Someone Still Loves You: Scraps
by brokenimage321
First published
"Deleted Scenes" for Jowijo's Someone Still Loves You
While editing Someone Still Loves You for Jowijo, I've suggested a couple different alternate scenes that didn't make it into the final product. I'm kind-of attached to these scenes, so I've decided to post 'em here.
Context is kinda necessary for understanding these, so go and read the original, if you haven't already. Also, make sure to show Jowijo some love in the comments!
Next chapter posts after SSLY completes.
If you liked these, please consider checking out my other stories:
My Sister Fluttershy: Fluttershy's older sister tells of Fluttershy's childhood and disappearance.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: Single-mother Pinkie Pie tries to raise her three triplets on her own.
For the Good of Equestria: Princess Celestia tells of her battles with Discord and King Sombra.
Alternate "Disclosure": Deus Ex Cadance
Author's Notes:
My initial suggestion for "Discovery"/"Disclosure" was that Rainbow Dash, after the fight with Rumble at the schoolhouse, would have a sort of mental breakdown. Rumble just told her things she's always believed about herself, which would put her in a very bad place emotionally.
The Mane 6 would come by Rainbow's house to check up on her, and would find her completely off her rocker, up to and including self-harm (in the form of feather-plucking). Rainbow would have a desperate need to meet her foal--the first time any of them, save Fluttershy, had heard of her being a mother--and the six of them would troop off to the hospital to find out who her child was. When they found the birth certificate, Rainbow would have a second breakdown, after she realized just how badly she screwed things up.
My idea for this scene was to have Princess Cadance (who, remember, is already in town for the play) show up and "fix" Rainbow. Yes, she's a bit of a deus ex machina, but having the literal goddess of love saying "I have faith in your ability to make this right" just... mmm...
Hit all the right buttons for me.
Jowijo ultimately went a slightly different route--one that didn't require RD to go so deep into the hole, nor to climb so far back out. During this process, however, I decided to write up this scene, both to show him what it would look like, and because I wanted to see it myself. So, here it is
Scene picks up in the hospital, just after they've seen the birth certificate and realized what it means. RD has already gotten some help for her poor wings, and Scootaloo, who had tagged along, has run off to deal with this revelation on her own.
(Credit where credit's due: some ideas for this scene, especially the way Cadance asks for help and RD's feather-plucking, go to Kudzuhaiku and his excellent The Sun Also Surprises and The Perilous Romance of Swans.)
As Twilight stared at Rainbow, sitting there on the cold linoleum, Rainbow’s eyes began to well up with tears again. She held out one of her shredded, bandaged wings, and her mouth drifted towards it.
“Stop it,” barked Twilight.
But she didn’t--she took two more of her primary feathers in her teeth and pulled, a little shudder shaking her entire body, the tips of the feathers coming away bloody.
“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said, taking Rainbow’s face in her hooves, “You need to stop. You’re hurting yourself, and—”
Twilight paused, then slowly, sat back. Rainbow stared at her, her eyes glassy and unseeing. Rainbow was in there, somewhere--but her fear and her anger and her Celestia-knows-what-else was in the driver’s seat. Rainbow reached for her wing again—
“I was told that somepony needed my help,” said a voice.
Five heads turned--and there, in the doorway, stood Princess Cadance.
Most of them gave quick, nodding bows, but Twilight stood and hugged her. “Oh, Cadance,” she cried, “Oh, thank you—”
Cadance shook her off. “Thank me later,” she said gently. “There’s work to be done.” Cadance stepped forward, towards Rainbow, who had more bloody feathers in her teeth. Cadance stooped down and looked her in the eyes. “Rainbow Dash,” she said, “do you know who I am?”
Rainbow stared at her--and, slowly, her mouth fell open, the feathers fluttering to the ground. “...I do,” she rasped.
“Do you remember my name?” Cadance asked.
