Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long hiatus. The past week has been a pain in the ass for me because of issues in my personal life. I hope to observe the usual schedule of an section every 2-3 days.

3:00 PM December 22, 1948,
Main Street, Ponyville, Equestria

Scootaloo trotted down the road back to Twilight’s Castle with a new spring in her step. Ever since the previous evening, when news of Rainbow Dash’s release had been delivered to her, she had been anxiously waiting for the day when her mother would return to Ponyville. They had so much to talk about! However, above all else, Scootaloo was simply happy that her adoptive mother was home.
When she had shown up to school earlier in the day, almost all of her classmates already knew about her mother's release, either because they had heard about it in the news or from their friends and parents. As a consequence, she was the center of attention at the school lunch table, something which she was not used to. It wasn’t that she didn’t mind taking away some of the limelight from her former enemy (now “friend”) Diamond Tiara. She simply preferred that other ponies didn’t pester her with questions that she didn’t know the answers to.
“I better get all of my homework done quickly before mom comes home. That way I’ll be completely available to her to when she comes home this week,” thought the young pegasus, utterly unaware of the fact that Rainbow Dash was already waiting for her.
Scootaloo trotted towards the front door to Twilight’s Castle and pushed open the door. As soon as she saw the cyan pegasus that was waiting for her on the other side, her jaw dropped.
“Hey squirt, I missed you,” said Rainbow Dash.
Before Scootaloo could say anything back, she was already enveloped in a massive bear hug.
“You won’t believe how glad I am to have you back mom,” said Scootaloo, tears of joy beginning to slide down her face. “I’m sorry for crying all over you,” said the young filly, embarrassed.
“It’s okay Scoots, I’m crying too,” said Rainbow Dash as she put down her daughter.
“I’m just glad to see you that’s all,” said Scootaloo. “... I was afraid that…”
“I’d never come back?”
“Yes, mom.”
“Well don’t you ever worry honey. I’m here and I’ll never leave you again okay,” said Rainbow Dash as she tried to reassure her daugher.
“Thank you mother.”
Looking away from her mother’s face for a second, she saw a sight that made her hair stand on end.
“Seeing the concerned look on Scootaloo's face, Rainbow Dash asked her what was the problem. When Scootaloo, didn’t respond, she followed her daughter’s gaze to where her left wing once was.
“Yeah, as you can see, I lost my left wing,” said Rainbow Dash, stating the obvious.
“H-How did that happen?” asked Scootaloo, still visibly perturbed. “Did the Russians do that to you in prison.”
Sitting down, Rainbow Dash said, “No, Scootaloo, this happened when I tried to evade capture by the Russians. Unfortunately, while I was doing so, they shot off my wing.”
“Does this mean-”
“That I’ll never be able to fly,” said Rainbow Dash, finishing off her daughter’s question. Answering it, she said, “unfortunately, yes. I’m grounded for the rest of my life.”
“Sweet Celestia! That's terrible,” said Scootaloo as she embraced her mother and cried into her chest.
“Don’t worry Scootaloo. Look, I’m devastated by the loss way more than you are. After all, I’m the pegasus who lost her wings. However, me feeling sorry for myself won’t grow them back.”
Looking down, she made contact with her daughter’s beautiful purple eyes and said, “Scootaloo, I want you to promise me something.”
“Sure, mom, anything that you want.”
Promise me that no matter what the future holds for us that you’ll always love me and take care of me.”
“Of course mother, I’d always love and care for you.”
“It will take awhile to get used to living life without my wings. However, I’ll always have you here as my daughter. That means more to me than anything else in the world.”
Scootaloo, buried her face into her mother’s chest and began to sob gently, emotion overcoming her. After a few minutes of this, she stopped back and began to wipe her tears away.
Rainbow Dash, hoping to cheer her daughter up, said, “We’ll have plenty of time to talk some more later. However, right now in the Map Room there’s a Pinkie Pie Party going on right now. It’d be a shame if we missed it.”
“It really would, wouldn’t it,” said Scootaloo.
Dropping her book back where she stood, Scootaloo trotted behind Rainbow Dash to the sound of laughter and joy. Inside she was thanking the gods for answering her prayers and returning Dash. She may not have had the ability to fly, but she felt as if her spirit was soaring higher the tallest mountain peak in all of Equestria.

________

Later that evening,
Guest room, Twilight’s Castle

Rainbow Dash plopped herself down upon the soft bed that had been prepared for her. After, she worked her way underneath the covers, she paused to think about how blessed she truly was to be back home with her family and friends. While she wept the loss of her ability to fly, she also celebrated the simple fact that she was still alive and available for daughter.
Still, she thought of all the things that she wouldn’t be able to do anymore. She wouldn’t be able to help serve Equestria as a part time weather pegasus anymore. Worst of all, she would never get to perform for her beloved Wonderbolts.
“Enough of those thoughts,” said Rainbow Dash to herself. “I’ve got the rest of my life to think about what could have been.”
Turning to the lamp next to her, she pressed the button and turned off the lamp. Almost immediately, she eyes closed and she went off into a deep slumber filled with amazing dreams of flight and motherhood.