//------------------------------//
// Dinner With the Family Part 2 
// Story: Fly Like You 
// by Jinzou 
//------------------------------//

"Are you ready for this, Rainbow?" Twilight questioned.

Rainbow let out a shaky laugh. "Of course. They gotta know, right? Just... so you two know, this might be... well, is going to be really awkward. And don't react too weird if they start crying, because that's also extremely likely."

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, squeezed her eyes tightly, and gingerly knocked on her parent's door. There was no answer for a moment, and Rainbow took that opportunity to open her eyes and glance at Twilight.

"They said they'd be here to-" Rainbow started, before being cut off by the door being thrown open wildly, revealing two ponies wearing matching white t-shirts displaying Rainbow's cutie mark. Rainbow Dash's dad was a tall, stocky stallion with a coat slightly darker than Rainbow's own. He had light amber eyes, a closely cut rainbow-colored mane, a five o' clock shadow, and a cutie mark that depicted a rainbow trail following a cloud behind a horseshoe. Rainbow's mom shared Rainbow's coat and eye color, and had some odd sort of cropped two toned mane, featuring two different shades of orange. She had freckles and a cutie mark that displayed a cloud being moved by a gust of wind.

Both of her parents flew in sync and threw their daughter in a rib shattering hug. Twilight could swear she heard Rainbow's breath get squeezed out of her like a balloon with a tiny leak. Rainbow returned the hug, much softer, a frozen rictus stuck on her face.

"Hey Mom, Dad. I'd like to introduce you to-" Rainbow coughed.

"PRINCESS TWILIGHT!" Bow and Windy chorused. They both quickly bowed, then Windy grabbed Twilight's forehoof in a death grip, and started furiously shaking her leg as Bow started kissing at Twilight's hooves.

"Oh that's... Please stop. Please stop." Twilight gasped. Bow and Windy both backed up apologetically as Twilight brought up her other forehoof to manually stop the hoof that was still furiously shaking hooves with a pony that was no longer there.

"And is this your big strong dragon friend?" Windy squealed, going over to fawn over Spike next. "Oh no, remind me to not get on his bad side." Spike just laughed and flexed his nonexistent muscles.

Scootaloo giggled and caught the attention of Bow and Windy.

"Oh Rainbow! Is this your dear little daughter? She's so precious!" Bow zipped over to Scootaloo, intent on plucking her up and pulling her into a tight hug. All Scootaloo saw was a burly stallion running toward her. Scootaloo shrank back, pressing herself into the ground in automatic response, a flash of fear in her eyes.

Thankfully Bow noticed this, and he slowed down to a slow walk, then slowly reached out a forehoof when he reached Scootaloo timidly.

"Uh, sorry little miss." Bow coughed, his cheeks burning red from embarrassment. In the letter Rainbow had sent to him, she did mention taking Scootaloo from "an abusive home", and Bow stared at the ground in shame. He should have thought about that before rushing the filly he'd never met.

"Oh that's... That's fine." Scootaloo lied, shaking hooves with the stallion. "I shouldn't have reacted like that." Feeling the eyes of everybody on her, Scootaloo continued. "I'm working through the issue, but uh, maybe don't make any really sudden movements near me?" Scootaloo felt her face burn too, but she also knew that during the path to recovery, you had to set limits that made you comfortable. Her therapist, Doctor Kind Mind had told her that, and as far as Scootaloo knew, he knew everything.

"Sure thing, little miss." Bow gave a half-hearted smile as his wife walked over to introduce herself too.





"So we found out she was a mimicker and named her Imp!" Scootaloo recounted excitedly. "Then we had her transform into a whole bunch of things because Twilight said they do that as kids, and ended up overloading her. I think Applebloom -another Crusader- even tried to get her to turn into an entire park once."

"I did not tell you to make her transform into everything you can think of." Twilight complained. "I said they transform themselves into a multitude of objects in their adolescence to find out what they want to be. You girls took it a step too far. However, I am proud of you returning 'Imp' to her home. That was mature."

Scootaloo beamed at Twilight as Windy and Bow looked on in wonder. Scootaloo had spent much of the last hour and a half recounting various tales of her, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom getting into trouble. So far their favorites had been stories of "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Super Sleuths". 

"Anyways, then I-" Scootaloo paused, noticing a picture adorning the start of a nearby hallway, angled just so you could see it from the living room they all sat in. "Rainbow Dash, you used to wear braces?"

Rainbow Dash craned her neck to try and find the picture Scootaloo was mentioning. Upon finding it she immediately buried her face in her hooves. It was a picture of her on school photo day in third grade. She was wearing her Wonderbolts shirt, her mane was even messier than usual, and she was stuck in orthopedic headgear. Twilight, who hadn't been observing the walls, took notice and teleported over to it. The picture was surrounded by Dash's baby photos, featuring everything from her in diapers to her first days spent trying to learn to fly.

"Awwww." Twilight squeed. "Dash, you used to be so adorable!"

Rainbow Dash's face started turning pink.

"Oh that's nothing." Bow laughed. "You want to see the cutest moments of our little Dashie, we should show you the 'Rainbow Dash trophy room'!"

