Applejack and Rarity were the first to the library the next morning. Applejack entered without knocking with a loud, “Mornin’, Twi!”
“Good morning,” Rarity said, a bit more politely.
Twilight pulled herself out of the book she was reading and looked at her two friends. “Morning, girls.”
Both of them stopped dead. Twilight had bags under her eyes, and her mane was wild and unkempt. Her shoulders slumped, giving away her exhaustion.
“Twi… have you been up all night?” Applejack asked, concerned.
“No,” she answered through a yawn. “I just… didn’t sleep well. I only got maybe an hour of it.”
“Oh, you poor dear,” Rarity fretted. She trotted over to her and felt her forehead. “Well, you don’t seem to be ill. Is this about Spike?”
“That’s part of it,” the purple unicorn admitted. “I tried to talk to him last night, but he just locked himself in one of the rooms and wouldn’t come out.”
“Well, I’m sure he’ll come around,” Applejack assured as Rarity excused herself for a moment.
“I hope so,” Twilight sighed. “I’ve never seen him like this before. He just seems so...I don’t know, angry.”
“Angry? At who?”
“Himself,” she sighed. At that point Rarity returned with a manebrush. She wordlessly began using it to undo the knots in Twilight’s mane.
“I suppose we were all feeling that way after we found out you were right,” Rarity sighed. “And I’d imagine Spike is making a greater deal of this than he should. Children have no perspective in matters such as this.”
“Rare’s right. I see Apple Bloom flippin’ out over gettin’ her cutie mark all the time. Spike’s probably just feelin’ like we feel, an’ he’s makin’ too big a deal of it.”
“I figured that was it,” Twilight nodded. “I decided to just give him some space for right now. He’ll talk to me eventually, right?”
“Well, that might work for right now,” Applejack noted slowly, “but I think you better press him more on it soon.”
“I will,” Twilight assured. “So, let’s get that breakfast, then I can get back to work.”
“Actually, dearie, we were hoping you would accompany us to the spa afterward,” Rarity explained, finishing with Twilight’s hair.
That caught Twilight off-guard. “What?” She looked at Applejack incredulously. “You set up a spa date?”
“Ain’t for me, sugar. It’s for you.”
“You were so distressed yesterday, we figured it’s for the best that we find some way to help you control your little… episodes,” Rarity explained.
“So we figured, Aloe and Lotus know how to keep ponies calm. We were figurin’ they’d have some idea as to how you can calm yourself down the next time you get worked up.”
“And at any rate, after the weekend you’ve had, I think a little pampering would be in order,” Rarity noted. “I have more than enough bits for the three of us.”
“Rarity, I told you not to try and make this up to me…” Twilight began to protest, but Rarity put a hoof to her mouth.
“And we’re not. We are helping you with a problem, like any friend would.”
“Yeah. Don’t you fret none, Twi, this is to help you,” Applejack added.
“Well… if you think it’s for the best… are the others coming?” Twilight asked.
“We hadn’t planned on it,” the cowpony explained. “This is to help you. We don’t want to pull Rainbow Dash into another problem while she’s fussin’ over Scootaloo, and we figured she’s pull Pinkie and ‘Shy in with her before too long. We’ll let them worry about that, and we’ll worry about you.”
“That makes sense,“ the lavender unicorn nodded. Appealing to her logical side always worked. “The others should be here soon. I’m going to wake Spike.”
The others nodded as she trotted to the door that her dragon had barricaded himself behind the night before. “Spike,” she called softly as she knocked the door with her hoof. “We’re going to breakfast. You want to come?”
“No, thanks,” his voice said weakly.
Twilight groaned. “Spike, please stop moping like this. I’m not mad at you for anything at the wedding. You don’t have to avoid me.”
When she got no answer, she lowered her head in disappointment. “Fine. I’ll see you when I get back. I want you to think about what I said.”
She turned back to her two friends, who had looks of concern on their faces.
Scootaloo awoke early that morning, eager to start the day. Almost in a flash she collected up her saddlebags and headed for the door.
“Scootiekins,” a cheery voice called.
Scootaloo stopped and sighed. “Yes, Mom?”
“Come here and see your mommy!”
Sighing, the filly pushed herself away from the door and toward her living room, where her mother, Quick Delivery lay sprawled across the couch.
Scootaloo had inherited her mane from her mother, but the elder mare’s coat was pure white, something she griped about often as being a chore to keep clean. Her eyes matched her daughter’s as well, though at the moment they looked a bit hazed over. Her cutie mark, a blue mailbox, was currently out of view due to her lying on her side.
