A brilliant rainbow streaked its way across the sky above the busy little town of Ponyville, shining down onto the pony filled streets and going unnoticed by most who found the beautiful spectra to be common among life in the almost too happy community. It worked its way from the edge of Whitetail Wood all the way across town, a slight arc giving a natural look as it rocketed through the blue sky. This particular one held significance to a young and upcoming filly in town. She watched the rainbow come toward her, at its head was her hero, the pony whose opinion she regarded over all others, Rainbow Dash.

The coolest, fastest and most agile pegasus in all of Equestria. She had style; she was always at her coolest and someday would teach her everything she knew. This 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.

The rainbow tip disappeared over the horizon, its tail beginning to disperse slightly and young Scootaloo sat mesmerized by the intense array of colors. Losing track of reality momentarily she found herself in midair, crashing her scooter with friends in tow. The group of filly crusaders spilled across the ground with a series of thuds and a short skid.

"Ow...." Scootaloo brushed herself off.

"What was that for?" Sweetie Belle called out as she got to her hoofs.

"I just uh, wasn't watching, I'm sorry jeez!" The orange filly flashed a smile at her fellow crusaders and righted the scooter/wagon combo. "Now c'mon!"

"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.

Back at the 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 away, back to the star athlete. She imagined her soaring through the sky and bursting clouds without even touching them, her amazing ability was something the filly desperately wanted to obtain; she knew her true destiny was alongside her idol. However without even the ability to hover what could she do? She wondered when they would finally grow out, giving them a tentative flex and shake.

'I'm never going to get anywhere with these tiny things...' she thought to herself. Forgetting their plans for crusading that evening Scootalloo apologized and told her friends she had something to take care of. With an annoyed grunt the two agreed and the orange filly stepped outside and started the short trek into town.

"I'm sure Twilight will be able to help me out. She knows more than anypony!" she said to herself as she approached the large tree holding the library and its bookish keeper.

The tiny pegasus trotted inside and called for the older unicorn who was studying on the other side of the room. "Hey Twilight, I need to ask you somethin'. Got a minute?"

"Oh, hey Scootaloo. Where are your friends?" She looked curiously down to the small foal. "You're not trying to be cutie mark crusader kidnappers or whatever it was again are you?" she asked with a less than joking tone as she looked around her. The last experience she had with the crusaders landed her bound and gagged in their clubhouse, it was far from an ideal night, her rescue had taken longer than she would like to think about, she was still working out the joint problems.

"Oh no, we learned our lesson last time. I need your help with something."

"In that case thing. What do you need?"

"Well you're a smart pony and I was wondering if you knew when my wings would get, well bigger?" the orange filly extended her small wings and gave them a wiggle, unamused by their lack of surface area.

"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. It shouldn't be more than another year before yours begin to support you fully. Although without flight school it may be a bit longer."

"I can't wait a whole year, isn't there anything you can do?" Scootaloo pleaded.

"Flying comes naturally to you pesasi in time, it's not something I can speed up with magic, I'm sorry but it could cause some pretty serious side effects, small wings are better than no wings after all don't you think?"

'Not really...' She mused before responding. "Fine..." The forlorn filly gave a disheartened huff and turned to leave the library. Twilight began thinking of new solutions, not wanting to disappoint if she could help it. Her eyes fell on her saddlebags in the corner.

"Wait, what if I give you something to keep you strong until your wings do grow?" Twilight levitated a small oddly shaped bottle over to herself, "This should help a little at least." she sat on the floor by Scootaloo.

"What is it?" she asked giving the bottle a sniff, inside was a fine green powder with a strange odor.

"It's a natural mix I got from Zecora, it helps your body work efficiently, it's for all the late nights I spend on my hoofs. I just picked that up yesterday, mix a little scoop there into your water, wait a little while and then go exercise." She smiled as the filly's mood was noticeably lifted while her mind worked around what she was told.

"Thanks Twilight! I knew you could help!" she gave the older unicorn's foreleg a hug and dashed out the door with the bottle and disappeared.

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.