Scootaloo wanted to fly, but instead, she founded something else to enjoy.
Scootaloo had always longed for flying, to feel the gush of wind pass by her as she took off. Only thing is that she had to practice, needed to be guided for it, but she has no one, until 'she' came in to her aid. It was then she realized that not every pegasus needed to fly.
Scootaloo was just sitting on her seat as Ms Cheerilee came in a face full of optimism as it seems like she was gonna announce that it will be a holiday tomorrow.
Ms Cheerilee made her way to the teacher's desk and greeted the class. "Good morning children!" She said. They responded with "Good morning Ms Cheerilee..." Ms Cheerilee's smile turned to a frown as she sighed. She also murmured a word or two so soft that even Diamond Tiara, the filly who sat in front of everypony, could hardly hear.
Ms Cheerilee then proceeds to talk about the topic that she planned for today. The class had a few laughs and yawns, but it was mostly yawns, the topic wasn't that interesting to most of them. Some slept until the class ended. When class was dismissed, everypony went galloping out as usual. Only three students were taking their time walking slowly, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were the best of friends. The three fillies met at Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera. The way they met was just like any other pony, bonding over a certain thing. The 'thing' they bonded over, however, wasn't a thing at all. In fact, it was an experince, an unpleasant one, bullying. Funny thing, the pony who bullied them was none other than the iconic Diamond Tiara, along with her best friend Silver Spoon. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were bullied, mocked and teased by Diamond and Silver because they were blank flanks, a term used to represent ponies with no cutie marks. Not only they were bullied for being blank flanks, they were also bullied individually. For Apple Bloom, it was her family's low wealth. For Sweetie Belle, it was her poor use of magic. For Scootaloo, it was worse. It was her inability to fly...
As the three made their separate ways and headed to their specific destinations. Scootaloo reverted back into her gloomy self. She sighed. She was relieved that now, she was away from Diamond and Silver, but now, she has a new problem to settle
Her parents.
Why? Why should anypony have problems with their parents? Parents are meant to make you feel loved and appreciated! Well, Scootaloo's parents are kind and helpful, but they were still lacking something. Attention. They were completely unaware Scootaloo's interests. They never paid attention to what Scootaloo wanted to do. Even worse, Scootaloo's mom is a pegasus, she didn't teach Scootaloo how to fly.
She never even wanted a child. Both of her parents just wanted to have their own adventures. No wonder they abandoned Scootaloo with her aunts instead of bringing her with them.
"Hi Scoot! How was school? Any interesting facts you wanna share?" Her dad asked.
Oh! School? It was a breeze! Ms Cheerilee was just spending 3 hours talking about banks and money and politics. Then, during break, me and my friends were mocked by our permanent go-to bullies who are also know as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon because we still haven't earned our cutie marks! Is that what you wanted to here? She wanted to say that, but instead, she walked away. There's no point in talking to her parents who don't even care about what she says anyway.
Once she got into her room, she slammed the door hard and locked it. She could still hear her parents' distant mumurs of worry. Obviously, they were faking it. She let herself cry out loud, enraged as she let the darkness consume her to sleep, hoping the dreams could give her happiness and hope.
To Scootaloo's unluckiness, she didn't get hope, she got bad memories instead, it was enough to traumatize her.
She remembered this day. It was the last ever time she's ever been out with her parents on their adventures.
'Daddy... I'm scared...' She clearly was scared. It looked like a spider but it's green and it has wings.
'Don't worry Scoot. It's just a fly-der, it won't bite.' No wonder it is called a 'fly-der', it easily shows how this spider-like creature can fly.
'But it stings! It says so in the book!' Spiders don't sting, but a fly-der does. More and more fly-ders showed up while buzzing. They were surrounded.
Scootaloo's parents were used to this kind of situations, they've obviously been through worst. They've faced far more dangerous creatures than these fly-ders. They managed to outsmart the fly-ders and get Scootaloo to safety. Still, Scootaloo was just a little filly, she wasn't used to this environment.
