//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Celestia // Story: Princess Scootaloo // by RuinQueenofOblivion //------------------------------// Celestia was waking and was just sitting down to drink her morning coffee when the doors to her office flew open and Rainbow Dash stormed inside. The Pegasus was angry about something, and given all that was going on lately, that probably wasn't a good sign. "I'm sorry your Majesty, she wouldn't take no for an answer," one of the guards said looking frazzled. "It is alright, I will see what the problem is," Celestia said with a sigh, this had been a very stressful few days, regardless she looked at Rainbow Dash with as much of a smile as she could muster without her morning coffee. "Rainbow Dash, is everything alright?" "No, everything is not alright, I just heard from Silver Lining this morning," Rainbow Dash said angrily, it took Celestia a moment to remember that was the mare in charge of Scootaloo's case from Foal Protective Services. "Apparently she received a letter from me that said I didn't want to be Scootaloo's foster mom anymore. I never sent any such letter, I think somepony is trying to get me out of the way." Celestia set her coffee down, that certainly was a problem. There were a lot of ponies that could benefit from having an Alicorn under their control, but not a lot of them that knew about Scootaloo. "Well Rainbow Dash, this is certainly a complication, but not one that we cannot deal with," Celestia said finally. "I will talk with FPS of course, you do not have to worry about Scootaloo being taken away from you right now." Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief at that, it was at least a good sign, having the support of the Princesses did have its advantages. That being said, she was worried that somepony was going to come after Scootaloo now. She didn't like that idea, especially now that she was an Alicorn. "Who could've wanted to try and take her away?" Rainbow wondered out loud. "I mean, there's a lot of ponies sure, but how would any of them even know about her?" "I wish I could tell you Rainbow Dash," Celestia said with a sigh. "The fact is that nopony really should know about her except for those we've allowed to. I highly doubt that one of your friends would do such an act either." "So, that means we're back to square one," Rainbow said with a sigh. "Honestly though I'm scared, Scootaloo might have a big target on her back now." "Do not worry Rainbow Dash, I will double the guard around her to ensure that she is kept safe," Celestia said reassuringly. "Between them, yourself, and your friends, she will be safe I assure you." "Is there anything else we can do?" Rainbow asked. "Perhaps, but it would be difficult," Celestia said. "We could speed up the adoption process, it is highly irregular but it would be easy enough to do. As myself, Luna, and Twilight all support your bid to adopt her, that would not be an issue. The only reason we have not done so already is to avoid showing favoritism towards you." "Well, that explains a lot," Rainbow said, though she would be relieved when all of this was worked out. "It, means a lot that you have a faith in me. I promise that I won't let you down, your majesty." "I know you won't Rainbow Dash," Celestia said with a smile. "Just keep up the good work and everything will be okay, I promise." "Thanks!" Rainbow said and headed out again. "I just hope that's a promise I can keep," Celestia said as she sat back with a sigh, it was probably easier to list who wouldn't want to go after a young Alicorn at this point. A lot of the nobility would want to do so in order to increase their own power and status, they probably saw her as an easy target. Before she could muse on this any further, a scroll appeared in a burst of fire and smoke. She unrolled it and read it quietly to herself for a long moment. She finally set it down and called to one of her aides. "Send a carriage to Ponyville," Celestia said. "We might have a hint about what's going on here, go and get this pony." "Yes your majesty," the aide said as he read the note for a moment and went off to get it all arranged. 00000 "So, how long are these guards going to have to follow us around?" Scootaloo asked as she looked at the guards that were following them down the hall. "Its kinda weird really..." "Its just a precaution until we're sure that nopony will go after you," Rainbow said as she ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "Don't worry Scootaloo, everything is going to be just fine." "Who would want to break you two up anyway?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I mean, that's kind of strange since they would be going against the Princesses and one of the Elements of Harmony." "Well, I'm sure with Rainbow Dash keeping an eye out, they won't stand a chance," Scootaloo said which made Rainbow chuckle a little. "Right?" "Oh yeah, they definitely won't," Rainbow said with a smile as they entered the main hall where Twilight and the others were waiting. "So what's on the schedule today, Twilight?" "We'll do some more work on the basics of magic today," Twilight said. "You're doing better Scootaloo, but you still have a lot to learn, are you ready for this?" "I'm ready!" Scootaloo said confidently as she and Twilight started to get to work. Rainbow Dash smiled as she watched Scootaloo work on trying to levitate larger objects to begin with. She wondered if maybe levitation was the answer, Scootaloo couldn't fly like a Pegasus, but was it possible that she could fly some other way? It was just a thought really, but it might be worth exploring at some point. "She seems to be doing well," she heard a voice say from next to her and she looked over surprised to see one of the guards who had accompanied them. "Given all that's been going on I mean." "Yeah, she's doing great," Rainbow said with a smile. "I'm very proud of her, she's a great kid and I'm glad that everything's going so well, even if its a bit weird." "Yeah, well, I'm glad she