Scoot wasn’t nervous the day of the Best Young Flyer competition. She wasn’t nervous because she wasn’t going to win.
She had a routine that she could do in her sleep, she’d practiced it for months. She knew she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself, even if there was no way she could win the crown with it.
With a smile on her face, Scootaloo made her way through the skies towards the Colosseum. It was especially crowded today, giving Scoot a great warm up for her routine as she darted into spaces between pegasi.
The sky just got more crowded as she approached the Colosseum, and the clouds outside were backed with ponies. She almost flew right by until she heard Apple Bloom shout at the top of her lungs, “Heya! Scootaloo!”
She turned around, surprised since Apple Bloom was an earth pony. She was even more surprised to see not only Apple Bloom, but Sweetie Belle, Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie. Scoot changed course quickly and landed right in front of them.
“Hi! What are you guys doing here?” Scoot asked, astounded.
“We went for a walk, and oops! We’re in Cloudsdale,” Sweetie said with a smirk. “We’re here to see you fly, silly!”
“I have a spell that lets other kinds of ponies walk on clouds,” Twilight explained. “We couldn’t miss a chance to cheer you on.”
“Yeah! Everypony knows how important a good cheering section is. It’s almost as important as a good brass section! But you don’t need a brass section to fly, unless you’re getting launched out of a tuba! Do you want to? I have a tuba.”
“That would certainly make an impression on the judges,” Sweetie said, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
Scoot grinned. “Thanks Pinkie, but I’ll pass this time. And thanks to all of you guys for coming! You’re the best.”
“We’re all glad to be here for you,” Apple Bloom said, giving Scoot a nuzzle.
“Yeah, and we know you’re gonna put on a great show,” agreed Applejack.
“I’ll do my best...” Scoot said, smiling a little.
Rarity smiled. “Of course you will, darling. That’s what we’re so excited to see.”
“Well, I guess I’d better go get ready!” Scoot couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. “Thanks again you guys.”
“Less thanking and more warming up!” Sweetie insisted.
“Okay, okay. I’ll see all of you after the competition!” Scoot waved and turned to head towards the contestants entrance.
“If you change your mind about the tuba, let me know!” Pinkie called after her.
Scoot laughed again and followed the cloud path around the huge arena, while her friends from Ponyville headed in the other direction to find seats.
“Miss Scoot!” Scootaloo heard the shout seconds before a white foal flew into her, knocking her off her hooves.
“Oof! Monday, you’re learning how to stop.” Scoot grinned, righting herself and the colt. “Heya, Bliz! What are you doing here?”
“Mom and Dad said we could do anything I wanted this weekend, since I learned to fly. So I told them I wanted to come see you win!”
“That’s great Bliz, but I’m probably not gonna win. There are ponies here who are much better flyers than I am.”
“No way! Don’t say that, Miss Scoot! You’re awesome, and someday I’m gonna be able to fly just like you, with all those cool moves. I can’t wait to see you win!”
Scoot tried to think of something to say. There was no way to explain to a kid that she wasn’t really trying anything hard enough to win, that even if she flew perfectly she was looking at second or third place unless the top flyers in Equestria all got the feather flu.
“I’m just gonna fly my best, Bliz. That’s all I can do, and whatever happens I’ll know I tried.”
“I’ll be cheering for you!” Bliz said, giving her another hug. Scoot hugged him back, feeling strangely guilty.
“Thanks! Now go find some seats.”
Scoot took off into the air this time, making her way to the contestants entrance. Standing outside of it she spotted the pony she had been expecting to see this whole time. Rainbow Dash was pacing there by the entrance in her Wonderbolts uniform, occasionally scanning the skies until she caught sight of Scoot. As soon as she saw her Dash was in the air right in front of Scoot.
“There you are! Where have you been?” Dash asked.
“I ran into the Ponyville crowd,” Scoot said happily. “They’re all here, Dash! Everypony, even your friends!”
“Oh. Good!” Dash blinked, then shook her head. “But you have to get warmed up! Did you eat breakfast?”
“An oat bar...”
“Carbs are good. Everything feeling okay? Wings are good?” Dash’s genuine concern was obvious. What was also obvious was that she was acting really weird.
