The Derpy I Know And Love 4 or And The Children Shall Lead

CHAPTER SEVEN

Hopes Renewed

Diamond headed toward Sweet Apple Acres at a happy trot, by the time she got to the clubhouse, she was at a full gallop, she was that excited.  When she got near, she could hear her friends inside.  At the door, for one moment, she paused, fearing what her friends might say.  But she remembered what she had said at the sleepover;

‘I know if I had a pony to love, I would not act like I had to hide it from everypony.’

Diamond braced herself and rushed in the clubhouse.

“Ponies! Ponies! I need to tell you all something!” she said, afraid to pause and lose her nerve.

All stopped talking to pay attention.

Then she looked Sweetie Belle in the eyes.

“I need to tell you something in particular.”

All were looking at Diamond; Silver Spoon had an odd smirk on her face.

“Yes!” said Diamond, wanting to jump up and down.

“Yes?” said Sweetie Belle, hoping she was hearing what she wanted to hear.

“Yes, what?” asked Dinky.

“Yes Sweetie Belle, I want to be your marefriend because I love you!”

“I love you too! I’ve wanted to tell you!” said Sweetie Belle

With that, Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle kissed passionately, not caring what pony was looking.

“Too cool!” said Scootaloo, forgetting for the moment the bad news Rainbow had told her.

They broke the kiss, all smiles.

“I really did have something to tell the rest of you ponies,” said Diamond, still with a foreleg around Sweetie Belle, “my father is the reason that it looks like Scootaloo will not be adopted.  He said that mare-lovers have no place around decent ponies!”

Gasps all around.

“Well I am going home now to tell dad that I love Sweetie Belle, and we have been seeing a lot of each other.  And if that makes me a mare-lover, then I guess that I will be moving out... tonight!”  Then turning to Sweetie Belle, “I would really like it if you would come with me.  I will need somepony to help me pack, that is if they let me take my things.  But more than that, I need a pony to support me.”

Sweetie hugged Diamond;

“I will go with you and do what ever you need.  I will always be there because I love you and I will stand by you no matter what!” said Sweetie Belle, then she gave Diamond a quick kiss.

“We are going too, we might not love you like Sweetie Belle,” said Silver Spoon with a giggle, “but we stand with our friends!  Just don’t expect us to kiss you too.”

All the fillies cheered.  Diamond told them that they had to stop by the library to pick something up.

They arrived at the library to find Twilight, Bubbles, Rainbow, Pinkie, A.J., Rarity along with two ponies in police uniforms waiting outside for them. Rainbow had went and got the police officers.  Bubbles had said ‘This is a matter of the law and they should be there if it needs to be enforced’.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” asked Twilight.

“Most certainly, Mrs. Sparkle.” Said Diamond.

“Then here is the paper you wanted signed by the third highest authority in the land, the Lady Twilight Sparkle, in the name of the highest authority, Princess Celestia Rex.” Said Twilight, “this normally takes days or weeks for investigation, but with past history, there is no doubt in my pony mind that what you say is the truth.  Especially with the evidence of the Scootaloo adoption letter Rainbow and Pinkie received.  Oh, and if your father does anything with the paper, I made a couple of copies.”

“Thank you, and if you excuse us, we have somewhere to go.” Said Diamond with a smile, knowing that things were starting to go her way.

“Oh no, you are not going alone.” Said Rarity with a wink, “we are going too.  If there is trouble, well we mare-lovers have to stick together.”

“Hey! That’s my line!  I’m the only REAL mare-lover here.”  said Rainbow Dash with a grin.

When they all got to Diamond Tiara’s house, Diamond told every pony that she want to go in with Sweetie Belle first; she wanted a chance to come clean about their relationship.  If that did not change his mind about things then she would let them know if she needed help.

Filthy Rich heard the door open and close.  Diamond should have been home by now; she was going to get it.

“Diamond!  Is that you?”

“Yes, I’m home, and I’m not alone,” said Diamond.

Filthy came in the front room to see Diamond and one of her friends, Sweetie Belle, Rarity Apple’s sister.

“I thought I told you that I did not want you hanging out with this one and the other mare-lovers’ sisters and daughters.”  Said Filthy, trying to be as intimidating as he could.

He could tell that it did not appear to be working.

“I know what you said, daddy.  But I also heard something else you said and that is why Sweetie is here to help me.”

