The air was hot, and Scootaloo's mouth tasted of cider. Her head was buzzing, and she was the happiest mare in Equestria.

The skies were darkening, the sun quickly setting behind the horizon. A muddy scent flowed in from the windows from the direction of the river, with the sound of insects chirping out in the fields. It was a classic Ponyville summer, with the sort of humidity that clung to a pony’s coat, complete with the flashing of lightning bugs outside.

And Scootaloo was with her friends. What more could she want?

Stupid question. There were a lot of things she wanted. But right now all those desires seemed far away. Right now, there was Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom to play cards and gossip with. And she wasn’t going to let anything ruin any of that. Not while the cider was still running!

But things were winding down now. Everypony was tired, and they’d been sitting quietly for some time, stirring where they sat only occasionally for another sip of cider.

At last Scootaloo drained her mug, and sat up to break the silence. “I’m out.” She held her mug out upside down, emphasizing the point.

“Me too,” Sweetie concurred.

Scootaloo’s head was turned away from Apple Bloom where she couldn’t see, but she heard her gulping down the last of her drink, suppressing a burp. “Same.”

Scootaloo giggled, her wings buzzing as she made for the keg to give it a little shake. “Feels like there’s just enough for one last round.”

“Fill me up, Scoots,” Apple Bloom said, lifting herself up.

“And me!” Sweetie Belle’s voice came out in a bubbly giggle as she too came over for one last mugful of cider.

Scootaloo filled their mugs with alacrity, snickering a little at Sweetie’s flushed cheeks. “Look at you. What would Rarity say if she saw you now?”

Sweetie stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry. “Rarity’s not here, is she?”

"Guess she ain't." Apple Bloom took a deep quaff from her mug. “Where is she these days? Canterlot, right?”

“Yeah.” Sweetie Belle's demeanor suddenly changed, her eyes turning down as she traced circles on the floor with a hoof. “Some sort of big opening with Coco. Princess Twilight’s gonna be there, that’s all I know.”

“Rarity’s really hitting it big, isn’t she?” Apple Bloom said.

“Mm.” Sweetie’s expression soured even further, ears drooping. “I just wish she were home more.”

“Hey, at least you got Carousel Boutique to yourself most of these days, don’t ya?” Apple Bloom slung her legs over her seat, dangling her hindhooves. “Gosh. That sounds awful nice, havin' some space to breathe and move and be yourself and all that.”

Sweetie didn’t look up. “It’s just not the same without having her around.”

“I dunno about you, but I think I’d actually kind of like it.” Apple Bloom looked towards the ceiling, waving her hoof about as she spoke. “Family’s great and all. But after all this time, it gets kinda crushing, y’know?” Her own words seemed to spur her own anger, as a steely edge creeped into her voice. “It’s hard enough even trying to step outta the house without Applejack breathin’ down my neck. Everypony still treatin’ me like I just learned to walk. Y’all don’t understand how tirin' those sorta horseapples get.”

Sweetie Belle turned her head upwards at the outburst, frowning with clear concern. “You alright, Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom’s muzzle scrunched, before she lay back against the wall, defeated. “Nope,” she admitted. “I mean, don’t you girls ever think about what’s out there?” She gestured vaguely off into the distance with a hoof. “Outside o’ Ponyville. In the real world, in the rest of Equestria. Doesn’t it get awful tirin’ just to stay here all the time?”

A palpable silence filled the room. Those words had touched a pretty deep nerve, and it showed.

Scootaloo’s own mind returned to all those auditions. All those disappointments. All those times Rainbow had encouraged her, only to turn out to be wrong every single time.

Sweetie spoke up first. “I mean, yeah. Like what Rarity’s doing now. She’s out there being somepony.” She frowned. “Not like us. Not like the rest of Ponyville. I mean, ugh.” The unicorn groaned. “Nopony out there actually gets it. Nopony wants to actually be anything. They just want to stay home and do...whatever.”

“Gettin’ held back,” Apple Bloom chimed in. “And not even realizin’ it’s happenin’.”

“Never having a chance!” Scootaloo raised her mug up high. “Can I get an amen?”

She got one, with a whoop and the wooden thud of mugs. As Scootaloo's lips met the cool liquid, a sudden savage joy erupted in her chest. Between the buzz of cider and the infectious pride of having her friends agree with her, she felt understood.

It was like somepony was actually listening. Like somepony actually wanted what she wanted. Like there were other ponies who actually had the horseshoes to try and make something of it. They could probably hear the elated screaming in her head all the way over in Canterlot.

Canterlot.

The name brought pause to Scootaloo’s drinking, and she suddenly sat her mug down as her mind began to race.

“Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle glanced over her way. “Something up?”

Scootaloo didn’t answer immediately. Her thoughts were on all those stories she’d heard about Princess Twilight and her friends from years ago. Her friends’ sisters, what they’d done.

They could do that too, couldn’t they?

Oh, yeah. They definitely could.

And where were her parents to say no? Her aunts? She was too big for that sort of nonsense.

And this time, being big really was all it took.

“C’mon, girls.” Scootaloo broke out in a wild grin. “I got a better idea.”

“Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked, clearly confused.

“Trust me. Follow me for a bit." Scootaloo got to her hooves, setting her mug aside and making for the door, beckoning for the others to follow. "I wanna show you something.”

Author's Note

We didn't say much, wasn't much to say
Everypony in the room had the same kinda pain
But who am I to complain?