“Yeah, I’m just fine...” Scoot said, smiling nervously.
“Just fine? What doesn’t feel great?” Dash said worriedly.
“I’m good!” Scoot insisted. “Everything is great, I promise.”
“Is it perfect? Is there anything you need?” Dash glanced around. “Oh shoot, you need to warm up. Let me know what you need, and I’ll get it and send it in.”
“I don’t need anything, Dash.” Scoot raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“Sure! I’m okay!” Dash took a deep breath. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re acting really weird,” Scoot pointed out.
“No way. This is totally normal for me!”
“Uh-huh,” Scoot said dryly. “You’re shaking.”
“It’s... cold?”
“Are you nervous?”
“N– Uh, yeah,” Dash admitted. “I just want you to fly your best, I want everypony to see how great you are at it.”
“Well don’t worry. I’m going to do my best. You made me a good routine, I know it by heart, and I’m not really worried about winning. This is a piece of cake.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m totally sure, Dash. Everything is gonna be cool.”
“Okay, Scoot. I trust you,” Dash said, smiling a little and laying a hoof on her arm. “You do have to get warmed up, though. I’ll see you after the competition.”
“Sure,” Scoot said.
“And Scoot?” Dash hesitated, looking Scoot in the eye. Scoot saw her lean in and expected to feel the press of her lips, but instead she just nuzzled Scoot’s cheek. “Just remember that whatever happens, you’re the best young flyer in my book.”
Scoot smiled. “Thanks, Dash. Thanks for everything.”
Scoot headed into the building, thinking about that kiss that almost happened, and how much she wanted it. She still wasn’t sure whether she wanted it from Rainbow Dash the awesome pony she would never have, or Rainbow Dash the normal pony who was scared of actually being in love. Neither of those sounded like good ponies to want to kiss. But Scoot couldn’t deny what she felt.
She couldn’t deny it, but she had to put it out of her mind. She had to get her number, get warmed up, and then fly in front of thousands of ponies, three of whom would be judging her. And another nine of whom would be routing for her, wanting to see her fly her very best.
Once she had her number Scoot sat in the waiting area stretching her wings. Compared to all of the ponies here, they looked even stubbier than usual. Scoot wasn’t even sure what she was doing here. These were all ponies who’d been flying since they were born. They could do amazing things. All she could do was her boring routine.
Her heart started to speed up, and a few little, involuntary flaps lifted into a hover. She tried to calm herself, reminding herself that she knew her routine inside and out. She wasn’t going to win, but she’d be good enough. Good enough was good enough, right?
Blizzard’s face came into her mind, but she pushed it out.
The Best Young Flyer crown didn’t even matter much. She would still be a cool friend and a good teacher, even if she was too scared to really go after it.
She thought of Rainbow Dash, and quickly tried to think of anything else.
This was her best. It was the best routine she could do. Just because she could do the star once or twice didn’t mean she could really do it. Sure this could be one of those times, but odds were that it wouldn’t be. Who went and tried a trick they’d only managed twice in the Young Flyers Competition?
Okay, Rainbow Dash. But she didn’t count. She was Rainbow Dash, she was awesome and everything she did in life worked just based on the power of her awesomeness. They should have just handed her the Best Young Flyer crown when she was born. And Scoot knew that her name was on some list of pegasi who were never going to do anything cool, so there was no point in trying. Rainbow Dash would try, she did try, but she was –
Scoot stopped in her tracks. Rainbow Dash was just a pony. Rainbow Dash was just a pony.
And years ago she was standing in this room, and she was getting ready to fly a trick that she’d only done once in her life, because it was the best trick she’d ever done. She was just a pony, and she was going to do her best.
Scoot wasn’t going to do her best. She was going to do something she wasn’t embarrassed to try. If the kids in her class did that, they’d never be able to fly. If she had done that, she wouldn’t be here now. She couldn’t face Dash or Blizzard if she went out there with her safe, okay routine. She wasn’t sure she could face herself if she did that.
Which meant that she would be stepping off that cloud in another minute, and trying to do a move she hadn’t even tried in a week, and only got a few times before that. A move that the judges, the Wonderbolts, were currently using in their routine. In front of everypony she cared about.
