Pills are Uncool, but Dying is Even Worse

    "Are you sure you'll be alright home alone, Scootaloo?" The yellow mare stood right outside the house, biting her lip.

     Scootaloo rolled her eyes, blowing her mane out of her face. "Mom, I'm nearly eleven! I can take care of myself." She struck the pose her mother often did, wings flared, chest puffed out, forehoof raised. "Besides, Rainbow Dash will be here to pick me up in a couple of minutes." Grin growing wider, the filly quickly fell into idol-worship-mode.

     Her mother looked confused for a second at the mention of Ponyville's Weather Captain. "Rainbow Dash? Why would-" She stopped and facehoofed. "Of course, the flying lessons! Good job convincing her, by the way. She'll be a great teacher, kiddo." Her eyes watered for a moment as she looked at her bare left side. She leaned down in front of her daughter, a pained expression on her face.

      "Scootaloo... I'm so sorry I can't teach you myse-" A pair of burning violet eyes was all she could see for a moment. Scootaloo's hoof was covering the mare's mouth, making sure her mother's didn't end up in there first.

     "Not another word, mom." The orange filly saw her mother try to speak again, and held a her wing in front of her own muzzle, shushing the mare. "No. It's not your fault and we both know it." There was an awkward silence.

     Realizing she hadn't washed last night, the orange filly blushed and quickly pulled her grimy hoof out of her mother's mouth. Trying to save face, the filly waved her dam away.

     "Commence the expediting of your departure, foal!" The filly smiled at her choice of words; her mother raised an eyebrow, and Scootaloo smiled. "Wanna' know a secret? When two of your friends' big sisters are friends with Twilight Sparkle, you pick up a couple of things."

     Her mother rolled her eyes, smiling. "I guess you do, huh?"

     "Of course! You doubt my words' truthful integrity? For this slight, you shall be exiled!" Somewhere during the exchange, the filly had stood herself on one of the kitchen's wooden chairs, looking down at her mother from the makeshift throne.

    The mare laughed knelt mockingly before the filly. "Yes, milady! Whatever your Majesty commands, your worthless- neigh, scum of a subject will uphold till her last breath!" They shared a fit of giggles (that were, according to Scootaloo, "normally awesome laughs that weren't fillyish at all") and winked at each other, still snorting.

     Suddenly, the yellow pegasus looked at the clock above the oven and gasped. "Oh, hay! You've made me late, you- you... vile little rapstallion!" She blew a raspberry, turned and bolted down the drive, battle-hardened legs pumping. Even while galloping, she looked back at her daughter and smiled. Disappearing over the hills, Scootaloo heard the routine "I love you!" echo in the trees.

     And then her worry-wart of a mother was gone.

     Giving a little sigh, Scootaloo wiped her forehead in relief. That was way too close! They can't meet yet! Not until the party!

     She went to get her goggles from the porch. Almost time for her first flying lesson! Her heart felt like it wanted to pop and come up her throat at the same time, which was probably bad. Well, at least I won't have to wait for Rainbow long...

     As if on cue, the filly caught sight of a rainbow blur in the sky, smashing into clouds on the way like a pinball on steroids.

5...

     The speeding blur got closer, and she could make out the sound of heavy wingbeats.

4...

     Branches started to bend in the pegasus' wind.

3...

     Now she made out a tiny blue (cyan, if she was with Sweetie Belle) pony past all the rainbow.

2...

     Scootaloo could almost see the grin on Rainbow's face.

1...

     The mare started dropping into a breakneck dive.

Touchdown!

     "Incoming!"

      There was a long scrape against the ground and a cloud of dust as Rainbow Dash narrowly pulled out of the dive at the last minute, making her grand entrance. Clearing the dust with a beat of her wings, Rainbow winked at the open-mouthed filly.

     "Enjoy the show, squirt?"

*****

     Wing-ups, gliding practice, hovering,speedometer tests, lifting weights, controlled falls, strength building, flapping technique, speed training, feather tilts, endurance runs and a whole variety of other things had succeeded in making Scootaloo's wings burn whenever she tried to move them.

     At least she could glide for a minute or so now.

     "Stand up straight, Fledgling!" Ugh. "Yes, ma'am! Would you like me to jump through a flaming ring of fire while I'm at it, ma'am?" Scootaloo grimaced and straightened, looking at her new teacher with more respect (and a bit more sourness) than ever.

     (*An orange filly lay panting on the grass. The pegasus in front of her frowned. "You're tired already, Fledgling? I do this every morning!" The filly shook her head and nodded, wobbling onto four legs again.*)

     "Yes, ma'am!" The filly said, hoof on her forehead.

     Newly dubbed "Captain" Rainbow Dash nodded, satisfied with her new student's behavior. Suddenly, a grin spread across the mare's face as she glanced at the sky above.

     "Just one more piece of training before you go, kiddo..."

     Scootaloo groaned silently, wings twitching at the mention of more exercise; she was curious about what had her mentor so pumped up, though. Seeing Scootaloo's interest, Rainbow hovered in the air.

     "Cloud-wrangling!" The mare smirked and folded her hooves across her chest, pleased with herself.

    Scootaloo stared at the blue pony like she was crazy.

     "Wha...?" Shaking her head, the filly looked up sadly at her teacher. "B-but... I can't fly..." The orange foal looked down, like she was disappointed at not being able to be in the air after a just day of training. That face was why Rainbow was doing this- so that this filly would have such a big weight lifted off of her thin shoulders.

     The blue mare's smile grew even bigger.

