I sigh. "Come on, Rainbow. Talk to us."
I was in Fluttershy's cottage with both her and Rainbow Dash. Ever since the "Chaos Incident", she had been avoiding Fluttershy and avoiding eye-contact with me, always trying her best to not look guilty. When Fluttershy came to me somewhat tearfully over it, I finally decided to talk to Rainbow about it with her.
It didn't start off too good.
Dash shuddered while continuing to avoid eye-contact. "I-I'm sure there's nothing important t-to talk about!"
"I know that's a lie..." I deadpan.
"P-please Rainbow. I-I'm worried about you."
"I'm just thinking that y-you need some time away f-from me, that's--"
I decided to bite the cannonball and go with what I was thinking about. "Does your behavior recently have anything to do with what happened a few days ago?"
That got a grimace out of her before she tried-- and failed-- to reconstruct her bravado. "N-no, I-I'm already o-over what h-happened then!"
I sigh again. "Rainbow, I implore you to talk to us about it. Whatever it is, it's tearing you apart." My plea was punctuated by Fluttershy putting a comforting hoof over hers with a reassuring smile.
"D-don't you guys h-hate me?" When she saw our confused looks she finally blurted, "I'm the one who almost KILLED Zephyr!" With that, she covers her head with her wings.
Fluttershy looked at me as I shook my head. "I told you before; that wasn't your fault."
"It is! Stop trying to lie to me--"
"I'm not lying, Rainbow. What happened back then was purely an accident. Accidents happen and I knew what I was getting into by challenging you to a race like that." She lowered her wings and, for the first time in awhile, we had eye-contact. She looked really close to tears too, which dampened my own spirit; seeing a mare as tough and proud as her so close to breaking down.
Seeing it as well, Fluttershy brought her friend into a hug. "Please don't beat yourself up about it, Rainbow. That was purely out of your control... it was out of everypony's control."
"Y-you guys... forgive me?"
I walked over and patted her on the withers. "I said this to Twilight and I'll say it again; believing in your friends and embracing that belief by forgiving failure. I forgive you."
Fluttershy breaks the hug and smiles. "I forgive you as well."
Rainbow looks at us before giving a small smile herself. "I... thank you."
I nod before checking my watch. The crusaders were getting out of school soon and Rarity asked me to send Sweetie Belle home right away for something important. There was one last thing I wanted to get out of the way before that. "So... about that race..."
She jumped before waving her hooves in front of her. "Nonono, I can't race you right after a race like THAT!"
I raise an eyebrow. "That sham was not an actual race, but okay." As all three of us exit, a mischievous thought crossed my mind. "Oh, I know the actual reason why you don't want to race me!"
"Huh? The actual reason?"
"You're too slow!"
"YOU LITTLE--" I take off while laughing madly with her in hot pursuit. I was laughing so hard, I could barely slow down to avoid running into a cloud. She lands on the cloud with a bit of a knowing smirk. "Who's too slow now, huh?"
THERE'S the Rainbow I know and love.
I give her an impish smile and we both share another laugh, though I could of sworn I heard Pinkie giggling as well.
I managed to catch the crusaders right after school. They were once again discussing what they could do for cutie marks... or rather, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were discussing it while Scootaloo was oddly silent. I got their attention when I cleared my throat. "I enjoy seeing you fillies discussing ideas, but I'm gonna have to be a killjoy and say that Rarity needs you, Sweetie Belle."
That sounded like an awkwardly worded sentence...
Sweetie Belle gasped. "Oh no, I completely forgot! Sorry girls, but we'll have to discuss this tomorrow." With that, she gallops off as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
Scootaloo sighed. "Well... if we aren't doing anything, I'll be... going back..." She rides away, depression clearly around her.
I look at Applebloom, who also sighed. "She's been like that for the past few days or so."
"Do you know what's wrong?"
"Her birthday is coming up."
This immediately got a confused look from me. "I thought foals loved celebrating their birthdays."
