Scootaloo tried over and over again to fly. She would balance herself and her wings on Dash's outstretched hoof high in the skies, and Dash would remove her hoof again and again as Scootaloo tried to stay afloat on her own. It wasn't as easy as she had hoped when the realization of her problem had struck her, but she got better and better with each attempt, lasting a couple seconds longer before angling her wings too far down or up, resulting in her losing her balance and getting out of control. But she never ceased trying, even as the sun started to shine dimly on the horizon below them. Never had she felt so close to flying than today.
Rainbow Dash didn't get tired either, even though she repetitively would swoop down to save Scootaloo, fly up a bit and try all over again. Normally such repetitive tasks would get incredibly boring for her, but watching Scootaloo get better and better with each attempt made everything worth it. She had even forgot that Scootaloo learning to fly would be her ticket to becoming a Wonderbolt. Seeing her fly was the only hope and aspiration Rainbow Dash had right now.
They had been trying for so long, the conversations between attempts dwindled until there was no conversation at all. Nothing needed to be said: it was clear that they would be working on this together even if it took until nightfall. Even Dash's wings were starting to get tired. She could only imagine how fatigued Scootaloo must have felt.
"Scoot, we can always pick this back up tomorrow morning," said Dash after swooping down to catch her yet again after another failed, but improved, attempt.
"But I'm so close," she replied, looking back to Dash. There were bags under her eyes.
"Alright," said Dash. She wasn't going to stop unless Scootaloo was ready. She held her tight in her hooves and flew up again into the sky for another attempt. Flying towards the hazy orange horizon, the sun now beneath it, they got into position once again. "Scootaloo," said Dash, "before we try this again, I want you to know that, well," she paused for a moment, "I'm proud of you. Seeing you get your cutie mark was one thing, but a pegasus learning to fly is just as amazing."
Scootaloo just smiled tiredly back at her. "I'm ready," she replied.
"You're going to soar, Scoot."
Rainbow Dash pulled her hoof out from underneath Scootaloo for probably the hundredth time, expecting her to drop down after a few moments as she had done in every previous attempt, but Scootaloo remained. Soaring above her, Dash looked up at the orange filly with her tiny wings outstretched, the sunlight from below the horizon casting a warm glow beneath her and her feathers swaying peacefully. A sudden onslaught of emotion came over her. She's done it, thought Rainbow Dash as the warmest smile overcame her.
After a few seconds of flight, Scootaloo yelled out with excitement. "I'm flying! Dash, I'm flying!"
"You sure are, Scoot," said Dash, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Dash, are you crying?"
"No," she replied with a sniffle. "Okay yeah, I am. I seem to be doing that a lot these past couple days..."
Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash made their way back to Ponyville. At this point, the sun was far beneath the horizon and the sky was nearly dark.
"You ready to fly down?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah."
Scootaloo angled her wings downwards in preparation to swoop down through the sky like she had seen Rainbow Dash do thousands of times. She gradually picked up speed as she flew further and further downwards, feeling the wind slice past her wings. Every little movement resulted in drastic changes in her trajectory, but she remained in complete control.
"You're a natural!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she swooped down beside her.
Scootaloo felt another shiver go down her mane as she picked up even more speed. She felt like she could do anything in that moment.
The two pegasi landed on the ground near the outskirts of Ponyville, both of them exhausted. After a couple moments of silence, Scootaloo spoke up. "Thank you, Dash."
"Don't mention it," she replied with a tired smirk. The two parted ways as Scootaloo returned back to her home and Rainbow Dash flew back up into the sky towards Cloudsdale. She immediately rolled into her bed and pulled the warm blanket over herself. As she drifted slowly off to sleep, the only thoughts that ran through her mind was how proud she was of her little sister.
~-~SOARING ABOVE~-~