Fanfic / Spellbound Fireflies

A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfic by bats.

Scootaloo's life hasn't been the easiest. Being orphaned at a young age and brought up in the foster system came with its own set of challenges, not the least of which was a lack of older pegasi around to teach her how to fly. Fortunately, Rainbow Dash can help with that. With her honorary big sister taking a more active role in her life, Scootaloo learns much more about herself than just how to fly.

A story about love, family, and growing up. It can be found here.

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Spellbound Fireflies contains examples of:

• Abomination Accusation Attack: An indirect example from Mrs. Taker, who is horrified and disgusted after finding out that Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle are a same-sex couple. After taking Scootaloo home, she outright asks Scootaloo if they've ever tried to "touch" her. Scootaloo immediately realizes that she's implying that All Gays Are Pedophiles and is horrified that she would accuse them of such things.
• Abusive Parents: Downplayed: Mr. and Mrs. Taker aren't outright abusive, but they are very emotionally distant towards Scootaloo. Mrs. Taker starts to delve into this slightly more when she tries to forbid Scootaloo from seeing Twilight and Rainbow again, but she's shot down by Scootaloo and undergoes a Heel Realization.
  • Played heartbreakingly straight for Rainbow Dash's father, Buckaneer Blaze. He was a pegasus born to two earth ponies. Unfortunately, his father was convinced that his wife had cheated on him, and his mother's side of the family was prejudiced against pegasi. Rainbow states that they took their anger out on him, to the point that they bound his wings until he was twelve.
• Adults Are Useless: Played straight with the Takers, who are very distant in their relationship with Scootaloo and don't make any real effort to help her with learning to fly or her problems with schoolwork. Averted with Rainbow and Twilight when they start to help her with both.
  • Ms. Cheerilee is also a notable aversion, since she genuinely cares about Scootaloo and works with Twilight in helping Scootaloo with schoolwork, especially after Scootaloo is diagnosed with dyslexia.
• …And That Little Girl Was Me: To help inspire Scootaloo in her training, Rainbow Dash tells her the story of a pegasus who had his wings bound until he was twelve years old who was still able to learn to fly. Rainbow claims that she read about it in an article and doesn't remember the colt's name. In a minor twist, the pegasus from the story wasn't Rainbow; it was her father.
• Calling the Old Man Out: Scootaloo gives one to Mrs. Taker after she tries to forbid her from ever seeing Rainbow or Twilight again.
• Caught in the Rain: Happened to Twilight and Rainbow in a flashback to right after the Running of the Leaves. It led to their first kiss and the the two officially becoming a couple.
• Coming of Age Story: For Scootaloo, mainly, but the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders also get a bit of it. By the end of the story, all three have their cutie marks and have experienced/are experiencing their first romantic relationship.
• Coming-Out Story: One of the main plots of the story involves Scootaloo realizing that she herself is gay after finding out about Rainbow and Twilight's relationship.
• Continuity Nod: When Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle discuss whether or not they should do something to help Applebloom and Rumble get together, Sweetie Belle states that they shouldn't "go all Cheerilee and Big Mac on them."
  • The events that led Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle to become a couple take place in the aftermaths of "Griffon The Brush Off", "Boast Busters", and "Fall Weather Friends".
  • All three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders get their cutie marks in the talents that they were shown to have in "The Show Stoppers": Applebloom in construction, Sweetie Belle in singing, and Scootaloo in stunts.
• Cool Big Sis: Rainbow Dash acts as one to Scootaloo, as usual.
• Deceased Parents Are the Best: Rainbow Dash reveals that her father died when she was about Scootaloo's age. She clearly has nothing but love and respect for him.
• Determinator: Once Scootaloo dedicates herself to learning how to fly with Rainbow Dash, absolutely nothing gets in her way.
  • Rainbow Dash is also one, as per usual. She got it from her dad, who didn't let having his wings bound until he was twelve stop him from learning to fly.