“Scootie! Come give Mommy a hug!” she said, setting down the smoothie she had been drinking and opening up her forelegs. Sighing, the filly walked over and hugged her mother. “Who’s my little foal?”
“I am,” Scootaloo answered, without much enthusiasm.
“Of course, you’re not much of a filly anymore, are ya? You’re growing into a mare!”
“Yes, Mommy,” the younger pegasus answered, almost robotically.
“Of course, you’re still not one yet. Honestly, haven’t you gotten that cutie mark yet?”
Scootaloo flinched. “No. I missed all that time crusading from being a flowerfilly.”
“I suppose that’s true. It was quite an opportunity. And you got me these chocolates all the way from the palace,” she motioned to an empty box on the table. “They were wonderful, darling!”
“I thought you’d like them, Mom.”
“Scoots, you know what you’re supposed to call me,” she said sternly.
She sighed again. “I thought you’d like them, Mommy.”
“Very good,” she praised, taking a sip of her smoothie. “Truth be told, it was a harrowing weekend for me too. With Derpy taking time off to care for those animals, I got to travel out of town as well! It was quite exciting to see the big city, but unlike you I actually had to work. You don’t know what that’s like, do you?”
“No, Mommy.”
“Of course, you’re still just a silly filly. Now go out and play! Your father and I have work to do around here, and you’ll get in the way if you’re underfoot.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
As soon as Shining Armor came home from school, He dashed up to his sister’s room. “Twilight? How’d it go?”
“Great!” the little filly ran and hugged her brother. “You won’t believe it! I passed my exam, and Princess Celestia made me her personal student!”
“Really!” Shining’s eyes lit up. “Awesome! See, I told you the Princess would love you!”
“Yeah! And I got my cutie mark!” she said, showing off her newly decorated flank.
“You got your cutie mark!” he repeated happily. “And… and I missed it!” he growled angrily.
“Shiny?” Twilight asked worriedly.
“I’m just… mad at Mom and Dad. Don’t worry, kiddo, I’m not mad at you. But I’m really proud of you. I always knew you were going to make it big.”
At that point, a happy cooing came from the end of Twilight’s bed. Shining Armor’s ears perked up, searching around for the source of the foreign noise.
“Oh, and this is the best part!” she squealed happily, running over to the basket at the foot of her bed. “For my exam, I hatched a dragon egg… and they let me keep it! This is Spike!”
The teenaged colt gaped at the creature looking up at him happily. “Whoa… a live dragon.” He leaned in close, causing the creature to tilt his head in curiosity. “Hey little guy… who’s a wittle cutie!”
“Not the mama!” Spike suddenly said, hitting Shining Armor with a frying pan.
“Pinkie!”
“What?” the earth pony asked innocently.
“Honestly, could you please let Twilight finish her story?” Rarity scolded as she cut another bite of her pancakes.
“Fine,” Pinkie huffed. “But my way was funnier.”
“Shiny, don’t talk baby talk to him,” Twilight huffed.
“Aw, but he’s so cute!” the elder brother crooned, poking the dragon in the stomach, causing him to giggle.
“Yeah, but you’re just talking to him like he’s stupid! I’m going to talk to him using proper Equestrian, so he’ll learn to talk properly!”
“You know, you sound way too eloquent for an eight year old,” the elder sibling noted, leaning down to the dragon. “Doesn’t she?”
“Arrumph,” Spike grunted as he opened his jaw and bit down on the pony’s muzzle.
Shining Armor backed away, not from pain, as Spike had no teeth, but surprise.
Twilight giggled. “Yeah, he likes to put everything in his mouth,” she giggled. As if proving her point, Spike put the tip of his tail in his mouth and began sucking on it.
“Thanks for the warning,” he said flatly. “I’m going to go wipe this off. Then I’ll get some sodas and we can talk.”
“Can you get a bottle of milk for Spike? His bottles are on the counter, heat the milk to…”
“Twilight, I used to prepare your bottles. I know what to do,” he assured, walking out of the room.
He was gone for five minutes. When he came back.
“Who’s a cute dwagon?” Twilight cooed while Spike giggled and clapped his claws. “You’re a cute dwagon! A cutie-wootie! You’re Twiley’s favorite dwagon! Yes you are! Yes you…”
At that point she noticed her brother, wearing the smuggest expression she had ever seen.
“…And that’s how not to talk.” She said quickly, turning back to the infant.
It didn’t work. “Nice try, Twiley,” Shining Armor laughed.
“Don’t call me that,” Twilight muttered, now beat red as she took the bottle and put it in Spike’s mouth.
