Descension
Before I was born my parents had one other child. Her name is Fluttershy. Now, you need to know a few things about Fluttershy. She is a rather thin, yellow mare, with a long pink mane, and....well, I'll just tell you an important story about her.
In Cloudsdale it is critical for a filly to have good flight skills as the city is located in the sky, and falling usually means death. While even foals have an instinctual ability to fly, a filly needs a lot of practice and training in flight in order to build up the skill and muscle needed to live on her own. Flight is so important that public schooling doesn't only teach math, writing, and the like, but it also teaches flying. However, some parents didn't feel that was enough, and sent their children to Summer Flight Camp. Some wanted their children to have extra practice so they could be the best fliers in Equestria. Other's had children who were lagging behind. Fluttershy was one of those. She was 12 years old and she could still barely fly.
So, Fluttershy was at Flight Camp. Most of the other students were hanging out with their friends, but Fluttershy wasn't interested in being with the other ponies. Instead she tried to get as far away from the other ponies as possible so she could practice flying on her own. I don't know exactly where she was or what she was doing as she never told me and I never cared for such boring details, but she must have been standing on a hill or something because she tripped while practicing and fell down a slope, plopping her right in front of a group of bullies she knew. The colts landed next to her and immediately started making fun of her.
"Nice going, Cluttershy, they should have you grounded permanently!"
"My baby brother can fly better than you!"
As Fluttershy hid herself behind her hooves a rainbow blur zipped past twice. A blue filly with a multicolored mane seemed to come out of nowhere. BAM, just like that! She stood opposite of the bullies, standing between my sister and them.
"Leave her alone!"
Rainbow Dash was my sister's only friend, being as asocial as she was didn't really attract many other ponies. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but after it did their friendship never died. Because of that she is my hero. So, the bullies did not seem to even tolerate someone defending their victim, so they foolishly decided to take on the one and only Rainbow Dash.
"Oo, what are you going to do, Rainbow Crash?"
Rainbow Dash, confident in her abilities (as she should be), stared them down and sent fear into their little hearts.
"Keep making fun of her and you'll find out!"
One the bullies foolishly leered forward and took the bait, not knowing who he was dealing with.
"You think you're such a big shot, why don't your prove it?"
Rainbow Dash remained undaunted as even as a filly she must have been just that awesome.
"What do you have in mind?"
The bullies were idiots, so they challenged her to a race, forgetting that she wasn't just Rainbow, she was also Dash. Somehow a huge crowd gathered for the race and Fluttershy, being Rainbow's friend, held the starting flag. Somehow Fluttershy managed to fall to the ground during the confusion of the race, and somehow she managed to survive and got stuck there for a year. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash not only won the race, but she also created a Sonic Rainboom, a legendary circle of light that I have only seen once, but unfortunately I missed Rainbow Dash making it.
***
Now, this is where I came in. See, while Fluttershy was gone her parents got worried that she was never going to return, so they did stuff to calm themselves down, and that made me. Yeah. Now, Fluttershy was returned home before I was born, but it wasn't that long afterward in which I was born.
Now, most of my life has been pretty boring and not very awesome, but I'll tell you a few things that happened so I can show you the things needed for the next part.
***
I remember my first day of school. Fluttershy brought me over because I asked her to. She had her own school to go to, but it started on a later day than mine, so she could take me on that day. Before I would wait for her to come home everyday so we could play together. Sometimes Rainbow Dash came over, and while she and Fluttershy usually kept to eachother, sometimes I could get Rainbow Dash to play with me, and she was always the most fun as she played the funnest games with me, like when she would hold me and fly me around. I had always wanted to know what this school that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash went to everyday was like, and on that day I was finally going to learn.
So we were walking down the clouds. The neighborhood was arranged so flying wasn't necessary to reach the school as that simply isn't safe and only an idiot would put several hundred foot drops near small children. Soon enough the school came into sight. It was a simple single story building made of blue and white cloudstone like most of Cloudsdale. After we went through the door we were greeted by the principal.
"Ok, Scoots, um, I'm afraid I have to leave you now, so do what this stallion tells you, I'm sure he's nice."
I hugged onto her leg, not wanting her too leave.
"I don't want you to go. I want to be with you always."
"Well, um, I don't want to leave you either, but I'm afraid I have too. Scootaloo, you're a big girl now, it's time you stay away for a few hours. I remember on my first day of school, when mom left me I cried all day, and the teacher asked what was wrong, but I never talked to them, so they never found out what was wrong, but you're a tough filly, tougher than I ever was. It's ok to be scared, but it won't be that bad. I'll be back to get you at the end of the day. So, um, go make mom proud, that is if you want to. If you don't that's ok too."
