Filly Stuff

by Bell

Rating: teen
Tags: Applejack, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo
Length: 4866

Scootaloo really wants to talk with Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow, caught up in her own happenings, doesn't make time for Scootaloo. This leads to Rainbow and Applejack talking about the meaning of sisterhood.

Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Applejack, and Apple Bloom all take a camping trip. Scootaloo wants to talk to Rainbow Dash in private, but Rainbow doesn't make time for her.

Applejack sees this, and makes time to talk to Rainbow about the meaning of sisterhood.

Romance tag is for very light romantic themes.

Cover art by the amazing and generous DatWritingPotato.

Published 2016-06-24 21:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-06-24 21:00:01 UTC

Filly Stuff

Rainbow had been looking forward to this. Everything had worked out perfect—the Wonderbolts weren't scheduled for any performances or rehearsals, Equestria wasn't in danger (for once), and school was out for the summer for one more week—so Rainbow Dash had the opportunity to take Scootaloo on a camping trip. Notwithstanding the near-fiasco of their last camp-out, Rainbow thought this would be good for both of them. For Scootaloo, it'd be a chance to bond with the most awesome big sister anypony could ask for; for Rainbow herself, it'd be a chance to make up for being on the road so often over the past few months.

Rainbow Dash zoomed through the sky above Ponyville, heading for Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom and Applejack were to accompany them, and they'd chosen the Apple Family homestead as a good meeting place. It was just before noon, and the sun was high in the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight, which was how it should be—Rainbow had personally pulled a few strings to guarantee a couple of dry days and nights for camping. Her responsibilities as a Wonderbolt may have kept her away from town a lot of the time, but Rainbow Dash still held some clout in the Ponyville Weather Office.

Her saddlebags were strapped tightly to her withers. They were loaded with all the supplies for the cool parts of camping: marshmallows and hay-dogs to roast on the fire, a book (courtesy of Twilight) on how to recognize and trap dangerous bugs, and another book (also from the Princess of Friendship's personal library) filled with scary stories. Rainbow reminded herself to tread lightly with this last. She'd keep an eye on Scoots to make sure she wasn't getting too scared, and she'd even cut her story short, if she had to. Rainbow Dash didn't think she would have to, though; Scootaloo was a little older than the last time they'd gone camping, and besides, the kid knew she could count on her big sister for protection.

Dash smiled. Big sister. Admittedly, it had felt a tiny bit weird—not to mention sappy—when Scootaloo had first called her that. Rainbow had never been anypony's big sister, and though she was sure she could rely on her instincts (which were surely as awesome in this matter as in all others), she didn't really know the first thing about it.

But as time had gone by, the weirdness had faded. Rainbow had discovered that she didn't need to learn anything about being Scootaloo's big sister, because she'd pretty much been doing it without thinking from the day they had met. She wasn't too proud to admit that there'd been stumbles along the way, but all in all, she didn't think calling herself the most awesome big sister was just empty boasting. She really loved the little squirt, and she didn't even care how sappy it sounded.

In a few minutes, Rainbow touched down on Sweet Apple Acres. She landed right in front of the farmhouse, catching sight of a pile of camping gear heaped nearby. At the sound of Dash's hooves touching earth, Applejack came out, closely followed by Apple Bloom. The latter had a few spare canteens dangling from her mouth, the straps clamped in her teeth.

“Howdy, Rainbow,” said Applejack. “Glad you could join us. Only fifteen minutes late, too—shoot, that's almost on time for you.”

“Hi, AJ,” said Dash. “Scootaloo here yet?”

“Yeah, but I'll be darned if I remember where I seen her last. Hey, Apple Bloom, where'd Scoot get off to?”

Apple Bloom dropped the extra canteens onto the pile of supplies and answered, “She's up in my room, still gettin' a few things together. She'll be down in a minute. Oh, and Rainbow Dash, I'm supposed to tell you that Scoot wants to talk to you.”

“About what?” said Rainbow.

Apple Bloom only shook her head. “I ain't allowed to say what. Scootaloo just wants to talk to you.”

“Well, go get her, and we can get this show on the road,” said Applejack.

“Can do, sis,” said Apple Bloom. She went back into the house.

Once she was gone, Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack. “Do you have any idea what Scootaloo wants to talk about?”

