The trip to Las Pegasus was a long one, and for the first time Rainbow Dash found herself wishing Ponyville was large enough to have a prison. But that thought ended when she looked at Scootaloo, who looked as if she was ready to throw up.
“You sure you want to do this, squirt?”
“Yes,” the filly said, with so little hesitation it actually surprised her caretaker. “I can’t avoid doing something I think is right just because it’s hard.”
Soarin ruffled the little one’s mane. “You’re a good one, Scootaloo.” The two guards at the entrance opened the door to let her through.
The inside looked remarkably unlike what Rainbow Dash had been expecting, though in retrospect she wasn’t sure what she expected. This was a visiting area, after all.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to come in with you?”
Scootaloo shook her head. “I want to do this myself.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t know whether to feel proud or shake her head. “Okay, but remember, you’re doing this on your terms. You can leave if it gets too uncomfortable.”
“I will,” Scootaloo said. She received a kiss on the head from her caretaker, then followed the guard into the next room.
Rainbow Dash was surprised when another guard led them into an adjacent room. There was what looked like a window peering into the room where Scootaloo was taking a seat.
“What is this?” Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo was sitting at one end of a table with two guards in the farther corner.
“This is usually an interrogation room,” the guard admitted. “But due to the nature of your request, we decided to bend the rules a bit. Celestia’s request got us to approve temporarily transferring that mare here for a bit, so we figured we’d go all out. It’s a one-way mirror.”
Both Rainbow Dash and Soarin nodded, turning back to the scene at hand.
Scootaloo waited for an eternity before the door opened. Two guards escorted Speedy and Quick Delivery in, both of them wearing shackles on all four hooves, the chains connected to a large band around their torsos, pinning their wings to their sides. The grey stood out against the orange prison suits they wore.
Speedy glared at his daughter, while Quick simply stared. Scootaloo, oddly enough, found herself staring more at her, wondering what was different about her.
She’s not blitzed out on “Mommy’s special drink,” she realized.
“Have you come to gloat?”
Scootaloo was caught off guard at Speedy’s words, shriveling in her seat. “N-no,” she said. Then, remembering what she was here for, put on a brave front. “You’re n-not worth gloating to.”
“Cute,” the stallion said. “It’s a shame Celestia has to butt in on how I raise foals, because you deserve a good smack for mouthing off to me.”
“You take another inch towards her, I’ll give you a concussion on your way to solitary,” a guard threatened.
As Speedy stood there, glaring daggers at her, she turned to the guard with an appreciative look.
“So, you found somepony else to hide behind?” Speedy said.
Scootaloo looked at her father. Any remaining fear in her fled. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
Scootaloo pointed at the guard in question. “I barely noticed that guard before he stepped forward to defend me. But just for that, he’s officially done more for me than you ever have.”
“What? I fed, clothed, and nurtured you, you ungrateful brat.”
The guard actually looked heartbroken at Scootaloo’s statement. Still, he stayed professional and didn’t move.
“Not for me, though. You did it for you. I was just something you could show off. You were always talking about how hard it was to raise me. You wanted to make it sound like a burden so everypony would know how great you were. You never did anything for me because you loved me.”
Speedy stared at his daughter. “Did you rehearse that?”
Scootaloo blushed. “...Twilight helped me put it together,” she admitted. “I mean everything, though. I told Twilight, who is another pony who’s been there for me more than you have, by the way, and she help me put it in the best possible way.”
Speedy laughed. “Should have known you were too stupid to do anything yourself.”
Scootaloo blinked. No tears. She couldn’t. She needed to be strong.
“I came here because there was something I needed to say to you. Actually, there were several things I need to say to you. To the both of you.”
At that, Quick was taken aback. She had been quiet through the whole thing. Her daughter’s attention returning to her had startled her.
“Loo-Loo...”
The young filly took a deep breath. “Speedy... Quick...”
“You’ll address us as Mother and Father,” Speedy said.
