//------------------------------// // Sisterhooves [Silly] // Story: Follow The Rainbow // by UnlicensedBrony //------------------------------// Episode Ten: Sisterhooves - [Silly] “Are you sure you want to run this year, Rarity?” said Sweetie Belle. “You don't have to if you don't want to – I won't be mad.” Rarity stopped in the middle of the trail. “I don't? Ha! Well, in that case, let's go back to the boutique and--” “Rare,” came Applejack's warning voice as she trotted past the fashionista. “Oh, you're no fun,” Rarity harrumphed. “I was only joking.” Applejack rolled her eyes obviously. “Uh huh, I'll bet – right, Applebloom?” With a quick giggle, Applebloom trotted up beside her sister and nodded emphatically. Scootaloo lagged behind a little, smiling as she watched the sisterly scene unfold before her. She was glad that she'd agreed to come along to this year's Sisterhooves Social – even though she wasn't going to compete, it still promised to be a lot of fun if those four were involved. “Scoots, are ya stuck back there or somethin'?” said Applebloom lightly. “C'mon, or you're going to be late!” Scootaloo jokingly rolled her eyes as she caught up to the group. “Excited, much?” “'course I'm excited! This is the one time of year when I get to spend the whole day with my big sister!” Applebloom grinned and bumped into Applejack playfully. “Uh, don't you two spend days together, like, all the time?” Scootaloo countered with a furrowed brow. Applebloom thought on it for a second, then chuckled. “You're right! I guess I'm pretty lucky to have you as my big sister, huh, Applejack?” Applejack paused to tussle her sister's mane with a smile. “You got that right. And I'm real lucky to have you as my little sister.” “D'awww!” came a scratchy voice from overhead. All eyes turned up to see a rainbow-maned head poking out over the edge of a cloud, smirking at them. Scootaloo's heart jumped. “Well, look who it is!” said Applejack, pushing back her hat to get a better look. “Y'all decided to come after all?” Rainbow stood up on her cloud awesomely. “Sure did. I'm not one to miss a race, am I?” Applejack raised an eyebrow at that. Rarity took a step forwards. “Forgive me for saying so, darling, but I thought you only liked races if you were the one competing...” “That's right,” Rainbow confirmed with a nod. Leaving the group in suspense, she leapt from her cloud and glided down to alight beside Scootaloo, to whom she offered a quick smile before turning back to the others. “That's why I'm entering the race this year!” “You are?” Applejack deadpanned. “Darling, I hate to break it to you, but you need a sister to enter the Sisterhooves Social,” said Rarity with an apologetic half-smile. “And... how do I put this gently? You don't have a sister.” Rainbow gave a short chuckle. “Sure I do! She's right here...” Scootaloo yelped as Rainbow wrapped a wing around her and pulled her close. The others all raised their eyebrows at this, except for Sweetie Belle – who bounced in place and grinned excitedly. “Yay! Now we all get to race!” “H-Hold on,” Scootaloo managed. She chanced an awkward look up at Rainbow. “Can we do that?” “Sure, why not?” said Rainbow with a shrug. “Nothing in the rules that says we have to be actual, related sisters, right, AJ?” Applejack gave a granting nod. “I guess not. Don't see why the two of you couldn't enter, if Scoots is okay with it, that is.” “Of course I'm okay with it!” said Scootaloo quickly, brightening up. “Oh man, this going to be so cool! C'mon, c'mon, let's hurry up and get there!” She shot forwards, pulling a surprised Rainbow Dash along with her as the others giggled at the sight. By the time they reached the egg-balancing part of the race, Scootaloo's legs were already kind of tired and the ropes binding her wings to her sides were getting annoying. Nonetheless, she forced herself to focus all her energy on balancing that egg between her own nose and Rainbow's. Together, ignoring the cheers and yells of the crowd, they lowered the egg carefully into the basket, before drawing back with smiles. Rainbow gave a proud hoot. “Nice one, squirt! Now c'mon – last leg! We're going to win this!” Scootaloo couldn't help but giggle as she hurried after her energetic 'big sister'. The final stretch of the race stood before them – an expanse of the track that was dotted with hurdles and potholes to catch the racers off guard. Rainbow Dash was already galloping forwards, though she slowed down enough to let Scootaloo catch up. Side-by-side, they took the first hurdle, with their eyes trained on the finish line not thirty seconds ahead. They passed a very bedraggled and dazed-looking Applejack, who looked as if she'd just ran into one of the hurdles. Applebloom was trying in