> Sisters: Chasing a Happier Time
>  by lightfox lowell
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Happier Times
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sisters: Chasing Happier Times


By Lightfox Lowell


“So you’re looking for somepony to take you under their wing, huh? Yeah, I might be up for something like that."

For Scootaloo, hearing this statement come from Rainbow Dash was the stuff of dreams. Something she always wanted but never really believed would come to pass. But at the end of the day, after that faithful camping trip, it did.

From that point on, life's been pretty good for Scootaloo. She had gained the mentor and sister she had always wanted. It also meant the end of the long days when she would end up alone. Even if he is rarely seen, Scootaloo does have a parent: her father, an earth pony named Pin Puller. While she does love him, his work as a train conductor takes him away from Ponyville for most of the day; sometimes nights as well. On days like these she would be home alone or spend the time with the other members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It was not a bad thing but she did get lonely. However, that had finally ended; on such nights Scootaloo now finds herself in the awesome company of Rainbow Dash in her cloud home.

While one might ask, “where is her mother?“ the answer is somewhat complex. She is/was a humble mailmare pegasus. She had left one day to deliver a package to the Cloudsdale post office, but she never arrived. She has been missing for about two years now.

At this point there is a gravestone , so to speak, with nobody. 

All of this had an unintended side effect: most people in town began to get quite used to connecting Scootaloo with Rainbow. This had its ups and downs. Everyone could see Rainbow and Scootaloo as being like each other's sister. But Scootaloo having a sister meant something else. She was no longer untouchable for the chaos she made with the CMC. While Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had always been held accountable by their family, Scootaloo never really had to worry. With her father out of town most of the time, she could get away with just about anything the CMC did. That ended after what the Town calls “The Great CMC Syrup Flood.“


***


The day had started off quite normally, at least for Ponyville standards. It had also looked like it was going to be keep being a good day until the CMC learned something that should have never been told to them: one single fact that seemed so harmless to Cheerilee at the time.

"Syrup is made from tree sap."

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SYRUP MAKERS!“ marked the end of a good day in the town of Ponyville. Before anypony had time to react, a wave of syrup had overtaken much of the town center. While nopony was hurt, and the damage quite minimal (It turns out they are not good at making proper syrup and it was quite watered down) the town's ponies were not happy.

“You three are not going anywhere!“ shouted a very sticky Mayor Mare.

While Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had resigned themselves to their fates, Scootaloo spoke up with something she had said quite a few times before.

“Uhh... Miss Mayor, my dad is not home right now,“ said Scootaloo, giving an apologetic smile.

She had almost started to get up when the mayor replied. “I never said anything about your father, Scootaloo.“

This confused Scootaloo to no end. If they were not making her wait for her father, then who could it be?

The answer came around a corner alongside Applejack and Rarity. A rainbow mane, a cerulean coat, cerise eyes full of anger and disappointment: Rainbow Dash.

Mayor Mare gave an almost prideful smirk at Scootaloo’s face when she saw Rainbow Dash coming. For almost a year this filly had been getting away with the CMC’s wave of destruction. But seeing Scootaloo’s eyes go wide and her wings fall limp, she knew she had finally gotten the little filly.

Scootaloo’s eyes went wide and her feathers felt like they were going to fall off of her wings at moment. Her legs started to buckle when she saw the mayor walk up to the three older mares and start talking. Her poor filly mind was racing with thoughts. ‘Rainbow looks really mad, what did they tell her? Why did they bring her here? What if this made her not want to be my sister any more?‘ It was that last one that made Scootaloo's heart feel like it was going to stop beating.

Applejack and Rarity were the first to be done and collect their sisters. While Scootaloo was sure they had said something, it was lost to the filly's mind. The only thing that mattered to her was that Rainbow Dash and the mayor were still talking. A few more seconds passed. It felt like hours. Rainbow Dash finally gave a salute to the mayor and then started to walk to Scootaloo.

“Come on, Scootaloo, we're going home.“ Rainbow Dash then lowered her wing to allow Scootaloo to climb on.

While Scootaloo was being shown how to fly, and was improving by the day, she still needed help to get up to Rainbow Dash's home, which was the home Scootaloo had to assume she was being taken to.

The ride was abnormally silent. Scootaloo tried to talk to Rainbow Dash a few times but never got a response. By the time that they got to Rainbow Dash’s house, Scootaloo had started to think that the syrup in her coat was going to harden and make her into a scoota-statue, or somehow fuse with Rainbow Dash. But thankfully this proved not to be the case when they landed on the front clouds of Rainbow Dash’s home and Scootaloo hopped off of Dash’s back.

Finally Rainbow Dash spoke up as she kicked a cloud and let it rain on herself to get the syrup off. “Scoots go take a bath and I will be back before you get out.“

“Oh, okay Rainbow Dash... But... where are you going?“ asked Scootaloo.

“I have to go round up the weather team to cook up a storm to wash away somepony's syrup flood,“ replied Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo’s head lowered to avoid Rainbow Dash’s gaze. “Oh yeah... that makes sense.“ She then watched as Rainbow took off into the sky leaving Scootaloo alone with her thoughts.

She went into the house and into the bathroom. Dash had shown her how to kick clouds to make them rain a long time ago, and she put it into practice here. Sitting in the rain, she thought about what was to come next. The poor filly gave a shiver of fear. She stepped out shortly after and dried off.

Walking back into the main part of the house, Scootaloo found Rainbow Dash waiting in the main hall with a her coach hat and whistle.

“Okay Scoots, your dad is not home which means I’m in charge of you,” Rainbow Dash stated. “And since you made me and my weather ponies work more today, I’m going to make you work more, too.” Rainbow Dash had a grin on her face that made a shiver go down Scootaloo’s spine.


Scootaloo had stopped trying to count the wing-ups... But she had done about sixty laps around the perimeter of the house by the time Dash let her “take fifteen.“ She laid there, on the cloud floor, as the world felt like a mix of pain and soreness. She was sure Dash was trying to kill her with the longest, most painful workout she had ever experienced. The worst part was the sun was not even down yet.

‘One hundred and twenty... one hundred and twenty laps.‘ That was all that was in Scootaloo's mind as she was barely able to walk into the house with Rainbow Dash. Her wings felt like rubber, her body fire. Was this what Apple Bloom felt like after her sister made her work on the farm? Scootaloo was not sure, but what she did know was that a cutie mark in syrup making would not have been worth this agony.

“Heh! Okay, Scoots, I think you've learned your lesson,” said Rainbow Dash. “Do you think you'll be covering the town with syrup again any time soon?”

“You say that like I’m going to be able to move again any time soon...” Scootaloo looked up weakly at Dash.

Rainbow Dash flashed a smile at Scootaloo. “Heh! Yeah, you'll be a bit sore tomorrow. But how about you crash in bed with me tonight. Sleeping in the most awesome bed in Ponyville will help.”

Scootaloo smiled and gave a quick nod. Dash then scooped her up and let her rest on her back as she carried her to bed.

In Scootaloo’s mind, she might have been sore, in a bit of pain, and really tired, but one thing mattered more: Rainbow Dash was still her sister, and that was worth everything that had happened that day.



***


Scootaloo’s father, Pin Puller, was thankful for Rainbow taking Scootaloo under her wing. He often worried for the well being of his daughter when he was away from Ponyville. But at the end of the day there was not much he could do about it. With his wife missing and bills piling up he had to keep working whenever he could.

After a few dinners and watching her train Scootaloo to fly, the bonds of this “family” grew. Soon, Dash being over for dinner was the norm, but Pin Puller still remembered that first day; the day where he where thought his worst fears had come to pass.

It was the morning after Scootaloo was to return from her camping trip. Celestia’s sun was just barely on the horizon when a train pulled into the Ponyville station. A stallion with bags under his eyes walked off the train and checked out for the day with the station manager.

It was Pin Puller, heading home after a long night's work. Even if he was exhausted, the stallion wore a smile on his face. He had not seen his daughter in about two days. She had begged him to go on a camping trip with her friends. He saw no harm in it so of course he let her go.

Pin Puller opened the door to their home and trotted inside. He noted that the house was oddly clean. Normally when Scootaloo was home alone he came in to find it partly destroyed. He shrugged it off and walked to Scootaloo’s door. He opened it quietly, only to see the bed was empty. Then it hit him: the house being clean, the door was even locked. Something must've happened-- she had not come home!

Panicked, Pin Puller ran out of the door and into the cold morning. He had to find Scootaloo, and he had a good idea on where to start: Sweet Apple Acres, owned by the Apple family who Scootaloo went camping with.

Finding Applejack was not hard. Pin Puller saw her leaving the barn with a cart right as he got to the farm.

“Oh good! Applejack, I needed to see you. Have you seen Scootaloo? It did not seem like she got home last night,“ said Pin Puller, with a hint of panic in his voice.

“Well, shoot, Pin Puller. Last Ah saw her was with Rainbow Dash. If Ah remember correctly Dash was taking her home,“ replied Applejack.

Rainbow Dash. This was a name Pin Puller knew all too well. Scootaloo talked about her day and night. Personally he was not too fond of the daredevil pegasus. She seemed to be rubbing off on Scootaloo, who was always trying to “be as cool as Rainbow Dash” by doing reckless stunts.  He quickly thanked Applejack and wasted no time heading to Rainbow Dash’s cloud home.

When he got there he noted that he could have planned this better. Being an earth pony he had no way of getting to the cloud home above him and it seemed so high that shouting appeared to be useless.

Then a voice came from behind him. “Um mister? Do you need to talk to Rainbow Dash?”

Surprised, Pin Puller quickly turned around to face the mailmare that had replaced his wife at the post office after she vanished: Ditzy Doo.

“Oh, Ditzy... Actually it’s good to see you. Yes, I need to speak with Rainbow Dash. I also think Scootaloo is with her,” answered Pin Puller.

Ditzy listened while she put some mail into the ground level mailbox. “Oh, sure, Mister, I’ll fly up and tell her you're down here.”

Shortly after going up, she came back down just to tell him they would be right down. Then she flew off.

After a minute or two Pin Puller saw Rainbow Dash kick off the clouds of her house with an unmistakable orange filly riding on her back. Shortly after landing, Scootaloo got off and hugged her father.

“Dad!” exclaimed Scootaloo.

Pin Puller pulled his daughter into the hug, his eyes hinting a bit of anger and worry. “Scootaloo, why are you here with Rainbow Dash? I was worried sick about you!”

Rainbow Dash gave off a small chuckle which seemed to make Scootaloo remember how sappy she was being, so she ended the hug right there.

“Well you can blame me for that,” answered Rainbow Dash. “I took her home in the middle of the storm we had last night, but she let it slip that she would be home alone. I was not going to let that fly so I took her here.”

“That and she told me she would take me under her wing and teach me to fly!” exclaimed Scootaloo.

The thought of Scootaloo flying was enough to make Pin Puller’s eyes go wide. “She did?”

“Hah! Maybe we should go your house to talk about all this, Scootaloo. The middle of a field is not the best place,” said Rainbow Dash.

Back at home, Scootaloo sat next to Rainbow Dash as they told Pin Puller of the events that had happened during the camping trip. And while he was less thrilled about the part where Scootaloo almost got herself killed, he was thankful for Rainbow Dash having saved her. But that aside, the whole taking Scootaloo under her wing part left Pin Puller a bit put off. Rainbow Dash was reckless, brash, and arrogant. However, at the same time, seeing that huge smile on Scootaloo’s face while she sat next to Dash made it hard to say no. So, out of the the love for his daughter he put his fears aside and said he was willing to give Dash a chance.

