That should be gay!

@Scrounge  

 
Random no-ones reading your first draft years after its impromptu conception? It’s more likely than you think!
 
And as for shipping all three Crusaders together: might be an interesting experiment, but it absolutely, definitely would not work in this context. It would clash with what you’ve been establishing between AB and SB; furthermore, from their older sisters’ perspective that would even confirm this was all just a game, the fillies just imitating their elders without true understanding of the subject matter.  
Yeah, Sweetie’s tone could be interpreted as her merely not realizing her attempt at ribbing simply can not go well considering the topic and the circumstances, but if that were the intention you should’ve made it more clear.

@ChargedUpIsAwesome  
I thought she shipped Scootadash.

Scootaloo ships raridash

@DAPLR  
In retrospect, I almost wish I went with that, since there’s no CMC OT3 stuff whatsoever other than the dirty stuff, and, well, if anyone two ponies would feel incomplete without the third, it’d be them, right?

@Scrounge  
Might help if I linked it, huh?

@DAPLR  
Story (with certain fixes) posted in its entirety, epilogue (tentatively titled “Friend of the Devil”) to come later.

@Scrounge  
:D

@DAPLR  
I have begun posting my story on FiMfiction under the title “Friendly Fire”

@DAPLR  
I figured that’s what you meant, I was just joking.
 
Well, mostly joking. It does seem like everyone gets shipped with Dash soner or later.

@Background Pony #DDC3  
haha, I didn’t mean to imply that, just that they may be characters in a sequel to this story

@DAPLR  
Thanks. Glad you liked it. I may just keep writing, thank you for your encouragement (and patience).
 
And as for the fluffy ending, I’m glad it was satisfyingly fluffy.
 
I’ll let you know what, if anything, I do next…
 
But just so you know, I will never ship Rarity’s parents with Rainbow Dash. :P

@Scrounge  
Excellent! It was funny, had drama, conflict, no character felt left out as everypony contributed to the story, and it has a lovely fluffy ending to boot :3  
Now for the sequel with Big Mac, Granny Smith, Rarity’s parents, Rainbow Dash…  
I kid, but there is a lot of potential places to go with the story you’ve made, so link the story here when its uploaded, and if you DO decide to write a sequel, or any other story of the like, I can’t wait to read it :D  
Awesome job, Scrounge!

@DAPLR  
I left you waiting long enough
 
The fillies held their group hug for a few silent moments before Scootaloo spoke again.
 
“Thanks for not ditching me…”
 
“You still on that?” Apple Bloom sighed.
 
“No, no,” Sweetie Belle said, breaking away from the hug, “maybe we should see if she’s got a point. Hey, Applejack! Do you remember that pegasus you used to hang out with? Her name was Clash, right? I think she wanted to be a Wonderbolt or something…”
 
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
 
“If ya mean Rainbow Dash, Ah jus’ saw her this mornin’, ‘fore Ah met up with yer sister.”
 
“So you still recognize her on the street, then,” Sweetie Belle said, in as even a tone as she could manage. This was ridiculous… But that was the point.
 
“Ah ran into her at the swimmin’ hole. She was doin’ laps, Ah figured Ah might as well join in. An’ of course, she jus’ had to go an’ turn it into a race…”
 
“Who won?” Scootaloo asked excitedly.
 
“Please,” Applejack said with a smile, “who do ya think?”
 
“Dash beat ya good again, didn’t she?” Apple Bloom replied, deadpan.
 
The smile vanished from Applejack’s face. “Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t ya?”
 
“Ah just might,” Apple Bloom taunted.
 
“Seems like that settles it,” Sweetie Belle said cheerfully.
 
“An’ it seems like somepony’s fixin’ to skip dessert a while, too,” Applejack said, shooting Apple Bloom a dirty look.
 
Rarity’s eyes snapped open in shock as Applejack’s mention of food reminded her of the next item on her itinerary.
 
