Growing Up...the Hard Way

by VinylScratchisbestpony

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Dark, Adventure, Tragedy, Random
Length: 5468

Scootaloo is a young mare now, full of life and possibility, however, after some choices are made, you cant go back

Scootaloo has just been accepted into the Junior Wonderbolt's Academy, her life journey has finally begun, and just like she hoped, she is following in Rainbow Dash's footsteps. But life in the Academy is tough, and certain past actions come back to haunt her like the plague.

Something I've had in the works forever, now I finally have the courage to submit it lol.

It's rated Teen now, but I may or may not change it to Mature later, I don't really trust myself to keep it PG-13
(Edit) I've got an editor now so I may take a little longer to submit chapters. But don't worry, I am working on them.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-29 14:22:08 UTC

Prologue

Growing Up...the Hard Way

Scootaloo opened her eyes slowly, blinking rapidly to clear the fuzzy fluid from her sight. She felt the warm hoof of her lover wrapped around her waist, the air still had the musky smell of sweat and seed even though they were outside. With a sigh, Scootaloo blushed as she remembered the night before, the passion of this union was the most amazing thing she had ever felt, granted, she kind of forced him into it, albeit unintentionally. She had just started her first heat, and so, her scent was enough to drive stallions off the deep end, and she had easily gotten him to oblige her deepest desires.

Scootaloo felt him shuffle behind her, warm breath gently touching her neck, sending chills down her spine. She exhaled sadly, she had to go, Rainbow might notice she was gone, gently and carefully, she stood, the feeling of his hoof slipping off her back made tears brim her eyes. If she got the news she wanted, she might never have a chance to do this again, it was a bittersweet need, the Academy, or him, but everypony knows a career comes first. With a gentle kiss, she spread her wings, and thanks to Rainbow Dash's training, she took off with one strong flap.

Heading Out

Chapter 1: Heading Out

  Scootaloo tapped her hooves nervously while she waited for the mail, "They said it would come today..." she mumbled, looking at the sky eagerly. Rainbow had helped her apply for the Junior Wonderbolt's Academy, since she had been an ace in the Wonderbolt's Academy, she was able to pull a few strings for Scootaloo, who was one year too young for J.W.A. Scootaloo was sweating puddles in her anxiety, suddenly Ditzy Do crashed from the sky, holding a letter in her mouth for Scootaloo. "Took you long enough..." she chuckled, helping Ditzy to her hooves.

  "I got you a letter!" Ditzy grinned cheesily, handing Scootaloo the high quality parchment, sealed with wax imprinted with the mark of the Wonderbolts.

  "Thanks Ditzy." Scootaloo almost hugged the clumsy mare, but she feared she might fall off the house if she made a wrong move.."Oh..Oh...OH!" Too late, "You ok Ditzy?" Scootaloo called over the edge of her house.

"I'm ok!" Ditzy's faint voice called back.

  "Did you do it?" Rainbow was suddenly beside her, peering curiously at the letter.

  "Give me a chance to open it." Scootaloo laughed, pulling the wax seal off the paper and pulling the letter out hastily, she scanned it carefully for an agonizing thirty seconds. "YES!!" Scootaloo cried out in joy as she leapt into the air, spinning in circles excitedly.

  "You did it!" Rainbow flew up to her and hugged her tightly, "I'm so proud of you Scoots.."

  "Thank you so much Rainbow, you don't know how much this means to me." Scootaloo smiled, returning the hug whole-heartedly.

  "Oh I do, I was young once too ya'know." Rainbow chuckled, releasing the orange filly from her grasp, "Should I fly you there?" she asked, landing on the house.

  "No thanks..I want them to see just how good I am, its nothing personal, just a matter of pride." Scootaloo landed beside her, picking up her saddlebags and swinging them over her back. Rainbow nodded, her eyes turning glossy as she looked at her adoptive sister, "What's wrong?"

  "Oh nothing, I just realized you're all grown up." Rainbow sniffled, wiping a solitary tear from her eye with a small chuckle, "Don't mind me, I'm just being emotional, you better go before I change my mind and keep you here forever." she turned away from Scootaloo, her shoulders visibly heaving with a sob.

  Scootaloo approached her and nuzzled her side, "Hey...I'll be back in a few weeks for Hearts and Hooves Day. I won't be gone forever."

