The Golden Crusade

by TheGreatEater

First published 9th of April, 2015

Sequel to Golden Wings. Scootaloo's secret is out, and top it off she's discovered she has some rather unique magical problems. It's a good thing Crusaders stick together.

Main Story #2 of the GoldenVerse

After her party revealing her secret that she's been keeping for five years now. Scootaloo thought things could only go up. Until Twilight unlocked Scootaloo’s secret power, a long forgotten ability that had faded into myth and flutter pony tales. Now things are about to go crazy for everypony's favorite orphan.

But with the help of two alicorns, her fellow crusaders, and some friends along the way she'll rediscover the truth about being a Cutie Mark Crusader. It's not the destination that matters, but the adventures you face along the way.

Temporary Cover Art: TheGreatEater

Editor: kingtiger666

The Story So Far [Optional Chapter]

Hi everypony. This chapter is a recap / introduction to those new readers who don't want to feel as if they have to read the previous story to follow this one. Or for old readers who want a nice quick recap of events. For those of you who wish to read the previous instilation first. Here's the Link. For the rest of you, this chapter does contain spoilers, but just scroll down past the gaping chasm of white space. For those of you who want to skip right to the story, I hope you enjoy this as much as the rest of the fic.

The Story So Far:

Strawberry Muffins takes place a week before Golden Wings. It's a date fic of Holly Dash and Ditzy Doo, and introduces Mango Dash. (Both Holly Dash and Mango Dash get so little screen time in the show. But this story is a sidequel to GW.)

Scootaloo is found dumpster diving by Raindrops. Who's basically a Social Worker who is originally from Canterlot. She takes Scootaloo in, who spends the first two days of her new life with Sparkler and Dinky Doo. Since their mother Ditzy is suffering from Alicorn Flu (a flu that effects only Pegasi, Unicorns, and of course Alicorns).

Raindrops finds out Scootaloo's backstory, as well as her penchant for taking bits. It's not an intentional theft, as much as she needed bits and they were there. With Raindrops help, she tells those important to her, while setting up a nice, safe, party where she can tell those not so close to her.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders gain three new members. Mango Dash (Rainbow Dash's neice, and Daughter of Holly Dash) Dinky Doo, and Pipsqueak. Mango Dash get's a little moment of awesome, when she stands up to Diamond Tiara who finally crosses the line in her bullying. The Parent Teacher confrence is the last we see of her in this fic. Although she does pop up in Types of Love.

While this is happening. Types of Love gets started when Raindrops discovers Spike's treatment, and some old 'accidental' injuries that came from being a living pincussion. It get's Twilight as well as Rarity to see where Spike fits in their lives and their feelings to him. That little sidestory can be further explored in the linked story.

Apple Bloom gets a Cutie Mark in mixing alchemy and cooking. In the Cutie Mark Crusader preperations for Scootaloo's party, where Mango accidentally makes a potion that summons Trixie.

The day before the party is where the Strawberry Muffins sequel happens for those interested.

The Party happens, and we get to see just how amazing the ponies of Ponyville can be.

Finally the doctors visit, leading up to Scootaloo getting help from Twilight. Without spoiling to much for those who want to see it in action. Scootaloo does amazing magic, and Discord pops up to help. Now we are in this current story starting next chapter.

Chapter the First

It was the day after the events in Twilight's basement, where Discord, of all beings, helped Twilight undo the chaotic mess caused by Scootaloo's magic flare. But after sleeping it off, Scootaloo awoke feeling on top of the world, while simultaneously feeling as if she got run over by Pinkie Pie, hopped up on a mountain of sugar and a gallon of Red Bull... Something nopony in Ponyville ever wanted to witness again after the last time she managed the feat on a dare.

Scootaloo was pondering this complete oxymoron of sensations when Raindrops’ head peaked through the door. "Hey, sleepy head! How are you feeling?"

"Meh... Is it weird to feel totally amazing, yet feel like you got ran over by a Pinkie Pie mainlining sugar?" Scootaloo asked.

"Twilight said something similar... But where did you hear about mainlining?"

"Oh, some stallion was saying that ‘he’d bet his favorite lucky horseshoes that Pinkie Pie mainlined sugar every morning’, and that's why she was so hyper."

"Oh, really?"

"Yep! But when I asked Pinkie, she just laughed and said she's high on life... And mountains of frosting... Then she started looking like Twilight does when she gets a new book... It was... Something?"

Raindrops couldn't help but hide her giggle behind her wing at the comment. "Well, Pinkie is Pinkie. But we wouldn't want her any other way, now would we?"

"Nope! Pinkie's awesome. Even Dash says so, and if Dash says something, then it has to be tr-Owww! Why do my head and wings feel like they're going to fall off?"

"Twilight said you might feel like that. Don't worry, it's just magical overexertion. It happens to almost all magic users when they're starting off. Here, I brought you some soup."

"Thanks, Ms. Raindrops," Scootaloo said, sniffing the bowl of noodle soup, "And not just for the soup. You really went out of your way to help me."

"You're welcome, Scootaloo. I just hope I can help you find a family every bit as special as yourself," Raindrops replied with a gentle smile, as she watched Scootaloo eat her brunch.

"So, I have good news," Raindrops told Scootaloo after she was done eating.

"What?" Scootaloo asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Other than some slight malnutrition, which should get better in a few weeks time, and after Twilight did... Whatever she did to you, you're a healthy pegasus filly, and I think now that your blockage is gone, you should be able to get airborne with a little bit of training."

"Do you think Rainbow Dash can teach me?" Scootaloo asked, hopping up and down in unbridled excitement.

"We can see," Raindrops said with a smile, "But today, you need to rest. Twilight said that'd be the best thing for you. If you like, I can see if I can get your friends to come visit you."

Scootaloo deflated at that and sighed, "Yeah, sure. Ummm... Thanks again, Raindrops."

"You're quite welcome. Do you need anything before I head out?"

"Nah! I'm good," Scootaloo chirped less enthusiastically than before as she snuggled under her blankets.

"Well, I'll be back soon. Anything in the fridge is yours to munch on if you need it."

Raindrops felt a little bad about just leaving her, but Twilight said, after magical overexertion, Scootaloo would go through bouts of deep sleep, followed by bouts of manic energy that landed with a crash. The best thing to for her was plenty of rest to let the body recover. So, with Scootaloo hopefully asleep, and hopefully not casting lightning on anything not fire retardant, she'd be fine.

Her first stop was the Carousel Boutique, being the closest. Inside, Rarity lay sobbing on her fainting couch, surrounded by a proverbial fortress of ice cream tubs. Worse yet, her mane wasn't coifed! Approaching her as she would a skittish animal, she tried coaxing Rarity. "Rarity, what's the matter?"

"He left, and only left a letter," Rarity sniffled, as yet another spoon of ice cream was shoveled into her mouth. Raindrops was almost hypnotised by the sight of it, like looking at a trainwreck or a horrifying accident about to happen. Or like when Applejack was hogtied by Trixie's rope... I wonder if that's where she got that fetish?

