Rainbow sat quietly in her room, her loyal pet tortoise remaining decisively by her side as she took a moment to think. Her plan for the day having been finalised, she was now faced the question of who she would visit to get the advice she needed. Rainbow Dash had many friends and only so much time in one day, thus it was essential that she made the decision on who she would go to very carefully.
“Ugh! Come ON Rainbow. It’s not THAT hard. Who do I know that would be the most help here. Pinkie? No, she’d be encouraging, but she’s more immature than me! Twilight? Nah, knowin’ her, she’d probably wanna do some sort’a science thingy to make sure I’m feelin okay. I don’t have the time for that.”
Rainbow then looked at Tank, who now showed her a concentrated glare. Thus, with a smile on her face, she deepened her voice to mimic that which she believed her pet would have.
“Say Rainbow, why don’t ya just go an’ see Fluttershy, she’s been your best friend since you were a filly.”
“Ha, you might be onto somethin’ there Tank. Flutters has always been there for me when I’ve needed her, an’ despite how nervous she can get, she ain’t afraid a tellin’ me what I need t’ here.”
“Like when she helped you except that I needed to hibernate?”
“Yeh, like that… Sorry about that whole thing Tank. I should ‘a just listened to Fluttershy the first time and let ya hibernate, it would ‘a been the responsible thing t’ do.”
“It’s okay Rainbow. We all make mistakes. An’ your doin’ that mature thing with Scootaloo now, so don’t worry. But go on, that filly needs YOU right now, an’ I need my sleep, just go see Fluttershy later. Alright?”
“Ha, ha. Okay Tank, I will… Thank you.”
Rainbow then stroked her hoof across Tank’s shell, which the tortoise smiled at, before slowly returning into it to rest. She then quickly headed back to her living room, where she was once again greeted with the heart warming image of Scootaloo snuggled between Bow and Windy, who were reading to the filly the fourth chapter of the sapphire stone. She took a moment to watch, chuckling as her parents charismatically read the lines of the different characters, energetically bringing the heroes and villains of the story to the life for the young filly, who was enjoying every minute of it.
“You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself, but you are sadly mistaken, Miss doo! And now you shall meet your doom!” Bow said in the exaggerated voice of Ahuizotl, the infamous antagonist of Daring doo.
“You won’t get away with this, Ahuizotl!” Windy screamed in a bizarrely accurate impression of the courageous hero.
“Ha, ha. Yeah! Don’t think you can’t hurt my Scootaloo, Ahuizotl!”
“Oh, hey there Dashy, did… Tank, was that his name? eat his food well.” Windy asked, breaking character.
“Oh, yeah, he’s fine… But, hey, Ahuizotl’s gonna beet you if you’re not careful there, mom!”
“Ha, right you are Dashy… Quicksand, how AM I gonna get out ‘a this one?”
“You have wings, remember? FLY OUT!” Scootaloo said shouted, enthusiastically enthralled in the perilous plight of Daring doo.
“But I’m tied up! An’ the harder I struggle, the tighter the ropes get!”
“Yeah, and her wings don’t work at the minute. You’d be surprised how often that happens to her, she finds it really annoying.”
“Wait… How do YOU know what Daring do finds annoying?” Scootaloo asked curiously.
“Oh, I know her.”
“WHAT!? You MET Daring doo. But she’s not real, is she?”
Rainbow suddenly realised what she had accidentally said. Both Scootaloo and her parents, now staring at her with estranged eyes, expecting an immediate answer. Rainbow knew that she would have to think of an excuse quickly, to prevent the shocking truth being revealed to a little filly who was not yet ready to hear it.
“Em… Wait, did I said I met Daring doo? No, I met A.K. Yearling, the creator of Daring doo, an’ she told me that Daring finds having her wings broken all the time really annoying, ‘cause ‘a how much it happens.”
“Ohhhh, I get it, so its really Yearling that’s tired because of the creative fatigue that comes from writing that same plot point, constantly.” Windy asked innocently.
“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees, that’s it.”
“Wow, Dashy, I didn’t know ya had ties t’ somepony like A.K. Yearling.”
“Ha, who d’ ya think Colour kick was based off in The Ring of Destiny, dad?”
“Wait, that was you!? My… I knew I recognised that personality from somewhere! Gosh, Windy. OUR Daughter’s in a Daring doo book!”
“Celestia, I know, this is so EXITING!”
“EEK! Somehow Rainbow Dash is even MORE awesome now! I didn’t think that was actually possible.”
“Nah, it’s okay guys, it’s not that big a deal. A.K’s just a friend a’ mine who based a character of ‘a me in a book… Okay, bein’ in a Daring doo story is pretty awesome, but it’s not like I ACTUALLY helped the REAL Daring Doo or anything. No. That, that would just be absurd… yeah.”
