Rainbow Dash promised to take the rambunctious Scootaloo under her wing on the whim of pride. However, when Scootaloo's repressed emotions come to surface, Dash finds there's more to the little filly than fun and flight training.
Rainbow Dash promised to take the rambunctious Scootaloo under her wing on the whim of pride. However, when Scootaloo's repressed emotions come to surface, Dash finds there's more to the little filly than fun and flight training. Can Dash master her own insecurities as she struggles in expanding her comfort zone to give Scootaloo what she really needs? Will she accept the responsibilities to a much deeper meaning with the title of Big Sister?
Dedicated to DawnFade who inspired, through elegant prose, a shattered writer to follow his dreams once again.
And to my daughter Ella, who is a wonderful big sister, but really needs a big sister herself sometimes.
Scootaloo scuffed at the dirt with her back hoof anxiously as she rocked her scooter side to side. Her eyes were glued to the sky, darting back and forth. I know you're out there! she thought with a smirk as her hoof ground the grip pad around its handle. She quickly risked a glance up and down the street. Ponies were going about their business…of being obstacles in her way! Gah, there must be hundreds of them. Scootaloo went over the plan in her head again, glancing at Sugarcube Corner behind her. I'm dead center of the library and Sweetie Belle's sister’s house. If she heads to either I can catch her quick. She shivered in excitement. If she heads to Apple Bloom's farm to see Applejack, they are set to hog tie her up until I get there. Fluttershy even agreed to make her lunch in case she visits. Oooh this plan is foolproof! Her wings hummed as they flapped furiously in anticipation.
…and time passed…
Scootaloo splayed out on her scooter, which she had propped against a nice shade tree, her wings drooping over the sides as she gazed mindlessly at the sky. The sun was making its rounds, just passing its zenith to begin its slow descent into night. Ponies had retreated indoors to avoid the heat of midday. The day was clear and vibrantly blue, except for the annoying sunspots in her vision that refused to go away, otherwise, not a cloud nor a Rainbow in sight.
Scoot blinked, if nothing else but to feed her bored imagination. Her eyes closed, the rays of the sun slowly being shut off by her orange lids as it filtered lazily through the rustling branches. For a split second the top lid made contact with the bottom lid, high fiving each other in a moisturizing job well done, briefly making small talk of sun dots. Then, sick of the others company, they began their return trip. One to alight atop her cheek, and the other to take refuge just below her brow. Wow…even my imagination’s boring right now… And then there was pink… Lots of pink. Scootaloo studied the blurry pink that had flooded her vision, forcing her pupils to dilate as it blocked out the sun in all its fluffy glory. A shiver ran up her spine. A shiver of terror. Not the terror of one who fears for one’s life, but the kind of terror accompanied by a crazy mare screaming "HEY SCOOT" right in said Scoot’s face.
"Pinkie!" Scootaloo whined and glared at Pinkie indignantly. "What is wrong with you?"
"Wrong with me? Oh nothing, I am having a fantabulous day!" She hoofed her chin for a second. "But you look reaaalllyy bored."
Another shiver of terror ran up Scootaloo's spine, this one incurring an instinctive fight or flight response. For in Ponyville, children with nothing to do were often subjected to horribly sappy stories, lectures, given chores or tasks, or— no…this was Pinkie. Scootaloo's heart sped up, thumping violently against her ribs. She wants to play! "I'm busy! Really busy… I’m waiting for Rainbow Dash!" She nodded emphatically, and pointed to the sky. "Reaalllyy important! So uh...yeah, see ya!"
Scootaloo swept her scooter under her, wings humming furiously kicking up dirt as she spun and leaned forward, kicking off with a hoof. Fly! She bolted forward, shops and pedestrians streaking by as she skillfully weaved in and out of the crowds. Her trained eyes caught the blurred images of each pedestrian out of habit. One pony, two pony, pink pony, four pony, five pony, six pony, pink pony, eight pony, nine pony, pink pony, pink pony…Pinkie! Scootaloo buzzed faster, her feathers frizzing at the tips from the strain. Pink blur, pink streak, pink sign, pink water… Pinkie was everywhere! Scootaloo skidded to a halt, her tire catching on a rock, sending her into a rolling tumble to stop, flop, and stare up at a very close proximity Pinkie Pie muzzle.
"That was fun! What do you want to play next?" Pinkie grinned manically.
Scootaloo answered with a worried sob. "Celestia why?!"
"Ooohh, did you hurt yourself? No worries, I have a first aid kit!" Pinkie giggled merrily. Scootaloo turned and scrambled for her scooter but to no avail. Pinkie grabbed a hind leg and tossed her up and onto her back. She landed with an "erf" and, upon seeing the nurse outfit her captor had pulled from what can only be described as plot-space, she face-hoofed and resigned herself to her fate. This is hopeless. Nopony escapes Pinkie! And now my tummy hurts again...
Rainbow Dash reflected upon how tired she was. Every gust of wind, turbulent buck of an updraft, every mild breeze even sent her nearly careening off course. She knew the rules: "don't drink and fly," "don't fly hungry," and "don't ever fly tired." The last one was really important. If a pegasus were to fly tired, then they may fall asleep, fall, break things, and find themselves stranded out in the middle of nowhere with no food or water and no way home. However, Ponyville was right in front of her. She had made it, risky as it was to fly here from Cloudsdale in her condition, she was finally home. She looked ahead and cursed when she realized her house was still on the opposite side of Ponyville. Her aching muscles groaned at the prospect of waiting any longer before sinking into her bed and easing the pain of the last forty eight hours of sleepless Wonderbolt Academy endurance drills.
The sun was slowly dipping towards the horizon, golden rays mingled with the elongated shadows of trees and buildings below Dash. Golden rays…like honey smothered over the dark shadowy crevices of Pinkie’s cinnamon twirls. Her stomach growled, reminding her of the second rule of flying. Her wings sputtered, twitched, and refused to flap any further. "Aww, out of energy!" She looked forlornly at her cloud home looming on the other side of Ponyville. With a sigh she locked her wings and spiraled down, Sugarcube Corner fast approaching.
Scootaloo shivered under the mirthful gazes of the Cakes. Mrs. Cake handed her a consoling hot chocolate with little marshmallows twirling in a swirling of foam. Scootaloo smiled despite her misery, trying to forget the day of Pinkie induced trauma.
Mrs. Cake smiled warmly. "Is the warmth of the cocoa working sweetheart?"
"Yeah, my tummy feels a little better..." She trailed off with a heavy sigh, finishing the sentence mentally, her eyes diverted down and to the side in irritation. ...but I usually feel sick so this is nothing new.
Mrs. Cake put a hoof on her shoulder, her look of concern washing over the downcast Scootaloo like a wave of shame that turned the cocoa bitter on her tongue. "Oh, sweetie, Pumpkin didn't mean turn your tail pink. I’m sure that a quick spell in the morning can change it back. I promise, Pinkie won’t tie you to any more chairs for pirate tea parties either."
Scootaloo sat in dejected silence, pouting over her ruined tail in all of its neon pink glory, "It…glows." Her eyes turned downcast. "It looks really stupid…"
Mr. Cake stepped forward. "Well, we’re going to make up for it, Scootaloo. We’ll pay for any magic services to get it fixed."
"Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. I think Twilight will help me out though. I can run a few errands with Spike like usual to pay her back. It's just…" She trailed off, then with a huff she continued. "It's dark out, I have a glowing hot pink tail, and I don't want to go home like this. My dad is already passed out anyway, and my mom is off in Cloudsdale on duty so no one’s going to miss me. I just have to find a place in town tonight. I have to fix this before Rainbow Dash gets back!"
Before anyone could answer, the front door swung open and a wild Rainbow Dash appeared. "Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Hey, Scoot, why are you still in—" It used merciless laughter attack. "WHOA! Your tail looks ridiculous!" It's super effective!
Scootaloo died a little inside, her eyes wavering through a torrent of pent up tears that flooded through, bursting the dam of her self control. She launched off the chair, over the table, and hit the floor at full speed, her head lowered in challenge. On any other night, Dash would have caught Scootaloo, but not tonight. The enraged filly bowled over the weakened mare like an enormous china cup under a tiny angry bull, sending Dash spinning face first into a wall and leaving her to clatter to the floor as she bolted out the door. Stunned, Dash wiped the haze from her stinging head as she picked herself up.
Mrs. Cake met Dash head on, backing the surprised mare into the wall. "Rainbow Dash, shame on you! That little filly thinks the world of you. For her sake I hope you plan to go after her!"
Dash, having taken too many shocks in one moment, was caught speechless. She had never seen the benevolent Mrs. Cake even slightly mad before. She had all the calm and composure of a loving, caring, and endlessly patient… Oh, that’s where I've seen that look before… Dash thought back to her mother and all the times she had incurred this level of wrath. "I bucked up bad, didn't I?"
Mr. and Mrs. Cake nodded with a glare. Dash stood and took a deep breath. "I can't fly, I'm on empty. I need four cinnamon rolls and three cupcakes."
Mr. Cake tossed the order into a bag haphazardly and chucked it at Dash, who shoved it into a saddlebag and bolted out the door knowing they would throw the bill on her tab.
