When Scootaloo woke up, she hesitated to open her eyes. 'Maybe I can just lay here and sleep in...' was her first thought. However, as time rolled on, she felt herself becoming restless, despite the soreness that throbbed over her whole body.

Slowly, the young pegasus cracked an eye open and her first sight was her clock. 'Nine twenty-two? Wait...' Scootaloo's mind began to work faster as she became more awake and aware. "Crap! I'm late for school!" She attempted to leap out of her bed, but ended up getting caught in her blanket and falling to the floor with little grace. "Ow..."

The light throbbing had intensified after getting acquainted with the floor and Scootaloo grumbled quietly as she kicked the blanket off of her. After getting it off, the orange pegasus heard hoofsteps coming up the stairs. "Who-" She was cut off as the door opened and revealed the yellow animal care-giver.

"Are you alright? That sounded like quite the fall."

"Nothing I can't handle." Scootaloo said with a prideful grin and a slapping of her hoof on her chest. "Ahh..." The action brought along a fresh wave of pain and Scootaloo hissed. "Anyways...I gotta get to school. I'm WAY late!"

The orange pony attempted to walk past Fluttershy, but the older pony put a gentle hoof on her younger counterpart's chest and said, "It's alright. I already went and talked to your teacher. He gave me all the homework you'd have for today and wishes you recover soon." Scootaloo stopped and gawked at Fluttershy.

"R-really?"

Fluttershy nodded and said, "I figured that Rainbow Dash probably over-worked you, so I knew that you'd need a full day's worth of recovery."

"Wow...thanks Fluttershy."

The pegasus in question smiled warmly and said, "You're quite welcome. Now, whenever you're ready, I made you some breakfast." With that, the pink maned pony turned and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

"Wow...am I still dreaming? A day off from school to relax and a cute pegasus to care for me?" A dark blush ran up to Scootaloo's face as she finished the last sentence. "I mean a CARING pegasus. Yea...caring." She shook her head and headed out, holding in her breath as every step caused small waves of pain to rush up from her hooves. "I really need this break..."

After slowly making her way downstairs, Scootaloo headed into the kitchen to see Fluttershy humming as she made pancakes. "Wow...this looks amazing!" The orange flier said, getting herself into a chair and staring at the pancakes already made for her.

"Oh, thank you Scootaloo. A full tummy helps with the recovery. Plus, I couldn't have you complaining as we begin your light therapy."

"Therapy?" Scootaloo asked in confusion as she took a bite of the pancake (which was blueberry).

"Mhmm. If you overwork yourself, your muscles seize up and becoming restrictive due to all the acidic buildup. So, we have to ease them back to normal. While your body would do this anyway, I'm afraid it'd take more than an afternoon's worth of rest to fix it since she worked you so hard." Scootaloo nearly gagged at the sentence that left Fluttershy's mouth, a large blush showing on her face. "Are the pancakes too hot? I'm sorry."

"N-no, they're fine. I'm just a little hot is all." Scootaloo quickly went back to eating so to avoid further conversation. Fluttershy looked over her with concern before turning back to her own pancakes. As Scoots finished up her food, she looked up at Fluttershy, who had since sat down to eat her own food and asked, "Is it alright if I go take a warm bath?"

Much to her surprise, Fluttershy shook her head and said, "Not yet. If you bathe before your therapy, you'll be too tired to actually do it since the warm water will coax you to sleep. Sorry."

"It's alright. Guess I'll go...sit in the living room while I wait." Fluttershy nodded and continued eating. Scootaloo hadn't been sitting for more than two minutes before Fluttershy joined her.

"Alright, please lay down on your stomach." Scootaloo nodded and did as she was told, stretching her hooves out. She shivered lightly when she felt Fluttershy's hooves press down and began to massage and kneed the muscles that lay under her skin. Apart from the occasional sharp intakes of pained air, Scootaloo felt rather relaxed under the hooves of the care-taker.

