If it had been up to Rarity, she would have simply told Scootaloo of her wishes, Scootaloo would of course be elated, and the two could begin the difficult but rewarding adjustment process of becoming a family. But, like so many other things involved with Scootaloo’s living situation, Rarity found herself at the mercy of bureaucracy and protocol.
And in this case, protocol was that Autumn would talk with Lilly and Treble after their second visit with Scootaloo, scheduled for later that afternoon. If they still wanted to move forward after that, then Autumn would tell Scootaloo and ask for her input. The insistence that Autumn talk to Scootaloo without Rarity or Lilly present was done to ensure Scootaloo could make a decision without added pressure, as well as encourage her to be open and honest about her feelings.
So Rarity was sent home with explicit instructions not to talk to Scootaloo until she heard from Autumn. On the one hoof, she was sure that if she did inform Scootaloo of her intentions, Foal Services wouldn’t do something so rash as deny her application. But on the other hoof, breaking the rules for something so important felt wrong; so Scootaloo came and went from school and over during their conversations they talked about Sweetie Belle and dancing and poker and not one word about adoption was uttered.
There was one moment when Rarity was tucking Scootaloo in, and she looked at the orange filly snuggled under the covers and for a brief moment everything felt...perfect. And in that moment, not telling Scootaloo that she could stop searching for a home was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. But since she couldn’t, she settled for a “Goodnight, dear,” as she performed one last check to make sure that Scootaloo’s blanket was indeed secure.
The next day, Scootaloo was off at school, and Rarity was trying to focus on her upcoming winter line, albeit without much success. She was in the middle of trying to determine whether the raspberry ribbon would provide more contrast than the periwinkle ribbon in her left hoof when she heard a rapping sound from the other room.
That there was a knock on the door was the first sign that this wasn’t a standard customer visit. Customers just walked right in, invited by the “open” sign Rarity hung on her door. Curious as to who would bother knocking, Rarity trotted past her mannequins and opened the door only to be bewildered by the pair of ponies she saw standing there. It took her a few moments to place them as the ponies she watched Scootaloo play chutes and ladders with a few weeks ago.
“Can we talk?” Lilly asked from the doorway, her husband standing silently off to her right.
“Of course. Would you like some tea?” was the only response Rarity could think of.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Rarity focused intently on getting cups and saucers out of her cabinet and rifling through her pantry for some appropriate brunch tea. Eventually the water boiled, the tea had steeped and everypony had run out of excuses to avoid talking.
“So, what can I do for you? Can I assume you don’t wish to buy a dress?” Rarity asked sliding two cups of freshly brewed tea over to her “guests”.
“Yes, it’s well...it’s about Scootaloo,” Lilly said cautiously.
“I assumed as much. I must say I am surprised to see you here. Autumn led me to believe that we wouldn’t be having any contact.”
“Yes, but we thought that maybe we could save each other a lot of time and headaches if we just talked pony to pony.”
“After all, we all just want what’s best for Scootaloo,” Treble added.
Rarity found herself bristling at Treble’s addendum and she wasn’t sure why. She didn’t know much about them, but they had to be decent enough ponies to have made it this far past Autumn’s screening process. So the idea that they also cared about Scootaloo shouldn’t bother her, but it did. Not because of anything involving their intentions, but rather because it suggested that they shared the same level of concern for a filly they just met as she did for that same filly who had been living with her for the better part of a month.
“We were told that you were her temporary foster mother and that you were taking care of her until a permanent home could be found,” Lilly said, continuing to let her tea cool.
“Yes, well strictly speaking that is still true; I just think her permanent home should be here,” Rarity said taking a sip of her own tea, perhaps as a small rebuke.
“I see. We’d like you to reconsider.”
