"Another successful day of crusadin'!" Apple Bloom proclaimed triumphantly after their latest client, First Base, left the clubhouse.
"You can say that again!" Sweetie Belle said, high-hoofing Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, who would have thought that First Base's real talent was second base?" Scootaloo chimed in. The three fillies' manes were still ruffled from a two-hour game of baseball, but no pain was too great if it meant helping other ponies.
"Who do we have tomorrow?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie examined the list on their wall. "Plumberry, a filly I used to know. She moved away shortly after my fifth birthday party, but she came back to Ponyville this year and needs our help now."
"Sounds awesome!" Scootaloo's wings fluttered excitedly. "What's her cutie mark?"
"She doesn't have one yet, that's what she needs are help with," Sweetie replied. "Anyways, I have to head home soon. My parents are cooking spaghetti tonight! That's my favorite!"
"Yummy! I'm helping Big Mac bake a pie for Sugar Belle!" Apple Bloom said. "I'll let you two know how she likes it." Apple Bloom winked. She and Sweetie turned to look at Scootaloo.
"I'm gonna start working on my homework," Scootaloo explained. "Maybe practice some scooter tricks later."
"Have fun!" Sweetie grinned at Scootaloo. "Can't wait to see what new stuff you come up with!"
"Yeah, you're already so good already!" Apple Bloom agreed.
"Thanks, guys!" Scootaloo slung her satchel around her neck; Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom followed suit.
The three friends parted ways. On her scooter, Scootaloo made quick time to her house. She hummed the Wonder Mare theme song as she sped through the dusk-lit streets of Ponyville.
Scootaloo parked her scooter right next to the mailbox before trotting inside. Almost immediately she was greeted by the squabbling voices of two ponies.
Dad's home? Scootaloo thought, peeking around the kitchen corner. Shortstack and Angel Pulse were head-to-head. Scootaloo kept quiet and listened to what they were saying.
"I'd never do such a thing!" Shortstack shouted. "She's just a friend!"
"Well that would explain why you never come home!" Angel retorted, flaring her wings. "Not that I care, because you don't contribute much anyways!"
"If you feel that way, fine!" Shortstack hovered in the air so that he was level with his wife. "Maybe it's better if we split up. Everything fell apart when the degenerate was born."
Angel gasped loudly. "Are you blaming me for Scootaloo's handicaps? Because I know for a fact that's all from your side of the family."
Scootaloo flattened her ears. Not this again.
"Where is the little runt, anyways?" Shortstack growled. "Shouldn't she be home from school?"
Instinct told Scootaloo to back away slowly. Which is what she did- until she slammed into the sharp edge of the staircase.
"Scootaloo!" Shortstack roared, catching sight of his daughter. "Your little friend stopped by today."
"What friend?" Scootaloo squeaked. "I was with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all day!"
"Rainbow Dash," Angel answered, disdain etched into every crevice of her face. "To think you have the audacity to tarnish our good names by spreading lies about Shortstack and I!"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Scootaloo cried. "Why was Rainbow Dash here?"
Shortstack ignored her question. "We are your parents, and it's high time you started respecting us! You never have! Disobeying every command we give you? Absolutely disgraceful!"
Through her haze of fear, Scootaloo thought, What the buck? You're barely around for me to disrespect, let alone heed your every command.
"What commands? What did Rainbow Dash do?" Scootaloo pleaded. "I don't know what's going on!"
"Shortstack and I have talked it over," Angel snarled. "You're grounded. And that includes school, too. Until you learn to watch your tongue and respect us, you're staying silent, young filly."
Hot tears were flooding Scootaloo's eyes. "Please don't do this, it's not like-"
"What did I ever do to get stuck with a family as pathetic as this?" Shortstack muttered. He shoved Scootaloo towards the stairwell. Scootaloo toppled over. "Get to your room! And don't ever think about coming out!"
