Flight of a Pegasus

Chapters

Revelation
Reporting
Sleepover
Flying
Mr. and Mrs. Puff
Epilogue

Revelation

Scootaloo swallowed as she parked her scooter outside of the two-story house. The living room light was on. It was after nine, which meant she had yet again broken curfew. It wasn't that she meant to do it. She really didn't. She just lost track of time when she was with her friends.

As quietly as possible, she opened and closed the door. Just as she started to put her hoof on the first step, she heard her dad call from the living room. "Scootaloo? Are you finally home? It's almost ten." His words were slurred.

The little filly swallowed. "I'm sorry. I was with-"

She stopped speaking when the dark green pony walked into the hallway. "You know the rules." Scootaloo's ears flattened against her head. One look at his eyes, and she knew he was well past reason. The only way he lifted spirits was if they were in a bottle, and she could tell he had done plenty of that tonight. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean..."

"Rules are rules." He was in her face. She could smell the ever-present alcohol on his breath. He turned and walked away. Scootaloo stood where she was. Her father turned to look at her. "Come."

What had she done? She was late, sure, but it wasn't as if she had been much trouble. She had been very quiet coming in. He had even said something about extending her curfew a few days earlier. "No," she whispered.

"What?" The male Pegasus glared at her. "Don't make this worse than it has to be. You break rules and there are consequences."

"No. It isn't… It isn't right." Her voice was still low, but she looked him straight in the eye. He advanced upon her, his anger sudden and disproportionate to the situation.

Snorting into her face, he narrowed his eyes at her. "You do not tell me no," he said as his hoof made contact with her face. She glared up at her father, not willing to let him see her cry. Then he pushed her roughly along the hallway into a dark room.

Scootaloo fought and squirmed. Her mind keep flashing back to the lesson Cheerilee had given that day. As he lifted her up, she bit his hoof. He said something, but she didn't understand what. She had never known this wasn't legal, that this wasn't the way everyone punished foals when they broke the rules.

Once more his hoof contacted with her face. The shock stopped her fight for a moment, which gave him what he needed. She landed on her back, the soft bed below softening the blow. "You will pay for your behavior, filly." She squeezed her eyes shut, finally giving up as he towered over her.

Later that night as she laid in her bed, tears streamed down her face. She squeezed her hind legs together, knowing that the feeling wouldn't go away for a while. Finally, she fell into a fitful sleep.

In the morning, she slowly got out of bed and gathered her things for school. Today of all days, she really didn't want to go to school, but her father had the day off and she didn't want to be there with him. She realized she hadn't finished her homework, but didn't care. As a bottle opened in the kitchen, she decided to leave as soon as possible.

Scootaloo didn't even glance in the mirror before she ran out the door, snatching up the saddle bags she had dropped at the door as she came in the previous evening. Arriving at school earlier than ever, she resigned herself to a corner of the playground, deciding to wait on Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom.

It didn't take her friends long to get there. They ran over to Scootaloo, their smiles slipping off their faces as they did. "What happened?" Apple Bloom asked. "How'd you black your eye?"

"I... Um..." She was saved from answering when Cheerilee started ringing the bell to signal the start of school.

Cheerilee greeted each student as they walked through the door. "Scootaloo, what happened?" she asked as she noticed the gleaming black eye on her student's face.

"Nothing," Scootaloo said as she followed Sweetie Bell into class.

"She wouldn't tell us either," she heard Apple Bloom tell Cheerilee.

She took her normal seat in class, not taking in anything Cheerilee was saying. The time for recess came quickly, but Cheerilee asked her to stay so they could talk. Scootaloo sighed. She didn't want to.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell walked over to Scootaloo, refusing to leave until Cheerilee forced them. "I need to talk to her alone. So go on, out to the playground." The pair left slowly, constantly looking back at their friend with concern.

Cheerilee knelt down. "Scootaloo, how did your eye get blacked?" Scootaloo's face crumpled as she shook her head. "Please tell me?"

"My dad…" was all she could get out. "He wasn't happy when I came home late last night."

Cheerilee's eyes widened. "And that is just punishment?" Cheerilee didn't miss the Pegasus filly's hind legs squeeze together at the word punishment. "Scootaloo, does he do other things?"

The small pony nodded, keeping her head down but keeping the flood of tears from breaking out. "I just… I had enough. So I told him no." She swallowed and took deep breaths. She swore she wouldn't cry.

Cheerilee opened her mouth to say something, but loud shouting from outside stopped her. She ran out the door as Scootaloo followed her. Scootaloo's eyes widened. Apple Bloom was holding Diamond Tiara down, one hoof on the other pony's purple mane. Apple Bloom wasn't doing anything else, but Diamond Tiara was screaming anyway. Sweetie Bell and Silver Spoon were still rolling around on the ground, landing punches intermittently.

Cheerilee broke them apart first, a mouthful of white hair ripping out of Silver Spoon's mane in the process. Sweetie Bell spat it out. Then, making Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara separate, she looked at the four fillies. "What do you girls think you're doing?" Her gaze was harsh, causing all four ponies to drop their heads.

Apple Bloom sighed and spoke first. "Diamond Tiara was…" she glanced at Scootaloo and cleared her throat. "Diamond Tiara said that she wanted to thank whoever blacked Scootaloo's eye. And ah could see that Scootaloo was already about to cry and it made me angry so… Ah bucked her. And she hit me back, so Ah did a trick Applejack showed me for a rodeo and I pinned her, and while Ah was doing all of that, Silver Spoon and Sweetie Bell started fightin'."

Cheerilee sighed and shook her head. "Girls, why…" The entire class had crowded around the six ponies. "Class is over for today. You may go." She turned to the four ponies who had been fighting. "Except you four. And Scootaloo, I'd like you to stay too."

Once the rest of the students had left, Cheerilee made the four fillies in front of her look up. "Fighting is never the answer." She looked at Apple Bloom. "Even when someone insults your friend." Then she turned to Diamond Tiara. "Your father will hear about this, young mare." The four fillies nodded. Satisfied with that response for the time being, she let Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara go home.

"Are you gonna tell Applejack?" Apple Bloom looked very down-trodden.

"Of course. But I have something to ask you. What did you mean when you said you could see that Scootaloo was ready to cry?"

Apple Bloom scuffed her hoof against the ground. Sweetie Bell looked up with a remorseful look on her face. "We just wanted to make sure she was alright."

Cheerilee sighed. "Come on girls. We… We have a lot to talk about." They walked along quietly, all either lost in thought or too ashamed to say anything. It was a short trip to Rarity's shop. Since Sweetie Bell's parents were out of town on a business trip, Rarity was watching Sweetie Bell.

Rarity's expression changed from surprise to disappointment in an instant. "What did you three do now?"

"There was a fight. Sweetie Bell and Silver Spoon decided that since Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara were fighting, they might as well join in." Cheerilee's tone was reprimanding, letting the fillies know she was still disappointed.

