Familial bonds: part two

by Darling Dearest

The great afternoon

As Celestia raised the sun to shine directly down onto Equestria, indicating that the morning had dissipated and been replaced by the pleasant afternoon, Rainbow, Windy and Bow all stood outside the cutie mark crusaders club house, ready to reacquaint themselves with Scootaloo. Reay to show her the love and comfort she so sorely needed.

“Rainbow dear, are you sure this is where she’ll be.”

“Yeah mom, I don’t know if you know this about her, but Scoots and her friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle actually got their cutie marks in helping other ponies with their own marks.”

“Wow, so they help them find things they’re good at I’m guessing?”

“Yeah, cool right! They’ve been holdin’ their counselling sessions in this club house for about six months now. So, she’s probably here. But if I know her schedule properly, she should be finishing round about now.”

“Oh, should we knock then? Or should we wait until she’s finished? I wouldn’t want to interrupt another pony whilst their working… Again. Sorry about the whole Wonderbolts practice embarrassment incident Dashy, I don’t think we did ever apologise for that.”

Bow gave a noticeably disheartened expression, knowing that his, and Windy’s, behaviour in the past had been unexpectable, taking their support for Rainbow far out of proportion, making her feel uncomfortable. Whilst Rainbow had since forgiven them, he couldn’t help but feel wrong for how their behaviour, coming about from a mere miscommunication, had made such a disconnect between what should have been a loving family. Rainbow noticed this and embraced her father with a hug.

“Dad, it’s okay, sure you guys were a little over the top… And I was a little foalish. But we’ve forgiven each other, so it doesn’t matter. We’re family and family always love each other. But right now, we’ve got a little filly who needs that love more than ever, so let’s just leave what we did in the past. Alright?”

Bow put his foreleg around his precious daughter’s body, putting aside his prior doubt, knowing that the love their family held couldn’t be broken by such petty incidents.

“Thanks, Dashy. You really do now how to make your old dad proud. But come on now, that little sister of yours isn’t going to love herself.”

A foal like, exited grin then entered Windy, her natural motherly instinct to make her foals happy having been revitalised.

“Say. How about we wait for her to finish and come on out here, so we can surprise her. She’ll be so shocked, and if she’s the same little filly I knew, it’ll make her really excited and happy. And Celestia, won’t it just be the CUTEST little sight.”

“Ha, maybe you’re right mom, the more comfortable and happy she is around you guys, the more likely she’ll be to speak up about her parents. That an’ it’ll just be nice for her… Uh! See, you’re SO much better at this than me!”

“Oh Rainbow, don’t get upset, I’ve had years of practice, I’ve learned how to make fillies happy by catering to them as individual ponies. But you can to Dashy. You’re so good with Scootaloo as you are, she idolises you and you’ve built an excellent sisterly bond with her, you wouldn’t have been able to do that if you couldn’t make her happy.”

“Thanks mom. Ha, I guess I am pretty awesome.”

“Now don’t get cocky my little pony! You don’t know everything yet.”

“Sorry mom.”

“That’s better. Now come on, she should be finished soon, and we need to be ready for her!”

The group stayed a few metres away from the club house, hiding behind a bush and laying their stomachs on the soft grass in an attempt to make themselves appear smaller and thus less visible. They remained there for a few minutes before four fillies burst out into the open.

“So does that feel any better Dimond?” The white filly enquired.

“Yeah, I guess I just need reminding sometimes to use my cutie mark properly and responsibly. I would just hate to go back to how I used to be.” Replied the pink filly.

“It’s okay Dimond, you’re making great progress so far, you’re way better now than that bully you used to be.” Said… Scootaloo.

The four fillies continued their conversation, discussing more of their counselling session. However, the three grown ponies in the distance waited patiently for the perfect opportunity to surprise Scootaloo, being absolutely certain to remain perfectly silent. This opportunity revealed itself, as the four fillies began to trot along in different directions, leaving Scootaloo isolated. They watched as Scootaloo got closer and closer to them, naively passing the bush they were hiding behind, not noticing their presence. Windy gave a confident nod before jumping out at the filly, causing Bow to swiftly follow. They both tried their hardest to appear frightening, they sent intimidating growls flying out of their mouths, stood on their back legs to appear larger than they were and stretched out their forelegs over her. Their attempt succeeded, causing the filly to show a noticeably frightened expression. Yet she still tried her hardest to present herself as strong and undeterred, rapidly flapping her wings and stretching out her own little body into a fight pose.

