Chapter 12: Homecoming
7 years ago
Titan flew into his old home on the outskirts of Cloudsdale. It had been a rough day. The Wonderbolts had been facing an influx of younger, fresher wings.
And Titan, at his advanced age, was being forced into retirement.
He had long since lost his command of the group to an up and comer by the name of Spitfire. But forced retirement was completely different.
The Wonderbolts had defined Titan. And even now, having been offered a job Wonderbolts trainer, he still felt left out.
But he had to shut out his own personal problems now. Rainbow Dash would be coming home from flight school soon.
She opened the door and flew in. She was 15 now, fully grown, and a load of trouble.
Today, she came home sporting a black eye.
"How was school?" Titan asked.
"Cool."
"You learn anything?"
Rainbow shrugged. "Does anypony ever learn anything at flight school?"
Titan laughed. "Fair enough. You eating that lunch I packed you?"
Rainbow chuckled. "The day you give me edible lunch is the day I eat."
Titan got up and gave the pegasus a noogie. "You little devil."
His face suddenly hardened. "What's that?" He gestured to the eye.
"What? Oh this? Nothing. Just some...ya know, battle damage."
Titan frowned. "Battle damage? What do you mean battle damage?"
"Oh you know...everypony gets into a brawl once in a while." She chuckled.
But Titan was not amused. "Yeah, except you don't get into a brawl once in a while. What did I tell you about getting into fights Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. This made Titan angrier.
"You don't think I see you coming in here every day with those bruises? How about all the times I've had to talk to the principle because you punched somepony? How about the time I had to bail you out of jail for punching somepony important?"
Rainbow Dash was taken aback by the words she was received with. "Look, sometimes these ponies try to hurt you. And you gotta fight back."
"Oh don't give me that. Why do you have to be so mad all the time Rainbow? Why you gotta pick a fight with everypony?"
"Well sometimes everypony deserves to get smacked around!" Rainbow shouted back.
"You know what your problem is? That accident put a chip on your shoulder. And that chip has gotten so big, you can't see who you're hurting anymore."
Rainbow Dash silently pouted at Titan. "I know exactly who I'm hurting..."
"Really? Do you? So you're trying to hurt me?"
Rainbow frowned. "What? You? I'm not hurting you."
Titan looked into her eyes. "Do you even know how much it hurts me? Watching you waste your life? Watching you laze around your classes, and come home every day with a new wound to stitch up?"
Rainbow stammered. "I...uh..."
"And it's not even that Rainbow. Years before...that accident, I had a talk with your daddy. And I swore that if anything ever happened to him, I would raise you. I would raise you well." A rare tear came to the masculine pony's face. "And I failed him."
Rainbow shook her head. "That's not..."
"And that hurts me Rainbow Dash. Knowing I failed your dad. Knowing I failed you."
Rainbow Dash turned and slammed her hoof against the wall. "LOOK! I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry I'm such a screw up. I'm sorry I can't give a buck about school. And I'm sorry I'm not good enough for you. But don't you go pretending you're my dad. And don't go acting like I'm your daughter."
Titan's face contorted in anger. "Your daddy gave me the responsibility of raising you as my daughter."
Rainbow shook her head. "My daddy? My dad? I don't have a dad! I've been trying to forget about him for years! And all you do is bring him up EVERY SINGLE DAY!"
Titan blinked back angry tears. "He loved you Rainbow Dash. He loved you more than anypony. With all his heart. And you repay him by trying to forget him?"
"You can say that!" Rainbow fired back. "You're not the one who let him die!" She sighed. "And you're wrong. He never loved me. I was just a student. He was just a teacher. That's all we had."
Titan shook his head sadly. "You're so wrong Rainbow Dash. You're just so wrong."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Buck this. I'm out." She got up and grabbed a suitcase.
"What are you talking about?" Titan demanded.
"I'm leaving Titan. I want you to forget about me. I'm just another pegasus from here on out. Not your daughter. Not your friend. Just somepony."
