Written by: Mayhem Darkshadow
Edited by: psychohooves
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Chapter 2: A New Life
Twilight woke up to the soft buzzing of her alarm. Even though it was Saturday, Twilight always set an alarm to ensure she would wake up at a decent time. She stretched a little, causing Scootaloo to awake beside her. Twilight, for reasons she couldn't understand, affectionately stroked the filly’s mane. Scootaloo's eyes slowly opened and she stretched her legs out.
"Morning sleepy head," whispered Twilight quietly.
"M...m...morning," yawned Scootaloo.
"I didn't mean to wake you, if you're tired you can go back to sleep," Twilight told her.
Scootaloo stood up and stretched some more. "No that's okay. I can't fall back asleep after I wake up.”
Twilight smiled at her and they both climbed out of bed and quietly left the room. Twilight didn't wake Spike because she normally just let him wake up on his own accord, unless she really needed him for some reason. They both exited the room quietly and went downstairs.
"So what would you like for breakfast?" asked Twilight sweetly.
Scootaloo yawned and then thought about what would be really good for breakfast. She normally just ate anything that she had, but now that she was given the option she couldn't decided what would be good.
"Umm...can we make pancakes please Twilight?" Scootaloo responded politely.
Twilight smiled. It was good to see that even though Scootaloo had lived on her own she had very nice manners.
"Of course we can," replied Twilight, "In the far cupboard on the left there is a large mixing bowl. If you could grab that for me while I get out all the ingredients I'd appreciate it."
Scootaloo retrieved the mixing bowl while Twilight got all the ingredients for pancakes, and in about ten minutes the batter was ready and the pan was being heated up on the oven. This gave Twilight some time to ask Scootaloo some more questions and talk about future arrangements.
"So, nopony ever found you and took you in or to an orphanage or anything? Don't you have any other family members?" questioned Twilight curiously.
Twilight could tell these questions made the little filly uneasy, but she still answered them.
"No. Nopony really came looking for me. I had an older brother who I got along with, but he was killed in an accident at the Cloudsdale weather factory. I also had an older sister but we didn't get along, and she wanted nothing to do with me after my parents abandoned us. I think she lives in Las Pegasus, but she's well...a mare for hire I guess is the term," sniffed Scootaloo.
Twilight understood what she meant by mare for hire: a prostitute. She could only think about what a horrible family life Scootaloo came from. She didn't press Scootaloo for any more information because she could see how uncomfortable Scootaloo was becoming.
"Well I don't want you to worry about any of that. Like I said last night, you are welcome to stay with me until we figure out a solution," explained Twilight carefully.
Twilight didn't want Scootaloo to think that she was going to throw her out eventually. Twilight would never bring herself to do that. Deep down she wanted Scootaloo to stay permanently; however, she just didn't know if that was going to be an option.
When the pan was finally warm enough they poured the batter and let the pancakes cook. Twilight pulled up a stool so Scootaloo could flip the pancakes herself, which she did perfectly. The aroma that had filled the kitchen was very pleasant, and it must have worked its way upstairs because Spike showed up right around the time the last pancake was ready.
"Morning," he announced with a groggy tone.
"Morning," replied Twilight as she was setting out plates, "Coffee is ready, and breakfast is almost ready."
"Oh thank Celestia," groaned Spike as he walked to the coffee pot.
Twilight chuckled. Spike's new craving for coffee had been started by Pinkie Pie, and he had an average of six cups daily. Twilight was at least happy he didn't put a mountain of sugar in his coffee like Pinkie did. Scootaloo told Twilight that the last pancake was ready, and Twilight carefully levitated the large platter of food over to the table. They all sat down and dug in to the scrumptious spread of pancakes. Scootaloo had suggested to add a small amount of cinnamon while they were preparing the batter, which turned out quite well.
"These are really good," said Spike with a mouth full of food, "They taste different than normal Twilight."
"Yes they are a bit different. Scootaloo suggested adding a small amount of cinnamon," Twilight told him.
Spike gave Scootaloo a thumbs up. "Great idea Scoots."
This caused Scootaloo to blush and she thanked him.
"Oh Twilight I forgot to ask. Can we go out to club house so I can get my scooter and my saddle bags? I forgot I have homework I need to get done for Ms. Cheerilee before Monday," Scootaloo asked politely.
"Of course," replied Twilight sweetly, "We can go right after we clean up the kitchen."
Scootaloo smiled and went back to eating. Twilight couldn't get over how cute and sweet she was. She told herself that she shouldn't get attached to the little filly, but it was really hard not to. After breakfast was done Twilight sent Scootaloo upstairs and told her to brush and floss her teeth. This gave Twilight time to talk to Spike.
"So, have you given anymore thought about what you're going to do?" inquired Spike as they were doing the dishes.
"I don't know Spike. She's so sweet and I want nothing more than to tell her she can stay here permanently. I just don't know if that is something I can manage. Taking care of a filly isn't easy work," said Twilight.
Spike could tell by her tone of voice that she was having mixed emotions about the situation.
"You're getting attached to her aren't you?" Spike asked curiously.
