Of Apples and Oranges, Diamonds and Darkness.

Five minutes earlier in the main room of Rainbow's House.

The cutie Mark Crusaders ran to Scootaloo's room as the mane six probed Rainbow Dash about this mystery stallion. Rarity was especially intrigued, the idea of Rainbow Dash, the one who always had the 'no-mushy-business' demeanor finally falling in love with a stallion who, according to all accounts, is likely a keeper was something she had to indulge in.

“Well Dashie it sounds like he's quite the gentlecolt.” Rarity mused as Rainbow recalled her more adult encounters while the girls were out of earshot.

“I sure hope so.” Rainbow replied, blushing at Rarity's swooning and fascination, “He's my kind of stallion—he gets me you know?-- I think Scootaloo will like it too, she could use another role model anyway.”

“That's a fantastic way to approach it.” Twilight smiled, “From how you've described him he loooks far different from what I remember—I mean that in a good way of course.”

“Yeah yeah of course.” Rainbow answered checking her front window for any sign of the stallion in question.

“He's not late is he?” Rarity asked joining her.

“Nah, I told him to be here about now-ish. I knew Twilight would need some time to get ready for you guys to come up here so I made it a little late.”

Suddenly Pinkie spasmed with her right ear wiggling and her nostrils flaring.

“My Pinkie sense is telling me somepony new is approaching!” The prolific party pony exclaimed.

“Well I'd say your pinkie sense is pretty spot on.” Rarity grinned, “He's about to land.”

Soarin' did indeed land on the porch with Rainbow coming out to great hum. Following some affection, they made their way jointly inside.

“Everypony,” Rainbow announced as she and her stallion sat at the head of the table, a slight blush on her face. “Meet Soarin'/”

A rabbling of joyous introductions followed with Rarity chomping at the bit to ask some questions.

“It's a pleasure to meet all of you.” Soarin' said, “Rainbow has told me a lot about her fantastic friends. I've met Fluttershy of course,” He laughed remembering that incident, “and the rest of you seem pretty cool.”

“Well we're just pleased our little Dashie has found somepony to settle down with.” Rarity grinned.

After introductions and some finishing of setting the table, it was time to eat.

“Where are the girls?” Twilight asked.

“They'll be out soon.” Rainbow answered. “This all looks amazing you guys.”

Sure enough they did—at least Apple Bloom did, joining Twilight and Spike and introducing herself.

“Hiya...uh what's yer name?” Apple Bloom found herself a bit embarrassed not knowing his name.

“The names' Soarin' little filly.” Soarin' politely answered to the fillys' delight.

“Where's squirt?” Rainbow looked about.

“I don't see my sister either.” Rarity answered, “Perhaps they're washing up before they eat. Sweetie does have a habit of doing that.”

Shortly after Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo filed into the kitchen with Scootaloo stopping at the doorway, staring in disbelief at the stallion accompanying his mother.

“What are you waiting over there for?” Rainbow laughed, “Come on over at eat with us!”

Scootaloo did not like this at all. Not only did Rainbow having a colt-friend mean she would be spending her time with hum, that stallion was also among the Wonderbolts who foalnapped her.. And despire Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle eating happily, she wasn't going to take this.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Scootaloo asked nice and loud.

The entire room grew silent and faced the offending filly.

“Scootaloo what is your--” Rainbow began,

“NO!” Scootaloo shouted, “I am NOT going to sit next to that bastard! I want him out!”

Rarity gasped in shock at the fillys words, everypony else was silent, Soarin' looking uneasy.

“Hey look kiddo I'm I'm sorry about all of tha--” Soarin' began.

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up your good for nothing jackass!”

Rainbow had had it. “Scootaloo enough! Either knock it off and quit being a brat or go to your room.”

“Fine. I don't want to be near that prick anyway!” Scootaloo stomped into her room, being sure to slam her door behind her.

It was Rainbow's turn to be uncomfortable. Scootaloo had just made an unbelievable scene, not only in front of her friends but in front of her stallion as well. She looked over to him apologetically.

“I am so sorry about that—I thought she would be over it,” Rainbow was getting misty0eyed.

Soarin' hugged the distraught mare. “She had her reasons Dashie, I'm fine.”

“Let's just try to enjoy the rest of this wonderful meal we have here.” Twiligth said as they all continued to eat and talk amongst each other.

Rainbow decided to excuse herself to which Rarity happily took her seat, pelting the poor stallion with all sorts of invasive inquiries. The elder pegasus made her way briskly to Scootaloo's room. Inside the filly was sitting on her bed with a look of pure hate.

“You mind explaining to me what that was for?” Rainbow scolded. “You did NOT have to make a scene like you did, that was totally rude and uncalled for!”

“You mind telling me why you decide to go out with the same stallion that tried to kill me?” Scootaloo countered.