"Let's uh, heh, not do that, dad." Rainbow chuckled. "I'm sure they don't want to see-"

"That sounds great!" Scootaloo shouted, buzzing her wings excitedly, expecting a room full of Rainbow Dash's trophies, much like what her room in Rainbow Dash's house used to be.

"Come on then, follow us!" Windy chirped, leading the ponies out of the living room and into Rainbow Dash's room. She pulled back a curtain, revealing a door, and pushed it open to the sound of an angelic choir. Once through, Rainbow Dash decided to hide her face behind her wings.

"...Woah..." Scootaloo whispered.

Rainbow's face was plastered all across the room. There was even a giant rug depicting Rainbow Dash making a silly face. Scattered around the room were various trophies and reminders of milestones in Rainbow's young life.

"I, uh, installed the sound effects myself." Bow chuckled, opening and closing the door, turning the angelic choir on and off. "Pretty great, huh?"

"So great!" Scootaloo chirped.

"And look at this! She was wearing it when she spoke her first words." Windy boasted, pointing to a folded up diaper.

"Oh that's.... cool." Scootaloo's enthusiasm dampened as Rainbow Dash tried to hide behind Twilight. Her face was a solid pink.

Wow, Rainbow Dash wasn't kidding, her parents really are a bit too much. Who saves their kid's diapers?

"And this broken lantern is from when she first learned to fly!" Windy continued.

That's a little less weird. 

"And this bitten apple is from when she grew her first tooth!" Windy grinned. She gestured at a bronzed apple with a solid bite taken out of it.

Rainbow Dash did that with one barely grown in tooth? I don't know whether I should be impressed or not.

"Please, Twilight." Rainbow whispered. "A teleport anywhere that's not here would be greatly appreciated." 

Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled. "I don't think so." Twilight laughed, booping Rainbow's nose. "I had to deal with being embarrassed by my parents, now it's your turn."

Rainbow Dash just groaned.

I'm just... so happy!" Bow tried and failed to hold back tears. "My Rainbow Dash comes back with not only an abused filly she took off the streets, but an honest to goodness princess of Equestria. It's just... I..." Bow wiped his face with a hoof as an angelic choir sang out.

With a smile, Scootaloo closed the door, cutting off the choir.

"Great timing." Bow grinned.

"Great door." Scootaloo smiled back.





"Okay..." Rainbow stuck her tongue out in concentration. "I say it's... Rockhoof in the library with the candlestick."

"Yes! You got it Rainbow!" Twilight smiled, pulling the cards out of the little envelope. "Does anybody want to go an extra round or what?"

Scootaloo let out a loud yawn. "Maybe tomorrow. I'm falling asleep right here."

Rainbow nodded tiredly. "I'm a little beat too. We've been playing for a while." She turned to see Luna's moon already high in the sky. "Alright kiddo, let's get you off to bed. Twi and Spike can grab the guest room and you can use mine." Rainbow leaned in close to wink at the filly. "Don't tell Twilight, but that bed is waaaay more comfortable."

"What about you, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo questioned. "There aren't any more beds."

Rainbow walked over to the nearby couch and flopped onto it. "I can crash on the couch. Besides, I figure Twi here is looking forward to being able to get some sleep on her own."

"Oh, you generous pony, you." Windy cooed.

"Oh I uh... That's quite alright Rainbow." Twilight stammered. "I really don't mind. Besides, sleeping on a couch can't be too comfortable."

"It's fine Twi. Besides, that bed is only a single. Two of us wouldn't even fit on it. This couch will work just fine."

"Oh... okay." Twilight replied, a little subdued.

Scootaloo let out another yawn. "Well, if that's all settled, good night everyone."

"You okay with that Scoots?" Rainbow queried. "I can come and tuck you in if you want?"

Scootaloo let out a good-natured laugh. "No thanks mom, I'll be fine. I'm not some little foal anymore."

"You sure aren't." Rainbow smiled, walking up to Scootaloo and tousling her mane. "You're growing up in front of my eyes. Why, you're almost as big as me already!" Rainbow gave Scootaloo a good night kiss on her forehead and she giggled. "Now off to bed with you, Scoot."

Scootaloo scampered off to Rainbow Dash's room.

Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, who had stayed quiet for most of the conversation, let out a synchronized "awwww".

"Oh I just can't believe it!" Windy teared up, pulling Dash into a hug that was quickly joined by Bow as well. "Our little Dashie is already such a great parent!"

"I know!" Bow replied, also tearing up. "Just the sight of it is enough to make a pony cry."

Rainbow Dash let out a long, unenthusiastic sigh and returned the hug. "Well, I had some pretty great parents myself."





Ugh, my throat feels like a desert.

Twilight groaned, pulling herself out of bed. She ambled over to the bathroom, sated her thirst under the faucet, and exited the bathroom, planning on heading right back to sleep, until she caught sight of Rainbow Dash in her peripherals.

Rainbow Dash was staring into her old room, watching the slumbering form of Scootaloo quietly. She had an unreadable expression on her face.

