I Can Flyby EvePonyChaptersChapter One - Realization Chapter Two - City of CloudsChapter Three - Thunder to LightningChapter Four - First StepChapter One - Realization Chapter One - Realization Scootaloo was at it again. Though she had been told many times she couldn't, she was determined to fly. She had always been determined to fly, because she knew it's what pegasi are supposed to do. More specifically, she wanted to incorporate flight into her new scooter routine. She was going to show it off to her friends, especially her honorary big sis, Rainbow Dash. She would be so proud if she could show off even just a little of her flying to Rainbow. Scootaloo over time had learned to practice in a secluded area so she didn't embarrass herself. There was an opening in a forest quite close to the club house, though not on the farm property. She had been there for over an hour and a half, dripping with sweat from the heat of the sun and all the practicing. Taking a breather, she sat down to think. While sipping on some cold water she had brought along, she glanced around the opening. It was not too big, yet not too small. The grass was flat and sparse. The ground was firm and solid, not too dry yet not too damp. To Scootaloo, it almost felt peaceful there. Ruffling her wings, she sighed. Maybe she was too tired to continue practicing. Even if she did continue, what was the point? She was practicing a skill she didn't even posses. Every time she tried to fly, she couldn't get more than two feet off the ground. Last time she tried jumping from a tree branch, she realized with a loud thud that it wasn't going to work. Why couldn't she fly? She had thought about it many times before, and all of her conclusions seemed too silly. Disabled? No, her wings were practically the same size as every other filly. Hers were a bit smaller, but nothing too severe… Or, so she hoped. Maybe it was bad luck? Scootaloo sure had her fair share of bad luck, but she was certain by now that she would have at least kept a steady height while flying. Nevertheless, she came crashing down every time she tried. Scootaloo was often confused by her lack of flight. She could power her scooter purely with wing power, so why couldn't she get off the ground? She was a pegasus, and pegasi are supposed to fly. They are supposed to feel the wind beneath their wings and soar into the sunset. Scoots really believed she would never do that, and it saddened her. Maybe she was supposed to be born an earth pony. It would make sense, since she can't fly. Why have wings if you can't use them, she often thought. Yes, it was true that her mother was an earth pony, but that didn't affect Scootaloo, right? She loved her parents, and they always tried supported her though her trials of trying to fly. But, could it be that because of her mom's earth pony roots, she couldn't fly? Scootaloo shook her head; that certainly couldn't be it. But as she pondered the thought, she thought vaguely back on one of Twilight's lectures. __________ It was Twilight Time again, and Twilight thought it was time to get down to the best bit of all: learning about magic! "Alright girls" Twilight started, levitating a piece of white chalk, "do you know what kind of magic there is inside everypony?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle raised their hooves. "Okay, you two can answer together" Twilight giggled. "Well,” Apple Bloom started, “I know that earth ponies like mahself have earth pony magic, which can grow plants and manipulate the ground!" "And I know that unicorns like me have unicorn magic, which they can use with their horn!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly. “Raw magic, right?" Twilight nodded reassuringly before kneeling down to face a bored pegasus. "Scootaloo, do you know if pegasi possess any magic?" "I think they do,” she answered indifferently. “It's what helps them stand on clouds." "Yes, that's right!" Standing up, Twilight turned to face her drawing board. "Pegasi magic is what allows them to fly and do all the things pegasi need to do, though magic levels vary between some. Some pegasi can fly, but have trouble maneuvering clouds and weather." She beamed as she stepped aside, revealing an intricate diagram on the board of how pegasi magic can be transferred through their wings. Twilight continued explaining the different types of magic for the rest of their time together, before assigning them a ton of books to read on the subject. __________ It then hit Scootaloo. What if, because she carried earth pony magic, her pegasus magic had decreased? What if, because she had earth pony magic, it conflicted with her own pegasus magic? That had to be it! Her mother was very attached to her earth pony roots, which her pegasus father loved about her. Standing up to brush her tail off, she set off to Twilight's castle. "Twilight will certainly be able to tell me if I'm right or not!" And with that, the orange filly took off on her scooter at full speed. __________ Arriving at the castle, Scootaloo rested her scooter and helmet against the base of the crystal tree. Trotting up the golden staircase, which she often slipped on, she wondered if Twilight was even home. She knocked on the doors twice, then sat down to wait. With no response after a short twenty seconds, she put an ear up to the door. Hurried hoofsteps resounded against the back of the door Scootaloo reeled her head back just as Twilight opened the large doors with her magic. Looking down at the nervous filly, she said, "Hi there, Scootaloo!” She knelt down to her height as she asked, “Is everything alright?" "Twilight, I wanted to talk to you about something I discovered," Scootaloo said, her voice full of conviction. The alicorn looked quizzically at the tiny pegasus. "Sure, come right in." They trotted up the stairs to her bountiful library, something Scootaloo was very familiar with. Many Twilight Times were spent in this library, although she never voluntarily took out a book. “Here, have a