To Everypony, A Season

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 + Epilogue

Prologue

A campfire winked at Ponyville from between the tidily spaced trees of Apple Acres, the only light left in the sleeping region. It wasn't a particularly cold night, but the added warmth and gentle popping of the logs helped ease the tired muscles of the three fillies gathered around the flame. Their reward for a full day of trouble-making had been a full evening of manual labor, bucking apple trees and pushing carts until all twelve little legs felt like jelly. It was only conversation that kept the three of them awake while the rest of the world slumbered.

"Phew!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as she rubbed her hooves up and down her aching flanks. Despite being a resident of the farm herself, she had never done so much labor in a single day. "We sure learned our lesson, didn't we girls?"

"No kidding. I'm pooped!" moaned Scootaloo, practically yawning her words.

"Me too~!" agreed a miserable Sweetie Belle, who was the least used to exercise of the three.

Apple Bloom sighed. "At least mah' sister let us camp out in the orchard. Guess we must've looked awful pitiful totin' all those apples around."

With an enthusiastic groan of agreement, sweetie Belle threw herself down in the grass and stretched her hind legs out behind her as far as they could go. Then she collapsed unceremoniously onto her belly with all limbs stretched out in all directions like a paper doll. “Errrrgh..." she whined, "And I still think Big McIntosh is perfect for Cheerilee.”

Apple Bloom gave her friend a disapproving glance, even though she didn't entirely disagree.

“I ‘spose friends’r’friends." she explained, partly to herself. "It’d be kinda like... kinda like somepony tryin’ to get us together, Sweetie Belle.”

The suggestion made Sweetie Belle squeal scandalously, a trait she was beginning to pick up from her sister. “Eee~! But I'm a filly, silly!”

Scootaloo looked up sharply. “What's that got to do with anything?”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both turned their eyes toward their friend, causing her to avert her own gaze toward the fire. Apple Bloom, from her angle and light, could detect the faintest blush on Scootaloo’s cheek. It was clear that she was losing inhibitions to exhaustion and needed a bit of rescuing.

“Scootaloo’s right.” She jumped in, flaunting her farm-filly charm. “Love is love, ‘least that’s what mah' sister always tells me. Us three, we’re just good friends, that’s all.”

Sweetie Belle giggled, completely oblivious to any subtext in this conversation. “Yeah, whatever, I know. I just mean, you know, I like stallions way too much for that anyway!”

“Stallions?” Laughed Apple Bloom. “Don’cha mean colts?”

“No way! Colts are dumb. I mean stallions!”

Sweetie's incorrigibility quickly changed the mood. The giggles of three little fillies danced above the campfire as they each flopped down on their backs, forming a triad of small heads around the flame.

Apple Bloom breathed in deeply, tasting the sweet fumes of the fire as they poured down through her equally red mane. “Too bad we’re still ‘too young’ for special some-ponies yet. Stallions or otherwise.”

“Yeah...” Scootaloo longingly agreed, as she stared up at the distant clouds.

Even Sweetie Belle’s voice carried a note of sadness. “Yeah...”

There followed the collective sigh of three young fillies who were of just the right age to start daydreaming about that sort of thing. It was the first Hearts and Hooves day of their lives where they all felt this way, and they only very vaguely understood what that meant. One in particular had felt it for quite some time, and she still didn't know what to make of it.

Scootaloo sighed, her eyes filled with a faraway mist that reflected Cloudsdale high above. “I can’t wait ‘till I’m old enough.”

Sweetie Belle, the loud mouth of the three, was quick to pounce on this opportunity.

“So you can ask out Dashie!” She proclaimed, her voice cracking neatly around the word 'Dashie'. It rang especially loudly in Scootaloo’s ears.

“Huh!?” Suddenly, it felt like another pony’s tongue was caught in Scootaloo’s throat, choking her back.

Apple Bloom couldn't resist a little teasing herself. She thumped her hoof imitatively against her chest and giggled, “Hehe, yup! We know yer' heart’s all a-flutter for the fastest mare in Equestria!”

“N-no way!” Scootaloo protested meekly. “I think she’s totally cool but that’s all!”

“So cool that you want to kiss her!" Sweetie Belle continued, bursting into song. "Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, up in an apple tree!”

As Sweetie Belle began singing, Apple Bloom began chanting along with her in unison, clapping her hooves to the rhythm of “K.I.S.S.I-”

“STOP IT you guys!”

They did. An awkward pause ensued as Scootaloo sat up, staring very seriously at the other two fillies. Apple Bloom immediately felt bad about her role in the torment and tightened her lips.

Sweetie Belle, not really realizing that she was upsetting her friend, just pursed her lips defensively. “Hey, we’re just playing, Scootaloo.”

“Yeah, and besides...” offered Apple Bloom, “Rainbow Dash’s already got a boyfriend... well, something like that. So it's not like... ya' know.”

The blood rushed from Scootaloo’s face so quickly she could feel it coursing down her neck. She swallowed hard and blinked her eyes slowly before just barely whispering, “H...huh?”

“Oh yeah!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle, forgetting the rest of the discussion entirely. “I didn't tell you? She’s going on a date with Vain Glorious from Canterlot! My sister set them up! He’s SOOOO handsome oh-my-gosh.”

At that, Scootaloo hopped up on all four hooves, her ears flattened back against her skull like an enraged cat preparing to strike. “A stuck-up Canterlot pony?! Why would Rainbow Dash go out with somepony like THAT? I don't believe it!”

Sweetie Belle remained strewn out calmly in the grass, her hooves folded neatly behind her frilly mane, which was full of small twigs. “I dunno, geez, ask Rarity then! No need to get all jealous, Scoots!”

That was the last straw.

Sweetie Belle didn’t even see Scootaloo coming, but she certainly felt her lips being covered with the entirety of a hoof. Scootaloo stood over her, holding her silent and frowning down at her with an expression of anger mixed with tears that refused to be kept back in their ducts.

“I’m... not... jealous!!! I’m … worried for Rainbow Dash!” She shouted.

Apple Bloom was only a little worried about Sweetie Belle, who had pushed this whole thing a bit too far. But seeing the tears in Scootaloo’s eyes concerned her deeply. She was up and between the others in no time, a hoof pressed to each of their chests to push them apart.

“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, please! Everypony was jus’ playin’. Really, Scootaloo, she doesn't - I mean we don’t -”

“WHATEVER!!” Scootaloo's shout caused a bird to flee from its nest and fly noisily away. Soon, Scootaloo did likewise, releasing Sweetie Belle and storming off to be alone with her tears.

The remaining fillies just sat in silence watching their friend stomp away. Sweetie Belle rubbed at her lips.

“Ouch.” She murmured, her voice slurred by her own hoof. “That really hurt.”

“Yeah? Well, I reckon she’s thinking the same thing, Sweetie Belle.”

Chapter 1

Rainbow Dash was one of the most glamorous, most beautiful, most groomed mares in all of Equestria. She was the very definition of femininity, with curled, glittery lashes and an expertly brushed, rainbow-colored mane that flowed elegantly across the back of her neck. Her cyan coat practically sparkled from head to hoof.

In other words, Rarity had gone too far.

“Simply gorgeous!” Chortled the white unicorn, waving an ornate brush triumphantly around the air with her magic. “Oh you simply must let me do this more often, Rainbow Dash. Having a rainbow for a mane gives one so much to work with!”

