//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: She smells like rain 
// by ScamperBloo 
//------------------------------//

A warm and bright afternoon in Ponyville, with no showers scheduled by the weather pegasi, until late that evening.  A lone tree stood in a park on the outskirts of town, to the west of Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple family farm.  Rainbow Dash, having nothing to do as she wasn’t needed until after sunset with the weather team, slept in the tree in the park, snoozing peacefully, all four legs draped over a branch, straddling it. A path ran to the tree, abruptly ended and continued over the other side, a mistake, foalishly made by some of the worst trained civil engineers from Stalliongrad University, years ago when Ponyville was being established. The path curved and fell beyond the zenith of the hill, the tree on the opposite side standing tall above the grassy crest. 


Scootaloo finished school for the day where her and Applebloom parted ways with Sweetie Belle, who had to help Rarity with fittings for a new range, and walked (or rode rather) Applebloom home to Sweet Apple Acres where she had chores to attend. She was riding by herself towards the other end of town, where she herself resided with her parents, an earth pony mother a Pegasi father, and her foal brother, Scamper. 


She flew along the path, planted firmly on her red racer scooter that her father had purchased for her on the Summer Sun Celebration the year earlier. Her wings buzzing like a hummingbird, propelling her forward at Wonderbolt speeds. She rode around a bend and started to climb the hill, the tree peaking over the top. She had scooted this path many, many times before and knew it well, but as the tree came into view, she saw a powder blue figure hung over a branch along with the distinctly rainbow cascade of mane that hung beside it. Scootaloo gasped, her idol, laying right there. She had envisioned herself, multitudes of times before, performing stunts at breakneck speeds, Rainbow Dash watching and giving her praise, much like Rainbow Dash herself fantasized about with the Wonderbolts.


Now was Scootaloo’s chance, her eyes narrowing as she focuses on the rising crest of the hill. She hits the peak as fast as her underdeveloped wings will thrust her, the muscles of her back tensing and pulsating with each swift beat of her wings. She is ultimately focused on one thing, showing off for Rainbow Dash and all logic and reason flies out the window as fast as she flies through the air, the peak hits and the wheels of the low red scooter lift off the ground, much to Scootaloo’s elation. Her eyes fall downward as her trajectory, forward and up, turns to forward and down. Her eyes fall upon Rainbow Dash, still snoring away peacefully. Scootaloo realizes her idol hadn’t actually seen her stunt at all and this snaps her back to reality. Her eyes continue to fall downward, tracing over the branches underneath Rainbow Dash, and finally to the trunk, where she was directly headed.

The red scooter falls from beneath her hooves as she tries to slow herself, wings now flapping in the opposite direction, but with simply not enough force and she slams shoulder first into the tree, having managed to change her position,  bracing for impact. 

Rainbow Dash awoke with a start as the branch she slumbered on was shaken and the noise of cracking wood, or bone, echoed up the tree. She looked around, dazed from the dazzling brightness of sudden arousal. It was quiet for five or so seconds, as Rainbow Dash looked around, confounded as to what had awaken her. 
“Aaaaaaahhhhhh!”  Scootaloo screamed, the adrenaline finally clearing her system enough for her to begin to feel the pain of her collision. 

Rainbow Dash heard the distressing squeal and looked down at the purple mane filly, writhing in agony, and let out a shocked yelp. She flew down and landed by Scootaloo’s side.

“Ahh, what happened? Are you alright? Omigoshomigosh!” Rainbow Dash yelled. 

Scootalloo screamed again through clenched teeth. “My shouldeeeeeer! *gasp* It’s *gasp* brokeeeen! *gasp*”  Rainbow Dash was at a loss as to what to do, she knew nothing about first aid and the Ponyville hospital was at the other end of town.  Her brain was ticking over, trying to think through the panic, as one of her favorite little fillies lay there in agony. 
She placed a hoof under Scootaloo’s neck and one under her back, propelling them both up in the air with her wings. Scootaloo screamed in pain as her body weight was shifted and her shoulder moved position. 
“I’m taking you to Fluttershy, I’m sure she’ll know what to do.” Rainbow Dash looked down through panic stricken eyes to the little fillies tear streamed face as she nodded, biting her bottom lip. Scootaloo trying her best not to cry, she wanted to look tough for Rainbow Dash. 

