It had been a week since Scootaloo's return. A week since her late night meeting with Princess Luna. She hadn't told anypony about the meeting either, and wasn't planning on it. But Scootaloo had been wondering about how easily the Princess had seen through her facade.
If Luna had noticed, had others done the same?
The headmistress wasn't too pleased with Scootaloo's disappearance, but decided to let her off with a warning, that if the same thing occurred, she would suffer severe punishments accordingly. Scootaloo had only nodded, but was beginning to realize, that maybe ponies did care about her, like Luna said? Not to mention the Princess had clearly stated, that Scootaloo would get a sister. Being the curious filly she was, Scootaloo had long and hard pondered over how the Princess could know such a thing, but the Princesses always spoke the truth, and the little filly had no intentions of starting to doubt the beloved rulers.
But still...
Scootaloo was surprised to hear about Princess Luna's own insecurities before her redemption. Did she really feel that way, that everypony didn't love her? Ponies were still a bit anxious about Luna, but after Nightmare Night, they had begun accepting her more and more, so that wasn't a problem for much longer. Scootaloo only thought that the two Princesses felt... awesome, all the time. Why wouldn't they? They can fly, use magic, and ruled Equestria greatly. Who knew that Princesses could be sad and gloomy like Scootaloo herself.
"Scootaloo, would you mind coming up doing this problem for me?"
Scootaloo quickly straightened herself up, glanced at her notes and went up to the board. Ever since she got home, she'd been much more focused on schoolwork, and had realized she didn't have to put much effort into what they were doing at the moment. She found math to be really easy, and didn't use her notes from home much as she stood by the blackboard.
"Well done, Scootaloo," Cheerilee praised, before turning to Diamond Tiara, "Tiara, can you do the next please?"
"Certainly miss.", the pink filly replied, and stood up to walk towards the blackboard. Diamond Tiara huffed as she passed Scootaloo, her head held high in the air, and barely visibly tripped the pegasus filly. Scootaloo let out a loud 'huff' as she collided with the wooden floor, her notepad landed only inches from her nose.
"Scootaloo, are you alright!" Cheerilee exclaimed as she quickly made it to her student's side, briefly checking for minor injuries, only to find none.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Scootaloo groaned, and turned her head towards a grinning Diamond Tiara, then back to Cheerilee, "just fine."
"Are you sure?" Cheerilee asked again, escorting the filly the short route to her seat.
Scootaloo nodded, and briefly glanced at Diamond Tiara to see the filly's mouth stood wide open in shock. The spoiled daughter of Filthy Rich had obviously expected Scootaloo to tackle her to the floor, and cause the pegasus filly more even harm than usual. Alas, Scootaloo had remained silent, held her head high and merely returned to her seat. Scootaloo reached out her hooves to each of her sides, and smiled inwardly at the high-fives that she received from Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.
Maybe life wasn't so bad after all?
After the whole fake pregnancy thing, Rainbow Dash had been very careful about reading the book that Twilight had borrowed her. She only read before she went to bed, in her mansion high in the sky, and never brought it down with her to Ponyville. Although Pinkie Pie only came to visit for party invitations of the like, Rainbow Dash kept an extra close eye out for the windows, to ensure that the party pony wasn't about to cause yet another scandal. When Scootaloo went missing (again), she had read through the book in a desperate attempt of knowing what went on in Scootaloo's mind. Now, after her return, Rainbow Dash was finished and ready to return the book to Twilight.
In the most discreet of ways.
She chose a busy afternoon, where the clouds had been cleared according to schedule, ponies were busy with their jobs and shopping, and thus, the library couldn't be crowded. It never was, really, but Rainbow Dash was taking no chances. She wasn't about to have a pregnancy scam.
Again.
In an almost manic way, the mare kept checking her saddlebag straddled upon her back, earning some strange views from other ponies, until she reached the library. Rainbow Dash exhaled happily, sure that she was being super discreet and not noticeable, but as she opened the door and walked in, she ended up walking straight into another pony.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" the pony snapped, glaring at Rainbow Dash before turning her attention towards the queue again.
Rainbow Dash let out a low growl, and was about to retaliate, before she reminded herself of her mission.
Remain discreet, Rainbow. You can be awesome when the book is safe.
She faintly nodded to herself and let out another sigh.