He quickly found out that he had misjudged Rainbow Dash. While what he had thought about Rainbow Dash may have been true, She was a good pony at heart and seemed to care for Scootaloo. She always made sure their training was done in a safe way, and always made it clear to Scootaloo that she can’t go trying to do the things she does. “I’m awesome, Scoots. You’re awesome in training.” was the way Rainbow Dash put it.

It took time, but the three ponies started to see each other as family.

From that day forward, Pin Puller could rest a bit easier on long train rides, knowing that his little girl would never be alone again.
> Chapter 1: A Happier Time’s End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1: A Happier Time’s End


By Lightfox Lowell


It is the night of the crowning of Princess Twilight Sparkle. While the others are going to stay at the castle to (in Pinkie’s words) “PARTY!” Rainbow Dash has to fly back to Ponyville at top speed. It’s not that she does not want to party with her friends. But she had made a promise to Scootaloo to be back before Pin Puller had to leave and she is intent on keeping it.

As Rainbow Dash makes her way into the skies over Ponyville she is able to make out two unmistakable orange ponies waiting for her. Dash hopes that she, of all ponies, is not late on Pin Puller’s watch and glides down.

“Hey you two, hope I’m not late,” says Rainbow Dash.

Pin Puller pulls out his watch. “No no, Dash, I would say you’re about ten seconds early.”

“Hah! Well, in that case, are you ready to go, Scoots?” asks Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo, to her credit, is still standing but lets out a yawn and nods softly to Dash.

Rainbow Dash helps the sleepy filly onto her back. “So when will you be back, Pin Puller?”

Pin Puller looks at his watch. “Well it is midnight right now, so I should be back by noon tomorrow.”

“Right, well I’ll make sure to take good care of Scoots here.”

“I know I can rely on you, Rainbow Dash, but you two better head off before Scootaloo falls asleep on your back.”

Rainbow Dash gives a salute and takes off into the sky. Pin Puller, knowing his Scootaloo is in good hooves, starts his walk to the train that is waiting for him.  

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo get home without issue, but the filly had fallen asleep mid-flight. She takes Scootaloo to what is quickly becoming her own room, cleared out after her sleepovers became normal.. While it did not have many toys like the room at her father’s house, it was adorned with posters of the Wonderbolts and pictures of her, Dash, and Pin Puller, along with a single Spitfire plushie that laid waiting on the bed. Dash carefully slips Scootaloo into the covers and walks out.

Rainbow Dash walks to her room letting out a yawn and stretching her wings. ‘It was really surprising to see Twilight just pick up flying like that... Maybe it’s just an alicorn thing to be able to fly off the bat?’ Taking off the dress that Rarity had made and putting it in a closet next to her Wonderbolt cadet uniform and Gala dress, she steps toward her bed. As she climbs into bed, Dash hears a soft thump. She turns to see it was just the hat falling down and gives it a “meh” before going to bed.

Later that morning, Rainbow Dash quietly slips into Scootaloo’s room and tip-toes to the bed. “Scootaloo...” Rainbow Dash whispers. “It’s time to wake uuuup,” she says with a mischievous grin.

The filly does not even stir, so Rainbow Dash slowly extends one of her wings and starts to tickle the filly’s side. Scootaloo does not show any reaction at first, but slowly a smile starts to appear on her face. Soon after that, the filly starts to go into a rampant giggle fit. Scootaloo’s eyes suddenly shoot open and she tries to defend herself from the surprise tickle attack.

“Pfffft hahahahahaa! No Rainbow ssssthahahahp!” Scootaloo manages to giggle out as she tries to bat the wing away.

Satisfied, Rainbow Dash retracts her wing. “Ah, good to see you’re awake now. Come on, I have some breakfast for us.” She lets Scootaloo get out of bed as she trots into the kitchen.

When Scootaloo gets down to the kitchen she sees a dandelion sandwich, some apples from Sweet Apple Acres, and some orange juice. This is the best breakfast they normally eat at Rainbow Dash’s house, mostly because it had been well established in the past: Rainbow Dash can’t cook. Or rather, she can but doesn’t.

They eat their breakfast quietly until Rainbow Dash asks something strange. “So Scoots, you don’t have anything planned with the Crusaders today, right?”

“Uh, well, no, not today. Apple Bloom is visiting Babs Seed, and Sweetie Belle is spending time with her parents in Canterlot, I was kind of hoping we could do some flight training,” answers Scootaloo.

Rainbow Dash starts to grin. “Well, sorry to disappoint about flying lessons today, Scootaloo, but we have to go see some important ponies.” Rainbow Dash then gets up and starts to sift through her mail.

“Important ponies? Like who?” asks Scootaloo, disappointment dripping from her voice.

Rainbow Dash suddenly holds up two backstage passes to a Wonderbolt show. “Well, you see, being the number one cadet has its perks and I thought you would like to go see the whole team. But if you want to tra—” is all Rainbow Dash manages to get out before being hugged and tackled to the cloud floor.

Scootaloo gives her sister a hug that rivals Pinkie Pie’s  in bone crushing power. “YES YES YES!”

“Ah! Hah, okay, Scoots, okay, calm down! Go get ready and we can head to Cloudsdale and catch them before they start,” says Rainbow Dash.

In the blink of an eye Scootaloo runs up to her room and tosses a bunch of stuff into some saddle bags and puts the bags on. She then races back downstairs to see Dash has done the same and is waiting at the front door. Then the two take off into the sky heading for Cloudsdale.


***


While Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo are leaving Ponyville at high speeds the rest of the other Elements of Harmony are just returning. But one is a bit more attention-grabbing than the others. Twilight Sparkle, with Spike in tow, is going back to her home in the Ponyville library. While Twilight looks no worse for wear, Spike looks like he had a hard night, but they do finally make it to their home.

The door to the Golden Oaks Library begins to glow with the purple aura. It suddenly unlocks itself and swings open, allowing its master to enter.

Twilight walks into her home and sits down at her desk with a satisfied sigh. “I don’t know about you Spike, but it’s really good to be back home in Ponyville.”

Walking in a way that would make Spike seem like he has joined the ranks of the undead, he goes to his bed and more or less collapses into it. “Yeamf,” was the only response that Twilight received.

“Oh Spike, the ride back home wasn’t that bad.” Twilight states with a small giggle.

Spike looks over at Twilight with a glare. “ Speak for yourself. You girls talked all the way through the ride! some of us would have liked to sleep, you know. Why did we take the train anyways? Don’t you get chariots like Princess Celestia now?”

“Heh, sorry about that Spike. Maybe? Yes? But I wanted to ride with my friends,” says Twilight. “ After you help me write a quick letter, you can go right to bed if you want.”

Not even bothering to protest, Spike pulls out a quill and some parchment. “Ready Twilight.”

Some scholars state to this day that the amount of books that Twilight ordered just then had to have been an error. All of them related to being a princess in some way: etiquette, manners, court procedures, multitudes of history, court ceremony, an encyclopedia of tea, forms of address, and many others. Engineers even claim that the book load managed to take some stress off of the supports that hold Canterlot to the mountain.

“Um Twilight... are you sure this is all needed?” asks Spike. “I mean, didn’t Celestia say you can dig into this stuff later?”

“Now now, Spike, it is later, and I can’t go slacking,” says Twilight. “Anyway, no harm can come from a little light reading.”

Spike looks a bit unsure, looking at the whole list. “Sure... light.” He sends the message off and promptly goes to bed. “I pity the pony that has to load all that up.”


Pity them is what Pin Puller did later that night as he saw 3 unicorns doing their best to levitate the massive box full of books.

“Is this the box you hijacked my schedule for?” asked Pin Puller. “I really don’t understand why you made us drop everything just to wait here all day.”

The day had not been a great one for Pin Puller after going from Ponyville to Canterlot, then to Manehatten, then back to Canterlot. His work week had been long, but on the last stretch from Canterlot to Fillydelphia, the Canterlot station told him they had a change of schedule and he would be taking a crate to Ponyville. At first he loved this news, but that was before it took hours for them to get this crate ready. Now he would be lucky to get back when he was supposed too.

“Yes sir, it’s a direct package to Princess Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville, sir,” the station worker answers.

“Oh, right, why am I not surprised,” Pin Puller says. He had a bad feeling about Twilight becoming a princess since Dash had told him it happened. Not that she could not do the job. He was more worried about what it would do to the small town of Ponyville now that it had a princess living there.

“Whatever the case, sir, I would be careful around the box. It’s super heavy— took all three of us with magic to lift the cursed thing,” the station work tells Pin Puller.

“Well we’ll make sure to tie it down well,” replies Pin Puller.

A few train workers make sure to tie down the box right and proper and before long the train sets off to Ponyville.


***


Back with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, it was late and they had been with the Wonderbolts for most of the day. While Scootaloo or Rainbow Dash would have not complained if it had continued, it ended and they set off home. Scootaloo managed to score another signed poster, but this time with every Wonderbolt’s signature. She truly had a good time today with Rainbow Dash and could not have been happier.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo talked about the show the whole way back home. But it was when Ponyville got into sight did Scootaloo suddenly get really quiet. It was because of the storm visible over Ponyville. It was supposed to rain today and tomorrow, but it was not the rain that bugged Scootaloo: it was the thunder. While she did not like anypony to know, she really did not like the sound thunder made. In truth, the only two ponies who did know were her father and the very pony she was riding on now.

“You okay, Scoots?”  asks Rainbow Dash. “You got really quiet on me suddenly.”

“Oh yeah, I am fine Rainbo–” Suddenly thunder came roars from in front of them and Scootaloo lets out a yelp and grips onto Rainbow for dear life.

“Oh right, the storm... Hey now, Scoots, it’s okay. We’ll be home soon,” says Rainbow Dash trying to reassure Scootaloo. But she does double time her flying to get home sooner, for Scootaloo’s sake.

Soon, they get back to Rainbow Dash’s cloud home and go inside. The cloud home is higher up than the storm, so they never even have to get wet. The perks of being a pegasus.

“So, you going to crash with me tonight?” Rainbow Dash asks, knowing the answer since Scootaloo had not removed herself from her back. She was like this for any storm. Pin Puller said she suffered some type of trauma when she was younger during a storm. She had tried to get the story from Scootaloo, but she always locked up when asked.

Scootaloo does not answer. She just nods, still holding onto Rainbow Dash, so she knew full well that Dash would get her answer. The truth was that Rainbow Dash did not mind, so she took Scootaloo up to her room. She rests Scootaloo on the bed and brakes out a Daring Do book.

“How about a story to get your mind off the storm, Scoots?” asks Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo grins and nods to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash, laying down on the bed, takes Scootaloo in her wing and reads. “Daring Do and the Chalice of Harmony,” Rainbow Dash reads out loud.

While to some, Daring Do’s books full of adventure and excitement would keep them awake. To adrenaline junkies like Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo it was soothing and awesome. Scootaloo falls asleep in the wing of her mentor regardless of the storm outside.

Rainbow Dash takes a little while to notice, but when she does, she pats Scootaloo on the head and places the book on the nightstand. “...Night sis...”

Rainbow Dash then drifts into a sleep of her own, Scootaloo sleeping with a smile on her face.


The next day, Rainbow Dash had to help with the storm cleanup. She dropped off Scootaloo, at her request, close to the CMC clubhouse.

Scootaloo collects the scooter that she stores at the clubhouse for cases where her father’s house is locked and she wants to ride around town. She then exits the clubhouse and starts a joy ride around town. It is close to being noon when she gets the idea to see her dad right when he gets back from work. She arrives there at noon but the train was not there yet. It was a bit unlike her father to allow a the train to be late; something must have held them up.

She starts to ride up and down the loading ramp to pass time. She only needs to be careful of the ground at the bottom of the ramp, since the ground had become soft and muddy from last night’s rain; but the ramp seemed to be fine.

