Scoot stamped her hoof against the ground as she awaited the moment Pippi would show up. It wasn't everyday they got to spend time together. Pippi would take her turns among the rest of the Mane 6 whenever she got a chance to, but seeing as Fluttershy had Discord over frequently, Rarity was busy designing, Annika was busy taking care of the cake shop, and Applebloom was tending to the acres... Scoot was the only one left for today. She was lucky to catch a break from the Wonderbolts, not that she wasn't thrilled with them... It was because in all honesty, she missed Pippi.
Perhaps even a bit more than she should've.
Scoot flicked her tail as that thought crossed her mind. Sure, she had a team with some of the most attractive stallions in Cloudsdale... But they didn't really catch her eye. Not in the way they should've. Scoot laughed at the thought. She was so dumb to have a crush on-
A triple-knock came rapping at Scoot's door, snapping her out of that thought. She Scooted over to the door and it flew open, hitting Pippi in the face. Scoot gasped, "Oh my Twilight! I'm so sorry!"
Pippi immediately let out a groan and put a hoof to her nose, "Haha, It's okay Scoot! I've been hit with worse." She grinned, but that wasn't enough to reassure the pegasus.
"H-Here wait! Come inside, I'll get you some- OH MY Twilight, YOU'RE BLEEDING!" Scoot squealed and shoved the purple alicorn inside her house, "TISSUES!"
"Now hold on, Scoot, I'm sure it's-"
Before she could finish her sentence, the wonderbolt had flown through the house and returned with a hoof full of tissues, "I can't believe I hit you with the door! I'm super duper sorry Pippi!" She took a tissue and went to wipe the princess's nose until she realized how awkward that would've been, "H-Here..." She sighed.
Pippi laughed at Scoot, taking a tissue from her gingerly and holding it to her nose, "Calm down, it's just a bit of blood. I'm not going to die, Scootie." She giggled, waving a hoof as if to dismiss her friend's worry, "Seriously, apology accepted..."
Scoot let out another sigh, "That was no way to greet a friend or the princess for that matter!"
"I'd rather have you slam the door into my face out of excitement than nothing. I'm glad you were so happy to see me again." Pippi grinned, her ears drooping slightly.
Scoot smiled back, unable to contain a small nervous laugh, "A-Ahaha... I suppose that's true."
Pippi dabbed away the blood and nudged Scoot, "So, how bad is it?" She removed the napkin and smiled slightly.
"Not so bad..." Scoot shifted awkwardly, avoiding her eyes, "Er..."
"What is it?" Pippi asked, raising an eyebrow.
Scoot flinched at the question, "What is what? I didn't say anything."
"You acted like you wanted to." Pippi pointed a hoof with a matter-of-factly tone.
"Psh, what else would I have to say." Scoot grinned, though she couldn't deny the warm feeling in her cheeks.
"Aw come now, Scoot... You usually have so much to talk about. I thought you'd be flapping your chops on and on about the Wonderbolts and how amazing they are..." Pippi levitated the napkin into the trash and sighed, "Now, if anypony could figure out that you aren't yourself lately, it'd be me." Pippi faced her with a stern expression, "Now tell me what's bothering you..."
Scoot squinted. She was right. She wasn't herself lately. First, she accepts that she has feelings for somepony, then she hits said somepony in the face, then she overreacts and turns into a fidgeting fool in front of that somepony as well... She wondered if she was sick or if this was really what love could do to someone...
"Pippi... I have to ask you something." Scoot suddenly uttered, standing in a nervous position. She rubbed her front leg with her other hoof, "What if... somepony had feelings for somepony else and was too afraid to tell them..."
Pippi listened with utmost concern. As Scoot finished her question, she let out a sigh of relief, "Is that all that's bothering you?! I was wondering if Tank was sick or something." She grinned and scooted towards Scoot, "Listen... If you have feelings for somepony, you shouldn't be afraid to tell them. Anypony would be lucky to have you." Pippi grinned and put a hoof to Scoot's chin, lifting her head up to look at her.
"Anyone?" Scoot began, "Even if I smashed their face in with a door?"
Pippi was oblivious, much to Scoot's dismay. "Yes." She laughed, "Now that you've told me this... Is there a certain stallion on the Wonderbolts that's stolen your heart?" She over-enthusiastically blurted out a possible answer, "OH! I BET IT'S SOARIN!"
Scoot's face turned red, "W-Wait, n-no!" She squeaked and shoved Pippi playfully, "I do not have a thing for Soarin!"
"Oooh, then why is your face all red?" Pippi laughed and shoved her back.
"Because..." Scoot sighed, "Because you're as slow as Tank- no offense." She added, noticing the tortoise crawling into the room.
"Slow? In what way?" Pippi asked with a glare, "Are you challenging me to a race?"
"N-No! I..." Scoot let out a defeated huff, "You know what... Yes. Let's race." Scoot glared back at her. Perhaps this would help clear her mind...
"Last one to that big cloud is a rotten egg!" Pippi screamed and pointed to a giant fluff out the window.
"You are so on, Princess!" Scoot smirked and trotted over to the door, "On the count of three?" She asked as she opened the door.
"THREE!" Pippi laughed like a madmare and bolted out the door, spreading her wings and taking flight.