Dash let out a long, meditative sigh, exhaling all the displeasure out of herself that she could. The only blessing she could count was that Rarity had turned the styling chair toward the door of the boutique. She wasn't sure she could bare to watch herself getting dolled up in the mirror that was behind her.

“Are you ready to have a peek?” Rarity asked, as if reading Dash’s mind with malice.

“Uh, no. You, uh... you just keep going, Rarity. You know best.”

Rarity beamed and resumed brushing at what used to be a patch of split ends. “Indeed I do, you look simply marvelous. And I know your date will approve.”

Dash winced at the reminder. “I still can't believe I let you set me up with one of your hoity-toity friends.”

Rarity waved a hoof about, as though swatting away at Dash's words. “Oh, no no no! I would never try to set you up with Hoity Toity. He already has a very lovely mare in his life. Not much else to her, I'm afraid, but -”

“Wait...” Dash interrupted, her voice already on the verge of cracking up. “Seriously? You actually know somepony named...” she snerked, “Hoity Toity? A-hahaha!”

As Rainbow Dash started to rock the seat with laughter, Rarity wrapped a hoof around one of its arms and tugged it firmly into place.

“Be still, Rainbow Dash! I'll have you know that his name is really quite respected in Canterlot.”

“Oh yeah? They need to learn some better names!”

“RAINBOW DASH!” cried Scootaloo, not more than a second after the bashing of the door hinge against the wall. It was as if on cue.

“Much better!” Dash squealed, before collapsing in the seat with a fit of laughter that had her clutching at her sides.

Rarity watched Rainbow Dash calmly and with a complete lack of amusement. The pegasus’s idea of humor had always been rather... silly. She sighed, lowered her brush onto the table beside her, and turned her face disdainfully toward the loud-mouthed filly in her doorway.

“Scootaloo!” she scolded, “That is no way to enter a room.”

Sweetie Belle materialized from behind Scootaloo, trotting daintily with her nose up in the air and a carefree smile as she crossed the room to her sister. Her eyes snapped wide open as soon as she reached the quivering heap that was Rainbow Dash.

“See? I toldja she was here! WOW, Rarity, you made her hair look so pretty!”

“It was already pretty!” Protested Scootaloo, stomping one of her hooves.

Rainbow Dash propped her aching cheek on a hoof and grinned across to the rebellious little filly. “Heh, that's why I like you, squirt.” She grinned up at Rarity. “You hear that? My hair was already pretty.”

Though infuriated, Rarity cleared her throat and tightened her posture, maintaining her grace as best as she could. If she had to be the only mare in a room full of fillies, so be it.

“Of course it was, Rainbow Dash. I am merely bringing that natural beauty forth. It’s what I do. Now then, Scootaloo, what is the meaning of barging in here like that?”

Scootaloo vaguely heard the door closing behind her as Rarity’s horn glowed. The filly took a few steps forward, trying her best to appear formidable.

“I wanted to know if it was true... I mean, Rainbow Dash isn't really going out with some pony from...” she gagged over-dramatically, “from CANTERLOT?!”

Rarity and Rainbow Dash both blinked and looked at each other. Sweetie Belle, now realizing what she had just enabled, ducked out of sight behind the nearest curtain she could find. Rarity took note of this but concentrated her stare on Scootaloo for now.

Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow fiercely at the angry filly. “Um, sorta? I’m not a foal, y’know.”

“But he’s all wrong for you!”

Rarity decided to step in before this could go any further. “Scootaloo! I realize that you idolize Rainbow Dash, but you do not control her. Besides, you don’t even know Vain Glorious.”

Mostly to herself, Dash muttered, “Not that the kid’s totally blowing smoke...”

“RAINBOW DASH...!”

“Yeah, yeah...” Dash heaved a sigh and sat upright in the styling chair, doing her best impression of an actual role model. “Look, kid, I appreciate you caring about me and all, but it’s, y’know, my choice. I think.”

Tears began to well up in Scootaloo’s eyes. It was not the same to have Rainbow Dash scold her. She turned her face away. This wasn't part of the ‘tough girl’ act she was going for.

“I know...” she stammered, “but...”

Rarity, feeling that this was quite over, ignited the magic in her horn once again and levitated the brush back into place behind Dash’s mane. She had quite a mess to fix.

“Anyway,” she said, “it’s only a date. I want Rainbow Dash to have a little fun for once, that’s all.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “Psh! I always have fun!”

“You know what I mean. Civilized fun. You and Fluttershy both need to come out of your respective shells and start meeting other ponies.”

“Yes, mom.” Dash grumbled.

Scootaloo wiped her eyes. “So... as friends? And there’s nothing to it?”

Partly to Rarity, Dash replied. “That’s right, hot shot! Nothing to it!”

“Hmph.” Grumbled Rarity, suddenly feeling very defensive of her matchmaking skills. “We’ll just have to see about that. Either way, Scootaloo, you need to trust that Rainbow Dash will make the best decision for herself.”

Rainbow Dash glanced sideways at Rarity, a little amazed by the hypocrisy of her statement.

“So...” Scootaloo mumbled audibly, “It’s up to her whether she goes out with Vain Glorious or not...”

Rarity waved the brush in the air like a paddle. "Just look at what happened yesterday, when you and your friends tried to force Cheerilee and Big McIntosh together. That didn’t work, now did it?”

At this, Scootaloo lifted her head with a sudden surge of energy. “Oh yeah! The potion!”

“Er... right.” Rarity wasn’t sure what she was encouraging at this point, but it at least seemed like she was getting through.

Without another word, Scootaloo’s turned and left the boutique. This time, the door closed gently behind her.

After a long and awkward silence, Rarity looked toward a particular curtain where she always kept her latest works in progress. Her eyes narrowed on the obscenely fluffy tail sticking out from underneath.

“Sweetie Belle!”

“Pay no attention to the filly behind the curtain.” Came a high-pitched reply.

Unfortunately for Sweetie Belle, it took only a small exertion of magic to bring her out of hiding. As her body mopped the floor with her tail hovering behind her, she smiled sheepishly over her shoulder at the two adults.

“Sweetie Belle.” Rarity repeated. “As Scootaloo’s friend you must encourage her to leave other ponies alone in their private affairs. And that goes for Apple Bloom too. Do we understand?”

“Okay, okay!” whined the filly, yanking at her tail until Rarity released it.

"Cool." sighed Rainbow Dash. "Now can we please get this makeover thing over with?"

A slim thread of saliva made its way down the side of Spike’s tiny bed as he lay dreaming the day away. Even though the light of the sun streamed directly on his scales from the rounded mirror above the neighboring bed, he just didn’t seem to want to wake up.

Twilight Sparkle, on the other hand, moved about on the ground floor with her horn ablaze. She was deeply engrossed in one of her favorite activities - organizing books. This time, she figured, things would be much more efficient if she kept all the magically-themed titles closer together. Of course, fantasy novels didn’t make that cut. In fact, she decided, all the fiction belonged in its own section after psychology, since psychology could often be gleaned from the storytelling of a particular culture. But she gave also pause to an alternative... couldn't it also follow anthropology? No, anthropology already preceded psychology for the very same reason. And preceding that was -

The reverie was broken by a small tapping on the door. Spike grunted and rolled out of bed, flopped directly on his stomach, and proceeded to snore again. Twilight glanced up at him, grinned, and went to answer the door herself.

“Oh! Hi there Scootaloo!” Twilight raised a hoof over her eyes to block the mid-day sun.

