Rainbow Dash understand nothing. After the miraculous defeat of the Outcasts, she had expected Scootaloo, the Scootaloo she had saved, if not from certain death, at least from the fate of "drinking through a straw," to return to her arms. And very surprised when it did not happen.
Initially pony decided, that filly still not has departed from shock and is experiencing, that Rainbow not can forgive its, so y avoids. Proud, she busied herself with her favourite tasks: sleeping, resting, and flying between the clouds.
A few days later came an excited Twilight Sparkle: Scootaloo is missing. Even her things were still there: she just hadn't come home. Scootie so often stays the night with her friends, sobbed the elderly ponies at the Princess's castle, where they were given Valerian. She doesn't tell us when or for how long.
The filly simply disappeared, leaving no sign of where she might have gone. Is it necessary to say that the Evergreen forest and the vicinity of Ponyville were combed on the up and up?
Finally, someone came up with the idea to fly to the former arena of the Outcasts. On a large stone lay a note, pinned down by others: Don't you dare look for me.
Spit on the feelings of relatives, Scootaloo just left. She left, not caring about her own safety. She left without hearing the instructions of Spitfire, the seasoned Wonderbolts, and Rainbow Dash. And I would just run away from home. She'd run after the people Rainbow despised with every fiber of her being. With The Outcasts!
Pink aura firmly grabbed rushing was in heaven Pegasus for tail. [Don't,[ Twilight said. It's her choice.
Rainbow looked back at him blankly.
"What are you talking about? Better organize a search party or something."
"I'm not going to do that. It's her choice" the Princess repeated, holding her colored tail. "Aren't we already found out that Scootaloo has the right to make decisions on their own?"
"Scootaloo is a filly. Last time it almost exploded on a ten-kiloton rocket!" Rainbow wasn't about to give up; she eased the tension, waited for Twilight to relax, and jerked her hair free. "If it hadn't been for me, she would have... do you have any idea what would have happened? I can't believe after that Scootaloo chose to side with the Outcasts."
But alicorn caught her by the hind legs.
"Are you more concerned that she's in danger or that she's no longer a fan?" Sparkle asked suddenly. She waited for Pegasus to stop twitching and ponder her words, then continued: "Why does it sting you? She's just..."
"Just trying to kill himself and gain of Lightning Dust, and…"
"Should you care?"
"I don't care, I just..." ponies were offended and pouted. "It just makes my fan club look incomplete without her," she murmured softly.
Scootaloo was gone, and Rainbow has nothing to do with it.
Scootaloo chose Lightning Dust and her stupid group.
Scootaloo... is back after two years. With the Outcasts.
Already seated on the podium, surrounded by her best friends, Rainbow Dash's gaze darted between the monstrously dangerous machines. The differences were visible to the naked eye: the obstacle course became more sophisticated, and the music was not deafening. At least not so much. Like last time, the Outcasts circled the podium, giving brochure. Rainbow, however, automatically glanced to the next seat, expecting to see an enthusiastic filly, but there was only an equally enthusiastic Pinkie Pie.
These tricks are performed by professionals, do not try to repeat it at home! Outcasts are professionals in their field!
With a crash and a bang was spinning various gears. Dangerous stunts, dangerous games. The cast of Outcasts was joined by several other members: Twilight noticed a brown tail, beige plumage and a blue tail, white wings. There were bright feathers and hairs in some of the cars, but none of them were orange. Rainbow shuddered at the thought of what would have happened to Pegasus if he had been caught in those deadly things.
Where is Scootaloo? She was nowhere to be found.
"Maybe you'll see her at the signing." Fluttershy suggested timidly, but no one heard her over the noise.
This time, all six approached the Outcasts. Two of them had already put down their helmets (Rainbow, Wild Fire, Lightning Bolt) and were resting, rubbing their itchy wings. The other three never took them off while they handed out the horseshoe seals. Twilight held her friend by the wing and told her to wait, but she took the limb away and shoved the pony away in a most belligerent manner. However, they quickly ran away, giving way to a Princess of Equestria.
"Where's Scootaloo?" asked Dash, its hair standing on end on the chest. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy talked business; Pinkie and Twilight stayed. The second was clearly ready to pull the Pegasus apart if it came to a fight.
"Scoota-who?" the mare in the center asked mockingly, as if she hadn't been two years old, pulling off her helmet. Lightning Dust.
Rainbow puffed angrily.
"Don't get too excited, Vander wafer," the Outcasts leader said, raising her hoof in a conciliatory gesture while examining it for damage, as if to say, I care more about my leg than I care about you.
"Where's Scootaloo?" Pegasus repeated separately, ignoring the strange sounds. And for good reason.
A fast-approaching rattle made the pony jump to one side; the scooter sped past, raising a cloud of dust. There was a crash, and a wheel and a few pieces of iron flew past.
Rainbow coughed and flapped her wings to clear the veil – for a moment she envied the Outcasts for putting on their helmets quickly, and they must have filters in them – and stared.
