“So, since I can’t go to school today, does that mean I get to spend the day with you?” Scootaloo asked with her tiny wings buzzing excitedly.
“You wish, kid, but since I didn’t get suspended, I have to go to work, and unless you’re certified to fly in a - minimum - Class 2 storm, you can’t come with me,” Rainbow replied. Scootaloo's face fell as she was inadvertently reminded that she couldn’t even fly in non-stormy weather. Rainbow tried to quickly recover. “Besides, my job’s boring anyway. You get to spend your two days on suspension with Fluttershy, which is going to be way more fun.”
Scootaloo smiled, though Rainbow thought it looked a little more forced than she would have liked, and climbed on Rainbow’s back. Satisfied that her cargo was secure, she made the familiar voyage to Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Hey, ‘Shy, Scootaloo needs to stay home from school for a couple of days. Can she hang with you?” Rainbow asked after Fluttershy opened the door.
Fluttershy looked down at the orange filly standing next to Rainbow Dash; she knew that Rainbow knew there was no way she could say no to the request, even if a more considerate friend would have given her a heads-up instead of just showing up on her doorstep. “Sure, I’d love some company.”
“Thanks, Fluttershy,” came the response from Scootaloo.
“I could use some help feeding the birds this morning. Why don’t you get started with the chickens and I’ll come join you in a minute? I’m just going to talk to Rainbow Dash, okay?” Fluttershy asked.
Scootaloo nodded and went out to the chicken coop, trying to remember what Fluttershy had told her about feeding the chickens the last time she was here.
“How’s she doing?” Fluttershy asked as soon as Scootaloo closed the door.
“She’s great. Why?”
“Because of what happened the other night...”
“Oh, you mean when I was late? She just got a little scared. No biggie.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Rainbow Dash, I know a lot about being scared, and that wasn’t just ‘scared’. She was inconsolable. Rarity couldn’t talk to her, I couldn’t talk to her, and even Sweetie Belle couldn’t get through. The only thing that mattered was going into the Everfree Forest to find you, and if Rarity hadn’t levitated her off the ground, she would have done it. You need to talk to her... or maybe a professional does,” Fluttershy said gently, firmly balancing reproach and understanding in the way that only Fluttershy could. “It’s not good to be that scared; trust me when I say that I know.”
“She doesn’t need to talk to a professional! She’s alright and I can take care of her just fine, thank you!” Rainbow snapped.
“I wasn’t suggesting you couldn’t,” Fluttershy said meekly.
Rainbow mentally kicked herself. “Sorry, ‘Shy, I didn’t mean to snap at you, but Scootaloo’s fine, really. Sure, there are going to be some bumps in the road, but me and the kid can get through them."
“I know you can. So, why is she staying home from school, anyway?” Fluttershy asked, eager to change the subject.
“She kinda... punched a bully and got suspended for two days.”
The news startled Fluttershy, but her years of experience with Rainbow Dash’s antics had numbed her sense of fear for that kind of thing when it came to her. Scootaloo was not the same pony, of course, but the experience seemed to transfer. Her expression changed from concerned to cheeky.
“She really does take after you,” Fluttershy said with a wry grin.
Rainbow chuckled. “The kid’s got some awesome in her, no doubt.”
Rainbow went out to the chicken coop to say a quick goodbye to Scootaloo. “Be good for ‘Shy, okay squirt?” Rainbow said, giving Scootaloo a quick nuzzle across her face. Scootaloo scrunched her face and nodded, nuzzling back.
As Rainbow left the cottage, she turned around to catch one last glimpse of the two ponies. She saw Scootaloo sigh wistfully as Fluttershy flew up to refill the bird feeders in the top of the trees before she glumly picked up the pail of corn between her teeth. At that moment, Rainbow knew she wasn’t going to work today.
Rainbow flew to weather HQ only to tell her supervisor that she was taking the day off, cashing in the favor she earned flying by herself during the Everfree Storm. She then flew three hours straight to Canterlot, and found herself talking to an obstinate guard who was refusing to let her into the palace.
“You’re not on the list of scheduled visitors for today,” the guard said for the second time.
“Do you know who I am? Rainbow Dash? Element of Loyalty? I’ve saved Equestria at least twice. I don’t think I need to be on a list if I want to see the Princess.”
“I know who you are, but unless you’re an Alicorn, nopony gets into see the princess without an appointment.”
“This is stupid.” Rainbow flew up and tried to go around the guard, but found her path blocked. She darted left and then right, but the guard mirrored her actions. He wasn’t threatening; he knew better than to even hint that he might injure one of the Elements, but he also left no room for Rainbow Dash to get by, a perfectly passive wall of resistance.
Her plan to quickly fly by the guard foiled, Rainbow resorted to plan B, which was apparently yelling at the top of her lungs. “Hey, Celestia! I know you’re in there and that you can hear me! Call off your guards; I want to talk to you!”