Scootaloo was wearing a large saddlebag, and inside that bag was a book. A very familiar book.

“Hi, Twilight. Um... here.” Scootaloo turned her flank outward, allowing Twilight to get a good look at her luggage. It was the very same Hearts and Hooves reference book that the three fillies had borrowed the day before, when they concocted their ill-fated love potion. Almost without pause, the book was levitated from the saddlebag and floated up in front of Twilight Sparkle’s glowing horn.

The unicorn smiled as she sent the book flying to a shelf beside her. “Great timing, Scootaloo! I was just thinking that since this book has a potion recipe, it should really go in the alchemy section. I reference alchemy a lot more than holiday history. I even saved it a spot, see?”

Scootaloo watched quizzically as a perfectly sized slot in the shelf was stuffed neatly with the book. Then her eyes became transfixed as she glanced over the titles that now neighbored it. How perfect is that, she thought.

With a congenial smile, Twilight Sparkle turned her attention to the little filly.

“Hey, Scootaloo, where are your friends? I almost never see you without Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.”

“Well... I came to talk to you.”

“Oh... okay! What’s on your mind?”

"Well, nothing really, I just wanted to know if I could borrow another book. Like, you know, with more potions in it."

Twilight only stared at her, but the stare said enough.

"Um, what I mean is..." Scootaloo continued, rubbing nervously at the back of her neck, "we seemed to be really good at potion making. Maybe even too good, but... you know, maybe could be my special talent. You wouldn't want to keep me from getting my cutie mark, would you?"

"Hmm." Twilight narrowed her eyes a bit. "If potions were your special talent, shouldn't you have a cutie mark now?"

Scootaloo grunted; her empty flank had betrayed her. Now there was really only one option left, and it wasn't going to be easy. Of all the fillies she knew, Scootaloo had the hardest time talking openly about how she felt, or expressing even the least bit of sentiment. But if she was going to get Twilight to give her a book, she was going to have to come clean and hope for the best. She sighed.

"Scootaloo? Are you alright?"

After chewing nervously on her bottom lip for a few seconds, Scootaloo took a deep breath and asked, “Can you keep a secret, Twilight?”

For the second time that day, Scootaloo felt a door closing behind her courtesy of a unicorn’s horn. Twilight smiled warmly to the filly and nodded her head as she remembered a certain past adventure.

“It just so happens,” she assured the filly, “that I’ve recently learned the importance of discretion.”

“Dis-what now?” Scootaloo wasn’t great with words.

“Discretion.” Twilight was. “Keeping a secret. You can tell me anything you like.”

There was a pregnant pause. Scootaloo shuffled her hooves, and Twilight just remained smiling down to her, patiently.

“Well I...” Scootaloo started. This was harder than she thought it would be. “I... I maybe...”

“Mayyybe?” Twilight imitated, leaning in.

The truth was, there was nopony that Scootaloo would feel any safer or more comfortable telling her secrets to. Twilight had a sympathetic nature that seemed magnetic to most other ponies, despite being so quiet and reserved. For a brief moment, all the ulterior motives Scootaloo was hiding didn't seem quite as critical as just... getting this out.

“Maybe...” Scootaloo breathed in, and when she breathed out again the rest of her sentence spilled out like a river that had broken its dam. “Maybe-think-I’m-sorta-in-love.”

Hearing these words deeply pleased Twilight Sparkle, especially following a holiday like Hearts and Hooves. But Twilight wasn’t the type to gush, so she gently said, “I see! And who is the lucky stallion?”

Scootaloo’s face turned nearly as purple as Twilight now. She bowed her head down almost to the ground. “... uh. You see...”

“Lucky... mare?” Twilight offered, with no change in her expression.

Scootaloo looked up at Twilight Sparkle with a meek smile and the same blush as before.

“Scootaloo...” Twilight whispered, laying a hoof on the filly’s shoulder. Her voice was comforting, perhaps a little patronizing, but comforting nonetheless. “I didn’t realize, that’s all. It’s okay if you like another girl. Is it Sweetie Belle?” she winked. “She’s one pretty filly.”

Scootaloo jumped at the suggestion. “Huh?! No!”

“Oh, so it’s Apple Bloom!” Twilight winked again.

“No, it’s not... I mean, it really is a mare. Like, you know, not a filly.”

Twilight cocked her head a few degrees. “Its... not me, is it?”

Scootaloo giggled and shook her head. “No, Twilight, it’s not you.”

Spike, who was still laying with his eyes shut against the floor, groaned loudly. “It’s Rainbow Dash... duh.”

There was an awkward pause. Twilight glanced up with an arched eyebrow and found Spike breathing in and out in the heavy pattern of sleep again. Either he was faking it, or he was just being a ridiculous baby dragon as usual. Either way, Twilight levitated him back up into his bed and threw the small blanket across his head. Then she turned her attention back to the furiously blushing filly.

“Yeah, I... guess I should have seen that coming. Well, Scootaloo... you have to understand something. Rainbow Dash is older than you, and -”

“I...” interrupted Scootaloo, swallowing. “I wanted to know if you have any potion recipes that get rid of love.”

“Huh!? What? Why?” Twilight looked absolutely stunned, blinking and shaking her head.

“To...” Scootaloo’s eyes once again turned to the shelf, hoping to find something to embolden her there. “To fix this.”

“Scootaloo...” Twilight reached out and gingerly rubbed the filly’s warm face. “That... may be the saddest thing I've ever heard. You’re still young. You should enjoy your little crushes, not magic them away!”

Scootaloo's blush immediately started to fade, and she pulled herself away from the caressing hoof.

“This isn't a little crush!” She shouted. “You think that just because I’m younger than you, I can’t feel the same as you? Well I do, okay!?”

Twilight’s horn hummed gently as it pushed more blanket over Spike’s sleeping head.

“I didn't mean it that way, Scootaloo..." she said gently. "Look, you just got in big trouble using one of those potions, Remember? Didn't you learn something from that?”

Scootaloo's eyes widened considerably. “So there is an anti-love potion?”

Twilight grimaced. First nervousness, then anger, and now excitement. She was beginning to feel a little dizzy from this pint-sized roller-coaster of emotions. “I didn’t say that.” She replied, more firmly. “You will just have to wait for the natural order of things, okay?”

The two ponies exchanged a wordless stare for a few moments, then Twilight sighed and turned to a shelf near the back of the room. Books began to hover one after another as she resumed her tasks. “Besides...” she continued, “These feelings are good for you. They’re all part of becoming a mare. Believe me, I know. Everypony goes through this sooner or later...”

As Twilight made her speech, Scootaloo turned her attention fully to that shelf again. This would be a matter of making an educated guess. She knew she would eventually come to regret what she was about to do, but...

“One of these days, you’re going to make somepony so, so happy.” Twilight continued. “And you’re going to be happy too, I just know it. Do you understand, Scoo-”

But when she turned around, the filly was nowhere to be seen.

Chapter 2

In the high towers of Canterlot, the watchful eyes of Princess Celestia grew heavy with the setting sun. Soon, her sister would be coming to relieve her of her post. Luna would have much to oversee on a night like this. All the local pegasi had done well to clear the sky of clouds, ushering in a warm and breezy atmosphere that massaged one's mane like a lover's hoof. It was scheduled to be the perfect night for a romantic tryst beneath a star-studded sky... Luna's exact orders.

But for now, an orange sunset still lay across all of Equestria. Some of its light fell upon the official clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, such that the interior appeared as if it were set on fire. A fire that was swiftly running out of oil.

