//------------------------------// // From Friend to Father // Story: The Hardest Years // by MailleMaker //------------------------------// Scootaloo wiped her forehead, she was almost done cleaning their huge house. She just had to clean her room and her room was an absolute mess. "So, done cleaning the house yet?" asked Rainbow Dash who had come up behind her. "Almost mom, I still have to do my room and it's a terrible mess. It looks like it was hit by a tornado," sighed Scootaloo. "Well, it's time for dinner and your father was kind enough to make hayburgers for us," said Rainbow Dash. "So please wash up and come downstairs for dinner. You can clean your room after dinner before you go to bed." "Okay mom, I'll be right down," said Scootaloo. She quickly made sure all the dust that coated her was washed off before she glided down the stairs and into the kitchen. Skeeter and Rainbow Dash were already seated at the table and were waiting for her. "Mmm, the hayburgers smell delicious Skeeter," Scootaloo said as she sat down. "What sort of hay did you use to make them?" "I can't tell you, sorry Scootaloo. It's a family secret," said Skeeter with a wink. "But I will tell you that maybe I'll pass the secret down to you once you have a family. That's what my folks did with me." "Oh," said Scootaloo with a little frown; perking right back up she added, "they still taste delicious though." "Um Scootaloo, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," said Skeeter with a glance at his wife. "You call Rainbow Dash mom and occasionally mother. Why don't you call me dad or father?" Scootaloo just sat there with a shocked expression on her face. He wants me to call him Dad?! Why would I ever do that? I know he's my dad but he was never there for me as a young filly. Mom has been here for me my entire life, that's why she deserves to be called mother. "Because you don't deserve to be called Dad!" yelled Scootaloo. "You were never there for me growing up, Mother was. Even though I didn't know it at the time, everything she ever did for me was in my best interest. She made my life better because I didn't have any 'parents' at the time. She deserves to be called Mother. You are only my friend. You don't deserve any other title!" And with that said, Scootaloo shot out of the room and her parents winced as they heard her bedroom door slam shut. Skeeter just stared at his plate while trying to comprehend all that had just happened. "So she hates me?" he whispered. "Honey," said Rainbow Dash as she reached to hold his hoof, "I don't think she hates you, I just don't think she's had time to adjust to you being in her life." "Rainbow, I've been in her life for quite a few years now. How has she not adjusted yet? I have done everything in my power to get her to like me. No matter what I do, she always calls me 'Skeeter' not Dad. When we got married, I thought that would all change and she would start calling me Dad. I guess I just expected to much." "Skeeter, you have done everything possible to be a good Dad. You realize that she is a lot like you. Stubborn until she realizes that what she's being stubborn about isn't worth it. She'll come around," comforted Rainbow Dash. "I really hope so," said Skeeter, leaning into his wife. "I really hope so." Meanwhile, Scootaloo was trying to calm down in her room. Even though cleaning it wasn't fun, it helped her dispel her anger at Skeeter. Why would he even ask such a stupid question? Scootaloo thought as she slammed dirty laundry into a hamper. Picking up a picture of her and Rainbow Dash's family and sitting down on her bed, she paused the angry thoughts. Even though Rainbow Dash's parents embarrassed her, they were always there for her, cheering her on at the sidelines. Rainbow Dash has always been there for me, cheering me on at the sidelines. And where was Skeeter? Probably fooling around somewhere in Cloudsdale. Sighing Scootaloo looked at her now clean room. "Scootaloo, can I come in?" asked Rainbow Dash, startling Scootaloo and pulling her out of her musings. "Sure mom, I don't care," Scootaloo said, glad that her room was finally clean. "Scootaloo," said Rainbow Dash as she walked in and sat on the bed next to her daughter, "you do realize that Skeeter loves you very much. Why, your'e even the spittin image of him with your orange coat and ruffly hair. Why are you so against calling him Dad?" "Mom, I thought I already made that clear. He wasn't there for me as a filly and doesn't deserve to be called Dad," Scootaloo said exasperatingly. "Wasn't there. You do realize how much bravery it took your da- er - Skeeter to come to Ponyville and even ask me to marry him? After the wedding he told me that he came back to do take responsibility for his actions. Scootaloo, I don't think you realize just how much he loves you," said Rainbow Dash as she looked at her daughter. "I just, don't know right now Mom. It's hard to accept the fact that he lives in the same house as us, eats with us, and even does everything with us, it used to be just us two. What if you guys decide to have a foal and 'Us' goes away. It would be you and the foal, Skeeter and the foal, everything with the foal," said Scootaloo who was very near tears. "I don't want 'Us' to go away." "Scootaloo, 'Us' wouldn't go away. You're still awesome and I love every second that we get to spend together! And a foal wouldn't change that silly," said Rainbow Dash, ruffling Scootaloo's mane. "You realize that if I were to have a foal, you would have a new member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. You could even start a club for the foal. How's this sound, 'Cutie Mark Crusaders, Juniors!" Giggling, Scootaloo wiped away her tears, "That would be, awesome!" she shouted. "When are you going to have a foal? Now, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after the day after tomorrow? Am I going to get to name it? Is it a filly or a colt? Will it look like you or dad?" Shocked at herself for calling Skeeter dad, Scootaloo stopped her excitement filled questions. Smiling, Rainbow Dash looked at her daughter. "Scootaloo, you just called Skeeter 'Dad' and you called him Dad naturally. Are you sure you still are angry at him." Smiling sheepishly, Scootaloo nodded, "I guess all it took was a little bit of thinking and a talk with you," she said, giving Rainbow Dash a big hug. Looking at the floor she added, "I guess I need to go apologize to Dad for yelling at him earlier." "I guess so, how about we head downstairs," suggested Rainbow Dash. The two walked into the kitchen to find Skeeter staring at his plate. "Skeeter, I believe Scootaloo has something to say," said Rainbow Dash, causing Skeeter to look up. "Skeeter, mom and I talked and I'm really sorry for yelling at you. I realized that you took responsibility for what you did and are here for me now," explained Scootaloo as she walked up to him. Giving him a big head, she looked him in the face and said, "I love you, Dad."