Chapter 5: A Promise

Pinkie Pie was bouncing alongside of me as we made our way down to Sugar Cube Corner, I had told the happy mare that I'd help her deliver some treats to Cherilee so she could pass them out to her students.

"This is going to be soooo great!" Pinkie exclaimed, "I can't wait to see the faces of all those kids when we bring them all these!"

She picked up and strapped on her saddlebag full of goodies and waited for me by the door bouncing in place. I grabbed my bag and thought to myself that it'd be nice to just make Scootaloo smile. She's been really down lately because of still not having her cutie mark, but seeing me always put a smile on her face.

"Alright Pinkie calm down! You're going to crush all the snacks," I said to her.

She just giggled and said "Oopsie!" and we walked out of the bakery towards the school building.

As Pinkie Pie and I arrived at the school, Cherilee met us outside, that smile of hers once again on her face almost as much as Pinkie's.

"Oh wonderful! Thank you so much you two for helping me with this," she said, "Pinkie could you go on in and start passing them around? And Evan could I have a word with you before you go in?"

Pinkie looked at me and I just nodded my head at her.

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" she said and bounced inside, her puffy mane and tail bobbing with her.

Cherilee came up to me with the first concerned look on her face I've seen.

"Hey Cherilee, what's wrong? Something up with Scootaloo?" I asked her.

I guessed right as she nodded at me and said, "She just hasn't been paying attention in class or doing her homework lately. Something has her really upset, I'd say her cutie mark, and I feel like you should talk to her. Maybe take her out of class?"

I let out a sigh, I knew something was wrong and said "Of course I'll do that. Let me go get her, don't worry, I'll fix whatever's wrong."

As I walked inside the classroom Pinkie was handing out all of the treats and just being Pinkie, which included her normal goofy antics and lots of random confetti. Then I saw Scootaloo sitting in the back of class with her head down on the table, I went over quickly and stood beside her.

"Hey squirt what do you think you're doing? Sleeping in school?" I asked.

The sound of my voice made her head shoot up straight, a big grin formed as she saw me.

"Evan! Hi big bro!" she squeed, it still took time to get used to that again.

She reminded me a lot like Tamra, that same spunky attitude and independence, I actually smiled at the memory for once then quickly pushed it away.

I chuckled and said, "Hey Scoot, c'mon, Miss Cherilee said you could use some fresh air."

She looked confused but then got the point and happily got up from her seat and stood beside me. We walked to the door and I gave Cherilee a warm smile and almost yelled to Pinkie over the new found noise she created.

"Hey Pinkie, I'm going out for a bit. We'll hangout later okay?" I said.

Pinkie turned to me and answered, "Okie Dokie Lokie! And hey, we're all having a picnic in the park later on, you two need to be there okay?"

It was nearly impossible to say no to Pinkie, so I agreed and headed out of the school, filly in tow.

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"So Scoot, what's all this about you being upset and slacking off in school?" I asked her as I picked the little filly up, placing her on my shoulders.

Her little wings started fluttering happily.

"Well...it's just hard not having your cutie mark. I know Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle want theirs as much as me, but the Crusaders just aren't getting anywhere," she grumbled.

"Ah, Scoot you know there's nothing wrong with that. It just means you haven't found well..you yet!" I tried comforting her.

She just sighed heavily and said, "That's what everypony has said to me, but I want it now! I'm tired of being a blank flank."

I could hear her getting even more upset, so I found a bench and sat her down on it.

"And what is wrong with being a blank flank? Last time I checked I didn't have a cutie mark either!" I said.

I finally got a chuckle out of her.

"Yeah but you're not a pony. You're human and you also have awesome magic, like Twilight but...awesomer," she said.

She got a laugh out of me from that.

"Scootaloo, you are a young filly. You still have plenty of time to find your special something, and that should be exciting for you. You're not stuck, you can do whatever you want with a blank flank until you get your cutie mark." I said.

She thought my words over for awhile; hopefully I made some sort of sense because I still didn't fully understand cutie marks. But she seemed to understand and looked up at me.

"You're right, I shouldn't let it get me down. Besides, being a blank flank is awesome since you're technically one too." she said, the spunky grin accustomed to her across her face.

I smiled as I felt a warm sensation take over my heart.

"Hey Evan...can I ask you something?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well of course you can Scoot, what's up?" I asked.

She looked away for a moment, a nervous look overtook her face.

"Are you ever going to leave Ponyville? And go back home?" she asked me.

I saw sadness creep up in her big eyes. I felt a sting in my heart now, I hadn't ever thought of that actually.

"No Scoot, I highly doubt it. There's not much left for me anymore," I tried to reassure her, but it didn't seem to help, "But what about your family? Don't you miss them? Don't want to look for them?"

Her innocent question almost brought me to tears.

"I miss them with all my heart hun, but they are gone," I said, "There's nothing left to search, I know I won't find them."

I paused, letting that sink in. Her eyes were now back to their normal state of bigness, not leaving mine.

"Do you promise?" was the only thing she said.

That's when I smiled, I unhooked the pendant from the neck as I answered, "Yes Scoot, I promise."

I flared up the pendant, its camera screen coming to life and Scootaloo bounced up in excitement and jumped on my back, her head and hooves resting on my head. I took the picture and showed it to her.

"Besides, how could I ever think of leaving my little sister?"  I said as I gave her a big hug.

"Thanks big bro, I feel a lot better," she said with a grin.

"Good! Now Pinkie said something about a picnic later, c'mon squirt lets get over to it."

The little filly trotted along side of me happy as ever.

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"Hey guys, we made it!" I said, arriving at the picnic.

The group greeted me and Scootaloo and we all sat down.

"Glad you could finally make it Evan," Twilight said, "I thought we were going to have t-"

She was cut off as Spike ran up out of breath.

"Twi..light..something for yo-" he was trying to say, but was interrupted as he burped out a scroll.

She read it aloud as we all listened.

"...and as for you Twilight, you will be playing the most important role. Making sure everything goes as planned. See you all very soon, Princess Celestia," Twilight said as she finished the note; she looked at all of us curiously and said partly to herself, "But I don't understand, who's getting married?"

Spike piped up, "Oh, wait. I was probably supposed to give this one to you first."

She took the note from Spike and read it over.

"Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore' Cadenza and... MY BROTHER?" she yelled in shock.