It was now mid-afternoon, the sun lowering on the horizon. Scootaloo found herself looking at Sugarcube corner, wondering if it was a good idea to mention to the Cakes or Pinkie Pie about her plan. Pinkie Pie would be easy to convince, she was always too happy to really see anything bad about life. It wasn’t a bad way to live life sometimes.
But the Cakes were a different matter, Scootaloo knew that they would talk to somepony about what she said, and all it would take is for one of these ponies to decide to follow her home after she had the decorations, and find the truth.
With a sigh, Scootaloo made her mind up, and approached the door of Sugarcube corner. As she neared it, it was promptly slammed shut in her face.
“Hey! What gives?” she called out.
“You’re not coming in here! You, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle have to go find some other kitchen to set on fire today!” Pinkie Pie called back through the door.
“Pinkie-”
“I’m gonna be paying Mr. and Mrs. Cake back for your damage for months!” Pinkie Pie had entered ramble mode.
“Pinkie!”
“And the worst part? You three burnt my secret stash of Nightmare Night candy! Four years worth of candy, burnt to ash! It’s going to take me forever to gain that much candy again for a midnight snack, and I know what your thinking,” Pinkie Pie took a breath.
“Pinkie!”
“You’re thinking ‘she lives in a cake and candy shop! She can just ask for them for free!’, but its not the same! Nightmare Night candy is special, it makes you able to see strange creatures watching us all the time that NONE of you can see.”
“P-” Scootaloo paused in her efforts to get the pink pony to stop rambling. See strange creatures? Her mouth was agape as she tried to make sense of these words. She shook her head, focusing back into the present. It's Pinkie Pie.
“Will you please listen for a minute?” Scootaloo called out.
Silence fell behind the door. Ten seconds later, Scootaloo could see Pinkie’s eyes through the window, staring at her accusingly.
“Applebloom and Sweetie Belle aren’t with me, I came alone,” Scootaloo said.
“Are they hiding around the corner? Or are you the distraction?” Pinkie Pie asked in a suspecting tone.
“Neither, I’m all alone today. I wanted to ask if I could do anything for you and get paid some money for it.”
Pinkie Pie disappeared out of sight. A muffled voice somewhere behind the door suggested that Pinkie was doing her usual thinking out loud, and when she fell silent, the latch on the door clicked and it opened slowly. Pinkie stuck her head out, and looked around the front of Sugarcube corner, before looking down at Scootaloo.
“What are you up to?” she asked, pushing her face against the little pegasus’.
“Well you see,” Scootaloo prepared to hide the truth once more, “heading home yesterday, I saw that the orphanage had bad Hearth’s Warming Eve decorations. So I figured that maybe I could raise some bits and buy them new ones.”
Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened into a smile. “Aw…” She ushered the orange pegasus into the shop, leaving the door slightly open. With Scootaloo now following her Pinkie Pie led her into the kitchen. Despite the fact the Cutie Mark Crusaders had damaged it fairly badly, the new redecorated kitchen looked exactly the same, mostly green and the usual appliances.
Pinkie herself begun hopping around, doing several tasks at once. She broke an egg into a bowl and mixed the contents around, lifting some up and checking how it fell from the spoon. Satisfied when it slowly ran off the spoon and back in, she placed it to one side and hopped to the oven, turning it off and removing a freshly cooked batch of muffins. These she turned up out of the cooking tray and onto a cooling rack.
Scootaloo watched dutifully waiting for orders as Pinkie Pie hopped around, washing the used cooking utensils, putting icing on the muffins and then onto a serving tray, poured the new mix into a clean cooking tray and placed those into the oven to cook. It went on for five minutes, according to the clock on the wall, and Scootaloo begun to think that Pinkie Pie had simply forgotten she was there to help and be paid for it.
“Um, Pinkie?” Scootaloo asked.
Pinkie Pie stopped humming a new song she was working on, and looked at Scootaloo.
“Oh! Take those muffins out to the front of the shop for display.” Pinkie Pie idly said, and continued on with her work.
Scootaloo looked at the tray of muffins, then at the doorway. It was an easy task to do, nothing could possibly go wrong.
--
“I’m sorry Pinkie…” Scootaloo looked at the floor.
