The Derpy I Know And Love Volume 4: And The Children Shall Lead

Diamond headed toward Sweet Apple Acres at a happy trot, by the time she got to the clubhouse, she was at a full gallop, she was that excited. When she got near, she could hear her friends inside. At the door, for one moment, she paused, fearing what her friends might say. But she remembered what she’d said at the sleepover;

‘I know if I had a pony to love, I’d not act like I had to hide it from everypony.’

Diamond braced herself and rushed in the clubhouse.

“Fillies! Fillies! I need to tell you all something!” she said, afraid to pause and lose her nerve.

All stopped talking to pay attention.

Then she looked Sweetie Belle in the eyes.

“I need to tell you something in particular.”

All were looking at Diamond; Silver Spoon had an odd smirk on her face.

“Yes!” said Diamond, wanting to jump up and down.

“Yes?” said Sweetie Belle, hoping she was hearing what she wanted to hear.

“Yes, what?” asked Dinky.

“Yes Sweetie Belle, I want to be your marefriend because I love you!”

“I love you too! I’ve wanted to tell you,” said Sweetie Belle

With that, Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle kissed passionately, not caring what pony was looking.

“Too cool!” said Scootaloo, forgetting for the moment the bad news Rainbow had told her.

They broke the kiss, all smiles.

“I really did have something to tell the rest of you ponies,” said Diamond, still with a foreleg around Sweetie Belle, “my father is the reason it looks like Scootaloo won’t be adopted. He said that mare-lovers have no place around decent ponies!”

Gasps all around.

“Well I’m going home now to tell dad I love Sweetie Belle, and we’ve been seeing a lot of each other. And if it makes me a mare-lover, then I’m okay with it and I guess I’ll be moving out... Tonight!” Then turning to Sweetie Belle, “I’d really like it if you’d come with me. I’ll need somepony to help me pack, that’s if they let me take my things. But more than that, I need a pony to support me.”

Sweetie hugged Diamond;

“I’ll go with you and do what ever you need. I’ll always be there because I love you and I’ll stand by you no matter what,” said Sweetie Belle, then she gave Diamond a quick kiss.

“We’re going too, we might not love you like Sweetie Belle,” said Silver Spoon with a giggle, “but we stand with our friends.”

“Just don’t expect us to kiss you too,” said Scootaloo.

All the fillies laughed and cheered. Diamond told them they had to stop by the library to pick something up.

They arrived at the library to find Twilight, Muffins, Rainbow, Pinkie, AJ, and Rarity along with two ponies in police uniforms waiting outside for them. Rainbow had went to get the police officers. Muffins had said ‘this is a matter of the law and they should be there if it needs to be enforced’.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” asked Twilight.

“Most certainly, Mrs. Sparkle,” said Diamond.

“Then here is the paper you wanted signed by the third highest authority in the land, Lady Twilight Sparkle, in the name of the highest authority, Princess Celestia Rex.” Said Twilight, “this normally takes days or weeks for investigation, but with his past history, there’s no doubt in my pony mind what you say is the truth. Especially with the evidence of the Scootaloo adoption letter Rainbow and Pinkie received. Oh, and if your father does anything with the paper, I made a couple of copies.”

“Thank you, now if you’ll excuse us, we have somewhere to go.” Said Diamond with a smile, knowing that things were starting to go her way.

“Oh no, you’re not going alone.” Said Rarity with a wink, “we’re going too. If there’s trouble, well, we mare-lovers have to stick together.”

“Hey! That’s my line! I’m the only REAL mare-lover here,” said Rainbow Dash with a grin.

When they all got to the Rich Mansion, Diamond told every pony she want to go in with Sweetie Belle first; she wanted a chance to come clean about their relationship. If that didn’t change his mind about things then she’d let them know if she needed help.

Filthy Rich heard the door open and close. Diamond should’ve been home by now; she was going to get it.

“Diamond, is that you?”

“Yes, I’m home, and I’m not alone,” said Diamond.

Filthy came in the front room to see Diamond and one of her friends, Sweetie Belle, Rarity Apple’s sister.

“I thought I told you that I didn’t want you hanging out with this one and the other mare-lovers’ sisters and daughters.” Said Filthy, trying to be as intimidating as he could.

But he could tell that it didn’t appear to be working.

“I know what you said daddy. But I also heard something else you said and that’s why Sweetie is here to help me.”

“Help you what?” said Filthy, not sure what his daughter was saying.

“I’m moving out,” said the filly.

“And what makes you think you could do that?”

He got his answer in a most unexpected way.