"Apple Bloom did what now?" Applejack's face appeared in the front door. Scootaloo tried to sit through it all, but finally, she couldn't take anymore of it.

"They were defending me," she practically yelled.

With her two best friends' older sisters now looking at her, she quieted down. "They were just defending me."

Both Apple Jack and Rarity noticed the black eye at the same time. "In that case—"

"Before you congratulate them, we should really talk," Cheerilee interrupted. She looked at her students. "I need to speak with Applejack and Rarity alone. Do you girls mind playing out here until I'm finished?"

Relieved their punishments had been delayed, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell readily agreed. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, shook her head. "Please don't." She looked up at her teacher, fear and hurt shining in her eyes.

"Why don't you come talk to us as well, Scootaloo," Cheerilee said. The mares looked at each other, confused. The orange filly lowered her head and walked into the boutique, followed by the three adults. "You shouldn't be ashamed, dear. It isn't your fault. Look at us, please."

It was apparent to anypony that Scootaloo didn't want to look up. Tears had already formed in her eyes. "What's goin' on?" Applejack asked. "What happened?"

Scootaloo tried speaking, but she didn't seem able to form words. Cheerilee stepped in. "When she arrived at school, she had this black eye."

"I thought she said Sweetie and Apple Bloom were defending her? If she already had that, what were they defending her from?"

Scootaloo tried to block out the conversation. She didn't want to hear it, but was no use. All she could think of was the previous night. Her horrible father, whom she would have to return to soon. "They were fighting because Diamond Tiara said Scootaloo deserved the black eye."

"Then why are we talking about her black eye? Ah mean, I thought that's what this is about."

Cheerilee held back a sigh. She saw where two of her students got their talkativeness. Before she could answer, Scootaloo jumped up. "It was my dad, okay? He hit me and…and…he…" The filly broke down then. Letting her tears flow freely, her sobs shook her body. Applejack and Rarity's shock lasted only a moment before they gathered Scootaloo into a hug.

"Oh, darling, we had no idea."

"Why didn't you say something? We coulda helped."

She pressed her face into a neck; she wasn't sure whose. Whichever mare it was picked her up and held her, rocking her slightly. "Hey now," Apple Jack said in her ear. "Don't worry. He's never going to lay a hoof on you again. I'll make sure of that."

"The police," Rarity said. "Surely we can go to them.

"That was my next stop. I wasn't sure what to do about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell."

The orange earth pony looked at the unicorn. This was their sisters' best friend. They cared about this little filly a lot. Their own sisters had no clue of the horrors she had been through however. Applejack looked down at the filly, realizing she had fallen asleep. "How could anyone want to hurt something so innocent?" she asked. No one said anything, not that she had expected an answer.

Okay, so I'm writing this, I guess. I was listening to I'm Sorry by Flyleaf and this just sorta came to me. I know, I know. Another Scoot has bad parents story. Honestly, I'm not fond of them myself and I can't promise quick updates with this. I just couldn't find another character to use. I'll be writing a Happy-Scoot story later on. Because let's face it, after everything everyone has put her through, that little filly needs to be happy. Until then, though, here's this. Hope you, erm, keep reading. And remember, if you down vote, I'd appreciate knowing why!

Reporting

"Scootaloo, dear, wake up." Scootaloo blinked. She hadn't really been asleep, but in that sort of halfway place between. "Miss Cheerilee needs you to go with her now, okay?" The Pegasus filly simply nodded. She didn't like any of this.

She kept her head down as she and Cheerilee stood to take their leave. The police station wasn't far from here, but Scootaloo didn't want to go. She didn't know what was going to happen. They might take her from her Ponyville. She had heard of it happening before. Never given a reason for it, but she knew that some fillies and colts were given to other ponies when their parents couldn't take care of them.

"Ah'll walk with ya, if that's okay. I'm sure Apple Bloom can stay here for a bit?" she said, turning to Rarity for conformation on that last part. The unicorn nodded. "I'll be back to pick up Apple Bloom later, Rarity."

All four ponies walked outside of the Boutique. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ran over to Scootaloo. "You guys were in there for a long time. What happened?" Sweetie Belle looked at her friend closer, taking in Scootaloo's puffy red eyes. "Why were you crying?"

"I- I-" Scootaloo looked at the adults for help. She wasn't sure she wanted her friends to know.

"Don't you girls worry about it right now. 'Bloom, you stay here with Sweetie Bell and Rarity 'til we get back. And don't cause trouble, ya hear?"

"What about Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom looked up at her big sister. "She's our friend and something's wrong. We want to know."

Applejack looked like she was going to shout, but she sighed instead. "It ain't something I'm gonna tell you now. So go on. I'm going with Scootaloo and Cheerilee to take care of a few things." Applejacks expression told Apple Bloom not to argue.

Scootaloo waved to her friends as she followed the two adult mares. She knew they wanted to know what was happening. She just didn't know how to tell them. How do you tell your friends something like that? "AJ?" she said, looking up at the orange earth pony. Applejack looked down, giving Scootaloo her full attention. "What's going to happen?"

Applejack shook her head. "I don't know. But it'll be better. We're going to make sure of that. You're pa ain't going to touch you again. Not if I have anything to say about it."

The little orange filly nodded. So many questions swam through her head, but she didn't know how many she really wanted the answer to. After a few more minutes of silent walking, they arrived at the police station. The three ponies walked in, unsure of where to go.

Cherrilee went to talk to an officer at a counter. He glanced between her and where Scootaloo was standing with Applejack. After a nod from the officer, Cheerilee walked over to them. "They want to talk to her, but only one of us can go with her."

"Applejack, will you go with me?" Scootaloo looked up at the farm pony.

Applejack nodded. "Of course, sugarcube." They walked over to the officer, Scootaloo doing her best to hide her fear. She was brave and daring. Still, her tail occasionally gave a nervous twitch.

"Are you Scootaloo?" he asked kindly, looking at the orange filly. She simply nodded. He switched his gave to Applejack then. "What is your name?"

"Ah'm Applejack. Scootaloo is my little sisters best friend." The officer wrote down what Applejack said.

Nodding, he gave Scootaloo a small smile. "We have to go back into a room and talk, okay? Applejack will be with you the entire time, but you have to answer my questions. Honestly."

"Yessir," Scootaloo managed to say. The officer led them down a short hall and into a room. He sat on one side of a table, while Applejack and Scootaloo took the two chairs on the other. Scootaloo couldn't shake the feeling she was in trouble. She knew she wasn't, but the feeling was still there.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The stallion sounded kind despite his serious expression.

Scootaloo nodded. "I do."

"Even if you think you may get someone in trouble or you don't want to say it?"

Breathing deep, Scootaloo nodded again. "Pinkie Promise." Applejack smiled at the little filly.

The officer paused, looking at his clipboard. "How did you get that black eye?"

Scootaloo found a very interesting knot to look at on the table. "My dad hit me."

