After Princess Dash's amazing speech and Sonic Rainboom, the Princess of Nature placed her daughter on her back and walked back to the castle with Fluttershy in tow, amidst all the clapping, not to mention the cheering.
Somehow, Scootaloo had fallen asleep again on Rainbow's back before they even walked through the door.
"Man, I am not waking up Scootaloo in the middle of the night ever again," she commented, shaking her head as they walked inside and up the stairs. "She could sleep through a hurricane. And now her sleep is off balance."
"We are all a little tired," Fluttershy said before yawning. "And Scootaloo was crying."
"Well....I'm fine now, so wipe those tears, Squirt." She walked past the guards and into the room, setting Scootaloo down on the big bed with her magic. She was still in her little circle, snoring so peacefully that it gave Fluttershy a run for her bits.
"You know," Rainbow whispered. "Her birthday is tomorrow." Fluttershy looked up from Scootaloo in shock.
"What?!" She yelled quietly in her mouse-like voice. "Oh my gosh! Wh-why haven't we gotten her anything?! She's turning eight! We need to do something and we need to do it fast!! Oohh, Rainbow! How could you let me forget?!"
Rainbow took on a sad gaze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Wait, hold on," the Pegasus said, stopping her mid-sentence and placing a smirk on her face. "Did you just... apologize? Without someone having to tell you? Wow, you have changed."
Rainbow groaned and pulled Fluttershy out onto the balcony. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. And don't worry about the party. I already have a certain mare on the job."
"Who?"
"Who do you think?"
"Cake?" The pink party planner looked up from her clipboard at the table setup in the kitchen that had the large cake, food, cupcakes, and more in containers set up in the center and smiled, putting down a check mark. "Check! Music?" She ran out of the building at an unimaginable speed and arrived in one of the separate buildings.
She looked at the back of the ballroom, her eyes trained on the DJ set for DJ Pon-3. "Check! Presents?"
"Well... If Pinkie Pie can't plan a party, nopony can," Fluttershy chuckled, looking out from the balcony. "I need to get her a gift, but I don't know what she likes."
"Give her something sentimental," Rainbow suggested, following her gaze. "Believe it or not, she adores that stuff. Like the necklaces from her parents, and the doll I gave her that my father gave to me."
"Hmm...... Well, alright. But what?"
"Something that will capture those purple eyes of hers and make her say, 'This is so awesome.'"
"Yeah, she says that a lot," Fluttershy chuckled. "How about....flight?"
Rainbow sighed and gave her marefriend a sad stare. "Fluttershy...you know-"
"But not with her wings." The Princess looked at her confusedly. What was she talking about? "Her wings aren't strong enough to lift her in the air....but they are strong enough to propel her forward. All she needs is to get up there."
Fluttershy pointed at the clouds in the sky. There were a lot of them today. "Since she's a Pegasus, she can walk on clouds. So I was thinking... Mold a cloud into a scooter, bring her up there, and let her propel herself on said scooter, thus making her fly. What do you think?"
The princess was staring at her with her chin on the floor, mouth wide open. When the hay did she get so smart?!
"Fluttershy," she said after regaining her composure. "I think...you've been hanging around the egghead too much. You even talk like her. But that is a perfect idea. Are you making the scooter?"
"Yes. I'll get started on it during the party tomorrow."
"Perfect. What time is it?" She glanced around the room and spotted the clock. "It's four in the afternoon. I'm going to go and check on Pinkie. See how it's going down in the ballroom. Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm fine." Rainbow pecked her and walked into the room and out the door, leaving Fluttershy to look after their child. Now that Fluttershy actually thought about it, she hasn't spent nearly as much time with Scootaloo as she has with Rainbow Dash. That was something that she needed to fix.
She walked back into the room and crawled onto the bed to watch over her. She draped a wing over her, making sure to keep her warm. A second later, she felt her shuffle and lean into her, making her smile. Scootaloo was cuddling her. That's so adorable.
"Alright, Pinkie, whatcha got?" Rainbow asked the pony in the middle of the room with a checklist. "I have a feeling it's going to be a big party."
"Yepperooney!" Pinkie said bouncing in place. "You got your DJ, food, sweets, drinks, games, and presents! Do you like it?"