Scoot hardly had time to react, "NOT FAIR!" She shrieked and zipped out the door with such a force the door swung shut from her momentum. She smirked as she fluttered right past Pippi with ease, flying upside down above her.
"Oh, I consider it very fair seeing as you simply outmatch me every single time," Pippi smirked and flapped her wings, weaving from side to side.
Scoot winked at her, "See, I told you you were slow." She lowered herself to now fly right beside Pippi, "Perhaps even slower than Tank." She performed backstrokes through the air.
"I may be slow, but at least I don't have to rely on speed or loyalty seeing as you hold both of those traits." Pippi flicked her tail in the other mare's face as she sped back up a little.
"Twilight have mercy on my soul..." Scoot thought to herself as the horsehair tickled her nostrils. She felt that familiar warm glow in her cheeks as she continued to keep up with her friend. She pushed herself a little bit ahead, turning over, "Yeah, just like I don't have to depend on magic, seeing as I have none." Scoot smiled nervously.
"What are you talking about?" Pippi struggled to keep up, "You contain plenty of magic."
"How so?" Scoot said, preparing herself for a compliment as if it were an attack on her.
Pippi's horn lit up as she snagged Scoot by the tail and yanked her back, "Because without your friendship, I wouldn't be the Princess of Magic, now would I?"
Scoot blushed, hiding behind her hooves, "N-No... you wouldn't..."
"Exactly." Pippi thought for a moment, raising an eyebrow at the pegasus, "Hm, what's got you all flustered now?"
"FLUSTERED!? I'M NOT FLUSTERED! TOUGH GIRLS DON'T FLUSTER! WHAT KIND OF PONY DO YOU THINK I AM? Scoot blurted out, her voice cracking.
"Scootie..." Pippi sighed, "You STILL aren't acting yourself." She squinted.
Scoot peeked out from behind her hooves, trying to make the redness from her cheeks go away, "W-What do you mean? I-I'm fine..."
"Are you sick or something?" Pippi asked, a pink aura capturing Scoot's hooves and peeling them from her face.
"N-No... I feel fine! A-Ahaha!" She could tell her entire face was on fire by now.
Pippi snorted, "Well, I guess if you won't tell me then I can't make you." She shook her head and let Scoot go.
"W-Wait... I can't tell you, but..." Scoot regret ever letting the beginning of that sentence slip her lips. She froze like a deer in the headlights.
"But what?" Pippi asked, intrigued.
"I can... er..."Scoot realized how close to the big cloud they were and smirked, "I CAN BEAT YOU! AHAHAHAHA RACING!" She squealed and took off. She could hear Pippi screeching at her to come back, but she was way too far ahead for her to stop her again. She landed on top of the large, billowing cloud and hid inside it's fluffy white condensation. She knew Pippi would have all sorts of questions for her, but Scoot had no answers. She didn't even know if this was just another stupid 'phase' she's going through. Maybe she was just upset that her time with Twily had been drastically cut?
Or... not...
"Scootaloo..." Pippi called as she planted her hooves on top of the cloud her friend had bolted for, "Fine, you got me. I am slow. Slower than Tank. You can come out now..."
Scoot let out a sigh and slowly raised from her cover inside the cloud. She stood in a nervous position, once again rubbing her front leg with her hoof. She didn't say a word, averting her gaze.
"Scoot..." Pippi trotted over, "This has to be much more than just a small crush on somepony..." She flopped onto her back and gazed up at the pegasus, "I'm not going to push you to tell me anything... but, I strongly advise that you do. Maybe I can be your middle man- er mare?" Pippi coughed, "I could tell whoever it is about your feelings if you'd want..." She grinned and booped her troubled friend on the nose.
"No, no no! That's fine, Twi..." Scootie sighed, but couldn't help herself. She let out a giggle at the princess's actions and booped her back, "Egghead..." She mumbled and moved away, sitting on the edge of the cloud and staring down at Ponyville.
Pippi walked right up beside her and sat down, a small amount of space between them. She followed Scoot's gaze to the ground below, "I wish we could spend more time together... If I'm honest, my duties as a princess and your Wonderbolt tour have gotten in the way of so much." She let out a soft sigh, "I almost feel as if I've failed you as a friend for not coming to every show you've had."
Scoot looked over at her, her eyes soft, "Look, Pippi, you haven't let me down. I've let myself down." She turned to the alicorn, "Instead of focusing on our time together, I've got you wrapped up in a stupid little crush." She snorted and crossed her hooves, "If anyone's failed friendship, it's me..."
Pippi shook her head, scooting closer to the other mare, "You could never fail our friendship, Scootaloo. If something bothers you, it bothers me just the same..." She put a comforting hoof on her friend's and leaned in close, "I'm here for you..."
Scoot let out a hushed gasp as she noticed how close Pippi was to her. The warm, fuzzy feelings resurfaced stronger than they've ever been. Her ears perked forward as she stared into Pippi's eyes.
"C'mon, Scoot, you're brave..." She told herself.
She slowly began to inch forward, but before she even got close to the other mare's lips, she collapsed into the fluff of her chest and nuzzled her face into it. She felt relieved in an odd way considering the amount of stress she had on her shoulders only seconds ago.
