Birds of a Feather

"Hey Gabbs, check it out!" Scootaloo yelled to her approaching friend.

The orange Pegasus rose into the air, her tiny wings buzzing as she flew forward a few feet then dropped to the ground.

"Wow Scoots! You're improving so much! Soon you'll be able to visit me in Griffonstone!" Gabby exclaimed in her usual excited tone of voice.

Ever since Gabby had first met with the Cutie Mark Crusaders she had visited often, becoming especially close to Scootaloo and making her visits to Ponyville more frequent, as Scootaloo couldn't exactly get to Griffonstone easily without flying.

"So, you wanna fly for real?" Gabby asked.

Scootaloo nodded enthusiastically, knowing what was going to happen. "Are you sure you can still carry me? We haven't done this in a while and I'm not a little filly anymore."

Gabby walked over to her, saying nothing, just grasping Scootaloo with her talons gently and taking to the sky. Scootaloo flapped her wings excitedly. They did loops, spins, and rolls through the blue sky, Gabby holding Scootaloo close and Scootaloo leaning into her warm body as wind whipped her face. Scootaloo let out a joyous yell and Gabby looked at her friend fondly. While Gabby was distracted her altitude decreased and she flew into the branches of a tall tree. As they fell Gabby held Scootaloo close, protecting her.

When she opened her wings Scootaloo was holding onto her tightly and when the pony looked up her and Gabby were nose to nose. They each looked away blushing.

"Let's, uh, go back to town..." Scootaloo suggested as she got up.

"Actually, I have some important stuff to do so I'll just go back to Griffonstone... Yea..." Gabby looked anywhere but Scootaloo's face.

"Heh... Okay. Bye Gabby!" She gave a forced smile as her friend waved back to her and flew off into the vast sky.

Back at her small home Scootaloo was pacing back and forth, thinking to herself.

Why did I blush? Why do I always feel so... good when I'm with her? Could I be? No. What would Rainbow Dash think? What would the Crusaders think? What would all of Ponyville think? What would Gabby think? It could ruin our friendship!

She shook her head to clear it. "We're just friends, she's just my friend. Nothing more." She whispered to herself.

Scootaloo collapsed on her bed, sighing and looking up at the blank ceiling. She turned onto her side and got up, exiting her house. She was going to need to talk with her friends.

Not about this though.

She trotted away to collect Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

The three young mares called a meeting in their clubhouse which was expanded to accommodate the three growing ponies.

"So, Scoots, why'd ya' ask for this meeting to be held?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well, you see, I just really needed to talk to somepony right now... And ask some questions." Scootaloo answered.

"Ask away!" Sweetie Belle responded.

"Well uh..." Scootaloo hesitated, "What does it feel like to really like someone?"

Their jaws dropped, then Sweetie Belle squealed.

"Scootaloo totally has a crush!"

"No I don't!" She yelled back, blushing.

"You do!" Apple Bloom joined in.

"Is it on Rumble? You guys always seemed close." Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, I just don't know if I have a crush on somepony and wanted to know what you thought." Scootaloo started, "I really don't think its a crush though..."

"Why's that?" Her friends inquired.

"I... I'm not a fillyfooler..."

Gabby flew back home. To say she was confused would be an understatement. All her life she was taught she had to like male griffons, there was no other way. But now, to be feeling... things... for a pony, a female one at that, made her head spin. All she knew was that this was unheard of in griffon culture, and it scared her immensely.

As she neared her nest that she shared with her parents she thought about what they might think but being a bit naive she decided to ask them.

"Ma, dad, can a female like a female?"

Both her parents looked at her wide eyed, obviously not expecting the question.

"Why in the world would you ask that?" Her mother asked.

"I just--"

"No." Her father answered, "That is not allowed, it is not tradition."

"Alright..." Gabby shrunk away.

"If I found out I had some faggot or dyke in my family I'd teach em' a lesson. Got that?" Her dad asked her, "And not a nice one."

"Yea, nice dad..." Gabby gave a forced smile, "I'm gonna go back out okay?

Without waiting for an answer she sped to Ponyville. If what she thought was true she wasn't safe in her home.

Back at the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were looking at Scootaloo quizzically.

"What do ya mean Scoots?"

"I mean... I can't like mares right!? Theres nothing wrong with that of course but... I'm not..."

"Slow down Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle told the orange Pegasus.

"It's just... IthinkIlikeGabby" She said quickly.

"What?"

"I-I think I like Gabby." She repeated, slower this time.

"Of course ya do, she's your friend!"

"I think she means she really likes Gabby." Sweetie Belle added.

Scootaloo looked away, "No... She's my friend,  just my friend."

Her friends tilted their heads and looked at each other.

"I'll just go..."

And right at that moment, a griffon burst through the door of the clubhouse.

"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, I need your help!" Then her eyes landed on the Pegasus staring wide eyed, "Hi... Scoots..."