Rainbow Dash guessed at the direction Scootaloo went, her fuzzy state of mind making her fight for every organized thought. Finally, settling on the simplest logic, she figured Sweetie Belle's was closest. And since the filly usually stayed with her sister, that means Rarity's shop for tonight. She whipped out a cinnamon twist and wolfed it down while forcing her wings to flap. I'll be running on empty for a bit, but I got to catch Scoot! She leaped into the air, pumping her numb wings weakly. She struggled to level out until coming to a steady height, tossed a forlorn glance towards her comfy inviting cloudhome, and began surveying Ponyville below with loyal determination. It wasn't long before she caught the pink neon streak bolting towards Carousel Boutique. Dash flapped hard into a dive, her stomach growling in disapproval.
She caught up to Scootaloo quickly; her wings flapped down hard to control her descent but the world teetered with other plans in mind, a product of her near delirious exhaustion. Instinctively, Dash curled into a ball and folded her wings against her sides, landing into a roll and slamming into a nearby wall. Coughing up dust, her world became a bleary, double visioned mess. Scootaloo materialized into that world, at least she thought so. She was saying something, but nothing important. If it was important it would have made sense. Not the string of gibberish that filtered through Dash's muddled brain. She waved a hoof, trying to shoo away the Scootaloos buzzing around her head as she tried and failed to stand. The last of her energy ebbed out as her body relaxed from the exertion of surviving the crash. Finally, defeated, she sat trying to fight shock and the dire need for sleep that so desperately demanded her attention.
Scootaloo hummed furiously through the streets, her wings flapping madly enough to pick her up off the ground for a few leg spans. The feat would have sent her into jittered little fits of accomplished bouncing any other day, but not tonight. Stress churned and ground into the pit of her stomach. She desperately fought the tears back as the anxiety rose up her chest and wrapped its icy malign around her neck to mercilessly deny her air.
Stupid Dash! I hope you crash! She wiped a hoof through her teary eyes, clearing them just in time to see, by some avenging force, Dash smash into the ground and hit the nearby wall of a closed shop. Wow! She stopped momentarily to check her flank. Ooh I hope its an avenging hammer crossed with a lightning bolt! And…nothing, just a ridiculous glowing tail. With a disappointed deadpan gaze, she rolled over to her mentor, trying to ignore the urge to leave her where she lie.
"Rainbow Dash? You alive?" Dash mumbled something back at her about holding still. "Dash, hello? Scootaloo to Dash, come in Dash?!" Dash wavered struggling to stand as her eyes glazed over half asleep. Scootaloo sighed, took her mentor by the mane, helped her up, and coaxed her down the road. "Come on, your home isn't too far off."
"…bought food…" Dash mumbled.
Scootaloo eyed the crumpled saddlebag. "I'll look when we get you home. Come on, that a girl. Walk with me."
"…hungry…" She whined.
"Right, fine..." Scootaloo sighed in exasperation, "...hold on." She reached into the saddlebag and produced a paper bag full of…uhm…something. She could smell cinnamon and lots of sugar; it looked to be a twisted remnant of a cupcake smashed into a cinnamon roll. She shook the bag, seeing that more mangled nummies lay below. With another deep cleansing sigh, she stuck the bag on Dash's muzzle and looped the handles around her ears. "Just eat." Dash complied, munching away deliriously.
Dash stumbled more than once, having to lean on a straining Scootaloo for support. Eventually, Scootaloo left her scooter and helmet in a secluded corner out in front of a shop, securing it to a bike rack. "You know you can be real mean sometimes?"
Dash grumbled unintelligibly through the bag in response.
"You are always ignoring me. You never spend time with me unless it's some big planned out thing. You never take me anywhere with you. You don't tell me any of your plans. Then when I spend all day trying to catch up to you, you laugh at me." She looked back at her ridiculous pink tail. Its glow was slowly fading, but neon pink was still neon pink despite its glowy levels. She snorted out her irritation. "And after all that, instead of an apology, I'm the one taking care of you!"
Dash mumbled something unintelligible, bringing Scootaloo's irritation levels to a boiling point. "Dash, you're such a jerk! Maybe I actually need you! Did you ever think of..." Scootaloo caught herself, biting back her words as she glared nervously sideways at Dash. Her mentor munched away obliviously.
Scootaloo's face turned red, half with embarrassment at the slip up, and half with rage that Dash had completely ignored her. She was ready to explode. Vehement words fueled by rage and indignation, coupled with the stress that weighed down her gut like a lead ball, welled up barely held back in her throat, ready to burst forth to tear into her neglectful mentor. Yet, without warning, Dash's first coherent bag muffled words reached through her angry haze, nearly sending the unsuspecting filly to stumble face first into the walkway as the blood drained from her rage addled mind. "Thanks, sis…"
They arrived at Dash's cloud home a few minutes later. Scootaloo was gibbering unintelligibly on and on about being Dash’s sister through bouts of hysterical little giggles until it hit her that there was no way to get the debilitated pegasus up to her home. "Dash, can you fly a little?"
Dash looked up, sensing her bed close by. The cinnamon roll cupcake mash-up from earlier finally working its sugary magic into her wings. "Mmhmm…"
Dash grabbed Scoot, who squeaked in surprise, and gruffly shoved her under a foreleg eliciting an "erf" from the confused filly. Then, limbs drooping, head hanging low, and her Scootasisterluggage secured, Dash began the short ascent to the porch. Landing flufflepuffly, she kicked open the door and lurched inside, crossed the living room with a couple of trots, bounded up the stairs bouncing off the walls for support, and leaped across the room into her bed.
Dash was asleep long before she hit the pillow, completely missing the teensy filly fit happening in her forelegs as Scootaloo snuggled down for the best night ever.
Rainbow Dash sniffed at the air. Cinnamon, sugar, and strong hints of strawberries trickled back through her muzzle as she halfheartedly flicked a tongue to explore the anomaly that was making it difficult to breathe. She was pleasantly surprised to find, breakfast? She inhaled half a remaining cinnacake, then reached up and tugged at the bag on her face, pulling the loops over her ears she tossed it onto the nightstand. Glancing around through a blurry mess, Scootaloo wriggling at her side caught her attention.
Dash propped herself up to get a better look as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. The sheets cascaded down, catching a wing, and hung in loose wrinkles hugging the curves of her coat. She gazed over one of the most adorable scenes she ever locked into memory. Scootaloo lay curled into a ball, her wings were splayed backwards and fanned out as she stretched. The sun catching each feather and projecting in a dance of orange glittery translucence on the sheets. Her mane was disheveled and ragged as she sat up, the softness of sleep on her features, ears hanging back limply, as she looked up at Dash groggily. Her lids opened slowly as she wavered back and forth, her head lolling in little circles. After a second of absent minded staring through eyes stretched impossibly wide in all their moist glistening wonder, she yawned, lost her will to sit up, and flopped back to the bed. A few clicks of her tongue, a gentle swallow, and she was once again snoring softly.
Dash giggled through restrained little snorts, trying not to fully wake the sleeping filly. Impulsively she stroked a hoof down Scootaloo's mane, taming some of the disheveled mess as she briefly considered falling back to sleep. Reality, however, was cruel in that it was a work day. Her own needs and wants aside, she had a job to do. She stretched out the pain in her muscles. The good kind of pain, like when you train for two days straight and push yourself to the extreme. However, this pain was also followed by the bad kind of pain.
The kind of pain where ones wings cramp viciously with a malicious intent to kill their host. Dash doubled over, trying in vain to stretch out her wings, breathe, and not squish Scootaloo at the same time. She failed all around. Trying to grab at her assailing wing, her foreleg slipped, sending her down in a twisted cluster to slam into an unprepared Scootaloo. –SQUEE!– The sound that squished out of the sleeping filly made Dash guffaw, worsening her plight as her wings tensed up with her mirth.
Scootaloo squirmed herself off the bed, out from under Dash, to ooze onto the floor with a thud. She sat up quickly, shaking the sleep off as she prepared to vent her crankiness at being squished awake and laughed at. However, taking in the scene before her she stopped, dropped, and twittered uncontrollably as she hoofed at her mentor. "You look ridiculous!"
Dash was a contorted mess. Having inexplicably grabbed one wing in a hindhoof sandwich, she was yanking downwards on it while stretching the other upwards with her forehooves forming a blue crescent moon on the disheveled mess of her bed sheets. She glared back at Scootaloo indignantly. "How's that fashion statement going for ya there, Squee?"
Scootaloo glanced over at her tail to find the hot pink nightmare still firmly attached. "Aww, dumb random baby magic. Wait, what? Squee?"
Dash continued to struggle with her wings but laughed through the pain. "It's your new nickname, deal with it. What happened yesterday, anyway?"
Scootaloo rolled her eyes, shrugged off the nickname as a Dashism, and hopped up on the bed. "Just lie down." She gently kicked the confused Dash onto her stomach and scrambled up onto her back before she could argue. There, she grabbed a wing and yanked, simultaneously driving her hindhooves into Dash's spine. The bones cascaded into place in a series of pops down Dash's back, and throughout the wing, eliciting a relieved groan from the distraught pony. Scootaloo twisted the wing gently at the joints, working out the cramped muscles with a hoof. "I waited by Sugarcube Corner for you all day."