Twilight nodded. "I told myself I wouldn't, but it's almost impossible. I don't know what to do Spike."
After a brief moment of silence, Spike spoke up again.
"I think you should think more about this Twilight, but I'll tell you want I think. I think that you wouldn't have a problem taking care of her. You've been raising me for sixteen years and I'd say you've done a good job at that."
Twilight had to admit that Spike did have a point. She had been raising him ever since she was a little filly. She gave some though to this as they washed the final few dishes
"If you're really unsure about taking care of a filly talk to Applejack and Rarity. Applejack has been raising Applebloom since she was a baby, and Rarity is always looking after Sweetie Belle for her parents. See what they think," suggested Spike as they finished up.
This was a good idea. Her friends would certainly know how to approach this. They finished the dishes right around the same time Scootaloo came back downstairs.
"I'm ready to go Twilight," Scootaloo called from the living room.
Twilight put away the last dish and then walked into the living room. It looked windy outside so Twilight put on a jacket. She had to look around but she eventually found a jacket that would be big enough for Scootaloo. It belonged to Spike but he didn't use it anymore. They said goodbye to Spike and then left for the clubhouse.
"Umm Twilight…do you think I can go play with my friends after we get my stuff and bring it back to your house?" asked Scootaloo as they walked.
"I thought you said you had homework?" Twilight questioned.
"I do but...well," stammered Scootaloo nervously.
Twilight ruffled her mane. "You can go play, but you have to do your homework when you get back," she told her, "Promise not to do anything dangerous."
Scootaloo smiled and thanked Twilight. This was a good thing though. If Scootaloo was out playing then Twilight would be able to talk to Rarity and Applejack if they weren't both busy.
**********
It had turned out that neither of the girls were busy so Twilight asked them if they could meet her a Sugarcube Corner. Applejack and Rarity showed up around twelve, and Twilight was sitting at a table waiting for them.
"What's up Twilight?" asked Applejack as she and Rarity sat down. "Y'all said yah wanted ta see us and talk?"
"I do girls. I need to asked you something," Twilight explained to her friends. She thought about what she was about to say but couldn't come up with a way to say it. "Girls, did you know that Scootaloo is an orphan?"
Applejack dropped the fritter she was about to take a bite into while Rarity spat out the coffee she was sipping on.
"She's an orphan?!" they both cried in shock.
Twilight nodded her head. She hadn't been expecting her friends to react in such a way.
"I found out last night. I offered to take her home after the hospital visit, but she said she didn't need me to. I decided to follower her, and it turns out that she had been living in the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse for quite some time.”
Applejack and Rarity were still bewildered about what Twilight had said, but they both finally spoke up.
"Applebloom never told me that little filly was an orphan. Wish she would have. Ah would've taken her in and at least made sure she had a nice place to rest her little head and enjoy a meal," croaked Applejack, still thrown off by the startling news.
"The poor dear. You said she's been living on her own for a while?" asked Rarity curiously.
Twilight nodded. "She said one day her parents didn't come home. She also said she had an older brother she was close to but that he got killed in an accident and that she had a sister but she made it pretty clear that her sister didn't want anything to do with her. Anyway I've taken her in for now."
"Well that's good at least Twi, but what are you gonna do with her?" asked Applejack.
"That's why I asked you girls here. I don't know what I'm going to do. She is such a sweet and kind little filly, and I don't want to see her end up in the position she was in again. I want to tell her she can stay with me permanently, but I just don't know if I can take care of a kid. That's what I wanted to ask you both about this issue, seeing as you both have raised or helped raise your sisters," Twilight told her friends with a serious tone.
Applejack and Rarity looked at each other. They both had something to say, yet they couldn't decide who should speak first.
"Well Twi honestly taking care of an older filly is a heck of a lot easier then taking care of a foal," said Applejack kindly after some silence.
"I agree. I remember Sweetie Belle was a very hard to manage as a foal. She's still difficult to manage as a filly but much easier then when she was when she was younger," added Rarity with a reassuring tone.
"It's good when they are older 'cuz they learn to take care of themselves, and y'all just have to guide them along," continued Applejack.
Twilight was happy that her friends had reassured her, but now she needed to move on to the big question. "So...what do you girls think I should do?"
Applejack and Rarity once again looked at each other, but this time they were both unsure about what to say.
"Well Twi," piped up Applejack after much silence, "Ah think that ya have been given a chance to make a huge difference in the life of a pony that hasn't had a good one yet."
"The decision is yours and yours alone darling, but if you feel like she is something that you can and should handle then I wouldn't give it a second thought," added Rarity with a smile.
Twilight was reminded once again why she knew she had the best friends in all of Equestria. They gave her the answers to everything that she wanted to know, and they certainly helped her move closer towards making a final decision.
"Thanks girls. This really helps," Twilight told her friends. "I still need to think about this some more but I think you've both influenced my decision."
"You're certainly welcome sugarcube, but Ah got a question for y'all. What kind of guardian do ya see yourself being to lil' Scootaloo. Just a friend, a sister, or something more?" asked Applejack curiously.