  "I know it's just..." Rainbow hiccuped on a sob, turning to pull the unsuspecting filly into a hug, "..I'm just going to miss you so much!"

  "I'll miss you too..keep an eye on Tank, and don't let Pinkie throw any wild parties without me." Scootaloo managed to free herself from the constricting grip Rainbow had on her, taking to the sky.

  She heard Rainbow call as she flew away, "I love you Scoots! Be careful!" Scootaloo did a loop in the sky as response.

  Finally on her way, she ascended above the clouds, where the winds were strongest, letting the air do all her work for her. All she had to do was keep her wings open and she would be carried to her destination. I'll have to write letters to Rainbow, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle... Scootaloo kept herself from thinking about her secret, it would only make her sad, and that would leave no good first impression on the first day.

  She couldn't help but reminisce about her lover though, feeling that familiar warmth and wetness return to her nethers as particular details entered her mind. "No! Stop it!" Scootaloo scolded herself, Being sad on the first day is bad, being aroused is worse! They are going to think you're nothing but a horny little filly with dreams that are too big for her wings, grow up and act like a mare! A sudden wind caught her off guard, with a gasp, she tumbled into a barrel roll and halted her flight, looking for the source of her disturbance.

  "Very good, most young fliers can't recover from a tumble." a voice sounded from behind, Scootaloo turned, her jaw dropping. "And sometimes even full grown pegasi can't."

  "Spitfire?!" she couldn't believe her eyes, the legendary Wonderbolt and coach hovered expertly behind her, wearing her full performance outfit.

  "You must be Rainbow Dash's prodigé." Spitfire motioned for Scootaloo to follow her, and Scootaloo obliged willingly. "Rainbow says you couldn't fly until very recently.." Spitfire said, giving her a sideways glance, and Scootaloo shrunk under her gaze, "..but, she also says you are a fast learner, and a strong flier, so we have decided to give you a chance to become a Wonderbolt. You're going to go far kid."

  Scootaloo perked her ears at that, "Really?"

  "I think so, I was a lot like you, the only reason I got into this school was because my grandfather pulled some strings, he was a Captain once." Spitfire smiled, a rare genuine smile with not a hint of smugness.

  "Wow..." Scootaloo felt her grin grow wider, Spitfire's words were very reassuring, and she felt uplifted by her presence, knowing that she believed in her was all she needed. Now she was absolutely sure she was going to ace this school, Rainbow had said it was no picnic, but it was easier than her old school, no literature or science to flying, simply knowing your own body, knowing how to fly swiftly and efficiently, and knowing to respect your superiors.

  "We're here, follow me." Spitfire folded her wings and dove, Scootaloo gasped and copied her move, going into a controlled fall and heading towards the landing strip. Spitfire looked sideways at the determined orange filly, her purple hair flat against her skull as she followed. "Wings out!" Spitfire called suddenly, testing the filly's reaction time, Scootaloo immediately opened her wings, slowing the descent, and skidding on her hooves to a stop on the landing strip.

  Spitfire slid to a stop behind her, "Great job, I can see Rainbow worked hard, you are a good flier Scootaloo."

  Scootaloo blushed, "Well thank y.."

  "But good fliers need to be great fliers to be Wonderbolts, I am sure by the end of this school year we'll see if you've got the guts, strength, and agility to be a true Wonderbolt." Spitfire trotted towards the giant looming school building, where many other young pegasi filed in.

Just like Rainbow Dash said, she can raise your hopes and crush them in seconds... Scootaloo sighed as she followed the yellow pegasus, her dreams were finally starting to come true.

Firefly(Edited)

Chapter 2: Firefly

  Scootaloo entered the school building, following Spitfire closely, ceiling was domed, a stained blue and yellow glass decorating the dome with the Wonderbolt's insignia. "Scootaloo, you sign up here, Starjumper will take your picture, measure you, and give you an examination to get your I.D. tag and flight suit ready. Afterwards you'll be assigned a roommate and a room, both of you will be given keys, don't lose them." Spitfire pushed Scootaloo towards Starjumper, a light blue unicorn mare with golden locks tied into a ponytail, her white coat and I.D. showed that she was a doctor.

