A Game of Homes.

Summer Sun Celebration: A very special welcome.

The day began like the both before.

“Scootaloo wake up. I've to go. The breakfast is on the table.

Please clear all into the sink, if you're eaten up.”

Sunny Rays voice reached through the closed door and sounded a little scampered.

Before the pegsus filly was more than half awoken, the front door closed

and fast hoofbeats receded from the house.

“Good Morning and Goodby, aunt Sunny.”

The little filly called so loud as well she could, but she wasn't sure, that Sunny have heard her.

She opened yawing her sleeping back and rose slowly.

She stretched herself and tölted the shaky legs carefully forward.

Scootaloo screwed her face and suppressed another yawn.

Goosebumps went through her and she felt that her mane protruded.

She shivered and stroked her mane.

“Why doesn't have aunt Sunny a cloudbed?”

She spoke in a low voice into the silence around her and sighed.

Scootaloo missed the tender fluffyness, however Sunny didn't want clouds in her house.

“They affect the wood and cool down everything.

In the summer it's fine, but in my first winter I'd even snow in my bedroom.”

Scootaloo remembered her voice, as she left the bathroom.

The breakfast, a daisy sandwich and a glass of milk, stand at her place

and she clambered the high chair. Sunny have promised, that she got a bed

and suitable furniture soon, however the preparations for

the Summer Sun Celebration have taken her full attention and

so Scootaloo had to sleep on the floor a few days.

She has been taking bed on her own, bud aunt Sunny would do it herself.

Scootaloo ate up and took the glass of milk pensive.

Today was the day. Today was the celebration and she was able to see princess Celestia.

At home in Cloudsdale was the celebration always overcrowded ,

because many families would celebrate it together.

She closed her eyes and bit her lips. The glass trembled in her hooves

and she spilled a drop of milk on the table.

It was the first time, that she celebrated without Mum

and she felt a little gloomy about that.

She looked through the window and in the sky. It was two days without any answer.

She has been writing immediately after her arrival,

even has pleasing the mailpony to deliver the letter faster as usual.

However she hasn't gotten an answer and yet Mum has been promising to write her every day.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a  stroke of clock.

Scootaloo leapt up, drank the milk and held the glass with the mouth.

She put it in the sink and cleared the table.

Then she whipped her saddlebacks on and galloped out of the house.

Ponyville were crowded this morning, dozens of ponies, familiar or not,

have hastened around, have cleaned up or have moved things around.

Murmur and laughter were overlay the tohubohu of ponies

and the bustle pushed even Scootaloo.

She wasn't noticed now, quite different to her first exploration of Ponyville. Neither the ponies greeted her or stepped beside.

She felt herself peculiar, like a stranger amidst strangers.

It was right, the ponies here weren't like the pegasi.

Even the pegasi weren't like those in Cloudsdale.

Scootaloo couldn't explain, what the difference was, but something was it.

She was uncertain, what she has been thought about it. Even her first day was so strange.

Aunt Sunny had fetched her from the Cloudsdale Balloon landing field,

had placed her little bags in her home and had shown her around in Ponyville.

Sugarcube Corner and the school had been her prime locations.

Miss Cheerilee, the new teacher, had welcomed her an was very kind.

However Scootaloo had barely settled down,

then aunt Sunny had to go to work and she let Scootaloo alone had found the way back.

She had stumbled reluctant through the town and had tried to orient herself.

Snippet of conversation and laughter had shrouded her

and as she finally had retrieved Sugarcube Corner,

she had been welcomed by a pink whirlwind.

“Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie and you should be new here, right.

Cause I knew everypony around and I don't knew you, so you must be new.

I hope you like cupcakes, I'm loving them, or do you like muffins?

What's your name, where are you from and what's your favourite drink?

What's your favourite colour and...”

She had spoken so fast and without any interruption, that Wingdaloo had much bother

to understand her questions as questions.

She had to wait until the elder pony had breathing and finally she could answer.

“I'm Wingdaloo from Cloudsdale.”