Rarity almost spit out her drink, instead forcing it down with a large swallow. “Excuse me? You came here to ask me not to adopt Scootaloo? Just who do you think you are?” she exclaimed, her anger growing like a red hot ember inside her. The reaction was fueled more by the idea that two ponies whom she had never actually met had the gall to tell her what to do than it was at the idea that she shouldn’t be the one to adopt Scootaloo, but both aspects fueled her rage.
“We’re not saying you’ve done a bad job, but she seems very unhappy,” Treble offered cautiously.
“Of course she’s unhappy! She’s been in five different homes in eight years! You really think that her mood is somehow my fault?”
“Not at all, but we just feel that she might be happier in a, well a more complete home.”
Rarity’s eyes narrowed and she gritted her teeth. “You actually mean to judge me because I’m not married.”
Lilly shook her head. “No, how you choose to live your life is your own business. But this isn’t just about you. Children grow up better adjusted in houses with both a mother and a father, and we can give her that whereas you can’t.”
“Children grow up better in houses where their parents understand them!” Rarity fired back. “In any case I think Scootaloo should be allowed a say in where she lives.”
“And we feel that it would be best if she didn’t have to make that choice. Children are ill equipped to handle this type of decision,” Lilly said, obviously fighting to keep her voice level.
“So you expect me to just sit here quietly while you decide what’s best for her,” Rarity said, being sure to place a particular emphasis on the word “you”.
“Quite frankly yes.”
“I see. Well, since I won’t be doing that is there anything else I can help you with?”
“I guess not,” Lilly said, standing up to leave, Treble silently following her. Her and her husband promptly left the boutique, leaving Rarity with a fresh set of doubts.
While Rarity was busy defending her choice to adopt, Scootaloo was sitting through another day at school. Scootaloo always had an uneasy relationship with school. She didn’t particularly enjoy it, but it was a refuge from her home life and it was an easy way to spend time with her friends.
“Hey, Scootaloo, isn’t that your friend?” Apple Bloom called out, pointing toward the crowd of parents waiting for their children.
Scootaloo noticed Autumn standing outside the school gates with some of the parents, and her heart leapt in her throat. Autumn never showed up at school unless he wanted to talk to her without any adults around. And he only did that when he was delivering bad news, not that he ever really had good news to deliver.
“Yeah,” Scootaloo mumbled. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle knew that Autumn wasn’t really Scootaloo’s friend per se, but out of respect for their fellow crusader they made sure to never breath a word of Scootaloo’s living situation within earshot of any pony who might possibly tell Diamond Tiara. “I’ll see you girls later,” Scootaloo called over her shoulder as she quickly trotted over to Autumn.
Autumn knew enough not to say anything until they were out of earshot of Scootaloo’s classmates, so the two trotted wordlessly until they reached his office in the Foal Services building. Autumn always made it a point not to sit behind his desk when he spoke to Scootaloo, making sure to always sit next to her on the small couch in his office. He wasn’t sure if Scootaloo noticed or cared, but he did it anyway.
“How are you doing, Scootaloo?”
Scootaloo shrugged. “Fine,” she said, and she meant it. Up until she had been summoned she was as happy as she could really remember being, which was to say that she wasn’t actively unhappy.
Over their years together Autumn had liked to think he had developed something of a rapport with Scootaloo. She wasn’t one for small talk and meandering conversation, she preferred her news delivered short and to the point, so Autumn did his best to oblige. “Lilly and Treble have expressed an interest in adopting you.”
“Okay?” Scootaloo asked with a tilt of her head. It was a sad fact that for many ponies what was a once in a lifetime moment, was something of a routine for Scootaloo. Scootaloo had been through this particular dance several times, and this wasn’t how these things were supposed to go. For starters, the new parents always broke the news themselves. Sometimes they’d give her an envelope with the freshly signed adoption papers, other times they’d simply ask if she was “ready to join the family” or some other euphemistically phrased question. But it was always her “new parents” that told her, so she couldn’t figure out why was Autumn breaking the news.
Autumn continued his thought before Scootaloo could ask her question. “But, Rarity wants to adopt you too.”
