I dreamed about her again last night. It wasn't the same as when she visited me, and I can barely remember this. I wish I had started writing sooner, but there's nothing I can do about it now. I wonder if I'll ever see Princess Luna again. I hope I do, I bet she could offer some sort of advice or at least tell me that I'll be okay. It's really bugging me that I can't remember this dream when the time she came to me all those years ago is still such a vivid memory. I saw her, she smiled, it was dark, getting darker, but her eyes, I remember the way she looked at me. It was like-

"Scootaloo? What's up? Are you okay?" Silver Spoon trotted up to Scootaloo with lowered ears and peeked over her journal.

The pegasus snapped the book closed and smiled, glancing up to her silhouetted friend, the sun glaring behind her head. "You know, just writing some stuff down while I waited. I wanted to see you."

Silver Spoon tilted her head up as her father trotted past the two, stopping only to pat Scootaloo on the head before entering the large home.

The young pegasus shuddered and sat upright before she stuffed her journal into her saddle bag. "That was weird, no shooing me away? Huh, well yeah I'm fine. Why?"

Silver Spoon tentatively kicked at the ground with the tip of her hoof, rolling a small pebble back and forth. "I heard about what happened. I'm really sorry. I guess it makes sense why I haven't seen you in, like, a week."

Scootaloo stiffened her wings and stamped her hoof. "Who told you?!"

The young gray mare stepped back, lifting her foreleg defensively. "What? I don't know. Why does it matter? I guess Apple Bloom told me at the market. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, and I was kind of thinking of going too, just to have something to do all summer."

Scootaloo tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, then began to laugh. "What exactly did Apple Bloom say?"

"She said you got stuck going to summer school, and you're really upset about it. That's why I haven't seen... you... Right?" Silver Spoon circled around her friend and shrugged.

"Right, summer school. I was gonna tell you. Damn Apple Bloom running her mouth all the time. You now how she is. But yeah, that's where I just came from, actually." Scootaloo scratched the back of her mane and sighed.

"Wanna talk about this inside? It's pretty hot out here." Silver Spoon fanned herself with her hoof and nodded towards the door.

"Yeah, sure."

She winked and adjusted her glasses as she placed a hoof on her front door. Scootaloo stood still, her hooves shaking and her heart racing as her friend disappeared into the indoors. Her eyes lowered to the dirt beneath her, and she bit down on her tongue, snuffing out the urge to cry. She took a deep, calming breath, and slowly glanced upward to the building in front of her.

"Scootaloo?" Silver chirped from just inside. "You coming?"

The pegasus dragged a hoof across the ground, her heart skipping beats and her ears ringing. "Yeah. Just enjoying the nice day."

A smile spread across her face and she forced pep in her step as she trotted into her friend's home. Shutting the door behind herself, she sank into the familiar, cool air of the wealthy home. A large silver-coated stallion trotted up to her, tilting his head and examining her closely.

Scootaloo flinched and fluttered her wings. "Hello, Silver Dollar. Is something wrong?"

He placed a hoof under her chin and tilted her face up, his eyes scanning up and down neck and jaw. "You look good, despite all that's happened. Now go upstairs, my daughter is waiting."

Scootaloo scurried away as he turned and stepped towards the den. Chills shot up her spine with each creak of the stairs beneath her hooves. She squeezed her eyes shut and quickened her pace, shoving Silver Spoon's bedroom door open and rushing in.

Silver jumped and dropped her mane-brush as the door slammed open. "What's with you today?"

"Your dad was totally creeping me out just now. What's up with that?" Scootaloo steeled her nerves and breathed into her front hooves.

"Oh!" Silver perked her ears up. "That's right. He said that you got in a fight last week, and that if you got yourself, like, too beat up or whatever, then you wouldn't be able to go to Fillydelphia's First Annual Charity Auction that his company is hosting with me. Which reminds me, you wanna go to the charity auction with me? There'll be dancing, and plenty of entertainment.."