Rainbow looked around the room at the many decorations that had Scootaloo's name on it. Including the one in the direct middle that read, "Happy Eighth Birthday Scootaloo!"
"I don't know how you do it, Pinkie....no seriously, I really don't. No one does. Care to explain?"
"That's a secret, Dash!" Pinkie told her, poking her on the nose. She gave her the checklist and bounced out of the room, leaving Dash to look at everything. There was a list of attendees coming to the castle, which included her new family, the Crusaders, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie herself, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and possibly everypony else in Ponyville. And they all had checks by their names. That means they were coming.
The Princess ran a hoof down her face and looked around the room. Hopefully Scootaloo was going to enjoy this. Hopefully.
Scootaloo woke up the next morning to a round of snoring. Not to mention under the pressure of being squeezed to death. She looked around...well tried to anyway. You can't really move your head when you have two ponies squeezing the life out of you in your sleep.
"Uhh...mother...and mom.....I can't breath," she wheezed.
"No, no, I don't wanna get up," Rainbow groaned tiredly, turning over with Scootaloo in her arms. At least she was out of the squishing predicament. But now she was in a new one. How to get out of Rainbow's iron grip. She wiggled, trying to wake her up. But that definitely didn't work because Rainbow just kept snoring. She groaned in annoyance.
"Mother, let me go!" She called, trying to move her hooves from around her. "Mother!"
"Looks like my niece can't get enough of you." Scootaloo looked up to see Luna walking into the room holding a dress of some sort. "Good morning, Scootaloo. Let me help you out. If she is anything like her mother, this will be a piece of cake. Literally." Luna teleported a slice of vanilla cake into her right hoof and brought it up to Rainbow's nose and held it there A few sniffs later, Rainbow let go of Scootaloo, grabbed the cake, and started eating it in her sleep. The filly walked over to Luna and watched in confusion
"Is...is that normal?" She asked, motioning towards Rainbow stuffing her face.
"She is Celestia's daughter, everything she does is normal." She pulled the filly into a tight hug and gave her a nuzzle. "Happy Birthday, Scootaloo."
"Thanks, Aunt Luna," she responded, giving her a hug. "Is Grandma Celestia here?"
"She is talking with the guards out front about security. Although your mother made that speech yesterday, there are still some ponies out there that do not approve. And have made it obvious this morning with demanding an audience with Celestia, saying that Rainbow is not fit for a princess and should step down."
"What?! That's nuts!!"
"Huh, wha...what-wh-whazzup?" Rainbow stuttered, sitting straight up and looking around the room with cake crumbs on her face. Luna put a hoof to her mouth and stifled her laughter before regaining her composure.
"I was telling your daughter about a few ponies who do not like you," she answered, gaining her attention. "Even though you made that speech, some ponies still don't like the fact that you are a princess. They are saying you have no experience in running any type of business, let alone a civilization."
"Of course I don't, I'm a princess," she replied, surprising her aunt. "I mean...think about it. When you become an Alicorn, it just happens. Everything changes and you are expected to shut up and run a country. Sorry, I'm in a cranky mood. I woke up with crumbs on my face and have no idea why." Scootaloo and Luna shared a knowing smirk before redirecting their attention back to Rainbow Dash who promptly reached out, pulled Scootaloo in with her magic, and gave her the biggest hug she could give her.
"Happy Birthday, Squirt!" Luna chuckled and place the little dress from off her back onto the bed.
"Thanks, mother. You have the tightest hugs," she wheezed.
"Thanks."
"No, seriously, I'm dying here," Scootaloo choked out, her face turning a light blue. Rainbow gasped and quickly let her go before she was once again swept into another much kinder and friendlier hug.
"Good morning, Scootaloo," Fluttershy greeted timidly, giving her daughter a kiss on the top of her head. This is what Scootaloo could deal with. "Happy eighth birthday."
"Thanks, mom," she said, making Fluttershy's heart flutter. No one has ever called her mom before. But...it felt right. Scootaloo let go of her and jumped off the bed, heading to the bathroom to get ready. After she closed the door, they all turned to Rainbow Dash, who was stretching, yawning, and looking around the room tiredly. Once she caught their gazes, she got a confused look on her face.
