"My dear Fluttershy, it's good to be able to join you for tea again, it feels like it's been forever," Discord said with a smile as he sipped his tea.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, things have been busy around here since the Changelings were defeated," Fluttershy said with a gentle smile. "I'm glad to do this too, it would be nice to be able to do this more often."
"Yes, that would be nice," Discord says. "So is there anything new going on around here?"
"Well, Rainbow Dash found out that Scootaloo is homeless, so she's been taking care of her and looking into formal adoption," Fluttershy says. "Other than that it's been pretty normal around here."
"Well that's good," Discord said, after all it was because of the CMC that he had been released in the first place, so he was glad that Scootaloo was going to have a chance to be happy. Maybe he could do something to help her out too at some point. "I'm happy for them."
Fluttershy smiled a little bit at that, she was glad that Discord had changed so much since they had first met. He was still chaotic sure, but he had come a long way, she couldn't be happier to have him as a friend.
That's when they heard a knock on the door, Fluttershy blinked a little, she hadn't expected anypony else to visit today. She opened the door and was surprised to find Rainbow Dash standing on the other side with a worried look on her face.
"Hey Rainbow, what's wrong?" Fluttershy asked with a worried look on her face.
"It's Scootaloo, I took her to the doctor today for..." Rainbow started to say before she saw Discord who was listening to them. "Uh..."
"You can trust him, Rainbow," Fluttershy said reassuringly, Discord smiled and made a halo appear over his head. "So, you were saying?"
"Sorry, the Doctor that examined Scootaloo talked to me after he finished," Rainbow said with a sigh. "He said that she can't fly because her body can't produce enough magic to get lift. Fluttershy... I don't know what to do."
"Have you told her yet?" Fluttershy asked.
"Not yet, the doc said I should be careful with telling her," Rainbow said with a sigh. "I wish there was something I could do to help her."
"Rainbow, it's okay, we'll figure something out," Fluttershy said as she hugged her friend tightly. "We'll get through this, I promise. Your friends are all here for you and Scootaloo."
"Thanks Fluttershy," Rainbow said with a smile and hugged the yellow Pegasus back. "I know that, and it really means a lot to me."
Discord watched them for a long moment as he stroked his beard. There might be a way he could help Scootaloo, but it would be tricky to do. Plus if it backfired on him he'd get into a lot of trouble, but it might just be worth it.
"I should get going, thank you for the tea Fluttershy," he said and snapped a claw as he vanished in a flash of light.
Rainbow thought for a long moment before nodding. "I should tell her... she deserves to know the truth."
Fluttershy nodded and smiled before giving Rainbow a light kiss on the cheek. "I know you'll do the right thing Rainbow, good luck."
Rainbow nodded and headed out of the cottage.
00000
"Hey squirt, how was your day?" Rainbow asked as Scootaloo trotted into the living room.
"Great," the younger Pegasus said with a big smile on her face. "Diamond Tiara invites us to hang out at her mansion, so we went there. It was cool, her Dad was really nice, and we got to play around her mansion grounds all afternoon."
"That's great kiddo," Rainbow said as she ruffled the filly's mane. "I got pizza for dinner tonight, but there's something I want to talk to you about first."
Scootaloo tilted her head in confusion at her big sister/foster mother, what did she want to talk to her about and why did she sound so sad? Rainbow wasn't as confident sounding as she usually was, and that worried her all of a sudden.
"Are you okay, Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked as she looked at the older mare for a long moment. "Is this about my doctor's appointment today?"
"Scootaloo, I'm sorry but..." Rainbow said with a long pause and a sigh. "The Doctor said you have a rare condition that keeps your body from producing enough magic to gain lift..."
"You mean, I'll never be able to fly?" Scootaloo asked as tears started to well up in her eyes, she had been afraid of that but had been holding onto the hope that she'd be able to someday. "Ever?"
"I'm sorry Scoots..." Rainbow said as she started to cry too and hugged the filly. "I wish there was something I could do to change it..."
Scootaloo sighed sadly and kept the hug going, she honestly had no idea what to do. While she was glad that Rainbow had told her, if there was no way she was ever going to fly, then what was her purpose?
"Don't worry Scootaloo, I'm here for you, so are your friends," Rainbow said as she nuzzled Scootaloo gently. "I promise, this won't change anything, you're still the most awesome filly I know."
Scootaloo sighed and wiped her eyes, she didn't know what to do, but at least that made her feel a little better. She smiled and released the hug with a nod.
"Thanks Rainbow... that means a lot," Scootaloo said with a smile.
"Glad to help," Rainbow said as she ruffled the filly's mane again. "Come on, lets go get that pizza."
The two Pegasi got to their hooves and headed for the kitchen.
00000
"Good night my little pony," Rainbow Dash said with a smile as she tucked Scootaloo into her cloud bed. "You're going to be just fine, I promise."
"Thanks Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo said with a yawn as Rainbow left the room.
Scootaloo looked out the window at the night sky and sighed, she saw a shooting star and closed her eyes, saying her wish quietly to herself.
"I wish I could fly.. or something cool..." she said to herself and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep as her dreams were filled with her flying with Rainbow Dash.
As she slept, Discord appeared in her room and looked down at the sleeping filly sadly. He honestly wasn't sure if this really would help her fly, but honestly he just wanted to at least give her a chance.
"Sleep well my friend," he said and snapped his claw and golden magical energy flowed around and flew into Scootaloo's body. "You'll wake up anew."
He snapped his claw again and vanished in a flash of light.
00000
"Come on Scoots, its time to wake up," Rainbow said as she poked her head into the filly's room.
"I'm awake," the filly said with a yawn as she stretched her forelegs and got out of bed. She trotted into her adjoining bedroom, still half asleep as she pulled herself up to brush her teeth, and then she froze.
In her reflection in the mirror there was a horn sticking out of her forehead that hadn't been there when she went to bed. She looked at herself, she had her wings still. Somehow she had become an Alicorn.
She let out a scream of surprise.