Scootaloo trotted up to Silver's large vanity mirror, her face void of emotion. She placed her front hooves on the dresser in front of it and gazed into her own eyes. Her heart pounded in her head as she watched her own deep purple eyes staring at her. Her hooves began to shake, and she ground her teeth and tears welled up in her eyes.

Silver Spoon placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder, resting her muzzle against her back. "Scootsy, what's wrong? Please tell me."

The pegasus' eyes fell down to the glossy wood grains of the polished dresser, and a deep, overdrawn breath fell from her lips as she stopped shaking. "I don't know. I thought I was okay... I thought..."

Silver Spoon pulled her friend away from the mirror and led her to the bed, setting her down. "What happened to you? I've never seen you like this before..."

Scootaloo shook her head and let her mane fall over her face. "Nah, it's nothing. My dad is coming home soon, and you know, I don't like him. That's why I left to go stay with Apple Bloom, if she didn't already tell you."

Silver wiggled herself onto the bed next to the pegasus and nudged her onto her back. She then lay down with her, her muzzle nuzzling the filly's chest. "She did tell me."

Scootaloo sank into the soft bedding, the thick comforter absorbing her body as she closed her eyes. She ran her hoof across Silver Spoon's braids as the young mare spilled her warm breath over her coat. A small grin stretched across Silver's face as she listened to her friend's heart beating, and she gently ran the tip of her hoof over the filly's chest in small circles, watching as it slowly rose and fell with each calming breath.

Wrapping both hooves around Silver Spoon, Scootaloo opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the endless array of dust particles drifting through the beams of sun shining between deep blue curtains. With small gray hooves reaching behind her wings, she exhaled, serenity flooding her lungs.

"You know, speaking of things Apple Bloom says, I heard Diamond Tiara is moving away. What's up with that?" Scootaloo asked, a subtle smile blooming.

Silver flinched and squeezed the pegasus. "Yeah..."

"You cool with that?"

Silver Spoon huffed and buried her face against Scootaloo's chest. "I don't wanna talk about it... So are you gonna come with me to the thing or what?"

She nodded and ran her hooves up and down the filly's back. "Wouldn't miss it."

Silver Spoon leaned up and took her glasses off, reaching over Scootaloo and placing them on a small nightstand next to her bed. As she rested her head, her muzzle softly made its way beneath her friend's chin, warmly nuzzling her neck as she shut her eyes. "I'm tired."

"So sleep," Scootaloo whispered as she gently resumed stroking Silver's soft white braids.

The light shining through the closed curtains slowly turned a deep orange as the sun set, Silver Spoon's brilliant, glossy coat sparkling beneath it as she dozed off. Faint, muffled laughter permeated the walls from the streets below, and Scootaloo scoffed.

She tilted her head down and planted a kiss on the snoozing young mare's forehead, taking a moment to admire the warm, soothing scent of her beautiful white mane. "Sleep tight..."

Last weekend was the best weekend ever! I can't believe it! Rainbow Dash said that she'll be my big sister! My big sister. This is everything that I hoped for. I never thought it would happen, I mean, she's so cool, and I'm so... me. But none of that matters, she doesn't even care that I can't fly. She actually picked me up and flew me around! It was the greatest day of my life. I can't wait to see her agian, she said we could hang out by the pond tomorrow and "chill". I'm so excited I can't sleep! But I have to, I don't know what time she'll be expecting me, so I'll show up first thing in the morning and wait. That means sleep, now.

~Scootaloo, signing out!

Cheerilee turned the page and blinked the tears from her eyes. Snuffing out the smoldering butt of her cigarette, she took a moment to lean back in her office chair and reflect. Faint remnants of smoke trailed towards the ceiling as she stared unfocused into the space above. As the gray streams danced into their dissipation, Cheerilee leaned forward and pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk. She pulled out a small silver flask and slammed it on the hardwood surface in front of her, a mirthful frown slithering across her face.

