The latenight moon sent its dim light trickling through the open window of a dark and cluttered bedroom. It washed over the tired eyes of a young mare, whose gaze stayed fixed on the ceiling. She began to shiver as the cold night breeze crept in, her head aching. Her small orange wings suddenly fluttered as she placed her front hooves over her churning stomach.

Drifting clouds slowly fell over the moon casting dark shadows over the room once again. The mare shuddered and brushed the long fuchsia mane from her misty eyes. She shivered in bed, her mind absent of thought as trembling breaths fell from her cold, dry lips.

Her eyes drifted to the dusty blades of a ceiling fan that squeaked as it slowly rotated, the chain dangling from it clanking against the base like an offbeat metronome. She drearily let her hoof fall across her head as the clanking reverberated through her skull, sending pulsing aches through her every bone. With a deep breath, tears welled up in her purple, bloodshot eyes. She wiped them to realize her foreleg was terribly dirty and ruffled. She began to choke and coughed into her hoof. As she pulled it away, her vision went blurry with welling tears.

Scootaloo forced herself out of bed, sliding onto the hardwood floor as she wiped her eyes. She dragged her hooves up to a small desk and grabbed a thick journal, then flipped it to a blank page and began to write.

They say everypony has a fair chance in life, that we're all created equally. The sad truth is that nopony has the same chances or privileges as another. Some are destined to shine, and be happy in life without ever really trying. Others will work their lives away for just a taste of happiness, and die regretting never having found it.

You see, some ponies are meant to be failures. They're meant to struggle at the bottom of society and claw their ways up with hard work and sheer determination. At the top of the barrel shines a bright, warming light, luring the poor out from the darkness. The promise of a better life fuels them, and keeps them motivated. They work for years on end, flipping burgers, running cash-registers, fixing toilets. They fall into the promise, the lie, the never-ending, mundane cycle that eventually chokes the light from their eyes.

The dreams die with them, and their time is served. However, that isn't the life that everypony is forced to lead, not by any means. Some of us are born with a diamond tiara on our heads and a silver spoon in our mouths. Some of us have it all without even trying.

There are still others. Some ponies—ponies like me—wander the world just trying to find themselves. I wonder if I'll ever find myself, or my place on this earth.

Scootaloo closed her journal and dropped her cheek flat against the cover. A glimmer of light streaked across picture of her and Rainbow Dash sitting on the corner of her desk, and she grimaced.

"I never thought I'd miss you this much," she whispered towards the photograph.

From behind the picture, a Wonderbolts poster came into focus. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced the source of her idol's absence away.

"I wish you were here, I need your advice..." The young mare sighed deeply yet again, her heart torn.

Tick tock... tick tock... The clock ticked on and on, hammering against the wall with its taunting monotony.

I subtly shook my head, trying to match my dangling pink mane with the ticking like a pendulum to the clock. There wasn't much time left, then we'd officially be out of school for the summer. Needless to say, I was excited to spend three months away from my least favorite place in the world... well, second least favorite place.

The one downside to being out of school was that it meant spending more time at home. My stomach churned at the thought of my dad coming back home next month. If it were up to me, he could rot in prison for the rest of his life. I wouldn't miss him.

"Alright my little ponies, I hope you all have a great summer vacation. When you come back, you'll all officially be in high school. Isn't that exciting?" my teacher announced. That Miss Bumble Fly, she's such a floozy.

I jumped over my desk and rushed to the door, placing my wing over Apple Bloom's back.

"Hey AB, wanna hang out later today?" I asked, knowing she would.

"Of course I do, Scootaloo," she winked and nodded towards the exit. "Head on over to the acres in a couple hours and we'll meet up in the usual spot."

I nodded with a grin and she turned to another group of ponies ready to exit. My evenings with Apple Bloom were the highlight of my life. As always, I couldn't wait to spend more time with her, and it was the only thing I had to look forward to. I just wish Sweetie Belle could be here with us. Things have been rough since she left to Canterlot with her sister. Heh, at least she's getting the education everypony dreams of. That kid's gonna be a star. With a voice like hers, she'll go pretty far, I know it.

I watched Apple Bloom trot ahead through the halls and talk to her other friends. She was definitely more popular than me, and everypony in school seemed to like her. I just stood there and waited, watching her hug them and smile, not really sure what I was doing. I waved and smiled as a few familiar faces rushed by, but I was unacknowledged. I'm not really a pony-friendly kind of mare anyway, so I can't blame them. There's only one pony other than Apple Bloom that I really cared about at all in that school, and that was Silver Spoon. I thought about going to say goodbye, but at the sight of Diamond Tiara standing next to her, I instead turned and headed towards the exit at the other end of the hallway. I figured I'd drop my bag off at home and just go hang out at the acres while I waited for Apple Bloom to show up.

It was hot out. The heat washed over my body as soon as I pushed through the doors and stepped into the sunlight. The breeze felt nice at least, even though it blew the dirt from the roads into the air. I picked up my pace and felt my saddlebag slapping against my sides. The corner of one of my books pounded against my ribs, but I kept trotting despite the pain. I'm not sure why, but I liked it a bit, like a subtle sense of nostalgia. It's the little things in life like that, that really begin to let you know who you are and who you've become.

