Wings
Scootaloo knew it was going to be dark soon. She could see the sun starting to slowly set. But she was not ready to go back home, not yet. She had been wandering around Sweet Apple Acres for some time now. She just needed time to clear her head. Scootaloo had taken care not to get close to the barn but also not to close to the Everfree Forest. After a day like today, she just wanted to be left alone.
Scootaloo stopped and sat down right next to the tree nearest to her. Her thoughts turned to what had transpired earlier today. It had started out just like any other day. Scootaloo and the rest of the CMC were out doing what they do best, find there cutie marks and have fun doing so. They had just finished their attempt at getting a cutie mark in street performing. The show did not go to well; Scootaloo had trouble remembering the details but perhaps juggling water balloons wasn’t such a good idea. Especially since not a single one of them landed near them.
As they were making their way towards Sugarcube Corner afterwards, they ran into the terrible two: Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. At the time, all three of the CMC knew that the barrage of insults was to come. But it was the tail end of the conversation that really hit where it hurt most. After going over there usual bits of blank flank this and blank flank that, suddenly DT stopped and slowly began to eye her wings. “So, I hear that you became a sister to Rainbow Dash not too long ago.”
Scootaloo eyed them cautiously, “Yeah, what’s the matter? Jealous?” Both DT and SP snickered.
Scootaloo scrunched her face, “What’s so funny?”
Diamond smiled, “I didn’t realize the Element of Loyalty took pitty on handicap ponies. She must think your something real special. The best flyer in all of Equestria, hanging out with a pony who can’t ever fly.”
Scootaloo’s eye twitched in rage, “So what if my wings can’t get me off the ground, so what if some fillies can fly long before I can. She is still my sister and I will fly with her someday.”
Diamond sighed, “Of course you will. You just have to find a really strong rope.” An image of Rainbow Dash pulling Scootaloo as she barely hovered above the ground, flashed into her mind. Scootaloo felt a tear fall from her face before she could even stop it.
Sweetie Belle stepped between them, “Come on Diamond Tiara, that’s low even for you.”
Silver Spoon glanced away for a moment then turned to Diamond, “Let’s just leave; I think she’s had enough.”
Diamond ignored her and laughed, “Wait, I think I know exactly what your cutie mark is, its a stupid chicken with its head in the ground.” Another image flashed in Scootaloo’s mind. She saw herself all alone on a hill as Rainbow Dash waved good-by as she took off towards the clouds. She screamed for Rainbow Dash to wait for her. But Rainbow continued to fly on as Scootaloo jumped up and down unable to leave the hill no matter how hard she tried. She flapped her little wings as hard as she could. She tried over and over. Then it dawned on her; she was never going to leave that hill. Scootaloo felt tears run from her face freely.
She turned and ran. Scootaloo could hear her friends calling out to her but she didn’t care, she just needed to be alone. She didn’t care who saw her or where she was going. That’s how she somehow ended up in Apple Jack's farm. It seemed that she had somehow lost her friends as well. “Good,” she told herself, “I don’t want them to see me cry any more. How can I be the tough one and cry like that? I can never let them see me like that ever again.”
Scootaloo took a deep breath and began walking again. She decided to stop by the pond real quick before it got too dark. Sweet Apple Acres had a nice small one the Scootaloo liked to hang out at sometimes. Scootaloo glanced back over at the sunset as she walked, she glanced up at the sky and saw a few clouds just hanging out above her. Clouds that she would never reach. Scootaloo felt like crying again, but she stopped herself, not just because she didn’t want to cry anymore, but because somepony else was doing the same nearby. Scootaloo traced the sobs to the pond. When she got close enough to see who it was, she stopped and froze where she was. Sitting just inches away from the pond, was Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Scootaloo quickly bowed in respect but noticed that she wasn’t paying attention. Scootaloo decided perhaps it was best if she leave, the princess was crying more then she was. Scootaloo turned around and took a step away from her. A branched cracked under her hoof. Scootaloo immediately froze again. She slowly turned her head and locked eyes with the princess. Without even thinking she fell to the ground bowing best she could. Scootaloo knew this probably looked kinda pathetic but she wasn't sure how else to react to the new princess.
“Please get up. I don’t like it when ponies bow to me. Especially, little fillies.”
Scootaloo blinked; this was not the kind of answer she was expecting. Scootaloo slowly rose and stared at the princess in curiosity, “But Princess Twilight, isn’t that what I am suppose to do?”
The princess shook her head, “Please just call me Twilight.”
Scootaloo cautiously walked toward her and sat down next to her. “Why don’t you want ponies bowing to you?”
Twilight glanced out across the pond, “In all honesty, I don’t even like the idea of being called a princess right now.”
Scootaloo looked up a Twilight in surprise, “How could you not want to be a princess? People look up to you now. They respect you. You have ponies willing to serve you. You get to live like royalty every day.”
Twilight shook her head, “It’s a lot more than that. I have this huge responsibility placed upon me. And I didn’t even ask for it. All my life, all I wanted to be was perhaps a teacher or to forever work for the princess in the ways of magic. But instead I had this whole princess thing thrust upon me. No one ever asked if I wanted this but now I am forever stuck as a princess.”
