//------------------------------//
// Section 4: Path to the Factory 
// Story: Into the Rainbow Factory 
// by Ractrin 
//------------------------------//

Raptor walked over a quant bridge that was along the path to Fluttershy’s cottage. He meandered up the hill to her door and glanced at the window next to it. He knocked on the door and heard hoof steps approach on the other side. A yellow pegasus opened the door and looked at him. Upon understanding what she was staring at, she squealed and slammed the door before he could even say anything. He sighed in irritation and knocked again. “C’mon Fluttershy! I just wanna talk!” he exclaimed. The door slowly creaked open a little and he noticed that she was peering through the crack.
“Y-You’re that Human…” she squeaked in a soft and shaky tone.
“Yes, I’m the Human everyone’s been so infatuated with. Look…I mean you no harm. May I come in please?” she glanced at his weapons on his back and then back at his unshaven face.
“Okay.” she whispered as she opened the door and he stepped inside. Upon entering the sounds of birds chirping and critters playing hit him. He looked around and saw all sorts of animals about. 
“And they call me strange” he muttered. 
“Wha-…What are you here for?” she asked as she peered through her pink mane.
Well I-” Suddenly he felt a thud hit the top of his shoe causing him to look down quickly. A small rabbit was hopping around in pain holding one of his feet. Fluttershy looked at him and sighed.
“Oh Angel, you’re not supposed to attack strangers.” she knelt down and looked the rabbit in the face. “Are you okay?” he glared at Raptor and then nodded to her. She stood back up and smiled weekly at the Human. “I’m sorry, he’s usually not like that.” the rabbit just crossed his arms and glared off in space.
“He didn’t hurt me. These shoes I’m wearin’ have steel toes, so my feet…or toes rather…are protected.” she lifted up and hovered over to some birds and gave them some bird seed.
“What are you here for again?” she asked as she moved to tend to some squirrels.
“I’m in need of a pegasus to take me to Scootaloo’s test tomorrow. I can’t find Rainbow Dash and…” he made a begrudged face, “she doesn’t trust me either.”

“I’m sorry mister Human…”
“Oh…sorry…I’m Colonel Raptor.” 
She smiled innocently and said, “Colonel, my flying is to weak to pick up another pony even with help. I don’t think I can take you to Cloudsdale.”
Raptor pondered for a moment and then glared at her stating, “How do I know you’re not lying to me?” She looked up at him shocked.
“I would never lie to you, honest.” he walked close to her and pointed at her accusingly.
“I don’t believe you, Fluttershy. Celestia told me to not trust any pegasi and here you are saying you can’t take me to Cloudsdale! Just like Rainbow Dash!” she lowered her ears and cowered a little, trying to hide behind her pink mane that flowed in front of her face.  “You pegasi are hiding something and I’m gonna find out what it is!” he turned to storm out when she said something in a quiver. He didn’t catch what she had said so he stopped and faced her. “What?” he asked sharply.

“I havn’t been to Cloudsdale.” she squeaked. “Well, in a long time I mean. Rainbow Dash won’t let me go back. She says it’s to dangerous.” She came out from behind her mane and looked at his eyes nervously. “She says it’s because I never took my flying test.” Raptor’s eyes shot wide in surprise.
“You never took the test?” he asked in a softer tone.
“No. Rainbow Dash accidentally knocked me off of Cloudsdale when she was going to race some bullies. I’ve lived in Ponyville since then. I’ve only ever gone back with Rainbow Dash a few times and now she says it’s to dangerous for me to go.”

“How could you have not taken your test mean anything?”
“She didn’t explain it to me. She only told me to never go there alone. All she’s doing is protecting me, honest.” she stood up and walked over to him, looking up into his grey eyes. “I’m a weak flyer Colonel, that’s the only reason why I can’t take you to Cloudsdale.” 
He sighed looked at the floor. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I’m just on edge about this. It was only yesterday that I discovered that there were talking hor-…ponies that were all engulfed in magic.” She put a hoof on his chest and smiled innocently.
“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

