//------------------------------// // Ever Onward // Story: Mare Do Well: Raining Of Fire // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// “We made it…” Twilight said, exhausted as their craft descended to the remains of the port town it had all begun in. Out in the distance, the burning remains of the airship that the Rebirth had intended to use to end Equestria sank under the seas, taking the Eagle Eye with it. “Phew… that’s all I gotta say… sorry if I’m at a loss for any other words.” Nessa said softly. “I’m sorry, Princess… if there were any way to—” Twilight began. “It’s Nessa, Twilight Sparkle… and what’s done is done. As much as I want to, I can’t grieve about the past when there’s a future that needs to be planned.” The griffoness said. “Hey, you three alright?” A griffon asked, flying over from one of the damaged buildings that was already in the process of being rebuilt. “Yes… send word to Captain Ironclaw of Talongrad, have them send transport.” Nessa replied. “Sure thing.” The griffon answered. “What happened out there?” “It’s finally over, that’s what happened.” The unmasked Mare Do Well said, standing up and climbing out of the glider’s cockpit. “Rebirth’s gone.” The griffon chuckled. “Best news I’ve heard today! I’ll get that message sent.” He said, flying back to the building he’d come from. “Nessa…” Rainbow said, putting her hoof on the griffon’s shoulder. “I’m your friend, you got that? And so’s Twilight. You need anything you ask.” “Then give me a moment.” Nessa replied, walking away towards the sea and collapsing to the ground, the griffoness’ body shaking as she broke into quiet sobs, while Twilight and Rainbow stood silently behind her. Loken got what he deserved… Rainbow thought, her head slowly turning downcast ...But Nessa didn’t deserve to lose her family... ~ “Rainbow Dash, I need to know something…” Nessa asked as several maids brushed out her coat and preened at her feathers. “Yeah?” The pegausus asked. “You’ve been a superhero for some time… ever experience moments where something happens and you wonder how things could have gone if you made different choices? Like you could have changed something?” The griffoness asked. “All the time.” Rainbow said. “Heck, I even wonder about this whole Mare Do Well thing. If I never put the costume on, would Cloudsdale be gone? Would somepony else have done it and I would still be trying to become a wonderbolt? You know, that kinda stuff…” She explained. “Also… some of the bad guys I’ve fought used to be friends. Gilda was one of ‘em. Another was this hotshot cadet at the Wonderbolts Academy. Gilda mistreated my friends, and refused to believe she was in the wrong for anything she did. I turned my back on her. The other one, Lightning Dust, she was like me; fast, motivated to succeed… but she saw anypony who couldn’t keep up with her as beneath her. And then….” She stopped, not wishing to discuss another experience of hers not too long before this one. “Well, just I’ve done some things I wonder if I made the right choice. But Luna told me that what mattered was making the choice we thought was the best at the time because we don’t always have the right ones come to mind.” “I see…” Nessa said, a somber look still in her eyes. “My dad… I think he was the same. It’s what I’m afraid of…” She looked downcast. “A time like this… Parliament’s gone, two members of the royal family are dead, and the clown princess Nessa takes the throne as the new Empress in wake of a huge terrorist attack? We’re lucky the bad elements died with the Rebirth, but there’s still some naysayers who could start new ones.” “Eh, I wouldn’t know anything about that royalty stuff, but I do know plenty about being stuck in a big, important role before you feel ready for it.” Rainbow said, recalling how her earliest experiences immediately escalated from saving a filly in a burning building to stopping a dangerous criminal from destroying her home city. “Make choices you think are best, for you and everyone else… and of course, make sure everyone thinks you’re seriously cool!” She said with a smirk. Nessa smiled weakly as she spread her forelegs out and allowed her maids to dress her in an elaborate ceremonial gown. “I guess that’s what a hero is, huh?” She asked. “One who can do all these things the best they can and can still be believed in?” “I guess?” Rainbow asked, before laughing sheepishly, causing the princess to laugh a little as well. “Nothing’s gonna be the same, Rainbow Dash. That much I know. Maybe I should be a superhero in between my office duties?” She joked. “Riiight, like you’d be half as awesome as I am!” Rainbow said with a competitive grin. “If I weren’t stuck in this silly frou-frou dress I’d prove you wrong, Dash.” The griffoness said with a devious smirk, causing Rainbow to grin wider at seeing the princess back in better spirits for now. It wasn’t much, and probably wouldn’t last, but it meant enough to know she’d assured her that she’d