@JT
Well, there's also Rumble from Hurricane Fluttershy. Even if he wasn't there to help with the tornado, he's still seen hovering on the sidelines while the other ponies are practicing. Not to mention that Fluttershy not being able to fly under pressure in flight camp was something that she was ridiculed for. Regardless of the reason, it's been established that it's not normal and somewhat shameful for a pegasus to be unable to fly at her age.
Fluttershy was apparently even older than Scootaloo in that flashback, and for all we know, Pegasi only get sent to flight camp if they're capable of flying anyway; it's entirely possible that there were other pegasi that age who just didn't get in that year.
I'm not saying that it isn't unusual for a pegasus of Scootaloo's age to not be able to fly, just that it isn't abnormal to the point of being a disability. Embarrassing, yes, but not really an indicator that there's something wrong with her wings.
Well, yeah, I'm not saying that she has to be disabled. I'm just saying that there have been more than enough implications for it not to be an Ass Pull.
Okay, I can see that. I hope it's not the case (the last thing the fandom needs is another excuse to make Scootaloo into a punching bag), but I think it is possible.
Honestly, I think it'd do Scootaloo some good in the fandom to face something that would be moderately depressing and come out of it both cheerful and stronger for it.
Of course, I'm also writing a story in which sad things happen to Scootaloo, so I don't exactly have any room to talk here...
It doesn't have to be anything in particular. Just find a good pick of the Cakes on Derpibooru and toss it up there.
It's just that it feels like the vast majority of the fanworks about Scoots are basically about how her life sucks; Scootabuse, Cancer Patient Scootaloo, Orphan Scootaloo, Scootaloo can't fly, etc. I think that giving her an actual disability would just lock her into that role even more. Also, I'm not entirely innocent either; I wrote a snippet once where RD had a nightmare in which she badly injured Scoots' wings while trying to help her learn to fly. Sure it turned out to be All Just a Dream, but still.
That is probably a factor. Many said the same about Past Sins.
I get the feeling that her being the tomboyish "tough" one makes her more susceptible to sad stories alot of people find "strong" characters being "actually fragile inside" interesting. Appropriately, Rainbow Dash gets similar treatment.
#280292Blissey 1Fri, 7th Sep '12 1:03:04 PMfrom a random Pokècenter
That is probably a factor. Many said the same about Past Sins.
It's certainly what made me decide to give it a go. It makes you want to read it if only for the sole purpose of finding out why Twi is on the gallows with a noose around her neck.
Twilight is on the gallows? I must have missed that.
Life is simple: it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.
#280294Tiggers Are GreatFri, 7th Sep '12 1:07:41 PM
About Scootaloo being possibly disabled, I just realized something about "Ponyville Confidential". Diamond Tiara blackmailed the Crusaders with pictures that looked more silly than anything. But...the picture of Scootaloo showed her difficulty with flying. Yes, bronies and pegasisters. DT was using the fact that Scootaloo seems unable to fly as part of a blackmail attempt. Suddenly, it just makes what DT did come off as more heinous!
I've been told by some readers that the cover art is really important. Even more so than a good synopsis.
I make a personal effort to disregard the cover art when I consider a story, though.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Protip: Getting a good cover image can go a long way in getting views.