Her eyes went wide, and she let out a whimper. Now she was nervous.
• • •
Rainbow Dash could think of a number of days she’d been more nervous than she was today.
That number was three.
Wonderbolts audition. Her own Best Young Flyer competition. Fighting Discord.
This knocked out fighting the changeling army for fourth place. That day, she was pretty sure they’d figure something out if they lost, and everything would turn out okay in the end. Today, if Scoot messed up, things would not be okay. That chance she had with Scoot dropped to almost nothing if something went wrong in this Colosseum.
She would rather have been sitting with the Ponyville crowd, where AJ could tease her out of her nerves and Fluttershy could hold her hoof, but she had the uniform on today, so she was Wonderbolt-ing.
She was sitting above the judges booth between Soarin’ and Fleetfoot, biting her lip and trying not to start shaking. The rest of the team was just enjoying a chance to sit back and watch somepony else do the flying.
Soarin’ had a saddlebag full of snacks he was offering around, and he shoved a box of popcorn towards her. “Want some?”
“I’m gonna be sick,” Dash said, not particularly looking at Soarin’ or the popcorn.
“That’s a no then.” He pulled the popcorn back quickly. “What’s wrong, figured out that your girl can’t beat Gale Force?”
“Huh?” Dash had no idea what he was talking about.
“Gale Force. The guy I’ve been working with? I mentioned him a hundred times.”
“Oh.” Dash remembered their competitive boasting during practices. “Whatever. No, I don’t give a horseapple if Gale Force wins.”
Soarin’ raised an eyebrow. “You really are sick. What’s wrong?”
“You remember the pony I was seeing? The one that didn’t work out?” Dash reminded him.
“Oh, right.” Soarin’ nodded. “Because you can’t commit or deal with emotion like a grown-up.”
Dash glared at him. “You leave the toilet seat up.”
“Classy,” Soarin’ said with a smirk.
“Well you do,” Fleetfoot cut in from the other side of Dash. “I’ve been to your house, and it’s really annoying.”
“I’m the only one who lives there!” Soarin’ said. “Look, if a mare comes over to a stallion’s house –”
“Anyway, that mare is the one I was training, and she’s flying today, and if she messes up she’s never going to take a chance on anything or anypony ever again!”
“So if this pony doesn’t mess up, you think she’ll take you back?” Fleetfoot asked.
“I’ll have a chance,” Dash said, anxiously.
Fleetfoot considered this. “How good is she?”
Dash took a deep breath. “Really, really good.”
“Cool.” Fleetfoot nodded, then called down the row of Wonderbolts, “Guys, ten to one Dash’s heart gets broken today! Any takers?”
“I’m in,” Soarin’ answered.
“I hate you guys,” Dash said, glaring at both of them.
“What?” Soarin’ said with his mouth full of popcorn. “I’m gonna have to work with you if it happens, I might as well make some money off it.”
The competition started before they could continue the conversation. Several ponies came out and flew, but Dash hardly cared. Scoot wasn’t really in the competition to win, so it didn’t matter if everypony there came out with a sonic rainboom, as long as Scoot didn’t mess up.
But each time a number was called, Dash’s eyes were glued to the entrance to the arena, until finally number six was a familiar orange pony with a deep pink mane and tail.
“That’s her!” Dash yelled, leaving her seat to stand right at the edge of the box.
“That’s who?” Soarin asked.
“Dash’s ex-marefriend. The one your money’s against,” Fleetfoot answered.
Dash sighed. “She wasn’t my marefriend.”
“Hey speaking of ex-marefriends –” Soarin’ started, trying to sound casual, but Dash cut him off.
“Yes, she’s here. No, she didn’t bring any pies. Yes, I’m sure.”
“Oh. Well how long is she here? I have a kitchen at my place, and I could pick up some apples...”
“Seriously?” Fleetfoot leaned over and looked at Soarin’. “You want Dash’s ex-marefriend to come over and make you a pie?”
“Just a thought!” Soarin’ shrugged.
“If she does, will you at least put the toilet seat down?” Fleetfoot said, rolling her eyes.