“Aw, but Twiley is such a cute name. In fact, Twiley is so cute that I could say Twiley all day long! Twiley, Twiley, Twiley...
“That’s how you got the nickname?” Applejack asked, amused.
Twilight blushed a little. “He never let me live that down,” she admitted. “Still, I eventually stopped caring.”
“I guess you did, Twiley,” Rainbow Dash egged on.
“You know, you should really stop and consider all the terrible things my magic can do to you,” she said flatly.
“Aww, we can’t use the nickname?” Pinkie pleaded.
“No,” Twilight answered bluntly, taking a bite of her pancakes.
“Ah, well,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “So, Spike’s still not saying anything?”
She sighed. “Nothing. At all. I’m wondering if he’s even left that room. He had me worried all night… which means I didn’t get much work done for you. I’m sorry…”
“Hey, relax,” the pegasus assured. “It’s like I said, we don’t even know what Scootaloo’s problem is. Don’t sweat it.”
“Um… Twilight?” Fluttershy asked meekly. “You didn’t… I mean, you weren’t up all night trying to find something to help her, were you?”
Twilight groaned. Of course the others would notice the bags under her eyes. “No. I just didn’t sleep well. I’ve been worried about Spike, that’s all.”
Applejack arched an eyebrow at this, but didn’t press the matter.
“Aww, I’m sure Spike will come around eventually,” Pinkie assured. “Nopony can be that mopey for long.”
“What about Cranky?” Twilight pointed out.
Pinkie seemed to deflate at the point. “Well… Spike’s not one to mope around for long.”
“I hope so. Anyway, let’s talk about something else. Fluttershy, how are your animals doing?”
As it turns out, Spike had left the room he had locked himself in. After feeding Pee Wee, he had returned to his chest of items and pulled out a plain, white box. Carefully, he carried it out of the library and across the town, coming to Sweet Apple Acres. He weaved through the apple orchards until he found the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.
He entered, and was relieved to find that none of the fillies were there this early. Quickly and silently he set the box on one of the tables before quickly running for the door.
Despite himself, he looked back at the package one last time, wondering if he was making the right decision. In the end he sighed and left, ruing the Mother’s Day present that would never reach its intended receiver.
Okay, this is late, because of the 502 messages. And my editor is late, so typos abound for awhile.
Anyway, introduction to Scootaloo's mother, another flashback, yadda yadda. Enjoy!
huzzah, emo Spike.
Whenever more of Scoots' story is shown: SO MANY FEELS
I'm not sure how they will deal with Scootaloo's problem, since even if they learn her parents are neglectful, controlling bastards, what exactly can they do about it in any legal fashion. Anyone got any ideas?
wow that really doesnt seem like a loving family to me scootaloo deserves better
Oof, so much emotional abuse towards the Scootster. They probably don't even realize what they're doing either. It's just so belittling. And I hope Spike gets to hang out with the CMC like they planned to help him come around.
I'm looking forward to where things go. Keep up the good work
Me:(reading another story)
SUDDENLY le wild update appears
Me: FUCK DIS! IMMA READ FAMILIES
Okay... so instead of the typical route of Scootaloo being an orphan, she's stuck with a work obsessed, casually dismissive and neglectful father, (the kind who one day realizes that his little girl grew up, had a family of her own, and he somehow missed the entire thing...) AND an overbearing, controlling, self-obsessed mother, who seems to be trying to either live vicariously through her daughter, or just exploiting her for what she can get, (and will probably never see her daughter again once Scoots can manage to wiggle free of her.)
In short, her parents are a cactus and a leech... are we sure she's not better off an orphan?
...
And how, in this union of two ecotystical, emotional manipulative individuals, did Scoots come out as well balanced as she is?
1042899
Awesome! keep up the great work!
Outside of being passive aggressive towards the filly, I'm not sure Scoots parents have done anything wrong yet. I don't like them, but I'm not sure how RD is going to be able to help her.
Scootaloo's parents, why you such terrible parents?
I have to agree, Pinkie's way was funnier.
“You know, you should really stop and consider all the terrible things my magic can do to you,”
Mother's Day present...
Everypony say YAY!
Based on the interaction between Scootaloo and her mother, it wouldn't surprise me if her mother started insisting that Scootaloo call her 'Mommie Dearest' and begin yelling at Scootaloo about wire hangars. Love the story BTW, can't wait to see where it goes!
Oh god, I feel sorry for Scootaloo.
Loved the Dinosaurs reference.
OMG!
“Not the mama!” Spike suddenly said, hitting Shining Armor with a frying pan.
I remember that show!
