//------------------------------// // Foreboding Dreams // Story: Teachings From Those Before Us // by TheChroniclerPrincess //------------------------------// Darkness now filled the sight of the once strong wonderbolt. She wanted nothing more than to fly again. Her situation had reminded her of the time that her mentor, and now captain, had been grounded due to a wing injury. It was in that time that Rainbow Dash found another gateway to freedom. Reading. As Scootaloo's body began to sink further into her hospital bed, she felt more and more immersed in her forming dream. Her vision turned from sleeping darkness to blurry light. She was back in Ponyville as a small filly. The environment finally became clear and her dream became like reality. She dreamed that Rainbow Dash was standing in front of her. Her muzzle pointed upward motioning Scootaloo to take to the sky. "I still can't fly yet big sister." Rainbow seemed unnerved and continued to motion towards the sky for Scootaloo to follow the pointed direction. An expression of frustration started to show on her adopted sisters face as she now motioned her head more violently back and forth. "I can't Rainbow Dash! I can't fly!" she cried. It was still no use. With one last violent motion Rainbow Dash's head flung toward Scootaloo's face and met her eyes with a burning stare. "I always knew you were just a waste of time." Rainbow Dash coldly said as she stared angrily into the eyes of her adopted younger sister. Scootaloo could not believe the agony in which her elder sister had just inflicted into her heart. It was as if a hot iron had been driven through her heart and mercilessly twisted into her very soul. Tears of cold sorrow swelled in her eyes and she started to cry out. "I'm trying big sister! See?!" She flapped her tiny wings vigorously without any avail. She tried harder and harder still to lift her body off of the ground, but nothing happened. Rainbow Dash broke her gaze with Scootaloo and turned away. She began to walk in the opposite direction slowly and without hesitation. She looked back only for a moment to give Scootaloo a stare that chilled her soul. It was such a stare of disapproval, dissapointment, and utter hate. The stare seemed to last forever. It was her eyes. Those large magenta eyes that scortched the very being of the little orange pegasus. "Stop! Please!" Scootaloo shrieked as her wings flapped faster and faster. "I can do it! Don't leave me big sister! I'm begging you! I'll try harder!" Her insignificant wings locked up and gave out as she met eyes with her big sister. She felt the hate and resentment that came along with this brief glance. It had been within Rainbow's eyes that Scootaloo found her confidence. Where she found her motivation. It was in those magenta eyes in which she was finally home, and where she crafted her world. And it was with that stare, with those eyes, that her world shattered and crumbled. She felt her heart breaking as her sorrowful tears buried her face. There was a swift flash. A shadowy figure that emerged from her blurred vision. The vague figure had a starlit mane and a black crown. Princess Luna! Scootaloo's eyes widened and her breathing halted instantly. "Be still Scootaloo. I am here." The princess' horn lit up with blinding magic. Suddenly everything dissapeared and there was only a small sliver of platinum in her eyes. A pulsating tone. The smell of fresh linen. She was back to reality in Ponyville hospital. Her forehead was soaked in sweat and her breathing was irratic. It took her a few seconds to calm herself, but within a few minutes she had settled down. Remembering the horrible nightmare she had just experienced, Scootaloo began to weep uncontrollably. She let out wimpers of sadness and felt the lingering pain in her body while she was trembling there. After a few days, her muzzle had been unwrapped and she could finally eat soft foods again, but the nightmares didn't cease. They occured several times each night, and each time had been vanquished by the princess of the night. Scootaloo had remembered her earlier encounters with Princess Luna when she was a filly just before adopting Rainbow Dash as her big sister. She even carried on a few conversations with her during her current nightmares, but for some unshakable reason, she was unable to let them go. No matter how many times Luna assured her, no matter how many times she tried to forget, and no matter how much she tried to fight the fear, she just could not bring herself to do it. It vexed her completely. She did not know what was wrong. It was only a few weeks after that that she had finally made a full recovery and was ready to get back to the outside world. This fact had given her the smallest sense of relief and seemed to ease the pain of her dreams just a bit. "Today's the day brave wonderbolt!" Shouted the nurse cheerfully as she entered the room. "Are ya ready?" Before Scootaloo could utter a work the nurse interrupted. "Of course you are! Any wonderbolt as incredible as you shouldn't even have to think about a question like that!" Scootaloo stood up and began to speak. "Th-thank you. Thanks for all your help. I'm ready to leave now." There was a slight longing in her voice. The nurse sprouted another smile. "That's the spirit!" The two made their way past the reception desk and everypony along the way gave their farewells and well wishes. The door to the hospital closed behind her, and as it did an emptiness had been filled within Scootaloo. She treasured each breath, smell, and touch she had with the outside world now. It was liberating. As she readied her wings to fly, something stopped her. It was that unshakable sensation again. That feeling that she experienced in her nightmares. It grabbed hold again and did not let go. So she decided to just walk home to Rainbow Dash, softly crying as she went. Rainbow had not heard the news of Scootaloo's accident due to the fact that as captain, she was overseeing flight shows of her own in Manehatten. she would be returning today, and she and her little sister would have much to discuss. And so, Scootaloo walked. . .