With a deep, trembling breath, her eyes fell back over the diary, having reached approximately the middle. Pressing forward, she took another journey into the past; a journey into the life of a once innocent, loving filly.

Ding Ding Ding Ding

"Noooo... Five more..." I reached out to the object of incessant ringing and slapped it off the table it so irritatingly sat perched upon.

It fell to the floor, silencing itself, reading six o'clock...

I stretched my limbs and yawned, deciding I may as well get up now. I wiped the sleepiness from my eyes and leaned up, the sun speckling my room as it shone through the tree outside my window.

"The sun?!" I jumped out of bed and grabbed my clock. "Shoot!"

It was after eleven. I rushed to the mirror and wet my mane, smashing its messiness down into place and fixing it up as fast as I could. I splashed some water on my face and took a deep breath.

"Okay, stay cool. It's fine, just get there quick." I ran my hooves down my face and shook my head. "No problem."

I held my chin up and puffed my chest out, nothing could go wrong. Trotting towards my bedroom door, I stepped on the clock and stumbled into the wall, ramming my head into the doorknob. "Ouch!"

That was stupid. I'm stupid. I wobbled backwards, my front hooves holding my aching head as I fell onto my flank. What a way to start the day... Hopefully I'm getting the bad out of the way now, so all that's left is awesomeness.

I trotted into the front room opened the fridge, snatching up an apple and jumping for an ice-cube to rub on my head. Cool drops slid down my head and I fell against the white refrigerator door. Stupid clock... stupid door...

"You're up early." My mom trotted into the kitchen, wheezing and pointing on her chest as she lit up another cigarette.

I bit into my apple and smiled as I chewed. "Yup, I got a big day ahead of me. I'm gonna hang out with Rainbow Dash at the pond!"

She snorted and shook her head. "That mare's trouble, you hear? What would a grown mare want with a little foal like you anyway? Huh? You ever think of that?"

"She wants to be my sister, and she likes hanging out with me." I gritted my teeth and headed towards the door.

"Well be careful, I don't want her doing anything reckless with you, alright?"

"Come on, I'm almost eleven, I think I can handle myself..." I rolled my eyes and pushed through the front door.

My trusty scooter leaned against the side of the house with my helmet on the handle bars. I strapped up and hopped onto the scooter. The one thing my little wings are good for is propelling me at lightning speed down the streets of Ponyville while I'm on this thing. I flew into town, the cool air rushing through my mane as I zipped past the townsfolk and rounded corners. This is what it truly means to be a pegasus. I'm unstoppable when I'm flying like this, nopony can touch me or tell me what to do. This is freedom.

As I neared the other edge of town, a yellow pegasus fluttered out in my path and held her hooves up.

"Stoooooop!" she shouted, but I could barely make out the word as I slid to a screeching halt, dirt and dust clouding around me.

Inches away from her outstretched hooves, I stood still on the side of my scooter, then toppled over onto the dirt road. Despite the protection of my helmet, the bump on my head sent waves of pain coursing through every bone in my body.

"Owwee. What gives! Fluttershy?!"

"Oh... my... I'm so sorry, but I couldn't have you running over these tiny baby ducklings, now could I?" Behind her a large duck led its line of ducklings across the road.

"Are you kidding me?!" I jumped up and brushed myself off, the dirt still clinging to my coat while Fluttershy bit her lip and teared up.

I shook my head and continued down the road. I really can't stand her, she is the worst pegasus ever. She can fly, but chooses not to! What's up with that?! I'd give anything to be able to fly. And why is she so timid and scared of everything stupid little thing. If I was her, I'd fly everywhere, everyday instead of just fluttering around like a scared chicken.

She makes me so angry, I hate being around her. Whatever, it doesn't matter because today is going to be awesome as soon as I meet up with Rainbow Dash. Nothing's gonna ruin that.