"Scoot..." Pippi exhaled and embraced her, "You've bottled things in for too long..." She stroked the multicolored mane of the pegasus, smiling warmly, "Remember when you shut everypony out when Tank was going to hibernate..."
Scoot giggled slightly at the remembrance of it. She tightened her hooves around the princess, hugging her as tightly as she could. She didn't want to let go. This was... definitely new. She felt her head spinning and heart drumming happily in her chest. Her wings almost didn't want to stay down, "I love you, Twi..." She mumbled, but it was surely muffled by the amount of fluff around her face.
Pippi laughed along with her, "I'm glad you remember..."
Scoot hesitantly peeled her blushy face off the soft coat of the alicorn. She looked at her hooves, feeling both thankful yet frustrated that Pippi didn't hear her. This was twice. Maybe, just maybe third times would be the charm...
If not, Scoot would have to tell her explicitly...
The horror...
She trembled slightly at the thought of having to be straightforward. She hoped by the time these feelings consumed her Pippi would notice before she had to mention anything. Technically she had mentioned it, Twi just didn't know she was talking about her...
Pippi seemed to notice her silence, staring at her with those sparkling amethyst eyes. She cleared her throat and pawed the cloud they were sitting on, "Er, Pippi... Do you think we could maybe... Go find something to do. It would at least take my mind off things..." She suggested.
Pippi laughed and nudged her, "Of course, Scoot. Whatever you need." She wiggled her brows playfully, "Boy, that somepony is sure lucky to have you thinking about them all the time." She flicked her tail, eyes lingering on her, "Where shall we head, then?"
Scoot laughed nervously, "Perhaps we could let Owlicious and Tank play for a little bit..."
"Good thinking! Let's go get Tank, then." She grinned and got to her hooves, "But I'm not racing you back."
Scoot smiled, "Good because I wouldn't want to make a princess collapse from exhaustion." She brushed against Twi with a smirk and lifted up off the cloud.
Pippi seemed to hesitate before following her.
As they soared through the sky together, not a word was said. It was quite unusual for either of them, so the fact that they both were being silent was extremely out of the ordinary. Scoot couldn't help but glance at the princess from time to time as she now seemed very distant. Was she disappointed that Scoot didn't pour her feelings out... The thought of that made the pegasus feel very guilty. She did ask her to let everything out, yet all Scoot did was snuggle into her chest, which in a way was sorta showing her what was on her mind..
"What are you looking at me for?" Twi asked suddenly as their eyes locked.
Scoot grinned innocently, "I wasn't, I was just admiring the clouds!" She blurted out, shutting her mouth the second she was able to. She wished she could zip it and throw away the key sometimes.
"If the clouds are purple, blue, and pink, then yeah, you were." Pippi teased with a smile as they landed on the clouds Scoot's house sat on.
Scoot's face turned a shade of purple, stepping backward and almost slipping off the cloud, "Uh- well, you see- AH!" She squeaked as she lost her footing.
Pippi giggled, "I was only kidding. I just wanted to break the silence." She hopped over to her and grabbed her hoof, "Careful there, Scootie." She pulled her back towards the house.
"Whew... Thank you, Twily..." Scootaloo let out a sigh of relief, "What would I do without you?"
The princess shuffled closer, "Probably go hang out with your newfound Wonderbolts all the time." She smirked as if she knew something.
The pegasus squinted, "What's that look for?"
Pippi's smirk dissipated, "Are you sure you don't have feelings for any of the Wonderbolts?" She asked, seeming like she needed confirmation, "Not even Soarin?"
"Positive." Scoot snorted, flicking her tail, "He's not really my style..."
"Is Spitfire more your style?" Pippi asked, a serious look in her eyes.
"WHAT!?" Scoot screamed. She gave her a look, "What is that supposed to mean!?"
The alicorn flicked an ear, smiling at Scoot's reaction, "I was just curious..."
Scoot blinked twice. Well, this could get a little weight off her chest she guessed... She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Pippi's hoof.
"Before you answer, just know that it doesn't matter who you fall in love with. I'll always have your back a-hundred-and-ten percent of the way." Pippi nodded her head, "Whoever has you falling head over hooves after them must be a really special pony, and if they can catch the eye of the wild tomboy we've all came to know and love, then they have my blessing."
Scoot's eyes widened, She felt her heart swell at the sound of Pippi's statement. She thought for a moment, wondering if she really wanted to go through with this. After letting out a shallow sigh, she lifted her head confidently, "Oh.. Well, uh... Yeah." Scoot laughed, feeling a little more easy-going, "It's a 'her'."
Pippi's face lit up, "Really?"
"Really, really..." Scoot's ears drooped slightly.
"I always wondered if you would be interested in mares." The princess grinned and touched the side of Scoot's face gently, "Don't worry, Scootie, your secret is safe with me."
The Wonderbolt breathed a sigh of relief, "You're the first pony I've told... other than Fluttershy." She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Really?! Fluttershy never said anything when I and the rest of us talked about it a month ago... She really is the element of kindness to let you tell us when you were ready."
"Wait... you had a discussion about this? Who brought it up?" Scoot asked, blinking her wide eyes.
"Applebloom did. She's the honest one, and she wanted to be honest with us about her thoughts about you." Pippi laughed, "Really, I had been thinking the same before she even mentioned it."