She couldn't gone much further with her answers, since Pinkie had shaken her hoof,

left a muffin in it and pushed her with the other into the bakery.

Two huge earthponies had smiled and nodded to her.

Wingdaloo could had noticed only their main colour, brilliant amber and  light cerulean,

before Pinkie Pie again had focussed all attention to her.

“Mister and Misses Cakes, this is Wingdaloo and she's new here.

I've inviting her to her first welcome party here. I'm hoping we celebrate here and.”

Wingdaloo had interrupted the gabbling pony with a loud exclamation.

“But I don't know everypony here.”

The pink pony hadn't allowed any thing to interrupt her line of speaking and smiled.

“That's just perfect. Leave it to me and you will find a bunch of friends.”

Before Wingdaloo had could answer, a male gentle voice interposed.

Slowly and calm he had contrasted the jittery gibberish from Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, that is a great idea really, but with so scant time to the summer sun celebration,

which we had to prepare and a party shortly before it isn't so good, right?

Besides the filly had to gain time to come across and settle in.

If she then has founding friends a party will be great. Isn't it?”

Wingdaloo had turned around to the source of this speech

and had viewed closely the brilliant amber pony.

The pistachio eyes had laid only one second an her

and had taken the attention to Pinkie Pie.

Besides his eyes he had only a toque and a white pinny,

that had drawn Wingdaloo attention to it.

She had nodded and smiled hesitant. Pinkie had sighed and loosed a little from her puffy mane.

“But I'm thinking it will be best, if we.”

“Hello Wingdaloo, did you find friends for your later welcome party?”

The pegasusfilly was sudden ripped out of her memory, as the pink ball of energy

obstructed her way and broadcast this question.

Scootaloo recoiled, bumped against another pony and stumbled an excuse.

The incipient voice sounded vague familiar to her.

“N...n...no worry. I've alarming you in a second. I've a mail for you.”

The mailpony with the droll eyes!

Scootaloo turned smiling to her and forgot Pinkies question totally.

Her extended hoof trembled with barely repressed excitement,

as Derpy laid the letter in it and the other stroked nervously over the ground.

She was unable to thank her, or even to speak, and drifted just away.

She let a shortly disappointed Pinkie pie and a smiling mailpony behind.

Dear Scootaloo,

I'm very pleased to hear from you and I'm relief, that you're arrive safely.

I'm pleased to get your picture, too. I'm missing you and thinking always of you.

Your room is as you leaved it and will await you, if you got homesick.

Just write me, if you don't tolerate it much longer and I will meet you.

If you will be happy there, I 'll send some of your posters.

I'm a little upset with your idea to fast change your name.

I'm always finding Wingdaloo very pleasant and fitting to you, no matter the circumstances.

If you like to change it, I'll do not get in the way for your decision,

however you'll be my little Wingdaloo in my heart.

Excuse me, I've sending you no letter yesterday. I'm just feeling badly,

because your telling, that I've to stay in Cloudsdale and not to accompany you.

Do you know, that I do anything for you? I'll move with you to Ponyville, if you let me.

I hope you will change your mind and wish to accompany you.

I'm always loving you, Wingdaloo and await your answer.

Lots of love

Mum.

Scootaloo sat an her place in the school and had hastily opened the letter.

Her hooves trembled more and more, how longer she read the lines.

Finally she let sink the letter on her school table.

She bit her lips and constrained her eyes.

Mum wanted her back in Cloudsdale. So often she had written it in the letter,

Scootaloo was sure about that. She had made the wrong decision.

Mum wasn't happy with all of her decisions.

What should she do now?

Again she looked t the lines and tried to conceive a clear thought,

however the longer she saw this letter, the more she became  tangled thoughts

After all she wiped the letter into her sattlebag half angry, half sadly.

Why didn't she tell her so in Cloudsdale?

Why hadn't Mum tell her, that she could move with her? Why?

The tidying up and the school hours flight past her. The other foals didn't bother with her,

as she didn't answer any questions, but seemed to be happy because of the celebration.

