Hi. I'm Scootaloo. I'm a Pegasus filly with three best friends, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash. I don't really have any family, you could say. I'm an orphan, even though I do have cousins and stuff. They aren't that close to me, though. Anyways, I can't fly. It's really pathetic, because I'm a Pegasus. A horse with wings. I have to be able to fly. But I can't, and I get picked on a lot. Once, when Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were sick with the blue flu, I had no one to help me, and these jerks Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were making fun of me. "What's the use of a Pegasus who can't fly?" Diamond Tiara had said. I started crying and had to leave home early. My teacher is named Miss Cheerilee. She's really nice, I guess.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and I have something in common, you see. Each of us haven't discovered our special talents. Which means that we don't have our cutie marks, either. We formed a secret society called the Cutie Mark Crusaders. We work together to do as many things as possible to try and get our cutie marks. They even help me and stand up for me when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon start making a big stink about me without being able to fly.
One day, after school, Apple Bloom had to study, and Sweetie Belle was in Canterlot with her sister Rarity. I was all alone, so I took a walk into the Everfree Forest. Some say the Everfree Forest is really scary, but when I'm having a bad day, nothing is better than talking a nice long walk into the Forest. It's actually quite soothing if I don't go too far. Well, anyways, I was taking a nice long walk, enjoying the scenery. I saw some parasprites nibbling things, which made me run quite deeper into the woods than I ever had before. It was like the Everefree Forest was a heart, and I had just ran into the heart of it.
It was much more scarier than ever. I screamed, but no pony could hear me. I couldn't seem to find my way out. Then again, there were fast growing vines that had mixed me up. Probably. Oh, if only I could fly back home... That was when I spotted odd yellow berries. One of things the CMC tried to get our cutie marks in was plant and herb studying. That resulted badly, though we did learn rainbow berries are caffeinated and LITERALLY make you bounce off the walls. Literally.
But these were berries I had never seen before. I didn't know if they were safe or dangerous. I split the berry in half. The insides were pink. I studied the berry. It reminded me of fluttershy, what with the colors. I've learned not to trust odd berries, because last time I ate an odd berry I got caffeinated. Did I mention that? Anyways, I was afraid of these berries. I was scared that they could get me caffeinated, sick, or worse. I didn't have the confidence yet to eat them. If I walked a little bit more I might have had the confidence to try them.
I figured I was near or in the heart of the Everfree Forest. Soon, I'd probably find Zecora. Then I could ask her about these berries. Zecora knows everything! She could tell me what the berries are, the symtomes, if they are safe or not. She is an amazing zebra! She is also a very good friend of Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and their friends. I can't blame them! Zecora is kind and she is very wise. She has helped the Mane Six save the world lots of times.
Suddenly, a shock of pain stabbed my in the hoof. I began to feel tired and dizzy. I remember learning about a bug like that. Me and the CMC were trying to get a cutie mark in bug finding. We learned about a bug that stings you, only to leave you dizzy, confused, and tired. Some say that if you fall asleep after one stings you, you never wake up. But when we asked Zecora, she said it was all an old myth to make foals stay away from the Forest. I am one to believe everything Zecora says, because she is wise and strong. She knows just about everything!
But I wasn't about to fall asleep either. I was also kind of hungry, so without any thought, I popped a berry into my mouth. All my pain and dizziness had gone away, but my stomach seemed to be rising up. I looked down, only to see I was extended in mid-air! I looked around to see both of my wings flapping like a strong mare's would. I screamed, but this time in excitement! I WAS FLYING! THE PEGASUS WHO COULDN'T FLY WAS!! I grabbed a bunch of berries and flew back to town. I saw my way! I saw the parasprites that lead me to these miracle berries! I coughed a few times, making me sound like a flying dog, but I was too excited to think of it. I, SCOOTALOO, THE CHICKEN, THE PEGASUS THAT COULDN'T FLY, WAS FLYING. IN YOUR FACES, DIAMOND TIARA AND SILVER SPOON! I CAN FLY! I'M NOT PATHETIC!
On my way back into town I passed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. I stuck my tongue out and mocked them. They stared at me in amazement and shock, but then they returned to looking rich and smug. "You still don't have a cutie mark!" Diamond called after me. That didn't faze me. I waved to my fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders below. They stared at me, excited, and waved back. I flew down to the Mane Six and said, "I CAN FLY LIKE YOU, RAINBOW DASH!" They were on their way to the new milkshake store. They stared at me, happy for me, excited, amazed...
Rainbow Dash gave me a big hug. In mid-air. Something I've always wanted to do but couldn't. Fluttershy gave me a hug as well, but from the ground. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie cheered for me and patted me on the back. And I felt proud. Truly, truly proud. Proud like never before. Suddenly, I felt a dizziness come over me again. I blacked out, dropping my berries as I went. "What..." Twilight Sparkle said. She picked up the berries and gasped.
I woke up in bed. I felt woozy, but much, much better. Twilight was there, and so was Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was stroking my mane, her eyes red and wet. She had been crying, but why? I was alright. Twilight had a potion. "I'll tell you everything afterwards. Just drink the potion and you'll feel brand-new." Twilight said. I obeyed, chugging the sparkly pink liquid. It tasted like Pinkie's carrot cake cupcakes, but I felt more powerful than ever to take much notice to it. I went to fly but I could not. The magic from the berries must have worn off, I thought. I looked around for the berries, but I didn't see them. I went to get up to find them but Twilight put a hoof in front of me.
"We...we didn't think you'd make it. Those are Poisoned Flying Berries. If you had eaten regular Flying Berries, you'd have been okay, but with the poisonous ones, well, you could have died. Luckily I was able to force the potion into you while you were asleep. If I wouldn't have been able to, you wouldn't be here right now. I burnt the berries. Don't ever go near them again...unless....Rainbow? Will you..." Twilight explained, gesturing to Rainbow. I look into her bloodshot eyes.
"It's your choice. Do you want to risk DEATH just to fly? Or will you wait until your old enough to fly and save your death for a long while off? I can't make you do anything. But...it's your choice, Scoots." Rainbow Dash said. The two left, to give me just enough time to think about it.
I never did eat the berries again. I didn't want to risk death just to feel the freedom of the sky. I didn't want some "flying" berries to kill me. The bullying ensued, but I was proud. Prouder then when I had flown. Proud that I had saved my own life and made the right choice. Every pony was happy that I was basically saving my own life. But it was worth it. I thought of Rainbow, the others, my friends...I know that even a tiny bit of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon would care too.
Flying can wait. Life can't. Everyone is proud. But I am the proudest I ever have, and ever will be.
