//------------------------------// // Finally Flying // Story: Gone with the Wind // by MistsofDawn //------------------------------// Scootaloo flapped her little orange wings as hard as she could. Her tiny wings lifted her legs about an inch off the ground and moved her about two inches further. Beads of sweat formed and rolled down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and focused hard. "Come on, Scootaloo, you can do it!" Rainbow Dash's voice rang through her small head. "Flap those wings, kid! You're doing it!" Scootaloo was covered in perspiration and her little wings were flapping so hard, they could only be seen as a blur. The little filly opened her eyes and looked below her. Her head was in a blur from all the concentration. It seemed as if it has been an hour already. When her mind was cleared up, she looked down and saw... Rainbow Dash way below her, smiling. It took a moment for her to figure it out. She was flying! A rush of excitement flowed through her and Scootaloo glowed with disbelief. Scootaloo turned around and saw the world below her. She was out of breath but she didn't care. She loved it! "You GO, squirt!", Rainbow Dash yelled from below. Scootaloo turned to the sunset. The sun glimmered and the sky around it swirled with color. It was so unreal, like a painting. The clouds were bordered with a silver line as the sun set slowly. It felt like the whole world was celebrating her victory. "Hey, Scoot!" Surprised, Scootaloo turned to see Rainbow Dash behind her. "Squirt! You did it!" "Y-Yeah!", Said Scootaloo in between breaths. "I did it!" Scootaloo was still astonished. But it felt so easy! "I can't wait to show Bloom and Sweetie!", thought Scootaloo in excitement. "I wonder what they will say?" Scootaloo's thoughts were broken by the sound of Rainbow Dash's voice. "Hey, Scoot! You wanna go for a fly?" "Sure! That would be cool, Rainbow Dash!" "Are you sure you're ready, though?" "I am if you are!" "Ok... let's go then!" The two ponies flew over the beautiful landscape below. The sun was a golden orb surrounded by a picturesque evening sky. Rainbow Dash led her to a breathtaking waterfall and the two pegasi flew through the mists of the cascade. Scootaloo saw the mist swim in the sunlight, creating a rainbow effect. "Wow", thought Scootaloo. "This really feels amazing". From in front of her, Rainbow looked over her shoulder and smiled. Scootaloo beamed back. Rainbow Dash was so awesome! Scootaloo watched as she soared through the sky. The cyan pony's wings looked like they weren't moving at all, whereas Scootaloo's were flapping hard just to keep up. Rainbow Dash was so swift and sleek, like a bullet. Rainbow was also a great coach. She was kind, patient, and persistent. Never did she give up. And to add to that, she was beautiful. Her stunning rainbow mane was like an angel's gown. Scootaloo wanted to be just like Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo turned to look at her own mane but lost her balance. "Whoa!" cried Scootaloo. Her wings suddenly froze, and her heart jumped. "Aaaaaaah!" She felt herself dropping, cutting through the wind. Her tiny heart beat a million times a second. Suddenly, she felt two hooves on her back. "I gotcha!" She looked up to see, of course, Rainbow Dash. Without hesitation, Rainbow Dash slowly lowered herself to the ground with Scootaloo in her hooves. "There you go". "Thanks, Rainbow Dash!", replied Scootaloo. "No problem! But you should probably rest. For a newbie, you've done a LOT of flying." "Yeah...I should get to sleep." The night had covered the sky with a blanket of dark blue and a single, shimmering moon. Then, the first star appeared. The two ponies sat shoulder to shoulder, staring at the sky at that enchanting hour. Rainbow Dash put her wing around Scootaloo, and Scootaloo leaned her head against her mentor and best ever friend. "You know what I wish, Scoot?", said Rainbow Dash. "Yeah?", replied Scootaloo. "I wish that someday, the Wonderboltz will accept me into their group. I have been practicing for the past four years- two hours each day!" "Even today?" "Even today." "You're already good, though, Rainbow Dash. Just try out already!" "I'm not going to try out until I get there. Until I become so perfect and so confident that I'll be flawless. But I'll get there. I know it from the bottom of my heart." "Wow.." Scootaloo was amazed at Rainbow Dash's persistence! She was so ambitious and always had positive thoughts. "Rainbow Dash?", started Scootaloo. "Yeah?" "I wish I could be like you." Rainbow Dash looked stunned for a moment. Scootaloo worried that she had said something wrong and panicked for a moment. Then, Rainbow's face relaxed and melted into a smile. "Scootaloo, I believe in you. You have everything you need to become a great flyer." "Really?" "Yeah! You are so hard working and you never, ever give up!" Scootaloo smiled. These words were coming from perhaps the BEST flyer in Ponyville! And maybe more! "Remember when you and the CMC got their cutie marks?" Scootaloo nodded then looked at her flank. She grinned at how excited she was when they had gotten their cutie marks. It was such a great memory. "You had the courage and you kept trying and trying 'till you got there! That's how it works with flying, too!", Said Rainbow Dash. "And, hey! You can always learn from me! I'll teach you and we can practice every day! I usually have some time on my hands!" Scootaloo's heart jumped. Teach her how to be a better flyer? Rainbow Dash?! Wow! "I'd be honored to, Rainbow Dash!" The cyan pony smiled. "Oh yeah, and one more question...what is a hand? "Oh! Did I say hand? I meant hooves! Sorry! Man, I'm getting this from Twilight, aren't I?", exclaimed Dash. "Huh?",wondered Scootaloo. "Oh," said Rainbow Dash. "Long story!" Both of them giggled. "Dash?" asked Scootaloo. "Yeah?", answered Rainbow Dash. "You'll stay with me for my whole life, right? We'll have lot's of fun together?" "Yeah! For sure." The cyan pony smiled. "Promise?" "I promise."