>And that's where she falls asleep.
>Curled up in a ball on your lap.
>Looks like you're sleeping in a sitting position tonight, lest you wake her up by moving too much.
>Good thing you have your back against a wall.
>Outstretching your arm, you reach for Scootaloo's blanket.
>You cover the young pegasus with it.
>Closing your eyes, you let your head drop.
>Scootaloo's soft purrs lulls you to sleep.
>Your sleep went undisturbed that night, no dark vision or troubling nightmares.
>Only peaceful rest.
 
 
>You wake up, the purple and orange ball still snoring lightly against you.
>Still as adorable as yesterday.
>But right now, you need to move and get some blood back into your legs.
>How are you supposed to do this without waking the sleeping filly?
>Looking around, you try to devise a plan.
>Your eyes fall on the pillow.
>Maybe you could try to...
>Using your hands, you move yourself closer to the pillow.
>You place your legs on it, positioning Scootaloo right above the bag of fluff.
>Slowly, you uncross your legs, letting the little pegasus sink to the pillow.
>Once the filly's safely lowered on it, you stand up.
>Success!
 
 
>You leave the little cabin.
>Questions start to pop in your mind.
>'Did you really mean what you said yesterday?'
>'Do you really want to settle in this town?'
>'Should you just run away while you still can?'
>You easily climb in one of the nearby apple tree and lay down on one of the branches.
>No... You're done running.
>You grab one of the fruits hanging around you.
>Tired of this shit. Tired of the fear of being captured again.
>Holding the apple with your teeth, you climb higher in the tree.
>From up there, you can gaze at the town.
>You found a nice place to settle. Small town and the residents look nice enough.
>Looking back at the tree house, you can see Scootaloo through a window.
>Even if some of them are a tad weird.
>Her words come back resonating in your head.
>Big brother.
 
 
>You jump down of the tree, determined.
>Leaving the orchard, you cross a bridge and stop at the edge of the settlement.
>'Is this the right thing to do?'
>You look around and try to remember a way back to the residential district.
>Ignoring the stares of the occasional pony that crosses your path, you navigate the street to your destination.
>You have no idea, but you don't really care.
>You make your way to a house and knock on the door.
>After a few seconds, the sound of hoofsteps can be heard.
>For the first time since you came to this world, you're in control of your life.
>A very sleepy looking mint-green pony appears in the doorway.
>"...Jack?"
>There's no backing out now.
"Morning Lyra, remember that proposition you had for me yesterday?"
>All signs of weariness vanish from her in an instant.
"Well, I accept-"
>A high-pitched screech nearly bursts your eardrums.
"-under one condition."
 
 
-Scootaloo POV-
 
>You slip back into consciousness after a great night of sleep.
>And you notice that something's different.
>The ground is not warm and comfortable like it was when you fell asleep.
>It's fluffy and soft.
>Which is not bad in itself, but it would mean that...
>You sleepily open your eyes.
"Oh..."
>The pillow.
>Yesterday's event must have been a dream.
>Wouldn't be the first time you had one like it.
>Dejectedly, you gather the blanket and pillow.
>You bring them back to the closet.
>Closing the door, you sigh heavily.
>"Hey Kid."
>You flip around at the sound of the voice.
>It's Anon!
>He's sitting in the window frame.
>"What's got ya down?"
>You perk up.
"Nothing!"
>Anon hops down from the windowsill.
>Rustling your mane with his paw, he presents an apple to you.
>"Breakfast?"
>You take the fruit and start munching.
>"Sorry I left this morning, I had important stuff to take care of."
>"But now, I have a surprise for you!"
>You lift your muzzle from the apple.
"Shrprife?"
>You swallow your bite.
"A surprise? For me?"
>"You bet, kid."
"AWESOME!"
"What is it?"
>Anon cracks a grin.
>"Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise now, wouldn't we?"
>"I don't have it on me anyway. If ya want it, you'll have to follow me to Ponyville."
"What are we waiting for!?"
>You shove the rest of your fruit in your mouth.
"Letsh go!"
>Anon's grin grows to a hearty laughter.
>"Heh, I like ya Kid! Filled to the brim with energy!"
 
 
-A few minutes later-
 
"Hey Big Bro, where're we going?"
>"Can't tell ya, that would ruin the surprise."
>He picks you up in one of his arm.
>"Which reminds me..."
>He covers your eyes with his free paw.
"Hey! What gives?"
>"SorryWouldn't wa-"
"Yeah yeah. 'Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.'"
>You can hear him chuckle above you.
>"Don't worry, we're almost there."
>After a few more seconds, you hear knocking in front of you.
>You recognize the light creaking of door hinges.
>A stifled giggle to your left.
>Light shushing from above.
>Hoofsteps below.
>Another door opens.
 
