When an accident reveals a disturbing truth, Scootaloo gets the news that she will never fly. Her newly found mentor and sister fill-in, Rainbow Dash, must confront a reality where both the hero and a dreamer are broken.

Sometimes, the words we hear hurt more than the stones and sticks that break our bones.

A collaboration with Midnight Dancer and myself. Mainly Midnight Dancer. Go love her. Give her your loves. All of them.

Inspired by this beautiful thing.

“There is no easy way to say this. One of our scans showed that there was something wrong with the musculature in Scootaloo’s wings. In short, the muscles are underdeveloped. They will likely never support her enough to allow flight.”

Before meeting Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo had always been sort of a loner. Her schoolmates ignored her, the townsfolk only paid her mind when she ran into them with her scooter, and her own mother pretended she didn't exist.
Scootaloo didn't mind being alone. It gave her more time to think.. It gave her more freedom. Friendship and compassion does nothing but hold us back, after all.
But Hearths Warming Eve comes along... This holiday has always been her least favorite holiday.

Dreams are such delicate things, and Scootaloo’s are more fragile than most.

But in Equestria, dreams are protected. Sometimes a filly just needs a helping hoof to learn how to hope again.

Edited by Knight of Cerebus

Cover art by Joemasterpencil. Go check him out!

This story has a reading! Slightly older version of the story, but the reading is very well done. It can be found here.