always have a friend whom she could count on. “Heh, I guess even something like making you laugh again is some kinda heroic act!” Rainbow said. “Baby steps, Dash.” Nessa said. “When this is over, I call the first prank… I think Dad would want me to be smiling on a day like this anyway…” “You helped save two kingdoms, your dad would be proud… he’d be prouder of me more, of course… but hey, you come in a close second.” Rainbow said with a laugh. “Watch it, Dash. I might make talk like that punishable by a week in the dungeon.” The griffoness said with a wink and a laugh as she turned and marched out the door and down the halls to her waiting public, the pegasus and several guards following behind her. ~ “By birthright bestowed upon you by your father, Emperor Vladmir Griffonheim, I deem you, Elenessa Griffonheim, Empress of the Griffon Empire!” The advisor to the throne said as he placed the tiara on the former princess’s head. Standing, the now Empress Nessa approached the balcony that overlooked the many griffons that now populated the palace courtyard. In the front row, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Captain Ironclaw, and several griffon and pegasus guards stood, watching as the land’s new ruler cleared her throat and spoke as ceremonial music played softly in the background. “As you know, this all came without warning. There’s been tragedy, loss, and grief… not just for the nation, but for all of us, including myself. In a battle started from within, Parliament, my father, …and my brother… paid a high cost. It was through the selfless acts of a great hero from a neighboring land that we once had war with, and those close to her, that a far worse outcome was averted. One that would have left two nations without leadership and made them ripe for tyranny and oppression built on a terrible lie.” She grew serious. “Yes, I’m young. Yes, I’ve been obligated to take this throne and these responsibilities far sooner then I’d ever wanted or imagined… but I know it as my destiny, and sometimes…” She explained, her eyes tracing towards Rainbow for a split second. “Our destinies come to us when we least expect them to.” Nessa looked over the rest of the crowd. “Parliament will be rebuilt, with officials elected by you, the citizens of our nation, and as your Empress I shall work with them closely and seek to give this land the harmony and stability it deserves. I believe my father would have wanted it that way, and I don’t wish to let all he stood for go to waste.” A thunderous applause broke out, Twilight and Rainbow hoof-bumped and cheered loudly. Fireworks went off behind the castle wall, and Nessa smiled down at her guests and subjects. “Now, why don’t we enjoy the party planned so I can have my last night of real fun, hm?” She asked, with murmurs of approval and agreement were heard amongst the crowd, and upbeat party music began. ~ Dear Princess Celestia… Where can I begin with this kind of experience? I’ve been up against tough odds before but not like this. A hidden enemy who had been right under the royal family’s beaks all along, who threatened to destroy our home so he could steal power from his family. The full details of Loken's involvement with the Rebirth remain strictly hush-hush... none but me, Twi, Nessa, and now you know the truth. As well as that in the end even he was no match for me! Rainbow grinned as she stood beside Nessa as she passed judgment on several Rebirth griffons that would face life sentences in prison for their treasonous actions. They would never know the truth behind their leader, who had sought to use them as fodder for his true ambitions. Some less involved ones, whose stories were legitimately understandable be it blackmail or desperation, were given lighter sentences and some even pardoned, demonstrating the new leader of the empire’s mercy as those who were more avid supporters came to fear and respect her. Princess I mean Empress Nessa is doing well, we write to one-another every so often. She has a lot of responsibilities ahead of her, sooner then she expected but I know she can handle it. On that note, the Griffon Empire, I heard, is already on its way to recovery under her leadership! How cool is that? As Rainbow and Twilight boarded the ship, Nessa and her royal guards, along with Ironclaw who had gained several medals for his services in the force and against the Rebirth, stood on the ramp of their airship. “I guess… this is goodbye, huh?” Nessa asked. “I’m sure we’ll see eachother again one day.” Twilight said with a smile. “You got a lot ahead of you, don’t you?” She asked. “Heh, don’t remind me.” The griffoness said with a claw wave. “I dealt with chicknappers, a crazy terrorist group, and my brother going insane, helped stop said terrorist group’s plot… a few social-politcal matters are nothing I can’t handle.” She said with a laugh. “Here, little goodbye gift.” Rainbow said, dropping a small box in Nessa’s claw. “Oh? What’s this?” The