Scootaloo lay in a starch white hospital bed reading a crumpled, old letter. Her mind wandered as she waited for her recent awakening to be noticed. She remembered the strange dream that she had under Twilight and Luna’s magic. It felt like somepony who was closely related to her had been magically connected to her during that time. Her body still could feel where magic had rushed into her and her wings tingled in strange ways. Scootaloo was hopeful that the procedure had been successful but was also too afraid to test it for herself quite yet.

Completely absorbed in her own little world, the young pony failed to notice the door to her room open and two pegasi walked slowly in.

“What’s that you got there?”

Scootaloo was startled by a mare's voice. She glanced up and her eyes widened in surprise as she beheld two Wonderbolts, the first ponies to enter her room. After an awkward moment of gawking at them as they approached, she lamely showed the crumpled paper.

Spitfire recognised the old note immediately. She shared a look with her startled husband before turning back to the filly before them. “I wonder... why do you have that old letter?”

“Because it’s the only thing Mom and Dad left me with,” Scootaloo replied softly, her gaze on the note.

“Your parents left you?” Spitfire asked tenderly.

Scootaloo hesitated for a moment before nodding briskly and returning her gaze to the old letter.

Spitfire nodded thoughtfully. “Who do you think wrote that?”

“Mom.” Scootaloo didn't even raise her eyes from the note.

The two wonderbolts shared a quick glance. The firey mare’s eyes lit up as an idea came to mind.

Spitfire dug around in the small saddlebag she was carrying and pulled out a quill and paper. “Would you uh... write something for me?”

Feeling rather confused by the request, Scootaloo nevertheless scrawled her name on a fresh scrap of paper and then gazed back up at the two pegasi.

“Now... might I be able to borrow that quill back?”

“Uh... sure?” Scootaloo pawned it over.

The firey mare passed the quill to Soarin who quickly scrawled the filly’s name down underneath Scootaloo’s writing. He then slid the paper under the old letter.

And as the letting lined up before her, Scootaloo was blown away.

All three matched. Scootaloo’s hoofwriting, matched that of her assumed mother’s writing and it matched Soarin’s writing. All right down to the flick at the end of the last o.

“But...” Scootaloo shuffled the blue stallion’s writing to sit partly on top of the note. The writing still lined up perfectly. “That looks just like my mother’s writing. Like how I write.”

“So what if it wasn’t your mother who wrote it?” A coy smile tugged at Soarin’s lips.

“Wait. What?” Little orange wings shot out in shock. “Are you saying you’re my real dad?”

Soarin nodded, delighted yet also sad. “I’m very sorry that your mother and I could not take care of you. I still remember how Spitfire cried as I carried her way that night.”

The young filly collapsed against the headboard of the lab bed. Her gaze rested on the mighty mare beside her father. “You- you’re my mom? Wonderbolts are my parents?”

“Well, we weren't when we had you.” Soarin sighed.

“I think if we had to do it again, we would have kept you. But we were young, and scared and had promised our parents that while we would not abort your life, we would not keep you. We had a career and life ahead and so many pressures... but we made a choice and hoped that you would find a life with a loving family who could care for you better than we could at the time.” Spitfire admitted softly, her head held low.

“You... what?” Scootaloo continued to gawp at her parents as she tried to process the revelation.

The orange filly noticed Rainbow Dash enter quietly. She stared longingly at the blue mare for a long moment before she tore her gaze over to her birth parents.

Soarin gave his wife a brief winged hug. “And that is why we came. Both Spitfire and I wanted to see our daughter fly.”

“Wanted to see me fly... you- wait, did you know I couldn't fly, even as a foal?” Scootaloo stared wide eyed at her biological parents.

“The nurse told us our baby may never fly. That's why you were brought to Ponyville and not an orphanage just for pegasi.” Soarin recalled the painful memory.

Hurt overcame Scootaloo as she stared at her parents in shock. “Did you abandon me because I couldn't fly?”

“No, Scootaloo we...” Spitfire took half a step toward her daughter’s bed before hesitation set in. “I didn’t want to let you go. I refused to believe that what the nurse said was true.”

