//------------------------------// // *revised* chapter 1-and so it begins // Story: when heroes aren't there to save you // by Rainbow warrior //------------------------------// When heroes arn't there to save you edited by: your antagonist (VegaKS03) It was a bright and sunny day in ponyville and all of the little fillies in Ponyville Elementary School had their minds set on one thing today, and one thing only: summer. Scootaloo was the most excited because today was the day she would get to become the protege and student of her hero, Rainbow Dash. It had been six months after she was removed from the custody of her abusive parents, and life in her foster home wasn't going so well. She hoped that if Rainbow Dash saw how determined she was, maybe, just maybe she would adopt her. But she rationalized with herself, the odds of that happening anytime soon. If she couldn't train with Rainbow, then her whole summer would be practically ruined because Applebloom would be going with her family to Appleloosa for another apple family reunion, and Sweetie belle would be going with her sister to Canterlot to help with her sister’s new fashion line. So she was determined to make sure Rainbow Dash would become her personal flight trainer. No one in the world was more important to her than this Pegasus, and just talking to her for a brief "what's up Rainbow Dash?" was enough to brighten her whole day and  spread an impenetrable smile across the little filly’s face. UGH! Why won't time go faster? Scootaloo thought as she watched the clock slowly tick for each minute. To Scootaloo, it seemed like every minute seemed to go by slower and slower. "Hey Scootaloo whats keepin’ ya down?" Applebloom asked, "I wanna get out of here sooooooo bad, I gotta get to Rainbow Dash to start my training." "Oh well school's done in about an hour Scoots, Ah reckon that after the yearbook signin’ and last recess you'll be feelin’ much better. Besides ya don't have to do anything other than have fun!" Applebloom said in an attempt to cheer up her fellow crusader. "I know, I know, it’s just that school has been so lame all year, I just wanna do something cool, and I wanna do it now.” "Yeah, Ah hear ya, but let's try an have some fun while us crusaders are still together, it's gonna be so boring without you two with me all summer. Now c'mon scoots let's go sign some yearbooks." "Oh alright" Scootaloo said with a sigh as she went with her friend. After the passing of an hour, school finally ended, and Scootaloo couldn't more excited: her enthusiasm was off the charts as she pondered the type of flight training Rainbow Dash had in store for her. She said goodbye to her classmates and sang the ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders’ theme song privately with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom before saying goodbye to both of them for the summer. Hopping on her scooter, the filly took off with a blaze of speed in search of her role model and soon to be flight coach. Scootaloo eventually arrived at Ponyville Square, where Rainbow Dash was normally spotted, but as of right now she couldn't see a cloud in the sky, which meant that she was already done with her Job. Scootaloo sighed and her head dropped in sadness as she continued to walk. "Hey! What’s with that frown silly filly? It’s time to turn it upside down, don’t you know it’s summer?!" Scootaloo then raised her head up to see Ponyville’s pink premier party-pony standing right in front of her. “OH! Pinkie Pie!” Scootaloo knew that if anyone would know where Rainbow Dash would be, it would be pinkie pie, after all they were always pulling pranks together when they had the chance. "I'm glad I caught you. Do you have any idea where Rainbow Dash is? I need to see her." "Hmm," Pinkie pondered the question, placing her hoof to her chin, "last I remember, I think she said something about visiting with applejack over at sweet apple acres, I think it was for that iron pony competition a while back, said something about unfinished business. Then after she took off and that's the last I saw and heard of her". "Alright, thanks Pinkie Pie!" Scootaloo grinned as she immediately took off to Sweet Apple Acres. Hopefully she won't be too busy with Applejack to see me Scootaloo thought as she whizzed off to sweet apple acres. Scootaloo finally arrived to sweet apple acres and saw two familiar ponies racing. Scootaloo was in awe at her idol as