“This had better be worth me staying after school,” Scootaloo grumbled, eying her breath as it floated skyward. She tugged her scarf tighter and stomped her hooves, doing anything she could to keep warm. “Here I am, standing in the snow to wait on some filly while the girls and Apple Bloom’s little tagalong boyfriend get all warm and cosy in Sugarcube Corner!”

Flicking her tail, she reached into her saddlebag and rummaged around in search of the note she’d found tucked between the pages of her math book after lunch period.

Her hoof brushed against one of the crumpled edges. She snatched it out of her bag and leaned up against the side of the old swing set. The cold, rusted metal pressed against her shoulder as she unfolded the paper and let her eyes skim over the familiar cursive writing. The scent of vanilla and lilac wafted to her nose—a filly’s perfume.

Dear Scootaloo,

There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for quite some time. I just haven’t been able to pluck up the courage to come to you, especially when I see you surrounded by your friends. I can’t put it off any longer. I have to tell you, if only so you know how I’ve felt about you for so long.

Please meet me by the old swing set after Miss Cheerilee lets us out of class today. I promise, it’ll just be the two of us. No tricks like when we were younger.

I hope to see you there, Scootaloo. If not, well, I understand.

Sincerely,

Your Secret Admirer

Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she stuffed the note in her saddlebag. “‘Secret admirer,’ my cutie mark,” she muttered. The mouthwriting and perfume were dead giveaways, but the little bit about tricks sealed it.

If Silver Spoon didn’t walk out that door, sunlight gleaming off her coat as she walked and swished her silvery tail, Scootaloo would eat her scooter whole.

She flicked her tail, glancing toward the schoolhouse with a small frown. What in Equestria was that filly playing at?

No sight of her yet. Scootaloo sighed and gave her wings a little rustle. “You’ve got about five minutes to get your little gray backside out here,” she said, more to herself than the absent filly. “And then I’m bailing to get ice cream with the girls and Pip.”

At the mention of Pip’s name, she wrinkled her snout. Bailing meant she had to watch Apple Bloom sit on the same stool with him, all cuddled up while they shared a milkshake, stealing cutesy little kisses when they thought Sweetie and Scootaloo weren’t looking. Not that she wasn’t happy for her friend, but still. Ew.

Maybe ten minutes. Or fifteen.

Waiting twenty minutes wouldn’t seem like she was desperate for an excuse, right?

All she had to do was convince Sweetie Belle. Easy enough, she’d just have to distract her. Somehow.

The schoolhouse’s back door pushed open, and Scootaloo’s ears perked up. “Freaking finally,” she muttered, pushing off the metal post. The instant she caught sight of a gray hoof stepping out onto the porch and the glint of sunlight off those blue-rimmed glasses, she couldn’t help but smirk. I knew it.

Silver Spoon stopped in the middle of the porch, her eyes flitting left and right as if making sure her approach wouldn’t be seen. Once she was satisfied, she gave a little sigh of relief and made to begin her trot, turning her gaze to Scootaloo.

Their eyes met across the field. Silver Spoon froze in mid step, her ears splayed back to lay flat against her scalp.

A small smirk played upon Scootaloo’s lips. After years of ducking her head as Silver Spoon sauntered by with her head high and a quip on the tip of her tongue, it felt rather nice to see the horseshoe on the other hoof.

She watched Silver Spoon close her eyes and take a deep breath, then mutter something to herself before she finally took that first step forward. The confident little filly who stood by Diamond Tiara’s side and teased and tormented her for so long, then joined up with the Crusaders after they earned their marks, was nowhere to be found today.

I should feel like a jerk, but this is just too rich. Scootaloo swished her tail and leaned up against the swing set again, crossing one foreleg in front of the other. Idly, she let her eyes wander over Silver Spoon as she approached. As per usual, her coat was brushed to perfection so sunlight gleamed off it like her namesake, her two-toned silvery-gray braid bobbed along with each step.

Scootaloo raised her brow. Silver Spoon had always had a bit of a cutesy look to her; matching blue scarf and glasses, and a color scheme that even she, with only a passive appreciation gained from hanging out with Sweetie Belle, could appreciate.

There was something a bit different about her today, though. The way she walked, with a bit of hesitation in each step and a sort of half quiver, half sway in her hips was just …

Atypical of the filly she’d known for so long.

