This is the worst day ever!
Take Your Parents to School Day. A poor, not as exciting, and altogether lesser analogue of take your filly to work day. Luckily for her, her parents were chomping at the bit to come with her. Wrong. But she could count on her sister to be, Rainbow Dash, to show up, right? Wrong, again. Busy practicing with the wonderbolts, but Rainbow swore that she would make it up to her.
So, she had tried her other options. Rarity and Applejack? Going with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, though that was to be expected - not that she would’ve wanted to go with Rarity anyways, she was way too girly. Twilight? Busy reorganizing the library again. Pinkie Pie? Busy at Sugarcube Corner. Even Fluttershy, who was normally available to do whatever, was busy facilitating the migration of some geese near the Everfree. It was the middle of spring, but what the hay did she know about the migratory patterns of waterfowl?
That’s when Sweetie Belle made it apparent to her that there were other options for her: The local regent and raiser of the sun, Princess Celestia. She had laughed; rather rudely at that, but she couldn’t help it. What kind of suggestion was that? In what world would Princess Celestia be able to spare the precious time in her day just to go to a boring school event to see some random filly she didn’t even know? Not this one. Of that, Scootaloo was certain.
But according to Sweetie, Princess Celestia was visiting Ponyville. Something about ‘occupational hazards’. She was a Princess though. Maybe she fell out of bed? Yeah, she would stick with that.
So, she had sent a letter to her. Her friends had helped her immensely; despite constant denial of such, she wasn’t very good at writing. Or drawing. Or pretty much any other artsy craftsy thing she could think of. Then, she approached Twilight, who was courteous enough to send the letter for her.
And then, nothing. She received nothing in return. Not even a rejection of some sort. Just… nothing. Granted, she had never met Celestia in person, nor had Celestia met her and they likely never would.
But that was okay. That was expected even. She was a princess, after all. It wasn’t like she actually expected a response...
Everypony was busy, busy, busy. Everypony but her, apparently. She was busy with not being busy - ‘stalling’ as Apple Bloom had so brazenly put it. She wasn’t stalling! She was just… taking her time! Walking in zig-zags, taking breaks because she was ‘tired’. Her goal? Take as long as possible to get to school.
She knew she was only delaying the inevitable, but every second she spent not being alone was a second well spent.
“Would’ya hurry up Scootaloo? We don’t got all mornin’. School’s startin’ in five!”
That was all the warning she got before she was thrown into the red wagon beside her. A pained yelp escaped her muzzle, and she gripped her rapidly darkening hoof with its counterpart.
A red bow peaked over the side of the wagon, followed by a furry, yellow body piling in beside her. Apple Bloom glanced at her hoof. “Sorry Scoots, but you didn’t look too keen on moving by yourself.”
Scootaloo only sighed, pressing her back to the side of the wagon.
“Alright Sweetie, punch it!” Sweetie Belle fired off a lazy salute at Apple Bloom before hopping onto the scooter. Then she turned around, a confused look etched on her face.
“Wait, what? You want me to drive this thing?”
Apple Bloom scratched her head. “S’what I said, wasn’t it?”
Sweetie fumbled around with the steering bar, bracing a hindleg on the ground to keep herself upright. “I mean… you’re kidding right?”
Apple Bloom glared at her flatly.
Sweetie giggled awkwardly. “Guess that’s a no then. Well, here goes nothing!” Her horn lit up.
If she had eaten breakfast that morning, it would’ve been all over her coat, as the wagon lurched forward violently. She groaned.
Ughh. I have the worst luck ever. And the worst friends too.
They were late.
Despite Sweetie Belle’s valiant attempt at getting them to school on time, they still arrived ten minutes past the time when school was scheduled to start.
Already off to a great start.
The wagon’s questionable aerodynamics and Sweetie’s rookie scootering skills left her with several knots in her stomach, a further aggravated hoof, and a headache to match. She sighed before padding towards the looming oak door that was the only thing standing between her and a long day of school.
