There was a quiet rapping at Sweetie's chamber door, serving as a welcome distraction from English homework. "Come in," she called. The door opened allowing her sister to enter. She sat on the bed. "Sweetie Belle, can we talk?" Oh, no, the full name. This was sure to be awful. "This is kind of an awkward subject, but if our parents weren't busy being jet setters they'd tell you this too. Um, I need to ask a question, have you and Scootaloo..." She trailed off. It wasn't something she particularly wanted to think about.
"No. We've gotten close and made out a lot but she's just never felt that comfortable. I can tell she wants to, but she has to overcome being conditioned by her parents.” Sweetie cringed slightly. How could anyone do that to their child?
"Yes, I think I understand. I was going to give you the talk about only having sex if you really want to, but apparently I've misread Scootaloo's character. Surely you see she has a rebellious nature. Whatever they taught her must have been deeply ingrained."
"Honestly, I’m getting a little tired of waiting.” Sweetie sighed.
"Dear, do try to be patient. She's been through a lot. I'll give you the other talk then. Don't force yourself upon your partner." Rarity said sternly, then visibly relaxed. She trusted her sister more than that at least. She tapped her chin with a finger and muttered, "I've already talked to you about hygiene." She collected her thoughts and continued, "You don't have to worry about it with Scootaloo, but in the future, make sure your partner doesn't have any sort of disease. If you suddenly find out you're bisexual, make sure he wears protection unless you really want to risk a child. Of course there’s always abortions or adoption or ‘the pill’, but if you did choose to keep it, you’d have our families support. Even if they did glare at you for being a teenage mom… myself most likely included. Sorry. Of course when you're an adult you can safely ignore that.”
Sweetie shrugged. “Eh, there are a few cute boys but I like my Scootaloo. I don’t really think about them like that.”
Rarity nodded. “As with any relationship, communication is the key. Discuss what you would like from your partner, how something you don't like makes you feel, and so on, and they'll tell you their wants too. Be safe, have fun, I'm out of here."
Sweetie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. In truth it wasn't as awkward as it could have been. Sweetie looked forward to Scootaloo's big date she was planning, but didn't tell her anything about. Two days seemed like such a long time.
Dating wasn't anything new for Scootaloo. Sweetie and her would catch a movie or go out for shakes and talk and laugh and kiss… but this was something new. She had only just started putting on the suit Rarity made, and she was already nervous. They were going to a fancy place after a decidedly unfancy movie. There was an artsy movie playing, but what was the point of going if you didn't enjoy it? Scootaloo tried it once, on a cover date with Rumble. It was his idea. He might be gay… Anyway, movies that made Scootaloo think were not her idea of a good time. The girl did up her hair like she normally did when her parents dragged to to church.
She checked in with Rainbow Dash to make sure everything was on straight. Her sister regarded her thoughtfully before tousling her hair. “Perfect. Knock her dead.” Scootaloo grabbed a box of chocolates and a bouquet of two-dozen roses before walking out the door.
Sweetie clamped the rose-quartz studs to her ears. They weren't real piercings. “A girl doesn't need them” Rarity had said, “When you can already attach them anywhere.” The door bell rang, “I bet that's her, why don't you answer it?” Sweetie nodded, hopping off the stool and adjusting her black and mauve dress.
“Thanks for your help.” Sweetie hugged her sister.
“No trouble at all dear.” Sweetie crossed the hallway and was suddenly feeling queasy. Why? Was it that this is the first time they both tried to “put on airs” for each other, rather than just being… casual? It was their first official date after Scootaloo had been kicked out. What made it more important than the others? Sweetie opened the door. She couldn't help but giggle at Scootaloo, wearing a pinstripe suit with a red shirt and a tarnished brass ascot, with matching pocket square.
Scootaloo frowned. “I'm sorry, it's just the whole thing is rather silly.”
“I was going for romantic.”
“I…” Sweetie sighed inwardly in relief. “Come in, let me get a vase for those flowers.” Scootaloo was still sulking, expecting an apology. Sweetie rummaged for a vase under the sink. Rarity had many suitors which she coldly denied. She kept the flowers though. It livened up the house just so.
Sweetie filled the vase and set the flowers in. Scootaloo had crossed her arms and was sitting at the kitchen table still wearing a pout.
“I'm sorry. You look fantastic, really, but I wasn't expecting it and I was so nervous so I just started laughing.” Scootaloo sighed in relief and relaxed her arms.
“At least I'm not the only one that's nervous. You look amazing.” Rarity's disembodied head peered in from the door-jam, giving them both a start when she started talking.
“You had both better look amazing, I designed your outfits.” Sweetie rolled her eyes.
