A long evening of reading essays later and the two Princesses had whittled their choices down to the final two, Scootaloo and a colt from Fillydelphia who wished to expiereince the thrill of shepherding a bill through the legislative process. However, what had began as friendly bickering had turned into politely concealed hostility. “Why must you be so stubborn Tia?” Luna sighed, completely exasperated by her sister’s refusal to give in on an insignificant issue.
“I am not the one who is insisting that we take it upon ourselves to fix every broken family in the kingdom!”
“There is only one broken family in all of Equestria?! Then I submit we should absolutely do that. All I am proposing is that we use your desire to show how miserable you are with the burdens of the crown to actually help a sad filly.”
“I am not miserable. I would just rather the opportunity go to a child who would cherish the experience rather than the ends she can achieve!” Celestia fired back.
Luna took a deep breath, not wanting to continue the same argument they had been having for the past hour. “Tia, there is a sad and lonely filly, who only wishes that somepony would notice her. Can you allow for the possibility that I know precisely how she feels,and that I might wish to help her before she does something she'll regret?”
“You would invoke Nightmare Moon to sway my opinion? Scootaloo poses no threat to Equestria,” Celestia said rather crossly.
“There is no worse feeling than being alone Tia.” Luna replied softly.
Celestia looked at her sister carefully. Hidden behind her eyes was a profound sense of pain. Ever since they were reunited, Luna had hidden a part of herself that she let out only when she thought Celestia wasn't looking. Celestia couldn't be sure whether it was guilt from letting Nightmare Moon control her, the pain of being isolated for a thousand years, or sympathy for what she put her sister through, but the pain was unmistakably there. “Lest you forget, I too know that pain. For a thousand years I was separated from my little sister.”
“Then grant me this boon Tia. I promise to let you show Scootaloo how awful being a princess is,” Luna said, with the faintest hint of a smile.
Relieved at being able to resume their friendly bickering Celestia capitulated and grinned wryly back, “It is only awful because I have to share it with someone as willful as you,” Celestia said, playfully sticking out her tongue.
“Imagine how I feel; I share it with you.”
“I’m glad your're back, little sister.”
“I’m glad to be back, big sister.”
***
After a typical weekend crusading and getting into garden variety mischief Scootaloo woke up early Monday morning. She went to the kitchen, as usual her mother had already left for work, and so just like most mornings at the Scootaloo household she made herself a bowl of cold cereal and orange juice for breakfast, all the while wondering what it would be like to have her Mom cook her pancakes, or waffles, or even just be there to tell her to have a good day at school. Once she finished eating she rode her scooter to meet her friends at the tree they liked to convene at so they could walk to school together.
“Do ya think Celestia read your letters over tha weekend?” Apple Bloom asked, opening their conversation, once they had all united.
“We don’t even know which letters Cheerilee sent,” Sweetie Belle replied, causing Scootaloo to shut her mouth, just in case she stumbled into a situation where she would be forced to lie to her friends.
“Eh, as long as Diamond Tiara doesn’t win,” Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie giggled. “Can you imagine what that would be like?” Sweetie stuck her nose in the air and stood on her tip-hoofs. “Shine my tiara, and when you’re finished banish all the blank flanks from Equestira for not having their cutie marks,” Sweetie said in a high pitched whine.
Apple Bloom laughed but Scootaloo could only manage a small chuckle. Their conversation had gotten her thinking about the contest again. She didn’t really think she had any chance of winning but she also couldn’t think of any other idea to make her mom notice her. Sweetie’s voice snapped her out of her malaise.
“What’s wrong Scootaloo? I don’t think Celestia would let Diamond would banish us, besides she probably won’t win.”
“Yeah I know, it’s nothing, I’m fine,” she responded quickly, trying to cover up her previous worry.
“C’mon Scoots, we’re a trio. What’s botherin ya?” Apple Bloom prodded.
“It’s nothing, really. C’mon we’re gonna be late for school.” Before Apple Bloom or Sweetie could protest, Scootaloo fluttered her wings and sped off down the road, leaving her two friends hurrying to catch up.
School proceeded like a typical Monday. There was math and reading and a recess where Snails got tangled in the swings. However during arts and crafts time the normal routine was interrupted by an unfamiliar visitor.
