One could say that Ponyville is a sanctuary. Another could say that Ponyville is a place for discovering one’s hopes and dreams. Scootaloo was a young Pegasus, beautiful and unique in her own ways. She had no Mother or Father to help her along. Her friends were always there for her, but her depression often outweighed their efforts. Her nights were spent alone with no pony to comfort her. Happiness was only found when she thought of her one dream coming true, to fly as high as the sky would let her. She wanted nothing more than to be like her hero, Rainbow Dash. It was a dream that could not be made a reality however.
A few months ago, Rainbow Dash had taken Scootaloo to see a doctor about the development of her wings. Memories of that day haunted Scootaloo relentlessly.
“Ms. Dash, can you step outside with me for a moment?” the doctor had asked. The doctor closed the door behind him so Scootaloo wouldn’t overhear their conversation.
“How are her wings gonna be, doc?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I am sorry Ms. Dash. She umm…she’ll never get to fly I am afraid. You see, her wings are not able to…”
“What do you mean she’ll never get to fly?!” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “There has to be something you can do about it, right?”
“I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do for her here.” He responded. “There are surgeons in Canterlot who could help, but her parents would…”
“That’s enough...thank you for your time doctor.” Rainbow Dash had reentered the room to find Scootaloo in tears. She had overheard their conversation.
“Come on Scoots; let’s head to Sugar Cube Corner for some ice cream. That should help you feel a little better.” Rainbow Dash walked over and laid her wing over Scootaloo for comfort. Scootaloo quietly sobbed as the two walked to Sugar Cube Corner, but eventually spoke.
“I’m sorry for being a waste of time, Dash…”
Rainbow Dash paused. “Don’t say that. You are special Scootaloo, don’t let anypony tell you otherwise. I don’t care what anypony says, you’re awesome kid!”
“But…I’ll never get to fly like you. I’ll never get to help with the weather or even go to Cloudsdale. I’m just a waste of space to everypony. Why do I even need to live?” Scootaloo had begun to breakdown. “Why Dash? Can’t I just go away? I don’t need to be a waste of anypony else’s time. I’m worthle…”
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash grabbed Scootaloo and held her close. Tears dripped from Rainbow Dash’s cheek onto her back.
“No, you’re wrong. I have faith Scoots that you will fly one day, I know it. I am not gonna give up on you Scootaloo, so don’t you go giving up on me…”
Rainbow Dash stood back up, wiped her eyes, and smiled.
“Come on kid, let get going!” She said.
“Sure thing Dash!”
Deep inside Scootaloo knew that she would never get to be like her beloved Rainbow Dash. Consuming thoughts of her never getting to fly plagued her. One night, Scootaloo’s heartache had bested her. The pain led her into the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, where her dream would finally come true.
The next morning was lively, unlike Scootaloo. The spring season was giving of life, yet her body was not tolerant of it. The previous night, she had climbed to the highest rafter of the barn. The rope she brought up with her would serve as her wings. It cradled her gently, never letting her touch the ground once. Even in the end she could only hover, but she hovered higher than ever before. Scootaloo’s gaze was fixated toward sky, the place where she wanted to be the most. Big Macintosh would be the first to discover her body. He was kind enough to climb up and bring her down before his little sisters saw. On the barn floor he found her Cutie Mark Crusaders cape and a note that portrayed her final thoughts. The note was a poem.
My life is a waste, so my soul I will take.
Forgive me my friends, for your hearts I must break.
I have no place here, no family to call my own.
I can see a paradise there, a place that I can call home.
When I leave this world, there is an adventure to be had.
I must go on a quest, to find my mom and my dad.
Where I go, I can not say.
But in my thoughts, my loved ones will stay.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie belle, forgive me my friends.
But on this day, my cutie mark search ends.
I’ll remember our adventures, the great times we had.
I won’t forget you, so please don’t be sad.
There is somepony else I know, she always helped me cope.
She gave me a reason to try, and to never lose hope.
She is colored like the sky, with eyes of rose.
She is the fastest in Equestria, that anypony knows.
This rope will be my wings, and this time I’ll try.
This time Rainbow Dash, I promise I’ll fly.
All I want is my dream to become true.
Goodbye everypony, I’ll miss you.
The note’s ink was smeared with moisture from what appeared to be Scootaloo’s tears. Surely this was not a fate that one so young was willing to bear.