“No, no, its fine. This happens to me all the time. But,” Pinkie Pie looked at the ceiling, “usually, when I trip, it falls to the floor…”
The muffin try laid at Scootaloo’s hooves. The muffins sat in the rafters of the cake and candy shop, either perfectly upright or on their sides. Pinkie was somewhat proud of Scootaloo’s law of physics defying trip, even if she knew how this would upset her employers.
“But you wont be able to sell them now.” Scootaloo said, her gaze fixed on a nail in the floor that held the wood in place.
“Don’t be so gloomy silly,” Scootaloo looked up, and her jaw dropped. Where Pinkie had found a ladder without leaving the room? Scootaloo shook her head and watched Pinkie, “all I have to do is just get them down and fixed them up a bit, then they'll be muffintastic. Could you go look in the kitchen and make sure the muffins in the oven don’t burn?”
“Ok, how do I know if they’re ready?” Scootaloo asked.
“Oh, you’ll know,” she waved her hoof dismissively.
--
Scootaloo and Pinkie Pie were staring at the fresh muffins, currently cooling on the cooling rack. When Scootaloo had entered the kitchen, with Pinkie’s reply in mind that she’d know when they’d be ready to take out of the oven, she was pretty much certain that something would go horribly wrong.
But nothing had. The muffins sitting before them were perfect, and ready for icing and decorating when they had cooled enough. It was rather anti climatic. Turning her gaze to the clock, Scootaloo noted she had only been helping Pinkie now for half an hour, and she probably had an hour and a half to get the decorations and return to the orphanage.
“You know,” Pinkie Pie spoke up, ending the silence in the room, “if these orphans don’t have good decorations, they probably can’t afford to have a good Hearth’s Warming Eve party.”
Scootaloo felt a pang of sadness, as Pinkie’s words registered quickly in her head. It was probably true, and something Scootaloo hadn’t thought of. Pinkie Pie meanwhile had clearly begun to think.
“I would feel terrible and sad if I didn’t have a good party to look forward to,” she gasped, “oh! Why don’t I throw them a party? It’ll be super-duper-awesome! And then they can smile and be happy!” she finished speaking bouncing on the spot.
Scootaloo was filled with dread. If Pinkie Pie went to the orphanage to throw a party while she was there, then she’d know the truth, and would tell EVERYPONY. She thought fast on how to allow Pinkie to carry out her plan, and keep the truth hidden.
“Wouldn’t it be best to check first? I mean, what if they couldn’t afford better decorations, but have enough for a good party?” Scootaloo asked.
“Hm,” Pinkie sat down, and put her chin against a hoof, “well, I don’t know anypony who doesn’t like one of my parties. And if they have enough, then they can invite ponies! That’d be great for them, as then guests would know they need a good place and ponies to call home and family!” Pinkie answered, a grin on her face.
Scootaloo’s eyes grew small. That hadn’t worked, Pinkie was still determined to throw a party. As she tried to think of something else, Scootaloo noted Pinkie was now pushing her to the door.
“I need to get to work on a party for them! Here’s some bits, go buy them better decorations! See you later Scootaloo!” Pinkie Pie blurted out, and for a moment after the door closed, the bits spun in the air where the pink hoof holding them had been.
Scootaloo gazed in horror at the door, before carefully picking the bits off the floor and placing them into the bag. She thought of hoping to get Pinkie to promise to keep the truth secret, and hoped she didn’t invite a lot of ponies to an unplanned party at the orphanage.
--
Around Ponyville, shops were beginning to close. Ponies were heading towards their homes, as snow begun to fall once more from the sky. Standing under an awning, Scootaloo sighed. Beside her was a bag, holding two boxes of lights, a few lengths of tinsel and a few candles. The shop owner had promised to stop by shortly with a new tree from the back with the decorations for it.
Standing up, Scootaloo begun the walk back to the orphanage, the bag held by her teeth. She begun to worry about Pinkie Pie’s plans, hoping that the pink party pony didn’t have enough time to invite guests. She was deep into her thoughts, and didn’t notice the two earth pony fillies, one grey and one pink, walking towards her.
“Hello, blank flank!” Diamond Tiara opened, earning a fake laugh from Silver Spoon.
“What do you two want?” Scootaloo snapped after placing the bag in front of her.
“We came to see what you’re doing.” Silver Spoon replied.
“Its none of your buisness. Now get lost.” Scootaloo snapped again, and went to pick the bag back up.
Diamond Tiara moved fast, reaching the bag first and running a short distance away.