I stopped and let my bag rest to glance back at my cutie mark. I don't think I've ever hated the sight of anything as much as I hated that thing. I closed my eyes, but that image was imprinted in the back of my mind. It was all I saw at any given moment for at least a year after I got it. I so desperately wanted to know what I was meant to do in this world, and thought that my cutie mark would hold the answer. To my greatest disappointment, it arrived with more confusion than anything else. I woke up one morning to spot it as I trotted past my bedroom mirror. A white feather with a black tip and two lines spiraling around it. Even now I have no idea what it means, or how I could have invoked its appearance. What I thought would be the happiest day of my life still brings tears to my eyes with its memory.

I looked up and realized I was home. My old shack of a house was barely standing, and the maintenance it so desperately needs will likely never arrive. My mother and my uncle were too involved with their habits to pay any attention to it, or me for that matter. I took a deep breath and pushed through the front door. I could hear a foal crying—my cousin—and it stunk like cheap booze and cigarettes.

"I'm home!" I called out, but wasn't welcomed or greeted at all.

I glanced into the foal's room to see my mother sitting in a rocking chair with my baby cousin in her grip. She was looking pretty stressed out and talking to some pony I didn't recognize.

"We gotta pay him back before my husband gets home. If we don't there'll be hell to pay for all of us!"

The younger stallion recoiled at my mother's shouting lifted his hooves. "Look, I ain't got the cash, and business is slow this time o' year."

"I don't care! Find a way or I will!" She continued shouting at him, then shooed him away when the baby started crying. He then shoved past me, glancing down at me with a nasty look.

I dropped my bag in the hallway and headed back outside. Spending a minimal amount of time in that mess was always my goal, it seemed.

Back in the fresh air, I headed out to the acres. It was a short trot through town that led to the trail into the trees. I kept my pace up and got there quickly. The shade was a relief, and the apples were looking pretty good. I kicked at a nice and full tree a few times until a couple ripe pieces of fruit came falling down. Fresh apples were a gourmet meal compared to the cheap crap in my house.

I slumped up against the tree, nibbling at the refreshing apple. Birds chirped in the distance, and insects made their various... insect noises. I didn't mind the noise, it was actually pretty relaxing. There was always something nice about being alone in the orchard. I liked the way the sun speckled my coat through the dense leaves in the summer, and how I seemed completely alone aside from the wildlife. It was peaceful, so different from being home or anywhere else. But no matter how much I enjoyed the quiet, I couldn't wait for Apple Bloom to show up.

I started whistling to the sounds of the birds chirping. "Feather cutie mark? Maybe I'm a bird charmer, heh..."

I tossed my half-eaten apple into the air and caught it a few times. A couple pegasi flew by overhead and my mind began to drift. I wondered what they were doing, where they were going, then I began to think about the fact that I couldn't join them even if I wanted to. Maybe they were out on a search-and-rescue for a lost foal, or maybe they were thieves and were fleeing with a bag full of bits. Who knows?

A funny thought occurred: I'm a pegasus with a feather for a cutie mark, and I can't even fly. Interesting at the very least...

I really started wondering what was taking that filly so long. It had been at least an hour, and I was hoping she'd show up soon.

Boredom was really starting to sink in after what felt like an eternity went by. I stared up at the clouds through the trees, and noticed the faint hint of orange glow painting the clouds from the western horizon. It must have been getting late.

Plap!

A bag landed in my lap and I jumped.

"About time you showed up." I laughed and leaped up to hug her, but she quickly put a hoof on my shoulder and held me down.

"Now don't you give me that, you're just too early as usual." Apple Bloom plopped down next to me and wrapped a foreleg around my neck.

I pulled a little glass bowl out from the bag and grinned. It smelled good and familiar. It was a scent that I grew up with, but couldn't have identified until Apple Bloom and I had fallen into this habit. Sweet Apple Acres had been struggling and was approaching bankruptcy. Then when Granny Smith had to go to the nursing home, Applejack and her brother took on a bit of a side job. They started growing marijuana somewhere deep in the orchard and using the profits of muling it into Manehatten and Las Pegasus to more than keep the acres afloat. Apple Bloom started getting into the lots to sneak us a bit now and then to take the edge off. Considering the amount they move, they'd never notice a bit missing here and there.

"Y'alright Scoots?" Apple Bloom snapped me out of my thoughts, poking at my ribs.

"Yeah I'm good." I took a small portion on the tip of my hoof and tapped it in.

She struck a match and lit up a long taper candle that she had pulled from her saddlebag.

I took it from her and stuck the pipe in my mouth. With the tip of one hoof over the carb and a candle in the other, I lowered the flame onto the pale green grass. I inhaled and pulled the flame down, charring the herb. Once the clear tube was filled with white smoke, I released the carb and let it all stream into my lungs.

"Ahhhhh." I closed my eyes and leaned back as I exhaled into the breeze.

I always loved the first hit, and the dizzy tingling feeling it left in my head. My eyes teared up as I forced myself not to cough.

"Gimme that." She snatched the bowl from my relaxed hooves and helped herself.

