Flight

by WannaBeLaika

Flight

A Pegasus’ natural ability. One we use every day. One that helps us in more ways than we can imagine. One we take for granted.

Flight is what makes a Pegasus a Pegasus. It gives us the ability to walk on clouds. To mold them to our preferences. All Pegasi can do it. Except me. I can’t fly.

You know me. I walk around town all the time. Or ride, usually. I cause all sorts of chaotic mischief with my friends every day. Breaking stuff and fleeing the scene. Running into trees and fruit stands, getting coated in juice and sap. Hanging with Rainbow. Trying to learn to fly, pretending to make the best of it, and going home… sitting in my room, reading and studying on how to fly, how to do it right, wondering what I’m doing wrong, when I’ve adjusted so much and fixed everything I could find.

Waking up, going to school, crusading with my friends, even after we’ve gotten our marks, going home and studying, trying to fly, failing, failing, falling, getting hurt, desperate, and upset, acting like I’m still fine, like I feel someday soon I’ll do it, when I lost all hope years ago, and I’m only still doing it to pretend I’m alright. Every day, I imagine a future where I can fly, faster than Rainbow. I’ll be famous and rich and happy and have fans and friends and… not feel… so… forlorn.

I can reshape clouds. I can walk on them. But I can’t reach on my own. I’m too low. And I can’t get any higher.

I’m what they call a dirt eater. A grounder. A winged Earth pony. They look down on me, the best ones, who were born to fly. My wings are just a little too small. It shouldn’t make a difference. It doesn’t, actually. My mother is a Pegasus. Her wings are smaller than others, but she flies fine. It’s my dad. He’s an Earth pony. Don’t get me wrong, I love him, and would trade anything for him, even my flight. I just wish I didn’t have to.

He feels like it’s his fault. But it was just the timing. He did nothing wrong. I love him, and I try to tell him it’s okay every day. He listens and understands that, but he still feels sad. Mom comforts him too, and we all understand that things are the way things are, usually for good reason, and we can’t change that. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be disappointed, or wish it were different.

I have a rare condition that only comes from cross-racial or cross-species breeding. In cross-species, sometimes a pony of any race may find that they have less magic, and in some rare cases, that can cause a dysfunction in the ability to use that magic.

With cross race, it’s still relatively the same, but it only happens to Unicorns and Pegasi. The magic from the other race mixes with the Unicorn or Pegasus’ usual magic, diluting it and rendering it useless. It is possible to learn to separate it- which I can do to a small degree- but without professional help, it’s very hard.

Add that to the smaller size of my wings, and then you have a recipe for disappointment.

My scooter helps aid in the usage of my wings, as a sort of crutch, something I can kinda lean on, to “fly” a little, even though it’s isn’t real. The sensation is similar but different enough that it still can’t possibly compare. It helps in gaining strength in my wing muscles though, and with all the years I’ve used it, my wings are possibly one of, if not the, strongest I’ve ever seen. Shame I can’t really use them, because I’m sure I’d be able to beat Dash in endurance.

My wings also have a few other rare-ish features, which I’m quite proud of. Not nearly as rare as my flight condition, and you can see them reasonably often in places like Cloudsdale or, say, maybe even Las Pegasus, where there’s plenty of Pegasi. But they still make me feel less like trash.

First off, I have extra fluff at the base of my wings. Second, I have a small extra row of feathers. Those are fluffy as well. I also have a weird joint thing, where my wings can bend in any direction. Then my feathers sometimes curl at the ends if I scrub them too much in the bath, or soap them too much. It’s not much, but still. Rainbow doesn’t have any of that, so I get the right to feel good about it.

I guess things aren’t too bad, but they’re really not looking all that bright for me either. I still can’t fly, and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon never really helped any, though they’ve actually been somewhat supportive the last time they walked past me while I was training.

Maybe I’m luckier than the others. Maybe I just try harder. It’s all the same to me since it doesn’t change my ability to fly. But at least it’s not all worthless, or Id’ve given up by now. I have supportive friends and family, I live in a good town with a supportive community, I’m probably better off than plenty of ponies, even if they don’t have my condition, and hey, at least I can still enjoy youth while it still lasts.

I’ve jumped off buildings, trees, lampposts, and even the top of Miss Cheerilee’s schoolhouse. I can glide a bit, and sometimes I’m even able to hover for a few seconds after jumping off something. I can’t turn, though, and that has led to more than a few… accidents. I broke a bone once, jumping into the Ghastly Gorge and gliding right into a giant boulder at high speed. Listen, I’m a dumb, reckless kid, and I’m desperate, okay? Judge me all you want, but I still did it, and let me tell you, I’ve been led to do stupider.

My life can be just awful sometimes. Sometimes it’s great. But just so long as there’s something to look up to, I cat tolerate it. I still don’t think I’ll ever fly. But there’s always a chance. Even still, in the unlikely situation that I ever do fly, as I said, I have plenty of ponies here to support me.

Wherever life takes you, right?

Comments

[BullDozer]

nice

[hector dabullio]

Nice.

[Hillbe]

Alright who stole Tanks Gizmo-copter?
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Stay away from my hair!
Scoots faster then I am
Rarity? you need to let go I can't ...
She's coming right at us!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[Hedonism Bot]

10913026
I don't recall the title, but there actually is one story where Scootaloo is given a version of Tank's propeller after being hit with a diagnosis of "grounded for life".

[Hillbe]

10913142
cool

[ShivalWolf]

This is sadly wonderful. Poor poor scoots but at least she can be positive.

[Dashie04]

Aww, I love how Scootaloo is going to try even thought she knows that she’s probably going to fail.

A very nice story.

[WannaBeLaika]

10912951
10912962
10913442
Thanks
10913026
lol I can actually imagine that happening
10913142
Ooh, if you find it again can you send me a link? That sounds like an interesting read.
10913568
I tend to see her as one who tries her hardest to look on the bright side, or hope that at least there's something else she can be grateful for.
10913715
She's a strong little filly, I'm sure she can at least manage with what she has, even if she will undoubtedly fail. Again, I think she seems like one to look at the positive.

Thank you, everyone!

[Hedonism Bot]

10919521
Here it is:

No Fly Day

There are actually a number of other stories (mostly in the Scootaloo group, in the "Taking Flight" folder) that involve her using some form of assistive device to fly.

10913715

Aww, I love how Scootaloo is going to try even thought she knows that she’s probably going to fail.

That's the only logical explanation I can think of for why the idea of technological assistance has never been brought up in canon: She's trying to do everything she can to fly normally before going that route.

[WannaBeLaika]

10919692
Thanks! I'll be sure to read it after I'm done with all the dumb stuff I've gotta do.

Looks like fun! Haven't read a story like this before I think...

[Hedonism Bot]

10920363
For what it's worth, I myself have started working on a story involving Scootaloo flying with the glider featured in issue 81 of the comic (which got an earth pony into the Wonderbolts). Though the emphasis isn't on her flying in and of itself, but on her pondering what she's going to do with her life now that she has the means to fly.

[AvoidingFever17]

Oh scootaloo
...i have magic that could help you fly again
Your lack of pegasus magic shall not be your end
If the comics told me of a earth pony wonderbolt then you shall also be able to do your dreams
I shall help you fly
Well maybe not me
But to Get HER help?
You must travel outside of equestria