seat,” Twilight said as they entered in through the tall doors leading inside. They sat down on soft chairs, facing each other. Looking the pegasus over curiously, Twilight said, "So Scootaloo, what have you discovered?" "Well, you know how my mom is an earth pony, right?" Twilight nodded, "Yes, I believe I have seen her before with you." "I think the reason I can't fly is because I have some of her earth pony magic, like you said they have. I'm thinking, maybe I got some of it and it's stopping my magic from doing what it's supposed to." Twilight sat in silence for a moment, pondering the filly's hypothesis. After a bit, she said, "I think you may be right. It might be the same thing as with Fluttershy, except more intense. She isn't a strong flyer, perhaps due to her lack of strong pegasus magic." She smiled. "If this is true, we have to think of way to gain your pegasus magic!" Scootaloo fidgeted a little in her seat. ”But… I won't be pushing away my mom's earth pony-ness, will I?" "Not at all,” Twilight shook her head. “You're discovering what pegasi should be able to do for yourself!" There was a short pause between the two ponies before Scootaloo piped up again. "Rainbow Dash has the most pegasus magic I've ever seen. I mean, she can do the Sonic Rainboom!" “Hmm…” As Twilight pondered her statement, a sudden idea occurred to her. Smiling over at the filly, she said, "Hey Scootaloo, let's go outside for a moment." As Twilight stood up, Scootaloo gave her a confused look, but followed her anyway. Once outside, Twilight said, "Do you know if you can stand on a cloud?" Scootaloo looked up for a moment at a puffy white cloud above her. "I've never tried, so I wouldn't know," she said, looking back down to her small hooves. Suddenly, Twilight's hooves wrapped around the filly as she hoisted the two into the air. The wind from Twilight's wings disheveled Scootaloo's mane as she stared on in both shock and confusion. Hovering just above the fluffy cloud, Twilight looked down at the pegasus. "I'm going to let go, but I'll be here to catch you if you fall," Twilight said calmly. “Are you ready?” With just the slightest bit of hesitation, Scootaloo nodded. "Okay, I'm going to let go in three... two... one!" Twilight's hooves slipped out from underneath Scootaloo. For a moment, Scootaloo shut her eyes and immediately began flailing her limbs. She soon stopped when she felt no wind beneath her. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked underneath her. Smiling from ear to ear, she looked up at Twilight. "I can stand on a cloud,” she cheered excitedly. “I have pegasus magic!" Twilight giggled at the sight. "Well, I think I know how to get some of your pegasus magic back, then." Scootaloo nodded rapidly, ready for whatever answer she was about to give. "I think you need to take a visit to Cloudsdale," she said with a triumphant grin. "Cloudsdale?” Scootaloo tilted her head curiously. “Why do I need to go there?" "Well, it's the home of pegasi! I believe by spending some time around them, it will help you gain some of their magic," she said with a smile. "And she won't be going alone," a familiar voice sounded from behind the two. They both turned around to see Rainbow Dash flying toward them. She slowed to a hover as she approached Scootaloo, who gladly walked up to the edge of the cloud. Rainbow once again disheveled Scootaloo's mane with a hoof. "Look at you up here," she said with a proud grin, knowing the filly loved it when she was proud of her. Turning to Twilight, she asked, "So what's this about bringing Scoots to Cloudsdale?" "I believe Scootaloo and I have discovered that her lack of ability to fly may be due to her mother's strong earth pony magic being passed down to her. It might be possible for her to gain pegasus magic in the place where other pegasi thrive," she concluded. "Well, she isn't going alone! I know Cloudsdale like the back of my hoof!” She looked over at the filly as she coolly added, “I can show you around in ten seconds flat." "That sounds like a great idea,” Twilight said from aside, “but I also think that Scootaloo may need to discover some things on her own." She looked affectionately between the two eager pegasi. "Hey, that's alright,” Rainbow said with a grin. “I'm sure it'll be great!" Scootaloo looked up between the two mares with excitement, eliciting a laugh between them all. Hopping onto Rainbow's back, the three flew to the ground once more. It appeared that Scootaloo had some packing to do. Chapter Two - City of CloudsAuthor's Note Short chapter to explain setting and stuff :) enjoy! Chapter Two - City of Clouds Scootaloo had been told several times that she would visit Cloudsdale someday, but she never really believed it. She had dreamt of visiting Rainbow Dash's old house, the weather factory, and all the places she used to frequent. All of these amazing features and more had seemed so distant for so long, yet here she was, packing for her first-ever trip to the City of Clouds. Scootaloo only needed her one tiny set of saddlebags, since she was packing quite small things. While that helped speed things along, she was also a very excited little filly, which helped her rush the job. She didn't want to show her excitement too much, but she was finding it hard to resist. She had always wanted to visit Cloudsdale, and for years, she has heard tales of its beauty. Apparently, seeing sunrise and sunset from the city's view was something to behold, and that was yet another prospect that had the filly ready and raring to go. Now, this little filly was never one for true sentiment or deep attachments to things like meaningful conversations about pretty sunsets. But the idea of this visit had her excited to see one. Her mother and father had overheard this excitement at one point and were surprised at their daughter's eagerness. She was also excited to see the result of this visit. If Twilight was right, Scootaloo would get her magic replenished. But… How exactly was this supposed to work? Would she have to perform a Sonic Rainboom? Would she have to move some clouds around? Would she just sit there and absorb magic like a sponge with wings? Twilight and Rainbow were also unsure how this process would work, but Twilight seemed certain that things would play out in the end. Twilight does have wings now, surely she has done some research, she thought to herself as she finished the last of her packing. Knowing how much Twilight liked to study, Scoots was sure she would have read a couple hundred books on pegasi by now. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by her mother's voice calling her down. Smiling ear to ear, she hoisted her bags onto her haunches and trotted down the stairs. __________ Two mares and a filly stared up at a cluster of clouds above them, bustling with ponies. "Here we are,” Rainbow Dash announced with an air of pride. “Cloudsdale, home of the best pegasi racing in all of Equestria – and, of course, yours truly!" Scootaloo gazed up in awe from her spot on the ground. Twilight had been to Cloudsdale many times before, so she was not as phased as the young pegasus was. She agreed that Cloudsdale was a beautiful city, but Scootaloo was undoubtedly astounded by the sight. The city was immensely large to the filly, yet surprisingly spaced out, bustling with pegasi who thrived on its floating clouds. Many small and large buildings stood in various places, towering above any grounded pony. Streams of liquid rainbow poured off clouds overhead, splashing to the ground in the ponds and lakes created by the constant flow of their streams. Reconciling her thoughts, Scootaloo shook her head as the two mares looked down at her. "Well squirt, you ready to go?" Rainbow asked, meeting the filly's eyes with a grin. Scootaloo took a deep breath before uttering, "I'm ready". Twilight smiled at the two. "Remember Scootaloo, you're there to find your magic. Think like a pegasus, and you will react like one. You can't fall through the clouds". Scootaloo nodded before thanking Twilight. Rainbow knelt down for Scoots to hop on, and with their goodbye's said, the two sped off to the city towering above them. It was a short flight, but Scootaloo loved every second of it. Whenever Dash took Scootaloo for a flight, she always closed her eyes and flapped her wings in the wind, pretending she was flying. It felt great, until she opened her eyes and set her hooves on the ground. But this time was different. Her hooves were set on clouds. No more than a few seconds after landing, Scootaloo was looking around rapidly, scanning every inch of her otherworldly surroundings. "Whoa, hang on there, squirt – don't get ahead of yourself," Rainbow said, dashing in front of the orange filly who was subconsciously trotting away. "Sorry Rainbow, it's just… so amazing," she said, her eyes wide with excitement. Dash laughed at the sight of her 'lil' sis' as she trotted up beside her. She too looked around at the familiar setting, remembering the streets and buildings from her childhood. A warm smile formed for a moment before she shook her head, pulling Scootaloo toward her with a wing. "It's only midday, so let's go check out the heart of Cloudsdale!" Leaning down, Rainbow motioned for the filly to hop on her back once more. After clambering on, Scootaloo watched happily from her spot as Rainbow led them down the main streets of Cloudsdale. Upon arriving in downtown, Scootaloo immediately felt odd. She couldn't tell if it was just her nervousness, excitement, or nothing at all. Her hooves were almost shaking, and she felt like she had butterflies in her belly. Rainbow Dash seemingly didn't notice her uneasiness, which was most likely a good thing. Whatever the reason, she guessed she would figure it out later – she was too concerned with taking in the sights and sounds to be bothered by anything else. They wandered around for a while, avoiding flying at most costs. __________ After many hours of touring the different corners of Cloudsdale, the sun began to set. Though Scootaloo was still excited, Rainbow knew it would probably be best to head to her parent's house soon. Dash's parents had left for a vacation in Rainbow Falls some time before, leaving her with the key to their cloud home per usual. The two sat on the outskirts of the city, admiring the sky. Scootaloo's eyes were fixated on the horizon, stained with brilliant shades of pinks, oranges, lavenders and blues. Distant clouds appeared to illuminate in the glow of the setting sun. They almost seemed reachable, as if Scootaloo could just fly out and touch them, caress them. She had never seen anything like it. It was mesmerizing, but only for a short while. In that short while though, she thought about how her magical transformation would occur. Would it be painful? Probably not, she figured, since it's only magic. The whole concept was still a little confusing to her, but no matter the confusion, she was still determined to see her goal through. She would do her best to act like any other pegasus during her visit, doing all the things that other pegasi do. The sky blue mare beside her switched her focus from the horizon to the filly, who was still lost in thought. Not wanting to disturb her anymore than necessary, Rainbow Dash waited until the sun slipped under the horizon before she spoke again. "Hey Scoots, I think it's time to head back to my folks' place.” Smiling warmly at the filly, she added, “You look pretty exhausted, anyway.” Scootaloo nodded tiredly toward her before Rainbow gave her a pat on the head. As Scootaloo stood to her hooves to walk back with Rainbow, she suddenly shivered, vibrations cascading down her spine. Then, she felt like something had clicked within her, as if the sun's warmth had suddenly enveloped her and washed away her cold. Was it the beauty of the sun and the sky? That was the first idea that popped into her head, so she went with it. The experience certainly felt magical enough to her. And so, the two pegasi, tall and small, meandered