Flight, Failure, Faith and Family

by 8686

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Fluttershy, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Original Character
Length: 23099

All she ever wanted was a family. Perhaps it was too much to ask.

All she ever wanted was a sister. Perhaps it was too much to ask.

Scootaloo is thrilled when Rainbow Dash invites her to the annual Pegasus Beach Party. Finally it's her chance to lay her lingering insecurities to rest. But when Dash then seems determined to avoid spending time with her, she's left instead to wonder whether Rainbow Dash really wants her for a sister. Or even a friend.

Published 2013-09-25 00:30:06 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-28 22:19:02 UTC

Chapter 1: Invitations

Chapter 1: Invitations

"Hey Scoots, heads up!"

There wasn't time to react of course. Scootaloo barely had an instant to turn her head to look upon her fate. She caught the briefest glimpse of a pale blue streak rushing towards her at incredible speed, far too close to the ground. Then everything was a blur, and she felt more than she saw.

Felt strong hooves grasp her sides and belly. Felt a sudden lurch in her stomach as she was pulled briskly upwards. Felt her ears begin to pop from the sudden difference in pressure. Felt her eyes watering as the cool wind struck her face. Felt Rainbow Dash laughing against her back as together they soared vertically into the clear blue yonder, leaving Ponyville far below.

Felt safe. Felt happy.

Felt nothing. Suddenly the hooves were gone. Rainbow Dash was gone. She was still travelling upwards at alarming speed.

Felt scared.

She reached the zenith of her unscheduled flight and dared to look down.

Felt sick.

Much, much too far below her, the small town of Ponyville lay sprawled in its verdant surroundings. But worse than that: beneath her, and far more distant than she would have liked, was Rainbow Dash. And she was flying away, apparently having taken an interest in something over there.

Rainbow Dash had to catch her! Why was she flying away?

Scootaloo flared her wings and beat them in furious panic. She worked her muscles harder than she ever had before and in spite of the cold, felt herself sweating. She wanted to call out to Rainbow Dash but the strain from the effort of flapping was too great.

She managed to maintain her height for a precious few seconds before her wings tired out completely. Then she plummeted, helpless against gravity's merciless grip, in the direction of the unforgiving ground.

It would be okay. Rainbow Dash wasn't really gone. She would catch her. She would save her. Probably at the last second. Haha. Just like Rainbow Dash, that. She wasn't really gone.

She couldn't see her anywhere.

Felt scared.

The wind screamed in her ears and tore at her mane, taking on a sinister character now that she was headed in the opposite direction. It was difficult to see through her water-filled eyes, but she couldn't take them off the ground.

If only to see where she would eventually crash.

Would anyone even notice she was gone? The Mayor would probably just get someone to fill in the hole she was about to leave and call it a day. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom might be sad for a while.

Felt sad. She was going to miss her friends.

A cloud drifted lazily beneath her, obscuring her view of her eventual grave. Now she felt annoyed. If she was going to crash, she at least wanted to know that she was going to crash somewhere nice. The park maybe. Although she hoped she didn't land on anyone. The last thing she wanted was for anypony to get hurt. Darkly, she mused the last thing she wanted might also be the next thing she wanted.

Here came the cloud now. Once she passed through it, she would still have a few seconds to decide if she liked where she was going to–

"Ooof!"

The wind halted its incessant screeching, and everything was still.

It had been like landing on a comfy bed made entirely of marshmallow and cotton wool. The surface felt infinitely elastic and yet the face of the cloud didn't bend nor flex at the impact, just absorbed it. It was like nothing else.

Scootaloo just lay there on her belly, stunned. Barely even winded. She considered trying to get to her hooves, but shock and adrenaline suggested that might be a bad idea so soon. Now that she was safe, in relative terms, her panicked mind slowly brought her racing thoughts to a more sedentary pace.

She was okay. She had to get down to the ground. She was going to need to find some way to signal for help.

Without warning, the back of a blue-coated, rainbow-maned head popped up through the cloud from below. It looked left, right, then at last turned around to find Scootaloo, before breaking into a triumphant grin.

"That was awesome!"

"Rainbow Dash! I–"

"Hold on, just a sec."

The head disappeared back beneath the cloud and a moment later Rainbow Dash, in all her glory, leaped over the edge from below and landed atop the fluffy mass in a casual-already-sorta-lying-down pose next to where Scootaloo was still catching her breath.

"Morning, Squirt! How was your flying lesson?"

When Scootaloo spoke, she couldn't keep her voice from trembling.

"O-Oh, awesome, uh, R-Rainbow Dash! Thank you so much!" Must just have been the after-effects of the shock. She was fine. Rainbow Dash could never know she had been scared. She had to play it cool.

"Hey, you were great. You were up there on your own for, like, ten seconds! You are definately getting better at this."

"Wow, thanks Rainbow Dash!"

"Of course, I was pretty awesome too. The way I caught you with this cloud at the last second. Pretty neat stuff, huh? Hey, Squirt, you okay? You got something in your eye?"

"Uh...no...it's just from the, uh, the wind, you know because we were going so fast." That's why her eyes were still watering. That was the only reason.

"Yeah, well, fast is the only way I go." Rainbow Dash paused. Ugh, that wasn't a cool catchphrase in the making. She shook it off. "Anyway, you'd better be ready for some more awesome fun like this if you're gonna come with me to the annual Pegasus Beach Party tomorrow!" She grinned, and looked at Scootaloo with hopeful expectation.

"The Pegasuh whuh?" Scootaloo sniffled, like her nose had got blocked up. That was weird. She didn't have a cold.

"Oh, the Pegasus Beach Party," began Rainbow Dash, nonchalantly. "Just a small shindig I've got the honour of organising this year that also happens to be the most amazing beach party ever. So? You comin' with me or what?"

Scootaloo couldn't contain a small squee. Whatever that other feeling had been it just sort of went away, replaced with pure excitement. Rainbow Dash was inviting her to a beach party! There was no way she was going to say no. "Oh, I am so there!" So much for playing it cool. Rainbow Dash was just the best!

"Awesome. Hey, I still have to go round up a few other party-guests. You wanna come with?"

"Yeah! Uh, I mean, only if you think I won't slow you down or something." She gave a nervous laugh.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure you can keep up. Come on, lets head downstairs."

Dash stood, turned and kicked downwards with her hindlegs causing the entire cloud to disapparate, literally, into thin air. For a single, horrifying moment, Scootaloo was in free-fall again two-hundred feet above Ponyville town square, exactly where she had been stood before her simple morning had turned scary-awesome. She was about to let out a scream when those same, safe hooves from earlier plucked her out of the air and guided her back to the safety of the world below. When her hooves touched the ground she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

She couldn't imagine ever wanting to be that far away from it again.

With Scootaloo in tow, Rainbow had tried the library first, but Spike explained that Twilight was in Canterlot for the week, learning important...uh...princess things from the princesses. She couldn't remember. She hadn't been paying much attention during that part of the explanation. She'd asked Spike if he wanted to come along, but he declined, saying something about a movie marathon and a bucket full of ice cream.

Rarity wasn't at home, and Sugarcube Corner was closed for some reason, with Pinkie Pie nowhere in sight. So they soon found themselves at the door to the Apple family farmhouse, which was answered presently by Applejack.

"AJ! 'Sup?"

"Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked suspiciously, before noticing her sidekick. "Hey there Scootaloo. Apple Bloom's up in her room if ya wanna go say hi."

Squirt didn't need any more encouragement. She zipped inside, quick as a flash. No doubt to tell Apple Bloom how awesome her morning had been, flying with her all time hero. Rainbow Dash gave herself a little grin, and strode into Applejack's kitchen. She spun with a flourish to face Applejack, ready to grace her with an invitation to the most awesome party of the–

"Not that I ain't happy to see ya RD, you know I am. But ya kinda caught me in a bit of a hurry here, so what's all this about?"

Dash blinked. She'd lost her place. No biggie. Hang on, where was she. Oh, yeah! ...to the most awesome party of the year! Ahem.

"So, Pegasus Beach Party tomorrow, right? You coming?"

Applejack looked at her blankly. "That's tomorrow?"

"Yeah! I know, I can't believe it's almost here either."

Applejack sighed and looked at the floor. A disappointed expression crossed her features. "I'm sorry Rainbow, but there's just no way. Maybe if ya'd given me a little more warning, but–"

"What? But...I put it on your calendar and everything!" She pointed at the calendar hung on a small nail on the kitchen wall.

Applejack glanced in the direction she was pointing, then gave Dash a deadpan look. She walked over to the calendar on the wall, but kept her eyes on her friend.

"This calendar here?"

Rainbow nodded, a little confused.

"My calendar?"

Another small nod.

"This calendar that wasn't here yesterday?"

She tapped the calendar. Emblazoned along the top edge in proud blue and yellow lettering, the word Wonderbolts screamed for attention. Beneath it stood a stallion in a blue flightsuit, striking a heroic pose. A small table of text at the bottom right proclaimed this to be Rapid Fire, and listed some basic biographical information. Name, age, signature move, likes, dislikes; the sort of stuff fans ate up. Beneath the splash page hung the thirty-one boxes that defined the month, completely devoid of entries except for one, on the 30th, circled several times:

PBP
x –RD

"Seriously Rainbow, how'd that get here?"

But she was elsewhere...

Heroically, Rainbow Dash hefted the hammer in her mouth, poised to strike the nail. This mission had required skill, cunning, and guts, and with one more tap Operation Calendar Drop would be a success. It had gone perfectly. The only resistance had been a lone, vicious guard dog that our hero had brilliantly subdued by petting it, and allowing it to lick her forelegs...which it was still doing now. Seriously, Winona, cut it out!

Rainbow Dash stopped dead as she heard heavy hoofsteps descending the stairs just outside the kitchen. A patrolling guard! If she stayed absolutely still, there was no way he would see her in her stealth outfit, concealed in the impenetrable gloom.

The kitchen light clicked on, and our hero's blood froze solid. There in the doorway stood Big Macintosh – once known as the Brawler of Baltimare, probably. He looked right at her, his expression murderously blank and his eyes aflame with total indifference.

"Rainbow Dash." He nodded. He looked from her, to the calendar, to the hammer in her mouth.

He knew her name! Someone in her organisation had ratted her out. He rolled his eyes...sinisterly.

He walked over to the wide open window on the far side of the kitchen – her escape route! – and closed it. She was trapped! Well, she'd never talk. She would die before she–

"When yer done what you're doin', could ya please leave through the door and make sure it's closed. Thank you."

The Brawler of Baltimare turned and fled ponderously back up the stairs. Ha! Take that! He was no match for Rainbow Dash. She finished securing the secret calendar to the wall, making sure it was turned to the correct page to complete her objective. Now, to make her triumphant escape through the wi– uh...the door. Better use the door this time. No, Winona you can't go for a walk now! She stealthily closed the door soundlessly behind her with a loud click, and took off into the night.

Another mission completed by Rainbow Danger Dash!

"RAINBOW!"

Rainbow Dash snapped back to the present. "Never mind that, how come you can't come?"

Applejack groaned. She clearly wasn't going to get an answer to her own question. "Mr and Mrs Cake got themselves some big catering contract in Canterlot this week. They're both so busy preparing that they've taken Pinkie along to watch the young-uns, because otherwise they're liable to either fly away or magic up some trouble. Meantime, Rarity an' I agreed to help run the Corner while they're gone, but between that an' our own concerns we're a mite busy. Make sense?"

"Uh-huh. Uh-huh." No big deal. If some of her best friends couldn't come to her awesome party, that was their loss, right? There was always next year. She'd just have to deliver the calendars two days early instead. Hold on. There was something in there that didn't quite make sense.

"Rainbow, it ain't like I don't wanna come, I just–"

"Wait a second. You're saying that Pound Cake can actually fly? Like, already?" Way to go kid!

"Yup. Not all the time, but the way Pinkie and the Cakes told it, enough to be a hoof-full. Now I hate to seem inconsiderate, but I have to meet Rarity in five minutes so we can open up Sugarcube Corner in time for lunch."

"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry. Well, I'd better go, I got plenty more guests to round up. Have a good day AJ!" she called as she took to the air and soared out of the kitchen door.

"Yeah! A totally awesome beach party, and she just invited me to go with her!"

"That's swell! I sure hope you get to do lots of fun things together."

"Oh, totally. In fact...Rainbow Dash...?" her voice trailed off. Through the window Scootaloo saw a multi-coloured streak, racing away from the farmhouse. Without her.

I thought we were...

"Yeah? Go on, what did Rainbow Dash say?"

"Huh? Oh. Uh...nothing." With difficulty she tore her gaze from the window and the dot that was her hero.

Rainbow Dash went through her mental checklist as even now she approached Fluttershy's cottage. Twilight was already gone, and if Applejack was right then not only was she out, but so inevitably were Rarity and Pinkie Pie. That was a shame. She had been looking forward to showing Pinkie what a Rainbow Dash party looked like. Honestly, why did all her friends have to pick this week to get themselves tied up with other things?

As she approached Fluttershy's cottage from above she could see her flitting hither and thither around her back garden, tending to her many creature companions. Lowering her altitude to avoid being seen, and using the cottage itself to cover her approach, she alighted quietly on the front half of Fluttershy's roof and carefully peeked over to the rear to observe the aerial ballet in all its splendour.

There was an annoyingly persistent rumour that Fluttershy was a terrible flyer. That she was so weak-winged she could barely lift herself off the ground, and when she did fly, it was a poor and short-lived affair.

It was a load of horseapples and it frustrated Dash no end. Not least because Fluttershy sometimes seemed to believe it herself.

While Fluttershy didn't generate much actual power with her wings, her real problem was that when she was nervous her wings just didn't seem to work as well. Worse, when she was very scared they tended to snap shut of their own accord and not work at all. If she ever tried to prove anypony wrong, well, inevitably ponies were watching her and she got nervous. A vicious circle. The rumours persisted. But Dash knew better – whatever issues Fluttershy had with flying they were all psychosemantic. Psychosystematic. Psycho– they were all brain issues. There was nothing wrong with her actual ability to fly.