“My *gasp* scooter *gasp*!” spoke Scootaloo through pain filled sobs. 
Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo and back to the ground, searching for the fillies distinct red scooter. She flew around the tree and swooped down, nabbing the scooter in her mouth and all the while holding Scootaloo tightly with her forehooves. Even through the excruciation Scootaloo could not help but be impressed with her idols daring tricks. 
Rainbow Dash soared towards Fluttershy’s cottage, on the outskirts of the Everfree forest, leaving a signature rainbow streak behind her as she went. Scootaloo sobbing as they dropped in altitude, heading directly for the wooden door of the residence, various animals and critters littered throughout the property, roaming free. 

Rainbow dash landed deftly on two hooves and tenderly lowered the injured filly to the ground, Scootaloo cringing with the sharp stab of pain as she touched the ground outside the door. 
Rainbow Dash placed the scooter next to the door, noticing only then that it was grotesquely disfigured, and hated to think that the same had happened to Scootaloo’s frame. 

Another shot of panic echoed through Rainbow Dash’s mind as she wondered whether or not Fluttershy would actually be home. As if she were speaking prophetically, the door swiftly opened. Fluttershy had seen the fiasco on her front lawn from the upstairs window and bolted as hurriedly as she could down her songbird laden staircase. 
“Oh my, what happened? Are you okay little one?” Fluttershy enquired.

Scootaloo responded with a moan and a sob, clutching her right should with her left foreleg.
“Does she look okay?!” The panicked blue mare shot at Fluttershy. 
“Well, um, no. I don’t think so”
“Ugh, Fluttershy, please help. She hit a tree. Hard.”
“Oh!  Goodness. Yes of course, I’ll do what I can. Come in.”
Rainbow Dash lifted Scootaloo and flew her in, placing her on the first comfortable place she saw, an old couch that Fluttershy used as a guest bed sometimes. The filly squealed with pain as she was laid down on her back, head on the arm rest, still clutching the damaged shoulder. 

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth along the length of the couch as Fluttershy trotted over to examine the whimpering filly. 
“Oh yes, that’s dislocated.” Stated Fluttershy, with an almost relieved expression. 
“Omigosh! Is she gunna be alright? Please Fluttershy, help her. What if she can’t walk again!? What if she can’t ride her scooter?! Have you seen how good she is on that! It’s only a matter of time until her cutie mark is a scooter!  Please Fluttersh….” Fluttershy stopped the hyperventilating and panicking mare, placing a hoof to her mouth.  
“Rainbow, I’m going to help, but I need you to breathe, I need you to be strong for Scootaloo.” This seemed to calm Rainbow Dash down, but only enough for her to stop running her mouth and stay standing still for a while. 
“Now, honey” Fluttershy said to Scootaloo. “This is going to hurt a little bit, but it will be all better after, okay?” Scootaloo nodded, her face twisted in agony.

Fluttershy reached over and hugged tightly onto the fillies’ foreleg, pulling upwards. Scootaloo screamed, and passed out from the pain. It was suddenly dead quiet, until a ‘POP’ from the fillies joint being relocated.
“OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “You’ve killed her!” Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash, almost pityingly.

“Oh no, Dashy, she’s just having a sleep. It’s always best to rest after an injury like that.” Rainbow Dash was relieved but still worried, her number one fan lying there, injured and broken.
Dashy couldn’t hold it in anymore, and now there wasn’t a spectator that she was embarrassed of crying in front of, burst out bawling. Trotting over to her oldest friend, she threw her forelegs around her neck and hugged tightly, sobbing into her mane.

“I *sob* was so *sob* scared *sob*!” Fluttershy placed a foreleg around Dashy’s mane, returning the hug.
“I know.” Fluttershy responded. “It’s going to be okay now, she’s asleep and we’re going to take her over to the hospital. She’ll be fine. I promise” Dashy looked at her best friend and smiled, a weak one, but a smile all the same. 
They took advantage of the fillies slumber and flew her over to the hospital. 


When Scootaloo awoke, she first noticed the feint throbbing ache of her right shoulder, she winced at it and looked down to see it in a sling, which was strangely bright and decorated. Illuminated by fluorescent energy saving bulbs, the room that now came into focus was littered with various gifts, including; A large tower of various sweets and cakes, decorated in more sweets and festooned with three balloons, no prizes for guessing who that one was from. There was also a plate of muffins, with a card that had written on it ‘Get wel soon scotalo, frum Ditzy end Dinky Doo.’ An unnecessarily large card was placed against the wall, blasted with glitter and various craft supplies, on it, it had written; “What would a ‘smashing into things’ cutie mark look like? From Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.”   On the bedside table were a pile of books and curled up in the armchair beyond that was a quietly snoring Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo Gasped, her memories coming back to her, chasing away all confusion, and replacing it with embarrassment. She remembered totally bailing out on a stunt and slamming in to a tree, and Rainbow Dash, was right there, and to top it all off, she cried, no, bawled, in front of her idol.
She remained silent for a small while and eventually spoke, calling Rainbow Dash’s name softly, increasing in volume each time she repeated it, until the sleeping mare eventually opened her eyes.
“Hey squirt, you’re awake.” Dashy exclaimed, rubbing her eyes with a foreleg.  “How’re you feeling? Need anything?” She asked.

Scootaloo shook her head. She looked ashamed, and Rainbow Dash noticed. She got up and strolled over to the side of the fillies’ hospital bed, leaning on it with one arm. 
“Ya know, squirt, I didn’t get to where I am without a few bumps and scrapes along the way. Scootaloo weakly returning the smile that Dashy flashed at her as she patted the book on top of the pile of books, ‘Daring Doo’ books.

Scootaloo’s parents, who came to the hospital as soon as the word had come, and only left for the night as they knew she was in good hands with the most loyal pegasi in Equestria, had returned that afternoon to retrieve the filly. Given that it was Scootaloo’s shoulder that was injured, it was incredibly difficult for her to walk and almost entirely impossible for her to scoot home, so her family had taken a taxi cart. It was mid week, and even though it was a school day, and school hadn’t finished yet, when Scootaloo returned home, waiting at the door were her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders, with the expressed permission of Cheerilee.  She gave them a warm smile as they trotted over to her and assisted her out of the carriage. “Mah mah, Scoot, ya sure whacked yerself a goodun!” Drawled Apple Bloom, smirking sweetly.
The three looked at each other and giggled, helping Scootaloo inside.



Two days of rest past, and Scootaloo, held back from her usual energetic activities was becoming complacent. She had spent most of the week to herself, except for afternoons and evenings, where the other two of her trio would drop by and attempt to cheer up little Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom and Sweetiebelle were getting worried; their friend was falling deeper and deeper into an unmotivated depression. Unable to walk without the help of somepony, or a long struggle, she was entertaining herself with a paddle ball and various lengths of string, as well as other assorted odds and ends. 
After school, on the third day, Apple Bloom and Sweetiebelle were walking to Scootaloo’s house.
“Apple Bloom, we really need to do something. She’s so... So.... Not Scootaloo.”
“Ah know.” Replied the crimson maned filly. “But what can we do? She’s not allowed to leave the house, on a count a’ she caint walk. And besides, ah think she’s to down to even do some arts and such, hauled up inside.”
“She can’t walk, right?”
Apple Bloom nodded.
“But she’s a Pegasus... Right?”
Apple Bloom nodded again. “What are ya gettin’ at Sweetiebelle? Jus’ spit it out already!”
“Well, why can’t she just fly around...?” The two looked at each other, suddenly inspired with filly excitement.  But Apple Bloom’s look quickly dissipated.
“She’s too young, her wings ain’t big nuff yet.” She said, dejected.
But Sweetiebelle didn’t look phased. “So what? Rainbow Dash couldn’t have been much older than us when she did a sonic rainboom!”  Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow...
“What are ya implyin’?”
“Scootaloo was trying to impress Rainbow Dash when she smashed... So, she kind of owes her... Like, I dunno, flying lessons or something?”

Thirty seconds later, the two were galloping down Ponyville’s main street and bolted straight into Sugar Cube Corner, the first port of call for anything Rainbow Dash related, as Pinkie and Dashy had been spending an awful lot of time together lately. 

“Pinkie! Pinkie! Have you seen Rainbow Dash?” The two Said in unison, as Pinkie came bouncing out from behind an oven, covered head to toe in icing sugar and syrup. Goodness knows what she was concocting behind there.
“Yup! Sure have! She just left, like seriously thirty one and a bit seconds ago.” 
“Oh wow, we musta’ just missed her.” Apple Bloom said, disappointed. 
Pinkie smiled, looking them both in the eye at the same time, giving her remarkably similar eyes to the sweet little mail mare.
“I do know where she was going, though!” Her eyes adjusting back to normal.
“Where? Fluttershy’s cottage?” Asked Sweetiebelle.
“nope!”
“Twilight’s Library?”
“Nope again!”
“Mah farm?” Apple Bloom interjected.
“My sisters boutique?”
“Both wrong! But this is fun, keep guessing!”
“Please, Pinkie, just tell us where she is.” Sweetiebelle pleaded.
“Oh, she went home... Frustrating, right! Living all the way up there. That mare’s head is in the clouds big time. All of her friends stuck down here, except for Fluttershy of course, but she doesn’t like to fly. I like to fly though, that’s why I built a swirly air balloon, it uses swirly air instead of hot air, so I can go higher, so I can look at Dashy when she’s asleep.” Pinkie put her hooves to her lips, trying to force back inside the last words she had carried on with, but her curious ways were in no danger of being exposed, for the fillies had ceased to be listening and were already on their way out of the store. 