I watched her carefully as she did what she did. I loved watching her, she did everything so smoothly and gracefully, even this. She could be a surgeon.

Her gorgeous red mane fell over her soft yellow cheeks as she leaned down and tapped the ash from the bowl. While she was packing it with a fresh hit, she glanced up at me and winked. My heart skipped a beat, and I smiled.

"You're in a good mood today, aren't you?" I asked while she took her puff from the pipe.

She looked at me with a cocky smile and tapped on her chest for a moment, then coughed out a breath of white smoke.

She continued coughing for a moment longer and cleared her throat. "Yeah, what's not to feel good about?"

"Good point. I do miss Sweetie though. I wonder when she'll be down to visit us again." I spoke without thinking. What was I doing trying to bring the good mood down?

"Yeah, me too..." I watched the smile slide off her face.

"Soon I bet. So has anything interesting been going on lately?"

"I got another letter from Babs. She says she misses me, loves me, and can't wait to see me again." Apple Bloom let out a bubbly breath and put on a goofy grin.

"I swear, you two should hook up or something, you're both way, way too close for cousins," I teased and slapped her leg.

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Funny you should say that... wanna know a secret?"

I gulped, almost too afraid to ask. "What?"

"When she came to visit last Hearth's Warming, we kissed..." Apple Bloom chuckled and shied away.

"You what?!" I covered my mouth and began to giggle uncontrollably.

She threw her hooves up and waved then dismissively. "Wait wait! I shoulda told you this other part first."

"Pass. I've heard too much already."

"No, it's that we were talking to her parents, and it turns out that we're only related through marriage. So it's all good," she explained, casually tilting her head back.

"Still a little creepy if you ask me." I laughed and stuck my tongue out.

"Not really, but did I tell ya 'bout the rumors? I heard that Diamond's gonna be goin' down to Manehatten this summer..." She looked me in the eye and grinned.

"So? She goes down there every summer." I figured she must have more to say, so I played along.

"... permanently."

My eyes shot open and I jumped up. "Really?! Where did you hear that?!"

"Oh, it's just floatin' around the school. I think somepony overheard a teacher talkin' about forwarding transcripts or... something." Apple Bloom casually waved a hoof and looked back down, passing the bowl back to me.

"That would be awesome, I think. As long as Silver doesn't get too depressed."

I stuffed the bowl full and Apple Bloom shot me a distinct glance. "What exactly's goin' on between you three anyhow? Are you, like, Silver's call-girl while Diamond's away?"

I felt my heart sink into my stomach at those words. "No! I mean... I'm just, well, we're just friends and Diamond Tiara doesn't like me. So we can only really hang out when she's away."

Apple Bloom widened a skeptical eye and smirked. "And does this hangin' out take place in the bedroom?"

I blushed and laughed, but at the same time I wanted to hide my shame. "Look, it's not like that, okay?"

She shrugged and shook her head. I reached over to offer her the bowl before I took my hit, I wanted to think clearly. My dad, well my step-dad, getting out of jail and coming back home was bad news for me. I hate the ponies that he brings around and how they look at me and treat me.

"Hey, Apple Bloom, I was thinking about something."

She smiled and slowly blew a stream of smoke in my direction. I took a deep breath as she did so, and laughed.

"What's on yer mind, kiddo?"

"Heh, yeah. I was wondering what you think the chances are of AJ letting me stay on the farm with you guys for a while." I knew they were slim, but I hoped to at least get Apple Bloom to talk to her sister about it.

"Not sure. Why? Is everything alright at home?" Her eyes shone with concern as she leaned towards me.

"Yeah, for now. My dad's getting out of jail soon, and well, you know how I feel about that guy." I placed a hoof to my cheek and slumped down.

"Right, well I'll talk to my sister and see what we can't do. If worse comes to worse, I'll just sneak ya into my room at night." She winked at me and wrapped a foreleg lovingly around my neck.

I hugged her and scooted close. "Thanks, AB. I'm lucky to have you."

For a pony with very few friends, it meant a lot to have one as great as Apple Bloom. I really don't know where I'd be if not for her. It feels good having a pony to call my best friend, one who I know I can depend on no matter what. And just the same, I enjoy being there for her whenever she needs me.

"So how are things on the farm anyway?"

She shrugged and put the bowl away. "Okay I guess. You know, the usual and all."

"Right. Well if you ever need anything..."

"I know, I know. I can always count on you, Scoots." She leaned in close and nuzzled my neck, rubbing the tip of her hoof around my chest in circles.

I just closed my eyes and leaned back, never one to object to any physical attention from her. I could spend the rest of my life here. There are so many conflicting things I want out of life, but when I feel close to one, that one always seems to be the thing I reach out for and cling to.

I pressed my muzzle into her mane and breathed in her scent.

"Hey... I should be gettin' back soon. AJ says she needs my help around the farmhouse tonight." She looked up at me with her wide, adorable eyes.

Those words were heartbreaking, and I squeezed her with my front legs. "Noooooo, you just got here."

"Scoot, it's been like two hours. I'll come hang out with you tomorrow, okay?" She eased out of my grip and stood up, brushing herself off.

I stayed slumped against the tree and looked down. "'Kay," I muttered, letting out an overdrawn sigh.

