"Hush, Scootaloo, your father is sleeping," a young mare whispered as she entered the room. Her coat, a light peachy color, stood out against her stark white mane and tail. She stopped short and her sky blue eyes narrowed in confusion, "You're late and...who is this?"
Scootaloo shuffled her hooves and stared at the floor, "Mom, this is Rainbow Dash. I've told you about her."
The mare's jaw went slack for a moment, "Oh, hi. I'm Scoot's mom. My name is Cream Tangerine."
Rainbow's eyes widened. This was Scoot's mom? She couldn't be much older than Rainbow, her mid-twenties at most!
The cyan mare cleared her throat, "Uh, hi. Sorry about the time. We were hangin' out and lost track-"
Cream waved a hoof nonchalantly, "No problem. It's all good."
"Mom, I'm going to Apple Bloom's for a sleepover. I came home to get my sleeping bag, okay?"
Cream Tangerine sighed, "Yeah, yeah. That's fine. But you know the drill. There's food in the fridge, and I don't want a repeat of the last time."
"Yes, mom," she groaned, "How long this time"
"Two weeks."
The filly nodded and trudged up the stairs to her room. Once she was gone, Cream turned to Rainbow.
"So, you're the infamous Rainbow Dash."
"Infamous?"
"You're the only thing she ever talks about." She gave the younger mare a small smile.
Dash didn't know how to respond to that, so she quickly decided to change the subject. Something she said to Scootaloo in their conversation seemed off.
"Yeah, she's an awesome filly. Sooo, what was that all about?"
"Hm?" she tilted her head to the side.
"You mentioned a 'last time'. What happened last time?" Rainbow didn't like where this was going.
"Oh, that. The last time her father and I went away, she destroyed half the house. We came back to a broken table, a knocked over bookcase, and a shattered window."
"What?! Was she okay?"
"Yeah, she was fine. A little bruised and scratched up, though."
Dash's lungs constricted painfully, "You did get rid of her foalsitter, right?"
Cream looked at her in confusion, "A foalsitter? Why would she need a foalsitter? We're only ever gone a week or two. She's old enough to handle herself just fine."
Dash felt like she had been punched in the stomach. 'A week or two? Scootaloo's only nine years old! There's no way she can take care of herself. I gotta do something.'
"Hey, y'know what? Why don't you let Scoots stay with me while you're away?" A short, high-pitched squeal echoed from upstairs. Rainbow Dash smirked to herself- the little filly was eavesdropping.
"I don't know...she can be a bit of a hoof-ful...are you sure?"
"Cream, if I didn't want to do this then I wouldn't have offered."
"Well..."
"Please, mom! Can I stay with Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo leapt down the stairs two at a time, landing with a light thump in front of her mother, "I promise I'll behave. Please?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had trained the Pegasus filly well in the art of "The Pout". She quickly perfected the technique and was almost invincible.
Almost.
Dash rolled her eyes with a fond smile. While the Cutie Mark Crusaders had practiced the look, Applejack and Rarity had helped Dash build up an immunity to the adorableness of it. Like Scoots, Dash was a quick study and was completely unaffected by "The Pout".
Cream Tangerine, however, wasn't so lucky.
The look she gave her daughter was tender and loving, a look only a mother could give her child. It was then that Dash realized something. Even if Cream Tangerine was neglectful of her daughter, it wasn't because she didn't love her. Her priorities were...askew. Not that it eased any of the cyan Pegasus' concerns, though.
The peach colored mare sighed with an affectionate grin, "Sure. As long as Rainbow Dash says it's okay, then I don't see a problem with it."
Dash hid her irritation behind a grin as she casually waved a hoof, "Eh, we'll be fine. We're gonna have a blast, right, Squirt?" She wrapped a hoof around Scootaloo's withers and gave her a squeeze.
The little filly beamed up at her, too excited to actually speak. She nodded, practically vibrating in place, causing the two mares to laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes."
The older pony turned to Dash, "I guess that settles that, huh? Well, goodnight. And Scoots, don't cause too much trouble, okay?" She kissed her daughter on the forehead before trotting upstairs without another word.