The dream faded away. She was in a different place now. This environment actually seems more kid-friendly. She was in her aunts' house. This was clearly the time she when she celebrated her birthday.
It was the best day of her life. Her entire family gathering together to celebrate her birthday party. Unlike now, where her parents were away, leaving Scootaloo with ony her aunts and friends.
As they say on the couch, with the birthday cake on the table. They sang happy birthday for her. When they told her to make a wish, she thought hard. She already had everything she wanted. Though, she felt the air make her wings flap, she thought maybe, she didn't really have all the things she wanted. She made the wish.
'I wish... I can one day fly in the big blue sky...'
Once she blew the candles. Everypony clapped as they get all the plates and utensils ready. Everypony was starving, they can't wait to eat, especially Scootaloo.
They only took 30 minutes to eat. Now it's time for the gifts. Scootaloo never really understood what the meaning of gifts were. You give somepony a thing that they didn't really enjoy? Or something they already had a long time ago? Because that's what she got for her presents. She got a binoculars from her dad, she didn't really wish going on more adventures. She got a compass from her mom. It was meant to fit with the binoculars. She didn't get it. Were her parents hoping she will turn into the next generation's Daring do? She hoped not.
She got something different from her aunts. It wasn't the usual clothes now. It was a scooter and a helmet. ' Scootaloo, to be honest, we wanted you to have your own adventures too. But because of what your parents told us. We decided you should start even smaller, just start with doing tricks. It depends on you wether you want to use the scooter or not. It's yours now.' She finished and smiled. Scootaloo liked her aunts better. They didn't just force Scoot to try it. They just bought it to show that they love her. She threw herself at her aunts and thanked them for the scooter.
Who knows? She might use it someday.
She woke up from her sleep, only to notice that all her tears have dried out. The mumurs have also stopped.
It was only 7 am in the morning. Her parents weren't up yet. Scootaloo decided to eat a quick breakfast. She went towards the kitchen cupboard to see what's left. She opened the cupboard only to find a box of cookies. She didn't really like to eat cookies for breakfast.
I guess it's takeout then... Scootaloo took out her piggy bank and pulled out several gold bits and headed out to Sugarcube Corner.
AT SUGARCUBE CORNER...
Pinkie Pie was playing with the Cake twins, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake, just as Scootaloo came in.
"Oh! Hey Scootaloo! Came here for the usuals? I specifically prepared it for you and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but one question, where are Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?" Pinkie asked and turned around to find the Cake twins playing with the food.
"Yikes! No food fights when we have a guest, remember!?" Pinkie turned to Scootaloo and said "Sorry... You know how babies are... Haha..." and told Scootaloo to wait at the table. Scootaloo nodded and went and sat on the chair, waiting for Pinkie pie to settle her babysitting ruckus.
Scootaloo had waited for 10 minutes for Pinkie to get the twins to calm down. She hurried them to their room and sang them a lullaby to make them sleep. Scootaloo knew that she still had to wait even longer because Pinkie still needed to clean up. She decided to ask Pinkie wether she needed help. Pinkie didn't respond, but Scootaloo helped anyway. She believed two ponies could get the work done faster.
Once they were done, Scootaloo told Pinkie that ice cream would be fine. She didn't want to bother Pinkie any longer. Pinkie nodded and gave her a strawberry ice cream. Scootaloo took the ice cream and headed out.
She finished the ice cream in less than 15 minutes. She always suspected she was a quick eater. She didn't want to go home just yet, but she didn't know where else to go. She thought about the CMC clubhouse but Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were busy with their sisters.
Scootaloo sighed. Now part of me wants a big sister that I can spend time with...
"LOOK OUT!" Scootaloo heard someone shout. She looked around and saw nopony. Just then, somepony pushed her away. Scootaloo fell but luckily, on her hooves.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!-" Scootaloo yelled at the unknown pony. She turned and saw the pony flying.