After a little longer, Scootaloo is able to see the train coming in the distance. But she was having a good time showing off so she keeps up her tricks on the ramp.

The train stops at the station and a tired Pin Puller walks out to see Scootaloo doing her tricks and he gives a smile.

Pin Puller walks to the bottom of the ramp to meet up with Scootaloo. “Come to see your less awesome father, Scootaloo?” he gives her a wink.

“Heh! Dad, you’re awesome in your own ways. You’re just not as cool as Rainbow Dash, but don’t feel bad: Nopony is,” says Scootaloo.


While the father and daughter are talking, two unicorns start to try and get the crate of books off of the train and to the loading ramp. Normally, the two are used to their magic holding up just about any cargo. But this crate was unworldly heavy, and yet they still try to carry it down to the loading ramp. It all starts when one of the unicorn’s spell starts to fail and his horn gives off a few magic sparkles. Without any warning to the other unicorn, his spell completely fails, leaving the second one to try and hold up the create. The only thing he manages to do is make sure it did not fall on him or his partner, but sadly he did not know about Pin Puller at the bottom of the ramp. If it had not just rained last night the crate would have stopped right there, due to its weight, but since the ramp was damp, it slides, picking up speed, and heads right for Scootaloo's back as Pin Puller watched.

Pin Puller does not have any time to think. All he manages to do is shove Scootaloo to the side before the crate smashes into her. In doing so, he seals his own fate. The crate slides down the ramp and slams into Pin Puller full force, it does not stop. The ground at the bottom of the ramp was muddied the night before, so the crate carries Pin Puller until it slams him into a nearby wall.

Scootaloo lies, dazed, on the ground, confused at what had caused her dad to knock her aside, until she looks over to see him on the ground, between the massive crate and a wall. “D–DAD!” yells Scootaloo as she rushes over to him.

She gets over to Pin Puller, but he could feel his body going cold, the air he exhaled tasted like blood. He sees his daughter looking down with a horrified expression. “Hah... good to see you’re okay Scootaloo...”

“No! Dad, I’m so sorry! If you did not have to pus–” Pin Puller weakly held up a hoof to silence her.

“None of that...” Pin Puller says.  “Scootaloo, it was not your fault. Just... be good for Dash for me, okay?” Pin Puller could feel his vision going darker. The taste of blood was only getting stronger and breathing was becoming an issue.

“What do you mean?” asks Scootaloo. She was really confused by that – until it hit her. “WAIT! NO! You can’t leave me too! DAD!” She screams at the top of her lungs but the words were lost on Pin Puller whom was fading fast.

“Love you, Scoots...” Pin Puller says weakly.

‘Take care of her, Rainbow... She will need you...’ is the last living thought Pin Puller had.

Scootaloo shakes her father. “NO! Dad! Wake up!”


***


The ponies around had already called for medical assistance, so it was a short while before Scootaloo sat alone in a waiting room at the hospital, hoping for any good news about her father.

Nurse Redheart walks softly into the room and up to Scootaloo. “Scootaloo I’m... I'm sorry... We could not save him. If you want, we can let you go say goodbye...”

Scootaloo is crushed. Her mind is not even able to comprehend what was happening. She is lead down the hallway to see her father laying on a head. She walks to the bed and jumps on.

His eyes are closed... She puts a hoof on him. He felt so cold. Scootaloo couldn't even help herself from crying. She hugged Pin Puller, sobbing into his coat. “No... dad... I– I love you too.”

This scene continues for quite a few minutes until a pony taps on her back. She assumed at the time it was Nurse Redheart.

Scootaloo lets out a deep depressed sigh. With tears in her eyes, she lets go of her father. “Goodbye dad... I love you.”

She gets off the bed and walks out without even looking at the pony that tried to get her attention.

Back in the hallway, the pony spokes up. “Um hello Scootaloo...”

The voice was new, which got Scootaloo to turn right around. The pony standing there was a pegasus. “Oh, uh, who are you?”

“Well, my name is Cloud Dream,” she answers. “Scootaloo, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I’m even sadder since Pin Puller was your only family we have on record... Which is why I am here.”

Scootaloo really did not need that rubbed in. “Why, are you here?”

Cloud Dream sighs. “I am here to take you to a orphanage in Cloudsdale.”
> Chapter 2: Darker Times
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2: Darker Times


By Lightfox Lowell


Cloud Dream sighs. “I am here to take you to a orphanage in Cloudsdale.”

Scootaloo’s brain flatlines. She does not know if what she heard was real or a sick nightmare from the deepest part of her mind. “W—what...”

Cloud Dream hates this part of her job, having to take this filly from the place she calls home, but with Pin Puller dead she has no family and with that, no one to take care of her needs.

“It won’t be so bad, Scootaloo, the flight camp is close by and the caretaker is very nice,” replies Cloud Dream, her voice remaining soft to keep Scootaloo in a stable state of mind.

Scootaloo’s eyes go wide, and her legs feel weak, forcing her to sit down. Not only had she lost her father, but now she is going to be taken away from Ponyville, away from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and away from Rainb— Rainbow Dash! That’s it! She does have family; a sister!

Cloud Dream can see the sadness and depression in Scootaloo’s eyes when she sits down. ‘Buck me, I hate this job sometimes...’ Cloud Dream thinks to herself. But then suddenly she sees Scootsaloo’s eyes light up with fire, hope, and determination. ‘What in the name of the princesses made her turn around that fast!?’

“NO! Hold it! I have family here still! A sister!” Scootaloo says, her voice speaking with pride and confidence.

This little outburst confuses Cloud Dream. She had been told that Scootaloo has no more living family. She even took the time to read Scootaloo’s family records.

“Scootaloo, I have to say I do not know what you’re talking about. Your family records do not show a sister.”

Scootaloo, now wearing a huge grin, has already won in her mind. There was no way Rainbow Dash would let her be taken away from Ponyville. “It’s Rainbow Dash! Just go and find her, she can explain everything.”

Cloud Dream knows that name; it was hard to live in Cloudsdale and not know it. Rainbow Dash had become something of a local hero: Being an Element of Harmony, one of the only ponies to ever do a Sonic Rainboom, managing to save the lives of the Wonderbolts and soon to join them, and that is not even mentioning countless other deeds.

Cloud Dream looks to Nurse Redheart for answers.

“Well, Scootaloo has been seen with Rainbow Dash a lot these last few months. I am a bit out of the loop with that, but Rainbow Dash is listed under Scootaloo’s emergency contacts. Maybe getting her could not hurt,” Nurse Redheart states.

Cloud Dream almost face-hooves. ‘If she is in the emergency contacts, why was she not called in the first place!?’ she screams to herself.

“Yes, please get ahold of her. Scootaloo, let’s go to the lobby and wait for your sister.” Cloud Dream is not totally sold on Rainbow Dash being her sister. She is pretty sure that would be common gossip in Cloudsdale, but it could not hurt to have Rainbow Dash here.


***


Rainbow Dash lets out a sigh, resting her head on her hooves, then rolls over on her cloud to rest on her back. Today was going slow. Too slow for her. It really started to go downhill after work. On a normal day Scootaloo would been around the second she was done working; then, they would do flight lessons or Scootaloo would watch her practice. But today that was not the case. Scootaloo was being a no-show, which really confused Rainbow Dash.

‘I wonder where she is.’ Rainbow then started to look around town from her cloud, trying, unsuccessfully, to see that orange coat of Scootaloo’s. ‘Maybe she went to go see Pin Puller?’

Being in the air all day, Rainbow Dash has managed to miss the news about Pin Puller. She does not know he was even hurt, let alone that he has passed on.

Deciding to answer her own question, Rainbow Dash, flies off to the Ponyville Train Station. Getting there, she is dumbstruck by the scene where the guards have sectioned off the loading ramp. There is a very large crate close to the end of the ramp and a wall, but the part that concerns her is the blood on the wall and the ground near it. She thinks to herself: ‘I’m going to need to ask Pin Puller what happened.’

Rainbow Dash, walking up to one of the station workers, starts to get a bit uneasy. A lot of the ponies that work there are giving her some really surprised looks. “Um, hey? Have you seen Pin Puller and Scootaloo?”

The station worker’s jaw almosts hits the floor. “You... You don’t know what happened?”

“Um, no? What are you talking about?”

The worker looks away from Rainbow Dash. “Um, Rainbow Dash... there has been an accident. A crate fell and went sliding down the loading ramp. It was going right for Scootaloo and Pin Puller. He managed to push her out of the way, but it slammed into him and then hit him against that wall. They both went to the hospital.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes go wide and her back legs almost give out on her. She does not ask anything else. She opens her wings and takes off at full speed to the Ponyville Hospital. She goes bursting into the hospital's main entrance, only to be face to face with Cloud Dream and Scootaloo.

Scootaloo, to her credit, has managed to hold herself together until now. But when Rainbow Dash came in with her normal dramatic flare, she felt the need to keep her depression bottled up gone. Her sister was here, she would fight for her, she was going to be saved, but Dash could not have known that her father was gone.

“Scootaloo! I’ve just heard. Is Pin Puller okay?” Rainbow Dash asks, her voice laced with fear and concern.

Scootaloo just breaks down again and rushes to the arms of her sister. Rainbow Dash sits and holds the sobbing pony close. She could hear Scootaloo saying something under her cries of despair.

“He’s—he’s gone, Dash,” her voice shaky and crackly.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes start to fill with tears as well, holding Scootaloo tighter in her embrace. “It... it’s going to be okay, Scootaloo.” In Rainbow Dash’s mind there is a storm made of two parts grief and five parts of concern for Scootaloo.

But as the two tried to take some comfort in each others company, Cloud Dream watched. She did not know if Rainbow Dash really was Scootaloo’s sister, but she could tell the two were very close and shared some type of bond.

This sad scene continues until Cloud Dream interrupts to take them to a private room to discuss what is to happen with Scootaloo.

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash sit alone with Cloud Dream in this room. Scootaloo, sits next to her sister, while Rainbow Dash has her wing over Scootaloo, keeping her close. On the way to the room, Scootaloo had informed Rainbow Dash who Cloud Dream was and what she was going to do with her before Rainbow Dash arrived.

“Now, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo here claimed that you are her sister. I have to say I find that a bit of a shock, seeing as her file and family records don’t speak of you,” says Cloud Dream.

“Yeah, that is a bit of a story...” Rainbow Dash then goes on to inform Cloud Dream of how she and Scootaloo got to their current state, her closeness with the family, and how their bond as “sisters” grew.

“So while Pin Puller was away for work, you’re the one who watched after Scootaloo, as well as being her flight trainer?” asks Cloud Dream, who appears to be taking notes.

“Um, yes, that’s correct.”

Cloud Dream lets out a happy sigh. ‘Maybe I won’t need to take Scootaloo away from here after all. They may not be family, but they may as well be.’

Cloud Dream starts to fill out a form, but there was a line that made her happy thoughts stop dead in their tracks. “Rainbow Dash, I have to ask something. How old are you?”

For some reason that question chilled Rainbow Dash to her core. “Sev—seventeen.”

Cloud Dream’s face total of bad things to come. The happiness that was once easy to see on her face was now gone. “I see... Rainbow Dash, I can tell you and Scootaloo are close... and I think she would benefit from you visiting her. I cannot let her stay with you... Sadly, the minimum age for a non-relative guardianship is 23. So that means I will still need to take her back with me to Cloudsdale.”

If a pony’s coat could change color, Scootaloo would have turned pure white at that statement.

“Now hold on a second! I’m sure you can make an exception! I’m Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, performer of the Sonic Rainboom, and savior and future member of the Wonderbolts! You can not just take my little sister away!”

