The nights breeze rushed through her mane, the air filled with the scent of nature. Scootaloo sighed as she stared out into the sky. She had been supposed to go back before Princess Luna raised the moon but she couldn't resist, she loved the night. Many ponies would be scared of the dark, scared of the unknown hidden around the corner. All they saw was the black of the night and not it's true beauty. The intertwining colours of the sky as the diamonds in the sky fl. Her parnckered, designed by the princess of the night herself (and Discord but don't mention that around Princess Luna.)
Tonight was not going to be as pleasant as she hoped. She had gotten her cutie mark hadn't she? Then why wasn't she smiling? Why wasn't she home and instead looked for the company of darkness. The answer was simple. At this time, at this place, at this very moment darkness was the only kind company she could get. Her friends didn't know, her 'sister' hadn't heard and only her caretaker would be able to say the words in the first place.
She was weak. She was worthless. She wasn't needed by anyone. She didn't need anyone except her closest friends. Her only memories of needing someone was when she was young. She might act as if she wanted family but the truth was that friends were all she needed.
Her parents? Not even the oldest memories held them. She had been born and abandoned. Then there were her sisters, her identical sisters. And even then all that remained in her subconscious was disjointed voices and broken memories. And their cutie marks, their amazing cutie marks. All she knew about them was that one was a singer and the other a dancer.
When she had been younger she had tried both. The reason why she wanted to sing so badly at the school talent contest. She was a terrible singer and would always sing a sour note.
She had thought that she was at least a decent dancer, having been able to guide Apple Bloom. She had thought she would get a cutie mark in that but apparently not! Instead she got stuck with this! What did this even mean? That she was fast?! But she thought her talent was helping others with their talents when she couldn't even properly help herself! Even then when she did manage to help someone like Diamond Tiara she needed the other three! That didn't... She...
It hit her. It hit her hard. She might have her talent. She might hold a symbol on her flank. However she would always need them to be significant, to be important. It wasn't as if she disliked her friends quite the opposite it's just...
Ever since her sisters had disappeared as if from one memory to the next, she had learned that being self reliant was the best for you. Sure she asked Rainbow to teach her, her idol helping her and she got called her little buddy but to be honest? If Rainbow really loved Scoots as much as she claimed she would have had a family long ago.
She shouted into the dark. Into the now steadily growing cold air. She wasn't phased the temperature at all, she had survived worse by herself at a much younger age. To her surprise there was a reply to her cry of anguish and anger. A voice that until today would have her freeze and expect attack. A voice that would have her hide all her feelings further than Tartuarus. The voice of Diamond Tiara.
"Scootaloo? Are you okay? I mean, what are you even doing here?" Scootaloo rolled her eyes and dropped her guard that had built up on instinct. She tapped the ground beside her as she lay against the cool grass under the tall chestnut tree. Diamond looked at her, confused. Surely now came the reply she was to beautiful to lay around in the dirty ground. To her surprise that was not the case as her newest friend shrugged and lay down in the green grass. "So? What are you doing here?"
"Could ask you the same thing." Diamond laughed and Scootaloo tilted her head in confusion.
"This place is my garden and I was going for a walk." Scootaloo was alarmed at the news, she had come here so often and never once thought it was private property. "Oh, don't worry about getting in trouble! It's mine but you are my friend so I don't really mind..."
"Thanks." There was a pause. " What if I told you I came here before today?"
"Before? Well, it's mine since yesterday so you know. Can't really blame you for not knowing if that's the case. I'm pretty new to it myself"
"Must be fun..." Scoots said before she could stop her thoughts.
"Fun? What's fun?" Diamond looked at her as if she had gone insane.
"Don't worry..."
"No. If something's bugging you I really want to know!"
"Really?" Diamond nodded. Scoots eyes travelled upwards and then she gasped. Something was missing." Wait! Where's you're tiara?!"
"That tacky thing? I stopped wearing it! If I'm going to make amends I need to stop thinking myself superior! My dad was so proud! And my mum! My mum..." The word mum and dad stung like a thousand bees. She could never use those words again... Ever. " Can I tell you something? The truth?"
"Sure! I Pinkie Promise I'll keep it a secret! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Scootaloo did the actions and made her companion laugh.
"Thanks. Well... Truth is... I'm scared. I'm scared of what will happen when I get home so I'm staying here for a while."
"Why are you scared? You have a home don't you? A place to call your own?"
"Yeah but that doesn't always mean I'm safe... Wait, you make it sound like you don't!"
"I don't have anything except the bloody orphanage, excuse my Prance."
"Really? I never knew! But... Why tell me? I'm sure you're friends don't know either! Why not tell some pony you trust first? Instead telling somepony like me..."
"Because somepony you trust will lie to keep you safe while somepony you barely know will always tell the truth."
" What would they lie about?" Scootaloo sighed, she had to tell somepony eventually.
"Tell me the truth. When you look at me, what do you see?"