Dinosaurs, right?
I want to smack Quick Delivery for talking down to Scootaloo like that. No wonder she's so messed up.
Scoots parents need to burn. that is all.
“Not the mama!” Spike suddenly said, hitting Shining Armor with a frying pan.
Never though I'd find that reference from the old 90's sitcom show, Dinosaurs, to crossover with MLP...
Well there goes her father's excuse in my opinion...
Great story keep it going man!
Damn scootaloo's parents and their emotionally controlling personalities But at least rainbow dash will be all like then all like then all like then scootaloo will be all like and happy ending....you know what...ignore what I said, just keep being a good writer
1043013 "Hi. I'm Rainbow Dash, and these are my five friends. We know that, legally, we can't do anything about how you're treating your daughter. We also know that we have access to a set of incredibly powerful magical artifacts that give us the ability to neutralize the physical embodiment of chaos. Oh, and my friend Twilight is the personal student of Princess Celestia, is the friend of Princess Luna, and sister-in-law to Princess Cadence, who may or may not have any actual authority. Also, her brother is...presumably a fairly high ranking military officer, though we don't know how highly ranked exactly. So...while we might not literally be above the law...we're totally above the law. So cut it out."
"The Princess said I get to kill three ponies a year, no questions asked!"
Yeah, obviously not how it'll play out. But the point remains, when you're dealing with five practical demigods (and Applejack), the question of "legality" starts to get a little hazy, I figure. Especially when you can just ask the more powerful beings that make the laws to make a new one to cover your particular situation. Or simply throw Scootaloo's parents into a convinent dungeon. Have to figure that Celestia and Luna probably rule by divine right, and there's been no mention of a body that can directly countermand them.
On a less insane, more topical note...am I the only one who dislikes Scootaloo's mom more then her dad? I mean, yeah, the dad is kind of a dick, but I'm willing to tenatively give him a pass if it turns out his heart was in the right place, trying to get whatever his project is working to give his family a better life. The mother, on the other hand, strikes me as...I don't know, exactly. I'm just getting the same feeling reading her dialogue as I get watching the crazy beauty pagaent moms, or those mothers who make their teenage daughters were the same outfits as them to make them feel younger. Mind you, don't like the dad, strictly...just like the mom far, far less.
And I concur as well. Pinkie's version was better.
Nooooooo... so sad with the mother's day present... SO SAD... dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Lyra_cry.png
HOO SNAPS! Dinosaurs reference! That came outta nowhere.
1043013 i don't think they'll have to deal with it if i was scoots i would get gone, there's more then a nuff stories with her living the the CMC tree house
I cannot control the feels.
Scoots's pop is a neglectful workaholic, but his heart's...near the right place. Her ma's Joan Crawford.
This can only end in emotional trauma.
Nooooooo... so sad with the mother's day present... SO SAD...
"Not the momma!" Was that a Dinosaurs reference??? Lol!
Hmm, the plot thickens! Well, in a way.
Well, I REALLY dislike Scootaloo's parents, if they're such pompous and seemingly busy/neglectful ponies that they can't realize that the way they treat their daughter makes her feel worthless. I'm sure some of us, more than others, could relate in a way. They should encourage her, even if she does tend to be rash in wanting to fly and get her cutie mark. I hope Rainbow gives them a good talking to, in the near future!
Well, the other bits are coming along nice and progressing things a bit, though I can't help but wonder where all it's going to go from here. Especially with some of the 'notes' in that blog post from last week, about upcoming villains and the like. But might I be the only one to think that AJ sensed Twilight's lie about nothing else keeping her up (even though in Post Nuptials, you established with AJ's chapter that being the bearers of the elements don't always make them able to use their element)? Can't wait to see how that unfolds next chapter, if it's brought up.
Like a few others, found the part with Pinkie interfering with Twilight's story with her own interpretation to be a bit funny. Though not familiar with said show it comes from, but still funny! I sincerely hope that everything will work out, even if it won't be for a bit, particularly with Twilight and Spike (as I like stories having the two of them being so close to one another). Whether it be from her trying to get a bit forceful, if won't talk to her or from the CMC breaking their Pinkie Promise and telling Twilight what he told them. I eagerly await the next chapter, with much interest!
Going only on the legal system, Scootaloo's parents have not committed any crime. Emancipation is unlikely at best, so Scootaloo's best shot would be to work one of them up in private, and then push the targeted parent into ‘Assault’ territory while in public. The best choice would be the mother , as the father would be at least slightly distracted during the trial, enough to possibly create a loving parent, or have him disown Scoots, whereupon Dash would likely adopt her.
