The next morning, Scootaloo stayed on the edges of Ponyville, still uncertain who to tell about her cutie mark. She couldn't tell her friends; they would tell everyone they could, and Rainbow Dash would find out. She couldn't tell Rainbow Dash's friends, they would tell her without a doubt. Miss Cheerilee would probably tell Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo sighed and continued to ride, not really going anywhere. Eventually someone would see what Scootaloo's special talent was; it wasn't easy to hide. She could probably wear a pair of pants or a skirt, but others would wonder why she all of a sudden wanted to wear clothes. It wasn't fair. Scootaloo had worked so hard to earn her cutie mark. Now when she finally gets it, all it would do is ruin her friendship with Rainbow Dash.
Scootaloo continued to worry throughout the morning. Around noontime, she arrived at Sweet Apple Acres where her friends were no doubt waiting. Scootaloo stopped near the barn and sat for a bit, still afraid what would happen if someone saw her mark.She looked around a bit, hoping no one was around until she saw a stack of paint cans. Seeing them gave her an idea. She trotted to them and checked each color. Red,white, brown, typically what the Apples would need for their barn, but Scootaloo saw a can of orange. She smacked and pulled on the lid until she removed it after a frustrating minute. The paint's color was nearly identical to her coat's. Scootaloo looked around to make sure she was still alone. Certain she was, she grabbed a nearby brush and dipped it in the paint. Onceit was well drenched, she applied it to both sides of her flank, redipping the brush when needed.Scootaloo looked over herself and saw the paint completely covered cutie mark, making her look like a blank flank. This helped Scootaloo calm herself a bit, but wondered how long the paint would last. Maybe she could use the other paints to make-
"Howdy, Scootaloo."
Scootaloo gasped and jumped in shock. Applejack walked toward her carrying a ladder.
"Where you been all morning? Applebloom and Sweetie Belle have been waiting for you."
"Just,um...practicing. Yeah, Rainbow Dash wants me to keep in shape and keep trying to fly on my own."
Scootaloo smiled sheepishly at Applejack. Applejack set down her ladder and sat by Scootaloo.
"She's working you pretty hard, huh?"
"Hey, no big deal. I mean...how else will I learn to fly? After all, Rainbow Dash is the best flyer ever! She can teach me better than anypony."
Applejack felt a little empathy for Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash was her friend, but Applejack could see she still had alot to learn about being a big sister. Applejack and the rest of the mane six figured Scootaloo couldn't fly, but Rainbow Dash always said she could with enough work. Of course Scotaloo would never turn down a chance to learn from Rainbow Dash, so it only made the issue much harder. Applejack put a foreleg around Scootaloo's shoulders.
"Listen, sugarcube. I understand it hurts not being able to fly, but you can't let it get to you so much."
Scootaloo couldn't meet Applejack's eye. She was getting close to why Scootaloo was so scared.
"Even if it turns out you can't, that doesn't make you any less of a pony. It won't make your cutie mark any less special either."
Scootaloo felt like she would start crying then and there. Applejack had really hit home. Scootaloo just wanted her cutie mark to bring her closer to Rainbow Dash, but now it seemed like it would do the exact opposite. Applejack noticed her sudden drop in mood and pulled Scootaloo into a gentle hug, rubbing her back.
"Don't you worry about Rainbow Dash.I admit, she's got a lot to learn herself, but she loves you like a little sister."
Applejack gently lifted Scootaloo's eyes to hers.
"And a good big sis does not give up on her little sis, no matter what."
Scootaloo smiled slightly, feeling a little better.
"Thanks, Applejack."
"Anytime Scootaloo. Now run along to your friends."
Applejack gave Scootaloo a little pat and she ran off to the clubhouse. Applejack set up her latter to reach the high point of the barn and reached for the brush and paint she needed. As she was about to dip the brush, she noticed it was covered in orange paint. Applejack wasn't sure who would need that color, but she thought of Scootaloo and looked in the direction she ran to.
"Wait, she wouldn't need this, would she?"
~
Scootaloo ran for the clubhouse as fast as she could, reaching it momennts later. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were both inside, bored from waiting so long.Scootaloo walked inside,making both her friends perk up.
"About time ya'll showed up. We've been waiting forever!"
"Yeah, where were you?"
"I uh...I had some practice to do. You know, Rainbow Dash wants me for her flying partner."
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both gasped.
"So she's really gonna make you a wonderbolt?!"
"Yep. Once I figure out how to fly, she'll teach me everything she knows!"
"Wow! That's so cool! Did you get your cutie mark yet?!"
Both girls took a close look at Scootaloo's flank. Scootaloo wanted to pull away, still terrified they would see her cutie mark.