  "Y-yes ma'am." Scootaloo gulped, following Starjumper nervously, she looked back to see Spitfire give her a wink before she was whisked behind into a room behind the orientation desk, that familiar doctor's office smell of rubbing alcohol filled her nostrils, making her blood run cold.

  "Ok, Scootaloo was it?" Starjumper began to take notes, putting on her glasses and clearing her throat, "I'll need you to sit on the chair." she motioned towards a small umber colored chair. Scootaloo nodded and sat in the chair, "Smile for the camera please." Starjumper pointed to the camera that sat in front of the chair, and Scootaloo put on her best pose, smiling casually and leaning back in the chair, looking comfortable and relaxed.

  "Very good, now can you come stand on the scale please?" Starjumper had snapped the photo and was now standing by a large scale, large rolls of measuring tape sat on the small shelf it carried. Scootaloo obliged, standing quite still on the scale while Starjumper recorded her weight on the notepad, "123 lbs, not bad, your going to be a fast flier if you keep this weight." Starjumper gave Scootaloo a small smile.

  "Really?" Scootaloo grinned.

  'Yes, now stand still, I need to measure you." Starjumper measured her neck, waist, wings, and legs before putting the tape away. "Now if you'll sit on this table please, time for the physical exam." Starjumper patted the cushioned table, Scootaloo climbed on, with help from her wings, and sat on her haunches.

  "No, no, stand please, I need to examine everything, lets get your rear over with." Starjumper turned red in the face, and so did Scootaloo, gulping as she stood and turned her rump towards the unicorn, who lifted her tail and peered at her private areas carefully.

  Scootaloo gasped as she felt something enter her sensitive marehood, "What the hell?" she exclaimed, looking back at Starjumper, who had a long swab.

  "Sorry, I usually just do it as fast as possible, makes it easier." Starjumper cut the swab in half, throwing the stick away and putting the wet swab in a vial. "Ok, last thing, are you sexually active at all?" she asked, readying to write the answer down on her pad.

  Scootaloo winced, "Does everypony have to know?"

  "No, its a private thing, only the coaches will know, and they don't tell without permission." Starjumper checked the "Yes" box, "I'll take that as a yes then." she said under her breathe, "Ok, now I need to see your hooves."

  Scootaloo was finally sent to her room after being probed mercilessly, she was paired with a particularly strong flier named Firefly, and her room was #14 on the second floor. "Hello?" Scootaloo called as she entered the room, there were two beds, each suspended on opposite sides of the room, since pegasi have a tendency to prefer sleeping high in the air.

  "Hi! I'm Firefly, and you are?" a deep blue filly with golden eyes approached her, her wild black and white mane was slicked back, Wonderbolt style, two winged yellow lightning bolts adorned her flanks.

  "Scootaloo, it's nice to meet you." Scootaloo smiled warmly, shaking the offered hoof.

  "Scootaloo huh? I like it, and I can tell we are going to be best friends." Firefly returned the smile, turning to point at the left side of the room, "I already unpacked and took this side, I hope you don't mind."

  Scootaloo shook her head, "No I don't mind, I didn't really have a preference." she flew up to the bed, placing her saddlebags down with a sigh and dumping the contents onto the blue covers. She didn't pack much, only her toothbrush, hairbrush, sweater, socks, some paper and ink, and gel for styling her mane.

  "I can't wait to get started, I just know we are going to be the best fliers out there! You know that they pair you with your roommate?" Firefly hovered behind her.

  "No I didn't know that, I thought they made teams after you passed the Dizzatron?" Scootaloo remembered what Rainbow Dash told her.

  "No that's the Wonderbolt's Academy, this is J.W.A. they pair you from the start, my special trait is strength." Firefly said, leaning back and putting her hooves behind her head.

  "Oh, they said mine is agility and speed." Scootaloo sat on the bed and let her hind legs dangle over the edge.

  "Nice, it makes a perfect triangle, if I fly in front, and you fly behind me, I can muscle my way through tough winds, and you give me a boost from behind, it makes us both formidable foes." Firefly reach a hoof towards Scootaloo, who hoof-bumped and giggled.

  "So when is the first lesson?" Scootaloo asked just as a bell rang loudly outside the door.