“Not a one,” said Applejack. “They wouldn't tell me any more than you got.”

“Do you think it's about… you know… filly stuff?”

“You bet your sweet flank it's about filly stuff.”

“Oh great.”

Just then, Apple Bloom reappeared with Scootaloo in tow. Scootaloo dashed over and greeted Rainbow with a hug.

“Hey, squirt,” Rainbow said, hugging her back. “What'd you need to talk about?”

“Oh, um… it's nothing important… not really… but do you think it could wait 'til we go to sleep tonight? We're sharing a tent again, right?”

“Yeah, definitely,” said Rainbow. Her mind raised a red flag. If Scootaloo was being this cagey about what she wanted to talk about, it was absolutely, one-hundred-twenty-percent filly stuff.

“Alright, y'all,” Applejack called to them. “We got a bit of a hike ahead of us, and the day ain't gettin' any longer. Let's stop chattin' and get trottin'.”

All the campers picked up their gear and followed Applejack.

After a few hours of hiking, none of them were much worse for the wear. Applejack and Apple Bloom had been toughened by years of farm work, Dash had to be in top physical condition for the Wonderbolts, and Scootaloo had her own ways of keeping in shape. They walked through a thick belt of woods, the very first touches of fall color beginning to play on the branches. The colors were beautiful, but they filled Rainbow Dash with regret; the Bolts had a performance the exact same day as the Running of the Leaves.

Applejack must have caught Dash's thoughts, because she remarked, “Remember the first time we did the Running of the Leaves together, Rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Do I? I still have a scar on my foreleg where you bit me.” She held up the limb in evidence.

Applejack looked and shook her head. “It is hard not to let competition take you over, ain't it?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash suddenly stopped. “Speaking of which, who wants to race me to the top of this hill?” She pointed to the crest of a ridge about fifty yards in front of them.

“Me!” Scootaloo said, falling in beside Rainbow on their impromptu starting line.

“Count me in, I guess,” Applejack said, taking her place alongside the other competitors. “But no wings!” she added, with a hard look at Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, yeah,” said Rainbow.

“Come on, Apple Bloom,” said Scootaloo eagerly.

“Alright,” said Apple Bloom, and took her place.

“You do the honors, Dash,” said Applejack.

“Ready...” said Rainbow Dash, “set… go!”

All four took off as fast as their hooves would go. Rainbow got off to an early lead, and was immensely pleased with herself. She was already three-quarters of the way there, and saw no signs of Scootaloo, Applejack, or Apple Bloom. She was just mentally crowning herself victorious, when she heard hooves coming up behind her. Rainbow gritted her teeth and put on an extra burst of speed. Still, a split second later, a flash of orange in her peripheral vision told her that Applejack was trying to pull ahead. Rainbow ran harder, and chanced a glance to her right to see how Applejack was doing. She saw that the farmer was ahead by a nose, and willed herself faster. This, in turn, made Applejack pump her legs faster. Both racers threw themselves at the crest of the hill.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom ran over the ridge a few seconds later to find Applejack looking smug and Rainbow Dash looking shamefaced. Both went to their respective sisters.

“What's wrong?” Scootaloo asked Rainbow.

“Applejack… won.”

“Oh, she… she did?”

Rainbow Dash nodded, her face deadly serious. She turned her gaze from Scootaloo to the mare who'd vanquished her. “I want a rematch!” she yelled.

“Now, nopony likes a sore loser, Dash,” said Applejack. “Besides, I think it's about time we set up camp for the night, anyway, and this here hilltop looks like as good a place as any.”

Rainbow looked around. Of course, she hadn't been paying attention, but the sun was fast approaching the western horizon, casting everything in a golden glow. They would need to set up camp, and this hilltop was flat, and had a nice thicket of oak trees for firewood.

“Fine,” said Rainbow obstinately, “but I get a rematch tomorrow, on the way to the next campsite.”

“I look forward to it,” Applejack said with a grin. “Now, we don't wanna waste what daylight we have left. Bloom, Scoots, y'all go gather up some firewood for us. Me and Rainbow'll work on gettin' the tents set up.”

The two fillies nodded and set off together. Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, groaning.

“AJ,” she said, “what exactly was the point of me getting the Weather Office to reschedule two showers, if you're just gonna make us put up tents anyway?”

