//------------------------------//
// Chapter Four 
// Story: For You, Rainbow Dash! 
// by UniqueSKD 
//------------------------------//

"Scootaloo! Wake up!"

The little filly's eyes shot wide open, and she bolted upright in her bed, gasping for breath. Beads of sweat fell down her cheeks, and her pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks. After a moment she resumed breathing normally, and she looked to her side to see Rainbow Dash, wearing a look of genuine concern on her face.

"Geez, Scoots, don't do that to me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief. "You had me worrying sick when you started shaking and mumbling like that! Thought you were having some kind of fit or something, kiddo!"

Scootaloo observed her surroundings. "Wha-what am I doing in the hospital? Wasn't it all a dream?" she said worryingly.

"You hit the finishing line pole pretty hard back there, Scoots," Rainbow Dash explained. "The doctors say you're fine apart from a big bump on your noggin, but they wanna keep you in bed for a day or two, just to be sure. Not many foals do what you did and get off with just a bump after all, especially at that speed you were going. Speaking of which, what the hay happened out there, kid? You were doing so well until - woah!"

Rainbow Dash suddenly felt the air in her lungs get squeezed out of her as two small forelegs wrapped themselves around her, a sobbing head buried into her chest. Rainbow Dash's eyes looked down at the crying filly, taken totally by surprise by her little admirer's action. "Hey, Scootaloo! I wasn't that worried sick, kiddo! I'm not angry with you or anything! C'mon, calm down, Scoots!"

Rainbow Dash's words did not fall on deaf ears, as Scootaloo's sobbing began to slow down, becoming quiet chokes as Scootaloo steadied her breathing. The little filly slowly looked up into Rainbow Dash's eyes, though kept her head close to the mare's chest like a cub to its protective mother bear. Rainbow Dash looked back at her, shocked at the appearance of her red puffy eyes.

"Rainbow Dash! I'm so so SO sorryI lost the race!" Scootaloo cried, the stream of tears continuing to pour forth from her eyes. "I didn't mean to lose it after all the time you gave and wasted on me! Please don't abandon me! I'll do anything if you'll just forgive me! Please! I don't care about the stupid Wonderbolts, I just wanted to make you proud!"

Scootaloo buried her head back into Rainbow Dash's chest as the mare looked down at her in awe. 

"Scoots, what in the hay are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash asked, bringing a hoof around the filly and getting her to look up at her. "What's gotten you so worked up like this?"

Scootaloo wiped the tears from her eyes as she collected her breath. "Rainbow, you spent a lot of time with me trying to get me in shape and top form for the big race. I enjoyed spending more time with you, so I really really wanted to win the race for you. I didn't want you to think I had been a total waste of time. I wanted to do you proud, Rainbow. I wanted to make you proud of me." Scootaloo hung her head sadly. "You're my hero, Rainbow Dash...and I wanted to win, for you."

Rainbow Dash tilted her head, listening to the filly pouring her heart out to her. "So...the reason you're upset right now is because of what happened at the end of the race, with the pole and everything?"

Scootaloo sniffled as she nodded her head slowly.

Rainbow Dash frowned. "Scoots, winning the race would have been awesome, sure," she said. "Not to mention that flight with the Wonderbolts would have been nice too." 

Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly as the thought of herself in a Wonderbolts suit entered her mind. Wonderbolt Dash, however, was quickly pushed aside when Rainbow Dash's attention was brought back to the filly looking at her in a funny way.

"Um, but, ah, as cool as any of that would have been, it doesn't matter. I mean, did you see yourself out there, Scoots? You rocked that competition!" Rainbow Dash flew up above Scootaloo and began flying around the room, imitating the stunts that the filly had pulled off during the race. "You were passing through every checkpoint like a pro! You were going so fast I nearly felt kinda threatened, and you were dong it all in style, kiddo!" 

Rainbow Dash landed back down next to the filly, who looked up at her hero with hopeful eyes. "I won't ask what happened at the end with the whole 'colliding into the pole and blacking out' thing, but I'm telling you the truth Scoots, when I say that up until that happened you were 120% awesome! Like, that's a lot of percent, you know!"

Scootaloo wiped the wetness from her eyes and gave a small smile. "So...you won't make me go away even though I lost the race?"

"Of course not, you little twerp!" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk, as she scooped the filly up in her hooves. Scootaloo couldn't hold back her giggles as Rainbow Dash twirled around, still holding the little pegasus. "Just because you messed up in that race doesn't mean I'd just give up on you. We'll just keep practicing until next year's contest, and by then you'll clear that track twice as fast!" She stopped spinning about and set the filly down. "And next time, you'll clear the finish line before looking over at me," she concluded, ruffling Scootaloo's mane.

Scootaloo looked back up at Rainbow Dash with a sheepish smile, her cheeks a rosy red hue. "Yeah. I'll keep that in mind next time, Rainbow," she replied with a chuckle.

"Atta girl, Scoots!" Rainbow Dash said, pulling her in close for a hug. They broke off after a few moments, and Rainbow Dash turned around. "Okay, Scoots. You get back in bed and rest up, okay? And if they let you go tomorrow, we can get straight back into training for next year's race!" Rainbow Dash said as she exited through the door.

Scootaloo grinned. "Okay, Rainbow Dash! I'll see you - wait, 'tomorrow'?" Scootaloo's joyful expression changed to one of confusion. "But, Rainbow!" she called out, "it's a school day!"

Rainbow Dash poked her head back around the door frame. "I know, but I pulled a couple of strings - mostly Cheerilee's and your parents - and I got you a whole month off! We have to use that time to get you ready as soon as we can! See you tomorrow, kid!" And with that, Rainbow Dash's head disappeared.

Scootaloo stared at the door where her idol was, unblinking for a few moments, before deadpanning. "Guess that means no cutie mark crusading for a while, then," she groaned.

It was a good thing she liked spending time with Rainbow Dash.


The End