Rainbow Dash sat in her Cloud Home playing things out in her head. A lot of ponies thought that she was a feather brain who only thought with her hooves. But those ponies didn't know everything that went into doing what she did, but as her passion and as her job. It required a lot of math, planning, and preparation. Everything had to be picture perfect in order to have a chance at succeeding. Other wise those little bumps and bruises would have turned out a heck of a lot worse. So she was used to playing things out in her head. Seeing how things worked, and putting it all together before giving it a mental test run.

But this was a different sort of test run. One where a little filly's life was at stake. She felt like she was beating a dry cloud for rain. She knew that right now Scootaloo was chilling out with one of the most awesome ponies she knew that wasn't an Element Bearer. Cloud Kicker might be a lot of things, but she was a Kicker first and foremost, and if it was anypony else Rainbow Dash would have said screw it and brought Scootaloo up with her and would've played it by ear.

Rainbow Dash mentally went over her house looking at it in a different perspective. She had no room to place her decade of trophies, awards, and priceless memorabilia. While she could add another room in a jiffy, those things she had in that room were easily broken. Yes she could easily put those things in storage, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to risk it. She may put up a tougher than nails attitude, but those few possessions of hers cheered her up when she needed it. It let her know that she was somepony and she could do anything if she tried hard enough.

Then their was the food issue. Inside her fridge what wasn't fast or junk food. Was a steady mix of protein bars, energy drinks, and work out enhancers. None of which was healthy for a growing filly's diet. What if she over dosed on Energy Drinks. If she didn't literally bounce off the walls, and through a window to her death. Than their was the risk of her heart exploding. That image made her shudder.

Then their was the Rainbow Pool. That could seriously damage a pony if care wasn't taken. All it would take would be a hard bump, or Scoots falling in, and she'd be messed up for life. How was Dashie supposed to take care of a filly when her house was a death trap. Not to mention that the squirt couldn't even fly. Being in a cloud house could seriously hurt her. If she was to take her in she would need to change every aspect of her life. But her friends would stick by her. If she didn't who would take care of her? That was an option. Not one she was liking, but she had to put Scootaloo's safety above anything else. And taking her in, just because Scoots would like it wouldn't be right if it only got her hurt in the end.

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Pinkie Pie sat in her room looking at her mane in the mirror. After hearing about what Scootaloo was going through, it was just like her at that age. She never told anypony about her past, at least not with a hundred percent accuracy. Although once a year on the anniversary of being banished from her family for her not having an "appropriate" earth pony talent as they called it, she would take a day off and disappear where her sadness wouldn't dampen the day for everypony else.

When she left she had nothing to her name, and no real reason to go on. She thought she was going to just disappear, but she eventually ended up with the Cakes. Even to this day she thought of it as a second chance at happiness. And she pinkie promised herself that if she ever had the chance to help others like her she'd do it. So far that had only extended to giving treats to little fillies and colts when they stopped by, secretly using her own funds to give them a pick me up.

She never really had to worry about money. Mayor Mare gave her a stipend to throw her parties since they were seen as not only a cultural event that benefited the city, but also was a good tourist attraction since almost no pony through a party like a Pinkie Party. Then their was the commissions, various events, and side jobs she did that brought her a load of bits. She only choose to stay at Sugar Cube Corner since it really made that Cake's shop synonymous with Sugar Cube Corner. Even more so than Bob-Bon's Confectioneries, or the small mom and pop shop that Twist's family owned.

But how could she help Scoots. Yes she could take in Scoots if nopony else wood, she surprised everypony with how good she was doing with the twins. But she knew that nopony ever took her seriously. It wasn't her fault that her mind was so full of data, facts, figures, diagrams, ideas, knowledge, and sights of other universes that she had a peek in that she had problems going from a point a to b that others could follow.

She thought she read the word Savant in one of Twilight's books, it was close enough of a qualifications. But she wasn't an idiot, rather she just had problems untangling all the things in her head in a way that translated well to others. But if she should really cheer up or at least talk to Scoots let her know she isn't alone. That there are others in the word like her and she can turn out ok. But no matter what if nopony else was able to look after Scootaloo Pinkie Pie would pony up and take her in.

