//------------------------------// // Speed, Cousins and More Dating // Story: Spiders and Magic: Bonds // by Masterob //------------------------------// Scootaloo made her way over to Johnny and Rainbow Dash's house in the clouds, holding a bag of baby food. It's been pretty common for Scootaloo to have this lately, since Rainbow Dash had her baby she's been more than willing to assist her and her husband. As arrived and knocked, though found it relieving that she heard no crying as little Firefly Storm has been known to do. Moments later Johnny answered the door, looking a little tired, but happy to see Scootaloo. "Sup kid, got the food?" Johnny asked. "Totally," Scootaloo said, showing off the food. "Awesome, great job kid," Johnny said, grabbing the food. "You've been a real help to us lately." "Anytime, Dash is like a sister to me after all, and I think you're pretty awesome yourself," Scootaloo said. "Way to make me feel second," Johnny said, rolling his eyes playfully. "But Dashie is pretty awesome so I won't argue there." "Come on Johnny, you know I like you a lot, I was so happy to see you and Rainbow Dash get married, you're the second best Superhero in Equestria," Scootaloo said. "Second best?" Johnny said. "Well it's gonna be hard to surpass Peter...wait is this just you or everypony?" "Well a lot of ponies think you're pretty cool and you did fight a lot, so you're pretty popular," Scootaloo said. "I do care about you, but Peter's meant a lot more to us." "Well I can't blame you, after all you've known the guy much longer than me...but I promise to be your number one hero someday Scoots," Johnny said, giving a confident smile. "After all, you're my number one filly...aside from Mayday." "Heh, looks like we both care a lot for somepony in the Parker-Sparkle family," Scootaloo said. "Hey Johnny! Is that Scootaloo with Firefly's food!?" Rainbow Dash called from the kitchen. "Yeah!" Johnny said, then gestured Scootaloo inside. "Wanna give Dashie the food?" "Sure, can I help you with Firefly in any way?" Scootaloo asked. "You can help feed her, just don't be too surprised if you end up really messy," Johnny said. "It's no trouble," Scootaloo said, coming into the home. "Not like I'm doing much anyway." "What about the Crusaders?" Johnny asked. "Apple Bloom's with Rumble and Sweetie Belle's...actually I'm not sure, maybe I'll go see her later," Scootaloo said. "But I do wanna be here for a quick moment." "You're always welcome, Dashie's little sister is also my little sister," Johnny said. "Yeah," Scootaloo said, going into the home. "I really like where you live, so much cooler than my house." "Your home doesn't look so bad," Johnny insisted. "It's plain and ordinary, and most of the time empty since my parents travel a lot," Scootaloo lamented. "Oh right, you spend most of your time living with your Aunts," Johnny said. "I love them and all, but I kinda wish my parents were around. I always found Rainbow Dash lucky for having parents that always wanna be around her and supporting her," Scootaloo said. "Even now they do, I think Dashie's getting annoyed but I think they're awesome, then again I've always been about family. The Fantastic Four isn't just a Superhero Group, it's a Superhero Family," Johnny said. "Does that make Rainbow Dash a member?" Scootaloo asked, though realized something important. "Wait, if it's 'Fantastic Four', then I guess you can't have more than four." "We can always change the name," Johnny said. "Peter did wanna join us, I told you about that right?" "Yeah, when you first came to this world," Scootaloo said. "Man, I remember when nopony liked you at all." "That's...an exaggeration," Johnny somewhat insisted. "Though what matters is that you and Rainbow Dash liked me and that's all I care about." "Of course we do," Scootaloo said. "Most ponies just don't like show offs, that's why it was hard for Trixie to make friends, in fact if it wasn't for Peter, who knows if she would have found any friends at all." "Let's give Trixie a little bit of credit, I'm sure somepony out there would have been her friend," Johnny said. The two arrived in the kitchen as Rainbow Dash placed Firefly on her chair. "Promise not to make too big of a mess kiddo." Firefly barely paid any mind to that, she simply turned to face her father. "Daddy!" Rainbow Dash gestured the two over, "Come on, let's get some food in this kid." Johnny and Scootaloo trotted over, placing the a jar of food in front of Firefly as Rainbow Dash grabbed a spoon. "Alright kid, time to eat." Rainbow Dash attempted to feed Firefly, but she turned her head away, much to her mother's annoyance. "Wow, who could have known this would happen." "Yeah, no one could have seen that coming," Johnny said sarcastically, getting a giggle from Scootaloo, again to Rainbow Dash's annoyance. "Johnny, think you can do this?" Rainbow Dash asked. "She seems to respond much easier to you." "Barely," Johnny said, trotting over with Scootaloo following. "Didn't your mom give you tips? She said you were very similar at this age, how you made messes all the time and barely wanted to eat your food." Rainbow Dash groaned "Don't say this stuff in front of Scootaloo, it's not cool," Rainbow Dash said. "Hey I