Scootaloo kicked her hooves idly as she sat on the edge of the bed watching her fillyfriend's sleeping form. She kept trying to feel terrible, to find some reason to hurt, or be upset, but she couldn't.

It scared her.

She had led ponies to war, faced down her near murderer, punched Celestia in the face, and had taken the lives of many other ponies yet she couldn't feel bad, because in the end, Sweetie Belle was safe. It wasn't like she didn't want Sweetie to be safe, but she didn't want to feel so damned okay with killing either!

Having trouble there kiddo?

Scootaloo perked up as she realized Rainbow had decided to give her a visit.

Kind of, not really, but yes, Celsetia damn it its so bucking confusing!

Well, why don't you explain it to me squirt, and we'll sort this out.

Scootaloo explained exactly what happened, earning an amused yet proud sense of euphoria as Rainbow's emotions managed to slip through to her mind as she explained the Sonic 'Brain'boom as Scoots had dubbed the right cross. Scootaloo also explained killing ponies, which earned her a wash of sympathy.

I'm so sorry you had to go through so much kiddo, but I think I can help you. You see, you're the pinnacle of Loyalty, right? So right now your most loyal to what?

My friends obviously!

A sense of smugness entered the filly for the briefest of seconds.
And would I be safe in guessing somepony is especially Loyal to their fillyfriend?

Scoots turned bright red and was suddenly acutely aware and happy that Rainbow Dash was only with her in her mind.

What I'm saying, squirt, is that the reason you don't care isn't because you're a bad pony, its because you did what you needed to do, and you did it right. Sweetie Belle is safe and you are content. Never think there is something wrong with you for that, okay?

Thanks mom, I do have one other question, but please don't laugh, cause its kinda embarrassing to ask, but...well...what I wanna know is...how do two mares have sex!
Scoots blurted, facing turning rosy red.

A feeling of confusion, fear, and embarrassment Scootaloo knew was not 'hers' flowed through her, turning her face even brighter red than before.

Bwuh, uh, er, wait....WHAT?! Oh, well uh, muffins are ready to come out of the washing machine, better go get 'em while their fresh, yessiree, you know I love my cupcakes, catch you later kiddo!

Scootaloo just gave a sigh and started thinking of how to translate what she did to herself to somepony else while waitng for Sweetie Belle to wake up.

~~~Four Days Later~~~

Gilda stared down at Spitfire, who was doing her best to save face, but having an extremely hard time looking the griffoness in the eye.

"So then Spitfire, I was wondering why Scootaloo trashed all the Spitfire Wonderbolts items after Dash died. I thought the 'Bolts just reminded her of Dash at first, but then I realized Scoots kept everything except for you. Guess I know the reason now. So give me one good reason not to carve you a second mouth across the pretty little neck." Gilda growled.

Spitfire had nothing, nothing but pain and guilt. Hoofing the mameluke she carried to Gilda, the mare gave her response.
"I deserve it, and I won't deny I deserve it. Do what you must."
With that Spitfire raised her chin up and closed her eyes.

*Smack*

Spitfire's eyes shot back open as she realized the griffon had slapped her flank suggestively and started walking off.

"Learn to chill the buck out girl. Besides, killing you won't bring Dash back. Here's how this works, I don't have the money to support Scoots, and I don't know a damned thing about raising kids, especially magically augmented fillies that fight in wars. Here's how you fix things. You pay for her upbringing, you make nice, and you get her forgiveness. Besides, if you were a good enough lay for Dashie, well, maybe I wouldn't mind seeing how you stack up to her, eh? " Gilda laughed causing the Captain's cheeks to light up bright red.

Just as Spitfire was about to speak up, a blood-curdling cream tore through the castle. Gilda tossed Spits her mameluke back and grabbed her own halberd. As they raced towards the castle Vinyl and Octavia came hurtling out of the trees.

"You two know what the buck that was?" Vinyl asked.

Gilda just shrugged while Spitfire shook her head.
"Where were you two anyway."

Octavia provided the answer with a lewd grin that was odd to see on such a refined mare.
"Post battle coitus in the woods. Nothing like a good railing to get your mind off of things and calm the mind, no?"

Gilda gave a laugh as they continued into the castle.