She gave me a woeful nod and a smile as she trotted down the trail and away from me. I had no intention of leaving anytime soon. I looked back up to the sky and noticed the darkening orangeness that had appeared. It would be getting dark soon, and I'd be expected home, but I just sat there, thinking.

I thought about what it would be like to live with Apple Bloom. I mean, she's my best friend, but I think I get on her nerves from time to time. I'd hate for us to fight over anything stupid. Then again, it'd be better than living with my step-dad and his lowlife friends. I hate the way they look at me, and the older I get, the scarier they behave.

Birds fluttered away and stars began to appear twinkling in the sky one by one. They sparkled from behind the leaves and made me realize how long I had been sitting there, just thinking about nothing. The wind was a bit chilly, but I didn't mind. I just kept staring up through the trees at the night sky, mystified by its beauty. I think as I grow older, I'm learning to appreciate all the more subtle beauties life has to offer. Once you've been put in your mundane place, and dreams disappear, you'll learn to cling to anything that seems magical.

I really began to feel the sting of missing Rainbow Dash at that point. The way she used to hold me up and fly me through the sky still brings joyful chills to my spine. I hope she's happy with the Wonderbolts. I only wish she didn't have to travel so far away, so frequently.

I closed my eyes as I pictured her wide, confident smile and took in the cool, summer night air. Crickets chirped and there was a faint howl in the distance, and at that moment I decided it was time to head on home. I forced myself to my hooves and began down the trail with a slow, steady trot. There was something eerily charming about nighttime Ponyville, and the way the dim lights and street lanterns flickered throughout the dark city filled me with a hollow, lonely pit.

"Hehe."

I jumped, startled by sudden giggling. There were a couple of ponies trotting down another path, bumping one another and laughing. I realized that this would become a more common occurrence, I mean spotting ponies my age out and about at night now that school was out for the summer.

I ducked and stepped quietly down the trail, hoping they wouldn't see me or recognize me. The last thing I needed right now was to end up getting in a fight or something stupid like that.

I shook my head and continued trotting. My house was at the edge of a string of old rundown homes on the outskirts of town. They were the cheapest properties in the county, so it's no surprise that's where my mom decided to live. I think these rat infested shacks should be demolished, and we'd be better off homeless.

With yet another painful sigh, I pushed through the front door and quietly closed it behind myself. I saw my mom sitting at the kitchen table with a cigarette in her mouth. The ashes were piled up high, and her hooves here shaking.

"Y'alright?" I asked, hardly concerned.

"Go to your room kiddo, and be quiet." She didn't look up at me, and I could tell something was off.

"Something wrong? Am I home too late or something?" I started toward the refrigerator for a drink, but she stopped me.

"Scootaloo, do as you're told and get into your bedroom. Now." She stood up in front of me and nudged me away.

Without another word, I trotted into the hallway and took my saddlebag in my mouth as I headed towards my bedroom. My door was cracked open, but I always close it. I figured it was just my mom snooping around or something, probably the reason she's so mad at me right now, no big deal.

I dropped my bag down and flipped on the light, and lying on my bed was a big white unicorn.

"What are you doing here?!"

He smiled and chuckled. My heart sank into my stomach and I turned for the door, but he held the knob tight with his magic.

"Nuh-uh. Where ya goin' in such a hurry?" he growled in a deep, raspy voice as he stood and trotted up to me.

I was shaking, and I opened my mouth to scream, but before I could, he gagged me with a washcloth. My muffled shouting didn't do me any good. He turned me around and forced my upper body against my dresser. I could see myself in my mirror as he took my tail in his mouth and thrust himself against me. I tried to take the cloth out of my mouth but it was held tightly in place with his deep blue aura of magic. I tried to kick him off of me, but he was impervious to my hooves.

"Shh, stop fighting and this'll be better for both of us." He grinned and looked me in the eye through my reflection.

I stared back at him with pure, burning hatred. I never felt that I could murder another pony before, but at that moment, it was exactly what I wanted to do. I spread my wings and flailed against the dresser, kicking and fighting as hard as I could. He then struck me in the back of my head with a powerful hoof, and I stopped moving, dizzy and unable to think.

I closed my eyes and felt my tears soaking my cheeks. Suddenly a searing, unimaginable pain coursed through my entire body. I bit down on the cloth and screamed into it, but just couldn't make a sound loud enough. I opened my eyes for a moment and looked at myself. My tears flowed down my muzzle and splashed onto the polished surface of my dresser, and he laughed.

"Ah, they didn't tell me you'd be such a cry baby. I thought you were a grownup."

I pounded on my dresser and deeply inhaled through my nose. He placed his front hoof on the back of my head and forced it down against the wood.

"That's right. You were worth every bit," he said as he slammed himself into me.

I couldn't begin to imagine what those words meant. Did he pay for this? Did my mom sell me to him? I couldn't think beneath the pain. I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to drown him out. I thought of Silver Spoon, and the day we first got to know one another. It was the happiest day of my life.

Silver Spoon stood at the edge of the dance floor. She looked unhappy, which didn't sit well with me on that particular night. Diamond was supposed to be her date, but she was off philandering with any colt or filly that would look her way. Silver still didn't like me very much, but I figured I'd try to cheer her up. I mean, I didn't really like her either, but it was just sad seeing her all dressed up and looking pretty all alone over there beneath the dim, colorful lights.

