Perseverance: Don't Give Up, Scootaloo!
Far above Ponyville, an orange pegasus flew through the sky in loopty-loops. Wind flowed from beneath her spread-out wings, pushing her body upwards even higher. Spinning in a circle, she rolled herself sideways and stopped. Flapping her wings to stay afloat, she looked down. The houses below looked like miniature figurines built for ants. Giggling, she zipped around, wind rushing through her mane.
“I’m doing it! I’m actually doing it!” Scootaloo cheered, throwing her front hooves into the air. A giant smile appeared on her face, spreading from ear to ear. “Just like you, Rainbow Dash.”
After surveying the landscape, she looked for the path of least resistance. There was a pocket of air that had no clouds and a perfect view of the ground. Taking a deep breath, she tucked in her wings and dived.
As she propelled downwards, she increased in speed. The faster she went, the more the wind pushed against her body. Her mouth flapped open, writhing in the wind. She closed it. While holding her breath, she pointed her snout to the center of Ponyville and zoomed towards it like a bullet. After a brief moment, she pulled up and opened her wings. Swooping upwards in a giant U-pattern, she shot back up like a rubber band and streaked through the sky, adrenaline pumping through her system.
I’m doing it! I did it! I—
The wind that had been flowing over her wings stopped, as if a light switch had been flipped. It felt like a stone had been dropped into the pit of her stomach. The wind had shifted; Instead of
flowing above her wings, now it was wrapping around her body.
What’s happening?
Scootaloo tried to flap her wings, but it was no use. She spread out her wings to slow her descent, but they snapped backwards. Frantically, she waved her hooves, but she continued fall, faster and faster. A tingling sensation spread through her wings. Before her very eyes, they shrank.
At first, they were normal adult-sized pegasus wings, but as she watched, they gradually turned into the wings of a pegasus infant. Her body was far too big for tiny wings, and all she could do was buzz them as fast as she could. With a pop, her wings disappeared completely. She tried to scream, but nothing came out.
She looked over her shoulder, back towards the ground. The houses became bigger, quickly becoming the size of apples, then watermelons, and then finally haystacks. Holding her breath, she closed her eyes and waited for the impact.
She landed with a thud, but instead of the hard ground she expected, there was only softness.
“Mfgfhhgfh?”
She tried to roll over, but she felt as if she was encased in a giant marshmellow. It felt like she was wrapped in something, but she couldn’t identify it. Her eyes opened, but she only saw darkness. She struggled to breath, heaving as her lungs slowly ran out of air. She wiggled her body through the unknown substance.
“Mfffggh! Muufhgg!” After a few moments, she burst through. Taking a huge gulp of air, she gasped.
As she took deep breaths, she looked around. No longer outside, she found herself back in her bedroom. Her body was drenched in a cold sweat, and she was tightly wrapped in her blanket. She placed a hoof on her chest to try and calm herself down.
Just a dream. It’s not real. Her breaths slowed down.
Wings! She twisted her body to look at her wings. Still there. She wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead. A quick glance told her that they hadn’t disappeared at all. She flapped them a few times, and sighed. Instead of the adult-sized wings from her dream, she had her normal wings. Her small, practically useless wings.
With a grunt, she squirmed out of her blankets and crawled back into the bed. Throwing the covers over herself and snuggling underneath, a single thought perpetuated through her mind: her wings.
"Are you ready?" shouted a voice from below.
"Ready as I'll ever be!" Scootaloo shouted back.
On the edge of the balcony of the Ponyville Library, Scootaloo stood. She took deep breaths, and stretched her limbs. A giant foam mattress had been laid several meters underneath her, just in case. Two fillies, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, waited next to the mattress. Applebloom pumped her hoof into the air in a cheer while Sweetie Belle bit the end of her hooves.
"You think she'll make it?" Sweetie Belle eyed the distance between the balcony and the ground.
"Of course!" Applebloom grinned.
Wings extended, Scootaloo mentally prepared herself. Come on, Scootaloo. You can do this. Just believe in yourself. Come on, body. Fly!