"You should do this for a living. I'm sure Aloe and Lotus would love to have you work with them." Scootaloo said as Fluttershy was working with a particularly bad knot between Scootaloo's wings.

Fluttershy chuckled and said, "They've actually offered a job a few times...but I don't know. Working on ponies that I don't know seems kind of...strange for me."

"Ahh, because of your shyness?" Scootaloo didn't have to turn to know the older pony was nodding.

"Alright, how're you feeling?"

"Amazing!" Scootaloo went to stand, but she was held in place by a tender hoof.

"Now hold on. I still have some spots to cover, including your wings."

"Oh...alright." Scootaloo didn't know how to feel about another pony (other than her mother) touching her wings. Many pegasi didn't allow other ponies to touch their wings; including other pegasi. Unless of course the pony in question was special, usually only found in pegasus who were in a relationship.

As Scootaloo started to become lost in thought, she was quickly brought back to reality as she felt hooves skim over her flanks. Her head shot up and (despite the pain) turned her blushing face around to look at Fluttershy. "Hmm?"

"N-nothing." Scoots turned back around and laid back down, ignoring the heat in her face.

"Sorry if this makes you feel uncomfortable."

"It's alright. I just wasn't expecting you to massage my flanks and back legs is all." A light giggle was all Scootaloo heard as Fluttershy continued her work. Finally, Scootaloo felt Fluttershy's hooves hover near her wings.

"May I?"

"Mhmm." As soon as the lightest touch was felt, Scootaloo's body shivered in delight.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-yea. I just haven't ever had another pony touch my wings is all. It feels...strange. In a nice way I mean." Scootaloo heard nothing but instead was answered with actions. She felt the careful hooves of the older pony work on her wings and Scootaloo could've died at the moment and would've been perfectly content.

'Is this what it's like when you don't do it yourself? This is amazing! Plus, she's a pegasus herself so she definitely knows what she's doing. I bet doing this with Dash would be phenomenal!' Scootaloo thought happily. A strong shiver went through her body, as well as a wave of heat as she felt Fluttershy begin to preen her wings as well. "W-what are you doing?!" Scootaloo asked quickly, hoping to stop the older pony.

"I'm sorry...your wings just looked a little...haphazard so I thought I'd help and preen them for you."

"And I thank you but that's something I'd rather do myself." Scootaloo turned and was ready to apologize but saw Fluttershy nodding.

"I understand. You've never let another pony touch your wings so I imagine that it's a little...heated for you." Scootaloo had never blushed harder in her life as the implications of Fluttershy's words hit her. She saw that the yellow pony also had a blush on her face. "Sorry."

"I-it's fine. I'm uh...I'm gonna go take that shower now."

"Of course. I think I'll just go now. Hope you feel better." With that, Fluttershy turned to walk out and Scootaloo began her trek up the stairs, noticing that it was much easier and less painful to do so. However, a gasp and the sound of breaking glass made her rush back downstairs.

"What's wrong?" Scootaloo asked, surveying the scene. Fluttershy was standing next to a small corner stand, holding a frightened mouse in her hooves while a picture was face down on the floor, shards of glass littering the ground.

"I'm so sorry Scootaloo. I was going to leave but this poor little mousey bumped into the stand and the picture almost crushed him." Fluttershy explained as Scootaloo picked up the picture. The young pegasus's eyes glazed over for a moment as she stared at the picture. On it, Scootaloo's mom and Scootaloo displayed happy faces, despite the hidden pain in their eyes.

The rest of the picture was torn off. "Who else was in the picture?" A curious Fluttershy asked, looking at the picture as Scootaloo replaced it.

"My dad." Scootaloo's eyes hardened at the mention of her father figure, but said nothing else as she began to scoop up the glass to throw away.

"Oh...is he-"

"Gone? Yes, he is. Dead? Unfortunately not."

The expected gasp came and Fluttershy said, "What a terrible thing to say!"

Scootaloo turned and was about to scream, but after seeing the look of fear in Fluttershy's eyes, took a deep breath and said, "Sorry...but he's a bad pony."

