Sisterly Bonds

Chapters

A Truth Long Forgotten
Memories
Changes
Bonding
Orange Memories
My Sister, Scootaloo
Shadows Revisited
Shared Origins
A Cyan Healing
The Fair

A Truth Long Forgotten

Sisterly Bonds

Part II
‘A Truth Long Forgotten’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

‘The present and the past coexist, but the past shouldn't be in flashback.’
-Alain Resnais

Scootaloo awoke in a strange place; She was in a cloud. It wasn’t that she had never been in a cloud house before, she had spent several afternoons with Rainbow in her cloudhouse; but she had never woken up in one, and a strange one at that.

She got out of the strange bed she was in and walked around the room. There were no windows, given that this was a cloud house windows were made when needed, and closed with a thick layer of cloud. There was one door leading out of the room. Scootaloo was getting scared now, not only was she in a strange place, but there was no way to tell what was on the other side of the door.

Scootaloo had been in this particular cloud house before, but never into this part of it. The room was so unfamiliar that Scootaloo was literally shaking in fear. The doorknob turned as Scootaloo turned and ran under the bed to hide. The door opened revealing a shadowed figure, it was still very dark.

The figure walked over to the bed and lifted up the covers not seeing Scootaloo where she had left her the night before.

It was a dark and stormy night. Rain was pouring down onto the windows of the orphanage.

‘I am getting out of this horrible place tonight!’ Scootaloo thought to herself. There was a thud, the doorknob started turning. Scootaloo quickly dived for cover under the bed in her room. A large stallion earth pony entered.

“Scootaloo, where are you?” He asked, no answer. That is when he noticed that her stuff was missing and so was a saddlebag.

“Call security, we have a missing foal!” The stallion yelled as he ran out of the room in a frantic search for Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo?” A voice said. This voice was familiar, though muffled by the wall of bedding between the voice and Scootaloo.

“R, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo said, she peeked her head out from under the bed.

“What are you doing under there Scoots?” Rainbow said, slightly amused at the fact that Scootaloo looked so cute hiding under the bed, but Rainbow would never admit being affected by cute things.

“I, I didn’t know where I was, and I still don’t.” Scootaloo said, the look on her face was a bit scared.

“Uh, my house, remember? Last night I brought you here because I didn’t know where you lived.” Rainbow said.

“Oh...” Scootaloo said, her ears fell, she knew Rainbow knew what her situation was, even if Rainbow refused to believe it.

“Well, its saturday and I don’t have to work and you don’t have school, so, what do you want to do?” Rainbow asked. She looked a bit concerned for Scootaloo, it was troubling seeing a small filly in such a distraught mood.

“Well, uh, I don’t know.” Scootaloo said, she was still unsure about the whole idea of not knowing where she was, even if she trusted Rainbow.

Scootaloo ran through the hallways, 3 stallions chasing her. The young foal was trying desperately to get away.

“She’s climbing out a window!” One of the stallions yelled.

“Stop her!” Another yelled.

‘I have to get away from this terrible place’ Scootaloo thought to herself. Living in an orphanage was terrible for Scootaloo, not that it was lonely or anything; but Scootaloo was treated very badly by the staff and she just wanted it to stop.

“She’s going to fall!” a stallion yelled. They were on the second floor. Scootaloo was hanging to the outside of the window, she let go, and was falling.

“Well I could always teach you some more flying stuff” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun!” Scootaloo said, her ears fell and she looked down. “I, I’m not going to get hurt again am I?” She asked

“No, I’ll catch you this time, why don’t we get breakfast first.” Rainbow said, she gestured for Scootaloo to follow her as she walked out of the room.

Scootaloo happily followed Rainbow into the kitchen.

“NO!” one of the stallions yelled as he reached a hoof out the window. He saw the sheer look of terror in the little foal’s face.

‘nononononono!’ Scootaloo’s mind was replaying over and over.

None of the stallions were able to catch her, she kept falling.

Scootaloo let out a shriek.

‘I was trying to climb down! I am gonna die!’ Scootaloo thought to herself.

Scootaloo hit the ground wings first, there was a loud audible snapping sound.

“Owe!” Scootaloo winced at the pain.

She had broken both of her wings and was unable to move for a few moments.

“She fell! Somepony get her!” A stallion said.

‘No! Not again!’ Scootaloo thought as she got up and started to limp away, her left foreleg broken.

“How about a dandelion sandwich?” Rainbow asked.

“Sounds good to me!” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow started to prepare the meal.

“Can you get the dandelions Scoots?” Rainbow asked as she got some bread out of a small cabinet.

“Uh, sure, where, where are they?” Scootaloo asked as she started looking through cabinets.

“In the window flower pot” Rainbow said pointing above the cabinet.

“Oh, uh, yeah” Scootaloo said slightly blushing that she forgot dandelions grew.

Scootaloo picked four of the best dandelions in the pot and returned them to Rainbow putting them on a small dish next to her.

“Do you think you can handle toasting the bread?” Rainbow asked as she pulled a small bit out cloud out of her wall and floated it over to Scootaloo.

“Uh, I can try, I have never actually controlled weather before though” Scootaloo said, she looked down and her ears went flat, most pegasi her age have at least caused a small house fire by now playing with clouds.

“Ok, well, just feel the cloud, and kick it to cause lightning to toast the bread.” Rainbow said, she punched the cloud with her forehooves to demonstrate slightly over toasting a small piece of bread.

“O-ok Here I go” Scootaloo said, she reared up to buck the cloud.

“Not That Hard!” Rainbow Shouted.

Her rear legs struck the cloud causing a very large bolt of lightning to strike the bread, disintegrating the bread and catching the table on fire.

Scootaloo was thrown back by the blast and Rainbow quickly bucked the cloud to make it start to rain on top of the fire.

Rainbow let out a sigh of relief when the fire was out, leaving a large scorch mark on her counter, or what was left of it.

“I, I think I’ll toast the bread from now on” Rainbow said.

Scootaloo’s ears fell and she started to look a bit sad and embarrassed. “I-I’m sorry Rainbow, I-”

“It’s ok Squirt, no one is good on their first try, unless you’re me that is” Rainbow said ignoring the fact that she nearly burned down her entire house on her first try when she was young.

“You, you’re not mad?” Scootaloo said, her ears perked up a bit.

“Na, it happens, but, I think you should stick to trying to learn other things” Rainbow said, she chuckled a bit as she toasted some new bread.

“Now, do you think you can handle putting the dandelions on the toast?” Rainbow asked, a bit concerned for the rest of her house.

“Sure” Scootaloo said a bit embarrassed at Rainbow’s dis trust in her abilities. She picked up some dandelion with her mouth and started to put it down on a piece of toast.

“No no! thats to far to the left”

Scootaloo adjusted.

“No, now you're too far to the right, the dandelion will come out of the bread if you put it that far over”

Again Scootaloo adjusted.

Scootaloo adjusted again.

“Ahh, perfect, now just inch closer, yes, closer, almost there, almost”

Scootaloo was just about to drop the dandelion on the bread...

“Perfect!” Rainbow shouted causing Scootaloo to fall over and drop the dandelion on the floor.

“Well, it was almost perfect” Rainbow said with a small sigh. She picked up a second dandelion and put it on the toast herself.

“I think I failed” Scootaloo said with a frown.

“Na, making a sandwich is something that takes precision and speed, and above all, awesomeness” Rainbow said with a smile on her face admiring how awesome she must look.

“So, I’m slow, imprecise, and not awesome?” Scootaloo asked looking a bit upset.

Rainbow thought for a moment about what she said and how bad it probably was for Scootaloo’s self esteem. “That’s not what I said, you’re just......not as awesome as me” Rainbow said, again regretting her choice of words.

“Oh” Scootaloo said with a sigh.

“Well uh, how about you get the water? there are two glasses over there, just punch the top of the cloud” Rainbow said as she floated yet another cloud over to Scootaloo.

“Are you sure? I’m not that awesome though” Scootaloo said still a bit upset.

“Yeah I am totally sure, go for it Scoots!” Rainbow said giving Scootaloo the bit of confidence that she needed.

Scootaloo punched the cloud causing a small rain to fill up the glasses to just the right amount.

“I did it!” Scootaloo shouted in bliss.

“See, I told you that you could be as awesome as me” Rainbow said with a small smile.

“Thanks Rainbow, you’re the best” Scootaloo said as she trotted over to Rainbow and gave her a small hug.

“Yeah, sure Scoots” Rainbow said blushing a bit.

“Rainbow, you’re going to have to learn how to make your own dandelion sandwich, when your little sister comes you will need to become more responsible.” Skylight said as she started to prepare the meal.

“I can be more res, res, resp-” Rainbow struggled with the word. Her eyes got a look of determination, and a twinge of anger that her mouth could not form the word.

“Responsible” Skylight said as she finished preparing the sandwich.

“Yeah that!” Rainbow said with enthusiasm. “I can be that!” She smiled after she said it, she could be responsible, or she could try anyway.

“We’ll see” Skylight said as she set a plate with a dandelion sandwich down in front of Rainbow.

“That was really good Rainbow! where did you learn to make sandwiches like that?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, I learned a long time ago, from someone very close to me.” Rainbow said, a look of deep thought was forced across her face. She was remembering a terrible event....

“Quick, get a medical team here on the double!”

“She’s counciouse!”

“She’s in a very unstable condition!”

“Where are her parents!”

“Dead!”

“Mommy.” Rainbow whispered to herself in a tone barely audible to Scootaloo.

“What did you said Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh, what? Nothing, I just...” Rainbow trailed off...

“Are, are you ok Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, why don’t we go start flying now, hm?” Rainbow said.

“Sounds fun!” Scootaloo said in response.

The two proceeded to the outside of Rainbow’s home, Rainbow remembering an event, clouded by pain in her memory.

“Come on Dashie, you can do it!” Refraction said, he was hovering just 2 feet above the cloud the quaint little cloudsdale house rested on.

“I, I can’t do it, I’ll never be able to fly.” Rainbow said, her ears flattened and her head lowered.

“Yes you will, these things take time, don’t get discouraged because you fall on your first few attempts, when you really need to fly you will be able to, you’ll find your special flying style in time.” He said as he pulled his daughter close into a loving embrace.

“You really think so?” She said looking up at him.

“I know so” He said looking back down at her.

It was nearing the late afternoon, the sun was hanging low casting a gorgeous orange light onto the side of Rainbow’s cloud house. There was a slight cool summer breeze making it perfect for learning how to fly.

Rainbow lept into the air and hovered not 5 feet above her cloud home.

“Come on Scoots, you can do it, try to fly up to me.” Rainbow said, she was confident that the cloud they were over would provide better protection than the ground would.

“Ok, here I come.” Scootaloo said. She flapped her wings as fast as she could. She managed to get a little bit of altitude before crashing back down to the cloud.

Rainbow gently landed next to Scootaloo who was half implanted in the cloud.

“Ok, I see what the problem is.” Rainbow said as she pulled Scootaloo out of the cloud by her tail.

“I am no good at it!” Scootaloo said, she was getting discouraged.

“Hey now, don’t get discouraged, you just haven’t found your technique yet, every pegasus has a flying style, you just haven’t found yours yet.” Rainbow said.

“Well, can you show me yours?” Scootaloo said, she wanted to be as good as Rainbow Dash, so copying her flying style had to do that.

“Sure, watch my wings, try to do what I am doing.” Rainbow looked back at her wings when she said it.

Rainbow started flapping her wings up and down, up and down, up and down.

“Just breath, flap your wings to the beat of your breath, In and up, out and down, deep breaths.” She said as her wings went up and down as she breathed.

Scootaloo mimicked her as best she could, her small wings however were giving her trouble.

“Thats good, but your wings are too tense, try to loosen up.” Rainbow said.

Scootaloo let her wings fall to her side, she stretched them. There was a quiet but audible yelp from Scootaloo when she stretched her wings out, but Rainbow thought nothing of it. Then she tried the exercise again.

“Thats better, now go faster, to the beat of your heart.” Rainbow said as she started flapping her wings faster. Her mane and tail were flowing in the wind generated by her wings.

“Now what?” Scootaloo asked, she was getting excited that she was able to do it.

“Now, feel the wind in your wings, can you feel your body getting lighter?” Rainbow said

“Yes, I, I can feel it” Scootaloo said starting to feel even more excited.

“Good, now close your eyes” Rainbow said, sounding sure of her suggestion.

“B-but, I won’t-” Scootaloo said unsure about closing her eyes to fly, she was on a cloud high in the sky after all.

“Just do it, I’ll catch you if you fall” Rainbow said, she rolled her eyes.

Scootaloo obeyed and closed her eyes.

“Good, now increase the speed that your wings are moving gradually, up and down, up and down, just go a bit faster, feel your body getting lighter, don’t open your eyes.” Rainbow said.

“I, I can’t feel the cloud anymore, is that normal?” Scootaloo asked. She tilted her head as if to show confusion.

“Open your eyes, you’ll see why.” Rainbow said, a small smile was tugging at her mouth.

Scootaloo’s eyes opened and she saw what was going on, she was no longer looking at the wall of a cloud house, she was looking at the sky, she looked down and realised she was a good 10 feet above where she was standing.

“I...I’m flying, Rainbow!” She said in enthusiasm, she was starting to show a bit of exhaustion.

“Good, now come back down before you hurt yourself.” Rainbow said, she looked up at Scootaloo, ready to fly up and catch her if she started to fall.

Scootaloo started to come back down, but then she fell down to the cloud below.

Rainbow inspected Scootaloo’s wings trying not to be noticed.

“You’re going to have to preen your wings soon.” Rainbow said trying to act like it was not a big deal.

“I’m going to have to what now?” Scootaloo asked, a confused and worried look on her face.

“Preen the feathers in your wings, if you don’t it’s harder to fly and you can sprain your wings.” Rainbow said, she looked a bit concerned about the fact that Scootaloo had never preened her wings, or even heard of it, a filly her age should already be doing it.

“Sounds Painful” Scootaloo said as she looked down, her ears fell to signal she was worried about the pain.

“It’s not if you do it right, I’ll help you with it when the time comes. Come now lets keep practicing.” Rainbow said as she spread her wings and lifted off into the sky again.

“Ok” Scootaloo said, she sighed a bit before spreading her own wings and following.

‘All of these years I couldn’t fly, I finally found my wings, and it was in a fire, I should have saved them.’ Rainbow thought to herself as she stood over the tombstone of her parents grave.

Memories

Sisterly Bonds

Part III
‘Memories’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

‘We do not remember days; we remember moments.’
-Cesare Pavese

“Mommy! Where are you!” Rainbow yelled, she was laying on a bed that seemed to be moving, everything was hazy. She was looking around for her mother and father in a frantic effort just to make sure they were ok.

“Its ok little one, just try to stay calm” A white mare said with a comforting look on her face as she attempted to calm the panicked cyan filly. She had a red cross as a cutie mark.

“Daddy! Mommy!” Rainbow yelled, she still couldn’t see clearly.

“Where am I! Where are my mommy and daddy!” Rainbow demanded, she was scared. She had no idea where she was or who these ponies were. Her face was a look of pure terror.

“You’re being taken to a new hospital, can you tell us your name little one?” The mare said

“I’m not suppose to tell my name to strangers” Rainbow said looking away from the strange mare, she tried to get up and look around only to be pushed back down by her pain.

“You’re hurt, just lay down, we need to know your name” The nurse said

“I, what did you do with my mommy and daddy!” Rainbow yelled, her eyes were tearing up.

“We don’t know who they are, you have to tell us your name.” The nurse said.

“R-rainbow D-dash” Rainbow said.

“Oh my” The nurse said as she looked at a small clipboard.

“What’s wrong?” a doctor said as he looked over at the nurse.

The nurse leaned closer to the doctor and whispered in his ear. Rainbow could barely hear what she said.

“Her parents, are dead”

“No, NO! no! no! You’re lying!”

“No, no no no no!” Rainbow said in her sleep before she popped up out of bed, eyes wide open, she was enveloped in a cold sweat.

“It, it was only a dream” She told herself. In reality it was a flashback of a repressed memory.

It was night time, Rainbow was sleeping in her bed. Scootaloo was sleeping in a small sleeping bag on the floor, again spending the night at Rainbow’s after being unable to come up with a valid place of residence.

“Rainbow” Scootaloo said, she rubbed her eyes with her hoof.

“Uh, I’m sorry, Did I wake you?” Rainbow said looking down to where Scootaloo was sleeping.

“I think, are you ok?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yeah I’m fine, just a bad dream, go back to sleep.” Rainbow said

“Ok” Scootaloo said overly obedient because of her current state of sleepiness.

‘phew, what a horrible dream’ Rainbow thought to herself as she tried to fall back to sleep.

The night dragged on for what seemed like forever. An endless parade of nightmares and bad dreams continually woke Rainbow every ten minutes. Eventually Rainbow finally gave up when she noticed the sun had risen and she went to make herself breakfast, careful not to be too loud and wake Scootaloo up.

About an hour after Rainbow had woke up Scootaloo staggered out of the bedroom almost as if she was sleepwalking, being incredibly tired from Rainbow’s sleep talking and crying took its toll on the young filly’s sleep.

Scootaloo sat down at the kitchen table next to Rainbow.

“Morning Squirt” Rainbow said trying to be cool about the whole thing.

“Morning Rainbow” Scootaloo said rubbing her eyes with her hooves.

“Sleep well?” Rainbow said grinning, she already knew the answer.

“Probably a bit better than you” She said.

Rainbow looked away, her ears fell as she looked down at the floor.

“So uh, I was thinking, we should try to get you home, your parents are prob-” Rainbow started

“Parents, heh” Scootaloo said.

“Scootaloo, we seriously need to get your home, they are probably worried sick.” Rainbow said

“No, I don’t have a home.” Scootaloo said with a look of seriousness on her face.

“This is serious Scootaloo, your family must be worried-” Rainbow said.

“Yes and so am I.” Scootaloo said.

“But your family-” Rainbow said with a look of genuine concern.

“I don’t have any family ok!” Scootaloo snapped. She looked down at the table in front of her.

“I never did” She said, her ears fell flat and she looked away to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Rainbow looked at her in shock, her face was that of worry.

“Scoots, I”

Scootaloo didn’t answer, instead she ran back to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. She jumped onto her sleeping bag and started crying into the pillow.

Rainbow followed and opened the door slowly walking up to Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo-”

“Leave Me Alone!” She yelled.

Meanwhile...

Applebloom walked into the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse expecting to find her two friends....

“Hey, has anypony seen Scoo-” Applebloom asked before being cut off.

“Oh Come On!” Sweetie Belle yelled, her muzzle was inches away from spikes face.....

“Well, bye Sweetie, maybe we can try it another time” Spike said running out.

“Come On Applebloom! I was just about to get my kiss!” Sweetie yelled.

“Oh, well ah’ only wanted ta know if ya have seen Scootaloo recently, don’t get all worked up”

“Well, No I haven't, but, Now I have to go find spike, bye!” Sweetie said as she ran out of the treehouse.

‘What In Equestria did I just witness?’ Applebloom thought to herself.

Scootaloo was now crying into her pillow. She truly had never had any parents to her knowledge, just the orphanage. Scootaloo eventually made her way to the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse where she currently resides.

“Scootaloo, will you talk to me? Please?” Rainbow said, she sat down next to Scootaloo.

“Go away” Scootaloo said, her pain was influencing her.

“Scoots, I-” Rainbow was cut off.

“Leave me alone! Don’t talk to me again!” Scootaloo snapped throwing her pillow at Rainbow before crashing down to her sleeping bag again.

Rainbow sighed, ‘Well what do I do now? Way to go Rainbow, you broke a filly....’ She thought to herself.

“Scootaloo, I, I understand how you must be feeling, I...” She trailed off.

“No they are not dead! Why would you say something like that! Take me to my parents now!” Rainbow yelled at the nurse.

“Rainbow, I know it’s hard, but your parents are gone, you have to accept that.” The nurse said. She wore a look of genuine feeling on her face, no filly should be going through what she was putting Rainbow through.

“I don’t believe you!” Rainbow cried.

“Rainbow Dash, as much as you want to change what happened you can’t, these things happen and you’re being put into a position that only an adult should be placed in. I know it’s going to be hard for you to accept, but your parents are gone, I’m sorry.” The nurse said as she got up and walked out of the room closing the door behind her, leaving the small helpless filly alone to her grief.

“I lost my parents a long time ago, I know what its like to be on your own, alone, helpless....” She trailed off, her own eyes were starting to tear up, remembering the past, if only she could have helped.

“I often feel like, If I had done something, maybe, maybe things could be different, I never should have left them....” Rainbow again trailed off not noticing Scootaloo had got up and was now looking at Rainbow.

“Rainbow, I didn’t know, I, I’m sorry” Scootaloo said, she got a bit closer to Rainbow and sat down next to her.

Rainbow wiped her eyes with her hoof and then spoke. “It’s nothing that can be changed now, it happened a long time ago.” Rainbow said, her ears went flat as she remembered her past.

“These things happen Rainbow Dash, your grandmother is watching down on you right now, she knows you’ll become a great flier just like she was, and one day you’ll join the Wonder Bolts, just like she did.” Refraction said.

“B-but, I’ll never see her again.” Rainbow said through tears.

“I know Rainbow, but, she would want you to go on and be happy.” He said.

“O-ok, I-I’ll t-try” Rainbow said, she put on a small smile and Refraction wiped the tears out of his daughters eyes.

“Well why don’t we go flying or something.” Rainbow said, it was something they both enjoyed, and though Scootaloo was a new flyer she was able to keep up with Rainbow, sometimes.

“Ok, sounds great.” Scootaloo said, she looked at the floor as she followed Rainbow out of her home and into the sky.

A few hours later...

The library was sparkling. The shelves had all been cleaned earlier that day by spike. The sun was shining through the window of the treehouse giving it a nice peaceful feeling; perfect for an intense conversation.

“I don’t know Twilight, it just seems off, no one noticed a filly living in a Treehouse for how long?” Rainbow said.

“Well we certainly didn’t notice ‘er livin’ in the ol’ treehouse” Applejack said.

“It is certainly odd that no one noticed, I will do some research on this.” Twilight said as she levitated a cup of tea to her mouth and started sipping it.

“Well Rainbow what are you going to do? You can’t possibly leave a poor defenseless filly living out all on her own.” Rarity said.

“Well, I was kinda hoping-” Rainbow was cut off as she looked at Rarity.

“Oh no, I have my hooves full as it is with my newest orders, not to mention Sweetie.” Rarity said

Rainbow shifted her gaze to Applejack.

“Ah got mah hooves full with applebuckin” Applejack said.

Rainbow shifted her gaze once again.

“Oh, uh, I, I don’t know, uh, I have my hooves full with my animals. I, if thats ok with you”

Rainbow looked at Pinkie.

“It would be fun but I have to look after the cakes twins!” Pinkie said.

Rainbow shifted her gaze to her last resort.

“So I’m stuck then, I can’t take care of a filly! are you all insane?” Rainbow said.

“Rainbow, Ah know you’re not the first pony in mind to take care of a filly, but we have no other options right now, you an’ Scootaloo get along anyway, so why not.” Applejack said.

