The Terrible Secret's Out
Apple Bloom's voice came from upstairs. "Where'd ya say it was?"
"It's in the drawer!" Scootaloo shouted back. There wasn't really any need to help her friends look, so the filly focused on the epic sandwich she was making. Her room wasn't that big, and besides she only had a few drawers...
Wait- what if they looked in THAT drawer?!
In a flash Scootaloo abandoned the half-finished and doomed sandwich, racing to her bedroom as fast as she could.
Unfortunately she wasn't Rainbow Dash, and thus she wasn't fast enough. The sight of her super-secret shame suspended by Sweetie Belle's magic greeted Scootaloo as she skidded to a stop by the door frame. As super-secret shames went, hers didn't look all that bad- or it wouldn't have, if she hadn't built up a tomboyish reputation in emulation of her idol. Flowers, hearts, and little butterflies dotted the Pinkie-pink diary, and her friends were close enough to notice that the pages were strawberry-scented.
But that was nothing compared to the content the pages held, which the other Crusaders were now consuming.
"I, um... I can explain."
"Scootaloo, are you a- what did Rarity call it?" Sweetie Belle's face scrunched up as she tried to remember the word she was trying to remember, then she smiled when it came to her. "A shipper! Are you a shipper, Scootaloo?"
"Yeah, are ya a shipper?" Apple Bloom echoed.
That was it. The game was over, the jig was up, and the truth was out. The least Scootaloo could do was own up to it "I- I can't help it. I see two ponies and I just can't stop myself from imagining how cute they'd be as a couple. I'm sorry for keeping this from you both, and I'll understand if you don't want to hang out anymore."
"But if they don't hang out with you they won't be able to go to the 'It's OK, Scootaloo, We Love You For Who You Are- Shipping and All' party I was going to throw you!"
The easily-recognizable voice had emanated from the other side of Scootaloo's open window and, sure enough, when the little pegasus looked Pinkie Pie was floating there, tied to balloons. "Pinkie? What are you doing loitering by my window?"
"Really?" Apple Bloom groaned. "Yer gonna ask that?"
"Honestly, I'd be more concerned if she wasn't conveniently in earshot," Sweetie Belle chimed in.
Scootaloo couldn't deny that. "You've got me there. Now, what were you saying about throwing me a party?"
Pinkie threw her a party.
It wasn't the greatest party Scootaloo had ever been to, though. Don't be mistaken, it was a great party- it was a Pinkie Pie Party after all, and there ain't no party like a Pinkie Pie Party. Pinkie was just a victim of her own prior success.
Or maybe Scootaloo was just uncomfortable with so many ponies knowing a certain secret...
It was hard to miss. A banner that hung overhead read 'We Love You, Shipaloo', and tiny models of boats dotted Sugar Cube Corner. 'Galleons' they were called, according to Doctor... Actually, she couldn't remember his real name, now that she thought about it. In one corner a ship battle game was currently being hogged by Ponyville's resident gamer, to the delight/irritation of the foals watching.
But worst- and most noticeable- of all was the giant fudge statue of Scootaloo, sporting an admiral's uniform, clutching a ship's wheel.
That was way too much, and was most likely the reason the party had taken a week to put together. Plus, the chocolate was affecting the taste of the soda Pinkie had decided to pair with it.
"Rookie move, Pinkie," Scootaloo muttered into the cup she was holding.
"Excuse me?"
A pony Scootaloo barely recognized trotted over. Cutie Mark was a bunch of grapes... Berry Punch? Yeah, that was her name. "Um, hi. Can I help you?"
"I certainly hope so." Ms. Punch furtively looked around, then took a swig of her drink. Her features settled into a look of determination, a fact that Scootaloo found odd. Pop didn't usually give ponies extra courage. "I... I was just wondering..."
"Yeah?" Scootaloo prompted.
"Who do you think I'd be cute with?"
"Huh...?"