//------------------------------// // The Night They've Been Waiting For // Story: Stories of the Teenage Cutie Mark Crusaders // by Prince Luna //------------------------------// The Cutie Mark Crusaders were on their way to the Grand Galloping Gala. Twilight Sparkle decided that, at the age of 15, they were old enough to attend and asked Princess Celestia for tickets. Inside their carriage, pulled by Big Macintosh, they chattered away at the night they wanted to happen for so long. "So, Scootaloo, I heard Shiner asked you to the Gala! What did you say?" Sweetie Belle asked eagerly. "Well, he's a great colt and all," Scootaloo blushed, "but I wanted to spend the night with you guys!" "Ah think you two were kinda sweet, ya know." Apple Bloom commented. "Oh, stop it!" Scootaloo blushed more, "We're just friends!" "Ah think she likes him back!" Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle. The two giggled. "What'd you say? Sweetie Belle, what'd she say?" Scootaloo asked, blushing even more than she was before. "Oh, nothing!" Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom laughed. *** My Little Pony, My Little Pony, ah ah ah ah ah My Little Pony! I used to wonder what friendship could be! (My Little Pony!) Until you all shared it's magic with me. Big adventure, Tons of fun, A beautiful heart, Faithful and strong, Sharing kindness, Is an easy feat, And magic makes it all complete! (Yeah!) My Little Pony! Did you know you're all my very best friends! *** The carriage stopped infront of Canterlot Castle and the girls got out. "Thanks, Mac!" Scootaloo said. "Thank you!" Sweetie Belle smiled. "Thanks, brother, that was real kind!" Apple Bloom said gracefully, kissing her big brother on the cheek. The three stood and looked at the entrance. It was shining beautifuly and ponies flowed in, mostly in pairs. Scootaloo noticed a familiar pony. He was a light grey pegasus with bright blue eyes and a long flowing, straightened brown mane. He had the cutie mark of a silver platter. "Hey look, Scoots, it's your special somepony!" Sweetie Belle said, nudging Scootaloo. "You guys! I said I'm spending the night with you." She replied, but still stared at Shiner. She didn't realise that whilst she was looking at him, the othet two had entered the building, he looked back and his eyes widened, Scootaloo quickly avoided eye contact and ran in to catch up with her friends. The two were giggling again when she got back. "Go an' talk to him, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom said. "Guys! I said, I'm gonna be with you all night!" Scootaloo said quickly. "We know what you want, Scootaloo. We can tell! We can have fun without you." Sweetie Belle said. "...You think he'll accept me? I did turn him down earlier today. Oh, what if he hates me? Did I upset him? How's my hair? Is my dress creased?" Scootaloo began to look around herself frantically. "Yer fine, Scootaloo! Go n' talk to him!" Apple Bloom said, pushing her over to his direction. Scootaloo took a deep breath and walked slowly over to Shiner, her eyes darting back and forth, trying to primarily avoid eye contact with him before she approached him, but she bumped into him. "Oh! Scootaloo! I am so sorry!" He said, helping her up. "Shiner! No, no, it's my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." She said, dusting off her dress. The two stood and looked around awkwardly for a moment. "You look lovely tonight." Shiner commented. "Thank you, Shiner. I like your tux!" Scootaloo smiled. The two again stood in awkward silence again. Scootaloo tried to pluck up her courage, then looked Shiner straight in the eyes. "Shiner, I'm sorry I rejected you earlier today! I guess my worries overcame my feelings! I want to spend tonight with you, I really do! Will you give me another chance?" She said softly and slowly. "Always." Shiner smiled. Scootaloo smiled back. Shiner held out a hoof as an offer to walk. Scootaloo blushed and nodded, the two walked close, wings touching, through to the dinner hall. Scootaloo looked behind her and showed off a huge smile to her friends, waving to her and winking, then returned to Shiner's gaze. They sat at a table with a small plate of food each. They didn't feel like eating at all. Their stomachs were both full of butterflies! Scootaloo moved a piece of food to her mouth, looking at Shiner but missed and dropped it on the table. Both their eyes were sparkling in the moonlight relfecting through the window. Shiner's throat was too caught up to say a word. "Want to go on a walk?" Scootaloo asked. "Y...y-eah!" Shiner smiled. He stood up and helped Scootaloo down, then held his wing over her as the two exited to the garden. They then sat down by a fountain and gazed into eachother's eyes for minutes on end. Scootaloo thought to herself questions like 'have I always loved him?' and 'why can't I stop looking at his adorable face?'. She ignored this and leaned in and rubbed her muzzle against his, their heartbeats both reaching extremely fast levels. Still kissing, the two closed their eyes and rested their heads against eachother as if they were asleep. *** Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were on the dance floor, but sitting on the tables in complete boredom. "I suppose Scootaloo's having the time of her life?" Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah." Apple Bloom sighed. The two sighed and stared out the window. "Well, Ahm bored." Apple Bloom stood up and walked away. "Where are you going?" Sweetie Bell asked. "To have some fun!" Apple Bloom smirked. *** Scootaloo and Shiner were rubbing muzzles when suddenly they heard and felt something that ruined it all. SPLASH! Apple Bloom, messing around in the fountain, was laughing her head off. She didn't care about her soaked dress or mane, but then looked to see that the sweet couple were much less than impressed. She stopped laughing. The two walked off, avoiding all eye-contact with Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle walked up and screamed loudly at the sight of Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom! Your dress! Your hair!" She cried, "I prepared it all for you especially for tonight!" "Aw shucks, it's just a bit of water!" Apple Bloom forced a laugh, then her dress started to shrink. "Well done." Sweetie Belle shouted angrily as she stormed off. "I just wanted to have some fun..." Apple Bloom whispered to herself. *** Scootaloo and Shiner were stood at a balcony, looking over at Equestria before them. "The sight here is wonderful!" Scootaloo gasped. "My sight is much more wonderful." Shiner bragged. She turned around to see him looking at her and smiling. "Oh Shiner, I love you!" She said with a happy tear in her eye. She rested her head against his neck and they stood looking over the balcony again, violins playing in the distance, wing in wing. Sweetie Belle came up to the couple. "Scootaloo." She said sternly. "Mhmm?" She muttered, distracted by her moment with Shiner. "Apple Bloom is being annoying." Sweetie Belle stated. "Yeah..." Scootaloo sighed, again not paying attention. "She soaked herself! Hey, are you even listening?" Sweetie Belle asked. "No." Scootaloo smiled. Sweetie Belle let out a frustrated scream and stormed off again. Shiner looked back to where she was stood. "Scootaloo?" "Yes?" "I think you should go talk to your friends. They sound like they may split up." "No Shiner, I would never split up with you." "Scootaloo!" "Huh?" "Talk to your friends!" "Oh right, sorry." They returned to the fountain where they heard shouting voices. *** "I WORKED FOR WEEKS ON THAT DRESS AND YOU JUST GO AND RUIN IT IN ONE GO LIKE THAT?" Sweetie Belle yelled. "AH WAS JUST TRYIN' TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN!" Apple Bloom rebutted. "FUN? HOW IN EQUESTRIA IS RUINING YOUR FRIENDS HOOFWORK FUN?" "SINCE WHEN IS PLAYIN' IN THE WATER NOT FUN?" "WHEN YOU'RE WEARING A DRESS LIKE THAT!" The two carried on bickering and didn't notice Scootaloo and Shiner walk up to them. "Girls.." Scootaloo said. They couldn't hear her over themsleves. "Girls," still nothing, "GIRLS!" They turned around to see Scootaloo wearing a huge frown. "Oh. So you've stopped paying attention to your boyfriend." huffed Sweetie Belle. "Finally come to join the fun?" Apple Bloom mocked. "Girls. Stop fighting, please." Scootaloo said. "Why should we?" Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah, what do you care? All ya'll care 'bout is Shiner!" Apple Bloom added. "But I care about my friends with the same importance. I wanted to spend the night with you girls but you wanted me to go and see Shiner and I'm glad you did. I'm so happy and you two helped me to get this happiness! We can still all spend the night together! The four of us!" she smiled. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom thought for a moment, then Sweetie Belle dipped her hoof in the fountain and flicked some water at Scootaloo. Scootaloo laughed and looked at Shiner. The two jumped into the fountain and started splashing each other and Apple Bloom, then they all looked at Sweetie Belle. "Oh, it. Is. On!" Sweetie Belle laughed. *** Big Mac waited for the girls to leave so he could escort them home. "Wh-what?!" he exclaimed when he saw them. "Hey, big brother!" Apple Bloom laughed. He looked at the drenched mares and stallion. "What happened to y'all?" He asked. "We had so much fun!" They all said in unison, then started to laugh. "Mind giving me a moment, Mac?" Scootaloo asked, looking to Shiner. "Nnnope." Big Mac smiled. Scootaloo walked a little back with Shiner and exchanged a muzzle kiss. "This was the best night ever." She said with a tear. "Same for me." He replied. "I love you." "I love you too." The two embraced again. "See you at school tomorrow!" Scootaloo beamed. "Remember the pony-science homework!" Shiner laughed. "Darn it!" Scootaloo shouted. She returned to her friends and they all laughed. They entered the carriage and left knowing that beyond any trouble the three may come into with their friendship, they can always overcome it. "Best night ever?" Apple Bloom asked. "Best night ever." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle agreed. *** Big Mac stopped outside Rarity's house and dropped off Sweetie Belle, then did the same for Scootaloo. He finally returned to Sweet Apple Acres, where Applejack was waiting outside. "Alright, Apple Bloom, brush yer teeth and hit the hay. Ya'll have school t'morrow." she said. Apple Bloom trotted upstairs. "Were they any trouble?" She asked Big Mac. "Nnnope." Big Mac replied. "They had a good night?" "Eeyup." "Well that's good." "It was truly the night they've been waiting for."