“No,” Scootaloo said without hesitation. The interruption had been expected. “I won’t. Because you have no right to call yourselves parents.”
Speedy stood in anger, and immediately two guards were upon him. They pressed strong forelegs on his shoulders, forcing him down. He glared at the guards, but knew he was beat and didn’t resist them.
“Rainbow Dash and Soarin are my mom and dad. They’ve only had me for a year and they’ve done so much.” She started crying. “Th... the first morning at Rainbow Dash’s house, when I got up, Soarin had already made me breakfast. He sat and talked to me, asking me about myself. When Rainbow Dash got up, they took me outside and gave me another flying lesson. We were out there all day, and every minute they were telling me how special I was. When I... when I messed up, they just helped me up to try again.
“We had dinner together, and Soarin actually tucked me in and read to me. I hadn’t talked to him much, and he loved me more than you did.”
She had to stop talking because she was crying so hard. The guards glared at Speedy to stop him from saying anything.
It took a full minute for Scootaloo to calm herself. When she looked up, she saw the glare Speedy gave her. But not Quick.
Quick was actually crying. Silently, but there the tears were.
Scootaloo almost hesitated, but she went forward.
“And don’t think they’re alone. Pinkie threw me a ‘Congratulations on getting adopted!’ party. Rarity and Applejack both told me I should have told them about how you were treating me, since they would have done something about it. Fluttershy was ten times the mother whenever she foalsat me. Pick anypony in Ponyville, and they’ve probably done more for me than you have, and they’ve done it without complaint.
“There were three adult ponies at the bowling alley who are there all the time. After the first time they saw us try to bowl, they actually took time when we were there next to teach us. Three strangers. Taking time for me. And all they asked was that we stay away from this one stallion on another team...”
Scootaloo shivered, remembering that look he had given them. But she shrugged it off.
“What’s the point in all this?” Speedy asked.
Scootaloo looked at him.
“There’s something else I wanted to say to you. And I have to bring up the one other pony who helped me. His name isn’t any of your business, but he was like you once. He hurt his daughter bad. But he realized what he did was wrong, and went right to her and asked to be forgiven. And he got it.
“I saw somepony brainwash my friend Sweetie Belle and really hurt her. She asked for forgiveness, and got it. Rainbow Dash just introduced me to a griffon that had been a jerk to her. She asked for forgiveness, and got it. I saw Twilight get hurt by everypony. They asked for forgiveness, and got it.”
Scootaloo stopped to take a deep breath again. She couldn’t break down again, not now. “That got me thinking, why couldn’t I forgive you? And then it hit me: it’s because you never asked for it.
“I was so confused on whether or not that meant you deserved it. I asked Rainbow Dash and Soarin, they didn’t know. I asked Twilight, she didn’t know. But she offered to let me write to Princess Celestia and ask her. And she, the ruler of Equestria, had the time to reply.”
“You know I don’t like Celestia...”
“Because she knows what a horrible pony you are.” Scootaloo tried and failed not to smile. She had been wanting to say that to him for a year. She was hoping he would say that to get the chance to reply.
“I got a letter back. I read it every day before I left for school, and every night before I went to bed. I actually memorized it. I can say it word for word.”
She took a deep breath. “‘Scootaloo, forgiveness is a tricky thing. Anger and hurt can make it hard, and circumstances are always different. But I believe that I’ve learned the answer in thousands of years of life. I will share it with you. Forgiveness is being able to let go of your rage and pain. Those things can bind you as surely as chains. Long after they’re out of your life, those that have hurt you can still be in your mind, controlling your actions. Do not not hate your parents, feel pity for them they couldn’t recognize what a gift you were. Feel pity that they did not understand love and friendship the way you do.
“‘However, forgiveness does not mean allowing one to escape consequences. As much as it hurt me, I refused to free my sister until the Elements decided their seal was no longer needed. And you are not obligated to just allow them back in your life. Let go of your rage, but be wary if you welcome them back...’”
Scootaloo stopped. Speedy and Quick were a bit stunned at their former daughter's eloquence. Not one stutter or mispronounced word had come out of her mouth.
