//------------------------------// // Trust Me // Story: Three Gems and a Scooter // by RaylanKrios //------------------------------// It was only exhaustion that led Rarity to sleep as well as she did. But the sound of her alarm going off roused her from her slumber and she was forced to drag herself out of bed. A large cup of coffee later she set about making breakfast. Scootaloo was even quieter than usual during their morning meal, if such a thing were possible. If there was anything positive about her attitude it was that she didn’t seem sad, but that was countered by the fact that she could scarcely be said to be exhibiting any feelings at all; it was as if she just shut down  her emotions. Rarity didn’t press. Everything she had read said that sometimes children needed some space and this seemed like one of those times. Scootaloo wasn’t the most open pony on a good day and right now she was processing some pretty heavy emotions; therefore Rarity decided that the best thing she could do was demonstrate that she’d be there when Scootaloo was ready to talk. After polishing off her bowl of oatmeal, Scootaloo trudged off to school, leaving Rarity alone in the boutique. Under normal circumstances, Rarity might have neglected her work in order to spend part of her day researching the various dance instructors in Ponyville, so that she might fulfill her promise to resume Scootaloo’s dance lessons. But as luck would have it, she already knew an excellent dance instuctor. Toe Tapper was one of those infuriatingly talented ponies who was seemingly a natural at everything. He would be the first to protest that characterization, however. His lanky stature made it difficult for him to play most sports, for instance. And he would often joke that he couldn’t do even the simplest mathematics without a calculator; but neither of those things masked the fact that he was both a member of the Ponytones as well as a dance instructor. What he lacked in athletic or mathematical ability he made up for in a natural talent all things musical. His natural tenor allowed him to sing at either countertenor or baritone if a song required, and his innate understanding of rhythm made him proficient enough in dance to earn a living as a dance as well as music instructor. He could also play pretty much any musical instrument and was a fairly competent, if amateur, visual artist. If he wasn’t so nice and self-effacing, Rarity might have hated him. She was under no illusion that resuming Scootaloo’s dance lessons would make her happy, the filly was carrying far too much baggage for that to be the case, but it was a small thing that she could do to brighten up Scootaloo’s life; that made it worth doing regardless of any other motivations. School didn't hold much intrest for Scootaloo, though the lessons and her friends did give her something else to think about, and for that she was grateful. The crusaders left school as a trio, just like always; only this time instead of going to the clubhouse on Sweet Apple Acres to plan future crusades, do homework or just be friends, they found Rarity waiting for them just off the path that led to and from the schoolhouse. “Hi, Rarity!” Sweetie called out as the fillies galloped over to her. “What are you doing here?” Rarity wasn’t sure what she should say. On the one hoof, even if the crusaders didn’t know that Scootaloo liked to dance, it was hardly the kind of personal information that needed to be kept a secret. But Scootaloo was fiercely private and this was not the time to be damaging Scootaloo’s trust. Thankfully Scootaloo answered for her before the silence became awkward. “Rarity and I have stuff to do. See you guys later?” Apparently satisfied with the vague answer, both fillies nodded and scurried off with a quick wave over their shoulders. “So why are you here?” Scootaloo asked warily once her friends were a safe distance away. “Well I promised to find you a dance instructor and I think I have. Of course if you don’t like him we can try somewhere else.” “Oh, I thought maybe this was more stupid adoption stuff,” Scootaloo said, brightening up just a tiny bit. Rarity again wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she settled on a gentle “Come dear,” and the pair began the short walk to Toe Tapper’s dance studio. Though he was surprised to see his fellow ponytone outside of rehearsal and showing up unannounced at his studio, he enthusiastically waved Rarity and Scootaloo over with a big smile as they walked in the door. There was nothing particularly distinguishing about the space that Toe Tapper used for his dance studio. The floors were wooden and well scuffed; the walls covered in mirrors so that students could gauge their form from multiple angles and a small table in the corner housed a stereo for playing music. That was it. Rarity trotted over and gave Toe Tapper a perfunctory hug. “Toe Tapper, this is Scootaloo,” she said gesturing to the filly who had taken up residence just to the left of her back legs.  “We’d like to sign up for dance lessons.” The lanky, blue pony trotted around Rarity and offered Scootaloo a hoofshake. “It’s nice to meet you, Scootaloo. Have you ever danced before?” “A little. I used to take lessons,” Scootaloo said, returning the shake, but unwilling to make eye contact. Lots of little fillies took dance lessons to help improve their self esteem, so Toe Tapper was used to dealing with students who were a bit closed off, so Scootaloo's behavior was nothing he hadn't dealt with before. “Well it’s wonderful to have you back then. Maybe you’re ready for the advanced class; do you have a routine prepared?” he asked brightly. Scootaloo sighed. “No. I guess you’d better put me in the beginner’s class,” she said with a sad shrug. Scootaloo might have been willing to enroll in the beginner’s class, just happy to get to dance again; but Rarity was adamant that her talent was too great to be consigned to an entry level.  “Could you please give us a moment?” she asked Toe Tapper. Rarity and Scootaloo retreated to a corner of the room as the teacher busied himself with sweeping the studio floor. “Scootaloo, you’re a very talented dancer.  I highly doubt that you belong in the beginner’s class,” Rarity said pointedly. “But I don’t have anything prepared,” Scootaloo protested. “The dancing you were doing the other day, was that a rehearsed routine?” Rarity asked. “No, I was just fooling around.” A smile began to form on Rarity’s face. “Excellent, I assume you can fool around to a different song?” “Sure if I’m alone. But he teaches ponies how to dance.” Scootaloo stared down at the floor.  “I’ll just embarrass myself,” she sighed. It was the same heartbreaking sigh Rarity had heard far too often. Rarity used a hoof to gently push Scootaloo’s snout upwards, so that she might see the conviction in her next statement. “You are very talented Scootaloo. I promise you won’t embarrass yourself. Trust me.” Trust me, it was a curious phrase. To most ponies it was merely two simple words meant to punctuate an opinion. But to Scootaloo it was a dare.  Trust me, even though experience has taught you that anypony who utters those words will let you down. But there was something in Rarity’s smile, the same subtle warmth that Scootaloo had grown just the tiniest bit used to, that persuaded her that maybe Rarity really was different.  That maybe she saw something in Scootaloo that no other pony could see. Scootaloo took a deep breath, one last glance over at Rarity and approached Toe Tapper. “I don’t have anything prepared but I’d like to audition for the advanced class anyway. Do you have a song I can dance to?” she asked with the little remnants of confidence she was able to summon. “Of course.” Toe Tapper put on a song. It was a simple instrumental piece, mostly modern influences built around a classical foundation. It was the type of song played in dance classes throughout Equestria due to its even tempo and inoffensive melody. Scootaloo hadn’t heard it before but that didn’t matter; after a few moments of listening with her  eyes closed she found what she was searching for; the beat. All songs had a beat, an underlying rhythm that governed how the rest of the song fit together.  Everything else, the melody the harmonics were all ornamentation on that steady pulse of a foundation.  And as soon as Scootaloo found it she began to smile for the first time in days. One-two-three, one-two-three; step-turn-step, step-turn-step. She started off slow, just moving in time with the song. But soon step-turn-step, became step-pivot-shimmy-turn-step-dip. Her whole body began to move in perfect syncopation. Feeling more confident she began to move faster. The turns becoming embellished with little flourishes like a stutter or a glide. Her front hooves swirled around independent from the steps with her back hooves, but throughout the entire song, her rhythm never faltered. One-two-three, step-turn-step. As Rarity watched Scootaloo dance, pride welled up inside her. It felt similar to watching Sweetie’s play. She had played a small part in both performances, and watching her efforts contribute to a little filly’s success was gratifying in a way that few things were. The song ended and Scootaloo stood in the middle of the room, panting with shallow breathes, the result of both nerves and physical exertion. After a long moment of silence Toe Tapper broke out in a polite but enthusiastic bout of applause, much to both Scootaloo’s and Rarity’s relief. “That was wonderful!” he gushed. “Your form faltered a little in the middle, and your transitions could be smoother, but you’re certainly no beginner!” Scootaloo beamed at the praise, Rarity enjoying the smile on her face more than anything else.  “Our advanced class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and every other Saturday at ten a.m.” Scootaloo recoiled inwardly at the prospect of having to wake up early on a Saturday but that feeling was quickly smothered by her happiness at having achieved a small measure of validation. And for the first time since yesterday, she wasn’t thinking at all about Rainbow Dash or finding a family.   The rest of the week quickly became a routine. Scootaloo would go to school and Rarity would run the Boutique during the day. Scootaloo would come home, they would share a meal, sometimes more conversations than others and then sometimes Rarity would tuck Scootaloo in and other times Scootaloo would insist on doing it herself.  And on Thursday Rarity walked Scootaloo home from dance if for no other reason than it gave her a chance to check in with Toe Tapper about an upcoming Ponytones rehearsal. So it came as something of a surprise when a knock on the door on Saturday revealed Autumn waiting for her with a pensive expression on his face. “Good morning Rarity.  Is Scootaloo home?” the social worker asked. “No, she’s with her friends this morning. I believe you could find them at Sweet Apple Acres,” Rarity replied. At the news that Scootaloo wasn’t home Autumn released some of the tension he had been holding in his shoulders. “Can I assume this is not a social call?” Rarity asked, noting his reaction. Her first instinct was that this was another one of those surprise inspections that he had warned about. Her next instinct was that he could be here to deliver some sort of terrible news, such as the family in Baltimare was demanding that Scootaloo move in with them.  That didn’t seem likely, but she was also still very unfamiliar with all the possible scenarios involved with Scootaloo’s adoption. “No, it’s not.” “Then what can I do for you?” Autumn took a deep breath, pausing before speaking.  “Lilly and Treble would like to adopt Scootaloo.”