A couple of knocks at an old wooden door, built into the side of a hollowed out tree, magically sustained to procure green leaves. Spike, the young draconic assistant of the gifted Twilight sparkle, enthusiastically tore the door open. 

“Ahaia, guys!” Greeted Spike, cheerfully. He and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had grown to be quite good friends, spending quite a bit of time together as their respective big sisters, masters and idols were doing likewise.

“Hay there Spike, is Twah aroun’?” Asked Apple Bloom, adopting her older sister’s pet name for the Unicorn. Sweetiebelle, standing beside her, grinned sweetly, she loved being around spike. She had a little filly crush on him, but she would never admit so in a million years.

“Yeah, haha, bet you can’t guess what she’s doin!” 

“Spiiike!” Yelled Twilight from somewhere in the library. “Who’s at the door?”

“It’s Sweetiebelle and Apple Bloom!” Spike called in return. 

“Oh, hi there girls.” Twilight chimed as she trotted out of the room where she had resided.

“Twilight! We need your help…” Sweetiebelle was cut short.

“Oh Celestia, is it Scootaloo? Is she alright? I thought she was at home resting!”

“Nah, she’s fine, well, kinda… We needa find Dash, and she’s gone up on home.” Apple Bloom interjected. 
Twilight looked at the girls curiously, choosing to enquire further.
“Oh, what do you need Rainbow for?”
“Ahhh…” Apple Bloom sighed exasperatedly. “Well… Ever since tha accident Scoot ain’t been able to walk real good, and she’s not allowed to go outside, and she’s gettin’ real sad. So we figure Dash might be able to help her out. Teach her to fly or something.”
Twilights expression softened, clearly affected by the gesture of friendship from these two little fillies. “Well, that’s very sweet of you two, trying to help your friend like that. But, Rainbow dash has gone home…” The younger two shrugged. “In the Clouds…” They stared at twilight. “In the sky…”

“So? That’s why we came to you, we figured you gave my big sister wings to go to Cloudsdale once, we thought you could do it again, to us!” Sweetiebelle fluttered her eyelids and smiled cutely at the purple mare. 
“Girls, you heard how badly that turned out.” Twilight said flatly. 

“Yeah, but we won’t be so silly as Rarity! And besides, we only need to go talk to Rainbow, not try and show her up!”

“Now, Sweetiebelle, I know your intentions are good, but it’s just too dangerous. I wish there was something I could do, but I’m not going to risk anymore little ponies getting injured. Can’t it wait for tomorrow?”

The two fillies looked at the ground, bitterly disappointed.

“You know…” Spike speaking up, the three ponies looking at him. “I could help.” He grinned wide. “If It’s alright with you Twi?”

“Well, I guess, there isn’t anything for you to do here this aftern…” She was cut off by a sharp gasp from Apple Bloom.

“I Jus’ remembered! Pinkie was sayin’ somethin’ about a balloon she uses to visit Dash.”

“You think she’d let us use it?” Chimed Sweetiebelle.

“I think I could persuade her!” Spike, still trying to convince them to let him tag along. 

The three looked at each other and not a moment later they were flash out of sight, leaving twilight flustered, she stamped a hoof.

“Pinkie!” Spike shouted, as he tapped on the shut door or Sugar Cube Corner that now bore a ‘closed’ sign.

“BOO!” 
The three jumped at the scare, Pinkie had bounced up behind them. She’d actually been in the house, cleaning up her daily disaster of flour and eggs, when she saw them sprinting down the street, she thought she’d surprise them and climbed out the back window. 

But nevertheless, she was still covered head to toe in white and this gave the younguns a nightmare of a fright. 

“G-g-g-ghost!” Spike screamed, reeling up and escaping to the opposite side of Sweetiebelle, Putting her and Apple Bloom in the way of the seemingly scary apparition. He hugged tightly around her multicolored, mane. Even in that split second, he recognized the smell; it was the same as Rarity. They must use the same shampoo, he thought.
A short second later and Pinkie had fallen to the ground, hysterically laughing at her accidental practical joke, the best kind of practical joke, because, as Pinkie says, no one sees them coming. 

