//------------------------------// // Believe It, Sister // Story: Scootaloo Will Fly! // by MyHobby //------------------------------// Scootaloo rolled over and pressed her pillow over her snout. She moaned into the fluff, then let it tumble off the side of the bed. Her head thumped down on the mattress a few times. She kicked the footboard. She brought her hoof up and wiped dampness from her chin. She stood up, flopped down on her stomach, and looked at her clock again. Four-thirty. Not a wink of sleep. An orange feather floated in her vision. Pressure built up behind her eyes. The door opened, letting in a beam of yellow light. A cream-colored hoof gripped the door frame. “Scootaloo?” a voice whispered. Scootaloo didn’t answer, but turned towards the wall. Roseluck’s face appeared, silhouetted by the hall light. She crept in and shut the door silently behind her. She tiptoed up to the bed to rest a hoof on Scootaloo’s back. Scootaloo sniffed. “Apple Bloom stopped by earlier. She said she heard about the Silver Spoon thing. You don’t have to work at the Acres today if you don’t want.” Roseluck blinked dampness from her eyes. “You can go back to sleep.” “Didn’t sleep,” Scootaloo murmured. “Had to think.” Roseluck’s hooves trailed down her daughter’s wings. The feathers shook. “Think about what, Scootaloo?” “About flying.” Scootaloo gritted her teeth. “And not flying.” “Did you find out—” “It’s my wings, Mom.” Scootaloo brought her head around. “Discord said there was some sort of magic imbalance in me, and he was right. My wings won’t use magic. Not enough. And it’s always been there and I don’t understand why.” Roseluck sat there, unable to speak. She hung her head. Scootaloo laid her chin on the bed. “I’m such a screw-up.” Roseluck frowned. Her hooves trembled. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out. She opened her eyes and leaned close to Scootaloo’s wings. Scootaloo felt a tickle. She looked back. “What are you doing?” “Some of your feathers are out of place.” Roseluck took an orange feather in her teeth and straightened it. “Here, it’ll look nicer.” Scootaloo couldn’t help pulling her lips back. “You’re worried about my feathers at a time like this?” Roseluck continued down the wing, smoothing out some feathers and plucking loose ones. When one wing was completed, she revolved her hoof. “Turn around.” “But Mom—” “Please.” Scootaloo stood up, gave her mom a pointed look, and flopped down in the other direction. Roseluck nuzzled Scootaloo’s other wing. “Scootaloo, for years we didn’t believe we’d be able to have children. Miscarriages, false starts, everything stood in our path to parenthood. We outright gave up hope. It wasn’t happening.” Scootaloo turned away and looked out the window. Ponyville was completely dark. “It was after that decision.” Roseluck plucked a feather and watched it flutter to the floor. “The very night we had the painful, tearful conversation. The day we decided to stop trying to have kids. The moment we almost thought to leave each other. That’s when we found you.” Roseluck straightened out the last feather. She lay her head on Scootaloo’s back. “We heard a cry in an alley, behind this same building. We followed it, and found you on the other end. You, Scootaloo. Not anypony else but you. A little, orange pegasus baby, all alone. Abandoned.” Roseluck slid her foreleg around her daughter’s shoulders. “It was the end of both our lives, but we found each other.” The damp on her cheeks mingled with Scootaloo’s. “I picked you up… and I held you close… and you looked at me…” Scootaloo hugged her mom. “Never in my life,” Roseluck said, “have I ever felt such a need to protect somepony so much. To see you grow up strong and happy. To help you through life’s challenges. To love you.” She laughed. “So yes, I’m worried about feathers at a time like this. They’re part of you, and I’m worried about you. Maybe I shouldn’t be so concerned all the time, but I still just want you safe.” Scootaloo took in a shuddering breath. “Mom—” “And I know I’m smothering you. I should let you live your life and find your happiness.” “Mom, it’s cool,” Scootaloo said with a tremble. “You’re just doing what you do.” Roseluck and Scootaloo looked at each other through bleary eyes. Rose touched her daughter’s cheek. “Please do me a favor.” Scootaloo sniffled. “What, Mom? What do you need?” “Just…” Roseluck smiled. “Scootaloo, you’re a miracle. You’re my miracle. You’ve already got one miracle; another one has to be just around the corner. Hold on, Honey. Hold out for it.” Scootaloo nuzzled her. “I will.” Roseluck rubbed her cheek against Scootaloo’s muzzle. “Besides, I think I know somepony who can help give the miracle a push.” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. Roseluck winked. “Who comes home on the weekends?” Slowly, inch by inch, a smile found its way to Scootaloo’s face. Her eyes shot to the poster on the wall, the one holding the blue pegasus mare with the many-colored mane. “You gonna meet her at the train station?” Roseluck asked. “Yeah.” Scootaloo lay down on the bed and pulled her covers over her back half. “Yeah, I think I will. She won’t be here for another few hours, though.” “I know.” Roseluck took the blanket between her lips and drew it up to Scootaloo’s neck. She fluffed the discarded pillow and slid it under the messy purple mane. “You rest now.” “Yeah.” Scootaloo yawned. “Rainbow Dash. She’ll know what to do. She always does.” Roseluck paused at the doorway, her hoof on the handle. Her ears drooped. “She certainly tries. That’s all anypony can ask.” Scootaloo allowed herself to fall into the bed’s warm embrace. She allowed her breathing to grow steady as her eyelids fluttered closed. Sleep took her for the few hours remaining until sunrise. At that point, she had things to do. Scootaloo rolled to the train station in a straight line, not bothering to practice tricks on the way. The overnight train from Cloudsdale’s landline arrived midmorning, though always a few minutes late. She slid to a stop and latched her scooter to a pole. The landing platform was busy for a small city. There were ponies trying to get away for the weekend, ponies waiting for relatives visiting for the weekend, and ponies who seemed to have nothing better to do than hang around the train station. Lyra strummed her lyre from a nearby bench, a hat lying nearby to collect stray bits. Hayseed Turniptruck stood on a stepladder, repairing the station’s sign after the big storm blew it down. Lord Mayor Applejack shoved her way through the crowd, ignoring protesters and rapid fire questions. Diamond Tiara sat in a dark corner, staring at nothing. Scootaloo drew back at the sight of her. She immediately turned around to walk away. “Scootaloo,” Diamond croaked. Scootaloo sighed. “I don’t want to start—” “You’ll be happy to know I’m leaving,” Diamond said as if she hadn’t heard. “Off I go, into the wild blue yonder to wander.” Scootaloo scrunched her face up. “Why would you—” “My dad”—Diamond gave a humorless chuckle—“my dad told me he wanted me to start at the bottom. The bottom! A clerk at Barnyard Bargains. A grunt. A flunky. He said I had to work my way up.” She snickered. “How can you be the best if you’re just a cashier?” She shook her head. “Silver Spoon’s practically disowned after how badly I embarrassed her in front of her customers. She said… she said being drunk’s no excuse for my actions.” She grinned a hard grin. “You know I only had a glass? Just one? My first ever?” Scootaloo looked away. “So where are you going?” “I left my dad because I didn’t want to start out low. Just moved in with Silver.” Diamond choked. “She’s a real witch, you know. Just doesn’t show it in public. Wears a mask. You ever worn a mask before?” “I did—” “It’s itchy. So itchy. You wear it all the time and all you can think of is how good it will feel to take off.” Diamond Tiara idly scratched her cheek. “It’s hard to breath, and you can hardly see and it itches. And then you take it off and you can breathe. You can see. You can let it all out. For one beautiful second, you’re free.” A train whistle blew in the distance. Diamond looked down the tracks. “And then you realize everypony can see your ugly face.” Scootaloo shuffled her hooves and tried to ignore the pit in her stomach. “My mom, before she left us, she said I needed to be the best.” Diamond Tiara stomped a hoof. “What are you supposed to do when you find out your best isn’t good enough?” “You keep trying,” Scootaloo said. “You keep working. You keep your eye on the goal and you don’t stop until you get there.” Diamond glared out of the corner of her eye. “I’m done trying.” Scootaloo shrugged. “Then what do you want from me?” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Nothing. I don’t need anything from you.” Scootaloo sucked on her bottom lip. She turned to Diamond. “Your dad would probably forgive you if you went back and apologized.” “Apologize.” Diamond Tiara shook her head and lay down in her corner. “You would say that, turkey legs.” Scootaloo trotted away, leaving Diamond behind. She came to the edge of the platform and sat. Applejack patted her back. “Don’t fret none. Some folks can’t be helped.” Scootaloo hung her head. “I guess it didn’t stop me from trying. It’s partially my fault she’s like this.” “She made her own dadgum choices, Sugarcube.” Applejack adjusted her hat as oncoming wind threatened to send it soaring. “Ain’t nothin’ you said or did could break or fix that mare. She’s a lost cause.” Scootaloo glanced back at the pink mare. She sighed through her nose. “So am I.” The train rolled up. Applejack’s forehead creased. “Yer different from her. We all got problems.” Scootaloo pulled her wings close to her sides and stared at her feet. Applejack took a step back to let ponies off the train. “Ah guess people come in all shapes an’ sizes, but one thing’s the same. It’s awful hard to change for the better.” Scootaloo nodded. “But it can be done?” Applejack smiled. “Yeah. Given th’ right heart, ain’t nothin’ really impossible.” She jerked her head back. “Guess we gotta just hope she has a change o’ heart someday.” She grinned and marched forward. “So the glamorous movie star’s finally decided to grace the little folk with her presence, huh? Gawsh, ah feel so enamored!” Rainbow Dash jumped out of the train car, flapping her wings. She dropped down to Applejack and grabbed her in a rough hug. “Geeze! Can’t I go anywhere without stinkin’ politicians asking me to fill out another strinkin’ poll? I need a tub of cider just to recover from Gaston’s gubernating!” Muscles flexed beneath Rainbow’s coat and skin. Long limbs wrapped around Applejack’s neck, giving a squeeze that was firm yet friendly. Powerful wings sat half-extended on her back. Her short mane danced in the breeze, the green lock curling just under her ear. She winked at Scootaloo and motioned her closer. “C’mere, you.” Scootaloo jumped at her with a tackle that would have knocked the sturdiest earth pony off balance. Rainbow Dash held firm even as Scootaloo impacted her stomach, though her eyes widened. “Geeze, Squirt,” Rainbow wheezed, “trying out for the hoofball team?” Scootaloo shut her eyes tight and squeezed. “I missed you so much.” Rainbow Dash’s mouth turned down at the corners. She replaced the expression with a confident smirk. “I missed you, too.” She wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. “What say the three of us get some brunch? Brunch sound good to you, Applejack?” The train whistle squealed. The conductor shouted, “All aboard!” Diamond Tiara slunk towards the train. Scootaloo watched her go. “Sure does,” Applejack said. “Apple Bloom should have the cart at the market already, so it’ll be a quick walk.” “I love the smell of apple tarts in Ponyville.” Rainbow Dash flapped into the air and laid a foreleg on Applejack’s and Scootaloo’s shoulders. “It smells like home.” The three of them made the short trot to the marketplace. Most of the stands had been set up, but very few customers were around. Apple Bloom could be seen behind her stall, a bushel of apples framing either side. Apple Bloom looked up and almost gasped. “Scootaloo? Are you doin’ okay?” She walked around the market stall, nearly bumping her head on the overhand protecting the apples from direct sunlight. She bent her knees and lowered herself to Scootaloo’s level. “When yah didn’t show up fer work ah thought you’d decided to just hole up today.” Scootaloo sent Rainbow Dash a quick glance before plastering a smile to her face. “I’m doing okay, Bloom. Just thought I’d give you guys a break.” Apple Bloom also spared Dash a glance. “Miss Dash. Ah’m just worried ’bout you, Scoots. When ah heard about the fight ah was afraid you’d be in trouble.” Rainbow Dash shuffled her hooves and choked down a swallow. Applejack stepped between her sister and Scootaloo. “What fight? What’re you talkin’ ’bout?” Scootaloo’s head dipped down. “How’d you find out about it?” “Diamond Tiara harassed the folks at Sugarcube Corner before Spike threw her out. Literally.” Apple Bloom stood up, lifting her head above those around her. “We looked all over for you an’ Rumble, an’ he just said he took yah home.” “I’m fine. The fight wasn’t even that bad.” Scootaloo took a step back. “Just the usual Diamond Tiara stuff. Really.” “Then what’s got you down, Squirt?” Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest and gave Scootaloo a half-hug. “You know I’m here for you, right? It doesn’t take a genius to tell you’re not a hundred and ten percent.” Scootaloo looked at each pony in turn. “My wings are why I can’t fly. They just… sink right through clouds. Like there’s no magic in them. Or not much.” She extended her wings to their full length. “I just don’t know where to go from here.” Rainbow Dash gave her a squeeze. “Up. We go up. Right, Applejack?” Applejack wiped what had been a dour expression off her face. “Yer the expert, Dash.” “But first, brunch.” Rainbow Dash pointed at Apple Bloom. “Fry cook. Three apple tarts, if you please.” Apple Bloom reached over the stall to grab the treats. “Can you do it, Dash? Can y’ finally make Scootaloo fly?” “Lemme tell you something about the impossible.” Rainbow Dash dropped bits into the tin. “It’s just ‘I’m possible’ without the apostrophe.” Applejack guffawed. “It take you all night tah think of that?” Apple Bloom patted Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Got some balloon juice on standby if’n yah need it.” Scootaloo bit her lip, then gave Bloom a quick nuzzle. “I’ll hold you to that.” “What’s this fantastic idea of yours, Dash?” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, pushing her towards Rainbow Dash’s cloudmansion. Her elder sister corkscrewed through the air, swirling passing clouds into spiraling patterns. Rainbow Dash performed a loop that brought her closer to Scootaloo. “Well, see, the folks up at Cloudsdale said it’s high time I got a physical. So I take it and they scan me with this huge machine, looks kinda like a toilet. It mapped out my whole fairy string network. If you’ve got a magic imbalance, they’ll be able to find it and figure out a way to fix it.” Scootaloo put out her hoof and skidded to a stop. “We’ve talked about that sorta thing, but I don’t think my parents can afford the—” “Cool it.” Rainbow Dash landed in front of her. “Wonderbolt, remember? World-famous movie star? I got this thing covered. We’ll just take the train at noon, arrive in the evening, get your test, listen to what the doctors say, and be out in time to have supper.” “But you just got to Ponyville,” Scootaloo said. “Yeah, so? Isn’t this important?” Rainbow Dash gave her a curt nod. “Of course it is. It’s super-important. I promised I’d teach you to fly, and I’m gonna fulfill that promise, Squirt. I ain’t leaving my friends out in the cold, got it?” Scootaloo’s mouth quirked upward. “If you say so, Dash.” “Darn right I say so.” Rainbow Dash tossed her mane. “You got tell your folks about it, and I’ll get cleaned up. Meet me at the house in an hour.” “I-I’ll be there!” Scootaloo’s wings fluttered. “Yeah! We’ll do this!” One hoof-bump later, they went their separate ways. An hour and ten minutes later, Scootaloo stood on the edge of Rainbow Dash’s porch. A satchel hung off her back, carrying a few vital supplies. Plus a few bits in case she saw something awesome she needed to have. She sucked in a deep breath and knocked four times. A large male griffon opened the door. He turned his head to look straight at Scootaloo. “Oh, hello again.” “Mister Paw.” Scootaloo turned her head to mirror his. She noted the sheathed sword hanging from his hip. “Did Rainbow Dash like the scarf?” “Loved the white. Your advice was spot-on.” He gestured into the hallway. “Don’t let me be rude. Come on in. Rainbow Dash’s gonna be done in a few minutes.” Scootaloo stepped inside and wiped her hooves on an enchanted doormat. “Done with what?” Rainbow Dash ran from the kitchen to her bedroom, a towel wrapped around her head. “Holy Horseapples, I can’t find anything!” Water dripped from the end of her