//------------------------------// // A Discovery of Family for a Lonely Filly // Story: A Family of Her Own // by HyperBlossom7 //------------------------------// "Scootaloo, wait up!" Applebloom called after her fleeing friend. Scootaloo kept running. She would be faster if she had her scooter, but she had left it back at the Clubhouse. So now she just let her legs carry her far away from the Orphanage. Scootaloo could hear her friends behind her, their hooves pounding against the pavement. She didn't slow down for them, instead she kept going until she reached the Clubhouse. Once there, she climbed up and went inside. Her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders followed her. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle collapsed as soon as they were inside the Clubhouse. When Scootaloo turned around, she could see the evident exhaustion on their faces as they tried to catch their breaths. Scootaloo herself wasn't out of breath however, she still felt like she could run more. Still, her friends were worn out. She gave them an apologetic smile and helped them up. "Sorry, I just wanted to get away from that place," Scootaloo said to her friends. "I...I hadn't expected what that letter said. I thought I would be angry at my parents for abandoning me, but that letter said they didn't abandon me. They were forced to because they were sick and now they're both gone. Now I'm just...sad." Scootaloo felt tears coming to her eyes. She shut them tight, refusing to cry. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Scootaloo looked at her two best friends and smiled weakly. "I need to go for a walk. I just want to be alone right now," Scootaloo explained. The other two fillies nodded in understanding. Scootaloo left the Clubhouse and headed down the road. She had found her answers, but that didn't mean she had a family. Her family was gone. Scootaloo felt more alone than ever. She stared at the ground as she walked, not paying attention to where she was going. Where would she go now? She didn't know. Then something wet hit her on the head. Then she saw droplets start hitting the ground around her. It was raining. Scootaloo sighed and started walking faster, looking around for some sort of shelter. Suddenly something blue landed in front of her, and she blinked in surprise. Scootaloo looked up and saw Rainbow Dash. Her idol was standing there, and her magenta eyes were filed with concern. Scootaloo was confused. How had Rainbow Dash found her, especially in the rain? Then she remembered that this was one of the days that Rainbow Dash was on weather duty. Scootaloo was embarrassed that Rainbow Dash had found her all upset. She thought her idol probably thought she looked so uncool right now. "Scootaloo, what are you doing out in this rain?" Rainbow Dash asked, her tone gentle. Scootaloo was both surprised and relieved at her words. They weren't mocking, and at the same time they were kind. "Just walking...going no where really," she replied. Rainbow Dash walked closer to her and extended her wing so it covered the little filly. "You shouldn't be out in the rain like this, Scoots," Rainbow used the nickname she had given to the filly when she took Scootaloo under her wing. "Come on, I'll take you to my house." Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and rose above the ground. She picked up Scootaloo and flew up towards the sky. Scootaloo watched as she was carried to Rainbow's cloud home. Rainbow Dash brought Scootaloo inside and took her to the living room. "I'm gonna get a towel for you, so stay put," said Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo nodded and waited as Rainbow left the room. The cyan mare returned with a small towel that was bit enough to cover Scootaloo's body. Rainbow put the towel over Scootaloo and gave her mane a ruffle. Scootaloo smiled as Rainbow Dash helped her dry off. "Better?" Rainbow Dash asked the young filly, who was still wrapped up in the towel. "Yeah," said Scootaloo. Scootaloo looked at the rainbow maned pegasus who had taken her under her wing ever since the camping trip. They had become sisters, even though not by blood. Rainbow Dash was so caring and gentle around the little filly, and Scootaloo realized how much she loved the older mare as both a friend and a sister. Tears welled up in her eyes again and she started crying. She couldn't help it, she had no family, and yet there was this wonderful pegasus who treated her like a sister. The pain from earlier came back and tears rolled down her face. Rainbow Dash pulled Scootaloo to her with a hoof and gave her a hug. She held the little filly to her as she cried into her chest. Rainbow let Scootaloo cry, and she stroked the little filly's mane with a hoof. A few moments passed and Scootaloo started to calm down, sniffling a bit. "I'm sorry, I know you think crying is lame and I know I shouldn't cry, but I feel so lonely sometimes!" Scootaloo said in a trembling voice. "Applebloom...and Sweetie Belle...they both have great sisters and families who take care of them. I have no one!" Scootaloo felt like she was about to start crying again. "Scoots," Rainbow Dash spoke softly. "It's okay to cry sometimes. Even I cry sometimes, I just don't tell anypony about it." "You do?" Scootaloo looked up at her with teary eyes. "Of course I do, Scootaloo. Everypony does," Rainbow said gently. Scootaloo swallowed and buried her face in Rainbow's chest again. Rainbow hugged the filly tight and said, "It's getting a little late. Do you want to stay the night here?" Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash again and said, "If that's okay with you." "Of course it is!" Rainbow Dash smiled and pulled away. "I'll make you some dinner okay?" Scootaloo's eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. "Sounds great, Dash!" she said happily. "Okay then, just chill out while I get dinner ready." Rainbow Dash went into her kitchen and made some salad and a bowl of fruit for her and Scootaloo. She thought back to earlier that evening when Rarity had met her at Fluttershy's cottage. Rarity had told her about Scootaloo and Twilight's idea for helping her. Rainbow agreed, since it was something she had been considering for a while. This was just the first part of Twilight's plan. In the morning, Rainbow Dash would take Scootaloo to Sugar Cube Corner for a special treat. Rainbow knew this plan would make Scootaloo very happy, which is part of the reason why she had agreed. Once the table was set, Rainbow Dash called Scootaloo in. The two of them sat at the table and ate. Rainbow Dash tried to get Scootaloo's mind off of her situation by asking her about the Cutie Mark Crusaders' latest escapades. It seemed to help, because Scootaloo brightened up and started talking about her friends' latest attempts to get their Cutie marks. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo kept talking even after they had finished eating. Soon Rainbow Dash smiled when Scootaloo let out a big yawn. "Right, it's time for bed Scoots," she said. "I'll clean up. You've had a long day, you should get some rest Scootaloo." Scootaloo yawned again and nodded sleepily. Rainbow Dash gave her a warm smile and led her to a guest bedroom. Rainbow tucked Scootaloo in bed and gave her a kiss on the head. Scootaloo smiled at that and curled up under her blanket, falling asleep almost instantly. Rainbow smiled at the sight and quietly left the room. She went down and cleaned up the kitchen. When she eventually went to bed, Rainbow found that she couldn't sleep. She was looking forward to tomorrow. Rainbow decided to read a bit of Daring Do to help her fall asleep. Soon her eyes got tired and she was finally able to get some shut-eye. ~ ~ ~ Scootaloo tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having a nightmare. She felt herself wrapped up in a blanket and she was slightly being swung back and forth. She opened her eyes and looked up as a sudden drop of water fell on her muzzle. Was it raining? She could see a curved band of twigs and leaves tightly twisted together. A mouth was holding the band, and Scootaloo realized she was in a basket. The mouth belonged to a mare with the same color mane as her. The mare looked worried, and she kept giving nervous looks to Scootaloo. Scootaloo tried to move her body but the blanket was so tightly wrapped. She could only turn her head and lift it up slightly. She was able to see the outline of a tall building up ahead. Her vision was blurred by the rain and darkness. When they got closer to the building, Scootaloo recognized it as the orphanage. She looked back at the mare and her eyes widened. Was this her mother? She glanced downward and saw a note lying next to her. It was positioned in the basket on a spot that was covered by the mare's neck as the basket swung slightly from her mouth. Scootaloo realized that this was the note, and her mother must be trying to keep it from getting wet. "M-mommy?" she heard herself saying. The mare looked at Scootaloo sadly as she reached the Orphanage. The mare went to a back door and set her down close enough so that the edge of the roof would cover part of the basket. The mare gave Scootaloo a kiss on the head and nuzzled her lovingly. Then she turned and galloped away from Scootaloo, leaving her alone in the rain. "No!" Scootaloo cried. "Don't leave me!" She cried helplessly as her mother rode away and disappeared into the darkness. Scootaloo struggled against the blanket that was holding her. She cried furiously, trying to break free. "Don't leave me!" she cried, "Come back!" Scootaloo screamed in desperation. "Scootaloo, wake up!" she suddenly heard Rainbow Dash's voice. When she opened her eyes. Scootaloo saw Rainbow leaning over her, shaking her awake with a hoof. When Rainbow saw that Scootaloo was awake, she pulled the filly into a hug. Scootaloo was relieved that the dream was over, and even more now that Rainbow Dash was there with her. She hugged Rainbow Dash tightly, hoping that she was real and this wasn't a dream. "You had a nightmare, but it's over now," Rainbow murmured into the filly's ear. "You're safe, don't worry." Scootaloo looked up towards her and said, "I was dreaming about my mother leaving me at the Orphanage." "It's just a memory now, you know that right?" Rainbow Dash asked her gently. "Yeah.." said Scootaloo. "Right, go back to sleep kiddo. I promise you, you won't have