Shaking herself to get herself able to speak, "Who?"

"Spike!" Rarity wailed melodramatically, "We talked, and instead of staying around, he left!"

"Umm... Spike? As in, the baby dragon Spike?" Raindrops asked hesitantly.

"Honestly, Raindrops, we aren't that far off in age, it's not like he wasn't a full grown dragon before, and he's worked adult jobs before, so it's not like I'm looking at ponies half Sweetie's age. I told him I needed to think about it, and he’s gone!"

"What's there to think about? Sure, he technically is old enough to leave his home, and live on his own, at least until the laws change in a two years, if Parliament and the Princesses can hammer all the bugs in the bill, or if they can keep from scrapping the bill like they have for the last eight years.

"But still, he's your sisters age," Raindrops sighed, " I get it, dragons age differently than ponies, and even now there are ponies of that age difference who date. Even if there is scientific evidence that ponies that age don't have fully developed brains, not to mention the social stigma attached, it's not my place to tell you who to love. I actually came here for a different reason, and for what it’s worth, regardless of what you choose, you're a good pony and I wish you the best."

"Thank you, and you're right, it's not like I entertain notions of doing untoward things with my sister and her friends, or do things with her that a big sister shouldn't. I simply find Spike to be a chivalrous gentledrake that's been attempting to woo me for five years now, but that age thing is one of the things that I worry about. So what might I help you with?"

"Well, Scootaloo is suffering from magical overexertion, and I was wondering if Sweetie would be willing to spend the night to keep her company? I'm actually planning on getting all the Crusaders under one roof, so that they can hang out and talk after such an eventful weekend."

"Oh, you're actually volunteering for a Cutie Mark Crusader Sleepover? Brave mare, but yes, that'd be agreeable. Shall I pick her up tomorrow afternoon? Or will you be bringing her home after school?"

"I'll bring her back after school ends. If that's alright with you?"

"Perfectly splendid. I'll let her know, and then well ... as you can see I'm a very busy mare."

Raindrops could have sworn the floorboards were starting to creak and threaten to give way to the raw weight of food surrounding Rarity. "Yeeaaah! I can see that. Well I got to go talk to the other crusaders. You wouldn't know where Pipsqueak lives, would you?"

"Not really, but I'm sure Pinkie Pie would know. She knows everything about everypony in Ponyville."

With a final farewell, she left to roundup the other Crusaders.

It was a few hours later where she made her last stop to roundup the Cutie Mark Crusaders for an impromptu sleepover, "Hey Ditzy, are you home?" Raindrops called.

She heard a muffled, "In a minute!" from upstairs followed by the sound of flapping. Ditzy opened the door quickly. "Hey Raindrops what do you need?"

"Scootaloo is suffering from magical overexertion," Raindrops answered, only to be interrupted before she could finish explaining.

"Overwhatnow?"

"Oh, it's something unicorns get when they cast too much magic at once, or too powerful a spell."

"Ah! So how'd Scoots get that then? She's not secretly a princess, is she?"

"Ha! No, she's not, but apparently she can cast spells like one. Still not sure on how that works. But she's resting today, so I thought I'd give her a little sleepover with her friends. Is it alright if Dinky and Mango come over?"

"Um, let me ask Holly... Come on in," Ditzy said, waving her in with a wing.

Ditzy's house wasn't luxurious by any definition, but it was the very definition of homey. Simply walking on the old oaken floor boards, soaking in the ambience of the stucco walls with numerous family portraits hanging on them, filled any visitor with a welcome feeling of warmth.

Raindrops stepped into the open living room, seeing Mango Dash and Dinky sitting on the couch, reading one of Rainbow Dash's 'officially sponsored' comics featuring the Elements' exploits. Raindrops chuckled as she remembered Mare-Do-Well part two, when Rainbow Dash let her merchandise get to her head. After that, her friends set her up as one of the three main public faces of the elements when merchandising things. In Twilight's words, she needed a 'creative outlet'.

Raindrops had to wonder just how 'official' such stories were. She really doubted that Rainbow Dash 'Dragon Kicked’ a dragon in the face, before giving Fluttershy the confidence to make the same dragon cry. She asked Fluttershy about it once, and only got a shy squeak and a blush for her answer. And Applejack wouldn't stop laughing when asked.

But it had to be false that Rainbow Dash saved Discord from a Jabberwocky with an army of angry rodents, and Discord promised her three wishes. I mean, there's artistic license, and then there's just dream fulfilment.

She was shaken out of her thoughts when a disheveled Holly came trotting down the stairs. Raindrops felt her wings fwomp, as a blush painted her cheeks. "Sorry, I wasn't interrupting anything was I?"

"Nothing that we can't pick up later. You want to give Scootaloo a sleepover?" Holly chuckled.

"Um... Oh! Yes! I came to ask if it'd be alright if Mango Dash and Dinky come over for an impromptu 'Cutie Mark Crusader Sleepover'?" Raindrops replied, flustered, as she futilely tried to get her wings under control.

"It's no problem for me. What about you?" Holly smirked.

"I'm fine with it Sweetheart, and Raindrops, we're friends right?" Derpy said consolingly.

"Like you have to ask!" Raindrops squeaked.

Trotting over to Raindrops, Derpy asked, "So when's the last time you, you know?"

"Umm... ‘You know’ what?"

"Had some 'adult fun' with another pony?" Ditzy said, giggling.

"Oh... I haven't really had time to ever really do... Well, you know, that... Kind of... Thing. And I'm sorry about the wings, they have a mind of their own." Raindrops’ reply came muffled as she tried using her teeth to pull them down. Why isn't this working? Come on, wings. You've seen more risque things in... Oh no, there they go.

Ditzy and Holly laughed at Raindrop's pterection. Ditzy finally caught her breath enough to comment, "Sorry, Dropsy. We're not laughing at you, we're laughing at the situation. We have some ice packs in the freezer, those are useful in these situations. And I agree, Holly looks stunning."

"Sorry," Raindrops squeaked.

"No offense. We know you're a good pony, and these things happen. I'll just take it as a compliment."

Raindrops nodded as she scurried to the kitchen, and looked for the ice pack. Several embarrassing minutes later, Ditzy walked in, "So Dropsy, how've you been? We haven't talked in awhile."

"Other than embarrassing myself so much that I'm surprised I didn't melt into a pony puddle? I’m doing well. Scootaloo is an amazing little filly, and I look forward to getting her a new home. I just hope that whoever takes her in can give her the love she deserves."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. You always have a way of finding good homes for the little fillies and colts that wander into your life. Heck, it's how Sparkler came into our lives, so I can't thank you enough." Ditzy said wistfully.

"It was my pleasure. Oh, and Ditzy... Can I ask a huge favor?"

"Sure, what do you need?"

"Well... I might, maybe, have a date this Wednesday. Can you look after Scootaloo while I'm out?"

Ditzy gasped out loud with the force of five Pinkie Pies and a side of bookgasming Twilight, "You have a date!"

