Chapter 8: The surprise of a lifetime!
Dusk awoke once again the next morning. He yawned softly so as not to wake anyone up. He looked around to see if he was the only one awake. He was. He smiled when he heard a small mumble from below him. He looked down and saw that cute, sleeping, orange filly on his chest. ‘I could get used to waking up like this,’ Dusk thought to himself. He ran a hoof through her mane slowly with a smile. She blushed in her sleep and snuggled against him. He smiled wider. Unfortunately he had a lot on his mind, mostly because of that weird crack dream he had. He slowly slid out from under Scootaloo. She muttered annoyed grumbles as the warmth she had been feeling started to leave. Dusk giggled mentally and levitated a pillow over to take his spot. The moment the pillow was within reach she snatched it up, kissed it, and cuddled it. Dusk shook his head with a grin and walked silently out of the house.
Scootaloo was having a wonderful dream. She was dreaming of a future where she lived with Dusk. Her minds eye envisioned them at a family reunion. Rather than her biological father being at said reunion, she saw Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo walked up to Dusk and hugged him. He returned the hug as she snuggled her face against his chest. Rainbow looked on with a grin. Scootaloo was reveling in the warmth of Dusk’s coat, but something was wrong. The warmth was leaving. Her mind was slowly regaining consciousness. She felt the warmth leave entirely. She meant to grumble, “Nuuuu warm, don’t go,” but it came out as, “hrmmfumagle.” She felt something enter her reach. She grabbed it happily. It was cold compared to the warmth she had been feeling earlier, but it was still warm. Thinking it was Dusk she kissed it and snuggled against it. Something was off about it though. It wasn’t fuzzy, nor was it fleshy. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to reveal she had just kissed a pillow. ‘Duskie, where are you?’ She asked with her mind. As if he had somehow heard her, she heard the front door close.
“Duskie?” She called out. He didn’t hear her and kept on walking. She stood up sleepily. Then realized she was the only one up, except for Dusk. She used her wings to silently flutter over to the door. She opened it as quietly as she could and flew out. After closing the door, she flew off in pursuit of Dusk. It was a wobbly flight considering she wasn’t quite used to the ability to fly just yet. She was getting better but kept forgetting to practice because of the years without having the ability to do so. While the flight was wobbly, it was still enough to outrun a walking pony. She soon caught up to him and silently followed him. He came to a stop near a tree. Scootaloo smirked as a devious plan came to her mind. She flew down and landed directly on his back.
“Rawr!” She yelled as she collided with Dusk. Dusk gasped and let out a small scream. He then realized who it was. He wrapped his hooves around her. She did the same while giggling. She poked at his sides with her wings. He let out small giggles and tried to wiggle away. She grinned evilly and began tickle torturing him.
“Such a- hahaha- cheater!” He grumbled between his laughter and gasps. Dusk continued trying to wiggle away, but since she had her wings, she could focus all of her weight down on his limbs. Scootaloo swore she heard some laughter from behind her but was too focussed on torturing this poor colt. She stopped for a moment to let him breath. “Lemme go,” He grumbled between his gasps for air.
Scootaloo tilted her head up and thought for a moment, then looked at him smugly and stated, “Only if you admit that I’m the greatest.” Dusk looked up at her with the, are you serious, look. She only grinned smugly at him. He rolled his eyes.
“You’re the-” Dusk began before grabbing her hoof and pulling it out from under her. He then rolled over her and pinned her hooves down. Scootaloo let out a small gasp and scream. “Gotcha,” He said with a smirk. She began to wiggle. She tried to use her wings to tickle him off of her, but he was using his magic to hold them down.
“Who’s the cheater now?” Scootaloo challenged. Dusk laughed and nuzzled her nose.