The two remaining ponies stood in silence, listening for the door to close. Once they heard the quiet click, Scootaloo grabbed her sleeping bag, shut off the light, and followed Rainbow out of the house. The sun had almost completed vanished from the sky as Dash and Scootaloo meandered down the street, passing a few stragglers as they went.
"So," Dash started, "your mom's a pretty cool mare, eh?"
The filly looked down, "I guess so."
Rainbow smiled and nudged her playfully in the side with her wing, "Hey, what d'ya mean 'you guess'?"
There was a touch of sourness to her tone, "How would I know? She's never around anyway."
Dash's smile softened as she wrapped her aforementioned wing around her little sister and pulled her in for a hug, for once not caring if anyone saw the 'mushy' scene.
"I mean," the filly continued, "I know my mom loves me...sometimes."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. There's no sometimes about it. Your parents always love you. Even if they have to go away for work-"
Scootaloo cut her off, stomping her hoof in anger, "They aren't going away for work, Dash! My dad doesn't even have a job, and mom works as a waitress at Hay and Clover. These trips they go on are to the casinos in Las Pegasus," she took a deep, shaky breath, "Can we stop talking about this now, please?"
"Sure, Kiddo. We'd better get moving anyways. Don't wanna be late for that sleepover." She mussed up Scootaloo's mane with a hoof, making her giggle. The filly wiped her tears away and easily climbed onto Rainbow's back. The cyan mare grabbed the sleeping bag and sped off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
They made it to the Apple farm in record time, quietly touching down outside the barn. Light was streaming out of the windows and the door was wide open. They could hear whispers and giggling coming from inside.
Rainbow Dash smirked evilly and chuckled, "Hey, Scoots? Wanna have a little fun?" she whispered, tilting her head to the side just enough for Scootaloo to see her profile. The orange Pegasus saw the wicked glint in her older sister's eye and nodded eagerly. With a strong flap of her wings, Rainbow shot up through the loft window. She landed with a loud thud, immediately silencing the laughter from downstairs.
"D-did y'all hear that?" Apple Bloom stuttered.
Dash turned her head and winked at her sister. Scoots grinned and jumped off of Rainbow Dash's back, stamping her hooves when she hit the floor.
"I-it was probably just- just an animal, right, Applejack?"
"...Sure. There's always critters scurryin' around up there. Ah'm sure that's what it was..."
Both of the Pegasi sniggered quietly as they stomped around the loft, moving closer to the edge with every slow, deliberate step.
"Those sound like hoof steps ta me!"
"Me, too!"
"Now, now. Calm down, y'all. Ah'm sure it's nothin' ta worry 'bout," Applejack tried to reassure the two fillies, as well as herself.
Dash caught Scootaloo's eyes and mouthed, 'Watch this'.
She inched forward, crouched low to the floor, and peered over the side...the targets were positioned right beneath them.
Perfect.
Dash dragged her wings along the floorboards, sweeping up a good amount of hay as she went. Making sure she was completely hidden from view, the rainbow-maned mare pushed the hay over the edge of the loft, letting it rain down on the three ponies below. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle squealed in surprise.
"What in the hay...you two stay here. Ah'm gonna go an' see what's goin' on up there." Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo shared a panicked look as they searched frantically for an escape route.
The Pegasus filly smirked and with a muffled giggle trotted over to one of the lantern closest to them. She glanced over her shoulder to see a proud smile and a nod of approval from her idol. Before Applejack could take one hoof step up the ladder, Scoots turned around and blew out the candle. The ponies downstairs screamed in pure terror, sending the two Pegasi into fits of uncontrollable laughter.
"Rainbow Dash!"
"Scootaloo!"
That just made them laugh that much harder, causing them to collapse to the floor and roll around hysterically. They were so lost in their glee, they rolled right off of the platform and into a haystack.
Even in the dark, Applejack was able to find her way to another lantern and light it up. She spun around to reprimand to two Pegasus ponies, but she couldn't contain the chuckle that bubbled up inside of her at the sight of the two proud Pegasi covered in hay, with pieces of straw sticking haphazardly out of their manes and tails.