The officer scribbled something. "Why did he hit you?"

That knot was very interesting. It was almost completely through the table. "I didn't want to accept my punishment for breaking curfew," Scootaloo said in a low voice, just above a whisper. She blinked back tears.

"And what was the punishment."

Scootaloo looked up from the knot and over at Applejack. She didn't know how to explain it, and she had forgotten what Cheerilee had called it. Applejack just nodded encouragingly, though no smile was on her face. "I-he-" Scootaloo squirmed. "I don't know what it's called. I remember Miss Cheerilee said what it was called when we had a lesson on things that happen to foals, but I don't remember." Scootaloo started talking quickly, as if she stopped, she would never be able to say it. "What happened was that I was late coming home after hanging out with the Crusaders, it was way after nine. And so he was angry, and he had been drinking again, cause I could smell it. And he said I knew the rules and needed to be punished but I didn't want to. Not when Miss Cheerilee had taught a lesson that day that said it wasn't how ponies are suppose to punish their kids. So he hit me and made me anyway. I fought him, but he put me on his bed and…and…."

The small Pegasus was sobbing now, wrapped into Applejacks embrace. "Hey, shh. Come on, I know. You have to finish tellin' the officer here what happened." Scootaloo shook her head, pressing farther into Applejacks chest.

"I have enough, actually," the officer said. "We will need to take her to the hospital, just to…check."

Applejacks brow furrowed. "Is that really needed? She ain't lyin'."

The stallion sighed. "We have to have the documentation." He gathered a few papers and walked with them through the building. Scootaloo was still sniffing, leaning on Applejack a little as they walked. Cheerilee was waiting for them where they had left her. She stood when she saw them coming. The officer walked over to her. "We're nearly finished with this part. I trust you know where the filly lives?" She nodded. "If you could give Jim some information. We just have one last thing we need to do before we can make the arrest."

Scootaloo stopped. "Arrest?"

"Of course. Rape is a ten year sentence." The officer started walking again, not noticing that Scootaloo had sat down, slightly shocked.

Applejack, however, did. She knelt down, getting eye-level with the orange filly. "What you're pa did, it wasn't good. It's like when you and the other two Crusaders get detention or grounded for your silly stunts. You won't have to live with him anymore. You didn't want to, did ya?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, but…I don't have anywhere else to live. I don't wanna be by myself." She looked up at Applejack, tears in her eyes again. "I hate him and what he does, but I don't have anyone else." She looked back down again. She had never felt so lost or alone.

She heard Applejack sigh. "Sugarcube, you ain't alone. You have Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom and Rarity. And you have me. And I know Rainbow Dash cares about you to, even if she ain't so good at showin' it."

"Ladies?" the officer said, walking back over. "Is everything okay?"

"Of course not." Applejack stood up, looking as if the officer was stupid. "How could it be okay?" With that, she started walking, Scootaloo pressed by her side. The officer shook his head and followed.

As they walked out, Scootaloo flapped her wings a few times. Rainbow Dash was doing a new trick. She did a backflip that turned into a tight corkscrew before turning up. She apparently hadn't noticed the building she was heading for and crashed into it.

"Dash!" Scootaloo and Applejack shouted, running over to the blue Pegasus. Rainbow Dash was already on her hoofs and grinning when the two ponies made it.

"I almost had it. How much did you see?" He grin turned into a frown. "What happened to your eye, kiddo?"

Scootaloo's happiness at seeing her idol died instantly. "I..umm…"

The officer showed up then. "Ladies, really. The hospital is the opposite way."

"Hospital? What's going on? Are you okay, Scootaloo?" Dash looked at the trio before her. "Is anypony going to answer me? What's going on?"

Applejack shook her head. "Later, Dash."

The officer sat off toward the hospital without a word, Scootaloo and Applejack following behind, Dash behind them. If Scootaloo hadn't known what to tell her friends, it was nothing compared to telling Rainbow Dash. AJ and Rarity had always felt like they were somehow her sisters too, but Dash was different. Dash was her hero, the one pony who could do anything without help from anyone.

They made it to the hospital and threw the doors before the officer realized Dash was with them. "Miss Dash, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Why?" Dash asked. "I care about her too, and I want to know what's going on."

"Applejack is here right now, and that is all I, or the hospital, will allow. I'm sure there will be time later to explain things to you. Now leave."

Dash shook her head. "I just crashed into a building. You saw it, didn't you? I could be hurt." The blue Pegasus sat, glaring at the officer.

He simply ignored her, walking over to the desk and talking to the receptionist. He gave her some papers, a few things were filled out, and then Scootaloo and Applejack were whisked to a room. The door was closed as the nurse stepped out.

Scootaloo looked around the overly white room. It was too clean. Applejack looked just as uncomfortable. The walls didn't have anything on them, though there were several containers with cotton balls, things that looked like popsicle sticks, and various other things.

"I'm scared, AJ," the little filly whimpered. "I don't want to be here."

Applejack took Scootaloo's hoof in her own. "I know, sugarcube. It shouldn't take too long. And when we're all done, I'll buy you something from Sugar Cube Corner. Does that sound nice?" Mentally berating herself for saying that, Applejack sighed. It wasn't like Scootaloo was here to her healthy foal check up. This was a traumatic experience. A treat from the local bakery wasn't going to make the filly feel any better.

Still, Scootaloo's ears perked up at the suggestion. "Really? Can I get a cupcake?"

The door opened then, revealing a mare. "Hello, I'm doctor Hart." She walked over to Scootaloo. "I'm going to ask you to lay back, okay? And then I'm going to look at your private area to see what happened. Then I'm going to take a cotton swab to see what evidence I can find. Applejack will be right here with you, and it won't take a minute."

Scootaloo looked terrified. She looked over at Applejack. "It's okay. The doctor ain't gonna hurt you. I'm right here, and I won't move." Clutching Applejack's hoof, Scootaloo laid back. While the doctor did what she had to, Scootaloo closed her eyes. She didn't feel like crying, but she tried to block out what was happening.

True to her word, not a minute later the doctor told Scootaloo she could sit up. "Can we go now?" Scootaloo asked. While it hadn't been the same as what her father did, it made her feel the same afterward.

With a nod from the doctor, Scootaloo was out the door. "So, how about that cupcake?" the orange mare offered. Scootaloo nodded. "Sounds good, but AJ?"

"Yeah, sugar?"

"What do I tell everyone? I mean, I feel so…bad." The orange filly looked down again as they left the hospital.

"You shouldn't feel bad. It ain't your fault. Your pa just did some things he wasn't supposed to do. And as far as telling people, you ain't got to. But if you want, I'll take care of telling Apple Bloom and Dash and Rarity will tell Sweetie Belle."

Scootaloo nodded. "Thanks." She nuzzled the orange mare for a second. Then she heard a voice calling her name. "Rainbow Dash?" She spun around, wide-eyed.

