The moon crept across the sky, and Night descened upon Equestria. Princess Luna stepped out onto her royal balcony, with a tender smile, and sniffed the gentle chill air that brushed against her flowing me. Towns sprang to life with doors flung opened to eager fillies and colts, holding out their sacs with firm holds on them. Festive streamers and decorations were hung with care throughout Equestria.
In Canterlot, the city bustled with activity, displaying a joyfully frightful welcome to Princess Luna's beloved holiday. The regal mare's horn glowed. She vanished into the darkness the appeared on the carefully constructed stage near Canterlot Castle's entrance. In a boisterous tone the princess declared the costume contest open with Fillies and colts trotting up, giving hearty grins, and then descending to the waiting area.
"Thank you for your performances, dear children of the night. All your costumes are frightful, beautifully elegant, and inspiring. We must pick one of you to shine though, and I dare say the winner is the representation of our dear sister. You dear filly, and your Celestia costume, display a perfect balance. Congratulations." Princess Luna said, levitating a small sack over towards her. "Here is your prize of one hundred bits for the costume contest. To all the citizens in Equestria, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the most heartwarming welcome of this holiday."
Time seemed eternal for Nightmare Night, yet Princess Luna lamented the evening's passing. The bright full moon glided across the sky and set in the distant horizon.
A slight frost clung to Equestria's vegetation and glistened in the morning sun with the weeks that passed. Leaves changed to a beautiful hued color, and ponies, in the serene moments that came during their off days, rummaged through their closets for new decorations.
Inside Ponyville, on the first day of the Hearth's Warming Eve month, the school bell had rung. Semi-eager fillies and colts gathered inside at their respective desks. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat next to each other; the desk to Sweetie Belle's right sat empty. Sweetie Belle grabbed her pencil and placed another slash on a piece of paper before she surreptitiously glanced to her side to see Cheerilee writing mathematical formulas on the black board. The unicorn filly saw her eight marks noted, one for each week the desk sat empty, and then slid the paper back into her saddle bag.
Cheerilee's chalk tapped against the black board as Apple Bloom's eyes fought to remain open. The clock's rhythmic ticks went in unison with Cheerilee's tapping. Sweetie Belle perked up, turned to her left, and then nudged her friend with a polite swift hoof. Despite the wake-up call, Apple Bloom's eyes resumed their furious battle. Her pencil hovered above a piece of paper.
Two faded piece of metal inside the clock, above the chalk board, pointed at two forty-five, fifteen minutes till school ended.
The chalk placed on her desk, Ms. Cheerilee trotted toward the door with a cheerful smile and opened it after a soft knock came. Several students shrugged at each other but remained silent. The teacher came back inside with a hoof full of papers, placed them on her desk, and selected one at random, her hoof creeping a cross it. She ended with a polite, quiet chuckle to herself before she turned toward her students. "It looks like the clock is a little slow. How about we call it a day."
Heavy sighs of relief filled the small space, drowned out by school-bell's noise. Students filled out. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle grabbed their saddlebags.
On the firm ground near the first step that led inside the school house, Sweetie Belle, out of the corner of her eye, saw a silhouette dart behind the school building. She wrapped her hoof around Apple Bloom and pulled her friend along with her.
"Scootaloo!" both said in a joyful, unison voice as they tackled their friend.
"Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been around." Scootaloo said.
"Where were you?" Sweetie Belle said. She extended her hoof to Scootaloo. Her eyes fixated on the filly's wings. "So, you kept your old -- I mean, your wings were healed?"
Scootaloo glanced off to the side, her right front hoof rubbing against the left."I--"
"Ah wish you were here for Nightmare Night. We all went to Canterlot for a costume contest. Sweetie Belle and me made it into the finals. Some pony took first place at the Nightmare Night costume contest with her Celestia getup though. She tossed the prize money towards us and darted off before we could thank her." Apple Bloom said.
"Want to meet up at the club house?" Scootaloo said.
"Ah gotta head to the farm real quick. Need to drop off mah stuff, but that's about it since things are pretty lax right now. Mah sis and big brother can handle things without me." Apple Bloom said.
"Rarity wants my help at her house for a dress. Of course, when she mean's 'help' she means stand there doing nothing." Sweetie Belle said. The three giggled at each other, "Anyways, it shouldn't take more than ten minutes."
With their front right hooves slammed together and a boisterous "Cutie Mark Crusaders forever" said, familiar hoofsteps soon resonated outside the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse after ten minutes passed. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom opened the door to see their friend smiling at them.
"So," Apple Bloom said. She rubbed her neck, her eyes diverted to the ceiling, "Ah guess the treatment worked. You got your, ehh... 'normal' wings back?"