“Me,” He announced before nuzzling again. She nuzzled back with a small giggle. It was a cute sight. Any passerby would have either rolled their eyes with a smile or smiled and walked away quietly. Unfortunately for Dusk, there was a peeping tom, or more over, a peeping rainbow. Rainbow Dash had been following them from the moment they left the house. She barely managed to keep it together when she saw Scootaloo flying. She had watched the whole ordeal up until the tickle torturing. She had to hide behind a cloud and cover her mouth with both her hooves and wings in order to keep her presence a secret. However, when she looked back and saw Dusk standing over Scootaloo, it looked a lot more ‘X’ rated from an aerial viewpoint. Rainbow charged down to the ground as fast as she could. She tackled Dusk off of Scootaloo and pinned him down. When Dusk was hit he let out an ‘oof’ and groaned in pain when he landed on the ground.
“HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO HER, IN PUBLIC NO LESS!” Rainbow screamed. She began raining down punches at him. He dodged as best he could. “Scootaloo is too young to be having sex, how DARE you!” Rainbow continued. Scootaloo was still dumbfounded until hearing the word ‘sex’.
She snapped out of her trance with a blush and screamed, “RAINBOW DASH, STOP HITTING HIM!” Rainbow looked over at Scootaloo, who was blushing beet red. She ignored Scootaloo, thinking she was just defending Dusk. She landed a hard blow on his cheek. It started bruising almost immediately. Dusk tried to escape the raging pegasus, but failed to, and in the heat of the moment he made the choice that if he teleported away, it would be worse in the long run. Rainbow almost landed another punch on him when Scootaloo tackled her off of him. “Rainbow STOP IT!” She yelled, her voice filled with concern and rage. Rainbow stumbled back a little before looking back at the two.
“I don’t care if he’s your coltfriend, I’m not letting him get away with having se-” Rainbow managed to say before Scootaloo interrupted.
“WE WEREN’T HAVING SEX!” Scootaloo screamed with a bright red face. Rainbow was taken aback. She blinked a few times before shaking her head.
“Sorry… it looked like it from the cloud you were… yeaaahhhhhh,” Rainbow mumbled. She looked down in small shame and said, “Sorry Dusk, just… no one messes with Scootaloo while I’m around.”
Dusk nodded and spoke, “I understand, and honestly, nice right hook.” He said the last bit while gently rubbing his now bruised left cheek. Rainbow smirked at him and laughed a little. Scootaloo grabbed Dusk’s hoof and pulled it away from his cheek. She looked at the bruise and frowned. She leaned close and kissed it. She then gently rubbed it with her cheek. Dusk blushed and returned the rubs. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and smiled widely. She may have just wanted Dusk’s horn over her mantle, but she had to admit that they were adorable. She then looked at him with a glare. She grabbed his ear.
“I need to talk to you, get over here,” Rainbow pulled Dusk away from Scootaloo by the ear. Scootaloo stepped to help Dusk. Rainbow glared over her shoulder and growled, “Alone!” Scootaloo flinched and nodded sadly. She looked at Dusk nervously. He returned the look, then Rainbow tugged his ear, causing him to jump forward. When Rainbow and Dusk rounded a corner, she let go of his ear. “Sorry, I had to convince her that I was serious,” She apologized. Dusk’s face contorted into one of confusion.
He tilted his head and asked, “About what?”
“About being mad at you,” She answered. Dusk was only more confused.
“So you’re not mad at me?” He asked. Rainbow rolled her eyes and smacked his head.
“No, now shut up and let me explain,” Rainbow said annoyed. Dusk just nodded and stared, still confused, at her. “I wanted to let you in on a secret,” She said quietly. Dusk tilted his head. “It’s about Scootaloo’s father,” Rainbow clarified.
Dusk’s eyes widened as he asked, “What about him?”
“You know what he’s like, that’s why I need your help,” Rainbow said.
“Explain,” Dusk requested.
