The Wonderbolts flew high in the sky in the Cloudsdale Colosseum. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo watched in awe as they performed amazing tricks that probably took months of training. After the camping trip, Rainbow realized that Scootaloo really looked up to her, so she took her under her wing and became her mentor.

"Thanks for taking me to the air show, Rainbow Dash," said Scootaloo.

"No problem kid," said Rainbow Dash slowly. She was watching the other ponies leave the stadium. Many parents were there with their kids, and a lot of them were Scootaloo's age. And most of the kids, even the ones younger than Scootaloo, were flying. Isn't that kid at the age where she should be flying? I started flying before I was her age. In fact, almost everyone in my class started flying before then, too she thought.

"Come on, Rainbow Dash, let's go! I need to tell the other Crusaders all about this!" Scootaloo hopped on Rainbow's back, and off they went back to Ponyvile.

After dropping Scootaloo off, Rainbow stopped at Twilight's library. She did need the next book in the Daring Do series, but she thought she should do a little research, too.

"Hello, Rainbow Dash," said Twilight happily. "Are you here to get another Daring Do book?"

"Yeah, I need the fourth one now. I need to know what happens next!"

"Glad you're enjoying them! Here you go," said Twilight, handing her the book.

"Thanks," said Rainbow. "Um, hey Twilight? Can I also do a little research while I'm here? If you don't mind."

"Research? Sure, what for?"

"Oh, I was at an air show today and they talked a little about the history of the Wonderbolts. I just want to know more about how they came to be."

"Okay! I'm pretty sure I have a book on that somewhere, so I'll leave you to look for it. I'll be upstairs if you need me." Twilight walked upstairs into her room and read her book. Usual Twilight, thought Rainbow. Now, I once saw a book in here on the life cycle of a Pegasus. Where was it?

Several books and an hour of researching later, Rainbow finally found the book she needed. The Life of a Pegasus Pony, read Rainbow Dash. She skimmed until she found what she needed. Some pegasi learn to fly earlier than others, but all pegasi should be able to fly by the age of nine. "But isn't Scootaloo ten?" Rainbow said aloud. She read on: If they aren't able to fly by age nine, they have a serious condition called...

Rainbow gasped in horror and dropped the book.

"What's wrong?" said Twilight, coming downstairs. But Rainbow had already left, flying to her cloud house with the book clutched in her hooves.

Rainbow read the words over and over again. It can't be true. Scootaloo's probably fine. your just imagining things.

But thinking back, she noticed something. This past weak, she did look a little weary. Usually when they hang out, Scootaloo has tons of energy. But lately, she's been getting lazier. Rainbow just thought she was getting older. But it seems like that may not may not be the case.

"Stop imagining the worst possible things, Rainbow!" she shouted to herself. "But what if the kid's not fine? Maybe I should get her checked out." she looked outside. "I guess it'll have to wait until tomorrow though. Today's forecast was supposed to be cloudless, and look at it! i guess I'll have to go do some weather jobs."

The next day at the CMC clubhouse, Scootaloo was telling all about the Wonderbolts air show to her friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

"And after Soarin did all those barrel rolls, Spitfire came up and flew directly above the audience, it was almost as if i could reach up and touch her!"

"That sounds like fun, Scootaloo," said Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah, seems like you had a great time," said Applebloom. "I would love to hear more, but I think we should start our crusading, don't you think?

"Okay," said Scootaloo, slightly disappointed. She knew that Applebloom was the most eager to get her cutie mark, but she really wanted to tell about the grand finale of the show. "So, what are we going to do today to get our cutie marks?"

"Well, I was thinking," said Applebloom, "No one ever uses that soccer field near the school house, why don't we try and discover our special talents in pony soccer?"

"Sounds great! Let's go!" said Sweetie Belle.

The walk over to the athletic fields seemed longer then usual, and Scootaloo was pretty tired when they got there. She noticed that she hasn't had as much energy as usual, but she thought it was probably because she never gets enough sleep. but even though she's going to bed earlier, each day she seems to be getting weaker.

"Scootaloo! wake up!" shouted Sweetie Belle with a soccer ball under her hoof. "Let's play!"

Since there was an odd number of ponies, they decided that the first game will be Sweetie Belle versus Scootaloo. It was an interesting game, until the end. The score was tied. Scootaloo has the ball, and was dribbling it toward the goal. It seemed like she would make the winning shot. But Sweetie Belle was on her tail, and Scootaloo suddenly felt light headed. Scootaloo was determined that she would win, but she was getting weaker by the second.

Rainbow Dash was flying towards the soccer fields, like Applejack said Scootaloo should be. But she quickly stopped in her tracks. She knew right then that Scootaloo was not going to be fine after all. She stared in horror at two fillies gathering around an orange pegasus lying in the middle of the field, barely moving.

