Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic or seek any profit from the below work.

Notes: Nothing much to report this time. I'm getting my stride with university now, I guess.

Lost and Found

Chapter 7: Riposte

Scootaloo felt the words bouncing around in her head like four Pinkie Pies all on a sugar high.

She had wanted to see Canterlot almost as much as she wanted to see Cloudsdale, but, her mother telling her this felt like getting bucked in the face.

Instead of growing up and seeing it on her terms, now she was going to be torn away from those friends and thrown far, far away!

What if it wasn't half as good as everyone said it was? What if everyone there was like her mother?

"That's…um, well, t-that's…" Her father's tongue tripped all over itself as his congratulatory stomping came to a halt.

Her mother's eagerness was unaffected by her husband's reaction, "I made arrangements for us to have castle lodgings! We're going to be set for life!"

"Darling, t-that's…w-w-we," The older pegasus stammered, "We didn't discuss that at all."

"Oh my beloved Windy Hopper," Crimson Brush grinned at him, "What was there to discuss? Living in Canterlot Castle is the best thing that could ever happen to us!"

"Um, yes…" He bowed his head.

Finally, Scootaloo found her voice and she used it, "But, I like it here in Ponyville."

It shocked both of her parents, though her mother seemed almost amused by the resistance, "But my darling daughter, dingy old Ponyville has nothing on Canterlot! You'll surely like it once you lay eyes on the buildings and set hooves upon its marvelous streets!"

Her father looked between the two mares in his life, uncertainty plainly scribed across his features.

The filly shook her head, "You aren't leaving YOUR home behind, you're just making us do it!"

"Scootaloo! Watch your tone!" Her mother's smile fell away, as if Celestia had stricken it from its spot on her face, but quickly recaptured its position, "I am your mother after all, and I do mean best for you! Besides, there will be so many more opportunities for you in Canterlot!"

She wanted to argue, but she remembered well what she had been told earlier. Gilda had said to think now and act later. Besides, her mother wouldn't be persuaded so simply. She'd have to do something about this, but she wouldn't be able to solve it by talking.

"Uh…sure." She looked to her father, who tried to hide just how much he shared her apprehension, and shrugged her shoulders, "Sorry, mom."

"That's okay, my dear. We are both so excited about this it is making us irrational." She brought her hooves together with a loud clop, "Get the cake, my beloved! A little dinner will make us all the more rational about our coming move!"

Windy did retrieve the cake from another room. It was rather small, frosted with all sorts of colors in a garish fashion.

Scootaloo recognized it at last. It was based on one of the paintings that her mother had made before she left for Canterlot; the one that her father kept in his room instead of around the house. It was a gigantic circle of rainbow colored light bursting outwards. To the filly, it looked like one big mess, but her mother had said that it was 'the essence of Celestia's day at its highest' or something like that.

In the center it had written 'Welcome Home, Crimson Brush!'

Her father wasn't exactly creative to copy her ugly design, but he had certainly gone all out for her…

"Oh. You remembered that old thing?" That crimson maned artist leaned over to give her disheveled husband a kiss on the cheek, "That's so sweet of you, my dear."

She had to admit, though, that it was nice that he got chocolate cake. And, for what it was worth, her mother didn't talk while she had her two pieces. It was the time that she opened her mouth

Scootaloo excused herself after she quickly finished her piece. They hastily exchanged 'good nights' and 'pleasant dreams' as she ascended the stairs. Right across the hall from the top of the stairs, where it had always been, sat her bedroom.

Her room was small and nearly bare. A toy box only a few years younger than her sat in one corner, while a small bed sat in the other. Unlike all the other foals, this wasn't her sanctum. It had more in common with a cell, to be honest. Stepping over to the bed, she noticed that the sheets had been changed.

'Well, if there's one thing I can depend on dad to do…' Right now, she was so tired she just wanted to wake up in school tomorrow morning.

After school, she'd have another chance to act on her situation. She didn't know where she could run to, though. So many ponies had united to find her so quickly. Last time, she had allowed herself to be caught, but the odds were against her. Everypony would grow suspicious about her situation. Rainbow Dash might find out…

She resolved to never let that happen. The coolest flier in all of Equestria COULDN'T find out about this situation.

Rainbow Dash would think less of her for not being able to solve her own problems like a grown mare would.

Still, as she stared up at the ceiling from under her clean sheets, she wondered just how she could get out of this if she couldn't just run away. Sleep found her long before she found a solution.

As her eyes opened to the morning sun, the orange pegasus blinked as she remembered where she was and her lack of a plan. Still, she'd be able to go to school and not be bothered for most of the day. After that, she'd have a plan made up.

Checking the clock, she realized that she'd be standing around doing a whole lot of nothing for a while if she left now. As she descended the stairs, though, the smell of breakfast hit her.

Her father set a huge plate of pancakes at the center of the table, "Good morning, Scootaloo! Just in time for breakfast."

