Chapter 6:
Rainbow Dash listened quietly as Scootaloo told her story. She didn’t want to disturb her, but she wanted to be close in case Scootaloo needed a shoulder to cry on. Scootaloo just sat in the tub through the whole story, just staring at her reflection in the water, not moving at all. Dash knew the little filly was tough and resilient, but she never knew that she was this tough. Dash had always had friends and family to be by her side when she needed it. Scootaloo only had her family, and to have them taken in such a way…
Dash’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of water hitting water. She looked at the faucet and when it didn’t drip, she realized where it had come from. Scootaloo began to cry, not weeping loudly, just a small steady stream that was enough to make Dash want to intervene.
“Ok kiddo, why don’t we get you out of the tub? We don’t need you getting sick.”
“Ok” Scootaloo got out of the tub and took the towel from Rainbow Dash. She wiped herself dry and gave the towel back to Dash, who put it on the towel rack. The two moved down to the living room and both sat down on the couch. Scootaloo was silent through the whole thing, never raising her gaze from the floor.
“I’ll be right back.” Rainbow said has she dashed off to the kitchen.
Scootaloo looked around and was in awe of Rainbow’s house. She was on the weather team, sure. But how did she afford all this? The sports stuff, the paintings, the furniture, so much stuff!
Her thoughts were interrupted as Dash came back into the room with two cups of some brown liquid. Dash handed one to Scootaloo and took one for herself.
“It’s chocolate milk. I thought you might be thirsty.” She said before she took a sip out of her cup. Scootaloo looked at the cup and took about one third of the drink out the glass before looking back at Dash embarrassed.
“Sorry,” she said looking back up at Dash, “I’m just really thirsty.”
“Its fine,” Rainbow laughed, “I would be too.”
Scootaloo smiled and laughed a little with Rainbow Dash. This was the first time Dash had seen Scootaloo lighten up since she woke up and was not going to ruin the moment. Scootaloo looked up at Dash and nuzzled against her side. Dash took the cue and wrapped her closer with a wing
“Can I ask you something Dash?”
“What is it?”
“Why do you care about me? All I do is annoy you and get in your way.”
Rainbow was taken aback from the comment. “You don’t annoy me. Why do you think that?”
“Cause all I’m doing is weighing you down.” Scootaloo confessed; “You have the most amazing friends in the word, you’re an element of harmony, you’re an amazing flyer, and look at me! I can’t even fly and I look up to you!”
Dash held her closer. “You have amazing friends too! You have all of Ponyville if you need it.”
Scootaloo didn't respond and the house was silent for a couple of minutes. Eventually, rain outside broke the silence. Dash needed to know something, whether she ruined the moment or not.
“Scootaloo, be honest with me. Where have you been sleeping?”
“The Crusader club house.”
“Before that.” Dash knew that the clubhouse had only been completed a short time after the three of them began 'crusading.'
Scootaloo was silent but then finally said, “Nowhere. I moved from place to place a lot. Sometimes behind Sugar Cube Corner, sometimes in the Apples' farm when Big Mac forgot to lock it.”
“Would you like to stay with me tonight?”
Scootaloo’s eyes went wide and a huge grin appeared on her face. “You mean I get to stay here with you!?”
“Sure, I have plenty of room an-umph!”
Rainbow was cut short as Scootaloo grabbed her in a large hug.
Rainbow hugged her tightly. She couldn’t believe some of this. Scootaloo was so normal, so energetic, so friendly. How could she be through so much and never seem sad ever? Why hadn’t she come to somepony for help? Did she get it from her? Was her over confidence and “I can do this by myself” influencing to hide it? What if-.
“Um, Dash? You’re squeezing me to tight.”
Rainbow’s thoughts were interrupted. “Hehe, sorry.” Dash then realized that Scootaloo had never eaten since she woke up. “Hey, you hungry, pipsqueak?”
She was about to speak when her stomach grumbled loudly. “Maybe a little.”
The two giggled and Dash took her into the kitchen and whipped up some dandelion sandwiches for the two of them. It wasn’t a five star dinner, but Dash wanted to get her food quickly, and this worked out perfectly. Scootaloo gobbled down her first sandwich, but was more paced on the second one. Dash ate her sandwich slowly, staring at Scootaloo, thinking about the same things as before. She wondered about what she could do to help the little filly.
After the two of them finished, they went up the stairs and Dash brought Scootaloo back to the room where she first woke up. She helped her into the bathroom and told her she should brush her teeth before bed. Afterwards, she helped the filly into bed and covered her up.
“Hey Dash?” Scootaloo asked with her eyes closing and sleepiness in her voice.
“Yes Scootaloo?”
“Thank you, you’re the best.”
The words warmed Dash’s heart and she kissed Scootaloo on the forehead.
Then she quietly left the room and made her way to her bedroom. She got into bed and tried to sleep, but couldn’t. She tossed and turned, but to no avail. She was too busy thinking about what she would do. Rainbow looked at her pet turtle next to her bed and sighed.
“What do I do, Tank?”
The tortoise blinked slowly and fell asleep.
“You're alotta help.”
Dash tried to sleep again, it would be a long night for her.