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Cloud Kicker sat with Scootaloo as the sun sat beneath the horizon. Scootaloo had a blast on the cloud today and even though she didn't know what was going to happen. She was glad that things were going well today, especially after Cloud Kicker came into her kitchen invaded by a monstrous loaf of bread. Scootaloo had no idea how she'd react, but after getting it cut into smaller bits they sat and laughed about it while enjoying a nice breakfast.

Scootaloo knew that Dash might never take her in, after all she was just a flightless chicken who'd be holding her back. But she was hoping against hope that everything would turn out alright. Looking down at the floor she felt more vulnerable now that everything was happening than she had ever remembered feeling in a long time, "Miss Cloud Kicker?"

"Listen filly, Miss is my mom, call me Cloud Kicker or CK. But what can I do for you?" Cloud Kicker Chuckled.

"Well, I want to know what's going to happen when Dash says she won't take me in?"

Cloud Kicker raised an eyebrow, "Why would you say that? Weren't you going on and on about how awesome she was?"

"The thing is I'm just a flightless Chicken, a lot of the fillies and colts at school call me that. And an awesome flyer like Dash would only be held back by me. So it only makes sense that somepony as awesome as her wouldn't take me in. I lo... like her. She's a good big sister. But I'm not going to fool myself. What's going to happen to me when that happens though? I know you promised that I wouldn't have to leave, but who'd take care of me?" She poured her little heart out to Cloud Kicker. She knew that it was totally uncool, but these last two days had been the happiest ones she's had since what felt like forever. But she knew that life wasn't fair, the second something good came to you, something would happen to rip it away.

Cloud Kicker looked at her a moment, "Listen I'm not going to lie, all of this is a huge bomb shell, but you know what. If it looks bad, no matter what, you'd have a place to stay with me. I know that I may not be as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but a Kicker never leaves a pony behind. And I like ya kid. You remind me a lot of my little sis, and I know that she talks about you Crusaders when she visits. Never had the chance to get a hold of you fillies, even though she's a Blank Flank too."

This elicited a squeal of delight from Scoots, "OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh! A new member! Wait till I tell the girls! They're going to flip! But ... are you sure you'd want me under hoof?" Her moment of elation starting to dim slightly.

"Of course. Even if things look bad the flock looks out for itself." She said nodding.

"The flock?" Scoots asked while tilting her head.

"Wait you've never heard of the Flock?" Cloud Kicker knew she had noone to teach her Pegasi culture, but to not even know about the term that all Pegasi knew by heart. That hit her in just how much this filly missed out on, on being a Pegasi.

"No." She said with her hears flattening, her little wings buzzing in embarrassment.

"Hey it's no big. I'll be here to teach you everything you need to know about being a Pegasus -" She was going to finish the sentence when she over heard Scoots mumble, "Dash promised me that too."

"Well as I was going to say us Pegasi stick together," Wrapping Scootaloo in wing hug, "And that's a promise."

It was later when she heard knocking on her door she saw Dashie through the window. By the look of things it wasn't going to be a good talk, "Hey Scoots why don't you get two bowls ready for ice creme. I think you've earned a treat for how well you've been acting."

As she watched Scoots head off she opened the door slightly, "Have you figured out what your going to do?"

Rainbow Dash looked at the ground and pawed the ground, "Yeah ... we should talk about it tomorrow when Scoots isn't around. I can get one of the girls to watch her for you, but it's important."

"You aren't going to do it are you?"

"Just ... listen tomorrow ok?" Cloud Kicker could sense the desperation in the plea. It went against what most ponies saw in Dashie, but for her to let that mask down so much meant that it was important. And it answered Cloud Kicker's question.

"Sure tomorrow. I have somethings to tell you too. Well Tomorrow then." With that Cloud Kicker shut the door softly, and as she put on a smile for Scootaloo had one thought echo through her mind, tomorrow decides this filly's fate. I'm not going to let her down.