found somepony like you, I know her parents would too," the guard said, Rainbow looked at him strangely for a moment as she tried to figure out what he meant. "Uh, did you know her parents?" She asked, honestly she didn't really know a lot about Scootaloo's birth parents. She had been curious sure, but for some reason all records of them had basically vanished, it was almost as if they didn't exist. "Oh, I should introduce myself, I'm Glider, I'm Scootaloo's cousin," the guard said. Rainbow blinked in surprise when she heard that, she had no idea that Scootaloo had any surviving family, let alone one in the Royal Guard. What was going on here? She needed to learn more about Scootaloo's family once and for all. 00000 "Wait, you're saying I do have surviving family?" Scootaloo asked as she looked between Celestia and Rainbow, they were in Celestia's office once again after Scootaloo finished her lessons. "Yes, you do," Celestia admitted, she wasn't quite sure how to tell the filly this. "Wild Wind, your mother, was the eldest daughter of a noble family from Cloudsdale. She was a bit of the, black sheep of the family you might say, when she fell in love with a young stallion named Cruising she was more or less disowned by her family." "Is it, possible that they were the ones that are trying to get Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked. "It is certainly possible," Celestia said with a nod. "They are certainly ambitious, even if they've been on the decline in recent years, the Cirrus family may see Scootaloo as their chance to regain their lost glory. But I would not consider them our only suspects." "Did you know my parents?" Scootaloo asked as she looked up at Celestia who nodded. "If I may ask, what were they like?" "Your mother was a wonderful and adventurous Pony who had a tendency to get into trouble much like yourself," Celestia said with alight chuckle as she remembered back. "I lost count of all the times she got into trouble for one thing or another while visiting Canterlot as a filly. But she was also kind and caring, she always saw the good in ponies and wanted to do right by them. I think it drove her family crazy, they always wanted her to be a proper member of the nobility." Scootaloo smiled a little at that, her mom sounded like a cool pony, it was really too bad that she hadn't ever gotten to know her. Actually, she sounded kind of like herself. "Your father Cruising was a weather pony in Cloudsdale," Celestia continued with a smile. "He was kind, but had a bit of a strange sense of humor at times. Your mother's family didn't quite approve of him, especially since he was not of noble birth, but your mom had loved him from the moment they met. Even after Wild's family disowned her, they both worked hard to make a life for themselves. They were good ponies Scootaloo, and Equestria feels a bit less bright without them." "I, had no idea," Scootaloo said and even Rainbow Dash had to admit that she was in shock about what they were being told. "I just wish I could have known them." "I understand Scootaloo, but they would not have wanted you to dwell on the past either," Celestia said with a reassuring smile. "They would be glad that you've been able to find a wonderful new family." "Yeah, I really did," Scootaloo said with a smile as she hugged Rainbow Dash. "They'd be proud of you Scootaloo, I know I am," Rainbow said as she ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "I promise that I'll always be there for you, I love you Scoots." "I love you too Rainbow," Scootaloo said with a smile. An aide came into the office looking worried for a long moment. "Your majesty, there's a pony in the throne room that wants to speak with you." "Who is it?" Celestia asked. The aide paused a moment after looking at Scootaloo and rainbow Dash before walking over and whispering to Celestia. "You two stay here, this won't take long," Celestia said and got up, following the aide out of the office. 00000 Celestia entered the throne room and frowned a little when she saw an elderly Pegasus mare with faded orange fur and a graying red mane and tail. "Countess Seraphim, this is an unexpected surprise," Celestia said with a frown as she looked the elderly mare over. "Especially since the court is closed because of a situation, so unless you have an invitation then you should leave." "Yes, well I'm here because of your, situation," Seraphim said as she looked at Celestia. "I'm here to talk to you about my granddaughter." "Your granddaughter who you have spent her entire life ignoring after her parents died in that accident," Celestia said as she looked at Seraphim coldly. "Scootaloo already has a family, Family Cirrus gave up any right to her a long time ago." "She has a foster mother, that's not exactly what I'd call binding," Seraphim said. "Especially if the foal has any surviving family and was not removed from her family because of issues within the family. My legal representative assures me that there is enough legal precedent for the foal to be returned to her rightful family." Celestia frowned at that, she hated to admit it, but there was enough legal precedent to back up Seraphim's case. Thankfully she had an ace in the hole in the legal department, she just had to hope that it would get here soon. "Seraphim, Scootaloo is happy where she is, do you really want to take that away from her?" Celestia asked. "Rainbow Dash is a wonderful Foster Mother that has been working hard to keep Scootaloo happy and healthy." "Is it not more important for her to be with her family?" Seraphim asked. "I'm sure that this, Rainbow Crash did you say?" "Rainbow Dash," Celestia corrected her, she was getting very annoyed with this mare. "Whatever, I'm sure she's doing a good job, but she's just a foster parent, that's not the same as having a real family," Seraphim said with a frown. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to see my granddaughter." Celestia was about to say something when the doors to the throne room opened up. "HOLD IT!"