Rainbow dash opens the door to her house high above the lamps of Ponyville, it’s been some time since she has stayed in her own house. The last time she remembers being at her house was before she got her letter for the wonderbolts academy. She usually slept where ever she was needed at the time. She was tired, to think about it, she was always tired. And she was a very busy pony. She had taken naps in trees, on clouds, and her old room when she would visit her father, which always made her feel like a little filly. That was a feeling she didn’t particularly care for. As rainbow closes the door to her house and tosses her saddlebag aside, a familiar smell hits her nose, the smell of rain. The pitter patter of the rain on and around her cloud was music to her ears. She searches for the clock she had on the wall, upon finding it she is slightly surprised it is still working. She utters the words, “right on schedule” to herself, and continues her march to her room.

In her room she is once again surrounded by familiar sights and sounds that put her at ease. Among her favorite possessions is the photo she has of spitfire in her uniform, signed by spitfire as well. The photo simply reads, “Never give up on your dreams- Spitfire” Rainbow was particularly proud of it for two reasons, one it was the first wonderbolt show her dad had taken her to, and second because she had confided in spitfire her desire to be where she was one day, as Capitan of the wonderbolts. Rainbow remembered the look in spitfires face as she said, “I’ll be waiting for the challenge, squirt” followed by her signing the photo and releasing a slight giggle.

A knock came to the door, shaking rainbow from her state of remembrance. As she walked to the door she called out, “I’ll be there in a second” and upon reaching the door she again speaks, genuinely curious she asks, “Who is it?”

A small excited voice on the other side of the door yelling over the rain replies, “Dash you know who I am, open the door! I have a surprise for you!”

Instantly recognizing the voice rainbow expectantly opens the door, and there in the doorframe is a tired and soaked Scootaloo.

Rainbow quirks her head to the side and asks, “You flew all the way here by yourself?” and continues to say, “I see your wings are getting stronger” she gives Scootaloo a smile and finishes with, “You shouldn’t have come during a storm, it can be dangerous, but you’ve got spunk kid. Now get in here it must be freezing out there.”

With that Scootaloo entered the house and sat her bags on the floor, she asked if she could have a towel. Rainbow obliged and helped Scootaloo dry off, taking extra care on her wings to make sure she didn’t damage any feathers. Scootaloo had come all the way from Ponyville to bring her a gift, as she wondered what she had brought her Rainbow takes note of how the young pony is trembling. Concerned she asks, “Hey, are um, are you ok scoots?”
Confused by the question Scootaloo faces rainbow and says, “Yea? Why wouldn’t I be?” a bright smile covers her entire face, which forces a snicker out of Rainbow

“Because you are shaking” After speaking Rainbow could tell the young mare had no idea that she was if fact shaking, which led her to believe that it was the result of an adrenaline rush. “Flying feels pretty good after being stuck on the ground for so long, doesn’t it?”

Not being entirely sure on what was meant by the question Scootaloo replies, “Well, from town hall to your house is the farthest I’ve ever flown by myself, my wings are sore and it feels like they are on fire, but I can’t wait to go and do it again! It feels strange to touch the ground again after I’ve been in the air for a few minutes, and these clouds are so soft! Man have I been missing out.”

Rainbow laughs at Scootaloo’s remarks, and motions for her to sit with her. As she plops down next to Rainbow her laughter dies down a bit and she tells Scootaloo, “Why do you think I hover off the ground so much?” the chuckles get the better of her for a moment and as they trail off she continues, “And that sore burning feeling is the one you get when your wings are getting stronger! The more you fly, the less that will happen, but it will always feel just as good. We are pegasi after all; we’re supposed to be in the air.”

Scootaloo giggles for a moment, and suddenly gasps, as she gets up and moves quickly for her bag she yells, “I almost forgot!”

“Almost forgot what you silly filly?” says Rainbow as she sticks her tongue out at her guest. Rainbow had already known full well what it was that Scootaloo had forgotten, her “gift” as she had put it earlier. She had come to be almost envious of the filly; she remembered how good it felt to fly for the first time. However, what she was most jealous of was the fact that scoots could come see her whenever she wanted, yet for her she had only been able to see spitfire on rare occasion. And when she saw spitfire they never got to talk for long. Rainbows thoughts are disolved as Scootaloo breaks the silence.

“I left your present in my bags!” the small flier half ran half flew across the room, holding an object in her mouth. It was wrapped in paper and it read, “To the best flier in Equestria”

The writing had caught the mare off guard, feeling slightly embarrassed her ears went back a bit and her cheeks flared red with a sheepish smile to hide her thoughts. Her expression quickly changes upon seeing what this filly had found for her. It was a limited production run of the newest daring do novel. Paper on the floor, book in hoof, and surprise in her eyes she asked, “Where did you get this? I couldn’t even get this…you have to tell me.”