Another moment of silence, and Rainbow’s eyes cleared, just the slightest bit. “You’re… you’re Princess Cadance,” Rainbow said. “Alicorn of love.”
Cadance nodded. “That’s right. Now, I think I can help you.” She leaned down a little closer. “Do you want my help?”
Rainbow stared back at her--and tears began to run down her cheeks again. “Y-yes,” she blubbered. “I… I don’t want to feel this way--not ever again—”
Cadance sighed. “That is our lot as ponies,” she said. “Sometimes, we need to walk the darkness before we can see the light.” She closed her eyes and lit her horn in a warm, pink glow. “Hold still, please,” she said, and leaned forward, gently touching Rainbow on the forehead with her horn.
Rainbow froze, stock still. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
“Good heavens, Rainbow Dash,” Cadance breathed. “You’re all knotted up inside…”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Didn’t need magic to figure that out—”
Twilight punched her in the shoulder. “Quiet,” she hissed.
Cadance, heedless of the distraction, had not spoken. Her horn glowed a little brighter. “You’ve got some pride in there,” she murmured to herself. “Quite a bit, actually… but, push that aside, and…” the muscles in her face twitched. “Anger. A lot of anger. And--and guilt. Guilt over…” she let out a long, slow breath. “Guilt over getting pregnant… guilt over leaving home so soon… guilt over what you did to Gilda, an old friend you abandoned… and—” Cadance gasped, then swayed on her hooves. “Harmony’s bones…”
“Princess?” yelped Rarity.
For a long time, Cadance was silent. “...love,” she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. “Love, for… for your parents… for yourself… for your foal…” She opened her eyes. “You have more love in you than half the ponies I know,” she said, quietly. “But you haven’t let yourself feel it in a long, long time.”
Slowly, the light from her horn dimmed. Rainbow opened her eyes, and stared up at Cadance with a longing, hungry look.
“I can fix this,” Cadance said to her. “But, are you sure you want me to?”
Rainbow returned her gaze--and fresh tears began to roll down her cheeks again. “Yes,” she sobbed. “Yes, anything.”
Cadance sighed. “Everypony,” she said, “This is going to be hard for me. I need everyone to think about someone you love--and think hard.”
Twilight closed her eyes. That was easy--she thought of her brother Shining Armor, and of all the times he’d taken care of her as a foal…
Pinkie grinned. She thought of the Cake’s twins--little boogers though they were, they were practically family to her...
Fluttershy hesitated, then thought of Zeph. He was irritating, sure, and all his little schemes drove her up the wall--but he was family, and she still loved him…
Rarity took a deep breath. The first pony to come to mind was Sweetie Belle… oh, sure, she was hard on her sometimes, but their relationship meant more than she could know…
Applejack smiled a little. Her family, of course--the whole stinkin’ bunch. Her life wouldn’t be the same without ‘em--heck, she might not even have a life…
For a moment, all was still. Then Cadance looked up at Rainbow again. “You too,” she said.
Rainbow sucked in a breath. “Me?” she repeated.
Cadance nodded. “You especially,” she said gently.
Rainbow swallowed, and thought hard. Her parents? Nah, hadn’t seen them in years. Soarin’? Well, if she was honest, not really--what they had was something, but it wasn’t love. Her friends? Closer, perhaps... But not quite there…
And then she thought of Scootaloo. Adorable, dorky Scootaloo, who meant more to her than she wanted to admit--and, with everyone's help, might mean more still…
Cadance let out a little gasp. She was quiet for a moment, then grinned at Rainbow. “Excellent choice,” she said.
And then, her horn grew brighter.
Rainbow felt it in her mind--a blinding wave of pink light. It slammed against the walls in her brain, pressing, straining, burning against them. Reflexively, Rainbow leapt to the defense--she’d spent years building this fortress!--but the light only grew brighter. Rainbow screamed, both in her head and out, as the cracks began to show—
--and, with a sound like shattering glass, her walls broke and fell away.
