It was mid-afternoon, a day that Applejack had encouraged Rainbow Dash to take off and enjoy.

"Rainbow," Applejack began, looking out at the fields. "Life is a lot like my Apple orchard."

"There for the picking when it's ready?" Rainbow said, taking her marefriend only half seriously. "I know what you mean."

"Do ya now?" Applejack chuckled. "Each season the weather changes, and it all moves forward. Sometimes the plants die and everything else moves on. Ya get me now?"

"I'm not forgetting about Scootaloo, Applejack." Rainbow sighed. "I won't think she's dead until I find a body."

"Would that put this to rest? A cold body? Some tiny bones? ... you'd probably then wanna find out which pony did it to her and why." Applejack patted Rainbow Dash on the back. "Ah know it's discouraging talk, Rainbow... but we're probably never gunna find out what happened to her. Missing ponies are rare, but when they do go missing... sometimes that's just how it is. She could very well be at the bottom of some cliff she was trying to do stunts off. There ain't no trace of her... there were no tracks found but what came down my orchard. She's gone."

Rainbow Dash's eyes were shut. She nodded weakly.

"Rainbow Dash!" a voice called from up high. "Rainbow!"

The two ponies looked up. It was Derpy, coming down from the sky holding a letter. When she got to ground level, she passed it off to Rainbow.

"What is this?" she asked Derpy, looking at the fancy writing on the envelope.

"A letter? I dunno." Derpy flew off. "See ya Rainbow Dash!"

"Later."

Rainbow Dash opened the envelope. Confused, she read the contents aloud:

Dearest Friend Rainbow Dash,

It's been a long time since I've heard from you and I would really like to catch up. Please feel free to bring some friends. I simply wish to reconnect, we have much to discuss! Perhaps next Wednesday? Let me know when works for you.

With Love,
Buttercup Lightwood Gambroug

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack, Applejack at Rainbow Dash.

"It's up to you. You know we'll all go, too, if ya ask."

The following Wednesday was the day they left. All gathered in front of the library, awaiting Buttercup's carriage which took them in style to her home... for Rarity and Rainbow Dash, it was all too familiar.

Ironhoof, dressed in shirt with bright floral print, welcomed them all out and got a good look at Rainbow Dash's sallow face.

"Forgive me Miss Dash... do you need some water? You do not look well."

"I'm fine, uh..." She couldn't remember his name for the life of her.

"It's Ironhoof, Miss Dash," he said with a wide smile. "I remember your name, and the impression you made, all too well."

"It's always nice to make a splash," Rarity said, admiring the architecture of the house.

"Indeed," said Ironhoof.

They followed him to the back of the house, not even going through it, where they saw a big garden. Buttercup was at the edge of it, closest to the house in a law chair, sitting by her a playpen, behind that an old weeping willow tree. She got up when she heard the clip-clop of pony hooves approaching.

"Rainbow Dash and friends," she said in a lyrical voice. "Welcome to my home!"

Rainbow approached her slowly. The two looked at each other, smiled, and Buttercup gave her a hug.

"You have a lovely home, Miss Buttercup," said Twilight peering into the playpen. "And who's this? -- oh, my..."

Buttercup motioned for the six to gather around.

"This, my sweet friends, is my daughter... Honey."

It wasn't enough that she was the spitting image of Rainbow Dash, nor was it just that she was a ten year old filly... drooling with large vacant pupils and decked out infantile garments, there was something else oddly familiar about her. Rainbow and Fluttershy noticed a similarity first -- tiny wings.

They looked up at Buttercup.

"My, you are very good guests," said the golden mare. "I can see why you are all friends. Most guests would be... asking uncomfortable questions by this point."

Twilight fought the urge to ask a few questions herself, which were probably going to be answered anyway.

"Rarity and Rainbow Dash saw a picture of Honey... what eight, nine months ago?"

"That sounds about right," said Rarity.

"I don't like talking about my sweet baby during business because she's clearly... differently-abled. Sadly, she'll never grow up. She'll be one year old, always and forever."

"Miss Buttercup!" exclaimed Rarity. "That's nothing to be ashamed of... why, I have another client who's got a colt in a wheel chair and I think nothing of it!"

"You're a good friend and employee, Rarity," Buttercup said, sitting back down in her chair. The six noticed Ironhoof bringing out additional chairs for them to sit on, as well as one for himself. Fluttershy and Pinkie went to help him. "I've had many ponies look down on me for... continuing to support my daughter and not shipping her off to rot in some asylum. They look at her as though she is a drain."

