//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: Acceptance // Story: The Element of Loyalty // by Darkswirl //------------------------------// "You can do it, Rainbow Dash; I believe in you." Derpy Hooves said as they both stood outside the door to Scootaloo's room. Dash tried to control her excitement, but it wasn't easy. "C'mon, I can't wait to see the little squirt!" she said cheerfully. "Not to mention you've been healing incredibly fast and very well-" Dr.Stable was explaining as Derpy and Dash trotted into the room. "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo gasped in amazement, shock, and joy. "Hey kid; how've ya been?" she said and took her place across from Dr. Stable. "Hello, Ms. Dash. I was just telling Ms. Scootaloo how amazed I was at her healing rate. She should be out of the hospital in another week; that is, as long as she doesn't pull anymore stunts." he finished, trotting out of the room. "I can't believe you came!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "I'd never leave my biggest fan hangin'!" Dash giggled. "I...I wish I could get up and hug you..." Scootaloo admitted sadly. Then suddenly, Rainbow Dash leaned forward and carefully wrapped her hooves around the little filly. "You're so awesome, Rainbow Dash..." Scootaloo whispered. Not as awesome as you are, kid. she thought happily, a tear forming in her eye. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~=Epilogue=~ "C'mon kid, race ya' there!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she sped ahead of Scootaloo and into Cloudsdale. Scootaloo kicked herself off the ground and flapped her wings, first making a soft buzzing noise which then turned into slow flapping as she took off into the skies. "Rainbow Dash, look! I'm doing it!" she shouted to her role model, who had stopped to wait for her. "Good job, Scoots! I always knew you could do it!" Rainbow Dash encouraged, guiding Scootaloo up to the cloud city. "I still can't believe you're doing this! This is so awesome!" Scootaloo shouted as they landed on the fluffy streets of the sky city. Rainbow Dash giggled and led the way to City Hall. - "Sign here and here, please." the purple pegasus receptionist said, handing them two new forms. Rainbow Dash sighed as she signed her name for the sixteenth time, then handed the pen to Scootaloo, who signed her name enthusiastically. "Thank you very much; it's now official." the purple pony said as she started making copies of the forms. - As Dash trotted out of the cloud capital, documents in mouth, Scootaloo suddenly stopped bouncing around her and noticed Derpy Hooves and Spitfire sitting outside of a coffee shop. Dash took notice as well and galloped over. "Oh, hey Rainbow! Hey Scoots! Glad to see you could make it up here, especially after how soon you got out of the hospital." Spitfire said calmly, taking a sip of her drink. Scootaloo began blabbering in an excited tone about Celestia knows what, so Dash sat at the table with her two friends. "I didn't know you two knew each other; how'd you meet?" Rainbow Dash asked, a hint of playfulness on her tongue. Spitfire and Derpy shared a knowing look and didn't answer. "So.....Anyways, I guess I'll catch you two later!" Rainbow said, starting to leave. "Dash, wait up!" Spitfire called before the blue mare could fly away. "You forgot something..." Dash couldn't believe her eyes. On the table in front of Spitfire sat a neatly folded blue and yellow body suit. The suit that Dash had dreamed about wearing since she was a little filly. The suit that was now HERS. - "So...Sleepy..." Scootaloo said as she stumbled into Rainbow Dash's cloud home. "Heh, the bed's in the back; I'll sleep out on the couch for tonight." Dash said, dropping a stack of papers on the fluffy table before heading into the back. "By printing your name, you hereby claim all parental responsibility over Ms. Scootaloo. By printing your name, you acknowledge that Ms. Dash has claimed parental rights over your being. Adoptive Parent's Signature: Rainbow Dash Adopted Child's Signature: Scootaloo"