“I read that letter every morning and every night, wondering what to do. I thought about how mad you made me. And you know what? I found out that I was not mad.”
“Not mad?”
Scootaloo shrugged. “Why would I be? You're here in jail where you can’t hurt me. I have Rainbow Dash and Soarin and everypony else. You’re not worth worrying about.”
Speedy gave a growl of anger that sent Scootaloo back, but the guards stopped him from doing anything else.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I wanted to know if you realized you were wrong.”
“Wrong? I was just raising you. This is Celestia’s fault, and Rainbow Dash’s, and yours, you ungrateful foal.”
Scootaloo flinched and started to cry. Then she stood firm, though the tears were still flowing. “Then... I’ve given my address to the guards. At any time you change your mind, you... you can write me a letter saying so. Until then, I won’t visit or write you... ever. When you... when you’ve learned your lesson... we can start talking again.”
“Like I’d want you back,” Speedy growled.
Scootaloo flinched. She looked to Quick, hoping for some attempt at an apology.
Her mother stared back. She was crying. She opened her mouth... but closed it. No words came out.
“I wasn’t mad. I was sad. I love Rainbow Dash and Soarin, but I really was hoping there was still some good in you two. Please, one of you say something.”
The two older ponies just looked at her, Speedy with Rage, Quick with sadness. But niether spoke.
“Then... goodbye M...” She caught herself. She took a deep breath. “Goodbye Quick. Goodbye Speedy.”
She tried to keep a calm tone, but her voice cracked on their names. In a blur she dashed out of the room.
She slammed it shut behind her. She started crying again, her tears coming out in full force. She felt so confused. A weight had lifted off of her, but at the same time a pit had formed in her stomach. Relief and dread, warring to be dominant.
It wasn’t five seconds before two ponies had her in a loving embrace. She felt herself be picked up and carried to a sitting area.
“That was amazing, Scoots!” Rainbow Dash said, kissing her on the side of the head.
“I don’t think I could have stayed that strong at your age,” Soarin said.
“Y-you were watching?” the filly asked.
“Through the mirror,” Rainbow Dash explained. “I’m very proud of you. We both are.”
Scootaloo stood there and let herself be held by the two older Pegasus.
“Why don’t we get out of here and get some lunch?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“...Can we get pizza?”
“No problem,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Okay then. Let’s get going...” Scootaloo swallowed, as if the word was caught in her throat. She looked up at Rainbow Dash and Soarin, and saw that they were looking at her with... hope?
“...Mom,” she said at last. “...Dad.”
They hugged her tighter, and she felt another bit of weight leave her heart.
“Y-you sure it’s okay to call you that?” Scootaloo asked as he pulled away, looking at Soarin. “You’re not even engaged to R... to Mom.”
Soarin smiled. “Kid... if things don’t work out between us... I’ll still be there for you. Promise.”
Scootaloo hugged him. He kissed her forehead.
“Well... we’re in Las Pegasus. We could make it official real quick.”
Soarin’s eyes widened at his fillyfriend’s suggestion. “Wh-what?”
As Scootaloo giggled, Rainbow Dash went on. “Come on, we’re raising a foal together, you practically live in my house whenever you’re on leave, and we already have... ‘fun’, I see no reason why not.”
“Wha... but... shouldn’t we be getting pizza?”
Rainbow Dash smiled before scooping Scootaloo on her back. “Sure.” She looked at her newly christened daughter. “You have to call the other girls ‘Aunt’ from now on. that includes Gilda, okay?”
“Okay,” Scootaloo nuzzled into her mane. As her parents carried her out, she felt more ice leave her stomach. the pain would be there awhile, but her real mom and dad would help her through it.
Author's Note
Well, here it is.
This is one of those stories I need to post now, because I'm afraid I'll over rewrite it to death.
Yes, this is slightly in Direction's future, but hopefully not too much. Just another chapter or two, and nothing you don't already know is going to happen.