Scootaloo takes a deep breath and explains to Rainbow that the reason she could not find one, is because Scootaloo had waited by the mailbox of Twilights tree for it to arrive. She had known about the books for weeks, and was intent on being the first with a copy, not to read it herself, but to give it to Rainbow. Only one copy came, so she spoke to twilight, and managed to secure the book for herself. She asked that Twilight not tell the cyan pegasus that she had it, or that one had even come in, so she could surprise the one it was being gifted to.

Being impressed with the growing filly’s abilities rainbow makes a playful remark, “well aren’t you just sneaky” now more serious, “But why did you get this for me?”

“That’s an easy one! You taught me how to get off the ground!” exclaimed the bouncing filly, excited to know her idol had liked the gift. Her bouncing stops momentarily, just long enough for aloud gasp to escape, “Do you think we could read it together?!”

Not being quite sure if that was even possible Rainbow began to ask questions, “Wouldn’t your paren….” Realizing what she was about to say she paused and rephrased her question, “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
“Today is Friday!” replied the eager filly with a smile.

Rainbow thought for a moment and a question popped into her head, “Where do you stay at night scoots?” the worry showing through in her tone.

“I stay where I am welcome” Scootaloo said with a smile, “Mostly with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle!” she paused, and with slight agitation asked again, “Can we read the story now?”

A familiar fire rose in Rainbow’s eye as she spoke, “Sure, I’ll read it with you, on one condition..”

“What condition?” Scootaloo asks

With a smirk the older mare says, “Since you can fly up here by yourself now, why don’t you just stay here? I never use the place, and it’s better for you to be inside at night scoots.”

A silence settled over the two, the only thing making noise the clock in the background, and the ever so shallow noise of a breath being inhaled by the awe struck filly. All her days of being without a true home, of staying at friend’s houses, all laid to rest by the one mare she looked up to the most. With the silence becoming awkward, and Scootaloo’s eyes widening to the point they were watering, she finds the energy to speak. Try as she might, she is only capable of a whisper, “yes”

“What was that scoots? I didn’t hear you..” Rainbow spoke as she leaned in closer to hear.

With a burst of volume and excitement Scootaloo yelled at the top of her lungs, “OH MY GOSH YES!! You mean it?! I can stay?! Where do I sleep?! Will you sleep here too?!?!?” taking in another breath she starts to speak again, “Are we going to…grrudusn kshfkgh” her voice being muffled as a hoof is shoved into her mouth.

Rainbow takes advantage of this moment to let a laugh escape,” I’ll be taking that as a yes” her laughter fading to a smile. ”To answer your questions, yes you can stay, you can have the guest bedroom, and I will most of the next few weeks. I have final tryouts for the wonderbolts in about a month, and since I’m the manager of the weather team, I took the time off to train. Now, let’s read this book shall we?” Rainbow gestures for Scootaloo to get comfy next to her so she can begin to read. The filly does as desired, and waits expectantly for rainbow to start.

The two sit well into the night reading, laughing at moments, needing to explain jokes to Scootaloo. As rainbow read it was almost hard for her to keep her eyes on the book, the look on Scootaloo’s face being much too entertaining. The orange pegasus was pushing herself to stay awake so she could hear the rest of the story. However, at the top of the stories action, Rainbow again looked at Scootaloo, only to see she was steadily drooling on the couch. Looking at the clock she decided she would finish the book in silence and reread it when Scootaloo woke. She didn’t want to move for fear of waking the sleeping filly, and she looked so happy.

As she read the conclusion to the story, daring do escaping with the prize as she always does, she sees the authors rendition of daring. She is surprised and excited to find out she looks just like daring do. She thinks what an amazing coincidence, I wonder if I can send fan-mail to him. She turns to the back page of the book to look at the author’s bio, and contact information. Upon reaching the page a familiar array of colors catch her eye, and doing a double take she sees that behind the author in his photo, is a very familiar face, “Dad?” Rainbow whispers quietly. She reads the quote under the photo, curious of its origin. All it says is, “This story would not have been a reality without the help of Roy G. Biv, my partner in crime if you will, he helped me forge a great deal of what is technically the first book in my series. I hope this clarifies any loose ends from the novels and increases your enjoyment of them”

Rainbow looks up from the book, down at Scootaloo who is still asleep, and then back at the book. She asks herself a prying question, “Why wouldn’t my dad have told me about this?” Her question asked in vain as there is no one there to answer.

Author's Note

Format fixes for everypony!! XD

If you guys like it, thanks! if not, tell me why, and maybe i will write another.

Thanks to my friends Jaydee, Mastercheap,Fralor, and Spitfire for the kick in the pants, proofreading, and feedback on the initial idea C: