She doesn't need me.by Slick DashChaptersShe ranPlease! Take me with you!She's the freak with no family!Ow my hoof!You don't know how I feel!She doesn't need me.She ranShe ran, hard, and fast! Her wings fluttered at her side, and yet...nothing at all! No Pull underneath allowed her to soar higher! All she could do was run, run to that purple balloon in the distance that was nearly inflated! How could she leave without a goodbye? How could she leave without taking her too aswell? Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had long since fallen behind; they weren’t losing the closest they had to a family so they weren’t as desperate to get there in time! They still had their sisters! A blur of pink flashed by her eyes, no time to investigate! Got, to, keep, running! “Scootaloo?” A high pitched and sad sounding voice sounded out from behind. Ignore it! Keep running! The balloon was almost ready to leave! Unbelievably the voice catches up quickly. It’s Mrs. Pinkie Pie. Though the little filly was running as fast as she could, the random mare was able to keep up with impossible ease, her legs were a blur as she scuttled backwards so she could see the racing orange filly’s face. She looked sad, it mirrored the usually happy party ponies inner feelings it wasn’t often Pinkie felt so empty and depressed. “Why you in such a hurry Scootaloo?” She asked, how was she able to be that sad, run that fast, BACKWARDS, and ask Scootaloo questions all at the same time? Scoot shook her head trying to shut out the strange older mare! Getting close now! “Come on Scoot! Tell me!” Maybe if she knew, then the pink pony may leave the filly alone! Scoot took her eyes off of the ever looming balloon, and looked up into the eyes of the fast travelling party pony. She spoke, even though she hadn’t meant it to sound so angry, she shouted as though Pinkie was to blame. “You know why! I’m trying to stop Rainbow Dash!” With that quick yell, Scootaloo bolted around the corner and off towards the town centre. The pink party pony stopped and watched the small purple mane’d filly as she darted away. She couldn’t help but hope; maybe Scoot would stop Dashie, maybe she could keep the racing Pegasus in Ponyville a little while longer... maybe. Please! Take me with you!The balloon was beginning to float off of the ground. It was rising terribly slowly, a single mare sat in the basket, her rainbow mane fluttering in the breeze brought by the flame above her head filling the balloon with gas. “RAINBOW DASH!” Scootaloo came streaking out from around the corner of the library and ran screaming towards the clearing. Her hooves were hurting from the amount of running, yet she wouldn’t stop! At the sound of the yell Dash looked up from the floor of the basket. She smiled at the sight of her loyal little friend. “Hey kid! Glad you could make it!” Scootaloo skidded to a halt, if the basket was lower she may have made the jump, but it was too high, her forehooves flailed in the air as she reached for the base of the basket. “Rainbow wait! Please!” She kept jumping, hoping to reach the wicker basket now completely out of her reach. Rainbow Dash’s head peered over the side of the little pod she sat in, she smiled but there was obvious sadness in her expression. “Sorry kiddo, but I’ve gotta get going.” Scootaloo jumped again, she unfurled her wings as she did so. They flapped helplessly, trying to catch the air, trying to get back to Rainbow Dash. Her wings did nothing, she simply fell back to the dirt floor. Scootaloo’s eyes filled with tears as she watched her hero, her only thing she had that resembled a family, float up into the sky. “Then, please! Take me with you!” She whimpered sorrowfully. How could Rainbow do this to her? Scootaloo needed her! “Sorry kid.” Sighed Rainbow Dash, “Touring isn’t a life for a filly.” She was very high up. Scootaloo had to shout to be heard now. “I don’t have to be on tour with you! I can just live in Cloudsdale, you’ll be there most of the time! I can live on my own while you’re away!” She was pleading now, grasping at any slight chance she could find to stay with the only Pony she felt close to. It felt as though Scootaloo was losing her parents all over again! She wasn’t sure if Rainbow could even hear her now, she was so high up and was drifting away towards Cloudsdale on the breeze. “JUST DON’T LEAVE ME! RAINBOW DASH?! RAINBOW DASH? RAINBOOWWWWW!” She couldn’t hear Scootaloo anymore, all that was left was to watch as the purple weather balloon took Rainbow Dash away. Scootaloo noticed the patter of light hoof steps behind her. “Scootaloo? Did’yah miss her? Did she go?” Apple Bloom had caught up finally. Scootaloo now fell to her haunches and slumped in misery and defeat, looking at the dirt floor beneath her hooves as though it had insulted her. “Scoot?” The little country pony asked worriedly. Scootaloo shook her head. Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what to say, the closest thing that she had ever lost was her doll from when she had just been born, and she knew it couldn’t come close to how Scootaloo must have been feeling. Scootaloo sniffed hard, trying to keep her cool in front of her friend. She felt the warm hoof of the country filly rest on her shoulder. She shrugged it off, wiping her nose with the back of her foreleg as she turned away from her friend. Keep it together! Just keep it together until you get back... where? Get back where? She didn’t have a home. She’d been secretly sleeping in the crusader’s clubhouse for the past month! Rainbow Dash had been her only hope. A chance at a normal life, to have someone care for Scootaloo as though they actually loved her! She couldn’t remember her parents, so many years had passed and now they resembled blurry black blobs whenever she tried to remember them. She had believed she’d never find someone who cared for her again. Then she saw Rainbow Dash. Months of idolising her had passed, Scootallo had become the president of her fan club, had tended to her every need whenever she had been given the chance. It had all seemed to be paying off; Rainbow had begun to act as though Scoot actually meant something! She had come along to the talent show, had come backstage to congratulate them all along with all the other sisters. Maybe that was when Scoot had thought...or even hoped that Rainbow thought of Scootaloo like a baby sister. Maybe she would adopt Scootaloo, and then she could move into that amazing cloud house just outside of Ponyville. A warm bed, a loving home, all of it had been taken away! “Scoot?” Apple Bloom asked cautiously, she didn’t dare reach out again in fear of Scootaloo rejecting her again. All she gained was another sniff and a nose wipe from her orange friend. What could the red haired filly do? She had no idea how Scootaloo must be feeling. She had gone on for months how wonderful Rainbow Dash was, and had boasted how she would adopt Scootaloo any day now... and then this happened. They sat there in silence. Neither pony knew what to say to the other. Apple Bloom wanted to encourage her friend that it would all be ok, and Scootaloo just wanted her friend to leave her alone, but neither could bring themselves to speak. The silence was soon broken however, as the sound of more hoof steps approached. “Hey! You guys left me behind! Just ‘cos I’m a unicorn doesn’t mean I can do all the lifting with magic!” Scoot didn’t look up, she didn’t care. Apple Bloom turned to their third amigo and smiled half heartedly. Sweetie Belle was carrying Scootaloo’s scooter with her haze of pinkie/purple magic. She was panting slightly as beads of sweat were streaking down her face with the combined effort of using her magic and running to keep up with her already more athletic friends. Sweetie set the scooter down and sighed with relief as she released her magic and her horn dimmed down finally. When she recuperated some of her strength, she looked around. “So where’s Rainbow Dash?” The question cut the tension like a knife, Scootaloo shuddered as though someone had just screamed down her ear, and Apple Bloom winced at Sweetie Belles brash words. “Uhhh” The little country pony tried to find words that she could say in front of the depressed Scootaloo. When none came, she rushed over to the little platinum filly and whispered in her ear. Sweetie’s jaw dropped, she looked at Apple Bloom to make sure she wasn’t kidding. “You mean she just left! No goodbye or anything?!?” Yet again Scootaloo’s shoulders sagged even lower at her friends words. Realising what she had just done, Sweetie Belle flung her hooves into her mouth, stuffing them deep into her cheeks to stop herself from speaking again. The sight would have been comical in any other situation, but right now there was no one happy enough to appreciate the sight. Apple Bloom took a tentative step forward, her lips were dry, she licked them nervously. “S-Scoot? Did yah at least get