"There's no such thing as a bad pony; only a pony who has made bad decisions." Scootaloo snorted and tossed the glass away.

"Then he made some pretty bad decisions." Before Fluttershy could ask what they were, Scootaloo said, "And no, I really don't want to talk about it. Now if you excuse me..." The orange pony walked past Fluttershy with cold eyes as she made her way back upstairs.

'I wonder what he did...' Fluttershy thought as she exited the house. 'It's really none of my business though.' With a sigh, the timid pegasus began her trek home.

Scootaloo sat in the warm water of her tub, a blank look on her face, but fury in her eyes. "Why can't you just stay gone?" She said, splashing her hoof down on her reflection, distorting it and subsequently splashing Scootaloo's face.

The mare sighed and continued to wash her body while trying to rid her mind of the resurfacing memories of her father. When she finished, she dried off and watched the water drain, swirling into the pipes. "Just like you." She said with a bitter tone. Scootaloo made her way back downstairs and into the kitchen to get a glass of juice.

However, halfway through the cup, she sighed. "I need to get my mind off of it...maybe I should go over to Roseluck's and explain why I wasn't there this weekend, maybe do some work to make up for it." Her plan set, the orange pegasus left her home and headed for the flower shop.

When she entered, the bell above the door jingled and a moment later, a very pale yellow pony with a mane and tail of two shades of red appeared behind the counter. "Oh, hiya Scoots. What can I do for ya?"

"I wanted to apologize for not coming to work this week-end. I was with training with Rainbow Dash so I could fly."

The earth pony chuckled and said, "And what, leave us down here on the ground? You wound me Scootaloo. But seriously, it's alright. I had Daisy cover your shifts, so you owe her. Go talk to her whenever you can and see when you can work for her."

"Alright. Is she here?"

"Actually, she is. She should be in the back with Lily." Scootaloo thanked the store manager and headed into the back. She was immediately swept away in the menagerie of scents that flowed into her nostrils. To most ponies, it would've been overwhelming and cause them to turn back.

To Scootaloo and the Flower Trio (as many ponies liked to call them), it was a step into a sort of paradise. Here among the many flowers, there was a strange sense of tranquility that could hardly been found anywhere in Ponyville. Roses, lilac, lavender, rosemary, tulips; all sorts of different flowers asked for attention with their colour and smells.

If Scootaloo wasn't on a mission, she would've stopped to smell some (and maybe take a small nibble on a few). However, the sound of laughter caused Scootaloo to move a little faster. In the back by the azaleas, she found Daisy and Lily, laughing over something only they knew. "Well well, what's up squirt?"

"Hey! I'm almost as big as you are!"

"Almost being the key word there." Scootaloo smiled and Daisy continued to speak. "So what's up?"

"I came to thank you for taking my shifts this weekend. I was preoccupied with learning to fly."

Daisy nodded and said, "Well...I was gonna chew you out, but I guess flying IS pretty important to a pegasus, so I forgive you...this time." The pony moved and ruffled Scootaloo's mane.

"And here I was about to ask you when I could work for you, but since you messed up my perfect mane..." Scootaloo teased, lightly combing her mane down.

Lily laughed and said, "Guess that means I'll have more time with Daisy here. Whatever shall I do?"

Daisy grinned and turned to her fellow pony and said, "I can think of a few things." before leaning in and kissing Lily. Scootaloo smiled and coughed into her hoof, breaking the two apart.

"Well, if you're serious...you can take my Wednesday and...Friday shifts. That sound good?" Scoots nodded and Daisy gave her a light pat on the head. "Good girl. Now run along before I snip at'cha!"

Scootaloo laughed and said, "Alright, grandma." Daisy's jaw dropped while Lily dropped to the floor in laughter. "What? You brought it upon yourself." Scootaloo explained as she headed back for the front.

As soon as Scootaloo crossed the threshold, Roseluck asked, "I take it from Lily's laughing that Daisy set herself up again?"

