Flight of the Flightless

***Flight of the Flightless

Chapter 4***

“The school house!? Are you nuts or something?” I was quickly dropped down by Rainbow Dash landing close to it by some massive bushes that seem to be conveniently placed.

Rainbow Dash lands beside me in the bushes.  “Nope, I will go greet them and then wait to everypony leaves.” She gave a small laugh not looking at me directly.  “You sounded just like her.”

“What!? You can't be serious Rainbow!” I almost yelled out but froze when spoke again.  “Gah! This is just stupid. I just can't seem to stop almost talking like her.” I looked up at Rainbow Dash and back to the school house.

Rainbow Dash rub her hoof in my mane causing me to just giggle a little.  “Yeah and the way I ruffle her mane, you just act like her too. That why I thought you was well...”

“Changeling, mirror pool pony and something that shouldn't be her right?” I look ahead at the school.

Rainbow Dash just smirked walking out of the bushes.  “Yeah and getting to know you now, I can see your not. Everypony not the same even if they look it, after seeing all those Pinkie Pies I got to understand it specially from Pinkie Pie herself.” With that said Rainbow Dash went up to the school house leaving me to hide inside the bushes.

I sat done on my rump twisting my tail around close to my front hooves.  “So true.” I ran my right front hoof against the tail, it felt strange rubbing the hoof against it.  “Weird, I felt like I done this before.” I tried to remember but came up with blanks.

“Dumb memory loss. Why in the first time I get memory loss from a blow to the head?” I muttered hitting my head lightly and headaches with hoof hitting caused a bit more pain.  “Ow! That smarts.” I rubbed my head feeling a sour from that blow.

I glance over to the school house seeing Rainbow Dash sitting in the tree...  “Why am I not surprised, awesome to see though.” I decided to just lay down and wait.

Wait I did, I had no clue how much time past but I kept myself occupied with doing doodle drawings with my hoof in the sandy dirt. I was getting bored and thinking about home was getting to me, I would give up looking like Scootaloo to just be back home and have my old boring life back.

“Up and down is just how life is, there some awesome moments and not so cool moments, it just life.” I whispered as I drew a picture of Rainbow Dash sleeping in the tree in the dirt with my hoof.  “Guess the saying 'Once something is taken you will miss it', for the most part that is.” I muttered looking at what I drew.

“Strange, I never been this coherent with drawing before...” I continued to talk to myself and heard the bell, looked over to the school house seeing the large bell swinging back and forwards followed by a loud chime from it with each swing.

Rainbow Dash woke up looking over to my direction seeing if I was still there and I just gave her a short wave with my hoof from where I hid, she returned the favour with a smirk.

I saw all the colts and fillies leaving the school house with the teacher Miss Cheerilee step out behind them with a hoof raised to the side of her snout.  “Have a nice weekend children and see you all Monday!” She shouted out warming to all them and walk back into the school house.

Scootaloo walking out with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, I gulped nervously seeing them.  So girls what shall we do for the rest of the day and weekend?

“Beats me Scoots, ah was hopin' yer double would be awake.” Applebloom answered

“Yeah I bet she got a lot of cool things to talk about!” Scootaloo replied.

“But we do have to apologise for what happened though.” Sweetie Belle reminding them by my guess as they look a bit sadden all the sudden.

Scootaloo instantly changed from sad to a hoof at them.  “Nah! She just an mirror pool pony!

“I bet she is a changeling!” Sweetie Belle disagreed.

Applebloom didn't look convinced.  “Ah say she from that other world Twilight spoke of!”

Rainbow Dash directly above them from what I could see snickered at those answers, I already knew they was wrong because Twilight did all those crazy tests on me even that... I shivered thinking about it as she did go through my head and got more then she bargain for.

“That what you get for reading an mind of somepony with Asperger syndrome, not so cool is it?”

That would have been something I said for sure but it would have been rude and I don't like being that rude to those that kinda helped you out of a tight spot for basically nothing.

“Wrong girls!” Rainbow Dash called out and they all looked up.

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo beamed with delight hovering for a second flapping her wings rapidly.  “It so awesome to see ya! What are you doing at the school?”

