A sad little filly wandered around Ponyville, sticking to the less frequented roadways because she didn't want to talk to anypony. It had hurt when she'd overheard the doctor telling her parents that this condition wasn't going to get better, that she would never fly. But seeing her scooter break into pieces after failing to show improvement of any kind from her idol's training had been the final straw that drove the point into her head.
She was a flightless pegasus with a spirit that had been fully broken alongside her beloved scooter. She'd had that scooter ever since her dad gave it to her just before he'd left home to play pro hoofball across Equestria. It'd been one of the things she held most dear to her heart, because whenever she rode it, it was as if her dad was spurring her to keep going, to believe in herself.
Now it was smashed to pieces and with it her confidence.
Maybe Hotshot was right, she thought while kicking a pebble in her way, Why bother...?
She was never going to fly. Any spirit or drive she'd had left after learning that cold and awful fact was gone with her scooter. What was the point in trying to say or do otherwise? Rainbow Dash's training had sounded great at first, but every time she failed the exercises she'd felt lower than dirt from the disappointed looks on her idol's face even though Rainbow had kept being encouraging and determined to lift Scootaloo up in more ways than one. Then after talking with Soarin, she'd felt a little better until that jerk Hotshot came along and shattered her confidence.
But what he'd said about her, it'd technically had some truth to it, and it made her bitter. Now a part of her was resenting it all. The pity, the sadness, the sorry's, the encouragement. Even though it was all sincere, it no longer made her feel better. That left only one question in her mind.
What was she going to do about it?
She had no earthly idea or even where to start when her ears perked up to a sound she'd become rather familiar with as of late. The sound of crying.
Following it, Scootaloo came to a tree at the far edge of the park, closest towards the railroad. She could see the train station, but she peered up the tree and saw a familiar colt, sitting on a large branch, crying into his hooves.
The sight of him stirred up the bitterness she felt into resentment, along with confusion as she thought, What, now he chooses to feel bad?
"What's wrong with you?" she asked coldly, "Somepony break your favorite set of wheels?"
Hotshot flinched and hiccuped at the sound of Scootaloo's voice and peered down, revealing his eyes were turning red and his nose was runny. He'd obviously been crying harder than she thought but Scootaloo wasn't in the mood to be sympathetic.
"How's it feel to look down on a flightless loser?" Scootaloo furrowed her brows, "Does it make you feel good? Does putting me down and kicking me when I'm down somehow make you feel better about your own sad little insecurities?"
Hotshot looked away, like a colt who couldn't meet his parent's gaze while getting a scolding.
"I don't know what your problem with me or my friends is, but I don't really care anymore!" Scootaloo went on, "Yeah, I'm a blank flank, and yeah, I'm handicapped and I'll never fly on my own wings, but unlike you I have friends who actually care about me and support me no matter what. I'm not saying I'm over it all, but my friends and my family will help me through it all and somehow I will come through it and find whatever the hay it is that makes me worthwhile!
"So go ahead and call me mean names, break my scooter, but no matter what you or anyone says or do, I'll keep getting back up because unlike you I don't need to show off or brag or put others down just to prop up my own fragile ego!"
All of a sudden, Hotshot finally gave Scootaloo an angry look and came down from the tree with a careful flap of his wings to slow his descent as he glared Scootaloo in the eye. She didn't back down, she glared back. But even though she could see anger in Hotshot's eyes, she saw... pain? Guilt. Confusion, stress, and anxiety evident by how Hotshot's left eye was twitching a bit.
His angry look softened with a struggle to hold it together... until finally he fell back onto his bottom and cried!
Scootaloo couldn't believe it. She'd expected Hotshot to yell at her, make fun of her, say any awful thing he could to her face. She had not expected him to start bawling like a baby.
"I- I- I'm s-sorr- I'm sor-" Hotshot blubbered, trying to talk but his crying prevented him from being coherent so he continued to sob before crying into his hooves, too ashamed to look up at Scootaloo anymore.
"Uh..." Scootaloo was at a loss. Sure, she'd wanted to make Hotshot sorry for being so mean to her since practically the day they met, but this was more than she'd bargained for.