"What?"
"You know, I just about something," Fluttershy said, getting out of bed. "Does Scootaloo......have her mind on a special somepony?"
"I don't think so, and it's wayyy too early to tell. And for her to try and get one. Not happenin', uh-uh."
"Uh oh, sounds like somepony's becoming a little overprotective," Celestia commented as she walked in the room. "What if somepony comes to her and gives her a rose today for her birthday?"
"I would let THAT slide, but no kissing and......no kissing."
"You already-"
"Good morning, mom," Rainbow quickly jumped out of bed and gave her mother a nuzzle, making her chuckle.
"Good morning, Rainbow. Do you have a gift for Scootaloo?"
"Me and Fluttershy are working on a joint gift," she replied backing up. She looked towards the bathroom to make sure it was still closed before whispering, "Today, we're going to help Scootaloo feel what it's like to fly."
Celestia looked at her wide-eyed before glancing back at the bathroom. "She would love that," she whispered.
"I know. That's why Fluttershy's going to build it." The pegasus in question nodded eagerly before getting up and trotting out the door. "And apparently she's going to do it right now. You know, she's gotten a lot more comfortable talking to ponies."
"I have noticed that as well," Luna commented, walking towards them. "I'm very proud of her. I think we have you and Scootaloo to thank for that. I do not believe she would have gotten out of her shell if you two had not gotten closer. Oh, and Scootaloo called you grandma."
"What?" Celestia asked her sister.
"I know. I love my Fluttershy to bits," Rainbow responded, trying to disperse THAT information and conversation before it even started.
"Enough to pop the question I hope?" Celestia asked, giving her daughter a knowing grin.
"Eh, we'll see." She looked towards the bathroom and raised an eyebrow. "Scootaloo's been in there for a while. Luna could you..." The Princess in question nodded and made her way to the door.
"Scootaloo, are you alright in there?" She asked her.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Rainbow hummed and trotted towards the door. She didn't sound fine. She stuttered. And she only stutters when she's nervous.
"Scoots? Are you sure you're okay in there?" Rainbow pushed the door open, stepped inside, and froze. Was Scootaloo...putting on makeup?
She had a brush and was apparently applying foundation to her face. She already had on some purple eyeliner and a small tinge of blush. She looked towards the door and completely froze like her mother.
"Uhhh........ummmmm......" She stammered. The two stared at each other, both a little embarrassed about what was going on.
"What is taking......uhhhh...." Luna got stuck in the same position as her niece. Eyes wide and mouth wide open. Celestia got curious and poked her head inside and snorted.
"Scootaloo! What are you doing?!" She laughed. That got everyone out of their frozen state of minds. Celestia walked into the bathroom and took Scootaloo down from the counter, trying her hardest not to guffaw, hurt the poor filly's feelings and make her even more embarrassed. Right now, her whole face was red. Either she was about to cry or that makeup was already running.
"Where did you even get this?" Rainbow asked, looking at the make up kit. Before Scootaloo could answer she raised a hoof, stopping her mid sentence. "Let me take the world's most wildest guess.....Rarity...or Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo looked left and right, trying to find an exit route. "Scootaloo, you're way way waaaaayyyyy too young to be using makeup. Wait until you're fifteen and then we'll TALK about it, okay?" Scootaloo sighed and nodded her head.
"Let's get you washed up, granddaughter," Celestia chuckled before she picked up the little filly in her magic and placed her in the shower.
After that embarrassing moment, the group set out to have breakfast with her friends. Which was good for Rainbow, because she needed to have a word with Rarity revolving around a certain makeup kit that went missing in her stash of makeup kits. She knew she had to have like twenty of those.
"Happy birthday, Scootaloo!" They all cheered once they walked in. The birthday girl waved from the top of Rainbow Dash's back before she jumped off and landed next to her best friends Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Rainbow was about to go over and tell Rarity about the little thing they found this morning, but decided against it. Scootaloo wanted to enjoy her party. Not have it ruined because of a little facial paint. So she smiled and went with the flow.
"Hello, everypony," the Princess greeted as everyone in the room bowed at the three royals. "I hope you are enjoying yourselves so far. We have a lot of things planned. Like dancing....and eating......and.....dancing."