• Fandom Nod: While this story is itself a fan work, it uses some elements that show up in the fandom fairly often:
  • After Rainbow Dash explains what homosexuality is to Scootaloo, the latter notes that she's seen Lyra and Bon Bon sharing a milkshake before and realizes that it was in a romantic context. Lyra and Bon Bon are frequently shipped together in many fan works.
  • When Rainbow Dash proposes to Twilight Sparkle, she offers her the first feather she ever molted, a pegasi tradition that shows up in many romance fics.
• Foreshadowing: A very subtle example. After Scootaloo's first day of flight training, she has difficulty focusing on her math homework. The story implies that it's largely due to her exhaustion from exercise. It's also a hint that she has dyslexia.
• Gayngst: Mostly averted. In their flashbacks, Twilight and Rainbow never really exhibit any angst over their sexuality, and are more worried about ruining their friendship by becoming romantically involved. Twilight does note that they have caught some flack for their relationship, but it was from ponies that they didn't really know in the first place. They also confirm that their friends and family were all supportive and accepting when the couple came out to them.
  • Scootaloo only briefly struggles with the idea that she might be gay. Once she accepts it, she doesn't express any real discomfort with the fact. Like Rainbow and Twilight, her dilemma stems from having feelings for one of her closest friends (Sweetie Belle).
• Greed: When Twilight first offers to become Scootaloo's tutor and help her with her academic struggles, it's obvious that Mrs. Taker is happier about the prestige that comes with having Princess Celestia's personal student as a tutor than with Scootaloo getting help.
• Happily Adopted: Sadly averted. Scootaloo has a distant, unhappy relationship with her foster parents, which drives a fair amount of the drama in the story. It's eventually played straight for her when she's adopted by Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.
• Heel Realization: After Scootaloo's Calling the Old Man Out moment, Mrs. Taker realizes how badly she's failed as a parental figure and stays in a Heroic BSoD/Villainous BSoD for most of the remainder of the story. She eventually apologizes to Rainbow and Twilight, gives them her blessing in becoming Scootaloo's parents, and writes a letter apologizing to Scootaloo for everything.
• Heteronormative Crusader: Humorously referenced by Rainbow Dash. After her unintentional Relationship Reveal to Scootaloo, she tells Twilight Sparkle how she had to explain homosexuality to the filly:
  Twilight: How'd she take it?
  Rainbow: Well, she didn't become a Cutie Mark Holy War Crusader and try to burn us at the stake...
• Hidden Depths: Mrs. Taker spends most of the story as Scootaloo's distant, unemotional foster mother. However, after Scootaloo calls her out on her actions, she enters a Heroic BSoD/Villainous BSoD and realizes how badly she's managed her relationship with Scootaloo. She ultimately makes peace with Rainbow and Twilight and writes Scootaloo a letter apologizing for everything and hoping that Scootaloo can someday forgive her.
  • Mr. Taker, to an extent. He doesn't get much screen time and mostly appears just as cold and detached as his wife. However, when Mrs. Taker is going through her Heroic BSoD/Villainous BSoD, he does his best to comfort her and encourages her to try to reconcile with Scootaloo.
• How We Got Here: A minor example: the audience knows from the very first chapter that Twilight and Rainbow are in a relationship, but it isn't until about halfway through the story that it's revealed how they got together. The explanation also counts as an In-Universe example, since the pair are telling the story to Scootaloo, who also doesn't know how they became a couple.
• In-Universe Catharsis: Comes big time when Scootaloo flies, earns her cutie mark, and is told by Rainbow Dash they're going to be a family all in the same chapter. By the end, everyone is crying tears of joy.
• Ironic Name: Mrs. Taker's full name is revealed to be Care Taker, but she fails to give Scootaloo the love and attention that the young filly needs.
• Meaningful Name: The Takers, who don't give enough to Scootaloo. Also crosses over with Punny Name, as it's a reference to All Take and No Give.
  • Mrs. Taker's full name, Care Taker, references her special talent: the ability to "keep the frailest sprouts alive," even though she's unable to make them grow into food or flowers. It basically sums up her inadequacy in taking care of Scootaloo: she gives Scootaloo the necessities she needs to live without giving her the help and love that she ultimately needs to grow.