Seeing him cry, Scootaloo couldn't help it as she felt... sympathy! It puzzled her, that she would feel this way towards somepony who had bullied her, called her names, made fun of her friends, and then to top it off, he'd broken her beloved scooter after saying the most hurtful things. And yet... Scootaloo couldn't forget how Hotshot had congratulated Twinken back during the running for Student Pony President, and of course she remembered seeing how close Hotshot was to his sister Lightning Dust that time Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane took her and Rumble to visit Cloudsdale. Seeing him now, how sorry he was, truly sorry...
Maybe... maybe he's not all that bad, after all, Scootaloo sighed and stepped over to sit beside Hotshot, who was still crying so much he didn't notice.
Until he felt a foreleg around his withers and he hiccuped as he peered up from his hooves and saw Scootaloo, giving him an awkward hug of sorts.
...
...
...
They just sat like that, neither sure of what to do next even though one was sorry and the other sympathetic, both were growing increasingly awkward. They sat like that for a long while as Hotshot's crying finally began to settle and calm down somewhat before finally...
"I-I...miss... my sister," he uttered out, trying to fight back tears.
Scootaloo didn't say anything, so Hotshot continued, sniffling and wiping his tears as he explained, "...she was really sad after she was k-kicked out of the Wonderbolts Academy. She stopped... training, practicing, so instead she started spending time with me. At first, I was happy because she- ...She hadn't played with me or talked to me or was even nice to me for a long time.
"Before she went to the academy, she was... not really mean, but she always told me not to bother her, that she had to train... Then, she came back from the academy and she was like... like a balloon that couldn't float anymore. She started spending more time with me, being nice to me, talking to me and being a better big sister. But I could tell. She was really-really sad."
"...So then what happened?" Scootaloo finally asked.
"I got her to talk to me about why she was sad," Hotshot had finally stopped crying and snrrking his nose though his cheeks were still stained with his tears.
"That's when she told me about Rainbow Dash... I got angry, I know that's not exactly fair, but I was angry at Rainbow Dash for getting Lightning Dust kicked out of the academy. She told me that wasn't true, that she got herself kicked out. I wouldn't listen... We moved to Ponyville while Lightning stayed in Cloudsdale, working part-time jobs. When I came to Ponyville, I found out that you and Rainbow Dash were close, and... I took out my anger on you. That wasn't fair, I know that now."
"But... you seemed like you were getting better not too long ago," Scootaloo brought up, "Remember the Student Pony President election? You took your loss well and you even congratulated Twinken!"
"That was just because I was trying to win something and I wasn't in that election for the right reasons," Hotshot shook his head. "Sometime after that, my sister got an invite to join a new squad of fliers. The next time I heard from my sister was through a letter; she said she'd failed to join the new squad and wasn't coming home.
"I was heartbroken, and I'm so worried about her! Our parents are too! We don't know where she is or even if she's okay!"
Hotshot held back fresh tears, forcing himself not to cry-
"I know what that's like."
Hotshot managed to hold it together before he slowly looked up at Scootaloo and saw a very familiar look on her face, a distant sadness. He then realized, that was a lot like the look he always had whenever he was missing his big sister.
"My dad, Tackle, just came home," Scootaloo explained how her father was until recently a famous professional hoofball player who played for the Baltimare Blackbirds. How he'd traveled all over Equestria to play for his team in big pro hoofball games for thousands of fans of the sport and of the Blackbirds team. How she rarely got to hear from him, mostly getting postcards and presents in the mail but he rarely knew where he was gonna go next and when. So Scootaloo wasn't able to send him a lot of mail. More than once she'd sent him a letter and he'd never received it.
"...I know it's not exactly the same. But I know what it's like to miss someone you love, to worry about them, to just want them to come home and be with you."
"Y-you do?" Hotshot looked at Scootaloo with soft surprise.