Princess Celestia chuckled before she nuzzled her daughter, making her groan. "You need to learn how to have fun, Rainbow Dash."
"Hey! I'm a mom now. I have no time for fun."
"Oh really?" Luna teased. Something hit Rainbow in the back of her head making everyone gasp and for Celestia to chuckle. Luna had thrown a pancake right at the back of Rainbow's head.
Rainbow turned around and gave her aunt an evil smile. "So....you wanna play tricks, huh?" Luna shrugged innocently.
"I have no idea what you're-" A cupcake splattered against her face. Rainbow had thrown the chocolate delicacy right on her mouth. Scootaloo busted out in laughter, pointing at her great aunt.
"We have so many cupcakes that everypony might as well take a launch at her!" Rainbow announced, pointing over to the table full of sugary treats. "Everypony! Let Luna have it! Cooks, bakers, guards, everypony! Let her have it! That's an order!"
Twilight chuckled before she walked away, her girlfriend right on her tail. "I think we'll just sit this one out, dontcha' think?"
Cherry chuckled behind a hoof and nodded as they took cover underneath a table. This was about to get messy.
The second they went underneath the table, Tartarus broke loose. The two listened to the cries of protest and the splats of cupcake and icing against the wall. "Luna probably shouldn't have challenged Celestia's daughter on how to have fun," Cherry commented, leaning onto Twilight. The purple unicorn chuckled in agreement while she nuzzled her mane.
"It's true though. Ever since Rainbow Dash became Princess, she's been less fun."
"I heard that egghead! Where are you? You're gonna get one too, you can't hide!" Twilight's eyes snapped open before she put a hoof over her mouth, trying to be as quiet as possible.
"She's underneath the table!" The two looked to the left to see an icing covered Scootaloo holding three cupcakes, about to throw them. Twilight gasped before she teleported her and Cherry to a corner, right when she threw them.
"Phew! That was-" Cherry received a cupcake in the mouth, making Twilight point and laugh before she too got one on her left cheek.
"That's for bashin' the Princess, Egghead!" Rainbow declared from in front of her. She didn't even have a speck of icing on her! Have these ponies been missing her?! Well that just wasn't going to work. Twilight looked around and, spotting a lot of cupcakes on the floor, scooped them up into her magic and put them all into separate lines, aiming at Rainbow Dash's back.
"Surrender now, Rainbow Dash!" She cheered, making everyone freeze and watch the spectacle. "Or suffer the fate...of Pinkie's icing!"
"Never!" She retorted, positioning her own line of Cupcakes at her. Somepony was going to get hit. The two narrowed their eyes at each other, a standoff of icing and cake......before Twilight shot her cupcakes at her back. Seeing this, Rainbow teleported herself and her cupcakes away just in time, making Twilight gasp.
"OOOOHHHHH!!!" Everyone grimaced as the thirty something cupcakes all hit her, throwing her against the wall. Rainbow appeared back in front of Twilight, pointing a hoof and laughing maniacally at her.
"RAINBOW DASH!!!!" A very familiar voice yelled out, making everypony stop and look towards the door. Fluttershy was fuming at her, smoke coming out of her ears. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO TWILIGHT?!"
"I did nothing! She did that to her-" A barrage of cupcakes started hitting her in the face making her fly back and go into the kitchen, still being impacted by the vanilla cupcakes Fluttershy was flinging at her with her wings. Everyone was staring wide-eyed at her until Twilight cleared her throat.
"Um...Fluttershy?" She said, catching her attention. She stopped the barrage and looked towards the lavender Unicorn. "Rainbow Dash didn't even throw a cupcake at me. She tricked me, but she didn't even throw a cupcake." Fluttershy's eyes popped open before she focused back on the kitchen. She gasped when a barrage of icing flew out and hit her in the barrel.
"It is on, Fluttershy!"
"Bring it, Dashie!" Everyone else stood to the side as the two had their battle. Scootaloo rolled her eyes at her two parents. This was gonna last awhile.
After the entire room had been painted in different colors of icing, the unicorns decided to help clean it up so they could get back to Scootaloo's celebration. "You now know better than to test me, Aunt Luna," Rainbow Dash told her as the sat down at the table, watching Scootaloo chat with the Crusaders and eat breakfast at the same time. The Princesses were having their own as well. "I can be fun, I just have to be serious most of the time."
