//------------------------------//
// A Rocky Road to a Sleepover. 
// Story: Pinkie's greatest Challenge. 
// by Lethrael 
//------------------------------//

Pinkie had helped the rearranging in the library and had said goodbye to Twilight and Spike quickly after they put the last book finally back on the shelf. Twilight wanted to keep informed of the whole adoption thing and would make a few checklists for Pinkie. And looked out for a house for her. Oh and she would talk with Caring, or even with Scootaloo, if Pinkie wanted to, of course. But the mare just shook her head, smiled and thanked her for her offer.
“I got this, Twilight.”
She hugged the unicorn one last time and galloped away. Nopony disturbed her way back to Sugarcube Corner, it was way too late for that. Sugarcube Corner was already closed and the Cakes had taken care of the twins, so they couldn't talk with Pinkie. So the mare ran upstairs and into her room. She bounced on her bed and started to whisper with Gummy. Finally she fell asleep in the middle of an argument with him.


The next few days were a mess of different activities and talks for the Partypony. She took the first train home, just as she had planned and told her family about her decision. Her parents asked her how she would imagine that, what she could do for the filly and every answer led to more questions. But her parents neither didn't mean to argue her out of it, nor did they want to force her into defensive, but rather wanted to be helpful.
“How are you able to afford the needed furniture for her?
Would you be able to tell her off?
What would you do, if she falls ill?
Can you help her, when she has problems?”
Cloudy's last question let Pinkie think for a long time and she sighed finally.
She grasped a tea cup and turned it into her hooves.
“Well I don't know. But I'll learn it, trust me.”
Her whispered answer was stopped by a warm hug and an encouraging nuzzle. She raised her head again and looked directly into her dad's eyes. Ignatious put both front hooves on his daughters shoulders and continued to look directly into her eyes.
“I can see in your eyes, that you are willing to make an effort, Pinkamena Diane Pie.
Whenever you need our help, just ask or come home.”
A warm smile appeared on his face for one short moment, but the stallion fought it down and forced a neutral expression back on his face. But Pinkie could see it staying on his face and beamed widely. She answered his gentle hug with an almost bone crushing hug of her own. The stallion just stood there and endured it for a moment, but as Pinkie didn't let him loose, he gazed to everyone in the room and sighed. 
After a few more moments one of ponies came to his aid.

This mare tapped Pinkie on the shoulder and the small pony raised her head. Finally she let loose of her father and turned around. The mare in front of her didn't smile, but in her eyes stood a hint of amusement and Limestone cleared her throat.
“Don't think, that this means, that this Scootaloo can take the farm under her hoof someday.
I will keep an eye on her as long as she is here.
I've worked too hard to let the farm fall apart. Nopony will ruin that now.”
Pinkie cocked her head, as Lime almost shouted that, but she became much softer suddenly and  nuzzled her once.
“But you've a really soft heart, sis.
I can't wait till I meet the filly.”
Limestone had a gentle smile on her face and it really was becoming to go well with her. Pinkie nodded quickly and nuzzled her back. But she leaned almost startled back, as the mare frowned again and shouted.
“But when she'll make a mess out of the farm, like she did with her room, than Celestia help me, or her, you get it?”
Pinkie nodded again and Limie grinned self satisfied. Now were just two other sisters missing and Pinkie looked to them hopefully. 

