her old family, but improved.

Twilight Sparkle's new book will certainly include a chapter on living as the daughter of Princess Celestia.

Chapter 4: Fluttershy

Scootaloo’s New Family

By Alaborn

Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.

Chapter 4: Fluttershy

“I take it you’re thinking Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle said to Scootaloo.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said.

“When do you want to go there?”

“Maybe tomorrow, after breakfast. I still need to apologize to Rarity.”

“Good idea,” Twilight Sparkle said. “While you talk to Rarity, and get your belongings back, I will talk to Fluttershy, and warn her.”

“Do you think she’ll say no?” Scootaloo said.

“Not at all. I think, among all of us, Fluttershy is the one who has most thought about being a mother. I know she’ll care for you, Scootaloo.”

“I hope so,” she muttered.

After giving her several hours to cool down, Scootaloo returned to see Rarity at Carousel Boutique. Just as Sweetie Belle had said, there was no sign of Rarity’s breakdown. The boutique was clean and orderly, there was no sign of empty ice cream cartons, and Rarity was busy at work, ribbons and gems being sewn onto a new dress.

“Oh, good afternoon, Scootaloo. Have your come for your personal effects?” Rarity said.

“Yes, but first, I wanted to say sorry. I shouldn’t have been dancing around your boutique without you there.”

“Well, fillies will be fillies,” Rarity said. “I admit, things looked dark. But once I started looking at the mess as a whole, I saw bold and daring combinations that will no doubt blaze a new trail across the catwalks of Manehattan and Prance.”

“Okay then. I’ll get my stuff.”

“Scootaloo, dear,” Rarity said. “While we were at the spa, I did talk to Fluttershy about our experiences together. And I could tell she very much wished to care for you. I assume you’ll be speaking to her next?”

“Yeah.”

“I wish you the best of luck in finding your own happiness, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo returned to the castle, and found Twilight Sparkle in the kitchen. A rather meager dinner of cucumber and daisy sandwiches waited for her.

“Sorry, Spike’s out,” Twilight Sparkle said by way of explanation.

“I don’t get it. Haven’t you read cookbooks?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yes, but it’s one thing to read a recipe, and another entirely to practice it,” she explained. “Sometimes, a recipe that looks good on paper turns horrific when you make it. Like quesadillas,” she said with a shudder.

“I like quesadillas.”

“Let’s not bring up bad memories,” Twilight Sparkle said. “So how are you feeling, Scootaloo?”

“Disappointed. I thought this was going to be easy,” Scootaloo said. “I mean, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity are all great ponies, and I liked something in each of my stays, but there was something that... well, I really didn’t like.”

“And you hope Fluttershy will be different?”

“I know she’ll be different! She’s such a kind mare. She even stayed kind when we didn’t listen to her at that sleepover and kind of went into the Everfree Forest,” Scootaloo said. “Nothing will go wrong!”

The next morning started at an hour much more suited to Scootaloo’s wishes. Twilight Sparkle was no morning pony, and the activity in the castle acknowledged that. Only Spike got up early, and so by the time Scootaloo and Twilight Sparkle rose, the dragon had breakfast ready, a stack of golden brown pancakes.

“These are great, Spike!” Scootaloo said.

“Thanks. Everypony likes my pancakes. I just don’t recommend them as a pillow.”

“That was one time!” Twilight Sparkle protested.

“Right. Then there was the time with the omelet, the time with the cereal, and need I remind you of the oatmeal incident?” Spike turned to Scootaloo. “Never believe Twilight when she says she has just a little more to read.”

“It’s nothing a little catnap and some strong tea won’t fix,” Twilight Sparkle said. “And while I’m sure you’re enjoying telling these embarrassing stories, we do need to see Fluttershy.”

“Maybe some other time,” Spike said, giving Scootaloo a quick wink.

After breakfast, Scootaloo and Twilight Sparkle made the trip to Fluttershy’s cottage. The narrow dirt path was one Scootaloo hadn’t often ridden over, so she kept her scooter at a more reasonable speed. Twilight Sparkle flew quietly overhead.