“But”

“But nothing Rainbow, we’ll be here ta help ya if ya need it, until then, just do what ya’ve been doing” Applejack said.

“Fine” Rainbow said with a sigh. She was in no way prepared to take care of a filly, let alone a filly who has probably never had to listen to anyone in a long time.

Later that night...

Rainbow was sitting in her living room with Scootaloo. The room was rather dark and the only light was coming from a small candle on a coffee table.

“Scootaloo, after careful consideration today, I have come to the conclusion that you should stay here with me in my home.” Rainbow said, she looked Scootaloo in the eyes trying to look as serious as possible.

“Oh really Rainbow! That sounds like fun!” Scootaloo said, her face lit up with a smile.

“But, there are rules” Rainbow said looking down at a small list the other five gave her.

“Rules shmules” Scootaloo said rolling her eyes.

“This is important” Rainbow said glaring at Scootaloo.

“Fine...” Scootaloo said with another roll of her eyes.

“You have to listen to what I say” Rainbow said noting this was Rarity’s suggestion.

“You have to do chores around the house.” Noting Applejacks suggestion.

“Chores” Scootaloo moaned

“You have to finish your schoolwork on time.” Obviously Twilight’s suggestion.

“You should go to bed early” ‘At least Pinkies suggestion made sense’

“You should try to be open, you know if you want to” Rainbow read the list word for word.....

“Chores.......really? School work, really? Bed Early?” Scootaloo moaned.

Rainbow sighed as Scootaloo showed her unwillingness to follow the rules.

“But Rainbow!”

“No buts” Rainbow said, remembering to keep herself in a commanding yet kind tone.

“Now, off to bed with you, its already late” Rainbow said, she pushed Scootaloo closer to the bedroom door.

“But” Scootaloo pleaded trying to stay awake just a bit longer while dragging her hooves across the floor.

Rainbow glared at Scootaloo receiving a look of pleading before her glare won.

“Fine” Scootaloo said as she trotted into the bedroom and laid down to go to sleep.

‘That was harder than I thought it would be’ Rainbow thought.

Rainbow picked up the candle and walked into her bedroom. It was dark, Scootaloo was already asleep by this time. Rainbow set the candle on a nightstand and blew it out before climbing into her own bed. A storm could be heard in the distance and could be seen approaching through the windows that Rainbow had created to help Scootaloo feel less claustrophobic.

After about an hour both pegasus were sleeping. There was a loud bang as thunder rang throughout the cloud house. Rainbow Dash was unphased by this and continued sleeping, Scootaloo however was shaken awake.

There was another bang and a flash of lightning.

Scootaloo was afraid of storms, she never liked them. She pulled her sleeping bag up almost covering her head and then put her pillow over her in a vain attempt to feel more secure.

Another bang was heard and Scootaloo flinched, it was much louder in the sky near the storm.

Another three bangs one after another sealed the deal for Scootaloo, she started to tear up in fear and she was shaking uncontrollably, she even started to hiccup.

“R-r-rainbow” She said trying to wake Rainbow up.

“R-rainbow D-dash” Scootaloo said, she nudged Rainbow with her forehooves.

Rainbow moaned and then rolled over to face Scootaloo. “I’m sleeping, what?” She said in an aggravated tone.

Rainbow was curled into a little ball of cyan under her covers. The storm was getting worse and the thunder was becoming unbearable. She started crying. After another bang of thunder Rainbow made her way to her parents room.

“Moooom” Rainbow moaned.

“Yes Rainbow?” Skylight asked, still hazy from being asleep.

“I, I’m s-scared” She said in a shaky tone.

“Its ok Rainbow, come up here” Skylight said gesturing for Rainbow to come up onto her bed.

Rainbow climbed into bed next to her mother and her mother pulled the covers up over her and Rainbow, she then put her wing down over Rainbow to give a motherly protective shield of feathers.

“I won’t ever let anything happen to you” Skylight said.

“I love you mommy” Rainbow said

“I love you to Rainbow” Skylight said.

Soon after Rainbow fell asleep in her mother’s embrace.

“I-” Scootaloo was cut off by the thunder and Rainbow saw her flinch and hiccup at the same time.

“Oh, I see” Rainbow said.

“I, I don’t *hic* l-like s-s-storms” Scootaloo said trying to hide the fact that she had been crying by holding her head down low.

“Its ok, come here” Rainbow said, she pulled Scootaloo closer and lifted Scootaloo's head with her hoof.

“Come on, you can sleep up here” Rainbow said. Scootaloo climbed up into Rainbow’s bed. Rainbow unfurled her wing and gently draped it over Scootaloo mimicking what her mother did for her when she was little. With her forehoof she pulled the covers over them and gently patted Scootaloo’s head before returning her hoof to her side.

“T-thanks Rainbow” Scootaloo said with a hiccup.
“Don’t mention it kid.” Rainbow said trying to hold her ‘cool’ persona.

“Y-you won’t tell anypony about this, w-will you?” Scootaloo said yawning, she was still shaken by the storm.

“No” Rainbow said, yawning herself.

Rainbow noticed Scootaloo’s shaking and hiccuping subsided slowly as Scootaloo allowed the warm embrace to comfort her even though the storm was still raging. Rainbow felt Scootaloo’s breathing start to slow by the rise and fall of her chest. Rainbow smiled a bit, comforting a small filly was something that could bring a smile to anypony, especially a mare with motherly instincts she does not yet know about.

“I love you Rainbow” Scootaloo said in a low hushed voice, she had no idea what she was saying as she was fastly approaching dreamland.

Rainbow was a bit taken back by this, Scootaloo had just said I love you to her. She was a bit touched by the sentiment, her heart fluttered a bit as she heard the sound of a gentle snore, she knew Scootaloo had fell into a deep slumber.

‘No problem Scoots, I’ll keep you safe under my wing as long as you need it.’ Rainbow thought to herself before yawning. The cyan pegasus soon fell asleep for the night in the warm sisterly embrace.

Changes

Sisterly Bonds

Part IV
‘Changes’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

‘A sibling may be the keeper of one's identity, the only person with the keys to one's unfettered, more fundamental self.’

-Marian Sandmaier

Rainbow opened her eyes, the night had been interesting to say the least. Scootaloo was still asleep as Rainbow started to get up. She slowly tried to retract her wing to her side only to find Scootaloo had wrapped herself in it and was clinging to it in her sleep.

‘So much for waking up’ Rainbow thought as she rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but smile at the small filly who seemed to be sleeping so peacefully. Rainbow made note that it was getting late and if Scootaloo did not wake up soon she would miss school.

“Scootaloo, wake up” Rainbow said quietly. She was reluctant to wake Scootaloo but she had to.

“Scoots, wake up” She said a bit louder, this time nudging her with a hoof.

Scootaloo groaned as she tried to roll over, only to pull hard on Rainbow’s wing in the process.

“Ow!” Rainbow yelled, waking Scootaloo up instantly.

“What’s going on?” Scootaloo said, her eyes were shut about half way and her ears fell.

“You just tried to pull my wing off” Rainbow said slightly aggravated, her eyes were sending a glare into Scootaloo’s.

“I, I’m sorry Rainbow Dash, I, I forgot I was sleeping up here.” She said, her ears fell even more and her head dropped down.

Rainbow was going to yell a bit more, but held back retracting her glare.

“Scoo-” She stopped to see the sad look on the filly’s face, she sighed. “It’s fine, just, give me my wing back now please” Rainbow said as she gently tugged her wing back into its position after ruffling it a bit.

“Can I go back to bed now?” Scootaloo asked as she yawned and laid her head back down.

“No, you have to go to school.” Rainbow said lifting Scootaloo’s head up with her forehoof.

“Do I have to?” Scootaloo moaned, she looked up at Rainbow with big puppy dog like eyes.

Rainbow was reluctant to say yes, it was hard to say that to such an adorable little filly.

“Yes” She said putting on a stern persona.

“But Rainbow” Scootaloo moaned, she did not want to go to school for whatever reason.

“No buts Scootaloo, you’re going, I’ll fly you, now get up, you need to get ready” Rainbow said as she nudged Scootaloo off the bed.

“You should probably take a bath Scootaloo, you’re starting to get a bit, unkempt.” Rainbow said, trying to find the nicest way to say that.

“A bath...” Scootaloo moaned, she hated baths.

“Yes, a bath, don’t make me have to force you to take a bath” Rainbow said as she pushed Scootaloo into the bathroom.

“But”

“No buts” Rainbow paused for a moment. “I’m going to have to watch you take a bath to make sure you actually get one, aren’t I?” Rainbow asked, she saw the look on Scootaloo’s face.

“Lets get this over with” Rainbow said rolling her eyes as she pushed Scootaloo into the bathroom.

The bathroom was small holding just the essentials.

Rainbow started up the bath filling the tub with warm water.

“Get in” Rainbow said as she gestured for Scootaloo to get into the bathtub.

“But, its a bath, I don’t like baths” Scootaloo said, she was stepping back a bit, she was a bit afraid of water but she would never admit it.

“Come on Scootaloo, I shouldn’t need to force you to get a bath” Rainbow said as she picked up Scootaloo and tried to drop her into the tub, Scootaloo kicking the entire time.

“S-stop kicking! You’re making m-me all wet!” Rainbow said as she accidentally lost grip of Scootaloo dropping her into the tub. Scootaloo fluttered her wings causing even more splashing when she hit the water.

When Scootaloo finally recovered from being dropped into the tub she looked at Rainbow, who was soaked with water. Her mane and face were drenched and she had a very unpleased look on her face.

“Jeeze Scoots, who is getting a bath here me or you?” Rainbow said in a slightly misleading irritated tone.

Scootaloo sank into the tub a bit as she was scared that Rainbow was angry.

“I, I’m sorry Rainbow, I was, I-” Scootaloo was cut off by a splash of water hitting her face.

“Well If I have to get a bath then you do to” Rainbow said splashing Scootaloo.

“Hey, that wasn’t nice!” Scootaloo said as she splashed back.

“Oh and that was?” Rainbow responded splashing Scootaloo again.

They both giggled at their playful banter.

“Ok Scoots, time for you to actually take a bath” Rainbow said as she started to dry herself off with a warm fluffy towel on the shelf.

“Do I have to?” Scootaloo moaned a bit.

“Yes, I’ll help you” Rainbow said as she leaned over the tub.

“Your wings are really dirty, spread them out so we can clean them, clean wings help you fly” Rainbow said as she took some soap in her hooves.

“B-but Rainbow my wings are, a bit, private” Scootaloo said, her ears fell a bit and she frowned.

“I know Scoots, they are private to every pegasus, but they need cleaned” Rainbow said as she started preparing a small wash cloth.

Scootaloo reluctantly stretched her wings and gave a small yelp. Rainbow noticed the yelp but ignored it.

“Ok, now, just tell me if I hurt your wings, ok?” Rainbow said as she started to soap up Scootaloo’s wings.

Scootaloo was a bit embarrassed, no one had ever touched her wings before, it was a bit awkward feeling.

After several moments of scrubbing Scootaloo’s wings and helping her clean behind her ears and such Rainbow decided Scootaloo had bathed enough.

“Ok, now, Dry off, brush your teeth, and meet me in the kitchen” Rainbow said as she started out of the room.

Scootaloo got out of the tub and dried herself off. She went over to the sink to brush her teeth when she noticed she didn’t have a tooth brush. Rainbow noticed this.

“You can use my toothbrush, now hurry or you’ll be late” Rainbow said as she hoofed Scootaloo her toothbrush.

Scootaloo followed Rainbow into the kitchen shortly after she finished brushing her teeth where she started to make breakfast.

“Ok Scoots, uh, do you need me to make you lunch or anything?” Rainbow said as she put a look of confusion on her face. She had never gotten anyone ready for school before.

“No, I can come home to lunch” Scootaloo said. ‘Home’ She thought, her new home.

“Ok, well I am off work all week, so I’ll be here” Rainbow said, she was still looking confused as she put a small bowl down in front of Scootaloo, it was filled with cereal like foods.

Scootaloo took her time eating and then when she was finished she got up and started to the living room.

“Scootaloo, what else do you have to do to get ready for school?” Rainbow said as she cleaned up the mess Scootaloo left on the table.

“Well, I dunno I fix my mane?” Scootaloo said with a look of confusion on her face. What else was she suppose to do aside from eat? She certainly never did anything else.

“That sounds good” Rainbow said as she trotted into the living room.

Scootaloo shaked her head wildly and then looked up at Rainbow. “All fixed?” She said with a sigh.

“Are, are you ready to go?” Rainbow asked tilting her head in a confused look.

“I guess” Scootaloo said as she started to the door.

“I am going to need to fly you down aren’t I?” Rainbow asked.

“I think” Scootaloo said.

“Climb on my back” Rainbow said rolling her eyes. Scootaloo did as she was told and Rainbow flew her to School.

When they arrived at the Schoolhouse Cheerilee was in front of it giving each of the students and their parents a flier.

“Scootaloo, make sure you get this paper to your parents” Cheerilee said as she hoofed over a small paper.

“Parent Teacher Conferences” Scootaloo said aloud.

Rainbow got a worried look on her face when she heard this.

“Yes, I expect to see your mother or father here tomorrow Scootaloo, and there is no school for the rest of the week while conferences are happening” Cheerilee said.

“O, Ok” Scootaloo said as she started away from the school back to Rainbow.

“So, Scootaloo, uh, what are you going to do about that?” Rainbow said as they walked away from the school together.

“I uh, I was hoping, um, that uh, you would-” Scootaloo was cut off.

“Ohhhhh No” Rainbow said. She was never good with teachers.

“Oh come on Rainbow, if I don’t send someone then they will send me back to the orphanage! Do you know what they did to me there!” Scootaloo said instantly regretting bringing up the orphanage.

“You lived in an orphanage?” Rainbow questioned, she had a confused look on her face now. If Scootaloo lived in an orphanage, could she be considered a foalnapper?

“No!” Scootaloo said in haste with a very worried expression on her face.

“Scootaloo, is there, is there something you’re not telling me?” Rainbow said, she was worried, were ponies looking for her? Was Scootaloo considered a missing pony?

‘I have to get away! Come on wingsl Fly, come on, fly!’ Scootaloo thought to herself as she tried to flap her wings to no avail.

“Someone catch her!” A stallion yelled.

Scootaloo winced in pain as she tried to fly.

‘My wings, wha-’ Scootaloo had no time to finish that thought as a large Stallion jumped and pinned her down to the ground, wings facing the ground.

“No!” Scootaloo yelled through her pain of being held down onto her broken wings.

“You’re not getting away you ungrateful little foal” The stallion said with a look of rage and anger on his face, he pushed his hooves down nearly crushing hers, she whined in pain.

Scootaloo kicked her legs up into the Stallion’s stomach causing him to double over in pain.

As he unpinned her She jumped up and bolted into the forest.

“Well, I uh, I kinda, maybe, sorta ran away.” Scootaloo said with a look of guilt on her face.

“Scootaloo, you, you should probably go back.” Rainbow said as they stopped walking and faced each other.

“I, I can’t” Scootaloo said, her head fell and her ears fell.

“Why not, it has to be better than-”

“They hit us!” Scootaloo snapped as she started tearing up.”They never fed us, they never kept the building warm, we didn’t even have clean water” Scootaloo was now fully crying. “I-I c-can’t go b-back” She said as she fell to the ground.

Rainbow sat down next to Scootaloo and she put her wing out around Scootaloo.

“It’s ok, nopony is going to make you go back there, you, you can stay with me, as long as you want” Rainbow said as she lifted her hooves to hug the now sobbing Scootaloo.

“I-I c-can’t go b-back” Scootaloo said still crying.

“nopony is going to make you go back, nopony is going to make you go back.” Rainbow said, this teary confession was enough to break even Rainbow’s heart.

“Rainbow ya can’t send her there” Applejack said.

“Well I know that AJ, come on, do I look that stupid?” Rainbow said with a huff. She was irritated that Applejack would even say something like that.

“Well Rainbow, you have been known to make some, unhealthy moves” Twilight said with a concerned look on her face.

The three were sitting in the Library around a small table, Scootaloo was just out of earshot sleeping on a sofa after exhausting herself with her emotional outburst.

“Twi, can you please think reasonably for one second, do you really think I would send poor Scootaloo back to that place?” Rainbow said, still noticeably aggravated.

“Well, whata’ ya gonna do?” Applejack asked with a confused look on her face.

“I was thinking of letting her stay with me.” Rainbow said, she was unsure about the decision.

“Rainbow, to legally let her stay with you, you’re going to have to become her legal guardian, luckily with the princess’s help I think I can arrange that.” Twilight said happy that she could be useful in this situation.

“Well great, I guess.” Rainbow said

“But, becoming her guardian does not mean you can just let her live with you, you have to manage her life until she is of age to live on her own, meaning you have to help her with school, personal care, food, you know, everything a parent would.” Twilight said.

“Wait, does that mean I am going to have to have the talk with her?” Rainbow asked, she started to get nervous, that was one of the things she dreaded when she was young, having to do it again just wasn’t in her list of things to do.

“Well Rainbow, it depends on Scootaloo, you’ll never know until you ask.” Twilight said rather bluntly.

“Help!” Scootaloo said in her sleep. “Anypony help!”

The three ponies jumped to their hooves and raced to Scootaloo who was now tossing and turning on the sofa.

“Scootaloo, are you ok?” Rainbow asked as she nudged Scootaloo with her hoof.

Scootaloo jumped as she opened her eyes, breathing heavily and shaking, and wet.

“I, I, I had a bad nightmare” Scootaloo said then noticing that she was a bit wet somewhere she really shouldn’t be, a lot wet actually.

“Oh no, no no no no!” Scootaloo cried as she realised exactly why she was wet, she sank down to the sofa and covered her face.

“Scootaloo, it’s ok, it happens, these things happen” Twilight said as she tried to comfort Scootaloo, of course she was upset over the sofa, but now was not the time to be worry about that. “Bedwetting can be the result of a lot of trauma in a young fillies life causing the brain to-” Twilight started trying to explain.

“Shush Twi” Applejack said with a look of annoyance on her face.

Twilight huffed a bit after that but she shut her mouth anyway.

“Scoots” Rainbow said as she inched closer to Scootaloo. “It, its ok” She said as she sat down on a dry part of the sofa. “It, it happens, I know, you can’t control it” Rainbow said as she put her hoof on Scootaloo’s back to try to comfort her.

Scootaloo lifted her head up a bit and looked back at Rainbow who was looking at her. She had tears in her eyes, she had been through so many repressed memories in the past day it was terrible, and now the problems manifesting themselves as bedwetting made it ten times worse.

“Sugarcube, ya ok?” Applejack said in a sympathetic voice.

“No, its terrible! I am terrible!” Scootaloo yelled.

“We’re not mad Scootaloo, its fine, accidents happen” Twilight said.

“Y-you’re not m-mad?” Scootaloo said still crying and very upset.

“No, why would you even think that?” Rainbow Dash said.

Scootaloo’s eyes widened as she remembered.

“You disgusting little, wetting yourself like a foal!” The stallion said as he slapped Scootaloo sending her tumbling across the room.

“I, no reason” Scootaloo said, she was obviously lying.

“Now don’t ya go lying to me Scootaloo, I am the element of honesty after all” Applejack said, she put a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder.

“Well, when I was at the orphanage, they hit-” Scootaloo started reluctantly.

“Why those no good varmits, why the Princess should send them to the sun, but then that’d be too good for tha likes of them” Applejack cut Scootaloo off with a look of anger.

“Treating foals like that is just not safe or healthy.” Twilight added.

“It’s just, I thought you would, I can’t, I’m sorry” Scootaloo said starting to tense up again.

“Woah, Scootaloo calm down, none of us are going to hurt you.” Rainbow said.

“I know, you guys are great.” Scootaloo said, still a bit timid.

“Scoots, I was thinking, maybe, you could come live at my place, until you’re old enough to move out.” Rainbow said, a bit nervous about the idea.

“You mean it? I won’t be in your way or anything?” Scootaloo asked., she tilted her head.

“Not at all, I was thinking maybe I could be like, your guardian?” Rainbow said.

“Well, if its not too much of a burden on you Rainbow.” Scootaloo said, she looked down, the last thing she wanted was to be a burden on Rainbow.

“Nah, just look at me like an older sister.” Rainbow said, she smiled a bit.

Scootaloo smiled as she looked at Rainbow, she finally had someone close to her that didn’t want to hurt her or cause her any pain. Breaking her cool shell Scootaloo hugged Rainbow. Rainbow hesitated for a second being in the company of her friends, and the fact that she did not want to get wet, but she returned the hug anyway.

one quick bath later, Scootaloo was feeling a bit better and was talking with the three other ponies.

“Are ya sure ya want ta’ live with Rainbow sugarcube?” Applejack asked, she was slightly concerned, it being Rainbow and all.

“What? And you think i’m not good enough AJ?” Rainbow said a bit aggravated by the thought.

“That’s not wha’ I said sugarcube” Applejack Interjected

“I” Scootaloo stopped to think for a moment, she was contemplating such a big move, and thinking about what Applejack just said “Yes”

“Scootaloo this is a big step, are you absolutely sure?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I, I’m sure” She said, a look of confidence on her face.

“Great!” Twilight said as she clapped her hooves together. “I’ll send a message to the Princess right away, Spike, Take a note!” She said as she walked into the other room with far too much enthusiasm.

A few moments later Twilight returned to the room.

“I just received word from the Princess, these forms are for you and Scootaloo to sign Rainbow” Twilight said as she smiled and levitated over the papers to Rainbow’s hooves.

Rainbow scanned the document. It was a lot to take in, she was actually going to become Scootaloo’s guardian. Was she ready for such a responsibility? Would she be able to properly take care of Scootaloo?

“I, uh, Do, Twi do you have a quill?” Rainbow asked as she looked down at the desk, ink, but no quill.

“Um” Twilight searched around a bit, starting to get frantic that her most recent list did not include check for quills. “I don’t think, oh this is a disaster, my list of a list for the list of things I need to make a list to check on does not have check for quills!” Twilight was freaking out, perhaps a bit too much.

“It’s ok Twi, I’ll just use one of my feathers” Rainbow said as she plucked a feather from her wing with an audible yelp.

Rainbow dipped her feather into the ink and started signing her name on the lines.

Rainbow gestured for Scootaloo to come over to her.

“You need to sign here if you want me to be your Guardian” Rainbow said, she pointed her hoof to a line under where she signed.

“Ok” Scootaloo said, she was a bit nervous as to what was going to happen and she was shaking a bit. Scootaloo took the Quill in her mouth and started signing her name, the moment she signed the last ‘O’ in her name the paper magically rolled up in a purple aura.

“Great! All done! I’ll get these off to the Princess Right away! Spike!” Twilight trotted into the other room with the papers in a magical tow, there was a green light and then another scroll appeared.

Twilight read the scroll and then returned with good news. “Good news! Rainbow Dash is officially your guardian Scootaloo!” Twilight said.

“Well, uh, now what?” Rainbow asked, she really didn’t know what to do now.

“Well, Rainbow, you could always get ready for that parent teacher conference tomorrow” Scootaloo said.

