Growing Up...the Hard Way

Chapter 4: Strut You're Stuff

  The whistle blew sharply, and Scootaloo's outspread wings flapped strongly, lifting her off the ground at top speed, sending her flying at the obstacles. Scootaloo folded her wings to fit in the small cloud circles, darting through them like a rocket, ascending sharply to "jump" over the cloud bar, she held her legs high against her chest as if she really was jumping from the ground. With another strong flap, she zoomed towards her final obstacle, a series of cloud pillars that led to a small tunnel, curving around to send the pony back towards the landing strip. Scootaloo smirked, this was her favorite with Rainbow Dash, expertly angling her wings, she went through the pillars, criss-crossing around them, then with three flaps of her wings to spare, she thrust forward and folded her wings to her sides again, her momentum carrying her at top speed through the curve.

  She shot out of the tunnel like a cannonball, spreading her wings to create drag, and sliding to a stop on all four hooves, her chest heaving with the exertion. "13.5 seconds, just barely broke the record. Nice job Scootaloo." Spitfire smiled in approval, letting her stopwatch fall from her hooves.

  "Really?" Scootaloo beamed, her cheeks just barely tinted with a blush.

  Spitfire smiled again, "Next!" she yelled, blowing the whistle sharply.

  Scootaloo pulled off her trainee's outfit, brushing any grime away from the latex fabric before she hung it on it's hook on her side of the room. Firefly was in the shower, so Scootaloo decided to send a letter to Rainbow Dash, she pulled out her ink and parchment, digging an old hardened feather out of her satchel.

Dear Rainbow,

I'm doing fine, and I already made a new friend, her name is Firefly. How is it back in Ponyville? I know I've only been gone a few days, but I already miss it so much, I can't wait to come back for Hearts and Hooves Day. I met Spitfire on the first day, and she says she is really impressed with me, I can't help but feel like she's favoring me a little bit, I don't know if it's just me. Make sure you share my letter with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, and tell them I miss them too, I love you very much, and I'll write next week.

Keep kicking clouds,

Scootaloo.

  Scootaloo closed off with a sigh, folding the parchment carefully and placing it in an envelope. She licked the sticky strip and closed it tightly, placing a stamp on the corner and writing Rainbow Dash, Ponyville. on the cover.

  "Who are you writing to?" Firefly's voice made Scootaloo jump.

  "Oh! Umm, just my friend Rainbow Dash, she's kind of like my sister." Scootaloo replied, holding the letter tucked beneath her wing as she trotted to the mail drop.

  "Hey I've heard of her! She's the pony who did the sonic rainboom right?" Firefly asked excitedly.

  "Yeah, she is pretty awesome." Scootaloo smiled.

  "'pretty awesome'? She is amazing! Everypony thought sonic rainbooms were an old mare's tale until she came along." Firefly flitted her wings giddily, her eyes becoming dreamy and glazed, obviously Rainbow Dash was an idol of hers, just like she had been for Scootaloo in her filly years.

  "Maybe you could come with me to Ponyville on our break, I'll introduce you." Scootaloo flew up to her bed, folding her legs beneath her and snuggling into the soft blanket.

  "Really?! Oh what I wouldn't give... Of course I'll come, I hardly have anypony to go to this Hearts and Hooves Day anyhow." Firefly flew up to her own bed, shivering in excitement.

  "It's no problem Firefly..." Scootaloo yawned, closing her eyes and laying her head on the pillow, she heard Firefly blow out the candles, and the room outside her eyes went dark. Her thoughts drifted back to her stallion, Him! He's not mine! Stop calling him "my stallion"! Scootaloo corrected herself, remembering what had transpired between them, it wasn't exactly a mutual agreement to do it, and for that she chided herself. She practically forced him into it, and she didn't even stay long enough to see if he approved, or if he hated her for it.

  A single tear leaked out of her closed eyes, her throat tightening as she held back her emotions, I'm such a stupid filly! A bucking stupid filly! How can I ever *think** he'll forgive me?* Scootaloo let her dam burst quietly, sobbing into her pillow with barely controlled hiccups.