//------------------------------// // Another Kind Of Story [Slice Of Life] // Story: Follow The Rainbow // by UnlicensedBrony //------------------------------// Episode Eleven: Another Kind Of Story – [Slice Of Life] The crackling warmth of the campfire brought a smile to Scootaloo's lips as she snuggled further into her blanket beside it. The sleeping forms of her camping buddies – Applebloom, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Rarity and Rainbow Dash – all laid close to the fire as well. None of them had expected it to be quite this cold. For once, it was lucky that Rarity had over-packed with, like, twenty extra blankets. It was a mystery to Scootaloo as to why she was the only one who hadn't yet fallen asleep. She'd been exhausted when she'd first laid down, but now she was wide awake again, staring into the comfy flames without the slightest urge to close her eyes and try to sleep. For lack of anything better to do, Scootaloo rifled around in the paper bag beside her, looking for a midnight snack. A lone marshmallow sat at the very bottom. With a mental shrug, she grabbed her toasting stick in her teeth and poked the squishy sweet thing onto the end, before holding it up to the fire. Getting closer to the fire kept her from feeling the cold bite of the wind across her ears as she watched her snack turn from it's trademark white to a delicious, golden brown – and kind of black around the edges. Satisfied, she pulled back into her blanket, set the stick down on her paper bag and took a bite of the marshmallow. She couldn't help but smile at the gooey deliciousness. She was just leaning down to finish the treat when she heard a grumbling from the other side of the fire... “Rarity, are you awake?” came Sweetie Belle's quiet voice. The firelight revealed the shaky frown on her face. “Rarity?” Since Rarity was quite clearly not awake, Scootaloo poked her head up and threw her friend a curious look. “What's up, Sweetie Belle?” Sweetie Belle glanced nervously around for a moment, before her eyes met with Scootaloo's. The unicorn's face twinged red and she looked down at the ground. “I had a bad dream...” Scootaloo blinked, unsure as to what to say to that. “Uh, what about?” she managed. “Rainbow Dash's story.” “Ah.” Somehow, Scootaloo wasn't too surprised, having just gotten over her own nightmares towards the end of their last camping trip. But she had to admit that she'd thought Sweetie Belle and Applebloom found the stories more 'funny' than 'scary'... “It's okay, I'll just... try and go back to sleep,” said Sweetie Belle, retreating further into her blanket. “No, wait,” Scootaloo found herself saying. “...C'mere.” Sweetie Belle threw her a questioning look, in response to which Scootaloo beckoned her over with a hoof. Obviously quite unsure, the unicorn filly put a hoof out of her blanket and pushed herself up. Scootaloo offered a reassuring smile as she started creeping around the fire. When Sweetie Belle reached her, still frowning and with a brow creased in question, Scootaloo stood – holding up the entrance to her blanket. “C'mon,” she said simply. Sweetie glanced between Scootaloo and the blanket for a moment, before her frown melted into a smile. Gratefully, she slid under the blanket and laid down, followed quickly by Scootaloo, who had just realised how much of the cold air she was letting in. The blanket was plenty big enough for both of them, but Sweetie shifted across all the same, so that their sides were pressed up against each other. “Thanks.” “Don't worry about it,” said Scootaloo with a smile. She leant forwards and dragged the toasting stick towards them, holding the marshmallow end up to her friend and offering it by way of a grunt. Sweetie Belle, obviously still too tired to think of refusing, slowly leant forwards and bit down on the remaining half of the marshmallow. She closed her eyes, pulled back and chewed with a smile as Scootaloo tossed the stick aside and looked back at the fire, feeling proud to have done her part. Then, rather unexpectedly, she felt something try to shove its way under her chin. Drawing up in surprise, she made way for Sweetie Belle to slide her head underneath, where she laid – quiet, smiling and thoroughly comfy-looking. Scootaloo blinked and stared down at her for a moment with a blank mind and reddening cheeks. No-one was awake, she reasoned, so she allowed herself a little smile as she rested her chin atop her friend's mane, as if it were a silky pillow. It was a nice feeling, laying there, together like that – kind of warm and relaxing, especially with the crackling of the fire to keep them company. Of course, she'd never be caught dead doing it if anypony was watching. Well... probably not, anyway... Before long, Sweetie Belle's breathing had slowed to a gentle, sleepy rhythm. For