Titan sighed. "I didn't mean it that way. You'll always have a home here."
Rainbow shook her head sadly. "No. I don't have a home anywhere anymore."
Cloudsdale Flight School was one of the most stress inducing, melodramatic places in all of Equestria.
Today the melodrama surrounded a hoofball game. The Junior Speedsters against the All-Star speedsters. Two divisions of pegasi long incongruous.
Every year there was a game. Every year the All-Stars won.
But this year, the junior speedsters had three advantages.
Earth, Wind and Fire.
Gilda. A massive griffon, rumored to be borne of the depths of hell. Her size and bulk made her Earth.
Then there was Rainbow Dash. Quick as a bullet. Made decisions on the fly. A ferocious competitor. She was Wind and Fire. She had been on the All-Stars.
But after a fight with Thunderspark, their team captain, she had been demoted to Junior Speedsters. Gilda had been demoted for similar reasons. They quickly embraced their underdog team. Rainbow did at least.
They both were easily the best players on the cloud field. They made a loud, but undeniably talented pairing. Gilda was large and intimidating to opponents. Rainbow Dash was not particularly large, but made up for it in speed and tenacity. And she was easily the most feared.
And so for once, the Junior Speedsters had a chance to win a game. Down 20-17 with five minutes remaining on the clock.
"Dash! Take the outside!"
Number 15 Rainbow Dash shifted formation. She lined up opposite Thunderspark.
Gilda was the quarterback. But she rarely threw the ball to anypony other than Dash. This time she was planning a quarterback sneak.
They snapped the ball. Gilda took it herself, flying over the first line of defenders.
Rainbow Dash flew beside her, ready for the inevitable pass. Gilda was not that difficult to take down despite her size.
"Pass! Pass!" Dash shouted. Gilda smashed into a defender and lateraled the ball to Rainbow Dash.
Now it was easy. Dash ducked between the other two defenders. Wind.
Only Thunderspark ahead of her now.
She lowered herself and slammed into him helmet first. There was a smash as the helmets met. Fire.
Rainbow Dash kept pushing as other defenders jumped on her now. She shoved Thunderspark aside. Her speed kicked in. Now it was just an easy dash towards the endzone. Touchdown.
She began her endzone celebration dance. There was a whistle. It was coach.
"Personal foul. Helmet to Helmet hit. Number fifteen of the offense. No touchdown."
Rainbow Dash furiously sped towards the sideline. "Is that some kind of cruel joke? Are you serious?"
"Sit down fifteen. You're done." Coach said.
"Oh this is ridiculous." Rainbow Dash spiked her helmet into the cloud turf. "It's his fault! He tried to get in my way!"
"He's supposed to." The coach said dryly. "He's on the other team."
"This is bull! What am I supposed to do now?"
"Sit on the bench." The coach snapped. "And shut up. You're tone is starting to get to me."
Rainbow Dash turned and flew off the field. "Hey where you going?" The coach demanded.
"To my dorm! You got a problem? Kiss my flank!" She blasted off towards the school, leaving a rainbow colored trail behind
.
Rainbow Dash trotted into the lunchroom. She looked at the available tables to sit at. The other ponies glared at her. She had a bit of trouble making friends.
She definitely had developed a mean streak during her years here. In the years since her father's death, Rainbow's personality had taken a turn for the worse. Her filly innocence was long gone. A quiet rage had built in the years following the accident, pairing with her hard-headed arrogance. As a result she was rather unpopular.
Only a couple ponies accepted her now. One of them was Gilda, but she was still out on the cloud playing hoofball.
Rainbow Dash sighed and sat at the table with her only other friend. Fluttershy. She was just as much an outcast as Rainbow Dash. Few friends. Socially awkward. Not very popular.
"Hey Fluttershy."
"Oh Rainbow Dash. I saved you a seat." She gestured to the empty table.
Rainbow snorted and sat down. "So how are things with you Fluttershy?"
"Oh they're fine. I got to take care of Mr. Clyde's pet lizard. And I got to walk the teachers dogs. And I..." She trailed off.