back into the City of Clouds. Chapter Three - Thunder to LightningSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Four - First StepScootaloo heard nothing but ringing in her ears. The loud, droning noise had been flooding her ears for a few minutes now. She thought maybe she was in the middle of waking up and sleeping, though she didn’t really recall why she was asleep in the first place. There was no memory in her mind of going home… or even leaving the weather factory! Confused, Scootaloo tried to move around. A sharp pain in her back and chest disabled her from getting up, but it did make her more conscious. She now heard talking, which was slowly overpowering the ringing. At first, the voice was very muffled and slurred. When it became clearer, more voices were heard! She searched her mind, trying to connect the voices. Scootaloo then realized it was Rainbow Dash! Twilight too! ‘Wait, what is Twilight doing here?’ she thought. ‘Twilight shouldn’t be checking up on us just yet…’ The more curious Scootaloo grew, the more conscious she became. When she opened her eyes, a bright light blinded her momentarily. Gasps resounded in both her ears, and she looked around. When the bright lights calmed, she saw a concerned Twilight, holding a clipboard with her magic, and a distressed Rainbow Dash, hovering beside her. “Hey squirt, you came to!” she shouted. “Shh Rainbow,” Twilight shushed sternly, “her senses are most likely very… well, sensitive right now. We have to be quiet.” Rainbow carefully returned to the floor, then peered over at the dazed filly. “How are you feeling Scootaloo?” Twilight asked, levitating a pen as well as the clipboard. Scootaloo smacked her lips. “Not so good… I think a piano fell on me in my sleep.” She then smiled. “Dry mouth?” Twilight asked, looking at her list. Scootaloo nodded. “Chest pains or headache?” Scootaloo nodded again. “Confusion?” Scootaloo nodded once more. Twilight continued to jot notes, while Rainbow sat in confusion. “Twi, what does this have to do with Scoots’ health?” After a moment, Twilight lowered the clipboard. “I am almost positive I know what happened. Do you remember what occurred before you passed out, Scootaloo?” The orange pegasus shook her head slowly. “I don’t remember a thing. All I remember was getting on top of that cloud, jumping, then thunder and lightning surrounding me. I think I blacked out.” “I saw the whole thing kiddo! It was kinda cool!” Rainbow said, putting a hoof in the air. Scootaloo smiled, though she noticed her idol’s obvious concern underneath her confident mask. “So, what happened to me?” Rainbow shot up into the air. “Well as soon as you jumped on that cloud, thunder and lightning was everywhere! You started to lift into the air, and wham! A huge flash of light shot all around. Then you fell to the ground!” Scootaloo gawked at Rainbow, then at Twilight. “Why did that happen?” Twilight smiled, clearing her throat. “Well, when a pony goes through a magical epiphany, as I like to call it, they usually experience the symptoms you have. The body is put under a heap of stress as the magic is released from the magical core. Yours being near your wings, since you are a pegasus, will hurt your back and chest more. Does that make sense, Scootaloo?” Gaping at Twilight, Rainbow and Scootaloo sat a moment in silence. Rainbow had a harder time processing the whole concept of magical transformation and the science-y jargon, but Scootaloo promptly nodded. “So… does this mean I can fly now?” Scootaloo asked excitedly as she leaned forward, quickly groaning from the pain of her movement. Twilight rose from her seat, leaning toward the filly. “That’s what I’ve been wondering myself. When you’re feeling better, we can test what magic inside of you has shifted and been brought out.” Nodding rapidly, Scootaloo tried once more to get out of bed, before collapsing back into her previous spot. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder and smiled. “Don’t get too excited, kiddo! We have tons of time for you to get better. You did really great at the Weather Factory, so try not to rush yourself,” the rainbow pegasus said with a gleam of compassion that was almost alien to Scootaloo. Usually, Dash has an upbeat and loud way of comforting and motivating her friends. But here, Scootaloo sensed Rainbow Dash showing a softer side of her comfort that she hadn’t seen before. ~2 weeks later~ Scootaloo took a deep breath of fresh air as she stepped across the threshold out of the hospital. Twilight and Rainbow Dash smiling by her side, she trotted along a long stretch of cloud. “Scootaloo,” Twilight called out from behind, “are you sure you are ready to try this?” “Aw yeah! I feel a lot better now that I’ve taken some time off, but it’s time to rev up those engines!” Scoots said, flapping her wings hard and smiling brightly. Rainbow Dash smiled enthusiastically at her surrogate sister. “Alright, I’m going to count down from three, and you’re going to try everything you learned in our flight lessons.” Clearing her throat, she stood proudly beside the younger pegasus. With her best drill-sergeant voice, she shouted, “Ready?” The raring young pegasus flared her nostrils and shouted back, “Ready!” “Alright then. Three… two… one… GO!” Rainbow yelled, jumping into the air. Scootaloo ran forward and gained speed until she was going as fast as she could. She spread her wings and started to flap, until she jumped… and fell back to the cloud with a disappointing poof. Both Twilight and Rainbow sped over. “What happened squirt? Where’s the flying!?” Rainbow questioned hurriedly. Twilight’s gaze hung over the filly, “It hasn’t happened yet… It seems that magical breakthrough you had was only the start to a much longer journey!” Scootaloo sighed and face-planted into the cloud beneath her. With a muffled voice, she shouted, “How in the world will I do that?!” Twilight looked at Rainbow with a confused expression, the pegasus returning the glance. Author's Note I apologize for how long this took to get out. I have a bad habit for procrastination!