“But you put me here!” Scootaloo’s outburst caused a shocked silence to follow.

Spitfire nodded, shamefaced. “I know.”

With the silence broken, angry tears threatened to break free as Scootaloo fought against the inner turmoil. “And you never even visited me...?”

“At first it felt too soon. Then we were too busy. Then suddenly, f- five years had passed-” Spitfire faltered, unable to continue.

Soarin gathered his wife in a loose winged hug. Just as Scootaloo looked about ready with a retort, the stallion spoke up, his voice hoarse. “But... as we realised our daughter was about ready to start school... the guilt really kicked in and the shame. You are right... we didn’t visit. But how could we? Spitfire and I had abandoned a precious babe. We had been her world...” The tough stallion choked back tears as he fought to continue; “Well, I-”

Spitfire returned her husband’s hug and gave him a little nudge. “We. Our shame made the simple flight to visit you seem like an impossible task. We were sure that one so precious would be adopted and forget that her biological parents had ever left her.”

Scootaloo held up the old note. “But I didn’t!”

“You had disappeared by the time we built up the courage to ask,” Soarin admitted softly, visibly unsettled by the sight of the old note. “We really thought you had been adopted and were living your best life.”

Scootaloo stared back for a few moments in confusion. “Oh, you mean when I got adopted for a bit when I was six? That lasted like... a few months? No pony wants a damaged filly.”

“Hey!” Dash spoke up as she strode to her filly’s bedside. “You and Fluttershy are my two most favourite ponies in all of Equestria. We love you. Don’t you forget it, Squirt!”

Scootaloo allowed Rainbow Dash to wipe her tears. “Thank you, Dash.”

A tortured smile played at Spitfire’s lips as she watched her baby be cared for by another mare. “You know... you can thank Rainbow Dash for what happened today. Because of her, we found the courage to come and meet you. Because of her... and this magic...”

Spitfire lifted her wings.

Scootaloo stared at the feathers for a few moments, confused. Then she began to notice something odd about the athlete’s wings. The yellow feathers looked as though they had faded, compared to her sunny coat. “What?”

Spitfire stared back at her confused daughter. “I know it’s a bit late for Soarin and I to claim the role of parents in your life. But that does not mean I haven't stopped loving you. Enough that if I never can fly fast again, it will be enough to know that my daughter can fly at last.”

Scootaloo stared back in shock as yellow wings lowered.

“I’m sorry Scootaloo,” Soarin added.

“Wait, you mean... it worked? I can fly now?” The excited filly’s wings buzzed and she lifted a few feet off the bed.

“You can fly!” Rainbow Dash cheered.

“I can fly! Finally!” Scootaloo landed on the bed and faced her hero, ready for action. “Can you take me for a flight now?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash grinned back.

Just as Scootaloo was about to launch herself into waiting blue hooves she paused, remembering that two unexpected ponies were still present. “And what about them?”

“What about them?” Rainbow Dash softly asked as she turned to face the couple whom the filly was staring at.

“I don’t know how to feel about this all... getting my real parents who left me and flight all in one day...” Scootaloo trailed off, her inner conflict written clearly on her face.

“Take as much time as you need, if you want us... we will be there.” Spitfire promised.

“You... really mean it?” Scootaloo stared back, still conflicted. "Y-you won't just go and disappear again?"

“We mean it. Both of us want to be a part of your life... if you will let us." Soarin affirmed.

“Wait!” Twilight's voice echoed from somewhere down the hallway.

Moments later Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Rumble burst in.

Fluttershy arrived a moment later “Please don’t run in a hospital.”

Rumble rolled his eyes and then spotted Scootaloo. The two young pegasi’s eyes met and they shared a glowing smile.

Spitfire and Soarin shared a quick look. They were both quick to notice the spark between the pair.

After a moment's gawking, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom rushed to the bed and propped their forehooves up on the side as they eagerly greeted their friend.

“You’re awake!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

“Does this mean you can fly?” Apple Bloom asked excitedly.

