A Pony a Day

by OfTheIronwilled

Able (7/22/2017)

Rainbow Dash sat on the park bench. She sighed and stared at the birds. She tried to fluff her wings. Then she only sighed again, when nothing moved. Not that she really expected anything to, but still.

So much for the big tournament next month, huh? Or the show at the Games next year. Or--

Rainbow smashed one of her hooves to the bench with a snarl. Look, this isn't what she came out here for! Yeah, she could sit around being sad or whatever, but-- but hay, she'd already done that. And Twilight said it would probably be good to just take walks now and then to clear her head, and so he was trying. If only her stupid head would calm down... Hay, maybe if this kept going on it would be better to run over to AJ's or something. At least she could still run a race. Plus, it was always nice to walk the old Running of the Leaves trail with her, like old times. Then--

"Rainbow Dash?"

The voice was tiny. Well, not as tiny as it used to be, but still. Rainbow sighed a little, but there was a smile on her face. She knew who it was. If she was being honest, she... kinda hoped that she would walk by the park today like normal. It was always cool to see Scoots.

She turned around. Scootaloo looked a little rough. Like, emotionally rough. At least now she'd been getting some sleep, since she wasn't watching Rainbow to make sure she didn't need a nurse in the middle of the night or something. Well, Rainbow figured she was anyways, and her eyes didn't have circles as black as the pit of Tartarus under them anymore so that was cool.

"Hey squirt. Ah, I'm just sitting around. Taking in nature or whatever Twilight said," she shrugged, "It just seems kinda boring, but it's not like I have anything better to do. What's up?"

Scootaloo gave this weird little smile that looked like it would belong more on Fluttershy's face. She tucked her head, buzzed her wings. Her tiny wings. The same wings that hadn't grown any since she was a kid.

Rainbow couldn't help but stare for a second. Really stare and really look. Her mouth went a little dry.

She... well, Rainbow Dash guessed that she really got it now. And Celestia, this sucked. Scootaloo was stronger and had more awesome willpower than she ever realized before. Had she ever told her that?

Rainbow nearly socked herself in the mouth. Nah, she hadn't. She was too busy having an emotional breakdown in the hospital. And before that, well, she, uh... wasn't the best at comforting or anything, leave it at that. She tried, but until now? All her attempts were sincere, but they never really seemed as real as they did now, you know?

Rainbow was about to compliment her until the sun went down, but then she noticed that Scootaloo was pulling up her scooter behind her. The filly rocked it back and forth on its wheels, and played with her long spiky mane for a while until she looked up at Rainbow with a smile. And yeah, that smile was kinda shy, but it was also full of so much passion and fury she hadn't seen in Scoots for a while. That one look, like she was the best and most badass pony in existence, and was so happy because she was about to do something super awesome. She usually got that look when she knew a piece of Wonderbolts trivia that she knew Rainbow didn't, because Scootaloo was a cute little brat who learned how to be a sore winner from Equestria's best pegasus.

Now though?

"So, Rainbow Dash. Are you ready to get training?"

Rainbow snorted and raised an eyebrow. "Um, what?"

Scootaloo faltered for a second, but then she was puffing her fluffy chest out like a goober again.

"My wings have never worked," she said, and Rainbow's heart dipped, but Scootaloo was still going, "but I still get off the ground. If you think I'm gonna let you mope around, and not teach you the world's most exciting, gnarliest scooter tricks, then you're not Rainbow Dash."

There was silence for a second. Rainbow couldn't help but laugh a little.

Scootaloo sagged. "I mean-- only if you-- you don't have to, if you're still upset about--"

Then she pulled Scootaloo into the tightest hug in the world.

"Okay, okay," Rainbow said, "it'll be nice to get some wind again. Just take it easy on me, huh, Coach? I don't know if I'm ready for the," she snorted, "gnarliest scooter tricks this side of Equestria yet. I don't know how to ride one of these at all, and you're throwing all these advanced drills at me? Show some mercy!"

Scootaloo puffed out her little blushing cheeks-- but then she was smiling and rolling her eyes.

"Whatever, Rainbow Dash. I expect at least one quality trick by the end of the week" she paused and raised an eyebrow, "or are you not the most skilled, versatile pegasus in all of Equestria? If the pressure's too much, then I get it."

"You know, Coach... that almost sounded like a challenge."

She'd have to tell Scootaloo how unbelievably amazing was after she was finished getting her butt kicked by a scooter.