> The Wind Beneath My Wings > by WaitWhut > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Reminiscing > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “DIIISMISSED!” Sweat giving her body a sheen, Scootaloo broke out of line and trudged back to her room at the barracks, her body aching from the morning training session. Whenever she saw Pegasi flying, she’d always assumed that only the wings were working. She soon learnt though that in order to fly efficiently, you need to use the whole body. They’d just broken off for breakfast, and Scootaloo was looking forward to taking a shower, more to ease her aching muscles. On the way into the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of her flank in the mirror, and her face crept into a grin. A month before, it had been totally blank, which was unusual for a mare of her age. However, on entering the Equestrian Airforce Cadets, it was now adorned with two golden chevrons outlined in purple. Looking at them reminded her of her long-time friends back in Ponyville. Of the crazy stunts they pulled back when they were trying to get their Cutie Marks, as well as when they weren’t (she cringed at the ‘slight mishap’ with the Love Poison, and how they were hated for spreading gossip while reporting as Gabby Gums). She’d left, thinking she’d be back, and she hadn’t spoken to them in the month she’d been away. Her eyes flew open. They didn’t even know she had her Cutie Mark! Rushing to her chest at the end of her bunk, she pulled out a book with a bunch of addresses in. While she knew Apple Bloom was in college (and so, her address wasn’t in the book. Should be in the directory though, she thought), Sweetie Belle’s was. She also thought about Rainbow Dash. Although not as close a friend as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash was a mare that she owed a lot to. After all, she was the one that helped her to find her wings. Tracking an address down for her shouldn’t be too hard though; she was currently on tour with the Wonderbolts in Las Pegasus. Pulling out her pen and paper, she picked the pen up and started to write letters to the three ponies she felt that, without, she’d have never gotten to where she was now. > To Rainbow Dash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Rainbow Dash, Hope the tour is going OK! I heard you’re performing in Las Pegasus this week. Sure hope I got the right address! I’m just writing to tell you that I got in! I’m now officially a cadet in the Equestrian Airforce! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am. Well, not on paper anyway. But if you saw me now I’d probably be jumping up and down in excitement! As it is, I’m staying at the barracks because of training and all that, so I’ll put the address down in case you get time to reply. Training is pretty hard. Just today to “ease us in”, we had to do 20 laps of the grounds under a certain time. Of course, I aced it, but that’s because I had the Number One Flyer in Equestria training me! I guess while I’m at it, I can thank you as well. Much like my excitement, I can’t really tell you in words how much them long days in you helping me fly really meant. I mean, you’d be there just in case I fell and hurt myself. You were more patient than anypony else (even though I probably bugged you as well!), and it…well…means a lot. Nopony else really tried to help me to fly (even though my friends were there as well, they can’t fly), but you did. You stuck with me through all the times I fell, both from the sky and into sadness, when everypony else made fun of my tiny wings, and would laugh at me because I couldn’t fly back then. You also showed me what it was like to soar, even before I could fly, and you gave me a reason to do my best to fly. Because I wanted to please you, and because I wanted to do cool tricks like you. Well, not as cool as you, but still. So, for all the times you were there for me, and all you have done, thanks. I hope to see you again soon, so we can chat. As soon as I got a few days off, I’ll try and come see one of your shows! Your Number One Fan Scootaloo P.S. HOW COULD I FORGET?! I got my Cutie Mark when I enrolled! It’s two of them arrow things that officers in the military wear. I forgot the name of them. > To Sweetie Belle > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Dictio Sweetie Belle, Hope you’re doing OK! I haven’t spoken to you since forever. Well, it was last month. But, still, that’s a long time ago, right? I heard you got signed by Featherfall Records. Congratulations! I always thought you had a nice voice. Make sure you send a copy this way so I can listen to it. Oh yeah. Just writing to say I got into the Airforce Cadets! That means I probably won’t be around for the while, because we got to stay at the barracks for training, so make sure you say hi to everyone in Ponyville. I’ll give you the address so we can keep in touch! I’m gonna go ahead and say thanks as well. You and AB have been my best friends since forever! I’ve got some pretty fun and funny memories with you guys, of all the crazy stuff we done to get our Cutie Marks (as well as the stuff we were doing that didn’t involve getting our Cutie Marks). Like the zip-lining, that Talent Show. Speaking of finding our Cutie Marks, I got mine! It’s two of them arrows that the military officers wear. You probably know the name of them, being a dict very clever pony. Guess the adults were right on that one (not that I’ll ever admit it to them). We should have stuck to the things we’re good at. Still, I don’t regret it. The memories I got with you guys are the best. And the support you gave me, along with RD’s training, helped me find my wings. You guys mean a lot to me, so you got to stay in touch! Anyways, I’ll write again to you soon! Good luck with the album. And remember, I want a copy! Scootaloo > To Apple Bloom > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey AB! How’s college going? What are you studying again? I forgot the word. It’s kinda complicated for me (though Sweetie Belle would probably know it, being a Dictionary and all). I’m just letting you know I got in! To the Airforce Cadets that is! You know, the ones who are training for the Princess’ Royal Guard? Not only that, I got my Cutie Mark as well when I got in! Hah! Who’s a chicken now? But yeah, just writing to see how you are, and to say thanks for being there for me. Between you, Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash, you guys helped me get up in the air, even when nopony else would help. And thanks for the memories as well! I had so much fun with you guys and even if we didn’t get our Cutie Marks, it was totally worth it. Us guys are going to have to keep in touch, meet up when we can! I’ll put my address in with this letter so you can write back. Anyway, good luck with the studying, and I’ll write again soon. Scootaloo > Sappy Thoughts > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reading through all three letters, she realised she really couldn’t convey how much they meant to her. A pang of sorrow hit her as she realised they probably wouldn’t be able to hang out as much as they got on with their respective lives. However, that was soon smothered by an overwhelming sense of pride. These truly are my friends. Ponies I owe a lot to. Who rose me up when I was down, and, without them, she wouldn’t be up in the sky now. They truly were the wind beneath my wings. A chuckle and snort escaped her. Man, she couldn’t let them know she was getting sappy. They’d make fun of her. Folding up the letters and putting them in addressed envelopes, she put them back into the chest to send off later, and went to take that shower.