Rainbow Dash flap her wings coming to an soft landing before them.  “Oh nothing much, just thought I give you girls an update on our mysterious friend.”

“Really?” Scooatloo quickly asked.  “Is she awake?”

“Scoots if she where, don't ya think she'd tell us!” Applebloom flaying her forelegs a little as she spoke back.

Rainbow Dash point a hoof out in my direction  “Yep and right over there!”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle asked looking right over to my direction now and the others.

“Swift Roller come on out and meet the crusaders!” Rainbow Dash waved for me to come out.

I gulped loudly and stood up.  “Are you crazy Rainbow Dash!? Is your head in the clouds or something!?” I shouted out from cover.

Rainbow Dash looked around and facehoofed herself.  “Yeah that pretty stupid and yelling out just sorta blow that too if anypony else was here.”

“Point taken.” I replied looking to my doodles on the ground.  “Guess I'll just come right out since this is Rainbow Dash's idea afterall.” I spoke to myself in half whisper out of ear shot of the four ponies as I step out of the bushes before them. “Hey!” I gave them a little wave with my hoof with the best possible smirk I can give.

“Crusaders I like you to meet Swift Roller.” Rainbow Dash walk up beside me with an hoof out to me. “Ask your questions but one at a time ok?” They all gave an nod in reply saying together. “Yes Rainbow Dash.”

Scootaloo step up to me, we was inches from each other snouts with the other girls right next to her. “Swift Roller? Huh?”

“It was given to me by Twilight.” I answered turning my gaze away sitting down wrapping my tail around holding it with my front hooves feeling really out of place and scared by the size of those questionable eyes of the crusaders.

“Given? What is yer name then?” Applebloom asked next to ask.

I twisting my hooves around my tail answered. “Wayne Osman...”

“That an weird name!” Sweetie Belle giggled. “Was you an colt or something?”

“Yes... In a way.” I answered feeling tears well up a little thinking of home now.

“Y-your a colt!?” Scootaloo looked horrified by this. “What is your problem becoming a look alike of me!? Why!?” She shouted in an raised voice. I closed my eyes turning away feeling fear overcome me and await for impact. “Come on answer me! Don't give me that scared look! I want to-”

“I DON'T KNOW!” I opened my teary eyes at her and as they fell I lay down holding to the tail rocking a little. “I-I don-don't know... *sob* I just want to go... *sob* Ho-home... I don't know why I look like you Scootaloo I really don't! I just want to be me again! Just boring working too hard, stress out me again!” I cried into my tail.

Rainbow Dash pick me up with her hooves and I turn to cry into her. “I just want to be home with my mum, brother and sister again!” I continued to cry knowing that I lost in an unknown world.

“Great goin' Scoots! Yer made her cry!” Applebloom glared at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo put an hoof to herself. “Me!? I didn't know this! How was am I suppose to know!?”

Rainbow Dash with an wing wrap around me as I cried. I wasn't sure how much time past as I continued to cry with the girls watching and very uncertain what to say and to do now.

After my crying slowed and she humming a little to me, she look over the three girls. “jumping to conclusions, I done that myself as well. I thought she was evil or something and I made that mistake way too easily, seeing her like this breaks my heart. That not awesome and very sappy but she having it rough girls. Swift needs our support.” Rainbow Dash surprised me as I looking up at her with watered eyes.

“Yeah your right...” Scootaloo kicked the dirt. “Sorry for snapping at you like that Swift... It just really weird seeing you look like me and your suppose to be a colt, that just wrong...”

“I know...” I hiccuped a little slowly looking over to her with tears freshly falling down my fur. “I was 29 years old...”

“Whoa...” Scootaloo only could say with her jaw hanging and Rainbow Dash was just as surprised. “Your joking right?”

I shook my head. “I was but now I am a filly... This is just an bunch of ponyfeathers and I just want it end and go home...”

“Ah don't get it, we found ya by the river side out cold. How did ya get to Eqesturia and become Scootaloo?”

“I can't remember...”