And the proof was right here before her as, hidden behind the rooftop, Rainbow Dash watched Fluttershy going about her daily feeding routine in the place she felt most comfortable in the entire world.

She distributed various foods to her animal friends as she casually wove between the various trees, bushes, pens and perches, stringing together a series of aerial maneuvers with an effortless, slow grace that was just beautiful to behold. Then occasionally, for no other possible reason than that she wanted to, she would dart, quick as a whip to another section of the garden before lapsing into another routine of languid barrel-rolls, S-turns, corkscrews and more. The pattern was captivating, hypnotic almost, and never seemed to repeat, as though she were improvising the whole thing.

As she flew she hummed a short, tuneful ditty that only she seemed to know. A simple series of five notes that she would then repeat half an octave lower. It was nice, actually. Melodic and relaxing, and the perfect accompaniment to her graceful display.

Rainbow Dash doubted that Fluttershy even knew the names of most of the tricks she was doing. She may not even have been aware that she was doing them at all. But you couldn't be friends with as awesome a flyer as Rainbow Dash for as long as she had; couldn't have sat watching as many practice sessions as she had, without picking up a few things at least subconsciously. And whatever Fluttershy had learned, on whatever level she had learned it, she was putting it all into practice now. Except where Rainbow Dash would always be going for speed and precision above all else, Fluttershy was content with poise and finesse.

All too soon though, it ended. The feeding all done, every animal catered for, Fluttershy landed on her hooves in the centre of her garden to a chorus of happy chirruping. She smiled a contented smile and closed her eyes, apparently happy to just listen. After what she'd just seen, Rainbow Dash would give her something to listen to.

She clapped her hooves together in as loud an applause as she could muster, wolf-whistled, and gave her loudest shout of "You go, Fluttershy!", instantly drawing a panicked stare from the suddenly timid pegasus.

"R-Rainbow Dash?"

Beating her wings, Rainbow zoomed from her rooftop perch to ground level. She knew from experience that she had to catch Fluttershy quickly before she could retreat into her shell. She was already rubbing her foreleg timidly and blushing a little. She didn't have much time.

She landed in front of her friend and gave her a quick hug. "Fluttershy. That. Was. Crazyawesome!"

"Oh...um..." Fluttershy bit her lip. Dash held her breath. "Do...do you really think so?" Fluttershy smiled hopefully.

Nailed it. "Hay yeah! I loved it! Stick with me and I'll have you winning next year's Best Young Fliers."

"Oh. I don't know if I would want to do that."

Argh! Too far Dash, come on, pull it back. "Well, I guess that's their loss then, because from where I was, you looked like something special." She smiled warmly at her longtime friend.

"Aw, thanks Dashie."

Aaaand safe!

Dash followed Fluttershy into the cottage, where they exchanged further pleasantries and other pointless small-talk. It wasn't that she didn't want to speak to Fluttershy – they were friends – but she had a reason for being here and she was itching to get to the point. The other stuff could come later.

"So, are you gonna come to the beach party tomorrow?" Dash queried at a not-quite-seamless point in the conversation.

"Oh, goodness, it's tomorrow?"

"Argh! Why does everypony keep saying that? I've been on about it for weeks!"

"Yes, but you see, you said you were organising it...but you never actually said when..."

Rainbow Dash resisted the urge to point out Fluttershy's own copy of the Wonderbolt calendar adorning her wall. She could still recall the heavy scent of the stifling jungle, filled with wild creatures, as Rainbow Dash bravely– snapped out of her reverie.

"Hey, no big deal. But now you know, you can make it, right?"

"I...I don't know. Last time I went it was so loud and confusing and there were so many ponies there I didn't know. Besides, is it really right to just have a party for pegasi anymore? What if our other friends wanted to come?"

"Ugh. Fluttershy, it's not just for pegasi, it just happens to be called the Pegasus Beach Party because – well you know why. And our friends are invited, but they're all busy tomorrow!"

Fluttershy just looked away slightly, and Dash could tell she still wasn't convinced. It hurt more than she expected that, on some level, Fluttershy might not believe her.

"Come on, Fluttershy. Do you really think I'd put my name on anything like this without making sure all our friends could be in on it?"

"No, of course not."

"If you really want, I'll even give you a run-down of who can't make it and why! But I really want you to be there. Because you're my friend too. You're still my number one flyer, right?"

Fluttershy looked back at Rainbow Dash. The corners of her mouth turned up into the tiniest, yet most honest of smiles.

"That's okay, Rainbow. If it's important to you, of course I'll be there." Her smile grew. When Fluttershy smiled it couldn't fail to lift your spirits, and Rainbow Dash had to bite back the urge to leap up and scream "Awesome!" at the top of her voice. Instead, she was just about able to moderate it to,

"Thanks."

True to her word, Dash stayed talking with Fluttershy for an appropriately polite length of time, but she eventually had to leave. She had to start getting organised for the party some time after all, and she had a lot of work to do.

Several hours later, and Rainbow Dash was proud of how well things were coming together. There were a few last-minute items to take care of, but she could do those tomorrow. All of the major obstacles had been overcome and she was now soaring low over Ponyville, searching.

Aha! There! She spotted a large, white, muscle-bound pegasus with disproportionately tiny wings ambling down one of the many quaint streets of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash recognised him – he had been on the tornado team that the previous year had transferred Ponyville's reservoir water to Cloudsdale, and he had been a cadet at the Wonderbolt academy at the same time as Dash herself. She seemed to remember he'd been a pretty good flyer, surprisingly. She'd once heard somepony refer to him as 'Horse Power', but wasn't sure if that was his actual name, or simply a frighteningly efficient physical description. She swooped in low and fell in beside him in a lazy trot.

"Hey there! What's up?"

The stallion simply looked back at her. Apparently he wasn't much one for talking. Never mind. Down to business.

"Pegasus Beach Party tomorrow. You there?" Dash was sure she could remember him talking in the past. In fact she was sure there was something about they way he talked that should have been memorable.

"YEAH!"

Oh, right, that was it. She'd have to stand further away if she wanted to ask a follow-up question. She'd almost gone deaf.

As soon as the word was out of his mouth, the stallion looked embarrassed. At length he cleared his throat.

"Sorry there, Rainbow Dash. Just slips out. Looking forward to tomorrow. Tough to beat last year's party, but if anyone can top it, it's you."

Rainbow Dash's jaw fell open. Some crucial circuit in her brain that controlled normal response had shorted out, because she could only gawp. She must have looked unwell because when the stallion spoke again it was to ask,

"Rainbow Dash? You alright?"

She managed to snap herself out of it, shaking her head roughly from side to side.

"Uh, yeah. So, that means you're coming then?"

"YEAH!"

And normal service has resumed. "Awesome. See you there!" Rainbow Dash took to the air. She looked over a shoulder and gave a polite wave as she raced away, but found her gaze lingering on the stallion's back.

His wings were tiny.

Gaze downcast, a forlorn Scootaloo trudged through the streets of Ponyville. It hadn't been long after Applejack left for Sugarcube Corner that Big Macintosh had needed Apple Bloom's help to patch a couple of leaks in the roof of the barn. Scootaloo had offered to pitch in too, but it had quickly become obvious that she was out of her depth – she got in the way and underhoof more than she helped, and though they'd said nothing she was pretty sure she'd made the work much slower going than necessary, so she'd made an excuse and left them to it.

Above her the sky was starting to cloud up, and it felt like it might rain at any moment. The forecast was for rain tomorrow, but that was surely just for Ponyville and not for wherever the beach party was going on. Rainbow Dash would see to that.

The closest beach was Weston-Super-Mare, but that was kind of a dive. There was a much nicer place about an hours train ride away at Stirrup Springs and she hoped that's where she would be headed tomorrow with Rainbow Dash.

If she was going to be headed there with Rainbow Dash.

She hadn't actually seen any sign of Rainbow since they'd gotten to Applejack's hours ago, and she wondered if she'd changed her mind about inviting her. After all, she'd just flown off without a second look, hadn't she? She'd probably just decided that Scootaloo wasn't cut out for awesome beach parties after all, and figured she'd best leave her behind. Without a word. Haha. That crazy Rainbow Dash!

Her eyes started to water. Because of that wind in her face again. There sure was a lot of it around today.

"Hey, Scoots!" Rainbow Dash's voice called from somewhere on high. There was a sudden rush of air and then, as if by magic, the rainbow-maned mare was standing right in front of her, smiling. "Hey little buddy, where ya been all this time?"

You left me at Applejack's were the words that leapt into Scootaloo's treacherous mind, to her immediate horror. Fortunately her loyal mouth, on hearing the order, successfully translated the sentiment into, "I...stayed at Applejack's."

"Oh, okay. I've been busy all afternoon getting everything ready for tomorrow. Now I'm rounding up guests again, but I already know you're coming, so I gotta get back to it."

"So...uh, tomorrow then," Scootaloo asked before Rainbow Dash could vanish into the sky. "Where are we...I mean, shall I meet you at the train station?"

"Sure, that's as good a place as any," said Dash, distractedly. "2 p.m. sharp though, Squirt. Don't let me down." And then she was gone again, in search of more wayward future party guests.

Scootaloo forced a smile onto her face. Rainbow Dash was still taking her to the party. She hadn't decided to forget about her after all. Come on Happiness, where are you? Why are you hiding back there? Rainbow Dash still wants us to go to the party with her. We're going to spend all of tomorrow afternoon with Rainbow Dash at an awesome beach party! That's better, come on Happiness. You? I don't know who you are, but you're in Happiness's spot. Get out. Don't come back. There we go, Happiness. Just make yourself comfortable. Whoever that other feeling was won't be bothering us anymore.

Rainbow Dash couldn't sleep. That, in and of itself, was unusual enough, but the reason she couldn't sleep, she had eventually decided, was that she was worried.

Rainbow Dash did not get worried. Rainbow Dash was too cool and awesome to worry about stuff. When something happened that looked like it might be worth worrying about, Rainbow Dash just took that thing, made it twenty percent cooler in ten seconds flat, and hoped the door hit Worry's flank on the way out. Then Awesome would arrive, splash mud on Worry's coat and...

Yeah...she was worried. And she couldn't even figure out why.

She had at first naturally assumed that she was getting cold hooves about being responsible for organising the biggest social event in the Cloudsdale calendar. But then she ran everything through in her head, everything about how the party was going to go, all of the activities she'd set up, how everything was just so. No, the party was going to be epic. Of that she had absolutely no doubt.

That should have sent Worry packing. And yet there remained a sickly knot of unease in her stomach that wouldn't budge. She probed it, trying to learn its secrets.

Something that she felt she couldn't fix; something important. It had an odd, 'foreign' character to it. When she was nervous there was always an ingrained, intimate problem that was hers to grapple with and defeat. This was different. It was like it wasn't just to do with herself...

And then, as though she'd tugged on the right cord, the knot came undone.

Scootaloo.

Why can't she fly? You're supposed to be teaching her.

I AM teaching her. I gave her a lesson this morning!

Is that what that was? You threw her in the air and watched as she fell. You're supposed to help her. You're the best flyer in Ponyville and you can't help her to fly?

I am helping her!

Then why can't she fly?

She's too young.

Pound Cake can fly.

Her wings aren't strong enough.

Fluttershy doesn't need strong wings.

Her wings are too small!

Horse Power would beg to differ.

Her...She...

Stop making excuses Rainbow Dash! WHY CAN'T SHE FLY?

Rainbow Dash sat up in bed. "I don't know..." she heard herself whisper. A shiver took her. The implications were forcing their way past the veil of convenient ignorance, to the forefront of her mind.

No! I'm just a terrible teacher, that's all. As unpalatable an explanation as it was, it was infinitely better than the alternative. After all, I'm an awesome flyer, not an awesome teacher. That's all she needs. Some professional training to get her on the right track. And I know where she can get it. Even if...

Even if it meant breaking the promise she'd made to herself years ago, never to go back.

Chapter 2: Only Bad Teachers

Chapter 2: Only Bad Teachers

Waiting.

It was, to put it mildly, not something Rainbow Dash did well. Yet here she was, being made to wait in the same corridor, of the same flight school she had vowed she would never grace with her presence again. Outside the same office where, years ago, her life had taken a dramatic downturn.

Everything was the same. Even the nameplate on the office door.

Pale Frost,
Principal,
Cloudsdale Curriculum Flight School and Summer Flight Camp

A sense of dread had been seeping into Rainbow's gut since she arrived, and it was only getting more potent the longer she waited. She wanted this over with, but though she had woken early especially to make the trip, by the time she arrived she was already in a queue behind several unruly schoolfoals with the unfortunate destiny of a meeting with the Viper.

That was what Dash and the other students had always used to call him. Because when he told you off, he was venomous. And if you were bitten by the Viper, you did what you had to to avoid being bitten again.

Well, most students did. Dash idly wondered if the nickname still held any meaning today. How long had he been here for anyway? Forever? Maybe he'd gone soft by now.

Apparently not. Just then the tail end of an angry lecture became audible through the office wall where even now the last poor filly was getting a good dose of poison from Viper's fangs. His tirade even sounded the same, and that particular familiarity did little to help Rainbow's feelings of unease about this whole expedition. But she was going to go through with this. This was for Scootaloo, not her. She wasn't going to let Squirt down without trying. Even if she had to face Viper herself one last time.

The office door opened, ejected a young filly and closed again. The filly's expression instantly changed from cowed to anger, and she looked ready to buck a hole in the wall. Then she caught sight of the receptionist at the desk opposite, looking at her sternly over half-moon glasses and instead she did her best to saunter off with an arrogant "Harumph."

Dash just shook her head. That one clearly had an attitude problem. Maybe Viper had been right to give her a grilling.

A couple of long minutes passed before the quiet monotony was broken by a buzzing sound from a small grey box atop the receptionist's desk. Rainbow Dash had never seen one before, but it appeared to allow the receptionist out here to speak to the Principal in there as though they were next to each other. Maybe it was magic. Maybe it was just a really good version of two cans on a string, she didn't really care. All that she cared about was that this meant there was no turning back now. For better or worse, she was going into the Viper's nest.

The receptionist halted the annoying buzzer.

