The sun had long ago fallen below the horizon, and the cool air of night-time had washed over the land. All throughout the sky, there were signs of Princess Luna’s good and busy work, with twinkling stars and a bright full moon lighting the way in the absence of the sun. The land it shone on in particular was the vast woodland near to the region known as Rainbow Falls, a magnificent sight that drew in tourists from all over Equestria for its great beauty. However, it was what was taking place further down the mountain path that truly deserved notice, as a cyan Pegasus, Rainbow Dash, was frantically darting through the skies, a look of intense worry plastered all over her face. Her eyes darted left and right in a clear display of trying to look for something, or somepony. However, even with the moon as bright as it was, it was difficult to see anything in the darkness of the night. Stopping for a moment, Rainbow looked back, seeing, far away, the campsite where she and her friends had been sleeping for most of the night. It was in the entrance to a dark cave, and within, Rarity, Applejack, and their sisters, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, were all resting peacefully. But for Rainbow, there was no rest to be had. Not yet. Not until she'd done what she'd set out to do.

Worry gripped her heart as the moments passed, and she once more found herself darting through the skies, looking down as best she could to find the one she was trying so desperately to locate. In time, her eyes widened, as she'd finally found who it was she was looking for; the pegasus filly, Scootaloo. However, Rainbow’s expression swiftly turned to one of fear, as she realised that the young filly was not in any way safe, but rather being carried by the strong force of the nearby river. Turning her eyes slightly, Rainbow let out a gasp when she saw that the river in question was leading to a waterfall just a short distance away. She spoke no words, but merely sprang into action, narrowing her eyes and zipping down as fast as her wings could carry her. In mere moments, the cyan pegasus was within reach of Scootaloo, and she stretched out her hooves and scooped her up out of the river, flying high and finding a nearby hill to land the two of them safely on. Now back onto solid ground, Scootaloo tried her best to shake off the water she'd been doused with in the river, all while Rainbow looked to her with concern. The young filly, seeing the older pegasus look to her, couldn't bring herself to look her in the eyes, much to Rainbow's confusion. It was almost as if she was afraid to look at her, which prompted Rainbow to finally speak up.

"Scootaloo?! What were you thinking, going out in the middle of the night like that?! You could have been killed!"

Scootaloo opened her mouth several times, trying to get out some kind of response. However, all she could do was fumble her words time and again. Even with Rainbow being as wracked with concern as she was, even she could see that the filly was upset and uncomfortable about something. She wondered if the dangers of what she'd been through had gotten to her in a big way, which was a feeling made all the clearer in her mind when she saw, to her dismay, that Scootaloo was now looking away from her, and even had tears forming in her eyes. Immediately, the older pegasus felt a pang of guilt, as she had not meant to upset her young friend in this manner. In fact, she was about to speak up and apologise for snapping like she had done, only to stop when she saw Scootaloo look back to her afterwards. However, it soon dawned on her that Scootaloo was not, in fact, looking at her, but rather, something behind her. With a raised eyebrow, Rainbow looked over her shoulder a little, seeing nothing in the sky beyond except the full moon. For a moment, she looked between the moon and Scootaloo, showing clear confusion as to what was going on. In time, she watched as the young filly seemed to be steeling herself, bracing herself for something uncomfortable, until, at long last, she finally spoke, her voice wobbling somewhat as she did so.

"I...I...I'm sorry! I just...I wanted to..."

It was obvious to Rainbow that the youngster had something she needed to get off her chest, and so, she took a calming breath, looking around for a moment before finding a nearby log. She walked over to it, with Scootaloo watching, and began to sit upon it, patting the spot beside her in a silent invitation to the young filly. Although hesitant, Scootaloo made her way over and hopped on, taking a few breaths herself before starting to speak again.

"It's just...I wanted to prove I was brave...like you."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at that, prompting Scootaloo to continue explaining herself.

"Rainbow...you've been my idol for as long as I can remember. You're faster, braver, more...more awesome than anypony else in Ponyville. You're my hero!"

For reasons Scootaloo could not understand at that point, Rainbow looked away from her after hearing that, almost wincing at having heard her words. In spite of this, Scootaloo kept on speaking.

"I just...wanted to show that I was brave too. But...everything on this trip was making me afraid, like that story of the headless horse and...well...all of this."

