Mrs. Cake had been carrying empty trays to Pinkie Pie to get loaded up with the last batch of cupcakes before the Cutie Mark Crusaders commandeered the kitchen for their supervised experiment when she overheard Scootaloo.

“And you promised that we would be friends no matter what … “ She heard Scootaloo asked.

“We already said we would,” Apple Bloom replied.

Mrs. Cake paused. On one hand, she knew she wasn’t supposed to hear this, but on the other, it might be something serious! Before she could decided, Scootaloo launched into her revelation of misery and woe, and she dropped the tray, stepping back from the doorway in shock.

Poor dear, I should’ve noticed something was wrong. After all, we noticed when Pinkie arrived without anything to her name. But I’ve just been so busy lately between dealing with exporting our treats and keeping our finances in the black I just haven’t been as attentive as I should’ve been. I need to talk to Pinkie Pie about this later. Right now I have to think of a way to make it up to that poor filly.

A few hours later, after numerous explosions and weird sounds emanating from the kitchen, that one Trixie pony and a disheveled but perpetually peppy Pinkie Pie trotted out, followed closely by the Crusaders sans Scootaloo. Mrs. Cake had spent that time thinking of what to do for Scootaloo and was disappointed that the target of her help was nowhere to be seen.

“Pinkie Pie, where is Scootaloo?” She asked.

“She went to talk to Rainbow Dash about something important,” Mango Dash answered.

“Oh. Well, all of you have a good afternoon, and walk safe now. Pinkie Pie, I need to talk to you,” Mrs. Cake said with a matronly smile trying to hide her distress, something that Pinkie Pie, being skilled at reading ponies, quickly picked up on.

“Okie Dokie Lokie! Well fillies I’ll be sure to make sure your potions are kept super-duperific for tomorrow’s party, so don’t worry! Good night everypony!” Pinkie said with a grin.

“Good night Pinkie Pie! Thanks for the help,” Sweetie Belle chirped.

“Yeah, thanks for the help, and I’m sorry about summoning Trixie,” Mango mumbled.

“Don’t worry about that, I’m sure everything will work out for the best,” Pinkie said, playfully rustling the filly’s mane.

The other ponies gave their thanks and goodbyes as they trotted out, leaving Pinkie Pie alone with the potions. She looked over her shoulder to see Mrs. Cake, whom she greeted with a nuzzle, which was quickly returned.. “So Mrs. Cake, what’s the matter?”

“You knew about Scootaloo, didn’t you?”

“Of course I knew. I thought everypony knew, but I recently learned that I was wrong,” Pinkie Pie said softly.

“Pinkie Pie, not everypony has your… unique sense. Next time you notice a little pony without a place to stay, you let us know, okay?”

“Okay.”

“So what did you do for Scootaloo? I know you wouldn’t just let her starve.”

“I don’t know if it’s my place to say. But I promise you that it’s nothing that I couldn’t cover, or wasn’t covered under my food limit for the day,” Pinkie Pie said, her smile shrinking greatly.

“It’ll be okay Pinkie, just let me know what you’re hiding. I promise not to be mad at Scootaloo,” Mrs. Cake said with a matronly smile.

“Well she’s been taking bits off the table, but didn’t realize it was wrong. So I replaced it with my own bits, and I’ve been slipping her bits so she could have some money to live off of. And I’ve been giving her free food when she stops over. That’s about it, although I was wondering why nopony was taking her in until recently,” Pinkie Pie rambled.

“It’ll be alright. I’m going to make up for not noticing, and we both can let her know that we’ll be there for her if and when she needs us,” Mrs. Cake said, patting Pinkie’s back.

“I think she’d like that,” Pinkie Pie said, looking out towards Rainbow Dash’s house and hoping that everything was working out for Scootaloo and her big sister.

”Rarity!” Sweetie Belle bellowed as she galloped into the Carousel Boutique.

“Sweetie, a proper la-” Rarity started to respond as she walked into the main lobby of the Boutique, before she was hit by a little filly missile, which latched onto her with a hug.

“Sweetie Belle, darling, whatever is the matter?”

“I was talking to Scootaloo and she told us that she’s homeless, and never had a place to stay! She only had hot food when she was over here or at Bloom’s, and she’s been all alone except for us Crusaders! And she took gems and bits from you but she needed them and I don’t think that you’d mind but please don’t be mad at her!” Sweetie Belle blubbered.

“Wait … she’s taken what now?” Rarity asked.

“Gems and bits. After you finish with a big order, there’s always lots of gems lying around. She takes those, and any bits she found laying around. Please don’t be angry at her, sis! She needed them!” Sweetie Belle cried, nuzzling her sister’s chest.

“Why would I be mad? She needed it, and that’s all that matters,” She said nonchalantly.

“Thank you Rarity! You’re the best big sister ever!”

“So why don’t you tell me all about it?” Rarity implored as she let Sweetie Belle get set up in her own little work space with a few samplings of materials and fabrics. I’ve ignored Spike and injuries I’ve caused him and now it turns out that I ignored a filly in need when she needed me most. It’s not like I could take her in, but I could’ve helped somehow. At least she got some trinkets to help her survive. I wonder just how much money was taken?