"I didn't see you guys until you were walking out the door." She looked at them. "Will you tell me what's going on now?"

After a glance at Scootaloo, Applejack shook her head. "I'll tell you later, Dash. Right now, I know a filly who wants a cupcake."

They stopped at Rarity's Boutique first, so the six of them could go to Sugar Cube Corner together. It didn't take long for Scootaloo to fall back into how the three adult mares had always saw her-happy, fun-loving, innocent.

Rarity and Applejack explained to Rainbow Dash what had transpired that day on the trip to the sweetshop, while the three fillies ran ahead. The blue Pegasus was shocked. "That's horrible. If I had know, I'd…" she trialed off. None of them had known. Watching her now, you wouldn't have been able to just look and see it.

They made it to the sweetshop and sat in a booth, Pinkie coming to take their order, then joining them when it was delivered. "And then I said, 'Hot sauce, are you crazy? But it was really, really, really good." She grinned as she took a bit of her hot sauce covered cupcake.

Sleepover

It was after dinner on the Apple family farm. The officer had taken Scootaloo with him to talk to the Department of Foal Services, refusing to let anyone accompany her. Applejack was planning on going back into town soon and insisting the filly be allowed to stay with her, at least for the time being, but first, she wanted to talk to Apple Bloom. Calling her sister into the kitchen and sit at the table, Applejack sighed.

"Ah don't really know how to say this." Apple Bloom's young face wrinkled with worry at her sisters tone, but she didn't say anything. "Do you know anything about what happened to Scootaloo?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "How am Ah supposed to know anything when nopony would tell me or Sweetie Belle anything. It ain't like we're babies anymore, we can know stuff. 'Specially if it's our best friend."

Applejack sighed again. "Ah know. It's just… There are bad ponies out there, Apple Bloom. Ah always thought Ponyville was a safe town and Ah wouldn't have to worry about that, but Ah guess Ah do." She looked at her sister, considering how to continue.

Filling the silence, Apple Bloom said, "Ah know there are bad ponies, sis. Ah mean, there was the Changling Queen at the wedding, and-"

"That ain't what I mean, sugarcube."

The red-maned filly looked confused. "Then what do ya mean, AJ?"

Applejack started slowly, considering how to explain everything to her eleven years old sister. "Sometimes, a stallion, well, it can be mares too, but mostly it's stallions Ah think, but sometimes, these stallions…" Trailing off, Applejack put her face in her hooves. "Apple Bloom, ya know how the farm animals make their babies, don't ya?"

"Well, yeah. Ah mean, ya did give me a talk after Ah asked what the pigs were doin' a last year. And then ya gave me this whole talk about when Ah grow up and meet a stallion and how Ah needed to be married before Ah did anything like that." Apple Bloom looked more lost than ever at where the conversations was going. What did this have to do with Scootaloo?

"Sometimes, a stallion don't wanna wait until he's married. Sometimes, a stallion don't even care if you want to or not, or how old you are, or if you're ready for that. Sometimes, a stallion will take what he wants." She looked into Apple Bloom's eyes, making sure she understood. "Sometimes, that stallion could even be a pa."

Applejack could tell the younger pony still didn't understand what it was that had happened. "Scootaloo's pa is one of those stallions. He made Scootaloo do that. He hurt her, and Ah don't know how long he's done it for, but now we're trying to fix it."Apple Bloom looked horrified. "Ah'm going to see if she can stay with us for a bit, but there's a lot of grown-up ponies who are going to be doing a lot of things I can't control about what happened. Ah'm about to go into town to see if she can stay here. Do you wanna come?"

Uncharacteristically quiet, Apple Bloom simply nodded. Her brow was furrowed, and she concentrated on the ground as she walked with Applejack, trying to take everything in. They walked into a very small office, away from the main town area where Rarity, Twilight, and Pinkie lived. The building wasn't much bigger than the Apple family farm house, and only had one story.

Scootaloo had told this lady what had happened, again. The officer had left some time ago, and now she was stuck here. She wanted nothing more than to be out playing with the other two Crusaders, but this mare wouldn't let her. The officer had introduced her as Bleeding Heart. Scootaloo wasn't listening to a thing Bleeding was saying, however. She looked around the small office again, this time noticing a familiar Stetson through the open door.

Not giving a second look back, she galloped out of the office and straight to Applejack and Apple Bloom. The two fillies hugged tightly as Bleeding Heart came around the counter. "Scootaloo, you can't just run out like that."

"Ah take it you're Scoot's social worker?" Applejack asked.

Bleeding Heart smiled. "I am. My name is Bleeding Heart. Who are you?"

"Applejack. Ah just came to get Scootaloo and go on home."

Bleeding Heart's smile fell. "I'm afraid you can't do that. She'll be going to a group home a few towns over. Ponyville doesn't have one of it's own, which is unsurprising do to the size. We feel it would be best to remove her from this location."

"Now hold on just a minute. Why can't she stay with me instead of with a bunch of strangers?"

"We can't let foal's go to homes where nopony has been trained to care for foster children," Bleeding Heart explained.

Applejack snorted. "Is that all? Cause Big Mac did that back when we was making sure we'd be able to raise Apple Bloom. Ah reckon y'all have records from eight years ago, right? Full name Big Macintosh Apple."

Scootaloo looked hopefully up at Bleeding Heart. It would be like a continual sleepover if she could stay with Apple Bloom. Bleeding Heart, for her part, simply sighed. "I shouldn't do it, you know. He's supposed to stay up to date on training if you wish to house foals. But it would probably be better if she were able to stay somewhere she was comfortable. I'll have to come along and have Big Mac sign the proper paperwork. We will have much to discuss later."

The two fillies ran ahead of the adults. "This is going to be awesome," Scootaloo said with a grin. "It's going to be like a sleepover, every night. I could help with chores too, learn how to do all that stuff you guys do. "

Apple Bloom grinned back. "I know. Why don't we ask AJ if Sweetie Bell can come spend the night? We haven't left town yet." The two fillies promptly turned around and ran back to the adults. "AJ! AJ!" Apple Bloom shouted. "Can we go get Sweetie Belle? It could be a huge sleepover and everything."

Applejack looked into the grinning, if not slightly mischievous, faces of the two fillies. "Alright, but hurry up. It's getting dark."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom raced off, not looking back. It only took them a couple minutes to reach Carousel Boutique. Rarity opened the door, unsurprised to see her sisters' best friends. Who else would knock so loudly, even when she had said she was coming to answer the door? In unison, the two Crusaders asked, "Can Sweetie Belle stay all night with us?"

"Sweetie Belle, would you like to-" Before Rarity could finish the question, Sweetie Belle was out the door, ready to go.

The three fillies grinned at each other. It had been ages since the last sleep over. Two weeks was a long time when there were so many things to do. "Cutie Mark Crusader Sleep Over at Sweet Apple Acres!" they shouted before running off. They didn't notice the serious discussion Applejack and Bleeding Heart were having as they galloped past the pair of adults.