Diamond is such a bitch. I'd never consider doing anything nice for that little hayseed, but I could just tell that Silver was different. Maybe it was the innocent gleam in her eye, or the way her cute braids dangled. I bet if she wasn't so attached to Diamond, she'd be a really cool mare.

"Apple Bloom, I'm gonna go talk to Silver Spoon. She looks pretty lonely." I tapped her shoulder and nodded towards the filly.

"Yeah, so? She deserves it if ya ask me!" my charming friend shouted, apparently not so sympathetic.

"Hey come on. We're supposed to be learning about the magic of friendship and all that jazz. This is a perfect opportunity to be good friends." I nudged her with my elbow and raised my eyebrows.

"Whatever you say. If you wanna go make friends with that little donkey, be my guest. But don't come cryin' to me when she knocks you back on your flank with that sharp tongue of hers." Apple Bloom gave me a quick hug and trotted off to the punch bowl, glancing back with a crooked frown.

"Heh, yeah..." Suddenly I didn't feel so confident.

I gulped and fixed my bow tie, then headed across the room. As I approached her, she spotted me and threw on a look of disdain.

"What do you want, Scootaloo." Silver Spoon spat my name out with a hurtful sense of disgust.

"I uh... well..." I scratched my mane and glanced around the room.

"What is it? Spit it out." She crossed her hooves and the gems on her gown sparkled beneath the stage lights.

I looked her over and gulped again, she was beautiful. Her bright purple eyes matched mine, but held so much more beauty from behind her lustrous glasses.

"Nothing, you just... well you looked a little lonely, and I thought..." I could feel myself blushing under my hot cheeks, and turned to leave.

"You thought what? That I would like your company?" She chuckled, then began to laugh.

"I only hoped..." I muttered, as I started trotting away.

Silver lost her smile and let her ears droop, then sighed and shook her head.

"Wait!" she shouted, and I stopped walking.

"Yeah?" I asked, turning back around to face her.

"Heh, well. You're kind of right, maybe I am a little lonely..." She looked over to Diamond, who was slow-dancing with some colt from another school.

"Diamond is a crappy date," I scoffed.

Silver stood straight up and glared down at me. "She is not a crappy date! She's just... she's just trying to have fun."

"Sorry, jeez. I didn't mean anything by it, it just seems like you're not enjoying yourself over here. I wanted to try and help with that." I caught my breath, but my heart was still racing.

I was usually so cool about everything, I don't know what it was about her that got me so worked up.

"I'm fine on my own. But if you're feeling lonely too, then maybe we can share a dance until Diamond comes back." Silver stared into my eyes with a straight face.

I could feel my hooves getting sweaty, but I couldn't turn her down, not now.

"Yeah sure. Sounds like fun to me." I swallowed the lump in my throat and held up my front hooves, offering to take hers.

She straightened her silky white gown and stood upright. It felt like my heart stopped beating and I couldn't find a breath. Another song began to play and the ponies around us started dancing. She looked up at me expectantly, but I was frozen.

"I thought you wanted to dance... What in the hoof are you doing?!" She whispered loudly, ducking and hiding her face from our classmates.

"I do! I just," I choked and cringed.

I couldn't believe how big of an egghead I was being, Rainbow would have whooped my flank. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down, then I reached over and took her hooves in mine. We twirled around and joined the crowd.

She glared at me while we danced, and I continued trying to avoid eye contact. Then I stumbled.

"Come on Scootaloo, I thought you were supposed to be good. If I knew you were so clumsy, I wouldn't have let you do this."

I blushed deeply and felt myself begin to shake. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous, I guess."

Silver glanced around and ensured nopony was watching, then stopped dancing. "Look, Scootaloo, you need to settle down before you humiliate both of us. Here, take your front hoof and wrap it around my waist, like this."

She took my foreleg and placed it on her hip, then reached her up around my neck.

"Now you lead, just step in time with the music and spin with me, and I'll match your movements." Silver sighed and waited for me to take the lead.

I looked down into her eyes and saw her staring at the floor. I came here to help her enjoy herself, but only made things worse with my sudden clumsy nervousness. I knew how to dance, and I've done it plenty of times before. I couldn't quite figure out why this mare had me tripping over myself like this, but somehow I liked it.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself, then started guiding her around the dance floor in graceful sweeps. Her eyes lit up, and we span around. Other ponies began to look at us while we danced in perfect synchronization, and Silver quickly took notice of the extra attention. Dancing was one of the few things I did well, and once I got into the flow of things, I was sure to impress my partner.

"That's not so hard, is it?" She winked while I held her up and twirled.

"Nah, I'm just a dope sometimes." I laughed a bit too loudly and managed to embarrass myself yet again.

She smirked and seemed to be lightening up. "Hey, I didn't realize you were such a good dancer, Scootaloo. No offense, but, how did you learn to move like this?"

I smiled, finally regaining some of my confidence. "I practiced a lot, and I learned how to balance my weight pretty well while learning tricks on my scooter. The two pretty much go hoof in hoof. Once I learned the steps, I had the ability to glide through them already down."