"I got orders a few days ago that my training weekend had been bumped up. It's part of the— unngghh…" Dash pawed at her pillow as Scootaloo stretched out her other wing. "Wow, did you train for this?"
"Hold still. It's hard enough to keep my balance without you moving." She filed the feathers through her hooves and began gently preening them into place. "My mom is always busy, and she never has time to take care of herself. So, you know, I do what I can."
Dash smiled in reply, affirming to Scootaloo her skills with relaxed happy little groans. "I was gone all weekend, I didn't have any time to tell anypony where I was going. Derpy delivered the mail late so I had to leave right that moment." Dash stretched out and yawned, eliciting a yip of disapproval from Scootaloo as she struggled to keep her balance. "If you ask me, it’s all part of the training to see how flexible we can be at a moment’s notice."
"Yeah, well, next time do me a favor and leave a note or something. I got caught by Pinkie yesterday, and yeah, I had some fun, but you just can't reason with Pinkie. 'I'm tired and don't want to play anymore' might as well be 'I'm bored with this let’s try something new!'" Scootaloo sighed.
"She played you out?"
"It's impossible to keep up! Tea parties, pirates, pirate tea parties, pin the tail on the Pinkie, forts, and that's just what I can remember. I think I went into zombie mode at some point…and that's when this happened." She smacked Dash in the face with her tail, eliciting a hearty sneeze.
"That thing’s horrible, Scoot. We got to get you fixed quick."
Scootaloo nibbled another feather into place, nuzzling it straight as she skirted around behind Dash to reach her primaries. "Can you drop me off by my scooter before work?"
"Not happening, kiddo."
"What?!"
"I can't fly. You’re stuck here with me for the day." Dash grinned as she glanced back. "Though they’ll send a messenger to check on me. We can ask her to take you."
"Nah." Scootaloo muffled around another feather. "I don't want anypony else to see my tail anyway. Maybe we can get Twilight to come here to fix it."
"Actually, come to think of it, it’ll probably just go away on its own. Baby unicorn magic isn't really permanent. If you don't have to be anywhere, you can hide out here for a few days if you want.” Dash shrugged. “I'm not going anywhere."
"So much for training," Scootaloo mumbled sadly.
"Later…"
"It's always later!"
"Life happens, get over it." Dash yipped and twisted as Scootaloo wiggled a hoof under her wing. "Noo! Doon't! That tickles!"
"Then take it back! Promise me you're going to train me!" Scootaloo glared at her, brandishing a mischievous hoof.
"Alright, alright! I'm sorry! Look, I just got a lot on my plate. It will be different when you can fly and shadow me around. Be patient, relax. We got this." Dash stretched, and sighed contentedly as Scootaloo finished off one wing and moved to the other.
"You sound like my mom…" Scootaloo intoned sadly. "No one ever has time for me, but I'll forgive you this one. Your wings are really messed up. I can feel the knots, and they keep twitching."
"Yeah… I know these kind of cramps. They’re going to come back. I can't safely fly for a couple days, so…I'm grounded for now unless I want to spend a week in a hospital bed later on from a…forced landing. Besides, you said your mom was busy, right? She's probably just got work, and life to worry about. It's not you, Scoot. I'm sure she would spend time with you if she had it. You really stress a lot for a filly."
"I know…" Scootaloo finished preening the rest of Dash's wing. It happens when you're needed all the time.
Dash squirmed uncomfortably under the weight of the silence. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "What about school or your friends? Is it really okay for you to be hanging out here bored all day?"
"Apple Bloom is busy on the farm for the next couple weeks and Sweetie Belle is leaving today to spend the next week in Canterlot with Rarity. Something about a big fashion expo. Anyway, it's summer vacation and there's no school." Scootaloo grumbled, this train of conversation all too familiar.
"What about your dad…?"
"What about him? He's awesome, caring, and grumpy…" The vehemency in Scootaloo's voice jarred Dash. She turned back to look her in the eyes but the filly had already jumped down, heading for the door. "I'm making breakfast. If you want to get rid of me, you're going to have to try harder than that!"
"…Scootaloo, I…" Slam! Dash stared at the bedroom door for a moment, not sure what taboo she had just broken. Wow, what's her problem?
Scootaloo collected the plates…all two of them. Well, at least she’s prepared for company… She raised an eyebrow as she realized one plate had three or four different layers of food on it. She sniffed at it. Spaghetti? Well, that explains the red crusty stuff on top, but what’s the green stuff underneath? Is that grape jelly on the edge? Scootaloo shivered and fought down the queasy spreading through her stomach. Ugh…that is definitely streaks of chocolate under it all.
She grabbed a sponge. Yech! She wrinkled her muzzle as the overpowering stench of mildew assaulted her delicate nose. How long has it been since she did dishes? This sponge is nasty! She pumped a glob of dish soap onto the porous offender and prewashed the sponge. After it reeked of lemony cleanliness she scrubbed viciously at the plate, its caked on nasties, and sighed. "Like I never left home…"
Dash took her time showering as she mulled over what she could have possibly said to Scootaloo to set her off. She played it over and over again, picked it apart, but ultimately couldn't wrap her mind around it. I really don't think I'm cut out for this sisterly stuff. What do I know about taking care of a kid? She mulled the thought around for a moment. Then with a huff she rinsed, and shook out her frustrations as she dried off. I'll just have to tell Scootaloo sorry, but maybe staying here isn't the best thing for her. Ignoring her mane, as usual, she moved swiftly downstairs halting around the corner to the kitchen. With a deep breath she plodded in.
"Look, Scootaloo, I'm really sorry, but… Wow!" She came up short, halting just before the table. A humble pile of apple cinnamon cakes were sitting in the middle. "I didn't know you could bake!" Scootaloo didn't answer. She stood staring at Dash, her lip quivering. "Hey Scoot? What’s wrong?"
"You were going to kick me out, weren't you?" Her accusing eyes burned into Dash.
"Well, I…uhm, you see… I'm just not cut out for this. You know. You got problems, but I… I just don't have answers, Scoot. I don't know what you want." Dash brushed her foreleg with a nervous hoof, avoiding the pain in Scootaloo's eyes. "If it causes you pain to be here, maybe you shouldn't… I mean we can train and all later, after my wings…"
Scootaloo bit her lip and walked past Dash, shrugging off a blue hoof. "Maybe I don't want answers."
She clopped up the stairs, leaving Dash with her thoughts. Confusing, angry thoughts. Stupid! That was completely stupid. She slammed her head into the floor, cursing the clouds for being too fluffy to deny her feelings with pain. She spun around, and dashed up the stairs. "Scootaloo! Wait! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Well then, how did you mean it?!" Scootaloo had already locked herself in a random room Dash used for storage across from her bedroom. Dash sat down and propped against the wall.
"I mean… I don't know… I just never had a…you know…" Sister… She finished off the sentence mentally trying to translate it to her mouth.
"You didn't deny it on the camp out, or have any trouble saying it last night!"
"Yeah, well, now it means something!" Oh, I bucked up… Dash slammed her head into the defiantly fluffy floor again. "I'm sorry, Scoot! I didn't mean it like that!"
Dash could hear little sobs coming through the door, and a whispered, "Go away…"
Dash growled as the doorbell rang. She peeled herself away, her frustrations churning. "Fine! Lay in there and pout!" She stormed down the stairs, but faltered as Scootaloo started wailing behind her. "Aww, I'm such a…" Ding! The doorbell went off again. "I'm coming!!" Gah, worst morning ever!
Derpy recoiled and stared up at Dash, who had heatedly flung the door open with a, "What?! I'm busy!"
"Oh, uhm… You didn't come to work, they sent me with a message, and I was worried. Is all…" Derpy would have looked downcast, if her eyes weren't intent on looking everywhere except where she wanted them to.
Dash took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Derpy, I just got a lot going on, okay? I can't come in to work today. I got wing cramps from Wonderbolt training this weekend."
Derpy tried her best to look concerned, which made Dash giggle inwardly a little. "Ow, that sounds horrible. Uhm, do you have enough food? I can pick something up."
"No, I'm good for now. I'm just going to take it easy for a bit." Dash scratched the back of her head, trying to shake off the foreignness of her own words. I got more important things to do, but let’s not go into that… she thought with a certain filly on her mind.
"Well, if you need anything, let me know. I’ll stop by later to check in on you." Derpy turned and flapped upwards, looking down with a wave and shooting off into the distance at a slightly lopsided gate.
Dash shut the door and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. Her gaze slid across the room and up the stairs. Well, now she really is stuck here. She breathed in deep, and let out a quick burst of a sigh as she propelled herself up onto her hooves. Bravest mare in Ponyville my flank, she huffed mentally as she trotted for the stairs. I'd rather face off with a manticore than Scootaloo right now.
She clopped up the stairs swiftly and padded over to the door shielding her depressed protégé. "Hey, Scoot?" The door lock clicked and it cracked open. Wow, that was easy… Dash looked on perplexed.
Scootaloo leaned on the doorframe, refusing to make eye contact as she stared at the floor away from Dash. "Who's taking me?"
"Who's what?"
"Who's taking me down? I gotta prepare mentally, you know. They’re gonna see my tail and I'm a mess from crying and all." Scootaloo intoned dejectedly through intermittent sobs as she tried to wipe the tears away.
"Oh… Um, I uh…kinda sent them away…" Dash pawed at the floor and chewed at her lip. "Was that the wrong thing to do?"
"I don't know…" Scootaloo trailed off with a high pitched whine as she turned and face planted into Dash's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Dash hesitated, a hoof halfway reaching around the filly. Her heart instinctively told her to hug Scootaloo, but her brain was doing somersaults trying to understand what was going on. Random. I don't get it. Why would she… Ugh, Scootaloo you're killing me over here…
"Hey, Scootaloo." Dash laid down on the floor at eye level with the filly, brushing a comforting hoof through her disheveled mane. "I… I'm sorry. Like really, really sorry." She hoofed around her ears, brushing bits of straggling hair back into line. "I'm used to being alone, and doing things for myself, and not answering to anybody. I get that I said some really insensitive things, but I don't understand what made you mad in the first place. I was thinking…you know…maybe if we talked it over…" Dash trailed off uncomfortably.
"Am I bothering you?" Scootaloo risked a glance out of the corner of her eye, afraid of getting hurt again. Her sobs curbed into little sniffles.
"No! Nununo, not at all. I just…you see…the problems with me, kiddo. I don't understand what’s wrong, so…I can't fix it. I don't have the answers to everything. You know…with your parents." Dash looked away, running a nervous hoof through her mane.
"Why does it need to be fixed? I never asked for advice…" Scootaloo turned to look at Dash head on. "I just wanted to be with you. I like being here with you. Yeah, I want to train really bad, but it hurt when it felt like…maybe you didn't want me around."
Dash sighed in relief, and ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "Silly filly, it's not that I didn't want you here. It's that I didn't understand what you needed. You went all moody on me all of a sudden. How am I supposed to deal with that? I didn't grow up with any siblings. I can't read your mind."
"I don't know. You just made me really mad. I don't remember what you said…" Scootaloo trailed off.
"I think it was around when I asked about your father?" Dash winced as Scootaloo slammed her face back into her chest.
"Yeah, that. I don't want to talk about it."
Dash sighed. Am I relieved? "Well, if you need to, I'm here for you, little sis."
Scootaloo sniffled. "Did it mean something that time?"
"Yeah, it means a lot to me. That's probably why it's so hard to say sometimes." Dash's jaw dropped, and an eyebrow shot up as Scootaloo wrapped her arms around her neck and began wailing. "What's wrong now?"
"I don't know! But I think you're an awesome sister!"
Wow. Dash sighed mentally, suddenly feeling like she definitely didn't get enough sleep this morning. "Alright kiddo, breakfast then nap. Got it?"
Scootaloo nodded into Dash's mane. "Got it…"
Dash picked her up and carried her awkwardly down the stairs. Then walking into the kitchen, she bit off a huge chunk of apple cinnamon cake. Her eyes widened. "You made these from scratch?"
"Yeah," Scootaloo intoned blandly.
"Where'd you learn to do that? Aren't you a little young to be cooking?" Dash craned her neck down to look into Scootaloo's eyes as she squirrel cheeked the bite.
Scootaloo dodged Dash's eyes as she sighed. "Yeah, it's lame, really don't want to talk about it."
Dash winced. It's gonna be a looong couple of days.
Dash awoke out of her fitful dreams, her lids lifting lazily to welcome the golden rays of the setting sun as they cascaded across the shadows of her bed sheets. Her gaze centered around a little lump underneath the sheets that was slowly rising and falling like a giant breathing marshmallow. She took in a deep breath filling her lungs to capacity, and let out a slow calculated sigh as she lifted the sheet gingerly to peer underneath. Scootaloo lay curled into a ball, snoring softly. Well, I have a good excuse for sleeping the day away out of exhaustion. What's yours, Scoot?
Dash's brow furrowed in thought. She chewed at the inside of her cheek ravenously trying to get her brain rolling. In the end, however, her best impression of Twilight fell flat and fruitless… Ding! Dash started at the sound of the doorbell, and gingerly crept around the sleeping Scootaloo. She leaped for the door and bounded down the stairs, fully welcoming the distraction.
Twilight jumped back as the door flung open and Dash popped out onto the porch. "Twilight!" She whispered loudly as she gingerly shut the door. "Wow, am I glad to see you!"
"Huh, yeah, it's good to see you too, Rainbow Dash. Derpy stopped by with a delivery earlier and mentioned you had wing cramps from training this weekend. She said to tell you she was sorry and couldn't stop by this evening." Twilight held up a small bag with the Sugarcube Corner symbol. "She sends her condolences."
"Condolesas?" Dash snagged the bag and looked inside. "Yeah, Derpy! That sounds delicious!"
Twilight shook her head. "No, no… It's pronounced cond—"
Dash held up a hoof to stop her. "Twilight, you're super smart and all, and I respect that, but don't ruin this for me. It's been a long day."
Twilight frowned. "That bad, huh?"
Dash shot her a deadpan gaze. "You have no idea…" Dash glanced down into the bag and barked out a laugh. "I knew it." She displayed the open bag to Twilight. "Muffins… Good old Derpy. Predictable as always. Sometimes, I think all she eats is muffins."
Twilight giggled behind a hoof. "You’re in an odd mood today. Is something other than a little pain bugging the amazing Rainbow Dash?" Twilight teased halfheartedly, but the smile played out on her lips swiftly and was replaced by a look of concern as Dash hesitated to answer.
Dash frowned, not sure she was comfortable just blurting it all out. After a moment of reflective thought she noticed Twilight had settled down into her immobile posture of patience. That look, that body language, the calm discerning gaze that took everything in, picked it apart, and analyzed it to death were all leveled directly at Dash. A little shiver ran up her spine. Something tells me I'm not getting out of this one…
With another deep sigh to add to the pile of sighs she was accumulating at an alarming rate today, Dash's mind prepared for a tactful dance of half truths and hypothetical situations. "So, uhm… Let’s say I got this friend, right?"
"Yeah?" Twilight coaxed with a nod and a smile, certain she knew from experience how to handle Dash's hypothetical conversations by now.
"And, uh…she is really, really, um…emotional, and I can't figure out why. But normally she's not, you see, she is usually really tough, and cool, so it's really wierd, and I'm not sure how to handle it. One moment she’s happy, then the next she’s crying and seems to hate me…and then she’s hugging me the next. I’m so confused." Uhm…okay, that was a little more straight than I wanted it to be… Dash facehoofed mentally.
"So, um, what you’re telling me is that this friend of yours is having some major emotional issues?" Twilight looked at Dash, concern etched into every feature. "Could it be from some type of trauma?" Twilight rested her hoof on Dash's shoulder. "You know you can always talk to me right? If something ever happened, I'm here for you."
"Oh, what? Nonono…" Dash waved her hands in front of her to wipe away the misunderstanding. "Not me, Twilight, not me. It’s, um…my little friend." The unspoken sisterly code of confidence bound Dash from speaking Scootaloo's name. I don't want to scar the poor filly. She would be crushed if I betrayed her like that.
"Come on, Dash, you don't have to hide behind…" Twilight was cut off by a high pitched squeal from above.
"Hi Princess Twilight Sparkle!!" Scootaloo had her head stuck out the upper floor window and was waving emphatically at the two below. Scootaloo leaped out of the window and slid down the fluffy side walls aiming for the overhang above the porch.
Twilight looked up. "Scootaloo!" She waved. "Just call me Twilight as always, please." Twilight's cheery smile suddenly faded as the situation dawned on her. Little filly feet padded onto the overhang above them. She looked at Dash with some serious pony and frowned. "Dash, how long has she been here?"
"Since last night." Dash backpedaled a step. "Why, what’s wrong?"
"Dash, the whole town has been looking for her. Her dad fell down some stairs yesterday morning. Applejack found him late last night and has been taking care of him since he can't walk right now."
"Oh my gosh, how bad—" Dash was interrupted by the sound of sobby sniffles coming from the porch overhang. "Hey, Twilight… Why don't you fly on ahead, huh? I'll get her down from here and walk her over, okay?" Dash spoke a little too loudly as she shoved Twilight towards the edge of her cloud home.
Twilight bristled and fought as she slid towards the edge. "OKAY! Okay! I get it, you don't have to… Aiieeeee!!" Twilight dropped over the edge in a frenzied flutter.
Dash looked down with her hooves cupped to her muzzle. "Don't forget to fly!"
"Rainbow Dash! That's not funny!" Twilight flapped indignantly away.
"Sorry, Twi." Dash whirled around to find Scootaloo hopping off the porch overhang.
She was visibly forcing back tears, and her voice was haltingly choked. "Dash, I need to get home, but you can't fly!"
"Like hay I can't." Dash leaned down, picked Scootaloo up and flung her onto her back. "Hold on, Squee!"