The three fillies fell into a giggling heap on Apple Bloom's bed. It was nearing midnight, but they didn't care. Tomorrow was Saturday, meaning they had no school. There was nothing to be done but enjoy the night. Applejack even let them stay up as late as they wanted, unlike Fluttershy who put them to bed.

It was plain to see the trio was tiring out, no matter how much they fought it. One would yawn, another a prolonged blink, and before long, they were simply lying on the full sized bed together. "Scootaloo?" Sweetie questioned. The Pegasus had her eyes closed and could have been asleep.

"Hmm?" she replied, opening one eye.

"I'm sorry about what your pa did."

Both eyes opened now, Scootaloo sat up, the other two following her lead. "It isn't your fault, Sweetie."

"Did…" Apple Bloom trailed off, not sure if she should ask her question. "Didn't you ever think of tellin' on him?"

Scootaloo shrugged. For once, she couldn't meet her friends eyes. "I mean, I just thought that's what happened, you know? I thought Big Mac did it to you."

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Mac ain't never come close to touching me there. No one has since Ah started bathin' myself." Apple Bloom leaned over and nuzzled her friend. "At least he ain't gonna do it again."

Scootaloo gave her friends a small smile. "No, he ain't. I mean, isn't." Her smile turned into a grin. "You Apples are already changing me, I just said 'ain't'."

The three fillies giggled. "I guess we should go to sleep now, huh?" Sweetie Belle said, finishing up a yawn. The other two nodded. Climbing under the blanket, the Crusaders closed their eyes and quickly fell asleep.

The bright light hit Scootaloo's eyes the next morning. She blinked several times, trying to get used to the light, and then worked her way out of the bed, so she wouldn't wake Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle. She crept down the stairs, wincing as one squeaked. She wasn't sure if any of the Apple family was awake or not, and she didn't want to wake them up.

As she made her way to the bathroom, she heard voice from the kitchen. "…and Ah don't know if we could do that. Ah want to, so much, but we ain't got the bits." Applejack sounded extremely upset about something. Scootaloo peaked around the corner to see all three of the Apple adults sitting around the table.

"Ya want her to stay, Applejack, then we'll just have to find a way." Big Mac's voice was thoughtful. "We could always up the price of cider this year."

"No, Mac, that wouldn't be right." Applejack had her face in her hooves. "That mare from DFS said they would help us 'til it came time to adopt her. And with her so young, she had to be adopted. And then Ah don't know what we'd do." Applejack raised her head and spotted Scootaloo. Her eyes widened before she got a strange look on her face. Her lips pressed together, and she looked to the left before looking back at Scootaloo. "Hungry, sugarcube?"

Scootaloo shook her head, her ears drooping.

Applejack sighed. "How much did ya hear?"

"I don’t want to cause you guys problems. It's okay, I can go somewhere else."

Granny Smith stood slowly. "Ah'm going to go fetch some flour for breakfast," she said as she walked out of the kitchen.

Big Mac stood. "Ah gotta do mah mornin' chores."

Scootaloo looked at Applejack, who smiled. "Why d'ya think any of us want you to go somewhere else?"

The young Pegasus looked down at the floor. "You don't have the bits for me. And that's okay, I don't mind, really."

She should have known her lifetime sleepover with Apple Bloom wouldn't last long. She scuffed her hoof along the hard wood floor, not wanting to meet Applejack's eyes. Maybe that place Bleeding Heart had talked about wouldn't be so bad. She could probably make friends there, maybe meet other fillies who didn't have their cutie marks and start another Cutie Mark Crusader club.

She jumped when she felt Applejack nuzzle her. "You ain't a problem. And anything I said is for us grown ponies to worry about. You understand? Ah just want you to have fun and be happy." Scootaloo nodded, hesitantly returning the nuzzle. She closed her eyes. It had been three years since her mother died, three years since she had received this kind of affection.

She was disappointed when Applejack moved away and looked down at her. "Now, go wake up the Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle and tell 'em to get ready for breakfast." Scootaloo ran back up the steps and jumped onto Apple Bloom's bed, tossing both fillies onto the ground.

"Applejack says get up and ready for breakfast."

Apple Bloom groans while Sweetie Belle whines, "Scootaloo, I was asleep." They get to their hooves and stretch, getting ready for what they hoped would be a crusade-filled da

Flying

Everyone in school finds out that Scootaloo is living at Sweet Apple Acres and that her father is in jail for doing something, but none of them know what. Such is the curse of a small town. Scootaloo ignores the looks some of her classmates give her, she doesn't care. She feels happier than she's been since her mother died.

She had a goodnight hug and kiss every night, warm, cooked food to eat every day, and every night is like a sleepover with her best friend. Sure, Applejack and Big Mac make her do her homework and some chores, but that is a price she is glad to pay for everything they're doing for her.

She tries not to use too much stuff that cost money. She keeps thinking of the conversation she had overheard between the adult Apples. But today, that didn't matter. Today, nearly two weeks after the first night she stayed at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash is taking her flying.

She retrieved her goggles from the one of the dresser drawers Apple Bloom had given her and galloped down the steps as she heard a knock on the door. "Oh, hey Dash. I think Scoot is getting ready," she heard Applejack talking to Rainbow Dash as the door closed.

She skidded into the living room, where the two mares were just about to sit. "I'm ready," she said, slightly breathless. "I'm ready to go flying."

She grinned at Rainbow Dash who smiled back. "You are, are you? Well come on then." Scootaloo ran out the door, ready to fly with her hero. Dash watched for a second before turning to Applejack."I think, if I had paid more attention, she would have told me sooner. I could have stopped it."

The orange earth pony sighed. "We've been over this, Dash. You couldn't have, and that's that. Filly spent the night at my house at least once a month, and I didn't notice."

"Yeah, but…I should have paid more attention. Most of what I did was…selfish." Applejack was surprised to see shame in her friends' eyes. "I could have at least been there for her. I should have offered to teach her sooner, I knew she was having trouble. I just cpoouldn't be bothered to take time out for her."

Applejack blinked. "Dash, don't beat yourself up over this. There ain't nothin' you coulda done, so let it go. And just take what time you have now."

Dash nodded and put on a smile. "I should get going before she thinks I'm not coming after all," Dash said, turning toward the door. "Hey Scoot! Wait up!"

It didn't matter how many times she tried it, she just couldn't get her wings to hold up her entire body. Her head weighed too much. She was a fat head.

Dash sighed again. "No, keep your head up. I know you can do it. You've already shown me you can glide, and this is the same thing. Only you're flapping your wings and making yourself rise up."

The younger Pegasus sighed. "I just can't fly, Dash. I'm useless. Might as well strip me of my wings."

Dash chuckled, and Scootaloo looked up, hurt. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. You just remind me of a certain Pegasus I know who didn't think she would ever be able to fly either."

"You?" Scootaloo asked, hoping there was a way to connect to Dash.

