It was Scootaloo's first soccer game in high school. Scootaloo's chance. The stands were packed with parents and grandparents of the team, and the local community. Like they had actual things to do on a Tuesday. Scootaloo wondered if her parents were in the stand, perhaps only there to say how proud they were of her. Acting like everything is normal. Smiling and waving and cheering so that others would know how supportive they were of her daughter. Did they even know she was playing soccer now? It was all a load of bullshit, anyway. How many adults are going through life acting like they have everything under control? Perhaps the whole stadium? Were the Dashes just putting up an act as well? The principals, the teachers, the coach? Everyone is just a bunch of filthy liars. Maybe the assigned reading of Catcher in the Rye was rubbing off on her.
Applejack, along with her brother and sister, were working the stands, selling “Granny’s Fizzy Cider” at reasonable cost. Rainbow Dash was trying to weasel her way into a couple free bottles, but Applejack had turned her sarcasm detector off. Rainbow eventually gave up and payed, rolling her eyes. She passed a bottle to Sunset and another to Sweetie, who had been hanging around the athlete as much as her girlfriend. And she lived with Rainbow.
“Hey, you know what you should do?” Rainbow asked rhetorically, “Join the cheer squad. All those girls are dating the boy’s league. You’d barely look out of place.” Rainbow pointed to the side lines, where the squad was chatting with their boyfriends and occasionally kissing.
Sweetie seemed to genuinely consider the idea. “I dunno, I might distract her too much. Those skirts are awfully short.”
Rainbow laughed, “Fair point.”
Sunset spoke up, “Perhaps, but you could also be her encouragement. Her inspiration, her drive.”
“Hmm. Maybe I could… and drop Diamond Tiara.”
“The best revenge is to be unlike those who have wronged you.” Sunset said, probably quoting something from a long-dead monk. Sweetie considered these words.
Scootaloo poured her blood, sweat, and tears, onto the field. No, seriously. A rival team member had kicked the back of her leg, earning a penalty and a nasty scrape for Scootaloo. It was an accident. Of course that left her crying momentarily, but Rainbow was watching, so her tears dried up. And Sweetie. She could cry around Sweetie but that was usually emotional junk. She was tougher than some dumb scrape.
The game itself was over too quickly. They didn’t have enough points. Just five more seconds, come on! But rules are rules, and they lost. Scootaloo showered. Water ran over her but did nothing to loose the emotional blockage she felt. It was familiar and comforting. It made her want to reach for a sharp piece of steel.
No. Never again.
After she finished changing, she slammed the locker door and rumbled out like a thunderstorm. The rest of the team stared in confusion. They lost, true, but they could rest easy knowing they had tried not to.
But for Scootaloo, this notion wasn’t good enough. There wasn’t trying to win, there was winning and there was losing. She kicked the door to the locker room open, and ran straight into Rainbow Dash, nearly knocking her over, but the star-athlete kept her balance.
“Woah there squirt. What’s got you looking like someone just killed your dog?”
Scootaloo squinted. “We lost!”
“Yeah, and?” Rainbow knelt down and looked into her sister’s eyes, rimmed red and cheeks streaked with tears. “Scoots, you can’t win everything. Even the stuff you’re good at. Heck, I’d bet against my own team for our next match, and I'm the captain. I’ve lost plenty of matches, and won plenty too. I know you gave your best out there.”
“NO! My best is the one that wins. I don’t lose! I’ve never lost anything!”
Rainbow gently held Scootaloo’s hands, turning them to the paler flesh of her wrists. Scootaloo looked away. “So these must be your trophies then. Scoots, not every loss is going to kill you. You were really great out there, did all the right moves. Soccer is a team sport, and your team did what they could too. There were a few trips and falls, but that happens. Sometimes the other team’s ‘best’ is better than yours. That’s why you aim to improve.”
Scootaloo went from sad to confused. Her mother always told her that if she was going to do something, she should be good at it. To Scootaloo, this translated as “You’ll know if you should do something because you’ll instantly be good at it. That means first place.” Her mother would go on and on about how disappointing her grades were. But why should Scootaloo even try? What would doing homework actually get her, now and in the future? It didn’t get her on the soccer team, it didn’t matter. So why had she started doing it after she moved out?
But Rainbow Dash wasn’t disappointed. She could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. She shook her wrists free and grabbed her sister in a hug. “Can’t… Breathe!” She exclaimed. Scootaloo loosened her grip.
“You’re not disappointed.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement, said in awe. That difference made Rainbow’s heart drop.
“Course not. Why do you even care what I think about you? So long as you’re happy with what you’ve done, nobody else matters. And besides, you could never disappoint me.” Scootaloo’s grip tightened again. “And I’m proud to call you my sister. GAH.” Scootaloo latched on like velcro.
“Ahem,” a voice from behind them said. “Mind if I cut in?” Scootaloo looked past Rainbow’s shoulder and saw Sweetie. She let go of her sister and rushed to her girlfriend, picking her up and doing a twirl before setting her down. Sweetie giggled. “I didn’t even know you were that strong. You were great out there.”
“Yeah, I guess I was.” Scootaloo made a cocky half-grin and flexed her muscles before she kissed her girlfriend's lips, letting her tongue slip in. Rainbow Dash looked away, desperately trying to avoid her heart melting from the sweetness. The couple broke apart.
“Oh, I think I’m going to join the cheer squad.”
Scootaloo’s expression went from queen-of-the-world to death-warmed-over. “Do you want to get beaten up?”