Rainbow Dash leaned in. "What?"
"Well...some boys said some mean things. But that's not important. I don't want to get anypony in trouble..."
"Who?" Rainbow Dash demanded, her face tensing up in anger.
Fluttershy squeaked. "Oh I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I knew you were going to get mad. It was nopony. I lied..."
"No you didn't. Spit it out Fluttershy. Who said what to you?"
Fluttershy was on the edge of tears. "Could...could you please forget I said anything."
Rainbow Dash groaned and relented. "Alright, fine. Just don't start up the waterworks okay?"
Fluttershy nodded. "So what's happening with you?"
Rainbow slumped back and let out a long sigh. "Well...ran away from home."
Fluttershy spit out her milk across the table. Lightning quick Rainbow ducked to avoid the spray.
"You WHAT?" Fluttershy asked incredulously.
"Yeah. Kinda got in a fight with...'dad'. Got pretty heated so I jumped ship."
Fluttershy thought it all over. "Will he take you back?"
Rainbow shook her head. "I don't need him to take me back. I'll just stay in one of the dorm rooms here."
"Well...I mean...you could stay with me." Fluttershy offered. "I told you about the little house I bought."
Rainbow frowned. "Isn't that house...on the ground? Like...the dirt?"
"Yes. I feel better on the ground than in the clouds." Fluttershy explained.
Rainbow sighed. "Weird. Well I guess so. If you tell me right now what that pony called you."
Fluttershy paused.
She leaned in and whispered something into her ear. Rainbow Dash threw her food tray off the table.
"WHO?"
Fluttershy shook her head. Rainbow Dash softened up a bit. "Look Fluttershy. Whoever it is had no right to say this to you. You're not...that. Now look at me. Who said this to you?"
Fluttershy raised a shaking hoof in the direction of one of the jocks. Magnum.
Rainbow Dash patted Fluttershy on the back. "Wait here."
She stormed towards the jock table. Thunderspark was the first to see her.
"Oh boy. We got trouble."
Magnum was laughing at something at the time. Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves down on the table. "You! Give me one reason why I shouldn't sock you in the mouth huh?"
Magnum's ears went back. "Alright. Alright take it easy Crashie. I don't know what this is about..."
"You picked on Fluttershy. You said a certain word to her. I don't like this word."
Her hoof became a fist. She slammed it down on the table.
Magnum jumped and shook his head. "Look, I'm sorry okay? Don't hurt me!"
Rainbow Dash grinned, then turned to head back to Fluttershy. "Don't let it happen again loser. You boys take it easy."
"Her daddy sure is taking it easy." One of the ponies muttered.
Rainbow Dash's ears perked up. She turned around. "Who said that?"
None of them raised their hoofs. She flew back, hurling all the lunches off the table. Everypony in the cafeteria was looking at her now.
"WHO SAID THAT?" She demanded.
Before she could even think, she had thrown a punch at Magnum.
The whole table was up and ready to brawl.
Teachers and monitors flooded the cafeteria. Fluttershy ran up to grab Rainbow Dash and hold her back. But the damage had been done.
Magnum was bleeding on the floor, his nose broken.
White Collar had hit her in the side of the face hard, causing a cut to form. She responded with the right hook.
Rainbow Dash was fighting off the rest of the table. Prince to her left tried roundhouse kicking her. She dodged, sending him sprawling to the floor. Magnum began crawling away. Rainbow grabbed him by the tail.
"I'm not done with you clouds for brains."
Suddenly the wind was knocked out of her. Thunderspark pinned her to the floor.
"That's enough! I said it alright! Me! So take it easy with my friends."
Rainbow reached out and punched him in the face. He was sent sprawling back.
The teachers grabbed her and held her still. The elderly monitor looked at the snarling, panting youngster.
"Principle. Now."
Rainbow Dash sat on the clouds outside the Flight School campus. The bell rang. The students headed out. Some of them headed for home. Fluttershy saw her sitting there and flew over.