"-Or flying." Scootaloo finished her sentence with a tone of fascination. She's never seen a pony this colourful before. The pony was a pegasus with a sky blue coat. She had the colours of the rainbow in the messy mane.
"Heh... Sorry kiddo. Here. Let me get you up." She took Scootaloo's hoof and held her up.
"Uh. Thanks?" Scootaloo didn't know what to say. The pony chuckled.
"Name's Rainbow Dash, what's yours?" The pony said. It made sense to Scootaloo. She was colourful and fast as lightning.
"Scootaloo" She told Rainbow Dash.
" Nice name. So I guess you Iike scootering?" Rainbow Dash asked her. Scootaloo was reminded of the scooter she got from her aunts on her birthday. She hadn't touched it since.
"Oh. No, I don't, but I do have a scooter." She told Rainbow Dash.
"I say you try it out. I'm ot sure wether it's easy because I never tried. I'm a flyer," She then did a single flip in the air. "Not a scooter". She continued. "But I believe you are!"
"Oh. I'm not sure about that..." Scootaloo had her own doubts about herself, even though she shouldn't.
"I'm not sure too. We literally just met each other by coincidence, but I bet you will be a scooter!" She finished ad flew off with rainbow streaks following every direction she flew to.
Scootaloo was sure the weirdest thing that occured in her filly life. She just stood still and stared at the rainbow in awe. Now, she only decided to go home.
Scootaloo slowly crept into the attic, hoping not to get noticed by her parents. She made sure that she was focused, there were lots of abandoned rusty objects in the attic.
Most of them were fossils of dangerous creatures her parents hunted down and captured. Some were just personal folders of important information about those creatures. Among all of the things, one of them was her scooter and helmet.
Scootaloo can't remember how long it has been since she's gotten the scooter and the helmet. Three years? Two years? Six months? She didn't care. She wore the helmet and used all her strength to hold the scooter and go.
She went outside and looked around and took a deep, slow breath. She settled the scooter down and stretched, ready to try out this thing. She didn't know how to scoot so she just hoped for the best and readied herself.
She first tried the method her aunt used to tell her. Make sure you're in perfect position. Remember to balance your legs. Don't think too much of falling, it'll only take you down.
She checked to see wether her legs were in position. Once she was all set, she took a whirl with it. It was a breeze! "Woohoo!" She shouted at the air. She felt the rushing flowing through her ears. Her mane and tail flying towards the back of her head. She never felt anything like it. She then saw a flash of colours appearing and vanishing in the sky. She took a guess about who that pony was.
She saw Rainbow Dash make a few more flashes of rainbows. Scootaloo slowly stopped just to see the pegasus fly like an eagle. She noticed a white streak forming in front of Dash's hooves. It wasn't clear, so she decided not to question it. Rainbow Dash was flying even faster than the speed of light, an a fascinating phenomenon happened. It was unlike anything Scootaloo had seen.
Rainbow Dash landed smoothly on the ground and said "Ha! I knew you had it in ya!". Rainbow Dash then hugged Scootaloo. Scootaloo felt appreciated and smiled and hugged Rainbow back. She wanted to ask her about the explosion earlier but it just came out of the blue pony's mouth instead.
"Oh yeah. That rainbow blast I did earlier. That's called a Sonic Rainboom. It's the second time I pulled it off."
Scootaloo just said "Cool..."
Rainbow Dash then continued, "So..., how was the scooter ride?"
Scootaloo responded. "Oh, it was amazing! It felt like I was flying..." She dropped down sadly.
Rainbow Dash was confused. Was it a memory that triggered the filly? She wanted to ask Scootaloo, but decided not to. She was afraid that she might upset the filly even more.