"Yes... Maybe," Raindrops blushed.

"I don't know why anypony would want to date me. I'm kind of boring, but it feels nice," Raindrops admitted.

"You, boring? I don't thinks so. You're a good mare, and I'm happy for you. So who's the lucky pony?"

"Cloud Kicker."

"Well..."

"I know her reputation, but she's really a sweet mare. And she's the one who got me here to Ponyville, and hooked us up as friends."

"I know. She's much better than the reputation she's earned, but... I don't know if I can give her the bestie talk."

"Bestie talk?"

"You know, 'if you hurt my friend I'll drop a piano on your head and make sure you get signed up to all the worst spam mail in Equestria' speech. You really don't have that many ponies to do that for you here in Ponyville. But she's my friend too."

"It's all good. She knows how to treat a pony nice."

Ditzy blushed at that. "She does. Well, anyways, I don't think it'll be a problem. Just promise to tell me everything, okay?"

"Okay, and Ditzy?"

"Hmm?"

Raindrops stood up and wrapped her second oldest friend in a tight winghug. "You're the best friend a pony can ask for. Thanks."

"You're welcome. I'll see you when you drop off my two special muffins at home. And don't forget to make sure to remind Mango, no martial arts moves in the house. She keeps on forgetting."

"How bad is it?"

"Rainbow Dash is her martial arts trainer."

"Oh!"

Author's Notes:

A few things. First Pterecton is another word for wingboner. I forget what fic I read it in on this site, but I remember that sounded kinda classy.

Next. I didn't know whether to end it where I did, and pick up next chapter in the slumber party, with some Twilight in the second part of it.

I hope y'all enjoyed this second instalation of the GoldenVerse.

The Sleepover

Scootaloo couldn't remember a time in her life when she was this bored. After staring at the ceiling until the various swirls and bumps made pictures, and trying to for the fifth time to make a good story out of them, she heard a knock on the door.

"Scootaloo, I have a surprise for you," Raindrops called through the door.

"What is it?" Scootaloo asked, pulling the covers up around her as she rolled to face the door.

The door opened, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders came rushing in. "Now, it wouldn't be right to leave you girls alone in a room with a colt, so I got Sparkler to stay in with you all. Is that alright with you?"

"Sure, but what is all this?" Scoots asked, her left ear tilting downwards in confusion.

"Well, I thought you could do with some company. So I set you up a Cutie Mark Sleepover!" Raindrops replied with a smile.

"Awesome! You know, Raindrops, you're pretty cool. Not Rainbow Dash-cool, but a close second. Thanks!" Scootaloo commented as the other crusaders leapt on her in a ponypile. Their bodies crushing her with hugs and nuzzles.

"You're quite welcome, Scootaloo And thank you for helping out, Sparkler ."

"It's no problem. Mama Derps and Holly need some alone time and I'm happy to help." Sparkler replied as she watched the squirming mountain of foals enveloping Scootaloo.

"Just remember, if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. I'm ordering pizza for dinner tonight at Griswold's, so let me know what you all would like before five." With that, Raindrops turned around and left.

"This is the first official Cutie Mark Crusaders' Sleepover since we got our newest member, so I'd like to call this meeting to order!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, leaning comfortably against Scootaloo. The other members sat at the foot of the bed as the meeting, and thus the sleepover came into effect.

"Alright, first things first. Apple Bloom is the first of us to get her cutie mark. Now, Scootaloo, we held an emergency meeting after she got it, and we decided that even though she got hers, she can still be a crusader."

"How does that work?" Scootaloo asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"I'll let Apple Bloom explain," Sweetie replied.

Clambering up onto the bed, Apple Bloom faced Scootaloo. "We thought, y’know, even though I got my cutie mark, we're all still friends. And since I got mine, I can be there to help out future crusaders with their journey. This way, every future crusader who gets theirs has to help the next ones get theirs, so the crusade never really ends!

That, and even though I got it, now I got to go on a crusade to find out what it means for me. So it's like it never ends! So we can be Cutie Mark Crusaders, Best Friends Forever, cutie mark or no cutie mark!"

Apple Bloom panted, feeling slightly winded from her long speech. Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Sweetie wrote the speech, huh?"

"Twilight helped!" Sweetie indignantly huffed, eliciting a round of chuckles from her friends.

"I guess that sounds cool. I mean, just because we have something stamped on our butts doesn't mean we aren't friends anymore, and it's pretty cool that even if we do get them, we can help those who don't," Scootaloo responded, getting out from beneath her covers to wrap Apple Bloom in a hug.

"Ahem," Sparkler coughed, "What do you girls... And colt... Usually do on a crusader sleepover?"

"Well ..." Sweetie started.

"First we think of things to do to get our Cutie Marks!" Scootaloo said.

"Then we try out a few things till we get a little tired!" Apple Bloom continued.

"Then we rest up with a few games!"

"Chill out!"

"Definitely don’t cause of any explosions, invasions from alternate dimensions, or massive property damage!" At that, the crusaders’ faces were the perfect picture of innocence...

… Until Scootaloo ruined it. "At least nopony can prove it was us," She coughed into her forehoof.

"What?"

Apple Bloom dug her elbow into Scootaloo's ribs. "Nothin', she wasn't implyin' anything. Eenope, not at all."

Sparkler looked at the fillies before her, and the other crusaders nearby, wondering what she had just agreed to do. "Well, at least try to keep the destruction to a minimum, please. I like Raindrops, and I don't want Dinks or Mango to get into trouble."

"Oh don't worry. We never really got into trouble before," Scootaloo assured her.

"You mean other than the time we almost got turned to stone by a Cocktrice?" Apple Bloom pointed out.

"Fluttershy saved us."

"Or the time we accidentally summoned Discord's uncle?" Sweetie asked.

"Discord said it was a blast to have a family reunion."

"Or the time we tried giving Rarity a Spa day, and accidentally buried her neck down in concrete?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Oh, she was so mad! I was grounded for a week!" Sweetie Belle groaned.

"She forgave us eventually, and admitted having quick-drying cement unlabeled, sitting next to her container of Home Spa Mud Bath, was a mistake on her part. Why'd she have mud at her house anyway, Sweets? She usually gets mad when we bring mud from outside when it's raining," Scootaloo asked. All three fillies ignored the look of dread passing over Sparkler's face, and the looks of awe from their fellow crusaders.

"She was experimenting with that little pool she built out back so she could try different things to help Aloe and Lotus get getter products. The cement was for the garden she was planning on making. Never happened though," Sweetie answered.

"Okay... So, yeah, almost nothing bad happens. And when it does, it's all on accident. Either way, it usually works out in the end," Scootaloo replied.

"Mmmhmm," the others answered.

"So Scoots, what exactly did you do?" Mango asked.

"Yeah, I heard you turned Discord into a turnip, and Twilight into a singing fish!" Pipsqueak chimed in.

