Chapter 10 – Sweet Dreams are Made of This
Following the extended study time, Twilight made a simple meal for the three of them of hay fries. The conversation flowed easily between them, with gentle ribbing sent back and forth between Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash about their upcoming requests. The thought of having to ask Rarity for a challenge paled in comparison to having to ask Princess Luna. As the dishes were cleared away, the little filly’s head began drooping as a massive yawn split her muzzle.
“Looks like I need to get someone to bed.” Dash said, stroking a wing along Scootaloo’s back.
“But I’m no tiiirrrreeddd.” She whined, trying to slap her momsister’s wing away.
“If we want to be at Town Hall first thing, we need to go to bed a little earlier, little one.” Twilight said as she used her magic to clean the few dishes.
“Town Hall? What are we going there for?” Scootaloo asked.
“Well, there is a big stack of paperwork burning a hole in the table next to the door,” Dash said with a grin, “Quicker we get that finalized, quicker we can get to Sugar Cube Corners for your adoption party.”
“Paperwork…. finalized….adoption party….” Scootaloo repeated, her mind refusing to catch up to what was being said, “Doesn’t…doesn’t that take like a long time?”
“It’s good to be the princess.” Twilight giggled.
“Oh my Celestia, I’m such a good influence,” Dash shouted, sweeping Scootaloo into her forelegs before spiraling into the air, “I knew giving her that History book was a good idea.”
“You realize it was comedic fiction, not real history, right?” Twilight scoffed.
“Doesn’t matter, I’m awesome,” Dash crowed.
“Yes, you are, Mom,” Scootaloo replied, wrapping her forelegs around the older mare’s barrel.
Hugging the little filly tightly, Dash landed gently and set Scootaloo down before ruffling her mane.
“Twi’s right though,” She said, “Let’s get you up to bed. Got a surprise for you.”
As the two parents walked the filly through the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, they soon found themselves at a large door with Scootaloo’s cutie mark on it. Looking back at both Twilight and Rainbow, a shocked smile soon spread across Scootaloo’s muzzle. Pushing the door open, Scootaloo found a room from out of her wildest dreams. Wonderbolts posters covered the walls along with pictures of Scootaloo with her friends. A small bookshelf was filled with flight books and Daring Doo novels. Small plush animals made their home in a small wicker basket beside a filly sized, four poster cloud bed. Her scooter and helmet found pride of place near the entrance. Across from them, a door opened onto a small balcony overlooking the center courtyard.
“Welcome Home, Scootaloo.” Dash said, as she and Twilight enjoyed the expressions playing out on Scootaloo’s face.
As her wings buzzed to life, Scootaloo shot across the room, hugging first Dash then Twilight before brushing a few tears from her eyes.
“I’ve got the best family ever.” She said quietly.
“Yes, you do, sweetheart. Now, there’s a small bathroom through the door near your bed,” Twilight said, happiness shining out of her, “Go brush your teeth and then Dashie and I will read you a bedtime story.”
As the orange bullet roared into her own bathroom, Dash laughed out loud before picking up the first book in the Daring Doo series from the bookshelf. The leather cover was glossy and practically glowed under the light of the chandelier overhead. Twilight and Dash walked over to the bed just as Scootaloo emerged from the bathroom. Settling down onto the softest bed she had ever felt, Scoots was still in awe over her new home.
An hour passed as both Dash and Twilight took turns reading the book to their filly. As her purple eyes drifted shut, Dash placed a feather from her wing in to act as a bookmark. Placing the book on the small end table, the two adults left the room, leaving the filly to her dreams before retiring to their own room for the night.
******
Dash dreamed of flying high above the clouds, Scootaloo and Twilight flying beside her. They darted around each other, flitting in and around clouds with the precision that could only be rivaled by the Wonderbolts themselves. The exuberance and speed shown by the younger Pegasus was infectious as both Twilight and Rainbow Dash began completing more complex aerial maneuvers. After completing a complicated series of loops and spirals, Dash found herself crashing through the sky as if it were made of glass. Finding herself in a cavernous hallway, Dash tried to go back the way she had come, only to find the shattered reality quickly heal itself.