Marble squeaked, blushed and just said a:
“Mh hm.”
Pinkie smiled and nodded simply.
“Yeah, I know, Marble. I will mind it and don't forget it.
And I really believe, that you can tell her that someday.”
She bounced to her baby sister, hugged her and Marble squeaked much louder. But she stayed silent and Pinkie's smile widened.
But it faded away quickly, as she looked back to Maud. The older mare looked pervasive into her soul and even seemed to be pent up a little bit. Maud stood up and marched slowly out of the house. She looked around for something, or somepony, sighed and gazed quickly to Pinkie. She answered with a friendly smile and cocked her head. Maud sighed again and shook her head slowly. 
She looked truly worried through the room again. well worried for her at least. Somepony who didn't know her as well as Pinkie did, wouldn't pick it up. She sighed again, turned to the door and pushed it open. 
She looked around for the last time and sighed again. She gazed to Pinkie and just now the mare could understand. She wanted to go outside with her. Pinkie jumped beside her and followed her out of the house.
Maud searched the northern field and turned every rock. She even called her missed friend in her usual calm tone.
“Boulder, where are you?
It's past your bedtime. Come to me..”
Pinkie took a deep breath, bounced aside her and looked for him on her own. She even called out for him. She crossed the look with her sister and saw a hint of worry in her downcast eyes. Maud looked shortly into Pinkies eyes and the younger mare cleared her throat.
“Do you think, that I should think about that, Maud?”
She whispered the question and Maud stopped. She raised her head, drew a line on the ground and her expression became much firmer as usual. Again a pony, who didn't know her wouldn't see any kind of change, but Pinkie saw it clearly.
“You know, Pinkie. The responsibility for a filly is almost overwhelming.
Even my responsibility for Boulder is...”
Maud fell silent, as she spotted a rock, who blazed in the moonlight. She approached him, lifted him gently out of the field and snuggled him closely. She even fondled him with the other hoof and whispered.
“There you are, Boulder. I was worried sick.
You can't stay outside so long.”
Maud faced Pinkie again and sighed. Pinkie smiled gently and licked her lips. Maud put the rock under her frock and waved absent minded over the spot where her friend touched her coat.
She turned completely to Pinkie and a smile returned shortly on her face. But it faded away, as the mare spoke up firmer and  her eyes wandered higher to the moon.
“You know, you should really learn more about the filly, before you decide to take care of her.
What do you know about her?
Why was she in the orphanage in the first place?
Can you imagine, why her room was so messy?”
Pinkie listened carefully, looked to the moon on her own and cuddled up to her older sister. The older mare laid a hoof around her and Pinkie sighed. She returned the hug and both sisters just stood  under the full moon for a few moments. Pinkie needed that to think for an answer. Finally she whispered and drew a circle on the sandy ground.

“I know...well she lived in Ponyville for a long time and well...her chaos is eventually, no it is unhealthy for her.
But I, you know, shouldn't I ask her that?”
Maud let loose of Pinkie, looked at her for a long time and brushed over her mouth. She thought for a while and nodded finally.
“Maybe this would be best.
But what would you do, when Scootaloo doesn't want to talk about it?”
Pinkie bounced in front of her sister, put both front hooves on her shoulders and spoke up very firmly.
“I shouldn't push her and...what should I do instead?”
She fell silent and came back on all four hooves quickly. Maud took a deep breath and turned to the house again. She whispered too and sighed a few times.
“There is no easy, or right way to do it, Pinkie.
You have to listen to yourself and just do, what you believe could help her.
And this can be for one time, that you leave her alone.
For another time it is, that you push a little bit, or that you talk with another pony.”
Pinkie looked first really confused to her, but as she remembered her talks with Caring and Scootaloo, she started to nod.
“So I have to try and if it's wrong, it isn't so bad, right?”
Maud stopped walking and sighed deeply. She turned to Pinkie, looked to her and shook her head slowly.
“No Pinkie. It is very bad, when you make a mistake there.
The filly could decide to not trust you any more, when you push her to far.
Or she could think, that you can't help her, or...”
Pinkie opened her mouth very worried and started to sweat. She hadn't think of it that way.
What if Scootaloo didn't trust her already, because she hadn't given her the letter?
Or when she didn't like, that she was in her room without permission?
Or when the doll was very important to her, or when..
Her thoughts were interrupted by Maud's calming hoof. The mare hugged her gently and stopped her trembling.
“Don't worry, you hadn't done anything irreversible wrong till now.”
Pinkie breathed out very relaxing and returned the hug. She nestled closer to Maud and closed her eyes.

