Flying High
"Maybe if we adjust the flaps a little it won't take as long to get airborne." Rumble suggested as he looked over the designs for the glider he'd successfully flown in a Junior Wonderbolts show just a short time ago. The glider had been a spur of the moment invention after learning of a similar device used by the only non-pegasus ever to become a Wonderbolt, and while it had worked well enough for the show there was always room for improvement.
At least that's what Scootaloo felt after inspecting the glider more closely afterward. "Or perhaps we need to trim the design so it's more aerodynamic," She proposed. "Wind Sock's old glider was for rescue purposes, not general use. We need something more modern."
The two young pegasi were currently chatting about what could be done to make the glider work even better. Getting it to work once was great but being able to have it reliably carry its user through the air multiple times was a struggle. It was Scootaloo who had suggested after the show that she and Rumble work on fine tuning their invention, and it hadn't taken much pleading for their older siblings to agree, just a simple promise for both to be home by sundown.
But Rumble suspected that Scootaloo had somewhat of an ulterior motive behind wanting to work on the glider. "This isn't just because you want to use the glider to help you fly, is it?" He questioned her.
"Maybe a little," Scootaloo honestly answered while looking over the designs and not bothering to look up at Rumble. "I mean, I've made peace with the fact that I can't fly. But at the same time I don't think that means I have to give up on my dream all together. Maybe I won't be able to fly the way most pegasi can, but with a glider like this it could be possible. And you proved that it could work," She was quick to add. "Besides, think of how many ponies we could help inspire if we can perfect the design."
The pegasus colt just replied. "I'm sorry you can't fly. It's not like I mean to show off or anything."
Scootaloo waved a hoof. "Hey, if you got it you got it. There's no reason to be ashamed of what you can do. And flying isn't everything. After all, I can totally whoop you in a scooter race any day of the week."
Rumble tried hard not to blush at that statement. "Well I'll bet if I had as much experience on a scooter as you did it would be more of a challenge."
"And that's another reason why we need to see if we can't make this glider even more awesome," The tomboyish filly suggested. "Someday we might be able to duplicate its success. Then we could have flying races together and maybe even do well enough to get into the Wonderbolts like our big siblings."
Rumble giggled. "That would be pretty cool, though I'm not sure if I really want to be a Wonderbolt now."
Scootaloo nodded. "I hear ya. There's so many other things that sound like they'd be just as fun to be. I still think my dream is to be a Wonderbolt, but I'm starting to believe that might not be what I ultimately wanna be when I grow up," And she commented. "It's great that I have you to talk to about things like this. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are fine friends too, but it takes a pegasus to know a pegasus on certain things."
"You told them I'm sorry about the whole upending day camp incident, right?" Rumble questioned as he seemed to hang his head in shame.
"Of course, it's all water under the bridge now. Besides, we've had our fair share of disagreements among ourselves in the past," Scootaloo replied. "And not all of them were cutie mark related. Whatever your cutie mark is, we know you're going to make the most of it. Now come on, I think I have an idea on what to adjust. We just need some lighter materials."
Sometime later, a second glider had been constructed by the two with a mostly similar design. A few subtle changes had been made: The flaps on either end were shortened and made adjustable, the angles were smoothed and flattened to let the wind pass over it more easily and it was made of a lightweight material so it wouldn't be weighed down.
Scootaloo took the liberty of testing it, making use of the breezes coming off of a nearby lake to propel the glider through the air from atop a small hill. She barely had to buzz her wings to take off even though the breeze wasn't very strong. For a short while it worked fine, carrying the filly with the greatest of ease.
The flight didn't last long though. The breeze died down as quickly as it had arrived, and with it went the lift that kept the glider aloft. Fortunately, the grassy terrain provided a soft crash landing. And since neither the glider or its occupant had been high off the ground the impact wasn't hard enough to cause any damage.
Scootaloo quickly got up and brushed off the dust. "It works. Just need to raise the nose a bit so it can steer better. Then we can try it out in a more challenging environment someday."
"Well we should probably make sure we have a rescue party ready in case it goes off course or something," Rumble suggested to Scootaloo. "You know, just in case."
"Yeah, wouldn't wanna end up in a full body wing and hoof cast, drinkin' through a straw," Scootaloo teased and giggled. When Rumble shot her a confused look she explained. "It's kind of a long story. Let's just say, Spitfire can be quite scary when she wants to make a point."
Rumble nodded. "I hear ya. Thunderlane's always telling me stories about Spitfire's drill sergeant persona. I just hope if we ever get into the Wonderbolts, we never have to come face to face with it."
"You're really lucky to have a sibling in the Wonderbolts, you know." Scootaloo pointed out.
"Well, Rainbow Dash is your sister and she's in the Wonderbolts too." Rumble protested.
Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, but you and Thunderlane are related, you see each other all the time. When Rainbow Dash is with the Wonderbolts I often won't see her for weeks or months at a time. The Wonderbolts are pretty strict about letting visitors onto academy grounds."
"If it's any consolation, Thunderlane has to stay over at the academy sometimes as well," Rumble pointed out. "And it can get kind of lonely when he's not around."
It was then that Scootaloo got an idea. "Well you could always come over to my house. Usually my aunts are pretty okay with letting guests stay over, as long as whoever's in charge of the guests says yes."
The colt shrugged his hooves. "Well... I'll think about it. A sleepover could give us the chance to work more on the glider designs," And then he asked. "It's okay if I keep the original, right?"
The tomboyish filly nodded. "I've got my own to work on. The original was built for you."
Rumble nodded back. "Thanks. I promise I'll take good care of it. Never know when it may be needed again."