Three young girls sat at the dining room table while eleven pairs of eyes glared at them. Meanwhile, in the next room Celestia was doing her best calm down her daughter.
"Apple Bloom," Applejack said furiously, "ah want an explanation, and ah want it now!"
"Sweetie, dear," Rarity said calmly, "Why would you do such a horrid thing."
"We only wanted to spend time with our big sisters," Sweetie Belle answered on the verge of crying.
"We thought that if we could get you to no longer trust Sunset, then y'all would spend more time with us." Apple Bloom told her big sister.
"And I wanted to spend more time with Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo said, but that was before Ms. Celestia took me in and Sunset became my sister. After that I tried to stop it. But by then it was beyond our control."
Luna watched the three girls. She could see in their eyes that they were telling the truth and that they were sorry.
"Girls, you may not have meant for this to happen, and you may be sorry," Luna said sternly, "but there will be consequences, first and foremost I will be meeting with your parents or guardian tomorrow."
Scootaloo's eyes darted to the living room where Celestia was busy comforting Sunset. Celestia wouldn't want anymore after this. Scootaloo was losing the family that she had been searching for before she ever got a chance.
"Yes Scootaloo," Luna answered the unspoken question, "that includes my sister."
"Luna," Cadence said as she embraced Scootaloo, "can't you see how frightened the poor girl is, it doesn't excuse what she has done, but give her some slack."
Luna looked at her niece and then at Scootaloo. She could see the fear in the young girl's eyes, it wasn't fear of being disciplined, it was fear of rejection and loss.
"Scootaloo," Luna said sternly, "come with me, the rest of you stay here."
The others watched as Scootaloo followed Luna up the stairs.
"What's going to happen to Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I dunno," Applejack replied, "Ah've never seen Ms. Luna this mad."
"You don't think that she is going to kick Scootaloo out," Fluttershy said, "do you?"
"I hope not," Aria said, "what she and the others did was wrong, but she doesn't deserve that."
Scootaloo felt the tears begin to flow when she and Luna entered her room.
"I'll pack my things." Scootaloo cried.
"Why would you pack your things?" Luna said, "I just wanted some place where we could talk in private."
"You're not gonna kick me out?' Scootaloo asked in amazement.
"And make my sister unhappy?" Luna chuckled, "I'm brave, but not that brave."
"What do you mean?" Scootaloo said.
Scootaloo, my sister and her daughter love you very much," Luna answered, "Celestia wants to make it permanent."
"Really," Scootaloo said as she wiped her eyes, "why would she want me?"
"Because you need each other." Luna said with a chuckle.
Scootaloo felt like she was going to cry again.
"However," Luna continued, "there will be some punishment for the havoc that you three have caused."
Luna looked up as the door to Scootaloo's bedroom burst open. Standing there were her three daughters and their friends.
"Mom don't kick Scootaloo out," Adagio said, "I am tired of being the youngest."
"Not what we need right now Dagi." Sonata said as everyone paused to look at Adagio.
"Girls, Scootaloo isn't being kicked out," Luna said, "how could you all think such things."
Meanwhile downstairs in the living room, Celestia was doing her best to comfort Sunset. Celestia was proud of the fact that she had great control of her temper, but when she read Icognito's post, she was furious and it had taken every ounce of self control that she possessed not to show that anger to Scootaloo and Aria. Incognito had actually said that it would be best if Sunset committed suicide, because otherwise, Incognito would kill her, and then proceeded to describe in great detail how they would do it. Thankfully, Sonata had logged on to Celestia's home computer and managed to delete the post, but not before making a copy for the police. Celestia felt her heart shatter with each of Sunset's sobs.
"Shh," Celestia said as she held Sunset tightly, "everything will be ok. We won't let this monster near you."
"How can you say that,' Sunset said between sobs, "we don't even know who Incognito is."
"I'll always be here to protect you from the monsters." Celestia told Sunset. Celestia heard movement and she turned to find Fluttershy standing there hold two hot cups of tea.
"I know it isn't much," Fluttershy said, "but I made you both some tea."
"Thank you Fluttershy," Celestia said as she took both mugs from her.
"Thanks," Sunset said to Fluttershy as she took the cup that Celestia handed her.
There was more noise as Luna led the group from upstairs. Celestia noticed that Scootaloo had remained in her room.
"Rarity, Applejack," Luna said in her Vice-Principle voice, "please have your parents call me at their earliest convenience."
"Yes ma'am," both girls said in unison while they each looked at their sisters and ushered them out the door followed by Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and finally, Fluttershy.
Luna sat down in a chair adjacent to Sunset, while the Dazzlings were perched stop a stool that each one of them had borrowed from Celestia's kitchen.
"We'll sit with her," Luna told her sister, " you go talk to Scootaloo."
Celestia nodded, she wanted to stay with Sunset, but she knew that Scootaloo also needed her. "Thank you," she whispered to her sister as she stood up and headed up the stairs.
"Sunset," Luna said, "you understand that those three girls never meant to truly harm you."
Sunset silently nodded, "I know but it still hurts."
"I know," Luna said, "but they are young and like the four of you they're still learning that there consequences to their actions."
"That doesn't make it right," Sonata said.
"I know," Luna replied, "and there will be some harsh disciplinary actions taken against them for what they've done."
"Like what?" Sunset sniffed.
"I'm not at liberty to say." Luna answered.
"Right now let's figure out who Incognito is." Adagio said with determination.
Celestia nocked on the door to Scootaloo's bedroom and silently counted to ten before opening the door. She found the young girl sitting on her bed crying as she tightly held onto her pegasus plushie. Celestia put her hand on the girl's shoulder as she say down next to her.
"You probably hate me," Scootaloo said as Celestia looked her in the eyes.
"Oh, Scootaloo," Celestia said, " I don't hate you, and I will never hate you, though I am upset by your actions."
"We didn't mean for things to get out of hand like they did." Scootaloo said.
"I know," Celestia said as she gently squeezed Scootaloo's shoulder, "but it can be difficult to see what future our actions can bring."
"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked.
"Take Sunset for example," Celestia replied,"she was certain that she would succeed during the Fall Formal, instead she didn't and when she thought that her life was over, she found a family."
"I wish I had a family," Scootaloo said quietly.
"You do, Scootaloo," Celestia said, "both Sunset and I, as well as Luna and her daughters are your family."