The way back to Ponyville was very short and in Pinkie's mind twirled the many things around, she wanted to do next. But this blurred into a parallel of talks with different ponies and an even bigger chaos of statements.
First the Cakes were very unsecure, if Pinkie would be able to handle the work shifts, the protecting of the world and a filly at the same time.
And Pinkies answers, that she had to see it for herself, weren't helpful to convince them from the opposite.
Applejack was almost worse, than the Cakes, but way easier to please after all. She asked Pinkie, if she was simply able to cook something else than pies. So Pinkie proved, that she was able to do so. She made her a good daisy sandwich at first and the vegetable soup after that was even delicious by Applejack's high taste. 
After all there were ponies, who didn't like cakes and pies and so Pinkie had to make something spicy for there parties to please them. Her pizzas for example were also delicious. So she was able to dispel Applejack's doubts in this area quite easily and both earthponies stayed on good hooves to each other.
“So, when ya need some help with the movin', just ask me, will ya?
And I'm sure, Big Mac and Apple Bloom 'll help too.”

Pinkie smiled, as she remembered Applejack's last words and took a deep breath. She stood actually outside the orphanage on the playground and looked to the house. She just had to wait.
It was the next Saturday, in the morning and she had to wait for Scootaloo, for their first sleepover.
She had spoken with Caring the other day and the mare didn't deny the overnight stay. But she had said, that this didn't mean, that Scootaloo would be adopted by her right now.
It was the first step to get to know her better and Pinkie wouldn't botch it, right? Right?
She paced nervously around and thought, that wouldn't it be better to go inside. She put a hoof on the door sill, but heard Carings voice again.
“No, you should wait outside.
I'll talk with her and ask, if she want to make the sleepover.
Trust me.”
Pinkie turned away from the door and paced again over the playground. She gazed to the door, but nopony stepped out.
“What should I do, when she doesn't want to?
What should I do, when she liked her doll really much and I...”
She sighed loudly, turned away from the house and pressed her ears on the head. The first reserved step was followed quickly by another and with every step a slice of joy escaped Pinkie. Her mane went flat after a few steps and after a few more her smile faded completely away. She left the playground and sighed again. Scootaloo wouldn't come, surely she was...	
A sound from the door drew her attention back to it, sure she was miles away right now and she couldn't possible hear it, but she heard it anyway. Somepony pushed down the handle, this could only mean. Pinkie raised her head, smiled widely and her mane puffed into her old fluffyness again. She bounced back to the door and was there, before it was completely open. So she wasn't so far away, as she thought she was.
The door opened slowly and a small orange filly with purple mane walked out as slowly as the door opened. She had a huge saddlebags on her side and a convoluted sleeping bag on her back. A small forced smile stayed on her face. Pinkie was easily able to see the true meaning behind her smile of course.
The filly was in equal parts, unsecure, anxious, bugged and confused at the same time. Pinkie bounced quickly closer to her, but stopped before she would hug Scootaloo and drew lines on the ground nervously. She took a deep breath and swallowed a huge lump down her throat. Finally she opened her mouth, but Scootaloo was faster.
“I want to say, I'm sorry.
You know, Pinkie, I was so angry, that I couldn't read the letter.
And I...”
The filly just whispered and looked down to her own drawing hooves. She took a deep breath and tried to widen her smile, but she wasn't able to do so. It faded away and got lost in an unsecure expression, as she raised her head and looked to Pinkie. 
The mare opened her mouth again, but bit her lips, as she saw that Scootaloo searched for more words. Pinkie chewed her own words down and cocked her head to encourage Scootaloo to speak.
“So Caring said, you want to make a sleepover with me.
As a try to get to know me better?”
Scootaloo sounded still a little bit unsure and between sixes and sevens. But her grin widened, as Pinkie nodded. She bounced away and smiled full of expectation to the little filly.
“That's right. I thought we should bring your staff into my room and then I show you...”
Scootaloo knitted her brows, pressed her ears against her head and made finally a confused expression. Her right front hoof kicked a stone away and drew than lines on the ground.
“Y...you know, I don't know.
Do you think, we're getting well along?
You surely have more fun with somepony else and...”
Scootaloo sounded so false and she bit her lips so harshly, that she yelped, as she fell silent.