“Parent Teacher, no, I don’t do school” Rainbow said a bit nervous that she may likely need to do this for Scootaloo.

Scootaloo looked at Rainbow with puppy dog like eyes trying to make herself look all cute and helpless so Rainbow would break and do it for her.

“No” Rainbow said looking away and closing her eyes, her left eye peeked open to see if Scootaloo was still looking at her, and she was, Rainbow nearly lost her composure.

“No” Rainbow said again trying to regain her composure.

Scootaloo tried even harder to look all sad and helpless. “Please Rainbow Dash” Scootaloo said.

“N-” Rainbow started

“Rainbow, ya have to since yer’ her guardian now” Applejack interjected.

“Fine” Rainbow said, she sighed and gave in to defeat. “But I’m not going to like it.”

“Thank you Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said as she pounced on Rainbow pushing her to the ground.

“Ok ok! Calm down, its just a parent teacher conference” Rainbow said a bit taken back by how suddenly she was just pushed over.

Scootaloo’s ears fell and she dropped her head. “I’m sorry Rainbow, I was just hap-” Scootaloo was cut off by an instant urge to laugh.

“And you thought you could defeat me!” Rainbow said as she engaged Scootaloo in a tickling battle.

“Ok, aha, y-ahaha, you w-win” Scootaloo said in defeat.

“Thank you” Rainbow said as she let the little filly breath.

“No Rainbow, Thank you” Scootaloo said as she smiled and snuggled into Rainbow.

Twilight and Applejack thought the entire thing was just adorable and both said “awww” in unison.

Scootaloo instantly jumped off of Rainbow and tried to regain her cool composed attitude.

“Uh, yeah, uh hugs are gross” Scootaloo said. Rainbow and Scootaloo looked at each other before Applejack spoke.

“Sure they are Scootaloo” Applejack said with a smug look on her face.

Bonding

Sisterly Bonds

Part V
‘Bonding’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

Scootaloo was pushing Rainbow down the path to the school building.

“But, I” Rainbow started

“But you have to Rainbow!” Scootaloo said, she now grabbed Rainbow’s tail in her mouth and started dragging Rainbow down the path. Rainbow’s hooves were scraping along the path creating a small dust cloud.

“I, No I don’t” Rainbow said as she flapped her wings taking flight, only to be pulled back down to the ground by Scootaloo.

“Yesh Youth Dof” Scootaloo said through the tail that was still in her mouth.

By this point Scootaloo had managed to drag Rainbow to the School grounds and Cheerilee was witnessing this event.

“What is going on here?” Cheerilee asked running over to them.

“Hepho Msh Cheerifee” Scootaloo said through the tail in her mouth. She spit out the tail and spoke again.

“Here is Rainbow Dash for the conference” Scootaloo said as she gestured to Rainbow who was still collapsed on the ground.

Rainbow jumped up and brushed herself off and quickly put on her cool shell.

“Yeah, I’m here for Scoots, for some conference thing” Rainbow said nonchalantly.

“Ok then, um Scootaloo, I told you to bring a parent, not a friend.” Cheerilee said, she had a slight look of concern on her face.

“I am her Guardian miss Cheerilee” Rainbow said

“Oh, well then come with me Rainbow, Scootaloo, wait on the chair outside the room.” Cheerilee said.

As Cheerilee and Rainbow entered the School and the door closed Cheerilee wasted no time.

The school room was a colorful room filled with drawings and art from the students. The windows were shaded with curtains sewn by the students for an art project. It was truly a friendly classroom.

“What in Equestria is going on? What happened to Scootaloo’s parents?” Cheerilee asked.

“Well, apparently, she is an orphan, and I found her, and took her in” Rainbow said.

“Yes but, you?” Cheerilee asked, a look of fear for the filly’s life went across her face.

“You think I can’t take care of a filly?” Rainbow replied getting defensive.

“Now now, thats not what I said, take a seat, lets um, lets get down to why you are here” Cheerilee said.

Rainbow sat down across the table from Cheerilee, several papers were scattered across the table.

“So, why am I here?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, Scootaloo is, falling behind academically” Cheerilee said, she was looking a bit unsure about Rainbow’s ability to actually help with the situation.

“Falling behind academically?” Rainbow asked, the confusion on her face was astounding.

“It means she is failing, and if she doesn’t bring up her grades soon, well, she could be held back a year” Cheerilee said.

“Held back, no, not Scootaloo, I’ll make sure she doesn’t fail.” Rainbow said starting to look overly confident.

“Don’t look at it as failing, look at it as a year long opportunity to review the material” Cheerilee put on the most fake smile ever. “Yeah she might fail.”

“No she won’t, if she fails than my name isn’t Rainbow Danger Dash!” Rainbow said.

“But, I thought it wasn’t?” Cheerilee said.

“Technicalities” Rainbow said before spreading her wings and starting to float in the room to make herself look more intimidating.

“Well, there is one option, if she can raise her grade in math, she might be able to pass” Cheerilee said still completely unsure of Rainbow.

“Well then, that’s what I’ll help her with, I won’t see Scoots fail!” Rainbow said as she started to float to the door.

“Well, ok then, I guess you can go?” Cheerilee said so confused as to what just happened.

“Yes, yes I will” Rainbow said as she flew out of the room and landed next to Scootaloo.

“So, what is the verdict?” Scootaloo said, she held her head down like she knew she was failing.

“Well, you’re uh, you might fail” Rainbow said noticing Scootaloo get a bit more depressed.

“But I am gonna help you!” Rainbow said.

Scootaloo looked at Rainbow, then she looked like she had lost all hope.

“Hey now, I can be good at math, sometimes, if I try, maybe” Rainbow said.

Scootaloo got up from her seat. “Yeah, but its probably not enough” Scootaloo said, she started to walk away a bit but her wing twitched and she winced in pain. Rainbow noticed this.

“Scoots, are you ok?” Rainbow asked, she tilted her head as she tried to get a closer look at Scootaloo’s wings.

“Yeah I just-” Scootaloo was cut off by a very large pain in her wing, she nearly collapsed to the ground.

“Scootaloo what’s the matter?” Rainbow said as she raced over to Scootaloo.

“My wings, I think, I think they are broken” Scootaloo said as she winced in pain again.

Rainbow inspected Scootaloo’s wings.

“They aren’t broken, you need to shed some feathers and do a bit of preening” Rainbow said.

“B-but didn’t you say it wasn’t going to hurt?” Scootaloo asked still upset by the pain.

“Yeah but I didn’t think your wings were in this bad shape” Rainbow said as she gave them a closer look.

“Uh Rainbow, can you stop looking at my wings, It’s making me uncomfortable” Scootaloo said.

“Well, I can’t help if-” Rainbow was cut off.

“Then lets go home first” Scootaloo said.

“Ok, climb on my back” Rainbow said as she lowered herself down to Scootaloo’s level.

Scootaloo climbed onto Rainbow’s back, nearly falling off from the pain.

“Are you on?” Rainbow said.

“Y-yes, but I, I don’t think I can hold on” Scootaloo said, shaking from the pain in her wings.

“OK, well, just try to” Rainbow said as she lifted off.

The flight back to their home was tedious, Scootaloo almost fell of several times but they eventually made it.

Scootaloo fell off of Rainbow’s back onto the cloud.

“Scootaloo, lay on your stomach and spread your wings out” Rainbow said as she started to inspect Scootaloo’s wings again.

Scootaloo laid on her stomach and tried to spread her wings out but she wasn’t able to move them at all. Her eyes started to tear up in the pain.

“It hurts Rainbow! I-I c-can’t move them!” She cried.

“Well, I’ll help you, just, try to extend them” Rainbow said as she used her hoof to try to help Scootaloo’s wings extend.

After several agonising moments of pain for Scootaloo, Rainbow was able to get Scootaloo’s wings spread out far enough for her to inspect them.

“Scoots, your wings are pretty banged up, so you’ve never preened your wings before?” Rainbow asked.

“N-no, I don’t even know what that is” Scootaloo said still crying from the pain.

“When did they start hurting?” Rainbow asked as she examined the wings even closer.

“T-this m-m-morning” Scootaloo said, her pain was becoming so intense it was starting to make her feel dizzy and lightheaded.

“Well, I can tell you why, you never shed your feathers and the new ones are trying to grown in and its irritating the skin, you may need to remove some feathers” Rainbow stated a bit worried for Scootaloo.

“B-but w-won't that h-hurt?” Scootaloo asked, her eyes were closing, the pain in her wings was very intense.

“It, it might, but you’ll feel better afterwards” Rainbow stated.

“Just make the pain stop!” Scootaloo yelled. Rainbow wasn’t thinking anything more of the pain than it was just pain, but to Scootaloo, it was a horrible memory.

“Ok, ok! I need to pull some feathers out, it might hurt-”

It already hurts!” Scootaloo screeched in her pain.

Rainbow leaned closer to Scootaloo’s wings and gripped one of the feathers in her mouth and pulled it out. Scootaloo felt a sharp pain where the feather was but it started to relieve the intense pressure in her wings a few seconds after. Rainbow went in for another feather and pulled it, again relieving the pressure in Scootaloo’s wings. Feather by feather the pain went away for Scootaloo eventually only feeling the pain of the feathers being plucked, every time producing a small yelp.

“Ok, I, I think I got them all” Rainbow said, she had plucked nearly all of Scootaloo’s feathers, but most of them were irritated and needed to be plucked.

Scootaloo was exhausted from all of the pain, but she was glad it was finally over.

“Hold still Rainbow” Skylight said as she plucked her daughters feathers one by one.

“But it hurrrrtttttsssss” Rainbow moaned.

“And its going to hurt even more if you keep fidgeting, now stop moving, I am almost done” Skylight stated as she pulled more feathers.

“Ow!” Rainbow yelped as her mother pulled one of the feathers very fast, it was one of the most irritated feathers.

“Sorry, that feather was really irritated” Skylight said.

“Are you almost done!?” Rainbow asked.

“Almost, just three more” Skylight stated as she plucked the last three feathers.

“There”

Rainbow looked back and examined her wings noting that she had no more feathers.

“My Wings!” Rainbow yelled.

“Your feathers were poorly taken care of, I told you this was going to happen, but you didn’t listen” Skylight said.

“B-but all of the other pegasus will laugh at me” Rainbow said.

“No they won’t, they all had to do it at some point, even me” Skylight said.

“Now Scoots, you may want to go rest for a bit, you seem like you were in a lot of pain and I would rest if I were you.” Rainbow said as she cleaned up the feathers.

The only response Rainbow got was that of a light snoring.

‘I hope she is ok, that had to hurt’ Rainbow thought to herself remembering her own pain and suffering. As Scootaloo snoozed Rainbow picked her up and carried Scootaloo on her back and laid her down in her Sleeping bag.

‘I really need to get her a real bed’ Rainbow thought as she pulled the cover of the sleeping bag up over Scootaloo.

“Sweet Dreams” Rainbow said rather out of her normal cool shell tone as she walked out of the room.

“You horrible little filly, you were not suppose to see that, now you’re going to be punished” A pegasus mare said.

Scootaloo was cowering in fear on her bed in the orphanage, she had walked into an office and saw another orphan being punished and she was not suppose to see it.

The mare pulled Scootaloo off her bed with the help of two stallions and she laid her out on the floor.

“Such nice wings, its a shame we are going to have to remove them” The Mare said as she started ripping feathers out of Scootaloo’s wings with impressive force. Scootaloo started to bleed out of her wings from this improper removal of feathers.

“Please, stop, please make it stop! I’ll do anything!” Scootaloo yelled, she was starting to cry.

“Its too late, you’ve been a bad filly and you need to be punished” The mare said as she pulled more feathers out of Scootaloo’s wings.

“P-pleasssseee, it h-hur-rts, P-p-pleas-s-se s-stop” Scootaloo cried. It was so painful for her, why anypony would do this, this torture of a poor innocent filly.

The mare pulled the last few feathers out of Scootaloo’s wings with a force that it nearly knocked Scootaloo out from the pain.

“No! W-why a-are you d-doin-ing th-this t-t-to m-m-me” She cried, the pain was so intense that she had just stopped caring about anything else. She accidentally wet herself.

“Aw, the poor little foal has had an accident, and all over my beautiful tail, cut her tail off then make her sit in her mess” The mare said to the two stallions.

“Somepony Help me!” Scootaloo yelled in her sleep.

Rainbow got up from her slumber on her sofa and ran into the bedroom to find Scootaloo tossing and turning in her sleep.

“Scootaloo, what’s the matter?” Rainbow said frantically.

“Anypony, Somepony! Help!” She yelled in her sleep.

Rainbow ran over to Scootaloo and shook her awake.

“Scootaloo? Scoots? Wake up!” Rainbow yelled.

Scootaloo gasped for breath and jumped up with her eyes open, she was crying wildly.

“Scootaloo, what’s the matter?” Rainbow asked as she pulled Scootaloo closer into a hug, thats when Rainbow noticed Scootaloo had wet the bed. Rainbow didn’t pay it much mind though.

“I-I, h-h-he-h-help-p” Scootaloo said through her frantic tears.

“Shh, shh, it’s ok, it’s ok, you’re safe now.” Rainbow said as she hugged Scootaloo tighter.

“D-don’t l-let th-them h-h-hur-rt m-m-me R-Rainb-bow” Scootaloo cried as she hugged Rainbow.

“Shh, it’s ok now, everything is ok now” Rainbow said trying to calm Scootaloo. This was the first time Rainbow had seen her so upset.

“Th-they c-cut off m-my f-feathers, an-and m-my t-tail an-an-d I-it h-hurt” Scootaloo cried. Her tears were a torrential downpour.

“It was just a bad dream, you’re fine now, just try to calm down” Rainbow said, her voice was calm but she was having a hard time keeping herself composed seeing Scootaloo like this.

“N-no it w-was r-real, th-they c-cut off m-my f-feath-thers a-and t-t-tail” She cried even harder.

“Who did, I’ll go and-” Rainbow was cut off.

“Th-the or-orph-phanage p-p-pon-nies” She balled her eyes out crying. Something so traumatic, to an innocent little filly, who would anypony do such a thing.

“I, I h-had for-forgot-t-t-ten a-about it, th-then y-you pr-preened m-my f-feathers, an-and I r-reme-membered-d” Scootaloo was on the verge of passing out from her crying.

“Scootaloo, calm down, It’s ok now, everything is going to be ok, I won’t let any pony hurt you ever again” Rainbow said, she was trying to reassure Scootaloo, but it just didn’t seem to be working.

“Th-Th-thank-k y-you” Scootaloo said, she was crying hysterically but she was starting to calm down.

It was at this point Scootaloo realised she had wet the bed.

“No! Rainbow Dash I am So Sorry! P-please d-don’t be m-mad” Scootaloo said as she started to get upset again.

“Scootaloo, it’s ok, I told you when we were at Twilight’s, its fine, I, I uh had the same problem when I was little, It’s ok, I am not mad” Rainbow soothed, normally she would be upset about having to clean the sleeping bag, but after what she just heard she wasn’t even thinking it.

Rainbow was more concerned with keeping Scootaloo safe and comforting her.

“Come on, why don’t we take a moment to breath and calm down, then go get you cleaned up, hows that sound?” Rainbow asked, at this point she released Scootaloo from the hug she had embraced her in.

After a quick round of baths and another splashing war Scootaloo and Rainbow were sitting in the living room of the cloud home around a small candle. The sunset was shining into the house casting an orange glow among the walls. They were doing a jigsaw puzzle of the Wonderbolts.

“Scootaloo, I think you should talk to a doctor” Rainbow said as she slid a puzzle piece into its slot.

“You mean, about my wings?” Scootaloo asked as she fussed over a puzzle piece that would not fit.

“No, I mean about your experiences at the orphanage” Rainbow said as she took the puzzle piece Scootaloo was fussing over and put it into the correct spot.

Scootaloo stopped and her eyes widened a bit.

“No, I, I don’t want to remember that place” Scootaloo said, she started to tremble just thinking about it.

“Scoots, calm down, it’s just a suggestion, I just feel if you talked to a doctor they could help you.” Rainbow said as she placed another puzzle piece in its spot, she had done this puzzle several times.

“Hey thats not fair! You know the puzzle!” Scootaloo pouted playfully as she shoved Rainbow with her forehooves.

“Yes but you picked the puzzle” Rainbow said as she shoved back.

“Yeah but-” Scootaloo could not finish her sentence as she was cut off but a fit of giggling.

“No arguing with me!” Rainbow said as she tickled Scootaloo in a scene that could only be described as cute sisterly bonding.

“R-ra-haha-inb-bow S-s-stop-p” Scootaloo said in her fit of giggles.

“I will, but first, who is the most awesome, best, most coolest guardian pegasus?” Rainbow asked as she continued to tickle Scootaloo.

“Y-you a-are R-Rainbow-w” Scootaloo said through her fit of giggles.

“What was that? I can’t understand you?” Rainbow said playfully as she continued to make Scootaloo giggle.

“You a-are th-the m-m-most b-best a-and c-cool-lest g-guardian p-pegasus” Scootaloo managed to say through her giggles.

“You missed one” Rainbow said as she continued to tickle Scootaloo.

“A-and Aw-aw-awesome” Scootaloo said as Rainbow finally released her ticklish hold on Scootaloo.

Scootaloo breathed very deeply for the next few moments.

“Alright Scoots, it’s getting late, time for bed” Rainbow said as she picked up the candle and started off to the bedroom.

“Aww, do we have to?” Scootaloo said as she tilted her head and made her eyes as big as she could.

Rainbow stopped and set the candle back down.

“Well, I guess you can stay up for a bit longer” She said contemplating a thought in her head.

“Cool! So I was thinking may-” Scootaloo was cut off as Rainbow pounced on her in yet another tickle war.

The night continued on like this for the two pegasi, an endless battle of tickles and several puzzles.

“Alright Scoots, its nearly half past midnight, it’s really time for bed now.” Rainbow said as she picked up the candle once more.

“Ok, Fine.” Scootaloo said as she obediently followed Rainbow to the bedroom.

They each laid down in their respective beds, Scootaloo now having her own small bed complements of Pinkie who store beds all over Ponyville, in case of bed emergencies.

“Goodnight Rainbow.” Scootaloo said as she settled herself in under her blanket.

“Goodnight Scoots” Rainbow replied as she also settled in her bed.

“Scootaloo?” Rainbow said a few moments later.

“Yeah Rainbow?” Scootaloo replied with a yawn.

“The other night you said you loved me, I was just wondering-”

The only response was the content snoring of the small filly in the bed across the room.

Rainbow smiled a bit before she too rolled over and fell asleep.

The Next Morning...

Breakfast was quiet, neither of the pegasi at the table had anything new or interesting to talk about.

“So, uh, Scoots, I really think you should go talk to Twi or Flutters.” Rainbow said as she took a bite of her sandwich.

“I dunno, I don’t really want to talk about-” Scootaloo started only to be cut off by Rainbow.

“Look Scoots, you really should talk to somepony about this, I am not giving you a choice” Rainbow said in a stern voice

“Well, if I have to go then you have to do something for me.”

Rainbow looked at Scootaloo with a confused look on her face.

About ten minutes later Scootaloo was pushing Rainbow down a small dirt path to the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse.

“Ohhh no, Scootaloo, I like fans, but I don’t do fan club meetings.” Rainbow said as Scootaloo continued to push her down the path.

“But Raaaainbowwwww, you said you would.” Scootaloo moaned.

“But, I don’t like fan club meetings, they are full of sweaty, smelly, geeky ponies” Rainbow responded instantly regretting her choice of words.

“D-do you think I am sweaty, and smelly, and geeky?” Scootaloo asked as she stopped pushing Rainbow and looked up at her with a sad expression on her face.

“Uh, that’s not what I-”

“Look everypony! Its Rainbowdash!” A fanclub pony yelled from the treehouse.

‘Great, this is going to be a long day’ Rainbow thought to herself as she was swarmed with ponies.

Several moments of being mobbed by ponies and trying to hide in the clubhouse later...

“So, as you can see, Rainbow is the most awesome, most coolest of all of the pegasususus there is” Snips said as he and Snails finished their presentation.

Scootaloo was sitting next to Rainbow, still looking a bit upset about what Rainbow had said earlier.

‘I sure did mess up, maybe if I-’ Rainbow’s train of thought was interrupted when another club member stepped up to the podium and began to speak.

“Rainbow Dash, would you like to answer a few questions?” The member said gesturing for her to step up to the podium.

“Uh, sure, I guess?” Rainbow said as she walked up to the podium.

A roar of questions fired all at once causing a bit of an overload for Rainbow.

“How fun is it to fly?” “How did you become a great flyer?” “What’s it like to be in the sky?”

“I uh, its-”

“When do you plan on entering the Wonderbolts?” “How do you feel about the ponies that idolize you?” “Do you plan on giving flight lessons to other pegasi?”

The last round of questions hit Rainbow a bit hard, now that she was taking care of Scootaloo, she would be unable to join the Wonderbolts, more importantly however, she had hurt Scootaloo, one of the few ponies that idolized her like she idolized the Wonderbolts.

Rainbow was starting to get taken back by all of the questions, the ponies started to mob her and she started to step backwards a bit.

Scootaloo jumped to the podium and spoke. “Sorry everypony, we have to go.” Scootaloo said, probably saving Rainbow from being mobbed.

A few moments later...

Rainbow and Scootaloo were sitting on a park bench in Ponyville, clouds were rolling in and the wind was starting to pick up a bit. A nasty storm was planned for the evening.

“Maybe bringing you to a fan club meeting wasn’t the best idea” Scootaloo said

“I’ll say, that one pony looked like he was ready to cut off my mane and tail to keep for himself.” Rainbow joked.

“Don’t even joke about tails being cut off.” Scootaloo said as she held her own tail in her hooves.

“Scootaloo, I’m sorry about what I said, earlier, I didn’t mean you...” Rainbow trailed off

“It’s ok, I’m just a smelly, sweaty, pony anyway” Scootaloo said, her ears fell flat and she hung her head down low.

“Scootaloo I didn’t say that, come on, you know I don’t feel that way about you.” Rainbow said as she pulled Scootaloo a bit closer to her. “You’ll always be like a little sister to me.” She said hugging Scootaloo.

“Rainbow?” Scootaloo said after a short pause.

“Yeah Scoots?”

“Do, do you ever wonder, who your parents were?” Scootaloo asked, her ears fell flat again as she asked the question.

“Well, I knew-” Rainbow stopped for a moment. thinking about it, the last time she tried to think about her parents, she couldn’t even remember what they looked like, she had no pictures, not that much of a memory to go off of either.

“Maybe, maybe sometimes” She said.

“Well, do, do you ever wonder, if you had a brother or sister that you don’t know because you didn’t know your parents?”

Rainbow was thrown into a bit of a flashback remembering that night.

‘Where are they! My sister and my parents! Mommy! Daddy!’

Rainbow’s little flashback was cut off when Scootaloo started to give her a strange look of concern.

“Uh, I, I did have a sister, but...” Rainbow trailed off.

“Oh, well, what happened?” Scootaloo asked, probing for more information.

