Scootaloo’s Parents
Fanfic by englishwitch
Disclaimer: The following is an entirely fan-created parody. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, it’s characters and all other affiliated merchandise are the intellectual property of Lauren Faust and Hasbro. Please support the official MLP: FiM show.
I make no profit, or money at all, for the production and distribution of this fanfiction.
Chapter 3
Applebloom stared out at the passing scenery as the train raced through the countryside. Destination Manehatten. She was so excited she could barely sit still. She'd seen pictures, Applejack had told her of the place, even cousin Babs gave some pretty good descriptions in the letters she sent, but to finally see it for herself was a dream come true.
Applebloom had to keep reminding herself they weren't going for a casual visit. This trip was official Crusader business. They were going to track down Scootaloo's mother.
She looked away from the window to her friends. The little orange filly had been rocked to sleep by the train. Sweetie Bell was half in a doze herself. Scootaloo hadn't slept all night. She claimed it was out of excitement over the trip and Applebloom believed that had been part of it. She also suspected, not that Scoots would confirm or deny, that the filly had been fighting with Lyra and Bonbon.
Bloom had overheard AJ talking to Rarity when the crusaders were supposed to be packing. Lyra and Bonbon were in support of Scootaloo trying to track down her real mother but they were less than enthusiastic about her going all the way to Manehatten to do it. The prospect of disappointment was high and they didn't want her to go all that way just to be let down. They'd much rather Scootaloo try a different approach, like writing a letter to the home for foundling foals. Let it go through all the official channels and have the reply come back in its own time. But Scootaloo, impatient as always, wanted to do it herself. AJ said, that Lyra had said, that Scootaloo had said, that she (Scootaloo) wouldn't be stopped and if her mothers didn't give her their permission to go on the trip, that she'd just run away and do it all by herself. So begrudgingly Lyra and Bonbon had agreed for Applejack to chaperone the group on their trip to Manhatten.
The carriage door opened and AJ entered, carrying a small cardboard tray on her back, holding three paper cups from Star Buck's Coffee Cart. They were everywhere these days, even on trains.
"Hot chocolate for you an’ your friends Applebloom." AJ slid the tray onto the seat and passed her little sister one of the smaller cups. "and a nice vanilla latte with a red eye for me." She sniffed the drink, smelling the extra shot of espresso she'd had dumped in. Then she gave Applebloom a sideways glance. "Do not tell Rarity ah even know what a Vanilla latte is, 'kay little missy?"
Applebloom nodded. "Okay Applejack."
Applejack sipped at the coffee. "Hoo, that's better. S'far as Rarity's concerned, Ah was arguing with that Barista pony 'cause all I asked for was a cup of coffee, not some silly frilly froo froo drink with a fancy shcmancy name." She sipped at the drink again. "But dangit that's good." After taking another long drink she sighed. It was getting dark outside, Celestia’s sun was sinking slowly toward the western horizon. She couldn’t see the eastern but she guessed Luna’s moon would be starting to rise. “How the hay did I let y’all talk me into this?” She shook her head slowly and finally sat down. “We coulda written a letter. Prob’ly shoulda. But here we are, goin’ all the way to Manehatten for some paperwork we ain’t sure they’ll even give to us.”
Applebloom looked at Applejack, then to the sleeping Scootaloo. “Scoots jus asked if you would help. Yur the one who agreed.” Applebloom looked at her sister and smiled. “Ah think ya already knew it was the right thing to do.”
Applejack smiled and gave the little filly a quick hug. “Dang you can be bright when you try. Scootaloo’s lucky to have a friend like you.”
...***...
With a hiss of steam the train ground to a halt in Manehatten Central Station. The night was upon them now but the station was brightly lit. Applejack and her three companions walked off the train. Applebloom and AJ looked up and down the platform. Applebloom was hopping around with great excitement. “Oh, where is she? Where could she be?”
Applejack couldn’t help but laugh. “Calm down little missy.” She grabbed Applebloom and tried to hold her down. “Ain’t no guarantee Babs is gonna be here.”
“Applebloom!” The cry was heard clear across the platform, over the hubbub and shouting of all the other ponies on the platform. An orange filly with a short pink mane leapt into view for a second, then fell back down. She jumped up again, this time landing on the back of a stranger. He cried out in protest but she’d already jumped again, landing on the back of another pony. Leap-frogging her way across the platform, accompanied by the fanfare of yells and shouts from the ponies she hopped over, Babs Seed finally landed in front of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Applejack.
“Babs.” Applebloom threw herself forward and the two cousins hugged tightly.
“So gud to see youz again cuz.” Babs said in her thick Bronx accent.