“That blow to the back of the head did it didn't it?” Sweetie Belle not looking at my eyes by the bandages around my head that Twilight replaced with the blood stained ones. I nod silently feeling it all sicking in even more I felt tears welling up again. “I'm sorry...”

“Yeah sorry too...”

“It was all our faults, ah am too sorry for what we did...”

“We was only trying to get our cutie marks at something differently! We never thought anypony would get hurt by it!” Sweetie Belle lower her head in shame so did the others now.

Scootaloo raise her head first after several moments had past. “Can you forgive us?”

I couldn't be that dishearting to them. “Yeah it fine, part from some memory loss and an mega headache I am ok for the most part.” I was lower down by Rainbow Dash onto my hooves and I wipe the tears away once more.

Rainbow Dash grinned at us hovering now with forelegs crossed. “See girls, I kept my promise and it went better then I expected it too, we all friends now. Right?”

I smiled a little. “Yeah that fine by me if that with them.”

“Yeah! I'm cool with it!” Scootaloo beamed in delight.

“Same here!” Sweetie Belle giggled.

“Eeyup!” Applebloom answered. “Ah bet she has no cutie mark too!”

“Yeah we...”

I quickly ended that shaking my head. “Not happening.”

“But...” Scootaloo tried to counter argue it.

I sighed putting an hoof to my head. “I don't understand why or how I came to look like you Scoots but I am not you. If somehow I got a cutie mark while stuck here, what effects would it have on me getting home and turning back? I only seen how awesome equestrian magic is but I don't understand it and it magic might anchor me here forever if I did.” I gave them a wild card blown theory that came from the top of my head.

“Maybe it won't but I can't take that chance... Staying low and out of sight no matter how boring it can be for me, might be best...” I look up at Rainbow Dash this time seeing she could understand what I was trying to say but seeing the look of disappointment on their faces I sighed rubbing my head trying to get rid of this really bad headache.

“Come on girls, she-”

“Scoots Ah think we should let her finish.” Applebloom put an hoof to her friend.

“What there to listen? She made it clear that we only 'friends' and that it.” Scootaloo replied with a glare at me.

I shrugged. “Think like that Scootaloo, I was just going to say we can still hang out and have some fun at the clubhouse and Sweet Apple Acres since it out of the way, I am an filly afterall.” I turn away taking a quick look from the corner of my eyes. “But if you want to be an stubborn mule, be my guess.” I smirked waiting for the reply.

“Come on Scoots that doesn't sound too bad does it?” Applebloom pleaded to Scootaloo.

“Yeah! Even if she look like you she isn't you! We can find things that nothing to do with crusading to have fun!” Sweetie Belle now in front of her with Applebloom.

“What do ya say about that Scoots?” Their eyes was huge and I cringed at the way they did it, they made Cat in Boots eyes third class rated to theirs.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes at them and turn around to face me with I turning around to her. “Fine! We go with that.” Then smiled with a soften look. “Awesome what you did that, see you around Swift!” Scootaloo ran up to her scooter grabbing it with her hooves and placing her hind hooves on it board, placing her helmet on. “Come on girls lets go and get some chow before this sappy moment gets even more sapper!”

“See ya Swift!” Applebloom waved and Sweetie Belle did too.

“Come to the clubhouse tomorrow and we can think of what fun we can have!” Sweetie Belle called out. “We got the whole weekend!”

Scootaloo buzzed her wings. “See ya tomorrow Swift!” Scootaloo pulled the cart along with them in it, coming around she put an hoof out to me. I put mine out and we slapped, with a massive smirk she speed off towards Ponyville.

I just flopped on my belly with hind legs behind and forelegs in front snout pressing on the ground an groan. I raised it looking where they went. “That was intense...”

Rainbow Dash flying up to see that they where gone turn to me on the ground still lying there. “Yeah it sure was and gotta to say that went better then I thought it would.” She lands next to me and with an push under my hind quarters push me over her head and down the back of her neck onto her back.

“Lets get back to my place so I can sort out where your going to sleep tonight.” I wrap my hooves around her neck best I could as she took off into the sky. “No need to hold on so tight kiddo, I won't drop you! I'm too awesome for that!”