~~~~~~~

Rarity pounded on the door to Scootaloo's room franticly trying to get in. The mare knew her poor little sister needed her, and so did poor Scootaloo, but the door had been locked from the inside and she had no way of saving them from the beast with in. Ignoring her hooves growing steadily sorer or the lump on her head where she'd had the door slammed in her face Rarity continued trying to break through and save the two fillies.

Rarity's scream had quickly drawn attention though, and soon most of the Night Corp. was in the hall with her. Twilight was the one to speak first.

"Rarity, what's going on, what's happened?"

The fashionista threw herself at Twilight's hooves as she cried out what she'd seen.
"Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, a beast has them, and Luna knows what it is doing to them now, we have to get in and save them!"

Having just gotten over her own issues, and having some fear of what might by happening, Twilight teleported a large boulder into the hallway.
"Look out everypony, here comes Tom!"

Twilight slammed the boulder through the door, smashing a hole wide enough for every pony to see the 'beast' 'feasting' on Sweetie Belle as the filly suddenly cried out loudly before collapsing.
Scootaloo turned to face the new hole in the wall with a stupid, but pleased look on her face while Sweetie Belle struggled to sit up, a similar stupid, but far wider smiler gracing her features.

"Uh, Sweetie, you see what I see." Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie just mumbled back.
"Not giving a buck cause that was amazing. I always thought your kissing was the best."

Rarity promptly fell over and passed out while everybeast else, Twilight included, burst out laughing, suddenly realizing what 'the beast' was.

To be fair, Twilight wouldn't have condoned the fillies doing that five days ago, them both only being fourteen, but after what she'd seen, Twilight new enough to know that the two fillies deserved whatever their hearts desired. It just so happened that they just wanted each other.
'Wait, when did I get this sapp- oh, yeah...that's when.'
Twilight smiled and ran a hoof softly against her underbelly.

"Hungry there Twi? Me'n'Tavi are headed to lunch, but if you're rubbing your belly, I guess your about ready for a meal too. Come on, I'm payin' anyway" Vinyl offered as she started down the hallway.

"Sounds good Vinyl Scratch!"

~~~~~~~

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo headed down to the recruit field, the former having taken an interest in training, as well as the two having been inseparable since their...fun...three days prior. Regardless, the two fillies were all seriousness as they ordered the recruits to do their warm up laps. As the recruits ran out of hearing range, Sweetie Belle posed a question.

"Hey, Scootaloo, how do you cope with the ones you killed?"

Scootaloo blinked for a second, trying to figure if she'd heard right. When she decided she had, the filly gave her answer.
"Rainbow Dash. You know she can still talk to me, right? So anyway, when I'd brought you back and Fluttershy told me you needed bed rest, I sat on the end of the bed trying to figure out why I didn't feel bad for killing anypony. I guess Rainbow found out, because she showed up and told me it was loyalty. It was because I knew that what I was fighting for was more important than anything else. That you were more important. When it comes right down to it SB, I knew as long as I had you, and you were safe, I'd be happy."

Sweetie Belle's eyes teared up at the sentiment, and the unicorn filly kissed her fillyfriend.
"Thanks Scoots, I needed to hear that...a lot. Oh, here come the front runners....Dropshot is in the rear again..."

Scoots just rolled her eyes.
"Don't remind me, that pony is useless. He keeps trying to get a bullseye at the archery range by jumping off of things and trying to spin around while randomly firing the arrows. Kid'll get himself killed in the real world."

~~~~~~~

Twilight was alone yet again, but that was fine with her. The mare undid her light armour, something she'd taken to wearing at all times, and released the spacial distortion spell. She looked fondly at her swollen belly as she imagined how the wonders of life could carry on in something as simplistic as her own body.

As her mind pondered such things, it began to wander the vast and complex depths of morality.

What was right, and what was wrong, how to discern such things in a world of constantly shifting opinions and variables? Why did life suddenly seem so convoluted? Why was it that killing, something that up until the past week seemed abhorrent, was suddenly so widely accepted? That lying and keeping secrets from those she loved didn't bother her too much? That two underage fillies could engage in sexual relations, and Twilight thought of it the same as how she would think another other couple?

