The sky stretched over the horizon in a substantial curve, the few stars poking out shinning with all of their might as the sun started to take their place. One small filly looked up to the sky, gigantic violet eyes reflecting all of the colors stretching from the darkest purples and indigos to sunrise reds and oranges. Dyeing the wisps of clouds several colors as they staggered afloat in the sky. The wind curled at her mauve mane, swaying the surrounding grass around where she stood, her wings outstretched as long as they would go. A look of hope and a slight change of fear turned into one of determination for the young pegasus.
This was her moment, her chance to blend in with the sky. She may have been born on the ground, but she was given wings made to split the clouds above. How she longed to feel the cool air in her orange fur, to touch the curve of the atmosphere and to never stay out of it again. She looked to the towering sky above her, the rustling from the few nearby trees became harmonious with the rushing breeze. A sigh pushed through her mouth as she moved her head straight ahead of her. She took one step, a hoof lifted from the ground as she slightly lowered her wings. She drew in one long breath, and upon letting it out, she took off.
The sound of her heart pumping in her ears was deafening as confidence mixed with the anxiety in her veins, seeping through her frantic flapping wings. She came across the first mound on the ground, striding off of it without hesitation. She hung in the air for a few seconds as she glided above the ground. She continued running after a shaky landing onto her hooves, moving at quicker speed than before. She came across another bump in the ground, fixing her wings to move with the current of the wind towards it. It lifted her a few more feet from the ground, keeping her in the air for a longer period, and filled her with joy as she gradually lowered to the ground.
Fear begun to wash over her as she came across the end of the hill, squeezing her eyes shut. She feared she'd only fall, that all of the comments and hurtful things other ponies would say would be right. But this was her chance to prove them wrong. This was her chance to fly, and she was going to do it right then. She opened her eyes just as the end came, and she straightened her wings once more, and waited for the terrifying fall to await her.
Instead she was only greeted by the wind. She peeked towards the ground, noticing just how high she was. She was now right above the few surrounding trees, delight painted over her features as she let out a wild whoop of joy. She only wanted to go higher, and flapped her wings urgently towards the clouds in the sky. Another scream of delight passed her lips as she laughed excitedly, racing the clouds across the stratosphere, taking sharp turns and rolls as she flew past them to the now visible sun, casting her shadow victoriously across the plains.
The tips of her wings left streaks of white across the atmosphere, in time with her wings as she sailed through the sky, cutting through as though she was a fish in water.
She felt her eyelids fall, and a warm smile split her face. She adored the sound of her heart, and only wanted to feel more wind, she felt like taking more risks and daring turns. The familiar cheering and shouts erupting from below boosted her spirit, and filled her with exhilaration.
She adopted a determined look onto her face, and swooped down to the water below, running the tip of her hoof through the surface, laughing like a small child at her reflection.
Her friends ran beside her on the land, chanting her name and giving encouragement to the young adolescent.
The second she began to lose momentum, she swooped upwards, the world seemed to flip in violent turns as she rose above the clouds. The sky welcomed her, she grew to enjoy it's touch, the soft breezes of the wind that seemed to blow through her. It had become a second home for her, a new getaway from the world she was encased in.
She left a certain peaceful cyan pegasus spinning on her cloud as she zipped by. Waking her number one idol deviously. A smug grin on her lips as the rainbow haired equine looked around. She laughed and turned towards her, only to find her gone.
She felt something grab her from below as a cheer erupted from the source. Rainbow Dash had caught her by surprise, and was spinning her around at blinding speeds.
Scootaloo let out yet another victorious cry. Enjoying the best day of her life as the sun's rays embraced her like a mother and her child.
The years went by as quickly as she could go.
She'd fly until her wings felt stiff and numb to their core. Until her lungs felt like they were burning through her chest, and her heart sounded like the rapid beating of a drum.
The blue of the sky caused her to stick out, the sun's bright rays highlighted her coat and mane, making her mark shine boldly. It was clear to anyone that this was another part of her destiny, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
The clouds would shadow over her as the once small and flightless filly grew into a mare. To the sky, everything seemed to pass by in seconds, each day, and sometimes the night, brought forth the tiny pegasus with it. To the sky and the clouds within it, she grew as she'd dive through the years. Her hair grew longer and windswept, letting the winds style it. She grew taller as she'd circle and burst through the clouds, Her wings adopted a light purple touch at their edge as they grew stronger each day.
She wasn't always alone, she often brought companions, and would be seen attempting a sonic boom of her own with her rainbow maned idol, or be seen flying a steady pace and circling in the dusk of the day with a gray colt. If the Earth could see her, it would remember the times the orange pegasus that once walked it's ground, did tricks with the famous gravity defying Wonder Bolts, their signature blue and yellow adding flare among her and several others.
