Rainbow Dash sighed as she looked in the mirror inside of her locker. Her hair was messy and tangled from earlier practice procedures scheduled for today’s Wonderbolt routine. She rubbed her eyes as she took one last look at herself before closing the locker and huffing.
Scootaloo approached Rainbow from behind, smiling. “Hey! You uhh… doing okay?” she smiled with concern.
“Yeah! I'm good, as I’ll ever be, heh.” Rainbow stepped back from Scootaloo. She plopped down on a bench and looked over to her. “What’re you doing here so early, huh? Missed me THAT much?” she teased as Scootaloo chuckled.
“Well, the reason I came here was honestly because I was reminiscing about how you took me in, y’know?” Scootaloo walked to the bench, sitting next to Rainbow Dash.
“Yeah…” Rainbow spoke as she looked up to the ceiling, closing her eyes and smiling as she took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re gonna make it far, Scoot. I know you will,” she pulled Scootaloo in with her wing, smiling. “We haven't seen each other in a few months. What's new, kid?” she questioned.
Scootaloo stood up, opening her wings joyfully as she did. “So—you know how me and Applebloom were dating, right?” she questioned.
Rainbow Dash leaned in, shock on her face. “What?! No! I didn't, actually!” she laughed a bit, leaning back into the bench. “Okay, okay, continue,” she teased.
Scootaloo rolled her eyes playfully as she looked back at Rainbow. “Well… tonight is going to be a special night,” she went into her saddlebag, pulling out a small ring box. Rainbow gasped as she looked up from the box to Scootaloo.
“Are you—??” she spoke in excitement, awaiting Scootaloo to confirm her guess.
“EEyup!” Scootaloo chuckled, putting the ring away in her bag. She looked up at the clock, gasping. “SHIT!! I'm gonna be late to pick her up!” she fell over in a panic.
“KID!! You’re gonna knock yourself out before even getting to her!” Rainbow spoke as she caught Scootaloo, smirking at her. “So, are you going to come to the festival tonight? That's when it’ll happen,” Scootaloo winked.
“Duh, I'm literally the head of airshows this year!” Rainbow smirked. “See you later, kid.”
The sky was lit dimly with stars, alongside the soft pastel hues from the sunset. Scootaloo raced to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres to attend the festival that Applebloom and her family had been preparing for months to throw. Her wings flapped as she ran to Applebloom to accelerate herself. “Bloomy!!” She shouted, running into Applebloom's arms joyously as she smooched her girlfriend's cheek. Applebloom smiled as she blushed softly, her face turning a soft red.
“Scoots!” she smiled. “I'm so glad ya made it, hon!” She started walking, approaching a concession stand filled to the brim with apple-based confections.
Scootaloo gasped. “Damn Babe! You really worked yourself to the bone to make all these, didn’t you?” Scootaloo spoke in awe, taking in the sweet scent of the apple-centered confections. Her brow furrowed in worry. “You know you could've asked me for help, right?” she gently caressed Applebloom’s cheek, smiling reassuringly.
“Yeahhhh,” Applebloom began, “BUT! I did it! And besides, you said you were busy this afternoon, ‘member that?” she tilted her head.
“OH! Yeah-yeah… haha! I did say that, didn’t I?” Scootaloo nervously flapped her wings a bit, looking away nervously.
“Scoot, you alright, darlin’—” Applebloom began, suddenly being interrupted by Sweetie Belle.
“HELLOOO!!” Sweetie shouted, stumbling into the festival clumsily with a cart of banners and flags. “A little help here!!” she shouted.
“OH! Shit, sorry Sweets!” Scootaloo bolted to Sweetie Belle, nervously laughing. “Hey!! Sorry, I was—”
“Sidetracked being concerned over your workaholic girlfriend?” Sweetie Belle interrupted.
“Soon to be fiance,” Scootaloo clarified quietly. Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up almost immediately.
“SOON TO BE WHAT?!?!” she squeaked loudly. Scootaloo quickly covered her mouth.
“SHHSHHSHH!!!” Scootaloo hissed, but suddenly snorted with laughter. “You still have that weird squeak yell that you had as a filly.” She restrained more laughter.
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes as she gently pushed Scootaloo off of her. “You’re gonna make a scene, Scoot, sheesh.” She dusted herself off as she looked at Scootaloo. “Do you think she’s ready? Do you think YOU’RE ready?” Sweetie Belle looked at her friend with sheer excitement, just as much as she looked at her with absolute concern. “You don't think you’re moving too fast, do you?” she continued as she got up, trotting to her cart and grabbing a single rolled-up banner, then proceeding to lift two more with her magic.
“Are you judging me?” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow as she followed Sweetie Belle.