Scootaloo was frantic. She glanced repeatedly at the open book she had swiped from Twilight’s shelf, Mixtures of the Mind. She tried her best to memorize the complex formula on the upturned page, just in case it became too dim for her to read. Maybe there had been a simpler, less sinister recipe than this, but she hadn't had much time to choose. It had taken all day to find the ingredients, and Scootaloo still had to mix them in the most meticulous manner. She didn't even bother talking to the other two fillies standing behind her; it was enough that they were not interfering.

Apple Bloom was considering it. She and Sweetie Belle had searched high and low for their friend, only to find her standing at a table directly under the west-facing window of the clubhouse, concocting something that would presumably curb her interest in Rainbow Dash's date. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stood as far back as they could, talking in hushed whispers. They were both frozen with uncertainty. Neither of them had ever seen Scootaloo quite like this before.

“ Shouldn't we do some’n?” Apple Bloom whispered.

Sweetie Belle looked as though she was close to panicking with indecision. “I don’t know! Rarity said that she needs to leave Rainbow Dash alone." she raised a hoof toward Scootaloo, "And she says this potion will make her stop worrying, so -”

“I know, but with another potion? After yesterday? Maybe we should just... y’know, go and ask Rarity.”

“No way!" Sweetie said, stomping a hoof. "Cutie Mark Crusaders aren't tattle-tales!”

“No, we ain't, but someone could get hurt. This is serious, Sweetie Belle!”

“Scoot said she’s going to be the one drinking it!”

“I know, and that doesn’t make me feel any better."

Apple Bloom, with a little more decisiveness than before, began crossing the room toward Scootaloo. Her voice raised a bit with the intent of being heard by everyone.

“That there potion could be another poison. I wanna see.”

Scootaloo turned almost mechanically and raised a hoof to block her advance. “Seems to me that you guys should learn how to mind your own business too!”

“Scootaloo...” Apple Bloom said gently, reaching up to meet Scootaloo’s hoof with a light touch. “You don’t need to hide stuff from us. We’re your best friends!”

“I do, too!” Scootaloo snapped, pulling her hoof away. "Know why? Because my so-called ‘best friends’ just make fun of me when I try and talk to them about anything!”

With a hmph of disdain, Scootaloo turned back to her work, more exasperated than before.

Sweetie Belle bit at her lips. She had already begun to feel very unhappy with herself whenever she looked back at the night around the campfire... the things that were said. She had been tired; they all had. They had spoken loosely and it didn't end the way it should have. Above all, Sweetie realized, most of that was her fault. She was the one that led the baiting and the insults, even when Scootaloo had made it crystal clear that she wasn't amused.

“Scootaloo...” Sweetie whispered sheepishly, walking up to join the others by the table. “Scoot, I... I didn't mean to pick on you last night. That was really mean of me. I’m sorry... okay?”

Apple Bloom smiled at Sweetie Belle, proudly. Scootaloo herself turned at first with anger, but then she seemed to pick up her friend's sincerity. Her face softened.

“So...” Sweetie continued, “If... um, if you like Rainbow Dash that way, it’s okay! We still love you and stuff! Um, like a friend I mean. But a really good friend! Just, um, I mean - arg!”

“Um, yeah!” Apple Bloom chimed in, saving Sweetie from further embarrassment. “Who needs some dumb ol’ potion when you can just tell us how you’re feelin’? Why, that sounds like a lesson in friendship right there!”

Sweetie giggled. “I guess we should go find Spike!”

For a moment, Scootaloo actually did smile a little. But then she turned, grabbed her wing by the teeth and pulled yet another Pegasus feather loose. Everypony was silent as she returned to the glass and stirred the concoction until it transformed into a deep, quivering blackness.

Spitting out her feather, Scootaloo calmly responded. “Talking's not going to fix anything. If you’re really my friends, and you really want me to feel better, then help me get inside the party tonight so we can get this over with.”

Apple Bloom blinked. “Come again? Party?”

“Oh, right!” Exclaimed Sweetie Belle, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t told Apple Bloom. She hadn't really told Scootaloo either, but it was of little surprise that she had found out on her own. “All the grown-ups are going to this big fancy party at The Braided Mane. It’s like, I dunno, a dumb ‘couples only’ thing.”

Suddenly it all made sense. “So that’s why Rarity found Dash a date.”

“Uh huh!” Sweetie Belle nodded, her mood lifted by the chance to gossip. “In fact, she found a lot of ponies dates. It’s a Hearts and Hooves tradition, and Rarity loves to play matchmaker. In fact, Fluttershy-”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Apple Bloom shook her head in confusion. “ Wasn't Hearts and Hooves, y’know, yesterday?”

“Well duh. Everypony had to work today, remember?“

None of these details made a lick of difference to Scootaloo, who loudly shut the potions book and closed the lid on her creation. Into her saddlebag it went.

“You guys remember how the last one worked, right?” She said, turning once again to her friends. “Cheerilee and Big McIntosh had to drink it while looking right at each other. Well. This is the same thing.”

There was a moment’s pause as everyone processed Scootaloo’s plan.

“Oh boy...” sighed Apple Bloom, already defeated. “Are you sure about this, Scoot?”

“You could wait for another time when there aren’t so many grown-ups around!” Added Sweetie Belle.

“No.” Scootaloo said with a voice that was calm but resolute. “I’m doing this tonight. You'll know why later. Look, guys... you can help me, or you can leave me. Or I guess you can tell on me if you want to be that way. It’s all just like Rarity said, I can’t choose things for you. But I can choose for me.”

Sweetie and Apple took one final look at each other, saw the matching defeat in their eyes, and sighed in unison.

Chapter 3

The Braided Mane appeared to light up the entirety of Ponyville without the help of a sun. Tear-shaped bulbs framed each and every window in a full spectrum of colors, while the pale walls shone vividly in the moonlight. A seemingly endless line of equally colorful couples stretched out across the outer wall, all waiting patiently as the door-colt processed their reservations one by one.

The six most inseparable mares in Ponyville were now very close to the front of the line. Each had a date and each wore a dress, all according to Rarity's grand design. As far as the flashy fashionista was concerned, the twelve of them formed the most glamorous party that any up-scale restaurant had ever seen (especially for what Ponyville considered "upscale".)

The dates looked sharp, with Rarity's being the sharpest. After all, the tailoring had been done by none other than herself. He wasn't really her kind of stallion, but Big McIntosh was an absolute gem to have around... possibly because he let her do all the talking. She couldn't help but sidle up against the big ox occasionally, if only to watch his cheeks go all rosy like a little school colt. Which reminded her, Cheerilee was probably somewhere in the line too. Unfortunately, it would have been a touch awkward for her and Big McIntosh to arrive together after what had happened. Such a shame.

Twilight Sparkle stood next in line, with Spike by her side. The baby dragon's eyes were jealously fixed on Rarity and Big McIntosh. He was wearing a tiny tuxedo, which made him look a bit less like a baby and also a bit less like a dragon, but not by a huge margin in either respect. Twilight, who had opted to be his date for the evening, was secretly hoping that Rarity would find him dashing. Precious might have been closer to the truth.