“Help you what?” said Filthy, not sure what his daughter was saying.

“I am moving out!” said the filly.

“And what makes you think you could do that?”

He got his answer in a most unexpected way.

Diamond put a foreleg around Sweetie Belle’s neck.  Then kissed her with all the passion she was feeling in her soul after letting her friends know the truth.

“What are you doing young filly!” screamed Filthy.  “You get to your room, I will deal with you in a moment, after I throw this one out!”

“You will do no such thing, and you can’t tell me what to do anymore!” Said Diamond defiantly.

“I will show you who can do what!” said Filthy.

Filthy looked as if he was going to get physical.  Sweetie Belle’s horn took on an ominous glow.

“Before you do anything you will regret, I have ten ponies outside waiting to hear from me.  And two police officers.” Said Diamond.

“What has gotten into you,” said Filthy starting to back down.

“You threw me out, so I got my friends to help me move.”

“When did I throw you out?”

“You said that mare-lovers had no place around decent ponies and if you could you would throw all of them out of Equestria.” Replied Diamond.  “I am in love with Sweetie Belle, she is in love with me, and for some time now.  But we have had to hide it like it was something dirty or illegal because of your outdated attitude.  I love her for who she is, not because she is a filly, but if that makes us mare-lovers, then we can live with that as long as we have each other.”

“You can’t go, I won’t let you.” Said Filthy, starting to regret his stance.

“As I told you, you no longer have any say!” replied Diamond.

Then Sweetie Belle levitated the Emancipation Order to Filthy.  He read it and read it again.

“What is it dear?” said Nouveau Rich, Diamond’s mom.  She was standing in the kitchen doorway; she was a very mousy looking mare.  She was holding a little foal.

“Just go back in there,” said Filthy, “I am handling this.”

“No,” she said, looking like she had never said that to him before.  “I want to know why I just heard that you have thrown our daughter out.”

“I have done no such thing!” said Filthy, his iron control of his family falling apart before his eyes.

“I love Sweetie Belle, but that makes us mare-lovers, according to him.  So I am not welcome.  He said that mare-lovers have no place around decent ponies.

Plus he is blocking one of our best friends from being adopted just because he does not like Rainbow and Pinkie Dash’s lifestyle.  He says that they are unfit only because of who they love.”

“Pinkie Dash, unfit?” said Nouveau.  “Why, she is the sweetest and most loving mare in all Equestria!  And Rainbow Dash is a very important pony; she is in charge of Ponyville’s weather, and a hard and honest worker.  Not to mention that they have helped save Equestria several times.  I think it is you that is unfit for your position on the Children’s Home board.”

“But Diamond has an Emancipation Order!” said Filthy, feeling all his authority totally disappearing.

“And I don’t blame her,” answered Diamond’s mother looking at the order, “did you not go through this when Diamond got into that fight?  Did you not get put in your place, when Twilight Sparkle came to the aid of our daughter?  Did she not inform you what she was able to do.  Now it looks like you have brought that power down on you!

I would do a reality check on what you think once more.  If you cause us to lose our daughter, instead of gaining this adorable little filly as a fillyfriend for our Diamond, then I think it will be you who gets the Emancipation Order!”

“Marefriend, mother,” said Diamond with a smile.

“You are right, I don’t think you are children anymore.” Said Nouveau.  “You have acted like adults more than some adults in this very room!’

“Our friends and their parents and sisters are outside waiting to hear from us,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Invite them in, they will want to hear it from Filthy’s own muzzle that he is not going to block the adoption, and if he knows what’s good for him, he will be expediting it.”

Two days later, Rainbow and Pinkie were in the office of the Ponyville Children’s Home.  Candy Mane was all smiles as she witnessed the final signing of the adoption papers.  Pinkie had just finished.

“That is all,” said Candy Mane, “I don’t think I have ever seen an adoption go through as fast before.”

“I guess having recommendations from three princesses may have helped.” Said Rainbow, knowing the real reason.  But this was not the place to go into it.

“I believe Scootaloo is in the hall, saying goodbye to her room mates.  She has been packed for days.”

“Thank you, Candy Mane.” Said Pinkie, “We will make sure that Scootaloo stays in touch with the children.”

With that, Pinkie levitated their copy of the paperwork and the two ponies exited into the hall.

Scootaloo was out there waiting, her eyes about bulging out of her head and she was trembling with excitement.