“Will you stop doing that?” Scootaloo turned her head towards .
“Stop doing what?”
“Sighing, that’s what.” Sweetie Belle’s face adopted an overly-exaggerated mope. Her hooves dragged slowly along the ground, kicking up little clouds of dust in her wake. “My name’s Scootaloo and I’m so sad!”
Scootaloo swore that she saw tears at the corners of Sweetie Belle’s eyes, as she sullenly marched forward. Then Sweetie’s hoof got snagged on a rock. She ate the dirt hard. Scootaloo felt a smile play at the edges of her mouth.
“There’s that smile! Good job Sweetie! Now, stop playing around in the dirt, Miss Cheerilee probably isn’t too happy with us right now.” Sweetie Belle glared at them both, muttering to herself as she rose and brushed the dirt out of her coat.
“Oh, hush with the backtalk Sweetie. Let’s go.”
“Alright everypony, we’re moving onto the equish section.” Miss Cheerilee headed the room, giving out random directions every once in a while and answering the various questions that were asked to her. It was an organized chaos that was typically seen within the classroom, though this time it served a purpose. It was how this day was run and how this day most likely would be run in the future. Though, run was the wrong word. The day crawled at a pace slower than molasses, but then again, it was probably because she had nopony sitting next to her to share her progress with.
Her spot in the back right corner granted her an unfettered panorama of the classroom. The occasional furtive look upwards revealed to her that every foal-occupied desk had an adult mare or stallion counterpart smashed up against it. Several stands were set up, showcasing different school projects that were well done. A table with punch and cookies sat in the back, courtesy of Pinkie Pie.
Parents were chatting with their foals about a multitude of subjects, school and otherwise. But for the most part, they seemed to be having fun.
“So, Scoots, how are ya doing in Equish class?” a voice said aloud next to her.
Then there was Applejack. The mare was planted to the left of her, directly between her and Apple Bloom. She had taken it upon herself to be some sort of stand in for any would be guardian that would have come with her.
“I do okay, but I like history more,” she replied, her tongue moving around inside her dry mouth.
Applejack nodded stiffly, adopting a slightly angry look on her face before leaning in towards her, whispering in her ear. “I’ll talk to your sister if you want me to, Scoots. T’aint right for her to leave you hangin’ like this.”
Scootaloo sighed glumly. “It’s alright Applejack. She’s just really busy with the bolts, you know? She’s kinda new to this whole sister thing.”
“I do know, an’ that’s why I’m a might bit frustrated with her right now.” Applejack took off her stetson and her eyes softened. “I’m a farmer. It’s a tough life; workin’ till them hands on those clocks” - Applejack’s hoof pointed at a clock hung on a wall next to them - “touch high noon. You get a bit of break for chow then you're right back to it.
“I’m busy - in fact, I’d say I’ve more work waiting for me when I get home then Dash has done this whole darn day - and I still made time to come here for my sister!” Applejack donned her stetson once more. “Rainbow needs to focus on really what’s important in her life. Family comes first.”
“So, if family comes first Applejack, does that mean I’m ungrounded?” Apple Bloom fixed her sister with her best pair of pouty eyes.
Applejack turned back towards Apple Bloom, a mock scowl on her face. “Firstly, you ain’t using ungrounded in the right context - if you’d been paying attention in Equish Class, you’d know that. Secondly, no, you ain’t ‘ungrounded’. I didn’t get anywhere in this family by bendin’ knee to the younger siblin’. This ain’t no democracy - this is a dictatorship and I’m the dictator. You’re ‘ungrounded’ when I say so.”
Apple Bloom let out a giggle. “Celestia wouldn’t approve of any dictators in her land. Y’know, I do actually pay attention in history class - the textbook says she whooped their flanks!”
“Not this Dictator! I’d dare Celestia to tryn’ drive me outta my farm. T’aint nopony whoopin’ these flanks, princess or not.” Applejack placed a hoof on her chest, her face contorting into a stoic, yet silly visage.