>Wait... What's that smell?
>...Pancakes?
>"Surprise!"
>The paw covering your eyes moves away.
>You're in a kitchen.
>You can see a huge stack of pancakes in the middle of the table.
>There's a green mare excitedly hopping up and down on your left.
>On your right, another mare, this one looking at you with a kind smile.
>You turn back to Anon, wide-eyed.
"The surprise is pancakes! AWESOME!"
>Anon drops you on a chair.
>"Not really. Well, kinda."
>"Let's just say the the breakfast is part of the surprise."
>Anon and the two mares come sit with you at the table.
"What's the surprise then?"
>"I'll tell you later, for now, let's just enjoy the pancakes."
>Darn, you really wanted to know it.
>But, oh well. Breakfast!
>"This is Bon Bon, she's our chef this morning."
>The tan mare puts part of the pancakes  tower in your plate.
>Bon: "Don't be shy, eat as much as you want."
>Anon: "And this is Lyra! She's the one to thank for the second part of the surprise."
>Lyra: "Hope you'll like it!"
 
 
>Second part? There's a second part!?
>You can hardly contain yourself!
"What'sparttwo?Isitwaffles?Ormaybeit's-"
>Anon's paw keeps you from bouncing around on your seat.
>Anon: "Breakfast. Pancakes. Eat."
>You calm down a little.
>And fall face first into your plate.
>Bon: "You weren't kidding when you said she might be hungry."
>You can hear Lyra giggling over the sounds of your voracious eating.
>You lift your head and see that everypony is looking at you, smiling.
"What?"
>Anon: "There's something on your face."
"Where?"
>Anon: "All around here."
>He's circling his face with a paw.
"Oh! You mean right..."
>You reach for your plate.
"Here!"
>A pancakes flies directly to his face.
>He takes it off with a short laugh, then eats it.
>On the other side of the table, Lyra lifts a cupcake in each of her forehooves and puts one of her hind legs on the table.
>Lyra: "FOOD FIGHT!!!"
>Anon grabs a banana and starts to peel it.
>Just as Lyra is about to launch her pastries, a tan hoof slams against the table.
>Bon: "NOPE! You won't be making a mess in this kitchen as long as I live!"
>Lyra: "Party pooper..."
>A banana squishes itself against Bon Bon's face.
>Everypony at the table turns to Anon.
>He's wearing the most sheepish of grins.
>It is suddenly hidden by a splash of whipped cream.
>Anon licks it off and burst in a boisterous laughter.
>Anon: "What about the kitchen?"
>Bon: "I wouldn't worry about the kitchen if I were you."
>She readies another spoon full of cream.
 
 
>Food.
>Food everywhere.
>There's not an inch of this kitchen not covered in various sorts of cake, cream or fruit.
>Lyra is grumbling while scrubbing the floor.
>Bon Bon is making her clean up because she lost the breakfast war.
>You were mostly untouched by the flying food, using Anon to protect yourself.
>He, on the other hoof, really looks like a clown.
>There's frosting all over his face and strawberry jam on his nose.
>Bon Bon just brought you a pair of towel so that you could clean yourselves.
>Anon: "Are you ready for the second part of the surprise?"
"AM I?!"
>He finishes removing his condiment make-up.
>Oh, he's picking you up.
>AGAIN.
>...not that you mind.
Where're we going now?"
>Anon: "Right here."
>He opens a door leading to...
>A mostly empty room.
>The only thing in there, is a bed.
"So Lyra gave us old furniture? That's great!"
"You think you could bring it back to the clubhouse alone?"
>Anon chuckles.
>"You don't seem to understand."
>You tilt your head in confusion.
>"Welcome home, Kid."
 
