Love (Less)

The vine-strangled trees of the Everfree Forest zipped by at a breakneck pace.  Sweetie Belle hung on for dear life, but she wasn't afraid.  She'd ridden the wagon at higher speeds before, and Scootaloo could easily avoid any obstacle.

The sun, barely visible through the trees, was nearing the horizon.  Apple Bloom leaned into the breeze generated by Scootaloo's wings.  In the muggy summer air, it was nice and cool, and didn't smell any worse than the Everfree usually did.

Once they got back to town, Scootaloo dropped off Apple Bloom at Sweet Apple Acres.  Then she headed for the one-story houses clustered near the business side of town, where Sweetie Belle's folks lived.

Sweetie Belle's tummy grumbled; they'd been at Zecora's for longer than she'd thought.  "Hey Scootaloo," she said, "Why don't you want anypony to know Fluttershy is your sister?  I mean, she looks just like you, and she's the Stare Master."

Scootaloo slowed down.  "Are you kidding?  She's a grounder.  Pegasi don't talk to grounders much.  Heck, Dad and Mom don't even have a party on her birthday."  Her eyes opened wide, and she skidded to a halt.  "Aw, c'mon!  Now I'm not gonna get any presents!"  She flapped her wings in annoyance.

"Maybe," said Sweetie Belle, hesitantly, "Maybe they won't care.  Being family is like being apple pie-"

"Yeah, yeah, crust and mush," said Scootaloo skeptically.  "Hey, you want to come over for dinner?  See how they treat me now that I'm not a pegasus?"

"You're still a pegasus," said Sweetie Belle softly.

---

Sweetie Belle's parents gladly gave their permission for dinner at a friend's house.  The smell of burning food from their kitchen only hastened Scootaloo's departure.

On the industrial side of town, near the lumberyard, a three story row-house towered over the street.  The sunset cast a deepening shadow across the two fillies as they slowed to a halt.

Scootaloo gazed up at the wide balcony overhead, and sighed.  She took off her helmet and set it in the wagon while Sweetie Belle dismounted.

As they pushed the wagon and scooter into the house, she hollered, "Mom, Dad, I'm home.  Sweetie Belle's staying for dinner."  The ground-level hallway was cluttered with kneepads, roller skates, a softball bat, a rainbow-colored hoofball, a taped-up hockey stick, and other sports equipment.  The lighting was poor, but Sweetie Belle could tell it would be a nice place, if somepony would clean it up.

They walked down the hall, past a closed door with a signed Rainbow Dash poster.  In the middle of the hall, the ceiling was open all the way to the third story.  Sweetie Belle looked up in amazement.  The interior of the apartment was a tall, hollow space, with wooden walls and windows up each wall to light the room.  The edges of upper rooms hung out over the gap.  Narrow staircases ran from floor to floor, connecting the three levels on each side.  Through the house wafted a wonderful scent that made Sweetie Belle's tummy rumble again.

A yellow stallion peered over the edge, blinked, and smiled.  "Well, hi there," he said, and flew down to meet them.  "I'm Scootaloo's father, Tailwind."  
His mane was two tones, the colors of the sky at noon and at dusk.

"I'm Sweetie Belle, pleased to meet you," she said in her politest voice, shaking his hoof.

"Scootaloo's told us all about you," he said, "We were just about to eat.  Are you staying for dinner?"

She nodded.

He gestured upward.  "I was counting on leftovers at work tomorrow, but first class company is worth more than a second go at a meal.  C'mon up, dining room's at the top," he said, and leaped into the air.  With four mighty flaps, he disappeared onto the third floor.

Scootaloo ran up the staircase, holding a wing out to catch the air and push her toward the wall.  Sweetie Belle followed slowly, carefully.  She made it to the second floor, and peeked over the edge.  She immediately wished she hadn't.

"Uh, I'll be there in a minute," she said, and looked around.  This room had bookcases on the walls and clouds hovering above a knitted rug.  Curious, she walked over and stepped through the cloud.  It was clammy and cold, and she shivered at the sensation.  This must be the living room, she thought.  The room across the gap had a sewing machine, a reading lamp, and several outfits that looked like they belonged in a Hearth's Warming Eve pageant.

She turned and gingerly climbed to the third floor; just as she reached the top, she peeked down, and it took all she had to ascend the final steps, run to the middle of the room, drop to her belly, and hug the rug.

Scootaloo's mom laughed.  "First time to a pegasus townhouse, dear?" she asked.

Sweetie Belle stared at her.  Scootaloo's mom was a tan-coated pegasus, with a purple mane more vibrant and shocking than Rarity's.  "Yes ma'am," she said, and got to her hooves.  The dining table was U-shaped, with couches on the outside.  "Do you eat lying down?" she asked.

"It's an old pegasus tradition," said Scootaloo's mom, donning protective mittens and opening the oven.  "I'm Flowstream, but you can call me Flo."