“Rainbow Dash! Present thy self to our royal personage at once!” Shouted a familiar voice in Old Equish using the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Following the cavernous hallway, Rainbow soon found herself in the throne room of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Seated on a large silver cushion at the top of a large, stepped dais was Nightmare Moon in all her villainous splendor. Walking to the base of the stepped dais, Rainbow knelt and waited for the monarch to command her.
“You may rise, Element of Loyalty,” Nightmare Moon commanded.
“Yes, your Highness,” Dash replied, instantly snapping to attention while in the presence of the Princess.
Rising from the cushion, Nightmare Moon began to descend the steps leading to her subject, her silver horseshoes sending musical peals through the air. As she reached the bottom of the dais, she could not help but beginning to laugh. With a surge of shadowy magic from her horn, Nightmare Moon transformed back into Princess Luna.
“Oh relax, Rainbow,” Luna said, sitting on her flank, “I was merely playing a prank on you. How are you?”
“I’m good, Luna,” Dash replied, finally cracking a smile, “Seems a little convenient you are calling me to your dream palace thingy like this.”
“Oh, there is no coincidence,” Luna said, fluttering her wings, “I hear all things said under the night sky I paint. I believe there is something that you need to ask of me, is there not?”
“Um, yeah ok, thought I would have more time for this,” Dash said, slightly worried, “So, it’s like this, I want to become Twilight’s consort and apparently I need to ask you for a challenge since you’re the most magically gifted member of Twi’s family and she was a unicorn before she became an alicorn.”
“Ah yes, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said with a smile, “A brilliant young sorceress in her own right and for all intents and purposes the adopted daughter of our illustrious sister, unspoken though it be. Also, to clarify young Pegasus, Unicorns offer tests, not challenges.”
“I understand, Ma’am,” Dash replied, gulping audibly before sitting up as straight as she could, “Princess Luna, Diarch of Equestria, Painter of the Night Sky and Guardian of Dreams, I formally request your guidance and ask what test you would put before me to be able to request the hoof of the fair Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“I do so love when I get the pleasure of speaking with Pegasi, so formal and militaristic,” Luna said to herself before addressing Rainbow directly, “Rainbow Dash, Daughter of Buccaneer Blaze and Glistening Star, Element of Loyalty and Savior of Equestria many times over, the test I put before you is to utilize your skills in Aeromancy to accomplish for myself what others have accomplished for our illustrious sister. I request that you create for me a pearl of crystalized moonbeam the size of one of your friend Applejack’s prized wares. Do this one task, and we shall grant you permission to wed our niece in all but blood.”
“I…Aeromancy…moonbeam!?” Dash squeaked, “Um, I mean, as you request your highness. I shall present to you an apple sized pearl of crystalized moonbeam in two weeks’ time.”
“Tis no small task I have set before you,” Luna asked, a look of shock on her muzzle as she slipped once again into old Equish, “Art thou sure thou dost not require more time?”
“Two weeks, Princess Luna,” Rainbow repeated, determination burning in her eyes, “The Summer Sun celebration is in 3 weeks and I want to be able to propose to Twilight on the anniversary of our first meeting.”
“In the past, Rainbow Dash, you have said that you are not one for the ‘mushy stuff’,” Luna said, a smile on her face, “Yet you are truly an old school romantic deep down. Very well, I will send several of our personal Weather Ponies the Canterlot Weather Factory to begin the process of liquifying moonlight. You should be able to collect the first sample of the material in 3 days. Make sure you are prepared.”
“I will be,” Dash replied, saluting the Diarch, “Now, how can I get back to my dream.”
