Now back in Canterlot, the Canterlot Library specifically:

"Excuse me, where are the books on foal rearing?" Rainbow Dash quietly asked the librarian.

After receiving instructions, Rainbow Dash hurried over there as fast as allowed. She selected a few books and glanced through them. The adopting part didn't look too bad, after all she already knew Scootaloo really well so it would be easy to get some of her likes and dislikes - like food - quickly taken cared of.

Certain things though, like discipline, she was hesitant about. She never had to punish a foal before, so she wasn't sure whether she'd be able to do it without looking like an over-controlling relative. Plus there was the fact that she wasn't very good at disciplining herself, at least not without slapping herself across the face...

However Scootaloo was pretty much already well-behaved...Rainbow Dash didn't know too much about her study habits, but Scootaloo did already learn the basics behavior-wise thanks to her real parents. Maybe Rainbow Dash could pull it off...

She couldn't think too much about it the next day though, since she had to report to Wonderbolts Academy.

"Hey Dash." Soarin smiled. "So are you up for dinner tonight, or would you rather wait a bit longer?"

"Oh dinner tonight is fine, but we probably should let Spitfire know first." Rainbow Dash smiled back. "I mean I don't think she'd be happy if she found out from another source."

"Yeah, you're right. We should reassure her that we won't let our relationship interfere with our duties anyway." Soarin agreed.

So they headed to Spitfire's office and knocked.

"Come on in." Spitfire said.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash walked inside.

"You two at the same time? Is there something important you want to tell me?" Spitfire asked.

"Yes ma'am." Rainbow Dash nodded.

"Is it about Scootaloo? How is she doing?"

"She's doing fine, considering, but no we're here about something else."

"We just thought you'd like to know that...well, we're going out tonight." Soarin blushed a bit.

Spitfire raised an eyebrow.

"Hold on, you mean like on a date?" She said.

"Yes ma'am." Soarin said.

Spitfire smiled.

"Well it's about time you told Rainbow Dash how you felt, I was wondering how long it was going to take." She said. "Heh, Fleetfoot's gonna get a nasty shock, she bet that it would take you at least a year before you told Rainbow Dash how you felt. Misty Fly however bet it was going to take only a month or two. I stayed out of the betting myself, not only wouldn't it have been professional but I know that these things can be unpredictable."

"They all...knew?" Soarin blushed even more, and Rainbow Dash blushed a bit as well.

"Yeah, either they figured it out on their own or Fleetfoot eavesdropped on us back when you asked me for advice about it. Not sure which one, but it wouldn't be the first time Fleetfoot eavesdropped on one of us so I'm kinda sure it was that."

"You asked Spitfire for advice? She really is like your sister huh?" Rainbow Dash said to Soarin.

"Yeah." Soarin smiled.

"And you are my goof of a brother." Spitfire smirked.

"Ha ha." Soarin smirked back.

Rainbow Dash chuckled.

"Anyway, thank you for telling me now. And I trust that your relationship won't interfere with your duties?" Spitfire said warningly.

"Yes ma'am!" Rainbow Dash and Soarin saluted.

"Good. At ease then, and go get ready for training new recruits. Also I'd like a report on tonight's date tomorrow Soarin. It doesn't have to be detailed, I just want to make sure it went well. Don't want either of you hurt after all."

"You got it ma'am." Soarin smiled.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash then left and headed for the locker rooms.

"So any thoughts on whether you're gonna adopt Scootaloo or not?" Soarin asked. "I know it really isn't my business, but I really think you two belong together as a family."

"Actually since you care about us it is your business in a way." Rainbow Dash smiled before looking solemn. "And not much thought, I mean I did do some research and I might be able to handle taking care of a foal - especially a foal as awesome as Scootaloo - but I'm still not sure whether she'd want me to be sister or a mom if I adopted her. So I think I will ask her what she wants like you suggested."

"Careful, you don't want to get her hopes up in case you decide not to adopt her after all." Soarin warned.

"I know, don't worry I'll be clear that I haven't officially decided yet. And either way I'm sure she'll be touched by the fact that I took her feelings into consideration."

"I'll agree with that."

They then ran into Fleetfoot and Misty Fly.

"Hey Rainbow Dash, how's the kid?" Misty Fly asked.

"Actually not too bad. I mean she still misses her parents and I'm sure she's still sad about her wing, but other than that she's actually handling things pretty well." Rainbow Dash smiled.

"I'm sure you had a lot to do with it." Soarin smiled. "Oh, and Fleetfoot you owe Misty Fly some bits. Dash and I are going out to dinner tonight."

Soarin and Rainbow Dash then left a shocked Fleetfoot and Misty Fly. Misty Fly then looked smug as she held out her hoof expectantly while gesturing in a 'come on' manner. Scowling, Fleetfoot reluctantly put some bits into Misty Fly's hoof.