“I can!” Scootaloo eagerly showed off her newfound power of flight and hit the roof.

Twilight poked her head in the door and her cross look melted into a smile. “I’m glad to see your motor function and pegasus magic are now working correctly. But maybe wait until you're outside before you show off.”

Finding herself on the bed, Scootaloo shook her head a few times to try and clear the surprise impact from her system. “Sorry, Twilight. I’m just so excited!”

“Can she leave now, or do you need to run more of your freaky tests on her?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I would like to run one quick test. Then you may leave.” Twilight confirmed.

“Awesome!”

Soarin noticed Rumble was quietly sitting behind Scootaloo’s friends, seemingly content to admire her while others talked. The blue pony nudged Spitfire and she nodded, a light smile on her lips.

Twilight strode into the room, “please everypony, step back from the bed while I work.”

The others in the room were quick to comply and Soarin was pleased when Rumble chose to sit next to the only other colt in the room. Rumble caught him staring and grinned back. “Hi, mister Soarin.”

“Hello.”

“You’re really Scootaloo’s parents?”

The stallion nodded, “and you are?”

“Rumble.” The colt’s attention was captured by the glow of magic as Twilight began to work.

Soarin spared a glance at his daughter before returning his focus to the colt who obviously had a thing for his little girl. “Oh, just Rumble?”

A light blush crept onto the colt’s muzzle as he pointedly refused to look at the blue stallion. “Yeah.”

“I understand.” Soarin noticed Dash watching and smiled back.

“Understand what?” The young colt hesitantly replied.

Soarin gave the light grey colt a pointed look. “I think you know what I mean. I know those looks.”

“Oh.” Rumble blushed lightly as he sat there frozen watching magic wash over Scootaloo’s body. “Y-your okay with um...”

A laugh escaped the pale blue stallion, “yeah.”

“Alright, everything looks good,” Twilight exclaimed. “The spells appear to have been a success. You may test your wings outside, but please do be careful.”

Scootaloo paid the warning no heed as she jumped off the bed and glided to the floor. “Come on everypony!”

Rainbow Dash and Rumble were the first to follow the excited filly. Spitfire and Soarin watched as everyone else hastened out then shared a glance.

Soarin hesitated, “do you think it’s okay if we follow too?”

“I’m going to see my daughter fly, pie boy. And I will fly with her.” Spitfire eagerly stated as she strode on out.

“Right.”

Scootaloo flew out the front door of the hospital, Rainbow Dash and Rumble trailing close behind. The trio ignored Twilight’s shouted warnings as they sped up past the low lying clouds.

Scootaloo hit her first cloud at speed and spiralled out of control. Rainbow Dash quickly caught the rogue missile of a filly. With a poorly stifled laugh, she righted her adopted daughter. “I see you remember the basics.”

“Of course, this is awesome!” Scootaloo shouted for joy as she took off as fast as her wings could carry her. The excited filly wobbled from side to side a bit as she tried to dip and loop back upward. With wide eyes, she slowed down and crash landed on a cloud.

“Woah there speedy.” Dash laughed as she hovered near the cloud.

Rumble landed on the cloud and grinned like an idiot as the orange filly pulled her head out of the impact zone and sat up. He was quick to offer her a hoof up, “great first flight Scoots! You're already really fast.”

“Thanks.” Scootaloo smiled back. She accepted the offered hoof up then gave her wings a flick and stared at them in awe. “This is the best day ever!”

With a buzz, the eager filly slowly lifted off from the cloud and then alighted once more with a hard ‘poof’.

It was then Scootaloo noticed the other pegasi who were catching up. Scooaloo’s wings folded at her side as she stared at the odd display.

Soarin carried his wife bridal style as they flew at Fluttershy’s pace to join the group. Once they were close, Spitfire took to the skies and hovered next to her spouse. “I hope you don’t mind, but Soarin and I had to see you fly.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have no idea how good it feels to fly now!” Orange wings buzzed with joy.

