//------------------------------// // Reborn (Cyan Guardian 5) // Story: Guardians of Many Hues // by TadStone //------------------------------// Reborn (Cyan Guardian 5) “This was about a year ago. Shortly after that I became Sweetie Belle’s friend. You know the rest of the story already.” Rainbow Dash pressed the orange filly tight onto her. There were no words in the world to describe her feelings. She was stunned and enraged at the same time, but that wasn’t even half of it. She suddenly felt the strong urge to vomit rising in her. This just couldn’t be right. She didn’t want to believe it and yet it was true. Never she would have thought Scootaloo’s past to be that horrible, not even in her wildest dreams. Her first urge was to fly straight to Ms Birch and beat her up badly. But she didn’t even know the town yet, and by the way things ended, she hopefully wasn’t at the orphanage anymore. Impulse reactions wouldn’t solve this. Planned rational thinking would. Too bad she wasn’t good at this. Why exactly wasn’t Twilight here? “What are you going to do now?” The little filly’s question came too soon for Rainbow, but of course any time this evening would have been to too soon. Rainbow closed her eyes and went into herself. No Matter What. Those where the very words she had vowed. Scootaloo needed her help. There was no news in that, but another truth was hidden beneath it. A warm feeling she had had problems to place until right now. The little squirt had filled a hole in her life, one she hadn’t even realised was there. The pegasus had become close to her. Almost like her sister, or... her daughter. The feeling was love. While she might not know what to do right now, something deep down in her was taking the lead, telling her what was needed in this situation. “Honestly, I don’t know what exactly to do yet. I will need a little time to think things through. But... Just let me tell you how proud of you I am. How much I love you. You are a wonderful filly. Whatever happens, from now on I will be on your side. I promise to you that you will never have to set a hoof into an orphanage again. You have endured more than should be expected of any filly already. I will take on for you. Although I cannot change the past, I WILL set things right for your future.” She paused as a tear quelled from her eyes. Lying down on the couch, she lifted up Scootaloo with all four legs, bringing her protégé’s face directly above her own. “I want you to be a normal overly cool foal. I want you to play outside every day without fear. From here on let ME manage all your responsibility, let ME fight your fears. You deserve it... Do you trust me enough to care for you?” Scootaloo silently nodded. “Then let me be your family.” Words are a means of despair or hope, sorrow or joy, depending on the wielder. Written or spoken, it makes no difference. They caused wars and ceased them alike. Ending a life with them was just as easy as starting a new one. Of all the things that could have been said, this was the most wonderful, the most perfect. All Scootaloo had ever wanted was a family. Someone to care for her. And now she had both. A life had been renewed. Rainbow put her little filly down only to wrap her hooves around her again. A gesture that was immediately returned, accompanied by 5 magic words: “I love you too, Rainbow.” Both were crying, but these were happy tears. Dash couldn’t remember having ever smiled so brightly, not even at the best of times with her friends. How could something so beautiful be triggered by something so dreadful? They simply lay there enjoying each other’s presence for what seemed to be an eternity. Rainbow’s thoughts had calmed a bit. A general path of action had formed in her mind. All that was missing was some information. She hated to end their moment of intimacy, but it had to be done and there would be many more. “I have a few questions to ask you. Are you alright with that?” “Anything you want,” Scootaloo said, nuzzling Rainbow’s chest. “OK then.” A cyan hoof ruffled up the orange pegasus’ hair before she continued. “How about some tea? Don’t want to make this an interrogation.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but rather just put the yelping filly onto her back and trotted off to the kitchen, where she started the interview. “Which orphanage did you live in?” A set of teacups moved to the table. “Tlmhm.” The filly’s voice was muffled beyond recognition by the mane of her life vehicle that she immediately spat out again. Quick hooves skimmed her tongue on their quest to remove the colourful hair that didn’t quite belong there. She tried again, this time keeping her head up. “Trottingham.” Rainbow nodded silently before posing the next question. “Do you still have your record?” Bright red teabags went into the cups. “They are still hidden at the clubhouse. Sorry I didn’t trust you.” She nudged Rainbow’s ear with her muzzle. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, Squirt.” A soft poke to a cloud provided the water for the tea before Dash continued. “This one is important, Scoot. Don’t want to embarrass you. But hmmm... What kind of medical problems did you have after... you know... and have you received any medical attention?” Lightning struck the beakers, heating the contents in an instant. Scootaloo’s eyes got wide in awe and she began to hop up and down on her protector’s back, her wings producing a constant current of air. Forgetting the real question and the proximity of her to Dash’s auditory system, she let out a loud fangirly squeak. “That was sooooo awesome. You have to show me how to do that!” “I will. Just stop it. That hurts!” Rainbow's words were interrupted by a gasp at each impact. Only a second later the beating had been replaced by a frantic sobbing pegasus clinging to her front leg. Her spine was happy for this, her mind was not. She took a tissue that was luckily located within hoof-range and handed it down to the filly. “It’s alright. No need to tear up again. Look, your tea is ready, although still very hot.” She gestured at the steaming cups on the table. A trumpet like sound followed. Big moist eyes met Rainbows gaze. “I’m s-sorry. Are w-we still family?” A heavy sigh escaped Dash’s lips. “Scoot, we really have to work on your self-confidence. We’re a family now, and nothing’s ever going to change that, OK?” She nudged the filly playfully on the side, who gave a consenting smile. “Now, how about some tea and your answer to my question?” Scootaloo went to the table, where she began to speak, all the while staring at the hot beverage in her hooves. “The first days I spent in Ponyville I was unable to move. I had found an apple tree in the woods and sat down to eat. Couldn’t bring myself to stand up after that for a couple of days. Worst part was ... hmm ... peeing really hurt for two weeks.” Scootaloo’s tan had changed from orange to red, mimicking the colour of her drink. The last part had been spoken in a barely audible whisper, but she continued at a normal volume. “Applejack has patched me up a few times after stunts gone wrong while crusading. Can’t remember anything else.” Rainbow took a long sip, burning her tongue a little bit. “OK. Let me tell you what I’m gonna do. First of all I will sign you in to the hospital for a complete check-up. Shots included!” “No,” knowing her ward Rainbow interrupted Scootaloo before the filly could even raise her hoof. “I am not letting you out of that.” The orange pegasus closed her mouth again in defeat and went back to inhale her tea. “Second thing is,” Dash continued. “Do you know Aegis?” Scootaloo shook her head. “No. Who is that?” “He is a friend of mine and the head of the local sheltered housing scheme for foals who got here without their parents to start an apprenticeship or something similar after they got their cutie marks. Actually, he’s the guy who helped Fluttershy after she got here and who placed Pinkie up with the Cakes.” The orange pegasus frowned. “What about him?” “I want to be honest with you. I am just twenty and I have no idea of how to care for a foal. I mean, for longer than a few weeks. Not even one as cool as you.” She smiled at the filly. “Also, I still want to join the Wonderbolts. That means I will have to go to their camps and I can’t take you with me. And I kind of have to rescue Equestria now and then. And you can’t fly. So, to make things short, I have already asked Aegis if he could make an exception and let me move in with a filly I could not yet tell him who she was. He said yes.” Scootaloo tilted her head to the side. “So we are moving to the ground?” “Only if you like Aegis.” Dash had put aside her now empty cup and laid her hooves onto her protégé’s shoulder. “But we will still live together.” Scootaloo’s head inverted its position to the other side. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” The filly was perplexed. Not only by the diversity of new information and feelings, but also by her idol’s willingness to give up her home and move down to a normal house for her. Dash was to the ground like fire was to water. She would never bind herself to the earth, except maybe for a nap in a tree. But yet, she seemed happy to do the unthinkable for Scootaloo. Next to agreeing to be her family, this was the second greatest possible commitment. All in one day. Deeply touched would have been an understatement for her feelings. She tried to put as much affection as possible into her voice as she answered. “Then yes. I would love to live with you. Thank you. This is gonna be so awsome!” Rainbow waved her hoof to stop the filly. “Don’t mention it, kid.” She wrapped her wing around her ward like a blanket and then went on: “There is one more thing. I need to tell my friends so they can help me help you.” This time it was Scootaloo sighing. She didn’t like the idea, but after all that had happened today, she knew she could trust Rainbow. Dash’s friends would have to know sooner or later anyway. “You can tell them.” Dash went down to the ground, gesturing the filly the hop on. “OK then. How about some midnight surprise crusading with Apple Bloom? Dashie needs some help to become your legal guardian.”