Prologue

It was a slow Friday in Ponyville elementary school. Every pony was anxiously looking at the clock, shifting in their seats, and letting out exasperated breathes. Even Cheerilee was absentmindedly tapping a hoof. Everypony was ready to go, everypony except for Scootaloo.

She, unlike her many class mates, did not enjoy the time off from school. The weekend only ever brought disappointment for poor Scoots...

*RING*

"Class dismissed!" Cheerilee said brightly.

"Yay!" the class cheered as they ran off to begin their various weekend plans.

Scootaloo hung back and slowly put away her things, trying to prolong her destiny.

Cheerilee was just about to lock up, when she noticed Scoot's snail pace.

"Scootaloo, class is over, you can go home!" Cheerilee said sweetly.

Scoots said nothing, she simply kept at her pace. Not even Rainbow Dash could get her to speed up!

Cheerilee looked at her with concern. Scootaloo was always like this on Friday. Her hyper energy and adventurous nature seemed to disappear and leave a solemn and slow filly in her wake.

"Scootaloo, is everything alright?" Cheerilee said, curiously.

Scootaloo stared at her for a moment. She considered breaking down and telling Cheerilee all her woes, but then she remembered that telling her would mean she'd have to listen too, and reliving her sob story was not what Scoots needed on a Friday.

"Everything's fine Ms. Cheerilee, I'm just a little...tired is all," Scoots said finally, closing her saddle bags and joining Cheerilee at the door.

"Well...try to get some rest this weekend," Cheerilee sighed, knowing it was no use to push further.

"Mhm," Scootaloo responded halfheartedly as she quickly trotted away to avoid any more questions.

When she was sure she was far away from Cheerilee, Scootaloo resumed her slow pace to her home. Well, it wasn't really 'her' home, so much as it was 'the home'. Scootaloo lived in Ponyville's home for abandoned youth. Basically the local orphanage. She'd lived there as long as she could remember.

There was nothing wrong with the home. The care takers were nice, the foods was alright, and she had a lot of friends. It was like a family except...someone was always getting taken away.

"That's the bad part, the worst part..." Scoots muttered to herself as she kicked a rock.

It was normally the foals that were the first to go, but last week it was...Tootsie Flute.

She hadn't been there long, but her and Scoots shared a room and they'd gotten close. Scoots cried when she left that adoption Sunday. You could get adopted any day, but Sunday was when every one got cleaned up and ponies could pass through.

A ritzy looking couple had passed through that Sunday, they were a little orphan's dream. The mare was pretty and demure, and the colt was distinguished and handsome. They looked around a while, smiling and talking to kids as they passed. Everypony, even the care takers, were mystified by them. Scootaloo ruefully remembered rushing to her room to put on a bow or something that would impress the beautiful couple and make them adopt her, but when she got back...

"They we're taking her away," she muttered, gritting her teeth and kicking the rock harder into some bushes.

"Ow! Watch it!" a little voice squeaked from the bushes.

"Sorry," Scoots yelled to the bush.

"Scoots?"

"Yeah?"

"It's me, Pip!" Pipsqueak said jubilantly, coming out of the bush.

"...What were you doing in the bushes?" Scootaloo inquired

"Oh um, well...I knew you were upset about Tootsie, so I waited for you so we could walk together," Pip confessed, shuffling his hooves and looking down.

Pip had been at the home for a year now, which was really ridiculous for a colt as young and cute as he was. He should have been adopted his first Sunday, in fact he almost was, but something or other happened and he was left. Since then he's taken to hiding. Scootaloo didn't know why, but she was kinda glad he was around, not that she'd admit it.

"Whatever kid," Scootaloo said simply as she walked pass him.

They walked in silence for a while, but that wouldn't last long with Pip. The kid could go on, and on, and on...

"We're having nachos today," Pip said brightly, trying to start a conversation.

"Mhm," Scoots grunted, not really in the mood for words.

"Yup, nachos...that's a funny word. Nachos, nachos, naaaachos, nachoieooos, nanacholos, na-"

"Pip! Cut it out!" Scoots yelled.

"Huh, oh sorry...I always talk too much when I'm nervous," Pip admitted sheepishly.

"What are you nervous about kid?" Scootaloo said, walking on.

"...can you keep a secret Scootaloo?" Pip said cautiously.

"...What kind of secret?"

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