Rainbow Dash was laying on the deep purple sheets of her bed, her mind completely engrossed in the newest publication of Daring Do's amazing adventures. It'd been a while since she'd had time to sit down and enjoy the blissfulness of a good book. Although the only book she's ever read was that of Daring Do's.
She was torn from the story when she heard the sound of a hoof on her wooden doors. She put the book face down and propelled herself out of bed using her wings. The thought didn't even occur to her that the air she created might blow the book off her bed and on to the floor, which is why when it did, she cursed quietly under her breath and scooped it up. Her page was lost, so she tossed it back onto the covers and made way for the door.
She was mere inches from it when the knock came again, louder this time. When she finally opened it she was greeted by the face of none other than Scootaloo.
"Oh, Hey Scoots. What's up?" She asked.
"Nothing much. I thought we might head out for a flying session!" She replied, her eagerness evident by the flapping of her wings.
It had been a year since Scootaloo had graduated flight school. Ever since then, Rainbow had been acting as her mentor of sorts. She'd teach her some of her moves, and watch on as the purple-maned pony crashed time and time again. Never once did Rainbow lose hope, or even think about leaving her. For some time now, she'd seen Scootaloo as the little sister she never had, and could see clearly that her feelings were reflected. She's grown a lot since their first meeting. Her mane was longer and styled similarly to Dash's. Her wings had grown too, they were stronger and she was fast becoming the best young flier behind Rainbow Dash herself.
"Sounds good to me." Rainbow replied with equal excitement and slammed the door behind her. "Race you to SugarCube Corner."
"You've already lost." Screeched Scootaloo and dove off the cloud, picking up speed as she shut her wings in tight to her body to streamline herself. Suddenly, she shot them out and pulled up, flying just inches above the ground. She turned her head to find Rainbow just minutes behind her.
It was neck and neck as the two skidded to a halt outside Ponyville's favourite sweet shop.
"Beat you." said Scootaloo, a triumphant smile on her face.
"Did not. I was totally in front of you." She replied.
As if perfectly on queue Pinkie Pie bounced into view.
"Dashie, you were ahead by roughly eighteen thirty-fifths of a nose." She said happily before disappearing around the corner.
"Told Ya'." Said Rainbow Dash, a grin spreading across her face.
For the rest of the day they raced, looped, dashed and scooted all across Ponyville in a flurry. The time came for them to call it a night so they said their goodbyes and Rainbow flew back to her house in the clouds, while Scootaloo trotted happily back to her new house next to Rarity's Dress Shop.
She stepped inside and pounced on her bed. Her mind thought back to all the days she'd spent with Rainbow Dash. Over the year, they'd become best friends. Over the past year, they'd become more than friends.
Scootaloo never knew her parents. As a filly she was abandoned and left to fend for herself. She sought out an idol, a parent figure, and found it in the rainbow coloured mane and soft cyan fur of none other than Rainbow Dash. They could open up to each other, and Scootaloo soon found how much alike they were. Rainbow never knew her parents either. She took her under her wing and mentored her. It wasn't long before she was the top flier at her school. There was one day in particular that neither of them would ever forget. The day Scootaloo finally got her cutie mark.
It was a cold day, and the pair were flying together. Scootaloo was keen to try a new trick. She stopped Rainbow Dash and whispered into her ear. Dash nodded and set up ten rings of cloud. Scootaloo flapped her wings furiously, and then stopped for just a moment. Using just one flap, she propelled herself forward with astonishing speed that made even Rainbow's jaw drop. She shot through all ten rings in less than a second. She turned around and gave Dash a mid-air bow. Rainbow flew to her and hugged her, a tear forming in her eye as she pointed to Scootaloo's flank. A purple bolt of lighting with a pair of wings at the top graced her hind legs. She shouted at the top of her lungs and shot upward. She went so high that she passed the dark clouds and punched a hole for the sky for the sun to shine through.
She decided it was time to give her 'sister' a little recognition. She trotted over to her desk and took out a piece of paper. She thought of how to convey her emotions in the way that Dash would appreciate the most. It took her hours, but she finally managed to pour her heart out onto a single piece of paper.
She read the note over again and smiled happily to herself. First thing tomorrow she'd give Dash the letter. With that, she crawled under the sheets of her bed and happily drifted off to sleep.
The next day she rushed to Rainbow's house, the letter tucked tightly under her wing as she glided gracefully onto the clouds outside her house.
"Hay there Scootaloo." Said Derpy, dressed in her mail-mares hat and the satchel across her body. She slid a letter into Rainbow's mail slot.
"Morning Derpy, got anything for me?" Asked Scootaloo.
"Nope, nothing today." The cross eyed, blonde mare replied before flying off.
