SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
It was Monday morning and Scootaloo was up at the crack of dawn, much to Rainbow Dash's displeasure, however she woke up just the same. “Call down kid. You still got half the day to go till you go to your first flight school class.” Rainbow Dash said groggily as she dragged her hooves to the kitchen and began to make some breakfast for her and the young pegasus.
“I wonder what they are going to teach me first?! How to do a aerial loop, no wait! I bet they will teach me how to do some awesome tricks!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she attempted to flutter her small wings, but could only hover for about five seconds.
“How about you just stick to learning how to keep yourself in the air for more than five seconds.” Rainbow Dash suggested with a smirk, giving the hyperactive pegasus a ruffling of her hair with her hoof before turning around to continue fixing breakfast.
“Okay!” Scootaloo replied with a excited smile.
Once Rainbow Dash had finally finished making breakfast, she sat down at the table along with Scootaloo, serving her up first then herself, and the both of them began to eat.
“So... I was talking with Twilight the other day and she mentioned that you happened to call me mom by mistake.” Rainbow Dash said causally causing the young pegasus to swallow her forkful of pancakes a little too quickly.
“Oh... yeah... that... heh... I don't know why that slipped out.” Scootaloo replied with a nervous smile.
“Well do you?” Rainbow Dash continued with the same casual expression, not changing her facial expression at all. But inside, she was very nervous as to what her response would be.
“Do I what?” Scootaloo replied just before she shoved another forkful of pancakes into her mouth.
“Do you really think of me as your mother?” Rainbow Dash asked, her expression still unchanged. Meanwhile, Scootaloo once again swallowed her mouthful of pancakes a little too quickly.
There was an awkward silence between the two pegasus until Scootaloo finally opened her mouth to speak. “Well... kinda, I guess. I mean you took me into your home, fed me, you read me bedtime stories, and your even getting me into a flight school.” Scootaloo replied after a few moments, her nervous smile still very apparent.
Well that settled it. She knew now for a fact that Scootaloo had become very attached to her. However despite the nervousness she felt before, she, for some reason, felt very happy to hear this. So happy that she almost came to tears of joy upon hearing this. However, she stood firm keeping her causal expression.
“Would you liked to call me mom?” Rainbow Dash asked without thinking.
“Really? It's okay?” Scootaloo asked, her nervous smile turning to one of excitement.
“It's more than okay.” Rainbow Dash replied with a smile, finally breaking her casual expression.
“Okay, mom!” Scootaloo replied with a smile and eagerly began to eat her pancakes.
Hearing her being called that for the first time nearly made the cyan blue pegasus break down but she somehow managed to keep it together. She didn't know why, but at this moment, she was the happiest mare in all of Equestria.
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“You want me to totally forget about sending the letter? But why? I thought you were going to warm her up to the idea?” The Purple unicorn asked incredulously looking dumbfounded.
“Well... The situation has changed Twilight.” Rainbow Dash replied with a proud smile.
“Changed how much?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow just before Scootaloo came running in.
“It's only three hours till my first flight class! I'm so excited! I can't wait to start learning how to fly!” Scootaloo exclaimed, hopping around Twilight and Rainbow Dash.
“We know. You've came in here just about every hour on the hour to remind us. So how about you go back into the living room and wait like a good filly, hmm?” Rainbow Dash replied with a smirk.
“Okay, mom!” Scootaloo replied with a smile and rushed out of the kitchen, hopping the entire way, leaving Twilight with a slightly shocked expression.
“That much.” Rainbow Dash replied, still holding her proud smile.
“But what about trying to get into the Wonderbolts?” Twilight asked curiously.
“It's a pipe-dream Twilight. Besides, Scootaloo is more important to me than some flight group.” Rainbow Dash replied, looking back into the living room, then back at Twilight.
“Sounds like somepony has got her priorities in order.” Twilight replied with a grin.
“Yep. And Scootaloo is number one on my list from here on out.” Rainbow Dash replied with a proud smile.
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Scootaloo could barely keep herself from fidgeting on Rainbow Dash's back as they flew over to cloudsdale flight school. In fact The mare had to remind the filly many times throughout the flight to stop fidgeting so much or she might fall. Once safely on the clouds however Scootaloo was running in circles around Dash, unable to keep her excitement held in any longer.
“Now you behave yourself and I’ll be back when class is over to pick you up.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
“Okay, Mom!” Scootaloo exclaimed with a smile earning a few curious looks at Rainbow Dash and her.