Dash stretched her wings out, recoiling for a split second from the pain, but then defiantly threw them out to their full extension. Head down, she launched off the edge of the cloud without a second thought. Scootaloo wrapped her forelegs around Dash's neck and hugged for dear life. Dash flapped—twinge—flapped again—twinge—one more—cramp. She grimaced and bit her tongue, willing with all her nerves to power through it. Flap. A shudder wracked through her. Flap. The other wing cramped squeezing little tears from the corner of her eyes. Dash shook them off, with another deep lung filled breath. FLAP. They propelled across the sky, covering the distance of Ponyville within a couple of minutes. She came to the outskirts of Sweet Apple Acres, Scootaloo guiding the way as she locked her wings into place and glided swiftly down. Dash flinched, her wings refused to move when she commanded them to flap forward to slow the descent. She leaned back, her wings taking the full brunt force of the turbulence. Pulling up, she flew straight, hovering just above the ground, with her hooves brushing through some of the taller grass.
"We're gonna crash!" Dash warned Scootaloo as she whipped around in midair and wrapped her limbs around the filly protectively. "Hang on, I got you!"
Dash impacted on her side, flying into the familiar roll as she went head over heels, tumbling and bouncing. Dirt, grass, and bushes passed along until she ricocheted off a tree.
"Squee!" Scootaloo involuntarily squished.
Despite their predicament and the pain, Dash laughed as they skidded to a stop. Dash unfurled, letting her precious cargo roll off to the side. And then she lost it. The laughs came in guffaws punctuated by intermittent 'ow's and 'oh, it hurts soo bad's.
Scootaloo cocked an ear to the side. "What’s so funny about nearly getting us killed?"
"HAH. Oh, Squee, how do you even make that sound?" Dash continued rolling in her mirth. "OW…uh, it hurts!" She laughed even harder, her face turning red from strain.
"What?" Scootaloo let out a sigh. "Is there something wrong with you? You've been acting weird lately." Scootaloo hopped up and turned to leave.
"Me?!" Dash suddenly found the mirth and the pain gone. "ME?! Acting weird? You have become the princess of weird lately. Hay?! Where are you going?"
"Home!" Scootaloo trotted off trying to salvage some of her dignity.
Dash hoofed off the dust from her back and coaxed her wings down into resting position, "You're welcome!" Twinge… "Ooh…you pain in my…" Dash trotted off after the filly, rubbing her aching flank.
The two story house was a humble abode. It had two windows upstairs and a workshop that was situated behind the house at a diagonal with a catwalk leading to it from the upper level. Dash considered briefly what purpose the shop held but focused on the door in front of her. Scootaloo tried the doorknob but it didn’t budge. She knocked three times rapidly. "Daddy! It’s me!"
Dash snickered and ribbed Scootaloo in the side. "Pfft…’daddy’? Really?"
"Mmmm…" Scootaloo shot Dash a narrow-eyed warning and flank-bumped her, a feat that almost sent the poor filly bouncing off the porch if it weren't for the quick reaction of a blue hoof to steady her mid-stumble.
Dash giggled and ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "It's taking forever for someone to answer the door. You sure he's home?"
"Yeah, just be patient." Scootaloo stared at the door expectantly. Soon creaks and whines could be heard from the other side as the timber of the home gave way to something…large.
The creaks grew louder, followed by intermittent shuddering thumps that sent the myriad of bobbles and chimes on the porch swaying and clattering. Creak, squirrr…creak, yeurrraa, creak, thump…shudder…clatter…silence. Dash held her breath, not quite sure what would be on the other side of the door and backpedaled apprehensively as the noise stopped.
Scootaloo looked up and giggled. "Relax, it's just my dad."
Dash shot her a 'mare, you crazy?' look as she took a calming breath. The doorknob jiggled; a myriad of locks slid into place followed by a creak as it opened slowly.
An enormous white stallion with red hair and hazel green eyes filled the doorway. His brow looked permanently furrowed and angry. His muzzle curled down into a slight disapproving frown as he eyed Dash, the red mane adding to the ferocity of the gaze. His eyes slid down to a grinning Scootaloo who was rocking back and forth excitedly. "Hi Daddy! I'm home."
"Aww…welcome home sweetheart!" Dash almost fell over from shock as a bright and cheery voice emitted from the grumpy looking ogre of a stallion standing before her. The enormous head bent down and battered Scootaloo around in what Dash hoped was a playful nuzzle. She let out a quick burst of breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Scootaloo giggled, reared up, and headbutted her dad's nose. "Oomff…haha! You’re growing so fast." His voice switched to a low grumpy growl as he turned. "Git in here, you two." Then he slowly…slowly thudded one hoof after another across the room.
The house seemed to want to cave in around his massive bulk. Each step bringing another shudder, rattling pictures, causing the floorboards to creak, and the walls to moan. Dash flitted in apprehensively behind Scootaloo. The front room was quaint with a large sectional couch, in various states of disrepair, that wrapped around a large square ottoman in the center. Bits of leaves and twigs were strewn across the floor at random, leaving the place as a whole screaming for a good cleaning. Dash trotted lightly across the floor, following Scootaloo closely.
"Relax, have a seat Rainbow Dash. You are always welcome in my house. My name is Grinder Thundershanks," the stallion intoned grumpily. "Don't mind me! If I git in yer way, just give me a good hoof to the head and I'll move." He chuckled methodically at his own joke as he awkwardly crawled up onto one section of the couch which happened to be a large chaise lounge. It squeaked and groaned underneath his bulk, and Dash got a much better view from the side to see exactly how large he was. Like Big Mac…just…a lot bigger around the mid… Her eyes slid down to his forelegs. Huge jointed metal pipes were strapped to the outside of each foreleg, held together by thick springs and resistance brackets. They curved up and twisted around inwards into padded supports that hugged his chest. The gentle smile that played across his muzzle defied the angry brow and intensity of his gaze as he locked onto Dash. "My joints are bad. It's hard to move," he intoned in a deep guttural drawl with a look of…
Jolly grumpiness? Dash mused.
"Wow, sorry to hear that. Uhm… I…well…you are really young, what the hay happened?" Dash shrunk back as Grinder guffawed loudly.
"I like you. Straightforward, no dancing around what's really on your mind. Always irritates me when somepony can't just come out an' say it." He clopped a hoof onto the ottoman. "Scootabee! Grab our guest here some..." Scootaloo came around the corner carrying a tray with cups of tea before he could finish. "Outstanding! Good job, sweetheart!"
"You know me, Daddy. I got this." Scootaloo grinned and gingerly hoofed a cup to Dash. "I heard you fell again." Scootaloo got straight to the point.
"Oh, you know your Daddy always…"
"Bounces, yes. I know you bounce. Never broken a bone. Always standing strong." Scootaloo spun around on him, causing the large stallion to recoil reflexively. "Would you be more careful? You had me worried sick! Where does it hurt? Do you have bandages this time? Did you pull anything? Have you been eating? There’s like three dishes in the sink…" Scootaloo trailed off.
Grinder looked downcast. "Why you always worried about me?" He ran a hoof through Scootaloo's mane. "You got so many other things to worry about like… who you’re going to play with, and what stunt you want to pull on your scooter, and learning to fly. You see sweetie, I do bounce. Right back up, and you don't have to worry because I take care of myself. Everypony around me freaks out when I stumble or fall. But I don't break… the things I fall on break." He chuckled, playing off the tension with a joke as he playfully jabbed at Scootaloo with a hoof.
She batted it away. "Be serious, would you?"
"Sorry," Grinder mumbled.
"It's okay." Scootaloo hugged her dad's neck, most of her body disappearing as a massive foreleg wrapped around to gently hug her back. "Just try not to go up the stairs too often." She jumped down, and trotted over to the kitchen. "I’ll do some dishes and get to work on lunch." She glanced into the trash. "That's what I thought, you haven't been eating right! Did you take your medicine? Are you in pain?"
"Ah’m fine, little filly, but I could go for some food."
"I'm sure you're starving. Ugh, and you’ve been drinking those energy drinks again. Mom said those can kill you! You see? You see why I can't leave the house?" Scootaloo glanced around the kitchen corner and glared daggers at her dad.
"Sorry, sweetie. I know, I know. It's just hard to stay awake sometimes. You know I like to write…" He trailed off as he reached for a teacup that was four times larger than the other on the platter. Scootaloo whipped back around into the kitchen with a growl. Grinder gulped at his tea. At the end of the cup he took a deep breath, and let it out in a long guttural sigh. He locked back onto Dash, who jumped having forgotten she was even in the room. "Would you relax? I won't rip your head off or anythin'." He chuckled darkly. "Doubt I could catch you."
Dash laughed nervously, trying to steady her hoof as she sipped tea from a jittery cup. "It's all good. I'm cool, no problem over here!"
"So, uhm…yeah, about my legs." He clattered the metal contraptions against each other. "I was injured in service to her majesty Princess Celestia. Long boring story short, I stepped on an explody thing…it sent me flying…tore out my ligaments, and cracked some cartilage, broke a tooth…blahblahblah… A year of rehab later, and then I came home with an honorable discharge and got these things put on my legs to help ease the pain so I wasn't popping pills three times a day. I hate medicine. Half the time it doesn't work and you feel sick off it. The other half it works great but it turns you into a zombie. What's the point of that?" He clattered his pipes together and grumbled. "Isn't one, I tell you! Rather run around with this here metal than deal with fool doctors anymore. Had enough of ‘em!"
