Finding Your Family

Cudgel and Barb inhaled deeply and blew across the candles of their birthday cake, igniting them to applause from the guests. But not from Scootaloo, as one of the twins had not even tried.

"What's wrong, Rainbow Slash?" she asked, placing her claw on her daughter's shoulder.

"Nothing," she sniffled.

"I know there's something bothering you, dear," she sighed. "I'm your mother, after all. Come on, tell me what's wrong."

Slash was silent for a moment. "I know my wish won't come true..."

Scootaloo nodded, rubbing her claw against her daughter's rainbow spines. "It's going to be okay. I know you want to stay here in the dragon lands, but you're going to love Equestria, too."

"How can I?" sobbed Slash. "All of my friends are here, my life is here..."

"It's not like you're never going to see your friends again," snorted Ember. "Don't be ridiculous. They'll come see you, you'll come see them, you'll send letters back and forth, and you'll make more friends in Ponyville."

"But I don't want more friends," whined Slash. "I want my friends!"

Suddenly, her godmother, Rainbow Dash, came forward. "Let me give you a solid piece of advice, champ," she said proudly. "If these dragons are your very best friends, then it's stupid to think that something as inconsequential as proximity is what's going to separate you. If they stop being your friends just because you don't live near them anymore, that means they're not very good friends. Did I stop talking to your mom just because she came to live out here?"

"We're all scared," assured Cudgel. "Even your big brother."

Barb said nothing. Instead, she just started crying, as well.

Spike leaned in to rub her shoulders. "I promise, you're going to find things to like about Ponyville. I know I did."

Scootaloo sighed. She'd been feeling the mood gradually lower for the last month. She'd told her kids that, after their birthday, they were moving to Ponyville, and that was meant to be a permanent move, and they'd not been happy about it. Sure, that meant that they could spend more time with their father, as well as their godmother and great aunts, but they weren't kidding when they said that their entire lives had been situated right here in the home of Scepter and Mace. To upend that would be a huge undertaking, as had it been for Scootaloo when she was forced to leave Ponyville to come to the dragon lands. It would be no less difficult for them.

"We're all going," said Scootaloo. "Every one of us. The whole family. You know, when I was your age, I couldn't take any of my family with me. I had to do this whole thing alone. I know how scary it is." She moved the cake and its unlit candles back in front of Rainbow Slash. "Be brave. your whole family has your back on this."

Shaking, and with a few deep breaths to steady herself, Slash blew a soft, whipping series of flame jets across her cake, lighting all nine candles. The same applause that had been granted to her brother and her twin sister rang out again.

Dragons tended to not celebrate their hatching days the same way ponies did birthdays. Even then, this party was not a dragon event, nor a pony event, but some combination thereof. That's why, rather than blowing out the candles, they were doing something more akin to the traditional flame-spitting contest, and having the kids light their own candles. Scootaloo had actually been mixing the cultures their entire life, trying to minimise the shock they would have when they moved to Ponyville.

Despite having multiple friends invited over to enjoy the celebration, most of them had gone home at this point, citing that the weird pony traditions that Scootaloo recommended weren't fun, so after the traditional dragon activities, most of the guests bowed out. Or rather, their parents had. All that remained were those that were neccesary, or those who had close pony relations, such as Ember and Smolder.

Spike placed his claws on the shoulders of his kids. "You three enjoy that cake. I have to be on my way now."

Scootaloo pulled him into a hug, and then a kiss on top of that. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Seeing him go?" joked Smolder.

"I should have everything ready when you arrive," said Spike, half in answer to Smolder, half in assurance to his wife. "Most of it's ready to go. Dash is going to stay here with you tonight to help move all your stuff back."

Rainbow Dash saluted with a smile. "Whatever you need."

Scootaloo nodded. "All of my stuff is ready to go. Packed it last night. All that remains is stuff I still need tonight. Then there's the kids..."

"I'm on it," answered Smolder, making her way back to the kids' rooms.

"Right." Ember took a few steps forward. "It's going to be quiet when you're gone, Scootaloo. While I appreciate you coming to me to ask what to do with basic problems, I have to wonder how long it's going to be before the other dragons stop complaining about you being here after you're already gone."

Scootoaloo shook her head and scoffed.

"No, seriously, even after years, I still have to wave the dragon scepter to tell the others to stop whining about your presence. As much as I'm annoyed by your lack of experience, it's nothing compared to how many dragons have come to me asking to have you shipped back to Ponyville. I don't know what I'm going to do with all of the extra time."

"Maybe you should look into those sarcasm classes I told you about," smiled Scootaloo, looking back at her. "You could really make some good use of time with a little bit more sarcasm."

Ember chuckled and sighed. "I really am going to miss you. Don't forget to write."

Scootaloo wrapped her claws around Ember's shoulders. "I won't."

"I bet."

As they separated, Ember sighed and looked around. "Good luck reintegrating into Ponyville. If any of them give you crap for how much you've changed, give 'em an extra slug for me, would ya?"

Scootaloo chuckled. "Will do."