Author's Note
This is my first fic so any constructive criticism is welcome! Thanks and hope you enjoy!
I...Failed...
Hey guys and gals, my name is Rainbow Dash, and I'm gonna tell you about somthin' that happened to me. A travesty with my little sis. She was gonna be an awesome little sis. Her name was Scootaloo. Scootaloo was an orphan for years, but none of us ever new. When we found out, her birthday was in a few weeks so I decided to surprise her with the news of me adopting her on her birthday... *sigh* Let's get on with the story shall we?
It was a normal day in Ponyville as far as anypony could tell. There were no clouds in the sky thanks to the weather team. Twilight was probably reading books or doing other eggheady stuff. Pinkie Pie was planning the surprise party for Scootaloo. Yeah it was birthday that day! Anywho, Rarity was making more dresses for a...somepony...I think? Uh......Oh right! Applejack was making the treats for the party or bucking apples, and Fluttershy was at her house caring for the animals. And I was being awesome! Like usual. Scoots was off with her her friends, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle doing crusading.
Now before you say anything like "Oh this is so boring!" or "This is 20% less cool!" I'm just giving you the layout. K? Now, I knew this day was gonna be awesome! Or I thought I new...I zipped down to Pinkie, who was in the Ponyville Bakery.
"Hey Pinks what's up?" I asked as the smell of a fresh batch of cupcakes filled my nose. She turned around and smiled to me.
"The sky silly! The sky is up! You seriously didn't know that?" She asked while bringing the cupcakes out of the oven.
"No I knew that...I said what's u- never mind... have you seen Scoots?"
"Uh no I haven't. Sorry. Do you wanna taste a new batch of cupcakes?" She offered me.
"No thanks, I gotta find Scoots. My birthday present for her is..." I leaned in and whispered to Pinkie, "I'm gonna adopt her."
"Oooh! She's gonna love that! That's so sweet!" She said popping a cupcake into her mouth.
"I know!" I bragged. "Ever since I found out she was an orphan I've thought about filling out the paperwork and I finally did it and it's done in an hour! So I should probably get back to searching."
"Okie Dokie Lokie Dashie! You sure you don't want a cupcake?" She offered once more waving a Blue Raspberry cupcake in my face.
"Eh why not." I said popping it in my mouth. "Fhanks Fhinkie!" I shouted as I flew out the door into the crisp morning air. I swallowed the rest of the cupcake as I continued to
search for Scootaloo. Maybe Applejack knew where the CMC were crusading. I turned my course to Sweet Apple Acres. As I neared I saw Applejack bucking some trees with Big Mac. I swooped down and tackled Applejack mid buck. We tumbled and rolled for a bit before we stopped, me on top of her! You could hear Big Mac chuckling from behind us.
"What the hay Dash!" Applejack yelled at me.
"Sorry AJ. I saw the moment and...couldn't resist." I laughed. That was a good one. I looked up and saw her Stetson lying in the grass. I smirked and hopped off of AJ quickly snatching her Stetson and placing it on my head. Applejack rose from the ground dusting herself off. She looked around for a bit obviously looking for her Stetson only to find it had...vanished! Ok ok sorry. She placed a hoof on her head and gasped, before realizing what had happened, and facehoofing herself. I laughed just before she pounced on me grabbing her Stetson back also knocking me off balance.
"What'd ya want Dash?" Applejack asked me irritably. I landed next to her and smiled. She just sighed.
"Do you know where Scoots is?" I asked. "Do you know if she's off crusading with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle? I'm trying to find her so I can give her her birthday present."
"Haven't seen her since yesterday. Sorry." She answered before continuing bucking. I sighed.
"It's okay, do you know where Appleboom is?"
"She's in the house with Granny."
"Thanks." I said before heading to their house. When I neared I smelled fresh apple pie.
"Mmm...looks like they have been baking!" I said to myself before stopping at the door and knocking.
"C'mon in!" Applebloom shouted from inside. I opened the door and was hit with a wave of sweetness! I saw Applebloom stirring a batch of cookie dough next to her sleeping granny. Jeez That mare always slept. And snored...