The pegasus lowered her gaze, "That makes sense... But, uh.. What do the others have to say about it?"
"The same as I told you. Each and every one of them didn't care if you were gay, bi, whatever... You're our friend." The alicorn beamed, "We all love and accept you."
Scoot's ears perked up a fraction of a second before she jumped forward and hugged Pippi yet again, "Thank you! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! You're the best! I've got to give the others a hug and thank them next time I see 'em!"
Pippi held her tight, "Hey, it's what friends are for..." She pulled back, "I would never shame one of the coolest ponies I've ever met..."
"One of the coolest!?" Scoot blew a raspberry, "I'm almost offended."
"Okay, fine... The coolest, most awesome pony I've ever met." Twi took her by the hoof, "Happy now?"
Scoot glanced down at their hooves before returning her attention to Pippi's face, "Yeah... That was a load off my chest."
Pippi booped her nose, "I'm glad."
"Egghead..." Scoot snorted and pushed her gently, "Okay, enough of the mushy business... Tank's probably bored to death."
Pippi giggled and trotted after her.
After strapping Tank up to his rotor blades, the trio took to the sky yet again, this time their eyes set on the ground. Scoot kept her distance, knowing it was probably better for her. Tank separated them as they headed for the earth.
"Y'know Scoot, I think you two are quite the perfect pair. You're both rock solid and persistent." Pippi giggled, her eyes set on the tortoise, "I have to thank you again, little guy... I know I do this all too often, but without you, Scoot wouldn't be here to keep me company."
Tank let out a happy grunt in response, spinning in a circle out of joy. He gave a slow grin between the two and kicked his little legs.
Scoot's ears drooped slightly, "Yeah... I also wouldn't be here to call you an egghead." She snorted with a smile, "Egghead."
"Oh stop it, you..." Pippi's face grew pink, her lips pursing as she failed to come up with a clever retort, or at least it seemed that way. She huffed hiding a sneaky smile, "Nevermind."
"Hahah!" Scoot grinned as they landed on the ground, "What was that, Princess?" She teased.
"I said stop it, lover girl." Pippi took a step towards the other mare, batting her eyelashes at her mockingly.
Scoot immediately felt all color rush to her face. She froze, eyes wide with fear, "Oh..." She felt all four of her legs grow weak at such a sight. A lump formed in her throat before she could say anything. She squinted and pushed her back, "Don't you call me that..."
"I will if I want to, featherbrain," Pippi smirked and trotted around her.
Scoot let out a grumble before sulking after the happy alicorn. She had been one-upped for sure. If these dang butterflies weren't consuming her, she may have been able to snark back at her. She lifted her head, eyes suddenly falling upon the bounciness of Pippi's hips. She blinked twice, shaking her head as if to try and straighten her thoughts out. The sound of Tank's blades whizzed by her ear as she saw Owlicious looking out the window of the castle. Scoot snorted, "Watch it, you could've cut my mane!"
Pippi looked over her shoulder and laughed, "I think you'd look good with a shorter mane." She flicked her tail in Scoot's face, "Who knows, you may impress that mare you're all worked up over..." She paused for a moment, "Lovergirl.."
Scoot scrunched her nose up as if she was disgusted, "I said cut that out."
"I can't help it. You're kinda funny when you're mad." Pippi opened the large wooden door and Owlicious shot out and swirled through the air with Tank.
He let out a happy hoot and smiled, "Hoo!"
Tank gurgled in response, equally as happy.
"Hm." Twi smirked slightly and looked at Scoot, "Stay here and keep our pets out of trouble. I just thought of something." She happily slipped inside the castle without another word.
Scoot snorted and looked up at the tortoise and the owl. She flicked her ear, frustrated. She was still a little flustered from the last time Pippi called her 'lover girl'. The thought of that pet name only made her face grow hotter. She was doomed. Pippi was going to be the death of her. She was a hundred and ten percent positive of this. She watched the two pets interacting as they landed on the ground. Tank peeled his goggles off and slowly handed them to the other pet, who in turn put them on and blinked his eyes. Scoot couldn't help but giggle for a moment, but it died down rather quickly. Scoot then let out a soft sigh as she slumped back against the door. What was she supposed to do? Wait for Pippi to catch a hint? Or should she just be forward and tell her before she makes a fool of herself again. I mean, Pippi knows she has a crush, but... Time would surely give away that Pippi was only making her confusing feelings worse. What if she questioned her again? What excuse was Scoot supposed to give her?
"Pippi, I have... feelings for you..." Scoot said quietly to herself, trying to get used to the sound of her own voice saying it. She shuddered nervously and curled into a ball. No, there was no way in hay that she was going to be the first to say it...
But what if she had to?
These emotions were strangling her. She struggled to behave like her normal self around the princess, and it sickened her that Pippi was so perceptive... It was true if anypony knew Scoot wasn't behaving like herself, it was Twi. It had to be. It wasn't this hard to be normal around any of the others because she didn't feel for them in that way...
Scoot was hit by the wooden door swinging open. She fell onto her face and grunted, her rump up in the air and tail curled over her face, "Ow..."
Pippi gasped, "Scoot! I'm so sorry!" She rushed to her aid and peeled her off the ground, "Are you okay?"
