Apple Bloom asked Scootaloo as they were cleaning around the galley, "So what's like sleeping in the captain's cabin?"
Scoots replied gleefully, "It's been great! The Cap tells me the greatest bedtime stories of all sorts of legends that have to do with the sea. And she lets me see all the neat stuff she's collected on her adventures!"
"Wow!" the red-headed filly exclaimed then said, "I'll admit I'm a little jealous that the captain's been giving you all this extra attention that us cabin girls wouldn't normally get."
"Gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, it's just I never had this kind of attention before. Even when my parents were still alive they were always busy and didn't have much time for me."
AB sadly expressed, "Gosh… I guess I thought that every pony had parents that looked out for them and would spend time with them since Applejack would always tell me stories of our parents being that loving and kind to her and Big Mac…"
Scootaloo's eyes widen, "You never knew your parents?"
"I was just a baby when it happened… so yeah…"
"Dang that's…" she shook her head, "Guess I was luckier than I thought."
"Maybe, but it's still sad to know that you lost them…"
Scoots made a sad smile and friendly nudged her friend, "Hey, we orphans need to stick together."
They embraced.
Rainbow Dash made it to the cargo hold where she carefully went toward a large cider barrel and got herself a mug before pouring the liquid from the nozzle. She took a couple of gulps and sighed in relief, then with a sly smirk on face she got some more and started drinking when suddenly Applejack jumped out from behind the barrel and shouted, "Ah-ha!"
Rainbow spat her cider out in shock and nervously faced her first mate, "Oh, hey, AJ… I was just… uh… inspecting the cargo! Yeah! I was totally making sure that nothing was missing or stolen. Cause that's what a good captain does!" she made a cheesy grin hoping her friend would buy the excuse.
Applejack gave her dubious look, "Huh-ah… And you were checking to see that no pony was taking more than their fair share of cider?"
"Exactly!"
AJ said with a hint of sarcasm, "Well that's good, because I've been checking the barrels and it seems that we're running low then we should be at this point of the voyage. I checked to make sure there weren't any leaks either but since there weren't I just can't figure out what the problem is." She eyed Dash.
Rainbow coolly replied, "Well that's too bad, I sure hope you find out the cause soon." she slowly backed away and was about to get out when a gunshot sounded off and a bullet whizzed past her and it hit the side of a crate. She turned to see Applejack holding up one of her pistols before blowing away the smoke.
Dash angrily yelled, "Are you trying to get me killed?!"
"Of course not! I missed, didn't I?"
"And what if you didn't?! I don't want Scootaloo to be motherless again!"
Applejack dropped her pistol in shock from hearing that sentence before she uttered in disbelief, "Is… is that true…? You… you would raise her as your own…? As her mother?"
Rainbow rubbed her neck and blushed, "Well… yeah… I've been thinking about it these last couple of days and the more I spend time with her, the more I really want to adopt her and raise her." she smirked, "Besides you know how awesome I would be as a mom."
Applejack started to sniffle and Rainbow inquired in confusion, "Are you… crying?" finding hard to believe her ship mate would actual cry given she always has a tough exterior.
AJ's eyes welled with tears, "I am! It's the most beautiful thing I ever heard from ya!"
"Okay! Don't get all sappy on me!"
The first mate wiped her eyes as she expressed, "My heartiest congratulations to you, Captain."
"Thanks." she smiled, "Soar and I have been meaning to have a family but as you know it couldn't happen so why not adopt a filly that's just as awesome as me? Wouldn't you agree?"
"Can't argue with that. But are you sure you're up to it? I mean, raising a foal is no easy feat, believe me."
"Aw, you worry too much, AJ, Scoots and I will get along just fine."
"That's not what I mean, you taking on a huge responsibility now, that filly will look to you for guidance and support, to care and nurture her."
"I know that!"
"But it also means you'll have to discipline her when you have to. You'll have to give her tough love when she does something wrong."
Dash arrogantly replied, "Please, I'm the captain of a ship, who better than me can give out the best punishments?"
Applejack sighed, "There is a difference between running a ship and raising a child. But I guess you'll find out soon enough." she smiled, "Now let's go tell the rest of the cabinet about this."
Pinkie squealed in joy, "OH MY GOSH! YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DAUGHTER! THIS CALLS FOR AN ADOPTION PARTY!" she bounced around the cabin like crazy.
Rarity beamed, "Darling, I'm so proud of you, what a better way to move on with your life then by adopting a filly for your own?"
Twilight nodded, "I agree. This just maybe the thing you needed to forget your past troubles."
Fluttershy had tears of joy welling in her eyes, "I wish you and Scootaloo nothing but happiness."
Applejack smiled, "Same goes me. But don't forget what I told ya before."
"Relax, Applejack. I'm just glad that I have all your support in this matter, I just hope my parents will feel the same, not sure how they'll react to being grandparents all of a sudden."
Fluttershy gasped, "You finally read their letters?!"
"I sure did! And you know what? You were right all along Flutters, I was worried for nothing, turn out, my parents just wanted to know if I was okay with what happen and that they wanted me to reach out to them. They even wanted to know what sort of adventures I had making sure I was happy."
The yellow pegasus smiled warmly, "See? Your parents don't care you ended up a pirate, your happiness is all they wanted for you."