"Oh, Celestia, why..." Rainbow said to herself. She was pacing back and forth at the Ponyville Urgent Care waiting room. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were there, along with their sisters. Applejack was whispering something to Applebloom, but Rainbow couldn't hear. Sweetie Belle, on the other hoof, was crying her eyes out while Rarity attempted to comfort her. Just shut up! thought Rainbow Dash. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for the white filly. She was one of Scootaloo's best friends, after all. Rainbow started to have a conversation with herself.

"It's going to be fine, Rainbow, just stay calm. But what if it's not fine? It's all your fault! You should have warned the kid! No, stop thinking like that. Just think happy thoughts. It's going to be fine...."

"Could I please see a parent or guardian of Scootaloo?" a doctor had suddenly appeared.

"Why don't you go, RD?" said Applejack. "I know you love her like a sister." There were tears in her eyes.

The doctor took Rainbow Dash down a long hallway. At the end of the end of the hallway was a door. "She's in there," said the doctor.

"Please, let me see her," cried Rainbow, trying to open the door, but the doctor stopped her.

"Wait. I should tell you something first." The doctor looked directly in Rainbow's eyes. "Scootaloo... she has-"

"Wing cancer. I know." Rainbow looked like she was going to burst into tears.

The doctor was shocked. "How do you know this?" he asked

Rainbow sighed. "Yesterday, I noticed something. We were at a Wonderbolts air show and I realized that the other kids at the stadium were flying. A lot of them were younger then her. So I did a little reading, and that's when I figured it out." She was crying now.

The doctor put his hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "It's okay. There is a chance that she will survive."

"A chance? That doesn't help at all!" Rainbow screamed. "Just let me see her!" The doctor restrained the blue Pegasus from opening the door.

"One last thing." He hesitated. "She's asleep right now. She is also in a very serious condition. It might be a little... overbearing."

"Okay," said Rainbow. She calmed herself, and braced herself for the worst possible thing. But when he opened the door, Rainbow knew that the worst possible thing wasn't enough to brace herself for. It was worse than the worst.

Tubes. Lots of tubes. And machines. Rainbow Dash stared in shock at all the equipment. All of it was attached to Scootaloo in the worst way possible. She had a breathing mask on her face, a tube coming out of her arm, and a few other things. But the worst part was her wings. Countless tubes were coming out of them, all connected to the big, beeping machines. Every time Rainbow looked at it, she cringed. At least Scootaloo was sleeping peacefully. Looking at her and not the tubes, it almost seemed like nothing was wrong.

"She'll probably wake up soon," said the doctor quietly. "Maybe you'll get a chance to talk to her."

Rainbow didn't say anything. All she could do was stare. She wanted to cry and scream and be angry, but couldn't. She just stared in disbelief. But she did find something to say, "Will she ever be able to fly?"

"I'm afraid not," said the doctor. "But she's lucky to be alive."

Now Rainbow got angry. "Lucky to be alive? What's that supposed to mean?" she screamed. Then she hesitated. She suddenly spoke slowly and quietly. "Is she... going to die?"

Slowly, the filly's eyes opened. They looked weak at first, but then became wide with fear. The doctor noticed this and left the room without saying anything. He probably wanted to leave us alone. Rainbow thought. She didn't mind.

Scootaloo's eyes, still filled with fear, searched the room. The poor kid must be scared to death. Eventually they met Rainbow's eyes, and they stared at each other for a second.

"Rainbow Dash?" she said. "Is that you? What happened? All I remember was a soccer game, and then everything went black."

Rainbow managed a smile. "Hey kid. It's going to be fine. trust me." She didn't know if she should tell her about the cancer or not. It's probably best not to tell her now.

"Is it?" she started to freak out. "Am I in the hospital? What happened to me? Am I going to die?" Then she noticed her wings and freaked out even more.

Rainbow forced herself to stay calm. "Yes, you're in the hospital. Don't worry, you're just a little sick. You should be out soon. Then we can hang out, okay?"

Scootaloo knew it wasn't going to be fine. She knew something was wrong with her, but what? Rainbow Dash obviously knew but wasn't going to tell her. She only had one question: Am I going to die? Instead she asked something else. "Can I talk to my friends?"

Rainbow smiled again. "Of course."

After leading Scootaloo's friends into the room, Rainbow rushed to find the doctor. She had suddenly remembered what she asked before. She couldn't believe he didn't answer! What a jerk. Luckily the doctor wasn't far away from the room. Frantically, Rainbow flew into him, startling him. Before he could speak, Rainbow asked the question. "Is she going to live?"