Rainbow then remembered that she never once saw Scootaloo fly, not even for a second. She asked Scootaloo, "No offense but, can you... fly?" She was careful of her word choices. She knew the word fly was enough to break down that filly.
fly
Scootaloo blinked. She never reacted so badly against a word before. She shooked her head sightly. "How am I supposed to know? I haven't really tried flying when I was a filly. I never even got the chance to fly..." Rainbow didn't say anything, so Scootaloo continued. "My parents never really cared for my interests. They only cared for their work and adventures. Whenever I ask them to teach me how to fly or do the things I wanted to do, they always say that they will someday but they always NEVER do!" Scootaloo clearly needed to emphasize on the word 'never'.
Rainbow Dash was still quiet. She wasn't really the best with words, so she only put a wing on Scootaloo's back as how she comforts her other friends.
"Every pegasi was born to fly. It's what our wings are made for." It's what Rainbow's coach, Rainbow Blaze always says. She has always thought of her coach as her second father, or even a big brother. They went to competitions together, to cheer for other pegasi they knew, to give them hope. Ever since Dash moved to Ponyville, she never saw Blaze again. They've lost touch with each other. Dash knew that Blaze was just a mentor, he probably never thought of Dash as somepony he should care for.
She was wrong. Even if Blaze never really had high regard for her, she knew that all the competitions they attented, all the wonderbolt shows they saw, were all true by heart. He's given Dash hope and strength.
Maybe it's time for Rainbow Dash to do the same thing.
Scootaloo is a filly who she met by mere coincidence, and she knew that was meant to happen. Scootaloo was a pegasus filly who she just realized couldn't fly. Remembering her mentor's words, Every pegasi was born to fly. It's what our wings are made for, she had to fix this. She's decided she is going to teach Scootaloo how to fly. No matter how hard, they had to atleast try.
She saw Scootaloo again on her scooter, she looked more hopeful today. She was just as fast as Dash herself. Dash waved at Scootaloo as she looked up at her.
"Rainbow Dash! I'm so glad you're here. I just did an amazing trick!" Scootaloo exclaimed with joyfulness.
"I saw it. I had to admit. That, was, AWESOME!" She didn't actually see it. She just wanted to spill her part of the talk. She continued. "But guess what?"
"What?" Scootaloo asked in curiosity. "Oh! Did you start scootering too?" She guessed.
"What! No, of course not! I told you, I'm a flyer, not a scooter." She told Scootaloo, giving her a Didn't you remember? look.
"Oh...Right." Scootaloo chuckled nervously. "So, what is it?" Curiosity filled her face.
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath.
"I'm teaching you how to fly..." She told a pegasus. She was still nervous, waiting for Scootaloo's reaction.
Scootaloo was silent for a moment, trying to process everything. "Cool."
Rainbow Dash's reaction dropped. "That's it."
Scootaloo said. "Yeah, what were you expecting? Me to jump off in excitement?"
Rainbow Dash slowly nodded. "Sort of, but something more crazier." She mimicked a high-pitched voice that sounds really weird. "Like, OH MY GOD, RAINBOW'S GONNA TEACH ME HOW TO FLY! I'M GOING TO FLY! or something like that."
Scootaloo raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Oh. Ok."
Rainbow Dash then decided to ask, "So, when do you wanna start?"
Scootaloo said. "As soon as possible. How about today?"
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo decided to start at the field, it's spacious and windy. The perfect place for a pegasus to train flying. Rainbow Dash is going to teach Scootaloo how to fly, but before that, Scootaloo has to know how to float first. It's just like how a unicorn needed to know how to do the simple spells before doing the hard ones.
"It's pretty simple actually. Just try to lift yourself up in the air." Rainbow told Scootaloo. "Imagine you're weightless like a feather." Rainbow added, that was how she did it. If it worked on her, it should work on Scootaloo right?
Scootaloo tried a few times, but she kept falling. The more she tried, the more energy she lost due to failing every time. It was until the seventh time Scootaloo called it quits
"I... can't..." Scootaloo responded with deep breaths. "I'm... too...weak..." Maybe they should try a more windy spot. No! Too much wind would be just as hard! Rainbow thought. If only she knew what it's like to lose every bit of energy everytime you fly.
