"MMM-MMM-MMM! What did you add to these, they were really good!" I say as I lick my plate clean.

"Well I'm glad you liked it. I added some blueberries to it. Glad to see those won't kill you." Luna says as she yanks the plate away from me. I look over to Reginas plate, making her shield away the remainder of her pancakes from me.

"Is there any left?"

"Nope."

"Damn-"

"May as well though, we need to head back to the Griffin Colonies as soon as possible." Regina says as she downs the remainder of her food. I eye the plate and its syrupy goodness as she takes it over to the sink and rinses it off.... the fiend.

"Wait, you're heading back already? You barely got here though-"

"And we still have things to discuss back in the Colonies! Yeah, we have the food crisis kinda worked out, we still need to discuss Steelwing-"

"Why? What's he done this time?" I ask, becoming completely serious.

"That's just the thing, we don't know. Before we could at least report sightings, but ever since he's come to Equestria we haven't heard anything! He cannot be allowed to escape-"

"No... he can't. Can you at least give us the morning? We haven't seen each other in two months Regina." She huffs as she thinks about it. Both Luna and I lean forward as we wait for her answer, Luna giving her best pouty face. "Uhh, you both owe me big time-"

"We love you too." Luna says as she gives her a hug.

"Yeah, yeah, well... just meet me at that cave on Canterlot mountain at noon..." Luna holds her a bit tighter and gives her her sad face. "... one?" Whoa, intense level of sad face. "UHG! Fine, two. But no later, you hear me!? Two thirty and that's it! The second it hits three I'm gone, you got it?"

"Got it!" Luna says with a mock salute. Regina rolls her eyes and begins to leave the room.

"Where you going?" I ask.

"You really think I'm going to stay here and be the third wheel while you two get all mushy? If I'm going to be here, then I'm going to at least have some fun." Luna and I glance to one another before simultaneously shivering. That poor bastard... whoever it may be.

"Well, it seems we have a few hours to kill with one another. What to do, what to do?" I ask as I saunter over to her, making her laugh when I rub up against her.

"Easy there big guy. There's something I need to show you before anything else." She says before putting the last of the plates away.

"What's that?"

"How to preen." She says as she turns to me and leads me over to the living room, where we sit down on the couch.

"Um... okay, what's that?"

"I'll show you." She opens her wings and starts to runs her nose through the feathers. She finds one and bites onto it, yanking it out with a light tug. "See? Kind of like how you need to take care of your hair, you also need to tend to your wings. Now open up your wings and I'll show you what to do."

"Yeah, about that. I have no clue how to move these things- and don't give me that look! You try using completely new limbs!"

"Fine, fine. Hmm... how are we going to get you to open these things then..." She ponders as an evil smile begins to form.

"I don't like where this is going..."

"This is dumb. This is ludicrous. How could this possibly be a good idea?" I ask as I stand on the roof.

"What? It's how most ponies learn to fly... well, back in my time at least. Just don't think about it and react." Luna says as she hovers before me, reaching for me with her hooves.

"I... I... no! Logic still exists in my mind! Isn't there another way?"

"Miles..."

"What about a wind tunnel?"

"Miles..."

"What about forced muscle movements?"

"Miles."

"Maybe a lower starting point?"

"... if anything we should go higher." She says as she looks up.

"What!? NO-"

FLASH

"..... you're evil, you know that right?" I ask her as I back up. She's still in the air while I'm on a large cloud structure.

"Eeyup! Now on the count of three-"

"How high are we?" I ask as I peer over the edge.

"One!"

"This has to be at least three hundred meters high."

"Two!"

"Wait, isn't this Rainbows house?"

"THREE!"

"FUUUUUUUUUUCK!" I yell when she lifts me up and drops me. I try to grab onto something as I drop. I look back to Luna and watch her pull her limbs in and drop towards me, quickly catching up.

