Chapter 5 –What do I do now?
The Next Morning
“Come on Rainbow Dash Wake up, I don’t want to be late for school.” Scootaloo said as she tugged on Rainbow Dash’s tail.
“Ugh…can I sleep for just five more minutes?” Rainbow Dash groggily asked as she turned over in her bed.
“But Rainbow Dash, School starts in ten minutes, and if I’m late again I’ll get in trouble.” Scootaloo pleaded as she pulled on Rainbow Dash’s tail harder.
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and turned back over to look at Scootaloo. “Fine, I’m up just give me a sec.” Rainbow Dash said as she threw the cover off with her wings, and crawled out of bed. Once she was up she yawned loudly and then proceeded to start stretching.
Scootaloo looked on in silent anticipation, hoping from one hoof to the other. “Rainbow Dash hurry up, I can’t be late for school.”
“Hey Scoots don’t worry about it. I can get you to school in ten seconds flat.” Rainbow Dash boasted as she puffed out her chest.
Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash doubtfully “But my school is on the other side of town.”
“So what if it’s on the other side of town? That doesn’t matter; here I’ll prove it hop up on my back.” Rainbow Dash said as she bent down for Scootaloo to get on. Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders and hopped up on Rainbow Dash’s back and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash. “All set Scoots?” Rainbow Dash asked as she looked back at her little passenger.
Scootaloo gave a nod and griped Rainbow tighter with her hooves.
“Alright here we go.”
On the road to school
“So Scootaloo is an orphan, and she’s livin’ with Rainbow Dash?” Apple Bloom asked as she trotted next to her sister on the way to school.
“Yeah that’s about the size of it.” Applejack responded as she trotted along the path. After a few more steeps and going around the last bend they came into view of Apple Bloom’s school.
“Hey sis ah don’t see Scootaloo, or Rainbow Dash.” Apple Bloom said as she glanced around the school yard.
“Oh ah’m sure they’ll be here any minute.” Applejack said looking around. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of something approaching at an alarming rate. She put her right front hoof on her hat and held on tight.
Rainbow Dash nosed down and started plummeting towards the ground at blinding speed, but just before hitting the ground she nosed up, slowed down, and gracefully flapped her wings slowly as she drifted to the ground.
“See what did I say squirt, ten seconds flat.” Rainbow Dash said pride radiating from her voice.
Scootaloo jumped off of Rainbow’s back and smiled up at her. “That was awesome; you were right Rainbow Dash it only took ten seconds!” Scootaloo exclaimed bubbling with excitement. She then noticed that her mane felt strange. When she looked up she saw that it was thrown back from the force of the wind.
Rainbow Dash chuckled and said. “Here let me help you with that.” As she reached up and ruffled Scootaloo’s mane back into its normal shape.
“Yah see, ah told yah that they’d be here any minute.” Applejack said as her and Apple Bloom walked up to the two pegasi.
“Oh, hey Applejack what’s up?” Rainbow Dash asked noticing her friend approaching.
“Oh not much just droppin’ Apple Bloom off fir school. Speakin’ of which you two should probably get goin’, yah don’t want to be late.” Applejack said waving her hoof in a showing gesture to the two fillies.
“Alright sis ah’ll see you after school.” Apple Bloom said as she gave her sister a quick hug. “Come on Scootaloo lets go find Sweetie Belle, maybe we can come up with some more ways to get our cutie marks.” Apple Bloom hollered over her shoulder as she ran to go find their friend.
“Ok I’ll be right there. Bye Rainbow Dash you’ll be back to pick me up after school right?” Scootaloo asked looking up at the Rainbow pegasus.
“Sure thing Scoots I’ll be here after school to pick you up.” Rainbow Dash replied smiling down at the little filly.
Scootaloo smiled widely and hugged Rainbow Dash “Thank you Rainbow Dash, for everything.”
Rainbow was taken off guard by the sudden hug; she looked down at Scootaloo, then over to Applejack. Applejack looked back at her and gave her a reassuring smile. Rainbow Dash smiled back then bent down and returned Scootaloo’s hug. “You’re welcome Scoots.” She said right as the warning bell rang. “Well you better hurry; I’ll see you after school.”
Scootaloo waved one last time before she galloped after her yellow friend into the school building.
Rainbow Dash smiled and waved back, and she continued to wave even after Scootaloo went inside the building.
“Ah sure am glad to see that you two are gettin’ along well.” Applejack said trotting up next to Rainbow Dash. “So how was your first night with her?”
Rainbow Dash turned to face Applejack and smiled. “It was great, why wouldn’t it be?”
“So the whole night went without a hitch?” Applejack asked tilting her head to the side.