"Hey Applebloom."
"Hey Rainbow Dash! What bring ya 'round?" She asked plopping little balls of cookie dough onto a tray.
"Uh I was wondering if you knew where Scootaloo was?" I asked really wanting to find her before the paperwork was done.
"She told me she was going to ghastly gorge till 3:00? She said she was gonna practice some flying." Finally I got an answer! Now I gotta travle 20 mins. out to that place.
"Thanks Applebloom." I said before heading out. I decided to go get the paperwork first and surprise her there. I quickly flew to the orphanage and grabbed the paperwork. I then headed to ghastly gorge. When I first arrived I didn't see Scootaloo. I searched around for a bit but didn't find anything, or anypony. Then I heard some crying. I looked over a boulder and saw Scootaloo standing on the edge of the canyon...and she was crying. I stepped out from behind the boulder and said, "Hey Squi-"
She jumped...I couldn't move...My whole body froze...she...jumped...my head started to spin and my vision got blurry as I fell flat on my face. I couldn't think. My throat felt clogged and I couldn't breath. I...I didn't...know what to do...I wanted to move but my limbs wouldn't work with me! She...was falling and I couldn't save her! The sun had started to set when I arrived and now...it was gone...then...It hit me.
My limbs started to move as I darted to the edge of the gorge. Without hesitation, I flew vertically down the gorge as fast as I could. I didn't dare stop. So many thoughts were going through my head and there were butterflies in my stomach. I needed to save her. My saddlebag with the paperwork in it had fallen off. I saw her! She was still falling faster then me. So I sped up. I got closer...I was about a hoof away when she turned around and looked at me...and she was smiling...behind her I could see the ground appearing.
"Squirt c'mon! Grab my hoof!" I shouted at her. She didn't move... "Scoots! C'mon!" She just...smiled...like she was at peace...happy almost...The ground was rapidly appearing and there wasn't much time left. "Sootaloo! What the hell are you doing!?!? Grab my hoof!" Tears were pouring out of my eyes and I couldn't see clearly. Few tears were falling out of her eyes. Just before she hit the ground...she looked me in the eyes and said, "Look Rainbow...I can finally...fly..." It was done. I almost hit the ground with her. A sickening splat could be heard before I took a sharp turn straight up also performing a sonic rainboom. Tears were pouring out of my eyes. I landed on a ledge and collapsed in a heap of tears. What just happened? I couldn't think again or breath or see through my tears. I just sat there and cried. For hours. I finally had collected myself enough to go get her. I slowly rose and took a deep breath. I looked to my right and saw my saddlebag.
I grabbed my saddlebag and slowly flew down to Scoot's body. When I got there...I cried again. There was...blood...everywhere...bones were sticking out of her flesh...she was a bloody pile of...something...I walked over to her and looked at her face...she was smiling...why in the world is she smiling...I couldn't do this. I picked her up and flew out of the gorge. Her blood stained my blue coat, but I didn't care. As I flew her back to Ponyville, I thought about what happened. Or why she jumped. Then the thought struck me. She couldn't fly...she was probably so depressed that she couldn't fly...so she jumped.
I doubt she saw me or heard me before she jumped. Didn't she know what pain she would cause for everypony? I guess I'll never know...I reached Ponyville before I knew it. I wasn't crying anymore, I couldn't. Not now. The first to see me was Twilight. She quickly galloped over to me, shock all over her face.
"Dash! What happened?!?!" She yelled as she got closer now seeing Scootaloo in my arms. I couldn't hold it a tear escaped from my eye. Then another. I tried hard to hold the tears in.
"S-she...j-jumped..." I muttered barely above a whisper. I couldn't look at Scoots or Twilight. I shut my eyes tightly, as more tears threatened to show.
"What do you mean she jumped?!?!" Twilight yelled as she examined Scoots body.
"S-she just...j-jumped...right off t-the c-cliff..." I said a little louder this time. Twilight used her magic and wrapped Scoots in a purple aura, taking her from my blood stained arms.
