Just as that thought crossed Rainbow Dash's mind, the little foal to whom she had shown so much kindness, having returned to her previous endeavors, was currently rummaging through a dumpster once more.
But now, a slight difference could be seen in her mood. She was...happy. She was rummaging through trash in order to look for what would be her next meal, and yet, she was happy.
If anyone saw her, they would consider her a sad case indeed. A small foal happily rummaging through trash as if it was the most amazing thing in the world in the middle of the night could only be seen as a sad occurrence, right?
Well, not that it mattered to Scootaloo, because she knew the real reason why she felt so good. It was 'her.'
After that little encounter, Scootaloo just couldn't stop smiling. Even now, as she looked through a market dumpster for what would be her midnight snack, she had the hugest of grins on her face.
That mare had helped her, and she didn't even know her name. She had wanted to thank her but, how was she supposed to do that without knowing the name of the pony who helped her out? She mentally scolded herself for being too afraid to ask the mare's name as she dug into what apparently had previously been someone's half eaten hay burger. Now that it had become trash, however, it was basically just two moldy old pieces of bread surrounding the top and bottom of a wet clump of thin, dried sticks.
As she finished her 'meal', she looked herself over. She really was dirty. And she had been sitting inside a dumpster the whole time, which probably made the dirt worse. Not to mention the smell. She smelled like a combination two week old cheese and three week old rotten eggs.
She really wished she had accepted her savior's offer when she had the chance. Not only was she now cold, dirty and stinky, but once again, she was alone, with no one to share her time or her story with. The blue pegasus mare had offered to listen to her pain, but she couldn't bear the thought of reliving it so soon, nor could she burden the pony with problems that she wasn't involved in. Suddenly a thought came to her mind.
'Is this it for me? Is this all there is?' She stared at her dirty hooves as if talking to it. 'Am I going to live my life doing nothing but feeding on other peoples leftovers and walking around feeling sorry for myself?'
She glared at her hoof for a moment, having made up her mind at that point. 'No! I can't let that happen. I have to do something!'
She decided she wold tell that mare what happened. She had to. After all, she did offer to help her. She was the one who denied herself the chance to actually live some form of a life.
She dug herself out of the garbage and made her way to the cloud that her savior had been kicking only a day before. She was glad it was still where it was that morning. But, unfortunately for her, her savior was nowhere to be seen. She resolved to look for her tomorrow and lay on her belly in the grass, surrendering to the sleep she would have gotten if she hadn't made her decision.
Rainbow Dash woke up the next morning feeling rested and relaxed. Despite her extra work, due to her midday nap taking longer than it should have, she woke up feeling great.
And she knew exactly what to do with all that energy. She needed a race, and she knew just the pony to ask.
She made her way to Apple Jack's farm to see her bucking apples in her orchard like always. She smiled at the thought of the routine-oriented pony and began her descent, landing right next to her as a mischievous thought ran through her mind. She lightly tapped Apple Jack's shoulder, causing her to turn around, only to be greeted with a "Boo."
"Aaaah!" Apple Jack jumped, dropping her hat and landing flat on her flank with a resounding thud, all while Rainbow Dash was doubled over in laughter.
She got up and sat on her haunches, seeing her visitor. "Oh, it's just you, Rainbow." she said as she put her hat back on.
Rainbow Dash was still laughing. She put a hoof aroound Apple Jack's shoulder. "Ahahaha! You should've seen your face! That was pure gold!"
Apple Jack was not amused. "Alright I get it. Haha very funny. Now can ya please just tell me why ya'll are here?"
"Oh, right, sorry. hehehe." Rainbow Dash said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.
Apple Jack simply rolled her eyes.
What followed after that was a conversation in the barn over some apple pie. Rainbow Dash had told Apple Jack everything, and it was now her turn to speak.
"So, ya'll are sayin' ya wanna race me?"