"TURN AROUND AND OPEN YOUR WINGS!" She yells to me over the sound of the wind. I glance back and try to do as she says, taking some odd maneuvering to do so.

"NOW WHAT!?" I yell to her. She opens her wings and snaps back out of view. GREAT! GREAT ADVICE! THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP ME RIGHT NOW! I look to my back and watch as a trail of feathers comes from my out stretched wings. Okay... MOVE! MOVE! Please?

FLASH

KER-FLUFF

I hold still for a moment before relaxing against the soft cloud... and slowly take the fetal position.

"Hmm, that didn't work quit like I expected." Luna muses as she walks around me. "Well, then again, it took me several tries before I could finally glide-"

"Wait! Just a few more-"

"Come on, Mr. Big Bad Spartan, a couple more tries before we try at different heights." Luna says casually as she lifts me off the cloud foundation.

"WAIT! WAIT! JU-FUUUUU!" I yell as she drops me again. I have a feeling I'm going to hate today.

............................................................................................................................................................

I can't help but tap my hoof impatiently as I wait in Cherilee’s classroom. I received a letter asking for me to come in, something about Scoots getting in trouble... again. I swear, it seems like that girl is trying to take on the whole world head on. I don't know what's gotten into her... well, it may be puberty.

"Good evening Miss Dash, glad you could make it." Cherilee says as she steps through the door. I glance over and see Scoots sitting outside, head hanging low.

"I think we know each other well enough to go by first names Cherilee." I tell her a she takes her seat.

"Yes, well, professionalism always take precedence in these kind of matters Miss Dash." She tells me as she takes a few papers out and looks them over.

"Yeah... so, what happened this time? A fight? Whose nose did she break this time?"

"Noponys, actually." She says as she flips through a few of the sheets.

"Oh... then, why am I-"

"Miss Dash, Scootaloo skipped class today," She tells me bluntly. I blink a few times as I try to register what she said.

"Scootaloo... skipped class today... are you-"

"I know, I was surprised as well. But I know why she did so. Today another student brought their father in for show and tell-"

"Oh... yeah."

"I know you take good care of her, and that this is a touchy subject, but-"

"Look, I know that this is hard for her, not having a Dad. I've been trying to get somepony to fill the role-"

"Uh... Rainbow, she says she does have a father." Again, I blink as I try to get the gears in my head rolling. "You see, she skipped out today to get proof... and she got it."

"Oh... what kind of proof did she get?" I ask nervously. Cherilee sighs and opens a drawer.

"Rainbow, is this fami-"

"MY DIARY!" I yell as I swipe it from her hooves. "SHE BROUGHT MY DIARY!? WHY-"

"Miss Dash! Please lower your voice!" I take a few breaths as I try to calm down, finding it hard to do knowing that all of my personal thoughts could be subject to ridicule by little twerps.

"How much did she reveal." I ask, getting a flushed look from Cherilee. "UUUHHHGGGG. Really?"

"Yes... so... she will have detention for three days for skipping school-"

"Pffft! That's nothing compared to what I have planned. I can't believe she brought my diary and showed it to everypony! What was she thinking?" Cherilee looks to the door before scooting closer to me.

"Well, first off is it true? Are you in relations with the Wonderbolt Soarin?" She asks eagerly. I can tell she just wants some gossip to tell her friends, she may be professional but Ivory Scrolls is a blabber mouth and know how to get info. But... she kind of already knows.

"Please don't talk about it. We're... it's complicated."

"I imagine, with him being a Wonderbolt and you being... well... uh..."

"A Spartan, Cherilee. I'm a Spartan." I tell her, getting a slow nod in return.

"Right... a Spartan... anyway, she mainly brought it to brag about his supposed flight lessons. Apparently he's been teaching her to fly-"

"What? He's been on assignment for the past few months in the Soviet Bear Union. They've only met a few times before that."

