A few hours of a more behaved Diamond Tiara later and the bell signalling the end of the school day rang through the air. Cheerilee bade her students a warm goodbye, wished them a safe and pleasant journey home, and sent them on their way. The Cutie Mark Crusaders hitched up their saddlebags and left together. They split up at the doorway as Apple Bloom moved towards Applejack and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle headed for Rainbow Dash. Work on the farm was fickle at best and sometimes Granny Smith would pick Apple Bloom up but Applejack managed to find the time to do it.
“Hey Rainbow!” Scootaloo called out as she neared Rainbow Dash and ran the rest of the way. “...Thanks for earlier.” she added, cuddling up to Rainbow Dash’s legs.
“Earlier?” Rainbow Dash asked as Sweetie Belle came up to them. She didn’t feel as much of a need to run up to Rainbow Dash and hug her as Scootaloo had felt.
“Yeah you talked to me at lunch when...well...you were there. Maybe I am just going crazy.” Scootaloo trailed off, remembering the small conversation after and thinking, once again, maybe she had imagined the whole thing.
“Nah I was there.” Rainbow Dash said, giggling and ruffling Scootaloo’s mane. “I didn’t think you’d wanna talk about it. Don’t mention it Squirt.” Rainbow Dash explained. She knew Scootaloo didn’t really like talking about her problems, especially when her friends were around.
“Why were you there?” Sweetie Belle piped up. She had been content to watch the display. She’d never really seen Scootaloo act like that with anypony before except perhaps the day before. It was a new sight, but not an unwelcome one. Sweetie Belle had never really known Scootaloo needed somepony to be there for her but was glad to see she had found one at last.
“That? I was just flying over the school and heard her shout. I came to see what was wrong. I landed just after you guys ran off.” Rainbow Dash explained. Sweetie Belle rubbed her mane at the thought of how she and Apple Bloom had just left Scootaloo alone. Scootaloo had told them to, but she couldn’t help but feel a little bad about it. Scootaloo was supposed to be one of her best friends after all.
“Oh Celestia I hope nopony else heard that.” Scootaloo said, facehoofing at the idea other ponies might have heard her little outburst. Nopony else had asked her about it so she thought either nopony had heard, or they were afraid of her. Either one was good as it meant she wasn’t likely to be asked about it. That was a situation she could easily live with.
“Don’t worry about that Squirt. I was flying pretty low. I didn’t hear what you said when you were shouting. I landed just after your friends walked off.” Rainbow Dash explained.
“You were flying low? Why?” Sweetie Belle asked as Scootaloo shook herself to calm her nerves.
“No particular reason. Now come on, let’s get you home and get Star Shine before Rarity does something to him.” Rainbow Dash said, laughing at the thought and turning around to walk towards the boutique.
“I wouldn’t worry about that. She still thinks you and him should get married.” Sweetie Belle replied and all three of them laughed.
“Trust Rarity to think of that. I hope she knows I asked her for a normal dress and not a wedding one.” Rainbow Dash said with a sigh before laughing at the thought again. It sounded to her like something Rarity might have done.
“Hey Rainbow!” a voice called out across the schoolyard before Rainbow could get away. She was tempted to just make a run for it but she recognised the voice and knew even if she could get away, she’d be chased down later and have it much worse. She turned around and saw Applejack approaching her with Apple Bloom in tow.
“Oh, hey AJ. How’s the farm?” Rainbow Dash asked nervously.
“Farm’s doing fine thanks.” Applejack replied, smiling. “Feels like it’s been far too long since we talked though don’t it?” she asked.
“I guess it has.” Rainbow Dash replied. She was nervous because she wasn’t sure what Applejack wanted to talk about. Applejack probably still got the Foal Free Press and if she did she probably had a lot of questions. Questions Rainbow Dash wasn’t really in a hurry to answer. “I’m kinda busy now though actually. Gotta get Sweetie here home and pick up some things from Rarity.” Rainbow said, turning around and preparing to make her escape.
“Ah’m just wonderin’ if it’s true that y’all have a coltfriend now. Seems like the kinda thing yer friends should know.” Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. If it wasn’t a question about Scootaloo she’d be happy to answer it. Especially if it would stop rumours she wasn’t fond of.
“Star Shine? Nah he’s not my coltfriend or anything. He’s just an old friend staying for a few days. He’s visiting from Trottingham is all.” Rainbow Dash explained. It was pretty close to the honest truth. The only detail missing was that he was a flight instructor. Rainbow Dash might have mentioned that but to her the guy hadn’t done a whole lot of instructing.
“So he ain’t your daddy or nothin’?” Applejack asked, leaning down to talk to Scootaloo directly. Scootaloo was a little taken aback by the question but responded how she normally did when the subject of her parents came up.