"C'mon Dash! We need to get her to a hospital right now!" Twilight panicked.
"A hospital won't help..." Twilight looked at me in horror hoping she didn't hear what she thought she heard. I took a deep breath and whispered..."She's dead Twilight."
It had been three days. Three day since the accident. I still hadn't forgiven myself. I sat alone in my cloud house. My friends had tried to come and comfort me, but I couldn't face any of them yet. I feel kinda bad for pushing them away but...I just needed some time. Today was the day of the funeral. I had to be there in an hour. I didn't want to go. A lot of the time I wish I had a time machine. So that way I could save her. I was just about to get in the shower when the doorbell rang. It was probably my friends again. I sighed and walked to the door, opening it. It was Fluttershy.
"Hi Rainbow...is this a bad time? Cause I can leave if it is." She said timidly like always.
"Um...no...I-it's fine. C'mon in..." I offered as I stepped out of the way. She smiled and walked in.
"Thank you. Are you gonna be at the funeral?" She asked.
"Yeah. I was gonna get in the shower soon." I answered plainly. "Whatcha doin here?"
"I just wanted to see how you were doing...are you doing ok?"
"I guess. Doing as well as anypony would I guess. I'm gonna step into the shower real quick. Why don't you hang with Tank? I'll be out in like five minuets." I quickly suggested trying to get out of this awkward moment.
"Oh ok." She said heading to my room to play with Tank. It's not that I didn't want to talk to her...okay I didn't really want to talk to her but ey' I didn't really want to talk to anybody. I turned on the shower and stepped inside. The warm water felt soothing and relaxing on my fur. The stress and sorrow seemed to melt away. I wished I could always feel like this. I quickly washed my mane, tail, and body. I stepped out of the shower and dried off...I really didn't want to go to the funeral. I walked to my room and saw Flutters feeding Tank some lettuce.
"Oh you were out in like five minuets. When we go to the funeral...can we go together? Maybe I could stay here till you leave?" She asked. I kinda wanted to go alone, but I wasn't about to say no to Flutters.
"I...guess. I'm gonna go eat something. 30 minuets till we leave." I said as I walked out of my room and to the kitchen. As I passed through the living room I saw a pic of me and Scoots hanging up on the wall. Her first flight lesson...I sighed and continued to the kitchen. I made a Daisy sandwich with hay fires. By the time I was done eating we had to leave.
"Fluttershy. It's time to go..." I called out to her. She came out of the room with a picture of me, her, and Scoots. She was crying. I sighed and pulled her into a hug. We held the hug for a minuet before heading out the door. It was cold today with a drizzle. We flew slowly through the cold morning air to the funeral. I though about the incident. I thought about how I couldn't save her...I thought about how I...failed...the whole way there thoughts filled my head, like how I could've flown faster and how I shouldn't have froze when she jumped. It was all my fault...
When we arrived everypony else was there waiting for us. I saw Twilight, Pinkie Pie who surprisingly wasn't smiling, Applejack, Applebloom, Big Mac, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, a few guys from the weather team, and some ponies I didn't know. I saw Scoots in her coffin. She looked so peaceful. She still wore that smile. The doctor had cleaned her up and bandaged her. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were crying, and I don't blame em'. We all took our rightful places and waited. The pony who organized this whole thing gave a long boring speech about Scoots. After he was done he called Twilight up. He had a list of who to come up when. I hoped I was last. Twilight stepped up to Sootaloo's coffin where she lay peacefully.
"Well Scootaloo...I didn't really know you much but...I know you were good friends with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. I know they adore you as a friend. I hope you rest peacefully and happily and know that we will all join you someday." Twilgiht walked back over to her seat and sat down. The stallion called up Pinkie Pie next. She bounced up to her trying to hold a fake smile.
"Hi Scootaloo. I would throw you a party but, you wouldn't have any fun. Why did you have to die? Dying isn't fun or funny or happy. It's really sad. I made you some cupcakes in the shape of you. I hope you like them. You know you were one of my bestest and favoritist customers. I hope you come back soon!" Pinkie then placed the cupcakes onto the ground beside her coffin and walked back to her seat. The stallion then called up Rarity.
