Everyone in school finds out that Scootaloo is living at Sweet Apple Acres and that her father is in jail for doing something, but none of them know what. Such is the curse of a small town. Scootaloo ignores the looks some of her classmates give her, she doesn't care. She feels happier than she's been since her mother died.

She had a goodnight hug and kiss every night, warm, cooked food to eat every day, and every night is like a sleepover with her best friend. Sure, Applejack and Big Mac make her do her homework and some chores, but that is a price she is glad to pay for everything they're doing for her.

She tries not to use too much stuff that cost money. She keeps thinking of the conversation she had overheard between the adult Apples. But today, that didn't matter. Today, nearly two weeks after the first night she stayed at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash is taking her flying.

She retrieved her goggles from the one of the dresser drawers Apple Bloom had given her and galloped down the steps as she heard a knock on the door. "Oh, hey Dash. I think Scoot is getting ready," she heard Applejack talking to Rainbow Dash as the door closed.

She skidded into the living room, where the two mares were just about to sit. "I'm ready," she said, slightly breathless. "I'm ready to go flying."

She grinned at Rainbow Dash who smiled back. "You are, are you? Well come on then." Scootaloo ran out the door, ready to fly with her hero. Dash watched for a second before turning to Applejack."I think, if I had paid more attention, she would have told me sooner. I could have stopped it."

The orange earth pony sighed. "We've been over this, Dash. You couldn't have, and that's that. Filly spent the night at my house at least once a month, and I didn't notice."

"Yeah, but…I should have paid more attention. Most of what I did was…selfish." Applejack was surprised to see shame in her friends' eyes. "I could have at least been there for her. I should have offered to teach her sooner, I knew she was having trouble. I just cpoouldn't be bothered to take time out for her."

Applejack blinked. "Dash, don't beat yourself up over this. There ain't nothin' you coulda done, so let it go. And just take what time you have now."

Dash nodded and put on a smile. "I should get going before she thinks I'm not coming after all," Dash said, turning toward the door. "Hey Scoot! Wait up!"

--

It didn't matter how many times she tried it, she just couldn't get her wings to hold up her entire body. Her head weighed too much. She was a fat head.

Dash sighed again. "No, keep your head up. I know you can do it. You've already shown me you can glide, and this is the same thing. Only you're flapping your wings and making yourself rise up."

The younger Pegasus sighed. "I just can't fly, Dash. I'm useless. Might as well strip me of my wings."

Dash chuckled, and Scootaloo looked up, hurt. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. You just remind me of a certain Pegasus I know who didn't think she would ever be able to fly either."

"You?" Scootaloo asked, hoping there was a way to connect to Dash.

"Na, Fluttershy." Dash smiled a little, thinking back to how much Fluttershy had improved over the years.

Scootaloo, however, pouted. "I'm never going to fly like you, am I?"

"Huh? Sure you will. Fluttershy didn't want to, she is perfectly happy here on the ground. And you haven't watched her fly when there's something important at stake, either." Dash ruffled the top of Scootaloo's mane with her hoof. "Come on, that's enough of a break. Try again."

Scootaloo sighed.

--

Finally. After all this time. Her wings were holding up her entire body. She flapped just as Dash had shown her, and it was hard, but she was doing it. She grinned up-or rather, down, at Rainbow Dash, who grinned back at her. She was really flying. "Now, you have to do this every day, and keep working on those wing exercises like I showed you. You'll be napping on clouds with me before too long."

"I have to show Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo said, losing her concentration and falling into a mud puddle left by the rain that had ended a few hours ago.

"Okay, go on. That's probably enough for today. Tell you what, go get cleaned up and I'll take the three of you to Sugarcube Corner, deal?"

"Deal!" Scootaloo shouted as she ran back to the farm house-her house. Living somewhere for a month, especially somewhere as warm and welcoming as Sweet Apple Acres, made you think of it as home. "Applejack! Everypony! Guess what?"

She ran into the house, still covered in mud from her failed attempts and falling, but she didn't care. She crashed through the kitchen door, only to skid to a halt, the grin on her face turning into a huge frown.

Applejack sat glaring at Bleeding Heart. She looked between the two ponies. "What's going on?" she asked, confused.

The glare on Applejack's face melted as she looked at Scootaloo, and then back to Bleeding Heart. Scootaloo had never heard Applejack use the tone she used with the social worker when she said, "You tell her then. I still think it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Even stupider than keeping Discord around for chocolate rain."

Scootaloo took a step back, not wanting to hear whatever it was. Bleeding Heart smiled down at her. "Scootaloo, we've found a family to place you with."

The filly's ears fell down. "What's wrong with this family? Why can't I just stay with the Apples?"

"We, that is, the case managers and I, feel it would be best if you were moved from Ponyville."

Scootaloo blinked, shaking her head. Moved from Ponyville? Away from her friends-her family? Away from the life she had always known, and that she loved?

"Is this because the Apple's don't have a lot of bits? Because I can work, I can. They won't let me, but if I need to I  can get my own bits and-" she stopped, feeling now familiar hooves wrap around her, drawing her closer.

"No, sugarcube. It ain't because of bits, and I told you to let us grown ponies worry about bits anyway. We got enough bits for you, okay?" Applejack nuzzled Scootaloo's cheek, aware tears were building, though the filly was doing well at keeping them in. "This is something they're just wanting to do."

"Well, stop them. I dunno, tell Celestia or something. Don't let them take me." Scootaloo begged Applejack. She was extreamly glad Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were at the spa with Rarity today while she trained.

"She can't stop us. It is what's best for you, to get away from here, where your father is." Bleeding Heart was patient when she explained it, almost as if it were practiced routine.

"I-No. I won't go. I like it here in Ponyville." The social worker took a step toward Scootaloo, but the Pegasus shook her head again, turned, and ran out the door, jumping and shakily flying toward the Crusader Club House.

Next Chapter: Mr. and Mrs. Puff Estimated time remaining: 15 Minutes