The War was over. It had been for two weeks now. Still she kept close eye on the skies, fearing that human vessels would appear from nowhere to strike her down. She wasn't the only one to do so. Many pegasis feared the human vessels. They were not as agile as pegasis, but that didn't matter much when they could fill the air with metal death.
Currently she was taking some food supplies to Canterlot Orphanage. The War had created more orphans than anyone could had ever imagined. She herself was half surprised that she had survived. She was slightly ashamed to admit it, but several times she had thought she would die. Los Pegasus had been the worst... surrounded, enemies everywhere and firing their weapons. She still hadn't forgiven herself for screwing up during the retreat. No matter what Fluttershy said, she should have remembered that she had been following her.
She saw Canterlot draw closer and took few turns to align herself with the orphanage. No need to fly across the city itself, since the orphanage had been build slightly to the side of it. It was a result from the attack against the city itself. It was decided that should another attack come, the children should be away from the battles themselves. That, and the new orphanage was much bigger than the old one. The old one was designed to house ten, perhaps twenty children in a emergency. New one needed to house hundreds. That was from Ponyville and Canterlot alone and it still wasn't enough. Cloudsdale and other places also had build new orphanages. Even Canterlot was in process of building an another one, since the current one couldn't house all that it was supposed to.
She landed down, pulling the sky cart with her. The director mare in charge of the orphanage walked to meet her. She was a rather old brown earth pony, with a white mane. She looked relieved to receive new supplies.
“Thank you, miss Rainbow. I was worried we would run out of supplies soon. Kids have been complaining that the food is bland.”
“No worries, there ain't anything I deal with.”
“Please, would like to join us for a lunch? We were just about serve the food. My assistants can take care of the supplies.”
“Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to eat something for a while. I've been flying across Equestria for a whole day. The weather is a mess, even after we dispelled the cloud curtain. Then we got need for food, clothes, building materials, pretty much for everything.” The director lead her inside the orphanage. “It doesn't help that most of the underground ore deposits are now under heavily armed diamond dogs. Diamond Dog Protectorate... that came out of nowhere, quite literally.”
“Yes, they had been a bunch of isolated ruffians until now. Suddenly, we got a massively armed and expansionist empire right under our feet... only good thing with humans is that they are keeping them in check, if what I heard is true.”
“Yup. I was there when they signed the peace treaty. Human and diamond dog ambassador both signed it. I had expected that the dog ambassador would just sit there, but turns out they are equal partners in human eyes. Any peace treaty lacking them would mean continued war with the DDP, which in turn would mean humans would join them. Nobody wanted that. Anyway, how are the kids?”
“Some barely talk, some act like nothing has changed. Each one deals with the loss of parents differently.” The director said with a sigh. “Some try to escape, some just huddle in their beds... It's a nightmare for us adults, sometimes. Especially to those who have children of their own.”
“Excuse me director, but... we are missing a filly.” One of the caretakers approached two mares.
“Not again... Who this time?”
“Scootaloo. She...”
“SCOOTALOO!? What's she doing here?”
“Huh? You know her?”
“Sure I do, she used to visit me quite often, said I was her idol and so forth. Closer to big sister, I preferred to think. What is she doing here?”
“Oh... so you don't know... she's been with Equestria Child Service for two years now. Her mother died in Battle of Ponyville. Her father fell during The Fifth Battle of Ghastly Gorge...”
“Nonononono, she can't be an orphan! I mean, why wasn't I informed of this? Doesn't she have any other relatives?”
“I... I am afraid you weren't listed in the list when we went through it. The others... couldn't take care of her at the moment, so she was taken here. Right now, we need to find her. She tends to try to escape all the time.”
“I'm going to find. You just wait.” With that, Rainbow Dash ran outside and took to the skies. She couldn't believe it. Sure, that little kid could be an annoyance sometimes, but still.. she had grown to like the little one. It was to near praise from her and help her to learn flying. She knew that Scootaloo wouldn't stomach being in an orphanage, she knew she wouldn't. She would try to go living on her own. So where would she head out... Ponyville? No, too obvious. Manehattan was out too, since the place no longer existed outside the refugee camp. Los Pegasus was too far and she couldn't reach Cloudsdale.