Rainbow collapsed to the floor. Her friends gasped and stepped forward, but Cadance, chest heaving, shook her head. “Let her be,” she said.
Slowly, Rainbow’s eyes fluttered open. She climbed, shakily, to her hooves, then looked up at Cadance. Her gaze was clear and sharp, and full of a sort of cautious gratitude.
“How do you feel?” Cadance asked.
Slowly, Rainbow nodded. “I feel…” she swallowed. “...good.”
Cadance nodded. “You should probably still get help,” she said. “That should be enough to help you for now, but it’s really just a band-aid.”
Rainbow shook her head. “Some band-aid,” she breathed.
“Some hole,” Cadance corrected gently.
“Yeah, well…” Rainbow grinned weakly and looked away.
Cadance swallowed. “So,” she said, “what are you going to do now?”
Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip. For a long time, she did not speak. Then, slowly, she turned to face Cadance, straightened up to her full height, and looked her in the eye.
“I made some promises,” she said. “Some in words… and some not.” She swallowed. “It’s time I started keeping them.”
Cadance smiled, then nodded. “I think that would be best,” she said. She turned to face the other ponies, standing still, watching the two of them. “I know she’s made some mistakes,” she said, “but I, at least, think that Rainbow deserves another shot.”
Slowly, Twilight nodded--followed, one by one, by the others.
Cadance smiled, then leaned in and gave Rainbow a hug. “Good luck,” she said. “You have your work cut out for you.”
Rainbow sighed, then returned the hug. “Thanks, Princess,” she said.
Candance nodded. “Anytime. Just don’t make me do this again.”
Rainbow chuckled a little. “No promises,” she said. She pulled away from Cadance’s grasp, then took a deep breath.
“I need to get going,” she said to the group. “There are two lives that need to be put back together, and it’s high time I started trying.”
Alternate "Denial": Rumble and Button in the Hospital
Author's Notes:
While developing Chapter 13 of Someone Still Loves You, "Denial," I jokingly referred to the confrontation between Rumble and Button Mash as Button's "'Fite me IRL' moment." Jowijo took the idea and ran with it, though he eventually switched the target of the fight to Apple Bloom--with much better results, I might add.
As part of this process, I sketched out the following scene. In my plans, Button would react to Rumble pushing him to the ground not by backing down, as in the published chapter, but by getting angry ("Are you serious right now? I'm the best at fighting games in the province!!"). They'd square off--and then, smash cut to this scene.
While writing it, I was trying to come up with a reason for Button Mash having the surname Mash--for example, his father would be Barley Mash, a brewer. After casting around a bit, I decided Button's Mom would be a Mash in the M*A*S*H sense--i.e., she's some kind of caretaker, hence, the medical knowledge she shows in this snippet (which meshes well with her fanon cute mark--a heart and a baby bottle).
[Unrelated: In my head, Button has an older brother named Votekick, an absolutely insufferable PC gamer, who tends to throw tantrums when he's losing. Hence, "Votekick."]
To be honest, I'm kinda glad this section got cut--it just doesn't work as well as the final product, especially not the LOL PUBERTY joke at the end. But I'm posting this here because I kinda like seeing Button's Mom like this--and there's one line I dearly love, and wish I could use somewhere. You'll know it when you see it
Hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think!
“Hold still, please,” Nurse Redheart said.
Rumble gritted his teeth as Nurse Redheart daubed at a cut over his eyebrow with a cotton ball full of something strong and antiseptic. It burned as it sank into his cut--something he almost found himself thankful for. Anything to feel something other than the deep emptiness in the pit of his gut.
Button Mash sat across from Rumble in the small treatment room. A smaller mare, Candy Stripe, was in the process of bandaging his left eye, already swollen shut. His right, however, stared at Rumble, full of impotent fury.
Rumble met his glare, then looked quickly away. He didn’t want to have to think about what he had done.
