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// Surprise!  
// Story: Gone with the Wind 
// by MistsofDawn 
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	Scootaloo tossed off her sheets and jumped off her bed. She rubbed her eyes as she trotted to the bathroom and splashed her face with some cold water. She sighed and lifted her wings to fly, then felt a little soreness on the joint. "Wow!" , she thought. That flying I did yesterday really was a lot! She lifted her small wings and flapped outside the door. The soreness bothered her, but she didn't pay any attention. If she was going to fly, she was going to practice! 
She headed towards the sweet apple acres to find Applebloom. When she arrived, she noticed something. The big, bustling place that was usually so busy in the morning was so quiet and still! "Why is it so quiet? Applejack and her family are always up early and working by now. And if they were going anywhere, Applebloom would've told me!" 
Scootaloo stopped flapping lowered herself to the ground. She trotted to the front door of the barn and knocked on the door. No one answered. "Where are they?", she wondered. She pushed the door open and was surprised to see that it was unlocked. The barn was dark and Scootaloo couldn't see a thing. She stepped a tiny bit closer to the middle...
"SURPRISE!!!!!!"
Scootaloo jumped back and gasped, startled. The lights flickered on to reveal a few familiar faces. "Surprise!!", yelled Pinkie Pie as her pink, fluffy mane bounced up and down. Scootaloo recovered from her shock. She looked around the barn,  which was decorated with ribbons, streamers, and a banner that read, "Way to go, squirt!" Scootaloo grinned with glee. "This is all for me?", she asked. Rainbow Dash zoomed in. "Yep! All for you, kiddo!" Scootaloo was beyond excited. No one had ever thrown her a party before! 
"We all wanted to congratulate you on your achievement.", said Twilight. 
"Congrats, sugar cube. Ah always knew you could do it!"
"Good job, Scootaloo! Angel also says congrats!
"You've worked hard, darling. And now you've done it!"
"WOOHOO!! WAY TO GO SCOOTALOO!!"
Compliments and cheers surrounded the small pony. All for her! This was all for her! Scootaloo couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"Hi, Scootaloo!". Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hurried towards her. 
"Yaay! You did it! I always knew you could. I KNEW it!", squealed Sweetie Belle.
"Looks like all that hard hard work paid off, huh?", said a grinning Apple Bloom. 
Scootaloo was so happy, she was almost in tears! 
"Wow, guys! I really did do it!", said Scootaloo. She puffed her little orange chest out with pride. 
"You guys are the best friends ever!"
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!", they all yelled and did a three-way hoof bump. 
When you're having fun, time goes by quickly, or at least, it seems to. For Scootaloo, the day went by fast. Fun, food, friends. She was having the time of her life! Scootaloo looked around to see Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo started trotting towards the cyan pony before she jolted to a stop. There was something strange about Rainbow Dash. She looked weary and tired. She was sitting alone and staring at the clock while her friends ate cake and talked. She was sitting with them, but she wasn't as social as she usually was. Sootaloo dashed over to her. "Rainbow Dash!" 
The pegasus turned around and looked at Scootaloo.
"Oh! Hi, kid! You enjoying the party?"
"Yeah! A lot!"
That's cool! When I told my friends that you learned to fly they were all so excited for you! I wanted to throw you a party, so I asked Pinkie to help me!" 
"Wow! This was all your idea?" 
"Yeah! Su-" 
Suddenly, Rainbow dash jerked up, with her back straight and eyes wide open. She shivered, then closed her eyes. 
"Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?!" Yelled a concerned Scootaloo. "Rainbow Dash!!" 
"Huh? Yeah! Totally!", replied Rainbow Dash.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure!"
"Oh! Lookit the time!! I really gotta go! Bye!" 
Before Scootaloo could reply, the quick pony had already slipped out the door.
"Huh! That was weird! Rainbow Dash is usually not this..well.. strange acting!"
Scootaloo wondered what had been the matter. Rainbow didn't seem to be feeling good.
Scootaloo ran out the door, only to see Rainbow Dash just disappearing into the clouds.
The young, orange pony lifted up her wings and crouched down, ready to push off. She launched herself into the air, losing her balance while doing so, but flapped furiously and aimed herself where the cyan pony had disappeared through. 
Where could she possibly be going? It was unlike Rainbow Dash to be so careful and...suspicious!
Scootaloo's little wings were flapping as they could to catch up to her mentor. There was something strange going on, and she was going to find out what!