//------------------------------// // Moments // Story: It's Not If, It's When. It Just Ain't Now. // by Bysen //------------------------------// “They don’t care.” Scootaloo said. “I bet they do!” replied Dash. “Na. They’re used to it. I stay over at Sweet Apple Acres or the Caracal Boutique all the time without telling them.” Scootaloo said back. It was true, her parents had been horrified the first few times but they were used to their daughter staying the night at her friends without telling them. Of course staying at Rainbow Dash’s for the night may have been seen a little differently in their minds. But not to Scootaloo. “Fine… but if you end up getting in trouble for this it’s your own fault.” Dash said as she flew up to her home. They’d already arrived since it was closer than Scootaloo’s land-house. As she flew up though, that’s when Dash remembered; she had a cloud-house, that Scootaloo couldn’t get to. She didn’t want the little kiddo to stay with her tonight and maybe this was the perfect way to get rid of the filly. It was mean but… oh well. “Real funny Rainbow Dash!...” Scootaloo scoffed, hoping she wouldn’t have to actually ask for help and that Dash would just offer it. As few moments passed it became clear she DID have to ask however. “Ugh… can you carry me up there?” a few more moments passed and it tore Scootaloo up to have to say it out loud. “You know I can’t fly! Just help me up?!” she practically pleaded. Dash knew this was VERY mean but she didn’t really care. Or at least she hoped it looked that way as she leaned over the edge of the cloud. “Sorry kid, looks like you’re gonna just have to go home tonight instead.” yup, defiantly mean... she pulled back over the cloud and started towards her door. There wasn’t much of a yard to the cloud-house so it was only a few steps, but enough that Scootaloo couldn’t see her. Dash didn’t go inside though. She waited for Scootaloo to leave. She didn’t want anything to happen to Scoots and would follow her home just to be safe. Dash assumed AJ probably did that as well whenever she left late from Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo didn’t leave however, but Dash couldn’t show herself and tell her to without giving away that she was still watching. Nearly ten minutes passed before Dash heard “That’s two of them now…” in what had to be the most heart wrenching tone she’d ever heard. Even worse than a deflated Pinkie Pie's voice. Scootaloo turned and started to walk off. Dash couldn’t take it anymore. “Wait!” she called just as Scootaloo had taken her first step away. “Two of what?” Scootaloo looked back up at Dash, now falling to the ground in front of her. As always pulling out of a plummet at the last moment. “Two ponies that are supposedly my friends… I’ve only got one left now that you hate me too.” “Wo-wo-wo! I never said I hate you and I told you already that Applebloom doesn’t either!” “Well maybe I hate you! You’re a jerk!” “Jerk? I’ve been trying to cheer you up all day! I didn’t want you following me around but did I ditch you? I told you your friends don’t hate you and I told you that just because you can’t fly doesn’t mean you weird or anything and I meant everything I said! And right now I’m pissed that you could even think that about me! But I don’t hate you, I never would! So just grow a pair and stop acting like you’re the only one who’s been hurt today!” Dash yelled. She knew she was older and this kid’s role model but still, she was sick of it. Maybe Scootaloo was being selfish but she didn’t want to hear it. “I told you how I felt and you didn’t even notice it… you’re a jerk Rainbow Dash…” Scootaloo said softly, looking away from her towards the ground. “What, that you love me or something? C’mon… you even said it wasn’t just me you liked. Look ki… Scootaloo. I’m sorry if I didn’t… and am still not taking it seriously. But I… I love you too, I guess. But differently. Like a sister or something.” “Really?” Scootaloo said apprehensively. “Yeah. I mean, all of my friends have a brother or sister, expect me so… I don’t know. I kinda took you under my wing. I was an only child and I kinda had thing for Fluttershy’s brother… and I always wanted one of my own. Or a sister, big or small. But that never happened, obviously.” “Why didn’t you ask your parents for one?” “Uh… you know how that stuff actually works right? ‘Cause I’m not explaining it to you, got it?” “Relax, I know where foals come from. But you could’ve asked.” “Na. My parents couldn’t have kids. That's why they had me…” “Huh?” Scootaloo asked confusedly. “They couldn’t have kids… so they had you… their kid? I don’t…” “Oh, right. I was adopted. I never really tell anypony that. Not even sure Fluttershy knows and she’s met them.” “Wow… was it really that bad then?” “What? No! I’ve never told anypony because, it’s never really been an issue. They were my parents either way. And how I see it, they loved me even more than my real ones would’ve. They chose to love me, not just because they had to. I don’t know… I guess that means something. Hah… look, I think of you the same way. I don’t love you, but I do kinda. Like, I wish you were part of my family or something.” Dash finished by lowering to her knees so Scootaloo could hop on her back. “C’mon… I’ll take you up ta the house” As Scootaloo jumped she flapped her wings a bit in excitement. Dash may not love her the way she loved Dash, and honestly Scootaloo wasn’t even sure she did love her that way either anymore. But Dash had been right; Scootaloo had said she liked a few other ponies too. Maybe it was just what Dash felt for her that she picked up on and misinterpreted. Scootaloo loved Dash, but wasn’t in love. But knowing that Dash felt the same way made her happy. That Dash had told her something she’d never told anypony else, made her even more so. Tucked away in between Dash’s wings, she and Scootaloo took off from the ground. Dash was exhausted at this point from the long day that had started with a fight, followed by stunt training and then topped it off by walking around for hours. Now it was late at night to boot. Their ascent up to her house was even slower than it had been the first time. Of course she was also carrying Scootaloo on her ba… wait… she was carrying Scootaloo. So why couldn’t she feel her weight? She stopped in the air and just stayed in place. Then, she descended slightly, lowering herself from where Scootaloo was and saw it. The filly was flapping her wings and staying aloft. The look on her face… it was made up of unmistakable joy as she realised it as well. “Rainbow Dash… I’m, I’m…” “You sure are Scootaloo! And… wow… Fluttershy was right. And… thanks.” “Thanks? Why? I’m flying because of you! I should be thanking you!” Scootaloo practically screamed. “Ya… you’re flying because of me… because you’re just happy. Thanks Scootaloo. I can make you that happy. You don’t know how happy that makes me too.” Dash said as she rose above Scootaloo. But as she did, a brief moment of fear came over her thinking ‘What is she can’t go higher though?’ but that disappeared instantly. It was slow but smooth how she ascended with Dash. When they got to the cloud-house, Scootaloo landed roughly, almost falling over but caught herself before it happened. It was new to her and she wasn’t that good at it… wasn’t that good at it yet. She couldn’t face Dash though. “Th-thank you Rainbow! Th-th-ank y-you…” “It’s alright Scootaloo… if you wanna cry that’s cool. You don’t have to hind it or anything. I mean, even I cry. It’s like, a normal thing or something.” Dash said as she came to tears herself. Admittedly she was forcing them a bit to help out Scootaloo once more. But all the same feelings where there for her too. The joyous-sadness of what had just happened. The two stayed outside of the house and cried with each other for a few more minutes before finally going inside. Both of them still crying lightly… both of them would always remember it as one of their happiest moments.