"Well, that explains it then." Cherilee says as she leans back. "Last week she was picked on for not being able to fly. She must have lied to try and redeem herself." I let out a sigh of annoyance at the thought of somepony picking on Scoots. I don't get it, she's such an awesome kid. Who would want to pick on her?

"Well, thanks for telling me all this. I'll be sure to have a talk with her when we get home."

"Glad to hear that. Have a nice day Miss Dash." I roll my eyes and nod to her as I stand up and leave the room. I stand there and stare at Scootaloo as the door shuts behind me. She lowers her head a bit as she continues to avoid my gaze.

"C'mon. Let's go home." I tell her as I turn and start to walk away. I hear her grab her bags and follow after me, being sure to stay out of my view.

We make our way out of the school yard and through Ponyville. She's keeping to herself as she buzzes along on her scooter, trying to make it seem as if she's not there. During the entire walk I try to keep calm and think of what to say to her. If she took my diary, then she knew where it was. Which means she had to find it before as well.

"So... how much of my diary did you read?" I ask as I turn and sit on a park bench. She stops before me and steps off the scooter.

"Well... pretty much all of it." She says quietly as she kicks at the ground. Of course she did. Why wouldn't she. I sigh and pat the bench seat beside me, making her walk over and climb up.

"Yeah, I figured. Well... do you have any questions?"

"HUH!?" She asks, nearly falling off the bench. "Aren't you going to yell at me or something? I stole your diary and showed it to a bunch of foals! Plus I have detention and stuff, shouldn't I be in trouble or something?"

"Pffft. Please, you really think I write down all the saucy stuff in there? Besides, I think I remember a certain awesome filly who got in a ton of trouble when she was her age as well." I say with a smile as I lean towards her.

"Really? So... I'm off the hook then?"

"NAH, you're totally grounded for a week. But at least you feel better about it." I say as I ruffle her mane. She shoves my hoof away and tries to fix it, smiling to me as she shakes her head.

"I think you're doing the whole parenting thing wrong... but this I like this way a lot more." We both share a laugh as I pull her to my side. She sighs and leans against me, letting all of her worries melt away.

"But... seriously. If you have any questions Scoots, just ask me. There are no secrets between the two of us." I tell her as I drape a wing over her.

".... why do I suck at flying?"

"Hey! Mouth-"

"But it's true! I can barely hover in the air while my classmates can already get to the clouds! Why do I have to be different?" She asks as she pulls my wing over herself to hide.

"Scootaloo, you didn't have the same start they did. It takes time to grow those flight muscles properly. Did you really think you would just flap your wings and start flying? It's going to take a long time before you can take off."

"Gee, thanks Mom." She says sarcastically as she falls against my side.

"But that's not all that's bothering you, is it?" I ask, getting her to slowly nod. "You want a dad, don't you?"

"..."

"Scootaloo, Cherilee told me everything. I know why-"

"Did she tell you about the time Soarin would come over when you were gone so we could hang out? Or about the time he saved me from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon when they found me doing my flight practices?" She asks slowly as she peers out from underneath my wing.

"... did... did he really do all of that?"

"Hey, they had no right to talk to my girl that way." I jump and fall off the bench when I hear the deep voice behind me. I scramble back to my hooves and look behind-

"SOARIN!" I yell as I leap over the bench, tackling him in a hug. He hugs me back lightly, tensing up slightly as I squeeze him with my hooves. "When did you get back?"

"Well, I've been back for a month now actually." She says cautiously. I pull back to ask him a question, when I notice he isn't looking me in the eyes. He's keeping his face looking to the left, avoiding eye contact with the both of us. When I try to look him in the eye, he looks further away and shuts his eyes.

"Soarin..."

"So... uh...here's the thing..."

"Soarin, look at me."

"Well, I-I think that-"

"Soarin, please." He lets out a long breath before looking me right in the eyes. "Oh Celestia... what happened?" His left eye has a long scar going over it, with smaller scars one either side of it. His normally blue eye has turned milky grey.

