Rearing Scootaloo

The next morning James awoke and got up only to find the lamp beside the couch had been turned on, he could’ve sworn he turned it off. Scootaloo was sleeping curled up in her blanket next to the couchstand. He did his best to avoid and ignore the mess of comic books on his coffee table, some of which were peeking off the edge, and the various papers on the floor. He turned off the lamp (again?) then left through the back to get breakfast.

He had a lot of shopping to do today, so much so that he was gonna need a list. Thinking about those got him thinking about Celestia’s student, which in turn made him remember that he wanted to write Celestia a letter.

Sure he was do to meet her tomorrow morning, ‘FUCK,’ he thought at a sudden realization. How was he supposed to explain to the ruler of the country and apparent controller of the sun and moon that he was harboring a runaway orphan and did not go to any authorities. What would Celestia do? If only he knew the laws. He would just have to use the cover story, and hope that Celestia hadn’t been keeping track of missing foals.

He was screwed.

While pondering ways to unscrew himself, he had gotten breakfast and made it back. Opening his front door and lightly closing it after entering, he walked to the kitchen and put down the boxes that contained their food. Scootaloo, at some point, woke up and was quick to make it to the table, “whaaa~” she yawned covering her mouth with a hoof, “what’d you get this time?”

He held out his finger and she looked at it confused, “one second,” he clarified. He left the kitchen and got three papers and a pen, then wrote the following.

Rules:

1. Clean up after yourself within the same day.
   
2. Do your homework.

Something came to mind and he honestly felt stupid for forgetting such a simple thing. He’d been doing it for at least one whole year even with Sweetie. He supposes Sweetie really set him off balance, or was it rather the potential punishment being with her posed, or perhaps his several near death experiences at the claws of those crab ponies? He rubbed his forehead with his free hand. It was probable all three. He sighed and wrote down what he’d forgotten.

1. Brush your teeth and take showers at least once a day.
   
2. ...

It was a simple list he had to admit. He handed it to her. She grit her teeth looking it over, “What’s with the last rule? Huh? Couldn’t think of anything?” She asked mockingly.

“Rule four is me telling you remember our cover story. If you really don’t want to go back to the orphanage then you better know it,” he explained.

“I’m not stupid,” She said defencsivly.

“I didn’t say you were,” he said, setting his remaining two papers and pen aside, “I have a lot to do today and I would appreciate it if you’d not try to test my patience,” he said grabbing his own food, “I’m trying to help you out,” he said, holding out a box to her.

She scowled at him and took the box while muttering something under her breath.

He wanted to scold her for the crappy attitude, but the thought wasn’t appealing. It hardly mattered right now anyway. He had to get shopping.

He quickly ate his breakfast and put his dishes in the sink before going back to the table. Scootaloo was still eating her food, "could you please not eat like a wild animal and actually chew your food with your mouth closed?"

"Ihhuu nu." she muffled out with a mouth full of food before taking a moment to swallow her food and get a drink, "no." She said before going back to eating noisily.

"You better not suddenly start choking on me, I don't want to have to save a filly that should know how to eat properly." He stated. She merely stuck out her tongue at him, he didn't give it more then a glance as she was eating when she did so.

He sighed took his pen and one of the papers. He wrote a letter to Celestia telling her about how he got roped into foal sitting immediately on his first day of retirement. He ignored Scootaloo's continued noisy eating as he wrote. He of course left out the incriminating details. He then wrote about Scootaloo, who thankfully was no longer eating, in hopes of preempting any possible situation of Celestia finding out the truth. He had to think about that and get his words right.

He decided to be vague and give little to no details. He also provided that the fillies and colts here were not spoiled, which was true as far as he could tell. He was tempted to complain about the crab pony incident, but he wondered if she even knew about it, considering the town had not gone under any kind of martial law that he was aware of.

With the last paper he wrote a long list of things he needed to do today. He was almost done.

*knock knock*

He looked up from is ever growing list, and the noise came again, “Scootaloo can you get the door?” he asked knowing she was likely in the living room.

“Why can’t you? I’m reading a comic book!” She yelled back from the living room, confirming his suspicions.

He couldn’t help but notice Scootaloo had not cleaned up her dishes, boxes, and napkins. She left all that on the table. He groaned, “because I’m in the kitchen and you’re in the living room. You’re closest to it.”

"So what, this is your house!"

*knock knock*

'yes it is, and that also means I can kick you out,' he thought dryly. "Am I gonna have to bring up the mess you left in the kitchen? All you had to do was bring two plates to the sink and throw away some things."

"What? But you're the one who brought that stuff!"

"Exactly, I went out and got it then gave it to you and I'm pretty sure you enjoyed it by the fact you ate all of it. The least you can do is take care of it."

"Who said I wasn't going to? I'm not breaking your list. It clearly says that I just have to make sure it's done by the end of the day, and it's still morning!"

