The Storm Before The Calm
“Scootaloo!” cried Rainbow Dash, who had just returned from the swim meet.
“Rainbow Dash!” cried Scootaloo, who was finally happy because Rainbow Dash was back.
The older pegasus gave the younger one a hearty hug with her wings.
“Cloudsdale won the swimming tournament!” Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo excitedly.
“I—don’t—care!” shouted Scootaloo, and cantered off in a huff.
Rainbow Dash’s face fell immediately, and her wings drooped.
“Scootaloo, what’s wrong?” asked Apple Bloom sympathetically.
“It’s not what; it’s who!” retorted Scootaloo.
“OK—who’s wrong?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Rainbow Dash—that’s who!” answered Scootaloo.
“What did she do to you, Scootaloo?” asked Apple Bloom, very much concerned.
“Did she do it on purpose?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Oh, my—what happened to you, Rainbow Dash?” asked Fluttershy, who was being very sympathetic toward Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah—why the sad face?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“You look a might forlorn there,” commented Applejack.
“It’s Scootaloo,” answered Rainbow Dash sadly.
“What happened to her?” inquired Twilight Sparkle.
“The poor darling!” exclaimed Rarity.
“How dare she!” shouted Scootaloo.
“How dare she what?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Rainbow Dash promised to teach me how to do a 1080 on my skatebord,” explained Scootaloo, “but she totally broke her promise to me!”
“Broke her promise?!” exclaimed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle together, both of them in utter shock.
“Yes!” confirmed Scootaloo.
“I wonder what happened,” thought Apple Bloom.
“I’m proud for you, Rainbow Dash,” said Fluttershy.
“I know—the team from my home region won!” said Rainbow Dash.
“I was talking about the way you rescued that poor pony!” clarified Fluttershy.
“Oh, yeah—that, too,” conceded Rainbow Dash.
“I think Scootaloo would be proud for you, too,” suggested Fluttershy.
“She would?” questioned Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash flew to the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ clubhouse and knocked on its door.
Only Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle came out to answer the blue pegasus.
“Girls,” asked Rainbow Dash, “could I ask you a favor, please?”
“Sure thing,” answered Apple Bloom.
“If Scootaloo is available,” asked Rainbow Dash, “then may I please talk to her?”
“I’ll let her know,” answered Sweetie Belle.
“I’m not going to talk to Rainbow Dash again!” protested Scootaloo.
“But you’ll lose your best friend!” warned Sweetie Belle.
“She’s not my friend anymore, much less my best friend!” retorted Scootaloo.
“That’s no way to treat anypony—friend or otherwise!” scolded Apple Bloom.
Scootaloo kept quiet and pondered her fellow Crusaders’ words.
Then, she decided to set her skateboard aside and go find Rainbow Dash.
“This looks like a good place for Scootaloo to practice her new skateboarding trick!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
“I’ll say!” agreed Applejack.
“Now all we need is Scootaloo and her super-duper skateboard!” added Pinkie Pie.
“Rainbow Dash, are you angry at Scootaloo?” asked Fluttershy.
“Please don’t be angry, dear!” pleaded Rarity.
“Don’t you think you need to get some feelings off your barrel?” suggested Twilight Sparkle.
Scootaloo arrived at the park without her skateboard.
“What’s going on, Scoots?” Rainbow Dash asked the filly.
“I don’t feel like skateboarding anymore,” answered Scootaloo.
“What?!” exclaimed the mare.
Scootaloo hung her head and whispered into Rainbow Dash’s ear.
“I didn’t like it when you didn’t show up to teach me how to do a 1080,” whispered the filly.
“I’m sorry, Scootaloo,” confessed Rainbow Dash.
“Really?” questioned Scootaloo.
“Yes—I couldn’t have been there for you,” explained Rainbow Dash, “because the princess called me in as lifeguard at the swim meet.”
Scootaloo trotted up to Rainbow Dash so that the mare could give the filly a hug.
“It’s OK, Rainbow Dash—I accept your apology!” said Scootaloo.