"Just peachy!" Scoot laughed and flapped her wings to remove the dust from her coat, "Looks like you avenged yourself!" She announced, pawing the ground anxiously. She glanced up, noticing Pippi had a basket strapped to her... A picnic basket... "Oooooo!" She grinned, "What's in the basket?"
"Stuff for sandwiches and sodas... Nothing too fancy." Pippi smiled, her eyes darting around, "Scoot... Where's Tank and Owlicious?" She asked.
The pegasus gasped, "Oh... well I uh..." She let out a squeak, realizing the two critters were nowhere to be found, "Aha, sorry..."
"You weren't watching them, were you?" Pippi grunted, "Now we have to find them!" She shoved Scoot aside and cantered off towards town.
Scoot sighed and galloped after her, feeling like a horrible pony. In all honesty, if she wasn't so head-over-hooves for Pippi, this could've been avoided. If only she could focus on anything but that darn alicorn and her stupid pretty eyes and the way she stupidly walks and her stupid, well, everything.
Thankfully, Owlicious and Tank hadn't gotten too far away. They were found trying to sneak their way into the cake shop. Pippi screeched at them and raced towards the duo, but they flew upwards. The shop's front door flew open and she wound up skidding just short of a screaming somepony. A cupcake was flung into her face out of fright, sticking to her nose for a moment before falling to her chest.
"Oh! Hi Annika!" Pippi giggled awkwardly and stepped back from the pink earth pony, wiping cake crumbs off the fluff of her torso, "Sorry about the cupcake..."
"Oh, it's no biggie! I shouldn't have panicked like that! Besides, it's not like there's a thousand more in the showcase or anything!" She grinned, "Anyways, hi Pippi and, OH! Hi Scoot! Enjoying your day together!?" She giggled and rocked excitedly on her rear-end, staring up at them.
Scoot composed herself, swaggering over to the two, "Oh yeah, we're having a blast." She gave an innocent smile to Pippi, seeing her squinting at her.
"Or we were until a certain scatter-brained somepony decided to let our pets wander off." Pippi glared, a tiny droplet of frosting on her nose. She went cross-eyed suddenly as she spotted it.
Scoot booped her on the snout, swiping the icing off her nose and licking it off her hoof, "I said I was sorry." She smirked at the taste of the frosting, "Yum... My favorite!"
Annika squeaked like a rubber ducky, looking between the two.
Pippi rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but laugh, "I guess I have to forgive you or I don't have anypony to hang out with." She put a hoof around Scoot's neck, "But this doesn't get you off the hook..." She leaned in even closer, her lips right against Scoot's ear, "Lovergirl..."
Scoot's face turned beet red, "YOU EGGHEAD!" She blurted and pushed her back gently, "Ahahaha! You're hilarious Pippi!" She covered her mouth with both of her hooves.
"Ummmmmmmmmmmm, is Scootie sick or something?" Annika stuck her tongue out, tilting her head. She looked like a confused puppy.
"Oh, no, she's just-" Pippi began, but was cut off.
"Just fine." Scoot said confidently, scowling at the alicorn with a shake of her head, "I'm fine."
"But Pippi said you were scatter-brained..." Annika pointed a hoof at her, "And that's not like you! You're usually all cool and confident and awesome and-"
Scoot laughed, "The thrill of being a Wonderbolt's gotten to me. It's intoxicating, really." She lied, seeing Pippi's subtle, approving nod. She was thankful Twi wasn't pushing her to tell Annika.
"Well, I suppose it would be a rather super feeling! I'm still so proud of you! Dreams really do come true!" Annika hopped excitedly in place before hugging Scoot.
Pippi smirked at the pegasus, "I'm just trying to keep her head screwed on straight." She added a faint emphasis on 'straight'.
Scoot laughed at Pippi's innuendo and hugged Annika back, rubbing their cheeks together. She mumbled, "Thank you, Annika." She pulled away and beamed at her, remembering Pippi telling her that all of the mane six supported her. She put a hoof on the earth pony's chest, "Really, thank you."
"You already thanked me once...?" Annika said, suddenly confused. She looked at Pippi for an answer, but all Pippi did was giggle.
"I know." Scoot held back a snort, "And I thanked you again."
Annika went cross-eyed, "Huh...?"
Pippi and Scoot locked eyes at the same time. Unable to contain their laughter, they burst into fits of hysteria. Hooves flailed around, tears were shed, and all sorts of imaginary question marks appeared above Annika's head.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Annika said frustrated, tugging on her mane.
"I'll uh... Tell you later." Scoot promised with a wink, "Promise."
Annika pointed at Pippi, "But Twi already knows-"
Pippi waved her hooves, asking Annika to calm down and drop it. She added a wink.
"Oh... Okay, well... Whenever you're ready." Annika nodded, "I, uh, I've gotta go grab another cupcake for my break." She zipped inside and came back out within seconds with a whole box, "Look, you two seem to be going on a picnic, so here... On the house. Somepony was rude and cancelled their order." She huffed.
"Thank you, Annika." Scoot grinned.
Annika squinted slightly, "You're still one 'thank you' over."
Scoot winked and turned to Pippi after placing the cupcakes on her own back, "Ready to go?" She looked overhead at the two pets looking down at them.