"Well today, you're going to be fun," Celestia scolded her daughter playfully. "For your daughter and my granddaughter."
"She called you grandma."
"Quiet, Luna."
"As long as it doesn't involve makeup, I'm alright with it," Rainbow responded. "But all jokes aside, what are we going to do about...you know who?"
"Spectrum or the interloper?" Luna whispered.
"Both. Have we gotten any leads?"
"Not yet," Celestia informed her worriedly. "But we are keeping a close out for anypony wishing to cause trouble in the neighborhood." Rainbow raised and eyebrow before her mother chuckled and made a circular motion with her hoof. "Here. We have placed a few spies in Ponyville. Whoever they were wanted you taken out as much as Spectrum. They probably have realized that their mission was unsuccessful and will try again in the near future. I also suggest you place guards around Scootaloo and Fluttershy...your wife to be."
"Mom," Rainbow warned her, causing her to chuckle.
"Oh, calm yourself, 'Dashie'. Even if you do, I approve. And I'm sure your father would as well, were he here. But of course you will put guards around her right?"
"Yes. But for right now we have a few celebrations to tend to. My daughter's birthday...and my cousin's wedding."
"Ah, yes, the marriage of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance," Luna said, nodding her head while she watched the ponies gather around the entrance. "I have heard they are planning a party in the Crystal Empire after the marriage in Canterlot. It looks like your daughter is ready to go to the ballroom." Rainbow looked from her to the group of ponies making their way towards the entrance.
"Yep. Let's go dance." The three princesses got up and made their way to the group. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at one of the buildings that Rainbow rarely goes into and walked through the doors, stepping into the foyer. It looked nice in there. A lot of pictures of random ponies and guards.
They looked around before a guard approached them to guide them to the ballroom. It was in the back of the building, but it was worth the walk. The floor was clean, the lights were dimmed and the DJ was already waiting for them, starting up the tracks. A few minutes later, everypony was dancing as fast as they could. Raving or something similar. One trying to outdo the other. Rainbow Dash was just bobbing her head in the corner with Fluttershy, who was trying to coax her out of her shell.
"Come on, Dashie," Fluttershy cooed. "I know you want to dance."
"No way, I might be as bad as Twilight," She responded, pointing at the violet unicorn doing some strange dance with all four of her hooves. "I thought Scoots taught her better than that. I'm pretty sure she did." Cherry Berry was looking both ways before she slowly backed away, acting like she had no association with her crazy dancing spouse.
"Mother and mom! Come out here and dance with me!" The two of them looked to the right of them, seeing Scootaloo approach with a party hat on....her chin? She grabbed both of their hooves and started pulling them towards the dance floor, making Rainbow Dash blush.
"Uhh....uhhh," she stammered while everyone stepped back, allowing the family to take to the floor and have their first dance.
"Come on! Shake it like you got it!" Scootaloo started dancing when a bounce track started playing. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy glanced at each other before they started swaying side to side, which eventually turned into bumping flanks and then busting out dance moves. Everyone started stomping their hooves and cheering as the family got down with it. Scootaloo grabbed their hooves and started spinning them around, enjoying the closeness they shared. After a few more minutes of dancing, they stopped. And everypony started cheering, thus making Rainbow Dash blush.
"Well....*cough cough*...hmm....I....ah, what the buck, it was fun. Happy birthday Scootaloo," she stammered, leaning down and nuzzling her daughter. Fluttershy did the same and wrapped a wing around her daughter.
"But now, it is time for presents," she said, guiding her towards the table full of presents. There had to be twenty there. Or more! She quickly climbed up onto the table while the music was turned down a little, clearing the atmosphere.
"Me first, me first!" Apple Bloom yelled, handing her a present wrapped in apple wrapping paper. Scootaloo ripped off the covering and gasped at what was inside.
"You got the new Daring Do?!"
"What?!" Rainbow yelled, peeking over her to take a look at the cover. "Wow squirt! Try not to spoil it for me, alright?" Scootaloo smiled evilly and she opened the book to a random page before Rainbow closed it with her magic. "No, I'm not ready yet. I need my own copy."