The head guard’s eyes went wide as he listened to what was occurring directly in front of him. Rainbow Dash had just summoned the most powerful being in all of Equestria as though she were a lowly servant. If she were anypony else, he would have tackled her to the ground and thrown her in a holding cell, but as it was, he felt powerless to intervene. Before he could decide what to do, he heard the unmistakable sound of hoofsteps behind him. When he turned around, Princess Celestia was standing there with what he could only pray was an amused smile and not masked chagrin.
“Hello, Rainbow Dash. I would love a chance to talk. Please, come with me,” she said as she smiled warmly at the guard, who was still unsure what had just happened but was thankful that he was still breathing and employed.
“What can I do for you?” The princess asked as soon as she and Rainbow were comfortably sitting in the throne room. Tellingly, Celestia had chosen not to sit on her throne, but rather one of the smaller pillows, meant for visiting dignitaries, that sat off to the side.
“I want you to cast a spell for me,” Rainbow said, not mincing words while sitting across from the Princess.
“Oh, and what sort of spell would this be? It must require a great deal of power if you came all the way here to ask for my help.”
“I want you to make Scootaloo fly.”
“I see. I assume that you do not mean you wish for me to levitate her?”
“Yep, that’s right. You gave Twilight wings. Well, I want wings for Scootaloo.”
“I named Twilight a Princess of Equestria, and accordingly ascended her into an Alicorn. Are you asking me to make Scootaloo a princess?”
“No, but you’re telling me you can’t just make her wings bigger?”
“That is correct; I cannot.”
“Umm, not to get bossy here Princess, but you kind of owe me.”
Princess Celestia listened to the declaration that she owed Rainbow Dash a favor and responded with a single syllable: “Oh?” And in that syllable was a lifetime of meaning. Princess Celestia owed nothing to anypony, it was only by her grace that the sun rose each morning. She ruled her kingdom with a velvet glove most of the time and with an iron hoof when it was necessary. She negotiated treaties personally, with Dragons, Griffins and Minotaurs, and in those negotiations she never accepted concessions without offering something in return. Ponies requested favors from her all the time, but none had ever been so bold, or foolish, as to demand one.
Rainbow Dash was cowed by Celestia’s intonation, but only temporarily. “I’ve saved Equestria more than once; I think that earns me a favor.”
“You saved Equestria only so that one day you could ask for something in return?” Princess Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow.
“No, but I’m not asking you to do anything for me,” Rainbow said as her voice started to break. “You don’t know Scoots like I do. She’s the most awesome filly in all of Equestria; it kills her that she can’t fly, and that kills me. I would do anything to see her be happy.”
“Your love is admirable, but I cannot do as you ask.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Rainbow said, in a tone more challenging than most ponies would dare to use with Celestia.
In response to the challenge, Princess Celestia fixed Rainbow Dash with a glare just shy of hostile. “Rainbow Dash, all across Equestria there are fillies and colts, mares and stallions, who would like me to light up my horn and fix their problems. Our struggles help make us who we are. It would be wrong of me to interfere with that. So you’re right. I wouldn’t do it even if I could. Scootaloo must find her own way.”
“I’m not asking you to solve every pony’s problem. I’m asking you to solve this one, just one time,” Rainbow said, refusing to believe that Celestia was, in all her glory, somehow powerless to make Scootaloo fly.
“And I am telling you that I cannot. For one, I know of no spell that would allow me to merely make her wings grow, and I don’t know that, even if she had bigger wings, she would be able to fly. Though it is curious to me that you assume I have not helped you already.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you really think I have nothing more important for Twilight to be doing than researching the secrets of flight? And for that matter, did you ever find it curious that your role in Captain Strike’s death was so quickly dismissed?”
“Twilight said it made the guards look bad so they swept it under the rug.”
“Yes, and whose 'rug' do you think they swept it under? And did you notice that a lot of Captain Strike’s subordinates were immediately transferred to a remote outpost shortly after his death?”
Rainbow shook her head.
“Of course you didn’t; you have no reason to monitor the active duty roster of the Equestrian Army. But I can assure you that one does not rise to the rank of Captain without making friends, and that if his friends were still in Ponyville, it is quite possible that they would wish you harm. As such, I decided that, for the protection of you and Scootaloo, it would be best if there was a reorganization of a few military outposts on the griffon border.”
Rainbow was speechless; it had never occurred to her that the Princess took an active interest in what happened to her. Twilight, sure; She was the Princess’ personal protégée. But the idea that Celestia had already intervened on her behalf, and without even letting her know about it, humbled her.
“I just- I just want her to be happy,”
“Scootaloo has a sister who clearly loves her very much. That is worth more than anything I can give her. Do not be so quick to disregard your contributions, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow nodded half heartedly. “Is Princess Luna around?” Rainbow asked, unable to come up with another tactic for approaching Celestia about helping Scootaloo fly.
“Because I refuse you, you think asking my sister will result in a different outcome?” Celestia asked, seeing right through Rainbow’s thinly veiled request.
Rainbow chose her next words carefully and spoke softly. “I think maybe she knows what it's like to want something so bad that you’d risk anything to get it.”
“She does indeed, which is why she knows the dangers of the path you’re on. But, I also believe she would be glad to see you, so I will send for her. You may wait for her in the dining room.”