“Rainbow Dash! Your status does not make you above laws! As for exceptions, I am already making one by saying you can visit her! It’s not something we allow anyone to just go and do. You normally have to be of age to adopt to be visiting like that, and since you were already teaching her I would see nothing wrong with letting the ‘Rainbow Dash’ be a flight trainer for Scootaloo. But if you two resist, it’s only going to get uglier, to the point where a restraining order could be issued and you would never see her again.” Cloud Dream holds her head low, “I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do.”

Rainbow Dash is somepony that does not normally cry, and this day had already got her to do so once, but for the second time today she could feel tears going down her face. “No... Please...”

Cloud Dream lets out a depressed sigh. “Look, Rainbow Dash, this is how it has to be. You can help get her stuff from her house and to Cloudsdale if you like. I am sure Scootaloo wants most to be with you today.”


That was all there was to say on the matter. Rainbow Dash wanted to protest more but she and Scootaloo were backed in a corner right now. The only thing she could do for her was to try and make the move to Cloudsdale a bit less painful. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash started to slowly pack everything Scootaloo wanted to take with her. Cloud Dream had said Scootaloo would have her own room, so she should bring as much as they could carry today. Cloud Dream was waiting outside while they worked.

Scootaloo, with tears still flowing down her face, stares into a box full of her things, her mind going wild trying to find a way to stay with Dash. “Dash... can’t we just fly away... She can’t keep up with you. I don’t want to go there.”

Rainbow Dash pauses, and takes a moment to truly consider that. While, yes, that would be a way to make sure that she did not have to leave Scootaloo’s side when she needs her most, they would have to stay on the run... if they got caught, she would be taken to some type of prison, and then Scootaloo would truly be all alone...

“Scoots, listen, I will figure something out. If it comes down to that, maybe, but let's first try to find a different way to fix this. I have some pull in Cloudsdale nowadays. “ Rainbow Dash then pulls Scootaloo into a hug. “You know you can trust me, right, Scoots? You know I won’t leave you alone.”

Scootaloo hugs Rainbow and nods softly.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo then go back to work and load a few boxes into a cart waiting outside. Scootaloo rides inside this cart while Cloud Dream and Rainbow Dash pull it up to Cloudsdale.

To Cloud Dream’s credit, the orphanage was nice looking. It looks like it was made so they can add new cloud rooms for the foals. Its name was “Feather Loft's Orphanage”, and is in walking distance of the flight camp Rainbow Dash went to as a filly.

They get the boxes off and Cloud Dream leads them to a free room. “Well... I will leave you two alone. Dash, you can stay until 7:50 tonight. Scootaloo, it is lights out at 8:00. I know it does not mean much from me, but I am sorry about all this.” Cloud Dream then walks off to somewhere else in the building.

Rainbow Dash, helping Scootaloo unpack, tires to think of something to say to Scootaloo. “You won’t be here long, Scootaloo, I promise.”

“Okay, Rainbow Dash,” says Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash could see it on Scootaloo’s face: she did not believe that was true anymore.

Rainbow Dash quickly takes Scootaloo into a hug. “I mean it, Scoots. Pin Puller would never forgive me if I let you stay here. I don’t think I would be able to forgive myself.” Scootaloo softly hugs the last pony she could consider family.

While still hugging, Scootaloo was able to see the door and notices a group of foals all peaking in and then suddenly scrambling when they catch her gaze.Then the two break their hug and go back to work. By the time they get anything Scootaloo would need unpacked, it is 6:30. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo go outside to enjoy the view of sunset in Cloudsdale.

Sunset in the clouds was always a wonder to see: the color shifted to an orange much like Scootaloo’s coat and the clouds almost appeared to be made of fire. While Rainbow Dash had grown up with this view, it was something rarely seen by Scootaloo and she normally loved every second of it. But with how today took everything away from her, and how she knew she would be alone tonight, Scootaloo could not find much, if any, joy in the moment. It was like all the happiness in her life had just been striped away in the blink of a eye. The only thing she could do is sit next to the last pony she had left, Rainbow Dash, and hope that this would all be a nightmare when she wakes up tomorrow.

They sat there silently until Rainbow Dash had to leave. By that point, Scootaloo had managed to fall asleep leaning against her side. Rainbow Dash takes her sister onto her back and carries her back to her room, then lays her into the cover of the bed.

The flight back to her home was not an easy one for Rainbow Dash. Leaving Scootaloo at that place went against everything she stands for. But she had no choice: it was either that or never see her again. Well, that... or be on the run with Scootaloo, which Rainbow Dash will admit is not looking like such a bad plan.

When Rainbow Dash arrives home, she is mentally drained. All her normal energy and confidence is just gone. She collapses into bed and tries hopelessly to think of a way to get Scootaloo out of that place and where she belongs.


***


Scootaloo sleeps soundly for a few hours until a loud thump came from inside her room.

“Ow...” says one voice. “Shhh!” says another.

Scootaloo sits up in bed at lighting speed to see two fillies near the door trying to sneak into her room.

“Oops.. um, hi?” says one of them.

The other one almost runs up to the bed and smiles. “Hi there!” she says in a overly happy whisper.

Scootaloo a little disturbed from the sudden appearance of the two. “Um... hello?”

“I’m Sunnyrain and this is Morning Dew,” says the overly happy one. “We had to come and ask why you were with Rainbow Dash! That was crazy seeing her come here.”

Smiling maybe  the first time she has all day. “Oh, Rainbow Dash is my sister,” Scootaloo tells them in a slightly cheery voice.

“Yeah right! if she is your sister, why are you here?” Morning Dew replies.

“That... is a bit of a long story,” Scootaloo says in a depressed tone once more.

“Oh! Oh, I love stories! Please tell us!” Sunnyrain almost begs.

Scootaloo sighed and started to explain everything to them: how she and Rainbow Dash came to be sisters and what happened to her father.

“Hah! I knew you weren't her real sister. She likely let you be dropped off here just so you would stop slowing her down.” Morning Dew sneers.

“Morning Dew, stop! You’re doing it again,” Sunnyrain says in a low whisper.

“That. Is. not. True.” Scootaloo’s voice drips with malice and hate.

Morning Dew Looks at Sunnyrain, who was giving her an angry look, then rolled her eyes at her. “Whatever, you’re not much of a threat after all. I was worried that you were like some family friend of Rainbow Dash, but no. You’re just some pity case.” She then walks out of the room and back to her own, leaving Sunnyrain there with Scootaloo.

“I’m sorry... If it helps, I believe you. Morning Dew had it really bad before coming here. Don’t let her outside fool you. She is a lonely filly on the inside.”

“She sure has a funny way of showing it... what did she mean by threat?”

“To be adopted over her... but I don’t think you need to worry about that. I saw you with Rainbow Dash before. There is nooo way that pony is not coming back for you.” She then gives Scootaloo a smile.

“How do you know?”

“It’s my talent,” Sunnyrain says with a huge smile, “just like seeing the sun when it’s cloudy, I can see into the hearts of ponies.”

Sunnyrain starts to walk out of the room. “You get some sleep. I need to go back before they check the rooms.” with that she trots out.

Sunnyrain’s words did a lot to bat away the clouds that Morning Dew had put in Scootaloo’s mind. But was she right? Would Rainbow find a way to take her back to Ponyville... She had no way of really knowing. But, for now all Scootaloo can do is sleep, and hope her dreams take her to a better place.
> Chapter 3: Volatile Times
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3: Volatile Times


By Lightfox Lowell


Nothing but darkness surrounds Rainbow Dash. She starts to shout out in the darkness, “Hello! Anypony here? Where am I...?”

Rainbow Dash can see her own breath. Even for someone that sleeps in the upper clouds, this place makes her shiver. It does not seem like anyone is around. She is alone in this place.

Suddenly, from behind her, a voice all too familiar to Rainbow Dash: “I trusted you...”

Rainbow Dash’s blood runs cold and her wings spring out in surprise. She slowly turns to look at the source of the voice.  

“I trusted you to take her in,” Pin Puller says. He has a glow around him and is somewhat transparent, his eyes lifeless, and from his mouth flowed a bit of blood.

Rainbow Dash’s blood felt like ice and her legs would not stop shaking. “No... Pin Puller, I wanted to! They would not let me—I’m sorry!”

“I trusted you...” Pin Puller fades away into the darkness.

“No! Wait!” Rainbow Dash starts to run over to him, but she feels herself falling and wakes up just in time to see the floor come up to hit her muzzle.

Thump.

Rainbow Dash lays there for a second before sitting up. “Owww...” she looks around her room and lets out a sigh.

“Just a dream...”

Rainbow Dash stands up and looks out her window to see it’s still about midnight. Her mind is wracked with worry for Scootaloo, to the point where Pin Puller is haunting her sleep. Letting out a sigh, Rainbow Dash walks out of her room, only to pause at a door in the hallway.

Scootaloo’s room... Dash walks in slowly. The room was just as Scootaloo had left it just the day before. They had not collected any stuff from Dash’s home, only from Pin Puller’s. The new Wonderbolts poster that they got at the show already decorated the wall, but that did not hold much interest for Rainbow Dash right now. She walks up to a picture that has her and Scootaloo right after Dash’s return from the Wonderbolt Academy. Scootaloo was proudly holding up a wing pony badge, Rainbow Dash still in her uniform with her lead pony badge.

Rainbow Dash is silent for a long time, just looking at the picture, before returning back to her room. ‘Don’t worry, Scootaloo, I’m going to get you back.’

After going back into a dreamless sleep Rainbow Dash wakes up in the morning and just lies in bed, trying to think. ‘Yeah... sure, Rainbow Dash, you’re going to get Scootaloo back... The second you figure out how.’ Letting out a sigh, she stands up and walks by her closet.

But while she’s walking, she steps on something that lets out a soft crunch.

Rainbow Dash stops dead in her tracks and lets out another sigh. “What was that...?” She picks up what it was and looks it over. Luckily, the damage was not too bad: it was her coronation outfit’s hat. ‘Heh, good thing it’s not ruined. I guess I should have put you away right when I got back... from... Twilight—!’ She drops the hat. ‘Why didn’t I think of that before!’

Rainbow Dash rockets out of her house and right for the Golden Oaks Library. When she finally arrived, she flies in from the window.

“Twilight I need your hel—” Rainbow Dash stops, lands, and then just stares. Twilight was talking to a delivery pony before Rainbow Dash interrupted her, but that’s not what stopped Rainbow Dash mid-thought. She is just staring at a familiar large crate.

“Rainbow Dash! What did I tell you about using the door!? I mean, really! If you're going to barge Uwah!—” Rainbow Dash suddenly tackles Twilight Sparkle.

“It was you!? This is your fault!?” Rainbow Dash yells, pinning Twilight to the floor.

“Rainbow Dash...? What are you talking about!?” Twilight Sparkle asks, a bit upset that her friend had barged in, and then tackled her to the ground.

Rainbow Dash points at the crate. “Did you order that!?”

“It’s just a bunch of books to study.”

“That box killed Pin Puller, Scootaloo is sitting in a orphanage at Cloudsdale because of it, and they won’t let me take her home!” Rainbow Dash then slams her hoof into the ground next to Twilight’s head. “And you’re telling me that box is yours!?”

“Um... Yes?”

“Twilight! You... its... Uhhhg!” Rainbow Dash gets off and punches a wall.

“Rainbow... You said Scootaloo is at an orphanage? Why? Who is Pin Puller?”

The delivery pony speaks up when Dash remained silent. “Um, I don’t know who Scootaloo is, but Pin Puller is... was a conductor for the train station. I had heard there was an accident with this crate, it fell at some point and well... crushed Pin Puller.”

