As twilight turned to sunrise, the morning light painted the sky orange and the clouds pink as it shined through the window reflecting off the glass heating up the room. The empty streets below began to fill with ponies and busy commerce as everypony rushed about getting their coffee and newspapers on their way work. It was the noise not the light, something Scootaloo still wasn't use to. It always woke her early so, she made it part of her life to just wake up early in the city. It was that or toss and turn with a pillow over her head for hours.

Scootaloo laid still in bed, she had one of the best sleeps she has ever had. She felt the warmth of something soft next to her. She opened an eye and saw a mass of pink and purple in front of her. She took in the scent, strawberries. As she lifted her head she could see Sweetie Belle sleeping peacefully, her back against Scootaloo's stomach. She nuzzled Sweetie Belle's mane before sitting up.

"Ugh, what ssstime iz it?" Sweetie Belle muttered sleepily into the pillow.

"Um, six thirty am."

"Smatter with you? Gettin up zo early." Scootaloo lowered her head kissing her on the cheek. "Come back to bed."

"I get up early now. It's part of my program." Scootaloo rolled out of bed and stretched.

"Ugh." Sweetie Belle lifted her head to see Scootaloo heading toward the bathroom. "You got a nice ass. Just thought you should know." Sweetie giggled sleepily. Scootaloo shook her hips and lifted her tail, exposing herself completely.

"Now there's a view I can get use to seeing every morning." Sweetie Belle said before she let her head fall back on her pillow. She closed her eyes she muttered, "I have a few more hours before work."

"I'll make you breakfast after I shower." Scootaloo smiled then entered the bathroom and turned on the shower.

She let the hot water run over her as she stood there thinking, her favorite place to think. I have to tell her. If we get back together, she will have to know. I just hope she will look at the fact that I'm not that pony anymore. I know the last meeting was two days ago... wow if I left after that class none of this would have happened. Is this a bad idea? Gosh I love her and wow is she fun in bed. Passionate and she knows how to please a mare like no other. The way she holds me as we cum together... Scootaloo could feel herself begin to heat up between her legs. She shook her head trying to get back to what she was really contemplating. I don't know how to tell her. I lost Rainbow Dash as a sister over this... I lost everything over this. I hate myself. All the horrible things I've done and I just did another and I never wanted to hurt her but I did it again. Still, I think she will understand.

Scootaloo left the bathroom and could see Sweetie Belle still laying in bed but awake. "I'm sorry to wake you so early."

"It's all right. I just wanted to cuddle a little longer." Sweetie Belle smiled.

"There's something I have to tell you -" Scootaloo stopped dead. Sweetie Belle had sat up and was now facing Scootaloo directly. Scootaloo's heart plummeted with sorrow and guilt as she felt tears build behind her eyes. The sight of Sweetie Belle's face, just below her left eye was a crescent shaped scar. Scootaloo held back the tears as she took in the sight. It was the scar she had given Sweetie Belle three years ago. I - I, I'm a monster! I've scarred her in more ways than one. Why didn't I see that before? She must hide it with makeup.

"What?" Sweetie Belle asked confused at the sudden change in her lovers actions.

"I - I have to go." Scootaloo said and rushed for the door. Sweetie Belle chasing after her.

"No! Come back! Scootaloo please." Sweetie Belle began to sob loudly as she saw Scootaloo running to her front door. "We can talk about this. I love you...please, come back." She threw herself on the floor bawling.

Scootaloo's heart sank lower and lower with pain as she closed the door to Sweetie Belle's pleading sobs. She braced herself against the wall and let the tears flow. Her mind was filled with sorrow and regrets. Sorrow for what she had done, she could never forgive herself. Regret for coming back into Sweetie Belle's life and breaking her heart again. Her heart stung with a pain she hasn't felt since Sweetie Belle left Ponyville.

Scootaloo took a minute to collect herself, she took a breath and composed herself before slumping down the stairs. She left the building and found a taxi to take her back to her hotel. She didn't notice the driver take a longer route or the fact that he over charged her. Her mind was racing and she couldn't focus on anything except the night her and Sweetie Belle broke up. A new emotion took a hold of her, anger. She was angry for what she had done and then did agin.

Scootaloo entered her hotel room and slammed the door shut behind her with a good kick. She paced her room her room kicking and stomping. She kicked her suitcase sending it and its contents flying across the room. She saw a small jar fly across the room and smash against the wall. A small bag full of white powdery substance laid on the floor in the debris of the broken jar.