“Why… would I?”
“You’re dating me!”
“Everyone on the squad is dating someone. I don’t see the big deal.”
“No, you don’t. We’re lesbians! Diamond, the captain, already bullies us. The last thing we need is to make out on the sidelines like everyone else! In front of the whole goddamn stadium!”
“Scoots, do you trust me?”
“What? Yes. Absolutely.”
“Good. I’m joining the squad because I want to. And if I want to kiss my girlfriend on the sidelines, I’ll kiss my girlfriend. In full view of God, the principals, everyone. Got it?”
Common Sense took a side seat to desire for the time. It wasn’t really anything they hadn’t done before. Sweetie would steal a kiss as they walked through town, pausing just on the sidewalk, in full view of the poor pedestrians who were just trying to get to work, only to have their brains melted by the saccharine scene of two girls kissing without a care in the world. Scootaloo did trust Sweetie. If she thought it was alright, it would be.
“Got it.”
Sweetie kissed her cheek.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” Rainbow suggested, “The gals and I grab a shake after a game, why don’t you three tag along. This is, after all, your game.”
“Sounds good.”
It was late, and Sugar Cube Corner was quite empty. By now Pinkie had memorized everybody’s favorite shake and began mixing them as they walked in the door. Scootaloo sat with her friends, at a different table than Rainbow Dash. The girls did, however, compliment the good work on the field. Scootaloo thanked them before sitting down.
Not long after they had their shakes, Rumble and Button walked in. Apple Bloom waved. It was almost too easy for Scootaloo to forget they were dating. And all because…
Perhaps the more important question is, did Rumble know?
The two boys sat down. Apple Bloom gave a quick kiss on Rumble’s cheek. Scootaloo made a fake gagging sound, and the farmer giggled. “Excuse her, heterosexual romance makes her stomach churn.”
“Oh, it must have been awful for you to hold hands in front of your parents.”
“I was so close to vomiting.” Scootaloo chuckled “You’re not… bitter about it are you?”
“Eh, friends help friends out. You could have been a bit more honest about it.”
“That would have required me being honest with myself.”
“Wait a sec,” Apple Bloom interrupted, “Y’all dated?”
“In the loosest sense of the word.” Rumble shrugged. “We caught a few movies, played some video games, hung out. For like two months. As it turns out…”
“It was kind of mean of me. Stringing you along, using you as a cover for my parents.”
“I’ll be honest, yes it was. I don’t hold it against you. Middle School was… awkward for us all.”
“Yeah, and then he had me subconsciously hitting on him without me realising it.” Button chuckled.
“Will your boyfriend be joining us?” Apple Bloom asked.
“I don’t need him around constantly. It’s bro’s night out. He’s off with his pals too.”
Sweetie and Scootaloo shrugged in unison, and Scootaloo spoke, “Eh, we pretty much did everything together before we started dating anyway.”
“Well if you want to hang out with us and… I dunno, we usually just play video games or something, we’d love having you.” Apple Bloom extended an invitation. Rumble nodded.
“You were fun to be around. Even if you don’t like the same movies I do.”
“I’ll even confess, I think you’re cute. As near as I can tell, you’re the only boy I can even say that about.” Sweetie cleared her throat. “What? I don’t feel the same about him that I do about you, babe.”
Sweetie giggled dismissively, tapping Scootaloo on the shoulder with a fist. “I’m teasing.”
“So, did you ever…” Apple Bloom made a gesture with her hands.
“Nope. I should have known something was up. She didn’t seem too interested in Romance. Even hand-holding was kinda forced.”
Apple Bloom chuckled, “How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried?”
The temperature seemed to raise, draining all mirth from the table. All eyes were on Scootaloo, glaring icicles into Apple Bloom.
“Shut up, mom.” Sweetie noticed Scootaloo’s hand was clenching into a fist, and reached out her own to cover it.
“I’m sorry, I was just trying to be funny.” Apple Bloom said, giving her puppy-dog eyes.
Scootaloo unraveled her fist. “Well, it wasn’t.” She pouted, rested her chin on her free palm and looked out the window. Sweetie was still holding her hand. She looked back around and huffed. “I’ll forgive you.”
“I should have known better.” Rumble and Button looked at each other, silently communicating something.
The day was saved, as Pinkie brought the milkshakes. Rumble patted his friend on the back. “That reminds me,” he pointed to Scootaloo’s shake. “Since you’re the only virgin here, you need to know about the pineapple trick.”
“D’whaa?”
“It makes you taste better.”
“Again, D’whaa?”
“When your boyfriend gives you a blowjob, have some pineapple before hand.”
Apple Bloom giggled, causing Scootaloo’s cheeks to shade pink. Apparently all that she required was a cute giggle. That may have explained some things. “Yeah, it makes your… um yeah, not taste so bitter.”
Scootaloo slurped her shake. “It works for lesbians too.”
Sweetie giggled at an unsaid joke.
Scootaloo progressively lightened up, and much to her surprise was even defending Catcher in the Rye. Apple Bloom found the character annoying, but Scootaloo found him relatable and realistic. They agreed to meet up Sunday for a dykes and boys night in, playing video games and burping contests. That sort of thing. Sweetie noted they didn’t include her in this decision. She’d probably be bored anyway. She was kind of used to being the one who didn’t get a word in if the dynamic changed from the small group of three friends to something else anyway. And she didn’t need to be around Scootaloo constantly either. Everyone was having a good time.