> Frightening Little Details
>  by FlutterDash777
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Question Arose That Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-A Question Arose That Day

Applebloom tumbled down on the floor as she finally entered into the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. Her legs were aching and her head was throbbing. She couldn't believe that she had actually made it up here this quickly. She looked at her hooves spread out in front of her. She tried to lift them from the ground but they only wobbled back down. That was the last time she was going to try bucking apples as her special talent. Silly Applejack had no idea what she was talking about. Applebloom knew that her special talent had nothing to do with apples.

She sighed loudly as she thought back to her failure of an attempt she had made that day. That was her worst idea yet. She would stick to group ideas from now on.

She let her head rise up an inch off the floor and tried to open her eyes up. It took her a moment to let her vision focus, but she finally was able to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sitting before her.

She wanted to tell them about her day, but she was too tired to open her mouth. With that thought, she let her head fall back down on the floor and she closed her eyes tightly together. She could feel her body trembling as she breathed. She wasn't sure if she would be able to get up from this spot at all. 

"Applebloom?" Scootaloo spoke up and broke the silence that was caused by the fillies grand entrance. 

The yellow pony opened her mouth slightly as if she were going to respond, but she then closed it and began to grumble quietly. 

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other with confusion. As they exchanged glances, they turned back to the moaning Applebloom laying at their hooves. 

"Bad day?" Sweetie Belle chimed in. Her voice squeaked, as it always did.

The two fillies waited for a response once again, but as before, all they got was a mumble or two from Applebloom.

"I see..." Scootaloo turned back around and walked over to window. She squinted her eyes as if she were trying to see off into the distance, but she then turned back to her two friends.

She looked over to Sweetie Belle who was now poking at Applebloom's sides, trying to get her to speak, but still all the filly could do was moan and groan; however, Sweetie Belle did succeed in getting a few giggles to escape Applebloom, so they both knew now that she wasn't too bad off. 

"So what's on the agenda today, girls?" Scootaloo turned back to the window as she awaited orders from one or the other.

"Um...." Sweetie Belle rushed over to the table that was in the corner. She darted for a notebook and began to quickly flip through the pages. 

Scootaloo could hear the paper turning from behind her. The sound of Sweetie Belle flipping through the book was soothing. Much more soothing than it should be. 

"Uh....Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle called out to her friend as she stopped turning through the notebook.

Scootaloo turned her head to the white unicorn behind her. She raised an eyebrow as she saw Sweetie Belle holding up the notebook in one hoof. Her green eyes wide with an astonished look. 

"What?" Scootaloo shook her head in confusion at the filly. 

"The agenda is empty!" Sweetie Belle cried out as if it were the end of the world. What else would they do if their agenda was completely empty?

"Empty?" Scootaloo walked over to her friend and grabbed the notebook to see for herself. The whole thing was filled with brand new, unused sheets of paper. 

Scootaloo rubbed her chin with one hoof and without a thought, she tossed the notebook behind her. Sweetie Belle gasped at the scene.

"What'd you do that for?" She looked over at the abandoned purple notebook. Shiny stickers were lined on it that she had put there.

"We don't need a silly agenda. We will just have to think of something ourselves!" Scootaloo turned from Sweetie Belle and over to Applebloom who was still planted to the floor. She rolled her eyes as she made her way over to her exhausted friend. 

"Applebloom, get up. We need to think of ideas for our crusading!" Scootaloo softly kicked at Applebloom's side as she tried to nuzzle her up.

"Too......tired.....can't.....crusade...." Applebloom made out as she tilted her head upwards to the orange pegasus.

"Don't give me that! The Cutie Mark Crusaders are never too tired to crusade, and you're no exception!" Scootaloo crossed her arms in front of her chest as she fell back down upon her hind quarters. 

Sweetie Belle made her way over to the two as she tried to include herself among them. Her eyes fell on Scootaloo who was pouting at Applebloom's laziness. She smiled as she watched the pegasus go on and on about how they can never quit no matter how tired they may be. After a while of listening to Scootaloo preach, she soon tuned out all of her words and just watched her facial expressions. They were pretty amusing in themselves to watch, and it was much better than hearing her scold Applebloom. 

The little unicorn sat back and relaxed as she let Scootaloo continue her rant. She let her smile grow larger as she heard Scootaloo start to pout some more as Applebloom refused to do anything today. Sweetie Belle had to admit that her friends were acting childish, but they were children after all. It was interesting in itself to watch though from the crowds point of view. 

Sweetie Belle's daze was quickly shattered by Scootaloo. She turned over to the pegasus who was now directing her attention towards Sweetie.

"Are you listening?" Scootaloo lifted a hoof up in the air as if she were frustrated, which was obvious she was. 

"I was...but..." Sweetie Belle looked away from her friend and giggled. 

"This isn't a laughing matter Sweeite Belle!" Scootaloo shoved her arms together again.

"Calm down, Scootaloo. Maybe we should just take a break for today." Applebloom finally spoke up after the endless preaching from the pegasus. She let her weak legs bring her to her haunches as she sat up in front of the two fillies.

"But..."

"Applebloom's right. Maybe we should just hang out or something." Sweetie Belle pitched in with the farm fillies idea. She thought it would be nice actually to just spend one day with her friends having fun instead of working to find their talents. Sure, crusading was fun to some extent, but wouldn't hanging out be so much more...natural?

"Ugh..."

"Yeah! I could just go back to the farm and get some food or something and then we can play something when I get back. Or maybe just talk. Yeah! Applejack just talks with her friends all the time!" Applebloom slowly got on all fours as she tried to stretch out her legs.

"Talking?!" Scootaloo sound as if she was almost revolted by the idea.

"Talking is nice!" Sweetie Belle smiled at Applebloom as she once again agreed with her idea. 

"Oh come on!" Scootaloo threw her arms in the air and fell backwards. Sweetie Belle's face popped into her view as she looked upwards.

"It will be fun, Scootaloo!" Sweetie smiled at her annoyed friend.

The orange filly looked up into Sweetie Belle's sparkling green eyes. She wasn't sure if it was the look on Sweetie Belle's face, or the sheer acceptance of defeat, but Scootaloo ended up agreeing with Applebloom's  idea that day.

---

Applebloom waved back at her two friends in the clubhouse as she reassured them she would be back soon with snacks. Sweetie Belle waved back at her with excitement, but Scootaloo still had her arms crossed and a smug look on her face as she tried to cover up her disappointment. 

"Are you sure this will be a good idea?" Scootaloo looked over to the joyful filly beside of her. Her heart thumped as Sweetie's attention was brought to her.

"Of course it will!" She smiled widely and skipped back over to the center of the clubhouse and sat back on her haunches. She waved one hoof at Scootaloo steering her in her direction. 

Scootaloo relentlessly followed Sweetie's command and brought herself over to the filly and sat down in front of her. Her purple eyes looked into Sweetie Belle's with a hint of confusion within them. What was Sweetie Belle thinking right now?

Scootaloo tried to look away from her smiling face, but it was nearly impossible. She felt drawn to her eyes as if they were magnets. Scootaloo would admit she had been feeling a bit strange lately. Not really for any particular reason, or at least she didn't know of anything particular at the moment, but she had been feeling odd whenever she was with Sweetie Belle. 

She didn't know what it was exactly, but she couldn't help but look at her even when she didn't want to. She tried to look away, but it wouldn't work. She also hated being alone with her. She never felt right when it was just her and Sweetie Belle. When Applebloom was absent, Scootaloo felt like her heart was shattering. Not because she felt anything towards Applebloom, but because she felt something towards Sweetie Belle, but she didn't know what it was yet. 

With these thoughts running through her mind, Scootaloo felt even worse about being with Sweetie Belle at the moment. Looking deep into her green eyes with questions arousing within her. What is this feeling?

"Scootaloo?" 

The pegasus broke all her thoughts as Sweetie Belle's voice rung through her ears, calling out her name. Her heart raced as she shook her mind of everything and looked back at the unicorn who had called to her.

"Y-yeah?" She tried to play it cool, but her voice was shaky, and she definitely had a fishy tone.

"What are you thinking about?" 

Scootaloo knew this was coming. She feared for something like this. Why did Sweetie Belle have to be so observant of her all the time. Could she not think about something privately without Sweetie Belle sensing it?

"Um....n-nothing?" Scootaloo didn't know anything else to say. Her lie was indeed a terrible one and she knew it.

"Really?" Sweetie Belle looked deeper into Scootaloo's purple eyes. Her face gleamed with interest.

"Yeah. Really." Scootaloo succeeded to look away from the filly for a moment, but she was soon drawn back in. 

"W-what is it...?" Scootaloo managed to let out as she tried to keep her thoughts safe by changing the subject towards Sweetie Belle's.

"Have you been feeling weird lately?" Sweetie Belle moved in a bit closer to Scootaloo causing the pegasus to feel mighty uncomfortable where she was sitting. 

Her heart raced at the question Sweetie Belle had just asked. She was totally on to her now! She just needed to keep cool and blow it off.

"Um....no. Why do you ask?" Scootaloo tried to attempt a laugh, but it was a failure of an attempt. 

"Really?" Sweetie Belle once again hit Scootaloo right in the stomach with her words. What has gotten into her?

"Yeah....Really..." Scootaloo felt as if things were on repeat now. Weren't they just saying the exact words moments ago? It was like deja vu. 

"Well...I have." Sweetie Belle inched closer again towards the orange filly. Scootaloo was now squirming where she sat. She was not liking where this was going.

"Oh....why's that?" Scootaloo tried to cover her fear that she was feeling at the moment. Sweetie Belle was definitely having a large affect on her, but she wasn't sure yet in what way. 

"I don't really know. You make me feel strange." Sweetie Belle moved back to her original place and gave Scootaloo some breathing space. 

The pegasus was feeling worried now. What did Sweetie Belle mean by that? Was she feeling the same strangeness that Sweetie Belle was feeling? Were they actually the cause of each others lack of comfort?

Scootaloo was ready to tell Sweetie Belle that she made her feel strange too, but she stopped herself as she thought maybe this was a trick. Sweetie Belle may just be trying to get the truth out of Scootaloo, and if she told her the truth now, then she would be completely embarrassed. 

"Oh." That was all Scootaloo could make out. She had no more words to say to Sweetie Belle. All she could think was how much she wished Applebloom would hurry up and get back here. 

"Yeah....oh." Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo deeply. 

Scootaloo tried not to look back. She tried not to make eye contact with the unicorn, but her own magnets were being attracted to Sweetie's. It was as if their eyes complimented each other. It was as if they had to look into each others eyes deeply with no words attached. What was this feeling?!

Sweetie Belle made no sound as she continued to look at Scootaloo. Her eyes were glistening as they stared back at the pegasus.

Scootaloo's heart was on fire, but she didn't know why. What was this feeling!?!

The pegasus felt like she was going to die as she saw Sweetie Belle once again move closer to her. Her head was leaning in towards her own, and Scootaloo had no idea what to think. What was going on? That was all the could ask herself. 