Yes, it's just the library. The line can't possibly be any longer than that stupid pony!
Rainbow Dash looking forward in anticipation, but her jaw hit the floor, as she saw not one, nor two or three ponies, but five! How would she ever put the book back in a discreet way?! The cyan mare rubbed her hoof on her chin, and tried to settle herself down, taking yet another glance on her precious cargo.
Not a foal, but the book, ofcourse.
So Rainbow Dash waited.
For a mare used to neck-breaking speeds and high altitudes, it was tricky business. Before she knew it, her hoof started to tap on the floor in a rhythm that clearly indicated annoyance. The pony she had bumped into turned towards her again.
"The line isn't gonna move faster with your tapping." she said, her voice dripping with venom.
"Oh... right, sorry." Rainbow Dash replied with a sheepish grin, but as soon as the mare turned around, Rainbow made several funny faces accordingly. The polychrome-maned mare sighed again. This was going to be a long wait, until she heard a voice.
"Oh, hi Rainbow! Don't see you around here often!" Twilight Sparkle cheerfully said, as she entered her home. Surprised by the librarian's sudden entry, Rainbow looked ahead of the queue, and saw Spike at the desk, slowly, but steadily turning in the books that the ponies were there to return.
"Eh, what can I say? Awesome by day, egg-head by night!" Rainbow grinned, and let out a sigh of relief as the queue quickly evaporated as Twilight, who had just rolled her eyes at the egg-head remark, got behind the desk. As soon as the pony in front of Rainbow Dash had turned what book she had borrowed in, Twilight shut the door, and dismissed Spike immediately.
"But why! I'm her friend too!" Spike objected, stiffly at the bottom of the stairs to prove he wasn't going anywhere.
"Spike, this is a quick girl's talk. Do you really want to take part in one of... those?" Twilight asked.
Spike swallowed hard, before his small feet quickly carried him upstairs, slamming the door in his wake.
"But stop slamming the door!" Twilight commanded, earning a loud sigh to emit from the bedroom. The lavender mare shook her head, before turning to Rainbow, who had just stood there in silence.
"Here to return that book, or what?"
"Oh! Right. Here you go!" the cyan mare said, happily to have her mission be completed in time for her other things to do that day.
"Ah, 'The Modern Mare and Her Foals'. Check!"
"Thanks, Twi!" Rainbow exclaimed, who obviously wasn't planning to stick around, tried to leave the minute the book had been levitated into its proper spot in the library.
"Rainbow, why are you reading this?"
Twilight's question was too direct to even try to dodge it, but Rainbow's body stiffened the second the unicorn had asked.
I was thissssss close to freedom... the mare thought, before letting out another sigh, and turning towards Twilight, who had a quizzical look upon her face.
"Twilight, this means a lot to me, okay? I need you to not tell anyone, not Spike." Rainbow said, as she shortened the distance between the two friends.
"Ofcourse, Rainbow! I'd never tell any secrets of yours!" Twilight exclaimed, seemingly insulted by Rainbow's insinuation that she couldn't keep a secret.
"I've been reading this to get a better understanding of kids," she stopped as she noticed that Twilight had gone wide-eyed, "but I'm not pregnant! Ok, not pregnant!"
"Alright, not pregnant! Got it!" the librarian exclaimed, whom reminded herself to check that particular thing off in a secret check-list, in a secret book of hers.
"I... I'm just... I've realized that I've gotten really close to Scootaloo... and she doesn't have any family, and I don't have one...," the mare started, awkwardly drawing circles with her hoof as she spoke, "so I thought... maybe we could make our own?"
Twilight Sparkle's mouth stood wide open, before she blinked a few times and looked at Rainbow Dash with what appeared to be massive surprise.
"What, I, but..." the unicorn began, before realizing the mistake she had made. Rainbow Dash returned the surprised gaze that Twilight had given her, with one of great grief and hurt feelings. The pegasus began backing out of the library, her ears hanging low and her eyes seemingly tearing up.
"You... don't think I'm s-suited for a f-family?" Rainbow muttered, her inability to speak showing the amount of hurt Twilight had caused.
"Wait, Rainbow Dash, that's not I meant, I ju-" Twilight started, but got cut off by Rainbow Dash leaving the library.
Oh sweet Celestia. What have I done?