“Well, I, they died, when I was very young, I don’t remember much.” Rainbow said as she started to get a bit depressed from the whole conversation.

“At least you have some memory, I don’t remember my parents at all” Scootaloo said, she noticed the expression on Rainbow’s face and her blank stare into the sky.

“Why don’t we fly home, I, I think I left a candle lit” Rainbow said as she got up off the bench and started to spread her wings.

“Oh, ok” Scootaloo said as she did the same.

The two pegasi flew home side by side, silent as can be.

That Night...

“Wow! Look at that mommy! look how fast they are going!” Rainbow said in awe as she watched Spitfire perform an amazing trick.

“Look over there Dashie, check that out” Refraction said as he lifted up his daughter to let her get a better view.

“Wow!” Rainbow said, still in awe watching the entire Wonderbolts performance.

All of the sudden Rainbow was in a line to get an autograph, then another flash and she was the next in line.

“Ohmygoshohmgoshohmygoshohmygosh” Rainbow said over and over again as she walked up next to Spitfire to get a picture and an autograph.

“Hey kid” Spitfire said.

Rainbow was unable to speak, she was so overwhelmed by meeting her idol.

“Go on Rainbow, lets get a picture” Skylight said holding up a camera.

There was a flash and then Spitfire turned into a massive flame engulfing Rainbow’s surroundings.

Rainbow’s parents started to move backwards a bit and Rainbow was completely surrounded in fire as the walls seemed to fade away.

“Run Dash, Run!” Refraction yelled as he and Skylight started to gradually get farther and farther away from Rainbow.

“No! Come Back! Don’t Leave Me! Mommy! Daddy!” Rainbow yelled.

Rainbow’s parents disappeared in a large blast of fire and Rainbow started to fall down through a ring of fire.

Scootaloo was awoken by screams of terror from Rainbow.

“Somepony Help! Put out the fire!” Scootaloo lit a candle and started to go over to wake Rainbow up.

“Rainbow, wake up!” Scootaloo said as she brought the candle closer to Rainbow.

Rainbow’s eyes shot open and focused on the fire from the candle, it was all she saw in her haze. She jumped backwards falling off her bed and pushing herself back into a corner of the room.

“Mommy! Daddy! Help!” She yelled as Scootaloo started to get closer.

“Rainbow, its just me, are you ok?” Scootaloo said.

There was a boom of thunder which just made the situation worse.

“Put out the fire! Mommy! Daddy! Anypony! Help!”

“Rainbow, its just me, It’s Scootaloo, and its just a candle, snap out of it” Scootaloo said as she pushed Rainbow, snapping her out of her nightmare.

“W-what?” Rainbow said still shaken, she started to hiccup and shake wildly.

“Rainbow, are, are you ok?” Scootaloo asked.

“Y-*hic*-eah, I a-*hic*-m f-fine, why wou-*hic*-ldn’t I b-be” Rainbow said, obviously not fine.

“Rainbow, you are definitely not fine, you’re really upset, what’s the matter?” Scootaloo said, she was genuinely concerned for Rainbow.

“N-nothing, I, I’m fine” Rainbow Said, heart racing a mile a minute, nearly as fast as she could fly.

“Heh, it’s funny, you hiccup when you’re upset, just like me” Scootaloo said as she sat down next to Rainbow.

“Y-yeah, how ‘bout that.” Rainbow said, still clearly upset, tears were rolling down her face.

“Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked.

“Y-*hic*-eah?” Rainbow asked.

“What was all that about your mom and dad?” Scootaloo said, probing for information, she just had to get Rainbow to open up to her.

“It, it was nothing” Rainbow said, denying even saying anything about it.

“Rainbow, I may be a filly, but I wasn’t born yesterday” Scootaloo said trying to make a small joke.

“Well, I” Rainbow paused for a short while. “I had a dream, I, I was at a Wonderbolt derby with my p-parents and I, they, there was fire everywhere and, I couldn’t save them” Rainbow managed to say through her tears.

“Rainbow, I’m sorry, but, its ok now, it was just a dream.” Scootaloo said.

“But, that’s just it Scootaloo, it wasn’t, thats how they died, in a fire.” Rainbow said, she focused on that candle as she remembered.

“We’ll always love you Rainbow, remember that, you didn’t do anything wrong” Skylight said.

“B-but, when will I see you again?”

“You might not, just remember, me and your father will always love you.”

“Go Dash!” Refraction yelled as a rafter fell causing more fire to spread throughout the room.

Rainbow started to tear up as she left the room.

“I’ll never forget, always I will love you” Rainbow mumbled to herself.

“What Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked.

“It’s nothing, it is just something my mother said.” Rainbow said.

And for the next half an hour the two Pegasi sat silently watching the storm through the windows.

“Scoots?” Rainbow said, looking away from the window.

“Yeah Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked, as she too looked away from the window.

“You, uh, jeez I don’t know how to say this without it sounding awkward and uncool” Rainbow started.

“What Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked with a puzzled look on her face.

“You, uh, you want to sleep in my bed tonight” Rainbow said, then she spoke again very fast
“you know, because of the storm, think of it as a sleepover, like, a sister thing.”

“Sure Rainbow, but only if you tell me why you really want me to.” Scootaloo said.

“Because I don’t want to be alone because of the nightmares” Rainbow mumbled to herself, a bit too quiet for Scootaloo to hear.

“What was that?” Scootaloo said in a smart tone.

“Because I don’t want to be alone, I don’t want to have more nightmares.” Rainbow said in a loud and embarrassed tone giving up her pride.

“That’s better.” Scootaloo said as they both climbed into Rainbow’s bed.

Soon both pegasi had fell asleep, to enter the warm dreamland provided by the other.

Orange Memories

Sisterly Bonds

Part VII
‘Orange Memories’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

Rainbow and Scootaloo were laying in Rainbow’s bed in their sisterly embrace.

Rainbow yawned from exhaustion as she and Scootaloo sat together.

“Thanks sis.” Rainbow said with another yawn as she stretched her forelegs a bit.

“No problem big sis.” Scootaloo said, getting a bit restless still in their embrace.

“Alright Scoots, as much as I want to continue this, I need some sleep, I am awfully tired.” Rainbow said as she yawned, again.

Scootaloo nods and releases herself from the embrace and gets off the bed.

“Are, are you going to be ok?” Scootaloo asked, still a bit concerned for Rainbow’s well being.

“Yeah, yeah, I *Yawn* I’m Fine” Rainbow said as she started to doze off to dreamland.

Scootaloo, content that Rainbow is finally going to be able to get some sleep, goes back to her bed and attempts to sleep herself. Just as she starts to fall asleep she speaks. “Night, sleep tight” She sighs as she closes her eyes.

“You too sis.”

“Dear, dear, it’s, its time!” Skylight said as she nudged Refraction.

“What? Go back to sleep its still dark out.” Refraction said as he rolled over.

“The foal is coming!”

“Can’t you hold it in or something?”

“The Foal, is coming!” She said again hitting him upside his head.

“Oh, wait, what? now? Are you sure?” He said as his eyes snapped open.

“Would I have just hit you upside your head if I was joking?”

‘Yes’ he thought to himself.

“Ok, um, let me get Rainbow, then, then we can go, I guess” Refraction said as he got out of bed.

‘If this is another false alarm I am going to be so bucki-’ His thought was cut off as he entered Rainbow’s room.

“Daddy? What’s going on?”

“The hospital said your sister arrived, we have to hurry there, come on, get up” He said as he lifted his daugher out of her bed and placed her on the floor.

Rainbow rubbed her eyes and yawned before laying down on her floor and falling asleep just as fast as she woke up.

“Rainbow....” Refraction said as he picked up her and placed the sleeping filly on his back.

Skylight was already waiting outside, just as Refraction and Rainbow exited the house, Rainbow spoke.

“How did we get outside?” She said as she rubbed her eyes again. “Oh hi daddy” She just now realised she was on his back.

“Come on, we have to hurry” Skylight said as she got into a chariot shaped cloud. Refraction set Rainbow down next to Skylight, and she fell asleep, surprise surprise....

Refraction then started pushing the cloud along to the hospital, unknowing he was pushing himself and Skylight to an end.

The Next morning...

Rainbow woke to the sun shining in on her face, she never closed the windows last night.

She stretched and gave a well earned yawn, then she noticed Scootaloo was still fast asleep.

“Aw, Scootaloo looks so sweet sleeping, I wonder if Tank wants to play a prank on little sis.” She whispered to herself

A very evil grin appeared on Rainbow’s face. She left the room quietly.

“Hey Tank, want to play a prank on Scootaloo?” Rainbow asked.

Tank slowly opened his eyes then closed them as he looked up at her tilting his head.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She said.

Soon she returned with a half sleeping Tank the Tortoise.

Rainbow slowly approached Scootaloo with Tank in her hoof. Rainbow slowly put Tank on Scootaloo’s back near her tail.

“Ok champ, now go give Scootaloo a big wet kiss.” Rainbow whispered as she giggled to herself.

Tank started to fall off of Scootaloo and grabbed her tail to prevent himself from falling off.

Scootaloo’s eyes shot open as she felt the tug on her tail and her wings extended, she was blushing profusely.

Rainbow knew exactly what was going on with Scootaloo’s wings, but she didn’t want to have ‘that’ conversation.

Scootaloo shot Rainbow a mortifying confused glare.

“Heh, he, uh, he was suppose to lick your face.” Rainbow said rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof.

Scootaloo was walking through the common room of the Orphanage. Making her way over to a small table that had paper and crayons on it. She was planning on drawing a nice blue sky with a large orange sun.

Scootaloo had an eye for a particular young pegasus colt on the other side of the room, she looked away and blushed when he caught her gaze.

About halfway to the table the young pegasus colt who she was eyeing ran up behind her and locked her tail in his mouth and pulled it playfully.

Scootaloo’s wings flared out and her eyes grew wide and she blushed profusely.

Some of the older pegasi in the room chuckled to themselves, knowing exactly what was going on.

Scootaloo felt extremely embarrassed and mortified, and she had no idea why she lost control of her wings.

“Um, Scootaloo, do you know what just happened?” Rainbow asked, dreading the answer she was about to receive.

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked as she walked into the bathroom and splashed her face with some water.

“Well, uh, with um, with your wings there?” Rainbow said, she had no desire to have this conversation whatsoever with such a young filly.

“No, why, I dunno why I lost control of my wings like that.”

“Well, uh, what, what um, what were you thinking about just then?” Rainbow asked, so not ready to have this conversation.

“I was remembering something, from a while ago, it’s nothing really.” Scootaloo looked away blushing a bit, it didn’t help Rainbow at all considering Scootaloo’s wings were still slightly flared out.

“You, uh, you can tell me, right, we are sisters now, remember?”

“H-have you ever had a crush on s-somepony?” Scootaloo said as she sat down on her bed.

Rainbow sat down next to her.

“Yeah, but I’d never admit it.” Rainbow said.

“W-well, when I was at the orphanage, there was this colt you see, and...” Her wings started to tremble a bit as she trailed off.

“What about him?” Rainbow asked, as much as she did not want to have the conversation, she wanted to know about this mystery colt.

“W-well, h-he tugged on my tail, and, I,I felt all weird, and I lost control of my wings, and some of the older pegasi laughed at me, it was so embarrassing.” Scootaloo looked down a bit, her wings, now fully extended as they were a few moments ago.

“Oh, uh, I, uh, I think it’s time you, I think I should probably...” Rainbow trailed off. “The Talk.”

Scootaloo knew that ‘The Talk’ was suppose to be something to dread, but she didn’t exactly know what it was about.

“You see, Scootaloo, when, when a, uh, when two ponies love each other very much, um, and, um, particularly a stallion and a mare, um, things happen, and um, things you can’t control, embarrassing things, like your wings, and, um, you see, if, um, well, it’s rather interesting, um, let me start over.” Rainbow paused a bit, she inhaled a deep breath and began to speak once again.

“When a Mare and a Stallion love eachother very much, things like, um, yeah why don’t we go flying or something.” Rainbow said as she got up and started to walk out of the room.

“But Rainbow, why did my wings flare up, what was that weird feeling, why did I blush?”

“We can take the route around the mountain and then-”

“But I can’t fly, my wings are all stiff and I can’t move them, how do I get them to move again?”

“Uh, well, you can ride on a cloud or something, come on lets go.”

“Rainbow! Why are you avoiding the subject?” Scootaloo moaned.

“I’m not going to get out of this am I?”

“Nope!”

“Well, when you fancy a colt, your body, um, tells you stuff-”

“What stuff?”

Rainbow face hoofed.

“Um, well, your wings flare up, and um, it, um, it lets you know, that um, you, like a colt, and, you get that um, that strange feeling, and, um-”

‘How am I going to distract Scootaloo now or get her wings down without having to say it.’ Rainbow thought to herself.

“-And, um, Hey is that Spitfire?” Rainbow said pointing out a window.

“What? Where!” Scootaloo said excitedly as she ran to the window, her wings however, were still flared.

‘Jeez this kid is persistent’ Rainbow thought to herself.

“I don’t see her, well, lets get back to that conversation.”

Again, Rainbow face hoofed.

“Well, um, as I was saying, you um, when a mommy pony and a daddy pony want to have a foal, um, you do know where foals come from right?”

“Of course, The stork!”

Rainbow, again face hoofed.

“Well, when a mommy pony and a daddy pony decide they want a foal, they, um, they, well, the daddy pony, no wait, thats not right, the mommy pony goes to the bed and, no, thats not right either, what did you do last time your wings were like this?”

“Well, the orphanage ponies pushed my wings down and then tied them around my sides with a rope....kinda like what Applejack did to you when you did that race for the running of the leaves, my wings hurt for a few hours after that.”

Rainbow looked back at her own wings and imagined how painful that would have to be.

“Wow Scootaloo, I’m sorry they did that to you, that uh, that probably hurt really bad huh?”

Scootaloo’s wings started to loose their flare as she got a bit depressed.

“Yeah, it hurt a lot, and the older pegasi kept laughing at me, the mean mare even made me wear a sign, I don’t remember what it said though, I think it said dunce or something? They said I had to wear the sign because I didn’t know what was going on with my wings.” Scootaloo looked down at the ground, she started to sniffle a bit.

‘Poor Scootaloo, Those orphanage ponies must have really hurt her.’ Rainbow thought to herself.

“Are you ok?” Rainbow asked, Scootaloo was starting to tear up, it was a bit depressing to see Scootaloo like that.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine, I just, they were so mean, one of the older pegasus tripped me and called me stupid, and, and, the older colts s-started c-calling m-me n-names and s-stuf-ff, and I-It r-really hurt.”

“Oh Scootaloo, I am so sorry, I won’t let anything happen to you ok? How about we go get breakfast, hm?” Rainbow asked as she hugged Scootaloo.

“Yeah, that sounds nice, I am a bit hungry.” Scootaloo said as her stomach rumbled.

They both giggled a bit at her loud stomach, then they left for the kitchen to have a nice breakfast.

Shortly after breakfast the two pegasi were locked in a game of hide and seek because it was raining out.

“Come out wherever you are!” Rainbow said as she opened a small cabinet, no Scootaloo.

Rainbow then made her way from the kitchen into the living room, no sign of Scootaloo. She walked over to a small china cabinet, it had a small compartment on the bottom that would be enough to hide a small filly.

‘Now I have you’ Rainbow thought as she saw a small purple hair stuck between the door and its hinges. She opened it fast to find that it was just a purple hair....

She looked around the room, it was quiet, the only sound was that of the rain pelting the window at a soothing rate keeping pace with the grandfather clock that was ticking away.

She slowly creeped her way into the bedroom and looked around, at first glance nothing seemed different, but then she noticed a small purple tail sticking out from under her bed.

‘Aha, Gotcha!’ Rainbow thought to herself.

Rainbow slowly crept closer and then pulled Scootaloo out from under the bed and engaged her in a tickle war.

“Gotcha!”

“Search the forest, I want you to find her, and bring her back, she is injured, she can’t have gotten to far.” The mare said as several stallions ran into the Everfree.

One of the Stallions noticed an orange leg pull itself into a small log.

He ran over to the log and pulled Scootaloo out by the short stub of a tail she had remaining after they had cut it off not even an hour earlier.

“Gotcha! You aren’t going to get away that easily.” He said as he carried her back to the orphanage. Just before they got out of the forest a timber wolf attacked, the Stallion dropped Scootaloo and ran out of the forest leaving her to fend for herself, alone, severely injured, and on the verge of passing out.

Rainbow was about to place a hoof on Scootaloo’s belly to tickle her.

“Oh, But I am very elusive! You’ll have to try harder!” Scootaloo said as she reached up and started to tickle Rainbow’s exposed tummy. She played it out like she was attacking a large cyan and rainbow beast trying its best to defeat her.

‘Nonononono!’ Rainbow thought to herself, fully knowing she was very ticklish.

Rainbow tried to resist, pulling herself away from Scootaloo, but failed when a hoof came into contact with her belly. Wielding her hoof like it was a sword, Scootaloo started slashing through the beast in an attempt to stop its tirade.

Rainbow instantly fell over from her fit of laughter and Scootaloo jumped on top of her standing tall claiming her prize, the pelt of a rainbow and cyan beast! Or atleast thats how it was in Scootaloo’s imagination.

“I got you Rainbow!” Scootaloo said with a giggle as she started to tickle Rainbow again.

“O-oh, ok, C-can’t b-breath” Rainbow said though her fit of laughter.

“Ok sis, but, now I know what your weakness is!” Scootaloo said with a smile.

“Yeah yeah, but I know what your weakness is, bed” Rainbow smiled as she paused to catch her breath as she stood back up. “That was really fun Scoots, but its still raining out, sorry, I guess we can’t go flying today.”

‘It’s really fun to bond with a sister, even if she isn’t really my sister, I hope we can keep doing this’ Rainbow thought to herself.

As they started preparing for the next game, Scootaloo stopped when she swore she heard the howl of a timberwolf.

“Scoots, are you ok?” Rainbow asked when she saw the terrified look on Scootaloo’s face.

“W-was that a t-timber w-wolf?” She asked.

“Nah, it was the wind, besides, even if it was a timberwolf, we are a few hundred feet up in the sky, they can’t get us up here.” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, ok, sure.” Scootaloo said

Scootaloo was cornered by the timberwolf, it howled causing Scootaloo to flinch.

‘How am I going to get out of this!’ Scootaloo thought.

There was a snap from a tree branch and it distracted the timberwolf long enough for Scootaloo to slip past, it soon noticed however and gave chase.

Scootaloo was running, however the pain in her wings was too severe, not only from her feathers being pulled out, but from landing on them from two stories up.

“Owe!” Scootaloo screeched as she tripped and fell into a mud puddle.

The timberwolf caught up to her. She backed away slowly on the ground, well, as fast as she could. The timberwolf reached its head down, its mouth open to snatch her up when a streak of pink and yellow flew past and snatched Scootaloo out from under the timberwolves maw.

Scootaloo had fainted before the mystery savior showed up.

“Why don’t we finish that puzzle, hm Scoots?” Rainbow asked as she walked into the living room.

“Sure, but you cheat, you already did the puzzle before.”

“Yes but you picked it.”

“Hmph”

As the two started working on the puzzle Scootaloo started to talk.

“Rainbow, do, do you like to read?”

“Well, there was this one time, I was in the hospital because my wings were all bandaged up, and Twilight left me a Daring Do book, which I said was undeniable, unquestionably, uncool, so eventually after-” The words of Rainbow’s story trailed off as Scootaloo gave her a blank stare.

“Wings” Scootaloo whispered to herself.

“What was that Scootaloo?”

“Oh, uh, nothing, go on.”

“Ok so anyway, and then the hospital ponies were all like, you have to leave-”

Scootaloo awoke in a strange place, the room was oddly reminiscent of the nurse’s office at that orphanage.

She tried to get up but she was restrained by the pain in her wings.

“Hello?” She managed to say weakly.

“Oh, why good morning! You gave me quite the scare when I found you with that timberwolf, but he won’t bother you anymore.” The yellow coated mare said smiling, she had a small bowl of warm soup with her.

“Here, eat this, you’ must be hungry.” The pink maned pegasus started to move the bowl closer to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo flinched and covered her face with her hooves, expecting the bowl of hot liquid to be thrown at her face.

“Are you ok?” The pegasus asked.

“Don’t hurt me I, I won’t run away again! Just don’t hurt me!” Scootaloo said in a frantic cry.

“Oh, nopony is going to hurt you here, I just want to see you get all better.” The mare said, again she put on a weak smile.

“Thats what they say to all of the runaways, please, please just d-don’t hurt me!”

“Nopony here is going to hurt you, I, I just want you to get better.”

Scootaloo slapped the bowl of soup out of the yellow mare’s hooves.

The soup splashed onto the floor next to the mare. She flinched when the liquid spilled, some of it landed on her hooves and caused a slight burn.

The yellow pegasus yelped when she was burnt by the soup.

“I guess you don’t want soup, I’ll clean it up, I guess, you know, if you want.”

“Whatever just don’t hurt me!” Scootaloo said now crying.

“N-no, n-no use c-crying o-over s-spilled s-soup.” The mare said starting to tear up as she cleaned the soup.

“I, I guess I-I’ll l-leave y-you alone”

“P-please j-just d-don’t h-hurt me!” Scootaloo said, still in a panic, covering her head.

The timid mare left the room, nearly in tears leaving Scootaloo alone.

‘Phew she left’ Scootaloo thought to herself.

After a few hours, with the timid pony not returning to the room, Scootaloo decided it was time to make a break for it.

She climbed out of the bed, her wings were wrapped in bandages and both of her hind legs were in splints. However, she managed to start walking to the door of the room, confronted with a challenge, stairs. DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!!!!!

“DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!! Daring Do was faced with Ghastly Gorge!” Rainbow said; she was starting to get all geeky as she leaped off the sofa flying around the room dodging pretend falling rocks saying ‘its time to DO something’ As she landed on the coffee table she flicked her mane like a bad actor would. “Another day, another canyon” she said standing on the table proudly with a very lame expression on her face.

“Wait huh? Ghastly Gorge what?” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow snapped out of her delusions of grandeur long enough to realise that she was embarrassing herself.

“Oh, uh, I uh, I guess that was, um, yeah?” Rainbow said, she looked shocked and blushed in embarrassment as she stumbled.

“And, just how did you avoid those rocks in ghastly gorge again Rainbow?” Scootaloo said with a devilish grin on her face.

“I, I was fighting a parasprite, you probably just didn’t see it, it was, um, it was really fast!” Rainbow said trying to defend her actions.

“You were what now? Rainbow I think you were being a bit childish living in that fantasy.” Scootaloo said as she raised an eyebrow.

Rainbow started to sweat a bit. Her face went from being all lit up with a smile to being a very large frown. Her wings that were spread for her flying had now snapped themselves to her side.

“Yeah well, you’re a filly anyway, so, it, It’s Ok To Pretend! sometimes...”

“Rainbow, heh, were you just pretending to be Daring Do?” Scootaloo said, she was staring Rainbow down trying to break the answer out of her.

“You-You Didn’t See That!” Rainbow said a bit franticly.