“Scootaloo’s father... They were like a second family to me and he died because of you!” Rainbow Dash screams at Twilight. “And now Scootaloo, my little sister, is stuck up at Cloudsdale because of some stupid law that won’t let me take her in because of my age!”

Things start to slowly fall into place in Twilight’s mind. "Wait, you mean... The box... My box... it— Oh Celestia." Twilight Sparkle then stands up. "But I- It's just a box of books!  I just wanted to do my best for Celestia; I didn't think anypony would get hurt!"

Twilight starts to pace back and forth like she is trying to process all this. What logic she throws at this situation falls apart and she starts to panic. She had incidentally made one of her closest friend’s life crumble in front of them, ‘Nice work, Twilight! Princess for less than a week, and you already managed to ruin the life of one of your friends!’

"I didn't want to hurt any—” Twilight cuts herself off. ‘No... I need to help her.’ She puts her hoof to her chest, takes a deep breath, and stretches out exhales. Calmness returning, panic leaving, and her mind sharp. Twilight has a plan.

Twilight points at the delivery pony.“You. Out.” The pony wastes no time leaving this awkward situation.

“SPIKE! Get me all of our Equestrian law books!”

Spike, who had been staying silent near the stairs watching the whole scene go down, springs into action. Before Rainbow Dash can blink, there is a pile of books near Twilight’s desk.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes are still full of anger. She goes to say something but before she can even open her muzzle, Twilight casts her Zipper Lip spell.

“Rainbow, I understand that you are angry with me, but we can resolve that later. Let’s first get Scootaloo back to you. I don’t care if I have to rewrite laws, I am not letting her stay there.” She then undoes the spell.

Rainbow Dash shoots a glare at Twilight, but she knows she cannot not do this alone, “Fine, Twilight, how can I help?”

“I need you to go home and get ANY legal papers you have: birth certificate, weather factory worker papers, and anything else you can think of. “

Rainbow Dash gives a salute and flies out of the window, which clauses Twilight to let out a sigh.

Back at Rainbow Dash’s home, Dash braves the most treacherous area of her house; the attic. Sometimes Rainbow Dash is sure she might find Daring Do looking for lost treasure up here. It had been like this ever since she inherited all of her father's stuff, and she knew her papers were, sadly, lost somewhere within.

“Welp, let’s do this.” Rainbow Dash dives into the maze of boxes and other objects.


***


The same morning, back at the Feather Loft Orphanage, the breakfast bell starts to ring out into the hall. It takes Scootaloo out of the nice dream world she was resting in, where she was with Pin Puller and Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo opens her eyes to see that, sadly, the orphanage was not just some sick nightmare... She climbs out of her bed and starts to walk down the hall towards where some of the other foals are walking.

Letting off a soft yawn, Scootaloo could only think to herself, ‘This sucks... I’m sure yesterday was the worst day ever.’ She looks into the cafeteria to see Morning Dew and Sunnyrain already sitting down and eating. ‘it’s not getting any better anytime soon.’

After Scootaloo gets her breakfast, she finds a table to eat alone at. Not a hard task; there are only about 10 foals here including her self. But there is something bugging her, ‘I wonder why I am the oldest here...’

“That’s because most join the flight camp at your age!” an overly cheerful voice says from behind her.

This sudden outburst makes Scootaloo jump in her seat. The chair leans back and keeps going, forcing her down to the ground. She looks up to see the source of the voice, its Sunnyrain. “Ow... How did you—”.

Sunnyrain interrupts “Know what you were thinking? It was suuuper easy! You were looking at everyone with this really puzzled look, but you didn’t look sad, so I said to myself, ‘they must be wondering why they are the oldest,’ because when people wonder why we are all here they have a sadder look about them than you have right now. Not that you don’t look sad! Because you do, but its not super duper sad, like sadness on top of sadness. You’re only sad about what’s happened to you.”

Scootaloo blinks, “A—are you related to Pinkie Pie?”

“Who?” Sunnyrain asks, her head tilted to the side.

Scootaloo gets up and sits back down at her table, “Uh, never mind.” She starts to eat breakfast again, which consisted of some really bland cereal and apple juice.

“Sooooo, what are you going to do today?”

Scootaloo sighs. ‘Please make her go away.’ “I am going to wait for Rainbow Dash.”

The whole cafeteria goes silent and everyone looks at Scootaloo now.

“This again? She dumped you here. Get over it!” Morning Dew says.

“That is not true! She didn’t have a choice! A bunch of stupid laws would not let her take me in!” Scootaloo shouts back.

“Laws? Isn't Rainbow Dash friends with one princess, and knows the two sisters really well? I think she could have taken you in if she wanted to.”

“I...But...” Scootaloo’s eyes go wide, and she goes silent.

“Hah! Now you see it. You're trash that was slowing her down, and as such, you were thrown away.”

“Morning Dew! You’re doing it again. You don’t need to be so mean to everypony.” Sunnyrain speaks up against Morning Dew.

Morning Dew glares at Sunnyrain, like she wants to say something but can’t. “Humph, fine, not like it matters.” Then she walks out.

Sunnyrain sighs, but does not follow Morning Dew. She instead walks to Scootaloo’s side. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. I already told you, there is noooo way she’s not coming back for you.”

Scootaloo did not hear a word. Her mind is locked away in the darkest of places. ‘She is friends with Twilight... and they all send letters to Celestia all the time. Morning Dew is right, Rainbow Dash could have kept me if she really wan—’ But before she can complete that thought, Sunnyrain starts to shake Scootaloo every witch way.

“No! You stop that right now!”

“AHhHHHhhHHHhH!” Scootaloo manages to break free from Sunnyrain’s shaking attack. “What is wrong with you!?”

Sunnyrain sees her chance to get Scootaloo’s mind off things. “Oh! That depends on who you ask.”

“What.”

“Oh yeah. If you ask Cloud Dream, I am a really special filly and there is only things right with me! “ Sunnyrain says with a cheerful chirp. “Buuut, if you ask my parents, it’s the fact I am a pegasus.”

That line leaves Scootaloo a bit dumbstruck. “What could possibly be wrong with you being a pegasus!?”

“Heh! Well you see, my parents are unicorns, Well, a super duper rich family too! They have all this stuff that Cloud Dream calls a “High Class Bloodline” but I don’t know what that means. What I do know is that they wanted a unicorn foal!”

Scootaloo, still a bit puzzled, just nods.

“So they got REALLY angry when I turned out to be a pegasus. They sent me off to live here when I was just a little filly.” Sunnyrain speaks in a voice that is way too happy for all this.

“Wait a second. Wait a second. If they sent you away when you were really young, how do you know about them?”

“Oh! That’s the best part. They sent a letter on my fifth birthday. It told me all about them, and how I was unworthy of the family name, not to use it, and to never come looking for them!” She still says this in a happy tone.

Scootaloo’s eyes are wide, her wings limp at her side, and her jaw is trying to see if it can touch the floor. The reaction around the cafeteria is.. well nothing, like everypony had heard this story once before.

“B—but, you’re so...”

“Happy? Well, yes I am. If it was not for them sending me off here I may have never found my cutie mark.” She turns to show a mark that was a raining cloud with a sun above it. “So I am thankful to my parents, and I still love them. Now! You stop being a silly pony! Rainbow Dash is a cool pony, so you can’t be crying if you’re her sister.”

Scootaloo quickly wipes her eyes and gives Sunnyrain a smile.


***


Back at Dash’s house, Rainbow Dash is pinned under a bunch of really heavy boxes. She has given up on trying to call out for help and is now trying to push her way through the cloud floor of the attic to freedom.

“Stupid building clouds, being so solid!” Rainbow Dash keeps pushing, only for the floor to finally give and she falls into Scootaloo’s room, a few of the boxes landing right on top of her. “Owwww... Okay, I am somewhat happy she was not here to see that...”

Then she sees that one of the boxes that fell on her is labeled “Paperwork”. “YES!” Rainbow Dash cries out.

After about thirty minutes, Rainbow Dash had gotten the last of the paperwork she needed and sets off with saddle bags full of everything she thinks Twilight will need.

When Rainbow flies into the library, she can see quite a few books floating around along side a few letters from Celestia. “Um, I’m back.”

Twilight looks over at Rainbow Dash and gives a smile. “Good. I think I have everything we will need. Let’s go get Scootaloo back.”
> Chapter 4: Dark Pasts, Sunny Futures
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4: Dark Pasts, Sunny Futures


By Lightfox Lowell


“Great! Let’s get moving. Scootaloo shouldn't have to stay there another night,” says Rainbow Dash.

“Well... one second, Rainbow Dash. I need to ask: do you really think you can take care of Scootaloo?” Twilight Sparkle asks.

Twilight knows that she is in hot water with Rainbow Dash, but she needs to be sure that Dash is doing the right thing before forcing the Orphanage to give up Scootaloo to Rainbow Dash.

“I don’t mean to be offensive, but taking care of a filly full time is a lot of work, and, well, you’re a bit—”

Rainbow Dash raises her hoof to silence Twilight. “No, I don’t want to hear it, Twilight. You don’t know about most of this, but I’ve been taking care of Scoots when her father had to work nights. There’s nopony who is closer to her than me now, even more so since I know the pain she’s in. It may be hard, it may mean I need to slow down a little bit, but me and Scootaloo will make it work. All you need to do is get my sister back to me nothing else.”

Twilight Sparkle is caught off guard by Rainbow Dash’s claims, but the more she starts to think about it the more sense it makes. Rainbow Dash would, at random nights, have to leave early from late night parties thrown by Pinkie for some reason. This had even happened at the coronation. Whenever she was asked about it Dash would always give a canned response: “Eh, I have a family thing.” Twilight does not know just how close Rainbow Dash is to Scootaloo’s family.

‘She says they were ‘like family’ but how much does she mean that?’ Something else also made Twilight pause. ‘‘Know the pain she is in.’ What did Dash mean by that?’

Rainbow Dash is never one to share her personal life, so she can understand why Twilight has a look of shock and confusion on her face.

“Heh, if it helps, I’m sorry I pinned you to the ground... I just kind of lost it when I saw the box. I’ve had a hard few days...”

Rainbow Dash does not totally forgive Twilight. In her mind it was that egghead’s love for books that killed Pin Puller, but right now she needs her help to get Scootaloo back. She has to pick her battles.

Twilight, looking at her friend, could see that she meant her apology, but something Dash said gains her curiosity.

“Well, I know one way you can make it up to me.”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes and sighs. She had a feeling it would not be that easy.

“Sure. What is it?” Rainbow asks while she sits down.


Rainbow Dash thinks to herself. ‘This is going to take a while.’

“You said that you know the pain she’s in. What do you mean by that, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes go wide, her wings go limp. She had meant to say that part in her head, but it must have slipped out.

“Um, well, yeah... I mean, I was really close to Pin Puller as well, you know?”

Rainbow Dash’s reaction to this question had told Twilight there is much more to this than that. “Rainbow Dash, there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Seeing no way out, Rainbow Dash lets out a sigh.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

Twilight shakes her head. She wants to know what made Dash bond so much to Scootaloo’s family.

“Well, Twilight, sit down. This is going to be a long story. We have to go back to when I was about Scootaloo’s age, before I had my cutie mark, and just before I went to flight School.”


***


Young Rainbow Dash is at her parent’s home in Cloudsdale. Even at this young age she is trying to be the best flier, and working hard to get her wing strength up. Currently she is home alone. Her only parent, her father, is off working at the Rainbow Factory.

Rainbow Dash does not need a sitter at her age; her father could trust the filly at this point to stick to their cloud home and not do anything too reckless, but it’s the promise that he will sign her up for the Cloudsdale Flight School that really kept Dash in line. She does not want to lose her chance at awesome over something stupid.