“Hey! Give that back!” Scootaloo shouted.
“Decorations? Why do you need decorations?” Diamond Tiara asked, guarding the bag as Silver Spoon looked into it.
“They aren’t for me. I saw the local orphanage had bad decorations, and I spent all day to raise the money to get them new ones on my way home.” Scootaloo answered.
“The orphanage huh? Probably a bunch of blank flanks with no money and parents. Know what I think Silver Spoon?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“What?” Silver Spoon said rethorically, a grin suggesting she knew what was coming next.
“Why should the poor have good things? If they don’t have the decency to have their own place, then they don’t deserve these!”
Scootaloo reacted too slowly as once more Diamond Tiara grabbed the bag, and with Silver Spoon, ran away. Groaning, Scootaloo gave chase, but couldn’t catch up. Diamond Tiara ran along several streets, before heading out of town. The cold wind and endless running slowed her down, and gave Scootaloo ground.Scootaloo ignored the pain her legs were in from running, too focused and determined to rescue the decorations before Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon did anything to damage them.
The chase had now led the three fillies to a lake, the ice had broken in several places, and the water was black and uninviting.
“Give me those back!” Scootaloo yelled.
“You want them so much? Here!” Diamond Tiara replied with the bag still in her mouth.
With one swift movement, Diamond Tiara threw the bag towards the lake. Scootaloo watched in horror as the bag hit the water and sank beneath the surface. Without a second thought or hesitation, Scootaloo dived in after the bag. As she swam, she heard one of the fillies above say something.
“She’s nuts! She seriously didn’t just do that, she’ll die!”
It didn’t matter to Scootaloo, as the cold stole the heat of her body faster than she could swim after the rapidly sinking bag. The water stung at her eyes, and in seconds, the bag vanished into the darkness of the lake. She wasn’t about to give up, and kept swimming through the painfully cold water as hard as she could, despite the pain in her legs from running.
It felt like she had been swimming for hours, but the static darkness around her didn’t change. The bag was lost, taking with it the hopes Scootaloo had held when she had left the orphanage that morning.
She turned around in the water, every inch of her body in pain. Where was the surface? She couldn’t see where the surface was anymore. All she could see was water. What if she had been swimming in loops? The surface could be above or below her.
Scootaloo blinked, her eyes slowly closing. As she closed her eyes, a simple white shape was heading towards her. Feeling happy and relaxed, the breath she had held in was released.
--
The sound of distant waves lapping at the shore reached Scootaloo’s ears first. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Groaning and wishing to return to sleeping, Scootaloo sat up, her eyes unblurred and gave her the first look of the landscape that now surrounded her.
It was an island about the size of the main room in the orphanage, with an endless ocean all around it. Behind her stood one palm tree, which swayed gently in the breeze. Around it was grass, dotted with colourful flowers, at the edge of which begun the white sand that made the small island’s beach.
Across the sky there were few clouds, but on the horizon, swirling in a large circle were dark clouds, thunder illuminating them from within and below. The island was peaceful, but the circle of storm clouds in the distance confused Scootaloo. It was as if the storm clouds were keeping their distance from her and her island.
“Why are the storm cloud staying away?” she asked aloud. It was silly, she thought, to ask a question when clearly she was the only living thing within sight.
As expected, no answer. Sighing, Scootaloo stared at the distant storm clouds. A long time seemed to pass by, she begun to think that she was seeing pictures in the clouds. Narrowing her eyes, she caught for a moment, the image of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, standing against the backdrop of the clubhouse.
She blinked. Looking back, the picture of her friends in the storm clouds had disappeared. It made no sense for a moment, as she set her mind to work on what they meant. As she thought, her last memory came to mind. The white figure, and her finally losing the ability to hold her breath.
“I’m dead... arent I?” she asked the air sadly.
As she begun to cry, realising that the island was both a paradise from her short life, and a prison. She didn’t notice as a set of hoofprints appeared in the white sand, walked beside her, and stopped. Scootaloo only ceased crying when she felt an invisible wing wrap around her.
“Who’s there?” she asked, her voice cracked.
You know deep down in your heart who this is.
“Mom?” Scootaloo asked.
Those clouds, the voice begun, not answering her question, represent life. As you give in, the storm of life retreats from you.
“So, they’re far away because I’ve almost given up on life?” Scootaloo asked again, hoping for an answer.