Rainbow Dash was next, looking terribly bored. She was more or less ignoring a certain white stallion who bore a cracked mirror on his flank... none other than the famously handsome Vain Glorious. The two hadn't spoken much at all just yet, but Vain was remaining calm and patient, awaiting his chance.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy followed respectively, each more or less contented with her gentlecolt. Applejack's was a gray-coated hunk with a polite and no-nonsense disposition - perfect. Pinkie's looked like some kind of artist with an attention disorder. Fluttershy's was the strong, silent type, but also very attentive. The fact that she was hadn't darted off crying into the neighboring trees yet was a good omen.

The line stopped moving for a time while a few more tables were lain out. Pinkie Pie began to bounce up and down in place. She never could stand still very well.

“This is such a cute place!” she squealed, "It's like a mini Grand Galloping Gala! And ooh! We have ponies from Ponyville AND Canterlot at once, and we're all going to dance, and eat and ...” Pinkie suddenly turned to her date, “are you excited?! Pleeeeease be excited!”

The stallion grinned and nodded his head furtively. “Indeed I am, my dear Pinkie!”

“Woooo-HOOO!!!”

Rarity turned to frown on her loud friend. “Pinkie Pie, really! Please settle down a little bit. I realize this is... well, mixed company, but we really must remain civilized. Remember, this is a romantic occasion for someponies."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me! Watch this!" Pinkie turned and spontaneously smooched her date square on the cheek, causing his ears to shoot straight into a vertical position. "Hehehehe see!? They won't come down for like ten minutes!"

Rarity watched them warily for a few moments, exchanged awkward glances with the flushing stallion, and finally allowed herself to sigh. She turned and looked straight ahead, whispering her mantras beneath her breath. Please not another worst night ever, please not...

Twilight trotted up beside Rarity, barely out of earshot from all the males. “Hey, thanks again for getting everyone a date on such short notice, Rarity.”

“Ahem. Not at all, dear. I'm just glad to see you've decided to bring our own little Spikey Wikey.”

“Well, I'd hate to see him left behind just because he isn't a pony.”

Rarity grinned teasingly. “Mmm-hmmmmmmmm!”

Twilight giggled, unfazed. “We're only here as friends, Rarity. I had to bring my number one assistant!”. Then, turning the tables, “So, how about you and Big McIntosh, hmmmmmmm?”

“Oh, heavens no. It's the same for us. I mean really! Do you realize how difficult that stallion is to clean up? He - oh! The line’s moving again."

And so it was. Everypony scooted up as the door-colt began working people through again. Spike and Big McIntosh walked side-by side. They glanced at each other briefly, and Spike scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck.

“Um, so...” the dragon said, catching Big McIntosh's attention. “We’re both here as... friends, huh?”

“Eee-yup.” Said Big McIntosh, calmly.

Spike grinned as angelically as he could. “”Wanna... trade?”

“A-nope.” Big McIntosh didn’t change his expression as he followed the others in the line.

Spike snapped his claws. “Rats!”

Lining the building's wall just past the entrance was a rather thick bush that had a tendency to rattle on occasion. This was because three little fillies were hiding inside, peering out between the leaves. The line was moving in their direction and then funneling into the Braided Mane, but that just meant more eyes to avoid if they were going to get in this way. Scootaloo peered, but full concentration was difficult. Seeing Vain Glorious, and how handsome he looked, made her feel nauseous. On the other hoof, seeing Rainbow Dash, and how beautiful she looked, made her want to collapse into a puddle. It was all very distracting.

If only I were an adult, thought Scootaloo, clenching her teeth. I'd show them all. Man, why couldn't there have been a potion for that?

Apple Bloom frowned as she examined the line of ponies. "What’re we gonna do now, crusaders? There’s mares ‘n’ stallions everywhere."

"I'm thinking..." Scootaloo whispered back.

Sweetie Belle poked her face up beside Scootaloo's and darted her eyes around. "Hey. What if we all hid inside a big dress and pretended to be a mare? Doesn't that usually work in stories?"

Apple Bloom giggled. "Sweetie Belle, first of all, we don't have a dress. Second, don'cha think they'd want to know where our date is?"

"Oh yeah." Sweetie sighed.

But Scootaloo broke out in hushed laughter, turned, and gave the little unicorn's mane a rough noogie. "You're a genius, Sweetie Belle!"

"Huh?" Apple Bloom shook her head in confusion.

Scootaloo pointed through the twigs and leaves. "There. Her."

Sweetie and Apple Bloom craned their heads to follow the hoof. A particularly haughty couple was in line about five couples back. One was wearing an exceptional frilly dress that looked almost like a huge, upside-down umbrella resting over her flank.

Apple Bloom furrowed her brow. "What, the goofy lookin' mare in the fru-fru dress?"

"Our invitation, girls." Scootaloo whispered deviously, as she sank back into the bush.

Minutes later, the overdressed couple was passing through the door, noses in the air. With their attention squarely on themselves, they never noticed the two little fillies that darted out from underneath the terrible dress. A large statue close to the door became the new hiding place of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, who leaned their backs against it and stood on their hind legs to make themselves more scarce.

"Geez! We could move the treehouse under there!" Sweetie said in a rasped whisper, as she gazed around the corner for one last look.

"Shh! Where’s Scoot?"

Both fillies glanced all around the statue, looking high and low for their missing friend. Sweetie couldn't see her hooves under the bouncing of the dress, and Apple Bloom didn't see her anywhere else.

Sweetie frowned. "Did... did we lose her?"

Apple Bloom swallowed heavily at a sudden revelation. "I'm thinkin' she lost us."

They both looked at each other, each thinking the same, horrifying thing.

"Oh no." Sweetie whispered. "That potion isn't for Scootaloo, is it?"

"Hey, I thought we were sharing a table!"

Rainbow Dash scowled as she reviewed the arrangement. Several tiny tables with two plates apiece, delimited by a wide margin each. She looked at Vain Glorious, who was smiling calmly. Then she looked at Rarity, who was smiling as well, only more because of smugness.

"Now, Rainbow Dash," teased the unicorn triumphantly, "We shall all spend plenty of time together. Go on with your date, now."

"But I-"

Applejack nudged her on a wing. "Don’t y'all worry your head about it, Sugar Cube. It’s only for the eatin’ portion of the night. Once we get to the dancin’, we’ll be minglin’ like a big ol’ hive o’ bees."

"Yay, bees!" Pinkie Pie seemed to materialize out of thin air with her date. "I can’t wait! Did you know Artie is a professional dancer? It’s true! I know because... he told me!"

Applejack blinked. "Fancy that."

The stallion named Artie - or rather, just Arthur - proudly posed himself with a hoof against his chest and his chin held high. "Dancer, singer, thespian, yes."

Pinkie Pie giggled. "Thespian! That's a funny word. Pickle barrel thespian! Thes- oh! Artie says he’s going to teach me some moves!"

"I will certainly do my best!" Agreed the stallion with a dip of the head.

"I’m gonna spin and twirl out there like a pink tornado!"

Applejack hid a grin behind her hoof. "Darlin’, you’re always spinnin’ and twirlin’ like a pink tornado."

Fluttershy poked her face into the eye of the discussion and gently cleared her throat to get everypony's attention. “Um... hi, sorry. I... don't think we're supposed to stand here. We’re … um ... getting looks.”

“Quite right.” Agreed Rarity, without looking to see the rubberneckers. She gracefully crossed to a table with Big McIntosh trailing behind.

“Food!” Cheered Pinkie, stotting to a random seat.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash fanned out in silence. Most of the gentlecolts followed their respective partners to the table of the lady’s choosing. Fluttershy’s stallion, however, held her by a hoof, whispered something comforting in her ear, and personally led her to a table as she held her breath.

