//------------------------------// // Get the Message // Story: I'm Still Here // by Ribe_FireRain //------------------------------// When tomorrow morning came around, Fluttershy had left a little early and left Rainbow Dash to watch over Scootaloo for a while. Rainbow had mentioned that she was going to bring Scootaloo over to Sweet Apple Acres to see if Applejack could watch over her and the other two Crusaders for a play date while she headed to The Golden Oaks library to see Twilight. Scootaloo was sure to enjoy spending some quality time with her two friends, especially after the bombshell that had ended the surprise party almost as soon as it had started. Having some peace and a distraction from her usual thoughts would be nice. Fluttershy, after last night, had been feeling a bit uncertain, thoughtful and nervous all at once. Uncertain because of how Rainbow had reacted to her question, thoughtful because of her strange, new feelings and nervous because she didn’t know what it all meant. She had never experienced any of these feelings so strongly before, and it was making her feel fluttery, queasy and slightly excited on the inside, tickling her stomach lining. Once she had arrived at the front door of Carousel Boutique, she wondered on how to break the news to Rarity, curious and hopeful for any light that might be able to be shed on her thoughts and feelings. On the way over here, she had ran through the same questions again and again and again and again, memorising what she wanted to say, playing through it all on an endless loop, picking out the deeper details she wanted to delve into and discuss. She inhaled deeply and then she knocked on the front door. It was early in the morning, so the shop wasn’t officially open for business at the moment, but Fluttershy knew that the owner would be up. She always was, and she knew this because this was the time that they’d normally spend together for their spa date, usually meeting up ahead of time to share a spot of tea together. ‘’Com-iiinnng!’’ The sing-song voice of Rarity called, and it wasn’t a moment too soon that a blue aura glowed over the diamond-shaped door handle and it opened to reveal the unicorn. She was wearing her silk pajamas, a little garment she enjoyed wearing on a Sunday morning. ‘’Oh, Fluttershy, my darling, good morning!’’ ‘’Good morning, Rarity,’’ Fluttershy replied friendlily. ‘’And to what do I owe this pleasure, dear? Would you like to come in? I’ve got tea brewing on the stove, if you’d like to partake?’’ She offered, stepping aside for the mare to enter her home upon invitation. ‘’Yes, that sounds lovely. Thank you,’’ Fluttershy said gratefully, the sound of tea sounding positively delightful at this time. ‘’It’s Ceylon, if that’s alright with you,’’ Rarity told her, leading her into her kitchen. She pulled out a chair for the mare and offered it to her. Fluttershy gladly accepted it while the pearl white unicorn took her own seat across from her. Rarity always appeared so crisp and fresh as a daisy in the morning. Her face was forever so youthful and smooth-skinned, the short fur around her cheeks, face, eyes and mouth so vibrant and lush. Fluttershy didn’t understand why a girl such as Rarity, with all of her glamorous natural beauty and stunning complexion, used excessive amounts of makeup. It was always lost on her why she never chose to go out in public as herself instead of spending hours on end gussying herself up to make herself presentable when she already had the looks to rock anypony’s mind. Due to the time of day, Rarity hadn’t yet applied any mascara or eye shadow, and Fluttershy was certain that she was the only pony to witness her like this aside from Sweetie Belle. She would never let any other pony catch sight nor hair of hair otherwise. As she puts it, ‘’It’s not proper for a lady to be seen when she isn’t one-hundred percent presentable.’’ ‘’So, how is everything, Fluttershy, hmm? I trust you’re doing well, yes?’’ Rarity asked politely, cupping her hooves together on the table in front of her as she eyed the mare in front of her. ‘’It’s been…difficult,’’ Fluttershy answered honestly. She had no other words to describe the past two months with these sudden changes she’s had to accept. Rarity became sympathetic, understanding. ‘’Oh, I understand what you mean, Fluttershy. When Scootaloo left the party so soon, it was a shock to all of us. I can’t believe that Rainbow Dash found her in such a sorry state! The poor dear. How’s she coping at the moment, if you don’t mind me asking?’’ ‘’Scootaloo’s doing fine, thanks. She’s much better now that we’ve talked things through, but, um, if you don’t mind, I came around because…I wanted to ask you about something,’’ Fluttershy said nervously, glancing down as she twiddled her hooves over each other, playing with them and avoiding making eye contact with Rarity. ‘’Oh, is that right?’’ Rarity questioned, intrigued. ‘’Is something the matter? You seem awfully tense,’’ She pointed out, motioning towards Fluttershy’s hooves. ‘’I-It’s nothing r-really, Rarity, but I’d like to talk to you about Rainbow Dash.’’ ‘’Who, Dashie? Has something happened?’’ Rarity asked concernedly. ‘’Um…you could say that,’’ Fluttershy mused. ‘’But I was curious; how, um…how do you know i-if another pony has fe-feeling for another?’’ She asked, knowing how childish it must sound at her age. A full-grown mare asking romance questions? Now, that was pathetic, and that was how Fluttershy felt having to ask somepony like Rarity about it. Alas, the fashionista simply grinned. ‘’Why, is that a blush I’m seeing?’’ She asked deviously, almost obnoxiously teasingly, and it didn’t help that she felt the need to bat her eyelids for emphasis. ‘’Oh, come now, Fluttershy, sweetheart, it’s nothing to feel embarrassed about asking,’’ She assured her. ‘’Tell me, what’s on your mind?’’ It was then that Fluttershy began to divulge details of the previous night, mentioning how Rainbow Dash had acted and how she had responded to Fluttershy at times. She tried to give as much detail as possible, hoping that it would help somewhere down the line, but, by the time she had finished telling her story, Rarity sat still. ‘’That, uh…that’s pretty, well, it’s, uh,’’ Rarity stammered, not sure which words to use and which not to use to describe what she had just heard. Eventually, she settled upon the word ‘’Strange’’, not knowing what other word might be appropriate. After all, she didn’t want to offend or insult Fluttershy. ‘’Mmm-hmm,’’ Fluttershy hummed, not sure of it herself. ‘’I thought you might know how to talk to her about it. You know how Dashie can be sometimes. Last night, I tried to speak to her about it, but I panicked and I said something else instead, and she seemed so disappointed and sad by it that she didn’t speak the rest of the night!’’ Now, this was a conundrum indeed. Rarity knew all of the signs, the subtle hints, the gestures, the works, and everything did point to your average crush’s pointers and signals, but it was hard to determine anything from what Fluttershy had told her. Rarity knew love when she saw it or heard about it, and there was no doubt in her mind that this was Rainbow’s way of displaying her affection. ‘’Fluttershy, dear,’’ Rarity leaned over the table and she placed her hooves atop of Fluttershy’s. ‘’Tell me, and please be honest; do you have feelings for Rainbow Dash?’’ Fluttershy felt sick. Nausea hit her from ever angle, threatening to turn her stomach inside out. She felt like she was being disemboweled. Butterflies tickled her tummy, her heart began to pound hard and anxiety flooded her system, making her want to shrink back and hide herself from the world. She didn’t know what it felt like to be in love, but she indeed felt something whenever her ears tuned to the sound of Rainbow Dash’s name or when she was in the presence of the mare. Was this what being in love actually felt like, or was it her nerves talking? ‘’I…I don’t know,’’ Fluttershy answered shakily. She was clueless on how to answer her. ‘’I think I do. I mean, she’s always been there for me and she makes me feel special, and…’’ ‘’Alright, alright, that’s a good sign,’’ Rarity brushed her off, getting indication enough for a definitive answer. ‘’And do you enjoy spending time with her?’’ ‘’Of course I do! Ever since she first brought Scootaloo into my cottage, we’ve been closer than ever!’’ ‘’I see. And does she enjoy spending time with you?’’ ‘’Rainbow Dash? I, um, I think so, Rarity. Whenever she’s around me, she always acts so different, not like when all of the girls are together,’’ Fluttershy explained, and Rarity cocked her head. ‘’Oh? How so?’’ ‘’Rainbow acts…more playfully. She always teases me, tries to make me smile, keeps me company, that sort of thing. She’s never acted like that before when we were fillies, so I wasn’t sure how to place it.’’ ‘’Ah, well, I think I’m more than certain of what’s going on here,’’ Rarity said knowingly. ‘’It seems to me, Fluttershy, that our little Dashie has developed a crush on you!’’ She playfully nudged the pegasi’s shoulder. Fluttershy’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened. Her fluttering heart became a full-on whirlpool of emotions, stricken but somehow joyful at the same time. Was this what Rainbow Dash’s actions were tracked back to? Has Fluttershy truly been this naive to pay attention to them? Better yet, were her ears deceiving her? ‘’R-Rain…Rainbow Dash has a cru-crush on m-me…?’’ Fluttershy swooned, feeling light headed and nauseous. She raised a hoof to her clammy forehead as the realisation sank in, and it took the words to be breathed through Rarity’s mouth to finally make sense. Rainbow Dash was in love with her. And Fluttershy was very possibly in love with her, too! Oh, my! Fluttershy’s mind was racing, in its own daze. Rainbow Dash has a crush on me! She has a crush on me, she has a crush on me, she has a crush on me, she has a crush on me! Oh, dear, what do I do, what do I do?! I think I’m… A near-silent breath escaped Fluttershy’s lips at about the same time as the steam kettle boiling in on the stove in the background began to whistle loudly, a fitting emphasis for the mare’s shaken thoughts. It was hardly heard to the mare’s ears, however, as she found herself beginning to lose consciousness, her entire body becoming limp. ‘’Fluttershy!’’ Rarity called desperately, startled as she soon realised that her friend was about to pass out. As she had done on many occasions, Rarity levitated over her red velvet-padded chaiselongue and quickly brought it into her kitchen in the nick of time so that Fluttershy could collapse safely and comfortably onto it. She dropped like a sack of bricks on top of it, one of her hooves fixed over her eyes in a swoon, one of her hind legs hanging limply over the side twitching. Rarity frowned and she used her magic to silence the hissing steam kettle before pursing her lips and staring at the cold form of the Pegasus before her. ‘’A lady is always prepared for such an occasion when one does get so steamed.’’ *** *** *** Rainbow Dash had her head planted firmly into her hooves as she sat across from Twilight Sparkle in her study room, a little area of the library that had a number of small shelves, writing utensils and a private sector to refine one’s learning. They had been at this for a while, debating over a course of action. It wasn’t going as smoothly as Rainbow had initially planned upon, and she found herself to be locked beneath the glare of the unicorn in front of her, whom was displaying the same amount of tentativeness as Fluttershy when she had asked her the same question last night. ‘’All I’m saying is that it’s going to be a whole lot harder than you realise,’’ Twilight reasoned, trying to talk some sense into Dash’s thick, stubborn skull. ‘’And asking Fluttershy to help isn’t just something that you can ask of a pony, Rainbow Dash! It’s a massive responsibility!’’ ‘’Don’t you think I know that?’’ The prismatic mare tiredly glanced up to view the unicorn, making only her eyes visible. ‘’I’m not an idiot, Twilight, I know how to take care of a foal. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m awesome at almost anything, and me and Scootaloo really connect, so I don’t think there will be anything to worry about!’’ ‘’But what about your finances? And your job as a Wonderbolt? How do you plan on taking care of a filly if you’re going to be away half of the time?’’ Twilight questioned, and Dash blinked, unprepared for the question. Rainbow Dash hadn’t actually taken the moment to step aside and think about it. It never occurred to her, managing her time accordingly for what meant most for her on her priority list. She hadn’t been a Wonderbolt for too long, and she knew she had to make a lasting impression if she wanted to remain as part of the team, but she had to come to terms with the possibility that it may potentially not be an option. ‘’Huh, I…I hadn’t thought about that,’’ Rainbow admitted with a blush, stumped, but she soon regained vibrancy as an idea surfaced in her mind. ‘’Oh! I could leave her with Fluttershy until I come home! Yeah, that can work, right?’’ Twilight gave a ‘tsk, tsk’ of disapproval and she facehooved. ‘’That doesn’t seem fair to Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash,’’ She said with a scowl. ‘’Like I said, you have to be more open with your options if you want to make the time for things that matter most to you, especially when it comes down to your friends and family. You can’t ask somepony to look after another pony on such short notice and expect them to be fine to it. That doesn’t sound like something a good friend would do, does it?’’ ‘’No…’’ Dash sighed in defeat, but she was still not going to be shut down so easily. She wanted this to happen, and by Celestia, if there was a way, she was going to find it! ‘’Well, if you’re such an expert, what do you suggest?’’ Twilight gave a thoughtful expression, levitating over a scroll of parchment and an ink well with a quill. She magically opened up and straightened out the fresh scroll on the table in front of them, and Dash watched her curiously as she scribbled something down onto it, wondering what her idea was. ‘’Have you ever considered writing down all of your options on a list and then checking off the ones you’ve already tried until you find a more suitable option?’’ Twilight asked with a smile, but Dash chuckled at her and waved a hoof at her in amusement, not surprised that she was going to ask such a thing. ‘’No offence, Twilight, but that’s your answer for almost everything,’’ Rainbow Dash gave a short laugh, but Twilight gave her a sharp glare, shutting her up instantly. ‘’Oh, um, sorry.’’ ‘’Yes, well, having a list always helps to keep you prepared. It’s what I used to do when Princess Celestia had me as her student back in Canterlot whenever she assigned me a test. When I got nervous and I had trouble remembering anything, I made a bunch of lists to help me keep track, and it’s never steered me wrong!’’ Twilight said proudly, forever true to her nerdy love of literature and learning. Is there anything that she doesn’t have an answer for? I swear, she has a plan for just about everything! Rainbow Dash thought inwardly. Then again, as much as she has hated school since her younger years, it was true that Twilight had always been so in-check, collected and prepared for any academic task, and it was all mostly thanks to her obnoxiously long and detailed lists. ‘’Do I look like an egghead?’’ Dash asked jokingly. ‘’Come on, Twilight, you know that I’m not good at following a list without getting ‘bull-headed’,’’ Twilight giggled, but she humoured her and she gave her a warm, assuring look. ‘’Lists aren’t only for nerds, Dash. Trust me, once you try following one, you’ll wonder how you ever dealt without one! Now, why don’t you try telling if there’s anything you’re worried about and stuff you’ve already tried or considered, and we’ll see where it takes us?’’ Twilight offered, levitating a quill above the paper. Rainbow Dash stared at her for a brief moment and she blinked, but then she smiled mischievously. She cupped her chin and she spoke, ‘’Alright, then. First order of business,’’ Twilight readied herself by putting the quill against the paper, ready to start scribing for her. ‘’Meet less nerdy ponies named Twilight.’’ ‘’Mmm-hmm, yeah, uh-huh, I—-hey!’’ Twilight said, finishing up writing her friend’s words before she realised that she had been had. Rainbow Dash burst out laughing and she fell out of her chair, erupting into hard, girly giggles. Twilight only sighed and giggled, too, feeling ashamed of herself for thinking that Dash wouldn’t be so childish. I should have expected no less from her, Twilight thought. It looks like we’re going to be here for quite a while. *** *** *** ‘’How long was I out?’’ Fluttershy asked as she touched a hoof up to her clammy forehead, still feeling the nauseous sensations swimming about in her skull. Rarity had helped her sit upright on top the chaiselongue, and she was now levitating over a fresh cup of Ceylon tea. ‘’Only about three minutes,’’ Rarity said, setting the cup of tea and saucer it was resting on into Fluttershy’s hooves. She had set her own cup aside on the kitchen table and she took a tender sip. ‘’You gave me quite a scare, darling! This early in the morning, a good scare doesn’t do wonders for one’s complexion,’’ She said, but soon came to her senses when she caught the wounded look from Fluttershy. ‘’Oh, I’m terribly sorry, dear. I probably shouldn’t have pried too far.’’ ‘’It’s fine, Rarity,’’ Fluttershy said, taking a sip of her own tea. ‘’I’m sorry that I had to bother you with my feelings like this. Perhaps it’d be better if I left and…’’ ‘’You’re not a bother to me, sweetie,’’ Rarity said, as if insulted at the thought. She set her tea aside and she levitated Fluttershy’s own cup and saucer aside, resting it beside her on the chaiselongue and being careful not to spill it. ‘’Having a one-to-one talk always helps to keep your mind fresh and stress-free. Bearing stress without any proper form of release can wear a lady down, and it’s simply dreadful for your complexion, so I don’t mind opening a friendly ear to you, dear.’’ Rarity then leaned over and held Fluttershy’s hooves. ‘’Listen to me, Fluttershy, I know that you’re having a hard time processing all of these new and strange feelings about Rainbow Dash, but I have to ask you - do you at all feel like there’s any common ground between the two of you? Say, something that only Rainbow can give you and only something you can give her?’’ Fluttershy cocked her head at that, confused. ‘’Um, what do you mean?’’ ‘’What I mean, dear, is something that makes you feel special to each other, a unique part of their being that attracts you to them in a way that nopony else can manage but themselves. For example, let’s say that your feelings of attraction towards Rainbow Dash are linked to either a certain aspect of life that you both share a common interest in. Such as Scootaloo.’’ Fluttershy hadn’t thought about it like that. She wasn’t a romantic type of pony, and she had always been so clueless on revelations of and about love and experiencing what it felt like to be loved by somepony else. She had never been in a relationship before, so it should come as no surprise that she’d have no inside information or knowledge on the matter or what makes a functioning, healthy relationship. She knew next to nothing about the whole concept of romance. Sure, whenever Fluttershy saw a happy couple sharing a meal or a cup of coffee or maybe a romantic picnic together in the park, she’d always smile and feel happy for them. It always warmed her heart to witness other ponies being affectionate to each other, and the only affection that she knew was the maternal, caring type that she often used with her animal friends, which was similar but not so intimate. When it came down to it, Fluttershy did feel the same way about Scootaloo as Rainbow Dash did, and the whole discovery about the poor filly’s living conditions had indeed brought them so much closer together and reinforced their relationship. In these past few days, all of these little moments when Dash would tease her or playfully joke with her swam right over her naive little head. She never thought anything of it, just Rainbow Dash being Rainbow Dash, and so she never questioned it. Until now. Were all of those moments Rainbow Dash’s way of trying to clue her in? ‘’Oh, I, um, I don’t…don’t know,’’ Fluttershy said, feeling heat arise on her cheeks again. ‘’Rainbow Dash has been more playful around me than usual, so I guess? Do you think that’s what it is?’’ She was surprised when Rarity’s eyes lit up with relief and she gave a hefty sigh before holding her shoulder. ‘’Yes, of course it is!’’ She said, as if long-awaiting for her to finally get the picture. ‘’Scootaloo is one of those things that yourself and Rainbow Dash share a common concern and passion for! And I’m sure that there are other things that you share a common interest in, correct?’’ She asked with a coy wink, and Fluttershy hid her beet red face behind her long mane, now completely sheepish. ‘’Rarity!’’ Fluttershy said embarrassingly. ‘’We’re only friends!’’ ‘’If you say so, dear,’’ Rarity said with a cheeky smile. She knew all of the signs when she say them, and Fluttershy displayed every single one of them as plain as day. It was always so warming and tingly to witness young love brewing on the horizon! ‘’I’m sure that you’ll find that the two of you have many more things in common that’ll bring you closer together in the near future. Perhaps a number of things have already brought you closer but you haven’t realised it yet, hmm?’’ She was giving her that coy, devious smirk again, and Fluttershy was sick of seeing it. Rarity might be right be Rarity might also be wrong about my strange feelings when I’m around Rainbow Dash, so there’s still the possibility that it’s nothing, Fluttershy told herself, wanting to believe it if it meant that the feelings would come to an end. And Rainbow Dash maybe doesn’t feel the same way, so I’m getting my hopes up for nothing. I…I think I need a drink… Fluttershy picked up her saucer with her cup of tea on it and began to sip slowly and quietly at it as she contemplated what Rarity had told her. The tea had become lukewarm in the time that she had allowed it to sit, far from the temperature that she typically enjoyed drinking it at, but she was too distracted to care about that right now. Rarity sensed this and she piped up, about to propose something. She had a sip of her own tea and then spoke up. ‘’I’ll tell you what, Fluttershy; you seem a little tense and wound up. I know that today isn’t our usual spa date, but I think a little trip down to the Ponyville Spa will do wonders in perking you right up again!’’ She said brightly, and Fluttershy smiled at the idea, finding it promising. ‘’That sounds lovely, Rarity. I think I need to loosen up and get my mind off of things for a while.’’ ‘’Splendid!’’ And I’m sure that Rainbow Dash will appreciate how fresh you’ll be once the spa date is over, too! Rarity thought inwardly, mentally giggling to herself. She’ll not only appreciate it, but I’m sure that she’ll love it! *** *** *** Back at Fluttershy’s cottage, Rainbow Dash had been to Applejack’s farm to pick up Scootaloo. She had let her ride on her back the entire way, and she had flown back rather than walk back. It was much faster, and being forced to walk everywhere irritated her. To her, it was either wings or nothing. Scootaloo had been involved in another one of her crusades with her fellow Crusaders, this time trying to find her talent in agriculture, which mostly involved her getting drenched in a mixture of mud, compost and leaves. Applejack was kind enough to allow her to wash it off along with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, whom fared no better. Naturally, all three fillies turned up empty hoofed in their adventure, much to their dismay. Shortly after arriving back to the cottage, Rainbow Dash had decided to give Scootaloo the surprise present she never had the chance to be given. It had been stored in Fluttershy’s cupboard a few days before the surprise party was due to start, and it was a challenge to order all of the parts required to get it assembled in time. Rainbow Dash, due to having a few connections around Cloudsdale and in some areas of Equestria, was thankfully able to track down everything that she needed, and she knew that Scootaloo would love what she has waiting for her. Truth be told, Dash was feeling excited about seeing it again, and she truly loved how it turned out. ‘’Alright, Scoots, close your eyes,’’ Rainbow Dash said as she escorted the little filly into the bedroom, shielding her eyes with both of her wings. ‘’No peeking until we get there! Wouldn’t wanna spoil the surprise, would we?’’ ‘’What is it?’’ Scootaloo asked in a giddy voice, clearly excited about what was happening. Ever since Dash had told her about this surprise back at her house, she had found herself to become restless and enthusiastic about what it was. Now, a present from Rainbow Dash? That was just about the most coolest thing of all time! ‘’You’ll see in a second, squirt,’’ Dash chuckled as she came to a stop in front of Fluttershy’s bed, right where the gift was leaning against the footboard. ‘’Are you ready?’’ ‘’Come on, Dash, quit stalling! I wanna see it!’’ Scootaloo hopped on the spot anxiously. ‘’In that case…surprise!’’ Rainbow Dash said as she unveiled her wings from the little filly’s vision and allowed her to witness the sight before her. As expected, Rainbow heard her gasp, her mouth hanging agape as she stared at the item in front of her, taking it in in all of its glory. She couldn’t believe her eyes! Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that she would ever see one of these things, let alone actually own one! It was a Cloud Buster Special Edition sky scooter, specially designed for sky racing. It was essentially a hybrid that could be deployed on both the ground and in the sky, capable of hovering and reaching incredible speeds of up to eighty miles per hour! They were top of the line scooters produced specifically for racing, and only the best teams ever owned them. In Cloudsdale, where the sport made its debut, very quickly gaining popularity, sky scooter racing was a very popular sport enjoyed by Pegasi from all around the world. The Special Edition models such as the one Dash had put together for her was one of those exact model of scooters. The shape of the body itself was oval shaped, the underneath rounded for better aerodynamics and increased wind resistance, enabling it to glide smoothly through the clouds and make tight, sharp turns with a single, smooth motion of the rubberised, grooved handlebars. The wheels of the scooter were medium-sized and treaded with smooth grooves for a smooth, comfortable ride on the ground, and, if need be, they were fully detachable and retractable to quickly transition for its desired purpose. Being a Special Edition, the paint scheme on this scooter was unlike any average Cloud Buster, expertly coated in a sonic blue paint job that glowed vibrantly, almost neon. Against the sonic blue paint, it had white stripes flicking up from the handlebars all the way down the sides of the body, coming to form a V shape at the tail of the scooter. It was a hard piece to get a hold of, but Rainbow Dash had managed to deliver on her promise to pull it off. Rainbow Dash remembered that she had wanted this exact model when she was just a foal, back when the sport was invented, and she recalled how blown away she was by the sheer awesome appearance of the scooters. Alas, she never gained the luxury of owning one, no matter how much she pestered her parents to try her chances of becoming an owner. She figured, if she couldn’t enjoy the chance to own one herself, then maybe she could make up for it by allowing Scootaloo to enjoy it. ‘’I-Is that…?!’’ Scootaloo stammered, at a loss for words. She was speechless, gobsmacked and so caught up in her shock that her brain had temporarily switched off. To any filly, this was a better stroke of joy than running into your favourite celebrity in the streets, and the joyful expression that was plastered all over Scootaloo’s little face made it worth every single bit. ‘’You bet it is, kid,’’ Rainbow Dash said, coming over towards the scooter and pulling it away from the bed to present it to the filly. She held the Cloud Buster by the handlebars and offered it to her. ‘’So, what do you think? Wanna take it for a spin?’’ Scootaloo wasted no time in climbing aboard the platform of the scooter, standing on her hind legs as she reached up to grab the handlebars, giving them a test squeeze. They were perfectly contoured to her hooves, ready for action. Scootaloo felt tears of happiness begin to sting her eyes as she looked up to face the grinning face of Rainbow Dash. ‘’This is so awesome, Rainbow Dash! You’re the best big sister ever!’’ She said, and she eagerly reached up to hug the older pegasus, whom chuckled at her reaction. ‘’Thank you so much! I love it!’’ ‘’He, I knew you would, Scoots. Just be sure to thank Fluttershy, too, alright? She also had a helping hoof in making this thing happen, so I can’t take all of the credit!’’ Dash said, but, seeming to forget something, she quickly headed into the wardrobe where the scooter had been stored and retrieved another part to the present. ‘’Don’t forget this, kid!’’ Placing it in Scootaloo’s little orange hooves, the filly turned it around in her grasp to inspect it, eyes widening once she realised what it was. It was her very own racing helmet, colour coordinated to the Cloud Buster, the white stripes on the sides of the helmet customised to read her name in deep purple decal, making it truly her own. She smiled as she placed it atop her head, pushing it down around her mane. It was a perfectly snug fit. This was by far the best present she had ever been given! Although she still had her old scooter downstairs that was gifted from her deadbeat parents, literally the only thing they bothered to spend money on for her, the Cloud Buster was definitely the winning ribbon of the two! This was all the more cooler because it was gifted straight from Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy themselves, and there was nothing better in this world that she could ever hope for. She loved this! ‘’Rainbow Dash, you’re awesome!’’ Scootaloo said, running up to throw herself around Dash’s neck and barrel like an orange torpedo. ‘’H-Hey, hey, careful!’’ Rainbow Dash giggled, weary of the added bulk to the filly’s head as she was wearing the helmet, afraid of clonking her on the chin. ‘’All I want you to promise me is that you’ll take good care of it, Scootaloo. It wasn’t an easy scooter to find, you know. Buuuut, because you’re my little sister and I trust you completely, I know that you’ll take good care of it. Right?’’ Rainbow asked, giving the girl a nudge in the shoulder. ‘’I promise, Dash! I’ll constantly keep it in good condition and I’ll always keep it oiled up and ready to roll!’’ Scootaloo said, eager to not disappoint her idol. ‘’That’s good to hear because I was wondering…how would you like to go flying with me when I practice my stunts? I’ll teach you how to fly this thing like a true sky racer!’’ Rainbow Dash said, holding the handlebars of the Cloud Buster with a proud, stern expression, so confident that Scootaloo’s face lit up in an instant. Rainbow Dash wants to teach ME how to fly?! Oh, my Celestia, this is so cool! Rainbow Dash is going to teach me to fly! Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are going to be so jealous about this when I tell them the next time I go over to Sweet Apple Acres! And I can’t wait to show them the Cloud Buster, too! ‘’Yes!’’ Scootaloo practically shouted, jumping for joy, and Rainbow Dash mused to herself that she reminded her of a mini, orange-coloured Pinkie Pie riding through an incredible sugar rush, a ticking time bomb of joy, excitement and adrenaline. ‘’I’d love to! Can we go tomorrow? Can we? Can we?!’’ ‘’Whoa, whoa, Scoots, tone it down a notch on the excitement, will ya? Save some of that pump for the fields! Trust me, if you stick with me, you’ll maybe become as good a flyer as me someday! Wouldn’t that be awesome?’’ She grinned. ‘’Would it ever!’’ ‘’Glad you think so. Now, come on, how about we get a head start on those flying lessons before Fluttershy gets back? I’m pretty sure that she’ll flip her lid when she sees that I’m violating doctor’s orders by flying earlier than I’m meant to,’’ Dash said, momentarily getting a mental image of a rampaging Fluttershy screaming her head off and roaring while stamping over and crushing miniature houses around Ponyville in an anger-induced rage. And that was the first time that Scootaloo had ever been happy.