"Yeah, like... my dad? He's a pro hoofball player and until recently he'd spend weeks or even months away from home," Scootaloo shrugged, "Mom and me always missed him, but for me... Well, whenever somepony found out that he's my dad, they'd say things like 'you've got big horseshoes to fill' or 'work hard and you'll be as great as your father'.
"I love my dad, but sometimes it's hard living under his shadow."
"I feel the same way!" Hotshot zipped up, "Lightning Dust is a talented flier and I wanna fly as fast and awesome as she does one day, only... Whenever I asked her to coach me or show me her moves, she'd laugh and say things like 'when you're older, kid' or 'that's a little too high for you to fly, baby brother', urgh!
"I know she didn't mean to, but she always made me feel ... like I'd never measure up or something."
"So, you bullied other colts and fillies and showed off and bragged just to feel better about yourself," Scootaloo deadpanned, causing Hotshot's eyes to pop with realization and droop in response as he floated down to the ground.
"...yeah," Hotshot slumped in shame before taking a deep breath, "Look, I'm... I'm sorry. Sorry for all the rotten stuff I said and did to you a-and your friends too. I guess I just got so caught up in trying to look like cool and awesome that I... I just forgot to be me.
"Well, I'm still kind of mad at you for breaking my scooter," Scootaloo folded her forelegs while giving Hotshot a slight stink eye, that he shrank back in guilt. But then her face softened as she added, "But even though your words hurt me too, I just have to accept that it is what it is.
"I'll never fly on my own wings, but my friends and my parents told me something that I haven't really believed in until now: I can find my own way to be awesome. But it's up to me to find that way as well as to believe I can do it."
Hotshot couldn't deny it as he looked upon Scootaloo, this blank-flanked filly who would never know the joy of feeling the wind carrying her on her own wings, with a whole new perspective. Scootaloo noticed the look he was giving her and suddenly felt a little awkward... until Hotshot gave her a smile that was smug but also warm before he held out his hoof.
"Friends?"
Scootaloo looked at Hotshot's hoof for a moment and though there yet remained a simmer of resentment, she smiled back and accepted his hoof, "Friends."
"WHAT?!"
Both of them startled up onto their hooves and turned to see Rainbow Dash flapping above a bush behind them, in which Tackle was barely able to conceal his sizable rump as he gave his daughter a sheepish look at having his cover blown.
"Seriously?!" Rainbow Dash gave Scootaloo a look of disbelief, "After all the rotten crap he's said and done to you, you're just gonna let hm off the hook and be friends with him?!"
Scootaloo gave her idol a flat look before simply responding, "I am."
Rainbow Dash was perplexed as Tackle chuckled with fatherly pride and walked up to his daughter to nuzzle her cheek, which she warmly returned before the large stallion stood to the full of his height and said, "I'm proud of you, Scoots. You've learned something that most ponies don't figure out until they're much older."
"What's that, Dad?" Scootaloo gazed up at her father.
"There is strength in forgiveness," answered Tackle while not-so-discreetly giving Rainbow the stink eye, the technicolor mare sighing.
"I guess..." But then Rainbow poked her hoof into Hotshot's chest, telling the colt straight up and forward, "but I'll be keeping an eye on you, pipsqueak..."
"Uh-heheheh..." Hotshot chuckled nervously as he backed up a bit before looking to Scootaloo, "I... should actually be getting home. My folks will be wondering where I am."
"Okay then, Hotshot, see you later," Scootaloo offered her hoof and Hotshot got the idea, meeting her halfway in a hoofbump and they waved before Hotshot took flight and flew away.
"I'll admit it, that was a pretty grownup thing to do, Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash gave her favorite little filly a smile that was cocky and proud at the same time, "and coming from me, that's saying something."
"Which is why, sweetheart," Tackle went back behind the bush, "I feel you absolutely deserve... this!"
He came out from behind the bush, rolling out a brand new scooter! Scootaloo gasped at the sight of it: The board was designed to aerodynamic perfection yet sturdy enough to support a full-grown stallion, the wheels were made of reinforced plastic with rubber traction, the handlebars could fold back for storage, and the paint job was based on the Wonderbolt uniform!
