“Ugh, it’s not fair!” Scootaloo kicked at the ground, causing a cloud of dust to rise. She coughed a bit and groaned once more.
How long had the orange filly been trying to fly now? Ten years? Probably at least a little more than that. She remembered hearing stories from her parents about how she flapped her wings when she wasn’t even a year old.
Scootaloo wants to fly, although it’s not just because she wants to experience the freedom in the air. That is most definitely part of the reason, but another part of the reason is because she doesn’t want to be teased anymore, nor be the only pegasus in her class, possibly even in Ponyville, that cannot fly. Even Pound Cake can fly and he’s, what? Only a year old? It just simply wasn’t fair.
Unbeknownst to her friends, and probably every pony else, Scootaloo liked to take walks all by herself. She didn’t want to appear “uncool”, so she kept it a secret. The trail she trotted along was one of her favorites. She didn’t know why; it just seemed to always give her peace and calm her whenever she had an awful day.
Like today.
Once again, Scootaloo and her friends were bullied by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. One would thought by now that the three would be used to their tormenters’ harsh treatment, but they weren’t. Scootaloo didn’t let it bother her at first, and even though she wouldn’t show it to her friends (she had to act tough for them) or any pony else, it was beginning to actually affect her.
She didn’t understand why they were so mean about her not being able to fly. Anything else she could take, but this? Scootaloo was sure Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon knew how much flying meant to her, so they used it against her.
The orange filly sighed; at least it was the weekend. Even though she and her friends would be crusading, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were going to Canterlot for their small school break, so she didn’t have to worry about running into them, at least.
The words from her bullies repeated in her mind. She paused in her steps and looked back at her wings. Scootaloo flapped as hard as she could, gritting her teeth as if that would make a difference. She hovered. For a little while. She soon found herself back on the ground taking deep breaths. Then she stood with an angry look on her face. Why? Why me? She wanted to shout at the world, but that would be uncool, and she already looked uncool enough, what with enjoying walks in a beautiful place and letting the harsh treatment get to her.
So, she instead took a deep breath, which calmed her enough, and she resumed her trotting. The sun was sinking to the faraway ocean while the moon rose for air. The stars begin to shimmer in the night canopy. Scootaloo would be home soon enough; her mom wouldn’t worry too much. Nothing the orange filly couldn’t calm her about.
Then, something caught Scootaloo’s eye. She turned her head and saw dozens, no, hundreds of fireflies, all gathered in one place near the river. But she also saw a figure, one that was far too big and far too dark to be one of the many insects. She paused her steps once more, curiosity replacing the small anger her features still held. The figure raised its foreleg and waved it as if gesturing Scootaloo toward it. When the orange filly didn’t move, the figure spoke. “Come. Sit by me,” it said. The voice was obviously old.
Scootaloo was still hesitant, but after a few lingering moments she decided she could spare a few extra minutes and walked over. In the glow of the firefly lights, she saw that it was a pegasus and that his facial features sagged with wrinkles. He wore spectacles and his grey mane fell just right around his head. The orange filly noticed the small smile he had. “Sit,” he repeated. Reluctant still, Scootaloo sat down next to him.
For a few moments, there was nothing but a silence between the two, save for sounds of the night. Scootaloo eyed him for a little bit, as if making sure he wouldn’t do her any harm, though it’s not like he could do much. Unless he’s just a dangerous pony in an elderly disguise. But Scootaloo was pretty sure she was close enough to the rest of the ponies’ houses where, if needed, she could yell and get the required help. It wasn’t long though before she focused her attention on the fireflies that illuminated the night.
The elder pegasus was the first to break the silence. “Aren’t they beautiful?” he said.
Scootaloo looked at him with one arched, confused eyebrow. “Huh?”
“Them.” The elder pony nodded towards the fireflies. Scootaloo looked back at them.
“Oh. Yeah, I guess they are…”
The pony next to her chuckled, but after that the silence returned. Then he turned to the orange filly and said. “You’re a pegasus, aren’t you? You a flier yet?”
“No,” Scootaloo answered. “I’ve been trying for so long. It’s just not fair! Every pegasus in my class can fly. Even one that’s no older than one can fly! I even get bullied for it,” she mumbled the last part as her head hung low. “I want to fly” – she lifted her head – “like those fireflies. Flying would be amazing. That feeling of freedom would be great to have. And then I could be just like my idol!”
“Oh? Who’s your idol?”
“Rainbow Dash!”
“Rainbow Dash? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of her.”
Scootaloo’s mouth hung agape. “You’ve never heard of Rainbow Dash?!” The elder pony shook his head. “But how?! She’s the coolest pony in all of Equestria! You must’ve heard of her at least one point in your life!”