Sweetie Belle was now inches away from Scootaloo's muzzle. Their hot breaths were mixing with one another's as Sweetie Belle moved just a little bit closer. Scootaloo could feel nothing in her body at the moment. She was completely numb. Was Sweetie Belle about to do what she thought she was?!

Scootaloo could feel Sweetie's mane brush against her face. She could feel her breath on her cheeks. She could feel her heart stop beating as time stopped along with it. She could feel her eyes opening to what was really happening around her. Was this what this feeling was?

As Scootaloo felt herself loosen up as she awaited Sweetie's lips, her heart began to beat again as Sweetie Belle stopped right before she reached Scootaloo's muzzle. 

"...not yet." Sweetie Belle whispered, however, it wasn't as if she were directing it to Scootaloo, it was more as if she were saying it to herself. What did she mean by that anyway.

Scootaloo watched as Sweetie Belle moved back away from her face. Her heart was pounding in her chest again as she let her mind go crazy. 

There was nothing more she could ask herself except where in the world was Applebloom?!?!


> What's Wrong With You Two?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-What's Wrong With You Two?

It felt like years were passing right before Scootaloo's eyes as she continued to stare back into Sweetie's shimmering green eyes. Her heart was still on fire as she asked herself over and over what was taking Applebloom so long.

It had only been mere moments ago that Sweetie Belle had what seemed to appear to have tried to make a move on Scootaloo. Those few moments had flew right passed Scootaloo as if she had been sitting there for days watching Sweetie Belle as she stared straight back at her with no expression on her face. What was she thinking right now? What was she thinking moments ago when she.....when she......

Scootaloo stopped herself from thinking it. She didn't really want to think about it, but then again she did. She had mixed feelings about the whole situation and she didn't know what to do or say about it. 

What was she going to do from now on? Just simply ignore that it ever happened?

No. She knew she couldn't avoid it forever, something in her gut was telling her so, but she felt as if for the time being, she could let it slide.

Her heart slowed down as she heard somepony climbing up the latter right outside of the clubhouse. She jumped up from Sweetie's menacing glare and jolted over to the entry to let Applebloom in.

"Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle! I'm back, and I may....need a bit of your help..."

The two heard Applebloom call to them from outside. Scootaloo opened the door to see Applebloom with an armful of food. Where did that even come from? Scootaloo was sure the Apple family didn't have that much junk food laying around the house considering they had acres of apples and other fruits and vegetables to live off of.

Either way, Scootaloo was glad that Applebloom needed her help. She was dying to get away from Sweetie Belle at the moment. Not because she hated her for what she....almost did, but because she was afraid of her, or she was afraid of what would come from it all...

"I got ya!" Scootaloo ran out without another thought and took an armful of bags.

"Thanks!" Applebloom let out a deep breath as she felt a great deal of heavy weight being taken from her arms. 

"Where....uh...did you get all of this?!" Scootaloo wobbled as she tried to keep everything steady that she was carrying. She was caught back onto her balance as she noticed Sweetie Belle had grabbed on to the other side of the mountain she was holding. Scootaloo's heart began to race again and without thinking, she jerked it away from the unicorn.

Scootaloo felt bad about it, but she tried to hide her feelings from both Sweetie and definitely Applebloom.

"Well, I was goin' home to get a few things, but Applejack was already on her way to town, so I went with her and she got me a few groceries." Applebloom answered as she popped her head over the side of the food so she could face her friends. 

"A few?" Sweetie Belle's voice rung through Scootaloo's ears. She winced at the sound and soon she began making her way swiftly through the door of the clubhouse, trying to escape something she knew she couldn't. 

And of course as she knew, Sweetie Belle followed. 

Scootaloo couldn't stand hearing her anymore right now. She wanted to get away from her, but she didn't know how she could without telling them why. Well, Sweetie Belle would probably know, but then it might make her think that Scootaloo didn't like her....and Scootaloo....never said she didn't like her....

With a sigh, Scootaloo set the bags on the ground and gave up on it. She knew she had to stay unless out of nowhere, Celestia were to save her from this mess, or Rainbow Dash, but she knew that wouldn't happen. It would be too good to happen.

"Don't be shy now! I got all this for us to eat, and there is definitely plenty to eat!" Applebloom set her own bags down to join Scootaloo's pile. She turned to her friends who were standing somewhat apart from each other in silence. 

Appleboom waited patiently for them to reply, but all she got was nothing  but an awkward silence from them. She stared at the two with a slight bit of curiosity in her eyes. The twinkled as she raised an eyebrow to her friends.

"What...in the name of Celestia is going on?" Applebloom smirked as if she thought it was funny that they were hiding something from her. 

"W-what do you mean?" Scootaloo fake giggled as she scratched the back of her head with her hoof. 

Applebloom recognized Scootaloo's behavior as the same when they all went camping that one time and Rainbow Dash was telling them scary stories. Scootaloo was a really bad actor.

The farm filly stood their for a few more minutes without responding. She just stared back at the two with her golden eyes and decided what she was going to say next.

"....nothing." Applebloom turned around and began going through a few of the bags.

Scootaloo sighed with relief. She was glad that Applebloom didn't seem to suspect anything yet. Maybe if she just acted normal the rest of the day, Applebloom would forget all about it, and hey, maybe Scootaloo would too.

The pegasus turned to Sweetie Belle who was standing to her left. She was planning on smiling and asking her is she was hungry, but as soon as their eyes met, Scootaloo's heart shattered and she quickly turned away from Sweetie's eyes. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't act normal right now. It was impossible! Not with Sweetie Belle looking at her like that. She just couldn't focus on having a good time. 

Applebloom turned around and tossed each of them a bag of hayseed chips. Scootaloo looked down to the bag that she caught and she tried to smile at the thought of her successful catch, but the thoughts of Sweetie Belle instead caught up to her.

"Come and sit!" Applebloom fell down on the ground and tore open her own bag of chips. She then popped one in her mouth as she waited for her friends to join her.

"Mmm. It's been a long time since I had these!" Applebloom said as she ate another.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both sat down. Scootaloo in front of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle in front of Scootaloo. Just great! Now Scootaloo was forced to look at her...

"Are we going to talk like you said?" Sweetie Belle turned to Applebloom as she opened her own bag.

"Oh yeah, I did say that! Is it okay with you Scootaloo?" Applebloom's eyes fell on the pegasus, Sweetie's did likewise.

"Um...sure..." Scootaloo tried to smile, but it ended up being more of a grimace. 

"Okay, good! Because I got something to tell you guys!" Applebloom seemed to be getting excited now. She set down her bag of chips next to her and positioned herself laying on her stomach with her hooves to her face. 

"Ooooo." Sweetie Belle chimed as she awaited the juicy story that Applebloom had.

Scootaloo wasn't the least bit interested, but she still seemed as if she were listening. 

"Remember how I said me and Applejack ended up going to town to get some groceries?" Applebloom tried to refresh their memory on her visit to Ponyville earlier. 

They both nodded their heads. Sweetie's nodded with more gusto than Scootaloo's, but they both nodded. Sweetie Belle's green eyes were glued on her friend as Applebloom tried to put her words together in her mind before she spoke them out to the two. 

"Well....this involves you more Sweetie Belle." Applebloom stopped again to look at the unicorn who smiled largely. Scootaloo rolled her eyes slightly at her friends....or her friend and Sweetie Belle that is....

"Well anyways, we....or I mean, Applejack ran into Rarity while we were up there." Applebloom grinned as the story started to get to the point. 

"Really?" Sweetie Belle looked confused as to where this was going.

"Yeah, really. I'm not sure if it was accident, or if they intended to meet, but that's beside the point. The point is, they ran into each other." Applebloom waved away all the small details as she tried to regain her way back to the main plot. 

"I was at one of the food stands while it happened, but I saw. I don't think either of them knew I was close enough to hear them, but they talked for a good while. I stayed at the stand to keep my distance because I felt something was up between them." Applebloom giggled with her hoof over her muzzle.

Sweetie Belle was the only one listening now. Scootaloo had already lost interest in this "talking". 

"Well? What happened?!" Sweetie Belle tried to rush Applebloom back to finishing her story. The farm filly glared at her for a moment before she continued.

"As I was sayin'...."

"Come on!!" Sweetie Belle felt a bit uncomfortable now that Rarity was being dragged into this. She just wanted to know what happened.

"I was just about to tell ya!" Applebloom shoved a hoof in Sweetie's face.

"Well like I said, they were talking for a while, but soon I could tell Rarity had to get going somewhere, but before she did, I heard her say I love you to mu sis!" Applebloom threw her arms in the air.

Sweetie Belle's mouth dropped open as she heard those words. What did this mean again?!

"Wait....What?!" Sweetie Belle screeched.

"Yep! And Applejack said it back! It was....awful!" Applebloom smiled. She turned on her back and started laughing up a storm after she saw the expression on Sweetie's face.

"But....it's not funny! But....it's not awful either.... Maybe they meant it in a friend way?" Sweetie Belle tried to make up excuses for the two.

"Definitely not. No friendship there. More than that." Applebloom smiled again.

"But....Rarity couldn't have a special somepony and not tell me!" Sweetie Belle sounded as if it were the end of the world hearing these things coming from Applebloom instead of her sister herself. 

"Well Applejack didn't say anythin' to me either, so don't feel too bad." Applebloom laid a hoof on Sweetie's mane, this caught Scootaloo's attention. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't really like it...

"Was that all?" Scootaloo said with a sarcastic tone.

"Well..yeah." Applebloom answered as she looked over to the pegasus who she had almost forgotten was there.

"So? Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy say that stuff all the time." Scootaloo waved her hoof in the air as she pointed out that her "mothers" were together too.

"Yeah....but you knew that already. They told you themselves." Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo with hurt eyes.

Scootaloo felt the need to comfort Sweetie Belle too, but she just couldn't. All she could to was act cold towards her and turn her eyes from Sweetie.

"Not exactly..." She mumbled under her breath. 

"I'm going to kill Rarity for not telling me!" Sweetie wined as she threw her head back and put her hooves over her eyes. 

"Oh don't be too hard on her. Don't you love somepony too?" Applebloom tried to calm down her friend, but that question got the attention of both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle at the same time.

The two shot looks at Applebloom. Scootaloo looked more frightened than anything. Was Sweetie Belle going to answer that question or was it just....rhetorical or something? There was one side of Scootaloo that wanted her to, but the other didn't. Scootaloo was just so confused. Sweetie Belle on the other hoof just quietly looked at Applebloom as if she were considering it. Her eyes stared directly at Applebloom's.

The farm filly didn't really mean anything by the question, she just said it so Sweetie would give Rarity some slack, but she kind of liked where this was going.

"So?" Applebloom looked at Sweetie Belle again. She was going to make it seem as if she really did want an answer after all.

Scootaloo's heart raced. Applebloom was serious. She wanted to know, but which part of Scootaloo's mind did she want to choose in this situation. Did she want her to answer or not? 