Silver looked up at me and broke a smile. "That's interesting. I've been attending dances and the like since I was still a blank flank. My father has a lot of dinner parties and charity events that he enjoys dragging me to, where dancing is usually commonplace."

"Ah, I've never been to anything other than a school dance." I laughed, and accidentally snorted as I did so. She didn't seem to mind my dorkiness too much, though it wasn't a characteristic I was used to exerting.

"Well you'd make for a much more enticing dance partner than I'm used to at those dull events. Maybe I could invite you to join me sometime."

"Heh, maybe." I looked down and away. I even felt out of place here, I couldn't imagine trying to blend in at a fancy charity party for high donors. "I'm not really cut out for that sort of thing, ya know?"

Silver shrugged and slowed down, then began swaying back and forth. "You're actually pretty cute, Scootaloo. I never realized you could be so friendly." She smiled softly and looked into my eyes, almost as if we were actually friends.

"Hey, I'm a real charmer once you get to know me." I smirked and let my pride shine.

"Are you? Well I'll have to see about that for myself." She wrapped her hoof around my hip and forcefully spun me around, then pulled me in tightly until our bodies were touching.

My pride was suddenly gone, and a large lump in my throat remained. "I... uh..."

She giggled and pushed her glasses up. "Charming."

It was almost irritating how easily she threw me off my game, like I'm just some young filly being teased by an older mare.

The song came to an end, and she let me fall to all fours. I cleared my throat and backed away. "Ya know, we can try that again if you want. I promise to be a little more charming this time."

She glanced over to Diamond, who was stumbling out the front door with two different colts by her side. "Yeah, I'd like that. You were terrible this time around."

"Well I need practice. I'm not used to dancing with such proper mares. You're pretty intimidating you know," I admitted. I'm not sure why I threw that out there, but thinking before speaking isn't something I do well under pressure.

"I'm intimidating? Because of my social status?" She looked down and away, her smile fading.

"Not that. It's because you're..." I cleared my throat. "You're really pretty."

She blinked several times, then scoffed. "So if you're after looks, why not go for Diamond Tiara? Everypony knows she's the prettiest mare in school."

"That's a matter of opinion. And in my opinion, you're the most beautiful mare I've ever seen." Suddenly it hit me, why I kept getting so nervous: I had a crush on her.

"Do you really mean that?" she asked, her eyes wide and her smile wider.

I could see in her eyes how important the answer to this question was to her, even if I meant absolutely nothing to her only half an hour ago. "I really do."

It didn't matter, I was infatuated and I hoped to spread it.

"So, should we dance again?" she asked as the next song began to play.

It was a softer beat, so slower dancing would be required, and that wasn't something I was so comfortable doing. Of course I said yes.

"Why not?" We each stood up again and our hooves interlocked.

She pressed herself against me and rested her chin on my shoulder. I could hardly breath while we slowly stepped in circles to the soft rhythm. I looked over her shoulder to see all the well-dressed ponies with their dance partners locked together in a romantic embrace. I knew I was out of place here, but it didn't really bother me until now.

"Silver, what are you doing with me? You know you could have anypony in here, right?" Shame sank into my stomach.

She shrugged and ran her hooves down my back. "You're the one who was nice enough to come talk to me when I was feeling alone. So thank you, Scootaloo."

I closed my eyes and nodded, then pressed my cheek up against hers. The song came to an end, and all the ponies dispersed to mingle and drink punch.

"Hey, you wanna get out of here?" She nodded towards the door.

My heart fell into my stomach and I winced. "Um, yeah, sure. Where do you wanna go?"

"I don't know, just anywhere we can be alone for a little while. We've never really gotten to know each other even though we've been in class together for like five years now. I just want to talk, you know?" She led the way towards the exit, her tail swaying back and forth noticeably beneath her silky gown.

"Right, sounds nice." I chased after her and tried to prepare myself for what might come next.

She pressed through the doors and cantered across the schoolyard. I spread my wings and matched her pace as she ran into a small wooded area.

"Where ya goin?" I called out, but she only glanced back and giggled.

Soon she twirled around and caught me in a hug, then pulled us both to the ground.

"This is far enough. I don't think anypony will be bothering us here." She smiled and placed a hoof over mine.

I let my mane fall over my face as I looked over her gorgeous body. Her eyes were reflecting the moonlight beneath her glasses, and her snowy-white mane was positively glowing in the night. I felt like I could just sit there and stare at her forever. I knew I was swooning, but I liked it.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked from behind my mane.

She lifted a hoof to brush it from my face, then rested it on my cheek. "I really wanted to say thank you for being a friend when I was in need. I love Diamond, but she's good at ditching me from time to time. It's just who she is, it doesn't really make her a bad pony or a bad friend. I'd be a bad friend if I didn't get it, or tried to be selfish and clingy about it."

I wanted to set her straight so badly, to tell her that Diamond was a worthless, horrible pony who didn't deserve one bit of her affection. I could feel my blood boiling, but I just took a deep breathed and calmed myself down.

"Enough about Diamond. I want to get to know you a little better, that was really the point of this, right?" I looked up and smiled, meeting her eyes.

