//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Home is Where the Heart is // by smileyfacer //------------------------------// Ever since the relationship between Rarity and Sweetie Belle had improved, the two had begun to get along a lot better. As it had become their custom, Rarity walked Sweetie Belle to school, which had been hard in the beginning. Rarity had her boutique to take care of, and therefore could sleep somewhat in every day, but this had changed when she realized that school for Sweetie Belle started hours before the usual boutique opening hours. She couldn't help but let out a yawn, as she handed her little sister the breakfast she always made for her - pancakes, preferably with any kind of fruit in them. "How's the quest for your cutie marks going darling? It seems only like yesterday these three astonishing diamonds showed up on my very own flank. But please remember, that such thing takes time." Rarity asked, and nipped her own morning tea. She refused to drink coffee in the mornings, as she suspected it of giving her coat quite a less-shiny look, much to her regret. "It's alright. But Scootaloo was really sad yesterday, and we don't know why." "Oh," Rarity exclaimed, and sipped a bit of tea before continuing, "is it because of your cutie marks? Or perhaps her chicken-like nature?" Neither of them could help but to let out a little snicker, before Rarity shook her hoof in polite dismissal. "No no, she's charming, ofcourse. Although she's quite the tomcolt." "Me and Applebloom thi-" "Darling, it's called Applebloom and I, please learn the proper grammar." Rarity interrupted, which earned a cold glare from Sweetie Belle. She smiled at her little sister, and made a gesture to make the unicorn filly continue. "Applebloom and I," she said, with a great emphasis on the 'I' part,"thinks it's because of her missing family." "Well, it is quite a horrible event, to be without a parent, Sweetie Belle. Surely, if you didn't have me, or mom and dad, wouldn't you feel slightly sad?" "Ofcourse I would! I just wish I could make Scootaloo feel better. Maybe that's because she haven't gotten her cutie mark?" Sweetie Belle replied, and cocked her head in a questioning manner at her sister. "Whatever do you mean, little sister?" Rarity exclaimed, and responded by cocking her head in the same manner, causing yet another fit of giggles. "When we get our cutie marks, it means that we have found our special talent, right?" Rarity nodded, and drunk the last few drops of her tea. "So we need to feel special, to get our cutie marks?" "Yes, Sweetie Belle, darling. What is your point with this questionaire?" Rarity asked, the annoyance evident in her voice. "If Scootaloo doesn't feel special at anything, how will she ever get her cutie mark?" Rarity went silent for quite awhile, and waited for Sweetie Belle to finish up her pancakes and apple juice, before she replied to that. "Sweetie Belle, my dear. We haven't always been on the best of terms, due to some various confrontations between the two of us. I wish with all my heart that we could have gotten a better relationship sooner, for it is quite undoubtly one of the best things I have accomplished in life - to be the best sister I could try to be. Do you not like that we are getting a long so better now?" Sweetie Belle nodded, and sat quietly as her sister explained. "Now, if we assume that Scootaloo's parents, and or siblings are all alive, but not with her, how do you think that makes her feel?" "Horrible!" Rarity nodded, and smiled as she saw how Scootaloo's situation had start to become clear to her own sister. "Yes, my dear, and I suspect that is just what darling Scootaloo's problem is. She is feeling unwanted by her very own family, who abandoned her so long ago." All of sudden, Sweetie Belle ran over to her older sister, who almost seemed to flinch as the little filly lovingly hugged the mare. "I'm glad you want to be my sister Rarity." she said and looked up to the white mare's blue eyes. Rarity couldn't help but let out the widest smile, and try to conceal the tears in her eyes. "And I am glad you will be mine, Sweetie Belle." Rarity had never considered Scootaloo's situation before now. Although it was recent that the bond between her own little sibling had improved vastly, she always had a choice to make amends, or not. She thought of it as cruel that Scootaloo didn't even have the choice to say yay or nay to have a sibling. She and Sweetie Belle had never praised having a sister more than during these recent times, but Rarity, although she swore that to herself not too long ago, swore to herself again that the appreciation of her little sister had to be shown more often. They ended their tight embrace, and Rarity only took a glimpse at her younger sister's mane, thus letting out a sigh. "Now, darling, before we go, I must fix your mane. It's horribly messy, and I can't have you walk around with a messy mane!" she insisted, much to Sweetie Belle's annoyance. Nonetheless, the little unicorn obliged to her older sister's wishes, which she instantly regretted. Ofcourse, now that Rarity had begun styling her little sister, she tried to take it to the extreme with a variety of accessories. "Rarity! I'm going to be late, let's just go!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, and shook off all of the things that Rarity had magically placed upon the white filly. "Ugh, fine! If you must be a mess, be one. But don't come whining to me if anypony comments on it!" Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, and muttered to herself: "You're one to talk about whining..." "Excuse me?" Rarity asked, and cocked a well-trimmed eyebrow at her sister. Sweetie Belle smiled widely, and said nothing before the two sisters walked out the door, and were on their way to just another schoolday. The familiar school-bell rung in for the first class of the day, and the foals of Ponyville rushed in to get to their seats. As if on queue, the Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived almost at the same time. Applebloom walking with Applejack, Sweetie Belle with Rarity, and then Scootaloo with the few other orphan foals that attended the Elementary School. "Alright my little ponies, I hope you have a wonderful day at school. Remember to be home after the last class, unless you've gotten permission to stay out until then." An entire choir of 'bye headmistress' echoed in Scootaloo's ears, as she and the other orphans bid the headmistress farewell. She glanced over to Applejack and Sweetie Belle, who tenderly hugged their sisters goodbye. Although she had often been told that bitterness would always consume somepony, seeing her two best friends have such relationships with their family stung like the most vicious bee. Scootaloo wished more than anything that she could just be content with having her friends, but she wanted something more, and the mere thought started to cause her eyes to run and snout to sniffle. Scootaloo wanted a family, alas, she had none. She could feel the tears beginning to form in her grayish eyes, but with the temper she was known for, she shook her head. No Scootaloo, no tears. You don't need a family. It's too sappy for you to be like this, so mare up already! She shook her head once more, and when the other Crusaders had said their own goodbyes to their elder sisters, Scootaloo put on her usual facade, and trotted over to them. "Morning Crusaders! Ready to try getting our cutie marks again today?" "Sure thang Scootaloo, how ye' fellin' t'day?" Applebloom asked, and Scootaloo smiled at the evident country accent the little filly had. Another burst of pain hit her, as she realized it was something she had gotten due to her heritage at Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith and Applejack spoke just like her, and even Big Macintosh did, although he never said much. "Quite alright. Why you asking?" Scootaloo replied, immediately hiding the inner turmoil of emotions she had going on. "It's called why are you asking, Scootaloo, and Applebloom's asking because you were so sad yesterday." Sweetie Belle quickly corrected, which Scootaloo also recognized as Rarity's extreme need for perfection. Everything had to be perfect, and was it not done perfectly, there was no need to do it anyway. "Much better, thanks girls. I-" The second bell ring stopped the conversation, and all of the fillies quickly trotted inside the classroom. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had begun talking about what interesting things Miss Cherilee would teach today. Applebloom was hoping for something about the greater cities of Equestria, whereas Sweetie Belle was concerned about the countries outside of Equestria. But as Scootaloo took her seat inside the small room, there was only one thing she had in mind, as it had been occupied with just these thoughts for a couple of monts. It was obvious how the families of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had affected them, and helped them make the ponies that Scootaloo knew and loved today, yet it arose a question that the pegasus filly had trouble with answering. Who were helping her to be the best pony she could be? With a sad look on her face, right during class, it was impossible for miss Cherilee not to notice the expression on Scootaloo's face. "Scootaloo, what are you thinking of" the teacher asked. "Sorry miss, I'm just thinking about the very interesting fact you just told us." Although Scootaloo could see the obvious concern in Cherilee's eyes, the teacher, kind and loving as she was, decided not to confront her pupil about the same obvious sadness emitting from the filly's eyes, and instead did what she usually did when noticing a pupil not paying attention. "What fact was that again?" Scootaloo's determined expression suddenly turned to flushed cheeks and an embarassed one instead. "I don't know miss, I'm a bit tired this morning." "Try to pay attention, Scootaloo, please," Miss Cherilee gently chastised, before she continued, "now, as I was saying, the lands surroun-" Before long, all of the thoughts miss Cherilee spoke only became a slight echo in Scootaloo's ears, as she began to wonder about families, especially her own. She glanced upon the blackboard, and saw how miss Cherilee were writing down some things on the blackboard, that Scootaloo at the moment could care less about. Scootaloo wanted nothing more that school soon would be over, and she could cuddle up under her cover back 'home' with Teddy under her foreleg. It was not much, but Teddy seemed to be the best console for a family, and with pain in her heart, Scootaloo realized how far from an actual family, a stuffed animal was. Right then in the classroom, Scootaloo had never felt more unwanted, misunderstood or alone in her entire life. Just adding a little thank you note to those who have been reading my story thus far. It's so nice to see that someone enjoys it, and I'm very glad you do! I hope this chapter was satisfying to those who read it. I hope for another update within a couple of days, so until then! :-)