Chatter was going through the classroom. Ms. Cheerily motioned for them to quiet down.
"Today, we will learn about the science of Pegasus flight. Now who knows how big the average kids wings are?"
"About the size of their ear," says a colt.
~~~
"I don't know why all us non Pegusi had to sit through that," said Apple Bloom to her friends. Scootaloo seemed to be deep in thought.
"Scootaloo?"
"Huh? Oh Apple Bloom."
"Are you okay?"
"Just thinking."
"About what."
"It doesn't make sense, why can't I fly?"
"You ask that every other day. Maybe you should ask Twilight. She might know a thing or two about your question."
~~~
Twilight was teaching her friends to use their new alicorn powers. Today was flying. Twilight was negotiating with AJ on whether or not she had to learn to fly. Twilight was losing terribly.
"Why do I need to fly when I can already levitate myself.
Rarity was doing rather great. Pinkie and Rainbow were having the time of their lives. Fluttershy was freaking out, and not in the way you expect.
"OH MY CELESTIA! I'VE NEVER FLOWN SO FAST! THIS FEELS SO FREE! I COULD DO THIS FOREVER!"
"Calm much Fluttershy?" asked Rainbow.
"I don't think some of us are ready to learn to fly," said Twilight, seeing how immature Fluttershy was being. She teleported everyone to the ground.
"Aw man," shouted three voices. Just then, Scootaloo walked in.
"Hey, guys, I have a question," she said.
"What's up lil' Scoots?" said Rainbow.
"I was wondering why I can't fly," said Scootaloo.
Everyone thought for a moment. They couldn't think of an answer. Twilight thought that maybe they should get some professional help. She, Rainbow, and Scootaloo went to a doctor who specializes with Pegisi.
"Hello," he said, as he twisted Scootaloos wing this way and that. "How are you guys doing?"
A whole conversation happened in the doctor's office. He measured Scootaloo's weigh, tested her wing power, recorded her fpm (flaps per minute), took X-rays of her wing, measured her height, weight, and width, measured her wings, measured her ear, and watch her hover for a few seconds. After an hour, he came to a conclusion.
"Her wings are twisted back too far," he said with certainty.
"Can it be fixed, doc?" asked Rainbow.
"Yes, with time and wing braces, in will be fixed. Can you come back in a week?"
"Yes we can."
Rainbow Dash set up the next appointment. Then they left the office.
"So Scoots, where do you live?" asked Rainbow.
"I... well..." Scootaloo had never told Rainbow her secret.
"Scoots, where do you live?" Rainbow was getting a little impatient.
"I can go home myself."
"I want to see where you live."
"Please, it's not that big of a problem."
"I'm going to need to pick you up," said Rainbow, slowly losing the rest of her patients.
Scootaloo sighed. She had to tell her someday, so today she would. "Follow me."
Scootaloo and Rainbow walked into town, to a huge building, the orphanage. Rainbow was in shock from the news. She had not known that Scootaloo was an orphan.
"I was a little foal when it happened. They had gone to Manehatten, and a taxi..." Scootaloo's voice cracked up on the last word. She didn't continue, not that she needed to, Rainbow could guess what had happened. "I was sent here, wishing I could get a family. It never happened."
Rainbow dropped Scootaloo off at the orphanage. She went to her cloud house. She walked into an empty room in her house. It had been empty since she moved in. One thought swirled in her brain. This thought had come to her as she was flying home. Do I want Scootaloo to be my child? Well, duh, she wanted it. If she was an orphan, then couldn't she adopt her. Then something in her peripheral distracted her. It was her horn. Her horn reminded her that she was a princess now. A new thought that would haunt her until she answered the question came to her. Can I handle kids?
~~~
Rainbow Dash tried to sleep, but couldn't. She had too much on her mind. She decided to go for a fly. This might clear her mind. She got up, performed a little light spell, and started flying away from her house. The fresh air was calming, especially in the fall, which it was on this glorious evening. The stars were like little pinpricks in the sky. Rainbow headed in the direction off the moon, so she would find her way back easier. Even though she was flying, she was too distracted to enjoy it at all. She decided to fly to Ponyville and see what was happening there. The world there was peacefully still. No noise seemed to want to touch the darkness. She took a smell of the crisp, autumn air. Suddenly, a noise startled Rainbow. Her wing flared, ready to takeoff if she had to.
"Who's there?" She had forgotten everything that was troubling her, but not in the way she wanted. The noise came closer.
"Rainbow? Is that you?" said a familiar southern voice.
"AJ?" Rainbow used her horn to light up were the voice was coming from. Sure enough, Applejack was standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"Walking? You?"
"Flying. Why are you going for a walk?"
"Oh, I have insomnia, so I decide to go walk before going to sleep. You?"
"I was thinking about something, and it was keeping me up."
"Well, let's be on our way."
"Bye AJ."
Rainbow took off again. Her mind swam, no, drowned, in the thoughts that still were in her mind. This was a decision that would change her life forever. She headed to the orphanage. It was night, but she looked into the windows. She saw children of all ages, including the one that was all that was occupying her mind. She sighed, went back home, and lay down on her bed. She decided she would try to go to sleep now and think about Scootaloo tomorrow.
~~~
Rainbow woke up that morning. Her mind still thought about Scootaloo. She sighed wondering who could help her. Then it hit her. Cadence and Shining Armor. They would know a thing or two about what she should do. Rainbow levitated a piece of paper and wrote the following...
I'm going to the Crystal Empire. I'll be back in three days.
She pinned this to her door and started packing. When she was done, she bought a train ticket and waited for the train to come. Soon, she would have answers.