A small sigh escaped Twilight as she looked down at her mug and saw that it was empty. Her gaze flicked towards her normally neat and tidy desk where a sea of documents laid sprawled out in every direction before returning to her mug. Instantly her horn lit up, the mug floating away to the coffee maker on the other side of the room for a refill, while her attention returned to what was important. Normally the mare would prefer something more relaxing like tea or hot cider, but right now she needed the state of alert that only hot coffee could provide.
While her horn was occupied at the moment, Twilight picked up the document she had been reading with her hooves. This one, like many of the other documents before her, pertained to Scootaloo in some way. Things like report cards, medical records, and any other document Ms. Foster had on the filly that had been kept in a file cabinet in the other mare’s office. In the day and a half since Scootaloo had come to stay at Twilight’s, the Princess of Friendship had been going over them in her free time. Mostly while Scootaloo was in school.
The document currently in her hooves was one of Scootaloo’s medical records taken back when she was much younger. Unlike the others she had already looked at, this one came from a specialist who dealt with pegasi disabilities. Apparently Ms. Foster had been recommended to see this specialist after some worrying test results on Scootaloo’s wings. And, sadly, the findings showed that something was wrong with Scootaloo’s pegasi magic. If she was reading it correctly (and Twilight was very confident that she was), while the flow of magic was normal in her hooves and would allow her to walk on clouds, it was a different story where her wings were concerned. Since Scootaloo was still a foal, the specialist was hopeful that in time her body could correct this problem since she was still young. If not, unless there were more advances in magical medical skills to correct something like this, she would have to live with the idea of never flying again.
As Twilight set the document down her coffee mug floated onto the coaster. As it sat there, Twilight began to ponder about this troubling information. From what she knew off hoof, there was a chance that Scootaloo’s condition might have been caused by her parentage. Normally a foal born of mixed tribes gets either the father’s or the mother’s magic. However, in very rare cases, situations like Scootaloo’s do show up. There might be some genetic disorder or something like that from Scootaloo’s father’s side that could cause it, meaning Twilight would have to start looking through her books.
Slowly, Twilight levitated the mug up to her mouth and blew on the hot liquid as she began to think of possible ways to help her sister. The first pony who came to mind was Zecora who seemed to have a potion for everything. However, there would be a chance that she might not be able to help. If she did know of a potion that could help Scootaloo, why hadn’t she offered it to the filly who wanted desperately to fly? Was it because she didn’t know what exactly was wrong with her or was it because the ingredients were very rare? Had there been any new medical breakthroughs? Perhaps she could send Princess Celestia a letter, asking if she knew of any.
As Twilight took a sip of her coffee, her eyes glanced at another document. One that she had been reading over and over again. It seemed that Ms. Foster had kept records on how every filly and colt came to stay at her orphanage. Perhaps it was in case the parents ever came back for their foal or something of that nature. Twilight had hoped this might give her more information on who Scootaloo’s father was or if her mother had been the one to drop her off. However, what Twilight found was unpleasant to say the least. Scootaloo had been found near the edge of the Everfree Forest the morning after a horrible storm. Ponies had heard the crying filly, soaking wet, and found her in a cloud foal carrier with her name on it. The sheriff at the time checked the hospital to see in any pegasi foals had been born that matched her colors and age to find nothing. He…he thought it very likely that she had been abandoned.
Lowering the mug so she could take a breath to calm herself, Twilight tried her best to banish the notion that her mother might have done that. It was just too hard to believe that her mother, who stayed in the school dorms when Twilight was sick with a cold for a week, might have done something so monstrous. She didn’t want to think that anypony could do something like that. But it was looking like it could be a possibility.
Setting down her mug, Twilight shifted gears as she looked at the other thing that was on her desk: a pile of pictures. The night Scootaloo had moved in, Twilight had sent Moondancer a letter via Spike asking her to look through her old home in Canterlot for any pictures of her parents that were still there. She hadn’t gone into the details of why, just stating that it was an important and personal matter. And just this morning, Moondancer had what she had found special delivered to the princess.
Twilight had hoped to find something as she looked at every picture Moondancer had sent. Some pegasus stallion that appeared in multiple pictures over the years that she had previously overlooked. That wasn’t the case. Nearly all of them were family only with a few showing Twilight with her nose in her book surrounded by her Canterlot friends.