"I didn't do that!" Scootaloo replied, "Although Discord was there. Honestly, I don't know what happened, really. I had a magic block in my wings, and Twilight undid it. The next thing I know, Discord is turning Spike and Raindrops back to normal from being a pair of squirrels, and then I passed out!"

"Wow..." Sweetie sighed in awe, "That's awesome magic! I hope I get that good someday!"

"It was probably a flute," Scootaloo replied.

"Fluke," Sweetie corrected without thinking, which drew a laugh from Scootaloo.

"Flute, fluke, flounder, it's all good. But yeah, I probably won't be doing stuff like that anytime soon. I just can't wait to get done with bed rest, then I'll really be able to do stuff!" As if demonstrating this, Scootaloo's wings glowed purple, and her blankets suddenly wrapped her in a tight cocoon eliciting a squawk of indignation from Scoots.

Minutes later, Scootaloo was unwrapped by a swarm of eager hooves as her friends freed her from her blankety prison. Out of breath, Scootaloo gasped, "I *huff* remember *pant* why *huff* I was *gasp* supposed *pant* to rest."

Scootaloo plopped back onto the pillow, looking completely worn out. Sparkler looked her over and tsked, "Maybe next time you'll listen when somepony tells you to get some rest."

"Ha!" A Scoots shouted half heartedly, raising a trembling, defiant hoof, "Rest is for the weak! Winners keep at it!"

"Well, this winner will end up sleeping through her sleepover if she doesn't rest her magic at least a little," Sparkler retorted, drawing a huff from Scootaloo and a laugh from the other Crusaders.

"So now what do you want to do?"

Twilight was deep in thought. She had talked to Spike early that morning, not long after reading his note saying he had left for Canterlot. And running through Ponyville directionless, torn between the want to teleport directly there and get her son, and the fear of doing something wrong and making things even worse.

Then there was the moment when she sent the secretary who caused Spike so much distress to the n-th dimension, until the Mayor talked to her for several minutes, calming her down enough to see that banishing citizens to the space between spaces wasn't the best of ideas.

Well, not best of ideas in terms of paperwork. Twilight never knew the paperwork that came with transporting ponies to abstract hyperspaces could generate. Or that such paperwork existed in the first place, for that matter, nor the taxes it incurred.

After unbanishing the mare, whose name turned out to be Paper Pusher, then talking to the mayor yet again about Spike's status as a citizen, which fell on deaf ears, she decided to do something productive to distract herself.

Which led her to her current problem: What to do about Scootaloo. Celestia had been vague, stating that she'd talk to Luna, and Twilight was running into a wall on how to train a pegasus in spell casting. She'd need it, especially if she was to help her to her utmost abilities.

Then she had that picnic with Discord and Fluttershy coming up.

Which created two conflicting emotions: She and the other bearers trusted Discord as far as they could throw him, aside from Fluttershy who would probably befriend a changeling and reform them if she had the chance. But he didn't have to help her or Scootaloo yesterday, nor did he have to lift a paw to undo the damage done. It was a pickle, that was for sure, and one on which she wasn't sure how to feel.

But one thing she did know: Some way, somehow, she was going to help Scootaloo. The thing with Discord was for Future Twilight to deal with.

The sun rose the next day to a warzone. Paper cups, empty pizza boxes, and toys littered the floor. The unfinished attempts of various arts and crafts projects tossed haphazardly around the floor in various states of disrepair were scattered like destroyed ramparts of some fantasy castle. The Crusaders themselves were deep in the thrall of an epic food coma, nestled together in a ponypile on Scootaloo’s bed.

Sparkler stretched out her kinked muscles, still aching from being both subject to and judge of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' various endeavors, which included everything from eating contests, which resulted in two-thirds of the Crusaders passing out from enough sugar and heavy foods to put down a rampaging Pinkie Pie, to various artistic pursuits which resulted in the majority of the remainder of the Crusaders to pass out, leaving only Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sparkler to remain awake.

They took turns telling random stories with toys as both characters and as props. When one stopped, and the next pony would pick it up, weaving an epic tale of Dashing Rainbows the Magnificent, and her faithful sidekick Knat, the flying tortoise, and their epic fight against the evil Boogeymare, who was trying to banish all the fillies and colts in Equestria into Eternal Bedtime.

It was only after the two fillies fell asleep that Sparkler could call it a day and pull out her sleeping bag. Sparkler was proud that she didn’t go insane, and that she prevented no less than five cutie mark attempts that could have leveled the house, including one that, for some undisclosed reason, needed fifty pounds of pudding, several industrial sized bottle rockets, and a five gallon drum of luster dust.

But now, it was time to clean before everypony else woke up. After all, as a role model to her sister, she needed to set a good example. Even if that meant cleaning up a massive amount of clutter that wasn’t her mess.

It was later in the day, and the Crusaders had all left for their respective homes. Raindrops and Scootaloo were sitting together on the filly's bed. “So, did you have fun last night?”

“Yeah, thank you for letting them come over, Raindrops. It was fun to finally have a ‘my place’ for them to come over to,” Scootaloo responded, blushing.

“It was my pleasure. You know, I wouldn’t mind letting you have more of those, just as long as you keep your grades up, and clean your room while you live here. Then I have no problem letting you have friends over. Sounds fair?”

“No probs,” Scoots replied, scooting herself into a more comfortable sitting position.

“So, I guess since you’ll be here a while, I should lay some ground rules. First, before you go crusading for your cutie mark, you need to finish your homework. Second, I need you home before eight at night, and if you’re going to be late, I need to know where you’ll be. Alright?”

“That’s fair. What about chores and stuff?” Scootaloo asked.

“As long as you keep your room clean, I can deal with the rest. I’ll pay you a set amount each week for any additional chores you do. Also, if you can earn a C or higher grade on tests, I’ll give you an extra 2 bits per letter grade. Double on report cards ” Raindrops explained with a smile, “Now then, from what Princess Twilight told me, you’ll need one more day of rest to fully recuperate. But you should be alright to walk about, just no magic. Which for you means no using your wings or pegasus abilities.”

“Awwww!” Scootaloo moaned, “Why?”

“Because your body is still recovering its magic reserves. If you stress it, you could do even more damage, especially after you just got one problem fixed. You wouldn’t want to be worse off, would you?”

“No, not really. I promise not to be awesome today. But tomorrow, I’ll be kicking so much flank!” Scootaloo shouted, hoof pumping.

“Scootaloo, you are by far the most awesome filly I have ever had the joy of taking under my wing. You don’t need to force yourself when you’re healing just to prove you're as awesome as everypony knows you are,” Raindrops assured her.

Scootaloo nuzzled her, and replied, “Thanks, you know, you’re a pretty cool pony. I know if you ever become a mom, you’d be great at it.”

Now that the first hurdle in securing a good future for Scootaloo was over, Raindrops left for the market. All that was left was the hard part: Getting her adopted by somepony that’d treat her as the wonderful little filly she was. She smiled as she felt the morning sun warm her coat. She fluffed her wings, getting ready to fly off and enjoy the good weather, when Cloud Kicker and her foal-sized older sister Alula dropped out of the sky.

