Despite her breakthrough, Scootaloo realized very quickly that there was a very large gulf between knowing you didn’t have to be sad, and actually not being sad. For so long Scootaloo carried around her sadness as a perverse shield, that the thought of letting it go was oddly frightening. She took the long way back, using the occasion to think about her life in Ponyville, her friends, and her time with Rarity.
She opened the back door of the Carousel Boutique and stepped inside. Taking a moment to look around the now familiar kitchen, Scootaloo felt an odd sensation. Spurred by an unknown motivation she opened the silverware drawer to find her set left right where she left it. She looked over at the drying rack next to the sink where the plate she had breakfast on was now clean and ready for another meal. Without needed to go upstairs she knew that her scooter was in the corner and that her bed was neatly made, complete with fluffed pillows and maybe a mint.
The familiar whir of a sewing machine told her
Rarity wasn’t busy with a customer. She peeked through the door and took a moment to study the pony who was one step away from becoming her actual family. Rarity was wearing her red cat eye glasses as she pushed a shiny piece of green silk through her sewing machine. Her horn was illuminated as a separate silver spool of thread hovered nearby, feeding into the thread guide. Beneath the din of the machine she could almost hear Rarity humming a jaunty tune.
Scootaloo took a few steps forward but Rarity’s work commanded all her attention.
She made it halfway across the room before Rarity noticed her. Rarity glanced up from her half finished dress to see Scootaloo standing in the middle of the room, staring at her with an expression that could only be described as quizzical.
“Are you okay, dear?” Rarity asked, seeing Scootaloo’s expression.
Scootaloo stumbled forward, closing the rest of the distance and grabbed onto Rarity’s forelegs in an awkward hug. Rarity repeated her question, her concern now growing. “Did something happen?”
Scootaloo shook her head and Rarity could feel a soft cheek rubbing against her foreleg. She didn't elaborate because what could she possibly say that would mean anything? She kept hugging until she realized it didn’t matter how long she stayed there. Rarity was perfectly content to reciprocate the gesture. And at that realization she felt lighter. It wasn't that she instantly let go of her past, it was still there, weighing on her subconscious, but for the first time she felt capable of carrying it.
Scootaloo let go and looked up to see Rarity patiently smiling down at her. Rather than pry any further or attempt to unpack Scootaloo’s spontaneous outpouring of affection, Rarity turned her attention to more immediate concerns. “Perhaps we should have barley soup for dinner?”
“I’d like that, and could we maybe go visit Rainbow Dash tomorrow?” Scootaloo said softly.
The next morning, Scootaloo found herself at Rainbow’s front door as Rarity stood a respectful distance behind her, thanks to a cloudwalking spell learned from Twilight She rang the bell and waited what seemed like an hour for Rainbow to answer the door.
Not used to unannounced visitors, Rainbow wore the faintest hint of a scowl as she flung open the door, but it quickly dissipated when she saw who was standing there.
“Hi,” Scootaloo said softly.
Rainbow Dash glanced at Rarity who gave her friend a reassuring nod. “Hi, Scoots.”
“I never said thank you for coming to my dance recital.”
“Well maybe I kinda sorta flew out of there before you got the chance to.” There was a tension filled break before Rainbow spoke again. “That's what you came to say?”
And then came the moment Scootaloo had been playing over and over again in her mind since yesterday Scootaloo shook her head. "I don't think I'm mad at you anymore."
Rainbow Dash burst into a smile, one which faded when she noticed Scootaloo's downcast expression. "But?"
"But I guess it still hurts. I mean I know it's not your fault, but... "
"Scootaloo, I..."
"No, I get it. Things are..." Scootaloo glanced backwards at Rarity for a second. "...good. Better, at least. I know it's not fair, but I just always thought you'd adopt me. I think that maybe I never really considered you didn't want to.”
"It wasn't about that,” Rainbow protested weakly.
”But it kinda was, wasn't it? I've gotta think that, if we had the same parents, you'd want me with you before you'd let me move all the way to Baltimare."