"What did the principal do?" She asked.
Rainbow Dash turned to her, revealing a large cut on her cheek.
"Oh my!" Fluttershy squeaked. "You need to come with me."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No I'm fine..."
Fluttershy picked Rainbow Dash up and flew down towards the ground.
"Where are we going?" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"To my house. We need to patch you up."
They landed in front of a small cottage. Rainbow Dash looked around. It was her first time on solid ground. Cloudsdale had been her home for so long. This grass beneath her hooves felt strange to the cloud acquainted Pegasus.
"Well this is freaky. You really live down here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Oh yes. I fell down here by accident. And I discovered all of these adorable creatures." She gestured to the animals surrounding the house. "And I decided to stay."
"Freaky." Rainbow Dash muttered. She followed Fluttershy into the house.
Fluttershy immediately got a first aid kit. She began laying out bandages.
"So did you get in trouble?" Fluttershy asked. She began stitching up the gash on Rainbow Dash's face.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Well...I kinda got suspended."
"Suspended? Oh no. You want me to talk to them? I could put a good word in for you."
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "That's the thing. It started as a suspension. Then I got kinda mad. Started throwing things. Anyway I quit."
Fluttershy gasped. "You quit? What do you mean you quit?"
"I'm the best young flyer in all of Cloudsdale! I don't need to go to flight school anymore."
Fluttershy continued stitching up her face. "But are you sure about this? Where will you go? What will you do?"
"I'll be around Fluttershy. I'm sure I could find myself a job."
"Fluttershy rubbed water on Dash's face. "Are you sure? I mean you could just stay here. I'd be happy to have you."
Rainbow Dash got up and smiled. "I know Fluttershy. But this is my world. I need to go grab life by the horns. It's what dad would've wanted."
Fluttershy got a bit teary eyed. Rainbow Dash waved her hoof. "Don't get all sappy on me. I'll be fine. I'll be the best there is Fluttershy. Just you wait."
Three days had passed since Rainbow Dash had left Fluttershy's home. She had gone into this mysterious town to find work. Ponyville they called it.
But after three days, she hadn't slept, she hadn't eaten, and she was beginning to grow weak.
She could no longer fly. She simply did not have the energy to keep herself in the air.
She stumbled around town, her coat grimy from days without a wash. Her mane was tangled and misshapen. She trudged along the ground outside of town.
"Can't believe it. All this talent...all this awesomeness...and I'm just another loser."
She collapsed on the edge of an apple field. She had officially hit rock bottom. She had to resort to begging pony's for money on the street. She know realized the gravity of her mistake in leaving Cloudsdale. But it was too late now. She dozed off in the grass.
When she came to there was an orange pony staring down at her.
She screamed and jumped up, her hooves extended in a defensive position.
"Hey take it easy Sally!" The orange pony exclaimed. "You're okay. Nopony's gonna hurt you. You don't look too good."
Rainbow Dash calmed down. "Who...who are you?"
The pony extended a hoof. "Names Applejack. You?"
She shook her hoof cautiously. "I'm Rainbow Dash."
Applejack stared at Rainbow Dash's starved belly.
"You look a little starved hun. Come on, I got plenty of food for you."
Rainbow Dash hesitantly followed her deeper into the farm. After going through a seemingly endless maze of apple trees, they arrived at an old house.
"You like pie?" Applejack asked.
"Uh...I guess..."
"Oh goody. I just baked a fantastic apple pie this morning."
She led her into the house. Rainbow Dash caught sight of the pie.
Her eyes glazed over. Her tongue hung out of her mouth. She realized she was drooling.
"Is...that...for me?"
"Well sure. I don't need it as much as you. Dig in. You look like you could use some..."
Before she could continue, Rainbow Dash had dug her head into the pie. It was nothing but crumbs in ten seconds flat.
"Well gosh girl. You sure ate that up pretty fast. You want some more?"
Rainbow Dash's head came up out of the pie dish. "Their's more?"