Diamond and Sweetie Belle embraced, then they kissed with all the passion they were feeling in their souls after letting their friends know the truth.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOUNG FILLY!” screamed Filthy. “YOU GET TO YOUR ROOM, I’LL DEAL WITH YOU IN A MOMENT, AFTER I THROW THIS ONE OUT!”

“You’ll do no such thing, and you can’t tell me what to do anymore!” Said Diamond defiantly.

“I’ll show you who can do what!” said Filthy.

Filthy looked as if he was going to get physical. Sweetie Belle’s horn took on an ominous green glow, Filthy didn’t miss it.

“Before you do anything you’ll regret, I’ve ten ponies outside waiting to hear from me. And two police officers.” Said Diamond.

“What’s gotten into you,” said Filthy starting to back down.

“You threw me out, so I got my friends to help me move.”

“When did I throw you out?”

“You said that mare-lovers had no place around decent ponies and if you could you’d throw all of them out of Equestria,” replied Diamond. “I’m in love with Sweetie Belle, she’s in love with me, and for some time now. But we’ve had to hide it like it was something dirty or illegal because of your outdated attitude. I love her for who she is, not because she’s a filly, but if it makes us mare-lovers, then we can live with it as long as we have each other.”

“You can’t go, I won’t let you.” Said Filthy, starting to regret his stance.

“As I told you, you no longer have any say,” replied Diamond.

Sweetie Belle levitated the Emancipation Order to Filthy. He read it and read it again.

“What is it Dear?” said Spoiled Rich, Diamond’s mom. She was standing in the kitchen doorway. She was holding a little foal.

“Just go back in there,” said Filthy, “I’m handling this.”

“No,” she said, looking like she’d never said it to him before. “I want to know why I just heard you’ve thrown our daughter out.”

“I’ve done no such thing,” said Filthy, his iron control of his family falling apart before his eyes.

“I love Sweetie Belle, but that makes us mare-lovers, according to him. So I’m not welcome. He said mare-lovers have no place around decent ponies.

Plus he’s blocking one of our best friends from being adopted just because he doesn’t like Rainbow and Pinkie Dash’s lifestyle. He says they’re unfit only because of who they love.”

“Pinkie Dash, unfit?” said Spoiled. “Why, she’s the sweetest and most loving mare in all Equestria! And Rainbow Dash is a very important pony; she’s in charge of Ponyville’s weather, and a hard and honest worker. Not to mention they’ve helped save Equestria several times.

I think it’s you that’s unfit for your position on the Children’s Home Board.”

“But Diamond has an Emancipation Order,” said Filthy, grasping at straws as he was feeling the last of his authority totally disappearing.

“And I don’t blame her,” answered Diamond’s mother looking at the order, “didn’t you go through this when Diamond got into that fight? Didn’t you get put in your place, when Twilight Sparkle came to the aid of our daughter? She inform you what she was able to do. Now it looks like you’ve brought that power down on you.

I’d do a reality check on what you think once more. If you cause us to lose our daughter, instead of gaining this adorable little filly as a fillyfriend for our Diamond, then I think it’ll be you who gets the Emancipation Order.

Or better yet, perhaps I could get Twilight Sparkle to send you back to Tartarus...

Permanently this time!"

A look of fear crossed Filthy's face, remembering just the few moments Twilight had sent him there.

“Marefriend, mother,” said Diamond with a smile.

“You’re right, I don’t think you’re children anymore.” Said Spoiled. “You’ve acted like adults more a certain adult in this very room.”

“Our friends and their parents and sisters are outside waiting to hear from us,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Invite them in, they’ll want to hear it from Filthy’s own muzzle it’s all been a big misunderstanding and he’s not going to block the adoption.” Said Spoiled, glaring at Filthy, “and if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll be expediting it. I’m sure he can have it ready by tomorrow morning.”

Sweetie and Diamond went to the door and looked out at the ponies on the lawn.

"Come in everypony," said Diamond, "my daddy has something he'd like to say."

Sweetie and Diamond looked at each other, smiled and kissed unashamed in front of their friends and the adults.

Pinkie, Rainbow and Scootaloo looked at each other, there was hope and joy on their faces.

Murmurs of delight and approval was heard from the gathered ponies as the entered the Rich house.

The next day, Rainbow and Pinkie were in the office of the Ponyville Children’s Home. Candy Mane was all smiles as she witnessed the final signing of the adoption papers. Pinkie had just finished.

“That’s all,” said Candy Mane, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an adoption go through as fast before.”

“I guess having recommendations from three princesses helped.” Said Rainbow, knowing the real reason. But this wasn’t the place to go into it.

“Scootaloo is in the hall, saying goodbye to her room mates. She’s been packed for days.”