vain to snap her out of it. “Come on, Applejack! We're almost there!” “Oh, what happened, AJ?” Rainbow called back tauntingly. “Giving up already?” Scootaloo chanced a look back to see Applejack shaking her head as she scrambled to her hooves. “Oho, laugh it up, missy – race ain't over yet!” “Heads up!” At the sound of Rainbow's voice, Scootaloo stopped chuckling and turned back to the track ahead, just in time to see the hurdle that she was about to crash into. Reflexes kicking in, she dropped onto her belly and slid underneath it. It would've been a truly awesome stunt if she'd managed to regain her balance afterwards, which she hadn't... Scootaloo's chin hit the ground as she collapsed with an “Oof!” The track ahead swam in front of her for a moment, until a sky blue wall suddenly obstructed her view. “You okay, squirt?” came Rainbow's voice. Blinking the haze from her head, Scootaloo recognized the hoof that was extended towards her. After a few more seconds, she reached out and grasped it. “Yeah, I'm good. Let's go!” Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!” She lifted Scootaloo to her hooves and gave her an encouraging pat on the back. “Ha, ha! We're winning!” sang Sweetie Belle as she and Rarity bounced past, both utterly covered in muck but grinning brightly all the same. “Not for long!” Rainbow threw back. With that, she shot forwards, and Scootaloo gave chase. They were neck and neck with Rarity and Sweetie Belle for the next few hurdles, before the pegasi finally started to pull ahead. Scootaloo could hear Rainbow giggling beside her as Rarity cried something like “Oh no you don't!” and lowered her head to sprint faster. Scootaloo found it extremely hard to concentrate, what with trying to fight back Rainbow's infectious giggles. How the older pegasus was able to run and laugh at the same time, Scootaloo had no idea. It just added to her awesomeness. The final hurdle drew near. Rainbow smirked sidelong at Scootaloo. Scootaloo smirked back. They bent their knees together and launched themselves into the air. For the briefest moment, Scootaloo felt completely weightless. It was almost as if she and Rainbow were flying alongside one another – even if their wings were tied behind their backs. It was awesome. Until Scootaloo's hoof caught against the top of the hurdle. She yelped as she performed a clumsy somersault and flailed her hooves about hopelessly. In her panic, she caught Rainbow's own hoof, throwing her off balance too. They both cried out in surprise as the ground shot towards them at a terrifying pace. Scootaloo shut her eyes just before the impact, but she didn't feel a painful thud. Instead she landed on something quite fluffy – though it still took the wind out of her. She dared not open her eyes. Had they won? Had she messed it up? And then whatever she'd landed on started to shake. The sound of laughter filled her ears, and she couldn't help but chance an eye open to see what was going on. She found herself sprawled sideways across Rainbow's stomach, with the older pegasus stuck in a veritable giggle fit. Scootaloo didn't see the funny side, but she didn't really have to – the giggles infected her in an instant. She thought that they must have looked crazy, lying there, laughing at nothing after such a messed up jump stunt. But she didn't care either. “G-Get off me, squirt!” Rainbow cried between giggles. “That tickles!” Hurriedly, Scootaloo rolled forwards and landed on her back, winding her again. Somehow, it just made everything seem that much more funny... “S-Sorry!” she laughed. “Don't... don't know what... happened!” Rainbow rolled onto her side and beat a hoof against the ground. “We bailed is what! G-Get these ropes off – I can't breathe!” Scootaloo forced herself to stop laughing for the few seconds it took to bite down on the knot binding Rainbow's wings to her sides. The rope was cast to the side as Rainbow's wings unfurled and she took a deep breath. “Better?” Scootaloo managed, snickering again. “N-Not much!” “You two okay down there?” chuckled Applejack as she appeared overhead. Rainbow bit her lip to restrain her giggling. “Y-Yeah, I guess so. We won, right? Tell me that was a win!” “Actually, you did!” chirped Applebloom, appearing at her sister's side with a grin. Scootaloo choked. “W-What? Really?” “Yup!” Applejack confirmed. “And I don't think I've ever seen anyone take 'cross the finish line together' so seriously! Y'all were practically curled up in a cannonball!” “Aw yeah!” Rainbow awkwardly extended a hoof to Scootaloo. “Sisterly hoofbump!” With another snicker, Scootaloo reached out and bumped the hoof. Everything seemed awesome in the world until she saw the predatory look on Applebloom's face. She couldn't make sense of