tail. “Scootaloo, you tell that boyfriend of yours that I put things places for a reason!” Martial cleared his throat. “I think that’s my cue to leave. Good luck, Scootaloo.” He extended his wings and flew in the direction of the forest. Rainbow Dash continued her one-mare stampede around the house. Scootaloo leaned on a countertop. “Sooo… What’s the story there?” Rainbow Dash stuck a toothbrush in her mouth. “Story where?” “Mister Martial Paw. The griffon who keeps showing up when your name’s mentioned.” Scootaloo’s eyebrows danced. “That story.” “He’s a pal. Met him through Daring Do. Saved my tail a couple times, and I saved his.” Rainbow Dash brushed her teeth vigorously. “Beginning, middle, end. Whole story. Why?” Scootaloo leaned on her elbows. “I thought maybe there was something else going on. He seems like he likes you.” Rainbow pulled the towel off her mane. “Sorry to burst your Rainbow Dash-Martial Paw fantasies, Squirt, but there ain’t much there. We’re buds.” She spat in the sink and tossed the brush into her saddlebags. “Is this gonna be your first time in Cloudsdale?” “Yeah.” “You’re in for a treat, Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Holy cow, are you in for a treat. All packed?” “Got my stuff right here.” Scootaloo patted her satchel. “You ready?” “I will be as soon as I can find my stinking—” Rainbow Dash slapped her forehead. “As soon as I remember that I told Rumble to put the turtle food in Tank’s room.” She shook her head. “I’ve been gone too long, Squirt.” Scootaloo jumped onto Rainbow Dash’s back and wrapped her forelegs around her neck. “You haven’t been gone. Just away.” Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo’s mane. “Sometimes I don’t know if I believe that.” “Believe it, sister.” Scootaloo chuckled. “And it’s great to have you back.” Rainbow Dash smiled. Her eyes lit up. “Hay, I got an idea.” “Huh?” Scootaloo climbed down. “What’s that?” “Remember way back when, when you watched us build storms?” Rainbow Dash scooped up her bags and walked to Tank’s room. She poured a measure of the stuff out before giving the tortoise a kiss on the forehead. “I’d push you around on top of a nice cloud. If you’re cool with it, I can push you to the train station. We’ll just leave your scooter locked up here. It’ll be a shortcut.” Scootaloo squinted. “We’re gonna have to do that in Cloudsdale anyways, aren’t we?” “Yeah, pretty much.” Rainbow Dash stepped onto her porch and pulled a tuft free. “At your convenience, madam.” “Then heck, I want you to get as much practice in as you can.” Scootaloo alighted the cloud, folded her legs beneath her, and shut her eyes. “Proceed with the proceedings and whatnot.” Rainbow Dash pushed herself up with her wings and let her forelegs sink into the soft, fuzzy cloudstuff. “Th-this is it, Squirt. We’re gonna finally get you airborne.” Scootaloo shivered. “I c-can’t wait.” Rainbow Dash moved the cloud forward. “You’re gonna have to tell me what’s been going on in Ponyville on the way. I wanna hear everything.” The chuff chuff chuff of the train had faded into the background hours ago. Scootaloo shared as much with Rainbow Dash as she could remember. The failed plots to help her fly. The discovery of her ability to paint with magic. The encounters with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Babysitting the Cakes. Her talks with Rumble. Her dance with Rumble. Rainbow Dash coughed on her coffee. “He said he wanted to get married? What the hay did you say to that?” Scootaloo reclined on the red cushion. “About what you might expect. I pretty much told him to take a hike. Then I took a hike.” “Geeze.” Rainbow Dash coughed again before taking a more cautious sip. “I guess that must have been nice while it lasted.” “Well…” Scootaloo rubbed her nose. “That’s the thing. After I cooled off, he came to me again. He explained himself a little better, I guess. Or maybe he’s just that sweet a talker.” “Heh.” Rainbow Dash looked out the window. “So you two are really an item now.” “Pretty much. It’s as official as it’s gonna get.” Rainbow Dash gave her a wide grin. “Until he proposes. Except he already did that.” “Yeah, yeah, we all make mistakes.” Scootaloo nibbled on chocolate candies from a nearby vending machine. “I don’t think I’d want him to take that mistake back, though.” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Good luck to you guys. I hope you live long, happy lives.” The train jolted as they switched tracks. Rainbow Dash stretched her wings. “Getting close.” Scootaloo popped a red-coated chocolate into her mouth. “So what about you? What’s going down with the Wonderbolts?” Rainbow Dash leaned forward. “Next month, get this, we’re performing overseas.” “Really?” Scootaloo sat up. “They’re letting Equestrians perform? Where? Who?” “Beefland.” Rainbow Dash polished a hoof on her chest. “I’m gonna show those minotaurs and cows what a rainboom looks like. And that’s only the opening act. It’s just gonna be me, Lightning Dust, and Raindrops, but we’re an awesome enough team to knock them off their hooves, for sure.” “Wow.” Scootaloo hugged herself with her wings. “A Wonderbolts show on foreign soil. That’s gotta be the show of a lifetime.” “You’re telling me?” Rainbow Dash’s ears flicked back, though she kept her smile strong. “I’m getting cold sweats just thinking about it.” Scootaloo chucked her shoulder. “You’re gonna rock. I know it.” Rainbow Dash’s mouth tipped down. “I’d invite you, but the cost of just getting a travel visa these days is just nuts. They want you to be dang sure you wanna go somewhere. So much paperwork. I don’t even know if Twilight and Applejack ’ll be able to go, and they’re government.” She glanced out the window. Her eyes widened. Her smile retook her face as her wings spread fully. She tugged on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Come here, Squirt. This is the best part. One of them. Maybe the best first part.” Scootaloo looked out the window and beheld wonder. An enormous cloudbank floated above the mountains. But it wasn’t shapeless. It was formed into streets, and buildings, and towers. Bridges connected separate clouds, joining them together in a great network. The skyline extended all the way to the edge of the clouds. The area of ground shadowed by the city was greater than the entire city of Canterlot. Rivers of rainbow and water flowed around the city-state, ending with waterfalls along the edges and in the center. Pegasi of all ages and sizes flew from cloud to cloud. Chariots and airships navigated the skyways. The late afternoon sun sparkled through puffs of mist, giving the air a magical, colorful glow. On the ground, ponies worked to prepare hot air balloons to take new arrivals to the top. Unicorn mages stood by, ready to cast cloudwalking spells or to grant wings of gossamer and morning dew. Police ponies directed traffic to and from the loading platforms, keeping watchful eyes for potential trouble. The train gave a final chuff as it slid into the station. Rainbow and Scootaloo disembarked immediately, nearly knocking a few of the slower ponies over. They hired their balloon, after Dash signed an autograph, and held on tight as they ascended. “You probably don’t need a hot air balloon when you come, do you?” Scootaloo said. “Nah, and neither will you.” Rainbow Dash glanced at the giggling mare directing their ascent. “I think we made her day, though.” The mare tossed a line, which somepony grabbed to drag them in. She waved as they walked away. “Have a good day, Daring Do!” Rainbow Dash gave her a double take. After a second, she belly laughed. “H-hay! You, too!” Rainbow continued to shake during their walk across the landing platform. “Wow. Wow I am not gonna ever get used to that. Wow!” Scootaloo snickered. “Tell me more of your brave exploits, Daring Do!” “There I was, walking across Cloudsdale, carrying nothing but my toothbrush and my comb!” Rainbow Dash threw her foreleg out, stopping Scootaloo in her tracks. “When suddenly, the ground opened up before me!” Scootaloo looked over. Just a few meters away, the cloud ended. The ground could be seen far below, grass and rocks and houses. “Whoa.” “Then, a flash of inspiration hit me like a ton of bricks.” Rainbow Dash tore a chunk of cloud from beneath their feet and molded it into a flat square. “My trusty flying carpet would never fail me, even when my wings did. And the day was saved once again by none other than that great hero of derring-do, Daring Do!” The city sprawled all around them. Shops and restaurants and