Rainbow looked at the ground, her eyes decidedly misty with tears. "I... I don't know. I honestly don't know, Scootaloo. I didn't want you to leave. You know that, right?"
"I know, and I am thankful you were there, at the recital. I want you to be at things. With me. Dr. Sunshine says that it's good to take some time to process things. I think that this is one of those things.”
Rainbow didn’t know who Dr. Sunshine was, and that knowledge just added to the gulf between what she thought she knew about Scootaloo and what she actually did know. “Okay, I get that. So what do you want me to do?”
A few months ago, the answer would have been “adopt me”, and a few weeks ago Scootaloo wouldn’t have been able to answer the question. “I want you to be my sister, if you still want to, that is.”
“You bet I do, Squirt. Maybe if it’s okay with Rarity, we could go flying. I’m not doing anything today.”
Scootaloo’s smile returned, “I’d like that. Can I go Rarity?”
“Of course, dear, just be home before dinner. And you Rainbow Dash,” she said pointedly, “promise to be careful.”
Dash grinned at Rarity. “Where’s the fun in that?”she said, her grin widening. I’ll catch her if she falls, you know that,” she quickly added.
A bit of red touched Rarity’s cheeks, “Yes, quite.”
“Thanks, Rarity,” Scootaloo said, though she turned her gaze up to Dash.
“Yeah,” Rainbow said, her smug grin falling into a genuine smile. “Really, Rarity, thanks.”
Rarity dismissed it with an airy wave of her hoof. “You two enjoy yourselves. I’m certain you have plenty of catching up to do.”
A few weeks later, Scootaloo found herself sitting in class when Cheerilee made an announcement.
“Okay class. As you all know Family Appreciation day is coming up. For this year’s celebration, I want you all to write a report about a family member that you’re going to read out loud at a big celebration in the Ponyville Amphitheater.”
The class buzzed with excitement. Some students nervous about speaking in front of so many ponies, others wondering who they should pick as their subject.
“Mrs. Cheerilee?” Diamond asked with a smile and a raised hoof as the class quieted down. “Can our report be about anypony? Or does it have to be somepony who’s actually related to us, like by birth?”
“Your report has to be about a family member Diamond. You don’t have to be related by birth to be family.”
Diamond nodded. “Okay, I was just wondering because it seems like if somepony isn’t related to you, they really can’t be family,” Diamond said with a crocodile smile and the faintest hint of a glance toward Scootaloo.
“Families come in all shapes and sizes, Diamond. Please see me after class,” Cheerilee said. Of course the whole class knew the phrase “see me after class” was thinly veiled code for “you’re getting punished”.
“But Mrs. Cheerilee, I was only trying to clarify what you meant,” Diamond protested with a pout.
“No you weren’t, Diamond. See me after class,” Cheerilee said with authority borne of years of teaching. One simply did not argue with Cheerilee when she adopted that tone. Her message delivered, Cheerilee again smiled and continued her lesson plan on some of Equestria's early Family Appreciation Day traditions.
But even though Diamond was getting punished for her obvious dig, Scootaloo found it hard to concentrate. While the rest of the class quickly hurried out for lunch and recess Scootaloo lingered behind.
“Mrs. Cheerilee?”
“Yes, Scootaloo?”
“Do I have to do a report for family appreciation day?”
From a different student Cheerilee might have assumed that the question was meant as an excuse to get out of homework, but from Scootaloo the question was not an unreasonable one. Cheerilee had a working knowledge of Scootaloo’s home life. And though she wasn’t privy to all the details, she knew enough to realize that this wasn’t a student simply trying to get out of an assignment.
Scootaloo had been excused from other family holidays, newborn celebration day among them, but this report wasn’t an onerous one. It didn’t require a deep bond or intimate knowledge of a family member. Cheerilee mainly wanted to use the holiday as a chance for her students to practice their public speaking skills.
“Why don’t you want to?” she asked, hoping to understand her student a little better.
Scootaloo struggled with her answer, it was more complicated than she was willing to admit to herself. “I haven’t been living with Rarity very long and I don’t want to bother her more than I already have.”