“Oh Dearie, don’t sell yourself short like that. Why, with you AND Scootaloo here. We might just have the most awesome family in all of Equestria!”
Scootaloo suddenly moved her head to face Windy, stunned at what she had just said.
“Wait… Am, am I. Am I really part of your family?” Scootaloo asked with heavy eyes.
“Well, of course Darling. You’re Rainbow Dash’s sister, are you not? So that means you’re part of our family. And we love you.”
“I, I… I.”
Scootaloo’s eyes were beginning to noticeably swell with tears. She finally felt so welcomed and loved as part of an actual family. Thus, she broke down, suddenly not caring about her coltish demeaner and allowing herself to cry tears of joy.
Rainbow then took Scootaloo into her forehooves, holding her tightly and gently stroking her mane. Her protective instincts not allowing her to leave her little filly unloved in her time of need.
“There, there, Squirt. It’s alright. You’re family, an’ we mean it. We love ya more than anything and we’d NEVER lie about somethin’ like that, alright?”
“I… I know. I don’t know what came over me. It’s just… Thank you guys, it means an awful lot t’ know that you think I’m part ‘a your family.”
“Oh, it’s okay little pony, we all get a little emotional sometimes. An’ you’re more than welcome, our family jus’ wouldn’t be the same without you in it now, Scootaloo.”
“Re, really?” Scootaloo asked as Rainbow placed her back onto the sofa.
“Absolutely Dearie. In all honesty, ever since our little Dashy grew up, we’ve missed having somepony to care for, coo over, give all our love to. And we know you aren’t a baby foal. You’ve MORE than proved that. But, to finally have a little pony back in our lives, it’s been… Nice. I’m sorry Scootaloo, I know you don’t like being called cute and what not. But, even with how grown up you are, it has been so lovely having a little filly around again.”
“It’s okay Windy. I mean, if I’m being honest, it’s been real nice having a family that’s there for me, for once. Ya know, you guys spent an entire day with me the other day. Ya didn’t have to, but ya did anyway. So, I got no problem with you guys gettin’ all mushy with me, ‘cause really… I enjoy it too.”
“Oh, Sweetie. You deserve so much more than what you have. I just wish we lived in Ponyville, that way we could be there for you all the time. But hey, you’ve got Dashy, she’s there for you, right?”
“Windy, Rainbow Dash has been my idol since the moment I saw her, the way she flew through the air, her confidence, it was so inspiring! And now, I have her as a sister. She’s given me so much, I couldn’t ask her for more.”
“Oh, Squirt… c’mere!”
Having no words to respond to Scootaloo with, feeling to humbled to properly articulate, Rainbow once again took Scootaloo into her forelegs, squeezing her tightly in an adorable show of affection. Whilst she had initially expected the filly to show resistance, not wanting to further tarnish her coltish reputation, she was surprised to see the little pony holding onto her just as firmly, taking noticeable happiness from Rainbow’s unconditional love. Thus, Rainbow only hugged harder, not wanting the moment to end, to allow the inevitability of Scootaloo leaving, of her little filly being forced to go away, to rear its ugly head.
“Scoot, I… I love ya Squirt, an’ I’m always gonna be there when ya need me.”
“Thanks Rainbow, you’re best sister.”
“Ha, an’ don’t you forget it.” Rainbow said sarcastically.
“Ha, ha, like I ever could.”
“Ha… Now Scoot… I hate t’ have to bring this up again. But, are you SURE you’re okay after last night? You were REALLY cold back there… An’ I’d hate for you to get sick. So, are you sure you’re not commin’ down with any colds or tummy bugs?”
“Nah, I’m good Rainbow, really. I’m all better now.”
Rainbow could tell that Scootaloo wasn’t lying to her, the filly’s voice sounding to upbeat and innocent to hold any dishonesty. However, Rainbow’s now dominant protective instincts over Scootaloo were not yet satisfied, the slight chill coming from Scootaloo’s fur being exaggerated in Rainbow’s mind as the same glacial, frozen feel that the filly radiated the night prior. Thus, Rainbow acted.
“Okay Squirt, but just to be safe…”
Rainbow then placed Scootaloo back onto the sofa, making sure she was tightly squeezed between her parents.
“Now, Dashy. What’s all this about?”
“One sec’, dad?”
Rainbow Dash barely had the time to respond to her father, as she grabbed one of the huge blankets, left over from the previous night and quickly wrapped it around the three ponies. Scootaloo’s little head barely reach above the top of the cover. Though she couldn’t deny that the warmth brought from the two ponies beside her, as well as the thick blanket was surprisingly satisfying.
“Ha. And the motherly instincts resurface.” Windy whispered to herself.
“What was that Windy?”
“Oh, nothing Dearie… don’t worry.”
“Well, as comfy as this is, don’t ya think you’re goin’ ‘a little over board here Dashy? She said she WASN’T sick, remember?”