In the clearing, surrounded by dusty poles and grass crushed by a sharp landing, stood a lean pony with red half-open wings.
Scootaloo took off his helmet, and Rainbow saw a stray purple eyes. His purple mane was combed sideways, and his back muscles were visible beneath the fabric of his suit. Two years ago they were gone. Rainbow's jaw Dropped... Did she?.. Does she fly?
She was slapped on the back and leaned in, taking advantage of the confusion.
"Didn't you expect it? How did it go, Dinamite?" Lightning asked loudly.
"I should work on the brakes," the filly said wryly, seemingly oblivious to the rainbow pony. Rainbow flinched as if she'd been slapped. "On the other hand... I don't always have to slow down, yea?"
Apparently, this was purely Outcasts joke, so as Short Fuse, Rolling Thunder, yes and the rest Outcasts issued giggles.
"Oh, I can't, I'm going to tear my tummy out, Ah-ha-ha," Pinkie Pie struggled up from the ground where she had fallen, wiping away a tear as she laughed. "Can someone tell me what the point is?" she asked cheerfully.
She was ignored, but twilight quickly whispered her suggestions about the joke in Her ear.
The outlaws were going back to their business: Lightning left the swaggering tone and Rainbow, distracted by the timidly huddled fans; the duo of purple mare and red stallion headed toward the tents. Scootaloo brushed the dust from her suit, placing her helmet on the crate, and flew to the wrecked scooter, keeping within a foot of the ground with no apparent difficulty.
Rainbow dash was left alone, assuring Twilight she wouldn't do anything. Uneasy, she took a few steps toward the orange Pegasus. Two years have happened so many events, so much has changed... have you changed Scootaloo?
"Hey," Rainbow said happily. "Look who's here! My favorite number one fan!"
Scooter glanced indifferently at it, then returned to picking the scooter out of the tree it had crashed into: the mangled steering wheel and crumpled suspension – it had been accelerated to good speeds. It is terrible to imagine what would have happened if the colt had not jumped early. Rainbow blinked. Okay, let's change tactics, she muttered.
Rainbow spread her hooves and hovered in front of the Scooter on the ground. She clicked her tongue, made signs with her wings, and winked.
"Awesome wings!"
"Yes?" suddenly said Scootaloo, almost smiling. "I like them, too."
"Soooo... Would you like to fly?" Rainbow Dash asked, landing beside her. ...with the idol, she wanted to add, but she bit her tongue.
Halfpast Dynamite thought. It had been a while since she'd flown. Although ... Who said that with Rainbow Dash will be 'just like that'. She grinned slyly.
"Of course," she said. "Now, I'll just get the jacket."
"Do you have to wear it?" Pegasus asked.
Dinamite, leaving the wreckage of the scooter alone, slammed on her helmet and raised the safety glass. It was transparent inside, of course, but she didn't want to see the world through the greenish plastic.
"Well, if I not want break itself head, be in cast until hooves and to drink through a straw, I must its wear," Scootaloo clearly not since forgotten the roar of Spitfire – Rainbow in this convinced, rubbing ears. The Outcasts helmets seemed to have not only an air filter, but also a speaker with a microphone to amplify the voice.
Two Pegasus soared into the air. Rainbow measured her pace and tried not to get ahead. She wasn't egghead, of course, but something told her it wasn't a good idea to show superiority now.
- Oh, huh, so you still resent the Spitfire for her... er, drive? - she asked after a while. The weather was cloudy but calm. At least the light breeze blowing high didn't look like anything worth noticing.
"No, no," replied Scootaloo. "I don't resent people who yell at me in a way that makes my ears ring. In fact, I forgave her a long time ago. After all, you asked her to scare me."
It was said in a cheerful tone. Rainbow giggled hesitantly as she skirted a rather large cloud. A thought crossed her mind.
"Hey, Scoots, let's clear the sky together! I'm sure you like it.…"
Whatever dash wanted to say, she didn't have time to: a nimble shadow knocked her inside the cloud and quickly circled it, then again, and again, and again... Then she kicked the untwisted cloud toward the others like a bowling ball in a bowling alley. Wisps of cloud scattered in all directions and melted away. Rainbow hung on a single piece.
"I'm not Scoots," Pegasus said, raising his visor again.
"What shall I call you, storm cloud?" pony shook her head.
The Outcast smiled wryly:
"Dinamite. Halfpast."
Rainbow nodded agreeably.
"Do you want to walk to the Apple Acres?"
"Why not?"
By sunset, the Wonderbolts captain had dragged the Scooter through all the memorable places of the city and told about the adventures: his and friends. Pegasus lingered from childhood friends; both have already found their calling: Applebloom – in building, Sweetie Belle – singing. But she hadn't said a word about her own cutie mark, much less taken off her leotards.
In the evening two ponies could be seen on the hill. Both had cotton candy in their hooves.
