The atmosphere in the Sugar Cube Corner had been rocky, vacillating from being off in one way, to now being off in another. Rarity's unexpected "fashionably late" arrival had clearly sparked mixed feelings amongst the party guests. For the most part, everypony was happy to see her, but confused all the same since they'd all invited her to events before this... yet she was always too busy to attend. Fluttershy was, surprisingly, the first one to attempt to break the ice:

"Rarity... it's been so long. I haven't seen you at the spa lately."

"Oh, you know how things are, Fluttershy dear." Rarity replied.

Fluttershy waited a moment for her to complete that thought...

"No, I don't know how things are, Rarity," the yellow Pegasus finally replied. "Especially with you."

"Things couldn't be better!"

Taking a step back, Fluttershy did her best not to look unsettled:

"It's good to see you..."

"Likewise!"

On the other side of the room, Apple Jack quietly approached Twilight and Pinkie, whispering:

"Have y'all been able to figure out what's going on with our mare friend?"

"I've been sensing there's something wrong for months, but I can't put my hoof on it..." Twilight replied. "Let's watch her for now. She's our friend, but if she says or does anything inappropriate we're going to have to pull her aside and have a talk." Twilight looked at Apple Jack. "As much as we want to see her, we can't have a guest making the party uncomfortable..."

"Yeah, I know, Twilight..." AJ then turned to her pink friend, who's body shook for half a second. "Pinkie. Thoughts?"

"My Pinkie sense is acting up, but I don't know why," the twitching mare replied. "Somethings about to happen... and I think she might've gone gone loco-in-the-coco. Not the fun kind of loco but the creepy kind."

Apple Jack braced herself for the possible ensuing argument:

"I'm sorry, Twilight... I'm kind of agreeing with Pinkie Pie."

"Let's not judge her too rashly, girls..." the Unicorn softly replied. "It's been months since we've seen her, her little sister died, and she's been buried in work. Perhaps what we're seeing is just a combination of grief, sleep deprivation, and cabin fever?"

"Well, Twi..." Apple Jack put a hoof to her face. "You're right. Let's give her a chance."

Twilight turned to face Rarity, who was now approaching Scootaloo:

"Good afternoon! I hope your birthday is going just wonderfully!"

"It is, Rarity," replied the little filly. "I'm glad to see you're here."

"And I'm quite glad to be here!" Rarity giggled, walking up to and setting a hoof on the giant wrapped box. "I brought you a present. Where should I put it?"

Scootaloo's eyes went wide when she saw it and realized that it wasn't just another project of Rarity's:

"Wow, that's huge!"

"Nothing is too extravagant when it comes to birthdays."

"Put it with the other gifts, Rarity," said Twilight. "We're going to have some cake now."

Rarity did as Twilight instructed, adding "Splendid!"

Twilight and her friends kept an eye on the ivory mare as the party continued...

They all sat at a giant circular table, adults on one side, little fillies on the other... Scootaloo sat next to both Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash. A cake was presented with 9 candles lit and they sang to the filly as she blew them out, unsure of what to wish for. It was the happiest she'd been in a long time. They chatted while they ate cake; Rainbow Dash joked with the small fillies... keeping them happy and busy.

Rarity and Twilight talked at the other end of the table. Aside from being over dressed, Rarity had been acting a bit too over-the-top even for her... it was the tiniest bit creepy to Twilight and her friends, mostly because it wasn't what they'd grown to associate with their friend. Still they continued to look at the Unicorn as a dear friend who was welcome.

Pinkie's Pinkie Sense continued to alert her to the fact that something wasn't right while Fluttershy stayed away from her good friend. It was the first time she felt uncomfortable around Rarity, and being unable to put her hoof on why made her feel like a terrible pony. Having Apple Jack between the two helped put her mind at ease... not that Rarity was super strong or known to have bursts of anger.

"So, what is in the box, Rarity?" Twilight asked, taking a bit of cake.

"I can't tell you that, Twilight," Rarity replied, taking oh-so-dainty bites of her cake. "But I assure you Scootaloo will think it's simply marvelous!"

"Well, we're opening presents next... she's going to want to after you showed up with that."

Again, Rarity giggled:

"I look forward to seeing the look on her face. Even though I only just got it I was thinking about this for quite a while..."

"Here's hoping she thinks it's something nice," said Apple Jack, keeping her eyes fixed on her ivory friend.