“Oh yeah? What about that time Granny Smith whooped your flanks for trapezing ‘round the house with that fancy saddle on your back?” Apple Bloom retorted, supplanting her head’s position on the desk with her hooves, a smug expression on her face.
Applejack shuffled her hooves, her face lighting up like a candle. “Y’said you were never gonna bring that up again! We swore up, down and sideways that it would remain in the house!”
“I didn’t swear on nothin’,” Apple Bloom said. “All’s I said was that I wouldn’t tell nopony if you didn’t want me to. You haven’t said nothin’ yet.
“I thought it was a standing order when I told you back then… Guess not! Well, from this point forward, nothin’ more is to be said on the subject.” Applejack spit into her and extended it towards her sister. Apple Bloom did the same and they shook on it, sealing the pact.
“So, back to Equish class, I’ve been noticing your grades have been takin’ a dip…”
Scootaloo zoned out of the conversation, her eyes training on the clock. It read: 11:24.
They stopped for lunch at 12:00 and regular school resumed at 1:00, covering the more interesting subjects, like history and Literature. School concluded at 3:00. She was never very good at math but if her calculations were right, she had, what? Three to four more hours of this? She was going to die. But at least the last few were normal school hours. She would feel less alone.
Why don’t Mom and Dad ever show up to my things? Why doesn’t Rainbow? It’s almost like they don’t even care about me…
She looked back towards the Apple sister. The eldest now held the younger in a headlock, giving her a noogie. They were both giggling wildly.
I wish I had a sister like that.
She scanned the room even further. Past Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Rarity were talking to one another, gesturing with strange hoof signs. Up the aisle, DInky was eating a muffin with her mom. Towards the middle of the room, Rumble was playing hoof, hoof, hoof with Thunderlane. Even Diamond Tiara, the brattiest foal in the room, happily chatted with her dad, Filthy Rich, near the teacher’s desk.
“Ahem.” Her ears flicked up and towards the voice.. “Are you Scootaloo?”
She turned her head to the right, her eyes landing on a slimmer, tall white-coated mare. Her fur was groomed well. Her rainbow mane cascaded gracefully around her, waving about as if it was caught in the tides.
But her eyes were different. They held a certain spark to them that she hadn’t ever seen before. They were… alive. It almost made her smile at the sight.
Then, almost on instinct, her eyes widened astronomically, her breath hitching in her throat. She knew this pony. A pair of hooves wrapped around her, pulling her closer to their owner with surprising strength
She hesitantly returned the hug, burying her head into the mare’s chest. She wasn’t too sure what was happening at the moment but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. So soft.
“I had to fight those doctors to clear me so I could come! Almost got in a hoof fight with the attendance clerk.” She chuckled, resting her head atop hers. “It’s so good to finally meet you - for real this time!”
She came. She actually came.
She felt the tears streaming from her eyes before she even realized she was crying.
“Now now, I know you’ve been waiting but we can’t have that. What is it that my dad used to say - a no cry zone?” A hoof tilted her head up, and she met Celestia’s smile with her own. “Only happy thoughts here.”
She smiled louder. That’s how much she was smiling - that she could hear it. She probably needed to get that checked out by a doctor.
“These are happy tears.” she said, before she buried her head back into Celestia’s chest.
Somepony finally came.
It was just the two of them. Nopony seemed to have noticed Celestia’s entrance. The room was the exact same as it was several minutes earlier. But it seemed different. Everything - from the banners festooned around the walls, the coats of the ponies around her, the color of the sky outside. It all seemed brighter. More alive. She felt more alive.
“So, what are we supposed to be doing?” Celestia asked, pulling up her desk beside hers. A glance at the clock revealed the time: 11:40.
“How is nobody seeing you!?” She blurted out, before covering her mouth with a hoof, her wings fluttering nervously.