Scoot, no Wingdaloo wasn't sure anymore, if she wanted to be happy about this.

Miss Cheerilee dismissed the class and she trotted alone,

after all foals left, through Ponyville and headed  home.

No she walked to Sunny Rays house, unsure whether to write a letter

or to pack everything directly.

“Scootaloo, please wait.”

A classmate ran nearby to her and tried to get her attention.

Wingdaloo darted her a look and tried to remember her name.

The two coloured mane and the green eyes together with the white coat

were quite unique in her class and as a unicorn it was a simple task.

“Sweetie Belle, right?”

The pegasusfilly whispered and tried to sound calm,

but the unicorn hold in and viewed her a little suspicious, than she smiled.

She tried to run as fast as Wingdaloo and trotted with her in the direction of Sugarcube Corner.

“I've just thinking, if you like to accompany me

and go to the summer sun celebration with me.

You look quite so, as you need somepony to accompany you.”

Wingdaloo lowered her head and sighed. She stopped and considered.

She could hole up home and has been thinking around Mums letter,

or she could just make a nice evening with a friend.

“I believe, I've questioning my aunt, if I want to. Do you make a slumber party?”

Her voice still sounded higher and faster as usual,

but Sweetie Belle should misconstrue this as excitement.

“No I'm not allowed to do such thing. However you've nopony to celebrate anyway.”

Wingdaloo interrupted the little white unicorn and her voice fluttered louder.

“How do you know this?”

Sweetie Belle recoiled and smiled fast.

“I knew, Sunny Rays can't be your mother. And she is always committed, so I just thought.”

Wingdaloo shake her head to free her thoughts and tripped multiple her left hoof on the ground.

“Yes mum lives in Cloudsdale and works there. I...

Know what, I'm coming with you. When do you want to meet?”

Before her voice again said goodbye and went higher,

or worst tears were able to gather in her eyes, she pledged.

Only that she could free herself form her thoughts.

A grin appeared at the face from Sweetie Belle and she raised her left front hoof to lay him at Wingdaloos shoulders.

“I'll meet you. I have to sleep a little, thereby I'm able to witness the celebration awake.

How about four in the morning? Here?”

Wingdaloo nodded silently, wiped off the hoof and ran away.

“See you tonight, Scootaloo.”

She didn't answered and ran even faster. Now she had to convince aunt Sunny,

that she went with a friend to the celebration.

Afterwards it was really simple, because she found just a letter in the house.

“Dear Scootaloo,

I've to work an additional layer.

Somepony will supervise our work and Pinkie will please her with a party.

Please take your supper from the fridge and go to bed early.

I'll send somepony to wake you.

Raritys little sister, Sweetie Belle will come and meet you.

See you at the summer sun celebration.

Aunt Sunny.”

Wingdaloo deposited the saddlebags and ignored the letter from her mother.

She hoped, that if she let him in the saddlebags, she has never thinking of him again.

But her thoughts circuited around him the whole evening.

First her supper, bred with bramblejelly and an apple, distracted her from it

and gave her a little anticipation for the celebration.

Certainly as she snuggled in her sleeping back,

her thoughts drifted back to the letter and kept her away from sleeping.

“That's not fair. I won't return. I won't be looked so pitiful.

How can I explain all other ponies, that I'm just want to be like every other?”

This question circuited again all feelings, however she hadn't find any answer.

Wingdaloo turned around and tried to all blank out,

by staring against the wooden wall,

but it wasn't successful, she couldn't rid her thoughts.

“I've to return, then Mum is going to be happy again.

That's my only choice, what I'm going to do.

But I won't go back, all other pegasi are looking so different up there.

Here down they look different, not like them. They're just not interesting in my wings.”

She mumbled quieter and quieter and she drifted into sleep.

A loud rap and calling ripped her from her sleep

and she struggled herself out of the sleeping back.

Whereof she has been dreaming she didn't remember,

but she felt tears gliding over her face

and sensed her fast beating heart.

“Scootaloo wake up. We're late”

Sweetie Belle knocked against her bedroom door.