I look over her side as we pass some very low clouds and I could see between her flaps Sweet Apple Acres including the clubhouse. “Yeah you sure are! This is so cool! I never seen Sweet Apple Acres like this! It better then seeing it in the show! It more real then I ever thought it be.” I looked over the other side of her to see the barn, house and main entrance of the farm.

“Well if that the case kiddo, what do you think of my home?” Rainbow Dash speeds up and I could see it in the distance as she flew closer to it, I could see the iconic appearance of her cloud house home, it looked more magical than the cartoon series gave it and the name given in the MLP Game I played a lot came to mind.

I closed my eyes and pictured it. With my eyes open the words came out of my snout whispers through the wind. “Cloudominium”

“Here we are Swift!” Rainbow Dash lands calmly right outside the door to her home. “You can get off now.”

I look down at the clouds under Rainbow Dash's hooves and gulped. “G-get off?”

“Yeah. You can walk the rest of the way on hoof.” She turn her head to me.

My heart was starting to race as I nervously lift one hind leg over her back to the other side sitting there looking down at the clouds. “You can do this Wayne... Pegasi walk on clouds...” I whispered.

Rainbow Dash facehoofs and jumps which causes me to lose my balance, I fall off her right on the clouds.

“Ah!”

I gasped in surprise of the sudden launch and face planted on the soft cloud “Opf!”

I slowly lifted my head out of it placing one hoof after the other till I was on all fours on the cloud. “See nothing to it.” She chuckled walking up to the door over the small bridge of clouds over the flowing rainbow waterfall.

“Solid... How bizarre.” I tapping the cloud below my hooves with one, I felt the contact with sound coming from it. “So what kinda cloud is this? It kinda cool how it looks and feels.” I walked up to the end looking over it at the hilly ground below seeing Rainbow Dash's mail box. “Glad I am not afraid of heights.”

I raise my head as my eyes to the landscape around me, I could see Ponyville and the castle in the distance as well the Everfree Forest and Sweet Apple Acres. “Best seat in the town, right kiddo?” I turn around to Rainbow Dash standing by the open door. “Coming in or what Swift?”

The comprehension of entering Rainbow Dash's home was something I never thought that would happen, there was so little to know about the inside of her home, only bits and pieces shown on TV.

Staring at the jar open door and slowly trailing to Rainbow Dash whom just standing on her hind legs, one cross over the other. Leaning on the wall of her home forelegs crossed, she had that cheerful smile and glimmer from her moderate cerise eyes. “Alright.” I walk up to the door.

With an push with her wing the door opens all the way and I got to get a look inside her home, stepping inside with a clip and a clop I stood inside Rainbow Dash's home. It was a roundish room with an stair case leading up to the next floor, an arch way lead to what look like an kitchen slash dining room from what I could see from this angle.

The first room look like an living room with an sofa under a window with an dome fitment on the ceiling in the middle of the room, swirls of dark blue lines led into an blue star right above the dome as it hang there, the sofa had an what was a Shadow Bolt flight suit with threading and needle kit beside it.

The underside of the stairs had an door open with three outfits inside it, one was an Wonderbolt Cadet flightsuit and the two dresses I seen her wear at the wedding and gala. The last one was the team leader weather vest for the Winter Warm up.

The couch had a few books on it with a bed sheet on the floor. Beside the coach was an book shelf with more books on it one I noticed one of them was in a case it had a picture of Rainbow Dash and Daring Do, sitting behind it was the necklace with an red jewel in it shape as a red lightning bolt.

This was pictured almost like the ones the fans made part from the door leading to a kitchen and another door leading to another room but shut. “That just an look alike element isn't it?”I walked up to the case jumping up on my hind legs with my forelegs resting on the shelf to get a good look at it. “And the book Daring Do gave you right?”

“Yep on both accounts Swift.” She close the door with an soft kick of her right back hoof. “Still creepy that you know this stuff about me.” Rainbow Dash step up to the couch picking up the book with her both placing it back on the shelf. “Sorry for the mess, I don't usually have company.”

“How many floors does this place have?” I asked glancing at the stairs.