Scootaloo was stunned at the sight of it... but though she made a small and hesitant smile, Tackle and Raimbow Dash quickly noticed there seemed to be a problem. They shared a look before Tackle asked, "Sweetheart? Is something wrong?"
"If you don't like it, we can return it and get a different one," offered Rainbow.
Shaking her head, Scootaloo answered, "Uh- No! It's... it's not that I don't like it."
"Well, then what's wrong, Scoots?" Tackle felt worried but when he saw a little tear go down his filly's cheek, he felt his heart seize up as though it were in a vice.
"...Dad? It's an awesome scooter, really it is," Scootaloo wiped the tear away, but the sadness in her voice was unmistakable, "It's just... my old scooter? I rode on it, practiced on it, and loved every moment I played with it! Because... when you gave it to me, I'd always think of you when I rode on it, and every time I went fast or did air time on it, I- ...I always imagined I was flying, and that you were the one helping me lift off."
"Oh baby girl..." Tackle went over and gave his daughter the warmest and deepest hug, and felt his heart hurt when he felt Scootaloo begin to sob into his chest.
Seeing her favorite fan crying into her dad's chest, Rainbow decided, I gotta do something about this...
"Tackle, Scoots! Don't go anywhere. I'll be back in a flash," Rainbow Dash quickly zoomed off and found the area of the park where she'd taken Scootaloo to train earlier.
Thankfully, finding the broken pieces of Scootaloo's scooter was easy. But seeing the damage herself deflated her hopes of putting it back together. Gathering all the pieces she could, she returned to Scootaloo and sat with her and Tackle, placing the broken pieces of the scooter in front of them.
Seeing them again, Scootaloo was on the verge of more tears when she heard Rainbow awkwardly clear her throat.
"Scoots, look, I..." Rainbow sighed, "I had the idea that maybe we could fix your old scooter, put it back together. But... well, clearly we can't. It's too damaged."
Scootaloo wanted to cry, but Tackle noticed Rainbow's dispirited look turn into an encouraging smile. He gently squeezed his daughter and gestured her to listen to Rainbow.
"So instead, how `bout we do this? We take some of the pieces of your old scooter and add them to the new one," Rainbow Dash stood up the new scooter and pointed out, "See? The wheels and handlebars are interchangeable. Even though the old scooter can't work anymore, the most important pieces of it will stay with you, as part of your new scooter. That way, the memories will stay too."
"In other words, the scooter I first gave you is still helping you to speed along and take to the air," Tackle agreed as gave his daughter an encouraging smile of his own.
Scootaloo looked at the pieces of her old scooter and then to the new one. Though the idea of taking pieces of the old and adding them to the new was appealing, there yet lingered a sadness that the old one was beyond repair.
"Scoots, it's okay to miss things," Scootaloo looked back to Rainbow Dash, who had an understanding look on her face, "Everyone misses that one special something that was near and dear to us, and sometimes it hurts to face the fact that those things aren't with us anymore. But a part of growing up is letting go and moving on so that we can embrace new change in our lives.
"Sometimes the changes are scary or difficult to face, but change comes whether we want it to or not. The trick is, figuring what's the right change and embracing it, and figuring out how to work with the changes that aren't right for us. That's kinda why I suggested taking the important pieces of your old scooter and adding them to the new one. To show you that you were holding onto the hope of fixing it, which is denying the fact that it's not gonna work anymore."
Scootaloo hesitated but nodded sadly, "I understand..."
"It's okay to miss things, squirt," Rainbow went on, kindly stroking the back of Scootaloo's head, "but if you keep looking back on what you've lost, you won't be able to look forward to see what you may have. So whattya say? Up for a little customization?"
Looking at her idol and her dad, Scootaloo felt their encouragement and their love. Her sadness washed away and she smiled boldly, "Yeah!"
"And... we're done!" Tackle happily declared.
He, Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo stepped back to admire their handiwork on the new scooter. They'd gone back to the house to get Tackle's tools and after a little tinkering, the new scooter now sported the wheels and handlebars of the old one. Also, just for the hay of it, Tackle and Rainbow Dash had painted Scootaloo's name on the underside, along with a few stripes of orange and purple matching Scootaloo's coat and mane.