     "Who said anything about flying?" Before the filly could reply, Rainbow shot into the air above them, grabbing a cloud from the sky. She tugged on the fluff until it hovered gently just above the ground.

     "Hop on, Scoots." The mare patted the top of the cloud invitingly.

     Scootaloo's face slowly lifted as she looked at the cloud in front of her. She had seen foals play in cloud-forts before, but she hadn't thought about it very much. What was her teacher planning?

     Scootaloo walked forward slowly, poking the cloud. Not that she would tell Dash, but this was the first time she had ever touched a cloud. Some pegasus she was.

     Her feathers tingled as she felt the cloud's massive amount of magic.

     "Dash-no, no- Captain? Why does this cloud...?" Her teacher just winked.

     "I just gave it a little... boost. You'll see why later. Don't worry, it's still perfectly safe!" She motioned to Scootaloo again.

     The filly hopped onto the cloud; it was odd, firm under her hooves yet unbelievably soft. The only comparison was... like swimming without getting wet- exactly and not at all what you expected it to be. A shaky smile spread over her face as she trotted around the edge of the cloud, not very tired anymore. Rainbow Dash just watched, happy.

     Suddenly, Scootaloo stopped.

     "Hey, Rai-ugh, Captain, how is this training? N-not that I don't appreciate it and all, but-" She was interrupted by a cloud-ball smacking her in the face.

     A voice came from inside the cloud, where Rainbow Dash had hidden.

     "Pegasus magic training! Catch me if you can!" Scootaloo laughed, glad to have some fun. She-pushed?- at the cloud with her magic, jumping into the cloud.

     "You're on, you old grey mare!"

*****

     Their little cloud was barely big enough to stand on anymore, all the extra energy used up in lightning, cloud, and rain balls while they... well, played. However, almost all of Scootaloo's pegasus magic was gone, even though she had more than the average filly.

     All in all, Rainbow Dash considered this day's training to be a success.

     The blue mare draped a wing over the filly's back, looking down at her new student. Scootaloo smiled back, tired but happy. She watched the orange sunset, streaked with magenta, warm light falling over the pair. She even thought her wings felt a little bit stronger than before.

     All in all, Scootaloo considered this day's training to be a success.

     "I think I'm ready to go home now, Rainbow. Thanks for everything." With this, the filly jumped to the ground, knees shaking. She tried to take a step forward, but collapsed on the dirt.

     Rainbow swooped down, helping the foal up.

     "Heh, maybe I pushed you a little too hard, kiddo." She stroked her chin thoughtfully, brainstorming. "You know what? Hop on." She spread her wings, motioning for the filly to jump on her back.

     Scootaloo, too tired to argue, just climbed on. A few wingbeats later, and they were in the air, wind blowing through their manes.

     Rainbow turned and smiled at the filly on her back, who blushed when she realized her wings were spread. She didn't close them, however; the feel of the air through her feathers was too amazing.

     The view was beautiful: blue skies all around them- below, green forests and brown dirt paths, ponies trotting home as the day ended, off to their tiny houses- Hey, there's mine!

     Wait, what's that? No, it couldn't be...

     That looks kinda like...

     "Rainbow Dash?" Her voice sounded less calm than it should have.

     "Yeah, I see it too..." She adjusted her wings and started spiraling down, towards... whatever it was.

     As they got closer to the ground, Scootaloo's mouth became dry.

     "N-no... it can't..." Her eyes widened as she saw the one wing spread on the ground.

     "MOM!" Even though they were two yards from the ground, the filly leapt off Rainbow Dash's back, gliding and landing next to the mare on the dirt. A small pool of blood stained her mother's mouth, soaking the dirt below. The foal started crying, tears landing on the mare's dirty green mane.

     Rainbow Dash stayed calm.

     "Scootaloo, stay here. Right here. I'll go get some help." Her idol's voice was cold, controlled. Soon Dash was in the air, streaking towards the clinic.

     She sat there and waited.

     And waited.

     And waited.

     She heard muffled shouts coming from the sky.

     "Miss Dash, unhoof me this instant! What has gotten into-" Her mother's doctor saw the ponies, and his healing instincts kicked in; diagnostic spells ran all over her mother's body, the grey of his magic making her look even more sick. Scootaloo sniffed and stared up at the doctor with teary eyes.

     "I-is she gonna be okay?" Her voice cracked with worry.

     The green stallion sighed and looked at her, seeming like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

     "I don't know, Scootaloo. I don't know."

*****

     Soft voices floated upstairs from the kitchen.

     "Miss Dash, are you sure? I could always-"

     "No, Doc. I'll stay with her."

     Scootaloo pulled the covers up gently over her mother, taking care not to wrap up her wing. She sniffed and wiped her face, trying not to wake up the yellow pegasus with her crying. The foal smiled shakily down at her mother; she bent down and gave the mare a peck on the forehead.

     The filly gave a watery chuckle and started moving towards the door. She paused near the doorway.

     "Goodnight, mom."

     A murmur came from the bed. Scootaloo paused, her orange ears flicking back to show she was listening. "What was that?" she asked.

     Violet eyes looked at nothing but the foal in the doorway.

     "I love you."

     With that small sentence, the filly ran out of the door, not looking behind her.

     The door slammed shut, leaving the room in darkness.

*****

What...

     What happened?

     A yellow wing flicked.

Scootaloo?

     Baby?

     A small sigh escaped her nostrils.

Oh well.

     I can see her tomorrow...

*****

     In the small bedroom, an orange filly sobbed, tears soaking her pillow.

     "If you love me, why won't you let me help...?"