"Yes! That's what i've been trying to tell you! I woke up this morning with so much energy that I don't even know what to do with it. It's driving me nuts!"
"And why me? Why not Twilight? She is an alicorn now. She has wings. Or even Fluttershy! She's a Pegasus just like you!"
"You know I can't ask those two! Twilight is a princess now! She's too busy doing princess-y stuff."
"Stuff like what?"
"Stuff like...stuff like... arrgghh, whatever! I just can't ask her!"
"Fine, I get it. But what about Fluttershy? Why can't you ask her?"
"Fluttershy's too shy! She would never agree to a race with me!"
"You don't know that for sure."
"It's...Fluttershy!"
"...Yeah, I suppose ya got a point there. Fine, i'll race ya."
Rainbow Dash pumped her fist with a silent "Yes!"
"Now hold your horses there, Rainbow! I'm not done. I'll race with ya. But only on one condition."
"What condition?"
"As soon as we finish, I'm goin' back to Sweet Apple Acres. I"ve got a lot to do if we wanna have enough apple cider for Hearth's Warming."
Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, stuck in a daydream about cider for a moment before she said, "Deal!"
What followed after that was a quick walk to the path used for the annual Running Of The Leaves. The two of them stood at the starting line, both of them waiting for the signal. They had gotten Twilight to head up the race. And she was currently in the middle of counting.
"5...4...3...2...1...go!"
Both mares took off at full speed, their goal being the usual spot where the finish line would be in the actual event.
They had been running for a while, and they were now neck and neck, nearing the end of the race. Or at least they would have bee, if not for what happened next...
As they were running through the path, getting ever closer to the goal, suddenly a fuchsia and orange colored pony came out onto the path, causing both ponies to have to suddenly come to a stop, skidding further and further forward. Had they not stopped when they did, they would have run into each other, and then into the poor pony ahead of them.
Pulled from their original goal, Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack walked up to the pony. That's when Rainbow noticed that this pony was the filly foal she had seen just the other day.
She was furious.
The foal turned her head to look at the two ponies, and when she saw Rainbow Dash, she immediately smiled. "Hi there, miss! I was just looking...for...you..." She stopped speaking. When she saw the expression Rainbow Dash's face, her face fell.
"What were you thinking coming out onto the path like that? You could've gotten seriously hurt! You need to be more careful, and pay more attention to your surroundings."
The foal's head, just like her face, fell. Right down to the ground she was now staring at. Her ears were lowered and laid back against her head as she took on the full force of the tongue lashing Rainbow was giving her.
When she was done, Rainbow let out a long, heavy sigh. That's when she realized. Something was wrong. Why was she scolding this foal? Why was she yelling at her? It wasn't like she knew what she was doing, so why yell at her? And what was she saying? That wasn't what she meant to say!
Normally, Rainbow would have said something more along the lines of "Hey! Watch where you're going! You made us stop the race!" But here she was, giving this poor innocent foal an earful of something she didn't deserve. She felt that strange tug at her heart once more as she trotted over to her and placed a wing around her, just like she had done the day before, and began nuzzling her gently.
This action had apparently eased the foal's sadness, as she looked up at Rainbow and said, "I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to."
Rainbow Dash looked into her eyes as she continued nuzzling her. "I know, squirt. I know. And i'm sorry for yelling at you."
Scootaloo smiled and got comfy in the feathers of Rainbow's wing. All the while, Apple Jack simply stared on in shock at the scene before her. When she had finally come back to reality, she said...
"Who's that foal, Rainbow? And how do ya know 'er?"
"Her name's Scootaloo, and I met her yesterday while I was working on the snow for the Hearth's Warming celebration."
"Well why does she like ya so much?" Apple Jack asked, still recovering from her previous shocked state.
"I don't know. I saw her walking down Ponyville's main road yesterday. She looked like she needed help, so I interrupted my work for a moment to go and see what was wrong. When I got there, I saw her. She looked like she had just gone through something terrible, so I helped her out a little bit, and we've known each other ever since."