“Nah, my parents are away on business.” Scootaloo said. She had gotten used to saying that she was able to say it quick enough for nopony to question it. That everypony believed her lies so easily was another reason nopony had really asked her about her past. She was too good for her own good. “They were on holiday and came back a few days ago and saw how well I was doing with Rainbow. They asked if she could watch me for a little longer while they took care of some business. They’re really busy ponies and were happy they found someone who could take care of me.” Scootaloo explained effortlessly. Sweetie Belle wondered why Scootaloo would lie like that, but didn't call her out on it. With how hard it had been for Scootaloo to hide the truth about her parents from her own friends she could understand that lying was just easier for Scootaloo than admitting the truth. It wasn't exactly healthy but Sweetie Belle didn't want to push Scootaloo like that. She had reacted so badly to Star Shine doing that and didn't want that to happen to her as well. She vowed to support her friend through everything, even her lies.
“That true?” Applejack asked Rainbow Dash. She wasn’t entirely convinced. Rainbow Dash nodded nervously, not trusting herself to speak and potentially give it all away. “Alright sugarcube, I won’t pry or nothin’, but you know Scootaloo, Ah know a thing or two mahself about missing parents. Ah lost both of mine in a terrible storm years back. You ever need anypony te talk to ye can come to me.” Applejack said, wrapping a foreleg around Apple Bloom and holding her close. It was a story most of Ponyville knew. There had been an accident at the Weather Factory and Applejack’s parents lost their lives trying to protect the farm and Ponyville itself from the storm damage. They had been tying down a particularly large tree when it was struck by lightning and fell down on them. The pony in charge of the Weather Factory had been fired and replaced by Rainbow Dash. She was the youngest Team Leader in history but she had proven herself to be the best at her job and during the storm she had tried her best to contain it. Applejack could tell Scootaloo was hiding something, but there wasn’t much she could do about it if neither of them would tell her.
“My parents aren’t dead AJ. They’re really just not around right now.” Scootaloo said. She was getting uncomfortable talking about death and she didn’t want Apple Bloom to feel uncomfortable either. It was clear given how she was hugging up to Applejack that she didn’t like being reminded of her parents anymore than Scootaloo liked being reminded of her own.
“Alright. Ah’m sorry for bringing up somethin’ Ah shouldn’t.” Applejack said, gently nuzzling Scootaloo. She stood up and looked at Rainbow Dash. “Ah guess Ah’ll let ye be on yer way.” Applejack said, tipping her hat to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash nodded and gave Applejack a hug. She knew how much it still upset Applejack to mention her parents and Scootaloo had pretty much brushed it all off.
“I’m sorry about that. She doesn’t really like it when ponies talk about her parents.” Rainbow Dash whispered in Applejack’s ear. Rainbow Dash released the hug and Applejack turned around and headed towards the farm.
“Scoots, go say sorry.” Rainbow Dash said sternly as she watched her friend leave.
“What? I didn’t ask her to tell me about her parents.” Scootaloo replied. She was indignant at the idea she had done something wrong when Applejack was the one who had made assumptions.
“She’s upset, so go say sorry. You’re upset too and she said sorry for upsetting you. I know your parents aren’t dead and so does she. But you still brushed off what she said. How would you feel if after you said everything to me, I just walked off?” Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo thought about it for a few seconds before chasing after Applejack. Scootaloo jumped up onto Applejack’s back and wrapped her forelegs around Applejack’s neck in a hug.
“I’m sorry Applejack. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive.” Scootaloo said. Applejack jumped when she felt something land on her back but calmed down when she heard Scootaloo’s voice in her ears.
“Don’t worry ‘bout it none Scoots. I don’t mind talkin’ about my folks. Doesn’t make it any easier though.” Applejack replied, nuzzling Scootaloo.
“Yeah, I don’t like talking about some things either. I shouldn’t have been so harsh.” Scootaloo replied.
“It’s all okay. Now you get back to Rainbow. You and her have stuff to do don’t ya?” Applejack replied. Scootaloo gave one last squeeze and hopped off of Applejack and headed back towards Rainbow Dash.
“Good girl.” Rainbow Dash said, patting Scootaloo on the head when she returned.
“Thanks. I can’t believe I acted like that.” Scootaloo said, sad that she had reacted so badly to Applejack.
“You said sorry, and she said it’s alright, right?” Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo nodded with a smile in reply.
“Now come on girls, before Rarity gets worried about Sweetie Belle...or does something really bad to Star Shine.” Rainbow Dash said to lighten the mood. It worked and the three of them laughed and set off at last for the Boutique.