"Thanks dad." It was hard to not smile when warm food was on the table. It was a lot better than just eating apples or a sandwich in the morning.

Her father sat down across from her and sighed. He took a few bites of his pancakes before forcing a smile, "Your mother was very tired from traveling and telling of her adventures…so it looks like there's extra pancakes for the two of us!"

She ate quietly, not sure of what to say and unable to force a laugh at his bit of humor. More time spent thinking would benefit her more than talking. Too much talking was half the problem with this family, as far as the daughter was concerned.

He , however, couldn't stand the silence, "So…how is school?"

"Uh, fine." She swallowed the pancake piece she was on, looking up to see that her father was still looking at her.

Their meal stopped for a moment as they stared at each other.

Finally, the pegasus known as Windy Hopper spoke in a much more quite voice, "I…I know what your mother said last night is a lot to deal with, but, I think we need to be open-minded about it."

Scootaloo went back to eating her pancakes. There was nothing she could say to her father that would convince him to stand up to that insane artist she had to call mom.

The meal finished in relative silence.

She stood to leave, not bothering to take her plate to the sink.

"Scootaloo, wait."

She turned back to see her father standing and staring at her, trying to get his mouth to move.

Finally, he sighed and grabbed something off of one of the other chairs, "Somepony brought your bags and your scooter back to the house last night. Try to bring them home tonight, honey."

"Uh, sure, thanks, dad." That'd save her some work, but she'd still have a lot of time to kill before school.

The scooter and her helmet were left right next to the door, outside. She strapped up and rode off slowly. The filly didn't know where to go, but she knew that waiting around wouldn't do her any good.

The ache in her wings came back stronger than ever. The time she spent with Rainbow Dash yesterday seemed so far away. She'd be going back again, today, but if her family took her to Canterlot, she'd never be able to fly with her idol ever again.

Even a whole week of training with the best wouldn't make her a good flier. If her mother was so eager about this move, she might not even have a week.

Sliding to a stop at the side of a house, she put a hoof down and folded her wings back up. There was no where to be in a hurry, anyway. School was at least half an hour off, and it'd probably take her a few minutes to get there if she went slowly.

Reassured that she had time to spare, the young daredevil thought it over. If she rushed off to school, there'd be nothing to do. On the other hand, there would be plenty of time to think and rest, and she knew that no one would be there early. There'd be no students to bother her there.

Slowly flapping her wings and fighting off the ache, she scooted off to the schoolhouse.

Thankfully, the door was left unlocked and the place of learning was abandoned this early in the morning.

Her desk on the front right of the room sat just as it had when she ran off from school on Friday. The chair was pulled out as far as it could be and her notebook was left inside it. She scoffed at the book; the whole thing was empty except for doodles on the first few pages, anyway.

Scootaloo wasn't going to start using it for its intended purpose today, but it had been the easy way to tell her desk apart from the others after the new seating change. She didn't know why Cheerilee wanted to change the seating assignments every other week.

The only good thing about moving away would be that she wouldn't have to sit next to Diamond Tiara again.

She shook her head at that traitorous thought. Canterlot could be a beautiful city with the most wonderful ponies, but it just wouldn't be worth leaving everything she loved behind.

Despite her insistence that she had to fight for an alternative, fruitless silence dominated the schoolhouse. Every time she got close to a breakthrough, it seemed like something blocked it. Her father couldn't be convinced to oppose her mother, for example, and she knew that asking ponies around town for help would backfire. Even if she could trust her friends to not tell anyone, their plans never really worked out quite perfectly.

This much helplessness was enough to make her want for Diamond Tiara to show up. Venting her frustration all over that moron or her little flunky would make her day!

Still, minute after minute passed, and she started to wonder where everypony was.

Surely that nerd Twist should have shown up by now, but she couldn't even hear any chattering or playing outside…

Finally, hooves played on the steps up into the schoolhouse, and she turned her grey eyes toward the entrance.

She immediately recognized her magenta coated earth pony teacher, though she said nothing.

Her voice betrayed her perplexed nature first, "Scootaloo? What are you doing here?"

"Ms. Cheerilee, it's Monday morning. That means it's time for school, right?" Annoyance wanted into her tone so very badly, but she fought it off.

She considered the foal's words a moment with an uneasy expression and laughed softly as she came to a conclusion, "I'm so sorry, you came here so eager to learn, but I must have forgotten to tell you that I needed to cancel class today. You can leave. Just make sure to read the lesson we were going over on Friday, okay?"

"Okay." Despite her acknowledgement, she remained where she was sitting.

It was far more likely that she just hadn't been paying attention when the announcement was made. Of all the times for school to be cancelled, though, this was the worst possible day! She'd have to find another place to kill time…and her parents might find out and come looking for her.

While she cursed her bad luck, however, the teacher strode over to her desk, "Oh! Wait! Since you're here, could you help me with an errand?"