"Well Darling, you were a wonderful friend to my Sweetie Belle, so thank you for that. I hope you like the coffin. I designed it after all. I hope you have a good rest till we meet again." Rarity then returned to her seat next to her sister. Applejack was called up next.
"Howdy sugercube. I want'a thank ya, for being such a good friend to Applebloom. Ya were a great filly and Ah want ya to know that. See ya later Scootaloo." Applejack placed a flower onto the dirt next to the cupcakes and took her seat again. Applebloom was called up next.
"H-hey Scoots...Ah don't know w-why ya left us...b-but Ah guess it must'a been f-for a g-good reason...D-do ya r-rem-member our last c-crusading adventure? T-to the creek? Ah r-realy miss ya and...Ah want ya b-back...I would t-trade my life fer ya...h-honest...ya were my b-best friend...p-please come back..."Applebloom managed to choke our before collapsing and sobbing hard. Applejack went and picked up her sister. As Applejack carried her back Applebloom thrashed around and screamed, "NO! T'aint fair!! She cant be gone!!! No!" before crying in Applejack's arms. Sweetie Belle was called up next.
"I-I...I m-miss..." tears started falling out of her eyes in a flood. "I-I r-really m-miss...y-you..." She barley choked out before falling on the ground sobbing loud and hard. Sweetie Belle couldn't talk anymore and walked back to her seat sobbing the whole way. Rarity took a place next to her sobbing sister, hugging her tightly. Fluttershy was called next. I knew it. I was gonna be last.
"Hi Scootaloo. I'm really sad that you are gone but you will always be in my heart. I've had many animals pass away, but you have been the hardest to let go because your not an animal. You are like a little sister to me. I hope you know that. All the animals went out to the fields and picked you a bouquet of flowers. I hope you like them." A few of teh animals went up and placed the bouquet of flowers on the dirt next to the other stuff. "I also brought you something." Fluttershy reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the picture she showed me earlier. I think I even saw a tear fall out of her eye and onto the dirt. She laid it gently onto the ground with the other things."Rest in peace little Scootaloo." She said before taking her seat again. I was finally called up. The moment I was dreading. I wanted so badly to just fly away and never return. But I couldn't...I had a duty to my little sis. I flew up to her and landed next to her coffin. I cleared my throat and sighed.
"Hey Squirt...Nice coffin?" I chuckled lightly. "Dang I suck at these...you know...goodbyes? Um...I really don't know what to say...when I saw you at the edge of the gorge...I wonder what you were doing. I was actually excited for a minuet thinking maybe you learned how to fly...but then I saw you crying...I got really worried...and then you jumped...I didn't know what to do...I was just so...shocked. The whole world just stopped..." A tear began to form in my eyes, but I kept it together. I took a deep breath and continued.
"I'm sorry...I'm so so...sorry...If I wouldn't have froze you would still be alive...and we wouldn't be hear...It's all my fault...I'm sorry..." I sniffed as a tear threatened to escape. I regained my composer and continued again. "Once I finally grasped the situation...I knew it was to late...but I tried anyways. I was...so close..." I couldn't do it anymore. A tear escaped then another. Before I knew it I was trying to speak between choked sobs. "Y-your hoof was r-right there...Like a-an inch away from my h-hoof...then you l-looked at me...and w-what you s-said. It was too late...and I k-knew it." I chuckled again. "Did you see the Sonic Rainboom I did? I-I was gonna g-give this to you...the most a-awesome filly ever..." I reached into my saddlebag and pulled out the adoption paper. Many gasps and sobs could be heard from behind me. I gently placed it on top of her cold body.
"I-I got you t-this on your b-birthday...I-I...l-love you S-Squirt...and even t-though your n-not with m-me physically any more...y-your always in m-my heart...I'm so s-sorry and...I love y-you t-to the m-moon and back...Lil' Sis. Goodbye..."
Author's Note
Here's the second chapter! Hope you enjoyed. Again this is my first fic so constructive critiszim is always welcome! Thank!