...
And on that day, Mr. Tanokki realized he had a serious addiction to the Law And Order franchise.
I like where this is going. Keep up the good work
1043084 probably a combination of lofty goals, good friends and a role model of the highest caliber... Who pays enough attention to her that she feels like she could make something of herself.
But yeah, her mom (mommy) is a piece of art
Mmm... as soon as I read about Scootaloo's mother having a smoothie, I immediately thought about Helga's mother from Hey Arnold! and her alcoholic smoothies.
I love the Dinosaurs reference.
I'm sorry but ugh on the mother. Treats Scootaloo like a baby, and doesn't seem to care too much about her daughter. My opinion is starting to drop for the parents, but still hoping no legal actions are going to take place.
“Not the mama!” Spike suddenly said, hitting Shining Armor with a frying pan.
I love you for this
Scoots dad seems. . .okay. Like, he's not doing anything too horrible, but he's not doing anything too good, either. I can see why he wouldn't like his filly, who he considers to small/klutzy to fly, hanging around RD (how many times as she accidentally hurt herself over the course of the show? and that's only what we've seen.) but he definitely has the wrong idea of how to raise a child. I get the feeling that he at least wasn't planning on Scoots showing up.
Dear old mommy, on the other hand, doesn't show any immediate redeeming qualities. Either a pageant mom, who only wants to live through her child, or one of those negligent mothers who thinks that kids are just infinite love machines, whose only purpose is too make you feel better about yourself.
Either way, I kinda want to see what Scoots was like when Sweetie met her. Sweetie probably wouldn't have picked up on any of Scoots' damage, being too young to see it herself, although I don't see why Rarity didn't notice, unless Scoots was either able to hide it, or just being with Sweetie was enough to fix it. Of course, I'm assuming Sweetie had something to do with it because I don't know if Scoots has any positive influences in her life other than ones she got through the CMC. I'm not sure how RD fits into that though, Scoots may have begun worshipping her as sort of a defense mechanism, proving to herself that there are people out there who care more about people than things.
Need to go study Psychiatry more. . .
Poor Scoots. She deserves a lot better than what she is living with.
YAY NEW CHAPTER! can't wait to read it (:
Scoots dad is a bit neglectful towards her, thinking her as more of a bother than anything else. But, if that's all it is then that can be mended or fixed.
Her mother however... is a pageant mom, the kind who wants their child to be the cause of no trouble, only there to make herself feel better and the kind that wants to live through their child.
That's as much as I can tell so far.
1042899
So, you mentioned that your lack of editor has temporarily caused some typos to abound. Does that mean you do/don't want any comments with anything that was caught?
I hope it's a helpful kind of thing, so here's a couple things.
purple unicorn admitted. “”I tried to talk to him
There is one more set of quotation marks there than there should be.
“You were so distressed yesterday, we figured it’s for the best that we find some way to help you control you’re little...episodes,” Rarity explained
You've written thousands and thousands of words. I guess even embarrassing mistakes are bound to happen sometimes.
Anyhow, I love it! You've set up a bunch of stuff for me to look forward to! And look forward I shall.
1043084 Yeah but this way it makes for a much better dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Octavia_plot.png . Its easy if you learn she's an orphan and take her in. Its difficult when she has parent, but parents like that.
1043013 With those kind of parents She will be Scootadrone in no time.....
on other hand, DINASAURS REFFERENE!!!
1043222 I would have to say that I agree with you, the mother is definitely more dis-likable than the father.
Maybe they have a good reason for it though... though I guess that it would have to be a rather brilliant excuse...
Sudden idea! family counselling. If Scootaloo tells someone about the family issues, then they could potentially get a third party involved, which could lead them on the path to something more pleasant.
But a lot of variables would have to fall into place, I don't see the chances of it working to be all that good.
Dear author. I look forward to the next update. The opinions expressed above carry on with mine
1043013 I've got a stealthed Verti-Buck over the house. A cloaked unicorn infiltrator is inside the building, escorting the VIP from the premises. Lastly, I'm providing overwatch from a nearby ledge.
Oh, legally? Get Twilight to tell Celestia on them. Works like a charm.
1043084 Excellent analysis.
and then we have emo Spike and the origins of 'Twiley,' which is interesting.
1043222 Love that speech, whether or not it'll actually happen! And I concur on the mother.
“Not the mama!” Spike suddenly said, hitting Shining Armor with a frying pan.
That made my day, one of the best references I've seen in a while.
Side note, Scootaloo's parents, why you no better to Scoot!?
Really hoping her situation gets better, we're all counting on you RD.