Close Bonds: Chapter 23- part two

“I’m sorry,” Flitter says, seeing how distraught the two of you are. “I tried to fight it. I told them that Scootaloo’s just going through a tough time right now- she’s never done something like this before. Just- just give her a second chance…”

You place a hand on the desk to steady yourself.

So. That’s it.

The girl’s dad shows up, and now everything’s gone to hell.

Rainbow, you notice, hasn’t said a word this whole time. She’s staring at the ground, looking rather sick.

You crouch down beside her, and begin to smooth out her mane. You put on your most comforting voice. “Hey, girl. You okay?”

She shakes her head. “No. No. She’s not gone. She can’t be.”

“Dash…”

“No! I’m her sister, I can’t let her leave!” She whips her head up and stares at Flitter. “She left on the train, right? You said she left on the train?!”

The shocked pegasus fumbles for words. “Well- I, uh, yeah.”

“I’m faster than a train! Hell, I did a sonic rainboom, I can catch any old-ass train!” She turns around and starts to sprint for the door.

Before she gets anywhere, however, you snatch hold of her tail and pull her back. With a loud thump, she falls flat on her stomach. She immediately jumps back up to her hooves, yanking her tail out of your grip and fixing you with an angry glare.

“There’s no way you’re gonna catch up to her, Dash!” you say before she has a chance to yell at you. “If anything, all you’ll end up doing is getting hurt. And I can’t let that happen again.”

A low growl emanates from her. “I’ve done it before, Ivan! I’m not gonna-”

“You can’t even fly right now! And you might as well forget about running; you’ve been dormant for a month. At this point, you probably couldn’t even outrun me.”

“She may very well already be at her destination by now,” Flitter adds sadly. “Like I said, she left sometime this morning.”

The words run through you, only compounding how hopeless the situation is. You turn to Rainbow, expecting the pony to be even more downtrodden by the information.

Much to your surprise, however, her eyes are wide… with hope. “This- This morning!” she suddenly shouts out.

“What?” you and Flitter both ask at the same time.

“Ivan,” she grabs you by the shoulders, “she left this morning! Don’t you remember what Rarity said at the train station?”

You comb through your mind, trying to recall anything important you might have missed. What’s Rainbow talking about? What could Rarity have said that is so-

And then it hits you.

“Weeell… I have another rather large fashion show I’ve been given the opportunity to attend in Canterlot. The big leagues, you could say.” Her expression then deflates into an irritated frown. “However, the outgoing trains have all been delayed since early this morning.”

Now, you’re the one who sprints out the door.

It takes but a few seconds for the beating of hooves hitting earth to overtake you.

Rainbow Dash runs right ahead of you, slowing down enough to keep in time with you. She turns her head to look behind her; nothing needs to be said. You both understand the urgency of the situation.

A mile and a half later, the two of you arrive at the train station, tired and out of breath. Ponies take quick glances of the odd sight, but you take no heed.

You need to find her.

“Ugh… I haven’t run in… forever,” Rainbow gasps in between breaths. Beads of sweat form on her forehead, and she hangs her tongue. She doesn’t, however, cease to constantly keep an alert eye on the lookout.

“Come on,” you say, as you begin to push through the crowd. Rainbow follows.

Being that the all the ponies here are no higher than your waistline, you have a good over-the-top view of everything. You survey the multi-colored sea, searching for a distinct matching of orange and purple.

“Ivan,” Dash tugs at your waistline. You look in the direction that she gestures with her hoof.

Ah.

Silently, the two of you begin to wade through the crowd. It’s not long before you come upon a small opening, where three tearful fillies have gathered. The first to notice you is Scootaloo.

You make eye contact. Her eyes then flicker, coming to Rainbow Dash. The rainbow-maned pegasus smiles uneasily, and takes an unconscious step back.

The other two girls notice their friend’s odd disposition, and follow her gaze back to you.

A long, awkward staring match ensues.

“L-Listen, Scoots,” you say, stepping forward. “I-”

“Can I help you with something?”

An old, gray mare blocks your path, although it’s quite easy for you to see right over her.

“Um…” You look down. She dons a uniform and a nametag, similar to what Flitter was wearing. The offensive stance she takes is comical, considering you could literally step on her. “Can I talk to Scootaloo?”