any more bad dreams okay? They'll have to deal with the best flyer in Equestria before trying to mess with you!" Rainbow gave Scootaloo a big grin. Scootaloo smiled back and asked, "Will you stay with me tonight? Please?" "Of course," said Rainbow. Scootaloo smiled and curled back up on the bed, closing her eyes. Rainbow Dash chuckled and curled up next to the little filly, going to sleep as well. Scootaloo slept peacefully for the rest of the night. ~ ~ ~ Soon Celestia's sun took her place in the sky. Scootaloo woke up with a slight yawn. At first she didn't know where she was, then she remembered last night's events and smiled. Rainbow Dash was right, because Scootaloo didn't have anymore nightmares after that one. She turned her head in time to see Rainbow Dash walk into the room. "Rise and shine, Scoots! We're going to Sugar Cube Corner this morning," Rainbow said with a smile. "You don't want to be late now do you?" "Of course not!" said Scootaloo. She bounced off the bed and followed Rainbow Dash out of the room. She went to the bathroom to wash up first before meeting Rainbow Dash at the front door. Rainbow scooped Scootaloo up with a hoof and left her cloud home, jumping up and falling just before her wings caught the wind. Scootaloo giggled happily as Rainbow Dash held Scootaloo up in front of her as she flew. Scootaloo flapped her tiny wings, not caring that she wasn't really flying. Rainbow Dash flew to the Sugar Cube Corner and landed lightly on her feet. Fluttershy was outside waiting for them as they landed. Fluttershy smiled at her marefriend and went to her. Rainbow grinned at Fluttershy and they nuzzled noses with one another. Scootaloo made an 'ew' face and the two older mares laughed. "Come on in you two, everyone's waiting!" Fluttershy managed to sound excited and keep a very quiet tone at the same time. The three pegasi walked into the shop and saw the rest of the mane six sitting at a table. Suddenly a blur of pink ran into her and there was a loud horn blaring in her ears. "SURPRISE!" Pinkie Pie shouted happily. Scootaloo was knocked off her feet and currently a bit disorientated. She shook her head and regained focus. Pinkie Pie was standing there with a noise maker in her mouth and a party hat on her head. Scootaloo sighed in slight annoyance, but knew Pinkie Pie was just trying to make her smile. So Scootaloo gave the party pony a big smile and got back to her feet. "Hey Pinkie, what's the surprise for?" Scootaloo asked. "FOR THIS!" came Sweetie Belle's voice. Scootaloo looked past Pinkie Pie and saw Sweetie Belle and Applebloom coming out of the kitchen. They were using her scooter to roll a large chocolate cake with lots of fancy decorations on it. It was covered in icing and fruit and other candies. Twilight and Rarity both used their magic to levitate the cake up and put it on the table. Applejack walked over to Scootaloo's side and explained, "Twilight told us that you came to her library yesterday to do some research. When she told us why, we thought we should do something about it. We figured we would get you a very special gift!" "A present?" Scootaloo repeated. "What is it?" "Look around sugar cube, what do you see around you?" Applejack asked pointedly. Scootaloo looked around. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were standing by her, giving her warm looks. Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie sat at the table, all smiling at her. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both had goofy grins on their faces. Scootaloo understood what her present was, and it made her very happy. "All of my special friends in the same place," Scootaloo replied with a smile. "That's right, Scoots," said Rainbow Dash. "And that's not all. Twilight, can I show her now?" Twilight Sparkle nodded and got a document out from her bag. She used her unicorn magic to levitate the paper over to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow took the paper and laid it in front of Scootaloo for her to see. Scootaloo took a look at the paper and her eyes widened as she read what was on it. It was an adoption form, and Rainbow Dash had officially adopted her as her daughter. Scootaloo grinned, feeling the happiest she had ever been. She threw herself at Rainbow Dash, who in turn pulled her into a tight hug. Everypony smiled and watched as the two ponies hugged each other. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you so much!" Scootaloo cried happily. "This is awesome! Thank you Rainbow! Thank you everypony!" "Of course Scoots," said Rainbow Dash. "You're more like a daughter than a sister to me. We all did this to show you that even though you don't have a family of your own, you still have us!" "That's right!" said Pinkie Pie suddenly. "And I threw you a party to celebrate! That's why we have a cake!" "Rarity and I decorated it together," said Sweetie Belle proudly. "Can we have the cake now?" Applebloom asked. "It looks so good I can't take it any more!" Applejack laughed, "Sure thing Sugar cube. Let's eat!" Everypony gathered around the table as Applejack and Rarity worked together to cut up the cake. Scootaloo happily joined them as they had their party at Sugar Cube Corner.