“Stay back! I won’t hesitate you know, you’ve messed with the wrong pony. I’m gonna…”

Before Scootaloo could continue her unintentionally adorable monologue, she felt herself being briskly pushed onto her back. The light pressure of a feather being rubbed across her belly, causing her to laugh uncontrollably.

“What was that now? What won’t you hesitate to do?”

“Hahahaha, ach. Stop it, haha, I can breathe!”

Whilst Scootaloo was struggling to respire, she was in no noticeable pain.

“Ha, you’ve no idea how ADORABLE this makes you look Scootaloo!” Windy said in a high-pitched voice, before stopping her tickle assault.

“Wo, thank you. Wait. How do you know my name? And why did you just…”

Scootaloo suddenly realised who she was talking to and instantly gave a huge, innocent smile.

“Windy Whistles! Bow Hothoof! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. It’s so great to see you! But… What are you doing here?”

Windy gave Scootaloo a motherly, welcoming expression, before swiftly picking her up in her forelegs, and hugging her.

“Oh sweetie, me and Bow are just here visiting Dashy, but we couldn’t very well not come and see her little sister to! Ya know, the most awesome filly in Ponyville. Do you know where I might find her?”

“I don’t know Windy, I think that might be the pony you’re holding right there.”

“Really? Wow! I guess you’re right! Ha, now how is the most awesome filly in Equestria?”

“I’m great Windy, I finally managed to glide this morning and it feels AWESOME, Rainbow is the best big sister ever! Raised by the greatest parents ever of course! But you guys didn’t need to come here though, I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“Oh, but we did have to see you little pony.” Bow said in a comforting voice, rubbing Scootaloo’s mane. “You’re Rainbow Dash’s little sister, and that makes you our family. I know we haven’t known ya that long, but we love ya Scootaloo.”

The three engaged in a genuine, heartfelt hug, Windy and Bow embracing the filly as if she were their own, no words were necessary. Scootaloo finally felt welcomed as part of a family, allowing her happiness to overwhelm her, snuggling deeper into the two sets of forelegs providing the comforting embrace. Rainbow watched on from the side, surprised and impressed at how loving and nurturing her parents were being with a filly they barely knew. In addition to how quickly they had managed to make Scootaloo comfortable around them. She couldn’t help but be humbled slightly by the adorable sight, briefly letting her feminine side take dominance over her stallion like persona.

“Ha, am I wrong, or do I have competition for most awesome pony in Equestria now?”

Scootaloo’s face lit up even further when she saw her sister come towards her. The three most amazingly awesome ponies in all of Equestria were all focused on her! She had never felt so perfect.

“It certainly looks that way Dashy! If you’re not careful you might just lose your spot as the fastest Wonderbolt.” Windy said, winking at Scootaloo and putting her down.

“Ha, you’ve got me there mom.”

“Rainbow Dash! Wait, what are you doing awake? Isn’t it your day off?”

“Very funny Squirt. But seriously, my folks were commin’ to visit, and I they just HAD to see you again. I mean, you’re almost as awesome as I am!”

“Thanks Rainbow, so what’re you guys gonna do now?”

“Well little one, if you weren’t busy with your grown-up cutie mark business. We were hoping that we could just stay with you, would that be okay” Asked Bow.

“Re-REALLY! Do ya mean that?”

“Face it Squirt, these two need somepony to coo over all day. Do ya mind puttin’ up with them for a little while?”

“Absolutely! Thanks, you guys, it means so much to me!”

“It’s our pleasure Sweetie. but Rainbow isn’t wrong, we do need somepony to adore all day. Because as awesome as you are… My Celestia, you are just so CUTE!”

Windy, being unable to resist her sudden urge to hug Scootaloo, showed no resistance in picking up the filly in her forelegs and holding her tightly. Most fillies Scootaloo’s age despised it when older ponies saw them as cute and showed them affection, especially those who preferred to keep a stallion like persona. However, Scootaloo, never made any objections to an affectionate hug, embracing every rare opportunity she had for the loved, welcoming feeling it brought her when somepony showed her their affection. Thus she made no protest for Windy, instead choosing to give in to the motherly embrace. Though Windy quickly realised that she was reverting back to her old exaggerated tendencies that had caused Rainbow to feel so uncomfortable in the past, and thus managed bring herself to put down the filly.