‘I can’t believe I just did that!’ Rainbow thought to herself.

“Uh huh, well, now I know I can-”

“If you say one word!” Rainbow looked away, blushing a bit.

“Well, now I know what I can use if you try to send me to bed early.”

“Try it and you will get another visit from the Tickle Dash!” Rainbow said as she tackled Scootaloo tickling her.

“O-Ok, I, I give, I give!” Scootaloo said in her fit of laughter.

“The only ransom is a pinkie promise!”

“C-Cross my heart, h-hope to, f-fly, s-stick a c-cupcake i-in m-my e-eye!” Scootaloo said, still laughing hysterically.

“Good, now, you didn’t hear anything.” Rainbow said as she stopped ticking Scootaloo.

Scootaloo grinned a bit.

Rainbow glared at Scootaloo as if to say ‘If you even try it’

She stumbled her way down the stairs trying to be as quiet as possible, not really managing to.

When she got to the bottom of the steps, after nearly falling in the process, she found a sleeping yellow mare on the sofa.

She made her way past the mare as quietly as she could, managing to get out through the rabbit door that was built into the front door.

Later That Evening...

“So, we have, dandelion sandwiches, um, grass soup, and um, that’s about it, uh, unless you want to go out and get something.” Rainbow said as she scanned her cabinets for anything, ANYTHING to eat.

‘I really need to go shopping.’ Rainbow thought to herself.

Scootaloo’s stomach growled intensely.

“Rainbow, my tummy hurts.” Scootaloo said whimpering, she wasn’t looking too good, it was probably to much excitement and not eating that much over the past few days.

“Aw, what’s the matter Scoots?” Rainbow said as she floated down from her holding pattern near the open cabinets. She picked Scootaloo up, much like one would for a foal.

“I, I don’t know, my tummy just really hurts.” She whined, she put her forehoof under her belly trying to hold it to make the pain stop.

Rainbow put her hoof up to Scootaloo’s head.

“You don’t feel warm, I think you’re just hungry.” She said as she set Scootaloo back down.

“It hurts Rainbow.” She whined.

Scootaloo wandered through the back alleys of Ponyville, looking for any kind of food, anything, even the smallest crumb, She was starving.

“And Stay Out!” A grumpy pony yelled as he through Scootaloo out of his restaurant, she had no bits.

Her stomach growled.

‘My tummy hurts’ She thought to herself as she found her way into another alley. It was raining and she needed to find shelter. A box in the alley provided such shelter.

She got inside it and closed the flaps on the sideways box trying to keep herself dry. She was cold, wet, and hungry.

“Miss?” An elegant waiter pony from the restaurant said in a seemingly french accent.

He approached the box.

“Miss, where did you go?” He asked, he was confused, it was a dead end, and she just dissapeared.

Scootaloo peared out of her box to see the waiter standing there.

“H-hello?” Scootaloo said, still afraid of other ponies after what happened at the orphanage.

“My dear, what are you doing out here all alone, your parents must be worried sick.” He said as he picked her up in his forehooves.

“What’s a parent?” She asked, then her stomach growled again.

“My tummy hurts.” She said as she held her stomach with her hooves.

“This is unacceptable, you are coming into my establishment, and we shall feed you.” The pony said as he carried Scootaloo into the restaurant.

“So my dear, you have read our menu, do you see anything to your liking?” He asked.

“I, I can’t read, but, whatever this thing is, it looks good” She said pointing to a picture of a bowl of grass soup.

“Chef Gustav! Grass Soup, On Le Double!” The waiter said.

“C-can you make me some grass soup?” Scootaloo asked, still holding her belly.

“Oh, you have the same taste in food as my mother, I will never understand how ponies eat it.”

“Then why do you have some here?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.” She said, remembering the time she thought her parents were going to magically come home.

Rainbow masterfully started the soup in a pot on a small cloud stove.

“My tummy hurts really bad now.” Scootaloo said, she was starting to feel lightheaded.

“I’m sorry Scoots, you shoulda told me you were hungry.” Rainbow said as she finished the soup and poured it into a bowl.

“There, eat up.” Rainbow said as she sat down opposite to Scootaloo at the table.

Scootaloo devoured the soup faster than it took to make it.

“Can I have some more please?” She asked as she slid the bowl over to Rainbow.

Rainbow smiled a bit, “Sure Scoots.”

She then poured another bowl of soup and put it on the table in front of Scootaloo who again, devours it.

“Um, Rainbow, I-”

“You want more?” Rainbow asked confused.

“um, yes, please.”

Rainbow, again got more soup and put the bowl in front of Scootaloo who ate it much slower this time.

“Now that-”

“Don’t tell me you want more.”

“Nope! That hit the spot, I think I am good now.” She said as she rubbed her belly.

“Well, do you feel bet-” Rainbow was cut off by the snoring sound of a content, full filly.

She chuckled to herself.

“Aw, your so cute when your sleeping, I guess I need carry you to bed huh?” Rainbow said in a hushed tone.

Rainbow quietly put Scootaloo on her back and trotted to the bedroom. She placed Scootaloo in her bed and pulled the covers up over her.

“Goodnight sis” Rainbow said as she climbed into her own bed. The only response was the calm sound of a sleeping filly.

Scootaloo tossed and turned in bed that night. Eventually she woke, got out of bed and hobbled over to Rainbow’s bed in a sleepy way.

“R-Rainbow, I, I can’t sleep.”

“What’s that?”

“I, I can’t sleep.”

“Aw, did you have another nightmare?”

“No, I, I just can’t sleep.”

“Oh, ok, hop up.” Rainbow said as she patted a spot on her bed. Scootaloo jumped up onto the bed and laid down.

Rainbow put her wing over Scootaloo.

“Now what seems to be the problem.” She said as she yawned.

“Well, I, I can’t sleep, I am tired, but I just can’t fall asleep.”

“Maybe a lullaby can help you fall asleep, would you like that?” Rainbow asked, she wasn’t usually into lullabies, but anything to help her little sis.

“If you think it will help...” Scootaloo trailed off.

“Ok” Rainbow cleared her throat.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed.” Rainbow sang in a wonderful singing voice, albeit a tired voice.

Scootaloo yawned a bit as she rested her head down on the pillow.

“Hush now quiet now its time to lay your sleepy head, hush now quiet now its time to go to bed, Drifting off to sleep, the exciting day behind you, drifting off to sleep, let the joy of dreamland find you.”

Scootaloo started to close her eyes, Rainbow’s song started to echo in her ears as she drifted farther and farther away closer to dreamland.

“Hush now........quiet now......its time.....lay.....sleepy..” Thats the last things Scootaloo heard as she drifted off to sleep wrapped in Rainbow’s wing.

“Goodnight Scootaloo” Rainbow whispered as she kissed the top of Scootaloo’s head.

Soon after Rainbow rested her head on her pillows and fell asleep herself, entering the joy of dreamland.

My Sister, Scootaloo

Sisterly Bonds

Part IX
‘My Sister, Scootaloo’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

Last Time On Sisterly Bonds...

“The strength to move forward with my life, and most importantly, to love you like a sister I never had, I love you Scootaloo, I won’t ever let anything happen to you.” Rainbow said

“Search the forest, I want you to find her, and bring her back, she is injured, she can’t have gotten too far.” The mare said as several stallions ran into the Everfree.

“Greetings Rainbow Dash, we have come to invite you to the fair in canterlot!” Luna said, she smiled.

“Sister? Thou hast f-” A bit of magic stopped her from finishing that sentence.

“I don’t know Twi, they seemed insistent that they were sisters.” Spike said as he ate ice cream right out of the tub.

“I’ll look into it.” Twilight said as she levitated a book of records to the table in front of her.

“Rainbow, your sister, survived the fire.”

And Now, Part Nine...

“M, My sister is, alive?” Rainbow was taken back by this information. She didn’t know how to feel. Happy? Sad? Elated?

“D-do you know w-where she is, or her name?”

‘I wonder if she even wants anything to do with me...’ Rainbow thought to herself.

“No, I’m sorry Rainbow, I was just able to find out through old records. Theres, nothing else.” Twilight was unsure of Rainbow’s reaction.

‘Whatever is going on in her head right now...’ Twilight thought.

“There was, one thing, its not out of date and not really of relevance, but, her last known location was five years ago, near Ponyville.”

By this point, Scootaloo started to stir, she was still laying up against Rainbow on the bench.

“W, What’s going on?” Scootaloo asked as she rubbed her eyes.

Silence, both Twilight and Rainbow were silent.

“Well hey there, hows-” Applejack stopped mid sentence as she walked up.

“My sister, alive.” Rainbow said, her eyes started to water up.

“Wait, what?” Scootaloo asked, she was worried. A bit selfish in her worries. Would Rainbow still love her? Would she still think her a sister? Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow.

“Wait, y’all have a real sister?” Applejack asked, she was completely confused.

“She’s alive...All these years, and she’s alive.” Rainbow was at a loss for words.

“Dash, I know this is a lot to take in, maybe you should just rest on the train back to Ponyville.” Twilight suggested.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, lets, lets do that.” Rainbow said as they boarded the train.

Scootaloo followed Rainbow onto the train only to be stopped by Twilight.

“Scootaloo, perhaps it would be better if you sat with me and Spike.” Twilight suggested.

“Oh, uh, why?”

“I just think Rainbow needs some time alone, come on, Spike and I play Ispy during the train ride, you can play too if you want.” Twilight said as she led Scootaloo to the seat where her and spike were sitting.

Rainbow walked all the way to the back of the train car, and she sat alone in the corner staring out the window as the train started moving. Everypony was staying away from her, unable how to handle her in this situation.

‘I can’t believe she is alive, does she know who I am? Does she know she has a sister? Who’s been taking care of her? They had better be taking good care of her. If I found her, would she want anything to do with me, and if she did, would she get along with Scootaloo?’ Rainbow thought to herself. She was staring out the window of the train. She was still wearing her dirty torn dress. Oblivious to what was going on around her.

The train car rocked back and forth as it traveled through the night. The lights from the train left a shadow on the countryside as it swiftly moved through. The lights in the train car were dimmed and everypony was asleep, save for Rainbow.

Scootaloo woke from her slumber. She was laying up against Twilight. She looked around and rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the darkness in the cabin. She noticed Rainbow, still awake staring out the window.

Scootaloo got up from her chair and started over to Rainbow.

Scootaloo got up onto the chair Rainbow was sitting on.

“Hi Rainbow.” Scootaloo said, she leaned up against Rainbow.

“Hi Scoots.” Rainbow extended her wing around Scootaloo like a blanket.

Scootaloo pulled Rainbow’s wing tightly around her. “Thanks.” She nuzzled Rainbow a bit.

“What’s up?” Rainbow asked, she was still obviously disconnected from the world around her.

“I *Yawn* Was just wondering how you were feeling.” Scootaloo said, she moved around a bit trying to get more comfortable.

“I just found out my sister, survived, ten years, I thought she had been gone, for ten years, and now, all of the sudden, she is alive. I don’t know what to feel, happy, sad, I just don’t know.”

Rainbow started to space out again, staring off into the night sky through the window.

“It’s, I don’t know what to say Rainbow, but I know everything will be alright, *yawn* as long as I’m with you.” Scootaloo said before she drifted off to sleep wrapped in Rainbow’s wing.

‘Everything is going to be, fine...’ Rainbow thought to herself. She started out the window of the train for the rest of the night. Thinking, looking for a sign, anything to help her.

The Next Morning...

Nearly everypony was awake with the exception of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, who were still asleep in each other’s embrace.

“Rainbow, wake up.” Twilight whispered as she gently tapped Rainbow on the shoulder. “Wake up, the train has arrived at Ponyville.”

“Huh?” Rainbow said as she snapped to reality.

“Shh, Scootaloo is still asleep and it’s really early.” Twilight said.

“Oh, ok.” Rainbow said as she stood up only to be pulled back down the weight of Scootaloo in her wing.

Rainbow lowered herself to the level of the chair and rolled Scootaloo onto her back.

They left the train, Scootaloo asleep on Rainbow’s back. It was early, the sun wasn’t up yet, but there was light. There was also a dense fog and a cool breeze to the air.

“Well, bye girls, Gotta get Applebloom home, she’s been sleeping for a while now.” Applejack said as she started off for Sweet Apple Acres.

“I should be going to, I left Sweetie at home and I must be checking up on her.” Rarity said as she left for home.

“I must be getting back to the library, Owlowiscious and Peewee have been home alone for a while, gotta check up on them.” Twilight said as she left with Spike.

Rainbow took to the skies flying home with Scootaloo on her back.

Rainbow landed at her house, Scootaloo stirring on her back. She quickly made her way into the house and to the bedroom. She laid Scootaloo down on her bed and left her to sleep.

Rainbow retreated to the kitchen where she sat to think as she stared out the window for the next four hours.

After all of this time the sun had risen and she decided to go check on Scootaloo and see if she was awake yet.

Rainbow made her way to the bedroom, but stopped just outside when she heard talking.

“I’m just afraid Rainbow won’t have time for me anymore Mr. Cuddles.” Scootaloo said, she was talking to a small stuffed pegasus she kept hidden under her pillow. It was her only toy that she ever owned, aside from her scooter that she kept at the treehouse. Mr. Cuddles was her only friend for as long as she could remember until she met the kind ponies in Ponyville.

“I just don’t know, if she finds her sister, she probably won’t want me to be her sister anymore, and then I won’t have a home or a family anymore.” She said, still talking to Mr. Cuddles. She hugged the toy as hard as she could, she started to tear up a bit thinking about her worries.

Rainbow lingered outside the door to the bedroom, she overheard it all. She pushed the door open and started into the room.

“Scootaloo? Are you ok in here?” Rainbow asked as she saw Scootaloo hugging the plush.

Scootaloo was frantic and she pushed the plush under her covers and then looked nervously at Rainbow.

“What did you hear!?” Scootaloo asked.

“I heard it all.” Rainbow said as she walked into the room. She sat down on the bed next to Scootaloo.

“You don’t have to be worried, even if I find my sister, there will always be a special place in my heart for you.” Rainbow said, she extended her forehooves for a hug. Scootaloo welcomed the hug.

“S-so, you’re not going to not want me as a sister anymore?”

“Where would you get an idea like that Scoots, you’ll always be my sister, even if we aren’t really related by blood, I will always love you, you know that.”

“I love you to Rainbow.”

“Don’t forget about Mr. Cuddles.” Rainbow said as she pulled Mr. Cuddles out from under the covers.

Rainbow thought about this plush for a moment as she looked at it, but then moved the thought to the back of her head.

Scootaloo blushed. “I don’t know where that came from.” She said, trying to deny owning it.

“Scootaloo, it’s ok, when I was your age I had a toy I talked to also, but, mine was called Spitfire.” Rainbow said.

“Y-you did?”

“Yeah, when we found it a few days ago in the attic, I have kept it under my pillow every night since then.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah, see.” Rainbow said as she walked over to her bed and picked up the plush spitfire toy from under her pillow.

Rainbow then sat down on Scootaloo’s bed again and set the toy down next to Scootaloo. Scootaloo picked it up and looked at it.

“It, It’s just like mine.” Scootaloo said, she held it in her hooves and examined it. It looked old.

“My mother made it for me, a long time ago, she made one for my sister to, but, I don’t know what ever happened to it.”

“So, are you going to look for your real sister?” Scootaloo looked down a bit, her ears went a bit flat as she asked.

“I don’t know, I don’t know if she’d even wants anything to do with me.” Rainbow was put into a look of deep thought and sadness.

Scootaloo noticed this. “Come on, who wouldn’t want you as a big sister?” She tried to cheer Rainbow up a bit.

“Yeah, I am awesome after all.” Rainbow and Scootaloo both chuckled at that.

Scootaloo’s stomach growled.

“You hungry?” Rainbow laughed, as she already knew the answer.

“I think, I think I am.”

And with that the two proceeded to breakfast.

In the back of Rainbow’s mind however, there was a lingering thought, that plush, it looked, familiar. She would have to examine it later.

At the breakfast table the two pegasi sat and ate.

“So, Scootaloo, do you remember where you got that old plush from?”

“I’ve had it for...” She stopped to think for a moment. “As long as I can remember, Why?”

Rainbow didn’t answer, she was trying to think of some old memories.

“Now Rainbow, you know you can’t have this one to, this one is for your sister.” Skylight was sewing a second plush pegasus for her soon to be born daughter. Rainbow was sitting on the floor of the small sewing room playing with her own plush.

“But mommy Spitfire needs a friend!”

Skylight didn’t answer, she was too caught up in sewing. Before she could sew the blue wonderbolts uniform on, she dropped her sewing tools and the plush.

“Mommy? What’s wrong?”

“I think your sister is coming, Refraction!”

Refraction flew in through a window.

“What’s wrong?”

“The foal is coming!”

“Are you sure!?”

Before she answered, the contractions stopped.

“I, I think it was a false alarm...” She trailed off.

“Why don’t you get some bed rest, I’ll take you to the doctor in the morning.” Refraction then helped his wife to the bedroom to sleep. What they did not know is, the next morning would bring a new foal into the world, but forcibly rip two pegasi from their children.

“Scootaloo.” Rainbow said, wearing a look of confusion on her face, but quickly changing it to a small smile.

“Yeah Rainbow?” Scootaloo looked up from her meal.

“Want to help me?”

Scootaloo tilted her head raising an eyebrow, “With what?”

“Finding your sister of course.” Scootaloo had to think for a moment before responding.

“Don’t you mean your sister?” Scootaloo asked with confusion.

“No, I mean our sister.” Rainbow smiled.

Scootaloo smiled back. Rainbow led them both to a small cabinet in the livingroom. It was a large wooden cabinet, the top set of doors were glass and held fancy china while the bottom doors were solid wood. Of course this was all special enchanted wood that would float on a cloud.

She opened the bottom cabinet doors revealing several boxes and picture frames.

Rainbow pulled a box out and opened it revealing a lot of pictures.

“Ok, you go through this box, and, I’ll go through this one.” She said as she pulled out a second box.

The box Scootaloo was going through, to Rainbow’s dismay, ended up being baby pictures of herself.

“Awww, Rainbow, you looked so cute as a foal!” Scootaloo smiled as she held up a picture of Rainbow Splashing her mother with water while taking a bath.

Rainbow blushed and snatched the picture up. “That picture is not important!” She said as she threw it into a box. Scootaloo giggled as Rainbow turned a deep shade of red.

Scootaloo started to go through more pictures, the deeper Scootaloo dug, the more embarrassing the pictures became.

Scootaloo pulled out a small pile of pictures, she tried to hold back her laughter, tears forming in her eyes from the attempt before she burst out laughing.

“What’s so fun-” Rainbow was cut off when she saw the pictures in Scootaloo’s hooves.

“I haha, Didn’t know you, ahaha, liked t-to p-play d-ahaha-ress up.” Scootaloo gasped for air.

Rainbow just turned so many shades of Red, the apples at Applejack’s farm would be jealous.

“S-So, you liked t-to pretend you w-were a f-fairy princess haha, Rainbow?” Scootaloo said reading the writing on the back of one of the pictures, it read ‘Rainbow playing dress up as a fairy princess’

“Y-yeah, well.....I, I was a foal once, uh, to ya know!” Rainbow tried to say in defence.

‘Why did I let mom take a picture of that! I can’t believe I used to like that stuff!’

“Well, its ok Rainbow.” Scootaloo’s laughter started to die down a bit. “You’re secret is safe with me.” She giggled a bit more. Rainbow still redder than a burning fire.

“Why do I not believe that?” Rainbow teased, she was still blushing.

Rainbow started to look through her box. She found a picture of her mother and father.

Her father was orange coated with a rainbow mane, her mother was cyan with a purple mane. It took a moment for Rainbow to piece this together. Her father had dark purple eyes, just like Scootaloo’s.....and her mother had the magenta eyes that Rainbow had.

Rainbow looked at Scootaloo, then back down at the picture, then back up at Scootaloo.

‘Wait a minute.’ She thought to herself. She looked at Scootaloo, examining the shades of her coat and mane. ‘Who were her parents...’

“Oh wow.” Scootaloo said laughing as she pulled out another picture. She kept it turned away from Rainbow, but Rainbow could read the writing on the back. Her face instantly flushed and her cheeks turned redder than Big Mac’s coat.

‘Rainbow Stall Training’

“Give me that!” Rainbow shouted as she tried to reach for the picture, Scootaloo held it back out of Rainbow’s reach.

“I’m going to have to keep this one in a special place.” Scootaloo said chuckling as she held the picture out of Rainbow’s reach.

“Give it back, or I’ll have to bring up that colt crush you had” Hearing this Scootaloo’s wings flared and her cheeks turned just as red as Rainbow’s. Her laughing diminished.

“There, now, we are even.” Rainbow chuckled a bit, she reached her hoof out for the picture. Scootaloo placed the picture in Rainbow’s hoof and then returned the the box, her wings still standing proudly.

‘Eventually I am going to have to tell her what that means....’ Rainbow thought to herself.

They continued to look through the boxes, Rainbow finding several inconclusive pictures that led her to wonder who Scootaloo was.

“I don’t think we are going to find what we are looking for here, maybe we should head down to the Ponyville records building.” Rainbow suggested as she started to pack up the boxes, making sure to put the embarrassing pictures in the bottom of the deepest box.

“Well, what exactly are you looking for Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked as she helped put a box into the cabinet, her wings were back to normal by now.

“To be honest, I don’t know.” Rainbow was lying to Scootaloo to cover up the fact that, she may very well now know who her sister is, and she was afraid of how Scootaloo would react.

“Well, lets go then, we won’t find your sister if we stop looking now!” Scootaloo said as she started for the front door.

“Yeah, lets go.”

Soon after Rainbow and Scootaloo were flying down to Ponyville.

“Come on Scoots, Keep up!” Rainbow turned her head to see Scootaloo falling behind.

“I’m trying!” Scootaloo said, her wings were starting to hurt, she hadn’t flew this far before.

Rainbow sighed a bit as she slowed down to allow Scootaloo to catch up. Scootaloo started to sway from left to right before she started to fall out of the sky.

“Rainbow!” Scootaloo screeched as she continued to fall, she tried to flap her wings but she was too tired.

“Hang on! I’m coming!” Rainbow responded as she flew as fast as she could, short of a sonic rainboom, to catch Scootaloo. She stopped herself a bit below Scootaloo. Scootaloo landed on her back and let out a sigh.

“Thank you!” Scootaloo wrapped her forehooves around Rainbow’s neck in a hug.

“Yeah, no problem...” She trailed off.

Soon after they had landed just outside of the Ponyville town hall.

Rainbow walked into the town hall, Scootaloo still on her back resting after her little incident. The town hall was a large wooden building. Inside the lobby were four sets of stairs spiraling up the outer walls. In the center of the room was a large marble receptionists desk that circled a receptionist pony and conveniently mayor mare.

“Mayor Mare!” Rainbow said as she galloped over to her.

“Why hello Rainbow Dash, hello Scootaloo, how can I help you two today?” She smiled.

“We were wondering if you’d let us go through the records, I want to try and find something out.” Rainbow wore a serious look on her face.