Scootaloo stared down at her reflection in the pond. “At least you know what you’re going to do with your life. I’m still trying to figure that out.”
Twilight smiled and turned to her. “You’re lucky, you’ve got plenty of time to figure that out. And you have nopony telling you what you're suppose to do.”
Scootaloo shook her head, “But that’s just it. I want ponies to tell me what I am suppose to do. I don’t like being a blank flank and I don’t think I want to stay one for much longer.” Scootaloo glanced at Twilight’s wings, “You’re luckier than you think. Your wings are beautiful.”
Twilight growled, “I wish I never got them.”
Scootaloo’s eye twitched. She got up and turned angrily towards Twilight, “How can you say that?! Do have any idea how amazing it would be to have flyable wings? If you don’t want them I would gladly take them.” Twilight stared at the filly in surprise. She had heard about there being a disabled filly living in Ponyville, but she didn’t care to learn who it was. In retrospect, it should have been obvious. Twilight felt like she had just ran a knife through her chest, “I…I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize…”
Scootaloo’s face fell, “You don’t have any idea what it is like, being me. Having to deal with the fact that the clouds I see above me will never be reached. That the sister who is suppose to be teaching me and taking me under her wing, will never see me truly take off. Not only am I bullied for being a blank-flank, I also have to deal with them telling me my dreams will never happen. And no matter how much I tell myself they are wrong, I lay awake later on in the night knowing that they are right. You may not like where you are at or what you have, but I would give up everything just to be you for a day.”
Twilight stared down at the filly in shock, unsure what to say. Here she was feeling sorry for herself, thinking that she had it bad, when this filly had been through far worst and at such a young age. Twilight had been given a great life up till now. She had family and an amazing teacher. She always loved magic and was able to learn more then normal unicorn will ever learn. Then she came to Ponyville and was given friends as well. She had gone on amazing adventures and had learned so much. Yet here she was now a princess. Yes she had huge responsibility and life was going to change, but her life up now had been one amazing ride. Twilight shook her head, “Scootaloo, I’m sorry. Your life must be pretty rough.”
Scootaloo slowly nodded, “Yeah, it can be hard.” Both ponies were silent for a moment.
...
“But it can’t be too bad, you have friends right?” Said a small voice behind them.
Both Twilight and Scootaloo turned around startled. Two fillies emerged from their hiding spot. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom came and sat next to Scootaloo on opposite sides. Sweetie Belle spoke up again, “Scootaloo, why didn’t you tell us? We knew what Diamond had said was harsh but we had no idea it was already eating you up inside.”
Apple Bloom nodded her head, “Just cause you got problems, don’t mean ya'll have to keep it bottled up inside. That’s what we’re here for. You can talk ta us.”
Sweetie Belle placed her hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder, “We all know you like to be the tough one. But even the toughest ponies are nothing without their friends.”
Scootaloo smiled, “Thanks guys.”
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle then turned to Twilight, “And don’t worry, if you ever need any help, don’t be afraid to ask us. We will grab our sisters and be there before you can finish your sentence,” said Sweetie Belle with a big grin on her face. Twilight smiled back at her. She then glanced back across the pond as the sun began to disappear over the horizon. Twilight and CMC sat in silence as the moon slowly rose behind them.
***
Twilight glanced back over at the CMC after a little while; they appeared to be dozing off as they leaned on each other for support. “Perhaps it is best that you all go home. It is getting rather late.” All three nodded their heads in a daze and slowly began to get up and make their way out of the orchard. Twilight watched them go. As soon as she lost sight of them, she got up herself and began walking through the orchard as well.
She took a few steps then stopped. “How long have you been watching?”
Twilight turned left and saw a blue Alicorn walking towards her.
Luna sighed, “Just a few moments before that filly known as Scootaloo came across you on accident.”
Twilight shook her head, “Sorry I disappeared like that. I just needed time to sort some things out.” Luna walked over and stood in front of Twilight, “I understand, you have had a lot happen to you in just the past few months. If I were you, I’d be over whelmed as well. But pray tell, how do you feel now?”
Twilight sat where she was and looked away from Luna for a moment, her wings seeming to be the best thing to look at. “I don’t know. There is just so much that can happen in the future that I may not be prepared for. I don’t think I can do this alone.”
Luna placed her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, “But Twilight, you are never alone. If you need help, all you need to do is ask for it. And that little filly is right, your friends are never that far away.”
Twilight's face brightened a bit as she stared back at Luna, “Thanks Luna. We should probably get back to Canterlot. I am sure that Celestia is worried about me too.”
Luna nodded and grinned, “She was ready to send the entire royal guard to look for you once she realized you were gone. Had I not said I would look for you, who knows how far she would have gone to find you.” Twilight laughed softly.
Both their horns glowed and they disappeared from the orchard. A tiny breeze blew past as the orchard became silent. The winds of change, always nearby.