I looked up at Fluttershy then let go of her. I left to go with the stallion, and as I walked away I took one last look back. She was standing in the doorway, waving her hoof at me.
***
He showed me my way to my classroom, and then left me with my teacher, Ms. Ireling. Eventually all the other students came, and we began with learning each other's names, but we all forgot them soon enough. Next Ms. Ireling read us a story, and then we were given crayons so we could draw a picture. I found a yellow one and a pink one and got to work at drawing the who I thought was the coolest mare. Another filly came over and watched me. I heard her bouncing over before I heard her speak.
"I like your picture. Who is that?"
"It's Fluttershy, the best sister ever!"
I then turned to find myself facing a bright yellow filly with a spiky white mane and cyan eyes.
"You're actually wrong, because the best sister ever is Air Blast, and she is all mine, but I'm sure Fluttershy is the second best sister."
I glared at her.
"Well, you're wrong, and you're just jealous Fluttershy isn't your sister and she is mine!"
After we finally came to a compromise I realized I had forgotton her name from earlier.
"Hey, I don't remember your name, what is it?"
"I'm Shine Spark, you were suposed to remember my name from earlier! And you are?"
"Scootaloo."
We both looked each other in the eye, smiled, and hoof bumped. Our friendship had started.
***
The days and years went by, and Shine Spark and I were inseparable friends. I found school to be for the most part easy enough, not too hard, but not too easy either. I was a little better at most subjects than Shine Spark, so I helped her sometimes. She made up for that by covering for me in sports. We were both good athletes and enjoyed sports quite a bit, but I was only decent while she was great, like if nearly as good as Rainbow Dash would have been when she was a filly. However, together we made quite the team, and we could crush our opponents in most sports.
The most popular ponies were Cloud Duster and her clique. She was once a new student, and when she first showed up everypony stopped as the white filly with the pink bowl-cut strutted in. She was just under a minute late, or as some say fashionably late. It didn't take long for everypony to start taking a liking to her and for her popularity to rise.
As Shine Spark was so athletic it only took one spectacular game of hoofball to impress Cloud Duster and earn her spot within the clique. It took me a bit longer. I remember one day I was alone, looking for Shine Spark, when I found her with the group talking in the corner. I managed to sneak off out of sight, but not out of earshot. After I hooked into the conversation I realized they were talking about me. A lively, high pitched voice I identified as belonging to Shine Spark was trying to get me in.
"Why can't Scootaloo join? She's athletic enough, I think she's a cool filly."
The next voice was also high pitched, but I didn't find it lively, just annoying. I recognized as being from Sunny Ray, a filly who I didn't like very much because she did nothing except suck up to Cloud Duster.
"Because she's too much of a nerd. She barely even tries and she still passes with decent grades. She'll make us look bad! Also, since you know her so well, you should know her sister. What an embarrassment! Not only does she lack any pony skills whatsoever, but she can hardly fly better than Scootaloo."
Hearing my sister get insulted like that made my blood boil. I wanted to slam Sunny Ray's face into the ground then and there, but I knew that would be a bad idea so I just slunk away and hid. I let the fire fester inside me until I was no longer angry, just hurt and ashamed. At last I felt a hoof on my shoulder, and I turned and found myself looking into the familiar blue eyes, bluer than the sky, that belonged to Shine Spark.
"Hey, it's all right. I'm sorry for not being there for you. You know what, we can forget Cloud Duster and her gang and let them blow thunder likes clouds do, because we have each other."
I pushed her hoof off of me, stood up, and dusted myself off.
"No, that's alright, don't sacrifice your social standing. I'm fine." I started flapping my wings. "Though, if it doesn't hurt you, getting some extra flight lessons wouldn't hurt me."
***
The next day Shine Spark was sitting with me again during lunch, not with Cloud Duster. However, I wouldn't settle for this. As I let my grades steadily drop I also practiced flying with Cloud Duster. Soon I could do all the tricks that she could do, from the simple Lazy Loop where we circled clouds to the difficult Death Spin where we would go into a spin only to regain control right before we hit the ground. These tricks not only felt awesome, but they looked awesome to any filly or colt who happened to watch.
We were eating lunch together one afternoon when I heard Cloud Duster's voice.
"Hey, Scootaloo, Shine Spark. I see you're eating alone. If you want, I'd like for you to come eat with us."
I was so surprised that I nearly chocked on my cloudberry sandwich. Shine Spark swallowed the bite of cake she was eating, and spoke.
"I'm sorry-"
I cut her off. This was the opportunity I was waiting for.
"Oh, yeah, we would love to come. Come on Shine Spark, grab your bag, we're moving over!"