He heard raised voices and glanced up. Through the small window in the door, he could see Miss Cheerilee and Button’s mom, Mrs. Mash. He couldn’t hear their words--but he had a pretty good idea of what they were saying. And it would only get worse when Thunderlane got here.
Rumble bowed his head a little. Nurse Redheart tutted at him, but said nothing. She turned away, then returned with a small stack of butterfly bandages, which she started to apply to his cut.
[Rumble mopes, as in the published chapter. He needs to protect Scootaloo, because no one else will.]
But that didn’t mean that he liked doing it. He meant what he had said: he loved her, he really did. But he wasn’t a fighter. Not really. And, though he had come off better in their fight--he didn’t like the look that Button was giving him.
Suddenly the door swung open, and in strode Miss Cheerilee and Mrs. Mash. Mrs. Mash shouldered past Candy Stripe, knelt down, and took Button in her arms.
“There, there,” she murmured, “you’re gonna be okay.”
“Geroff me,” Button spat.
Mrs. Mash began to stroke his mane. “Come on,” she said, “Tell Mommy where you’re hurt.” Button thought he saw her turn and shoot a look at Cheerilee. “Are any of your teeth loose?” she asked Button. “Anything broken? Could you still see out of your eye?”
Cheerilee rolled her eyes and sighed. “As I said, Mrs. Mash,” she said, “both Button and Rumble will be disciplined in accordance with Education Department guidelines--”
Mrs. Mash stood. “Both of them?” she said. “Are you serious? Look at him!” she gestured angrily at Button. “Periorbital hematoma, tracheal contusions, third and fourth incisors loose—”
“And Rumble suffers from facial lacerations and a hairline fracture in his long pastern,” Cheerilee interrupted cooly. “Your point?”
“My point? My point,” Mrs. Mash repeated, irritated. She glared at Miss Cheerilee for a long moment before suddenly stamping her hoof. “By Celestia’s shiny white ass,” she hissed, “aren’t you going to do something?”
Rumble looked up at her, startled--as did Button, and, for a fraction of a second, Nurse Redheart. Rumble almost giggled--he didn’t know she even knew how to swear like that.
“We are,” Cheerilee replied, her voice calm, but sharp. “Both Rumble and Button are on three-day at-home suspension, effective immediately.”
“Three-day—” Mrs. Mash sputtered. “He beat up my baby, and you’re giving him a vacation?!”
Nurse Redheart snorted. She stood, then turned to face the two of them. “Contrary to your beliefs,” she said acidly, “this sort of behavior is not unusual.” Mrs. Mash turned to glare at Nurse Redheart, who returned her glare with one of her own. “Two colts fighting over a filly is completely normal, in colts who are…” she glanced Button up and down, then cleared her throat. “...of a certain age,” she finished. She turned back to Rumble, then applied another bandage. “True, they’re both rather young--though not entirely out of normal ranges--but the rules still apply: three days at-home suspension, to give them time to cool off.”
From here, the plan was to have Thunderlane show up. Rumble expects Thunderlane to be furious with him, but he's actually deferential and apologetic. Over the course of the conversation, Thunderlane would reveal that Rumble's been having nightmares, and that he keeps on calling for Scootaloo in his sleep. Understanding dawns across Button's face, and he suddenly speaks up, taking partial credit for starting the fight ("Sorry for calling you those names... I mean, goddamn, you pissed me off, but I woulda taken it the same way," that sorta thing). This would both help heal the rift between them, and calm Mrs. Mash down, though she'd still be mistrustful of Rumble for a while.
ALTERNATE FUTURE TIMELINE: Rainbow Strongarms DFS
Author's Notes:
If it wasn't clear: this next chapter, the chapter where Scootaloo and RD start on the long, hard road to hashing out their issues--has been a rather large pain in the patoot, as it were.
Given the long drought of SSLY content, I thought I'd post this. It's a little early (hence the title), but our current idea has changed enough to where there's no spoilers.