“Sweetie Belle, you need to get ready to go so we won’t be late! I got us reservations at the Field of Gold, and we have about half an hour to get there!”
 
Sweetie Belle bit her lip.
 
“..Are you sure I can’t stay here a little longer?”
 
Rarity sighed.
 
“Sweetie Belle, I’m afraid I’m going to be rather busy today, and I had my heart set on some sisterly bonding over lunch…”
 
She smiled.
 
“…However, I do have another idea. Applejack, darling, would it be a bother if I brought Sweetie Belle back a bit later this afternoon and left her for a bit?”
 
“Please?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle begged in unison.
 
“Ah dunno,” Applejack said. “Ah reckon she’s a mite on the scrawny side for farm work…”
 
“SCRAWNY?!” protested Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Rarity simultaneously. Scootaloo said nothing, but she didn’t seem pleased either.
 
Applejack chuckled.
 
“Ah’m jus’ yankin’ yer chain. ‘Course yer welcome here.”
 
Rarity let out a heavy sigh, and tried to hide her smile.
 
“You, madam, are incorrigible, and I shall be taking my sister and leaving now.”
 
“Might wanna ease up on them big words,” Applejack teased back, “we ain’t nothin’ but simple country folk around here.”
 
“Oh you do so know that word! And don’t try to blame Twilight, either!”
 
“All right, Ah’m incorrigible, an Ah’m proud of it! An’ ya know what else?”
 
Applejack drew in close, with a mischievous smile.
 
“Ah know darn well you can’t get enough of it.”
 
Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
 
“You two sure you wanna be like them?”
 
“Well, we got to talkin’ ‘bout that while you was out,” Apple Bloom said.
 
Sweetie Belle nuzzled up next to Apple Bloom with a smile.
 
“And we decided we’d rather be like us!” she explained cheerfully.
 
From the doorway, Rarity beckoned urgently. Sweetie Belle bounced over to her sister, then turned back to Apple Bloom and smiled.
 
“See you after lunch! I can’t believe this is happening, I feel like I’m doing cartwheels inside!”
 
Apple Bloom smiled, blushing slightly, ash she watched Sweetie Belle leave.
 
“Yeah. Ah can’t wait to see how this turns out.”
 
END
 
I’ll probably polish this up and put it on fimfiction for you at some point in the near future, possibly with an epilogue. But for now, I should have gone to bed a few hours back.

@DAPLR  
I’ll try to provide it for you sometime this weekend.

@Scrounge  
Man, I cannot WAIT for the next part(the ending?) :D

@DAPLR  
Though if I do post this on FiMfiction, I will try to fix that part. thanks for your feedback.
 
(I also have to fix the inheritance thing, AJ runs the farm, why would Big Mac be ahead of her succession-wise?)
 
Other than a general plot outline eventually forming in my head and certain moments being planned, I’ve been doing this kind of off-the-cuff, so there’s definitely room for polish (proofreading, for a start).
 
I never saw it going on this long. Heck, I didn’t think it’d happen at all. Thank you for encouraging me, for sticking with me… This was your idea, actually, you’re the one who said I should do this. So you deserve a share of the credit. Let’s say ten percent.

@DAPLR  
Having Apple Bloom be offended would have meant losing Rarity’s freak-out, and the whole purpose of it was to set that up. :)

@Scrounge  
awwww, Scootaloo <3  
Thats so nice of her friends, though Sweetie Belles comment about the number of special someponies surprised me, and i woulda thought Apple Bloom would be somewhat offended :p  
Still, can’t wait to see how this ends!

@DAPLR  
Here goes…
 
“Scared?” Scootaloo protested. “What would I have to be afraid of?”
 
“You’re afraid of losing your friends,” Rarity explained gently. “We’ve all worried about it at some point.”
 
“Everypony else, maybe,” Scootaloo replied defiantly, “but I don’t do scared, and I don’t need anypony!”
 
“Oooh, I know what this is!” Sweetie Belle said cheerfully. “This is denial, right Rarity?”
 
