//------------------------------// // Skies and Lies // Story: Scootalonely // by Rainbow Dashey //------------------------------// Light poured into the room as Scootaloo awoke to the bright morning's sun. Her eyes opened and she was no longer in the dreams she found so enjoyable. Reluctantly she took hold of the reality she was now in and rolled out of the sleeping bag. Scootaloo wasn't the morning type, but today she didn't have a choice since she was getting flight lessons from Rainbow Dash. Her excitement was building and the day could only get better. She quickly gathered up the sleeping bag and stuck it with the saddle bag in the corner. Not wanting to waste another moment, she trotted out the door towards the town square to meet with her new sister. Scootaloo ran down the path and entered the town square, Rainbow Dash was already there waiting. "Hey Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo greeted her enthusiastically. "Hey kid, you ready for today?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You bet!" She replied with confidence. "That's what I like to hear! Come on squirt, follow me," Dash said. The two ponies left the town square for a nearby field. As Scootaloo trailed behind Rainbow Dash she was lost in thought. She remembered the Rainbow Dash fan club she had started, but that seemed humorous to her now that she was training with her heroine. "Scootaloo..." Rainbow Dash called out. "Huh?" Scootaloo said as she snapped out of her thoughts. "We're here." The field was open for miles. A breeze swept over the hills and knolls, and the grass folded in smooth waves. "This is where my..." Rainbow Dash paused for a moment, "...my dad took me when he taught me to fly; I was about your age." Scootaloo saw that Dash was distraught; she thought it was best to not ask. A long moment passed as the two stood in the field not saying a word. "Well, we best get started," Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "Okay... what are we going to do first?" Scootaloo asked eager to start. * * * * * The knock on the door echoed through the small farm home. "I got it!" Apple Bloom shouted as she scurried over to the front door. When she opened the door she was greeted by an enthusiastic Sweetie Belle. "You ready to make plans for some cutie marks?!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she jumped up and down on the porch. "You bet I am! Come on let's head out," Apple bloom replied as she shut the door. The two fillies hurried down into the orchard. "What should we do this time?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I don't know, let's just get to the headquarters first." The two fillies arrived at the clubhouse at the edge of the apple orchard. As they climbed the ramp they were contemplating what to do for tomorrow's adventure. "How about painting?" Sweetie Belle asked as she opened the door. "Don't you remember what happened last time we used paints?" Apple Bloom retorted. "Oh yeah..." The two entered the clubhouse and paced around the room. They were deep in their own concentration until Apple Bloom noticed a saddlebag in the corner of the room with a sleeping bag next to it. She stared at it for a moment. "Isn't that Scootaloo's camping bag?" Apple Bloom asked. "Sure looks like it..." Sweetie Belle replied. "But why is it in the clubhouse?" "I'm not sure." * * * * * Scootaloo was tired after the training exercises. She spent a good deal of time stretching out and strengthening her muscles. It was crucial to have toned wings to get off of the ground. "Are we going to try and fly today?" Scootaloo asked with anticipation. "Well, those wings of yours might be a bit too tired to try that today," Rainbow Dash said with caution. "I think we should at least try." Rainbow Dash looked at the pleading filly for a moment. "Well, alright," she finally said. Scootaloo smiled in excitement as she was hoisted off of the ground, but as Dash picked up speed, Scootaloo's excitement faded; she was nervous. She wasn't as scared of flying as much as she was disappointing Rainbow Dash after the lessons. "Alright, I'm going to let you go and you do everything we went over, okay?" Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo just nodded in affirmation. "You got this!" Dash said as she let go of the frightened filly. Scootaloo stretched out her wings and caught the air current. For a brief moment she felt like it was going well. A sudden pain shot up her side; her left wing had cramped up. Scootaloo began to tumble in the air and let out a yelp from the pain as she watched the ground approach quickly. It seemed to approach faster every second she fell. She closed her eyes until she felt a thud on her back. When she reopened them she realized she was moving forward again. "I gotcha, I gotcha," Rainbow Dash said as they slowly glided down to safety. When they landed Scootaloo clung to Rainbow Dash. "I'm so sorry...I...I messed up," Scootaloo said as she hid her face. Rainbow Dash embraced the defeated filly. "It's alright kid, it happens to the best of us," she said reassuringly. "You know, when I was starting off, I fell on my first try too." "Really?" Dash nodded. "You just have to get back up and try again." Scootaloo understood. "Okay, I will," she replied. "Well, it's probably best you go and get some rest, you don't want your wing cramping up again," Rainbow Dash instructed "I will, don't you worry," Scootaloo said as she let go of Rainbow Dash. "I'll see you later Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo shouted as she ran off to find her friends. She had so much to tell them about her day with her sister. "See ya later kid," Rainbow Dash replied as she waved Scootaloo off. As Dash was about to leave for home, Applejack trotted over and stopped her in the field. Something seemed to be worrying the orange pony. "Rainbow Dash, there's something we need to talk..."