Scootaloo has always been a good actor, much better than other ponies would guess. Developing her secret talent ever since she was three years old to hide the pain and sorrow caused by her mother’s death, Scootaloo finds it easy to assume the image of Rainbow Dash, a life-long friend of her family, for protection. However, not even the best of actors can perform forever...
And so Scootaloo is thrown into the world foreign to her own, as fear of another loss and her own death breaks her mask and reveals the sorrowful, heartbroken filly that she has been for all those years. Nopony, not even her own family, understands her secrecy, nor do they understand what could have driven her to it, forcing her to seek solace by befriending a powerful, ancient creature which only she can see.
They share many tales of their unfortunate past and eventually grow so close, that, when Scootaloo hits the very bottom, the creature offers her to take her on a perilous journey aimed to bring her mother back to life. Naturally, she immediately accepts his help, oblivious of the hardships they will have to endure and the sacrifice she will have to make, should her quest be successful.