//------------------------------// // Five Days // Story: The Rainbow Trials // by Foxes33 //------------------------------// 1. Five Days It has been five days, five days since I left because of the thrill of adventure knocked at my door, but yet I miss everyone, but this is something I must accomplish. The yellow sun of Celestia was bright in the blue sky. A gentle breeze blew through a blue pony's rainbow mane, her speed was slower then usual, as she gazed around, looking at the large sloping mountains and rivers far below her. It was young Rainbow Dash, she had gone far, she was honestly now unknown how far she had gone. She paused, turning towards a small mountain with oak trees that stood high and broad, there dark green leaves providing shade. Rainbow Dash sighed as she looked at the well folded map Twilight gave her so she wouldn't get lost, yet she couldn't seem to find where she was, she knew now that she had to have gone off her trail. She felt frustrated as she folded the map and placed it back into her saddle bag. She folded her wings behind her and decided to take a look around. Her steps were cautious, being far from home was dangerous, she was unknown to the creatures here. "Heh, I wish I had Fluttershy here, at least there would be no chance of being attacked by an animal. I had to go alone, more like a must. There is a reason why I am here." Rainbow said, talking to herself in a somewhat nervous way. She remembered before she left, recalling what she was told and how everyone had volunteered to come with her, she wished she had said yes instead of no. As she was distracted by her thoughts she almost tripped over a small bramble, nearly falling flat on her face if it hadn't been for the fact she had caught herself. For a few seconds, her back right hoof got caught in the menacing light brown vine. Rainbow Dash struggled for a while, until it snapped and the force and momentum made her hit a tree. "Ow!" She cried in slight pain, it hadn't really hurt, but she felt like she needed to fill her own ears with sound, it felt safer. I am alone, in this darkish forest, I need to find out where I am, or I could possible get hurt. Well I am in what would be about an oak forest, however I am still not sure. Rainbow thought, sighing again. She brought Twilight's map back out and looked down upon it, thinking about where she may be. She focused, going down her marked trails and the places surrounding it. She let out a loud cry of frustration, almost tempted to hit her face right against the ground, wanting to aim for the map itself. As though punishing it for being there and making her mad. Rainbow decided to take a few moments and remember, remembering friends and the talk they had before she left. Five Days Ealier The pony gang gathered in the library, where they were to meet Rainbow for an important talk. Four came in a group, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was waiting with Twilight, who of course owned the library. "Hello everypony." Rainbow Dash greeted, none replied, still thinking of why they were summoned here for this talk. Rainbow Dash gulped, fear consuming her as she wondered if she could do this, she wished she had just left a note on Twilight's door, or anyone of the others, they would all eventually find out, but she knew they would come and find her and force her to come home. She sighed, trying to relax her fear and tame in as though it was something that must happened. She breathed for a few seconds, until she took a sharp inhale and stepped forward. "I-I am leaving for a while." When she said it everyone gasped, except Twilight who had heard earlier, she just gave a worried glance and sad eyes. "Why?!" Pinkie asked, done hoping around and just staring at Rainbow Dash, the others were speechless. "I feel like I need to see the world, I don't know why, but it seems like my heart is telling me to do this." Rainbow Dash answered, looking at her friends, she soon wanted to just look back down at her hooves, the fear once again eating away at her. "Then... I am coming to." Fluttershy said quietly, as she normally, her quiet voice was comfort. The other cheered in agreement, saying they all wanted to go, however Twilight had already heard the story and just looked down in dismay. The others looked at Twilight noticing her look of dismay. Rainbow looked down, closing her eyes so she didn't have to look at her friend's sad faces, she then spoke up once again, "I am sorry, but I feel I have to do this alone, I need to travel fast, I am sorry." The others were shocked, except for Twilight of course, but there was one for calm face, Applejack who was smiling and soon walked over to her. "Don't worry Dash, we understand. There our somethings we need to do alone." She said in a calm voice and keeping her warm smile. Rainbow lifted her head to see the warm smile and it seem to absorb into her skin and spread the warmth into her body, as though she was in front of a heater. The rest nodded in agreement and it made the warm fill her, and make her want to fly. Tears welled in her eyes as all her friends supported her decision, the hot salty water traveled down her cheek and fell onto the library floor. "Thank you. I must go now, but I am glad you all understand." She whined, her crying almost making it hard to talk, she whipped the tears away. She went to the door, getting ready to fly off, until she heard Twilight call from behind her. "Dash, wait, we maybe can't come with you, but you could at least take this." She smiled, holding up the saddle bag and the map, placing it into the bag and giving it to Rainbow. Rainbow Dash smiled and could feel tears coming back, but she held them back and nodded as a thank you. Her wings began to flutter and she took off, the last thing she heard was her friends saying good-bye from far away, it sounded like whispers. Five Days Later Rainbow felt warm and fuzzy from the memory, they had helped her so much and she wished they were here now, it was just too bad. She knew that maybe she had to fly around and maybe she could find her way around, but then she felt a sharp pain in her flank. It felt like a needle, she looked to see it was a dart and she could see the sides of her vision clouding, the black inky darkness coming closer, until she hit the ground with a thud. As she was unconscious, she was in a dream, she was at home with her friends, they were having fun. They were at the swimming hole, in the water and having fun. The water was great and the waves weren't to big. The water the blue and everyone was laughing as they played with water toys, like air filled balls of many colors, red, blue and even a rubber ducky. Then a swirl of darkness came and it all went wrong. Her friends disappeared and she heard chanting. "Why did you leave us Dash? I thought we were your friends?" The voices said and the somewhat transparent faces of her friends appeared in the dark. "You are my friends, I needed to do this." She cried, and soon it all dissipated and she awakened.