Giving off a satisfied sigh, Rainbow Dash sits on the edge of the clouds, looking off into the distance at the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. The CWF is where most pegasi work in Cloudsdale as it was in charge of weather stability for most of Equestria.

Normally, Rainbow Dash would look at the CWF and see ponies taking clouds away, but today something is wrong. There are lighting clouds spewing from the factory at an alarming rate. Rainbow Dash is not the best flier yet. Even with her daily training, she can’t stay airborne for more than a few minutes, but that small fact is not even on her mind. Something is wrong at the CWF, and her dad is there.

Rainbow Dash launches herself from the cloud, setting a new personal best for speed flying that day. She makes it to the area that the CWF is connected to, and begins to race to the entrance on hoof, only to be stopped by a bunch of factory workers.

“Get outta my way! My dad is there!” Rainbow shouted at the worker.

“No way kid. If you get any closer, you’ll be fried by lightning!”

Rainbow Dash does not have time for this. She uses her wings to kick up cloud at the worker, blinding him for a second. Rainbow then charges past. The worker tries to give chase, but a cloud shoots lighting right in front of him, blasting him back.

Nopony is this close to the factory, so nopony is able to stop her from going right into the death trap it has become. Dash charges inside only to see the place full of lighting clouds discharging every which way.

She has been to the factory before, and because of this she knows her way around. She can see a few ponies taking cover from the clouds. A few even shouted at her to get down, but her father is nowhere in sight, which causes her to ignore them.

Rainbow Dash flies up into the second level of the CWF. This is where rain clouds and lightning clouds are made. She wants to keep going up, but there is a slight issue. Lighting clouds are pouring out of an overloaded machine. This is blocking the hole that goes up to the Rainbow Factory area of the CWF. She starts to look for another way up. That is when Dash notices a few pegasi laying on the ground. It looks like they got zapped trying to get to a switch on the machine.

‘That must be the switch to turn off the machine...’ Rainbow Dash thinks to herself.

Looking at the clouds in her way, Rainbow Dash sees one way around the clouds: she has to turn that machine off.

Rainbow Dash digs her hoofs into the cloud below her and flares out her wings. She then launches herself at full speed to the machine. Her small sizes proves to be a boon as she manages to get by the lighting that fried the other pegasi. She gets to the machine and slams her hoof into the emergency off switch. The machine sputters, makes a few bell ringing sounds, then goes quiet, and the clouds stop pouring out.

Rainbow Dash, forgetting there are still active clouds in the room, jumps up in victory. “Yeah! Too awesome for you, clou—” but in the middle of her little victory celebration, lighting shots out and strikes Rainbow Dash in mid-air.

“Ahhhhhg!” is all Rainbow Dash manages to get out. It felt like somepony hit her with a baseball bat, or like she crashed into a tree at full speed. She can see all the ponies still in the room looking at her in horror, and as she slowly falls to the cloud floor, her world goes dark.


*beep*

*beep*

*beep*

The young Rainbow Dash starts to hear a super annoying sound, which starts to shake her out of the sleep she was enjoying. “Nooo, five more minutes...” Dash tries to ignore it, but suddenly being able to feel the pain down her right arm makes her shoot awake.

“Ahhh!” Rainbow Dash screams. She looks at her arm to notice it’s been wrapped up. She begins trying to remember how that happened... Then it dawns on her: she was hit by lighting. It must have struck at her right arm.

“Oh, yeah...”

Dash, starts to look around the room, which she correctly assumes is in a hospital. She expects to see her dad sleeping nearby or something, since that’s what he did when she landed herself in the hospital in the past. This time is different: he is nowhere to be seen, which makes Rainbow Dash’s ears fold back in worry.

‘Why is he not here? Did he get hurt? I didn’t see him in the factory when I went looking, so maybe he was out to lunch...’

Rainbow Dash hoped she was right when she hears somepony coming up to her door, but sadly it was just a nurse that walks in. “Oh, good, you’re awake, Rainbow Dash. I had a feeling with all the noise. There is a pony that’s been waiting to see you.” She walks out of the room. “You can go in now, dear.”

Dash can hear soft talking, but cannot make out what was said.

“Are you sure, dear? Normally, a doctor or family member would pass on news like that.”

More soft talking... Rainbow Dash is pretty sure she knows who the voice belongs to.

“Oh... I see. Well then, I guess that makes sense for you to talk to her.”

Rainbow Dash’s idea turns out to be right on the money. Fluttershy, her oldest friend, walks into the room.

Fluttershy makes her way next to the bed. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, I was so worried! Is your arm okay?”

“Heh! I’m fine, Flutters. You should know it would take more than one lighting bolt to take me down!” Rainbow Dash tries to put her hoof to her chest and look strong, only to cringe when she tries to move her arm.

“Ow...”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, you really need to be more careful.”

“I’ll be okay, really. But I have to ask, did you see my dad outside?”

Fluttershy’s ears fold back and her whole stance changes. She starts to hide behind her hair. “Um... well...you see... Rainbow Dash...” her voice trails off into mutters.

“What?”

“He... fell, Rainbow Dash... ”

“Fell? Fell where?”

Fluttershy takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

“He must have been flying when the lighting clouds came. It looks like he was hit in the air, Dash... he... fell.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes go wide, and her cerulean coat goes a bit paler. “W—what!? Is he okay!? How far did he fall?”

“I—I’m sorry Rainbow...”


***


“He fell far from Cloudsdale all the way to the ground. He had been out cold from the lighting... So he didn’t have a chance to slow down.” Rainbow Dash says while glaring at the floor. It almost seems like she is cursing the ground for its existence.

“I... I see.”

Rainbow Dash gives off a sigh. “After that I was alone. I don’t know what happened to my mother. My dad told me she died due to birth complications, but I have no way to be sure. Sometimes the way my dad acted made me think she left us, and we had no other family around.”

“There’s no grave?”

“No. When a pegasus dies, we cremate them and scatter their ashes to the wind. That way they can fly forever. I guess you can say they are always flying with us... I don’t expect you to understand.”

Twilight had never studied the subject, so that was news to her.

“But what if you wanted to visit them and, well, grieve?”

Rainbow Dash just rolls her eyes. “Then you fly, Twilight! Like I said, I don’t expect you to understand. Anyways, right after I got out of the hospital they wanted to put me in an orphanage, but instead I managed to get into flight school and stayed there until I got out and got a job at the CWF.”

“I see... so when you went calling Scootaloo family—”

“Yes, I meant it. I haven't had a family for a long time so... it was nice.” Rainbow Dash starts looking out the window with a smile on her face. “Having ponies waiting for me, seeing Scootaloo’s face light up when I would show up... or even having Pin Puller care if I was going to crash and knock my brains out. I know it sounds stupid, but I was lonely.”

“But, Rainbow Dash, why not tell me or any of the others?”

“I didn’t want you guys to worry about me, and only Fluttershy really knew about any of this. She had been the one I spent days like Hearth's Warming Eve with, and that was all I thought I needed, but after that camping trip, all that changed. Scootaloo wanted me... Me! Of all ponies to be her mentor, and ‘be like a big sister’! After I basically flat-out ignored her, and even tried to avoid her a few times, she still wanted me... I guess I could never say no to that, so me and her got really close after that night. Found out that same night that she spent some nights alone when her father had to work, so we had a sleepover at my house and I met her father the next day. It’s all history after that. We became like a small family.”

Twilight smiles and stands up. “Let’s go get your sister, Rainbow Dash.”


***


Back at Feather Loft's Orphanage, Scootaloo stares out at the horizon waiting to see a streak of rainbow come her way.

‘I wonder if she will find a way to get me out of here... I miss dad... being away from Ponyville and Dash just makes this suck more.’ Her thoughts only serve to depress her more, but thankfully somepony shakes her out of this state.

“Hey! Are you even listening to me!?” Sunnyrain yells in Scootaloo’s ear.

“AHH! Yes! No! OW!” Scootaloo’s hoof shoots up to rub her ear.

“Heh! Well now you are.” Sunnyrain says in her normal super happy tone. “I asked you for your name! I just noticed you never told me.”

“Oh, it’s Scootaloo.”

“Well, Scootaloo, what do you want to do while you wait for Rainbow Dash?”

Scootaloo thinks for a second. “How are you so happy, Sunnyrain?”

“What do you mean?” Sunnyrain starts to give Scootaloo a puzzled look.

“You told me that whole story about you and your parents. How are you so happy!?”

Sunnyrain giggles a bit. “Well it’s not that hard to see! Just look around you. We are in Cloudsdale! Also known as bestest city ever! I mean, it’s flying! How cool is that? If they did not send me here I would be at Canterlot.” She makes a small gag sound. “And I would not have my cutie mark! So I thank them for sending me away.”

Scootaloo just stares at Sunnyrain for a moment. “You’re a bit crazy. You know that, right?”

“Says the filly that got Rainbow Dash to be her sister. Most of the foals here think you’re crazy.”

“Hmmm... When you put it like that... I guess everything that happened was a bit crazy, but that’s Ponyville for you: always crazy.”

Scootaloo goes back to watching the sky, but this time instead of seeing nothing in the air, she can spot two ponies flying this way. Once she noticed who they were, one may say Scootaloo was a little happier then Sunnyrain... if only by a bit.

In a few moments they land nearby. Scootaloo does not say anything to Twilight as she nearly pounces Rainbow Dash into a hug.

“Rainbow Dash! You came back!” Scootaloo almost yells.

“Heh! Geez, Scoots, I told you I would be back.” Rainbow Dash says in her normal cool tone, but that does not stop her from hugging the filly back.

Twilight watches them, showing a smile, but the feeling of something climbing on her back and messing with her right wing tears her away from the touching sight.

“Buh?” Twilight turns around to see Sunnyrain has somehow managed to get on her back. She is looking over Twilight’s right wing with interest.

“Ohhh! You’re that new princess, right? Are all the alicorns’ wings so much.... poofier than normal wings? Or is it just yours?”

“H—hey! Let go of that and get off.” When it was clear that the filly was not listening, Twilight picks Sunnyrain up with her magic, hovering the little filly in front of her. “Where did you get your manners from!?”

“Ohhh, heh!” waving her hooves in the air like she is swimming. “Hey, this is fun!”

Twilight, with a bemused look on her face, watches Sunnyrain. “You’re... a bit strange.”

“Says the purple pony princess!” Sunnyrain replies with a happy chirp.

Scootaloo, now on Dash's back, says “So, why did you bring Twilight?”

“She’s here to help me get you out of here and back to Ponyville with me. Speaking of which... Twilight! Stop messing with the filly there and let’s get this over with.”

“But she was--! Oh fine.” Twilight lets Sunnyrain down gently and starts to walk inside with Rainbow Dash.

Sunnyrain trots up next to Rainbow Dash’s side and talks to Scootaloo. “You see? I told you she was coming back for you.”

“What? Scoots, were you doubting me?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“Well... there was this filly and she... I am sorry Rainbow Dash, I was just scared and alone here!” Scootaloo starts to hug Dash’s neck.

“Hey now, it’s okay. Listen: we are a team, Scootaloo. I was not going to leave you here.”

They walk into the Orphanage to see Cloud Dream sitting at the front.

“Oh hello, Rainbow Dash, here to visit Scootaloo?” Cloud Dream asks.

“Nope! I am here to pick up my sister and take her back to Ponyville where she belongs.” Rainbow Dash says with a sure grin.

Cloud Dream blinks for a second and then frowns. “Rainbow Dash, we have already spoken abo—”

“Yeah yeah, I know what you said before, but this time I came with backup.” Rainbow Dash waves a hoof at Twilight. “Introducing, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight walks up to the desk. “Hello there.”

