The school bell rang on time at 3:30 that day, signaling the end of classes. Scootaloo bolted over to Sugarcube Corner, with a coupon in her mouth for a free chocolate chip cookie. Not one of those crappy kinds, though. No, a real, HUGE Pinkie Pie cookie. She skidded to a halt in front of the door, and her expression turned sour as she read the sign on the door: Bakery Closed For Vacation. She angrily wondered who would take a vacation in the middle of the week in April. She stomped her hoof and placed the coupon in her saddlebag before turning and walking, head slumped, ears down wearing a slight frown, back to her house.
For 15 minutes, she did not stop, just walked the familiar path to her house as she did multiple times a day, not really paying attention to anything. Her mind was in the clouds. No, seriously, it was in the clouds; she constantly daydreamed of flying through the clouds just like Rainbow Dash. See, Scootaloo was nearly 12, and she still couldn't fly. She was the only one in her class who couldn't fly, and sometimes it was highly embarrassing. Her wings looked only a tad bit smaller than they should have. As a matter of fact, they were so close to what is considered typical size that it was hardly noticeable. Unless you spent hours a week staring longingly at stubbornly weak wings.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud swooping noise overhead. She looked up, and immediately smiled widely - it was Rainbow Dash. Of course, Scootaloo couldn't actually see her, but she saw the trademark rainbow trail behind Rainbow as she sped through the sky, popping clouds of differing sizes one at a time. The longer Scootaloo watched, the wider her smile became. For a good thirty or so seconds, she simply watched her idol work and zig-zag through the open air. As Rainbow finished, she slowed, but set off to get to her next assignment. She saluted and winked at Scootaloo as she flew nearby, punching through the last cloud as she did so.
Rainbow enjoyed seeing her number one fan, though she was always slightly disappointed that she usually had no time to stop and talk. Yes, Rainbow never really had much time to bond with the young pegasus, even though she really did want to. They were already connected, of course, but the connection hadn't really grown, since they had such little time to spend together. Still, it was nice that she got to see Scootaloo sometimes.
Scootaloo, of course, was still amazed and delighted just by seeing Rainbow at work. Few things made her smile these days, and this was one of them.
Scootaloo climbed on top of the six foot high pile of boxes, which overlooked the hay stacks below. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle Watched on with excited smiles, proud that their friend was finally going to soar through the air. After all, she only needed a high place to launch herself from! Scootaloo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, remembering all the work she had done since that April day.
She remembered seeing Rainbow Dash saluting her and flying off, then making a determined resolution that she would put all her effort, all her spare time, all her energy, into working out her wings to make them strong and capable. She made good on that resolution, too. This was something that she wanted bad enough, something that she practically lusted after. That was all the motivation she needed to push herself to her limits.
She remembered how, twice a week, Rarity would send Sweetie Belle out for supplies. Every time Sweetie went out to the store, Scootaloo would meet her there with a bright red wagon. When Sweetie finished shopping, she would meticulously load all her supplies into the wagon and make sure that they were balanced properly and steady, just to be sure that they wouldn't fall out or cause the wagon to tip over. When she was satisfied that that was the case, Sweetie would hop in herself. Then, with a teasing "Hyah!" Scootaloo would pull the wagon by herself back to the Carousel Boutique. However, there was a catch: she had to use her legs as little as possible. The focus was using her wings to propel herself as much as possible, using legs for balance and supporting her own weight instead of forward movement. The first three weeks were brutal. After that, it was easier, but still ecstatically exhausting.
She remembered walking to Sweet Apple Acres three times a week to train with Applebloom, who even brought her sisters whistle to complete her coaching stereotype. They did various exercises involving wings, but easily the most beneficial - and most painful - was the one where she had to hold her wings out perfectly straight and hold an apple on each end. This would help her gain wing endurance, and give her a vague idea of how to keep her wings perfectly level while flying. Of course, this was not the focus, but the exercise brought many attributes into play at once, and so Scootaloo was determined to do as much of it as possible, with Applebloom pushing her the entire way. Oh, and then they always ended up eating the apples - a great way to end a wing workout!
She remembered passing the local gym on the way home from school one day and glancing in - and getting an amazing idea. She saw Snowflake, the single buffest stallion in Ponyville, possibly even Equestria! He would know how to increase her muscle size for SURE! She went in and talked to him. He suggested a routine heavy workout, but she was already a week and a half into her routine, so Snowflake suggested specific exercises instead. Scootaloo was very disappointed, however, because many of the exercises, such as wing-ups, required larger and longer wings. Scootaloo hung her head in disappointment, but Snowflake did not particularly care for that. He reached into his bag and pulled out a large tub of powder, unopened. It was reddish, and kinda heavy. He told her to drink it before and after every workout, and it would help her increase her muscle size. She did as she was told, and felt gratitude towards the generous stallion every time she drank the delicious protein drink.