"The two a ya look absolutely ridiculous." Rainbow and Scootaloo looked at each other and burst into giggles again, along with the other two fillies.
Once things had settled down a bit, the three crusaders sat atop their sleeping bags, chatting aimlessly. The two mares were relaxing on a bale of hay a few feet away, listening.
"So, AJ. When do you think that topic is gonna come up?" Dash asked with a smirk and a wink. Applejack grinned back.
"Ah dunno, but Ah reckon that it shouldn't be too much longer."
"What in Equestria are y'all talkin' 'bout?"
Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other, then back at the fillies, before answering simultaneously.
"Colts."
Sweetie Belle's face turned a bright shade of pink; Apple Bloom gave them a look of horror; but Scootaloo's reaction was the most amusing to them.
"Colts?! Ew! Gross!"
Rainbow smirked an her little sister, "Well, apparently colts don't seem to feel the same way."
"What d'ya mean?"
The Pegasus mare's smile widened as she answered Applejack's question, "I was chatting with Thunderlane the other day...don't look at me like that," she grimaced at the other mare's arched brow, "No offense to TL, but I got my heart set on the Wonderbolts. Anyway, his little brother, Rumble is in their class. According to Thunder, all the kid talks about is how awesome Scoots is. Not that I blame him...she takes after her big sister, after all."
"Aw, look! Scootaloo's blushing!" said Apple Bloom with a grin.
"Shut up!" the Pegasus filly hissed at her earth filly friend who just giggled at her. Scootaloo's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she tried to hide a small smile.
"Scootaloo an' Rumble sittin' in a tree," she sang, "K-I-S-S-I-" Apple Bloom's older sister cut her off.
"Come ta think of it, a young colt stopped by the farm last week. He said his mom wanted him to pick up some apples, but he seemed more interested in asking questions about Apple Bloom," she chuckled, "Funny thing was, as soon as he saw ya comin' outta the barn, Bloom, he bolted like Winona was on his tail. He even forgot at grab his apples."
"Aw! How cute! Who was it?" Sweetie Belle gushed, enamored by the story.
"Said his name was Shady Daze, Ah think?"
"Oh! He's the new photographer for the Foal Free Press! Now that you mention it, I saw him looking at you a lot when we were working on the paper."
Apple Bloom ducked her head to hide her blush and shy smile, but it was too late.
Scoots giggled, "You like him, don'cha?"
"Ah never said that!"
"But you're not denying it! Fess up."
"We'll, uh..." she stammered. To pull attention away from herself, the golden-coated filly glanced in Sweetie Belle's direction. She saw an almost shy look on her face, "Hey, Sweetie? What about you? There aren't many unicorn colts in class. Anypony caught yer eye?"
"Only Snips and Snails...please don't say it's one of them!" Scootaloo begged.
Sweetie Belle's face drained of all color as she shook her head vehemently, "No! No, no, no!" She dropped her head and began tracing patterns in the dirt with her hoof, "Actually, something happened last week that I haven't had a chance to tell you about..."
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom glanced at each other, then back at their friend.
"Go on," Apple Bloom urged, intrigued.
The white filly sighed, "Remember last week when I had to meet Rarity at the boutique after school? On the way there, I kinda tripped and dropped my saddle-bag and everything fell out. While I was picking it all up, Button Mash stopped and helped me. Then he..." she paused, tailing a deep breath, "he, uh kinda sorta walked me the rest of the way home."
The two mares chuckled quietly as the subject was immediately changed to their newest Cutie Mark idea...water balloon warfare?
The orange earth pony heard a sigh beside her and turned to see an uncharacteristically depressed look on her friend's face. There was a wistful look in her eyes as she watched the fillies talking. She nudged Rainbow's shoulder with her own.
"Hey, Sugarcube, what's wrong? An' don' tell me that it's nothin' 'cause we both know that's just a load a horseapples," she added.
Dash just sighed again and shook her head, "I dunno, AJ, I guess I never thought about what it would be like to have a little sister, and, well..."
Applejack gave her a stern look, "Are ya regrettin' takin' her in or somethin'?"