"Ah thought so as well. Yet, from what ah heard from the other orphans, she always gets depressed around her birthday." She drooped her head. "It always happened and no-pony could help her..."
I look back in the direction Scootaloo was traveling, feeling too powerless to help. "If only there was a way..." I look back at Applebloom. "Not even Pinkie Pie could cheer her up?"
"No, she always happened to be away for it, though ah doubt that was her intention." She shook her head. "It's been getting me an' Sweetie down too. Ah just wish somepony... anypony could help her..." With that, she trudged back to the farm.
If only there was a way... if only-- wait a minute.
An idea finally made itself known to me and I pondered it a bit before deciding that it was one way, maybe the only way, to permanently cheer Scootaloo up for her birthday. "Hey Applebloom, do you know when her birthday is?"
She turned around with a confused look. "It's in three days."
Okay, that should be enough time to get things perfect.
"Thanks! I want to try doing something for her on her birthday, that's why I needed to know."
She gives me a hopeful look. "Ah hope it will at least make her feel a bit better."
With any luck, it will be more than a bit.
I nod. "Alright, well I'm off. Have a safe trek back." She waves at me before I take off.
The first place I went was Sugar Cube Corner, as I wanted to speak to Pinkie about--
"Speak to me about what?"
I was immediately floored. "PINKIE! Don't pop out of nowhere like that!"
"Sorry! That's just how I roll, though."
I facehoof after getting back up. "Right, well I'm here to discuss something with you."
"Is it perhaps a party?" When I nodded she squealed with joy. "Ohmygosh! What kind of party? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
"Are you aware of any birthdays coming up?"
She thought for a bit before pulling a notepad out of her hair, inexplicably gaining a pencil behind her ear in the process. She flipped through a few pages before gasping. "Oh no! Scootaloo's birthday is coming up and I missed her last two parties! Thank you so much for reminding me!"
"Ah yes, about that. I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from doing so."
"WHAT! Why would you want to--"
"Doing so here. I want to host the party at my house." She was giving me a surprised look with her mouth hanging open like she was cut off from talking.
She then gave me a smile. "Oooh, you sly pony you, you had me fooled for a second there."
I give her an exasperated look. "What do you take me for, a cruel pony?"
"I'm just teasing you."
Figures...
"But why do you want it at your house?"
I raise my eyebrow at her. "It's for the surprise I have planned out."
"Oh, what is it? I want to know, is it a surprise for Scootaloo, or for everypony present?"
"It's... a surprise!" She falls onto her face. "Come on, Pinkie.I know I can trust you with secrets and what-not, but I want it to be a surprise for as many ponies as possible, including the guest of honor."
"Ooh, sounds like you got things planned out!"
"I do. So... will you host the party at my place?"
She salutes. "That will be no prob-lemo!"
"I'm counting on you. I need to go someplace and discuss something for my surprise to work out." With that, I took my leave.
Three days later, Schootaloo's Birthday
"Come on, Scootaloo. We could have a sleep-over as part of your birthday!" Both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were actively trying to encourage the distraught pegasus filly.
She lets out a sigh. "Do whatever you girls want to..." This got a worried look out of her friends.
I shake my head. "Don't be like that, Scoots. If it helps, I can host your sleep-over at my place this time around... if you want to, I mean."
"Sure... that's fine." With that, she starts trudging towards Ponyville. The other two fillies look at me and I give them a wink before following.
On the way, we kept encouraging her and discussing what they could do for activities. When we reach my house, I held the door open. "Birthday filly first." Scootaloo simply walked in with no objections.
3... 2... 1...
"SURPRISE!"
I heard a small cry of surprise from Scootaloo and I quickly followed her in with her friends. "Did you really think we would skip giving you a birthday party?"
Pinkie suddenly came forward and held one of Scootaloo's hooves in both of hers. "I'm so sorry for missing two of your birthdays in the past. As my attempt to make up for them, I made this one extra special!"