Pippi nodded, "Born ready..." She looked at Annika and smiled, "Thanks for the cupcakes, Annika... Ready to hang out tomorrow night?"
Annika nodded excitedly, "You know it!" She looked between the two mares, "Well, you two have fun together! Glad you caught me on my break!"
"Bye Annika!" Scoot and Twi said at the same time. They grinned at each other, almost snorting with laughter as they set off for Sweet Apple Acres with their pets.
Scoot happily walked alongside her friend, Tank and Owlicious floating above them overhead. She let out a cough, "So... uh... I have to uh, thank you for not pressuring me into telling Annika back there."
"You don't have to thank me. I'll give you all the time you need before you come out." Pippi flicked an ear, "Besides, it's not like it'll change the way they view you. It certainly didn't alter the way I see you, at least not for the worse."
The pegasus grinned, "Ahaha... right." She paused a moment. "So you're sure AJ won't mind us hanging around on their farm?" Scoot asked Pippi. Sweet Apple Acres was certainly one of the most beautiful places in Ponyville. Especially way out in the midst of the orchard... She grew tongue-tied at the thought of the late afternoon sun hitting Pippi's coat...
"A-hundred-and-ten-percent positive, was it?" Pippi mocked her, "Of course AJ won't mind. She'd probably love to see us together."
Scootaloo mumbled to herself, "Well, she's not the only one..."
"Gesundheit." Pippi smiled at her.
Scoot froze, "What?"
"I heard that." Twi gave her a cheeky grin.
Her eyes widened, "Heard what?"
The princess giggled and turned to face her, "What you said about- uh."
Scoot knew what she was pulling. She snorted, putting on a cocky expression, "What exactly did you hear?"
Pippi's ears drooped.
"You're a horrible liar." Scoot snorted and nudged Pippi, who burst into laughter.
"Nopony better be lyin' on my farm!" Applebloom's southern twang rang through their ears, accompanied by the sound of squeaky wagon wheels. She was hauling a load of apples towards the barn, looking rather happy to see them.
"AJ!" Pippi grinned, "We hoped we'd catch you somewhere. We were wondering where the best spot for a picnic in the orchard is."
Applebloom looked between the two of them. She left her gaze on Scoot as she spoke, "Hm... I have a couple places in mind..." She trotted towards the barn, throwing a glance over her shoulder, "Let me drop these off and I'll show you two the way!"
Scoot and Twi looked at each other with grins and trotted after her.
After helping AJ unload what she was hauling, the trio began to head to the picnic area Applebloom had in mind.
"So what have y'all been doin' today?" Applebloom asked, leading them down a dirt path.
Pippi smiled, "Nothing too out of the ordinary. I raced Scoot and lost, we decided to let Owlicious and Tank play together while we had a picnic, Scoot didn't watch them close enough so they ran off and we bumped into Annika... and now here we are."
AJ flicked an ear, "Is that all? Wow, I was beginning to think you two would be finding all sorts of exciting things to get into, but here y'all are doin' one of the tamest things a couple'a friends could do!"
"Oh, she forgot to include me hitting her in the face with the door, her hitting me with her door, and, well-" She stopped herself noticing Pippi's look. She pursed her lips together before wrapping the last sentence up, "-that's just about it."
Applebloom snickered, "Y'all hit each other with doors? That's mighty odd... I reckon it wasn't on purpose?"
"Hay no. If I did it on purpose she would've wound up with more than a bloody nose." Scoot grinned at Pippi, nudging her with a hoof.
Pippi glared playfully and went to nudge her back. However, their hooves brushed against each other. Scoot and Twi both immediately looked away from each other and stopped their subtle roughhousing.
AJ flicked her tail, "The nice picnic area is right through these bushes." She stepped forward and pried one side of foliage away for the two mares. "Me and Big Mac used to come out here from time to time just to relax and get away from our troubles..." She looked as if she were reminiscing, staring out beyond the bushes, "It sure is gorgeous... Perfect view of the orchard." She motioned for them to go on through with her hoof, "It's best if you see it for yerself."
Scoot let Pippi go first, "After you." She felt a warm glow in her cheeks as Pippi whisked her dark blue horsehair across her face yet again. The flustered pegasus turned to Applebloom as Owlicious and Tank tailed Pippi and went on through, "You going to stick around with us?"
Applebloom looked at Pippi and then Scoot. She gave a warm smile to the pegasus, "Y'all go on, Granny's got supper cookin' and I haven't set the dinner table yet." She beamed at the pair, "Enjoy yerselves now! This place is home to many of my nearest and dearest memories."
Scoot pushed through the thicket, turning back to look at Applebloom. She nodded her head, "Thank you, for everything and more..." Scoot said though she was positive AJ had no idea what she was talking about. Applebloom nodded to them both before rearing and galloping back on down the path from which they came.
"Scoot..." Pippi said, calling her over as she stared out at the world around them, "You're not going to believe this..."
Scoot slowly made her way over to join Pippi. The second she came up beside the alicorn, she felt her heart drum happily. Her eyes widened as she took in everything on either side of them. The acres had never looked so magnificent... Shiny almost-red apples glistened in the sunlight along with waves of greens varying from tree to tree. It was very...