The delicious smell increased a hundredfold.  "That smells amazing!" said Sweetie Belle, her mouth watering.

Flo hovered to the counter, carrying a glass pan.  "Thank you."

Scootaloo licked her lips.  "It's Mom's incredibly fantabulous Oatmeal Surprise."  Then, raising a hoof to her mouth, she whispered, "The surprise is cheese."

Flo served portions onto each plate, and each pony took one to the table.  As they ate, Sweetie Belle found the casserole to be just as delicious as it smelled.  However, the lack of conversation was getting quite awkward.  She wondered what Scootaloo's family usually discussed during dinner.  If she was eating at her house, right about now Dad would be bragging about the school's star forward, and Mom would regale her and dad with the deals she'd gotten at the market.

Here, the glances were a conversation in themselves.  Flo looked at Tailwind with a sort of pleading, but he glanced at her as if to say that he knew what she wanted.  Then his eyes turned to his daughter, but she was staring down at her casserole with a glare that could make the cheese bubble.

Sweetie Belle felt uncomfortable, and it only got worse when Scootaloo's parents caught her looking at them.  They gave her weak, apologetic smiles, then looked away.  Sweetie Belle found herself trying to breathe as quietly as possible.  At least the food was good, she thought as she swallowed her last bite.  

Flo cleared her throat, and asked, "Would you like seconds, dear?"

Sweetie Belle shook her head.  "No, ma'am," she said politely, "It's more filling than it looks."

Tailwind smiled warmly at her and said, "It's packed densely for powering six limbs.  I'll take seconds, hun."  He suddenly glanced at his daughter, as if afraid that she'd heard him, then grimaced at his wife.

"I'll get it," called out Scootaloo, jumping up from where she lay at the table.  She grabbed her own empty plate with her mouth, ran to the counter, and stood on her hindlegs to place it next to the casserole.  Then she ran back to the table and leaned in to grab her father's plate.

Her wing brushed his shoulder.  He jerked to the side, as if stung.  She dropped the plate, which bounced on the cushion, then fell to the floor and shattered.

Scootaloo's face held pure disgust.  "I'm soooo contagious, Dad!" she yelled, "Watch out, your wings'll fall off!"  For emphasis, she flapped her own wings hard.  She held the glare for another second, then grunted and stomped down the stairs.  Halfway down, she stopped.  "I'm going over to Apple Bloom's, where at least they appreciate an earth pony.  C'mon, Sweetie Belle."

---

They stopped at Sweetie Belle's home to make the sleepover official.  When they got to the farmhouse, Applejack wasn't too pleased at the tale that was told, but she laid out the bedrolls in the barn just the same.  "Now Sugarcube," she said, "Ah'm sure your folks still love you.  Just give'em some time."

Board games with Granny Smith and Big McIntosh in the living room filled the next two hours, and soon enough, they were yawning.  Applejack marched them into the barn, and set down a firefly lantern before heading back to the house.  The soft green glow surrounded them as they lay down in the bedrolls.

"You guys gotta keep quiet at school tomorrow," said Scootaloo, yawning.  "I don't want Silver Spoon or Diamond Tiara to know I'll never..."  She stopped and contemplated her hooves.  So did the other two.

Then Apple Bloom spoke up.  "We've seen you catch some wicked air on that scooter of yours, an' you can haul us around town all day.  So how in th' world does that translate into not bein' able to fly?"

Scootaloo sighed, and moved one forehoof in lazy circles.  "You know how us pegasi can walk on clouds, right?"  The others nodded.  "Well, wings are magic too.  Imagine giant wings as long as I am."  She spread hers inside the bedroll, which looked ridiculous.  "That's how big my wings feel when I'm on my scooter."

Apple Bloom looked puzzled.  "Then why can't you go up?"

"The doctor says I have enough thrust," said Scootaloo in a low voice, "But my lift never grew in."

Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up in comprehension.  "Oh, I get it now."

"Can you explain it a bit more, cuz I don't," said Apple Bloom.

"You see," said Sweetie Belle, "When she flaps her wings, it only pushes air from front to back.  It doesn't push her up."

Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo.  "But can't you, y'know, angle yourself so back is down or somethin'?"

Scootaloo laid her head on her hooves.  "You think I haven't tried that?" she asked.  "Nothing works.  Thrust never points down, and lift never goes sideways."

"That don't make no sense!" exclaimed Apple Bloom.

Sweetie Belle said, "Neither do pink polka dots and Zap Apple Jam."

Apple Bloom blinked.  "Oh.  Yeah."  She yawned.  "Well, g'night."

"Sweet dreams," said Sweetie Belle, her eyes drooping.

"Mmrmph," Scootaloo muttered, and rolled over on her side.

After that, the only sound in the barn was the soft snoring of two little fillies, fast asleep, and the quiet breathing of one who stared out the window at the night sky.