"It was fun. I'm going to miss this cotton wool – it's the only thing here that tastes so good." Dinamite waved the delicacy in the air and sighed. "We leave tomorrow. Thanks for the day. And ... I expected the worst."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, like you started yelling at me and Lightning Dust, trying to impose your point of view and all that."
Rainbow smiled:
"I've done a lot of work on myself. Shall we sit a little longer?" she patted the grass beside her.
There was silence for a while.
"I'm sorry I shoved you into the cloud, suddenly said Scootaloo. "That was rude."
"Are you kidding? It was awesome! I had no idea your special talent was cloud bowling!"
Rainbow dash was a bit of a cheat when she spoke of cutie mark: I don't want to be blunt – I want to know if you got your mark.
"No, that's not my special talent. It's just that a couple of months ago in Baltimare, we were doing this thing. In fact, my cutie mark is related to scooters. It's a wheel with wings. Cool, right?" Scootaloo gently stamped his feet on the ground.
"Very," Dash said. She hesitated.
"What is it?"
"I just remembered you were leaving tomorrow. I'll miss you."
Scootaloo smiled sincerely.
"I'll ask Lightning Dust to come here more often."
Rainbow hesitated again. She'd never been shy, but this close chance to wipe Lightning's nose (Oh, I haven't forgotten how you looked at me when Scootaloo announced she was joining you.), revive the fan club (Still, watching herself get praised was nice.), and finally prove to herself that she was still cool and convincing made me a little nervous.
"Hey, little one," she finally began. "I'm not good at all these soulful monologues and stuff, but after all... Ah, to Discord," she said, putting a hoof to her chest. "Little one, these two years I've been thinking a lot between adventure and trouble. And if when you first ran away, I thought you'd betrayed me, your friends, my friends, and all of Equestria ... now I'm sorry. I thought you were bound to love me when, how shall I say-when I." she made quotation marks with the tips of her hooves. "I opened your eyes to Lightning's behavior, her lax attitude toward security. Not that her behavior would change now," she said with a nervous laugh. "but…"
She looked up at the sky: the sun had set halfway.
"... but now I has changed and not d try to you to teach, what-would-disgusting Lightning nor was," quickly added she. "After all, you could have crashed a hundred and twenty times in two years, but you're healthy. Scootaloo... you'll be back to give me a second chance? I promise I'll be the best big sister ever."
Scootaloo silently raised his muzzle to the sky. Her eyes were unreadable.
She thought of the Outcasts.
Lightning Dast taught her to fly, despite doctors' assurances that it was impossible. Rainbow wasn't even interested, she was focused on herself.
Lightning Dast tried to send her home in the morning when the filly caught up with them late at night. Then he changed his mind, and their relationship has improved over time and she became Scootaloo sort of guardian. And the fact that the fate of Scootaloo cared for her more than Rainbow, it was impossible to ignore.
During all the tours and trips Scootaloo learned the Outcasts better.
She watched for a while. I made a huge mistake, Lightning once said. The desire to wipe someone's nose overcame in me the desire to keep the composition of the group in integrity. I shouldn't have let you out unprepared on an untested rocket. I wanted this someone to see that under my wing you immediately began to fly, even in a figurative sense.
Scootaloo closed her eyes and remembered how Lightning for a couple of rolling See bandaged pagesense bruises and scratches. But Rainbow didn't pay attention to all wounds Scootaloo, hinting that cool I can handle. And Scootaloo suffered. But in a circle of Outcasts, she didn't have to pretend to be cool. She remembered short fuse sitting by her bed until dawn, when she couldn't sleep because of her nightmares. While Rainbow didn't lift a hoof, even when I saw how much Scootaloo is suffering from the terrible stories, and still did not stop. She remembered how many times the Outcasts had helped her up after falls, figuratively and literally. How many times had rainbow ignored the outstretched hoof.
Scootaloo opened her eyes. Rainbow dash waited patiently. Yes, she really worked on herself, and very well. Not every pony in two years will be able to change their habits and habits to develop new ones. Of course, there was often a touch of pride and arrogance in her speech, but that's a huge improvement over the deafening orchestra of self-esteem that has played in every sentence she has offered over the years.
So does Scootaloo to come back? No, she couldn't go back – too many pieces of the puzzle had changed places, and the Scootaloo itself had changed shape. She can stay. And now you can put the question correctly: does Halfpast Dynamic to stay in Ponyville? But will the fearless conqueror of dangers be able to live in Ponyville without drive, adrenaline and Outcasts? She didn't want to hear about the Wonderbolt Academy, let alone listen to it, and she didn't want to be taught by a screaming teacher. Besides, Wonderbolts are boring. No liveliness, one academician: the correct formulation of the wings, a proper system of flight, proper and well-coordinated stunts.
But even this is not the most important thing. Will Scootaloo be able to write carefully constructed over two years, the Bastion and to turn to the past in the form rainbowmane Pegasus?
"Will you give me a second chance?"
"No."