"N-not yet. Maybe...maybe once I learn to fly it'll come."
Sweetie Belle seemed satisfied with the answer, but Applebloom was curious about the odd appearance of Scootaloo's flank.
"How come your coat looks all funny?"
Scootaloo's eyes widened in alarm. She didn't think about how the dried paint would look. She tried to think of an explanation, but nothing came to her.
"Um...uh...hey, I got an idea for how we can earn our cutie marks!"
"What?"
Scootaloo thought for a moment, but nothing convincing came to her.
"We can be....W....w....window cleaners!"
Sweetie Belle and Applebloom cracked their brows at Scootaloo.
"Seriously?"
Scootaloo pushed them out the door, trying to pretend she was excited.
"C'mon girls! No time like the present! Cutie mark Crusaders window cleaners!"
Scootaloo held up her hoof for a high five, smiling nervously. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle didn't look convinced, but reluctantly joined Scootaloo in high five.
~
The crusaders spent their day as they usually do, attempting anything they could think of for a cutie mark, but to no avail. However, Scootaloo remained cautious of her involvement, keeping an eye on her flank and looking out for Rainbow Dash. After many failed attempts, the crusaders came to their last chance for the day; painting. They had a large art easel set up and numerous painting supplies they purchased from a store. Sweetie Belle went first, using her magic to pick up a brush. She dipped it in a paint can and randomly slid it across the easel, repeating the process countless times. When she finished, the others looked over her creation.
"What is it?"
Sweetie Belle looked over her work. It was little more than a dozen colors thrown across the easel with no rhyme or reason. Sweetie Belle simply shrugged.
"I don't know."
Applebloom and Scootaloo rolled their eyes.
"Ya have to try and paint something other than random shapes to be an artist."
Sweetie Belle seemed unperturbed and removed her painting from the stand. Applebloom put a plant slate on it and tried herself. Her painting was much more diligent and careful, though far from perfect. After a few moments, Applebloom finished her work and let the others see.
"Whadda ya think? It's an apple tree."
Applebloom did indeed try to capture an apple tree, but the trunk was too small, the leaves far too big and the apples were little more than red blotches.
"No offense Applebloom, but it looks more like a mushroom."
Applebloom took a closer look and had to agree.
"You're right, it does."
Applebloom sighed in disappointment and took her painting off. Scootaloo placed a blank tablet for herself, though she didn't know what to paint. It didn't matter what she made, it wouldn't change her mark. This made her think about what Rainbow Dash told her yesterday; how the two of them were going to be on top of the world. It felt like her cutie mark would ruin not just her own dreams, but Rainbow Dash's too. Scootaloo slumped a bit, feeling very sad and guilty.
"Are you okay, Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo jumped a bit feeling a hoof on her shoulder. She saw Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looking at her with concern. Scootaloo quickly nodded.
"Y-yeah. Sorry. I was...thinking of something else."
Scootaloo decided on something simple to paint. She dipped her brush in the red paint and carefully applied an arc to the easel. She repeated this process with each color until she created a simple rainbow. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked over it and smiled.
"Least yours actually looks right."
Scootaloo smiled a bit. She looked at her flank again and gasped in fear. The paint was starting to chip away from her coat. Scootaloo started to panic, thinking her friends would see.
"Girls, I...I gotta go! Rainbow Dash is waiting for me!"
Scootaloo quickly jumped on her scooter and rode off before before Applebloom or Sweetie Belle could say a word. Applebloom scratched her head.
"How come she's so worried all of a sudden?"
Sweetie Belle shrugged, wondering the same thing.
~
Scootaloo spent the next two hours hiding in the alleys of Ponyville. She thought of going back to the shop she and her friends bought the paint from, but then the clerk or someone else would see her mark. Scootaloo took another look at her flank, seeing the paint was almost completely gone, exposing her mark. She sat down and tried to think what to do. Scootaloo had never heard of a pony changing their cutie mark. Applebloom had told her what happened when Twilight tried to give her a mark and Scootaloo saw first hand when Applebloom used Zecora's magic for the same thing. Scootaloo was stuck with her cutie mark, no matter how much she wanted to change it. This made her fell both depressed and angry. Scootaloo had wanted her cutie mark for so long, hoping it would help her fly and become closer to Rainbow Dash. Now that she had it, all it did was ruin her hopes of ever flying and may even cost her friendship with Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo wanted to believe what Applejack told her, but she was still terrified what-
"Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo gasped in horror. Rainbow Dash was looking for her. Scootaloo dove behind a trash can, trying to keep hidden.
