//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 First Night // Story: The Story Of Rainbow // by thedarktome //------------------------------// "So when are we leaving?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow as all four of them walked around town that night. Fluttershy, Rainbow, Sweetie Drops, and the newest addition, Scootaloo, who was looking around uncertainly, walking in between Rainbow's front hooves. "We're just going for a nightly stroll," Rainbow answered before looking down to Scootaloo. "You okay down there? You're squirming." "I'm f-fine," she lied. "It's just a little dark, nothing that I can't handle." Rainbow rolled her eyes before stopping. She pushed the little filly out between her legs before bending down. "Get on Scootaloo," she ordered. The filly looked at her back uncertainly before jumping on, settling behind her crown on her neck. "Feeling better? If something comes out of the dark, you have Sweetie Drops, Fluttershy, and myself to protect you, okay?" "O-okay. But don't tell the others I'm afraid of the dark, got that?" She demanded, pointing and making the adults chuckle. "I won't speak a word. Now where were we? Oh yeah. We're just going for a stroll to get the music and whatnot out of our system. Scootaloo hasn't been to the castle yet, so we'll stop there and settle in. You okay with that, Squirt?" "Yup!" "Good. You're hungry aren't ya?" "Yup!" The adults laughed again while they continued to trek towards the castle. Soon they made it at the gates, the guards opening them to let the four in, walking towards the castle. "Tomorrow, we're choosing the advisory committee, and then Rarity wants to do something, I don't know," Rainbow groaned out. "It's gonna be exhausting. What are you doing tomorrow, Scoots?" "I have no idea," she replied tiredly from atop Rainbow's neck. "Maybe just run around a little." The walked into the housing section, making Scootaloo look around in wonder. "Whoooooooaaaaa." "I take it you like it. We're going to the dining hall." The princess and Fluttershy turned right into the residential hall before turning left into another bare hall. "This castle needs paint and photographs. I'll have someone work on it." "It looks fine...I lied, no it doesn't," the orange filly said. "Totally not awesome." Fluttershy snorted, making the two look at her before the guards by the dining hall open the door. "She sounds so much like you, Dashie," Fluttershy giggled. "What can I say? I influence the foals." Scootaloo looked at the huge dining hall, taking note of the seven cakes sitting in plastic containers on the table. "Why is there so much cake?!" She asked unbelievably, jumping down from Rainbow's head. "Dashie takes after her mother so...she loves her cake," Fluttershy answered. "Let's get you in something higher to sit on." The timid pegasus looked around the room, seeing absolutely nothing in there. "Let her sit on the table," Dash asked, cutting a slice of cake. "It won't hurt. Or lrt her sit on the demon bunny who just tried throwing a rock at the back of my head." Fluttershy gasped and looked behind her marefriend to see the white rabbit glaring at Rainbow. "That. Is. IT!" Angel yelped and turned just in time to see Fluttershy pick him up with her teeth. She trotted away and out of the hall, carrying angel into a small room in the castle. "Is she always like that?" Scootaloo asked, watching as Rainbow cut her a slice. "More or less," she responded, releasing the butter knife from her magical grip. "Only when she's upset. Now, I'll have a bed made for you downstairs. I also have-" "Ummm, Rainbow?" She said carefully, rubbing her hooves together nervously. "I'd...ummmm...Is it okay if...." "You wanna sleep with us tonight?" "Yeah." "Nightmares?" The nervous filly nodded her head. "I actually expected that, little buddy. Of course you can sleep with us. Sweetheart? Scootaloo's sleeping with us tonight!" "And what about our plans?" Fluttershy asked, sitting across from Scootaloo. "Remember when I told you what was going to happen tonight?