And that was how I finally managed to get my spot in that stupid clique.
***
One day Fluttershy came home with a hoof full of orange tickets. I was at the table, fiddling with some paper clips for no reason in particular, when Fluttershy flew in and dumped three tickets in front of me. She spoke, and as I turned to her I noticed she was still looking at the tickets.
"Well, the Wonderbolts are performing at Cirrus Circut next week, and, uh, Rainbow Dash won ten tickets to it by winning a competition at the university. She, err, gave me three tickets so I could invite some friends. Well, I, um, well, I decided that as much as I want to be with Rainbow Dash, I figured you and your friends would enjoy it more. I'm not good with crowds anyway. So, here, take them and have a good time."
By now she had turned to look at me and gave me a small smile. I smiled back at her. Even at that age I knew how cool the Wonderbolts were, and we all talked about wanting to join then someday. Back in school my friends and I were talking about this performance for weeks, but none of us, not even Cloud Duster, could get a hold of any tickets.
"Wow, thanks, I know just who I'm going to give the other tickets to. Thanks sis!"
Neither of us were very touchy feely, but for some reason I felt the need to hug her, so I jumped up and grabbed her into a tight embrace. She immediately squeaked and when I looked up I could see she was blushing, but I knew that after she got over the surprise from being touched and the awkwardness of the gesture she enjoyed it.
***
The day of the performance came soon enough. I had already given one of the other tickets to Shine Spark and one to Cloud Duster earlier, and of course I kept the last one for myself. I was with Shine Spark, waiting in front of my house for Cloud Duster to come over. Afterwards Fluttershy promised to escort us over to the stadium.
"I can't believe your sister actually gave us the tickets and is still going to take us to Cloud Circut even though she won't be able to enter. That's so nice of her!"
I felt blood rushing into my cheeks.
"Well, she is the nicest pegasus I know. I don't care what they say, I'm glad she's my sister."
Soon enough I saw a white filly strutting down the street, so I turned and called back into the house.
"Ok Fluttershy, Cloud Duster is here, so can we get going?"
Soon enough the yellow mare delicately trotted outside.
"Ok, girls, are you ready to go? Ok, then, let's get going!"
Soon enough we were walking and occasionally flying our way over to Cirrus Circut. The whole time Fluttershy led the way without saying a single word, ignoring our conversations as she focused on finding the way. Eventually we made it to the gates of Cirrus Circuit where Rainbow Dash and a group of her friends were waiting for us. The moment she saw us she gave out a shout.
"Oh, hey, Fluttershy, you finally made it! And I seen you brought your sister with you. Ok, come on, it looks like everyone is here now, so let's go in!"
Fluttershy stopped, bowed her her head as it turned pink, and I could barely make out what she stuttered out.
"Oh, uh, R-Rainbow, er, I'm, uh, afraid I-I, I'm not going tonight. I-"
Rainbow Dash broke away from the rest of her group and approached Fluttershy.
"What was that? Speak up, I couldn't hear you."
Fluttershy took in a deep breath, and spoke again, this time much louder.
"I said I'm afraid I can't go with you tonight."
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened and she stepped back. I guess even the best of ponies can get surprised.
"Why not?"
Fluttershy let out a sigh, and continued.
"I-I gave all my tickets to Scootaloo and her friends. I overheard them talking about it and as much as I want to be with you I figured they would enjoy this more. I, uh, should have saved a ticket for myself, but I didn't. Oh, please don't be upset with me."
Rainbow Dash let out her own sigh and looked behind her at the rest of the group, and then back at Fluttershy.
"Oh, I'm a bit disappointed that you won't be there, but I'm not upset with you. You know what, I think I can still find away for you to come in. Here, I'll give you my ticket, and then I can sneak past the guards...no...wait...I'll just charm them or...no... I'll think of something."
"No, I'm fine. I'll just go home and sew or something. You shouldn't make any sacrifices for me. "
Rainbow Dash looked at me, then back at Fluttershy.
"Well, ok, if you say so."
She then turned back to me.
"Ok girls, follow me! We're going to have a blast!"
We walked with her to the rest of her friends. She then introduced us to them.
"It turns out Fluttershy can't come after all, but her sister and her friends can. Scootaloo here might be young, but she's made of some pretty solid stuff, and I'm sure her friends are cool too. Let's get kicking!"
As we headed in and turned in our tickets I took one last look back. At first I couldn't see Fluttershy and I thought she had slunk away, but when I looked closer I saw her in the shadows, eagerly looking straight back at us.