“So you don’t know anything about where the deportees go?” he asked as he moved away from her and paced around the room in thought. She watched him for a moment and then answered.
“Oh no, I’ve never known, but Rainbow Dash said she knew.”
“Yeah I’ve already talked to her about that.” he scratched his chin in thought.
“Oh? You have? Where did she say they went?”
“She wouldn’t tell me. Why? D’you want to know.” he looked at her curiously. She looked away from him, nudging a the ground in nervousness.
“I’ve always wanted to know.” she walked over to the window and peered out of it. “Rainbow said it was a horrible place, but I bet they’ve got the nicest of animals.” he walked over to the window and followed her gaze. He saw that she was looking at Canterlot and turned back into the cottage.
“Do you know any other Pegasi that could help me get to Cloudsdale?” 
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m sure Scootaloo could help you.”
“She’s at the scho-…Does she live here, or in Cloudsdale?”
“She lives here in Ponyville. She should be back from flight school tonight.”
“Where at?” he smiled with interest.
“I, uh, don’t know exactly” she frowned. He sighed and walked for the door.

Scootaloo walked out of her last class room with Orion by her side. They joked and made fun of some other ponies nearby that were “practicing” for the exam tomorrow. They walked out onto the balcony and looked over the floating city. They then stared at each other, the wind blowing through their flowing manes added to the emotions being shared in this one moment. Orion wanted to spill everything to her. To tell her how much he loved her. She also wanted to tell him how much she felt for him, but neither of them could get the courage to speak. Orion laid his ears back nervously as he looked deep into Scootaloo’s eyes. “Scootaloo… you wanna hang out this evening?” he asked nervously. He considered himself very ridiculous for asking THAT of all things.
“Of course” she said with a smile. “Where you wanna go?” Orion frowned. He cursed himself and wished he had thought all of this through.

“Would Sugar Cube Corner be okay?”  he said with a nervous grin. She chuckled at him.
“You don’t know Ponyville very well do you?”
He chuckled a little and smiled innocently saying, “No…I don’t. I’ve lived in Cloudsdale all my life. I only found out about Sugar Cube Corner because of Pinkie Pie’s famous cupcakes.”
“I know where we can go” she said as she kissed his cheek. She opened her wings and lifted off, leaving Orion standing on the platform with his cheeks burning and his wings erect. He shook his head and took off after her. 

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled as she pushed her wings harder. Orion looked at her surprised and tried to keep up, but like what Rainbow Dash did to her, she pulled away from him. She smiled as the wind around her intensified. The lust for speed that Rainbow had pounded into her flooded her veins as she pressed as hard as she could. She wanted to be like Rainbow Dash, her entire body quivered with the need. She watched as sparks began to form in front of her. She ignored it and concentrated on her wing beats, the thumping of her heart, and the in-out of her breathing. Orion watched in awe as the vortex began to close around Scootaloo. She closed her eyes and pressed as hard as she could. 

The static build up around her began to grow and grow with every flap of her wings. She however made the same error that Rainbow Dash had made many times, she only had one hoof stretched out in front of her. This caused it to where just as she was about to succeed, a low pop was heard and the vortex wall tossed her back at Orion. He gasped and dove to catch her. She landed on his back and he almost dropped out of the sky from not being used to holding another pony. He flew them to the ground and sat her next to the path that ran through this area. She sat there gasping for breath as he looked at her with great concern.

“Are you okay Scoot?” he asked.
“Yeah” she responded with a panting smile. “That’s…the best I’ve ever…done”
“I wonder if they’d just let you full out pass if you did the Sonic Rain-boom at the test tomorrow?” she laughed at him and stood. She stretched her wings to make sure they were okay. She winced in pain as one of them felt strained and looked at him with a smile.
“I’m sure they would flunk me just because I showed them up.” she started walking along the path they had landed next to, Orion pacing beside her.
“Yeah, best to stay with the routine. I know I don’t wanna give them any more reasons to fail me.” She looked at him confused.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m already a pretty pathetic flyer, I mean, I couldn’t even keep up with you as you tried to do the Sonic Rain-boom. If I tried anything fancy I’d prolly wind up banished anyway.” she smiled at him comfortingly. 
“I couldn’t keep up with Rainbow Dash as she DID the Sonic Rain-boom. So I’m not as great as you think”
“Scootaloo, you’re the best flyer to come outta Cloudsdale this generation. You’re an amazing flyer. I bet no one else in our class could even get as close to doing the Sonic Rain-boom as you. You’ve got that test tomorrow in the bag.” he gave her a big toothy smile and she returned it but less confident than his. 