Scootaloo couldn't choose. If Sweetie did answer, but her answer wasn't what Scootaloo wanted to hear, then she would be devastated, but if Sweetie didn't answer, then Scootaloo would never know! Both could end up bad, but there was only one way that the possibility could be good. If Sweetie answered, then there was a possibility that it would be the one that Scootaloo wanted to hear. So with that....Scootaloo made up her mind. She wanted Sweetie Belle to answer it.

"She asked you a question, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo shot Sweetie a cold look as she tried to urge Sweetie to answer. But she was acting sort of mean, would Sweetie change her mind now because of Scootaloo's attitude?! 

Mentally, Scootaloo wanted to hit herself, but she instead tried to cover up her bad behavior with a half smile. Sweetie Belle, however, didn't seem to buy it as she looked over to the pegasus with a frustrated look.

"No. I don't." Sweetie Belle looked back to Applebloom as she answered. Applebloom seemed a bit surprised at first, but she then looked to Scootaloo who seemed to look half dead.

"What about you, Scootaloo?" Applebloom now was directing the same question to the pegasus. 

Scootaloo's eyes shot up at Applebloom. She now knew what she was doing. She was trying to make them confess. Oh, Applebloom!!

"Gross! I would never like anypony! I get tired enough watching Rainbow Dash get all mushy with Fluttershy." Scootaloo turned her head swiftly away from her two friends. She opened one eye and shot a dirty look at Sweetie Belle who seemed to look a bit hurt by her answer. But with Scootaloo's glare, Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue and turned her head away too.

Applebloom looked at the two. She looked at Sweetie and then Scootaloo and back to Sweetie again.

"What is with you guys?" Applebloom was getting a little bit tired of this game now. She wanted to know, but not this bad. Her friends didn't seem to like each at all, let alone love each other. Applebloom must have been wrong about that too, but now she just wanted to know what was making them so angry towards each other all of a sudden.

"Nothing! I'm perfectly fine! I just think love is pointless and gross!" Scootaloo shoved her hoof in the air to emphasize her fake feelings.

"Me too. Who needs that anyways?!" Sweetie Belle agreed with the pegasus. Her voice squeaked in anger. 

"Ah see..." Applebloom looked around as she tried to come up with an excuse to leave. 

"I'm out of here!" Scootaloo beat her to it.

"Why in such a hurry?" Applebloom tried to hide that fact that she too was about to do the same thing.

"I got better things to do then sit around here....with Sweetie Belle..." Scootaloo turned her back to the two. 

"Funny! I was about to say the same thing...except...about you!!" Sweetie Belle tried to come up with a clever comeback. She got up from where she was sitting and headed towards the door as well.

The two tried to squeeze by at the same time, but instead, they both tumbled out at the same time.

"Watch it!" Scootaloo growled as she turned her head to Sweetie Belle.

"I....I'm...." Sweetie Belle's voice vanished as she looked at the ground. 

Scootaloo lifted an eyebrow at her sudden change in tone.

"I'm sorry!!!" Sweetie Belle burst into tears and before anypony could say anything, darted as fast as she could away from the clubhouse.

Scootaloo's heart stopped again. She had to think for a moment about what had just happened. Did she just....hurt Sweetie Belle? That wasn't really her intentions at all. She just didn't want everypony to know....her feelings....that she....really....truly.....

Scootaloo blocked the thought from reaching her head. Before she could think about it again, she raced down the clubhouse and out in the direction of Sweetie Belle. She couldn't let her get away. Not like this! Not now!!

Applebloom looked around at the empty clubhouse. She turned to the still large pile of food behind her. With a sigh, she picked up another bag of chips and began to eat them.




> Feeling Like A Fillyfooler
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Feeling Like A Fillyfooler

Scootaloo ran for as far as she could before she had realized that Sweetie Belle was already out of her sight, and she had not noticed which way she had went. The first thought that came to mind was Rarity, but Applebloom had mentioned that she was out shopping, so there was no telling where she was now. 

Scootaloo slowed down to a stop. She had managed to make it back to town in her running, but she was on the far edge and there was still a little ways to go before she would be in the main part. She let her head fall down as she tried to catch her breath. She couldn't help but feel horrible about Sweetie Belle. She thought that Sweetie Belle was only mad at her, but now, she thought that she had only hurt her terribly...

Scootaloo brought her eyes up to the ground sky before her. It was really a nice day, but now she had ruined it with her crude actions towards her friends. There was no telling how Applebloom felt right now. They had both left her all alone without saying anything, and she had worked so hard to make today a fun day.

Scootaloo clenched her eyes shut again at the very thought. Today was supposed to be a fun day. A day of simple hanging out. The first fun day they were going to have together in a long while, and she had ruined it for them all...

The little pegasus opened her eyes again at the town ahead. 

"What am I going to do now?" Scootaloo asked herself as she thought of her next move. 

She of course didn't know where Sweetie Belle had run off to. She didn't know where Rarity was either, and she didn't know where to start. Of course, starting at the boutique would be her best bet, but for some reason, she felt as if it wasn't really a good idea. 

She could go home and talk to Rainbow Dash, but she didn't really want to be so open with all of this quite yet. Maybe she could talk to somepony else that wasn't all that close to her. 

The pony let her mind wonder as she tried to think of somepony, however, nopony in particular came to mind. Maybe she would get lucky and just run into somepony, but she knew that wasn't really the way to do things. It needed to be thought out, not just happen randomly. 

Somepony she could trust....

Who?

Scootaloo sighed, and without thinking it over anymore, she headed into town.

---

"Anypony in here?"

Applebloom heard a voice from outside the clubhouse. She got up from her self-made mountain of opened chip bags and ran to the door to see who was out there. 

Applejack was standing, looking up to the clubhouse. Her eyes brightened when she saw Applebloom poke her head out the door.

"There ya are lil sis! Where's yer friends at?" Applejack looked around for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, but of course, she found nopony around.

"Oh....well....they left." Applebloom looked back at her pile of food and then shut the door behind her. She could finish it off later.

She walked down the latter to meet her sister face to face. She tried to smile as if nothing was wrong, but she knew Applejack already had a feeling that something was wrong.

"Oh okay....They left mad at each other. Well Sweetie Belle was crying, but she was mad too. Scootaloo ran after her, and here I am, eating all the groceries you bought for us..." Applebloom wiped her chin of some crumbs as she was now feeling the effects of all the junk food she had ate.

"Well...." Applejack looked down to the yellow filly as she tried to comprehend the situation. 

"Why were they mad again?" She noticed that Applebloom had only given the short part of the story.

The little filly was afraid of that. She didn't want to tell Applejack the whole truth, because that meant she would have to tell her that it all started when Applebloom was gossiping about her sister and Rarity. She knew Applejack didn't take kindly to those who gossiped about her and she knew that she would probably get in trouble for telling her friends about it too.

"Well....they were...just mad at each other when I came back...yeah. That's what it was. I don't know why they were so angry with each other." Applebloom tried to save herself from telling her sister, but Applejack only glared at her with skeptical eyes.

Applebloom gulped as she felt she wouldn't be able to tiphoof around the whole truth. With a sigh, she looked down in remorse and began telling Applejack what had really happened from beginning to end. She felt a bit needy when Applejack just sat and listened in silence, but she continued until the very end without looking Applejack in the eye. When she was done with the full story, she slowly turned her eyes up to see Applejack gazing down at her, however, she wasn't angry. Actually she had a small smile on her face.

"Is that all?" She asked to make sure Applebloom was completely finished.

The filly nodded as she lowered her eyes again.

"Well, it sounds like something else is going on. Something that you can't interfere with. You can only let them work it out by themselves. In time, they will come around." Applejack placed a hoof on Applebloom's red mane. The filly looked up with surprise at how calm Applejack was. She wasn't even mad that she had told them about her and Rarity.

"But....what do you think it is that made them act that way?" Applebloom looked up with relieved eyes that she was in the clear.

"Maybe they feel different towards each other than they feel towards you, and that's not bad. They still love you as a friend, but maybe there is something going on between them that is a different kind of love. I know that feeling all to well." Applejack smiled as she referred to her own love of Rarity.

"Do ya mean, that they might be.....fillyfoolers...?" Applebloom let her voice come to a quiet hush as she whispered the last word to Applejack.

The orange farm pony didn't seem to like what she had just heard from her little sister. Applejack arched her head upwards and gave her sister a glare.

"Now don't go around sayin' that so lightly, ya hear? Fillyfooler....isn't really the nicest term to use in this situation." Applejack took her hoof from Applebloom's head as she went into "mother mode".

"But I thought it just meant--"

"Just use something like....in love. It's a sweeter term to use, if that makes since to ya." Applejack tried to give her sister a reassuring smile.

Applebloom looked down in a bit of confusion, but she soon looked back up to Applejack and nodded her head.

"So, do you think they might be....in love?" Applebloom once again whispered the last word as if it were forbidden.

Applejack chuckled and simply nodded her head at the filly.

"I think they just might be...."

---

"Hello?" Scootlaoo knocked on the door of the tree library. She had decided if she needed to talk to somepony, it might as well be somepony smart.

The door slowly opened and a pink pony poked out her head. It nearly sent Scootaloo on the ground in surprise, but she tried to play it cool and grin at Pinkie Pie who was for some reason at Twilight's. Maybe borrowing a book? Scootaloo doubted it. She didn't ask any questions as she tried to step through the door.

"Is Twilight here?" Scootaloo looked around the library as she popped her head into the doorway.

"Of course she is!" Pinkie Pie stepped back and let Scootaloo through.

"What do you want with her?" Pinkie jumped back in front of the filly with a large smile plastered on her face. She edged closer to the pegasus who was still trying to cover up her pain with a small smile.

"I...uh....needed to talk to her about something important..."

"Ooooooo! I bet she can help you! She's a smarty!" Pinkie Pie finally jumped out of Scootaloo's way and bounced over to the staircase. She looked upwards and breathed in a lung full of air. She then blasted it all out in a large yell that sent Scootaloo to the wall.

"TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!" Pinkie smiled and turned to Scootaloo.

"That should get her." The pink earth pony smiled.

Scootaloo tried to get up from her fall before Pinkie noticed. She dusted herself off and then stared at Pinkie Pie with annoyance. She was still unsure of why she was here exactly, and she was unsure if she could talk about what she needed to talk about with Twilight with her around. She didn't exactly....trust Pinkie Pie with her secrets. For she would know, Pinkie would throw a party about it...then everypony would know!

Scootaloo needed to see Twilight in private, but how could she do that without letting Pinkie know?!

Before she could think of any plans, a purple unicorn began walking down the stairs. Her hoof was rubbing her head as if she had a terrible headache, which Scootaloo assumed she probably did. 

"Pinkie....must you do th...." Twilight stopped mid-sentence. She wasn't going to bother with it. She already knew how Pinkie Pie was and there really wasn't any helping her.

Instead she avoided that conversation and moved on.

"What is it?" Twilight looked at Pinkie without noticing Scootaloo yet.

Pinkie Pie plainly pointed her hoof at the filly without a word. She smiled largely when Twilight finally saw the little pegasus.