"Of course. We got apple cider, apple pie, apple cake, apple meringue, apple tart, apple crisp..."
Rainbow Dash cupped a hoof over her mouth. "Please stop. You're going to give me a heart attack."
Applejack sat her guest down and brought in the food. "So why are you so hungry?"
"Haven't eaten in a while. I've kinda been just wandering around for a couple days. Don't have anywhere to go..."
"What? You don't have a home?" Applejack asked.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Nope. But I ain't complaining. Street life is better for me anyway..."
"Oh that's just ridiculous! You really should stay for a while."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "It' really okay. The pie was enough. I can find someplace to stay. Some nice bench somewhere..."
There was a knock at the door. Applejack went to answer it.
"Oh Rarity! Come on in. I have a visitor this morning."
The white coated pony known as Rarity entered the house. When she saw the disheveled Rainbow Dash, she let out a gasp of horror.
"Oh you poor thing! You must come with me immediately!"
Before Rainbow Dash could protest, the young unicorn pushed her away from the table.
"Applejack? May I use your bath room?"
"Of course."
Rarity pushed Rainbow Dash into the bath room. "I don't know who you think you are. But here in Ponyville we have certain standards for hygiene."
"Excuse me?" Rainbow Dash asked, fully confused by what was going on.
"You poor darling. Life has not been very good to your coat. You need a bath. Now."
Before Rainbow Dash could open her mouth, Rarity pushed her into the bathtub. She turned on the showerhead. Dash screamed.
Rarity got out a brush. "Now just hold still for a moment if you would please. What's your name darling?"
"Rainbow Dash." Dash stammered as the water went into her mouth. Rarity threw a bar of soap into the shower. "Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash. My name is Rarity. Apply the soap please."
"Alright, alright, I'm using the soap. Geez."
"Shower's over."
She shut the nozzle off. Rainbow Dash shook herself dry. A small rainbow formed over her mane. Another shake and her hair went back to it's natural spikeish shape.
"Oh that must be adjusted." Rarity said, coming at Rainbow with a comb.
Rainbow dodged her. "Okay. You can give me a bath. But you do not touch my mane? Clear?"
Rarity scowled at her. "Very well. To each pony her own. You are a stubborn one." She extended a hoof. "Once again, a pleasure meeting you Rainbow Dash. Stop by my boutique anytime."
Rainbow Dash hesitantly shook her hoof, offering a weak smile.
There was another knock at the door. Applejack answered.
"Oh Fluttershy. Come on in. My am I busy this morning!"
Rainbow Dash rushed out into the kitchen. "Fluttershy? What are you doing here?"
"Oh Rainbow Dash. I've been looking for you. I couldn't bear the idea of you sleeping out there in the cold. So uhm...if it's okay with you...maybe you could..."
Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Fluttershy? Could I maybe...take you up on your offer to stay at your place for a bit? I mean until I get back on my hooves."
Fluttershy smiled. "Oh really? Oh this is great! I have a bed made up for you and everything! Oh this'll be so fun!"
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy left.
"Goodbye y'all! Come again soon!" Applejack called.
"Tata Rainbow Dash!" Rarity called.
Rainbow Dash turned to them. "Hey look...thanks. I really needed a good day today. Thanks for the pie and the...shower. And the pie."
"No problem. Anytime." Applejack said cheerfully.
They turned to fly away. "So have you met everypony yet?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know. Is there anypony else?"
"Well...there's Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy said.
Rainbow Dash laughed. "Pinkie Pie? What kind of name is..."
Before she could finish, a pink pony sprung out from behind a bush next to them.
"HI THERE!" She screamed.
Rainbow Dash panicked and crashed to the ground. The pink pony helped her up, ferociously shaking her hoof as she did so. "My name's Pinkie Pie! My friends call me Pinkie! You can call me Pinkie. Cause you're my friend!"
Fluttershy introduced her. "This is my friend Rainbow Dash. She's gonna be staying in Ponyville for a bit." She looked at Rainbow. "If that's okay with her. Is that not okay? I'm sorry."