“Oh well of course. Anything for the Element of Loyalty and friend!” Mayor Mare then led them to a set of stairs that went down. On the way down they met Twilight, who was levitating a set up books up the stairs in a purple aura. Twilight didn’t say anything, her muzzle was buried in a book and she didn’t see them.

“So this is the record hall.” Mayor Mare held her hoof out as if to select the room in its entirety.

Like the floor above this one was completely circular. There were shelves that lined the walls and then several lined in multiple circles. In the center of the room was a small table, four chairs, and a small candle.

“Thanks for letting us go through the records Mayor!” Rainbow smiled.

“Of course Rainbow.” The mayor returned the smile before walking up the stairs out of their way.

“So where do we start Rainbow?”

“Well, you take the outer shelves, and, I’ll take the inner ones. Try to find anything regarding either myself, a pegasus named Skylight, or a pegasus named Refraction, K?”

“Right!” Scootaloo put her hoof to her head as a kind of salute before running off to one of the shelves.

Rainbow started on the first shelve. Searching the named of the books and scrolls on it, to no avail. Nothing with her name or her parents. When Scootaloo was finally out of view behind one of the bookcases, Rainbow ran over to the shelve with the ‘S’ archives.

‘Scootaloo, Scootaloo, Scootaloo’ Rainbow thought as she looked through the shelve.

Eventually she found a small piece of paper. It was an orphanage record. The record had several names and statuses on it, but one status caught her eye.

‘Scootaloo - Deceased, Natural Causes’

Rainbow looked at this paper, then up at Scootaloo who was now in view but not paying attention to Rainbow.

‘Who is she...’ Rainbow thought to herself.

Rainbow put the paper under her wing to hide it, she was going to take it to Twilight later.

She resumed searching for records on her sister. She found a record on her mother, but it was a simple bank statement of no importance. Several moments later and more false hopes, Rainbow discovered a paper in a box, the tip of the paper was sticking out. It was chard and it had the name Skylight on it.

Rainbow pulled the paper out and read it. It was barely readable.

‘Cloudsdale Hospital ’ The paper had some more writing after that but it was unreadable. Then, closer to the bottom it read, ‘Scootaloo’ Then it had some more unreadable words. And at the very bottom of the paper, it read something that would change Rainbow’s life. ‘Parents: Refraction & Skylight’

Rainbow dropped the box, now only holding the paper in her hoof. Her eyes grew very wide. She nearly fell over.

Scootaloo started over to Rainbow after hearing the thud of the box hitting the floor.

“Are you ok Rainbow?”

Rainbow quickly put the paper under her wing to hide it and she picked the box back up.

“Yeah, go back to looking.”

“Ok!” Scootaloo returned to searching. Rainbow simply sat down in a chair and thought for a moment.

‘Sc-Scootaloo is, m-my s-sister...’

Shadows Revisited

Sisterly Bonds

Part X
‘Shadows Revisited’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

‘Sc-Scootaloo is, m-my s-sister...’

Rainbow looked over at Scootaloo who was going through documents on the shelves.

‘How could I have missed that! The pictures, the plush, my mothers plush! her age, everything! Oh I’m so stupid!’

“Sc-Scoot-Scootaloo.”

“Yeah Rainbow?” Scootaloo tilted her head as she approached. Something was off, and wrong, very wrong.

“Why don’t you uh.....why don’t you go play with your friends today, huh?”

“But I thought we were looking for your sister.”

“We um, yeah, we’ll continue that later....just um, go play with Applebloom or Sweetie Belle, ok?”

“Well, ok, if you want...” Scootaloo felt a bit disheartened, assuming Rainbow was displeased with her in some way, but she quickly ignored the thought thinking Rainbow had a good reason for her actions.

After a frantic gallop to Twilight’s library and several moments of waiting for all of her friends to arrive, Rainbow tried to explain the situation.

“And, Scootaloo is, she’s my sister.”

“Well, yeah Rainbow we know you adopted her as a surrogate sister-” Applejack was cut off.

“No, She’s my real sister.”

All five of her friends just stared at her for a moment.

“Rainbow, do you have any proof of this?” Twilight asked. She was concerned for her friend, she had been through so much in just a few days.

“You think I’m crazy don’t you, ok, well, say that to this birth certificate.” Rainbow said as she pulled the burnt piece of paper out from under her wing. She hoofed it over to Twilight.

Twilight examined the paper as she levitated it in a purple aura. She flipped it around several times, examining every square inch of it.

“This, this is real...” Twilight nearly dropped the paper from her magical grip when she said that.

“The question now dear, should you tell her.” Rarity said as she sipped a glass of tea she levitated to her mouth.

“Of course she ‘ould tell her Rarity! what kind of silly nonsense question is that?” Applejack was adamant about her opinion.

“I like silly things!” Pinkie said, almost instantly everyone in the room gave her a weird look. “What? They make me giggle.”

“When I was looking through the records....I also found this.” Rainbow pulled the second piece of paper out from under her wing. It was the paper that said Scootaloo was dead.

Twilight instantly snatched it with her magic.

“What, what is this...” Rarity was reading it over Twilight’s shoulder.

“Its a report of the children from the orphanage, they have to report the number of children to their parent town so they can get bits to care for the children.” Twilight said, being overly knowledgeable about the paper.

“Why’s it say Scootaloo is....gone?” Applejack asked.

“Probably to get more bits, if the orphanage is as bad as Scootaloo said it was...unfortunately, the paper is cut, the name of the orphanage is not on here, we can’t do anything about it.”

“Twilight! You can’t be serious, She’s my sister for pony sake! and you’re telling me you can’t do anything!”

“Rainbow, calm down, I’ll take it to the princess and see if she can do anything, but for now, we don’t know who these ponies are-”

“What a help you are.” Rainbow said cutting off Twilight as she stormed out slamming the door behind her.

Rainbow started to walk around Ponyville, wondering. How would she tell Scootaloo? Better question, would she tell Scootaloo? How would Scootaloo respond if she did tell her?

Rainbow was stuck at a crossroads, she could tell Scootaloo and risk ruining her sistership, or she could keep it secret and risk Scootaloo finding out on her own and being mad at Rainbow for not telling her.

Rainbow went to her favorite place to think. A small tree in the park. There was leaves concealing a branch that was large enough to lay on. It was the perfect place to go and hide away when she was feeling blue.

“Scootaloo, I have to tell you something.” Rainbow sat down next to Scootaloo.

“Yeah Dash? What is it?”

“Well, you, you...”

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re my sister.”

“I know, you adopted me-”

“No, you’re my missing sister...”

Scootaloo’s face went from being happy to angry.

“What! You knew I was your sister and you never came to save me!” Scootaloo yelled.

“But, I didn’t-”

“I can’t believe you, You could have saved me, you never were a real sister, I hate you! Never talk to me again!” Scootaloo flew away as fast as she could crying.

Rainbow started to tear up, sitting there crying about how she had failed her sister.

Rainbow was jolted awake from her nightmare. She was crying in her sleep, no one had heard her. She wiped her tears from her face before leaving the tree and returning to Ponyville.

As she walked through town it was getting late, but there was one thing she had to do. She had promised Scootaloo she would take her to the next Wonderbolts derby that came close to town. But she had another reason for going now.

“Two tickets please.” Rainbow said as she placed bits on the counter.

The mare behind the counter smiled and hoofed her two tickets to the Wonderbolts Derby the next day.

Rainbow started to walk away after receiving the tickets. They were special tickets, they would allow her and Scootaloo to meet Spitfire. Rainbow would tell Scootaloo it was to get a hoofagraph. But the real reason would be for Rainbow to get advice from her idol.

Eventually after a while of walking she was just below her home. She flew up and landed on her doorstep. The door was open, meaning Scootaloo had come home.

She walked into the livingroom to find Scootaloo trying to build that puzzle, again.

“Hi Rainbow!” Scootaloo smiled.

“Yeah, uh, hi.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, hay, I have a surprise for you.” Rainbow pulled the tickets out from under her wing.

“Wow! Two tickets to the Wonderbolts Derby!”

“And it gets better, these are meet and greet tickets, so we get to meet Spitfire while we are there, you could get a hoofagraph!”

“Wow Rainbow! This is so awesome!” Scootaloo jumped onto Rainbow and gave her a big hug.

“Yeah, it’s tomorrow, so, you have to get up early.”

“That’s cool, I’d better go to bed now then huh?”

“You should probably take a bath and brush your teeth first, you want to look presentable don’t you?”

“Aww, do I have to?”

“Yes, come on, I’ll run you a bath.” Rainbow said as she walked into the bathroom. Scootaloo followed. Rainbow pulled a fluffy orange towel out of the closet and set it on the counter for the sink. Rainbow turned the knobs on the bathtub causing water to spill in. It was warm water giving off steam.

“Do you want bubbles?” Rainbow asked.

“Uh, sure? I guess....Do, do they hurt?” Scootaloo hadn’t ever had a bubble bath.

“You’ve never had a bubble bath before? You know you put the special soap in and it makes bubbles? Its suppose to be fun for fillies and colts your age.”

“Uh, no, I, I have never had a bubble bath...” She held her head down thinking she had done something wrong.

“Aw, now don’t get all sad on me, hold on for a second..” Rainbow pulled a small bottle of purple soapy liquid out of a cabinet and poured it into the tub. Bubbles started to form instantly.

Rainbow splashed he hoof in the water and pulled some bubbles out and put them on her face.

“See, bubble beard, fun!” Rainbow was trying to be fun, but to Scootaloo she just looked weird.

Scootaloo giggled a bit at her weirdness. “Ok, if you say so.” She dipped a hoof in the water and pulled it out instantly.

“What, Cold?”

“The bubbles feel weird on my hoof”

“They’ll do that, just get in.”

Scootaloo reluctantly stepped into the tub and sat down in the bubbly water.

“Now, don’t go splashing this, its soap, so it’ll sting if it gets in your eyes.”

“Ok, well, what am I suppose to do with the bubbles then?” Scootaloo pushed some of the bubbles around with her hoof as she asked.

“I don’t know, have fun, the, uh, just...” Rainbow put her hoof to her face as she thought of what to say.

Rainbow then picked up a big pile of bubbles and started to bury Scootaloo in them. “See, its like, sand...” She trailed off.....

She started to help Scootaloo clean up, she helped clean her wings and mane.

“So, are you excited about the derby?”

Scootaloo was cleaning off her left forehoof, she looked up at Rainbow and smiled. “Of course!”

“Good, good.” Rainbow continued to wash Scootaloo’s wings for her as they talked.

“Rainbow, is everything alright?” Scootaloo looked concerned. Rainbow was not the type to hold it in if she thought something was wrong. Maybe her own feelings, but not her opinions.

“I’m fine, why would you think otherwise?” Rainbow was still cleaning Scootaloo’s wing.

“Because you’ve been cleaning my wing for the past five minutes without any connection to what you’re actually doing.”

“Oh sorry.”

Rainbow continued to clean Scootaloo’s wing anyway.

“Um, Rainbow, you remember that funny feeling you said i’d get in my wings? I think, I think you’re causing me to have that.” Scootaloo looked a bit embarrassed and her wings started to flare a bit.

“Oh what? What feeling?” Rainbow looked at her confused.

“Remember when we had the little talk about my wings and my crush?”

“oh, Oh.” Rainbow’s eyes suddenly went wide and she jerked her hooves back. “I think I’m going to let you finish your bath alone, I’ll just um, wait outside, sorry Scoots” She tripped over her hooves as she left. Mortified at what she had just inadvertently done to poor Scootaloo.

Several moments later Scootaloo emerged from the bathroom clean and presentable. With the exception of her mane being filled with soap still.

Rainbow facehoofed. “You forgot to wash the soap out of your mane.”

Scootaloo put her hoof up to her head and brought it back down to find soap on her hoof.

“Oops.” Scootaloo blushed a bit at her obvious mistake.

“Come on, I’ll help you.” Rainbow then led Scootaloo back into the bathroom.

“Mistress, we’ve located her.”

A lone pegasus mare sat atop a daybed in a dark room lit by torches. She was being fed grapes by a stallion.

“Oh, are you sure you have found her this time?” Her eyebrow raised as she got up from her daybed.

“Why, yes, we wouldn’t tell you if-”

She laughed. “Yes you would, its a shame really.” She walked closer to him and put her muzzle a few centimeters short of his and in a hushed voice she spoke. “You used to have such a handsome face, its a shame last time you came to me with this information, I had to put a permanent reminder not to fail me again.” She backed away. The stallion was trembling.

She moved swiftly over to her daybed and sat down on it once again popping a grape in her mouth.

“Tell me one more time what you have found.”

He swallowed before answering. “W-well, mistress, we have found that she will be attending a Wonderbolts Derby tomorrow with her guardian, they have meet and greet passes, so, they will be alone backstage for a short period of time while the Wonderbolts are racing.”

“I see, and you think I would risk being caught by sending in my stallions to a public place to foalnap a filly, you must think I’m insane.” She glared at him, then turned to one of the stallions standing next to her daybed. “Take him away, twenty five lashes, then plan for the foalnapping. We will have to eliminate the guardian, I will personally take care of that, Dismissed.” She said as she waved a hoof dismissing the remaining guards.

“Alright Scootaloo, time for bed, we’ve cleaned your mane of soap now, so go to bed.” Rainbow nudged Scootaloo into the bedroom.

“Fine.” Scootaloo sighed. She trotted over to her bed and jumped in it pulling the covers over herself.

“Goodnight Scootaloo.” Rainbow kissed her forehead.

“Night sis!” Rainbow froze for a moment when she heard this, but continued to walk over to her bed.
Rainbow put out the candle and climbed into her bed. She pulled her covers over her and turned herself away from Scootaloo.

‘Why is this so hard?’ Rainbow thought to herself. ‘Scootaloo is my sister, it should be easier to tell her! She is already like a sister to me, why is it so hard for me to tell her she is my real sister!’ Rainbow laid in her bed staring at the wall. After a few minutes she could hear Scootaloo sleeping soundly. She rolled onto her back and looked over at Scootaloo. She looked so peaceful, Rainbow didn’t want to destroy what she now had with Scootaloo. After all, Scootaloo now had the one thing she wanted most, somepony who loved her, and Rainbow didn’t want to ruin that. Rainbow soon drifted off to sleep, in what would be a very restless night.

The Next Morning...

Scootaloo woke to find Rainbow’s bed empty. She got up and took care of her morning bedmane, then went to the kitchen to find Rainbow sitting staring out a window.

“Morning Rainbow.” Scootaloo smiled a bit as she sat down next to Rainbow.

The room was lit only by the sun shining in. The table was relatively clean where a lone tea cup on a plate sat.

“Hi Scootaloo, are you excited for today?” Rainbow sipped her drink, continuing to stare out the window.

“You bet!” Scootaloo smiled as she shouted in enthusiasm.

“Good, well, go get ready, we need to leave soon.” Rainbow set her drink on the table.

“Ok Rainbow!” Scootaloo scampered off into the other room to fix her mane and make herself look a bit more tamed than usual.

“Prepare yourselves, today we bring back a naughty foal who thought she could get away.” The mare said walking past a line of six stallions. They all stood as if in a military line up. “Not once has a foal managed to escape us before, and I am not about to mark this one as escaped. We are going to take out her sister, and leave no traces we were there, and if anypony messes up.” She paused standing, her face inches away from the last pony in the line. “I won’t hesitate to eliminate you.”

“Scootaloo, don’t forget to eat, I put a sandwich on the table for you.” Rainbow set the plate down on the table as she proceeded to get herself ready. She started to fix her mane. Scootaloo trotted into the kitchen and gulped her sandwich down in one bite.

“Done!” She said with a full mouth.

“Chew, and swallow before you do anything else.” Rainbow scolded. Even she knew it was bad manners.

The mare stepped away from the line of stallions as she proceeded to her personal room. She fixed her mane. Soon she stepped out into the line of Stallions. “Ready” She said as one of the unicorns in the line powered up his horn in a red aura before they disappeared in a red flash.

“Alright Scootaloo, lets go, we’ll be late!” Rainbow shouted. Scootaloo quickly appeared behind Rainbow. Rainbow closed the door and spread her wings. “Follow me.” She said as she leapt into the air. Scootaloo following close behind.

They flew for a short time over Ponyville. Not much happened. Eventually they reached the Derby, it was just outside of Ponyville in a cliffside arena. Most of the track was made out of clouds but the stands and the majority of the other parts were carved into the side of the mountain.

Rainbow and Scootaloo landed at the gates. Rainbow presented her tickets and they were let into a the derby. Scootaloo and Rainbow were led past several area’s. The stands, the concession stands; Scootaloo was taken back by all of it, Rainbow however was used to it all. They were led to a large room under the stands. It was like a storage room with a small lounge area for the competitors in the Derby.

In the lounge Spitfire, Soarin, and several other Wonderbolts were prepping for their flights.
Spitfire saw Rainbow and Scootaloo and approached them from the lounging area.

“Hi!” Scootaloo said right away overly excited.

“Well hi there, what’s your name little filly?” Spitfire smiled as she looked down at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo was in awe for a moment before she answered. “S-Scootaloo.”

Spitfire smiled again and rustled Scootaloo’s mane. “Nice to meet you Scootaloo.” She then turned to Rainbow. “I remember you, you’re the mare who won the best young flyers competition in cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash, right?”

Rainbow was a bit taken back that Spitfire remembered her, but she eventually came to terms with the fact that her idol was standing in front of her. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Well it’s nice to see you again.” Spitfire smiled, again.

Scootaloo then produced a small picture of Spitfire that she had gotten at the gate when she showed the tickets.

“Would you, um, mind, um, I mean, if it’s not too much trouble.” Scootaloo held the picture out in front of her.

“You want a hoofigraph, No problem kid.” Spitfire then walked over to a small table and picked up a pen with her mouth and wrote a special message for Scootaloo. “

‘Never give up, your dreams are just a wing away. ~Spitfire’

She hoofed the picture back to Scootaloo. Scootaloo simply smiled and stared at it.

Spitfire giggled at Scootaloo who was in awe of what just happened.

A horn sounded.

“Well the first rounds are starting, you two can sit back here with me until the next round when I have to go out, or you can go watch.”

Several Pegasi walked past dressed in Wonderbolts uniforms.

“Scootaloo, why don’t you go watch, come get me when the next round starts.”

“Ok Rainbow!” Scootaloo said, she ran off to the viewing area.

“What’s on your mind?” Spitfire said after Scootaloo was out of earshot.

“What?”

Spitfire raised an eyebrow. “I can tell when somepony wants to talk about something, I get that sort of thing a lot.” Spitfire sat down on a small bench and gestured for Rainbow to sit down next to her.

“Well, I came here to ask you for your opinion on something, because you’re my id-” Rainbow stopped in the middle of that sentence.

“It’s fine, I’m your idol right? I get that a lot to.” Spitfire smiled reassuringly.

“Well, Scootaloo, the filly that was just here, is my sister, and I just found out, and she doesn’t know yet.” Rainbow held her head down low.

“Well, why not tell her, She seemed to be just fine with you.”

“I’m afraid she won’t want to be my sister, all she ever wanted was for somepony to love her as a family, and I gave that to her, but...” Rainbow trailed off.

Spitfire tilted her head and gestured for Rainbow to continue. “Go on.”

“I’m just worried that if I tell her, she won’t want to be my sister and she’ll be mad at me for not telling her sooner.”

Spitfire sighed. “Rainbow, if you truly gave her the love and family that she wanted, it wouldn’t matter if you were sisters or not, I think you should tell her, its closure for you, and its closure for her.”

The horn for the next round sounded.

Spitfire put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder as she got up. “I really think you should tell her.” Spitfire then walked out passing Scootaloo.

The only ponies in the room now were Rainbow and Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo, I, Um, I wanted to tell you, that-”

Rainbow was cut off when a stallion came up behind her and bucked her to the ground. She jumped back up after the blow and turned to see six stallions and a mare standing behind them.

“What’s-” Before Rainbow could even finished another stallion charged her pushing her to the ground. He raised his hooves and crashed them down on her side. Rainbow squealed in pain. She managed to get back up again.

“Scootaloo, Run!” She yelled as she bucked the stallion causing him to fall backwards.

Scootaloo stood froze in her position watching what was going on.

“Run! Run Away As Fa-”

*Crack* Rainbow fell to the ground as the mares rear hooves collided with Rainbow’s head leaving an audible sickening crack. She landed on the ground.

“Rainbow!” Scootaloo screeched as she ran over to her.

Rainbow tried to talk but all that came out was mumbles.

‘It’s all my fault, I should have tried harder, Scootaloo, run away! go find help.’ Rainbow was trying to speak again, but she couldn’t.

A lone tear seeped its way out of Rainbow’s eye and dripped down to the floor. The moment Scootaloo finally got over to Rainbow she stepped into a puddle, when she looked down she realised what it was.

“B-B-Blood?” Scootaloo stepped back a bit, leaving a hoof trail of blood stains. She then stepped closer to Rainbow, trying to get over her fear of blood. “Rainbow! Wake up, wake up Rainbow! Please!”

Rainbow didn’t move, it appeared like she wasn’t even breathing.

“Come on Rainbow, I know you wouldn’t go down that fast, come on!”

“And full circle, it was easy really.” The mare said as she stepped out of the shadow.

Scootaloo turned around to see the mare that had caused her so much dismay in the past.

“What, what are you doing here? How did you find me? Why did you hurt Rainbow!”

“Oh, you didn’t really escape us, Scootaloo, we were always coming for you.” The mare smiled in an devilish way.

“You won’t get away with this, when Rainbow wakes up she’ll-”

“Oh, she won’t be waking up my dear.” The mare waved her hoof over to Rainbow.

Scootaloo started to back away, she went to run when a brown cloth bag was forced over her. She struggled to no avail.

“Make sure this time, I don’t want anypony realising what happened here.” The mare said as she, the bag containing Scootaloo, and a unicorn disappeared in a red flash.

“Yep, this one won’t be giving us any trouble.” The stallion said as he reared his legs up and bucked Rainbow right in the chest.

Trapped in the bag Scootaloo had no idea where she was going, how she was going to escape, if she would even live. She had stopped struggling by this point, knowing it was useless. She started to silently cry. Tears slipped down her face and dropped staining the cloth bag that was already stained from the puddle of Rainbow’s blood that Scootaloo had stepped in.

‘You said you’d always be there...’

‘...You said you’d always comfort me with your warmth...’

‘...You said that you would never let anything happen to me...’

‘...And now you’re gone...’

‘...They ripped you away...’

‘...You said you’d protect me...’

‘...Where are you now?’

Shared Origins

Sisterly Bonds

Part I

‘Shared Origins’

Written By: Secret_Shadows

Edited By: avorin

Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

“Just as real events are forgotten, some that never were can be in our memories as if they happened.”

― Gabriel García Márquez

It was night, rain was hitting against the window at an unstoppable rate, an pegasus stallion stood over his wife in the hospital room. He was orange with a rainbow colored mane and deep purple eyes, his name was Refraction. The mare was a cyan pegasus with a purple mane and magenta eyes, her name was Skylight.