“Thank you,” Rainbow said quietly, but loud enough that she could be sure Princess Celestia heard her.
Celestia smiled and nodded before exiting the throne room. Rainbow Dash took the short walk through the main hallway and into the most opulent dining room she knew.
“Greetings, Rainbow Dash; to what do we owe this visit?” Luna said warmly as she entered the grand dining hall of Canterlot Castle a scant thirty seconds after Rainbow had entered.
“I was hoping you could help me.”
“We would be pleased to offer you whatever assistance we can. Ask what thou will, and if it is within our power, it is yours.”
Rainbow hesitated before speaking. “Celestia said she didn’t know of any spell that would allow Scootaloo to fly, but I was hoping that maybe you would know some spells she didn’t.”
Luna's warm grin quickly changed into a more somber expression. “It is considered bad form to- I believe the phrase is- beat around the bush. You wish to know if there is Dark Magic that can help you.”
Her intent laid bare, Rainbow nodded and winced, pinning her ears flat against her head and preemptively preparing for an admonishment and lecture about the evils of Dark Magic.
“Do you know what separates Dark Magic from its benign counterpart?” Luna asked calmly.
“Dark magic is harmful?” Rainbow guessed. Twilight liked to talk a lot about different types of magic but Rainbow usually didn't pay much attention.
“A common misconception, though I suppose it’s not entirely inaccurate,” Luna took a deep breath. “Consider a simple levitation spell. It can be used for many purposes, but in the wrong hoofs it could do great damage. Despite this, we allow any unicorn with a talent for magic to practice the spell. Dark Magic requires a price to be paid beyond the simple physical exertion of casting a spell, and because of that it is outlawed.”
“If Scootaloo needs to pay some sort of price to be able to fly, you can put it on my tab. I’m fine with that.”
“You are very quick to incur a debt despite being ignorant of the cost; that is a dangerous habit to get into. Long ago, even before the time of Starswirl the Bearded, unicorns learned that there was much power that could be had for those willing to make great sacrifices. Those early unicorns realized that once a pony went down that path, there could be no turning back. Left unchecked, Dark Magic would fuel a race for power that could only result in countless deaths and suffering across Equestria. So, to protect themselves as well as future generations, the study of Dark Magic was limited to a very select few, and only in strictly theoretical terms.”
“Then they made a mistake. If somepony is willing to sacrifice something, why shouldn’t they be allowed to?”
“You assume that the sacrificiant is aware of what their sacrifice entails, or even that they are a willing participant. Regardless, you did not come here to debate philosophy. We are telling you that what you ask is forbidden.”
“I want wings for Scootaloo. If there’s a sacrifice that needs to be made, that’s fine with me. I’ll do it,” Rainbow said defiantly.
“Again, you make that offer ignorant of the price. Suppose I were to tell you that it would cost your life?” Luna shot back.
“Well, then no. I’m not offering to die so that Scoots can get airborne.”
“Ah, so you are not as irrational as we feared. Good; now, what if the price were your own ability to fly?”
Rainbow swallowed the rock in her throat. “Are you… is that what it would take?”
“We do not know. It is very possible; these sacrifices often involve something similar to what the spellcaster hopes to gain. The price of Dark Magic is seldom superficial. If it were, it would not be outlawed. Have you considered how Scootaloo would feel if she knew her sister could not fly because of her?”
“She wouldn’t have to know.”
“Are you so sure you wish to keep another secret from Scootaloo? You are still burdened by the first one.”
Rainbow grimaced. “Scootaloo knows that that monster is never coming back, and that’s all she needs to know. If I have to lose a few nights of sleep to keep her happy, then that’s fine too. If you want to help on that front, maybe you could stop giving me nightmares.”
“Your nightmares are of your own making. You should be more careful of the burdens you choose to carry, Rainbow Dash. You must talk to Scootaloo if you wish the nightmares to stop.”
“Can you help Scoots fly or not?” Rainbow asked, the frustration creeping into her voice despite her best efforts.
Luna softened her expression. She had come to admire the brash pony standing in front of her. Though her actions may have been somewhat troublesome, her motives were born of love, and that was something Luna could appreciate. “The kingdom does owe you a great debt, and we personally owe you a debt for saving us from Nightmare Moon. Very well; I will scour the forbidden magics and attempt to learn what it would take to grant Scootaloo flight, but I make no promises that I will cast the spell, regardless of whether you are willing to pay the price. If we proceed down this path, you must trust my judgment. Power comes at a price, and I will not allow you to pay it if I deem it too high.”
It suddenly occurred to Rainbow that she was again asking a pony to risk angering the monarch of Equestria on her behalf. “Won’t Celestia be mad if she finds out you are doing this?”
“My sister may rule over Equestria, but she does not control me. It is well within my purview as Princess of the Night to study the forbidden archives,” Luna said solemnly. The faintest hint of a smile crossed her face. “She may be upset, but there is little she can do about it.”
“Okay, we have a deal.” Rainbow said, unsure of exactly if she was willing to see this particular line of inquiry through to the end.