Silver Spoon came to a stop just out of hoof’s reach. She gave a shy smile, shifting her weight from one side to the other. “H-Hi, Scootaloo,” she stammered, her gaze flitting to the ground. Chewing on her lip, she scuffed a hoof at the dirt and gave an anxious flick of her tail. “I, uh, wasn’t sure if you got my note or not.”

“You put it in my math book right before math class,” Scootaloo retorted, offering a teasing grin in reply. “Kinda hard not to notice.”

“Yeah, right.” Silver Spoon gave a weak chuckle and ducked her head. “So, about that thing I, uh, wanted to ask you.”

“I saw in the note. What’s up, Silver Spoon?”

Ducking her head, Silver Spoon let her gaze drop to the ground again as her tail tucked between her legs. She mumbled something incomprehensible under her breath.

A silence fell over the pair.

Scootaloo flicked her ear at the sound of birds singing in the forest, her feathers ruffled irritably. She tapped a hoof against the rusted metal, her mouth set into a thin line. “Well?” she pressed. “C’mon, Silver, you didn’t seriously bring me out here to stammer while we listen to birds, did you?” With a sly grin, she gave a playful waggle of her ears. “I mean, if you really wanted, we could’ve set up a picnic or something.”

Silver Spoon’s head snapped up, her eyes lit up and tail swishing merrily. “Really?”

She nodded and glanced off toward the edge of the forest. “Yeah. I mean, it’s not my normal bag, but if Rainbow Dash can have fun with her friends at picnics, I can do it too. We could get the girls.” Wrinkling her snout, she added, “And Pip, I guess, ‘cause Apple Bloom’ll want to get all mushy and stuff with him.”

There was a moment’s pause before Silver Spoon spoke again, her voice quiet and tinged with disappointment. “Oh,” she said simply. “I thought—no, never mind.”

Confused, Scootaloo flicked her ear toward Silver Spoon, then turned to face her again, a quip fresh on the tip of her tongue. She stopped short. Her smile fell as she took in the crestfallen look that crossed the filly’s face.

Uh oh. She pushed off the swing set and stepped in close. “Hey, I was just kidding,” she said, placing a comforting hoof on Silver Spoon’s shoulder. “Wasn’t trying to be a jerk or anything.”

“Y-Yeah,” Silver Spoon said, her voice strained and caught in her throat. She rubbed a hoof against her shin, her gaze flitted to the ground again. “I, uh, guess I deserve a bit of teasing after all that time, don’t I?”

Scootaloo fought down the urge to kick herself. “C’mon, I thought we got past all that. We’re about to graduate and move on from this place, you don’t really think I’d hold an old filly grudge against you this long, do you?”

Shifting again, Silver Spoon offered a pained smile.

She did.

Oh, pluck my feathers.

A tiny frown crossed Scootaloo’s muzzle. She gave Silver Spoon’s shoulder a little squeeze and said, “I’m sorry, alright? That was a line I shouldn’t have crossed, and I did. That’s on me.” Loosening her grip a little, she maneuvered herself so she could stand at Silver Spoon’s side and throw a hoof over her withers. “So, spill. Tell me what’s going on in that silvery head of yours!”

Silver Spoon let out a squeak, her cheeks flushed pink. “Ah! M-My coat is gray, not silver!”

“Same diff!” Scootaloo scoffed and gave a dismissive wave of her hoof, then poked Silver Spoon in the chest. “Don’t be a dictionary, that’s Sweetie’s thing. And don’t you try to change the subject on me either! You have baggage to spill!”

“R-Right.” Another uncomfortable shift, Silver Spoon’s ears pinned back. “I, um—well, you know about the, uh, Hearts and Hooves Day Dance Miss Cheerilee and Twilight put together for next week?”

Scootaloo laughed. “Yeah! Rainbow’s been trying her darnedest to come up with a reason she can’t help chaperone! She even offered me flight lessons that night if I ‘asked’ in front of Twilight!” Blinking, she fixed Silver Spoon with a quizzical look. “What about it?”

The filly chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes flitted from Scootaloo to the ground and back again. “I was hoping to ask you if you wanted to go,” she said. “But if you already have plans …”

Stunned, Scootaloo withdrew her hoof from Silver Spoon’s shoulders and took a couple steps away, rearing back as if she smelled like rotting fruit. “You wanna what?” she asked, wiggling a hoof into her ear. There was just no way she heard that right.