She remembered how every single recess was spent doing jump rope using her wings. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were so generous - they gave up all their recesses without a second thought or a moment's hesitation for their friend. It was a truly touching moment for Scootaloo. Not that she'd show it or anything...
And, finally, she remembered spending hours in front of a powerful fan wile wearing goggles and a scarf to prepare her for the wind in her face while she flew. In hindsight it was probably a stupid idea, but it didn't matter, since she could simply close her eyes and feel herself flying. To her, that made it worth every second.
Scootaloo took a deep breath before opening her eyes slowly, staring at the empty space in front of her - space that would soon be hers to occupy at a moments notice if she felt so inclined. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom cheered her on from below with easy, simple words. With a sharp flit, her wings extended to full length at her sides. She supposed that she must have looked cool because her friends gasped quietly and their eyes grew just a bit wider. She took on a determined look, a grin making her confidence obvious.
With as much of a run as she could get on top of the box, she took off toward the edge, jumping as high as she could. She flapped her wings harder than she had ever flapped them before, faster, harder, more methodical. She could feel it! The wind was underneath her, generating lift! For a moment. Then she plummeted downward into the hay. Her fall was cushioned, so her stomach did not hurt that bad. But her confidence was not necessarily cushioned. Refusing to accept defeat, she immediately tried again, launching herself into the air from on top of the hay, but falling backward onto her shoulder blades right after takeoff.
Again. Again. Again, and again, she tried. Again. Again. Again, and again she failed, falling onto the ever more painful blocks of hay. After a few minutes of trying, her legs were getting sore and her body was covered in forming bruises from the landings when she didn't land on the hay. She rolled over, finally giving up on her endeavor for the day. She lay, panting, for just a few moments before sitting upright. Her friends immediately joined her and put reassuring hooves on respective shoulders, trying to console their battered friend and picking hay out of her coat and mane.
From the shadows of the nearby trees, Rainbow Dash watched on with a furrowed brow. She knew what Scootaloo was putting herself through in order to achieve her goal, and for all intents and purposes she should have met her goal by now by natural wing development and constant exercise. With a somber expression, Rainbow took off and flew away silently.
Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash sat quietly in the small room. Scootaloo was fidgeting subtly, nervous about having to tell someone about her wing issues. Even though it was blatantly obvious to anyone who knew her that she couldn't fly, she never, ever talked about it to anyone except Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. Not even Rainbow Dash knew exactly what was going on inside Scootaloo's head.
They were in a basic check-up room at Ponyville General Hospital. They were in the back of the Pegasus wing (ba dum tsss) of the second floor, and they were waiting for Nurse Redheart to get back with the results. The week prior, Rainbow convinced Scootaloo to get an x-ray of her wings so see if there was an issue with her wings' bone structure. Rainbow didn't know exactly what Scootaloo was thinking, or how she felt, but was pretty sure that she should just not try and get Scootaloo to talk until Nurse Redheart came in with the x-rays.
The door opened slowly, almost - controlled? Redheart walked in and shut the door behind her with a gentle nudge from one of her hind legs, then approached Scootaloo. She placed the x-rays up on the wall, allowing both Scootaloo and Rainbow to look at them. As far as either of them knew, her wings looked perfectly fine. Redheart looked like she was holding something back. Rainbow maintained a stoic expression and put her hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder.
Redheart explained that Scootaloo's wings were fine as far as structure, composition, and weight. She also pointed out that Scootaloo's wings were smaller than most wings were by her age. Scootaloo confirmed that she noticed the difference in wing size. Redheart closed her eyes and took a breath, then told Scootaloo that she had "Juvenile Wing Growth Deficiency." Rainbow and Scootaloo looked at each other with puzzled expressions, then back to Nurse Redheart. Redheart breathed a couple of times, then explained that WGD was when a foals wings stopped growing prematurely - which would keep them from flying.
Scootaloo's expression became horrified. She stammered a question about trying to fly even with the disorder, but Redheart closed her eyes and shook her head sadly. Rainbows jaw dropped, and so did Scootaloos; Scootaloo's eyes brimmed with water. She turned to her mentor, who was now holding her with both hooves. Rainbow looked right at Scootaloo and told her to calm down, that everything would be alright. Scootaloo returned the look, tears streaming, asking Rainbow how she figured it would be alright. How would she ever fly? How could that possibly be alright!? She protested and ranted for only a few moments before she completely broke down. Rainbow could only pull her in tight and listen to her protoge's sobs.
Rainbows eyes closed and her brow furrowed slightly. She knew she had to maintain her composure in front of Scootaloo; if Rainbow wasn't confident, or showed any sign that she thought that this was the end, then Scootaloo would have no hope. Rainbow raised her head and opened her eyes, watery and bright, and gave a worried look into space, wondering how she could possibly help Scootaloo through this...nightmare.
