Both fillies sat in silence for a minute, not sure exactly what to say next. A thought came to Dawn’s mind that made her beam with excitement.
“Hey I got an idea! I don’t really have any bits but there’s a cool ice-cream shop down the street we could hang out at.” Dawn couldn’t cover her ears fast enough to save herself from Scootaloo’s glass shattering fan-girl squee.
“What no way that’s exactly where I was going! A nice pony gave me six bits so we could both totally get ice-cream.” Scootaloo.
“Gee I wonder who that could have been…”Dawn said under her breath, too quiet for Scootaloo to hear. Her mother always had a strange way of telling the future, she thought to herself. “Wow that’s so cool! And the pony that owns it is super nice too!”
They began their walk as Scootaloo shared her story of why she left Ponyville and how she ended up in Manehatten. Dawn couldn’t understand how a father could just abandon his only daughter like that, but growing up in Manehatten she was used to irrational thinking.
“You sound like a pony with a problem, and I know exactly who can help!” Dawn said with a reassuring smile as they arrived at the door of what looked like a dessert lover’s paradise.
The doors themselves looked like giant chocolate bars surrounded by a door frame made of two massive candy canes. However upon entry all five of their senses were delightfully barraged by the sugary paradise. The walls looked like they were made of swirled chocolate and caramel, and the tables looked and smelled like freshly baked cookies. The entire room looked edible, and smelled like fresh fudge and ice cream. Sounds of somepony whistling to smooth jazz could be heard from the back room, offset by the loud noises of a magic batter mixer.
There was a simple counter with display cases and two small ice cream cones sitting next to the register. The loud humming of cooking machinery stopped as the merry voice of an older stallion chimed out from the back of the store.
“Help yourself Dawn, I’ll be out before long.” His tranquil voice matching the stress-free atmosphere.
“Hi Mr. Sherbert! Wait how’d you know it was me?” Dawn said as she levitate the two ice cream treats over to the table the two of them decided to rest at. Scootaloo hadn’t been around very many unicorns yet, and was still fascinated by their magic.
“Don’t be silly who else could it be, other than my favorite little filly?” The large unicorn emerged and levitated two chocolate milkshakes to the two bouncing fillies. His coat was a bright orange, offsetting his bright lime green mane, tail, and eyes. His cutie mark, a chocolate sundae with two crossed spoons, told Scootaloo that her ice cream was going to be delicious.
“And when was the last time your day came to a slow, unless you had a friend or two in tow?”
“Yeah that’s true, I’m usually on the other side of town by now. But Miss Celery is out of town this week so I was just gonna play with her dog anyways.” Dawn was just beginning to eat her ice cream when she noticed her rudeness. “Oh I’m sorry, Mr. Sherbert this is Scootaloo. We actually just met a little while ago.”
“Pleasure to meet you!” Scootaloo said between spoonfuls of goodness. She had no idea why he said everything in rhymes, but she figured anypony who could make this good of ice cream had to be awesome.
“So tell me are you new in town, or have I just not seen you around?” The usually cheery Dawn grew serious as Scootaloo suddenly grew uncomfortable. She placed a comforting hoof on the fillies shoulder and shot her a sympathetic glance.
“Scootaloo doesn’t really have any parents, and she walked here from Ponyville last night so she doesn’t really know her way around yet.”
“Yeah and I’d totally be toast if you didn’t save me from those three stupid jerks!” Scootaloo let out a short laugh, glad to change the subject. “Though I wonder why nopony else would help. Is this town really that snooty?”
Scootaloo couldn’t help but cock her head at her new friend’s odd reactions to her earnest question, but she feared their answer when they suddenly grew serious. Mr. Sherbert even forgot his rhyme game when he became concerned for the innocent filly.
“So you haven’t told her yet? You know the sooner the better.” He looked at Dawn with sympathy as she prepared her explanation for the hundredth time.
“Scootaloo… there’s something I need to tell you.” Dawn began with tear brimmed eyes. “Do you remember that old story from Hearth’s Warming Eve, the one about the old pony tribes? You remember how they didn’t like each other just because they were different?