“I-It’s nothing, really!” Silver Spoon squeaked out. She gave a pained smile as if to try and play off the disappointment evident in the way her shoulders slumped. “I know how important flight lessons with Rainbow Dash are to you, and I don’t want to get in the way of that if you’ve already got everything arranged—really, it’s my fault for waiting until the last—”

Scootaloo reached up and covered her mouth with a hoof. “Shut up,” she said. Her brows knitted together in confusion. “You’re babbling. Are you asking me if I want to go to the dance, or if I want to go with somepony?” she pressed, trying to pull it out of the filly before her.

After a beat, she realized she was still covering Silver Spoon’s mouth. With a sheepish grin, she pulled her hoof away. “Sorry. Now talk.”

Silver Spoon hunched her shoulders. “The second one,” she replied. “I wanted to know if you’d like to go with, uh—” she looked away, her cheeks tinged a rosy pink “—with me.”

Blinking, Scootaloo opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out at first.

Well, I did want to know what she wanted.

She shook herself out of her stupor. “You,” she began, pointing a hoof at Silver Spoon, “want to go to the Hearts and Hooves Day Dance with me.” She tapped her hoof against her chest. “Like, together? Or together?”

“Um …” Silver Spoon cocked her head to one side. “The second one. I like you. A lot, really, so I just wanted to see if you might like to go to the dance with me.” The blush in her cheeks seemed to burn brighter, turning a shade almost as red as Big Mac’s coat. “I-If you want to, that is.”

Secret admirer was a dead give away, but this was a turn she hadn’t quite expected. Saying “I like you a lot” was different than “Let’s go to a dance that is specifically meant for couples to be lovey-dovey together.”

She let her eyes wander over Silver Spoon: sleek gray coat brushed to perfection, sunlight glinted off her body and accentuated each and every curve of her form. As prissy and prim as she might seem, the natural beauty of her earth pony heritage shone through in every muscle, from her thighs to her flanks.

A little flutter ran through her feathers. Silver Spoon had always been a bit cutesy, but puberty had gone and turned that into something very different.

Her eyes flitted up to Silver Spoon’s face, right to her bow shaped lips.

Pretty.

Scootaloo blinked and tried to pull herself back into the real world. Something else. Apple Bloom and Pip necking. No, still cute. Sweetie Belle with too much makeup. No, that’s cute in a funny way. Big Mac in drag. Cute in a kinda weird way. Got it! Big Mac in drag, making out with Bulk Biceps …

Her eyes went wide, the taste of bile burnt the back of her throat. Okay, that worked. Also, never telling them that in case they decide to try it. Stumbling upon the pair laying together in the midday sun was surprising enough the first time.

Turning her attention to Silver Spoon again, she ground a hoof into the dirt as she tried to think of an answer. The filly was pretty darn cute, it was all she could do not to let her eyes wander away from those pink lips. Why didn’t I notice she was wearing lipstick before? With a quick shake of her head, she met Silver Spoon’s eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat at the hope shining in those silver eyes.

“So, um, what do you say?” Silver Spoon asked, her voice faltering a bit. “I-I mean, if you’re not too set on practice with Rainbow Dash.” Her ears drooped. “Don’t wanna ruin that for you.”

Scootaloo licked her dried lips. She felt as though Rainbow had just run her through a full scale Wonderbolt Reserve workout, then told her warm ups were over.

Cute, and she has been nicer over the years. Still, a small part of her blanched at the idea of dressing up for a dance. Does it really have to be a thing for everypony to see?

Her ears perked up as a thought came to her. The answer was right there for her to use, she’d already mentioned it to Silver Spoon.

All she had to do was tweak it a little.

With a crooked smile, she made her choice.

Scootaloo never could understand how Pinkie Pie managed to make her milkshakes taste so darn good, but she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to find out. Discovery could ruin the mystique behind whatever crazy sorcery went into them.

Sipping through the straw, she let a smile spread across her muzzle, and propped herself up on one of Sugarcube Corner’s outdoor tables. Her ears flicked at the distinct lack of sickeningly sweet cuteness or excited Sweetie babble at her news. She peered through a half open eyelid at her gaping friends, plus one colt.

Geez. You’d think I told them I was a changeling or something.

“You. Did. What?” Sweetie shrieked, her own milkshake fumbling from her magic. Catching it just in the nick of time, she gripped it in her hooves, then looked up to fix Scootaloo with a horrified stare. “You didn’t?!”

She shrugged. “What? All I said was I’d think about it and that I’d have to make sure I could cancel with Rainbow.” Wrinkling her snout, she set her cup down on the table and gave Sweetie a quizzical look. “It’s not that big a deal, right? I mean, it’s not a ‘no’. It’s just a ‘you hit me with this out of nowhere, let me wrap my head around it and get back to you.’”

