//------------------------------// // 9. Friendship is Family // Story: My Little Pony: Living the Future // by Harrison Sparrow //------------------------------// After agreeing to adopt her past-self, Future Rainbow flies over Cloudsdale and sees Rainbow on a bench. She flies down to her. "Hey, Little Dashie." Future Rainbow said. Rainbow turns to face her future-self, then turns away. "What are you doing here?" Rainbow said, still feeling devastated. "Hey... I wanna talk to you." Future Rainbow said, as she sits on the bench next to Rainbow. "I heard what happened, and... I'm really sorry." "'Sorry'?" Rainbow said. "But you're me." "Yes, believe me, I know that." Future Rainbow said. "Look around..." Rainbow said. "Cloudsdale isn't what it used to be anymore, Derpy and Scootaloo have changed... and Mom and Dad aren't here... I miss them..." "Rainbow... I miss Mom and Dad a lot more as you do." Future Rainbow said. "Heck, I even miss my little pet, Tank. Didn't you know that he didn't like going out in cold winters?" "No." Rainbow said. "In my world, before Tank died, I feared that I would be nothing without him." Future Rainbow said. "But my friends told me that I'll always have them. Because in the end, having the most awesome best friends that you love is what you should always be proud of." "I do love Twilight... and Applejack." Rainbow said. "Me too." Future Rainbow said. "Actually, Rainbow... I have something I wanna tell you." She holds Rainbow's hooves. "So, me and my friends had a meeting together about what we can do to fix everything. And we had an agreement... that I would become a mom... to you." "What?" Rainbow said. "If you have no parents, then I'm not letting you go through life without one. Me." Future Rainbow said. "You're saying... you're going to adopt me?" Rainbow said. "Yes." Future Rainbow said, nodding her head. "And hey, I can even help you become a Wonderbolt. How cool is that?" Rainbow gets up from the bench, as she couldn't believe what her future-self said. "Are- are you serious right now? Because I don’t know if…" She said. "I am, Rainbow." Future Rainbow said. "I’m serious as a racer and a mother can be." "No! No, I don’t want… I…" Rainbow said, but she gives in, crying even more. "Mom…!" They hug, and Rainbow weeps. At Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom, Big Mac and Sugar Belle see the two Applejacks walking up to them. "Hey, Applejack." Apple Bloom said. "Are you okay?" "She's still upset about what happened, but I told her about what we're gonna do to help." Future Applejack said. "Guys... I always loved doin' my job and havin' adventures with my friends." Applejack said, still crying. "But with Granny gone... I'm scared..." "I'm scared too." Apple Bloom said. "We know things aren't what they were in the past, but that doesn't mean you have to give up in life." Sugar Belle said. "Ain't that right, Big Mac?" "Eeyup." Big Mac said. "And Granny Smith would always want you to be happy, and be proud of who you are." Apple Bloom said. "Really?" Applejack said. "That's right." Future Applejack said. "The truth is, is that you're never gonna be alone, Sugarcube. And I ain't gonna let that happen to you. Do you understand?" "I miss Granny Smith so much already..." Applejack said. "So do we." Future Applejack said. "But we’ll always have each other, Applejack." "And I'll always have my favorite sister." Apple Bloom said. "I love you, guys." Applejack said, cheering up. "C'mere..." Future Applejack said. Applejack and her future-self hug. "I think this calls for a group hug." Sugar Belle said. Apple Bloom, Sugar Belle and Big Mac join in for a group hug. Pinkie and her future-self arrive back at Sugarcube Corner. "Cheese, we're here!" Future Pinkie said. "Hey. So, are you all right, young Pinkie?" Cheese said. "No..." Pinkie said, still in tears. Cheese puts his hoof on Pinkie's cheek. "Hey, hey... It's okay." He said. "I heard what happened at the library." "I still miss my family..." Pinkie said. "Pinkie... I miss my family, too." Future Pinkie said. "And we're sorry you can't go back home. But that doesn't mean you can't have a home here." "What are you talking about?" Pinkie said. "We had a chat earlier, and, uh... we decided that we would take care of you." Cheese said, smiling. "Is this real?" Pinkie