Rarity sat in a small cafe with Fluttershy after. She had just finished telling Fluttershy everything that had been going on with Scootaloo so that she would be kept in the loop of things.

“Well I think we should tell the others everything. But I do feel bad, with all the times that the girls came over to sleep over, or help out and I never noticed anything. I’ll try to get Twilight and Rainbow Dash if you can get Applejack and Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said sullenly.

Rainbow Dash flew towards to Raindrops’ house. It was a strange house in her opinion. It had a pegasus launch roost, and pegasus inspired pillars on the side. The backyard was at least three acres, and was filled with underused playground equipment, a small garden, and a decent sized sun porch holding a small pool.

It was a nice house, large for the neighborhood and nearly a fourth the size of the Silver Estate. While it did make her wonder how she could afford it, it was perfect for the emergency shelter/orphanage that Raindrops used it for. Rainbow landed before the front door and gave it a nervous rapping.

“Coming!” Came a muffled reply, followed by the sound of a pony cantering to the door.

“Oh! Rainbow Dash, what brings you here?” Raindrops greeted, rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof.

“Hey, um … I need to talk to you privately. Do you have the time?” Rainbow asked, her mind still reeling from what Scootaloo told her.

“Sure, come on in. Do you want anything to drink?”

“Do you have any apple juice?”

“Of course, why don’t you take a seat.”

In the several minutes it took for Raindrops to get the drinks and a small tray of snacks for them to munch on, Rainbow Dash took a look around the living room, taking in the oaken wood floors, the plain wooden tables, and the comfortable, yet bland furniture. Everything was functional, plain, and from the look of things inexpensive while still homey. She sat taking it in when Raindrops came in holding the drinks and food with her wings.

“So what can I do for you, Rainbow Dash?” Raindrops asked

“Scoots is staying the night with me, and she told me everything,” Rainbow Dash replied as her wings nervously fluttered.

“I’m glad for her, and I know you two are close so I’m okay with her spending the night. Is there anything you wanted to ask?”

“Yeah, a few things actually. I know that you have the reputation as some kind of saint. And you’re always helping ponies who need it, but if I’m going to trust my honorary little sister with you, I want to know the real you,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Alright, what do you want to know?” Raindrops asked, tilting her head.

Rainbow smirked. “Not that easy. Me and you are going out for a night on the town. Get a few drinks, and then we’ll talk. How about next Wednesday?”

“I’ve got a date on that day, actually,” Raindrops all but squealed.

“Congrats I guess, when’s a good night then?”

“Are you asking me out?”

“No, I just want to get to know the pony looking after my Scoots, that’s all.”

“Well, I guess next Saturday would be alright. And I promise you that I’ll take care of Scootaloo.”

“Alright, but if anything happens to her, I’ll take you down so fast not even a Sonic Rainboom could catch you.” Rainbow Dash growled as she fluttered her wings aggressively.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Although with how protective of her you are, why don’t you adopt her yourself? I bet that would make her the happiest filly in Equestria.”

“I … I can’t. I have a work schedule that changes too much, and my cloudhouse isn’t the best for a filly for more than a day or two. And I’m just not the type of pony for that. I love her, I do, and I might not show it all the time, but she’s like a little sister to me, but I’m not mom material. I want her to be with a pony who’ll be right for her, even if that pony isn’t me.” Rainbow Dash replied, her eyes swimming with unshed tears as she stared into the cup before her.

“You’d be surprised at what a pony can do when they want to, but I’m happy that you trust me with this much emotion. Truth be told, all I care about is making sure that she’s with the right pony for her. Not just because it’s my job, but because it’s part of my special talent. Helping ponies through their ‘rainy days’,” Raindrops said, brushing Rainbow’s foreleg comfortingly with her wing.

“So, next Saturday I’ll be seeing you around six. Take care, ‘Drops, and take care of Scootaloo for me. I’ll take her to the party,” Rainbow Dash said, getting up and stretching.

“Actually, she has a doctors appointment around 10 in the morning. If you can bring her with you, you can stay with us as we do her check up,” Raindrops offered.

“Alright, and thanks.” Rainbow Dash trotted to the front door thinking, I think I’ll drop by Twilight’s before going home. With a flutter of wings, she took off, hoping that everything would work out for the best.

Author's Notes:

Golden Wing vote blog has been out for a bit, if y'all want to get in on the voting action you can. Right now I'm going to be posting chapters as they get finished. Right now the next chapter [the actual chapter 12 rather than this short intermission], is at 3,643 words. Sorry it took so long for it to get this far in the fic, but my Editor's IRL life's been hectic as has mine and we've had problems getting our scheduals in sync. But hopefully this chapter was worth the wait.

The chapter after next is the last for this. Then I'll be starting The Golden Crusade which will be the next part of the Golden Saga. Which will open with a recap chapter to help new readers get the jest of the story so far so nopony's left in the dark. Again, sorry for things taking so long.