Cloud Dream had not gone to the coronation, but it was hard to not know who Twilight Sparkle is. It is also true the news about her becoming a princess has spread quite far and wide at this point.

“H—hello...”

Twilight begins to make paper work come out of her saddlebags. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash would have loved to go and help Twilight, but she and Scootaloo were getting mobbed by a group of starstruck foals.

“Wow! So Rainbow Dash really is your sister?” asks one.

“Is she going to take you back with her?” asks another.

“But Morning Dew said she had to be lying.” says one more.

Rainbow Dash jumps up and hovers above the foals. “Wow! Okay everypony, calm down. To answer, yes Scootaloo is a little sister to me, yes I am taking her home.... and who is Morning Dew?”

Scootaloo looks around the room to see that Morning Dew and Sunnyrain are missing. She then whispers some stuff explaining Morning Dew to Dash.

“Ah... well, that doesn’t matter, she’ll be here and we will be leaving.” She lands close to Twilight.

Twilight smiles, seeing Scootaloo and Dash land next to her. Cloud Dream, on the other hoof, was sweating bullets.

“So as I was saying, Cloud Dream, based on the law for adopting foals, as long as a princess signs a letter of recommendation, the age restrictions can and will be lifted. That is as long as the foal wants to be with said pony.” Twilight looks over to Scootaloo. “And I think we both know that is not an issue.”

“Yes, that is true, but I have to say it is highly unconventional. Can you be sure that Rainbow Dash is suited to take ca—”

“Yes, I am sure she can.” Twilight signs the letter and puts it on Cloud Dream’s desk. “You need to get the rest of the paperwork for Rainbow Dash right now.”

Cloud Dream lets out a sigh and stars to open a few file cabinets to fetch Scootaloo’s paperwork.

Twilight turns to Rainbow Dash. “Okay, everything should be good now, Rainbow Dash.”

“Thanks, Twilight... sorry again for the whole tackling thing.”

“Why would you tackle Twilight, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asks.

Rainbow Dash freezes for a second. “I—Uh, Scootaloo, I will tell you later, okay?”

“Sure, Dash!”

Rainbow Dash starts to sign the small pile of paperwork Cloud Dream starts to pass to her.

While Rainbow Dash fills out the paperwork, Scootaloo notices Morning Dew looking somberly at her from around a corner.

‘What the heck is her deal? She first treats me worse than Diamond does, now she looks all gloomy seeing me leaving?’

Once again on Twilight’s back, Sunnyrain speaks up out of nowhere. “Aw, don’t mind her. She is just a bit upset you showed her up.”

“GAH!” Say both Twilight and Scootaloo.

Once again trapped in Twilight’s magic field, she puts Sunnyrain at eye level with herself.

“What is wrong with you!?”

Everypony that knows Sunnyrain goes quiet. Cloud Dream pauses for a second while working with Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo is wide-eyed, knowing what is coming next.

“Heh! Oh, I like that one, It depends on who you ask silly pony!” Sunnyrain has a huge grin on her face.

“W—what?”

“Oh yeah, if you ask Cloud Dream right there I am a great pony!” She waves happily at Cloud Dream. “But if you ask my parents, everything is wrong with me. But it all stems from me being born a pegasus and not a unicorn.” Sunnyrain gives a sagely nod.

Twilight’s hoof goes up to her mouth as she gasps. Her magic grip on Sunnyrain almost drops her, but Twilight manages to hold it and can only stare blankly at the happy filly’s face as she grins at her.

‘Is... Is she joking? She has to be, right? She’s too happy for that...’ Twilight looks at Cloud Dream, who has a depressed look on her face. ‘Oh Celestia... she’s not joking...’

When Rainbow Dash hears that, her mind flatlines, her body freezes, and her wings want to flare out in blind anger, but she holds it back for the filly on her back. She somehow manages to let Twilight handle it for now and keeps writing.

“Why... How are you so happy about all this?”

“Geez, everypony is asking me that today. It’s because I am in Cloudsdale! It’s the bestest city ever, and being here got my cutie mark!”

Logic and reason have now failed Twilight Sparkle. In her mind, this filly is as, if not more, perplexing than Pinkie Pie. Any normal pony would have just stopped trying to find any sense in this logicless, happy filly, but Twilight is a mare of science! She must press on.

“I am almost scared to ask. What is your talent?”

“Just like seeing the sun when it’s cloudy, I can see into the hearts of ponies! Like with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, I can tell they love each other like sisters. That’s how I knew Rainbow was never going to leave Scootaloo here for long.”

Cloud Dream speaks up. “You also have the wonderful ability to see the ‘sunny side’ in everything.” Cloud Dream gives another sigh, then looks into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “I can tell you and Scootaloo are close. I just hope you are doing the right thing here Rainbow Dash. Raising a filly is not easy work, and can be very trying.”

Rainbow Dash shoots back with her normal confident grin. “Me and Scootaloo will make it work. Am I right Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo, still on Rainbow Dash’s back, nods. “You kidding, it will be easy!”

Cloud Dream smiles at both of them. “Well then, I think we are done here. Rainbow Dash, you are now officially recognized as Scootaloo’s guardian, or sister if you prefer.” She gives a small chuckle as she files all the paperwork and gets ready to send a copy to the Cloudsdale records.

Twilight has, at this point, let Sunnyrain down from her magic hold.

Sunnyrain stands next to Dash, looking up at Scootaloo. “It sounds like you are going to be leaving! That’s great! I hope you two have sunnier days.” Sunnyrain then holds out her hoof for a hoof-bump.

A hoof-bump which Scootaloo gladly gives her. “Yeah, I will see you again sometime!”

“Oh, I know you will, just not here.” Sunnyrain says with a happy chirp.

Scootaloo blinks twice at that statement. “Wha...?”

“Heh! Never mind for now! See you later, Scootaloo.” Then Sunnyrain runs off to where Scootaloo last saw Morning Dew.

‘That pony...’ Scootaloo thinks to herself.

Rainbow looks at Scootaloo, then at Twilight. “Hey Twilight, care to help me and Scootaloo get her stuff back to my house?”

“It would be my pleasure,, Rainbow Dash.”


***


It’s funny how fast ‘help’ turns into ‘Can’t you just teleport it all there?’ but Twilight does just that in the end.

Rainbow Dash sees Twilight off while Scootaloo is in her room unpacking. “Thanks again, Twilight...”

“It was nothing, Rainbow Dash, but if I can ask, what are you going to tell her about tackling me?”

“If it comes up, the truth. I hope it will just be forgotten about, in truth." She pauses for a moment. "I don’t blame you, Twilight. It could have been any crate but it just happened to be yours. If I have to, I am sure I can get Scoots to see that.”

Twilight nods. “Well, I should get going. The Princess will want a letter about how all this went... I think I should inform her about Sunnyrain as well.” Twilight takes off back to her library.

Dash walks back into her house, closing the door behind her. She looks over toward Scootaloo’s room and sighs. Yes, Rainbow Dash was very happy to have Scootaloo back, but she can tell Scootaloo is doing the same thing she did when her father died. She is holding all that depression in and keeping herself looking strong and tough on the outside.

Rainbow Dash was never good at sappy stuff, but she has a feeling about what to do here. She makes her way up to Scootaloo’s room to see the filly unpacking everything into different parts of her room.

Scootaloo, unpacking, feels a kind of hollow happiness. Yes, she was with Dash now, but the reason for that is because her dad is gone. She lets out a deep sigh and pulls the next thing out of the box. It is a picture of her, Pin Puller, and Rainbow Dash. They are all in front of a Hearth's Warming Eve tree. She pauses to look at it, then sets it down next to one of her and Rainbow Dash. She sighs and goes to get something else out of the box.

For Rainbow Dash, seeing Scootaloo’s state only confirms her fears about the filly. She knows first hoof that bottling up that pain will not end well. She walks up and taps Scootaloo on the back.

“Hm?” Scootaloo turns to see Rainbow Dash. “Oh hey Rain—!”

Before Scootaloo could finish, Rainbow Dash pulled the filly into a hug. At first, Scootaloo’s mind was racing, but then Rainbow Dash spoke.

“It’s not a bad thing to be sad, Scootaloo... It does not mean you’re not cool or strong.”

Scootaloo’s mind brakes for a moment. ‘I...she...but...’ But slowly she wraps her arms around her sister. She closes her eyes to try and stop the tears from flowing out, but to no avail. “He...I...”

Rainbow Dash just holds steady for Scootaloo.

Scootaloo, with tears flowing down her face, tightens her hold on Rainbow Dash. “I was there! He pushed me out of the way of that crate! Then it just hit him! By the time I got to him, he had blood coming from his mouth and...and... it’s all my fault! If I was not there, he would have gotten out of the way...”

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. “No, Scootaloo, none of that... you can’t know for sure.”

“...He said the same thing... He was alive for a bit. He... also told me to be good for you...”

Rainbow’s hold on Scootaloo does not break, but her mind was now elsewhere. ‘He... he wanted me to look after her... He was dying, and he wanted her to go to me...’

With tears starting to form in Rainbow Dash’s eyes, she speaks up. “Yeah... that sounds like him... It’s going to be okay Scoots. You’re with me now.”

The two sisters did not leave each others’ side for the rest of the night.
> Chapter 5: In the sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5: In the sky


By Lightfox Lowell


Sleep eludes Rainbow Dash. Normally when she gets this restless a midnight flight is in order, but tonight that cannot be done. Scootaloo, who is sleeping beside her, has her wing like a security blanket in her hooves. Rainbow Dash has no wish to wake the sleeping filly. Scootaloo needed her sleep after the day she had.

‘Poor filly,’ Rainbow thinks to herself. ‘I had no idea she saw Pin Puller die, and then there’s what he said to her...’

Scootaloo mumbles something and hugs Rainbow Dash’s wing.

‘Geez, Scoots, trying to kill me with cuteness in your sleep?’ Rainbow gives a soft smile and looks at Scootaloo sleeping. ‘What am I going to do next? Taking you in was the easy part. I guess the next thing would be to see if Pin Puller left a will, then we have to figure out his funeral. I don’t even know how earth ponies do that...’

Rainbow Dash tries to put her thoughts to rest, closes her eyes, and finally drifts into sleep.


In her dreams, Rainbow Dash is laying on a cloud, relaxing. She would stay here peacefully relaxing until she would have to wake up, but this night somepony had other things in mind.

Rainbow Dash’s relaxation is suddenly interrupted by a strong wind, so strong in fact that it forced Rainbow Dash’s eyes closed. When she opened them a familiar pony is sitting on the edge of the cloud.

“Pin Puller...?” Rainbow Dash asks softly.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” Pin Puller gives her a smile, then turns back to looking over Ponyville.

“H—how are you here? You died! Not to mention your sitting on a cloud!”

“Oh, don’t worry, Rainbow, I will be out of your mane in a few minutes.” Pin Puller says with a small smirk.

“Hey! I didn’t mean it like that at all. This is just a bit weird, okay!?”

“Hah, I guess it is. I have come to say thank you, Rainbow. Thank you for taking Scootaloo in. You could have washed your hooves of us, but I am happy to see we meant as much to you as you did us.”

“Washed my hooves—Pin Puller, did you get your brains messed up when that crate hit you!? I would never leave Scootaloo at that place.”

“That is true. You really are loyal, Rainbow, but I can tell you have a lot on your mind. As my last gift to you and Scootaloo, I want you to check my desk back at my home.”

“Why? What’s there?”

Pin Puller takes out his watch and gives Rainbow Dash a soft smile. “Sorry, Dash, but it’s time to go.”