*knock knock*

He didn't think she'd be clever enough to use technicalities, but he supposes that was his own error, "That may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that you're closest to the door."

“Ugh, FINE!” she yelled, "I'll do it just so I can get back to my comic book," a moment later, the door opened, “It’s that filly, umm-” He could hear Sweetie say her own name, “Sweetie!” Scootaloo said louder.

“One moment!” he said , before writing down the last thing on his list. He grabbed both his papers and walked out to see Scootaloo was back to the comic books while Sweetie waited inside at the door, “Hey Sweetie, what brings you by today.”

“W-well I-I was just hoping we c-could, but you know-” she half stuttered, while bobbing her head toward Scootaloo, who was pretending to not pay attention. Her ears were clearly locked on to us, as she looked intently at a comic book.

“Umm, yoouu mean cooking lessons right?” he almost stuttered, “Yeah,” he said with confidence, “well I have a lot of shopping to do today, anyways. That includes buying ingredients for future lessons, either of you care to help me out?”

“No,” Scootaloo answered.

“Yes!” Sweetie replied happily.

That's not the answer he was hoping for. If Scootaloo is gonna become Sweeties friend they need to spend time together. An idea came to him, “I’ll buy you both some ice cream and give you some money for a movie or bowling or whatever if you help me out,” he offered.

Scootaloo got up closing her comic book, “Deal,” she said jumping down from the couch and walking up to Sweetie, who smiled nervously.

He smiled at his small victory, “okay, so the first thing I need to do is go to the post offi-” he stopped as he remembered something. “I’ll be right back,” He quickly ran to his room and retrieved the stamp, “okay first stop is the post office.”

=============================================================================

During the walk there Scootaloo and Sweetie did some small talk. James mentioned to Sweetie that Scootaloo was new in town, as it aligned with their cover story. He hoped she would’ve offered the pegasus a tour of the town. He even tried hinting at it, and of course they flew over her head, far above.

Once there he bought a bunch of letters and other postal related things, and gave them his stamped envelope, after putting in his letter of course. They were quick to send it out.

The bank was their next stop. He needed to get some funds, “Okay, let's get out of here,” he said to Sweetie and Scootaloo who impatiently waited for him to get done standing in line and then dealing with the bank teller. They sat on some chairs near the entrance.

“I thought you promised us we’d get some ice cream and let us watch a movie, not grow old and die of boredom,” Scootaloo complained as she got off her chair and stretched.

“But we’re not old, and we’re not dead,” Sweetie stated as she followed him outside.

“Sweetie that was a figure of speech, she didn’t mean it literally.” James explained, as Scootaloo looked to Sweetie, bewildered.

“Oh, well you should’ve made him Pinkie Promise if you wanted the ice cream and movie first,” Sweetie suggested. “No pony breaks a Pinkie Promise,” she said in finality.

James stopped and looked down to Sweetie for a moment, as his mind wrapped the thought around his head. They stopped looking up at him curiously, “Umm, Sweetie how do you know what a pinky promise is?” They don’t have hands let alone pinkies.

“Everypony knows what a Pinkie Promise is.” Sweetie said as if it was obvious.

“Speak for yourself,” Scootaloo said, “what’s a pinkie promise?”

“Huh? Oh, oh oh!” Sweetie said as if she just realized something, “that’s right your new in town. Wait! never mind then, everypony who lives in Ponyville knows what a Pinkie Promise is at least, I think,” she said with uncertainty.

“That doesn’t answer my question, what’s a pinkie promise?” Scootaloo asked again.

“It’s-” she stopped herself went somewhat rigged, “cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She said making the appropriate gestures. It was cute and at the end she jabbed her eye lightly.

“No way!” James said with a chuckle, “no ahaha freaking way,” he laughed some more, “but you ahaha don’t have pinkies,” he said with a laugh. He pulled himself together rubbing his face, “sorry Sweetie but I was not expecting that. It’s almost exactly like a pinky promise from my world, and you guys don’t even have pinkies.” he said restraining his mirth and showing them what he means, “we call this finger a pinky.”

“And what’s a pinky promise from your world like?” Scootaloo asked.

He quickly debated whether or not to tell them considering it’s a little more graphic. “Well, consider it a figure of speech but it goes like this. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” He said make the gestures.

“Eugh,” Sweetie let out, “my eyes hurt just thinking about it,” she said rubbing her eyes.

“I like yours better,” Scootaloo said.

“You do, why?”

She frowned, “it-it doesn’t matter why I like it more.”

“Right…” he really didn’t like not knowing what was going through that fillies head. He’d have to do something about it, but what could he do? “So Sweetie do you know where your version of a pinky promise comes from?”

“Pinkie Pie ofcourse,” Sweetie answered, “the funnest mare ever.”