t’ talk to her?” It was difficult to tell with her back turned and her head hanging so low from her shoulders, but the orange and purple filly seemed to nod slightly at the question. A knot began to twist in Apple Bloom’s stomach, “An’... it didn’ make any... difference?” Scoot shook her head. Behind the orange ponies closed eyes, images flashed by at a million miles a second. Talking to Rainbow Dash for the first time, she had been so nervous that the rainbow pony wouldn’t like her. Scootaloo’s birthday a few years back, she tore open the packaging of a brand new scooter. She gazed up at the face of the smiling blue furred racing mare beside her. “You kinda needed a new one kid.” She said jokingly. She got Scoot a present, not only that but the best present Scootaloo had ever received. Scootaloo flung her forelegs around Rainbow Dash’s neck and held her tight, dangling off of the floor as she kept close to the most important mare in her life! A letter, on the floor of the library. Celestia’s mark on the scroll, and it was marked to Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo had come looking for a book to help the crusaders next attempt to find their marks, but the temptation had been too great. Why was it here in the library and not over in Rainbow’s cloud home? “Dear Twilight, I have a message I would like you to pass onto your friend Rainbow Dash. The Wonderbolts captain Spitfire has decided to finally hang up her wings (So to speak) and retire. Now the vice captain Soarin’ has become the leader and has left a place available. They remember your friend Rainbow Dash from the Young flier’s competition, and from the Gala. They believe that Rainbow Dash is the best for the job. So they asked me to contact you to inform her of their decision. Please send her my dearest congratulations my student! She has wanted this for so long by what your letters suggest.” The letter had been dated two days ago; the other mares in town had seemed to be slightly sad about something over the past few days and Rainbow had seemed to vanish from the face of Equestria. This was it! Rainbow Dash was leaving! “She has wanted this for so long...” She really had, but out of some childish selfishness Scootaloo had hoped the day would never come, or maybe by some miracle Rainbow Dash would take her too! Had Scootaloo ever meant anything to her? Anything at all? She's the freak with no family!“H-Hey Scootaloo, look what Sweetie Belle brought!” Apple Bloom nudged the blue scooter towards her friend; it was so quiet you could even hear the wheels squeak slightly as it moved across the cold ground. When Scootaloo didn’t look up, Apple Bloom bit her lip in worry. Should Sweetie and her leave her alone? Should they go get somepony? Who? One of their sisters perhaps, or Mrs. Cheerilee? While the two friends stood apart from their miserable friend and tried to think of a plan, the scooter continued to roll forward. Squeak, squeak, squeak. It picked a slight amount of speed as it built momentum as it moved down the small incline. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle continued to converse in low whispers, they couldn’t hear the wheels over their convocation. Scootaloo could hear it though. That constant squeaking. She turned her head for the first time, just to see the small scooter plough straight into the centre of her vision, and unfortunately also into her face. It hadn’t been moving that fast, and with no real weight behind its movement it simply stopped when it connected with Scootaloo’s muzzle. It didn’t hurt, but it made a loud enough noise for her two friends to stop whispering and look around for the source of the strange noise. When they saw Scootaloo slumped on the floor with her own scooter leaning against her annoyed looking face, the two stifled cries of laughter. Sweetie Belle resorted to stuffing her hooves into her mouth yet again, and Apple Bloom clamped down on the edge of her hoof with her teeth to stop the giggles from escaping. Suddenly and viciously, Scootaloo swiped at the scooter with her foreleg and sent it flying away through the air. That put a stop to the girl’s giggles. Scoot finally stood. She looked back at her two friends and snapped angrily at them. “Enjoying the show?!” The two fillies eyes grew wide with surprise, Scootaloo took a step towards them. Yet again her wings ruffled, but still didn’t unfurl. Every muscle in her body felt taught with frustration, more to herself than her friends but she still let them have the full front of her anger. “Oh let’s all laugh at Scootaloo, she’s the big chicken, she just got hit in the face with her own stupid scooter, she’s the FREAK with no family! Let’s all just point and laugh!” When she had finished it seemed as though all the muscles in her body snapped, she grew limp and her legs seemed to turn to jelly. Apple Bloom stuttered in shock, her big gamboge coloured eyes were wide and sparkling at her friends reaction. “Sc-Scoot...We didn’ mean it like that. We just though’ it was funny is all.” The feeling began to come back to Scootaloo’s legs again. She stood firm looked her bow wearing friend in the face and stared her down. After a moment Apple Bloom looked away, unable to keep eye contact. “Pfft, Whatever!” Snorted Scootaloo angrily, she turned and trotted away, back towards town without a second glance. Apple Bloom watched as her friend moved away. Suddenly she was filled with new found confidence, it seemed to fill her up with warmth and hope. “Hey! Scootaloo! Wait up! C’mon Sweetie Belle!” She began to pursue her orange friend, who seemed to speed up as she heard Apple Bloom’s words. Sweetie didn’t quite answer in words per say. More like a muffled “Mfffmriffle merfiffibler” Caught completely surprised by the strange noises, Apple Bloom looked away from the fast escaping Scootaloo to investigate. Sweetie Belle was lying on her side tugging at her two forehooves which had subsequently gotten stuck in her mouth after stuffing them so far down to stop her laughter. With a sigh of exasperation Apple Bloom ran over to her nearly choking friend and also tugged at the little limbs lodged in the clumsy filly’s mouth. Apple Bloom glanced over her shoulder just to see Scoot’s tale whip around the corner of the houses. The confidence that had brimmed up inside the little country pony only seconds before seemed to evaporate into the air. “Scoots...” She whimpered dejectedly. Scoot was hurting, badly! Ow my hoof!Scootaloo tore through the alleyways and streets of Ponyville. Just into the town she had broken into a run, she didn’t know why. Maybe she just wanted to blow off some steam. If her stupid wings would work she could have followed Rainbow Dash! But no! The dumb limbs still clung to her sides and barely moved at all! Her inner voice screamed at herself. “You’re so stupid! Rainbow’s the fastest pony ever! And you can’t even flap your wings properly! What hope did you ever have?!” She shook her head and clenched her eyes shut, fighting back the stinging sensation in the corners of her vision. NO! Rainbow didn’t love her, the fact was simple, but she still loved Rainbow and she knew Rainbow would have never cried! Rainbow never cried at anything! Her hoof snagged on something on the ground, and she stumbled. She opened her eyes to see she was headed straight for a large stallion, she only had time to register the red coat and the orange mane before he took up her entire view. “Scootaloo?” He asked in a deep and astonished voice. Scoot ignored him, she ducked her head and skimmed under the stallions belly. Ow her hoof hurt! She looked for a place to hide, where nopony would bother her. She knew the town better than anyone, when you live on the streets you need to know the warm and dry spots. An alleyway! Just behind Sugar Cube Corner, the ovens belted out so much heat that the whole area around the shop was warm and toasty. Scoot angled for the beckoning alley, she closed her eyes as she reached the layer of shadows behind the building. ‘Jeez this really is starting to hurt now!’ Once sure she was out of sight she dug her hooves into the ground and tried to grind herself to a halt. She regretted the decsision immediatly! What felt like fire sprung through her right foreleg, the pain was so sudden that she winced and pulled her legs back. This ultimately resulted in the orange pony skidding on her side a good two feet and crashing into the rubbish bins behind the shop with an almighty crash! Scootaloo whimpered as she pulled herself from the black bags of refuse, her right hoof felt as though it were being held in boiling water. She tossed her head around trying to dislodge a banana peel from within her mane with great difficulty. Eventually she left it there, it didn’t matter anyway, it wasn’t like she had anywhere to wash up anyway! She fell to her haunches, the distance she had run finally caught up with her and her breath became deep and fast as she tried to recover. Her gaze wandered to the right hoof that she now gingerly held above the ground out of pain. Her hoof had cracked! Straight up the front of the shoe all the way up to where her fur began on her leg. She tried to lay it on the ground but upon contact with the ground, the injury screamed in protest. Scootaloo couldn’t help but scream with pain. She seemed to look through a filter of red for many moments, and finally after many excruciating moments of pain the haze cleared again. “Oww... ooowwww....M-my hoof! Oooowwwwww! Tears began to brim in her eyes from the pain. ‘So much for no crying!’ She thought to herself angrily as she cradled her broken limb. As the tears began to fall, the images of the past day flowed through her mind, using the shadowy walls of the alley as a canvas as it painted the whole image. She saw Rainbow Dash’s face as she looked over the side of the basket, she had seemed kind of sad. Had she wanted to take Scootaloo with her? Then why hadn’t she? “Touring isn’t a life for a filly.” Scootaloo could handle it! She was sure she could. The orange filly’s wings twitched sadly at her sides. She now looked to her sides, looking at the feathered limbs. STUPID WINGS! If they had worked, Scootaloo would be in the balloon with Dash right now! If they could work properly, Scootaloo could have flown away and not broken her hoof! She was such a failure of a Pegasus, maybe her parents hadn’t died, maybe they just threw her away when they realised she was no good like the rest of the garbage from Cloudsdale, thrown to the ground far below leaving to be somepony else’s problem. The tears began to flow more freely now, and it wasn’t just from the pain in her hoof. It was from the pain of losing her parents so long ago, being unable to act like a normal Pegasy, and most of all it was because of the loss of Rainbow Dash. She wouldn’t come back again, or at least not for months and months! She’d be a wonderbolt then anyway! Why would she ever consider even talking to homeless, hopeless filly when she could be surrounded by the highest members of Equestria’s society. She buried her muzzle into her forelegs, wincing from the increased pain it brought to her hoof. Then Scootaloo did something she hadn’t truly done in a long time. She cried. Her stomach convulsed uncontrollably, her voice came out in a distraught moan and refused to be silenced again. She felt cold, her skin was covered in Goosebumps and her fur stood on end with the shivers that ran through her body. She wept for what felt like hours, simply releasing all her anguish, her pain, every fear for her now bleak future. She became the epitome of sorrow itself, as she simply let the shadows of sadness in the corners of her mind slowly submerge every inch of her mind in grief. You don't know how I feel!As the distraught filly lay there crying, a figure slowly immerged from within the bakery and approached. The orange mare was so entwined in her own self pity and misery she didn’t even notice it. She only realised its existence when she felt the warm touch of somepony’s hoof on the top of her head. Scoot jumped back in fear, landing awkwardly on her bad hoof and toppling backwards into the garbage pile yet again. The figure giggled at the sight, and that infuriated the little filly! She burst from the pile of black bags and glared at the shadowy spectre with hatred in her eyes. “So you’re laughing at me too huh?” Was all she could bring herself to say in her weakest attempt of a tough voice. Her throat was soar from her weeping, and as she spoke the supposed challenge her voice cracked yet again. The figure’s laughter lessened slightly, and she spoke in a warm kind high pitched voice. “Well yeah, that’s because that was funny silly!” She giggled again and walked into the light. Scootalo backed away in surprise. “Mrs. Pinkie! I’m so sorry! I’ll... uuuhhhh... I’ll be going, I didn’t mean to intrude!” The pink pony simply smiled and tilted her head to one side, there was no sign of the sad pony Scootaloo had bumped into before. Was it an act? Just to keep up appearances that everything was ok, or was she actually fine with Rainbow Dash leaving? Scoot took a step forward, and buckled under her own weight. She called out and fell to the floor. Immediately Pinkie’s face had flashed into a serious look of concern as she rushed to help the little filly. She saw the cracked hoof and bit her lip in worry. “Now THAT isn’t funny at all!” She said as she took hold of the hoof and examined it closely. Scootaloo didn’t want to offend the pink pony, but she really wasn’t comfortable with her being this close. Yes they knew each other, but not very well! And certainly not well enough for her to be holding Scoot’s hoof so caring and tenderly. Knowing that more pain was about to arrive, Scootaloo pulled her hoof from the pink mare’s grasp. The sudden jerk immediately sent what felt like bolts of electricity shooting up scootaloo’s foreleg. She grimaced horribly as she bore with the pain until it passed. When it did, she looked up to see Pinkie Pie staring at her, though she was smiling warmly there was a sad sense behind her expression. Beneath the exterior, Scootaloo could tell Pinkie was in pain too. The party mare opened her mouth and licked her lips, obviously unsure of how to begin. Scoot closed her eyes knowing what was about to be asked, and knowing that it would take another swing at her already battered heart. “So... Scootaloo, you were crying for more than that hoof weren’t you?” It was a random way of phrasing the question, then again Mrs. Pinkie Pie was always random. Scootaloo nodded without even realising she meant to, almost as though pinkie pie’s oddness was drawing the orange filly into her web. “Hmmm” Said the mare understandingly, her eyes seemed to glisten with the chance of tears, but her eyes remained dry, and her bouncy hair still retained its shape. She reached out to Scootaloo, placing a hoof on the shoulder of her uninjured leg. “I know how you feel, Rainbow Dash was my best friend and I”- “NO YOU DON’T KNOW HOW I FEEL!” Scootaloo yelled, she tried to shrug the leg off of herself, and yet all her strength seemed to leave her. Her limbs went limp, and even her yell sounded weak. Pinkie raised an eyebrow, inviting Scootaloo to explain what she meant. Scootaloo struggled with her anger, she didn’t want to upset Mrs. Pinkie, like she said, and she was Rainbow Dash’s best friend. She breathed for a moment; her breath came in shaky and lumpy rasps. “You... you don’t know, I-Rainbow was...” Though she had calmed herself, she still couldn’t think straight. Half sentences and feeling flashed through her mind and simply passed through her mouth without pause. Pinkie Pie simply stood there and waited patiently while the filly struggled. “Rainbow... was meant to take me. She was like... a sister, and now she’s gone and...” Her voice began to crack again, stopping her from finishing her sentence. Pinkie Pie’s hoof still lay on Scootaloo’s shoulder, it was so warm. The scent of cookies and muffins seemed to emanate from her fur. She smelt so nice, so comforting. “She’s happy.” Said the party mare softly, “Why does that mean you can’t be happy too?” the obvious question infuriated Scootaloo even more. She looked up into the big blue eyes of the mare before her. Her stomach clenched hard as she prepared to voice what she had thought from the second Dash had leafed her sight. She began to shake with frustration at herself. Such a failure! Such a pathetic excuse for a Pegasus! “I-I should have stopped her... She wasn’t that high up.” She shot a deathly glare at her wings, “If I wasn’t so useless at flying! I’d have made it into the balloon, and then...” “You think she can’t turn the balloon around? Even if you’d have made it in, Dashie would simply have brought you back Scoot.” Though she said the words with warmth and kindness, Scootaloo felt cold and lonely as the steel edge of the mare’s words cut straight into her heart. Her words completely disarmed Scootaloo, the little mare simply stared at the pink pony. No one ever gave her enough credit, she really was smart, she just needed a chance to show it. Pinkie lifted the little pony’s face to look at hers, she smiled widely and laughed as she comforted the miserable mare. “You’re not useless at flying anyway! You haven’t even gotten in the air yet! How can you be useless at something before you’ve even tried?” At the strangely understandable logic of the pink pony, Scootaloo could only laugh slightly, it started as a little giggle, but Pinkie pursued it by digging her hoof in the crook of Scootaloo’s foreleg. The contact made Scootaloo tingle and she writhed as her laughter grew even louder. Pinkie continued to tickle the small filly, making her laugh harder and harder, allowing the small pony to forget her misery and troubles... just for a moment. Pinkie always