"Y-you didn't have to." She was stammering at the moment.
I look and saw my friends, my little sister, my parents, a few other ponies from around town, and a bunch of foals in the group. Out of the corner of my eye, I also saw the mare who ran the orphanage.
I roll my eyes and gently pushed her forward with a wing. "Come on, the party won't start without you."
"Yeah, Squirt. All of us wanted to celebrate with you." Rainbow flew forward a bit with a smile.
"Y-you came to my party a-as well?" Scootaloo rushed forward to hug Rainbow when she nodded. "Thank you!"
Pinkie popped up in the middle of the crowd. "Come on, everypony. Let's get this party STARTED!"
We mingled for a bit until Scootaloo wanted to have cake. When Pinkie brought it out from the main floor spare bedroom, I was amazed at how big it was, despite only having nine candles. After the birthday song, Scoots blew out all of them in one go.
"What was your wish?" I roll my eyes at the question one of the foals dared asking.
Pinkie tutted. "You know she can't say. It's bad luck telling ponies your wish until it comes true."
Applejack chuckled. "Ah reckon she'll tell us when she's good an' ready." I roll my eyes again but didn't comment.
After the cake came the games. Most of us older ponies stood back as the foals played various games Pinkie managed to bring along. Applejack and Rarity got hooked into playing a game as well, much to the latter's dismay and to the amusement of everypony else.
Eventually, we got to Scootaloo opening her presents. There was a decent turnout, nine in total, compared to previous years where she only got one or two.
Applejack had gotten her a smaller stetson, which she wore with a bit of a goofy grin. She even tried mimicking the accent, only to blush when it sounded nothing like the Apples.
Rarity gave her a well designed dress that really suited her. She looked a bit torn between liking it and not liking it, so I whispered to her that she would eventually need one. She only rolled her eyes at that.
Pinkie gave her a box of cookies, much to my confusion. I brushed it off when Scootaloo chomped on one happily.
Twilight gave her a book titled "Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone". I've never heard of the title, which led to Twilight telling me I was welcome to borrow a copy from the library if I was interested enough in it. Scootaloo liked it a lot.
Fluttershy gave a feather charm bracelet made of black and white feathers, made specifically for her.
Rainbow gave her Wonderbolt posters and a pair of goggles, which made her quite happy as well.
There was a collaborative gift from both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle which consisted of a modified crusader's cape of her color and a pair of wings surrounding the emblem. It was another simple gift but it had it's own value, judging by her happy expression as she put it on.
Scootaloo picked up the second-last gift and read the tag, which confused her a bit. "From the Windstorms/Earthwings?"
My mom shook her head. "Think of that as a collaboration between two families."
"No offense but... it seems kind of small for a collaboration of that caliber."
I roll my eyes. "Open it and see what's inside then."
She did so and all that fell out was a scroll. This confused almost everypony at once, though Applejack spoke up first. "What in tarnation?"
Twilight eyed the scroll. "Maybe it says something important?"
"I can't see words being that important." Scootaloo stated as she undid the scroll, which got a small smirk from me. She read it for a bit, only to lock up with a shocked face before looking at me and my family. "I... I..."
Seeing as no-pony else was currently in a position to read the scroll, I broke the ice. "Cat got your tongue... little sister?"
The effect was instantaneous as she rushed forward to tackle me, crying out in joy, before doing the same to the rest of our family. Rarity picked up the scroll and read it, only to get her own shocked face. "My word... this is an adoption form!"
I patted Scootaloo on the head when she tackles me again as everypony else except for Rainbow and Safe Haven, the mare running the orphanage, gathered around the scroll held in Rarity's magic to read it.
Pinkie let out a loud squee. "So THAT'S the surprise you were talking about! That's about the sweetest thing to give somepony on her birthday, and I work at a bakery!"
Applejack shook her head. "Well ah'll be."
Safe Haven stepped forward, which made Scootaloo turn to her with tear-filled eyes. "Congratulations, you finally have a family that you belong to now."