Rainbow Dash’s smile dropped a little when she recalled the events of her night with Scootaloo. “Ok maybe not without a hitch. I guess we did have a few problems.” Rainbow Dash admitted as she scratched the back of her head with her front hoof.
“Well what all happened?”
“Ok so, first we went and got her scooter and the rest of her stuff from the box she’s been living in. Then I flew her up to my house, and then I showed her around the house. I showed her where her room is, where the bathroom is, the kitchen, you know everywhere.” Rainbow said swishing her hoof threw the air.
Applejack nodded and waited for her to continue.
“So after that it was getting pretty late so I told her it was time for her to go to bed, and she didn’t want to.” Rainbow Dash said with a hint of disbelief in her voice.
Applejack smiled and said. “That’s normal, little fillies never want ta go to bed when yah tell’m to. They always want to stay up longer. No matter how tired they are in the mornin’, it’s just the way they are Dash.”
Rainbow Dash paused and thought about what Applejack had said, and decided to file that information away for latter. “Anyway, so then I told her that she had school tomorrow so she needed to go to bed. After that she said she would if I could catch her.”
“So, you started chasein' her through your house. What happened to you been the fastest flier in all of Equestria?” Applejack asked as she lightly elbowed Rainbow Dash in the side.
“Hey I’m used to flying in the open air, and it’s cramped in there so I couldn’t get up to full speed.” Rainbow Dash defended, “Besides she’s fast for a little filly.”
“Alright Rainbow, ah was just playin’. So then what happened?”
“Ok so I chased her down the stairs, then I saw her going into the kitchen so I flew after her. But right before I got there she bucked the door closed.”
Rainbow Dash was cut off by the sound of Applejack snickering. Rainbow glared at her, and after a few seconds Applejack stopped snickering, but still had trouble hiding her smile. .
“Sorry Rainbow, please go on.” Applejack apologized after she had gained full composure.
Rainbow Dash nodded and continued. “Alright, so then I opened the door and looked around, but I couldn’t see her anywhere. But there is only one exit to the kitchen so I knew she had to be in there somewhere. So I started looking in the lower shelves, and she wasn’t there. Then I caught a glimpse of her tail sticking out of one of the doors above the counter. So I crept up to the door and swung it open, and she feathered me with flour.”
Rainbow Dash was cut off again, this time by Applejack laughing loudly. “Hey it’s not that funny.” Rainbow Dash said as she lifted herself off the ground with her wings and crossed her front hooves over her chest.
“Yer right Rainbow ah’m sorry, but yah got to admit it is pretty darn funny.” Applejack said stifling her laughter.
“Yeah sure, anyway so after that she ran back up stairs. I shook off the flour, and I chased after her. When I got up there, I saw that the door to my room was open so I slowly went in and started looking around for her, but there was no sign of her. Just then I heard water running in my bathroom, so I knew she had to be in there. I galloped at full speed into the bathroom to catch her off guard, but you’ll never guess what she did.”
“Did she cover the bathroom floor in soap leading up to the full bathtub?” Applejack asked with a mischievous smile on her face.
Rainbow Dash looked at her puzzled and asked “Yeah, she did how did you know?”
“Ah did the same thing to Big Macintosh when I was a filly.” Applejack said with a chuckle.
Rainbow Dash imagined Big Mac flailing around hopelessly sliding backwards into a tub full of water and joined Applejack in laughing.
After the two mares had their fill of laughter Rainbow Dash continued. “Ok well after that her and I went to her room, I tucked her in, and then I read her a bed time story.”
“Is that all that happened?” Applejack asked with a warm smile.
“Well kind of, I was watching her sleep wondering if I could handle taking care of her, and in her sleep she said, that she loved me.” Rainbow Dash said a slight blush appearing across her checks.
Applejack’s smile widened and she trotted up next to Rainbow Dash, and put a hoof around her neck. “So Rainbow, yah think it was worth it right?” Applejack asked with a knowing smile.
“Totally” Rainbow Dash responded without a second’s hesitation.
“Good, ah’m glad you feel that way, but ah got to ask what are you gonna do now sugarcube?” Applejack asked as her smile faded.
“I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I’ll think of something.” Rainbow Dash responded flashing Applejack a smile.
“Ah’m sure you will, just remember if ether of you need any help don’t hesitate to ask alright?” Applejack said returning the smile.
“Of course, thank you a bunch Applejack, you’re the best, and I don’t know what I would do without you.” Rainbow said as she put her front legs around Applejack’s neck and pulled her into a hug.
“You’re welcome Rainbow Dash.” Applejack said as she quickly put her front legs around Rainbow’s neck returning the hug.