"Oh! Well hello Scootaloo. What can I do for you?" Twilight changed her tone as she saw the filly in her home. She trotted down the stairs with a bit more enthusiasm now and she walked straight passed Pinkie Pie and directed her attention towards the orange filly. 

"I...uh...well..." Scootaloo searched rapidly for something to say. She couldn't talk about it now with Pinkie Pie there, but who else could she go to?!

"Well? It's okay. You can tell me. I can have Pinkie go get us something to eat, or some tea if you like?" Twilight let her eyes travel over to the pink pony who had her hoof up in a salute at Twilight's orders. She then jolted towards Twilight's kitchen without hesitation.

Scootaloo saw the perfect time and she needed to get it out quickly before the earth pony returned.

"Want to sit down?" Twilight showed Scootaloo to her living room and the pegasus followed and sat down on her couch. It was a bit comfortable, but not too much.

"So...what would you like to tell m---"

"Sweetie Belle almost kissed me, but then Applebloom came back, and then I acted mean towards Sweetie Belle, and then I thought she was mad too, but she left and started crying, and I tried to run after her, but I lost the direction she was in, and I came into town! I wanted to go find her or Rarity, but I didn't know where to start, and so I thought about talking to Rainbow Dash, but then I decided I didn't want to be so open yet to her, and then I thought maybe you could help me since you're smart, so I came here, but then Pinkie Pie was here, so I didn't want to say it in front of her, but now that she is in the kitchen, I am telling you now! I really need some help, because I think I might be....I think.....Well...I want to make sure Sweetie Belle's okay!!" Scootaloo caught her breath. She had tried to make sure she was able to tell Twilight everything before Pinkie came back, but instead she ended up just spitting it out on her face in a minute. She wasn't even sure if Twilight was able to catch all of that.

The filly looked up at the unicorn. She didn't really know Twilight all that well, but she knew she was a good pony. She was hoping for some advice since she was so smart, but Twilight just looked back at her with wide eyes as if she heard not one word that Scootaloo had just said.

"I can help!!"

Scootaloo turned to see that Pinkie Pie was there the whole time. She had a tray of cookies and hot tea in her hooves and she came over and sat it down on the coffee table in front of the couch. 

Scootaloo brought a hoof over her face in embarrassment. Pinkie Pie heard it all and now everypony would know!

"How can you do that, Pinkie Pie?" To Scootaloo's surprise, Twilight was intently watching Pinkie Pie as if she thought she was going to give some super intellectual advice on the matter.

Maybe Twilight wasn't that smart after all. Maybe Rainbow Dash was right....she was just an egghead....

"It's easy! All you have to do is let Madame Pinkie help you out! I know just the thing to do!" Pinkie Pie took a cookie and threw it in her mouth as she looked at Scootaloo.

The filly gazed back at her as if she were out of her mind, however, she let her continue.

"All you have to do is let Sweetie Belle know everything you just said!" Pinkie Pie took another cookie and ate it.

Scootaloo brought both hooves to her face now. This was completely hopeless. Pinkie Pie didn't know what she was talking about. Telling Sweetie Belle the truth wouldn't solve anything! She wouldn't understand!

"If you tell her the truth, she will understand." It was as if Pinkie Pie read Scootaloo's thoughts.

The filly backed away from the couch and turned herself from the two ponies behind her.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry, Scootaloo?" Twilight asked from behind. She had a cup of tea to her muzzle, blowing away the steam.

"I...uh....have to get going..." Scootaloo started towards the door without looking back.

"Tell her, Scootaloo! If you tell her then everything will be okay! My Pinkie Sense is telling me so!" Pinkie Pie giggled as she engulfed more sweets.

"Sure." Scootaloo opened the door and shut it behind her. She leaned against it for a few moments to think about what a waste of time that was.

Are they crazy? The truth never helps in situations like this! Pinkie Pie is just crazy! Crazy! Crazy! And Twilight is too! What an egghead...

Scootaloo walked away from the library. She had no where else to go. She could always go home now and talk to Rainbow Dash, but she still felt as if she wasn't ready yet. Maybe she could go to the boutique. Maybe....

Scootaloo looked down the street. The boutique wasn't very far from here, and she could see in the sky that it was getting kind of late. She had to make her move now or she would have to wait until tomorrow, and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep like this, not without this being resolved. 

She made up her mind and headed in the direction of Rarity's home. She had a knot in her stomach as she had the feeling that somepony would be there, waiting for her....

---

"Do you think this is a good idea?" Applebloom looked up to her big sister as they headed into town. 

"Don't ya trust me? I already called Rarity and told her all about it. She said that it would be a great idea!" Applejack looked down at her sister in reassurance as she always did.

"Yeah, but....I'm worried that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle will be mad at me for telling you....and now Rarity knows too.....I'm such a loud mouth...." Applebloom grabbed a hoof full of chips from a bag she had taken from the clubhouse. 

"Don't worry your little head about that. Rarity ain't mad, so why should they be?" Applejack's eyes looked to the bag of chips her sister was munching on.

"I hope they won't be....but I just feel like this isn't going to be a good idea...." Applebloom grabbed another hoof full and stuffed it in her mouth.

"Don't worry. It will be." Applejack smiled as the two continued to walk onward. 

"Also..." 

"What is is?" Applebloom looked up to her sister.

"....you should really lay off the chips." Applejack chuckled as she saw Applebloom's flustered face. She tried to hide the bag next to her, but she still had the urge to reach down in there and stuff her mouth.



> A Mother or Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-A Mother or Two

Scootaloo's intentions were of course to go to Carousel Boutique, and that's what she was going to do, but she found herself buying time as she moved along as slowly as she could stand. She would distract herself by looking at the scenery as if she had never seen Ponyville before, and she would smile at the ponies that walked by as if she was actually friendly and cared. Of course the only reason she was doing these things is so she could procrastinate about getting there. Honestly, she was just nervous.

She knew she wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. Her mouth was getting tired of smiling so much and she couldn't handle walking this slow for too long. It was almost unbearable right now, but she tried to let it carry on for as long as she could. She trotted along at a pace that Fluttershy would, and she greeted everypony as if she were Pinkie Pie. She couldn't stand it! But she had to. She just wasn't strong enough to face the boutique just yet. She just couldn't face Sweetie Belle.

The pegasus clenched her eyes shut as she stopped in her tracks. She knew the time would come that she would be standing outside of the boutique.....but she didn't know it would be now!

Scootaloo opened her eyes to see that she was now standing straight in front of Rarity's home. She gulped down at the very sight of it. The building seemed to tower above her and at this moment in time, it felt as if it were going to fall atop of her and suck her inside where she would be forced to see the one filly that she didn't want to see!

Scootaloo's heart raced as she looked at the ominous store before her. She had never felt so afraid in her life as to how she felt now. It was the worst feeling ever and she didn't know how to approach it. She knew the best thing to do was probably fix all of this right now and approach Sweetie Belle, but she didn't think she would be able to look into her green eyes and tell her what was on her mind the whole time. What was it exactly that was on Scootaloo's mind? Was it the fact that she really.....No! It couldn't be that! But how would she be able to explain her actions before?

The filly thought hard. She couldn't stand out here forever, she knew that, but she wished that she could have more time. 

Maybe she could lie about it.....Just tell Sweetie Belle that she was in a bad mood because....um....she was tired. Yeah! She was just worn out from practicing with Rainbow Dash the day previous or something like that! But that wouldn't work....she was with the crusaders the day previous....and she had went straight to bed once she had gotten home that night. She hadn't really spent any time with Rainbow or Fluttershy since then. Just eating breakfast and then she left for the clubhouse. 

Scootaloo sighed. This was a lost cause. There was really no other way to do this other than to tell Sweetie Belle the truth...that she....

She clenched her eyes shut again. She wished that when she opened them, she would be far away from the boutique, but when she did, it was still in front of her. 

"You have to do this, Scootaloo....there is no other way....just....be brave like Rainbow Dash!" She whispered to herself as she tried to help her build up the confidence needed to walk through those doors and tell the truth.

Her heart began to race as she moved one hoof in front of the other. Sweat dripped down her forehead when she was now directly in front of the door. She lifted a hoof forward slowly. She was trying to make up another excuse as to why she couldn't while she was doing this, but of course, she was unable to think of anything good. Nothing was going to work other than this, and she knew it.

Scootaloo threw all her other thoughts aside and gripped the door nob. With a gulp, she opened it.

Her heart dropped as she entered into the store. There was definitely some ponies here waiting....but none of them were the one she was expecting!

Scootaloo couldn't turn away now. 

Applejack, Rarity, and Applebloom were all facing her. Their mouths were left open and their eyes were staring her down as if she were some sort of animal! 

Scootaloo didn't know what to think to herself except, why were they all here?!

Her heart was expecting Sweetie Belle and maybe Rarity, but Applejack and Applebloom? Not a chance!

She didn't really feel nervous anymore though. Was this...maybe a good thing that it was these three instead of Sweetie Belle? Was this another way to avoid the truth coming out?

Scootaloo didn't know for sure, but she was going to take this opportunity, and use it in that manor.

"H-hey guys." She smiled cheekily as she walked a little further into the shop. Far enough to shut the door behind her that is.

"Scootaloo! What brings you here?" Applebloom came over to the pegasus. Her yellow eyes were filled with concern, but a hint of relief as well.

"I...uh..."

"Don't worry darling! You're not in trouble with me." Rarity threw a hoof in the air as if she felt flattered for some reason. She smiled at the orange filly like she were trying to be reassuring or something. 

"Oh...that's....good..." Scootaloo decided to play along, though she wasn't really sure why Rarity would be mad at her...unless....it was about making Sweetie Belle cry!! Did Applebloom tell them?!

As if the yellow filly could read her mind, she turned back to Scootaloo and gave her a sympathetic smile. Scootaloo knew now that she most likely told them....everything!

Scootaloo wasn't very happy about it, but for the time being she pushed that aside. She just wanted to know what was going on here. It didn't seem like just a simple get together. If it were, Sweetie Belle would be here too to keep Applebloom company.

"Um...so....what's....going on around here?" She wasn't sure if she should have been so forward about it or not, but it was too late to take back her words.

"Well...." Applebloom looked up in thought. She was trying to think of a good excuse, just like Scootaloo was earlier.

"No need to tell no lies." Applejack walked behind Applebloom and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"I wasn't gonna' tell no lie. I was just gonna'...."

"Not tell the whole truth?" Applejack looked to her little sister who was now crouching down in shame.

"Oh please. Don't make her feel so bad about it." Rarity pranced over to include herself into the circle that was now being created around Scootaloo, or so it seemed.

"What I mean to say is....it's about Sweetie Belle." Applebloom looked back to Scootaloo who was now doing the crouching. She knew this was coming....but why so soon?!

"Oh....wh-what about her...?" Scootaloo tried to make a playful laugh as if nothing were wrong, but she knew she was bad at doing that. 

"We thought maybe y'all would know, sugarcube." Applejack had a remorseful look upon her face as if she were feeling Scootaloo's guilt for her. Scootaloo knew that everypony here already knew what she did, but for some reason, she wasn't able to just admit to it and tell them herself...