Alula’s horn was something everypony glanced at when they first met her, similar to Ditzy’s eyes, but unlike Ditzy, Alula was still self-conscious about her horn. Especially, if rumors she heard on the grapevine were true, with her treatment in Canterlot. Her treatment at their old hometown was one of the reasons she moved to Ponyville to live with her sister for awhile.

“Hi, Alula! Cloud Kicker! How are you two doing this morning?” Raindrops greeted enthusiastically.

“Wow, somepony’s awfully chipper this early in the morning,” Alula snarked sleepily.

“‘Lula!” Cloud Kicker shouted.

“It’s alright. I was just pleasantly surprised to see you today, that’s all, and it’s good to see you too, Alula. You haven’t had your coffee yet, have you?” Raindrops commented.

Cloud Kicker blushed, and her sister pawed the ground self-consciously. “Not yet. Kicky says it’ll make me a midget. Then I’ll have to live the rest of my life as a carny,” Alula replied.

“That’s not an excuse, ‘Lula, I taught you better than to snark at people unless they have it coming. Anyways, Dropsy, are you still up for this Wednesday?” Cloud Kicker said with an adorably cheesy grin.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world,” Raindrops replied, quickly sneaking an affectionate nuzzle.

“Gag me with a spoon,” Alula commented, making a gagging gesture with her right forehoof, “Sorry… But you’re acting like you’ve never dated before.”

“I haven’t,” Raindrops replied sullenly.

“Wait!” Alula shouted, gaining a glare from her sister, “Like never, never?”

“Never, ever, ever.”

“Wow… That’s kinda sad,” Alula mused.

“Alula… You know I love you, right?” Cloud Kicker said through gritted teeth.

“Yep. I’m adorable. It’s how I was allowed to live to see the age twenty five,” Alula commented.

Twenty five? Raindrops mouthed.

“Yeah, it’s a weird alicorn thing. They develop slower than normal ponies. Alula’s technically my older sister, but she didn’t hit puberty till four years ago. It’s one of the reasons she was getting flak in Canterlot. I mean, she shared Magic Kindergarten with Twilight Sparkle, and she hasn’t aged a day,” Cloud Kicker explained, “Heck, the princesses come and talk to her every few years to catch up on things and give her alicorn-y help.

“Still, ‘Lula you know better than that. I mean, you’re almost thirty, and you’re one to talk You didn’t start liking ponies till four years ago.”

“Kicky! I told you not to tell anypony my age. It makes ponies call me a freak,” Alula snapped, damp spots appearing in the corners of her eyes.

“Hey, I don’t think you’re a freak! You’re an adorable little filly, although this is a good time to ask... Are you alright with me dating your sister?” Raindrops asked, wrapping a teary eyed Alula in a winghug.

“I guess... You seem nice, and Kicky won’t stop talking about you, which is rare for her, at least in one sitting. So yeah, I’m okay with it,” Alula said, sniffling.

Taking a step back, Raindrops looked Cloud Kicker in the eye, smiling. “Well, I’ve gotta get going. I’ll see you around seven on Wednesday, right?”

“Yep. Seven.”

Author's Notes:

So this is a bit of a long chapter. I was told that my chapters seem to go to quickly. So I'm going to see if making longer chapters will make things flow smoother for a bit. If they seem to drag on though [my worries about longer chapters] then let me know and I'll work to find a common medium.

Alula: Alula was originally much older in the first story that eventually evolved into Golden Wings [which is technically a re-write of a fic I deleted when I decided to remake it into a more cohesive / proper fic. Rather than a group of short stories in chronological order]. Where she aged 6 years to every year for a pony. Now as a foal, she's aging at 1 per 2.5 normal years.

Reflections I

As Raindrops walked to the market, the world seemed to dissolve around her as her mind wandered to the events that led up to this moment. To think that a week ago, I was just helping out Ditzy and her kids while she recovered from the alicorn flu, working her mail shift, and ensuring she wouldn’t lose bits.

Then I met her. Scootaloo is quite something, and I see so much of myself in her. I’m just glad that she had true friends who kept her from making horrible mistakes, I’m able to help her out in my own small way. It cut quite a ways into my donation funds, but Scootaloo is more important than some charity. Any foal would be. I’m amazed at the ponies in Ponyville. They really came together for her, and soon she’ll go to a happy family, just like all the others.

At least she had a much better start than I did. Raindrops contemplated.

Mrs. Sugar Sweet was one of those ponies who knew how to ride the coattails of others, while soaking up the credit for herself. One who was a master of looking busy while doing nothing, and worst of all, one who knew how to play the system while those under her were terrorized by her antics.

Raindrops didn’t like her very much, and Sugar Sweet didn’t like her. She let Raindrops know that she was unloved, unwanted, and if she didn’t do as Sugar Sweet commanded, would be tossed out on the street. The snobbish mare had a greyish-brown coat like the filth in a grease pit, and an oily black mane wrapped in a bun. Her beady green eyes showed a constant disdain for her 'lessors', lessors being anypony not born with a horn on their head.

It was years later that Raindrops would learn what a tribalist meant. All she knew back in her early fillyhood was that her ‘caretaker’ was good at fooling inspectors, who only cared about what was written on paper, while being a spiteful hag to those under her care or in her employment.

But then again, as Mrs. Sugar Sweet was happy to point out every night, while tanked on cheap Sherry, “Canterlot was a unicorn city!”, usually followed by things along the lines of, “Any non-unicorn dropped off at an orphanage there was dropped off because their parents hated their existence, and they were lucky not to be tossed off the mountain or shipped to work in a mine for the superior race.”

It angered her that somepony like that was in charge of foals like her, and she was glad to get punished just to have her chance at making that ponies life as miserable as her little filly self could. Which, in hindsight, amounted to nothing, but at the time she felt empowered by her rebelliousness.

But today, she went too far. She committed the gravest sin any filly under that miserly wench with a princess complex could do. Sugar Sweet was a known tippler who owned a rather impressive amount of expensive sherries given to her by the ‘thankful parents’ of the social elite, rumored to be related to some rather shady deals involving misbehaving children who vanished from the home during the night.

Being on full display as they were in her office, it wasn’t that hard for Raindrops to filch the keys, and toss them into the laundry cart that she was in charge of that day. The hard part was making it to the roof, but that was more of a physical challenge than a worry of getting caught. After all, anypony other than a unicorn wasn’t worth noticing as long as she or he was doing labor for the matron. It took a few trips, but eventually she had her prize and knew just what to do with it.

If those ponies walking past the home were so happy in their superiority, she’d show who was really on top. Taking aim at the ponies below, walking along like mindless insects Raindrops reared her little arms back, using her primaries to line up her sights with a particularly wealthy-looking unicorn in a fancy suit… And completely missed her mark.