Skylight was in childbirth. Just outside the room a five year old cyan pegasus foal with a rainbow mane was laying asleep on a chair awaiting her parents.

“Its a pegasus.” The doctor said as he held up a small orange pegasus filly and hoofed her over to her mother.

“She’s beautiful.” Skylight said exhausted while holding the filly in her arms.

“What should we call her?” Refraction said.

“Scootaloo.” Skylight said, her face lit up as she said the name, it was perfect.

The door to the hallway opened and Refraction walked out.

“Rainbow Dash, would you like to meet your new sister?” He said as he awoke her from her slumber.

“Whaa....” She said still half asleep.

The rain had gotten far more intense and the window was now being pounded with hailstones the size of small golf balls. A sudden flash hit the room.

The room became engulfed in a blaze of fire that quickly filled up the entire room.

“M-m-mommy?” Rainbow said running for her mother, tears in her eyes. The look on Rainbow’s face was that of worry and fear, worry about her parents, and fear that they might die.

“It’s going to be fine Dashie, just go” Skylight said still holding the newly born foal. She put on the best fake smile she could.

“B-but, the fire..” Rainbow said

“Go Dash!” Refraction yelled laying on the ground coughing.

“Its goodbye for a little while, only for a little while, just get as far away from the fire as you can.” Skylight said.

Rainbow’s eyes teared up a bit, but she did as told. She glanced back at her parents quickly with several tears falling before she ran away from the room never to see her parents again.

10 Years Later...

Rainbow flew through the halls of the building, fire everywhere, she was trying desperately to find a door, any door that led out of the building. Flames build up, she managed to find a small open area. The smoke poured into her lungs when she inhaled causing her to lose her bearings.

“Mommy! Daddy!” she yelled gasping for air.

“Rainbow!”

“M-m-mommy” Rainbow said

“Wake up Rainbow!”

“Come on Rainbow Dash! Wake up! You promised you would start teaching me how to fly today!” Scootaloo said jumping on Rainbow. Normally Rainbow would be asleep on a small cloud; but today she had fallen asleep on a park bench, and Scootaloo had found her.

Pouncing on Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo managed to wake her up.

“NO!” Rainbow yelled as she jumped up in terror before regaining her composure.

“Are you-” Scootaloo was cut off.

“What do you want squirt, I’m sleeping, come back later” Rainbow said as she rolled over on her nice park bench.

“But Raaaaainboooowwwwww, you Promised!” Scootaloo said.

It was true Rainbow had promised to start teaching Scootaloo how to fly that day, but she had forgotten in her haste to take a nap.

“Come back later.” Rainbow said as she used her wing to cover her head.

Scootaloo pouted and then pounced on Rainbow again, she fell off of her nice warm bench and onto the ground.

“Ok, ok, I’m up!” Rainbow said, slightly irritated.

“Ok, lets go!” Scootaloo said as she latched onto Rainbow’s tail with her mouth pulling Rainbow almost against her will.

After several moments of Rainbow being dragged and then several more minutes of drying spit off of her tail. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were on a small hill that overlooked Ponyville, the warm summer breeze and the sun shining down on them made it a perfect day for flying.

“Ok Squirt, pay attention, its not about wanting to fly, its about form and natural skill, sure any pegasus can fly, but only skilled pegasus can do it awesomely like myself.” Rainbow said, full of herself.

She leaped into the air flapping her wings floating gently next to Scootaloo.

“Ok, we’ll start with something simple, try to float a few inches above the ground like I am.” Rainbow said.

Scootaloo flapped her small wings in an attempt to gain flight, she then jumped a few inches then fell flat on her face.

“Well, it was a good try, I guess...” Rainbow trailed off “Uh, why don’t we try that again.” She said slightly concerned.

Scootaloo again flapped her wings and jumped, this time managing to stay aloft for a few seconds. “I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” Scootaloo said in bliss, she was floating. Then she fell, again on her face, this time getting a small cut.

“Are you ok?” Rainbow said as she helped Scootaloo up. Rainbow had a slight look of concern on her face.

“Yeah I..” Scootaloo stopped when she saw the blood on her face. It wasn’t a large cut, but it was bleeding; and that was enough to freak her out. Scootaloo’s ears fell at this moment and her eyes got wide.

“I’m bleeding!” She screeched as she began to feel light headed and dizzy. She may have been a tough little filly, but the sight of blood just sent chills through her body.

“Its ok, come here.” Rainbow said as she landed and pulled Scootaloo closer with her forehoof.

“I’m going to die!” Scootaloo said as she put her hoof to her face in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding.

“Scoots, It’s just a small cut, you’ll be fine” Rainbow said, she used her wing to brush the cut wiping away the small drop of blood that was on Scootaloo’s face.

“See, all better.” Rainbow said holding Scootaloo.

Scootaloo, now feeling extremely embarrassed that she made a big deal over a small amount of blood, started to blush.

“Thanks Rainbow, say you wouldn’t mind not mentioning this to anyone else, would you?” Scootaloo asked.

“No problem squirt, now come on, lets keep trying to fly.” Rainbow said.

“Come on Scootaloo, time to get you home, we need to patch up some of your scrapes anyway” Rainbow said as she looked at the small tired filly in what little light there was left.

“B-but I, I almost, h-have it.” Scootaloo said yawning, she gently flapped her wings before nearly falling over. Rainbow caught her and leaned down to Scootaloo.

“I think you need some sleep, come on, hop on my back, I’ll fly you home.” Rainbow said, she leaned down as Scootaloo climbed onto Rainbow’s back. Pulling on one of Rainbow’s wings caused a small yelp.

“Watch it Scoots, those are my wings” Rainbow said, a look of discomfort on her face.

“Sorry” Scootaloo said as she tried to climb on. Once securely on her back Rainbow ruffled her wings and lept into the air and began flying back into Ponyville. It then occurred to Rainbow that after all the time she had known Scootaloo, she didn’t know where Scootaloo lived.

“Hey uh, Scoots, where do you live?” Rainbow asked, she was slightly embarrassed that she had to ask.

“Huh, oh, uh, just drop me off at the crusader treehouse.” Scootaloo said, she yawned again, she was already falling asleep on Rainbow’s back.

“No seriously Scootaloo, where do you live?”

“The treehouse.” Scootaloo said, not realising that she was blowing her cover. For a good 3 years she had lived alone in the crusader treehouse.

“Scootaloo, are you, serious?” Rainbow asked.

“I a-wait, no, nonononono! I live in-” She stopped to think for a moment “A house, with, uh, my parents, yeah, thats it, just drop me off in the middle of Ponyville, anywhere, yeah.” Scootaloo said now slightly more awake after her little slip.

“Ok Scoots, you’re coming with me tonight, you can stay at my place until the morning.” Rainbow said as she changed her direction to head for her house.

“O-ok Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo said, now overtaken by her exhaustion, she fell asleep on Rainbow’s back just as they landed at Rainbow’s cloud home.

Rainbow quietly opened her door and trotted into her front room where their lay a small sofa, a few chairs, and a coffee table. Rainbow set Scootaloo down on a the sofa before returning with some medical supplies.

“Ok, this won’t hurt a bit” Rainbow said as she put some medicine on one of Scootaloo’s cuts.

“Ow!” Scootaloo yelled. “You said it wouldn’t hurt” Scootaloo said.

“Would you have let me do it if I had said it would?” Rainbow said as she proceeded to put medicine on several other cuts.

“A-are you finished y-yet?” Scootaloo asked starting to cry a bit from the stinging.

“Yes, just going to put bandages on them now” Rainbow said as she patched up the scrapes.

After putting the supplies away and coming back to Scootaloo she found a sleeping orange filly on her sofa, Rainbow picked up Scootaloo and put her on her back. She then walked over to a door and went into her bedroom. The dimly lit room was spartan in furniture, only having a bed and a small nightstand.

Rainbow gently laid Scootaloo down on her bed and pulled the covers up over her.

“Goodnight Scootaloo.” Rainbow said as she left the room and laid down on her sofa.

As she drifted to sleep, she wondered what she was going to do about Scootaloo. The small filly was apparently homeless and Rainbow couldn’t leave Scootaloo without a home, at least for one night until she sorted this out.

A Cyan Healing

Sisterly Bonds

Part VI
‘The Cyan Healing’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

Scootaloo awoke that morning before Rainbow, she was under Rainbow’s wing and unable to move.

‘Should I wake her up? She had a rough night, maybe if I just try to get out from under her wing’ Scootaloo thought to herself as she tried to wiggle her way out from under Rainbow’s wing.

As Scootaloo started to pull away Rainbow moved a bit in her sleep and she opened her eyes.

“Hey scootaloo, whatcha doing?” Rainbow asked as she pulled Scootaloo a bit closer into a small hug in her sleepy daze.

“I” Scootaloo thought for a moment, she decided against trying to get up “Nothing, just getting comfortable” Scootaloo said as she wiggled her way into a comfortable position.

“Thanks for, thanks for last night Scootaloo, you, you made me feel better, and helped me feel safe, knowing there is somepony I can rely on, thanks” Rainbow said as she pulled Scootaloo closer into more of a hug.

“Y-yeah, No problem Rainbow” Scootaloo said as she returned the hug as best she could from under Rainbow’s wing.

“Thanks Scoots, I love you” Rainbow said in her daze as she continued to hug Scootaloo.

“I feel the same way Rainbow!” Scootaloo said with a great sense of happiness that Rainbow finally returned her affection. She nuzzled her a bit.

Then it clicked in Rainbow’s mind that she was being all affectionate.

“Uh, yeah, how about, um...” Rainbow struggled to think of something to distract Scootaloo with. “How about breakfast? Hmm? uh, yeah, then, then I can teach you that math stuff for School or something” Rainbow said in a rush of words as they came to her mind trying to regain her cool composure.

“Rain-” Scootaloo was cut off by her stomach growling, she was hungry. “Ok, I guess” Scootaloo said a bit disappointed that Rainbow closed herself up so fast.

Rainbow retracted her wing and thought to herself.

‘phew, that was close, I almost lost my cool-awesomeness” She thought as she gave an audible sigh of relief.

After a nice morning breakfast the two pegasi sat in the kitchen, not talking until Rainbow broke the silence.

“So, what uh, what’s new with you, anything?” Rainbow asked as she sipped a small glass of water.

“Not much, I’ve been here the past few days, so, yeah” Scootaloo said, she was staring off to nowhere really.

“Maybe I can find some toys or something up in the attic, I have some of my toys from when I was a filly up there” Rainbow said as she set her drink down on the table.

“Ok, lets go” Scootaloo said as she stopped staring off into nothing.

The two pegasi trotted together to a small hallway that seemed to lead to nothing. Rainbow then reached up to the ceiling and created a hole in the clouds and fashioned a ladder out of the clouds she moved.

As they made their way up into the attic Rainbow sneezed, it was very dusty.

“Wow, you have a lot of stuff Rainbow” Scootaloo said as she noted just how many old boxes were in the room.

“Yeah, most of its from...” Rainbow trailed off and didn’t finish that sentence.

Eventually Rainbow found the box she was searching for, a small cardboard box with the words ‘Rainbow’s Toys’ Written on the side of it.

Rainbow opened the box revealing several foal and filly toys. She started lifting items out, one was a picture of her first flight.

“Great Job Dashie! Now fly back here” Refraction said cheering.

Another item was a small framed picture of spitfire with words on it.

“You’re gonna go far kid, never give up” Spitfire said as she hoofed Rainbow the picture.

The next two items she pulled out were two small plush toys hoof sewn by her mother, they were plushies of Spitfire and Soarin.

“There is one last Hearths Warming Eve present” Skylight said as she hoofed over the present to Rainbow.

“Oh cool, who is it for?” Rainbow said smiling.

“Its for you” Refraction said smiling.

Rainbow tore through the wrapping paper and opened the box.

“Oh wow!” She said enthusiastically as she pulled out two plush toys of Spitfire and Soarin, hoof sewn by her mother.

“Who is it from Dashie?” Refraction said already knowing.

“Um, there is a note, ‘To My Little Dash, I will always love you. -Mom’” Rainbow read the note.

“Oh thanks Mommy!” Rainbow said as she pounced on her mom in a giant hug before she ran off with her two new plushies to imagine an adventure, with Rainbow Dash, the Wonderbolt.

Rainbow then lifted out a note from the box.

‘To My Little Dash, I will always love you. -Mom’ Rainbow read the note in her mind. She dropped the plushies and the note onto the floor as she started to tear up, a single tear rolled down her face and dripped down , it seemed to take forever for that tear to reach its target, finally, it hit the note leaving a tear stain.

“Mommy” Rainbow whispered to herself as her blank stare into nothingness started to worry Scootaloo.

“Uh, Rainbow, are you ok?” Scootaloo asked as she walked over to Rainbow.

“Uh, yeah, I, I just, it’s nothing really” Rainbow said as she put the toys and the note back in the box and closed it.

Rainbow started across the room and she noticed a small box that she seemed to not notice the writing on.

‘Skylights Jewelry’

Rainbow opened the box, she instantly broke down when she saw what was inside. She reached inside and pulled out a necklace, it was a very fancy gold chained necklace with a gold locket hanging off of it.

“I picked it out all by myself, Daddy just payed for it” Rainbow said as she hoofed the box to her mother.

Skylight opened the box revealing a necklace, it had an gold locket with a golden chain. Skylight opened the locket and it had a picture of her and Dash in it.

“Aw, thank you Sweetie” Skylight said as she gave Rainbow a hug.

“Do you like it? Huh? Huh? Huh? I picked it all by myself” Rainbow said, being slightly redundant.

“I like it very much” Skylight said as she put the locket on.

“I love you mommy” Rainbow said returning her mother's hug.

“I love you too Rainbow” Skylight said.

Rainbow opened the locket revealing a burned picture of her and Skylight in one side, and in the other side it read. ‘I’ll never forget, always I will love you’

As Rainbow read this her tears became more frequent, more and more fell to the floor as they started to pool.

‘I love you too mommy’ Rainbow thought to herself crying.

“Are, are you ok Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked inching closer.

Rainbow closed her eyes tightly and looked away as she clutched the locket close to her heart.

When Scootaloo got no response she started to get a bit worried.

“R-rainbow?”

“I-I’m F-fine, r-real-ly I-I a-am.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“I’m Fine!” Rainbow snapped. Scootaloo flinched a bit.

“I, I’m sorry Rainbow.”

“No, it’s, it’s fine.”

Rainbow trailed off as she dug deeper into the box finding a small paper.

Rainbow Dash

Cloudsdale Hospital

Parents:

Skylight and Refraction

Cyan Pegasus

Rainbow read the paper realising it was a birth certificate of sorts. She started to dig even deeper into the box finding a feather, an orange feather that resembled Scootaloo’s feathers slightly. Rainbow though for a moment, but brushed it off in her haze.

She held the feather in her hooves as she started to tear up even more.

“Daddy” She whispered to herself.

She set the feather down in the box and picked up a pair of leather goggles that had the name ‘Refraction’ sewn into them.

She set the goggles down in the box, her eyes drawn to a small envelope that looked tear stained.

She picked it up and opened it, two small pieces of paper rested in it, she pulled them out.

‘Refraction, Cause of Death: Fire’

‘Skylight, Cause of Death: Fire’

“No...” Rainbow whispered to herself.

It was an overcast day, there was a slight drizzle falling on all of the ponies gathered around two caskets. Most of the ponies adorning some form of black attire. The standout was a small cyan pegasus standing seemingly alone in the crowd, crying.

“We wish these fine souls the best on their trip to heaven.” The pastor said as the caskets were lowered into the holes.

Rainbow just started to cry even more, at her young age she didn’t understand.

She collapsed to the ground crying.

An elegant white unicorn mare came up to her and sat down next to her.

“I understand it’s a hard time for you right now, believe me, I know.” She paused.

“But your parents would not want you to be sad, they would want you to be a beacon of strength and hope” She said as she looked down at Rainbow, she put her hoof on Rainbow’s back in a comforting way.

“I, I kn-know, I, I j-just, I, I m-miss th-them” Rainbow said through her tears.

“It’s ok to cry, but know that though they are gone now, they will never leave you as long as you keep them in your heart” She said as she pointed to Rainbow’s chest.

“B-but, I’ll n-never see th-them a-again.”

“In time you will, life is a strange thing, you can’t predict the future or stop things from happening, you just have to move on, you have a strong and happy life ahead of you, live it to the fullest.” She said as she patted Rainbow head.

“I-I really m-miss them”

“I know, I know, but they will always be looking over you, I know it will be hard, but eventually you will learn that it is a part of life, and you will be happy again, these things take time.” She said as she tried to throw on a weak smile.

“I, I don’t understand” Rainbow said, she was trying to understand her parents death, she really was, but she just couldn’t.

“I know it’s hard to understand now...I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have lost somepony close to me, but you need to realise, that even though they may be physically gone, their love transcends that, they never stopped loving you”

“O-ok” Rainbow said through her tears that were slowly diminishing.

“I must go now my little pony, remember what I have said, you will be somepony very special someday, I can see it.” And with that, the mare started to walk away. As she disappeared into the crowd Rainbow could have sworn she saw the mare sprout wings and take flight.

After a while the crowd began to thin and Rainbow was the only pony still there. She was getting drenched in the downpour of rain. The night was fast approaching.

The only light was coming from the moon through a mysterious hole in the clouds.

The clouds began to part and the rain stopped, not by pegasi, by seemly by magic.

Rainbow stood over the tombstone.

‘Here lies Skylight and Refraction’

‘Valued Parents and Friends’

‘May the rest in peace’

“I miss you” Rainbow said.

“I miss the way you used to comfort me when I was sad.”

“I wish you were here now to make me feel better.”

“I’ve been crying, I don’t understand what’s going on, I wish you would come home.”

“I tried to cook your favorite dinner tonight, hay soup wasn’t the same without you cooking it mommy.”

“You would be proud of my flying progress daddy, I even got accepted into flight camp, I miss you.”

“I had a nightmare last night, so I left the candle lit, so you could come tuck me in mommy.”

“I miss you, I wish you would come home. I miss you”

The clouds started to move in again the rain started to pour again.

“I’m all alone now, I’m Scared, I love you” Rainbow said as she sat and mourned.

“I miss you” She said to herself, she looked down at the papers in her hooves, crying.

“When are you coming home?” She mumbled starting to shake a bit, her throat getting choked up.

“Rainbow, are you ok?” Scootaloo said, she put her hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder.

Rainbow placed the locket around her neck and scooped up the picture of her parents and the plush toy. She placed the other items in their box and she started for the stairs out of the attic.

Scootaloo noticed Rainbow’s once proud look was gone, replaced by despair and depression.

She was about to ask again but Rainbow caught her “Sorry, I, I really” She was struggling to talk, then Rainbow started for the stairs again. “I-I need t-to be alone, L-leave me a-alone” Rainbow said as she flew down the stairs and into her bedroom.

Scootaloo completely shocked by this change in Rainbow, decided to follow her to the bedroom, the door was locked.

Scootaloo managed to unlock the door and open it.

Rainbow was laying on her bed incoherently mumbling to herself.

“Mommy, Daddy, When are you coming home? I miss you, come home soon, I’ll leave the candle lit tonight, in case you come home, I miss you, please, come home.”

“Rainbow, are, are you ok?”

“Why did you leave me? I miss you so much, come home.”

Scootaloo walked over to Rainbow and sat down next to her on the bed.

“Rainbow, it’s, it’s ok, everything is going to be fine.”

“I tried, but I can’t do it, I miss you, come home please, please just come home, please.”

“Rainbow, I, I don’t understand” Scootaloo said, she started to gently rub Rainbow’s back in an attempt to calm her down.

“I tried as hard as I could, but I still don’t understand, When are you coming home? Why have you been gone so long? Mommy? Daddy? Where are you? I’m scared, I, I don’t want to be alone.”

Rainbow was still mumbling incoherently to herself.

“Rainbow, you, you’re not alone, I’m here, I, I am here, everything is going to be alright” Scootaloo said, “You can cry if you want to”

“I miss them so much, they, they're not coming home are they?”

“N-no, I, I d-don’t think” Scootaloo said, she was unsure as to what to do.

“It’s so hard, I, I can’t, I can’t go like this, I miss them.”

“It’s going to be ok, I, I am here, you, you have me.” Scootaloo said, she laid down next to Rainbow and started to snuggle up close to her providing some much needed warmth.

“I can’t do it, I just can’t, come home mommy, daddy, come home please.”

“Come on, Dash, let it out, it’s ok, I won’t think any less of you for being upset, it can only hurt you more to keep it bottled up.”

“It hurts, it hurts so much.”

Scootaloo hugged Rainbow tightly in a warm embrace.

“Shh, It’s ok, it’s ok, just let it out.”

“I want them to come home so bad, I miss them so much, but they aren’t coming home are they? I, I won’t see them ever again will I? Why does it hurt so much?”

“Yes you will Rainbow, you will see them again, in your heart you will see them, you just have to find the place in your heart.”

“It hurts to much, I, I can’t” Rainbow closed her eyes tightly when she said this, nearly wincing from the pain of losing her parents, all over again.

“They will always be looking down on you, silently protecting you, forever.”

“I miss them.”
“Rainbow, you’re parents wouldn’t want to see you like this, and neither do I, come on, it’s going to be ok, just calm down a bit, come on, you can do it, please, for me, I-I love you Rainbow, and it breaks my heart seeing you like this, please, for me, for your parents” Scootaloo trailed off, herself starting to cry.

“I Could Have Saved Them!” Rainbow yelled.

“You can’t change the past Rainbow, please, just, please?”

Rainbow fixed her gaze on Scootaloo, who was now crying, and she sees herself, as a young upset filly, alone, and upset.

“Scootaloo, I-”

Scootaloo continued to cry. Rainbow was hit with a sudden wave of emotions, she finally realised her parents were gone, and they weren’t coming home.

Rainbow tightened the embrace she shared with Scootaloo.

“Th-thank you Sc-Scootaloo” Rainbow said, she was finally letting her pain out, pain that has lasted for ten years inside her.

Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow, she was smiling at her, it was like a storm finally ended leaving only a sparkling rainbow in the mist.

They broke the embrace and sat in silence, before Rainbow started to speak.

“I, Thank you, I-”

Scootaloo’s ears perked up as she looked at Rainbow.

“Thank you, th-thank you v-very m-much, I, I feel a-alot better now.”

Scootalo looks at Rainbow, a bit embarrased, she blushed and raised a hoof to her neck.

“Heh, heh, No problem, I-”

“For some time now, I have been keeping these feelings locked up inside me, because of fear, pride, or just failure” She paused as a loss for words.

“Rainbow, ever since you found me, I was living day to day, I was lost, I didn’t know what my future held in store for me, I, I want to thank you, you gave me the courage and strength to keep going, and to not be afraid, I, I am truly grateful, Thank you.” Scootaloo said, she smiled a bit.

Rainbow looked at the smiling filly, feeling a feeling she had no felt for a long time. She felt a warmth in her chest, like she had never felt before, up until now she was alone, her parents gone, but the shell that kept her from feeling had been broken by this young filly. “You know Scootaloo” Rainbow said with a smile “For the longest time I felt like I had been missing a part of me, but today, today you have shown me what that is.”