The other pegasus shook his head again. “I’m afraid not. Once you get old like me, you don’t focus so much on the big things anymore; it’s the little things that make you happy.”
“Maybe you can meet Rainbow Dash tomorrow! She always loves showing ponies her tricks!”
The elder pony shook his head once more. “I don’t think that will be possible.”
“Why not?”
“It’s hard for one as old as me to move around so much.”
“But you moved to here.”
“That is true, but you see, I’ve always enjoyed watching the fireflies. When I was a young colt, I would stay out late just to see the insects. But I haven’t seen them for a long time, and I decided I really wanted to.”
“Oh.” Scootaloo looked back at the fireflies.
“Try flapping your wings.”
“Huh?”
“Come on. Show me what you got.” He offered a smile.
“But I don’t got anything! Didn’t you hear me before? I can’t fly!”
“Show me.”
Scootaloo sighed. “Alright, but you’re gonna get disappointed.”
She stood and flapped her wings for a few moments. Then she stopped and breathed a for a few moments. “See?” she snapped. “I can’t fly! Not at all.”
“I couldn’t fly either, you know.”
“Really?” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow.
“Nope. Everyone in my class started flying, and I was so upset that I couldn’t. I tried every day for about five years, until my last year of high school. And that’s when I discovered there’s more to the life of a pegasus than flying.”
“But flying is what a pegasus is supposed to do. If you have wings and can’t fly, then what good are the wings?”
“You’ll find a use for your wings eventually.”
“Did you ever find a use for your wings?”
“Yup. Sure did.”
“And that is…?”
“Well, I was a painter, and waiting for the paint to dry is such a dreadful process, so I used my wings to help them dry faster.”
“You were a painter?!” The elder pony nodded. “Do you think I can come over and see some of your paintings sometime?!”
The elder pony shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Did you find another use for your wings?”
He smiled as he lifted a hoof up to his chin. “Hmm.” He looked back at her. “Well, I used them to pull the ponies I love close to me,” he said as he wrapped his wing around her and nuzzled her.
“Hey!” Scootaloo struggled to get out of his grip. “I’m not into that mushy gushy stuff! Especially with a pony I just met.”
The elder pony chuckled as he let her go. “Sorry.” He looked back at the fireflies. “Just like your mother…” he whispered.
“Huh?” Scootaloo looked at him.
“It’s nothing.” He dismissed her with a shake of the head. “You know, sometimes being stuck on the ground isn’t so bad.”
“How so?” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow.
“Well, if I could fly, I probably would’ve moved to Cloudsdale, and then I never would’ve met the love of my life.” He turned to look at the orange filly. “Have you, by chance, found a use for your wings yet?”
“Well,” Scootaloo began, “they help me go faster on my scooter.”
“Oh? You ride a scooter?”
“Yup! It’s the next best thing since I can’t fly.”
“See, you’re wings have a use, even if not for flying. And I bet you’ll find more and more uses for them over the years. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even use them to hold the ponies you love close to you.”
“Ugh.” Scootaloo gagged. “Not likely.”
The elder pony chuckled. “You’ll see.”
Things grew quiet again, but this time Scootaloo spoke up first. “Do… do you think things will be alright?
The elder pony looked at her. “Hm? What do you mean?”
“I mean if I can never fly. I’m gonna get bullied by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon either way, but at least if I can fly I can prove to them that I’m not some chicken.”
“I think you’ll be just fine. You’re a great young filly who has lots of passion. I believe you could do just about anything if you put your mind to it. If you want to fly, you’ll find a way to do it without your wings.”
“You think?”
The elder pony shook his head. “I know.”
Scootaloo smiled a big smile. “Thanks. I better get going now. My mom is gonna get worried.” She stood and began walking away. “Thanks. For everything. I’ll see you around!”
“Bye. And have a good life, Scootaloo.” He smiled.
Scootaloo returned the smile by making hers a little wider before turning and continuing up and onto the path. She walked for a few steps before stopping, eyes widening ever so slightly.
Wait, how did he know my name?
She turned back to ask the question, but found that he was gone. Scootaloo moved her gaze over the area, looking for the pegasus, but only found the fireflies and the flowing river.
“Scootaloo?” A voice called out. Scootaloo looked back and saw her mom in the threshold of her house. The yell made her completely forget the elder pony's knowing of her name.
“Mom!”
“Scootaloo, there you are! You’re almost twenty minutes late! Come inside now.”
“Coming!” Scootaloo turned back one last time, looking at the place where she and the elder pony sat together. A firefly flew in front of her eyes, pausing for a moment and seemed to almost look at her before departing and flying back to the group. Scootaloo smiled and trotted home.