Never, Never, Never!

There is a little house on the outskirts of Ponyville, due North towards Canterlot.

The house is so little, for all it needs to accommodate is a filly.

A pair of groggy purple eyes opens from behind orange lids. The pegasus rolls over and checks the calender hung on the wall beside her bed.

Today was her birthday.

Mm... yes, right, birthday... "BIRTHDAY?" Scootaloo shot up from her bed, little wings flapping furiously as she looked over the calender. Slowly her wings stopped moving as the realization dawned on her and a frown formed on her face. It was her seventh birthday, and she still wasn't able to fly.

Scootaloo takes a bath in the nearby river, the water was cold that morning and she couldn't stay in very long. She shivers as she climbs up the bank and shakes her body dry. Her wings begin to buzz, sending drops of water flying. Scootaloo plops down on her hindquarters and spikes her mane back up into place before standing again and retrieving her scooter and helmet from the side of the river. "I wonder if I should try and fly again today before heading into Ponyville," She mutters to herself as she nestles the helmet on her head, "Maybe just for good measure..." Cautiously she glances around before getting on her scooter and propelling herself away.

Just a ways down the river there was a little clearing with trees and a large rock. It was a secret place she had marked for herself not long after her parents returned to Cloudsdale. It was known only to her; not the Cutiemark Crusaders, not Rainbow Dash, but her and her only. And that wasn't going to change anytime soon. She stops at the side of the rock, leaning the scooter up against it but leaving her helmet on. She learned pretty quickly that she needed it after the first few failed attempts. The rock itself peaked at about eight feet above the ground and was shaped like a ramp of sorts. Scootaloo often had fun jumping from the top with her scooter, but today wasn't a day for fun.

"Okay Scoots you can do this, you need to do this," The pegasus drew a deep breath and began to flap her wings slowly. She runs up the rock, flapping more and more quickly until she reaches the top and jumps.

For a second she thought she was going to finally make it. She felt her heart skip and her chest flutter, but in the end she came crashing down in the soft grass and flowers. Nothing was cut or broken this time, except for her pride. By age four a pegasus should be able to fly perfectly on her own, and by age seven a pegasus should have fully developed wings able to fly all the way to Cloudsdale on their own. But no, here is the little pegasus who never could, and at this point never will.

Scootaloo begins to cry.

Finally, it's become noon and Pinkie had finished passing out the surprise birthday invitations. Sugarcube corner was rented out for the day and the Cutiemark Crusaders (with the help of their sisters, thank Celestia) were busy decorating the place. Pinkie Pie was frantically rushing through the Ponyville streets looking for the special birthday pony.

"Surely she knows its her birthday right? I mean how could anyone forget their birthday! Have you ever heard such a crazy thing? Applebloom said she usually comes into town by now," she rambled to Twilight who was passing by on her way to the party.

"I'm sure she'll show up Pinkie, if she's not here in an hour I'll help you go find her." The alicorn smiled and began to trot on.

"But then she'll be late to her own party!" Pinkie wailed over dramatically, "And who would miss their own party?"

"Pinkie, it's a surprise party. She doesn't even know about it. She can't be late to something she's unaware of!" Twilight called back, shaking her head.

Pinkie continued her search, zipping around town as asking some surprised citizens on the whereabouts of the filly. Nobody knew where she could be, and finally Pinkie decided to wait at the road that leads to Scootaloos house.

It took some time, and she was becoming impatient by the minute, but finally a familiar scooter came rushing down the path with the birthday filly behind it. "You're here!" Pinkie called out, rushing in front of the scooter and startling Scootaloo to a halt, causing her to cash face first in the dirt. "O-oh gosh! I'm sorry Scootaloo I was just trying to surprise you! I was waiting for you FOREVER!"

Scootaloo re-adjusted her helmet and brushed off the dirt, picking her scooter back up. "It's fine Pinkie, did you need something?"

"Oh! Oh! C'mon I need you to come down to Sugarcube corner super de-duper fast! I baked this totally delicious cupcake just for you and you need to come try it!" The pink pony bounced excitedly and zipped away to the surprise party, while Scootaloo shook her head and chuckled before quickly following behind her.

Scootaloo jumped off her scooter and parked it against the side of the bakery, taking in the sweet smell wafting from it. It was nice to know that at least someone had remembered her birthday, and she was curious as to what Pinkie had made her. Could it be a Rainbow cupcake, just as cool looking as Rainbow Dash? Would Rainbow Dash remember it was her birthday? W-would she even.. care? Dash would probably realize that she was a lost cause by now and just not care.  She looks down sadly before remembering where she was and walking into the bakery.

"SURPRISE!" Yelled a crowd of ponies as she walked in the door. Scootaloo blinked in shock, did Pinkie even plan a party for h- ah, well, of course she would. Her special talent was throwing parties after all.

"Is it actually Scootaloo this time or is it just another false alarm?" Applebloom asked running in from the back, "Oh dag-nabit I missed the surprise! Well anyway, SURPRISE!" The filly hugged her fellow crusader and grinned wide, "I helped Pinkie plan this party just for you!"

"Hey! So did I!" Squeaked Sweetie Belle, running up and joining in the hug, "Happy Birthday Scootaloo!"

"Thanks girls.." She tried to wrap her wings around them and strengthen the hug, but they were just too small. Quickly, she scanned the crowd for Rainbow Dash, but the blue pegasus was nowhere to be found.

One by one all the ponies wished her a Happy Birthday and Mrs. Cake brought out a large birthday cake with seven candles placed in the shape of a 7.

"Oh, it's your birthday, happy, happy brithday. Scootaloo, this is for you. It's your brithday happy, happy birthday. Scootaloo, this for you"

As the ponies sang Scootaloo smiled half-heartily, she wondered where Rainbow Dash was. She didn't want to ask Pinkie, thinking it to be rude. She was so busy wondering that she didn't realize that everyone had stopped singing.

"Hey, Scootaloo!" Applebloom nudged her, "Blow out the candles!"

"And don't forget to make a wish!" Pinkie chimed in.

"O-oh, right! I was just getting to that," She took a deep breath and deep in her mind she wished, she wished that she could fly. That she could soar, smash clouds and make a sonic rainboom. She wished she could do an inside out double loop or join the junior speedsters. And with this wish, she blew out the candles.

"Sorry I'm late everypony!" yelled a voice, the door to Sugarcube corner flying open to reveal rainbow dash and all her glory, "There was an emergency weather patrol meeting. Did I miss the song? Oh well, happy birthday kid!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo jumped out of her seat and ran to hug the pegasus, "I-I didn't think you were going to come!" She was nearly shaking with excitement and Dash ruffled her hair with a hoof.

"No way! I never miss my friends parties." She grinned and gestured back to the table where everyone else was still standing, "Sorry for interrupting everyone, now lets cut this cake!"