If Scootaloo was mildly confused before, now she was genuinely shocked. Rarity had been very upfront about the fact that her stay at the boutique was going to be temporary. In Scootaloo’s opinion, that’s what made her stay work because it meant she didn’t have to worry about trying to make Rarity like her. Rarity wants to… Scootaloo mouthed silently.
“They can’t both adopt you and I have to choose, I’d like your input. This affects you more than it affects me.”
Scootaloo sat frozen on the couch, her mind rapidly trying to reconcile what was happening with her preconceived notions. “Choose what?”
“Who you want to live with.”
“Choose? I - I can't... I don’t know,” Scootaloo stammered.
“If you’d like I can choose for you. They’d never have to know you were given a choice,” Autumn offered, his own way of trying to help.
Scootaloo couldn’t deny that there was something very appealing about that offer. That way when she had to move again, Scootaloo could tell herself it would have worked out differently if only Autumn had chosen better. Despite recent events, Scootaloo couldn’t help but think “what would Rainbow Dash do,” and the answer to that was easy. Rainbow Dash didn’t let other ponies choose her destiny, she controlled her own fate. “No. I mean, I guess I should decide.” There was another pause as Autumn patiently waited for an answer.
“When do I need to decide?”
“You can take as much time as you need. And if you need a place to stay while you think we can get you a room at the hospital.”
“The hospital! But I’m not sick? Am I?” Scootaloo asked, suddenly looking very nervous.
“No, but Ponyville is a small town, there isn’t a whole lot of emergency housing available. I can understand if you might not want to stay with Rarity while you think about this, but you still need a safe place to stay and a hospital room is the best I can do.”
Scootaloo shuddered. The last time she stayed at the hospital was when her second set of parents abandoned her. Her memories of the details of her stay were hazy, but her memories of her emotions at the time were not. To this day, she still took the long way around Ponyville General unless she had a really good reason not to.
“No, that’s okay. I can still stay with Rarity,” Scootaloo said reflecting on all the times Rarity had given her space during the last few weeks. It felt foreign to have extended a significant measure of trust to anypony, but the alternative was a staying inside a hospital and that was even more unpalatable.
Scootaloo could never remember having a place she rightfully considered home, but there was one place in Equestria that came close. The Crusaders Clubhouse was a haven from the outside world. Any turmoil that may have been going on outside didn’t matter within the simple wooden walls, because once a crusader was inside the clubhouse, they could always count on their fellow crusaders to help them.
This time however, Scootaloo was thankful she was the only one here. She didn’t call for an official crusaders meeting, she just wanted a place she could be alone, and the clubhouse was a better alternative than the cave she had picked last time. Alone, and curled up in the corner she reflected on the choice she had to make. The fact that she even had a choice being in and of itself confusing to her.
She had never been given a choice before. Sometime one of her parents would ask her if she thought she might be happier somewhere else, but that was always code for “I’d be happier if you lived anywhere but here.” A small part of her rebelled inwardly. It wasn’t fair that she should have to choose who she lived with. Other ponies didn’t have to make this choice, they got families automatically. She was busy alternating between trying to make a decision and being angry that she even had to,when she spotted Sweetie Belle in the doorway.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. The question wasn’t really accusatory, as a crusader, Sweetie had the same all access pass to the clubhouse as she did.
“Rarity said you hadn’t come home yet and so I thought you might be here,” Sweetie replied stepping into the room proper, taking care to close the door behind her.
There probably wasn’t any sense in lying to Sweetie Belle, and crusaders always told each other the truth anyway. “Rarity wants to adopt me,” Scootaloo said looking up from the corner.
But whereas Scootaloo was scared, Sweetie was ecstatic. “That’s great! We’d be sisters!” she exclaimed happily. Sweetie paused and looked toward the sometimes leaky roof of the clubhouse. After a second her face lit up again, “Well actually I guess Rarity would be kinda like your mom, and I’m her sister so that would make me your aunt! You could call me auntie Sweetie Belle!”