"I...uh....don't really know what you're talking about..." She turned her head away casually to avoid all their darting eyes.

"Then why did she run off cryin'?" Applebloom asked.

"I don't know! She's...such a baby!" Scootaloo regretted those words the moment they left her lips.

"I say! Don't say such things. You should know she is very tenderhearted." Rarity lifted a hoof in defense of her little sisters honor. 

"Yeah, Scootaloo! That wasn't very nice." Applebloom turned away from her friend.

"Now y'all shouldn't go around sayin' things like that about your friends." Applejack added.

Scootaloo felt as if they were all ganging up on her, but truly....she deserved it and she knew it too, but she just couldn't stand it anymore. All of their stares and all of their blaming was eating her alive. She just couldn't take being scolded by them all at the same time like this anymore. She needed to get out of here. She needed to escape these ponies!

"Now I just don't know when little Sweetie Belle will ever return to me." Rarity lifted a handkerchief to her face melodramatically. She sniffled a bit and it got Scootaloo's attention.

"Wait...what?!" The pegasus forgot about their scolds long enough to face Rarity with disbelief. 

"She never came home when she ran off at the clubhouse..." Applebloom looked up with sorrowful eyes at the news that she had just recently learned when coming over to the boutique with Applejack. Rarity had been expecting Sweetie Belle anytime then, but when Applebloom and Applejack arrived with the story of Sweetie Belle running off, Rarity realized that she must have ran away as well.

Scootaloo's heart sank with this information that she had just obtained. It was worse than she had ever imagined. It was not just a situation that she had made Sweetie Belle cry anymore, it was now that she had made Sweetie Belle run away from home! There was no telling where she was now! And it was all Scootaloo's fault!

The filly looked around at the ponies near her. Applebloom was covering her head on the ground. Applejack was laying a sisterly hoof upon Applebloom's back in comfort, and Rarity was tearing up at the very thought of her missing little sister. Applejack tried to reach of hoof to her as well, but she was having trouble tending to both ponies at once. 

All of this was Scootaloo's fault. She had caused trouble for not just Sweetie Belle and herself, but Applebloom, Applejack, and Rarity herself! All of this heartache was all on her!

Her little heart raced as she glanced again at the two moping ponies and their comforter. She looked around them quickly. Her eyes darting from one corner to the other. Now was her chance!

Scootaloo swiftly turned around and opened the door. She jolted out before anypony could stop her and she ran off in the direction of the only place left she would feel comfort herself...

Home.

---

Her run didn't feel at all as long as it truly was. She was in front of the cottage before she even knew it. Her little hooves had taken her farther than they had ever taken her before, or faster than they had ever taken her before. 

She tried to catch her breath as she sat on the steps for a few moments. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she felt dizzy as she tried to look up. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the door to the home she had known for quite some time now. This was the only place where she ever felt comfortable. This was the only place she was ever able to call home, and the two residing in it were the only two that she had ever truly felt the warmth of love from. Yes. Her mothers.

Scootaloo had been living under Fluttershy's and Rainbow Dash's wings for three years now. She always loved every waking day she was able to spend with them and she felt so proud that she was able to call them hers. She couldn't imagine life without them, for she had forgotten what it was like before they came into her life and gave her the love that they had poured into her. 

It wasn't only that they were caring and kind, that was usually Fluttershy's job. She was the loving mother. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof was the awesome mother! It wasn't that Rainbow wasn't loving or Fluttershy wasn't awesome, but Scootaloo liked to give them their own type of "motherhood." 

Rainbow Dash was the cool mother that would take Scootaloo to games and try to teach her how to fly type of mother, while Fluttershy was the tender mother that would feed her and tuck her into bed at night and sing to her. Most fillies and colts wouldn't have this opportunity. To have two totally different mothers. But Scootaloo was one of the lucky ones. She got to have them both.

Her heart started to slow down as she began to think of the love that was behind this very door. The comfort that was awaiting her when she entered inside. All day, she wanted to come here and talk to Rainbow Dash about what all had happened that day, but she never felt like it was the right time. But now that she was standing in front of her home, she wished that she would have come sooner. It was always the right time to come to Rainbow Dash, but she hadn't realized that earlier. 

She got up from sitting and opened the door of the cottage. She looked inside, but it seemed empty. 

"Rainbow? Fluttershy?" Scootaloo walked inside and shut the door behind her. She saw Angel Bunny hop along from the kitchen and into the living room. She smiled at the rabbit as she turned her head to the kitchen that he had came from.

"Scootaloo?"

The filly hurried and ran to the kitchen to see somepony she had never expected to be in the kitchen alone. Rainbow Dash was closing the fridge as she took a bottle of water and set it on the table.

"What's up kiddo? It's kind of early for you to be home, isn't it?" Rainbow went over to the filly and ruffled her mane with her hoof. Scootaloo almost felt better with the single touch.

"Maybe.." She turned her head away from Rainbow's pink eyes.

"Why aren't you out there trying to be awesome like me?" Rainbow pointed a hoof at herself and cackled to her own enjoyment. She lifted the bottle from the table and twisted the lid off and lifted it to her lips.

"I'm...sorry..." Scootaloo lowered her head now. She could feel the pain coming back even though Rainbow was here.

"Oh, I'm just messing with you. You can be awesome any time you want!" Rainbow winked and then gulped down the water that was in the bottle.

"Not...really...." It was all over now. She could feel it coming. She couldn't stop it...

Rainbow Dash lowered the bottle as she finally realized Scootaloo was acting strange. She was never this quiet around her and she always had a smile on her face at home.

"Hey! What's wrong, sport?" Rainbow put the bottle back down on the table and turned her body to Scootaloo in concern. Her eyes shimmered as she waited for a reply.

Scootaloo couldn't open her mouth. She had her eyes clenched tightly together and her lips were stuck. Her heart pounded as she felt it was coming. She didn't want to. She was too prideful. She especially didn't want to do it in front of Rainbow Dash, but.....she knew.....she couldn't stop it. Not this time. It was too strong....

Rainbow felt a bit afraid from Scootaloo's silence. She was definitely not acting right, not acting like Scootaloo...

All was silent....and then....it happened.

Scootaloo began to burst out in tears. She had rarely ever cried before, but now was one of those times when she just had to. Rainbow Dash had never seen her cry before either, Fluttershy had, but only when she had gotten hurt really bad one time. Neither of them had ever seen her cry because of her feelings, and she was afraid that Rainbow wouldn't take it very well because Rainbow wasn't really the kind of pony to care for that kind of thing unless it came to Fluttershy. Scootaloo was afraid that Rainbow would be mad at her for being so weak. For crying because of another filly, but she couldn't stop it from flowing. Her eyes were swelling as the tears continued to pour out of her and her wails were unbearable to even her, but she couldn't stop.

She felt so embarrassed right now. She felt so alone. She felt like that warmth of love that her mothers had given her were leaving her body and even the presence of Rainbow couldn't stop it from disappearing. But right when Scootaloo felt like there was nothing left for her, when she felt like giving up, she felt arms wrap around her body.

Rainbow Dash had began to embrace the crying Scootaloo. She had her arms wrapped around her waist, and her head was resting in her mane. Scootaloo was shocked, but all at the same time she was so very happy. She reached her arms around Rainbow and grabbed onto her mother as tightly as she could. She never wanted to let go.

"She! She ran away!!! I--It's.....It's all....m-my f-fault!!!!!" Scootaloo wailed into Rainbow's ears, however, Rainbow only tightened her grip around the crying filly.

"I....I.....I love her, Rainbow Dash!!! I love her!!!" Scootaloo screamed. She couldn't stop herself, it was overwhelming. 

Rainbow held her daughter close as she let Scootaloo let out all of her sorrows onto her.

Scootaloo didn't even notice that she had finally told the truth...



> The Truth About Sweetie Belle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-The Truth About Sweetie Belle

With her face buried in Rainbow's brightly colored mane, Scootaloo suddenly felt like life around her had stopped. Her heart felt as if it had ceased to beat, and she could no longer hear Rainbow Dash's comforting whispers. Her eyes were blurred by the tears that were pouring out of her, but at the same time, they felt to have stopped as well.

Time had completely put itself on pause for a moment in time as Scootaloo finally realized what had just escaped her lips.

I....I.....I love her, Rainbow Dash!!! I love her!!!

Those words echoed through Scootaloo's mind. They wouldn't stop circling around her. She couldn't escape it. 

Had she really just said that? Out loud? To Rainbow Dash?

She closed her eyes tightly as the world was still on hold. She couldn't feel or hear anything anymore. Everything had left her. She was in Rainbow's arms, but for some reason....she felt so alone.

"I....love her....?"

Memories began to cloud Scootaloo's mind. Haunting her. 





School days were always boring, and Scootaloo hated it even more because of the fact that she had yet to receive a cutie mark. Almost everypony in her class had one now and she always felt so left out....and occasionally...stared at.

She would usually roll her eyes or something, but truly it really did get to her. She couldn't stand it. It just didn't seem fair to the little filly and for that very fact, she began to cut class. 

Scootaloo knew that it was really a bad idea, but for the past few weeks now, she had been able to do it without ever being caught. Cheerilee must have thought she was out sick or something, but whatever it was running through her mind, she didn't seem to be paying Scootaloo's absence any mind. Any mind at all.

This was very convenient for the filly anyways. It was much easier to get away from school without the teacher calling Rainbow or Fluttershy on her. Of course, it wouldn't be so bad if she had called Rainbow Dash, but if Fluttershy found out....Scootaloo knew it would be bad. But so far, she had been getting around pretty well without any obstacles. 

The little pegasus walked along the dirt path that she had walked so many times before. She had practically learned it like the back of her left hoof and she considered it her own little place. It was where she was able to get away from her classmates that is. If she wasn't around them, with all of their shining cutie marks, then she felt pretty good about herself. Just the fact of being around a bunch of fillies her age with their own cutie marks just made her feel sick. At least when she was alone she didn't really have to think about it, or most importantly look at it with her own eyes. 

Scootaloo found a nice place under a tree and sat her little flank down. She hadn't been walking long and she usually would go further down, but for some reason she had this feeling that told her to stay there. It wasn't really that it was a scary feeling or anything like that, besides, Scootaloo wasn't scared of anything. But she just felt like she should listen to her instincts for a change and just stay put. 

She looked up to the sky and sighed. She wished she was able to fly, that way she could just hang out in a cloud or something, but she knew she wasn't yet able to accomplish something like that unfortunately, but she would await that day when she would finally be able to lift herself up with her wings and fly around just like Rainbow Dash. 

This thought brought a smile to her face. It was really the nicest feeling she had had in a long time. Usually she would have lots of time to herself to think now that she spent so much spare time walking around the outskirts of Ponyville. Nopony was there to bother her or distract her. She had no school work to worry about, and really, she just enjoyed the time alone with just herself. She never really had that kind of time on her hooves anymore now that she was living with Rainbow and Fluttershy. She would have thought that they would like to have alone time together, but they didn't seem to care too much where they were whenever they decided to have that "alone time".