“You’re already so fast,” Fluttershy commented. “You might even be faster than Rainbow Dash once you’ve practiced.”

The blue speedster looked affronted for the tiniest of moments before a grin broke out. “Yeah, Squirt. A bit more control and some speed training and you might be able to compete against even me.”

“Really? You think so?” Scootaloo stared back at her hero with wide eyes.

“Yeah,” Dash confirmed.

Spitfire and Soarin shared a quick smile.

Scootaloo noticed two fillies running toward her cloud. She waved down at the two earth bound ponies. They waved eagerly back. “This is so cool!”

“How about we-” Fluttershy was cut off by Scootaloo diving off the edge of the cloud and racing toward her friends.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom ducked out of the way of the speeding filly. Executing a very wide turn, Scooaloo came back around and sped over her friend’s heads a second time laughing as Rumble joined her.

“How do I safely land!?” She yelled out to the colt at her side.

“Glide down. Hooves out ready for impact. Don’t tense too much. Watch and follow me!” Rumble cut in front of the orange filly and led her into a third pass.

Trailing close behind the grey colt, Scootaloo slowed her speed to an easy glide in time with him. Her eyes widened as the ground rushed up to meet them. With a sharp breath, she braced for impact. Swiftly following the clop of Rumble's hooves, Scootaloo landed heavily and barreled into the colt who had come to an easy stop.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom laughed at the two pony pile as Rumble lay there in shock with Scootaloo tangled on top of him. The two pegasi stared at each other, shocked by the closeness of their muzzles.

“N-nice first landing.” Rumble grinned, a hearty blush spreading across his muzzle.

An awkward moment passed before Scootaloo seemed to properly come to her senses. A blush erupted, darkening her own orange cheeks as her friend's giggles continued.

“Thanks.” Scootaloo squeaked back as she hastened to untangle herself.

Spitfire and Soarin shared a laugh as they trailed Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy down. The wonderbolt couple stayed back watching as Dash helped her adopted daughter up. Rumble was quick to back off a few steps, his muzzle flushed as he continued to stare at Scootaloo.

“I think that was far too fast and dangerous for a first flight,” Twilight chastised as she alighted close by.

Rainbow Dash gave the alicorn an eye roll. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever Twilight. I think Scoots performed awesomely!”

“I’m serious, she needs proper tutoring and... and look at Rumble for example. He got hit because she failed to execute a safe landing.”

“I’m fine.” Rumble countered. “I think Scootaloo did well for her first flight and landing.”

“Thanks.” Scootaloo smiled shyly at the colt.

Dash grinned at her adopted daughter, “want to try again?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo leapt into a ready pose.

“Alright. The flight zone will be between Fluttershy’s place and AJ’s farm. Let’s go!” Rainbow Dash took off so fast that she left her signature colourful wake.

Scootaloo shot Rumble a challenging smirk as she sprang into action. The youthful pair took to the skies side by side. The grey colt was surprised at just how much power he needed to keep up with this second time flyer. Scootaloo glanced his way and poked out her tongue. “I’ll be faster than you in no time!”

“Bring it on Scootaloo!” He cheered and put on a slight burst of speed. "Yeah!"

Back on the ground, Fluttershy turned to the two remaining pegasi, “No need to wait for me. You’re most welcome to try and catch up to Dashie.”

Spitfire turned her gaze from her departing daughter, “heh, I don’t think I’ll be racing anypony anytime soon.”

At the surge of concern on the animal caretaker’s face, Spitfire waved a wing at Fluttershy. “It’s fine. I’m just glad I can see my girl fly.”

“So am I,” Fluttershy admitted.

Spitfire gave her husband a winged slap on the flank, “go! I’ll catch up.”

“But- I can carry you.” Soarin offered.

“I’m not some damsel in distress,” Spitfire huffed.

“Yeah, but-”

“Move Soarin! Go and enjoy a proper flight with our girl.”

“Yes, madam.” The cornflower blue stallion cheekily saluted his wife then shot off after the rapidly disappearing group.

“Do you really have only one foal?” Fluttershy asked shyly. "Like um... really?"