Sweetie sucked in a breath, her nostrils flared. Setting her jaw, she made as though to set her cup down, her left hoof twitching as though she were ready to lash out and grab Scootaloo by the shoulders.

It had happened often enough. Scootaloo knew that particular twitch, and it was definitely the “shake Scoots like a maraca” twitch.

To her amusement, Sweetie simply sighed and put her cup down, then brought her hooves up to massage her temples. “And what did she say after that?”

Wrinkling her snout, Scootaloo tilted her head to the side. “What’s the got to do with anything?”

“Humor me.”

With a shrug, she thought back to her talk with Silver Spoon. “Well, she kinda hung her head for a minute, until I told her I just needed a little to take it in and figure things out. Then she kinda smiled like she wasn’t sure if she should be happy or not, and said she could wait until tomorrow.”

“And then?” Sweetie pressed.

“And then we left the schoolhouse, I came in here, and she’s sitting outside with Diamond Tiara.” Scootaloo held her hooves up. “Business as usual.”

There was a heavy thud as Sweetie brought her head down on the table. “You two,” she said, her voice thick with frustration. “Educate her. Before I have to. With the backside of my hoof if I must.”

Scootaloo smirked and waggled her ears. She just couldn’t resist the chance to poke her friend a little. “Oh, no!” She feigned a gasp. “Have I awoken the sleeping romantic?”

Sweetie raised a hoof in warning. “One more word, Scoots. One more.”

Her work done, Scootaloo reclined in her seat and glanced over to Apple Bloom. Best not to poke the dictionary too much. “So? What’d I do?”

“You’re kiddin’, right?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at her, frowning sternly.

“Do I look like I’m joking? I don’t see the problem.”

Sighing, Apple Bloom gave Pip a little nudge, his cue to scoot away a bit to give her space to lecture. She placed her hooves on the table, very much like her sister when doing business with Filthy Rich, and began, “Scoots, think of it like this: you really like trainin’ with Rainbow Dash, right?”

Scootaloo snorted. “Is water wet?”

“More like ‘am I about to get a double smack upside the ‘ead’!” Pip quipped. He grinned and nodded toward Sweetie, who had just raised her head to glare at Scootaloo. “Don’t let me stop you though, luv.”

“Some proper Trottinghamer you are!” she shot back.

He gave a smug smirk, leaning forward to sip at his drink. Like he was taking in a show.

Apple Bloom cleared her throat, drawing her attention once more. “As I was sayin’, ya like trainin’ with Rainbow. Now, picture this: y’know she’s free one afternoon, no dates with Twilight, no Wonderbolts practice, and it’s her offseason, so no shows.”

“Okay.” Scootaloo nodded. “Got it.”

“‘Kay, so, ya go up an’ ask her if she’d mind givin’ ya a bit of a workout, knowin’ she’s got nothin’ better to do. She looks ya in the eye an’ tells ya that she’ll think about it.” She paused and jabbed a hoof at Scootaloo. “Right now, how d’ya feel?”

Scootaloo looked down at the table, her ears drooped. She grimaced, a sour taste made its way into her mouth. “Pretty bad,” she admitted. “It kinda feels like she’s looking for things that she’d rather do.”

“Exactly,” Apple Bloom said. “Now, thinkin’ like that, how d’ya think your lil’ thing with Silver Spoon made her feel?”

Her heart sank. Scootaloo let out a low whine. “I was just trying to get a little time to figure things out!”

“Ya know that don’t matter one bit, Scoots. The filly pulled ya aside to ask, and ya gave a bad answer.” She shrugged and picked up her milkshake, bringing her mouth to the straw. “Not tryin’ to be mean, but ya really made a mess of this one.”

Blanching, she held her hooves out wide. “But she didn’t get upset or anything!”

The trio before her simply met her with flat stares and raised eyebrows, silently waiting for her to figure it out herself.

Slowly, the gears in her head began to turn. If Rainbow said the same thing to her about training, Scootaloo would do everything she could to hide how much it hurt until she was out of sight, even if it meant forcing a smile and feigning hope.

Oh, horseapples, I’m dumb. With a frustrated groan, she ran her hooves through her mane. “Well, this is great. Anything else I can mess up with this whole thing?” Before they could answer, she pushed her seat out and stood up, snatching her cup off the table. “I’m getting another.”

“Two milkshakes?” Apple Bloom snorted in amusement. “Won’t Rainbow get all prickly about your diet routine?”

