You know, today was actually a pretty normal day. I slogged through all of my schoolwork, choked down the slimy food in the cafeteria, fell asleep in geometry, and was on my way home. Perfectly normal.
My two best friends were with me as I walked home. Sweetie Belle was piping in excited tones about some boy in her class. Applebloom was occasionally interjecting with a weird apple metaphor. I only nodded and listened. And then we passed the soccer field.
Well, it's nothing special. I pass it every day. But she was on it. Rainbow Dash, the coolest girl in Canterlot High. I couldn’t help myself; I had to watch. The way she pumped her arms, her powerful legs pounding at the ground as she sprinted. Her hair was tied up, giving me a view of the side of her face.
A sheen of sweat made her face glisten in the sunlight. Her magnificently toned body rippled with the movement of muscle. Words can never describe how beautiful she looked.
I don't know what it was about today. I've seen Rainbow Dash play a billion times before. But I felt something flick on inside of me. Like a barrel of gunpowder, just waiting for a match. And just like that, I had a raging fire in me.
I quickly said goodbye to my friends and sped home. The uneven pavement beneath my wheels made my teeth clack. As soon as I made it to my house, I raced into my room. I hurried as fast as I could to change, ignoring queries about my school day. Sorry, Mom. I had a mission.
And that mission was ready to go now. It was near dark. The only thing illuminating the track field was a string of lamp posts across the street. Getting onto the field so late had been a challenge, but I managed to sneak in through a gap in the bleachers next to the fence.
I exhaled as I leaned down to make sure my shoes were tied tight. I gave my toes a wiggle to make sure they were comfy. It was drizzling slightly, but my hoodie kept me mostly dry. Everything was ready. No distractions.
I cracked my neck once, twice. This was it. With a deep breath, I stood up. I positioned myself in the lane, coiled like a cat ready to attack an unsuspecting rodent. The voice counting down in my head sounded like that of a giddy child on Christmas.
3...2...1...GO!!!
I pushed. I was off. I was really gonna do it! My shoes slapped down on the wet surface with each stride. I felt the cool air against my skin, and a small grin worked its way onto my face.
Okay, in through the nose, out through the mouth, pump arms, steady, pace, and go! And boy was I going!
I can do it, I can do it, I can-
All of a sudden I wasn't moving. My face met the rubbery ground, and I rolled a few times into the lane adjacent to me. I let out a belated cry of pain, tasting coppery blood on my lips. What happened?
I rolled over onto my back. The light spray slowly began to wash me. I sighed. Of course I failed.
"Hey! Are you alright?"
My eyes widened. Please no. Footsteps approached, and soon somebody was standing over me.
"I saw you trip, and you didn't get up, so I... Scootaloo, is that you?"
Not Rainbow Dash. Anyone but Rainbow Dash.
"Oh my god, Scoots! Why aren't you wearing your leg braces?"
I couldn't do it. Not those words. Failure I could tolerate. I had gotten used to that by now. But to fail so epically at my big moment, to literally fall flat on my face, and be witnessed by my hero? It was too much. The rain soaked into my powder keg.
Hot tears dribbled from my eyes, and within seconds I was blubbering like a dumb baby.
Rainbow Dash's alarm turned into worry. "Are you okay? What happened? What are you doing out here by yourself?" Rainbow Dash shot off questions as she kicked into field injury nurse mode. She examined my skinned knees and bloody nose, cautiously searching for fractures.
I sniffled. "I-I was just running. I thought, maybe my legs were strong enough to-"
"Without supervision?" Rainbow Dash looked bewildered. "Scootaloo, you could have been seriously hurt! And at night? What were you thinking?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." My face burned with shame. "I just wanted to... to..."
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
I wiped my eyes. I had been lowering my gaze to avoid catching her condemning glare, but I knew it was no use. I looked up into her rosy eyes, and my thoughts froze right in their tracks. Instead of the admonishment I expected, she stared down at me with sympathy, compassion, and a trace of fear echoed in her voice earlier.
"I wanted- God, Rainbow Dash, I wanted so much! I want to be normal! I want to be able to ride a scooter, or go bowling, or run in track!" I gripped her shirt as I sat sprawled helplessly, but she didn't say a word as I continued my meltdown. "I want to be like you! I wanted to prove to you that I can be more than just a pathetic little fangirl! And I wanted to prove to myself that even though I will never know the freedom of running, at least I wasn’t too weak to try."