• Missing Mom: Rainbow eventually reveals that her mother left her and her father when she was little.
  • This is also part of the reason why Rainbow decides not to join the Wonderbolts: she can't bear the idea of disappearing from Scootaloo's life, especially after the two have become such huge parts of each others' lives.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Mrs. Taker has a silent version of this after Scootaloo calls her out on all of her failings as a parent, leading her into a Heroic BSoD/Villainous BSoD.
• No Antagonist: The closest thing the story has to a villain is Mrs. Taker, who's more cold and distant than actually evil in any way. She comes close to becoming an antagonist when she tries to forbid Scootaloo from seeing Rainbow and Twilight again due to her own homophobia, but ultimately has a Heel Realization after Scootaloo stands up to her.
• Promoted to Parent: The story is kicked off when Rainbow Dash offers to teach Scootaloo how to fly, which is a job usually done by a young pony's parents. As the story progresses, she starts taking a much more active role in Scootaloo's life.
  • Twilight also starts to undergo this when she starts to help Scootaloo with her schoolwork and spends more time with her alongside Rainbow Dash.
  • Both of the above examples ultimately culminate with Rainbow and Twilight officially adopting Scootaloo.
• Puppy Love: A minor subplot involves Applebloom starting to date classmate Rumble. It doesn't get too much screen time and ultimately doesn't last. It does, however, help Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle realize that they're attracted to mares (and each other), and they eventually become a couple.
  • Applejack states that her parents started as this and stayed together for the rest of their lives.
• Relationship Reveal: An In-Universe unintentional instance: Scootaloo is caught completely by surprise when Rainbow Dash casually states that she and Twilight Sparkle are in a romantic relationship. Rainbow is surprised at this and apologizes for not telling her, admitting that she thought their relationship was common knowledge.
• Sleep Cute: When the Cutie Mark Crusaders are having a slumber party, a sleeping Sweetie Belle cuddles up against Scootaloo.
• Slumber Party: The Cutie Mark Crusaders have one at their clubhouse at Sweet Apple Acres.
• So Proud of You: Shows up a lot, mostly towards Scootaloo from Rainbow and Twilight.
  • Princess Celestia also tells Twilight this after officiating her wedding with Rainbow Dash.
• Strange Minds Think Alike: In the first chapter, Scootaloo notes that the patch of missing shingles on her foster home's roof looks like a duck. Near the end of the story, Rainbow Dash thinks the exact same thing upon seeing it for the first time.
• Talking to the Dead: Late in the story, Rainbow and Twilight visit the grave of Rainbow's father. Rainbow tells him about everything that's occurred during the course of the story and how proud she is to be his daughter.
• Tears of Joy: Shows up quite a bit. One of the best examples occurs when Scootaloo tells her friends that she, Rainbow, and Twilight are going to be a family.
• Title Drop: It's not until the penultimate chapter that the title of the story is explained. Applejack tells Twilight that "spellbound fireflies" was an old earth pony term for pegasi who fell in love with unicorns.
• Training from Hell: Downplayed: Scootaloo's training with Rainbow Dash is very intense; however, Rainbow planned the training schedule out carefully with help from Twilight, she's always sure not to push Scootaloo too hard, and she makes sure to emphasize safe exercise techniques (like the importance of stretches and drinking water).
• True Companions: The Cutie Mark Crusaders are this through and through, to the point that Sweetie Bell worries about them drifting apart when Applebloom starts dating Rumble. Scootaloo eventually goes as far as to tell Sweetie Bell and Applebloom that they're family to her.
• Wedding Finale: Variation. The penultimate chapter of the story is dedicated to Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle's wedding and reception.
• Wham Line
  • A notable example when Twilight figures out why Scootaloo is having trouble in school:
    Twilight: Scootaloo, do you know what dyslexia is?
  • An even bigger example when Twilight and Rainbow are out to dinner celebrating Rainbow Dash's acceptance into the Wonderbolts, her lifelong dream:
    Rainbow: I'm not gonna do it.
• Write What You Know: The author freely admits that many of her life experiences helped shape what Spellbound Fireflies became; stuff from her childhood, to her marriage, to her relationship with her step-daughter.

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