Departure

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash had spent the last few days together in nothing but bliss. Everypony had spent time with family, friends, and other loved ones in celebration of Hearth’s Warming and the New Year. However, now came the time to dismantle all the decorations, put the boxes back in the attic, and get back to the regular daily routine come Monday morning. Everypony was expecting it, and everypony was accepting it.

That is, of course, except for one pony in particular.

Rainbow was nearly done cleaning up from dinner. Plates were stacked in a neat fashion, and she beckoned Scootaloo to come over and help her with the drying.

“Hey, Squirt. You wanna come over and gimme a hoof? I’d rather not have to do all this by myself.”

Scootaloo cheerfully obliged. “Sure thing, Sis!”

Scootaloo had grown into a fine mare. It was her last semester at Canterlot University, much to Rainbow’s adoration. She would get her degree in sociology soon, aiming to go on to become a social worker and help ponies in orphanages find homes. Rainbow looked down at the plate, wiping off the remaining suds of soap and handing it off to Scootaloo. She occasionally glanced back at Scootaloo when she was talking, offering an empty smile here and there. She finished rinsing the last plate, and head over to the couch to unwind for the night. Scootaloo was in the kitchen still, putting books in her saddlebags as she saw Rainbow flipping through the channels.

“Hey. You almost done in there? Making Bad is coming on, and I was wondering if you were gonna make it in time for whenever the season premiere comes back on.

“Sure, I’ll be there in a few.” She was busy as a bee, flying to and from various places in the house, frantically gathering up her last-minute burst of energy to get all she needed together in one place.

Rainbow chuckled. “Sheesh. The way you move you might break something, then I’d make you pay for it. Seriously, can’t it all wait till tomorrow? Canterlot isn’t going anywhere.”

Scootaloo shrugged. “Yeah, it probably could, but it’s better to get it all done now and not have to rush tomorrow morning.”

Rainbow raised her eyebrows at hearing that. “Huh. Sounds like you have way too much responsibility in you. Come on over here and take a load off, you need a breather.”

“Oh, ha ha. Not falling for that one again. Last time you did that, we wound up falling asleep for like, four hours. Seriously, how do you ever get things done?”

Rainbow waved a hoof in Scootaloo’s direction. “Kid, when you’re this awesome, things just fall into place.”

Scootaloo pouted. “Well, not all of us can be your level of awesome. Some of us have, oh, I don’t know, grown up things to do.”

“Really now? And just what things are we talkin’ here?” Rainbow pulled back in her seat. No way was she going to let Scootaloo win an argument of awesomeness against the queen herself. “I was busting clouds and breaking records before you even took your first steps. Go home, kid. You lost this battle.”

“I am home.”

Rainbow looked around sheepishly. “Oh...well, then, go to your room.” She stuck out her tongue in Scootaloo’s direction.

Scootaloo walked over, nudging Rainbow in the shoulder. “Oh, look at that, I’m all grown up now so you can’t even ground me. Too bad, so sad.”

“Kid, as long as you’re in my house, you’ll play by my rules.”

“I thought you said that the only rule is there is no rules?”

“Well...I’ll think of something. Don’t you have more packing to do?”

“Trying to get rid of me?”

“Psh, no. Just trying to get you out of my mane! Geez. I think the last time you were this clingy was when you were like, thirteen.”

Scootaloo let out a laugh. “Oh, you mean like when I first met you and idolized you and all that?”

Rainbow smiled. “Yeah! That! Whatever happened to that? Ya know, the Squirt that I had to go save from catastrophic dives off of waterfalls and such.”

Scootaloo grunted. “Well, too bad for you I’m not that dumb anymore. I’ve almost got a college degree, ya know.”

Rainbow blew a raspberry. “Yeah, yeah, rub it in.”

A comfortable silence fell around the two ponies, covering them in a blanket of tranquility for a few moments. Rainbow Dash shifted in her seat, while Scootaloo’s eyes started to droop just a little.

“Hey, Squirt, you’re looking a little tired. Why don’t you go to bed?”

“Eh, I’m tired, but I’m not ready to sleep yet.”

Rainbow Dash looked up, tapping her chin with her hoof. “ I got an idea. So long as you promise to keep your mouth shut, you can lay in my lap and I’ll brush your mane.”

Scootaloo’s smile stretched wide. “You mean just like how you used to?”

Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, just like how I used to.”

She didn’t have to tell Scootaloo twice. Just as soon as the last syllable fell out of Rainbow’s mouth, Scootaloo was already on her lap with a goofy grin plastered on her face. Rainbow grabbed a hairbrush from the table to the side of the couch, and began working on Scootaloo’s mane in long, even strokes. Rainbow exhaled and spoke up. “So, tomorrow’s the big day. You excited?”

“Totally! I can’t wait to see what kind of stallions are gonna be there this year!” She let out a little squeal as Rainbow’s hoof made contact with the back of her head.

“Heh, yeah. He’ll have to pass my test first. So don’t go getting any funny ideas.”

“Yeah, but I saw you and Soarin dancing at Pinkie’s party last week. Who are you to talk about funny ideas?”

Rainbow felt a blush coming on. “Yeah, well...that’s different! That’s me and him, not you and...whatever stallion you pick.”

They shared a laugh and Rainbow went back to brushing Scootaloo’s pink mane. Scootaloo spoke up this time, just as Rainbow un-tangled a particularly stubborn knot in her mane. “So, are you ready for me to go back?”

Rainbow paused briefly, but continued brushing. “What kind of question is that? Of course I’m ready! I mean, when you’re out of here, I get the whole place to myself again!” She let out a few chuckles, looking around the room as Scootaloo looked at her.

“Come on, for real. Are you going to be okay?”

She once again looked around the room, feeling sweat start to form on her upper brow. She took a deep breath, and put the brush down. “Honestly? I have no idea. I mean, how am I supposed to answer that when you’re more ready for this than I am?”

Scootaloo cocked her head to the side, creasing her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

Rainbow took another breath and went on, “As long as I’ve known you, you’ve looked up to me. You were practically my shadow for the entire time we’ve hung out. And since I adopted you, it’s like you weren’t just a shadow anymore. Like, you were actually there all the time now! I had somepony to take care of and all that stuff. I mean, it was a little rough in the beginning, but it got better! I taught you how to fly, and how to do other awesome stuff too! I mean, who am I going to have to try out my new tricks with? Who am I going to pull pranks on AppleJack with?”

“Rainbow…we all have to grow up. I mean, it’s inevitable.”

“Yeah, but you’re...you’re…you’re like, totally awesome! Like, you’ve already approached my level of awesomeness! You may even have a shot at surpassing me by the time you graduate. I mean, heck, you’ll be helping little fillies and colts find homes. and all I do is daydream about flying in the Wonderbolts.” Her ears fell as she spoke the last line, as she realized what she was saying was true.

Scootaloo laid there, frozen in place and staring at Rainbow Dash as she spoke.

“You’re not going to lose me.” Scootaloo sat up, looking Rainbow in the eyes. “Look, I have no idea what’s going to happen. I mean, yeah, I’ll be graduating and all that good stuff, but...that doesn’t mean you’ll be out of my life. I mean, I looked up to you for years. Who says I’m gonna stop just because I have a piece of paper that says I’m smart? And besides, I’m gonna need a place to crash and steal food from when I’m job hunting.”

They shared smile, and let the quiet return. “Rainbow Dash, you’re always gonna be my big sister. Nothing’s ever gonna change that.”

“You Pinkie promise?”

Scootaloo let out a chuckle. “I Pinkie promise.”

They went through the motions, and let out a laugh once they both poked their eyes. Rainbow looked at the clock. “Well, I think I’m checking in for the night. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Scootaloo stretched her now full-grown wings, yawning. “Yeah, we do. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Well duh. I still gotta make you my signature omelette! I got the recipe from Spike, but put my own twist on it.”

“Uh-oh. Should I get Twilight to come over to supervise you to make sure you don’t kill anyone?”

“Psh, as if. You just wait, Scoots. It’ll blow your mind.”

“Yeah yeah. Well, I’m off to bed, goodnight!” With that, they shared a brief hug and went their separate ways.

Rainbow went into her room and shut off the lights. She looked at Tanks empty bed, and let out a sigh. As she made her way to her bed and got settled in for the night, she saw a picture of her and Scootaloo at a Sisterhooves day from when Scootaloo was in high school. She smiled while she drifted off to sleep. “You’ll be alright.”

Author's Note

Big thanks to Soundslikeponies for the edits. Hope you guys enjoy~