"uh-huh..." was all Apple Jack said.
"Hey wait a minute! That reminds me. You still owe me an explanation as to why you were out here in the first place!" Rainbow Dash said, fixing Scootaloo with a stern look.
She looked at the foal, who looked down once more before speaking. "Oh. That."
Rainbow realized she may have just brought up bad memories again, but it was time she got some answers. She did help her after all. That being said, it probably would've been best not to bring it so soon. Especially so early in the morning, and much less so in front of her friend.
"You don't have to tell me if you still don't want to, ya know."
Scootaloo shook her head violently. "No!" Rainbow Dash was shocked at the force of her words.
"I...I want to tell you. And besides, it was about time I told someone anyway. I can't stay like this forever after all."
"H-hold on. Like what?" Rainbow said, worried now.
"That's what I came out here to tell you. I was looking around for you so I could, but you weren't on your cloud."
"My cloud?"
"That little cloud you were standing on when you found me."
"Oh, that little thing? That's not my cloud. I was just working on it for Hearth's Warming. My cloud house is much bigger than that old thing. Anyway, how's about you tell me whats wrong, hm?"
"Alright..."
What followed was a nice long chat at the barn. Once again, the ponies were at a table, enjoying apple pies. But this time, their were no happy faces. Scootaloo had just finished telling her tale, and all was silent for a moment. Then, Apple Jack broke the silence.
"Oh, you poor, poor filly. I can't imagine growin' up like that." The firmly set line of patient listening she had borne on her face during the story, was now replaced with a deep set frown.
Everypony's gazes turned to the rainbow maned mare of the group as AJ asked, "What do you think, Rainbow?"
No answer. AJ checked to see if Rainbow was asleep or not, only to be waved off and yelled at. "Leave me alone! I'm just thinking..."
"Thinking? Thinking about what?" Apple Jack asked.
"I said I'm thinking!" Rainbow yelled back, wanting them to be quiet so she could actually get her thoughts together and tell them.
When she was finally done, she opened her eyes, which had been closed mere moments ago. She had been thinking about it ever since Scootaloo was halfway into her story, and now she had an answer, she knew what she would do.
"Scootaloo, I'm gong to adopt you!"
Silence. Silence filled the room as both foal and full grown mare stared wide eyed at the rainbow maned Pegasus before them. One in shock, one in pure, complete, and utter disbelief.
"What? Did I say something weird?" Rainbow Dash asked the two ponies, who were now standing as still as statues in the barn.
"Hello? Anyone home?" She waved her hoof in front of her friends face, then followed suit with Scootaloo.
She stumbled back, startled as the two ponies finally found words.
"YOU'RE GONNA WHAT?!"
"OH MY GOSH THANK YOU!!"
"What, you don't believe I can do it? I'm pretty sure i'm awesome enough." Rainbow said, puffing out her chest with pride as she answered her country friend
"Rainbow you couldn't care for a foal! It's just not you. Do you really think you want to be a mother?"
"Well, I want to help Scootaloo, so I suppose I could become one. Besides, I've taken care of Tank all this time. How hard can it be?"
"Tank is a 'turtle', sugar cube. Scootaloo is pony. You wouldn't even know the first thing about it."
"Oh, and I suppose you would?"
"I have Apple Bloom. I know what it's like."
Rainbow Dash thought about that. Apple Jack was right. How could she be a mother? She had not clue how to care for a foal!
She sighed in defeat. "You're right, Apple Jack. I can't do it."
Apple Jack crossed her hooves, nodding her head. "Mmhm."
"But I still have to try!"Rainbow yelled, causing the Apple to stumble and fall over. When she got up she could only stare, too surprised to say anything but,
"What?"
"Scootaloo needs my help, and i'm gonna give it to her. I'm not gonna let her live like that anymore! You heard how horrible it was! You know we have to help her! So why won't you support me?"
