//------------------------------//
// Flightless Bird 
// Story: Like a Lion 
// by Fizzyberries302 
//------------------------------//

Violet hummed as she mixed together a fresh batch of perfume. She had already finished the rest of the perfumes and spa treatments. Her delivery pony, Scootaloo would be there soon. A year ago, she had been fighting for her life on the streets, now she was living in the cottage her cousin Fluttershy left her, after she moved out with her husband Discord. Violet made her living by making perfumes and spa treatments and then selling them via door to door business, or selling them to the local spa. 

She had just finished carrying the last few crates upstairs when she spotted a orange filly speeding towards her on her scooter, which was pulling a wagon. "Sup Violet!" Scootaloo greeted with a smile. 

"Hi Scoots, ready for todays delivery?" Violet asked, using Scootaloo's nickname.

"Yep, wagon's all set. Now what's the first thing on the list?"

"How about you help me get these crates on board, then I'll give you the list." 

Violet and Scootaloo lifted the crates of spa products onto Scootaloo's wagon and tied them down with rope. "Wait here," Violet said, going back inside to get the list. Scootaloo sat on top the large pile of crates that had filled up her wagon. She looked up at the sky and saw the dots of birds and other pegasi. She turned to look at her wings and groaned. She was born with a condition that made her wings weak and develop slower then usual, hence why she was a thirteen year old flightless bird. The other pegasi foals in flight school laughed at her for her inability to get more then 5 feet off the ground. 

She jerked her head up when Violet back, holding a checklist of houses who requested deliveries. "Alright Scoots, the crate with the tiara picture goes to Diamond Tiara, the larger ones are for the spa and-" she was cut off when she saw the sad look on Scootaloo's face. "What's wrong?"

Scootaloo sniffed. "Violet, it's these stupid wings. They can't get me off the ground." Scootaloo grumbled, flapping the tiny wings for emphasis. 

Violet set the checklist on the scooter handle and sat down next to her. "Hey, you'll get there. Your wings just need time."

"Violet, you don't understand. And average pegasus flight ability starts at the age of one, I'm twelve and still a bloody flightless bird!" she snapped.

Violet was stunned. "Scootaloo! Language!" she scolded.

Scootaloo glanced down the ground. "I'm sorry Violet, but I was born with a condition that slows the growth and development of wings. My doctor says that there's a 55% chance of me flying at the age of twenty-one. The colts and fillies in flight school pick on me because of it."

Suddenly Violet understood. "Scoots...I...I didn't know. I'm sorry,"

"It's fine, not many ponies know anyway. Only Rainbow, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle know. Not even the ponies at the orphanage know."

"You live in an orphanage?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Since I was a baby, my parents were killed in a house fire after lightning struck the roof of our home."

"Oh my gosh Scoots, I had no idea."

"It's fine, I'm not bothered by it as I don't remember anything. It's these stupid wings that bother me, I might never be able to fly."

Violet thought for a minute. "Come with me Scootaloo, I want to show you something."

They hoped down from the crates and Violet led Scootaloo into her flower garden. Violet's pet squirrel, Nutkin was running around the lawn by the oak tree. The two ponies stopped in front of a bed of tulips. "Scoots, these tulips are what give my perfumes the silky feeling, as well as the scent. But in order to get the scent and feeling to be just right, it requires time, patience, a little sunlight and water and a little love," Violet reached out and lightly kissed the closed bud of a flower. 

Instantly, the tulips opened up, revealing the beautiful colours and scent. Scootaloo sniffed on and sneezed as her nose filled with pollen. "What has this got to do with flying?"

Violet tilted her chin up and pointed to a smaller bud that hadn't opened. "See that one, that one's late. It needs a little more time then the rest," Violet picked up her watering can and sprinkled water on the bud as Scootaloo watched. "It needs a little more water," She moved away a tree branch that was blocking the sun from the flower. "A little more sun," She leaned down and kissed the soft petals. "And a little more love,"

Scootaloo's eyes widened as the bud opened, revealing the inside to be a beautiful pattern or reds, oranges, yellows and pinks. Violet pulled Scootaloo over for a closer look. "See, even though that one was late, it's the most beautiful of all," She turned to Scootaloo. "That flowers you Scootaloo,"

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Yes, so even though your wings haven't developed yet and you just need a little more sunlight, water and love. You will one day blossom," she wrapped her wing around her. "Maybe even blossom into a Wonderbolt someday."

Scootaloo blinked. "Me, a Wonderbolt. You really believe that?"

Violet nodded. "Of course, one day if your patient, your wings will blossom into the wings of a Wonderbolt."

Scootaloo felt something wet in her eyes. She flung her arms around Violet's neck. "Thank you Violet,"

Violet smiled and hugged her back. "You're welcome Scootaloo,"