Years began to pass by. The Cutie Mark Crusaders finally discovered that their destiny was to help guide other ponies to their own destinies. However, there was still one thing that bothered Scootaloo.

Scootaloo desperately tried to take flight, pushing against her bones that were dragging her body towards the ground. “I can do this!”

Apple Bloom yawned. “Yeah, but can you try again tomorrow? I'm getting tired and Mama always makes warm apple cider. Besides, Uncle Big Mac and Aunt Sugar Belle are coming over tomorrow morning.”

Scootaloo's eyes began to water. “But I have to fly! At this rate, I’ll… I’ll never fly.”

“Aw, sure you will, Scootaloo,” Sweetie Belle encouraged. “Let's try again tomorrow.”

“But I don't understand!” Scootaloo cried. “Why can't I fly?”

“I don't know, Scoots,” Apple Bloom replied. “But we’ll try again with you tomorrow, we promise. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight,” Scootaloo returned, miserably.

After Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle left, Scootaloo rode her scooter home. Soarin had given it to her for her ninth birthday. Scootaloo had proven to be a natural and even did tricks on the scooter. Despite not being able to fly, she could still use her wings to propel herself. Scootaloo took a deep breath of fresh air as she felt the wind whip her mane back.

Scootaloo used the ramp Rainbow Dash and Soarin had put up, so she could reach the house. Her parents always said that she'd fly someday, then chuckle nervously as they looked away. She always knew they were lying. Tonight, she wanted the truth.

Scootaloo parked her scooter outside, hung her helmet on the handles, and opened the door. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!”

Rainbow Dash was setting the table for dinner. “Hey, Scoots! Almost time for dinner.”

Scootaloo chuckled. She knew her parents learned and attempted to cook, but their strong spot was flying. Being Wonderbolts, they didn't have a lot of time to practice other hobbies. However, Scootaloo still claimed her parents cooking wasn't bad at all.

Scootaloo joined her parents at the dinner table and began to serve herself some dinner. From the looks of it, Soarin had cooked tonight. He was just slightly more experienced than Rainbow Dash. Soarin had made potato casserole. It wasn't exactly the family favorite, but it was the easiest recipe for Soarin.

After eating most of her dinner, Scootaloo took a deep breath and looked up at her parents. It was time to ask them for the truth. “Mom, Dad, I want the truth this time. Why can't I fly?”

Soarin and Rainbow Dash exchanged a solemn glance. Rainbow Dash sighed and nodded to Soarin.

“Scootaloo… you can't fly,” Soarin admitted.

Scootaloo's heart sank into her stomach. “Wh-what?”

Scootaloo had always dreamed of flying just like her parents. If the daughter of two famous Wonderbolts couldn't even get off the ground, she’d become a laughing stock.

“You were born with the bones of an earth pony,” Rainbow Dash continued. “It weighs you down and that's why it seems so heavy for you to fly.”

“N-no,” Scootaloo stuttered. Her eyes began to fill with tears. It felt like all of her hopes were shattered before her eyes.

“Scootaloo…” Soarin trailed off.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash arose from their seats and went over to give Scootaloo a hug. The family sat in silence in that way for awhile. Scootaloo wiped her tears away. She knew she’d never be able to fly, but she had wonderful friends and family by her side. Maybe that was all that she needed.

As the years continued to fly by, the Cutie Mark Crusaders grew fast. They had graduated filly school and were moving onto college. The three best friends were chatting about their future plans in Scootaloo's bedroom.

“I was accepted into Appleloosa University,” Apple Bloom declared.

“Nice,” Scootaloo said. “What will you be getting your bachelor's degree in?”

“Agriculture,” Apple Bloom answered. “I love it down on Sweet Apple Acres and it will always be home, but it would also do some good if I could do chores for other apple orchards, so I could earn a living. I love to work on the fields. It sounds like a dream come true.”

“That's amazing, Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Aww, thanks, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said with a chuckle. “What about you? What college are you going to?”

“Oh, I’m not going to college,” Sweetie Belle answered.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were stumped. “Y-you’re not?” a confused Scootaloo asked.