She caught sight of the bag and stopped her tantrum, all her rage was replaced with fear. Fear of herself and what may happen next. She wanted it, no, she needed it. Her mind was telling her she needed it, it would make her feel better, make all the pain go away. She held out her hooves to pick it up but she stopped, her hooves shaking. No! I've worked so hard to get off this, I've lost everything. But I can't resist. I must have it. No! Be strong, like they said. The first few weeks will be the toughest, the temptation...why do I even still have this? Scootaloo's face began to sweat as she sat there with her forelegs outstretched, hovering just above the small bag. She dug her forehooves into the floor and pushed herself against the wall, crying. Not knowing what else to do she reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed.

"Hey, I - I'm sorry to bother you - but, but I need help." Scootaloo stammered into the phone, keeping herself pressed against the wall. She listened for a moment. "I'm at the Clydesdale Inn. Room eighteen... Okay. Thank you." She hung up the phone and her gaze turned back to the bag making her body tremble. She would have loved to have thrown it away but she didn't trust herself to touch the bag. She crawled under the bed and buried her face into the floor and sobbed. How long she laid there, she didn't know it seemed like hours could have passed in the solitude and darkness under her bed.

There was a knock on the door then it opened and she could see hooves walking her room. They stopped by her bed for a moment then walked into the bathroom. They returned to her bed again. Scootaloo stared at the hooves when a pair of big blue eyes made eye contact with her. She could see the face of a white earth pony looking at her with a worried expression.

"Scootaloo, honey. What are you doing under there?" The white earth pony asked in a strong Manehatten accent.

"I'm sorry Virtue, I'm - I'm not strong enough. I can't - can't do it." Scootaloo sobbed.

"Of course you are. When you first came to me you were bad. Back then you would have had half that up your nose by now. Look at you now. You are fighting it, the temptation, the addiction. I'm proud of you Scoots, I am. Now come out from under there and let's talk about it." Scootaloo slid out from under the bed, her body still shaking slightly. Virtue wrapper her forelegs around Scootaloo, the warm embrace calmed her nerves.

"One of the most important steps is removing yourself from that environment. So, why do have that?" Virtue gestured to the bag on the floor.

"I - I didn't know I had it. I guess it was some left over that I forgot was hidden in that jar." Scootaloo said nervously. "Honestly."

"I believe you. It's okay. I'm glad you called me. One of the reason so many ponies fall back into that vicious cycle is because they are confronted with an issue like this and think they can handle it. I'm not going to tell you what to do, you came to my clinic to get rehabilitated and now you are. I will be here to support you and help you make the right choice and also be a shoulder to cry on." She tighten her grip on Scootaloo. "You did the right ting honey, this stuff will eventually kill you. I lost my sister to it and I almost died myself. I became a counselor and dedicated my life to helping ponies out so they won't have to suffer like I had. In my time there weren't any programs like now but still things happen and you need somepony who can support you in a time of need. I'm here for you Scootaloo. In the meetings you never said too much, you're keeping to much in here." Virtue rubbed her hoof over Scootaloo's chest. "It's time to let it out and let go of that pain, it's holding you back and making you miserable. Believe me, I know it's hard but I know you can do this, I know you are a tough filly."

"It's just I've lost the one pony I've always looked up to, she even took me under her wing as a little sister. But she couldn't help me, I couldn't help myself... I was a mess and reckless. She couldn't stand to see me so messed up, she told me until I got help she didn't want me around, it was too painful for her." Scootaloo stopped for a second to take a breath her lips quivering. "Last night I did something really stupid. You see, I stumbled into a random blues lounge downtown and just happen to find my old marefriend, my childhood sweetheart. We, um, went back to her place and umm, well you know..." Scootaloo trailed off.

"Had sex?" Virtue asked bluntly.

"More like made love. I still love her so much." Scootaloo's eyes started to tear up. "But, I've hurt her. Oh Celestia, I've hurt her. I can never forgive myself. Especially since there's thi - this scar that I - I gave - she has to h-h-hide it with ma-makeup." Scootaloo croaked between sobs then buried her face into Virtue's mane bawling. Virtue held her tight rubbing her shoulder.

"That's it, get it all out. This has pained you for a very long time. Only when you confront this pain can the healing process can begin. Now, take a minute to get yourself together and tell me everything."