Rainbow Dash laughed. "Nah. I'll stick around, at least till I find a job."
"Oh great!" Pinkie Pie shouted. "Well I gotta bounce, see you around Rainbow Dash!"
She skipped away. "Yeah. Seeya!" Rainbow Dash called after her.
Fluttershy opened the door of her house. "Make yourself at home. I already made a bed for you."
"Already? How'd you know I'd want to stay?" Rainbow asked.
"Well nopony wants to sleep outside in the cold. Not when they could have a nice warm bed."
She brought Rainbow upstairs to a tiny room filled with books.
"I'm sorry. I know it's kinda small..."
Before she could finish, Rainbow Dash had jumped onto the bed. "Oh yes." she said, feeling the warmth of the blanket. "This beats a park bench any day of the week."
"If you need anything, you can come and get me." Fluttershy said.
Rainbow didn't answer. She was asleep. Fluttershy tucked her in, then went to tend the animals.
Rainbow Dash slept peacefully at last. She had been unable to get good sleep on dirty streets for the past week. She yawned and stretched as the early morning sun shined in through her bedroom window.
"I could get used to this."
She rolled out of the bed and trotted downstairs. The house was dead silent. But then of course it was. It was Fluttershy's house.
"Yo Fluttershy. What kinda breakfast we got in this place..."
"SURPRISE!"
Rainbow was nearly blown back by the force of the yell. She looked around and her mouth gaped.
The house was fully of ponies. The three from yesterday, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity. But now there were more. It looked like all of Ponyville had crammed into Fluttershy's living room.
Pinkie Pie pointed to her. "Everypony! Meet Rainbow Dash! The newest member of the Ponyville family."
Rainbow Dash blushed and smiled nervously as all the ponies came forward, shaking her hoof, introducing themselves.
"Pinkie Pie, what's with the party? Is it somepony's birthday?"
Pinkie Pie grinned. "It's your birthday silly! Well not really. But it's your first day in Ponyville! So this party is for YOU!"
Rainbow Dash looked around as everypony got into the snacks and drinks.
"Really? You guys threw a party...for me?"
"Of course silly! How else could you introduce yourself to everypony at once?"
Rainbow sighed. "Wow. Thanks Pinkie. This means a lot."
Fluttershy was outside with her animals. She heard the door open behind her. She turned. She smiled as Rainbow Dash sat next to her.
"I hope you're enjoying your party." She said cheerfully.
"Of course. It's a rockin party. But I thought you hated parties. Why would you let them throw a party in your house?"
Fluttershy shrugged. "I wanted you to feel welcome. Everypony here is so nice. I hoped it would convince you to...maybe...stay a little longer."
Rainbow Dash playfully slapped her on the back. "You know what? Maybe I will. One condition."
"What?"
"You're gonna party with us." Rainbow said, smirking.
Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh no. I don't really care for parties..."
"Wasn't a question." Rainbow said. She lifted Fluttershy up and started flying towards the house.
"Oh no please Rainbow. I'm not good with parties."
"Alright nevermind. You don't have to party. Just come inside with me."
She opened the door and let Fluttershy down. "See? It's not that bad is it?"
Fluttershy looked around. Soft music was playing. No roughhousing. Just ponies having fun.
"Well...I guess it's not that bad."
Rainbow Dash smirked. "See? Like I told you all those years ago. Stick with me There won't be anything to be scared of."
Applejack raised a glass of cider. "To friends. Old and new. And to Rainbow Dash. May this be the start of a long, and beautiful friendship."
Rainbow Dash looked at all of the ponies faces, so inviting. She knew now, she was home. These ponies. These were her friends.
And this pony, who had once thought her heart too scarred for friends, grew many in one day.
"So I hear you're a pretty good flier." Applejack said.
"Pretty good? Pretty good? I'm the best there is." Rainbow said proudly.
"Well let us see." Rarity said.
