//------------------------------// // PreFlight Ch1 // Story: Dashed Dreams(New Life Edit) // by Landon //------------------------------// A brilliant rainbow streaked its way across the sky above the busy little town of Ponyville, shining down onto the pony filled streets yet going unnoticed by most who found the beautiful spectra to be common among life in the almost too happy community. It made its way from the edge of Whitetail Wood, over Sweet Apple Acres and across town, a slight arc giving it an almost perfectly natural look as it rocketed through the cloud-spotted blue sky. Perhaps in the other towns in cities across Equestria where they are less common it would draw more eyes skyward, but to ponyville they came and went with the passing of the wind. However this particular one held a special significance to a young and upcoming filly in town, perhaps the only one who would look skyward and smile for it's brilliance. She watched the rainbow come toward her in a speeding blur, at its head was its creator; her life long hero, the pony whose opinion she regarded over all others, Rainbow Dash. It was hardly a secret that Dash was the coolest, fastest and most daring pegasus in all of Equestria. She had style; she was always at the top of her game, always opened to full throttle, always thinking ahead, and someday she would teach the filly everything she knew. Well perhaps the latter of those had, thus far at least, not been true. Dash barely took notice in her fans undying loyalty and praise, something the colorful mare thought to be common place in her presence. She would soak it in, sure, but only to fill her own ego to the point of bursting. The rainbow tip disappeared over the horizon, its tail beginning to disperse slightly while young Scootaloo sat mesmerized by the intense array of colors. Losing track of reality momentarily she suddenly found herself in midair, for a brief moment she felt herself become weightless, coming back to reality only a moment later the ground quickly reclaimed the orange pegasus as she crashed her scooter with friends in tow. The group of filly crusaders spilled into the street with a series of thuds and a short skid. "Ow...." Scootaloo brushed herself off. "Sorry guys." "What was that for?" Sweetie Belle called out as she got to her hoofs. "I just uh, hit something in the road." The orange filly flashed a smile at her fellow crusaders and righted the scooter/wagon combo. "Now c'mon! Hop in, let's get going slow ponies." "Tha's ok, let's just get back to th' clubhouse. I don't think we was meant ta be cutie mark crusader super spies anyhow. I think we may have upset Mr. and Mrs. Cake t'day." the earth pony filly hopped back into the wagon and helped Sweetie Belle climb in as Scootaloo pulled forward, buzzing her small wings and propelling them quickly through town and into Sweet Apple Acres where they could find their next plan for getting their respective Cutie Marks. A short trip past the market and through the seemingly endless orchard led them to their main base of operations and planning. Held up safely inside their clubhouse deep in the orchard they tried to work out new plans for the quickly ending day. Scootaloo tried to help with the planning but continuously found her mind drifting to a trail of rainbow light. The filly imagined that same light soaring through the sky and bursting clouds without even touching them, darting this way and that at speeds so fast you could barely keep your eyes on it, that amazing ability was something the filly desperately wanted to obtain, even if for only the briefest of time. However without even the ability to make the most basic of pegasus maneuvers what could she do? Lost in her own world she flexed her wings outward and felt their unimpressive wingspan. I'm never going to get anywhere with these stupid things...' she thought to herself. "Whatcha think scoots?" The yellow earth pony asked. Scootaloo snapped back to the real world only to find her friends staring at her. "Uhh, yeah sounds good to me!" She chirped. "It does?" Sweetie Belle asked tilting her head, "That's terrible!" Scootaloo kicked herself mentally. "I mean. What you think of it! Yeah, that's what sounds good, not the other thing" Her friends stared blankly at her quietly, Scootaloo tried to put on a convincing smile. "Great! Glad y'all agree, we're one step closer to them cutie marks girls, I can feel it!" Applebloom and Sweetie shard a hoof bump and turned to the pegasus who also gave a quick bump as she tried to work out exactly what she had just agreed to. "Hey girls, do you think we can pick this back up tomorrow? I just remembered I have a thing I need to go do." "Whatcha need to do? We'll go with ya!" Applebloom said jumping to her hooves. "Yeah! We can all go. What do we need to do?" Scootaloo looked between the two uneasily. "No it's fine it's nothing big, I just need to go talk to somepony real quick. But I'll catch you guys right after ok?" With that the pegasus pony slipped out the door and into the safety of the orchard. She hated lying, and she really hated having to leave her friends behind, but there's no way they would understand. Scootaloo needed a pony who actually knew what they were talking about, somepony with wings. While she was sure Twilight would know everything she could ever ask, however she wondered if the lecture that would be sure to follow would be worth it. Dropping her scooter by