“What? I can’t have my little buddy getting cold, now can I? A little warmth on a cold day never HURT anypony.”
“Ha, thanks Rainbow… But seriously, I’m FINE! I’m really, totally okay. I’m not gonna get sick jus’ ‘cause of little chill. Seriously, what’s gotten int’ you.”
Rainbow suddenly realised what she had done. In her blind, incisive desire to keep her little filly safe, she had unwittingly allowed her over protective feelings, which she believed to had beaten two weeks ago, to get the better of her. Causing her to once again see Scootaloo as smaller than she really was.
“Sorry Scoots… It’s just, after last night, I like knowin’ that your safe an’ warm is all. I know you ain’t a baby an’ I shouldn’t treat ya like one.”
Rainbow was now forced to deal with the embarrassment that came with her actions. Though she was surprised to see that, despite her complaint, Scootaloo seemed perfectly contempt, even comfortable with the situation she had been placed in.
“Oh, it’s okay Rainbow Dash. This is… actually really nice. An’ to be honest, I was a little chilly. So, I don’t mind. But… what’d make it perfect… em, can I sit on your lap?”
Rainbow was initially startled by Scootaloo’s question, though she quickly calmed down upon remembering the pony who had asked it.
“Sure Squirt… But hey, let me jus’ grab somethin’ first.”
Rainbow then burst from her living room to her bedroom, and back again, in less than a second, returning with another book in her hoofs, which she promptly gave to Scootaloo.
“Here, this is Daring doo and the Eternal flower, the second book, I want you t’ have it.”
“Wait? Are you sure Rainbow Dash?”
“Absolutely! An’ ya can hold on t’ the first one too. Now that you’ve started, you’re not gonna be able to get enough of Daring doo! An’ in truth, I actually own multiple copies, I thought somethin’ like this would happen.”
“Well, thanks Rainbow Dash. This’ll be totally awesome”
“You’re welcome, Squirt. An’ you BET it will! But… Are ya sure you’re gonna be okay with some ‘a the big words?”
“Ha, I’m eight years old Rainbow Dash, I think I’ve got reading down by now.”
“Then ya got nothin to worry about… Now, scoot up Scoots.”
Rainbow then lifted up the cover, swiftly getting under it, before picking up Scootaloo and sitting on the sofa, embracing the young filly in an adorable hug. She then placed the cover back over the two of them, Scootaloo’s head once again peeking over the top to listen to the story, which Bow and Windy quickly started reading again after cooing over how cute their two fillies were.
Time flew by quickly, as Bow and Windy read the popular story, finishing a further three chapters before the time finally came to take Scootaloo home. The three adult ponies were saddened by the prospect and were all hesitant in giving into the inevitable, wanting the morning they had spent together to exist forever. Though they all knew the concept was preposterous.
“Okay Dearie, Dashy’s going to be taking you home now. So, until we next see you, we want you t’ stay safe and ask for help when you need it. Older ponies aren’t always useless, alright?”
“Okay, I know that… Well, now I do. An’ I have you guys t’ thank for that.”
“Oh, Scootaloo, don’t you ever change, ya here. An’ don’t work yourself to hard while you’re at it. It’s good that you and your little friends are so successful, but you’re still fillies, an’ everypony needs a rest from time t’ time. So, take it easy, ya here.”
“Here ya LOUD and clear Bow.”
“Alright Scoots, let’s get ya home.”
“Ugh, that PLACE isn’t a home, it’s just a house where my parents live. I learned that a long time ago.”
“Oh, Sweetie. That isn’t okay! You deserve a home where you can feel comfortable, not just a house where you’re sleep at night.”
“Oh, it’s fine. Other ponies have it a lot worse, an’ I have ponies like you guys who give me MORE than I deserve.”
“Darling, it isn’t fine… Why, it sounds to me like those parents of yours need a STERN TALKING TO!”
“Don’t worry mom, I got this. It okay if I talk with your folks for a little bit when we get there, Scoots?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Good, then we should be headin’ out. They’ll be gettin’ worried if we don’t get ya home soon.”
“Alright. Bow, Windy, thanks again for everything… It’s real havin’ ponies like you in my life.”
“Oh, you’re welcome Scootaloo.” The two ponies said in unison, before taking Scootaloo into a brief, yet loving hug.
Rainbow then took Scootaloo onto her back, suddenly unsettled by what Scootaloo had said, possibly suggesting that there was more turmoil in the small household than she had initially inferred. Thus, she made a note to schedule a meeting with the two parents, where they could properly discuss exactly what Scootaloo’s daily life looked life behind the closed doors of her house. Though Rainbow knew that the answer would likely disturb her, and that anything they could tell her was ultimately irrelevant. As Rainbow was convinced that by the time that meeting came to fruition, she would have finally have come to the conclusion that her taking in Scootaloo was the best possible outcome for everypony!