She knew she would be found, but it wasn't like she had a choice. If she ran away, she wouldn't be able to stay at Sweet Apple Acres anyway. She watched through a clubhouse window, waiting to see Applejack and Bleeding Heart coming to get her.

When she finally saw someone walking toward the clubhouse, it was only Applejack. She watched as the orange earth pony walked up to, and then into, the clubhouse. The pair simply looked at each other. Scootaloo knew she had messed up by running off, but she didn't know what to say.

Wordlessly, Applejack closed the gap and put her hooves around the young filly. "She didn't mean you had to leave then. It's just that the DFS thinks it would be better for you to be somewhere your dad wasn't, and away from those memories."

"I don't want to, though. I like it here. Ponyville is my home." Scootaloo looked up at Applejack. "If I tell them that, will they let me stay?"

Applejack sighed. "I don't know, kiddo. I mean, you're only ten years old. They are going to do what they think is best, no matter what anyone else says." Applejack stood back up. "Come on, Bleeding Heart is still at the house and you have to talk to her."

The walk back to the farm house was a quiet one, but Scootaloo was determined to make Bleeding Heart see she couldn't be taken from Ponyville. They walked into the kitchen and joined the social worker at the table. "Okay then. Scootaloo," Bleeding Heart started, looking directly at the filly who shifted uncomfortably under the stern gaze. "As I was saying before, we believe it would be best for you to live in a town other than Ponyville, away from your father."

"He's locked up though, so he can't hurt me anymore. And when he gets out, I'll be a grown mare and he won't be able to hurt me again." Her brow furrowed. "I don't-" she stopped, and took a deep breath. When she spoke again, she tried putting the authority into her voice Applejack and Rarity did when they grounded her friends. "I won't leave Ponyville. It's my home, where all my friends and family are."

Bleeding Heart smiled what she was sure was a warm smile. "We've found a nice Pegasus family in Cloudsdale who is willing to foster you, maybe even adopt you."

Scootaloo's eyes widened in panic as she looked over at Applejack, shaking her head. "I can't go to Cloudsdale, are you insane? I just learned to fly today!"

Bleeding Heart blinked. "You don't know how to fly? But…" she glanced over at Applejack, concern on her face. She didn't finish that though, though. "You flew to the clubhouse."

Scootaloo shook her head. "No, I started to, but then my wings got tired and I ran the rest of the way." The Pegasus filly crossed her hooves over her chest. "Dad never wanted to teach me, and mom was an earth pony so…" she trailed off, shrugging.

"Be prepared tomorrow to meet the new family. Mr. and Mrs. Puff are looking excited about this. Have your things ready to go." Bleeding Heart ignored Scootaloo's shocked expression and stood. "I'll be here at noon. Goodday." She turned and left.

Scootaloo was staring at the wall, unable to believe that had just happened. She was told she had to leave, and that was that. She jumped slightly when she felt Applejack nuzzle her. "Hun, Ah can't say much right now. Ah was mighty proud when I saw you flyin' off though. You'll be all over the sky in no time." When Scootaloo didn't respond, Applejack nudged her again. "Come on, let's go get the girls. I'm sure you wanted to tell them, didn't you?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh no, Rainbow Dash! She's waiting for me at Sugarcube Corner," the filly looked slightly panicked. "She's been there for an hour. I forgot all about it. I bet she left already and everything."

"Well come on then. The only way we're going to find out is if we go and check." Applejack nudged Scootaloo again, getting the filly to her feet and out the door. Scootaloo galloped as fast as she could into town, Applejack staying by her side, and nearly ran into Rainbow Dash as she was leaving the sweet shop.

"Dash, I'm so sorry I'm late but Bleeding Heart came to Sweet Apple Acres and said I had to leave tomorrow with some Pegasus couple but I ran off to the club house but that didn't matter and I forgot to tell AJ that I had to meet you here and-" the rest of what she was going to say was cut off as Dash put a hoof to the filly's mouth.

She smiled down at Scootaloo. "Okay there kiddo. What I got was that Bleeding Heart was at Sweet Apple Acres and then something about the clubhouse." She moved her hoof back to the ground. "Now, let's go inside, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are there and you can tell them the good news, and then you can tell me why you were late, okay?"

Scootaloo nodded and followed Rainbow Dash in. Looking back and making sure Applejack was following her, she ran up to her fellow Crusaders. "I flew guys! Watch!" She moved away a few steps and began flapping her wings. Dash and Applejack stood to the side and watched silently while the other two Crusaders were cheering before Scootaloo had left the ground. She was still shaky, her wings not used to being the only limbs to support her wait, but she was still flying.

She landed by simply folding her wings in, the one foot drop not even making her stumble. She looked up at her took best friends, her smile fading as she remembered what else it was she had to tell them. Before she could say anything, a pair of white hooves were around her neck. "I knew you could do it, Scoot. You'll be a Wonderbolt before you know it.  Bloom and I can help too!"

"No, you can't," Scootaloo said. Her voice was somber, which her friends weren't used to hearing. "I have to move to Cloudsdale.

Whatever Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said was drowned out by Rainbow Dash's loud "What?"

Scootaloo looked over at her hero. "Bleeding Heart said I have to go stay with this couple in Cloudsdale. I leave at noon tomorrow." Scootaloo shrugged, but the waver in her voice hinted at the tears she was holding back. Both her best friends were hugging her now, nuzzling her cheek with tears in their eyes.

"They can't take you. They just can't. Applejack, stop 'em, please?" Apple Bloom looked at her older sister, pleading. It broke Applejack's heart to see the foals like that, to hear her little sister to use such a hurt, desperate tone, but she could only shake her head.