With a huff, Twilight realized she should have expected this. She wished she had paid more attention to her parents’ small get togethers when she was a foal or paid more attention to their co-workers. Scootaloo’s father could be a pegasus who worked at Night Light’s publishing company or could have served with Velvet when she was a specialist in the EUP. Of course she reminded herself that the stallion she was looking for could also have been a one night stand Velvet met at a café or something.
A sudden small knock on the door shook Twilight from her thoughts. Before she could open her mouth to ask who it was, the door opened and Spike’s head appeared through the crack.
“Hey Twilight,” he said looking slightly nervous. “Cheerilee is here to see you.”
Twilight blinked. “Oh,” she said as she got to her hooves. “Ok then. Send her in.” Spike nodded before pulling his head back. The door then fully opened as Cheerilee walked in with a worried look on her face.
“I’m sorry to bother you princess,” said the school teacher as she approached Twilight. “Is Scootaloo home?”
“Ah,” began Twilight as she glanced at the clock in the corner of the room. She had thought it was closer to noon, but apparently it was almost four in the afternoon. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“I see,” said Cheerilee as she looked away, sighing as she did so. When she turned to look back at Twilight, her expression was firm. “I’m sorry I have to do this during what I’m sure is a difficult time for both you and Scootaloo, but this needs to be done. It’s about Scootaloo’s performance in school.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow that this. “Is she struggling?” asked the princess. Cheerilee shook her head.
“It feels more like she’s disinterested,” replied the school teacher. “She is paying attention in class, I can see that. But when it comes to the work, well, for the last couple of months she’s been giving either half hearted answers or none at all. The only time she puts any real effort into anything is when she can link it to Rainbow Dash. If this keeps up she’ll have no choice but to either go to summer school or repeat the year.”
“I had no idea,” said Twilight as her hoof touched the side of her head.
“I am doing all I can to help her,” continued Cheerilee. “This week I gave her some extra credit work. However, when she came back to school it wasn’t completed. Under normal circumstances I would have talked to you right away, but given what you two are going through I assumed it had been forgotten in the excitement. So I talked to her after class and told her that I was going to give her another chance to complete it. That I wanted to see it to be on my desk the next morning.” Cheerilee paused to let out a sigh. “As you can probably guess, it wasn’t there.”
“I wish I had known,” said Twilight as she glanced over at her desk for a moment. “If I had, then I would have made sure she did it.”
“Well, here’s your chance,” said Cheerilee. “I told her I’d give her one more chance to get it done. Since today is Friday, I’m going to ask that she spends this weekend on her assignment which now has a minimum length of four pages. If she doesn’t, then I’m afraid my hooves are tied. I can’t keep giving her chances that she’s letting pass her by.”
“I understand,” said Twilight as she gestured to the door. Together, the two mares began to walk out of Twilight’s study and into the main hallway. “I’ll find her and make sure she gets it done.”
-x-
“Oh where is she,” muttered Twilight as she galloped through Ponyville. As ponies moved out of the princess’s path, Twilight scanned the streets for any sign of her sister.
For the last two hours she had searched through the town, starting first at the home of Sweetie Belle’s parents in the hope that the CMC had gone there. Not finding Scootaloo there, Twilight flew towards Sweet Apple Acres, scanning the roads as she did so for any signs of the trio. The first thing she did when she got there was to ask Granny Smith if she had seen them, however the old mare shook her head. After that, Twilight zoomed across the orchard as quickly as she could, nearly crashing into several trees in the process and scaring many squirrels. Naturally she also checked the club house which was also devoid of Scootaloo.
Now that she was back in town, worry was beginning to seep into the alicorn as she continued to find no sign of her sister. It had never occurred to her before to ask Scootaloo if she was heading out with her friends after school or when she would be home. She had never had to do that with Spike after all. But, then again, Spike usually stayed at her place while she was out and about. Shaking her head, Twilight knew she would have to think about things like this in the future. She didn’t want there to be an emergency and for her to not know where Scootaloo was!