“It’s okay my little pony. No need to be nervous, we’re both friends here. Also”- She pointed at her dimly shining horn -” Notice me not spell. Very useful, if I do say so myself.”
“Well, we’re supposed to be on the Equish section but I don't know much about you and you’re like, the Princess so… Let’stalkaboutyou!” Scootaloo hazarded quickly, a nervous smile on her face. The feelings from before were still present but they had dulled enough that logic had kicked in. Even if Celestia was the princess, she didn’t even know her. She was a stranger. She intended to rectify that but she felt very awkward, one on one with the princess.
“Ha! That’s my favorite subject.” Celestia winked at her, before arranging herself in the stereotypical thinker’s pose. “Well, let’s see. What’s there to know about me. Well, I’m one of the Princesses of Equestria and I raise the sun but I’m sure you already knew that. I don’t know what the elements have told you about me” - not much - “but they might have said that I’m a muffin pony but I’m more of a cake connoisseur myself. I find myself constantly at odds with that mailmare” - Celestia pointed her hoof at Derpy from across the room - “over there. She keeps trying to sell me those muffins but I know what her true motives are.”
Celestia paused. “Do you like cake?”
Scootaloo gulped, tracing her hoof in circles on her desk. “I-It's actually one of my favorite sweets along with ice cream. Don’t tell that to my mom though, she’d ban all cakes and ice cream from the house.” She let out an appalled giggle, barely stifling it with a hoof. She was talking to the princess!
Celestia chuckled along with her. “That sounds like a good mother - I approve -” she looked around the classroom “- where are your parent’s? Isn’t this a family function?”
Scootaloo gave the question’s answer due consideration. The answer wasn’t coming to her easily. She wasn’t sure how she felt about her parents and Rainbow right now. They had done this for four years straight now - not showing up on this specific day. They were always too busy.
She wasn’t sure why it mattered to her so much that they missed it either - this day wasn’t anything particularly special anyways. Maybe it was because she was the only one alone? Maybe it was because nopony besides her friends ever showed up to any of her events? She didn’t know and she was finding that she didn’t care. She was talking to Princess Celestia for Celestia’s sake. She wouldn’t let them ruin it.
“They’re just a little busy right now, that’s all.” She cleared her throat and smiled. They wouldn’t ruin her moment.
Scootaloo spoke again after a moment of silence. “So… how are you able to be here right now?”
“Well, Luna accidently sent me to the sun for a few minutes after an… incident, we shall call it. When the situation was rectified, we decided we needed a break. So, I decided to visit one of my subjects - you in this case, you sent me that letter afterall. I haven’t done so in a very long time. Oh, and the council is taking care of everything for the next week, so Equestria is not without government."
What?
“It’s lunch time everypony!” The bell rang simultaneously with Cheerilee’s announcement. She felt her stomach rumble in sympathy with the bell. Celestia giggled. “Sounds like somepony’s hungry. Why don’t you meet me at Sugarcube Corner, I’ll get you some cake and ice cream. How does that sound?”
Scootaloo nodded excitedly, deciding to forget the previous topic of conversation and the Princess disappeared in a flash of light.
“Hey Scoots, who were you talking to?”
She turned towards her friends, the two of them standing in the doorway, waiting for her. The room was empty. She trotted up to the duo, following them outside into the bright daylight.
“Princess Celestia.”
Two pairs of eyes regarded her with shock and disbelief. “You mean, Celestia Celestia?
Scootaloo nodded with a grin. “Celestia Celestia.”
“The letter worked… It worked!” Sweetie Belle’s smile was infectious and soon all of them were giggling madly.
She felt her body shiver with delight, all the nervousness from earlier being replaced by excitement.
This is the best day ever!
Author's Note
Why did I write this? Please let me know why I wrote this in the comments. If you want to see this as a sequel to moonlight robbery, feel free to.
Also yes, hoof, hoof, hoof is the ponified version of Rock paper scissors.