loved to make her friends smile and laugh, and this was something she herself needed. She needed somepony to help her move on from Dash’s leaving, Scootaloo was so much like Dashie, and maybe she loved pranks to! As she pulled the peice of banana peel out from the filly’s mane, she thought hard. Maybe they could spend more time together; maybe they could have more fun together than just this tickle fight! That was when pinkie’s jaw dropped with sudden realisation! She knew what to do! She doesn't need me.Cloudsdale erupted in an explosion cheering, the Cloud-iseum seething with waves of screaming Pegasy. It was over! It was all over, the competition had ended on such a high, that everypony knew who was about to win the trophy. The next best young flier was about to be crowned! Slowly everypony turned and looked up to the Princess’s booth, awaiting her decision. An exhausted Scootaloo fluttered down from the performance area, panting and hovering an inch from the cloud ground with difficulty. “YOU DID IT!” A high pitched squeal screamed from the entrance. Pinkie Pie flung herself at the small pony. Scootaloo laughed with delight as the two tumbled to the soft cloud floor in a fit of giggles and flailing limbs. Finally the two stood up, only to be knocked down again as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle toppled into their orange friend. “You were awesome Scoo’aloo!” yelled the teenage bow wearing pony. “Yeah, that barrel roll was amazing!” Squealed Sweetie Belle with delight. Scootaloo wrapped her forelegs around both of their necks, she smiled and held them tight. “What? Only the barrel roll?” She asked jokingly as she gave Sweetie Belle an extra squeeze. Pinkie watched with joy in her heart as the three teen mare’s giggled and laughed in happiness. Her eyes glanced across the artificial filling in Scoot’s hoof, it was ever so slightly a brighter shade than the rest of the hoof. It glinted in the sunlight that the small orange pony now bathed in. Four years had passed since she had suffered that injury, and now here she was, the little filly who couldn’t even flap her wings. Now resting after the best routine any Pegasus could have given in the young fliers competition! She’d have even rivalled Dashie at some moments! Her cornering was amazing, she could tilt her body perfectly to soar in a completely different direction in the blink of an eye. It hadn’t been easy, years of practise with Fluttershy teaching her the practise, countless nights spent out under the stars as Scoot refused to stop. She couldn’t break the sound barrier, Pinkie couldn’t think anypony but Dash could do that. But Scootaloo was good enough to warp the air around her when she reached her highest speeds. Pinkie’s eyes began to well up with tears of pride for the pony who she now cared for like a sister. Scoot had stayed at Sugar Cube Corner after that night in the alley. She had stayed the night after that, and the one after that. Eventually, Pinkie simply decided to give Scootaloo her own personal room in the upper floors. And since then the two of them had lived together, caring for one another. Like sisters. “AHHEM!” The crowd grew silent as they looked up to the princess who now cleared her throat, preparing to address them all. “Every flyer here today has shown great ability and skill! You are all worthy of the award ‘Best young flyer’ today.” Silence screamed out all around them. Pinkie edged closer to her little adopted sister, taking hold of her fixed hoof with her own. They stood here staring unblinkingly at the princess. “However.” She boomed, two Pegasy in Wonderbolt uniforms stood tall and walked up to either side of the princess. Both wore their hoods and goggles, obscuring their faces. One wore the badge of the captain, it must be Soarin’. He balanced the crown of the winner on his back proudly, ready to bestow it upon the winner. The other had nothing special to their uniform, they simply stood there proudly, making the presentation look symmetrical. “There can only be one winner today, and now...I give you... your winner!” She flung a hoof out, and pointed at the orange pony now clinging to Pinkie Pie with all her might! “SCOOTALOO!” The stadium nearly collapsed with the force of the crowds screams, but none could compete with the screams of the pink pony stood beside the new victor. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! YOU DID IT!” She squealed with excitement, she bounced around the new champion, circling her while cheering and screaming along with the rest of the crowd. “E-excuse me?” Asked a firm, but soft voice. The two realised they had been approached by the Wonderbolt captain. Soarin’ stood there holding the crown in his teeth, he had obviously tried to get to Scootaloo, however the bouncing pink pony had stopped his every attempt. Pinkie grew still, though she still shook from the excitement that was brimming inside her. “Thanks.” The stallion said simply. He then moved over to Scootaloo, who stood their frozen in shock. She hadn’t moved an inch from the moment her name had been called out. Soarin’ gently placed the golden band around the mare’s head. “Well done! That was amazing!” He said. Scootaloo’s eyes grew wide with amazement! Praise? From a Wonderbolt? This was amazing! Soarin’ looked back up to the princess’s podium, to the other Wonderbolt who still stood beside her majesty. “She liked it too!” He commented, the uniformed Wonderbolt glanced down at Soarin, Pinkie and the crusaders. She gave them all an encouraging nod and smiled at them. Finally Scootaloo let out all of her bottled emotions. With a sudden scream she bolted into the air and twirled. “I WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!” Pinkie, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all squealed again and jumped in the air with delight. Soarin’ chuckled at their reactions. He turned away, and slowly flew back up to the princess’s booth. As he did, he watched the orange and purple pony soar through the sky. She circled around and came back, soaring over the crowd in victory, they all irrupted into cheers yet again. That girl knew how to please a crowd. After her victory lap Scoot settled back on the cloud floor next to Pinkie. The party pony grabbed hold of her shoulders, and shook her slightly with delight. “You did it! Come on, let’s go celebrate. C’mon girls!” She called to the two crusaders who stood close by. They needed to get out of Cloudsdale soon! Twilight’s spell wouldn’t last much longer, soon the ground based ponies wouldn’t be able to stand on the puffy cloud floor any longer! “So?” Pinkie asked seriously of Scoot. “How would you like to celebrate? Wiiithhh...Cupcakes?” her serious face broke out into a huge grin. Scoot smiled at her and said in a low voice. “Duhh! What else?” the two threw their arms over each other’s shoulders. They trotted away happily singing a little song as they headed for the balloon that would take them back home. Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty cupcakes! Don’t be too hasty, Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcaaaaakkkes! Through the lenses of the Wonderbolt goggles, the quiet Pegasus watched the ponies leave for Ponyville singing their little ridiculous song. Her pink watchful eyes followed them as they left the arena and headed for the baloon field just beyond. “Why don’t you go speak to them?” Soarin’ asked, he had finally returned to the private booth and had observed the pony watching the new champion walk away triumphantly. She smiled again. she glanced up at the curious face of Soarin’ then at the princess. She wasn’t looking her way, but the Pegasus knew she was listening. “She doesn’t need me.” She chuckled confidently. “Look at them! Do they need reminding of me? They’re happy the way they are.” She shook her head, allowing her mane to flow out freely from behind her in the breeze. It was dazzlingly bright, each different coloured strand glinting with a unique sheen in the light. Rainbow Dash looked down one last time, they were climbing into their air balloon. Pinkie was boosting Scootaloo into the basket, the orange pony seemed to sag with exhaustion, and rightly so! She had been amazing! That little filly, who could only jump to try an reach her as she leafed for Cloudsdale all those years ago, she was now the best young flier in all of Equestria! She focused on her old pink friend, she looked so happy, so did Scoot. They were made for each other, though you wouldn’t expect it, they really did make each other happy. That was all that mattered, as long as Scoot was happy, then there was no regret in Rainbow’s heart. If she hadn’t leafed, Scoot wouldn’t have found Pinkie, Scoot wouldn’t have found the encouragement that brought her here today! She wouldn’t have found her family! Congratulations again to Derpy_Pie for winning the competition! Congrats, and I hope it was worth the entry! here's hoping you all enjoyed this little story! Always kind of wanted to do one on Scootaloo! xD
