> Just The Best of You. > by TrebleClef91 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Reassuring Words > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was just another day in Scootaloo’s live, waking up, go to school and then meet with Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom in their clubhouse but there was something in her mind that was bothering her, her inability to fly. Her concern was growing every day, she felt that anything she tries would work, and she already felt it was useless to keep trying. After school the CMC went directly to their clubhouse but this time one of the members wasn’t on her best mood. “So, what should we try next?” Asked Sweetie Bell as soon as they entered the clubhouse. “Hmm, ah don’t know, we’ve tried almost everything and we still don’t have our cutie marks” Said Apple Bloom lowering her head. “M-maybe… we aren’t good at anything and we have no special talents” Said Scootaloo almost whispering at the last part. “WHAT!!!” Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom shouted at the same time. “You are not giving up do you?” Continued Sweetie Bell “What’s gotten into ya’? Ya always have ideas for us to try” Said Apple Bloom looking at Scootaloo with curiosity. “It’s… it’s, nothing” Said Scootaloo ears and head down looking at the ground. “Well, that didn’t sound like nothing, you know you can tell us everything” Said Sweetie Bell walking towards to Scootaloo. “Yeah, ya’ can count on us for everything” Said Apple Bloom joining Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell. “It’s just that… well, I can’t even do what I was born to do.” Said Scootaloo while a tear roll down her cheek. “What do ya’ mean by that?” Asked Apple Bloom raising an eyebrow. “I mean, I was born as a pegasus and I don’t even know how to fly.” Said Scootaloo with a soft whimper. “Well, it’s not that bad just…..” “NOT THAT BAD?!” Shouted Scootaloo interrupting Sweetie Bell. “You can use your magic, Apple Bloom can help her sister picking up apples in their farm…” Scootaloo’s eyes were now shedding tears like if they were a waterfall. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell shared confused looks and then stared Scootaloo in silence until she finished what she was saying. “But me, I’m a pegasus for Celestia´s sake and I can’t even fly” Said Scootaloo still staring at the floor, her tears splashing when hitting the ground. “How would you feel if you weren’t able to do what you are supposed to do? “W-well, you don’t have to worry…” Said Sweetie Bell trying to comfort Scootaloo but was interrupted again. “You just don’t understand!” Exclaimed Scootaloo galloping as fast as she could toward the door, once outside she grabbed her scooter and ride it as fast as she could. “SCOOTS, WAIT!” Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom shouted together as they both watch her friend getting away at top speed. “Oh no, what should we do?” Asked Sweetie Bell concerned. “Go get Rarity, Ah’ll go get Applejack” Said Apple Bloom as she turned to the direction of her farm. “We’ll need all the help we can get to find ‘er.” Sweetie Bell nodded and turned to the direction of Carousel Boutique. Some time later after Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell get Applejack and Rarity they start gathering the other four of their friends. Now that they were all gathered together at the library Twilight was the one who break the silence. “Okay girls, what happened to Scootaloo?” Asked Twilight concerned about Scootaloo’s runaway. “We don’t know!” Both of the fillies respond at the question but then Sweetie Bell start talking remembering some of the things that Scootaloo have told them back I their clubhouse. “Well, s-she said something about being untalented” Explained Sweetie Bell stuttering a little before falling silent. “Oh yeah, she also said something about don’t being able to do what she was supposed to do” Continued Apple Bloom also remembering some of the things that happened in their reunion. “Okay, we need to find her to see what is what it’s really troubling her.” Said Twilight warmly in order that the two fillies know that she will help them find Scootaloo and to find out what is causing her behavior. “Okay everypony, we need to find her so we will be searching all night if it’s necessary.” After Twilight’s speech was over the eight ponies leave the library in order to start searching for the missing filly. Sometime later after riding