It was amazing they'd done such a good job on the paint... compared to how much of a paint war they'd just had. All three of them had splotches and stains of paint on their coats and manes after that fierce battle. Looking from the scooter to each other, and noting the paint stains... they all burst out laughing a bit before Tackle commented, "We're all gonna need a bath!"
"Not as much as you, Tackle!" Rainbow Dash laughed while pointing out the big splatter of orange on Tackle's backside. It was even covering his cutie-mark!
Scootaloo smiled at the scooter, a bittersweet warmth in her heart as she accepted this gift while at the same time honoring the old. She heard somepony clear their throat and looked to see her dad and Rainbow regarding her with warm smiles.
"Ready to take her for a spin, Scoots?" asked Tackle.
"...Yeah, I am," Scootaloo smiled boldly and was about to step onto her new scooter when they heard somepony galloping and looked to see an earth pony mare running frantically down the path in front of Scootaloo's house.
She had a peach yellow coat, bright brown eyes, a marigold mane with a blossom pink highlight in tied back in a bun though it had become a little frayed with loose locks due to her running, and her cutie-mark was an inkwell and a coffee table. She carried a sealed folder of some kind and as she was passing them-
*Trip/"OHHH!!! Oof!"*
-an errant pebble had caused her to slip and tumble head over tail, the folder flying from her mouth and landing conveniently near Scootaloo's hooves. Tackle and Rainbow Dash hurried over to help her, the stallion asking, "Ma'am, you alright?"
"What's got you in such a rush?" Rainbow Dash asked as she gently dusted off the mare's withers with her wing.
But as she stood up, the mare cried out in pain and fell on her flanks while gingerly holding up her right foreleg. "Ow! My fetlock..."
"Hold still, lemme look," Tackle carefully looked at the mare's fetlock. He very gently placed his hoof over it, applying a teensy bit of pressure, and the mare cringed in discomfort, confirming it.
"Sorry, miss, but it looks like you've sprained your foreleg here. Must've been from that nasty tumble you just had."
"Oh no! This isn't good!" the mare whined when she noticed the folder she'd been carrying having been picked up by Scootaloo. "Uh- Careful with that, dear! That folder has some very important papers in it!"
"If you don't mind us asking, miss," Rainbow Dash spoke up, "why were you in such a hurry just now?"
"Oh, my husband! He's leaving for Canterlot to meet with some tycoon of sorts to discuss a proposal for a business expansion," the mare explained, "but he was in such a hurry earlier to get to the train station before his train arrives that he forgot the proposal and other important documents in that folder! I didn't notice he'd left it behind until shortly after he'd left. I was rushing down to the station to get it to him before he leaves without it!"
"Who is your husband?" asked Tackle.
"Davenport of Davenport's Quills and Sofas," the mare answered, "and his train leaves in only a few minutes! If he doesn't have his papers with him at his meeting he'll lose such a big opportunity!"
"No sweat, Mrs. Davenport, just leave it to..." Rainbow Dash suddenly had an idea as she looked at Scootaloo, who was still holding the folder, "to Scootaloo here!"
"WHAT?!" Scootaloo and Tackle both flabbergasted at Rainbow Dash.
Even Mrs. Davenport looked...doubtful.
"Um... no offense to the young filly, but, why don't you deliver the folder, Rainbow Dash? I'm confident a pegasus of such renown would get it delivered in... ten seconds flat?"
Mrs. Davenport smiled both nervously and hopefully, but Rainbow Dash shook her head, "Uh- No, I... can't right now. See, I was... doing some intense training a little while ago and... my wings are plumb tuckered out. But Scootaloo can do it, Mrs. Davenport! She's a regular speed demon on her scooter! I guarantee she'll get that folder to your hubby before he leaves on his train!"
"Well..." Mrs. Davenport regarded Scootaloo, who was a little put off from being put on the spot so suddenly.