Later that morning, the news had been spread around Ponyville. Her funeral was arranged to be held that evening. Scootaloo’s suicide was an upset to the town. Everyponies hearts all filled with grief as they thought back to her young smiling face. The torment that her friends had to endure was horrendous. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had made the decision to take down their Cutie Mark Crusader tree house. Searching for their cutie marks had became pointless to them without Scootaloo being there. The tree house would only be a reminder of their best friend and the memories they all shared. When Rainbow Dash received the news, she was quiet. Rainbow Dash sat and stared off into the sky, silently scorning herself for not being there for Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash didn’t fly anymore for the rest of the afternoon.
Once the evening came, the funeral took place. Many ponies had come to give their final farewell to Scootaloo. They had begun to walk by her casket, one by one. Each pony had a loving memory of her, especially her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders. Once Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approached the coffin, they laid their capes inside next to Scootaloo.
“It ends with you Scootaloo, we can’t go on…without…” Sweetie Belle wept.
“Goodbye Scootaloo, we here are gonna miss y’all…” Apple Bloom said. The two fillies saluted to her one last time and made their way to their sisters.
Rainbow Dash had approached the coffin last. She had seen the red indentation around Scootaloo’s neck where the rope was. Looking upon it made Rainbow Dash quiver, but still managed to find the words she wanted to speak.
“You are gonna fly kid. I bet that you will fly higher and faster than you could ever dream. I hope that you find all the peace you want in the next life. Don’t worry, I’ll never think differently of you. You will always be my little hero. Rest well Scootaloo…goodbye.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t continue to speak any further.
She made her way past Scootaloo’s casket with a heart full of sorrow and guilt. A group of other ponies had come to lower her casket into the ground. The crowd watched silently as it was settled into the dirt below and buried. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked over to Rainbow Dash and handed her Scootaloo’s Cutie Mark Crusader cape; they knew that Scootaloo would want her to have it the most. Rainbow Dash took the cape and held it close to her, like she did Scootaloo the day of the doctor visit. The mayor of Ponyville stepped forward to say a few words on Scootaloo’s behalf.
“Today we all gather to remember a beautiful filly who was taken from us far too early on. Scootaloo never let fear detour her from the goal of achieving her cutie mark. Despite how she left this world, we all must remember that it was her wish to go. The best we can all do is hope that she finds what she is searching for on the other side. Not even death can stop her from achieving her dreams. Let everypony hold dear the memory of young Scootaloo. I ask of you all a moment of silence.” With the silence came pain and agony in everyponies heart.
Once the sun had begun to set, everypony left to head home. However, there was one that decided to stay. Rainbow Dash sat by Scootaloo’s grave looking upon her tombstone. She gripped onto Scootaloo’s cape and then looked up into the night sky.
“That’s right Scoots, you are going to fly.” Rainbow Dash opened her wings and shot into the air. She flew as fast as she could, clutching Scootaloo’s cape tight in her arms.
“And we’re going to do it together!” she said as turned and nose-dived downward. Impossible speeds were reached as Rainbow Dash’s body cringed with agony; the pain didn’t slow her once. As she reached her peak speed, an explosion came from the air. The explosion held a rainbow of colors, all echoing into the night sky. It was beautiful, surely the most elegant Sonic Rainboom she had ever created. The townsfolk all looked outside to see a rainbow hanging over the graveyard. Everypony knew who was responsible for it. The sight of the rainbow brought ease to their hearts on such a mournful day. Rainbow Dash flew over to a nearby cloud and sat upon it. She gripped Scootaloo’s cape tighter as she began softly cry.
“I can see all of Ponyville from here Scoots. I wish that you could be here to see it too. You know, you have always been like a sister to me. I’m so sorry for not being there for you more. I didn’t care what the doctor said that day; I still would’ve never given up on you. I wish…that you were back here though.” Rainbow Dash wiped her tears and flew back down to Scootaloo’s grave. Rainbow Dash had decided to lie down next to Scootaloo’s grave. Her cape was still tight within her arms.
“You won’t be sleeping alone tonight, Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash felt a familiar warm presence in her arms. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who or what was there.
“Goodnight little sister, sweet dreams.”
“You too, Rainbow Dash.”
Author's Note
I would like to thank my good friend Dormagio for helping me edit this story and motivating me to write. I hope that everyone enjoys this story better than my first one ^_^ I am always open to criticism as well, just tell me what you think.
