Deeper than What Appears

Chapter 4: The Falls

                   Rainbow Dash flew onward, away from the mountains. Scootaloo was still excitedly talking about how she flew as she had been for the past 4 hours. Rainbow Dash scanned the ground as she darted through the clouds. For the first time in their journey she was looking for a particular place, a very special place. Finally she spotted it a few miles of way. It was a grand and magnificent waterfall. The water seemed to sparkle in the light of the afternoon. She glided towards it. She felt her heart race as her feet touched down on the solid rock. It was time to relive her past, from a different perspective.

"Scootaloo! Come over here!" Rainbow Dash called "There's something I need to tell you"

                  Scootaloo had dashed off the second they had arrived, eager to explore.  Scootaloo dashed over to her and skidded to a halt"

"Scootaloo... this is the place I learned to fly" said Rainbow Dash "and I think it's time that someone taught you."

"You mean it Dash?!" shouted Scootaloo excitedly

"Of course I do! But first we should eat some lunch." said Rainbow Dash

"Awwwww......"

                  Rainbow Dash trotted out into the woods to find some lunch. Luckily she found a tree, full of more juicy berries....

"Guess what I have for lunch Scoots?" asked Rainbow Dash "You have one guess."

"Juicy Berries?" said Scootaloo.

"Bingo!" said Rainbow Dash as she dumped a large pile of them onto the ground.

"HOORAY!" said Scootaloo as she dived into the pile of delectable tastiness.

                  Rainbow Dash picked up a few berries and tossed them up in the air. She caught them in her mouth as they fell.

"Woah! That was cool!" said Scootaloo "Show me how to do that!"

"Sure!" replied Rainbow Dash "It's easy! Just toss them up"

                  Rainbow Dash tossed the berries into the air

"And catch them"

                 She caught them in her mouth

"See! Easy!"  said Rainbow Dash with some difficulty because she had a mouth full of berries.

                  Scootaloo tried to do the same. She tossed them up perfectly, but instead of catching them they simply landed on her face and on Rainbow Dash.

"Awww...."  wimpered Scootaloo

"Keep trying! You'll get it!" said Rainbow Dash

                     So after a 20 tries Scootaloo finally managed to catch a few of the berries in her mouth.

"Aw Yeah! I did it!" said Scootaloo

"You sure did!" said Rainbow Dash "And now that were done with that I think it's time for some flying lessons!"

"YEAH!"

                  Rainbow Dash went over some basic skills she needed and talked about the importance of being safe while flying. Then she let Scootaloo try gliding again.

"Okay Scootaloo! Do what you did yesterday!" said Rainbow Dash "Just glide on over to that rock!"

"Okay!" shouted Scootaloo enthusiastically

                    She jumped into the air, spread her wings, and with ease glided over to the rock.

"Nice job Scootaloo!" said Rainbow Dash

"Thanks!" replied Scootaloo

                       They kept gliding for about an hour, setting farther and farther away targets for Scootaloo to glide to.

"I think you've gotten the hang of it!" said Rainbow Dash "Now you can learn how to truly fly!"

                        Rainbow Dash taught Scootaloo all of the basics. How to flap her wings correctly, the proper angle at which to fly, how to be aerodynamic, all of the things she needed to know. Scootaloo was taking it all in, eager to out to use all of the things Rainbow Dash was teaching her. Finally the time came for Scootaloo to make her first attempt.

"Remember what I told you!" shouted Rainbow Dash "You have to take off at the proper angle! And don't forget to start flapping your wings before you take off and-"

"I've got it Rainbow Dash!" said Scootaloo

                         Scootaloo dashed across the smooth dirt. She began to flap her wings and slowly rose into the air.

"I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" shouted Scootaloo excitedly

                        After flying for about ten seconds she began to lose control.

"Woah!!!" said Scootaloo as she began to spiral out of the air

                          She face-planted into a near by bush.

"Ouch..." mumbled Scootaloo as she gingerly stood up.

"Nice job Scoots!" said Rainbow Dash "I don't even think I flew for that long on my first try!"

"Wow! Cool!" said Scootaloo who was jumping up and down in excitement "Can I try again?"

"Sure!"

                     They spent most of the day flying. Scootaloo improved her air time from 10 to 15 to 27 seconds. They talked, laughed, and ate berries all day. But as the sun was setting Rainbow Dash decided to show Scootaloo something...

"Hey Scoots! Come glide over here!" shouted Rainbow Dash

                        Rainbow Dash was currently at the base of the falls. Scootaloo glided down and landed next to Rainbow.

"Come over here!"  said Rainbow Dash

                        They trotted straight into the falls and emerged on the other side into a magnificent cave. The walls shimmered with slick stone and the waterfall was reflecting the evening light beautifully against the walls.

"This is were my dad took me after he taught me to fly..." said Rainbow "He said he wanted to keep a family tradition alive..."

                          Rainbow Dash trotted over to a pile of rocks and selected one from the very top.

"After every member of my family learned to fly they carved there name into a rock." said Rainbow Dash "Every single member of my family learned to fly at this exact spot."

"Take this rock, carve your name into it with this." said Rainbow as she gave Scootaloo the rock and pulled out a sharp knife.

"Be careful now Scootaloo, that knife is sharp."

                          Scootaloo carved her name into the rock and placed it next to the others.

"Welcome to the family Scoots, welcome to the family..."

"You mean it Dash? I'm part of your family?" said Scootaloo as she stared at Dash with wide eyes.

"You sure are! I think of you as a sister. I hope you think of me the same way." said Rainbow Dash with tears in her eyes

"Of course I do..." said Scootaloo

                         Rainbow Dash sat on the cave floor and wrapped her wing around Scootaloo. They fell asleep there, in the cave, among the rocks that had served Rainbow's family for generation. That night the family gained an new member, and a new rock. It had been a good day...