her scooter aimlessly for about 20 minutes Scootaloo find herself on a cave, all alone only with her thoughts. “I just can’t fly, I can’t find my special talent, and just what am I good for?” Thought Scootaloo tears still coming from her eyes. “But I’m not that naïve, I know that I will do it someday, I… I just need to find the better part of me.” For a moment Scootaloo was calm but the calm did not last for too long, painful thoughts returning to her head corrupting her mind. “What can I do? I don’t even have a family that supports me, I wish I could just cry and find a way to lie about a home that maybe I’ll never see. I-It’s… It’s just not easy to be me.”Scootaloo’s thoughts were turning sadder and darker minute by minute, second by second until some familiar voices came from the entrance of the cave, some seconds later Twilight appeared in the darkness. At the moment that Scootaloo saw Twilight she grabbed her helmet and her scooter once more and starts riding it once more. “WAIT, I only want to talk to you!” Shouted Twilight as she notice Scootaloo was trying to run away once more. “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!” Scootaloo shouted back as she passed the other seven ponies who were gathered at the entrance of the cave. Twilight left out a sigh as she finds out that Scootaloo will not listen to her. But there was a pony whom Scootaloo will listen to and it was Rainbow Dash. “Hey Rainbow Dash, you should talk to her” Said Twilight stepping aside Rainbow Dash. “What? Me?” Asked Rainbow Dash confused. “Why do I have to be the one to talk to her, you know that I’m not good at words.” “She idolizes you” Said Rarity warmly. “Oh yes, she idolizes you, she’s always talking about you on our crusaders meetings” Said Sweetie Bell with a simple nod. “Yeah, she’s always like “Let’s go see Rainbow Dash, she’s the coolest pony around Equestria” Continued Apple Bloom imitating Scootaloo’s voice. “Okay, okay I’ll go talk to her but I don’t know what I’d get” Said Rainbow Dash already flying outside the cave. Scootaloo was lying below a tree submerged in her thoughts again, she was already starting to collapse, tears flowing again her little world were fading away, she felt useless. Some time passed when she heard some hoof steps coming from behind her. “’Sup kid” Said a familiar voice that she recognized immediately. “Don’t even try to run away again” Said Rainbow Dash calmly. “I just want to have a word with you, okay? “O-okay” Said Scootaloo wiping away tears from her eyes. “So, what’s happening to you? You’re not the same playful and cheerful filly I know” Said Rainbow Dash in a tender-concerned voice. “It’s just that I’m useless…“ Scootaloo was interrupted when Dash stomp her right foreleg on the ground. “You are not useless; you only haven’t discovered what your special talent is.” Said Rainbow Dash a little bit angry about what Scootaloo have just said a few seconds ago. “You don’t understand! I don’t even know how to fly, no, I don’t even know if I’m able to fly” Said Scootaloo while other tear roll down her cheek. “Of course you are able to fly, you are just a filly you’ll be able to fly someday not too far away” Said Rainbow Dash trying to lift Scootaloo’s mood a little bit. “How do you know?” Asked Scootaloo looking at the ground. “Because, duh, I was a filly too! I didn’t born knowing how to fly” Said Dash trying to encourage her. “It took me a lot of time to learn how to fly but look where I am now!” “You are the best flyer since, well, ever!” Said Scootaloo now looking Rainbow Dash into the eyes. “But look at me, I don’t even have a family who can teach me.” “I didn’t have a family either” Said Rainbow Dash looking up to the sky. “You didn’t?” Asked Scootaloo impressed. “Nope, I don’t know who my parents are I learn everything I know by practicing all day” Rainbow Dash’s eyes were beginning let out some tears. “I got left alone since I was just a filly, back then I only wished to lay and cry, I lied about my home but it was useless I was alone for good. I was about to give up until I saw the Woderbolts so I decide I will join them one day, I decide to fight for my dreams, you know, even heroes have the right to dream.” “I-I… I never imagine that your fillyhood was that bad” Said Scootaloo with her eyes filled with tears again. “You may be disturbed by what’s happening but you have to follow your dreams, you just don’t give up, you stand tall and fight until you get what you are