Rainbow Dash place the sheets neatly on the couch and sat down on it. “Let see, you have the living room, kitchen and my workout room on this floor, next floor is the spare bedroom turn storage room, bathroom and an room I created for preening. And finally the top floor is my own mega sweet bedroom.” Rainbow Dash explained to me what was on each floor.

I felt out of place and an inconveniently problem for Dash. “I guess you going to have to sort out your storage room now...” I said it without making eye contact. “Twilight wasn't fair on putting me in your charge...”

She was right next to me and put an wing around me. “No biggy I got it covered. I'd just store it all in my preening room for-”

“Don't worry just move it around and I'll make do with the bed in there RainbowDash.” I look up at her, she gave me a surprise look. “I kinda have a cluttered room back at home, filled with shelves of stuff, boxes with statues I can't place and a lot of My Little Pony figures, plushes and...” I close my eyes seeing my room for what it is and sighed heavily. “I can't do this...” I push her wing off me getting up walking up to the window looking out of the glass, I think it was. “I might look and sound like Scootaloo but you shouldn't be doing this for me!” I turn around to Rainbow Dash. “It not fair on you or Twilight to put up with me like this! You all just showed me kindness and it make me feel selfish for accepting it.” I turn away at the last part feeling bad inside with an real sickening feeling for what they did for me.

“Tell me about it, I didn't get much of a say in it and look at me, I just taking it as it goes and moving on. So chin up Swift. While you're here in my home your got me as the most awesome and loyal friend you can ask for!” She put her hoof under my chin pulling my head slightly so I was facing her. “Let just get the bed set up and I'll make us some dinner, how does that sound?”

“You can cook!?” I gasped

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Sure! What do you take me for?”

“Sleeping, lazy, prideful, adventuress, loyal and-” Rainbow Dash put her hoof on my snout.

“No need to finish kiddo, I get the message.” Rainbow Dash remove her hoof. “Just to let you know, your whoever they are that did this cartoon thing doesn't know me completely. And cooking is something everypony need to know if they stay in an place of their own. No matter how boring or how long it takes to make some. Just keep that between us ok?” Rainbow Dash winked.

I was left completely speechless with my jaw hanging open. “Right Swift just chill and relax on the couch read one of the Daring Do books. I'll get everything sorted out ok?” She closed my snout up with an push of her hoof that was under it, I just nod a few times. “Great!” Rainbow Dash walked by me and up the stairs leaving me to stare at a wall completely dumbfounded by what just happened.

After a few minutes I snapped out of it rubbing my head with my hoof. “That was the weirdest thing ever, most likely not the last.” I pulled off my jacket placing it down on top the couch. Taking a book with my mouth with the texture of it on my tongue was just very weird.

I sat got on the couch, lying on my back I took the book out of my mouth, moving my jaw a little the taste of the book was rather odd to describe. I shrugged it off looking at the cover “Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny.” I read the title out loud. “I wonder how different this is to what I saw on the episode 'Daring Don't.”

Time must of flew by because I was so engrossed in reading the book with my one hind leg over the other, flipping the page I continue to read it as it got to the part with the distraction between the villain Ahuizotl and the five of the mane six as Rainbow Dash helped Daring Do to get rid of the rings.

“Hey! Swift Roller! Dinner ready!” My ears twitch and I rose my head from the book looking over to the kitchen. “Come on kiddo it gonna to get cold.”

I closed the book placing it on the side, getting off the couch I stretch out my four legs a little and my neck with the small wings I had, flexing them. “It night?” I look out the window.

“Sure is, you been so caught up in the book that I thought I'd leave you to it.” Rainbow Dash replied as I enter the kitchen slash dining room. “So kiddo what do you think of it?”

I took my seat at the table, the chair look like it was made out of wood with the pillow on top of it being almost like clouds, I wasn't sure how it was able to stand on cloud but asking that would wait for another time. “It really awesome! It just as amazing as the story I read back at home, it was called Daring Do and the Eternal Flower. It has Daring Do's uncle in it!”

Rainbow Dash had taken some drink but spat it out with surprise. “Say what!? Daring Do has an uncle!?”