Rainbow Dash flew low over Ponyville, searching for Scootaloo, feeling slightly worried. Scootaloo was always on time when Rainbow Dash asked her to be somewhere. Today though, she waited for an hour and Scootaloo never showed. Rainbow Dash looked around the town but saw no sign of Scootaloo. She spotted Applejack working her stand. Rainbow Dash flew toward it. Scootaloo remained hidden behind a garbage can, no more than five feet away from them.
"Howdy, Dash! What brings you here?"
"Hey Applejack. Have you seen Scootaloo?"
"I saw her this morning, but not since. Why?"
"We were supposed to meet and practice flying, but she never showed up."
"Well,maybe she got held up with her friends."
"I don't think so. She's never been late before."
"Dash, I think you're working her a little too hard."
Rainbow Dash looked surprised for a second before bursting into laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"You of all ponies saying someone is working too hard!"
Rainbow Dash continued to laugh heartily. Scootaloo very carefully crept closer to the end of the alley she was in, wanting to better hear the two ponies' conversation. After a minute, Rainbow Dash finally stopped laughing and collected herself. Applejack glared at her.
"Dash, I'm serious! This morning, she kept her friends waitin' cause she was wrapped up in your practice! When I ran into her, something was botherin' the poor thing!"
Rainbow Dash recoiled slightly and felt very concerned.
"Do you know why?"
"I'm thinking she's still upset she can't fly."
Rainbow Dash sighed in exasperation.
"Really? You're still on that?"
"Well how do you explain her still being grounded?"
"Hey, Fluttershy was never a great flyer, and she does fine now."
"Yes, but Fluttershy could actually get airborne. Scootaloo can't."
Rainbow Dash felt insulted by this and roughly poked Applejack in the chest.
"Back off Applejack! There is nothing wrong with Scootaloo! Someday, she's gonna show everypony she's just as good a flyer, heck maybe even better than me!"
Scootaloo felt her heart fill with shame hearing Rainbow Dash defend her. Rainbow Dash wanted her to fly as much as she did. Scootaloo wondered how she would react when she learned what Scootaloo's mark was. Seeing Rainbow Dash so set on helping her fly...it made her stomach turn with dread. Meanwhile, Applejack managed to calm Rainbow Dash down so she could speak.
"You're right. There isn't anything wrong with Scootaloo. Even if she can't fly."
Rainbow Dash huffed and rolled her eyes.
"But you really need to think about what if she can't. You're putting a lot on her shoulders, pushing her to be a flyer."
"Applejack, I'm telling you, you're wrong. She CAN fly! I just gotta keep working with her!"
"Dash, why are you so certain? What tells you what her talent is? What do you see that nopony else does?"
Rainbow Dash smiled wide and her eyes practically sparkled with pride.
"Because she's exactly like I was at her age. I can see she has that itch for a challenge, and the need to win! The very things that helped me earn my cutie mark!"
"And...you really think the only thing holding her back is flying?"
"Exactly. Once she gets the hang of it, she is gonna do some amazing things."
Rainbow Dash took a moment to cherish the thought of seeing Scootaloo achieving her dream and the two of them flying together in the wonderbolts. The thought alone made her glow with pride. Applejack was surprised to see Rainbow Dash so passionate about someone else. She didn't even act like this about her own accomplishments. Applejack felt her concern become stronger, wondering if Rainbow Dash would handle Scootaloo being unable to fly right.
"I really hope you're right, Rainbow Dash."
"Trust me. With my help, she will be the best."
With that, Rainbow Dash flew off to continue looking for Scootaloo. Scootaloo stayed hidden in the alley, tears falling down her face and feeling like a complete and utter failure. Rainbow Dash wanted her to fly maybe even more than Scootaloo wanted to learn. Rainbow Dash was so proud of her and excited to pass on what she knew about flying. Because of her, because of her cutie mark, that could never happen. Scootaloo could never be like Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo buried her face in her knees, trying to silence her crying. She felt like the worst little sister ever. Scootaloo tried so hard for Rainbow Dash, wanted to make her proud. but now it seemed like she failed when it mattered most.
Scootaloo stayed hidden away in the alley for the rest of the day, too scared to leave and too ashamed to face anyone.
Around sunset, Pinkie Pie was happily hopping home, saying hello to anyone she passed. As she passed an alley, the sound of someone crying made her stop and see who it was.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
She received no response, only hearing more sobs and whimpers. Pinkie walked into the alley hoping to help whomever was so sad. She saw Scootaloo behind a trash can, her face in her knees and her shoulders shaking with heartbroken sobs. Pinkie very gently spoke to her.
"What's wrong, Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo gasped in surprise. She felt terrified seeing Pinkie and covered her flank. She didn't keep it completely hidden, because Pinkie saw the top of it, which made her gasp in delight.
"Is that your cutie mark?!"
"No!"