  "Tomorrow, that's lunch. Race you!" Firefly opened the door and bolted outside, Scootaloo reacted swiftly, dashing after her, nearly crashing into other pegasi who were filing out of the rooms, "Loser buys dessert!" Firefly laughed. Scootaloo folded her wings briefly to avoid a pegasus ahead, she ducked under the colt, who gave a startled cry, Scootaloo hardly noticed, flapping to gain height in the hallway, she had already nearly caught up to Firefly.

  "Bank!" Firefly called out, narrowly missing a lamp that dangled from the ceiling, Scootaloo let her tongue sit on the corner of her mouth, barrel-rolling to the side and pushing forwards with a strong flap, zooming past Firefly and down the hall.

  "Haha!" Scootaloo called triumphantly, looking back for a second to see Firefly was right behind her. The cafeteria was just ahead, Scootaloo banked hard to her left, turning right sharply and flying straight through the double doorway. She planted her hooves in the ground between the tables, sliding on the hardwood floor, her speed carried her clear across the cafeteria before the friction finally won and slowed her to a stop. "Whoo!" she exclaimed, tossing her purple mane and trotting over to the entryway, Firefly met her halfway, hoof-bumping again.

  "That was awesome!" Firefly chuckled, "Let's go get some grub."

  "You're buying dessert right?" Scootaloo nudged Firefly.

  "Yeah, yeah..." Firefly rolled her eyes as they approached the counter.

This is going to be better than I thought, I've only been here an hour and I already have a best friend! This is going to be a breeze! Scootaloo smiled as she thought to herself.

This is NOT Going to Be a Breeze!

Chapter 3: This is NOT going to be a breeze!

  Scootaloo panted heavily on her 30th wing-up, all her willpower went into keeping her body above the ground, her muscles shook violently as she lowered herself down, then back up. How did I ever think this would be easy? Scootaloo asked herself, nearly collapsing when the coach called for them to stop, all 24 pegasi in strength training sighed in relief. Any traits you lacked were made up for with training, Scootaloo was subjected to strength training, and Firefly to speed and agility classes.

  Scootaloo sighed and stretched her wings gently to relax them,  a cooling sensation sweeping through the hot and tired muscles as she did. "Alright kids, take a five minute break, then I want you right back here for some reps!" The coach called, blowing his whistle to signal the start of the break.

  Scootaloo stood wearily and headed to her locker, gulping down nearly her whole bottle of water. She looked forward to the next day's classes, the training sessions were only on Mondays and Thursdays. Tomorrow she was going to strut her stuff

on the flight course!

  "Break's over! Pair up, spot your partner, I don't want any accidents." Coach called loudly, blowing the whistle again. Scootaloo was almost immediately paired with a dark gray colt with bright blue hair.

  "Hi, I'm Scootaloo." Scootaloo offered a hoof, and he shook it half-heartedly.

  "Robin." he mumbled, hardly meeting her gaze.

Shy much? Scootaloo shrugged to herself, with a deep breath, she lifted the 20 lb weights, carefully using her legs instead of her back. "Nngh...spot..me.." Scootaloo panted, lifting the weights steadily up and down twenty times.

  At lunch, Scootaloo met up with Firefly, who looked just as exhausted as she was. "That...was...horrible.." Firefly grunted as she sat down, rubbing her sore wings.

  "How do you think I feel?" Scootaloo pointed to a deep purple bruise on her hind leg.

  "Ouch! How'd that happen?" Firefly winced at the sight.

  "Robin dropped a 20 lb weight on it." Scootaloo replied, gingerly caressing the bruise.

  "Oooh....." Firefly winced again, "Robin? Who's that?" she asked, suddenly becoming curious.

  "Just a colt in my class, he's not very social, or observant.." Scootaloo made the last remark at her leg, which still throbbed painfully.

  "I see." Firefly sat back with a sigh, she was hoping for a budding romance for her new friend, but Scootaloo didn't take much interest in the subject when she had talked about it the day before. She wondered if the orange filly was into mares, she was definitely a tomboy, but that didn't confirm anything about that, she supposed she would just have to wait and see.

  "So what about you? Did you meet anypony?" Scootaloo asked, leaning halfway across the table.

  "Uh.." Firefly' cheeks turned red.

  Scootaloo gasped, "You did! You so totally did!" she pointed a hoof at the ever-reddening pegasus, who blushed deeper and hid under her mane, or what she could hide under, it was still swept back with gel as usual.