“All you have to do is talk about her; what she likes, her favorite foods, that sort of thing. That isn’t a big deal is it?”
“No, it’s not.” Scootaloo was forced to concede. The real reason Scootaloo didn’t want to do the report was that it felt like a public declaration that she had a family, and despite everything, she still wasn’t entirely sure that she had really, truly, found one. It was one thing to have a place to stay, but quite another altogether to announce to the world that said place was home. And what if Rarity didn't like her report? And what if Sweetie wanted to write hers about Rairity too?
Cheerilee considered her options. She wasn't about to excuse Scootaloo from the assignment, but she also didn't want any assignment she gave to make any of her students uncomfortable. “You have to do a report, Scootaloo. But if you’d like you can give yours about Princess Celestia or Princess Luna. There are lots of books in the library about both of them that you could use to help you. Does that sound fair?”
Scootaloo breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded. Public speaking didn't really bother her, publicly declaring she had a family did.
Glad to see this fic is still alive!
This is great.
Continue to grow, Scoots. You got this.
updateupdateupdateUPDATE YAY!
The feels, the feels! Seriously I need a tissue here.
Nice chapter, even though I feels like forever to end.
It's been forever!
Punch DT in the face!
Dawwhh. Cute.
Oh really? I'd bet you change your tune really quick if you had to write a report about your mother, Diamond Tiara. Also, that's low, even for you.
7794377 But what if it's opposite day?
I want to see Cheerilee rail on Diamond.
Scootaloo? You had to bring it up didn't you....
You have to admit it was pretty cool
Yes it was but,,,
Everpony knows about it anyway
yes but..
But he taught me how to breath fire.
WUT?!
WUT?!
Just call me Zippo
You should of seen Diamonds flank smoke as she ran away
OH? 5 LITTLE POOPY PANTS!
7794535
I'd like to see Diamond on the rails. The train tracks. Tied to them. With the Friendship Express due any minute.
are you going to make part 2 of this story?
7794620 After learning why she's the way she is, I'd rather see her mother there instead.
7794738 I don't know if Spoiled Rich exists in the universe of this fic, this is the same universe in which Sofa and Quills sells more than two things.
7794620 too quick
7794785 Until proven otherwise I will direct my hatred at the parent, not the foal.
7794375 I can't recall any of the Celestia or Luna fics being good...i just said they exist.
a look at my favorites bookshelf will point you toward other Scootadopts I like.
7794785
7794620 She does, she's just not in this story
With this chapter, I just felt like this story should end with Rarity x Rainbow Dash.
7794957 Ah, I see. Well I guess that makes Diamond's comment all the more ironic.
7795022 no. This is not a ship fic
7795028 are we sure Spoiled Rich is DT's step mom. I'm pretty sure they're related.
7795033 Which means she really shouldn't be suggesting somepony has to be related to you to be family. Since Spoiled is quite obviously the worst parent you could ever ask for.
7795032
I'll wait for the sequel then.
7795032 good, nice to see some people don't always start shipping just because they can
>does a report on Princess Celestia
>Celestia shows up
>"HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS YOUR MOTHER?"
>Discord eats popcorn
ahhh yes I remember that no matter how it exactly happened last time, that Rainbow made herself look like an asshole, even if I defended her so far.
Scootaloo breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded. Public speaking didn't really bother her, publicly declaring she had a family did. okay that is somehow tough matter. I guess even if Rarity understands her situation, it could look a bit akwards or maybe even make her feel weird if Schootaloo would be the only one not talking about family. I think this is one of the moments, where you can understand it, but where you will feel bad anyway.
On the other hoof it would not be fair to force Scootaloo to say something that would kind of mean that her emotional state, to make a huge jump forward even if she isn't prepared for that. I hope it is understandable wht I mean, it is hard to describe right now.
So many feels!
storage.googleapis.com/imgfave/image_cache/1428328685956688.jpg
Nice chapter, good work.