“So then Scootaloo… You said earlier that, with the help of your awesome sister here, you were able to glide for the first time. Is that right.”

“You bet it is mom, she was gliding like a pro earlier, you should ‘a seen it, it was incredible! It won’t be long now before you can actually fly Squirt.”

“Well then, how about a little demonstration. I bet that with our help, you might even be able to glide from even higher.”

“Ha, no offense dad, but I’m a Wonderbolt, I think I know flying a little better than you.”

“Ah, but Dashy, who taught you how to fly?”

“… Fair point.”

“So would ya mind Scootaloo, I sure have missed helping fillies learn how to fly. Ha, did I ever tell you about the first time Rainbow tried to fly, she stood on top of the stairs and…”

“NO, no, dad… She doesn’t need to know that one.”

The other three ponies let out a small chuckle at Rainbow’s expense.

“I’d love to show you what I know Mr Hothoof! That an’ it would be nice to get another helping hoof for a change.”

“Now you call me Bow my little pony, enough of the formalities. Now let’s go to the highest cloud we can find so we can teach ya all sorts ’a little tricks that can make gliding, and even one day flying, a little easier. You can do this Scootaloo! I know ya can.”

“Indeed! You’ll show Equestria just how great you are, you cute little flying machine you!”

“Yeah! … But hey, let’s not push her too hard now, I’d hate for your little wings to get too exhausted, that’ll be good for nopony.”

“Thanks guys. This means a lot to me.”

The four ponies engaged in one, final genuine hug, celebrating them being reunited, as well as what was inevitably going to be an amazing afternoon. Rainbow then put Scootaloo on her back, making sure that she was safely holding on to her before taking off. She took her family to the roof of her cloud home, knowing that it was likely the highest area for some distance that she was comfortable letting Scootaloo jump off. She had initially intended to hold off on letting Scootaloo glide from her cloud home until she was a little more experienced, though with the presence of her parents, she saw no reason for it to be unsafe. The group spent almost the entire afternoon helping Scootaloo improve her gliding prowess, helping her come to more smooth landings and maintain her balance whilst in the air. Bow and Windy insisted that Scootaloo try to fly, given how quickly she was improving her gliding, but Rainbow knew that her tiny wings weren’t quite ready for such strain. Her own maturity surprised even herself. Despite how many times they watched Scootaloo jump off the same roof, the activity never became repetitive or strenuous for any of the three ponies, each of them admiring Scootaloo’s determination, as well as seeing her gradually improve as the day past on. In addition to the adorable squeal that she gave when she successfully managed to pull off one of Bow’s old tricks. Though Scootaloo eventually began to show noticeable exhaustion from her hard work, thus Rainbow prevented her from gliding anymore.

They decided to take Scootaloo to the cinema as a reward for her hard work, it was a humble venue, though the cutie mark crusaders were frequent patrons there. They went to see the new Power ponies film, by Colt Disney productions. Scootaloo had been desperate to see it ever since it was first announced! However, it had received a PG-13 rating, meaning fillies and colts under the age of thirteen had to see it with an adult pony accompanying them. Scootaloo thought the she would never have been able to watch it! Thus, the instant unanimous agreement, between the group, that she was old enough to watch the film came as a huge relief to her. She remained engaged throughout the entire experience, being astonished by the beautiful special effects in the incredibly choreographed fight scenes, and even allowing herself to shed a few tears during the films emotional, dramatic moments. The three older ponies found her passive spectatorship adorable, loving how much happiness one film could bring a filly, with an engaging narrative and breath-taking visuals. Though by the end of the movie, Scootaloo felt the weight of the day catch up to her, making her feel more tired than she had ever felt before. This had been one of the best days of her life!

Comments

[Darling Dearest]

To everypony who read my story, thank you for one hundred views!

[OmniFox]

Parents embarrassing kids I know the feeling.

[spyrofan354]

Sigh 😔 so many memories ugh