“I am not calling you auntie Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo snapped with a very honest glare.
Sweetie forced her smile down from its 1000 watt level of excitement to something more comforting. “You don’t have to call me auntie Sweetie if you don’t want to,” she said softly. “You don’t even need to think of me as your aunt, we could be sisters, or cousins. We wouldn’t have to be anything really, we’d just be family.” There was another long pause and Sweetie rushed to fill the silence before it became oppressive. “Umm, I know we’re not like the Apples or anything, but please give us a chance Scoots, it’d mean a lot to me.”
Scootaloo just sat there, rapidly blinking as she listened. There was something strangely familiar about Sweetie’s words. After a few moments of staring with wide eyes it hit her, Sweetie’s pleas sounded just like her pleas to Rainbow Dash, full of fear that she was somehow intrinsically flawed. “Wait, you’re worried that I might not want you?” she squeaked.
Sweetie tilted her head, genuinely surprised that her worry would be confusing, because well what else could be the problem. “Well sure,” she said with a shrug. “I mean we already know you’re great and I know that we’re not perfect, but if you let us I promise we’ll all try really hard to be a good family.”
Scootaloo was both touched and humbled by Sweetie’s promise until she remembered that there was no way Sweetie could possibly realize what she was saying. Scootaloo had long ago resigned herself to her unhappy fate, and she wasn’t about to foster it on her best friend. “But they’re your family, Sweetie. I know what it’s like not to have a family, I don’t want to take yours away from you.” she said shaking her head.
Sweetie took another step toward her friend, this time getting close enough to gently touch her shoulder. “A family isn’t like a basket of hay fries Scoots. If I give you some of my family, it’s not like there’s less of them for me. It’s like I give you some hay fires and you give me some hay fries and now everypony has more hay fries.”
“Wait, are we the hay fries? Or is Rarity? And is there any ketchup?”
“Rarity’s the hay fries, but so are we?” Sweetie asked with a scrunched face as she tried to work through the mechanics of her clumsy food metaphor, eventually giving up. “I’m not sure. The point is, you wouldn’t be taking any of my family away, you’d be adding to it.”
Scootaloo flashed back to a day about five years ago on a kindergarten playground. She had been sitting all alone, just playing in the sand when a little white unicorn walked up to her.
“Would you like to use my shovel?” the unicorn asked.
Scootaloo hadn’t said anything. It seemed weird that this total stranger was offering her the use of a shovel. She didn’t need one; her hole in the ground was coming along just fine. Maybe this new pony was there to mock her. I have a shovel and you don’t. She was about to tell white unicorn exactly what she could do with her stupid shovel but before she could the unicorn sat down next to her and started to dig in her carefully constructed hole.
“Hey! What are you doing?” she had yelled at the time.
“I’m sorry,” the white unicorn squeaked. “I’m not very good at digging holes and yours seems really nice and I just thought maybe I could help you and I’ll leave you alone now,” The white unicorn stuttered before quickly getting up to scurry away. But in her haste to leave she had left the little blue shovel that started this mess behind. Scootaloo didn’t really care where her new acquaintance went, but she did know that it was wrong to keep things that weren’t yours. “Wait,” she called out. “You forgot your shovel.” The stranger turned around and slowly walked back over. Scootaloo stared at the ground, and the hole she had been digging. The shovel did seem to be a better tool than just her hooves. “You can stay if you want to.” The unicorn smiled the biggest smile Scootaloo could remember and sat down; resuming her digging in what was now their hole in the ground. “Thanks, my name is Sweetie Belle.”
And the rest, as they say, was history.
Scootaloo snapped out of her daze to see that same white unicorn sitting in front of her, again offering her something that she didn’t think she needed with the same hopeful expression on her face.
Scootaloo looked down and sighed. Sweetie did care about her, she doubted a lot of things but never that, but there was still no way her friend realized what she was signing up for.