the door and making sure no pony was around she gave a few quick knocks and backed up. The door cracked open and a familiar face hidden behind a pink mane popped out. "Oh, hey Scootaloo. Where are your friends?" She opened the door fully and looked around. "I came alone. I uhh... can I come inside? I need to ask you something." She rubbed her foreleg and looked past the older pony to the safety of the cottage where ponies wouldn't be able to see her. * * * Scootaloo poked uncomfortably at her quickly cooling tea. Fluttershy for her part sat quietly watching the filly for some time. "Why?" Scootaloo asked almost inaudibly. "What was that?" Fluttershy leaned forward, setting her tea down. "Why?" She repeated, looking up. "Why aren't my wings growing? Why can't I do anything? Why do I have to wait?" The words were less said then than spilled out in a heavy breath. Scootaloo was leaning forward looking to the older mare. "Why can't I just fly like everypony else? Why?" Fluttershy let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding and moved to the couch with the filly, draping a wing around her back. Scootaloo leaned against her more out of instinct than thought. The older mare though for a moment. "Well, I don't know for sure, it's different for everypony but I'm sure it won't be much longer. Some pegasus ponies are just late bloomers. Don't worry about the other ponies, your wings will grow when it is there time, it should only be another year or so as long as you are eating well." Scootaloo thought of her current meal supply and wilted. "I can't wait a whole year, isn't there anything you can do?" Scootaloo pleaded. She knew her diet had been less than sufficient for quite some time but hadn't "I can't make your wings grow, that could be dangerous for you." The filly's head dropped against her side. "But" She said pulling Scootaloo up to look at her. "I might have a little something for you to try, if you're not getting what you need to grow into a strong young mare it can help fill the gaps." She unfolded her wing, making scootaloo shiver at the loss of warmth, and disappeared into the kitchen. Scootaloo craned her neck but it did little to help. Fluttershy returned a moment later with a small bottle in hoof. She popped the top off and handed it to the orange filly. "What is it?" she asked giving the bottle a sniff, inside was a fine green powder that smelled stale and leafy. "It's a natural mix I got from Zecora for the little animals, it helps make up for things they can't eat. I just picked that up yesterday, mix a little scoop there into your water every morning." She smiled as the filly's mood was noticeably lifted while her mind worked around what she was told. "Just don't take too much, a little bit goes a long way you know." "Thanks Fluttershy! You're the best!" she gave stood herself up and hugged the older pegasus tightly. "I'll only take a little every day! Crusader's honor!" She slipped the lid over the bottle and dashed out the door. Fluttershy could only smile at her as she darted down the road. Scootaloo returned to the clubhouse and slowed to a quiet trot, she carefully snuck up the ramp to the small window and peered inside. To her relief she was met by a dark room and a club that was safely empty for the night; she walked in and over to the corner where a pile of blankets and various items were pushed aside. Under these was a small box containing all of her personal items, she had them hidden so her friends wouldn't know she was living in the small headquarters, she opened the box and carefully placed the bottle she had received inside, it was getting darker now and she could practice tomorrow. Pulling the cover onto the small cot that was originally placed inside for sleepovers but now served as her bed nightly she curled up and drifted into a soft sleep, satisfied with her day. Her dreams were full of life and flight, she found herself high above ponyville, perhaps higher than anypony had ever flown before. At her sides were a pair of majestic wings, large and strong. Looking down she could see the familiar form of Rainbow Dash swooping about with her standard magnificent form. With a grin she closed her wings to her sides and dove as fast as she could; the thrill of falling was far greater than that of flying for her. She spread her wings and used her speed to push past her cyan idol, challenging her. Dash caught onto the maneuver and quickly caught up to the fast flying filly. They each pushed as hard as they could, each gaining just a slight lead on the other before the order would switch, a perfect give-take dance that sent them rocketing over the trees outside of ponyville. The wind following their flight threatened to pull some trees down entirely and remove roof tiles from unlucky houses. Scootaloo could feel her heart racing; the adrenaline of the speed coursing through her body, the ache in her wings was a welcome feeling as she pushed to outpace the older pegasus. They turned and flew upwards, keeping at ludicrous speeds as they ascended, the cold air bit at Scootaloo's sides and face, it burned at her muscles and her mane whipped wildly, it was all beautiful in her mind, her coat was pressed hard at her side and Rainbow Dash was only a few feet away, a determined grin on her muzzle. Dash could, of course, out pace the young filly, and at this moment she wanted nothing more in her young life than for that moment to come.