She looked below. There was a clear pathway, all of the obstacles previously removed by the Cutie Mark Crusaders beforehoof. Now all she had to do was fly.
"Alright! Let's do it!" Taking another deep breath, Scootaloo braced herself and jumped. Her wings sprang into action, buzzing around like a hummingbird. She levitated a foot into the air, slowly rising with each pump of her wings. "Almost... almost..."
She felt herself falling. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't rise any higher. With a thump, she dropped like a rock. Gingerly, Scootaloo sped towards the ground, and harmlessly bounced off the mattress that had been laid beneath her. The cushion covered her, slowly deflating. She sighed.
"That's okay, you'll make it next time!" Sweetie Belle said, hopping onto the mattress.
"Don't give up yet!" Apple Bloom said, jumping next to them.
Scootaloo buried her head. “I don’t get it. Maybe I’m just... broken.”
“No, you’re not!” Sweetie Belle hugged Scootaloo. “Don’t say that.”
“But... I should have gotten this by now. I’m... useless.”
Apple Bloom joined the two in their hug. “You’re not useless! You’ll get it, just hang in there!”
Scootaloo didn’t say anything. She knew better. If she tried to bring it up, her friends would just keep trying to cheer her up. “I, uh... have to go do something. I’ll see you girls later.” She hopped off the cushion and grabbed her scooter. After weakly waving goodbye to her friends, she scooted away. As she left, she couldn’t help but keep thinking about her inability to fly.
Something's wrong. I should have been able to fly by now.
Scootaloo sighed as she drifted idly by on her scooter. She ducked underneath two ponies carrying a mirror.
Seriously, what's wrong with me? Am I... broken?
She gripped the handle with her forelegs, turning and stopping seconds before she ran into another pony. She quickly zipped around him, and continued.
I know Twilight says dwelling on it won't help but I can't take my mind off it. Stop it, brain. Stop thinking about it. Ahhh!
She closed her eyes, trying to scream the thoughts away. Before she knew it, she hit an inclined slope and she flew through the air. The momentum pulsed through her body, and her eyes popped open.
"Oh noooo!" Out of control, Scootaloo and her scooter were sent flying into the nearest bush like a sack of potatoes.
"Phootooty." Scootaloo spat out the leaves that had gotten inside her mouth. "Ugh."
Spotting a nearby bench, she crawled towards it and threw herself onto it.
[i/]Everyone keeps telling me to wait, but how long is it supposed to take? If I can't fly, then I'm not a real pegasus. I don't deserve to be friends with Rainbow Da—what the?[i/]
A cloud floated a few feet above her, but something peculiar about this cloud caught her eye. Scootaloo tilted her head. A rainbow-colored tail was sticking out of the cloud. Nopony was on top of the cloud, there was only the tail poking out from the side. A mild snoring drifted from within.
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Don't worry Daring Do, I'll save you!" said a drowsy voice from inside the cloud.
Scootaloo cupped her hooves together. "Rainbow Dash!"
"Huh, what?" A head with a rainbow mane popped out of the cloud. "Ahh! I'm up, I'm up."
Rainbow Dash yawned, her hooves popping out of the sides of the cloud, leaving her body still encased within. Wiping her eyes, she turned towards Scootaloo.
"Oh hey, Scoots. What's up?"
Scootaloo tried to stifle a laugh with her hoof. “I... hahaha!” She rolled on the floor, unable to contain her laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Rainbow Dash looked down at her body and saw what the problem was. “Oh.” Giving her body a few quick shakes, the cloud dissipated. “There. All better.”
“So... what’s up?” Rainbow asked.
“I...” A thought hit Scootaloo like a lightning bolt. Wait! Rainbow Dash! That’s it! Scootaloo dove for the ground underneath Rainbow Dash and pleaded with her eyes. “Rainbow Dash, can you teach me how to fly?”
“Uh, you don’t already know?” Rainbow placed a hoof behind her head and rubbed it.
“No...” Scootaloo stared at the ground.