There were few times in which she'd be seen dressed up. Such as the dress to her friend's weddings, or her idol's wedding, in which she was chosen with others to perform tricks for the lucky couple. But the one in which she stood out most, was when she wore the dress for her own.
The stars and the moonlight were the perfect setting for the two as they danced in the air, spinning and bathing in the moon's light, the smile she and her spouse had shared and the happiness of the moment, would burn into their memories. The two danced throughout the night, letting the stars in the sky, the colors, and the wind in their wings guide them.
As more time would pass, after making a home in the clouds above with her beloved husband, after playing with the pegasus foals brought to her, and even after welcoming her own children, she never forgot the sky's first embrace.
She never lost touch with her lifelong friends, and was always seen with them. The three of them would constantly talk about the daily adventures they were going on, and Scootaloo of course, would talk about her new tricks. As the hairs in her mane began to turn grey, and even some parts of her feathers, she lost some of her speed. But enjoyed flying nonetheless.
As the years passed, and her children grew to enjoy lives of their own, death began to find it's place in her life, she'd slowly stop trying to touch the stars. But once she had outlived her idol, she hardly flew at all, unless it was to get to the ground below and back home.
As she awaited for the future, she's constantly be seen at the graveyard, every year she'd have a new one to bring flowers to. She had laugh lines, and the grays in her mane never ceased to stop coming or brighten. She adopted a tired look in her eyes, they seemed to wither with the rest of her as she lost the strength in her wings, and started having trouble hearing things.
How she hated this feeling, she no longer felt active, and life seemed to be easy going for everyone else but her. It wasn't until tragedy struck her when her husband had died in his sleep.
Though it was a peaceful death, she never wanted to touch a single cloud again. For it reminded her so much of the better days, when she was young and in love with flying.
She moved to the ground, and her bones seemed to grow weaker everyday. Slowly, as though life was taunting her, she lost everyone she knew growing up. She felt angry and upset.
Why did she hurt herself in such a way, that she had so many relationships? Why were there so many wonderful beautiful yet temporary moments of happiness in her life? Why did it all have to come to an end so soon? Within the next years, she shut everyone out, even her own children.
She was growing older and death seemed as though it was coming for her next. She'd fall into dreamless slumbers, she constantly wanted to just break away from the rest of the world and be in nothing but darkness.
When a light one day reached her dreams, she felt confused. Even when the Princess of the Night appeared out of the dark, and brought her to the Celestial Plane, she remained silent.
"Scootaloo. It has been a long time."
She said nothing.
"I believe that you've been going through depression for a while. Am I correct?"
Scootaloo looked down at the star trail below.
"I know you've sheltered yourself from the outside world Scootaloo. I believe that it has something to do with the death of your friends, am I correct?"
The Princess was taken back when she saw tears break from her eyes. They rolled down her face and stained it as she began to shake. For the first time in a long time, she unfolded her wings. This was different from the other times she had cried in the past. For some reason, just by her saying the words, she just broke down.
Princess Luna stood there and watched as the old mare sobbed.
"I...just-" Her voice broke. "I...felt like I'd only end up alone in the end, if I became happy again. Ever since Rainbow Dash died, I felt like she took something... a part of me...away. When everyone else went away, and even Rumble-" She shook again as her voice broke on his name. "I felt that flying, would only make me unhappy. Ever since the day I first started, everything in my life associated with the air. I feel like I want to sometimes, but I just... can't. I can't, I can't, I can't. It would only make me feel even more depressed."
The Lunar Princess nodded and lit her horn, transporting the two of them to a cloud overhead. It was the past. Scootaloo saw a younger version of herself, sleeping next to Rainbow Dash, who had her wrapped under a wing, and was looking at her proudly.
"I'm proud of you Scoot. I can't believe that you've come this far. Who knows, soon, we'll be following our dreams together, and then we'll lead our separate lives. I know I can always count on you to be there for my shows, I promise to be there for you." She whispered. She looked out to the setting sun. "I bet you're dreaming of your future. I know you'll have a great one. Now that you've flown in the sky once, I know that you'll only be hungry for more. I hope you never lose track of this experience, for it'll stick with you for the rest of your life. As long as you stay determined, I know that flying will become a major part in your life. I hope you never forget that."
Scootaloo watched from afar with her mouth gaping open. Big hot tears dripped from her face from seeing her Idol again. And from hearing her words. There was another flash and she was once again in the Celestial Plane.
"Rainbow Dash truly cared for you Scootaloo, do you think she would like to see you like this?" She asked. The old mare once again felt like a filly again.
"No...she wouldn't."
"What are you going to do now?" Luna asked her. Scootaloo looked out to the colors of the Plane behind her, admiring all of the stars, one of which appeared to be blue with a rainbow shine on it's edge. It shone brighter than the rest. Before she could blink again, it was gone.
"I'm going to try to find peace." she said.