This thought made Scootaloo stick out her tongue. She was still trying to get used to the whole lovey dovey mother thing going on at home. It wasn't really the fact that she had two mothers, but it was more that it was just embarrassing to watch them be so sweet to each other. Scootaloo wasn't sure what it was about older mares and stallions and love. She could only shiver at the thought of her being that way someday. Loving somepony.... Gross!

Scootaloo shook her head and tried to rid herself of those thoughts. Love was really not her thing. She just didn't understand why so many fillies were obsessed over it. Finding true love and stupid stuff like that. She would rather be out rolling in mud or something....really, she would. 

"Who needs that kind of stuff anyways?" Scootaloo chuckled to herself. It was a silly thing to be so excited over. She just wished that everypony would see it her way. 

The filly laid her head down in the soft grass underneath her. She poked at a particular stem as if she were intrigued with it, but really she was just insanely bored.

"Maybe I should go back to school tomorrow...." She let her thoughts exit her lips as she talked to herself.

She turned up her brow in consideration, but soon dropped her head down again and scrunched her nose.

"Nah.....School sucks." With her final decision, Scootaloo rolled over on her back and looked up to the bright sky above her head. Clouds were rolling by so peacefully and a cool breeze was running through her mane. 

She couldn't help but let herself smile a bit. The sun felt so nice on her fur as she closed her eyes and began to relax all of her muscles. 

Her nose wrinkled upwards and she began to toss around. She couldn't help but let her earlier thoughts start to cloud her mind once again. It was making her uneasy just thinking about it. Somepony to love....

"Yuck..." She turned back over on her stomach and pushed her hooves towards her eyes. She tried to knock all of those thoughts out. She just couldn't enjoy herself while thinking about stuff like that. 

Her ear flicked at the sound of a crinkle behind her. She turned her head slowly, but nothing was there to see as she thought. Probably an animal or something. 

She turned back around as she tried to relieve herself of the constant thoughts. Nothing seemed to be working though, she just couldn't shake it from her. She just couldn't think about anything else.

Her ear flicked again. This time, she didn't bother turning around.

She dug her hooves into her face and began to groan. Now all she could think about was the way that Fluttershy and Rainbow would kiss in front of her sometimes. It was just too brutal to think about, how could they even do that to her? She began to toss and turn about now. Her groans grew louder as her thoughts began to grow stronger and more annoying. 

Wouldn't you like to have your own special somepony? 

NO!

Scootaloo buried her face in the ground as she struggled with the mental fight against her own self. 

Once again....her ear flicked. Scootaloo was already irritated enough. She turned around with an angry face. She knew that there would be nothing there, just like the other times, except this time....she was wrong.

A little filly was standing there before her eyes. Scootaloo instantly noticed every single detail about her without even thinking about it.

She had huge green eyes. White fur. She was a unicorn. Her hooves were delicate. Her mane was curly and parted two different ways. It had pink and purple swirled around in each her mane and tail. She was so small, yet she was barely smaller than Scootaloo herself. She had no cutie mark, and a small grin was on her face.

"H-hey?" Scootaloo quickly jumped up from where she was laying. Her heart was racing for some reason. She thought maybe it was because of the fact that somepony had finally seen that she was not in school when she was suppose to be, but really.....that wasn't what it was that was bothering the pegasus....it was something else....something....more complex than that...

"Hi!" Her voice squeaked. It was enough to make Scootaloo take a few steps back.

Somepony to love....

Scootaloo's eyes grew big as she stared back at the unicorn. There was definitely something wrong here. There was definitely something wrong indeed. Scootaloo had never felt this uneasy around any other filly before. In fact, she had never felt this uneasy around anypony before, not even Rainbow Dash herself. This was strange. This was not right. This was.....No! That would be too weird....too coincidental....too.....much....

"What's wrong with you?" The filly looked over with her huge green eyes. Scootaloo could tell that she was moving closer to her.

Her heart was aching now. It was as if....it was breaking....

"N-nothing..." She tried to look away, but she couldn't. The unicorn was luring her in somehow. She just couldn't move away from the approaching filly. 

"My name is Sweetie Belle!"

"Oh..."

"Just...oh?"

"I mean.....I'm Scootaloo."

This was getting awkward. Really, very, truly awkward....

"Why are you here?" Sweetie Belle finally stopped moving forward as she was already almost muzzle to muzzle with Scootaloo.

"I....uh...why are you here?"

Sweetie Belle looked down and smiled.

"Maybe we are both here for the same reason."

Scootaloo could hardly breath now. She was just too close to her....too close...

Sweetie Belle looked over on Scootaloo's side. The pegasus took another step back as she noticed where her eyes were.

"You don't have a cutie mark?"

"Well....neither do you..."

Sweetie Belle lifted her head again. Her smile was now fading.

"I guess you're right."

Scootaloo wanted this to end. She just wanted to turn around and run away from this strange filly. Something was just not feeling right and it kept getting worse and worse it seemed.

"Are you going to Diamond Tiara's party?" 

Scootaloo looked back up with confusion now.

"H-how did you know I go to her school?" Scootaloo was starting to get down low.

Sweetie Belle smiled again and giggled a bit.

"I've seen you before."

"O-oh..." Scootaloo turned her face away again.

"Well....are you?" Sweetie Belle brought back the question.

"No."

The silence began to kick in now. Neither Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo said anything now. There was really nothing to say, so why was Sweetie Belle trying to keep the conversation alive between her and Scootaloo? It wasn't as if she had any interest in her, she just met her officially just now. So why was she being so pushy?

"Will you reconsider?"

Scootaloo's eyes grew larger as she turned to the unicorn that had broke the silence. What did she even mean by that?

"What....why?" She was starting to feel a bit more comfortable around the filly for some reason. Her words were coming out much clearer now.

"I....I want to go, but....not alone." Sweetie Belle turned to show her blank flank. Now Scootaloo finally realized what was going on. This pony only wanted to use her to get into that stupid party just because she was a blank flank too. Scootaloo had never felt so angry in her life. 

"Why would I want to go with you?! I'm not going to let some loser use me to get into stupid Diamond Tiara's party! If you want to go so bad, quit being a stupid baby and go by yourself!" Scootaloo turned her head and began to storm off in the opposite direction. 

Usually, Scootaloo wouldn't feel bad about doing something like that to some other pony, but for some reason, she was feeling hurt now. Her heart wasn't pounding against her chest anymore. It was definitely breaking now.....shattering into a million pieces inside of her chest.....but.....why?

"Wait!"

Scootaloo stopped in her tracks. She didn't want to turn around and face that filly again. She just couldn't look into her green eyes another moment, she just couldn't.....But......

"What?" Scootaloo turned her head back to Sweetie Belle who had now caught up with her.

No words were said as Sweetie Belle grew closer and closer to her.

"Please....it's not that....."

Scootaloo's eyes narrowed. What was going on here?

"Then why?" 

"It's because.....because....."

Sweetie Belle moved closer and closer. Scootaloo could feel her heart beginning to pick up pace again. This filly was crazy!

The unicorn was now inches away from Scootaloo. She moved even closer and brought her little arms around the pegasus. Scootaloo didn't know what was going on, but for some reason, she wasn't sure if she wanted it to stop or not because she truly liked the way it was feeling.

Sweetie Belle rested her head against Scootaloo's orange shoulder and squeezed against her back tightly as she brought her fur closer to that of Scootaloo's.

The pegasus could feel her hot breath run down her neck. Her heart was throbbing now.

"I......I love you."

Scootaloo's eyes grew beady as Sweetie whispered those words into her ear. She had never heard anything so sweet, so pure, so lovely in all of her life. They chimed together like a beautiful music piece that somepony had composed from the very depths of their heart. It was the sound of the purest love Scootaloo had ever witnessed in her life. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that she had only witnessed Fluttershy and Rainbow's love herself, or the fact that this love was including her. Was it because she could feel it for herself? Was this really the feeling that ponies in love feels?!

"From afar....I have always watched you....I knew....that we had something in common....and it wasn't just that we don't have cutie marks.....it's something else....something different. I think maybe....we share a bond. I think that we....were made to love each other."

Scootaloo couldn't take this feeling anymore. It was too overwhelming. It was too much to take in. 

She jerked herself away from Sweetie's grip. 

"Love......?" Scootaloo stepped further and further away from the filly.

"Please....don't leave me now.....I've....wanted to say that for a long time...."

Scootaloo wasn't sure what to say. She didn't know whether or not to be scared, or happy. She was completely dumbfounded, however, she found herself moving back towards Sweetie Belle and embracing her once again with a force that she had never felt herself have before.

"Ok."

"Ok what?"

"Ok. I will take you to that party."


> Reconsidering Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Reconsidering Things

Those memories were nice. They were refreshing to Scootaloo as Rainbow Dash held her closely. Scootaloo could remember all of it as if it were only yesterday that it had all happened. If Sweetie Belle never approached her that day then they never really would have met and been able to go to Diamond Tiara's party. Not that the party was a good one, but if they hadn't of went then they would have never been able to meet Applebloom. Really....when Scootaloo thought about it, Sweetie Belle had been right that day. There was surely some bond between them, but she still couldn't place what it was exactly...

Scootaloo retreated from Rainbow's grip and looked up at her with a smile that had now formed over her face. Rainbow wasn't sure what to think at first, but she smiled back as she wiped Scootaloo's tear stained cheeks. 

"I think....I'm okay now." The filly lowered her head from her mother and looked off to the side. She did feel much better. She felt so fresh and new, but still she couldn't help but wonder....where was Sweetie Belle?

"Well, that's good to know, kid. I didn't think I could take much more of that...mushy stuff..." Rainbow stuck her tongue out at Scootaloo teasingly and got up from where they were sitting. She turned around from the filly and walked off into the living room. Scootaloo followed.

"Where is Fluttershy?" The orange pegasus looked up at Rainbow from behind as she made her way over to the couch where Angel Bunny was resting. 

"Um....I....really have no idea." Rainbow shrugged it away as she sat down right on top of Angel. The bunny squeezed out from under her and kicked her in the leg as he hopped off in anger. 

It didn't seem to bother Dash too much for she kicked back her back legs and began to stretch out on the sofa. Scootaloo, however, hovered next to her with large eyes as she awaited any conversation. She didn't want to think about Sweetie Belle right now, but Rainbow didn't seem to be much help anymore with distracting her. 

The cyan pegasus opened one and and looked at Scootaloo who smiled as she noticed Rainbow looking her way.

"What now?" Rainbow raised her arms under her head as she tried to relax.

"Well....I...uh..." Scootaloo struggled to think of something...anything to say. 

"Why don't you go out and try to find Sweetie Belle." Rainbow closed her eyes as she nudged Scootaloo's side. 

The orange pegasus looked at Rainbow in awe. She wasn't really expecting her to mention Sweetie Belle right after Scootaloo's break down. Rainbow really wasn't the best pony to talk to about these kinds of things, but that was all Scootaloo had at the moment. Fluttershy would have been the better option, but still....