"Na, Fluttershy." Dash smiled a little, thinking back to how much Fluttershy had improved over the years.

Scootaloo, however, pouted. "I'm never going to fly like you, am I?"

"Huh? Sure you will. Fluttershy didn't want to, she is perfectly happy here on the ground. And you haven't watched her fly when there's something important at stake, either." Dash ruffled the top of Scootaloo's mane with her hoof. "Come on, that's enough of a break. Try again."

Scootaloo sighed.

Finally. After all this time. Her wings were holding up her entire body. She flapped just as Dash had shown her, and it was hard, but she was doing it. She grinned up-or rather, down, at Rainbow Dash, who grinned back at her. She was really flying. "Now, you have to do this every day, and keep working on those wing exercises like I showed you. You'll be napping on clouds with me before too long."

"I have to show Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo said, losing her concentration and falling into a mud puddle left by the rain that had ended a few hours ago.

"Okay, go on. That's probably enough for today. Tell you what, go get cleaned up and I'll take the three of you to Sugarcube Corner, deal?"

"Deal!" Scootaloo shouted as she ran back to the farm house-her house. Living somewhere for a month, especially somewhere as warm and welcoming as Sweet Apple Acres, made you think of it as home. "Applejack! Everypony! Guess what?"

She ran into the house, still covered in mud from her failed attempts and falling, but she didn't care. She crashed through the kitchen door, only to skid to a halt, the grin on her face turning into a huge frown.

Applejack sat glaring at Bleeding Heart. She looked between the two ponies. "What's going on?" she asked, confused.

The glare on Applejack's face melted as she looked at Scootaloo, and then back to Bleeding Heart. Scootaloo had never heard Applejack use the tone she used with the social worker when she said, "You tell her then. I still think it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Even stupider than keeping Discord around for chocolate rain."

Scootaloo took a step back, not wanting to hear whatever it was. Bleeding Heart smiled down at her. "Scootaloo, we've found a family to place you with."

The filly's ears fell down. "What's wrong with this family? Why can't I just stay with the Apples?"

"We, that is, the case managers and I, feel it would be best if you were moved from Ponyville."

Scootaloo blinked, shaking her head. Moved from Ponyville? Away from her friends-her family? Away from the life she had always known, and that she loved?

"Is this because the Apple's don't have a lot of bits? Because I can work, I can. They won't let me, but if I need to I can get my own bits and-" she stopped, feeling now familiar hooves wrap around her, drawing her closer.

"No, sugarcube. It ain't because of bits, and I told you to let us grown ponies worry about bits anyway. We got enough bits for you, okay?" Applejack nuzzled Scootaloo's cheek, aware tears were building, though the filly was doing well at keeping them in. "This is something they're just wanting to do."

"Well, stop them. I dunno, tell Celestia or something. Don't let them take me." Scootaloo begged Applejack. She was extreamly glad Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were at the spa with Rarity today while she trained.

"She can't stop us. It is what's best for you, to get away from here, where your father is." Bleeding Heart was patient when she explained it, almost as if it were practiced routine.

"I-No. I won't go. I like it here in Ponyville." The social worker took a step toward Scootaloo, but the Pegasus shook her head again, turned, and ran out the door, jumping and shakily flying toward the Crusader Club House.

Mr. and Mrs. Puff

She knew she would be found, but it wasn't like she had a choice. If she ran away, she wouldn't be able to stay at Sweet Apple Acres anyway. She watched through a clubhouse window, waiting to see Applejack and Bleeding Heart coming to get her.

When she finally saw someone walking toward the clubhouse, it was only Applejack. She watched as the orange earth pony walked up to, and then into, the clubhouse. The pair simply looked at each other. Scootaloo knew she had messed up by running off, but she didn't know what to say.

Wordlessly, Applejack closed the gap and put her hooves around the young filly. "She didn't mean you had to leave then. It's just that the DFS thinks it would be better for you to be somewhere your dad wasn't, and away from those memories."

"I don't want to, though. I like it here. Ponyville is my home." Scootaloo looked up at Applejack. "If I tell them that, will they let me stay?"

Applejack sighed. "I don't know, kiddo. I mean, you're only ten years old. They are going to do what they think is best, no matter what anyone else says." Applejack stood back up. "Come on, Bleeding Heart is still at the house and you have to talk to her."

The walk back to the farm house was a quiet one, but Scootaloo was determined to make Bleeding Heart see she couldn't be taken from Ponyville. They walked into the kitchen and joined the social worker at the table. "Okay then. Scootaloo," Bleeding Heart started, looking directly at the filly who shifted uncomfortably under the stern gaze. "As I was saying before, we believe it would be best for you to live in a town other than Ponyville, away from your father."

"He's locked up though, so he can't hurt me anymore. And when he gets out, I'll be a grown mare and he won't be able to hurt me again." Her brow furrowed. "I don't-" she stopped, and took a deep breath. When she spoke again, she tried putting the authority into her voice Applejack and Rarity did when they grounded her friends. "I won't leave Ponyville. It's my home, where all my friends and family are."

Bleeding Heart smiled what she was sure was a warm smile. "We've found a nice Pegasus family in Cloudsdale who is willing to foster you, maybe even adopt you."

Scootaloo's eyes widened in panic as she looked over at Applejack, shaking her head. "I can't go to Cloudsdale, are you insane? I just learned to fly today!"

Bleeding Heart blinked. "You don't know how to fly? But…" she glanced over at Applejack, concern on her face. She didn't finish that though, though. "You flew to the clubhouse."

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, I started to, but then my wings got tired and I ran the rest of the way." The Pegasus filly crossed her hooves over her chest. "Dad never wanted to teach me, and mom was an earth pony so…" she trailed off, shrugging.

"Be prepared tomorrow to meet the new family. Mr. and Mrs. Puff are looking excited about this. Have your things ready to go." Bleeding Heart ignored Scootaloo's shocked expression and stood. "I'll be here at noon. Goodday." She turned and left.

Scootaloo was staring at the wall, unable to believe that had just happened. She was told she had to leave, and that was that. She jumped slightly when she felt Applejack nuzzle her. "Hun, Ah can't say much right now. Ah was mighty proud when I saw you flyin' off though. You'll be all over the sky in no time." When Scootaloo didn't respond, Applejack nudged her again. "Come on, let's go get the girls. I'm sure you wanted to tell them, didn't you?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh no, Rainbow Dash! She's waiting for me at Sugarcube Corner," the filly looked slightly panicked. "She's been there for an hour. I forgot all about it. I bet she left already and everything."

"Well come on then. The only way we're going to find out is if we go and check." Applejack nudged Scootaloo again, getting the filly to her feet and out the door. Scootaloo galloped as fast as she could into town, Applejack staying by her side, and nearly ran into Rainbow Dash as she was leaving the sweet shop.