Of course. She just disappeared. It didn't mean she had already reached any place. Instead of thinking where she was heading, she would which was the best place to disappear. Last place anyone would look for would be inside Canterlot. Rainbow Dash make a quick round around Canterlot. She kept close eye on any hint of orange. Then saw it. A small scooter trying to get into incomplete section of the wall. She scooped down in front the little escapee.
“Scootaloo?”
“Dash? Is that you?” Scootaloo said in bewilderment, before launching herself at the cyan pegasus. “I missed you so much...”
“Sorry I didn't come to see you sooner... nobody told me anything. Are you OK?” Rainbow Dash said while hugging the filly.
“Yeah... I'm OK... I think...”
“Let's head back, OK? Everypony is worried about you...”
“I don't want to. I don't like to be there.”Scootaloo said taking few steps back. “Ponies come and go and none of my friends are there...”
“It's OK, I promise to come to see you, now that I know where you are.”
“You promise?” Scootaloo said with hope in her eyes.
“I promise. I'll take up regular supply trips so I can visit you more often. But I need you to be there when I visit, OK?”
“Okay...” Scootaloo said quietly. They walked back to the orphanage where the staff was waiting for them.
“Sorry for inconvenience and thank you for your help. We just don't have the staff to handle with everything.”
“It's the same everywhere. It will take months before reserves are allowed to return or even reserve forces are reformed.” Rainbow Dash gave a quick look at Scootaloo and then turned back to the director. “I will be taking care of the supply runs for now, if that is alright with you. In return, I promise Scootaloo won't cause you much of problems, right kiddo?”
“Right...” Came a timid response. Rainbow Dash didn't like it, it was too unlike Scootaloo she knew, or had known. After chatting a while she had to return to Ponyville to help with the weather crews. It was like Everfree Forest weather had expanded to entire Equesteria and refused to back down. On her way she kept thinking about Scootaloo. Scootaloo had been an orphan for two years? Considering how the war had gone, no doubt she had been bounces all over the place. Rainbow Dash has participated in few evacuations, trying to find some safe place for kids. That orphanage was barely a half year old. Than meant an one and half year of bouncing around Equestria.
Whole idea kept bugging her trough the entire day. For some reason, the idea of letting Scootaloo to stay in that orphanage was... unpleasant, to put it midly. If her relatives couldn't take care of her for whatever excuses they had, Scootaloo would end up staying in that orphanage for who knew how long. Maybe she could end up adopted, but to who? How could she be sure that the “new” parents would take good care of her? What if she ended up even further from Ponyville and her friends?
Whole idea kept plaguing her even she returned to her home. She wondered how she would with death of her parents. She had been lucky. Her parents had survived the attack on Cloudsdale. Her mother had served in Medical Corps and her father had served in Royal Guard until he had gotten injured. They both had survived The War and her father was healing well. Twilight had lost hers when the asteroid hit Manehattan and then later she lost her brother when DDP and humans attacked Canterlot.
She couldn't just sit there and occasionally visit her. She was growing filly, for Princesses sake! She needed a home! Not some institute with strict rules and no choice what to do. No stability. Yet what she could do? She wasn't part of her family, even if she enjoyed playing the part of big sister. It wasn't like she could just pop in declare herself a parent... except... could she?
She did have a house. A cloud house, perhaps, but she could arrange things. Have a ground side building. The stallion in charge of rebuild effort owed her a favor and she was sure she could buy a lot. She had a job in Ponyville weather team, a steady job and she wasn't in danger of being fired any time soon. She was a single, perhaps, but then again who wasn't these days? She had known Scootaloo for a long time too.
Bureaucracy would mean it would take months, perhaps even years before her request would be processed. She wasn't sure if she could wait that long. What if some other family would get theirs first? Was there even a guarantee that her request would be accepted?