Scootaloo heard she was getting close to the cottage before she saw it. The singing of birds and chittering of critters grew in volume, as if they were overjoyed to be near the shy animal caretaker. Soon, the familiar cottage appeared, home to Fluttershy and countless animals. The pegasus was out, filling the numerous bird feeders hanging from the nearby trees.

Fluttershy smiled as she saw them approach, and flew down to meet them. “Good morning, Twilight, Scootaloo,” she said.

“Hi, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said. “I was wondering, would you be my new mother?”

“Are you sure? You won’t mind sharing a home with my animal friends? They can get noisy.”

“I remember staying here during that Crusaders sleepover,” Scootaloo said. “It wasn’t bad. The only animals that misbehaved that night were, well, us.”

“That’s okay. I know you three meant well,” Fluttershy said. “But as your mother, when I tell you not to go into the Everfree Forest, you listen, okay?”

“Okay, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said.

“That’s right, Scootaloo. Fluttershy is now your mother, and you will treat her as such,” Twilight Sparkle said. “You know the rules. Good luck, you two.”

“Come in, Scootaloo. I can’t wait to show you to your new room.”

Scootaloo balanced her belongings on her back and followed Fluttershy into the cottage. The cottage looked much like it did during that sleepover several years prior. It was charmingly rustic, and about as clean as one could hope, given the many animals that lived there. Even the odor was minimal; the earthy smell of the forest was just as prevalent.

“I think you remember this room, Scootaloo” Fluttershy said.

Sure enough, it was the same room where the Cutie Mark Crusaders attempted to get their cutie marks in performing a rocking version of a lullaby. It didn’t work, of course.

“It looks nice. Um, I’m not taking away Discord’s room, am I?” Scootaloo asked.

“No, Discord has his own home, in a place where... it’s best not to think about it,” Fluttershy said.

“Okay, I don’t want to make him mad.”

“Oh, you won’t,” Fluttershy said. “In fact, Discord speaks highly of you and your little Crusader friends.”

“I don’t know whether I should feel happy or insulted,” Scootaloo said.

“In any case, you won’t be seeing Discord,” Fluttershy said. “He said he was going to stay home with a big tub of popcorn and ‘watch the show’, whatever that means.”

Scootaloo nodded. She had been thinking of many potential parents ever since Twilight Sparkle gave her the chance to find a new family, but one pony not on the list was Discord. She was glad she would get the chance to enjoy a quiet home life with Fluttershy.

“I’m glad you came, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said. “I could really use a hoof around my home. I spend so much time feeding and caring for my animal friends, I don’t have time to give them all the attention they deserve.”

“I’ll try, but I’ll never be able to understand animals like you,” Scootaloo said.

“There’s one language that all animals understand. Just bring food, and they’ll come to you.”

“So where do I start?”

“Come with me,” Fluttershy said.

Scootaloo followed Fluttershy to the kitchen, where the mare opened a door to a pantry. It was actually bigger than she expected, and was filled with both pony food and animal feed. Fluttershy reached in and pulled out a burlap sack and a wicker basket.

“You can help me by feeding the chickens. You throw the corn onto the ground to encourage them to leave the coop, and then you can go in and collect the eggs.”

Scootaloo bristled at hearing chicken, having heard the word used too often by certain fillies. But Fluttershy showed nothing but kindness in her words. “Okay,” Scootaloo said.

“I’m sure Elizabeak will be happy to see you again.”

“She’s still around?”

“Oh, yes. She’s old, and doesn’t lay many eggs, but I’ll always care for her.”

Scootaloo took the chicken feed and basket to the chicken coop. Only a few chickens were out, scratching and scrabbling in the dirt. Seeing Scootaloo approach, they squawked and clucked. More chickens poked their heads out of the coop.

