It was a day after Cloud Kicker brought Scootaloo too her place while waiting to see what was going to happen to the little filly. She had told Rainbow Dash that she needed to talk to her about Scootaloo and that it was serious. Dash told her that she'd be there after work. Telling her to meet her above the clouds that were outside Ponyville waiting to be distributed to other areas of Equestria Scootaloo and her waited.

Cloud Kicker had spent most of that last night listening to how amazing Rainbow Dash was and how she was like a sister to Scootaloo after some camping trip that happened a few months ago. Remembering the fillies mixture of excitement and fear as she talked about her past and although she knew that talking to her hero, honorary big sister, and role model about what she was going through was tough. Cloud Kicker hoped that Rainbow Dash would pull through in Scootaloo's time of need.

She watched with a grin as Scootaloo jumped around on the clouds with a face splitting grin, "So Scootaloo, is this your first time on a cloud?"

Giving a slight not Scootaloo gave a sound of affirmation, her smile slipping a little before she went back to having fun on the cloud she was on. Cloud Kicker tilted her head to the side and decided that she'd share a little something with her, being a Pegasus, from what she could tell, had spent all her life on the ground. Was something that Scootaloo had missed out on, learning their culture and sayings. She waved Scootaloo over and waved her foreleg at the expanse of sky before them.

"Us Pegasi call the clouds the Ocean of the Sky. As far as you can see there's clouds that the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation manufactures, and us weather teams move from place to place. It's our greatest treasure and greatest gift to ponykind. Only us Pegasi can naturally move and shape the clouds, weather, and even physically stand on the clouds. Up here we swim through the sky, float on the breeze, and enjoy a world that none of the other ponies get to enjoy other than Alicorns. But they are the exception to the rule.

I don't know what Rainbow Dash is going to say when she gets here, or what'll happen from here on out, but you seem like a cool kid and I'll try to help you reach the skies on your own someday. After all you remind me a little bit of my little sister, and I help her out when our family sends her down here to visit."

Scootaloo looked at the vast expanse of sky and grinned even bigger. It wasn't to long when a polychromatic streak whizzed its way towards them. Landing before them was Rainbow Dash, she gave Scootaloo an affectionate ruffling of the mane, "So CK tells me there's something you need to tell me squirt?"

Scootaloo was nervous now that the moment had finally come to tell Rainbow Dash what had been going on in her life up until now, and started pawing at the cloud nervously the tuft of cloud slowly disappearing slowly under her hoof. Cloud Kicker seeing she needed a morale boost, placed her left foreleg on her shoulder to get her attention and gave her a reaffirming nod. Trying to convey that everything would be alright with that simple gesture.

Taking a deep, nervous breath Scootaloo started speaking, "I've been homeless for the last five years after my parents died, and I've been on my own ever since. Last night Cloud Kicker found me and took me to her place and I slept in Alula's room. It was almost as nice as when I sleep over at the other Cutie Mark Crusader's places on our sleep overs," Looking up at Cloud Kicker, "Thanks again for giving me a place to stay the night, and getting Rainbow Dash here."

As Cloud Kicker nodded, the shock of what she heard finally registered to Rainbow Dash and she fought the urge to yell, " You've been what!? And you never thought of telling me till now? Don't you trust me?"

"I do! But I was scared of what you might think of me if I told you, and I didn't want to be sent away. Not after all that I finally have." Scootaloo said as her eyes started to water.

Giving a sigh, Rainbow Dash embraced Scootaloo with her wings, "Listen Squirt, I'd never send you away. I'm the Element of Loyalty after all, and I'd never leave a pony hanging. But I'm sad that you didn't come to me sooner."

"But you're going to be a Wonderbolt soon, and I'd only be holding you back. I mean I've been surviving for this long, I don't want you to lose your dreams just because I don't have a family." She said into Rainbow Dash's chest.

"Listen I know that being a Wonderbolt has been my dream since I was younger than you. But I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'm sure as Tartarus going to make sure that you aren't sent away," Looking at Cloud Kicker she swallowed her pride for the filly she was holding, "Hey listen CK. I need to ask a favor from you. Not as your boss, but as somepony that could use a hoof."

"What is it?" Cloud Kicker asked giving her an inquisitive look.

"I need you to look after Scoots for a few more days, my place isn't exactly foal friendly and this kind of blind sided all of us," Looking down at Scootaloo she added, "Don't worry what ever happens I'm going to make sure that you aren't sent away from here. And thanks for getting the courage to finally tell me. Although I do have some questions for you Cloud Kicker later."

Giving her a look over and seeing Scootaloo look up at Rainbow Dash with a inquisitive stare replied, "Sure thing, this is just like Junior Flight School. Well I'll look after Scootaloo while you go do what you're going to do, but I need to ask you something in private."

Giving an affectionate ruffle Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo to go play on the other side of the cloud for a second while trotting over to Cloud Kicker, "What's the matter?"

"I want to know if you're planning on taking in Scootaloo?" Cloud Kicker's face hardened when she asked, most ponies think of her as a mare that doesn't take life seriously, and is more interested in getting some action rather than taking responsibility. But she was a part of the Kicker Clan first and foremost, and it they were serious about their duties. They had always been since the War of the Sun and Moon when they made a name for themselves as elite members of the Royal Guard. And she wasn't about to get Scootaloo's hopes up only to have them crushed under hoof, unintentionally or not.

"I don't know. I'm going to talk to the girls, and see if maybe Rarity or Apple Jack could take her in. I mean I'd love too, but I never had to take care of another life other than Tank and tortoise's are easy. This is another pony and I don't want her to loose the only life, no matter how sucky it's been, that she's ever known. But I'm not sure that I'd be the best choice for her. I mean you know how irresponsible I've been up until the last few months. What if I screw up? What if I end up getting hurt real bad during my training and she looses another family member? I really do care about the little squirt, but I need to get my head on straight and figure things out. By the way how's she been eating, and where's she been sleeping these last five years?" Rainbow Dash lamented, her face was a perfect picture of nerves and anxiety.

"The fact that you actually worry about those things is showing that you're not that immature showboat that we all knew in Junior Flight School. I'm proud of you Dash, but I get it, and I'll try to keep her from getting her hopes up. Well I'll be seeing you, and I'll look after her while you go get your head on straight. As for where she's been sleeping and eating. From what I can gather she used the Crusader's club house, where I found her last night, when she wanted to escape the elements. Other wise she'd be in the alley way near Sugar Cube Corner. As for eating she told me not to tell, but I'm going to get her to open up to Apple Jack, but other than that. She's been taking the free food given out by some merchants to the younger population or dumpster diving for food." She was glad that at least Rainbow Dash wasn't about to make promises she couldn't keep, and was worried for all the right reasons rather than all the self-centered ones that she could be making at this time. But was still sad over the things she heard Scootaloo talk about last night about the things she needed to do to survive.

"Well thanks CK. I owe you big for this." With that Rainbow Dash flew off leaving Cloud Kicker and Scootaloo behind. Looking at the ocean of clouds before her Cloud Kicker felt some of the tension that had been building up melt away. Thinking to herself, this turned out a lot better than I expected, I still don't know what's in store for the future. But I have a feeling that things are going to turn out ok.