//------------------------------// // Bonding With Her Most Loyal Fan // Story: (SiC) Part 8 - They Will Know By Our Love // by Brian Jacko //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash sat with Scootaloo by the stream in front of Fluttershy's cottage. "So I heard all about what happened with you. I'm so glad that you're still alive. You're still my number one hero," Scootaloo said. "No pony will ever be as awesome as you." "Hey, hey, hey. Easy there, Scoots. I used to be really proud and loved being the center of attention, but I think that you have been treating me like an idol. I still struggle with pride and I don't need to fall into the trap of being proud and acting like I'm the best at everything again. I had Soarin' literally believe that I was some kind of super special saint and he believed that I was going to become some kind of Apostle designated by another pony or something. You need to keep your eyes on Jesus, kid. Not me." "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. You're just really easy to get hooked on. I want to always be rooting for you." "Thanks, Scoots. When I was your age, I idolized the Wonderbolts myself. It took me a long time to put my idols away. You can always feel free to cheer for me, there's nothing wrong with that. We are commanded to lift one another's spirits up, but we have to be careful that it doesn't go any farther than that or else it literally becomes like worship." Scootaloo nodded her head in understanding. "Will you keep me in check so that I don't worship idols?" "Absolutely. You know I won't let my little sister down." Scootaloo perked up with a beaming smile. "I really love it when you call me your sister. I don't have a sister, and it just makes my day to hear you say that you're my sister, since you're my most favorite pony of all to be with." "Well, it's true Scoots. You are my little sister whether we are blood related or not and I'll always love you like my sister." Tears welled up in Scootaloo's eyes. She wasn't exactly a filly who got much love or appreciation which is one reason why she clung so much to Rainbow Dash. She was one of the few mares who seemed to care for her despite her disabilities. "I don't know what to say, but thank you! I have been getting bullied so much in school by Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Just a few days ago, Diamond Tiara punched me in the nose which sent me to the nurses office. I didn't even do anything wrong. I'm starting to become afraid to go to school and they still continue to call me chicken." "I'm so sorry, Scoots. I had two bullies that I had to deal with in the past. They will know by our love and some will persecute us because we follow the truth. We need to pray for them. Your birthday is coming up, but I want to give you a little gift that I picked up today. Think of it as an early birthday present." "You got me a gift, Rainbow Dash?" "Of course I did, kid. How can I not give my most loyal and dedicated fan a little gift?" "Because you being here next to me is all I could ever wish for." Rainbow Dash put her hoof to her chest. "Aw, come on, Scoots! Don't do this to me! You're going to give me a literal heart attack." "I'm sorry." Rainbow Dash pulled out her gift and gave it to Scootaloo. "What's this for?" Scootaloo asked. "It's a gift certificate for the gym. I will be signing you up for boxing lessons. Listen, I don't want you to get violent by doing this, but you seriously need to learn how to defend yourself if you really feel threatened in any kind of physical way. Self defense is not a crime and my heart breaks every time I hear you tell me stories about the bullies at school. I do not want you to go around thinking that it's ok to hurt ponies. I want you to beat the love of Jesus into ponies, but not with your hooves. Do you understand me?" Scootaloo nodded her head yes and said, "I'll be responsible, I promise. Thank you so much for thinking of me like this." Scootaloo got up and gently hugged her hero. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes proudly and smiled. She could really see herself one day living with Scootaloo as a family member. Scootaloo went beyond sister in many instances. Rainbow Dash even saw her as her very own daughter and she loved to take her under her wing whenever she was hurt, sacred, or needed comforting. Scootaloo let go of her and sat back down. She stared into the little stream and asked, "So are you excited that you're a Wonderbolt now? I seriously can't wait to get tickets to come and see you. You're going to be the greatest Wonderbolt of all time!" Rainbow Dash put her front hoof on Scootaloo's head and said, "Scoots, I need to tell you something. I'm incredibly blessed to be alive and have a very good chance at flying again, but I don't think that I'll be flying with the Wonderbolts or performing a Sonic Rainboom ever again. If I'm able to do a Sonic Rainboom again, it's by God's will and grace alone, but I can't expect God to just give me free hand outs and fixing every single problem in my life. Do you remember the miracle story of when God healed Rarity of her diseases? He didn't have to do that, and He'd still be just as good whether He decided to heal her or not. Yeah, it was heart breaking to hear that I won't be able to fly as fast as I can again, but there's a beautiful story behind all of this. A lost pony came to know Christ, and even though being a Wonderbolt was one of my biggest dreams in life, having a pony come to know the Lord is far more exciting than flying with the top elite fliers or performing a Sonic Rainboom. I'm sorry if it's disappointing to you that you won't see me perform as a Wonderbolt. I know you have always wanted to see me fly with them, but maybe this will all work out for the better. Maybe this will be a good and humbling experience for me and that I'll also have more time to spend with my most favorite cutie mark crusader. I just hope that my most loyal fan won't be too upset that I can't fly as well." "Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that one of your most important dreams has been shattered. I won't think any less of you if you can't fly as well or even if you couldn't fly at all. Remember, I have disabilities that prevents me from flying as well. As long as you'll love me and stay by my side. I'll always be happy." "Hey, we need to view whatever disabilities we may have as something to work around and overcome through other means. Think of having a disability is like playing a video game. It's like we are playing life on expert mode!" Rainbow said. Scootaloo giggled at the thought. Every time Rainbow Dash could make Scootaloo smile, it made her own heart smile. She was no Pinkie Pie by any means when it came to cheering up ponies, but cheering up at least one pony in her life was very important to her. "Rainbow Dash! Scootaloo! Dinner is ready!" Fluttershy called out from her cottage. "Wow, Scoots, we have been sitting here talking for a while. Are you hungry? I'm starving.....like Applejack.....Well, maybe not THAT hungry, but you get the idea." Rainbow laughed as she visualized Applejack eating and the splash damage that she had caused with her food. "I'm hungry too. It's really kind of Fluttershy to let me stay over with you. Let's get some dinner!" Scootaloo put her two front hooves on the back of the wheelchair and pushed Rainbow Dash into the cottage. Fluttershy held the door open and welcomed them inside. Rainbow Dash would have great support through her friends and she would continue to be a positive role model for her biggest fan, Scootaloo.