She opened the sack and took some corn in her hoof. The sound of the dry kernels hitting the ground attracted the attention of the rest of the flock, and suddenly dozens of birds surrounded her. At first, she thought the fowl were going to peck at her. But they only brushed against her, a movement that almost felt affectionate.

Scootaloo extracted herself from the flock and climbed the ramp into the chicken coop. There was only one bird still inside, a plump hen. “Elizabeak, I presume?”

The old hen responded with a low squawk.

“Don’t mind me. I’m not a cockatrice. I’m just here for the eggs.”

Scootaloo gathered the eggs she could see, but she suspected Elizabeak was protecting some more. “Can you move?” she said.

The old hen didn’t react.

Scootaloo threw down some corn. “You want some lunch?” Elizabeak still didn’t move, but she was watching Scootaloo. “Okay, fine. Have some more.” She poured out corn, forming a little pile. Finally, Elizabeak moved.

Scootaloo quickly swiped the last eggs into her basket. “Victory!” she exclaimed.

Throughout the day, Scootaloo helped Fluttershy care for her animals. Many were skittish around her, but once Fluttershy spoke to them, they warmed up to her.

She also learned more about how Fluttershy lived. Like everypony, Scootaloo thought of her as the local animal caretaker. But she did a lot more. Fluttershy tended to her own garden, and several fruit trees surrounded her cottage. Several ponies visited her that day, none there to find a pet. One earth pony stallion traded a line of freshly caught fish for Fluttershy’s eggs; these fish soon found their way into the stomachs of her carnivorous animal friends. Other ponies came by with gifts of old food, stale bread and rotten vegetables that nopony would buy, but animals would gladly eat. All in all, it was like a smaller version of the Apples’ farm.

The sun was setting as Scootaloo finished her last chore, setting out some of the old food for the animals who stirred at twilight. She headed inside. Fluttershy was in the kitchen. A pot of soup simmered on the stove, but she wasn’t paying attention to it. Instead, she was setting out one last meal, for one particular animal friend.

“Now, Angel bunny, I think two cherry tomatoes are enough. You wouldn’t want to get a stomachache, would you?”

Scootaloo looked closely at the rabbit’s dish. Several kinds of lettuce and baby carrots were artfully arranged in the dish, with two cherry tomatoes on top. Fluttershy had a small bowl with more cherry tomatoes in her mouth.

Angel stamped the ground with his paw and pointed to his dish.

“Okay, Angel. One more.” Fluttershy placed another cherry tomato in his dish. The rabbit smiled and chowed down.

“I don’t get it. Why do you let Angel be so greedy?” Scootaloo asked.

“Well, I love all my animal friends, but Angel has been my friend for so long. I just can’t stand to see him hurt, or angry, or upset. He’s special to me.”

“I still think he’s being greedy.”

“Could you please set the table, Scootaloo? I think our soup is ready.”

Dinner with Fluttershy was a quiet affair. The only sounds came from visiting animals, who rubbed against their legs affectionately. Fluttershy welcomed them and gave out bits of bread.

“Scootaloo, I’d like to thank you for being so helpful today,” Fluttershy said. “With your help, I was able to spend more time just speaking with my animal friends.”

“You’re welcome, Fluttershy. I enjoyed helping out.”

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

“Yeah! We’re going crusading tomorrow morning!” Scootaloo said.

“That sounds nice. Now, I think a certain little filly needs a bath.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Scootaloo said. She did feel a bit dirty.

Fluttershy’s bathroom was a bit rustic. The freestanding tub looked old-fashioned. But it was clean, and the water was hot. Scootaloo had to scrub her wings to get out bits of grain and animal fur, and she felt a lot better once she finished.

When Scootaloo returned to the living room, she found Fluttershy sitting on the couch, reading and humming softly. She patted the couch with a hoof. “Would you like to read with me?”

“Okay.”

Scootaloo looked at the books Fluttershy had on a small bookshelf. Most concerned animals and plants, and looked rather advanced. She chose one that was titled An Illustrated Guide to Plants and Flowers.