A tan stallion with a short blue mane knocked on the open door and stood in the doorway. “Is this Mrs. Cheerilee’s classroom?”
“I’m Cheerilee, may I help you?” Cheerilee asked brightly. Some students noticed the guest, but most were too involved with their art projects or their own conversations to notice.
“I come bearing a message from Princess Celesita,” the stallion said.
“How exciting. Everypony quiet down,” Cheerliee said, stomping her hoof in her "quiet down rhythm", three distinct stomps.
Recognizing the signal, the classroom quickly settled and soon all the students were eagerly waiting to hear the message . With the eyes of the room upon him the stallion unfurled a scroll and cleared his throat with a cough. “Be it known that today, the twenty fourth day of Ignatus in the year one thousand and two C.E, Princess Celestia Sol Invictius, the Dawn Bringer, Bane of Nightmare Moon, Princess of the Sun and Diarch of Equestria has declared that Scootaloo, will be crowned a Princess of Equestria on the twenty sixth day of Ignatus in the year one thousand and two C.E. So it is said, so it shall be.”
The room went silent save for one shocked voice. “Blank flank!” Diamond blurted out.
“That’s Princess blank flank to you,” Sweetie shot back, before glancing sheepishly at Scootaloo. “Or Princess Scootaloo, that would work too.”
Diamond Tiara confidently strolled up to the front of the class. “Are you sure there hasn’t been a mistake? Maybe you meant to say Diamond Tiara?” she asked pleasantly, sure that whoever this pony was they just had a very selective reading problem.
The messenger looked down at the royal decree. “No, it says Scootaloo.”
“I won?” Scootaloo squeaked out, before a round of applause and congratulations overtook the room.
The stallion, whose name was Regal Herald, not that anyone asked, walked over to Scootaloo’s desk. “You won. A parent will need to sign this permission slip. Tomorrow at seven p.m a chariot will take you from here to Canterlot. The rest of your itinerary will be presented to you when you arrive. You may, of course, bring a parent with you.”
“I won?” Scootaloo squeaked again.
Regal laughed. “You won. Congratulations Scootaloo, I look forward to working for you.”
In light of the good news, Cheerliee canceled the history lesson she had planned for the rest of the afternoon so that the rest of the class could share in Scootaloo’s good fortune by enjoying a relaxing hour of games and cupcakes. Most of the class spent their free hour crowding around Scootaloo’s desk, offering suggestions for what she should do with her newfound power. Diamond Tiara spent the hour in the corner playing a very angry game of checkers with Silver Spoon.
Scootaloo excitedly burst through the doors of her house, before the realization that there was no one home hit her. “I get to be a princess!” she said out loud to the empty living room. There was no reply. She tried to push her loneliness down and focus on the good news. She cleaned the kitchen, did her homework and fell asleep on the couch waiting for her mom to come home.
Dizzy came home late and unlike yesterday when she was sympathetic toward her daughter, this time she was just annoyed. “Scootaloo we talked about this yesterday. I need you to go to bed in your own room.”
Scootaloo rubbed her eyes, disorientedly looking around, before she remembered why she was sleeping on the couch in the first place. “But Mom, I won! I’m going to be a princess!”
Dizzy blinked her eyes, unsure if Scootaloo said what she thought she heard. “I’m sorry, what?”
“There was a contest at school and I won and now I get to go to Canterlot and be a princess for a day and they say I can take a parent. So can you come with me?” Scootaloo pleaded excitedly.
“I’m not sure I can take the time off work. When is it?”
“We would go to Catnerlot tomorrow night and then I get to be princess the day after tomorrow.” Scootaloo said proudly.
Dizzy shook her head. “I’m sorry sweetie, I can’t just leave for Canterlot so quickly.” Seeing the disappointment on her daughter's face she tried to recover as best she could. “But I’m very proud of you and want to hear all about it when you get back.”
“Yeah okay.” Scootaloo sighed; this was far from the first time her mother couldn't make it to something important. “You need to sign this,” she said, grabbing her permission slip and nudging it toward her mother.
“There you go sweetie,” Dizzy said as she quickly scribbled her name at the bottom. “I really am very proud of you,” she offered, hoping to cheer her daughter up at least a little bit, after disappointing her yet again.
“I know mom.” Permission slip in hoof, Scootaloo trudged upstairs and tried to get excited about tomorrow.