"Yes, Principal Frost?"

An oddly weary voice answered.

"Is that all of my appointments for the morning, Maple?"

"There is one more, Mr. Frost. A young mare arrived from Ponyville about an hour ago and requested a meeting with you as soon as possible."

Dash couldn't keep a small grin off her face. That was a very polite interpretation of their earlier conversation. She heard Viper sigh wearily before replying.

"Name?"

"Ms. Rainbow Dash."

There was a short pause.

"Sorry, Maple, I think I missed that. What was the name?"

The receptionist, Maple, repeated Rainbow Dash's name into the voice-box loudly and clearly. There was a longer pause.

"I think..." yet another pause, "I think you'd better send her in."

Maple looked up at Rainbow Dash with professional neutrality. "You can go in now."

Dash stood and planted herself before the door. It was no different to any other door. It was in no way ornate, ostentatious or grand. But it was imposing. That nameplate held a gravitas that was completely intangible, yet at the same time, very very real.

She forced herself to knock.

When the students had knocked earlier, the response had always been a short, sharp "Come!" Now though, a softer voice responded.

"Please, come in."

Tentatively, Rainbow Dash entered the office. There, behind the same desk, in front of the same window, sat the same principal who had almost ruined her life.

He looked exactly the same too. Same pale blue coat and matching eyes, same well-groomed off-white mane. He had a few more wrinkles than she remembered, there were a couple of bags under his eyes and his mane was a little thinner and lighter, but other than that he was exactly the same. Viper.

Except the disappointed scowl she had been expecting was strangely absent, and instead for the first time Rainbow Dash could remember, he was smiling.

"Rainbow Dash," he began warmly, gesturing her towards a couple of large plush floor cushions in the informal corner of his office. "I had given up all hope of seeing you walk through that door again."

Rainbow took a seat, a sense of unease rising quickly in her mind along with the hairs on the back of her neck. Viper was being nice to her? He had never been nice to her. It didn't make sense. This was a trick of some sort.

Pale Frost took a seat opposite his former pupil. "I'm afraid that if you're here to complete your semester, you're several years too late." He risked a small chuckle, but it was instantly obvious that the attempt at humour was misjudged. Rainbow was looking at him with an expression that openly conveyed mistrust. There were still ill feelings there then. The faint hope that had sparked up – that after all this time he might have the chance to reconcile – died heavily. Trying hard to keep the disappointment out of his voice, he turned to business. If there was to be no pleasant small talk, the least he could do for her was avoid unpleasant talk.

"What brings you here to see me, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash sat still, glaring at Viper as though he were a real snake. Calm right now, but one which might strike at any moment and without warning. She hadn't realised that seeing him would make her angry. Why wasn't he angry too? He had been angry with that filly earlier. He was always angry. They should be shouting at each other like they'd done years ago in this very room. Why wasn't he behaving like she expected!

No, Rainbow Dash, this is not about you, remember?

Pale Frost's heart sank as he saw the mistrust in Rainbow Dash's eyes degenerate into a rage and bitterness that left little room for interpretation. They were going to have the conversation. There was going to be anger and shouting. There was no avoiding it. The past was a great wave looming over them. It wasn't a question of if it would break, only when.

Keeping her breathing steady, Rainbow Dash fished a photograph of Scootaloo from beneath her wing and shoved it towards Viper. In short, clipped tones, she said, "I have a friend. She can't fly. I want you to teach her."

"I see," Pale Frost responded in a soft, but professional tone. "And what is her name?"

"Scootaloo."

Pale Frost examined the photograph. A small smiling filly stared back at him. There appeared to be nothing amiss. Perhaps if he couldn't make amends with Rainbow Dash herself, helping her young friend might at least be partial atonement.

"Bring her along tomorrow. We'll put her through a few exercises and see where she's at." He looked up from the photo towards Rainbow. "We'll do whatever we can to help," he said sincerely.

For a brief moment, hope rose in him again. Hope that it would end there. There would be no argument. There would be no shouting. Hope that he would, after today, at least be able to imagine Rainbow Dash as a professional acquaintance and deal with her as such. It was not the ideal outcome, but one he decided he could live with. He was about to add "Will that be all?"

The wave broke.

"Right, so now you want to help?"

Rainbow Dash heard herself speak. Heard her her own voice betray her, vitriolic with anger. It was as though she was stuck inside her own head, watching it happen. Pent up rage that she didn't know had existed surged forward, commandeering her faculties even while her rational, logical self screamed for calm.

Shut up Rainbow Dash! You've got what you came for! He said yes! The job's done! Just go! Get up and go!

But righteous indignation was a powerful force, and it would be heard no matter what.

"It's funny, actually," Dash's voice continued, rising now at the mercy of the seething anger behind her eyes, "you didn't seem too keen on helping when you were kicking me out of here!"

Viper's expression hardened. That was more like it. He did a better job at keeping his voice neutral though. "Rainbow Dash, I did not kick you out. You left."

"I left because you told me to! You showed me the door and said 'There it is, thanks for wasting our time, get out, don't come back!'" Dash was screaming now, all hope of self control gone, lost in a vivid fury.

"Rainbow Dash, if you will–"

"You never thought I was worth anything!"

"Rainbow, please calm yourself..."

"You almost ruined my life!"

"RAINBOW DASH, BE QUIET!" Viper boomed, standing and looming over her where she sat. Rainbow Dash's treacherous anger slunk away into the shadows, leaving her calm, rational self to face the music.

I told you. You should have just left. Now you've blown it. You've let Scootaloo down. Well done, hero. But at least you feel better, right? No? Thought not.

Pale Frost blinked a couple of times. He took a step back from the suddenly catatonic pegasus before him and breathed deeply, chastising himself all the while.

He had promised himself it would never happen again, but it had. He had lost control of his temper with Rainbow Dash.

Whenever he berated a student it was a calculated ear-bashing. Nothing more than was required to get them to pay attention and consider their actions. It may have sounded like anger, but he was always in control. Not so with Rainbow Dash. There was something about her that many years ago had caused him to lose it, and which he had regretted ever since. And now history was repeating itself. How long was he going to regret this for?

With great effort, he forced the anger from his mind. Eventually, he was able to continue. He would get to say his piece after all. For good or ill.

"Rainbow Dash. I can still recall every detail of that meeting. There are many things about it that I regret. But I did not kick you out. I did not ask you to leave. I never wanted that, despite what you may think."

There was a loud snort. "Yeah, right. You said–"

"My exact words, Rainbow, were: 'If you can't follow the rules and participate with your fellow students, then there is no place for you at this school.'" Frost dipped his head and looked at the floor. "I spoke in anger, but my intention was to get you to modify your behaviour. To have you start joining in classes again, rather than sleeping through them. I know you believed our lessons were beneath you, but I thought you could be a role model for your classmates. However, it seems you mistook my words for an ultimatum of sorts, because a moment later, you stormed out of my office." Now he looked at the door. In his mind, he heard it slam shut after the departing filly with an air of finality he had not expected. "I suppose I should have gone after you, but my pride wouldn't allow it. I was convinced you would come to your senses and return to pick up where you'd left off." Finally, he looked back at Rainbow Dash. "You didn't, and I have regretted that day ever since. My only consolation has been that you seem to have done alright for yourself."

"Yeah, no thanks to you," Dash grumbled. She had already blown it. She didn't have much else to lose.

"Oh," Pale Frost said. He should have left it there. He'd said his bit. There was no need to follow this through. Let Dash have her righteous anger. If she wanted it, she deserved it. But he felt a sting of annoyance rise again. Somehow, even if she didn't know it, she had a way of pushing his buttons. In spite of himself, he got up and walked over towards his desk, speaking as he went.

"I understand that not long after we parted company, you applied to join the Junior Speedsters flight camp?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Whom did you get to write your reference?"

"What?"

Pale Frost stopped behind his desk but didn't sit. Adopting his lecturing tone, he began,

"Rainbow Dash, the Junior Speedsters is a very exclusive flight club. They are only after the best young candidates who display exceptional skill." Rainbow Dash was nodding smugly, like she knew it all already. "They don't accept anybody unless they have a near-perfect academic flight qualification – which you didn't get from me – or a damn good letter of recommendation. So, who did you get to write yours?"

Rainbow Dash was puzzled. How could Viper get this so wrong? She hadn't needed those things. She was Rainbow Dash. She had just sent in her application, turned up, and they'd welcomed her in. Because they knew how awesome she was. That was all there was to it. She explained all of this to Viper in her own unique, tactful style.

"Ah. I see," was all he said. Using his teeth, Viper opened a dusty filing cabinet next to his desk. He scanned through to the section labelled 'R' and fished out a folder of paperwork. From it he extracted four pieces of paper, clipped together tidily. He pushed them across the desk in Rainbow's general direction.

Rainbow Dash had to approach the desk to study the papers proffered to her. The first sheet was a standard printed form letter, emblazoned with the Junior Speedsters' logo, and addressed simply to "The Principal."

Dear Sir or Madam;

Re: Rainbow Dash.

We write to you with reference to the above-named individual. As you are probably aware, he/she has submitted an application to join the Junior Speedsters flight camp, which at this point is under consideration. Junior Speedsters is committed to training the very best future fliers in the world. The training we offer is rigorous and intensive, and should only be attempted by the most capable of fliers.

Please provide a frank character reference for the above candidate, including an assessment of their ability to complete the training we offer. Your recommendation will remain confidential unless you indicate that you do not wish it to be. Failure to submit a reference by the beginning of the course will result in the candidate being disqualified from attending.

Thank you for your attention.

Beneath the copied signature was a drawn line, below which was a paragraph of hoof-writing in blue ink, concluded with a separate signature of its own.

Frosty – heard a few troubling rumours about this one, including that she left your place under a cloud, so to speak. Is this somepony we should even be considering? We'll catch up soon. -Dex.

Rainbow Dash's stomach churned uncomfortably. 'Troubling rumours?' What the Hay? And what was this about being disqualified if Viper didn't write back right away? This was a load of rotten turnips! Angrily she flipped to the second page, which was only another printed letter from Junior Speedsters, saying something about clearing out past records and returning the original reference to the sender to do with as they wished. The third letter was the one she wanted. She didn't really know what to expect as she read the black scrawled hoofwriting in Viper's unmistakable calligraphy.

Dex,

We've both been at this a while, so you know I don't say this lightly:

Rainbow Dash is the most naturally gifted flier I have ever seen.

She has a raw, instinctive grasp of almost every aspect of aeronautics that I am astonished by. If that talent could be refined through study and practice, her potential is staggering. Should you be considering her? Absolutely.

She has made no secret of her desire to one day join the Wonderbolts aerial display team. Nothing unusual in that, but Rainbow is the first student I've had in a few years now who's good enough for them.

Unfortunately, thanks largely to a miscalculation on my part, that dream is now in jeopardy. Rainbow Dash has turned her back on my institution and, much as I want to, she has not completed enough of the course for me to award her even a partial flight qualification. She's going to need one under her saddle if she ever does apply to the Wonderbolts' training academy. Or any number of other jobs for that matter.

I know your scheme offers a similar accreditation to ours which most, including the Wonderbolts, recognise. So I urge you, in the strongest possible terms – accept her. She doesn't deserve to have her future ruined by my error of judgement. I only ask one favour.

Do not make the same mistake I did. She needs the carrot, Dex, not the stick. Give her an incentive to push herself and she will work harder than any candidate you've ever had. But try and force her to anything and she will push back twice as hard. She won't accept any authority she doesn't respect, and you need to earn that respect if you want to get the best from her. Don't try and force it – that was my error.

As for the rumours you've heard, I imagine they are mostly to do with her attitude. Forget them. She is supremely confident in her own abilities, and this makes her appear arrogant, perhaps condescending even. But spend some time with her and – trust me on this – you'll find that behind that bravado there is a good pony with a heart of solid gold. Next time we get together I'll tell you the story of the illicit race she organised. Then I'll tell you why she did it. It's heart-warming.

If you can handle her correctly, if you can earn her trust and respect, then she's the best candidate you could ever hope to have.

She'll break records for you, Dex. I owe you a beer if I'm wrong.

– Frosty.

Dash re-read the letter several times, her mouth hanging open. She didn't know what to think. It just didn't compute somehow.

Viper wrote this? About me? He's supposed to hate me!

She flipped to the fourth and last letter in the sheaf.

Frosty,

Wow. Never had a Rec. from you like that before. (A simple Yes would have done!) She's in. In fact, based on your letter, I've already got a flight partner in mind for her.

We'll catch up next month. I'll let you know about the beer.

– Dex.

"Do you still believe I never thought you were worth anything?"

Dash remained silent, her gaze fixed on the bundle of papers. Looking at them but no longer reading. No longer even thinking, really. Just...numb.

"I was right you know. You still hold at least two of their records. And you've had many more impressive accomplishments since then."

Rainbow Dash looked up from the letter into Viper's eyes. "How would you know? Have you been spying on me?" That was supposed to sound angry, yet the words came out hollow and neutral. Anger was a distant memory now.

"In my defence, it has been difficult to avoid hearing about you." Viper fished more pieces of paper from the folder on the desk. They were newspaper cuttings – two from the local paper, the Cloudsdale Chronicle and one from the national broadsheet, the Equestria Daily. The Daily article, along with one of the Chronicle's referenced her past victory at the Best Young Flyers Competition, both noting that she was the only pegasus in living memory to successfully breach the sound barrier, and that she had saved four lives while doing so. The other Chronicle article was headlined "Heroic Tornado Team Overcomes Illness to Set New Record."

Dash blinked on reading that. "Huh? We didn't break the record. We weren't even close!"

"Actually you did. Just not the record you're thinking of. Spitfire came to me afterwards and we looked into it. You and your team set a new record for 'the Successful Transfer of Ground Water to Cloudsdale with the Fewest Number of Pegasi'. She insisted the paper recognise it. It's all there." Viper tapped the article as Rainbow Dash scanned it. At the end was a list of all of the pegasi who had been involved in the tornado and there, right at the top:

Flight Leader: Rainbow Dash

And directly underneath,

Most Valuable Pony: Fluttershy

The rest of the names were alphabetical. Dash didn't read them all. Her mind had got hung up.