“Babs.” A stern voice called behind her. Babs cringed slightly and looked over her shoulder at an earth pony mare with a pale green coat, a pink and light pink mane the same colour as Babs’, blue eyes and a cutie mark of an apple fritter flanked with two apple slices. “What’s did I tell youz ‘bout runnin off?” Her accent, and the colours of her mane, were the same as Babs’
“Sorry mom.” Babs cast her eyes down.
AJ ruffled Babs’ mane lovingly. “Shoot Aunt Apple Dumpling t’aint no harm done, ‘cept maybe to some poor pony’s backs.”
Apple Dumpling’s expression softened slightly. “Yeah, I guess so.” She looked among the group, looking over the group before her, at her nieces Applejack and Applebloom and the two other fillies – a white unicorn and an orange pegasus. “Youz must be Scootaloo.” She nodded to the pegasus. “We’s glad to help any friend of the Apple family. Babs and Applebloom both talked about how important it was to help youz. Whut was it youz said Babs?”
“Cutie Mark Crusaders stick togevver.” Babs said sternly. She’d told her mum a dozen times but she still had trouble remembering.
Apple Dumpling nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. Hope youz find whut your lookin for kid.” She looked at the saddlebags they were all carrying and decided they weren’t waiting for any luggage. “Right c’mon all o’ youz, let’s get outta herez and back to my place.”
Scootaloo stared. “But we’re supposed to be here to find my mom.”
Applejack nodded. “And we will Scootaloo. But it’s late and we’ve been trav’lin most of the day. I don’t know ‘bout you but I’m tired and we could all do with a good meal. We’ll settle down for tonight and get down to business first thing in the mornin’.”
Scootaloo was silent for some time before finally sighing and hanging her head. “Okay.”
Following Apple Dumpling and Babs, Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were taken through the large station. Like most things in Manehatten it was lavishly decorated, with a great painted ceiling depicting a beautiful starscape of Luna’s night sky. The Cutie Mark Crusaders slowed to stare at it, heads straight up and mouths agape. Impatient city ponies grumbled as they were forced to walk around them. As though the extra two steps to walk around a small group of ponies was a huge inconvenience for them.
The large group split into two taxis, Applejack, Appledumpling and Scootaloo in one, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Babs in the other. Scootaloo wanted to be with the other Crusaders, but she changed her mind at the very last second to be with the grown ups and hear their plans being discussed.
So far it was very boring.
“Thanks again for putting us up Aunt Dumpling.” AJ smiled and nodded.
“Hey, forget about it. We’s always willing to to do a favour for family. And friends of family.” She nodded at Scootaloo with a grin. Scootaloo managed a weak smile back. Then Apple Dumpling’s attention turned back to AJ. “It’s like a regular family reunion. Pink Lady landed just yesterday.”
Scootaloo’s ears perked up. “Landed? Is she a pegasus?”
Both apples laughed warmly. AJ ruffled Scootaloo’s hair playfully. “Naw Scoots. Pink’s Dumplings daughter, mine an’ Applebloom’s cousin, she’s an earth pony. She’s just got an airship.”
“She loves to travel.” Apple Dumpling nodded. “Befo’ she settles into the family business she wants to see Equestria. All the big towns and cities, see other Apple’s and maybe work in their orchards. So she rented herself an airship and off she went.”
“Ah remember seein her landin’ that thing at the family reunion. She gave a ride to Cinnamon and Wensley.” Applejack nodded. Scootaloo’s attention was starting to drift again.
“Yep. She was visiting and, since she had the airship, she decided to give them a ride. It was nice to see her again. First time we’d seen her for months. It’s great to her have her home, even if it is for a coupla days.”
“Always good to have fam’ly around.” AJ agreed. “Heck ah don’t know how I’d feel if Applebloom or Big Mac went away from the farm for weeks.” She took a glance out of the back window of the cab, to the vehicle following their own where her little sister was sitting, laughing at something Babs was saying. AJ had left the farm once, when she wasn’t much older the Applebloom was, she’d missed it terribly and when she got back she hadn’t left it since. She’d never wanted to and never needed to. She couldn’t imagine not having her family around her, her sister, brother and granny. She glanced down at Scootaloo and felt a little more sympathy and a lot more understanding for the poor filly.
AJ sighed thoughtfully and decided to change the subject to keep her mind of the melancholy thoughts. “How’s Uncle Red?”
Apple Dumpling smiled. Her gaze was on the street, watching the buildings and ponies go by. “He’s doin’ fine. Head Ground-keeper now at central park. The parks the only place in the city he loves, ‘cept maybe home. He likes the city okay, but I don’t think he’ll ever love it.”
AJ laughed. “Ah doubt he will. Take it from a mare who knows, you can take the pony outta the farm but you can’t take the farm outta the pony.”