“Thanks Orion” she leaned into him as they walked into Ponyville causing him to smile satisfactory to himself. He cautiously laid one of his wings over her and held her to him. He was relived to feel her transfer some of her weight to him, accepting his embrace. As they walked down main street Scootaloo kept having to introduce Orion to some of the town’s folk and especially Pinkie Pie. She bounced with them as they meandered through the town. Pinkie bounced with joy as she asked Orion a plethora of questions about himself. It wasn’t until she saw Raptor sitting at one of the outdoor tables that she left him alone. He sighed as he watched the pink pony dash right up to the Human and stare at him. Orion, curious himself, joined the two. 

Raptor stared at Pinkie wide eyed and shocked. She had blasted over to him with such speed it nearly knocked him over. Scootaloo, shaking her head, walked over as well. When Raptor noticed her, he waved lazily. She nodded in acknowledgement. 
“So you’re the Human!? Huh!? Huh!? HUH!?” Pinkie Pie asked as she leaned over the table at him.
“Um…do you see anyone else around that looks like me?” he asked annoyed.
“Well, no”
“Then, yes…I am the Human”
“Oh goodie! I’ve been wanting to meet you so much!” he looked at Scootaloo and then back at Pinkie Pie. 
“I’ve been busy.”
“With What?!”
“I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m supposed to get to Cloudsdale tomorrow. Rainbow Dash doesn’t trust me and Fluttershy’s to weak…” 

He looked at the two Pegasi standing behind Pinkie Pie and smiled. “Scootaloo! Could you-”
“Sorry, I just tried a Sonic Rain-boom and failed. I don’t wanna risk hurting myself anymore than I have.”
“Are you okay?” Pinkie asked facing the two winged ponies.
“Yeah, I just strained my wing.” she held out one of her wings and motioned to it. “That’s why we were walking into town. I wanna make sure I can fly tomorrow.”
“What about you?” Raptor asked Orion. He frowned and lowered his ears.
“I-I dunno. I’m not a great flyer either.” Orion quivered. Raptor let out an irritated sigh. 
“Is there no damn pegasus that can fly in this forsaken town!” he exclaimed as he slammed his head onto the table. “…Ouch…” he sat up a little and rubbed his forehead.
“Oh don’t let the world get you down, just smile!” Pinkie said. She then took a deep breath to start singing but Scootaloo stuffer her hoof into Pinkie’s muzzle. She shook her head and then removed her hoof, shaking some saliva from it. “He he, okay I won’t sing THAAAT song.” she went to take in a deep breath when Scootaloo snorted at her. “Well fine I guess I’ll just sit here.” she huffed. All three of them were looking at her for a moment and just as Orion went to say something Pinkie’s cheeks puffed out causing him to stop mid-breath. She snickered a little and then burst out laughing, streamers and confetti erupting in front of her.

“What’s so funny?” Raptor asked.
“You look funny with that red mark on your forehead.” She said laughing. Raptor raised an eyebrow and rubbed his head where he had hit it on the table. He sighed and laid his head back down. Orion took in a breath to speak and then paused, looking at Pinkie to make sure she wasn’t going to say anything. 
After a short moment he finally spoke, “I can try to take you there.” Orion said uneasy. Raptor looked up at him, unsure weather to trust him or not.
“You sure? I mean you ponies are pretty short and y’all two are even smaller.”
“We’re not fully grown.” Scootaloo snorted.
“Yeah see! They’re smaller than me!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she bounced around Orion. He just sighed.
“Consider it the first part of your test.” Scootaloo joked as she punched Orion in the shoulder. He glared at her for a second and then looked back at Raptor uneasy.

“Oh c’mon, turn that frown upside down mister!” Pinkie jumped in. “I can throw you a party if that’d make you feel better!” she smiled at him.
“No Pinkie. I appreciate it, but…we just came to Ponyville for dinner.” Orion looked at the blank table that Raptor was still leaned over and then to Scootaloo.
“Okay!” Pinkie squeaked as she trotted away humming to herself. Raptor and Orion let out a breath of relief in unison.

“So what’s your name?” Raptor asked the brown pegasus as he sat up.
“Orion” he responded briskly. Raptor hopped up and walked around the table. He stopped and looked down at the two teenage ponies.
“So…y’all two are going to get something to eat? May I join y‘all? I don‘t have any of y‘all’s money.” 
“Yeah, of course” smiled Scootaloo as they all turned and started walking deeper into the town.
Scootaloo chuckled quietly to herself as she heard Raptor’s stomach grumble and stated, “We came here because Orion here was wanting to hang out” Orion bit his lip and tried to hide a shy frown. Raptor smiled at the colt’s expression.
“I’m sure that’s all it is” he said mockingly. He wasn’t to familiar with the expressions that the ponies used, but he had a feeling that Orion liked Scootaloo more than just a friend. 