=^.^=
Scootaloo sat there with her head hung low. She desperately wanted to go hear what Rainbow was saying to Dusk but knew if she got involved it would only cause more trouble for him. She looked at the sky longingly. She had only flown just then since gaining the ability to fly. She wanted more, she wanted to go fast, and she wanted to fly with Rainbow. ‘Maybe Rainbow can teach me how to be a better flyer,’ Scootaloo thought with a smile. She silently prayed that Rainbow would someday do just that. At some point in the time that she had been lost in thought, she had begun flying. She wasn’t going anywhere but was floating in the air, in a sitting position. It looked pretty funny to anyone who saw. Scootaloo noticed what she was doing and quickly landed. She blushed and looked around. No one had seen apparently. She let out a small sigh and looked to see if Dusk and Rainbow were done yet. Just as she looked, Dusk came around the corner with a grin. Scootaloo charged at him and tackled him with a hug.
“You’re alive!” She yelled as she crushed his lungs with the hug. Dusk let out a loud gasp.
“Yeah I’m fine but not for long if you keep… squeezing… meee,” Dusk managed to say with strain in his voice. Scootaloo let go, blushing brightly, and slid away slowly. Dusk just smiled and said, “I didn’t say I didn’t like it, just not so tight, I enjoy breathing.” Scootaloo blushed brighter. Rainbow finally came around the corner and started giggling at the shade of red Scootaloo’s face was. She smiled warmly at Scootaloo.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill him… yet,” She said while narrowing her eyes at Dusk. He gulped quietly, which caused Scootaloo to giggle. Dusk smiled and looked nervously at Rainbow. "I'm only kidding Dusk, now we should get back to your house, your mom is probably worried," Rainbow said while nodding her head in the direction of Dusk’s house. They all turned to leave but Dusk was met with a body landing on his back. Scootaloo had jumped onto his back and snuggled her head into his mane.
“Why are you on my back?” Dusk asked.
“Because you’re carrying me,” Scootaloo stated sleepily.
Dusk rolled his eyes and asked, “And why am I carrying you.”
Dusk was expecting her to say something smart flanked like ‘Because I’m on your back.’ But instead she said, “For leaving me alone this morning cuddling a pillow.” She glared at the back of his head, and Dusk could swear he could feel her eyes burning a hole in his head. He laughed softly.
“I didn’t leave you cuddling the pillow, you did that on your own,” Dusk informed with a smirk. Scootaloo blushed and smacked the back of his head.
“Shut up you’re carrying me,” She growled. Dusk continued to laugh but otherwise did as he was ordered. Rainbow looked ahead smiling like a filly. She was so happy to see Scootaloo being cute and flirty. Though if Dusk tried something without Dash’s permission first, he wouldn’t be seeing Celestia raise the sun ever again. Dusk seemed nice enough though. From what shes seen he was always trying to protect Scootaloo. She looked back at the pair to see that Scootaloo had snuggled further into Dusk’s mane with her eyes closed. ‘She must be tired,’ Dash thought. Then her eyes wandered further back. Her eyes suddenly lit up. She gasped but put a hoof over her mouth. ‘Of all the times for her to be tired!’ Rainbow screamed in her mind. ‘WHY DIDN’T I NOTICE SOONER!’ She mentally berated herself. Her mind snapped back to the real world when she noticed that Dusk was staring at her.
While Rainbow was lost in thought Scootaloo took the opportunity to ask Dusk about what had happened back there.
“So Dusk, what happened between you and Rainbow back there?” She asked. Dusk tapped a hoof to his chin in thought of how to phrase it.
“I can’t really tell you,” Dusk began, “but I can tell you that it’s the surprise of a lifetime.” Scootaloo harrumphed and buried her face back in Dusk’s mane. She absentmindedly started nibbling at his neck. It was then that Dusk noticed that Rainbow had stopped walking.
“Something wrong Rainbow Dash?” Dusk asked.
“N-no just something huge occurred to me when I should have noticed earlier,” Rainbow said while peeking at Scootaloo’s cutie mark. ‘A dancer eh? That suits her actually,’ Rainbow thought. Dusk noticed where she was looking. Then noticed that Scootaloo looked like she was sleeping.
He leaned to Rainbow and whispered, “She’s not asleep, believe me she keeps nibbling my neck.” Rainbow glared at him. ‘Oops shouldn’t have said that,’ Dusk thought. Rainbow smacked his head then poked Scootaloo. Scootaloo looked up at her surrogate sister.
“Get off him... now,” Rainbow said in a stern tone. Scootaloo didn’t want to because she was just soooo comfortable. However, it looked like Rainbow had something important to say.
Scootaloo let out a small sigh and mumbled, “Ok.” She slid off of Dusk’s back and looked up at Rainbow nervously. Her stern stare slowly softened as Rainbow thought about what to say. It suddenly broke into a wide, proud grin. Rainbow tackled Scootaloo and flew into the sky hugging her and spinning in circles.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU FINALLY HAVE YOUR CUTIE MARK!” Rainbow screamed as she practically crushed Scootaloo. Scootaloo’s mind was racing. One side of her mind went completely blank having thought she was in trouble, now she was in a crushing bear hug. The other was euphoric about her idol and sister hugging her. Then Rainbow’s words clicked in Scootaloo’s mind. She squealed and hugged Rainbow back. Rainbow started laughing as she stopped spinning and laid her head atop Scootaloo’s like a mother proudly embracing her child. Dusk laughed softly at the two and smiled. They looked good together. Rainbow slowly fluttered to the ground. Scootaloo kept hugging Rainbow. Rainbow smiled a little wider and hugged tighter. Dusk just sat there patiently while quietly laughing to himself. The two heard Dusk laughing and slid away from each other blushing.
“Tell a soul and no more cuddles!” Scootaloo threatened. She then blushed realizing she just admitted to cuddling Dusk in front of Dash. Dash covered her muzzle and laughed softly.
“I’ll stay quiet,” Dusk mumbled defeated. Scootaloo felt a small pit of guilt form in her stomach but forced herself not to nuzzle him and instead looked away with a huff. Rainbow laughed a bit more before pointing at Dusk’s house.
“We’re literally a block away you two, think you can stop flirting long enough to make it that far?” Rainbow teased. They both blushed and nodded. Dusk stood back up and walked next to Scootaloo. They started to walk again. They could made it all of four steps before being interrupted again.
“Rainbow, Scootaloo, Dusk!” A voice yelled behind them. The three looked back to see Applejack and Rarity. They didn’t look too good. They both had purple bags under their eyes. They were breathing heavily, the had dirt and grime over their bodies, and there was even a stick lodged in Rarity’s mane.
“You guy’s look like you’ve been through Tartarus and back, what happened?” Rainbow asked.
“We were lookin’ fer Applebloom and Sweetie Belle all night,” Applejack answered in between gasps. Dusk raised an eyebrow.
“They’re at my house,” Dusk said. Rarity’s eye twitched a little.
“What are they doing there, Dusk?” Rarity asked barely containing her rage.
“We had a small party because… well you’ll have to see for yourself, but it’s awesome!” Dusk informed. Applejack stamped her hoof.
“Lan’s sakes just tell us!” Applejack impatiently yelled. Scootaloo flinched a bit. ‘Applejack is usually so composed,” She thought.
“Applejack, calm down, believe me it’s worth the wait and we are literally a block away, so come on,” Rainbow intervened. It was enough to calm Rarity and Applejack down enough to walk with them. ‘So, am I just invoking the wrath of mares today or what?’ Dusk asked himself. Scootaloo nudged Dusk back to reality to indicate that they were on the move. The five walked to Dusk’s home. Dusk naturally opened the door. Everyone looked in smiling. Rarity and Applejack’s were in relief that their search was over, and Rainbow, Dusk, and Scootaloo’s because they were just happy. Then their minds registered what they saw. Rumble and Applebloom were awake and cuddling in the same position they had been asleep in but she had kissed him on the lips at the worst possible time. Meanwhile Sweetie Belle and Elusive must have been wrestling or something because he was standing over her with a cocky grin. Rage radiated off of Rarity and Applejack’s bodies. The two couples looked over, shock and fear running across their faces.
“This isn’t what it looks like!” They yelled in unison. Dusk, Scootaloo, and Rainbow backed away slowly as Rarity and Applejack entered the house. Tartarus was about to be unleashed.