She nodded and looked to the sky. "Right. Ask me anything, and I might answer you."

"Might?" I laughed. "Well, why did you decide to dance with me? I kind of thought you hated me, and that going over there was a waste of time to begin with."

"Honestly I thought you were the one who hated me. I figured you had just come over to mock me or something, like when we were younger... you and your friends were always the subject of our cruelty, I guess I was expecting revenge or something. I thought you wanted to, you know, kick me when I was down, maybe. I deserve that actually, after all I've done to you." Silver looked to the ground and blinked the tears from her eyes.

I lifted her chin with a hoof and looked into her watery eyes. "Wow, you're really beating yourself up over all that, aren't you..."

She shook her head and hugged me. "I guess I wish I was the one to go be nice to you first."

I grinned and pulled her close. "You being nice at all was a surprise, a good one. And Silver, you really made my night tonight. I'm glad we did what we did. Now don't cry, we're supposed to be getting to know each other better, remember?"

She laughed and tapped my wing. "You're right, and I believe it's my turn to ask you a question."

I leaned back and took her hooves in mine. "So ask away. I'm an open book."

"I can ask anything then, right?" She smiled and a hint of blush spread across her muzzle.

I nodded and she leaned in closer.

"Can I kiss you?"

My eyes shot open wide and I gulped. "Uh! Yeah, no, I don't see why not!"

She leaned in further until our muzzles were pressed against one another. I felt my body shudder, then she tilted her neck and brushed her muzzle across mine until our lips were nearly touching. I could feel her breath spilling across my cheek, and I closed my eyes. My heart exploded, and our lips connected. I could feel her hoof slowly sliding up my back and wrapping around my neck, and mine made its way into her mane. Our lips went from simply touching to interlocking, and she pressed harder. My heart was pumping bliss into my veins, and it coursed throughout my entire body. I'd never been happier in all my life.

I opened my eyes, and was staring up at the ceiling now alone in my bedroom. Tears poured down my cheeks, and I coughed. It was dark, and I was alone. The white stallion was nowhere to be seen.

It was then that I realized I had to leave home, and never look back.

"And I just stayed there, staring up at the ceiling and thinking about nothing. I don't know for how long, but it felt like hours. At some point a couple police ponies came into my room to talk to me. I guess my mom had called them, probably trying to make sure she didn't get blamed for anything. She came into my room with them, crying and acting worried or whatever. It was all bullshit, I know her better than that." Scootaloo shook her head and stared down at the table in front of her.

A pink earth pony wiped a tear from her eye and reached across the table to touch the young mare's hoof. "I'm so sorry Scootaloo. And thank you for talking to me about this, I know it must be... difficult."

"Heh, right..." Scootaloo scoffed, then fell silent.

"If there's anything at all on your mind that you want to talk about, feel free. I'm here to listen to anything and everything you'd like to share," she said, placing her quill to her notebook.

Both mares sat still for several long, drawn out moments. Scootaloo forced her forehead against the table, her eyes straining to focus on the wood grains and her hoof dangling limply. With a deep huff, she leaned up.

"So this is what you do now? Listen to messed up foals whine about their problems? Huh Cheerilee?"

The older mare grinned and let out a hot breath. "I'm a student counselor. And what I do is evaluate the psychological wellness of troubled youths."

"Oh, so that's why you abandoned me then? To become some kind of shrink? Awesome." Scootaloo pressed her hooves into her eyes and let her head fall to the table once again.

"Please Scootaloo, I didn't abandon you. I've always been there for you whenever I could be. Now this session is for you to talk about yourself, and I would really like to know what you've been up to for the past couple years." Cheerilee tapped the notebook and smiled down at her former student.

"So what, we can't talk about you for a while? What if you're what's on my mind?" The young pegasus smiled and tilted her head.

"Very well then, ask me anything you want to know. But I expect you to return the favor." The older mare winked and set her notebook down.

"Fine, tell me why you had to leave me behind when I needed you the most." Scootaloo sat straight up and stared into her eyes.

Cheerilee shook her head and fidgeted in her chair. "I didn't know... I mean, I didn't realize that you'd... What I'm trying to say is that I had no idea Rainbow Dash was going to leave so soon. I didn't expect things to go the way they did, or I'd have stayed. And that's saying a lot! I honestly, truly would have put my career on hold for you, Scootaloo. I know you don't think so right now, but I really care about you, as if you were my own daughter, or sister. You're a very special filly to me. In fact, you're the reason I decided to pursue counseling in the first place. My time spent with you, helping you through life's throes, really inspired me. I loved being there for you, and I always want to be there for you."

Scootaloo's eyes watered over as she watched her teacher's mouth moving. "So then... why didn't you write me a letter? Or visit? I didn't hear from you for over two years, and I missed you."

"I know, and I wish I had done things differently, but I honestly thought you were fine. Rainbow Dash told me that she was back in Ponyville for good, and I didn't think twice before taking that as my opportunity attain my Counselor's Degree. I wish I could go back in time and just put everything on hold, but what's done is done. If it's any consolation, I'm here for you right now, and I'll always be here for you whenever you need me." Cheerilee smiled softly as she reached across the table and placed her hoof over Scootaloo's.