“Uh, Spike? Your claws are kind of digging in…” Exclaimed Sweetiebelle. He was still latched strongly to her velvet back, transfixed by her scent.

“Oh, sorry, Sweetie.” He said, blushing deeply. 

All three joined in Pinkies infectious hilarity. It was a short while until Pinkie suddenly perked up and jumped to her hooves. “What’s up again? Still looking for Dashy?” 

“Yeah, kinda. See, we know where she is, because you told us… But we can’t really get there.” Sweetiebelle squeaked sweetly. (<say that 10 times fast.)

“Oh! Why not?”

“Ehhhh…” Apple Bloom sighed exasperatedly for the second time tonight. “Maybe on a count a we don’t have wings…”

“Oh, girls, that’s easy, I don’t have wings and I visit Dashy all the time. I think I might have told you about my swirly air balloon before…” She cut herself off, looking at them bug eyed. Hoping they hadn’t remembered some of the details of their previous discussion. 

“Well, that’s why we came over. We were wondering if we could, um, borrow it?… Just for a little while!”  Spike asked, losing his optimism and staring at the ground. 

“Of course you can!” Replied Pinkie, much to everyponie’s (And Dragon’s) relief. “I love surprise visits.” 

“Ahh, well Pinkie we were, kinda, jus’ gonna be going by oursel… Oh never mind, let’s get going.” 

“GREAT! We’re gunna have some much fun and I’ll just quickly make a cake for us to have on the way up! Wait, no I won’t, I’m out of sprinkles. I have one in the fridge, just for an occasion like this! And I’ll have to grab a present for Dashy beca…” The pink pony was cut off by spike.

“Pinkie! It’s not Dash’s birthday… And we need to get going, where’s the balloon?”

“Just above you, silly!” 

Spike and the fillies moved with seconds to spare before the large wicker basket and retina blasting pink balloon, landed square on top of them. Spike had looked up to see it coming fast for them, and had, with all his little dragon might, pushed Sweetiebelle clear of the falling hazard, who in turn had pushed Apple Bloom. Spike landed with a smack on Sweetiebelle’s upturned belly. Their eyes locking for a few tense seconds before he clambered off of her, mumbling something about being pretty heroic, his cheeks a crimson red, as were Sweetiebelle’s, who had climbed to her feet and was already lifting herself into the large basket. 

It was easily big enough for the four of them, a little cozy, but comfortable. Spike and Sweetiebelle hadn’t spoken for a few minutes, due to the awkwardness that floated in the air. They did however make frequent and brief eye contact, while Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie conversed about the correct amount of sweet for a sweet apple pie. Pinkie was of course sticking to her guns about too much never being enough. 


A sudden gust picked up and rocked the basket, eliciting a shrill “Weeeeee!” from Pinkie, the other three holding on for dear life. It wasn’t long before they’d floated high enough to see Dash’s regal cloud house in the distance, flowing rainbow falls streaking the walls. “Quick!” Pinkie shouted. “Blow real, real hard at the back! We need to go thata way!” The four of them began taking heaving breaths and doing as pinkie said, gaining a surprising amount of momentum, pushing them in the right direction. It was later in the afternoon now and the sun was close to the horizon, casting a soft pink glow across Ponyville valley and into the sky. 

They reached the stairs up to her cloud door and set the basket down with a squelchy thump. Clambering out, Spike and Sweetiebelle still making frequent eye contact, they began to ascend the wide pearlescent staircase, shockingly regal and well crafted for Rainbow Dash’s down to earth mindset, and general distaste for anything to fancy pants. “How in the world did Dash get this place?” Spike asked, looking to Pinkie. “Dash is only a weather pony; I’d be surprised if one of the Wonderbolts could afford a place like this.”

“Oh, Dash’s daddy gave it to her. She told me he’s from old money or something.” Pinkie looking forward and continued to hop up the stairs, choosing not to walk up them like any normal pony.

They reached the while double doors and Pinkie proceeded to buzz the doorbell. A ‘Dinggg Donggg’ ran from inside, and a cacophony of hooves on clouds followed it, Dash obviously running towards the door, it opened swiftly.

“Pinkie!” Dash yelled. “Is it Friday already?” Pinkies pink cheeks turned crimson and she shook her head, darting a look at the young trio that stood beside her. “Oh!” Dash gasped. “Well, hey guys… Umm… What’s up?”

