A Late Guest (Black Guardian 4, Eggshell White Guardian 2)
“Can’t you always cook for us?” Scootaloo tried to put on her cutest face to persuade the black stallion standing at the stove and stirring a large pot of carrot stew.
“What is wrong with Rainbow's cooking?” He had told the filly not to jump onto the counter several times, but apparently it was no use. He more blamed it on the sweet smells of his cooking than on her rambunctiousness.
“It’s not as good as yours.” Scootaloo inhaled deeply, taking in all the aromas, her head nearly inside the pot and ignoring the nearly scalding hot steam streaming through her fur.
“Shouldn’t you of all ponies appreciate the effort of Rainbow to learn to cook just to provide YOU with a healthy warm meal every day?” Aegis scolded the filly, softly pushing her back far enough to avoid her falling into their meal and to be able to continue stirring again.
“I am sorry.”
Even without all his years of training Aegis could tell that she really was. Ponies who weren’t didn’t stare to the ground or the oaken working top in her case.
“Don’t worry about it. I promise to cook just for you whenever my schedule allows it.” He produced a spoon from a drawer right next to him and scooped some broth on it, carefully blowing on the surface a few times before navigating it into the filly's wide open anticipating mouth. Her taste buds did a little dance as the flavour spread to all parts of her tongue, stimulating it evenly. She knew Aegis didn’t need her input, but it was very nice he always asked her nevertheless.
“It’s perfect. I can’t wait to eat it.”
”Then how about you set the table? Rainbow should be back any minute now.” Aegis took back the spoon and placed it into the sink.
“Aye Aye.” Scootaloo jumped down to the hardwood floor with an audible thud, wincing as the impact jarred her joints more than she had anticipated. She absolutely loved her new home. Dash had taken the time to decorate every aspect of it as a team with her during the last days, choosing the placement of poster, pictures, trophies and colours. They had built up a storage mechanism for her scooter in the corridor and bought a brand new huge cloud bed for her room, one that could be made usable for non-pegasi by a special bed sheet for sleepovers. Even the fireplace sported a brand new family picture.
Now she didn’t only have a room that belonged to her, she’d already enjoyed having one in the cloud home, but rather a whole flat that left hints of her living here in every corner. Still, she missed the soft cloud floor sometimes.
Mere weeks ago, she had had nothing. Amazing how fast she’d come to complaining about problems that actually weren’t existing. Scootaloo mentally reprimanded herself for being so ungrateful and began flitting through the kitchen in her task, uncontrollably opening and closing random drawers and cabinets until she found the needed pieces of porcelain for her task under the amused eyes of the black stallion. It would take some time until she could remember what was placed where.
As if on cue the door clicked open as soon as the last plate was at the table. Scootaloo left it ringing on the surface, dropping it the last inch as she sped to the front door to tackle down the cyan newcomer.
“How did it go?” The young filly started the questioning section without waiting for Rainbow to fully pass through the door.
“It went perfect. Ms Birch got the maximum penalty, meaning she will spend the next ten years in a dungeon under Canterlot. After that, she may go into an open prison depending on her psychological assessment. Anyway, she won’t even see a foal again in her life. The judge made that very clear.” Rainbow beamed at the filly. She had sat down at the threshold while talking, a hoof hidden behind her back. A dark blue lightening shaped crystal encased in gold ornamented titanium shimmered mysteriously around her neck.
“You haven’t even heard the best news yet! A got two surprises waiting for you,” Dash continued, teasing her filly in front of her who started to shake in excitement.
“I got your permanent custody.” She showed Scootaloo the piece of paper she had hidden behind her back until now, resulting in another love attack from the filly and an embrace that nearly choked her. As happy as Rainbow was about this as well, she needed air to live.
“Easy, Squirt. I'm more than just excited as well, but also very tired,” she coughed, pushing the clingy filly back a bit in a loving but firm gesture and ruffled up her lavender mane. Aegis influence was already showing in a too neatly combed coiffure that didn’t quite fit her ward.
“Where did you get that cool new necklace? Is it part of my second surprise?” Scootaloo traced a hoof over the surface, feeling the small lines of the intricate design depicting motifs she couldn’t quite understand.
“This is an old war amulet for pegasi. I received as a gift from Celestia. It’s part of a far greater surprise for you that I will need a few months to prepare for. Just show a little patience. My current surprise is a live one. No need to be shy, just come here.” Rainbow yelled the last part into the darkness behind her.
An eggshell white unicorn became visible in the faint light spreading out from the door, obviously fighting to hold back her tears of joy. A battle that was lost within seconds.
“Ms Chalk!” Scootaloo bounced forward, forgetting all rules about emotional and physical distances that had to be kept in a student teacher relationship. Of course the unicorn didn’t mind at all and answered by hugging back and even more tears escaping the now fully broken dam.
“It is so good to see you. I had feared you were dead for so long, but I have never given up on you...” The teacher took a step backwards, holding Scootaloo in place by a hoof on each shoulder, scanning the young pegasus from head to toe.
“You sure have grown.”
“How about we move the reunion inside? It’s cold outside and I can smell dinner is ready,” Rainbow interrupted the pair, gesturing them to follow her as she stepped into the warmth of the corridor.
Soon after, every pony had been assembled around the dinner table. Aegis had a habit always creating an abundance of food, so the extra pony could be easily accomodated for.
“You know that Ms Chalk here has been searching all Trottingham for a full year until now and has sent over two-hundred letters to ponies in many cities to ask them for help?” Rainbow opened the conversation and took a spoon full of the seductively smelling food into her mouth while the eggshell mare replied.
“It only came to two-hundred since no one ever replied. Turns out the police intercepted every single one of them.”
“And one of the officers admitted they were following her around the clock and threatening her not to leave the city.” Forgetting all her manners Rainbow sprayed soup over the table as she spoke. “Can you believe it?”
Scootaloo could not, but no sane being on this planet could. It was beyond understanding. She was only happy her teacher had made it out of this mess.
“Like all of Trottingham’s police force and the mayor have been dismissed and charged with denial of assistance and unlawful detention and only the many lawyers know what else. Many heads will roll during the next weeks,” Dash continued. Her mouth was now free of any more liquid ammunition to disperse. “I’ve said it many times already. But I am very proud of you, Squirt. And Princess Celestia is as well.”
“Me too,” Ms Chalk joined in.
“Princess Luna is enforcing the new monitoring mechanisms for every orphanage, school, and all other facilities set up to protect foals. No other pony will have to endure what you have been through anymore. Princess Celestia is busy reforming her police. And I mean all of it, starting at the training and ending at a new hierarchy system that will leave no pony without supervision from an unassociated counterpart.”
Rainbow had stopped eating to get up and wrap herself around Scootaloo from behind, softly nuzzling the filly’s cheek.
“You have influenced Equestria to the good for generations to come... as is to be expected of the only pony in this world rivalling my awesomeness.”