Rainbow went outside and showed off all her best flight moves. The crowd ooed and aahhd at every exciting stunt. At the end they clapped, impressed with what they had seen.
Rainbow Dash landed next to Fluttershy.
"You know, I think this place is growing on me. If I could just find a job."
"Oh that's what I was going to tell you! There's a job opening! Weather manager!"
Rainbow Dash looked at her funny. "What? A cloud pusher?"
"Well...I mean...it's probably at least a little fun." Fluttershy stammered.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Well...a job's a job. I think this'll all work out Fluttershy."
Rainbow beamed. First good day in a long time. And tomorrow would be even better.
Rainbow Dash snapped awake. She looked around. It was late in the morning. She stopped to catch her breath. She looked around.
For the first time in days, she wished the dream had not ended. Surrounded by her friends, being welcomed as a member of the family. But that time had long since passed. Now she stayed alone in this paradise.
Paradise. Empty paradise. She remembered it all now. They had come to apologize. To ask her to come back with she had said no.
She kicked her back legs into the ground in anger. "What is wrong with me?" She muttered. "First...First I let my father die. And then I send my friends home to face Discord. What...What am I?"
She looked at herself in the waterfall. "Same old sleek body. Same old perfect mane. Same aerodynamic tail."
She paused. She looked at the bandages. They had been around her midsection since she started the journey into the Everfree forest.
So many mistakes she had made.
Discord had won. He had broken her. Turned her against everypony she loved.
"No. He couldn't have won. Cause that means I lost." Rainbow muttered. "I don't lose."
She gripped the bandages in her teeth and tore them off. There they were.
Her wings. Her greatest weapons. Fully healed. She stretched them out in the sunlight.
"They took me in. Made me one of their own." She made her hoof into a fist. "I will never abandon them."
She stretched out her legs, cracked her neck and flexed her wings. "Like riding a bike." She muttered.
She ran forward and took off. She stayed airborne for a moment before crashing back down. No. Needs more thrust. She breathed smoke from her nostrils and tried again. Another crash landing.
She looked up, groaning from the pain of failure. She looked up at the sun. It was in the west. Ponyville.
This time there would be no failure. She ran forward and launched herself into the air. Her wings immediately fell back into sync. She blasted forward through the forest, twisting and turning around trees, and laughing with glee.
How could she have even considered giving this up?
She was gaining altitude now. She was above the trees. Speed. Yes speed. That wind in her face. The adrenaline pumping. She saw the bubble form in front of her. A moment later it was a cone. And then, with a giant Rainbow colored explosion, she punched a hole in the sky.
"I'm coming girls! Hang on!"
The balloon touched down at Sweet Apple Acres. The remaining ponies stumbled out, broken down from their unsuccessful retrieval.
"We should respect her wishes." Applejack said sadly. "If she doesn't want to come home, we have no right to make her."
Twilight sighed. "This is all my fault. I gave up on her. I admit it. I fell for Discord's trick. This is my burden to bear."
"We all doubted her Twilight." Rarity said kindly. "This isn't just your fault. It's the fault of all of us."
Pinkie Pie sighed. "I miss her so much."
"Yeah. Me too." Scootaloo whimpered. Suddenly, rock creatures sprouted from the ground. Rock soldiers surrounded the balloon.
"Don't move. You are under arrest under the royal order of Lord Discord."
"Lord Discord?" Applejack snapped, scraping her hoof on the ground, readying for a fight.
"Yes. You must all come with us."
Applejack hopped down and kicked the head off of the lead rock man. He crumbled to the ground. The others pounced on the balloon. Applejack was quickly pinned to the ground. The others were easily subdued.
Grey Dash stared at them, still wearing her Rainbow Dash disguise.
"Looks like we have some deserters. Why'd you come back?"
"Because this is our home." Applejack said defiantly. The rock soldiers hauled her to her hooves.
"Take them to the town square. It's time they learned who their master is. And what happens if they disobey him."
The ponies were forced down on the ground as Discord trotted up to them, a wide grin on his face.