“I like that one,” Fluttershy said. “Since I grew up in Cloudsdale, I had so much to learn about all the wonderful life to be found on the ground.”

Scootaloo joined Fluttershy on the couch. Her book proved to be a difficult read, and wasn’t giving her any inspiration for tomorrow’s crusade. Fluttershy moved closer and draped a wing over her.

“What’s Cloudsdale like?” Scootaloo asked.

“It’s a beautiful city. Even though my cutie mark called me to the surface, I still think about it today.”

Fluttershy shared her memories of Cloudsdale with Scootaloo. The filly listened with rapt attention. She had asked the same question of Rainbow Dash in the past, of course, and her idol’s response was markedly different, focused on things she had done. Fluttershy instead spoke of places, of ponies, of the beauty and splendor of Cloudsdale. Scootaloo’s book lay forgotten as she listened to her new mother open up to her.

“Scootaloo? Can I ask you something? If you don’t mind, of course.”

“What is it, Fluttershy?” Scootaloo said.

“Well, I’ve always dreamed of caring for a filly of my own. And I know you’re old enough to take care of yourself, so I understand if you say no, but I was wondering....”

“Yes?”

“Could I brush your mane and preen your wings?”

Scootaloo smiled. “For you, Fluttershy? Of course.”

Fluttershy squealed softly.

Fluttershy leaned back, and Scootaloo sat on her lap. She was too big for this to be truly comfortable, but Fluttershy’s foreleg wrapped around her, stopping her from slipping. When Fluttershy pulled the brush through Scootaloo’s mane, the filly closed her eyes and sighed, enjoying the comforting feeling. And when she felt Fluttershy’s mouth on her wing, gently tugging the feathers into place, a vision filled her mind.

Scootaloo remembered a time when she was much younger, sitting on her mother’s lap as she preened her, feeling the warmth and affection of that simple gesture. She recalled a time, around her sixth birthday, when sitting like that grew more difficult. Her mother, belly swelling with her soon-to-arrive second brother, soon had no lap left. And then Striker was born, and suddenly Mom was too tired to give Scootaloo this kind of close attention.

“Mmm. I could stay like this forever,” Scootaloo said.

“I’d be very happy if you’d stay, too, my precious daughter,” Fluttershy said.

Scootaloo looked at Fluttershy and smiled. Then her gaze was drawn to the end of the couch. Angel stood there, forelegs crossed, staring at Scootaloo with a frown. Then Angel raised a paw, pointed it to his eyes, and then pointed it to Scootaloo.

“Fluttershy?” Scootaloo said.

“Yes, dear?”

“Did you see...” she started, but Angel had hopped away. “Never mind.”

Before Scootaloo settled down for the night, she checked her room carefully. There was no sign of Angel. She got under the covers and closed her eyes, but didn’t go to sleep. She listened carefully; all was still.

The sound of birds singing in the early morning roused Scootaloo from her slumber. She looked around, seeing nothing amiss. While she was still certain Angel Bunny didn’t like her, he didn’t seem to do anything about it.

Fluttershy was already up and about, feeding the animals in the house. A pot of oatmeal cooked on the stove. “Good morning Scootaloo,” she said.

“Morning, Fluttershy.”

“I have one very important chore before you go off to see your friends. We need to sweep the floor.”

“Okay,” she replied.

“We have to do this every day, Scootaloo. With so many animal friends, we have to clean up the fur and feathers they drop. And also... well, I tell them to go outside, but they don’t know better.”

Scootaloo shrugged and grabbed a broom. The meaning of Fluttershy’s last sentence became clear when she spotted a neat pile of brown pellets. She didn’t care what animal had dropped them; she only wanted to sweep them out of the house.

Fluttershy opened the windows of her cottage, and then took her own broom in her mouth. Together, they swept clean the wooden floor. The light summer breeze brought in fresh air, with the scent of the forest beyond. And when they were done, the cottage looked neat and clean.

Breakfast followed. Scootaloo ate quickly, eager to join her friends. Fluttershy ate slower, but left her bowl behind to see Scootaloo off.