“Scoots?” Sweetie said, poking Scootaloo gently with her muzzle.
“I just... I don't want to come between you two. I couldn’t do that to you.”
“Why in Equestria do you think that you’d come between us?” Sweetie asked, settling in next to her orange friend.
“I take up so much of Rarity's time already, and that’s just as a house guest! How can you think she'll have enough time for you if she's stuck taking care of me?”
“She's not stuck with you - she wants to take care you. She cares so much about you, we both do! We're practically family already!”
“Yeah, but what about you? Are you gonna be okay if Rarity can’t play with you cause she has to take dumb ol’ Scoots to a dance recital.”
“If Rarity is taking you to a dance recital, I’m probably going too. Rarity always has stuff to do and she still makes time for me. Why would that change? Just because she loves you doesn't mean she'd love me any less.”
“How do you know?” Scootaloo challenged. In her experience, actual genuine love was far too rare a commodity to be doled out so freely.
Sweetie’s next three words were devoid of any uncertainty. “Because we're family,” she said simply. “My parents didn't abandon Rarity when I was born, and Apple Bloom doesn’t love Applejack more than she does Big Mac or Granny Smith. That's part of what being a family means.”
“But you’re always complaining about her,” Scootaloo pointed out.
“I don’t always complain about her. Besides, that’s the other thing about family, even when you’re mad at each other you still love them.”
Scootaloo found herself at a loss for words. “I... uhh... but…”
“But what?”
Scootaloo couldn’t think of any more objections for Sweetie, but that didn’t mean that she was entirely convinced that she finally found a place where she was wanted. “I think maybe I need to talk to Rarity.”
Well, Lilly and Treble are idiots.
Well damn, that puts a very different perspective on things. Also nice to finally hear from the other CMCs on this. I was wondering what happened to them.
I think the metaphor of lighting candles with candles would have worked better.
But, oh well, what do I know? This was sweet
Daaaaaaw
Yep and rarity wins because of sweetie belle
Sweetie Belle, you adorable marshmallow filly, don't you ever change ;)
6547787 indeed they are, indeed they are...
Finally an update! I think I'm losing it here waiting... But each chapter is worth the wait though! Keep it coming
I liked how Scoots delt with her emotions regarding Rarity adopting her but I would like to see some thought on the other family. I know she was luke warm about the other family but she should consider what they bring to the table also. Otherwise this was a great chapter!
Don't go to the Dark Side, Scoots! The cookies are a lie!
Love this story.
The third to last paragraph threw me off for a few seconds since it didn't get double spaced from the fourth to last paragraph.
Right here is where I took Rarity's side, and I only became more certain of that from then on. I never thought much of those two, but I wasn't against them because we knew so little about them. This here though, made my decision simple.
Well this is already AU with the situation happening. so hoping different mark here when it comes.
6547787 yup and insult the best clothes maker in town. Never smart. Heck they just jeopardize their own attempt with that.
6547979 Well, not to mention that it was made preeeety clear that she's also a national hero.
6547928 I thought Autumn was good at his job, the old lady house of misfits was one thing and handing Scootaloo, a rebel, to a bunch of control freaks is another
6547985 so is RD but RD made the right choice for Scoots by not trying to adopt her.
But yeah they lost any sympathy with that move.
Lily and Treble, I do not like them anymore. Clearly they do not care about her happiness. They are too focused on what is socially accepted as normal. In this case, a home with two parents. Plenty of kids grow up with one parent and live a perfectly happy life.
Now, Scootaloo and Sweetie's conversation. This was very well done. Sweetie really inputs the value of family in a powerful way. I also love how you never have Scootaloo just say "I agree." Realistically, she would argue given her history. Well done.
Finally, the flashback. I'm not sure why but that hit me like a ton of bricks. I love thinking about the history between Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
Once again, I am looking forward to the next chapter! Keep up the good work!