"You...know...Spitfire?"

Pale Frost gave a small chuckle. "Rainbow Dash, I've been at this job a very long time. Most of the current Wonderbolt team were students here at one time or another, including Spitfire, and yes, we remained friends after she graduated. That wasn't the first or last time she'd asked me about you, you know, but I'll say no more. Except that I told her only good things."

Rainbow Dash sat heavily on her haunches. Her mind raced from the reference, to the newspaper cuttings, to Viper's words. Long moments passed until, at length, she looked up into Viper's kind eyes.

"Why?"

Viper's expression softened, along with his voice. "Because there are no bad students Rainbow Dash. Only bad teachers. I let you down, and it was my responsibility to ensure you did not suffer for it."

That struck close to home, and Rainbow was suddenly brought back to the whole reason she was here in the first place.

"My friend. Scootaloo. I've been trying to teach her to fly. She can't fly and I...I don't know why. I...don't know what to do. I've let her down. Only bad teachers, right? Please..." she locked eyes with Viper, "help her?"

Pale Frost held Rainbow Dash's gaze, smiled, and responded gently, "We'll do whatever we can to help."

Rainbow Dash felt an immense weight lifted off her shoulders. She let out a breath and suddenly found that her breathing was much deeper and easier than it had been in what seemed like hours. And...what was this? She was smiling? At Viper? No way.... She was even about to say...wait...here it came, unbidden,

"Thank you."

"You're quite welcome."

Rainbow stood, turned and began walking slowly towards the door. Thank You didn't seem enough somehow. As she reached the door she half turned back towards the desk.

"You know, the Pegasus Beach Party is this afternoon...I don't know if you were going to–"

"I wasn't planning to. With you in charge, I didn't think it would be...appropriate."

Rainbow met Viper's eyes again. "You should...y'know, if you can. I think you'd enjoy it."

"Perhaps...perhaps I will then. Thank you."

"Cool, see you there then, Viper!" She opened the door and stepped back into the corridor, letting it swing shut behind her with a decidedly less-ominous-than-expected click.

Oh, hayseed! She'd forgotten! Quickly she pushed the door back open, causing Pale Frost to look up from his desk in mild surprise.

"Hey...uh...can I borrow that article? The tornado one? There's kind of somepony I want to show it to."

"Of course." He held it up, and Rainbow flitted over to grab it with her teeth. Just as she did so, he spoke again, "And Rainbow Dash? The students still call me 'Viper' when they think I can't hear them, but most of my friends call me 'Pale', or 'Frosty'. Just something to think about." He nonchalantly waved her away, but Dash noticed he couldn't keep a grin off his face. She left the office again, and headed for Ponyville.

Scoots was going to be so happy!

Chapter 3: The Pegasus Beach Party

Chapter 3: The Pegasus Beach Party

Scanning the sky nervously, Scootaloo repeatedly paced the wooden boardwalk of the train station, her lonely hoofbeats echoing hollow.

She'd made sure to get here good and early so she had no chance of missing Rainbow Dash. She didn't want Rainbow Dash to arrive first, not find her immediately, and then grow impatient and just leave her behind. Well, that probably wouldn't have happened, maybe, but no sense in taking the risk, right?

But Rainbow Dash hadn't arrived early. In fact it was ten-past-two already and she hadn't arrived at all. Heavy, grey clouds still hung low over Ponyville and a fine rain had begun to fall, the poor weather an approximation of Scootaloo's current level of optimism.

Maybe Rainbow Dash had forgotten about her. Maybe she'd just decided to fly to the beach instead and expected her to catch up. Like a test, to see if she was smart enough to follow her. Could that be it? The next train to Stirrup Springs arrived in five minutes. If Rainbow Dash hadn't appeared by then, she was going to have a hard decision to make.

No. Rainbow Dash was coming. She had said she would hadn't she? She was just running late. Come on Scootaloo, this is Rainbow Dash! She's practically your big sist– uh, well, anyway, she's not gonna let you down.

The whistle of the approaching locomotive brought Scootaloo's train of thought to a sudden halt. Peering down the tracks she could see the Express approaching a little early. Rainbow Dash was still nowhere to be seen. This was it. Decision time. Was she going to get on the train and hope she'd guessed right? Or stay here and find...something else to do. It was time to make her mind up.

And then it wasn't. Because all of a sudden, appearing once again from nowhere, was a cyan pegasus with a muti-coloured mane and a self-sure grin. The one and only. Scootaloo broke into a wide smile and felt nothing but relief.

Of course she had come. Rainbow Dash wouldn't have let her down! How could she have doubted her?

"Hey, Squirt! Sorry I'm late. Had kind of a crazy morning. It's all cool now though. I'll tell you all about it when we get to the beach."

"Oh, uh, no problem Rainbow Dash!" Some of her words were lost in the noise as the train pulled into the station with a hiss, and the carriage doors were opened. Rainbow Dash made no move toward the train. "So...are we going to get on or...?"

"Huh? Why would we be taking the train?"

"Oh...well...if you want to fly, that's cool too, obviously. I just thought the beach might be too far away if...if youweregoingtocarryme. Or maybe you were going to fly and I can take the train and meet you there. We can do that too. Or..." Scootaloo realised she was babbling. Well, actually, she realised she had been babbling after Dash shoved a hoof into her mouth.

"What are you talking about? Of course we're flying."

Of course they were flying! This was Rainbow Dash. She flew everywhere! Silly Scootaloo. Thinking she'd need to take the train.

Dash seemed to slowly come to some realisation. "Wait. You don't know where the...? Urgh!" She facehoofed. Then, as her hoof came away, a strange, devilishly playful grin appeared on her face. "Hold on, Squirt. This is gonna be somethin' else."

With no warning or fanfare, Rainbow Dash grabbed Scootaloo tightly and shot into the air, straight upwards. Memories of yesterday morning's impromptu flight nearly caused Scootaloo to lose her lunch. Vertically they climbed, rapidly approaching the overcast cloudbase. They penetrated it, still rising, and all was grey for a moment, before fading to a brilliant white. Then they burst forth into a warm, clear blue sky punctuated by the blazing sun and as Rainbow Dash brought them to a hover, Scootaloo saw one of the most amazing sights she'd ever seen.

The Pegasus Beach Party.

The Pegasus Beach Party was a Cloudsdale institution. Originally conceived a few decades prior as a half-day holiday for Equestria's weather workers, it was an autumn reward for a summer well-managed and a break before the tough tasks of winter to come. Since its inception however, it had ballooned into so much more. Now every profession based in Cloudsdale offered its employees at least a half-day on Beach Party day, and pegasi from all walks of life flocked to it from every corner of the country. The party was held above a different venue each year, and the only downside for the hosting town was a day of inclement weather that they were scheduled for anyway.

This year was Ponyville's turn to play host and as its resident weather chief, the task of organising it had fallen to Rainbow Dash. And she had really pulled out all the stops.

The entire upper surface of the huge cloudbase, in an enormous doughnut shape, was sculpted into an approximation of a seaside scene; the massive expanse resembling a circular sandy coastline with surprising fidelity. But that wasn't the most impressive sight. No, that would be the ocean...

At the centre of the cloud mass, encircled by the faux coast, there was a giant lake of sparkling water. Not clouds sculpted to resemble a static ocean scene like most years, but real, actual water! That would have been impressive on its own, but then Dash had gone even better and somehow managed to include a method of generating real waves, radiating circularly from the centre of the lake to all points on the shore surrounding.

It wasn't permanent – clouds couldn't hold such vast amounts of water forever, and even now it would be very gradually soaking away and diffusing into the entire cloudbase, falling over Ponyville below as a light drizzle. The ocean would in theory last until after sunset, and it all had to be gone by tomorrow anyway. And if it started seeping away too fast, there were a couple of big rain clouds hidden nearby to top it up.

Scootaloo tried to take it all in. Most of the beach was already packed with hundreds of ponies. Here, families played together. Over there a beach volleyball tournament was underway. In one section a disc-jockey spun heavy dance music. Near the shore, foals made cloud-castles. A beach-barbecue serving up grilled vegetable-burgers was in full flow. Vendors patrolled the beach selling ice-cream and other refreshing treats. In the ocean some swam and some surfed the waves. And all the while the sound of joy and happiness from so many assaulted her ears, making her giddier than she had been in a long time, as her hero brought her gently to the beach below.

"Wow. Just, wow! This is amazing!"

"Pretty cool, huh kid?"

"I'll say! So what are we gonna do first?"

"Why don't you go find us a good sunny spot near the water. I'll be over in a sec. Fluttershy's around here somewhere and there's just something I gotta show her."

"Oh. Sure, okay!" Scootaloo snapped a quick salute and stalked off in search of a good sunbathing spot. She wasn't going to let Rainbow Dash down.

She picked her way through the throngs of ponies, moving towards the ocean at the centre of the beach. The vast majority of the attendees were pegasi, and she caught sight of a handful of griffons too, but here and there she also saw one or two unicorns and earth ponies, each using various methods of enjoying the sun above the clouds. One earth pony seemed to be using a contraption similar to Tank's flying harness. A unicorn over there was lying on a rug which she was using her own magic to levitate, turning it into a real magic carpet.

A modest Twilight Sparkle had once made casting a spell to allow ponies to walk on clouds sound like a trivial affair. But while the skill was within the reach of most unicorns with enough study and practice, in practical terms very few outside the magically gifted had the free time or energy to devote to learning a spell that was, after all, of little real use in their day-to-day lives. It seemed there were workarounds that were almost as good.

Scootaloo found a perfect spot on a quieter part of the beach, not too far from the water, and lay down on her back – it even felt like sand! How was that possible!? – to wait for Rainbow Dash.

This was awesome! Spending the afternoon at a beach-party with Rainbow Dash. She closed her eyes and daydreamed about all the cool things that they were going to do together. They would play beach volleyball, go surfing, swimming, get some chow from the barbecue, then maybe an ice cream before sitting together and watching the sunset. This was going to be the best day ever.

Thirty minutes later, and it was still going to be the best day ever. Any moment now.

Where is she then, Scootaloo?

Huh?

Rainbow Dash. Your hero? The one who you were planning all these fun things with? Whose time you were trying to monopolise? Where is she?

Hey, you're that weird feeling from yesterday. I don't want you. Go away.

Don't be sad. It's okay to be alone.

I'm not alone! She'll be here any second now.

Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash is not coming back.

Yes she is! We're gonna spend all afternoon together, you'll see. She's...she's gonna look after me like she's my big sister!

Oh, Scootaloo...why would Rainbow Dash, the coolest pony in Equestria, pretend to be sisters with you?

Because...she said–

It's time you stopped pretending, Scootaloo. She's not really your sister. She's not really your friend. You're just her fan and you need to stop bothering her.

We are friends! She invited me to this party.

Look around. She invited everyone. You're not special – she asked you out of courtesy. Since you selfishly insisted on coming, she's asked you to go find a quiet spot on your own and stay out of the way.

But...we're supposed to have fun together...

No, Scootaloo. She doesn't want to have to babysit you all afternoon when she should be having fun with her real friends. She doesn't care about you.

No...She does care about me...

She hasn't spent even five minutes with you since yesterday. She left you behind at Applejack's, and she was late picking you up because she was hoping you wouldn't show. She's been trying to avoid you.

That's...it's not...just go away...

She doesn't want you around, Scootaloo. Take the hint.

Just then, an older pale blue pegasus with a nearly-white mane ambled past. He glanced at her, did a double-take and trotted over.

"Good afternoon there. You must be Scootaloo."

"Uh...yeah. Um. Who are you?"

"My name is Pale Frost. I work at the Cloudsdale Flight School. Rainbow Dash came to speak to me about you. She asked if we would teach you." He smiled kindly.

"Oh. She did?"

"Mmhmm. My staff and I are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. If all goes well, we can get you on the curriculum next week."

"At...Cloudsdale?"

"Yes." The pegasus, Pale Frost, raised an eyebrow quizzically, casting a slightly confused expression upon his face. "But...we'll talk more about it tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your day Scootaloo. It was a pleasure meeting you." He walked on, never quite abandoning that look of vague puzzlement.

Scootaloo just sat in silence. She processed and filtered, until eventually her mind reached but one conclusion.

Rainbow Dash was sending her away.

She doesn't want you around, Scootaloo.

Take the hint.

It had taken Rainbow Dash longer than expected to find Fluttershy – she had a real knack for not being noticed. Her friend had managed to find the quietest part of the beach: a small section that Rainbow had sculpted into a miniature and almost secluded cove not far from a low cliff where young foals played in a series of mock sea-caves.

Once she had found her though, it was worth it. Rainbow Dash watched with warm satisfaction as Fluttershy, lying with her legs tucked under, found her name on the borrowed Chronicle article placed in front of her. A smile appeared, her pupils widened and her eyes glistened. She looked up at Rainbow Dash.

"I'm a...valuable pony?"

Dash brought a hoof to her face in frustration. "Ugh. No, Fluttershy, you don't get it." Fluttershy's smile fell a little and she looked away. Of course she wasn't. It had been too good to be true.

Rainbow Dash brought her hoof down and tapped the line on the newspaper. She looked into Fluttershy's eyes.

"You're the most valuable pony." Dash smiled. Then Fluttershy positively beamed. And for a moment, all was right with the world.

"Ah, Rainbow Dash." Pale Frost's voice approached from somewhere behind. "And Fluttershy too. It's wonderful to see you again."

Fluttershy, caught off guard, managed an automatic "Oh, Principal Frost?" She cast a wary glance at Rainbow Dash.

"I'm not your principal anymore, Fluttershy. You may call me Pale if you wish," he said warmly.

"Hey, Viper. What's up?" Rainbow Dash smirked, without looking round.

Fluttershy couldn't contain a small gasp. She looked nervously from Dash, to Frost. Then Frost just chuckled.

"Indeed," he smiled wryly before continuing, "It seems I ran into your friend, Scootaloo, over yonder. She seemed a little...out-of-sorts?"