fighting for” Said Rainbow Dash with a soft motherly voice. “Even if you are all alone walking against a one way street you have to keep you mind focused on what you really want.” “So, you actually believe in me?” Asked Scootaloo now with a grin of her face. “Of course I believe in you, you’ve always shown yourself confident, proud and full of energy that’s why I-…” Rainbow Dash’s speech was interrupted by Scootaloo who jumped to hug Rainbow Dash. “Whoa, take it easy kid” “Thanks a lot Dash you really are the best pony in all of Equestria” Said Scootaloo still hugging Rainbow Dash tight. “You know, I’m 20% cooler that the others” Said Rainbow Dash proudly. “I know that when you are able to fly you will able to beat every challenge that gets on your way” Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash for some more time until she yawn loudly. “We better go to the library by now, the other may be worried, especially Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom” Said Rainbow Dash as she stands from the ground. “After we finish with that can you…” Scootaloo stopped mid-sentence looking away from where Dash was standing. “Can I, what?” Rainbow Dash asked warmly. “I was just wondering if you could stay with me for tonight” Said Scootaloo sheepishly. “I mean if you want to.” “Everything for my number one fan” Said Rainbow Dash rubbing Scootaloo’s head. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A/N: 'Sup, well, as you may notice this is my first story ever, It's not perfect, I know, and it obviously has like a thousand mistakes that may be because I have never witten something like this before plus I'm not and English speaker, well, not at all, English is just my second language. So anyways, comment below if you like the story if not I'm open to constructive criticism. Thanks all and maybe I'll come back with another story. That'll depends on this story's rating. > Whole New Experience > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo walked their way back to the library, both of them were in a very uncomfortable silence, none of them were good at breaking the silence. It was a long way back. Applejack, Rarity and Twilight were sitting around a small table in the middle of the library, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom were sleeping on a couch placed on the other side of the room. As the time passed the concern on everypony was growing second by second and it was getting into their nerves reflected on their behavior, Twilight was now walking from one side of the room to the other side, Rarity was stomping her right hoof showing her concern was growing and was running out of patience, Applejack was oddly calm about the situation, the only thing she do was to lie down on the ground and rest her back on the wall with her hat covering her face. After some more minutes a knock came from the door, Twilight and the other jumped in surprise as they hear the knock, they all ran to the door and Twilight was the one who opened it. “Here’s your little runaway”, Said Rainbow Dash as raising a hoof pointing Scootaloo as soon as the door was entirely open. “Thanks Celestia you two are okay!,” Said Twilight with a mix of happiness and relief as she stepped aside the door to let Dash and Scootaloo enter the library, “We were highly concerned about you two!” “Come on egghead, it wasn’t a big deal”, Said Rainbow Dash jockingly as she lightly shoved Twilight, “Where are the others?” “They have already gone home”, Said Twilight with a yawn. Rarity and Applejack were now walking toward them carrying their respective sleeping siblings on their back. “Ah guess it’s time for us to go home as well”, Said Applejack who let out a loud yawn and scratched her eye, “Ah’m feeling very tired by now. Take care now” “I am leaving as well, I need to have my beauty sleep hour complete”, Said Rarity as she combed part of her mane with her hoof. “Have a good night.” Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo nodded to Rarity, “Have a good night” They all said in unison. “I guess we should be on our way too”, Said Rainbow Dash looking at Scootaloo then back to Twilight, “Then again, sorry for making you wait for that long” “You don’t have to worry; at least now we can all rest a little bit” Said Twilight warmly a small yawn accompanying the end of her sentence. Twilight looked down as she felt a small tap on her left foreleg. “Um… y-you are not angry with me do you Twi?,” Asked Scootaloo hesitantly rubbing her right foreleg with her other hoof. “Of course not, I was concerned about you because you were having a bad day but now I know that you are okay so, there’s no reason to be angry”, Said Twilight giving Scootaloo a warm smile. Scootaloo return a weak smile to Twilight and then she lowered her head “I’m still sorry for all the time I made you to lose and for making you worry” Said Scootaloo still rubbing her foreleg. “That’s okay, that’s what friends are for, don’t they?”, Said Twilight with a quick wink. “Okay, now we really should be on our ways”, Said Rainbow Dash already trotting out of the library “Good night, Twilight” Both Dash and Scootaloo said as Scootaloo trot outside the library to step by the side of Dash. “Have a good night you two”, Said Twilight closing the door behind them. “So, ready to go?”, Asked Rainbow Dash looking back at Scootaloo. “Huh? Oh yes, yes… it’s this way but you have to know that you may be uncomfortable it’s… it’s just a room” Scootaloo’s head went down as she picture her “home” in her mind, that little hole she called her home. “Nothing of that, squirt. You are staying with me on my house tonight”, Said Rainbow Dash pulling Scootaloo and putting her on her back, “Now hold tight this will be a quick trip” Rainbow Dash took off the ground leaving a small cloud of dust, Scootaloo’s cheeks were waving as the wind pass by her face, Rainbow Dash look at her and let out a quick giggle turning her head straight once more to see the way. The trip only took 5 minutes and now they were in Cloudsdale, Scootaloo’s eyes were wide open and was speechless, she just couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Okay, ride is over you can get down now”, Said Rainbow Dash folding her wings. “B-But… but what if I can’t stand on the clouds either?”, Asked Scootaloo staring at the puffy ground. “What if I fell? “Come on squirt, you’re a pegasus you can walk on clouds”, Said Dash rolling her eyes, shaking slightly, “You can go down already, nothing will happen to you.” “O-okay if you say so” Scootaloo jumped off Rainbow’s back just to find herself standing safe as if it was just the same old soil she was so used to, she grinned ear to ear making small jumps she even bite herself softly to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “This is SO amazing! The little orange filly was still bouncing in excitement but it came to a stop, her eyes opened wide once more jaw dropping as her eyes rested on the Claudaseum. “WOW!” The orange filly was so excited that she couldn’t even articulate words it was the first time she had ever seen something so majestic. “Beautiful isn’t it? But you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see it in full splendor”, Said Rainbow Dash joining Scootaloo in her astonishment, they just stay sat there under the light of the moon watching the stars and the beauty of the city until it was time to go. “Come on, it’s time to go”, Said Rainbow Dash as she leaned forward Scootaloo “Guess what!” “What?” “TAG, you are it!”, Shouted Rainbow Dash already beginning to gallop. Scootaloo just frowned and stay still not understanding what have just happened until … “… HEY!”, Shouted Scootaloo beginning to run after Rainbow as fast as she could “That’s not fair!” “Come on try and get me, squirt!”, Shouted Rainbow to Scootaloo who was galloping at the top speed her hooves can go. “Don’t’ tell me that’s your top speed”, Said Rainbow Dash with a smirk looking back to Scootaloo. Scootaloo quickly started to speed her pace trying to catch Rainbow but her hooves were still very short for reaching the speed her idol was galloping at, when Rainbow noticed that she slow down her pace trying not to make it too obvious. Scootaloo was getting closer and closer grinning widely noticing she was actually approaching her and almost able to touch her, now was the moment, she jumped knowing that with the speed she was galloping she would be able to reach her, she flapped her wings hoping for a miracle to happen but it didn’t, when she touched Rainbow she yelled in success, “TAG, now you are it”, Scootaloo was bouncing in happiness unable to believe she catch Rainbow, “I DID IT, I DID IT, I CAN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID IT”, Rainbow Dash have always hate to lose but she also have a heart she wasn’t going to tell her she did it on purpose. “You better keep running now, squirt”, said Rainbow preparing herself to gallop again