Pinkie shook her head quickly, bounced closer and leaned over Scootaloo. She whispered to her.
“You know, we can just do what you like most.
But for that we have to bring your sleeping bag in my room, too.
Than you can tell me, what you wanted to do today and we just do it, okay?”
Pinkie spoke in a hasty tone and in the end she sounded really excited. Her energy passed over to Scootaloo a little bit and the filly smiled. She stroke her chin with a hoof and nodded finally.
“Well, okay.
I was never in your room actually.
And I...you know, it would be nice, when Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle could simply join in the Sleepover.”
Pinkie sighed, licked her lips and shook her head finally.
“Sweetie Belle is in Canterlot right now.
And I think Apple Bloom uhm...I have to ask Applejack.”
The mare sounded very soft and tried to hug Scootaloo, but the filly shied away. She didn't seem to refuse the hug, but rather was a little bit reluctant to let Pinkie hug her so fast. Pinkie stopped, the hoof half raised and rethought it again. Should she push a little bit, or should she let Scootaloo a little bit space. She didn't find an answer quick and just stood still. 
Scootaloo sighed and rolled her eyes. She shook herself and raised her head again. Finally she approached Pinkie slowly and pushed her hoof down with her own. Scootaloo took a deep breath than and turned around to the door of the orphanage. She took one step closer and mumbled a few sentences.
“I just don't know, Pinkie.
I've never imagined you as one of my parents and well.
I don't think, that we're going to be a good family.
I can't imagine how you are as a Mum and...”
Scootaloo took more steps closer to the door and raised a hoof. She sighed, as she touched the door finally. She pushed the handle slowly down and shook her head.
“This is just a crazy idea.
I shouldn't have come...”
Pinkie hugged her quickly, but Scootaloo sidestepped, jumped away and fled finally. Fortunately she wasn't quite as fast as she could be, with her heavy saddlebags and the other heavy load on her back, so Pinkie was able to keep up with her.

They galloped side by side through Ponyville, bolted past blooming fields and reached finally a few ancient apple trees. They ran through an apple orchard and the smell of apples with the colour of the yellow autumn foliage pleased Pinkie and she smiled. It was great to run here and it was a really good idea from Scootaloo to come here. Scootaloo started to sweat and breathed heavily under the burden of her saddle bag, but she shut her eyes closed and galloped further.
She ran deeper into the orchard and left the way with a hard turn, but Pinkie circled around the next old tree and followed her again.
Scootaloo jumped over a small stream and stumbled on the other side. She banged with her nose on the ground and braced completely with her face. 
Quite opposite to Pinkie, who landed safely on her four hooves. She just bounced further and  heard a suppressed yell and an incomprehensible curse. Pinkie expected, that Scootaloo would pick up herself and ran again, so she ran ahead. But Scootaloo didn't stand up and stayed where she had felt. She took hastily breaths and tucked up her hooves closer, even a low sob escaped her. 
Pinkie stopped directly in front of a thorny thicket and turned around quickly. Scootaloo laid where she had landed and took deep breaths. She trembled and tried to get back on her hooves, but she was way to worn out. Pinkie approached her slowly and laid down beside the exhausted filly. Scootaloo mumbled between her deep breaths.
“I just wanted...you know...I can...”
Pinkie laid slowly a hoof around the filly, hesitantly first, but finally she leaned against the smaller body. She nuzzled her mane encouraging and whispered.

“One step after the other, Scootaloo.
We don't meet today to see what happens when you will live with me.
Caring has said it's just a sleepover to get to know each other  better.
But when you want to sleep in your own bed, rather than in my room, we can...”
Scootaloo raised her bruised face and shook quickly her head. She searched the eyes of the mare and sniffed quietly.
“No...I want to try this!”
She almost yelled it and brushed away a little bit of the dirt and a few secretly forming tears from her face. She blushed and turned her head away again. Pinkie beamed and waited till Scootaloo was ready to stand up and go back.
But the filly surprised her with an unsuspected action. She nestled to her and even nuzzled her chest hesitantly.
“Thanks Pinkie.”
The mare looked surprised down to the filly, who had her eyes shut and breathed deeply to recover again. Her face seemed to be covered with hurtful bruised and was stained, but at the same time it seemed to be calmer and more relaxed Pinkie had ever seen before. The mare raised her hoof, but stopped midway and put it back to the ground. She looked over the little filly, smiled gently and mumbled to herself.
“One step after the other, Pinkamena Diane Pie.”
She sighed and nestled against Scootaloos head to wait, till she was ready to walk again.