asked. "Am I really gonna live here?" Future Pinkie nods. "Welcome to your new home, Pinkie." She said. "Welcome to your new family." Cheese said. "Aw, guys…" Pinkie said, as she embraces and hugs her future-self and Cheese. Lil' Cheese joins them for a hug as well. "Oh! And Lil' Cheese is now your little brother." Cheese said to Pinkie. Pinkie gasps. "I have a little brother!?" She said. "You do now." Future Pinkie said. "Hello, Lil' Cheese." Pinkie said. "I'm going to live with you now, all right?" "Are you staying?" Lil' Cheese said. "She sure is." Future Pinkie said. "That also means we now officially have a DAUGHTER!" Cheese said happily. "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?" They all laugh. Rarity and her future-self are back at Carousel Boutique, where Sweetie Belle was waiting. "Oh, gosh." Sweetie Belle said, as she hugs Rarity. "I'm so glad you're all right." Rarity sniffles. "Thank you, Sweetie..." She said. "So, are we really doing this?" Sweetie Belle asked Future Rarity. "It's the only way." Future Rarity said. "This is now your home, darling. We'll look after you from now on." She said to Rarity. "I just don’t want to live without a family…" Rarity said, crying. "Rarity, I won’t let you." Future Rarity said. "You’ll be happy with us." "And no matter how young or old you are, you will always be the sister I love." Sweetie Belle said. "Even though there's two of you now." She snickers. "I love you too, Sweetie dear." Rarity said. The three have a group hug. Fluttershy and her future-self are back at their cottage. "I had a talk with my friends, and I agreed that I would mother you." Future Fluttershy said. "Why would you do that?" Fluttershy asked. "Because I don't want you to be lonely." Future Fluttershy said. "Are you really going to be my new mother?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, Fluttershy." Future Fluttershy said. "We can even take care of the animals together. Okay?" Fluttershy nods tearfully. "Thank you..." She said. The two ponies hug, and Future Fluttershy sighs. Twilight and Spike are sitting near a river. "Twilight, I..." Spike said, as he sighs. "I just wish there was something I could do to help." "No, Spike..." Twilight said, still crying. "There's no going back home now... We're stuck here forever, and Celestia has retired..." "But, your future-self is the ruler." Spike said. "I think it's because you made that happen! You should be proud of that, right?" "I don't know..." Twilight said, whimpering gently. Future Twilight arrives. "Spike?" She said. "Can I have a moment with Twilight, please?" "Okay." Spike said, as he walks off. Future Twilight sits next to Twilight. "Hey. How are you feeling?" Future Twilight asked. Twilight sniffles. "Horrible..." She said. "I don't belong here..." "Neither do I." Future Twilight said. "Look... I'm very sorry I didn't tell you about Mom and Dad. I was just too scared." "'Scared'?" Twilight said. "You know what? It doesn't matter. You're me, and you're now the ruler of Equestria." "But what Spike said to you was right." Future Twilight said. "You've chosen the right path and took it, and look what you've made me become. You made that happen, and you should be proud of yourself. Celestia would be proud of you, too, just like she was proud of me." "But what about my parents?" Twilight said. "Our parents." Future Twilight corrected. "They would feel the same way. But, I have some news I wanna tell you." "What news?" Twilight said. "I had a discussion with my friends, and we came up with an idea of what we could do to help you and your friends." Future Twilight said. "And, we've decided..." "What did you decide?" Twilight said. "I’m going to take care of you now, Twilight." Future Twilight said. "I'm going to adopt you." Twilight couldn't believe what her future-self was saying. "You… you mean it?" She said. "I do, sweetheart." Future Twilight said, smiling. "But, what about my friends?" Twilight said. "Are they getting adopted?" "Yes, they are." Future Twilight said. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you will still be happy with your friends." "I miss Mom and Dad so much…" Twilight said, sobbing as she hugs her future-self. Future Twilight hugs her back. "I miss them too." She said. "But everything will be okay, I promise."