after Scootaloo, “Five seconds of advantage” Scootaloo nodded and immediately started to gallop at full speed once more, Rainbow started counting down, “Five… four… three… two… one… here I come”, Rainbow shouted already galloping, not at her full speed, after Scootaloo. After a few minutes of Rainbow chasing Scootaloo, Rainbow touched the little filly. “HA, tag, now you are it again, no chances this time,” Rainbow Dash opened her eyes widely placing a hoof on her mouth as Scootaloo came to a stop, “Way to go, Dash”, thought Rainbow hoping Scootaloo didn’t get it but the inevitable happened. “W-what do you mean?,” asked Scootaloo at first she raised a brow but then she lowered her head with the answer already in her mind, “You let me touch you last time didn’t you?” “N-NO how come you think that”, said Rainbow Dash nervously moving her eyes from one side to the other, “Stupid Dash, stupid, stupid, why did you have to ruin that for her”, thought Rainbow wishing she could go back in time to avoid saying what she said. “Don’t worry, it was fool of me to think I could equal your speed”, Scootaloo sighed in grief lowering her head with a sorrow look staring at the ground for a few seconds. “Well, maybe we can play something else”, said Rainbow trying to cheer Scootaloo’s mood but with no success. “N-no, let’s just go now”, said Scootaloo who was now walking away from Rainbow with her head still lowered, “Lead the way” Rainbow Dash was feeling guilty for what she have done, she kicked a loose stone and then sighed with guilt, “It’s… this way”, said Rainbow passing by the right side of Scootaloo with one last thought, “When will you finally learn to keep you big mouth shut?” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/N: Sorry for keeping you waiting but I’ve been taking a lot of thing going in my life but here it is the second part. I hope it’s better from the other if not, well, feel free to leave your comments and your critics. That’s all for now, I’ll be back with another chapter… soon (I hope). > Growing Affection > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash walked in silence towards their next destiny: Dash's home. Rainbow was still feeling guilty for ruining Scootaloo's little moment of greatness. She lowered her pace until she came to a stop. She looked back to see Scootaloo who was walking with her head lowered staring and the puffy ground with a lost look. She watched how Scootaloo passed by her side without even looking her. "Hey...um...m-maybe we can play something else", said Rainbow sheepishly now walking at Scootaloo's pace. "No, let's...let's just keep walking", said Scootaloo with a sigh, "I don't feel like doing anything anymore." "Come on squirt, I'm sorry", said Rainbow rubbing the back of her neck, "I didn't meant to ruin it for you." "It's okay, I don't want to talk about it anymore", said Scootaloo without stopping. Both of them walked in silence, Rainbow was still thinking a way to fix what she did and Scootaloo... well, she was not in the mood for anything anymore she just wanted to lay down and sleep. After 10 more minutes of walking they arrived to Dash's house, a two-floor, white, puffy house. Scootaloo's eyes went wide open as she admired the building. "WOW, is... do you really live here, how do you pay this?", asked Scootaloo incredulously. "Being the leader of the weather staff have its benefits", said Rainbow proudly placing a hoof on her chest, "I also have a mid-job on a factory over there", said Rainbow pointing a hoof to the north. Scootaloo turned to see where where Rainbow was pointing only to see a dark silhouette. "Can we go see it tomorrow?", asked Scootaloo hopefully still feeling a bit down. "Sure thing, squirt", said Rainbow with a smile, there was the opportunity to turn up Scootaloo's mood, "Let's just get inside for tonight." They both entered Dash's home, Scootaloo's shot his atonishment gaze from side to side, she has never seen something like that before, the structure inside was simply divine, those clean, white walls with those perfectly sculpted greek-style columns on each corner of the house. "Tell me, are you hungry?", asked Rainbow already trotting into her kitchen. "Sure I am!", exclaimed Scootaloo galloping towards a couch on Rainbow's living room jumping to it once she was close enough to reach it. "Well, I'm not the best cooker in Equestria so I just have the basic. I have some fruit salad... umm... I can make you a dandelion