Rolling her eyes, Scootaloo flicked her tail across her Apple Bloom’s nose as she walked passed. “She’ll understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting more, and then I’m taking a moment or three to myself so I can figure out the mess you’ve so lovingly pointed out for me.” With a rustle of her wings, she made her way toward the counter, turning to call back to them. “Don’t wait up.”

The trio called back in turn, but their voices were lost on her. Scootaloo moved to stand in line behind Roseluck and Lily, tuning out their gossip as best she could. Really, did anypony care that Daisy put a new band in her tail, and that she’d finally catch what’s-his-face’s attention with her newest accessory?

Oh, please. Scootaloo rolled her eyes. If he didn’t notice your prissy little self before, why would putting a little tie in your tail to give it a bit of extra fluff near your rump—oh, never mind. I’d probably notice that too.

Shaking her head to clear her mind, she refocused her thoughts. “How in the hay am I supposed to fix this mess?” she muttered to herself. Her gaze flitted to the cup in her hoof, eying the melted remnants of her chocolate shake. “Why in the heck can’t this stuff be simple? Or just have a nice little guidebook I can whip out for all this emotional baggage stuff?”

“Oooh! Ooooh! I know! Pick me!” Pinkie chirped from right beside her.

Scootaloo yelped, leaping into the air and flaring her wings out wide. “Dang it, Pinkie! Don’t do that!”

Giggling, the mare leaned against her counter. “Sorry, Scootsy, couldn’t resist!” The bright grin on her muzzle and the merry gleam in her eye left no doubt that she was anything but sorry.

But that was just Pinkie. Living in Ponyville for any length of time made things like this all too commonplace with her.

“You’re up, silly filly!” Pinkie’s voice jarred her out of her thoughts. “Another shake already? Golly! You went through that one almost as fast as I go through mine!”

I seriously doubt that. Scootaloo snorted and hoofed over the cup. “Yeah, I’ll take another if you don’t mind. In a to-go cup.”

“Right-o!” With a happy hum, Pinkie took the cup and hopped zipped around the counter to work whatever black sorcery she worked to make her milkshakes. “So,” she began, her eyes never leaving Scootaloo as she scooped out a couple scoops full of chocolate ice cream into a plastic cup, then added milk. “My ears were getting a little twitch-a-twitch when you girls and Pip were over there all huddled together talking.”

Scootaloo did her best to hold a nonchalant expression. “Yeah, what about it?” she asked, leaning against the counter.

“Well, unless my Pinkie Sense is lying to me …”

Oh, shoot not the Pinkie Sense.

Pinkie stopped making the milkshake long enough to rear up and point a hoof at her, just inches in front of her snout. “Somepony’s talking about matters of—” she clasped her hooves over her chest “—the heart!” Stopping a moment, she tilted her head. “Y’know, this is normally a Rarity thing, but she’s not here so too bad for her! I can help! So!” She leaned forward, almost looming over Scootaloo. “Spiiiiiiiiiiiiiill!”

Scootaloo reared back and held her hooves up as if to ward her away. “N-Nothing! It’s nothing!” Backpedaling, she unfurled her wings and gave a couple quick flaps for balance. “Just a little schoolfilly gossip! You know how it is!”

Quick as a flash, Pinkie was around the counter again, with Scootaloo’s milkshake in a plastic to-go cup and straw already in the top in one hoof, while the other wrapped around her withers. “Now, now! Don’t try to hide things from your Auntie Pinkie!” she scolded. “Who’s the lucky filly?”

Sensing a chance to deflect, Scootaloo snorted and grabbed the offered milkshake. “Who says it’s not a colt?”

A raised eyebrow greeted her reply. Pinkie released her embrace and flounced around the counter, giving her a stern flick of her tail across the nose. “If you want to try and play coy and lie to your Auntie Pinkie Pie, you go right ahead, Scootsy-wootsy!” As she stepped behind the register, she stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry. “But the Pinkie Sense knows! Oh, and that’s three bits, by the way.”

Scootaloo was all too happy to slap three bits on the counter and moved away as quickly as she could, pinning her ears back to block out the sound of Pinkie’s knowing laughter.

Just ignore her. I need solutions, I don’t have time for kooky antics and stuff. Turning away from the counter, she took a sip of her milkshake through the straw. The sweet taste of Pinkie’s near-magical chocolate shakes brought the smile back to her muzzle. “Mare knows her treats,” she muttered, flicking an ear to make sure Pinkie wasn’t about to sneak up on her again. Not that it would do her much good, but still.