Scootaloo didn't have to think twice. She scrambled up the stairs and locked the door, lest her parents come after her. She exhaled deeply, then let the tears begin to fall.
"Why are they like this?" she whispered, leaning against her bedframe. "Mom and Dad have been so apathetic before, and all of a sudden..." Scootaloo sniffed and wiped away a tear. "It's like they hate me!"
Through bleary eyes, Scootaloo stared at the scrapbook at the foot of her bed. After grading it, Cheerilee had given Scootaloo's Rainbow Dash report back.
Scootaloo picked up the scrapbook and flipped through the pages. She stopped on one of the final pages. A recent photograph showed her with Rainbow Dash, Windy Whistles, and Bow Hothoof. Windy's and Bow's smiles were radiant as they hugged Rainbow and Scootaloo.
Scootaloo furrowed her brow as she stared at the photo. I told Rainbow about my parents, and the next thing I know they're screaming their heads off at me.
"What did you do, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo whispered. She dropped the book on the ground and opened the window. It was dark, but anywhere was better than here. Even if anywhere was the cold, uninviting harshness of the night.
Windy Whistles had been asleep for thirty seconds when she awoke to a loud knocking on the door.
"I wasn't expecting anyone. Who could that be?" she muttered groggily. "Bow, can you get that?"
Bow snored and turned on his back.
Deep sleeper, Windy thought. She slid into her slippers and walked down to the front door.
"What if it's the doctor and Rainbow Dash had an accident?" Windy brainstormed as she approached the door. "I hope everything's alright." She mustered a smile and pulled the door open.
"Scootaloo?" Windy's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the filly before her. "What are you doing her, sweetie? It's past your bedtime!"
Scootaloo smiled weakly. "Can I spend the night with you?"
"Are your parents okay with that?"
Scootaloo's expression darkened and she shook her head. "I'll explain in the morning. But you've been so awesome to me, I thought maybe I could stay here."
"I..." As a mother, Windy was torn. Scootaloo's own parents had no idea where she was; that was a problem. On the flip side, Windy cared for Scootaloo like a second daughter herself, and this clearly wasn't a willy-nilly choice on Scootaloo's part. And, it might be selfish, but Rainbow had moved out, and Windy missed having somepony to mother.
"Of course, Scootaloo. You can stay with us." Windy wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo. "You can stay in Rainbow Dash's room. Do you want any bedtime snacks?"
Scootaloo sighed in relief. "Thank you so much, Windy Whistles."
"Don't worry about a thing, Scootaloo. You can tell Bow and me all the details over a nice stack of pancakes tomorrow." Windy ushered Scootaloo inside, smiling serenely.
Rainbow Dash woke up the following morning feeling antsy. Some of the anger from yesterday had faded over night, but she was still angered by Shortstack and Angel Pulse.
"For once, I don't want to go to practice," she said to herself as she pulled on her Wonderbolts goggles. "I need to see what's happened with Scootaloo!"
Still, Spitfire would have Dash's hide for skipping practice, so she arrived to practice anyways.
Maybe it was her impatience, but practice flew by. Before Rainbow knew it, she was in the locker room with the rest of the Wonderbolts. She found herself confiding in Soarin about the prior events.
"I hope they've thought about what I told them," she declared after laying out the details. "Like, how can they go on living like that? They're jerks!"
"They sound awful, Rainbow Dash," Soarin answered. "Be careful, okay?"
"That's what Applejack said!" Rainbow rolled her eyes. She slammed her locker shut as she continued, "I'll be fine; I'm a grown mare. Scootaloo's the one who needs to be careful around her parents."
Soarin smiled with understanding. "Don't underestimate her. From what you've told me—and everyone else—about her, Scootaloo is very resilient."
"Yeah, totally. See you tomorrow! Thanks for listening!" Rainbow waved to Soarin and flew off to find Scootaloo.