"Nothin' I can do without ending up in trouble."

Had this been one of those mystery books Dash was secretly reading, Bleeding Heart would have walked in and Dash could have yelled at her. If it was one of the Crusades the three fillies were always going on, it could have been fixed with a stern talking to, and a grounding if needed. But it wasn't those things. It was plain and simple life, and so the five ponies simply sat there, not wanting time to move.

Sweetie Belle stayed at Sweet Apple Acre's that night. The girls stayed up later than they ever had before, just sitting with each other and talking quietly. It took Applejack coming into the room Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been sharing for the past month and telling them it was four in the morning to go to sleep.

The rooster's crow came too early. With only two hours sleep, the three fillies pulled their pillows over their ears. Applejack could be heard outside, telling the rooster to not crow and let the girls sleep, but the damage had been done. Knowing was happened today, none of them could get back to sleep.

They all trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen where Granny Smith was cooking breakfast. "It's good to see you fillies up with the chickens," the elderly earth mare said. "I'm making all yer favorites, young'un."

Scootaloo attempted a smile, but it came out as a grimace. "I just don't wanna go," she said finally. "I love Ponyville. I love it here, and I love you guys. I hate these stupid ponies."

Applejack walked into the kitchen. "Hate is a strong word to use on ponies you ain't met yet. Ya might like 'em."

Breakfast was a silent affair, and afterward Applejack took the Cutie Mark Crusaders into town. It was after nine when they arrived.  The normally rambunctious fillies sat by the fountain in town, their eyes downcast as they quietly talked to each other.

Applejack sat with them, simply waiting for Bleeding Heart to show up at fifteen 'til noon, as she was supposed to. Though when Rainbow Dash saw the four of them, she came and joined the group. She walked straight up to Scootaloo and gave her a hug, but neither of them said a word.

Pinkie brought some cupcakes out and then stuck around, trying to get the fillies to laugh, which seemed to work a little. Rarity showed up at ten, walking over to join her friends, though she kept shooting worried looks at the girls, who were now giggling at something Pinkie had said.

Twilight and Fluttershy were the last to show up. Fluttershy looked nearly in tears herself. Applejack had told her five friends what was happening, and they had all shown up to support Scootaloo, who looked around her amazed. Pinkie, satisfied the girls were smiling enough for now, joined the group of adults while the fillies went back to sitting in silence. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle kept their hooves wrapped around Scootaloo.

When Bleeding Heart arrived, everyone looked at her. She looked like she wanted to say something to the group, but instead focused on Scootaloo. "Now, the Puffs will be here shortly. I've told them all about you." Scootaloo just looked at her. Time ticked by slowly, until two Pegasi were seen walking toward the fountain. "There they are," Bleeding Heart said with a smile.

Mrs. Puff was a light grey pony with a dark grey mane. Her cutie mark had a storm cloud with a lightning bolt. Mr. Puff was a very light tan color with a deep red mane. His cutie mark was a hammer. They approached Bleeding Heart with smiles on their faces. Scootaloo glared at them, but couldn't help but think they looked nice.

"Scootaloo, dear, come say hi." Bleeding Heart gave the orange filly her biggest smile.

Again, Scootaloo just looked at her. Rainbow's voice broke the growing tension. The normally composed Pegasus' voice was thick as she fought the tears that were already spilling down her cheeks. "Scoots, go on."

Scootaloo looked at her mentor, biting her bottom lip, and then stood. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom let go as the filly stepped forward. "I don't want to go with you guys," she said, still moving toward the couple. "I don't want to leave Ponyville and my friends. I love it here. It's my home. But I guess I have to, so lets just go. Goodbyes aren't my thing." She cast a glance at Rainbow Dash, who had gained some composure. "I don't like getting all mushy."

That line, that single line, broke the composure of the blue Pegasus who ran over to Scootaloo and grabbed her into a hug. "I’m so sorry Scoots. I should have offered to teach you sooner.  I should have talked to you, been better. I shouldn't have been so selfish and…and I promise I'll come visit and write, okay?"

Scootaloo clung to Rainbow Dash, tears streaming down her own face, though she couldn't do anything but shake her head. The Applejack was there, stroking her mane, telling the little filly she would write too, and so would Apple Bloom. Soon, the entire group was huddled around the little filly. None of them had realized how much they would truly miss her until that moment. Fluttershy offered to give her a pet, Twilight was giving away her entire Daring Doo series, and Rarity was simply whispering to her.

The Puffs looked at the scene before them and shook their heads. "Scootaloo," called Mr. Puff. The tearful group parted, allowing the filly to walk up to her new foster father. "Mrs. Puff and I think you seem like an amazing little filly, but we've decided not to take you after all. It seems to me you already have a family."

Scootaloo looked up at the tan stallion and grinned, throwing her hooves around him. "For real? I'm staying in Ponyville!" She released him and turned to the eight ponies looking at her. "I get to stay!"

After telling the Puffs goodbye, everyone started to go to Sweet Apple Acres and celebrate with cider and pie, but Bleeding Heart stopped them. "She can't stay permantly with you, Applejack. She has to go to a Pegasus family."

Rainbow Dash looked at the filly, who's ears drooped. Was she cut out to raise a filly? She was only twenty-the kid was half her age. But maybe she could do it. The words were out of her mouth before she knew exactly what she was staying. "What if she stays with me?"

The entire group was silent. "I'm a Pegasus. I make enough money to support her."

"Yes, I suppose that would work, but you'll have to have the proper training." Bleeding Heart nodded.

Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash. "You really want me?"

"Really," Dash said, opening her hooves as the filly jumped up and hugged her. "I mean, I got all mushy over you kid. You think I'm just going to let you leave."

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