She gives you what she likely thinks is a threatening look, then trots back over to the bench she was sitting on earlier, but not without keeping a close and suspicious eye on you. You try your best to ignore it.

“So, um, listen.” You take a few steps forward, kneeling down so that you’re more eye-to-eye. All three watch you, silently. “I’m really, really sorry about all that’s happened. I never wanted to hurt you. I would never hurt you on purpose. Things just… happen. Not always in the way we want them to, either.”

At your last sentence, Scootaloo looks downcast.

“What you told me a long time ago, when this whole mess first started, about your family and everything… It stuck with me, I guess because it was something I could relate to. I mean, I was fortunate enough to know my family for the full sixteen years I was still on Earth; and, mind you, I cherish every moment and wouldn’t trade it for anything.” She continues to stare at the ground, contemplatively. “For you to just lose everything you have: your friends, your home; and for it to happen again, after you’ve come so far… Absolutely terrible.”

Sweetie Belle sniffles this time. You take a deep breath. “So, that’s why… That’s why I’m going to make you an offer.”

Scootaloo looks up at you, seeming hopeful, but conflicted at the same time. “I don’t want to see that happen again,” you say. “Not this time.”

Either way, she obviously knows what’s going on.

“…I’m going to need to know that you’re in on it. And, you too.” You gesture back to the pegasus behind you. Rainbow blushes, and then takes a few tentative steps forward the group. She stops next to you, trying but failing to make eye contact with Scootaloo.

“H-Hey, Scootaloo,” she says timidly.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash.”

“Scoots, I’m giving you a choice.” You take a breath. “I know you’re probably still mad at me, and maybe at Rainbow, too. But I’m not doing this so we can all have a big, happy family. Once we’re there, I promise you’ll barely even have to talk to us. Just know that… All I want is for you to be happy.”

“Hey! What’s going on over there?” Ms. Stick-Up-Her-Ass agitatedly trots over.

“Oh, good, you’re here,” you say as she approaches. “Miss, maybe you could help us out with something.”

Her formerly-unbreakable appearance of annoyance briefly shifts into one of confusion. “Hm?”

At about midnight, the door to your house opens. A human holds it open, allowing two ponies, one holding a small brown bag, to trot inside.

“Watch out for the-” you start, but then remember that there’s no more glass.

In fact, there’s no more rug. The window’s been boarded up, as well.

“-Oh, yeah.”

Rainbow stands in the middle of the room, stretching out her good wing, and yawns. “That was a lot of paperwork.”

“It was really supposed to be a three-day process,” you remind her, yawning yourself. “But, we did it.”

You notice a third yawn in the room as well. Contagious, as they say. You turn to the little pegasus. “I guess you’re wanting to know where your room is?”

She nods.

“Alright, come with me.” You begin walking towards the hall, and the filly follows, although slightly hesitantly. She looks around at her surroundings wondrously, as if this were the first time she’s ever been in your home.

Actually, is it?

You open the door to the originally-designated guest room. “This is where Rainbow used to sleep. It’s yours, now.”

She steps inside, dropping her little bag beside the door. She curiously inspects the room, before nodding to you. “Okay.”

“’Night, Scoots.”

The two of you stand there for some time, you outside of the room, while she watches you from the inside.

“Ivan?”

That feels like the first word she’s spoken to you all day. “Yeah?”

She walks a little closer to you, looking you straight in the eye. Her wings seem to tense up for a moment; then, she wraps them, and her hooves, around your legs.

It’s a little awkward, seeing as how the stance you’re in is equivalent to that of a bowling pin’s, and her head’s like, right there. However, it doesn’t detract from the giddiness you’re feeling inside.

“Thanks,” she says. She looks up at you again. “Thanks for doing this for me. I’ll admit, I’m still kinda mad at you. But, I dunno… Just…” She lets you go, sitting on her haunches and giving a serious look to the rug. “Just gimme some time to think about it.”

You nod, straining to keep your smile from completing a full circle. “Of course.”

And with that, you shut the door.

Author's Note

Gotcha.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the fastest conflict I've ever resolved.

Thank you, hwrogers, for proofreading once again.