"But...I....I can't...." Scootaloo could feel tears welling up inside of her eyes again as she tried to hold them back as much as she possibly could. Rainbow noticed in her voice the sorrow Scootaloo was feeling again. 

Dash quickly shot up from the couch and placed a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. All of this quick movement startled the little filly, but she knew soon what Rainbow was doing. She really was trying her best to be comforting, and Scootaloo appreciated that completely. 

"Don't worry so much about it. I'm sure she is fine, but maybe....she is waiting for you to find her...it's....uh....just like a game of....hide and seek? Yeah! Hide and seek. She is waiting for you....to find her." Rainbow lowered her hoof from Scootaloo's shoulder. She smiled softly at the filly who looked at her speechless.

That was really a deep way of putting it. Scootaloo could have never thought Rainbow would be that good at making things a bit less scary for her. Putting it in that context was really a better way at looking at things, especially for Scootaloo at the moment. Maybe Rainbow was even right about it all. Maybe Sweetie Belle truly was waiting for her...somewhere.

Scootaloo looked down in her thought. She wasn't sure where she could begin looking though even if that were the case. Where would Sweetie Belle be that wouldn't be too hard to guess for Scootaloo?

"What do I do now?" Scootaloo turned her head back up for answers. 

Rainbow looked up in thought for a moment. Her eyebrow wrinkled as if she were really trying. Then she turned back down to Scootaloo with a cheerful grin.

"Seek."

---

Scootaloo ran out as quickly as she could. She wasn't sure where she could find Sweetie Belle. She had no idea at all, but she knew where she could find help!

She smiled as she remembered that day that they both met Applebloom at Diamond Tiara's party. Yeah, the party really sucked at first and Scootaloo had really regretted offering to take Sweetie Belle, but the party wasn't all too bad once they discovered Apple Bloom there too. It was really a great day for Scootaloo. She had made a new friend, and it was especially good because she wouldn't have to worry about being alone with Sweetie Belle all the time. 

If Scootaloo were to choose between them, she would say that Applebloom was her best friend. She wasn't really sure what category Sweetie Belle fell into, but it wasn't a best friend. It sounded a bit harsh when Scootaloo thought of it, but really...it wasn't in a bad way. 

She just wasn't exactly sure how she felt about Sweetie Belle's....feelings.

Scootaloo had almost forgotten how all of this started, but remembering it all was really easier on her. Now she wasn't so lost and confused. Now she understood what had really happened. 

Scootaloo looked up to the sky. It was starting to get dark now. She could hardly believe that all of this had happened in one day. It felt like it had been days since she last saw Sweetie Belle but really it was just hours ago that she had seen her last. It still hurt though....to be without her for this long....knowing that it was her fault she ran off in the first place. 

She tried to shake her mind of those thoughts. If she thought like that then she would surly give up on this hide and seek game that her and Sweetie Belle were playing. She couldn't let those thoughts get the best of her. She just couldn't give up.

But first.....She needed to find Applebloom.

---

Applebloom sighed as she looked behind her at the boutique. Applejack and Rarity had told her that they wouldn't be long and they asked her to wait outside, but really Applebloom just felt nauseous thinking about those words. 

She trotted back and forth as she waited. It had already been what seemed to be 10 minutes, and neither of them had came out and got her yet. She could feel herself getting antsy waiting and she began to skip a bit in her trotting. Sometimes, pacing would help her think, but right now, all she could think about was what they must be doing. 

Applebloom stuck out her tongue and sat down on the ground. All that thinking was really going to make her sick if she didn't stop now. What she really wanted to think about was Sweetie Belle though. She couldn't help but worry where she might be, and she felt kind of bad about the whole Scootaloo thing too.

Rarity and Applejack didn't seem to be bothered by it as much as she was. After Scootaloo ran off, Rarity said that sometimes when Sweetie was upset, she would disappear for a few hours, and then she would come back home and go take a long bath. If Rarity knew that already, then why did she have to be so dramatic about it when Scootaloo was here. Applebloom knew that it would only worry Scootaloo and she was probably out now trying to search for wherever Sweetie was so she could apologize. 

That was really the kind of filly Scootaloo was. She would yell, and she would fuss, but she would always end up feeling terrible about it in the end. Applebloom sighed again. Scootaloo never yelled at her before, but she always seemed to yell at Sweetie Belle. She wasn't really sure why that was, but when she thought about it...they were a lot like Rarity and Applejack.

Applebloom lifted her head with this thought. She could remember the times when Rarity and Applejack always seemed to hate each other. They would call each other names and they would never really apologize about anything they ever said to each other and that is why it was so hard to believe when Applebloom found out about them two. They seemed to hate each other but really....it was just the opposite. 

That was how Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were....

The yellow filly held her breath as she recalled what Applejack had said to her earlier that day. 

They still love you as a friend, but maybe there is something going on between them that is a different kind of love.

Applebloom was still trying to wrap her head around it all....was all of what Applejack said really true? She did know that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle must have known each other longer than they had known her. They were together at Diamond Tiara's party when they all first met, so maybe they had a deeper relationship the whole time they were all together as friends.

For some reason, Applebloom couldn't help but feel a little jealous by that. It wasn't that she liked either of them in that kind of way, but just thinking that they had a special connection this whole time that she wasn't a part of made her feel a little...left out.

She lowered her head slightly and sighed once again. She had been doing a lot of that today it seemed. She turned around behind her and grabbed a bag of chips she had saved on their trip over to Rarity's. There was still a good amount of chips inside and so Applebloom went right for it. She grabbed a hoof full and stuffed it in her mouth. Just as she did, she noticed a pony walking over in her direction....well....more like....hopping.

"Hey there little Bloomapple!" A bright pink earth pony squealed out as she approached the filly who smiled awkwardly.

"Howdy, Pinkie Pie." Applebloom looked around to see if anypony else was with her, but it was just Pinkie by herself. Applebloom sighed and grabbed some more chips. 

"What'cha doing all alone out here!? Rarity kick you out again?! Awe! She does that to me alllllllll the time! It's just not even fair!" Pinkie passed Applebloom and walked over to the door of the boutique.

"RARITY!!!!! THAT'S NOT NICE TO LEAVE FILLIES BY THEMSELVES!!!! OR ME EITHER!" Pinkie turned from the door and smiled.

"It works every time!"

Applebloom tried to grin but she was still feeling too down to do so. 

"Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Pinkie's eyes grew large as she noticed Applebloom's silence was a result of her being sad.

She ran over in front of Applebloom and put her hooves on her shoulders and shook the little filly around for a few moments. She then let her go as Applebloom's eyes rolled around as a result. She shook her head after a couple seconds of dizziness and then she looked back at Pinkie with confused eyes.

"What was that fer?" She tried to ask as calmly as she could at that moment.

"Well?!?! Feel better yet?" Pinkie smiled largely as she looked at the filly with huge blue eyes. They sparkled with joy when they noticed Applebloom smiled a bit now too. The filly really couldn't help but smile at Pinkie Pie. She was really fun to be around at times, especially when she wasn't feeling the greatest.

"Thanks." Applebloom nodded her head as she smiled again at Pinkie.

"No problem! Madam Pinkie always knows best!!" She threw her hooves in the air and waved them around for a bit only to find her ear being tugged on by a magical force. 

"Owwwiiiiiieeeeee!!!" Pinkie yelled as her ear was still being tugged away from Applebloom.

"Don't you know someponies don't like to be bothered." Twilight came around from the corner as she revealed herself being the one tugging Pinkie's ear. She released her magic from the pink earth pony who then fell down to Twilight's hooves and pretended to cry.

"Oh, give it a rest, Pinkie." Twilight shook her legs trying to get Pinkie's grip from her. The earth pony then jumped up and smiled again. Applebloom watched all of this as if it were television and she stuffed her mouth with chips in the process. 

"Do you know where Rarity may happen to be, Applebloom?" Twilight looked down to the chewing filly who nodded her head and then pointed to the boutique while her mouth was full. She crunched down and then swallowed so she was able to speak again.

"She's in the boutique with Applejack, but....I would give it a few minutes...." Applebloom turned away and grabbed another hoof full of chips. 

Twilight looked down at Applebloom and then up at the door again. She lifted a hoof back and her face scrunched up as she put the pieces together.

"Well.....okkkayy then." She dropped her hoof back down and sighed. 

"Be prepared to do a lot of that..." Applebloom turned to Twilight.

"A lot of...what?" She looked down in confusion.

Pinkie then shot up from where she was standing and let out an overly exaggerated sigh in Twilight's face. The unicorn lifted an eyebrow as she still wasn't catching on.

"Sighing." Applebloom confirmed.

Twilight opened her mouth as she finally realized, but then she shut it again as it was really no use in responding. 

"Why do you need her so bad anyway?" Applebloom tried to break the silence of it all.

The unicorn smiled at this and turned to the filly who looked up at her with less enthusiasm as she would have wanted, but she continued anyway.

"She told me she would help me make a new StarSwirl the Bearded outfit!!.....uh...for research purposes...that is." Twilight softened her smile as she tried not to blow her cover.

"Oh..."

"Nah!!! She just likes to wear it around the house and roll-play!" Pinkie grinned as Twilight turned to her with her mouth open.

"No...she's just making that up..."

"Sometimes she makes me roll-play with her sometimes!!! She will wear the costume and she makes me tie myself up and then we----"

Twilight stuffed her hoof in Pinkie's loud mouth. She blushed and smiled at Applebloom as she hoped she hadn't caught on to any of that. The filly just looked up with confusion, this brought relief to Twilight. She turned her purple eyes to the earth pony and scolded her for a few moments before she released her hoof from her mouth.

"Ahehem..." Twilight cleared her throat as she kicked the dirt under her hooves.

"Maybe....I will just come back later....." Twilight turned around and with her magic began to pull Pinkie Pie along with her by the ear.

"Owwwwww, Twilight!!!!!" Pinkie moaned as she was being painfully dragged behind Twilight.

Applebloom stared at the two departing ponies when they were all stopped by a large familiar voice.

"STOP!!!!"

Applebloom, Twilight, and Pinkie all turned to the little Scootaloo who was now standing a good ways in front of them. Applebloom was both happy and confused as to why Scootaloo was here, but really it didn't matter. She was just here, safely, and that was what mattered the most. 

"Scootaloo!" Applebloom threw her bag of chips behind her as she got up from where she was sitting.

"What is it Scootaloo? Still having...those problems?" Twilight approached the filly too along with Pinkie who followed right behind her.

"Uh...well...yes..." Scootaloo looked down but then turned back up to the three ponies in front of her.

"What is it, Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked confused.

Scootaloo straightened her back as she stepped a few steps closer to the three. She cleared her throat and smiled.

"I need you to help me seek."
> You Hide and I'll Seek
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-You Hide and I'll Seek

Scootaloo ran all over town in search of Sweetie Belle. With the help of Twilight, Pinkie, and Apple Bloom, she felt that they would find her in no time at all; however, it was already getting dark, and finding Sweetie Belle....wasn't as easy as she thought it would be.