won't think any less of you," Scootaloo insisted. "I was probably no different anyway." "And that's why you're my favorite Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash said. "Anyway let's hurry and feed her, your sister's coming soon." "Oh right, she's gonna leave Franklin here for a bit," Johnny said. "Your nephew? That's cool, I guess he likes this world," Scootaloo said. "More like he likes Mayday," Johnny said. "Kid's already crushing on girls, just like his uncle at that age." "Maybe we should help the kid out," Rainbow Dash said. "Who knows, Maybe could get a coltfriend at an early age." "Hey it'd be good if she had any friends, she doesn't seem very social," Johnny said. "True, she barely plays with other foals, when I was her age I had friends I did stuff with," Rainbow Dash said. "Yeah, and it's not like she can't make friends, she's got foals who like being around her, she just doesn't really seem interested in having any friends at all, I know I'm not the only one who sees this, Bobby has mentioned it a couple of times as well," Johnny said. "Yeah, we should all teach her the meaning of friendship, it is kinda what Rainbow Dash and the others do after all," Scootaloo said. "Doing awesome at it too," Johnny said. "Anyway let's get this filly fed, I don't think Franklin would want to be around for most of the attempts." At the Parker-Sparkle home, Trixie is sitting down and enjoying some tea with Scott while Flurry talked with Mayday, or at least attempted to talk with the filly. "So my mom's been really busy with her whole helping ponies love each other thing, and soon she's gonna teach me about it so one day I can be a Princess of Love, that just sounds exciting, I mean helping ponies find love sounds so fun, I can't wait to try it!" "Uh huh, sounds great Flurry," Mayday said, barely interested, much more into analyzing something she was trying to build. "So great! One day I'm gonna be a Princess of Love, and maybe one day you'll be a Princess of Friendship, we'll both be like our moms!" Flurry said, though began to wonder. "Then again, it would also be cool if you became a superhero like your dad, you can be 'Spider-Mare', doesn't that sound fun?" Mayday rolled her eyes, "Sure Flurry, totally fun." As this continued, Trixie shook her head in shame. "She's too into those devices, I blame Peter for this, he doesn't really let her interact much." "Does he even know how? Didn't he have trouble making friends?" Scott asked. "That was a long time ago, he should be good at it by now, it's how he got me as a friend, despite the fact that I tried to take his stuff, then trick him into letting me stay in this home," Trixie said. "Sneaky huh? I started out like that myself though, so I shouldn't really be talking," Scott said. "Troubled life Scott?" Trixie asked. "Sorta, I made some foolish choices, when my daughter was sick I had no way of affording the help she needed, so I kinda started 'taking' what I needed, which actually led me to the Ant Man suit I use," Scott said. "Well you had a more noble cause, you were just trying to help your daughter, I was just being petty," Trixie said. "You made a mistake, just like I did, at least both of us were able to be better than we were then," Scott said. "I mean you're part of a family that loves you, everything I talk to Peter he mentions how cool you are, that you're like his big sister." "I'm like a big sister to both of them, and an aunt to their child, so I feel pretty fulfilled at least," Trixie said. "I'll say, you do seem like a very cool and mature chick, I'm sure you'll make someone a great wife someday," Scott said. "I have no interest in marriage," Trixie said. "I'm just fine being part of this family." "Wow really?" Scott said. "Little surprised you have no interest, I thought you'd have a pony in mind already." Trixie muttered a bit, "I guess the only decent guy for me is already married." "You say something?" Scott asked. Trixie blushed a little while shaking her head. "No, not really." A few seconds later, Janet walked into the room with Spike and Cassie. "Well me and Spike are about to leave, I'm sure you can handle things on your own Trixie." "I'm still here," Scott said. "Cassie still wants to see Peter." "He won't be back til much later, maybe there's other places she can go to," Janet said, then turned to the young filly. "Though she seems to have something to keep her occupied." "These books are interesting, this one is a magic book!" Cassie said. "Well she seems happy, so I can stay, me and Trixie can handle watching two foals," Scott said. "Sounds good, well see you two later, let's go Spike," Janet said, leaving with her dragon husband. "We won't be too far, come get us if you need anything!" Spike said before shutting the door. Flurry Heart sighed blissfully, "So much romance." She turned to Mayday, "So, when are you gonna get a coltfriend?" That question actually caused Mayday to stop and glare at her cousin. "I don't need a coltfriend." Flurry looked sad, "But you're so pretty, you should find a colt to love, or a filly." "I don't need to be with anypony," Mayday said. "As long as I have my daddy then I'm happy." Flurry pouted a bit, then had an idea, one she would keep a secret