“They needed to see you, right away!” Pinkie asserted, back to her spontaneous self again. Dash went wide eyed, her mouth dropping slightly.
“IS SCOOTALOO OKAY!?” She screamed, grabbing Pinkies shoulders and staring at the younger three.

“Oh, Dashy, she’s fine!” Pinkie replied, giggling at her friend’s overreaction.

“Well, she kinda fine.” Apple Bloom interjected, Dash going wide eyed again. “She’s okay, it’s just… Well... She’s really sad, and she can’t come out of the house and she can’t scoot… And we wer…”
She was cut off by Sweetiebelle, who was still uncomfortable and hence impatient. “We need you to come and teach her to fly.”

Dash stared at them, blinking intermittently. “Uh, I, ah…” She stuttered. “Um… Absolutely!” 
The three little ones looked at her grinning, eyes sparking. “But not today…” Their eyes drooped downward, disappointed. “Look how late it is! It’s almost dark, but tomorrow…”

She was cut off by Sweetiebelle. “You Promise?!” Rainbow Dash smirked at her enthusiasm.

“I promise.”



Another restless night. A throbbing shoulder that struck with pain whenever I rolled on it in my sleep, not that I ever fell asleep much. Mom had given me something for the pain from the hospital, but all it did was knock me out cold for a little while and then when it wore off, I’d just roll on my arm or my shoulder and wake with a start.
The worst part isn’t the pain though, that I can live with. It’s not being allowed to go anywhere that’s really bugging me. I just limp around the house all day like some sort of zombie pony, nothing to do, no one to see or talk to, except when Apple Bloom and Sweetiebelle visit, which they didn’t for very long today. Mom and Dad are working and my colt brother goes to daycare with the cake twins every day. 

So, Sweetiebelle and Apple Bloom were here, but, they just kinda up and went, hardly said goodbye.
Mom and Dad got home, fussed over me and sent me to bed, not that I would sleep. I just lay there, staring at my scooter posters, my Wonderbolts wall banner and the picture of Dash and me that I drew with Sweetiebelle one day.

I sat up, hooves to my face and I cried, it’s not that I was sad; really, I was just so unbelievably, mind bogglingly BORED!
I cried until I slept, and then, when I woke up from the pain of rolling over, I cried more, but from the pain this time. I face-hooved, I’m such a crybaby I thought to myself; clenching my teeth so I didn’t make a sound and wake up the house. 
I eventually did doze off again, and this time until morning.

My eyes blurred as I drifted down and under into the abyss of dream. I smelled cookies, baking, my dream floated to an image of Sugar Cube Corner, Pinkie's silhouette shadowing the window. A breeze blew and tugged at my purple mane, shifting the leaves in the trees above me. I moved forward, floating, not walking, towards the large pink door of the gingerbread house, curiosity drawing me closer. 

Flashes of images of untamed storms formed behind the monolith, looming above me, irrespective of the real dimensions, obviously conjured by my subconscious. The air no longer smelled like baking, but a heavy smell of rain and lightning. The door swung open in front of me, unaided by anypony, to reveal the inside of my classroom, complete with a blackboard, chairs and tables. There was a pony standing at the board, the sound of scrawling chalk filled the room. I could not tell the color of the pony in question, nor if it was mare or stallion. 

I trotted up through the neat rows of desks and chairs and came to stand behind the unknown pony. I opened my mouth to speak but the figure turned to face me before I could make a sound. I recognized the face immediately, it was Rainbow Dash. 
She looked at me, emotionless, as if looking through me, or at something behind me. She opened her mouth, speaking a word, but without sound. The words on the chalkboard came into focus, and the sound of it joined with the silent words of Rainbow Dash. 
'Disappointed.' 
The word rang in my ears as the scene faded and I was roused from my dream.

I was lying on my back, all four hooves flopping in the air above me. I opened one eye slowly, showing hazy morning light, I then opened the other, focusing on my forelegs. My shoulder was still throbbing, and I was aching from my bruises, but it wasn’t as bad this morning.

As my eyes adjusted to the room, I noticed a blue figure. I felt my heart pound suddenly and my eyes snapped open to reveal the colorful tail of a turned Rainbow Dash. Waking up to find her where I was sleeping was becoming an awesomely regular occurrence.  “Dash?” I croaked, voice rough from my slumber.

“Oh! Well, eh, hey there squirt!” She said, turning away from the drawn picture of me and her, flying together. “Nice pic.” She smiled.

“Oh… Ahh, thanks, I guess…” I was embarrassed that she had to see that, it was kind of filly-ish.


“How’s the shoulder comin’ along, champ?” She asked. “Feeling any better?”
My insides we jumping around all excited, she wanted to know how I was feeling! That meant she cared about me. 
“Uh, um, yeah… I’m a little better” I spluttered, giving her a smile, she was already smiling.

“Awesome! Coz I have a surprise for you.” I looked at her curiously, I liked surprises, but I’m not really in a state to be adventurous. To be honest, I was a little nervous.

“Oh, it’s nothing really crazy…” She looked down and brushed the ground with her front hoof. “I’m just gonna help you be cooler. About twenty percent cooler…” She looked at me and smirked. A pang of excitement shot through me and made my hooves tingle. 

“Ahh, okay. What are we doing? I can hardly walk…”I trailed off as my excitement faded, I really couldn’t walk. Let alone scoot, which really is my main mode of transport. 

She chuckled softly. “Squirt, you don’t need to walk.”

I frowned and looked around my room, it was boring and there were hardly any surprises to be had here or in my house at all for that matter. I looked at Dashy, she pointed her hoof at me, not really at me but my wings specifically. I looked to each side at them, giving them a weak flutter. I looked at Dash, frowning. They were so small, I couldn’t fly!

I slipped off my bed and onto three hooves, my injured one tenderly making contact with the floor, providing no support. 
Looking at the picture, beside Dashy, of me and her flying together and then to her, I lifted my wings up and patted them back down on my sides. “I can’t fly, Rainbow Dash.” I said to her, looking at the floor, embarrassed. 

“Oh, I know.” She replied, my head snapping up to meet her soft but awesome gaze. “Come with me.” She said. Trotting over to me, she placed her forelegs around my chest, making sure not to hurt my injured shoulder, and I lifted into the air. She wasn’t even trying and she flew both of us through the house and out onto the front lawn, stopping only to open the door. She was amazing, I don’t know where she got her awesomeness from, but it was a good source, and I don’t know how she managed it, but she always seemed to smell like rain, the smell just before a storm, I even noticed it when I crashed and she was carrying me. It was subtle, but I could tell it a mile off. 

I was seriously confused. She bought me outside, I couldn’t walk, fly or scoot, and she had a surprise for me? I stared at her as she hovered there, her wings beating steadily.

“Now you try!” She exclaimed. I was taken aback. 

“But I can’t fly! Look how small my wings are…” I gave them a light flutter, emphasizing what I’d just said. 

“Well, squirt, that’s the surprise. I’m gonna teach you!” 
Shocked doesn’t cut it, I was absolutely speechless. Rainbow Dash, the most awesomest flier in all of Equestria, the Rainbow Dash who does Sonic Rainbooms and fights dragons and manticores and crazy ex-princesses and Draconequus’ and is pretty close with Celestia herself!
Like I said, I was speechless… 
Until I spoke. “REALLY!?” I yelled, maybe a little too loud as I heard some birds flee from the trees behind me. Dashy just nodded. 

“Go on, now you.” She implored, making a lifting motion with her front hooves.

I looked at her, now a little anxious. What if I couldn’t do it, and I crash again… That is, if I get off the ground at all. I take a deep breath to clear my head of my own self doubt and close my eyes, concentrating. 

I already knew the motion; it was instinct and came naturally. I’d used it to propel me on my scooter and had gotten quite good at it over the years. 

I spread my wings to be fully outstretched, bought them up into the air and back down parallel to my body. I felt the muscles in my back tense and release with the motion, a pressure I was well accustomed to. 
Repeating the motion, furiously concentrating and thrusting my wings down with considerably more force, again, then again. Each time increasing the force of the beats. I felt the turbid air swirl around my hooves and underneath my body, it felt good, just right.
I was sure I had lifted off the ground, the pressure of gravity releasing my hooves. Grinning, I opened my eyes, looking down.
I wholeheartedly expected to be in the air. I, unfortunately, was not. Still planted, no, imprisoned, firmly on the ground. I grunted angrily. 
A swoop of air down and across me, rainbow dash landed at my side, placing a foreleg around my mane, supportively. 

"don't worry squirt, that was your first time. It was Awesome"

"Really?" I looked at her, unconvinced. "It was terrible, I didn't even lift my hooves up..."

"Nah, it was totally radical. Those little wings have some serious power." She gave me and wink and flew back up to her hover point, supervising like a drill sergeant. "Try again."

I lifted my wings and bought them back down, thrusting them quicker with each beat. 
Over and over, I lifted them and bought them flat, until they were just an orange blur... I assume. I had my eyes shut tight and my teeth clenched in frustration from my immobility. 
"Rainbow Dash! I can't do it! I'm not good enough..." I shouted over the whir of my little wings. 

"oh really? Scootaloo, open your eyes." 
I did, and it was a mistake. I was easily twice as high as Dashy and as soon as I realized my altitude my concentration ceased abruptly and my wings slowed, seizing as I started flailing my hooves in every direction. 

Screaming as I fell, my mind racing to regain control of my immobile wings. It didn't work.
WHUMP! 
It hit something, soft, and it smelled like summer rain. 

"I did it, Rainbow Dash." I looked into her magenta eyes. "I flew." whispering to her.

She replied "I know, I saw, and I'm very proud of you." 
My heart filled with elation as my number one hero, the most awesomest flier in all of Equestria, was proud of me... For flying a just little bit.

I was laying in her arms, hovering in the sky, looking up at her rainbow mane, which cascaded over her light blue velvet fur. I think I might have died when I fell, because I could've sworn I was in heaven. 

"I have an idea..." she said, breaking the silence and snapping me out of my Dashy trance. We flew upwards, me in her arms, higher and higher. I was starting to get really nervous, I could see Cloudsdale from here, and that meant we were really high. I felt us eventually slow and I looked up at Rainbow Dash, she was smirking.
“I think here should be just about right.” She looked at me intently. “Ready?” I was confused.

“Ready for whaaa...?...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” She’d dropped me, 2000 hooves high, and she dropped me. 

Forget what I said before about her being the worlds bestest pony. I was falling, face up. All fours flailing as I descended. Rainbow Dash was flying down beside me, shouting encouragement over the loud whoosh of my terminal velocity. 
“TURN OVER!” She yelled at me. I struggled to grasp the wind, my shoulder aching as my hooves swung around me. 

It was almost instinct; at least I think it was. 

My wings started to flutter on their own accord, flipping me over and snagging me on the air.

Adrenaline was coursing through my veins and I had no control over my wings whatsoever. 

My breath was heaving after dropping nearly half of the height we had been before and my limbs were completely numb, apart from my throbbing shoulder.

I could do nothing but hover there, at the liberty of my wings. I spun around, I couldn’t see Dash and I was calling for her.

“Squirt, chill, I’m right here.” She flew up and hugged me, giving me a grin that could melt a Mantocore’s heart. “That was totally a one hundred and fifty on the radicalness scale, but you need to calm dow....” I cut her off.

“YOU DROPPED ME!” I had gained some control over my wings, but kept them beating at a steady pace. “How... WHY did you...” 

“How do you think I learned? Flight school isn’t all lollypops and fillyfriends ya know.” 

“Fillyfriends...?” 

“Oh... Ahh, never mind.” She shifted her eyes nervously. “We should fly more. You need practice.” She announced abruptly. 

I was elated, don’t get me wrong, I mean, I’d just flown, but I was a little cranky. She could’ve told me she was gonna drop me from space!

She’d already taken off, soaring upwards. I fluttered my wings faster and felt myself lifting, wind starting to race past it. Dash disappeared behind a cloud, and I followed close behind. I flew straight past her, who had stopped and was peaking over the edge, holding her forelegs over the side. 

I curved around, messily and terribly ineloquently, hovering beside her. She was on her back with her hooves behind her head, lookin’ chill. “I can’t believe you kept up, champ.”  She smiled. “Ever walked on a cloud?”

I shook my head, I’d never been in the sky before, even though my father was a Pegasi, he just stayed on the ground.
Dash patted the cloud next to her, inviting me to take a seat. I slowed my wings and gravity bought me down, cautiously I placed my three good hooves on the cloud. 
It was like nothing I had ever felt before, like walking on a marshmallow. My hooves sank in a little bit, but it was easy enough to walk on. I jumped around for a while, enjoying the feel of its softness on my hooves, it wasn’t anywhere near as painful as walking on solid ground with my shoulder the way it was. 

The novelty eventually wore off, and I lay down next to Dash. I breathed in deeply. The cloud had a familiar smell; I now knew where she got her rainy scent from. 


We spent the whole afternoon playing on clouds and flying around. She even taught me a few tricks, a loopy loop and a corkscrew. 

I was exhausted by sunset, which Dash and I watched together on a cloud, after that, I don’t remember much.
I’d fallen asleep and woke up the next morning in my bed at home in Ponyville. 

I smelled like rain.