The two kept hugging for a long time, neither wanting to let go of the mare that they secretly had feelings for. After a few minutes Applejack realized she had been hugging Rainbow Dash for a lot longer then was customary to hug another pony and let go.
“Well ah’ve got to go help Big Mac with the apples so ah’ll see you later alright Rainbow?” Applejack said as she took a step back away from her.
“Sure that sounds awesome, I’ll see you then.” Rainbow Dash said as she waved a hoof at Applejack.
Applejack nodded and started trotting back on the path back to the farm.
Rainbow Dash stood there for a while longer watching her leave, even long after Applejack was out of sight. Finally she shook her head, and spread her wings and took off in the direction of Ponyville.
As she flew she started to think hard. “What should I do now? Well I should probably learn more about taking care of Scootaloo, but who should I ask?” Rainbow Dash thought about it for few seconds and started running through her options. “I could ask Fluttershy again for advice, but I don’t want to bother her too much. Maybe Rarity, nah she’s not really good with kids. Maybe Pinkie Pie…”
“Hi Rainbow Dash whatcha you doin'?” Pinkie Pie asked from the tree Rainbow Dash was flying next to.
Rainbow Dash let out a startled yelp, and screeched to a halt. “Pinkie Pie, what are you doing up here?” Rainbow asked flying in place.
“Oh well I saw you flying overhead, but you were just staring straight ahead and I couldn’t get your attention. So I decided I would have to climb this tree to get your attention.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly.
“Ok that makes sense I guess.” Rainbow dash said as she scratched the back of her head.
“Sooo, you never answered my question what were you thinking about so hard that you didn’t notice me?” Pinkie Pie asked tilting her head to the side.
“Well, ok so for starters you know Scootaloo right?”
“Of course silly, I know everypony in Ponyville duh.” Pinkie Pie responded with a giggle. “Hey Dashy do mind if I get down from here I don’t want to break the tree?”
“Hmm, oh yeah that would probably be a good idea. Sorry about that Pinkie, I'll meet you on the ground.” Rainbow Dash said as she started floating down to the ground next to Pinkie Pie.
Once they were on the ground Rainbow Dash continued. “Anyway did you know that she was an orphan?” Rainbow Dash asked giving Pinkie a worried look.
Pinkie Pie’s eyes got big, and her ever present smile drooped. “No, I didn’t know that, is she ok Dashy?” Pinkie asked as her ears drooped along with her smile and mane.
“Yeah, she’s doing fine I guess. She’s going to be staying with me.” Rainbow Dash said with a slight smile returning to her face.
Pinkie Pie’s almost seemed to re inflate at the news. “Wow Dashy, that’s so sweet of you, but that’s a lot of responsibility. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m willing to try my best.” Rainbow Dash Said proudly, then after a few seconds she frowned. “The problem is I don’t know much about taking care of kids so I was going to go asking around for some pointers.”
“Oh that’s smart, so who were you planning on asking first?” Pinkie asked tilting her head to the side in a question.
“Well, I haven’t quite figured that part out yet, I was thinking of asking you considering how good of a job you’ve been doing with the Cake twins.” Rainbow Dash explained with a grin.
Pinkie Pie tapped her hoof against her chin and shook her head. “I don’t know Rainbow Dash; I don’t think that taking care of two babies’ is the same as taking care of a little filly who’s half grown up already.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head in frustration. “Ugh, then who do I talk to Pinkie Pie, I can’t talk to Rarity, Fluttershy, or Applejack. Who else can I turn to?”
Pinkie Pie thought for a moment then jumped up and in an explosion of confetti. “What about Twilight she’s really smart and she also raised Spike from a hatchling. Maybe she can give you some advice, or at least she would know where you could find it.”
Rainbow Dash thought about it for a few seconds and nodded. “Yeah, that’s a great idea! Surely Twilight will know something, thanks Pinkie Pie you’ve been a big help.” Rainbow Dash Said as she began trotting in the direction of the Library.
“No problemo, hey Rainbow Dash do mind if I tag along? I was on my way to see Twilight when I saw you flying.” Pinkie Pie asked as she started to bounce after Rainbow Dash.
“I guess so, why were you on your way to see Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked giving Pinkie Pie a curious look.
Pinkie Pie missed a beat in her bounce and blushed slightly. “Oh well, you know just to hang out and see what she was up to.” Pinkie responded as she regained her former tempo.
Rainbow Dash looked at her then brushed the subject aside. “Sure whatever, I just hope that she has an idea for what I should do next.” Rainbow Dash said as she cantered along the path to the Ponyville Library.