“Yeah my mom told me those stories when I was just a little filly. What about them?” She still didn’t understand her predicament, but the full weight of her situation fell on her with Dawn’s next words.
“Well Manehatten is still kinda like that, except here the ponies don’t like pegasi. That’s why those three were so mean to you, and why nopony else would help. The ponies here are just too blind to see that hating somepony just because they’re different is wrong.”
Scootaloo couldn’t help but sit awe-struck with her jaw reaching for the floor. All this time she just thought the ponies here were a little on the snooty side. She never would have guessed that she was surrounded by ponies who hate her with every fiber of their being just because of who she was born as.
“B-but you guys are so nice! Why would they…”
“You see Dawn and I are among the few who don’t think like that. We just want to see everyone happy, whether you’re a unicorn, pegasus, or even a hungry manticore.”
“Yeah,” Dawn joined in, “so no matter how hard you try I won’t leave you alone till I’m one hundred percent satisfied that you’ll be happy forever!”
“You guys are- thank you. Nopony has ever been this nice to me. I don’t even know what else I can say but thank you.” Her tears were turning to those of joy, overwhelmed by the love and acceptance in the air.
Dawn was the first to initiate the group hug, followed quickly by Mr. Sherbert, wrapping Scootaloo in a tight embrace. “I don’t know how to repay you, but I’ll do my best to find out how.”
“Don’t worry about that dear, you smile is repayment enough.” Mr. Sherbert said through a warm smile, before slowly pulling away from the fillies to walk to the back of the store.
The next few hours went by quickly while they shared stories and laughs. Scootaloo couldn’t think of a time that she felt half as free as she did with Dawn. She did remember one afternoon she was stuck staying late after school with a little red maned filly with a cute bow that she had a blast with, but she couldn’t remember her name. None of her past mattered now: she was happy here and she knew at least two ponies would accept and love her no matter what. But as she noticed the clock approach six, it was time for them to go their separate ways.
“Oh I almost forgot I’m supposed to meet somepony at a restaurant in a few minutes! Hey Mr. Sherbert do you know a nice pony named Soaring Sky? She said you could show me how to get there.” Scootaloo all but fell backwards when he let out a hearty laugh.
“Yes I suppose you could say we’ve met a time or two. Unfortunately I can’t take you tonight as I have other important business to attend to. Yet I may need to cancel and take you anyways, as a certain routinely late pony has yet to show up.”
As if on cue, a sandy brown pegasus stallion stumbled through the front doors carrying what Scootaloo guessed couldn’t have been less than three hundred pounds of sugar. His words were barely audible among all his panting as he trudged to the back room.
“Why you suddenly needed three-hundred twenty pounds of sugar imported from Germaneigh is a mystery to me! I’ll bet you just wanted me gone for a day so you could…”His dry throat causing his raspy voice to drown out under the rising giggles of Dawn and Scootaloo.
“Come now you know the best sugar comes from Germaneigh. Besides you complain too much, when I was your age I-“
“Wait is this the story of how you had to walk to school in the snow, uphill both ways? Or the one about how you had to walk three miles just to get a drink of water? Because I’ve heard both… several times.” The feigned boredom in his voice proved too much for the fillies, causing them both to fall to the floor with a fit of laughter that echoed through the room.
“Of course if you’re not complaining, you’re interrupting me.” While slightly annoyed, Mr. Sherbert decided to play along to amuse the two fillies.
“Not my fault your stories are so boring. And besides I don’t complain too much, you don’t complain enough. I have to complain more just to keep up the average!” His playfully self-righteous tone elicited no small laugh from the still floor-struck fillies, bringing wide smiles to both the stallions faces.
“I see you’re impossible as ever. Anyways you’re done for the day, so you can escort these two lovely fillies to their dinner appointment.” Although Mr. Sherbert was glad he was sending them off happy, he was still sad he had to send them back to harsh reality.