she saw Rainbow’s mane flowing in the wind as each of her legs propelled her forward, each hoof coming down like clockwork, one after the other. Rainbow Dash was the most majestic pony to ever grace Ponyville, in Scootaloo's mind. The chromatic maned thrill seeker was her idol and Scootaloo was determined to let Rainbow Dash know by any means possible. "Ha! beat ya again ‘Applesmack’. That's what? The third time today?" Rainbow Dash bragged to Applejack, an inflection of pride evident in her voice. "Ha! Y'all wish it was the third time today. It’s the second time, and that’s out of the four other times I beat ya". "YEAH! Rainbow Dash! WOOHOO!" Both ponies turned their heads to see a young orange Pegasus jumping up and down, punching the air above her. "Well looks like you won't be needin’ Me for a while, you got yer fan club to worry about now heheheh. So same time next week rainbow?” "You’re on!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed before turning her attention to her number one fan. "Hey Scoota-" Scootaloo buzzed over to Rainbow Dash on her scooter, Moving so quickly that Rainbow Dash couldn’t even finish her sentence. "Heh, wow that's some pretty impressive speed you got there kid, maybe this summer your wings will finally get you off the ground." "You really think so!?" Scootaloo said as her eyes lit up and a smile spread across her face she couldn't believe that her idol, the fastest flier in ponyville, just gave her a compliment on her speed. "Haha you betcha, Scoots, speed like that in the sky would put me out of business for sure" Rainbow Dash said with a bit of modesty. "Nah, no way dash, the weather and the sky itself would be 80% lamer if you weren't there to make it awesome."  Even though Scootaloo was trying to flatter Rainbow, that compliment couldn't have been more honest if her life depended on it. "Aww thanks Scoots... you're alright kid you know that? Anyway what's up? What brought you over here? Did you come to see me beat Applejack?” "Well yes and no..." Scootaloo bit her lip nervously as she dug her hoof in the ground "umm, one quick question Rainbow Dash, what are you doing this summer?” "Hmm well actually, nothing really, just gonna be preparing for some races if they ever come up. Other than that probably sleeping and trying to get this lame summer done with". Scootaloo couldn't have been happier to hear those words; her face began to light up again almost immediately after. "REALLY? THAT’S GREAT, well about you not doing anything...um... anyway. Rainbow Dash, I have something super important to ask you, it's very, very, VERY important to me". "Alright kid, fire away" Rainbow Dash said with a bit of "get on with it" in her voice. "Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo gulped "I want to be your apprentice, I want to be taught everything you know about flying, I want to be as awesome and as cool as you are, and I'm willing to do ANYTHING to prove that I'm worthy of teaching." Scootaloo’s brow furrowed with determination, as she divulged that last part.  Rainbow Dash was stern-faced as she gave er admirer a once over. Scootaloo prepared for rejection,turning to head for her scooter when Rainbow Dash said with a low tone "Anything?" Scootaloo turned around and nodded, causing a grin to curl across Rainbow Dash’s lips. "Alright kid I'll teach ya but I need to see you're ready for the type of training I'm gonna give you." Scootaloo almost exploded by excitement by what she heard "OH THANK YOU, Rainbow Dash! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" Scootaloo dove in to hug Rainbow Dash when a hoof pushed her head back "Hey! I didn't say you were my apprentice yet. Tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. We start our trial, so get some rest cause you're gonna need it for what we're doing tomorrow. If you're late by even one millisecond I'm leaving. Got it?" "Sir Yes sir!" Scootaloo gave a clumsy salute in affirmation "That’s what I like to hear. Now get outta here, get some sleep and remember, tomorrow morning, edge of Everfree forest, 7:00 am SHARP!" Scootaloo nodded, jumping on her scooter, headed for her foster home. When she arrived, she saw the other two kids in her foster home eating dinner. "Hey SCREW-taloo" the little orange pony said in attempt to annoy her. "Oh hey, Zelos " Scootaloo replied. She didn't even pay attention to the filly’s insult as her mind was still in the clouds, contemplating