She glanced out the window, searching the outside tables for a glimpse of silvery mane and gray coat.

At the table farthest from the door, she caught sight of sunlight shining bright off Silver Spoon’s mane. The poor filly sat hunched over a cup of steaming cocoa, her back facing Scootaloo as she sat across from Diamond Tiara. The latter had her hoof laid atop one of Silver Spoon’s, giving her a comforting pat every now and then as she talked. Her eyes were wide and alight, she tapped her free hoof on the table to emphasize each word.

She was giving Silver Spoon a pep talk.

A sharp pang of guilt stabbed into her heart. Apple Bloom’s words nagged at the back of her mind, her friend’s country twang still fresh in her ears.

How would I really feel if Rainbow Dash looked at me and said she’d think about training me on her day off?

The chocolate shake seemed to lose all taste on her tongue as she noted Silver Spoon’s posture: ears laid flat against her head, her shoulders hunched, and her tail hanging limp.

Hardly even recognizable as the cute little filly from earlier, who looked like she’d gone and dolled herself up just for her.

Scootaloo winced. Celestia, I’m a jerk.

How to fix it, though? Maybe she could do something nice, like walk her home or offer to carry her saddlebags while they talked or something.

Wait, no. Those are couple things. Or cutesy crush things. That’ll just make it worse if I say no.

She let out a frustrated groan and stomped a hoof. The sharp crack of hoof on wood served as a brief catharsis, but her problem remained.

“I need to talk to her. Somehow.” Scootaloo looked down at the plastic cup, frowning at the chocolate treat within.

Setting her jaw, Scootaloo closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. As much as she hated to admit it, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were right about this.

She had to set things right, whether her answer was yes or no. Silver Spoon deserved a straight answer.

Her mind made up, Scootaloo trotted toward the door, raising a hoof to pull it open. But before she could reach it, the latch clicked and the door pushed toward her. She stepped to the side so the new customer could make their way inside.

To her surprise, she came muzzle-to-muzzle with Diamond Tiara, who fixed her with a withering stare.

“Oh, good,” Diamond Tiara said, her voice thick with barely restrained anger. “Just the filly I was looking for.”

Almost instinctively, Scootaloo let her ears lay flat. “H-Hi,” she replied, offering a half-hearted, crooked smile. “How’s it going, Diamond—”

“Cut the horseapples, Scootaloo. You know exactly how it’s going.” Scootaloo couldn’t help but wince at her tone: clipped, no nonsense, almost as though she were channeling her father’s demeanor in business negotiations. Diamond Tiara stepped inside, letting the door close with a click, then gestured to an empty two-seater along the back wall. “Step over there. We need to talk.”

Scootaloo bit back a curse as she followed her longtime bully over to the table, wrinkling her snout as she quickened her pace to avoid being flicked across the face by a tail for a second time. As per usual, Diamond Tiara swept into her seat with practiced ease and nodded to the one opposite.

Very much like daddy Rich. Scootaloo rolled her eyes and hopped into the open seat, reclining back as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

Diamond Tiara’s brows furrowed. She folded her hooves one atop the other as she looked down her muzzle at Scootaloo. “So,” she began, “I have it on good authority that you met with Silver Spoon after school, as she asked in her note.”

With a roll of her eyes, Scootaloo played along. “Yes, I did. And she asked me to the Hearts and Hooves Day dance next week. Guess you pulling me aside means you’re not happy with my answer either.”

“Nothing gets by you,” Diamond Tiara shot back, her eyes narrowed. “I hope that ‘either’ isn’t a shot at Silver Spoon, or I’m going to be rather annoyed.”

Snorting, Scootaloo took a sip of her shake before giving her reply, “What are you, her enforcer? And for the record, no. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were just telling me that I made a great, big mess of things a little bit ago.”

Diamond Tiara gave a single nod. “Yes. And I’ve been trying to help Silver Spoon balance between angst and optimism, which is not how I wanted this to go.”

“Hold on a minute.” Scootaloo’s ears perked up. “How you wanted this to go? And why the hay are your acting like we’re back to popular girl and ‘blank flank’ again? I thought we were friends!”

“We are, but Silver Spoon was my first friend.” Tossing her mane, she fixed Scootaloo with a critical look. “I have a vested interest in her happiness. Your little bout of indecisiveness has complicated things, so I’m here to tell you to uncomplicate them.”

