Author's Note

Little Dashie is about to grow up.

True Hero

Rainbow Dash returned home after a few days of helping rehabilitate Seera. The changeling's ravenous hunger had begun to subside, and the ponies in Canterlot who had heard of Rainbow's good deeds were more than willing to help reform Seera. However, the real test of Rainbow's resolve had yet to come. After arriving at Twilight's castle, she received the disheartening news.

"Hey guys!"

"Rainbow...," Twilight spoke sympathetically.

"Why's everybody look so glum?"

"It's Scootaloo."

"Scoots? What's the matter?"

"She's contracted pneumonia. She's in a coma..."

Rainbow was heartbroken to hear those words. Her world shattered in the blink of an eye.

"What did the doctors say...?"

"Because she's still a filly, the fluid is filling her lungs much faster than an adult. They don't think she's going to make it..."

"No..."

Rainbow just stood there for awhile. Guilt was beginning to eat away at her. She hated herself for every time she had brushed the child off when Scootaloo wanted to spend time with her. Needless to say, she wasn't feeling like much of a friend now.

"Go home, Rainbow. Let yourself grieve."

A determined look suddenly crossed Rainbow Dash's features.

"No. I won't leave her again. I'm going to see her."

"I don't know if-"

"I know you're looking out for me, Twi, and I'm more grateful for it than you'll ever know, but I have to make this right. You understand where I'm coming from, don't you?"

"...Yeah. I do. If it was Spike, I would do the same thing."

"I'll be there for the rest of the day. You guys go ahead and do what you gotta' do."

"Alright. Take care. We'll be here if you need us."

"I know you will."

Rainbow sat next to her friend's hospital bed. She could hardly bear to see Scootaloo suffering so much. The doctors told her if she wanted to speak, Scootaloo would be able to hear her. Rainbow wondered if the filly was alone and in pain - a thought process that further contributed to the guilt within her conscience.

"It's funny, Scoots; I always thought I knew what it meant to be tough. I built this wall around my thoughts and emotions so no one could ever see how vulnerable I really was. Now, here I am, hating every second I kept that wall up."

Rainbow Dash sniffled.

"To make it worse, I lied to you and told you it was the right thing to do. I guess all I was really doing was trying to convince myself. All of that work to maintain a lie..."

The emotional mare raised her head.

"The truth is, I always thought of you like the sister I never had. I know I didn't show it, but I loved you."

The Pegasus ran her hoof through her friend's mane.

"Honest to Celestia and Luna, I really loved you like my baby sister. I'm not ready to say goodbye - not like this."

Somewhere inside, a switch flipped. All the energy Rainbow had been building up began responding to her distress. While she stroked Scootaloo's mane, a light green glow began to emit from her hoof.

"What the...!?"

As quickly as the glow came, it subsided. While Rainbow was focused on what she had just seen, a certain orange filly began to open her eyes.

"Where...Am I...?"

The shock was so great that Rainbow could not react for some time. Somehow, some way, she had revived her fallen sibling, saving her from the arms of the reaper.