Yes. They only linger because someone wills you to live.
“It wouldn’t be Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They’re the reason I’m here in the first place.” Scootaloo spoke through gritted teeth.
Tell me, will you send those clouds away, and be happy with seeing memories around your paradise? Or will you call them back and return? the voice asked solemnly.
Scootaloo froze. On the wind, a new voice could be heard, ever so faintly. She strained to hear it, closing her eyes.
“Don’t give up on me Scootaloo! Please! Start breathing!”
“I can’t hear that voice.” Scootaloo stated.
Allow the clouds to come nearer. The voice replied.
Scootaloo stared back at the clouds, wondering how she would even do that. As she looked on, the clouds begun to inch closer to the island, and the distant rumble of the thunder could now be heard. Along with it, the new voice could be heard among it.
“Please Scootaloo! Don’t die! Not like this.”
Can you hear them now? They are calling for you, Scootaloo. The one whose will was strong enough to keep the clouds on the horizon.
Scootaloo listened, searching her now scattered memory. She groaned. She had remembered Applebloom and Sweetie Belle so easily, but it was frustrating how she couldn’t place who the voice belonged to.
“Why are my memories all messed up?” she asked the voice.
Because they, those very clouds, were so far away for too long. Allow them nearer the island little one, allow them to bring back order to your memories.
Scootaloo glared angrily at the clouds, standing up and raising her tiny wings as she did so. In response, the storm clouds drew nearer, the thunder was now clear, along with it, the other voice.
“Come on Scootaloo, I’ve worked too hard to just let you go now. Breath, for the love of Celestia, breath!”
The storm clouds now darkened the sky over the island, and rain begun to fall. Scootaloo looked up at the clouds, and saw among them a single image, that of a pegasi, pure white in colour, who appeared to be looking back at her.
“That’s it Scootaloo! I saw your eyes open just then. Come on, breath and wake up! You can do it!”
“…Snowdrops… she’s who willed me to stay alive?” Scootaloo asked.
She chose to try to save you. And now the choice is yours. Will you send the clouds to beyond the horizon of your life, or keep them here and live?
Scootaloo didn’t bother to look for the source of the disembodied voice. As the rain ran down her face and body, she smiled.
“I really wanted to improve these decorations... but that’s not a reason to leave my life behind me.”
Then you know what you must do. I need say no more.
Scootaloo grinned, as slowly, she faded away. In the sky, the storm clouds remained overhead, raining on the island. The hoofprints that had stood still during the conversation turned, and walked into the ocean.
--
Scootaloo’s body shook in the cold as she begun to breath again, coughing as she did so. Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the black sky and the snow falling towards her, as something warm wrapped around her.
“You're alive, thank the princesses. I was worried.” Snowdrops said softly, tears rolling down her face.
“Snowdrops? What… happened?” Scootaloo asked, unable to recall recent events that second.
“I was following you when these two fillies took a bag from you. They threw it into the lake and you went after it. Those fillies got scared of getting in trouble and ran off.”
Scootaloo took in the information as warmth crept back into her body. Between memories of chasing after Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, the scene of a lone island in a vast ocean flicked in.
“Figures they’d leave me to die and not tell anyone.” Scootaloo finally replied when the memory of the events had returned.
“There wasn’t time to get help, so I dived in after you. I found you half way down, struggling to swim and sinking fast. You seemed to let go of your breath as I got near, and I rushed you back up as fast as I could. Getting back to the surface helped too, I didn’t stay too long to get as cold as you did.”
Snowdrops finally let go of Scootaloo when she had stopped shivering, and looked Scootaloo in the eyes.
“Scootaloo, what was in that bag that you thought was more important than your life?” Snowdrops asked.
“It… it was decorations. I’ve been helping around Ponyville all day to get us new ones. When I saw that bag hit the water, all I could think of is going after it, so everypony could be able to smile at the decorations, and not be hiding how disappointed they were with them.” Scootaloo explained faintly, reminding herself how she was back to square one.
“I think we’d rather have bad decorations and you alive, than good decorations and a funeral to organize.” Snowdrops stated quite bluntly.
“I know that now,” Scootaloo turned and looked at the nearby lake, “even though I worked so hard to buy them, and its upsetting they’re down there, I’m glad I’m alive. You saved me Snowdrops, thank you.”