In our initial idea, RD and Scootaloo participate in some sort of group event (Sisterhooves Social? Applecart Derby?), and, despite themselves, both have a ton of fun. RD, thinking this means things are fixed between them, tries to "mother" Scoots. Scootaloo almost gives in--but then, flips out and storms off. RD is crushed--but sets her jaw.
Smash-cut to this chapter. Note the six-month timeskip (intended to smooth over some of the thornier plotholes...).
“I want to move her home with me,” Rainbow said.
It was late spring. The blossoms had begun to fall from the trees, and the barest hint of summer heat was in the air. The mid-morning sun streamed through the windows of the Carousel Boutique. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were both at school—but gathered here, in their absence, were Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Mr. Stable, the representative from DFS. Each of them sat on cushions in a rough semi-circle, facing Rainbow Dash, who sat, calm and collected, on her own cushion.
“Yes, well,” Rarity said into the sudden silence. “I mean, that’s always been the goal…”
“I want to do it Thursday,” Rainbow said.
All of them turned to stare.
“T-thursday?” stammered Rarity.
Rainbow nodded firmly. “Yes. I’ll have finished my community service hours on Wednesday, and that would leave enough time to get her settled in a little before the weekend.”
Rarity glanced helplessly around the circle. “But, surely,” she said, “This… this isn’t something you just do. There’s all the paperwork, and—”
“Already done,” Rainbow said. “Filled out, in triplicate, all the inspections done, all the fees paid. Have been for months now. Right, Mr. Stable?”
Mr. Stable cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. “Well… yes,” he said carefully.
“And she was accepted?” Twilight asked, incredulous. “With a child negligence conviction? Trying to move a flightless pegasus into a cloudominium?”
“Yes, she was,” Mr. Stable said mildly. “As Miss Dash indicated, she has been faithfully doing her public service—as an assistant coach at the Ponyville Colts & Fillies Club, I should add, which speaks to her abilities with children.” He showed a vague smile. “Additionally, she has taken all the required steps to ensure that her home is safe for a flightless pegasus—she has lowered it to thirty feet off the ground, and installed safety railings and a rope ladder, all in accordance with EDA standards. In the eyes of DFS,” he said, “she is worthy of adopting Scootaloo.”
Twilight glanced at Rainbow. She was sitting up straight, a small, prideful smile on her face.
“Except…” Mr. Stable continued.
Everyone turned to look at him now. If he noticed the attention, he did not react.
“There is the matter of Scootaloo herself,” he said. “As I understand it, she is not yet wholly willing to reconcile.”
“That’s right,” Rarity cut in quickly. “She’s been warming up, but they’re still a long way off. Scootaloo is being… well, a little stubborn—”
“A courtesy,” Rainbow interrupted.
Everyone turned back to stare at Rainbow.
“A courtesy,” she repeated. “You said it yourself, Mr. Stable: as a ten-year-old, Scootaloo’s consent is ‘a courtesy to the child.’ It’s not a requirement.”
Twilight’s mouth fell open. “Rainbow,” she said, delicately, almost as if she was afraid her words would break. “Are you suggesting—?”
“I am,” Rainbow said. She looked around at the others, then sighed. “Don’t give me those looks,” she said. “You know I can’t do much with an hour twice a week. I need to be able to spend more time with her. Plus,” she said with a little smile, “I’ve been working hard on her room. When she sees how much work I’ve put into things, that will have to help. Won’t it, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy glanced up at her, but bowed her head. “I’ve seen it,” she said carefully. “It’s… nice.”
Rainbow nodded triumphantly at Fluttershy, as if she had proved her argument. “Not to mention,” she added, “all the work I’ve done on the house, and with all that paperwork. No slacker is going to go to all that length.”
Twilight swallowed once, then again. She took a deep breath, then looked Rainbow in the eye. “Rainbow Dash,” she said, “I know that you’re in the right here… but… are you sure this is a good idea?”