It was so hard to make sense of the world, but the one thing that kept drawing Twilight's attention was the wonderful gift that resided inside of her.

Morality was confusing, but suddenly it was all stripped away as the mare gazed at her swollen abdomen and replaced with something else.

Love

The drive to protect those you loved, and love them as much as they love you. The simplistic common sense that you did what you knew was right and fought against what you knew was wrong.

But, still, if everypony had different opinions.....
"Buck this, I give up! Little foal, I love you, and that's all that matters, and I will make sure you come into a world that loves you!"
With that cry of frustration finished the mare turned and headed off to take a nice warm shower.

~~~~~~~

"Do you think about the ones that didn't make it? The ones who were by your side at the beginning, but in a body bag at the end? Do you stop and think on how that could have been you?"

Gilda rolled her eyes at the pondering mare.
"Honestly, all I can think of right now is that you've got a nice ass."

Spitfire blushed red, but continued.
"I'm being serious. Doesn't it ever bother you?"

"No."

"Well why not?"

"Cause I'm alive. Call me a selfish pric if you wish, but I survived on skill, and if somebeast else didn't, they should have trained harder. Now, I'm going to keep eating, if you're not, I'll take your leftovers."

Spitfire just shrugged.

~~~~~~~

Telvanni and Luna sat as they pored over the battle statistics, casualty reports, morale levels. Next they pored over the same charts for Celestia's army, having stolen them from a courier.

"They can't handle this Telvanni. These pponies haven't seen true war or death on this level in over one thousand years, and even Pinkie Pie isn't the same."

The lycan nodded in agreement at the recent memory of a very straight haired and darkened pink mare destroying eight training dumbies with a Minotaurian maul. Logically, she shouldn't even have been able to lift the weapon.
"I agree. Twilight nearly broke down after that battle, and we've had over thirty non combat ponies commit suicide, twice that for the ones who fought."

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath to prevent herself from crying.
"We need one battle, one final decisive battle, we need to end this the next time we fight!"

"I agree mother. Even the Nightmare must realize she can only push her ponies so far. My thoughts are to bide our time for just a few more months, allow these wounds to heal over. Once that is done we will take only the ponies that can handle war and finish this."

Luna smiled at her sons genius.
"Now we just need something to raise everyponies spirits."

~~~~~~~

Scootloo kept casting quick glances over at Sweetie, and the unicorn filly was not missing a single one. What she was missing was why. Why was Scootaloo so nervous today, so quiet, and so damn edgy. Seriously, Scoots was practically going ballisti-

"What was that?! Scream me some more bitch!" the filly roared at a hapless recruit.

"Okay...."

Sweetie couldn't help but wince at Scootaloo's harsh treatment of the recruit.
"Scoots, what's going on? You've been acting out of sorts all day, you mind telling me what's up?"

"How many times did you nearly die in Ponyville?"

The question was surprising as it was abrupt, and it gave Sweetie Bell pause before thinking on the answers.
"Um, I don't know...more than ten times I think. Why are you asking?"

"I just...this is war, and anypony could die at any moment. I was thinking about how precious that makes each moment we've shared since this all started. How much I care for you. So I spent half the day talking to Dash, trying to get her opinion on what I was thinking." Scootaloo explained hesitantly.

Sweetie Belle just nodded, waiting for the orange filly to continue.

"Anyway, and I'm not getting soft or sappy, but since you and I have known eachother for like, forever, and after everything we've been through. That and with how much I understand things now..." Scootaloo trailed off as she pulled a feather from her wing and deftly curled it around, using twine to tie the two ends together.
"If you want, would you mind getting married, y'know, to me and stuff?"

Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo an odd look.
"First, how does anypony mess up that line...."

Scoot's eyes fell.

"..but of course I will! This is awesome, I love you Scootaloo!"

The orange filly darted forward and swept Sweetie Belle into her forehooves before tearing into the skies and realsing a glorious Sonic Rainboom.

Author's Note

Not anything too major aside from the very end there.

I didn't want this to be a serious chapter after the grimdark shit in the previous chapter.

This chapter is mostly just fluff to make everypony who wanted to curl up and cry feel better.
It also means I can skip a bit more forward.

Hope you guys like what I'm doing with this, and holy shit mates, why can't I hold all these chapters?!