But Scootaloo looked back at Mrs. Davenport... and saw a pony in real need of help, upset that her husband was in trouble and he didn't know it. She looked back at Rainbow Dash and saw her idol giving her a look of utmost confidence. Not in herself but in her number one fan. She looked at her dad, and though he was a little flummoxed by these unexpected developments Tackle gave her a fatherly smile and nod that told her exactly what she needed.
You've got this.
Furrowing her brows, Scootaloo quickly donned her helmet and pads, stepped onto her scooter, "I'll get that folder delivered to Mr.Davenport in no time, Mrs. Davenport!"
Seeing the determination and confidence in the filly, Mrs. Davenport felt some of her doubts float away though it didn't completely dash away the worries she felt.
"Alright... You need to get that folder to my husband at the station before he boards his train and leaves for Canterlot at 3 o'clock," Mrs. Davenport told the filly with a clear and deliberate tone, "Hurry! The train arrives in just over five minutes and the station is on the other side of Ponyvile from here!"
Picking up the folder, Scootaloo gave Mrs. Davenport another determined look as she promised, "I've got this."
"We'll meet you there once we've taken care of Mrs. Davenport," Tackle went over and gave his filly a strong hug, "Go get `em, baby girl!"
"I'm on it, Dad," Scootaloo got back onto her new scooter, got a felt for it... and kicked off as she buzzed her wings like there was no tomorrow!
The three ponies watched in awe as Scootaloo sped off like the speedster she always was!
The filly had to admit; this new scooter? She handled real well. Whereas before, her old scooter didn't actually turn the front wheels so she had to lean to steer into another direction, this one allowed her to immediately turn whichever direction she needed. Which was good for her. She buzzed her wings like she'd never buzzed hem before. Thankfully, she'd driven her old scooter since she was six, and she was well-familiar with the streets of Ponyville.
The only obstacles to watch out for were the ponies themselves and whatever they might be doing. She dodged under a mattress being hoisted by two earth ponies, agilely moved left and right to avoid hitting anypony, and up ahead she saw a wagon with planks set down onto its aft end as some ponies were preparing to push a piano onto it. Glancing at the clock tower, Scootaloo knew she was running out of time. Another glance at the street signs she passed by told her she was only halfway to the station! She knew from the direction she was taking that this would lead her in the general direction towards the station and provided she got enough air-time she'd be able to literally pass over the general pop without needing to weave through them.
I may not be able to fly... Scootaloo steered straight for the wagon and planks, but I can soar!!!
"CLEAR THE RUNWAY!!!!" she shouted to the ponies ahead and they cried out in alarm to see a speeding scooter-riding pegasus filly zooming in their direction!
She got closer, and closer! And there she flew!
Passerby couldn't help but gasp, in alarm, in awe, in marvel, in horror, or any combination as they witnessed this filly take flight astride her scooter! She soared through the air above, doing one- No, two! Wait... three 360s! Sensing she'd reached the apex of her air-time, she straightened herself out and spread her handicapped wings as she began to descend. Her air-time extended, as did her distance as she made it down four blocks and counting!
Scootaloo glanced at the clock tower again and felt her racing heart race even faster as she saw there was only one minute left before the train's departure!
The ground was coming up and though she was still zooming at breakneck speeds, Scootaloo kept calm and expertly angled her scooter so that the rear wheel would touch down to the ground first. She stuck it!
And without even decelerating, she continued to speed along, when the distant sound of the train whistle alarmed her!
Gotta go faster! She put all she had into it as she zoomed down the street, ponies yelping and/or dodging at the sight of her while some began to cheer her on!
The station was in sight, she was almost there! Hold on... Oh no!
The train was pulling out! She was too late! Or am I...?
Scootaloo didn't slow down and turned towards the train tracks, hoping to catch up. She was running out of time because before long the train would speed up and she'd tire out. She managed to keep up and speed alongside the passenger cars before she took a deep breath.
"MR. DAVENPORT!! CALLING MR. DAVENPORT!!!" Scootaloo shouted as her lungs began to ache but not nearly as much as her wings!
Windows in the passenger car opened up as the passengers stuck their heads out in surprise to see a filly trying to race their train.