The small orange pegasus stared at her teacher's hoof, then turned her own to cup it. "No no, don't think I'm forgiving you that easily. You have a lot of making up to do."

Cheerilee laughed and wiped another tear. "It's good to see you again, but not like this. I still need to ask you a few more questions. I'm told that I have to give a report to the police, and that requires me asking you a few more questions."

"Seriously?! Why didn't they just ask me themselves?!" Scootaloo smacked the table and shouted.

"I'm somepony you can trust, and that you're comfortable with. They feel you'll be the most open with me. Now a deal's a deal, so let me just get this over with and we can go back to just talking between the two of us. Now, your mom mentioned in her report that you had let a young white colt sneak into your room? And that this wasn't an uncommon occurrence?" Cheerilee asked, relifting her notebook and quill.

"Wait what?!" Scootaloo stood off her chair and smacked the table. "I never heard that. And that's a lie!"

"Okay. Settle down there. Tell me the truth then, Scootaloo. That's what this session is all about." Cheerilee eased her student down as her face fell into a worrisome gaze.

"I never let anypony into my room! Not even Apple Bloom goes in there. And this stallion was no young colt, he was huge! And there's another thing..." Scootaloo lowered her eyes and sighed. "He said that I was worth every bit."

Cheerilee narrowed her eyes and bit down on the end of the quill. "Do you have any idea what he could have meant by that?"

"Not sure, but it seems like he paid somepony to get into my room, or like my mom sold me to him in some way. Last week, on the same day that it happened, my mom was arguing with some little punk about money, so I was thinking that it might be connected or something. But she denies that anypony was at the house that day, and the police won't listen to me. I've pretty much given up, all I know for sure is that I'm never going back there..." Scootaloo looked up at Cheerilee, teary eyed and with a small grin.

"So how are things at the apple farm?"

"Fine I guess." The filly glanced away and tapped the table.

"Are you still... eh, partaking in the use of illegal substances?" Cheerilee asked as she drew circles and figure-eights on her notebook.

"Last week was the last time. I haven't really done much of anything since then. I did remember to write in my journal, but that's about it." Scootaloo glanced over to her saddlebag and raised an eyebrow.

Cheerilee smiled and trotted over to it. "Is that the one I bought you? I'm glad to see you're still using it."

"Actually that's a new one. The one you got me filled up a few months ago. I did a lot of writing after you left... a lot of writing."

"You filled that whole thing up in just over two years? There were at least five years worth of entries in it," Cheerilee pointed out as she lifted Scootaloo's saddle bag onto the table.

"Well some of my entries were pretty long, and well, they leaked onto other days' spots and stuff. I don't know, it is what it is," she explained.

"So tell me about the time you spent while I was away at school. I'm curious to know what all happened, I mean, it couldn't be all bad. Right?" Cheerilee asked as Scootaloo reached into her bag and lifted out two large journals.

"Here, go ahead and see for yourself. I wrote about every single day, even if nothing interesting at all happened. I had absolutely nothing better to do. I mean, between Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon, a sixteenth of my day was spent. So all I did was write about it..."

"Are you sure you want me to read this? It's your personal journal after all." Cheerilee slid the book across the table and scanned over the cover. Property of Scootaloo, Stay out or Rainbow Dash will kick your flank!

"Go for it. You're my shrink now, right? Maybe you can, you know, help me out with a few things. I could use some real relationship advice, I'll admit it. The details are in there. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" Scootaloo stood up and brushed herself off, and seconds later the school bell rang.

"Wow, I guess you're right. Times up already huh?" Cheerilee glanced to the clock behind her and placed Scootaloo's diary into her own saddlebag.

"Yup. See ya." The young pegasus rushed towards the door, turning back with a wide, beaming smile as she turned the knob.

"Hey Scootaloo, I just want to say that I'm really proud of you. You made huge progress today, telling me everything that happened like that. You never cease to amaze me. How about I treat you to dinner sometime? You know, to get you out of that barn for a little while." Cheerilee leaned over the table and fluttered her lashes.

"Yeah, happy to be here. And that'd be... cool, I guess. Sure. When?" Scootaloo blushed and took a step into the hallway.

"I'll get back to you on that. Now have fun, and don't forget to keep on writing in that journal. Remember, writing your feelings down can really help you see yourself more clearly." Cheerilee shooed her student away and locked her office door behind her.

She then closed the blinds on her door and retreated into her private office. She slumped down into her cushioned chair and let out a deep, overdrawn sigh as she tapped on her desk. Heavily dropping her saddlebag onto the floor next to her, she lifted Scootaloo's diary and dropped it onto the table.

... Rainbow Dash. Her nostrils flared at the sight of the name, and she took several deep breaths. As a deep sense of rage boiled in her stomach, she violently yanked open a drawer on her desk, pulling a cigarette from within. She struck a match and took a deep drag, puffing a plume of smoke into the air. Her hoof slowly stopped shaking, and she hung her head as the relaxation washed over her.

With another puff, she flipped open the diary. Entry: 1

Author's Notes:

I'd like to note that I do not partake in nor do I support the use or abuse of illegal substances.
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