They both sat in silence for a few moments, with Rainbow looking at her. Scootaloo looked like she was about to burst into tears. Rainbow bit her lip.
“Okay kiddo. I’ll help you.” Placing a hoof under Scootaloo’s chin, Rainbow raised her head up. “Anything for my number one fan.”
“Really?” Scootaloo’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Really.”
“Hurray!” Scootaloo ran around in a circle, jumping and cheering. A smile appeared on her face, stretching from ear to ear. She stopped and grinned at Rainbow Dash. “When can we start?”
“Hmm...” Rainbow Dash levitated into the air and held her chin with a hoof. “Whatcha doing right now?”
“Nothing!”
Rainbow Dash pumped her hooves in the air. “Alright, then! Prepare for the lesson of a lifetime!” She leaned down. “Jump on my back and hold on tight.”
After Scootaloo complied, Rainbow Dash soared into the horizon. She nodded towards a mountain in the distance. “I know just the place where we can practice.”
"Ready..." Rainbow Dash stood at the ready with a whistle around her neck.
Scootaloo primed her hindlegs and bent down in a crouch. Licking her lips, she focused her eyes on the horizon in front of her. It'll be different this time.
"Set..."
Her tail swished in the air. You can do this.
"Go!" After shouting, Rainbow Dash blew her whistle.
With her body tensed up like a coiling spring, Scootaloo let loose with the power of a rocket. Legs flashing beneath her, Scootaloo broke into a gallop as she ran towards the cliff-edge. Concentrate. Just do what Rainbow Dash taught you and you should be fine.
Scootaloo started flapping her wings. They gradually increased in speed, becoming faster and faster until they became as fluid as an ocean wave. The edge came closer with every step, and her tongue hung out of her mouth in determination.
Now!
As she reached the cliff-edge, Scootaloo held her breath and closed her eyes. She jumped.
For a brief moment, time felt as if it had frozen. A buzzing, the sound of Scootaloo's wings, accompanied her ears. Her eyes popped open and her body was held aloft, and she managed to stay afloat for several seconds. Yes! Scootaloo breathed out a sigh of relief.
Tilting her wings, she leaned forward... and immediately dropped like a rock. The familiar feeling of falling penetrated arose. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
No! Not again! She strained, every fiber of her wings bursting forth with the effort, but it was no use. She continued to fall; Gravity had made Scootaloo its servant. All she could manage was a wild exhibition of flailing limbs as she plunged downwards.
The wind resistance built against her body, pressing against her throat. She tried to breathe, but it felt like a pincer was cutting off her air. Tears welled up in her eyes. Why? Her ears lay flat, and her body tensed up. Why does this keep happening?
Mane flapping around in the wind, Scootaloo looked upwards. Maybe I should just give up. The sun was setting, creating a medley of fractured lights and colors. She could feel the warmth on her cheek. It felt... friendly somehow. Like an old friend. She relaxed, her body loosened up and the tightness in her chest disappeared. Calm. Peaceful. The colors surrounded her, wrapping around her body in a sweet embrace. Despite what was happening, she couldn't stop a smile from creeping onto her face.
Out of the corner of her eye, a streak of blue appeared. Accompanied by it were small elements of orange, yellow, and red.
A shout drifted through the wind. "Hang on!" The blue blur zipped through the sky like lightning, but it wasn't a natural phenomenon. It was...
Rainbow Dash!
Rainbow Dash flew underneath, and scooped up Scootaloo in her forelegs. “There, there. I gotcha.” Scootaloo held onto Rainbow Dash’s neck as they slowly fluttered back to the ground. Rainbow Dash plopped Scootaloo back onto the ground flank first.
Scootaloo stared at the floor. “I... Sorry, Rainbow Dash.”
“For what?”
Scootaloo pawed at the ground. “For always needing you to save me.” Scootaloo wiped her snout. “And for not being able to fly yet.”
“Hey, hey...” Rainbow Dash reached in and patted Scootaloo on the head. “It’s okay. You’ll get it eventually.” Scootaloo leaned against Rainbow’s leg, and stared off into the distance.