it until Sweetie Belle came to stand overhead as well, with the very same look. Scootaloo's eyes went wide as the two of them exchanged a quick nod, and then proceeded to launch themselves into the air with a yell of “Cutie Mark Crusaders Cannonballs!” “Guys, wai--” They landed on Scootaloo, winding her again and bringing on another round of giggles. Rainbow Dash burst out into laughter again. By the time that the Social had ended and the mirth had finally died down, it was already getting dark out. Everypony said their goodnights and set off for bed, except for Rainbow Dash – who'd offered to walk Scootaloo home. And of course, Scootaloo wasn't about to refuse. As they trotted, side-by-side, down the trail towards home, Scootaloo chanced a look up at her adoptive big sister. She was still smiling that same, infectious smile from ear to ear, which Scootaloo gladly mimicked. “Hey, Rainbow Dash – thanks for being my sister today,” she chirped happily, turning back to the trail ahead. “It was awesome.” Rainbow giggled. “No worries, squirt. Y'know, I should probably be thanking you – I had way too much fun today.” Scootaloo nodded. “Me too.” They went on in companionable silence for a while, but Scootaloo noticed a couple of sideways glances from Rainbow. She didn't call her out on it though – not wanting to ruin the pleasant walk. “I've wanted to compete before, y'know...” Rainbow commented idly. “In the Social, I mean. Just haven't had anyone to go with.” Scootaloo grunted thoughtfully and looked across at her. “No sisters?” “Nope,” Rainbow confirmed with a shake of the head. “Me neither,” said Scootaloo. It was kind of a pointless thing to say – Rainbow already knew that Scootaloo had no siblings. Even so, she felt the need to empathise. “...Have you ever wanted one?” Rainbow asked. “You know, a sister?” Scootaloo gave it a moment's thought. “...Not really. Until I met you, I mean.” A tinge of red crept into her cheeks as the words left her mouth. She tried to shake it off. Rainbow nodded slowly. “Well, I have. When I was growing up, I always kind of wanted someone there to hang with. Not all the time, just sometimes, y'know?” Scootaloo glanced up at her. “What about Fluttershy? I thought you two used to hang out?” “Yeah, I guess we did,” Rainbow mused, looking up towards the darkened sky. “But I could never really think of her like a sister... We're not even alike. She was always more of the 'stay indoors and read' kind of girl, when all I wanted to do was go out and race. I mean, she'd always come out to watch if I asked her, but... it's not really the same... “I guess I wanted an older sister – someone who could keep up with me, maybe even be a little bit faster than me, y'know? I think that'd be cool – to have someone to try and be 'better than'.” A frown made its way onto Scootaloo's face. “Oh...” she muttered. She knew that she'd never be able to keep up with Rainbow Dash, and she'd definitely never be better than Equestria's faster flier. And, short of through use of an age spell, she could never be an older sister... Rainbow bumped into her gently. “Then today happened,” she said. Scootaloo creased her brow. “Huh?” “I mean, I know I'm never going to have a big sister myself, right? But ever since you told me that that's how you thought about me, I've been thinking about that stuff a lot too.” Rainbow smiled and looked ahead. “And today really hammered it home, I guess...” Feeling hopelessly confused, Scootaloo offered a questioning smile. “Um, okay?” she guessed. Rainbow chuckled. “Sorry, not making much sense, am I? What I mean is – maybe being a big sister is as good as having a big sister...” She paused for a moment, then scoffed and shook her head. “Ah, whatever. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. But today was awesome, right?” Finally latching on to something that made sense, Scootaloo nodded. “Right!” That seemed like the end of that conversation, even if Scootaloo hardly understood any of it. 'It doesn't really matter,' Scootaloo found herself thinking, for the third or fourth time that day. Maybe that was part of what being sisters was about? Sometimes you didn't understand each other, but it didn't matter – you didn't need to. As they neared Scootaloo's home, the two of them slowed down, wanting to enjoy their last few moments together. “Guess we're here,” Rainbow muttered with a half-smile. Scootaloo nodded. “Guess so...” She paused for a moment, then turned to smile up at Rainbow. “Thanks, sis.” “Don't push it, squirt,” said Rainbow shortly. “Right! Sorry...” An 'awkward' silence fell between them as they trotted onwards. Rainbow glanced at her sidelong. She glanced back. Together, they started snickering again. Having a sister was weird, but fun.