"Naturally." The two chuckled and Scootaloo told the florist when she'd be taking Daisy's shifts.

"Sounds good to me."

"Also, I was wondering if I could do some work today. That is, if you don't mind." Roseluck put a hoof to her chin in thought before speaking.

"Well...I SUPPOSE you could do some work. We've got a couple of deliveries that need taken care of. When you're done with those, come back and I'm sure I'll have some more for ya."

"Thanks Roseluck." The red-maned mare just waved the thanks away and went into the back to chew out the two other flower ponies for not working. After Scootaloo went home to pick up her scooter, she quickly stopped back by the shop, grabbed the deliveries and headed out.

Since Scootaloo had been all over town many times on her scooter, the mare knew the layout of the town like the back of her hoof as she expertly made her way to each destination. She usually took shortcuts and moved quicker, but today, Scootaloo decided to take it slow and made her way from place to place at a relaxed speed.

'It's almost weird...Ponyville looks...different at this speed.' The orange pony thought as she headed back to the flower shop. She parked her scooter outside and headed in.

"Wow...that actually took longer than it usually does. You not feelin' good?"

"Actually...I'm feeling really good. That massage really did wonders for me." Roseluck rose an eyebrow in questioning and Scootaloo made sure the other two ponies weren't around before speaking. "Yea. Rainbow Dash over-worked me while training- and yes, I got the same reaction-" Scootaloo had to stop and explain while Roseluck just snickered.

"So apparently, Fluttershy carried me all the way home and even stayed the night to help me this morning. When I got up, I was really sore and she gave me a massage or some kind of physical therapy, and I gotta say...I haven't felt this good in a long time."

"Well, it definitely shows I can tell ya that. You sure you don't like Fluttershy more than Dash?" Scootaloo gasped and put a hoof over the florist's mouth.

"Shhh! And yes I'm sure." Roseluck had been known to easily read other ponies and right now, she could sense a definite confusion coming from Scootaloo.

'Must be hard for her; admiring a pony and thinking that you love her for so long is gotta be tough. But maybe it's better this way...from the looks of it, she really likes Fluttershy.' While the pony wanted to speak her mind, she restrained herself. 'Not really my place to comment...for now.'

"Hello? Equestria to Roseluck, come in Roseluck." The pale pony snapped back to reality and looked down to see Scootaloo giving her a questioning look. "You alright?"

"Yea, just kinda zoned out there for a second. What'd ya say?"

"I asked what else you had for me to do."

"Oh! Well follow me and we'll see what we can find." So for the rest of the morning, Scootaloo helped out and did her part around the store. It wasn't until two ponies came that Scootaloo took a break.

"Mom? Twilight?"

"Scootaloo? What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?" Twilight asked, looking at the clock on the wall behind the younger pony.

"She's right. You shouldn't be out yet, it's only one-fifteen."

"Well..." Scootaloo quickly recounted her weekend to her mother, who had a deep frown by the story's end.

"Ooh that Rainbow Dash! Over-working my little Scoots like that. Why I oughta-"

"Mom! It's fine, really! It'll all be worth it." Her mother looked at her like she had grown a horn.

"Are you joking? She needs to go a little easier on you."

Scootaloo frowned and said, "But this is the best way for me to learn! Rainbow Dash is the best flier in Equestria! I'll be flying in no time if I stick with her."

Sky Dancer shook her head and said, "If I could give that mare a piece of my mind..." It was here that Twilight finally decided to remind mother and daughter that she was still present.

"What do you mean? Not that I'd advise shouting or fighting, but why can't you give her a piece of your mind?" Both Sky Dancer and Scootaloo looked down at the floor, but ultimately it was Sky Dancer who looked at the unicorn with a sad smile on her face.

"It's because I physically can't. While I may be a pegasus...my wings are merely for show anymore." Twilight gasped as Sky Dancer continued. "My wings were broken a long time ago...the result was that I could no longer use them. I'm pretty much just a glorified earth pony now."