“Hold up a sec.” Rainbow Dash said huddling Scootaloo close. “Lets try to keep the calling me mom thing to in our house or at Twilight's okay?” Rainbow Dash said in a low whisper.
“Why?” Scootaloo asked curiously.
The cyan blue pegasus wasn't exactly sure how to answer this question without hurting the young filly's feelings, but she wasn't exactly ready for all of Equestria to know that she had taken Scootaloo in as an adopted daughter yet either. Then it came to her. “You wanted to keep the fact you're staying with me a secret right? Well other ponies might start to suspect your living with me if you call me mom.” Rainbow Dash replied hoping the young filly would buy this excuse.
“Oh, right. I got it! I'll see you later M-I mean, Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo replied with a smile, nearly slipping up, but managed to catch herself mid-sentence.
“See you later kid.” Rainbow Dash replied and took off.
Scootaloo was excited as any young pegasus could be as she walked into the Cloudsdale Flight School. However that excitement quickly turned to nervousness as she looked around the halls. They were jam packed with many different pegasus of many different colors. Some looked well built while others looked to be thin as a toothpick. This was a lot to take in for the young pegasus as she gave a nervous gulp, taking a small parchment of paper from her saddlebags and giving it a look.
“Room 143. Okay. This sounds simple enough!” Scootaloo said aloud to herself and began to make her way down the hall looking at each room number as she passed it. However as the orange pegasus soon found out, it was far from simple. Just when she thought she had found her classroom, the numbers suddenly changed from 142 to 163. Scootaloo gave a confused glance back down at her paper, towards the door not far down from this one which read 142, and then back to door she stopped in front of which read 163, looking bewildered and confused.
“Maybe it's upstairs?” Scootaloo asked herself nervously and proceeded to the stairwell not far from the door. However this proved to be the wrong way also as the numbers above the doors now read 320 and climbing.
“What the hay?!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a frustrated tone, looking back down at her paper and back to the doors.
“Oh look. It's a new pony ready for her first day of flight school.” A voice said in a very snooty tone, causing Scootaloo to yank her eyes from her paper and to the two pegasus walking towards her. One of the pegasus looked as if she had small little rings attached to each part of her wing so that they jingled with each step she took, while the other looked as if she was wearing a little too much make up.
“Are you lost little filly?” The second jeered in the same snooty tone.
“Well... Umm... Yes. Can you help me?” Scootaloo asked in a timid tone.
“We'll help you alright. Ain't that right, Sherry?” The pegasus with wing piercings said in the same snooty tone to the other one, who apparently was called Sherry.
“Oh yes, we'll help you out big time.” Sherry replied picking the young pegasus up by her small wings with her mouth, opened a locker door in the hall, shoved Scootaloo in it, and slamming it shut before orange pegasus could so much as call out for help.
“Let me out of here!” Scootaloo exclaimed at the top of her lungs, bashing her hooves against the locker door. Unfortunately, no one heard her, or they didn't care. After what seemed like forever, Scootaloo finally stopped screaming and bashing on the locker door. Moments later she heard the school bell ring.
“I'm going to be late for my first class! Oh no!” Scootaloo exclaimed in a panicked tone and began to pound on the locker door harder than ever. The locker door opened up nearly a few seconds after she began to pound on it again, causing the poor filly to come flying out head first and landed on the floor.
“You're new here aren't you?” Asked a female voice that sounded like it was around her age.
“Y-yes. Two ponies locked me in here when I asked them for help!” Scootaloo exclaimed, getting to all four hooves now and getting a decent look at her savior. She was a purple filly right about her age, except she had a slightly larger wingspan than she did.
“Did you happen to get a name?” The purple pegasus asked curiously.
“Well, one of them called the other Sherry.” Scootaloo replied, earning a groan from the purple pegasus.
“Sherry and Jesse. The school bullies. You must have really bad luck running into them on your first day of class.” The purple pegasus replied with a smile.
“Yeah, my luck is really bad a lot of the time.” Scootaloo replied sourly.
“My name is Gina. What's yours?” Gina asked with a smile.
“Scootaloo.” The orange pegasus replied, happy to meet a friendly face since her encounter with the two bullies.
“What class are you in?” Gina asked curiously.
“I'm supposed to be in room 143.” Scootaloo replied.
“Really? That's great! I'm in that class too!” Gina replied with a smile.
“Can you show me the way?” Scootaloo asked with a smile.
“Oh sure! Follow me.” Gina replied leading Scootaloo down the stairs.
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Scootaloo and Gina made it barely in the nick of time as the teacher was just beginning to do a headcount. “Sorry we're late Miss. Emerald! Scootaloo had a run in with Sherry and Jesse. I had to save her from their trademark locker-stocker.” Gina said as they entered the classroom.
“I'll be sure to have a talk with them after class. Thank you for letting me know Gina.” Miss. Emerald replied with a friendly smile motioning for Scootaloo to join her at the front of the class. Miss. Emerald was a just as her named implied. She was an emerald green pegasus with what Scootaloo thought was the most impressive wingspan she had ever seen. “Almost as impressive as mom's...” Scootaloo remarked to herself with a smile as she walked up next to Miss. Emerald.
“Before we begin class, I would like to introduce our newest student.” Miss. Emerald stated making sure she had her entire class's attention as she said this. “This young filly's name is Scootaloo. I expect you to treat her with the same respect you treat all new students. Now why don't we say hello?” Miss. Emerald said with a smile at which point the entire class erupted with a chorus of “Hi Scootaloo!” which made the orange pegasus pull a Fluttershy and hide behind her hooves. She wasn't used to this much attention, so it was a bit overwhelming for Scootaloo to be the attention of the entire class.
“There's no need to be shy. They don't bite.” Miss. Emerald said with a kind smile, placing a hoof on her head and running it along reassuringly.
“Much.” One of the fillies chimed in at this statement which caused the entire class to erupt into a spontaneous laughter. However, it was quickly silenced by a stern look from Miss. Emerald.
“Now, why don't you take your seat Scootaloo.” Miss. Emerald suggested with a smile at which point Scootaloo quickly took a glance around the room and noticed the seat next to Gina was empty. She quickly made her way to that desk and sat down next to her.
“Now with that out of the way, we can begin.” Miss. Emerald said with a smile.
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“Are you sure?” A black colored pegasus asked with a curious stare at the light brown pegasus pony.
“As sure as I’ll ever be. You said her name was Scootaloo right?” The light brown pegasus pony replied.
“Yes. That is her name. But we have to be completely sure. If we use the wrong pegasus pony as the catalyst, the results could be catastrophic. I want you to keep an eye on this young filly. You are my eyes and ears. Don't fail me.” The black colored pegasus replied.
“Of course Mr. Stormhooves!” The light brown pegasus replied and took off throw a roof door which closed and magically hid itself after the light brown pegasus flew through it.
“Soon... Very soon... Discord's army shall rise again. So close were we to being ready to storm Celestia's Castle... However at the very last moment those damned six ponies had to buck things up!” Stormhooves exclaimed slamming a hoof on his coffee table.
“Mr. Stormhooves. You have a visitor.” Mr. Stormhooves's butler said with a small bow.
“Let them in.” Stormhooves replied.
Moments later a pink pegasus pony walked in.
“And what do I owe the honor of this surprise visit Amanda?” Stormhooves replied.
“I wish it were under better circumstances John.” Amanda replied with a deep sigh.
“Don't tell me those darned cotton candy clouds are still persisting even after I had assigned the entire weather team to cleaning them up for two weeks.” Stormhooves replied with a frown.
“Sadly yes. No matter how many times we clean them up. They keep reappearing. If this keeps up, we will have to report this to Princess Celestia so she may deal with the matter.” Amanda replied with a frown.
“Do you realize what that will do to the cloudsdale weather company? Our reputation will be ruined!” Stormhooves exclaimed, feigning anger.
“I don't like it anymore than you do John. But if normal pegasus can't handle this issue, then it would be a job that an Alicorn would be able to handle with little effort, I would imagine.” Amanda replied, still frowning.
“I refuse to let that happen! Double the patrol shifts! I don't want a single cotton candy cloud remaining! And if so much as one is found.. Tthe pegasus ponies on shift will find they are without a job!” Stormhooves exclaimed at the top of his lungs still feigning his anger.
“I will be sure to pass along the message John.” Amanda replied, still frowning, and quickly left the room.
After the door closed, Stormhooves immediately went back to sitting down on his chair, taking a sip of chocolate milk as if nothing had happened. “It may be a good idea to increase our plans a phase or two...” Stormhooves said aloud as if thinking to himself out loud. “Those cotton candy clouds are vital to our lord's revival and we can't have them permanently eliminated.” Stormhooves continued to say. However, this time a crimson red pegasus stepped out from the shadows in a dark corner of his room.
“Shall we advance our plans to phase five then General?” The crimson red pegasus asked with an inquiring look.