My ribs hurt from my sobbing. We must have sat there for a few minutes. Rainbow Dash quietly asked me where my wheelchair was. I pointed back to where I left it. Without straining a bit, she picked me up in her arms, and carried me over to it.
I felt simultaneously grateful to be held so closely and warmly, and yet humiliated to be toted like child not trusted with running around on their own. She set me down in my wheelchair gently. I should have thanked her, but no noise came from my mouth.
"Let me drive you home."
I shook my head weakly. "I know how to get back, I'm fine."
Rainbow Dash gave me a play-punch on the shoulder. "Not happening, kid. It's way too late for you to be out by yourself."
I wanted to argue, but my brain came up with nothing. Everything went dark up there. Rainbow Dash pushed my wheelchair out towards the gate. She fished a key from her pocket, unlocking the gate. Oh yeah, all-star privileges.
"What... what were you doing out here?" I asked as Rainbow shut the gate behind us.
"I was just checking the locker room for some stuff."
I decided not to say anything after that. She pushed me into the school parking lot, where only one car sat waiting. Once I was rolled up to the side of Rainbow Dash's old Charger, she hoisted me up. I put up no fight as I was set in the passenger seat, even though I was perfectly capable of doing it on my own.
Rainbow Dash folded my wheelchair, then brought it around the other side to put it in the back seat. I trembled from a mixture of cold, pain, and bitter shame. Rainbow noticed, and turned on the heater once she started the car. After a few moments, it was toasty warm. Now I got to shiver without the excuse of cold.
"You know, I wish I was as brave as you." Rainbow Dash sighed. I looked at her skeptically. She smiled a bit. "It's true. When I'm in situations that look like they have no way out, I get all worked up. I can’t think straight. And more often than not, I make a bad call that ends with disaster."
I blinked, not sure what she was trying to say. She must have realized this, because she immediately tried another angle.
"I know you think I'm not afraid of anything, but believe me, I am. I'm terrified of lots of things. I'm scared of losing. Letting my team down. Seeing people I care about hurting." She paused for a second, then grinned jokingly at me. "And you'll know when that is, because I'll be curled up in a ball somewhere."
I still said nothing.
"What I mean is, there is a point where I call it quits. I am so scared of failure, that I would rather give up than risk even trying." Wheels were beginning to turn in my head. "You have the will and heart that athletes like me only dream to have."
I didn't know what to say. I was completely taken aback at what I heard. It almost didn't make sense, as if Rainbow Dash had recited that all in another language. I took several moments to process it.
"Do you... mean that?"
Rainbow Dash gave me her awesomest smile ever. "I sure do, Scoots."
I pounced. I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms around Rainbow, my cries muffled against her shoulder. She hugged me back, embracing me with a motherly security. I knew saying anything else would ruin this moment, so I remained silent.
After we let each other go, Rainbow Dash gave my shoulder a squeeze. "You practice with your legs every day, right?"
I nodded.
"Well, what do you say you come with me to the gym tomorrow? You can teach me your awesomeness while we work out."
I nodded again, my eyes brimming with tears that weren't from pain or disgrace. "Yeah. That sounds really cool."
~~~
One year later...
I felt the exhilaration in the air. This was it. The moment I stood up from the wheelchair, I knew I would never be sitting in it again.
The bleachers were filled with cheering parents and students. Somewhere, I could hear Sweetie Belle and Applebloom whooping my name in support. I got myself down into position in my lane. The runners on either side were ready waiting.
This was it. I closed my eyes, sucking in deep breaths. The noise quieted in my head. Then, there it was: the pop of the blank. I launched forward with all my might. I was propelled faster than I had ever gone before.
My heart drummed in my chest as I sprinted. I felt the satisfaction of every step sending a tiny jolt through my body. Bowing my head slightly, I rocketed forward as fast as my legs would take me. Somewhere, a whistle blew.
And then it was over. I crossed the finish line. I brought my arms up, placing my hands on the top of my head. I did it!
No, I didn't win. I came in dead last, as a matter of fact. By almost two whole seconds. But I felt congratulatory hands slap my back, and heard the joyous screams of my friends. Someone actually lifted me up.
I was paraded around on shoulders while the small crowd gave thunderous applause. And then, I saw her. Her lips curled into a proud, approving smile. I waved sheepishly, and she waved back.
I may have lost the race, but the two of us knew that I did it. And that, is a win in my book.