Maybe Fluttershy knows how! No, that won't work either. Fluttershy was pushed back by trauma, not weakness.
She could be disabled...or just a late bloomer. She did ONLY just started to learn how to fly...
Scootaloo, who was slowly regaining energy was again prepared. "Is there another way? I-i'll try anything!" Scootaloo said.
"No. It's too risky." Rainbow said in a flat tone.
"Well, everything has its own risks! Bring it!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"You said your parents always pushed you aside. They didn't teach you how to fly because they were busy all the time." Rainbow confirmed.
Scootaloo was confused, why was she bringing this up? "Yes. And?"
"Off topic, but do you mind introducing me to your parents?" Rainbow asked.
"What's the point in that?" Scootaloo asked back.
"Maybe your parents were just protecting you from the truth..."
"What truth... are you talking about...?" Scootaloo asked again.
"I..." Rainbow said slowly and sighed. "Just let me meet your parents." She said, straight to the point.
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Fine." She said steadily.
Scootaloo's parents, Mane Allgood and Snap Shutter, were just about done preparing lunch when Scootaloo and Dash came by. Rainbow noticed something quite different about Scootaloo's dad. Earth pony... Could that be why?
Scootaloo's mom stared in awe at Rainbow Dash. She cleared her throat and went over to them.
"Hey Scootaloo. Me and your dad were just done preparing lunch." Mane Allgood looked back at Rainbow Dash. "I see you brought a friend with you." She said.
Rainbow held out a wing for a shake. "Rainbow Dash." Allgood shaked back.
"So... How did you guys meet? You don't seem like somepony my daughter would meet." the mare asked curiously.
Rainbow eyed at Scootaloo, who was looking half-defeated. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and told Scootaloo's mom "I , er, saw her walking past... Sugarcube Corner with two ice creams, so I asked her if... she could share it with me!"
Mane Allgood looked at us with confusion and surprise. "Huh. That, is kinda odd."
"There are... wierder ways to meet somepony..." Rainbow thought of when she first met Twilight. Like literally pouring rain on somepony by accident... "So, uh, could I speak to you, in private?" Rainbow decided to ask. She knew what Scootaloo would say or ask next.
"Uhm... I'm right here, you know? Also, if you guys wanna talk, you can just say it here!" She said as how Rainbow thought.
"Oh. No. I actually prefer to talk about this in private!" Rainbow said, trembling as she shoved Mane Allgood towards a room. Why did she even do this?
••• "So, what is the problem with Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked the mare. "I have never seen a pegasus this weak before."
Mane Allgood was confused. "Uhm. Rainbow, the thing is..."
"That she's just growing? She's disabled? I find the second one believable. I know that Scootaloo's dad is an Earth pony, but I don't see how that affects Scootaloo's magic!" Rainbow snapped. "I know this is none of my business but I have to tell you, you have to tell her if she's disabled or anything because this is going to find out about it eventually and... It won't be great..."
Mane Allgood looked down and went over to the side table looking at a family photo. "You're right, she has to know about it. This is a part of her, but... It's just gonna break her down even more..." She said dutifully.
Rainbow gasped. "Wait! You don't mean..."
"She's disabled? No. Just weak." She told Rainbow Dash, turning away from the photo. "Could be worse."
Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. "Well, if she's just weak. We could still build those wing muscles up."
"Well. That's the thing, you know? She's never gonna build those muscles up. Earth pony magic is still gonna be a part of who she is. She may be able to stand on clouds, float, but she won't fly. It's never going to happen." She said. Rainbow could see the tears falling out from Mane Allgood's cheek.
Rainbow felt bad for snapping at Scootaloo's mom. She looked down. Then, she thought of something. She told the mare, "I know this won't be easy, but, I could help you in opening up to your daughter. I might be able to convince her better."
