//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: Sisterly Bonds // by Secret_Shadows //------------------------------// Sisterly Bonds Part III ‘Memories’ Written By: Secret_Shadows Edited By: avorin Consulting Advisor: Enlistedpony ‘We do not remember days; we remember moments.’ -Cesare Pavese “Mommy! Where are you!” Rainbow yelled, she was laying on a bed that seemed to be moving, everything was hazy. She was looking around for her mother and father in a frantic effort just to make sure they were ok. “Its ok little one, just try to stay calm” A white mare said with a comforting look on her face as she attempted to calm the panicked cyan filly. She had a red cross as a cutie mark. “Daddy! Mommy!” Rainbow yelled, she still couldn’t see clearly. “Where am I! Where are my mommy and daddy!” Rainbow demanded, she was scared. She had no idea where she was or who these ponies were. Her face was a look of pure terror. “You’re being taken to a new hospital, can you tell us your name little one?” The mare said “I’m not suppose to tell my name to strangers” Rainbow said looking away from the strange mare, she tried to get up and look around only to be pushed back down by her pain. “You’re hurt, just lay down, we need to know your name” The nurse said “I, what did you do with my mommy and daddy!” Rainbow yelled, her eyes were tearing up. “We don’t know who they are, you have to tell us your name.” The nurse said. “R-rainbow D-dash” Rainbow said. “Oh my” The nurse said as she looked at a small clipboard. “What’s wrong?” a doctor said as he looked over at the nurse. The nurse leaned closer to the doctor and whispered in his ear. Rainbow could barely hear what she said. “Her parents, are dead” “No, NO! no! no! You’re lying!” “No, no no no no!” Rainbow said in her sleep before she popped up out of bed, eyes wide open, she was enveloped in a cold sweat. “It, it was only a dream” She told herself. In reality it was a flashback of a repressed memory. It was night time, Rainbow was sleeping in her bed. Scootaloo was sleeping in a small sleeping bag on the floor, again spending the night at Rainbow’s after being unable to come up with a valid place of residence. “Rainbow” Scootaloo said, she rubbed her eyes with her hoof. “Uh, I’m sorry, Did I wake you?” Rainbow said looking down to where Scootaloo was sleeping. “I think, are you ok?” Scootaloo asked. “Yeah I’m fine, just a bad dream, go back to sleep.” Rainbow said “Ok” Scootaloo said overly obedient because of her current state of sleepiness. ‘phew, what a horrible dream’ Rainbow thought to herself as she tried to fall back to sleep. The night dragged on for what seemed like forever. An endless parade of nightmares and bad dreams continually woke Rainbow every ten minutes. Eventually Rainbow finally gave up when she noticed the sun had risen and she went to make herself breakfast, careful not to be too loud and wake Scootaloo up. About an hour after Rainbow had woke up Scootaloo staggered out of the bedroom almost as if she was sleepwalking, being incredibly tired from Rainbow’s sleep talking and crying took its toll on the young filly’s sleep. Scootaloo sat down at the kitchen table next to Rainbow. “Morning Squirt” Rainbow said trying to be cool about the whole thing. “Morning Rainbow” Scootaloo said rubbing her eyes with her hooves. “Sleep well?” Rainbow said grinning, she already knew the answer. “Probably a bit better than you” She said. Rainbow looked away, her ears fell as she looked down at the floor. “So uh, I was thinking, we should try to get you home, your parents are prob-” Rainbow started “Parents, heh” Scootaloo said. “Scootaloo, we seriously need to get your home, they are probably worried sick.” Rainbow said “No, I don’t have a home.” Scootaloo said with a look of seriousness on her face. “This is serious Scootaloo, your family must be worried-” Rainbow said. “Yes and so am I.” Scootaloo said. “But your family-” Rainbow said with a look of genuine concern. “I don’t have any family ok!” Scootaloo snapped. She looked down at the table in front of her. “I never did” She said, her ears fell flat and she looked away to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes. Rainbow looked at her in shock, her face was that of worry. “Scoots, I” Scootaloo didn’t answer, instead she ran back to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. She jumped onto her sleeping bag and started crying into the pillow. Rainbow followed and opened the door slowly walking up to Scootaloo. “Scootaloo-” “Leave Me Alone!” She yelled. Meanwhile... Applebloom walked into the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse expecting to find her two friends.... “Hey, has anypony seen Scoo-” Applebloom asked before being cut off. “Oh Come On!” Sweetie Belle yelled, her muzzle was inches away from spikes face..... “Well, bye Sweetie, maybe we can try it another time” Spike said running out. “Come On Applebloom! I was just about to get my kiss!” Sweetie yelled. “Oh, well ah’ only wanted ta know if ya have seen Scootaloo recently, don’t get all worked up” “Well, No I haven't, but, Now I have to go find spike, bye!” Sweetie said as she ran out of the treehouse. ‘What In Equestria did I just witness?’ Applebloom thought to herself. Scootaloo was now crying into her pillow. She truly had never had any parents to her knowledge, just the orphanage. Scootaloo eventually made her way to the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse where she currently resides. “Scootaloo, will you talk to me? Please?” Rainbow said, she sat down next to Scootaloo. “Go away” Scootaloo said, her pain was influencing her. “Scoots, I-” Rainbow was cut off. “Leave me alone! Don’t talk to me again!” Scootaloo snapped throwing her pillow at Rainbow before crashing down to her sleeping bag again. Rainbow sighed, ‘Well what do I do now? Way to go Rainbow, you broke a filly....’ She thought to herself. “Scootaloo, I, I understand how you must be feeling, I...” She trailed off. “No they are not dead! Why would you say something like that! Take me to my parents now!” Rainbow yelled at the nurse. “Rainbow, I know it’s hard, but your parents are gone, you have to accept that.” The nurse said. She wore a look of genuine feeling on her face, no filly should be going through what she was putting Rainbow through. “I don’t believe you!” Rainbow cried. “Rainbow Dash, as much as you want to change what happened you can’t, these things happen and you’re being put into a position that only an adult should be placed in. I know it’s going to be hard for you to accept, but your parents are gone, I’m sorry.” The nurse said as she got up and walked out of the room closing the door behind her, leaving the small helpless filly alone to her grief. “I lost my parents a long time ago, I know what its like to be on your own, alone, helpless....” She trailed off, her own eyes were starting to tear up, remembering the past, if only she could have helped. “I often feel like, If I had done something, maybe, maybe things could be different, I never should have left them....” Rainbow again trailed off not noticing Scootaloo had got up and was now looking at Rainbow. “Rainbow, I didn’t know, I, I’m sorry” Scootaloo said, she got a bit closer to Rainbow and sat down next to her. Rainbow wiped her eyes with her hoof and then spoke. “It’s nothing that can be changed now, it happened a long time ago.” Rainbow said, her ears went flat as she remembered her past. “These things happen Rainbow Dash, your grandmother is watching down on you right now, she knows you’ll become a great flier just like she was, and one day you’ll join the Wonder Bolts, just like she did.” Refraction said. “B-but, I’ll never see her again.” Rainbow said through tears. “I know Rainbow, but, she would want you to go on and be happy.” He said. “O-ok, I-I’ll t-try” Rainbow said, she put on a small smile and Refraction wiped the tears out of his daughters eyes. “Well why don’t we go flying or something.” Rainbow said, it was something they both enjoyed, and though Scootaloo was a new flyer she was able to keep up with Rainbow, sometimes. “Ok, sounds great.” Scootaloo said, she looked at the floor as she followed Rainbow out of her home and into the sky. A few hours later... The library was sparkling. The shelves had all been cleaned earlier that day by spike. The sun was shining through the window of the treehouse giving it a nice peaceful feeling; perfect for an intense conversation. “I don’t know Twilight, it just seems off, no one noticed a filly living in a Treehouse for how long?” Rainbow said. “Well we certainly didn’t notice ‘er livin’ in the ol’ treehouse” Applejack said. “It is certainly odd that no one noticed, I will do some research on this.” Twilight said as she levitated a cup of tea to her mouth and started sipping it. “Well Rainbow what are you going to do? You can’t possibly leave a poor defenseless filly living out all on her own.” Rarity said. “Well, I was kinda hoping-” Rainbow was cut off as she looked at Rarity. “Oh no, I have my hooves full as it is with my newest orders, not to mention Sweetie.” Rarity said Rainbow shifted her gaze to Applejack. “Ah got mah hooves full with applebuckin” Applejack said. Rainbow shifted her gaze once again. “Oh, uh, I, I don’t know, uh, I have my hooves full with my animals. I, if thats ok with you” Rainbow looked at Pinkie. “It would be fun but I have to look after the cakes twins!” Pinkie said. Rainbow shifted her gaze to her last resort. “So I’m stuck then, I can’t take care of a filly! are you all insane?” Rainbow said. “Rainbow, Ah know you’re not the first pony in mind to take care of a filly, but we have no other options right now, you an’ Scootaloo get along anyway, so why not.” Applejack said. “But” “But nothing Rainbow, we’ll be here ta help ya if ya need it, until then, just do what ya’ve been doing” Applejack said. “Fine” Rainbow said with a sigh. She was in no way prepared to take care of a filly, let alone a filly who has probably never had to listen to anyone in a long time. Later that night... Rainbow was sitting in her living room with Scootaloo. The room was rather dark and the only light was coming from a small candle on a coffee table. “Scootaloo, after careful consideration today, I have come to the conclusion that you should stay here with me in my home.” Rainbow said, she looked Scootaloo in the eyes trying to look as serious as possible. “Oh really Rainbow! That sounds like fun!” Scootaloo said, her face lit up with a smile. “But, there are rules” Rainbow said looking down at a small list the other five gave her. “Rules