//------------------------------// // Airborne // Story: Scootalonely // by Rainbow Dashey //------------------------------// Scootaloo felt more rested than she had in a long while; she figured it was the comfortable cloud. She rolled off the bed and trotted downstairs. When she reached the kitchen she was greeted by a Rainbow Dash with an unkempt mane. "Good morning Scoots." "Good...um-morning." She replied trying not to laugh at the sight of Dash's mane. Scootaloo grabbed a chair and pulled up to the table. "What's your plan for the day?" Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo was focused on the surroundings of the kitchen; taking in all the decor. She examined the grain of the table and followed the lines with her hoof. "Hmmm?" Scootaloo replied when she realized she was being talked to. "I asked what you were doing today." "Oh, I'll be doing some more crusading with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. I got a good feeling today is the day." She answered excitedly. Rainbow Dash smiled at the thought. "And will you be doing anything this afternoon?" "No we should be done by then." "Then you'll be free to do some more practice?" "You bet!" The filly said with glee. "Alright it's settled, but first I need to take care of this." Rainbow Dash said pointing at the mess on her head. Scootaloo chuckled as she watched Dash trot up the stairs. Half an hour passed and the light blue mare trotted downstairs where Scootaloo was waiting patiently. Rainbow Dash's mane was flat and dripping. "Ready?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yeah, but aren't you gonna d-" "You'll see." She cut Scootaloo off with a grin. The two exited the house and walked to the edge of the cloud. They could see Ponyville far below their hooves. The height made Scootaloo a bit dizzy but she knew she was in good care. Scootaloo clambered up onto the older pony's back. "Hold on tight!" Rainbow Dash instructed as she leaped from the cloud's edge. They dove towards the earth with intense speed; faster than they normally flew. Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash's neck in hopes she wouldn't be blown away. They reached the town in seconds as Dash opened her wings and slowed their descent and landed safely on the ground. Scootaloo hopped off and looked up at her sister; to her surprise, Rainbow Dash's mane was back to its normal-sleek appearance. "Oh that's how you do it!" Scootaloo exclaimed. Rainbow Dash smiled and nodded. "Scootaloo!" A voice shouted. She turned to see Apple Bloom crossing the street with Applejack. "Go on kid. I'll meet you later." Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo trotted off towards her friend and the two fillies ran off to find the rest of their party. "I gotta hand it to ya' Rainbow, you're pretty good with her." Applejack said as she neared Dash. "Did you expect anything less than the best?" Rainbow Dash replied with pride. The orange pony rolled her eyes at the response. "Come on, why don't y'all tell me all about being the 'best' sister ever." Applejack responded with sarcasm. "I would love to do that," Rainbow Dash said, "But I have cloud duty today so... I'll tell you about it later!" Rainbow Dash finished as she flew off into the sky. "That pony is always beating around the bush." Applejack said to herself as she watched Dash fly off. * * * * * An arrow whizzed through the air and struck the wood with a thump. The three fillies trotted up to the target leaning against the barn. When they neared the target they noticed the arrow was nowhere to be seen. "I could have sworn I hit it." Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "O'er here!" Apple Bloom shouted. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle trotted over to the barn door and examined the arrow imbedded in the solid plank. "Well on the bright side, you did hit the broad side of a barn." Scootaloo said with a chuckle. "Well I guess we weren't born to be archers then huh?" Apple Bloom stated. Sweetie Belle retrieved her arrow and they made their way into the farm house. The three fillies settled in Apple Bloom's room. They were each silently thinking of what they could do next. Their thoughts were filled with frustration as they tried to think of things they hadn't already attempted. "How about bowling?" Apple Bloom piped up. "We did that already remember?" Sweetie Belle retorted. "Oh yeah." Another few minutes passed as they sat concentrating. "Scootaloo?" Applejack called from the stairs. "Yes?" "Your sister is here." Scootaloo hopped to her feet and dashed to the door. "We'll try something tomorrow!" She shouted to her friends as she bounded down the stairs. Rainbow Dash was waiting in the living room when Scootaloo joined her. "Rainbow Dash was just telling me how well you two have been getting along." Applejack said as she entered the room. Scootaloo looked towards Rainbow Dash. "Yeah it's been great!" She added with a smile. "We best get going, we have a lot of training to do." Rainbow Dash said as she turned to the filly. Applejack tipped her hat at the two as they exited the house. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo made their way down the dirt road towards the field. "Any luck on that cutie mark?" Dash asked. "...no." "All in good time." Rainbow Dash said trying to cheer up Scootaloo. They entered the field and made their way towards the center as they had the last time. The wind was nowhere to be found; perfect for practice. "You ready to train?" * * * * * A week had passed and Scootaloo was fairing much better. She began to glide with ease and could travel hundreds of feet landing safely on her own. Rainbow Dash's training was rigorous but effective as Scootaloo could easily tell judging by her increased wing strength. "Alright this time you need to flap." Rainbow Dash instructed. The small filly was nervous, she thought back to the last time she flapped and how it put her out of control. "S-sure." She replied with a gulp. Dash nodded and picked up the filly as she had done countless times before. Scootaloo wasn't confident in her ability but she knew that she had to learn. She didn't want to be the one pegasus who couldn't fly. They reached a speed suitable for flight and Scootaloo readied herself for the drop. "Go!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she released the young filly. Scootaloo snapped open her wings forcefully. She began to ride on the currents and glide smoothly across the sky. "Now flap!" Dash said as she flew parallel to Scootaloo. Without hesitation, Scootaloo flapped her wings in the manner she was taught in her lessons. She closed her eyes as she braced for the spinning to ensue. "Scoots!" The filly cautiously opened her eyes to see that she was still in the air. She looked around and saw she wasn't in Rainbow Dash's hooves as she had expected, but still on a straight course. "You're flying!" Rainbow Dash said as her eyes began to tear up. Scootaloo squealed with joy and refocused on her flight. She gently tipped her wings and curved towards Dash. Words couldn't describe how impressed Dash was with Scootaloo. After such a late start she was afraid Scootaloo may not be able to fly. But she watch the filly press on and get better with each passing day. "I'm so proud of you." She said to the filly. "Thanks sis." Scootaloo replied as she looked ahead to watch clouds pass by. Turning back to Dash with an unsure look in her eyes she said, "Now how do I get down?"