Igniting her horn once again, Luna cracked the dreamscape again, leading to the same sky Dash had found herself in previously. As the prismatic Pegasus flew out to join her family in the sky again, a shiver passed through Luna’s body, summoning her to a dream realm currently under assault from a rogue nightmare.
******
Scootaloo dreamed of walking through the streets of Ponyville, a fluffy, white unicorn filly beside her. The happiness and excitement of the new couple was evident on their faces. Occasionally, Sweetie Belle would lean over and brush against her orange furred marefriend who would return the same affection with a gentle touch from her small wings.
“Sweetie Belle, what in Discord’s name do you think your doing?” Called a high-pitched, whiny voice from behind the couple.
Turning around, Sweetie and Scootaloo found themselves being stared down by the angry form of Rarity. Her horn was wreathed in a violent corona of periwinkle colored magic, flames erupting from her mane and tail.
“Rarity, why are you so mad?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I am mad, young lady, because you are out galivanting with this little miscreant,” Rarity shrieked, “And as a proper young lady, you should be investing your time into finding an appropriate young colt, not this crippled degenerate orphan. Now, get home this instant.”
Sweetie Belle moved closer to Scootaloo as the young Pegasus flared her nostrils and spread her wings threateningly.
“Who are you to call me names,” Scootaloo roared, “How can you judge me!”
“Very easily, you horrible little cretin,” Rarity scoffed, “I am a well bred and successful businessmare where as you are a filthy filly-fooler orphan who can’t fly. The best that could ever come from your life would be to live out the rest of your miserable life on the streets like the little vermin you are.”
Charging up the magic held within her horn, Rarity launched a burst of pale blue energy straight at Scootaloo, launching her down the street before encasing Sweetie Belle in a bubble of energy and dragging her to Rarity’s side.
“I am not…a vermin, whatever that is,” Scootaloo wheezed as she struggled to her feet, “I am Scootaloo, adoptive daughter of Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, sister to Spikereous Sparkle. I am going to fly thanks to both of my mothers and will not allow a monster like you to stand between me and my Sweetie Belle. Not to mention you’re a hypocrite for calling me a ‘filthy filly-fooler’ after all the things I heard about you and Coco Pommel. So let her go or I will make you.”
In a burst of rage, the flames billowing from Rarity’s hair rose into a typhoon. Charging the magic into her horn once more, Rarity launched a sustained blast of near white energy, carving a deep trench in the road. Scootaloo closed her eyes and prepared to take the impact. But the pain of that much magical energy hitting her tiny body never came. Opening her eyes, Scootaloo found herself in the presence of Princess Luna, a black shadowy shield of energy erupting from the ground and deflecting the beam of destruction.
“That is enough!” Luna bellowed, using the Royal Canterlot voice, “Tarry here no longer!”
With another surge of shadowy magic, the nightmare dissolved back into pure dream energy as the world dissolved into shifting sands.
“Thanks, Princess,” Scootaloo said, still out of breath from the encounter, “What are you doing here?”
“Your nightmare drew my attention,” Luna replied, reforming the world around them, “Perhaps a more pleasant dream with calm your fears.”
Scootaloo’s scooter seemed to form itself out of the ground. Her signature purple helmet hung from the handlebars. Climbing onto the scooter, the orange filly ruffled her wings before donning the protective headpiece. Lifting a small salute to Luna, Scootaloo buzzed her wings and shot off down the road towards Sugar Cube Corner. Waiting for her outside the bakery was Sweetie Belle, a pale green helmet at her feet. Drifting to a stop in front of the young Unicorn, Scootaloo winked at her before offering her hoof.
“Hey Sweetie, going my way?” She asked, flashing a Rainbow Dash like smirk at her fillyfriend.
“I’d follow you anywhere fluff-head.” Sweetie replied with a blush, strapping on her own helmet before climbing onto the scooter and wrapping her forelegs around Scootaloo’s barrel.
As the pair shot off down the street, Luna couldn’t help but laugh to herself.
Young love, so innocent, so pure, She thought, they really are so precious.