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow confusedly, making Fluttershy groan before she started licking her cheek. "Eeeewwww!" Scootaloo said, covering her eyes. "So you two are dating? I was not expecting that!" "Yeaaahhh, I fogot to mention that," Rainbow said sheepishly, nuzzling her marefriend. "She likes her Dashie." "I've noticed." Fluttershy laughed before reaching out and pulling the filly into a hug. "Hey! Hey, let me go!" "Nope!" Fluttershy said, chuckling and nuzzling the filly. "You need someone to love you and you will get your love. So stop squirming and accept this." Scootaloo eventually let her coddle him, just basking in her embrace as she nuzzled her cheek every now and then. Rainbow looked on in happiness, smiling at the smiling Pegasus trapped fluttershy's hooves. "I think it's time for little fillies to go to sleep," she said quietly, not wanting to completely ruin the moment. "Awww, Rainbowwwww," Scootaloo groaned. "I don't wanna-" "No buts!" Rainbow got up from her seat, levitating the little filly out of Fluttershy's hooves and onto her back. "You have to get a bath and then some sleep. No excuses." The three of them left the dining hall and walked up the stairs leading to the room before opening the doors. "So they got the room done," Fluttershy announced, noticing the different colors and Rainbows cutie mark glossed on the floor as she made her way over to the bed. "My cutie mark is on the floor?!" Rainbow yelled. "Now this is too good. What ya' think squirt!" "Looks awesome!" She replied, throwing her hooves in the air. "Great! Now time for a bath!" "No!" Rainbow groaned before grabbing the filly in her magic and bringing her around in front of her. "You're taking a bath because you're really dirty. Sleeping outside is not good for a filly. Now c'mon!" Scootaloo crossed her arms as Rainbow carried her into the bathroom, leaving Fluttershy to get the bed situated. Rainbow set the filly in the tub while she checked the water temperature. "There. Give it three minutes. Play with the duckies right there." Scootaloo looked to where she was pointing to see five rubber ducks before she turned back to the Princess. "You play with ducks?" "What a ruler can't play with toys?" "No!" "Why not?" Scotaloo took on a disapproving glare. "Because it's....weird!" "Oh hush, you're just upset you can't play with it, here!" Rainbow grabbed the bath tows and threw them into the now full tub. She levitated a bottle of soap in front of her and placed some in a cloth. "Let's get you clean! Get your mind on something else while I'm doing this, play with the duckies!" Fluttershy listened to the constant splashing coming out of the bathroom, wondering just how in the world Rainbow was able to get that filly to take one. "And we're done!" She heard Rainbow yell triumphantly. "C'mon, let's dry you up and get to bed." A whole bunch of shaking was heard as Scootaloo just shook the water off. "Awwww, come. ON! You got water all over my.....eh, it's alright, they're getting washed anyway." Fluttershy laughed as Rainbow walked out of the bathroom soaking wet, Scootaloo trailing right behind her. "Alright," Rainbow said, before bursting into flames. The water on her body evaporated before she extinguished it. "Now...it's really time for bed, squirt. Alright?" She helped Scootaloo get on the bed before hopping in herself, settling the filly under the covers. "Alright," Scootaloo replied. She nuzzled against Fluttershy before closing her eyes, trying to go to sleep. Rainbow used her magic to cut off the lights before getting close to her marefriend, holding Scootaloo in between them both before falling asleep herself, Fluttershy falling right after. In a dream, Rainbow was seen standing on her balcony, looking at the small town of Ponyville. Watching the birds fly by, the wind carry the leaves onto another area of the town. "She acts like you." The princess looked behind her to see Princess Luna walking up to her from the doorway. "Fluttershy said the same. This is a dream?" "Yes." She stopped beside the princess of nature, looking out at the town with her. "She really does. She has the rebellious spirit, the feisty attitude, and...a love of cake." "How did you know she likes cake?" "Fluttershy. I visited her before I stopped here. She's having a nightmare." "Fluttershy?!" Rainbow asked in alarm. "Scootaloo." "Take me there." The princess of the night nodded before lighting her horn, opening a rip in front of them. She walked through it, followed closely by Rainbow Dash. They entered into some unknown area. Dark, moist, and scary. "Where are we?" "The Everfree. I think we both know where this is going to go." Dash looked around, hoping to hear a sound or something, only to hear nothing. "Where are we-" "GET AWAY FROM ME!" The two Alicorns looked to the area in front of them to see Scootaloo running right past and hiding underneath Rainbow's body, followed closely by Timberwolves. "Rainbow Dash! Help