“Sure seems full of it to me,” Apple Bloom added.
 
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack scolded, “Is that any way to talk about yer friend?”
 
“Ah’m pretty sure she just said she ain’t mah friend no more,” Apple Bloom replied cheerlessly.
 
“You’re the ones who ditched me!” Scootaloo protested.
 
“That’s not true at all,” Sweetie Belle said. “We never wanted to lose you.”
 
“Oh, please,” Scootaloo griped. “I saw the way you cuddled up with each other. Id doesn’t take a scooter expert to know when there’s no place for a third wheel.”
 
Sweetie Belle blinked in confusion. “What’s that even supposed to mean?”
 
“Ah think she’s sayin’ she’s ditchin’ us so we don’t ditch her,” Apple Bloom answered, “but Ah must be missin’ somethin’, ‘cause that don’t make a lick of sense.”
 
“Sometime when somepony’s hurt an’ scared, they get to thinkin’ too much ‘bout how they got hurt an’ how they can hurt it right back,” Applejack explained. “They get so caught up in the lashin’ out an’ pushin’ away that they ain’t spared a minute for thinkin’ ‘bout fixin’ it. These folks hurt other ponies… But usually, they wind up hurtin’ ‘emselves more.”
 
“Again with the scared?” Scootaloo protested. “I told you, I don’t do fear. I’ll take a scooter ride through Ghastly Gorge if that’s what it takes to get it through your heads.”
 
Applejack shook her head.
 
“There ain’t just one kinda fear, an’ it don’t make a strong pony weak carin’ ‘bout other ponies.”
 
“Scootaloo, dear,” Rarity said, “I know this is difficult for you, but you simply must discuss this. Denying your fears exist doesn’t make you brave, and hiding your problems is a poor substitute for solving them.”
 
There was a brief, tense silence.
 
“Fine,” Scootaloo grusdgingly admitted, “I’m worried they don’t need me any more. There, I said it. But it’s not like you can force them to keep me.”
 
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already beside Scootaloo, one on either side.
 
“Who says we gotta be forced to do anythin’?” Apple Bloom said.
 
“You’re our best friend,” Sweetie Belle said. “That’s never going to change.”
 
“We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all three of us together,” Apple Bloom said, “an’ it ain’t never gonna be the Crusaders if you ain’t there with us.”
 
“Plus,” Sweetie Belle said with a playful smile, it’s not like there’s a rule that you can only have one special somepony…”
 
“Yes, there is!” Rarity shrieked. “And if there’s not, I’m making one right now!”
 
Scootaloo laughed, shaking her head.
 
“Nah, I’ll leave the mushy stuff to you two. I’m after something a bit more intense. So, what’s on the agenda?”
 
“Well,” Apple Bloom said, “Ah think today’s plans are a wash, an’t we ain’t got tomorrow planned yet…”
 
“So how about we do today tomorrow?” Sweetie Belle suggsted.
 
“Sounds good,” Scootaloo agreed.
 
“That settles it,” Apple Bloom said. “But more important, make sure you ain’t doin’ nothin’ next Saturday.”
 
“What’s next Saturday?” Scootaloo asked.
 
“Well, this was gonna be a surprise,” Apple Bloom said, “but Ah been savin’ up some money, an’ Ah dropped by Mr. Kite’s place this mornin’.”
 
“We’re flying kites?” Scootaloo asked, not sure what was so special about that.
 
“Nope,” Apple Bloom answered with a manic grin, “Ah rented us a hang glider.”
 
“Ya rented yerself a WHAT?!” Applejack exclaimed.
 
“A hang glider. It’s kinda like a big paper airplane, only ponies can ride it and it’s not paper,” Sweetie Belle explained, missing the point entirely.
 
“Oh, wow,” Scootaloo said. “That’s amazing! Thank you!”
 
“Ah can’t take all the credit,” Apple Bloom said. “It was Sweetie Belle’s idea.”
 
Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s back.
 
“I just thought, since you’re still having trouble flying, maybe there’s another way to get you in the air. You know, until you can do it on your own.”
 
Scootaloo’s eyes began to tear up.
 
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Sweetie Belle said.
 
Scootaloo grabbed her friends and pulled them into a tight hug, softly crying tears of joy.
 
“Thank you! Thank you so much! This is the greatest thing anypony’s ever done for me!”
 
“What are friends for?” Sweetie Belle said.
 
“I can’t believe I tried to push you away like that,” Scootaloo said. “You two are the best friends I could ever ask for!”
 
“Ah thought ya didn’t go for the mushy stuff,” Apple Bloom teashed.
 
“Shut up,” Scootaloo laughed.
 
Not the end, but close.

@DAPLR  
Sorry it’s taking so long. The last few days have been kinda busy. I was halfway through the next part of the story a few minutes ago, too, but my browser decided to act up and it got wiped. Hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze it in tomorrow.

@DAPLR  
Added the tag for you.
 
Anyhow, I liked that comic storyline, so when Big Mac’s love life became relevant, I figured she’d make the best trouble. I was not disappointed.
 
Not sure I’ll get in another post tonight, but I’ll get to Scoots soon.

@Scrounge  
Honestly, this is REALLY good! And I think this counts as, ‘Story in the comments’. I loved how you talked about Fleetfoot and her odd obsession over Big Mac during that comic :D  
And Scootaloo! What’s her problem? Maybe she just needs to fess up her feelings to Rainbow Dash XD

@DAPLR  
I’ll try not to let you down.
 
“You can’t be serious!” Scootaloo protested. “I thought you two were supposed to be the grown-ups around here!”
 
“All the more reason for us to stop being so childish about this,” Rarity replied primly.
 
“She’s got a point,” Applejack added. “We can’t rightly weigh in if we ain’t heard their side of it.”
 
“Figures you’d take her side,” Scootaloo grumbled.
 
“An’ after we sort this out,” Applejack said, “next thing’s gonna be findin’ out what crawled under your tail ‘an died all of a sudden.”
 
Scootaloo opened her mouth to tell Applejack whose business it wasn’t, but quickly shut it again before any sound came out. There was no point in arguing. Her best bet was to let things get back on track and hope the rest of the drama would make Applejack forget about her.
 
“Go on, girls,” Rarity urged.
 
“Well, we’re still kinda new at this,” Sweetie Belle began, “but have you ever had something happen that made you look at somepony differently, and you saw something special and amazing and beautiful, and you wonder how you never saw it before?”
 
Rarity briefly exchanged a knowing glance with Applejack, but neither said a thing.
 
“An’ that’s when ya realize,” Apple Bloom added, “ya can’t imagine livin’ yer life without that pony, an’ even if ya could, ya don’t wanna. ‘Cause ya got yer differences, ya know, but in the good way, like one’s got what the other don’t, so ya make each other whole ‘an yer better together.”
 
“And when you look at each other,” Sweetie Belle continues, “your eyes are kinda drawn together like magnets, and then when you get close, there’s this sort of warm, tingly feeling and your heart goes all~~”
 
“I believe that’s sufficient,” interjected a beet-red Rarity.
 
Applejack nodded. “Ah ain’t certain what, but Ah’’ grant they got somethin’ ‘tween ‘em.”
 
“It’s at the very least a crush,” Rarity agreed.
 
“An’ it ain’t like they’d split on our say-so anyway.”
 
“We’d likely do best to simply let this run its course.”
 
“What if it don’t?”
 
“I’d think that would be a good thing!”
 
“…Oh, right.”
 
“We can hear you, you know,” Sweetie Belle piped up.
 
“Oh, right,” Applejack sheepishly replied. “Uh, anyhow, ah think the both of us’re agreed.”
 
“Indeed,” Rarity replied, “but I would like a word with you.”
 