The cyan Pegasus' eyes widened in shock at the accusation, "No way! Scoots is an amazing filly and I'm proud to be called her big sister."
"But?"
"But...I feel like I've missed out on so much already. I mean, you and Rares have been with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle since they were born. You've seen them grow up from foals. And...I didn't get that with Scootaloo." 'Although, I bet her parents didn't either.'
Rainbow Dash's next question wasn't verbal, but AJ understood anyway.
Applejack wrapped her foreleg around Dash's withers and gave her a sympathetic smile, "Rainbow, I agree tha' these fillies are growin' up way too fast. But they ain't full grown mares yet. We still got plenty a time left with 'em."
Dash's next question wasn't verbal, but AJ could see in in her eyes.
"Rainbow, Sugar, she is always, always gonna need you. Who's gonna protect her forom the bullies and the nightmares? Who's the first pony she's gonna show her Cutie Mark off to when she gets it? Who's she gonna confide in when she does start having colt problems? You, Dash. Nopony else, you," Rainbow arched a brow skeptically, a shining light of hope now in her eyes.
Applejack chuckled, "Accordin' ta Apple Bloom, yer the only thing Scoot's been talking 'bout since the campin' trip."
"Really?" Rainbow Dash's cocky attitude returned with a grin, "I mean, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Why, indeed?" the orange mare deadpanned, rolling her eyes. Rainbow stuck her tongue out foalishly before smiling.
"Thanks, AJ, I needed to hear that."
"Anytime, Suagrcube, anytime."
Personally, I always found Spikebloom to be a match. Although I do have a smidgen of reason to believe that Sweetie might have a crush on Spike. Not sure it's enough to go on.
Choosing Chip Mint for Sweetie Belle is an interesting direction, but I feel like a pony like Pipsqueak or especially Button Mash would be more likely. Chip Mint is a Blank Flank, so they do have something in common, but the same could be said for the two I mentioned. Plus, Pipsqueak and Button both have somewhat established characters (be it canon or fanon), so at least you have something to build off of. All we really know about Chip Mint is he's a pegasus and he appears in Smile Smile Smile. It leaves room for interpretation, but there's really not much asides from that. Plus, for Button specifically, Button is commonly shown interacting with Sweetie Belle in fanfics and fanart, so it's a fairly popular choice. Asides from that, I would suggest Tender Taps for Apple Bloom, but he doesn't exist yet. (And if you take the Gameloft mobile game as canon, he actually doesn't even live in Ponyville for a while.)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
THIS IS SOO CUTE!
I WUVV IT!
OH GOD I'M DYING RN!!
Darn it, more ships that I don't support popping up in fics I want to read... oh well, not much I can do.
8210328 which ships are you referring to?
8209321 Hey! Thanks for the tips! I did a little research, and I think I'm going to switch out Chip Mint for Button Mash...I was pulled in watching "Button's Adventures". It was soooo cute!!! And then I saw "Don't Mine at Night". Now I'm hooked!
I also like Tender Taps for Apple Bloom, but, as you said, he's not in it yet...maybe I can hold off on AB's love interest until later??? What do you think?
8210562 Eh, I'm not a fan of RumbleLoo.
8210580 Can I ask why? Maybe I (or my story) can change your mind? Hahaha
Who do you ship?
8210586 I highly doubt that, all my ships are based on what characters I feel would go well together based on interactions in the show, Rumble and Scootaloo have had no real interactions in the show that suggest romance to me.
I ship ScootaBelle.
8210596 Oh, well.this story is mainly Dash/Scoots centric anyway. You can probably ignore the Rumbloo in the beginning. It doesn't get more involved until later on. hope you like the rest of it anyway...
8210620 I'll still try to read it and its not like I'm going to downvote you just because you don't do things I like.
8210620 Oh, SoarinDash too according to the groups... dang, that's not gonna help either.
8210645 whoops...let's just see where things go...
8210651 Eh, I'm not gonna criticize you for liking a different ship than me, but I can't promise I'll stick through the whole fic.