Scootaloo stood up beside Snowdrops, and the pair looked at the falling snow. As Snowdrops smiled at the scene, Scootaloo begun to make a snowball, just for the sake of it.
“Come on Scootaloo, time we head back home. We’re probably late for dinner.” Snowdrops said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame. After what I just did, you shouldn’t get into trouble.” Scootaloo replied.
Beside her, Snowdrops looked at the snowball, and grinned, an idea forming in her head. She flapped her wings and lifted herself off the ground by a foot.
“Scootaloo, pick up the snowball, we’re going flying!” Snowdrops said excitedly.
Scootaloo looked between Snowdrops and the snowball, and smiled. She had no idea what Snowdrops had planned exactly that involved her and a snowball, but it involved flying, which made it exciting enough to her.
--
Snowdrops flew through the air, her front legs wrapped tightly around the chest and belly of Scootaloo. Hanging below her, Scootaloo was smiling and laughing, looking down on the scene of Ponyville blanketed by fresh snow.
Snowdrops flew down low, catching a few ponies off guard, who simply fell backwards into the snow. Ahead of them was the Ponyville Library, which Scootaloo noted had all its lights out. She thought nothing of it, as Twilight often went to a party thrown by Pinkie Pie, and as she hoped, Pinkie may have already arranged a party that she had forgotten earlier.
Leaving the library behind them, Snowdrops flew into the area of Ponyville with larger houses. Far ahead, a pink and grey dot could be seen among the snow. Scootaloo strained her eyes to see what they were, and as they got closer, the dots soon became the figures of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walking home.
“Snowdrops, there they are! Those are the fillies who left me to drown!” Scootaloo said above the wind.
“Good, you still have the snowball?” Snowdrops asked.
“Well yeah, but I don’t get why you-” Scootaloo stopped, and her eyes reflected her sudden realisation, “NO WAY! Really?” Scootaloo asked.
“Let it go and call them.” Snowdrops replied, her grin as wide as the one she had before taking flight.
“Hey Diamond Tiara, up here!” Scootaloo yelled, letting the snowball go.
Down below, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had stopped, their eyes wide. Looking around them, they seemed scared. Scootaloo could hear their conversation as she and Snowdrops flew overhead.
“Oh no, you don’t… that was her ghost, come to haunt us!” Silver Spoon shrieked.
“Then why did she say look up?” Diamond Tiara replied, looking up.
The snowball landed perfectly, making a satisfying splat sound as it broke up right in the middle of Diamond Tiara’s face. Scootaloo begun to laugh hard, as she and Snowdrops flew away to the sound of Diamond Tiara’s angry yells.
“That was brilliant! I wish I could tell Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo said.
“Why can’t you? They should know.” Snowdrops replied, twisting in the air and over White Tail Wood.
“They don’t know I’m an orphan… I… I can’t tell them. They’ll think differently of me and won’t be my friends anymore.” Scootaloo answered.
Snowdrops went down low, and Scootaloo could see that a river in White Tail Wood hadn’t frozen. The slow flowing water reflected the sky above it, and in turn, the image of Scootaloo being held by Snowdrops as they flew.
“Look at yourself Scootaloo. There isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Like all of us, your making do with what life has given you. If your friends don’t want to know you for something that was beyond your control, then they were never real friends in the first place.” Snowdrops spoke calmly.
Scootaloo stared at her reflection in the water, her purple eyes staring into the same purple eyes in the mirror like water. As she looked herself in the eye, she remembered the time Applebloom had used something from Zecora to gain a fake cutie mark, and how, despite how angry she had felt at first at the truth of what her friend had done, she had forgiven Applebloom and understood how she felt.
“I guess I could tell them. What could possibly happen?”
Snowdrops soared once more over the forest and back over Ponyville, heading towards the orphanage. After five minutes, she came in and hovered over the ground by the front door, putting Scootaloo down safely, before landing herself.
“Snowdrops?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yes, what is it Scootaloo?”
“Why do you always look out for me? I mean, this isn’t the first time, like the time you tried to tell me not to listen to Showstopper and his advice on what to do for the talent show.” Scootaloo asked again.
Snowdrops for just a moment seemed to recall a sad memory, but shook her head, and smiled.
“I’ll tell you the full story some other time. All you need know right now? To me, you’re like a little sister. That’s all the reason I need to look out for you. Now, come on, Miss Amethyst is probably worried about us.”