She ranShe ran, hard, and fast! Her wings fluttered at her side, and yet...nothing at all! No Pull underneath allowed her to soar higher! All she could do was run, run to that purple balloon in the distance that was nearly inflated! How could she leave without a goodbye? How could she leave without taking her too aswell? Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had long since fallen behind; they weren’t losing the closest they had to a family so they weren’t as desperate to get there in time! They still had their sisters! A blur of pink flashed by her eyes, no time to investigate! Got, to, keep, running! “Scootaloo?” A high pitched and sad sounding voice sounded out from behind. Ignore it! Keep running! The balloon was almost ready to leave! Unbelievably the voice catches up quickly. It’s Mrs. Pinkie Pie. Though the little filly was running as fast as she could, the random mare was able to keep up with impossible ease, her legs were a blur as she scuttled backwards so she could see the racing orange filly’s face. She looked sad, it mirrored the usually happy party ponies inner feelings it wasn’t often Pinkie felt so empty and depressed. “Why you in such a hurry Scootaloo?” She asked, how was she able to be that sad, run that fast, BACKWARDS, and ask Scootaloo questions all at the same time? Scoot shook her head trying to shut out the strange older mare! Getting close now! “Come on Scoot! Tell me!” Maybe if she knew, then the pink pony may leave the filly alone! Scoot took her eyes off of the ever looming balloon, and looked up into the eyes of the fast travelling party pony. She spoke, even though she hadn’t meant it to sound so angry, she shouted as though Pinkie was to blame. “You know why! I’m trying to stop Rainbow Dash!” With that quick yell, Scootaloo bolted around the corner and off towards the town centre. The pink party pony stopped and watched the small purple mane’d filly as she darted away. She couldn’t help but hope; maybe Scoot would stop Dashie, maybe she could keep the racing Pegasus in Ponyville a little while longer... maybe.
Please! Take me with you!The balloon was beginning to float off of the ground. It was rising terribly slowly, a single mare sat in the basket, her rainbow mane fluttering in the breeze brought by the flame above her head filling the balloon with gas. “RAINBOW DASH!” Scootaloo came streaking out from around the corner of the library and ran screaming towards the clearing. Her hooves were hurting from the amount of running, yet she wouldn’t stop! At the sound of the yell Dash looked up from the floor of the basket. She smiled at the sight of her loyal little friend. “Hey kid! Glad you could make it!” Scootaloo skidded to a halt, if the basket was lower she may have made the jump, but it was too high, her forehooves flailed in the air as she reached for the base of the basket. “Rainbow wait! Please!” She kept jumping, hoping to reach the wicker basket now completely out of her reach. Rainbow Dash’s head peered over the side of the little pod she sat in, she smiled but there was obvious sadness in her expression. “Sorry kiddo, but I’ve gotta get going.” Scootaloo jumped again, she unfurled her wings as she did so. They flapped helplessly, trying to catch the air, trying to get back to Rainbow Dash. Her wings did nothing, she simply fell back to the dirt floor. Scootaloo’s eyes filled with tears as she watched her hero, her only thing she had that resembled a family, float up into the sky. “Then, please! Take me with you!” She whimpered sorrowfully. How could Rainbow do this to her? Scootaloo needed her! “Sorry kid.” Sighed Rainbow Dash, “Touring isn’t a life for a filly.” She was very high up. Scootaloo had to shout to be heard now. “I don’t have to be on tour with you! I can just live in Cloudsdale, you’ll be there most of the time! I can live on my own while you’re away!” She was pleading now, grasping at any slight chance she could find to stay with the only Pony she felt close to. It felt as though Scootaloo was losing her parents all over again! She wasn’t sure if Rainbow could even hear her now, she was so high up and was drifting away towards Cloudsdale on the breeze. “JUST DON’T LEAVE ME! RAINBOW DASH?! RAINBOW DASH? RAINBOOWWWWW!” She couldn’t hear Scootaloo anymore, all that was left was to watch as the purple weather balloon took Rainbow Dash away. Scootaloo noticed the patter of light hoof steps behind her. “Scootaloo? Did’yah miss her? Did she go?” Apple Bloom had caught up finally. Scootaloo now fell to her haunches and slumped in misery and defeat, looking at the dirt floor beneath her hooves as though it had insulted her. “Scoot?” The little country pony asked worriedly. Scootaloo shook her head. Apple Bloom wasn’t sure what to say, the closest thing that she had ever lost was her doll from when she had just been born, and she knew it couldn’t come close to how Scootaloo must have been feeling. Scootaloo sniffed hard, trying to keep her cool in front of her friend. She felt the warm hoof of the country filly rest on her shoulder. She shrugged it off, wiping her nose with the back of her foreleg as she turned away from her friend. Keep it together! Just keep it together until you get back... where? Get back where? She didn’t have a home. She’d been secretly sleeping in the crusader’s clubhouse for the past month! Rainbow Dash had been her only hope. A chance at a normal life, to have someone care for Scootaloo as though they actually loved her! She couldn’t remember her parents, so many years had passed and now they resembled blurry black blobs whenever she tried to remember them. She had believed she’d never find someone who cared for her again. Then she saw Rainbow Dash. Months of idolising her had passed, Scootallo had become the president of her fan club, had tended to her every need whenever she had been given the chance. It had all seemed to be paying off; Rainbow had begun to act as though Scoot actually meant something! She had come along to the talent show, had come backstage to congratulate them all along with all the other sisters. Maybe that was when Scoot had thought...or even hoped that Rainbow thought of Scootaloo like a baby sister. Maybe she would adopt Scootaloo, and then she could move into that amazing cloud house just outside of Ponyville. A warm bed, a loving home, all of it had been taken away! “Scoot?” Apple Bloom asked cautiously, she didn’t dare reach out again in fear of Scootaloo rejecting her again. All she gained was another sniff and a nose wipe from her orange friend. What could the red haired filly do? She had no idea how Scootaloo must be feeling. She had gone on for months how wonderful Rainbow Dash was, and had boasted how she would adopt Scootaloo any day now... and then this happened. They sat there in silence. Neither pony knew what to say to the other. Apple Bloom wanted to encourage her friend that it would all be ok, and Scootaloo just wanted her friend to leave her alone, but neither could bring themselves to speak. The silence was soon broken however, as the sound of more hoof steps approached. “Hey! You guys left me behind! Just ‘cos I’m a unicorn doesn’t mean I can do all the lifting with magic!” Scoot didn’t look up, she didn’t care. Apple Bloom turned to their third amigo and smiled half heartedly. Sweetie Belle was carrying Scootaloo’s scooter with her haze of pinkie/purple magic. She was panting slightly as beads of sweat were streaking down her face with the combined effort of using her magic and running to keep up with her already more athletic friends. Sweetie set the scooter down and sighed with relief as she released her magic and her horn dimmed down finally. When she recuperated some of her strength, she looked around. “So where’s Rainbow Dash?” The question cut the tension like a knife, Scootaloo shuddered as though someone had just screamed down her ear, and Apple Bloom winced at Sweetie Belles brash words. “Uhhh” The little country pony tried to find words that she could say in front of the depressed Scootaloo. When none came, she rushed over to the little platinum filly and whispered in her ear. Sweetie’s jaw dropped, she looked at Apple Bloom to make sure she wasn’t kidding. “You mean she just left! No goodbye or anything?!?” Yet again Scootaloo’s shoulders sagged even lower at her friends words. Realising what she had just done, Sweetie Belle flung her hooves into her mouth, stuffing them deep into her cheeks to stop herself from speaking again. The sight would have been comical in any other situation, but right now there was no one happy enough to appreciate the sight. Apple Bloom took a tentative step forward, her lips were dry, she licked them nervously. “S-Scoot? Did yah at least get t’ talk to her?” It was difficult to tell with her back turned and her head hanging so low from