The cake was devoured by all the guests in less than 15 minutes. Rarity ate only a few tiny bits of her modest piece. Then it was time for presents. Scootaloo grinned ear-to-ear when the first of the gifts was presented to her. Not having a set house to live in meant she was used to receiving smaller practical gifts... it was because of that she never felt gipped or looked a gift horse in the mouth.

Apple Bloom's package came first; Scootaloo opened it with a smile -- she found an orange scarf, complimenting her fur color nicely. Apple Jack's and Babs's were next -- a huge down comforter and a new checker board respectively. Now that the Apples were done, Scootaloo got a present that Twilight and Spike put together -- a claw-written book on learning to fly assembled extensively of notes taken from research into the Canterlot Archives... it had concepts that even Rainbow Dash didn't know, Dash being a pony who was used to doing everything in the air by feel as opposed to theory. Scootaloo thanked them profusely, looking over the notes and not grasping it entirely, but moving on to Rainbow Dash's gift all the same. Dash got her the same thing she got Spike on his birthday -- a lightweight dumbbell. Pinkie Pie gave her a small package containing a jump rope and Fluttershy got her a bird call. All in all a pretty good haul, but there was one gift left... one package waiting and begging to be unwrapped.

"Rarity," Twilight said quietly while picking up the package with Apple Jack. It was more awkward than heavy. "If this is something weird you and I are going to have to have a talk..."

"Weird? Don't make me laugh. It's practical, Twilight!"

"Alright..."

Scootaloo was presented with the gift. Eagerly all of her friends watched as she slowly unwrapped it. The fancy yet plain papers stripped away in layers, revealing a brown cardboard box. The gift had previously been on wheels, Sweetie Belle's old red wagon... it barely fit it was that big. Scootaloo was eager, unpacking the item at a quick but polite pace. Once the box was open, the gift spilled out on the floor:

It was a red scooter, almost identical to the one broken 5 months before... only far more sturdy and a different color.

Scootaloo looked down at her gift, then up at the Rarity. The Unicorn beamed a smile down at the little filly:

"Do you like it?" She asked.

Scootaloo didn't answer... she kept her head low. A million thoughts rushed through her mind as to what this gift meant. It was hitting her as deeply as deeply as losing her first scooter...

"Rarity," said Twilight softly. "I can't decide if that's extremely thoughtful... or not a good choice."

"Well, Twilight, I-"

Rarity was cut short. Little Scootaloo had taken a giant step towards her and wrapped her front legs around the posh Unicorn's side. Tears were pouring down the little Filly's cheeks.

"Thank you," she said, quietly. "I love it."

"I'm so glad you do, Sweetie... I mean, Scootaloo."

Twilight and Apple Jack shot each other an uncomfortable look as the other fillies gathered around to take a look at the new gift. No pony caught that except for them. Had Rarity not corrected herself, no pony would have given it a second thought.

"Where's the helmet?" Asked Twilight, as the little filly was straightening the handlebars.

"Helmet...?" Rarity thought for a moment. "Oh, yes... it didn't come with one."

"Scootaloo," said Apple Jack firmly. "Don't ride your new scooter until we get ya a helmet for it, 'kay?"

The orange filly nodded. That didn't matter... it could wait. She was grinning ear-to-ear, for she had a new scooter... it felt so much like the first time she got one, but with all the memories and knowledge, and love of going so fast. From Rarity this meant so much. All the little filly could to was look up at the tired mare, grinning ear-to-ear. This meant Rarity truly didn't hate her... but loved her. Even though she was young, Scootaloo could see that. It was the first time she understood what older ponies meant when they said "actions speak louder than words." This made all Scootaloo's fears go away. This was her talent and the most perfect present.

The two other fillies had mixed feelings... Babs and Apple Bloom could, naturally, see the excitement beaming off Scootaloo's face. It was electric. Babs was overjoyed for the little Pegasus, while Apple Bloom on the other hoof... saw what happened to Sweetie Belle. Two conflicting images presented themselves in her mind, but the one that was alive won out... She could see why Scootaloo was so happy and genuinely smiled with her.

Apple Jack noticed the smile and stopped worrying about Rarity... she had, after all, done something quite right. The farm pony walked up to her posh friend, putting a hoof on her side:

"I misjudged you," she said. "With all the goin's on in your life, I thought you'd cracked... I can see it's wearing ya down, though. Remember ya got friends you can talk to."

Fluttershy confidently approached, putting a hoof on Rarity's other shoulder:

"I'm here for you, too."

"We all are," said Twilight Sparkle, leading in a hug, which everypony joined.

They had proven that, even under strain, they were all true friends.