***
The show was amazing. The Wonderbolts really are an impressive, super awesome, wonderful flying team. Rainbow Dash was also, needless to say, pretty cool. When she wasn't talking with her own friends she explained to us all about the Wonderbolts and the tricks they were doing and told us a lot of other cool facts about them. In the end we had a blast.
After the show we waited outside the stadium for Fluttershy to pick us back up. Cloud Duster was jumping around in a manner she would never let the rest of her friends see, so for once Shine Spark actually looked calm in comparison to another pony. Cloud Duster then bounced in front of me and stopped long enough to speak.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash is so awesome! She is like the awesomest mare I've ever met. It was so cool of her to give us those tickets."
I nonchalantly corrected her.
"Actually, Rainbow Dash gave those tickets to Fluttershy, and she gave them to us instead of going to the show herself."
Cloud Duster stopped bouncing and seemed to return to her usual level of energy.
"Fluttershy gave us her tickets? As much as I liked coming, that's sort of lame, not wanting to see the Wonderbolts. Scootaloo, I'm glad you are so much cooler than your sister."
I looked out and saw a light pink mane in the distance, slowly growing is it approached us. I managed to force out "Yeah, I'm glad too. She is pretty boring, not fun like Rainbow Dash is!"
Soon enough the kind mare made it the rest of the way and brought us home and I couldn't help but feel a little bit dirty inside.
***
Eventually the day came where Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash graduated from the university. Afterwards Fluttershy stayed at home for most of the day. Now, I liked having her around more often as she is helpful and nice, but I also didn't like it because, and I hate to say it now, I found her embarrassing. Everyday she greeted me when I came home from school, and sometimes I found myself smiling back at her, sometimes I found myself blushing, and sometimes I just rolled my eyes.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash found a job with the government and soon enough was going into training for the Cloudsdale Weather Team. Like always, she performed spectacularly and getting the job and getting through training was a breeze. After she was on the job for a month or two she asked Fluttershy to come live with her.
After Fluttershy got the offer I remember her talking with Mom late into the night. I lay awake in my room, eavesdropping below. Of course I don't remember exactly what they said, but the gist of what I remember is something like this.
"Mom, I, uh, I'm not sure what to do. I love Rainbow Dash and want to move out of the house some day and all, but, well, I don't know. I'm scared. I don't know if I can live without you. I love you too, and I don't want to leave you, or the rest of my family. And I don't know if I'm ready yet, or if I ever will be. I don't even know if I can take care of myself. I just want you to keep me safe, to care for me. It will be so different, I don't know if I can handle the change. I don't know, I don't know anything. I'm so confused. Oh, help me make up my mind, I don't know what to do."
"Fluttershy, I can't make your decision for you, you need to learn to make these choices your self, you're a grown mare now. I'm going to tell you this, you need to go out and make your own way in the world eventually, but I can't tell you how to do that. It's ok to be scared, it's ok to not be ready yet, but I can't take care of you forever. I'll tell you what, no matter what you choose to do, I'll love you always. Now, if you move in with Rainbow Dash, it really won't be so bad, I'll still be right here, ready for you if you need me. It's not like it you are going to be far away, your just going to be with Rainbow Dash. Now, I want you to think about this for awhile before you make your decision. "
"Okay, mom, I'll think about it so more."
Soon enough Fluttershy decided to move out of the house, and after she packed up her bags we exchanged some awkward hugs and she went off with Rainbow Dash. Soon enough the pair moved out of Rainbow's house and moved to Ponyville after Rainbow Dash got a new job there. Before they left Fluttershy stopped by our place one last time to say goodbye. She pulled me into her embrace without saying a word, she just cried.
After she headed out the door one last time I just looked looked at where she once stood, feeling like there was now a hole in my heart and mind. Sure, Fluttershy would no longer embarrass me, but I no longer had her available to me. Also, my idol was gone too. I just sat there and stared. Life returned more or less back to normal, back afterwards it just felt empty, because something was missing. At the time all I could think was how much I wanted Rainbow Dash to come back and show me me just one more trick because I was just that much of a fool.
***
It seemed like it was just going to be any other day. I was hanging out with Cloud Duster and Shine Spark at Thunder Park. We were sitting on a cloud in a ring, Shine Spark was on my left and Cloud Duster was on my right. We were talking about who knows what when Shine Spark suddenly jumped up.
"Ooh, Scootaloo, I just remembered that I was meaning to show you something. Look at this!"
With that she broke away from the rest of us and took to the sky. After she let out a string of six aerial loops she smoothly touched down on another cloud.
"I bet you can't do that."
I got up, dusted myself off, flapped my wings, and jumped.
"Oh yeah? That's going to be a piece of cake!"
