Chapter 1 - Where did you go?
It’s just another day, I get up out of bed, eat my breakfast, and get ready for school. I place my lunch into my saddle back and ride my scooter to meet up with Apple bloom and Sweetie bell. The sky seems to be filled with clouds today, but we weren't scheduled for rain until tomorrow. I shrugged off the strange weather and thought ‘Maybe they’re just doing the rain thing early today’. I see my friends, we wave to each other and walk to school together. I have to walk with my scooter but at l get to hang out and laugh with my friends while on my way to school. We get to class and sit down at our desks while Cherilee greets us with a big smile.
She gets everyponies attention by tapping her meter stick on the whiteboard. “Now now little fillies and foals, you must all be silent for I have very important information to tell all of you.” All the students in my class paid close attention to Miss Cheerilee, including me. I don't usually pay attention, because I always get distracted with something. But something caught my attention; it was Cheerilee’s worried face.
She stared at us until we all watched her with curious eyes. “Alright, there’s going to be a rather large storm tonight, bigger than anything we've seen. The pegasi say that this strange weather is coming from the everfree forest. So I just want all of you to know to go back home as soon as class is over. I would hate for any of you to get caught in a storm at this magnitude.” Cherilee even sounded worried. I made nothing of it; a storm was a storm just like any other old storm. Even if it got bad, Rainbow Dash would be there to stop it.
She finished her warning and started to teach the class like any normal school day. At recess we weren't allowed outside as a precaution towards the storm. I didn't get what was so bad about this storm, I'm sure that the pegasi can handle it. So we stayed inside and played with the toys and drew some pictures. Me and the other crusaders even drew a really cool picture for Miss Cheerilee. We all gave it to her together and she smiled when she saw it. It really made me happy and I'm sure apple bloom and sweetie bell were happy too.
I’m sure that not even this storm could ruin this day. I mean, sure we had to stay inside, but we still had fun. Class was over and we all left to go home. I look up at the sky and see that the cloud got even darker and more intense. They were all moving sporadically, I could even see multiple pegasi trying to control it.
Suddenly Rainbow Dash swoops down and greets Scootaloo and the other crusaders. “Hey, what are you all still doing out here, it’s dangerous!” She says worryingly. I smirk and nod my head “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry Rainbow Dash, we’ll be fine because you’re here! You’ll be able to stop this storm, right?” I say with passion in my voice. I knew without a doubt what her answer was going to be, I just wanted to hear it in her awesome voice. Instead however, she looked a bit frightened and still spoke with a low worried voice. “Um, I uh, I’d rather you be safe inside. You three should probably get home quickly. This storm is gonna be huge. All of the pegasi have to try to guide it away from ponyville, and even Celestia herself came to help out.” I grunted and thought of something. “Hey! Maybe I can help somehow!” I say with a smile. Rainbow Dash nods “Um, not today squirt. First you’re going to have to learn how to fly before helping out with the weather.” I sigh and look down, kicking my hoof at the dirt. She looks at me and puts her hoof on my chin to lift it up. “Hey don’t worry little sis, one day you’re going to fly, and you’ll be the second best flyer in ponyville! Next to me of course.” She heard another pegasi call her name and waved her hoof at us as if she were trying to shoo us away. “Now you girls go home and be safe.” She says before flying to the skies.
I had never seen Rainbow Dash this worried before. Usually she’s so upbeat and cocky; nothing could stand in her way. But for some reason, she seems to be very worried about this storm. ‘Bah, she’s probably just overreacting.’ I thought. I look up towards the sky again, and see multiple pegasi trying to blow the storm away. For a second I thought I even saw Princess Celestia helping out too. But her image quickly vanished into the dark clouds of the storm.
Apple Bloom put her hoof on my shoulder. “C’mon Scootaloo, we gotta get outa here!” She said before running home along with Sweetie Bell. As we walked to Apple Blooms farm, It started to rain, first just a drizzle, but then it quickly turned into a violent downpour. We made it to Apple Blooms house and got inside. Our manes and coats were soaked from head to toe. “There yall are, I was worried sick about you.” A familiar voice called out. We all looked up to see Apple Jack standing in front of us looking all worried. “C’mon, let’s get you three nice ‘n dry, wouldn’t want t’ bring that storm throughout the house now would we?”
We all look at each other and giggle at how messy and down our manes looked. We all got dry and stood by the fireplace. We could hear thunder and lightning coming from the story skies outside. The raindrops sounded as if they were pebbles slamming against the top of the roof. ‘I wish I could be out there helping out the other pegasi.’ I thought to myself. I look out the window and see the clouds lighting up with vicious lightning bolts. The rain was incredibly intense, each droplet hitting the ground with extreme force.
I sigh and keep looking around outside. I look closely at one cloud and see a cyan pegasi flying sporadically throughout the clouds. It was Rainbow Dash! She was guiding the lightning bolts away from the trees and houses. It looked really dangerous; I felt a little worried for Rainbow Dash. Apple Jack was making dinner, maybe I should get Rainbow Dash, she looks like she could use a break. I go towards my saddle bag and get out four small rain boots and my goggles. I slip the boots onto my hooves and the goggles on my face, and walk towards the door quietly so nopony notices me. I try to open the door slowly, but the wind forces the door shut. I push against the winds force and the door starts to slowly open.