"Daddy! You're rambling again!" Scootaloo called from the kitchen.
"Oh, sorry dear! Thanks for catching me." He cleared his throat. "So uhm, yeah, uhm… Hi." A pained look crossed his features. "What was your name again?"
Dash did a double take, her brain churning trying to catch something she was missing, but replied curtly. "Rainbow Dash, Mr. Thundershanks, sir."
"Ahh yes, I've heard about you! Scootaloo goes on and on. Poor things completely enamored with yah." He let out a jolly round of laughter, his belly shaking mirthfully, as Scootaloo's head popped around the corner.
"DADDY!!" Dash snorted into a hoof trying to keep her cool as she looked sideways at Scootaloo's indignant glare centered on her father. "Hey, don't make me come over there and hurt you!" Scootaloo threatened, shaking a hoof.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" Grinder took a deep breath and settled back into place with a chuckling sigh. He stared at a wall for a while, completely zoning out.
Dash cringed under the silence taking another uncomfortable sip of tea. The sound garnered the stallions attention. "Hey! Right, forgot you were there. Sorry about that…uhm…" His brow furrowed deeper as he circled a hoof in the air in thought.
Is he trying to remember my name? "Rainbow Dash?" Dash ventured forth, a look of honest concern crossing her features. "Uhm...you ok, Mr. Thundershanks?"
"What? Yeah, of course. Haha! Right! So!" He clanked the metal pipes together on his legs. "These big metal contraptions, I went and threw ‘em on after I was injured in service to her majesty, Princess Celestia. I was…"
"Already covered that topic, Daddy!" Scootaloo called around the corner.
"Oh…dear. Sorry about that." He paused. "Hey, have you done your homework yet?" He barked sharply.
Scootaloo jumped and peered around the corner. "What? No…it’s—"
He cut her off. "How many times have I got to tell you: homework, then chores, then play! You have straight A's but don't think I will let up on you for a second. Git in there and git busy!" His gaze was intense and commanding, ruthlessly cutting through any argument. Dash held her breath tensely.
Scootaloo looked back in calm defiance. "It's summer break, Dad. Relax, I passed."
"Oh, then yes, great job Scootabee! Proud of ya, play all you want." Grinder was silent for a moment then reached into a bag next to the couch and pulled out some bits. "Sorry for barking at you, sweetie. I'll leave some bits on the ottoman for ya. Go buy some cupcakes later." He plopped the bits down on the ottoman, and turned to Dash. "So, tell me about yourself there Rainbow Dash. You’re a celebrity around these parts, and my daughter is quite enamored with you." He chuckled as Scootaloo let out a vehement sigh from the kitchen, and rounded the corner with some daisy sandwiches and bits of cut up apple on a tray.
"Well, you know, being an Element of Harmony, the fastest flyer in Equestria, and a hero tends to do that to a pony." Dash polished a hoof against her chest, but jumped in surprise as Grinder let out a riotous laugh.
"That's right! Say it how it is! I like that! Ponies is always dancin' around what they mean and never have the guts to jus' say it out loud." Grinder continued laughing, jiggling merrily, with those angry eyes.
"Daddy, you're being too loud. Bring it down a bit." Scootaloo shook her head in embarrassed exasperation. "Sorry, Rainbow Dash…I…"
"OH! Right, Rainbow Dash! I've been looking forward to meeting you for such a long time now." He clattered his legs together. "I used to be a real athlete like you, till I earned my pipes here. Have I told you the story of how I earned my pipes in the service of her majesty, Princess Celestia?"
Dash stared slack jawed at Grinder. Her gaze flitted over to Scootaloo who was staring down and off to the side. Actions that weren't lost on the stallion’s sharp wit. "I see… Hah! Of course I have. I'm just playing with you…" He laughed off the awkward silence. "Hey sweetheart, you need to stop fussin' over me." He rubbed a hoof through Scootaloo's mane. "It’s all good, right Scootabee? No worries." Grinder rolled off the couch and stretched. Then he cringed and dropped to the ground without warning, letting out a sharp grunted gasp.
"Daddy!" Scootaloo shot to his side. Dash jumped up, setting the teacup down, she trotted over swiftly.
"Mr. Thundershanks, you alright? What happened?" She offered a helping hoof, wondering if she even could help if he accepted it.
"Don't worry about me." His breathing was labored. "Ah’m fine. Just a hip popping out of place. Let me catch my breath." With that he shuddered, standing up slowly, and then -CRACK!- the offending hip slid back into its slot. "Ahh, there we go, all better." He leaned over and kissed Scootaloo on the forehead. "Your Daddy's doin' just fine. Stop worrying so much. You got more important things to do in life than fussin' over me." Grinder nuzzled her on the neck and ran a hoof through her mane, mussing it up. "Now go on out and play. It's time for my nap." He grabbed the sandwiches, popped one into his mouth and tossed the plate with the cuts of apple onto his back. Then he plodded slowly, awkwardly, clunkily to the stairs. "Why don't you spend the night at a friend’s house? You haven't done that for a while, right?"
Scootaloo gritted her teeth and choked back a sob. "Right, Dad! Have a good night. I'll be staying over at Dash's tonight."
"Oh right, I just met her a while ago. She is an awesome filly. I really liked her. Give her my regards!" He called down the stairs. Clunk, thud, clank…creak…grumble. "Stupid stairs! You won't win this time! Bring it on! Yarr…hahaha!"
Scootaloo closed her eyes, fighting an internal breakdown when two blue forelegs wrapped around and pulled her back. Dash nuzzled her neck and cheek. "Hey, little sis, I think I get it now."
Scootaloo walked beside Dash in silence, staring fixedly on the road skirting Sweet Apple Acres and leading back to Ponyville. Dash ground her teeth subconsciously, deep in thought, mulling over on how to help her little sister.
"Would you stop doing that?"
Dash startled and looked down at Scootaloo, who was still staring at the road. "Do what?"
"Grinding your teeth. It's annoying…" Scootaloo looked away uncomfortably. "And it's really bad for them."
Dash raised an eyebrow. "Wait, am I annoying you or are you worried about my teeth?"
Scootaloo snorted, plodding along almost tantrumy. "You should probably eat. All you had was some apple cinnamon cake earlier. While we’re on the ground we might as well make the most of it." She tossed the bits her dad had left on the ottoman at Dash. "Here, I want you to have them."
Dash caught the bits and stared at them as she trotted lopsided down the road. "Scootaloo…"
"Yeah?"
Dash pocketed the bits, intent on using them to buy something nice for the filly later. She felt an odd bag while shuffling around. Derpy's muffins! She brought out the muffins and passed one to Scootaloo. "How do you do that worrying about others thing when you have so much going on?"
"I have to keep moving or else my stomach starts to hurt. Mom says it's stress." She sighed. "So I can't stop moving or else the stress will get me. Makes my stomach hurt real bad. So I ride my scooter, and I play with my friends, and I train to fly. I can't stop worrying about those I care about so I stress out more, so I have to move more." Scootaloo smiled weakly up at her mentor.
"But you hide it! I've never noticed before!" Dash stopped and turned, trying to find words that fit a response. "You are…so sweet…and yet you keep it cool." Gah, why did I say that? That was soo lame. She beat herself mentally over the head.
Scootaloo stumbled, and squealed. "Wow, really? Thanks Dash! You're the most awesome pony in Equestria, so if you say it, it's gotta be true!"
Dash trotted alongside Scootaloo and giggled as she flank-bumped her playfully. Pfftt… Scootaloo, if you had any clue of how cool you are maybe you would understand how lame I am right now…
"You okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, Scoots. Why?"
"I don't know, you just look like you're in pain for some reason."
"Hah! Haha, yeah, huh… Nah, I'm cool…" Dash grinned back through a forced smile and shut her eyes. So epicly lame!
Scootaloo looked back at her tail, sighing in relief as she confirmed the pink had faded into streaks of highlights that looked halfway decent rather than the full blown neon horror it was only a day ago. "Well, it's a little girly, but at least I can walk through Ponyville like this."
Dash nodded. "That and it's not glowing. So those are both a plus. Good thing too since we’re already halfway to Sugarcube Corner."
Applejack rounded a corner up ahead of the two, laden with bags. "Howdy, Dash!" Applejack trotted up with that Apple fresh grin. "What'cha up to?"
"Grabbing something to eat." Dash shot back her 'I'm the pony' grin which sent Applejack's grin cold as she took note it was missing it's usual egotistic lustre.
"Hey Dash… Whoa there…Scootaloo! I’ve been lookin' high an' low for you!" Applejack looked down as if seeing the little filly for the first time. "Yer Dad…"
Scootaloo held up a hoof. "I know! Already went to visit him. He's alright."
"He's not up walkin' about is he? I told him to stay up in bed. I'ma clop him good if he cain't listen to reason. He knows those painkillers muddle up his brain. Likely he’ll jus' fall down the stairs again."
