I'm sitting in the nurse's office. Rainbow Dash and the nurse are in the corner of the room. They're whispering, but I can still hear them. It's been a long time. I know what they're going to say. They just don't want to tell me. I look around the room and there's a great deal of posters adhered to the wall. Lots of them about personal hygiene. But I see one poster that catches my eye and brings me to tears. It's a very detailed poster. It shows the silhouette of a filly pegasus, just like me, but the wings are abnormally small. It has on the top a silhouette of a normal pegasus and the wing size. I know what it means. That filly... that filly is me. I glance over at Rainbow Dash and she smiles at me nervously. The nurse does the same. I know it's coming. It's not like I don't know what they're about to say. Rainbow Dash is going to hug me softly, and then the nurse will come over and tell me I can't fly. It's simple as that. Rainbow and I will get all emotional and she'll say she's sorry. Then we'll all go home. We'll all live on and forget about it and that's that.
I suppose that is why my parents never wanted to enroll me in flight school. They must have known from the beginning. I was told that when a pony is unable to fly in flight school, that student becomes the laughing stock. Always made fun of. They told me that they didn't have the funds to enroll me in it. That I would have to go to a school in Ponyville because it's easier. But it was all a lie.
I glance over at Rainbow Dash to see that she's walking over to me. Her hooves shake and she slowly steps towards me, making sure she doesn't trip. Her wings are pressed tightly up against her body. I can tell how hard she's trying not to make eye contact with me. Her head is down and her colorful hair is in front of her face. I stare at the uncomfortable mare for as long as I can. But she stops. She doesn't move. She just stands there, shaking and looking at the floor. I can't take take it. "What?" I speak. My tone sounds angry and uneasy. Rainbow looks up. Her eyes are wet with tears, though only a few stream down her face, only to be absorbed by her messy cyan coat.
She sits next to me with the utmost sadness as the nurse begins to speak. "Scootaloo... By now, you know you will never be able to fly." I nod. I've gone over how the nurse would try to convey her message to me, I didn't expect her tone to sound so... different. "We went through the results of your tests, but we found something... different." I glance at Rainbow Dash to see that she's starting to lean her head on my shoulder. Now I'm really worried. "We found that you don't have enough magic to obtain a cutie mark." A lump forms in my stomach. "Wh..what?" I whimper. Rainbow Dash grabs me and hugs me tightly. The whole concept of not being able to get a cutie mark seems crazy. Thoughts begin to form in my mind. What about the Cutie Mark Crusaders? What about my special talent? Am I even worth anything at all? I just sit there, feeling sorry for myself. I feel anger set in as the nurse waits for me to let her go on.
"I'm sorry Scootaloo. You have a very rare condition. One that I've never seen before in all my days of nursing. You can't get a cutie mark." The nurse stares at Rainbow Dash and I as we embrace tightly, but she doesn't dare make eye contact with me. She looks upset with herself. Rainbow motions for the nurse to leave the room. She gets to the doorway, but stops. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" I shakily nod my head. She stands there just a little longer, but eventually leaves the room. I feel a wave of sadness as I'm left alone with my idol. I don't only feel sadness, I feel comfort. I'm comforted by the warm embrace of the one person I truly feel comfortable around.
Rainbow Dash finally lets me go and sits right in front of me at eye level. "You okay?" She whispers to me softly. At this point I have nothing to say. I stare at her. I feel better than I did just a few minutes ago. Even though I feel better, I still fall silent. What is there to say, anyways? I've just failed her. I've just failed myself. "Do you want to go to my house and work it out there?" This time she spoke in a soft, motherly tone. I've never heard her speak so lovingly. It makes me want to cry just hearing her speak like that. How could a failure like me even be close to making Rainbow Dash happy?
"I...I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash!" I cry. I jump into her and sob loudly. Rainbow Dash hugs me tightly, not letting go. "I thought I could be the second best flier in Equestria! But I can't even fly!" I was yelling loudly now. She sighs. Rainbow Dash holds me tighter. Her grip is strong. It reminds me of my father. He's long gone now, but I still feel his warm embrace to this very day. She lays her head on my shoulder as we sit, teary eyed on the floor. "I'm sorry, too. I can't help you be a better flier. I can't even help you fly." She whispers in my ear. I stand up, but my body isn't ready. I collapse to the floor only to be caught by Rainbow Dash. "You alright?" She asks. "I'm fine." I don't even believe myself. As I slowly stand up again, I stare into the eyes of my idol. I see the pure sadness and disappointment in her eyes. But I can't help think that the disappointment is in herself, not in me.
We slowly walk out of the doctor's office, a deep hush has befallen the building. I see mares staring at us as we leave the waiting room. We finally get outside when Rainbow Dash stops. She stares at me and I stare back for what seemed like an eternity. She leans in close and kisses my cheek. It was soft... warm.
"I love you Scootaloo. Don't you ever forget that."