Scootaloo put her hooves over her ears. She’d forgotten what boring conversations adults could have.
“He tries.” Dumpling nodded. “But he jus don’t enjoy the city life like other manehatten ponies. He likes his park and open spaces.”
“Heck he’s as used to the city as he’s gonna get. Pink’s, what? My age? He’s been livin’ in the city all that time. Longer than he ever lived on da farm. He moved here for you, ‘cus he loves you. Ah think he’d live anywhere s’long as he get’s to live with y’all. Don’t take a genius to see that.”
Apple Dumpling’s smile widened and she gave AJ a grateful expression. “Thank youz Applejack.”
The cab pulled to a halt. “Here we are.” The driver yelled back to them. He’d pulled up outside a tall apartment building, eight storeys high, made of brown stone.
Scootaloo sighed and muttered under her breath, “Oh thank Celestia.” All this mushy talk was making her nauseous. She jumped out of the cab and rushed over to the other CMC’s “How was your ride?”
“Excellent!” Applebloom cheered. She and Babs hoofbumped and laughed. Sweetie Bell was silent, staring straight up. Scoots followed her gaze and her jaw dropped. Hovering above the building was an airship. At her angle she could see the great purple balloon, and the edge of the metal protective covering.
After a few seconds Applebloom realised her friends weren’t saying anything and followed their gaze. Her own jaw dropped as she caught sight of the airship. Babs glanced upwards and laughed lightly. “That’s just my sis’ ship. C’mon youz can meet her.” She tapped Applebloom on the shoulder, snapping the farm pony out of her trance. Applebloom blushed. She was acting like a backwoods hick who’d never seen an airship before.
“Sorry babs, I just never seen an airship parked on top of somepony’s house before.” They were usually landed in open spaces like fields or parks, not in the middle of a town or city.
Babs nodded. “Yeah, ah ‘spose it’s a weird sight. I guess around here we’s all used to it now. C’mon, let’s get inside.”
...***...
The apartment was large and warmly decorated. Not too much clutter, but by no means the minimalist style which was so fashionable with Manehattenites. Pictures of the happy family decorated every wall. The door opened right onto the warm living room. The place was dominated by a large sofa, surrounded by several chairs. The smell of good warm food cooking reached the noses of all the travellers as they stepped through the door.
An earth pony was asleep on the sofa, a Stetson hat pulled down over his eyes. He had an orange coat, a shade lighter than Babs’ own, a brown mane and a green ‘kerchief tied loosely around his neck.
“Dad, we’s home.” Babs ran up and shook his foreleg.
The stallion snorted and pushed his hat up, his eyes were the same shade of green as Babs’. His smile widened, showing off his buck teeth. “Babs.” He scooped up the filly and hugged her tightly. He looked to the others, lingering on Applejack and Applebloom the longest. “How y’all doin?” His accent was a stark contrast to the manehatten bronx of Babs and Apple Dumpling.
“Jus’ great Uncle Red.” Applejack smiled. “I’d like y’all to meet Applebloom’s friends. This here’s Sweetie Bell and this is Scootaloo.”
“The little filly y’all came out here to help.” He put babs down and climbed off the chair. Holding out a hoof for Scootaloo to shake, “pleased to meet’cha.”
Scootaloo shook hooves. “Thanks.”
AJ laughed. “This here’s my uncle, Red Hickory.”
Applebloom rushed up and gave Red a hug. “Uncle Red.”
Red smiled and wrapped a leg around her. “Good to see ya again Applebloom.”
A mare stepped into the living room. She had a pale yellow coat, a fluffy pink mane, green eyes and a cutie mark of three apple slices. “I thought I heard voices. Youz is just in time, dinners ready.”
Applejack tilted her hat. “Thank ya kindly cousin Pink. We’ll jus put our things in our rooms and we’ll join ya. Smells delicious.”
Pink Lady grinned. “Thanks cuz. Youz is in with me, down the hall to the left. Youz fillies is in with Babs, down the hall to the right.”
...***...
After a hearty meal of vegetable stew the four fillies retreated to Babs’ room to talk and play while the adults talked. Scootaloo was tempted to hang around the grown up to see if any topic relating to her came up, but she’d learned her lesson in the taxi and joined the others.
While the others discussed Crusader business, how the Manehatten CMC’s were getting on and what kind of things they’d done to try and earn their cutie marks, Scootaloo sat by the window, staring out at Manehatten. She didn’t really hear the others as they talked, joked and even argued. Somewhere out on those streets was the key to finding her mother. It was written on one piece of paper, inside one file folder, inside one filing cabinet, inside one building. It was a lot of “one” which added up to a huge number of things that were between her and her real family. And her real self.