griffoness asked. “Open it and see!” Rainbow insisted. Nessa did as instructed. As soon as she did, a clump of streamers erupted from it along with a mighty burst of air, causing her feathers to become ridiculously poofed out. The guards and Ironclaw shuddered, then Nessa burst out laughing. “Good one, Dash. Any of you guys got a mirror? I have to see what I look like! I bet I’m a total poofball now!” The griffoness said eagerly, prompting everyone else to laugh. Now that I’m back home, Mare Do Well can rest again, for now anyway! I know eventually she’ll be needed again, and I’ll be there! “Welcome home, Twilight!” The now recovered Celestia said as she put a forehoof around her student as Twilight rushed over and hugged her mentor. “Welcome back as well, Rainbow Dash.” She said, smiling as Rainbow leaped off the boat at high speed and did a backflip through the air before landing down to the ground. “Well done, Rainbow Dash.” Luna said with a genuine smile as she pat Rainbow on the shoulder. “You must tell us all about you and Twilight’s adventure later. We are most eager to hear of it.” “Yeah, we’ll get to do that at the big Equestria Is Saved And So Is the Griffon Empire party I’m having for us tonight!” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted gleefully, appearing behind Rainbow Dash somehow. “Heh, hey Pinkie!” Rainbow said with a laugh. “Just… easy on the wing it’s still healing.” She said, her bandaged wing twitching a little. “Oh! Right! Right!” Pinkie said, hopping backward and giving Twilight a hug. “Well, Rainbow, ya gone an’ done it. Ya actually saved Equestria itself this time!” Applejack said, then her expression grew serious. “Ya brag even a tiny bit you’re gettin’ a hoof in the face.” She said, nudging Rainbow’s chest with her forehoof. “Aw, AJ, when have I needlessly bragged in the past year?” Rainbow said with a grin, prompting her friend to cock her head. “Ya don’t have the time, Rainbow, believe me.” Applejack said with a smirk. “Oh, Rainbow! Twilight! It’s so good to have you home again!” Fluttershy said, hugging both ponies then backing away blushing. “Sorry… I’m just… I’m happy you’re both okay. “It’s all good, we love ya too, Flutters!” Rainbow said as she and Twilight both hugged the other pegasus, who ‘eep’-ed nervously but eventually returned the embrace. “So… Rainbow I doubt I can say anything that’s already been said, so… any repair work you need?” Rarity asked, slightly concerned. Rainbow’s grin spread. “Well… nowww that ya mention it…” She nudged open her saddlebag with her wing and tossed the Mare Do Well costume to her. “New mask, new hat, and repair work, definitely. She said to the unicorn, who just stared at it in horror for a moment, then at Rainbow Dash. “Alright, I’ll certainly have to hear the story behind this.” The seamstress said. ~Your faithful subject, Rainbow Dash ~ After the party, the six friends had returned to Ponyville. The following day, Rainbow had chosen to visit Twilight in the library, her costume on and fully restored. “Sup, Twi?” Mare Do Well asked, tossing back her cape and posing dramatically. “Hey, Rainbow.” Twilight said with a laugh. “I see Rarity fixed your costume up?” “You bet!” Rainbow said, sliding up her mask and chuckling. “Pretty crazy, huh? When Mare Do Well first arrived on the scene I hated her, was just being a jealous little foal who was way too into herself! Well… a little too into herself…” She said with a laugh. “But now I can’t imagine myself as anypony else! I love this costume, I love what I do, and I love who I am, Twi.” “That’s very… philosophical of you, Rainbow. I’m impressed.” Twilight said as she closed the book she was reading and smiled at her friend. “Well, yeah. Gotta have some cool, insightful lines to say for if anypony makes a movie or comic series about me! And seriously, how long do you think that’d take? Think they’d wanna consult me?” Rainbow asked with a grin. “Rainbow…” Twilight muttered, facehoofing. “I’m kidding, Twi. Loosen up!” The pegasus said with a smirk as she flew over to one of the windows and looked outside. “You ever wonder… Rainbow? Like what you’ll do when you decide to retire?” Twilight asked. “I dunno, Twi. I wanna be Mare Do Well as long as I can. You don’t get much cooler then me as a superhero after all!” She said with a playful smirk as she looked out the window, watching as the ponies went about the daily lives. “But still…” She mused as she watched Scootaloo zip by on her scooter as fast as her wings could take her. “I’m sure somepony out there will be cool enough to take over for me when that time comes.” “Philosophical again, Rainbow.” Twilight said with a giggle. “Aw, hush, Twi.” Rainbow said, sliding her mask back on and adjusting her hat. “So, where to, tonight?” The unicorn asked. “Duh, it’s Wednesday, so that means Manehattan.” Mare Do Well said. “Got it!” Twilight said, focusing her magic, and teleporting Equestria’s resident superhero off to do her next patrol.