//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Dreams and Reality 
// by Antisocial Ind. 
//------------------------------//


Three months later





Scootaloo climbed on top of the six foot high pile of boxes, which overlooked the hay stacks below. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle Watched on with excited smiles, proud that their friend was finally going to soar through the air. After all, she only needed a high place to launch herself from! Scootaloo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, remembering all the work she had done since that April day.

She remembered seeing Rainbow Dash saluting her and flying off, then making a determined resolution that she would put all her effort, all her spare time, all her energy, into working out her wings to make them strong and capable. She made good on that resolution, too. This was something that she wanted bad enough, something that she practically lusted after. That was all the motivation she needed to push herself to her limits.

She remembered how, twice a week, Rarity would send Sweetie Belle out for supplies. Every time Sweetie went out to the store, Scootaloo would meet her there with a bright red wagon. When Sweetie finished shopping, she would meticulously load all her supplies into the wagon and make sure that they were balanced properly and steady, just to be sure that they wouldn't fall out or cause the wagon to tip over. When she was satisfied that that was the case, Sweetie would hop in herself. Then, with a teasing "Hyah!" Scootaloo would pull the wagon by herself back to the Carousel Boutique. However, there was a catch: she had to use her legs as little as possible. The focus was using her wings to propel herself as much as possible, using legs for balance and supporting her own weight instead of forward movement. The first three weeks were brutal. After that, it was easier, but still ecstatically exhausting.

She remembered walking to Sweet Apple Acres three times a week to train with Applebloom, who even brought her sisters whistle to complete her coaching stereotype. They did various exercises involving wings, but easily the most beneficial - and most painful - was the one where she had to hold her wings out perfectly straight and hold an apple on each end. This would help her gain wing endurance, and give her a vague idea of how to keep her wings perfectly level while flying. Of course, this was not the focus, but the exercise brought many attributes into play at once, and so Scootaloo was determined to do as much of it as possible, with Applebloom pushing her the entire way. Oh, and then they always ended up eating the apples - a great way to end a wing workout!

She remembered passing the local gym on the way home from school one day and glancing in - and getting an amazing idea. She saw Snowflake, the single buffest stallion in Ponyville, possibly even Equestria! He would know how to increase her muscle size for SURE! She went in and talked to him. He suggested a routine heavy workout, but she was already a week and a half into her routine, so Snowflake suggested specific exercises instead. Scootaloo was very disappointed, however, because many of the exercises, such as wing-ups, required larger and longer wings. Scootaloo hung her head in disappointment, but Snowflake did not particularly care for that. He reached into his bag and pulled out a large tub of powder, unopened. It was reddish, and kinda heavy. He told her to drink it before and after every workout, and it would help her increase her muscle size. She did as she was told, and felt gratitude towards the generous stallion every time she drank the delicious protein drink.

She remembered how every single recess was spent doing jump rope using her wings. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were so generous - they gave up all their recesses without a second thought or a moment's hesitation for their friend. It was a truly touching moment for Scootaloo. Not that she'd show it or anything...

And, finally, she remembered spending hours in front of a powerful fan wile wearing goggles and a scarf to prepare her for the wind in her face while she flew. In hindsight it was probably a stupid idea, but it didn't matter, since she could simply close her eyes and feel herself flying.  To her, that made it worth every second.