The little yellow filly quickly made her way over to the older unicorn sister. “Sure thing, Rarity. Whatcha got on your mind?”
 
Rarity smiled down at Apple Bloom.
 
“You say you’re taking this seriously, and I’m going to hold you to that. Sweetie Belle and I may not always see eye to eye, we may have some fences to mend, but at the end of the day, only one thing matters: She is my sister, and I love her dearly. Trusting you with her heart is no small thing for me.”
 
Apple Bloom nodded seriously. “Ah promise ah won’t letcha down.”
 
“Then there better be wedding bells in your future, missy.”
 
Apple Bloom scrunched up her face in confusion. “Say wha?”
 
“You heard me,” Rarity replied, her eyes narrowing and her tone darkening as she advanced on Apple Bloom in much the same way that Apple Bloom had done to her earlier. Apple Bloom didn’t know what irony was, but she definitely noticed the role reversal… And she didn’t like it one bit.
 
“As Sweetie Belle and I have gotten closer,” Rarity continue menacingly, “I’ve grown a bit more… protective. So if you hurt her, if you break her hear, if you make her shed One. Single. Tear… What, pray tell, do you think I’ll do to you?”
 
“…Give me a stern lecture?” Apple Bloom suggested nervously.
 
“Oh, of course,” Rarity replied.
 
Apple Bloom let out a relieved sigh. Maybe she didn’t have to be worried after all.
 
“But AFTER that…” Rarity continued.
 
Apple Bloom changed her mind. She should be scared.
 
“…that’s when I’m going to make you into a nice leather jacket,” Rarity threatened. “And then I’m going to wear that jacket into town so that everypony can see what happens when SOMEPONY! CROSSES! THE LINE!”
 
It wasn’t just Apple Bloom any more. Rarity now had everypony hiding under the furniture. Apple Bloom herself was on the floor in front of Rarity, and seemed to be pretending she was Fluttershy.
 
“I think we have an understanding, don’t we?” Rarity asked calmly, as though the moment of terror she’d just brought to the room had been nothing but a bit of theater.
 
Apple Bloom, who was still quite convinced that Rarity had meant every word, nodded feebly.
 
“I can’t hear you,” Rarity chided. “Now, let’s try this again: Are we clear?”
 
“C-crystal,” Apple Bloom managed to stammer.
 
Rarity dropped down to Apple Bloom’s level, and laid her horn on one of Apple Bloom’s shoulders, then the other.
 
“You have my blessing, young mare. I wish the two of you health, wealth, and happiness. Not necessarily in that order.”
 
Apple Bloom looked up at Rarity, then spit on her hoof and extended it. Rarity recoiled as though she’d been offered a tarantula.
 
“What?” Apple Bloom asked, offended. “Doncha wanna seal the deal?”
 
“Apple Bloom!” Rarity sqeualed. “Were you raised in a barn?!”
 
“Uh, yeah,” Apple Bloom deadpanned.
 
“…I should have seen that coming,” Rarity grumbled.
 
Applejack turned to Sweetie Belle.
 
“Ah guess it’s our turn now…”
 
Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, braced for what was about to come…
 
…And squeaked in surprise as Applejack mussed her mane.
 
“Ah don’t think Ah gotta worry none ‘bout yer intent. You been good folk ‘long as Ah known ya. Jus’ stay on the straight an’ narrow… Well, the narrow, anyhow… an’ we gonna be good.”
 
Applejack smile warmly at her kid sister’s special somepony. “So Ah guess all Ah got left that needs sayin’ is… Congrats, the paira ya!”
 
“Congratulations, girls!” Rarity beamed.
 
“Aww, shucks,” Apple Bloom replied, her cheeks glowing a soft red.
 
“We’re just glad we have each other and you two aren’t mad at us about it,” Sweetie Belle said, taking her place next to Apple Bloom with a smile.
 