Scootaloo smiled weakly. "Uhm…yeah, he's pretty out of it right now. Said he needed to get to bed for a nap."
Applejack ran a hoof through her mane. "Look sugarcube, yer dad’s a tough cookie. Once the pain from the fall eases off, he’ill stop the painkillers again, and you’ll have him back."
"Just like always." Scootaloo smiled. "…Until he gets hurt again, or he pulls something, or something pops out of place, or it rains." She shook her head. "It's always something. It's always going to be better tomorrow. And it's ALWAYS tomorrow."
Dash winced and looked off to the side fighting the tears welling up in her eyes, Scootaloo's voice played out in her mind: It's always later. "I’m always telling her later, or tomorrow," she mumbled to herself.
"Mom does everything she can. She's so stressed and works so hard but she's only one pony. She can't do everything. So I try to help out as much as I can." Scootaloo cocked her head to the side, flashed a smile, her ears falling into place to form the picture of innocence.
Applejack grimaced. "I know sugarcube, that's gotta be hard. If yer mom didn't have to work so much to support the family it would be a lot easier for ya. It's really unfortunate she can't spend more time with ya, but you are an amazin' hard workin' little filly. Just be patient, it will all work out."
You sound like my mom! No one ever has time for me! Dash choked on the memory, trying to breathe through the sickening ball building up in her gut.
"Well, for tonight I'll be checking up on him. So you go have your fun. Try to let off some steam. Go play at a friends house. Try not to go home though, okay? You need to rest too." Applejack rustled Scootaloo's mane playfully. "Go hang out with your big sister over there."
"Yep, my day is awesome no matter what because I'm staying with my sister!" Scootaloo giggled giddily and hopped up and down.
I just wanted to be with you. I like being here with you… it hurt when it felt like…maybe you didn't want me around. Dash's knees quivered. Every fiber of her being was screaming to fly, to run, to escape, to flee away from the pain welling up in her heart and overflowing into her gut.
Applejack started. "Rainbow Dash? You look pale, are you okay? Hey, sugarcube?" She moved in.
Dash hid her face, trying hard to regain control. Her breaths coming in painful staccato halts. "Just…stomach ache…"
"Dash, you don't look so good… You're startin' to scare me… Sugarcube? Are you cryin'?" Applejack halted, a mild panic setting in.
Dash shot past her, sending Applejack off balance, as she raced for the one soft hoof that could calm her now. Fluttershy!! Oh Celestia please let her be home.
Knock knock! Fluttershy looked at the door in surprise, slightly backpedalling. "Oh… Oh my, who could that be?" She moved slowly towards the door. "Oh dear, its getting late. Who would visit at this hour?"
"Fluttershy!" Dash screamed through the door, sending her friend into a momentary quivering mess.
"Dash? Is that you?"
Thud! Dash slammed her head into the door. "Does it sound like me? Would you just open up?"
"Well, alright, but if it isn't Dash I'm slamming it shut! So, uhm…just so you aren't surprised." Fluttershy inched towards the door. "I wouldn't want you to get your hoof caught."
Dash was fighting a losing battle against breaking down completely. "I can't handle this right now, please." Muffled sniffles filtered in, raising the hairs on the back of Fluttershy's neck.
She raced to the door and threw it open. "Dash! What's wrong? Thats not like you! Something happened, you can tell me…" She supported Dash as she plodded in and flopped down on the couch. "Do you need a hug?"
"No, I just came to talk… I need help, Fluttershy." Dash ran a hoof down her face, trying to calm her nerves. "Scootaloo… She's really strong, but she was forced to grow up so quickly. She helps take care of her disabled father, and even though she misses her mom a lot she keeps smiling and caring about others. She is hurting so bad inside… She has so much pain." Dash choked back her tears. Fluttershy watched, listened, and waited, her wings aching as they picked up on the waves of sadness emanating from her friend. "I want to help her, but I don't know how. I'm not Twilight, and I'm not you. I can't solve this on my own." Dash put a hoof to her aching stomach, grimacing as the pain radiated up and out her forelegs.
Ah…there it is. Fluttershy smiled warmly. "You're ready for that hug now."
"No, I got this. I just gotta focus. I gotta try harder, I…"
Fluttershy slipped her forelegs around Dash's shoulders and pulled her close. "Wasn't a question." Dash tensed up, then melted down as tears started to flow. "See, your body knows better than your mind. Listen to it. If you can't fix a problem, it's still a problem. Denying it won't solve anything, because then you have the stress from the problem, and the stress from denying the problem even exists. If you need a hug, just say you need it. Then it's one less thing you have to stress about."
"But what about Scootaloo?"
"Kids are very honest, even if they don't say what they want, their bodies speak for them."
"Wah?"
Fluttershy giggled and pulled back, "What does she do that drives you crazy?"
"She has crazy mood swings, freaks out when I try to give her advice, and then will turn around to hug me while she's doing it."
"So she's confused, needs to be held, and needs someone who will just sit by and listen. What else?"
"She hovers around me and I can't get rid of her."
"So she wants to be with you… Okay, anything else?"
"She's constantly wanting to hug or…you know…" Dash looked off to the side with a blush, "snuggles."
Fluttershy's hoof shot up to her mouth as she giggled. Her other hoof shot out and pushed Dash playfully like a gentle breeze on the shoulder. "You’re really honest too, you know. Maybe she’s not the only one who needs the attention."
"Hey now! This isn't about me…" Dash stuck out an indignant tongue.
"Isn't it?" Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "Scootaloo knows what she wants even if she can't say it out loud. She wants to be held. To be close to you, her idol."
"Well, yeah I get that, but what about her problems?"
"Can you fix them?"
"That’s why I'm here, I can't figure that out. I thought if anybody knew it would be you."
Fluttershy thought for a moment, then decided to switch tactics. "Can you fix her father?"
"No, that's ridiculous, I'm not some all powerful healer."
"Can you be there for Scootaloo's father and take her place so she doesn't have to go through the stress and worry?"
"No, of course not, I have a life of my own. I have a job, and I want to join the Wonderbolts! I want to help but I can't give everything up." Dash huffed in irritation. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I'm just not cut out for this."
Fluttershy laid a calming hoof on Dash's shoulder. "So then you know you can't fix it. If you can't fix it, why stress over a way to fix it?"
"Because I want to help Scootaloo, isn't that obvious?"
"You can't solve her problems, but can you ease her pain?"
"What can I do? If I could ease her pain I would already have done it…" Dash trailed off, gritting her teeth in frustration.
Fluttershy smiled and put a hoof to Dash's chest. "It hurts again…"
Dash nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Yeah…I think I'm getting used to the feeling…"
Fluttershy reached out and pulled her close, squeezing her as tight as she could and nuzzling her neck. Dash blushed, unsure of what to do, but with a shudder her body melted and she leaned into the embrace. She let out a sob followed by a wet sniffle. "Feel any better?" Fluttershy asked as she rocked her oldest friend back and forth soothingly.
"Yeah, actually. I kinda do…"
"Do you get it now?"
Scootaloo's voice invaded her mind. Maybe I don't want answers… Why does it need to be fixed? I never asked for advice… I just wanted to be with you. I like being here with you. Dash gritted her teeth, her words coming in strained squeaks. "Scootaloo needed this didn't she? All I had to do was hold her and listen… She's been begging me for it… I'm a horrible sister…"
"Shhh…no you're not." Fluttershy stroked a comforting hoof through Dash's mane. "You're a sister with a problem that can be fixed and apologized for. Now that you know what's wrong…"
"I know. I know what I need to do now."
Fluttershy giggled again, the soft fluttery warmth spread through Dash in an infection of calm. "Aww, you make a great sister."
Giggling and sobbing softly Dash hugged Fluttershy gently closer. "Thanks, Shy. You're a great sister too."
Why is she running away from me? Scootaloo watched in innocent heartbreak as Dash bolted down the street. She looked sick, maybe she needs to go home? Her brain somersaulted around, filing through a myriad of fleeting excuses only to find a dark murky pit of self loathing at the end. No… No excuses… She's ditching me… On some level Scootaloo could hear Applejack drawling at her, but she rejected the kind words. Couldn't bring herself to care. I did this, it's my fault of course, why wouldn't she run? I’ve hounded her every day for flying lessons ever since the campout. I'm clingy, obnoxious, and emotional. I tried everything I could to take over her life… Her voice came out squeaky, tears streaming down her cheeks as she scuffed a hoof viciously into the ground. "It was too soon. I shouldn't have dumped my problems on her like that…" Scootaloo gritted her teeth as she gazed forlornly through squinted tears, praying Dash would come back with some lame excuse.
Applejack bit her lip and threw her forelegs around the broken filly. "Aww, sugarcube, this ain't your fault!"