Scootaloo grinned. Her eyes darted about before she bolted to the window, closed it, and shut the curtains. She landed a quick hoof onto the doorknob behind her friend and slammed the door shut. The loud click of a lamp being turned on resonated inside the club house, the dim light from it flickering.
"You promise not to tell any pony. I mean really promise? Do you, ugg, 'pinkie pie promise' not to tell?" Scootaloo said with a firm hoof pointed towards her friends.
Sweetie Belle raised her hoof and recited the oath. Apple Bloom, with a groan, did the same.
"I wanted to see you guys sooner. I big time wanted to see you. You'll love this." She said. The filly took a deep breath, winced, and her wings grew out into a majestic, regal-like form. "Things are a bit complicated in the wing department . There was a bit of a... 'side effect.'"
"They're beautiful. Your wings didn't change one bit." Sweetie Belle said, her soft hoof gliding across Scootaloo's wings. She stopped, "Wait, won't this hurt your muscles? Dr. Radius said your muscles could be damaged."
Scootaloo shook her head. "Naw, Rainbow Dash and Zecora checked 'em out. My wings, well my 'scooter' wings are 100% perfect, a-ok. In a totally awesome and off the wall moment, Rainbow Dash decided to coin the term 'regal mode' for my large wings. She comes up the with the most awesome names."
"Heh, 'regal mode,'" Apple Bloom snickered.
"Anyways," Scootaloo said, sticking her tongue out at Apple Bloom before retracting it. "Mom was a little freaked out when I showed her, but she said it was my choice to keep them or let Zecora try another potion. When I decided to keep them, mom was pretty insistent I go to my aunt's place. She's a "ma-soos", eh..."
"I think you mean 'masseuse.'" Sweetie Belle said.
"Yea, anyways, her specialty is pegasus wings. Aunt Pinion helped my wing muscles relax and stretch out a bit after each session. Rainbow Dash came over every day to help me. Felt like my wings would fall off at times. Took three solid weeks to make things feel nature, another week to keep 'regal mode' out for longer than five minutes." Scootaloo said.
Apple Bloom's hoof glided over Scootaloo's wings. She eyed her friend, extending the filly's right wing with a gentle hoof. Her hoof shot up, "Wait a minute. You're the filly who won with the Celestia getup."
"Heh, I'm surprised you guys didn't see through it when I passed you on stage." Scootaloo said. "Anyways, I thought it would be fun to have them out for a bit since I can keep them out for thirty minutes at a time now. Mom made me promise not to overdo it though."
A knock came to the door. Scootaloo winced and her wings returned to normal. Several noises emanated from inside the club house before Apple Bloom opened the door.
"Well squirt, it sounds like you couldn't wait on the surprise." Rainbow Dash said. She leaned in close and whispered to Scootaloo, "Did ya tell em about Princess Cadence?"
"No. Should I tell them? Would it make them jealous?" Scootaloo replied with a whisper.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stared at their friend, watching her receive a shrug from Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, whatcha talkin' bout... Wait. Scootaloo, have you been able to fly?" Apple Bloom said.
Scootaloo sat near her mentor, both quiet. She turned. Her head raised, Scootaloo wiped a tear from her eye before it ran down her cheek. She gave a hearty grin then a firm slow nod, "Ye-yea. I flew."
Rainbow Dash extended her wing and ruffled Scootaloo's mane. She watched the filly look up. "Remember our talk, squirt."
"Right!" Scootaloo said. She smiled at her friends, "I'll get there. Some day. The day will come when I can 'really' fly. For now, I have my own style."
"Well, you're due for your second session today. Wanna show em?" Rainbow Dash grinned.
"Yea!" Scootaloo said.
Rainbow Dash in the lead, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo headed outside. The Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted down the dirt road towards a clearing. Rainbow Dash zoomed into the area above the area, scanned it, and zoomed back down. The mare held her hoof out, pointing Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom toward two thick trees that stood side by side. The two fillies watched their friend repeat the same exercise from the club house as Scootaloo took a heavy breath and winced. Scootaloo gave an excited grin to her mentor. Rainbow Dash ran her hoof along the wings, and, a final nod given, Scootaloo crouched.
"Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash said in a confident tone. She turned toward Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, a wicked smile flashed to the two fillies. The mare turned back toward her pupil, "Power Ascent!"
A violent gust of wind blew past the three ponies. Apple Bloom held her hoof up to her eyes. The small spot in the middle of the clearing stood vacant, a small crater indented into the ground. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom's eyes shot up. Both scanned the empty sky above. Soon, Sweetie Belle turned to Rainbow Dash and traced her eyes to a small speck.
"Heh, I best watch it. The squirt is five seconds faster this time around." Rainbow Dash said, a sly jovial grin given to the two fillies. "Still can't believe she pulled a sonic boom on her first power ascent."
"What!" Apple Bloom said, her jaw dropping. "You mean that boom in Ponyville wasn't you?!"