Still, the look on his face when the bottle shattered at his hooves and stained him with splatters of sherry... It didn’t take Raindrops long to abandon all thought of aiming. Sure, hitting one of those pompous bigwigs would’ve been great, but seeing them shriek and gallop off in terror was even better. The sight of them being as scared as she felt every waking moment of her life was beyond cathartic.

But like all good things, it had to come to an end. As soon as news of a crazed maniac accosting the wealthy with bottles reached the matron’s ears, the tyrannical matron tore apart the orphanage in search of Raindrops to enact her furious vengeance.

Eventually, Sugar Sweet discovered the unlocked roof door, and just a few feet away, a Raindrops, tossing the last sherry bottle onto the streets below. Fuming with barely contained rage, she roughly grabbed Raindrops' ear and dragged her off to her office. Dumping her in front of her desk, Sugar Sweet growled, “You know, you featherbrained waste of a life, I have tried being nice to you, only denying you two meals a day, giving you extra chores... I hoped that would discipline you.

“But just like the rest of your barbaric tribe, I can see there’s no reasoning with you. It’s one of the many things I hate about you flying feather dusters. I simply can’t talk sense to you, what with your head being so full of air.

“So, I’m finished with you. I told you I could toss you out on the street and nopony would miss you, and it’s true. I can keep drawing money from the crown on you for ten more years and nopony would know you don’t live here anymore. You wouldn’t be the first one I kicked out for being a horrible little cancer on the world.

“I’m doing everypony a favor by letting you die on the streets like your parents should have done to you instead of dropping you here. I’ll give you five minutes to pack up and leave. If you don’t, I’ll toss you out myself.”.

Raindrops smirked, her little wings flared out in challenge. “Wow, you like to hear yourself talk, don’t you? Face it, you can’t toss me out. If you do, ponies will see how horrible you really are.”

The adrenaline died down quickly as a predatory smirk grew on the matron’s abhorrent muzzle. Raindrops felt her anger turn to terror as Sugar Sweet's horn lit up. The door behind her was slammed open, followed by Raindrops as she slammed into the opposite wall.

Raindrops yelped in pain as her body hit one wall, then another, punctuating each of Sugar Sweet’s icy words. “You don’t get it. I know how to hurt you and stay out of trouble. It’s the word of a troublemaker versus a hard working mare. No one loves you. No one wants you.”

Raindrops was disorientated as the door to the orphanage opened up. “And no one will miss you,” were the last words she heard as she was tossed into the street. Shards of glass from her failed revenge tore into her coat, leaving jagged, bloody scratches in her flesh.

Raindrops looked around at the surrounding crowd. At first she thought they were watching, waiting for her to explain what happened, to form an angry mob and take care of Sugar Sweet once and for all... But they kept walking. Nopony stopped to look at the poor, ragged filly on the sidewalk. They just kept moving as if she didn't exist.

That’s when it hit her. Nopony did care. A part of her wanted to run back and ask forgiveness. Sure, she knew no one cared, since she had reached the ripe old age of eight and no one had claimed her like the unicorn fillies and colts. All the horrible things she had heard but didn’t allow to break her seemed a whole lot more real now that she was tossed out, hurting, and bleeding.

But with nowhere to go, she decided to pick a direction and run as fast as her legs could carry her.

I’m glad Scootaloo never had to go through something like that. But in way, I have to thank that spiteful hag. If it wasn’t for her, I would never have had the drive to find those like her and put them behind bars. I’m glad ponies like her are the exception rather than the rule in orphanages, but being tossed out was probably the best thing that happened to me.

A smile grew on Raindrops’ lips as she trotted over to the Apple family stall. In a way, the farmer’s markets in small towns like this were a blessing compared to mass produced food found in bigger cities. Not to mention the friendly atmosphere, and getting to know the ponies you get food from, not some faceless company dishing out food you can’t always trust.

“Howdy, Raindrops! What brings ya ‘round these parts this early in the mornin’?” Applejack asked, pulling Raindrops from her thoughts..

“I thought I’d come and do some light shopping while Scootaloo’s recovering. How are things with you?”

“Good enough. Nothin’ ta complain about, at least. So what were y’all thinkin’ about? Ya looked mighty deep in thought there.”

“Just how happy I am that Scootaloo is in such a loving village, and how quickly ponies pulled through for her. You really don’t see that in a whole lot of places,” Raindrops answered, beaming.

“Well that’s just how we are. We look out for each other,” Applejack replied, a smile of her own gracing her muzzle.

“So can I get myself some apple fritters, applesauce, and a few bottles of apple juice?”

“Sure, no problem, sugarcube,” Applejack placed the contents in a paper bag, and nudged it over to Raindrops, “That’ll be twenty bits.”

Raindrops gave her the bits and waved off as she trotted to her next spot in the market. Too think it’s only been a week since that filly’s entered my life, and it was all thanks to Ditzy getting the Alicorn Flu. If I hadn’t taken up her work, I wouldn’t have been flying on that route back home, and I would’ve never have met that little filly. How long would she have have lasted on the streets this coming winter? The next? Five years is five years too long for a filly like her to be suffering in the streets.

Raindrops had been living on her own for a few weeks now, and the first scheduled snow was falling on the streets of Canterlot. She had learned the hard way that Mrs. Sugar Sweet wasn’t lying. No one paid attention to a street waif, the pleas of a little pegasus filly were of no concern to them. But it was a common problem she would learn as she got older, ponies just had the habit of overlooking, neglecting, or in some cases outright ignoring the plight of foals. It’s what made the few Foal Protection officers so special, since it took a rare type of pony to want to watch over and protect the young.

But at the time, all she knew was that while ponies ignored her, it made it easier to steal and run before anyone noticed anything was amiss. But it didn’t matter. Now that she was shivering as the snow melted on her coat before getting frozen again in the cold weather, she tried to find shelter and was lucky.

A group of vagabonds sat around a warm barrel, keeping the cold at bay. They were a motley crew of of different races who shared the fact that they had fallen on hard times, as their dirty, and matted fur could attest to.

“Um… Can I join you?” Raindrops whispered, scared that she’d be chased away.

The leader of the group, a wiley-looking earth pony mare, with a shock of red mane highlighting her rugged face and dust covered peach coat, looked her over. With a smile and a throaty laugh, she replied, “Sure thing, short stuff. Can’t let a fellow drifter freeze to death.”

“Thanks,” Raindrops murmured, stepping closer to the barrel. It had been a while since anypony had showed her kindness of any sort, and she thought it would be nice of her to offer something in return. Emptying the contents of the ragged saddlebag she’d found in the trash, all had to offer was a chunk of cheese and a half eaten carrot. “Um, it’s not much, but I can share my food.”

“Nah, keep it, kid. It looks like you barely eat as is,” The mare joked, only to hear Raindrops stomach growl, “And it sounds like someone agrees with me. Tell me kid, when’s the last time you really ate something?”

Raindrops thought back. After she was kicked out of the orphanage, she tried dumpster diving, but it made her sick and that was something she couldn’t afford to do again. Afterwards she just stole food from vendors, that netted her a meal a day if she was careful. “Define ‘really ate something’? I think my meal before this one was… Yesterday. A bottle of milk, an apple, and some weird fish thing that somepony left on their plate on one of those outdoor patio restaurant things.”