I manage to inch the door enough for me to get out. The wind is crazy and the rain feel like spikes against my skin. I look up towards the sky, thanks to the goggles I am able to see Rainbow Dash without any rain getting into my eyes. I walk a little closer towards where she is flying and I call out her name. “Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash, over here!” I yell out. But it seems like she can’t hear me. I try to walk a little closer, the wind pushing me back and forth and all around. I get into a steady position and start walking again. I get right under where Rainbow is flying and I try calling her name again.
“Rainbow Dash! It’s me Scootaloo! Apple Jacks making dinner come down and eat with us!” Scootaloo yells out. Rainbow Dash barely hears the little filly’s voice. She stops in place, though her wings beating heavily to stay in place. She looks down to see the small orange filly looking up at her. “Scootaloo, what in Equestria are you doing out here! It’s dangerous! Go back inside right now!” She yells at Scootaloo. “Come down and have some dinner with us Rainbow!” Scootaloo yells back. “C’mon squirt go back inside, I don’t want to see you get hurt!” Rainbow yells back. Suddenly a lightning bolt flies past her and lands just inches away from Scootaloo. “Whoa!” She yells out, “That was a close one.”
Rainbow Dash yells at Scootaloo again. “Go back inside, NOW! It’s way too dangerous for a little filly like you to be-“ Suddenly another bolt shoots out of the clouds. The bolt connects with Rainbow Dash’s neck, stunning her movement for a second and causing her to collapse from the air. Scootaloo could not believe what she just saw. “RAINBOW DASH!” She screams out. She runs against the force of the wind. ‘No, no, no, this can’t be happening!’ She thinks to herself. Scootaloo tries to flap her wings, she gets up off the air just a little bit before soaring down again.
“Come on you stupid wings, GO!” She flaps her wings as hard as she can, the force of the wind working with her as well. She lifts up off the ground and flies towards Rainbow Dash. The wind now pushing against her, but she doesn't quit. He flaps her wing viciously against the furious winds. Rainbow still falling at violent speeds towards the ground. Scootaloo swoops in and catches Rainbow in her hooves, though her wings cannot support the two pegasi. Scootaloo falls towards the ground, and with a large splash, they both crash onto the ground.
Scootaloo lay a couple feet away from Rainbow Dash. They are both covered in mud and rain, scratches and bruises. Rainbow suffers a large burn mark on her neck, the fur disintegrated at the spot of impact. Scootaloo recovers herself and looks towards rainbow dash whom lay on her side, looking lifeless. She sees a small line of smoke emitting from her neck. Scootaloo is too weak to stand, she instead crawls towards Rainbow Dash. “R-Rainbow… Dash…” Scootaloo says in a raspy voice. Her bones hurt, and her wings were very soar. She manages to crawl to Rainbow Dash’s side, and lifts her head. “Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash can you hear me, please Rainbow… Please wake up.” Rainbow Dash slowly gains consciousness. She looks at Scootaloo and smiles “See little sis, I told you that one day you could fly” Rainbow coughs, blood spurting from her mouth. “B-Big sis… are you going to be okay.” Scootaloo starts to tear up. She is afraid that Rainbow wouldn't… ‘No she’s strong, she’ll make it!’ Scootaloo thinks to herself. Rainbow coughs some more blood and looks into Scootaloo’s eyes. “Listen little sis, promise me that you’ll never stop flying. Promise me that you’ll always keep flying for me. Promise me… *cough cough* That you will be… The number one flyer in Equestria…” Rainbow says to Scootaloo. “W-what are you saying R-Rainbow, you’re the number one flyer in all of Equestria! And that won’t change!” Scootaloo says, her tears affecting her eyesight and fogging up her goggles.
Rainbow Dash smiles. “I love ya little sis, I will always be there to root for you. I will be there when you get your cutie mark, and I will be there when you’re feeling down. *cough cough* Just always… Keep on… Flying. I Love You…” Rainbows eyes start to close. She is losing consciousness, her life slowly drifting away. “Rainbow Dash? RAINBOW DASH! WAKE UP, PLEASE WAKE UP BIG SIS! SOMEPONY HELP! SOMEPONY, ANYPONY HELP ME! RAINBOW DASH IS BADLY HURT! I NEED HELP! ANYPONY!!!” Scootaloo screams at the top of her lungs. Tears barging their way out of her eyes, she hugs Rainbow’s lifeless body tight.
Apple Jack runs out form her house towards the two pegasi. “Scootaloo! What in tarnation are you-” Her voice cut off by the scene that lay before her very eyes. “Oh no… i-is that Rainbow?” She says to herself before rushing towards them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell curiously watch from the window, not knowing about what had just occurred. Apple Jack grabs hold of Scootaloo and hugs her tightly, “Come now Scootaloo, go back inside. I’ll take care of Rainbow from here.” She looks down at her friend. Tears form from her eyes at the gruesome sight. “W-will you be able to save her? A-Apple Jack?” Scootaloo asks. Apple Jack just looks at Scootaloo and stares. “Please Scotaloo, just *sniffle* Just go back inside…” Scootaloo walks back to the house, her goggles filled with her tears. Somepony very special left that day, so many ponies were so sad to hear about the loss of a dear friend. And the only thing I could think was…
‘It was all my fault… I did this.’