"Dash, I'm so sorry I'm late but Bleeding Heart came to Sweet Apple Acres and said I had to leave tomorrow with some Pegasus couple but I ran off to the club house but that didn't matter and I forgot to tell AJ that I had to meet you here and-" the rest of what she was going to say was cut off as Dash put a hoof to the filly's mouth.

She smiled down at Scootaloo. "Okay there kiddo. What I got was that Bleeding Heart was at Sweet Apple Acres and then something about the clubhouse." She moved her hoof back to the ground. "Now, let's go inside, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are there and you can tell them the good news, and then you can tell me why you were late, okay?"

Scootaloo nodded and followed Rainbow Dash in. Looking back and making sure Applejack was following her, she ran up to her fellow Crusaders. "I flew guys! Watch!" She moved away a few steps and began flapping her wings. Dash and Applejack stood to the side and watched silently while the other two Crusaders were cheering before Scootaloo had left the ground. She was still shaky, her wings not used to being the only limbs to support her wait, but she was still flying.

She landed by simply folding her wings in, the one foot drop not even making her stumble. She looked up at her took best friends, her smile fading as she remembered what else it was she had to tell them. Before she could say anything, a pair of white hooves were around her neck. "I knew you could do it, Scoot. You'll be a Wonderbolt before you know it. Bloom and I can help too!"

"No, you can't," Scootaloo said. Her voice was somber, which her friends weren't used to hearing. "I have to move to Cloudsdale.

Whatever Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said was drowned out by Rainbow Dash's loud "What?"

Scootaloo looked over at her hero. "Bleeding Heart said I have to go stay with this couple in Cloudsdale. I leave at noon tomorrow." Scootaloo shrugged, but the waver in her voice hinted at the tears she was holding back. Both her best friends were hugging her now, nuzzling her cheek with tears in their eyes.

"They can't take you. They just can't. Applejack, stop 'em, please?" Apple Bloom looked at her older sister, pleading. It broke Applejack's heart to see the foals like that, to hear her little sister to use such a hurt, desperate tone, but she could only shake her head.

"Nothin' I can do without ending up in trouble."

Had this been one of those mystery books Dash was secretly reading, Bleeding Heart would have walked in and Dash could have yelled at her. If it was one of the Crusades the three fillies were always going on, it could have been fixed with a stern talking to, and a grounding if needed. But it wasn't those things. It was plain and simple life, and so the five ponies simply sat there, not wanting time to move.

Sweetie Belle stayed at Sweet Apple Acre's that night. The girls stayed up later than they ever had before, just sitting with each other and talking quietly. It took Applejack coming into the room Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been sharing for the past month and telling them it was four in the morning to go to sleep.

The rooster's crow came too early. With only two hours sleep, the three fillies pulled their pillows over their ears. Applejack could be heard outside, telling the rooster to not crow and let the girls sleep, but the damage had been done. Knowing was happened today, none of them could get back to sleep.

They all trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen where Granny Smith was cooking breakfast. "It's good to see you fillies up with the chickens," the elderly earth mare said. "I'm making all yer favorites, young'un."

Scootaloo attempted a smile, but it came out as a grimace. "I just don't wanna go," she said finally. "I love Ponyville. I love it here, and I love you guys. I hate these stupid ponies."

Applejack walked into the kitchen. "Hate is a strong word to use on ponies you ain't met yet. Ya might like 'em."

Breakfast was a silent affair, and afterward Applejack took the Cutie Mark Crusaders into town. It was after nine when they arrived. The normally rambunctious fillies sat by the fountain in town, their eyes downcast as they quietly talked to each other.

Applejack sat with them, simply waiting for Bleeding Heart to show up at fifteen 'til noon, as she was supposed to. Though when Rainbow Dash saw the four of them, she came and joined the group. She walked straight up to Scootaloo and gave her a hug, but neither of them said a word.

Pinkie brought some cupcakes out and then stuck around, trying to get the fillies to laugh, which seemed to work a little. Rarity showed up at ten, walking over to join her friends, though she kept shooting worried looks at the girls, who were now giggling at something Pinkie had said.

Twilight and Fluttershy were the last to show up. Fluttershy looked nearly in tears herself. Applejack had told her five friends what was happening, and they had all shown up to support Scootaloo, who looked around her amazed. Pinkie, satisfied the girls were smiling enough for now, joined the group of adults while the fillies went back to sitting in silence. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle kept their hooves wrapped around Scootaloo.

When Bleeding Heart arrived, everyone looked at her. She looked like she wanted to say something to the group, but instead focused on Scootaloo. "Now, the Puffs will be here shortly. I've told them all about you." Scootaloo just looked at her. Time ticked by slowly, until two Pegasi were seen walking toward the fountain. "There they are," Bleeding Heart said with a smile.

Mrs. Puff was a light grey pony with a dark grey mane. Her cutie mark had a storm cloud with a lightning bolt. Mr. Puff was a very light tan color with a deep red mane. His cutie mark was a hammer. They approached Bleeding Heart with smiles on their faces. Scootaloo glared at them, but couldn't help but think they looked nice.

"Scootaloo, dear, come say hi." Bleeding Heart gave the orange filly her biggest smile.

Again, Scootaloo just looked at her. Rainbow's voice broke the growing tension. The normally composed Pegasus' voice was thick as she fought the tears that were already spilling down her cheeks. "Scoots, go on."

Scootaloo looked at her mentor, biting her bottom lip, and then stood. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom let go as the filly stepped forward. "I don't want to go with you guys," she said, still moving toward the couple. "I don't want to leave Ponyville and my friends. I love it here. It's my home. But I guess I have to, so lets just go. Goodbyes aren't my thing." She cast a glance at Rainbow Dash, who had gained some composure. "I don't like getting all mushy."

That line, that single line, broke the composure of the blue Pegasus who ran over to Scootaloo and grabbed her into a hug. "I’m so sorry Scoots. I should have offered to teach you sooner. I should have talked to you, been better. I shouldn't have been so selfish and…and I promise I'll come visit and write, okay?"

Scootaloo clung to Rainbow Dash, tears streaming down her own face, though she couldn't do anything but shake her head. The Applejack was there, stroking her mane, telling the little filly she would write too, and so would Apple Bloom. Soon, the entire group was huddled around the little filly. None of them had realized how much they would truly miss her until that moment. Fluttershy offered to give her a pet, Twilight was giving away her entire Daring Doo series, and Rarity was simply whispering to her.

The Puffs looked at the scene before them and shook their heads. "Scootaloo," called Mr. Puff. The tearful group parted, allowing the filly to walk up to her new foster father. "Mrs. Puff and I think you seem like an amazing little filly, but we've decided not to take you after all. It seems to me you already have a family."

Scootaloo looked up at the tan stallion and grinned, throwing her hooves around him. "For real? I'm staying in Ponyville!" She released him and turned to the eight ponies looking at her. "I get to stay!"

After telling the Puffs goodbye, everyone started to go to Sweet Apple Acres and celebrate with cider and pie, but Bleeding Heart stopped them. "She can't stay permantly with you, Applejack. She has to go to a Pegasus family."