She saw a rather sad smile on the group's faces as the mare came up and went to give Raindrops a nuzzle, but Raindrops shied away from it. The mare’s smile turned to a frown, and Raindrops was sure she was about to be tossed out away from the warmth for her transgression. Just like she was tossed out by Miss Sugar Sweet.

As the thoughts of getting quite literally tossed around by a unicorn flashed in her mind, she became quite aware that there were a few unicorns in the group. Whinnying in panic, she took a step back.

The mare looked at the two unicorns with a deeper frown, and crouched down in front of Raindrops. “Hey, hey little filly. It’s alright, hey, why don’t we go for a walk. I promise you, you won’t get hurt. Just a friendly little stroll. What’cha say?”

Raindrops was confused to say the least. but gave a nod, shoving the remains of her food in her mouth in case she had to bolt.

They trotted slowly next to one another, Raindrops a short ways away from the red maned mare. “By the way, my name’s Zesty Peach, but my friends call me Z.”

“My name’s Raindrops.”

“Well now, Raindrops, want to tell me which of those unicorns hurt you?”

“What do you mean?” Raindrops asked with a tinge of fear in her voice.

“I saw the look of fear you were giving them. Now before I go in hooves a blazing for a misunderstanding. I wanted to hear your side of things first.”

“Oh, it wasn’t them. I was just remembering…” Raindrops’ voice tapered off into a whisper.

“Ah, good…” Z shot Raindrops a look and clarified, “Not ‘good whatever happened to you’, just that I don’t have to snap their necks for hurting a foal. I wouldn’t want to think anypony in my little family could hurt a foal, but it's one of the few things that I don’t tolerate. So who did it?”

“I … I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Is it the same reason you were afraid of getting nuzzled?”

“Nuzzled?” Raindrops.

“You don’t know what nuzzling is?”

“Noooo … Should I?”

Zesty Peaches roller her eyes. “We’ll talk about it later kid. So you feel better?”

“A… A little.”

“Good. Now why don’t we go back? I promise, you won’t need to worry about a thing with us. We take care of each other, and it looks like you could use some pony to look after you as well.”

And they were a good family too. Sure, what they taught me was how to steal and work in the shadow of the law. And it was my fault that I got caught in a scheme I started. But I never turned them in, even though it was me who ended up in jail. It actually turned out to be the best thing that happened to me.

If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have ended up with Lieutenant Shimmering Breeze. Sure, I never told him about my family, neither the ones who tossed me away, or the ones that took me in, but I told him everything else, and in a way, he saved me. Both him and Z. I should probably check up on them next time I’m in Canterlot, at the very least I know Z’s been helping ponies like we were. At the very least I need to let her know I finally have a marefriend.

Raindrops squeed at the thought. It was just another blessing that came into her life after taking in Scootaloo. In her heart of hearts she knew that filly had a bright future. Even if Raindrops was only a stepping stone to Scootaloo’s future happiness.

Author's Notes:

3 and a half months XD. Yeah, my editor was busy IRL, and it took a while to get this all edited. Sorry for the wait y'all. But this is still a pretty good chapter and one of my favorites to write so far. We see a bit of Raindrops' past and her time at the Orphanage. Hopefully it helps the audience connect with her, since I wanted to have a chapter that showed not only her past but two chapters [this and the next one] where we see her up close and personal. Rather than as a well meaning 2D personality goody-goody.

That and I've been wanting to tell that story [and her getting caught] for a while now. I was pondering if it had a high enough word count, but my editor thought it was a good spot to end the chapter. Well, hopefully it takes less time to write and come out with ToL, then this fics next chapter XD.

Cloud Kicker

Cloud Kicker was kicking off her weekend with a nice relaxing flight over Ponyville. Captain Dash had everything well in hoof, and with a four day schedule for sunny skies to ensure the leaves in Whitetail Woods were dry enough for the Running of the Leaves, everything seemed to be in order.

Even with her day starting off well enough, she couldn’t shake the feeling of nervousness building up in her gut. Which for her was strange, knowing the source was a hot date. She was Cloud Kicker, Equestria’s third most eligible bachelorette. Sure, she had a reputation that she didn’t want to color her date, but Raindrops was a cool pony.

And even with the reputation she had gained in Ponyville, Canterlot, and certain circles in Vanhoover, Raindrops never paid much attention to it. Their history with each other started long before Cloud Kicker’s reputation as a playgirl ever began.

The Kicker Clan was of the lowest tiers of nobility, and had been for more centuries than Cloud could hope to imagine. It was rumored that Celestia had tried raising them beyond the rank of Dominus, but was declined, respectfully, on the subject.

They were first given nobility for their aid in not only the Lunar Rebellion, but also in the following generations where they fought to maintain order and safety during the Interim, the dark ages when Celestia had retreated from ponykind, before she founded Canterlot a few generations later.

But Cloud Kicker, as well-off as she was, was an anomaly in her clan. The first pegasus in generations who never finished her guard training, nor had any interest in the REAF. It wasn’t to say that her family didn’t love her nonetheless, but when she got a sun on her flank rather than the usual gamut of martial cutie marks, or cutie marks that would be useful on the battlefield, she felt she had to get some space between herself and her family.

She stood before the imposing specimen of mare and stallion that were her parents. Her father, Wall Kicker, was a russet-colored mountain of a stallion with an amber mane, and piercing blue, hawk like eyes. Hurricane Storm, her mother, was azure blue, with every bit of muscle and size as her husband, plus a sea green mane and smokey grey eyes. Scuffing her forehoof on the linoleum floor, it was her father that spoke up first. His gold mane and amethyst coat looking strangely naked without his military gear on.

“Are you sure about this decision, young lady?” His deep voice seemed to fill the room with his rumbling tone.

“Yes, sir,” Cloud Kicker replied, her downcast gaze unable to meet her parents in the eye.

“You know, you could stay here while attending your schooling, it wouldn’t be a problem,”
Her mother commented, her voice voice every bit as deep and powerful as her husband’s.

“I know, but I had to stay in the barracks when training to be a guard, and now that, that’s not possible, it’s only fair that I stay in the dorms in Weather School.”

“Well there’s always a place for you here if you change your mind,” Her mother replied, giving a rare, but much-needed nuzzle.

Cloud Kicker leaned into the azure blue coat of her mother a while before looking for the first time into her parent’s eyes. “I’m sorry!” She blurted.

Her parents looked at her in confusion before her father replied, “What for?”

“Every Kicker in since forever has joined the Royal Guard or served in the REAF, but I’m not… I… Am I still a Kicker?” Cloud Kicker asked, sniffling.

Her parents just laughed, pulling her into a warm, strong embrace. “Yes, you silly filly!” Her father replied, “Even if your cutie mark isn’t a military one, you’re still our daughter, and we’ll love you no matter what you do in life. Just as long as you uphold the family’s honor and carry yourself like a Kicker. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Alright?”