Scootaloo frowned. Slowly, she put her milkshake down on the table and folded her forelegs across her chest. “I thought we were over the peer pressure routine by now,” she ground through gritted teeth. She flared out her wings and gave them a challenging flex. They weren’t for show anymore. “I’m not that little filly you pushed around a few years ago, and I’m not about to be her again because you want to score Silver Spoon a date.”

To her surprise, Diamond Tiara didn’t rise. She simply sighed and shook her head. “Really, I hoped by now you’d realized that I’m not that petty, but I suppose I can’t fault you for it given my old habits.” Reaching up to brush a stray strand of her mane back into place, she fixed Scootaloo with a meaningful look. “I simply want you to make a decision and give her an answer. Preferably, right now.”

Orange wings folded against her sides so hard that her joints popped. Scootaloo leaned forward to survey Diamond Tiara through narrowed eyes, checking to see for any signs of falsehood.

There were none. No ears flicking, her gaze was steady, she didn’t so much as crack a smile.

Save for a slight inclining of her eyebrows, there was nothing but an impassive stare.

“Right now?”

Diamond Tiara nodded once. “Right now. I want you to trot yourself out that door and give her an answer.”

Blinking, Scootaloo lowered her gaze to her milkshake, wondering if Pinkie slipped some extra sugar or crazy snack stuff into it. Doubtful. Tampering with sweets was sacrilege to her.

“What if my answer’s no?” she asked.

“Then your answer is no, and I’ll accept that and go comfort my friend. Simple as that.”

“You’re being rather nice about this.”

Diamond Tiara shrugged. “I stopped bullying you years ago, and I don’t feel like starting again just because Silver’s got a crush the size of Manehattan on you. If you want to give it a try, go ahead. If you don’t, I’m not going to make you because that’ll just hurt her more and then I’ll have to deal with an even bigger mess.” Wrinkling her snout, she shook her head. “Adding to that isn’t worth the short-term game. Believe it or not, you being honest about what you want is best for her in the long-term.”

“I see.” Scootaloo drummed her hooves on the tabletop, her eyes flitting to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, then to the window. The memory of how hurt Silver Spoon looked when she joked about the picnic flashed through her mind, she winced. “I don’t want to upset her,” she admitted.

“If you’re going to let her down, just do it gently. I’ll help her cope and she’ll come out right as rain.” Scootaloo turned to face her so fast she felt her neck muscles strain.

Diamond Tiara’s level gaze remained. “I can deal with her being excited that you said yes or upset that you said no easily enough.” As she finished, her eyes hardened. “What I’m not going to deal with is her going through a roller coaster of emotions because you’re jerking her around until it’s convenient for you.”

Another wince. Scootaloo slumped in her seat, rubbing a hoof against her leg. “Well, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Doesn’t matter, came off that way.” With her piece said, Diamond Tiara pointed toward the door. “Now get out there and fix it.”

Ears drooping low, Scootaloo slid out of her seat. She mumbled something incomprehensible under her breath and stood. She turned to trot toward the door, leaving her unfinished milkshake on the table.

Twist my wing a little more, why don’t you? Are all of my friends half a step from slapping me upside the head today?

Scootaloo pushed the door open and stepped out into the sunlight. Turning to her left, she looked past the the other tables, right at Silver Spoon.

Gosh, why did she have to brush her mane like that? Swallowing a lump in her throat, she made her way over to Silver Spoon’s side. “Uh, hey,” she said.

Silver Spoon squeaked in surprise, nearly falling out of her seat in her haste to turn toward her. “Oh, hello again, Scootaloo!” she replied, her voice cracking as she gave a shy smile. “I thought you were having milkshakes with the other Crusaders.” She wrinkled her snout, muttering something along the lines of “how in Equestria any sane pony can drink milkshakes when it’s so cold out.”

Scootaloo bit back a retort. “Yeah, I was, but they gave me a little motivation to fix something I’d messed up.” Her eyes flitted to the window again, just in time for her to catch Diamond Tiara sliding into the empty seat alongside Sweetie Belle and look right back at her along with the others.

Oh, good. An audience. She flicked her tail in irritation. That was just about the last thing she wanted. Well, fine. If they wanted to snoop, she had ways around that.

Offering a smile, Scootaloo tossed her head toward town square. “Wanna walk and talk? Got a couple things I wanted to run by you.”

Silver Spoon’s face lit up, Scootaloo felt her heart skip a beat and her feathers fluff. “Yeah! I mean, yes!” the filly corrected herself, fighting down her excitement as she scrambled out of her seat and stood at her side.