Chapter One - Realization Chapter One - Realization Scootaloo was at it again. Though she had been told many times she couldn't, she was determined to fly. She had always been determined to fly, because she knew it's what pegasi are supposed to do. More specifically, she wanted to incorporate flight into her new scooter routine. She was going to show it off to her friends, especially her honorary big sis, Rainbow Dash. She would be so proud if she could show off even just a little of her flying to Rainbow. Scootaloo over time had learned to practice in a secluded area so she didn't embarrass herself. There was an opening in a forest quite close to the club house, though not on the farm property. She had been there for over an hour and a half, dripping with sweat from the heat of the sun and all the practicing. Taking a breather, she sat down to think. While sipping on some cold water she had brought along, she glanced around the opening. It was not too big, yet not too small. The grass was flat and sparse. The ground was firm and solid, not too dry yet not too damp. To Scootaloo, it almost felt peaceful there. Ruffling her wings, she sighed. Maybe she was too tired to continue practicing. Even if she did continue, what was the point? She was practicing a skill she didn't even posses. Every time she tried to fly, she couldn't get more than two feet off the ground. Last time she tried jumping from a tree branch, she realized with a loud thud that it wasn't going to work. Why couldn't she fly? She had thought about it many times before, and all of her conclusions seemed too silly. Disabled? No, her wings were practically the same size as every other filly. Hers were a bit smaller, but nothing too severe… Or, so she hoped. Maybe it was bad luck? Scootaloo sure had her fair share of bad luck, but she was certain by now that she would have at least kept a steady height while flying. Nevertheless, she came crashing down every time she tried. Scootaloo was often confused by her lack of flight. She could power her scooter purely with wing power, so why couldn't she get off the ground? She was a pegasus, and pegasi are supposed to fly. They are supposed to feel the wind beneath their wings and soar into the sunset. Scoots really believed she would never do that, and it saddened her. Maybe she was supposed to be born an earth pony. It would make sense, since she can't fly. Why have wings if you can't use them, she often thought. Yes, it was true that her mother was an earth pony, but that didn't affect Scootaloo, right? She loved her parents, and they always tried supported her though her trials of trying to fly. But, could it be that because of her mom's earth pony roots, she couldn't fly? Scootaloo shook her head; that certainly couldn't be it. But as she pondered the thought, she thought vaguely back on one of Twilight's lectures. __________ It was Twilight Time again, and Twilight thought it was time to get down to the best bit of all: learning about magic! "Alright girls" Twilight started, levitating a piece of white chalk, "do you know what kind of magic there is inside everypony?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle raised their hooves. "Okay, you two can answer together" Twilight giggled. "Well,” Apple Bloom started, “I know that earth ponies like mahself have earth pony magic, which can grow plants and manipulate the ground!" "And I know that unicorns like me have unicorn magic, which they can use with their horn!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly. “Raw magic, right?" Twilight nodded reassuringly before kneeling down to face a bored pegasus. "Scootaloo, do you know if pegasi possess any magic?" "I think they do,” she answered indifferently. “It's what helps them stand on clouds." "Yes, that's right!" Standing up, Twilight turned to face her drawing board. "Pegasi magic is what allows them to fly and do all the things pegasi need to do, though magic levels vary between some. Some pegasi can fly, but have trouble maneuvering clouds and weather." She beamed as she stepped aside, revealing an intricate diagram on the board of how pegasi magic can be transferred through their wings. Twilight continued explaining the different types of magic for the rest of their time together, before assigning them a ton of books to read on the subject. __________ It then hit Scootaloo. What if, because she carried earth pony magic, her pegasus magic had decreased? What if, because she had earth pony magic, it conflicted with her own pegasus magic? That had to be it! Her mother was very attached to her earth pony roots, which her pegasus father loved about her. Standing up to brush her tail off, she set off to Twilight's castle. "Twilight will certainly be able to tell me if I'm right or not!" And with that, the orange filly took off on her scooter at full speed. __________ Arriving at the castle, Scootaloo rested her scooter and helmet against the base of the crystal tree. Trotting up the golden staircase, which she often slipped on, she wondered if Twilight was even home. She knocked on the doors twice, then sat down to wait. With no response after a short twenty seconds, she put an ear up to the door. Hurried hoofsteps resounded against the back of the door Scootaloo reeled her head back just as Twilight opened the large doors with her magic. Looking down at the nervous filly, she said, "Hi there, Scootaloo!” She knelt down to her height as she asked, “Is everything alright?" "Twilight, I wanted to talk to you about something I discovered," Scootaloo said, her voice full of conviction. The alicorn looked quizzically at the tiny pegasus. "Sure, come right in." They trotted up the stairs to her bountiful library, something Scootaloo was very familiar with. Many Twilight Times were spent in this library, although she never voluntarily took out a book. “Here, have a seat,” Twilight said as they entered in through the tall doors leading