A few weeks passed by, and Scootaloo was not happy or content in any way. She hardly spoke with her friends, didn't eat much, and never smiled. She rarely talked, and couldn't look in a mirror without flaring her wings and breaking down. Sometimes she got angry, and once even broke the mirror in the school bathroom. Either way, it always ended with her reliving that devastating moment. And Rainbow had had enough.
Scootaloo sat on her bed, head on her hooves, thinking about nothing. She heard the faint clicks of her door opening, followed by the soft patter of footsteps across the floor. She glanced to her left to see who it was; it was Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo replaced her head on her hooves. She felt a twinge of shame. A thought had crossed her mind a week and a half before that Rainbow may have been ashamed of Scootaloo for not being able to fly. When she regained herself, she was able to reason that Rainbow would never act in such a way, but it still caused her pain when she thought of it.
Rainbow sat on the bed next to Scootaloo, her hind hooves maintaining contact with the floor. She patted Scootaloo on the head, rubbing a hoof through Scootaloo's mane. She talked softly, trying to get her favorite little filly in a compliant mood by talking sweetly and establishing a connection of understanding, an old tactic used by motherly figures since before Celestia was born.
Rainbow used her nickname for Scootaloo, 'Scoots', that she only used in private, because using it in public would embarrass Scootaloo, and would make Rainbow sound uncool; but in private, that was how Rainbow assured Scootaloo that they were close. Like family. Rainbow talked about how she understood that Scootaloo was upset, how she didn't want to be social, how she didn't care about anything, and most of all how Scootaloo wanted to give up. Scootaloo's ears perked back, indicating subconscious interest. Rainbow smiled, knowing that she had Scootaloo's attention.
Rainbow stated that she had something that might make Scootaloo feel better, and pulled something off of the ground, then lifted and held it in front of her, a few inches above the bed. Scootaloo heard swishing and turned to see what made the noise; Rainbow was holding up a kettle full of water with her hoof. Scootaloo stared for a moment, cocking her left eyebrow in depressed skepticism. Rainbow, noting Scootaloo's expression, got off of the bed and asked Scootaloo to follow. Intrigued, Scootaloo obliged.
They walked down to the kitchen, and Rainbow put the kettle on the stove, adjusted the heat, and sat watching the kettle with a smile. Scootaloo waited for a few moments before she realized what was going on. She remarked sarcastically that watching water boil was on her bucket list. Rainbow struggled to maintain her smile, as it was not only incredibly disrespectful of Scootaloo to say such a thing, but it also showed how far she had fallen so as to be so utterly indifferent as to show disrespect to someone whom she held in such high regard. Rainbow told her to be patient.
After a few minutes of agonizing nothing, a small white wisp came from the spout of the kettle. After another thirty seconds, a cloud was billowing out of the small kettle. Rainbow had put her wing over the erupting cloud, catching it and compiling it. She manipulated a little over to Scootaloo who took it with interest using her own wings. Scootaloo played with the cloud for a few minutes in her hooves, marveling at how easy it was to sculpt. She made a few shapes, always returning her little cloud into a shapeless mass before starting again. And for the first time in weeks, she smiled.
Rainbow talked to Scootaloo as she played. She told Scootaloo about how a cloud will support a pegasus of any size, allowing them to support themselves by a single hoof on a cloud the size of a dinner plate if they so desired. Scootaloo wasn't really interested in what Rainbow Dash was saying since she knew most of the things Rainbow was telling her, preferring to play with her cloud tuft. Scootaloo's gaze was broken only when Rainbow mentioned that a pegasus on a cloud can control the height at which the cloud hovered.
Scootaloo looked over at Rainbow, and saw her sitting, gesturing to her own cloud with a hoof. Rainbow asked Scootaloo who said that pegasi can only fly with their wings. Scootaloo's jaw dropped, and she simply stared at the cloud, which was now in the same shape as her beloved scooter. She took in the sight as the things Rainbow Dash told her clicked into place. When she finally understood, Scootaloo's face lit up in indescribable delight.
Scootaloo stood on the cloud scooter, sturdy despite being made of vapor. She stared at the scooter for a few moments before she heard Rainbow Dash call to her from above. She was supposed to try it out. Scootaloo hesitated for just a moment before flapping her wings at a decent rate. Instantly, she began to move forward at the speed she expected. She flapped harder and went even faster. And faster. And faster. Scootaloo's breath caught in her float when she started wobbling back and forth ever so slightly. She looked down to look at the terrain underhoof, and her heart skipped a beat: she was airborne.
Scootaloo pumped her wings harder then than she ever had, and the result was exactly what she had hoped for: she sped up to an incredible speed and gained almost ten feet of air. Rainbow Dash pulled in next to Scootaloo, smiling at her, though she hadn't even been noticed; Scootaloo was wearing an expression of pure childlike excitement as she soared over the rooftops of Ponyville for the first time in her life.