“Yeah Uncle Adventure or Ad for short, his an unicorn that has the same colour coat and mane as Daring Do with a black moustache” I replied taking the glass and drinking some of the juice.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Most likely one of your human made things right?”

I look at the cooked vegetables with hay bacon I think it was and cooked eggs taking the knife and folk, not quite sure how I was holding them with the hooves I dug into it. The taste was really amazing as I chewed on it with my wings rapidly beating in response. “Wow this are really amazing!”

“Hehe thanks kiddo.” Rainbow Dash ate some of hers. “So the story.”

“Oh it was written by A.K Yearling with G.M. Berrow an human that write pony stories. She help create the three Daring Do stories, humans that fans of the show have read. All coming in a neat little box like chest called 'The Daring Do Adventure Collection. It really awesome!” I went back to eating some more and swallowed before continuing. “I got it as an awesome birthday gift from my friends, well two of them! One I keep sealed, but what inside is three stories and a cool little Daring Do fig-”

I stopped suddenly thinking about my friends and home. I stared at the plate feeling sad again. “D-Do you think I be able to get home?” My voice was barely a whisper trying to hold back the water works.

Rainbow Dash put her knife down and put her hoof on my foreleg, I followed it up to her eyes. “Swif... Wayne even if Twilight can't find anything there is a will and a way. You got here somehow which mean there is a way to get back. You just have to give it time.” I nod silently in reply to what she was saying to me. “Let eat up and get you cleaned up before bed ok?”

“Ok Rainbow Dash.” I answered and went on to eat my meal with her in silence, neither of us saying a word.

After dinner and cleaning up the plates, Rainbow Dash took me up to the next level and to the bathroom. She had this planned out, right there was an bathtub full of semi hot water. “Swift take off your necklace and I'll get your bandage off.” I nod in reply and remove it placing the LED necklace on the stall as Rainbow Dash remove the bandages from my head. “Jump on in and I'll get you cleaned up.”

I quickly turn around with a flush of red on my face. “S-say what!?”

“You heard, get in and I will clean you up.”

“B-b-but...”

“Swift your a little filly and I bet all my Daring Do books you have no idea how to clean yourself.” My face felt really warm now as I lower my head as she said that. I knew she was right and I felt so embarrassed. “Here the deal I won't tell anypony of this and you won't tell about me doing... Lame stuff.”

I just sighed in defeat and accepted those terms. “You got a deal Rainbow Dash.” I put my hoof out to her and she place her much larger hoof against mine with a firm shake.

“Now that sorted in you go!” Rainbow Dash picked me up with both hooves and before I could react she flew over it.

I was hanging by her hooves directly over it. “Rainbow Dash don't you-” She drops me into the water with an splash. I sat there with my back just over the water line of the water with my whole furry body, wings and all soaked in the semi hot water. “Dare...” I finished the last word my eyes narrowed and pulling an frown at her.

“Incoming!” I gasped as Rainbow Dash landed in the water right beside me. My face was now even redder then before. “Hehe look at your face! It redder then a tomato!” Rainbow Dash laughing at my reaction and my change of fur colour, I had no idea that fur could change around the face like this as if it was human skin.

“You can't be serious! I thought you was going to clean me from outside the bath not in it! You know I was-”

“Yeah yeah you was an stallion human thing, I get it. But your a filly and need clean and I can clean myself as well showing you what to do.” Rainbow Dash wave her hoof dismissing my reaction. “Unless you want me to keep doing this for you every night that you stay here.” She grinned.

“Heck no! I rather learn to do this myself!” I yelled at her.

“Then let me show you Swift.” Rainbow Dash smirked.

I groaned lowering my body deeper into the water blowing bubbles under the surface grumbling in it on how much I hated this right now, “being in the same bath with Rainbow Dash was the most crazy and unexpected thing ever! And she just all cool with it!”

I raise my head a little. “Can we just get this over and done with please! I feel so awkward for some many reasons!” My face still flushed and very warm.

“Sure thing Swift, let start off with the wings first.” Rainbow Dash answered and the only thing was going through my mind is how much more awkward can this evening get...