inside. They sat down on soft chairs, facing each other. Looking the pegasus over curiously, Twilight said, "So Scootaloo, what have you discovered?" "Well, you know how my mom is an earth pony, right?" Twilight nodded, "Yes, I believe I have seen her before with you." "I think the reason I can't fly is because I have some of her earth pony magic, like you said they have. I'm thinking, maybe I got some of it and it's stopping my magic from doing what it's supposed to." Twilight sat in silence for a moment, pondering the filly's hypothesis. After a bit, she said, "I think you may be right. It might be the same thing as with Fluttershy, except more intense. She isn't a strong flyer, perhaps due to her lack of strong pegasus magic." She smiled. "If this is true, we have to think of way to gain your pegasus magic!" Scootaloo fidgeted a little in her seat. ”But… I won't be pushing away my mom's earth pony-ness, will I?" "Not at all,” Twilight shook her head. “You're discovering what pegasi should be able to do for yourself!" There was a short pause between the two ponies before Scootaloo piped up again. "Rainbow Dash has the most pegasus magic I've ever seen. I mean, she can do the Sonic Rainboom!" “Hmm…” As Twilight pondered her statement, a sudden idea occurred to her. Smiling over at the filly, she said, "Hey Scootaloo, let's go outside for a moment." As Twilight stood up, Scootaloo gave her a confused look, but followed her anyway. Once outside, Twilight said, "Do you know if you can stand on a cloud?" Scootaloo looked up for a moment at a puffy white cloud above her. "I've never tried, so I wouldn't know," she said, looking back down to her small hooves. Suddenly, Twilight's hooves wrapped around the filly as she hoisted the two into the air. The wind from Twilight's wings disheveled Scootaloo's mane as she stared on in both shock and confusion. Hovering just above the fluffy cloud, Twilight looked down at the pegasus. "I'm going to let go, but I'll be here to catch you if you fall," Twilight said calmly. “Are you ready?” With just the slightest bit of hesitation, Scootaloo nodded. "Okay, I'm going to let go in three... two... one!" Twilight's hooves slipped out from underneath Scootaloo. For a moment, Scootaloo shut her eyes and immediately began flailing her limbs. She soon stopped when she felt no wind beneath her. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked underneath her. Smiling from ear to ear, she looked up at Twilight. "I can stand on a cloud,” she cheered excitedly. “I have pegasus magic!" Twilight giggled at the sight. "Well, I think I know how to get some of your pegasus magic back, then." Scootaloo nodded rapidly, ready for whatever answer she was about to give. "I think you need to take a visit to Cloudsdale," she said with a triumphant grin. "Cloudsdale?” Scootaloo tilted her head curiously. “Why do I need to go there?" "Well, it's the home of pegasi! I believe by spending some time around them, it will help you gain some of their magic," she said with a smile. "And she won't be going alone," a familiar voice sounded from behind the two. They both turned around to see Rainbow Dash flying toward them. She slowed to a hover as she approached Scootaloo, who gladly walked up to the edge of the cloud. Rainbow once again disheveled Scootaloo's mane with a hoof. "Look at you up here," she said with a proud grin, knowing the filly loved it when she was proud of her. Turning to Twilight, she asked, "So what's this about bringing Scoots to Cloudsdale?" "I believe Scootaloo and I have discovered that her lack of ability to fly may be due to her mother's strong earth pony magic being passed down to her. It might be possible for her to gain pegasus magic in the place where other pegasi thrive," she concluded. "Well, she isn't going alone! I know Cloudsdale like the back of my hoof!” She looked over at the filly as she coolly added, “I can show you around in ten seconds flat." "That sounds like a great idea,” Twilight said from aside, “but I also think that Scootaloo may need to discover some things on her own." She looked affectionately between the two eager pegasi. "Hey, that's alright,” Rainbow said with a grin. “I'm sure it'll be great!" Scootaloo looked up between the two mares with excitement, eliciting a laugh between them all. Hopping onto Rainbow's back, the three flew to the ground once more. It appeared that Scootaloo had some packing to do.
Chapter Two - City of CloudsAuthor's Note Short chapter to explain setting and stuff :) enjoy! Chapter Two - City of Clouds Scootaloo had been told several times that she would visit Cloudsdale someday, but she never really believed it. She had dreamt of visiting Rainbow Dash's old house, the weather factory, and all the places she used to frequent. All of these amazing features and more had seemed so distant for so long, yet here she was, packing for her first-ever trip to the City of Clouds. Scootaloo only needed her one tiny set of saddlebags, since she was packing quite small things. While that helped speed things along, she was also a very excited little filly, which helped her rush the job. She didn't want to show her excitement too much, but she was finding it hard to resist. She had always wanted to visit Cloudsdale, and for years, she has heard tales of its beauty. Apparently, seeing sunrise and sunset from the city's view was something to behold, and that was yet another prospect that had the filly ready and raring to go. Now, this little filly was never one for true sentiment or deep attachments to things like meaningful conversations about pretty sunsets. But the idea of this visit had her excited to see one. Her mother and father had overheard this excitement at one point and were surprised at their daughter's eagerness. She was also excited to see the result of this visit. If Twilight was right, Scootaloo would get her magic replenished. But… How exactly was this supposed to work? Would she have to perform a Sonic Rainboom? Would she have to move some clouds around? Would she just sit there and absorb magic like a sponge with wings? Twilight and Rainbow were also unsure how this process would work, but Twilight seemed certain that things would play out in the end. Twilight does have wings now, surely she has done some research, she thought to herself as she finished the last of her packing. Knowing how much Twilight liked to study, Scoots was sure she would have read a couple hundred books on pegasi by now. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by her mother's voice calling her down. Smiling ear to ear, she hoisted her bags onto her haunches and trotted down the stairs. __________ Two mares and a filly stared up at a cluster of clouds above them, bustling with ponies. "Here we are,” Rainbow Dash announced with an air of pride. “Cloudsdale, home of the best pegasi racing in all of Equestria – and, of course, yours truly!" Scootaloo gazed up in awe from her spot on the ground. Twilight had been to Cloudsdale many times before, so she was not as phased as the young pegasus was. She agreed that Cloudsdale was a beautiful city, but Scootaloo was undoubtedly astounded by the sight. The city was immensely large to the filly, yet surprisingly spaced out, bustling with pegasi who thrived on its floating clouds. Many small and large buildings stood in various places, towering above any grounded pony. Streams of liquid rainbow poured off clouds overhead, splashing to the ground in the ponds and lakes created by the constant flow of their streams. Reconciling her thoughts, Scootaloo shook her head as the two mares looked down at her. "Well squirt, you ready to go?" Rainbow asked, meeting the filly's eyes with a grin. Scootaloo took a deep breath before uttering, "I'm ready". Twilight smiled at the two. "Remember Scootaloo, you're there to find your magic. Think like a pegasus, and you will react like one. You can't fall through the clouds". Scootaloo nodded before thanking Twilight. Rainbow knelt down for Scoots to hop on, and with their goodbye's said, the two sped off to the city towering above them. It was a short flight, but Scootaloo loved every second of it. Whenever Dash took Scootaloo for a flight, she always closed her eyes and flapped her wings in the wind, pretending she was flying. It felt great, until she opened her eyes and set her hooves on the ground. But this time was different. Her hooves were set on clouds. No more than a few seconds after landing, Scootaloo was looking around rapidly, scanning every inch of her otherworldly surroundings. "Whoa, hang on there, squirt – don't get ahead of yourself," Rainbow said, dashing in front of the orange filly who was subconsciously trotting away. "Sorry Rainbow, it's just… so amazing," she said, her eyes wide with excitement. Dash laughed at the sight of her 'lil' sis' as she trotted up beside her. She too looked around at the familiar setting, remembering the streets and buildings from her childhood. A warm smile formed for a moment before she shook her head, pulling Scootaloo toward her with a wing. "It's only midday, so let's go check out the heart of Cloudsdale!" Leaning down, Rainbow motioned for the filly to hop on her back once more. After clambering on, Scootaloo watched happily from her spot as Rainbow led them down the main streets of Cloudsdale. Upon arriving in downtown, Scootaloo immediately felt odd. She couldn't tell if it was just her nervousness, excitement, or nothing at all. Her hooves were almost shaking, and she felt like she had butterflies in her belly. Rainbow Dash seemingly didn't notice her uneasiness, which was most likely a good thing. Whatever the reason, she guessed she would figure it out later – she was too concerned with taking in the sights and sounds to be bothered by anything else. They wandered around for a while, avoiding flying at most costs. __________ After many hours of touring the different corners of Cloudsdale, the sun began to set. Though Scootaloo was still excited, Rainbow knew it would probably be best to head to her parent's house soon. Dash's parents had left for a vacation in Rainbow Falls some time before, leaving her with the key to their cloud home per usual. The two sat on the outskirts of the city, admiring the sky. Scootaloo's eyes were fixated on the horizon, stained with brilliant shades of pinks, oranges, lavenders and blues. Distant clouds appeared to illuminate in the glow of the setting sun. They almost seemed reachable, as if Scootaloo could just fly out and touch them, caress them. She had never seen anything like it. It was mesmerizing, but only for a short while. In that short while though, she thought about how her magical transformation would occur. Would it be painful? Probably not, she figured, since it's only magic. The whole concept was still a little confusing to her, but no matter the confusion, she was still determined to see her goal through. She would do her best to act like any other pegasus during her visit, doing all the things that other pegasi do. The sky blue mare beside her switched her focus from the horizon to the filly, who was still lost in thought. Not wanting to disturb her anymore than necessary, Rainbow Dash waited until the sun slipped under the horizon before she spoke again. "Hey Scoots, I think it's time to head back to my folks' place.” Smiling warmly at the filly, she added, “You look pretty exhausted, anyway.” Scootaloo nodded tiredly toward her before Rainbow gave her a pat on the head. As Scootaloo stood to her hooves to walk back with Rainbow, she suddenly shivered, vibrations cascading down her spine. Then, she felt like something had clicked within her, as if the sun's warmth had suddenly enveloped her and washed away her cold. Was it the beauty of the sun and the sky? That was the first idea that popped into her head, so she went with it. The experience certainly felt magical enough to her. And so, the two pegasi, tall and small, meandered back into the City of Clouds.