The sky stretched over the horizon in a substantial curve, the few stars poking out shinning with all of their might as the sun started to take their place. Scootaloo looked up to the colors of the brightening sky, the sun's upcoming rays were diluting the darkness. Unbeknownst to her, the very same sky was reflecting in her eyes. For the first time in a long time, she felt awake. She took in a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears were already pricking at the edges of them. The clouds were dyed several colors as they staggered afloat in the sky. The wind curled at her gray and lightly purpled mane, swaying the surrounding grass around where she stood. She stretched her wings out as long as they would go. She felt fear, for it had been years since she had last taken flight. She fear she'd only fall.
She looked to the towering sky above her, the rustling from the few nearby trees became harmonious with the rushing breeze. A sigh pushed through her mouth as she tilted her head straight ahead of her. She took one step, a hoof lifted from the ground as she slightly lowered her wings. She drew in one long breath, and upon letting it out, she ran as fast as she could go.
She came across the first mound on the ground, striding off of it with hesitation. Her wings ached from being so stiff at the reaction, but she held in the air. She continued running after a shaky landing onto her hooves, she tried moving quicker, as fast as her bones would let her. She came across the second bump in the ground, fixing her wings to move with the same current of the wind blowing towards it. It lifted her a few more feet from the ground, keeping her in the air, and filling her with joy as she glided to the ground.
The final point came, and Scootaloo felt the rush of determination in her bones. She could feel her heart pound at her bones, she felt young again, like the young filly who had done the same exact thing decades ago.
She jumped like she remembered, and took off into the sky, doing her best to keep her already tired wings from stopping. Her eyes were as wide open as they were awake, and she felt the rush of adrenaline in her heart again. A small smile came onto her lips, and she resisted the urge to cry out a victorious cheer.
She may not have been as fast as she used to be, but the sky still welcomed her, the wind pushing her forward. She closed her eyes and remembered all of the other times she had flown in the very same atmosphere all those years ago. She looked below to find the same lake where her friends were there to cheer her on. She could practically hear their chants in her ears.
She thought of the times she would do dangerous stunts and tricks with Rainbow Dash.
The times she'd spend enjoying the pink of the sky and the sun and stars with Rumble.
Her years in the Wonderbolts where she'd perform in crowds of thousands.
The times she'd wake up early in the morning to fly, or wake up in the middle of it.
She remembered the dance she did on her wedding night, and how she spun and twisted that night.
Oh how she played with Rainbow's children, along with the other foals of her friends with wings.
She'd never forget the times she and her own family would go star gazing, or teaching her children to fly.
She felt as though it was all happening at once. All of the places in which the events had happened, and in which memories were created, was in this very sky. Scootaloo's eyes seemed to come back to life, as she felt something that had been missing after such a long time;
happiness.
It was as though everyone she knew and loved growing up was there with her, cheering her on and reenacting their moments from the past. Scootaloo swooped up the clouds above, flying straight through the forming barrier it was making with the stars. Her shadow hung luminously across the clouds as she flew. A laugh of joy erupted from her throat as she yelled out in glee. She never knew she missed flying so much. She loved the wind whipping her hair out, and the burning in her lungs, her wings were leaving little white streaks in the air from the tips, and the beautiful colors of the sky have never been closer to her than when he was on the ground.
The light flew across the horizon as she watched over it. She landed on a cloud below her and embraced in it's soft touch. She laid there, trying to catch her breath again. She was finally at peace.
She looked below her and saw how far the ground was from where she was. Although she felt happy again, she still felt alone. The ground seemed pretty far from where she was, and seemed a reasonable height to do what she intended.
She breathed a quick sigh trying to remember everything Rainbow Dash had taught her in the past. She closed her eyes and jumped from the edge. She extended her hooves out as she fell, her wings were flapping as hard as they could, until the cone forming around her pushed them back.
She felt tears come from her eyes, though they weren't from the building pressure, or pain. But they were happy tears. She felt like she was being pulled through the air, and the ground only seemed to come closer. She let her lids fall. Her eyes were closed, she let every memory come back to her. And with that, a loud snap boomed over the land. It was like a rubber band, snapping her to the ground below.
She tilted her wings at the last second and flew over the ground, unaware of the purple and orange streaming from behind her. A single feather, hung in the air, one of the last orange ones that kept it's original color. It was pricked out of place mid fall.
That very feather, had been with it's owner her entire life, one of the few that somehow lasted throughout the years. It was infused with her spirit, and every memory. It casually floated downwards, blowing with the wind, traveling far with the blowing wind. It drifted for the longest time, before finally coming to a rest at the ground, atop a newly set tombstone.
They say that 'once you fly once, you'll never forget that first experience.' It will stay with you for as long as you may live, and it can easily become more than apart of your life, but apart of who you are. You have the choice to be happy with it, and love it, with others you may care about, or manage without it.
Author's Note
Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading, it took a long time to perfect it.
Based on the song by Evening Star,
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