sandwich with some apple juice... oh, I have some cake Pinkie gave me. How does that sound?, Rainbow Dash asked after she finished telling Scootaloo her "menu". Scootaloo was drooling at the idea of having cake, her first and only time she had have cake was on that cutie mark party thing and she loved it. "That sounds awesome Rainbow Dash", said Scootaloo with a big grin across her face licking her lips still thinking in the cake Rainbow have just offered to her. After some minutes in the kitchen Rainbow Dash came out of it with a tray on her mouth, she placed it on the table before sitting down, "Scoots, dinner's ready! Scootaloo arrived as quickly as she could, sat on the table and began to drool at the sight of the food. She quickly grabbed the cake and threw it into her mouth chewing as fast as she could. Dash gave her a reproachful look, when Scootaloo realize it she put down the rest of the cake and lowered her ears. "I'm sorry Rainbow", said Scootaloo sheepishly, "It's just that I haven't eat like this since Diamond Tiara's party" Rainbow Dash's gaze softened when hearing Scootaloo's last sentence, she swallowed the sandwich bite she had in her mouth making a loud gulp. "Heh, don't worry kid, I do that all the time", said Rainbow just to break the awkward moment. "Really?", asked Scootaloo confused. "Yeah, eating like that is way funnier than to have silly, boring eating manners", said Rainbow jockingly before tossing another piece of her sandwich into her mouth, "Now, eat your sandwich before finishing your cake." "Awww, but-", Scootaloo began to say before being interrupted by Rainbow. "No, no, no buts", said Rainbow with a motherly voice, "No sandwich, no cake." Scootaloo stared at her plate for a while before start eating the sandwich, "Hmm I thoughg shou shaid shou weren a cookher", said Scootaloo with wer mouth full of food. "At least someone enjoys my food", said Rainbow Dash playfully after swallowing the last bite of her sandwich. She stands from the table and went inside the kitchen. She walked back to the table some seconds later with a glass of apple juice for Scootaloo. She drank the juice immediately letting out a burp. "Sorry!", said Scootaloo blushing lightly in embarrassment. Rainbow Dash gave Scootaloo a quick gaze after letting out a loud laugh, "Heh, good one, kid", said Rainbow when her attack out laughter came to an end. "Okay kid, time to go to sleep, I'm feeling very tired now", said Rainbow with a yawn and stretching her legs, "Tomorrow I'll show you the rest of Cloudsdale" "Are you really going to show me all around? That would be so sweet!", said Scootaloo with big eyes and a squeaky voice giving little jumps barely containing her excitement. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the excitement of the little filly. Both of them began to climb the stairs upward the second floor, well, just one, the cyan coat pegasus was flying while the orange filly was jumping step by step until they arrived upstairs. "That would be way easier if I knew how to fly", whined the little filly when she climbed the last step. "Well, maybe if you focus on training instead of trying to find your cutie mark you would be flying now", said Rainbow Dash with a shrug, "How knows maybe your special talent is something which involves flying" Scootaloo's eyes widened as seemed they were likely to explode, maybe that's the only thing she needed, to put aside her her efforts for getting her cutie mark for a while and double her efforts in trying to fly, that way both of her problems may be solved. "I... I've never think about it that way", said Scootaloo before she feeling another down, "But... I've never had anypony to teach me and the only flying school is up here." Rainbow Dash didn't said anything she just looked back at her guest, if she can do anything for her she wanted to be a surprise. They walked up to Rainbow Dash's disorganized bedroom, sheets and chusions scattered all across the floor, a books of Daring Do on her night table and some poster of the Wonderbolts, one poster in particular was the one that caught Scootaloo's atention. She raised her head in order to read the poster's message: "Follow your dreams", it was a simple poster showing the captain of the Wonderbolts with one hoof raised as if she was watching the viewer, but the massage, the message was what hit Scootaloo, "Follow your dreams, thought the young filly. "Pretty cool, huh?", asked Rainbow Dash with looking at the amused filly. "Yeah, it is!, exclaimed Scootaloo before frowning, "But, why do you put it on the ceiling barely visible?" "Because it's my personal fount of inspiration", said Rainbow Dash putting a hoof on her chest, "That's what keeps me going on in life." Scootaloo's fanaticism for Rainbow Dash was growing bigger and bigger now knowing they have a lot in common, they both liked extreme sports, either of them had a family who cared for them and they both have dream which keeps their sanity just fine. After a few minutes Rainbow Dash had finished preparing a little bed on the floor for Scootaloo who was now staring at it. "Sorry kid, it's the only thing I have", said Rainbow staring at the sheet-made bed rubbing the back of her neck, "I hope it's not very uncomfortable" "Don't worry, I'm used to sleep in the ground. Atl least now I have some sheets to cover myself up", said Scootaloo already laid down grabbing a sheet with her mouth to cover herself, "Goodnight Rainbow Dash" Rainbow gave Scootaloo a pitiful gaze before turning off the lights, she walked to her own bed, she grabbed a sheet and covered herself, "Goodnight, kid", she said closing her eyes. "That kid is awesome", thought Rainbow Dash before falling sleep. > Reliving Memories > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The night was peaceful and silent, brief breezes of air gently brushing the curtains on Rainbow Dash’s windows, but peace wasn’t something Scootaloo’s little mind wasn’t acquainted these days. The little filly wasn’t able to sleep at all; when she could finally fall asleep she was woken abruptly due to nightmare, nightmares where she was flying and her wings disappeared all of the sudden followed by laughter and mockery: “You fool, chickens cannot fly!”, “Give it up, you are useless!”, foals and grown up ponies alike surrounding and laughing at her, her little brain even made her imagine her own parents looking away from her saying the worst words a child could hear from her own parents: “You are a disgrace for this family” and with those words they flew away leaving their daughter alone. She woke up shivering, eyes full of tears and sobbing, she couldn’t handle to hear her parents say those words, she knew it was a dream but that didn’t made it any less painful. Rainbow Dash was woken up when she heard Scootaloo crying, sobbing and by her loud, quick breathing. “You okay there, kid?” asked Rainbow Dash as she turned the lamp on her table night on in order to see the little filly on the floor next to her bed. “Y-y-yeah, I’m fine” answered Scootaloo turning away from Rainbow Dash, she didn’t want her idol to see her cry so she tried to calm herself, but with no success. “If you are fine, why are you crying then?” asked Rainbow Dash looking at Scootaloo with worried eyes, she didn’t like to see anypony in that emotional state. “It’s… it’s nothing, really”, answered Scootaloo sniffing and wiping away the tears that had accumulated on her eyes. Rainbow Dash wasn’t good when it comes to sentimental matters or at least that was what she wanted the other to believe and seeing that filly in such state was heartbreaking and she wasn’t heartless. She got down her bed and slowly walked towards Scootaloo, who was trying to calm down, but it was futile, those nightmares and the thoughts about feeling of being useless her overtaking her sanity, she couldn’t take it anymore. Rainbow Dash was approaching Scootaloo slowly; she knew neither what to do nor what to say. Scootaloo heard Rainbow’s slow steps and jumped directly to her, that was something she wouldn’t do, she wanted somepony to rely on, somepony to take care of her. “Whoa, easy there kid” said Rainbow looking at Scootaloo who was holding her right foreleg and pressing her face against it. Seeing the little filly crying, sobbing and pressing herself harder and harder on her foreleg was something Rainbow Dash couldn’t stand, it was just too heartbreaking. Rainbow Dash wrapped Scootaloo under her wing and lowered her head placing her chin on Scootaloo’s head. “It’s okay, let it all out”, said Rainbow Dash pressing Scootaloo against her with her wing. Scootaloo snuggled between Rainbow’s wing and body still shivering every time she remembered that dream, still sobbing every time she ran out of air on her endless crying. Few more minutes passed and Scootaloo was regaining her self-control again just with some occasional sobs. “Are you feeling better now?” asked Rainbow when