Memories

Wonderbolts Recruit Academy: Class XXVI Trials

Applicant: Scootaloo

Sponsored by: 2nd Lt. Rainbow Dash

Results: FAILED

No matter how long Scootaloo stared at the paper that had been handed to her, the words printed in black ink continued to stab her in the heart. She tried her best to refrain from crying, but despite her best efforts a few tears managed to break free and fall down her face, three of them landing on the paper still in her quivering hands.

'How could... I mean, I know I failed the endurance flight, but it was only by a few minutes! And my wing power has been improving, surely they must have taken that into account.' she thought almost in a panic. 'Maybe if... maybe if I speak to the instructors and explain my progress... that I'm a late flyer and am still improving! Yeah, that will... no it won't.'

Scootaloo crumpled the paper in her hand and gritted her teeth as the pain of defeat settled in. It was true that she was a late flyer- a very late one. She finally was able to experience the joys of truly soaring through the skies just a few years ago, but her endurance was still lacking as well as her wing power. Even upon her graduating high school, most fillies in middle school could fly longer and faster than she could. Still, that didn't stop her from training every single day for her dream of one day flying alongside her hero Rainbow Dash as a Wonderbolt, and on her 18th birthday Scootaloo was completely shocked and crying with joy as Rainbow personally handed her an acceptance letter to the next Wonderbolt Recruit Academy trial.

But all of those happy memories were now meaningless... she had failed.

"Hey, Scoots, there you are!" an excited familiar voice rang out.

Scootaloo felt her heart almost stop as she heard Rainbow Dash's voice calling out to her. There was only one thing she was dreading more than seeing that she had officially failed the exam to begin the rigorous Wonderbolts training, and that was telling her friend, hero, role model, and sponsor that she had failed. Rainbow Dash would surely be pissed; all Wonderbolts were supposed to have already made sure that anyone they sponsored could pass the physical agility test the first time, and the training command did not appreciate one of their own teammates wasting their time.

"H-hey there Rain... Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said softly, staring at the ground while quickly stuffing her letter of rejection in her pocket.

Picking up the smaller pegasus while still in flight, Rainbow excitedly spun her protege around before landing back on the ground. "So? Tell me how it went! Who's gonna be your drill instructor?" she asked excitedly.

Scootaloo gulped, still unable to make eye contact. "I, uh..."

"I bet it's gonna be Spitfire, just like me. She's tough, real tough, but you'll definitely learn from the best. Well, one of them... then once you graduate and are flying with me, THEN you'll learn all the real tricks!"

"I didn't make it!" Scootaloo suddenly burst, the anger at herself boiling over quicker than she had expected.

Rainbow's jaw dropped in surprise, both from the volume of her friend's declaration as well as from the news itself. "You... huh?" she asked in disbelief.

Nodding in defeat, Scootaloo slowly brought out her crumpled paper and handed it over to her mentor, clenching her eyes shut as Rainbow opened the paper back up and quickly zeroed in on Scootaloo's result.

"Failed? No way, this has to be some mistake!"Rainbow exclaimed as she held the paper at arm's length. "I've seen you fly myself, there's no way you could have..."

Rainbow's voice trailed off as she turned the paper over to analyze the flight scores and instructor's comments. The three Wonderbolts assigned to watch Scootaloo all touched on the same topics; inconsistent speeds, lacking in wing power, poor form. They did acknowledge her short flying experience, but at the bottom of the comments were four words that Rainbow Dash found absolutely infuriating:

Skip next year's exam.

"Who the fuck wrote... I'm gonna have a talk with those arrogant-" Rainbow swore as she clenched her fists shut tight, but before she could soar off to find the three responsible Scootaloo sat down on the ground in defeat.

"Don't bother, they're right. It was stupid of me to even try." she said dejectedly.

Rainbow immediately bent down and forced Scootaloo to stand back up before hugging the smaller pegasus tightly against her chest. "Don't you dare say that. You know you belong in the Wonderbolts just like me. You'll score a perfect score next year. I'd bet anything on it." she said firmly.

Scootaloo nodded, her mind significantly calmer than it had been just moments before. Rainbow Dash's words had helped, but what was helping Scootaloo the most was that she was almost in direct contact with her. Both mares wore the standard Wonderbolt PT gear; for mares, a simple blue sports bra and matching color running shorts, both with golden trim along the edges. The material clung tightly to both mares' bodies as to provide minimum drag while flying, but also allowed the air to cool off their bodies at the same time. The racing uniforms were meant for speed and speed only, and due to the hot, sweaty mess that quickly accumulated inside the slick suits, they were worn as little as possible. As such, there wasn't much separating Dash's body from Scootaloo's, and the younger mare was well aware of how close she was.

'Her body's so warm.' Scootaloo thought as her cheek rested right at the top of where Dash's athletic bust was covered. Staring down towards the ground Scootaloo could clearly make out the small mounds that were Rainbow's breasts; small yet perky, perfectly suited for Equestria's fastest flyer ever. One of Scootaloo's arms, wrapped around Dash's waist, brushed cautiously against the top of Dash's shorts waistline slowly. She was tempted to let her hand slip down inside Dash's tight pants, though she'd settle for even letting a single finger get inside. However, rationality won yet again, the move not only stupid but also sure to cause Rainbow to leave her life forever.

'One day...' she thought.

Scootaloo's heart sank as she felt Rainbow Dash's embrace begin to fade, the hug of course not being long enough for her liking. Rainbow finally leaned back and offered Scootaloo a warm smile, playfully ruffling her hair as she had done so many other times. "C'mon, kid, let's hit the showers and go grab some grub. I don't know about you but I'm starving!" Dash said.

Nodding in agreement, Scootaloo followed Rainbow towards one of the nearby buildings and soon found herself in the Wonderbolts' locker room. "I already brought your stuff over. It's in my locker." Rainbow called out as she approached the showers.

Glancing at Rainbow's locker, Scootaloo saw that her bag was indeed inside along with Dash's items, but when she looked back towards Rainbow Dash she was shocked to see that not only was her crush stripping naked in front of her, but the shower area wasn't partitioned off at all. It was just one large room with multiple shower heads.

"Come on, Scoots. Don't worry, all the other guys won't be coming in here today, just you and me. Though would you mind washing my back for me?" Rainbow called out as she turned on two shower heads right next to each other.

Scootaloo completely forgot to breathe. 'Rainbow's... she's not wearing any... her and me, in the... together...'

And with a thump, Scootaloo hit the floor, passed out.