It took her long enough to get help from the three in the first place. As Scootaloo sat down and rested she thought back to how they all resisted at her request...





"Seek?" Apple Bloom got closer to her friend as she left the other two a little ways behind her. Scootaloo looked a little sweaty as if she had ran all the way over here....Apple Bloom wouldn't be surprised by that.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo jumped up a little ways with enthusiasm. She was so excited to finally find Sweetie Belle and make things right again.

"Seek?" Twilight lifted an eyebrow at the little filly. She made her way closer to the smaller ponies that were staring at each other; one confused, one jovial. 

"Yeah...that's what she just said." Scootaloo pointed an orange hoof at Apple Bloom as she looked up the the tall pony that she had asked guidance from. 

The two both looked back at her with questioning glances. Scootaloo couldn't help but feel so frustrated with them both at the moment. It wasn't like she was asking them for something too terribly hard or anything. I mean, why were they making such a big deal over it?

"I think she means help her look for Sweetie Belle because she is super worried about her!" Pinkie jumped in front of Twilight with a pouted face. She then quickly changed from sad to happy as she looked over to Scootaloo who nodded her head slowly.

"Ohh....seek." Apple Bloom looked up to Twilight who was still staring at Pinkie Pie with such an ominous face that even Apple Bloom had to look away. 

"Yes, Pinkie." Twilight said through gritted teeth as she turned back to Scootaloo.

"I guess I thought that's what you meant, I just wasn't exactly sure you wanted...our help with such a personal...task." Twilight seemed as if she was trying to get her way out of it for some reason. Scootaloo didn't care though, she wasn't going to let her go too easily. She needed all the help she could get.

"Oh we can help definitely! It's not like we have anything planned later with that Star Swirl the Bearded costume that you had Rarity revise for yo---"

Twilight shoved her magical force into Pinkie's face sending her flying across the lot. The unicorn then smiled oddly at the little fillies as she tried to look another way around the situation.

"Aha...aheh...ahhem....I...um...we could spare a bit of our time to help." Twilight smiled as sweat dripped down her face slightly. Pinkie was already making her way back over to the bunch with a joyful smile.

"Yay! Helping Looscoots find her little fillyfriend mission!" Pinkie jumped as she squealed a bit with excitement.

"No. No! That's not what it is. I just...we need to find her." Scootaloo turned around to avoid Apple Bloom's eyes that were surely headed her way.

"Come on. It's...getting dark."

"Oh, but maybe we should go get some super secret mission attire from Rarity! That would be so super duper fuu---" 

Once again, Pinkie was flying back over to her previous landing spot.

"Let's help the poor filly find her friend now, so we still have time for....uh....that book I was going to show you later." Twilight changed her story as much as possible and began to walk in front of Scootaloo who looked at her backside.

"Finally..." She grumbled as she started her way behind her.

"I'm sure we can find her 'round here somewhere!" Apple Bloom said with enthusiasm. That was something Scootaloo needed at the moment. She needed all the support she could have. She just needed to feel sure about this. Finding Sweetie Belle was the most important thing at the moment to her, and she wasn't going to stop until she was located.

"Ooooooooo! I can throw a party when we find her!!!!!"





Scootaloo slouched over as she watched the time go by faster and faster. They had been searching for a good while now, and still no sign of her anywhere. The little orange filly was starting to lose hope. What if she would never find her. What if Sweetie Belle never came home. What if....

No....she wasn't going to let herself think that way. She had to find her. She needed to find her.

Scootaloo got up from her resting position and began to brainstorm. Where could Sweetie be? Where would she be that it wouldn't be too hard to guess for Scootaloo? Where....where?!

She still didn't have any ideas. She was lost in her own emotions. That seemed to be the only thing she really could think about at the moment.

Why?

Why now was this happening? They had been friends for so long. They had fought all the time, so why was it now that Sweetie Belle got hurt so bad that she had to leave? What was different? What was it....

Scootaloo couldn't help but feel like whatever it was, it was completely her fault. She must have done something...something so bad that even Sweetie Belle just couldn't take it anymore. That made Scootaloo feel ten times worse about the whole situation. She only wished that she could just take it all back...

She couldn't help but remember the exact argument....she only wished that she hadn't reacted the way she did. She only wished that Sweetie had never cried. She only wished....

"Scootaloo!?"

The little pegasus quickly looked over to the left of her to see Apple Bloom waving her hoof rapidly at her. Scootaloo jumped up as her heart raced. This was good right? They must of found out where she was!

"Where is she? Is she okay?! Can I see her? Unless she's still mad...I can give her some time, but I need to see her whenever she feels like it!" Scootaloo hurried her way over to the little yellow filly who slowly stopped waving her hoof as she realized that she had just given Scootaloo...false hope.

"Uh...n...no....we...still haven't found her." Apple Bloom backd away slowly as she noticed Scootaloo's face weaken. 

"Oh..." Scootaloo slouched back down and looked away from the little farm filly with disappointment.

"I...was...just going to ask how much...longer? It's getting pretty dark and Twilight and Pinkie has already left..." Apple Bloom was only the slightest bit afraid of the dark. At least, it wasn't her most favorite thing to do...be in the dark and all.

Scootaloo opened her mouth as if to respond, but she closed it without saying a word.

"I...guess....a few more hours then?" Apple Bloom turned slowly away from her saddened friend. She didn't want to let her down after all.

"You know what....you go on home...I...can take it from here." Scootaloo looked up with a small smile.

"No...I couldn't just leave you. Finding Sweetie Belle is important...it's just...it's so....dar--"

"I know, and that's why I will let you go on home. I know how you feel about the dark. It's cool, really. I can find her, I promise." Scootaloo lifted a hoof towards Apple Bloom playfully.

"Oh. I know you can! Thanks though...it is getting purtty late...and Applejack...probably wants me home...but...good luck...really...I hope things are much better tomorrow..." Apple Bloom smiled as she timidly looked around.

"I'm sure it will be." Scootaloo smiled softly.

"Well, good night then." Apple Bloom turned away from Scootaloo as she started off in the direction of home, but Scootaloo called out one last time to her. Apple Bloom turned around to look back at her best friend.

"I thought you might want these." Scootaloo tossed a bag towards Apple Bloom who had caught it as it flew in her direction. 

Scootaloo turned back around and walked off into the darkness.

Apple Bloom looked down at the bag to see that it was a new bag of hayseed chips. The filly smiled as she clutched the bag closely and headed home.

---

Scootaloo was tired. She was cold, and all she really wanted at this point was to crawl in bed and forget it all. She really didn't want Apple Bloom to leave her, but she knew she couldn't make her stay, it wouldn't be right, after all....it was her mistake in the first place. This was something she had to fix herself. Getting help from her friends didn't really do any good, though she was still at least a little happy that they tried, that was all she could have really asked for. And when she thought about it more, she began to feel it was better this way. She would rather find Sweetie Belle alone. She would rather be the one to do it, because when she did find her, she would finally be able to apologize to her in the way she felt needed be best a secret.

The filly smiled to herself with that thought. It was the thought she had running through her mind ever since they began searching all together, but now, her thought was even more believable and possible...now that she was alone.

She wanted it to happen. She wanted to do it with all she had, but first thing was first...she had to find Sweetie Belle in order to get to that point, and at the moment, she was a little far from that, but she wasn't going to give up now. Not after all this hard work, not after all this persistence. No. She was going to find her tonight. She was going to find her before the sun went up. She was determined.

Scootaloo walked a little more forward when it finally dawned down upon her. The place. The perfect place. The only place! The place where Sweetie Belle....had to be!!

Scootaloo changed her pace and direction and began heading in the opposite. Why didn't she think of it sooner? Why now was she just thinking about this?! It was all too obvious! Way too obvious!

The little orange filly ran with all her might. Her little wings moved quickly as well to make her step all the faster. It was a time like this that she wished she had her scooter. She guessed she should have thought about that before she wrecked it last week in one of their Cutie Mark Crusader missions. But that was okay, she could get there even without her scooter. She felt like she was fast enough just on hoof.

Scootaloo's heart was pounding with sheer happiness. She was so relieved that she had finally found out where Sweetie had been all this time, it was just so easy. All this time and she had been right within her reach. Why hadn't she thought sooner? It could have been already done with.

Scootaloo shook those thoughts again. She wanted to stay positive. At least now the feeling of joy would be fresh in her mind when she lay in bed tonight. That thought made her smile and she began picking up her pace. 

Sweetie must have ran off, hid in the woods, and then sneaked back whenever Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had left. That was definitely it!

Scootaloo's eyes finally fell upon the sight she so desperately wanted to see. Finally...she was back at the Crusader's clubhouse...that was where Sweetie was this whole time. That is where Scootaloo will walk in and make things right. That is where everything will be blown over and their friendship will be restored. That is where Scootaloo....will finally open up what she had been keeping hidden all this time. 

The pegasus leaped up the stairs to the clubhouse with a pounding, happy heart. This was it. Finally...she had finally found her. She had won the game. Their game of hide-n-seek!

"I found you!!" Scootaloo thrust open the door and a large grin on her face. She was breathing heavily as the door slammed on the inside. Happiness was pulsing through her body and then it began to slowly drain.

Scootaloo looked around slowly. All her hopes. All her dreams. All her work. Thrown away into an empty room. A room where Sweetie Belle was not. A room full of junk food, untouched except by the hooves of Apple Bloom. A room that took Scootaloo's happiness and punctured through it. Spat in her face, and threw her to the ground. Scootaloo's hopes were now crushed as her last resort was a failure.

---

It wasn't easy trying not to cry as she slowly walked home in the pitch black night. She could feel the urge to burst out into humiliated sobs of anger and despair. It was all over. She never found her. She lost...she lost their game. Sweetie Belle won, and now she would never find her. Never again would Scootaloo get the opportunity to ask for forgiveness. Never again would she be able to open up. It was all over.

She walked until she felt like she couldn't walk anymore, luckily she felt that right as she walked up the steps of the familiar cottage that she had been living in for such a long time now.

She tried to suck up all the sadness she knew that she was wearing upon her face at the moment. She really just wanted to go to bed, she didn't want either Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash bothering her with questions...at least she knew Fluttershy probably would unless Rainbow already told her. She doubted it though, Rainbow wasn't good with stuff like that, Scootaloo knew.

She tried to make herself presentable before she opened the cottage door. When she thought she was stable enough, she went ahead and opened it up; as she did so, her emotions decided to attack and she began to sob right as the door was opening. She just couldn't help it, she couldn't quit thinking about how much of a failure she was. She just couldn't handle the pain she was holding inside.

The door slowly creaked open as she stepped inside, her vision blurred by the tears rolling down her face. 

She couldn't see anything but blurred colors and watery images, but something she saw, she couldn't mistake for anything or anypony else in all the world of Equestria.

As her tears dropped from her eyes to the floor, she stood as Sweetie Belle stared back at her next to Fluttershy. 

Her heart stopped completely.

Rainbow, still snoozing soundly upon the living room couch.