He knows Rarity mentioned her at their date so maybe she was a good friend of Rarities? “Huh, well I suppose that explains the name maybe, but not the fact the rhyme or whatever is basically the same.” He rubbed his head. Right, they have a place called Manehatten and Las Pegasus. He shook his head, “Anyways, you’ll get your ice cream and stuff after we do a little bit of shopping. Letsa go!” Scootaloo groaned in embarrassment at his sudden accent and enthusiasm.

First they went to Barnyard Bargains to get some flour, sugar, salt, oats, pancake mix, syrup, butter, milk, cheese, jelly, and many other things.

Scootaloo grabbed some cereal and snacks while they were there. He was tempted to tell her to put them back, “I don’t have to buy those you know.” He stated. In response she grabbed something else and threw it in the cart. He was gonna have to do something about that attitude. What that was still eluded him. Owell, it wasn’t like he was short on funds. Particularly here in Ponyville, so far it seemed like everything here was five times cheaper than in Canterlot.

Sweetie was out getting some things from the list by herself. He’s glad she was because he’s gonna need all the time he can get for all the shopping and stuff he’ll have to do later today.

After Barnyard Bargains they went to the street market. He’s only been there a couple times but enough to know where the produce stands tended to be. He gave the fillies some bits to find certain fresh foods.

While he was there he figured he’d have a look around. Most of it was food stands; however, he did see some stands selling soap, candles, statuettes, cooking utensils, pottery, and something he could’ve sworn was illegal. It peaked his interest so he made a note to visit said shop later today if he had the time.

Once done they made their way back. “Thanks for helping me out,” he said, as he held open the door for the fillies who were carrying their own bags. He’s glad they seemed to be getting along somewhat. Scootaloo seemed to mellow out a bit.

“It was fun,” Sweetie said happily.

“Yeah, fun,” Scootaloo said adding air quotes with her hooves, “I mean, yeah it was fun,” she amended with false enthusiasm after noticing she had his attention.

Sweetie gasped, “you think so too?” She asked turning face to face, “the only thing that could make it better i-” She began excitedly before covering her own mouth a blush evident.

Scootaloo clearly unnerved backed away and faced James, “So what about that ice cream and movie you promised?”

“First things first, help me put all this stuff in the kitchen.” They did so though Scootaloo grumbled about it, “Okay, I have a lot of shopping to do today. As you know Sweetie some of my things went missing when I moved here and I plan on buying replacements and some other stuff while I’m at it.”

“I can help you with that,” Sweetie offered.

“I know you can, but I think it’d be best if you gave Scootaloo a tour of town and maybe got to know her a little since she’ll be living with me for the foreseeable future. We of course will continue our cooking lessons, sorry I haven't been able to resume them yet, but as you can see we just got done shopping for basic cooking ingredients, and before that we just got done setting up the house. So maybe tomorrow we’ll be able to resume cooking lessons.”

Sweetie looked at him blankly before getting a devilish smile, “rii~ght, cooking,” she said with a wink.

He narrowed his eyes, “Yes, Sweetie cooking,” he said flatly. She giggled into her hoof. He rolled his eyes. He grabbed and handed them two small bag of bits, “Use this on ice cream and a movie or whatever. Take as long as you want, like I said I might be gone till nine, even. So take your time since the house will be locked.”

“We get it, don’t come here till it’s dark out yada yada, come on let's go Sweetie.” Scootaloo said turning and leaving.

“Umm,” Sweetie said looking up to him clearly unsure.

He kneeled down and gestured her over, she quickly ran up to him and he halted her with a hand, “Sweetie try to make sure she doesn’t get back here until late, I was serious about me having a lot to do today. With that said if something happens I should be back here at five before I have some stuff to do, otherwise go to Rarity.”

“We could help you out,” she said with a pout.

“I know, but I don’t think Scootaloo is up for more shopping, just go have some fun,” he said patting her on the head.

“Okay,” she said a little down trodden.

He sighed and leaned in close, “I have a surprise for Scootaloo but I didn’t want her to know about it. She’s been in a bad mood because of reasons I can’t get into, let's just say it’s why she’ll be living with me for a while, and I was hoping to get her out of it, the bad mood that is. Don’t worry you’ll get to see the surprise as well,”

“Really?” She asked, as smile forming on her face.

“Just keep it a secret for now, this is why I don’t want you here till late, it’ll ruin the surprise, and please keep it a secret.”

She let out a giggle, “okay.”

“Now get out of here,” he said out loud playfully pushing her away.

“What was that about,” Scootaloo asked as Sweetie pranced outside.

“Nothing,” Sweetie sang, “lets go get some ice cream!”

“About time!” Scootaloo agreed.

“Alright,” he said in the house, “you fillies have fun! I have to do something before I go.” he explained.

“Bye!” Sweetie said waving and walking down the walkway with Scootaloo.

He put away his stamp and double checked his list for anything to add. Once done he locked his front door and set off.