Snowdrops knocked the door, and stood there smiling. The smile disappeared when two minutes had passed and the door remained closed. Scootaloo and Snowdrops looked around to the windows.
“There’s lights on inside, I don’t think everypony is asleep yet.” Scootaloo said.
Snowdrops knocked the door harder. From somewhere behind it, the sound of somepony hopping towards the door could be heard, and Scootaloo froze with dread and her heart begun to race.
With a click, the door swung open, and her fear was realised. Grinning at her and Snowdrops was Pinkie Pie.
“Hey there Scootaloo! Who’s this? Is this your mother? Its about time you turned up,” she gasped without losing momentum in her speech, “oh, where are my manners, hi there! I’m Pinkie Pie!” she grabbed Snowdrops forehoof and shook it, as she continued talking. “So are you two bringing those decorations? You should stay for the party. Its the best one I’ve thrown yet!”
Scootaloo and Snowdrops looked back at each other, then Pinkie Pie, as if waiting to see if she had really stopped. It became evident that she had, and Snowdrops spoke up first.
“Mother? Scootaloo, what’s going on?” Snowdrops asked.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry Scootaloo, I didn’t know you were surprising your mo-”
Scootaloo held a hoof to Pinkie’s mouth. “She isn’t my mother, Pinkie Pie.”
“Yes, and I ask again, what’s going on?” Snowdrops was even more puzzled.
“Remember when I said I hadn’t told my friends yet?”
“Yes? What’s that got to do with this?”
“I didn’t tell anypony.” Scootaloo replied, looking at the ground.
Pinkie and Snowdrops looked at each other. The cheery look on Pinkie’s face had gone, replaced by confusion.
“Wait, what didn’t she tell anypony?” Pinkie Pie asked softly.
“I’m,” Scootaloo bit her lip, “Pinkie, I don’t live somewhere else. This is my home. I’m an orphan.”
Scootaloo, tears forming in her eyes, looked into Pinkie’s face. Pinkie Pie looked taken aback by the revelation. As if looking for another voice on what Scootaloo had just said, Pinkie looked at Snowdrops, who simply nodded.
“Oh,” Pinkie said sadly. The sad look vanished in an instant, replaced by a smile, “well, come on, you’re late for the party!”
“Wait! You mean… you’re ok with that? Pinkie, I don’t know what its like to have parents, and everypony here is the only family I’ve ever known.” Scootaloo said.
“Well, duh. Why wouldn’t I be ok with it? It’s not like it’s your fault. Besides, I’ve been away from my parents for so long I kinda know that.” Pinkie thoughtfully tapped her mouth. “Well, not really. Yeah, it’s different. Everypony’s different anyway.” She shrugged, putting her hoof back down. “Now come on, it’s a doozy of a party!” She hopped back to the doors of the main room.
Snowdrops stood aside, and gently pushed the confused Scootaloo inside from the snow, before walking in herself and locking the door. From the main room, Scootaloo could hear music and laughter, and a new worry entered her mind.
“Pinkie, how many ponies did you invite?” Scootaloo asked.
“Oh, not that many. Only the ones that were heading here anyway.” Pinkie Pie called back cheerfully, disappearing behind the doors.
Scootaloo trotted to the door, and rested her front hooves against the door, rather scared of what she’d find behind the door. With a gentle push, she opened the door, and the scene made her jaw drop.
The tree in the far end of the room looked nothing like it had the night before. Where once a pathetic looking and nearly bare tree stood, a now full looking tree stood, covered from top to bottom with lights, baubles, tinsel and ribbons. Above the windows, where near bare tinsel had been, brand new green tinsel, with red ribbons and gold bells hung. Red candles in gold plated candle holders sat lit in the windows, and even more decorations, that hadn’t been there before, now hung from the ceiling. Red foil stars spun around off the ceiling, reflecting light around.
The tables had clearly been moved around and prepared for a party, those that had been moved to the window were now covered in red tablecloth, and these had the various party foods. One table which had been moved to one wall held a music player, where the music for the party was being played with plenty of space in front of it to dance. Near the tree, a table had been covered with a white tablecloth and presents had been put on it.
Standing among all this, Oca, Treble, Showstopper, Skydance and Miss Amethyst were smiling. Genuinely smiling. And all were looking at Scootaloo. Nearer the tree, also smiling at Scootaloo, stood Applejack, Twilight and Rarity.