Boring as this would be, it would be far preferable to going home. Her mother would surely be up by now and want to talk more and more about Canterlot…

She stood up, sliding her notebook back into her desk and picking up her schoolbags, "What do you need, Ms. Cheerilee?"

"I've got to take a few books back to the library, and I've got to take a few more out. I'd appreciate your help."

The young, orange pegasus agreed. Slipping the books into her bags, she followed her teacher to her destination.

It was the slowest she had ridden on her scooter in a long time, but the library was close enough to the schoolhouse.

Setting her scooter and helmet aside, she followed Cheerilee into the tree.

Spike was holding a scroll and quill in his hand, while Twilight sat nearby to dictate, "Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"Just in time, Cheerilee!" The young dragon looked to the unicorn, who nodded.

A quick breath of flame consumed the letter swiftly. She stared on in amazement as the paper turned to ash and vanished at the end of the green flame.

"The new shipment just came in yesterday," Twilight froze as her eyes fell on the filly, surprise overtaking her smile for a moment, "Oh. Hi, Scootaloo."

"Hi Twilight." Scootaloo took out the books she had loaded into her bags, "Ms. Cheerilee wanted you to have these back."

Cheerilee explained the situation quickly, "She volunteered to help me with my errand."

The purple furred librarian smiled eagerly, "Oh. Maybe thinking about taking out a few books yourself?"

The young pegasus had to keep sounding polite, "Uh, no, but I did have a question."

"Oh. Ask me anything."

"Why did Spike burn that letter?"

The baby dragon spoke up, raising a clawed finger, "Oh! That's dragon magic. Certain breaths used by dragons can act like magical spells."

"That's right." Twilight stood proudly next to her assistant, "Spike has mastered a teleportation evocation that sends scrolls and letters right to Princess Celestia."

"Oh." The filly nodded her understanding, "So it's way faster than the mail?"

The purple and green dragon nodded, "Yeah! They appear right next to her, so she can read them as soon as they show up."

Scootaloo found herself well in eagerness's grip as she asked her next question, "So you send letters like that to her all the time…does she answer back?"

"Yes. Though she is very busy, so she can't always respond right away." The faithful student answered, "Usually within the day, however, she sends a something back."

"She responded pretty quickly when I sent that letter when you were-" Spike found that a new scroll clad in a reddish aura was quickly crammed into his mouth.

"Oh Spike, I think you need to reorganize the fiction shelf again." Twilight laughed and gave him a soft shove off with her forelegs. He acquiesced, though not without grumbling around the paper in his mouth.

The mistress of the library turned back to her young guest, "That does remind me: if you feel like you've learned a lesson about friendship, we'd be glad to write a letter for you."

Cheerilee interjected with a proud smile, "With all she's learned about penponyship in my class, I'm sure she might be able to write such a letter herself."

What had once been a small, hopeful idea began to grow into a great plan as the mares spoke, and it seemed more and more possible with every word.

"Oh. If she's been learning to write, then there's no need for her to have to dictate it to Spike." The unicorn leaned in to whisper, "It's more personal when you pen the letter yourself."

Scootaloo tried her best to not sound too anxious, "Actually, yesterday, I learned something really important about friendship! Could I write one?"

"Of course!" Twilight Sparkle lit up with such excitement as she showed her guest over to a desk, offering her a fresh scroll and quill. The ink well nearby was nearly full.

She turned back before she left the filly to her work, "When you're done, just roll it up and leave it there. I'll tell Spike to send it."

Left alone, the pegasus took up the quill in her teeth. It'd be hard to write without a pencil, but she knew she could do it. The one person who even her mother could not argue with was the Princess herself. If the Princess decreed that Scootaloo was to stay here, then not one word out of Crimson Brush's mouth would make a difference!

Dear Princess Celestia,

I learned yesterday that even if you were a really good friend and things were going well for you, your family can tear you away from everything you care about. My father doesn't care enough to say anything about my mother making us move, and my mother thinks Canterlot is the best place in the world, but she doesn't care enough to ask me how I feel. I told her that I wanted to stay and she talked to me like I was three. She doesn't care about anyone's opinion, she just does whatever she wants. I hate that.

Anyway, it'd be really nice if you could let me stay here while my parents go to Canterlot. I don't want dad to be unhappy or anything, but I'll be unhappy if I go there.

I don't know what else to do. I want to be happy, and my parents don't care about that.

Please help,
Scootaloo

Her thoughts were bitter and her strokes sloppy as she wrote her letter. Despite it all, she managed to finish without too many messy marks and crossed out words. Uneasily, she rolled the scroll up and stepped down from the desk. Princess Celestia would make everything okay once she got the letter. The filly was confident about that much as she strolled past the mares and out of the library, barely muttering a goodbye.

For some reason, though, she felt edgy as she mounted her scooter and rode away. She assured herself, hooves shaking, that she'd feel better when it was all over…