6547928
There is some truth to their words. Generally speaking, children around Scootaloo's age are still developing their cognitive functions, so they aren't as well-equipped for rational decision-making.
But I'm not really sure that applies here. This is only partly a rational decision, after all. Yes, there is a rational component, insofar as making sure Rarity can and will provide for her (she's shown that she will), that Rarity will want her around and treat her the way she should (she's shown that she does and will), and that Rarity isn't doing it for some sort of material gain (given how expensive being a parent is, we know this is not the case). But there is the emotional aspect too. Whether Scootaloo will be loved, whether she'll be happy, and perhaps most critically, whether she'll be in an environment that will help her to actualize her potential, all of which we know to be true.
We can surmise that Lilly and Treble would be great parents; they've made it this far, and they're genuinely interested, so it's not unreasonable to assume so.
But we also know Rarity will be a great parent; there's no uncertainty.
Also, Lilly and Treble are ignoring a critical part of cause and effect. Children do grow up better adjusted in two-parent households; that is true. But they just parrot that fact without considering why that might be. And the why has very much everything to do with the socialization of group dynamics. They're better adjusted because they have a better understanding of "we're all in this together," and working for the good of the herd because they see it more frequently, not because of some kind of psychic field that only surrounds two-parent households.
Rarity made it clear from the start that in this particular mess, they're partners, and they have to work together so they can both be happy, and that's what it's all about. In society and civilization, even when we work together, we can't all get what we want all the time, but through collaboration, we can still be happy despite that, and we work towards that goal because we feel good about helping others reach for the stars, even if we can't reach them ourselves.
That is what it means to be "well-adjusted," and I don't think either Lilly or Treble really understands that.
6547787
No, they are necessary characters in an amazing story.
As The Doctor says,
Instead of report I believe this should be rapport.
Enjoying it all as usual.
wow, Lilly's being a bit of a bitch here.
How's HMX doing?
While Lilly and Treble don't come off as bad ponies to me, it's obvious their visitation to Rarity was an intimidation technique. At least, that's how I perceive it.
Maybe they're one of those couples that has been shafted by the adoption system before (perhaps on multiple occasions) and basically feel entitled to Scootaloo's adoption. I sure hope that's not the case. Even if it were, that doesn't give them the right to show up on Rarity's doorstep and talk all that (albeit subtle) shit.
I think Lilly, and her Husband were rather....unreasonable, even if they of course have to be affraid that they can´t get Scootaloo, it isn´t right to insult Rarity in any way, and that they think a Filly like Scootaloo isn´t smarter than, well a piece of bread,.....well I think children can do far more, at least children like Scootaloo.
a really nice memory, really a nice one.
6548015 If we talk about the same one, then I agree that he was good too, it is just that he makes to many storys at once, and can´t make an update for all of them, and because of that I´m not really able to enjoy his storys. Everything he writes, has more than enough time to get unappealing, just because of the long time.
6547985 well yes, but I´m glad that wasn´t used as a reason in this story, or at least riight now.
6547928 I think I mentioned that too right now, I think they can indeed make such a choice, at least some of them, and I would believe Scootaloo had lived through enough difficult stuff to make such a choice, even if it is still hard for her.
I still hope the story doesn´t end after Rarity can adopt her, I would like to see at least a sequel, where they actually try to be mother, and daughter. Even if Scootaloo lived with her for a while now, I don´t think both of them really......well I think it would be still something different, if they are officially a family.
Do cats comfort you?
6547928 I do agree with you, but I also agree with what they're saying.
The problem comes in what they *mean* by what they're saying.
Children really are pretty darn ill equipped to make a decision of that sort. However, they're using that phrase to mean that they are unequipped to do so.
And there's a world of difference between being at a disadvantage, and being unable.
GAAAAAAAAAAAA!! why the cliff!!! I must know more please!
Think you mean "rapport"
Nice chapter, good work.
6547787 Yep. Whatever their thought process was, it wasn't good.
6548255 Autumn the foal services guy
6548626 ugh yeah... stupid typos.