”Twilight gave Spike a playful nudge. “Come on, 'shmoopy doo'. We’ll take the table after Rarity and Big Mac.”

Spike nodded as they made their way over. “Hey, you think if we acted all lovey-dovey like that, she’d get... like, jealous?”

Twilight just grinned. “Sit down, Romeo.”

In the midst of everything, a small figure was almost completely missed darting from table to table, aided by the long cloth that draped over each one. Almost completely missed, that is, except for two other little figures which were themselves in hiding. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took note as Scootaloo zipped beneath Rainbow Dash's table, whose two occupants sat looking awkwardly in various directions.

Islands of conversation began cropping up. Applejack was warming quickly to her date - much to the chagrin of Apple Bloom - and Fluttershy began to visibly relax and smile as though being successfully wooed. Cider was brought out and placed on each table in turn, with Applejack being the first to sniff, sip and grumble about its quality. Soon the quiet conversations became a growing storm of chitter-chatter as each couple began to enjoy the evening - except one.

Rainbow and Vain looked across to the others, uncertain what else to do. At just that moment, Scootaloo’s face materialized over the side of the table with the vial held securely in her mouth. By the time she was out of view, both glasses were a little more full than before, the cider a little darker.

Around the edges of the statue, Apple Bloom’s eyes went as wide as saucers “Why that little so-and-so! She did lie to us!”

Sweetie Belle went directly into panic mode. “Oh my gosh! Why would she do that!? What do we do?”

"We... uh... we...." stuttered Apple Bloom, as her entire body began to perspire.

Then Vain turned things from bad to worse. Reaching out and lifting his glass in the air, he uttered the words "Let's toast. To... friends."

Rainbow sighed and picked up her glass as well. "Fine."

Two little fillies appeared, running full speed towards the two adults. Seeing that the beeline coming their way, Rainbow and Vain both placed their glasses down and turned in alarm, preparing to catch a filly apiece.

It wasn't necessary - a tan hoof came down harshly on Apple Bloom's tail, a white one on Sweetie Belle's. The fillies collapsed flat on their bellies, neither of them bothering to look back at the big sister pinning them in place.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie were literally tossed from the retauraunt's back door, landing together in a heap outside, just past the doorstep. Neither of their sisters were interested in dealing with them right now, so this was it then.

"Ow." Sweetie groaned, as the door slammed shut. "Mean ol' grownups."

After collecting her senses, Apple Bloom immediately lept to her feet and began running along the side of the building. "Come on!"

"Hey Apple Bloom, wait up!"

"So... fillies trying to crash our party, hmm?"

Rainbow Dash looked up as she heard Vain talk to her for the second time since they came into the resteraunt. He was smiling at her in a way that put her off a bit. Perhaps if she could find something to say that would put him off, he'd leave her alone.

"Tss, nothing I never did myself!"

"Hmm, I understand."

Dash rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you Canterlot ponies just sit around all day sipping tea and feeling awesome about yourselves."

Vain stared at her severely. "Oh, and I suppose you’ve never had something you were proud of? I may not be much for tea parties, but I do, in fact, feel 'awesome' about myself."

"Yeah, well." Dash began, but the words had hit surprisingly close to home. "Eh, I guess I do too. About me, I mean. I'm pretty awesome."

"Yes." Said Vain flirtatiously. "You certainly are."

Beneath the table, Scootaloo grit her teeth. Drink your stupid cider already, you big jerk.

Vain Glorious ran his hoof over the side of the cider glass, looking down into the swirling pool idly. "But you know, miss Dash, I really am not as boring as you think. In fact..." he peered around, lowered his voice and leaned forward. "Once, when I was very young, I actually snuck into Princess Celestia's throne room. And then, I had a sit on the big chair itself."

Rainbow Dash, who was about to sip her cider, slammed it right back down against the table and stared wide-eyed at the stallion. "G-get out of town!"

"And it’s quite comfortable, let me tell you." Vain winked.

Dash went directly into competitive mode. "Oh yeah? I've snuck into the palace too, you know. Pssh, who hasn't?"

"Uh huh." Vain grinned. "You even got into the throne room, I bet."

"Well, no." Rainbow blushed. "Okay, try this. I just might have been responsible for a little thunderstorm that kept the Wonderbolts stuck in Ponyville for a few days longer than they were scheduled."

"And I just m..." Vain blinked, shaking his head. "Wait, wait, wait. The Wonderbolts? As in, the most magnificent fliers in all of Equestria? Well, one can’t rightly blame you for that one!"

Dash looked as though she'd been punched in the stomach. "Y-you're a Wonderbolts' fan!?

"And... who isn't?"

There was a long pause as the two ponies stared at one another in thought. Dash's features visibly softened, and she allowed herself a smile.

"You know..." she said, "I hate to admit it but... I totally had you wrong. You're a crazy guy, and anyone who likes the Wonderbolts can't be all that bad."

"Thank you, my dear."

"It's kinda weird how Rarity picked the perfect date for everypony."

"Oh?" It was a leading tone.

"I mean, Fluttershy is like, relaxing. She’s NEVER relaxed. That guy with Pinkie Pie... he’s been making her laugh all night. Okay, that's all she does, but still. And even Applejack seems to be having a good time... how much could a Canterlot pony possibly have in common with a farm girl?"

"You never know when two ponies will find something in common, my dear. And Rarity, for all her posh, is an excellent judge of character."

"I..." Rainbow bit her lip, then nodded resolutely. "Yeah. I can see that she is."

Beneath the table, Scootaloo no longer wore a devious, jealous expression. Instead, she frowned harder than she ever had in her entire life. You really like him, huh?

Vain's voice rang out. "So, let us have a toast to good decisions!"

Suddenly, chaos.

In the kitchens, cooks dropped pots and pans and even carefully prepared foodstuffs as two little fillies zoomed out of seemingly nowhere and bowled through them recklessly. Hardly a moment later the double doors swung open, and the agents of disarray came running out among the stunned diners.

But before they could begin their second assault on Dash's table, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom came to realize there was nothing that they could do. They were at the opposite side of the room, and both Rainbow Dash and Vain had already raised their cup to their lips. In milliseconds, it would all be over.

"We're too-" began Apple Bloom, but then something unexpected happened.

The table beneath Rainbow Dash and Vain Glorious thrust itself into the air, smacking the glasses from both hooves and sending them in a wild spiral toward the entrance wall. Following was the table itself, which flipped entirely over until it was upside down on a pile of crushed plates. Scootaloo was standing in the center of what used to be the belly of the table, breathing heavily as tears streamed down her face. The entire restaraunt fell into dead silence.

Rainbow Dash was the first pony to speak, after what seemed like an eternity.

"S...scootaloo?"

Scootaloo wiped tears from her eyes and slowly turned to face her, looking up from what seemed like the lowest position of her life.

"I just want you to be happy." She managed, before turning again and running full-speed through the front door.

Chapter 4 + Epilogue

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom sat with their chins pressed down against the floor. It felt just as cold as ice. Their ears lay flattened against their manes, and their tails were all tucked up between their hind legs like a pair of frightened dogs. Scores of adult eyes loomed in a complete circle around them, and they weren't of the smiling variety. Even Fluttershy was there, giving them “the stare”. This was going to be ugly.

“Alright.” Said Applejack. The word came out as a fierce exhalation, like a dragon snorting flames. “Let’s hear it.”