Perfect. As they started walking, Scootaloo stole a quick look over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at the girls, turning back before they could do anything in reply.

She led Silver Spoon through town square, each smiling and waving to ponies as they passed by, though she spared an extra hug for Applejack and Rarity when they approached the two mares chatting at the apple cart. Once she was sure their talk wouldn’t be overheard, she began. “So, about the dance.”

Silver Spoon ducked her head low. “You don’t have to go with me if you don’t want,” she muttered. “Or if you don’t like fillies like I—”

“I do,” Scootaloo cut in. With a playful smile, she nudged her shoulder against Silver Spoon’s. “First thing I noticed when you came out of the schoolhouse was how pretty you looked. You spent extra time brushing.”

“You noticed?” Silver Spoon stood up straight, her tail swished merrily.

Scootaloo nodded once. “‘Course I did. I’ve known you long enough to tell, and anypony who hangs around Sweetie and her sister is bound to pick up a few things.” After a beat, she added, “The sun kinda shone offa you. Living up to the name, eh?”

Cheeks flushing pink, Silver Spoon bit her lip, trying to hide a smile.

“Thought so,” Scootaloo said with a grin. Then, she tilted her head to the side, her brows knitted together. “You took me off guard, y’know. The secret admirer thing made me think you were just gonna tell me how you felt, not ask me to the dance right off the starting line.”

“Did I move to fast?” Gray-coated ears drooped, the bubbly smile ran away from her face. “I didn’t think you—”

Scootaloo held up a hoof to quiet her. “Never said that, just that I didn’t expect it.” She stopped walking, awkwardly shifting her weight from one side to the other as she tried to think things through. Silver Spoon was pretty, and she’d made quite a turnaround in attitude over the years. Not to mention that her dance card wasn’t exactly full, even if she was totally awesome enough to have fillies lining up to date her.

I could take a night off training and give it a shot. She stole a quick glance at Silver Spoon, allowing herself a tiny smirk as her eyes wandered over the filly’s form. Especially if she’s gonna be all dolled up again.

Like her mother always said, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“I shouldn’t have told you that I needed to think about it,” Scootaloo said, turning to face her fully. “But I did give it a little thought, and I’d like to give it a shot.” With a nervous grin, she reached up and scratched the back of her head. “So, er, what exactly do I need to wear?”

Silence fell over them. Slowly, she watched as Silver Spoon’s eyes went wide and mouth fell open. Then, a bright grin spread across her muzzle, her silver eyes lit up with glee. “You really mean it?” she asked. “You really want to go with me?”

Giving a waggle of her ears, she nodded. “Sure, I wouldn’t mind giving it a try.” Feeling a little bold, she leaned in close, pressing her cheek against Silver Spoon’s. A smirk played upon her lips as she noticed how the filly’s cheeks burned at the contact. Cute and extra warm when she blushes. Sweet Celestia, this is like a mushy book. Bringing her mouth closer to Silver Spoon’s ear, she whispered, “Who am I to pass up a date with a pretty filly like you.”

Another squeak escaped Silver Spoon’s lips. She ducked her head between her shoulders, fidgeting and doing her best to hide from the teasing grin. Chancing another look back, just in time for Scootaloo to give a playful waggle of her eyebrows, she squeaked again and all but leapt away as if hit by a rogue thunderhead. “I-I’d better go tell Diamond!” she stammered, her tail swishing like a happy puppy’s. “I, um, should I pick you up at your house, or do you want to meet there, or—”

“We’ll figure that out later,” Scootaloo interrupted again, fighting back laughter as best she could. “Probably wanna get dinner beforehoof, though. Y’know, so we can hang out and dance the full time instead of leaving early.”

Those silver eyes seemed to gleam like the full moon. “Good idea! I know the perfect place! Oh! Diamond knows the owner!” Before Scootaloo could ask what she had in mind, Silver Spoon galloped back toward Sugarcube Corner, calling over her shoulder, “See you at school tomorrow, Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo cringed at the dust kicked up in her wake, waving a hoof to clear the air. By the time she could look up again, Silver Spoon was nothing but a flash of gray coat and silvery mane in a sea of ponies.

“Well … looks like I’ll have to ask Sweetie what to wear. Oh, boy.” With a weak chuckle, she shook her head and trotted in the opposite direction, scanning the sky with her keen eyes for any sign of Rainbow Dash. “Now, how do I explain that I can’t be her excuse not to chaperone the dance?”