~1 week later~
Scootaloo's injuries were healing at a slow and steady rate, but today was the day she was told she could leave the hospital. She would've been grateful under normal circumstances, but not hearing much about Rainbow Dash other than the rescue team finding a few feathers and blood around the area, she was emotionally devastated. Sweetie Belle was at the receptionist's desk preparing the papers for Scootaloo's release, while Apple Bloom was next to the bed where Scootaloo rested. Neither said a single word for a while until Apple Bloom finally broke the silence. "...So what're you gonna do now?"
Scootaloo was looking out the window as the sun was starting to rise over the horizon. "I-I honestly don't know. I don't have a job, I won't be able to pay for the cloud house, so maybe I'll just go back to where I started."
Apple Bloom shook her head. "N-No way! If ya do get kicked out of your house, ya know me and ma family'll always welcome you in."
Sweetie Belle and a nurse entered the room with a wheelchair. "Miss Scootaloo, are you ready?" The nurse pushed the wheelchair next to the bed.
Scootaloo was obviously hesitant to using the wheelchair, preferring to just walk, but she knew that she'd get scolded by her friends. She sighed in defeat, and sat on the wheelchair. Once they were out, Scootaloo decided to ditch the wheelchair, and instead walk with her friends. "So you girls said you had a surprise for me, right?"
Apple Bloom nodded. "Yep, and I just know you'll be happy as Winona at feedin time when ya see it!"
Scootaloo was certainly curious at this point. they arrived at the center of town where a tarp was covering something big. Scootaloo saw that a lot of townsponies were gathered around the object for some reason. "So is this what you girls were talking about? Why are so many ponies here?"
Sweetie was about to answer, but was interrupted by the Mayor who spoke to the crowd. "Attention everypony! We are gathered here today because of the disastrous event that happened just a week ago." Scootaloo saw a few ponies standing behind the large object. "We are here to honor Rainbow Dash, leader of the weather team, and winner of the Best Young Fliers competition, for her courageous acts of saving her sister." The ponies behind the statue each bit down a the tarp. "She saved her sister's life, at the cost of her own. So today, I would like to present," The ponies tugged on the tarp, revealing a statue resembling Rainbow Dash. "The Rainbow Memorial!"
Everyone in the crowd cheered. Scootaloo was at a lost of words. She stepped towards the memorial and read the words, 'Rest in piece' engraved into the stone statue. She tried to fight back the tears, but they were already staining her fur. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom approached their friend. "Hey Scootaloo, you okay?"
Scootaloo spoke through clenched teeth. "She's. Not. Dead." Her friends, a bit confused, took a step forward, but stopped when they saw her face. "She's not dead!"
Apple Bloom took an uneasy step forward, and tried to comfort her friend. "Scoots, I know it's hard to accept, but thinkin bout the odds...You'd have better luck finding a needle in a haystack."
"ENOUGH! I don't want to hear it! She's out there somewhere, I just know it! She Wouldn't die this easily! She would be ashamed if she saw you all give up hope this easily." Scootaloo stomped her hooves to the ground and flew off, leaving her friends speechless.
~~~
Scootaloo arrived back at her cloud home, exhausted from today's events. She saw that the mailbox had mail in it, and quickly skimmed through it all. "Spam, spam, sympathy, spam, sympathy, sympathy, Wonderbolts, sp-" She gasped, looked at the last letter. It was indeed addressed to this house from the Wonderbolts. She opened the letter and read it, her heart aching a bit more with each word.
Dear Rainbow Dash,
We've seen you around a lot, like at the Best Young Fliers competition, and when you joined my training academy. We've reviewed your records for speed, agility, and skill, and are also aware of you being the captain of the weather team down in Ponyville. So that is why we'd like to ask that you join the team. Reply as soon as possible.
sincerely
Spitfire
Scootaloo stared at the letter for a good 5 minutes before crumbling it up, and throwing it away. Every believed she was gone, except Scootaloo. She was alone. Without the only person in this world who she loved.