So I shook off the annoying pegasus and hurried down the road towards the pond. As I reached the top of the hill, the water came into view, and sure enough Rainbow Dash was already there. She was lying stretched out on a beech chair with some really cool sunglasses on, her sky-blue coat gleaming in the sunlight. She's so... cool.

I rolled down the hill and slid to a smooth stop near the shore. I tossed my helmet down and trotted up to her, and she leaned up and lifted her shades.

"Hey kiddo. 'Bout time you showed up." She grinned nodded towards me. "Why do you look like you just got dragged around in the dirt? And why is there a huge bump on your head?"

I brushed my mane over my forehead and blushed. "Oh that? That's nothing, I just... slipped."

I wanted to slap myself. So uncool...

"Right... so how's it goin', Li'l Sis? Heh, doesn't really roll off the tongue. I guess I'm not used to this whole thing yet, you know?"

"I know. It's okay though, because we'll get used to it soon right?" I gave a reassuring smile and trotted up to her, holding my hooves out.

She leaned over her chair and grabbed me, pulling me into a hug. I lost my breath, and my limbs reacted on their own, wrapping themselves around her as tightly as they could. Before I closed my eyes I caught a glimpse of a few birds flying overhead, and I smiled wider. Her gorgeous rainbow mane fell across my cheek while buried myself against her, and I swear it was the best hug anypony had ever received. Ever.

"Scoots? Um..." She tapped my shoulder but I couldn't let her go.

After several long, enjoyable moments, she stood up with me still clinging to her and shook me off. "So now that you're here, what should we do?"

I lay flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me, and shrugged.

"Well the pond is turning out to be unusually boring. I usually like just relaxing in the sun, but today I'm in the mood for something a little more... exciting." She grinned and stood over me.

Catching my breath, I nodded rapidly. "Exciting sounds fun. What should we do?"

"I dunno, wanna fly around and do some tricks?" She jumped up into the air and hovered just above me.

"Uh..." My ears flattened and I choked up.

She gulped and dove down next to me. "What's the matter, scared?"

Before I could respond, she picked me up and jumped into the air. We accelerated into the sky and I spread my wings and held my forelegs out while she carried me higher and higher. The air grew colder and my ears popped as we soared above the clouds. Then, we began to slow down, and Rainbow tilted backwards until we were facing the ground and gaining speed once again. I felt my heart sink into my stomach as we raced downwards, and I could hardly breath as we plummeted straight towards the center of the pond.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shielded my face with my hooves as we reached the surface. Suddenly, I felt a sharp turn as we pulled back towards the sky. When I opened my eyes, we were facing a big group of clouds in the distance. My racing heart began to slow down as we leveled out, and I took a deep breath, my hooves dangling over the treetops.

I gulped and tilted my head as we flew over and across Ponyville. "Where are we going?"

Rainbow lifted me over her head and sat me on her back as she flew. I wrapped my hooves around her chest and held on tightly as she picked up speed, squinting my eyes when the sun appeared from behind the mass of clouds.

She glanced back at me and smiled. "I have somewhere to go later, but I thought you might like to visit Cloudsdale with me."

I just nodded and hugged onto her as we flew into the sky. Rainbow picked up speed and flew higher. I spread my wings and felt the cold air rushing beneath them and through my mane. I relaxed my body and lightly fluffed my wings back down, and with my eyes closed I savored every moment of the flight, from her flapping wings brushing against my sides, to her warm back beneath my chest, everything felt perfect.

I couldn't help but be reminded of when she held up me and flew me through the air for the first time. I felt so free, with the wind beneath my wings and my face to the sky. For the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be a pegasus, to truly be a pegasus. To truly be myself, at least, the version of myself I wanted to be.

I looked down over her shoulder at the cloud-tops that seemed to be drifting miles beneath us. The trees began to look like broccoli and the roads like cracks in the ground. A loud roaring sound began to ring in my ears, and I looked up. There were huge rainbow waterfalls tumbling from the sky into a giant lake beneath us, and buildings spiraling high into the sky.

