Chapter 12 - An afternoon in the clouds

Thanks to Mikea491 for editing !

Scootaloo trotted out of the schoolhouse with her friends. Today had been a lot different than most, on the account that Diamond Tiara hadn't spoken a word to the pegasus or her friends for the entirety of the school day. She had passed a few glares in the playground, but nothing Scootaloo or her friends weren't used to.

Scootaloo stepped out into the open world and saw her mother standing in the crowed that were surprisingly oblivious to the fact that a former Wonderbolt captain was standing within a few meters of them. Scootaloo giggled to herself at this, she trotted up to the yellow mare and gave her a warm embrace.

Spitfire smiled "hello sweetheart, was school good?" she asked her foal.

Scootaloo nodded, "yeah it was good" she replied with a smile as she let go of her mother's neck.

Spitfire then turned to the small white unicorn looking around for her sister, she spoke up "hey um Sweetie Belle is it?" she asked. The white unicorn turned to see Scootaloo and Spitfire and trotted over.

The filly smiled, "thats me miss" she said politely.

Spitfire chuckled, "just Spitfires fine kid, Rarity asked if I could walk you home, she had a big order to make up" the yellow pegasus explained.

The white unicorn nodded finding the excuse to be good enough, "okay, I didn't know she had any big orders" the filly replied as she started walking with the other two to the gate

Spitfire smiled sheepishly, "yeah sorry about that kid, It was actually me who gave her the big order" Spitfire said as she trotted with the two fillies down the dirt road towards the town.

Sweetiebelle giggled, "I don't mind at all, I think my sister likes making lots of dresses at once anyway" she replied.

Spitfire felt a sigh of relief that she hadn't troubled the filly's day and a warm smile came to her face as she continued to trot.

Scootaloo was next to speak, "Mummy ?" she asked the yellow mare.

Spitfire  smiled and leaned down to nuzzle her daughter's cheek, "what's on your mind sweetheart?" she asked happily.

Scootaloo smiled sheepishly, "c-could we maybe go flying today ?" she asked hesitantly.

Spitfire continued to smile. She leaned down again and picked the orange filly up before putting her squarely on her back, she then turned around and gave her filly a quick peck on the cheek before saying, "of course we can sweetie" she said.

Scootaloo cheered before hugging the mare tightly, Spitfire smirked, "but first" she said interrupting her filly as she waited to see what the mare was going to say. Spitfire continued, "you're going to have to try on your dress for the gala" she finished.

Scootaloo groaned, "do I have to mum" she asked. Spitfire felt a wrench in her gut as her filly pleaded.

Spitfire sighed, "please Sweetie, for mummy?" she asked kindly turning to face the filly.

Scootaloo smiled and nodded as she hugged her mother. Spitfire smiled warmly as the three trotted through Ponyville. They soon came upon a towering purple building which had a wooden carousel carved into its features. Spitfire opened the door to reveal a shop full of many multicolored dress designs. Sitting on a chair in the middle of the line of clothes was none other than Rainbow Dash.

Spitfire, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all held back giggles as they saw there cyan friend wearing a bright pink dress. Rainbow tried to hide her embarrassment as best she could. Suddenly another voice spoke up.

"It's simply gorgeous darling" Rarity said as she trotted in from behind one of the changing booths.

Dash kept going a deeper shade of crimson from embarrassment, "um yeah I don't think its really me Rares" the cyan pegasus replied sheepishly.

Spitfire couldn't contain the laughter anymore and fell over in her own hysterics. Rainbow frowned, but it only made her already reddened cheeks even worse.

Rarity put a hoof to her chin as she pondered. After a few moments of tense silence she spoke up, "I guess I could do give you something a bit less.. pink" the unicorn said as she walked back over to the racks of clothes.

Rainbow spoke up, "can’t I just wear my gala dress from last year?" She asked.

Rarity shook her head, "absolutely not Rainbow Dash that old garment is too out of fashion for you to be wearing it again, I simply must find you a new dress" the unicorn stated as she pulled out another dress and inspected it.

The white unicorn smiled, "Ah this dress is simply magnificent for a pony like you Rainbow, you simply must try it" she insisted as she pushed Dash back into the changing room without argument. When Rainbow was behind the booth Rarity turned to the three ponies at the front door.

"Hello everypony" Rarity said as the three trotted further into the shop.

Rarity smiled, "Well miss Spitfire I have finished little Scootaloo's dress, as for yours I'm afraid I am still working out the kinks" she explained.

Spitfire nodded, "It's okay Rarity we don't need them until the weekend, but its nice to see that you're doing it so quickly" She said with a smile.

Rarity waved a hoof dismissively, "It’s no trouble darling, any friend of Rainbow Dash is a friend of mine, besides the few exceptions" Rarity said rolling her eyes playfully.

The white unicorn then trotted over to a sewing table that resided in a corner of the boutique, she took the piece of clothing and showed it to the orange pegasus.

