//------------------------------// // To Examine(Edited) // Story: To Soar // by ImpossibleReflection //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash had some problems wrapping her head around Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, being Scootaloo's mother. She couldn't imagine that Spitfire would just abandon a filly for not being able to fly. Rainbow Dash couldn't figure how Spitfire could be so cruel. Rainbow Dash had lay in her bed tossing and turning for hours, she would have normally been asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but the thought that Scootaloo was Spitfires daughter? It was a lot to take in, and she couldn't think of a reason why Scootaloo would lie about something like that. A sinister side of her thought that it may be an attention grab. She would have to check with the owner of the orphanage at some point. She would also Take Scootaloo to the hospital to see if she really had that condition, and if there was anything that could be done about it. _-~/|\~-_ Rainbow Dash awoke the next morning with bags under her eyes and an excess of yawns in her throat. She begrudgingly got up from under the blankets, wiping away the dust from her puffy eyes, before proceeding to walk down the stairs. Then Proceeding to cross the main hall of her house and towards the kitchen. I think I'll have that apple that I haven't eaten yet, she thought as she walked through the doorway to her kitchen. She froze as she saw Scootaloo, and Scootaloo froze as she saw Rainbow Dash: Scootaloo mid chew, and Dash mid stride. Scootaloo had a half eaten apple in her hoof. It was several moments of this before they returned to motion. Scootaloo resumed the chewing of her apple and Dash resumed walking into the kitchen to try and find something to eat. Dash decided to break the awkward silence that followed, "Not used to seeing you at home yet, I guess." "Mhmm." Scootaloo responded through her mouthful of apple. Upon lack of finding any form of edible nourishment Rainbow Dash remembered something, "Was that the last apple?" Scootaloo stopped chewing, and looked at Rainbow Dash with apparent fear in her eyes. Scootaloo swallowed loudly. "It's alright, I'll just find something else." Rainbow dash looked through various cupboards trying to find anything edible She swears she saw a box of what was once "food" move. She ended up settling with some questionable pop-tarts in the back of one of the cupboards. She sat down at the table across from Scootaloo. She took a bite from the fossil pastry, Not too bad, should still be edible... I think. After deciding to stop eating the vintage pastry halfway through she set it down, "Scootaloo, I think we should go to the doctor today." Never thought I'd voluntarily go there. "Why?" Scootaloo asked. "You need a check-up. I also want to see if there is anything we can do about..." Rainbow Dash new this was a delicate topic, she had trouble trying to find a gentle way to say it. "My bones," Scootaloo finished for her. "Yeah," Rainbow Dash replied solemnly. From all her years of flying she always noticed everything, so she easily noticed the increased breath rate of Scootaloo. She had on a brave face, or was at least trying to put on a brave face. "It's okay Scoots, if you don't want to go I won't force you." "It's okay, if you think we can fix it then I'll go." Scootaloo said with a sigh. Rainbow Dash walked around the table over to Scootaloo. Rainbow wrapped a wing around Scootaloo, "I promise, Scootaloo, I will teach you to fly. I don't care what it takes, I will do it or my name isn't Rainbow Dash!" "But... What if you can't" Scootaloo said. Not motivational enough dang. Rainbow thought, trying to find a way to convince at least Scootaloo, if not herself, Here goes nothing, "What is my name?" "What?" "What is my name?" "Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo wasn't sure where this was going. "What other proof do you need?" Rainbow struck an impressive pose. Scootaloo's doubt began to crack. If anyone can Dash, it would be you. _-~/|\~-_ The birds around Ponyville hospital were currently flying away from the vicinity of apparent imminent danger that was sending shock waves through the air. "What do you mean you can't fix it?!" Rainbow Dash shouted at Doctor Stable. The medical practitioner in question almost dropped the X-ray in surprise. Doctor Stable knew he was in a very bad place to be: in between Rainbow Dash and the well being of someone she cared for. Doctor Stable steeled himself, "I am afraid that there isn't an operation for this condition; it's far too rare to warrant the risks of experimenting with it." A very dangerous place indeed. Rainbow Dash looked ready to brawl. The doctor knew Rainbow Dash wouldn't harm him, mostly, somewhere in the back of his mind. Seeing her like this however was not something that reassured his safety. Scootaloo, who was watching this from the hospital bed, was in shock. She hadn't seen Rainbow Dash act hostile like that before. It scared Scootaloo, seeing such a vicious face on Rainbow Dash. The doctor had told Rainbow Dash exactly what the last doctor had, and Rainbow Dash did not approve. "I am sorry Miss Dash, but there is nothing that we can do," Doctor Stable affirmed, "And I do have other patients I need to take care of." He quickly turned around and left the room, while trying not to seem like he was following his natural instincts of fleeing. After the Doctor left, Rainbow's head sunk down, "Damn it," Rainbow said angrily as wet specks fell onto the floor. Now seeing her idol crying confused Scootaloo even more. She could see the anger, the failure on Rainbow Dash's face apparent to even Scootaloo. She realized that Rainbow Dash was the pony who needed help right now. Scootaloo hopped down from the hospital bed and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow Dash's neck in a hug. Almost instantly Rainbow snatched Scootaloo in her own forelegs to reciprocate. "I'm not going to give up. Never." Rainbow Dash whispered to Scootaloo. After a while of just holding each other in a warm embrace, they managed to calm down and leave the hospital. The hospital behind them Rainbow Dash said, "Well Scoots, we do need to get some food, how about we head over to the market. We can have a nice dinner tonight, assuming I don't burn it." Scootaloo giggled at this, followed by Rainbow Dash saying, "Laugh at my cooking skills why dont'ya?" while giving Scootaloo a playful smirk. The first stop at the local market was to get apples from the Apples. As soon as they walked up to the apple stand Applejack greeted them, "Howdy RD," She noticed the puffy redness of her friend's face, and the fur that was matted down under her eyes, "Y'alright,Ya look like ya flew inta a brick wall." "Something like that," Rainbow said, losing a hint of her cheery composure and glancing at Scootaloo, "I have another mouth to feed, so I will be needing some more apples." Applejack gave them a dozen apples, and Rainbow Dash payed promptly. Before Rainbow could leave, however, Applejack called her back, "Okay, Rainbow Dash, What's up?" Applejack said in a firm whisper. "I don't know what you're talking about," Rainbow denied horridly. "Ah thought you'd both be a lot happier about this. Ah can tell you've been crying," Applejack gestured towards the orange filly, "And Scootaloo over there seems worried out of her mind behind her smile." "When I adopted her I didn't know what I was getting myself into. If I did, I would have done it sooner. She has issues I don't know if I can fix, but I won't give up. It just hasn't been easy on either of us, but we'll figure it out." "All Ah needed ta hear sugar cube," Applejack smiled, "If ya need any help, any at all, Ah'm here, as Ah'm sure all our friends will be." The rest of the shopping went on uneventfully as Rainbow and Scootaloo simply enjoyed each others company. When They passed a news stand Rainbow Dash noticed a small article with a picture of her hugging Scootaloo. The headline attached to the article read "Local Hero Adopts Orphan." If they publicize my life anymore I might have to start kicking journalists. _-~/|\~-_ "Damn it Dash," Spitfire spoke to the Ponyville Press, "Are you ever going to stop making me regret my mistakes?" She folded the paper and put it down with difficult unsteady breaths. "I don't want to remember." She pulled a bottle of Whiskey from her desk along with a glass. And choked the first glass down in between sobs.