  "Ok..maybe I did, but don't shout it to the world." Firefly chuckled, brushing a stray hair behind her ear in embarrassment.

  "Who is it?" Scootaloo pried, leaning farther across the table.

  "Heh...." Firefly giggled nervously, looking around the mess hall briefly, "Him." she pointed towards a dark brown colt, he looked very strong, no wonder he was in the agility class.

  "Oh...he's cute...but is he nice?" Scootaloo looked at the buff colt in disapproval, he didn't seem the type for her friend, he looked as though he was flirting with the fillies.

  "I d-didn't actually meet him...I just saw him.." Firefly blushed deeper, obviously Scootaloo's poor friend was the victim of a crush, an unhealthy one at that.

Oh Firefly... "I see." Scootaloo looked over at the colt again, Yep, he is definitely not for you. she noted to herself in the back of her mind when she saw the fillies fawning over him.

  Scootaloo sat on her haunches in the shower, letting the warm water simply spill over her back, thoughts of times that had past filled her mind. Memories of what a stallion's touch feels like, she could almost feel it happening right now, and the tenderness of his kiss on her neck...Scootaloo sighed and let her head fall to the side, as if he really were here. A hoof slid down her stomach, barely noticed by its owner as it began to gently stroke her nethers, she gasped quietly, but she did not stop. Her thoughts reminded her of how it felt to be rutted, oh what she wouldn't give for that feeling again.

  By now Scootaloo was moaning frequently, a hind leg kicking every here and there as her erotic mind took over. She arched her back and gasped as she climaxed, the pleasure she felt was hardly fitting after knowing what it felt like to be filled with a stallion's seed, but she accepted it as a small comfort in her loneliness. She stood, panting, and rinsed herself again, being sure to wash her hoof with soap before she turned the faucet off. Scootaloo climbed out of the shower with a sigh, feeling her racing heart calm as she dried herself off, I miss you so much... she whispered in her head, even though she knew he wouldn't hear her.

  When Scootaloo stepped outside, coat-brush in hoof, the darkened room met her eyes, "Firefly?" she called, flicking on the light, she wasn't here. Scootaloo shrugged to herself and spread her tired wings, gently flitting up to her bed, taking the brush to her orange coat and letting her mind drift back to the erotic thoughts, this time she refused her body's pleas to pleasure herself, knowing Firefly would be back anytime and she would be caught in the most embarrassing of situations.

  "Scootaloo! I'm back!" Firefly burst in just as Scootaloo had finished correcting herself, the startled filly nearly fell off the bed, causing Firefly to burst into laughter, "I'm sorry Scoots..." she chuckled.

  "It's ok, you only scared me, I'm fine." Scootaloo smiled half-heartedly, she had at least wanted a few minutes more to think about her stallions, but she brushed those thoughts away for now, it was time to be social.

  "I brought some treats." Firefly held up a small basket that had been filled with juice boxes, fruit, and a few chocolate energy bars.

  "Are you sure we're allowed to eat chocolate?" Scootaloo glided down, looking into the basket with interest.

  "Yeah it's fine, my agility teacher says we shouldn't eat them at night, just in the morning. She said its like a coffee, it has caffeine in it, and sugar, so you get a burst of energy in the morning. She also said it really helps with waking up." Firefly explained as she placed the stack of bars into the tiny refrigerator that came with the room, "Want an apple?"

  "Sure." Scootaloo gratefully took the fruit and bit into it, tomorrow was going to be a big day, that much she knew, and she was glad to have Firefly by her side. She was a little bit eccentric and hyper at times, but she was already proving to be a loyal and trustworthy friend. Perhaps I overthought that, she only brought me food... Scootaloo held back a giggle, Firefly is eccentric? I'm eccentric!

Strut Your Stuff

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.

Weekends

Chapter 6: Weekends

  Scootaloo's eyes blinked rapidly, clearing the grogginess from her sight as she awoke from her deep slumber, Its Saturday, thank Celestia! was the first thought to cross her mind, she wasn't required to get out of bed at 7:40 A.M. And she was content to simply lay in bed, relishing that numb feeling that comes with being comfortable beyond comprehension. Firefly was snoring across the room, obviously enjoying the weekend as much as Scootaloo was already.