"Beautiful..." Pippi Sparkle breathed out, "Isn't it?" She slowly looked over at Scoot as a small breeze blew against them.
Scoot nodded, "Very." She had to look away, pretending to look at the scenery yet again only to escape having to look at her mare friend- FRIEND THAT IS A MARE. Scoot grew tense at that thought. She was dumb. No, that was surely eons away from happening
If it ever would...
Scoot flinched as she caught a glimpse of Pippi moving. She turned to find her setting the blanket. Tank and Owlicious zipped around, heading for the rows of trees below the rather steep hill. Scoot heard barking and realized why they had made a beeline... It was AJ's dog, Winoa. She grinned at the three critters as they greeted each other before sitting her box of cupcakes down next to the picnic basket Twi brought. She laid her ears back, not really feeling very hungry, but she had to at least pretend...
Pippi's horn lit up as she prepared them a couple of peanut butter and honey sandwiches. She levitated one over onto Scoot's plate and grinned, "There you go..."
"Thanks, Twily..." She felt herself fluff up from nerves. Her head was reeling, heart hammering against her ribcage. She slowly picked the sandwich up and took a small bite from it. It had exactly the right ratio of peanut butter to honey, but... Her stomach was already filled to the brim with an odd fluttering. Scoot looked up at her friend before dropping her eyes along with the sandwich. She got to her hooves and shuffled over to the hill again without a word.
It didn't take long for Pippi to rejoin her, sitting a fair amount of space apart from the pegasus, "I take it you're not very hungry, huh?"
Scoot was afraid to look at her but did it anyway. She had to be strong or else she'd become a mess of word vomit and accidental confessions... Her eyes met the alicorn's and she let out a sigh, "It's these stupid butterflies..." She explained, trying to pretend like nothing was bothering her and doing a fine job at it.
It seemed to be convincing enough, for Pippi nodded her head, "I've never really been struck by the love bugs... I mean, romantically." She tapped her hoof against the soft grass, "I mean, I feel an overwhelming sense of guardianship of you and the rest of the six, but I'm sure that's not the kind of love you're experiencing."
Scoot felt her heart sink. Guardianship? What? Was she like a child? She turned away from her, "N-No... It's not... I mean, I want to protect the somepony I fell for, but what you feel is the same for all of us." She hesitated a moment, "But this is... just... way out of proportion. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I can't breathe sometimes because, well, she takes my breath away." She suddenly stomped her hoof against the ground, turning to Pippi, "Is there something wrong with me?"
Pippi's eyes looked saddened at Scoot's sudden outburst. She scooted a little closer, "Love is not black and white. There are all sorts of shades... platonic love, romantic love, familial love..." She let out a sigh, "I can't even pretend like I know what it is exactly..." Her eyes never left Scoot's own, "I mean, I've read romance novels and skimmed over many a definition of the word, but no pony really knows anything until they experience it first-hand." She gave a small simper in the pegasus's direction, "If I'm honest, it sounds pretty terrifying to me just hearing you open up to me about it." She looked down, "If there's anyone that can help you, it'd be Cadence... I don't know anything despite me being... well...-"
"An egghead?" Scoot asked with a small chuckle. She shook her head, lifting her friend's chin up, "Look, you may not be the Princess of Love, but you've shown your love just fine through being friends with me. You've always been so supportive of me and believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself." She slowly pressed her forehead to the other mare's, careful to avoid her horn, "Your advice has helped me a lot, even more than you'll ever know." She remained there for a moment, the warmth radiating from her own cheeks almost becoming too much to bear. She was sure Pippi would catch her blushing...
"Scoot..." Pippi mumbled, closing her eyes and resting there with their temples pressed together, "I..." She began, but her sentence quickly trailed off.
"Kiss her..." Scoot heard her subconscious whisper. She opened her eyes to find Twi had closed her own. For Twilight's sake... why was she so slow? She nearly grunted with frustration, wanting to kiss her cheek at least, but it was impossible for her to even budge. It was like she was in a trance. The only thing she could move was her...
Hooves...
She gently pushed Pippi back onto the soft grass. She wasn't exactly sure what came over her, but sitting there wasn't getting her anywhere. Yet, even in this position where she was completely in control of the situation, she couldn't bring herself to close the space between them, "I... didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry, I'll just-" Scoot went to move away, but her cheek was caught by a purple hoof that pulled her attention right back to where she was.
Pippi's expression was dazed. She looked down somewhere between Scoot's chest and lips before shaking her head, "Don't..." She seemed to be unable to speak, which was odd for her.
Scootie stared down at her in wonder, scanning her face for any clues, but she couldn't find any, "Um... Don't what...?"
"Don't go." Pippi breathed out, "Stay right here..." She placed her hooves on the back of the pegasus, "Please?"
Scoot hesitantly settled down, practically laying on top of the alicorn, "Um... Are you sure?"
For what seemed to be the longest pause ever, Pippi closed her eyes and took a moment. Scoot couldn't move, not that she wanted to. This was so strange. It was almost like looking in a mirror at her own emotions...
Finally, the princess spoke with a heavy breath, "Scoot... I wouldn't happen to be that... special somepony... Would I?"
Scoot blinked twice, almost wanting to giggle. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The pegasus gave in and laughed, "Geez! About time..." She grinned, thankful that the princess finally put two and two together.
