//------------------------------// // mother's day // Story: The strength of our Hearts. // by Nailah //------------------------------// The Strength of our Hearts. Sweetie Belle dashed into the cutie mark crusader’s clubhouse. She and the others were going to meet today to discuss how to help others find their marks. She trotted inside, to see Apple Bloom was already there, putting up some kind of poster. “Hey Apple Bloom. Where’s Scoots?” asked Sweetie Belle, tilting her head from one side of the room to the other, noticing the lack of her fellow friend. “Don’t know. She’s usually not late. You think she got caught up in something?” Apple Bloom said, as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Phew.” “What’s that about?” asked Sweetie Belle, looking at the flyer. It was an advertisement with the group in the frame, and Gabby in the middle. Oh it was like an ad. She giggled softly, almost forgetting for a second that Scoots wasn’t here. “Oh it’s not much, just a flyer to let others know what we do! After all, we want to help as many ponies as possible.” Apple Bloom smirked, a big grin, clapping her hooves together excitedly. She blushed slightly, and coughed against her hoof. “Ahem. Anyways. Do you think we should go looking for her?” asked Apple Bloom to Sweetie Belle. She nodded her head. “Yeah it’s not like her to be late. I’m worried. What if something horrible happened?” she asked as her tone shifted, as she let out a squeak. Apple Bloom put a hoof onto her shoulder, and let out a breath. “Hey now...it’ll be alright. I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe she just overslept?” she suggested, as she blushed, being guilty of that herself a few times. Working on the farm could be quite exhausting at times. Sweetie Belle whimpered as she knew Apple Bloom was right. She felt her spine shivering as she hugged her friend close. “Let’s go to her house, and make sure.” The two crusaders didn’t waste any time, without Scootaloo to take them on her scooter, they had to walk but they were in a full out trot. They were both concerned. Something was unsettling, and Sweetie Belle had this queasiness in her belly. Once they arrived at Scootaloo’s place, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom saw Scootaloo there sitting alone. She seemed to be rocking herself back and forth, out loud. “I won’t cry. I won’t. I am strong. Brave like Rainbow Dash. She never cries. I can’t let this get to me.” she muttered to herself. Sweetie Belle didn’t hesitate, already fearing the worst. She had been attacked by a horrible monster! She wrapped her forelegs around her, whispering into her mane. “Ssshh...it’s okay. We’re here. You don’t need to be scared anymore.” she whispered against her, rubbing a hoof on the top of her mane, almost petting her, while trying to soothe her. “Scared?” asked Scootaloo, looking right at her. “I ain’t scared. I’m a brave pony just like Rainbow Dash.” “Scoots...whatever happened,t’s okay. We’ll listen. We’re both here for you,” Apple bloom said, as she sat down on the other side of her. “You two are totally blowing this out of proportion. I’m guessing you think someone hurt me?” she asked them both, and they nodded their heads in response. “Well...that’s not why I was going to cry,” she began. “Not like I would have! But even if I did, it wasn’t about any monsters, or me being hurt. I was...upset about Mother’s day,” she admitted, her ears flattening to the sides of her face. She pouted, and drew a circle with her forehoof into the floor. “What’s so bad about Mother’s day that it would make you cry?” asked Sweetie Belle curiously. Scoots didn’t really talk to them much about her life before the crusaders. “Well...I don’t have a mom like you two do. Well at least not one I’d consider a mom. She and dad are so busy off doing whatever they do, they don’t even have time for me. And whenever the holidays come about, I’m always here, alone.” Scootaloo admitted with a heavy sigh. “Scoots…” began Apple Bloom. “You're not alone anymore, you have us,and you can tell us anything. We’ll be here for you no matter what.” Scootaloo forced herself to smile, as she wrapped her forelegs around both of them. “I know you two are both here for me, I just needed to be alone. That’s all,” she admitted, as she felt the tears beginning to fall. “What’s it like to have a mom?” “Well...honestly, I never knew mine. Applejack has been like a surrogate mom to me, but she tells me stories about Buttercup.” Apple Bloom said, blushing, as in a way she didn’t have a mom either. “I have a mom, but she often leaves me with Rarity because she and dad need alone time, so it’s almost like Rarity has been more of a mother to me than my actual mother.” Sweetie Belle stated, with a slight sigh. “In a way, none of us really have mothers, but we have great sisters. That’s something ain’t it?” “Yeah...it sure is. They are amazing. Rainbow Dash is an amazing sister and I love her, and I’m so glad she’s not here right now.” Scootaloo whimpered as she felt the tears streaming down her face. Scootaloo always acted tough, because she didn’t want anyone to think she was weak, but right now in this moment, she felt like she wasn’t alone anymore. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both related to her struggles. The three of them just held each other. Sweetie Belle sniffled, and gave them all tissues to blow their noses with. Once they were all calm, Apple Bloom spoke up first. “Hey Scootaloo, wanna help me put up some awesome new posters for the clubhouse? I worked on them all night, and want to spread the word about the Cutie mark crusaders. What do you say?” asked Apple Bloom with a grin. “I’d love to help. After all I’m sure there’s plenty of ponies out there that need our help!” she jumped up, flapping her small wings, and almost fluttering in the air, blushing as she landed on the ground. She nuzzled against her friends. “Thank you both. I guess sometimes all you need is a friend to remind you how special you are.” Scootaloo said, as she grabbed her scooter, quickly grabbing some rope and tying it around her friends to ride them back to the clubhouse. She felt the wind in her mane, it was a wonderful feeling, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel alone. She may not have a mom to love her, but she had a big sister, and two amazing friends. What else could a filly ask for?