“Why?” Spitfire stared incredulously at the shy mare.

“Because you two... um... no reason.” Fluttershy’s cheeks tined ever so slightly.

Twilight snorted. “Sure. Anyway...” she turned to the two fillies who were watching where their friend had flown, eyes wide. “Girls, do either of you want a ride to the farm?”

“Yes please.” Sweetie Belle hastened over to the alicorn.

“I can carry you if you like, Apple Bloom.” Fluttershy offered.

Looking almost as though she was going to turn the offer down, the earth pony nodded. “Okay. Just... put me down in a good spot to watch, okay?”

“Of course,” Fluttershy agreed.

Spitfire watched as Twilight and Fluttershy picked the two fillies up. She carefully took flight and kept pace with the pair as they flew toward the Apple family farm. “Thank you for looking after my daughter.”

“Oh, it’s been our pleasure really. She’s such a sweet filly.” Fluttershy replied.

“Yeah, I’m glad you both chose to take her in,” Spitfire confessed as her wings worked overtime with what normally would be considered a snooze worthy cruise.

Apple Bloom eyed the less than speedy wonderbolt, “so you really are Scootaloo’s mom?”

“Yeah.” Spitfire smiled back.

“Does that mean that she will go away to live with you two?” Sweetie Belle spoke up nervously.

“No.” Spitfire shared a brief pointed look with Fluttershy. “I think she’s quite happy living where she is.”

“Alright.” A smile took over Apple Bloom’s muzzle, “but you both will visit, right?”

“Of course. As long as Scootaloo will have us... We want to be a part of her life, and for her to share in ours too. It’s been too long.” Spitfire sighed with regret as her wings continued to work harder than normal.

“It has indeed.” Fluttershy agreed softly. “But you are here now and that is what matters.”

A smile crept onto Spitfire’s muzzle as she met the encouraging gaze of Fluttershy. “Thanks.”

High above the Apple family farm, Scootaloo cried out for joy as she looped around Soarin. Rumble joined in and suddenly the stallion found himself being loosely orbited by the two young pegasi. He laughed to himself as he watched his daughter and her special friend speed around and around and around until he had to stop himself from following their movements. The cornflower blue stallion shook his head to try and clear the dizziness. He continued to grin as he noticed the two youngsters were beginning to form a small whirlwind around him.

Scootaloo suddenly tumbled out of the mini whirlwind and crashed into Rainbow Dash’s waiting hooves. The blue mare chuckled as she continued to hold her adopted daughter. “Thanks for dropping by Scoots. Good first whirlwind. It looks like you and Rumble nearly trapped your dad.”

Scootaloo giggled as she shook her head, “so dizzy...”

“Yeah, wait till you try some of the things I do. Then you’ll feel some real crazy forces on that wee body of yours.” Dash grinned back.

“Hey uh, Scootaloo?” Soarin tentatively approached the pair.

“Yes, Soarin?” Scootaloo smiled shyly at her father.

‘not dad?’ A sigh escaped the stallion. ‘I guess I don’t deserve to be called dad...’

“Hey. Soarin. What’s up?” Rainbow Dash impatiently cut into the stallion’s trail of thought.

Soarin snapped to attention. “Uh, sorry. Wanna do a fast loop around the farm while we wait for Spitfire and Fluttershy to join us?”

“Sure,” Scootaloo confirmed.

“Want a boost?” Dash grinned as she prepared to let go of her orange filly.

“Yea!” At Scootaloo’s delighted response, Rainbow Dash put on a burst of speed and threw her filly into the winds.

“Whooo!” Scootaloo cheered as she tumbled, crashed through a cloud then banked upward, wings motoring like crazy to recover from the sudden drop.

Rumble and Soarin dived to meet the ecstatic filly and the trio sped upward to rejoin Rainbow Dash. The speedster in question was doing flips and twirls as she laughed to herself. Soarin joined in with her delighted laughter and began to copy her flashy moves.

“Your dad and Dash are both really cool!” Rumble exclaimed.