"Oh nuts! I didn't tell her yet. I'd better go. Oh, here by the way," Dash snatched up the article from in front of where Fluttershy lay and, for a moment, Fluttershy's smile drooped. "Thanks for the loan. I don't need it anymore."

Pale Frost looked at the old newspaper article. Then looked back to Rainbow Dash, and finally to Fluttershy. "Neither do I, Rainbow Dash." He took the article and set it once more in front of the yellow pegasus. "Perhaps you would like to keep it?" Fluttershy's smile returned in full force, but he didn't wait for a reply. "Enjoy your day, you two." And with that he trotted off into the crowd.

"Long story," was all Rainbow said to Fluttershy after he had left. She looked back at her friend. "You sure you don't wanna come hang out with me and Scoots?"

But Fluttershy was quite obviously content where she was. She looked perfectly comfortable basking calmly in the pleasant sunlight, kept company by a couple of ducks and a toucan that had followed her up from her cottage. She gave the slightest shake of her head, but her smile never left. "Maybe later?"

"Sure thing. See ya later!" Dash called, galloping off in Scootaloo's direction.

It had been nearly an hour.

Sat down and slumped, Scootaloo had been going over her last conversation with Rainbow Dash, trying to silence that other feeling in her head. It was a fight she was losing.

Had Rainbow Dash really said she was going to come over? Had she even said she was going to spend any time at all with her at the party? On any occasion? It was difficult to remember. Every time Rainbow Dash spoke to her she got so excited. Could it be that all this time she'd just been hearing what she wanted to hear? Had Rainbow really hinted that she should just stay out of the way all afternoon?

She supposed it was possible.

The voice in her head readied another crippling barb, eager to claim new territory in the battle for her confidence.

Then she went blind.

"Guess who?"

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo spun instantly, Dash's hooves falling away from her eyes. She very very nearly hugged her but, with some vestige of self control heretofore unknown, she managed to restrain herself.

Rainbow Dash was a cool pony. She had to play it cool too. Hugs were definitely not cool.

"The one and only, kid." Rainbow's grin faded a little, and for a second she looked uncertain, like she had been about to say something else.

"Is...there something wrong?" She almost added with me to the end of that question, but chickened out.

Rainbow found her confident grin again. "Nah. Nothin' that can't wait till later, Squirt. So, whatcha wanna–"

"Hey Rainbow Crash!"

The rude interruption was punctuated by the sudden approach of a group of three boisterous, loud-mouthed pegasi. Scootaloo didn't recognise them from Ponyville, but she knew bullies when she saw them. And they had just insulted her hero. Nay, her sister! Well, maybe...but her friend, at least. Right?

Regardless, they had insulted Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo wasn't going to stand for it.

She stood.

Placing herself squarely between Rainbow Dash and the three huge boys, she locked eyes with the one she believed had spoken – a grey stallion with blue eyes – and glared at him.

"Hey! That's not how you talk to her!"

As one, and as though noticing her for the first time, the three bullies looked down at her with varying degrees of shock. Pressing her advantage – and her luck – Scootaloo continued, "You better say you're sorry, or you're gonna have to deal with me!"

For a long while, no-one said anything. The three stallions just stood looking at Scootaloo, while she glared back at them. Then the largest of the group, an orange stallion with three basketballs adorning his flank, looked up and over her to Rainbow Dash behind.

"Whoa, Dash. Who's the firecracker?"

Scootaloo hated being ignored.

"I'm Scootaloo, and I'm Rainbow Dash's...I'm..." The confidence that had returned with Rainbow Dash wavered slightly, but encouraged her to press on. To go through with it. To just say it. Rainbow would be proud of her if she said it. She would back her up. Say it. "Rainbow Dash is my big sister!"

Awkward silence.

Then finally the grey stallion spoke, again over Scootaloo's head. "You have a sister?"

Dash stepped up close beside Scootaloo, and gave her a playful noogie with a forehoof. Losing none of her usual composure, she said, "Nah, we're not related. This here's just my little buddy, right Squirt?"

Scootaloo's heart turned to lead and sank to the pit of her stomach. Why would Rainbow Dash want to pretend to be sisters with you? She wouldn't. Of course she wouldn't. It had all been a silly fantasy hadn't it? Why had she opened her mouth? But she didn't have time for introspection, she was trapped in the here and now. She had to try and salvage something quickly...

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry Rainbow Dash...I meant to say...uh..." Desperately she floundered for another word. One that maybe sounded a bit like 'sister' but actually meant 'you know, not really sisters, of course not, but maybe, hopefully still friends after all?'

She came up empty, and the incomplete sentence hung in the air for a long moment. Scootaloo desperately wanted to stick her head in the ground – which she could have done, given that the ground was currently clouds – and never come out. Then Rainbow Dash swept in to save the day once again.

"Don't worry about it, kid. Everypony makes mistakes. Well, almost everypony! It's cool though," Rainbow Dash indicated the three pegasi standing before them. "I know these guys. They're okay."

The grey stallion spoke up again. "Yeah, sorry kid. We're just giving Rainbow a hard time y'know? We actually just came over to say congratulations on throwing the best Beach Party in years..."

"Congratulations by the way." The third, and smallest member of the trio finally piped up.

"Yeah. We didn't mean nothin' by it."

"That's cool, guys. No worries, right Scoots?"

But Scootaloo was fighting her mind again.

A mistake. There you have it, in her own words. You made a mistake. Now will you leave her alone?

From somewhere very distant, Rainbow Dash told the trio of pegasi to enjoy the party. Casual waves might have been exchanged, and the three lads ambled off, receding into the background.

Scootaloo gazed intently at nothing directly beneath her, missing the brief concerned glance given to her by Rainbow. She fought off the sudden urge to cry and instead waited mutely for the awkward conversation in her immediate future.

"Ha! Nice one kid. That took some guts. Knew you had it in you. C'mon, whaddya say to some hay fries?"

What? That was it? Rainbow Dash wasn't mad? She wasn't angry that Scootaloo had just tried to fake being her sister? Wasn't going to insist that she never speak to her again?

Apparently not, because she was already walking off in the direction of the barbecue. A quick impatient glance backward told her that she was expecting Scootaloo to follow her, and she did eagerly.

Rainbow Dash was just the best!

Rainbow Dash couldn't figure it out. Viper had been right, Scootaloo was acting all out of sorts. She was super happy and cheery one minute, then suddenly moribund and introverted the next. On top of that she was now only making jilted, awkward conversation, and as they walked on together it became more and more forced – which only seemed to worsen the young filly's mood.

It didn't make sense. Scootaloo was at the Pegasus Beach Party with Rainbow Dash – why wasn't she totally thrilled?

Arriving in the vicinity of the barbecue, she tossed her little buddy a few bits and sent her in the direction of the grill with instructions to return with food. Oddly enough, telling her to go do something seemed to perk her up. Dash watched as Scootaloo joined the queue of hungry ponies, and mused on the best way to try and get her out of whatever funk she was in.

Her concentration didn't last, shattered as it was by a familiar voice from behind.

"Well, if it isn't Rainbow Dash."

Spitfire...

Dash whirled on the spot to find not one but three off-duty Wonderbolts, in the form of Spitfire, Soarin and Fleet Foot, standing casually before her.

"Nice job, Dash," Spitfire continued, "You've really put together something neat here."

"Oh, this? Just something I threw together at the last minute. No big deal. Hope you're enjoying yourselves though."

"Oh, we just arrived. Training ran long thanks to a...mishap." She gave a wry glance in Soarin's direction, but his attention was elsewhere and it went largely to waste. She rolled her eyes and looked back at Rainbow.

"Well, good to see you Rainbow Dash. We'll catch–"

"SPITFIRE!"

Soarin's panicked yell caused the Wonderbolt leader to spin with the speed of a lightning strike, ears perked and eyes immediately scanning the world for danger.

What she saw instead was Soarin, mouth agape, pointing a foreleg excitedly at the ongoing volleyball tournament nearby.

"Beach volleyball!"

Fleet Foot facehoofed, and Dash was sure she caught a low groan of "Every time..."

Spitfire made a good show of pretending to be aggravated, but she couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from curling up into a small grin. The itch of competition.

"Wanna show 'em what Team Wonderbolt can do, Soarin?"

Soarin nodded in rapid fervour, happily playing the benign fool.

"Well, why don't we show 'em what we got?"

"Uh...Spitfire?" Fleet Foot broke in, using a hoof to deliberately count one, two, three Wonderbolts. "We're one short."

"I'll go get Rapid Fire!" cried Soarin with exaggerated excitement. But before he could launch into the air Spitfire stopped him.

"You'll do no such thing, Soarin! Rapid Fire is here with his family, and we all agreed not to bother them. Right?"

Soarin slouched, pantomime enthusiasm fading to real disappointment. He muttered a quiet "Yeah..." and gave a low nod.

Spitfire turned back to Rainbow Dash, as though remembering she was there, and looked her up and down.

"So, Rookie? What do you say? Wanna help us prove that the Wonderbolts are the best volleyballers in the sky?"

An invitation from Spitfire to play volleyball as part of a Wonderbolt team? Oh...my...gosh! Rainbow Dash couldn't say no to that!

So she said yes.

When she looked back later, she regretted it. But even the most strong willed of ponies get caught up in the moment sometimes, and as Soarin's eyes lit up with renewed hope and she was willingly shepherded over to the courts by three of her lifetime heroes, that's exactly what happened to Rainbow Dash.

Scootaloo paid the requisite number of bits to the burly pegasus behind the oversized grill, and gingerly collected the brown paper bag offered to her in exchange. Treating it like precious cargo she walked carefully to where she'd left Rainbow Dash.

She was so lucky. Rainbow Dash had said she could order whatever she liked, but when she found out that she'd ordered the same thing as Rainbow herself wanted – because how could that not be the best thing on the menu? – she was sure to be impressed! Then they'd eat together and finally get this party started on the right hoof. As friends. Not sisters maybe, but friends.

Rainbow Dash wasn't where she left her. Scootaloo looked around for a few minutes, thinking maybe she'd lost her in the thin crowd. But she hadn't. Rainbow Dash was gone.

Again.

She stood still, feeling numb, hardly blinking. Then out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of that unmistakable mane, somewhere a little distance away, beyond where a large crowd was beginning to form.

Being small she was just about able to pick her way to the front where she saw her friend – if...that's what she was – on one of the volleyball courts smiling and laughing in the midst of a match. She was on a team with three other pegasi all wearing green bibs and competitive grins, facing off against opponents garbed in red. Even watching for a few moments, and without really knowing the rules, it was clear that the green team was dominating. Scootaloo considered trying to call out to Rainbow Dash, but even in the moments since she'd arrived the throng had grown hugely and their cheers were deafening. There was no way anyone was going to hear her yelling. Likewise there was no way Rainbow Dash would notice her in the crowd.

Dejected, Scootaloo turned and picked her way back out of the mass of ponies. Maybe she should wait until Rainbow Dash had finished...

She doesn't want to have to babysit you all afternoon when she should be having fun with her real friends.

The feeling returned once more. But instead of surging forward with newfound potency, it crept insidiously, armed now with irrefutable fact:

It recalled that Rainbow had left her behind at Applejack's the previous day.

It recounted how she had left her again as soon as they'd gotten here.

It stated that Rainbow thought it was a 'mistake' to call her a sister.

It reminded her that she wanted to send her away to Cloudsdale.

It noted that Dash had again abandoned her as soon as her back was turned.

Then it asked a simple question: why? Why would Rainbow Dash go to such lengths to avoid her? And as the young filly looked back at the crowd, beyond which her former hero was having so much fun without her, she quietly accepted the explanation that the voice had tried to force on her earlier.

She's not really my friend. I'm just her fan...

A tear escaped down Scootaloo's cheek.

...and I need to stop bothering her.

She hung her head, but didn't even notice the bag of food slip from her mouth as she trudged away from the scene. She just wanted to be alone, like Rainbow Dash wanted, and instinctively began to wander towards the least populated area of the shore.

Chapter 4: Descent

Chapter 4: Descent

This was the most wonderful beach party ever.

Fluttershy felt more relaxed than she had in a long while. She lay splayed in the small cove, happily basking by the water's edge and listening to the faint lapping of the waves. The warmth of the autumn sun was wonderful as it dried her coat and feathers after her peaceful dip in the ocean. From behind closed eyes she let out a contented sigh and gave her legs a satisfying stretch.

Something struck her outstretched hindleg, and a moment later there was a muffled "Oof!" Snapping to alertness she gathered herself, stood and spun.

What she found was Scootaloo face down in the cloud, limbs poking every which-way as though she had just tripped. Which of course she had.

Oddly, she seemed in no hurry to get back to her hooves. She just slumped and feebly tried to organise her legs underneath her, but with no real expectation that her efforts would result in her being able to stand again.

It was difficult to tell with her face buried in the cloud, but Fluttershy thought she heard a sniffle from the poor filly.

"Are you okay?" She reached out a foreleg and gently pulled the orange pegasus back upright. Scootaloo flopped onto her haunches and looked up, only now seeming to recognise Fluttershy.

She looked like she'd been crying.

"Oh...uh...sorry Fluttershy. Guess I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Oh, goodness. What's wrong? Has something happened? Why aren't you with Rainbow Dash?"

Scootaloo looked away from Fluttershy's gaze. She mumbled, "I...don't think we're friends anymore." She blinked, a fresh tear streaming down each cheek, then looked back at Fluttershy. "Um...Fluttershy? Could you maybe take me back to Ponyville, please?"

Fluttershy gave a small start, but in the end simply nodded. Scootaloo clearly wasn't in the mood to talk, and she didn't want to upset her further. Gently, she hugged the small filly about the belly with her forelegs and took to the air. She made a quick aerial circle before diving headlong into the clouds.

White and fluffy quickly turned to grey and soggy, and a moment later Fluttershy and Scootaloo emerged from the underside of the cloud mass above Ponyville, and descended calmly to the ground. The drizzle was still falling and by the time they reached the earth their coats were uncomfortably damp and cold.

Fluttershy released Scootaloo, who began to amble off in no particular direction.

"Wait. Don't you want to talk about it?" she pleaded.

