//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: I Stand Alone // Story: Ponies Are Animals Too // by Zurvan //------------------------------// Takes place during “Sisterhooves Social” Chapter 5: I Stand Alone “Stupid Sisterhooves Social.” Scootaloo curses the event as she kicks a rock. “Scootaloo, why aren’t you with your friends?” Fluttershy asks. “They’re with their sisters at the Sisterhooves Social.” Scootaloo answers angrily. “I take it Dash wouldn’t act as your sister?” Fluttershy asks. “She had some kind of thing with the Wonderbolts.” “Oh yeah, training wasn’t it?” Fluttershy asks. “Yeah, so here I am, alone again.” Scootaloo says dejectedly as she kicks another rock. “What about your parents?” Fluttershy asks and Scootaloo looks down at the ground. “Oh, I’m sorry, I said something wrong, didn’t I?” “You mean you honestly don’t know?” Scootaloo asks with tears in her eyes. “What is there to know?” “I’m an orphan.” Scootaloo answers simply. Fluttershy gasps and in a movement that would even make Dash gasp she takes wing and flies over to Scootaloo and wraps the filly in a hug. “Oh you poor dear, I had no idea.” Scootaloo sniffles. “I thought everyone knew, after all this town is so small, and I have lived here my entire life.” “You’ve never known your parents?” “No, my mom died not long after I was born, my dad raised me until his accident. I’ve been in the orphanage ever since.” “How long has that been?” “A couple months, my dad was Danger Dare.” “Your dad was Danger Dare?” Twilight asks as she comes up behind the two. Scootaloo nods. “He was a pony legend, so sad what happened to him.” “Thanks.” Scootaloo says with a sniff, Fluttershy finally putting her down. “Did you know Scootaloo here is an orphan?” Fluttershy asks. “Ponyville has an orphanage?” Twilight asks surprised. “Yeah, it’s run by Matron Mercy.” Scootaloo answers. “I’m not sure I’ve met her.” Twilight says. “She’s a dark blue earth pony, she keeps her mane tied up in a bun, her cutie mark is house with a heart in it. She told me she got it when she was foalsitting for her older sister. She realized that she wanted to help foals that couldn’t help themselves, so she opened up the orphanage.” “So you've been at the orphanage since your father passed?” Twilight asks. Scootaloo nods. “I’ll probably end up living there until I’m old enough to move out on my own, Matron Mercy says I’m older than the foals most ponies want to adopt, but she takes care of me, and at least I have a roof over my head.” “You’re certainly taking this better than most ponies would.” Twilight says. “I don’t have much of a choice.” Scootaloo says. “At least I have my friends, me and Sweets were friends before everything, and she’s for the most part she’s always been there for me.” “Where is Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asks. “Sisterhooves Social.” Scootaloo answers. “Oh, that can’t help anything.” Twilight says. “Scootaloo would you like to help me on my errands?” Fluttershy asks. “It may not be as fun as being with your friends, but at least you would have company. And if you have that wagon you pull around it would really help me get my errands done faster.” Scootaloo smiles slightly at the timid pegasus’ offer. “Sure, why not, I ain’t got anything better to do anyway.” With that they head off to take care of Fluttershy’s errands. =========== Later that afternoon Fluttershy comes by Golden Oaks Library. “Hello again, Twilight.” “Hello Fluttershy, how may I help you?” Twilight asks. “I was wondering if you had any books on,” Fluttershy blushes and whispers “adoption.” “Pardon me,” Twilight says. “I’m not sure I heard that.” Fluttershy takes a few breathes, and looks at Twilight nervously then speaks. “I want to read up on adoption.” Twilight walks over to a set of shelves and magics down a couple books. “Are you thinking about adopting Scootaloo?” “It was fun spending the day with her, she was really a big help. I think she enjoyed helping me too. So I want to read up on the process and see if it could even be possible.” Fluttershy answers. “I have to admit even I haven’t read these books, but these books are shelved in the section about adoption so hopefully they contain something to help you.” “Thank you Twilight.” Fluttershy says as she places the books in her saddlebags then leaves the library. ========== Fluttershy sits in her cottage reading one of the books when Angel Bunny comes up and pats her on the flank. "What is it Angel darling?" Angel points at the book, the cover of which depicting a mare hugging a foal. The title: 'Basics of Adoption.' Angel shakes his head. "Now Angel,” Fluttershy sighs. “Scootaloo needs somepony to look after her, like you and your friends.” Angel crosses his arms and shakes his head. “Angel, come on, you seemed to like Scootaloo when she stayed here a little bit ago, and you know I’m not going love you any less.” Fluttershy says as she gets up and fixes Angel a salad. “Now come on, eat your salad and then maybe you and your friends can help me.” Angel munches on the salad then looks at Fluttershy, as if to say ‘what do you want us to do?’ “I need to spruce this place up, I’m going to have to make a room for Scootaloo.” Angel runs over and pounces on his bed. “Oh heavens now Angel, I would never give up your space.” Fluttershy says. “I have some storage space next to my bedroom, we can clean it out, maybe we can fix it up for her.” Angel nods, and runs off to get some of the other animals. Fluttershy smiles. “We’ll make this work, I just know it.”