"I HAVE SOMETHING FOR MR. DAVENPORT! IS HE ABOARD?!"
The brown earth pony with the slicked back mane stuck his head out and called back, "I'm here! What're ya doing, little filly?!"
"YOU FORGOT YOUR BUSINESS FOLDER!!!" Scootaloo held it out, doing her best not to drop it, "YOUR WIFE SENT ME TO GET IT TO YOU!!!"
"Oh Sweet mother of the Royal Sisters!!" Mr. Davenport gawked in abject horror at the folder Scootaloo carried. Looking frantic, he suddenly had an idea! "Listen! I'm gonna head to the caboose! Meet me there and hoof me the folder!"
Mr. Davenport disappeared back into the train and Scootaloo very carefully pressed onto the brake built onto the scooter's rear wheel. Almost instantly the train outpaced her but she kept her wings buzzing as she measured her deceleration and kept a decreasing pace... until she was at the caboose. Thankfully, Mr. Davenport didn't keep her waiting long as he stepped out of the rear door, onto the back platform of the caboose, and leaned onto the safety rail as he reached out for his folder.
Though her heart pounded so hard it felt it might burst out of her chest, her every breath burning her lungs, her wings screaming in agony, Scootaloo pressed on. Very carefully, she held the folder out towards Mr. Davenport, but the distance between them was beginning to widen. The earth pony cringed in suspenseful agony, afraid that his little miracle worker wasn't going to pull through after all.
But Scootaloo felt something inside, a tingling excitement that spurred her to give it her all, spreading to every fiber and feather of her being! Sure, she was a flightless pegasus but by Faust she would never let that get her down! That empowering feeling gave her strength, seeming to focus into her wings... and onto her flanks, as she found another burst of energy and closed the gap!
He got it! She'd delivered the folder and finally, she stopped buzzing her wings, letting herself decelerate on her own. As the train rode on down the tracks, she heard Mr. Davenport call out to her, his voice shrinking in the distance, "THANK YOU SO MUCH, SCOOTALOO! AND CONGRATULATIONS...!!!!"
"Wha... wha'di-" Scootaloo uttered, trying to find her voice... when that same tingle continued to make itself known. On her flanks. She turned her head to see... and gasped before smiling the biggest smile she'd ever had.
Back at the house, Tackle, Sunny, and Rainbow Dash waited patiently at the dinner table. Tackle and Rainbow Dash had helped Mrs. Davenport to the hospital where Nurse Redheart assured them they'd get Mrs. Davenport back on her hooves in no time. Rainbow Dash had considered flying to the station afterwards to check on her number one fan, but then felt that would imply to Scootaloo that she didn't fully believe in her.
So here she waited with Scootaloo's parents, the three of them hopeful that things had turned out okay-
The sound of the door opening caught their ears and they went to see that it was Scootaloo, facing them as she took off her helmet, to show she was teary-eyed.
"Sweetie?" Sunny felt her heart tighten, as did Tackle while the mother pegasus said, "Did... did something bad happen?"
"Scoots, whatever it is, it's okay!" assured Tackle.
"Yeah, if anything, it's my fault, squirt," Rainbow Dash sighed woefully. "I should have delivered the folder myself."
But then Scootaloo looked up at her parents and idol... and they saw that though her eyes were welled with tears, she looked as though she couldn't be happier! They were confused, until Scootaloo turned just so, allowing them to see her flank.
The three ponies' jaws dropped in shocked realization that gave way to elation and joy and pride, especially as Scootaloo declared, "I got my cutie-mark!!"
That evening, Scootaloo's Cuteceañera took place in the park, where all attendees watched her display her radical scooter skills. She got presents, kudos, so-proud-of-yous, the whole package from friends and family alike! The party was hosted by Pinkie's brother Party Favor at her suggestion, since she and Cheese always threw the parties in Ponyville and she felt her brother should get to throw his share.
Once it was time for cake, Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash to get everyone's attention for her, and the rainbow pegasus shouted, "HEY!!! Listen up, the guest of honor has something to say!"