me!" The princess lit her horn, making fire out of the air before shooting it towards the Timberwolves, burning them. She kept the pace up with the magical flamethrower, watching as the abominations burned to ashes before stopping it. She looked around before looking towards Luna "So what do we..." Luna wasn't there anymore. "Luna?" She looked around a little more before glancing underneath her legs to see the filly there, looking around frantically. "I think they're gone, Scoots. I'm gonna get you outta this forest." "How?! I have no idea where I am!" Rainbow Dash grinned before picking up the nervous filly in her magic and placing her on her back. "Hold on to my neck." Scootaloo grabbed hold right when Rainbow flew upwards, breaking through the dense canopy and out into the air, spotting Ponyville yards away. Scootaloo looked down from the sky, seeing the place she was just in a little feet down. Rainbow tilted downwards, coming to a landing position in front of Fluttershy's cottage. Once she landed, Scootaloo jumped off her back and looked at Rainbow's face before jumping up and grabbing hold of her muzzle. The princess got a confused look before smiling and letting the orphan hug her. She sat down on her haunches and hugged the filly back. "Thanks, Rainbow." "Of course, Scootaloo." Scootaloo woke up first, darting her eyes left and right before closing them again and letting herself get into a more comfortable position in the light blue fur that she was using as a pillow, moaning in comfort. Fluttershy woke up next, smiling at the cute position Rainbow was in, the sun behind them making the scene even more beautiful. A slight movement caught her eye as she watched Scootaloo rub her muzzle against Rainbow's chest and latch onto her neck, making the mare moan and groan. "No.....no not yet the stupid bills need to be finished, fluttershy." Fluttershy got a questionable look on her face before she jumped out of bed and trotted over to Rainbow's side, nudging her back. "Rainbow?" "No. I'm workin'." "You're not working. You're sleeping and about to crush Scootaloo." The mare's eyes popped open before glancing around at the supposedly empty area. She rose up, unaware of Scootaloo clutching her neck still, and rubbed her eyes. "Good morning, Fluttershy." "Good morning, Rainbow," she said, coming around to face her, trying not to giggle at the sleeping Scootaloo still around her neck. "Did you sleep well?" "I slept wonderful, Darling, thank you." The two mares looked towards the bathroom to see Rarity walking out, holding a bunch of skin cleansers. "And can I just say she looks so cute around your neck." "What are you.." Rainbow looked down, seeing a bunch of magenta mane in front of her. "Scootaloo~" She sung out happily. "Wake up, it's a new day." The three ponies watched as Scootaloo let go of Dash's neck and fell back on the bed, yawning and stretching. "Morning, Scoots." "Hey, Rainbow!" She got up and shook off the sleep before going to the edge of the bed, jumping off. "I had a strange dream last night." "I'm aware. I was there." "You were there and....wait...how did you know you were there?" Rainbow rolled her eyes before jumping off the bed and retrieving her crown from the bedside. "Luna brought me in there." She picked up Scootaloo and set her down on her back, trotting to the door. "Rarity? How did you get in?" "The door darling." "Do you have clearance?" "No." "Then the guards are actively searching for you," she sighed out, shaking her head. "It's no wonder pinkie hasn't gotten in yet." "Oh she has," Rarity said walking towards the door and opening it. "Who do you think did all the decorating?" "Are you telling me...Pinkie Pie, OUR Pinkie Pie was able to get past all the guards?!" Rainbow yelled out. "I'm putting her in my dungeon....once I find it." The group walked out the door, where the guards stopped her. "Ma'am there's been a....oh wait she's right there." Rarity waved at the guards, grinning while Rainbow just rolled her eyes. "Good morning, gentlecolts," she sighed out, walking by them. "Fluttershy, what are we doing today?" "You have to give Scootaloo clearance into the castle, then we're going shopping with Rarity. You have to return that magical book to the library of Magic in Canterlot, and then lunch with everyone else. During lunch you have to meet your advisory committee." Rainbow nodded before they walked into the dining hall, the cakes still there along with breakfast food. "Good morning, Princess Dash," a mare said from the