Scootaloo raised her hoof and knocked on the door. Rainbow opened it and greeted her friend.
"Morning Scoots." She said, shaking her mane to clear the bed head from the night before. She reached down to pick up the letter from Derpy and examined it.
Scootaloo butted in.
"Rainbow, I've got something to sho-" she was cut short.
Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up and her jaw dropped as she held the letter. Her hooves were shaking and her balance became unsteady. She fell down on her rump before slowly crawling inside, Scootaloo closed the door behind them as they made their way into the living room of the floating house.
"W-What is it" She asked.
Rainbow just looked at her. She held the back of the letter for Scootaloo to see. It looked like a plain envelope. Then she realised. The red wax seal that held the netter shut. It was the seal of none other than The Wonderbolts.
Scootaloo was breathless. Rainbow Dash tore the letter open and read out loud for the both of them to hear.
"Dear Rainbow Dash. It's been quite some time since we've spoken. I must admit, for some time now I've been watching you closely. You know me as Spitfire, captain of The Wonderbolts. Let me begin by saying, to me, being a Wonderbolt means many things. A passion for flying, an expert in the art of being a pegasus. You've demonstrated these qualities since the minute I laid eyes on you. There was just one that you fail to show. You were a show off, and rarely did you display the one quality that mattered most. Being a role-model. However, the day you helped that young filly get her cutie mark, the tears you shed. I saw them all. I watched as you coached her and built her up the amazing flier she is today..."
Rainbow's voice trailed off as she read the last paragraph of the letter. She looked up at Scootaloo.
"They want me to join..." She said. "I'm moving to Canterlot to join The Wonderbolts!"
Scootaloo's initial smile faded.
"Y-You're moving away..?" She asked quietly.
"Well... Yeah. The Wonderbolts live in Canterlot, I can't exactly stay here if I'm going to join."
"Oh.. T-That's.. Great.." She said, dropping her head.
"Scoots, whats up?.." Dash asked.
"Nothing. This is great. Congratulations Dash. I'll go tell Pinkie Pie so she can get a party organised."
Scootaloo dashed out of the house as fast as she could, hoping her 'sister' hadn't seen the letter under her wing. Rainbow Dash tried to get her to wait, but she was long gone. Besides, she was still ecstatic about the letter.
Scootaloo flew alone, her mind clouded with thoughts.
If she’d read what I've written, she'll think she has to stay, and I can't make her abandon her dream. She's been waiting for this her whole life. I should be happy for her.
A tear rolled down Scootaloo's cheek as she flew, right past Pinkie without a word and into her own house. She tore the letter open and read it again. Her eyes produced a steady stream of tears as the words she'd written were flung back at her. Throwing the letter onto her desk, she then flung herself onto the bed, burying her head into her pillow and crying.
She didn't leave her house the entire day.
That night was the night of the party. Scootaloo reluctantly attended and managed to restrain herself. It was one of Pinkie’s classic parties. The baking was done by Applejack, and Vinyl Scratch was dropping beats while the whole party sung along and danced. As all parties do, this one came to a close. Everypony gathered around Rainbow Dash as she stood atop a box and said her farewells.
She cleared her throat. “Ponyville is, and always will be my home. I never had a place I could truly call home as a filly, but everything that happened led to this. I’ve made so many awesome friends and I’ll never forget you all, but there’s one pony in particular that will never leave my heart, one pony that changed my life for the greater in a way that nopony else could. Scootaloo, you’ve given me a reason to keep striving to get better. We’ve been through so much and I have you to thank for it. Where are you Scoots?”
“She’s not here!” Said Pinkie whilst searching the crowd for the orange pony.
Meanwhile, Scootaloo walked away from the bright lights and loud music. It’d become too much and she was in tears now. She ended up at her house, lit dimly by the flickering flame of a candle. She trotted over to her bed and climbed in, her mind was cluttered, but she eventually drifted off to sleep.
Back at the party, Rainbow had come to the assumption that Scootaloo had gone home because she was tired. She made a mental not to visit her in the morning before she left. As a final goodbye to her lifelong friends, she promised to perform a Sonic Rainboom to light up the skies.
Everypony had gathered outside to watch as Rainbow flew into the sky. Higher and higher she climbed, eventually, she had completely disappeared from sight. Rainbow Dash looked down and had lost sight of the group as well. As she took a deep breath and shot down, they came into view slowly. Her speed climbed and the cold night’s air gave her the chills, but still, she pushed forward, the mach-cone appearing and success growing ever closer.
Faster.
Faster.
BOOM!