“Yeah, my... dad.” The filly let herself drift into a glide as she tried to let that simple word sink in. She watched her sire fly with her idol up ahead, the two continuing to pull off an ever more complex series of moves like they were at a show.

“Is it weird to think of Soarin as your dad?” Rumble asked as he settled into her slower pace.

“It’s really sudden. And to think that Spitfire is my mom... wow...” Scootaloo cast a glance at the slower group who were approaching with two fillies in tow. “To think... their magic. Moms... magic is now in me. I can hardly believe it...”

“Yeah...”

“A-and... I can fly!” Scootaloo pulled off a loop de loop around the grey colt. She wobbled a bit as she righted herself. “This is so awesome!”

Soarin and Rainbow Dash finished their speedy circuit and fell into an easy glide alongside the younger pair.

“You’re a real natural, you know.” Soarin praised his daughter.

Scootaloo smiled back at her father, “Thanks Soa- uh... Dad.”

The stallion stared wide eyed back at his daughter. “You... called me dad.”

“Yeah, it feels kinda weird,” Scootaloo admitted with a sheepish giggle.

“Oh...”

“But also kinda nice.”

The light blue stallion’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Scootaloo nodded briskly. “Yeah!”

The filly glanced back at the two yellow mares who were finishing their drop off and something inside Scootaloo clicked at the sight. It was like this unbelievable day was finally beginning to settle in. Even though Spitfire and Soarin had tried to explain it to her, she could still not comprehend why the two mighty wonderbolts had abandoned her. And yet, Scootaloo also felt oddly at peace. Like a missing part of her life had finally been connected and made whole. That mighty fiery mare was her mother. She glanced at her father, still staring back at her with wide, loving eyes. Something inside of her knew that yes, this stallion was her father. They had come back to her at long last. But she also had two amazing mothers who had chosen to make her their daughter. Her gaze darted from the grinning Rainbow Dash as she flew upside down, to Fluttershy as the timid mare drew closer.

Scootaloo took a deep breath and turned to her dad. “When Fluttershy and Spitfire join us, I wanna fly faster.. as fast as Fluttershy and Spitfire can.”

“You got it, Scootaloo.” Soarin grinned back.

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash chimed in.

Rainbow Dash broke formation to join Fluttershy and playfully booped the yellow mare on the nose before breaking away.

Soarin suddenly realized that Scootaloo had drifted in closer. Something clearly was on her mind. “Yes, Scootaloo?”

Orange forehooves fidgeted as she cruised along, “uh... thank you for finally coming back to me. And for helping my flight magic or whatever it is. Even though Spitfire- Mom can't fly as well now.”

“Thank you for letting us join your first flight,” Soarin replied with a grin.

“Of course...” Scootaloo trailed off as Spitfire pulled up alongside them. “You two are my birth parents and it feels so good to finally meet you and to fly!”

The delighted filly went into a dive and dipped right over the heads of her friends and Twilight. The trio seated on a hill cheered as she flew past, already clearly very comfortable in the sky.

“You don’t wanna join?” Apple Bloom asked Twilight.

“I’ll let them have their fun for another few minutes before I join. And besides... the way they are flying...” Twilight reproachfully eyed Rainbow Dash and Soarin.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Scootaloo always loved her speed.”

“Yeah.” Apple Bloom quickly agreed. "And now we know who she gets it from."

In the sky above Rainbow Dash led the pack of pegasi as they flew around, dodging clouds, and sharing smiles and laughter. Scootaloo was alternating between flying next to Rainbow Dash and next to her parents. Spitfire and Soarin flew in the middle of the pack, content to watch their daughter. They revelled in her cheers and cries of delight.
Rumble was looping around the party, sometimes by Scootaloo’s side but often settled back to simply watch his delighted special friend. Fluttershy trailed at the back, content to be a part of the group and join in their laughter.

After two loose loops around their chosen airspace were complete, Scootaloo fell back to Fluttershy’s side. “Fluttershy, could you carry me for a bit? My wings feel like they could use a rest.”