"Oh you ponies. You confound me so. You find a way out of Equestria. A balloon. Freedom for yourselves and...the little twerp." He waved a hand at Scootaloo who growled angrily, causing Grey Dash to chuckle.
"And then what do you do? You come back! You come back from whence you escaped! Oh so foolish! And not only that! You come without Rainbow Dash? Where is she?"
"She stayed behind." Thunderspark said. "Guess that was a pretty smart idea."
"What are you going to do to us?" Twilight asked.
Discord smiled. "What any true leader does when the people revolt." He turned to leave. "Strike fear amongst them. Grey Dash?"
Grey Dash smiled. "Which one should we kill?"
The ponies all collectively shrieked. "Please. I beg of you. There must be a better solution..." Twilight began.
"Pick any one you want." Discord said dismissively. "I shall be in Canterlot Palace if you need me. Oh. And never deceive me again. The filly clearly still breathes."
He got into a royal carriage that flew away.
All that remained were the rock creatures and the changeling. She smiled as she looked upon the fearful faces of the ponies.
"How about you?" She asked, pointing to Scootaloo. Fluttershy squealed and pulled Scootaloo behind her back. Grey Dash grinned at her.
"Looks like we have a volunteer."
Fluttershy nearly fainted. "M-Me?"
"You heard me. Get up here. It's time to take one for the team."
Fluttershy squealed and turned to run. The rock guards grabbed her and began dragging her forward.
Grey Dash turned to a large rock creature. "I'll let you handle this one."
A jagged unicorn horn extended from the rock creature's arm. It began to glow. A weapon of death.
"P-Please. No..."
The guards threw Fluttershy forward.
"Wait!" Twilight shouted. "Don't do it! I'm the leader! Take me instead."
Grey Dash smiled. "Such nobility. In most cases I would reward it. But not today." He gestured to the guards. They pushed Twilight forward.
"Discord never said I couldn't kill more than one." Grey Dash hissed.
"Turn around." The rock creature said in a deep voice.
Twilight tried to keep down the tears as she turned to face away from the rock creature.
Fluttershy was weeping heavily. "I'm scared Twilight."
Twilight reached out and held her hoof. "It's okay. It's okay." Twilight couldn't think of anything to say to make Fluttershy feel better. Her own panic was taking over now.
The others looked in despair as another rock creature with a unicorn horn came up behind Twilight. His horn began to heat up as Twilight gripped Fluttershy's hoof tightly.
"I just want you all to know. Before I came here...well...I was a boring egghead. Never got out of the house. Never had any friends. And you all...you all accepted me. Were friendly to me." She turned to Fluttershy. "You too Fluttershy. I love you all. So much."
The others were in tears. Grey Dash gestured to the guards. "Make it quick."
"And Rainbow Dash." Twilight continued. "Wherever you are...thank you too. And I'm sorry."
The rock creatures raised their horns. They began to glow even brighter as they powered up. Fluttershy closed her eyes. Twilight took a deep breath and closed hers.
Suddenly her ears perked up. A sound. A familiar sound. Her eyes opened.
To the West. The sound of a jetstream.
Grey Dash looked up. A rainbow in the sky. It stuck out among the black clouds that surrounded Equestria.
"That's a nice rainbow isn't it? Always been a fan. They tend to brighten the darkest days." Grey mused. Suddenly her eyes widened. The rainbow was getting closer.
"Everypony get down!" She shouted.
There was a great gust of wind and the rock creature's chests exploded. Grey Dash looked around. "No..."
The rock soldiers raised their weapons. There was another great gust of wind and they exploded, sending rock flying everywhere. The ponies ducked to avoid it.
Another gust and Grey Dash was knocked to the ground, a sizeable cut on her lip.
A rainbow streaked across the town before doubling back towards the gathering of ponies.
There was a tearing sound as Rainbow Dash skidded to a stop, ripping up the grass and dirt beneath her. Her face was one of inconsolable rage as she faced the changeling imposter.
"Get out of my town." She growled.