Everyone Slows Down
Scootaloo had finally gained the ability to fly a while ago through hard training. Every month since that faithful day, she loved to race Rainbow Dash, sure, she never once won, but she still liked flying at her idol’s side.
Scootaloo was finally getting to the age where she could compete for a position in the Wonderbolts. She trained with Rainbow Dash every single day, in hopes of one day living up to her big sister’s legacy. Today was no different for scootaloo, except that it was race day, scoot’s only day of the month to fully show what she has learned.
It had passed years since Twilight’s coronation, Rainbow Dash already had retired from the main Wonderbolt team and was now a legacy member. She went down as the greatest Wonderbolt yet, getting her own golden statue in Cloudsdale’s hall of fame. Despite her retirement, she never slowed down. Sure, she now lived quietly alongside her wife in Sweet Apple Acres, but that never stopped her from her passion.
This time was different…
“Ok scoots, you ready to show me what you got?” Rainbow asked from the start line, getting ready for flight. “As always Rainbow! I’ll show you how much I’m ready” Scootaloo flexed her wings proudly. “I’m sure you were ready a long time ago, you are just comparing yourself to me, a legend” Rainbow responded with a cocky laugh. “Give us the signal Apples!” From the ground, Applejack waved a flag, and the pegasi got ready for take off.
The flag dropped, and both took off from the start at stunning speeds. They raced to the finish, both pushing as hard as they could to try to get ahead.
Normally, this is the part where Rainbow Dash drops the act and gives Scootaloo a smug smile before blasting off ahead. Not this time, this time, Scootaloo peeled ahead, slowly without noticing, creating a large space between her and Rainbow Dash. She crossed the finish line and Applejack waved the flag once more. “I won! I won! I- I… won?” Scootaloo gained confusion when she saw Rainbow Dash landing. “Good job kid… you’ve grown so much” Rainbow was still catching her breath as she walked to Scootaloo.
“What? but how? You always win!” Scootaloo asked in confusion. “You are faster now, thanks to your training and hard work” Rainbow responded as she sat down to rest. Scootaloo shook her head at that idea, instantly dismissing it. “Faster? no no no, I could never even fathom going at your top speed! You let me win! You felt bad and you let me win! Right?” “Don’t know what to tell you Scoots, you won, I pushed myself as hard as I can now a days, but you are faster than me now”Rainbow responded, as she received a glass of water from Applejack.
“Now a days?” Scootaloo wondered. “Yeah, my wings aren’t the same, they are finally beginning to slow down on me, the darn things.” Rainbow punched her own wing playfully. Scootaloo took a few moments to process this, many emotions began surging her body, and then she spoke in a loud voice, nearly yelling. “No! You are not slowing down! You- You can’t slow down! You let me win!” She began to get agitated as Rainbow tried reaching out a hoof to her. “Scootaloo…” Scootaloo moved the hoof away as a single year began forming in her eye. “You let me win! Stop Lying!” She screamed as she took off into the sky, flying as fast as she could.
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The wind swept Scootaloo’s mane back as she was rushing through the clouds. “No! It can’t be true! Rainbow is a big liar! She’s lying to me so I can say that I won!” She continued to displace the sky as tears ran down her face.
Eventually, she made a hard landing on a plain. “Ouch!” She lifter one of her legs, in her emotions, she forgot to make a careful landing and hurt her ankle. She sat down carefully, and screamed into the vast emptiness.
Scootaloo stayed quiet for what felt like hours, not moving a single muscle. “It’s not…” She finally looked up to the sky with watering eyes. “It’s not fair…” She continued her silence, until she heard a pair of wings land behind her.
“Hey Scootaloo, wanna talk?” Rainbow Dash spoke in a soft, kind tone. Scootaloo didn’t look back, didn’t say anything, just stayed still.
“Scoots… what’s wrong?” Scootaloo felt a hoof on her shoulder, followed by a reassuring wing on her head.
“It’s not fair” She finally spoke. “What’s not fair?” “You, it’s not fair that you are slowing down, when i’m barely beginning to speed up” Scootaloo stomped her hoof, but flinched in pain at doing so. Rainbow took notice of this and carefully grabbed her hoof. “Oh filly, you hurt yourself, here let me help you” Rainbow began carefully bandaging the ankle as she began speaking in a soft tone.
“Scootaloo… I know it can be hard, growing up and slowly seeing your idols grow old. I watched as Daring Do could no longer perform any of her stunts, it hurt to see her retire into a full time author. When Spitfire retired, I felt like I just saw an era of my childhood get crushed. It was hard for me, accepting that it was my turn to slow down… Time gets to everyone eventually, I can’t do what I once did when I was your age” Rainbow stood in silence for a while, thinking of what to say next.
“But you are Rainbow Dash… nothing slows you down” Scootaloo began crying. “Even my awesomeness is not immune to the passing of time, but Scootaloo…” Rainbow finished bandaging the hoof and raised Scootaloo’s head to make eye contact with her. “I’m still going to be here for you, you are a great flyer, you have been ready for the Wonderbolts for a long time now. I may not be able to be your training partner anymore, but i’ll always be here to mentor you, because I love you.”
Scootaloo hugged Rainbow tightly. “I don’t want you to go” “I not dying!” Rainbow exclaimed in an annoyed tone, which made Scootaloo lightly chuckle. “I’m just… slowing down”
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“Ready to go home mom?” That snapped scootaloo out of her memory as she looked at her daughter. “Oh right… Yeah, just give me a moment” She looked back towards a headstone as she places a few flowers on top. “Thank you for everything, Rainbow” She closed her eyes as she let a few teardrops fall. She slowly made her way out of the empty orchard, leaving behind her memories with her idol.