her shoulders, but the orange and purple filly seemed to nod slightly at the question. A knot began to twist in Apple Bloom’s stomach, “An’... it didn’ make any... difference?” Scoot shook her head. Behind the orange ponies closed eyes, images flashed by at a million miles a second. Talking to Rainbow Dash for the first time, she had been so nervous that the rainbow pony wouldn’t like her. Scootaloo’s birthday a few years back, she tore open the packaging of a brand new scooter. She gazed up at the face of the smiling blue furred racing mare beside her. “You kinda needed a new one kid.” She said jokingly. She got Scoot a present, not only that but the best present Scootaloo had ever received. Scootaloo flung her forelegs around Rainbow Dash’s neck and held her tight, dangling off of the floor as she kept close to the most important mare in her life! A letter, on the floor of the library. Celestia’s mark on the scroll, and it was marked to Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo had come looking for a book to help the crusaders next attempt to find their marks, but the temptation had been too great. Why was it here in the library and not over in Rainbow’s cloud home? “Dear Twilight, I have a message I would like you to pass onto your friend Rainbow Dash. The Wonderbolts captain Spitfire has decided to finally hang up her wings (So to speak) and retire. Now the vice captain Soarin’ has become the leader and has left a place available. They remember your friend Rainbow Dash from the Young flier’s competition, and from the Gala. They believe that Rainbow Dash is the best for the job. So they asked me to contact you to inform her of their decision. Please send her my dearest congratulations my student! She has wanted this for so long by what your letters suggest.” The letter had been dated two days ago; the other mares in town had seemed to be slightly sad about something over the past few days and Rainbow had seemed to vanish from the face of Equestria. This was it! Rainbow Dash was leaving! “She has wanted this for so long...” She really had, but out of some childish selfishness Scootaloo had hoped the day would never come, or maybe by some miracle Rainbow Dash would take her too! Had Scootaloo ever meant anything to her? Anything at all?
She's the freak with no family!“H-Hey Scootaloo, look what Sweetie Belle brought!” Apple Bloom nudged the blue scooter towards her friend; it was so quiet you could even hear the wheels squeak slightly as it moved across the cold ground. When Scootaloo didn’t look up, Apple Bloom bit her lip in worry. Should Sweetie and her leave her alone? Should they go get somepony? Who? One of their sisters perhaps, or Mrs. Cheerilee? While the two friends stood apart from their miserable friend and tried to think of a plan, the scooter continued to roll forward. Squeak, squeak, squeak. It picked a slight amount of speed as it built momentum as it moved down the small incline. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle continued to converse in low whispers, they couldn’t hear the wheels over their convocation. Scootaloo could hear it though. That constant squeaking. She turned her head for the first time, just to see the small scooter plough straight into the centre of her vision, and unfortunately also into her face. It hadn’t been moving that fast, and with no real weight behind its movement it simply stopped when it connected with Scootaloo’s muzzle. It didn’t hurt, but it made a loud enough noise for her two friends to stop whispering and look around for the source of the strange noise. When they saw Scootaloo slumped on the floor with her own scooter leaning against her annoyed looking face, the two stifled cries of laughter. Sweetie Belle resorted to stuffing her hooves into her mouth yet again, and Apple Bloom clamped down on the edge of her hoof with her teeth to stop the giggles from escaping. Suddenly and viciously, Scootaloo swiped at the scooter with her foreleg and sent it flying away through the air. That put a stop to the girl’s giggles. Scoot finally stood. She looked back at her two friends and snapped angrily at them. “Enjoying the show?!” The two fillies eyes grew wide with surprise, Scootaloo took a step towards them. Yet again her wings ruffled, but still didn’t unfurl. Every muscle in her body felt taught with frustration, more to herself than her friends but she still let them have the full front of her anger. “Oh let’s all laugh at Scootaloo, she’s the big chicken, she just got hit in the face with her own stupid scooter, she’s the FREAK with no family! Let’s all just point and laugh!” When she had finished it seemed as though all the muscles in her body snapped, she grew limp and her legs seemed to turn to jelly. Apple Bloom stuttered in shock, her big gamboge coloured eyes were wide and sparkling at her friends reaction. “Sc-Scoot...We didn’ mean it like that. We just though’ it was funny is all.” The feeling began to come back to Scootaloo’s legs again. She stood firm looked her bow wearing friend in the face and stared her down. After a moment Apple Bloom looked away, unable to keep eye contact. “Pfft, Whatever!” Snorted Scootaloo angrily, she turned and trotted away, back towards town without a second glance. Apple Bloom watched as her friend moved away. Suddenly she was filled with new found confidence, it seemed to fill her up with warmth and hope. “Hey! Scootaloo! Wait up! C’mon Sweetie Belle!” She began to pursue her orange friend, who seemed to speed up as she heard Apple Bloom’s words. Sweetie didn’t quite answer in words per say. More like a muffled “Mfffmriffle merfiffibler” Caught completely surprised by the strange noises, Apple Bloom looked away from the fast escaping Scootaloo to investigate. Sweetie Belle was lying on her side tugging at her two forehooves which had subsequently gotten stuck in her mouth after stuffing them so far down to stop her laughter. With a sigh of exasperation Apple Bloom ran over to her nearly choking friend and also tugged at the little limbs lodged in the clumsy filly’s mouth. Apple Bloom glanced over her shoulder just to see Scoot’s tale whip around the corner of the houses. The confidence that had brimmed up inside the little country pony only seconds before seemed to evaporate into the air. “Scoots...” She whimpered dejectedly. Scoot was hurting, badly!
Ow my hoof!Scootaloo tore through the alleyways and streets of Ponyville. Just into the town she had broken into a run, she didn’t know why. Maybe she just wanted to blow off some steam. If her stupid wings would work she could have followed Rainbow Dash! But no! The dumb limbs still clung to her sides and barely moved at all! Her inner voice screamed at herself. “You’re so stupid! Rainbow’s the fastest pony ever! And you can’t even flap your wings properly! What hope did you ever have?!” She shook her head and clenched her eyes shut, fighting back the stinging sensation in the corners of her vision. NO! Rainbow didn’t love her, the fact was simple, but she still loved Rainbow and she knew Rainbow would have never cried! Rainbow never cried at anything! Her hoof snagged on something on the ground, and she stumbled. She opened her eyes to see she was headed straight for a large stallion, she only had time to register the red coat and the orange mane before he took up her entire view. “Scootaloo?” He asked in a deep and astonished voice. Scoot ignored him, she ducked her head and skimmed under the stallions belly. Ow her hoof hurt! She looked for a place to hide, where nopony would bother her. She knew the town better than anyone, when you live on the streets you need to know the warm and dry spots. An alleyway! Just behind Sugar Cube Corner, the ovens belted out so much heat that the whole area around the shop was warm and toasty. Scoot angled for the beckoning alley, she closed her eyes as she reached the layer of shadows behind the building. ‘Jeez this really is starting to hurt now!’ Once sure she was out of sight she dug her hooves into the ground and tried to grind herself to a halt. She regretted the decsision immediatly! What felt like fire sprung through her right foreleg, the pain was so sudden that she winced and pulled her legs back. This ultimately resulted in the orange pony skidding on her side a good two feet and crashing into the rubbish bins behind the shop with an almighty crash! Scootaloo whimpered as she pulled herself from the black bags of refuse, her right hoof felt as though it were being held in boiling water. She tossed her head around trying to dislodge a banana peel from within her mane with great difficulty. Eventually she left it there, it didn’t matter anyway, it wasn’t like she had anywhere to wash up anyway! She fell to her haunches, the distance she had run finally caught up with her and her breath became deep and fast as she tried to recover. Her gaze wandered to the right hoof that she now gingerly held above the ground out of pain. Her hoof had cracked! Straight up the front of the shoe all the way up to where her fur began on her leg. She tried to lay it on the ground but upon contact with the ground, the injury screamed in protest. Scootaloo couldn’t help but scream with pain. She seemed to look through a filter of red for many moments, and finally after many excruciating moments of pain the haze cleared again. “Oww... ooowwww....M-my hoof! Oooowwwwww! Tears began to brim in her eyes from the pain. ‘So much for no crying!’ She thought to herself angrily as she cradled her broken limb. As the tears began to fall, the images of the past day flowed through her mind, using the shadowy walls of the alley as a canvas as it painted the whole image. She saw Rainbow Dash’s face as she looked over the side of the basket, she had seemed kind of sad. Had she wanted to take Scootaloo with her? Then why hadn’t she? “Touring isn’t a life for a filly.” Scootaloo could handle it! She was sure she could. The orange filly’s wings twitched sadly at her sides. She now looked to her sides, looking at the feathered limbs. STUPID WINGS! If they had worked, Scootaloo would be in the balloon with Dash right now! If they could work properly, Scootaloo could have flown away and not broken her hoof! She was such a failure of a Pegasus, maybe her parents hadn’t died, maybe they just threw her away when they realised she was no good like the rest of the garbage from Cloudsdale, thrown to the ground far below leaving to be somepony else’s problem. The tears began to flow more freely now, and it wasn’t just from the pain in her hoof. It was from the pain of losing her parents so long ago, being unable to act like a normal Pegasy, and most of all it was because of the loss of Rainbow Dash. She wouldn’t come back again, or at least not for months and months! She’d be a wonderbolt then anyway! Why would she ever consider even talking to homeless, hopeless filly when she could be surrounded by the highest members of Equestria’s society. She buried her muzzle into her forelegs, wincing from the increased pain it brought to her hoof. Then Scootaloo did something she hadn’t truly done in a long time. She cried. Her stomach convulsed uncontrollably, her voice came out in a distraught moan and refused to be silenced again. She felt cold, her skin was covered in Goosebumps and her fur stood on end with the shivers that ran through her body. She wept for what felt like hours, simply releasing all her anguish, her pain, every fear for her now bleak future. She became the epitome of sorrow itself, as she simply let the shadows of sadness in the corners of her mind slowly submerge every inch of her mind in grief.
You don't know how I feel!As the distraught filly lay there crying, a figure slowly immerged from within the bakery and approached. The orange mare was so entwined in her own self pity and misery she didn’t even notice it. She only realised its existence when she felt the warm touch of somepony’s hoof on the top of her head. Scoot jumped back in fear, landing awkwardly on her bad hoof and toppling backwards into the garbage pile yet again. The figure giggled at the sight, and that infuriated the little filly! She burst from the pile of black bags and glared at the shadowy spectre with hatred in her eyes. “So you’re laughing at me too huh?” Was all she could bring herself to say in her weakest attempt of a tough voice. Her throat was soar from her weeping, and as she spoke the supposed challenge her voice cracked yet again. The figure’s laughter lessened slightly, and she spoke in a warm kind high pitched voice. “Well yeah, that’s because that was funny silly!” She giggled again and walked into the light. Scootalo backed away in surprise. “Mrs. Pinkie! I’m so sorry! I’ll... uuuhhhh... I’ll be going, I didn’t mean to intrude!” The pink pony simply smiled and tilted her head to one side, there was no sign of the sad pony Scootaloo had bumped into before. Was it an act? Just to keep up appearances that everything was ok, or was she actually fine with Rainbow Dash leaving? Scoot took a step forward, and buckled under her own weight. She called out and fell to the floor. Immediately Pinkie’s face had flashed into a serious look of concern as she rushed to help the little filly. She saw the cracked hoof and bit her lip in worry. “Now THAT isn’t funny at all!” She said as she took hold of the hoof and examined it closely. Scootaloo didn’t want to offend the pink pony, but she really wasn’t comfortable with her being this close. Yes they knew each other, but not very well! And certainly not well enough for her to be holding Scoot’s hoof so caring and tenderly. Knowing that more pain was about to arrive, Scootaloo pulled her hoof from the pink mare’s grasp. The sudden jerk immediately sent what felt like bolts of electricity shooting up scootaloo’s foreleg. She grimaced horribly as she bore with the pain until it passed. When it did, she looked up to see Pinkie Pie staring at her, though she was smiling warmly there was a sad sense behind her expression. Beneath the exterior, Scootaloo could tell Pinkie was in pain too. The party mare opened her mouth and licked her lips, obviously unsure of how to begin. Scoot closed her eyes knowing what was about to be asked, and knowing that it would take another swing at her already battered heart. “So... Scootaloo, you were crying for more than that hoof weren’t you?” It was a random way of phrasing the question, then again Mrs. Pinkie Pie was always random. Scootaloo nodded without even realising she meant to, almost as though pinkie pie’s oddness was drawing the orange filly into her web. “Hmmm” Said the mare understandingly, her eyes seemed to glisten with the chance of tears, but her eyes remained dry, and her bouncy hair still retained its shape. She reached out to Scootaloo, placing a hoof on the shoulder of her uninjured leg. “I know how you feel, Rainbow Dash was my best friend and I”- “NO YOU DON’T KNOW HOW I FEEL!” Scootaloo yelled, she tried to shrug the leg off of herself, and yet all her strength seemed to leave her. Her limbs went limp, and even her yell sounded weak. Pinkie raised an eyebrow, inviting Scootaloo to explain what she meant. Scootaloo struggled with her anger, she didn’t want to upset Mrs. Pinkie, like she said, and she was Rainbow Dash’s best friend. She breathed for a moment; her breath came in shaky and lumpy rasps. “You... you don’t know, I-Rainbow was...” Though she had calmed herself, she still couldn’t think straight. Half sentences and feeling flashed through her mind and simply passed through her mouth without pause. Pinkie Pie simply stood there and waited patiently while the filly struggled. “Rainbow... was meant to take me. She was like... a sister, and now she’s gone and...” Her voice began to crack again, stopping her from finishing her sentence. Pinkie Pie’s hoof still lay on Scootaloo’s shoulder, it was so warm. The scent of cookies and muffins seemed to emanate from her fur. She smelt so nice, so comforting. “She’s happy.” Said the party mare softly, “Why does that mean you can’t be happy too?” the obvious question infuriated Scootaloo even more. She looked up into the big blue eyes of the mare before her. Her stomach clenched hard as she prepared to voice what she had thought from the second Dash had leafed her sight. She began to shake with frustration at herself. Such a failure! Such a pathetic excuse for a Pegasus! “I-I should have stopped her... She wasn’t that high up.” She shot a deathly glare at her wings, “If I wasn’t so useless at flying! I’d have made it into the balloon, and then...” “You think she can’t turn the balloon around? Even if you’d have made it in, Dashie would simply have brought you back Scoot.” Though she said the words with warmth and kindness, Scootaloo felt cold and lonely as the steel edge of the mare’s words cut straight into her heart. Her words completely disarmed Scootaloo, the little mare simply stared at the pink pony. No one ever gave her enough credit, she really was smart, she just needed a chance to show it. Pinkie lifted the little pony’s face to look at hers, she smiled widely and laughed as she comforted the miserable mare. “You’re not useless at flying anyway! You haven’t even gotten in the air yet! How can you be useless at something before you’ve even tried?” At the strangely understandable logic of the pink pony, Scootaloo could only laugh slightly, it started as a little giggle, but Pinkie pursued it by digging her hoof in the crook of Scootaloo’s foreleg. The contact made Scootaloo tingle and she writhed as her laughter grew even louder. Pinkie continued to tickle the small filly, making her laugh harder and harder, allowing the small pony to forget her misery and troubles... just for a moment. Pinkie always loved to make her friends smile and laugh, and this was something she herself needed. She needed somepony to help her move on from Dash’s leaving, Scootaloo was so much like Dashie, and maybe she loved pranks to! As she pulled the peice of banana peel out from the filly’s mane, she thought hard. Maybe they could spend more time together; maybe they could have more fun together than just this tickle fight! That was when pinkie’s jaw dropped with sudden realisation! She knew what to do!