Pippi stared up at her, a little lost, "Huh?"
"What can I say... You're as slow as Tank." Scoot smirked, but yet she couldn't help but blush as she admitted it, "Of course you're the breathtaking somepony that swept me off my hooves and got my mind all fuzzy..." She flicked her tail, "Who else do I even talk to?" Scoot shook her head and moved away to let her up.
Twi paused a moment, avoiding her eyes, "I was thinking... Spitfire, she was the only one that made sense..." She slowly rolled to her hooves and sat facing Scoot.
"Noooooo! I told you it wasn't one of the bolts!" Scoot snorted with laughter. She shook her head and rolled her eyes in a teasing manner, "Ugh... You're such an egghead."
Pippi let out a small breath, her face glowing bright red, "But you never... acted like /this/ until you went off to join the team."
Scoot huffed, "That's only because I realized I missed you..." She scooted a tiny bit closer, "Aha, more than I should've. There wasn't a minute of the day I didn't think about you and the others, but mostly... you." She sheepishly gazed into her eyes.
"It just hit me all at once..." Pippi shook her head, "When we were right there together.. I had never felt that way before, the way I do now, I mean."
Scoot's eyes widened, "W-What do you mean?"
"I mean... I felt butterflies and a wave of warm feelings, just like the ones you've told me about." Pippi scraped her hoof against the grass, "I sorta... wondered- well, hoped that you were talking about me the whole time. I just thought it was my friendship wanting to be more important than this new somepony you were all crazy for. I guess it made more sense than whatever I was thinking. I should've caught it the moment you hit me with the door and freaked out the way you did." Pippi smiled at her, shuffling a little closer, "I was a little frustrated because I was, well... a little envious?" She looked up at her, an ashamed look in her eyes, "I really am an egghead."
"But you're my egghead." Scoot offered out a hoof, a coy simper on her lips. "I mean... not literally 'mine', but more like-"
Pippi looked down at her hoof and then back up to her. She hesitated but finally put her hoof in the other mare's, "But I would love to be your egghead. I mean, it's not like I have an option..." She shifted even closer, "I was so worried and upset about your feelings for who I thought was somepony else that I failed to notice and explore my own." The alicorn blushed, pink radiating from her purple cheeks, "I have the same feelings you have towards me... towards you." She admitted.
Scoot spread a wing out and put it around the princess, "Well, there was definitely no lying here in Sweet Apple Acres, so AJ is probably happy." Scoot giggled, "I guess things just worked out. I had time to calm down when we ran into AJ and Annika."
"And it gave me time to realize my friendship with them and what I felt for you were very, very different..." Pippi responded after thinking for a moment, "I mean, the second that we were alone again... I felt closer to you."
Scoot smiled, "Maybe it was a good thing I let Tank and Owlicious wander off." She pulled her in close for a gentle embrace, but Pippi smirked and pushed her back a little just in time. Scoot found her nose pressed against the other mare's, surprised at how close she was suddenly. She looked down for a moment, her ears pinning back slightly, "Oh..."
"Oh what?" Pippi asked, purposely batting her eyelashes.
"I just thought it would be too stereotypical to uh... kiss during a sunset..." Scoot made up an excuse.
"I don't find it stereotypical... I find it romantic." Pippi rolled her eyes.
"Oh boy would you look at that, it's Tank's feeding time!" Scoot lied and went to turn her head away, but Pippi caught her chin with a hoof and brought her right back. Their eyes only met for a fraction of a second, but Scoot understood what was happening. She closed her eyes just as their lips met, Pippi being the one to actually initiate it. Scoot felt her wings vibrate with happiness as she pressed back against her lips. It was stupid how Scoot was so brave against anything, but when it came to love she was a pony in the headlights. As corny as it sounded in her head, she certainly did feel quite a spark. It ran a circuit starting from her lips and down to her toes. She felt happy drumming in her chest, smiling as their kiss came to an end. She gazed into Pippi's eyes for a moment, "I'm glad you did that... I'm so... nervous. These feelings make me the polar opposite of what I should be."
Pippi giggled, "I'm glad I did that too." She rubbed her nose against the mare's cheek, "Well, hopefully we can grow to understand these emotions together and maybe then it won't be as overwhelming."
Scoot felt the heat rolling off of the inside of her wing and felt her entire face burning hot, "I'm still sorry about not being the Scoot you intended to hang out with today."
Pippi blinked up at her, "You're right, you weren't the Scoot I was expecting to see today." She kissed her cheek, "Though this was an unexpected bonus... you're still everything I could've ever wanted."
Scoot grinned at the sound of that, "Nicely said for an egghead."
"Lovergirl..." Pippi smirked at her.
"Sweet Twilight..." The frazzled pegasus breathed out, her feathers ruffing at the sound of her new nickname, "I'm definitely going to have to get used to that."
"Speaking of Twilight, I think she would love to hear about this," Pippi said in a rather serious voice.
Scoot glared, "You wouldn't dare."
"But I would." Pippi teased, poking her, "After all, I think we both learned lessons here."
Scoot rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile, "And we have many more to learn, together."
Pippi fell against Scoot's chest with a soft thud and closed her eyes, repeating her, "Together..."