“So, is there anywhere around here that doesn’t sell food that is in the form of a flower or hay?”
“There’s a lot of places. What do Humans eat?” asked Scootaloo.
“Well…primarily…meat.” both ponies looked at him with slightly concerned looks. “Not horses…er…ponies though. Preferably beef or pork” Both of them looked at him disgusted for a moment and then Scootaloo spoke up.
“No we don’t have any of that. What about vegetables?” She asked looking at Raptor curiously.
“Yeah I eat those. Carrots, potatoes, etcetera. Fruits too. After all I did eat some of those apples at Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Oh yeah, you did. I know just where we can go!” Orion and Raptor looked at each other and then at Scootaloo.
“Where?” Orion asked.
“Here I’ll show you two, just follow me.” she motioned for them to follow and they complied.

Moments later all three of them were sitting around an umbrella table, food laying out in front of them.
“Mmm…this looks delicious.” stated Orion with a smile as he drooled over his hay-and-bread sandwich.
“You bet!” said Scootaloo just before she devoured her salad.
“Huh, guess I got lucky y’all actually have peanut butter and jelly. Otherwise this would’ve been a long day for me.” Raptor stated as he bit into his pb&j.

“Hey, Raptor?” Scootaloo said as she swallowed.
“Yep?”
“Are you a soldier or something? Cause I mean, you’ve been wearing those weapons since you got here.” He glanced over his shoulder at one of the sword hilts and then continued eating his sandwich. 
After swallowing a bite he spoke, “Yes I am. I’m a soldier for the U.E.N. Space Core. Well, a sub-division of it actually. I’m a member of a little group called D.C.R.”
“D.C.R.? What’s that stand for?”  Orion inquired curiously.
“It doesn‘t really mean anything, just is three letters. It’s just what we call ourselves.”
“Well that’s kind of lame” Scootaloo spat as she ate some more lettuce.
“Just how you and your friends are the Cutie Mark Crusaders even though you all have your Cutie Marks?” Orion said wryly to Scootaloo, who just shot him a dirty look, and caused Raptor to chuckle to himself a  little. 

Orion looked up to the sky, past the umbrella and asked, “You‘re apart of a space core, so you fight in outer space?”
“Yes, I’m the commander of a space ship. It’s called the Highrule. I was actually on it when Celestia ‘plucked’ me outta the sky.” he chuckled at himself for a moment. The two ponies looked at him awkwardly. “Sorry…”
“What’s U.E.N. mean?” Orion asked as he chomped another bite out of his sandwich.
“United Earth Nations. It’s the country I’m from. It oversees a variety of planets including my home world, Earth.” Raptor responded.
“A lot of planets? How many?” asked Scootaloo
“Well, I’ve actually never counted. With the war my people are in we keep losing planets.” Both the ponies looked up at him from their meals with surprised looks.
“Y-you’re in a war?” Orion stuttered in question. “And you came here!?” Raptor put his sandwich down and looked at the table. He took in a deep breath and sighed.
“Yeah, I did.” he finally said after a long pause and looked up at them.

“Why?” asked Scootaloo.
“Because, it was the right thing to do. Y’all needed help, and Celestia went through the trouble of pulling me through whatever portal she made.” he looked at each of them in the eyes. “Y’all must be in a lot of trouble.” Scootaloo and Orion looked at each other then back at Raptor.
“We‘re not in any trouble, Raptor.” Scootaloo said. He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head in confusion.
“Then…why’d she call me here? She said that there was something I needed to find in Cloudsdale.”
“The only thing that we’re worried about is being deported for failing the flight test.” stated Orion.
“Yeah, I remember Rainbow Dash telling me about that last night. She said that she knew where they went, but that she didn’t want to show me.” 
Scootaloo looked at Orion and spoke, “She said it was outside Equestria.” he looked at her and flattened his ears.