“Now, I didn't say anything with the motive of being judgmental,” the unicorn added, as she began to trot over to another festival stand, setting one of the banners down.
“Then what vibe DID you mean to give with that?” Scootaloo followed in pursuit.
Sweetie Belle sighed in annoyance as she dropped her banner on the ground, slamming her hoof into the stand’s top. “Scootaloo,” she sighed in annoyance, “it shouldn't matter what I think, or say. If you feel like this is the right time to do this, then do it.” Sweetie Belle turned her head away from Scootaloo, sighing as her horn lit up to place one of the banners above one of the stands. “Now please,” she huffed, “let me do my job.” She levitated a hammer up as she started hammering a banner in place.
“I—fine,” Scootaloo snorted, angrily trotting off to the barn, shoving herself in through the two heavy doors as she walked into the dark barn. “Uhh, anypony in here? Or is this off-limits—” she nervously chuckled. The barn was dark, except for the slight evening sun beaming through the dingy and dust-tinted barn windows.
Applebloom sat upon one of the hay bales shoved way into the back of the barn. She giggled, watching Scootaloo wander in. “Trespassers are strictly forbidden! Go off before I shoot ya!” she shouted loudly, surprising Scootaloo as her wings popped up.
“FUCK—!! OH!! For Celestia’s sake, Apples… don’t do that!!” she hunched back, wiggling her hind legs like a cat as she leaped up, her wings flapping frantically to get up where Applebloom sat. The earth pony caught the pegasus before she could slip up and take a hard fall back to the ground.
She smiled at her, as her hat slightly slumped over on her head as she had leapt forward to catch her partner. “Gotcha,” she smiled, pulling Scootaloo up on the same bale, scooting over slightly so they both had an equal amount of room to sit.
“Are you nervous?” Scootaloo leaned to look at Applebloom.
“About?” Applebloom responded awkwardly.
“Y’know, the festival… your future…” Scootaloo looked ahead at the barn’s top window, the evening sunlight softly beaming on both of them as they sat up high.
“OH! Well... kind of. I MEAN!! I'm not scared to take on the duties of being an adult Apple family member now! AJ’s getting ready to retire soon, her legs aren't as sturdy as they used to be and well—” Applebloom stopped herself, swallowing as she got quiet. “...My future seems scary, yeah,” she rescinded sheepishly, then turned to look at Scootaloo, forcing an optimistic smile. “Well, what about you, huh?” she laughed a bit.
“Me?” Scootaloo blinked at Applebloom’s question, nervously looking away.
The earth pony chuckled. “Well,” she sighed, “you’re the only other pony in here with me, ain't ya?” she rolled her eyes lightheartedly.
“Oh, right.” Scootaloo looked away. “I… don't really know? Maybe help the ponies I cherish the most, y’know? Since I can’t well…” she flapped her wings, “fly.” She looked at the window, the silhouettes of birds flying outside shaded the window. The pegasus looked at her small satchel by her side, sighing. “Listen… I don't know where life will take me, and—I don't know what I'm destined to be in life,” she turned to Applebloom, gently grabbing her hoof as she looked into her eyes, “but I do know that I want to spend whatever life I'm meant to live with you by my side.” She lifted the satchel with her left wing, placing it to her visible left side as she gently placed Applebloom’s hoof down, pulling out a ring as she nervously spoke, her mouth
immediately growing dry. “Applebloom,”
Applebloom’s eyes widened. “YES!!” she tackled Scootaloo happily, holding her close as she buried her face into the pegasus’s soft neck. “YES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!” she sobbed happily.
“H-HONEY, I'M GONNA FALL!!” Scootaloo shouted as they both tumbled down, falling into a pile of shredded hay. Scootaloo’s head popped out, shortly after Applebloom’s did as well. They both looked into each other's eyes longingly as they kissed.
“GUYS COME ON!! RAINBOW DASH IS GOING TO PERFORM WITH THE WONDERBOLTS FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY!!!” Pinkie Pie immediately barged into the barn. Her face grew flustered as she spotted them sharing the moment. “OH!! MY BAD!! Do—do you guys want to be alone or—”
Applebloom chuckled, blushing deeply as she got up from the pile of hay. “No, no, we’re comin’! Just havin’ a little celebratory smooch is all,” she smiled to Pinkie, turning to her fiance who still sat in the pile of hay. “...You comin’, sugarcube?” She raised an eyebrow, smirking a bit as she giggled to herself.
“OH! Yeah! I'm coming!” Scootaloo got up, shaking off any extra hay that remained in her mane, following Pinkie and Applebloom.