Twilight thought about her friends question carefully. She certainly wouldn't be a friend. The little filly had caused a strange stir of emotion in Twilight. She really didn't know how she felt, but deep down her heart was telling her that she could be something more than a sister to Scootaloo. She knew though that in the end that decision was to be Scootaloo's decision.
*********
Twilight spent the next week thinking about the decision she needed to make, but she didn't let it distract her from making sure Scootaloo was happy. The big issue right now was getting into a routine during the school week. It only took Twilight a day to adjust. She woke Scootaloo up in the morning and got her ready for the day. They ate breakfast together, sometimes with Spike too, and then Twilight would walk Scootaloo to school. Twilight then would go about her normal daily schedule, but at two o'clock, she would make her way to the school house and pick up Scootaloo. They would go back to the library and then Scootaloo would go play with her friends until dinner time. After dinner Twilight would help Scootaloo with her homework and then they would get an hour or two to goof off before bed. The first day was the hardest and the strangest. Twilight got asked a lot of questions from ponies they passed by. Twilight actually had to spend an hour talking to Cheerliee about it. She explained to everyone the position she was in. Twilight was still thinking about what she was going to do about Scootaloo, but each day she felt more and more attached to her and couldn't bring herself to send her away. Spike even admitted her was starting to get used to having another pony in the house. To top that Scootaloo had become best friends with Peewee and Owlowiscious. Twilight was realizing how well she fit in and that they were all more or less a happy family. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. She needed to make a decision, and she was pretty sure she knew what she was going to do.
**********
Scootaloo raced towards Twilight's house on her scooter. She had lost track of time playing with her friends and she knew that she was going to be late. She really hoped that Twilight wouldn't get mad at her. She had been living with Twilight now for close to two weeks now, and her life had improved significantly. She was no longer making bad grades in school, she was happy every day, and she was never hungry. She liked living with Twilight, but she knew that it wasn't going to last forever and she had been preparing herself for it.
She screeched up to the door and ran inside, hoping Twilight wouldn't be mad. She saw Twilight sitting on the couch.
"Sorry...sorry I'm late I lost track of time," panted Scootaloo, hoping for forgiveness.
Twilight put down the book she was reading and smiled at Scootaloo, who let out a sigh of relief knowing Twilight wasn't angry.
"It's okay Scootaloo. Go put your scooter away and then come back here, I need to talk to you about something.”
Scootaloo did what she was told and put her scooter away in the closet. She came back to the couch and sat down with Twilight. Scootaloo got a worried feeling about where this might be going.
"Scootaloo, do you enjoy living here?" asked Twilight sweetly and camly.
Scootaloo couldn't see where this was going now, so she just answered the question. "I do. I love living here with you, Spike, Peewee, and Owlowiscious.”
Twilight smiled, though she had known this was the answer she was going to get. "So remember how I told you when you first arrived that we would figure out what we were going to do with you. Well I have finally made the decision.”
Scootaloo's ear and head fell. She spoke quietly. "You're going to send me away?”
Twilight put her hoof under the little filly’s chin and tilted her head up. "Quite the opposite. You see that folder sitting on the table. Open it and read what is inside.”
Scootaloo looked at Twilight for a second and then picked up the folder she was talking about. She read the few pieces of paper that were in it, and a huge smile erupted on her face followed by tears.
"You...does this mean that?" stammed Scootaloo.
Twilight, who was also crying, nodded her head. "As of twelve o'clock today by the Office of the Mayor of Ponyville I am now your legal guardian.”
Scootaloo, bursting with emotions, wrapped her hooves around Twilight's center and hugged her.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you thank you!!" cried Scootaloo, her eyes full of tears.
"You're quite welcome. I gave it a lot of thought these past few weeks. You just fit in so well it was like you were already a member of the family. After I realized that I knew in my heart this was where you belonged," Twilight mentioned quietly, "Now legally I am only your guardian so feel free to call me whatever you wish."
Scootaloo did have to give what she wanted to call Twilight some thought. After a bit of thinking she came up with an suitable answer to the question. "I really just want to keep calling you Twilight right now. Is that okay?”
Twilight pulled Scootaloo away from her and looked into her eyes. "You can call me whatever you want Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo re-embraced Twilight, still crying her eyes out. "Thank you Twilight.”
Twilight understood why Scootaloo was probably uncomfortable calling her anything else but Twilight at this point in time. It didn't matter to her at all though. The fact that she now had a little filly in her life was enough.
Twilight and Scootaloo hugged for what felt like hours all while crying tears of joy. Finally they broke their embrace and smiled at each other.
"Well I have a little surprise for you. We are going to have a small party at Sugarcube Corner tonight. But you need to get some homework done before we go," said Twilight as she stroked Scootaloo's mane.
Scootaloo smiled at Twilight and giggled. "Okay...can you still help we with it?"
Twilight blushed a bit as she was going to have to get used to being a guardian.
"Yes I can," laughed Twilight.
Twilight pulled Scootaloo in for one more hug and then they went into the kitchen to get some work done. Life was going to be different for the both of them from now on.