7796198 if memory serves there is a story where discord turns the three Cutie mark crusaders into alicorns. Alsas it is proving to be quite evasive.
Connect lines.
____________
Needs beginning " marks.
_____________
7796238
Discord's Parting Gift to the CMC
Unfortunately Celestia doesn't teach Scootaloo how to be a proper princess, and is fairly horrible to the CMC. Makes me want to smack her upside the head with a giant fish.
7794952
Ah.
And I'll definitely take a look. Especially for any good Twilight ones. I know plenty of TwiDash, but the only Twilight one I read was canceled T_T.
7796441 oh. Then my quest continues!
"Mrs" Cheerilee? When did she get married?
On a separate note, several mistakers. One paragraph caught my eye
“Where’s the fun in that?”she said, her grin widening. I’ll catch her if she falls, you know that,”
Should be:
“Where’s the fun in that?” - she said (asked?), her grin widening. "I’ll catch her if she falls, you know that”, she quickly added.
Okay, this is a really good story.
Usually I don't like Rarity as a character.
But you have managed to write her in an incredible good way,
that I'm really drawn into your story.
I have read the whole story in two days, with a few breaks because of my work.
This is something that is rarely happening, but your story has put me in a rally interested mood.
Usually I would try to make a constructive criticism,
but just two subjects are actually dwelling in my mind,
the very well characterization of a hurt child
and the interesting point of view for Rarity.
Even the lack of involved secondary characters added much to the story itself.
I think it strengthens the characters, quite different to my own story.
I used as many characters as possible to show the main characters flaws and traits.
But I see your style works equally well.
Of course you are using Diamond Tiara in her usual way as a bully without any reason to be one, besides being mean.
But I guess it is her kind of behaviour.
She displays it in the show without any reason and
without any proper motivation behind it.
Hm, there is one point, I have missed out.
Could it be, that she didn't have any kind of respective family member she'll be able to write about.
And that's why she left a snippy comment.
Okay I already see, that her mother isn't a good role model, but her father surely is adored by her.
So it is way to stretched.
Either way, I'm just feeling bored about the usual bully Tiara at this point.
I have seen it in too many stories.
But this isn't your fault. I think it is sometimes necessary for the plot and for your it sets a really good scene so far.
The other thing I would like to point out is, that I personally spot easily the inner distance from Scootaloo to all other characters of the story.
Her only exception from this kind of behaviour is the scene after her realization and her effort to thank Rarity in this scene.
This was a really touching moment for me and I think it is just perfectly written.
I don't see any kind of weakness in the story, besides the very common character alterations for the sake of the story itself. But it is far less, than I expected.
And even these were believable.
Your pacing is spot on and you are handling the growing feelings from Rarity for Scootaloo and the distraught emotions and breakdowns during the nighttime as an actual plot point very well.
I know this kind of feeling, who are appearing, when you are most vulnerable.
So I can really emphases with her struggles and see her actions as an usual kind of action for her experiences.
So far a really good work.
I'm thrilled to read the next chapter.
Yours Lethrael.
It's alive!
Next chapter, Judge Raylan officiates the adoption. He has a stamp and everything. And a court room tv show where the audience laughs at the expense of the stupid.
It really sucks that I can give this story only one thumbs up on fimfiction.net. But believe when I say I'm giving two thumbs up in spirit.
Dreadnought
7802863 thanks
Mrs. is only be used for some woman on marriage.
Use Ms. or Miss.
Always wonderful to see Scootaloo progressing and becoming happier! She handled forgiving Rainbow Dash very well. She was honest and open about the lingering hurt still there, but was willing to work on moving past it. Looking forward to seeing how you wrap up this wonderful story next chapter!
Holy shiet! This really is heavily AU now. It must be. Because we all know Cherilee is an incompitent teacher in the show.
Here? Not so much... Great work.
Ceiiy is everypony's gramgram
Diamond Tiara got shut the f down by Cheerilee. An epic moment right there.
In this chapter, aren't we all Miss Cheerilee? Telling Diamond off that is?
Twilight. She