//------------------------------// // Chapter Juan // Story: Fly // by Vetnern //------------------------------// I can feel the air pounding against my skin, the rain from the clouds hitting my face as i descend. I try to scream but no words can escape my mouth and as I fall closer to the ground, I get that feeling of fear. I close my eyes, and then I'm awake. I shot up, a cold sweat on my face, my mane a total mess. I must have had that dream again, I can't remember any of it. "Scootaloo, breakfast is ready!" I heard my mother call. I groaned hopelessly and slithered out of bed, today was a big day for me yet I was acting like it was nothing. As I headed down to eat my breakfast I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I stopped and stood there for a while just admiring myself. I fluttered my wings and struck a heroic pose, I'll impress her this time I thought to myself. My stomach made an intense growling noise, a noise that was similar to the time I tried to get Winona's ball from her. "I made your favourite, blueberry pancakes" She said as she placed the glorious snack down before me, I looked down at the stack and giggled at the child like smiley face she drew on the top. "Do you like it?" she asked with a smile, "I love it, but you have to stop doing this, I'm not a foal any more mom. I grew up". My mother sighed as I said those words. "I just want to make you feel special, I know things have been difficult between us ever since your father passed away, but we make do with what we have now and I enjoy the time we spend together". I said nothing and just picked away at my pancakes. I grabbed my satchel bag and left the house, today was a rather gloomy day, isn't it supposed to be sunny today? I thought to myself. My thoughts ended abruptly by a loud scream followed by a thunderous crash, I quickly dashed around the corner to see Rainbow Dash helping Fluttershy out of a pile of rubble, "What happened?" I asked, gazing at the mess Shy had caused. "Fluttershy tried to attempt a Sonic Rainboom, it turn's out she needs more training. Since we are on the subject, are you ready for the test I have planned for you?" replied Dash. "As ready as I'll ever be" I piped, causing Dash to roll her eyes. "I'm going to take Fluttershy to the hospital, meet me at the entrance to the Everfree forest tomorrow morning" She said while carrying a very upset Fluttershy. "O- Okay" I replied nervously. The Everfree forest... Just thinking about that place gives me the creeps! As the rest of the day went by I went about best preparing myself for the test Dash had in store for me, I also kept thinking about chocolate cake, I have no idea why. I awoke the next morning from the awful dream I was having, Why can I never remember them?. I rolled over to check the time, the clock read "9.27". I rubbed my eyes and groaned as I got out of bed, today was the big day, the day I showed Rainbow Dash that I could fly. As I got my things ready and grabbed my satchel bag I heard a knock at the door, a few moments passed and another knock was heard. I glanced over at the clock, "11.54" it read, my jaw dropped. What.. the.. fuck? I opened the door to see a cross looking Dash standing there, her arms folded. "What the hell Scootaloo, you never showed up" she demanded. "Sorry, Dash. I guess I overslept" I said scratching the back of my head. "Well you better get over to the Everfree, I didn't set everything up for nothing." Before I knew it I was flying through the air toward the forest entrance. I could already see the effort she had put into the test, "Uhhh, Dash? This looks pretty hard" I said nervously. "Pffft- I could do this whole thing with my eyes closed, you'll be fine Scoots" I landed at the start of the course, there were several obstacles that had been place throughout and around the Everfree forest, Dash placed a hoof on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "You're gonna be fine, trust me", she seemed so calm for being the fastest in all of Equestria. "I'm ready" I said confidently. "Just go whenever you feel like it" She replied. I took a few deep breaths, struck the heroic pose I tried yesterday and... My eyes opened, blinking rapidly I began adjusting to the bright light I was focused on. As I looked around the room it became apparent that I was in hospital. I be came frantic, causing the heart rate monitor to increase. A few moments later the door opened and I was happy to see a friendly face, although she didn't look so friendly. "How are ya' holdin up sugarcube?" Asked Applejack, "I'm doing great, what happened?" I croaked, wincing in pain. "Well, you had an accident, you fell and hit the floor pretty hard. Doctor said there isn't any critical damage, lucky for some ah' guess" She replied. "What do you mean lucky for some?", And then it hit me "Where's Dash" I demanded, struggling to get out of bed. "She's in a different room, she's lucky to be alive Scootaloo" Applejack replied trying to calm me down. "What happened to her" I said, "Why can't I see her". "She was attacked" Applejack replied, "By who" I quickly demanded. A moment of silence filled the room before Applejack broke down into a fit of tears. "By you!" She said "What do you mean?" I asked. "That's what ah' came to find out, what can you remember" she replied kindly. "I remember everything" My thoughts trailed off to the moment I lost track of time. I shot off with blistering speed and into the Everfree forest, going through the twist's, turns and obstacles that were in my way, I stopped dead in mid-flight in a clearing in the forest. I could feel something watching me, some dark and sinister, like it had no place being here. And then I saw it, an arctic rabbit. This makes no sense, what is an animal like this doing so far from home? I questioned myself. I approached the rabbit but it bounced away into the woods and the next thing I remember is seeing Dash hovering over me, I guess I passed out. "What happened to you?" She asked, "I can't remember." I replied, rubbing my head. Rainbow Dash grabbed my hoof and helped me up from the ground. "Where did all these trees come from?" I said, looking around at the once was clearing I had just been in. "What do you mean? We're in a forest Scootaloo, there are trees everywhere." She replied with a concerned frown upon her face. "Are you feeling okay?" she added. "Yeah, I'm fine." I lied with a smile "It's starting to rain, we should head back" Rainbow Dash pointed toward Ponyville. "No" I shouted, "I want a race to Cloudsdale" I added rather quickly. "Don't be an idiot, we're gonna get soaked" Replied Dash. "Are you chicken?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Fine, but I hope you're ready for defeat" She replied boldly. We both lined up and Dash began her countdown. "Three, two, one, Go-" She shouted as we both flew toward Cloudsdale at a tremendous speed. I quickly gained the lead, but she grabbed my hind hoof and pulled me back to second place before shooting off again. A sudden rush of anger filled my body and I shot off after her. Instead of taking the lead I tackled her in mid air, she pulled me off her and gave me a fierce push. "What the heck is wrong with you, you're acting really crazy today Scoots" She shouted. My face was distorted with rage, breathing heavily under the clouds, the rain pouring down on us. I pushed her back just as hard. "Lay off, Scootaloo. Let's just get back" She asked putting her hooves up defensively. I took no remorse, I began swinging punch after punch, the rage inside me was so intense. "Hey- Stop it, You're hurting me" She cried holding her hooves up for protection. I was hurting one of my best friends, but i couldn't stop. Dash was crying in both pain and fear and I continued the onslaught of punches to her face. I went limp, the pain was excruciating. I had tears in my eyes, holding onto Rainbow Dash. And then it hit me- the lightning I mean, I couldn't move. We were both falling toward Ponyville at an increasing speed, I could see her lifeless body falling and the destruction i had caused. I can feel the air pounding against my skin, the rain from the clouds hitting my face as i descend. I try to scream but no words can escape my mouth and as I fall closer to the ground, the feeling of fear is gone, I close my eyes, smiling. I'm sorry...