Stormhooves sat there at his desk, gently stirring his chocolate milk until he suddenly stopped and stood on all four hooves. “That wont be necessary. Phase four shall suffice for now.” Stormhooves replied as he threw on a coat.
“If I may be as bold to ask General, where are you going at this time of day?” The crimson red pegasus asked.
“To make a house call.” Stormhooves replied simply and left the room.
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“I had forgotten how peaceful it was without Scootaloo here.” Rainbow Dash remarked with a guilty smile as she lay on her bed, preparing to take a mid-afternoon nap. However a knock at her door moments after she dozed off made the cyan blue pegasus grumble under her breath while she went to answer it, revealing it to be Stormhooves himself.
“Mr. Stormhooves! I didn't expect to see you here.” Rainbow Dash replied with a nervous smile.
“It's quite alright Rainbow. Might I come inside?” Stormhooves asked in a polite manner.
“Of course!” Rainbow Dash replied, stepping to the side, allowing the black pegasus to enter, and closing the door behind him.
“I'm not in any sort of trouble, am I? I mean, if this is about that unscheduled thunderstorm over Fillydephia, I have nothing to do with it! It was all Ditsy Doo's idea!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed defensively.
“Oh no. It's nothing of that sort. I just thought I would come over and have a polite conversation with my star weather filly is all.” Stormhooves replied with a smile.
“Oh, well that's good then.” Rainbow Dash replied with a sigh of relief.
“I happened to notice on my way here that you had added an extra room to your cloud home. Having company over for a bit I take it?” Stormhooves said casually.
“Oh yeah... Well, I thought it would be a good idea in case Fluttershy wants to come over and stay the night, you know?” Rainbow Dash lied with a nervous smile.
“Would you care if I have a look?” Stormhooves asked politely.
“Uhh, no! It's not ready yet! I still need to put some finishing touches on it! You know, it just looks horrible right now and I wouldn't want you to see it. It would be so embarrassing!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, dragging out the word ”so” in a panicked voice as she rushed over to it and slammed the door shut.
“Perhaps I could help?” Stormhooves asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh no! I couldn't ask you to help me with petty cloud work like that. I mean, your head of the Cloudsdale Weather Company and I’m just a lowly weather pony.” Rainbow Dash replied, trying her best to keep Stormhooves from discovering Scootaloo's room.
“Now don't sell yourself short Rainbow Dash. You are the best weather pony I have. A right side better than that Ditsy Doo and those other klutz ponies who can't seem to keep a single cotton candy cloud out of the sky for a day.” Stormhooves replied with a sour tone.
“Still having problems with those, huh?” Rainbow Dash replied, happy to change the topic of her new addition to the house.
“Yes. Though I don't want to trouble you, they are becoming quite the problem. If we don't manage to squash them out soon, we will have to call upon the Princess to take of it. And I just dread to think what that would do to the company's image. Having to rely on royalty to take care of a petty weather problem.” Stormhooves said feigning a dramatic voice as he said this.
The cyan blue pegasus thought to herself for a moment then an idea hit her. "Hey! How about I get my good friend Twilight Sparkle to take care of this problem for you?” Rainbow Dash suggested with a smile as she walked away from Scootaloo's door.
“You sure she could handle this?” Stormhooves replied feigning the best possible hopeful expression he could muster.
“Of course! She's the best at magic and magical stuff. Though she would probably have to study on what makes those clouds tick before she did anything. You know, just to make sure she gets the spell right. She's thorough like that.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
A sinister grin threatened to appear on Stormhooves's face, but he somehow managed to keep it concealed as he looked at the cyan blue pegasus. “No need. My good friends at the institute of magic have already came up with the perfect spell to get rid of those pesky cotton candy clouds once and for all.” Stormhooves said with a smile, taking a small book out from his small saddlebag with his mouth and handing to Rainbow Dash.
“Please make sure she follows the instructions down to the most minor detail.” Stormhooves said after he handed the book to Rainbow Dash.
“Of course! But I bet she would anyways.” Rainbow Dash replied with a smile.
“Well, in that case, I must be going. I have an appointment soon and I dare not be late. With luck, we'll have those pesky cotton candy clouds out of our manes by sundown next month!” Stormhooves replied with a smile as he opened the door and took off.
“You have just sealed your fate... As well as the fate of all the elements of harmony my dear Dash...” Stormhooves said aloud to himself and began to cackle manically as he flew off through the skies back to his cloud mansion.