"Rainbow Dash, everything alright?" Twilight whispered, sneaking up next to her. Rainbow yipped quietly, jumping in surprise.

"Jeez Twilight, don't sneak up on me like that, you scared me half to death!" Rainbow hissed.

"I'm sorry." Twilight replied. "But you didn't answer me, is everything alright?"

Rainbow turned back to regard the filly's slumbering form and paused for a moment. "Yeah. I dunno. I guess. Twilight, did we make the right choice?"

"In regards to what?"

"Well... Scootaloo." Rainbow poked at the ground idly. "Twilight, I'm not parent material. I barely know anything about taking care of foals. I mean, sure, you could do it. Probably every other one of our friends could do it, but I dunno. If she had gone up for adoption she could be handled by actual parents who know what they're doing. Not to mention the fact that we get called out to do dangerous stuff all the time. Like, before this whole thing happened, I had made peace with the idea that some day, one of us might not come back. But if that happens now, it's going to destroy her. I just..." Rainbow trailed off, leaning against Twilight in a vain attempt to draw strength from her. 

Twilight paused, trying to think of what to say. "What would make you think our friends could do it but you can't?"

Rainbow let out a heavy sigh. "Applejack has basically raised Applebloom since she was a newborn, after their parents died. Rarity is somehow... together enough to run two shops and take care of Sweetie Belle a lot. Fluttershy is... well, naturally a motherly presence. Pinkie... Well who knows honestly? And you? You do everything perfectly. And even when you mess up, things always end up working out with you."

Twilight bit her lip, she had made good points. "You're selling yourself short Rainbow. And I am not perfect!"

"Really, Twilight?" Rainbow deadpanned. "Aside from your brother's wedding, name one time you went out and made a fool of yourself."

Twilight let out a small giggle. "Well, there was that one time I accidentally called Princess Celestia 'mom' during one of her classes."

Rainbow snorted loudly into her hoof. After checking quickly to make sure she hadn't woken Scootaloo, she turned back to Twilight. "Did you really? That's awesome."

Twilight nodded as she felt Rainbow start leaning on her again. "But my point is that you're doing a good job of raising her already. Look how much happier and healthier she is now."

"Yeah but..." Rainbow hesitated. "I don't know how to handle problems. I mean, forehead kisses and bedtimes stories can only fix so much... I try not to show it, but every day I'm just so terrified that something will happen that I can't deal with. Scootaloo is going to depend on me and I'm just gonna... fail. If she was adopted she'd be taken care of by ponies who know what they're doing, not... I just love her so much, Twi. But I'm so scared just... all the time. I don't think I could do this without you." Rainbow sniffed as her eyes welled up with tears.

Twilight felt her heart start pumping harder as her cheeks tinted pink. She was thankful it was dark in the hallway. Twilight took a chance and wrapped her wing around Rainbow Dash's shoulders, pulling her in gently.

"Rainbow... Scootaloo is getting help. But what she needs isn't some strangers who don't even know her for her to be safe and happy. What she needs is somebody who loves her so fiercely that that pony will be right beside her come rain or shine. She needs you."

"I don't..." Rainbow felt hot tears come streaking down her face. She buried her head into Twilight's breast. "But what if I'm not good enough? What if she gets into a situation where I can't swoop in and save her? Twilight, I've been having nightmares about that recently. I just... I'm scared."

The two mares sat in silence for a minute as Twilight worked on what to say.

"Rainbow, sometimes in life ponies may get in over their heads. But if you're in that situation, then any adopted parents she might have had would also be in over their heads. But I don't think anybody would disagree that she's probably safer with you than anybody in Ponyville. I mean, considering what happened during that fight with Thunder Chaser..."

Rainbow Dash didn't respond. 

"If I'm going to be honest Rainbow. I've been having nightmares too. Just... seeing your body after that fight. I honestly thought you were dead for a second. And then when Scootaloo wiggled out of your grasp and started trying to wake you up... I thought..." Twilight sighed. "The nurse said if I was another minute or two later you might have bled out. I came that close to losing one of my best friends... A pony that means so much to me..."

Rainbow Dash looked up at Twilight and pulled her into a gentle hug. " I know I give off this whole performance of bravado and stuff, but I'm so happy that of all ponies to deal with all of this with, it's you."

Dear Celestia that was sweet. Rainbow Dash, you know I'd follow you straight into Tartarus without hesitation. All you'd have to do is ask.

"Well..." Rainbow finished lamely, breaking the hug and looking slightly embarrassed. "It's still pretty late and this pony needs her shuteye. I uh... thanks for talking with me, Twilight. It actually helped a lot."

"I'm always happy to help, Rainbow. You know if you ever need anything, I'm just a minute away." Twilight gave Rainbow a small smile. "Good night, Rainbow."

"Yeah, I do know that now." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Good night, Twi."

Her fears assuaged and her heart feeling considerable lighter, Rainbow Dash had no trouble falling asleep as soon as she laid back down on the couch. That night the pegasus dreamed of growing old with a certain purple mare while watching over the filly who meant more to her than her own life. Rainbow Dash slept with a smile that entire night.