"Oh my gosh...I'm SO sorry that I brought it up. I mean-"

"It's alright hun. I've come to peace with it so it really doesn't bother me much. I can still stretch them out, but I can never fly again."

Twilight nodded and said, "Either way, you have my condolences. I can't imagine what that would be like; to be able to soar through the skies and have it taken away in an instant...I guess it'd be like if I lost my horn." Twilight shuddered at the thought and said, "But really, I am sorry for bringing it up."

Sky Dancer chuckled and said, "Like I said, it doesn't really bother me much, but thanks nonetheless." The mother turned her gaze to her daughter and said, "Scootaloo...I want you to be careful with this Rainbow Dash mare, alright? I support your want to fly, but that doesn't mean you should go about doing it recklessly. Understand?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Sky Dancer just rolled her eyes and leaned over the counter to kiss her daughter's forehead.

"You take it easy alright?"

"Will do Momma. Love ya."

"I love you too." With a wave, the two adult mares walked out and left Scootaloo alone in the front.

"Did we have a customer?" Roseluck asked, poking her head out of her office.

"Nope. Just my mom and Twilight Sparkle."

Roseluck laughed and said, "No excuse! You should've at LEAST tried to sell them something."

Scootaloo saluted and said, "Yes ma'am!"

"At ease soldier!" Scootaloo lowered her hoof and Roseluck retreated back into her office, chuckling.

A few hours later, the door bell jingled, announcing the arrival of more potential customers. "Well hiya girls. Looking for Scoots?" The store owner asked a pair of mares; an earth pony and a unicorn. They both nodded quickly, making Roseluck laugh. "She's in the back tending to the lavender." The two thanked her and rushed past her. Scootaloo was, as Roseluck said, watering the lavender.

"Wonder if I can take some home? The lavender I've got is starting to wither..." The young pegasus wondered aloud before being attacked by her friends.

"Scootaloo!" They both cried in unison, causing Scootaloo to jump. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle laughed as Scootaloo tried to calm her thundering heart.

"Girls! That's not funny!" The pegasus angrily shouted as her friends were on the floor, laughing. When the laughter had died down and Scootaloo's heart resumed normal speed, the Crusaders demanded to know what happened to their third member. So for the third time that day, Scootaloo retold the events of her weekend (with the exception of the massage).

"Wow...so wait, you didn't come to school, but you're working?" Sweetie Belle asked, suspicion in her eyes. "That's because I took a warm bathe and had a nap. Besides, I'm still pretty sore, which is why I'm not doing as much today as I usually do. I mean, all I've done is drop off a few deliveries and water the flowers. This is cake compared to what I normally do." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, then back at Scootaloo.

"True. So when do ya get offa work?" The young Apple asked.

"I dunno. I just kinda came in and took over for Lily. Hey Rose?" Scootaloo shouted to the front.

"Yea Scoots?" The florist shouted back.

"When do you think I can leave?"

"Whenever you want. Technically you aren't on duty right now." Roseluck said.

"Does that mean I'm not getting paid?" Scootaloo was answered with a laugh.

"So is that a yes...or a no?" Apple Bloom asked, her confusion mirrored by her fellow Crusaders.

"No idea. Let's go find out." When the three had made it to the counter, Roseluck was nowhere to be seen and on the counter was a bag of bits.

"Thanks Rosey."

"I told you not to call me that!" The three Crusaders all screamed in surprise as Roseluck appeared from behind a set of hanging plants that were in the front of the store. "Heh, get outta here." The girls all rushed out, each one trying to catch their breath.

"Well...now what do we do?" Scootaloo asked.

"Umm...wanna go walking around until we find out what to do?" Sweetie Belle replied, shrugging.

"Normally, I'd be down for that. But today...I really don't wanna move around a whole lot."

"I got it! How about we go to the park and...um..."

"Relax and do homework?" Scoots suggested.

