//------------------------------//
// Crusader Chronicles: Redemption 
// Story: Dashed Trust 
// by NightmareDash 
//------------------------------//

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This is the first Crusader Chronicle. Over the course of my various works, I will sometimes include a Crusader Chronicle in a story, to tell how one, two, or all of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had some effect on the plot. You could call it a running theme. I'm going to try it out, and if I like how it goes, you can expect more.        

Nopony saw or heard from either the pegasus or griffon for the next few days. Dash, holding to her element all the same, still managed the weather, but she changed it very early in the morning, and it was always a depressing rainstorm. Nopony knew Gilda was there, anyway, so she was not missed. The Mane 5, as they now considered themselves, were too intimidated by her threat to even consider looking for Dash, to say nothing of their own guilt. As for the others, almost everypony had written off Rainbow Dash as insane after the parade (at this point, they may have been right), and as the other five were never seen about Ponyville without a somber, downtrodden expression, one knew it was best not to pry. But some had not given up yet. In particular, an orange pegasus filly still tried to have faith in her hero.

A single knock rang out on the door of the area's only cloudhouse; Gilda pulled herself off the couch to answer. The door opened an inch wide, restrained by a deadbolt.

"Rainbow Dash isn't seeing any... oh, it's you. She told me she doesn't want to see anyone right now, but I doubt she was expecting you. Lemme go ask her."

The filly watched the griffon disappear and the door close. Several seconds later, the door swung wide open, and the griffon beckoned her inside.

"Come on in. I'll take you to her."

She led her deep into the house, past a kitchen and living room, into what appeared to be the master bedroom. It was dark inside, but she could barely make out the form of a pegasus lying on the bed. It rose its head sluggishly to see her.

"Sc...Scootaloo? Is that you?"

"Yes, Rainbow, it's me."

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you. Nopony's seen you anywhere. I missed you."

"You're probably the only pony who does, Scoots. Besides, I thought you loved Mare-Do-Well now, just like everypony else."

"No, Dash! Mare-Do-Well was a fad, and now that she's gone, we're all past her."

"Wait, how do you know she's gone?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you! I saw the whole thing at the parade. When you stood up to her like that, you reminded me that you were still my favorite hero. I followed you both on my scooter, and I saw you two take all of the Mare-Do-Wells down. It was awesome!"

Dash smiled for the first time in days, as Scootaloo was lost in the adoration of the moment.

"Look at that, Gilda. I think you've got your first fan. Hope you don't mind sharing her with me."

"Hey, I'll take a shared one over no one any day."

"But anyway, I saw you get really mad and fly off, and I felt so bad because I had forgotten about you when Mare-Do-Well showed up. So I knew I had to come find you and tell you how sorry I was, but you were never around. The other five wouldn't even talk to me; they're barely around either, and they always look really depressed. But they deserve it, being such jerks to you. But when you weren't in Ponyville anymore, I decided I had to come up to your house to see you." 

"Aw, thanks, Scoots. That's probably the nicest thing I've heard in a long time. I'd never tell you in front of anypony else, but I really do like you, too. In a little-sister kind of way."

"Rainbow, I'm sorry I forgot about you. I don't care what Mare-Do-Well can do, you're still the coolest pony in Equestria."

"That means a lot, Scootaloo."

Rainbow pulled herself out of her cloud bed, and the two pegasi shared a friendly embrace. Gilda looked on, smiling warmly. 

"Hey, squirt, when this is all over, do you wanna do some flying with us?"

The filly could not contain her glee at the proposition, and started jumping up and down, fluttering her wings in delight.

"DO I? Ohyesohyesohyesohyesohyesohyes... I would love to! Thank you so much, Rainbow Dash!" 

Scootaloo hugged her again, much tighter than before.

"Dash, I really hate to break up the warm fuzzy moment, but you know you can't avoid them forever. You're going to have to go back to Ponyville sooner or later. I think sooner would be better."

"You're right, Gilda. It's got to happen, so I might as well do it now. Come on, Scoots."

Rainbow walked to the door, ready to face her problem, with Gilda at her side. Scootaloo bounced alongside them happily, still ecstatic at the thought of flying with her idol.