Ponies from across Ponyville were flocking to Sugarcube Corner in droves, all of them eager to attend what had been described – by Pinkie Pie – as 'the cuteceañera to end all cuteceañeras.' Earlier that day, three of the town's local fillies had earned their cutie marks after many months of trying, and now they were celebrating their accomplishment with their families.
Or, at least, two of them were.
Scootaloo took a sip of juice, watching as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle regaled to their respective relatives about how they had finally earned the marks which now adorned their flanks. It was a story that Scootaloo didn't need to hear – after all, she already knew how it went – and now she was sitting on her own while her friends basked in the love and adoration of their families.
She finished her juice, tossing the plastic cup into a nearby bin, and let out a small sigh. Nopony else was in her corner of the room, which seemed almost dark in comparison to the bright lights that were illuminating the rest of the crowded space.
The gentle sound of approaching hoofsteps reached her ears, and she turned around slightly to see Rainbow Dash approaching. Scootaloo offered her a nod by way of greeting, at which Dash looked around the room for a moment before raising an eyebrow.
"Are you all right, squirt?" she asked. "You look bummed out."
"I'm fine, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo replied. "Don't worry about me; you go off and enjoy the party."
Dash thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Nah," she said. "I think I'll stay with you for a while, keep you company."
Scootaloo smiled. "I'd like that, Rainbow Dash, thanks."
Dash smiled back and sat down next to her. "No problem, Scoots. So, whatcha doin' in the corner by yourself? I thought you'd be hanging out with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle."
"Apple Bloom is with Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith," Scootaloo replied. "And Sweetie Belle is with Rarity and their parents. I didn't want to intrude, so I came and sat over here."
"I see." Dash nodded slightly. "Speaking of parents, where are yours? You'd think that they'd be here, since it's a celebration."
"They're... running a bit late, that's all," Scootaloo replied. "They'll probably be here sooner or later."
The look on Rainbow Dash's face was enough to convey the fact that she wasn't convinced by the filly's words. She let out a small sigh, her wings ruffling slightly, and spoke again.
"You don't need to lie, Scootaloo," she said. "Where are they?"
Scootaloo looked around the room for a moment, trying to avoid making eye contact with the pony beside her. She looked at the floor for the briefest of moments, before she raised her head and looked Dash straight in the eyes.
"They don't care," she said flatly. "I told them that I finally got my cutie mark — but when I told them how I got it they said that my talent was 'worthless,' and wouldn't get me anywhere in life." She deepened her voice, as if to imitate a stallion. "'You are never going to earn a decent living by telling ponies about their talents.'" Her voice got lower, so the filly sounded more like a crotchety old mare. "'Nopony is going to pay you to tell them something they would probably figure out by themselves in a few days; unlike a certain little filly who took the better part of two years.'"
Rainbow Dash's mouth hung open, the shock clearly evident for Scootaloo to see. "They actually said those things?" she asked, to which Scootaloo nodded. "Wow, that's pretty heartless. Am I right in assuming that your parents have really good jobs?"
"My mom is a lawyer," Scootaloo replied. "And my dad is a Member of Parliament. They're both pretty successful at what they do, so I guess it's only natural that they'd want me to be like them." She glanced at her cutie mark. "But I'm apparently not."
"Scootaloo, look at me," Rainbow Dash said sternly. When the filly did, she continued. "Your parents strike me as the sort of ponies who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter, and never really had to do anything spectacular to find their place in the world. But you... you have done everything there is to do in your Crusade to find your cutie mark, and you will go on to do so much more. Diamond Tiara was just the first step in a really great journey, Scoots, and your parents will come to realise that eventually." She smiled. "But if it's any consolation, then... well... it goes without saying that I'm proud of you, squirt."
Scootaloo's eyes brightened, and she smiled. "You really mean it?"
Dash chuckled and ruffled her mane. "Of course I mean it, kiddo," she replied. "Part of me is kinda jealous that I didn't get to do all sorts of cool stuff to try and get my cutie mark; you know, before I discovered my talent during that race at Flight Camp." She tapped her chin with a forehoof. "In fact, I sometimes wonder what might have happened had I not done it..."
"You would have figured out your talent eventually, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo said cheerfully. "I'm sure of it!"
"Yeah, I know." Dash polished a forehoof on her chest. "I would have worked out how awesome I was eventually, but I probably would have done most of the stuff you all did first." She gently pulled Scootaloo closer to her, giving the filly a small hug. "Look, kiddo, the point I am trying to make is that just because your parents don't care about your cutie mark, that doesn't mean you shouldn't care either." She swept her free foreleg over the area. "You have friends who care a whole lot about what the three of you have accomplished today, and who will almost certainly care about what you go on to accomplish in the future."
"You're right, Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo's demeanour became more confident. "I'm going to take my talent and, along with my friends, show ponies everywhere how to unlock – or perhaps even how to make sense of – theirs. Then I can show my parents that you don't need to be a high-flying lawyer or a fancy politician to succeed!"
"That's the spirit, Scoots!" Rainbow Dash stood up. "Now come on and lets get something to eat before Pinkie Pie gets it all."
Scootaloo stood up as well. "All right!" she looked at her idol and smiled. "Thanks for talking some sense into me, Rainbow Dash."
"No problem, squirt," Dash replied. "Glad I could help."
With that, she led the way to the buffet table with Scootaloo close behind — the filly relishing the feeling of the massive weight on her shoulders being smashed into a million pieces.
Author's Note
This was just a little thing I came up with, seeing as we never saw Scootaloo celebrating with anypony at her cuteceañera. There was that brief part of the song with Rainbow Dash, but that was pretty much it.
At least, it is as far as I know.
Pre-read by Scribe Scribbles.