“Have a good day, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said, waving.

Scootaloo donned her helmet and hopped on her scooter. “Bye, Fluttershy!” she called. She buzzed her wings and took off, only to tumble off her scooter.

“Eeep!” Fluttershy squealed.

Scootaloo got up and brushed the dirt off her coat. “I’m okay,” she said. She looked at her scooter, finding the right front wheel had come off.

Fluttershy flew over and scooped up Scootaloo in her forelegs. “Are you okay? You could have been hurt!”

“Relax, I’ve had much worse falls.” That apparently wasn’t the right thing to say, as Fluttershy clutched her even tighter.

“I’ll keep you safe,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s only a loose wheel. Princess Twilight’s taught me all about how to fix my scooter. I just need to get the tools from my room. Could you please put me down?”

Fluttershy hugged Scootaloo for a moment before finally lowering her to the ground, ever so gently. As soon as Fluttershy loosened her hold on Scootaloo, the filly dashed off.

It took less than five minutes for Scootaloo to fix her scooter. After examining the nuts and bolts to make sure they were intact, it was a simple task to replace the wheel and tighten the nut. A final inspection of her scooter told her everything was working as it should.

“Bye, Fluttershy!” Scootaloo said. She tried to ride off, but felt a hoof pressing her scooter to the ground.

“Oh, no you don’t, not without the proper protection,” Fluttershy said.

“But I’m wearing a helmet!” Scootaloo protested.

“That little thing? Why, it barely covers your head! Let Mother keep you safe.” Fluttershy flew back to her cottage, and soon emerged carrying a ton of protective gear. A minute later, Scootaloo was wearing a hoofball helmet and a full set of pads.

“Now, you wear those anytime you’re on your scooter, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy cautioned. “And be sure to walk your scooter over the bridge. It’s dangerous.”

Scootaloo looked at the simple wooden bridge crossing the stream that ran by Fluttershy’s cottage. “Okay, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said unenthusiastically.

She slowly and carefully walked over the bridge, and only then got on her scooter. Scootaloo buzzed her wings and started riding. As she did, a glint of sunlight reflecting off something caught her attention. When she looked, she saw Angel, smirking and holding a wrench in his paw.

Scootaloo headed to Ponyville, idly wondering if griffons had any recipes for rabbit stew.

“What’s with the wacky getup?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Fluttershy insisted,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “Now I’m wondering why she had filly-sized hoofball gear in her closet.”

“Bummer,” Sweetie Belle said.

“She saw me stumble, and she started acting all like Applejack did that one time,” Scootaloo said. “How did we fix that again?”

“I took the delivery of pies through that dangerous swamp and almost got eaten by a chimera,” Apple Bloom said.

“Oh.”

“Maybe you could do something dangerous in the Everfree Forest?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“No, Fluttershy already told me I can’t go into the Everfree,” Scootaloo said. She started to take off her protective gear. “I think I just need to try talking to her.”

“Good luck with that,” Apple Bloom said.

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “But now for the important things. What are we going to do to find our cutie marks?”

Scootaloo sighed. “Whatever it is, let’s make it close by. I really don’t feel like riding anywhere dressed like this.”

For Scootaloo, crusading just wasn’t as fun as normal. The trio had so many great ideas involving machines and volatile chemicals that day, but Scootaloo had to suggest saving those for later, as she wanted Fluttershy to be calm when she returned home. And so, after another unsuccessful day of crusading, Scootaloo headed home.

Even wearing Fluttershy’s bulky protective gear, Scootaloo made good time on the dirt road heading out to the Everfree. She slowed down the closer she got to Fluttershy’s cottage. Her keen eyes spotted Fluttershy watching from the window.

Dutifully, Scootaloo stopped by the bridge and crossed it by hoof. Or, rather, that’s what she tried to do. One of the boards broke loose, and Scootaloo instead stumbled into the shallow stream.

In an instant, Fluttershy flew to her and lifted her out of the stream. “Oh, my poor, precious filly!” she said.