"Well, long story short, Lightning Dust got in a fight with a bear and I had to jump in to save her... she's fine though. I... well, I'm now half blind."

"Soarin..." I mutter as I run a hoof over the smaller scar. Scootaloo stands on the bench, staring wide eyed at his wound and completely lost for words.

"Since I'm blind, I've also been honorably discharged from the Wonderbolts too. Doctors say I shouldn't fly too much either, might cause an accident." He says as he looks away from us. "So... yeah. This is me now. No home, no job, can't fly, everything I own is in this suit case." He says as he motions to the small case beside him.

"C-can you come here." Scootaloo says quietly. Soarin looks to me before moving closer to Scootaloo. "A little closer." He nods and leans in, leaving less than a few inches between them. She reaches forward and pauses before lightly touching his scarred eye lid. Soarin just closes his eye and lets her feel it. "Does... does it hurt?"

"Every now and again. I have to adjust to not having it work anymore." Soarin tells her. She puts her hoof down and thinks for a second before leaning up and kissing his wound. He pulls back, surprised, and lightly puts a hoof over it.

"There, any better?" She asks with a warm smile.

"... much better. Thank you." I smile and step over to him, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"You were wrong you know." I tell him. "You will always have a home, you have a job, and you can still fly. Now do you want to sit here and sulk, or do you want to go home already?" He smiles to me and gives me a kiss on the lips. We ignore Scootaloo choking and press forward a bit, just enough to tell each other how much we missed one another.

"Blech, can you two finish up being gross so we can go home already? Please?" Scootaloo asks impatiently from the bench. With a slight laugh we reluctantly end our kiss.

"Heh, let's go home then." Soarin says with a big smile. I give him one last peck before we gather our things and get going. Scootaloo opted to ride on Soarin’s back, leaving me to carry her scooter. I didn't mind this time, the cause was justified. She spends the entire trip asking Soarin a million and five questions about the Bear Soviet Union. He just laughs along and tries to answer them, having a bit of trouble with the suitcase in his mouth.

"... I bet you beat his face real good- *GASP* I just realized! Both my parents kick flank! My cutie mark must be fighting related! You have to teach me how to take down a bear! OH! OH! What would a bear fighting cutie mark look like? Maybe it would be a big-"

"FFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCKKKK!" We all come to a stop when Miles comes flying down and stops, mid air, before us. Soarin drops his suitcase as he stares at him, jaw practically on the floor. Oh yeah, I guess the whole alicorn thing is new to him.

"Nice Miles, right in front of Scootaloo." I tell her, making him open his eyes and look at us.

"Oh... heh... heh, sorry. Um... hey Soarin, long time no see... oh, what happened to your eye?" He asks awkwardly. I give him a look as he the blue aura field around him dissipates, dropping him to the ground.

"I swear Miles, newborn foals have better reactions than you. Oh, hello Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Lieutenant Soarin. How are you all this afternoon?" Luna asks as she comes to a landing behind Miles.

THUD

"Was it something I said?" Luna asks as Soarin lays on the ground, slightly twitching. "Anyway, it's getting close to three now Miles-"

"I know, I know, back to business and all." He says as he stands up. "Speaking of which, Dash, I'll need to talk to you later today. After you get your boy toy somewhere softer than the floor preferably. Come on, I'll see you off." He tells Luna as they start to walk towards his house.

"You didn't have to yell every single time." Luna tells him with a playful nudge.

"Yeah, and you didn't have to go and drop me from that high!" He retorts with a playful nudge of his own.

"Um... Mom, is he going to be alright?" Scootaloo asks as she continues to poke Soarin’s face. Ahh, it's good to have everypony back together... wait... Storm and Big Mac get time off... why can't I?

"Let's get him home already, I need to check my calendar for something." I tell Scoots as I set her on my back. Soarin my love, we have work to do.

Next Chapter: Chapter 181 Plans Well Made Estimated time remaining: 35 Hours, 9 Minutes