On the other hoof... If she took Scootaloo in, she would have to drop her dream of joining Wonderbolts. They traveled a lot and she wouldn't have time to look after Scootaloo AND attend to duties required for Wonderbolts. Joining Wonderbolts had been her lifetime dream. She had been trying to prepare herself for possible to invitation to join them. All her training would be wasted. Would it be worth it?
Twilight was finishing up for the night. Another day processing paperwork, trying to prioritize who would get what. Princesses were trying their best, as did their court members, but they had still requested her help. There was just too much to do. Even if they did have the One Year Armistice, they had still been technically in war with the humans. So little to no rebuilding had been done, apart from reinforcing military positions. She was glad that The War was over. Humans were still pulling their people out of Fillydelphia, but Los Pegasus had been returned to Equestria already.
Spike had gone to sleep already. He had been helping Rarity a lot more lately. Then again, Rarity needed the help. Rarity had gotten out of the hospital three months ago. It was just bad luck that she would get wounded during the final battles of The War. She refused to appear in public without a major makeup, something she still hadn't mastered. Twilight wasn't sure if she ever would. That explosive had really messed her face.
She couldn't understand where humans had gotten idea for such weapon. A small metallic egg that exploded and send small metallic pieces everywhere. It had been a nightmare for troops to deal with, since it was so small that in the chaos of battle it was easy to miss. It was also a nightmare to healers, since the shrapnels would dig deeply into flesh, twisting and making removing them equally fatal as the getting them.
Just as she was going to enter bed, someone knocked at her door. Who it would be at this hour? She gave a quick glance at a clock. No, it wasn't a morning yet. She tried to think, but she couldn't think anyone. Another knock at the door. She gave up and went to open the door. Rainbow Dash stood outside.
“...Hi? Can I talk to you?”
“Sure, sure, come on in. However, are you aware of what time it is? This better be important.”
“I... just need your opinion on something. Maybe a favor too.” Rainbow Dash said as Twilight lead her inside. Once they had seated themselves and Twilight had made some tea, Rainbow Dash started to speak. “If you knew someone who was in a... bad position and you could help him or her with cost of your own dreams, would you do it?”
“Is this about Fluttershy again? She has told you and I have told you...”
“No, no, this isn't about Fluttershy. This is about somepony else. Kinda like a family member...”
“Well... I... You come with the weirdest questions at the weirdest times.” Twilight said took a sip. “Well.. I guess I could answer it since this clearly bugs you that much. I think... I think I would my family... If I still had one...” She said quietly.
“Sorry... I just realized that this might not be the best subject for you... but... I needed to talk to someone.” She said. “Honestly... I met a filly in an orphanage today and... I want to adopt her.”
“WHAT!?” Twilight shouted.
“Hrmm... Twilight don't shout...” Sleepy voice came from upstairs.
“Sorry, sorry. I try to be quiet. Go back to sleep.”
“Sleep... good...” Few minutes later voices from the bedroom ceased. Twilight turned back to Rainbow Dash. “Adoption? Are you insane? Where did you get that idea? You only met this filly this day and want to adopt her? You got hit cuteness proximity or something?”
“I... I got my reasons.”
“Are you sure? This isn't a small decision. Raising a filly is a full time job. I can see why you would ask about this. You wouldn't be able to join Wonderbolts.”
“I know and... I think it's an acceptable trade. I want to give her a good home, home which I know she will be taken care of.”
“Dash, you're not telling me something here. Who is this filly?”
“I rather keep it secret for now. For one, if this thing fails I don't want you guys pulling anything.” Dash said and sighed. “As for favor... can you ask Princess Celestia to help me? If I go through official channels it will take months, even years before I get trough them.”
“Look, Dash, I want to help you but I fear you are pulling something rash here. I mean, adopting a filly or a colt is a big thing, it will change your whole life! Are you sure you could handle such responsibility?”