“I’m fine, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said.

“You could have drowned!”

“The water was barely over my fetlocks, Fluttershy! I could have walked out.”

“No, no, no! I’ve got to keep you safe,” Fluttershy said, holding Scootaloo closer.

Scootaloo was just able to grab hold of her scooter as Fluttershy dragged her inside.

Fluttershy ran around her home nervously, repeatedly muttering “Oh my.” Scootaloo watched her curiously.

“Um, I can take off this stuff, right?”

“Of course, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said warmly. She turned, frowning as she spotted something else. “Oh no, this won’t do at all,” she said.

Scootaloo took off her helmet and pads, grateful to finally feel the air dry her coat. She sniffed; wearing those pads meant she definitely needed a bath. She looked around. Fluttershy wasn’t there, but she heard some hammering from upstairs.

Another noise, something metallic, caught Scootaloo’s attention. It was close by. Looking around, she found it. Angel stood on an end table, hopping up and down on the metal blade of a saw. The bunny grinned evilly.

“Oh, you think you’re so clever?” Scootaloo said to him. “Well, I can use words, and once I talk to Fluttershy, she’ll calm down. I just know it.”

Scootaloo walked upstairs, looking for Fluttershy. She found her in her bedroom. Fluttershy had erected tall wooden railings around her bed, making it look like an oversized crib.

“There you are, Scootaloo!” Fluttershy said. She grabbed Scootaloo. “Up you go!”

“Fluttershy! What are you doing?”

“Just keeping my precious filly safe.” Fluttershy dropped Scootaloo onto the bed.

“I don’t need you to keep me safe, Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said. “I’m not a little filly anymore.”

Fluttershy flew over the railing and embraced Scootaloo. “Your mother will always worry about you.”

“I’ve been shot from a cannon, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy gasped and recoiled.

“I crashed through the branches of a big oak tree while hang gliding,” Scootaloo continued. “I climbed a cliff without a harness. Slipped from a zip line, with no net to catch me. Swam to the bottom of a monster-infested lake. And every time I ride my scooter, I turn any angled surface into a ramp, and then I either try to beat my personal record of staying airborne, or try a new stunt.”

Fluttershy stared at Scootaloo, shocked. “No! I’m never letting you put yourself at risk again!” She reached out to hold Scootaloo, but the filly backed away.

“I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I like risks. I enjoy pushing myself. You’re asking me to stop being me. And I can’t live with a pony who’d do that to me.”

Scootaloo looked at Fluttershy. She couldn’t bear to see the sad expression on her face, and her eyes started to water. “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. You’ll be a good mother some day, but I can’t be your filly.”

“Okay, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said quietly. “But... can I have one last hug, as mother and daughter?”

“Yeah.”

Fluttershy didn’t want to let go, but eventually she did. She helped Scootaloo pack her belongings and carry them downstairs.

Scootaloo spotted Angel lying on the couch. A smug look was on his face. Scootaloo shrugged; the rabbit had won. He’d be back to having all of Fluttershy’s attention.

“Fluttershy?” Scootaloo said.

“Yes?”

“I know that since I’ve been here, you haven’t given Angel as much attention as you normally do.”

“I know. I’ll make it up to him,” Fluttershy said.

“And I think he really needs the attention,” Scootaloo said. “In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen Angel playing with your tools. That’s very dangerous. He could hurt himself!”

Fluttershy gasped and flew over to Angel, clutching him in her forelegs. “Don’t worry, Angel. Mother will never let you come to harm. I’ll make sure your basket is nice and safe.

Angel stared at Fluttershy in shock, and then tried to squirm out of her grip. But Fluttershy wouldn’t let go.

Scootaloo smiled. There were some fates worse than rabbit stew.

Author's Note

“That was one time!” --Twilight Sparkle
For those of us who can see the future, we know it won't be the only time.

Next time, Scootaloo lives with everyone's favorite background pony. And it's a crossover! Just not the one you're envisioning.