But Scootaloo, without looking back, gave a brief, low shake of her head and carried on walking away.

Fluttershy frowned, natural concern taking over. Scootaloo was upset, and as one of her friends she was going to do her best to help.

With new resolve and a sense of purpose Fluttershy took wing and climbed vertically, back towards the beach party high above.

She needed to find Rainbow Dash.

Tears in her eyes, head hung low, Scootaloo walked with neither direction nor destination in mind. It was only after several minutes that she realised she had unconsciously begun to wander towards the clubhouse, but when she eventually arrived she found it empty of all her friends. Well, all but one. Her eyes inevitably came to rest on her hoof-made wooden model of Rainbow Dash, resting in its usual place atop a table along one wall, its smile a mockery of her current mood. She sat in the gloom staring at it for far too long until she was finally able to bring herself to pick it up gingerly. She forced herself to turn it over.

Carved into the belly of the figure was everything that Rainbow Dash had ever meant to her. Everything Scootaloo had ever wanted summed up in a little wooden model and four small words.

My Hero
Friend
Sister

She chastised herself. When she'd added friend, that had been presumptuous enough, but then she'd later gone and included 'sister' too. It was a silly, foalish notion even at the time. But she had done it anyway, back when she was still giddy following their camping trip to Windsome Falls.

But Rainbow Dash wasn't her sister. Never would be. It was time to stop pretending.

Taking up her small carving blade in her teeth, she diligently carved a single line through all of the words which no longer applied, and probably never had.

'Sister' went first. 'Friend' followed after only a moment's pause. She hesitated at 'Hero.' That was still okay, right?

She doesn't want you around Scootaloo. Take the hint.

In the end, only the word 'My' escaped unscathed. Desperately, she searched her thoughts for another word she could add to replace the ones taken from her. A word that would approximate her current relationship with Rainbow Dash. A word that would mean she could, in some way, keep her.

Any word.

Nothing. She was able to salvage nothing.

She carefully replaced the figurine and let out a long, shaky breath.

For all intents and purposes, Rainbow Dash was gone.

She eventually found that she couldn't remain any longer. The clubhouse was supposed to be a happy place. She couldn't be miserable here. Gathering herself as best she could she slowly tramped outside, once again with no goal in mind.

She gradually found herself returning to Ponyville. With barely enough energy to pick her legs up, her hooves scuffed the damp earth. Drizzle soaked her coat and vitality drained from her as though the rain were simply washing it away.

She walked slower and slower through the town for goodness knew how long, until finally it occurred to her in some corner of her numb mind that she didn't actually have anywhere to go.

So she stopped. And sat. And was still.

And cried.

She didn't register the approach of the two ponies until one of them spoke.

"Well, if it isn't one of the blank-flanks!" the voice taunted.

Oh, please. Not now.

A short glance up was all that Scootaloo could muster before her head drooped again. She caught a brief glimpse of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in coats and umbrella-saddles. Then she saw only the ground in front of her. She wished she could avoid hearing them too.

"Why is she, like, sat there in a puddle?"

"Yeah? Aren't you supposed to be up there? Or are flightless birds not allowed?" Diamond Tiara jabbed a hoof at the cloud high above. Scootaloo didn't notice. "Or maybe your hero 'Rainbow Dash' just forgot all about you?"

"Did you hear about when she was telling everypony that Rainbow Dash was practically her family or something? So. Funny."

"Ha! What a joke!" Diamond Tiara leaned in close to Scootaloo and lowered her voice. "You don't have a family..."

There was a quiet intake of breath and a nervous glance from Silver Spoon that went unnoticed by all.

Scootaloo just sat still, hardly breathing. Against her wishes a mutinous tear escaped. How was it that bullies always knew the worst thing to say, at the worst possible moment? On another day, in another time, she could handle these two. She would give as good as she got and send them packing.

Just...not today. Not now.

Please.

"Hey! Leave her alone!"

It wasn't the voice of Rainbow Dash, but Scootaloo found the strength to glance up briefly, only to see a less-than-inspiring sight.

A tall stack of five large tubs of ice-cream in various flavours was currently walking towards her, supported as it was by two stubby purple legs.

The ice-cream stack set itself down beside her, and from behind it emerged Spike, who stood between her and her two antagonists. "Can't you see she's upset?"

"Well, duh. Of course she's upset. She's flightless, clueless, and talentless. I'd be mortified if I didn't have a talent. As it is," Diamond Tiara finished snootily, "I don't think I'll ever be unhappy again."

"Because you have a talent?" asked Spike in a low voice.

"Mmhmm." Diamond Tiara nodded smugly.

"Well, that's swell Diamond Tiara. I'm happy for you, Diamond Tiara. Hey, that's a nice diamond tiara, Diamond Tiara. And, wow, your cutie mark sure looks a lot like a diamond tiara. Just remind me...what is your special talent Diamond Tiara? It's not...wearing a diamond tiara is it?"

The affronted look offered by Diamond Tiara was worth its weight in...well, diamonds. She turned her nose up and in a haughty voice ordered her companion to accompany her to her father's estate where they would partake in blah blah blah.

Silver Spoon never quite lost the embarrassed look on her face as she walked away, and when she was sure Diamond Tiara wasn't looking, she shot an apologetic glance back at Scootaloo. It too, went unnoticed.

Spike let out a snort, a wisp of smoke escaping his nostrils. He muttered something under his breath too low for Scootaloo to hear, then spoke to her.

"Are you okay?"

Scootaloo couldn't find the strength to respond with more than a vaguely affirmative grunt. It was unconvincing even to her own ears.

"Come on," Spike said, picking up the ice-cream. "Let's get you inside. I got most of your class in the library anyhow. There's room for one more."

Scootaloo managed to get to her hooves and, for lack of anywhere better to go, followed Spike towards the Ponyville Library. A vaguely confused hum from her was all that Spike needed to launch into self-involved explanation.

"See, I'm doing lots of very serious research into how ponies look at dragons. And that just happens to mean I gotta watch every movie ponies have made about dragons. I want to see heroic and noble dragons helping ponies on epic adventures, fighting evil side by side and stuff." He paused a moment, and when he carried on his voice carried a genuinely melancholic tone that even Spike himself seemed caught off guard by. "So far all we do is rampage, kidnap, and lay waste to small villages. We're pretty much the bad guys."

There was another thoughtful pause before Spike found his pep again. "Anyway, when I heard today was going to be a wash-out I thought it was the perfect day to start. I invited Snips and Snails to be my research assistants and I guess word must have spread because now most of the school is there. Helping me. With the research."

Scootaloo wasn't sure how long it had taken but all of a sudden they were at the door of the library. In fact she almost walked right into it before Spike got there first and allowed her inside, improbably able to balance five huge ice-cream tubs and operate a door simultaneously.

Even now, projected onto a large foldaway screen in the main room, a stop-motion dragon was terrorising a movie-set designed to look vaguely reminiscent of Manehatten. Arrayed around the screen, watching with rapt fascination, were most of the foals from Scootaloo's class. She saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Twist, Snips, Snails, Peachy Pie and Featherweight among them. Being around so many of her friends should have been enough to cheer her up.

It wasn't.

Sweetie Belle was the first of the kids to notice Scootaloo's arrival and, addressing her in a stage whisper, efficiently broke down Spike's lofty research project and offered a simpler explanation.

"Scootaloo! Over here! Spike's letting us watch monster movies and giving us ice-cream!"

It didn't take long to find her.

Fluttershy had assumed that Rainbow Dash would be scouring the beach looking for Scootaloo, frantic and worried sick.

But no.

She was at the centre of the largest crowd on the beach, playing a game of volleyball. Laughing, shouting and wearing her trademark grin, she was clearly enjoying herself without a care in the world. Certainly without a care for poor, crying Scootaloo.

It made Fluttershy angry.

Carefully navigating the crowd – and offering sincere apologies where appropriate – she eventually found herself at the edge of the court with the game in full flow. Rainbow's opponents – a team wearing grey bibs – were putting up a fierce fight. Each point was hotly contested and the intensity of the match was gradually increasing.

With anger and fierce determination serving to steel her resolve, Fluttershy prepared to get Rainbow's attention the only way she could. Gathering her courage she boldly stepped right onto the court, drawing a deep breath into her lungs. This was an emergency after all...

"Um, excuse me? Do you think I could talk to Rainbow Dash for a second?"

She hadn't expected everything to just stop.

As one, the eight players on the court turned to face Fluttershy, all with expressions of confusion and mild concern. Fluttershy suddenly felt self conscious about being looked at by so many, and that was exacerbated when she realised that the entire crowd had fallen deathly silent and were also looking at her in the same curious manner. The ball bounced somewhere, completely forgotten.

Only the referee seemed unfazed, and with an air of inflated self-importance he bellowed, "Hey, get that pony off the court! Replay the point!"

Every pair of eyes on the court and in the crowd turned and glared daggers at him. He shrank back, suitably cowed.

Rainbow Dash stepped forward and began in a lighthearted tone, "Hey Fluttershy. It's great that you're here to cheer me on and all, but you probably shouldn't just walk onto the court in the middle of a game."

"Rainbow Dash, what happened? Why is Scootaloo so upset?"

"Upset? What are you talking about? She's fine. We're getting along great."

Fluttershy puffed out her cheeks. "Then why is she wandering around Ponyville right now, crying and thinking you don't like her?" That had come out slightly more angrily than she meant. Yes, she was annoyed at Rainbow for being so inconsiderate, but at the same time she knew she would never have done it on purpose.

"Ponyville? What? She's right over..." by the grill? Where I left her. "Time out everypony!" called Dash, which seemed to break the spell. All of the contestants and spectators that had been staring suddenly found themselves animated once more and they began to talk amongst themselves. Rainbow took Fluttershy to one side.

Fluttershy explained what had happened, and for a moment Rainbow looked like she was going to be sick. Then, a little too quickly to be natural she put on a smile. "No biggie. I'll fix it." She turned back to her teammates. "Spitfire, sorry about this. I gotta bail. Something's come up."

"Family emergency?" said the Wonderbolt leader with a note of genuine concern.

"Uh...No. But I gotta take care of something."

"But, Rainbow Dash," pleaded Soarin, "if you leave now, we forfeit!"

From behind Fleet Foot gave him a harsh look.

"Soarin..." began Spitfire in a low warning tone.

But the referee chose this moment to stick his arrogant muzzle in again. "I'm afraid he's correct. You need a full team. If Rainbow Dash leaves you will forfeit the tournament."

"Oh, I'm not Rainbow Dash anymore. She is!" said Dash without missing a beat, pulling off her green bib and pulling it unceremoniously over Fluttershy's head.

"What!?"

"Congratulations Fluttershy, you're the new Rainbow Dash and a temporary Wonderbolt. Enjoy the rest of the game!" Dash leaned in a little closer and said in a low voice, "Make me proud."

Then Dash was gone in a multi-hued blur. She soared upwards, arched gracefully overhead, and then finally plunged through the clouds at speed, kicking up small wisps of vapour at her entry point. The crowd looked on, stunned, unsure as to what had just happened.

"Well then, 'Rainbow Dash'," Spitfire greeted Fluttershy with a warm smile and a wink. "You ready?"

"Hey! You can't just change a team member half-way through the final!" the referee blustered. "You...you're all disqualified!"

"Oh, put a sock in it, Ref!" called a voice from the other end of the court. The captain of the opposite team was spinning the volleyball on his hoof. "This is a party. We're supposed to be here to have fun, so why don't you butt out and just let us play?"

Without waiting for a response, he served the ball.

From what Fluttershy had said, Rainbow assumed that she would find Scootaloo wandering the streets, but no. After an hour of fruitless searching she was still nowhere to be found.

It took her until her third pass over Mane Street to finally remember that clubhouse she was always in. Of course! It was so obvious that's where she would be. Alright, she was gonna fix this once and for all.

She made a sharp turn and headed for the farm.

A minute later Rainbow Dash stood at the door of the small clubhouse and peered inside. The grey sky cast the interior into faded gloom, and she heard only the sound of the fine rain on the roof. Rainbow stepped in, looking around.

"Scoots? Scootaloo? I know you're in here."

She searched the clubhouse top to bottom but found no sign of her quarry. She cursed under her breath as she realised she had exhausted her one good idea without reward.

She wouldn't give up though. She turned toward the door ready to begin her search over...and caught a glimpse of colour in the half-light.

Perched on a low table along one wall was a vaguely pony-shaped collection of bits of wood, painted a very familiar shade of cyan. Along the back of the neck several drinking straws of different colours approximated a mane, two purple circles were the eyes, and a cocky drawn-on smile completed the illusion.

It was unmistakably an effigy of Rainbow Dash herself.

In other circumstances, at another time, Rainbow Dash would have found this cute or funny. As it was, looking at the model she felt an icy lump in her stomach. She approached the figurine tentatively and picked it up, turning it this way and that. It was inexpertly made, but looking closely there were fine details here and there that showed that it was a labour of love and care. Dash couldn't help but be a little touched.

As she turned it upside down to examine the belly, the icy lump grew.

Carefully carved into the wooden underside of the model were several words:

My Hero
Friend
Sister

Rainbow's jaw hung open, her eyes stuck on the word Sister. Squirt had actually wanted to be a real sister to her. And not only had Dash ruined that illusion, she'd clearly ruined far more. Panic started to creep. What if this was something she couldn't undo? What if Squirt hated her? How was she supposed to fix it?

No. She took a breath and forced panic from her mind. She wasn't just going to give up on her little buddy. And luckily for her she had friends who knew exactly how to be big sisters.

Taking to the air she made a beeline for Sugarcube Corner.

She needed advice, quick.

Chapter 5: Family

Chapter 5: Family

Even after the lunchtime rush, trade in the Corner had been surprisingly steady. The drizzle had kept customers coming in to get out of the damp, and once they were in they inevitably wanted something tasty.

Applejack and Rarity had proved an excellent team running the bakery over this day and the last. By unspoken agreement Applejack had donned a chef's hat and handled most of the food preparation while Rarity dealt largely with the customers. But Rarity was no slouch in the kitchen and Applejack had a good way with folks, so when either one got too busy the other could step up to help out. It worked flawlessly.