Coming to a crossroad, Twilight paused in the middle of it. Her hooves continued to move however as she looked around in every direction. Down one road lead to the more residential area of Ponyville where she had been a short while ago. Another road would take her close to the school which she doubted Scootaloo would be. That left the last road which had shops running down as far as her eyes could see. One of those shops, which stood out among the rest was Sugarcube Corner. And in front of it were two familiar faces who might be able to help her. So, in a desire to get to them as quickly as possible, Twilight teleported right next to them.
“AAAHHH,” cried Rarity as she jumped back while dropping the cupcake she had been holding with her magic.
“Twi, what the hay?” cried Applejack as she too was startled. And they weren’t the only ones. All around them, ponies had jumped at the princess’s sudden teleportation. Many had dropped what they were carrying and some cried out in shock.
“Have either of you seen Scootaloo?” asked Twilight, not thinking about apologizing at the moment. She didn’t even notice that both of her friends had gone from annoyed and startled to looking concerned. “I’ve been looking everywhere and I can’t find her!”
“Whoa there now,” said Applejack in a tone meant to calm her down. “Simmer down Sally, simmer down. Ah think ya might need ta take a breath.”
“Or perhaps visit the spa to relieve some of that tension,” added Rarity as her horn began to glow and pulling out several twigs from Twilight’s mane that she didn’t even know were there. “Trust me darling, it will do you a world of wonders.”
“I can’t go to the spa right now!” shouted Twilight as Rarity continued to fix up Twilight’s mane and tail with her magic. “I’m worried about Scootaloo!”
“Oh that’s right,” said Rarity as her eyes glittered with excitement. “Scootaloo’s your sister now. It’s been the talk of the town of late. I would have been over to congratulate you, but I just finished a very important order for-”
“Rarity!” shouted Twilight again, this time stomping her hoof on the ground. “Focus! Have you seen Scootaloo?”
“Calm down Twi,” said Applejack as she stepped in between her two friends. “Ah understand you’re worried about your new kin, but Scootaloo ain’t no foal. She can take care of herself just fine. Plus she has Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle with her.”
“I know but-” began Twilight, only to be interrupted when Applejack moved beside her and wrapped a foreleg around her neck. As Twilight looked at her country friend, she saw a calm and confident look in Applejack’s eyes.
“Ah know you're new to all this an’ it can feel mighty overwhelming,” began Applejack in what sounded like the beginning to a long speech. That was halted as the Cutie Mark Crusaders approached the sweet shop. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were walking along with Scootaloo circling around them on her scooter. As soon as Twilight spotted her sister, she freed herself from Applejack’s foreleg to approach the filly.
“Scootaloo, I’ve been looking all over Ponyville for you,” she stated as Scootaloo came to a halt. “Where were you?”
“We were just helping out a colt find his special talent,” said Scootaloo with a dismissive shrug. “It’s no big deal really.”
“And it never occurred to you to let me know where you were?” demanded Twilight, her eyes narrowing so fiercely that Scootaloo’s friends backed away slowly with their heads lowered. Yet Scootaloo seemed unmoved by this.
“I’ve never had to tell anypony what I was doing before,” replied the filly with a trace of annoyance in her voice as she looked back at Twilight. “Plus you never told me I needed to when I moved in with you.”
Twilight’s eyes softened at that. It was true. She had spent most of her time with the filly helping her to become comfortable with the idea that they were now family that the idea of establishing rules had yet to occur to her. Mainly because, like Applejack had said, Scootaloo knew how to take care of herself fairly well. That and she had always been respectful whenever she visited the castle. Right now, Twilight knew that she was at fault in this instance.
Still, Twilight’s eyes narrowed once more. “Do you know why I was looking for you?” she demanded. “Cheerilee paid me a visit today to talk about your grades! And that you have a paper due on Monday!”
Scootaloo let out a groan as she hung her head. “Oh come on Twilight,” she said when she looked back up. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I’ve got all weekend to do it.” As if thinking that the subject was closed, Scootaloo tried to go around Twilight. She didn’t get far, however, for Twilight lifted her and the scooter into the air and set her back down in front of the irritated alicorn.