“Uncle Swift, uncle Swift!” Dawn finally composed herself and jumped to hug his neck. Where that filly got so much energy from Scootaloo couldn’t even imagine.
“Why hello there Dawn, I trust you were good today? I would hate to not get to share some ice cream with you after dinner tonight.” Swift said with the most pathetic pout face Scootaloo had ever seen.
“What! Of course I was good, when have I not been?” Dawn seemed visibly worried about losing her ice cream privileges.
“Silly me, what could I have been thinking: as if you have ever intentionally caused trouble.” He laughed as he tousled her mane before noticing Scootaloo was still patiently sitting to the side. “Oh I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Swiftwing, what might your name be?”
Scootaloo gave a slight smile, one that Swift could easily see through. “Oh don’t worry about it, I’m kinda used to being forgotten. My name’s Scootaloo.” She said it so casually that everyone else in the room couldn’t help but cringe a little.
“Nice to meet you Scootaloo. So is there anything else we need to do before we go?” Swift knew there was something different about Scootaloo, something she likely would never talk about. But for now he just settled on making her happy.
“Come on let’s go already I’m hungry!” The sudden burst from Dawn nearly floored them all with laughter.
After several false starts, a few goodbyes to Mr. Sherbert, and some smiles made of pure innocence, the three of them set off for their long awaited dinner. Scootaloo couldn’t help but marvel and stare wide-eyed at the buildings they passed. She didn’t know ponies could build such things, much less so close together. Sure she heard some stories about Manehatten from a classmate, but hearing stories from a less than intelligent filly and seeing the buildings herself was totally different.
She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if one of them fell over. Would they all fall into each other like the dominoes Miss Cheerilee showed them?
She was forced from her thoughts as Swift barreled into her, pushing her out of the way of a fast moving, strange looking carriage. He grabbed her and pulled into a wide vertical arc, landing next to Dawn with Scootaloo in his hooves.
“Whew don’t scare me like that. You gotta be careful, the ponies here are all crazy.” He said as he gently set Scootaloo down. He didn’t have time to brace himself for Scootaloo’s quick return to his hooves.
“That was so awesome! Can we do it again, please?” Her voice cracked due to her excitement. The sound of Dawn’s facehoof could likely be heard a block away, but Swift couldn’t help but chuckle at Scootaloo’s joy in something so simple.
“Maybe later, just promise me you won’t walk in front of any more carriages.” He gave her a look of concern, but anyone could tell he was just teasing her.
“Okay fine, but only if you taking me flying later, that was awesome!” Dawn rolled her eyes at her friend’s persistence, but she smiled anyways.
They continued walking at a slower pace than before when a question popped into Scootaloo’s mind. “Hey I was wondering what kind of carriage was that anyways? I didn’t see anypony pulling it.” Her simple question earning a smile from Dawn, who was the first to answer.
“It’s a steam carriage, they’re so cool! I’ve always wanted one but they aren’t exactly cheap.”
“Maybe eventually but first you need to stop spending all your bits on ice cream.” Swift teased, and Scootaloo couldn’t help but giggle at Dawn’s offended look. “But anyways, yes those are a new invention from Germaneigh. Unlike the magic powered carriages in Canterlot, these are powered by steam and complex mechanics.”
“Wow that’s so awesome!” Scootaloo shouted as she jumped at the idea. She wondered if ponies could make such amazing machines, what else could they make?
They walked the rest of their trip in relative silence, Scootaloo enjoying seeing so many new things, until they arrived at a restaurant to fancy for anypony but royalty. The self-proclaimed six-star restaurant had a unique arboreal entrance made of ferns and flowering vines. Upon entering they were in a large indoor courtyard with marble columns and floor tile. The tables and countertops were all made of black granite, and there were several hoof-forged statues made of precious metals with stone insets. Scootaloo quickly decided that if there was a six-star rating for restaurants, this place certainly deserved it.
Not really thinking things through, Swift told the fillies to wait by the door while he looked for somepony in the kitchen. Of course when the restaurant’s greeter saw them he immediately rushed over.