"This place is amazing!" I leaned up and watched the majestic city passing by as we flew forward.

"You like it?" Rainbow Dash spread her wings wide and slowly skidded across the the soft cloud surface.

As she lowered herself, I hopped off her back and trotted around. The clouds felt weird beneath my hooves, like I was gonna sink right through them at any moment, but I just didn't for whatever reason.

"Yeah, I love it. I... I've always wondered what it's like up here.... but..." I stared off at the distant buildings, a giant factory with puffs of black clouds escaping its vents, a huge, round stadium with ponies cheering from within.

She patted me on the head and nudged me down a flattened pathway. "Heh, well focus. I brought you here for a reason."

I looked down the path and spotted an obstacle course of some kind, or something. "What's this?"

"This is where I learned to fly when I was a filly. I thought you'd like to check it out." Rainbow nodded with a smile and trotted backwards up to the course.

I slowly stepped towards her and gulped as I looked over the edge. There were round clouds and rings to fly through, but at least there was a wide floor at the bottom. "I don't know Dash, this looks pretty... advanced."

"You don't become the fastest, greatest flyer in all of Equestria by taking baby steps. Come on, worst case scenario you'll just take a dive onto the soft clouds down there. Give it a shot, and just remember the first rule of flying!"

"The first rule of flying?"

Her grin fell into a cold, adamant stare, and she puffed her chest out. "Always expect the unexpected!"

I flinched and stepped back. "Okay? What are the other rules?"

"Just keep that in mind, and you'll be fine for now." She smiled down at me and nudged me to the edge.

I looked back up into her wide, encouraging eyes, and I knew I couldn't disappoint her... not now. "Alright. I got this."

I took a step back and spread my wings, the thought of flying through this course and impressing her fueling my courage. I galloped to the edge and jumped! My wings flapped as hard as they could, but I couldn't gain any air. I just slowly fluttered to the bottom, but it was exhausting to even do that much. Sweat dripped down my forehead and I struggled to catch my breath.

Rainbow fluttered down by my side and helped me up. She glanced over her shoulder and scratched her mane, and I could tell she was ashamed of me. "Hey, how about we take a break from this. You can come with me to my hangout spot."

I nodded and folded my wobbly wings back down, glad to be off the topic of me flying. "Your hangout spot?"

"Yeah you know... hangout spot. Like a spot to go hang out." She shook her head and rolled her eyes, as if she were being forced to explain the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know what you mean, but I was wondering where it is."

"Right over there." She pointed to a dark gray cloud building near the edge of the city.

I trotted behind her as she led the way. Her awesome cutie mark caught my eye as she went, and couldn't stop staring. It was so cool, and I couldn't wait for mine to appear.

"You like that huh?"

I squeaked and stumbled backwards onto my flank.

"It is a pretty fine example of a cutie mark if I do say so myself." Rainbow stopped and slowly waved her flank from side to side.

"Yeah... I hope mine is that cool." I gulped and tried to force myself to look away.

"Everypony hopes that. You're a cool kid though, so I bet your cutie mark will be just as cool." She nodded and kept trotting forward, approaching the building's front door.

We walked into the dark cloud and she led me down a long hallway, thunder rumbling in the distance. I could feel my fur standing on my spine, but, I didn't feel scared. Suddenly a bright flash appeared next to us, followed by a boom and deep, loud roaring thunder. I gulped and scratched my head.

"So uh... what exactly is this place again?"

"Heh, it's a little creepy isn't it. This is Thunder Head, and it's only the coolest chillout spot in all of Cloudsdale."

I wasn't sure what was going on, but I could hear music as we approached the end of the hallway. At the entrance to a huge room stood a big, mean looking stallion, who stared down at me like he wanted to kill me.

"Whose da kid..." he squinted his eyes and looked me over.

"She's my sister Chubs. She's cool." Rainbow Dash rubbed my mane and smiled.