Rainbow Dash looked at the filly, who's ears drooped. Was she cut out to raise a filly? She was only twenty-the kid was half her age. But maybe she could do it. The words were out of her mouth before she knew exactly what she was staying. "What if she stays with me?"

The entire group was silent. "I'm a Pegasus. I make enough money to support her."

"Yes, I suppose that would work, but you'll have to have the proper training." Bleeding Heart nodded.

Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash. "You really want me?"

"Really," Dash said, opening her hooves as the filly jumped up and hugged her. "I mean, I got all mushy over you kid. You think I'm just going to let you leave."

Epilogue

It may have taken a year and a half, but it was finally completed. Rainbow Dash discovered she was actually pretty good at raising Scootaloo. She grinned at the young filly beside her. At twelve years of age, she was becoming a handful, but Dash didn't mind. She still remembered herself at that age.

"So, we're actually going to meet the Wonderbolts today?" Scootaloo squealed with excitement. "Do you know how cool this is?" The filly leaned against Dash, lost in a daydream. The queue around the stadium was at least a mile long, but they had camped out and were only about twenty back. This was supposed to be the best game of the year.

An elderly Pegasus spoke up from behind them. "It's good to see sisters bonding like this," he said with a smile.

"Oh, I'm not her sister, I'm her daughter." Scootaloo grinned, proud of what she had said. Her smile slipped when the stallion gave her a strange look.

"Her…daughter?" he asked, looking between the two and obviously trying to do the math.

"Yeah, the adoption went through today, actually. We're celebrating." Scootaloo grinned again and turned back around, not noticing the look of comprehension on the stallions face.

Dash had tried to adopt Scootaloo the way Applejack had adopted Apple Bloom, but since Scootaloo wasn't actually her sister, they way the two Apples had been, it wasn't possible. The line started moving at six o'clock on the dot. It didn't take long to get through line and obtain their 'backstage' passes.

The pair made their way to the special box. It was right at the start/finish line for these races, which was the best place to be. Scootaloo had taken to hopping around excitedly, causing Dash to chuckle. "Can we get snacks, Dash? Since we still have like, an hour before it starts?"

"Of course. What do you want?" They pressed their way back out into the crowd, looking around for someplace that sold food instead of souvenirs. "Nachos?"

The line in front of the closest nacho place was long, but they had time. Scootaloo sighed, looking around the line at the front counter. "I wish the line would go faster," she whined. Dash just rolled her eyes.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo both turned when they heard the fillies name called out. The Puffs came up beside them. "Hey, looks like you're doing good," Mrs. Puff said.

"Oh yeah, Dash got us tickets! And we're going backstage after the races!" Scootaloo was practically vibrating with joy.

"Really?" Mr. Puff said, looking at Rainbow Dash. "I thought only high class ponies could get those."

"Oh, well, after the wedding, Dash has been writing Soarin and he gave them to her." Scootaloo teased the cyan Pegasus with a grin. In a stage whisper, she looked over at the Puffs and said, "I think they're dating to be honest."

The blush on Dash's face could have fried an egg. "I-Scootaloo, that is private. And we aren't dating. He just…well, since the best young fliers competition and the gala and the wedding, he was just curious about how I was so…everywhere." The blush had died down now. "And I'm boring you guys, sorry. Yeah, Scoot's is doing really well, I think. All A's in school, and she's flying perfectly now."

"We're really glad to hear that. We were sad that you didn't want to live with us, but from what we saw, if we had taken you from Ponyville, we would have taken you from your family. Family is more than just blood relations, after all."

Dash smiled at the couple. "I couldn't thank you guys enough for telling Bleeding Heart you wanted her to stay in Ponyville." She threw a hoof around Scootaloo. "We couldn't."

The Puffs simply shrugged it off. "No matter, really. But we have to find our seats, before the race. It was nice seeing you again."

The line still moved slowly, so that by the time they made it back to the box, there was only fifteen minutes left before the race.

"I still can't believe he kissed you!" Scootaloo giggled as she clung to Dash's back on the flight home. She wasn't strong enough to make such a rough flight on her own. Even though she couldn't see it, she knew Dash's cheeks were red.

"He-I-Scootaloo, I need to concentrate on flying." Dash tried to sound authoritative, but failed as she let out a giggle of her own. "It was amazing, though."

They landed at their cloud home, Scootaloo slowly slipping off Dash's back. "This was so fun, but I'm going to sleep for a week."

Dash chuckled and shook her head. "You have school Monday, remember?"

The filly groaned but nodded as she made her way to her room and flopped down on the bed, not bothering to turn down the blankets. She fell into a deep sleep quickly and didn't notice Dash walk into the room an hour later to check on her. With a small smile, Dash shook her head and turned out the light.

Dash walked over to the bedside, looking at the filly. She wasn't really a filly anymore, she was becoming a beautiful young mare, but the childish innocence was still there. Dash leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Scootaloo's head in a motherly fashion.

She sighed, thinking of the last year and a half and everything that had brought them there. With another shake of her head, she picked the filly up, trying to turn down the blankets so she wouldn't get cold through the night.

Scootaloo woke up though. "Wha-No!" She fought against Dash for a moment, until Dash dropped her. "What are you…I…Dash?" The orange Pegasus was panting as she looked up at a worried looking Rainbow Dash. "Sorry."

Dash's expression softened. "Another nightmare?" Scootaloo just nodded and climbed up onto her bed.

"It was the same as always. It just…" Scootaloo bit her lip, her brow furrowed and she made sure not to look at her rainbow-maned caretaker.

Dash sighed and sat on the bed next to Scootaloo, wrapping the filly in her hooves. "It's okay. You're safe here." They sat like that in silence for a while. Scootaloo had gained many things over the year and a half. Flight experience, confidence, trust, but she still had nightmares about what had happened in the past.

"Can I sleep in your bed again tonight?" Her voice was a whisper, almost as if she were ashamed to ask.

"Of course," Dash said. The first night Scootaloo had came into her room, tear streaming down her face, Dash had felt weird about sharing the bed with her. Not that she thought those thoughts about the filly, but she was afraid of what might happen if Scootaloo told others she slept in Dash's bed.

After talking to Applejack and Rarity about it, she felt better. Their sisters would come to them when they had nightmares as well.

"It's been a whole three weeks since the last one," Dash said as she and Scootaloo laid down. "That's a good sign."

"It was the worst one yet, though. I could…I could feel everything again." Scootaloo sighed and shook her head, but didn't say anything else. Dash new better than to pressure her to say anything. After all, she had saw a counselor since she moved in with Dash, on DFS orders, of course.

Scootaloo snuggled closer to Dash, getting comfortable, as Dash draped a wing over the filly. Soon, Scootaloo's breaths were light and rhythmic. A small smile formed on Dash's lips. "I love you, Scootaloo."