Scootaloo was finally calm. “I-I… I think so”, said Scootaloo wiping away the last tears on her eyes. “So, you want to talk about it?” asked Rainbow Dash hoping she could help on any way. “No! I-I mean, no, let’s just leave it that way” said Scootaloo quickly and almost shouting, “It’s nothing to worry about” “You wouldn’t have made such a show about it if it was just nothing” said Rainbow on her last effort to made Scootaloo “spill the soup” “Well, it’s just that… I…”, Scootaloo closed her eyes ready to hear Rainbow’s laugh after she tells her what happened, “… I had a bad dream.” “That’s all? That’s not a big deal, I mean, you’re a filly anyway those things happen it’s just somet…” Rainbow Dash stopped in the middle of her sentence when she understood what the little orange filly really meant to say, “Oh… was it about… you know, your parents? Scootaloo fell in silence; she didn’t want to revive that dream, that horrible, painful dream. “I know that feeling” said Rainbow Dash lowering her head, closed her eyes and began digging through her own memories of her fillyhood, “You know, before learning how to fly I used to leave in wherever I could, street, under a bench or even in abandoned buildings. Every night I had nightmares which involve my parents, my subconscious made an imaginary picture of my parents, I’m not sure why they leave me but it was not fair, parents should not abandon their sons or daughter to their own, that’s just so… so hard to believe, I can’t believe there are people out there who still make this” Rainbow Dash’s voice began to decrease as she tell her story, it was just too much pain to revive. “At least you learned how to fly, but me, I’m just useless. I can’t even fly for about 6 meters” said Scootaloo still looking to the ground watching her tears splash on the ground. “Maybe, but you, you have friends who take care of you, when I was a filly I had nothing, neither friends nor family nor anypony to be by my side when I was broken”, Rainbow Dash let out a tear which freely rolled its way down her cheek, “But now, now I have the others to keep me company when times get hard, and I will always be here for you, I know that I’m not the best with words but I’m here for everypony who needs help” Rainbow’s words echoed on Scootaloo’s mind “I will always be here for you”, that was all she ever wanted, somepony who take care of her, somepony she could rely on. “You really mean that?” asked Scootaloo raising her head to see Rainbow’s eyes, she saw nothing more than pure honesty, but she wanted to hear her say it. Rainbow Dash rubbed Scootaloo’s head nodding and giving her a warm smile, “Of course I mean it; I will never let anything happen to you or anyone else of my friends.” Scootaloo hugged Rainbow Dash once more; those were the best words somepony have told her in her entire life and being told by her lifelong idol made it even better. They were both in silence, no words needed to be said, the only thing that Scootaloo care about was being with her idol, she now knew she will always have somepony who would take care of her and would be by her side on both good and bad times. “We should go back to sleep, we have a long day tomorrow” said Rainbow Dash standing up from the floor. “Yeah, maybe we should” said Scootaloo also standing up and walking toward her improvised bed. “Forget that, come on you can sleep here” said Rainbow pointing her own bed. Scootaloo’s eyes widened at Rainbow’s offer, she couldn’t help but smile before running to the bed. Both of them lay on the bed ready for sleeping the whole night, well, the rest of it. Scootaloo snuggled close to Rainbow Dash, normally she couldn’t stand that amount of affection but what can she do, Scootaloo was just a little filly anyways, besides her affection to the purple colored mane filly was also growing. “Goodnight, kid” said Rainbow Dash with a loud yawn but there was no answer, Scootaloo was already asleep. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh in relief and smile again, “Yeah, goodnight, little one.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/N: Finally chapter 4 is done. Sorry for the long time I made you wait but I have like, almost no free time for writing and I’m having some difficulties in my goddamn life but I’m getting through them pretty well. Next chapter will take less time to be released (I hope) I’ll try to make it as fast as I can. Thanks for your time and thanks for being patient. Love you all.