offices, all built out of cloud. Scootaloo could see apartment complexes in the distance. Flight schools hovered above as she began to understand that unlike other cities, a city in the sky didn’t have to be flat. It extended out every which way, always shifting, changing, and growing. More than anything, Cloudsdale itself was alive. They joined a pegasus-only skyway, a path built through the city to provide safe passage for its citizens. Above and below, chariots pulled by strong stallions and mares sped away faster than the eye could follow. On the outskirts, airships crewed by eclectic arrangements of species floated past, their steam engines billowing smoke. The breeze caught Scootaloo’s mane. She took in big, heaving breaths as she soared above nothingness. Little by little, her wings opened, letting the wind catch her feathers. She closed her eyes, and for a brief minute, believed she was flying. But there wasn’t a feeling of weightlessness. Not yet. Not quite. Her hooves sat firm on the cloud in Rainbow Dash’s hooves. She turned back to smile at Rainbow Dash, but stopped when she saw her sister’s face. Rainbow Dash’s mouth was a hard line fighting against a perpetual tremble. Her eyes glistened, from the stinging wind or something else. Her ears lay flat. Her back muscles were tight. She noticed Scootaloo looking at her and flashed an unconvincing smile. “You okay, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo shouted over the roar of the continuous gust. “Yeah, Squirt. Peachy!” Rainbow Dash stared straight ahead, but kept half an eye on the ponies around her. “You just hold on, okay?” A left, a right, and two more lefts brought them to a quieter corner of the city-state. The buildings were shorter than the nearly-literal skyscrapers from the edges and middle. There were homes here, housing single families. Rainbow Dash pointed. “See that one over there? With the pillars?” “Ahuh.” “That’s where I grew up. One-nine-nine Hurricane Lane.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Dad still lives there. I’ll have to introduce you someday. Maybe we can meet him for dinner.” Rainbow Dash pushed away from the house. “It’s about time he met my little sister, after all.” “Sounds great. Can’t wait.” Scootaloo rested her chin on the cloud. “Is that the hospital?” Four stories tall, hundreds of meters long, the hospital would have looked at home on the ground if not for the fact it was made of clouds. The distant whine of sirens tickled her ears. “That’s the one,” Rainbow squeaked. “Only the best Cloudsdale has to offer. Everything a pegasus needs.” Scootaloo stood up, bracing her hooves on the cloud. “I’m ready.” Rainbow Dash gave the cloud one final push, then let it drift down. She landed on the ‘ground’ and waited for Scootaloo to join her. The younger pegasus stepped off her cloud. They walked side-by-side, neither really willing to hurry. Scootaloo’s wings trembled. Rainbow Dash’s extended and folded at irregular intervals. A chill ran down their spines as they walked through the sliding doors. Paperwork greeted them. Lots of paperwork. Mountains of paperwork. Permissions from legal guardians, blood types, history of illnesses, nonexistent eyeglasses prescriptions, allergies, current medication… “Scootaloo?” a pegasus mare in a white labcoat said at last. Scootaloo swallowed, the first noise that had passed between the two of them for the last hour and a half. “Y—that’s my cue.” As Scootaloo followed the mare, she heard another pony speak to Rainbow Dash, “I’m sorry, but we do need to discuss payment—” The heavy door closed. Scootaloo licked her lips and giggled weakly. “So how does this thing work?” The nurse set her on a hard, metal bed. She was covered with a thin, paper blanket. A white circle sat behind her, in the center of which multicolored magic sparkled. A hum rolled through the room. “It records how the magic passes through your body,” the nurse said. “It won’t hurt, but you might feel some slight disorientation.” Understatement of the year. The world spun as Scootaloo passed through the white tube. Power tingled through every fairy string as she touched the suspended magic curtain. The current dissipated, the machine quieted, and the world righted itself. Scootaloo responded by vomiting.