“I can. If I can't, I learn to.”
“... I see you have made your decision. I can ask Celestia to meet you, but... I can't promise anything more. You need to do this yourself.” Twilight said. Once Rainbow Dash was like this there was no changing her. Perhaps Celestia could convince her to drop the matter. “I send letter for her at morning. Now let me get into my bed for some well deserved rest.”
“Thanks Twilight. This means a lot to me.” Rainbow Dash said as he stood up. After saying goodbyes, she returned to her home. She would need to prepare to convince Celestia of her plans.
“You want me to bypass the official channels and allow you to directly adopt Scootaloo from Canterlot Orphanage?” Celestia asked in confusion. Twilights letter had been a quite surprise, especially it's content. Now she was sitting in Rainbow Dash home, listening her to explain her request.
“In a nutshell, yes.”
“You understand exactly what you are asking, right?”
“Yes.”
“And this isn't some bad prank?”
“No.”
“...”
“...”
“Tell me once again why I should agree to this? I am not saying you would be a bad parent, but... for what I know you, you aren't a person who would just randomly adopt someone. That would be closer to Pinkie Pie.”
“Yes, I know this is quite sudden and seems like a rash decision, but... I can't just sit here. Her live is here, in Ponyville. Now that there is peace, ponies are returning. Her friends are all here. She has lived her entire life here.”
“But would she want to live with you?”
“...I like to think myself as a big sister for her. If she doesn't want to live with me, I just drop the matter. I can still visit her. I can still help her otherwise. Please. I want to help her. I don't want to see her lose the life she once had.”
“I can see you are serious about this, but I want to be sure this isn't a result from WTSD (Wartime Stress Disorder). There are quite a lot of... not clearly thinking ponies in Equestria at the moment. I want to make sure that this sudden desire to... adopt a filly isn't a result from that.”
“Maybe it is, maybe not. All I know I can't just leave her there.”
“Is that your final?”
“Yes.”
Both stood silent for a moment. Celestia tried to read Rainbow Dash expression. She was the Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, so it was natural she would feel such need for someone she considered a sister. On the other hoof... Could she really take care of the filly? Wartime Stress Disorder was still very little understood. There was no knowing how it would manifest. Twilight was clearly suffering from it, even if she hid it well. Did Rainbow Dash suffer from it too? Then again... if she was serious, one filly could gain a home. One less orphan.
“I see what I can do. I choose to trust you. I trust you will take care of this filly. I trust you will support her and give her a good home. Do not break that trust.” She said solemnly.
“Yes, I understand. I swear I won't fail you.” Rainbow Dash said. “Thank you...” She said more quietly.
“I will send you a letter when everything is ready.”
“Scootaloo, would you come over here?” One of the nurses said. Scootaloo followed her lead. It had been three days since Rainbow Dash had first visited her. Since then, she had visited her everyday. It helped to cope with the situation. She wasn't happy in the orphanage. Sure, they weren't treated badly , but it was a constant reminder that she no longer had parents. None of her relatives had wanted her. There were few bullies, there always was, but here it felt much worse. Kids came and went, you were never sure who was gone next day. Some got lucky and found new families. Others just got moved from an one orphanage to an another one. The director was waiting for her.
“Oh, good. I have good news for you Scootaloo! Equestria Child Service found you a new home!”
“What!? No! I don't want to go to some stranger!”
“I think you might change your opinion when you see your new parent.”
“But but but...” Scootaloo tried to run away, but the nurse and the director had planned everything. She had no way to move, except towards the directors office. “I don't want to...” The director opened the door and Scootaloo saw Rainbow Dash standing next a table.
“Scootaloo, I believe you are already familiar with miss Rainbow.”
“Wait, you mean...?” Scootaloo said, praying that what she thought to be going on to be true.
“Yes, miss Rainbow here will be your new parent and...” The director didn't get further before Scootaloo was hanging on Rainbow Dash neck, hugging her. “Well, I guess I don't need to explain anything else. Still, I am surprised you got the paperwork done so fast. I just need your both signatures here and here and everything will be taken care of.”