"Yea! That's perfect! C'mon girls, let's go!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, leading the Crusaders (after stopping by Scootaloo's house to grab the homework dropped off by Fluttershy). When they arrived, they easily decided that their spot was to be one that would supply shade for as long as they were there. After a quick argument, the trio decided to set up shop under the tree closest to the fountain.

When they were all comfortable, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom began to talk about their day at school while Scootaloo got to work on her homework.

"You should've heard Rumble. He was acting all high and mighty." Sweetie Belle got on her hindlegs and said in a deep voice, "I'm Rumble and I'm the best flier in our class." She finished with a deep frown, making the other Crusaders laugh aloud.

"Hiya girls! What'cha laughin' at?" The three looked over and saw Pinkie Pie with a snorkel sticking her head out of the fountain.

"Pinkie Pie? What're you doin' in the fountain?"

"I asked first."

The trio smiled and Scootaloo answered, "Sweetie Belle was imitating a bullheaded pony in our class who thinks he can fly better than anyone in our class."

"What a meanie! You're gonna show him your stuff when you learn how to fly like Dashie, right Scootaloo?"

"Of course! Now then...what ARE you doing in the fountain?"

"Oh, I'm searching for sunken treasure of course!" With a grin, the pink party pony replaced the snorkel and dove back into the water. Out of curiosity, the three ponies walked over and peered into the depths of the fountain to see a faint pink dot moving around like it was swimming around the bottom.

"There's no way...I mean, the fountain can't be that deep...right?" Scootaloo asked her fellow Crusaders.

"I'm just gonna chalk that up to Pinkie...bein' Pinkie." Apple Bloom said, moving away from the fountain.

"Agreed." Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said in unison as they too backed away from the strange fountain to continue their work. After awhile, the three took a break, leaving their spot to venture out for ice cream.

Luckily, a pony was smart enough to set up a small stand in the park selling the treat and it didn't take long for the Crusaders to return, each with a cone of ice cream precariously balanced in their hooves or mouth. The trio ate the frozen treats, laughing as they talked of various things ranging to the future, their past adventures, as well as their present lives.

Sadly, the coming of dusk caused them all to part ways, each saying good-bye as they all headed for their homes. When Scootaloo arrived, she unlocked the door and just before she could close it behind her, a voice called out to her. "Hey, squirt!"

"Rainbow Dash?" The cyan pegasus landed in front of the door and grinned, pushing herself inside.

"So were've you been hiding all day? I couldn't find you at school or anywhere."

"Yea...I was taking a rest day."

Rainbow frowned and said, "A rest day?"

Scootaloo could feel the shame that Dash was trying to place on her and said, "Yes. I mean...I want to be awesome like you, but you've been flying pretty much your whole life and me..."

"Well...I suppose that's true. Very well, I'll allow you the occasional rest day. But don't get too used to the idea. If you wanna be the best, you have to train like the best." Scootaloo nodded and watched as Rainbow headed into the kitchen. "You got anything to eat?"

Scootaloo nodded and walked in, trying hard not to stare at the way Rainbow's flanks seemed to dance as she went from counter to counter, searching for sustenance. The orange pony nearly jumped back when a rainbow coloured tail gently swished against her muzzle.

"My bad Scoots." Dash said with a tone of playfulness. Scootaloo's face immediately lit up with heat as implications ran through her mind like ponies participating in the Running of the Leaves.

"I..er..." Rainbow Dash laughed and grabbed a pair of apple chips before digging into them.

"Well...I have decided that if I'm going to be your personal trainer, I'm going to be staying here with you." Scootaloo nearly dropped at the sentence.

"W-what?! I don't think I can-"

"I'll sleep with you in your room." Scootaloo tried to say something, but all that came out was random noises. She went from looking at Rainbow's flanks, to staring at her carpet, then nothing but darkness.

Author's Note

Yay for internet!

Quick Edit: I believe that I'll be back home (to stable internet) around...the 9th or 10th so...yea. I'll have a chapter for you ponies by then to celebrate my return...or whatever you wanna call it XD