“So... I was thinking that we go on a vacation, just the three of us. You, me, and Scootaloo.” Twilight paced around the island in Rainbow’s kitchen, a hoof rubbing her chin as she thought. Rainbow was sitting down on the border of the kitchen and the living room, watching her walk in circles with a small smile on her face.
Four days had passed since Scootaloo had been admitted into the hospital, and they had just been able to bring her back home about an hour ago. Scootaloo was taking a nap on the couch, letting the pain medications wear off. Her wings were healed, but the doctor had told both Twilight and Rainbow, in no uncertain terms, that she was not to use them for the next week or so just to be safe.
“Wait, the three of us?” Rainbow asked softly, trying to keep her voice down for their daughter. “What about Spike?” She turned to look out the window. Another snowstorm raged outside, tugging her house this way and that. Might be a good idea to reinforce the bonds connecting our houses... It was pitch-black outside. The clouds were so thick and heavy with snow that it blocked out the moonlight.
“Well... I need someone to watch over and run the library. Shutting it down for a week, or however long we plan to go on vacation for, is something I do not want to do.” Twilight paused and shook her head. “What if someone wanted a book? Or what if someone wanted to return a book? Nobody would be there to help them!” She resumed pacing. “Besides, living in constant fear is something that I will not do. Scootaloo’s old parents have shown that they do not want Scootaloo alive, so I think taking Scootaloo out of harm’s way is a good idea.”
“But what if Scootaloo’s old parents try to get in the library? What if they get to Spike?”
Twilight shook her head. “I seriously doubt that would ever happen. The town is crawling with guards, and we have at least two always in front of the library. I'll talk to him about this tomorrow when we all get up, too.”
Rainbow took a sip of coffee from her mug. It warmed her hooves just enough to keep her content. “Huh... okay. So where should we go?”
Twilight sat down in front of her and grinned. “I was thinking that we could go introduce Scootaloo to our families!”
“Hey, yeah! That sounds like fun! Hehe, I wonder what my parents are gonna think when I show up with you at my side! They haven’t met Scootaloo yet, but they know I’ve adopted her.” Rainbow blushed madly as she remembered her visit with her parents. “And they, um... I kinda told them that I had a thing for you the last time I saw them.”
Twilight cocked her head to the side and grinned. “What, you tell them that you had a massive crush on me?”
“Well, kinda. I told them I had a small crush on you, and that—”
“Come on, a small crush?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes and giggled at that. “Okay, a big crush. I did tell them that I couldn’t tell if you were into me or not, and...” Dash scratched the back of her head. “I wonder what they’re gonna think when I tell them that I actually mared up and asked you out.”
“Hehe...” Twilight cracked a smile and nuzzled Rainbow’s cheek. “You know... We still haven’t gone on that date yet.”
Rainbow blushed a little and bit her cheek as she glanced away. “Oh yeah, about that.... What if... hm.” She heard Scootaloo yawn softly, making her turn around to look. Lowering her voice, she said, “Tell you what... Why don’t we go somewhere nice up in Canterlot? You pick the place, and I’ll pay for the whole thing!”
Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, that sounds great! I know just the place, too! It’s right on the edge of the city, looking over the valley. It is really expensive, but—”
“You’re worth it.” Rainbow scootched closer and laid a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Every last bit...” She leaned in, closed her eyes, and laid a gentle, tender kiss on Twilight’s lips. “We’re gonna have fun, you and me.” She let her hoof fall back to the floor as she blushed. “But first, I think we should check up on Scootaloo... It sounds like she’s waking up.”
Twilight nodded. The two of them walked around the side of the couch and sat down on either side of Scootaloo. Rainbow lay down on her stomach and brushed Scootaloo’s mane with a hoof. “Hey there, sleepyhead...” Rainbow scratched her daughter behind her left ear. Scootaloo groaned and pushed up into Rainbow’s hoof, the beginnings of a smile pulling the sides of her lips up. “How’re you feeling?” she asked softly.
“Mmm... sleepy still...” Scootaloo murmured. She cracked open an eye and saw Rainbow Dash laying beside her. As a shiver ran down her back, she pushed herself up against Rainbow’s side and laid her head on Rainbow’s hoof. She nuzzled Rainbow and smiled when she felt Rainbow lay a wing over her. “Love you guys...”
Twilight slid closer to them and nuzzled Scootaloo’s head, right in between her ears. “And we love you too, little one.” Scootaloo hummed in content. Twilight laid a tiny kiss where she had just nuzzled her, then she sat back. “If you’re awake enough, Rainbow and I have some good news to tell you!”
“Hm?” Scootaloo opened one eye and looked up at Twilight. “Whatcha mean?” she mumbled.
Twilight glanced at Rainbow. “You wanna tell her?”
“Sure.” Rainbow rubbed Scootaloo’s side with the tip of her wing. “We’re gonna go on a vacation!”
Scootaloo perked up at that. Her ears flicked up and she lifted her head from Rainbow’s leg. “Really? Where are we going?” Her gaze switched from Twilight to Rainbow a few times.
Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo’s mane. “First, we’re gonna go see Twilight’s parents in Canterlot, then we’re gonna go see mine in Cloudsdale, and then we’re gonna go to the Crystal Empire!”
“Oh my gosh, that sounds awesome!” Scootaloo stood up and hopped in place, a wide grin on her face. Her head swayed back and forth, making her slump back down against Rainbow’s side. “Oh gosh, I feel kind of dizzy...”
“I think the pain meds are still wearing off, squirt. If you want, I can bring you upstairs and we can snuggle up in my bedroom.” Rainbow tickled Scootaloo’s side with the tip of a feather again. “And I’m sure Twi would have no problem joining us, right?”
“You know I’d never say no to that, Dash! But instead of wasting time walking up there...” Twilight lit her horn, concentrated on the three of them, and teleported them up to their bedroom. “We can get right to the best part!”
“Oh, so you’re admitting that you skip ahead to see what happens at the end of your books now, hm?” Rainbow quipped, nudging Twilight’s neck with her muzzle.
“W-what? I would n-never do such a thi— Oh.” Twilight grinned and nudged Rainbow back. She lay down on her side and used her magic to pull Scootaloo up against her side, then let a warm smile slip on her face when Rainbow snuggled up to them. She laid a wing over Rainbow’s back, making sure to cover all but Scootaloo’s head.
“So Canterlot first, huh?” Rainbow laid her head down on a pillow and scootched closer so that her head was only a few inches away from Twilight’s. She saw Twilight’s horn light up, then felt the sheets cover them. As warmth seeped into her, she yawned, and right as she was closing her mouth, she felt Twilight’s lips upon her own. Dash returned the kiss with a subdued vigor, then broke away after a few seconds. “I love it when you kiss me when I’m least expecting it,” she admitted.
“I thought you might like that... So yeah, Canterlot first. I can’t wait to tell my parents about us.” Twilight tucked her head under Rainbow’s chin, taking care to lay her horn on the side of her neck. The last thing she wanted to do was to poke her throat with the tip of her horn. She nuzzled her and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “You have no idea how much I love snuggling with you, Dashie...”
“Heh, well, if you like it as much as I do, I think I have a pretty good idea.” Rainbow unfolded the wing that she wasn’t laying on and wrapped it around Twilight’s back, then she flicked her tail around her flank. “You know, I really can’t wait to take you out.” She felt Twilight squirm for just a moment.
“Me too, Dash...”
“Gosh, do you two have to be so sappy when I’m around?” Scootaloo asked as she rolled over onto her back. She wriggled in between the two of them, trying to find the perfect snuggle spot.
“Only when we’re all snuggling together, little one,” Twilight murmured. “Anyways... we’ll leave tomorrow evening. I want to talk to Rarity about something, plus I want to give my parents enough of a heads up that we’re coming for a few days.”
“What do you need to talk to Rarity about, Twi?”
“You’ll see.”