“You gotta be kidding me,” Scootaloo groaned. “Your family founded this town, and it’s still built around your farm! Doesn’t one of you need to provide an heir or something? And since Applejack was a lesbian first…”
 
Rarity snorted and rolled her eyes. “Scootaloo, dear, this is Sweet Apple Acres, not Maretania. Neither Apple Bloom nor Applejack nor anypony else is obligated to produce a foal. And the concept of calling ‘dibs’ on lesbianism is so ridiculous that I’m just going to pretend you never brought it up.”
 
“An’ ‘sides,” Apple Bloom added, “ain’t gonna be an issue no time soon. Granny Smith’s been alive longer’n they knew anypony could be, an’ her health’s been jus’ gettin’ better these few years past. Some days Ah think she’s gonna live forever.”
 
“An’ if she don’t,” Applejack continued, “Big Mac’s next in line. An’ that’s where ya get yer dang heir, Scootaloo!”
 
“You can’t be sure of that!” Scootaloo challenged.
 
“Ah’ll give it to ya straight, kid,” Applejack said, “Ah am more sure than Ah EVER woulda wanted to be.”
 
“Fine,” Scootaloo demanded, “how do you know?”
 
“Certain… subtle hints,” Rarity said delicately.
 
“Ah had a Wonderbolt, IN UNIFORM, crop dustin’ mah farm with rose petals an’ pullin’ a banner askin’ for mah brother’s hoof in marriage!” Applejack blurted out. “An’ we ain’t never even invited her here! That ain’t subtle! That’s STALKIN’! An’ he don’t do NOTHIN’ ‘bout it! Ah think he might even be ENCOURGIN’ it! Meanwhile Ah’m tryin’ to keep Granny Smith from goin’ out on the porch with a…”
 
It was here that Applejack realized what was coming out of her mouth.
 
“…Ah just realized Ah don’t wanna tell this story no more,” she said with a nervous smile.
 
“Least she didn’t tell the one ‘bout Cheerilee,” Apple Bloom said.
 
“Weren’t we there for that one?” Sweetie Belle asked.
 
“I remember us CAUSING that one,” Scootaloo added.
 
“Not that one,” Apple Bloom explained. “There’s another one. An’ Applejack forgot why we don’t tell nopony ‘bout it.”
 
“Anyhow,” Rarity intervened, desperate to change the subject, “there have been signs, subtle or… otherwise.”
 
“That’s stupid,” Scootaloo griped.
 
“You ain’t runnin’ mah brother’s love life,” Applejack replied.
 
“Not that!” the pegasus shouted. “It’s a stupid excuse for how you can walk in on your sisters sucking face and wind up congratulating them for it!”
 
“Young mare,” Rarity scolded, “that is bordering on vulgar.”
 
“What are you gonna do, tell my parents?” Scootaloo challenged. “Guess what? I’m an orphan!”
 
“That’s not true at all!” Sweetie Belle shouted back.
 
“You ain’t an orphan, you’re adopted!” Apple Bloom added.
 
“Same thing!” Scootaloo screamed. “I still don’t have a REAL family!”
 
Rarity’s eyes widened, then closed as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.
 
Applejack shoved her face into Scootaloo’s, glaring daggers at the girl.
 
“Now you listen here, kiddo! Blood or mud, kin is kin, an’ Ah got half a mind-~~”
 
Applejack was interrupted by the gentle touch of Rarity’s hoof on her shoulder.
 
“Maybe we should go a bit easier on the poor girl,” Rarity suggested in as soothing a tone as she could manage.
 
“How come?” Applejack asked.
 
Rarity looked down at Scootaloo.
 
“I think she’s just scared.”
 
I had to cut out a scene involving a betting pool on Big Mac. I liked the idea, but it destroyed the flow. and WOW, long one today. Hope I don’t get in trouble. Anyhow, not much left now. Hope you enjoyed.

@Scrounge  
Jeez, I’m honestly looking forward to every new entry you make, dude! The tension is reaching boiling levels!! What’s gonna happen!?