For the first time, Rainbow looked uncertain of herself. “O-of course it is,” she said, with a faint stammer. “I mean, I’d be giving her a stable home. That’s miles better than what she’s got now, sleeping in a bag in a guest room—sorry, Rarity,” she added with a crooked smile.
“Yes,” Rarity said slowly, “but—”
“A-and I can help her,” Rainbow said quickly. “I still have some connections with the Wonderbolts. I can get her in to see their physical therapist. I don’t know that she’s ever seen a real flight doctor, not when she’s been living with earth ponies and unicorns. Maybe—maybe, with the right help, her wings—”
“Rainbow,” Twilight interrupted gently. “I—”
“Not to mention,” Rainbow continued, her eyes starting to glisten, “She’d be with family. For the first time in her life, she’d have a mother. A home. And I can—”
“Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy barked, her voice hard and sharp.
Rainbow fell silent, and turned to look at her. Fluttershy glared back at her—but then, her look softened.
“Rainbow,” she repeated, her voice normal again. “I know you’ve gone to all this work… but, do you really think it’s in her best interests to uproot her again? Especially when she doesn’t seem to want to go?”
Rainbow opened her mouth, then closed it again. She looked around the circle, then looked away—and a tear ran down her cheek.
“No,” she said. “No, but—” Rainbow took a deep breath. “I don’t know how much more I can take,” she said, her voice quavering. “I… I’ve wanted to hold her for so long… To… to know who she was… to make her mine…” she sniffled. “And… and now… knowing she’s right there—right there, but I can’t…”
She looked down, trembling. “I’ve been dreaming about her,” she said. “Six months. Ever since I knew, I’ve been dreaming about her…”
She looked up, her eyes deep and hungry. “Please,” she said. “I… I know it might not be best… but, I can do it,” she said. “I can do it. And I want it—need it—need her—so badly…”
Twilight sat back. For a long time, she said nothing. Then, without a word, she glanced at Mr. Stable. He stared back at her impassively, his expression unreadable—but with the merest hint of acquiescence. Twilight then looked to Fluttershy. She licked her lips, then gave the slightest nod. Twilight then glanced at Rarity, who rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Alright,” she said dramatically, “I suppose...”
Rainbow’s face cracked into a wide, trembling grin—and then, she buried her face in her hooves and began to sob.
“Thank you,” she gasped, her chest heaving. “Thank you, thank you, thank you..."
Author's Note, Parte Deux:
From here, we had one of a couple different ideas. My personal favorite:
Scootaloo reluctantly moves into RD's house. RD is trying really hard to be a good/cool mom, but the two of them keep fighting about everything--Scootaloo, who feels powerless, is being a pill, and Rainbow, who's genuinely trying her best, is beginning to lose her patience. Eventually, they fight, and both of them go to bed angry.
That night, both of them have strange dreams: In Scootaloo's case, hers is all about how badly she wants a mother-figure, and, in Rainbow's,
hers is about how much her realization of how badly she's failed Scootaloo is tearing her up inside.
The next morning, they wake--and find themselves, not in their respective bedrooms, but in the living room rug, dead-asleep in each others' arms. There's a beat, and then they both start screaming, which leads to a fight.
Later, over breakfast, Scootaloo and RD finally have a quasi-normal conversation about their daily schedule, etc. They both go quiet, and, after a moment, Scootaloo clears her throat.
"Sorry," she says.
"Don't worry about it," Replies Rainbow.
And, from that point forward, their relationship begins to heal. They're still not close--at least, not mother-and-daughter close--but they at least learn to tolerate each other.
UNTIL...
Well. Maybe we'll see next time.
Also, wanted to point out: Fluttershy, you'll notice, is reluctant to praise Scootaloo's bedroom. The reason why is that she's seen it--and seen that it's all decorated in wonderbolts merchandise. Fluttershy knows it's a bad fit, and, given Scootaloo's flightlessness and bad blood with Soarin', may make her even angrier--as it, eventually, does.