Scootaloo looked confused and spoke “Oh, yeah, what is it?”

Rainbow grabbed Scootaloo in a hug. “You Scootaloo, you are the missing part of me, even though I never knew my sister, I now know, I want to be yours, you gave me the courage I could never gain on my own, a feeling that let me stand tall in the face of my fears, whatever they may be” Rainbow said with a pride that was much like her.

“The strength to move forward with my life, and most importantly, to love you like a sister I never had, I love you Scootaloo, I won’t ever let anything happen to you.” Rainbow said as she gave Scootaloo a kiss on her forehead.

“I, I love you too” Scootaloo said as she looked up at Rainbow with a huge smile.

The two sisters sat together, not knowing of things to come revealing who they really were, and that’s when everything would change.

The Fair

Sisterly Bonds

Part VIII
‘The Fair’

Written By: Secret_Shadows
Edited By: avorin
Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony

Rainbow woke to the sound of birds chirping and the sun shining into her eyes. Scootaloo was still fast asleep wrapped in her wing like it was a blanket.

Rainbow yawned as she looked at a small clock on her nightstand.

‘8:30’

‘Hm, Scootaloo probably won’t get up for a while yet.’ Rainbow thought as she tried to think of a way to get up without bothering Scootaloo.

Slow and gentle she was as she slid her wing out of Scootaloo’s grasp and started to reclaim her wing from the sleeping filly.

Scootaloo yawned and rolled over, pulling Rainbow’s wing around her again for warmth.

‘That’s cute, but I really want to get up.’’ Rainbow thought to herself.

She started to retract her wing only to have it pulled back, again, by Scootaloo.

“Alright, I want my wing back now” Rainbow said, loudly.

Scootaloo stirred a bit before she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Rainbow.

“Good morning” Scootaloo said as she rubbed her eyes.

“Good morning Scootaloo, mind if I get my wing back now?”

“Oh, uh, sure.” Scootaloo said as she released Rainbow’s wing. “It, it was just so warm.”

“Well that’s nice, but, I really need to get up now, you can go back to sleep if you want.” Rainbow said.

“O *Yawn* Ok Rainbow” Scootaloo said, she stood up like she was going to get up, but she circled on the bed and laid back down after another yawn and fell back to sleep.

After about twenty minutes of Rainbow trying to coax Scootaloo out of bed she finally managed to get the sleepy filly to the breakfast table.

“So Scootaloo what do you want for bre-”

Rainbow was interrupted by the sound of a snoring filly. She moved closer to Scootaloo and shook her shoulder to try to wake her up again.

“Huh, what?”

“You fell asleep, again.”

“Heh, sorry, I, I am really tired today for some reason.”

“Probably because you didn’t sleep well last night, even after you came to my bed you were tossing and turning all night.”

“Oh, I hope I didn’t keep you up...” Scootaloo trailed off looking a bit.

“No Scoots, its fine, you’ll feel better after you eat.” Rainbow said as she set a bowl of sugar cube cereal down in front of Scootaloo.

Scootaloo devoured the sugary substance in ten seconds flat.

“Foals and their cereals these days” Rainbow said, instantly trashing the thought so as not to sound like her mother.

“You sound like an old pony Dash.”

“I am not old! I am only five years older than you!” Rainbow thought for a moment about what she just said, but set aside that thought.

“I think I see some grey in that mane of yours.”

Rainbow started to turn in circles in a frantic and vain effort to look at her mane, making herself dizzy in the process.

“Do you have a mirror?!” Rainbow asked frantically.

Scootaloo just burst out laughing.

Rainbow went from being frantic, to having an aggravated look on her face.

“That was not funny.” Rainbow said with a straight, almost angry face.

“Haha, I thought it was!” Scootaloo said laughing.

“Yeah well, your mane looks weird.” Rainbow said, trying to retort, failing miserably.

“Sure it does Rainbow.”

“Well I am not old!”

“Yeah, keep saying that to yourself, it’ll come true one day.” Scootaloo said sarcastically.

“Yeah, well, I need to talk to you about School, so go wait in the living room while I clean up in here.” Rainbow said as she started to wash the dishes that Scootaloo had just used.

After a few moments and noise in the kitchen, Rainbow made her way to the living room were Scootaloo had made herself comfortable on the sofa.

“So what’s up Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked, she tilted her head slightly.

“Well, Cheerilee told me you will fail if you don’t get better in math, and, I need to help you.” Rainbow said, she sat down next to Scootaloo.

“Yeah, I’m no good at geometry and angles and lines and stuff.” Scootaloo admitted.

“Well, I can try to teach you how I learned at Flight Camp.” Rainbow said, she stood up.

“How’d you learn?”

“Through Flight.” Rainbow smiled a bit as she started for the door. She gestured for Scootaloo to follow.

As the got onto the cloud lawn Rainbow spread her wings and took to the sky.

“Well, come on!” She shouted down to Scootaloo who was still on the cloud.

Scootaloo started to flap her wings and she took off, following close behind Rainbow.

“Alright, what’s your biggest problem with math.” Rainbow asked as she flew to a patch of clouds.

“Word Problems.” Scootaloo said, she felt a bit ashamed of herself, everypony in her class got it accept her.

“Well, I might be able to help with that!” Dash said as she flew up into the air making herself look awesome and sure of herself.

“Thanks, but I just don’t get it.” Scootaloo said.

“Nonsense! Try this one, Applejack applebucks four tree’s, each tree has ten apples on it, how many apples does applejack get?” Rainbow asked.

“Well that’s easy, anypony can count their tens....”

“How many apples then?”

Scootaloo thought for a moment and held up her forehooves like she was using them to count.

“uh, forty?”

“There ya go, now, you got that down, why can’t you do another one?”

“Because anypony can do their tens! Its harder when its not tens.”

“Ok, try, The pegasus weather factory has to make sixteen clouds this hour and each cloud making machine makes four clouds and hour max, how many cloud making machines do the pegasus need to run to meet the quota?”

Scootaloo thought for a moment, again using her hooves to count.

“eight?”

“how did you get eight?”

“well, sixteen, is, but the four clouds, I don’t even know.” Scootaloo hung her head down in defeat, she just didn’t understand it.

“Don’t feel bad Scootaloo, here, I have an idea.” Rainbow flew up to a cloud that was floating above them and she brought it down.

“Ok, now, pull pieces of the cloud off and use it as counters.” Rainbow said as she pulled small pieces of the cloud off to demonstrate.

“Ok, I, I can try.”

Scootaloo started counting again

‘the pegasi needed sixteen clouds, and each machine made four clouds.’ Scootaloo thought.

After tearing apart half a cloud she managed to come up with the answer of four.

“They need to turn on four machines?”

“See! I told you that you’d do it!” Rainbow said, she was a bit overly excited for Scootaloo.

“Yeah, but, its one problem, I don’t think I am that good.” Scootaloo said, she was still lacking self confidence.

“Hey, don’t feel bad, math isn’t easy and it doesn’t come to everypony that fast, I am pretty sure Applejack isn’t that good at math either.” Rainbow said, she didn’t like to use her friends shortcomings as an example, but at least it made Scootaloo feel a bit better.

“Lets try another one, You have three feathers that need preening, for each old feather you take out, two new ones grow in, how many feathers grow in now?” Rainbow thought this example would be very easy for Scootaloo, after having her own wings preened.

“Uh, six, because, two, two, and two, that is six” Scootaloo said.

“There you go, see, you’re getting it.”

“Yeah, I am aren’t I?”

“Ok one more, a large storm cloud needs five pegasi to move it, and a small storm cloud only needs two, if there are eight small storm clouds and three large storm clouds, how many pegasi are needed to move the clouds?”

Scootaloo tore apart the cloud she had making counters for this one. After a while of scratching her head and counting over and over again.

“Thirty”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Well, its wrong, but, count again, one more time”

After counting again...

“Thirty one.”

“Yeah! Thats it! See, I told you, it just takes practice, like flying.” Rainbow said as she did a small loop in place.

“Yeah, but I got it wrong the first time.” Scootaloo’s ears went a bit flat.

“But you got it right the second time, don’t get discouraged from failure, look at it, look at it like an opportunity to learn from the mistake.” Rainbow said, she gave a small smile.

Scootaloo looked up and smiled back.

“Now come on, lets go practice flying!” Rainbow said as she pointed to a cloud above them. “Race you.”

“You’re on!”

“Three Two, GO!” Rainbow took off, but she wasn’t flying that fast.

“Hey you cheated!”

“Yeah, and if you don’t get moving I am gonna win.”

Scootaloo took off, she was catching up with Rainbow who was leisurely floating upwards with her eyes closed as if she was lounging.

Scootaloo blew past her.

“Wait, what?” Rainbow said in confusion as Scootaloo raced past.

Rainbow then kicked it into high gear, or so it seemed trying to catch Scootaloo.

Scootaloo blew through the cloud cover and landed next to the hole she created. She looked around for a moment before Rainbow created her own hole.

“Ha! I beat you!” Scootaloo said, she was a bit full of herself by this time.

“No you didn’t, I uh, I was here first, I just, I was going so fast you didn’t see me!” Rainbow said.

“No, I think I beat you!”

Rainbow sighed.....”Yeah, I guess you did.”

“Huzzuh! The fun has been doubled now that we art here!” Princess Luna said as she landed on the cloud next to them.

“Princess?” Rainbow asked, she was confused, where did she even come from?

“Greetings Rainbow Dash, we have come to invite you to the fair in canterlot!” Luna said, she smiled.

“Oh Awesome!” Scootaloo said.

“Shall we expect you to be attending?” Luna asked.

“Oh, that’s nice, but, I planned on spending a day out with my sister.” Rainbow said.

“Sister? Thou hast f-” A bit of magic stopped her from finishing that sentence.

“Yeah, Scootaloo.”

‘What dus thou want, dearest Tia?’ Luna thought.

‘I’ll tell you later, just don’t finish that line of thought.’ Celestia said in a sort of telepathic communication.

‘Fine, we do not understand your logic, but we will play your little game.’ Luna thought.

“Well that is very nice of you, you can bring Scootaloo if you want, there is a sisters obstacle course, Celestia and I are entering it ourselves, you should enter with, your sister.”

“Sure, Scootaloo, want to go to a fair?”

“Sounds like fun!”

“Well then, I guess we are going.”

“Very Well, I shall inform the royal fair ponies you will be making an appearance, we shall see you at the fair!” Luna said as she suddenly disappeared in a purple light.

Another random amount of time later...

“So, after we eat do you want to wait a bit, or go right to the train station?” Rainbow asked, she then proceeded to stuff another hoof full of hay fries in her mouth.

“Thath Souths-”

“Swallow before you talk Scootaloo, even I do that.”

*Gulp* “heh, sorry. Lets go right to the station so we can get to the fair early.” Scootaloo said as she finished cleaning off her plate.

Rarity couldn’t help but overhear this conversation.

“Darling! Did I just hear you were going to the proper canterlot fair, as commonpony?” Rarity asked as she sat down at the table.

“Uh, proper? That’s not wha-”

“My dear, I will not have this, you two, come with me, now, I shall prepare you for this proper affair.” Rarity said as she lifted both Scootaloo and Rainbow with her magic.

Yet another time skip to the boutique later...

“Rarity! Out! Now!” Sweetie screeched as she slammed the closet door shut from the inside.

“Sweetie...I need to get my supplies out of there, what are you even doing in the closet?”

Rarity opened the door to find Sweetie and Spike, about to kiss.

“Oh Come On!” Sweetie yelled as she dragged spike out of the closet with her magic, huffing as she walked pass Rarity.

“Don’t take that tone with me Sweetie, and put spike down this instant!”

“Actually I-”

“Shut up Spike, Rarity! Leave me alone!”

“But I-”

Rarity used her magic to close spikes mouth.

“Put, Spike, Down”

“Rarity, if this is a bad time?” Rainbow said, trying to find any way to get out of Rarity’s make over obsession.

“No, its fine.” Rarity said as she overpowered Sweetie’s magic with her own and put spike on the ground.

“Hmph!” Sweetie huffed as she walked to her bedroom and slammed the door.

“Honestly that foa- Anyway, so, girls, what are you planning to wear?”

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash looked at each other in a bit of a horror, then looked back at Rarity.

“Don’t tell me you’re not even going to put on a fancy saddle?” Rarity asked, when she got a blank stare from Rainbow, she got her answer.

“I thought so, come on, I’ll fix that.” Rarity said as she pulled some fancy dresses out of the closet previously containing Sweetie and Spike.

“Uh, gee Rarity, we have to go do some, sister stuff, um, yeah, bye!” Scootaloo said as she started to run out of the door.

Rarity caught Scootaloo with her magic and pulled her back.

“No, no, no, I can’t possibly allow you to attend the fair in such a, common, way.”

“Uh, Rarity, not that we don’t like your dresses, they are nice, we just don’t wa-” Rainbow said trying to back out the door.

“Y-you don’t like my dresses?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“But its true! My dresses are all ugly and horrid! They used to be nice but now they are awful, just look at them!” Rarity whined.

Both Scootaloo and Rainbow cringed at the whining.

“Ok ok! We’ll wear the dresses!” Rainbow yelled over the whining.

“Rainbow!”

“Its just a dress little sis.” Rainbow said, that word caught Spikes attention as he left the boutique.

“Oh that’s just lovely of you dears!” Rarity said with a smile ‘Works every time.’ she thought to herself.

After a few moments of, unpleasantly trying to fit into dresses, Rainbow appeared from behind a small changing wall.

‘I feel all, ugh.’ Rainbow thought to herself, she had a look of being unpleased on her face.

“Do I have to Rainbow?” Scootaloo said from behind the changing wall.

“If I have to you have to.”

“But-”

“Scootaloo.” Rainbow said in a commanding tone.

“Fine...” Scootaloo said finally giving in.

After another few moments Scootaloo also appeared from behind the changing wall.

“I look stupid.”

Rainbow held back the urge to laugh at Scootaloo. “N *hehe* No Y-you don- ahahahaha” Rainbow failed to contain herself.

“Hey! You don’t look any better!”

Rainbow, instantly reminded she too looked just as girly as Scootaloo, stopped laughing, giving in to a chuckle every glance at Scootaloo.

Both Rainbow and Scootaloo were wearing elegant dresses, that neither of them were the least bit pleased with.

“Why you two look darling, now, about your manes.”

“Rarity do we have to-” Rainbow said before being cut off by Rarity.

“I Insist. You must.”

“You’re not going to let us leave if we don’t, are you?” Rainbow asked with a very straight face.

Rarity shook her head with a smile on her face.

After a few more moments of unpleasing tugging on their manes, they both emerged with very elegant looking manes, even their tails were styled, though, that was a bit of an issue for Scootaloo.

“You both look fantastic.”

“We don’t feel fantastic.” They both said in unison.

“Well, off to the fair now?” Rarity asked as she put on her own dress and started off for the train.

“I, I guess.” Rainbow said, both her and Scootaloo shared a look of absolute horror that they were going to be seen in such frilly, fru fru dresses.

“I don’t know Twi, they seemed insistent that they were sisters.” Spike said as he ate ice cream right out of the tub.

“Spike, that’s not like Rainbow, her sister...” Twilight trailed off.

“Well, she called Scootaloo her, ‘Little Sis’ and it seemed like she meant it to me.” Spike said as he took another bite of his ice cream.

“I’ll look into it.” Twilight said as she levitated a book of records to the table in front of her.

However Long It Takes To Get From Ponyville To Canterlot On A Train Ride Later...

“I still don’t see why we have to wear these stupid dresses.” Scootaloo mumbled to herself.

“Shh Scootaloo.” Rainbow scolded.

The two proceeded off of the train following Rarity, who was more than pleased to be dressed in her best.

“Rarity my dear! So good to see you.” Fancy Pants said as he drew Rarity away from Rainbow and Scootaloo.

“Quick, while she’s distracted, lets get away from her.” Rainbow whispered to Scootaloo.

The two quietly made their way into the crowd of ponies at the fair. There were many sophisticated games and foods, but nothing that really interested Scootaloo or Rainbow.

“Now what?” Scootaloo asked, in a bored tone.

“Uh, maybe we can find somepony to, oh look over there its Pinkie! She always has something fun to do.” Rainbow said as she dragged Scootaloo over to where Pinkie was.

“Hiya Dashie!” Pinkie said in her overly enthused voice with a large smile on her face.

“Hi Pinkie, what’s up?”

“A Party!” Pinkie said to Rainbow. “Aww, you look so adorable!” Pinkie said as she noticed Scootaloo, who was hiding herself behind Rainbow in a vain attempt not to be seen by anypony.

Scootaloo just blushed and tried to hide her head under Rainbow’s wing.

Rainbow turned as she felt her wing being pushed up by the orange foals head.

“What’cha doing there Scoots?”

“Oh, uh, nothing I’m just-”

“I’m Thinkin’ she might be a lick embarrassed.” Applejack said as she approached the three.

Scootaloo’s ears fell in embarrassment when Applejack said that.

“Now don’t ya fret Scootaloo, you look just fine, nothin’ to be embarrassed ‘bout.”

Even after Applejack reassured Scootaloo, she was still trying to hide her head under Rainbow’s wing.

“Hello everypony, did I miss anything?” Princess Luna said as she landed next to the four ponies.

“Well Hi Thar’ Princess” Applejack said with a bow.

“Young Scootaloo, what seems to be thy problem?” Luna said, a bit concerned that Scootaloo was acting strange, or at least it seemed strange to Luna.

“She’s a bit embarrassed.” Rainbow said as she attempted to fix her wing after Scootaloo shoved her head under it.

“I see, well Rainbow Dash, shall you and thy sister be joining in the sisterly gaming, the fun shall be doubled!”

“Its up to Scootaloo, if she isn’t too embarrassed that is.” Rainbow said, she moved her wing into more of a hug for Scootaloo instead of a convenient hiding place.

“Sure, I, I guess, nopony is going to see me right?” Scootaloo said, she tried to bury herself in Rainbow’s embrace, failing to do so.

“Fantastic! I shall inform thy fair ponies of your entrance!” Luna said as she flew off.

A few moments later the games were announced to be starting.

“Come on Scootaloo, we’d better hurry if we want to participate!” Rainbow said as they walked over to the starting line.

The contest seemed to be out of place for the proper fair, but, it was still a competition, and Rainbow never turned a competition down.

The first challenge was a 6 legged run, both sisters would have one foreleg and one rear leg attached to their counterparts as they tried to beat all of the other ponies to the finish.

“Ready Scoots?”

“Ready Dash.”

The start was signaled by a magical bang.

The teams ran from their starting positions, most tripping and falling over each other, however Rainbow and Scootaloo were managing to stay at the front of the pack, almost neck and neck with Luna and Celestia, who, some argued, were too skilled to even be allowed to take part.

Just as they passed Luna and Celestia, Scootaloo and Rainbow tripped, falling forward and tumbling over each other as the rest of the competitors galloped past. By the time they were able to recover they were in last place.

They crossed the finish line, almost limping from their fall.

“I’m sorry Rainbow, I tripped and-”

“Its fine Scootaloo, did you have fun?”

“Well yes but-”

“Thats all that matters.” Rainbow said, swallowing her pride.

The next event was an apple bucking contest. The contestants had to buck an apple tree, then get all of the apples over to the finish line.

Another magical bang signaled the start.

Rainbow reared up her hind legs and kicked the tree causing apples to fall into the basket below.

Applejack and Apple Bloom were already far ahead of the rest of the pack already transporting their apples to the finish line.

As the apples fell into the bucket Scootaloo picked it up and started racing to the finish line. She was far behind Apple Bloom, but she could make it. As Scootaloo caught up to Apple Bloom, she started to talk.

“Hey Apple Bloom, look over there, its The Great Apple!” When Apple Bloom turned to look Scootaloo put an apple from her bucket on the ground in front of Apple Bloom causing her to trip. Scootaloo started to get ahead however her victory was short lived when Apple Bloom grabbed Scootaloo’s leg dragging her down.

“What Gives Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo said, her dress was ripped from her fall and now covered in dirt, but, that wasn’t her greatest concern at the moment.

“You Tripped me!”

“Nu Uh!” Scootaloo said

“Ya Huh!”

With that, the two fillies got into a hoof fight.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash raced over to their sisters.

“What in Tarnation!” Applejack said as she pulled the two fillies apart.

“Scootaloo, You’re in trouble, come with me now.” Rainbow said in a demanding tone.

As Scootaloo and Rainbow got farther away Rainbow spoke. “You need to be more subtle if you’re gonna cheat.”

“Well, Apple Bloom-”

“Yes I know, lets just go to the next challenge.”

The final challenge was an obstacle course filled with hazards such as mud pits, barrels, and jumps, however, the older sister had a blindfold on, and the younger sister rode on their back giving directions.

“Ready! Set! Go!” The unicorn judge yelled as he created a bang with his magic.

Rainbow ran with Scootaloo on her back, just as the other sisters had their younger sisters on their backs.

“Ok, Uh, the first mud pit is, um, there.”

“Where is there Scootaloo?” Rainbow said as she ran right into the first mud pit splashing mud all over the two of them.

“Jump!” Scootaloo yelled as Rainbow ran right for the second small mud pit.

“What?”

“Jump!” Scootaloo yelled. Rainbow jumped, nearly knocking Scootaloo off of her back. She jumped just in time to miss the pit.

“Ok, Now, Um, Left, go left around the barrel.” Scootaloo said.

Rainbow dodged the barrel almost hitting it.

“Jump!” Scootaloo yelled, this one was the biggest and final mud pit.

Rainbow jumped, however, she jumped too soon and landed in the mud pit causing their dresses to rip even more and mud to go everywhere. The other ponies jumped over the pit not making the same mistake.

Rainbow took off her blindfold.

“I think we lost.” Scootaloo said, her ears went flat.

“Next time, lets not wear our dresses.” Rainbow said with a chuckle as she examined what was left of her own dress.

“Yeah” Scootaloo chuckled a bit before returning to being a bit sad.

“Hey? What’s the matter?”

“Well, we lost, and it’s my fault.”

“Nah, we had fun, and thats what counts, now come here, give your big sister a hug.”

Scootaloo got closer to Rainbow and embraced her in the warm, albeit muddy hug.

The sisters chuckled.

“Scootaloo.”

“Yeah Dash?”

“Your dress is really dirty.”

“So is yours.”

“Come on, why don’t we go home.”

And with that, the two sisters proceeded to the train station to wait for the train back to ponyville.

About an Hour Later...

Scootaloo was asleep next to Rainbow on the bench at the Train Station.

All of the sudden Twilight started galloping over to Rainbow and Scootaloo.

“Rainbow, I have something very important to tell you!” Twilight said.

“Can’t it wait Twi? Scootaloo is asleep, you’re going to wake her up.”

“No, Rainbow, This is really important, I did some digging into your past and-”

“You did what!?” Rainbow shouted at Twilight.

“This is such an invasion of privacy Twi! You had better have a good reas-” Rainbow was cut off by Twilight.

“Rainbow, your sister, survived the fire.”