Of Apples and Oranges, Diamonds and Darkness.

The Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse: A sanctuary for whimsy, innocence, and the careless trials of youth. In most any other situation, the filly would be all but happy to be there; this time however, it was the last place she wanted to be.

The rickety wooden host to giddy conspiracy was, instead of the happy hiding place it affronted, was a catalyst for the progression of a horrible nightmare. Making things slightly more morbid, this was not the first time this nightmare had impeded the already restless sleep of its unfortunate host, this time however, it shouldn't have been there, the real-world circumstances that had brought it into being had all been vanquished, or so it seemed.

Scootaloo had been suspended in the middle of an involuntary free-fall to her absolute death for some time now. The clubhouse had managed to ascend beyond the clouds as the sky turned an amber red with the shadows and deflections below faded to a stark black, just like last time, despite the opaque and repeated plea of the filly inside, the floor fell from under her and here she was once more.

The wish to pacify the forces which renewed her sense of abandonment was unanswered as soon as it was put forth; She had nowhere to go, she had nopony to help her, she was alone, afraid, and beyond in pain; but not regular pain of the physical variety: it was this odd sensation that somehow was summoned by a grand cache of suppressed thoughts, ranging from mundane to mortifying. The fact that, despite her being still in the frigid air, the sickly feeling of plummeting down was in full force as well didn’t help much.

Scootaloo’s mind somehow retained the same busy thoughts that had nagged her as she got into bed prior to slipping into this familiar hell: Why was she still so afraid of being left behind? What could be bothering her so much as to bar her from total happiness yet not have the decency to make itself known?

She wouldn’t have a chance to try to get that sorted out, not in the dream world at least as she was shaken awake by an all-too-familiar white filly with a cotton-candy colored mane. As she came to, she could feel the cold sweat dampening her fur, the sound of her heart palpitations waged war for dominance with a fierce ringing in her ears. The only sense she could command were her eyes which with time, focused on her best friend who wore a look of concern with a side of fright at her fellow crusaders’ appearance.

“Are you okay Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked as she noticed the pegasus looking at her,

Scootaloo silently sat up and wiped her forehead, lest the reservoir of perspiration descended onto her eyes and obstruct her regained sight.

“Yeah.” Scootaloo lied, “Just dehydrated or something.”

Sweetie Belle wasn’t a stupid filly, especially when it came to the antics of her feathered companion who in recent months had become more of a fraternal sister if anything.

“It was that nightmare again wasn’t it?” Sweetie pressed.

Scootaloo did not answer her, instead making her way downstairs to have a glass of water. Sweetie Belle followed her, determined to get to the root of Scoots’ problem for, as Scootaloo, she had figured whatever brought about this nightmare had been resolved. Now though she found herself cold with a breeze rustling her fur. They were outside, walking towards the center of town.

“Where are we going Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I am going to go take a walk,” Scootaloo placed emphasis on the ‘I’ “You don’t have to come, I kind of don’t want you to anyway.”

“I’m just worried.” Sweetie sighed.

“That’s cool.” Scootaloo shrugged, “Don’t be. I’ll be back in a little.”

As she wandered further into town, Sweetie was reluctant to follow and chose to give the filly her time alone; lest she enter the inevitable argument as a result of her instinctual worry.

Initially, Scootaloo didn't have much of a destination in mind, the mere act of walking through the empty and quiet streets of her hometown was relieving in itself, though as a tree-house of much larger size than the one she once called home came into view, a new purpose assumed control: She needed to talk to a certain somepony.

The orange filly resorted to a rather crude means of bringing her friend outside, hurling a small pebble at the bedroom window situated at the back of the library. Scootaloo had to buzz her wings to get as much altitude as she could as the window was rather high and even with her hooves she couldn't hit it grounded.

After the 4th strike, a light came on briefly, only to vanish and re-emerge at the door where Scootaloo scampered to, luckily, the pony she was looking for answered.

“Hey Scoots'” Apple Bloom said with a yawn, “What are you doin' up so late? Ah figured you'd be out like a light.”

“I did too.” Scootaloo laughed to herself, “Can't sleep. Wanna walk with me?”