She doesn't need me.Cloudsdale erupted in an explosion cheering, the Cloud-iseum seething with waves of screaming Pegasy. It was over! It was all over, the competition had ended on such a high, that everypony knew who was about to win the trophy. The next best young flier was about to be crowned! Slowly everypony turned and looked up to the Princess’s booth, awaiting her decision. An exhausted Scootaloo fluttered down from the performance area, panting and hovering an inch from the cloud ground with difficulty. “YOU DID IT!” A high pitched squeal screamed from the entrance. Pinkie Pie flung herself at the small pony. Scootaloo laughed with delight as the two tumbled to the soft cloud floor in a fit of giggles and flailing limbs. Finally the two stood up, only to be knocked down again as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle toppled into their orange friend. “You were awesome Scoo’aloo!” yelled the teenage bow wearing pony. “Yeah, that barrel roll was amazing!” Squealed Sweetie Belle with delight. Scootaloo wrapped her forelegs around both of their necks, she smiled and held them tight. “What? Only the barrel roll?” She asked jokingly as she gave Sweetie Belle an extra squeeze. Pinkie watched with joy in her heart as the three teen mare’s giggled and laughed in happiness. Her eyes glanced across the artificial filling in Scoot’s hoof, it was ever so slightly a brighter shade than the rest of the hoof. It glinted in the sunlight that the small orange pony now bathed in. Four years had passed since she had suffered that injury, and now here she was, the little filly who couldn’t even flap her wings. Now resting after the best routine any Pegasus could have given in the young fliers competition! She’d have even rivalled Dashie at some moments! Her cornering was amazing, she could tilt her body perfectly to soar in a completely different direction in the blink of an eye. It hadn’t been easy, years of practise with Fluttershy teaching her the practise, countless nights spent out under the stars as Scoot refused to stop. She couldn’t break the sound barrier, Pinkie couldn’t think anypony but Dash could do that. But Scootaloo was good enough to warp the air around her when she reached her highest speeds. Pinkie’s eyes began to well up with tears of pride for the pony who she now cared for like a sister. Scoot had stayed at Sugar Cube Corner after that night in the alley. She had stayed the night after that, and the one after that. Eventually, Pinkie simply decided to give Scootaloo her own personal room in the upper floors. And since then the two of them had lived together, caring for one another. Like sisters. “AHHEM!” The crowd grew silent as they looked up to the princess who now cleared her throat, preparing to address them all. “Every flyer here today has shown great ability and skill! You are all worthy of the award ‘Best young flyer’ today.” Silence screamed out all around them. Pinkie edged closer to her little adopted sister, taking hold of her fixed hoof with her own. They stood here staring unblinkingly at the princess. “However.” She boomed, two Pegasy in Wonderbolt uniforms stood tall and walked up to either side of the princess. Both wore their hoods and goggles, obscuring their faces. One wore the badge of the captain, it must be Soarin’. He balanced the crown of the winner on his back proudly, ready to bestow it upon the winner. The other had nothing special to their uniform, they simply stood there proudly, making the presentation look symmetrical. “There can only be one winner today, and now...I give you... your winner!” She flung a hoof out, and pointed at the orange pony now clinging to Pinkie Pie with all her might! “SCOOTALOO!” The stadium nearly collapsed with the force of the crowds screams, but none could compete with the screams of the pink pony stood beside the new victor. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! YOU DID IT!” She squealed with excitement, she bounced around the new champion, circling her while cheering and screaming along with the rest of the crowd. “E-excuse me?” Asked a firm, but soft voice. The two realised they had been approached by the Wonderbolt captain. Soarin’ stood there holding the crown in his teeth, he had obviously tried to get to Scootaloo, however the bouncing pink pony had stopped his every attempt. Pinkie grew still, though she still shook from the excitement that was brimming inside her. “Thanks.” The stallion said simply. He then moved over to Scootaloo, who stood their frozen in shock. She hadn’t moved an inch from the moment her name had been called out. Soarin’ gently placed the golden band around the mare’s head. “Well done! That was amazing!” He said. Scootaloo’s eyes grew wide with amazement! Praise? From a Wonderbolt? This was amazing! Soarin’ looked back up to the princess’s podium, to the other Wonderbolt who still stood beside her majesty. “She liked it too!” He commented, the uniformed Wonderbolt glanced down at Soarin, Pinkie and the crusaders. She gave them all an encouraging nod and smiled at them. Finally Scootaloo let out all of her bottled emotions. With a sudden scream she bolted into the air and twirled. “I WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!” Pinkie, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all squealed again and jumped in the air with delight. Soarin’ chuckled at their reactions. He turned away, and slowly flew back up to the princess’s booth. As he did, he watched the orange and purple pony soar through the sky. She circled around and came back, soaring over the crowd in victory, they all irrupted into cheers yet again. That girl knew how to please a crowd. After her victory lap Scoot settled back on the cloud floor next to Pinkie. The party pony grabbed hold of her shoulders, and shook her slightly with delight. “You did it! Come on, let’s go celebrate. C’mon girls!” She called to the two crusaders who stood close by. They needed to get out of Cloudsdale soon! Twilight’s spell wouldn’t last much longer, soon the ground based ponies wouldn’t be able to stand on the puffy cloud floor any longer! “So?” Pinkie asked seriously of Scoot. “How would you like to celebrate? Wiiithhh...Cupcakes?” her serious face broke out into a huge grin. Scoot smiled at her and said in a low voice. “Duhh! What else?” the two threw their arms over each other’s shoulders. They trotted away happily singing a little song as they headed for the balloon that would take them back home. Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty cupcakes! Don’t be too hasty, Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcaaaaakkkes! Through the lenses of the Wonderbolt goggles, the quiet Pegasus watched the ponies leave for Ponyville singing their little ridiculous song. Her pink watchful eyes followed them as they left the arena and headed for the baloon field just beyond. “Why don’t you go speak to them?” Soarin’ asked, he had finally returned to the private booth and had observed the pony watching the new champion walk away triumphantly. She smiled again. she glanced up at the curious face of Soarin’ then at the princess. She wasn’t looking her way, but the Pegasus knew she was listening. “She doesn’t need me.” She chuckled confidently. “Look at them! Do they need reminding of me? They’re happy the way they are.” She shook her head, allowing her mane to flow out freely from behind her in the breeze. It was dazzlingly bright, each different coloured strand glinting with a unique sheen in the light. Rainbow Dash looked down one last time, they were climbing into their air balloon. Pinkie was boosting Scootaloo into the basket, the orange pony seemed to sag with exhaustion, and rightly so! She had been amazing! That little filly, who could only jump to try an reach her as she leafed for Cloudsdale all those years ago, she was now the best young flier in all of Equestria! She focused on her old pink friend, she looked so happy, so did Scoot. They were made for each other, though you wouldn’t expect it, they really did make each other happy. That was all that mattered, as long as Scoot was happy, then there was no regret in Rainbow’s heart. If she hadn’t leafed, Scoot wouldn’t have found Pinkie, Scoot wouldn’t have found the encouragement that brought her here today! She wouldn’t have found her family! Congratulations again to Derpy_Pie for winning the competition! Congrats, and I hope it was worth the entry! here's hoping you all enjoyed this little story! Always kind of wanted to do one on Scootaloo! xD
