“All right! Enough talk, let’s see whatcha got!” said Dash.

~ 0 ~

“You are so on!” said Scootaloo, eagerly buzzing her wings.

“First things first squirt,” Dash had now gone into 'coach mode'. “You need to do some warm ups, gimme about, 50 wing ups.”

“On it,” replied Scootaloo.

Scootaloo found the wing ups easier than she thought they should have been. briefly she considered asking dash about it, but decided it wasn’t important at the moment.

“Wow kid, you managed that without breaking a sweat. I’ll bet that's all the work pulling your friends on your scooter paying off.” Dash mused. “Hey I wanna try something. Wait here.” with that she took off for her home, only to appear moments later with what appeared to be a set of weights designed to fit onto a pegasus’ wings.

“Here kid, put there on. Let’s see how much you can lift,” Dash challenged,

“How much could you lift at my age?” Scoots asked.

“Hey, this ain't about me kid, but if ya beat my record I’ll let ya know; Here let me fit those for ya,” Dash offered.

“Ok, thanks,” Scoots replied.

After a decent while lifting weights, it turned out Scoots had stronger wings than Dash imagined. She could already lift about 25 kilos with her wings alone while Dash could only lift 20 as a filly herself, but that made Dash slightly concerned; she now questioned why Scoots couldn't fly even more.

“Ok, kid. I believe that’s good enough a warm up as any; let's see if we can get you in the air,” Dash said, trying the best to keep her concern out of her voice.

“Something wrong Dash?” Scoots questioned, catching the slight waver in Dash's voice.

Darn how’d she catch that? Dash thought to herself, obviously caught off guard. “Eh. Nah kid, ya just beat my record by about five kilos, that all, but I'm proud of ya, nice job there.” Dash half lied.

“And the truth?” Scootaloo asked, having been through this all before coming to Ponyville. She had learned how to pick things up from the subtlest of hints, even if not intentional.

Dash sighed, knowing she couldn't get out of this one. “Well y'see, thing is kid with wings as strong as yours you should'a been in the air ages ago.”

Scoots frowned at this. “You mean I should be flying by now? But somehow I'm still grounded?”

“Uh, yeah” Dash replied, expecting to have to comfort Scoots at any minute.

“That’s weird. Any idea why?” Scootaloo decided this might be the best time to get answers as any.

“I might, wait here!” and yet again Dash took off, flying towards her napping cloud and bringing it over to Scoots.

“Uh, Dash? I'm confused, not tired,” she pointed out.

Dash laughed at this, “I know kid, and you’re surprisingly fit for your age. Here jump on; I need to see something,” she added, thinking she was onto something, but hoping she wasn't.

“Uh, sure,” answered Scoots, so she jumped towards the cloud, only to fall straight through it. “What the hay?! Uh, Dash, ain't pegasi supposed to be able to walk on clouds?”

“Yeah, we are. This could be serious; hop on kid!” Dash said, now even more worried.

“Ok, where are we going?” Scoots asked as she climbed aboard, fearing the worst.

“The hospital, kid. I know a great pegasi specialist there; he could help us figure this out!” and with that they blasted into the air, speeding towards Ponyville hospital.

Great Scootaloo thought to herself All she told me to do was lay low and teach myself to survive, but nothing will attract attention to me like having no medical records in this town; looks like I may have to move again, but I can’t do that 'until I'm ready', whatever that means.

~ 0 ~

According to dash they reached the hospital in record time, and were now waiting in a small, sterile room. Dash sitting in a chair while Scoots sat on an examination table, waiting for this so-called 'specialist' Dash mentioned.

The door opened to reveal a cheery looking, bronze colored unicorn, with a glowing wing for a cutie mark. “Hello there Ms. Dash, funny seeing you here without an injury this time,” he said with a smirk, then turning to Scootaloo on the examination table “Oh? I don’t believe we’ve met before, you are?”

Dash said nothing, but thought Wait? How could he have not met Scootaloo before? Not even a checkup?

“Uh, Scootaloo sir,” she said nervously, seeing the curious look Dash was giving her.

“Sorry miss, but do you see any armor or medals on my body?” the 'specialist' asked her.

“Um, no?” Scoots answered, unsure if she had offended him or not.

“Then please, just call Me Bright Wing, and don't address me like one of Celestia's soldiers,” he answered with a smile.

“Ok,” Scoots gave him a funny look, but said nothing.

“Now, down to business! What seems to be the problem with you, Hmm?” Bright wing asked, addressing Scootaloo.

“Well doc. It seems Scootaloo here can't get off the ground, or even stand on clouds.” Dash answered for Scootaloo, wanting to cut to the chase.

“Really? My, my, how odd. I haven’t seen a case like this in a long, long time. It would appear then that her innate Pegasus Magic is not working as it should, but I would like to draw some blood, and check young Ms. Scootaloo's medical records to be sure,” he stated, turning to Scootaloo as he asked her “Not afraid of needles are we,”

“Nope,” answered Scootaloo.

“You're right Ms. Dash, she is like you, though I wonder if she really isn’t afraid of needles,” he said, obviously teasing Dash.

“Wait, Dash? You’re afraid of needles?” Scoots asked.

“Heh, gee thanks Doc. Eh, yeah kid, I am.” Dash said, glancing around nervously “But don’t go around telling everypony that I am, because I will totally deny it.”

“Sure thing Dash” Scootaloo said as Bright Wing came back into the room carrying a tray with a syringe and a couple of test tubes on it in his magic.