Rarity stepped in as well, speaking through tightly gnashed teeth. “And I suggest you make it very, very good ... Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie recoiled. This was going to be much worse than ugly.

Having always seen herself as the leader of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom summoned up all the bravery she had left in her little heart. She somehow rose onto her shaky hooves, unfurling her tail along the way. She swallowed.

“We d-don’t really have a good excuse, you guys. We sh-shoulda’ told you what Scootaloo was up to all along. We’re... sorry...”

“Please don’t beat us!” Sweetie threw her hooves over her head and flattened herself against the floor.

Rarity folded up a hoof to herself and gasped in injury. “Since when have I ever beaten you, Sweetie Belle? We don’t do things that way! Don’t say such a thing!”

“More on that later.” Applejack interjected, “I wanna know exactly what Scootaloo was up to. Out with it, or you’ll wish we did tan your hides.”

Apple Bloom swallowed for a second time. “Well... ya see. She had this uh, potion. Kinda like the one from yesterday, but not so much. Kinda opposite, and stuff.”

Sweetie nodded vigorously. “An anti-love potion!”

From the sidelines, Twilight Sparkle poked her head out between a few hooves and gasped loudly. “Anti-love potion!?”

“Uh, yeah, or something.” Continued Apple Bloom. “An’ she told us she was gonna use it to -”

Twilight smacked herself soundly across the eyes. “Oh my gosh! Ughh!”

Applejack arched an eyebrow at Twilight, who was behaving quite a bit like Rarity all of a sudden. “You know somethin’ about this, sugarcube?”

Twilight groaned with dismay. “Scootaloo came to see me today! She ...”

I know the meaning of discretion, she had told the filly. Discretion. Even now, in spite of everything, some things were still under the protection of her promise. Twilight shook her head before continuing, editing her words with better caution.

“What matters is that Scootaloo must have tried to poison Rainbow Dash’s cider, and she used one of my books to do it.”

A chorus of ponies echoed that horrible word. “Poison!?”

“Just like last time." Twilight gave the fillies a sideways glance. "You see, the only recipe I know that could be called an anti-love potion is a hate poison. Mixtures of the Mind has a recipe like that. Dash and Vain could have been at each other’s throats by now.”

Fluttershy gasped, horrified. “Oh my. How awful!”

Rarity, battling her own astonishment, turned to Vain Glorious and snagged one of his hooves between her own, hoisting it into her chest. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry about this, Vain Glorious! After I had just told that filly to mind her own business! You must... you must...”

But Vain was completely calm. He smiled in such a way that silenced the unicorn, and lightly pulled his hoof free to rest beside the other again.

“It is good to know I made such an impression that the young filly changed her mind.” He said, charitably. “I don’t much care for being slipped potions, but at least this Scootaloo did the right thing in the end.”

All the while, Rainbow wasn't looking at anything but the floor, where shards of the broken glass scattered by her hooves. She seemed to be lost in thought, until Rarity's voice addressed her.

“Dash, are you alright?"

That was the least of the pegasus' concerns. “Yeah, but... just let me get this straight. Scootaloo was trying to make sure me and Vain didn't like, fall in love or something?”

Sweetie Belle was now up on her own little legs. “Dashie, we promise we didn't know that when we helped her! We thought she was going to use it on herself!”

Rainbow stared at the filly, lips drained of color. Then she turned to the door, which was still swung wide open and splattered with the remnants of the potion. “On... herself?”

Rarity seemed to appear out of nowhere in Sweetie's vision, towering over her with a threatening gaze. “Whatever am I going to do with you, Sweetie Belle?”

Applejack appeared next to her, grinning out the corner of her mouth. “I was thinkin’ another day of apple buckin’ is in order.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle collapsed in a heap of sighs and moans. Maybe a beating wouldn’t have been quite so bad after all.

Applejack laughed triumphantly. “At this rate Big McIntosh and me will be able to retire, ain't that right Big Mac?”

“Ee-yup!”

“Now.” Rarity said, almost fully satisfied. “Where is that Scootaloo...”

Twilight Sparkle had already been looking about, but not for Scootaloo. “Actually, where’s Rainbow Dash?”

Running alongside the Braided Mane was a small outcropping of trees overlooking a placid stream. The moon cast its pale glow through the leaves of the trees, which were just sparse enough to make the stream glisten and ignite the area in a dynamic, flickering light. A team of talented landscapers (Earth Ponies of course,) had worked tirelessly to plant each tree in perfect symmetry, resulting in a truly romantic nature setting for couples to wander at the end of a magical night at the Mane. In the youth of the evening, nopony had yet arrived in this magical spot... except one.

Scootaloo lay curled into a ball at the edge of the water, her tears joining the current. Though young, she felt that her entire life had been destroyed in a single evening. Part of her realized how silly that would sound to the rest of the world, but none of that mattered right now. Nothing mattered. She had just tried to poison the mare of her dreams, and for what? Jealousy. How could she? How would she face this town ever again?

Maybe it was time to leave. Maybe she could find herself in Manehatten, or even Canterlot. Would they even come for her if she ran away?

As if to answer, a shadowed figure approached her from between the trees. It moved slowly, cautiously. “That you, kid?” It whispered, its voice gentle and raspy.

Scootaloo pulled her tail tightly against her chest and wiped her tears in it. Even now, she didn't want Rainbow Dash to see her crying. “Yeah... its me.” She said. “The dumb kid.”

Dash walked over to Scootaloo as gingerly as she ever had, which is to say that she crushed every twig between herself and the filly.

“You’re not dumb, Scootaloo... which is why I wanna know what made you try and slip me a potion. That’s a pretty dumb thing for a smart filly to do.”

Scootaloo sniffed. “Guess the others told you.”

“Well, yeah... they kinda had to.”

“I wish I could take it all back.” Scootaloo was still staring ahead, looking into the waters at her own pathetic self. “I didn't know Vain Glorious would be so perfect for you.”

Dash actually had to stifle a chuckle at such a remark. “Heh. Look, kid, I appreciate you trying to protect me and all, but -”

Scootaloo slammed a hoof down against the soil beside herself. “Protect you!? Pshh! I wasn’t trying to protect you. I was being selfish! Don’t you get it? I was jealous!”

A long pause followed. The two still hadn’t made eye contact, but Rainbow was slowly making her way to the younger pony, frowning deeply as she sounded out that last word: “J...eal...ous?”

Scootaloo still couldn’t face Dash. She buried her eyes into an arm and let her feelings spill. “I would be perfect for you, if I was a stallion like Vain Glorious. But I’m not. I’m a filly, and not just any filly, but a stupid, stupid kid.”

Rainbow Dash stared in silence, her heart briefly stopping.

"That’s right.” Scootaloo continued, in an act of self-abuse. “‘Squirt’ is in love with a mare. Now you know how dumb I am.”

“Scootaloo!” Rainbow Dash shook off her initial reaction and walked even closer. But the filly curled up even tighter and even scooted slightly away.

“Forget it." she whined. "I don’t know what I was thinking tonight. I... I’m just so confused!”

What Scootaloo didn’t realize in that moment, is how deeply her confusion hit home with the other pony. Rainbow Dash looked away for a second, mulling over her own childhood. She recalled Scootaloo's current phase, which wasn't quite childhood anymore... more like, the death throes of it. Rainbow sighed deeply, paced around the filly, and flopped down directly in front of her. She gently patted a smaller wing with her own, stroking in a lazy circle.