“Thank you, Candy Mane.” Said Pinkie, “we’ll make sure that Scootaloo stays in touch with the children.”

Pinkie levitated their copy of the paperwork and the two ponies exited into the hall.

Scootaloo was out there waiting, her eyes about to bulge out of her head with excitement. She was trembling with excitement.

“Well Squirt,” said Rainbow, kidding, “you sure you don’t want to stay here? You’ve got it pretty sweet, all the roommates you want, no parents telling you what to do. Not having to worry about birthday or Hearth Warming presents. And government employees controlling your life. Makes me want to move in here myself!”

Pinkie almost couldn’t hold in the laughter.

“Are you kidding! This is a dream come true! I have a real home! I have real parents! And they’re ponies I’ve loved for a very long time.

I told you once, Rainbow, I wanted you to be like my big sister, this is even better! I have you and Pinkie as my mothers!” then Scootaloo paused, her face lit up even more as a thought hit her;

“Is it okay if I call you two ‘mom’? I never really had a mom.”

Rainbow and Pinkie both hugged Scoot.

“Of course you can Honey,” said Pinkie, Rainbow nodded consent.

Despite Rainbow and Scootaloo trying to be cool about it, there were tears of joy in all three ponies’ eyes.

“Come on Scootaloo Dash, let’s go home.” Said Rainbow.

“Not before we stop at Sugarcube Corner for a treat,” said Pinkie, “I think our daughter deserves it,”

Scootaloo thought her face was going to rip from smiling so hard. ‘Scootaloo Dash’! ‘Daughter’! Could life be any better?

They walked outside where Scoot’s bags were waiting. Pinkie winked at Scootaloo, her eyes glowed yellow, the bags disappeared.

“We didn’t want to carry them all the way” giggled Pinkie. “Why don’t you two go ahead, I’ll meet you there.”

Scootaloo and Rainbow looked at each other. They spread their wings and took off. Scootaloo had always felt exhilaration when flying with Rainbow, but this was greater because she was flying with her new mother, and she loved it. She looked over at Rainbow only to see Rainbow looking at her. They both exchanged smiles.

On landing at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie was waiting there.

“But… How?” asked Scootaloo.

“Get used to it. She could do that before she learned magic,” smiled Rainbow.

Pinkie kissed Rainbow and then she kissed Scootaloo a mother type kiss. Scoot liked the feeling of having parents who cared for her and loved her.

“Get inside you two slow-pokes,” said Pinkie. Scootaloo and Rainbow cringed at the designation of ‘slow-poke’, but they couldn’t argue, Pinkie got there first.

They entered Sugarcube Corner the lights were off, they came on to a thunderous;

“SURPRISE!”

The place was decorated with party trimmings and a large banner that read:

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME SCOOTALOO DASH

All of her five close friends and other friends from school were there. As were Miss Cheerilee and her new fiancé Big Mac. There was Lyra and Bon-Bon Heartstrings, Twilight, Muffins and Dawn Sparkle, Applejack and Rarity Apple along with other ponies from the community. There were a set of ponies off to the side that Scootaloo didn’t recognize.

“Let’s introduce the rest of your new family,” said Pinkie.

They led Scootaloo over the unknown ponies.

“Scootaloo, this is your new grandmother and grandfather, Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz Pie, your new aunts Maud, Limestone and Marble,” said Pinkie introducing five Earth Ponies.

“And here’s your grandmother Windy Whistles and grandfather Bow Hothoof Dash,” said Rainbow There were two bluish Pegasus Ponies, the stallion had a Rainbow mane and tail, the mare had a dark and light striped pink mane and tail, Rainbow’s had her eyes.

There was a lot of fussing over Scootaloo, she’d never had so many ponies so glad to meet her, hug and kiss her and address her as granddaughter and niece. There was a slight issue with the way Pinkie’s parents talked, but she was able to follow enough to understand.

Scootaloo had never been the center of attention before, she was in Elysium.

They then started to mingle. A bit later, most of Scoot’s friends were all talking to her when Sweetie Belle and Diamond told her somepony wanted to talk to her and her new parents.

Diamond and Sweetie led Scootaloo, Rainbow and Pinkie over to a corner. There stood Filthy Rich, looking alone and forlorn.

“What do you want,” asked Rainbow, not very happy.

“I need to apologize,” he said looking at the floor, “I’ve been thoughtless and judgmental, without any good reason. I realize I’d been spouting ideas taught to me by my father. Out of respect to him, I’d taken him at his word without ever questing the validity of his ideas.”

“How do we know that we can trust you?” asked Pinkie.

“It took the possibility of losing my daughter, my wife and my son to make me truly think about my stance and then I realized it was I who was wrong.