"Look Scoots, I..." Rainbow Dash placed a wing on her shoulder. "I know it sucks that you want something and can't get it right away, but cheer up, okay?"
Scootaloo sighed and stared at the floor.
Rainbow Dash continued, "It's not the end of the world, all right? Sure, you might be a bit older than most, but that doesn't mean it can't still happen. You'll learn to fly someday. You just gotta, you know, keep going."
Scootaloo didn't answer. Instead, she just frowned.
"Please look at me, Scoots."
She reluctantly turned to face Rainbow Dash.
"Don't give up. Who knows, maybe one day when you learn to fly, you might even become one of the best. Not better than me of course, but good enough."
They sat in silence for a few moments, Dash not sure what else to say while Scootaloo continued to stare into the sunset.
“Uhh...” Rainbow Dash stared into the sky while rubbing her neck with a hoof. “Tell you what, let’s go get some ice cream.”
“Okay...” Scootaloo forced herself to smile, but something still tugged at the back of her subconscious.
Rainbow Dash floated about a meter off the ground and created a tiny cloud. Picking up Scootaloo like a limp fish, she gently set her onto the cloud. “Hold on tight!” Rainbow Dash said. Moving to the back, Rainbow Dash started pushing. Within moments, the pair of them travelled back towards Ponyville.
“She’s still in a rut, huh?” Sweetie Belle asked, putting down her vanilla shake.
“Yeah.” Applebloom looked over at Scootaloo, who was poking her glass of chocolate ice cream in the corner. Her head was laying on the table, and a dull haze hung over her.
“Any ideas on how to cheer her up?”
Applebloom shrugged.
Rainbow Dash leaned next to them and whispered, “I’ve got an idea.” She slammed her hoof on the table, and both fillies looked at her. Rainbow Dash pushed herself away from the table and stood up. She marched over to Scootaloo, which looked up at her.
“Enough is enough. I know you’re sad, but you need to get over it!” Dash slid over next to her. “Listen, Scoots. You’re better than this. I mean, come on! You’re my number one fan, right?”
Scootaloo nodded.
“You’re almost as cool as me. And that counts for something.” Dash lifted Scootaloo’s head up. “So what if you can’t fly yet? You know somepony else that couldn’t fly for the longest time?” She paused for effect. “Spitfire! And look where she’s at now! Leader of the Wonderbolts!”
Scootaloo’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yea. She said so in her autobiography.” Rainbow spooned a bit of Scootaloo’s ice cream and stuck it in her mouth.
“Auto-whatnow?”
Rainbow snuck another bite. “It’s a book about her life. Anyhoo, that’s not important. What is important is what she did. She was the worst flyer in her class and it took her years before she learned to fly. She wanted to give up too, but she decided not to. Instead, she bucked up, stopped her whining and kept training. Look where she is now!”
Scootaloo stayed quiet during the whole exchange, nodding at the appropriate times.
“So stop your moping, train hard and you can be just as awesome as Spitfire.” Dash leaned forward and whispered, “Look. It might take a while for you to fly, but I’ll be there to help you. I believe in you. As long as you’re willing to try, then so am I. Deal?” Rainbow Dash flashed her teeth.
Scootaloo gazed into Rainbow Dash’s eyes and smiled in return. “Deal.”
After dropping the spoon, Rainbow Dash pointed outside. “Alright then. Let’s get back out there and train!”
“Okay!” Scootaloo trotted outside.
“See? Knew it would work. Cause I’m just that awesome.” Rainbow Dash grinned at the two remaining fillies.
“Was that story about Spitfire true?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Dash leaned forward. “Nah. Best in the class. By far.” Dash shrugged. “But I figured a little motivational boost wouldn’t hurt.”
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other.
“Well, gotta go. Catch you later.” After clicking her hooves together, Rainbow Dash flew outside.
Sweetie Belle looked between where Dash was sitting and where the leftover spoon was. Sweetie Belle’s eyes bulged. “Did Dash just eat all of Scootaloo’s ice cream?”
Applebloom flicked her straw. “Eeyup.”