All eyes turned to Scootaloo, who shied a little but stood up before clearing her throat, "Thank you, everypony, for... well, for being here to support me. Just a short bit ago, I learned that I'm handicapped. I'm never going to fly."
Several eyes and smiles turned sad but Scootaloo went on, "Yes, I'm still sad about it myself. But... this and that happened, and my parents and Rainbow Dash continued to support me. I got this new scooter, and then I also got this opportunity to help Mrs. Davenport."
She looked straight over to Mrs. Davenport, who smiled back warmly at the filly.
"She let me help her by delivering a very important folder to her husband who was leaving for Canterlot. Long story short, I made the delivery by using my wings as I've always done - I kept moving forward, and right when it counted I dug deep and found a strength inside I never knew I had! And this cutie-mark is the proof of that, same as for everyone. That we can all be awesome and amazing and unique in our own ways no matter what life throws at you or what anypony might say otherwise, and you can always count on those who love you to find the way to figuring that out for yourself."
Tackle and Sunny teared up with deepest pride and joy in their little filly as they couldn't help but start stamping the ground to spark an applause. Before long everypony was whooping and cheering for this filly, flightless though she was but truly an inspiration. Rainbow Dash raised her glass and shouted, "TO SCOOTALOO!!"
Everyone did the same and echoed "TO SCOOTALOO!!!" and the party continued.
At the same time, watching from a nearby hill, Hotshot smiled, touched and humbled by Scootaloo's speech-
"I hear you've been missing your sister."
Hotshot jumped to his hooves and turned to see, "P-Prince Midnight?"
The alicorn stallion had a friendly smile as he asked, "Mind if I join you?"
"Uh... no?" Hotshot was rather stunned that a Prince of Equestria was sitting next to him, sharing their view of the celebration going on. For a long awkward moment, Hotshot wasn't sure what to say, but Midnight's earlier words finally spurred him to ask, "Do... do you know what happened to Lightning Dust?"
"Lightning Dust is okay," Midnight replied in an assuring voice, "Right now, she's... let's say she's doing something really important. Something that required she had to go away for a while. But before she left, she asked me to give this to you when the time was right."
Midnight's horn lit up and a photograph appeared in a flash of ember-like mana before it floated over to Hotshot. He gasped as he saw it! It was a picture of him and Lightning Dust and their parents at his last birthday, where they'd all gone on a trip to Horseshoe Bay. They'd spent the whole day playing on the beach, zooming across the waves, enjoying snow cones, an all-around perfect day. The picture showed him, Lightning, and their folks beside an awesome sand castle they built together, smiling so big and wide for the camera.
Hotshot couldn't help but tear up but he didn't want to cry in front of the prince... until he felt a comforting wing around his withers and he looked to see Midnight giving him an understand smile.
"I can't tell you what Lightning Dust is doing, Hotshot, only that it's a big and important job that only she can do. But part of the reason she took the job is so she can protect others, including you."
Hotshot fought the urge to cry as he uttered, "C-can I... can I talk to h-her?"
Midnight looked crestfallen, "No, I'm afraid not. But I can promise that she'll be back. Not anytime soon, but she will. Also, she has this same photograph with her, so in a way you and your parents are with her too, giving her the strength and courage to do what she has to do."
Hotshot finally allowed himself to shed some tears before he threw his forelegs around Midnight, who kindly gave him a hug back as the colt whispered, "Thank you... for telling me."
"You're welcome," Midnight whispered back before standing up and heling Hotshot to his hooves, "Now c'mon! That cake down there looks mighty delicious, and I think Scootaloo would be happy to see you at her cuteceañera."
Midnight started down the hill towards the psrty but noticed Hotshot hesitating. It was understandable, he'd spent quite a while being a bully to Scootaloo and the rest of the Crusaders. But hearing about Lightning Dust, the 'c'mon' gesture Midnight made with his head, and how Scootaloo and he had settled things and accepted each other's friendship, it gave Hotshot the confidence he needed. He smiled boldly and followed Midnight towards the party, and to a better future.