I didn’t appreciate it when Twilight Sparkle helped Diamond, and I didn’t see what I was saying was hurting my daughter, now more than I’d ever realized. I was willing to deny my daughter the possibility of love with a wonderful pony, just because I was stuck in my father’s mindset.

And I was hurting Scootaloo by trying to deny her a loving home because I was so closed minded.

I know the damage is done, but I hope I can make it up to everypony somehow. I’m truly sorry.”

Rainbow could tell that Filthy meant what he was saying. Because of his attitude, she didn’t feel like she could stay as mad.

There was a moment when neither said anything.

“Thank you, and thank you for speeding up the adoption process. We’ll take you at your word you’ve changed and we’ll suspend judgment until proven otherwise. After all Scootaloo is a friend of Diamond’s so we should have a good relationship with her parents,” said Rainbow.

Rainbow did something she didn’t think she’d be doing. She offered her hoof.

Filthy Rich looked shocked and humbled and shook Rainbow’s hoof. The new little family went off to mingle but Sweetie and Diamond stayed behind.

Sweetie Belle spoke up;

“Mr. Rich, we want to do this properly, we love each other and we’re tired of hiding our relationship; so I’d like to ask your permission to take Diamond to the school dance, as my date.”

Filthy was taken aback, after the way he acted, these ponies were truly acting like they did forgive him, and as the case before him, respected him and his feelings.

“I couldn’t think of any other pony I’d want to take her, if she wants to.” Diamond nodded enthusiastically, “I see Diamond truly loves you and I believe you love her too. You stood by her when it looked like her own father wouldn’t. That’s proof enough of your love and caring, I’ll always remember it. You’re always welcome in the Rich home.”

Filthy was shocked even more when both Diamond and Sweetie hugged him.

“Thank you Mr. Rich. I’ll always be there for her,” said Sweetie Belle.

Filthy returned the hug, his heart felt better than it had for a very long time.

There were colts from the school there, and they took the opportunity to get a final commitment from some of the fillies for whom they’d let escort them. There were more than a few disappointed when they found out Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle weren’t available nor would ever be.

Sweetie and Diamond went and joined Scootaloo and the rest of their friends.

“You two look happy,” said Scootaloo.

“Daddy gave us permission to go to the dance as dates!” said Diamond Tiara.

“That’s great!” said Silver Spoon, “at least two of us have dates. None of us have accepted any offers yet.”

“And I think the colts are intimidated now they have to ask Rainbow if they can take me,” said Scootaloo.

All the fillies laughed.

“Girls,” said Rarity, coming over to them. “I’m going to have to have you come by Carousel Boutique before this weekend, if you’re wanting me to make dresses for the dance. It would help to know what colors you’d want so the colts could dress accordingly.

“Sis, about that,” said Sweetie Belle, “Mr. Rich said it was okay with him if Diamond and I go to the dance as dates. So we were wanting to know if you’d make us matching dresses?”

“I’d love to make matching dresses for you. I’ve a feeling I’ll be making matching white dresses for you in the future also.” Rarity said with a wink.

All the fillies giggled.

After the party ended, Rainbow, Pinkie and Scootaloo walked the little way to where the cloud house was hovering.

“Let’s go home kid!” said Rainbow to Scoot, then she leaped into the air, and Scootaloo followed.

As they landed at the door, Pinkie opened it from the inside for them.

“Just can’t help pulling that can you Pink,” said Rainbow, they all three laughed.

Scootaloo was shown inside, there was a guestroom Scootaloo used on some of her overnight visits. Rainbow and Pinkie led her to it. They opened the door for her and where there had been a spartanly furnished room, there was now a room decorated for an athletic teenaged filly.

There were posters of the Wonderbolts and the latest colt-bands. There were other items that glorified the arts of flying and music, obviously done by Rainbow.

But there were enough girly touches to remind the visitor it was indeed a filly who lived here, heart shaped throw pillows, pink comforter on the bed, a makeup vanity and other items which matched tastefully, obviously done by Pinkie.

“When did you get time to do this?” asked Scootaloo. “It’s a room like I’ve always wanted, my own room.”

“We started doing this when we decided to adopt you,” said Pinkie.

There were tears of joy on Scootaloo’s cheeks. She no longer cared to try to stay cool. She was home with ponies that wanted her and cared for her. Scootaloo hugged Rainbow and Pinkie.

“Thank you so much. This is all I ever wanted. You’re all I ever wanted. Parents who’re there for me.” She started to sob, “I love my new mothers so much.”

“We love you too,” said Rainbow and Pinkie together.

That evening there was much happiness and tears of joy in the Dash home.