‘That’s about it…’ Lunar finished his story. It had taken almost twenty minutes to tell Scootaloo about what had happened.

But throughout the story, he had been secretive. He didn’t tell her about the mistakes and enemies he’d made. He didn’t tell her of the problems either. Or even, how he was living here, in the tree house. But she was oblivious to the omissions and had listened to every last detail that he would give up.

‘That’s quite a story…’ Scootaloo was in disbelief. Never had she heard something so similar to her story. She could actually relate. And she felt relieved. Finally someone had come along who had felt what she had felt. Someone who was missing what she was missing. Someone who-

‘Was that sarcasm or disbelief?’ Lunar asked. Scootaloo’s eyes had widened and the corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk at the same time. Her expression and body language both displayed her feelings. Feelings that both Lunar and herself couldn’t comprehend.

‘A bit of both, actually.’ Scootaloo chuckled. Lunar joined in. Of all the ponies Lunar had met in the previous week, Scootaloo was obviously the most similar to himself. She was relaxed, had few friends and most of all, she seemed to have nowhere to go. They were really getting on. But Lunar had forgotten the sentence that he’d written in secret to one mare.

I reckon opposites could attract.

He’d written that sentence with the same smirk that had appeared on the filly’s face. In only a few words, he could explain to Scootaloo everything he’d done to the 6 mares (and the dragon) that he’d met on his travels, but he couldn’t. He had been told not to mention anything or any pony that he met after he ran away. The problem though is that if any of the 5 mares he had seen since found him, he’d probably have a very tough time explaining how he was surviving without making a problem for at least one of them. The one mare he had met up with since had told him not to mention it to any pony, and try to stay clear of the fillies that hang around the tree house. He was breaking every rule except the most important just by talking to Scootaloo. He didn’t want to lose the mare’s trust as it would be the quickest way to lose her. But if he could convince Scootaloo not to tell anyone about him…

‘Lunar? Why are you staring at me?’ Scootaloo questioned. Lunar, much like Scootaloo almost faded away from the world if they had something else on their mind. They wouldn’t daydream. It was more like deep thought. They could get through an entire monologue in their heads before anyone noticed they’d faded. It was another thing they had in common.

‘I honestly don’t know…’ he lied. It wasn’t that he was in thought; it was that he didn’t know what to do. Could he trust Scootaloo?

He didn’t have to make the decision, at least for today.

‘I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She said, jumping up and shoving her homework into her backpack.

‘Wait. Scootaloo,’ he couldn’t let one of the first real friends he’d made leave without telling her, ‘I’m meeting someone tonight. Could you come back at sunset tomorrow? I’d like to have you helping out. I’m sure you’d like her. She’s a Pegasus too. ’ Scootaloo could only feel curious about the offer. Who else could know about him living here? Why did they know about him? Who could it possibly be?

‘Sure.’

She’d smiled and climbed out of the tree house. She’d left Lunar wondering why she’d said it like she had. She had been smiling; her voice was light and had a slight tone of relief. Why was she relived? He didn’t worry for long. He had other things on his mind. Would the mare be mad that he’d invited Scootaloo? He’d have to wait and see. He had too much to do before they both arrived. He’d have to find a way to explain how Scootaloo found out, without making himself seem careless. He set to work finding a suitable excuse, whilst he tidied up the tree house. He couldn’t have Scootaloo and the mare turn up to the mess he and Scootaloo had made. It was calm and he had time to think until an orange mare looked through the door.

‘Hello? Any pony? I know y’all in here. I ain’t here to hurt y’all. This is the last time I’m letting you get out on your own four hooves.’

This had happened only twice before during the week he’d spent here. And twice she had said it’s the last time. She may have seemed quite stern during her warnings but her mumblings afterwards always seemed to be about problems she had with her friends. They were usually about one of her friends in particular. Rainbow Dash. And how she ‘wasn’t around much no more…’

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

‘Well, that was awkward’ Scootaloo laughed as she scooted her way home. It had been awkward. He didn’t appear to know what he was doing. Was he asking her out? Probably not, he’s an animal and she’s a pony. It wouldn’t be right and she was pretty sure he knew that. Plus the fact that he’d said some pony else was going to be there.

Who could it be? Applebloom? Sweetie Belle? They could have found him earlier. Could it have been Applejack? She could have caught him trying to steal apples. Probably not. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle didn’t stay at the tree house long enough for him to catch him trying to come out and as for Applejack; she never spent much time near the tree house. Only ever to find Applebloom during the evening when the three fillies would be crusading. And none of them were pegasi.

Scootaloo knew only a few pegasi who even went near the Apple family’s orchard, and fewer than that knew about the tree house. After a short journey home, she’d concluded that the most likely mare would be Fluttershy. She’s a Pegasus, she knows nearly every animal around Ponyville and she took care of animals. With all this evidence, it just had to be her, right?

Who else could it be?