"Oh really? I didn't know you had a sister. Go on in." Chubs unlatched a velvet rope and signaled us through.

We headed through into a dark room. There were glowing pictures of lightning and ponies around the walls, and dim lights overhead.

"In like an hour or so this place will really start filling up. It gets pretty crazy sometimes, like, on weekends and stuff," Rainbow Dash explained as she led me to a group of ponies dancing on a shiny square floor.

"Come on kiddo. Let's dance." Rainbow let go of my hoof and walked backwards onto the dance floor.

She twirled around, pumping her shoulders and kicking at the ground to the beat of the fast paced, heavy song. I couldn't help but tap my hoof as I listened, but I didn't feel like dancing in front of all those strangers. Rainbow Dash kept at it, though, and she closed her eyes while she got even more into it. The other ponies moved away and watched her using her wings to propel her abrupt spins as she jerked her hips and whipped her mane.

Different colored lights flashed overhead and she slowed down as the music faded out. She stretched her hooves and smiled at all the other ponies, who looked up at her in awe.

"Hey kid. Why you standing out here by yourself. Come on in, it's fun!" Another song started up and she dragged me onto the center of the dance floor.

"Alright... I guess I'm just a little nervous. Heh..." I gulped and the base boomed along with more flashes of lightning.

"It'll pass. Just cut loose and be yourself."

There were some fast, light drums and robotic sounding electronic noises, but it was a nice beat overall. I nodded and started tapping my hoof. She smiled down at me with, her eyes gleaming. I could almost feel her pride as she watched me. All I ever wanted was to make her proud, and this was my chance.

I tapped my hoof to the beat, and as it grew louder and more intense, I started stomping. I just closed my eyes and let myself go, like she said to. I felt my shoulders and hips sharply swaying from side to side as I stepped in tune to the thumping rhythm. I looked around at all the other ponies dancing, and couldn't help but notice there were just jumping around randomly, off beat and unsynchronized. I shook it off and kept at it. Rainbow Dash was a much better dancer than them, and I had to be on her level.

She stood next to me and started copying my movements. "Hey Scoots, you're pretty good at this. Are you just improvising right now? Because that's awesome!"

My heart bursting with pride, I nodded. Long, drawn out synths echoed through the club and the beat slowed down. I closed my eyes again and let my body move itself to the gentle, yet heavy sounds. I felt a little dizzy, and every inch of my body was tingling as I swayed back and forth between steps. I could feel Rainbow Dash next to me, and felt free to do whatever I wanted.

For the first time in my life, I was among other pegasi, I was among my peers and I was fitting in just fine. For the first time, I felt like I was exactly who I wanted to be, and it was all thanks to her.

The music faded out, and another song began with some mare singing to something generic sounding. I stepped back, feeling a little light headed and out of breath.

"Wow, you're something else. You've got to come hang out with me more often Scootaloo." Rainbow patted my mane down and trotted past me.

I followed her to a table and she bought us some drinks. I got some applejuice, and I'm not sure what she got, but it looked good and colorful. I wasn't about to ask and look like a dork, but I have a good guess as to what it was.

We spent who knows how long just sitting there and talking about random stuff. Rainbow Dash once again gave me the best day of my life. I love her more than I could ever love a sister, and her becoming my new sister is the best thing that ever happened to me. I hope this lasts forever.

~Scootaloo, signing out

Cheerilee marked her spot in the diary before yawning and stretching out. She closed it and stuffed it into a drawer, glancing to the clock behind her. It was dark outside, and crickets chirped in the silent night. With a quick twist to crack her back, the mare flipped the lights off and locked her office doors. She headed out into the night and began the short journey home, a single thought lingering in the back of her mind.

She looked up to the sky and whispered, "Rainbow Dash... what happened to you..."

Scootaloo lay silent in the dark as she stroked her dear friend's brilliant white braids.

"What would I do without you..." she whispered. "You and Apple Bloom..."