“Can't be too careful,” said Applejack. “You know as well as I do, way out here, the weather don't always do what the pegasi want it to.”

Rainbow couldn't do anything but grumble, because she knew Applejack had a point. She hated it when that happened.

“See, I told you,” Applejack went on. “Now, be a good little filly and hand me that hammer.”

They worked for around ten minutes. Not that much work, all told, but in Rainbow Dash's mind, it was still all but pointless. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo returned not long after with a hefty supply of firewood. They'd been able to do it so easily, they explained, because there was a downed tree not far from their campsite. Rather than having to search the ground for dead twigs littered here and there, they'd simply broken what they needed off of the dead tree.

In a few minutes, they had a roaring fire going. All four ponies sat on the ground in a circle around the flames, and Rainbow Dash brought out the hay-dogs for them to share. As they roasted them on long sticks, they all talked of nothing in particular, and all the while, the sun sank. The rosy gray of dusk gave way to the velvet purple-black of night. The firelight was now very bright in the darkness, flickering off their faces and casting shifting shadows.

They'd all finished their hay-dogs, and were starting to roast marshmallows, when Rainbow decided it was high time she dipped into her fresh stash of spooky stories. She rummaged in her saddlebag, which was on the ground beside her, and grabbed the tome of scary tales.

“Hey, squirt,” she said in a low voice, holding up the book so Scootaloo could see. “Ready for something scary?”

“Totally!” said Scootaloo.

“You'll be okay listening to them, won't you?”

“Of course I will, Rainbow Dash,” she said. “Our last camping trip was years ago, remember?”

“Yeah, I know. I just wanted to be sure.”

“No worries,” said Scootaloo. “You remember I said I wanted to talk to you, though, right?”

“Sure, kid, we'll get to it,” said Rainbow Dash. Then, to the group at large, “Listen up, everypony! Time for the most awesome scary stories ever! Gather round!”

“We are gathered round, genius,” said Applejack.

“Now, for our first chilling tale,” said Rainbow, as though Applejack hadn't spoken. “It's called 'A Nightmare on Stirrup Street.'”

“But that's in Ponyville!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said together.

“It most certainly is,” said Rainbow Dash, with her most theatrical evil laugh.

“It does not say Stirrup Street!” said Applejack.

“Yes, it does,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Let me see that dang book.” Applejack lunged and made a grab for the book, but Rainbow Dash took to her wings, out of Applejack's reach.

“It does so say Stirrup Street, Applejack,” said Rainbow, sticking out her tongue. “That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.”

“Whatever,” said Applejack, sitting back down.

Rainbow floated cautiously back to earth, half-expecting Applejack to make another attempt to snatch the book. Applejack remained seated, however, and Rainbow Dash went on with her story.

“Once upon a time, in the little town of Ponyville,” she read, “there was a quiet little lane called Stirrup Street...”

Rainbow Dash, with her usual grace and storytelling prowess, managed to thrill the fillies and irritate Applejack. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gasped and screamed in all the right places, feeding Dash's narrative flow. Applejack picked holes in the story in all the wrong places, sometimes ruining a big reveal Rainbow had been building up to. So it went in a kind of battle—Scootaloo and Apple Bloom propping up her story, and Applejack tearing it down.

Fortunately, it seemed to Rainbow Dash that she and the fillies came out on the winning side of the battle. She was able to bring “A Nightmare On Stirrup Street” to a satisfying conclusion, anyway, and that so encouraged her that she dove right into a second story. All the while, the moon climbed higher, and the fire burned lower.

Rainbow was in the middle of a particularly grisly scene when she felt a tap on her side. “What is it, Scootaloo?”

“It's just… I'm getting pretty sleepy,” said Scootaloo. “And you promised we'd talk before we went to bed.”

“I'll be right there,” said Dash. “Just let me finish this story.”

“Okay,” said Scootaloo. “I'll be in the tent.”

“Yeah, sure,” said Rainbow Dash. “Now where was I? Oh, yeah! The killer has her trapped in the pantry.”

“Uh, Rainbow, don't you think you should go with her?” said Applejack.

“She'll be fine, AJ,” Rainbow said. “Besides, Apple Bloom wants to hear the end of the story, don't you?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“See, Applejack,” Rainbow interrupted. “We wouldn't want to disappoint your little sister.”

“Ain't you missin' the point, Dash?” said Applejack.