Apple Bloom was a bit confused by the offer as it seemed out of character for the pegasus but, after their time together after leaving Ponyville, she wasn't too sure what was 'normal' for her friend.

“Sure!” Apple Bloom answered as she quietly closed the front door behind her.

The two continued through town which was now giving way to sparse houses and the hills of what once was Sweet Apple Acres came into view along with the Schoolhouse. They decided to sit at the edge of a high knoll that gave them a panoramic view of the barren fields and Apple family cemetary, schoolhouse and if one made the effort, their clubhouse.

“Ah miss that place sometimes.” Apple Bloom sighed, referring to the farm, “Sometimes ah'm even enough of a fool to miss 'them' too.”

Scootaloo placed a comforting hoof on her friends' shoulder, “You're not a fool,” She took some time to think of what to say next, “We both learned some pretty weird things that's for sure.”

They were silent for a few minutes as their attention was drawn to a mass of crickets and other critters who peaked over the nighttime hush. A light breeze whipped through their manes.

“Why ain't you with Rainbow?” Apple Bloom asked, still facing towards the woods.

“It's complicated...” Scootaloo sighed, “Long story short, I don't trust her.”

“Can't blame ya.” Apple Bloom answered matter-of-factually, “AH trusted mah brother an' sister and look what happened...." Better safe than sorry ah guess.”

Apple Bloom's misty eyes was out her friends' view, they focused on the head of a grave that had been there long before the cream-colored fillies' memory would allow her to remember, it was, according to her late sister, the gravesite of their mother who, according to her late brother, she had killed. Though it was clear to her that she was clearly not responsible for her mothers' death, though her birth was certainly a major factor, those words and revelations filled her mind.

“...Ya aren't at least happy you know yer mom?” Apple Bloom now looked to her friend for a response, which was delayed. Scootaloo looked up at the sky as if she was looking for the mare in question.

“It's nice...in a weird way.” Scootaloo began, “I don't know if I can forgive her AB....I don't know, something keeps telling me I shouldn't trust her, I shouldn't live with her, and I sure as hell shouldn't love and forgive her.”

Apple Bloom was silent. Scootaloo had a point, and compounded with her own history it seemed that Scootaloo was taking a logical stand in the scheme of things, though for some reason it bothered her, she had a nagging feeling that her friend was dodging an opportunity that Apple Bloom would do anything to have.

“Mah mother wasn't a good mare from what I know, she married a stallion who treated her like dirt, didn't do a damn thing fer her kids, though they loved her....or at least that;s what they told Twi...”

Scootaloo was slightly annoyed by Apple Bloom's persistence at the idea that she should give the cyan mare a second chance, she chose to change the subject,

“How are Twilight and Spike?”

Apple Bloom sighed, aware of her friends' evasion but chose to move on for now, “They're tuckered out.” She laughed, “They didn't even move an inch when you were stoning the window. How's Belle?”

“Good.” Scootaloo answered, “She almost came with me but I told her I wanted some space.”

“She's up too?” Apple Bloom's ears perked, “Let's go get her!”

“Nah.” Scootaloo waved a dismissive hoof, “She's probably back in bed and asleep by now.”

The two fillies at there a while longer until both, as if on cue stretched their hooves in conjunction with very pronounced yawning.

“Looks like it's finally time for this filly to hit the hay.” Apple Bloom said tiredly, “Ah'll see ya tomorrow at school Scoots'” She began the way down with Scootaloo following shortly after.

“Yeah....” Scootaloo said, equally drained, “See ya.”

Apple Bloom waved to Scootaloo one last time before slowly and deliberately making her way back into the library

Scootaloo, quietly snuck into Sweetie Belle's bedroom and made sure to give her and the fillty some space as both had a habit of disturbing the other in their sleep.

Scootaloo had, until now had no idea Rainbow had returned, primarily because nopony save Fluttershy had seen her until this morning.

Dash was to be done with her normal weather duties soon and Scootaloo was waiting at the spot she used to when she would watch her former idol work and pull stunts. Part of the filly was rife with excitement and the other was clouded with worry, worry that this would be another let-down like when they returned to Ponyville.