The first thing Rainbow noticed when she returned to Ponyville was the bright crimson bow atop Apple Bloom's head. "Apple Bloom!" she called out, diving in for a landing. Accompanying Apple Bloom was Sweetie Belle, and both fillies carried their school bags on their barrels.
"Oh, hi, Rainbow Dash," Apple Bloom said. "How are ya?"
"Pretty good. By the way, where's Scootaloo? She's normally with you guys." Rainbow folded her arms in confusion.
Sweetie Belle exchanged a glance with Apple Bloom. She stepped forward. "Actually, we were hoping you could tell us. Scoots wasn't at school today."
"What?" Rainbow's ear flicked. "Why not? Is she sick?"
"Nope. Her mom came in and asked Miss Cheerilee where Scootaloo was," Apple Bloom explained, frowning. "She was really mad, too. She wasn't screaming, but you could see it on her face."
"So that means Scootaloo isn't at home. And she wasn't at school. Where else could she be?" An uneasy feeling washed over Rainbow. "You don't think she ran away, do you? She wouldn't do that!"
"Yeah, I doubt it," Sweetie said. "Scootaloo seemed fine the past few days."
Maybe it was because of me. Oh my Celestia, what did her parents do? Rainbow thought. Her magenta irises shrank and she grimaced.
"What's wrong, Rainbow Dash?" asked Apple Bloom.
"I'm going to go now," Rainbow answered, taking flight. "I'll find Scootaloo, don't worry about her.
"Where could she have gone?" Rainbow asked herself as she flew across Ponyville. "She couldn't have hidden someplace like Sugarcube Corner the entire day." Rainbow flew over Sugarcube Corner. "Maybe Mom and Dad could help me look... Oh."
Without another word, Rainbow switched directions and headed for her parents' house.
"Ah, hi, Dashie dear!" Windy Whistles smiled at her daughter. "What brings you here?"
"Scootaloo," Rainbow answered plainly. "I want to know if she's here."
The pained look that flashed across Windy's face was confirmation enough. Windy answered, "She doesn't want to see you right now, sweetie. I'm sorry."
"What? Why? What did I do?" Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows. "Is this about confronting her parents? Because I was totally doing the right thing!"
"I know you thought you were, Rainbow." Windy glanced behind herself. "And frankly, I don't blame you. But this isn't a talk meant for you and me. It's for you and Scootaloo to have. Hold on a minute."
Windy disappeared into the household. Rainbow tapped her hoof impatiently until her mother reemerged, Scootaloo at her side.
"Scootaloo! I'm so glad to see you!" Rainbow cried. "Why are you mad?"
"You made things worse, to put it simply." Scootaloo stepped closer to Windy. "I'm not as furious as I was when I put two and two together, but I'm still pissed. What the buck were you thinking, talking to my parents like that?"
"Language," Windy warned.
"Sorry," Scootaloo said absently. Her hardened gaze focused on Rainbow. "They hate me now. Before, they didn't really care. Disappointed, maybe. But it wasn't hard to deal with. I got home last night, and Dad was threatening to leave Mom. Over me, and what you said to them. Then he pushed me!" Scootaloo huffed and stared at the ceiling, blinking back tears. "First time in forever my parents ever touched me, and it was aggressive."
"Scootaloo..." Rainbow took a tentative step forward, but Scootaloo looked away.
"You messed everything up. None of this would be happening if you hadn't intervened. Why couldn't you have just let this go?"
"What was I supposed to do?" The words came out harsher than intended, and Rainbow winced. "You told me that your parents didn't believe in you! Like they were horrible ponies!"
"At least I could live with them! They weren't a problem! I have all the friends in the world to build me up. Their opinions don't matter. But now... I don't feel safe going back there!" Scootaloo tightened her mouth. "Good bye, Rainbow." She disappeared into the house.
Windy and Rainbow were silent.
"Do you think I'm a terrible pony, too?" Rainbow mumbled.
"No, of course not, honey," Windy answered. "You just acted a little rashly. But now the question is, how will you make it up to her?"