“Thank for your patience, director. I know this little bit out of the blue but...”
“No, it's fine miss Rainbow. Any filly who once again has a home is an another small miracle. She clearly likes the idea too.” The director said with a smile. Scootaloo was smiling happily next to Rainbow Dash, who herself has a smile on her face.
“I'm glad of that. Anyway, let's get this show on the road!”
It had taken about 30 minutes to sign up all the paperwork, but eventually everything was done and they were allowed to leave. Rainbow Dash had carried Scootaloo in her back, as Scootaloo still had problems with flying. However, she had improved over the years. Scootaloo looked around her new home.
“Wow you got an awesome house, Dash!
“Yup, it's my house right? Of course it's awesome! Anyway, want something to eat? I just stocked up so you can choose whatever you want. I haven't told anyone yet, but I guess Pinkie Pie will hold a party once she hears” Rainbow Dash said with a laughter.
“Hey... Dash, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Umm... you said you hadn't known I was there... did you lie about that?” Scootaloo said quietly. Dash was confused. Why would she think she had lied?
“No, I didn't know. Why?”
“Well... You appear one day, claim you had no information of me and then suddenly you got the adoption papers... You would had to know about me to have them ready so...” Ah, she feared that Dash had taken her in only because nobody else had and that she had just appeared to check up with her and take care of the paperwork.
“No, I just called in few favors. It helps to be a friend with Princess Celestias personal student, you know.” Rainbow Dash said and gave Scootaloo a hug. Scootaloo responded and sighed in relief. There indeed was someone who still cared about her.
“Pinkie? What is it?” Applejack asked the pink mare who suddenly perked up and looked around.
“My Pinkie sense is tingling... I need to prepare a party!”
“A party!? For what?”
“I don't know yet, but I will find out. Need to go, got to make cupcakes!”
It had been a busy day and it was time to get to bed. Dash had set up two beds in to her room, one for both. She had originally planned to just to let Scootaloo to have the bed while she herself would sleep on the couch. After trying it for one night she had decided that her couch was not designed to be used as a bed.
“Wow, it's been a long day... At least tomorrow is weekend and I got a free day. Schools won't start for another week so you got plenty of time seeing your friends too.”
“Do I have to go to school?” Scootaloo asked, more out of habit than actually meaning it.
“Yup. I expect you to finish the school, but after that, well, I won't be planning your life all the way. I let you decide what you want to do.” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. She knew that Scootaloo wanted to go back to school. It was funny what you would miss once it was gone.
“Okay... Can I go see Sweetie Bell and Applebloom tomorrow?”
“Sure. We'll be visiting everyone and letting them know of the new arrangements, as well as taking care of few things along the way. Now, get in to the bed and get some sleep. I know you are drooping when I am not looking.”
“Am not!”
“Yes you are!”
“Am not!
“Yes are!”
“Am not!”
“Yes are!”
“Am nooooooaaaawwnn... okay maybe little...” Scootaloo said with defeat and climbed in the bed.
“Good filly. If you need anything, don't fear to wake me up, OK?”
“OK.”
Both climbed into their beds and were quickly asleep. However, during the night, Rainbow Dash woke up thanks to a small sobbing coming from the other bed. The staff at the orphanage had warned her about it. Sometimes Scootaloo would have nightmares and would keep crying through the entire night. They said that nothing helped. Rainbow Dash stood up and walked over to the other bed, laying next to the crying filly.
“Shhh... It's OK... I'm here...” She whispered to the filly.
“Mom... dad...” Scootaloo whimpered between sobs.
“I know... You miss them... I promise I do my best, okay? Don't cry... everything will be fine...”
It took a while, but eventually Scootaloo stopped crying and nestled herself under Rainbow Dash's wing. Dash said nothing, only gave a small smile. Whatever nightmares the filly had, they were gone now.
That alone was enough reason to do this.