“Well, you look amazing, I look amazing. Let's go on an amazing date.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Undead Bunnies Three was completely empty. It was a terrible movie by both critics and fans of the franchise alike. Scootaloo loved it, and not just from the cheesy, gory action sequences and awful dialogue, but the fact she got to make fun of it with her girlfriend. They laughed as loud as they wanted, made inappropriate jokes and yelled whatever they were thinking at the screen.
They walked out of the theater holding hands and laughing. Sweetie was probably surprised that Scootaloo was the one to grab first. “And then that Watermelon.” Scootaloo mimicked an explosion with her hands.
“I know hun,” Sweetie chuckled “I was there. I think my favorite part was when the bunnies got in the onion patch and you said 'if you're going to start crying I'm leaving.'” Sweetie laughed once again at the memory.
“Really? I thought that was the most terrible joke I've ever made.”
“Well I liked it. Where we going next, girl?”
“Ribon de Lumière.”
“Don't you need a reservation like two months in advance?”
“I've been planning this for a while.”
“No you haven't, you don't plan anything a week in advance.”
“OK, fine, Rainbow's dad owns the place, but I wanted to sound romantic.”
“Awww, this is so unlike you. I like romantic you. I know it will be lovely. Lead on.” Scootaloo lead them back to the limo.
If greeting her girlfriend at the door while she was wearing a suit seemed silly to Sweetie, what happened at the restaurant was ludicrous. Ribon's average clientèle was people in their thirties, who had their life figured out and a rather large income. The couple was none of these, and as they waited in line, Sweetie could feel everyone else staring at them. They were even holding hands. Now she knew what Scootaloo felt like. The only pass they had was Rarity designed their outfits, so they were as good if not better as the other patrons'. The usher was a man who held a gaze at anything that moved as though he disproved of its existence, if only the universe would take his opinion. Sweetie wondered if the usher was capable of any emotion.
“Scootaloo, party of two.”
The man looked at his reservation book, he said as though serving two love-struck fifteen-year-olds was an everyday affair. “Ah, yes. Johan, escort these two young ladies to the private dining room.” The line behind them chattered. A well built blond man with shaggy hair gave a slight bow. “Right this way, madams.”
Sweetie had been half expecting the private room to be the janitor's closet, but instead was treated to a room upstairs with a table for two set in the middle. The room was entirely glass, giving a clear view of the entire city. The room was dim, the only source of light the candle center piece and the sunset.
“What can I get you ladies to drink?” The waiter asked.
“I don't suppose we could have some wine?”
The waiter grinned. “Have a valid ID?” Scootaloo pouted. “I thought not.”
“I'll have some tea,” Sweetie said.
“What kind, we have raspberry, pomegranate, apricot, peach and blueberry.”
“Oh, um. Apricot. Thank you.”
“Long island.” Scootaloo said, earning her a glare from both the waiter and her date. “OK, fine the joke's over. Raspberry please.”
“Very good, I'll bring those right out. Can I interest you in an appetizer?”
Scootaloo eyed the menu and mumbled something before speaking where she meant to be heard. “Give us a sampler, I can't decide.”
“Yes, yes, very good. I'll be right back.” The waiter bowed graciously.
A plate of ravioli, cheese sticks, and a few other things Sweetie couldn't identify made it's way with the drinks.
“Do you fine young ladies know what you want to order?”
“This pheasant with the mango sauce and Parmesan sounds delicious.” Scootaloo said. Sweetie suddenly didn't feel so guilty about her order.
“The rib eye with blue cheese crust and a sweet potato salad please. Medium.”
“Absolutely, thank you, I'll have it right out.”
“I swear I've never seen you eat red meat.”
“There's a joke somewhere in there.” Sweetie smirked “Rarity's a vegetarian, and I can't cook. I mostly stick to ready to eat stuff. So have you had pheasant before?”
“Yeah, dad knows a guy that hunts them, he gets a few birds each year.”
“Cool, I'll have to try it.”
The couple talked and flirted like they never had before. Sweetie had a taste of pheasent and liked it. Scootaloo took a bite of Sweetie's steak and concluded she could make something like this. They had dessert, Scootaloo had a peach cobbler and Sweetie ordered a parfait of layered berries and ice cream and yogurt.
“So how was it?”
“I had a really good time tonight.” Sweetie said, giving her girlfriend a small kiss while they waited for the limo.
“Just a good time?”
“No, even better. Let me think of a word. Fantastic. The movie was fun and dinner was wonderful, and I had a fantastic time with my girlfriend.”
“You know what would make it even better? You and me, back at my place...”
“And what would we do?” Sweetie hooked an arm around Scootaloo's hips.
“Well, you could lose the dress, I'd lose the suit, we could---”
“I like this idea.” In truth, Sweetie wasn't getting her hopes up, after so many heated moments ended abruptly because Scootaloo “had to leave.” The lie was transparent, and they both knew it. Scootaloo didn't feel comfortable with the idea of sex, even though they had kissed countless times before. Sweetie knew she wanted to, but there was an emotional wall, a cruel construction by her parents, in the way. But Scootaloo was Sweetie's girlfriend. They loved each other. Sweetie could wait until Scootaloo wanted it; it would be all the sweeter.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had somehow managed to make it into the room before they started making out. Before Scootaloo knew it, her jacket was flung across the coat rack, and Sweetie's dress was on the floor. Scootaloo felt her girlfriend's curves like a woman dying of thirst. She wanted to feel every inch, memorize her skin. Scootaloo's shirt was off, somehow. They rolled around on the bed. Scootaloo remembered doing something similar when they were both seven, but it had a whole new meaning now. Finally their tongues broke away. “Sweetie,” Scootaloo huffed. “All my life I've been told what I can and can't have. I can't have a gecko, I can't have a girlfriend. I can't get married until I'm fifty. I'm not sure if that was a joke.” Scootaloo chuckled, then looked into Sweetie's soft, lovely eyes, and that small smile that brightened even the darkest night. “Right now, I want to make love to my girlfriend. Will you let me?”
"What would you do if I said no?"
"Well, I'd stop, but..." Scootaloo blinked.
“I shouldn't tease like that. Yes, yes yes yes.” Sweetie pulled on Scootaloo's neck, bringing her in for a kiss.
Sweetie lay, cuddling her girlfriend's naked form against her own, admiring the smell of light-polished brass of her perfume, just as Scootaloo was likely enjoying the strawberry apricot of her own.
“That was better than I ever thought it would be.”
“Yeah...” Scootaloo said, voice lost in the distant haze of afterglow.
“Not that I'm complaining, but why did you change your mind? You always backed out before.”
“Because I can't get caught now. My parents have no power. What are they going to do? Ground me? Spank me? They don't own me. They told me all my life what I can and can't have. I think it's time I start making my own decisions."
“I love you, Scoots.” It seemed like the only possible reply, the universal truth. A law of physics.
“I love you too, Sweetie.” No sooner had Scootaloo finished the sentence, and Sweetie Belle heard snoring. Sweetie shut her eyes, and slept, holding her lover.
Scootaloo was standing on a cloud. The place seemed oddly familiar. She took a look around and realized it was her parent's house, shaped from clouds instead. She looked further and saw a whole city if cloud. She opened the door, and the inside of the house shone like the sun. She shielded her eyes and eventually the glow faded. “Hello?” she called. Nobody answered. She looked around at the empty cloud-house. It was all exactly the same, except made out of water vapor. She looked to where her room was supposed to be.
It was there, but instead of being calm and white like the rest of the house, the door was made of storm, and lightning and thunder arched from it. Scootaloo touched the doorknob and the storm calmed down, leaving fluffy white in it's place. The door dissolved. Scootaloo's mouth hung open at what she saw. She was naked and chained to the floor with a collar and a giant padlock. The Scootaloo she saw had dark bags under her eyes and was weak from hunger. All of the cuts Scootaloo had made still bled, but made no sign of being a health hazard. Blood dripped from each wound onto the cloud-carpet, pooling slightly then sinking down. This Scootaloo had been here a while. The look in her eyes said she just wanted everything to end. Scootaloo knew that look all too well. It was how she felt some days, though none in the last two weeks. An end, a pleading, begging wish that if there was a God, it would claim her and be done with it.
Rainbow was there, desperately tugging at the chain, trying her best to help. Tears were in her eyes. Scootaloo didn't think Rainbow was capable of crying. Sweetie was clawing at where the chain was connected to the wall, and Scootaloo saw the chain was made of symbols, ever shifting, but she knew what they meant. A few seemed solid, a cross, an interconnected male and female sign, and the logo for the state college.
Scootaloo knelt down to the Other Scootaloo and gently reached out her hand. The chained one cowed away, so Scootaloo stopped moving. Like a cat, unsure if it should trust this new thing, The Other tentatively moved toward it, ready to leap back if she thought it would hurt her. Scootaloo continued moving her hand, until it rested on the Other's head. The chain exploded in a blast of starlight, raining down on them. The Other leaped on Scootaloo, hugging her and… dissolving into her. The Other vanished in her arms. Scootaloo didn't feel like she was missing anything until she had it back. Sweetie and Rainbow rushed over to hug her.
Scootaloo woke up and nuzzled her girlfriend. Sweetie was still asleep, so Scootaloo merely enjoyed the embrace while she waited to drift back off herself. Yeah, everything was absolutely perfect.