Just then, the wind starts to kick up again and Rainbow Dash’s alarm shakes her and Scootaloo from their sleep.

Scootaloo covers her ears with her pillow. “Noo, cloud too comfy to wake up yet.”

Rainbow Dash would normally side with the filly, but they had things to do today. She reaches her hoof out and clicks off the alarm, and then leans over the pillow that Scootaloo is hiding from the morning under.

“Hey... if you get up, we can have waffles for breakfast.”

Rainbow gets her head away from the pillow before Scootaloo sits up and lunches it off the bed.

“Yeah!” Scootaloo exclaims.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo go to the kitchen. While walking, Rainbow casts a glance at her wing that Scootaloo had been holding onto. The feathers were all unlined and messy, but thankfully none are damaged. She lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.

‘Well, it looks like I’ll have to preen before we leave, and check out if that dream was just messing with me.’

When they get to the kitchen, Scootaloo sits down at the table, and Rainbow Dash starts to make the waffles. It was a rare treat to have anything more complex than cereal made by Rainbow so Scootaloo was excited.

Once their waffles are done, they start to dig in.

“So, what are we going to do today, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asks in between bites.

“Well, after I fix my wing from Somepony hugging on it all night,” Rainbow Dash winks at Scootaloo, “we should drop by Pin Puller’s house... Make sure you got everything you want. I need to check something as well.”

Scootaloo does not say anything, but her ears do fold back when Rainbow mentions going to Pin Puller’s house.

“I know it’s not what you want to be thinking about, but we’ve got to be strong. Anyways, after that we can go to Sugarcube Corner or something. I’ll let you pick okay?”

Scootaloo looks over at Rainbow. Cheering up a little bit, she gives a nod and turns back to her food.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo land in front of Pin Puller and Scootaloo’s old home. While Scootaloo looks for anything else she wants to take with her, Rainbow Dash makes her way to Pin Puller’s office. Once inside, it was not hard to find the letter she needed... it was just off to the side, sitting there. It said: ‘To Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.’ Rainbow Dash hesitates for second before getting it open to read.


Dear Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash,

Hey there, you two. I really wish that you were not reading this, but I guess not everything runs perfectly in life. Even my trains are late from time to time. I wanted to write this along with my will to make sure I get to say some things.

Scootaloo, I’m so sorry. I did not want to leave, but sometimes life is a bit unfair. I guess one good thing is that I can rest easy knowing you’re not alone. I am sure Rainbow Dash is reading this letter with you. She will take good care of you, I’m sure, and I am sure you will be the best little sister that somepony can ask for to her. I love you, Scootaloo, never forget that, and when you feel that wind in your mane as you’re flying or riding that scooter of yours, know that I am there watching you. I am sure you will go far, and that I am going to be proud of you. So don’t let me slow you down, okay? Just keep going forward, and be the most “Awesome” pegasus you can be.

Rainbow Dash, did you know I was going to kill you that first night? All I knew at that time was the most reckless pegasus I knew had my daughter. I have to say is that you really grew on me from that day on. So many dinners, getting to know you, and how you and Scootaloo got along. I just started to think of you as something of a second daughter, or at the very least like family. I do have to say that I’m a bit shocked you managed to outlive me. I was sure you were going to leave your brains on a wall somewhere, but I am happy that is not the case. Please, Rainbow Dash, take good care of Scootaloo. You are all she has now.

As for the house and everything? I am leaving the house in both of your names in my will, which you will find close to this letter, but I am sure you two should just sell the house. You pegasi have cloud homes after all. I am sure you two will get all that sorted out.

As for well, my... body... me and Swift Cloud, my wife, did talk about this. We never really came to a real answer, but we did have a joke: We will do it on who dies first. I do think she won that one, so, Rainbow, help me join her in the sky, please.

I love you both. Scootaloo, make sure Rainbow does not kill herself with her flying. Rainbow, make sure Scootaloo does not level half the town.

I guess this is goodbye. Good luck you two.

~Pin Puller


The letter is shaking in Rainbow Dash’s hooves, and small tears start to flow from her face. Once she regains some of her cool, Rainbow Dash calls Scootaloo and gives her the letter. As she starts to read it, her hooves tremble, and her eyes fill with tears. She then drops the letter and hug Rainbow Dash. Dash just holds the poor filly close.

The two sisters were silent for a while before Scootaloo speaks up.

“What did he mean ‘join her in the sky,’ Dash?”

Rainbow Dash lets out a sigh as she remembers what happened with her father.

“Well, normally when a pegasus dies they get cremated, and a loved one will scatter their ashes to the wind... That way they can fly with you forever.”

Scootaloo looks at Rainbow with wide eyes. “That sounds... really cool.”

Rainbow Dash nods. “I had to do it for my dad a long time ago. I guess Pin Puller wanted that... So he can fly with us and your mom.”

Scootaloo nods. “So are we going to the hospital? To get dad, that is...”

Rainbow thinks for a second, and then answers. “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Let’s go do that...”

Rainbow Dash flies with Scootaloo on her back to the Ponyville Hospital. Nurse Redheart is at the front desk to greet them.

“Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. How may I help you both?”

“Uh, we are here to claim Pin Puller’s body...”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, Requiem already came by and picked him up...”

“Wait, who!?”

***

There is a mare with a dark gray-blue coat and a mane that was bluish black with bits of gray. Her cutie mark is a gravestone with a music note. She is watering an indoor garden. This mare is Requiem, a hard-working earth pony that tends to the dead in Ponyville.

As she is watering her garden a blue flame appears behind her. From the flame a scroll with the omega symbol appears and drops to the floor.

With a small sigh, Requiem fetches the scroll, opens it, and then reads.

Pin Puller - Earth Pony

Tomorrow, sunset

Ponyville Hospital

Cremate

Store for family to clam ~ Ω

“Pegasus family, maybe?” Requiem says to herself. Then she gives off a sigh. ‘Going to have to go into town...’


The next day at sunset, Requiem puts on a tan cloak, and attaches herself to her cart. Taking in a deep breath and putting up her hood, she sets off for Ponyville.

Requiem dislikes going into Ponyville in the day. It is not hard to find out why when listening to the ponies around her whisper to themselves.

“Oh no!”

“The horror! The horror!”

“What is she doing here?”

But some seem to know who she is here for by this point.

“I heard Pin Puller died saving his foal from a crate falling on her.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. I wonder what will happen to Scootaloo now.”

After a few more unkind words spoken about her, she finally manages to make it to the Ponyville Hospital. Nurse Redheart is the pony to greet her.

“Hello, Requiem. I guess you are here for Pin Puller, correct?”

Requiem only nods in response.

“Well, he is room 301. I guess you should be able to move him.”

Requiem nods once more and moves to that room. While walking down the hall she happens to overhear someone yelling.

“Now hold on a second! I’m sure you can make an exception! I’m Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, performer of the Sonic Rainboom, and savior and future member of the Wonderbolts! You can not just take my little sister away!”

Still moving to the room, Requiem had to think to herself. ‘Rainbow Dash? I wonder what is going on with her...’

Requiem pushes that out of her mind once she gets to the room. She makes note that once again, none of the unicorns offer to help her as she pulls Pin Puller onto her back and quickly makes her way back to the cart. Once there, she places Pin Puller carefully inside and covers him up with a blanket.

That done, she gets the cart reattached and makes her back to the cemetery. She pulls the cart inside and unloads Pin Puller onto a small table. She takes his conductor uniform off and folds it to the side. She then takes his body over to the cremator and gently places it inside.

Then, true to her name... Requiem starts to sing.

There are loved ones in the glory,
Whose dear forms you often miss;
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
Is a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?

In the joyous days of childhood,
Oft they told of wondrous love,
Pointed to the dying Saviour;
Now they dwell with Him above.

You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice,
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice?

You can picture happy gath'rings
'Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings,
When they left you here below.

One by one their seats were emptied,
And one by one they went away;
Now the family is parted,
Will it be complete one day?

Then, once the song was over, Requiem turns on the flames.

***

“Who the hay is Requiem!?” Rainbow Dash demands.

“She is the Ponyville gravekeeper. You can find her at the cemetery’s mortuary.”

Scootaloo thinks to herself for a second. “Apple Bloom has talked about her before. She said that Requiem is a good pony or something like that”

“Well, we have to go see her. Let’s fly Scoots,” and with that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo fly to the Ponyville Cemetery.


Soon they reach their destination and step up to the mortuary. It seems like a lonely place due to its location, and the barren tree standing next to it did not help matters.

Rainbow Dash lands next to the door and lets Scootaloo down. Before going to the door, Rainbow Dash takes a short look around. She really could not understand why a pony would choose to live out here alone.

Rainbow Dash goes up to the door and knocks. There is a long silence before the door slowly opens to show Requiem.

Requiem does not say anything at first, but she does give Rainbow Dash a confused stare while thinking to herself. ‘What would bring Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo here... Could they be the family of that earth pony?’

Rainbow Dash, starting to feel awkward just standing there, speaks up first. “Um, Requiem? Hi, me and Scootaloo are here to pick up Pin Puller...”

Requiem softly nods at Rainbow Dash. “...One moment...”

Requiem closes the door for a few moments. When she returns she has an urn along with the conductor uniform that he had on at the time of the accident. On top of the uniform rests Pin Puller’s pocket watch. Everything seems properly cleaned of the mud and small amounts of blood that would have gotten on it.

“Um, thank you...” Rainbow says.

Requiem quietly nods and closes the door, leaving Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash alone with the urn that held Pin Puller’s remains.

The two sisters walk away from the mortuary, looking at the urn.

Rainbow notices Scootaloo getting teary-eyed from the sight of the urn. “I know, Scootaloo, but we need to be strong for him. Here, I’ve got the uniform, you take the urn while I fly us up. When you're ready, we can fill his last request.”

Scootaloo wipes her eyes and nods. She hops onto Dash’s back, holding the urn tight as Dash takes off into the sky.

They go above the clouds. It’s sunset, and the clouds are that brilliant orange that looks a lot like Scootaloo’s coat. Scootaloo herself relaxes as Rainbow Dash starts to just glide on the winds. She holds the urn close while running a hoof over the lid.

“So, you’re going to be flying with me and Dash now? ...I guess that’s what you meant when you said mom was in the wind.” Scootaloo stares at the urn with tears once again building up in her eyes. She then takes a deep breath and whispers again. “I’m going to miss you, dad...”

Scootaloo slowly opens the urn and pores the ashes off to the side.

The ashes flutter softly in the breeze, swirling in the currents of air beneath them. Like a soft powder, eventually they disappear into the sunset sky.

Scootaloo, who is quietly watching the ashes disappear into the sunset, feels tears running down her face. She goes to wipe them, but she freezes as some thing beats her to it. Scootaloo feels something invisible in the wind take her tears away. She looks around, confused for a second, before she notices a few ashes fly by her vision in the wind. All she can do is give a soft smile.

Rainbow Dash lands on a cloud. The two sisters sit there, wordlessly,  watching the sunset. That is, until Scootaloo speaks up.

“So... What happens now, Rainbow Dash?”

“We do our best, Scootaloo. We make them proud! After all, they would not want us slowing down.” She wraps her wing around Scootaloo. “It may be a bit harder now, but we’ll make it work. Right, sis?”

Scootaloo grins and leans onto Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, definitely!”

Scootaloo smiles as she looks out into the sunset once more. She has a feeling things will not be as wonderful as before, but at least she still has a part of it, a part of that happiness that was almost completely stolen from her. After all, she still has Rainbow Dash, the pony that could have left her but didn’t—the pony that chased after her like her own happiness was on the line as well. But in the end, Scootaloo guesses that makes sense. That is what family does for each other, after all.


THE END