side, bowing to her. She was a light brown with yellow hair and yellow eyes with an egg for a cutie mark. "I am the head chef, Healthy Hooves. Today we have pancakes, nectar soup, and a variety of other foods to your heart's disposal." "Thank you, Healthy Hooves," Rainbow greeted as she walked into the dining hall. She leaned down, letting Scootaloo get on the table like last night before she remembered something. "Healthy Hooves, is there any higher chairs for Scootaloo?" "Let me go check, your highness," she said before trotting away. Rainbow took a seat in the tall chair before looking at all the food. Fluttershy had already gotten a plate full of pancakes, politely eating. At that moment, Healthy Hooves came back in, pushing a taller chair into the hall. "We have three of these ma'am. Where should I place it?" "Right here," Rainbow replied, pointing to her left. The mare trotted around the table, spotting Scootaloo sitting on the table trying to figure out what she wanted. She placed the chair right beside Dash's. "Is that all, your highness?" "Yes, thank you." The mare bowed again before trotting back towards the kitchen. "Scootaloo, come take a seat in the chair." The filly trotted towards the chair beside Rainbow, sitting down. "What do you want, squirt?" "Pancakes!" She yelled. "Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!" "Ok, ok!" Rainbow chuckled, levitating some pancakes onto Scootaloo's plate. "Geez, you're hungry aren't ya?" "Yup!" After putting the syrup on the pancakes, Scootaloo dived in. Rainbow and Fluttershy stared in shock, watching as the small filly somehow consumed twice her size in pancakes. "Why did I put that much food on this mare's plate?" Rainbow asked herself as the filly finished off the pancakes. "Was it good?" "Yup!" The two adult mares rolled their eyes and smiled at the filly as she drunk her water that Fluttershy filled for her. "Ok, Scoots, you wanna come with us to Canterlot?" Rainbow asked her as they made their way to the gate. "We're going shopping, then meeting with m-" Rainbow cleared her throat, nearly slipping out the secret. "Then meeting with Celestia, returning a book, then deciding on the advisory committee." "Nah," Scootaloo responded, waving her hoof. "I'll just go see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle." "Well Sweetie Belle is actually at Sweet Apple Acres," Rarity said as she hopped in the carriage with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "They're meeting on something, don't know what." "Stay away from the forest, ok?" Fluttershy said to her. "Rainbow you need to put a restriction on that forest to keep more foals from going in there." "I will as soon as we get back, trusty assistant. Are you sure you're okay by yourself?" "I'll be fine, mooooooom," Scootaloo said sarcastically, waving her hoof in their direction. "I won't go around stealing anymore food or anything. I'll stick by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all day, ok?" Rainbow Dash looked at her concerned but eventually sighed. "Alright. Have fun. Let's go!" The team of Pegasus ponies trotted out of the loop before taking to the air, leaving Scootaloo to watch as they soared towards Canterlot. Once they were far enough, she turned around and walked off the cloud and onto the ground, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. During her walk, she started thinking. Why did she call her mom? Rainbow Dash wasn't her mother. But she sure did look up to her like one all of a sudden. Why is that? "Hey there, little Scootaloo!" The in-thought filly turned her head to the left seeing Applejack pouring in some Apple Cider into an empty barrel. "Where's Rainbow?" "They went to Canterlot for some day stuff with Rarity." "Shopping," Applejack sighed, shaking her head. "Rainbow will probably get back to her flying soon and ruin those outfits. Then Rarity's gonna have a conniption. Where you headed off to?" "Here," she said walking through the gates. "I have to see Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom." "Oh, well they're in the treehouse out back. Ya' can't miss it. It's the only tree with a house in it." "Okay! Thanks, Applejack!" The Pegasus increased her speed, coming to a small jog. Soon she spotted the tree, a little ways behind the house. After passing the house where Big Macintosh and Ms. Cherilee stood talking, she...wait, Ms. Cherilee?! Scootaloo skidded to a stop, turning around and trotting back to the front porch. "Ms. Cherilee?" She asked, coming around