“Excuse me fillies I believe you have the wrong address.” The unicorn spoke with an infuriatingly pompous accent and carried himself as if he was related to Celestia herself.
Dawn was the first to respond with her trademark tone of boredom. “Look just save your little lecture for somepony who actually wants to hear it. And no we don’t have the wrong address, we’re here to meet somepony.” She stressed the words ‘wrong address’ to show her annoyance.
“Very well, you may remain here. But you…” He pointed a disgusted hoof at Scootaloo and held his nose high. “You know our policy regarding your kind. I can’t have you scaring our customers away, so you’ll have to wait elsewhere.”
“What but that’s outrageous!” Dawn shouted trying to cause a scene and get the jerk fired. “We’re paying customers just like everypony else!”
The manager rushed over after hearing the shouting, and assumed Scootaloo was causing trouble for his staff. He rose up to his full height and tried to look as intimidating as possible. Being a massive solid black stallion with a dark red mane and tail made it fairly easy. “Just like a pegasus, always causing trouble. Look I know you’ve been told our policies, so I suggest you leave before I call the Guard to escort you off the premises.” The manager remained expressionless and stern while the unicorn had a smirk of victory.
“What! But- you can’t just-“Dawn let out an angry grunt as she began pacing in front of the two stallions. She likely would have worn a hole in the floor if Scootaloo hadn’t walked up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. What Dawn saw when she turned and looked in Scootaloo’s eyes was not anger, not even frustration, but gratitude. They stood there and stared in each other’s eyes for a few moments before Dawn let out her long held breath.
“Thank you, I’ve seen plenty fights and I’d rather not see anymore.” Scootaloo’s quiet voice somehow reached the manager as well, and he couldn’t stop a small frown from forming. “Besides like I said before I’m kinda used to being alone. It’s okay, don’t worry about me.” Scootaloo closed her eyes and wore a fake smile, trying her hardest to pretend none of this bothered her to cheer up her new friend.
Dawn slumped her shoulders even further while looking up at Scootaloo with pleading eyes. “But it’s not okay that they treat you like this. That’s why I got so mad.”
It took all of Scootaloo’s strength not to break down crying right there, but she composed herself and offered Dawn another grateful look. “Yes and I am very thankful for that, but there’s no reason to be mad at them, they’re just doing their jobs. The ponies where I came from weren’t very nice to me, so this isn’t really the first time this has happened to me anyways.” What she said was true, but it still didn’t take the pain away whenever other ponies looked at her like she was trash.
By this point even the restaurant greeter looked sad, and the manager felt nothing but shame. How could he be angry at a filly that had been wronged so much, yet still held no ill will to those that harmed her?
Scootaloo turned to the manager and looked him in the eyes. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble, I’ll just wait across the street so I won’t bother anyone.” She shot Dawn a quick smile before turning to leave. Nopony but Swift, who had been watching from a distance since the shouting started, noticed the tear trickling down Scootaloo’s cheek.
Just as Swift was going to step in and save the day, the manager rushed to stand between Scootaloo and the door. She stood still for a moment, shocked that he could even move that fast, but was even more surprised when the large stallion pulled her into a tight hug.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” You’re right I was just doing my job, but no job is worth this. Nopony deserves what’s been done to you, and I’m sorry.” He pulled away for a second to look at her with his teary eyes before holding her tight again.
Scootaloo wasn’t used to this kind of treatment, but she figured she couldn’t pull away even if she wanted too. So she gratefully returned the embrace and let all her pent up tears flow onto his rather nice suit. She couldn’t say why but she felt safe in his hooves, like she was protected from everything that wanted to hurt her. A feeling she didn’t get very often.
Swift was so focused on the scene that he didn’t even notice Soaring Sky walk up and sit next to him until she nudged his shoulder. “Whoa did I miss something?”
He simply smiled and nodded, never taking his eyes off the adorable scene. “That filly is gonna change things around here, I can only imagine what she’ll do for this town.” Swift finally looked at Sky and gave her a brief but tight hug. “Well shall we go start this party?”