“Nope, I don't think so,” said Rainbow. “Now, she's trapped in the pantry...”

Rainbow talked for half an hour more. She was so wrapped up in the story, she didn't notice she'd lost her audience. Both Applejack and Apple Bloom spent more time staring at the tent Scootaloo had gone into than at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was too busy relishing each gore-soaked scene of her book.

When Rainbow Dash finished her story, she finally became aware of a disconcerting lack of screams. “What gives, guys?” she said.

“Oh, sorry, Rainbow,” said Apple Bloom, still looking at Dash and Scootaloo's tent. “I… I guess I heard that one before, after all.”

“I think it's time you get to bed, young filly,” said Applejack.

“Sure thing. Night, everypony,” Apple Bloom said.

“Night, Apple Bloom,” said Rainbow Dash.

“G'night. Love you,” said Applejack.

“Love you, too,” said Apple Bloom, and she crawled into her and Applejack's tent.

“You might want to go check on Scoot,” said Applejack to Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, I guess,” said Dash.

She got up from her seat by the fire—which by this time was little more than a pile of glowing ashes—and went to her tent. Rainbow poked her head inside. In the dimness inside the tent, she saw the small form of Scootaloo, curled up in her sleeping bag. Scootaloo's breathing was deep and even.

“Psst, Scoot,” Rainbow whispered.

Scootaloo didn't stir.

“Scootaloo,” Dash tried once more, a little louder.

When Scootaloo didn't respond, Rainbow Dash backed out of the tent, and made her way back to the fireside. Applejack was still sitting there.

“She's asleep,” said Rainbow.

“Thought so,” said Applejack.

They fell into silence for a while. Both stared into the pulsing orange glow of the fire's embers. The furtive night noises of the wood crept in around them. Small scurries disturbed the underbrush. Owls hooted to each other, and a whoosh of feathers told them when one took wing. At the very edge of hearing, a timberwolf howled.

Applejack heaved a mighty sigh.

“What?” said Rainbow.

“Nothin',” said Applejack. “Just thinkin', I guess.”

“About what?”

“Scootaloo.”

“What about her?”

“Dash, I...” Applejack stammered. “I really, really don't mean no offense by this, but sometimes, well… sometimes I think you oughta try to be a better sister to her.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“I don't wanna fight with you, Rainbow.”

“Well, it sure as hay sounds like you do.”

“Now look here,” said Applejack, punctuating her sentence with a kick to the dirt. “You asked what I was thinkin' about, and I gave you my honest answer. That's kinda my thing, you know.”

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “Okay, fine, just… I don't know what you mean. I mean, I help Scoots practice tricks on her scooter, I bring her to as many Bolts shows as I possibly can, I'm still helping her build up her wing strength...”

“And all that stuff is part of being a good sister, but it's not the only thing that matters. You get so caught up in what's 'cool,' Dash, that you plumb forget that a lot of stuff fillies do is just plain 'uncool.'”

“Right, so if it's not cool, why should I worry about it?”

“Didn't you learn nothin' that time Twi was freakin' out about not sending a letter to Princess Celestia?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“If you remember,” said Applejack patiently, “we all figured out that just because something don't seem like a big deal—or in this case, don't seem 'cool'—that doesn't mean it ain't important.

“Like one time—” Applejack broke off, looking behind her at the tent Apple Bloom had gone into. She continued in a lower voice, “Apple Bloom'd kill me if she knew I told what I'm about to tell you, so don't you say anything, okay?”

Rainbow nodded. “Sure.”

“Anyway, this one time, Apple Bloom wet herself at school. This was when she was real little, mind. But the teacher helped her clean up, and she finished out the day—even back then, she was a tough little thing.

“Now, I didn't find all this out 'til she got home. She came in, lookin' pretty much normal, and she just said she wanted to talk to me. You know I have a chore list a country mile long, but I took the time and went up to her room with her.

“And you know what? As soon as that door closed behind us, she started bawlin' her little eyes out. She told me she held in those tears all day at school, but she just couldn't no more. She told me the whole story, and about how some of the foals in her class started makin' fun of her. But even then, she said she didn't wanna keep me from my chores, but she didn't know who else to tell.”

“What about Granny Smith or Big Mac?” said Rainbow.