"That's awful," Rarity said, as Ironhoof set up a collapsible table and brought out tea for the friends to all enjoy. "I would never dream of it, if my little sister was in that shape! I'd care for her and nurture her, and hope for the best."

"You're a good sister, Rarity." Buttercup smiled. "Would any pony like to see her? She's quite social and would adore meeting new ponies."

"Of course!" Twilight exclaimed, clearly identifying herself as the ring leader of group.

The girls nodded in unison.

"Very well." Buttercup nodded to Ironhoof.

The grey stallion, strong in body but low in stamina, picked up the disguised Scootaloo and brought her over to Buttercup.

"Come here, Honey," Buttercup said, opening her forelegs. "Come on, my baby." Scootaloo reached out to her and wrapped both forelegs clumsily around her barrel. "That's my girl." Buttercup turned her around so she was facing her guests. "Come say hi!"

The six all curiously approached the ten year old foal and got a good look. Now resembling Buttercup, she was considerably pudgier than the last time they had seen her... not that they would recognize her after all the change. They introduced themselves to Buttercup by name, then to "Honey"... as if the first time meeting her:

"Hi Honey," said Twilight, holding out a hoof, while looking back at Rainbow Dash. "If it weren't for the age difference, I'd say she's practically your doppelganger!"

Before Dash could answer, Scootaloo attempted to suck on Twilight's hoof. The unicorn withdrew her foreleg rather quickly.

"Hey there," said Applejack, looking at Scootaloo's somewhat engorged belly. "Yer a might plump! Bet Buttercup must be feedin' ya pretty well!"

"Oh, if you only knew, Applejack," Buttercup replied with a smirk. "She's well fed. Always nice to meet another business pony, by the way."

"Hey, hey!" Pinkie Pie said, looking into Scootaloo's vacant, sedated eyes.

"Um, hello there..," said Fluttershy. "I've never seen a baby quite as big as you before. I hope someday you grow up and have wonderful experiences."

"That's never going to happen," said Buttercup, coldly.

"I heard about you once before," said Rarity. "And I do hope Buttercup feels no shame talking about you in the future... you are a fine-looking filly, afterall, and nothing to be ashamed of."

Scootaloo giggled at the music of Rarity's words. Her voice was a lot like Buttercup's when she talked happy.

Finally Rainbow Dash approached.

"I feel like we've met before in some other life." She gestured down at the giant foal. "You be good for your mom, okay, and grow up big and strong!"

"Do you have some foal or filly you care about Rainbow?" asked Buttercup. "You seem like you'd make a really good role model. You must make some little pony very happy."

Rainbow looked at Applejack, Applejack at Rainbow... Dash bit her lip. Applejack answered for her:

"Rainbow lost the one filly who looks up to her not all that long ago. She ain't taking it too well, so let's not talk too much about this now. Okay?"

"That's just dreadful!" Buttercup said, squeezing Scootaloo. "What happened?"

"I... I don't know," said Rainbow Dash, her eyes welling up with tears. "She just vanished one day. I've been looking for her almost every day since."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Rainbow...," Buttercup said, smiling sympathetically. "Don't give up your search... she may be closer than you think."

"I'd like to think that," said Rainbow Dash. "I'm not going to give up... not until I find some trace of Scootaloo."

Scootaloo's head turned briefly in Rainbow Dash's direction when heard her real name. For one brief moment, she realized who was talking and what she was saying, but it was quickly forgotten about and no pony noticed, save the two who had invited them all there. Buttercup then nodded at Ironhoof, who left for the inside of the house, before continuing the conversation with Rainbow as if nothing had even happened:

"Oh! Was that her name? I heard about that! I can only imagine it must be terrible to have a filly go missing, so young..."

Rainbow shuttered at the way Buttercup used the word was, but said nothing.

"It's okay. Let's move on, alright?"

"Fine by me, Rainbow. Fine by me."

Sitting around in a big circle, the mares all drank their tea, brought out by Ironhoof, who was now wearing a black saddlebag. Buttercup drank from the same pitcher as her guests, almost the same amount... perhaps a bit more. The only pony to remain parched was Ironhoof, watching them all interact and listening in for any subtle cues coming from his partner.

During this time, "Honey" was allowed to wander amongst the mares. She sat in front of Rainbow at first, babbling. Rainbow ignored her at first, as it sounded like nothing in particular, but then... it sounded almost like the baby talk was actual words:

"Rain...bow... Rainbow!"