"Your mother is more than likely going to read your book when-" Rainbow stuffed a cloud into Twilight's mouth.
"-when I get my own copy," she said to her through clenched teeth and a faux smile. Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
"Mom, I know you're going to read it when I'm at school. So I'm taking it to school with me." Rainbow turned away and crossed her arms playfully, making everyone laugh.
"Okay, my turn!" Sweetie Belle yelled, passing her another present that was the size of a card. This one had, of course, Rarity written all over it. Literally. Her name was all over the wrapping paper in fancy writing. All the ponies raised and eyebrow and looked back towards the fashionista, who was currently looking at her hoof.
"Are you trying to send us a message, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked her innocently. The unicorn looked up and gasped.
"Fluttershy! How dare you accuse me of...yes. Yes, I am. Open up the present, Scootaloo. This is from me and Sweetie Belle."
Scootaloo ripped the wrapping off and looked at the card, reading what it said. "This is a voucher for a free appointment to the spa," she announced.
"Yes. A fair lady such as yourself should be pampered and beautified. And your mane is definitely going to go through my hooves."
Rainbow leaned over to her mother and whispered, "It was definitely her who gave my daughter that makeup kit." Celestia chuckled while scootaloo opened all the other ponies' presents. Most of them were clothing with the odd book from Twilight here, and a recipe book from Pinkie. Finally, the grand piece had arrived.
"Alright, squirt, it's our turn," Rainbow said, catching her attention and looking towards Fluttershy.
"Your present's outside," she said, gesturing for her to jump on her back. She bent down low so Scootaloo can climb on and get situated before the family walked away, with Celestia and Luna right behind them. Everyone else followed right after, intent to see what they had cooked up.
They walked out the building and towards the castle gates, which were promptly pulled open to reveal....a cloud scooter on the runway. Scootaloo cocked her head to the side, trying to figure it out before Celestia tapped her shoulder, gaining her attention. "Your mother and mom decided that since it'll be awhile until you can use your wings in the air, they were going to use a cloud instead."
"The idea squirt," Rainbow started as she levitated her off and onto the ground. "That since you're a pegasus, you can walk on clouds. And clouds can actually move left and right, and up and down. So unlike your normal scooter, this one will be able to get you up." Scootaloo gasped, finally figuring it out.
"You mean I can-"
"We're going to show you what it feels like to feel the breeze in your mane before you use your wings in the future. Hop on!" Scootaloo quickly clambered on and grabbed hold of the handles before Fluttershy gave her some instructions.
"You use it like you would ride your regular scooter. But this time when you tilt up, you will go up." She gestured to the bright blue sky behind her before Scootaloo began to buzz her wings, she took off on the ground with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy right behind her. Celestia and Luna glanced at each other before they too followed after them. Everyone else on the ground, including the guards watched them fly along the ground.
The four who followed her flew on both sides of Scootaloo, making sure she was safe and provide support. "Are you ready, Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked her. The filly nodded her head before she tilted back, giving the cloud the desired effect. I tilted with her and began to rise toward the clouds. Everyone shouted and cheered as she rode up into the air, eventually going above the clouds and surprising a sleeping Derpy who watched her fly and waved a hoof at her.
Scootaloo laughed happily before she went a little faster, doing tricks and such that would put Rainbow Dash to shame. Princess Celestia laughed at her daughter's awestruck face. "Are you jealous or impressed?" She asked her.
"Both!" She responded. "She'll be outflying me before I know it! Looks like I have to create some more tricks, Scoots stole all of mine!" They all laughed before Scootaloo went back down to the ground to soar over Ponyville, loving the sights of the town. The library, the hospital, the homes and neighborhoods, her old home, all of it. And she was so happy she was screaming. "EEEEEEEEE!!" She yelled, flying higher and higher up.
Eventually, after an hour, they came back down to the castle and landed. Once they were all situated, she jumped off and ran up to her mother and mom, giving them both the biggest and strongest hug she could ever manage. "Thank you, thank you so much!" She cried, leaking happy tears. The two pulled her close, nuzzling and kissing her.
"Your welcome, Scootaloo. Happy birthday."