Summer of Endless Rainfall

Rarity was doing her usual work in the boutique when she heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Hey, Rarity. It's me, Scootaloo."

"Is everything alright, darling?"

"Not yet."

"Come in, dear. The door's open."

Scootaloo entered the workplace and home of the white unicorn.

"What's the matter?"

"I need you to call everyone over here; Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom too."

"Whatever for?"

"We need to talk about what happened."

"Dear, I don't know if this is a good time..."

"It's okay, Rarity. I'm not upset. Yeah, i was hurt, but there was obviously something about me that scared you. I just want the truth. That's all."

"...I can't fool you can I?"

"You don't have to. Just get everyone here so it can all come out."

"...Alright."

After a little while had gone by, everyone had amassed at the boutique. Rarity had changed the sign to closed so they could talk without any interruptions. Even Pinkie wasn't her usual self. She was taciturn while waiting for the conversation to begin.

"Listen guys, I'm not really sure what happened a few weeks ago. I just want you to tell me."

At first, everyone was reluctant to say anything. Then, finally, Rarity began speaking.

"When you came to us, we noticed something was very strange. Your attitude and look were different than anything we've ever seen from you before. We were wary of this change. What's even stranger is the way you talk now. Aside from Sweetie and Apple Bloom, you're half all our ages, but you speak about things in a way someone older and wiser than us would. What you told us was very disturbing. We've known you our whole lives, and we never knew you didn't have a place to call home."

"That's what was bothering you?"

"Well, yes."

"There are two reasons for that."

"What are they?"

"I picked up a lot of words around town, and the guy I'm staying with right now helped me understand how to use some of them better. I look like this because he bought me some clothes for colder weather. I'm pretty sure you've noticed how rainy and cold it is."

"It wasn't the design that bothered us so much as the color."

"The color black bothers you guys?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Well...That color is commonly associated with...Death..."

"You were scared my clothes had something to do with death?"

Rarity nodded.

"Well, you're sort of right, but not in the way you think."

Rarity gave her a confused look.

"Black is a color metalheads wear a lot."

"Metalheads, dear?"

"Metalheads are ponies and other creatures that listen to a type of music called heavy metal. There are lots of styles of metal. The hoodie i'm wearing right now is designed after a band that mixes two of those styles; Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore."

"So that's what you meant. Now I understand. What about actual death, though?"

"The color has nothing to do with it. I'm not sure why you think that. It's kind of silly."

"To be honest, we're not sure either. It's a superstition, and I guess we fell victim to it."

"Do you guys feel better, now?"

Rarity stared at her friends. Their expressions turned to smiles.

"Yes. thank you for explaining. You're welcome here anytime."

"Thanks, and listen, I know you guys are starting to feel new things you haven't before. If you need to talk about it, just come to us."

"Aren't you going to stay with one of us, darling?"

"No. The guy I'm with right now needs my help. He's in pretty bad shape."

"Is he hurt?"

"No. He's in a really bad place in his head right now. He had to bring up some bad memories to help me out. Now I have to help him and someone else; a friend that went to school with me, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom."

"Okay. we understand."

"You want to hang out soon, Scoots," Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah. We miss you," Sweetie Belle concurred.

"We can hang out anytime. I'm in the last house on the edge of town. I miss you guys too."

Scootaloo hugged her two closest friends.

"You should probably go home. You don't want him to get worried," Rarity told her.

"Yeah."

"You want me to walk you home, kid," Rainbow Dash asked.

"No. He doesn't really like talking to ponies he doesn't know. Besides..."

Scootaloo began flapping her wings slowly, and she started to lift off the ground.

"I learned a new trick."

"You never cease to amaze me."

"I learned from the best."

Rainbow smiled at the remark.

"Bye, guys. I'll see you later."

Everyone said their goodbyes, and Scootaloo was off.

"Hey, kiddo. How'd it go?"

"Pretty good. I'm going to see Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom soon. We haven't really hung out much since break started."

"Are you gonna' stay with any of them?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because someone needs me. I can't let him down."

"Who's that?"

"You haven't figured it out? He's standing right in front of me."

"Wait...You mean..."

Scootaloo nodded.

"...Woah..."

"You were right. This world can be mean and cruel. That's why there's us, right?"

"I don't really know what to say. It means a lot that you care enough to stick around."

"You would do the same for me, wouldn't you?"

"...Yeah...Yeah, I would..."

Scootaloo went up to Harmonic and hugged him. She closed her eyes.

"You helped me. Now it's my turn."

"It could take our whole lives before I get better. Do you think you're up for it?"

"I know I am."

"I think you are too."

"I'm a little sleepy."

"Hold on for a minute. I'll get the bed ready for you."

Harmonic let go of the weary child.

"Scootaloo."

"Hm?"

"Thank you...For everything..."

"Yeah...You too..."