As she heard Wingdaloos hooves she called:

“I'll be waiting before the door. Hurry up, please.”

Wingdaloo hurried and laved her sleepy eyes with cold water.

She drove with her hooves through her mane and went yawning outside.

Sweetie Belle tripped nervously around and  pulled Wingdaloo with her,

as she saw her.

Together they galloped to the town hall,

only there shined brighter light in the dim part of the night.

“Hurry, we will miss the princess.”

Sweetie Belle shouted over her shoulder and bounced into the bright ballroom.

Wingdaloo followed her harried and tried to shove through the expected crowd, but.

Everypony stood still, pointed one spot and seem being puzzled.

“Where is she? Where is princess Celestia?”

Somepony beside her mumbled this words and

as Wingdaloo looked to the source, she recognized the mailpony with wide eyed look.

She tried to look forward, collided with a freezing Sweetie Belle staring up to the balcony.

Wingdaloo followed her glimpse and saw the gathering shadows too.

An obscure figure appeared and all of her shape reminded the filly

to a recent suppressed nightmare.

Every image rose out of her subconsciousness and was so familiar.

The long marvellous horn, the dark blowing mane and

the even darker coat, all were like in her last dream. How could she forget?

The aura of these creature was so graspable,

that the fillys thoughts circuited again, but now around her fears

and she wanted only go to one place, home.

However Sweetie Belle, carried her with herself under the balcony,

as if it was easier for her, as long as she didn't see this terrible creature.

But the gloomy voice sounded even there

and Wingdaloo snuggled firmer with her companion,

but she was blindfolded for the surroundings.

“Oh, my beloved subjects.

It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun-loving faces...”

Wingdaloo tried her best, but the fear let her no other choice, she just trembled

and pressed herself tighter against Sweetie Belle after this words.

As well her view felt of a pony, that wasn't overwhelmed by fear.

Wingdaloo didn't know who this blue pegasus mare was, but she took her into account.

The rainbow mane played with her almost scornfully face and

Wingdaloo opened her mouth for a gasp, as she tried to swoop down the creature,

however a yellow earthpony with a hat hindered her.

Why was she not afraid? Who was she?

Wingdaloo saw, that she was fighting again her restriction and the hindering earthpony,

she wanted something to do, fight back.

A unicorn with purple coat and three coloured mane walked

between her line of sight and named the creature.

“...I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!”

Wingdaloo gasped and congealed again. This old maretale was true?

Thunder and lightning let her tremble once more and all huddled in fear.

She searched in this fears her heroine, the blue pegasus mare.

She was unimpressed and tried to break away one more time.

Finally the major sent the royal guards against Nightmare Moon,

but everyone were defeated by the lightnings.

With a guffaw Nightmare Moon disappeared and her dark shadow burst through the door.

Now the fighting pegasus mare came loose and chased her.

Wingdaloo broke away from Sweetie Belle and galloped after her,

admittedly to the door. She wanted to see, what was happening next.

The pegasus stopped and stared into the darkness.

Somepony jumped through the door, the purple unicorn leaved the town hall,

and Wingdaloo tried one step out, to follow her.

“Scootaloo wait, stay here.”

Aunt Sunny caught herself and laid a hoof on her shoulder.

“Where, by all clouds, want you go? You shouldn't even think about it.”

Sunny pushed her forward, as they leaved town hall.

Everypony were simply in blind panic and also Wingdaloo sensed this fear,

but the memento of the courage from the blue pegasus mare with the rainbow mane

calmed her feeling and she could keep her bouncing heart in check.

“I want just chase after the blue pegasus. I think she knows, what she do.”

Aunt Sunny led her fast along the way and into the house.

“That would surprise me. Rainbow Dash doesn't never ever know, what she is doing.”

Wingdaloo mumbled the name a few times to remember him.

Aunt Sunny led her to her room and closed the door.

“We're packing, Scootaloo. Take everything you want. We're flying to...”

She interrupted herself, looked through the window and sighed.

“tonight back to Cloudsdale. Your mum will be very worried about you...”