“I might have believed that if this wasn’t the third time she asked you to do the same paper,” snapped Twilight. “Not to mention the fact that you’re in danger of going to summer school or being held back!” This earned a worried gasp from both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. While Twilight’s focus was on Scootaloo, she could still see the worried expressions on the other two fillies in the corner of her vision. “Now, we are going to go back to the castle and work on this paper together. Then, we are going to start setting some time aside each day for study sessions to help you get back on track.”
Scootaloo’s eyes widened at that. “B-But what about my Crusading?” she demanded. “And practicing my scooter tricks?”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to cut back on them for a while,” said Twilight, her voice calming down a tad upon seeing the hurt look on the filly’s face. Twilight knew how important it was to begin working on your special talent as soon as possible as well as being with your friends. However, without a decent education, there would be a limit to how far you could go. She just needed to help Scootaloo realize this. “Until your grades improve I want you to head to the castle right after school so we can-”
“No,” interrupted the filly, her eyes narrowed in defiance. “You’re not the boss of me!”
For a moment, Twilight stared back at Scootaloo in shock with her mouth hanging open. She had no idea what had come over the filly she had known for some time now. What could have caused her to behave like this? However, that question was squashed in an instant as something snapped within Twilight. Her eyes narrowed again as her wings extended to their full height.
“Yes. I. Am.” Each word she spoke rung with power and authority the likes of which the Princess of Friendship had never used before. It shocked those closest to her, but what shocked them even more was what she did next. With her horn glowing with magical power she lifted Scootaloo and her scooter into the air before taking to the sky.
-x-
“I can’t believe you did that!” shouted Scootaloo. The trip back to the castle had lasted only a few minutes which the filly had spent trying to break free of Twilight’s hold. It was only when they had passed through the main door of the castle was she given her wish. Now the two of them stood in the main entrance hall as Scootaloo glared daggers at the older mare. “That had to be the most uncool thing that’s ever happened to me! And for what? Some stupid school work that isn’t important?”
“I’m not the one who put you in that situation,” said Twilight with a frown. “If you had done your homework the first or even the second time, none of this would have happened. And school is important.”
“Maybe for eggheads like you,” snapped Scootaloo. “And that’s not what I want to be like.” Twilight felt her eye twitch as her emotions began to boil again, yet did her best to keep herself under control. The last thing she wanted right now was for both of them to explode onto each other.
“I’m just looking out for you,” said Twilight, doing her best to keep her voice calm and even. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, snorted.
“Yeah right,” she said, her eyes rolling. “You never cared all that much before you found out we were sisters.”
“That’s because you weren’t my responsibility,” said Twilight as she took a step closer. “I had very little say over how you lived your life. There is also the fact that I didn’t know how bad things were going for you at school until today! But now that we’re family, I just want you to succeed and do well.”
“Well,” began Scootaloo before she paused, most likely trying to think of a good way to counter Twilight. “Well, it’s my life! I’m not going to waste it doing stupid math problems and writing lame reports about ponies who no longer matter! And you can’t make me!”
Twilight stared at the filly in shock, surprised again by the ways Scootaloo was acting. But that lasted only for a split second before a different emotion took over while her horn began to glow. Before Scootaloo realized what was happening, her prized scooter was glowing the same color before it was lifted into the air. The filly let out a howl of rage, trying to jump up and reach it with her wings flapping with all her might. Yet it wasn’t enough to reach it. Scootaloo continued to jump in vain, always being about a head too short, while yelling at Twilight to give it back. For her part, Twilight ignored her as the scooter flew across the room and into a closet that shut the very instant it was inside followed by the door locking. The princess watched as Scootaloo jumped onto the door and grabbed the door handle in an effort to open it with no success.
“Give it back!” shouted Scootaloo as she continued to try and open the door. “That’s my scooter!”
“You’ll get it back when you finish that paper correctly,” stated Twilight firmly. For a bit, she watched as Scootaloo struggled with the door a bit more before finally giving up. She landed back on the floor to glare daggers at her older sister.
“This isn’t fair,” snarled the filly.
“Actions have consequences,” responded Twilight as she marched in front of her sister. “You chose not to do your school work and your grades suffered. You chose to ignore Cheerilee’s warning as well as the help she offered you so she had to come to me. Even now, with all that, you still don’t seem to understand how bad the situation you are in is. So, as your big sister, I will do what I have to in order to help you.”