The entirety of Sweet Apple Acres was full of ponies from everywhere in Equestria, as far as the eye could see. Twilight Sparkle walked up on stage, tapping her hoof on the microphone to call attention to the upcoming show.
“Hello, everypony! It's with great pleasure and excitement to announce that Sweet Apple Acres and I, the Princess of Friendship, hereby officially open the first annual Friendship Orchard Festival!” she joyfully shouted. “With a special performance by Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts, followed by an exclusive dance party sponsored by Sugarcube Corner and one of my great friends, Pinkie!” Twilight smiled. “There’s much more to announce, but without any further hesitation… THE WONDERBOLTS!!!”
Trumpets and loud drumrolls rumbled the ground as the sight and sounds of the flying fleet of ponies soared into the evening sky. Rainbow Dash led the front as her mane painted the sky with every swoop and dive she made. Scootaloo watched with awe as her idol and best friend took over the skies, other ponies admiring the acrobatic twists and turns the aerodynamic equines mustered to accomplish.
Rainbow Dash flew to the top, ahead of the other ponies as she exclaimed proudly, “HELLO EQUESTRIA!!” She swiftly dived down, as two other ponies followed pursuit, relaying rainbow sparklers in their mouths as extra eye candy. Rainbow Dash smirked, thinking to herself, “Now's time to set off the big finale…” she smirked, diving faster as she spun in a corkscrew-like maneuver, pulling a fuse under her Wonderbolt suit, which would deploy off of her once she hit a certain altitude.
Dash dived more, her eyes filling with sudden worry as she noticed the finale effect did not drop from her suit as planned during rehearsal. Her eyes opened with fear suddenly, as a spark ignited on her wings. “NONONO!!” Rainbow barreled out of the sky as her right wing began to engulf into flames, letting out an agonizingly horrid scream. The crowd grew quiet and fearful, murmurs and whispers began to rise into fear and terror as they witnessed Rainbow Dash’s wings completely engulf into flames. Pinkie Pie’s face grew with horror and disbelief as she backed away from the crowd, the balloons she had in her mouth floated away as she watched. Twilight's eyes widened as she spotted her friend’s wings completely burn, soon her body bursting into flames as she tunneled down to the festival below.
“RAINBOW!!! DEAR CELESTIA MY RAINBOW!!! SOMEPONY FUCKING DO SOMETHING, SHE’S FALLING! SOMEPONY HELP!! T-TWILIGHT!?!? FLUTTERSHY!?!? SOMEPONY FUCKING SAVE HER!!!” Applejack’s voice screamed from the crowd, shoving ponies away from her as she charged to where her wife was falling. “TWILIGHT SAVE HER!!! SAVE HER!!!!” she pleaded as she charged to the other side of the festival. Scootaloo stood there… her mouth agape. Everything went silent. The screams were faint, the scents were not there… Applebloom… where’s Applebloom?? She turned to look at her fiance, her face full of fear and terror, not hearing a thing, but only seeing her mouth move to say “SCOOT, WE HAVE TO GO—” Scootaloo turned from Applebloom, tears welling in her eyes as pure mayhem erupted. She started running towards where Applejack began to run to, her legs nearly falling over each other due to how hard she tried to catch up. “APPLEJACK!! APPLEJACK!!” Scootaloo charged forward. The pegasus kept running, she kept charging. The further she went...
The smokier it got...
The thicker the air got...
The more embers burning her skin and eyes...
Scootaloo felt her body come to a complete halt.
…there it was… their home. Where Applejack was born, where she spent her childhood playing with Applebloom. It was gone. Engulfed with flames and smoke, smaller explosions from the firework-like device crackled in the large fire that engulfed the acreage. The pegasus stood beside a broken Applejack, her body laying pressed against the cold dirt ground, her hooves and face buried, holding down a torn and scorched piece of Rainbow Dash’s uniform.
“No… NO!!!” Scootaloo charged past Applejack, charging into the fire. As she barely got in, a scorching foundation beam knocked Scootaloo down. The pegasus spotted Rainbow Dash, she weakly got up, dragging herself to her sister’s damaged body. “D-DASH…” she spoke hoarsely. “WE… GOTTA GO!” she nudged her, only to feel her skin melt onto her hoof. “NO!!! NONONONO!!! YOU CAN’T FUCKING LEAVE ME!!! DON’T LEAVE ME!!!” she screamed. “RAINBOW!!!!” she mournfully cried. Her voice felt as if it were being ripped from her body. Her flesh hurt… everything hurt… Scootaloo’s eyes weakly closed as she felt her body succumb to the heat and smoke, her body going unconscious.
“Fluttershy!!! THERE’S SOMEPONY IN THERE!!!” a faint voice yelled.