Rainbow Dash whistled an innocent tune. Her eyes fixated on the spec, now growing larger. The spec disappeared from sight, and another, hurricane-force like gust of wind whizzed past the three. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom clung to their trees while Rainbow Dash's back hooves dug into the dirt. Rainbow Dash bolted into the sky then disappeared from sight.
"What do you mean, Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle said.
"Ah heard a boom off in the distance one day before Nightmare Night. Mah sis thought Rainbow Dash was messing around, perfecting some new technique with the sonic rainboom." Apple Bloom said. She pointed her hoof towards the horizon, "We couldn't see the rainbow, so both of us thought it came from a thunder cloud over yonder, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Ah guess that solves that mystery."
Stillness came to the open space. The sound of wings unfolding came to the fillies' ears, looking up to see Scootaloo glide to the ground with Rainbow Dash at her side.
"Ya, ya see that," Scootaloo said with exasperated gasps for air. Rainbow Dash touched her side and the pegasus filly took several deep breaths before she winced, causing her wings to return to normal. Scootaloo's hooves wobbled. She collapsed to the dirt and laid on her back, "That. Was. Awesome!"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes then smiled at her protégé. "That 'was' pretty awesome. Ok squirt, no more flight training for today. I gotta get back to work."
"Deal," Scootaloo said.
"You need a ride home?" Rainbow Dash said. She received an ecstatic grin from the filly near her hooves, a firm headshake no to follow. "Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom. Tell Scootaloo's mom that the squirt had two sessions. One lasted ten minutes. This one lasted around, let's say five minutes. I want to keep things safe for a bit before we 'really' test Scootaloo's potential."
Rainbow Dash floated into the air, winked at Scootaloo, and flew towards the horizon. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle helped Scootaloo to her hooves. The trio meandered down the dirt road towards Scootaloo's house.
*** *** ***
The small alarm clock, with a dent in its side, continued to tick on. Apple Bloom tapped her hoof against the floor. Sweetie Belle bounced a ball onto the ground, caught it, and repeated the action several times. Mrs. Zip entered with a plate of fresh cookies balanced on her back, thirty minutes passing since the Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived. Scootaloo meandered into her room and sat near her friends.
"Scootaloo's wings are doing lovely. With how well her wings have worked out, I would dare say it's a miraculous gift from Princess Celestia herself. I say this with all my heart, I hope this never stops." Ms. Pinion said. Before she departed, the mare said, "I'm more than happy to give massages to little 'scoots' whenever she needs it."
"heh, little 'scoots,'" Apple Bloom said to herself with a quiet chuckle. "Ah been meanin' to ask ya. What happened with Diamond Tiara?"
Scootaloo's wings shot out, knocking over the ceramic plate. The filly winced and returned her wings to normal. "Sorry about that."
"That's alright, there was only one left. I have more down stairs." Mrs. Zip said, leaving the three fillies alone.
"I'm still learning how to get better control of them. My aunt's house found out my wings kind of 'jolt' and grow out on their own if I'm startled. It's why mom and Rainbow Dash thought it would be best for me to train." Scootaloo said.
"Why should asking about Diamond Tiara startle you?" Sweetie Belle said.
"How should I know. I was in the exam room with the doc while mom was with Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich." Scootaloo said, rubbing a nervous hoof against the other. She motioned to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. In a hushed voice she said, "I've heard only rumors about what mom did before I was born. The biggest rumor is she argued with Princess Celestia, causing her to sweat on the throne."
"Daemon autem legis?!" Sweetie Belle said, dropping the cookie in her hoof as she placed both hooves over her mouth. She watched Scootaloo look to one side and whistle an innocent tune. Sweetie Belle turned to see Mrs. Zip standing in the doorway with a fresh plate of cookies.
"My, my, my, those rumors again? You shouldn't believe such things, Sweetie Belle. Though, the way I heard things, it was more like Princess Celestia stood there in shock with a 'single' bead of sweat dripping down her cheek." Mrs. Zip said, bringing the fresh planted of cookies into the room. The mare gave an eerie, polite, cheery grin to the fillies in front of her. "I think it is safe to say none of us will see the likes of those pranks again. It's best for every pony."
"Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom said with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't look at me. Like I said, I was in the exam room with Dr. Radius while mom was talking to Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich." Scootaloo said.
"Right. Remind me, your wings 'shoot' out when you're what now?" Apple Bloom said with a sinister grin, receiving one from Mrs. Zip. The filly grabbed another cookie and bit down on it, "muffin, ah faid muffin."
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo giggled at Apple Bloom.
Mrs. Zip placed the plate of cookies on the dresser, nodded, and left. Under a quiet breath she said, "I'm glad this worked out in the end, my dear daughter. I hope those wings, those 'special' wings can help you achieve your dreams."