And so I flew upwards. However, something felt odd. It seemed that I wasn't raising as fast as I should have been for how fast my wings were going. I ignored it at first, and started to perform the loops. I managed to pull of two of them, but then I was thrown off for some reason. I swear, normally I would have been able to pull it off easily. I then flied up higher, but soon enough I found that I wasn't actually going any higher anymore, and then I started to slowly fall. At last I found myself going into a full free fall and I had to dive and roll into a cloud to stop myself. When I uncurled I found Shine Spark looking over me.
"Scootaloo, are you alright? What happened?"
I stared into her wide blue eyes, and I saw genuine fear.
"I, I don't know. "
***
I managed to make to it home easily enough, though the whole time I was a state of shock. I didn't tell my parents anything, but they found out soon enough. Later my dad watched me land extremely awkwardly, and after he pointed that out Shine Spark confessed to seeing my fall from earlier. I was found out.
I was taken over to the doctor, who told me to fly and examined my wings and did other tests. At last he came to a diagnosis, and explained what was going on. All ponies have a magulatory, or magic system, not just unicorns. It varies somewhat between the different pony races as it performs a different function in the different ponies. In pegasi it is essential to walking on the clouds, but it is essential for flight. See, on her own a pegasus is too heavy to fly, but with the help of magic she can fly easily. This part of the magulatory system extends into a pegasus's wings. The muscles and bones in my wings were fine, they moved perfectly, but their magical core was deteriorating. At the time I didn't know what he was going on about, but now I understand all too well. However, even at the conclusion was clear, and it hit me like a knife to the heart. Soon I would loose my ability to fly completely, and I would never fly again. Never being able to become a Wonderbolt would be the least of my problems.
***
It was decided that it was simply too dangerous for me to stay in Cloudsdale, but dad had to stay there for his work. In the end it was decided that mom and I would go move to Ponyville because at least Fluttershy lived there, and dad would send us money and visit occasionally. The day came were we loaded up all our possessions onto a cart which was going to take us down to the surface. Shine Spark came over and kept me company on our final day together. After we played for awhile she made a confession.
"I don't want you to leave. It's so unfair that this had to happen to you! You are too good for this! If I could I would give you my wings. I just hope you can meet some new good friends on the surface. I'm sure that won't be hard for you. Well, I can't imagine how hard this must be for you."
I froze, and then let out a little laugh.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I can take it. I'm going to come to Ponyville like a storm and all the other fillies are going to love me, and even if they won't like me at first I'll be able to take it until they do! I'm going to be fine..."
Shine Spark stepped forward.
"You don't need to try to hide your feelings any longer, I know you aren't ok, that much is clear. You're just hurting yourself even more now."
With that I snapped and lashed back out at her.
"You're right, I'm not okay, my life ends now, what's a pegasus without working wings? I'll never be a Wonderbolt, I'll never even break clouds. I'm never going to see you again. There is no need for you to hurt me anymore! Now just leave me alone!"
With that I turned away from her and went outside. I then stared at the cart and helplessly watched as other ponies loaded it up. After what seemed like an eternity Shine Spark decided I had been moping for too long and she threw her hoof across my shoulders.
"Come on, Scoots. It's not going to be that bad. Earth ponies don't have wings, and they do just fine. You are fit, you're smart, you're cool, I'm sure you will do great down there. This doesn't have to be the last time I see you, I could always visit you sometime in the future. Anyway, you are going to get to see Fluttershy again! Don't you miss your sister?"
I turned around and threw her hoof off of me.
"I don't want to be with Fluttershy, I want to be with you! You are the only pony who doesn't seem to think she is the most disappointing pegasus to have ever set hoof in Cloudsdale! I just want to be with you!"
As much as I tried to stop it I found myself crying. Shine Spark burst into tears too, and I loosened up and let her throw her hooves around me.
"And I just want to be with you too."
I took a glance up and I saw my parents in a similar position. At last I whispered one last thing into her ear.
"Goodbye, Shinespark."
She let go of me and mom and I got on the cart. Before it took off I took one last look back at my old home. As we descended to the surface I could only think that I falling too slowly. If only that stupid carriage didn't slow my descension I could be smashed against the ground and freed from the endless pain of being a pegasus unable to fly and unable to be with her friends.
Some tough filly I was.
Author's Note
I know that The Stare Master and The Cutie Mark Chronicles provides evidence against Fluttershy being related to Scootaloo, but I just feel that this possible relationship could explain so much, so uh, suspend your canon-of-disbelief and enjoy the story. Actually, I think I might be able to use those scenes to my advantage. Also, if anything in Season 3 breaks this it will be ignored. I'm not going to let a change in canon kill a story I'm writing.