"Because I also know that raising a foal is not as easy as you're making it out to be."
"I know it isn't, thanks to you! And i'll be ready for what ever challenges come my way."
Apple Jack got to her hooves, stepping up to Rainbow Dash until she was level with her eyes.
"Oh really? Ya really think ya'll're ready to do this?"
"I have to be."
"Are ya ready for the feedin', and the late nights, and the cryin', and the diaper changes?"
"Hey i'm not that young!" Scootaloo yelled out from beside them, but they were too engrossed in the challenge to notice.
"Absolutely."
"What about the teachin'? The discipline? The birds and the bees? The body changes?"
"No problem!"
Apple Jack sighed. Knowing she was going to get nowhere with this.
"Alright. You win. I give up."
Rainbow pumped her hoof in the air with a silent, "Yes!"
"Just make sure ya don't mess this up, okay?"
Rainbow stopped, then turned around. "Of course I won't. I'm awesome remember?"
Apple Jack simply sighed again, this time, smiling.
"What am I going to do with you?"
What followed after that was a quick goodbye and a wave from Apple Jack, as well as a trip to the adoption center to finally recognize Rainbow's idea. It was a lot of work, especially with all those papers, but with a little help from Scootaloo, who had been in an orphanage before, they managed to do it properly. Now the two were headed up to Rainbow's cloud house.
"Here it is, my humble abode! Welcome to your new home, squirt."
"Oh wow! It's so big!"
"Is it? I never noticed." Rainbow Joked, ruffling Scootaloo's mane. It may have been a joke, but it was also true. Being a Pegasus, it was considered normal to have a big house, so it was natural that she would never notice.
"Well, I"m off to take a nap now, Scootaloo. Wake me if ya need anything, alright?"
"What? Already? But we 'just' got here!"
"I know." Rainbow turned around and walked back over to Scootaloo. "But i'm just so tired. After all that over at Apple Jack's, I'm just so tuckered out..." She yawned for emphasis.
"We can play tomorrow, alright? After I'm done with my work. How does that sound?"
With that, she left to go back upstairs, only to be stopped by Scootaloo once again.
"Well, in that case, can I sleep with you?"
Rainbow was a bit shocked at that. She hadn't expected to hear that request so soon. But, after a moment, she smiled.
"Sure, kid. Come on up."
Scootaloo smiled and did as she was told, and the two of them made their way upstairs to Rainbow's room. Immediately after entering, Rainbow flew over to her bed and slowly descended down onto it, her hooves behind her head.
"Wow! This is your room? It's amazing!" Scootaloo said as she entered.
"I know. It is 'my' room after all. why don't you come on and join me. Get comfortable." She said as she patted a spot on the bed beside her. Then she got up and walked to the door.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Scootaloo asked, confused.
"I'm going to get you some water. You must be thirsty right?"
"Oh! Yes, thank you."
She went downstairs only to return a few minutes later with a glass of cold water. "Here ya go, kid. Don't waist it."
She handed the glass to Scootaloo, who took it and drunk some, then put it on the nightstand next to the bed.
She snuggled up under the soft sheets as she was joined by Rainbow, who held her close to her, letting her feel her warmth. While she was doing all of this for Scootaloo, she realized something. All those small tugs at her heart, were a part of her, telling her to care for this foal, to nurture her, to help her grow, and to be there for her. She smiled as she closed her eyes. Whatever Apple Jack said was coming, she knew she could handle all of it, as long as she followed her heart.
Suddenly, Scootaloo asked a question. It was a question that had been on the back of her mind for quite a while. She looked up at the mare who had helped her, who had saved her, who had given her warmth and love, and now a home to call her own, and she asked,
"Hey, what's your name?"
Rainbow Dash opened her deep, soft, magenta eyes to look at the foal. Then, in a gentle, caring, and sweet voice said, "My name is Rainbow. Rainbow Dash."