 
 
-Anon's perspective, an hour ago-
 
>L: "What about Bruce? Or Ash?"
"Groovy. But no."
"I already told you, my name is Anonymous now."
>L: "Ugh! Fiiiiine."
>Bon Bon sighs.
>B: "Can we just talk about what you came for?"
>L: "Oh right! What's that condition you mentioned earlier?"
>Now, you're going to need tact.
"Well, uh, there's this little group of filly I met yesterday."
"Nice kids, but I found out that one of them is homeless and without family."
"And I was wondering if I could bring her with me to live here for a while?"
>Smooth.
>The two mares look pretty surprised, but while Lyra still has that usual cheerful smile of her on her face, Bon Bon looks concerned.
>B: "You want to WHAT?"
>Can't say that you're surprised by that reaction.
"Look, I know this wasn't part of the deal."
"But I can't let this kid live alone in a treehouse, can I?"
>Bon Bon sighs and rub her temples.
>B: "No. You can't."
>L: "Then what's the matter Bonnie?"
>B: "Lyra, honey, having a filly live with us is a lot of responsability."
>L: "Like?"
>B: "We need to find room for her, Anon's already taking your old bedroom."
"That's not a problem, she can share the room with me. I don't mind sleeping on the ground until I find better."
>B: "Well..."
>Bon Bon looks a little embarrassed as she speak her next sentences.
>B: "With two new mouths to feed, I'm afraid you're going to need to find a way to get some bits."
>B: "We're not exactly rolling in bits right now and we can't really afford to pay everything for you two."
>That's going to be harder. Who would hire a circus freak like you?
>No matter, you'll find a way to get bits.
"I'll... I'll figure something out."
>B: "If this filly really is alone, she needs someone to educate her."
"What?"
"Don't you have schools in this town?"
>Bon Bon brings a hoof to her face and shake her head.
>B: "Of course we have schools, that's not what I meant."
>B: "She's still a foal, right?"
>You nod.
>B: "Well, proper parenting is important at that age."
>Oh. Yeah, didn't think about that.
"Is it?"
"I mean, I grew up without parents for last half of my life."
"And look how well I turned out!"
>Yeah. Real convincing there, buddy.
 
>You sigh.
"You're right, but can't I do it?"
>Bon Bon raises an eyebrow.
>B: "And what do you know about raising a filly?"
"...Fair enough."
>L: "Oh come Bonnie."
>Lyra, who stayed silent for the last few minutes, lost her smile and is looking slightly annoyed.
>L: "You sound like you don't want to help this foal."
>B: "That's not it, it's just that if we're to do this, I'd rather be fully prepared."
>L: "You're being overly anxious again!"
>B: "And you're too impulsive!"
>L: "Humdrum!"
>B: "Airhead!"
"Ladies, please! This is important."
>B: "Right..."
>L: "Sorry..."
>The room falls silent for a minute.
>You all just sit still and look at each others
>Finally, Bon Bon breaks the silence.
>B: "Alright."
>B: "Even though I think we should think this more thoroughly, it wouldn't be fair for the young one if I were to make her wait any longer because I'm overthinking the smaller details."
>Lyra perks up a little.
>L: "You mean..."
>B: "Yeah, bring the kid over. We'll deal with the problems as they come up."
>You smile and start to make your way to the front door.
"Right away!"
>L: "Oh! One last thing Anon."
>You stop and turn your head towards her.
>L: "What's her name?"
"Scootaloo."
 
 
 
-Back to present time-
 
>Well, she certainly took the news pretty well.
>You think so, at least.
>The filly jumping on the bed and screaming 'Yesyesyesyes' over and over again really hints that way.
"Come on Kid, don't break the only furniture we own.", you say laughing.
>With one last jump she hops high then flutters down in your direction, wings flapping like a humming bird.
>She wraps her forelegs around your neck and presses her head against it.
>"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou-"
>You smile and return the hug.
"You know, it's really Lyra and Bon Bon you should thank."
"It's their home we'll be living in, after all."
>You can feel her nodding against you.
>She soon breaks the hug and bolts towards the kitchen.
>"She looks like a really nice filly."
>You turn to face Bon Bon.
"Yeah..."
>"Listen, I'm sorry I seemed reluctant to the idea earlier."
"No, it's fine. I -was- asking you to adopt a foal you don't even know."
"I'm just glad that I came to ask you about it and that you two accepted."
>"You did good, Anon. It wa-"
>Scootaloo comes back into view with a light trot.
>S: "I found aunt Lyra cleaning the kitchen, but I couldn't find-"
>She notices the mare next to you.
>S: "AUNT BON BON!"
>And with that she's already doing this pony hug thing, where the lean against each others and nuzzle with the side of their heads.
>B: "A-Aunt?"
>Bon's face is an hilarious mix of confusion and 'heart melting from adorableness'.
>S: "YEAH! Just like Anon said to me!"
>S: "Family's about who you like and about ponies supporting each others!"
>She turns her head towards you.
>S: "Right big bro?"