"Well, I can now proudly tell them that I am happy… Having all you as friends, getting a daughter… This is the life I was meant to have and I couldn't ask for anything better. My heart shall never forget what I had and I will always wish that it could've had happen but I will take what is, for it makes me feel alive…" her eyes shone bright.
The group gushed at the sentiment and slowly they went into a group hug.
Rainbow Dash rang the bell making the crew stop with what they were doing and faced their captain as she proclaimed for all to hear.
"Mares, I have an important announcement to make!" she looked down and spotted the cabin girls, "Scootaloo, could you come up here please?"
Scoots had wide eyes and exchanged looks with her friends who were just as confused as her before she went up to face the captain and saluted, "Yes, Ma'am?"
Rainbow made a slight smirk, "You're going to have to address me as something else soon…"
"Huh?"
"You'll see…" and addressed the crew once more, "Ever since this filly has come aboard our ship, I've been getting to know her better, so much so that I have decided to adopt her!"
There was a large gasp before everyone started cheering but Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were completely stunned by the news.
Scootaloo was just as shocked and uttered, "Are… are you serious?"
Dash smiled brightly at her and wrapped a wing around her, "Very."
The filly looked to the Captain's inner circle and saw they were smiling and nodding their heads toward her.
Scoots' eyes widen finally grasping the idea and suddenly released a large shriek forcing everyone to cover their ears and it went on for the longest time.
Pinkie exclaimed over the sound, "Wow! I knew she would be excited but not this much!"
Dash-using her wings to plug her ears- declared, "You got to admit, the kid's has got a great set of lungs!"
Rarity yelled out, "How much longer do you think it'll last?! I don't think my ears can take anymore!"
Scootaloo then stopped and shouted, "I can't believe this is happening! It's like a dream come true!"
Rainbow chuckled, "You better believe it, kiddo."
Tears threaten to escape her as she went to her new mother and hugged her tightly. Dash returned it.
Sweetie Belle turned to her friend and commented, "Isn't this exciting, Apple Bloom? Scootaloo just got adopted by the captain!"
AB tried to smile and said, "Yeah… it's great…"
Sweetie noticed the tone and asked in concern, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." she denide.
"Well… if you're sure…?"
"I am." Bloom stated but the look on her face said otherwise.
Scootaloo was getting ready for bed in the cabin as Rainbow Dash went over the plans she had for them.
"As soon as I cure Celaeno, I'll find us a house on a remote island where no one can disturb us. It'll just be you and me, what do you think, squirt?"
"I love it!" she flapped her wings excitedly as she crawled onto the cot.
"Of course, you'll still have to do your cabin girl duties, because everyone needs to do their part on the ship."
"Sure, I don't mind." she released a yawn.
Dash smiled, "It has been a big day, hasn't it?"
Scootaloo nodded, "Uh-ah, especially when Pinkie threw that party after you made the announcement."
"Yup, classic Pinkie Pie, but I'm glad she did it, because it was something worth celebrating." Rainbow helped tucked her new daughter in.
Scootaloo sighed and laid her head on the pillow, asking, "Will it always be like this from now on?"
"Oh, you betcha." The mare used her wing to tickle the filly's chin.
Scoots giggled from the touch.
Dash kissed her forehead, "Good night, Scootaloo."
"Good night… Mom…" she softly replied before she closed her eyes.
Rainbow nearly cried from hearing that and slowly moved away to blow out the candle and went to her own bed while still looking at the sleeping filly before shortly falling asleep herself.
The night wore on before Scootaloo started to groan in her sleep and tossed and turned in the bed, and then suddenly she woke up screaming!
Rainbow Dash was startled out of her slumber and rushed over to her daughter, "Scootaloo! It's okay! It's just a nightmare!"
Scootaloo then burst into tears and cried into her mother's chest.
Rainbow wrapped her hoofs around her and rubbed her back, "It's okay… it's okay…"
"It was horrible! It was like I was reliving their deaths all over again!"
"Your parents?"
"Yes!" and she continued to cry.
"Oh, kiddo… I'm sorry… I know what that's like…"
She looked up with wet eyes, "You… you do?"
"Yes… When my fiancé was taken by a typhoon I kept dreaming about him disappearing into a storm and how I couldn't do anything to save him… Those dreams still haunt me to this day."
"So… they won't go away…?" her eyes welled up again, "Ever…?"
Rainbow winced and quickly added, "I'm sure that's not the case with you!" she softened her tone, "When I was a kid, my mother would sing this special lullaby just for me whenever I had nightmares, and you know what, they worked! So want to give it a try?"
Scootaloo slightly nodded, "Hm-mm…"
"Okay, just close your eyes and rest your head back…" the filly did as she said then slowly she started to sing, "Dry your eyes… Everything's alright… I am here to hold you, I won't let you go… Lay your head… Let me calm your fears… You are safe forever, I'll always be here… I know there's pain locked deep in your heart… You feel like you're lost, all alone… But just when it seems, it's hard to believe… The promise of love leads you home… When the rain falls, lift up your eyes… There's a rainbow just standing by… And the colors will light up the sky… Bringing hope to your heart… Guide you away through the dark… Where you'll find me… always with you…"
She saw Scootaloo had fallen back to sleep. With a smile on her face she went back to her own bed and whispered, "I wish you could be here, Soarin, you would have loved her."