That was how Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo became closer friends and closer “sisters”.
“Rainbow Dash, I appreciate your swift arrival,” said Princess Celestia.
“Well, I am the fastest pony in Ponyville!” Rainbow Dash reminded the royal alicorn.
“Are you fast enough to be the official lifeguard for Equestria’s national swim meet?” asked Celestia.
“Aw, man—I thought I would compete in the tournament!” grumbled Rainbow Dash.
Celestia bent down and whispered to the pegasus, “Not many ponies know this, but did you know that the pegasus is good at swimming as well as at flying?”
Now armed with this knowledge, Rainbow thought, “Wow—that’s just awesome!”
Everypony whom Rainbow Dash knew, except the Cutie Mark Crusaders, attended the swim meet.
“I’m proud for you,” whispered Fluttershy to her, “because I could never be a lifeguard!”
“Awww—thank you, Fluttershy!” answered Rainbow Dash.
“Erm—you’re welcome?” answered Fluttershy, a little embarrassed by Rainbow Dash.
“Today’s my big day, you know!” Rainbow Dash told Fluttershy.
Just then, the swim meet officials sounded their trumpets and announced the swimming race.
Since Princess Celestia was unable to attend the swim meet, she had chosen Princess Luna as her substitute.
“Welcome, everypony, to Equestria’s one and only three-on-three swimming tournament!” announced the younger princess.
Luna announced the members of the home team, saying, “From Cloudsdale—Fleetfoot, Soarin, and Spitfire!”
Then, she announced the members of the visiting team, saying, “From Baltimare—Steam, Liquid, and Ice!”
“Go, Cloudsdale!” cheered Rainbow Dash.
Luna gave the starting signal, and the swimming race began.
“Aw, man!” cried Rainbow Dash in disappointment when she heard that the Baltimare team won the first round.
“On your marks—steady—and go!” called Luna, starting the second round.
“Now we’re talking!” cheered Rainbow Dash when she heard that the Cloudsdale team won the second round.
“Oh, no—somepony’s drowning!” cried Fluttershy, because somepony was, indeed, drowning in the pool.
“Never fear; Dash is here!” shouted Rainbow Dash, and dove into the pool to rescue the drowning pony.
“Please stay away from the pool, young stallion,” Luna warned the pony.
“Rainbow Dash is going to teach me a cool skateboard trick today!” announced Scootaloo excitedly to her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“I can’t wait to see it!” answered Apple Bloom.
“Neither can I!” agreed Sweetie Belle.
“It’s called a 1080,” said Scootaloo, “also known as a triple spin!”
“Well,” said Apple Bloom, “we’re ready to see your trick!”
“What she said!” agreed Sweetie Belle.
“Hey—that’s a cool skateboard, Scoots!” remarked Rainbow Dash one day.
“I know—right?” agreed Scootaloo.
“I could teach you a couple of cool tricks on it,” offered Rainbow Dash.
“I’m going to need all the help I can get!” exclaimed Scootaloo.
“Don’t worry, champ; I promise that I will help you learn!” declared Rainbow Dash proudly.
“Thanks a lot, Dash!” cried Scootaloo excitedly.
“Rainbow Dash isn’t here,” lamented Scootaloo.
“Maybe there was a storm somewhere,” suggested Sweetie Belle.
“Yeah—Rainbow Dash is Ponyville’s weather pony,” Apple Bloom reminded Scootaloo.
“But she promised she’d show up!” complained Scootaloo.
“Maybe something came up,” said Sweetie Belle.
“I’m sure Rainbow Dash will keep her promise to you,” Apple Bloom assured Scootaloo.
“A jump rope Cutie Mark?” suggested Scootaloo.
“Nah,” said the Cutie Mark Crusaders together.
“A pear farming Cutie Mark?” suggested Apple Bloom.
“Nah,” said the Crusaders together.
“A Cutie Mark in opera?” suggested Sweetie Belle.
“Nah,” said the Crusaders again.
