I barely slept at all that night. The kiss replayed over and over in my mind. I tossed and turned, trying to get the image of her hurt face out of my head, but I couldn’t. What bothered me most was that I actually kind of liked it. One part of me wanted it to happen again, but another, louder part of me kept telling me that it was wrong.

        I watched the sun rise and wondered what Scootaloo was doing. I wondered if I’d made her cry, and if she’d ever talk to me again. Regardless of how this situation turned out, I still wanted to be her friend. I’d known her too long to just completely abandon her, and being the Element of Loyalty, I wouldn’t do that anyway.

        It was just that she was so much younger than me. I’d never heard of anypony dating someone that much younger than them. Well, anypony except...

        My eyes went wide. That was it! If anypony would know what to do, it was Rarity. There was pretty big age difference between her and Spike, and she was making it work somehow. As much as I couldn’t stand her glittery girliness, she was just the pony I needed to see at the moment.

        I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost time for Carousel Boutique to open. If I hurried, I could make it before she was swamped with customers. I took off out of my bedroom window to seek some advice.

        When I arrived, I found that the door was locked. I looked through the window and saw Rarity busily stitching away on a dress, while Spike helped her by using his scales as a pincushion. I knocked loudly.

        They both got up and came to the door. I waved at them through the windowpane and they gladly opened up.

        “Good morning, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said. “It’s quite unusual to see you up this early.”

        “Yeah,” Spike added. “Something wrong?”

        “Well, I was just wondering if I could come inside and talk to you guys about something. I kinda have this problem and you two seem like the perfect ones to help me with it,” I reasoned.

        “Oh, of course, dear,” Rarity gushed. “Come inside and we can talk all about it.”

        She led me into the boutique and sat me down on her ornate sofa. “Would you like anything to drink, darling? Tea, perhaps?”

        “No, thanks,” I answered. “I’d rather just get this over as quick as possible.”

        “Okay, then,” she said. She and Spike pulled up chairs across from the couch where I was sitting. “What seems to be the trouble? I know we missed you at the party last night.”

        “Yeah, that’s kinda what I needed to talk to you about. Me and Scootaloo talked last night, and... well, she sorta kissed me. I didn’t know what to do, so I flew out the window.”

        Rarity’s face got a look of sudden understanding. “So that’s why she was crying when she came back downstairs.”

        I groaned at my own stupidity. “Was she really upset?”

        “Yeah,” Spike chimed in.

        “She did look quite heartbroken, dear. You really should learn consideration for other ponies’ feelings.”

        “Other ponies’ feelings?!” I asked, outraged. “She was the one that sprung all this on me!”

        “Easy, Rainbow. I was simply stating that you didn’t have to run away. You could have let her down easily.”

        “I just... I don’t know... panicked. I still don’t know what to do about this.”

        “Well, dear, what you really have to ask yourself is if you like her back,” Rarity elaborated.

        I thought for a moment. Did I? How could I? “I... I guess I kinda do, but wouldn’t it be weird for somepony like me to date somepony as young as she is?”

        Rarity smiled knowingly. “Rainbow, you forget that there is quite an age gap between Spike and myself. As long as there are no... well... legal issues, shall we say, it really makes no difference how old somepony-- or some-dragon, as ‘twere-- is. What matters is how you feel.”

        I pondered. Could it really be that simple? Scootaloo had admired me for as long as I could remember, and if there was one thing I liked, it was being admired. “Well, yeah, I do like her.”

        “Then go to her, Rainbow. She deserves a chance, at the very least. If you never give her a shot, then you’ll never know.”

        “I can vouch for that,” Spike commented as he gave his beloved unicorn a kiss on the cheek.

        Rarity blushed slightly and giggled at his show of affection. “Yes he can. Be honest, Rainbow Dash, with both yourself and Scootaloo, and you will find the answer to your problem.”

        I contemplated her words for a moment longer before standing up to leave and thanking her for her help.

        “No problem,” she responded.

        I had to find Scootaloo now. I decided to start at the most obvious place, her house.

        She still lived in an earth pony-type house in Ponyville. I flew over there, landed by the front door and knocked.

        I waited for a reply, but none came. I knocked again.

        Still no answer.

        Frustrated and growing impatient, I flew up to the upstairs window and peeked inside. If I were a sappier pony, what I saw would have made me cry.

        Scootaloo was face-down on her bed. Her pillow and sheet had dark tear stains on them. Her purple mane was messed up beyond all recognition. Around her, several empty cider bottles littered the floor. She looked pathetic, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

        I tapped on the glass with my hoof. “Scoot!” I yelled.

        She turned her face toward me and I saw the streaks from where she had been crying. She walked over a bit unsteadily and opened the window. “What do you want?” she demanded, her voice with a cold, angry edge.

        “Can I come in and talk, please?”

        “Suit yourself,” she said, stepping aside so I could fly in.

        I swooped inside and sat down on the floor. Scootaloo collapsed back onto her bed, facing me this time. “Well?” she said expectantly.

        “Scoot,” I began. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to do. You sprang that on me all at once.”

        “Why don’t you leave, then?” she shouted indignantly. “You already made your feelings for me quite clear!”

        “You didn’t let me finish,” I continued calmly. “I do like you. I would like to go out on a date with you.”

        Scootaloo’s face brightened a little. “Why didn’t you just say that last night?”

        “I just had to sort things out in my head. You kissed me and I felt all these weird feelings.”

        “You didn’t think I felt weird?” she ranted. “I mean, when I was a little filly I thought of you as my big sister. It took me all this time to realize that my feelings went deeper than that. The first time I realized I had a crush on you was the first time I realized that I was a filly-fooler.”

        “Tell ya what: I know this great restaurant in Canterlot that would be perfect for our date, and afterwords we can go see a Wonderbolts show!”

        Scootaloo’s small smile split into a full-on grin that would have made even Pinkie Pie jealous. “Sounds great!”