Scootaloo said nothing, just continuing to glare at Twilight as she spoke. When she had finished talking, the small pegasus stared at her for a few more minutes before wordlessly turning around and heading upstairs to where her room was. It didn’t take long for Twilight flinch when she heard the door slam shut, its sound echoing through the castle.
Then, Twilight lowered her head as she let out a long sigh. For a while, Twilight remained in place with the only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock. When Scootaloo had first arrived, it looked like they were forming a bond and getting along. But now…
Could she of handled this better somehow? Twilight bit her lower lip as she mulled over this question. She was sure that she had a handle on things when Scootaloo came to live with her. After all, she had raised Spike and he was more of a little brother to her than a son. So if she could raise a baby dragon with no help from Celestia and no help from books than she felt certain she could do the same for Scootaloo. Perhaps it was that mindset that was her downfall this day. She could have consulted books on how to be the best big sister she could be rather than searching through photos looking for Scootaloo’s mystery father. She could have consulted Applejack or Rarity sooner for advice. She could have spent more time with Scootaloo, trying to figure out what was going on in her life.
Deep down, Twilight felt like she had failed to be a Big Sister Best Friend Forever.
“Howdy Twi,” came the soft voice of Applejack behind her. Slowly Twilight raised her head to see not only her but also Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom.
“Hey girls,” said Twilight, the misery in her voice clear.
“We’re so sorry that things happened the way they did in town darling,” said Rarity as she approached the sad alicorn. “Not to mention our behavior. I had no idea things were going so poorly for Scootaloo. No wonder you were worried.”
Applejack nodded. “My head would have been hotter than a skillet on a stove if ah heard that Apple Bloom was being a lazy daisy in class. Don’t know what’s going on in that filly’s head.” The apple farming mare then turned her attention to the fillies still present. “Did ya all know this was going on?”
“No, we didn’t,” said Sweetie Belle as Apple Bloom shook her head. “I mean, we never really saw Scootaloo doing her homework unless she was trying to write a paper about Rainbow Dash. And we knew Ms. Cheerilee was giving her extra homework, but we didn’t know why!”
“It’s ok everypony,” said Twilight with a sigh. “The only pony who failed is me.”
“Now darling you can’t possibly mean that,” said Rarity. “You and Scootaloo just moved in together so you couldn’t possibly know everything that was going on in her life. Why, even I don’t know everything that happens with Sweetie Belle and we do have our fair share of arguments. Just think of this as more of a teeny tiny bump in the road that almost got dirt on your mane.” The fashionista mare shuddered at the thought.
“Rarity is right,” said Applejack. “Ya only fail if ya plain give up. An givin’ up ain’t something Twilight Sparkle does.”
“But after the fight we just had, I’m sure that Scootaloo will never trust me again,” argued Twilight.
“Twilight, dear, me and Sweetie Belle have at least three arguments a month,” said Rarity.
“Sometimes more,” chimed Sweetie Belle. “Like last night when I walked in on Rarity when she was applying her fake-”
“Yes, yes we get it,” Rarity quickly cut in with her cheeks burning red while also casting a glare at the smaller white filly. “However, once we understand where the other is coming from we usually get over it pretty quick. Once Scootaloo realizes that you’re looking out for her the way a good big sister is supposed to do then I’m sure she’ll come around.”
“I’m not so sure,” said Twilight as she shook her head. “I tried talking to her when we go back, but she didn’t seem to want to listen. So I took away her scooter until she finished that paper.”
Rarity and Applejack looked at each other for a moment before the apple mare moved closer to Twilight. “Sugarcube, I reckon that might have been for the best,” she said. “Honestly, ah would have done the same thing myself. But maybe laying down one of them olive branches might not be such a bad idea either. Ah mean, Scootaloo, she’s used ta having a lot of free rein in her life so maybe she’s acting out ta protect her freedom. Maybe do something that shows ya care about her without slacking off with her punishment.”
“And maybe later we can find out what’s going on with Scootaloo,” added Apple Bloom as Twilight placed a hoof under her chin in thought.
Suddenly, Twilight’s face lit up. She knew just what kind of olive branch she needed! And it would begin with a letter to Princess Celestia.