The night lit up and the whole of Ponyville shook as the brilliant rainbow flashed across the land. Everypony cheered and stomped their hooves in applause. They were all driven back and as it had done before, Pinkie’s mane had puffed up twice as much as normal. As the sheer force rocked the entire city, a sleeping Scootaloo was completely unaware of the burning candle that had been knocked off the table by the explosion of colour. Still, she slept as the fire slowly spread through her wooden house. It wasn’t long before the entire building was engulfed.
“FIRE!” Shouted Pinkie as she ran around in panic. The flames lit up the night as the completely surrounded Scootaloo’s house. Luckily, Pinkie had buckets stashed everywhere I case of emergency, so by forming a chain, the citizens of Ponyville managed to keep the fire under control until the elite team of Firefighting Ponies showed up. Rainbow Dash was only just getting back when she saw what had happened.
Inside the burning building, Scootaloo woke. She was trapped and didn’t know what to do. She panicked, her body shaking. She stumbled to her desk and snatched up her letter to Rainbow Dash. She held it close to her, as tight as she could before her vision faded and her body when into shock.
The fire was taken care of, and a team of medical ponies rushed the limp body of Scootaloo to hospital. Nopony heard anything about it since then. All except for Rainbow Dash. After seeing saw the limp body of Scootaloo being taken away on the stretcher, she flew behind them all the way to the hospital. She followed them inside as far as she was allowed, before being told by Nurse Redheart to stay outside while they checked her out.
Hours passed before a stallion finally emerged from the doors with a grim look on his face. Rainbow Dash raced over to him and looked at him, her eyes begging for an update, but also fearing the worst. He cleared his throat and spoke with a solemn tone.
“Ms. Dash, I have some good news, and some bad news. The good news is Scootaloo only suffered minor burns and the injured flesh should heal quickly. However, I have reason to believe that she became aware of her situation before losing consciousness. You see, after examining the patient, I have noticed signs that point towards shock, and unfortunately, from there, she has fallen into a coma. We have monitored her for the past three and a half hours, and her condition is stable, however, we have no idea when, she’ll return to us, that is, if she does at all. I’m sorry.”
Rainbow’s small flicker of hope had died. Scootaloo was in a coma. The stallion gestured for her to follow him.
“She’s in here.” He said, pointing her to a room where Scootaloo lay inanimate and seemingly lifeless under a blanket on her bed. A monitor set up next to her showed her vital signs were normal.
The stallion spoke once more. “We found this clutched under her wing, it was a miracle it wasn’t lost in the fire. It seems to be addressed to you.” He said, handing her a piece of paper.
Rainbow Dash took the paper and the doctor and Nurse Redheart left the room, closing the door behind her. Shakily, Rainbow Dash brought the letter in front of her face and read. The paper was more or less intact, and despite the noticeable burns around the edges, had survived the tongues of fire remarkably well.
Rainbow Dash,
I never knew my parents, and I never thought that I'd know the feeling of warmth that having a family could bring. I was left alone, and you cared for me. You gave me the love that I was never meant to have. You became my family, and welcomed me like a sister. Thanks to you I found my talent, and more importantly I found a place where I fit in, a place where I'm accepted.
Because of you, I can call myself Scootaloo.
Because of you, I can Rainbow Dash my big sister.
Because of you, I became a someone..
So Thank-you Rainbow Dash, for giving me the life I never deserved.
I love you...
Your Little Sister
-Scoots
Tears flooded from Rainbow Dash’s eyes, wetting the paper. She looked at Scootaloo, helpless. She may have grown since their first encounter, but she was still a child. Dash sighed and buried her face in her hooves.
“I’m sorry Scoots. I never knew how much I meant to you. Now you might never know..”
She stood up and kissed Scootaloo on the forehead before walking out of the room. With no way of telling how long Scootaloo could be like this, she tried to push it out of her mind. She had to leave for Canterlot in an hour, and it was time to say her final goodbyes.
Seconds turned to minutes, Minutes to hours, hours to days and days to weeks.
The doctors checked Scootaloo’s condition daily, but there was no sign of her coming out of the coma.
Twenty Three days had passed since Scootaloo had been taken to hospital. Her eyes twitched, and slowly fluttered open. The world around her was blurry and she didn’t have control over her limbs yet. She looked around the room she was in. It was hard to tell things apart from one another, but from what she could gather, there were flowers were on her bedside table surrounded by a few “Get Well Soon” cards. Nothing seemed too out of place.
Then she saw it.
Her vision was still unfocused, but there was something at the end of her bed. As her eyes slowly adjusted she began to make out some of the details.
She made out the sleeping baby blue body.
Then the messy, rainbow coloured mane.
It was Rainbow Dash, who couldn’t turn her back on her greatest friend even for her own dream.
She was still in Ponyville.
She was still by her side.
She was there, to the very end.