To emphasise her point, Scootaloo raised a hoof and waved to the area around her, with Rainbow looking around as a result. Sure enough, the older pegasus soon came to understand that, at night in particular, this place did indeed seem somewhat intimidating, at least to one as young as Scootaloo. She looked down to her, seeing the honesty in her face, and knew that she'd meant every word. Thinking this over, Rainbow, in a move that actually was actually quite shocking to Scootaloo, gained a look that could only be described as shame, before speaking in a low tone.

"Scoots...look. I appreciate that you think so highly of me. I really do. But...you shouldn't."

Scootaloo found herself with her mouth hanging open after hearing that, before getting her words together again and giving a response.

"But...you're incredible! You're the bravest pony I know!"

Rainbow looked to her, with her expression softening somewhat.

"Thank you for thinking so. But...bravery isn't about looking for trouble, like what you tried to do. Bravery is about doing what you know is right in spite of what's going on."

A small smile formed upon her face as she raised a hoof and carefully placed it upon the young filly's shoulder.

"When you stick up for your friends in the face of bullies, that's bravery. When you go out in front of others to perform, even though you're not sure if they'll like what you did, that's bravery. Even now, coming forward to me about why you were out here, that was brave."

Scootaloo looked to her, still not sure about what she was hearing.

"But...you're awesome! You're Rainbow Dash! There's nopony more heroic than you!"

Yet again, Rainbow looked away from her after hearing that, letting out a deep sigh before speaking up.

"Scootaloo...I know you think of me as a hero...but I'm not. There was a time, not that long ago, when I used to think I was one...but that's not me anymore. I've come to learn that there are ponies out there far more deserving of your respect. More deserving of your adoration. I'm happy with what I've done...but compared to those I've seen...I don't think of myself as the best there is anymore."

She then looked to Scootaloo, a look of concern crossing her face.

"And if you idolizing me is going to make you do things like this...things that put you in danger...then maybe...maybe I'm not the one you should be having as a hero."

The young filly looked aghast at what she was hearing, looking down to the ground and actually looking quite saddened by it all.

"But...you've always been my hero! When I had no cutie mark, I always thought of you when I was trying to get one. I kept telling myself...just think of Rainbow. She's fast. She's strong. Being like her will mean you'll do great things, Scootaloo. Even after I got my mark...you're the mare I looked up to. I don't care if you say you're not awesome...because you'll always be awesome...to me at least."

Rainbow looked to her, quite taken aback at what she'd just heard, and for a while, there was silence between the two. In time, Rainbow thought over what she'd just heard, how this young filly had just poured her heart out, and knew that, no matter what she said, there was no dissuading her. She would continue to emulate her, or at least her mental image of her, no matter what Rainbow said to the contrary. Having known idols and heroes herself, she understood that feeling all too well, and let out a sigh with that thought. Looking to the young filly, Rainbow soon found herself putting on a small smile, stretching out her wing and wrapping it around her, bringing her in close. Although surprised at this, Scootaloo watched as Rainbow continued to smile down at her.

"If you want to keep working to make yourself better...then good for you. But you have to learn that...no matter how good you think I am...there's always somepony better. But..."

A brief chuckle escaped her as she was thinking things over.

"If you still want to keep me as the one you look up to...I guess I can be happy with that."

Immediately, Scootaloo's face lit up.

"You mean...like an older sister?"

Although taken aback by those words, Rainbow found herself smiling once more.

"Yeah...like an older sister."

With those words, Scootaloo leapt forward, her eyes filling with tears of joy, and embraced her idol in a warm hug. Within moments, Rainbow found herself returning the embrace, and all of the discomfort and doubt of the last few minutes began to wash away for both of them. They stayed together, though for how long, they did not know, until, at long last, they parted from one another. After letting out another sigh, Rainbow hopped off the log, with Scootaloo behind her, before starting to look around for a bit. Using her head, the older mare gestured in the direction of their campsite, and her message was clear; that they should be getting back by now. Scootaloo smiled and nodded, and began to follow her hero as she started walking off in that direction. It took some time, about twenty minutes or so, but they soon reached the cave entrance. And there, to their surprise, they found that Rarity, Applejack, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were all awake, looking to them both with concern and relief. The two crusaders charged forward, embracing their friend as she returned, while Rainbow looked to her own two friends, with Rarity speaking up quietly.

"I say, Rainbow! Where in Equestria have you two been?"

Applejack nodded at that.

"Yeah! Everythin alright with you two?"

Rainbow considered that for a moment, turning to see Scootaloo, who was looking to her with a smile on her face, before turning back to Applejack and Rarity, giving a single nod.

"Yeah...everything's good."