6548322 huh?
I'm loving the story so far, but I'll be honest, I'm sort of "meh" on having Lilly and Treble be the "bad guys" in the story. It makes Rarity very clearly the 'right' choice, and I don't think a right and wrong choice is what this story needs. I think if Lilly and Treble were genuinely nice and kind and seemed like they would be good parents to Scootaloo rather than the condescending know-it-all idiots they seem like right now, it would present a more genuine, realistic conflict.
Granted, I am definitely glad that Lilly and Treble still aren't total evil like some writers would make them.
Good luck Scootaloo. You deserve Rarilove.
It is ON!
That other family has a father figure?
It's an advantage FPS likes it that way
Twilight I need your help
Anything for you Rarity . . .And Scootaloo
Spike got MARRIED!?
WUT!
img03.deviantart.net/219c/i/2015/259/9/9/that_other_place_color_1_by_hillbe-d99t30s.jpg
6549247 this is a case of an author and his readers interpreting things differently. I never intended to make them bad guys. I thought I had established that they are kind decent ponies. Thier objection was not meant as a dig at Rarity per se but as an expression of their belief that having two parents is better than one (a bit close minded but not completely out of line) and that as a child Scootaloo can't possibly be expected to understand what kind of choice she's making. (Again, not out of line, children make bad choices when left to their own devices)
I'll address this further in later chapters
6549183 ooohhhh sorry, I think there is an author with a similar name, and I meant that guy
6549431 I think I can understand it a bit, but it was still somehow mean to ask her not to do it this way, it could only end like that I think, she started to bond with Scotaloo too, so I don´t think it could ever be considered as a nice act.
I feel like I don´t find the right words right now, but I know what I want to say, or at least how I mean it.
I believe that they are nice ponys, but it wasn´t nice to ask her, to ignore her feelings I guess, maybe it is only wrong if you believe it, but well yes that is somehow my opinion, but I like if a story give us something to .....argue about?
... that was amazing, best chapter yet in my humble opinion.
More chapters please pretty please?
>auntie sweetie
>it's canon
>
It's easy to forget sometimes that the CMC are still kids. Then one of them does something innocently cute, like Sweetie breaking out the analogy of hay fries, that makes you remember that.
6547787 It's Lilly. I like to imagine her curled in the fetal position, chanting "unwed single mothers.... the horror, the horror!"
Oh, look, another touching chapter involving Rarity's internal struggle, Scootaloo trying to make sense of emotions after they've gone through the blender too many times, and Sweetie Belle being the adorable marshmallow we all love.
Sometimes
_____________________
space between ',' and 'when'
__________________
Move down a line.
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Seriously great chapter. I'm going to be sad when this story ends [especially if it doesn't get a sequel following their life, trials / tribulations of a new family life, and what not].
6552585 I'll probably write this in an authors note but the story wont end at Scoots adoption, there's still story to tell after that.
6552350 I can't tell if this is praise masked as sarcasm, or a faint rebuke.
6552613
WhooHoo! Thanks ^_^. I'm glad to hear that.
6549431 Lilly and Treble didn't come off as evil to me, they seem to be genuinely good ponies trying to give a troubled kid a home, though they may be fooling themselves a bit as to their real reason for objecting to Rarity's adoption. (I suspect that if Rarity had a husband, they might try and come up with some other excuse to try and talk her out of adopting Scootaloo, if only because they clearly want her). If you are trying to make them look like good ponies in future chapters, I have a suggestion:
Since they are clearly looking to adopt a foal, even if it's not Scootaloo, Autumn will probably steer them to a new kid if Scootaloo doesn't pick them. Maybe Scootaloo gets a new classmate that just moved to Ponyville because they were adopted by a Treble and Lilly?
6552900 That seems like an akward conversation:
your parents wanted to adopt me
I wasn't their first choice!
6552930 "You're my silver medal."