“Look who’s finally here!” Pinkie Pie chimed cheerfully.
“Scootaloo, weren’t you trying to get decorations for this place before going home?” Twilight asked, stepping forward.
“Uh, yeah… about those…” Scootaloo begun to reply.
“Before going home? Whatever do you mean?” Miss Amethyst asked.
“Well her parents are probably worried about her. Come on, I’ll take you home.” Twilight begun to walk towards Scootaloo.
“I think you are misunderstanding the exact situation, miss Sparkle.” Amethyst replied.
“I don’t think I am, miss Amethyst. I’m sure she’d like to stay, and I’ll see if her parents will agree for her to come back for a little while, but it would be best to take her home for now at least.” Twilight insisted, but coming to a stop.
“Listen, miss Sparkle, I’m sure it makes no difference to her parents.” Amethyst stated bluntly.
“What a horrible thing to say! I’m sure it does.” Twilight replied.
Scootaloo grabbed Twilight, trying to force her to face her. When Twilight was looking at Scootaloo, she took a deep breath.
“She’s right Twilight. My parents… I… I never had any from what I remember.” Scootaloo informed her.
Twilight quickly held a hoof over her mouth. From where they stood, Applejack and Rarity both looked shocked.
“This is my home, Twilight… I didn’t want anyone to think less of me, so I lied earlier. And the decorations I was going to buy? Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stole them and threw them into a lake, I almost died trying to get them back. That’s why we’re late miss Amethyst, please don’t punish Snowdrops.” Scootaloo pleaded.
“How could I punish either of you? Snowdrops I’m sure will explain everything to me later. But when these four turned up and brought things for the orphanage, and a party, they told me what you were doing today Scootaloo,” Amethyst had walked up to Scootaloo, and now was kneeling on the floor to bring herself to Scootaloo’s eye level, “you just wanted to make us all happy. But if you almost died to make sure that happened, then I’d rather those decorations stay lost.”
“This morning, when I woke up, all I could think of was getting new decorations to make the others all happy. But,” she paused, the smile leaving her face, “now I realise, it’s not the decorations that should make you happy and have a reason to smile at Hearth’s Warming. Sure, the decorations make everything look nice, but being there with others, sharing the day despite what life has done to bring us all to the same place, that’s what would make them smile.”
Scootaloo smiled, rubbing tears from her eyes. She walked up to Applejack and Rarity, and sighed.
“I know how much you two must want to tell Applebloom and Sweetie Belle about me being an orphan. But, could you keep it a secret so I can tell them instead?” she asked.
“Why of course sugarcube. Tha’s somethin’ they need ta hear from you, not us. Right Rarity?” she asked the unicorn beside her.
“Agreed. If you’d like, we shall go fetch them, so they may join the party, and you can explain it to them.” Rarity smiled.
Scootaloo smiled and nodded her head.
“Thanks everypony. It means a lot.” Scootaloo replied.
“Now, I do believe we should enjoy the rest of this party, and thank miss Rarity for the gifts she brought for us to open on Hearth’s Warming.” Amethyst said, smiling at Scootaloo.
“Yeah everypony! PAR-TAY!” Pinkie Pie shouted, startling Amethyst with the sudden popping of streamers that came from nowhere.
Applejack and Rarity returned half an hour later, with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, both looking tired, and a little confused as to what exactly they were being brought to. Their eyes widened at the sight of the party, and the pair ran over to Scootaloo as soon as they saw her. The trio begun to talk, with Scootaloo explaining her living situation to them.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were surprised and a little disappointed about the secret, but, once the revelation sank in, as Scootaloo hoped, they didn’t mind the fact she had no parents. She was thankful that they hadn’t decided to drop her as a friend. Smiling, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle walked around, getting to know the other ponies that they just discovered their good friend lived with.
After some time, Scootaloo sat down and watched the party, closing her eyes. The picture of the island in the vast ocean appeared for a brief moment, and she smiled. It was going to be the best Hearth’s Warming yet.
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Author's ending notes; Well, I hope everyone enjoyed this story. That's it for this christmas fic, and I'll begin resuming work on my other story, Ruining Harmony, with it's 6th chapter before the year ends. I don't know when I will begin another non-Dark story such as Hearth's Warming Eve for Scootaloo, but it has been fun to write it.
Hope you all have a happy christmas/holidays.