Cloud Kicker could only nod. Tomorrow would be the first day of her new life.

It was during that time I met Ditzy and Raindrops. Ditzy had it the hardest, being a ten-year-old mother after making a foolish mistake during her first estrus. But both of them made being away from home a whole lot easier. There I was, a scared little filly, still trying to find my way in life, but a single mother, trying to learn a job that was stacked against her, and a pony with a rougher past than me, would show me how to be a better pony.

I owe them a lot, but I need to be careful with Raindrops. If I’m going to be her first marefriend, I can’t mess this up like I did with the others. I haven’t spoken with her for a while. I wanted to give her time to get settled in with Scootaloo. I still can't believe she was homeless for so long! My training should have spotted something, but then again, I’ve been busy, what with guarding and looking after Alula. Well, as much as one can look over an alicorn filly who’s as old as she is. Still, I need to get my head in the game.

It didn’t take her long to spot Raindrops, who seemed as lost down memory lane as Cloud Kicker, and drifted down to greet her.

“Hey’ya Dropsy, how’ve you been?” Cloud Kicker shouted, swooping down beside her.

“Busy,” Raindrops sighed, “But good. How about yourself?”

“You know me, life can never keep me down,” Cloud Kicker stated with a cocky grin, drawing a chuckle from Raindrops.

“I wish I had your confidence sometimes,” Raindrops replied, “So about our date… We haven’t talked about it much. Do you know where you want to go?”

“You don’t need to worry about a thing,” Cloud Kicker said, wrapping a wing across Raindrops’ barrel, “I’ll make it the most memorable first date you could ever dream of.”

"Alright," Raindrops squeaked, blushing profusely

Cloud Kicker nuzzled her neck playfully, whispering, “you know you’re cute when you blush.”

Seeing Raindrops turn beat red brought a chuckle to Cloud Kicker’s lips. “But seriously Dropsy, don’t worry about a thing. So… Do you need help with anything today?”

Raindrops took a moment to fan herself with her wings to fight back the burning in her face. Darnit! I’m getting all flustered like a school filly! Keep it cool, Raindrops. Keep. It. Cool. “Ah-hum, well, I could use an extra pair of wings with my shopping, if that’s alright with you?”

“Yeah, sure,” Cloud Kicker replied, “I’m free for the rest of the day,”

“You know, this kind of reminds me of when we first met.”

“How so?

“Well, you flying down, brimming with confidence, and coming across like a giant flirt, but being really nice.”

“Yeah,” Cloud Kicker muttered, rubbed the back of her head. The day they met was probably the fifth most embarrassing moment in her life. Far below the time she lost that bar of soap in one of her exes during their bathtime adventures, but definitely above that time her and Dash got banned from Cloudsdale’s noodle shop for life.

The walk was filled with awkwardness as neither Raindrops nor Cloudkicker knew what to say first. Raindrops, because she was nervous about being with her first serious romantic interest, and Cloudkicker, because all the thoughts that came into her head were cheesy one liners.

After minutes of silence, Raindrops that started the conversation going,“So, are you thinking about cheesy one liners to break the ice?”

“What?! How’d you know that?” Cloud Kicker squawked as her wings flared.

“We’ve been friends for years now. It’s one of the first things you usually do with a new pony that you’re with,” Raindrops replied with a grin.

“Ha! Yeah I do do that don’t I? Well, yeah… I was thinking about that, but you’ve already heard them all already.”

“I guess that’s what I get for being a sounding board for when you’re trying out a new pickup line,” Raindrops laughed. It was something that they’d done in their friendship since they were fillies. Cloudkicker would have a friend, usually Raindrops, listen to a one liner she was planning on trying out on a date, helping her fine tune it, and weed out the few rather horrible ones. With the list they ended up with, Cloud Kicker could probably sell a book on them. Everything between the very good and the utterly pathetic would probably make her rich, if she wasn’t already obscenely wealthy from being born a Kicker.

“Well, at least I can say that with you and Ditzy being there to help, you’ve helped me save more dates than I can imagine,” Cloudkicker retorted, giving Raindrops a playful bump with her toned flank, “So what’re we going to get at the market anyways?”

“I… I forgot,” Raindrops admitted, blushing.

“I tend to have that effect on ponies,” Cloudkicker teased, making Raindrops blush even harder.

Raindrops’ wings fluttered at her sides, trying to cover her red face, before deciding to change tactics, “So how’s Alula?”

“She’s doing well. I think she’s ready to hit her next big growth spurt next year,” Cloudkicker replied proudly.

“That’s good, when was her last one?”

“Umm… About 15 years ago? Give or take five years.”

“It must be rough being an alicorn filly. None of the ponies in Ponyville give her any trouble do they?”

“Nah, not in the least. I really wish she’d have a few serious friends, though. After the Rainbow Dash Club disbanded a few years back, she hasn’t really been able to keep in touch with them.”

“Well, if she wants, I’m sure I could talk Scootaloo into hanging out with her… Maybe.”

“Sure, it’d give Alula somepony to play with, and who knows, she might finally get a fillyfriend of her own. She’s nearing that age, I think. Not quite sure about alicorn fillies, but Princess Celestia does come see her from time to time to help with alicorn stuff.

“So what about you and Scootaloo? I know Rainbow Dash sings praises of her little sister, but what’s she been like with you?”

“Confusing,” Raindrops admitted, “She’s friends with Princess Luna, even going as far as being able to speak to her without any formalities, has a friend who’s a dragon with about as many diplomas as Twilight Sparkle, and her big sister is Rainbow Dash.

“It makes everything that I’ve ever had to deal with in other fillies and colts seem completely alien… But I wouldn’t trade it for anything, at least while she’s in my care. She really is a sweet filly, and I only hope she gets a good family.”

“Why not you?” Cloud Kicker asked.

“You know why,” Raindrops sighed. Cloud Kicker shook her head, sighing heavily.

“You aren’t cursed to be alone, you know. And you deserve to be happy.”

“But what of my past? I wasn’t the pony I am today. Foals need somepony better.”

“Better than you?” Cloud Kicker tsked, “Listen, Dropsy. Ponies change. I’m sure if the Raindrops you were as a filly could see you as an adult, she’d agree with me that you’d be a great mom. I mean, just look at how well you’ve done with helping with Amethyst and Dinks! Ditzy’s told me plenty of times over a cold one, how much she appreciates the help you’ve given.”

“Well, yeah, but …”

“But nothing,” Cloud Kicker nuzzled Raindrops while resting a wing on her withers, “You’re fine, and things between you will be fine. You just need to have as much faith in yourself as your friends do.”

Raindrops nodded. I really am different from how I used to be... Thanks, Cloud Kicker, I’m really lucky to have you and Ditzy as friends.

Author's Notes:

Between my editor being super busy, and IRL for both of us being insane. This took way to long to get out. I apologize for the wait, and thank all of you for being patient while this fic was getting finished.