Tender Taps rushed through the town. He didn't exactly know how late he was running. He just knew that he was late. Better late than never, Tender Taps tried to convince himself. However, it just didn't sound right to him.
"Apple Bloom!!" Tender Taps exclaimed throwing himself in front of her. "I'm so sorry I'm late!"
"It happens to all of us," Apple Bloom assured.
Tender Taps breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know if Apple Bloom was the type to forgive and forget, but it seemed like she was.
"Are you ready?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ready?" Tender Taps replied in confusion.
"To dance?" Apple Bloom reminded him. "We're doing the salsa."
"Right," Tender Taps remembered.
Tender Taps had never danced with a partner before. He had attempted before as a colt, but he had never actually got the hang of it. The filly he tried to dance with was named Jazzy Blitz. Tender Taps remembered when he had fallen over and Jazzy Blitz had accidentally fallen on top of him, twisting his forehoof. He couldn't dance for a week. He could just barely start dancing again when Apple Bloom had come in and asked to dance.
Apple Bloom seemed to notice how nervous he was. "Are you alright?"
Tender Taps nodded. "What happens if I mess up?"
"Hey, we'll get better at it," Apple Bloom reassured. "Honestly, it took me ages to learn. I'm still not the best."
That made Tender Tap's confidence come back. "So, how do we do the salsa?"
Apple Bloom helped him position himself. Tender Taps felt a little awkward when he positioned himself, but Apple Bloom gave him a smile that made him shrug it off.
"Okay," Apple Bloom said. "Take a step to the left."
Tender Taps followed her directions and soon he started to get the hang of it. As they danced, they laughed and had a good time. Apple Bloom realized that she had a new friend that made her happy.
"Well, looks like it's time to go," Apple Bloom said looking out.
"Already?" Tender Taps asked. He looked out across the horizon. Sure enough, the sun was beginning to set. To them, time had flew like never before.
"Can I see you tomorrow?" Tender Taps pleaded.
"Of course," Apple Bloom said with a smile. "Meet at the same place?"
Tender Taps nodded. "And the same time."
They both smiled, reluctantly turned, and walked home.
"You're so close," Rumble encouraged Scootaloo. "You can do it!"
Scootaloo struggled with her wings. Her body and her wings worked against each other. Her bones seemed to drag her back down to the ground while her wings flapped desperately to get her into the air. All at once, she crashed back down and groaned miserably.
"Hey, it's okay," Rumble told her. "You're getting this. You're learning."
Scootaloo laughed, bitterly. "Getting this? I can only fly 1 foot off the ground!"
"But you can do a loop," Rumble said. "That's a huge improvement from when you were young."
Scootaloo sighed and nodded. She had to admit she'd gotten much better. When she tried to fly when she was a filly, she couldn't even get herself more than 2 inches off the ground.
"Look on the bright side," Rumble advised. "Flying is becoming a reality."
"It used to be something I could only do in my dreams," Scootaloo admitted.
"And now it's real," Rumble comforted. "Let's try this again."
Scootaloo looked up with a new determination. As she lifted again, she found it was a bit easier than the last time she tried. She did a loop and smiled at Rumble. Rumble clapped and was genuinely happy for her. Scootaloo did another loop. However, it still felt heavy to her when she flied and she wondered how Rainbow Dash lifted off the ground so easily. In fact, it seemed all pegasi didn't have weight to lift when they flew.
"Why does it feel so heavy?" Scootaloo wondered when she landed.
Rumble looked at her in surprise. "Heavy? Scootaloo... it's not supposed to feel heavy."
Scootaloo was surprised. She finally knew the problem wasn't with her ability to learn. It was something in her bones.
"Maybe, we can get an xray," Rumble suggested nervously.
Scootaloo agreed and Rumble led her off to Ponyville Hospital.
When they arrived through the doors, Rumble explained the problem to Nurse Redheart who listened carefully.
Nurse Redheart took Scootaloo and led her to Doctor Stables.
"Hello, Scootaloo," Doctor Stables greeted her kindly. "Would you like an X-ray?"
Scootaloo nodded. "Yes, please. I'd like to know if something is weighing me down."
Doctor Stables had her lay inside the X-ray machine. As it scanned her, Scootaloo began to feel nervous. What would the results be? Would Doctor Stables tell her something upsetting?
As Scootaloo sat up, she watched Doctor Stable's face. Doctor Stables looked at the pictures in worry.
"Oh my!" Doctor Stables exclaimed in shock.
Scootaloo felt sick to her stomach. "What?" she choked out.
"Just... just wait here!" Doctor Stables told her.
As he rushed out of the room, Scootaloo peeked at what he was doing. She thought she deserved to know what was wrong with her.
"Rumble, it's about your friend," Doctor Stables said. He showed Rumble the X-rays.
"What's wrong with them?" Rumble asked in confusion.
"Scootaloo is a pegasus," Doctor Stables explained. "But these bones belong to that of an earth pony to help with strength. Pegasus bones are supposed to be light to allow an easy flight. Scootaloo's bones... they're weighing her down. She got the bones of the wrong species."
Rumble gasped. He was shocked. He couldn't believe it. Scootaloo was making so much progress and then he got the news she had the wrong type of bones.
Scootaloo's heart sank and her eyes filled with tears. Scootaloo didn't like being her. Not one bit.
I can't fly or do anything, Scootaloo thought, teary-eyed.What kind of pegasus am I?
Doctor Stables and Rumble watched Scootaloo run from the hospital as fast as her hooves would carry her.