Although Scootaloo was never known for having a negative attitude, everypony noticed quite the positive surge in her attitude in the days that followed after Rainbow Dash agreed to be her sister. Where she would laugh normally at a joke, she now laughed harder. Even Cheerilee noticed Scootaloo participating more in class instead of gazing out the window and looking into the sky. Of course, this change in attitude was welcomed by all. Some had even suggested her newfound positivity rivaled that of Pinkie Pie’s.
Twilight Sparkle thought she could boost Scootaloo’s spirits even further by helping her discover her Cutie Mark. The Sisterhooves Social was two days away, so Twilight invited the Cutie Mark Crusaders over to her library after school. She and Spike had received a new volume of the Encyclopedia Equestriannica, so she thought they all could do some research. Any way that she could help was worth a try.
Not one to stand idly by, knowing that research was in order, Twilight had already begun looking into the encyclopedias. She was sitting at a table in the center of her library. Without breaking her concentration, she called out to Spike. “Spike, is the lemonade ready? The girls will get here any moment.”
“Coming!” Spike entered the room carrying a large tray of lemonade glasses. He walked over and laid the tray on the table. “Here you go, Twilight. You really think you can find something that will help Scootaloo get her Cutie Mark?”
Twilight still did not break her eyes away from the encyclopedia, “I’m not positive, but there’s only one way to find out. I know how much this weekend will mean to Scootaloo. Just think how happy she’ll be if we succeed!”
Moments later, there was a knock at the door. Spike made his way across the room to answer it; Twilight remained glued to the books. All Spike did was twist the knob before Scootaloo forced her way in, nearly knocking him off his feet. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle entered soon afterward.
Scootaloo came right up next to Twilight and began to hop in place. “Hey Twilight! Have you found anything? Huh? Didja?”
“Not yet. But those books at the edge of the table haven’t been checked yet. You all can start looking through those.” Twilight’s pupils were darting back-and-forth as she scanned each page.
“Yippee! Let’s hit the books girls!” Scootaloo said as she jumped over the table and began searching through one of the encyclopedias.
Never had either Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom heard Scootaloo say “Yippee,” at the prospect of reading an encyclopedia. Considering how it was for helping to get her Cutie Mark, however, they understood her excitement. After all, they wanted their Cutie Marks too, so they completely empathized. After taking their respective glasses of lemonade, they soon joined Twilight and Scootaloo and began going through the other encyclopedias. They also had reasoned that perhaps they might find useful information along the way regarding their own Cutie Marks.
Before long, the sun had already set, and the moon had risen. Their prospects of finding anything insightful looked bleaker by the moment. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle already had called it quits hours earlier; they went to help Spike make some more lemonade. Twilight proved herself to be the stalwart researcher; over the course of the day, she barely budged from her spot. Scootaloo was also still researching, but her excitement of having Rainbow Dash as her sister was the only reason her stamina had carried her this far.
Without notice, Scootaloo abruptly closed the encyclopedia she had. “You know what? It doesn't matter if I get my Cutie Mark before this weekend,” she said.
At long last, Twilight’s concentration was broken by Scootaloo’s surprising claim. For almost as long as Twilight has known her, Scootaloo’s main focus in life was to earn her Cutie Mark. Hearing her say it “ doesn't matter” was quite the shock. Twilight looked up and stared at Scootaloo. “What do you mean? I thought you've always dreamed of getting your Cutie Mark,” she said.
Scootaloo backed away from the table and began walking toward one of the windows in Twilight’s library. “I still do. Honestly, I do,” she said. When she reached the window she looked out into the sky. “It’s just that I know I won’t need it for this weekend. I already have everything I need. I have the coolest, most awesome Pegasus sister ever – Rainbow Dash!”
Twilight walked over to the window to join Scootaloo. “I’m glad to hear that you’re so confident.” Twilight paused before she asked her next question. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is it about Rainbow Dash that makes you look up to her so much?”
Scootaloo smiled at the question. “I can’t explain it. I've just always thought she was amazing.”
Twilight smiled in return. “Yes, she is. But I feel like there’s more to it than that.” Scootaloo didn't say anything, but judging by the look on her face Twilight suspected that she might be correct. She investigated further. “Does it have something to do with not having a sister?”
Scootaloo’s expression dropped. She turned away from the window and slowly began walking back toward the center table with the encyclopedias. Twilight didn't sense any anger from Scootaloo, but she felt more of a depressed spirit. Fearing that she might have went too far, she tried to back track, “I mean, I don’t have a sister either. So I know how it feels.”
When Scootaloo turned around to face her, Twilight could see that she didn't look overly upset – but something was clearly on her mind. She just waited for her to say something.
After a few moments, Scootaloo opened up: “I’m not sure you do know how it feels. I know you don’t have a sister, but I don’t think you know what it’s like to have your favorite pony agree to be your sister. See, I always see Apple Bloom and Applejack laugh together at things that I can’t appreciate because I’m not a part of their family. It doesn't matter how close I am with Apple Bloom – I won’t be able to understand their inside jokes. The same thing goes for Sweetie Belle and Rarity. Even when they argue, they always make up afterward. And whenever they do, I can see that they've become closer as sisters. That’s something I've always wanted, that closeness. And I know Rainbow Dash doesn't have a sister either. Since her and I are both Pegasus ponies, I thought we might be able to share that together.”
Twilight was slightly immobilized by Scootaloo’s candor. For such a young pony, she seemed to have an acute sense of self-awareness.
Scootaloo continued: “She’s fearless. She’s loyal. She’s fun to be around! She’s everything a pony could want in a sister. I admire her so much for who she is. And now, just for a weekend, I get to be the luckiest pony in all of Equestria because I’ll have Rainbow Dash as my sister. For once I’ll be able to know what it’s like to feel that closeness.”
Twilight had not realized it until Scootaloo finished talking, but tears were streaming down her own face. Hearing Scootaloo speak so glowingly of Rainbow Dash reminded her of the days when she and Shining Armor grew up together. Even though she didn't have a sister, Twilight knew what looking up to an older sibling felt like. Twilight cleared her throat before she could finally say, “Scootaloo, I know you and Rainbow Dash are going to be great this weekend.”
The positive feeling that had fueled Scootaloo for the week returned. Her eyes widened the more she thought about the upcoming Sisterhooves Social. She looked up at Twilight and said, “It’s going to be the best weekend ever!”