“Sure.” Fluttershy carefully scooped her adopted daughter out of the sky and into her forehooves.

“Hey, Soarin and Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo cried out as she settled in, tucked under Fluttershys chin and held secure in her forelegs.

The two in question glanced back at the grinning filly. “Yes?”

“After a quick rest, I wanna see some speed!” Scootaloo grinned eagerly.

Rumble cheered at the request, falling back to fly with Fluttershy.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash shared a look.

“I’m game.” Dash grinned.

“Same. Spitty?” Soarin turned to his wife.

“Carry me? Then once Scootaloo is ready, I’ll see what these old wings can do.” Spitfire declared.

Soarin skillfully snatched his wife up and proceeded to carry her bridal style as they slowly flew over the orchard and toward the large barn. The pale blue stallion whispered things in his wife's ear as they flew and brought a smile to her face.

As the group passed over the watching ponies on the ground, Scootaloo leapt out of Fluttershy’s grasp. “Alright, let's go!”

The eager filly put on a burst of speed, rushed to the front of the pack and dipped below a large cloud. Soarin dived, Spitire held tightly in his grasp. As they gained altitude on the other side, he released her and yellow wings shot open.

Rainbow Dash burst through the large cloud in an explosion of water vapour and sped between them. Scootaloo watched as the three speedsters twirled around each other for a moment before breaking apart and Spitfire fell back to fly with her daughter. Rumble chose this moment to dip into formation to her left and the two younger pegasi shared delighted smiles.

With Fluttershy working hard to stay close behind, Scootaloo waved eagerly back at her. The kind mare smiled and waved back. Then Scootaloo shared a smile with her parents who were close beside her. Rainbow Dash led, her tail sometimes close enough to tickle her adopted daughter’s snout.

Scootaloo giggled. A rush filled her. It felt right to have them so close. Her parents by blood. And her parents by choice. And Rumble; a colt she really quite liked. Scootaloo smiled. “Best day ever!”

Two years later...

On the outskirts of Ponyville, in the opposite direction to the Apple family farm, a large low lying cloud platform hung over the trees. Dressed in formal Wonderbolts attire, Spitfire strode to the edge of the cloud, her daughter, Scootaloo by her side. Although her feathers were still faded, the firey mare stood tall and proud, a baby bump on display. A sister, or brother to join her daughter. The pair stared down at the large crowd of ponies sitting on the grass below. Hundreds of faces gazed up at them, eager for the show to start.

“I see Fluttershy! And Rumble!” Scootaloo eagerly pointed out her caregiver and coltfriend.

“Good.” Spitfire smiled back at her daughter. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo grinned and gave her wings an eager flick.

Spitfire glanced upward at a small mansion that was so high up, it looked more like a large cloud. With a grin, she gave the discreet mic on her face a small adjustment then addressed the crowd; “Are you ready!?”

A resounding "Yes!" rocked back.

"I said, ARE YOU READY!?!"

The large clearing shook with a final cloud shaking "YES!!!"

Spitfire grinned at the large crowd. "That's better. Now sit back and please enjoy the show! Alright, On the count of three, two, one!"

With the final countdown ringing in their ears the two pegasi continued to watch the audience below. From high above came the rumble of thunder. All heads turned to the heavens. Scootaloo giggled at the sight and shared a glance with her mother before they both craned their necks toward the heavens.

And out of the distant cloud mansion shot Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fleetfoot, and the rest of the Wonderbolts close behind her rainbow trail.

Scootaloo grinned as she hugged her fiery mother.

Spitfire turned her mic off and hugged her teenage filly back. “Enjoy the show squirt.”

“Thanks Mom.”

The pair settled back to watch as Rainbow Dash and Soarin led the wonderbolts on a terrific aerial display. Spitfire couldn't help but sneak the occasional glance at Scootaloo, delighted to have her daughter in her life.
One lucky filly. And two sets of lucky parents.

Author's Note

Almost 7 years in the making.

But at last, this story is finished...

I had the final flight and the letter scene in my mind for so long. It feels great to finally be able to share this.