//------------------------------// // Night 23 // Story: Nights on Horlick's Hill // by RarityEQM //------------------------------// Something was amiss. Diamond could tell immediately as she took the short jaunt to the top of the hill. The orange pegasus sitting at the top did not turn to greet Diamond with a cheery smile, nor did she even so much as acknowledge Diamond's arrival. She simply stared up into the ebony heavens, silent in her repose. "H-Hey Scoots..." Diamond murmured quietly. Scootaloo's nearest ear gave a twitch, but that was the only response she had to offer. Diamond frowned. Something was definitely wrong. The dim light of the moon washing over the hillside didn't leave much light for observation, but Diamond's eyesight was better than most, and even better in the dark, and what she could see at moment, was that Scootaloo had been crying. Her cheeks were stained in streaks that were ever so slightly darker than her natural color. Frowning, Diamond took a seat next to her companion and gazed up at the stars with her in silence. "If...If you'se wanna talk..." Diamond said softly. Scootaloo gave her head the barest hint of a nod and drew in a long raged breath. "Y-yeah. Yeah, I know. It's my parents, D," Scootaloo mumbled somberly. Instantly, she could feel the warm tug of Diamond's wing wrapping around her shoulder and she gave Scootaloo a gentle squeeze. "They forgot to write you again?" She asked. She sighed. Scootaloo's parents forgetting that she existed was turning into a cruel joke. A running gag that had long since worn out its humor before it was funny in the first place. Diamond squeezed the other filly harder, and Scootaloo shook her head. "N-No. It's not that. They did write," She said, her face unable to hide her excitement, her lips tugging up into a giddy grin. She held out a small pink card and thrust it towards Diamond's chest. Confusion took hold, and Diamond tilted her head, taking the card offered. It was a post card, addressed to Scootaloo with a picture of what looked like Neighagra Falls on the front and on the back...Diamond's eyes widened. It was a short message and a simple one, but Diamond had to read it again and a third time, just to be sure. Three simple words. Three tiny powerful words that formed a heart warming sentence: "We're coming home." Diamond glanced up at Scootaloo, mouth agape, and Scootaloo wildly nodded her head, the joy racing through her now with no hints of stopping. "T-They're comin' home D!" Scootaloo squealed. She grasped Diamond's forelegs in her own and lifted them up together, dancing around each other. "HAHAHAHAA! THAT, IS, AWESOME!! SCOOTS! SCOOTS THEY'RE COMING! THEY'RE REALLY COMING! THIS IS, I CAN'T, I'M SO...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Diamond squealed, breaking away from the dance they were doing and rocketing into the air like a missile. Scootaloo gasped, following the silver filly with her eyes. She'd never seen Diamond actually fly before, but the girl hurled herself into the air like she'd been launched from a catapult. Astounded, Scootaloo watched the girl dip and weave through the air, her contrail kicking in after a few moments, and she began to loop wildly, jumping from point to point and drawing a picture in the sky. An image that looked surprisingly similar to Scootaloo's cutie-mark. When she was finished, and the image burned brightly in the night sky, Diamond plummeted from the air, slamming into the hillside only to roll down to the base. She sprawled out onto her back, still squealing in shock at the news Scootaloo had received. "Diamond!! DIAMOND! Yo-You flew!!" Scootaloo shrieked bouncing down the hill to where Diamond was laying. Diamond cackled, and pointed up at the sky. "Yeah I did! I can only fly when I'm not focused on my wings, and right now, I'm focused on how awesome this situation is, and how happy you'se are! This is GREAT!! Huh...I suppose with your rents in town it might take a while before you can sneak back out here to make wishes with me," Diamond mused, Scootaloo nodded her head. "Well, yeah, but I probably won't be getting another wish for a while anyway," Scootaloo explained. Diamond tilted her head curiously. "What do you mean by that? Why wouldn't you-" Diamond began, but Scootaloo cut her off with a wide grin. Of course. Of course, Scootaloo would have been wishing for her parents to come back! It was obvious and one of two things Scootaloo wanted most in the world. "Don't worry, D. I'll figure something out! I'm not gonna leave you out here to make wishes all by yourself, that'd be lame! Sides, I want you to show me that thing you did in the air!"" "Aww, thanks Scootaloo! It's so great you'se parents is comin' home! The thing in the air, was my 'Starry Stride' It's kinda like a beacon for the Servants of Shadow to let them know stuff! Like, A star is my location, a check mark means I found what I was lookin' for, an 'X' means it's not here, and you'se cutie-mark symbol means how awesome it is my best friend's parents is coming home!" Diamond squealed, wrapping her foreleg around Scootaloo's shoulders for a tight squeeze. "Sister," Scootaloo corrected, the grin on her face not faltering in the slightest.. Diamond scoffed. "Ha, yeah right. We ain't sisters. You'se got 'rents. You don't need me no more ta comfort you'se. There ain't nothing you need no solace for!" Diamond pointed out. Scootaloo shook her head. "You can fly, I can't. I have parent's, you don't. Besides, being sisters is more than just solace. We get to share good times, too! And, you were so focused on me, that you forgot you couldn't fly and I got to watch you do one of your tricks!. We both got what we wanted tonight, because we're sisters!" Scootaloo, squeaked, the warm grin wrapped around her muzzle was enough to make hug her again. Harder and tighter this time. "Guess you'se got a point, Scoots. We wouldn't be great sisters if it was only times that we was sad that we needed each other. Thanks," Diamond said quietly. Scootaloo nodded her head and wrapped her foreleg around Diamond's shoulders, giving her a warm squeeze. "So, now that I've got my parents back, D, I think it's time we get to work on findin' yours," Scootaloo grinned and Diamond's echoed.