“Rainbow, I never even had a big sister, and I still know there's just some things that's easier to talk about between sisters. When I was a little filly, there were things I'd tell Big Macintosh that I never told Granny Smith. That's just how siblings work. I guess growin' up an only foal means you missed most of that.”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow.

“But you see what I’m drivin' at, don't you, Dash?” said Applejack. “Do you really think I wanted to take the time to listen to a story about Apple Bloom peein' on herself? Shoot, no.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because that's what family—and friends—do. I saw Apple Bloom needed me, and I put everything else aside. Now, Apple Bloom and I could both see that Scootaloo needed you earlier. Why do you think you didn't see it?”

“Duh, because I was too into my awesome story.”

“Well, awesome is a matter of opinion.” Applejack chuckled. “But other than that, you're right on. You get so caught up in what you're doing, or what's cool, that you can't see what's goin' on with anypony else.”

“I don't mean to,” said Rainbow.

“I never said you meant to,” said Applejack. “Really, I ain't even saying that being able to focus only on yourself is always a bad thing. Just sometimes, you take it to extremes, Dash.”

“So… what?” said Rainbow. “Should I wake up Scoots so we can talk?”

“I wouldn't go that far, but I think you oughta make time in the morning to talk to her. I'll even keep Bloom busy so y'all two can get off by yourselves for a little while. But for now, I think we can just let Scootaloo get some shut-eye. And speaking of shut-eye, this little talk took us longer than I thought. Even us grown ponies need to get some sleep, if we're gonna make an early start tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right,” said Rainbow Dash. “Thanks for the advice, AJ, and sorry I got mad at first.”

“Ain't no trouble,” said Applejack, getting up from her place by the fire.

Rainbow got to her hooves as well. “Good night,” she said, and started walking to her tent.

“Night, Rainbow,” Applejack answered.

“Oh, and Applejack?” Rainbow said, right before going inside the tent.

“Yes, Dash?”

“I still want a rematch tomorrow.”

The morning air was cool, crisp, and heavy with dew. All four campers had awoken somewhat later than intended, but still plenty early. The sun was just beginning to brighten the chill gray of dawn into the pale blue of day. Each camper was chewing their breakfast, a large granny smith apple (which were actually Applejack's favorite—besides the pony the name brought to mind, she loved the tangy bite of the fruit). Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash stood a little apart from the others, Rainbow with Twilight's bug book tucked under one wing.

“Why can't I go with Scoots and Rainbow?” Apple Bloom was saying, as she and Applejack drowned any remaining coals in the fire.

“I already told you, today's gonna be a sister-day,” said Applejack. “Rainbow and Scoot are gonna go catch some bugs, and me and you are gonna go on a hike together.”

Apple Bloom sighed. “Fine. I guess.”

“See you guys later,” Rainbow Dash called from across the clearing. “You ready?” she said to Scootaloo.

“Totally,” Scootaloo said.

They turned and walked into the trees. Sunlight dappled down onto them through the leaves, and dead forest debris crunched under their hooves. They walked without a word for a few minutes.

Finally, Scootaloo said, “You know, Rainbow, we might have more luck finding some bugs if you actually open the book.”

“Yeah, about that, squirt… I didn't really bring you out here to go bug-hunting.”

Scootaloo just gave Rainbow Dash a blank look.

“I mean, we can still go bug-hunting, if you want,” said Rainbow, “but mostly I wanted to say sorry about last night. I should've stopped the story sooner so I could come in and talk with you. I just wasn't thinking.”

“That's okay,” said Scootaloo. “It isn't important, anyway.”

“No, it is,” said Rainbow. “You're my little sister, and whatever you have to say is important to me. What was it you wanted to talk about, by the way?”

“Um… just stuff… you know...”

“Gonna have to be a little more specific than that, kid.”

“Okay, well… do you think we could find somewhere to sit down?”

Scootaloo saw Rainbow's eyes flick upward for a second, then Dash said, “Sure.”

All at once, Rainbow grabbed Scootaloo around the middle, lifted her, and flew up. They soared up into the canopy of the trees, and among the cool green foliage, Rainbow Dash found the two of them a suitable perch on a tree limb. She placed Scootaloo on the branch first, then settled herself down.

“Alright,” said Rainbow, as they both looked down at the tops of several shorter trees, “found us a cool place to sit, didn't I? Now spill.”