for the moment, at least to Mayday. "Ok cousin Mayday, whatever you want." Fortunately for Flurry, Mayday was oblivious to her cousin's plans. Since she will be Princess of Love soon, she can be the one to help find romance for Mayday. Scott snickered at Mayday's response however, and turned to Trixie. "You set a bad example." Trixie glared, "That has NOTHING to do with me. Besides I want her to find somepony as well and not depend on her dad." "Or you can just teach her to be independent, she honestly doesn't have to get married, it obviously didn't work for me," Scott said. "What exactly happened with your marriage if I may be so bold as to ask?" Trixie asked. "It's nothing major, we just fell out of love. We still see each other and try to at least stay friends, mainly for my daughter's sake. I do wanna be in her life and I want her mother to be in her life too," Scott said. "Oh...well that's really nice of you to do, at least you're not pretending for her sake," Trixie sighed. "Like my parents did." "Your parents?" Scott asked. "What happened?" "It's hard to talk about, but sometimes I felt like I was the reason they were unhappy, since they were only together for my sake, so I ran away and never saw them again," Trixie said. Scott's eyes widened, "You what!? Why would you do that, they loved you at least, wouldn't that worry them?" "I realize what I did was stupid, that's why I promised myself I would always be with this family and never leave them," Trixie said. "Think that's why you're not interested in marriage? Because of your parents?" Scott asked. Trixie scoffed, "No, I just like the freedom of not being married. Though do you ever miss being married?" "Sometimes, I still hope to find someone else to be with. Sometimes I wish it did work out with me and Cassie's mom. I'm not saying you have to be married, it's just nice to have someone to share your life with, to wake up with everyday and let them know you love them, it's a great feeling that I'm sure you've seen up close with Peter and Twilight, so I kinda want that for you," Scott said. Trixie grabbed her hat, staring into it as she started to think about Scott's words. With a sigh she turned to the shrinking hero with a partial smile, "I get your point. Thanks Scott, you're a pretty decent guy." "That's nice to here," Scott said, turning to Flurry and Mayday. "Um, so does she realize that Mayday ignores her half the time?" "Probably, but she's persistent," Trixie said. With Peter, Twilight, Cadance and Shining Armor, the two couples did their double date at a pretty unusual place for royal couples, a small restaurant in Canterlot called the Tasty Treat. "I'm so glad we get to do this, I've been waiting so long to do something with the two of you again," Cadance said. "I feel like it's been so long since we did, I don't get to see you two that much these days, between being a Princess and a mother," Twilight said. "Same here, Mayday is growing up so well, she's such a smart young filly," Cadance said. "Obviously gets that from her mother," Shining Armor pointed out. "And Flurry is so adorable, she's so full of love and kindness," Twilight said. "A trait of her mother," Peter pointed out this time. "Basically our daughters are very much like their mothers in talents and adorableness." "Aw, you're too sweet Peter," Cadance said. Shining Armor glared, "Hey, were you just flirting with my wife?" "Why would I flirt with my sister-in-law?" Peter asked. "Kinda awkward." Twilight groaned, "Big brother, that's not very appropriate to say, Peter's just being friendly." Shining Armor huffed, "Still, he can be a bit too friendly when it comes to mares." "Hey I can be friendly with guys too, it's just easier with mares for some reason," Peter said. "Let's not discuss this please, it's been talked about over and over, it's starting to get really old and annoying," Twilight said. "Fine, I'll just ask something else that's been on my mind Peter, where exactly did you hear about this place?" Shining Armor asked. "From Rarity, she knows the owner and his daughter, nice ponies," Peter said. "The compliment is appreciated Prince Peter," a mare said, making her way over. "It's just Peter, you don't need to be formal," Peter said with a slight blush, then turned to the others. "Meet Saffron Masala, the owner's daughter." "Nice to meet you Saffron," Shining Armor said. "The pleasure is all mine," Saffron said with a bow. "It's not often I get to serve royalty." "We're just another set of customers, no need to treat us any differently," Cadance said. "Especially somepony who knows my friend Rarity," Twilight said. "Yes, she's such a nice mare, she and Pinkie Pie really helped out me and my father. How are they doing? And their husbands too?" Saffron asked. "They're fine, Rarity's actually pregnant with her first child, and Pinkie is still just Pinkie, only with a husband, who's actually more eccentric than she is," Twilight said. "Well I am happy for Rarity, perhaps I will make something for her and her husband, would you mind giving to them when you're done?" Saffron asked. "I'm sure she would really appreciate that," Twilight said. "Good, now what would the four of you like?" Saffron asked, ready to take their orders.