//------------------------------//
// Phantom Past 
// Story: Dreams of Flight 
// by Mitslits 
//------------------------------//

	Sunset woke slowly, blinking at the lights above her. The steady beeping of a heart rate monitor sounded in the background. As she became aware of where she was, memory of the train wreck hit her. She groaned, wing and leg sore and stiff. Sunset was about to call for a nurse when she heard the small cry of a fellow pony beside her. 
She turned her head to see a tiny orange bundle with a short pink mane and wings so big they nearly covered her whole body. 
Duly Noted rose from his seat nearby. "How do you feel?" he asked gently.
Eyes filling with tears, Sunset gazed up into the kind face of Duly. "Where is my mother?" she whispered, voice ragged. 
"She's dead", Duly Noted said without hesitating. "That's your sister." He bent his head to indicate the now waking filly. "What is her name?" 
Sunset was still trying to process everything her neighbor was telling her. She shook her head, pain spinning around inside her whole body. All of her wounds ached and she could feel herself losing consciousness again. "Scootaloo", she whispered. "Her name is Scootaloo."


"NOOOO!" Scootaloo shouted, waking up in a pool of sweat. She clung to her covers, shivering, before realizing it had just been a nightmare. Sighing, she sat up and glanced over at the nightstand, head tilted slightly. Scootaloo picked up a small picture frame. As she caressed it lightly a small smile crossed over her face. Out of the frame her mom and dad smiled at her, Sunset posed prettily in front of them, smiling not at the camera but up at her parents. 
"I love you, mom and dad", Scootaloo whispered, kissing the photo. She replaced the picture on the nightstand and threw off the covers, leaping out of bed. She began her daily routine of eating, brushing her mane, and getting ready for school. 
As she trotted to the small schoolhouse she was joined by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Hiya, Scoots!" the pale yellow filly shouted. "Ready fer school?" 
"Always", the orange filly responded cheerily. 
Sweetie Belle was bouncing on the tips of her hooves with excitement. "Guess what?" she finally burst out.
Scootaloo turned to the unicorn. "I'll never guess", she laughed. "Just tell me!"
"Rarity and I are going to be in the Sisterhooves Social again this year!" she squealed, jumping up and down fully now. 
The smile nearly disappeared off of Scootaloo's face, but she managed to keep it up. "That's cool. What about you and AJ, Applebloom?" 
AB nodded, a big grin on her face. "Of course me 'n AJ'll be competin'. What about you, Scoots?" 
Scootaloo's eyes widened in shock. "I don't have a sister", she pointed out. 
"You could come watch", Sweetie Belle offered, eyes still shining with happiness. 
Wordlessly, Scootaloo shook her head. With that, she turned and began to walk quickly away from the two other fillies, eyes filling with tears. 
Sweetie and Apple Bloom exchanged baffled looks before trotting silently after their friend. 

Rainbow Dash rolled over, watching the three fillies walk away. A slow smile crept over her face. The beginnings of an idea were forming in her mind.