“Mom and Dad told me I should at least get my associate’s degree, but there was nothing I was truly passionate about,” Sweetie Belle explained. “So, I decided that I'm not going to any colleges and Mom and Dad told me that was okay. I'm going to pursue a singing career. I already have a lot of original songs. Dad actually scheduled a time for me to record my first album!”

“Wow!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Our best friend is going to be famous!”

The three friends guffawed in excitement as they moved into a group hug.

“What about you, Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle wondered. “What are you going to be studying? Are you going to be going to college at all or will you be staying home?”

“I-I don't know,” Scootaloo admitted. “There's not a lot of things that I’m interested in studying.”

“There's a flying course in Vanhoover,” Apple Bloom suggested, remembering the options for college when she looked through the catalogue. “Maybe you can take that.”

Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom in disbelief. “Really, Apple Bloom? You know that I can't fly!”

“So, some doctors told you that you’d never fly,” Sweetie Belle said. “The doctors told my parents that I’d never be able to use my magic because the part of my brain that controls magic was too small.”

“Really?” Scootaloo was surprised.

Sweetie Belle nodded. “But I never gave up and now I can use my magic just fine.” She levitated some paper and colored pencils over and began to draw with the magic from her horn.

Scootaloo nodded. “I’ll think about it,” she said with a smile.

Sweetie Belle smiled and used her magic to playfully toss one of the stuffed animals on her bed towards Scootaloo. Scootaloo chuckled and threw it back.

Scootaloo sighed happily. She could always count on her best friends.

Scootaloo rode her scooter through the town, a look of determination on her face. She got her scooter up into the air and leaped, feeling the gentle breeze in her face. She cherished that glimpse of flight she got as she hovered there for merely a few seconds before she landed the scooter with a triumphant grin.

Suddenly, a filly trying to get her ball ran past Scootaloo. Scootaloo gasped and avoided the filly just in time, swerving her scooter. Scootaloo lost control of her scooter and accidentally crashed into a cherry stand. A few cherries splattered onto her head. She groaned as she blinked, the scene in front of her being blurred and obscured.

“Hey, are you okay?” the voice of a stallion asked.

Scootaloo looked up, still trying to see through her blurry vision. “Wh-who are you?”

When Scootaloo's vision was restored, she could see a gray-coated pegasus with jet black hair and purple eyes. His cutie mark was a small, gray cloud with streaks coming from behind it. He had a smug smile on his face. “Careful. I wouldn't want to see you tumble through the streets of Ponyville. As amusing as it would be to see a pony just rolling through town, I’m better than that.”

“Thanks for your concern,” Scootaloo muttered, sarcastically.

“You're welcome,” the stallion replied. “What's your name?”

“You told me it would be fun to see me roll down the streets and now you want my name?” Scootaloo asked in disbelief.

The stallion shrugged. “Yeah.”

Scootaloo sighed. “It's Scootaloo. What's yours?”

“Wait, you're Scootaloo?” the stallion asked. “As in Soarin and Rainbow Dash's daughter?”

“Yes,” Scootaloo replied.

This wasn't unusual for her. Being the daughter of two famous Wonderbolts, many ponies recognized her all around Equestria.

“My Dad just became a full-fledged Wonderbolt,” the stallion gloated. “I’m Rumble. I'm Thunderlane and Roseluck's son.”

“Thunderlane? The new Wonderbolts recruit?” Scootaloo remembered.

“That's him,” Rumble said proudly.

“And I recognize the name Roseluck too,” Scootaloo added. “Isn't she that jumpy flower salespony?”

Rumble blushed. “Uh… maybe.”

Scootaloo smirked. “Huh. Guess you have a soft side too.”

“Me?” Rumble said. “Maybe you should check who you're talking to.”

“Believe me, I know who I’m talking to,” Scootaloo quipped. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around, Rumble.”

Rumble nodded. “See ya, Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo hopped onto her scooter and sped away. As she rode, she turned to look back at Rumble. Rumble smiled genuinely at her. Scootaloo quickly turned away to hide a blush and a smile.

Author's Note

And now Rumble has been introduced! Let's see where this goes, shall we?