“For her pies? Anything.”
“Shut up!” Dash yelled, earning surprised looks from her teammates.
With the first flap of Scoot’s wings, Dash was leaning over the edge of the box. Given how Scoot was acting earlier, she expected Scoot to look calm and professional. But as the orange pegasus neared the columns for her slalom, Dash got a good look at her face. The look she wore was pure determination that Dash hadn’t seen on her since she was a filly. It made Dash grin. If Scoot looked like that, she was unstoppable.
Dash held her breath as Scoot entered the slalom, weaving between the poles. She was flying so close that her lean put her nearly sideways on each drift, but it was obvious that Scoot was in control the whole time. Years of working her wings and body on that scooter before she even got in the air meant that from the time she learned to fly she had amazing dexterity. As soon as Scoot cleared the last pole, Dash let out a cheer so loud that Soarin’ spilled his popcorn.
She didn’t even have time to make fun of him, before Dash was even done cheering Scoot was climbing the sky for her next trick. Scoot reached the peak of the sky, and turned, falling into a tight corkscrew. It looked almost like she was drifting, but each loop was perfectly even, all the way to below the Colosseum.
“Oh thank Celestia!” Dash yelled to the sky, breathing a sigh of relief. The clover should be easy for Scoot.
A voice called from a few boxes below: “I had nothing to do with it, Rainbow Dash.”
“Um, sorry Princess Celestia,” Dash called back, blushing, as Soarin’ and Fleetfoot cracked up.
Soarin’ stopped suddenly. “Woah, you didn’t say she could do a star.”
“WHAT?” Dash immediately returned her attention to Scoot, who’d just reached the top of the sky again and started down, her magenta tail leaving a trail forming the top point of the star.
“Not part of the routine?” Fleetfoot asked, watching Scoot closely.
“No! She wasn’t going to do it. I mean, she can do it, I know she can do it...” Dash suddenly screamed into the arena, “You can do it, Scoot!”
Scoot made the first bottom point perfectly, and Dash watched anxiously as she approached the left point. The turns she had to make were practically flips, and she executed it perfectly, her body twisting into the straight line across the sky.
Dash’s heart was in her throat, she almost wanted to yell at Scoot for making her this scared, but at the same time she loved it. She loved that Scoot was doing this, that Scoot had the guts and determination to give it her all. She loved Scoot, and Scoot was one perfect turn from seeing how amazing her life could be if she just took a chance.
Scootaloo tucked her head down, her body following, forelegs reaching for her starting point. In what seemed to Dash like a split second she nailed the turn and flew to the bottom point, leaving behind a deep pink-purple star as she threw up her forelegs in victory.
Dash took off towards Scoot without thinking, but Soarin’ was standing on her tail so she was snapped back into the box. Once she yanked her tail free from Soarin’, Dash settled for flying around the box, nearly bouncing off the clouds. “Yes! She did it! She did it! She did the star! Ohmygosh, this is awesome!”
“Yeah, that was pretty good,” Soarin’ agreed.
“Not good, awesome!” Dash squealed. “She took a chance, and she did it! It worked! This is the best thing that’s ever happened, ever, in the history of Equestria!”
“Spitfire, Dash is going crazy again,” Fleetfoot called to the judges' booth directly below.
Spitfire happily replied, “Retiring. Not my problem.”
“But I have to sit next to her for the rest of the competition!”
“Oh, well then... nope! Still not my problem.”
Dash hopped off the edge of the box and hovered in front of Spitfire and the other judges. “Who cares about the rest of the competition! Spitfire, you have to give her the crown! Pleasepleaseplease give her the crown! I’ll love you forever! I’ll have your foals!”
“You’re insane, Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said.
“Told ya,” Fleetfoot called.
Spitfire went on. “This is a flying competition, and we have ten more flyers to go –”
“But –” Dash protested.
“And if you don’t get your cutie mark back in your own box right now, your marefriend is disqualified,” Spitfire finished, dead serious.
This time there was no talk, just the rainbow trail Dash left behind getting back to her spot as fast as she could go. If Scoot flew like that and lost, Dash would be furious. If Scoot flew like that and lost because of her, Dash would never, ever forgive herself.