“Oh, crap! Sorry, I didn’t mean to make y’all think about that.” Raptor exclaimed.
“No, it’s fine.” Scootaloo said as she finished her meal. “We probably should go practice some more.” she said as she gave Orion a subtle smile. 
“How? Rainbow Dash cleared out all the clouds…and…” Orion said as he looked at the setting sun on the horizon, “it’s nearly dark.” 
Scootaloo followed his gaze and frowned. “Well I guess we can go back to Rainbow’s house. She invited me back when we were at Cloudsdale.”
“Yeah I bet’cha I’m not welcome” Raptor frowned as he ate his final bite.
“Nah, if we’re going to take you to Cloudsdale tomorrow it’d be easier if you were with us.” she said as she stood. Orion followed her actions and then looked at her wings concerned. She noticed his attention and smiled at him. “I’ll be fine, Rainbow’s house isn’t to far away.”
“You sure?” he asked worried. She shook her head as she walked over to him and nuzzled her head into his neck.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. You however, havta carry him.” she smiled maliciously as she used her wing to point at Raptor. Orion looked at him and sighed. It wasn’t really the fact that Raptor would be heavy. It was more along the lines of him being bigger than them. He already stood a foot and a half taller than Rainbow Dash, and with them not being fully grown he was even larger to them.
“Could you carry his stuff?” he pleaded with her. She rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Yeah I guess I can.” she turned her attention to the Human. “C’mon Raptor, get on Orion and I’ll carry your saddle bag.”
“Backpack.” Raptor jokingly scoffed as he stood from the table. He walked around and slung his backpack on Scootaloo’s shoulders. She let out a heavy breath as the swords, gun and backpack clanged down onto her.
“How the fuck do you carry all this?” she strained.
“It’s not that heavy. Besides, I usually carry more.” she looked at him surprised as he climbed onto Orion’s back. Just as they were about to lift off the waiter came running out of the shop.
“Hey! You better pay for all that!” he yelled.
“Oh shit, sorry” Scootaloo said as she pulled out some coins and tossed them onto the table.
“Thank you” he said as he pulled the coins from the table and went back inside. They lifted up and sped off to Rainbow Dash’s cloud house.

Rainbow Dash was sitting on her couch, sobbing. She had been crying all day, even through her evening weather jobs around Ponyville. With as much as she enjoyed watching the pathetic failures falling to their demise, she had never been the one responsible for their deaths per-say. Though she watched with glee back then, she would dread tomorrow. She didn’t know how to bring herself to be the one that would have the blood of these children on her hooves. The only thing that gave her the slightest comfort was that she knew, she just knew, that Scootaloo was going to pass. Even though Rainbow would miss the exam and be late for the award ceremony, at least she knew for a fact that there would be a reason for her to attend one. 

She opened her eyes and watched through her blurry vision the tears fall into the cloud floor. She put her hooves up to her face and just wept some more. The evil that she had for so long held at bay, finally had come to get her wholly at last. There was no escaping the heartless act that she had to commit the next day. “What am I going to do?” she sobbed. “Why does it have to be me?” a subtle pain ached in her chest. 

She tried to think of ways to get out of doing this deed. Maybe she could sneak away? That would be impossible with Atmosphere’s promise of always being able to find her. What if she just stayed home? Well then she would be sought out and forced into doing it anyway. She laid over on the couch, letting all four hooves flop carelessly over the side of the cloud cushions. She stared into nothingness as tears rolled down her snout and onto the clouds below. 

Hopelessness was all she could feel and all she wanted to be anywhere but here. She didn’t want to be in Equestria anymore. It wasn’t like she could leave though, her loyalty to the princess, her friends, Scootaloo; she couldn’t just abandon it. She pulled one of her wings forward and looked at the feathers that ran along it. Maybe if she broke her wing again she couldn’t do it. Unfortunately she tried that before on one of the first days she was supposed to oversee the usage of the failures and the guards just picked her up and took her to Cloudsdale anyway. “There’s no way out of this.” she stated as she released her wing and curled up into a sobbing ball. 

Suddenly she heard voices out on her porch. She shot up and looked at the door realizing she had invited Scootaloo back over that night. She cursed under her breath and darted for the bath room to clean up. There was no way she was going to let anypony see her in this condition. 

She flipped on the light and trotted up to the mirror. She looked at herself and saw her coat on her face streaked with tear lines and her mane was all messed up. She quickly combed herself and dried her face. She heard a loud plop and laughing. Then, as she was walking out of the bathroom and back to the living room she heard the door open. Once she walked into the room she saw Scootaloo and some brown pony laughing at Raptor who was covered in rainbows from the rainbow pools next to Rainbow Dash’s porch scowling back at them.
“I‘ve never seen someone have so much trouble walking on clouds before!” exclaimed the brown pony chuckling.