Mane Allgood looked at her. "I appreciate your help, but this is not your truth to tell."
Rainbow looked at the mare and said, "No. I'll help you." She hesitated for a moment and continued. "For a filly who I've only known for a day..." She smirked and chuckled. "She has told me quite a lot, and, she doesn't really look at you as an actual mom.".
Mane Allgood frowned. "Oh...Well, I guess I wasn't really ready to be a mother..."
Rainbow smiled. "Yeah. You sorta weren't." She looked outside at Scootaloo. "And this is your chance to make up for it."
Mane Allgood sighed and looked at Rainbow Dash. "So you ready?"
"As long you're ready, I'm ready." Rainbow told her steadily.
Scootaloo has been walking in circles for minutes. She doesn't really get the whole point about private grown-up talk. Grown-ups just spend time in the room talking about politics? Business? Personal lives? What is there to talk in private?
"Got a minute to talk?" It was Mane Allgood, coming out of the room with Rainbow Dash following behind. "We've got something to tell you..." looked at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash silently nodded. "A confession, actually."
Scootaloo pulled out a straight face. "What are you talking about?"
Mane Allgood took a deep breath. "You can't fly and you won't fly..." She looked away and went into the kitchen eyeing at Rainbow Dash, hoping she'll be able to open up.
"What? Why?" Scootaloo asked. She was all teared up. Ever since foalhood, she always dreamt of flying. "Are you kidding!?"
"She is serious, Scoot. Why do you think that her tears are kidding?" Rainbow Dash said in a cold manner.
"Because she has always been like this!" Scootaloo yelled loudly. "She's a hypocrite! I can fly!"
"For seconds! Gosh, you don't get it, do you, Scoot?" Rainbow told the filly. "You can fly, you can float, but it won't last long before you fall down." She facepalmed herself and whispered, "And also, you don't know the meaning of 'hypocrite', do you...?"
"Uh-" Scootaloo murmured to herself. She wasn't really sure either. "I guess not..."
Rainbow sighed. She walked towards Scootaloo. "Look, Scoot. You can't fly, but you can't let that push you down so easily like that."
"Then why do I even have wings? If I can't fly, what are they for?" Scootaloo asked, looking at her small, weak wings. "They're definitely not for flying..." She muttered.
Rainbow Dash agreed with a nod. She opened up her eyes widely as she realized, "But there is another reason why they're a part of you, you know?"
"Wait what?" Scootaloo responded in shock.
"Yeah! For speed." Dash said. She then continued to convince the filly, "You still like scootering, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do..." Scootaloo said.
"Well, you're probably gonna need a lot of speed for doing that trick again." Dash smiled. "Since Ponyville isn't gonna be windy everyday."
"Oh...ok." Scootaloo said, her tone was hopeless. She clearly still had the urge to fly.
Rainbow looked at Scootaloo with sad eyes, the filly's dream was never meant to be. Unlike Rainbow's dreams, they were always achieved, no matter the hardships.
"Well, I guess it's time to focus on something else then?" The filly said. This time, she was more determinated. "Another goal, another hobby. A new me"
Rainbow smiled. The filly she knew has changed, but but still the same on the inside. "You know, you're quite wise, for a young filly."
"Really?" Scootaloo's eyes were sparkly like nopony else's.
"Yeah! My mentor used to tell me that our wings were meant for flying and that was our only goal... But, you, have changed that. Now I know that not every Pegasi needed to fly to achieve their goals." Rainbow told the filly, patting her head.
"I think you need to rephrase that." Scootaloo said with a shudder. "Scootering wasn't exactly my dream in the first place."
"Heh. I guess you're right. Flying isn't always necessary." Rainbow rephrased it.
Scootaloo smiled but went down instantly as she thought about her parents. They're probably still gonna be the same. Scootaloo sighed, maybe she'll deal with her parents someday, but for now, all that matters is her mental state.