“Well squirt,” said Rainbow, kidding, “you sure you don’t want to stay here?  You have it pretty sweet, all the roommates you want, no parents telling you what to do.  Not having to worry about birthday or Hearth Warming presents.  And government employees controlling your life.  Makes me want to move in here myself!”

Pinkie almost could not hold in the laughter.

“Are you kidding!  This is a dream come true!  I have a real home!  I have parents!  And they are ponies that I have loved for a very long time.

I told you once, Rainbow, that I wanted you to be like my big sister, this is even better!  I have you and Pinkie as my mothers!” then Scootaloo paused, her face lit up even more as a thought hit her;

“Is it okay if I call you two ‘mom’? I never really had a mom!”

Rainbow and Pinkie both hugged Scoot.

“Of course you can honey,” said Pinkie, Rainbow nodded consent.

Despite Rainbow and Scootaloo trying to be cool about it, there were tears of joy in all three ponies’ eyes.

“Come on Scootaloo Dash, let’s go home.” Said Rainbow.

“Not before we stop at Sugarcube Corner for a treat!” said Pinkie, “I think our daughter deserves it!”

Scootaloo thought her face was going to rip from smiling so hard.  ‘Scootaloo Dash’!  ‘Daughter’!  Could life be any better?

They walked outside where Scoot’s bags were waiting.  Pinkie winked at Scootaloo, her eyes glowed yellow, then the bags disappeared.

“I didn’t want to carry them all that way” giggled Pinkie.  “Why don’t you two go ahead, I will see you there.”

Scootaloo and Rainbow looked at each other.  They spread their wings and took off.  Scootaloo had always felt exhilaration when flying with Rainbow, but it was greater because she was flying with her new mother, and she loved it.  She looked over at Rainbow only to see Rainbow looking at her.  They both exchanged smiles.

On landing at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie was waiting there.

“But how?” asked Scootaloo.

“Get accustom to it.  She could do that before she knew that she could do magic,” smiled Rainbow.

Pinkie kissed Rainbow and then she kissed Scootaloo a mother type kiss.   Scoot liked the feeling of having parents who cared for her and loved her.

“Get inside you two slow-pokes!” said Pinkie.  Scootaloo and Rainbow cringed at the designation of ‘slow-poke’, but they could not argue.

They entered Sugarcube Corner the lights were off, they came on to a thunderous;

“SURPRISE!”

The place was decorated with party trimmings and a large banner that read:

WELCOME HOME SCOOTALOO DASH

All of her five close friends and other friends from school were there.  As were Miss Cheerilee and her new fiancé Big Mac.  There was Bon-Bon and Lyra Heartstrings, Twilight and Bubbles Sparkle, Applejack and Rarity Apple along with other ponies from the community.  There were a set of ponies off to the side that Scootaloo did not recognize.

“Let’s introduce the rest of your new family,” said Pinkie.

They led Scootaloo over the unknown ponies.

“Scootaloo, this is your new grandmother and grandfather, Clyde and Sue Pie, your new aunts Blinkie and Octavia,” said Pinkie introducing four earth ponies.

“And here is your grandmother and grandfather Dash,” said Rainbow  There were two bluish purple pegasus ponies, the stallion had a rainbow mane and tail, the mare had a dark and light striped pink mane and tail, Rainbow’s had her eyes.

There was a lot of fussing over Scootaloo, she had never had so many ponies so glad to meet her, hug and kiss her and address her as granddaughter and niece.  She was in heaven.

They then started to mingle.  Scoot’s friends were all talking to her when Diamond told her that somepony wanted to talk to her and her new parents, Sweetie Belle was walking with Diamond.

Diamond led Scootaloo, Rainbow and Pinkie over to a corner.  There stood Filthy Rich, alone and forlorn looking.

“What do you want!” asked Rainbow, not very happy.

“I need to apologize,” he said looking at the floor, “I have been thoughtless and judgmental, without any good reason.  I realize that I had been spouting ideas that were taught to me by my father.  Out of respect to him, I had taken him at his word without ever questing the validity of his ideas.”

“How do we know that we can trust you?” asked Pinkie.

“It took the possibility of losing my daughter, my wife and my son to make me truly think about my stance and then I realized that it was I who was wrong.

I did not appreciate it when Twilight Sparkle helped my Diamond, and I did not see that what I was saying was hurting my daughter, now more than I had ever realized.  I was willing to deny my daughter the possibility of love with a wonderful pony, just because I was stuck in my father’s mindset.

And I was hurting Scootaloo by trying to deny her a loving home because I was so closed minded.

I know that damage is done, but I hope that I can make it up to everypony somehow.  So I am truly sorry.”

Rainbow did not feel like she could stay as mad.

There was a moment when neither said anything.

“Thank you for that, and thank you for speeding up the adoption process.  We will take you at your word that you have changed and will suspend judgment until proven otherwise.  After all Scootaloo is a friend of Diamond’s so we should have a good relationship with her parents,” said Rainbow.

Then she did something she did not think she would be doing.  She offered her hoof.

Filthy Rich looked shocked and humbled and shook Rainbow’s hoof.

Then Sweetie Belle spoke up;

“Mr. Rich, I wanted to do this properly, we are tired of hiding our relationship;  I would like your permission to take Diamond to the school dance,” asked Sweetie, “as my date.”

Filthy was taken aback, after the way he acted, these ponies were truly acting like they did forgive him, and as the case before him, respecting him and his feelings.

“I couldn’t think of any other pony that I would want to take her, if she wants to.”  Diamond nodded enthusiastically, “I see that Diamond truly loves you and I believe you love her too.  You stood by her when it looked like her father would not.  That is proof enough of your love and caring, I will always remember that.  You are always welcome in the Rich home.”

Filthy was shocked even more when both Diamond and Sweetie hugged him.

“Thank you Mr. Rich.  I will always be there for her,” said Sweetie Belle.

There were colts from the school there, and they took the opportunity to get a final commitment from some of the fillies for who they would let escort them.  There were more than a few that were disappointed when they found out that Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle were not available or would ever be.

Sweetie and Diamond went and joined Scootaloo and the rest of their friends.

“You two look happy,” said Scootaloo.

“Diamond’s father gave permission for me to take Diamond to the dance!”  said Sweetie Belle.

“That’s great!” said Silver Spoon, “at least two of us have dates.  None of us have accepted any offers yet.”

“And I think the colts are intimidated that they now have to ask Rainbow if they can take me.” Said Scootaloo.

All laughed.

“Girls,” said Rarity, coming over to them.  “I am going to have to have you come by Carousel Boutique before this weekend, if you are wanting me to make dresses for the dance.  It would help to know what colors you would want so that the colts could dress accordingly.

“Sis, about that,” said Sweetie Belle, “Mr. Rich said it was okay with him if Diamond and I go to the dance as dates.  So we were wanting to know if you would make us matching dresses?”

“I would love to make matching dresses for you.  I have a feeling that I will be making matching dresses for you in the future also.” Rarity said with a wink.

All the fillies giggled.

After the party ended, Rainbow, Pinkie and Scootaloo walked the little way to where the cloud house was hovering.

“Let’s go home kid!” said Rainbow to Scoot, then she leaped into the air, Scootaloo followed.

As the landed at the door, Pinkie opened it for them.

“Just can’t help pulling that can you Pink!” said Rainbow, they all three laughed.

Scootaloo was shown inside, there was a guest room that Scootaloo used on some of her visits.  Rainbow and Pinkie led her to it.  They opened the door for her her and where there had been a spartanly furnished room, there was now a room decorated for an athletic teenaged filly.

There were posters of the Wonderbolts and the latest colt-bands.  There were other items that glorified the arts of flying and music, obviously done by Rainbow.

Then there were enough girly touches to remind the visitor that it was indeed a filly that lived here, heart shaped throw pillows, pink comforter on the bed, a makeup vanity and other items that matched tastefully, obviously done by Pinkie.

“When did you get time to do this?” asked Scootaloo. “It is a room like I have always wanted!  My own room!”

“We started doing this when we decided to adopt you,” said Pinkie.

There were tears of joy on Scootaloo’s cheeks.  She no longer cared to try to stay cool.  She was home with ponies that wanted her and cared for her.  Scootaloo hugged Rainbow and Pinkie.

“Thank you so much.  This is all I ever wanted.  You are all I ever wanted.  Parents that are there for me.” She started to sob, “I love my new mothers so much.”

“We love you too,” said Rainbow and Pinkie together.

That evening there was much happiness and tears of joy in the Dash home.