Finally she saw it, a blue streak with a rainbow trailing behind it coming right towards her. The orange filly wore a grin bigger than her face and let the whole of Equestria know how excited she was,

“MOMMY!” The shriek, loud, and powerful squeal pierced the ears of anypony within miles as Scootaloo was now in the air, cradled in the hooves of the pony she missed so much.

“So I take it you missed me?” Rainbow teased as she ruffled the fillys mane looking into those gleaming magenta eyes.

“Of course!” Scootaloo replied, hugging the elder pegasus tightly.

“Sorry about the wait kiddo, I had somepony I had to see.” Rainbow smiled as she landed on a loud and sat beside her daughter.

“Can ya tell me? Who was it?” Scootaloo was still bouncing and trembling with rabid happiness.

“Maybe...” Rainbow hesitated playfully, “But you have to promise me you won't tell anypony.”

“Or you'll deny it” Scootaloo answered.

“Exactly.” Rainbow laughed.

After a few minutes snuggled to her mom's side with a wing around her Scootaloo finally calmed down enough to sit still, still waiting for the identity of this certain stallion.

“So~” Scootaloo nudged Rainbow in the side, “Who is he huh?”

“So you already know a little.” Rainbow replied, “I knew Rarity couldn't keep a secret..”

“Why does it have to be secret?” Scootaloo's ears deflated some as some worrisome thoughts came about.

“Well....let's just say its going to take you some time to warm up to him.” Rainbow said nervously detecting Scootaloo's change of mood.

She gave the filly some time to work it out in her mind but hit a wall. In that time Rainbow was thinking herself on whether it would be wise to ruin this moment.

“I tell you what, he'll be coming over for dinner this coming weekend so you can meet him then alright?”

“But I wanna know!” Scootaloo protested.

“I just think it would be better if he.....introduced himself.” Rainbow answered.

Scootaloo's confusion and disappointment was only temporary, she was right back to bouncing and smiling when she realized something else.

“When do we get to go home Rainbow Dash?”  Scootaloo looked eagerly at the elder pagasus.

“Whenever you want kid.” Rainbow answered.

With that they were off and up to Rainbow's cloud home. Scootaloo having never been there before, was immediately awe-struck by the home. She was speechless as they landed on the porch.

“Yeah it's alright, could use a little upgrade but it'll work for ya right squirt?” Rainbow invited the filly inside.

Rainbow Dash's home was modest like any other save for the elaborate cloud placement and rainbow waterfalls. The inside was fairly open with the main room housing the kitchen, the staircase, and an eextensive foyer with the ceiling two stories high, up the stairs there were three rooms: The leftmost being Rainbow's room, the master suite, the center door being the washroom, and the rightmost looked rather new and indeed it was, this was Scootaloo's room.

The pegasus filly took her time touring every navigable corner of the home, investigating and ooh-ahing at practically everything, especially anything that had some form of Cloudsdale influenced design. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Scootaloo finally moved along to her own room: Modest in size, about the same as Apple Bloom's; her scooter was placed on a cloud-platform with the helmet hung above, her bed was average size and she also had a toybox and armoire.

“Wow! This is so cool!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she jumped on her bed.

“Glad you like it.” Rainbow Dash smiled, “Kinda half-ass—er I mean, It was kind of a rushed job.”

“I can't believe you'd do all of this for me Dashie...” Scootaloo had calmed considerably and was now eying her prized scooter. She never knew it to be so clean and the paint so pristine.

“Well you should.” Rainbow said as she put her arm around the filly pulling her to her side. “I'm not promising to be the best mom in the whole world but, I'm going to give it my best shot. That sound like something you're up for?”

Scootaloo retreated for her mind's eye for a moment, remembering what the two had gone through prior and following the revelation that they were indeed mother and daughter, the fan-club, all those gatherings with the mane six, and then far darker moments: the attack in the forest, the apology, and then of course the news in the Canterlot Archives. There was an equal if not stronger argument for Scootaloo to turn this down and have a platonic relationship, essentially an average friendship with her mother, or, to give this a whirl and invite the opportunity of having what she always had wanted.

Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow who had an indifferent expression, not uninterested, but as such to imply that whatever decision the kid made, the repercussions would be insignificant.

The orange filly smiled wide as she hugged her mother.

“I think I'll stay here.”