*3 months later*
Willow Bloom wandered through Ponyville, she felt so tired. She couldn’t stay like this though. Lumius on her back she made her way to the school house and stepped inside. She sat at her desk. Cella scooted her desk closer to Willow’s.
“Hey! Willow! How are you?” She asked.
“Doing well, but we should really be focusing on school.”
Cella sighed and scooted her desk back.
Willow sat in class and did her work, it was boring, but at least it kept her mind busy. Life was so strange recently, so much less colorful than before. Like all the excitement and joy in the world had been drained from it.
Class ended at the ring of the bell and Willow trotted outside.
“Willow Bloom.” Cella whinnied, “why are you acting like this? Are you okay?”
Willow tensed up, “I’m fine,” she snorted.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Are you really sure?” Cella dragged the question.
“NO!” Willow spun around, snapping at her friend, “I am not okay!”
A couple ponies stared at Willow.
“Willow, it’s oka-“ Cella began
“No it’s not!” Willow shouted, “and it’s never going to be again!”
“Willow… what happened?”
“What happened?!” Willow asked the question almost hysterically, “what happened?! You saw what happened! I was attacked by a giant star bear!”
“But Willow, you’re okay now, your wounds all healed and-“
“No I’m not! I can’t fly Cella! Do you know what it’s like to be a Pegasus who can’t fly!?”
Willow stayed silent.
“I do,” a voice from the crowd spoke, Scootaloo stepped forward, “I know what it’s like Willow Bloom.”
“So then tell them what it’s like.”
“It doesn’t feel too different to me, I’ve always been this way. I’m still not always sure of myself, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong.”
“But you don’t see it like I do! Like you said you were born that way. So you’ve never known any different.” Willow said with tears in her eyes, “you may long to fly but you’ll never have to miss it.”
Scootaloo stepped back, realizing that this wasn’t about Willow’s inability to fly, she was upset over something much bigger.
“So you can’t fly, neither can earth ponies, and I’m sure there are Pegasi just like you out there.” Cella said.
“That’s not the point Cella.”
“Then what is?”
“I-I-I… I don’t know, I just feel so broken, so helpless.” Willow said, ears drooping as ponies began to walk off. She sat on the ground with a sigh.
“It’s okay Willow,” Cella said setting a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.
“But it’s not Cella,” Willow Bloom said, turning to her friend with tears in her eyes, “it’s not okay. Look around you, every filly and colt here either has or will get a cutie mark, every filly and colt, but me.”
“What does a cutie mark matter Willow? So what if nothing tells you your special talent? You’ll find your own way! You always have.”
“Cella not having a cutie mark is like missing a hoof.”
“Willow Bloom do you not realize who you’re talking to?” Cella ask motioning to her prosthetic.
“Sorry, I don’t mean it that way.”
“I’m sure you don’t, surely you mean that having no cutie mark is barely more than an inconvenience.”
“Cella you know what I’m saying, it’s not like missing a hoof, it’s, it’s like being a pony without magic.”
“Earth pony then?”
“No, without any magic, earth ponies have earth pony magic, plants and stuff.”
“Willow you still have magic, you can walk on clouds even without working wings.”
“But I can’t even reach them.”
“I’m sure you could find a way.”
“But what can a Pegasus do without flying?”
“I’ll tell you what, I know Pegasus who can fly, but has an earth pony talent. Strawberry sunrise lives her life just fine farming strawberries here in Ponyville.”
“Okay, and?”
“And Scootaloo can’t fly and has her scooter.”
“But they have always had that, and you know what I always had Cella?”
“What?”
“Large wings. I was meant to fly,” Willow said, holding back tears, “and now I can’t. My destiny has been taken away from me!”
“Willow-“
“I’m going home Cella,” Willow said beginning to walk away.
“Wait!” Cella ran after her friend.
“I said I’m going home.”
And so Willow did, she walked home and sat in her bed staring at Lumius, he was still super fluffy but he was bigger now, his flight feathers starting to grow in.
“Hi Lumi,” she whispered.
He opened one eye and closed it again, he was very sleepy.
Willow sat down and sighed, “who am I?” She wondered aloud.