  Scootaloo had very few plans for the weekend, but she was sure she would be at the beach, only a fifteen minute flight from the school. An unwelcome stretch overtook her body as her mind began to wake, Scootaloo groaned when she realized she wasn't getting back to sleep and sat up wearily. Her aching muscles made her want to lay back down, but she shrugged them off and descended quietly to the ground, careful not to wake Firefly from her slumber as she headed out the door.

  The school hall was so quiet, her hoofsteps seemed far louder than they really were, so she took to the air, slowly making her way down the halls. Here wings still made a racket, but they were much quieter than her hooves, and she managed to make it past every door without waking anypony. Now she could step outside, and she did, taking a deep breath of the early morning air, it smelled so divine, like sweet grass and dew, maybe even a little rain.

  Scootaloo's stomach rumbled at the smell of grass, Might as well... she grinned, flying towards the thick meadows of the mountain. Her landing was muffled by the green blades that swayed gently in the morning breeze, with a lick of her chops, she lowered her head and clamped her teeth around the nearest blades. They were so juicy and sweet! Unlike any grass she has tasted before, the flavor exploding in her mouth as she delicately chewed the delicious blades. From her experience, it seemed wild grass was always far better than domestic, I hope I live near a meadow, Scootaloo thought to herself as she grazed, Just so I can eat this every morning.

  It was quite a relaxing thing to graze, Scootaloo had never truly done it, and her tail swished happily back and forth as she gradually moved forward after each bite. Now she understood what she had read during history class about the ancient mustangs, they were quite like the buffalo, except they were far more tribal, and sometimes a little vicious. She had read that they were a lot like the cattle that earth ponies raised, grazing through whole plains sometimes because the tribes were so big. Now Scootaloo smiled as she thought of that, she'd love to eat wild grass for every meal.

  Her stomach filled swiftly, and soon Scootaloo was on a cloud, rubbing her distended belly contentedly. The sun had just risen and was now illuminating the landscape, to the east she could see the ocean, and to the west, she could just barely make out the distant Manehatten. "So you're an early bird?" Spitfire's familiar voice sounded from behind.

  Scootaloo turned and smiled, "I guess I am, what are you doing up so early?"

  Spitfire gently sat on her haunches, "I like the sunrise, it's the best time of day to fly." she gazed dreamily at the sky as she spoke. Anyone who had been around Spitfire a while would know that even though she is rough around the edges, she's still a filly at heart, and bound to make a great friend. At least, that's what Rainbow had told Scootaloo as well.

  "Me too, I've never flown before sunrise though.." Scootaloo sighed, looking west again as homesick thoughts began to fill her head again.

  "What are you doing up so early?" Spitfire asked, nudging Scootaloo's shoulder.

  "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a flight, but I got a little preoccupied.." Scootaloo gestured towards her full stomach, and Spitfire giggled as she nodded her head.

  "You know, if I ever have a filly, I want her to be like you." Spitfire said, a genuine smile on her muzzle as she lifted Scootaloo's chin.

  "Like me?" Scootaloo asked, confusion wracking her features.

  "You're smart, but you don't use that against others, you love to fly, you're the fastest filly in school! And you're one of my best friends...I'd want my kids to be my best friends." Spitfire looked away as she pondered something in her own head.

  Scootaloo's mouth gaped at the compliment, "I'm your friend?"

  Spitfire smiled again, "I think so, you've been nothing but kind to me, and this whole Wonderbolt training thing drills kindness out of you, it teaches you faster, stronger, better. Yes, we work as a team, but we also only want glory for ourselves half the time, you are different, you root for your companion, you help her when she needs help, you ace your classes and you still have time to help Firefly with her homework. That's the type of friend I want, and the type of friend I think I found in you, I'm glad you're here Scootaloo." Spitfire pulled Scootaloo into a gentle hug, surprising the already shocked filly.

  "Your welcome..?" Scootaloo giggled nervously at the close contact, I'm hugging the captain of the Wonderbolts.... was the only thing that crossed her mind, but she was happy that she had made Spitfire so happy. And from what Rainbow Dash told her, Spitfire was not an easy pony to get on your side.

  "Ready for a flight?" Spitfire broke the hug, spreading her wings in excitement, Scootaloo smirked and pushed off of the cloud, zooming into the air, quickly followed by Spitfire.