“Ok then, let’s not waste any time seeing what is wrong with you, young Scootaloo. Left foreleg out please,” Bright Wing asked kindly.

Scootaloo held out her left foreleg as Bright Wing readied the syringe, but, as he tried to insert the needle to draw the blood, the needle snapped. “Hmm, how strange…” He tried again only to receive the same results. “Is this one of your pranks Ms. Dash?”

“Nope, though I seriously wish it was. I can’t take claim to this one, Scootaloo?” she asked, finding this seriously strange.

“Do I look like a unicorn? How could I do this besides having super powers or magic?” Scoots asked, finding this just as weird they were.

“Unicorn? Hmm, Ms. Dash could you possibly go and get Ms. Sparkle. I believe she would want to see this,” Bright Wing asked, turning to Dash.

“Sure thing, Doc,” Dash said, leaving the room.

Once Dash was out of the room Bright Wing turned back to Scootaloo. “Now, Ms. Scootaloo may I ask you how long you have lived in Ponyville?”

“Uh, around four years, why?” she answered, already knowing the answer.

“Oh, it's just that we don't seem to have you on record here, but I guess that may just be a clerical error from another city. Moreover, we can deal with that later. But if you have not been to this hospital in since moving here, I guess we have to give you a quick check up, to be on the safe side.” Bright Wing explained.

“Oh. Okay, sure, I guess.” Scootaloo answered. She was curious that he just shrugged off the fact she had no medical records or hadn't brought up her parents yet.

They went about the usual examinations until Bright Wing asked her to raise her left wing. She reluctantly complied, showing him a scar that was carved under her wing it read #2414."

“Hmm what have we here? How did you get this?” Bright Wing asked calmly.

Scootaloo took an aggressive stance, “That is none of your business! So keep out of it and tell no-one you saw that!” she said while lowering her wing and glaring at him.

“Okay, you have my word.” he answered calmly.

“Wait? Just like that?” she asked, completely derailed.

“Yup! Just like that,” he replied.

“Okay, what’s the catch?” she asked, sensing a scheme.

“No catch whatsoever, somepony else will find out eventually, be it on your terms or not,” he answered cheerfully.

Walking in the door with Twilight, Dash returned at that exact moment. “Find what out Doc?” she asked only hearing the tail end of the conversation.

“Oh, we were just saying that we would be able to find out why Scootaloo can't seem to get off the ground or stand on clouds, after we find out why my needles keep breaking.”

“Yeah, Dash told me about this on the way over here, but I doubt a mere filly's skin could break a stainless steel needle, no offence Scootaloo.” she added quickly.

“None taken Twilight,” Scootaloo shrugged.

“Shall I demonstrate?” Bright Wing asked.

“Go ahead,” said Scootaloo, holding out her foreleg. Bright Wing tried the same process, but yet again, the needle snapped.

“Incredible! I don’t even see how that should be possible,” Twilight mused.

“Join the bucking club,” Scootaloo mused quietly, or so she thought, until the two mares in the room gasped.

“Kid?! Where did you hear that language,” Dash asked, trying to stifle a giggle.

“My folks,” Scootaloo half-lied.

“Ok. Just don't say that ever again!” Dash ordered, feeling that she couldn’t really punish Scoots for doing something that she does every day.

“Can't promise that, but I’ll try,” Scoots agreed. Dash shrugged at Twilights glare.

“So, shall we get back to the task at hand?” Bright Wing asked, speaking up for the first time since Scootaloo swore.

Twilight coughs to get everypony's attention. “Ahem, yes, why is it that you need to draw blood from her anyway?” Twilight asked, bring herself back from shock.

“Well, we need to check her magic levels, to understand why she can’t fly or walk on clouds,” Bright Wing explained.

“You can’t walk on clouds?” Twilight asked Scootaloo.

“Well, no,” Scoots replied.

“Interesting,” Twilight mused, turning to Bright Wing she asked, “I could just test her magic levels with my own magic if you like?”

“Why did I not think of that? But go ahead,” Bright Wing granted.

“Okay, Scootaloo stand over there please.” Scootaloo shrugged and walked over to where Twilight gestured. Scootaloo was suddenly coated in a purple/pink aura. She began to feel a tingling sensation all over.

“Hmm, it would seem that your magic is being blocked by a magical construct of some sort. Now how in Equestria did that get there?” Twilight asked, genuinely amazed.

“Pony if I know? Does that mean I’ll never fly?” Scootaloo asked, feeling less hope.

“Oh? Oh, heavens no. I think I know a spell that can remove it. But there's something else, something I can’t place, but it’s so familiar.” Twilight said, and Scootaloo seemed to brighten up.

“Can you do that spell now!?” Scootaloo asked eagerly.

“Well yes, but Scootaloo you must know this spell is highly experimental, and I've never really practiced it,” Twilight explained, slightly embarrassed.

“I don't care if it kills me… do it!” Scootaloo demanded.

“Whoa! Kid, you sure about this?” Dash asked, shocked at Scootaloo's exclamation.

“Dash, you know better than anyone, pegasi are born to fly, if I can’t, I'm just a weak earth pony with a freakish growth on my sides. So I’ll say it one more time, Twilight, do it!”

“Okay, Scootaloo. I'll do it,” Twilight relented, “Stand still,” she added as her horn began to glow. Scootaloo saw a bright flash of light, followed by a searing headache, then, nothing.

Author's Note

This is a big longer, enjoy.
yet again edited by L_wolf
thank you again to memphisgurl for going over this