There had almost been a bone of contention the previous day when Rarity had suggested to Applejack that she make up a batch of her own-brand apple turnovers. Applejack had thought it was a great idea, but quickly became irked when Rarity put her carefully made treats on the counter-top into a dish labelled 'free samples'.

That sense of annoyance had lasted only as long as the next customer to come in.

"Ooh, what are these?"

"Oh these are new. They're very popular, do try one."

"Wow, these are fantastic!"

"Aren't they just divine? I'm afraid we've run out for today, but you know there's a stall in the marketplace every Wednesday that sells them. And more besides."

In the first hour since the free samples had gone out, Rarity had drummed up more business for Applejack's market stand than she'd have seen in two weeks. All without hurting the Cakes' own interests. She was good.

Of course, Applejack wasn't going to take that lying down. She'd excused herself from the shop and returned ten minutes later with a series of sketches borrowed from Carousel Boutique. Final designs from Rarity's newest line-up. To Rarity's consternation Applejack hung them along one wall and then happened to mention to the next pony who walked in how good they might look in one. The quality of Rarity's work made it difficult not to agree and by the time the customer had left she had an appointment for a fitting.

As Rarity might have said, it was 'on', and over the course of the next day and a half the two friends had each tried to promote the most interest for the other's business with increasing fervour.

So when Rainbow Dash tripped the bell above the shop door half an hour before closing time, it shouldn't really have come as a shock that she was met with twin shouts of,

"Try the fritters!" and

"Ya need a pretty dress!"

Rainbow Dash was beginning to regret coming here for advice.

Rarity and Applejack took a moment to recognise Rainbow Dash, and then as it dawned on them what they'd both just done they looked at each other and shared a laugh.

"Rainbow, darling, come in. Sorry about that, but do try one of the free samples."

Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes. She'd have to concede this one. There was no way Rainbow was going to be talked into a dress.

But Rainbow wasn't in the mood to eat either.

"Guys? Have you seen Scootaloo anywhere?"

Her two friends exchanged a glance.

"Nope. Didn't you take her to the party up there?"

"Rainbow, darling what's wrong? You look positively frazzled."

"Nothing. I'm fine. It's just..."

The worried looks from her two friends all but forced her to continue. She took a breath.

"Okay, Scootaloo wants to think she's my sister. I told her she wasn't, and I think I hurt her feelings. Now I can't find her to tell her that it's okay and we're still cool is all."

"Rainbow Dash!" began Rarity, mortified. "Why ever would you say such a thing?"

Dash hadn't quite expected that reaction. "Uh...because it's true? We're not related, Rare."

"But you're the closest thing to family she has. And you're so wonderful together. Why would you let a little thing like the fact you had different parents get in the way of that?"

"A little thing? It's a huge thing! I'm not real-life sister material. Look at me! I'm reckless. I’m irresponsible. I kick dragons in the face and smash into rock-towers for no good reason! I can't...I can't even teach her how to fly," Dash said through gritted teeth, a tear of frustration threatening to coalesce in her eye. "I'm not really her sister. I'm just...not."

A brief pause followed. Then Applejack turned to Rarity and whispered something to her, too quiet for Dash to hear. In response Rarity nodded solemnly and Applejack turned back to face Rainbow.

"Hmm. I can understand you not wantin' her for a sister. You're gonna be a Wonderbolt someday, right? Guess also having to be a big sister to Scootaloo would be too much of a distraction," said Applejack, gaze trained upwards as though lost in thought, but stepping out from behind the counter and slowly walking towards Rainbow.

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"And since she can't fly that'd probably just cramp your style too, huh?"

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash retorted angrily. "That's got nothing to–!"

"And she's only one pony, after all. Y'all still got an entire town you can be a role model for. Plenty more fans where she came from." She was almost next to her now.

"Applejack! Stop it!" warned Rainbow. She'd never hit one of her friends before, but the farmpony was coming dangerously close to getting a smack across the chops. She was muzzle to muzzle with her now.

"I suppose you don't really need her around. I can't think of a single reason why you'd want to go out of your way for her."

"BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT HER!" Rainbow screamed. She realised that she'd raised one of her forehooves, drawing it back as if prepared to strike.

Applejack seemed unfazed. Smiling and locking her gaze, she took a half-step back to give Rainbow some space.

"That's all it takes to be family, sugarcube," she said softly.

Rainbow stopped, stunned. She slowly lowered her hoof back to the floor. A quiet moment passed.

"Y'know Scootaloo ain't got any family of her own in Ponyville," continued Applejack. "That's why she reached out to ya. Everypony wants someone to care about 'em once in awhile. And she didn't pick you because you're the best flyer in Equestria..."

Dash quirked an eyebrow. "What? Of course she did!"

"Nope. She picked you because you're Rainbow Dash. That ain't quite the same thing."

Now Rarity advanced, stepping out from behind the counter towards Dash.

"Darling, nobody is saying that being a sister is easy. And nopony would blame you if you decided you couldn't be a sister to her. It would just stay between the three of us." A solemn nod from Applejack, but Rarity didn’t pause. "But that would be such a tragedy because, take it from me, having a sister can be the best thing in the world. For both of you." She gave Applejack a quick sidelong glance.

"But...it’s not like I can just go up to her and say 'hey Scoots, guess what, we're sisters all of a sudden!'"

"Why ever not? Why does it need to be more complicated than that? Just tell her you can be her family, and as far as everyone who matters is concerned, you will be."

Dash stood looking at the floor. It was a scary thought, and there wouldn't be any turning back. Even she knew that being a sister was something you could never turn off.

Suddenly Applejack sniffed the air. Her eyes went wide and she cried out, "The muffins!" She made a beeline for the kitchen, leaving Rarity tittering behind her hoof.

Rainbow's gaze followed Applejack into the kitchen, then she looked at Rarity. "What was that whispering about anyway?" she asked, curiosity suddenly overpowering her thought process.

"Hmm? Oh, just now you mean? Well..." Rarity though a moment. There really wasn't any harm was there? It had turned out for the best after all. "Darling, we're your friends and we care about you very much. But that conversation with Applejack could have gone quite differently."

"I'll say. I nearly clobbered her!"

Rarity just smiled a knowing smile. "No, darling, you didn't. You weren't even close. But you nearly ended up not talking to her for a very long time. The whispering was her making me promise that if it went...'south' so to speak, that I would try and talk to you on her behalf.

"We only want what's best for you, Rainbow. Applejack thought you needed a bit of a nudge, but she'd never want to lose you as a friend."

"A nudge? Kick up the rump is more like it!" called Applejack from the kitchen, apparently quite aware of the conversation going on in her absence. She re-emerged into the bakery a moment later and stood confidently at Rarity's side. "You're our family too, RD. Whether ya like it or not."

"Well...yeah, that's all well and good," Rainbow began absently, seeming to wrestle her mind to some sort of decision. She turned her attention to Applejack. "But you still said some pretty mean things to me so...uh...you're gonna bake me a cake. Yeah, a big apology cake. Got it?"

"Uh..." Applejack's initial response was one of confusion. She didn't have a chance to follow it up with anything else before Rainbow cut in again.

"Good! Now I gotta go find my flight goggles." And without any further warning, Rainbow took to the air and zoomed out of the shop into the early evening sky.

A smile played across Rarity's lips while Applejack's head drooped.

"Darn. I really thought she was gonna give it a shot."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"That. I thought we'd got through to her, but I guess not."

"Why of course we did."

Applejack fixed Rarity's gaze, and frowned a suspicious frown. "You seem awful sure of that."

"Applejack," Rarity laughed. "You don't really think that cake you're about to bake is for her, do you?"

Realisation dawned and Applejack's countenance brightened considerably. She gave a little grin. "Huh. Guess I'd better get started then."

The waterfall looked exactly the same. Notwithstanding that she was now viewing it in daylight as opposed to the dead of night.

Rainbow Dash hovered near to the top of the falls and regarded the cascade. This was where it had really started.

Guided only by the moonlight Rainbow Dash flitted furiously through the trees, a sickening lump growing in her gut. She thought she heard noise and brought herself to a halt in mid air, ears swivelling, straining to listen for the sound again.

And there it was. Oh so faint, like the ghost of a voice carried on the night wind.

"Is anyone out there?"

Too quiet to pinpoint, but it sounded like it had come from near the river. Moving again, quicker now, Rainbow Dash hurtled through the forest.

A sickening crack pierced the cool air.

"HEEEEELP!"

A loud splash. It was the river. She was close now. The trees thinning. Going faster. She saw the gorge, soaring over the fast-moving water at the point where it cascaded over the cliff to the plain below. Frantically she scanned the river upstream, searching. Hoping.

There. The small orange filly trapped in the powerful current, swept far too quickly towards the waterfall. Wailing in fear. Now about to go over beyond the point of no return, paddling furiously against the current to no avail.

Rainbow Dash dove, losing height as quickly as she dared, then arced upwards just as the helpless foal crested the falls and began to plummet. With perfect timing she wrapped her hooves around the young pony and continued to climb.

"I gotcha!"

"Rainbow Dash? Is that you? Thank you, thank you!"

Circling, she brought them safely to the ground, and then took a step back.

"What were you doing out here in the middle of the night?!"

And Scootaloo had poured her heart out while Rainbow had listened. She had heard the young filly say that she wanted Rainbow Dash to take her under her wing and teach her how to fly so she could be just like her. Hah! No problem, right?.

Except now, with the memory replaying in her mind, she finally realised that wasn’t what Scootaloo had said at all.

“...take me under your wing, teach me everything you know, and become like my big sister.”

Rainbow shook her head to clear the memory. She hadn't come to reminisce about where she'd got things wrong. That didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was setting it right. Turning her back on the torrent of water and pulling her goggles over her eyes, she surveyed the calm river below her, snaking its way gradually back towards Ponyville.

It was in there somewhere.

Diving vertically, she entered the deep plunge pool at the base of the waterfall and methodically began to search downstream.

Almost an hour after Rainbow Dash left, the bell above the door of Sugarcube Corner rang once again.

"Oh, I'm afraid we're closing up shop for the evening dear. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow?" said Rarity without turning round, engaged as she was cleaning down the display counter.

"Oh, come on guys, you gotta let me have five more!" pleaded the voice of Spike from the threshold.

"More?!" called Applejack's voice incredulously as she emerged from the kitchen, a blue cake-box tied with orange string balanced upon her back. "Spike, I've seen you eat everythin' from grass to granite, but there's no way even you've gotten through those five huge tubs o' ice-cream!"

"It's not my fault! It's the kids. They're ravenous! Plus, y'know, keeping an eye on them is hungry work..." he reasoned smugly.

"If Apple Bloom comes home with a stomach ache later, I'll– wait a second..." she said, the thought striking her and Rarity in the same instant.

"Spike...?" began Rarity sweetly. "Is Scootaloo at the library too?"

"Uh...yeah, she is now. I found her on the street. She seems kind of down, actually. And the perfect cure for that is more ice-cream!" he finished triumphantly holding his arms out in anticipation. His logic could not have failed to convince.

"Get!"

Grumbling loudly, the small purple dragon turned and left empty handed.

Watching him go, Applejack wore an odd, respectful expression. Rarity picked up on it, her interest piqued and gave her a curious look, inviting explanation.

"Hmm? Jus' thinkin'. Little feller's gone outta his way to entertain a whole bunch of kids when they'd otherwise be stuck at home bored outta their minds on a day like this."

"Hmph. I hardly think showing a lot of scary films to young children while letting them gorge on ice-cream is responsible."

"Oh, ain't nothin' that'll hurt 'em. And finding Scootaloo, takin' her in, keeping her and the rest of the kids safe in the warm and dry? That's responsible. Besides, remember how young we were when we saw our first scary movie? Kids can't be kids forever." She looked back to the door through which Spike had departed. "He's done somethin' pretty noble there,” she said, before adding “...even if he don't quite realise it."

Ten minutes later Rainbow Dash once again appeared at the door to the Corner. She was absolutely soaked but wore a triumphant grin and her step held a slight swagger.

"Ha! I found it. Now AJ, about that cake."

"I hear ya, I hear ya," came the reply. Applejack scooped up the cake-box and passed it to Rainbow Dash who held it in her forehooves. It smelled amazing.

Rainbow Dash made a show of examining the box, checking the sides, underneath, lifting the lid a crack.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"Just looking for the apology that goes with it," she said, unable to keep a small grin from her features.

Applejack gave her a wry smile and pushed the box deliberately into Rainbow Dash's chest.

"Good luck," she said. She managed to make it sound playful, but there was an undertone of sincerity there too. Then she turned and deliberately flicked her tail, batting Rainbow Dash lightly on the nose with the tip as she walked away.

Rarity stepped forward, passing Applejack. "She's at the library," she said in a low voice.

Rainbow Dash's smile vanished and her expression became serious. A performer realising that rehearsals were over and it was now opening night. She looked at the box she held, then looked back at her friends.

"Thanks, guys."

Smiles were offered, but no further words were needed. Rainbow Dash took hold of the string-wrapped box in her teeth and left the bakery.

Foregoing wings for once, she trotted somberly in the direction of the library. This was it. So many things were about to happen, and they could all go horrifyingly and spectacularly wrong. But she had pretty much ruined Scootaloo's day so far, and she was determined to make up for it. That feeling of determination propelled her hooves inexorably onwards towards the door to the Ponyville Library.

Placing the cake box securely on her back, she knocked the door softly.

Spike answered a moment later and, without needing to be prompted, said simply,

"I'll get her."

A moment later a familiar pink-maned head appeared at the open door. She looked up and recognised Rainbow Dash and for just a moment there was a spark of happiness in those eyes. Then her face fell.

"Oh. Hi, Rainbow Dash."

"Kid," Rainbow began in her soft voice, "we need to talk."

"No, it's okay Rainbow Dash. I know what you're going to say." Scootaloo took a deep, ragged breath, clearly on the verge of breaking down. "I'm sorry I've been such a pain. I promise I'll leave you alone and never bother you again. I'll just...go away." She tried to force a smile and failed.