shmules” Scootaloo said rolling her eyes. “This is important” Rainbow said glaring at Scootaloo. “Fine...” Scootaloo said with another roll of her eyes. “You have to listen to what I say” Rainbow said noting this was Rarity’s suggestion. “You have to do chores around the house.” Noting Applejacks suggestion. “Chores” Scootaloo moaned “You have to finish your schoolwork on time.” Obviously Twilight’s suggestion. “You should go to bed early” ‘At least Pinkies suggestion made sense’ “You should try to be open, you know if you want to” Rainbow read the list word for word..... “Chores.......really? School work, really? Bed Early?” Scootaloo moaned. Rainbow sighed as Scootaloo showed her unwillingness to follow the rules. “But Rainbow!” “No buts” Rainbow said, remembering to keep herself in a commanding yet kind tone. “Now, off to bed with you, its already late” Rainbow said, she pushed Scootaloo closer to the bedroom door. “But” Scootaloo pleaded trying to stay awake just a bit longer while dragging her hooves across the floor. Rainbow glared at Scootaloo receiving a look of pleading before her glare won. “Fine” Scootaloo said as she trotted into the bedroom and laid down to go to sleep. ‘That was harder than I thought it would be’ Rainbow thought. Rainbow picked up the candle and walked into her bedroom. It was dark, Scootaloo was already asleep by this time. Rainbow set the candle on a nightstand and blew it out before climbing into her own bed. A storm could be heard in the distance and could be seen approaching through the windows that Rainbow had created to help Scootaloo feel less claustrophobic. After about an hour both pegasus were sleeping. There was a loud bang as thunder rang throughout the cloud house. Rainbow Dash was unphased by this and continued sleeping, Scootaloo however was shaken awake. There was another bang and a flash of lightning. Scootaloo was afraid of storms, she never liked them. She pulled her sleeping bag up almost covering her head and then put her pillow over her in a vain attempt to feel more secure. Another bang was heard and Scootaloo flinched, it was much louder in the sky near the storm. Another three bangs one after another sealed the deal for Scootaloo, she started to tear up in fear and she was shaking uncontrollably, she even started to hiccup. “R-r-rainbow” She said trying to wake Rainbow up. “R-rainbow D-dash” Scootaloo said, she nudged Rainbow with her forehooves. Rainbow moaned and then rolled over to face Scootaloo. “I’m sleeping, what?” She said in an aggravated tone. Rainbow was curled into a little ball of cyan under her covers. The storm was getting worse and the thunder was becoming unbearable. She started crying. After another bang of thunder Rainbow made her way to her parents room. “Moooom” Rainbow moaned. “Yes Rainbow?” Skylight asked, still hazy from being asleep. “I, I’m s-scared” She said in a shaky tone. “Its ok Rainbow, come up here” Skylight said gesturing for Rainbow to come up onto her bed. Rainbow climbed into bed next to her mother and her mother pulled the covers up over her and Rainbow, she then put her wing down over Rainbow to give a motherly protective shield of feathers. “I won’t ever let anything happen to you” Skylight said. “I love you mommy” Rainbow said “I love you to Rainbow” Skylight said. Soon after Rainbow fell asleep in her mother’s embrace. “I-” Scootaloo was cut off by the thunder and Rainbow saw her flinch and hiccup at the same time. “Oh, I see” Rainbow said. “I, I don’t *hic* l-like s-s-storms” Scootaloo said trying to hide the fact that she had been crying by holding her head down low. “Its ok, come here” Rainbow said, she pulled Scootaloo closer and lifted Scootaloo's head with her hoof. “Come on, you can sleep up here” Rainbow said. Scootaloo climbed up into Rainbow’s bed. Rainbow unfurled her wing and gently draped it over Scootaloo mimicking what her mother did for her when she was little. With her forehoof she pulled the covers over them and gently patted Scootaloo’s head before returning her hoof to her side. “T-thanks Rainbow” Scootaloo said with a hiccup. “Don’t mention it kid.” Rainbow said trying to hold her ‘cool’ persona. “Y-you won’t tell anypony about this, w-will you?” Scootaloo said yawning, she was still shaken by the storm. “No” Rainbow said, yawning herself. Rainbow noticed Scootaloo’s shaking and hiccuping subsided slowly as Scootaloo allowed the warm embrace to comfort her even though the storm was still raging. Rainbow felt Scootaloo’s breathing start to slow by the rise and fall of her chest. Rainbow smiled a bit, comforting a small filly was something that could bring a smile to anypony, especially a mare with motherly instincts she does not yet know about. “I love you Rainbow” Scootaloo said in a low hushed voice, she had no idea what she was saying as she was fastly approaching dreamland. Rainbow was a bit taken back by this, Scootaloo had just said I love you to her. She was a bit touched by the sentiment, her heart fluttered a bit as she heard the sound of a gentle snore, she knew Scootaloo had fell into a deep slumber. ‘No problem Scoots, I’ll keep you safe under my wing as long as you need it.’ Rainbow thought to herself before yawning. The cyan pegasus soon fell asleep for the night in the warm sisterly embrace.