"D'aww, is that her first word?" Applejack asked, as the garden danced in colorful patterns before all the mares. "Looks like she really likes you, Dash!"

"I can't say that's her first word, but it certainly means she likes you," Buttercup said, with a mean smirk. "Welcome her in, get a good look at her... after all, she adores you!"

Scootaloo continued to stare at Rainbow Dash, her thoughtless black eyes gawking up at her idol. The filly recognized her, but why? Under the influence of sedation, it seemed like a distant memory... no longer of any great importance, but she connected the idea of rainbows and happiness with mare. She found staring at Rainbow Dash was comforting, eventually Rainbow invited her in for a hug, opening her foreleg up.

The filly took the hug. She let out a contented sigh while Dash noogied her skull, in the same way she would have done it to Scootaloo. For some reason, the filly turned foal seemed to really like that.

Buttercup gave a second quick nod to Ironhoof. He knew what to do. He came up from behind while Scootaloo was still snuggling with Dash, reaching into his bag. He pulled out a syringe.

"Please keep her still, Miss Dash."

"Wait..." Rainbow held the filly tight. "What're you doing?"

"He's got to give her medicine each day," explained Buttercup. "It's quite expensive... but without it she's always going to be in intense pain."

That's so awful," Fluttershy said, watching Ironhoof give the cyan-colored filly a shot in the shoulder.

Rainbow Dash held her, looking into her black eyes:

"I don't envy you for needing a shot each day, kid."

The stallion pulled away the syringe.

"All better!" Buttercup exclaimed, looking over at Scootaloo, who seemed unphased by the injection.

The gathering continued for a while."Honey" eventually drifted back to her mother... making suckling motions with her lips. Buttercup kept her away from her engorged bosom with a hoof, while motioning to Ironhoof to her a bottle, which he pulled from his bag. Applejack made her way over to Rainbow Dash, holding her hoof and resting on her shoulder.

"So," Buttercup said, as she was passed the bottle by her ex-butler. "Have you ever considered giving dating another chance, Rainbow?"

"She's taken," Applejack said firmly, holding on to Rainbow's body a bit too tight. "And happily so."

"'fraid she's right," said Rainbow Dash, smiling at her special somepony. "I'm quite taken, actually."

"You're afraid, huh?" Applejack belted Rainbow in the shoulder... not entirely playfully. "You ain't afraid enough I say!"

Buttercup grinned seeing this... it truly did make her happy.

"Well, I'm not afraid exactly," Rainbow said, looking over at Applejack. "I'm quite happy, I just miss the big adventure of going to places... like the other side of Ponyville to do stuff."

"Then you need to get out more to do stuff... not just to look for Scootaloo."

Buttercup noticed her "Honey's" eyes open wide for a split second on the mentioning of her real name. They then went back to relaxed little slits, as she suckled milk from the bottle... Buttercup's own milk this time.

"You're right Applejack."

"You know I am."

An hour later the mares bid adieu to Buttercup, Ironhoof, and "Honey" and were on their way. They rode back through town in the carriage in style. It was a fun gathering, but now it was all over and they all felt very tired for some reason. Applejack used Rainbow Dash as a pillow. The two giggled, looking at their friends who looked just as sleepy. It was darker and warmer in the carriage than before, and because of that it lulled them all into a state of relaxation.

As they approached Ponyville, the farm pony got up, noticing a few strands of oddly-colored hair on Rainbow's barrel.

"What's all this about?" she asked, picking it up. "I ain't ever seen hair like this. It's colored like yours, but the roots are orange. There's even an odd couple mostly orange strands with it!"

Applejack turned to show Rarity, but she, Fluttershy, and even Twilight were out cold.

"Huh," Rainbow took a close look at it and shrugged. "Probably came from some where in this cart. You know rich, frou-frou ponies are into all sorts of weird stuff. Get rid of it, Applejack." The farm pony threw the few strands out the window. "Don't worry, I'm never going back there. I'm all yours, AJ... well, yours and Scootaloo's. I'm not about to give up that, either."

Applejack rolled her eyes.

"Well at least you're out for a noble cause. Ah can safely say I accept you for who you are because of it."

"Likewise, AJ... Likewise."

Back at the estate, Buttercup rested under the weeping willow with a drugged Scootaloo cradled by her side.

"Mommy loves you, Honey... she'll never let anything happen to you, ever again."

Scootaloo closed her eyes, then began to suckle on Buttercup's teat. The mare grinned.

And they had her... for all her days. Life would never change, or challenge the filly... she would grow physically, but would always remain the same... Always.