Scootaloo slowly trotted over to it. The dress was purple in colour, darker than her mane and was lined with small stars towards the back in sways of different designs. towards the front of the purple dress was a strap which had a winged lightning bolt symbol which would rest on the fillies chest.

Scootaloo smiled, "I love it!" she said, her eyes gleaming. Though she hated dresses she would make an exception for the gala.

Scootaloo took the dress and trotted over to another changing booth whilst Rarity went back over to the sewing machine and took out another dress.

Spitfire trotted over and looked down to see a dress which was a royal navy blue with lines on gold running through them, it was much like Spitfire's uniform. A smile tugged at her lips as she looked up and down the garment.

Rainbow Dash trotted out of the booth wearing a multicolored dress that looked like a direct copy of her mane, she was also wearing a Rainbow necklace.

Spitfire smiled, "looking good Dash" she said with a smirk.

Dash blushed slightly, "thanks Spit" she said smiling. Rarity got up and moved over to the dress and looked around it. After a few minutes of inspection she smiled

"I think this would be perfect for the gala, I will keep the dress here until the big day with the rest of the clothes" Rarity said.

Dash nodded in approval. At that moment Scootaloo returned wearing her dress. Spitfire smiled as she cantered over to the filly.

"So sweetheart, do you like it?" she asked hesitantly.

Scootaloo smiled and nodded "Its awesome" Scootaloo said as she looked over the purple dress.

Spitfire smiled and hugged her filly. "Well if you're happy then I'm happy" Spitfire said plainly as she released the embrace.

Rainbow turned round to the two pegasus's, her dress was now in the magical aura of the white unicorn.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "Hey Spit, wheres your dress?" she asked curiously

Before the yellow Pegasus could even open her mouth, Rarity spoke "well I should be another day on it, but since you don't need until the weekend I guess there's no worry, you can come back later on and try it" She said happily. Spitfire nodded and helped Scootaloo take the dress off so Rarity could store it for the big night.

With that the three pegasi left the shop after waving goodbye to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Spitfire turned to Scootaloo, "So sweetie, do you still want to go flying?" she asked smiling.

Scootaloo nodded furiously as her wings buzzed, Spitfire giggled. The yellow pegasus leaned down so Scootaloo could get on her back before the three pegasi bolted into the sky above.

Scootaloo smiled as she looked at the world around her. She leaned over and saw the small town below her and then looked up to see the globe of fire that was Celestia's sun setting in the distance.

Spitfire turned her head to see her daughter, "so sweetie, do you want to do some more gliding?" she asked over the sound of rushing wind. Scootaloo nodded and Spitfire waited until her daughter let go of her neck, she then dived down to meet her. Dash flew down the other side of Scootaloo as she glided.

Spitfire turned to her daughter again, "Scootaloo, when you feel your wings lift up from the wind try and flap them" she instructed.

Scootaloo nodded and tried to find a point in the wind where she could flap her wings. Spitfire thought for a moment before she spoke up, "try closing your eyes Scootaloo" she said softly. Scootaloo tensed up as she felt the nerves of flying blind run through her mind.

Spitfire saw this and she held out a foreleg to hold Scootaloo's, she gave the filly a loving smile. Scootaloo felt the nerves suddenly leave her body from the older mares touch. She slowly let her eyelids fall, when she did she suddenly felt the wind underneath her wings as they flowed through her feathers as the tingles sent nerves to her brain, suddenly she felt the wind lift them and she pushed down on her wings. She then felt another pulse of air and she flapped her wings again until she found herself getting into a rhythm.

Suddenly Scootaloo felt a light squeeze in her foreleg as she opened her eyes to see Spitfire and Dash flying in front of her, big proud smiles adorned their faces. She looked down below and realized she wasn't falling, she was flying. It may have been at a very slow speed and she might have not gained any altitude, but she was still flying.

Scootaloo felt like squealing at her excitement, but decided to focus on her flying rhythm instead, that is until she started to feel her wings strain from the tiredness of pushing down on the wind. Spitfire saw this and gently flew back to catch the filly before her wings gave out.

Scootaloo let her wings fall to her sides when she felt her mother's embrace. The warm feeling seemed to lull the filly into a state of unconsciousness as she drifted off, slowly letting her eyelids fall as reality  faded.

Spitfire suddenly noticed her filly had fallen asleep and so made the mental note in her head to congratulate her in the morning. She turned to Dash who smiled.

Not saying a word as to not wake the filly the two mares slowly floated to Rainbow's house as the sun faded from the horizon of Equestria.

Perched on the top of a lone cloud sat a pink and blue pegasus who had just happened to be passing by when she reconised the yellow mare caring the foal. She had a huge smile adorning her face

"Well done kid, I'm proud of you." With that the mare shot back off into the air. She would be meeting her again very soon