how fun it was going to be, being trained by her idol. "Hey, Avion" Scootaloo called to the grey pegasus pony. "H-hi S-Scootaloo" the little pony stuttered nervously "um, I, uh, I fixed your scooter this morning it h-had a loose bolt on the wheel because Zelos rode it this morning". "HEY! I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL HER, YOU TURD!” Zelos blurted out. "I-I’m sorry I was just wanted to help out Scootaloo since she made me that blanket in school a couple days back. S-s-so I felt that I would have to return the favor even though it wasn't much." "Well thanks Avion, I was wondering why it felt a bit different today, but I won't be needing it after a few weeks." "Oh um really? W-why's that?" Avion asked shyly. "Well, I have been hoof-picked by THE one and only, Rainbow Dash to be her apprentice this summer and she's going to teach me how to fly.” Scootaloo said with her head held high and pride in her voice. "W-wow that's great. Y-you don’t think she may adopt you, do you?" "Aww heck no I'm just going to be her temporary protégé, but I'm hoping she will, she's the best pony ever and I would be honored to have her as my mom, so that's why I'm going to take whatever she dishes out at me." "HAHAHA YOU? ADOPTED? BAHAHAHAHA" Zelos burst out in laughter at the thought. Again Scootaloo ignored the insult and continued talking to Avion. "I um, made you a sandwich just how you like it, it's o-on the table over there.” Avion pointed a hoof to a grilled daffodil sandwich to a table counter behind him. "Well gee Avion, what would I do without you?” Scootaloo said as she hugged her foster friend and headed off to eat her sandwich. Avion blushed a dopy smile playing across his lips, while Zelos on the otherhoof almost gagged.  Scootaloo ravenously gobbled her sandwich in three bites. "Mmm! that was good Avion, I wish I could always have you cook me stuff. ‘Cause the stuff that I make is total crap." "Oh, um, you're welcome Scootaloo. It was nothing. You should probably get to bed. C-cause you have you're training Tomorrow right?” “Heck ya I do, I can't wait, I don’t know how I'm gonna sleep but I know I need to. Good night Avion." Scootaloo smiled as she went to her room and "G-goodnight Scootaloo.........I love you.” Avion’s last words fell on deaf ears as Scootaloo shut the door behind her. But she didn't care at the moment she was ready to fly and spend time with the pony she admired most. Morning came quickly, as Scootaloo got up at six and arrived at the edge of the everfree forest at 6:30. Currently, there was nopony present, but after a few moments she saw a familiar blue and rainbow mane and coat approaching her rapidly. "So, you said anything right?" Rainbow Dash asked with a serious tone. "Yes, anything Rainbow Dash. I will prove to yo-" she had no time to react as a sudden force began lifting her off the ground at high speeds. "R-Rainbow Dash! WHATS HAPPENING?!" they kept ascending and ascending till Scootaloo could see all of ponyville from under her. Rainbow Dash held Scootaloo’s mane by her mouth and with the room she had left in her mouth she spat "firsht fly'ng lesthon kid" Scootaloo hoped that she had heard wrong, but as her bad luck would have it: she didn't. Rainbow released her mane and Scootaloo flailed around helplessly as she descended at increasingly  high speeds. She was screaming and still in disbelief that her Idol would do this. Did I do something wrong? Does she hate me? She didn't know. All she knew was that she better start flapping her wings and fast. The filly flailed around some more before instinct took over as she turned right side up, spread her wings and began gliding. She still wasn't sure how to brake in min-flight or how to maneuver left or right so she kept descending at a rapid pace, but balanced herself enough see where she was going to land. She aimed for a rough spot of sand,  as she thought the sand would give her more cushion to land on. She tilted her wings as best as she could but overshot the sand and instead did a barrel roll  into the grass below her. Scootaloo skidded across the grass catching dirt in her mouth as she kept going she even did a couple of flips eventually she rolled around and caught herself even though she was pretty bruised up. Rainbow Dash landed right in front of the terrified filly. And with a tone of pride that Scootaloo lived she said.  "Welcome to flying 101...........my apprentice".