“Okay, see… well… do you remember the first pony you kissed? The first pony who wasn't your mom or dad, I mean.”

“Oh,” said Rainbow, “sure I do. It was Fluttershy, actually.”

“Fluttershy?”

“It's not what you think. We were having this dance at flight camp, and a colt asked her to go. She said yes, but she was terrified that he'd try to kiss her. I tried everything I could to calm her down, and in the end, I offered to, you know… practice with her. Just so she could see it wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be.”

“Okay, but… who was the first pony you kissed that you actually liked?”

Rainbow didn't know how to answer this at first. She remained silent for a long while—so long, in fact, that Scootaloo got impatient.

“Rainbow?” she said. “Hello?”

“Alright, I'll tell you, but if you laugh, I kill you. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“It was actually later that night at the dance. None of the colts had asked me, but I tagged along with Fluttershy and her date. When we got there, a colt asked me to dance. I think you probably know him. It was Bulk Biceps.”

“Bulk Biceps?” said Scootaloo. Her voice sounded perilously close to giggles.

“Remember: you laugh, I kill you,” said Rainbow. “Anyway, I'd seen him around, you know, and he was nice enough, so I thought I'd let him dance with me for a little while.”

“I can't believe it,” said Scootaloo.

“Well, it's true,” said Rainbow Dash. “By the way, you, Fluttershy, and Gilda are the only ones that know about this. Gilda's too far away to say anything, and I swore Fluttershy to secrecy. So this story just stays between us, got it?”

“Got it.”

“Good. Now, you and I both know Bulk Biceps can be a bit of a dope, but that night… I don't know, he was being kinda cool.” Rainbow's face went pink. “Plus he wasn't quite as dopey as usual. Before I knew it, one thing led to another, and we… kissed.”

“Wow,” said Scootaloo, “so… um… did he kiss you, or did you kiss him?”

“I kissed him.”

“But how did you know you wanted to kiss him?”

“Gosh, Scoot, that was a long time ago. Let me think...” Rainbow was silent for a few minutes, then she continued, “I don't know if I ever really knew, exactly. I was just dancing with him you know, and he looked kinda cool, and I though it might be fun to try kissing sompony who wasn't Fluttershy. So I just went for it.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“And what was it like?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno, I guess about what you'd expect it to be like. I remember his mouth really tasted like fruit punch.”

“But was it fun?”

“I guess you could say it was. I mean, I kissed other colts and stallions after that, so it's not like I hate it. I think I already know the answer to this question, but why are you asking me all this, Scoot?”

“You know Featherweight, right?”

“Pegasus colt, kinda skinny, messy mane?”

“Right. Well, me and him went to get milkshakes together a couple times, and I think I'm starting to like him. I think I might wanna kiss him.”

“So kiss him,” said Rainbow.

“But I'm nervous,” said Scootaloo.

“Well, what are you nervous about? You sound like Fluttershy.”

“I mean, what if I do it wrong or something?” Scootaloo said. “Or what if he doesn't want to kiss me back?”

“Well, as for doing it wrong, I don't think you have to worry about that,” said Rainbow. “As long as you got the basic idea, I think you'll be fine. And he'll want to kiss you back—I don't think any colt that age spends time with a filly if he's not at least thinking about kissing her. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure lots of other colts do. You're almost as awesome as me, Scoot, and that's saying something.”

Scootaloo chuckled. “Okay, I guess I'll give it a try. Apple Bloom said basically the same thing when I told her.”

Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo's mane, grinning. “That's what I like to hear. Ponies kiss every day. I've seen you do a 720 double back-flip on your scooter; after that, one little kiss should be nothing.”

Scootaloo shuffled along the tree limb and gave Rainbow a quick hug. “You're the best, Rainbow Dash. Now, can we go on our bug-hunt? I really was looking forward to it.”

“Sure thing.”

Rainbow Dash once more picked Scootaloo up and took to the air. Once they were on the ground, Scootaloo took the bug book and set to work picking out a nasty specimen for them to hunt down. Watching her little sister with a smile, Rainbow made a mental note to cancel her rematch with Applejack, as a way of thanking her for her help; Rainbow figured letting Applejack think she was the fastest mare at the campsite was repayment enough. Rainbow Dash was still sure that she was the best big sister anypony could ask for, but even the best big sister could take advice now and again.