the first time that night, Scootaloo actually began to think that she might be able to fall asleep. She closed her eyes and let out a content sigh through her nose. A familiar, scratchy chuckle pierced the silence. Scootaloo drew a sharp breath and her eyes darted towards where Rainbow was supposedly sleeping, about half way around the fire to her left. Her eyes were half-open and a warm smile adorned her face, lit up by the firelight. “Th-Thought you were asleep,” Scootaloo managed quietly, trying to mask the embarrassment in her voice. “Nah, can't tonight,” said Rainbow coolly. “Not sure why... it's weird.” She paused, then glanced towards Sweetie Belle and nodded, her smile widening a little as she did. “That was pretty cool of you, squirt.” Scootaloo's cheeks reddened when she realised that Rainbow must've been watching the exchange. “Oh... yeah. Well, I was just doing what I thought you'd do,” she muttered. Rainbow chuckled again. “Like I said, it was pretty cool.” Scootaloo opened her mouth, then closed it again and gave a sheepish smile. “...Thanks.” “...I guess I should stop telling all those stories, huh?” said Rainbow. “Giving everypony nightmares and all...” “It's okay,” said Scootaloo. “You're really good at it, and sometimes it's fun to be scared--” She paused. “But...” “But what?” Rainbow prompted with an encouraging smile. Scootaloo looked towards the fire again. “It's kind of dumb, but... Do you do other kinds of stories? Not scary ones, more like... I don't know--” She retreated behind Sweetie Belle's mane a little. “--Bedtime stories?” “Huh?” grunted Rainbow. “Bedtime stories...” “I want a bedtime story...” Sweetie Belle chimed in, half-asleep. Rainbow seemed to go a little red in the face. “S-Sorry, guys – I don't really do bedtime stories... not my style, you know?” Sweetie Belle offered a vague groan. “Yeah, I guess not,” said Scootaloo. Part of her was glad that Rainbow hadn't said yes. Bedtime stories, what was she thinking? She must've been more tired than she'd thought... “But... I guess I could tell you another kind of story,” Rainbow said thoughtfully. Scootaloo gave her a half-nervous, half-curious sort of smile. “Oh yeah? Like what?” “You ever hear about the time Fluttershy took on a full-grown dragon?” said Rainbow with a smirk. “I guess that sounds kind of scary but it's really not.” Scootaloo furrowed her brow. “...Fluttershy did? I thought she was scared of dragons?” “Heh. Tell me about it,” chuckled Rainbow. She glanced down at the ground in thought for a moment, then got her hooves and started dragging her blanket around towards the two fillies. She came to a stop beside them, laid down and covered herself before looking into the fire. “So, you want to hear it?” Scootaloo didn't give it much thought, she was too curious to say no, even if it weren't for the prospect of hearing Rainbow's awesome storytelling. For her part, Sweetie Belle grunted a vague “Mhm” in approval. Rainbow gave it another moment before clearing her throat. “Alright, so it all started when I was napping on this really awesome cloud over Twilight's place...” Scootaloo settled herself in again and followed Rainbow's eyes to the fire as she listened to the tale... “...and the Princess came to me last and put my own medal around my neck. And she said 'Rainbow Dash, the way you swooped in there and took on that dragon to buy time for your friends was truly brave and awesome. You're going to make a great leader of the Wonderbolts some day...' And then we all turned around to a massive wave of applause from everypony in the throne room, as extra thanks for saving all of Equestria from eternal smokiness. The end.” Scootaloo stirred. She was sure that she was supposed to do something here... Oh, right. She craned her eyes open and threw Rainbow Dash a clumsy smile. “Cool story, Rainbow Dash," she managed. "...The Princess really said you were awesome?” “Well, not in so many words,” said Rainbow off-hoofedly. “But she basically said it. And I know everypony else was thinking it too. Oh, and there was one time where Princess Luna said I was awesome, when I was in--” Scootaloo let out an accidental yawn. “S-Sorry,” she mumbled, letting her eyes fall shut again. “Carry on.” Rainbow stayed quiet for a long moment. “...Y'know, I think I'll save that story for tomorrow. Unless you'd rather I tell one of my scary ones, that is.” Though she was still fast asleep, Sweetie Belle shuffled at the mere mention of scary stories. Scootaloo gave a very faint chuckle. “I think we like the other kind of story better.” “Yeah, I figured you did,” said Rainbow softly. “It's a deal then – from tomorrow on, it's awesome, exciting adventure stories all the way. Cool?” Scootaloo smiled and nodded, even as gentle waves of warmth began to lull her into sleep. “Cool...” ~FIN...?