"A-am I dreaming? Oh dear Luna, I hope I'm not dreaming!" I roll my eyes and poke her in the wing, which got a squeak out of her. "I'm not... I can't believe it! I've finally... I finally got my wish!"
Dad walked over and gave her a nuzzle. "Welcome to the family, Scootaloo." He got another hug out of her.
Safe Haven walked over to me. "I've never seen her so happy before. Thank you for taking her in."
I look at Rainbow and she nods at me. I still remember the chat we had before I gathered my family for the surprise.
"How come you're asking me?"
"You're her idol and big sister figure. I... just wanted to see if you had any objections to my course of action."
"Of course not. Besides, I... doubt I would of made a good big sister anyways. Even if I did eventually take her under my wing, I wouldn't be able to adopt her, I can only be a surrogate sister."
"You you still can be one..."
"For now, not yet. I'll still be there if she needs me, though. She needs a true family before anything else, in my opinion."
“Don’t forget your last gift!” Pinkie held up the box from me
“I don’t know, I doubt I can top what anypony else gave.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “It’s the thought that counts.”
Scootaloo opened the gift, which was a blue box. When she opened it, she saw the pendant I got for her. “This… is this?”
Rarity looked at the pendant in awe. “A sunstone and moonstone pendant. Zephyr dear, you went all out for her, didn’t you?”
“I hated seeing her depressed like that. I wanted to do all I could for her.” I got yet another hug from the filly. I remembered the look on the jeweler's face when I ordered the pendant.
"Come on, Scootaloo, get close with your new family!" I was jarred out of my thoughts and saw Pinkie holding a camera. I quickly got in position with Fluttershy on one side and Scootaloo on the other. She was in between me and dad, who had mom on his other side. "Big smiles!"
"And here's your new room, Scoots." I showed my new little sister her bedroom. It was a little barren outside of the necessities, which made me cringe at how lazy I was. "Sorry it's a little... bland."
"I don't care, that's easy to fix. I'm just... still so happy." She gives me another hug.
"Careful, she might turn into a bur if she keeps that up." I turn to give mom a flat glare and she shakes her head in amusement. "Still, thanks for letting all of us stay here for the night."
"Of course. No sense introducing Scoots to her new family, only for most of them to leave right after."
She raises an eyebrow. "Fluttershy as well? She lives in the same town unlike me and Medi."
"Why not?" Fluttershy walked up the stairs and greeted us with a smile. Then she gave me a worried look. "Are you sure there's enough bedding for us all?"
"Hm... there's only three bedrooms total in this house." I pondered it for a bit. Mom and dad had the spare bedroom and Scootaloo had her own. I wasn't about to make her share her new bed, but I worried when she might think if Fluttershy slept with me. "I'll sleep on the couch for tonight."
Fluttershy gave me a flat look. "Oh no you don't, mister. I'll sleep on the--"
"You might be family, Fluttershy, but you're still my guest. It would be rude of me if I didn't--"
"Uhm..." All three of us look at Scootaloo. "I-Is it okay if I sleep with one of you tonight?"
We looked at each other until mom smiled. "Why don't all three of you share Zephyr's bed? There's enough room after all." With that, she went back downstairs.
I deadpan at her retreating figure before looking at my sisters. "Is... that fine with you two?"
Scootaloo nodded. "I just... wanted to be close to my new family for the night..."
Fluttershy smiled before yawning. "Then... should we go to bed then?"
"We should. It's late, and Scootaloo has school tomorrow."
"I don't wanna--" She was cut off by a loud yawn.
I let out a tired chuckle. "You'll need your rest, especially after today."
Fluttershy agreed with me as we went into my bedroom. After Fluttershy got in, Scootaloo snuggled up beside her and I sandwiched her in a way that was comfortable.
The last thing I saw before drifting off into sleep was the picture Pinkie took. The five of us were all smiling, with Scootaloo having the biggest one.