For the first time in her life, Rainbow Dash spoke as an adult. A real adult, who knew what it meant to grow up.

“Listen to me, Scootaloo.” She said, “You’re way more mature than most fillies your age, and you’re so not dumb. But I think you may have missed something. I’m not interested in Vain Glorious that way at all.”

Scootaloo sniffed, barely hiding her eyes. “But I heard everything. You two have so much in common. Getting in trouble, loving the Wonderbolts... you’re perfect for each other.”

“Well sure, as friends! Look, just because I’m a mare and he’s a stallion, that doesn't mean we can’t be buddies and nothing else. In fact...” Here, Rainbow Dash bit her lip to the point of pain. This was as personal as she had ever been before. “Well... it uh... it’d be sorta a problem. Him being a stallion I mean. You know?”

Scootaloo wiped her eyes. “Y... you mean?”

“Yup. Same as you, Scoots.” Dash let out a long exhale of relief; it felt good to open up about this for once. “Except, well, you’re still a kid. I know you don’t want to be, but no one gets to just zoom past it. Not even super-fast fliers like me! And the thing is, no matter how big you are for your age... and you’re waaaay ahead, kiddo... you still got a lot to learn about the world before you have a real special somepony.“

The two finally made eye contact. They looked at one another across time and space, communicating almost telepathically. Scootaloo felt a sudden realization inside her, which was both frightening and satisfying. Above all, it motivated her. Her heart began to beat in a way it never had before, and in that moment - though her form gave no indication of it - she grew.

“Heck...” Dash continued, “a pretty girl like you could easily find another filly to date, someone closer to -”

“No. I don’t want anypony but you, Rainbow Dash. “

Scootaloo rose onto all her hooves and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.

“And,” she continued, “I can wait for you, until I’m all grown up, so that you’ll see what I mean. If you'll just wait for me, too... I promise I’ll become up into the perfect mare for you. I’m not that far away.”

Dash stared at the filly, but closed her eyes and shook her head. “I know you’re not, but you I can’t promise... anything can happen in just a few years...”

“Then I know what I need to do next.” Said Scootaloo, as she turned and began to walk away.

Rainbow Dash blinked and watched her with her head at an angle. “Uh... what? Where are you going?”

Scootaloo turned with a smile. “To face my punishment. To apologize to my friends for all the pain I just put them through. And then, to keep looking for my cutie mark. I just realized how I can get you to wait for me.”

Dash blinked with surprise. “Scootaloo, you can’t make -”

“No, I can’t choose anything for anypony but me. What I can do is grow up a little more every day, knowing that you’ll be right there, watching and remembering my promises. You will watch, won’t you?”

The two stared at each other silently for many long moments. Although she was at a loss for words, Rainbow Dash managed a nod.

"You’ll see.” Whispered Scootaloo, before she scampered off into the darkness.

After several seconds of silence, Rainbow was startled by the voice of Twilight Sparkle, who appeared quite stealthily beside her. “Well... that was... something.”

“Twilight! How long...?”

“Most of it." Twilight giggled mischieviously. "And you handled that beautifully, Rainbow Dash. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you act so mature.” Twilight patted her friend encouragingly on a wing.

Dash looked after the filly that had vanished from sight. “That goes for Scootaloo, too. Geez! it’s like she’s a mare already. Where are the days going all of a sudden, Twilight?”

“Precocious, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, and way ahead of her age too.”

Twilight grinned and shook her head, letting it go.

Dash sighed. “But she still gets into trouble like a filly... then again, heh... so do I. Hey, you wanna hear something like... totally crazy, Twilight?”

Twilight nearly laughed. “Try me. I still think you’re all insane.”

Dash smirked. “I think you may be right. 'Cause I have this funny feeling. In the back of my heart.” She raised a hoof and tapped it pointedly against her chest, which beat back at her soundly. “It's like a voice that says, 'good things are worth waiting for'."

Twilight Sparkle stared at her neutrally and said nothing.

“I... you don’t think she slipped me some other kind of potion, do you?

A gentle smile appeared on the unicorn’s face as she shook her head. “No. I think some other kind of magic is at work.”

“Hmm...”

“Come on.” Twilight said, tugging at her friend by the leg. “Let’s get back to the party. The other fillies are headed back to the farm. They’ll be dealt with later on.”

As Twilight turned to go, Rainbow followed with her face turned. She watched the trees carefully, as if expecting little … or maybe big Scootaloo to come running back.

“So...” Dash muttered, as the lights of the Braided Mane came back into view, “Uh, about my other little... confession. You know, about mares and stuff...”

“Oh, Dash. Everypony already figured that out.”

“What...?! Hey! What do you mean, figured it out? Twilight!”

Twilight simply burst into laughter and doubled her pace.

It truly was a lovely night. Twilight knew it had been Luna’s wish, but never had she expected the sky to look so crystal clear, or the stars to shine so bright. Laying on her back in her own bed with the soft glow of the sky falling across her sheets made her feel so at peace with all the universe. Beside her, in a much smaller bed, Spike lay back with his legs propped up, holding the usual parchment at an angle as he twirled his pen expectantly.

“Ahum.” The baby dragon grunted conspicuously , tapping the dry end against the page a few times.

“Alright, Spike.” Twilight giggled, as she squirmed into a comfortable position. “Hope I don’t give you a claw cramp with this one. So... dear princess Celestia,

“You might be receiving quite a few letters tonight. You see, my friends and I all learned a very important lesson in friendship: sometimes your friends know you even better than yourself. It turns out that Rarity picked just the right date for each of my friends. Even though everypony doubted her at first, she knew exactly how to weave her magic into the evening.”

Spike paused and looked up. “Wait... what about...?”

“Keep writing...” Twilight whispered ...

“There are things that are not right to share in this letter. But I think another, more important lesson was learned tonight. Not about friendship exactly, but... well, love. When it comes to the way two ponies feel about each other, the greatest obstacle can sometimes be time. Time does have a way of passing, but it does it at its own pace. We can’t force others to change how they feel or when they’re ready, but we can do our best to become worthy of that special somepony we long for.

“I’m starting to think that believing in friendship and believing in love are something like the same thing... types of magic. Do you remember the time I learned that I was destined to meet my friends all along? I may be just a naive little filly myself for saying this, but … maybe true love works the same way. It seems like things tend to turn out exactly as they should in the end, as long as they are left to the natural flow of time.

“No... it’s not me I’m talking about. But maybe I need to start thinking about that kind of thing. One thing’s for sure, it isn't something anypony can rush. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”

Spike rose to his feet, lifted the rolled parchment, and sent it sailing into the night sky with a breath of magical flame. He could already hear Twilight lightly snoring as he went to shut the panes.

Scootaloo lay quietly on a large tree trunk in the middle of Apple Acres, breathing deeply in the comfort of her slumber. This time, the others had passed out around the fire - tomorrow would be a full work day, so it was time to rest their young hooves. Scootaloo only lay apart because she wanted a higher vantage, and had fallen asleep staring up at the same sky Twilight had been enjoying. For different reasons.

In a cloud high above, off the edges of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash was vaguely awake and staring right back down at the small figure far below. They had exchanged a single smile across the distance. Dash could just make out that the filly was holding a pillow to herself, cuddling it like a teddy bear. Without meaning to, Dash clutched her cloud in much the same way, and drifted off into very similar dreams about the future.