Chapter Three - Thunder to LightningSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Four - First StepScootaloo heard nothing but ringing in her ears. The loud, droning noise had been flooding her ears for a few minutes now. She thought maybe she was in the middle of waking up and sleeping, though she didn’t really recall why she was asleep in the first place. There was no memory in her mind of going home… or even leaving the weather factory! Confused, Scootaloo tried to move around. A sharp pain in her back and chest disabled her from getting up, but it did make her more conscious. She now heard talking, which was slowly overpowering the ringing. At first, the voice was very muffled and slurred. When it became clearer, more voices were heard! She searched her mind, trying to connect the voices. Scootaloo then realized it was Rainbow Dash! Twilight too! ‘Wait, what is Twilight doing here?’ she thought. ‘Twilight shouldn’t be checking up on us just yet…’ The more curious Scootaloo grew, the more conscious she became. When she opened her eyes, a bright light blinded her momentarily. Gasps resounded in both her ears, and she looked around. When the bright lights calmed, she saw a concerned Twilight, holding a clipboard with her magic, and a distressed Rainbow Dash, hovering beside her. “Hey squirt, you came to!” she shouted. “Shh Rainbow,” Twilight shushed sternly, “her senses are most likely very… well, sensitive right now. We have to be quiet.” Rainbow carefully returned to the floor, then peered over at the dazed filly. “How are you feeling Scootaloo?” Twilight asked, levitating a pen as well as the clipboard. Scootaloo smacked her lips. “Not so good… I think a piano fell on me in my sleep.” She then smiled. “Dry mouth?” Twilight asked, looking at her list. Scootaloo nodded. “Chest pains or headache?” Scootaloo nodded again. “Confusion?” Scootaloo nodded once more. Twilight continued to jot notes, while Rainbow sat in confusion. “Twi, what does this have to do with Scoots’ health?” After a moment, Twilight lowered the clipboard. “I am almost positive I know what happened. Do you remember what occurred before you passed out, Scootaloo?” The orange pegasus shook her head slowly. “I don’t remember a thing. All I remember was getting on top of that cloud, jumping, then thunder and lightning surrounding me. I think I blacked out.” “I saw the whole thing kiddo! It was kinda cool!” Rainbow said, putting a hoof in the air. Scootaloo smiled, though she noticed her idol’s obvious concern underneath her confident mask. “So, what happened to me?” Rainbow shot up into the air. “Well as soon as you jumped on that cloud, thunder and lightning was everywhere! You started to lift into the air, and wham! A huge flash of light shot all around. Then you fell to the ground!” Scootaloo gawked at Rainbow, then at Twilight. “Why did that happen?” Twilight smiled, clearing her throat. “Well, when a pony goes through a magical epiphany, as I like to call it, they usually experience the symptoms you have. The body is put under a heap of stress as the magic is released from the magical core. Yours being near your wings, since you are a pegasus, will hurt your back and chest more. Does that make sense, Scootaloo?” Gaping at Twilight, Rainbow and Scootaloo sat a moment in silence. Rainbow had a harder time processing the whole concept of magical transformation and the science-y jargon, but Scootaloo promptly nodded. “So… does this mean I can fly now?” Scootaloo asked excitedly as she leaned forward, quickly groaning from the pain of her movement. Twilight rose from her seat, leaning toward the filly. “That’s what I’ve been wondering myself. When you’re feeling better, we can test what magic inside of you has shifted and been brought out.” Nodding rapidly, Scootaloo tried once more to get out of bed, before collapsing back into her previous spot. Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder and smiled. “Don’t get too excited, kiddo! We have tons of time for you to get better. You did really great at the Weather Factory, so try not to rush yourself,” the rainbow pegasus said with a gleam of compassion that was almost alien to Scootaloo. Usually, Dash has an upbeat and loud way of comforting and motivating her friends. But here, Scootaloo sensed Rainbow Dash showing a softer side of her comfort that she hadn’t seen before. ~2 weeks later~ Scootaloo took a deep breath of fresh air as she stepped across the threshold out of the hospital. Twilight and Rainbow Dash smiling by her side, she trotted along a long stretch of cloud. “Scootaloo,” Twilight called out from behind, “are you sure you are ready to try this?” “Aw yeah! I feel a lot better now that I’ve taken some time off, but it’s time to rev up those engines!” Scoots said, flapping her wings hard and smiling brightly. Rainbow Dash smiled enthusiastically at her surrogate sister. “Alright, I’m going to count down from three, and you’re going to try everything you learned in our flight lessons.” Clearing her throat, she stood proudly beside the younger pegasus. With her best drill-sergeant voice, she shouted, “Ready?” The raring young pegasus flared her nostrils and shouted back, “Ready!” “Alright then. Three… two… one… GO!” Rainbow yelled, jumping into the air. Scootaloo ran forward and gained speed until she was going as fast as she could. She spread her wings and started to flap, until she jumped… and fell back to the cloud with a disappointing poof. Both Twilight and Rainbow sped over. “What happened squirt? Where’s the flying!?” Rainbow questioned hurriedly. Twilight’s gaze hung over the filly, “It hasn’t happened yet… It seems that magical breakthrough you had was only the start to a much longer journey!” Scootaloo sighed and face-planted into the cloud beneath her. With a muffled voice, she shouted, “How in the world will I do that?!” Twilight looked at Rainbow with a confused expression, the pegasus returning the glance. Author's Note I apologize for how long this took to get out. I have a bad habit for procrastination!
