Scootaloo stared at the hard tile floor beneath the bench, hoping if she focused hard enough on the white, blank that she’d end up anywhere but where she was, or that the entire experience would have just been a bad dream. Jitters before the big day, something she ate, a bump on the head before she got on the field. Anything but that would be better than it happening.

The silence in the locker room was broken when a door opened, and a pair of hoofs clicked against the tiles. Scootaloo knew who it was before they spoke, but the moments before that seemed even longer as she continued to stare at the floor.

“Hey, sq- Scootaloo,” Rainbow Dash said, stopping at the bench and scraping a hoof back and forth for a few more moments of precious silence. “You mind if I sit down with you?”

Scootaloo didn’t say anything; she wanted to speak, to explain how it wasn’t her fault, or she that she didn’t mean to hurt him, but what could she say that wasn’t just an excuse? Her mouth opened slightly, but it felt like a lump the size of her hoof was keeping her from doing anything to defend herself. That didn’t stop Rainbow Dash from sitting on the bench and sliding next to her, though.

“Listen…” Dash said, before sighing and tapping the bench. “I’m not good at this, I know, but trust me. H-he’s fine.” She sounded sure of her words, mostly, but something told Scootaloo she wasn’t. He looked in bad shape, at least from what she saw before running away, frightened like a kid. There was so much blood and...

Scootaloo felt Dash’s hoof on her shoulder, and she wanted to pull away, but she was still dumbstruck. “I mean, I’ve been in more scrapes than I can count,” Dash continued, thumping her chest, “and Rumble’s pretty tough. I mean, not as tough as me, probably, but, you know what I…” Dash stopped, sighing again and rubbing her forehead.

Scootaloo chuckled, for only a moment before that lump returned. Even when she wanted to be professional, Dash was still the same as always. That was why she had been so excited! Scootaloo was finally going to try out for the Wonderbolts, after watching them and Dash for years and years, looking up to her and wanting to make her proud. When she heard Dash was taking over teaching at the academy too, it was all she could have hoped for.

She wanted to make her proud, and show her how much she’d improved since Dash left. That’s why she practiced that move for weeks and weeks, one of Dash’s signature ones too. When she’d been partnered with Rumble, she was sure it would end up fine when they did their routine together. He was a great flier, but Scootaloo had to steal the show. She had to show Dash she was the best she could be.

But then he flew into her path, and she couldn’t react fast enough. She ended up spinning in the air, but he went crashing to the ground, hitting a few cloud pillars on the way too. She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he shouldn’t have been near her anyway, or…

“They’re still taking a look, but I’m sure he’ll end up fine,” Dash said, breaking Scootaloo out of her thoughts, “Maybe, I mean… Ugh.” She definitely didn’t sound sure, but she did sound hopeful. “It wasn’t your fa- accidents happ- Look!” Dash bolted up from the bench, groaning in frustration. She tilted Scootaloo’s face up towards her. “What happened, happened. Moping isn’t gonna fix anything. Just..” Dash’s look of frustration faded slowly, and she smiled at Scootaloo.

“You know what helps me? Flying up, as far as I can go, and just letting it out. I don’t know if it’ll help, but, just try.” Dash let go of Scootaloo and glided to the door. Before she closed the door, she said, “Either way, go see him… I know it will probably help him to have a friend there.”

Scootaloo, left by herself again, didn’t look down at the floor. The lump in her throat was gone, but there was no one left to talk to. Taking a deep breath, she stood up from the bench and headed for the door.