“He didn't try to kill you you little brat!” Rainbow asserted. “I'm not about to have you get in the way of one of the happiest moments of my life!”

“What about me?!” Scootaloo shouted, “Now that you have this stupid stallion I'm going to be just some stupid kid, one more mouth to feed!”

“Wow Scootaloo I can't believe you';re being like this...Do you see Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom  being like this? Do you?”

“It's not the same Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo was on the verge of tears.

“I don't care what your excuse is! You wanna hold a grudge against somepony that hurt you you're barkin' up the wrong tree kid!”

Dash chocked up as the memories were forced back.

“...I hurt you. I almost killed you. Yet you found it in your heart to forgive me and give me a second chance...  Scootaloo I promise you he won't hurt you, if he does..--he won't. And on the subject of me treating you second-class, that's just ridiculous.”

“You didn't bother to check on me for the whole week you were gone.”

“You were in good hooves! My world can't revolve around you Scootaloo. The bond we have and the bond I share with Soarin' are two totally different things. You're my daughter, I gave birth to you and....”

“You abandoned me.” Scootaloo countered.

Rainbow was getting a headache, Scootaloo was a serious stressor but at this point she felt it was best to satisfy the fillys demands and get this over with.

“For your own good.” Rainbow Dash added. “I was a horribly self-centered, irresponsible mare. You would not have turned out like you did if I had raised you from day one. Look—I don't know what you want me to say, I love you kid, yeah I fucked up something fierce but you promised to give me another chance, but that doesn't mean I can't expect anything from you either. “

Scootaloo was slowly beginning to realize what she had done as she began to sniffle slightly, a raging heat of embarrassment came over her being.

“I....made an idiot of myself out there.”

“You sure did.” Rainbow sighed, “I guess I should have told you, I should have let you know it is okay to give ponies a second chance, yes they hurt you and do mean things but he wants to change, and the only way he can do that is if he has a loving mare and an understanding and equally awesome step-daughter to show him how.”

“...I'm sorry mom.” Scootaloo sulked as she cried softly, “I'm sorry for ruining your whole night..I...I'm going to bed.”

“No you're not.” Rainbow Dash pulled the filly close and held her to her chest with her head beneath her chin, rocking her gently.  “You made a mistake, we all know better—just come on out and eat before your food gets cold—enjoy everypony being here. We'll sort out the messy stuff later.”

Scootaloo kept her head buried as she tried to rid of this horrid feeling of guilt that came over her. Earlier that day she had chastised Apple Bloom for telling off a filly just because of a bast past and not giving her a second shot at friendship and here she was doing the very thing she had discouraged. She was a hypocrite, worse yet she had made both her and her mother look awful.

Rainbow turned Scootaloo around and looked down at the emotionless filly.

“I think we're done here. Let's get out there and have some fun huh?”  She put Scootaloo down on her bed as the filly shook herself and followed her mother back out into the room. Everypony was talking amongst themselves and didn't even novice Scootaloo now sitting between Rainbow and Soarin;

“Everything alright Dashie?” Soarin' asked.

“Yeah, it's all good. But I think somepony has something she'd like to say.” She looked to Scootaloo who hesitated for a moment.

“I'm sorry for calling you out like that Soarin'...I...didn't mean it.” Scootaloo lazily played with her food as the words came out.

“Not a problem kid.” Soarin' smiled. “I guess we can call it even hm?”

Scootaloo smiled and finally looked at him. “Yeah.”

Soarin' turned to Dash with a blush on his face. “You're Rarity friend sure is...er...nosy.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that. She like to butt into other ponies business—she means well.”

Now they were all eating together, after awhile Pinkie felt it was time for desert. The enormity of what she had brought hadn't quite occurred to anypony until the monstrous array of sweets crashed onto the table scaring Sweetie Belle and Twilight out of their seats.

“WHO WANTS DESERT?!” The party pony shouted as a cannon seemed to appear out of nowhere showering the room in confetti.

Scootaloo looked to Sweetie Belle who was red in the face from her fall. She had come to make sure her friend was alright.

“That's a lot of desert.” Scootaloo laughed.

“Yeah, it's loud too.” Sweetie Belle smiled.  “You seem much better.”

“Yeah.” Scootaloo shifted, “Kind of important you practice what you preech you know?”

“I’m just glad everything turned out alight.” Sweetie added.

“Hey Sweetie Belle?”

“Hm?”

“You wanna bet some bits I can down more of those cookies than you in the nest five minutes?”

Sweetie looked to Rarity who was infatuated with the new couple. Enough to where she couldn't possibly notice the filly stuffing her face like mad.

“It's on Scoots'!” Sweetie laughed as they galloped to the other end of the table, ready to cram in some sweets and regret it later.