“And YOU wanna go to Cloudsdale?” Rainbow Dash scorned. “Can’t even walk on clouds and you want to visit a city made-!”
“Shut up Rainbow Dash!” Raptor said turning to face her, splashing some rainbows on the wall. “I’ve had just about enough of your crap! What’s your problem with me!?” Rainbow was taken back by Raptor’s out burst. She lowered her ears and was unsure of what to say. Scootaloo and Orion stared at them wide eyed and shocked. Raptor’s stuff slid off of Scootaloo’s back with a plop because of her jumping from his outburst.
“I-I…uh…” Rainbow stammered.
“What!? Rainbow Dash!? What is your problem!? Why do you hate me so much!?”
“I don’t hate you.” she said calmly, a tear ran down her cheek.
“Then why do you act like I’m against you!? I’m here to help you guys and only YOU have treated me like I’m your enemy. Even Fluttershy has been friendly to me.”
“I can’t tell you.” she said looking at the floor, a few droplets falling from her cheeks and fluffing through. 
“Whudeyah mean by that?”
“I just can’t tell you.” 

Raptor noticed her tears and his overbearing rage whiffed away to sympathy. He walked over to her and knelt in front of her. He put his finger to her chin and lifted her face up.
“What’s the matter Rainbow, why are you so angry?” her eyes looked into his as sadness creased across her face.
“I havta do something tomorrow. Something I don’t wanna do. For once, I wish I wasn’t the Element of Loyalty.”
“Who are you loyal to?” she sniffed and looked away for a moment. Her gaze then moved over to Scootaloo.
“There’s only one pony I’ve been loyal to this whole time.”
“Then do what is right.” 

He patted her shoulder and walked over to his stuff next to Scootaloo. He picked it up and then went over to the chair he had slept on the night before. He laid on it and looked at Rainbow Dash.  “So what’s for dinner?” he asked jokingly. Rainbow looked at all of them and then sighed.
“I think I’m gonna go to bed early guys.” Rainbow said as she walked back into her bedroom. Scootaloo and Orion finally let out the breath they had been holding the whole time. She walked over to Rainbow’s room and peered in while Orion sat on the couch. Scootaloo heard sobbing and investigated. Orion watched Scootaloo disappear and then looked at Raptor, who was busy putting his backpack next to the chair. He sat it on the other side of the chair from Orion and when he sat up noticed Orion’s gaze.
“What’s up?”
“You still have some rainbows on you.” Orion said as he chuckled a little. Raptor looked down at himself and started to wipe off some of the rainbows on him. A particular bit refused to wipe off easily so Raptor grabbed some of the clouds from the wall and began to use them to wash it off. This also caused Orion to chuckle.

“What?”  Raptor asked pausing.
“I find it kind of funny how you have so much control over the clouds. It’s almost as if you’re part pegasus.” Raptor huffed in amusement at his comment as he kept cleaning himself off.
“Twilight performed a spell on me that allows me to walk on clouds…and as you can see,” he held up the rainbow stained cloud, “I seem to beable to manipulate them in the same fashion you guys can.”
“Twilight? As in Twilight Sparkle?” Orion asked curiously.
“Yeah, have you ever met her?” Raptor released the cloud and it dissipated. He looked at the spot it had been surprised. He wasn’t expecting it to just dissipate upon being released.
“No, I’ve only heard about her from Scootaloo. I’ve lived in Cloudsdale my whole life.” he moved uneasy and bit his lip. 

Hey Raptor, I-I got a question.” Raptor leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling, bored.
“What’s that?”
“I kinda like Scootaloo more than just a friend. I was wonderin-”
“Oh no, I don’t do relationship advice.” Orion’s ears dropped.
“Oh…but the way you acted with Rainbow just now…”
“I have a wife and two kids…kinda a stereotypical story I know, but…I know how to read someone when their down. Took me a little bit to figure out you ponies, but you guys are pretty similar to us Humans.” Raptor looked at Orion and saw that he was still downtrodden. “Look, just ask her out…if…that’s…what you guys do I mean.”
“I thought of that…I was planning on doing it after we both passed our tests tomorrow. I mean, she’s right after me in the line-up.” 
Raptor looked at Rainbow’s bedroom. “I think that’d be the perfect time.”