//------------------------------// // Prologue: A Single Moment // Story: Lifelong Dreams // by Uncr3at1ve //------------------------------// Scootaloo walked through the silent streets of Ponyville, the only sound making itself known the gentle clink of the occasional falling snowflake, the soft crunch of the freshly fallen snow. All sound made by nature and not of the ponies sleeping through the calmness of the winter's night. She walked with little purpose, simply enjoying the cool and quiet night, a sharp contrast to how she usually spent her days, flitting from one thing to another, always trying to get her cutie mark. Yet this night Scootaloo could feel the stillness, to break it was almost unthinkable. She found herself in front of a lake, one of the many in Ponyville. The lake's clear icy surface, rather than simply reflect the moonlight, instead felt as though the ice held onto and emanated its own glow. This was truly Scootaloo's favorite spot at this time of the year. Content to watch the slowly thickening snowfall, carefree, Scootaloo stared at the now clouded sky. Suppressing a shiver, she returned her gaze to the darkening ice, deciding it was time to go she slowly stood from her snowy indent, and began walking home, albeit with a rather oblong and detour filled route. Sparing a glance towards the buildings of Ponyville Scootaloo noticed an anomaly, a single light burned against the cloudy sky. Quickly deciding to investigate, Scootaloo walked towards the area filled with its golden embrace. Upon entering the area, Scootaloo slowly looked around, searching for the source of the light. Her gaze passed over the sparsely decorated street, soon Hearth's Warming decorations would be littering every square inch of the place, but right now, only the calm anticipation of the incoming holidays. Even the soft sound of singing permeated the air as Scootaloo searched for the source of the light. Now seeing the beams coming from their source, reflected by the mystical seeming snow, Scootaloo glanced towards the beaming light and saw Sweetie Belle's bedroom window. Realization slowly dawned on Scootaloo; the singing was Sweetie Belle. Glancing left and right, searching for something to climb on Scootaloo spotted a tree that was perfect to shimmy up. After several minutes of climbing, she soon found herself in a position to look in on Sweetie's bedroom. The light came from a single, yet bright, lamp sitting behind Sweetie Belle. Her hunched form, continually muttering and scribbling with fervor, hummed a melody to herself. Walking forward with the barest of sounds escaping from her hooves contacting the floorboards, Scootaloo eased the window open and slipped inside. Unsure of how to proceed she simply sat there and watched Sweetie Belle become lost into herself. Soon Scootaloo herself became entranced as she sat there gazing at Sweetie Belle slowing working on her project. At some point or another Scootaloo must have made a noise as she watched because Sweetie Belle turned around sharply. There was an awkward pause as they stared at each other in silence. Sweetie was the first to break the silence. "What are you doing here Scootaloo?" Sweetie's voice was slightly raspy from lack of use. "Erm, just… Y'know, watching?" Was all Scootaloo could say. "No, why are you here in the middle of the night for no reason other than to watch? That's a little creepy." "Oh, um…" Scootaloo fidgeted for a second, why was she here? "I saw a light while walking, and it was your room so I kinda… Snuck in through the window." "So… you saw a light, in the middle of town, and wanted to see what it was, then after finding out, instead of continuing on like any normal pony, you decide to climb into the window because it was a friend's house?" "Well when you put it like that… Yeah?" The look of confusion on Sweetie's face only grew with the passing time, until finally she stated, "That's really weird Scoots, like… Really weird." "But not bad weird right? I mean, if you want me to, I could leave." Before waiting for an answer, Scootaloo started to get up and walk towards the window. "No. You can stay, you just… caught me by surprise." Sweetie Belle, who had raised her hoof at one point, slowly lowered it. "Was it any good?" "What?" "The song, did you like it?" "Er, I didn't exactly hear it very well… could you sing it to me?" "Ok, tell me if you don't like though." Sweetie slowly stood up, holding onto a slightly crumpled piece of paper. "It's called Painful Regret," clearing her throat before continuing, "A Thousand years have come and passed, I wish forever more. That these tears wouldn't last, I wait outside your door." Scootaloo stood stock still as the words flowed over her, feelings of sadness and regret permeated her, but what was more, the ever-shining glimmer of hope. "Please, come to me, I can't do this anymore. I need you there for me, to be right there for me, just so you could see, what you do to me." Feelings now of crying out for a lost loved one, one who could not be with her no matter how much she pleaded.  "I hate this feeling of regret; it is something that has gone, forever more forsaken. Please… forget, my pain is only the dawn, my life the only thing left… to be taken." The sound of Sweetie's singing stirred something inside Scootaloo, something deep and emotional, before she knew it Scootaloo was positioned within a few inches of her face, Sweetie's soft breath tickling her muzzle. Even before that registered, Scootaloo inched forward and pecked Sweetie Belle on the lips, abruptly ending her song with a squeak. The silence that permeated the room was so complete, the soft sound of dust settling could be heard. It was a very dry kiss, one born more out of mindless awe than of passion, but still it was a kiss regardless, something neither of them could believe for the first few seconds. "W-why?" Sweetie was once more the first to break the silence. "I-I don't know." Scootaloo could barely speak, let alone form coherent thought, her wings stood out in surprise at her own brashness. "Scootaloo, that was my first kiss and the best you can come up with is 'I don't know'? I'm not even sure if I like fillies!" "I should go…" "No, you don't get to leave until you tell me why. Why would you kiss me?" "Because I like you! I didn't know at first but I do, ok? I kissed you subconsciously because I like you." "Like, like like me? "Yes." Scootaloo closed her eyes before whispering, "I'm sorry, I'll go." She then proceeded to walk towards to the window, push it open, and grasp the tree. "Why do you never fly? I know you can now, so why don't you?" The question caught her off guard, "I never really thought about it… I guess it reminds me of someone I'll never have." "I never said no, Scootaloo, just give me time." "Ok, will you come watch me fly tomorrow?" "I will, just don't expect an answer." Sweetie answered before closing the window to the cold night. Before Scootaloo could make an inch progress down the tree the window flew back open and she found herself being hugged tightly. "I got my cutie mark," was all she heard before the warmth left her. For the first time since she learned to fly, Scootaloo flew the whole way home with a smile on her face.