8210694 I understand. Thanks for agreeing to give it a shot
8210576 Well, it's already an AU, so you could technically pull some strings and have him come by early. But waiting a little bit for Bloom also works. Heck, you could even go so far as to include a mini side-arc of Apple Bloom and Shady Daze not really working out. It's your call, really.
but the obvious thing to do is to have aplpe bloom go back in time and end up in a relashunship with discord which completely ruins all of history and causes raindash bow to end up being scootalol's biological sisterWhat? Who said that? I didn't say that, I don't know what you're talking about...Great chapter, way to not make her parents irredeemably terrible cliches.
8211686
Thanks...I think? I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic there or not.
8211534
Ya know...that idea that you didn't mention would be very interesting...wanna collaborate on a story?
8213170
i wasn't, sorry if it came off that way. Text doesn't convey nuance and what not
8213216
Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm glad you like the story. Hey, if I send you a short backstory on Scootaloo's family, can you give me some advice?
8213239
Sure, always happy to help out a fellow Scootauthor. *some restrictions apply.
I'm liking what I'm reading so far, this really feels like it could be an episode from the show, looking forward to the following chapters and stories. There is definitely heart in here.
Less of a criticism and more of a healthy guide, there are some great YouTube videos out on how to write very well. They certainly helped learn and understand things i never considered. We can always only go up, right?
That was really great and I loved the part when they pooled that hilarious prank on them HAHAHAAA also I wonder how this will go for rainbow dash and scootaloo especially a Rumbloo shipping to. Good luck on the next chapters my friend.
8213473
Thanks so much! I’m glad you like it so far. You are absolutely right, there’s always room for improvement. I’ll be sure to look at those videos.
8213488
Thanks! I’ll do my best. Glad you’re enjoying it so far.
8213542
Your welcome my friend and maybe you could add a little bit of soarindash to it to? I just thought it would also spice things up and add things a little more challenging for rainbow dash, and also scootaloo.
8213603
Believe me, we WILL get to the SoarinDash. Let me think....I’ll probably start bringing Soarin in around chapters 8 or 9...I mentioned rewriting some episodes. Wonderbolt Academy is one of them. I’m finishing up chapter 5 now, and I’m still solidifying Rainbow and Scoots as sisters. I’m also bringing in Rumble around chapter 7 or so. Just be patient with me...I think you’ll like the results.
8213180 ...Huh. I kind of (didn’t) throw that out there as a joke, but if you really think we can roll with it, I’d be all for it! It’s be interesting to see how much a thing as simple as Discord not going crazy with power and being imprisoned could butterfly effect the future.
8213621
OK OK then no need to be hard my friend, I'll be waiting for them and see where this takes for Rainbow dash and Scootaloo. Also and what was the black marks you put on there?
8213633
Cool, let’s keep this under wraps for now, at least until we have a little more of a plot to go on. I already had a few brainstorms that I’d like to go over with you soon.
8213668
It’s a spoiler alert, for your eyes only- Hold the mouse over the lines and you should be able to read them. If not, let me know and I’ll message you the info.
8213686
Ooh right i just saw it now, I get it. No need to worry. Well then go and do your specialty of writing this romantic and sisterly story of yours my friend.
Ahhhhh...
I just read a story where Twilight coerces Trixie into raping Rainbow Dash. This story was like being in a sauna and then taking a shower. Makes me feel nice and clean, which I very much needed. Thanks for writing this.
8224786
Wow...that's interesting. Not exactly my cup of tea...
I'm really glad you like my story so far, though. I try to stay closer to the wholesome side
Stay tuned in for more clean fun. Hahaha
Why did you post this fic in the Button Belle community? It has nothing to do with either Button Mash or Sweetie Belle
8241748
Button Belle is coming in later...I inferred that it was going to happen towards the end of chapter 3.
Wouldn't this story also be in the scootalove is best love group as well?
8241975
It is. It's in the sisters folder. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
2 questions, why is sorin a main character and I need more chapters because this story is amazing
8246154
Soarin is coming in a little later. As for new chapters........
8246166
Ok
I’m glad that rd and aj had this talk.