"Get off of me!" Scootaloo bucked at Applejack, turning on her. "I didn't ask for your help! I don't need it, from you or Dash!" She glared daggers at the older mare who backpedaled in shock as the little filly adopted her father's overbearing commanding attitude. "She's always ditching me! Why would I think that maybe we had grown closer and maybe I meant something in her life finally from just spending a couple of nights over? I get it now, okay? You can't just step into another pony’s life and expect to be the best thing that ever happened to them! All I wanted was a sister! I wanted Dash, but I can see now that I don't need her, okay!?" She took a deep calming breath. "I can take care of myself just like I always have. Stop fussin' over me, and just leave me alone!" Scootaloo turned and trotted down the street.
Applejack, reaching out a hesitant hoof, could only watch helplessly as the filly trotted off. "Oh Celestia, theres no words to fix that..."
Dash bolted through the streets of Ponyville, making a beeline for Sweet Apple Acres. She has to be there! Applejack wouldn't have let her wander off, not in her condition, because…that's what a big sister would do. She gritted her teeth and grinned into the wind that whipped past her muzzle as her hooves beat the road into submission. Faster! Stupid legs! Running is so slow!
Dash thundered on, dodging through the crowds of evening ponies, sending more than a few spinning or stumbling back. Scootaloo does this all the time, she mused, racing through the streets. Maybe it would be fun to join her for once. Training aside, we could just run, race, and dodge everypony unlucky enough to get caught in our path. She would have chuckled if she didn't have to focus on breathing. Her head lowered and she pressed forward harder, thoughts of the future fueling her resolve.
The sun was slowly sinking towards the horizon, casting its golden rays across the groves of apple trees as she came up to the outskirts of the farm. She leapt over the fence, too anxious to find the gate, and weaved in and out of the trees, chunks of dirt flying out beneath her hooves. She rounded a hill; the farmhouse looming just over the next sent renewed waves of determined energy through her legs. Energy that was blasted out of her…
Applejack appeared from the trees. Dash saw the orange streak as it beelined for her, but she was moving too fast to dodge as the enraged mare slammed into her ribs, sending her flying. Dash instinctively rolled into a ball and tumbled into a tree, knocking the air out of her. Shaking her head she quickly regained her bearings and rolled to her hooves. Applejack was there, muzzle to muzzle she stared down Rainbow Dash, who, not being one to step off, glared defiantly back.
"I reckon' yer feelin' better?" Applejack hissed through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, besides a sudden pain in my side I'm doin' alright!" Dash shot back vehemently. "So uh…what's up with you, huh? Anything new?"
"Oh, just workin' out some frustrations, thought I'd git a few chores done, buck some trees just for practice seein' as it ain't applebuck season an' all. Then I saw a chance to maybe feel a whole lot better plowin' into your sorry flank!"
"Huh, glad I could help! You, uh, wanna give me some good enough reasons or are we going to settle this the hard way?" Dash growled menacingly.
"I'll git to the point then. Bein' a big sister is a big deal. You cain't just run off and leave a filly in the dust like that. Scootaloo was really hurtin'." Applejack bit her lip, taking a deep breath, forcing through the pain of her next words. "Look, I gotta know and you gotta answer, ‘cause this isn't some competition or game where yer dealin' with a finish line. This challenge never ends, and it will always be there demanding attention. You cain't just give up an’ walk out on this one because we’re talkin' ‘bout a little filly's heart! Bein' a big sister means opening yer heart and puttin' yer feelings on the line no matter how painful it is." Applejack bristled as tears built up in the corner of her eyes, her voice raising to a shout. "An if you cain't be that then say so here, an’ call it off now before you really buck up, an’ hurt her bad! Before you go an do somethin' you cain't ever take back. Because I'm warnin' you, Rainbow Dash, it don't matter how much you try an’ deny it, that kind of pain and regret will follow you around fer the rest of yer life and hers! Are you ready for that commitment? Can you really be there for her? Can you honest to goodness truth be the sister she needs!?"
Applejack's words washed over Dash in a torrent of heated emotion, sending her hackles rising reflexively with indignant anger. It was a direct challenge, egging her on to push back, to fight, to come out on top and prove that no challenge could ever stand in her way. With a deep breath, Dash stepped forward as Applejack held her ground.
Applejack was prepared for a fight, she knew Dash wouldn't respond well to a direct challenge, and her heart sank as Dash stepped forward with a look of anger and pain wrinkling her muzzle. A moment of eternity passed as she held her breath, waiting for Dash to make the first move, her heart pounding mercilessly in her ears. Then…her legs about fell out from under her when Dash threw her forelegs around her neck and hugged her tight. "That must have been really hard," she whispered into Applejack's ear.
"Eeeyah…k-kinda was…" Applejack stuttered in shock.
"Thank you." Dash let out a cleansing breath fighting down her hackles. "It means a lot to me knowing how much you care."
Applejack gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. "Aww, shucks… Dash, when did you get to be all sappy?"
"Don't let it go to your head." Dash nuzzled Applejack's mane. "I'm just givin' you my answer."
Applejack wrapped her neck around Dash's and squeezed back, breathing a sigh of relief. "Dawww… At this rate I'll end up callin' ya' sis." She let Dash go and backed up, leveling an intense stare at her. "But I ain't the one who needs the convincin', Dash. You gotta find that filly and fast! An’ it can only be you! She ain't gonna listen to nopony else. That little ball of pain and misery needs you somethin' fierce right now."
Dash nodded, taking in a deep breath. "I'm on it!"
Dash dragged her hooves forward, one at a time. Her fur was matted from sweat and caked with dirt from a fruitless evening of frantic filly searching. After leaving Applejack she had searched everywhere from Scootaloo's home to the clock tower. In the end there was only defeat. It feels like I never went to sleep. I might as well have just left the Wonderbolt Academy I'm so tired. She clopped up slowly to her cloud home. A buzzing up ahead irritated her. Bees? Humming bird…no… Sounds like… She listened intently, willing the familiar sound of that buzzing to make itself known so she could be irritated at it directly. The buzzing reached a feverish pitch, turning into a hum… Then it halted followed by a thud, and an exasperated dramatic sigh.
"Stupid wings! Dash, I'm gonna fly up there!! I'll prove it!! I will fly!! Then I won't need you!"
Dash stopped short, looking up, pain spreading through her chest as the words stung through her. Scootaloo launched into another round of strained flapping, her wings blurring as they hummed. She slowly lifted off the ground, inch by inch, until the inches widened to legspans. She pushed, leg by agonizing leg, she pushed, her wings flapping at a maddening pace, she pushed. Just above her loomed Dash's cloudhome, the edge of the walkway inches away from the filly's outstretched hoof. Her muzzle was pulled back, strained, sweat dripping, and her teeth gritted. Her eyes shone with an inner determined unwavering fire. Then, with the finality of one whose dreams had been crushed, that fire did waver. Exhausted, her wings refused to flap, and the ledge defied her. Hoof outstretched, pleading for that last few inches, she watched in pained silence as the gap widened, questioning if it was worth trying anymore. She closed her eyes, the frustration balling into a feeling of imploding agony in her chest as she waited helplessly for the ground. I hope it hurts! she screamed out mentally, hating her wings, hating Dash, hating herself, and hating the ever present sick ball of emotions that was roiling through her stomach, clenching at her chest, and pounding between her eyes.
The ground came up to meet the little filly defiantly softly. It folded around her, cradled her, comfortingly nuzzled her neck. Confused, Scootaloo stared up at Dash. "You ran away."
"I came back."
Scootaloo squirmed, trying to break Dash's hold on her. "You hurt me!"
"I'm sorry."
Little filly hooves beat against Dash. Striking out at every weak point they could find. "I don't believe you! You're always sorry for something!"
"I know, but I won't run away anymore."
"Liar!" Scootaloo thrashed around. "Let me go!"
"No."
"LET GO!" Scootaloo screamed at her, bit and kicked, bucked and wracked.
Dash winced, taking in the pain, she squeezed harder, holding tight. "I won't let go! Never again!"
Scootaloo froze, sinking deeper into Dash as wings blocked out the starlight. Her mouth played out another round of defiance, but her breath fell soundlessly from her lips. For a moment she lay there, in the cushiony softness of Dash's chest, and took in the sound of halting breaths. Drips of water fell upon her ears, sending them into little surprised fits of twitching, and cascaded down her cheeks. Her neck craned back to stare up at the outline of Dash's muzzle against the darkness, her ears falling back like channels for the torrent of tears that pattered against her. They felt cool, and comforting, tickling a little as they slid down her ears, gathered at the tips, and dripped down her back. Scootaloo watched silently, felt Dash's gentle sobs roll through her, and the staccato bursts of breath that played down her mane.
Burying her face into Dash's neck, the pain in her gut rolled up her throat and burst out violently in a scream of agony. All the pent up frustration wracked through her in ebbing sobs. Dash winced and pulled her tighter, etching the filly's torment into her heart. The moon crawled across it's zenith slowly as Scootaloo's pain played out through long wracking sobs and wet sniffles matting Dash's coat. Exhaustion creeped through the little filly as the haze from crying so hard settled over her eyes, accompanied by the absence of weight on her chest. Slowly Scootaloo gingerly stretched up, kissed Dash on the nose, and nuzzled her cheek. "The pain's gone now," she murmured groggily.
Dash nuzzled her back and sighed through a sniffle. "Yeah, mine too, little sis."