With her head hanging low, Scootaloo walked past Dash and slowly wandered off in no particular direction.

Rainbow Dash stood paralysed for a moment, dread shocking her to inaction as the reality of what had happened sank in. It was worse than she'd imagined: this wasn't the wildly energetic ball of exuberance that she knew. This was a broken, dejected Scootaloo for whom happiness was a distant memory.

And it was her fault.

She felt sick.

No. That feeling of determination returned, spurring her on. Scootaloo hadn't taken more than a half-dozen steps from the library door before Rainbow Dash was beside her, matching her pace, walking close. She extended her wing over the young pony, sheltering her from the ubiquitous drizzle in the air.

"Scoots? Could you maybe just come with me for a sec? There's a couple of things I need to show you."

Scootaloo didn't reply. Her head still hung low and her expression was blank and unreadable, but as Rainbow Dash tentatively angled toward her destination she was pleased to see that Scootaloo changed direction with her, continuing to walk slowly at her side beneath her wing.

It was nice, Scootaloo thought, walking next to Rainbow Dash one last time. But she couldn't shake the thought that she was like the condemned pony allowed one final treat before the noose. Any moment now, Rainbow Dash would stop her, tell her why she didn't want to be bothered by a little kid like her, and they would finally go their separate ways forever.

She noted the irony that this was the most time she'd spent with Rainbow Dash in two days.

Rainbow ultimately led her to a small hill on the outskirts of Ponyville, just far enough outside of town that they were no longer underneath the beach-party cloud above. The sky overhead was fading to pastel pink and though the sun itself was obscured behind the cloud-mass, at least they were dry.

The hill itself was the same one where, Scootaloo had once let slip, she had first seen Rainbow Dash practising. The first time she had become so enamoured with the pale blue pegasus who twisted and turned so easily in the air. The first time she had wished she could, if only for a while, have someone like her to call a sister. She stifled those memories with a pang of regret. This was as good a place as any to put an end to all of those foolish fantasies, she supposed.

Rainbow Dash sat in front of a small bush on the peak of the hill, and after some direction, Scootaloo sat opposite her. She fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to do or where to look as Rainbow Dash seemed to flounder for words of her own.

She supposed even she would have a hard time making 'get lost' sound polite.

"I'm sorry, Scoots."

"It's okay Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo said, punctuating her words with a small sniffle. "I know we're not really friends or anything. You don't have to be sorry. It was really nice of you to invite me to the party today. Don't worry, you'll never have to see me again."

Rainbow Dash seemed surprised for a moment. Probably, Scootaloo thought, because she was making this a lot easier than she was expecting. Well, there was no sense in dragging it out after all.

Then she spoke again. "Scoots..." Dash took a deep breath, found inspiration somewhere in the distance, and then turned her attention back to the young filly. "Up at the party, you called me your sister." Scootaloo instantly opened her mouth to offer a defensive apology but Rainbow Dash stopped her. "You remember what I said after?"

"Yeah. You said it was a mistake. And you were right! I mean of course–"

Rainbow Dash cut her off again. "No, kid. I said, 'everypony makes mistakes.' And...if I've got you thinking that I don't want you around, then it looks like I've been making some pretty huge ones today." She smiled an apologetic smile. It was a rare expression to see adorning Rainbow Dash's features, and it was all the more special for it. "I'm still trying to figure them all out," she continued, "but I'm pretty sure that was a biggie."

The faintest spark of hope flickered inside Scootaloo. Maybe, just maybe, this was a different conversation than that which she was expecting. The tiny voice of happiness tried to make itself heard, but pessimism was still firmly in control and forced her to articulate the question she was sure would finish off that hope for good.

"But...aren't you sending me away, to Cloudsdale? To get rid of me?"

When Dash answered, it was with the voice of failure, filled with anguish and apology. "Scoots, I...don't think I can do it. I don't think I can teach you to fly. I mean, I want to, and I've tried but...I don't know what’s wrong or how to fix it. I just don't understand why flying doesn't come as naturally to everypony as it does to me." She took a breath. "So I figured I'd get you into the best flying school in Equestria. They'd teach you to fly and you'd be happy." She made eye contact with the young foal again. "See, for me, the most important thing in the world is flying. And it wasn't until I talked to my friends that I realised that for you...it might be something else."

Scootaloo risked a small smile. Dash returned an even bigger one. Then she carried on, her usual confident voice returning in full force. "But I'm not giving up on you. So if you decide you wanna stay here with me instead, then I'm gonna train you hard, kid. I want those wings of yours nice 'n strong, and the best way to get them there is to keep using 'em. So, you're gonna need this."

Rainbow Dash reached behind her, into the bush and brought forth...Scootaloo could scarcely believe her eyes.

"My scooter! No way! You found it?"

"Sure did. Took a while, and it still needs a little cleaning up but it'll be good as new in no time. And I wanna see you on it every day, got it?"

Scootaloo clutched tightly at her scooter, long since thought lost in the very river from which Rainbow Dash had saved her. She couldn't believe Rainbow Dash had done that for her. Pessimism receded a little further. Confidence returned.

"I don't have to go to Cloudsdale? I can stay here with...with you?"

"Sure can, kid. I'm not sending you away if you don't wanna go."

Scootaloo looked up from her scooter long enough to nod excitedly.

"Okay then...if you're gonna stay, then I want you to have this too."

Scootaloo watched Rainbow Dash reach into the bush behind her once more and bring out a very familiar wooden figurine.

Excitement turned into despair in an instant. Oh, no no no. It was all a cruel joke wasn't it? This was the part where Rainbow Dash laughed mockingly at how foolish and desperate she was. It was all going to come crashing down.

But Rainbow Dash was still smiling, more softly now. She gave the figurine to Scootaloo and made a small circle with her hooves, one over the other.

Turn it over.

Oh no. Please, surely she hadn't seen...

The words.

Scootaloo looked at them in stunned silence. She had seen them before of course.

Most of them.

My Hero
Friend
Sister
Family

"So, here's the deal," Rainbow said quietly. "You wanna be sisters? Then that's what we are. You go tell everyone you want that Rainbow Dash is your sister, that she cares about you and loves you no matter what..." Dash put a hoof gently on Scootaloo's shoulder, "...and you can trust me to do the same." There was that confident, reassuring smile again.

"Thanks, but it's okay." Scootaloo effected an embarrassed laugh. "You don't have to pretend to be my sister. It was just a crazy, silly thought I had is all. Heh."

"It's not silly, kid. And I didn't say anything about pretending."

Rainbow Dash reached forward and drew Scootaloo into a warm hug, with both hooves and wings. It was wonderful, like being wrapped in a blanket of pure joy. In that moment Scootaloo felt the happiest and safest she'd ever been, as Rainbow Dash spoke softly into her ear.

"You and me Scoots. We're family now. Okay?"

It's alright, Scootaloo, you can say it now. "Okay...big sister..."

She felt Rainbow's breath catch, and for a moment she was terrified she had made a horrible mistake. Thought it was all going to be taken away because she had been so presumptuous. Then Rainbow Dash spoke, almost in a whisper.

"That...felt awesome." Dash looked down into her eyes. "Do me a favour and keep saying that whenever you can. Okay, little sis?"

Pessimism, and its associated voice inside Scootaloo's head, died completely. Happiness made a triumphant return and took up its usual, familiar spot on the comfy cushions at the forefront of Scootaloo's consciousness. She hugged Dash back, hard.

Hugs were suddenly very, very cool.

A minute passed in comfortable silence, neither pony eager to release the other. Scootaloo waited, and found that she had been holding her breath. This was after all the point at which she would normally wake up. But she didn't, and as the hug continued and she finally convinced herself that this was in fact real, her happy, confident temperament returned.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash? Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything, kiddo."

"Uh...what's in the box?"

Dash looked down at her side and let out a laugh. "Ha! Oh, right. I almost forgot. This was supposed to go with the 'I'm sorry' part. I figured all this apologising would be hungry work."

She opened the blue box to reveal the cake inside. In actual fact there were two cakes – each one baked into the shape of half a yin-yang, pushed together to form one circle and frosted with blue and orange icing respectively. It wasn't the most subtle symbolism in the world, but then it was a cake.

They ate it together in quiet company. Two new sisters linked by the simple act of sharing something meant for both of them. Rainbow Dash made a mental note to find Applejack the next day and thank her.

Not just for the cake, either.

Even with the cake devoured the silence persisted, words seemingly unnecessary up to a point. Then after a few minutes, Scootaloo spoke up again.

"You know, one of the things I wanted to do at the party was watch the sunset together," said Scootaloo, looking up at the fading light in the sky. "Do you think we could still do that?"

Dash looked down and smiled once more. "You bet, sis." She stood and flared her wings.

Scootaloo got up and steeled herself as she felt strong hooves grasp her sides and belly. Felt comfortable as she was pulled smoothly away from the ground. Felt her eyes watering although there was no wind at all. Felt Rainbow Dash close against her back as together they ascended quietly into the golden evening sky, leaving Ponyville far below.

Felt safe.

Felt happy.

Felt loved.

The End

Epilogue: Sunset / Letter From The Principal / Letter to the Princess

Epilogue: Sunset / Letter From The Principal / Letter to the Princess

The sunset and the moonrise had both been epic. Rainbow Dash had arranged the distant clouds in such a perfect way, that as the sun sank past certain points in the sky its light caught them just so and painted heaven in the most vibrant array of colours imaginable. Rainbow Dash was an artist, and the sky was her canvas.

It was more beautiful than any firework display and drew astonished gasps from the dwindling crowd, now all gathered at the westernmost point of the cloud mass for the best view. The lucky few that had been able to stay at the beach long enough to watch it.

Then when the sun had finally set, and everypony had thought the show was over, the full moon had risen and begun the dance in reverse. Only instead of vibrant golds and pastel oranges, onlookers were treated to a majestic symphony in blue and silver.

One of those onlookers – perhaps unexpectedly – was Fluttershy, and no sooner had Dash spotted her than she was invited over to join them.

She accepted the invitation with a smile, but unfortunately it did nothing to hide the black eye she now proudly sported.

"Fluttershy? What happened to you?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. It actually looks a lot worse than it is."

But Rainbow was insistent, and wouldn't rest until she got an explanation.

"Well...it was the last point of the match and I may have got a bit too close to the net." Fluttershy was smiling as she spoke. "The ball hit me quite hard, and when I came to, all the players were standing over me and telling me we'd won."

"Are...are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine," said Fluttershy genuinely. "Everypony was so nice. The other team felt so bad that they insisted on buying me ice-cream, and Spitfire said I could have free tickets to any Wonderbolt show I wanted. She called me 'heroic.'" Fluttershy blushed a little. "And then Soarin and Fleet Foot took me snorkelling with them. They were both really sweet."

"Wow. You really are okay."

"I'm fine," she reassured. "This really has been the best Pegasus Beach Party ever, and seeing you two together here has just made it even better."

That prompted Scootaloo to launch into an enthusiastic explanation of the conversation they'd had on the ground, and her new status as Rainbow Dash's sister. When she'd finished, Fluttershy had subconsciously looked to Rainbow Dash as if for confirmation, and Dash put her foreleg round Scootaloo's shoulders with a grin and a confident nod, followed a moment later by a yawn.

Fatigue struck, and Dash lay down, spreading herself on the comfortable cloud, Scootaloo nestling at her side. Rainbow's eyelids became heavy and she found herself quite unable to keep them open.

Only then, while lying there on the cloud beneath the moonlit sky, did it even occur to her that she hadn't relaxed for two days straight. Setting up the beach party, the trip to Viper's office, trying to find Scootaloo in Ponyville – it had all been frenetic. Combined with the good night's rest she hadn't had the previous day, not to mention Operation Calendar Drop, and it was no wonder that she was totally exhausted.

But it had been worth it. Awesome beach party? Check. Oldest friend happy? Check. Little sister gained? Check.

Best. Day. Ever.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I am sorry to hear that Scootaloo will not be joining the curriculum this semester. I hope that her training goes well, and to that end I have enclosed a number of lesson plans used on our beginner courses. I hope you find them useful.

Should she decide to take up formal schooling here she will be free to apply again next semester.

We'll keep the door open for her. Good luck.

Sincerely,

Pale Frost

Dear Princess Luna,

I've been very lucky to make some awesome friends here in Ponyville, but I never thought I'd make a sister. But that's what Rainbow Dash says she is now – a real sister who loves me and cares about me no matter what.

I've never had a sister before, so I don't know how it's supposed to feel. But right now it's the best feeling in the world!

So I wanted to say thank you. Thank you. If it hadn't been for you I never would have been brave enough to really talk to Rainbow Dash, the last two crazy days would never have happened, and I wouldn't know what it's like to really have a family. It turns out, it's awesome.

If you're ever in Ponyville with your big sister, feel free to come visit me and mine. We can have, like a sister party or something!

It would be nice to thank you in person.

Your loyal subject,

Scootaloo.

Author's Note

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for reading.

I don't like sticking my head above the parapet. I'm only the writer. The words you have just read are the important ones. These are not, and to that end I'll be brief.

I hope you've derived some enjoyment from this tale, though I would understand if you had not. I began writing this months ago and abandoned it almost exactly half way through as unsalvageable. What initially began as a story exploring the relationship between Scoots and Dash, and the former's gradual disillusionment with the latter, quickly became overtaken by little vignettes or 'scenes I'd like to see', not to mention the entirety of Chapter 2, which might as well just be titled 'headcanon' and made into a deleted scene for all the effect it has on the plot.

Add to that the fact that this is a well trodden subject already, and one done so much better by so many others, and I felt like I had a lot of disparate scenes with little in the way of a cohesive thread tying them together. To my mind that's what this still is - I can still see the cracks in the veneer as it were. I'm still surprised I bothered to finish it. I'm even more surprised you're reading it. Seriously, no-one's going to want to read that.

But if you have read it, thank you. Hopefully I did not waste too much of your time.

If you found something here to like in theme, style or similar and you have a little more free time, then I have another story up here which you might consider. It is, in my opinion, better in many ways (also shorter!) and you just might end up feeling something.

Plug over. That's enough from me.

Stay safe.

The Author