the corner. "What are you doing here?" "Scootaloo!" she yelled, nearly hitting her head on the roof above her. "I am so sorry about your-" "I don't want to talk about it," she said, raising a hoof to stop her. "I REALLY don't wanna talk about it. I'm just here for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle." "I'm here for Big Macintosh," she replied, pointing at the big colt standing in front of her. "We're discussing something. Go and play with your friends." "Well...alright. See ya' at school tomorrow." Scootaloo went back to running towards the treehouse. Eventually, she made it to the treehouse, walking up the steps and trotting inside. "OK! I'm here!" "Oh, good!" Apple Bloom said, stepping down from the podium. "We wanted to talk to you." Scootaloo looked to the side to see Sweetie Belle sitting there holding a box in her magic. It had a little tag on it that said "Scootaloo". "We also got you a little somethin'," Apple Bloom continued. "It's not much but we hope it'll make ya' happy." Sweetie Belle nodded her head eagerly. Scootaloo took the box while the two fillies watched as she opened it, revealing a tiny cape with a symbol of a pony on it. "It's a cape. Me and Sweetie Belle have created a secret society called.." Scootaloo looked up to see the fillies inhaling air before yelling: "THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" The poor filly had to drop the box to cover her ears, trying to stop the ringing. "What do the cutie mark crusaders do?" she asked, shaking her head to get the ringing to stop. "We search for our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said, jumping up and down happily. "We go around and try to figure out what makes us special! To get our cutie marks!" Scootaloo looked down at the cape before picking it up and tying it around her neck. "Well I'm in! Let's find our cutie marks!" The other two fillies grinned before going over to the filly and pulling her into a hug. "Ok, Rarity," Rainbow said as they neared the landing of the city. "Where exactly are we going? You said shopping but where?" "I'm uhhhh...a little curious about that too," Fluttershy said nervously, rubbing her hooves together. "We're going to my shop, of course!" Rarity said as Sweetie drops touched the ponies down on the streets below, coming to a stop at a crosswalk. "We are going to get you measured and have a new dress designed for you. I think Twilight is here as well, visiting her parents." "Oh, ok. Well we can stop by there later on and say hi to her family," Rainbow said, waving to some ponies waving to her. "If we're lucky, she might go see Celestia. I don't think I can handle that much bowing in one day. I bet Shining Armor's there too." "More than likely," Fluttershy inputted. Sweetie Drops came around and opened the door for the mares, letting them step out in front of Canterlot Boutique. Rainbow's guards stepped forward and opened the door to the building, letting the Princess and her entourage walk through and inside. "Sassy~!" Rarity sung out, trotting towards the back. "I am back! Came to see how the business is coming along!" "Coming, coming!" A mare said from the back. A second later, a taller thinner pony came trotting out of the back. "I was just finishing up on the..." She trailed off at seeing the princess standing there, looking around the shop. "This is way too fru-fru for me," Rainbow muttered, nudging a ponikin. "You wore that dress I made you and that was very 'fru-fru', as you so put it," Rarity said. "Now you are GOING to get measured, and you are GOING to look pretty!" "UGGGHHHHH," Rainbow groaned. "Hey, have you realized something? I haven't gone for a good flight in a while...by MYSELF, that is. It's always been 'ride in a chariot'. When we get back to the castle I'm going for that flight.....is she STILL frozen?" Everyone looked at Sassy Saddles, her mouth agape and eyes wide. "Sassy dear, wake up!" Rarity said, sending a tiny shock of magic at the mare. She jolted awake before bowing at the princess. "Princess Dash! It's great to have you here at our establishment. "Yeah, wish I could say the same. Your glittery employer forced me to come, you can rise now." "How can I help you?" She asked, once on her hooves. "Are you looking for something in particular?" "We need the best blue dress you have, Sassy! Go!" Rarity yelled, pointing towards the back. "I am going to get Rainbow measured." Rarity grabbed the princess in her magic and started dragging her towards the back while she whimpered.