Scootaloo tried to keep her mark hidden more fully, but Pinkie pushed her foreleg away to see it.
"Lemme see, lemme see!"
Pinkie took a few seconds to look over the mark completely. Realizing what it was, Pinkie started shouting and jumping for joy.
"I was right! It is a scooter!"
Scootaloo tried desperately to quiet Pinkie as she continued to celebrate for her.
"When did you get it? Does Rainbow Dash now? Ooh, I should throw you a cutesenera! That way, every-"
Pinkie was finally silenced by Scootaloo roughly shoving her hooves into Pinkie's mouth.
"SHUTUP!"
Scootaloo looked around to make sure no one else was around before she removed her hooves from Pinkie's mouth.
"Pinkie, you can't tell anypony about this!"
"But, why? Don't you want everypony to see your special talent?"
Scootaloo started to cry again as she felt more and more defeated.
"I can't fly..."
Scootaloo sobbed bitterly. Pinkie gently hugged her.
"I just want to be like Rainbow Dash. I wanted to fly with her and make her proud of me...I don't want to lose my big sister."
"Scootaloo, Dashie would never do that! She loves you!"
Scootaloo continued to weep in Pinkie's embrace. Pinkie could see only Rainbow Dash could make Scootaloo feel better.
"Why don't we go see her?"
"NO!"
"But-"
"Pinkie, you can't tell anypony!"
"But-"
"Please,promise me you won't."
Scootaloo looked at Pinkie with the most desperate, heart broken face she had ever seen. Pinkie couldn't resist such a look and caved in.
"I promise..."
"Pinkie promise!"
Pinkie did so, halfheartedly going through the motions. Scootaloo felt no relief knowing her secret was safe. She just wanted to be alone, away from anyone to try and ignore all the pain and misery she felt. Scootaloo got on her scooter to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I...I don't know."
Scootaloo rode off, uncertain what to do or where to go. Pinkie remained where she was, feeling very sad. She had never met anyone she couldn't cheer up. Even Cranky Doodle Donkey opened up to her, albeit slightly. But now, she had no way of cheering up Scootaloo, and Pinkie promised not to tell anyone else. Pinkie couldn't ask ask anyone for help nor could she tell the good news about Scootaloo's cutie mark. Pinkie left the alley and walked home, her mane and tail flat and lifeless from her depression.
~
Scootaloo had retreated to the forest to think. She payed no mind to the sounds of the animals around her. Scootaloo looked around and felt a wave of nostalgia. This was the same spot Rainbow Dash agreed to be her big sister. The next morning was even better, because Rainbow dash carried her through the air. It was the one time in her life when she could say she was flying. Scootaloo felt more tears roll down her face. Rainbow Dash did so much for her, but Scootaloo could never live up to her. Scootaloo looked up to see Cloudsdale in the distance. Rainbow Dash would be home by now and asleep. Scootaloo wished she could be there. To be able to fly to Cloudsdale all by herself. Then Rainbow Dash would see what an awesome flyer she was.
Scootaloo suddenly had an epiphany and her face went from heartbroken to determined. That's exactly what she would do! She was going to fly to Cloudsdale on her own and surprise Rainbow Dash. She wasn't going to let her big sister down, no matter what her cutie mark was.
Scootaloo took one look at her scooter and kicked it away, sending it into the nearby river. She looked around for somewhere to jump from. She spotted a hill facing toward Cloudsdale and quickly climbed up it. Scootaloo took a moment to look at her path, feeling the cool night air blowing against her. Scootaloo spread her wings allowing them to catch the wind. This was it! She was finally going to fly and show Rainbow Dash what she could really do. Scootaloo felt her heart pump in anticipation and clawed at the ground, excited for the feeling of finally flying.
"Here I come, Rainbow Dash!"
Scootaloo ran as fast as she could, flapping her wings. When she reached the edge, she leapt off with all her strength into the air, holding her legs straight out. For a split second, Scootaloo felt like she had finally flown and she was going to reach Rainbow Dash on her own.
It didn't last.
As the momentum of her jump wore off, Scootaloo started to plummet to the ground in spite of her wings. She hit the ground with a loud thud, slightly bruising her. Scootaloo looked up again to Cloudsdale and sobbed, not from any physical pain. She had done everything Rainbow Dash taught her, every technique and motion, and she still could not stay in the air. Scootaloo felt like she was absolutely worthless, wanting to crawl in a hole and never see anyone again. She looked at her cutie mark and felt her sorrow turn to anger. She smacked it repeatedly with her hoof, wishing it would go away and be something else. After a few minutes of beating, Scootaloo ceased and wept in hopelessness. Alone, tired, cold and aching, she stood up and began the walk home, sending out a heartfelt apology.
"I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash."
End of Part 2